A/N: So... Well, this is awkward. I suppose I should begin with an apology. I'm very sorry this story has not been updated in months, truly I am. This came out of a busy and stressful life and the fact that my boyfriend recently broke up with me, making it quite hard for me to continue writing. I also just went back and re- read this story... Quite frankly it sucks. Not the plot, I like the plot, I just think my wording and grammar sucks and I don't know what I was thinking. But anyway, here is chapter twelve of Strange Blue Eyes.

Suddenly, a wild disclaimer appears! I don't own Ice Age. Whatever...

One could not describe how it felt for Sapphire to have a sister held captive, the threat of death over the poor child's head, and deal with the traumatic memories of being orphaned at the same time. For the most part, it was kept hidden inside her, only confiding in her trusted friends Louis and Peaches. As Manny was instructing the Herd and her family on how to go about finding her sister and Crash, Sapphire found it hard to pay attention, lost in her own thoughts. It was sunset, only twenty four hours until Molly and Crash's destruction if immediate action was not taken. Suddenly, a loud yell tore the teenage molehog from her disturbing thoughts.

"Alright, let's rest for the night. We've got a hard day ahead of us tomorrow and we need to be prepared." It was Manny, as she expected. At that moment, everyone dispersed. Each person went to find a suitable place to sleep, that is, except for the blue eyed molehog herself. It was Peaches who came to her side, a look of melancholy on her face.

"I would ask if you were okay, but that sounds like a stupid question." She was right, it would have been a rather stupid question. Sapphire smiled and wrapped her arms around Peaches' trunk in a hug. Hugs were always awkward with Sapphire and Peaches, with Sapphire being so small and Peaches being so large, but she hugged her anyway just out of the simple need for contact.

"Thank you, Peaches."

"I didn't really say anything, though."

"It's not that. It's the fact you came to even try to help me. I'm just grateful for that alone." She pulled herself away and sauntered with Peaches over to where Louis sat, holding a large bone knife in his hands, sharpening it with a stone. Sapphire was temporarily shocked that Louis, being a kind hearted pacifist, would have such a weapon in his possession. She dared to ask him where he got it,

"I got this when I fought with Gutt awhile back. It's funny really, I could barely lift it before, now it feels like it weighs nothing." The molehog sat it on the ground and stared at it, his elbows on his lap and head resting in his hand- like paws. Peaches looked at the size of the knife, then back at her long time companion,

"It looks more like a sword than a knife for you, Louis."

"Probably because it was made for someone bigger than him," Sapphire deduced. They all just nodded their heads, no one was in the mood for doing anything funny. It was, after all, a very somber place in time. Louis laid on the ground, staring into the quickly darkening sky with Sapphire and Peaches following suit. They laid in complete silence for what seemed like an eternity, until the next thing they knew, the starry night shy hung over them while their friends and family laid in a restless sleep.

Minutes, then hours passed Sapphire as she watched the full moon travel across the sky. She heard the quiet breathing of her two best friends, fast asleep at her side and knew there was no possible way for her to get any sleep that night. Deciding to go for a walk to attempt to calm her nerves, the blue eyed molehog rose from the dirt and sauntered into to woods, the moonlight guiding her path. She came to a precarious cliff that extended over the ocean where she sat dangling her feet over the edge. Tilting her head left, she looked up the coast to find nothing more than sand on the beach bellow and water. When she turned her head to the right, however, she spotted an odd sight in the distance. It appeared to be a gargantuan hunk of ice floating in the cove. Sapphire knew it could only be the ship her sister was being held captive in.

The tears rolled down her face slowly. She had no idea how she was going to go about saving her sister and one of her good friends in the poor emotional state she was in. That thought only made her cry more.

Louis blinked a few times before rising into a sitting position when he woke up. He noticed it was still night and grumbled to himself, cursing his bodily needed to pee at ungodly hours of the night. He removed himself from camp to an area where he could relieve himself. Once he did, he heard a noise in the distance that alarmed him. It sounded like a young girl crying, and it was only at this moment that he realized Sapphire, his best friend and crush, was not at the camp where she was when he fell asleep. Quietly, he walked to the source of the sobs and found the one he was looking for sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean. He sat beside her and lightly touched her arm. She jumped a little at his sudden appearance, but then calmed when she realized it was only her best friend and love interest.

He didn't even need to ask what was wrong, he already knew. "They'll be okay. Don't worry Gem."

"But what if they aren't? What if they've been hurt?" Sapphire began to break into tears once more, "What if they're already dead and this is just a trap!"

She buried her face his Louis' chest, seeking refuge in his fur. After a moment, he pulled her back and wiped the tears from her face, pulling hair away from her scarred eye as well, "Don't worry. Everything will be okay in the end. If it isn't okay, then it isn't the end." Something sparked in Louis, he didn't know what caused it, whether it was the situation everyone was in, or the moonlight washing over his beloved's face, or a combination of both, but he felt compelled to peel off the cover he had over his feelings and let it be exposed to Sapphire. He gingerly stroked her hair.

"I love you Sapphire." He sat, tensed in a position of anxiety and fear, not knowing what her response would be. She weakly smiled,

"Louis, I- I," She couldn't even speak through her astonishment and elation. Louis cupped her face in his paws, slowly brining her face to his and brushing her lips with his own in a hesitant kiss, then again with more assurance.

Of course, a few yards away stood Diego, a smirk on his face muttering to himself, "I knew it," before retreating back to camp.

A/N: I bet you're all peeing yourselves with excitement right now. Do you see why my break up made it hard for to me write this now? I feel bad for not updating this, especially when I told one of you I would update this in June. *sigh* But now on to Reviewer Shout outs!

MuiscRocks807- Oh, come on, you don't suck! If I wasn't the writer, I probably wouldn't have caught on either. I hope you understand my late update, though. 2013 was not the best year for me. :(

Guest- Finally, here you go. ^_^

IceAgingTitan- Thank you so much for being patient with me. You are one of my most faithful followers. My life has just been dragging me through the dirt this year. Smiley faces for your patience :) :) :) :). (And a few more for the Walking Dead ;)) :) :) :)

Buckrocks- O_O Here you go. Sorry for the wait. O_O

Language Nut- I would like to thank you for your constructive criticism, even if it delayed me from updating because I was afraid of more judgment... lol jk, you're awesome. :D I hope that although this chapter is short, it has improved at least a little. I'm far from a professional writer!

Austyn- Thank you very much, I'm glad you like my story. Yeah, Language Nut did write a lot, but it was all for the improvement of my writing. Even you had to admit it could have used some work. I'm glad I have your support. :)

Me- I'm soooooorrrrrry! But at least it's here, right? :'(

Cowtails- I feel like I owe you a special apology. You were the one I told I would update in June... and I didn't. Virtual cookie for my broken promise? :'(

scoobs5601- Saphis it is! Taz, don't get too boisterous and get yourself into things you can't get out of... Gutt/ Keith just might hurt you. O_O

cookBoss88- I'm sorry? :'(

Mister L- Oh what do we have here? Could it be a new fan? Welcome to the crazy boat and here's your new member virtual cookie. *gives you a cookie* Enjoy. :)