Xion the Author: I have no excuses… my apologies :3 And its pretty long too… please read :3
ICE AGE JOURNEYS: RAISING A CUB
Chapter XII: In the Midst of Suspense
"Whoooooaaaah!" Sid hanged on to Egbert as the dinosaur traversed swiftly across the up and down path. The swerving path across fallen tree trunks, low-lying leafy branches that would incidentally hit Sid every now and then, and a few unsuspecting tiny dinosaurs scamping away in fright.
"C-can we slow down?" bellowed Sid as his body jumped up and down. The t-rex trio remained silent and continued to run swiftly. Finally, after a period of time sprinting, the running stopped and Sid was finally able to see clearly the path ahead. He opened his eyes to it, and wished he kept it closed. The path ahead showed a barren wasteland, cracks on the ground where little crevices spewed a spray of lava.
"Oh no. Oh n-n-n-n-o no no NO" Sid jittered nervously, and as he felt Egbert start to move again, he hanged on tightly as he was galloped across the treacherous path. "Aaaaaaaah-"
"-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" A voice echoed away from a distance, audible enough for the entire herd to hear it.
"That's Sid!" exclaimed Manny, overhearing the sloth's shrill screech.
"This is turning out to be a bit cliché isn't it", said Diego.
"Who cares? Move!" shouted Buck as the herd rushed off swiftly into the horizon.
SLAM!
Peaches made a heavy ram on the boulder before toddling backwards in fatigue. "It's no use…"
"What do we do now?" Crash said.
Peaches made one last ram towards the boulder, and the entire cave once again felt like it shook. Peaches heard a small cracking sound, followed by few more snapping sounds that traveled up. A rock fell down from above, landing just beside Crash, making him flinch in surprise. She looked up tired and weary to see a small light of hope. "H-hey guys! Look!" Flik and Crash looked towards where Peaches pointed with her trunk. "Guess they never made routine checks on their jail cells huh?"
"A small hole, enough to fit me and Crash out, but-" Flik looked at Peaches to see her grinning. "-what about you?"
"We can't just leave you behind!" Crash exclaimed. "Ellie will kill me!"
"Don't worry about me, just get out and look for help" said Peaches. "I could look for another way out in the mean time"
Flik and Crash looked at each other before Crash mounted Flik. "Be careful fruit-pop" Flik flew up towards the hole while Crash held on, and the two made it out safely, leaving Peaches alone.
"So, where exactly did you come from?" asked Leah as the two wolves walked up a hill.
"A place called The Ice Age," answered Eli. Leah gave him a look, raising her eyebrow, and Eli could read from her face she had no idea what he was talking about. "It's a place where you could find snow everywhere; from tree tops to mountains and frozen lakes."
"What's snow?" asked Leah.
"Wait, you don't know what snow is?" said Eddie from atop Eli, and Leah simply shook her head.
"It's white fuzz that falls out of the sky," answered Eli as he pointed upwards.
"Like rain?" she asked.
"Yeah, only its cold and it piles up like something solid" Eli said. "It's like piling up your dreams right in front of you"
"Wow, I've never seen snow before" she said amazingly.
"I'm not surprised" said Eli. "Moment I stepped paw here I haven't seen a single drop of snow"
"I'd like to see snow someday" said Leah, looking sweetly back at Eli as they reached the top of the hill. Eli blushed and snapped out of trance when Eddie said something.
"Nice catch, lover boy" Eddie sniggered.
"Shut up" Eli grumbled before catching up with Leah, who was standing on top of the hill. As he made his way towards her, he could see a glimpse of what he expected his test. He saw herds of deer eating up the grass of the vast landscape ahead of them. White-tailed and numerous in numbers; Eli stood aghast. He had never seen so much deer in his life, or any big herds like these.
"So, I'm betting you already realized what the test is" Leah said. "Try to catch one deer, and you'll be deemed worthy"
Eli gulped. He was never able to catch deer, or any large prey to be exact. "I-I-I don't know", he stammered, "I-I don't really feel like hunting right now-". The white wolf was backing out slowly before Leah walked in front of him.
"It's now or never. This is your only chance to impress me," said Leah.
Eli trembled at the thought. What if he couldn't catch one? Though haunted that he would fail the test, he braved up and tried. He walked down the hill valiantly. "Eli," said Eddie. "But you never-"
"Well, maybe today might be my lucky day," Eli answered swiftly.
"But what if you don't catch a deer?" Eddie asked.
Eli thought silently before replying, "This is the only way for me to impress her," he said,"And it's not like I have much of a choice". Eli picked Eddie up from on top of him and laid him near a small tree and started to creep up towards the deer.
"I'm beginning to wonder why you're really trying to impress her," mumbled Eddie as he rubbed his paw down his face. Eddie climbed up the nearby tree and watched Eli as he stalked his prey.
"Okay, stay calm Eli" he thought silently "Just remember everything you learned" He slowly inched towards the unsuspecting deer. And when he thought the time was ripe, he leaped up to try and catch it. He almost had it in his claws when the deer was able to swiftly run away, making him attack the soft ground. Eli made a chase for it. The entire herd of deer stared sprinting hoofs away as he tried to get it. The herd outran him and Eli slammed his paw down on the ground. "Fail"
Eddie sighed, "I told him not to make a fool of himself"
"Well, let's just see what he'll do next," said Leah as she walked towards the tree Eddie perched himself at.
