"Finally you here. You've taken a lot of time. We just wanted to start eating."

"I came alone just as you asked it. So let her go." Diego looked over the place but he couldn't see the mammoth. It can't be that his counterpart from the start don't wanted to let her free again.

"Where is she? Peaches? "He called loud out and now he could spot her. Two saber-toothed tigers had apparently hidden her a bit up the mountain. He quickly ran to her and shooed the conspecifics away. The tigress who was unconscious earlier is now ready to run again. The young mammoth was a little relieved about that fact even when she was attacked. She knew that she only fought back but in the moment where the tigress lay helpless on the ground, she has to think of Diego and Shira. If she was honest with herself, she knew no longer what was right and wrong. Everything was so confusing and somehow it would be nice if she could just talk to someone now. But it wasn't time for that or the right place. Furthermore, she would no longer find the animal with whom she liked to talk. She tried nevertheless as best as she could to stay on her legs to make not things worse.

"Peaches are you okay?" Outside, nothing seemed to be different but her eyes said otherwise.

"I'm ok." It came rather weak from her and he knew it wasn't the truth. But there was simply no time for long conversations now.

"You have promised. So let her go." Demanded Diego now. He would protect her otherwise with his life if he must.

"It's all right." The leader nodded to her allies and this gave the way for Peaches free. The mammoth looked at her uncle again. Because she wondered whether it was right to leave him back here alone.

"It is ok. Go ahead." He insured and so she was going even when he noticed it was hard for her.

"You are a strange herd. What is it that you have with the mammoths? Cradling her in her safety and if you get hungry then..." But he wouldn't let her finish.

"No. It may sound strange to you but there is more than chasing and being chased." She gave him a confused look to that.

"We are at the top of the food chain. No one would dare to chase us."

"Except of course members of your own species." The leader grinned at him and walked a little closer.

"Sooner or later you'll realize that you have it better with us." Even she doesn't looked so affected on the outside she still was surprised that he has come here.

"By doing only what you ask of me. I'm sure the others here have their fun with it."

"Do I have to hear that from a saber-toothed tiger who is 'friends' with the mammoth?" Then she nodded to two of her members and they immediately ran off.

"What do you mean, how far will she come?" She inquired teasingly and watched his reaction.

"You said you let her go!" Roared Diego and wanted to run after to help the mammoth. But an escape was impossible. His opponents weren't five anymore but three against one would be still exhausting for him. Therefore he was forced to stay here and believe in the plan the molehog had.

"Do you feel better now?"

"Very much so." Steffie really tried to hide to be pleased. Maybe Ethan was just so caring and helpful because he felt guilty. But Katie has told her that her male mammoth said something like they should split up to Peaches and that made her secretly happy. Everything still hurt a bit but here and there she overdid it a little because she liked to be served. Of course, she doesn't even told the other two girls that she was pretending a bit. Finally, they only would chatter it out or speak into her conscience until she gave up her game. It too nice to be treated by her swarm like that. Maybe soon there was more. He wasn't only apologizing to her but he openly admitted that he cared for her. He said it only to her but she soon would get him to accept her as his girlfriend also in public. She doesn't know if it was because she was so close to death or because she has caught something in the night before but for the first time she was almost happy how everything is. Well that with the aggressive saber-toothed tigers wasn't so practical but who actually said that they must remain in that spot here. There were five and therefore a herd. They could go wherever they wanted. But Steffie herself wasn't too fond of travelling. Running around means seeing new things and meet the danger. That wasn't really something for her. She liked her daily routine of sunbathing, eating tasty fruits and adoring Ethan. Although the last she should probably doesn't do anymore in the future. Maybe it was because of it that she has driven the male mammoth to Peaches. In addition, it was nice of her to help Ethan. She knew it because he told her it even while she treated her wounds. She never would have thought that he changes that much after one night like this. Or was he always like that and just doesn't show it?

"Are you sure you don't even need anything?"

