Disclaimer: I don't own Ice Age movies or any of their characters.

Here goes nothing...This was once the first chapter for my story, One of a Kind. Now, as a suggestion, I've deleted that story and added this to my story At Life's Edge. But I'm a little nervous about the whole thing...Please reassure me!

"You guys hear that?" Sid asked as he once again lagged behind the others, who kept on going without a look back at him and Manny only answered with one word:

"No."

"Well, I did. And I think it came from over here." Sid continued, moving towards the sound that caught his short attention so keenly. Again, nobody bothered to look back at him, but Diego did respond with a typical sarcastic comment.

"Wow, he thought. That's a big accomplishment." he muttered under his breath. At last, the other herd members paused in their steps and turned towards the sloth, Diego looking uninterested, Ellie looking gently amused, Crash and Eddie looking bored out of their minds, and Manny looking annoyed. Then, the male mammoth rolling his eyes, they followed after the laziest member of the group (You cannot deny the truth!).

"Sid, this better be good and not another bathroom break." Manny called out. Sid snuck a rare glare over his shoulder and snuffed in an insulted manner. Even when given the title of 'Fire King', nobody ever seems to give him the respect he wants. Why don't they ever pick on Diego for a change? Sometimes, he wondered what they had against him...

As if he didn't know...

The source of the sound wasn't far and when he arrived, Sid froze in his tracks. Coming up behind him, the others saw the reason.

"Oh, look...More scary vultures. Isn't that nice?" Manny said irritably. He had every good reason not to like the birds, especially after their 'Food, Glorious Food' segment (Which was a work of genius, mind). Personally, he had hoped never to see them again.

"What are they eating?" Eddie asked somewhat nervously, hugging with his twin brother tightly.

"I don't know, but I'd rather not find out." Ellie replied. She was as uneasy about vultures as the others and again, for very good reason. Back in her possum life, she was scared of any large bird, mainly hawks, but these scavengers weren't entire excluded. Even now, she still had the same negative feelings towards them, as life-long habits are hard to break. Anywho, who in the world wasn't afraid of vultures to begin with (I'm not!)?

Sid edged closer, unnoticed by the birds at the moment. "I dunno. I think one of the things they're eating is still alive." He narrowed his eyes, straining for a better look. The crowd of scavengers were blocking the view of whatever they were feasting on, but the sloth swore he saw movement within the group. His instincts proved correct as he also made out a soft hissing noise. He jumped backwards. "Manny! We have to do something!" was the first thing that came out of his lispy mouth.

The mammoth huffed. How many times have he been expected to save something? First and mostly Sid, then the human baby they nicknamed Pinkie, even Diego a couple of times. That's not even including their newest additions to the herd. Will he ever get a break? Oh well, he was on a hero's streak, might as well go along with it...

Still, his cautious instincts were kicking in and he learned never to ignore them. It wasn't the vultures themselves that set off his inner alarm, but whatever was among them. He was hesitant to come any closer for just that reason. The meal the birds were enjoying wasn't a good thing, that's all he knew. However, Sid wasn't usually held back by such feelings, which explained why he tended to do or think stupid things sometimes. He was always the helpful-type...most of the time...And this was one of those times.

"Come on! Get outta here! Shoo!" the sloth yelled, waddling over to the birds while waving his arms. The vultures looked over at him and grinned, not the least bit intimidated. Sid just didn't have what it takes to inspire fear in other creatures. Now Diego was another matter. Deciding to help things along, the tiger sprinted towards the flock with a roar. At this, the birds flapped their large wings hard and took off to another nearby group of vultures. Some looked back at the saber-toothed cat, others joined the others in their feast.

Upon seeing the nature of what they rescued, Sid and Diego hesitated. Ellie took a step back, Crash and Eddie hiding behind her legs, while Manny glared at the creature. It was one of those sea monsters that tried to eat them. The purple one with the fins and the looks that can pass as a mutated crocodile. The creature was out cold, it seemed, and certain members of the herd wanted to keep it that way. But what should they do now?

Sid gulped and against all reasoning, stepped closer to the thing.

"Sid! What're you doing?" Manny reprimanded angrily.

"Trying to see if its okay." the sloth answered innocently. He was now close enough to poke at the large reptile and he was just about to do just that.

"You touch that thing and it'll kill you. If not, I'll do it." the frustrated mammoth told him. Sid looked back at the others.

"We can't just leave it here."

"Sure we can." Crash muttered. "We just have to walk in the opposite direction and not look back."

"Come on guys." Sid started. "We chased those scary vultures away...we have to help." He was struck with an idea. "It can be part of our herd!" At this, the others jolted back in alarm.

"What!?" they all exclaimed at the same time. What was Sid thinking? Letting this creature join them? That's crazy...worse than crazy...Suicidal crazy! As usual, Sid made no acknowledgment to their shock.

"Just until it gets better. Look, there's bite marks all over it." Again, as usual, Manny offered up an objection.

"Take it along and it'll put bite marks on us."

"Maybe it won't hurt us, since we helped it and all."

"OR maybe it'll eat us all in our sleep."

The others stayed out of it and only watched back and forth. They knew by now that it was useless to argue with Sid, as he'll never let up and will just keep going on and on. In fact, right about now he made a good point.

"We accepted Diego into our herd. We had no problem with him." Sid told them. There was no response to this, and Diego lowered his gaze to the ground. He wasn't comfortable with this subject and it still shamed him on how he had once intended to betray them. Sell Manny, Sid, and the baby out to his pack to be eaten. And yet, even with that fact, the others still let him tag along as if none of that ever happened...despite his predatory nature...Why not offer this creature the same treatment?

Manny arrived at the same conclusion and he gave a sigh. Why was Sid always so undefeatable in arguments anyway? All he ever wanted to do was stupid and irresponsible things. Well, like Diego once said, 'It'll be easier on all of us if you just go with it.' He'll go along with it, no matter how much he didn't want to. However, if anything, he wasn't about to look soft about it.

"Alright. But the same rules apply here as it had with Pinkie. YOUR idea, YOU are reponsible for it." he said sternly. Sid smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Ah, don't worry. I mean how bad could it be?"

I'm not very good at the other characters, I'll admit. But at least I tried. Gonna put up the next chappie ASAP. Until then, I hope you guys are going to like this fic, and I hope you'll review! Please and Thank you!