"I'm so done from the water." Steffie had no desire to go on. She was so exhausted that she could sleep on the spot here.
"Now get up. You can't sleep here." Katie wanted to pull her up but the lying mammoth was stubborn.
"Of course I can. The moss here is very convenient." The other sighed annoyed and looked to Meghan.
"Hey should help me and don't look around in the area." She told the dark mammoth but this still looked at the bushes.
"Just be quiet for moment." Steffie liked that right now because she already lay her head on her front legs. Katie wanted to ask first what is going on but then she heard something. Now she stared also in the undergrowth.
"Who ever wants to play games with us, we don't fall for something so silly." She announced loudly and the sound fell silent. Relieved, the mammoths turned back to her friend to motivate her to go on.
But someone else in the bushes use this as an opportunity and ran with a roar to the large animals.
"Stand up quickly! Saber-toothed tigers attack us." Meghan wanted still to push her up but it was to late as four sabers came closer and closer. Steffie slowly realized the danger and stood up but in contrast to the other two she was too exhausted to run away fast.
"Stay together and try to ward off the attacks with the trunk." Katie cried to the others even if she was also scared but one had to be strong. Three mammoth against four tigers. Their advantage was their size and strength but unfortunately it also made them slower. So far, they have never had to endure are against any danger. Maybe because they normally were five and untouchable with two male mammoths. Now she would have been glad if the boys or anyone else who could help them would have been close. But as one of the animals jumped to Meghan and she panicked and ran away.
"Stay where you are!" But it wasn't heard because her friend disappeared into the dark bushes. She wondered why did this happen now because at the night her eyes were not as good as by their opponent ones. She could still talk of luck that the moon shone so brightly. "What shall we do?" Steffie wanted to know when she could just ward off the next attack. It wasn't long and the saber returned who ran after Meghan. The other two mammoth painted worst ideas in their heads.
"I don't want to die like that."
"Listen now! You wont die here." Katie insured her friend but she was already attacked because she was careless.
"I wouldn't be so sure with that." Said the leader of the sabers. It doesn't bother her that one mammoth was away. She finally wanted to part three for her pack. Since it seemed to her that this is quite right that one of them appeared weak.
"I'm not afraid of such an old cat." But the blonde mammoth regretted her words immediately then she became a scratch on the trunk for them.
"Not so insolent but I want be so mean this time. You can tell which of you want to stay with us. The other mammoth can go unharmed." The large animals could not believe what was just proposed to them.
"And you can choose who you will first be trampled on." Roared Steffie angry and just ran to the them.
"What are you doing ?!" She wanted to prevent her friend from walking too far away from her but it was too late and two of her opponents jumped between them.
"Until now you had the chance to get away but you die with her." Declared the leader who the attacked Katie. This was still fit but she looked in horror other who began to waver. She wanted to run to her but she doesn't make it, despite her size.
"Let her alone!" She yelled but it brought nothing and one of the saber-toothed tigers tackled Steffie to the ground.
"No!" Scared she closed her eyes because she doesn't want to see it when her friend is going to be killed. But then she heard a familiar stomping what came near fast and she blinked careful. The male mammoths were standing there with branches attached to the trunk to chase away the big cats. Although the leader cursed again but when her people fled she has no choice but to do the same.
"Ethan, Budy! What are you doing here?" The blond mammoth knew it was stupid to ask that but she was full of joy to see them so nothing better came to her mind.
"Meghan told us you are in danger."Explained the dark brown mammoth and then checked Katie from top to bottom. He was just about to inspect a small injury with his trunk but she blocked him.
"Could you keep you trunk away from my butt." But when she saw his sorrow in his eyes she tried it in a kinder tone.
"These are just small scratches. We should rather look for Steffie." She said quietly before she had the terrible images from moment before back in the head. She quickly pushed aside Budy only see that Ethan helped her friend already to get up. Just as she assessed the scene she doesn't need her help. Thus, she turned back to thank her hero that he saved her.
Steffie in the time tried to keep herself from crying in front of the male mammoth. She just was scared to death and then Ethan came out of nowhere and saved them.
"I'm sorry." He began unexpectedly and she doesn't know what he was talking about.
"That I yelled at you." I little depressed he looked aside but she had totally forgotten it by the fun in the water and the attack. She probably wouldn't stayed angry for long anyway. Nevertheless, she was pleased with his apology.
When she still brought no sound out he looked at her again and the moonlight offered him a better view. He noticed only now that she had many wounds and he doesn't even want to think about what would have happened if he and his buddy would have arisen later.
"Are you alright?" The female mammoth couldn't answer because her eyes suddenly closed and she fell to the ground. Ethan is still trying to steady her before she reached it.
