Pet Tiger

The Journey

Frida smiled as the snow fell from the sky. The Ice Age had begun and everything was starting to freeze. Frida always had a fondness for snow and as they walked through it, she felt her inner cub come out as she ran and jumped in the snow. The guys watched in confusion. Normally Frida was very composed and mature. Now she was acting childish. It was the first time anyone had seen her totally relaxed and having fun.

"What?" she asked noticing they were staring.

"You know how ridiculous you look?" Diego asked.

"Is it a crime to enjoy yourself?"

"We're in a hurry, remember?" Manny said.

"So?" Frida asked. "We're making good time. Let loose for a while."

"Come on, wait up!" Sid said.

They turned around to see he was way far behind them. They didn't bother to stop and kept on walking, making him fall even further behind.

"Wait up!" Sid said. "Come on, come on. Can you wait a second please? Hey, fellas!"

Deciding it was time to cut him a break, Manny, Diego and Frida stopped. Sid finally caught up, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Phew! Thanks for waiting."

He collapsed onto a geyser that was obviously going to erupt in seconds. Diego and Manny smirked as they looked at each other and watched.

"Three... two... one..."

They watched the geyser erupt, sending Sid flying into the air. They smiled and turned to start walking again.

"Sure is faithful", Manny shrugged.

A few hours passed as Sid managed to keep up with the group. He carried the baby in his arms with a smile. No one knew what was going on, but the baby began fussing.

"Do I need to separate you two?" Frida asked.

"No, everything's fine", Sid said.

Sid apparently started a poke war, making the baby start screaming. The baby started climbing all over Sid, pulling on his fur.

"Don't make me reach back there", Manny said.

"Yeah, well he started it!" Sid said.

"I don't care who started it, I'll finish it!"

Manny took the baby away from Sid and carried it in his trunk. As they reached an open road, a red burst of flame rose from a rock. Everyone stopped as they watch a glacier slid across from them. Once it passed, a green burst of flame rose and the group continued walking.

"That was weird", Frida said.

Everyone ignored her as they kept on walking. They got quite some distance before they reached something. They saw a group of large stones standing together almost like dominoes, only more like some kind of structure.

"Modern architecture", Manny explained. "It'll never last."

"I don't know about that", Frida said. "I've never see humans organize stones like those."

Diego sighed shaking his head. He was tired of all the small talk and hearing the baby fuss. He ran on ahead tracking in front of them. Frida watched him confused wondering what he was doing. He was supposed to be guiding them, why was he running off? She, Sid and Manny caught up with Diego pointing straight ahead of them as he stood over a print in the snow. It closely resembled a human foot but there was one problem. The print had four toes and humans had five toes.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Frida asked.

"Positive", Diego said. "I know these areas like the back of my paw."

"Yeah, sure", Manny said.

"Hey, look!" Sid said.

They walked ahead to see a frozen lake. Sid stepped onto the ice and started skating like an expert. Manny scoffed, not one bit impressed. He stepped onto the ice and saw it wasn't as easy as it looked. Sid smiled, skating circles around him.

"Hiya, Manny."

Diego stepped onto the ice seeing how back Manny was struggling. Sid smiled as he skated circles around him.

"Hiya, Diego."

Frida shook her head and sat down, pushing herself onto the ice where she slid with no problem. She smiled as she slid around Diego. He looked so cute trying to keep his balance.

Did I really just think that? Frida wondered.

"What are we doing?" Manny asked as he and Diego struggled to get off the ice.

They got back on solid land watching as Sid crashed into an iceberg.

"Hey, Sid."

The group continued but had to stop as they came to an intersection with five different roads.

"You're lost, aren't you?" Manny asked.

"No!" Diego said. "I know exactly where we are."

"Ask him directions."

In the middle of the intersection, there was a small saber-tooth squirrel trying to bury a nut.

"I don't need directions", Diego said.

"Fine", Manny said. "I'll ask him."

"What is it with men and asking for directions?" Frida asked nudging Diego.

"We have our pride to protect", he said.

"Hey, buddy", Manny said approaching the squirrel. "You see any humans go by here?"

The squirrel shook his head, but smiled as he remembered something. Sid smiled as he watched him.

"Ooh, ooh, I love this game. I love this game. Okay, three words. First word. Uh, stomp? No, no, stamp, stamp!"

The squirrel looked aggravated as he tried to act out what he was saying.

"Let me try", Manny said. "Uh, pack!"

The squirrel nodded and added more details.

"Pack of long teeth and claws", Sid said watching. "Pack of wolves?"

"Pack of bears?" Manny suggested.

The squirrel walked over to Diego and pointed at him, but apparently no one got the clue.

"Pack of whiskers?" Sid guessed. "Pack of noses?"

"Pachyderm!" Manny suggested.

The squirrel continued to point at Diego, annoying him a bit. Diego smirked as he reached out and flicked the squirrel, sending him flying.

"What'd you do that for?" Frida asked.

"Little rat was wasting out time", he said. "Let's go."