Love Makes You Crazy

by Emilou1985

Takes place after Ice Age 3. Living in dinosaur valley is an adventure for Buck, but the loneliness is dragging him to the deep end. Then out of the sky, a mink falls into his life. She's a pampered mammal, but chooses to stay with Buck to toughen up.

10. Chapter 10: I'm Not Crazy (I Hope)

Author's note: I'm sorry to prevent you from immediately reading this next chapter, especially since I am over a month off from my goal, but I have a few things to say. I appreciate those who have sent me reviews and have been very patient with me. You are readers of gold. You are one of my reasons for continuing to write.

But there is something that I found not acceptable among my reviews. In the past chapter, I mentioned I wanted to get this chapter up by Nov. 11 and it was my goal. A few people called me a liar, and I receive a particularly bad review because of this. I would like to remind you that a goal is not a PROMISE. I promised nothing to my audience, but mainly shared with them my own hopes for this fanfic. And I found it highly rude to be given a bad review that wasn't constructive criticism. I felt that it was left merely to make me feel bad. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to submit this chapter when I wanted to, but I have other things that need to be done. I have priorities and responsibilities that need to be done. Sometime, I only have a few minutes to get onto the computer and write a little bit. I'm sorry I was late, but I'm not going to put off spending time with my family or quit my job just to work on something that, in the long run, doesn't matter.

I would like to tell my fellow readers the sacrifice writers of fanfiction make to write their stories. For me, I feel I'm a creative writer, and a good one. But writing doesn't come easy for me. When I'm writing stories, I average a page per hour. Most of my chapters are around 20 to 30 pages. That means I have spent hundreds of hours on this fanfic. Image what you can do with all that extra time. Fanfic writers sacrifice their free time to write their stories, and for what? They don't get paid. They do it because its fun, and because it makes people happy. They also do it so they can become better writers.

I am not looking for an apology or sympathy. I was depressed about this for about a week, but I'm over it. But I know there are other authors out there who are harassed far more than I. I would like everyone to remember what I've said when reading other people's work. And please know that reviews like, "I love your fanfic. Update please or I'll die," tell us that you like our stories, but we'd like to know why. Please think about what you want to write in the review. When I'm feeling depressed about a story or have writers block, I re-read all my reviews and I get pumped about the story.

Thank you for your time.

-End Author's notes.

All day staring at the ceiling
Making friends with shadows on my wall
All night hearing voices telling me that
I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good
For something
Hold on feeling like I'm heading for a
Break down and I dunno why

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

Talking to myself in public
And dodging glances on the train
And I know I know that they've all been talking about me
I can hear their whisper
And it makes me feel that there must be something wrong with me
After all the hours thinking somehow I've lost my mind

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be

I've been talking in my sleep
Soon they'll come to get me
And they're taking me away

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

I'm not crazy
I'm just a little impaired I know
Right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
And how I used to be
How I used to be
I'm just a little lonely
How I used to be
How I used to be
I'm just a little unwell

-By Matchbox 20

Love Makes You Crazy

Chapter 10: I'm Not Crazy (I Hope)

By Emilou AKA Hatashi Kitty

The cold was seeping into her personality, and she could feel herself mentally curling into a ball. Things were falling apart, and she wanted to be far, far away from everything. Loneliness looked like paradise to the current situation.

"Aunty Clarissa, why don't you make all the decisions for the party?" Frost pushed her way into the fray, seeing that Tundra wasn't reacting to anyone's words. "You're good at planning useless things."

The older mink glared at her niece's impudence. "This isn't for tonight's party, but the wedding. If we're to get everything ready for tomorrow, than I need to know if she wants to get married in the open or the forest."

"Tomorrow!" Frost shouted, making everyone jump. "Are you insane? What kind of mother are you?"

Tundra's mother looked indignant. "You may be my sister's offspring, but I won't let you speak that way to me, Frost. I'll tell you what kind of mother I am. I am a mother who has done everything she could to make sure her daughter has had a safe and protected life. And now, I am a mother who is trying to ensure that her daughter doesn't want for anything, and is settled close to home. I lost my daughter once, and I'm going to make sure the ground stays firmly under her feet so it doesn't happen again."

Frost was struck to silence at her aunt's vehemence and passion, and looked away as she thought of the shame that she didn't tell her aunt that Tundra was alive all that time. Perhaps it was the stress of Tundra's disappearance that made her aunt go crazy.

Then again, Aunty Clarissa has always been a little eccentric.

"Mother," Tundra whispered after she heard her mother's speech. Never had she heard her mother speak so. It was the most love she had felt from her mother in a long time. It was too bad that her heart was in the wrong place. "Mother, I'm not going anywhere," she said softly, reassuring her mother.

Tundra's mother took Tundra's paw and patted it with a warm smile. "I know, dear. I know. Now, would like to be married at sunrise or sunset?"

Tundra's face twisted into an ugly expression; she brushed her mother's paw away and stomped away in anger.

As Frost escaped by following her cousin, Buck leaned in to the older mink and whispered, "Have the weddin' at sunrise. Trust me." With that, he tucked an unusual pineapple under his arm and loped off after the girls.

Tundra's mother raised an eyebrow at the retreating backside of the weasel, her thoughts disguised by a chilly countenance. After a while, she said to herself, "A wedding at sunset it is."

---

Tundra kept her back to Frost and Buck, walking as fast as she could so they couldn't catch up with her. She knew Frost already knew why she was upset, and she didn't want to talk at this time. And she definitely didn't want to look back to see if her mother was following her.

But most of all, she didn't want to hear anymore of how happy Buck was that she was getting married. Just remembering his happy countenance made her eye twitch.

No, I refuse to go insane, she thought to herself as she slapped a paw over her eye. But despite what she believed, she had a suspicion that it would do no good. If she had to live with such stress for the rest of her life, she might eventually go crazy. And not like Buck-crazy.

It was the sight of Dr. Honeybee's burrow that caused her muscles to relax, and her body to stop being on alert. The remembrance of being in his soothing presence already made her feel better. She wondered if maybe it should be her and not Buck to go see him.

"Watch out, Angel-girl," Buck shouted, suddenly in front of her, and pushing her behind him. He had unsheathed his tooth knife is defense "I smell badger. They're tricky buggers."

"I know, ya big goof, " Tundra said, pushing Buck's knife down where it couldn't do any harm. "Dr. Honeybee is a badger. He's an upstanding mammal, and I would appreciate it if you didn't try to carve him up."

Buck looked surprised, and then embarrassed. "Sorry, Angel-girl. I guess it was my ol' instincts kickin' in. I did it without even thinkin'."

Tundra smiled with him, when she realized that Buck called her by her nickname, not once, but twice. He seemed to be much more stable mentally at that moment, and the insane gleam wasn't in his eyes. He was back to normal, at least for the time.

"Hey, Bucky. You forgot something," Frost shouted from behind them. In her paw, she held out the hideous pineapple. Once she made eye-contact with the spotted weasel, she tossed the unattractive fruit into his awaiting paws.

"Now, that's not a nice thing to do with my one an' only," Buck said indignantly, brushing some snow off the rough skin. "You have ta be gentle with her."

"Kind of like leaving her in the snow while you go rescue someone else," Frost said in a sugary tone. "Makes me wonder about your reason to abandon your wife, hmmm?"

Tundra's heart thumped harder in her chest as she realized what Frost was saying. And she grew even more anxious as Buck's countenance went dark for just a second before he returned to grinning his insane grin.

"I was just tryin' ta protect all of ya. My wife knows that, don't you honey?" Buck asked the pineapple. "I might have been hasty since I saw this mammal had her guard down." Buck nudged Tundra hard, and then laughed as she had to catch herself before she fell from his playfulness.

"Uh-huh," Frost said, not all too convinced. She glared at the weasel as he turned around and headed for the badger's burrow.

Tundra rounded on her cousin with a frown.

"What?" Frost defended herself.

"Buck was acting like normal, and then you brought back that pineapple," Tundra growled. "He was even calling me Angel-girl again."

Frost sighed in frustration. "What do you want me to do? You won't let me whack the pineapple, yet you get after me for this. Make up your mind."

The two cousins followed after Buck with twin scowls.

Buck waited until the two female minks had caught up before knocking against the burrow's side.

There were some sounds of grumbling, and then a twitchy nose appeared at the hole's entrance.

"Ah, it's you Miss Tundra. And you brought your friend. Please come in. Come in," Dr. Honeybee said in a rumble-like voice. It took the badger a while to turn around, and lead them into his home. Instead of taking them the same way he took Tundra, he led them into a different tunnel that opened into a low-ceiling, but wide area.

Ever since they had entered the tunnel, Buck had bent himself as if the ceiling was much lower than it really was. He kept glancing up at the dirt above his head as if it were going to cave in on him.

Dr. Honeybee turned to Tundra and Frost. "Oh, I'm sorry you two. I'm going to have to ask you and your friend to leave, Miss Tundra. The sessions are confidential, and are only between the married couple."

"But I. . ." Tundra tried to say, but Frost nudged her hard.

"That's fine. We should really go help your mother with the party," Frost said, and pulled Tundra away.

"But, I was hoping to talk to you about something," Tundra said ambiguously to Dr. Honeybee.

The badger smiled kindly. "Trust me, Miss Tundra," he told her softly. "Your friend is in good paws."

Still thinking she should tell him what had happened outside of the burrow, she blurted out, "Perhaps you could come to the party this evening. I would be happy to invite you, since you are helping out Buck."

"A party?" Dr. Honeybee repeated skeptically. "Are you sure?"

With more determination, Tundra went on. "It's a party we're having in Buck's honor."

