We Will Hold On Forever
by
DaveTheAnalyzer
Chapter 16: The Next Fall Part 2
Petrie, Ruby, and Don sat a distance from the nest. They were doing another of their debates after dinosaur watching. Petrie never thought it would be hard work to sit around and think a lot. He wished he had been able to offer more of his observations but his throat felt a bit parched. Ruby did a lot of the talking. Mama Flyer was out on an errand and had asked before she left if anyone had any food requests. Don declined to have any as usual but Petrie ordered for those red berries she got two days back. He felt like he needed all the help he could get. His brothers and sisters sent bewildered looks every now and then but didn’t say anything. Papa Flyer tended to the little flyers, playing a little hopping game with them with his hand. He was determinedly not looking at Don.
Ruby tapped her chin, frowning. She had been taking in what she observed from the passing dinosaurs and debating with Don. Now it was her turn to make an argument and she considered Don’s request.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Just give out your best argument.” Don said. “It’s values and deficiencies. We shall see how much progress our discussions had.”
“Really?” Ruby said. “I’m not sure. I don’t really have an argument to respond to.”
“Pick one, any of them.” He waved a hand. “For Wing Father’s sake, respond to, say, the theory the killer is someone angry with Mr. Clubtail. We discussed it before. Just take some time to think about it.”
Ruby frowned and rubbed her chin. Petrie watched as the thoughts moved across her eyes and she tried to clink them together.
“I think that idea has value,” she said at last, “but you would have to look at Mr. Clubtail’s injuries first to see if it was someone angry who did it. If it was an angry person who did it, then the injuries would have anger marks. If so, there are other things to think about. Mr. Clubtail doesn’t seem like the type to make a comment that would make someone murderous but there are angry people who would murder others for mild insults. My parents told me some angry people have very delicate pride. So we would have to look for people who have delicate prides and have been violent. Mind you, that angry someone might be clear-headed enough to attack in a way that doesn’t leave those marks behind and plan his revenge carefully but it is a possibility to consider. Even people with grudges can be smart at times.”
Don examined her, and Ruby sat tensely. Then his expression relaxed.
“Not bad. Not bad at all,” he admitted. “That argument is quite convincing.”
Ruby smiled. Petrie looked up with a smile.
“Good job, Ruby!” he said.
Don watched them with a look that was almost…positive.
“I didn’t think you would be able to keep up but you certainly work hard,” he said. “You have improved much in these three days.”
“We have all improved.” Petrie said. “Well, me haven’t improved as much but…”
“Hey, you have.” Ruby said, placing a hand on his back. “I have seen you make some nice observations of passing dinosaurs and give nice ideas in our debates. You have improved but it hard to see it unless you see it as someone other than yourself.”
“True,” he murmured. “Well, me find it hard to say thoughts well and me not see all the things Ruby sees – almost like they ghosts.”
“Ghosts?” Don started, looking around. He glared. “Don’t scare me like that.”
Petrie jerked, confused. “What? Oh, sorry.”
“Though where have the ghosts gone?” Ruby mused. “They have been gone for a while now.”
“Maybe it’s like the weather.” Don said. “They move through and are now elsewhere to bother other people. Anyway, to return to Petrie’s concerns, everyone improves at different paces. It’s pointless to compare and contrast about it – that would only get in the way. For Wing Father’s sake, don’t let your guard down though. You still have much progress to make.”
“Yes, Don.” Ruby said, almost rolling her eyes.
Petrie sighed but found himself smiling. Don’s advice sounded right. He was still a bit envious but he was determined to work harder and concentrate on his own pace. Really, Don offered more than a bit of sound advice. Being in each other’s presence seemed to do them all good. Though Don didn’t smile, this was the most at ease Petrie had ever seen the elderly flyer. Being exposed to people who he could teach and interact with must have softened him. Petrie smiled. Maybe he was good inside after all.
“Moving on, we also need to consider other perspectives.” Don said. “We should return to the idea that Mr. Clubtail’s death was a means for another end. Do you still push against that?”
“Well, not so much against it,” Ruby frowned. “It’s just we don’t know much that leans toward it.”
Petrie nodded. “Someone could do this to get people scared and make those like Littlefoot’s grandparents look bad so they be leader but nobody doing that.”
“People don’t kill only for grandiose purposes.” Don said. “Often it is done for smaller reasons but coveted for with a passion that can kill.”
“Well, that isn’t very specific.” Ruby crossed her arms. “There are a lot of people who want things but not all people make what they want obvious.”
“But what if it was a desire that was very open, so deep that even those not paying attention could see it?”
“Oh, you mean like Verter?” Petrie said. “Everyone really notice he want to train Cera and Chomper. It kind of strange. Even me could see…see…” He sat up. “Wait.”
Ruby glanced at him questioningly but she too stiffened. They looked at Don expecting him to scoff or roll his eyes at the implied idea but he only watched them patiently.
“You can’t be serious.” Ruby said.
“I’m not saying anything.” Don said.
“Verter do this?” Petrie cried. “That would be…no, no. He Cera’s parents’ friend.”
