Strange. It's become so quiet. Manny was surprised, because otherwise his soon-to-be son-in-law can hardly keep his mouth shut. It still feels nice to go for a walk with him. Almost like it used to be, when his friends gave him and Ellie more freedom. He liked Diego and Sid, but sometimes a mammoth liked to be alone or just alone with another mammoth. Or maybe he only liked to be alone sometimes. What went through his head back then, when he was enjoying a quiet run with Ellie, things like that were going through his head again. It was strange, and he should probably put it down to becoming clumsy as he got older. Even if he was bucking the ravages of time, this excuse was better than really listening to what his inner self was telling him. Namely, that he was starting to like someone that way again.

"The path is getting pretty narrow and steep." He said this firstly, to find out whether they were really still on the right path, because he wasn't exactly one of those mammoths who liked climbing. Secondly, he said this, because he wanted to know whether his companion was still there. Mentally, that is, because he could still hear his footsteps clearly. Julian's head was often in the clouds, and not just when he was climbing high mountains. He almost always saw something positive in every situation. This was probably because he was still young and hadn't so many bad experiences.

"Now that you mention it, I notice it too." Julian said and leaned forward a little to look over the edge. He also kicked a loose stone over it with his foot to see where it landed. Manny also leaned forward a little because he absolutely had to know how high it was, he immediately got a little dizzy and so, he retreated to the rock face.

"Wait, shouldn't you know that? I thought you were already up here." The older mammoth said again, a little harshly, because he hoped that Peaches hadn't sent him up here with her boyfriend so that they could get to know each other better, because of good family ties and so on. Didn't she know that you couldn't give the idiot next to him directions? If Manny didn't know any better, he would assume that the two young mammoths only met because Julian got lost in their valley. And someone like that should look after his daughter in the future. He had to sigh again, because he had to slowly start to accept that, because Peaches unfortunately inherited his stubbornness.

"Well, on the last hike, we didn't stop that often." Julian explained carefully, even though he had nothing against taking several short breaks. A huff quickly told him that he had chosen the wrong words again.

"I understand. The old man needs a lot of breaks." With that, Manny wanted to turn away, insulted, because he didn't always have to be reminded that he was getting old. But unfortunately he forgot where he was for a moment. Namely on a mountain with a steep path. Such paths can sometimes be covered in loose rocks. He just stepped on one of them in his carelessness. This action caused him to slide slightly over the edge with two legs. He quickly wanted to grab a bush or solid stone nearby, but his companion was faster. He was grabbed firmly by his hind leg, which slipped over the edge further, and pulled him back along the path. The younger mammoth also pushed him further towards the rock face.

"Missing any parts?" Julian asked the older one worriedly.

"I think you stabbed me in the leg with one of your tusks during that action." Manny said a little incredulously, because he had just realized that the guy next to him was stronger than he looked. He also felt a little ashamed, because he had almost fallen down because he had let his stupid pride get the better of him.

"Sorry, I really didn't mean to ..." The younger mammoth wanted to apologize, but Manny didn't really understand this reaction. The guy probably saved his life and he even yelled at him a little for it. Nobody should apologize for that. And yet, the reaction also knocked dust off his heart. This hike might not have been the best idea and he should most likely turn back.

"Boy, you saved me from broken bones and maybe death. Believe me, I can live with a small bruise and some quince mush on me. What the old man wants to say is, thank you. And now let's keep going, before I step on the wrong stone again." Manny wanted to say something about turning back, but his mouth had other plans as a slight smile crept onto Julian's face. After they recovered from the shock with the remaining quinces, peace returned for a while as they continued walking. But this time he paid meticulous attention to the path. But it turned out, that it was not far. Further up, there was a cave, or rather a passage, in which there were some nagging bats. He could understand only too well that they were annoyed, because he didn't want anyone trampling past him when he was sleeping, but they both promised to be particularly quiet. When they finally reached the exit, Manny had to blink a little because his eyes had gotten used to the lighting conditions in the cave and now the sun was shining so mercilessly in his face. But when he finally saw the place, he was no less amazed because it was beautiful up here. In the middle of a mountain peak there was a clear lake and around it there were also some green plants and fruit. A really pleasant spot. You could go swimming and then dry yourself off in the sun on some rocks.

"The place is nice to look at, but you can also go swimming down by the waterfall or on the beach." The older mammoth didn't know why he had to say anything bad about it. It was probably because there were no other animals here apart from the two of them to provide a distraction.