"Yeah, come on over, Doc," Buck added, his voice strained. "You can't stay cooped up in this. . . hole."

"Yes, Mr. Buck, you are right," Mr. Honeybee admitted. "It is good for the body and soul to leave one's home and socialize. Perhaps I will drop by for a while, since you insist. Thank you."

Tundra and Frost left with a few good-byes as they moved back to the surface.

"I wished I could have told him about earlier," Tundra muttered, looking back as they moved further from the burrow. "I'm sure it would have helped."

Frost sighed heavily. "Just leave the weasel to the doc. Dr. Honeybee's a professional. He probably knows more than we do."

"It's just that I think I'm understanding why Buck is acting strangely, but I'm not connecting the last dots," Tundra said, sounding depressed. "But, it might just be because of me that Buck is acting funny, and Dr. Honeybee will see that." When she said that, her body drooped even more.

Frost felt her fur stand on end from anger. "You know what, you are right. At least, you're one of the reason Buck is acting strangely," she half-shouted at her cousin.

"What?" Tundra gasped with a look of dread.

"Yeah, you got it in one. So, you should stop thinking about Buck's actions, and look at yourself," Frost growled, paws on hips. "He's not the only one being strange. You changed too. And I'm not talking about when you fell down that hole. Ever since we came home, you've been acting like your old self. And I know you better than that ratty ol' weasel ever could, and I know that this isn't you. That adventurous mink that saved me is the real you.

"So, perhaps before you start trying to change Buck, perhaps you should think about how your change of actions is affecting him."

Tundra wanted to argue against her cousin's reasoning, but she could find nothing wrong with Frost's words. It was true that she was acting different than usual, but she never noticed. It was like she dropped back into her old role, that her body remembered its old place, and slipped into it without noticing.

"It looks like you have a lot to think about, Tundra," Frost said, her voice stern. "When you figure things out, come and get me."

"Where are you going?" Tundra asked. "We're suppose to help my mother with the party."

"Nuts to that," Frost shouted as she tromped away. "I'm staying far away from your mother until the party."

Tundra folded her arms and pouted, remembering the lecture her cousin gave her. She knew Frost was right, but she had no idea how to break out of the mold she was in. It was very natural to act as she did around her family. It was a puzzle that she was reluctant to solve herself. She wanted an easy way out. She wanted someone to fix it all.

She just wanted to run away.

Again.

But that wasn't a solution. At least not one that would make her happy.

---

Since the two minks left, the weasel had been pacing in one single line. The pineapple that was in his arms had been discarded on the floor during his nervous fit.

"Mr. Buck, are you claustrophobic?"

Buck stopped in his tracks, and his nervousness washed away. "Now doc, there's no need for name callin'."

Dr. Honeybee chuckled. "No, I meant are you . . . uh. . . would you prefer to go someplace more spacious?" Dr. Honeybee guessed that his patient wouldn't like being accused of any kind of fear, and went with an indirect approach.

Buck looked up at the ceiling, his nervousness returning. "Yeah, that would be nice."

"This way," Dr. Honeybee directed with digging claws. "My therapy room is much more roomy than the waiting room."

Buck was about to lead the way, when the badger cleared his throat.

"Have you forgotten someone?"

Buck looked into the badger's face. The badger nodded in the direction of the pineapple, and Buck blinked in surprise. "Oh, sorry about that, sweetheart. Here, let me help you in." Buck went over to grab the pineapple before rushing into the therapy room.

Dr. Honeybee noticed that with a higher ceiling, Buck seemed to relax a bit more. The badger made a mental note of that before clambering in. "I apologize for my burrow. Many find it uneasy to have such low ceilings. It's just easier for badgers to dig sideways rather than up and down."

"Say no more, doc," Buck said, a paw held up in a stop motion. "It's unnervin' fer me bein' underground."

"How odd. Normally weasels are burrowers too," Dr. Honeybee mulled over.

"My family hasn't lived underground for generations," Buck commented, sounding a bit prideful about that.

"Interesting. How did your family live? Please tell me your childhood home," Dr. Honeybee prodded.

Buck's eyebrows knit together. "That's not something I talk about," he growled in a warning voice.

Not at all feeling threatened by Buck's gruff nature, the badger nodded. "I'm very sorry. My training was kicking in. That is not why you have come, is it?"

Dr. Honeybee and Buck went further into the room, and both of them noticed a chubby beaver sitting on a small mound of dirt by other mounds.

"Oh, how rude of me. Mr. Buck, this is my assistant," Dr. Honeybee said softly. "This is Dr. Yew. Recently, my work load has been a little too much for me to handle, and Dr. Yew has been gracious enough to take a few cases on. I also like to have him sit in on the first session, if that's alright with you Mr. Buck."

"Yeah, that'll be fine. An' you can just call me Buck," the weasel said to the beaver.

"How do you do?" Dr. Yew said softly, and shook paws with the weasel.

"And this is his wife, Mrs. Buck," Dr. Honeybee said, gesturing to the pineapple. "I've already briefed you on the situation, so please behave." This last bit was in a whisper to Dr. Yew.

However, the warning was lost on the beaver. When Dr. Honeybee disclosed Buck's strange behavior to Yew, the beaver thought that Buck was the biggest nutcase on the planet. However, in that office, once his eyes caught on the pineapple after the introductions were made, Dr. Yew was entranced.

"She's beautiful," he said in a dreamy voice, eyes locked onto the tropical fruit.

Both Buck and Dr. Honeybee slowly moved their heads toward Dr. Yew. After a while, the badger had to elbow his assistant since Buck was looking rather protective of his wife.

"I mean, you are a very lucky mammal, Mr. Buck. How long have you been married?" Dr. Yew asked, trying to act nonchalant.

"Almost a year now," Buck said proudly. "Our anniversary is coming up."

"Well, congratulations," Dr. Honeybee said lightly while eying his assistant. "Perhaps that is where we should start today's session. Please, have a seat."

Everyone settled down on the mounds of dirt, except for Dr. Honeybee, who was too big, even in the larger room. Dr. Yew sat directly across from where the pineapple was set, but stayed very silent as the badger began.

"Now, Buck, perchance we can first talk about what sort of disagreements you and your pi. . .er. . .wife have had in the past," Dr. Honeybee said, quickly covering up the faux pas he started to make.

Buck, his front paws were clasped together and his elbows were on his knees. From that position, he started out. "Well, at first, we didn't fight about anythin'. An' then, a few months ago, she just starts naggin' me about Rudy. . .Oh, there you see. As soon as he's mentioned, her attitude changes completely."

"Mmm hmm, I see. And who is this Rudy character?" Dr. Honeybee asked.

Buck opened his jaws as if he were going to say something, but shut them to glare at the pineapple. "Oh, now you want to talk about Rudy. Okay, fine. You can be the one to explain." Buck then folded his front paws, and slouched in his seat.

There was an awkward silence for Dr. Honeybee, as he seemed to be the only one who was unable to hear the fruit. He made a mental note that Dr. Yew was doing exceptionally well with humoring Buck, as the beaver was nodding sympathetically at the pineapple. Almost too well.

Dr. Honeybee had anticipated from the moment Tundra had spoken with him the day before that there might be situations such as the one he was in. After much thought, he had imagined a few strategies that might help with the silent party in the conversation.

"I've heard enough," Dr. Honeybee said calmly while holding up a paw. "We've heard what you think of this Rudy, but I think I need to hear it from you Buck."

Without missing a beat, Buck jumped into his thrilling tale of how he first met Rudy and how he lost his eye. His audience became wide eyed as he acted it out, and retold every gory detail.

"So, Rudy is a dinosaur?" Dr. Yew asked, his eyes very wide at this. "I've heard the rumors, but I didn't think they were true."

Dr. Honeybee gave the beaver a discrete glare to tell him that he wasn't suppose to speak during the session, but said nothing. He wasn't surprised by Buck's story since Tundra had briefed him on where Buck lived, but he knew nothing of Rudy. However, from what he gleaned from the story, the badger was able to tell what was wrong with the relationship. That is, if Buck was in a normal and realistic relationship with a sentient being.

"That was an. . .enlightening story, but you failed to tell what you think of Rudy," Dr. Honeybee guided with his voice. "What do you think of him?"

Buck sat back down much more pacified and with a puzzled look on his face. "Well, I don't know."
"You don't know how you feel about a carnivorous animal?" Dr. Honeybee delved further. "I would be frightened to death if I met this Rudy. Or angry. But you don't seem to feel either, do you?"

Buck shrugged. "No. . .I feel. . .," he trailed off. Then a smile crept on his face, and his fist bunched up.

"Excited? Happy?"

Buck looked at the burrow's wall with a stoic look on his face.

"Well, perhaps we should move on. Is there any other. . .issues you'd like to bring up?" Dr. Honeybee asked. "In the first session, I'd like everything to be taken off everyone's chest, and then we can work on each individual problem at a time."

Buck looked at his wife, and then rolled his eyes. "Of course you'd bring her up. I mean, Rudy is one thing, but Tundra . . . why don't you like any of my friends?"

The badger's ears pricked up at the mention of Tundra. This was one of the things he was waiting for. When the mink first came to him, he was sure that she was at the center of the unrest in Buck's life.

"Perhaps we should go further with. . . ," Dr. Honeybee try to say, but was interrupted.

"I have every right spend time with Tundra. Most of the time, she's helpin' me find food, fight off dinosaurs, and gettin' you everythin' you want," Buck half-shouted at the pineapple. "An' what do you do? Just sit around all day with Fernando the Pool Boy."

Dr. Honeybee realized that Buck was leading the session onto a topic that the badger was sure wouldn't help anybody. He had a deep-set feeling that once Buck really talked about the mink, then progress would be made. But it seemed that Buck was keeping away from that one thing.