“Being friends doesn’t preclude people from nefarious actions.”
“You wrong. Friends would never do something like that. Though,” Petrie touched his chin, “it weird he couldn’t train Cera and Chomper first day they met and after Mr. Clubtail die, he get what he wanted.”
“That could be a coincidence.” Ruby said. “He wouldn’t go that far – I mean, just to train Cera and Chomper? Who would do that?”
“Ah, but that’s the thing.” Don replied. “One of your friends is a sharptooth.”
“Yes!” Petrie said. He hopped to his feet, pacing around with nervous energy. “Threehorns hate sharpteeth but they both can be mean and like fighting. What if Verter really want them to help him with threehorn fighting? Oh, this bad, this bad.”
“That’s right.” Don nodded with satisfaction. “It’s good to have someone see sense.”
“But not everyone who like fighting are the killing type.” Ruby said. She looked anxious. “Killing isn’t exactly common among threehorns anymore, at least not from what I heard.”
“Have you checked with all threehorns?” Don asked. “Even if that were true, wouldn’t it still be wise to investigate the matter?”
“Yes, Ruby.” Petrie said. “There are scary patterns around him. Shouldn’t that be enough to check on them?”
“That – that does concern me.” Ruby touched her chin. “Still…”
Before she could continue, Mama Flyer flew in. She landed at the nest, looking rather breathless. Papa Flyer looked up in puzzlement.
“What’s got you all rushed?” he asked.
“Cera, Chomper, and Verter weren’t at their usual training spot.” Mama Flyer said.
Petrie and Ruby sat up. Don whipped his head around.
“What?” he said.
Papa Flyer shrugged. “Well, they might be training elsewhere.”
“I thought of that but I checked the other fighting grounds and even the nearby resting places and they weren’t there either.” Mama Flyer rubbed an arm uneasily. “I don’t mean to cause alarm but it is strange.”
Petrie felt a stir in his stomach. There was a slight feeling of dread, distant but building, a tingly rush familiar from his and his friends’ adventures but that only made him more confused and nervous.
“What – what happening?” he said. “Are – are friends in danger? They are, aren’t they!”
“That should be obvious.” Don said sharply. “Something suspicious is going on. We need to take action.”
“Okay.” Petrie said, opening his wings. “Taking action now!”
“Wait!” Ruby raised a hand. “This might be nothing. We don’t want to interrupt their practice just because our minds went to scary places.”
“You have put the clues together.” Don looked frightened. He made shooing motions forward. “Go on, talk to them! In this time, do you really want to take a chance with your friends?”
“Yes, Ruby.” Petrie clasped his hands. “Me worried about them. We have these clues, shouldn’t we do something now?”
Ruby hesitated, glancing at him and Don. Petrie stared up at her, hoping she would take this seriously. They had to do something quickly. She still looked conflicted, but as she rubbed her chest, she began to look scared. Ruby raised a hand to her beak.
“Chomper…” she said.
She got up and Petrie had to hastily fly after to catch up as they went over to his parents.
“Uh...we don’t mean to concern you but what you just talked about might be a concerning situation.” Ruby said.
Mama and Papa Flyer turned and stared. They were surprised but as the seconds went by, a hint of concern came in.
Meanwhile, Tria heard a crackle and she stepped back as she examined the remains of the boulder. It was mid-afternoon, and she had continued training since their earlier conversation. Though she was covered in dust and some scratches, she was in a much better mood. Her mate had continued to give feedback, and though it could be stern, it was fairer. She had paced herself better, taking more breaks to eat and rest. Those might be little matters but in the end, they helped made the training easier to handle. Mr. Threehorn got up from where he had been watching and walked over.
“Three strikes,” he said. “Good job, dear.”
“You think so?” Tria asked. “I don’t feel like I did that much different.”
“You followed my instructions and made the little changes that make all the difference.” Mr. Threehorn said. “There is still much you need to improve on but you have made progress.”
“Really?” she smiled. “Well, maybe I have it in me for this fighting thing after all. Thanks for being a good trainer.”
“Well…” He looked away. “After earlier, I’m not sure I’d call myself good.”
“Hey, we all make mistakes. I wouldn’t have had any idea of how to improve myself without you. Thanks, Topsy. I mean it.”
Mr. Threehorn lowered his head bashfully but smiled. They stared at each other and for a moment, Tria thought they were back to how their relationship was before…
“Mr. Threehorn! Tria!”
The pair turned. Ruby was living up to her kind’s name, running toward them as fast as her long legs could carry her, Petrie and Mama Flyer flying not far behind her. Ruby slumped in front of Mr. Threehorn and Tria, panting as she caught her breath.
“What’s the problem?” Mr. Threehorn asked.
“It’s Cera and Chomper.” Ruby said, straightening. “Petrie’s mother couldn’t find them at their training spot.”
Tria and Mr. Threehorn stiffened. They stepped closer.
“What?” Tria said.
“Mama say she usually see them at their fighting ground.” Petrie answered. “Now she can’t see them there.”