Eli slowly tracked down the herd of deer. "Either go back now and be a loser for the rest of your life, or die trying," he said to himself. As he tried to follow the hoof prints left behind, Eddie and Leah followed him as they watched his progress.
The sun began to die out. Eli grew tiresome of his numerous attempts. Leah and Eddie simply watched and followed him. As the sunset shone its red light, Eli knew he had only one last attempt before it was impossible to make any prey at the night.
"It's getting really late" said Eddie "Have you deemed him anything yet?" he asked Leah, who simply sat silently while watching Eli.
Eli stalked a deer one last time. It was a small one, a child that strayed a bit too far from his parents. Eli took this chance for easy prey. He slowly crept up towards it, leaped up and pinned it down on the ground. The deer screamed as the herd ran off in fright. Eli raised his claw in triumph as he was about to cut the deer's throat. But as he was about to, he saw the fear the baby deer had in his eyes, and all killing intent flushed out of him. Eli looked at his contracted claws before getting off of the baby deer. The deer got up slowly, in much of a daze as Eli was. "Get out of here," the white wolf said. The baby deer glimmered its beady eyes, and got up on his trembling limbs before running off to find his parents.
Eli knew he had failed. He didn't even have the guts to take down his prey. He walked back towards the others as they walked towards him as well. Eli looked into Leah's eyes and shuddered as he knew that he screwed the test. Eli tucked his head down in shame "I-I-"
"You pass," she said, and Eli immediately raises his head up in awe. Eddie raised his jaw wide open; in just as much disbelief as he was.
"W-wait, but I-"
"The test wasn't how good you were in hunting," explained Leah. "The test was about seeing just how not bloodthirsty and merciless you are"
"Why did you need me to prove that?" Eli asked.
"We don't want to let in deadweights, but we don't want to let in ravenous monsters in as well," Leah answered.
"But… what about the fact he wasn't able to catch any deer?" Eddie asked.
"I can tell you're not as good as hunting as I thought, but hunting by yourself isn't really a thing us wolves do. That's why you have a pack," Leah smiled as she leaped down from the rock podium she stood on. "So, come on. I know you probably want to see the pack now, but why not relax for a while?"
Eli looked at her still in a state of skepticism. But, disbelief aside, he couldn't be any happier.
"Nice catch, lover boy," whispered Eddie.
Eli simply blushed this time, not replying to Eddie's statement. Leah walked on and Eddie climbed up on Eli and the two followed her. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," winked Leah. They walked for a few minutes together to reach their destination. The sun dying down its austere light as the moon welcomed its luminous heartbeat.
Eli followed behind, trying to think of a topic to bring up. "So… did you live with your pack all your life?" he asked.
"Yeah, though I spend most of my time doing reconnaissance, hunting and foraging" answered Leah.
"Bwuh – wait – foraging?" blurted Eli.
"Yeah, foraging. A good diet consists of an equal balance between meat and fruit- said Leah. "-which reminds me, you don't seem to know how to hunt, yet you're still alive here completely healthy."
"My pack died when I was a little cub, but since Diego found me his herd took me in" Eli replied "He taught me to hunt. Well, tried"
"Wait- you were raised by a herd?" asked Leah. "As farfetched as that sounds, that still doesn't answer my previous question"
"Diego is a saber tooth. He is like my father" answered Eli, before pausing silently for a moment "I… would never have able to survive without him…"
"You must have had the strangest herd," said Leah.
"You have no idea," said Eddie. "We have mammoths, possums(pointing towards himself), Diego, wolf(pointing at Eli), and sloth"
"Wow, that really is strange," giggled Leah. Eli continued to remain silent, thinking about his adoptive father. It's been so long since they left, and he wondered how he was. Maybe running off somewhere wasn't the best idea after all, and dragging Peaches along too.
Leah broke his silence when they finally reached their destination. "We're here!" the brown wolf said excitedly.
"Where exactly?" asked Eli. Leah grinned as she walked discreetly behind him and pushed him down a hill along with Eddie.
"Woaaaahh!" shouted the two as they slid down the long hill. Eddie stumbled from Eli's head and ended up sliding down by himself, slower than the wolf. Eli continued to slide down on his belly, screaming anxiously as he navigated down the leafy hill teeming with trees.
"Wooooohooooo!" Leah bellowed, catching up with Eli. "Isn't this fun!"
"Why are we sliding so fast?" shouted Eli when a low-lying branch hit him in his face.
"Hehe, see these leaves grew from these trees here?" Leah chuckled "They're pretty slimy when they fall off"
"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" cried Eddie as he had the time of his life, sliding down as he rode on to a leaf. "This is even better than with snow! Too bad Crash isn't here!"
Leah glanced at Eddie before looking back towards Eli. "See! Even possum there is having fun!" she exclaimed. Seeing Eli was still shaking from the experience she offered advice. "Just let loose! Don't be such kill joy and let go! Waahoooo!" and with that she slid down further than him.
