Arla hadn't been gone more than a minute when Manny attacked the snow with ferocity. He shoveled with his tusks and shaped with his more sensitive trunk. Single mindedly he piled the snow higher fortifying a defendable area.
Diego was amused "isn't this going a little overboard? I understand your paranoia, but…"
Without stopping his construction efforts Manny huffed, "No. This could be a trap. Its early spring when there is lean hunting. With newborns in your pack, more food is necessary. Who better to deliver it than an overly trusting mammoth with literally tons of meat on his bones?"
"Does my word mean that little to you?" Diego asked sadly.
"I'm a father too you know," Manny responded. "You'd do whatever it takes to keep your family alive. So would I. And as crazy as it sounds, so would Sid- although he would need definite help."
"So would you believe me if I said that your herd is the only chance for my children's survival?"
"I would be more inclined." Manny said as he continued forming his fortress. "However it isn't worth the risk."
"My pack is weak now." Diego explained without being asked. It was freeing admitting it. "When you experienced Half Peak pack as led by Soto, you experienced two elite fighters and a trio of competent ones. We're reduced to an extent that you could barely comprehend. We still have the duo- but I've softened by my time with the herd. Soto is weakened by an injury I inflicted. It isn't by much, but by enough that it is noticeable. We have two lactating females; one is still recovering from a very recent childbirth. There are three gangly cubs and two infants who haven't even opened their eyes. We couldn't fight if we wanted to. Peaches alone, less than a yearling, could destroy half my pack. And that's assuming that they attacked in unison."
"Still not worth the risk Diego. Come help me sculpt, it'll ease your nerves a little."
When the pack was silhouetted against the snow, a mere fifteen minutes later, the newly built bulwark was higher than a saber's head. The herd was enclosed within, with only a narrow opening between their haven and the outside world. Ellie blocked that exit. Diego and Manny waited outside as the sabers strode into the clearing around the exterior. Shetar led the way, with Melle and Sita carrying the newborns. Sita was struggling a bit as Salina was awake and squirming, but she was glowing with pride in her responsibility. Himlad also was carrying something: between his baby teeth he clutched an odd squirrel thing with a bulbous nose and desperate eyes.
"Drop it," drawled Diego. "Carrying prey is not the best way to ingratiate yourself with herbivorous allies." Himlad complied but stared regretfully after the squirrel. Diego understood. Watching your first catch scamper away must be agonizing especially since the event was normally celebrated in saber society. Manny watched him with hard eyes, actually inspected all the sabers. By the time he locked eyes with Soto, his eyes were diamond hard and had darkened to coal black. Seeing the fuzzy balls that were Salina and Sharr did not soften him in the slightest.
They did attract Peaches though. The young mammoth darted under her mother's legs to inspect the newcomers. She remembered Diego from her infancy, and had no fear of the adult sabers. Carelessly, she poked everyone with her trunk, squealing in delight at the new scents. She was most interested in the juveniles- although she cooed at the newest litter. Approximately her age, in Soto's kittens, Peaches saw the possibility of friends and was fascinated.
They were less amused. Arla yawned in disinterest and stared past the young mammoth. Her tail twitched in anticipation of the coming battle as she scanned for danger. Bored by being examined, she lazily stalked off. Her entire body was coiled like a spring though, giving mixed signals. Sita had never been brave. When Peaches introduced herself, Sita fled. She ran so fast, it appeared that her paws never touched the ground until she was safely nestled between Shetar's legs. Himlad was still feeling endorphins from his hunt. He took a swipe at Peaches and received a bop on the head in return. Stunned slightly, he wobbled for a bit until he decided to sit down.
Manny moved towards Himlad, his entire being shaking with suppressed aggression. Ellie blocked him. She was convinced by now that the young sabers were harmless, and that Peaches was more than capable of defending herself. Ellie was now directed most of her attention towards Melle's kittens, causing Melle to be the nervous new mother. Melle's hormones were spiking as Ellie lifted Sharr and then Salina into the air. Ready to snatch them back at any moment she waited with baited breath. Melle had enough sense not to break the tentative alliance.
Sid's family ventured out next- a flood of dingy grey sloths. Himlad tried his luck again and managed to get his teeth on one of the babies. He recoiled instantly from the taste of fungus. Hunger finally quelled, he resigned himself to not hunting.
"So," Soto preferred to be all business now that they had relaxed slightly, "we've estimated that our tail is comprised of eleven to fifteen of the strongest male sabers they have. We believe that Tierin may be leading the party himself."
"We need to rely on superior tactics, because we don't have the numbers to confront them directly. Our pack can offer three hunters: Soto, Shetar, and I. Melle will reluctantly and angrily remain behind to guard the kittens. Although I will be hearing from her later, we've agreed as a pack that that is the best plan." Diego added.
Manny blinked slowly, hiding his huge brown eyes behind their long-lashed lids. "I can fight, and Crash and Eddie, and Sid. Ellie too- Peaches is almost ready to be weaned."
After figuring in his head, Soto summed the situation. "Five strong fighters." He muttered.
"Whoa there!" Sid waved his hands in Soto's face causing the saber to snarl in disgust. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"Yeah!" Shouted either Crash or Eddie. "Sid may be dumb, but he's got all the dumb luck in the world. And Manny counted us too, unless we misheard?" Soto raised an eyebrow and was treated to a pebble in the eye. Crash or Eddie smirked triumphantly while his brother cowered in the background. Soto said something about a mildly irritating sting, and the possums reacted. They treated Soto to a barrage of stones until he was lying against the ice seething.
"And what about us?" Himlad, Arla, and Sita chorused. "This territory is going to be ours too!"
Diego looked at Soto in irritation and after some silent communication he responded. "Sid, Crash, Eddie, yes. You're welcome to join us." He faced the kittens with wrath. "You three? Absolutely not!" Soto roared in accord. "It's a brave message, but would be more convincing if Sita weren't shaking, if Himlad hadn't tripped on his overlarge paws while running over here, and if any of you were mature enough to listen to instructions!"
Sita dropped her head and slunk away closely followed by the others. But there was a slight swaying in Arla's hips that indicated that the subject wasn't as closed as Diego made it sound.