"Yeah, I'd love to see you switch places with me," Buck said angrily, his fur standing up. "Do you even realize how hard it is for me? To wander around an' around, not being able to talk to anyone? No conversation? No one to lean against? Is that what you want from me?"

He was lonely. That is why he created a wife, so that he'd have someone to talk to. But even that didn't fill up his emotional needs. A pineapple couldn't replace flesh and blood.

"Good. Keep going with that," Dr. Honeybee encouraged softly, hoping that he didn't distract Buck from releasing his feelings.

"Did I do somethin' wrong? Is there a reason you want to leave me?" Buck asked the pineapple, and then a look of panic came across his face. "You're not going to leave me, are you?" The weasel went down on his needs in a pleading position in front of his wife. "If you are gone, I'll be alone again. Please don't leave me alone."

Both the badger and the beaver looked interested in what Buck was saying, but for utterly different reasons.

Buck wrapped his arms around the pineapple, shaking slightly as if the fruit were a lifeline to save him.

"How long has it been since the last time you were above ground?" Dr. Honeybee asked carefully, trying to make eye-contact with his patient.

Buck returned to his seat, but this time had the pineapple in his lap. "I donno. Three. . .four years. Maybe longer. I lost count. It drove me crazy trying to keep track of the days."

That long isolated from the rest of the world? Dr. Honeybee thought with surprise. It's no wonder he personified the pineapple into a real person.

"Doc, please help us. I want everythin' to be right between us before we go home," Buck requested with a face full of sincerity.

After a few seconds of feeling shocked, Dr. Honeybee replied uneasily. "You mean you intend to return down there? But you were able to escape from. . ."

"Naw, I could have left anytime," Buck said with a grin. "I couldn't leave it. Rudy would miss me."

He uses Rudy to express some of his own feelings rather than admit to some things. Interesting. Now, if only I can find out why he didn't escape from that land when he was still sane enough to do so.

"What can we do to fix this?" Buck asked.

The badger chuckled on the inside at this question. This was probably the most asked question he'd heard in his sessions. And never once had he directly answered it. The most important of all rules for therapist is that you never give advice. Not only can the advice backfire, and the therapist is to blame, but advice from a third party doesn't have as much effect as when the patient comes up with the answer on their one. A therapist's job is to ask questions that will lead to the patient to answer their own questions.

In normal circumstances, Dr. Honeybee would have asked Buck, "What do you think you can do to fix it?" in more or less words. However, nothing about this session was normal, and the badger's goal wasn't to fix Buck's fabricated marriage. So, he went a different route.

"You mentioned before that the problems in your marriage arose a few months ago," Dr. Honeybee asked. "Can you think of some sort of event that happened around that time?"

Buck sat still in thought, his face serene as he pondered the question. Then his face lit up as an answer came to him. "Yes, there is."

"Ah," Dr. Honeybee said with a smile. At last. Real progress.

"It was Fernando!" Buck exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at the pineapple. He jumped up from his seat, but the pineapple stayed on the dirt mound. "She's the one with the problem. It's all her fault."

Dr. Yew stood up with a look of indignation. "I say!"

"I agree," Dr. Honeybee added before the beaver could say anymore. "I have a strict 'no finger pointing' policy in my office."

Like sending a child into a corner for quiet time, Dr. Honeybee directed Buck back into his seat with pacifying words, and made him apologize to his wife before they continued. The badger was surprised by the weasel's actions since only a few minutes ago, Buck was begging his wife not to leave him. It was very juvenile. But in Buck's defense, most of his sessions went in this direction, Dr. Honeybee reminded himself. And it was always a bad sign that it would be a long session.

---

Tundra didn't go home as she thought she would. Instead, she wandered around in the snow until her body couldn't take the cold anymore. While she walked, she thought about everything that Frost had said to her, and realized her cousin was right. Unconsciously she had been treating Buck different these past few days. However, she couldn't determine what came first, her strange behavior or Buck's. Not that it mattered since it didn't fix anything to know who started it. And she was sure she couldn't share this revelation with Buck since the weasel would more than likely refuse to believe that he was acting strangely. Or he would argue that he always acted strangely.

Tundra sighed. Now it was only a matter of returning to how she was with Buck, her true self. The only problem was that it was easier to be her old self, especially with her weasel friend being how he was now.

After a while, the reddish-brown mink changed direction toward her cousin's domicile. It was nearly time for the party. And besides, Tundra felt that she owed Frost an apology.

It took more time than Tundra thought to trek to Frost's hollowed out tree. She had wandered further than she thought, and in a part of the forest that wasn't familiar. But once she had retraced her steps, she looked forward to seeing her cousin. Tundra wanted to release this burden that lay on her chest, and to feel friendship once more. That was one thing that she lacked growing up, and treasured it very much now. Which was why it hurt so much when Buck stopped treating her in a familiar way?

"Frost?" Tundra called out, softly padding into Frost's home. "Hey, are you here?"

Once more, Tundra wasn't welcomed immediately in Frost's home. After a while, she remembered that last time she came for a visit, her cousin was in a back room and doing something secret. The mischievous part of her mink make-up overcame Tundra, and she stalked into the tree hollow like a wolf to its prey. Just as she thought, she found Frost in a back room with her back to the entrance. Her cousin was busy with some dried bark, and was cackling over her work like some devious witch.

Completely forgetting that the whole purpose of her visit was to apologize to Frost, Tundra swooped down upon her cousin's project.

"Whoa, what's this?" Tundra cried out as she spied writing on the dried bark. "Is this your secret diary?" Normally, Tundra wouldn't do something so mean as to pry into another's personal life, but this was Frost. The thought of Frost taking the time to write in a diary was hilarious.

Not to mention, back when they were just little minklings, Frost had done the same to her.

"Give that back!" Frost shouted, reaching for the bark. To her frustration, Tundra was now agile enough to play keep-away very well.

"Oh, this must be something good," Tundra teased as she tried to read the bark. "It looks like a story. Are you writing novels now?"

"Don't read it!" Frost ordered, trying to uproot her cousin with her own body.

"'"My love. My darling. Come run away from here with me. I will take you someplace your family can't find you".' Really? A romance? From you?" Tundra continued to tease, surprised at the content of the bark.

"Stop it!" Frost shouted, acting a little sheepish and embarrassed.

Tundra gave her cousin a foxish look before continuing on. "'"I will go anywhere you want me to go," she said as she rested a paw on his heaving chest.' Great stuff." All this time, Tundra was smiling, thinking that this would be great blackmail material for the future. But that smile disappeared as she read the next line. "'She ran her fingers through his brown fur, and nuzzled his eye patch. "Oh Buck? You're SO STUDLY".' YOU WROTE A ROMANCE ABOUT ME AND BUCK!"

Frost had never heard Tundra raise her voice to such a volume, which only made her smile even more broader. Frost knew she couldn't hide anything from her cousin for long, and didn't really care about anything to be embarrassed for real over anything. Before, when she told Tundra to stop, what she really meant was, "Yes, go ahead and read my masterpiece."

"Yes, I did," Frost said proudly, her grin widening even more.

"How much did you write?" Tundra asked, looking at the piles and piles of bark picking up more and more to glance over the contents.

"Lots. I felt inspired," Frost said contentedly.

"What is wrong with you? You don't write stories about people that aren't true!" Tundra berated as she read more and more. "What? You have me and Buck collaborate in killing his wife! Are you sick?"

"Oh, come on. I know you want to," Frost tempted in a silky voice. "Just one little push off a cliff, and then he's single again."

"Okay, Frost. This has got to stop. Really," Tundra demanded. Then she picked up one piece of bark and read through the contents. It took her a while to realize what she was reading, and her cheeks grew much more red than what was natural. "What is. . .oh. FROST!"

"What?"

"You're going to burn this piece, and anything else like it."

"Oh, but those are the best parts."

"NOW!"

Frost laughed, and gave her cousin an amused look. "We both know I'm not going to do it. But it is good to have you back."

As irked as she was, Tundra pacified slightly at the reminder as to why she was there. "I'm sorry for this morning."

"Only for this morning?" Frost asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes! And only that," Tundra said sternly. "You were right. I am acting differently." Tundra's demeanor changed, and she grew quieter. "But I don't know how to stop. It felt so right to be who I am around Buck. It was like it was the real me and the real Buck. But something changed, and its so hard to be me around him now. And around mom. And around anyone else."

"Of course. You're too impressionable," Frost said with a shrug. "Tundra, all your life you've been surrounded by strong willed mammals. You've always picked the road mostly traveled, which allowed you to be bullied into things you didn't want to do. Even by me."

Tundra gave her cousin a half-smile which told that she knew the statement was true, and that she didn't hold any ill-will because of it.

"If that's the case, then was the mink around Buck the real me, or was I just taking the easiest road?" Tundra asked, her eyes full of pain.

Frost took her cousin's paw in hers. "I'm afraid I can't help you with that. The only one who can answer that is you."

"Wow. . .Frost, that was really. . .cheezy. Kind of like your novel," Tundra said with a sly grin.

"Fine, figure it out on your own," Frost told her cousin with a matching grin. "But we'll see who's cheezy when my novel is a bestseller."

"What? No, you're not showing this to anyone. Naw-uh," Tundra said while shaking a finger at Frost.

"I'll change the names. I promise."

Tundra sighed. "Come on. We have a party to go to."

Frost shrugged and stood up. "Are you taking that so you can read it later?" she asked once she spied that her cousin still had a piece of bark in her paws.

Tundra looked down, and realized she was still holding the part that made her blush. She gave a squeal, and threw it against the tree's wall. "You need some serious therapy, Frost."

