Chapter 2

I do not own 'Ice Age'. I only own the characters you don't recognize from the movies.

It was dark, but not dark enough that he couldn't see. There was very little light but it still provided enough for Roshan to just barely see anything. He was first aware that he was in a dark cave of some sort and the entrance lay in front of him and he could see that it was night outside of the cave. Roshan was then aware that he was not alone inside the cave as he heard quiet, muffled voices coming from behind him and he turned to see only seven shadowed images. Three of them were fairly large, almost about mammoth sized while the fourth and fifth were a much smaller size but still slightly big. The sixth and seventh shadows were the smallest and looked to be the size of rodents. The shadows were speaking but Roshan couldn't hear them but in his dream he seemed to understand as he answered them but he couldn't hear himself either. Roshan suddenly heard a faint barking sound and Roshan turned back to the cave's entrance as the barking got louder and louder until he woke.

There was only the very slightest bit of light out when Roshan woke to the sound of the dogs barking outside as he sat up and spotted his father grab his spear and make his way towards the entrance. Roshan soon followed suit as he grabbed his bow and arrows and moved to follow his father outside but was stopped when his father rushed back in.

"Father, what's going on?" Roshan asked.

"Another tribe wants to move into our current location and they aren't the friendly type at all. They could be very dangerous."

Roshan's eyes widened slightly as it wasn't often that another tribe would want to invade another tribe's location and not be friendly about it. Roshan moved to head out of the tent but his father stopped him.

"Roshan" his father said, "I want you to pack your things quickly and get out of here."

"Father, I want to help." Roshan argued.

"You will do no such thing! I already spoke to a few of the other tribe members and they agree that you and all of the other younger tribe members should get out while you still can."

"But, father I-"

"Just do it, Roshan!"

Roshan's father turned and headed back out of the tent spear in hand and Roshan heard a few people shouting and he decided that he should probably pack his things. Roshan rushed to grab his shoulder bag as he began stuffing it with a cloak, scraps of food, and a few tools. He strapped his bow and arrows to his back and slung his shoulder bag over his shoulder as he headed out of the tent. As he stepped out of the tent, Roshan spotted a few of the other teenage boys as they gestured him over and Roshan quickly followed them.

"We should head north, into the mountains" one of the boys suggested, "The other tribe would never think to follow us there."

"We should tell everyone where we're going" Roshan said, "That way, the adults will still know where we are if they need us after this is over. We'll meet halfway to glacier pass; it's only a few kilometers from here."

The other boys nodded as they dispersed to tell everyone of their plan and so did Roshan as he rushed to find as many adults and younger tribe members as he could. When he thought that everyone knew, he then began heading in the direction towards the mountains but stopped when he suddenly heard a few war cries in the distance and they were coming closer. At the sound of the war cries, Roshan grabbed a nearby spear that was lying on the ground and held it tightly in his hands in case he had to defend himself. Roshan rushed through the small village, hoping not to run into any members of the enemy tribe. It was then that something clicked in Roshan's mind. Emele! He had to make sure she was alright! Roshan began running towards Emele's tent, hoping that she was safe as he rushed into her tent.

"Emele!" Roshan cried as he looked frantically around her tent and spotted her stuffing a few things into a small bag and he rushed over to her. "Emele, you have to get out of here!"

"No, little sparrow" Emele replied, "You must get out. Quickly! And take this." Emele shoved a small container with some sort of liquid in it into Roshan's hands as the war cries were heard dangerously close.

"Emele, I don't understand. What is this?"

"You must drink this as soon as possible, you must waste no time."

"I won't leave you! You're coming with me!"

"No, Roshan! I can't go with you!"

Suddenly, an arrow lit with fire shot into the side of the tent making the two scream but Roshan quickly regained himself. He had to get Emele out of here! Wasting no time, Roshan took hold of Emele's arms and pulled her to her feet as he quickly helped her to get out of the tent. Roshan and Emele rushed to get out of the chaos that was being created as another lighted arrow flew past them hitting another tent nearby followed by a triumphant war cry from the enemy tribe. Roshan spotted a tent that hadn't been destroyed yet and he pulled Emele along with him to hide behind it as they both crouched down in their temporary hiding spot.

"Roshan, you must drink the potion I gave you!" Emele frantically instructed, "You must drink it, now!"

"Potion?" Roshan questioned, "Emele, you haven't even told me what it is."

"Trust me, Roshan, just please trust me. You must drink it now before it's too late!"

Roshan was still confused but pulled out the small container from his pocket and popped off the lid as he brought it to his lips. As soon as the container's liquid contents slipped into his mouth, Roshan almost spat out whatever the liquid was if he hadn't forced his hand over his mouth. The mysterious liquid tasted of a mix of rotten berries and herbs which made a terrible combination and to top it off it had the quick after taste of fire smoke but in liquid form. Roshan forced himself to swallow the liquid and as soon as it was down his throat, Roshan began coughing and hacking as the after taste remained in his mouth for a few more moments and he brought his hand up to his throat.

"What is this stuff?" Roshan asked as soon as he finished coughing and hacking.

"It's one of my special remedies" Emele replied, "Save the rest; it will last you so long as you remain in the wilderness. You must get out of here now, Roshan!"

"You're coming with me."

"No I mustn't, I will only slow you down and you must get as much speed as you can."

"If you can't come with me, then I'll try and distract the enemy so you can get away."

"Roshan-"

"I won't let them do this to you!"

"… Please be careful, little sparrow."

"I will."

Roshan and Emele embraced each other for a short moment before Roshan stood and rushed from their hiding spot. He spotted a few members of the enemy tribe with lighted arrows as they moved dangerously close to the tent where Emele was hiding behind.

"Hey!" Roshan called out and the enemy members looked up and spotted him. "Come and get me! You don't scare me! Get out of our village!"

At those words the few enemy members began calling out to other enemy members as they ran after Roshan as he turned and ran himself. He found that he was running towards the woods and Roshan was grateful for that as the enemy would have a hard time catching him trying to get around the trees. The enemies foolishly followed him as Roshan leapt into the woods and dashed in every direction possible, dodging the arrows being shot at him. Roshan could hear the war cries being called out but as he ran deeper and deeper into the woods, the war cries became fainter and fainter. Finally, after running for what felt like hours, Roshan finally slowed to a stop and looked around him for any sign of the enemy but spotted none. The war cries had even silenced entirely and Roshan soon realized that he had lost them and he let out a breath of air in exhaustion. He then also realized that he was nowhere near the village or the mountains where he was supposed to meet up with the others.

Roshan remained where he was as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself and catch his breath. As soon as he was able to breathe properly again, Roshan thought that he should find a place to sleep for the rest of the night as the darkness of the woods made it even darker and more difficult for him to see. There was a sudden rustling sound and Roshan whipped around to see what had made the sound but found nothing. There it was again! Roshan turned again but there was still nothing there to see. Roshan decided that he should probably start moving so as not to look like easy prey for a saber or something and Roshan began walking at a quick pace. Roshan suddenly misjudged his footing due to the darkness as he tripped on a large tree root and he yelped as he tumbled to the ground and began rolling roughly down a hill. His body scrapped at every branch and rock in his path until he finally reached the bottom and hit his head on a tree trunk, knocking him unconscious.