“They could be taking a break-” Mr. Threehorn began.
“But Petrie’s mother also looked at their likely break spots and they weren’t at those spots.” Ruby said. “It’s worrying they aren’t seen in public with this killer around. We think you should look for them before anything worrying happens.”
“Why, has there been news on the killer?” Tria said quickly.
“Well,” Mama Flyer hesitated, “we think there might be a suspect close to them.”
“Who is it?” Mr. Threehorn said. “Is it someone who could cause even Verter trouble, or…?”
Ruby, Petrie, and Mama Flyer stiffened and glanced at each other nervously. For a moment, Mr. Threehorn and Tria were confused. Then something clicked.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Mr. Threehorn said. “He would never-”
“Are you implying what I think you’re implying?” Tria said shakily.
“It wasn’t so much my idea as Petrie’s and Ruby’s.” Mama Flyer said.
“Those two?” Mr. Threehorn glared. “What could they possibly know about this killer?”
“We noticed some strange patterns about your friend.” Ruby said. “Wasn’t it strange that after you refused your friend’s offer to train Cera and Chomper, Mr. Clubtail’s died the next day and you were forced to let him train them?”
“That’s just a coincidence,” he said impatiently. “That doesn’t prove anything.”
“But he training them so hard.” Petrie said. “They so tired they can barely move and think. That make them dependent on him.”
Tria nodded reluctantly. “It is harder than we like…”
“But it’s necessary.” Mr. Threehorn said firmly. “Being a stern trainer is normal.”
“But the first day with training, he allowed them to play with us.” Ruby said. “After we expressed our concerns about him, the next day they didn’t show up.”
“That’s-” Mr. Threehorn faltered. “He probably just has to pack a lot of training in the day. They need to prepare with this threat around.”
“But without any breaks or time for friends?” Petrie said. “Me not good with training but me thought you start easy before going hard.”
“That’s true.” Tria said. “You did begin easy with me.”
“And you told him Cera hit rocks and we adventure a lot but he say nothing about training until he find Chomper,” he said. “He very interested in Chomper. Ain’t that strange?”
Mr. Threehorn looked uncomfortable. “I – I know him. He’s been my friend for a long time. He wouldn’t do anything bad.”
“But you haven’t seen him for a long time.” Ruby said. “People can change, especially if trying to survive in the Mysterious Beyond. I know, my parents have talked about it.”
Mr. Threehorn appeared troubled by this. He tried to glare but his gaze flickered as he thought some things over. Petrie spoke up.
“Verter alone with Cera and Chomper,” he said. “We might be silly but – we worried about them. Can you check?”
“I just –” Mr. Threehorn shook his head. “This could be nothing. You’re being paranoid. We shouldn’t embarrass them by interrupting.”
“But wouldn’t it be better to check just in case?” Ruby asked. She clasped her hands. “Please, Chomper is with them. You could excuse yourself if it is nothing…but isn’t that better than not doing anything and this being something?”
Mr. Threehorn opened and closed his mouth. There was silence.
“Topsy, I think we should check on them.” Tria said nervously. “What do you think? Topsy!”
Mr. Threehorn didn’t say anything. His eyes were wide.
--
Cera groaned. She felt groggy. The last thing she remembered was Verter taking them somewhere to relax. She hadn’t planned on falling asleep but at least she got some rest. Still, she wasn’t very comfortable. She was lying on hard, cracked earth. She thought Verter was going to take her and Chomper to some place nice and grassy, no wonder she didn’t feel well-rested. Even her body felt a bit restricted in movement…
Then she shifted around and realized her body wasn’t restricted by exhaustion but by plant matter tied around her.
Opening her eyes, she looked around and found herself on one of the cliff trails in the Mysterious Beyond. She saw the many bare mountains and rock formations rise in front of her, only distant scrappy tuffs of trees and grass to add variety to the scenery. A rock from the cliff parted and fell, tacking against the mountain before landing with a distant crumble. It was a long way down. Nervously, Cera slid away from the edge. A groan made her turn. Chomper lay several feet to her left, rubbing his muzzle.
“What happened?” he mumbled.
Cera turned and stared. Any wry comment she had about wishing a height-enthusiast like him was closer to the edge instead left her when she saw he was bound up as well. “Chomper…”
“Ah, now you’re awake.” Verter’s voice came over them. “Move.”
Only then did she become aware of a green jawline and forelegs hovering at the edge of her vision. “Huh?”
“I said, move!”
The tug became harder and Cera and Chomper yelped as they were pulled to their feet. Verter’s forelegs moved quickly as he walked down the path. The pair attempted to keep up, stumbling, startled as they looked at themselves. They were covered with vines, crisscrossing their torsos and above and around their limbs. They constricted their movements, making them barely able to keep up. The vines led up to Verter’s neck, where it was smoothly tied around. They stared at the back of his frill with confusion and a bit of fear.
“What are you trying to pull?” Cera demanded.
“Is this a prank?” Chomper said nervously. “Seriously, why are we tied up?”