---

Dr. Honeybee was slightly disappointed that the rest of the therapy session didn't progress any more, but he was a realist. Sometimes, a single session did little good. A patient only advanced after multiple visits, so he wasn't entirely surprised. Not to mention, Dr. Honeybee was treating him for something else. But Dr. Honeybee was quite certain that informing Buck of his delusions would drive him away. Buck is a very stubborn weasel, and cannot be force to see reality.

After the session, Dr. Honeybee informed Buck of when he wanted to see him again.

"But this next session is going to be different," Dr. Honeybee said in his kind voice. "I would like to see you and your wife separately. Even though you two are very close, married mammals still like to keep secrets from one another. The stress of keeping such secrets might be a reason for so much tension."

"I understand, doc," Buck said congenially, his wife tucked under his arm.

"So, I'd like to see you tomorrow."

"Could it be in the mornin'? I have a weddin' to go to," Buck said in a relaxed way.

"Yes, the morning it is," Dr. Honeybee said as he wrote it down in his schedule.

It was also at this time that Buck reminded Dr. Honeybee of the party at Tundra's. The badger nodded with a slight smile. He told Buck that he had a few things to do before leaving his office, and asked Buck to wait in the other room so they could travel together. Buck reluctantly agreed, not liking the idea of sitting in the smaller room for even a little while.

Once the weasel was gone, Dr. Honeybee spoke to his assistant for a moment, especially concerning professionalism and what was appropriate for the situation. Dr. Yew bowed his head through all of this, knowing he was being lectured, even if the badger was awfully polite about it. After that, Dr. Yew cleaned up while Dr. Honeybee wrote up his notes from Buck's session.

In my patient, I have seen a charming personality and a mammal who is full of life and energy. But his potential has been tempered by his delusions that seem to been formed from his forced isolation. The patient has stated that he voluntarily stayed in isolation because he liked it, but I am inclined to believe that he thought he had no choice in the matter due to his unwillingness to talk about his life before isolation. The patient has a twisted sense of reality which is shown in his creation of a personality for a rather unaesthetic looking pineapple which he adopted as his significant other.

This patient is also magnetically drawn to danger, an adrenaline junkie, to coin the phrase. This, combined with his psychosis, has made him unpredictable and paranoid. I have seen no sign that he is a danger to anyone. As far as I can tell, any thrill seeking on his part doesn't include any bystanders. He comes off as one who knows what he is doing, and is quite knowledgeable in surviving in any situation. But it is of my opinion that if he continues down this path, eventually he'll be so cut off from reality that his actions will become so reckless as to be called suicidal, and might be his downfall.

My two biggest obstacles in helping Buck are as follows: One, Buck is intent on returning to his isolation after his "vacation", and I am certain that it might not be a long one. Every time I talk about staying above ground, he grows nervous. I'm afraid that he finds his isolated prison a paradise, and no longer feels comfortable with other mammals. Two, Buck is blocking his own path, and I can't get him to step aside. He has been turning all my efforts to get him to talk about what has been bothering him. And it is my opinion that it starts and ends with the mink, Tundra.

Buck is the type that cannot adjust to permanent changes, and sometimes rebels against them. Temporary changes just roll off his back, but he likes things to stay as they are. I'm sure that the appearance of Tundra is what upset his fabricated marriage. It was also her constant presence that initiated the supposed affair his wife had. Here he was, happily alone with his delusions, and a real flesh and blood mammal drops in his life. Since Buck, in his mind, was married and he started developing feelings for Tundra, he had to create a situation that would allow him to be free of the life he had created. But because Tundra was sympathetic to his problems and helped fix them, Buck found himself in the same situation and had to play by the rules he made.

Buck's "strange behavior" as Tundra put it, is stemmed from the permanent change of her leaving his world. After many years being alone, this was a devastating change, and one he couldn't cope with. To get by, Buck once more, created a situation that would allow him to be with Tundra. But at the same time, his mind was preparing for the change that was bound to happen, so he started distancing himself from her by treating her as if she were a temporary change. Also, his clinging attitude toward his fake wife is the only thing that is keeping him together. Breaking his delusions at this point would be fatal to his psyche, unless Tundra confesses. . . .

At this point, Dr. Honeybee realized that he was far too emotionally involved in his patient and Tundra's relationship, which wasn't suppose to even exist as far as the two mammals are concerned. He threw the pieces of bark he used in the corner, and promised he'd look through them tomorrow and glean out the professional information. He then excused Dr. Yew for the day, and prepared to leave.

"Are you ready to go?" the badger asked as he stepped out of the therapy room.

"Ready and waitin'," Buck said eagerly.

The two walked out, going at the pace of the slower badger. As they walked, Dr. Honeybee observed Buck's reactions to everything. It seemed that every once in a while the weasel would take in a 360 degree survey of the area as if on watch. It affirmed Dr. Honeybee's suspicion that Buck was slightly paranoid.

For a while, the two walked in silence. Surprising both of them, it was Buck who broke the quiet.

"Tell me the truth, doc. Do we have a chance?"

Dr. Honeybee chuckled. "All my patients have a chance. It's just up to them. As much as I would like to take the credit, all the success in my sessions go to each individual patient. As long as you have a goal in sight and are willing to do anything for those you love, then there is always a chance."

"Sounds simple enough."

"Yes it does. And yet, it's so complicated for some."

Buck gave the badger a curious look.

"Well, many who jump into marriage do so without truly knowing their partner, and a few years down the road, they find that they aren't married to the same animal. Others don't realize that marriage is a sacrifice, and one they aren't willing to pay. Also, they find that a marriage doesn't just affect two animals, but many more. Many of my patients have found this out, and realized that in their own circumstances, it was better to let go."

"Let go?"

Dr. Honeybee realized that he had slipped. The way he was talking, it sounded as if he were encouraging Buck to lean in one direction. Not only was this something he shouldn't do, but he was suggesting divorce to an unstable, delusional weasel that could probably kill off the entire population without anyone knowing.

"I assure you, Mr. Buck, that every option is explored before that direction is even considered. You and your wife have shown signs of improvement, and I have good feelings for you," Dr. Honeybee back pedaled. He mentally told himself that it was unprofessional to reassure a patient like that (a therapist shouldn't make promises like that), but since he wasn't treating Buck as a marriage patient, he felt it was right.

And just as Dr. Honeybee hoped, that quelled Buck enough that he seemed content once more, save for the bouts of checking out the area. However, Dr. Honeybee wasn't done with Buck, and decided to sneak in one last word.

"There is one thing that has bothered me, but its most likely nothing," Dr. Honeybee said in a round-about manner, as if it weren't that important. The badger found that if he spoke this way, animals are more likely to listen to him. "By my calculations, you met Tundra not too soon before you started having marital trouble. I'm sorry if this is a sore subject, but I just wanted to check. For my records."

Buck took a moment to think, and then nodded. "Yeah, that's right. She fell from the ice sky, an' I took her home to stay with us. An' then we had our first fight a few weeks later."

"What a strange coincident," Dr. Honeybee mulled, and then shrugged his massive shoulders. "But I guess sometimes a tree is just a tree."

But Buck didn't hear. His eyes were locked onto the ground a few feet in front of him, and his mind was elsewhere. He was so quiet, that Dr. Honeybee was sure that his words had hit something.

It was unfortunate that the therapist had broken through one level of Buck at that moment, because if he didn't, then the weasel would have been free to continue his watch. And if Buck was watching, then he would have noticed a flock of birds circling over head. And if he noticed those birds, he would have seen that most of the birds were of different species, and shouldn't be flocking together. He would have also seen a majority of the birds head off in a different direction while three crows landed in the trees.

But he didn't see them, and now, what would be so suspicious as three crows hopping from branch to branch, pecking at bugs and seeds for food?

---

As Frost and Tundra neared the mink burrow, they could hear conversation and laughter. Once in sight, they could see the party had begun and was in full swing.

"Oh, I hope Buck hasn't arrived," Tundra said worriedly. She immediately quickened her step, and pushed into the group of minks. Every once in a while, she had to stop in her rush to talk to this relative or that friend of the family, and listen to how they were very glad she was alive and well. It took her so long until she finally arrived at the center where many logs had been set out for both sitting, and holding food for the party. It was there that she found her mother talking gracefully to a group of minks. Next to her was her father, listening politely and nodding when appropriate.

"Mother," Tundra interrupted politely. "Do you know if Buck has arrived?"

The elder mink smiled at the group before turning away. "No, I haven't seen your friend. Did he say he was coming?"

"Yes, I thought he would be here by now."

"What a shame. Tundra, darling, there are a few minks I think you should meet."

"What about two opossums? Have they come by?" Frost asked, looking around for Crash and Eddie.

"Opossums? I hope not," Tundra's mother said with a paw to her chest. "Why would you ask?"

"We invited them," Frost said with smug satisfaction as she saw her aunt's eyes widen in surprise.

"What? You'd invite their kind?"

"Mother, they're our friends. Besides, this party is for Buck," Tundra said, trying to sound as confident as Frost. "Why do I get the feeling that it isn't? You said that you were just inviting the family and a few neighbors."

"Yes, that's true."

"Mother. . ."

"Well, Rocky's practically family. So, I thought we'd make this into an engagement party for you two as well."

Tundra's shoulders sagged, and she felt knots all over inside of her. "Mother, don't you think that you're pushing this marriage a little too much. I just got back, and . . . I really don't think marriage is right for me at this time." For the first time, Tundra was able to blurt out what was on her mind, and was relieved. She had broken through, and, maybe now, she could express herself freely.

"You don't want to get married?" Tundra's mother asked softly.

