The Herd's Growing Family (Ice Age)

Stealing the Ship

(A/N: I had a few weeks' worth of birthdays just in September. Mine was on the 9th, (I'm 19 now), and I had to attend back-to-back parties for other family members.

But anyway, here's the next chapter.)

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Early the next morning, both the herd and the hyraxes began preparing for their plan to take over the pirate ship. Manny was leading everyone to make sure they all remembered their roles as he recapped the plan. "Okay, we need precision timing from everyone to get that ship. Half-pint, you got your end covered, right?"

The lead hyrax makes some fighting noises/moves and his fellow hyraxes all copy him right before he does a little growl.

"I'm going to take that as a 'yes'. Diego?" Manny turns to the others.

"I'll free his little friends". Diego responds.

"Redwood?"

"Rocky and I will set up the decoy & signal you guys when it's time to move", Redwood replies while Rocky nods.

"And you're sure I can trust you on this?" Manny asks her. "Especially with him".

"It won't be like last time. I promise", Redwood says.

"You've made a lot of promises. None of them ended well", Manny reminds her.

Diego intervenes. "Manny! She'll be fine".

Manny sighs before turning to the last duo. "Sid and Granny?"

Sid does a salute while speaking like a soldier. "Sir! Untie the ship, sir!"

"Right, unwind the vines, and don't let go until we're all on board. We're relying on you, Sid. You got that?" Manny tells him.

"Yes, sir. Totally focused, sir". Sid responds.

"Don't worry. It'll be easy since we don't have to guard Shira and Coral anymore". Granny points to the tree that Shira was trapped in, only for the others to see that the bark was destroyed and Shira was nowhere to be seen.

They all gasped in panic as Redwood quickly looked around for Coral, believing she was gone too. "Are you kidding me?!" She yells in anger.

Diego rushes over to the edge of the cliff just in time to spot Shira running to Gutt's ship; realizing she was gonna warn the pirates about their plan. Though weirdly enough, he didn't see Coral with her. If she wasn't going back, then where is she?

Manny looked puzzled as well, but with Shira's escape giving them less time to react, they didn't have time to worry about Coral. "We need to move, now." Manny says. Everyone else nods and rushes off to put the plan in motion.

As they all leave, Coral peaks out from behind the boulder that Manny drew his plan on. She makes sure the area is completely empty before coming out with a net in her hands; the same one she was captured in before. "I hope this works". She whispers to herself.

*With The Pirates*

Gutt begins ordering his crew around as they prepare to set off with the ship. "Squint, batten down the hatches. Raz, hoist the anchor. And, Gupta, fly the colors".

"Of course, Captain". Gupta eagerly scurries up the pole and becomes the ship's flag yet again.

"We're setting sail for vengeance, lads!" Gutt announces.

Mr. Flynn claps his hands excitedly. "Ooo! I love vengeance".

Just then, Shira finally makes it back to the crew and calls out for Gutt. "Captain!"