I blink as I become accustomed to the light from above the ice. Most of my new herd are watching baby Peaches as she plays in the snow. What they don't realize, though, is just how nervous I am. It has been years since I was last above the ice. I don't know what will happen, now.
I look around more. One of the things that I really hate about the upper world is the cold. It's freezing! I'm no longer used to the snow and ice. To make it even worse, I don't have my winter coat anymore. I haven't had it for years, ever since I left the frozen tundra. I can't stop shivering from the cold.
Ellie turns to me. "Are you alright? You're freezing and you seem tense."
I jump slightly. "'m fine. I just 'aven't been 'ere fer a while. I 'aven't 'ad a winter coat fer a while either," I explain.
"I see. Come with me. I'll show you our cave. It's nice and warm in there." Ellie takes me away, while the others watch Peaches.
When we get there, I look around. The cave is quite large. Ellie was also right about it being warm. "Does everyone sleep 'ere?" I ask, referring to the rest of the herd.
"Yup! We sure do! You can sleep wherever you want. There's plenty of room," Ellie tells me.
"O...okay…thanks," I smile, despite my extreme nervousness.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Ellie asks. It's obvious that she's concerned about me.
I decide not to lie this time. "No, but I will be."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Ellie asks.
"No, not really. It's…complicated," I answer.
"I understand. Just let me know if you ever want to talk. I'll be right here to listen," Ellie offers.
"I'll keep that in mind," I reply. I sniff around the cave. "I'll go out an' see if I can find some good bedding. I know there's some even in winter. I'll be back shortly," I dart out of the cave. I'm not really keen on going out into the cold, but I don't really have much of a choice.
I return about ten minutes later, with an armful of moss. I make it into a suitable nest. "Hey, Buck," Ellie greets me.
"Hi," I reply.
"Are you settled in?" Ellie asks.
"Yeah. I sure am!" I answer her.
"That's good. I sent Crash and Eddie to go get some fruit. Are you hungry?" Ellie asks.
"Yeah, now that ya mention 't," I answer. I hear my stomach growl at the mere thought of food.
Just then, Crash and Eddie return with a makeshift bag full of a variety of fruit. There are berries thrown into the mix. Ellie starts dividing the food between us. I start eating my portion. "Thanks, boys," I say around a mouthful of fruit.
"You're welcome, Buck!" They reply, while digging in.
All is well, until I start on the berries. I am the first and only one to eat the berries. They don't taste bad, but once I eat a good few pawfuls, I start feeling sick. "Uh guys? I think th' berries are bad…" I groan.
"Why do you say tha…" Ellie breaks off when she sees my face.
I start to feel hot and cold. My stomach seizes with cramps. I shiver violently. I clamp a paw over my mouth in a feeble attempt to keep down the contents of my stomach. I try to run to the cave opening, knowing that I'm about to lose my lunch. I don't quite make it, though. I fall to my knees and begin to retch onto the cave floor. Ellie comes up behind me and wraps her trunk over my shoulders as I heave and retch. When I finish vomiting, Ellie picks me up and places me on my nest. Crash and Eddie come over to me. "We're sorry, Buck," they speak in unison.
"It's alright, boys," I rasp out. I still feel somewhat sick and weak.
"Get some rest, Buck. I'll clean up the vomit," Ellie says.
"'m sorry, Ellie. I didn't mean ta vomit in th' cave," I whisper.
"Buck, it isn't your fault. Just get some rest. I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow," Ellie suggests.
"'kay…" I close my eye. I'm asleep before too long.
I squirm as I begin to wake up a few hours later. I open my eye. I look around. I see that everyone is still asleep. I gasp when I feel the same pain torment my stomach. I whimper and squirm some more. I feel something touch my forehead. I look. I see Ellie standing over me. She has a worried look in her eyes. "Are you alright, Buck?" Ellie asks.
I groan. I shake my head, wincing at the headache that has started to form. "I…I don't feel so good…" I whimper. I wrap my arm over my stomach, groaning.
Ellie strokes my fur with her trunk in a soothing gesture. "Shhh. It'll be alright," she whispers in my ear.