"Well, yes, I do. But not right now. Things are a little . . . confusing for me, and I don't want to rush into anything," Tundra told her mother, her words a little jumble since she was nervous about speaking to her mother in such a manner. "And I don't really even know Rocky. How are we suppose to live and love each other? What if we can't?"

Tundra's mother gave her daughter a small smile. "I asked those same questions on my wedding day," she told Tundra tenderly. "And every bride have their doubts.

"I was raised in a large family, and it always broke my heart that I couldn't have any more children after you. Which is why I found you a husband from such a well-to-do family. Us minks have always organized arranged marriages, and that is tradition. Because I had only you, I wanted you to have the best husband, and have the best life. I wanted to make sure you'd be taken care of once you left home. And I feel that I have done my duty so far.

"I know you think that I'm rushing you, but I see that you're all grown up. This is the best way that I know to keep you safe and healthy. The world is a cold and cruel place, and minks have always dealt with it by being in large groups. I thought I lost you once, and I hoping that if you have someone else to be with, you won't leave again."

Tundra, since she was little, had been told of the tradition of arranged marriages. Before, she was excited and couldn't wait to get married. But things always change once you grew up. She, however, didn't understand her mother's motive to pushing her toward this marriage. And as she thought about what her mother said, part of it made sense. Any backbone Tundra had started to develop was now gone, and her resolve had dissolved.

"Now, is everything alright now. Hmmm?" Tundra's mother asked, using a finger to lift up her daughter's chin.

Tundra half-way smiled, and her mother took that as a possitive answer.

"Good. Now come this way. There are some minks you need to meet." And like a crack of lightning, her mother was pulling her toward a group of minks.

"Tundra, I'd like you to meet Rocky's mother and father. And three. . .no four of his sisters. I'm sure you'll want to talk quite a bit this afternoon. After all, you're almost family. Is Rocky here yet?"

The new minks shook their head.

"Well, when he arrives, send him our way," Tundra's mother said with a chortle. "I'd like to speak with my new son-in-law. And, of course, these two lovebirds should spend some time together. Now, there's one of his uncles. A delightful mink. Let me introduce you to him Tundra."

Tundra's mother pulled her daughter in a different direction as Tundra's heart flopped around in her chest at the suddenness of everything.

One after another, Tundra was shown more and more minks. She didn't say a word, but allowed her social butterfly mother speak as if she were already married to Rocky. It was all a blur of faces and names. After a while, Tundra could feel her head aching.

"I need a drink," Tundra excused herself, and made a dash away from her mother. She went to the nearest log that contained food and drink. The drinks were contained in hollow egg shells, nut shells and reeds. She picked up the nearest one, and gulped down the contents. Only after she finished the whole drink did she realized that it was fermented fruit juice. Normally she avoided the stuff, and her heart skipped when she realized what she drank. But after a while, she felt more relaxed and calm.

"Tundra! Tundra! Is Buck here yet?"

A group of young minks had ran up to her, and started shouted at her. Some of them she didn't recognize, but most were young cousins or nieces and nephews.

"I haven't seen him," she said with a small smile. "But he should be coming."

The minklings looked so disappointed that she took pity on them.

"How would you like if I told you another pirate story while we wait for him?"

Her young relatives readily agreed, but the others looked a little skeptical. They followed the female mink away from the adults (some grabbing food before doing so), and settled down in the snow.

"What are pirates?" an unknown mink asked, his finger wriggling around in his nose.

"They're horrible animals that ride on ships of ice, and travel all over the world to gather treasure," Tundra told him theatrically. Then she removed the mink's finger from his nostril. "And don't do that. You'll loose brain cells."

"What's treasure?" another mink asked in a soft voice. She kept stuffing food in her mouth as she spoke, so it took Tundra a while to realize what she had said.

"Treasure? You don't know what treasure is?" Tundra asked in disbelief. "It's food. Lots and lots of food. The best food you can think of. Large savory eggs, and big juicy fruit. The best you've ever tasted. Large piles of fish and roots. Frogs, too."

Her description caused a few in her audience to start salivating, and they rushed to the logs to get more food.

"Now, anymore questions?" Tundra asked, paws on hips.

Another mink raised her paw.

"Yes?"

"Why you so skinny? And red. Minks aren't red."

Tundra glared down at the little mink. Maybe it was the fermented fruit juice, or maybe she had just about had it with minks delving into her life. "And who are you? I haven't seen you before."

"You're gonna marry my uncle Rocky," the minkling said with a toothy smile.

Tundra looked at all the minks. "So, some of you are related to Rocky."

"Yes, Aunty Tundra," one mink said with a smile.

"Don't call me that. I'm not married just yet."

The little minks laughed, and continued to ask questions, both pirate and non-pirate related.

Oh, this group is going to get a really, really short story, Tundra thought to herself.

---

Soon after the formation of pirate birds spotted Buck, Gilda the raven landed on a branch to rest. She wasn't as young as she used to be, and gasped for air. The others didn't take her any notice, but the leader of the aviary group, a grizzled crow, gave her a few looks. Gilda ignored him, and started to preen.

"This is your time, little one. Hide in some snow on the branches, and you'll be fine," Gilda whispered as she nuzzled her feathers with her beak. "I'll cover you up best I can."

Longtail, shivering from cold and fear, watched as the other birds circled once, and then dashed away when most weren't looking. He dove into the first patch of snow. It was wet from the sun melting it a bit, and soaked into his fur. But he bit down tight on his teeth to stop his chattering.

"I have to return. They won't let me stay to keep guard, so you're on your own," Gilda murmured.

"Thank you. And you take care," Longtail whispered back. He listened as Gilda took off, and waited at least an hour before looking out from his hiding place. There were no birds in sight.

With deft paws, he climbed down the tree as fast as he could. Light enough to run across the snow, the small mouse sniffed in circles around his tree. Eventually, he caught the scent of Buck and a badger.

Soon, Longtail was running at a moderate pace, one that would take him a while to burn out all his energy and stop to rest. By the look of Buck's paw prints, he wasn't going very fast, so the little mouse felt he had a chance to warn Buck.

If the crows didn't get him.

---

Frost had abandoned Tundra when she realized Aunty Clarissa had confiscated her for the party. She loved Tundra, but not that much. Instead, she found the snack table and started into the spread. She was able to eat a while and drink enough to feel at ease when a commotion made her look up and take notice.

"We have an invitation."

"Yeah, we're friends of the guest of honor."

"I don't believe. I've already had to throw you jokers out of one party. Don't make me do it again."

"What? No, those must have been different opossums."

"Yeah, we're totally legit."

Frost moseyed over to her broad-chested cousin that was acting as a bouncer. "Hey, it's alright Timber. They're with me," she said smoothly.

The larger mink gave her a raised eyebrow, but moved out of the opossum brothers way.

"Yeah, and don't let it happen again," Crash said with a snap of his fingers.

Eddie trembled with excitement. "I can't believe it. We're actually at a mink party."

"Hey, guys. Act cool," Frost warned them. "Even though you're with me, they'll still throw you out if you cause a ruckus."

"Don't worry, Frost. We're completely low key," Crash said with a wink. "Just show us to the food, and we're good."

"Funny, that's just what I was thinking as well," Frost said, and led the way with a sweeping gesture. "Just one question? How well do you hold your juice?"

---

To Tundra's surprise, she continued telling the minklings stories for much longer than she intended. She had to admit, after she started the pirate tales, Rocky's younger relatives were lulled into a silent awe. They weren't so bad.

But to the whines of the little minks, she stopped mid-story when the spotted weasel and badger. She didn't even say anything to her audience as she dashed away.

"Buck!" she called out as she stopped right in front of him. "I was worried you weren't coming."

"I apologize, Miss Tundra," Dr. Honeybee spoke first. "I'm afraid I don't move as quickly as some animals."

"Well, it's just great that you're here," Tundra said, feeling self-conscious. When Buck came into sight, her heart quickened at the thought that maybe Dr. Honeybee's therapy had helped Buck. Was he his ordinary self? What had happened? She was on the edge waiting for Buck to speak, and maybe reveal what she was hoping for.

But silence only reigned.

"Ah, I see your father, Miss. Tundra. I will go say hello," Dr. Honeybee said, and moved away.

And there was still silence. Tundra was worried that Buck was even further from his old self. She decided to break the quiet, but nothing came to mind. And then she remembered her audience.

"Uh, Buck, there's a few minks that want to meet you," she said, thinking how excited her cousins will be. She didn't wait for an answer, but grabbed his paw and pulled him along. "Hey, kids. Guess who's here? It's Buck."

And suddenly, the old Buck was back once the children gasped in hero-worshiping awe at the battle scarred weasel. A cacophony of questions flowed through the air, and Buck laughed and gruffly answered. At the sight of the tooth knife, when one minkling asked about it, made all their eyes huge. Buck swished it around, and did a few tricks with it. He threw it in the air, and caught it by the handle, then tossed it again and caught it in his teeth.

The little ones grew so noisy that a few mothers came by to tell them that they were too noisy, and it was time for them to go back inside and let the adults alone. A few of the minklings cried, but obeyed with loud goodbyes and waves to Buck. A few asked if he'll come back tomorrow, or if he would stay with their family forever.

Buck only chuckled at their devotion to him, and didn't promise them anything. He was still smiling when he turned to face Tundra.

Tundra blue eyes locked onto Buck's, and they starred at each other for a few moments. Her heart beat quickly, hoping that he would say something. But when his grin slowly faded, so did her expectations.

"So, how did it go with Dr. Honeybee?" she asked softly, her heart pleading for a positive answer.

Buck looked away, and shrugged. He sheathed his knife, and picked up the pineapple that he had discarded at the moment the minklings had accosted him.

