CHAPTER 3

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

SWITCHBACK COVE. INSIDE THE SAFETY CAVE.

TIME: SUNRISE

The Sun was making it's way to the center of the sky. Nobody was outside due to the damage that last night's storm caused. Everyone decided it was best to stay indoors until it all blowed over for good. The only one's that didn't think that was the herd, who walked out of the safety cave and made their way outside. They looked around to see the whole place in a huge mess. One that would take weeks or months to clean up.

Crash and Eddie scurried up in a tree. They let out a scream. "Noooooo!"

"What's wrong?" Manny asked cautiously.

"Our wooden swords are gone!" Crash shouted.

"The wind blew them away!" Eddie cried, "What are we gonna do without them?"

"We'll have to go into combat using only our paws. How will we survive that?"

"Guys, this is no time to be playing games," Manny said, "Right now, we need to start cleaning up this mess."

"Manny, give us a break," Diego said, "The moment it's all over, you wanna get it cleaned up. I think this island is nothing but a place wanting to be sunk down to the bottom of the sea."

"He's actually right, you know," Shira said, "I don't know this place by heart, but I do know that anything is possible on Switchback Cove. Maybe it's best if we start evacuating everyone."

"Evacuating?" Buck popped his head from behind some trees. "Are you busting by buttresses? That is not the way to save everyone. I'm serious this time, though. Something big is going to happen."

"What are you talking about?" Manny asked.

"I'm talking about the storm. This was only the beginning. If you think this place is a mess, think of how bad it will be when the final round comes upon us."

"The final round?" Brooke asked, "Do you mind explaining?"

"Certainly," Buck said, "Every once in awhile, you get a storm that likes to pass by. Most think it's a storm that just naturally happens so they simply ignore it. But when they look upon the sky, they notice that the morning sky is red and the sky at night is purple. If it remains that way for approximately three to five days, you notice the the second round is here. What is that called, you may ask? Well, that is known as...the eye of the storm."

"Funny," Alejandro said, "I was thinking that it would be called something worse like the twister in the hurricane or something like that."

"Daddy, it's not nice to interrupt," Shira said.

"Then comes the final round," Buck said, "That's when the storm comes to it's worse moments. It can become so catastrophic that you might not survive at all. The worst thing imaginable. Trees falling, lightning striking, the light flashing before your very eyes. You may never be the same again. Who knows? You may go from normal to crazy and delusional like me."

"If you haven't notice, we're not normal at all," Sid said.

"He's actually right," Manny said.

"Is there something we can do about this?" Ellie said.

"So far, I don't have a clue," Buck said, "There may be a way to stop this, but we'll just have to think about it. For the time being, we'll need to start getting off this island and everyone else along with it."

"Wait, are you saying there's no way to stop this?" Diego asked.

"Not that I know of. Until I can figure it out, we are leaving this island. No questions or complains about it."

"Wait a second," Shira said, "You said we only had three to five days until this all happens. If we evacuate, we won't know how to stop it."

Buck's eyes widened. "You're quite right. Well, I think it's best to give up then." The one eyed weasel began walking away.

Gavin flew in front of Buck, stopping him from going any further. "Buck, we are not retreating. We didn't come all this way to leave the one place we call home. I know good and well that you have a plan and you know how to stop this. Tell us what it is."

"Come on, Buck," Manny said, "Don't leave us under the tree." Buck then started laughing like an idiot. Manny have him a look. "What's so funny?"

"You guys really felt for it," Buck said as he continued to laugh, "I was just pulling your tails. Of course I have a plan to stop the storm from coming. There's always a way to keep a catastrophic event from coming to its worse calling. The first thing that we have to do is travel to the spot where the eye of the storm is coming from. That way, we'll figure out what we have to do in order to cease the storm from hitting us."

"Whoever heard of a weasel that can stop a storm from placing soon all over us?" Granny asked, "I literally wish plans had a face so I can smack them."

"Okay, do you even know where the eye of the storm is taking place at?" Shira asked.

"Indeed, I do, preggers," Buck said, climbing up one of the trees and scouting out the area. He searched around for a moment before looking back down at the herd. "I know how to spot where it is, but I can't seem to find it."

"Looks like you're gonna need some keen eyes," Gavin said, "Roger, we need some help with sight. It pays to have something from your mother's side of the family."

"How nice of you to say," Roger said, flying up into the tree and placing himself next to Buck, "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

"Scout out the area of the entire island until you see a mixture of red and purple clouds," Buck explained.

"Can do." Roger started looking around. "Okay, all I'm seeing is red in the sky, passersby, a few hyraxes and...oh, found it."

