Chapter THIRTEEN! like district thirteen!

I don't own ice age! copyright 20th century fox!

ENJOY!

Tabitha

My piercing shriek echoed through the jungle.

All I had done was walk a few yards away to fetch some water. Seen something, perhaps it had been her; wandered a few feet.

Now this.

I ran, faster than I ever had in my life. My breathing was shallow, quick and ragged; my lungs burned, but no matter what happened I couldn't stop.

All it would take was one wrong step and I would trip and fall and she would be upon me.

She.

It.

What difference? Both describe a saber-toothed tiger.

The greenery whizzed past me, scratching my face and burning my skin. Any second now it's claws would dig into my skin, her teeth would sink into my body and blood would stain my fur the way it had years and years before, only this time I would really, truly die.

Suddenly, my foot caught on something and my stomach flopped with the sensation of falling. I screamed and screamed as the wind blew back my fur and I could hear the creatures roars and screams not so far away. I squeezed my eyes shut as the wind was knocked out of my body.

I must have broken every bone, broken my back. Maybe I was paralyzed- I couldn't move. This thought panicked me and I bit my tongue in fright.

The tangy taste of blood filled my mouth as I rolled over slowly. Gasping for breath, my heart pounding, I managed to stand on all fours.

My opponent was pouncing, a blood-curdling roar leaving it's lips. Using what little energy I had left, I darted away as fast as I could. I stumbled through the undergrowth and collapsed in a pond, waiting for the end.

For death.

Melody

Two shrieks filled the air; one more high pitched than the other. Forgetting the twins, I dashed in the direction, calling Tabitha's name. Something roared and I sped up. I reached the river and my eyes searched for Tabitha.

"Peaches," I whispered softly.

Relief coursed through my body. She was okay. We would be okay. We could go home now.

The girl backed away, and a look of pain and fear crossed her face. I noted her injured leg; the bruises and cuts on her body.

"Shh, Peaches, it's only me," I cooed, motioning for her to come. I crept forward slowly, "I won't hurt you, come 'ere, Peachy."

She let out a strangled cry as I unexpectedly rushed forward and wrapped an arm around her neck.

Then I heard her screams- not Peaches, but Tabitha.

Oh, Tabitha. You just can't stop getting into trouble, now can you?

Buck

"Let me go," I growled as Manny struggled to keep me down.

"Buck, listen, she'll be all right-"

"Let me go!" I screamed.
"She's hurt!" I wriggled and scratched and clawed; The fever threatened to drag me down, back to the confusing world where everything was shiny and dangerous.

"I came fer your Peaches, why won't you let me go for my own?" I was practically sobbing.

"Buck, stay down!" The mammoth commanded, shoving me hard.

I'm unsure as of what happened after that. I think I scratched him or something similar to that because then I was running, the ground slippery and unfamiliar beneath my feet.

Something wasn't right.

Nothing was the right color; everything was out of proportion.

"No, no, no," I clutched my forehead, the pain shooting through my brain like an arrow.

I couldn't back down now.

I had to keep it together.

Someone was either coming at me or for me, either way I didn't like it. I had to find her.

My Tabitha. My Tabby.

My little girl.

Diego

"Stay here!" I ordered Matthias and Dorothy. I had heard Peaches scream and I wasn't about to let this chance go. We might never find her otherwise.
I bounded through the treacherous jungle, dodging 'enemy attackers' as easily as a fish swims. The wind changed direction and I stopped, confused and bewildered.

"Saber?" I asked thin air.