"Katie! With Steffie is something wrong "Almost frantically he called for the blond mammoth so she quickly came over. This was a little startled when she heard his voice and looked at her friend.
"Tell me what she has!" Prompted to reddish-brown mammoth because he doesn't like it to stand helpless to next to her. It was odd that it reminded him of something.
"Chill out. She is only unconscious because she is so exhausted." Clarified the bright mammoth to him and he was relieved. Earlier he thought if he should bring a gift over to Peaches tomorrow and now he couldn't think on any other girl then that what was next to him. As Meghan informed them that there is an attack he thought not long or was thinking about his life. He just ran. Perhaps Steffie was all the time the right one for him and just needed something to pointed out to him. But he would liked to spare the girls from a confrontation with saber-toothed tigers.
It didn't take long and the darkness came bringing the cold and other things with it. Leaves rustled behind Peaches and she looked around quickly.
It's just the wind. She tried as much as possible to persuade herself. Her eyes wandered to the hole on the ground where her companion was. From the tree she couldn't see if he was still there. As quietly as she was able to, she went back to the ground.
"Louis?" She whispered and walked closer to the hole. When no one answered, she went with her trunk in the digging and gently groped for something prickly. When she finally found him she got slowly goose bumps from the sounds around her. Until now she never had to even worry about her safety. Finally, her parents were always there for her. Now, however she had decided to stay outside here because of the failure. She doesn't like it at all. When she finally brought her little friend out of hiding she realized that this was shaking. She knew it was too cold for him. So why doesn't came back out to her?
But these thoughts vanished quickly as it is not far from her cracked slightly. Fast and as quietly as possible she jumped back up on tree. She tried to climb with the molehog up so far that she could hide in the leaves. Peaches was sure there was something. Only now Louis waked up and wanted to cry out as he was so high above the ground. But the mammoth reacted quickly and held his snout shut with her trunk. She tried to explain to him with her eyes that was something there and he seemed to have understood because he nodded. Maybe he had seen something then his eyes were better at night than a day time. So let go of him a little but slightly had a grip on his body. Finally sh never had taken him so far and therefore she doesn't know if he had something against this hight The mole hedgehog pointed abruptly at something and she followed his gaze. So her assumption was confirmed then she could dimly see that there a was a big cat down there. Everything tensed in her now. She knew that they wouldn't unscathed get away like the last time if she makes a wrong move. Nor does she wanted that her friend has to go through a dangerous action for her again.
She noted that Louis stroked her trunk soothingly and she tried to give him a little smile for it. Even though she wasn't ready to perhaps stay out here on her own, so she was still glad he doesn't let her alone.
"Did you certainly heard it?" The leader was outraged when they couldn't find the mammoth that was supposed to be staying near the lake.
"Yes. I immediately ran off when I heard that it said to an other mammoth it would spend the night here."
"And where is it then? I smell none here. Just say you have lost out of your sight!" Slowly she had enough but because of her age, she was unfortunately getting tired. These running around today made no fun at all. At first she thought she has feast wit this mammoth but unfortunately for this was not alone. She would have liked to test whether she could still finished grown animal alone. When she was younger she did it all the time. Not even to feed them but to prove herself and other saber-toothed tigers that she was good at it.
"I really don't understand that. It was here." Stated the scout almost desperate.
"Spare me your whining and pray that we catch one tomorrow." The tone of the leader let the younger tiger's blood run cold. The she knew very well what happened to the last member of their pack the failed too many times. She would just get up very early tomorrow and give everything that she has so they could eat a mammoth or at least die trying. Thus, the two saber-toothed tigers disappeared from the square. Finally, they couldn't spend the whole night in this cold.
The mammoth mother sat on the beach and waited for her husband to came back. She also was worried about whether it was good to let her daughter alone out there. Just after she had to learn herself that this strangers dared to come this far. It seemed like an eternity to her when she finally saw Manny again.
"And?" She inquired anxiously and looked around for her child.
"I tell you the stuff stinks and .."
"Didn't you bring her here because of that? She is our daughter!" Ellie realized that she was still a little upset since the incident.
"Hey, everything's fine. I'm here with you."Assured the male mammoth and came closer to his wife when she began to tremble slightly.
"I know. I am sorry."
"Peaches is by the lake to wash to the stuff from her fur. When I got there I made sure that there is nowhere a saber hiding. In addition, Louis was already there to help her." The other mammoth had to grin a little.
"Your future son in law is very helpful." Sometimes it was fun for her to tease her husband. She was a little like her brothers but she never goes too far.
"Ha ha, very funny Ellie. You will not be laughing when it really comes to that." Manny had tried to keep Peaches from guys away all the time. He had completely overlooked the Louis was also one.
