Wishing It Were True – Part 5

"AAAHH!" a terrify cry came from the home cave as the herd winced from the cries that Kyle made.

Diego hated hearing Kyle suffer from the pain he has from the gazelle incident. It still made him guilty and wished he had the injuries instead of Kyle. Another cry from Kyle was a weeping cry, a cry that made Diego heartbreak.

"I'm sorry, Mister Kyle, I told you to hold still…" said the Doctor Angela, her voice echoed through the cave.

"IT HURTS SO BAD!" Kyle cried even more.

"Okay, this is the last try only if you can hold the pain…" she said.

"Okay…" was a simple answer from Kyle.

Outside the cave, the herd can hear a 'meep' from Kyle as he fight the pain from shouting. The meeping stopped as it ended to a harsh cry. A cry of pain and suffering that Kyle experienced but was glad that the 'checking' was over.

"Here, drink this" said the Doctor.

A gulp was heard as it ended to a sigh of relief. "You're going to get drowsy so that you'll heal better", Doctor Angela said.

"Thank… you…" Kyle replied, tiredly.

Doctor Angela walked outside of the cave entrance as the herd quickly walked towards her with deep concern of Kyle's injuries.

"He's going to be fine", she made a soft smile at the herd. "He has a broken rib and rest is just a wound and a few bruises. I say, he'll be fully heal about… a month and a half"

"Thanks for the info", Diego smiled back.

"Oh! I forgot! Kyle is getting drowsy because of the medicine I gave him", she informed, holding her wooden brief case.

"Thank you, again", Diego replied as he walked inside the cave.

Doctor Angela made a wave of goodbye as the herd returned the waved and headed back into their homes. Everyone circled around Kyle's leaf-like bed and stared at the young saber. Kyle slowly opened his eyes and made a smile.

"H…Hey guys…!" his eyes were half lidded.

"Hey, kiddo. How you feeling?" Manny asked, staring at the boy.

Kyle looked his bandage, strapped by this plant-base material that'll heal his wound. "I feel all right… I'm just glad that the check-up is over…" he explained, smiling.

"Need anything?" Ellie asked.

Kyle began to yawn like a 4-year-old. "Well, I am kinda sleep…"

"C'mon guys, Kyle needs his rest and he doesn't want to be disturbed", Diego pushed the herd away from Kyle's room until he was paused from his son.

"Dad?"

"Hermmm…?" Diego turned staring at his son, wondering what he wants.

"Can you… sleep next to me?" Kyle asked, tiredly. "I bet you want a tiger nap too…"

Diego chuckled, Kyle was right that he was going to take a nap. He can't say no to want he has to offer. He's injured and it was his fault that he got into this mess. Diego made a simple nod and lay next to his son. He wrapped an arm around Kyle until he made a sudden groan.

"Ow… it hurts…!" Kyle whimpered from the pain.

Diego immediately removed his arm around Kyle. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay dad…" Kyle snuggled close to his chest.

Diego carefully placed his arm around Kyle again but where his wounds aren't too close. I'm sorry Kyle… I didn't mean to get you into this… Diego thought in his mind as his head was close to Kyle's and closed his eyes slowly.

Four Weeks Later…

"Wow… Today is such a beautiful day…" Kyle adored the view of the snow on the ground as he walked outside made paw prints and tried to make a snow angel. He walked to a fruit tree and carefully climbed on the tree to grab the fruit. His paw reached for the fruit as his claws touched the skin, barely touching it.

"Kyle!"

"Ahhh!" the voice that called him reacted to his fall but was relieved he landed on the snow.

"Kyle, what are you trying to do? You know that you're still healing from… you know what happened", his father picked him up from the snow, as Kyle removed the snow from his orange fur.

"I know dad but I was just hungry… you… *cough* *cough* Why is my voice going scratchy?" Kyle stroked his neck, confused why his voice began to sound like that.

Diego just gave a smile and nuzzled him closely. "Cause your voice is changing. You're growing up"

"What? I don't want to lose my amazing kiddy voice; you know that I'm an awesome actor with it!" Kyle protested in the thought.

"Whatever you say, Kyle… your voice will continue to change, no matter if you say no", Diego chuckled as he walked away.

"Hmm… you're probably right, but you know what? I should ask Sara what day is it. I really want to know", Kyle said as Diego eyes widen in fear as he dashed towards.

