Some ten thousand years ago, many fascinating and wonderous creatures lived during the events of the ice age. Many that could tell interesting stories if alive today. Some interesting and some... not. But there is one that might be of interest to you. The story about a Diatryma called Fluff, a six foot tall relentless carnivore and a light brown Aardvark named Terry, usually has a craving for ants. Their tale begins with them travelling through a forest during the thawing of the ice age. Let us see how they fare in their tale of adventure and woe...

...

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No!"

"Are we-"

"Terry, one more word and I'll kick you over the tree line!"

"Aw come on Fluff. We've been travelling for nearly two days! We've got to have reached some sort of settlement by now!"

"We'll get there when we get there. You know what might help? Getting off of my back and walking on your own limbs!"

"What, on these stumpy lil things?" The Aardvark waved his front left foot to show the giant bird. "You could easily outrun me just by walking!"

"Yes and you have two extra limbs to travel on. My back's starting to hurt now, come on."

With a shake, the diatryma lodged the stubborn Aardvark from his feathery spine and the four legged nuisance fell onto his stomach. After giving his friend an annoyed glare, which was returned with an amused smirk, the two continued onwards towards their destination. A majority of the trip was spent in silence, both were focused more on reaching their point of interest. The ice surrounding them seemed to be slowly increasing in density the further they travelled. While at the start of their journey there was very little ice, it seemed to now be everywhere. Slowly but surely melting. Were it not for their fur and feathers, the remainder of the trip would be very difficult to endure. Fluff finally decided to speak.

"If there's actually anyone living here it might be a good idea to warn them of this."

"Of what?" Terry asked confused.

"The ice melting, what else?"

"I don't think it would be hard to miss. I mean, look over there! You can clearly see the icicles melting and dripping."

"That depends on how far in they are. If they're at the very center of this icy land then I doubt there would have been any signs of it melting, would there?"

Terry shrugged. "Yeah fair point. Flipping global warming that everyone's talking about innit? Hey, can we stop for a bite to eat? I'm starving!"

Fluff gave a nod. "Sure. Chances are we won't find much once we're surrounded by snow. I'll have a look over there, you check that way. Might be an ant hill if you're lucky enough."

"One can hope." Terry replied as he went his way leaving his giant flightless friend to scavenge to his hearts content. It didn't take long for them to find their own respective meals and eat what they could. Hopefully they wouldn't have too much further to go before they grew hungry again. Minutes passed and the two managed to meet up again.

"Okay, hopefully that'll do us. Ready to continue?"

"You might want to check your beak first mate."

Fluff raised an eye before running his tongue along the rim of his beak, tasting a wet irony flavor. The six foot tall bird sighed. "Ugh, not again." He groan before using one of his scaly feet to wipe himself clean.

"You are such a messy eater, you know that don't you?" Terry accused.

"Hey it's not my fault my food squirms when I catch it!" Fluff defended himself. "Whatever, let's just get moving."

Nearly another full day passed. The soft dirt paths and grassy hills had long been replaced by snow and cold. The terrain was far from what they were used to but they pushed on with determination. When it snowed, it snowed heavily and when the wind struck, it threatened to blow them off of their feet. There was no respite nor comfort anymore and the way back was becoming more and more tempting. Not even their natural warmth provided them shelter.

It took twelve hours before a glimmer of hope eventually shined their way. There was movement up ahead, distant but noticeable. A lot of movement. Mere dots moving slowly, left and right overtaking each other. It greatly resembled a group of creatures. A colony most likely.

"Ah finally! Some form of life at last!" Fluff sighed happily. "Guess your sense of direction's done right by us again."

"Hah! As if I'd get us lost on accident." Terry smiled back, the mood of him and his larger friend improving almost immediately. "Come on let's get a closer look!"

And they did. The closer they got the easier it was to work out the many different species that made up said colony. Beavers, several tortoise-like Doedicurus, deer and many others including several of their own kind. Fluff found it a little odd how these other red feathered diatrymas were able to coexist alongside so many prey animals. Especially the ones with young in their care but decided not to dwell on the thought. Some places weren't as wild as where he and Terry had come from.

Speaking of, Terry was more focused on the landscape they resided in. It was... unlike anything they had ever seen. Several icy hills and columns had been carved into large slides with a huge lake surrounding them. They watched as many of the mammals waited patiently in a line just to have a chance to slide down while other swam and wadded in the lake.

It was like a park. With water. A water... park? It seemed to be a sight for sore eyes as the bitter cold had now been replaced by warmth and heat, even opening up the ground to reveal dirt and soil. At least it was obvious how this colony was supposedly thriving as well as it was.

It didn't matter to them however. The two hadn't gone through several days of braving the elements to have fun. The diatryma spoke up.

"Okay enough sightseeing. Let's find the alpha, or whoever is in charge here."

The pair looked around hoping to spot some figure of authority. It didn't take long for them to sus out a potential candidate.