Verter didn’t respond, still moving. He wasn’t so much as looking at them. They were forced to move at a fast walk, their muscles aching with the exhaustion of today’s training but Cera still had enough energy to be annoyed.
“Hey, we asked you a question!” she snapped. “Don’t ignore us!”
“Stop moving so fast.” Chomper panted, struggling to keep up. “Come on, let us rest. Some of us still haven’t recovered from training.”
“No breaks.” Verter said.
“What do you mean, no breaks?” Cera said. “Come on, let us go. Let-”
Verter walked faster, and Cera and Chomper were all but running just to meet his gait. Looking around, they appeared to be on a Great Wall path on the Mysterious Beyond side of the mountain. Though she couldn’t look back, Cera could tell they were moving rapidly from the entrance to the Great Valley, the path sloping down to some distant, imperceptible point on the ground. Cera’s chest burned with cold, like earlier when Verter made his break offer, and a terrible suspicion came to her mind.
“No, no, no,” she said. “This has got to be a joke. You can’t be seriously thinking of-”
“What, Cera?” Chomper said. He was also getting scared. “Verter, please stop. We’re still tired, and haven’t eaten in a while.”
“You will eat when told to.” Verter’s voice was firm. “We will only be making stops when absolutely necessary.”
“What are you talking about?” Cera asked nervously. “Why are you taking us out of the valley? Let us go. Seriously, let us go!”
Cera stopped and placed her feet into some deep cracks. She stopped for a second and the vine connected to her tightened and struggled. But there was a tug and Cera flipped and landed, legs kicking as she was dragged on her side. The vines couldn’t cushion some of her skin from being scratched from the pebbles and protrusions. Cera cried out and scrambled, having to throw herself to her side to stagger back to her feet, wincing from a few cuts and scrapes.
“Cera!” Chomper cried. “Verter, please. Why are you acting like this?”
“Chomper, he’s not going to listen to us!” Cera said. “We need to free ourselves. We-”
She bent down to bite on the vines on her left leg but her head was constricted a few inches out of reach. She tried to do the same for her other leg but she got the same result. She saw the vine trailing over her connected to Verter and attempted to hop and bite at it, but they were walking too fast.
“I – I can’t reach it!” she said.
“Should you be doing that?” Chomper asked. “I mean, maybe this is part of training.”
“What part of training involves suddenly waking up and being tied in vines?” Cera said. “Come on, do you remember falling asleep? Something weird is going on and we need to take action!”
Chomper looked unsure but the more he thought about it, the more fear came to his eyes. He twisted his head this way and that, biting for the vines on his chest and ankles, teeth missing them by inches.
“Ugh, ah, I can’t reach them either!” he said. “My head’s too big. What do we do?”
Cera glared up. “Stop right now, Verter. We mean it. We don’t want to go along with this. We’ll – we’ll scream. We’ll call for help. Help! We’re being kidnapped! Hel-“
Crack! Cera had a brief glimpse of a something thick and green rapidly coming in before her cry for help became a yowl when the base of her sore horn got snapped. Verter pulled the whipping vine back as he stood in place, blue eyes furious.
“Do you want to bring sharpteeth on us?” he hissed. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
“You’re the one who’s making this hard!” Cera said, glaring. “You’re kidnapping us, we fight back. Oh, if Dad knew-”
Her words were interrupted by a scream when her right leg got cracked by the vine, nearly collapsing as those tired leg muscles flared with agony. Chomper watched with disbelief.
“Cera!” he cried. “Verter, stop! This has got to be a joke, right? You can’t really be doing this.”
“Quiet! I don’t want any backtalk.” Verter flicked the vine back. “I was patient with your useless babbling but you’re going to be silent and do as I say.”
“No!” Cera said, breaths shaky but defiance in her gaze. “We’re not being dragged away from our home. We’re not living with you or-”
Verter raised the vine and Cera’s world soon became a blaze of pain. She cringed and cried out with each whip, that vine hitting sore muscles and cuts with agonizing accuracy. Cera shut her eyes, waiting for the assault to stop. She could barely make out Chomper yelling and struggling for her.
“Stop it, stop hurting her!”
“Let that be a lesson to you.” Verter brought his head close, breaths billowing into her. “This is how we are going to conduct ourselves from now on.”
“No, we aren’t.” Cera said faintly. The reality of the situation was setting in and she was shaking. “You’re taking us from our family, our friends. Daddy. Tri-”
Crack. Another strike from that vine. Cera lowered her head and whimpered, a new thrum of pain joining the rest. She swore he wasn’t leaving a single mark yet every strike was more painful than she could bear.
“Stop Verter!” Chomper said. He was almost crying. “I thought you were our friend.”
“I am.” Verter said. “I am doing what’s best for you.”
“No, you aren’t! A true friend wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t drag us from our home and-”
This time, the vine came for him. It cracked his tail. Chomper stumbled and gave a whine, pain shaking through him.
“We’ll be concentrating on survival now.” Verter said. “Keep your mind on that basic mission.”
Cera shook her head hard. “No, no. I don’t want this.”
“Do I have to hit you again?”
