Xion the Author: Before reading the new chapter let me tell you a bit about me writing stories as an excuse for the delay. You see, I basically come up with a master plan beginning and ending, but nothing in between.
Flik: THIS is the BETWEEN; or at least he beginning of the middle. And to make sure readers won't just skip from beginning to ending he plans to make things more exciting once in a while.
Xion the Author: Oh, and lastly, as a note, all wrong grammar you might find in the dialogue was meant to be like that. I've already pointed that out there but I'm just saying as a foreword just in case. Enjoy~!
ICE AGE JOURNEYS: RAISING A CUB
Chapter VIII: Problems and Encounters
Peaches and the others were traveling along a clear meadow for a while now. They had recently gotten out of the beautiful orchard they once were. Peaches was just as optimistic as Eli was about meeting other wolves. Though they did not know what would happen by then, Eli still wanted to find that he wasn't alone. Crash and Eddie were still hanging around since obviously there was no turning back now. And Flik, for some reason, remained vigilant of his surroundings. Peaches began to be suspecting of Flik. The osprey had been like that for a while now.
The osprey's keen ears, even more attentive than the white wolves, heard a sudden light flapping coming from the distance. Flik was the first one to notice and suddenly flew off from Peaches' tusks. The mammoth wondered why the bird suddenly started flying, but in a few moments after two black shadows appeared overhead. Flik began flying around fast and the two shadows raced towards him. The gang stopped on their tracks and watched them in surprise. The shadows flew over the sun's view and revealed themselves as crows.
"You know you can't run forever!" said one of the crows in a rather low voice as they chased him.
"Yeah! 'Cause we're gonna getcha!" said the other crow, who had a more pitchy voice.
"We'll see about that," Flik muttered calmly as he began to fly up into the sky. He closed his eyes as he trusted his wings to bring him up into the sky. The two crows followed after him. And at an exact moment, he moved sideways. All that time, he was covering the view of the sun, causing the two to be instantly blinded from the sudden direct contact of sunlight into their eyes.
With a grin, Flik opened his eyes and flew sideways and glided down and towards the direction of the crows. Trying to mend the pain in their eyes, the two crows were unaware of what was happening. The osprey swiftly dashed through them, bumping into them and made them lose focus of flying. They quickly looked towards Flik's direction and glared at him with anger. Flik stuck his tongue out at them and started diving down. The others below could only watch in awe.
Still half-unfocused, the crows empty-mindedly followed Flik. Looking back, the osprey grinned as everything was going all according to plain. He continued to make a nose dive towards the ground. At the speed they were going, the other four watched earnestly as they anticipated a crash landing. But a moment before impact, Flik spread out his wings and gained control, instantly moving upwards.
Dazed by the moment as they watched the osprey fly straight back into the air, the crows lost view of what was below them and they crashed down right onto the ground.
"That's what you get for messing with me," said Flik as he hovered in mid-air. The group walked towards the two fallen crows, half-unconscious. Eli sat down and grabbed the crows' tail feathers in each claw, making them hang freely upside-down.
"Hey, watch it!" said one of the crows.
"Watch it will ya's?" said the other in unison with his partner in crime.
"What are you guys supposed to be?" asked Eli, looking at them from left to right.
"We're elite henchmen of the great mafia boss, Don Ricardo," said the one with a pitchier voice. The crow's partner slapped him with his wing, causing him to swing around for a bit.
"Don't just give out information like that you idiot!" scolded his friend, who had a low voice mixed with a hint of an Italian accent.
The pitchy voiced one gently pressed his head with his wings as he groaned in pain for moment. "My name's Russel. This one's Butch" he continued.
"And he goes on blabbering," Butch moaned as he covered his face with his wing. Peaches and Eli both raised an eyebrow.
"Never heard of a mafia before," Eli mentioned, wondering what it was.
"It's a gang," Flik explained as he landed on Peaches' tusk. "A gang that extorts weak defenseless animals into paying with homage and food whenever asked to in return for what they call 'protection'. But the only thing those animals need protection from are them."
"'ey! Dat ain't true! Our boss has done many things for everyone," Butch protested.
"Oh yeah? Name one," persuaded Flik, his eyes glaring intently at them.
The two crows rattled their heads in thinking as Flik continued to glare at them. "I got nothin'," said Russel.
"Me neither," said Butch, raising his shoulder.
After seconds of pondering, Peaches came up with a question. "How come you know all this Flik?" asked the mammoth.
Flik looked at her and felt like the jig was up. "I was one of them, well, used to be," answered Flik. Everyone looked surprised. Both the possums lowered their jaws.