"Hey Kyle, you don't have to you know. I mean, who cares what today is! You don't have to know…" Diego was nervous and Kyle can tell by his hazel eyes.

"Dad, why are you acting weird?" Kyle had an eyebrow up.

"Weird? What are you talking about?" he asked, beginning to feel sweaty and nervous.

"Oh yes… what am I saying?" Kyle said sarcastically.

"Yeah, you're right! Now, go ahead and enjoy whatever you want. Just don't try to get yourself in trouble or get yourself hurt!" Diego said, playing with Kyle's hair.

"Yes, dad I know", Kyle sighed.

"Good, I'll see you later", he dashed quickly.

Kyle gave a blank stare and began to think. Why is dad acting strange? "You know, even though he acts weird, he's such an awesome dad in so many ways"

As Kyle left, he wondered what the herd was doing. He spotted Peaches gathering berries and fruits in this leaf bucket. Kyle was confused on why is Peaches collecting so much fruit in two containers. These were not just small buckets. These left-buckets were large and Kyle was totally confused. Ellie came by to Peaches helping her collect the fruits into the bucket. With curiosity, Kyle walked towards them and tries to surprise them.

"Hey, ladies!" Kyle gave shout to surprise them.

But Kyle never knew that this surprise will get them to jump in fear. "Ahhh! Kyle!" Peaches screamed close to dropping the berries.

"Kyle, what are you doing here?" Ellie asked, nervously.

"I was curious, so I wanted to know why you guys are collecting this much fruit?" Kyle pointed to the container of fruit.

"We can't talk now! We got to go! Bye!" Ellie carried one of the leaf containers and quickly left with Peaches.

Kyle was even more confused than before, his dad and now Peaches and Ellie are acting weird! He wondered if Manny knew all about this, he dashed to where he might've been and solve this nonsense. He went to the canyon rock to where he always goes to enjoy peace and quiet from Sid mostly, poor Sid. Kyle searched around for mister Manfred until he saw this large fat dark brown fur ball at his right. He knew it was Manny because his fatness, not to sound rude, made things obvious to find him. Kyle made a smile and walked towards the large mammoth that was carrying these materials that gave Kyle a questionable look. He stared at these materials and was flamboyant objects. One of them was strips that hang onto walls and he carried these chairs on his back. On his trunk, he held his goofy looking hats that were twice as confusing to Kyle.

Kyle walked towards the mammoth and climbed onto a rock to face him. "Hey Manny!"

Just by calling his name, Manny let out a terrifying shriek that made Kyle fall off the rock he was onto. "Kyle! Don't do that! You're just becoming like your father!"

"Sorry Manfred, but what are these?" Kyle asked, touching the favors.

Manny harshly moved the favors away from him and gave a sadden look. "Look, I'm sorry Kyle but I'm extremely busy right now. So, can you go away…? I'm not trying to be pushy or anything…"

"Oh, I see…" Kyle was saddened and left with his head down.

"Poor, poor, Kyle… I feel sorry for the guy…" Manny said to himself as he quickly left.

It seems unfair for Kyle; everyone he met didn't want to talk to him. It's like everyone is trying to ignore him but why. Well, there are some who might not try to ignore him, maybe they might know about this 'Ignore Kyle Day'. Kyle followed through the trail as he searched and searched around this homeland. Until he spotted a green fungus sloth, Kyle made a victory smile as he playfully skipped towards his friend. Kyle slowed down as the sloth turned to notice the young saber-tooth was coming to his way.

"H… Hey Kyle!" Sid gave a smile that gave Kyle a suspicious look. "Guess what today is?"

"Hmm? What is today? I was about to go to Sara and ask her but then dad said I shouldn't…" Kyle said depressingly as Sid made an 'awww' sound.

"Well, today is…" until the sloth was cut off by two possums as they shut his mouth tight.

"Crash? Eddie?" Kyle was confused by their actions.

"Hey Kyle, sorry we couldn't chat but we gotta' prank to do!" Crash gave a nervous smile as Eddie drags Sid with them.

"A prank! Can I join in?" Kyle said excitedly, considering how boring today is.

"No! Heh heh…" Eddie gave a nervous chuckle. "This prank is just between me and Crash and Sid is the victim!"

"Uh… sorry to burst your bubble but it's not a prank if you tell the victim that you'll gonna prank them", Kyle said as the two looked at each other with a nervous smile.

"Well, whatever! It's something that we gonna do! Bye Kyle!" Crash said as they left in a hurry.