“Don’t touch her!” Chomper said.
“Because if you moan and groan one more time-”
“I said, don’t! Touch her!”
Verter glared at Chomper. “What are you going to do? Do you have a way to stop me?”
Verter whipped his vine in Cera’s direction. She cringed, closing her eyes. It kept missing but she could feel it whoosh over her closer…closer…
“Stop! Don’t you dare!” Chomper closed his eyes, shaking. “If you hurt her – if you hurt her –” His eyes opened, revealing slits. “If you hurt her…”
Snarling, Chomper rushed toward Verter’s left forefoot and bit at it. Crying out, Verter raised the foot, pushing Chomper to the ground. Chomper lay on his back for a second but he leapt back up and disappeared behind Verter’s foot, clawing and biting sounds in the air. Wincing, Verter raised his foot and pressed Chomper onto his back, leaving only Chomper’s head exposed, roaring and twisting in place.
“Chomper,” Verter said. “Stop.”
That foot came down an inch more. Those struggles slowed. After a few seconds, the snarling abated and only a whimper could be heard.
“That’s better.” Verter said. “That wasn’t much, but we’ll see about sharpening those skills. Are you going to cooperate?”
He released Chomper, who rose to his feet. He was shaking, tears in his eyes. There was a bit of red on his claws and muzzle, but he looked nothing more than defeated. Satisfied, Verter stepped forward.
“Well, shall we get go-”
There was a scream. Verter’s eyes darted to Cera as she fell to her side, spitting as her face twisted in agony. Not too far from her mouth was the vine connecting her to Verter, with chew marks on it. As much as she loathed taking advantage of Chomper’s plight, Cera couldn’t stand there and do nothing. She thought if she could bite down on the connecting vine, she could escape and possibly lead a distraction that could free Chomper as well. But the second she bit on the vine, her mouth was filled with a terrible burning sensation and she couldn’t help crying out. For a moment, all her world was that horrible taste coating her mouth, and she pressed her cheek to the ground as she tried to lick and spit it out. Then she saw Verter watching her and froze.
“It seems I’m going to have to be harsh.” he said quietly.
Verter raised his head and Cera and Chomper cried out as they were thrown off their feet. They struggled dangling on their connecting vine as he swooped them over the cliff. Cera screamed when the long drop came into view.
“What are you doing?” she said, tongue numb.
“You thought you could bite your way to freedom?” Verter asked. “I chose those vines because they were nauseating for both green and meat eaters. This is your punishment for being disobedient.”
Cera whimpered and struggled in the air. The rock near the bottom of the mountain must be as large as her head but it looked like a pebble from this distance. Already, she imagined what would happen if she fell, the rush of air around her, her body moving wildly as that distant ground rapidly neared. Her stomach dropped with every creak her connecting vine made and she closed her eyes.
“Alright, enough!” she said. “I don’t like this!”
“Admitting weakness? That’s a change.” Verter mocked.
“You made your point, okay?” Chomper said. “Leave her alone.”
“If she wanted to be left alone, she should have cooperated.” Verter said. “Now she suffers the consequences and-”
There was a snap. Cera fell an inch, vine creaking, body swinging about wildly.
“What?” Verter said, startled.
“Cera!” Chomper said. “Get us out of here!”
Cera’s connecting vine made another snap. Her heart seized. Though she only bit the vine once, it had been hard and now it couldn’t take her weight. She screamed as she fell a few feet, the momentum of the fall making her swing even more. Panicked, Verter stepped back, but that only made Cera swing forward. She yelled, waving her legs to put up some resistance, but she couldn’t stop herself from nearing the cliff face at too fast a pace…
She stopped abruptly. She panted, swinging in place only a few inches from the wall of rock. Then she was jerked and pulled up. She was unsure of what was happening until Mr. Threehorn’s determined face briefly came into view, grunting as he pulled her to the side and put her on the firm, assuring ground. Her heart soared.
“Daddy!” she said.
He smiled at her and for a moment, her worries fell away and all was right with the world…
Then she felt a jerk in her connecting vine and she was dragged away. Cera staggered, scrabbling her legs under her as she looked behind her, at the father she was being taken away from.
“Verter, what do you think you’re going?” Tria’s voice demanded.
“Verter!” Mr. Threehorn said.
Verter stopped. His eyes searched the ground, conflict in his gaze.
“We are just going out to train,” he said finally.
“Verter-” Mr. Threehorn began.
“This is perfectly ordinary, you don’t need to wor-”
“Verter, look at me!”
Verter flinched. Slowly, he turned around, Cera and Chomper tugged to turn with him until she was near the rock wall and Chomper the cliffs. Mr. Threehorn stood two threehorn-lengths away, Tria a step behind him.
“Don’t tell me you are doing what I think you’re doing.” Mr. Threehorn said. His voice broke. “You aren’t taking them away, right?”
Verter opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Lowering his head, he sighed.
“It would have been better if you didn’t see this,” he said.
Mr. Threehorn’s breath shook. He closed his eyes and composed himself.