Eli watched her as she sped up. Thinking about it for a moment, he tried to calm himself down and follow her advice. Hearing the two shouting in joy, he might as well try to make the best of the experience. He tucked his body lower to gain more speed, trying to catch up with Leah. The two sloped around left to right, avoiding potential collisions ahead of them.
Slowly, Eli was filled with glee as he began to enjoy sloping from one corner to another. He began chuckling, and before he knew it he was racing against Leah. One quick tuck and he sped up. Leah noticed it from the corner of her eye and tucked her head down as well. The two accelerated off into the distance. Eli couldn't leave his eyes off of her. Leah glanced at him as well, but as she spotted something she suddenly shouted, "Watch out!"
Eli looked forward to see a small slope going up. Caught off guard he slipped right up into the air and flipped. Leah watched him up above as he fell diagonally towards her. The two bounced and barrel rolled in the air, making Leah land on Eli with his back on the ground, and their bellies lying atop each other. Eli faced forward the see the end of the hill in front of them. The two of them yelled until they landed towards a pool of mud. The two flipped from the sudden brake and they separated as they spread themselves on the muck puddle.
Leah got up and looked at the white male wolf to see him trying to get up himself, but as he did he slipped and ended up having his face diving towards the wet dirt. Leah laughed as he spat it out of his mouth. As a reflex, Eli scooped up some of the dirt and threw it at her. Leah stopped as the pile of mud landed on her face. She shook it off to see clumps of her hair standing out. Eli laughed out loud, and Leah leaped towards him, grabbing a pile of sludge and wiped it all over his head, making a mohawk out of his head fur.
"Who's laughing now?" Leah sniggered. Eli splashed some more of the goop at her and the two ran off in a muddy fit. As the two ran off enjoying themselves, they couldn't help but forget about the possum left behind.
"Woooooooooooooo!" the extravagant possum bellowed. Eddie landed towards the mud pile a little after they ran off. "That was great! Who's up for round-" he glanced around him to find out he was by himself "-guys? Where are you?"
The two wolves chased each other, playing around as if old childhood friends. Tagging each other; scraping mud off their own fur and throwing it at each other; running after each other. It was as if they had known each other and had finally been reunited. Eddie followed a track of muddy paws to see them enjoying themselves. He climbed up tree after tree watching after them. Though as much as he wanted to play with them, considering how old he already is, he left the two lovebirds alone.
The two passed by a waterfall, shimmering bright lights as the sweet caress of the moonlight shone at its waters. Leah approached it slowly, and as an attempt to try and impress her, Eli passed by without a moment of hesitation. Leah followed and she shivered as the cold water brushed along her fur. After all the dirt was washed away instantly, the brown wolf shook off all the water, and Eli did the same after her, making some of the water land back at her. Leah pounced at him when she caught him off guard, and the two rolled down a hill of flowers. Bouncing up and down as petals flew in mid-air. As the two finally landed down on the ground, the two wolves looked at each other's eyes to see them no different from theirs. Their faces were so close, their noses were touching each others. The two gazed at each other before realizing their predicament, making them both blush and get off each other.
"Um uhhhh…" muttered Leah "We… probably should start heading towards my pack.
"Yeah we probably should" Eli replied swiftly.
"Come on, if we start walking now, we can make it there by daybreak," said Leah before looking around "Where's your uncle?"
Eli looked around as well. "Uh oh," he muttered. He looked left and right drastically. "Uncle Eddie? Where are you!" he shouted.
"I'm over here, doofus," Eddie said, revealing himself as he swung his tail around a branch. He flipped up heroically into the air but unlike a certain weasel, he missed his landing and he shoveled his belly on the ground. He immediately got up and shook off the dirt to try to act less embarrassing. "Thanks for leaving me behind guys. Really appreciate it"
"Sorry, we didn't mean-"
"Whatever" Eddie cut off "Let's just head off towards this wolf pack of yours female wolf" Eddie started walking off and Leah looked at him wonderingly.
"My pack's this way" Leah mentioned, pointing towards the opposite direction he walked.
"Then lead the way!" he shouted after scurrying on top of Leah. And the group finally reached the last leg of this journey.
Xion the Author: A specially long chapter devoted to Eli!:3 Since it's been so long and the chapter seems far off from the original setting in the previous chapters, I wanted to remind the readers where the herd/group/gang was ranging from events or to a simple conversation ("snow") and the predicament of a character. I felt like Eli's inability to hunt lacked emphasis and impact on the story, so I wanted to intentionally put him in a situation where he had to hunt, the same way I did on his fear of lightning from a trauma way back when he was a cub (see chapter 5). Pretty creative huh? I also didn't stop on reminding what the OC looked like :P
Eddie: That was pretty hard work.
Xion the Author: What was more work was thinking of the perfect events to fit everything. What troubled me the most was the event where Leah was supposed to fall for Eli. Really had to think it through to make it original and had to clash with to current setting (in other words, no snow or ice ) and it really reminds me of Lion King, the movie I watched around just three months ago :P
Buck: Please review then! Next chapter will be devoted to the herd down below! (err… spoiler? ;p)