"Buck, are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be, mammal?" Buck asked, a fake smile on his face. "Your family threw this party all for me. Well, let's get to partying."

"Yeah, I guess we should," Tundra said sadly, a desire for another drink rising inside of her. But she steadied that desire when she saw a pair of minks that were familiar. "Oh, Buck. I want you to meet my grandparents," she said, energy coming back into her body. She led Buck to the elderly mammals that were slowly moving through the crowds.

"Grammie, Pop-pop, I'd like you to meet my friend," Tundra said excitedly as she rushed to her grandparents. "This is Buck."

Tundra's paternal grandfather eyed Buck with a grizzled look, then spat to the side. "This is the weasel you told all those stories about?" he asked his granddaughter.

"Yes."

"Hmph," Pop-pop growled. "He looks too skinny and small. I doubt he could even climb a good sized tree."

"Pop-pop!" Tundra hissed a warning.

"And what's with the leaf over the eye. Trying to look like some punk?"

Tundra pinched the bridge of her nose to massage a head ache that was forming.

"AH!" Grammie broke in, clutching her head in one paw and her heart in another. She shook all over. "The horror!"

"Are you okay?" Buck asked, concern written all over his face.

"She's fine," Tundra and Pop-pop said in a dull voice.

"Just ignore her. She does it for the attention," Pop-pop grumbled.

Tundra elbowed Buck. "You're about to receive on of Grammie's famous fore-tellings. She predicts other animal's death."

Buck looked at the elderly female with an expression of respect.

"I see pain, oh, so much pain. Blackness and torment. Fear and agony all over. Darkness. Much darkness," Grammie weapt, clutching at Buck. "It will last for days and days, so much suffering that you wish for death. Then the end will come."

Tundra's eyes widened. This was much worse than Grammie's usual tellings. It almost made her shake with terror.

After a few more seconds of shaking with a look of fear, Grammie stood up calmly, and gave Buck a bright smile.

Pop-pop chuckled.

Buck's starred down at the elderly mink, and then started guffawing. "I like you, Grammie. Can I escort you somewhere?" he asked, and offered an arm to her.

"Oh, what a nice, young weasel you are," Grammie said while giggling like she was a maiden again. "I am slightly parched, if you will."

The two went off through the crowd at Grammie's pace, both chatting amiably like old friends.

"That boy's a survivor."

Tundra turned to her grandfather to see him smiling his grizzled smile at the weasel.

"Oh, don't worry about him. It'll be a long, long time before your Grammie's prediction comes true," Pop-pop said, looking very serious. "He kind of reminds me of me when I was young. Which is probably why my wife is fixated on him. Well, I better make sure she doesn't try anything with him."

Pop-pop gave Tundra a kiss on her cheek before ambling through the crowd.

Tundra smiled, thinking how nice it was that Buck was fitting in with part of her family. She only wished that this was. . . .

"He has a very magnetic personality, that one does."

"Whoa. . .Dr. Honeybee. I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," Tundra half-yelled as she turned to the badger. "Are you having a good time?"

"Yes, it is nice to get out once in a while. But I might depart sooner than expected," he said with a sad smile.

"Really? But you just arrived."

"I think its for the best," the badger said, and his lifted his snout to look around. "I'm afraid that a therapist at a party is a sore thumb. You're family seems to feel awkward around me."

It's not because you're a therapist. It's because you're a badger, Tundra thought, but knew better than to say it. In her opinion, it was a fatal flaw that a majority of minks disliked mingling outside of their species. But they weren't the only ones. It was an old fad that was slowly becoming out of fashion. Perhaps in a few generations, the minks will grow out of it. But for now. . .

"I'm sorry that my family is a bunch of snobs," Tundra apologized.

The badger held up a claw for her to say no more. "It is not my nature to judge. I don't make it a habit to tell others how to live."

Tundra was about to argue that that was his job, but the badger beat her to it.

"It's a therapist secret that we don't give out advice," Dr. Honeybee explained. "We only gently coach others to speak their minds or do what they long to do. We are the sympathetic ear."

"But how could you help Buck? He always speaks his mind and does what he wants. Are you saying you can't help him?"

Normally it would be a breach of ethics to discuss a patient with someone else, but Dr. Honeybee felt in his gut that Tundra and Buck were so closely connected that he considered her part of the therapy. Instead of treating Buck and his wife's relationship, he was helping the relationship of this mink and weasel. After all, the relationship of marriage isn't any different from any other. Friendships, and other family relationships need the same things as marriage: love, compromise, selflessness, devotion and sacrifice.

"I am very sure there is something that he isn't willing to talk about," Dr. Honeybee explained. "Mammals like Buck seem like they have no secrets, and that means there's something they're trying to hide. They do such a good job that its even hidden from themselves."

Tundra nodded. She remembered that there were times when Buck didn't want to talk about things, especially his past.

"Oh, that reminds me. There was something I wanted to tell you," Tundra remembered. "Before we arrived at your burrow, Buck became startled and started calling me by my nickname. It was like his old self was back."

Dr. Honeybee nodded. "It seems that his stronger emotions will do that. Fear, anger, desperation. But those emotions fade quickly, and he returns to his delusions. There is only one emotion that is strong enough to last longer."

Tundra opened her mouth to ask, but once again, Dr. Honeybee anticipated the question. "Please don't ask that. I've already spoken much more than I should about Buck. I told you that my sessions are private."

"How long will it take until. . .?"

"I cannot say. It may take months or even years," Dr. Honeybee said sadly. "It's all up to Buck, and I'm afraid Buck is fighting to keep his secrets."

Tundra's heart sank to her tale. He's not going to stick around for all that time. He'll leave soon, maybe tomorrow or the day after. And I'll probably never get through to him, even if I visit.

"Is there anything I can do?" Tundra asked, feeling a little desperate.

Dr. Honeybee gave her a look to say, Did I just say I don't give advice? As much as he would have like to, he couldn't. "What do you think you can do to help Buck?"

Tundra looked down, her mind looping around through everything she had already thought about, but nothing new came up.

"Have a good day, Miss Tundra," Dr. Honeybee said with a bow of his head, and moved on.

As the badger lumbered off, Tundra wanted to shout back at him, That's what I've been asking myself all this time. She wanted to berate him for treating her as a patient. And in the end, she realized how hard it must be to be Dr. Honeybee. Everyone expected him to fix their problems, and don't want to do any of the work. And if he didn't fix the problem, then it was all his fault.

At least he can walk away from this mess. It isn't his life, she told herself. I wish I could leave too.

The reddish-brown mink desired more fermented juice, and didn't quell it. She made her way to the drinks, and discovered Frost sitting at a log with the opossum brothers. They were laughing and talking joyfully.

That looks like a really good idea.

"Hey, guys," she said as she sat next to them with her own drink. "You look like you're having a good time." As she said this, she looked down at the many empty drink containers near them and the big goofy looks on their faces.

"Are you kiddin'?" Frost said much more happily than should be possible. "These guys are geniuses. Our family ignores me when I'm around them."

That set the three of them laughing.

"Perfect," Tundra said, and plopped herself down. "Right now, I just want to drown my sorrows."

"Ahhh, still having trouble with Mr. Pineapple," Frost said, her voice starting to slur. "Maybe we should get him drunk. He won't be thinking about fruit then."

Tundra remembered the one time Buck did get drunk. He wasn't a very happy drunk. And at the way she was going, she would be just like him. Tipping her drink back to her mouth, she down the entire contents as fast as she could.

"Oooooo," the opossum brothers said in awe.

"Feelin' better?" Frost asked.

"Getting there," Tundra said, and hiccuped. "I need to get another."

"No worries," Crash said with a conspiratorial grin. "We found their supply."

Eddie took her eggshell, and dipped it in the largest reed Tundra had ever seen. When he brought it back up, it was filled with liquid.

"Keep them comin' boys," Tundra said with a small smile. "It's going to take a lot for me to forget about Buck."

"Forget?" Eddie asked, almost dropping her drink. "You mean. . ."

"Yep, I'm done with him," Tundra told them, sipping her drink. "I've spent too much time on that weasel. I harbored a hope that he'd eventually realize how I feel about him, but it seems he would prefer to stay in his stupid fantasy. In a couple of days, he'll go back down his hole and I'll never see him again."

"Huh? You're going to quit him entirely?" Crash asked. "But aren't you friends? He'll miss you."

"No, he won't. He's already made it clear I'm just like the rest of the evolution chain," Tundra told them. "Did he come visit you guys? No, Buck only cares for Buck."

Frost didn't like how her cousin was talking, even if she didn't like Buck. That stupid weasel was the only mammal that had made Tundra happy, and curse the freak for breaking her heart. She put a paw on Tundra's drink, and tipped it further into Tundra's mouth.

"Keep drinking," Frost said as Tundra sputtered from the surprise. "You're gonna have to drink a lot more if you want to beat me."

"I don't know. You already look like you're about to pass out," Tundra said with a wild grin that reminded everyone of Buck.

"Is that a challenge?"

"You're on."

---

Buck had to admit that Tundra was raised in a strange family. He stayed around her grandmother for a while until she told him to go mingle with the younger crowd. Buck then found himself always surrounded by curious minks that seemed to have heard stories about him, some of them wilder than anything he'd done in real life. However, just to mix things up, he told all of them that the stories were all true. Some of them walked away with wide eyes. Other gave him skeptical glances before shaking their head and leaving.

After a while, he spotted what appeared to be two opossums passed out on the ground and two noisy drunk minks singing on top of a log. He had a curious look on his face when he realized that it was Tundra and Frost, singing very poorly an ice sailor song with bawdy lyrics. Shaking his head with a slight grin on his face, he went toward them.