"I wouldn't mind it in the least. If Peaches is happy then everything is fine." Then she hooked her trunk with his. Manfred sighed and leaned slightly against Ellie. It wasn't his intention to argue with his wife now. Yes he wouldn't mind if his little girl that wasn't so little anymore is going to be happy. However, there was still so much what she should know and learn before making such an important decisions. It didn't matter when she would start her own family for him would the moment always too early. Unfortunately, he couldn't simply drop to be overcautious. He realized when something would happen to Ellie or Peaches then it would be his end.
The mammoth mother looked to the moon for a while but when she returned to her husband she saw that he was starring forward with a face full of sorrow.
"Hey what are you doing that face for? Everything is fine. Tomorrow we scare these rebellious big cats away and then everything is peaceful here again."
"I'm glad you're here." Replied the male mammoth it a little quieter and closed his eyes. Ellie looked at him a little puzzled. Where should she be otherwise?
"I'm also glad that I'm here." She whispered back then but and snuggled a little closer to the other mammoth. Her husband was sometimes strange but she thought nothing by it. So she continued to enjoy the view of the full moon and the togetherness in silence.
"Your brother is really good with kids." Lorene said as she saw that Eddie brought her daughter back. This time she doesn't even noticed that this had slipped away again. For Crash ears sounded that not so great now. He should be noticed by her. But she got the change in his face and took it in her paws.
"Don't be jealous." With that she gave him a little kiss on the cheek.
"You're still my favorite but tomorrow I want that you make up with your brother. All right?"
"Understood." Even if he found that his brother was the problem he agreed.
"Look at that. So you can talk with me." For a brief moment the possum forgot that he wanted to stay in silence.
"Now that you're so eloquently you can tell me a little about yourself." The skunk was getting tired of always talking only of herself.
The attention of her counterpart was flattering but she also wanted to know more about the possums. Now that her daughter has apparently made friends with one of them she needed to know what to expect.
"Come on." She called for him again and pushed him a little with her elbow. Crash didn't really want t because he had no topic. Actually, he could thought about one but he had simply forgotten.
"You can talk about boogers." She joked and he was glad she was mad about that. Be romantic just was not his thing. He had always laughed at Louis for his crush and that it would never happen to him. Now he was himself in the situation and he found the whole thing not so funny. So he cleared his throat and looked around. Then the bright ball in the sky came to his sight.
"The moon is so full this night." He began to finally form a sentence and she had to giggle a little.
"This is certainly because it's full moon."
"Oh yeah. That must it be." Embarrassed, he scratched his head and noticed only now that they were under a fruit tree. So he showed with one paw up.
"Are still a little hungry?"
"Now that you mention it." So Crash climbed up and then helped his lady to fallow. Even if she struggled a little at the beginning but when they were a little higher she realized that it was worth it for the view.
"You can see the whole beach from here. I see Yolanda didn't let burn anything. Well, she hasn't had it easy in the past. In a cave there aren't many sloths." Moreover, her friend was lucky she was shunned by their own species because of her fur color. Good you need time to get used to her eyes but otherwise the skunk found that she was quite ok.
"Here." He handed her some fruits and then the possum sat down beside her to eat.
"How is it that you call a mammoth a sister?" It wasn't Lorenes business perhaps but he could say that then. On the other hand, she was kind of curious. It was perhaps because so many different animals at this spot were friends. There were three mammoths, which otherwise you meet rather in large quantities. Then there were two sloths and she wasn't sure whether the young or old one was crazier. Yes and then the two possums who live with her 'sister'. Well the molehog was actually ok but thing with the saber-toothed tigers she doesn't understand. Normally, the rest of the gang was on their menu. She will probably never get used to that and show her daughter how to defend herself properly. But as long as they were tame she wouldn't do anything.
"It's a long story and I don't think so..." Finally her partner reply to her question.
"No problem, I have time. Don't worry you can bore me not so easy." He sighed and told her a short version of that story. But because he was so good at it he told her everything that happened to them. Of course everything from his point of view. Here and there a little embellished so that she doesn't consider him as a scaredy-cat. He was about to begin enthusiastic how they met Buck but when he looked at her he saw that she was asleep. Crash sighed in relief that the evening was nice. Was that the reason why Manny sometimes wanted to be alone with Ellie? That was comforting somehow.
He slowly and carefully slipped away from her. Fortunately, the branch was a little wider and she could lie on it. Because he doesn't want that she became a shock in the morning and fell down so he wrapped his tail around her waist. Actually it shouldn't make him so nervous. He just wanted to make sure that she doesn't fall down. However, he hasn't a other opportunity as to lie down very close to possum just hoped it wouldn't be misunderstood in the morning.