As they left, Kyle was all alone. He stood there staring at the ground and questioned himself why hasn't anyone been socializing with him and started to ignore him. It was strange and he hated being left out. Kyle walked home into the forest, before he headed home, he stared at the sunlight and he knows that in a few more hours it'll be dusk and he doesn't want to end his day bored.

"I wonder why everyone is ignoring me." Kyle questioned himself staring at the sky.

"Awww… is kitty cat depressed because his family and his daddy are ignoring him…" a mocking voice caused Kyle to quickly stand on four.

He turned to see a gazelle, evilly smiling at the saber-tooth. Kyle's eye widen, he recognizes the gazelle from his hunting incident.

"You!"

"Oh so the tigey wigey finally remembers…!" the gazelle insults.

"You owe me a healed rib!" Kyle growled as he made a fighting stance.

"Hah! Thanks to my bro, you got want you disserve!" he mocked.

"You're lucky that my dad isn't here!" Kyle glared at the gazelle.

"Well, the name's Tomas!" he introduces his name. "Tomas the Gazel-!"

Before he can fully say his name, he was splattered by a ball of mud all over his face. "Heh… I guess that's a great way to shut you up", Kyle began to laugh as the gazelle began to growl.

"You'll pay for that!" Tomas exclaimed as he dashes towards Kyle pointing his antlers at him.

Kyle jumped away from the sharp antlers, dodging his deadly attack. "You crazy! Trying to hurt me with that!" Kyle was stunned.

"Stop being such a kitty cat!" he mocked as he chased Kyle with his deadly antlers.

I gotta think of something to stop this guy before he hurts me but what…? Kyle thought as he took a glance of a mud pile and a tree trunk. "Bingo!"

As Tomas continued to chase Kyle, stopped as he notice the saber-tooth was gone from his view. He looked around and all he can see was green bushes and trees covered with snow. "Come here kitty, kitty…" he fussed and carefully walked slowly.

He took caution as a ball of mud struck him again and growled even more. He turned to his right as he saw Kyle slapping his butt and making tongue noises, mocking the young gazelle. Tomas charged at the saber-tooth and chased him with his antlers pointed directly at Kyle. As Kyle knew a tree was in front of him, he dashed as his paws could take and climbed on the tree as Tomas's antlers struck through the tree trunk. Kyle gave a grin and padded the gazelles head.

"Nice try, but I'm awesomer than you!" Kyle teased as he notice the tree truck started to break and landed on the ground as Tomas was struggling to get up and was upside down.

"Help! Someone!" he cried for someone to aid him but Kyle ignored the amateur gazelle.

The gazelle saw the saber-tooth leaving him in an uncomfortable position that gets his antlers in pain. "Please! SOMEONE HELP ME! MOM! BROTHER! SOMEONE PLEASE!" his cries were getting worse and worse and got Kyle to turn his head. "PLEASE! *weep* *weep* I DON'T WANT TO STAY LIKE THIS!"

"Why do the bad guys always want the good guys' help…?" Kyle groaned as he turned and run towards the gazelle.

The gazelle notices the saber-tooth coming to his way, as he struggled to escape from the tree. "NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

"Do you want to get out?" Kyle exclaimed, trying to calm the gazelle.

"Y-Yes…" he replied.

"Okay then!" Kyle said, said he took hold on the antlers and tried to pull them out from the tree trunk. "Man, you got them stuck in there pretty good!"

The gazelle grunted from the pain as Kyle pulled the antlers from the trunk as Kyle clinched his teeth and pulled that his strength can take. Then the antlers pop out from the tree as Tomas flies off the tree and land on ground.

"Gah! I guess using too much of my strength must've hurt my injured arms…" Kyle moaned as he held his injured arm.

"Awww… it's gonna take a week for my antlers to feel better…" Tomas rubbed his antlers and stares at the saber. "Why did you help me?"

Kyle was at the ground staring at the gazelle. "Because I help people from suffering… and I like to help…"

"Oh, uh… thanks…" Tomas looked away as Kyle struggled to get up.

Tomas slowly approached to the young saber-tooth as helped him up to stand. "Thanks…" Kyle smiled.

"Yeah, that's what you get for helping me from my stupiditiness…" Tomas replied. "And I'm sorry; my bro almost killed you…"

"Nah, you don't have to apologize, it happens…" Kyle said as he began to limp away, heading home.

