Author's note : Thanks to the people who reveiwed.
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22. Relatives
''Diego?'' said Mia. Diego was about to say something when Sid groaned.
''My head,'' he muttered getting up slowly. He looked around and saw the other sloth and almost lost consciousness again. The elderly sloth grabbed Sid and squeezed him tightly.
''My baby,'' she said as he choked.
''Help,'' gasped Sid waving his arms around.
''You were almost eaten by that evil saber,'' said the sloth ignoring Sid's pleas for help and glaring at the saber who snarled.
''Mother, calm down,'' said Diego looking at her warningly. She sat down coolly but continued to glare murderously at the sloths. Manny looked at Sid and Diego extremely confused.
''Is that your Mother?'' whispered Mia disbelievingly to Diego, suddenly nervous.
''Yes,'' answered Diego nodding slighty. He looked at Mia and licked her cheek, calming her down.
''The first time I meet her, I had to attack her,'' groaned Mia quietly and Diego couldn't help but chuckle.
''It's not funny,'' muttered Mia.
''I'm going to die Mum, let me breathe please,'' begged Sid and she let go of him.
''So...er, what are you called?'' asked Manny politely to the sloth and saber.
''I'm Marie,'' answered the sloth smiling brightly.
''Who are you?'' asked the saber narrowing her eyes and looking at Manny untrustingly. Diego feigned a cough and glanced at her.
''I'm Jane,'' answered the saber. She looked at Diego confused.
''I'm Manny, why don't you...er, talk and I'll go home, bye,'' said Manny. Jane looked at the other sabers with amazement as Manny left. What was going on?
-
''Mum, why are you here?'' asked Sid walking off with her.
''I came to see you,'' said Marie and Sid smiled widely.
''So what happened? Why did you leave without me at the migration?'' asked Sid.
''Your brothers said that you had gone off with Sylvia,'' said Marie. Sid shivered remembering Sylvia. He took a deep breath to calm down.
''Where are they now?'' asked Sid curiously.
''Remember when we were all going to die because a flood, well I told them that I was going to meet up with you before everyone died,'' answered Marie.
''They didn't come, they didn't want to see me,'' said Sid indignantly.
''They were going to come but we lost track of each other,'' said Marie shrugging,''your brothers both have mates anyway, they will be fine. What happened to you? Why are you with a mammoth and a saber?'' asked Marie.
-
''What are you doing around here?'' asked Diego curiously looking at Jane.
''I missed you,'' said Jane and Diego smiled pleased. Jane glanced at Mia questionally.
''This is...my mate Mia,'' said Diego slightly nervous.
''It's a pleasure to meet you,'' said Jane smiling at Mia.
''Pleasure's all mine,'' said Mia. Diego looked at them, almost scared of what might happen, but he needn't have worried. After a few minutes they were chatting as if they had known each other for a long time. Diego sat back and watched them, relieved.
-
''They aren't here yet, something must have happenned,'' said Ellie pacing around, really worried.
''Calm down,'' said Crash.
''They are probably heading back right now,'' said Eddie as Ellie sat down tired. Crash patted her leg and tried to comfort her. Eddie was about to help when he spotted something outside.
''Isn't that Manny?'' asked Eddie pointing to a big figure in the distance.
-
''Why did you take so long? Where are the others? What happened?'' asked Ellie quickly as soon as Manny walked into the cave.
''The attackers where Sid and Diego's Mothers,'' said Manny shaking his head amused.
''What?!'' exclaimed Crash and Eddie, their mouths hanging open.
''Really?'' asked Ellie surprised.
''Yep,'' said Manny nodding and sitting down.
-
''Diego are you with that mammoth and sloth?'' asked Jane knocking him out of his trance.
''Um...yes,'' said Diego nervous again. Jane raised her eyebrows.
''I expected better from you,'' said Jane strictly. Diego's ears flattened and Jane sighed.
''Are you happy?'' asked Jane.
''Yes, they are really good friends,'' said Diego and Jane shrugged.
