So Diego, Shira and the others came to save Flora and Sam. Hooray! :D

"Flora!" cried Shira relieved to see that her daughter was not harmed by Soto. She climbed off Oscar after giving him a scratch in the middle of his face and nuzzled her affectionately. "Baby, are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine Mom." Flora sobbed, so happy to see her family again.

"Flora!" Flora turned to see her brothers running towards her.

"Cash, Bobby!" Flora ran to snuggle near her brothers who she missed so much as well as the other members of the herd.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again you little whippersnapper!" Granny swung her cane at Flora several times. Luckily, the female dodged all the possible hits until Sid pulled her away.

Sandy greeted Flora as well, asking her if she was okay, which Flora said she was fine.

Diego jumped off of Soto and ran to join Flora.

"Dad!" cried Flora through tears of joy.

"Flora!" Diego ran to rejoice with Flora, touching noses with his daughter.

"Well would you look at that." sneered Oscar. "Typical daddy saving his little girl."

"Hello Oscar, Soto." acknowledged Diego coldly to his former pack mates. "It's been awhile."

"Indeed it has." nodded Soto. "We've got many, many things to finish. Why don't we pick up from where we left off? Your daughter here was just about to help me do that."

"Leave my kid out of this Soto." Diego eyed Soto maliciously.

"Will you shut up with the conversation already? Let's get down to mauling!" laughed Zeke maniacally.

"Zeke, nice to see you haven't changed." Diego made the sarcastic remark to the physco. It was a miracle that he actually managed to get out.

Soto eyed Manny, Sid and the rest of the herd.

"And you two. How big of a disappointment to see you once again you weak herbivores." frowned Soto. "And to think that Diego betrayed his own species for you misfits."

"We're not misfits!" yelled Crash.

"Except for Sid." muttered Eddie.

"Thank you!" Sid appreciated the possums' pride in the family. Until he realized what they said. "Hey!"

"Are we going to keep talking, or are we going to fight?" Soto questioned hotly.

"Why bring violence into this?" asked Sandy. "It won't solve or change anything whatsoever."

Soto tsked at Sandy. "You poor, naïve child. It's no wonder that animals with a mind like yours are always the first ones to go."

Cash tensed up at what Soto meant and skidded in front of his friend acting as a protective barrier.

"Stay away from her!" he snarled jumping at Soto.

"Cash, no!" warned Diego. But Soto already scared Cash's shoulder, and the teen fell to the ground roaring in pain.

"Cash!" everybody cried running to him to help the struggling Cash get up. Diego, enraged that Soto first kidnapped his daughter and now hurt his son, jumped on Soto, sparking up a battle between the pack and herd.

The herd was gaining the upper hand so far, mostly because they outnumbered the pack. As the war was happening, Cash, Bobby, Flora, Sam and Sandy were ordered by Diego and Shira to get further away from the conflict and wait for them to return. Unfortunately for the teens, someone was planning an ambush on them.

Cash was being supported by Sandy and was gently laid down while Sandy asked for Flora, Sam and Bobby to get the supplies necessary for treating it while treating Cash's wound with water for now. A small hiss came out of Cash.

"Does it really hurt?" asked Sandy.

"It stings."replied Cash. "Just a little."

"Don't worry. Flora, Bobby and Sam should be back in a minute."

"Thanks Sandy, for always being there for me."

"Hey, we're best friends, it's what we do, right?"

Cash smiled. He finally had enough of keeping his feelings for Sandy bottled up inside of him. He was going to confess, and this time, he meant it.

"Sandy, I'm about to tell you something that I've been trying to tell you forever." he began.

"What is it?" asked Sandy.

"I-"

But Cash was interrupted by Oscar who unexpectedly ran over to Cash and pushed him off the edge of the cliff before running off to find the rest of Diego's children, and the one who turned his back on the pack.

"Cash, no!" cried Sandy. Luckily, she caught him by the scruff of his neck at the nick of time. If she had been a split second too late, he would be plummeting to his doom by now.

"Sandy, it's very obvious that I'm not going to make it. You've got to let go of me." Cash didn't care about falling to his death at this point, only about Sandy's safety.

"Are you crazy?" mumbled Sandy with a mouthful of Cash's fur.

"Maybe, but seriously, you have let go and save yourself."

"No, I'm not leaving you! If you're gonna go down, then so am I, no buts."

Cash groaned at how stubborn Sandy was being. The only female saber who he saw being like that was his own sister. Hanging for dear life didn't stop him from what he had to do.

"Sandy, since this looks like the end for us, I've got to tell you something."

"Tell me."

"I have known you all my life, and you're the prettiest, funniest, most kind saber I have ever met in my life, and I appreciate the strong friendship that we have."

As the edge crumbled a bit, Sandy jumped back, still clinging on to Cash.

"Cash, what is it?"

"Sandy, I LOVE YOU!"

Sandy was speechless. No one has ever said that they loved her before. She was so touched as to what Cash had told her, she didn't know what to say or think.

"Sandy?" Cash was worried at her zoning out. The crumbling edge was heard again. This time, it was even bigger and Sandy almost plummeted with Cash still in her mouth. Almost. They both noticed a trunk wrap around them and pull them back up.

"I have pretty good timing huh?" grinned Peaches at the couple.

"Thanks Peaches." Cash sighed in gratitude. You're literally a life saver.

"No problem."

Sandy let go of Cash and gave him a wondering look.

"Cash, how long did you feel like that about me?" she asked.

"Ever since I first saw you." answered Cash. He was concerned about whether Sandy was feeling surprised, angry, flattered or upset.

"I see." she muttered before following him and Peaches to safety. Something than hit her like a rock.

"Oh no." she gasped.

"What is it?" asked Peaches.

"Flora, Bobby, Sam, I sent them to get stuff for Cash's wound. They're still out there! Oscar's coming for them!"

"We got to warn them!" proclaimed Cash. "Let's go!"

The trio ran deeper into the forest to collect the three other sabers.

As much as Cash was worried about Sandy's reaction to his confession, it will have to wait. What was important for now is him finding his sister, brother and friend.

I know it's kinda crappy and that it may lack logic, but I was suffering a severe case of writer's block and I was kinda stuck on what to write. This was intended to include the entire herd vs. pack battle rather than the cause of it, but instead decided to write a whole chapter dedicated to Cash confessing his feelings for Sandy. Speaking of which, how do you think she reacted? Will she return his feelings? If not, will they at least remain friends? And will Cash, Sandy and Peaches find Bobby, Flora and Sam in time before Oscar finds them all? We shall find out! Next chapter, which it will be a little while until it's posted, but I will get it up by Saturday or next Sunday. Please review!