"Before you go, what's your name?" Tomas asked.

Kyle stopped for a moment and then replied. "Kyle…"

"Okay, c'ya Kyle!" Tomas said his goodbye and left.

"Yeah, c'ya Tomas…" Kyle continued to head home.

It's almost been an hour, Kyle's paw began to feel better and Kyle was home, resting his tired body. Kyle was depressed that no one was home and doesn't know where everyone is at. Kyle just sighed and gave up his mystery solving skills on the herd's behavior today. He might as well let the day end and wait for the herd to come back. Well, his day wasn't too boring; the Tomas incident was pretty fun considering it felt like a hero job. But the rest was awfully dull. As Kyle got up from his bed, he notices this note on the main table. He read it and it said…

Ice Crystal Plains!

What could that mean? Is everyone at Crystal Plains? Kyle remembered the first time Diego showed the amazing Ice Crystal Plains with its amazing green plains and the caves has a lot of crystals and it's amazing at night. Especially it's close to a waterfall! Without a doubt, this can be his only destination to the herd's behavior. Kyle dashed out from his home and ran to the mountains. It was about a ten minute run but he needs the exercise. As he made to Crystal Plain, the caves were hollow and the plains were just peaceful.

"Well, here it is…" Kyle said in a low tone.

Kyle walked all over the caves and couldn't find the herd, he took deep searches at the plains and there wasn't any sign of them. But there was one place Kyle didn't took a peak at. It was a cave where Diego showed him that his big brother when they were little went together in that place. This might be the place where the herd is at. Kyle entered the cave entrance and saw but quietness and lifeless inside the cave.

"I guess they're not in here", Kyle looked down and began to walk away until a light inside the cave got his attention.

"SURPRISE!"

The word surprise got his attention twice and saw the herd and Sara, Justin, Talon, Amy and even Buck! Kyle's sad frown went upside down; the gleams of his eyes were sparkling and Kyle happy everyone was there.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE!"

"Guys… you shouldn't have…" Kyle was walked towards them.

"Happy birthday son!" Diego nuzzled Kyle affectionally, and gave him a noogie, rubbing his paw on Kyle's sort of spiked hair/mane.

"Happy birthday Kyle!" Peaches hugged Kyle tightly.

Then Manny and Ellie came next as they hugged him closely. "Happy Birthday sweetie" Ellie smiled.

"Happy Birthday Kyle" Manny gave a soft grin.

"Thanks guys, when you told me that you guys are busy… I was heartbroken and thought you guys were ignoring me…" Kyle answered in a low tone.

"Awww Kyle… you know we won't do that…" Ellie felt sympathy towards Kyle.

"Yeah, you're our favorite member of the herd and we can never do that to you… well… sometimes…" Crash grinned as Ellie glared at him.

"Heh thanks!" Kyle grinned.

"Hey, kiddo!" Sara approached to Kyle and hugged him.

"Hey guys! Missed you all!" Kyle smiled, staring at his two best friends.

"I got a birthday present for you, Mister Birthday Boy!" Justin grinned evilly.

"What?" Kyle was confused.

"Hey, kid", Talon gave a soft smile with Amy by his side.

"Hey you two love birds, how's it going?" Kyle smiled.

"Great, thank you very much!" Amy hugged the young saber as he returned the hug.

"Aye, Happy Birthday mate" Buck had a hand out.

Kyle held his paw out and shook paws with Buck. "Thanks Buck that means a lot!"

"Sure no problem!" Buck twirled his dagger and smiled.

"Okay, Birthday Boy here's your present!" Justin had a fist ready.

"Oh no!" Kyle revealed his arm at Justin as he threw his fist to his arm.

"1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10!" Justin shouted punching Kyle's sore arm.

"Hah… kids these days…" Sara sighed shaking her head with her arms crossed.

"11! 12! 13!"

"Ow! Ow! I hate birthdays!" Kyle whined, soothing his sore arm.

"As you wanted to know, Ellie and Peaches made a fruit cake for you and Manny gathered the party decorations!" Sid explained as he points the cake and party decorations. "I, Sid the sloth, invited the guests"

"And we made sure Sid shuts up before he spoils the surprise when you showed up!" Eddie disturbed Sid's explanation as the green sloth glared at the possum brothers.

Kyle chuckled. "And well, your dad he's the one who planned the whole party for you. He actually asked me when your birthday is going to come when you were healing from what happened" Sara explained, as Kyle stared at his father as Diego looked away, kind of shy of revealing his plan for him. "He had this idea to have the party here where you always like to go and I agree with it!"

