Chapter Two: "A Mammal That Cares"

Disclaimer: I don't own Ice Age or anything related to it. Blue Sky Studios and Twentieth Century Fox does. Don't own Millie or Wallace either, Funkywatermelon does.

The sun was just rising over the hilltops. Diego was up already and was trying to wake Manny so they could talk quietly, and alone for a few minutes.

"Manny," he whispered. "Manny, wake up."

"What do you want?" he whispered, so as not to wake up Sid and the rest of their small herd. Eddie rolled over in his sleep. Diego motioned for Manny to follow him.

Manny carefully stood up and walked out of the cave so he could talk. They walked toward the watering hole, where they stopped to get a drink. Neither had said anything on the way there, so Diego finally broke the silence.

"Look, Manny," he said. He paused, trying to think the right way to say what was on his mind. "I know that it has been... Hard for you. But you've seen to come a long way. You've got yourself a great girlfriend. But I think that time might still be running out."

"What do you mean?" asked Manny. "Until what?" Diego looked to the ground.

"I mean... Well, I know we saw all those other mammoths a few days ago. But they were headed exactly where we came from. And nothing is in that direction." He paused, hoping the right words would come to him. "And while I don't think that you and Ellie are the last mammoths, I'm sure you're not, I just don't think that you should... Waste time... Like you are," he said. He waited for the worst, thinking Manny would take it offensively.

But nothing happened. Manny looked at him blankly. He turned to go without saying anything else. He didn't want to pressure Ellie again. Not after before. He knew that he hurt her then, and he loved her too much to hurt her again. Even though she had said she was ready, he wanted to be sure this time.

"Manny," he called. "Please don't take it the wrong way. I'm happy for you! Really. You needed to move on. And you have. But think of it like this: You love her. You need to ask her. Before she gets away."

"I... I don't know what to say to her," he said. "And why are you giving me advice, Mr. Single? I don't see you with a girlfriend." Diego let out a light laugh.

"I used to have one," he said, sadly. "I know how it feels though, to have what you have. And then it gets taken away before you do anything. But it shouldn't be any trouble talking to her. Just go with what comes to you, what feels right. If you really love her, like I know you do, then talk to her." He paused, looking Manny straight in the eye.

"Look, Diego," he started.

"I know that what I used to have doesn't even compare to what you used to have. But I do know that if you don't do something soon, you could lose her, just like..." he let the sentence trail, not wanting to finish it.

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Ellie yawned and stretched out her muscles. Crash and Eddie both did the same. They ran over to Sid and started jumping around and over him. Ellie walked out and trumpeted good morning to the valley. Manny and Diego still hadn't returned from their little outing.

"Good morning!" said Ellie happily when Sid came finally came outside. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," he said. He started walking but stopped short. "Ready for what?" Ellie giggled.

"We're moving further south today!" she said happily. The little group, now that they were out of danger, traveled slower than before. They had decided that they would stay in the same place for about two days before they walked onward. Ellie seemed to like the pace, more so than Manny.

Sid started to walk again, but stopped short, again.

"Aren't we gonna wait for Manny and Diego?" he asked, confused. Before Ellie could say yes, Crash and Eddie bounded ahead, laughing the whole time.

Ellie called after them to stop and wait, but they were too far ahead to hear her. With no choice, she followed them. She wasn't about to let anything happen to them.

Ellie and Sid walked further and further away, trying to catch up with the possums, not realizing how far they were going.

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Manny and Diego came back to the cave. Unfortunately, it had given the rest of their herd nearly an hour of a head start. The two panicked, not sure of what to do first. Diego toyed with the idea of just staying behind, hoping they would come back. But Manny was to concerned to just do nothing.

"Hey," said Manny. "You can track them down, right?"

"Sure," he replied, unenthusiastically. "But if something happens to them before we get there..."

"Nothing will happen," Manny interrupted, sure of himself. Diego and Manny started to follow after them, slowly, but surely. Manny prayed the whole way there that nothing would happen to Ellie. He wished for the chance to ask her, since he hadn't done it already.

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Ellie, Sid, Crash, and Eddie were all eventually together in one place. It wasn't until then, near dusk, that the four realized what trouble they were in. They decided to stay the night near the water hole, just in case.

Manny and Diego were forced to stay the night under some trees. They were still only about forty five minutes or so away from them, but that was still a long ways to go.

I hope Ellie made them stop for the night, thought Manny. We'll never catch them if they didn't. He cared for her. He really cared for her. More than anyone else could know. Not being able to think of anything else, Manny finally fell asleep, worried about his herd, and his true love.

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A/N: (This is the boring stuff I have to say now that I'm done writing. I'll understand if you don't want to read it.) There you go! Chapter two is finally up! I just finished Chapter Three. I'm sooo excited! I hope this was long enough for you! If not, just let me know! I love getting reviews! I sit at school during first hour and look at them and it really makes my day! Thanks to all my reviewers! (Including my FIRST EVER REVIEWER, Laurie Eve, thanks so much! You rock!) And thanks (again) to Funkywatermelon for letting me be in your community! I seriously almost cried, I was so happy.

Sorry too, I had said that this chapter would be called "What Ho, A Foe?" but then it didn't work out that way. But the next chapter WILL be called that, so now you have something to look forward to, now that I've got it all worked out. :) R&R if you want to... Accepting flames now, lol. Thanks again everybody!