"You was his consigliere too," said Butch, unconsciously saying it with wrong grammar. "His right hand man."
"That was before I saw what Ricardo was really doing," Flik explained. "That's why I left and never bothered you guys ever again."
"I don't get it," said Eddie. "If you left, then why is he hunting you down?"
"Because the Don still has some use for him," answered Russel.
"Yeah, the Don ain't done with you, osprey," said Butch in agreement. After hearing this, Flik made a distinctive glare at him.
"I told you guys we shouldn't trust him!" Eddie yelled before his brother slapped him on the back of his head. Eddie took it as an offense and the two immediately broke off into a fight like they usually do.
Flik sighed into disclosure, ignoring the two possums. "I should have told you all sooner. That's why I wanted to guide you people to the wolf packs. The wolves are one of those aren't under the Don's control," said Flik. "But it appears I've brought you lot into deeper things than I thought."
"It's alright," said Eli. "We understand"
"Pssst, Rus," whispered Butch "Commence procedure 53-a8".
"You got it, partner" whispered Russel back. The two crows pecked Eli's paw. From the sudden piercing pain, Eli yelped and let go of his grip. The crows immediately flew off from the vicinity.
"They're getting away!" shouted Peaches as she reached her trunk high into the sky like trying to catch them though they were too far off.
"Don't worry. Let them run off. They're just a couple of birdbrains," replied Flik. Again, he sucked in a breath and let some of the pressure out. "It appears I've put you all in greater peril instead of trying to save all of you."
"It's okay," Peaches smiled. "You never really meant us any harm"
Flik inched a smile, feeling a lot less guilty. "Alright then, come along now. I need to get you to the wolves in time. They might be friendlier folk for all we know." Flik got back into slow flight and gestured the other to follow him.
Eli got up and continued to walk once again. Peaches picked up his uncles from their wrestling and put them back on her head where they continued to strangle each other.
"You seem to know about the wolves more than we thought," Eli said curiously.
The osprey looked towards him. "Well, I might have… made an acquaintance with them back then."
The gang continued their journey at a faster pace. How many secrets Flik had, however, was yet to be revealed.
"We're supposed to cross this?" yelled Sid. His shrill voice echoing across a red barren landscape before steam gushed off from hidden crevices. You could feel the hot atmosphere from just being near it. An unsuspecting walking bird cockled through the plains where it was suddenly steam-cooked from the scalding vapor.
"Welcome to the Plains of Whoosh!" introduced Buck. "The tracks lead right through it, and they look fresher than evah!
Manny case an odd glance at Buck. "Plains of… Whoosh?" he asked.
"Meh, I'm runnin' out of names," Buck answered.
Sid took a long stare at the venue. "Sorry, I choose life" Sid muttered in a cowardly tone.
"Then go back, Sid" Diego said in a hardened tone. "I'm not turning back now"
"Me neither," Manny said determinedly. Both fathers were now more confident than ever to bring their children back.
"We have to do everything we can, Sid. For our children's sake," Ellie added.
The sight of the plains consumed Sid's mind with fear and despair. "Well, I've seen worse…" he fearfully mumbled to himself.
"Well then follow me! Just stay right behind and you'll be fine," assured Buck as he led on into the plains. The herd continued on undeterred in their travels. Sid traveled behind the group. His first step into the red barren plains made him shriek as a small amount of hot vapor came out.
A few gushes of hot air frightened the herd from time to time, but thankfully nothing major ever happened. The uncomfortable sauna they walked through made them a bit sweaty. Buck would start wiping his head often, Diego started panting, the mammoths were trying to keep their composure as possible, and Sid started to breath heavily.
Sid began to get dizzy. His vision started to get whoozy from the intensive heat. He desperately tried not to get a heat stroke by trying to calm down. But out of nowhere, an unexpected gush of hot air blew across his face. The steam filled his nostrils and almost instantly made him lose all awareness of his senses. The last thing he could hear before fainting was his pumping heartbeat. The sloth fell onto the barren ground unnoticed and unconsciously watched the herd unknowingly leave without him.
That was one of the most uncomfortable places they had ever gone through. When it was over, everyone felt relieved. "Is everyone all right?" Buck said as a roll call, shaking off some sweat as his fur frizzed up in doing so. He flattened it out right after.
Ellie looked around to check if everyone was present. Diego was panting desperately for air, and Manny was breathing through his mouth. The female mammoth turned around to see how Sid was holding up, but she couldn't find him. "H-hey! Where's Sid?" she said abruptly.
Buck looked around and scoured the area and found no sign of him. "I'm goin' back inside to see if he's still there." Buck said. "You lot don't move from this spot while I'm gone."
