CHAPTER 4

THE FIRST ATTACK

The group started traveling on thin ice. It wasn't totally thin, though. It was still able to carry huge animals such as a whole migration. Brooke looked at the ice, fearing that it was too thin to walk across. Ellie looked to see that Brooke was moving along too slow.

Ellie sighed. "Brooke, there are continents that move faster than you. Come on. We need to catch up with the others."

"I just have this funny feeling that the ice may be too thin," Brooke said, "Besides, I'm not sure how it's holding up two ten tin mammoths, a medium-sized saber and a medium-sized possum."

Something could be heard swimming underwater. Shira looked to see something trying to break through the ice. She gasped. "Everyone! Run!" When she said this, Diego knew there was danger and played dead. Shira groaned. "Diego, don't play dead. If you do, you'll be dead."

"She's telling the truth," Crash said.

"Get up, Diego!" Eddie shouted.

They all looked to see a tiger shark pop out of the ice, taking to the sky. He crashed through another part of the ice, swimming back into the water. The looked to see that there was no way to get off the ice. Luckily, there was some thicker ice on the other side. They all decided to jump.

Manny looked to the group. "Ladies first."

"Oh, you are such a gentleman, Manny," Brooke said, taking the moment to jump on thick ice, smiling with enthusiasm, "Now that is style."

"You're next, Ellie."

"Okay," Ellie said, making her way towards the edge. She took a deep breath and jumped, landing on thick ice next to Brooke. She looked at Shira. "Come on, Shira. You're next."

Shira looked to see that it wasn't far of a jump. She used whatever energy she had to jump, but before she could make it to the other side, a crocodile jumped out of the water, staring at the remaining group members on thin ice. Its eyes were blood red as it had sharp claws sticking from its fingers and toes. Even its legs had claws. Its teeth were razor sharp and were as long as a saber-tooth squirrel's fuzzy tail. It was a horrifying beast.

The group tried to back away, but there was just no escaping the croc. They looked to see the tiger shark behind them. He also had blood red eyes and his teeth were as long as a racoons tail. Not only that, but he had spikes sticking out from the top of his body. There was no way of trying to attack him. He could defeat an enemy in a heartbeat.

The crocodile was gaining on them. Shira ran up and roared at it, but its roar was louder than hers. She had no choice but to turn back, but her instincts were getting the best of her. She ran up and clawed the crocodile in the face, scratching it's snout. The crocodile striked back, but it missed Shira as she jumped out of the way. Manny ran over and picked the croc up with his trunk and slung it back into the water. The shark went after it, but not before glaring at the group once more before making it's way back into the water.

Soon, everyone was on thick ice. Ellie sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you all are okay."

"I'm glad none of us got hurt," Shira said.

"What in the animal kingdom was that?" Brooke asked.

"I have no idea."

"From now on, land is safe as the water is not safe."

"That..." Crash said.

"Was..." Eddie said.

"Awesome!" Diego exclaimed.

"Well, we're not your normal herd," Brooke said, "But even with everything that happens, we treat each other like family."

Diego walked up to Shira. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen."

"Well, you know how female sabers can be," Shira said, "We do whatever we can to protect ourselves. Saber girls can get feisty at times."

"Some possums may not think of that as a compliment because they think bravery is just dumb. I think you take too many risks. Maybe that's why sabers are going extinct. Maybe you should run away more often."

"Wow, thanks for the advice."

"Anytime." Diego walked back over to his brothers.

Ellie walked over to Manny. "That was the bravest thing I've ever seen."

"What?" Manny asked, "Taking down that beast. Oh, that was nothing. I've taken down worse. No reason to compliment me."

"There's always a reason to compliment. If it wasn't for you, everybody on that ice float would've been mauled. You're a lifesaver."

"Well, it's no big deal. That's actually the first nice thing you've ever said about me."

Ellie chuckled. "I'm sure it's not the last time I'll ever do that."

While Manny walked away chuckling, Shira was grumbling to herself. "I think you take too many risks. Maybe that's why sabers are going extinct. Maybe you should run away more often.' Can you believe him? He is the most infuriating, subborn, and narrow-minded possum saber I've ever met."

