Akira was both relieved to see them arrive at the winding cave of ice and stone where the two worlds met and all of them accounted for, in one piece. She'd definitely miss this place despite its pressing dangers but she was ready to go home. "This is it, mammals. Right where you started." Buck said as they came to a stop by the entrance. "This was fun! We could make it a regular thing."

Akira laughed, cocking her head at the weasel, "Count me in."

The weasel grinned crookedly at her as Sid perked up, "If Akira's coming back down, can I?"

The sabress snickered, shrugging, "On one condition. You wear a leash."

The sloth grinned, claws on his hips, "Sounds doable to me. I'll get to see my kids weekly after all."

The sabress smiled softly, "Of course, Sid." She looked to Buck, "Thank you for everything."

The weasel's grin softened and he shrugged modestly.

"We couldn't have done it without you," Ellie added, Peaches tucked underneath her with wide green eyes watching everything with child-like wonder.

"Well, obviously. But good times, just the. . ." A hot gust of air suddenly blew over them, emitting from the cave. Akira heard a low, rumbling growl. "We're not alone, are we?"

There was no verbal answer needed for the weasel's rhetorical question. Akira took action immediately, ushering the possums and Sid back and closer to Ellie and Peaches. Red eyes glimmered in the dark of the cave. Akira wondered if Rudy had known about their group from the start, toying with them until he grew bored—like when he had chased her before suddenly, veering off. Had he come here, knowing they didn't belong here, to wait for their herd so he could attack?

Akira, as a predator herself, would've done something much of the same if she was fixated enough on her hunts but seeing it in another predator, one she admittedly didn't give enough credit, was a little terrifying.

"Hello, Rudy."

A long white mouth emerged before it was joined by hands tipped with lethal black claws and a long slender body of bumpy scales and a slate tail. The only true threat to Momma and her babies and a towering threat over all in this world—including them.

Buck provided a distraction as Ellie and Peaches ran over to the cave, hiding within the safety of it whilst rudy was fixed on the others. Akira scurried up a tree and gathered some vines in her jaws, jumping down to the forest floor. As Buck occupied Rudy, the mammals got to work. Diego stole one end of the vines, circling Rudy's legs while she sprinted ahead, pulling tight on the rope and forcing the two large limbs together, taking Rudy off balance. It was much easier as the rope added pressure to the gashes on his leg, partially adding to his quick collapse. Crash and Eddie had wrapped his mouth shut and so, with a swift, strong pull, the dinosaur was brought down.

Akira glanced around, making sure they were all going to make it to the cave when she caught sight of Sid. He was on the other side of Rudy where the majority of tied vines were and just like she had feared, Sid tripped, his claws catching one of the vines and snapping it. One was more than enough for an upper hand. Rudy's eyes opened, focusing on the sloth by his snout before the white giant reared up, ripping the vines around his legs and hands with ease in the light of his newfound strength.

Akira groaned, sprinting for the sloth as Rudy glared down at the herbivore. She snatched him up, narrowly missing Rudy's jaws as a brown blur came barreling from the trees. Startled, the two mammals turned and both grinned widely in seeing the blur had been Momma. "Way to go, Momzilla!"

The female rammed into Rudy repeatedly, pushing him closer and closer to the edge until the white giant was pitched over the cliff. Akira and Sid scurried to stand beside Momma—the babies were with them, having come out of the treeline, hiding until it was safe—peering over the edge as the dinosaur that had been hunting her and her babies was taken care of. As the reptile broke into a thunderous roar, her babies joined in excitedly.

Akira laughed when one of the hatchlings nudged her, intending for her to join them and she exhaled a breath of amusement as she did, Sid needing no prompting. The sabress, fondly so, wished he would've avoided the roaring because the sloth, not quite having the vocal cords for it merely just screamed.

Their roars and scream came to a slow stop, Sid turning to the dinosaurs with tears in his eyes. "Come here, kids," Sid sniffled, ushering the hatchlings over. Akira smiled as approached, looking at the sloth with wide, adoring eyes. "Well, let me tell you something. You're where you belong now. And I'm sure you're going to grow up to be giant, horrifying dinosaurs just like your mother."

The sloth smiled up at Momma who simply gave him a fond look. Akira grinned smugly at her. "Told you so." She laughed as she avoided the tail that whipped playfully in her direction with a laugh.

"And Momma, you take good care of our kids." Sid grinned tearily up at the dinosaur who nodded in a serious way that was endearing to them both. Momma lowered her head, Akira pressing hers against her nose as Sid placed a gentle claw with a watery smile. The babies ran up to the sabress as their mother pulled back and nuzzled her, crying softly.

"I'll miss you guys too." She nuzzled each and every one of them, brushing away stray tears. "Behave for your mother." The triplets gave her identical grins of mischief as they brushed up against her before they scurried over to their mother. They would do no such thing, she knew but why have it any other way?

"You were a good parent, Sid," Manny said as they rejoined the herd, watching the group of four disappear with a frown each.

Akira noticed Buck looking at her with furrowed brows and blinked, bewildered, "What?"

The weasel shrugged, "See, I was told you were a fighter but I'm starting to wonder if you're a lover instead. I mean, receiving affection from one of the fiercest creatures I know other than Rudy. That's nearly impossible."

