Wow, another chapter! Hooray for multiple updates! Enjoy this. And uh, warning: includes another child.
I was so confused. One minute I'm taking a nice nap in my mother's pouch, the next I'm bouncing around like crazy with multiple sharp weapons around me. What was going on? Why were we moving so fast?
I dared to peak out, almost instantly wishing I hadn't. We were hopping through a bunch of tress that were still in the ground, not like the one that served as the mast on the boat. I looked down, and found, to my shock, that we were walking on dirt. Actual dirt. This was a big change for me, considering we were always on our ice boat.
Jumping harshly as I avoided being skewered by a dagger, I did the unthinkable, a decision that was made out of pure instinct. I jumped out. I was sent flying a good ten, fifteen feet I the air, squeezing my eyes shut as the ground approached fast. I rolled a couple times, and I instantly stood up, going stiff with amazement. The grass and soil felt incredible! Giggling as the soft, lush vegetation wiggled between my toes, I collapsed on my stomach, breathing in the fresh, earthy scent. I hadn't felt this good since I was first able to pin Uncle Squint. Now that, that was fun.
Rolling over on my back and gazing through the treetops and at the sun filtering through the leaves, I sighed again. This was so… so… I couldn't even find words for it.
I got up and decided to explore. I saw so many things, it was almost overwhelming. In a good way, though. I found some weird, pink plant, that smelled really nice, sweet and beautiful and delicate. I picked it and put it beside me ear, checking my reflection in a very large puddle of water. And when I checked it, it wasn't salty. It was, I don't know… just not. Lapping up a bit of it, I went back to exploring, following my footprints.
However, as I headed back in, I was surprised to find two sets, looking identical. Which one was mine? The realization that I might be lost hit me like a tidal wave, which is pretty hard. And yes, I speak from experience. My happy, carefree mood was replaced by fear. What if I never saw my family again? What if I never got feel the ocean's salty spray on my face? What if I never got another ride in my mother's pouch? How would I survive without them?
I sat down and tried to remember which way I'd come from, which tracks I should follow. They both led in opposite directions. Glancing back and forth, I tried to think which looked most like mine, which one seemed more familiar, but… they looked exactly the same. I couldn't find any differences.
My vision blurred as the thoughts of being lost here forever echoed in my mind. I bowed my head in sorrow, feeling the water slide down my cheeks and wet my fur.
After about five minutes, I heard a rustle in the bushes, and looked up curiously, only to find another person there, staring at me with wide eyes. Tan colored fur, green eyes, and, the thing that made me positive that we were the same species, the long pair of fangs he had, the same as mine.
I know I'm saber, despite my mom being a kangaroo. You know, just because I'm little doesn't mean I'm stupid or incredibly gullible like everyone seems to think, although I act that way cuz I get a good laugh out of how gullible they are. Just because I've got big blue eyes and a sweet smile doesn't mean I'll believe everything I'm told.
Tilting my head to the side curiously, I studied him with great interest, him doing the same. "Who are you?" he finally asked.
"Sh-Shira." I answered, slightly unsure.
"Where'd you come from? Never seen you around before."
"Um…" how was I supposed to answer? I didn't exactly come from anywhere. My home was wherever the ship floated. "Not really anywhere. Where ever I go, I guess."
"So… you don't have a home?" he sounded confused, and kind of concerned.
"No, I do. I live with my mom… and all my uncles."
"Oh… that's nice."
After that, we hit it off and started talking, playing a bit in that really big puddle, which he informed me was called a watering hole. We didn't go more than ankle deep, but we just splashed and chased each other and such.
We had to have been together for hours before something I wasn't expecting happened. I much larger saber, obviously a teenager, appeared in front of us. It was almost like he dropped from the sky. "Where have you been?" he yelled. "We've been looking for hours!" hours? Had we really been playing that long? I looked up to find, to my complete shock, that the sky was turning orange. The sun was setting!
My new friend, who I realized with a start I didn't know the name of, sighed. "Hi Matt." He said in a bored, almost annoyed tone.
"Your mom's gonna kill me for this!"
"And just why would she do that?" I said, almost immediately detecting the sass in my voice. What? I didn't appreciate him yelling at my new friend.
He whipped towards me, first looking angry… then his face softened, becoming curious. "So who's your friend?"
"Shira." I answered curtly.
He gave him a pointed and almost… impressed look. "Ooh, she's a feisty one. Hold on to her, got it?" we both frowned in confusion.
"Anyway, we gotta get back. Your mom wants you home cuz… well, one, it's past your curfew."
"Is not!" he complained. "I'm supposed to be back an hour after sunset."
"Either way, two, a nearby village just got attacked."
He looked unconvinced. "By what?"
"Pirates."
I took a sharp intake of breath. Was my family still here? "Your parents don't want you getting kidnapped. C'mon. Back to the-"
"SHIRA!" a voice suddenly cut through the forest. I recognized it as Silas. Looking up, he was flying amongst the tree branches, gesturing wildly to guide someone closer.
My mom hopped up at speeds that were impressive even for her, grabbing me and squeezing me so hard I think my lungs were flattened. "Shira, how did you even get out here?" I opened my mouth to answer, but she clamped a hand over it. "Never mind! We'll talk about it later. We've gotta get back to the ship!"
And with that, she shoved me in her pouch and I found myself bouncing around again, thankfully with no weapons this time. I popped my head out, reaching a paw towards my quickly disappearing new friend. "Wait!" I cried. "I don't even know your name!" I yelled, stretching out the 'a' sound in name. As we hopped, my ear accessory, which I'd been told was a flower, fell off. I tried to catch it, but it fluttered to the ground to rest on the trail.
"Shira!" he yelled back, his voice sounding like a loud whisper, considering we were travelling away quickly. I heard one more whisper before we were gone. "Shira…" it seemed to cling to the wind, snaking it's way into my ear and lodging itself in my brain, so I would always remember his voice… and he would always have my flower, if he found it. It may have been my imagination, but I thought I saw a flash of tan, headed for where my fallen blossom was. "Keep it safe." I whispered. And then I knew, we'd see each other again, somehow.
Did you like that she made a friend? I'll give you three guesses as to who it is. Still don't own Ice Age.
