Disclaimer: I do not own Ice Age.


AN: And this is the not important part leading up to the possible next part…I dunno. Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed, and hope you enjoy!


PART II

Chapter 15:

The trip was long. The trip was very long. The trip was exceptionally long. The trip was unbearably long. The trip was painstakingly long, and someone would die before it even ended. Or, at least, that was what Sid started complaining about. Diego turns to glare at him, promising him that someone would die on this trip if they didn't shut up at this moment, they were 17-year-old for devil's sake, grow up.

Shira leans against his shoulder, the ear bud still in her ear as some indie track comes up. She frowns at the slow tempo and holds her hand out for his phone, which he easily slides over to her.

He's tapping something on his tablet, but Shira ignores it and skips the next few songs. She hums lazily as a familiar tune comes up, then returns to the book she brought with her.

"You've spent the last five hours on that book," Diego notes dryly.

Shira shrugs. "I've been re-reading bits."

She glances at his tablet, noticing a form of some kind. She drops her eyes quickly when she notices that the form is written mainly in runes, and returns to her book.

Manny and Ellie seem to be having some sort of fierce debate in the back, but Shira merely tunes them out, closes her book, and quietly falls asleep.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."

Shira yawns as she stretches, returning the ear bud to Diego. She rolls her neck, humming satisfyingly at the crack that sounds, then glances out the window. "We there yet?"

"Nearly," Diego nods, starting to put his things away.

Shira clambers over him while he slides out to the aisle to wake everyone else up. Pressing herself against the window, Shira squints at the massive modern-looking building, and notes with amusement the enormous field stretching around the school.

Figures.

"The field is huge." Eddie murmurs from the back.

Diego gives a shrug. "Just wait until you see the Tournament fields."

"They're not held here?" Ellie asks.

Diego shakes his head. "Not enough accommodation close enough to hold the amount of people who's registering." He receives a notification on his phone and clicks it on. "I'll be showing you guys around." He tells them.

"Great," Manny mutters under his breath. Ellie slaps his arm. "I mean, yay."

Shira grins while Diego merely smirks.

The bus screeches to a stop and Diego strides out with his bags, jumping on the ground a few times to regain circulation in his legs. Shira follows his example, stretching out and relishing in the fresh air.

Students begin to flood into the courtyard, where the buses are parked in some sort of semi-circle arrangement. Ms Mitford, one of the chaperones, is talking to the Coach, who had appeared from the building. Both seem equally amiable, with none of the hostility that both sides were known for.

"Everybody!" Coach roars out. Silence immediately reigns - no one had forgotten him and his terrifying obstacle courses. "You will be taken to the dorms. Dinner will be served in an hour. Dismissed!"

The groups start to split off more clearly, some heading around the back while others stick to the front entrance. Some are even jogging to the fields, clearly looking to stretch their legs instead of getting lost in the crush of the crowd.

"Let's go," Diego nudges them ahead.

He leads them through a dizzying maze of corridors, stopping only once or twice to check everyone is still with him. Ducking under a classmate's arm and dodging someone trying to tug their luggage into the room with them, he takes a sharp turn and finally slows down as the corridor starts to empty.

"We're expected to navigate this?" Shira demands.

Diego laughs. "I'll share a map."

Ellie suddenly stops as she glances around. With the corridor now much emptier, she suddenly notices three glaring absences.

"Where did Sid and my brothers go?"


"Hi!" Sid called out hopefully, scampering towards an approaching student. "Um, could you-" the student brushes past him, ignoring his attempts to catch his attention.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Nice going, nimrod."

"At least I'm doing something!" Sid grits his teeth.

Crash snickers from where he is watching against the wall. "Not working, though, is it?" He snickers again as Sid fails yet again to get another student's attention.

"Well, well, lookie here. Some Valley students."

They all turned to face a small group of four. The leader smirks, stepping forward as he glances back at his lackeys. "It's only polite to give you the whole welcome package, isn't it?"

Sid brightens up at the potential of a friendly face, only to choke as the leader grabs him by the neck and slams him against the wall.

Eddie and Crash watch with fascination, both wincing in delight at the thud that emerges from the contact. "Cool!" They chorus, noticing another two members heading their way.

"We're ready!" Eddie sticks his neck out.

"What the hell are you guys doing?"

The leader turns at the new voice, and Sid nearly melts in relief. Diego is frowning at the group of four, looking decidedly unamused. Manny, Ellie and Shira are standing beside him, tense and prepared to either run or fight depending on how this went.

"Back off, Diego."

Diego smirks, crossing his arms. "Or what?"

The leader scowls, but turns away, dropping Sid to the floor. "You'll get your turn one day."

"I'll be waiting," Diego waves mockingly, then rolls his eyes the second the four are gone. "Let's go," he glares at the trio, "and how about we don't get lost this time?"