Akira smirked, "Keyword, nearly."

Buck grinned as well, "I like you."

She walked to the herd, nudging Sid to hurry up and gesturing for Buck to follow. Sid ran clumsily up to Manny and Ellie, Peaches huddled by their legs. "Can I babysit for you, Manny?"

Akira snorted, sitting back on her haunches as she turned to face Buck. The weasel was looking at where Rudy had fallen, a frown on his lips. "He's gone. What am I supposed to do now?" She tilted her head as the herd turned their attention to the weasel. "That's easy," Diego huffed.

"Come with us." Sid finished with a grin.

Buck glanced up at the thick though slightly transparent ice. "You mean up there?" He hesitated, expression thoughtful. "I never thought of going back. I've been down there so long, it feels like up to me. I'm not sure I can fit in up there anymore."

Diego scoffed, "So? Look at us. Do we look like a normal herd to you?"

Akira grinned as everyone tried for a wide smile, giggling when even Peaches joined in. "Come on, Buck, we'd love to have you along. We could even find some adventures of our own up top." The weasel sighed, nodding, acquiesced at the promise of adventures.

"So long, big guy." Buck cast one more backwards glance before he ran over to them. As a distant roar echoed through the underground world, Manny grimaced. "That's our cue. Come on, Peaches!" Manny swooped up his new baby girl and the herd was off, the coupled sabres and weasel carrying the rear. Akira padded through the cave, sighing softly as Sid began to fall back, heaving exaggerated tired breaths. "Hey, Akira, I'm all tuckered out. You wouldn't mind—"

"Get on, Sid." The sloth grinned and didn't hesitate to clamber onto her back and get comfortable. "Thanks, A."

Akira trudged along, Diego by her side when the faintest of roars had her ears twitching. Having heard it so many times in her short time in the tropical world, she could recognize it easily. She halted in her tracks, Diego and Sid glancing at her questioningly. Her eyes were on Buck as the weasel looked back excitedly, turning to face them.

He looked hesitant. "He's alive! I. . . I got to. . ."

Akira gave a knowing smile, "Yeah."

He grinned. "Besides, this world should really stay down here. Take care of them, love."

Diego was quick to realize what happening, deducing that Rudy was still alive and Buck felt he had a purpose once again. "'Always listen to Buck'."

The weasel gave them a parting smile and they continued on their way, Sid waving sadly to Buck. As they got across the spine of a rather precariously placed dinosaur, the bones trembled before it began to collapse, falling into the abyss with a rising cloud of dust in its wake and deafening thud upon its impact. As the herd gathered at the mouth of the cave, Manny did a headcount. "Is everybody okay?"

The possums searched for their newly-acquired friend. "Where's Buck?"

Akira gave them reassuring looks, "Don't worry. He's where he wants to be."

Ellie frowned, glancing back at the way they could no longer go. "Is he gonna be okay?"

Diego huffed, "Are you kidding? Nothing could kill that weasel. It's Rudy I'm worried about."

The Northern sabress snickered at Diego's words, having to agree with them. Rudy was in for a rather abrupt awakening when Buck caught up to him. Akira could sense that when Manny remained back, never one for the rear of the herd, he wanted to talk with Diego. She trotted ahead respectfully, mindful of Sid on her back.

Diego started again, aware of his friend's wish as well as Manny matched his slower pace. "Listen, I know this 'baby makes three' thing isn't for you, but whatever you decide to do. . ." Manny trailed.

Ellie had breached the exit of the cave and a fresh layer of snow coated the ground. Peaches marvelled at it all. Akira and Ellie watched fondly as she pranced around in the snow, giggling in awe at it all. Sid slid off Akira's back to join the calf. Percy could be seen sprinting towards them from the direction of the village and soon, the cub had tackled Akira who laughed in surprise and delight. The two sabres playfully wrestled before Akira was dragging Percy over to meet Peaches.

Diego and Manny exited the cave to the sight and smiled. "You know I'm not leaving, buddy. Life of adventure? It's right here."

Manny sputtered, "But I got a whole speech here. I've been working on it. How can I show you that I'm strong and sensitive? Noble yet caring?"

Diego grinned, shaking his head at his best friend. "Just stop right there before you make a fool of yourself, Manny."

The mammoth gave him a grateful look, looking relieved he didn't have to continue. "I've got everything here I could ever need, Manny. I just didn't realize it." Brilliant eyes were fixed on Akira as he spoke, lips tugged up into a smile.

Sid was suddenly by his side, out of breath as Manny walked ahead to join his wife and kid. "They grow so fast, huh?" The sloth dramatically wiped a tear from his eye, sniffling.

Diego rolled his eyes, knowing Sid's over-the-top dramatics. "Yeah."

"I mean, look at my kids. Seems like they were born one day and then gone the next." The tiger spared the sloth a glance, "They were, Sid."

"Yeah. That was a lot of work."

Akira lay on her stomach with Percy by her side, catching Peaches delicately with her paw when the calf stumbled. She was content to keep running around but suddenly froze in awe as a snowflake fluttered down, big green eyes fixed on the sky as it began snowing.

"That's right, sweetheart. Welcome to the Ice Age."