“Just tell us what this is all about?” he said harshly.
Verter was silent for a moment.
“Looks like I’m not getting out of this,” he said. “I thought you would understand, Topps. More than anybody. Has the Great Valley really changed you that much?”
“What are you talking about?” Tria demanded. “We would have never approved of you taking our kids.”
“I was never talking to you.” Verter said, glaring at her. “Have you really forgotten, Topps? The struggle to survive? Our threehorn way? I’ve fought so many battles out there in the Mysterious Beyond, and I haven’t.”
“Yes, I remember.” Mr. Threehorn said. “I remember how hard I had to be on my opponents to win. Sometimes I had to give them injuries they might still carry so we could survive.”
Verter nodded dreamily. “The Mysterious Beyond tends to bring that out of us. In the search for food, territory, standing, we fight. We threehorns are made to struggle in tough environments to survive. In a way, it’s a natural home for our way. That’s why I’ve been out there for so long. To fight until you both are tired and scratched up…ah, you never feel more alive. I like after all the effort and risk, you can ground an opponent into submitting defeat. Getting that look of humiliation and resentment…I can never get enough of it.”
Mr. Threehorn sighed. “So you like fighting. You aren’t the first threehorn to be like that. What does this have to do with…?” He fell silent, looking uneasy
Verter continued, not appearing to have heard. “Not everyone is humiliated or resentful when they get defeated. Some just get back up and move on like nothing happened. Oh, that made me mad. Even when others expressed appreciation for a good fight, I didn’t feel like they were taking me seriously. They mightn’t always say much but I could tell they were looking down on me. My pride couldn’t take it. So to get that feeling of satisfaction, I had to be go far to get that look of humiliation. Sometimes I had to go a lot farther.”
There was a chill. Cera stepped back and even Chomper with a flare of his nostrils widened his eyes as he got the implications of his words. Her parents stared.
“Oh no.” Mr. Threehorn said. “Verter, you can’t mean...?”
“I beat them until even the light left their eyes.” Verter said, with relish. “To see that contempt get replaced by fear and desperation as they realize there is no escape …that is power. I would make them regret ever challenging me or not taking me seriously by making them pay with their lives. That will only make sure others don’t question me. It is an extension of how we threehorns should be, and I am proud.”
Verter raised his head, blue eyes transported. Cera could see Chomper standing back, mouth open in horror. Mr. Threehorn and Tria watched with disbelief and pain. Then Verter lowered his head with disappointment.
“But that way has been falling,” he continued. “Ever since the great earthshake, threehorns have been turning away from our ruthless instincts. Now there is more talking, cooperation – not only amongst each other but with other kinds. This hasn’t been happening only with threehorns. Even other aggressive kinds have been suffering this decline. Even domeheads,
domeheads are going this way. I saw two of them express concern for Cera and Chomper when we started training. There is a malaise going on and the Great Valley is the worst of it. All this softness and cooperation…it makes me sick!”
Verter spat at the ground, and Cera jumped away. Mr. Threehorn was shaking his head.
“So it is true,” he said. “You really did do this. Verter, why?”
“Why?” Verter repeated. “Topps, aren’t we threehorns? Isn’t aggression part of our nature? We fight to show dominance, to show who is right. What I am doing is only a natural extension of this.”
“No.” Mr. Threehorn shook his head. “We might be harsh but what we wouldn’t go so far as to be cruel.”
“Really? I remember the smirks you wore when you put others in their place. Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy making them squeal and moan?”
He winced. “That – that’s…”
Verter sighed. “This is why I didn’t talk to you. You have been in the Great Valley too long. But these two still have potential. They could embrace who they really are. Having lived in the valley, I knew they might resist my thinking, so I had to subtly move them onto my path.”
“So that’s what this is about.” Cera said shakily. “You were training us to make us like you.”
“It makes a scary sense.” Chomper said. “I mean, he worked us so hard we couldn’t think – and he stopped us from going to our friends so they couldn’t tell us something might be wrong.”
“I was planning on taking it slow, to wean them from their weak friends, but with the suspicions about me rising, I had to speed things up.” Verter said. “Don’t worry, I’ll treat them well. Cera could know what it’s like to be a true threehorn. And I will have Chomper. Just think, having a sharptooth by your side in the Mysterious Beyond. With the right training and instruction, no one would dare challenge us. It would be a useful way to show power and not be disrespected again. The valley has left them weak and servile, but with me they could show their true potential. Out there, they would be strong and fierce and take no quarter just like threehorns and sharpteeth should!”
Cera, Chomper, and her parents listened to this, horrified. She felt like something had been torn out of her. She liked Verter, how he laughed at her jokes and was so easygoing. Even with her annoyance and suspicion lately, that he was acting friendly just to make them go along with his plan was still a betrayal. She could see the devastation in Chomper’s face. All that hard work and encouragement was just to achieve Verter’s own ends. But her parents looked worse. Their mouths were open, disbelieving. Their friend, their best friend had done all these terrible things…
“They’re not going with you.”
Verter’s gaze turned, colding. “What?”
