Chapter Two.
Diego gulped as the girl pressed the dagger further against his throat.
Peaches let out a sob; she cowered in the corner of the cave, her tail tucked between her legs.
"Move one inch, and I'll slit your throat!" growled the human girl.
Diego gazed up at her, not quite sure what to do, "I won't hurt you", he said hoarsely, "just let the kid go!"
Cellie narrowed her green eyes, "I wasn't planning on doing anything to the mammoth", she replied guardedly, "but why should I trust you?"
Diego was taken aback, "you can talk to us?" he exclaimed, "how?"
Cellie shifted, "It's a gift, I suppose", she relaxed slightly, but didn't move the dagger.
"Really, I won't hurt you", Diego winced under his breath and moved slightly off the sharp stone which was digging into his back.
At once, Cellie tightened her grip on the knife, drawing a pin-prick of blood from Diego's neck.
"Hey!" cried Diego, "I was only getting off this stone! It's digging into my spine!"
Cellie drew the dagger back a little, "sorry".
Diego sat up, Cellie kept the dagger pointed at him warily.
"Uncle Diego OK?" asked Peaches in a wobbly voice, she crept slowly towards them.
Diego flashed her a quick smile, "Yeah, I'm fine!" he assured her.
Cellie was still unsure, but she lowered her dagger, sliding it back into her belt.
Diego climbed to his paws, he shook the dust off his coat, "what's your name?" he asked, slightly coldly.
"Cellie", replied Cellie, eyeing his sharp teeth and claws, "you?"
"Diego", Diego said, he motioned to Peaches, "and this is Peaches", he paused, "what are you doing round here? There aren't any human camps for at least five miles upstream".
"I'm going to the other end of the valley", explained Cellie, "I…..I need some plants that only grow there, we can use them for medicine".
Diego felt a little bit of sympathy for her, Cellie was soaked through and the end of the valley was a long way away.
Peaches sniffed, dry tear marks were smeared down her cheeks.
Suddenly a low growl cut through the silence, Cellie and Peaches both looked at Diego.
"What? It wasn't me!" he said, looking back at them.
Suddenly a dark shadow fell over Cellie; she gulped and slowly turned around.
A huge bear towered over her; it had been sleeping in its nice quiet cave, when these noisy animals had disturbed it.
Peaches shrieked loudly, Diego shoved her out of the cave, "go Peaches!" he yelled, "run!"
Cellie took a step backwards and stumbled over a projecting rock; she fell to the ground and scrambled backwards.
The angry bear roared and raised a huge paw; Cellie screamed and covered her head with her arm. Diego spun round, without thinking he leapt at the bear, the bear bellowed and smashed its massive paw into his head, sending him crashing into the cave wall.
Diego fell to the ground, the sabre tooth didn't move.
Cellie sized her chance; she whipped her dagger out and sliced it down the bear's paw. The bear shook its bleeding paw in surprise, then it moaned and retreated back into the cave.
"Uncle Diego!" screeched Peaches, she raced to his side and shook him wildly, Diego didn't wake up. Peaches began to wail loudly, she wrapped her trunk around his neck and hugged him tightly.
Cellie scrambled to her feet and ran over to Peaches; tears were streaming down the baby mammoth's face.
"It's alright", Cellie told her, "he's just knocked out!"
Diego groaned softly and rolled over, he blinked groggily, "Aw Zeke, tell Soto I'll be up in a minute!" he muttered, putting a paw over his eyes.
Cellie untied her drinking flask from her belt; she poured some water into her hand and splashed it over his face.
Diego jerked awake, Peaches threw herself on him and hugged him, Cellie blinked.
"Uh, thanks for saving me", she said quietly, scuffing the toe of her boot on the dusty ground.
"It's fine", Diego replied with a frown, he rubbed his sore head.
Cellie turned to leave, "I guess I'll see you then", she said, she took a step out of the cave…and collapsed.
Cellie got back up, her ankle hurt like crazy; she limped a couple of paces, then stopped to lean on the wall.
Diego bit his lip; he couldn't leave Cellie out here in this state.
"Hey!" Diego called, he bounded up to her, "listen, you're hurt, our camp isn't far away, you can stay the night with us if you want".
Cellie looked surprised, she turned to face him, "thanks, but I'm not sure I can walk, I'll just stay here f…."
Diego motioned to his back, "clime on".
"Are you sure?" asked Cellie, she eyed his soft back, it did look better than walking on her sore ankle.
Diego raised his eyebrow, "I wouldn't say if I wasn't sure!" he growled softly.
Cellie slid onto his back; it felt good to take the weight off her ankle.
Peaches giggled and galloped ahead, Diego followed.
Tired, Cellie lent forwards and closed her eyes, the sun was slowly beginning to set as the tree of them headed down into the valley.
Bsjashowjumper, Hi, thanks for the reviews, reading the first chapter over again, it did seem a little rushed actually.
I hope this chapter was a little better, I am really busy at the moment so I don't have to much time on the internet when I get home, oh well I can't complain too much, can I!.
R&R, thanks! Will update next chapter soon.