"No. It would be very nice if you would just sit down beside me so that I can lean on you." And he did it even without further re-words. Only today I'm going to take advantage of this, she thought with a sigh as she snuggled contentedly at him.

"Uncle Eddie and Ruby? What are you doing here?" Peaches nearly stepped on to the two. When she ran from the mountain she hasn't expected them to be here.

"Someone here has fun bringing himself in dangerous situations and.." But then the possum saw exactly at the mammoth girl and he knew that something was wrong. He was about to ask if anything has happened but the skunk pushed her way in between.

"Hey, I just wanted to see where Louis is." At the mention of that name the large animal winced. What should she say to the others now? She even doesn't wanted believe the fact herself that her little friend wasn't there anymore. Still, everything seemed so unreal to her as if would all be just a bad dream. She could do whatever she wanted, still she wouldn't wake up. She tried well to maintain her posture and grabbed the two smaller animals to put them her onto her back. Somehow she has the feeling that they shouldn't stop here too long.

"We should get out of here." She explained and began to ran.

"Yes, that was also my idea." Said Eddie and he was happy now that he was no longer alone with the skunk. After all, he wasn't the bravest one in dangerous situations.

"But we have to find Louis." Called Ruby but the opossum didn't let her go. Peaches ran on and pretended as if she doesn't heard anything. If she continues to think about it she would again lay on the floor and ignore everything. But she couldn't risk that something would happened to the others just because she makes a mistake again. That's why she focused on the way which they had taken to be faster at the place where here parents are.

"Wait!" The mammoth shook her head. She had to be pretty messed up she could already hear the voice from the molehog.

"Peaches" Now the voice was much closer and it sounded more feminine.

"Hey there's Shira!" Cried Eddie who saw the tigress. She quickly came running towards them.

"Went the exchange well?" She wanted to know then when she stopped in front of the larger animal. Also, she noticed that Peaches doesn't seemed like usual. She was about to ask whether the saber-toothed tigers had done something to her but her fellow jumped off her back and took part in the conversation.

"No matter how many times I do it. I'll never get used to that speed." Explained the molehog while holding his head because he was a little dizzy from the fast ride.

"Louis!" Suddenly a skunk flew from the top down on him. Since he doesn't see that he was lying on the floor now. It was only worse that Eddie lay on top of him too because he has lost his balance but doesn't let Ruby go.

"I thought the saber-toothed tigers had caught you." Added the small one but she was glad that he was here now.

"Well, if you take it exactly then one had caught him." The possum couldn't let it go by to pester a little.

"We don't have time for that." Shira simply ignored the comment and looked up at the mammoth.

"It's the best if you.." But she broke off when she saw that her counterpart was only staring down absently. The eyes of Peaches depended more on the spined one than on the ground.

"Peaches are you alright?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm ok. But shouldn't we continue to run? Or did you want have anything particular to say to me?" Anyone got that she seemed a bit of and Louis did worry that she might was too long by the saber-toothed tigers. But he couldn't take care of her now otherwise his plan wouldn't work.

"You should really go now. Shira will tell you everything on the way. See you later." But even before Louis could dig himself away and was lifted by a trunk.

"Take care of yourself." She whispered and pressed the little one a bit to her. It doesn't matter to her that his spines poked lightly into her cheek. It was proof to her that he was really alive. The moment was too short and amazing for Louis to respond at all. So he nodded silently as he was back on the ground before he dug into the earth thereof.

"Uncle Eddie, could you stop to keep my eyes shut!" Complained the skunk.

"I don't know whether you could see something like that." Peaches just rolled her eyes and threw the two on her back again. The fact that her friend was alive also gave her more energy again and she followed the silver-gray tigress. This told her on the way what they're up to.

The sloths, a skunk and a possum were make networks of lianas in that time.

"How big have this thing to be?" Sid wanted to know annoyed even if he hasn't really done much but he also doesn't want to continue.

"Just work further and faster. If Wien..Louis appears here we must be ready." Admonished Manny him strictly and held an eye out for the molehog.