"Yes, but on the beach the fur sometimes gets sandy and salty if you don't rinse it out well afterwards and it can sometimes be very cold at the waterfall. Brr, my trunk almost fell off from the cold the other day. That's still too cool for me." Julian said casually and just walked cheerfully into the water. Manfred thought that as mammoths they had thick fur, but the other one shouldn't rush into the cold water. Especially when you were complaining about such things just a moment ago and the effort they had put in before was not easy either. But then Manny thought again that he shouldn't care, because his soon-to-be son-in-law was an adult. Nevertheless, he went to the water himself to cool off his sore legs a little, only to notice that it wasn't icy or cold at all when he got in. No, the water was very warm and really pleasant for his bones. When he was standing so deep in the warm water that only his head was sticking out, he sighed a little contentedly. It felt as if every single tension that had been spreading through his body recently was now slowly dissolving. When he opened his eyes again, he noticed that he had closed them from relaxation. Not far away, his companion looked at him expectantly.

"You're right. The walk up here was really worth it. But how can the lake be so warm anyway?" Manny tried to change the conversation a little, because he was never comfortable admitting that he was wrong.

"Actually, I thought it should be a little cooler at this time of year. The last earthquake must have caused the volcano in the mountain to bubble a little." Julian mentioned it just like that and he jumped out of the water a little.

"So we're basically bathing over a volcano that could erupt at any time?! I'm really surprised why more animals don't visit the warm spring." Manny told more sarcastically and looked around again. In fact, they were still staying among themselves.

"Most animals come up here on cold winter days. Hmm? I notice, that we didn't announce ourselves at the cave. I must have missed that one."

"Excuse me?" The older mammoth asked because he didn't understand this statement.

"When Teddy told me about the place, he said that you should make yourself known at the cave so as not to scare other bathers. Hm, now that I think about it, he explained it with a wink." Julian really seemed to be thinking about the rabbit's words again, when he said these sentences. However, Manny was more thinking about making a few things clear to the long-eared one when they got back down to the valley. After all, the rabbit couldn't run around and offer young animals such undisturbed places, because he could imagine what else was going on here.

"It was nice of you to accompany me up here. But you should have come here with Peaches." He said to his companion with a sigh, because perhaps this hadn't yet understood that this place was suitable for couples. Complaining wasn't going to help him now, and he was already here, so he might as well do something good for his body. If they were charred by lava, then at least he would die without any tension.

"I really like spending time with her because she's a really cool mammoth, but..." Manny was just about to carefully pour a little water over his head because he hated getting something in his eyes when his soon-to-be son-in-law threw something like that at him.

"But what? You've got a lot of nerve, boy! You want to complain to me of all people about my daughter. When you're a couple, then..." Annoyed, the older man wanted to explain to the other, what was appropriate, but the other actually dared to interrupt him.

"We're not one anymore." Julian's words completely took away his rising anger.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I like Peaches, but we've found that we're better off as friends." When Manny heard that, the situation felt strange. After all, he'd always wanted his daughter not to end up with such a chaotic guy and now he was slowly getting used to the brat and the two of them just broke up. He also felt pity for the boy as this swam back and forth in the water in front of him. He almost thought that the younger one didn't seem so happy for the first time. Or maybe he was thoughtful, which wasn't something you saw very often too.

"Should I talk to her about it?" At least he assumed that Ellie would say that, but since she wasn't here, he had to suggest it. Even if he didn't yet know what exactly he should convey. He still thought it was better than just remaining silent about the situation.

"That's really nice of you, bro... Um, I mean Manni. But I'd only be the fifth leg on the mammoth." Julian continued, and today this really let everything be pulled out of his trunk. The chatterbox in him must have slipped off the cliff earlier, Manfred thought to himself, irritated.

"She already has someone else?" Nevertheless, the older man was a little shocked to hear that his daughter was jumping from one man to the next. Yes, the young animals today did it in their modern way, but he still found it a little tactless.

"I don't know how to explain it, but there was someone she was in love with the whole time." Julian finally stopped in the water and smiled a little to himself. When Manny saw that, something pricked in his chest. The boy met Peaches and got his hopes up. Only to then find out that she was already in love with someone else. That had to hurt.

"Okay, now I definitely have to talk to her. We didn't raise her to be such a mammoth!" The mammoth father complained a little louder, because he was actually already teaching his child compassion and decency.

"That's cool of you. But I don't know if she's fully understood it herself."

"Now I'm a little confused. Don't tell me you broke up with her because you think she's better suited to someone else! And anyway, who is the guy?"

"You don't know him?"