"Where is it?"

"Well, it's actually north of here. It looks like a geyser that would shoot out hot water, but it's actually shooting up clouds. All we have to do is take the trail north. It looks like, according to my calculations, it might take us about a day to get there. Maybe two."

"All you had to say was that you found it," Gertie said.

"Well, I like to make sure everybody understands the information," Roger said, "So do we start traveling now?"

"We sure do," Buck said, hopping back on the ground in front of the herd, "Alright, mammals, time to get moving. We've got an island to save."

"Here we go, everyone," Sid said, "On the trail again for another great adventure to save our home."

"This is going to be so much fun," Brooke said.

"Sweet!" Julian exclaimed.

"The most important thing is that we're all together," Peaches said.

"Well, I suppose I will go along with you all," Alejandro said, "I don't really have anything else to do."

The herd started making their way on the trail. They didn't notice a shadow forming behind them, but it disappeared soon after our heroes began walking away. Not before silently laughing to themselves as it fell back into the shadows. Wonder who that could be? With the herd, anything is possible.

SWITCHBACK COVE: INSIDE THE HUMAN'S CAVE.

TIME: MORNING.

That same morning, the small group of humans and their wolf were still asleep as the relaxation of the morning brought them peace. Elphina continued to meditate as she was finishing up her conversation with the Elders. The soft breeze and the singing of the birds woke the old woman up. She opened her eyes and picked up her walking stick, getting herself up and unblocking the leaves that kept the sunlight from hitting inside the cave. The teenagers all groaned, turning away from the bright light. The only person that actually got up was Scarfy.

"Time to awaken, young ones," Elphina said, "I have just had a long meeting with the Elders. They said there is a way to stop the impending storm from reaching the island."

"What impending storm?" Scarfy asked, "I thought we just had one."

"Ah, it seems as though your cold has healed. How do you feel today?"

"Better than I did yesterday. Thanks to those herbs."

"I shall give you more tonight as long as your sniffer is functional."

"It's still a bit stuffed, but I can smell things again."

"Good to hear, darling. Good to hear." Elphina looked to see the teenagers still asleep. She sighed. "Youngsters these days." She walked over and reached into her red bag to find a horn. She blew into it with all the air she could muster out. The teenagers groaned once again. "Get up! I've already said it once."

"Elphina," Roshan groaned.

"Seriously," Cheril said.

"Can the noise, old bag," Kai said, "We're trying to sleep for about five more minutes."

Elphina knocked Kai in the head with her walking stick. "The Sun has risen. You should do so as well."

"My theory is that we're gonna scout out the place, right?" Roshan asked, combing his fingers through his mop hair.

"Hope you don't mind if we find some breakfast along the way," Cheril said, "I am starving."

"You're always starving," Kai said, "Go on a diet for once."

"Enough," Elphina said, "I have just finished speaking with the Elders. Another storm is approaching, but this time, it will be worse than the one we've just been though."

"We've been through it twice," Roshan said, "How much worse can it get?"

"Even worse than it already has. As of now, we are in the eye of the storm. The only clue we know is the light red clouds will become scarlet while the purple clouds become bruised as it proves the hour before the storm."

"So what do we need to do about it?" Kai asked.

"We must search for the one with one eye and the three chosen mammals," Elphina continued, "We must hurry, though. The land will be doomed if we don't find them before sunrise tomorrow. Let's go."

Kai sighed. "Something's telling me that the old lady's lost her mind."

"Well, whether we like it or not, we're following her," Roshan said, "Let's go." He grabbed his pack and started making his way out of the cave, along with Kai following him.

Cheril started leaving the shelter before she stepped on something that made a plush sound. She looked down to see her stuffed saber under her feet. Picking it up, she wrapped it around her arms and whispered to herself. "I will find you. That's a promise." Placing the toy in her bag, she ran out of the cave and rushed over to the others. "Guys, wait up."

Meanwhile, an acorn was stuck inside the cave wall. Scrat scurried over to try and get it out, but to no avail. He tried everything. Sticks, stones and anything else that could fit his tiny paws. At that point, he had no choice but to use fire. He lit a stick on fire and placed it on a vine. It made a small explosion, but the but was still stuck inside the wall. Scrat screamed in frustration, having no idea what else to do.

CHERIL IS SEARCHING FOR THE SABER THAT SAVED HER YEARS AGO. I'M PRETTY SURE YOU ALL KNOW WHO IT WAS.

WELL, JUST GOING AHEAD AND PUTTING THIS OUT THERE FOR YOU. I WONDER WHO'S STALKING THE HERD. FIND OUT AS WE CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT UPDATE.

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