Chapter 12

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

It was silent between the whole group for a few moments and then Roshan adjusted the unconscious girl for her to sit comfortably and to remove the rope from around her while Sid began untying the rope from Manny's tusk.

"What is with us and finding kids?" Sid said as he attempted to untie the rope, "I mean think about it, first we find Roshan as a baby and then we find him again and now we have her. What is with that?"

"Luck?" Peaches guessed.

"We can't think about that now" Roshan said, "We have to focus on this situation right now."

"What is there to focus on?" Diego replied, "We already rescued her, we should get going."

"We can't just leave her here. Besides, what was she doing out here in the first place?"

"She might have been trying to escape from the enemy tribe" Peaches suggested, "You did say most of them tried to escape, maybe she's one of them."

"No, that can't be it. She's not from my tribe; I don't recognize her at all."

"Alright, enough of this" Manny said, "We'll take the girl with us and rest here for the night. Any objections?" The group was silent and even Diego remained quiet as he knew there was no arguing with Manny. "Good."

Manny walked forward as he picked the girl up with his trunk and placed her on his back and the herd began heading back through the forest to where they were before to rest for the remainder of the day. The group settled back down on the other side of the forest as Manny carefully set the girl down on the ground so she could lie comfortably and Roshan covered her with his cloak. The day began to darken and the group made themselves comfortable just on the edge of the forest just enough to be sheltered by the trees. Sid managed to make a small fire once again as the group settled down to sleep. Crash and Eddie took to hanging from the tree branches while Sid leaned back against a tree to sleep. Manny and Ellie settled themselves beside each other while Roshan slept wrapped in Peaches' trunk since he didn't have his cloak available anymore. Diego slept not too far away from them and he was in a good enough spot to hear or smell any danger that may decide to approach and the group was soon asleep.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long as the girl suddenly began to stir, making Diego stir from his sleep as well. Diego spotted the girl beginning to wake and he quickly made his way over to Roshan to wake him.

"Huh? What's going on?" Roshan said a little tiredly.

"It's the girl" Diego answered, "She's waking up."

That made Roshan even more awake as he stood making Peaches wake from her sleep. She was about to ask what was going on but Diego informed her of what was happening and Peaches quieted. Roshan instantly made his way over to the girl as she began to wake and he kneeled down by her side. The others began to also wake from the slight commotion going on but as soon as Diego filled them in, they quieted.

"Uhhh… Wh-where am I?" the girl managed to say.

"Its okay" Roshan said, "You're safe."

"W-who are you?"

"My name is Roshan. Are you alright?"

"I… I think so."

The girl began to sit up and Roshan moved to help her and she was finally able to sit upright. "What is your name?" Roshan asked.

"T-Taravati" the girl replied a little weakly.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes… but my arm hurts a little."

Roshan gently took hold of her arm and examined the scratch she had on her arm. It had stopped bleeding but it still left a scabbed over line and a few patches of dried blood were on her arm.

"Wait here." Roshan instructed as he stood and headed for his bag he had left next to Peaches. Taravati watched Roshan as he headed over to his bag and it was then that she happened to spot the herd standing nearby. Diego was the only one who was out of sight as he didn't want to scare the girl.

"Where did all of these animals come from?" Taravati asked as she began to slowly stand and Roshan looked up from rummaging in his bag.

"They're just some friends of mine." Roshan replied.

Taravati seemed slightly confused for a few moments and as Roshan headed back over to her, her expression seemed to change to slight awe at him but Roshan didn't seem to notice. The two were quiet as Roshan began carefully bandaging Taravati's arm with a piece of cloth and once it was secure and snug, she turned to him.

"How long have you-" Taravati cut her sentence short when she suddenly spotted an orange figure trying to hide in the shadows and she screamed when she realized what it was. "A saber! It's in the bushes! Run!"

Taravati moved to run but was stopped as Roshan quickly grabbed her, preventing her from running away in fright.

"Calm down" Roshan instructed as she struggled to get away, "He's a friend, he won't hurt you."

"But, the saber-"

"-Is another one of my friends. Please, just calm down."

Taravati soon stopped struggling to get away as Diego cautiously emerged from the bushes and Roshan nodded at him. Roshan kept his arms around Taravati to ensure she wouldn't run away as Diego began making his way towards the two humans. Roshan could feel Taravati stiffen in slight fear as Diego neared and finally stood in front of the girl.

"Sorry if I scared you" Diego said but all Taravati heard was "growl… growl."

Roshan obviously understood the saber and he slightly frowned in confusion when Taravati slightly jumped at Diego trying to apologize to her. "You can't understand him, can you?" Roshan asked.

"Of course not" Taravati replied, "Animals can't talk."

"Actually, they can… and he says he's sorry for scaring you."

"He what?"

"He says sorry."

"Y-you mean, you understand him?"

"Yes."

Ellie called over to the two humans, "Roshan, bring the girl here so we can meet her." She said. Of course all Taravati heard was a mammoth trumpeting.