''I hated your leader anyway. What happened though?'' asked Jane.
''You'd better sit down and try to remember how much you love me,'' said Diego.
-
''...and I was practically alone and completely lost but I bravely fought two possums...wait, Diego said that they were 50 rattle snakes,'' said Sid thoughtfully.
''Sid, you must be lying, that can't be true,'' said Marie gasping.
''Okay then, it was two possums but they were ferocious and quick, with huge…'' continued Sid dramatically.
-
''Where did I go wrong?'' said Jane after hearing the story.
''Hey, that's insulting,'' said Diego and Mia chuckled.
''I'm kidding, I'm so happy my little Diego has found his true love,'' said Jane. Diego blushed, he hated it when his Mother said things like that.
''Have you had any cubs yet?'' asked Jane hopefully.
''Yes,'' answered Diego and Jane gasped.
''Two girls and a boy,'' said Mia proudly.
''That's fantastic. What are they called?'' asked Jane excitedly.
-
''You were so brave, that was amazing. What about Sylvia though?'' asked Marie when Sid had finished.
''Um...I ditched her,'' said Sid shrugging innocently.
''Sidney, tut tut tut,'' said Marie crossing her arms.
''I think we should go back,'' suggested Sid quickly.
''Okay,'' said Marie.
-
''I think we should be heading back,'' said Diego,''Mother don't fight with anyone please.''
''If they...'' started Jane.
''Mother.''
''But...'' said Jane defensively.
''No fights,'' said Diego strictly.
''Okay,'' said Jane sighing.
''And don't embarrass me,'' said Diego looking at Jane slightly worried.
''Me?'' said Jane innocently.
''Yes you.''
-
''Hey Sid,'' said Diego when they met up at the edge of the forest.
''Hi buddy,'' said Sid cheerfully.
''Jane, I'm sorry if I insulted you,'' said Marie smiling at the saber who frowned.
''Um...yeah and I'm sorry for attacking you and your son,'' muttered Jane confused.
''Let's go then,'' said Sid cheerfully.
''They are too lazy to hold grudges,'' explained Diego to Jane and she nodded.
-
''Hello,'' said Ellie smiling brightly.
''Hi,'' said Marie waving and Jane nodded.
''Are you really my Dad's Mum?'' asked Alex looking at Jane.
''Yes, I'm sure about that,'' answered Jane.
''That's awesome,'' the cubs chorused looking at each other excitedly and Jane couldn't help but smile.
''So, Marie why are you around here?'' asked Ellie interested,''Sid told me once that you were further up North.''
-
''…and that's why I'm here,'' finished Marie.
''Who's Sylvia?'' asked Crash and Eddie curiously. Marie had mentioned someone called Sylvia.
''No one,'' answered Sid quickly before Marie could say anything.
''Jane, why weren't you in Diego's pack?'' asked Ellie curiously. Diego looked at Jane, encouraging her to speak.
''Well, once Diego was old enough, he went to a male pack and I remained in the female pack,'' answered Jane. She was still shocked that the herd didn't seem to feel intimidated by her at all.
''So males go in one pack and females in another,'' said Ellie.
''Yes,'' said Jane. She looked at the sky, it was getting dark.
''I'd better get going now,'' said Jane to Diego.
''You only just got here. Why don't you stay?'' asked Diego.
''Are you sure you wouldn't mind?'' asked Jane looking around.
''Of course we wouldn't,'' said Ellie cheerfully,''and Marie, if you want, you could stay as well.''
''I'll stay then, thank you,'' said Marie smiling.
''Well, I'm going to sleep,'' said Sid rubbing his eyes and the kids all yawned.
-
''Like Mother, like son,'' said Manny looking at Sid and Marie. They were both on two uncomfortable looking rocks snoring. Ellie giggled.
''Marie didn't seem to mind Sid being in a herd as strange as ours but Jane looked completely amazed,'' said Ellie.
''I don't blame her,'' said Manny shrugging.
''Yeah, we are the weirdest herd ever,'' said Ellie and Manny nodded in agreement.
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