Hi, how's life? MASSIVE thank-you to TimberPaw, KaylaDestroyer and Nyxy Maskalina Raccoon for reviewing. I guess I also owe Chicken a small thanks too, even though it was a prank review from my sister. Anyway, enjoy the chapter! Also, I don't know if I mentioned this in the last chapter, but I don't own Ice Age.

Adsila sat at the front of the ship, waiting for the high, grassy cliffs of Switchback Cove. She hadn't been there often, maybe two or three times, and the last time she was there she was only about seven. It was a nice place though, as far as she could remember. Suddenly, a large, dark shape loomed out of the thick fog. North Island. North Island was a tiny island just north of Switchback Cove. Nobody lived there, except for a few crows and rabbits. It was where Squint was from, actually.

The whole island was made of dark rock, with just a few windswept fruit trees.

They were getting closer now. Adsila could hear the hiss of waves on a pebble beach. In the fog, the sheer cliffs of the island had an eerie, ominous look. Adsila shivered, wrapping the deerskin shawl she was wearing around her more tightly.

At least they were on the right track. They'd be at Switchback Cove by midday.

Mia looked around the deck for Adsila. She'd checked in the hold, but her friend wasn't there. However, she had met the three other animals she would be spying on the herd with, Annabeth, James and Jackson.

Annabeth had been appointed leader by Gutt because she was both the oldest and the best fighter. She was a pretty intimidating saber-toothed-tiger, with pale blonde fur and deep golden eyes the colour of honey. She also had long, sharp teeth and claws. To be honest, Mia was scared to death of her.

Next was James. He was a huge red deer stag, originally from Ireland. He was quite nice, Mia supposed. Friendly. Although she didn't fancy messing with him; those antlers looked pretty lethal.

Lastly, Jackson. Mia didn't trust him at all. He was a mink with greasy jet-black fur and pale grey eyes. He spent more time with Gutt and Soto than anyone else. He was apparently an old friend of the captain. Mia wasn't sure where he was from or when he joined the crew, or why. All she knew was that she didn't like him.

''LAND AHOY!''

Mia gulped. Nearly there. She rushed to the front of the ship to catch her first glimpse of Switchback Cove.

It was just visible through the thick fog, a large landmass. Mia could detect the vague shapes of mountains, and a silhouette which turned out to be a statue as they got closer.

Soon enough, Mia felt a jolt as the ship entered the beach, the bottom having scraped the sandy ground. They had arrived. Flynn and Saphie, the snow leopard first mate from Adsila's crew, lowered the gangplank.

Gutt knuckle-walked over to the five spies, who were standing there unsure what to do. He cleared his throat. ''Okay, you know what to do. We don't know the exact location of the herd, but the island isn't that big and they're pretty recognisable. You'll know them when you see them. You'll come back here and report tomorrow night.'' They nodded. Adsila quickly gave all her crewmates a hug. The seven animals had raised her, and she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, even if it was just for a day.

The others all walked down the gangplank, which was a big wooden log. Annabeth was in front, Adsila and Mia taking up the rear. They had to wade through the water, but being in the tropics it was reasonably warm, and Adsila held Mia so there weren't any problems. They stepped onto the beach, the first time most of them had been on Switchback Cove.

''Which way shall we go?'' James looked around warily. He didn't like fog. It made him uneasy, as it did with most prey animals. Any predator could be creeping up on you...

''Into the jungle. They wouldn't be at the beach on a day like this.'' Annabeth's voice had a slight Southern drawl to it, but that was the only indicator anybody had of where she was from. ''C'mon. We don't have all day here.''

The sabress padded off into the forest, the others following.

Mia looked around for any sign of the herd. So far they'd run into a few small rodents, but they didn't speak their language. James had attempted to ask them where they could find the herd, but they'd only given him a melon and left.

It was still very misty. Mia could barely see the trees around her. ''Is fog like this nor-'' she was going to ask Adsila, figuring she knew more about weather than she did, but she was cut off by a shriek from Annabeth.

She quickly jogged up to the front to see what happened, Adsila following. Suddenly James sprang in front of them, blocking them off. The two skidded to a halt. James moved back, letting them see. Annabeth was lying in a shallow ravine, which the two teens would have fallen into as well if James hadn't blocked them.

Annabeth attempted to stand, only to immediately fall over with another cry.

''Can I help you?'' Jackson, Adsila, Mia and James whipped around. A huge, dark brown mammoth was standing behind them. Adsila nodded. ''Our friend's hurt herself.''

"I am not your friend!''

Adsila sighed. ''Our aquaintance has hurt herself. Can you help us?''

''Of course. I'll take you to my herd.'' Mia and Adsila exchanged a look. They'd found the herd! The mammoth gently picked up Annabeth, balancing her on his tusks. ''Come with me.''

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