Disclaimer: I do not own Ice Age.


AN: I don't know why I'm so happy, but I'm posting this now. After this, there'll be Part II - At Half-Peak…Finally finished the story. Updates will be more frequent now…so…enjoy, and thanks for the reviews!


Chapter 11:

Oh, Diego was good. Even with his hatred, which was thankfully dying down a little upon seeing Diego embarrassed by Ellie, Manny could grudgingly admit this. Within days, Diego had sent them a file and music sheets, some handwritten annotations on them.

And, as promised, they didn't include him in the project's finishing touches before the composition, letting him get on with whatever the hell he wanted to in music. It wasn't above Manny's notice though, to see Diego's furrowed brow as he got on his laptop. When Manny casually walks by, he sees medical forms of some sort before Diego slams the laptop shut and waits until he walks by before reopening his laptop.

They are making progress in music. Reluctant progress, but progress nonetheless.

However, in PE, the opposite was happening.

Everyone crowds around; the Half-Peak students stretch and warm up, throwing a few jokes between them while the Valley students remain deathly silent, looking around anxiously. Five minutes into class, a stony-faced woman storms into the field, dressed in workout gear.

"Your teacher has gone back to Half-Peak to prepare the U19 football teams and to prepare the school for the second term." Her explanation curt but finished, she immediately orders laps.

Soto rolls his eyes, but obediently gets running.


Within hours of her unexpected entrance into PE, rumours were already spreading around about Ms. Who-knows-what, who bossed everyone around regardless of whether or not they were in class.

For once, Half-Peak and Valley seem to be of mutual agreement as they glare at the woman, shouting angrily at some poor Valley student who had tripped and spilled his lunch on the floor. Two Half-Peak students quickly pull the student away, glaring dangerously at her.

The woman merely huffs, rolling her eyes as she continues her watch over everyone else.

Lunch becomes a dreaded time for everyone.


Ellie receives the grade sheet before everyone else, her eyes lighting up with delight as she stares at her music teacher. Ms Mitford smiles proudly as she winks at her, then heads back around the room to return everyone's scores.

With a beaming smile, Ellie turns to the group and reveals the A they receive on all the components.

In Spanish, Shira's ability to bluff her way through life and meaningless facts came in handy. Between that and the unexpected…whatever-it-was between Diego and Shira, their sterling scores was nothing to laugh at.

Ellie and Zeke's scores were comparable as well, the both of them exchanging a surprisingly genuine smile upon receiving it. Well, until Zeke remembered his reputation and instantly leaves Ellie's side, muttering something about finally being done with the stupid project.

Oscar and Sid's score was two marks below fail.

Manny and Soto received no score, on the basis that neither had submitted anything remotely resembling a group project.


For Manny, the term seemed to be looking up. Sure, he still felt that resenting hatred in him whenever Diego appears, but he managed to tamper it down; Ellie seems to appreciate his effort, often smiling gently at him whenever he feels the hatred start to manifest itself.

Maybe he'd survive the trip to Half-Peak when they had to complete their half of the exchange. Maybe everything would be okay.

And then he found out about his parents.


A few days before end of term, the herd, with the new additions of Shira (seemingly permanent) and Diego (definitely temporary) were wandering down the street. As established, Shira lived close enough to them to justify walking back with them.

Diego, on the other hand, had murmured something about wanting to explore Valley before tagging along. Manny eyes his and Shira's brushing hands before he rolls his eyes and leaves the boy be.

Ellie's sharper than intended jab into his ribs might have had something to do with that.

As they are walking, however, Eddie and Crash dancing around them - though carefully avoiding the road - Diego's eyes suddenly seem to sharpen. Manny notices this only because he was staring intently at the boy, but he doesn't have time to say anything before he grabs Shira and pulls her off the pavement on the road.

A blur of…something charges past them, snarling.

Wait. Snarling?

It's the size of Eddie and Crash, and the twins shriek as they dart out of the way, leaving the blur turning back as it lunges at Manny.

Thinking quickly, Ellie slings her bag off her back and solidly whacks it seconds before it contacts Manny. It lets out a surprisingly hurt sound before it darts down the alleyways between the houses, stopping only once to turn back and reveal its glowing red eyes.

Manny stares, wide-eyed and panting, Ellie right beside him, as the thing disappears into the darkness.


That night, a figure wanders the dark roads fearlessly, looking around as if searching for something. Another figure - dog-esque in size - emerges from the shadows, eyes dark and dangerous. It trots out carefully when the first figure whistles, looking around.

Without warning, the figure's eyes flash bright green, and the creature drops to the ground, eyes unseeing.

As the figure disappears into the shadows, a second figure emerges nearby, torchlight in hand as he carefully traverses the familiar path.