"Wait, I know him too? Is he one of that mammoth troop?" The older mammoth wondered whether Peaches had fallen for that lazy Ethan again. After all, a few years ago she said that she had learned her lesson when it came to mammoths like that. Annoyed again, he rolled his trunk into a ball, ready to hit out with it. Sure, Julian might not have been the best candidate, but the reddish-brown pachyderm was clearly a step down in terms of partner selection. He just wanted to get out of the water and stomp away in anger.

"Ellie really understands it better." The mention of his ex-wife made him stop.

"Julian, I think you learned to speak in complete and understandable sentences a while ago. Then please do that too! What does Ellie have to do with this now?" Because the older mammoth had no idea what she should know better now.

"As I didn't want to confuse anything, I had to talk to someone about it first. She didn't want to stonewall the relationship, but she also said that sooner or later the whole thing would be brought up again." Manfred still didn't understand what the guy was trying to tell him.

"Who, Julian? Who is my daughter so in love with that she doesn't even notice it herself, but everyone else does? Well, except me." So he asked more clearly.

"She hangs out with him almost every day, when he's not here she likes to chat about him and because of him she also likes to snack on insects. Admittedly, some of them are really good to eat grilled." Julian said and looked at the edge of the water, but firstly, he wasn't very good at catching crawlies without squashing them and secondly, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to light a fire up here to grill.

"I don't know anyone..." Who fits this description, Manny wanted to continue, but stopped in disbelief when an animal came to mind.

"Wiener…" He then made his statement and wondered how he had never noticed it before. The two of them really were stuck together every day and Peaches actually spoke almost enthusiastically about him when the spiky boy wasn't around. The answer was clear in front of him, he was an old-fashioned mammoth and didn't think that animals of different species could ever fall in love with each other. His thoughts were really limited, because his best friends were a saber-toothed tiger and a sloth. If such things seemed possible, then probably more also. For a while, he wanted to see someone perfect next to his daughter. Someone who was more like him, but for exactly these reasons there were always differences between him and Peaches. She has shown more than once that she is able to protect herself and others, and yet every now and then, he is afraid that something might happen to her.

"Is it possible that you don't like him so much? Why?" Julian asked him this with some effort at first, but then looked at him with horrified eyes.

"Is it possible that you don't like him so much because..."

"Yes, I admit it! Because he's not a mammoth. Are you happy now?!"

"Actually, I wanted to say because they probably won't get a small mammoth. But man, that's pretty intense. I thought you were showing everyone respect here?!" When the younger one said that, Manfred's chest hurt a little again. He almost felt as if he had disappointed the other one. What was he trying to figure out in his head, because he didn't care what the kid thought of him.

"Wiener... Louis is OK, I think." Especially after the molehog helped to free Peaches from the clutches of the pirates. Manny turned away from his companion

"It's just that I ..."

"You always want to know that your daughter is safe, of course. My parents are pretty much the same. They couldn't understand why I wanted to leave the protective herd. But over the years, it just got boring seeing the same mammoths over and over again. Sure, we moved around the area, but always through the same one. In winter, a safer forest with a weatherproof cave and in summer, a meadow full of food. Spring and autumn always meant migration. The herd stayed away from anything that seemed new or interesting. That's why I find talking to other animals so exciting. You can learn and experience something new every day from everyone here in this place, well, more in the valley. And the lead female of our herd wanted to set me up with her daughter and all I could do was say goodbye. I mean, girl, I'm sure we're related somehow. Thanks, but no thanks." Julian only added the last few sentences because Manny was looking at him strangely and he was trying to lighten the mood.

"You are really strange." The older mammoth added, because otherwise he didn't know what to do with the information given.

"Oh, sorry." Julian said sheepishly and the older one wondered whether he would ever manage to pull it off in his life without it being taken the wrong way. With his talent, that's unlikely to happen.

"No, I didn't mean it like that. I mean strange in a good way." Manfred continued to say something, but his counterpart didn't seem really convinced, so he said more.

"You know, if Sid wasn't the way he is, I would still be stomping around alone and bitter. Maybe predators would have eaten me by now. In any case, it's important to be different or something." Manny found it difficult to say that, but at the same time he had the feeling that it had to come out. He didn't often talk about that time or the past in general, but Julian revealed something from his past and so he should also bring a little of himself to the surface. But again he was too cowardly to look at the other one any further and so he pretended to wash his collar fur with his trunk. After a moment he risked a look, only to notice that someone was looking at him with a smile full of admiration. Then he felt a little too warm under his fur again, so he swam a little away from Julian, hoping that whatever was hanging in the air right now would disappear again.