I really enjoyed writing (uh typing) this chapter. I love battle scenes and dramatic images. What I love even more is campfire discussion and guy talk. There will be much more of that.


Manny opened his eyes and blinked a few times to clear the sleep from his eyes. His big brown eyes took in his surroundings slowly. Sid lay on his back with his mouth open on a piece of bark next to Diego, who was sleeping with his back legs out to the side and his head resting on his front paws. Jasper lay stretched out on his side on the other side of Diego with one paw over his eyes. Manny glanced up and saw that his mate's brothers were already awake and probably planning their assault of the day.

Finally, the great bull mammoth's eyes rested lovingly on his mate's sleeping form. His trunk found her swollen belly and he rest his trunk on the warm expanse, feeling the slight movements of the unborn calf within. Manny smiled down at her.

Manny watched as his herd began to rise for the day. Diego rose first, yawning, stretching, and blinking in the soft light of dawn. "'Morning, Manny." Diego rasped. Manny nodded in return. Diego stood and, without a word, padded into the tall brown grass and sparse trees. Manny suspected he was off in search of his breakfast.

Though the mammoth didn't know exactly why, he watched the sleeping form of Jasper closely. Perhaps he still suspected the wolf of evil intentions?

Jasper was jet black except for one front paw and an opposing white ear tip. He was well muscled, but Manny could tell he hadn't been in the best of shape in the past as his ribs just barely showed through his thick fur. There appeared to be a long, thick faded scar running the length of his left side where the fur had not grown back. Manny wondered what could have made such a mark and wondered if it had been a saber--maybe even Diego?

Jasper's ears perked up even though the rest of his body seemed to still be asleep. The wolf's head jerked up and around when a slow howl began from somewhere the right. He listened silently until the sound ended then, without looking around to see if anyone was awake, trotted out of the clearing and broke into a run when another howl sounded, this one more urgent. Manny's instincts told him something was very wrong with the wolf Jasper had identified as Cass.


Just then a tawny blur burst from the tall grass and skidded to a stop in front of Manny, whose eyes widened when he saw the look of straight, unhidden fear on the usually fearless saber's face. "Wake Ellie," were his simple orders and Manny was too worried to do otherwise. Ellie was about to protest when she saw the look in her mate's eyes. She stood quickly and both mammoths looked to Diego, who had just convinced Sid to wake up. Manny grabbed Sid and threw the sleepy sloth onto his back and Diego took off. Manny and Ellie kept up as best they could.

Diego skidded to a halt in front of them at the edge of a snowy expanse. Diego's emerald eyes widened in an odd mixture of fear and anger when he saw the group of at least twenty humans armed with spears and various other weapons. A lone black wolf stood between the humans and a mound of snow that could only be Cass's den. Diego's heart thudded in his chest. He couldn't let his friend and his potential mate be slaughtered, but he also couldn't let the humans get to Manny, Ellie, or Sid, or even the possums.

His ears picked up the sound of Jasper's snarls and saw his friend's lips pulled back over his brilliantly white fangs. He also heard the pitiful cry of newborn pups and a mother's attempts to comfort them. As Manny, Ellie and Sid caught up, he made up his mind. "If we need you we'll call!" He called back to them.

"No way, you're not going in there alone!" Manny shouted.

"Those humans are here to wipe out any predators, but if they see you guys we won't be able to protect you!"

"Ellie and I can take care of ourselves and I'll look after Sid."

Diego's flashed with contempt for the mammoth's stubborn nature. "Fine, but be careful and stay back until I call."

From atop Manny's head Sid wiped a tear from his eye and whispered to himself, "You too, buddy."


Saber and wolf stood united before the humans. The humans' faces lit with slight worry and confusion when Diego stepped up beside Jasper and took on a vicious fighting stance, sabers bared. Each group waited tensely for the other to make a move. Jasper took one step forward, wincing as he stepped on his injured leg, raised his muzzle to the heavens and let loose a howl that reverberated through the air hauntingly. He lowered his eyes slowly and his blue eyes were solid ice. His lip curled and a snarl ripped up his throat as he sounded his battle cry and leaped for the throat of the nearest human.

Diego smirked, rolled his eyes, and leaped over the head of the first human, only to collide with a rip the throat from the one behind with his sabers. The human fell. He didn't hesitate to launch at another's throat, but his attack was halted by a spear shaft being thrust against his throat. He pushed the human back and risked a glance at Jasper who was holding his own against three humans. Diego ducked below the human's spear and bit into the two-legged mammal's leg. Blood ran into his mouth and fueled his aggression.

Out of nowhere, a spear was thrust between his thick shoulder blades. He dropped to his side in the snow as the blood spilled from him onto the pristine whiteness. Jasper struggled against his attackers but was effectively halted by a thrown spear barely missing his nose. Diego struggled to his feet and launched a less then accurate attack which landed him between two unarmed humans.


"I can't just stand here while they fight!" Ellie exclaimed.

"Yeah, we gotta get out there and help them!" Crash said from the trees above their heads.

"I can't watch this slaughter!" Eddie cried.


Manny charged forward without a word, nearly knocking Sid from his back. Ellie stayed by his side with Eddie and Crash perched on her tusks, pea shooters at the ready. Manny let loose a trumpet that shook the ground beneath their feet and every head turned towards the approaching mammoths, possums, and sloth.

Trunks lashing out like whips, rocks flying through the air, snarls ripping at throats, claws slashing. The battle seemed to last forever—don't they all? In reality, it lasted only minutes, not hours. As Diego's injury began to slow him down too much, Jasper leaped to the rescue of his friend. Diego caught a glimpse of a round-bellied she-wolf defending the mouth of the den with all the viciousness of a mother. He could see why Jasper had offered to help her; she was beautiful with her silvery eyes and shining silver fur. She was a silvery blur in his fading vision.


Please read and review. And be honest in your reviews, even if you want to tell me I'm crazy for thinking a saber and a wolf could get along. As long as you can take the time to review.

-Phantom