The second figure stops as its light reaches the corpse of the creature on the ground. Kneeling down beside it to confirm its death, he growls and brings out a lighter. He looks around, then quickly flicks it on and burns the corpse.

Growling at the foul smelling smoke, Mr Romano takes out his phone and punches in speed dial. "Looks like the Witch is on the move again."


It had been a relatively normal day, bag crammed with schoolbooks as he walks home with Ellie, the twins, and Sid to his house to finish (ahem, begin) packing for their trip to Half-Peak. While they would get a week of winter holidays, they were heading out the second the snow cleared to make sure they had enough time to reach there.

Half-Peak also seemed eager to get their athletes back before competition season started again to put in more training. Manny had rolled his eyes as Ellie laughed, but he supposed it could be a lot worse.

As they enter Manny's house, he stops as the door unlocking seemed strangely ominous. It is only as he carefully opens the door that he is aware of how quiet the house is. Yes, he was supposed to have the house for himself and his friends, but there was something…unsettled about it.

He glances at Ellie, who nods and pushes Sid and the twins behind her. For once, they remain silent, almost as if privy to the danger as well.

Ellie grips her bag more securely, ready to use it as a weapon once more if necessary. As they step over the threshold, Manny jumps as Sid suddenly clings onto him, and glares at the smaller kid until he carefully pries his hands off.

Manny inhales and exhales. There didn't seem to be anything amiss, and everything was in its rightful place.

After the events of the car nearly crashing into them, and the crazy creature attacking them, he won't take any chances.

But he's unarmed. And his house, while eerily silent, does not seem to have been infiltrated in any way. Nodding at Ellie, who gives a small trusting nod back, he raises his voice.

"Mom? Dad?!"

He glances back. Eddie and Crash have stationed themselves by the door; it is closed for now but Manny knows the instant he gives the signal they will have it open for everyone.

A banging from upstairs causes Ellie and Sid to shriek, and Manny to jump nearly out of his skin. He glances around and snatches an umbrella propped up against the wall, slowly heading upstairs. Ellie is right behind him, Sid breathing too heavily to Manny's right.

The stairs creak under his and Ellie's combined weight as usual, but it seemed too loud in the sudden silence. They reach the second floor intact but freaked out of their mind.

Manny stops as he sees the attic ladder down.

Holding a hand to keep Ellie there, only to be met with a stubborn shake of the head, Manny lets out an exasperated sound but obligingly climbs up the ladder, wincing with every creak that it gave out.

"Mom?" Manny asks, bewildered upon seeing his mother's face. There was a piece of cloth tied around her mouth, her hands and legs bound up behind her. His mother looks relieved though nervous as she gestures to the gag around her mouth with her shoulders.

Manny is quick to dart upstairs. His mother didn't do anything strange to indicate danger so he quickly unties her.

As soon as she's free, she's pointing to a corner hidden by a stack of boxes. "Your father is over there," she says hoarsely. She scrambles to her feet and heads for the ladder, stopping when she sees Ellie. Her face softens. "Come on, Ellie. Your parents are in the basement."

"Basement?" Ellie asks in confusion, but she follows obligingly, bag still clenched in her hand. Sid looks torn, but eventually decides to remain at the ladder, looking up to see Manny emerging with his father.


"What's happening?" Manny asks as soon as everyone is sitting down and settled. He had managed to quell the hysteria for as long as he could, but now he was here and he wanted answers. This was not normal behaviour, and the parents' refusal to call the police was already suspicious enough.

Right now, Ellie was sitting as his side, trembling as she attempts to keep a brave face. Sid and the twins are curled on either side of them, not doing anything to hide the discomfort on their faces.

Manny's dad sighs, looking at his wife almost as if asking for permission. She nods firmly. Sighing, he raises his head. "Manny, remember that…thing that you told us about?"

"The creature that nearly tackled Shira," Ellie nods slowly. Her hands drift over her bag, as if recalling how that very same bag had prevented it from biting Manny.

Manny's dad sighs again, stress lines evident on his face. His wife pats his arm reassuringly, and takes up the narrative when he falters. "We didn't want to startle you, but are you aware that Shira and someone else was present?"

"What?" Manny frowns in confusion.

Manny's mother flushes at the question, but her husband takes over once more. "We think that someone is behind this."

"You…you guys don't think Shira would actually be behind this?" Ellie asks incredulously.

"No, no," Manny's mother sighs. She leans forward. "If it weren't for Shira, you would have died when that car came speeding in."

"Are you saying those things are related?" Manny asks.

Manny's mother nods solemnly.

"Then what about the other creature?"

"We think someone else who was with you killed the other creature." Manny's father sighed. "We don't know who it is, but I tried to track down the creature and found it dead."

