13
I left the cave during the night, gone without a sound. Grug was gravely injured; I doubted he'd live through the night. I didn't want to be there for their discovery of that. I took Belt and ran into the night, heading for the cave the three men stayed at before the tiger attacked. It was a good ten miles away, plenty of space between me and the odd family. I could never fit in with them; my best chance was on my own. I stopped walking as an idea formed in my head. I could stick close to the Croods and whatever kills they made I could scavenge off of. That way I could still have the cover of a group, but not necessarily be with them. I looked down at Belt as he clung to my waist.
"What do you think, buddy?" I asked him and his eyes looked up at me. He cooed and leaned his head against my side. I sighed and looked back at the dark outline of the cave. Where would my life be 5 years from now? If I even survived that long.
…
Eep collected berries from the bushes close to the cave, her mind wandering off to Guy and her father. He had made it through the night and now had woken up, she would use these berries as his breakfast. They had woken up to find Guy gone; he had left during the night and hadn't come back. He wasn't gone for good though; she had seen him in one of the trees nearby. They had talked for a little while, him explaining to her his plan. He wouldn't come back to the cave, but he'd hang around it. She thought it was a strange idea but she went along with it.
She looked up at the massive storm clouds forming overhead. Rain would be coming in soon; she'd need to get back to the cave. She hated being inside the dark and cramped space but she couldn't deny that it provided a great shelter. She headed back to the cave and sat down in the entrance, setting the berries on a rock. Thunder rumbled in the sky and the rain started to pour down. She looked out into the open, spotting Guy leaning against a tree. He wasn't wearing that giant jacket he had made for the winter, it was too warm out for that now. He watched her and raised a hand.
"Eep, could you mash these up please?" Her mother suddenly said and Eep glanced back at her and nodded, taking the berries. She looked back up towards where Guy was standing but he was gone. He never let anyone else see him but her. A sudden flash of lightning struck right next to the cave, making her jump.
"We should probably close that boulder." Ugga said, standing up. Eep groaned and moved out of the way. A bright light caught her eye though, she stood to see it better. But her mother moved the boulder into place before she could get a good look.
…
The lightning strike had lit up a patch of dry grass, creating a bush fire. The fire was quickly spreading now, the rain having no effect on it. I panicked and ran towards the river, the only place where fire couldn't get to. I looked over my shoulder, the fire already consuming the trees and grass behind me. I jumped into the river, ducking my head under just as the wall of flames reached its edge. A few seconds went by and I slowly surfaced, glancing around. Fire totally surrounded me, burning everything in its path. Smoke filled the air and I could barely breathe. Belt peeked his head out beside me, coughing at the thick air. So long as we remained in the river, we'd be safe. Eeeps family was inside their cave, fire couldn't get them either.
It felt like hours before we could finally leave the river. I shook the water from my body, the breeze chilling me to the bone. I shivered, ringing out my boots before slipping them back on. I looked around at the charred earth. Blackened trees staggered, burnt grass, and smoldering bushes were all that remained as far as I could see. Belt cooed worriedly, crawling up to the shoulders. I looked over at the Croods cave, them all standing outside it. Eep ran over to me instantly as she saw me, grabbing me in a giant hug and squeezing the breath out of me.
"You're ok!" She cried. She let me go finally and I sucked in a giant breath, her grinning.
"What happened?" Ugga asked, walking up behind her.
"Forest fire. It typically happens in the dry season but I guess the lightning hit the perfect spot." I said and looked around. "You guys can't stay here, everything's burned."
"We know. We're getting everyone ready to leave." Ugga said. I looked past her and at Grug, who limped up next to her. He was alive, I was amazed. These people were so much tougher than I could ever be.
"We should leave today." I said and they nodded. I had no way of knowing just how far the fire spread, but I would start heading in the opposite direction of where the wind was blowing.