"Why is it so hard for you to call him by his name?" Ellie wanted to know as she sorted the useless lianas out.

"Must we discuss it now? It doesn't bother him." His wife rolled her eyes.

"He just doesn't say anything because you make him constantly nervous."

"That's true. The little one don't know that you have a soft heart."

"Sid if this isn't done when the saber-toothed tiger arrive here then I use you as a weapon."

"Somehow I have the feeling the mood drops since noon." The skunk mother whispered to Crash."

"He's just worried about Peaches." Said Ellie who has noticed it.

"In addition, he get's moodily fast when nothing goes as he pleases." Added the opossum.

"Maybe we should welcome this saber-toothed tigers here after all and then we offer them some possum snacks as a gift." You could hear from Manfred's voice that he was getting impatient. Then what if they don't want to give his daughter back. For him, the whole thing took too long. Either Shira or the molehog should already be here again.

"I just hope your brother has found Ruby." Lorene was also worried about her child. Yes, she was slowly getting older and the incident with the mammoth had shown her that she could defend herself. Nevertheless, the little skunk was still bad at saying when she was in danger.

"Does your injury still hurt?" Yolanda wanted to know to drive the silence away and because she really cared about the male sloth. This wound looked pretty painful before. But the mammoth mother had just given them a few dry grasses to patch it up. Of course they had cleaned the scratch with water. Well you couldn't see anymore that it was bleeding but the bright sloth thought Sid was only pretending that he was fine. She even know him for that long but he was a nice guy and she seemed to like him. You don't meet someone like Sid every day.

"Oh, that one. No, I have already forgotten it. This can't bother someone like me." Manny wanted to say something but his wife held his trunk and gave him a warning look.

"Don't you just said everyone should take care of his own duties. So you should continue to look forward." She attached in a whisper and the male mammoth couldn't do otherwise than that.

"It's all right. I'm at it."

"Your members don't come back at all." Diego thought everything had worked out and so he tried to tease the leader. Perhaps he would bring her to do something thoughtless. Although they were three but he really has only to look out for the oldest tigress. He noticed that she was nervous and grinned behind her as she walked back and forth on the rocks.

"They're probably busy to handle the animal in the place. The mammoth was all the time so depressed and that only because one of us killed a rat." The male saber thought about the words and Peaches face when he arrived here. Shira mentioned that they wanted to kill Louis but they haven't even caught him. So they acted like they have killed the little one. No wonder she looked so bad. She was a strong girl but he doesn't know whether the fake loss weakened her so much that she could be captured by the saber-toothed tigers again.

No. Of course Shira had intercepted her as it was planned, thought Diego and retained a superior look. The leader also tried to persuade him that he is the one who makes mistakes. He wouldn't let this happen. Diego still wanted to expel these other saber-toothed tigers of their territory and in the night he could calmed go with his tigress back in their cave again.

His tigress? He shouldn't often think like that or he may speak it out sometime. After all, he doesn't want to sound possessive.

"While waiting for our food we can chat a bit." The oldest tigress sent another member of her pack to the cliff for watching out.

"I don't know what we should talk about." That meant Diego as he said because except that they were of the same kind, he doesn't share anything else with his counterpart.

"Don't be so shy. I'm sure a saber like you has some stories to tell to impress a woman."

"I don't brag with my deeds."

"How noble." He doesn't like it how close she came by conversation. If he draws back then after a few steps he wold stay before a stone wall. Slowly he not only wanted the others to hurry to save Peaches. Only recently, it came back to his mind what this leader had offered him some time ago.

"How did you two met?" She interrupted his thoughts.

"That's none of your business!" He admonished her sharply.

"As a guest you should choose a different tone."

"Guest ?! If I had a choice I would never have come up here."

"Somehow I like it when you get angry. It has something appealing. I bet you also got your silver gray girlfriend like. She was sure an easy prey for you. You have pressed her firmly on the ground and.."