"I have a feeling that you like him," Brooke said.

"I don't like him."

"Don't worry, Shira darling. Your secret is safe with me." Brooke twirled over to Ellie. "Your secret is also safe with me."

"What secret?" Ellie asked, bewildered, "I don't have a secret."

"You know, the one where you are starting to take a liking for Manny," Brooke said.

"That's ridiculous. I am not taking a liking to Manny. We're just friends."

"Okay, but we're living in a melting world, dear. You're going to have to tell Manny your feelings sooner or later."

An hour later, the group made their way back with the migration, but they made their way to the woods where they were trying to walk down a hill. Crash, Eddie and Diego were still on top of the hill, getting ready to ride down.

"Ready, Eddie?" Crash asked.

"Set," Eddie said.

"Let's go," they both shouted, riding down the hill on a log.

Diego did the same thing, having the time of his life. "No brakes. Gotta roll. See you guys at the bottom."

"You still think he's the guy for me?" Shira asked.

"Yes," Brooke said, "He's tons of fun and you're only fun in a certain way. He completes you."

"Of course he does."

Crash rushed over to Shira. "Hey, Shira, can you pull back the tree and shoot me into the pond?"

"No," Shira said.

"Oh, come now, Shira darling," Brooke said, "Do you expect to impress with that kind of attitude."

"I'm not trying to impress anybody."

"Why are you trying so hard to convince him that he's a saber?"

"Because that's what he is. I don't care if he thinks he's a possum. You can't be two things when you're only one."

"You may think that's true."

"She's not gonna stop talking about it, Shira," Ellie said, "It'll be easier on the rest of us if you just go with it."

Shira sighed, looking at Crash. "So what exactly do you want me to do?"

"Pull the tree and shoot me into the pond," Crash said.

Shira wasn't very sure about Crash's request. "I don't know."

"If you don't wanna do it because you're too chicken, we can get Diego to do it."

"No, I can do it."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Crash placed himself in the tree. "Let's do it."

"Have you done this before?"

"Only like a million times." He motioned Shira to push the tree branch back. "Farther, farther, farther." Shira pushed it back a bit farther. "Perfect. Fire!" Shira let go of the tree branch as Crash shot through the sky. "Yeah! I can fly!" He started singing a tune. "I believe I can fly." Before he could finish, he smacked into a tree, falling to the ground.

Eddie panicked. "Crash! Crash! Crash!" He made it over to his brother, you was knocked out on the ground. "Crash, are you okay?"

"What happened?" Diego asked.

"Shira shot him out of a tree."

"What is wrong with you?" Diego asked Shira.

"He said he could do it,' Shira said.

"And you listen to him?"

"Crash, whatever you do, don't go into the light," Eddie said.

"Can I help in any way?" Shira asked.

"I think you've helped enough," Diego said.

"Crash, Crash," Eddie said, "Don't leave me. Who's gonna watch my back? Who's gonna be my wingman in mayhem? Who's gonna roll in that dung patch with me?"

"Dung patch?" Crash said, sitting up, "Wait, my legs. I can stand."

"He can stand."

"I can run."

"He can run. It's a miracle!"

"A miracle, baby!" Diego exclaimed in excitement, looking at the others, "What can I say? They're my brothers. They've turned my life into an adventure." He turned to face his brothers. "You guys are dead. Thanks for embarrassing me." He went over to his twin brothers as they got what they deserved.

"Not the face!" the twins shouted.

The rest of the group covered their eyes. What happened in front of them was too embarrassing to see.

HERE YOU GO, GUYS. THE NEXT CHAPTER.

I LOVE THE PART IN THE ORIGINAL MELTDOWN MOVIE WHERE MANNY SHOT CRASH OUT OF A TREE. THAT WAS HILARIOUS. I BET IT WAS A LOT MORE HILARIOUS WHEN I MADE SHIRA DO IT IN THIS STORY.

WELL, THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE HERE SOON.

PLEASE REVIEW.