"I don't think 't will…I feel…sick…'t…'t 'urts…so much…!" I wail. My stomach seizes up again. I turn over to my side, one arm still wrapped around my stomach. I whimper. "I…I think 'm gonna…throw up…" I gasp. I push myself up from my nest. I feel my stomach twisting into knots. I clamp my paw over my mouth, trying to keep myself from vomiting. I look up at Ellie, a sorrowful look in my eye.
Ellie looks back at me, understanding clear in her eyes. "It's alright, Buck. Go ahead." She strokes my back with her trunk.
I don't need to hear another word. I lean forward and begin vomiting. I cough and choke on the vomit. Ellie pats my back with her trunk, trying to stop my choking. I heave and retch as I continue to vomit. After a couple of minutes, I finish vomiting. I wipe the vomit off of my face with an arm. Tears are rolling down my left cheek.
Ellie wraps her trunk around me. I shiver slightly. I lean into Ellie's fur, seeking some much-needed comfort. Ellie strokes my forehead with the tip of her trunk. I nuzzle my face into Ellie's fur. I whimper as I continue to cry softly.
When my tears subside, I look up at Ellie. "Thanks," I whisper.
"You're welcome," Ellie smiles.
At that moment, Manny starts to wake up. He comes over, grimacing when he sees the vomit. "What happened?" Manny asks.
"You know that Crash and Eddie brought some bad berries and that Buck ate them, right? Well, Buck is still sick. He just threw up," Ellie explains.
I blush a little when Ellie explains. "Tell th' whole world, why don't ya!" I growl bad temperedly.
"Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it," Ellie apologizes.
"It's fine," I reply. I yawn, rubbing my eye tiredly.
"Buck, get some more sleep. I'll clean up the vomit," Ellie smiles.
"'m sorry 'bout that…" I mumble.
"No, Buck. Don't be sorry," Ellie soothes me. I nod my head groggily. I lay back down on my nest. I close my eye and manage to fall asleep.
I wake again maybe two hours later, still suffering from stomach pains. I groan and wrap my right arm over my stomach. I breathe deeply as I try to fight the nausea back. I win temporarily. I use that lull to stagger to my paws. I sway a bit from the nausea. I stumble quietly out of the cave and towards the surrounding forest. I have to get away from the cave for a bit, just in case I throw up again. I really don't want the herd to see me vomit. It's embarrassing!
I make my way to the nearby clearing, the one where I used to play with my friends when I was little. It's out of sight and earshot of the cave, making this place perfect. Seclusion is what I need right now. Seclusion will protect me from any potential embarrassment.
My stomach cramps up with more nausea. I collapse onto the grass, my right arm still wrapped tightly around my stomach. I swallow hard, trying not to vomit. It is no use, though. The nausea, the pain, it's too much. In the end, I just give up. I hunch over as I begin throwing up all over the grass. Once I start, I can't stop. I'm forced to allow my stomach to empty all of its contents.
"Buck…" I hear a voice whisper from somewhere to my left. I glance out my eye between bouts of vomiting to see Ellie standing there, looking worried. I turn back as the vomit continues to come.
When I finish throwing up, I turn back to Ellie (who by now is standing right next to me). "Why're ya 'ere?" I ask hoarsely.
"I…I was worried about you…are you okay?" Ellie asks.
"Well…I just threw up…so no…" I answer obviously.
Ellie wraps her trunk around my shoulders in a comforting gesture. "Buck, I know it hurts, but you're not alone. Just let us help you," Ellie whispers to me.
I slowly nod my head. "I just wanna sleep this off…" I mumble.
"Okay, Buck. I'll carry you to your nest, then," Ellie replies.
I just nod my head again in response. I allow Ellie to lift me up with her trunk and carry back to the cave. She gently lays me back on my nest. I cough, looking up at Ellie with a single unfocussed eye. "Thanks, Ellie," I rasp.
"You're welcome, Buck. Now, just get some sleep, alright?" Ellie suggests. I close my eye and drift off on the waves of sleep.