"Hey, Tundra. There's your hot fiance," Frost shouted during the chorus, sloshing her drink all over her white pelt.

Suddenly Buck stopped in mid-stride as he followed Frost's finger to a brackish colored mink that was swaggering through the crowd. Buck was sure that in the mink community that this particular mink was good looking, according to how many females looked his way with longing. And even though he had never met this mink before, the weasel had an immense dislike of him, though he couldn't say why.

"Heeeeeeey, Rooooooockyyyyyyyyyy," Tundra hollered in a way only completely tipsy mammals could. She jumped off (or a better word for it would be she fell off like a pigskin full of water), and wobbled to the handsome mink. "You're pretty," she told him, and started petting his face.

"Go on, Tundra. Give him a kiss!" Frost shouted, still on top of the log.

"Shhhhhhhhh," Tundra shushed very loudly. "You're not suppose to kiss until your married."

"What? That's not true," Frost told her cousin, and stumbled toward her. "I've kiss lots of guys before. It's fun."

Rocky watched the two cousins with a look of bemusement. He folded his arms and watched them as if they were doing a skit for his amusement.

"It's easy," Frost insisted. "Here. I'll show you." She then grabbed Rocky's face, and laid a big one on his lips.

The crowd of minks gasped as such impropriety, and gossip started to run rampant through the party.

Tundra's mouth dropped open in surprise, and, when the kiss was over, started to laugh. "You just kissed my fiance."

"That's 'cause I have to teach you," Frost told her. The white mink started to sway a little. "Nobody's gonna want to marry you unless you know how to kiss."

Rocky stepped away, flabbergasted that he had just been violated.

"I know how to kiss. It ain't science," Tundra said. She grabbed Rocky's face just like Frost, and pulled him close to her.

Seeing that his fiance was about to kiss him, Rocky put his paws on her hips and pulled her closer. "By all means, go ahead and show me that you know how to kiss," he said suavely.

They were about to embrace when a strong arm wrapped around Tundra's waist.

"Whoa, lassie," Buck said, and towed her away from the male mink. "I think you've had enough. Maybe you and your cousin should go home."

Rocky had a look of disappointment on his face.

"What!? We're having a great time," Frost protested. She tried to push Buck and Tundra apart, and ended up on her own tail. "We haven't had enough."

It had been a while since Buck had dealt with uncooperative drunks, but he still had a slight knack. And that was to lie, lie, lie.

"No, you haven't? I'm sorry, I was mistaken," Buck said apologetically. "But I'm afraid that all the drinks are gone, and the party is now over."

"What?" Tundra asked with a long, sad face. "The drinks are all gone?"

"Naw, we still have our stash," Frost said with a big grin.

"Then you're willing to share it with everyone, right?" Buck said with a smug grin.

Frost's head started to nod in circles as if Buck kept moving. "Oh, I guess we should be going then; how 'bout it, Tundra?"

"Let's go to your place," Tundra suggested.

Frost agreed, and the two females picked up the large reed and staggered away. Tundra only paused a moment to shake Crash and Eddie.

"Hey, get up," she called to them, almost falling down in the effort.

"Leave them. They can't hold anything," Frost said in disgust.

Buck chuckled at their retreating backsides. Frost didn't surprise him, but he never thought that Tundra would ever get drunk. It was quite entertaining.

Thinking that he should probably leave too before his welcome was worn out, he turned around. To his astonishment, Tundra's mother was right in front of him with a soft look on her face, and his wife in her paws.

"Mr. Buck, thank you very much for that," she said sincerely. "You handled that very well."

"It was nothin', m'am," Buck said modestly.

"I saw that you dropped this," she said, and handed the pineapple over. ". . . And I just wanted to offer. . . . if you and your two friends need a place to stay, you're welcome at my home." Tundra's mother gestured to the sleeping opossums with her paw.

"I thank you kindly, but I'll take them home. Their sister worries," Buck told her. "It's not yet dark, so I think we'll be okay."

Tundra's mother nodded, thanked him once more, and then left. She had every intention of asking about the pineapple, but wanted to be polite as she expressed her gratitude. She hadn't known of Tundra and Frost's excessive drinking, nor their embarrassing display until it was too late. She only arrived to see Buck diffuse the situation with little fuss, and she felt deep gratitude for that act. And when some mammal had helped her out in such a situation, she made sure they knew it.

Buck checked up on the opossum brothers, and they seemed to be just fine. But instead of taking them home like he had said, he left them where they were. He had one last thing to do before he left.

"Hey there, big guy. I think we need to have a guy to guy talk," Buck said with a big smile as he put a paw on Rocky's shoulder.

The mink looked down at the weasel with half-opened eye-lids. "Excuse me? Oh it's you. Have you come to stop the fun again?"

"Oh no, I just thought I'd give some good advice to the groom-to-be," Buck answered innocently. "Please come with me. I insist."

Buck's grin grew so wide that Rocky was sure when Buck said, "I insist" what he really meant was, "You really have no choice but to come with me."

Trying to act nonchalant, Rocky shrugged. "Sure."

As they moved away from the larger group, Buck picked up a few nut shells of fruit juice. He always felt that males bonded better over a strong drink. They settled themselves down with their backs against a log, and each took a gulp of their nut shell.

"So, the rumor is that you've saved Tundra when she ran away," Rocky started out, wanting to show Buck he wasn't scarred of him.

"Somethin' like that," Buck said with a nod of his head.

"Since you spent all that time together, you know her pretty well, right?"

Buck shrugged.

"She isn't, like, crazy or anything."

"Naw, she has a good head on her shoulder. But you should know that, bein' her fiance an' all."

"Not really," Rocky murmured, and took another drink. "This is only the second time we've seen each other, and today was really a shocker."

"Yeah, she surprised me too," Buck chuckled. "So, I'm guessin' that this was an arranged weddin'."

"Yeah. It's like some sort of tradition in my family," Rocky said in a way that told he didn't really care.

Buck downed the rest of his drink, and burped loudly. "Then yer in luck, m'lad. You see, I was sort of in the same position that you are in when I was married. At least, we didn't know each other until we were hitched."

"Oh, you're married?" Rocky asked, relief rushing through him. "So there's nothing going on between you and Tundra?"

Buck's eye twitched, and a crazy grin cracked along his face. "No, of course not. I'm happily married to my wife." He picked up the pineapple, and gave it a few affectionate pats.

Rocky only raised an eyebrow at this, but didn't ask. He didn't want to know.

"There's one thing you should know about those kind of weddings," Buck told the mink. "Gettin' married is easy. It's the honeymoon that's awkward."

Rocky's eyes suddenly opened up very wide, and he watched Buck from the corners of his eyes in horror. Don't tell me he's going to give me advice on THAT. For the next hour, Rocky sat in uncomfortable silence as Buck talked and talked and talked. Most of it was just dealing with everyday living as a married male, but every once in a while, private information slipped in. Each one more disturbing than the last. At the end of this talk, Rocky was sure he'd never eat fruit again.

"Gee, that was. . .er. . .great advice," Rocky lied through his teeth, hoping to get away before he lost his cool. "It was great talking to you."

"Yes, it is great talking to me," Buck agreed. He stood up the same time as Rocky did, and put the mink in a friendly head-lock. "I'm glad we're really getting along. Because I'm going to give you one last bit of advice. And I saved the best for last."

Dreading the answer, Rocky looked up into Buck's congenial face, and asked, "Yeah, and what's that?"

In a flash, Buck pulled out Rudy's tooth, and laid it against the mink's face, the end point right next to Rocky's eye. The change was so quick, Rocky didn't have time to react. And it was good that he didn't. Any kind of struggle would have made him one eye more like Buck. Confused at the strange alteration of the weasel, Rocky looked back up at Buck. The weasel's countenance changed as well. His snarl was far more scarier than the knife.

"I will kill you if I ever find out that you have hurt her," Buck growled out each syllable with malice and primal anger. "Got that."

"Yes, I do," Rocky cried out in a squeaky voice, spending much of his energy trying to hold still.

The knife withdrew, and Buck let the tense mink go. Without another word, Buck walked away as if he didn't just threaten the handsome mink. He seemed very calm, and put together as he made his way to the sleeping opossum duo. Saying not a word and not changing his expression from his stoic one, he picked up both opossums, one in each arm, and walked away.

---

The sun was just starting to set when the flock returned to the Blight. When the news was passed to the captain, Red Claw laughed with glee and rubbed his paws together.

"Alright, me hearties. Get those mangy dogs and cats to change course. We have our heading," the Captain shouted, his voice causing everyone to scramble to action. "I want us there by day break."

Soon, the sabers and wolves were made to turn the ice ship slightly to their destination.

The crew, who had been given a small rest from back-breaking labor and now being made to work even more, didn't dare complain. But in their eyes, one could read mutiny there. Captain Red Claw may have been one of the most hated and feared captains, but even he couldn't keep this crew in line for long.

"Are you sure that is wise, my Captain?" Glacier said in a calm manner.

"The sooner I have Buck in my claws, the better," Red Claw growled, spittle hanging from his jagged teeth.

"Ah, I'm guessing you don't have a plan for your revenge yet," Glacier played onto the captain's ego. "Because after all he's done to you, you want him to suffer, don't you?"

One could not call Captain Red Claw dumb. For one, you'd be killed for it. And for another, the large pack rat wasn't as thick as he seemed. He was quite a brilliant strategist, and very good at planning raids. But once he had hold of an obsession or blood-lust was on his tongue, he couldn't think any better than a couple of dodos.

"Yes, make him suffer," Red Claw agreed.

Glacier studied a few of his own claws to see if he had broken any. "Then please realize that if you continue to push your crew to their limits, they won't be in any condition to take orders from you."