As much as Diego wanted to accompany Buck, he knew that the best thing to do was to stay with the group. And besides, part of him didn't want to go through the toasting temperature of the place.
Buck looked left to right in search of the left behind sloth. In the midst of fog and hot air, Buck could barely see a meter away from him. After running back and forth a few times, he caught a glimpse of what he thought was a foot. Buck hurried to approach him but a sudden burst of hot gas erupted from the ground, leaving him jumping around to and fro.
His current predicament got worse by the minute. If Buck wouldn't get Sid out in time, they would both get steam cooked. And if that won't kill them, the choking temperature would make Buck pass out as well. Though remarkable for his endurance, it was still limited. The daring weasel was at a race against time. Despite the gushing hot air coming out suddenly, Buck drove through to reach the fainted sloth. A large burst of boiling gas steamed in his way. Buck simply jumped up and barrel rolled right through it. Finally, the weasel reached Sid in the nick of time. He grabbed his arm up and hoisted him to his shoulder before looking to their way back. The condition of the plains kept on. Buck was breathing exasperatingly, and his vision was starting to give way. But under all the amount of stress building up, he pursued towards the exit.
"They've been in there for a while now," worried Ellie.
Diego was getting worried sick as well and remained restless walking back and forth into the plains whether deciding to go in and help.
"They've been there long enough," reasoned Manny. "We should go after them"
Diego nodded in agreement. The two were about to go in before Buck came out of the steaming mist along with Sid in tow. Instead of going in, the three immediately went towards them. Buck placed Sid onto the ground and gestured them not to go any further while breathing heavily.
"Wait, don't huddle up guys. They need some air," Diego said from what Buck tried to explain through arm gestures.
"Are you okay?" Ellie asked Buck.
"Just a few burns, that's all," Buck answered. He remained panting heavily, kneeling on the ground.
Manny turned his view towards Sid, seeing him in worse condition. "We might have to get this guy some water," he said in a worried tone.
"There's a river *heave* nearby," said Buck. "Been he-ah befo'. Should know the way from here."
"Buck, wait" the saber-tooth said worriedly. "You're still hurt-"
"I'm fine tigah," Buck cut off, standing up but groaning in pain as he did. "Besides, it's my job to keep you mammals safe"
Diego watched him walk on. He could notice him trying to feel nothing from the lingering pain. He knew he was feeling pain. But regardless, Diego watched him with admiration. At least, if he had turned out to be like Buck, then he would still look out for his friends as he always had.
Manny carried Sid on his back. He was reminded of the first time he ever let the sloth on his back; the time where the three of them first set off to be a herd. And looking back from they were now, things had gotten pretty insane.
"You incompetent fools!" shouted a tall dark shadow in a cave atop a high mountain.
"I'm sorry, godfather," the two shadowy figures apologized.
"I should 'ave known better dan to send you two ingrates!" the tall shadow continued. He rubbed his noggin with a two of the feathers sticking out of his left wing. "I should have known not to let a crow do a vulture's job"
"Please, godfather, give us another chance and we could-"
"Enough," the tall shadow boomed, cutting them off from fear. The tall shadow beamed its glowing red eyes for a moment of thought, and considered. "Very well, but perhaps it is best if I sent better men with you," he said deviously. "Take Dan and Seth along and find Flik. I want to insure that he pays for his betrayal.
Small tracks were left upon a dirt road. A couple of paw prints, two pairs of giant circular prints, and two smaller prints were seen. A small yet loud growl was uttered about. It caught a glance of the tiny peculiar prints upon the road. It immediately stepped its giant angry foot upon it before it boomed out a deafening roar.
This? Not good.
Xion the Author: I feel like apologizing for the "Plains of Whoosh". I think it kinda sounds unoriginal but I was running out of ideas and I didn't want you to keep you guys waiting. I spotted a trailer on the internet of movie called "Alpha and Omega" and I went all "AAAAAAHHH!" when I saw it was about wolves. Don't judge me about my fondness to wolves. Too bad it premieres on September (in the US, but since I'm in Asia [yes, I'm good at math, but being Asian has nothing to do with it] , it'll premier around…. December here maybe?)
Ryan: It's true.
Xion the Author: How did you get here? You're not supposed to be here, you're supposed to be in my old fanfic.
Ryan: I'm a figment of your imagination. I come when you want me to.
Xion the Author: Hmmm, true. After all I just sometimes write my author notes with pointless drabbles.
Elias: Am I supposed to be related to him?
Xion the Author: Other than being a wolf, no. He's good at hunting (when he remembered), and you're not. But enough of my OCs, I have a message for all my readers: Please review! ^^