“They’re not going to with you.” Tria repeated. “You have lost your mind. ’Making them as their kinds should?’ They’re coming back to the valley where they belong. ”
“She – she’s right.” Mr. Threehorn found his voice. “We never agreed to this, the harshness of the training or this plan to have them live with you in the Mysterious Beyond. Give them back.”
Verter’s expression became plaintive. “Topps, really-”
“Cera and Chomper didn’t agree to this either. That you took them against their will…I can’t approve of that. They shouldn’t be dragged off to the Mysterious Beyond to endure who-knows-what.”
“They will be enduring it with me.” Verter insisted. “I’ll make sure they come to no harm. They need this to become stronger, to become the people they’re meant to be.”
“What you want them to be.” Mr. Threehorn replied. “What they need is to be with those they love and have a childhood. Cera and her friends have endured enough hardship. It’s why we went to the Great Valley in the first place, to have a better life. I won’t have you take that away from them.”
Verter growled. “You’re making a big mistake. The world is harsh. They need this.”
“They also need happiness.” Tria said. “However tough things might be, kids need to enjoy life. Even for our kind, it’s what they deserve.”
Verter’s burning gaze turned to her. “You…you ruined him. He used to be so tough and strong, but you had to come in with your softness, and make him weak. Why couldn’t you just stay away?”
Tria stepped back. Before she could say anything, Mr. Threehorn cut in.
“Don’t go acting like I had no say in what happened,” he said. “I’ve been changing long before Tria came around. What you’re suggesting isn’t something I’d ever wanted for my girls. I won’t allow you twist my Cera with your sick games.”
Verter opened and closed his mouth, faltering to uncertainty. He glanced between Cera and Chomper, the longing in that gaze making her stomach twist. He looked at Mr. Threehorn and Tria.
“We – we can work this out, right?” Verter said plaintively. “You can have your daughter back in exchange for Chomper.”
Chomper blanched. “W-what?”
“Come on, it’s sensible. He’s only going to burden you anyway.” Verter continued. “A sharptooth child, in the Great Valley? You said it yourself Topps, you fear what will happen when he grows up. I could take him away, make sure you won’t have to deal with him again. I’ll make sure he won’t be a danger to anyone.”
“He’s lying.” Cera said. “He just said he was going to use him in threehorn fights. He’s going to make Chomper attack innocent people.”
“No, no.” Chomper shook his head. “Please don’t make me do this.”
“There are no innocents in the world of threehorn battles.” Verter said. “I’ll put him to proper use in this leaf eater world. I’ll make sure he won’t become the threat to others he would otherwise.”
“Please!” Chomper pleaded. “I don’t want this. I want to be with my friends, I don’t want to do these terrible things!”
Cera looked at him stricken, and glared at Verter. “Chomper isn’t a threat, he wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“Is that what you call this?” Verter raised his left forepaw, revealing scratches and bite marks. “You see the red on his muzzle. He was going wild on me not long ago.”
“Chomper was defending me from your whipping, that doesn’t count!”
“But it signals what’s to come,” he said. “You knew this was going to end in heartbreak either way. Why not cut your losses? Come on Topps, you were always suspicious of him anyway. You know I’m right.”
Mr. Threehorn’s expression faltered. Tria sent him a concerned look and Cera’s heart lurched when she saw there was conflict in his gaze.
“Daddy, no!” Cera said. “Don’t even think about it! He’s my friend, he…”
She looked to Chomper and trailed off. He looked so scared. The concept of being forced to go with Verter petrified him. But Chomper looked down and his eyes filled with a sad resignation. He had been struck by the comments about the future dangers he presented. Cera chilled. Was some part of him really going to go along with this? Mr. Threehorn sighed.
“You’re right,” he said. “I was always suspicious of him. And his departure would bring pain.”
Chomper looked up, eyes wide. Verter smiled smugly.
“Yes, you finally see-” he said.
“However,” Mr. Threehorn interrupted, “he has also helped my daughter and their friends through many dangers. He cares for them so much he volunteered for your training. For someone so young, that is exceptional. He is very kind. He will have to leave one day but at least we want him to leave with that kindness intact. Whatever real concerns I have, I’m not going to allow you to twist him for your schemes. He and Cera are coming home, and if you don’t cooperate Verter,” he quieted, “you know what we’ll have to do.”
Mr. Threehorn lowered his horns and stood unwaveringly. Relieved, Tria lowered her head beside him. Chomper stared at him, eyes wet with wonder and appreciation.
“Mr. Threehorn…” he said.
Cera was also relieved. Whatever her father’s feelings, he was going to do the right thing. She sent a smile at Chomper but then she turned to Verter. He was stunned. For a moment, something hurt crossed his gaze but then he lowered his head and those blue eyes became cold.
“So be it,” he said.
He launched forward. Cera and Chomper screamed as they were thrown off their feet, smacking and staggering into the ground as Verter closed the distance with Mr. Threehorn. Horns clanked as they pushed against each other, Cera and Chomper being tugged back and forth by the strength of the horn ramming. Mr. Threehorn dug his feet into the ground, maintaining position, but Verter pulled his head back and jabbed him with several forceful thrusts.