"Wait a minute…" Roshan thought, "I wonder…"

Roshan released Taravati from his hold and once again headed towards his bag and Taravati followed close behind him, still unsure of what exactly was going on. Roshan rummaged in his bag for a few moments before he finally pulled out a small container containing the mysterious liquid Emele had given him the night of the enemy tribe attack. He examined the container in his hand for a short moment before holding it out to Taravati.

"Here" Roshan said, "Drink this; I'm not sure if it will work but it's worth a try."

"What is it?" Taravati asked as she took the small container from him.

"Sorry to say, but even I don't know."

"That's comforting."

"Just give it a try."

Taravati looked down at the bottle for a moment before opening it and gradually bringing it to her lips as she took a sip. Just as Roshan had done, she had to cover her mouth in order not to spit out the liquid and she forced herself to swallow it. She coughed and gagged slightly at the sudden after taste as she attempted to find her breath again.

"What in the world was that?" Taravati demanded.

"All I know is that it's some sort of broth one of the elders in my tribe made." Roshan replied, "I know as much as you do."

"Well, that's just great."

Crash and Eddie scurried over to them in the tree branches and the two possums winked at each other as Crash picked up a small pinecone and dropped it down on Roshan's head.

"Ow!" Roshan yelped and he whipped his head around and up to see Crash and Eddie on the branch above them, laughing. "What was that for?"

"Because you know we're going to tease you about this." Eddie replied.

"Roshan's got a girlfriend!" Crash chanted.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Roshan shouted back at the two possums.

Taravati's eyes immediately went wide as she stared at the two possums. "Th-they just spoke" Taravati said in shock, "Those possums just…"

Roshan turned back to Taravati, "It worked" Roshan said, "I knew it had something to do with it."

"The drink you gave me? It made me able to understand animals?"

"Yes."

Diego walked up to them and stood next to Roshan, "That explains a lot of things doesn't it?" Diego said and Taravati stared at Diego.

"I-I can't believe this is happening." Taravati said.

"I think introductions are in order, Roshan."

"Right" Roshan replied and he turned to Taravati, "C'mon, come meet the others."

Roshan turned and began heading towards the rest of the herd and Taravati followed nervously behind. As they neared, Ellie was the first to step forward as she introduced herself.

"Pleased to meet you, Taravati" Ellie said and she pointed to Manny and Peaches with her trunk, "That's my husband, Manny, and our daughter, Peaches."

Peaches waved with her trunk, "Hi." Peaches greeted and Taravati raised her hand slightly to wave back.

Roshan pointed to Crash and Eddie who were still up in the trees, "Those two idiots are Crash and Eddie." Roshan said.

"Possums rule!" Crash and Eddie said at the same time.

Sid stood in front of Taravati, "Sid the sloth, madam" Sid said as he bowed dramatically making Taravati silently giggle.

"Names Diego" Diego said, "Once again, sorry about earlier."

"Um… no problem." Taravati nervously replied.

"He won't hurt you" Roshan assured, "Trust me."

Taravati nodded in understanding as she glanced at every one of the herd members and then she seemed to remember something as she surveyed the animals.

"How long have you known these animals?" Taravati suddenly asked.

"Technically, not very long" Roshan answered, "I knew them for a little while when I was a baby but never knew the story until just a few days ago."

Taravati's expression was in slight awe again and Roshan was slightly confused, "Um, are you okay?" Roshan asked.

"You're… you're it." Taravati gasped, "I mean, I've heard the stories but I'd never actually thought…"

"Whoa hold on, back up. What am I exactly?"

"You're the wild runner!"

"Uh… what?"

"You mean you don't know?"

"How am I supposed to know? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Taravati sighed as she calmed, "There is a legend among my people. Some don't even believe it while others just don't even want to believe it. I'm one of the few who do."

"Believe what?" Roshan asked.

Sid interrupted, "Oh goody! Story time!" Sid squealed and Taravati continued.

"It is said that a certain being is closely connected with the wild and its creatures. The being is said to have the ability to join the tribes together to live in peace once again with the help of their brothers and sisters of the wild, predators and grazers alike."

"So you think I'm that being?" Roshan confirmed.

"I don't think, I know."

"… Okay."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"I didn't say that."

"You were thinking it."

Roshan stopped for a short second as Sid looked from Roshan to Taravati and then he turned back to Roshan, "If she reads minds, then I am so out of here." Sid said.

"I don't read minds" Taravati said, "A lot of people just don't believe me."

"Alright, I think we've all heard enough for one night" Manny said as he stepped towards the two humans, "It's late and we could all do with some sleep. Especially you, new girl, you need some rest after that fall of yours."

"Um, okay." Taravati quietly answered, she was still a little nervous about being able to talk to animals.

"Good. C'mon everybody, time for sleep."

Everyone else replied with quiet 'yes, Manny' and 'Okay' as everyone moved back around the fire and settled down to sleep. Roshan offered his cloak to Taravati again who had no choice but to accept it as she had no supplies of her own and Roshan had seated himself in his spot somewhat wrapped in Peaches trunk to keep warm. Finally, with everyone settled comfortably around the small fire, everyone soon fell fast asleep.