Kyle smiled as he hugged his father. "You plan this for me all this time?"

"Yeah, it's not what I would expect…" Diego said as he was cut off from his son.

"No dad… It's perfect!" Kyle continued.

"Glad you liked it…" Diego smiled and returned the hug.

"Hmmm… I wonder if you can make my 14-year-old party better!" Kyle smirked.

"Don't get that tone with me mister!" Diego chuckled.

"Whoa! What's going on here?"

The voice was familiar that it made Kyle turn quickly who that voice was. Diego began to growl as Kyle saw that familiar gazelle he met.

"Tomas?"

"Kyle! It's that guy-!" Diego knew who he was and continued to growl at the gazelle.

"It's okay dad, we made up…" Kyle said as he walked towards the young gazelle. "What are you doing here?"

"I notice you were rushing on something, so, I decided to follow you up over here…" Tomas explained.

"Okay, well this is my birthday party. My dad planed the whole thing! C'mon I'll show you my friends!" Kyle smiled as Tomas followed him behind.

"Sara, Justin, I would like you to meet Tomas!" Kyle introduced the gazelle as he was shy talking to Kyle's human friends.

"Heh… don't worry! We won't hurt you!" Sara chuckled. "It's a pleasure to meet you Tomas!"

"Well… thank you! I never met a human! Mostly they hunt us…" he muttered.

"We humans are different than these humans today!" Justin said.

Tomas was confused. "What do you mean?"

"This is going to be a long story!" Kyle groaned as Sara and Justin began their story of the truth of what they really are.

After the party, everyone went to their homes well only Sara, Justin and Tomas. Talon and Amy were going to stay over the night and go home the next day. Kyle stared at the stars and thought that the party was enjoyable. As Kyle thought, throughout his whole years, Kyle never experiences this fun of party when he was adopted a couple times. Kyle can say that his father made the best party ever and wishes for another one!

"You still awake?"

Kyle turned to see his father walking towards him. "Yeah…"

"You enjoyed the party…?" he asked.

"Best Party Ever! I never had a party that much fun!" Kyle exclaimed in excitement. "You're the best party planner ever! And… the best dad I ever had…"

"Thanks…" Diego hugged him tightly.

"But… I wish… I can call you dad… one more time…" Kyle muttered, as Diego felt Kyle let him go.

"What do you mean…?" Diego was confused, staring at Kyle's beautiful brown eyes.

Kyle's eyes close as his saber-tooth form disappears and now is in human form. Diego was completely confused as Diego notices Kyle walking away from him.

"Kyle?"

"This is goodbye…" Kyle began to fade into this black vortex as it swallows him.

"KYLE!" Diego shouts reaching a paw for him but an earthquake occurred separating him and Kyle.

Kyle made a sad smile as he disappears and his red lucky jewel starts to form cracks and breaks into three pieces. Blue, Yellow, and a White. The White jewel was strange and what does that suppose to mean. Diego cried in pain as the three jewels that become lights vanished and the black vortex disappeared into a mist and flowed to the clouds.

"KYLE!" Diego cried, his heartbroken, losing someone he loved so much gone forever and lost. He fisted his paw and hit the grassy ground, fighting the pain away.

Then the background starts to turn pitch black and everything fades into back.

"AAAAAHHH!" Diego yelled, as he stood on two gasping air, feeling a bit sweaty.

He looked around watching the herd soundly asleep, Sid sleeping on a rock in an uncomfortable position, Manny, Peaches, and Ellie snuggled with each other, and lastly Crash and Eddie sleeping upside down on a tree branch next to Ellie. The campfire the Sid made was starting to burnout as smoke barely left the atmosphere.

"It was just a dream Diego… it was just a dream…" he muttered to himself as he stares at Kyle's red lucky jewel under his paw. "Kyle… I wish you were here with me…! I wish all of this was true!"

Awww… *cries at the corner* You guys didn't expect this, huh? Well I hope you enjoyed this prequel for Ice Age: Continental Drift and Ice Age with Kyle 3: Lost Memories. Well, I got a question for you guys! What does the earthquake that separates Kyle and Diego suppose to mean? And what does the white jewel light is referred to? I only have the answer!

Man, it took me the whole night just to finish this epic ending yet sad chapter…! 4,000+ words baby!