"Shut up!" Now he was really angry. He would never treat Shira like that. When he had a bad dream he maybe wasn't the master of the situation but she forgave him. Quickly, he tried to calm down here again. He couldn't lose control, so keep this leader could do anything else.

The saber doesn't understand the plan of this tigress.

"Your feelings for her are ridiculous. Sooner or later she will leave and find another male."

"How do you want to know that? You don't know her." The male saber tooth wouldn't even take offense if Shira would run away one day. But he knew now that it will never happen. His heart was still beating faster when he thought how she snuggled up to him at night. She still hasn't told him that she loved him but he could feel there was created something between them that just couldn't break so easily again. Yes, she wasn't weak but he would be always worried about her and wanted to take care of her. Diego often thought he must be getting old and crazy because for the silver-haired tigress he would do anything.

The leader now saw that it was a mistake to let the mammoth go. She should have used it against this stubborn saber tooth. Furthermore, it should have been clear to her that the two she had sent couldn't fight against such a large animal.

Now she could only wait. Either for the remaining members who would probably come back with empty paws or for members of that herd. The latter will probably be more reliably come here because they wanted their friend back again. She wasn't sure but the silver-haired tigress will come. Then she know for certain that this saber was against it to hand her beloved Diego over. Honestly the leader would like it herself if she would show up here sooner rather than later. Because it attracted her to fight with this woman first and then it breaks the will of the male saber tooth when he noticed how weak his girlfriend is.

Finally, the molehog had found the two saber-toothed tigers. Oddly enough, they don't ran so fast behind the mammoth how he first thought. The opposite was more likely the case. It looked like as if the two tigresses don't wanted at all to capture the big animal again. Perhaps they have realized that they have alone no chance. But there were at least two saber-toothed tiger and they were bigger than him. However, he never wanted to see Peaches angry. I didn't really matter to him what the reason was for them that they don't hunt the mammoth again. He was just glad they didn't do it. But on the other hand, he wondered whether he should follow his plan further. For the time being the two aren't dangerous for them. Then he suddenly heard someone sneak up to him. But he doesn't bother to turn around because he knew the steps of that animal already.

"What are you doing?" Shira wanted to know because the spined one only watched the other saber-toothed tigers.

"I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you run to the others and tell them that Peaches is safe?" He whispered back.

"Yes, but I wanted .." She broke off because first she doesn't want to interfere in other people's she would have to disclose that the young mammoth is very worried about him and would have preferred to run behind him as she explained what was the plan.

Secondly, the way to her friends is longer as the one to the mountain where Diego was. She just doesn't want to let him alone with this leader for too long. Her roommate was indeed decent but she wasn't sure by this other tigress. The thought that he was up there just made her furious. But outwardly she could hide that well.

"Now that you're here it might be better if you talk to them. I mean from conspecific to conspecific." Well she could try it but she doesn't think that they would follow her. With one of them she had already talked so there was a minimal chance that they trust her again. She took another breath then ran over to the other tigers.

"Hey." She tried to act as if she just happened to come by here.

"You again. I thought that we would met you sooner or later again." The spined one continued to watch the whole thing even if he would like to be somewhere else. Then when he saw Peaches earlier she doesn't really look like herself. He hoped that nothing has happened to her. Even though he knew that she is very strong, so it was also clear that she has a vulnerable side. Oh if he were a mammoth he could protect her with ease. In addition, he would simply say how wonderful she is and that he liked everything about her.

He could only shake his head at these fantasies once again. It isn't wrong to be a molehog and he liked himself just as he was. But in this state Peaches would never see anything other than a small appendage. On one hand he accepted that but on the other hand there happened things who gave him hope just as before when his friend gently embraced him a little.

Now that he was here and looked at this saber-toothed tigers he began to think realistic again. The mammoth made all this just because they were friends and nothing more. Louis also couldn't tell her that she should stop because it made his heart beat faster.

Again he shook his head, for now he has more important to do than to think about such problems.