Chapter 13

The day was dark and cloudy. No one felt like doing anything. If the sun would have been visible, it would be in the west, preparing itself for its descent. Diego was sitting beneath the sky, waiting. All of them were waiting. No one spoke. No one had anything to say. They were in a circle, the six of them, except Sid was facing outward, away from the rest. Diego was watching him with a feeling of dread that grew stronger with every passing minute.

Suddenly he heard a sound and looked up. He let go of the breath he didn't realize he had been holding, and exhaled slowly. Sierra was here. It was time for him to go. The animals watched her as she approached their group, listening to the whispers of her feet as they hit the ground. She joined their circle, and looked at the ground, an expression of sad acceptance on her face. She said nothing, and did not make eye contact with anyone.

Diego felt restless all of a sudden. This was enough. This was too much. This was it. "Well?" he said, harsher than he meant.

"Let her catch her breath, Diego, come on," Manny said.

"You're going to come, aren't you?" Sierra said to Diego. She knew what decision he had made, but it was not the one she had hoped for.

"You know," Ellie said, "For a couple that's about to be mated, the two of you don't seem very happy."

No one could think of a response to this. Diego got up and walked over to Sierra, and sat down next to her. "I'm coming," he said.

"Well shouldn't we say good-bye to our friends first?" Sierra asked.

The mammoths and possums went over to the couple, saying good-bye and wishing them good luck. Sid still hadn't moved. Diego looked from him to Sierra, unsure of what to do. Sid was the reason he was leaving, but Diego wanted to leave him on good terms. He didn't want him angry.

Diego walked up to Sid, approaching him from behind. He noticed that Sierra had gotten the others' attention on the other side of the camp, so they didn't notice him. "Uh, Sid?" Diego said.

"What do you want?" Sid said. He didn't sound angry, but he sounded defeated. The same tone of voice as Sierra.

"I wanted to say good-bye," Diego said, knocking his head softly against the back of Sid's. "I…I'm gonna miss you." It felt weird to be saying this. As though it was the last chance he had speaking with Sid, and was trying his hardest to communicate with him, tell him things. Tell him the truth. Without telling him.

"You missed me, you wouldn't be leaving," Sid said simply, and was silent.

Diego was at a loss for what to do. He looked back at Sierra and the others, who still weren't looking at him, and then again at Sid, who was staring at the horizon, where the sun was lowering itself to the ground, ready to set. "I…I don't want to leave, Sid. I have to." Not only was Diego trying to convince Sid, he was trying to convince himself. This was the only way out. He didn't have a choice.

Sid didn't respond. Diego looked from side to side again, and then at the sun, and gave up hope. This was it. This was over. Diego turned to walk away with Sierra, and then, spontaneously, as a last gesture of good-bye, licked the back of Sid's head. Then he walked away.

"I'm ready," he said to Sierra. "Let's go."

"Fine," she said, not looking at him. "Come on."

And they walked off, leaving the others watching them disappear, and Sid on the other side, watching the sun. The sun was going down, abandoning the world and leaving it in darkness. But unlike Diego, the sun promised to return to next morning. Diego…would probably be gone forever.