Diego woke up on a soft bed of bamboo leaves. Dizzily he looked up to see a pair of vivid blue sapphire eyes looking down into his emerald green ones.
''Where, where…'' Diego was stopped as a paw was placed on his mouth.
'' You're safe that's all that matters.'' Shira told him.
''You need to rest.'' She whispered.
Diego looked out the entrance of the cave or den or whatever he was in to see it's still dark out. He then shifted his body into a comfortable position. A sharp pain sliced into him, he looked to see a long gash in his body between his ribs.
''What happened?'' He asked.
''Nothing much.'' Shira answered sarcastically.
''Well I went for my morning walk but was interrupted when ol' Gutt ambushed and proceeded to attack me right before he was about to kill me you came in and kicked his butt, but you got injured.
''Well, we got to get the herd.'' Diego stated.
''No. Your horribly injured. It's going to keep you from being mobile.'' Shira explained to Diego.
''Well leave me here and go get them.'' Diego advised.
''No, if Gutt finds out you're alone he'll come back.'' Shira explained once more.
''Well… that is if you didn't kill him.'' She continued.
''Oh I…I did, I did!'' Diego boasted.
''Well you definitely sank your fangs in him.'' Shira replied.
''Are you hungry?'' Shira asked stroking his cheek.
''Yeah sure.'' Diego answered.
''Well let me get you something to eat.'' Shira sincerely offered.
''Thanks….thank you.'' Diego thanked her warmly.
''It's the least I can do.'' Shira then leapt out the entrance of the den.
Meanwhile….
Manny paced back and forth around the small fire a few feet from the cave.
''Relax Manny, Diego can take care of himself.'' Ellie said trying to sooth her mate's ridiculous behavior.''
''No need to get your trunk in a knot mammoth, he's just loving on his new sheila.'' Buck stated the normal circumstances.
''Are we talking about that handsome youngster tiger.'' Granny asked
''Yes the handsome youngster tiger.'' Ellie answered the elderly sloth's question.
''Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, he's a handsome tiger.''
Sid gazed down at his decrepit grandmother and rolled his eyes as the others stared at her awkwardly.
''Children, just because it's a different species doesn't mean it can't be attractive.'' Granny explains.
''Well speaking of the handsome tiger, I hope he's okay.'' Manny said as he stared at the stars.
''Manny we all knew this was going to happen sooner or later.'' Ellie laid out the facts to her mate.
''Well excuse me, but I am not used to Diego spending the night with a girl.'' Manny explained.
''Yeah, it just doesn't fit Diego's character.'' Sid admitted.
''Well at least it's a good looking girl.'' Crash and Eddie stated the good qualities.
''Yeah but I am happy for Diego, I mean he may become a dad, I just hope he doesn't forget about us.'' Sid said, finishing the conversation.
The herd then got some rest. Little did they know they were being watched. Hidden in the dense vegetation a hairy ape was watching them. The ape swung itself on the lowest branch of a large tree and slept, tomorrow was going to be a special day.