"How about that guy?" Terry pointed. Fluff followed his claw and saw perhaps the biggest creature in the area, perhaps the whole land itself. A mammoth. The two watched as he calmly and gently walked among the smaller creatures, sometimes stopping to talk to them suggesting he was friendly. His brown rugged fur and huge tusks made it clear that he was not someone they wanted to anger.

"Crikey, he's a big one ain't he?" Fluff awed.

"Well he is a mammoth Fluff." Terry rolled his eyes. "Speaking of, when's the last time you saw a mammoth?"

Fluff gave a second to recall any time that he did. Eventually he shrugged. "No clue mate. Anyway never mind that, come on. Let's go ask him some questions." The bird started to make his way forward towards the hairy heffalump. Terry soon followed, struggling slightly to keep up with his tiny feet. As they made their way through the crowd they spotted another creature walking alongside their target, just as unique as the mammoth itself. A sabertooth tiger. The animals sudden appearance stopped Fluff in his tracks for a second. Where there was one the other members of the pack weren't normally far behind, and they were never good news. It took another couple seconds for the feathered mammal to get over his shock before more cautiously walking forth. A few steps more and the pair were right next to them, although they hardly seemed to notice. At least not until Terry cleared his throat, catching their attention.

"Hi there." The aardvark started off. "You wouldn't happen to be in charge here would you?"

The mammoth stared at the two with a judgmental gaze, making the two feel nervous under it. Surprisingly it was the sabertooth that spoke first.

"What, Manny here? Well better him than Sid I guess." He joked as the mammoth, now known as Manny rolled his eyes and responded.

"I don't know about being in charge. Why, something I can help you with?" He raised one of his hairy heavy eyebrows.

The diatryma looked down to the Aardvark, signaling for him to continue.

"We're looking for someone. Another Aardvark to be precise."

Manny looked around lazily. Sufficient to say there were a fair few aardvarks around.

"Uhuh. Any specific one because if that's all you've got we're gonna be here a while."

Fluff gestured to the mammoth as he spoke to Terry. "Better show him the picture."

"Ah, good idea." Terry beamed before raising one front clawed limb and... started drawing in the dirt. It didn't take long for him to come up with the outline of an aardvark as he beamed proudly. The mammoth and sabertooth didn't seem that impressed.

"Oh wow it looks... like every other aardvark here. Way to narrow it down fellas." The sabertooth responded idly.

Fluff seemed confused before looking at the drawing Terry had made, lowering his feathery neck to get a better view. After noticing something important he passed a glare to Terry.

"Seriously mate?"

"What?" His trunked friend responded confused. Without looking away from him the diatryma raised one leg and with a clawed toe swiped a small line through the cheek of the drawn specimen indicating that she had a scar.

"Your own sister and you forget one of her most noticeable features? Are you kidding?"

"Sister?" The sabertooth interjected, sounding a bit less stone faced.

"Yeah that's right." Fluff responded raising back up to his full height. "She was travelling north of where we live but that was nearly a week ago. Usually she vanishes for couple of days before returning and we're a little worried she may have gotten lost. Like, really lost."

"Your herd here is the only sign of life we've seen since we attempted to follow her." Terry followed up. "You haven't seen her have you? Trust me, that scar is easily recognizable."

"Not recognizable enough that you remembered to draw it." Fluff muttered.

Manny and the sabertooth looked at each other for a moment. The sabertooth shook his head prompting the mammoth to sigh.

"Sorry guys. We haven't noticed any aardvark like that here." He spoke now seeming genuine. "But if it was less than a week ago then maybe she's here somewhere and we've just not noticed?"

"Also what was your sister doing so far away from your herd that she'd be gone for a few days?" The sabertooth intervened.

Terry massaged and smacked his lips before responding. "My sister's a bit of an explorer. Always wanting to venture out on her own. It's not the first time she's done this nor will it be the last. But it's certainly the first time she's been gone for nearly week so you can understand the concern. Our only go to is that she always travels south of the valley which has been is our only direction thus far."

"Right. And what about him?" The cat pointed to the giant bird who took his words the wrong way.

"What do you mean 'what about him'?" Fluff glared at the cat, going so far as to take a step forward only to be halted by Terry by merely laying his foot on the diatryma's leg.

"Fluff here is my best friend. We grew up together me him and my sister so he's just as concerned as I am. Aaaand may also get easily offended time to time." He explained noticing the annoyed look of his friend. "What? You do."

The sabertooth grimaced, taking back him words a little. "Right I... I guess that makes sense." He responded awkwardly.

Before either side could continue the conversation, a cry of help could be heard not too far away and the four turned in the direction of the sound to find several young kids burying a sloth into the ground. A full grown adult sloth. Manny groaned.

"Sorry to cut our chat short guys but it seems I've got to see some kids about a sloth. But hey I hope you find who you're looking for!" He called before focusing his attention over to the kids who at this point had buried the poor sloth up to his neck. The sabertooth followed leaving the two alone.

"So much for help." Fluff frowned.

"Hey, we'll find her. You know what she's like."

"Yeah, I do... Come on let's have a look around. Hopefully we'll find her before all this ice melts."

"Hmpf! I doubt we need to worry about that anytime soon."