"Someone else?" Ellie asks slowly.

Ellie's mother nods. "Someone else, who has power beyond our capabilities. They must be young, relatively powerful."

"Maybe a witch," Manny's mother offers thoughtfully. She sighs. "They have to be young though."

"Young?" Ellie asks hesitantly.

"Witch?" Manny asks at the same time. "Like cartoon witch, pointed hat, broomstick?"

Manny's dad chuckles. "Not exactly," then turns to Ellie. "Young, yes. They escaped our radar, meaning they are still considered a minor. They wouldn't ping too strongly on our systems."

"Is there anyone odd you know?"

Manny frowns slowly. Suddenly things are starting to come together. Diego's eyes that seemed a little too sharp. The strong revulsion he felt when meeting Diego, which - although theirs lessened, was shared by Ellie and Sid and the twins.

"Someone your age, who might have any distinctive features. Strangely coloured eyes-" Eyes that were too knowing, that glared and stared at everything with disdain, that were a whole different colour from his sister's, "someone who stands out?"

The notebook that Diego had hidden. Manny hadn't looked at it too closely, but now he remembered runes and strange symbols on it.

But that would be too obvious. Wouldn't it?

But.

That would explain so many things.

Manny frowns. Swallows. Takes Ellie's hands in his. "What about someone that we suddenly hate for no inexplicable reason?"

His mother nods knowingly. "That would be instinctual for you all, to hate people like them."

Ellie frowns, confused. "To hate people like…Shira?"

Ellie's mother sighs. "Ellie, sweetheart. Shira is a Median."

"A what?" Eddie frowns.

"You mean like 'average', 'median', 'interquartile range'?" Crash looks disbelieving.

"No. A Median." Ellie's mother scolds gently.

"They can talk to the dead," Sid says slowly.

His grandmother nods. "Guess you're not completely obtuse." She cocks her head to the side. "You guys never wondered too much about where Shira lives, do you?"

Ellie gasps. "Next to a graveyard."

"What do you mean people like them?" Manny demands.

Manny's father sighs and takes another deep breath. He looks Manny in the eye as he explains calmly. "Believe it or not, Manny, there is another world living adjacent to our own."

"An…adjacent world?" Ellie asks uncertainly.

Manny's jaw clenches.

Crash and Eddie cackle. "What, you mean like all those tv shows?"

Manny's father shakes his head. "It's usually far more complex than that. They have their own system that is adjacent to ours - similar in political structure, economic, and other factors. These all enable them to integrate easily into our world, and vice versa. If we are aware of their existence."

"Then how do we play into this?" Manny demands.

"Manfred," and oh boy, full name, "we are dæmon-hunters. We hunt down these creatures. Werewolves, Vampires, Medians - all of these are dæmons. In fact," he gives a self-deprecating chuckle, "many famous people in history come from the 'Other World'."

"'The Other World'?" Ellie echoes.

Sid's grandmother nods and pulls out an ancient looking map. She unfolds it with surprising care, then takes out a pen and stabs a dotted line in an area around the Pacific Ocean, then starts to circle various territories around the world. Manny gives a half-hearted glance and notices Alaska being circled several times rather viciously.

"The only dæmons we are really worried about are the Witches. Their land borders ours, and serves as the barrier between both worlds. Other dæmons and Medians are more…temperate. The Medians choose to remain neutral in our affairs, the fae prefer to stick to their own land, and so on and so on," she rolls her eyes. "But the witches are by far the most aggressive of them all."

Manny suddenly has a flash of understanding that he can't understand. "Famous people in history," he says slowly, and maybe he is being a little slow on the uptake, considering they had passed this section of the conversation already, but "like musicians?"

A sharp intake of breath from Ellie and the twins.

"Yes," Manny's father nods, sounding a little confused/

"How do you tell?"

"Well," His mother frowns, "the example that comes to mind is Einstein: he was a ghoul, which manifested into physical properties. Beethoven was a devil, explaining his easily irritable nature."

"What about someone like Tartini?" Manny asks slowly. "Gieuseppe Tartini?"

"He was a witch, if I'm correct," His father says, responding in the same tone. "Extra finger; it also explained his most famous composition: the Devil's Trill." He cocks his head to the left. "Are you trying to tell us something?"

Manny looks at the others ad hesitates for a second. Diego has been harmless in the last few interactions; if anything, he seemed more like a young teenager. But he hadn't missed the way the parents had emphasised the word 'young'. Who knew what he would be able to achieve when he reached maturity?

"Mom, dad," Manny says slowly. Ellie gives his hand a reassuring squeeze as Sid nods confidently. "I think I know who the Witch is. And he happens to study at Half-Peak."