After walked for 5 straight hours, Diego went ahead of the group again to keep a look out. Frida, Manny and Sid walked together making small talk. They reached Diego who right away started acting strange.
"Hey, great news!" he said. "I found a shortcut!"
"What do you mean, shortcut?" Manny asked as the baby started climbing all over his face.
"I mean faster than the long way around", Diego said rolling his eyes.
"No duh", Frida said. "I think we all know what a shortcut is."
"Look, either we slip through there and beat the humans to Glacier Pass or we take the long way and miss them."
"Through there?" Manny asked pointing at the cave Diego looked at. "What do you take me for?"
"This time tomorrow, you could be a free mammoth", he smiled. "Or Nanny, personally I never get tired of peek-a-boo."
Frida nodded looking at Diego untrusting. How would a cave be a shortcut to Glacier Pass? Would the cave even have an exit? She watched as Sid walked up to them holding a broken icicle against his neck, making it look like he had been stabbed through the neck.
"Sid, the tiger found a shortcut", Manny said.
Sid looked at the cave, but looked up to notice all the ice and rocks that were hanging above the entrance to the cave.
"No thanks", he said. "I choose life."
"Then I suggest you take the shortcut", Diego growled.
"Are you threatening me?"
"MOVE SLOTH!"
Diego's voice echoed loudly. The animals looked up as they heard cracking and rumbling. The ice and rocks were falling from the cliff above them. Sid just patted Diego's head as they watched.
"Way to go, tiger."
"Quick!" Manny said running. "Inside!"
Diego, Frida and Sid ran inside the cave as the ice began falling. They gasped as they looked up to see the shaking and rumbling caused the icicles on the ceiling to shake almost as if they were going to fall. The group quickly turned to get out of the cave but stopped when they saw their path was blocked. They looked back to see the icicles stop moving, staying where they were."
"Okay, I vote shortcut", Manny said turning around to walk into the cave.
Everyone followed, walking into the cave as the last bit of sunlight disappeared as one more rock closed the entrance completely.
Frida looked around the icy cave. It was freezing in there and eerie sounds echoed throughout the ice.
"Come on, guys", Diego said. "Stick together. It's easy to get lost in here."
Frida hurried and walked beside her. Diego looked at her surprised.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Just a little scared, is all", she answered.
"Scared?" Diego said. "I never thought you'd be scared, pet."
Frida rolled her eyes. She hated being called pet, but the way Diego said it almost made her weak in the knees. What was wrong with her? Why was she falling for his charms?
The group continued to walk in silence. Apparently Sid was moving too slow because Manny started getting annoyed.
"Will you keep up, please? It's hard enough to keep track of one baby."
The group walked carefully as they reached an icy slope. The carefully walked over the slippery ice. Everyone froze as they saw the baby slide off Manny's back, onto the ice. He giggled as he reached the edge of the slope and fell, vanishing from view. Everyone screamed and ran down the slope to see if the baby was alright. They looked to see the baby sliding down the ice going deeper into the cave.
"Roshan, I'm coming!" Frida said as she jumped down the ice.
The boys followed her, jumping down the ice. Everyone screamed in fear as they slid faster and faster. The group were separated into three tunnels. Frida and Diego went into a small tunnel that fell downwards. She screamed and wrapped her arms and legs around Diego as he stuck his arms and legs out, using his claws to try and stop them from falling.
Diego and Frida fell out of the tunnel and fell onto Manny's backside. The four of them continued sliding on the ice with no sight of the baby.
"Captain, iceberg ahead!" Sid said grabbing Manny's trunk.
The iceberg stopped them for a moment, until it cracked beneath their weight. The looked down to see the baby sliding ahead of them.
"Oh no", Diego said as the berg fell and slid on the ice.
Everyone held on tight to each other and screamed as they came to a tunnel. The floor was covered with sharp icicles. How the baby got past that, they would never know. The sharp icicles cut into the iceberg and eroded it to nothing, sending the four animals onto icy slides. Frida looked ahead of her to find herself on the same path as the baby. She looked over to Manny and Diego, watching how they leaned down, making them go fast. She did the same surprised at how well it worked when she started catching up to the baby.
"There you are!" Frida smiled as she held the baby close to her.
She looked ahead of her and screamed as the ice led up like a ramp, sending her and the baby into the air. Manny looked up and saw them. He turned around on the ice and raised his trunk up to catch her and the baby.
"Thanks", Frida sighed in relief.
It was short-lived as they were sent crashing into a wall of snow. Manny and Sid sat in the snow, completely exhausted and done with fun for a good while. Diego jumped out of the snow completely exhilarated.
"Whoa, whoo! Yeah! Who's up for round two?"
"Count me in!" Frida smiled as she jumped out of the snow.
Sid and Manny looked at them in no mood for it. Frida and Diego looked down embarrassed.
"T-tell the kid to be more careful", Diego stuttered.
Frida looked at him with a shy smile. Diego looked like he had the time of his life. It was the first time he looked truly happy.
"Hey", she said. "Maybe if we come back this way we can do it again."
Diego looked at her and smiled.