The captain staved off his hatred for Buck to look around and see reason. "No, I need my crew functional. I need them to capture Buck, and bring him to me."

"Then you should let them work in shifts. We'll be able to arrive around mid-day, I expect," Glacier.

"Yes. New orders!" Captain Red Claw shouted to his crew. "You'll be working in shifts, lads. Half of you get some rest. We'll arrive at mid-day. And we'll have our revenge!"

At this news, the crew cheered at such good news. They moved like clock work; no arguments or scuffles over who worked when. They were well oiled from their constant fear of their captain and his first mate.

"What a good idea. I'm glad I thought of it," Captain Red Claw said to bolster his ego. However, after a while, he felt very chilly. When he looked up, the eyes of Glacier were locked upon him, and starring him down with a look as powerful as gale force winds, chilling him all the way until it felt like his heart was pumping ice.

"Okay, fine. It was your idea," Red Claw grumbled. "I don't think it's seemly for the first mate to stare down the captain."

"I only ask that credit goes where credit is due," Glacier said, now back to his calm and non-scary self.

"Hmph," Red Claw grunted, always needing to have the last word.

---

Deep in the darkest part of Frost's hollow log, the two mink cousins lay curled up tightly next to each other. They were sleeping off all the fruit juice they drank, and would have happily slept the whole day long, if it wasn't for something loud and annoying knocking against the hollow tree. The reverberations echoed all through Frost's home, and disturbed the hung-over females.

"Oh, I've died and gone to hell," Tundra moaned, wrapping her tale over her face.

"No, believe me. We're still alive," Frost contradicted. "I don't think hell would hurt this much."

"Rise an' shine, ladies."

"I'll kill him!" Tundra shouted, despite just waking up from a dream that featured the spotted weasel. "I'll kill him when the world stops spinning."

Buck finally found them as he poked around Frost's domicile. "Come on, get up. You'll only make the pain last longer if you sit their moaning. Walking around will help."

"This is worse than the chasm of death," Tundra whimpered as Buck nudged her with his foot.

"Come on, mammals. Buck up," Buck said, laughing a bit at his own little joke. "I need you to do something for me."

"Unless it involves strangling you into silence, I'm not doing it," Frost growled, and rolled away from the weasel until she was in a corner.

"Get up, this is important," Buck coxed the reddish-brown mink.

At that Tundra did sit up, one paw covering a majority of her eyes. "What is it, Buck?" she asked, concerned that something was wrong. Suddenly her vision was filled with mottle browns and greens that had the appearance of being slightly irked.

"I need you to stay with my wife for a while," Buck pleaded in his gruff way, holding the pineapple directly in Tundra's red-eyed gaze. "I have an appointment that's just between me and the doc. And then her appointment is after mine, so in a while bring her down to the doc's."

For a few seconds, Tundra felt dead as she tried to figure out why that was so important. Then she wanted to scream. She felt like crying. But she didn't do either. Instead, she reached into her fur and pulled out the rock knife she had deftly hid from her family. She unsheathed the knife so quickly that Buck barely dodged it. She knew he would, but that didn't make her feel any better.

"Hey, what are you. . .?" Buck started to ask with a smile as if it were a joke, but had to stop as Tundra launched at him with another attack. He rolled away, cradling the pineapple so it didn't get hurt. It was during the mink's third attack that he pulled out Rudy's tooth.

"This isn't the time for this," Buck told Tundra, giving her a look as if she were crazy.

"SELFISH!" Tundra shouted at him, her blue eyes ablaze.

"Huh?"

"You are so selfish!" Tundra shouted at the weasel while constantly swiping at him with her knife.

"ME?!" Buck was baffled by his friend's behavior. This couldn't have been the mammal that only a moment ago was lying like a slug in agony.

"Yes. You don't think of anyone but yourself. Do you even realize what your actions do to those around you?!" Tundra continued to shout out all her words. "Do you realize how infuriating you are? How much you disrupt the lives of others?"

Buck was so stunned by this that he almost didn't block Tundra's next assault. However, she nicked his shoulder, drawing blood, which made him go on the offense. "I haven't seen any. . ."

"Because you've been blind to the rest of the world, Buck," Tundra yelled. As Buck pushed her back with his skills, she flipped back and then rushed forward to confuse the weasel.

Buck, in turn, started into the fancy footwork. He moved closer to Tundra so that he could use his other appendages to fight, and not just his knife. He noticed that Tundra was doing the same.

"I don't know what you are talking about?" Buck shouted at the mink, his voice completely serious.

"Of course you don't," Tundra spat at him. "Rule number one is always listen to Buck. Buck never has to listen to anyone else."

Buck spun in a quick circle, tripping Tundra up with his tail. But the move made little difference when Tundra quickly jumped back to her feet by curving her back. She then faked a punch to his gut with her right, and caught him with a kick instead. The strike didn't affect Buck at all as he grabbed her fur, and tossed her away from him. The mink only rolled from the toss, and was back into the fight in no time.

"I'm listening now. Tell me what's wrong," Buck told her, his eyes locked onto hers so he could read her actions.

Tundra dropped her fighting crouch to chuckle hysterically at the ceiling. "Yeah, that's great. You're listening, but only if its spelled out for you. You know, you never try to understand anyone, do you? But why do you need to, when you're hiding away in you're own little paradise."

"Is that what you think I do?" Buck shouted, sounding angry.

"I don't know, since you never talk about your past," Tundra shot back at him.

"I don't hide!"

"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Tundra asked in a teasing voice.

"You don't know anything about that," Buck growled, his fists clenched.

"But what does Buck care. He's been living in his own little world that's all about him. Nothing but Buck. Because that's all Buck cares about. Nothing to loose and nothing to gain, which is why he doesn't care if he lives or dies. Isn't that right, Buck?"

Buck didn't say a think.

"ISN'T THAT RIGHT, BUCK?!" Tundra shouted at him as loud as she could, walking up right into her face.

"What would you know?" Buck glowered at her. "You're just a silly, little pampered mink who thought it was fun to play adventure. You've never had to be alone. You've always had someone looking after you."

Tundra was so startled that Buck started retaliating with his words that she lifted her paw to slap his face. His paw met hers, and he stopped the attack by holding onto her wrist. Tundra knew the slap was a mindless reaction, and tried to punch him in the face. However, that too, was stopped by Buck's paw. With both front paws caught, Tundra tried to get away.

"Stop it!" Buck shouted at her, and she stopped struggling. "What do you want from me?"

Tundra bowed her head, and told him softly, "Just leave."

"Gladly. You need to cool your head before your weddin'. Maybe you'll be civil enough to talk to me then," Buck told her firmly as he dropped her paws.

"No, I don't want to see you at the wedding," Tundra said in a firmer voice, her head still down. "Get out of here. Go home, Buck."

Buck stepped back, surprised at what she was saying.

Tundra looked up, her face full of hurt and anger. "This isn't your world anymore, Buck. You don't belong up here. Go home, and be happy. Just GO!"

"But. . ."

Tundra turned her back to the weasel, her arms crossed like she was refusing to talk to a naughty child. "Please leave, Buck. I just can't take it anymore," she said in a stoic tone.

And Buck did as she said. He picked up the pineapple from where he left it almost mechanically. He didn't look back, but kept putting one paw in front of the other.

What Buck didn't see when Tundra turned her back to him was the tears pouring out of her eyes and soaking into her fur. And once he was gone, he didn't see that she sank to her knees, her emotions too much for her to bear.

Once Buck was gone, Frost crawled over to her cousin, and enfolded her into an embrace.

"Curse that weasel for doing this to you," Frost told her cousin, vehemence in her voice. "I'm glad you gave all that to him. I wish I could have done it for you."

Tundra shook from her sobbing. "I hate myself," she told her cousin. "I hate myself for what I've done to him."

"Shhhhhh," Frost calmed her, rubbing her back. "It's alright. You did what you had to. He doesn't deserve you."

And Tundra cried and cried until she was dry, and to her surprise, her cousin wept with her.

Goodbye, my love. I hope that you will be happy.

-Chapter notes:

I was very sad that nobody took the opportunity to ask any of the characters questions, or ask me any question, save for one person. And most of those questions were answered in this chapter. So thank you Kayladestroyer for asking questions, and I hope all of them are answered. I would also like to them Kayla for seeing a big spelling error in my chapters. I spelled "saber" as "sabor" because I didn't take the time to look it up.

I received a lot of comments about Tundra's mother, Clarissa, that made me think. Many said that they see her as the villian, which surprised me. But I guess I see it. I wonder if everyone still sees her as one now, and if you will continue to see her as one until the end of the story (by the way, I only have two chapters left).

Please be aware that anything related to therapy or therapist in this story may or may not be accurate. I had to look up some information about writing psychiatrists, and some of my information comes from watching Monk. Not everything I've said is fact, so don't quote me. I thought that it would be okay since it's the Ice Age, and it most likely won't be perfect until the year 2050. LOL

And that reminds me. Did my therapy sessions seem realistic to everyone? I've never needed therapy, so I'm not sure. The scenes where I go further into Buck's personality were really hard for me. Some days, I would just stare at the computer and after a half hour realized I hadn't written anything. However, near the end, most of it came out like vomit. Yay, great image.

I would tell everyone my next goal for the next chapter, but I've seen where that gets me. So, I'm afraid that the next chapter will come when it comes. Last time, I told my goals so that those people who don't have a account didn't have to check my story every day for updates. Now, all I have to say to those people is get an account. Because fanfiction isn't that great that you need to check up on it every single day.

One last thought to everyone, the end of the world's coming up, so prepare for that. I have my three melons, so I'm good. If you don't plan ahead then DOOM ON YOU!