Three travelers were walking steadily in near silence, that is, if you drone out the sloth-like creature babbling atop the mammoth. He didn't seem to mind that much, but it was working on the saber's last nerve.
"Like I was saying before, what's with women? I mean, they're just so sensitive some times, and they all want the hunkiest sloth around. They can't just settle for a nice, family man anymore."
"Shut up, sloth!" shouted the tiger, glaring at the fat lump as his claws dug into the ice.
He merely shrugged and said, "There's got to be someone out there for me. There's got to be one sloth that enjoys-."
"A fat, annoying pain? How do you escape all those women Sid?" the mammoth barked sarcastically.
The sloth quickly noticed the disdain and huffed, sitting back with his arms crossed over his chest. The mammoth continued on, this time more easily without the noise echoing in his head.
The tiger grumbled a death threat under his breath as his great paws dropped to the ice in a repeating pattern, his eyes fogged over in deep thought.
The trio was making their annual trip back from the human's place, to check up on the child they had saved a few back. He was old enough to talk now, but could barely comprehend the animals anymore. Heck, they weren't sure he had even known what they discussed when they first saved him.
They had settled to a region in the eastern mountain ranges, and the animals were just making it back to where they called home; a great ice bowl that homed many of the surviving animals.
"Hey Diego, when are you going to find a woman?" asked Sid.
The tiger closed his eyes in irritation, yet the sloth continued ignorantly.
"I mean, I've got a whole colony of mini me to choose from, and Manny's already got another mammoth. If he could find one, I'm sure you could, right?"
"If I wanted a mate, I'd get one. Worry about yourself," growled the tiger. He was close to jumping on the mammoth and ridding himself of the nuisance.
The mammoth glared at the coming fog wearily, and the sloth became rigid suddenly. The tiger, who had failed to notice something was wrong, merely chuckled to himself. He thought that he had scared the sloth as stiff as a doornail. He shouldn't flatter himself so much.
A white blur flew over the mammoth's back, and the sloth gave a yelp. The mammoth shook himself, but cried in pain when I dug my talons in his fur to right myself. I was still was masked by the fog, which had thickened considerably.
As I ducked my head to grab the squealing sloth, the tiger roared. Distracting me, I glimpsed at the poised saber. As my golden eyes glowed through the fog, the moment they caught the bronze cat, they hardened into a glare. I ignored him and raised my mighty paw, preparing to strike the sloth, who was staring in fear, down with one shot. Unfortunately for me, things didn't go quite as planned.
The strength of the saber knocked me off my feet quickly. I felt the ice bite my side and I instinctively rolled to the side, snarling and snapping as my fangs tried to grab flesh. The tiger's rumbling growl was muffled against my ruff, but his paws around my arms extended their claws as I flipped him onto his back.
My head was tugged to the side in an uncomfortable position as he held the side of my thickly furred neck in his strong jaws, refusing to give in. I curled my lips back and revealed row upon row of saliva glistening incisors. He shook his head slightly, and I pinned my ears to the back of my head.
"Damn cat!" I barked as I drew my paw up, free from his grasp, and prepared to hit him in the side of the head.
As I tensed my muscles for the blow, I felt a small pain in my head. Snarling, I turned my head around. My paw lowered slightly as I noticed what stood behind me. The sloth was standing on the mammoth's head, another pebble in hand. However, I was much more concerned with the mammoth, who stood there simply.
Suddenly I remembered those long, curved ivory tusks that mammoths had. How could I forget something that important! Oh yea…
I was hungry.
"Back off now," he warned lowly, narrowing his eyes at me.
I growled at him and returned the glare, but cautiously answered, "Or else?"
"There'll be wolf on the menu tonight," he replied brusquely.
"Didn't know mammoths were carnivorous," I snapped, but turned my attention to the cat below me nevertheless.
His fierce jade eyes glowered at me angrily, my white fur starting to leak with red. I stared at him for a moment, before licking my chaps and crunching my jaws together naturally. I lowered my paw to the side of his face, and jerked at my ruff impatiently. He suspiciously released, and I jumped off of him edgily.
Shaking the blood droplets from my fur, I stood tall and stared down at the cat on the ground. He rolled onto his feet and hissed at me. Barking in response, I took a step forward challengingly.
"Enough!"
The mammoth stepped between us to stop the upcoming quarrel. Sid glanced between us worriedly, not knowing what to do.
I continued to growl at the tiger, even though a large, thick wall of fur was blocking my view. Shrugging the villainous from me, I sat down pleasantly and curled my tail around my figure. Lifting my paw I licked it, and then rubbed the side of my face.
"What, tired already dog?" snapped the saber.
I shot him a glare and lowered my paw, sliding my right hind leg out involuntarily.
"No, but if you insist of being an ass, bring it over here. I'll show you where you grovel," I barked, another growl rolling in my throat.
"I said," started the mammoth, "Enough!"
He slammed his foot into the ice forcefully, sending splinters of ice soaring over the snow. The saber jumped back, but I merely flinched and watched the ice roll about the ground.
Silence after the action ensured our peace, and the sloth took this opportunity for a questionnaire.
"So, where're ya from?" he asked amiably.
I glance at him and flicked the tip of my tail, accompanied with a snort.
"It's common courtesy to reply when you're talked to," the tiger said as he stalked behind the mammoth.
My eyes followed him wearily, but I answered nonetheless.
"The north."
"Where're ya going?"
"…Do I really have to answer?"
"Yes," the mammoth shot.
"…"
"Now would be nice!" he added.
"South."
"Super, we're going different directions," the tiger said as he started out east again.
"Not so quick, there's got to be a reason she came here," the mammoth replied. He looked at me expectantly. What am I, you're pet?
Clearing my throat of any sarcasm it might contain, I said, "I'm here because I was hungry."
"That's it?" the sloth asked curiously.
"Yes," I spat. "That is it."
"There's a blizzard coming," the tiger said, his snout way in the air.
"It's coming quickly."
"I've known that since last week," I added halfheartedly.
"Keep your comments to yourself," he hissed.
"Just offering some wise advice to a dumb cat. You shouldn't tease those of higher rank," I told him. Who did he think he was, anyways?
"I don't," he sneered.
I glared at him and made a face.
"Well excuse me, Mr. Sunshine."
"I wouldn't be talking!"
"Then don't," I said simply, retiring to licking my paw lackadaisically.
The tiger steamed and released a warning roar. I was too busy to notice.
"Break it up, children," the mammoth reproached. What the hell was his name?
"Let's just find shelter for the night. Tomorrow we can fight or whatever, but it's survival of the fittest!" the sloth scolded, slamming his fist in his open hand. I gave him no regard.
"There was a cave to the west of where I was heading. We could stay the night there," I advised.
"We are not traveling with that!" the tiger objected.
"Have any better ideas, Romeo?" asked the mammoth.
No response. Go figure.
I sighed and stood, shaking my hind leg. It was itchy and burning at the same time. Ah well, it'd go away soon enough.
I started on my way silently, and soon enough heard the resounding choir of crunching snow behind me. The breeze kicked up and I heard the sloth cower in the mammoth's thick fur. The tiger merely bowed his head to the wind. I lead up front, proudly making my own tracks through the snow.
This was going to be one hell of a night.