Mr. Threehorn jabbed back, going for Verter at odd angles. But Verter bent his head in little degrees, meeting them point by point, and he pushed hard at one of those jabs, making Mr. Threehorn stumble. He whipped his vine into Mr. Threehorn’s eye and Cera winced as her father cried out. Verter took advantage of this and jabbed harder, harder, eliciting pained growls as he got past the horns and drew blood…
A pink blur came in and Tria pushed past her mate, her horns clanking with his.
Verter snarled. “Stay out of this, female! You don’t belong here!”
“You brought Cera and her friend into this.” Tria said. “You got me involved.”
Snorting, Verter pushed hard. Tria did the same, running grooves into the earth as she tried to move him back. But Verter was the one who pushed her up the path. He pulled back and scratched his left horn into her frill, causing her to yell before he forced her back with a vine whip. Recovered, Mr. Threehorn charged in and resumed the fight, horns clanking as he put all his strength into pushing Verter down the path. Glaring, Verter spat into his eye. Mr. Threehorn yelped and Verter used that moment of weakness to bash his horns into Mr. Threehorn’s.
“You – had – so – much – potential!” Verter growled with each crash. “You had to go and squander it!”
“I’m not like you. I would never become you!” Mr. Threehorn said.
Verter snarled, and plowed in harder. The blows they exchanged were powerful, their gazes filled with anger and hatred. Cera staggered along, watching with wide eyes. This was wrong. Her father and Verter had laughed, had got along with such ease. That they were fighting so viciously felt like some sick sleep story. With each violent attack, it was like they were tearing their bond apart.
In the confusion, Cera saw a pink form moving on her side of the fight but Verter thrust from Mr. Threehorn and struck his head to the side. Tria yelled as she was slammed into the rock wall.
“Oh no you don’t!” Verter said. “I worked too hard to let go of them!”
Tria staggered back and shook her head, glaring. “They aren’t shiny rocks. We’ll get them!”
“You think only a few days of training would prepare you for this?” He stepped closer. “You weren’t born for this kind of thing and you never will!”
Yelling, Tria charged in. Mr. Threehorn staggered back to recover as she crashed her horns into Verter’s and they grappled. Verter pushed back, his mighty muscles allowing him to make her stumble her feet up the path. Cera watched, transfixed. She had never saw her stepmother fight with such passion, even against the first sharptooth. Tria barely avoided having those horns clank into her frill and stepped back. He gave a mocking smirk. Enraged, she stepped back and moved in with all her speed.
Crash! The loudest meeting of horns yet, and Verter stumbled back, dazed. Though tired from being pulled back and forth, Cera smiled proudly.
“Way to go, Tria!” she said. “Get him!”
But Tria hesitated. Something about Verter’s unfocused gaze disturbed her. She looked unsure but Verter shook his head and charged, Cera and Chomper stumbling and tripping as their legs barely kept up. Starting, Tria tilted her head at him and her horns crashed into his at an angle.
Verter flinched and pushed forward but couldn’t, the odd angle locking them in place. Tria was relieved. But Verter, irritated, wasn’t done. Slowly, he bent his head. Tria gasped as her horns creaked and bent. She tried to stay her ground but the creaks became louder and she shouted and had to pull her horns out. Before she could react, Verter went forward, slamming into her side and making her topple to the ground. Verter walked over and whipped her face with the vine, eliciting a cry.
“This is what you get for getting in my way!” he growled. “You were too weak to ever be a threehorn!”
Cera saw Verter’s eyes linger on her lower neck before raising his head.
“No!” Cera launched herself at his foot. “Stop hurting my family! Tria! I mean-”
Verter pushed her away, and she tumbled back, dazed by the blow.
“Where was I?” he said. “Oh yeah.”
He raised his head and went down to strike a particularly hard blow with his horns.
“Oh no, you don’t!”
Mr. Threehorn charged in and slammed Verter away with the side of his head, knocking Verter down. Cera fell on her side and Chomper jumped, almost getting struck by Verter’s stumbling foreleg. Stunned, Verter was about to get to his feet when Mr. Threehorn’s horns clanked into his. Angered, Verter grabbed the vine with his mouth and whipped Mr. Threehorn’s face, eliciting ow’s. But Mr. Threehorn caught the vine with his teeth. Wincing from the taste, he ground it down until the long end snapped off.
“Not so strong without that vine to whip about, huh?” Mr. Threehorn taunted. “Now you’ll have to fight like a fair threehorn.”
“You would have made the same choices in my position.” Verter got to his feet and pushed back. “There is a reason we became friends. You agreed with the harsh decisions the herd made and did some brutal things yourself. If you had made a slightly different set of choices, you would be right by my side.”
“No! Even at my worst, I never hurt and killed others just to satisfy my ego!”
“But you could have.” Verter said.
“But I didn’t.” Mr. Threehorn said. He faltered a bit. “That – that’s what matters.”
Verter sighed. “So it is. It’s too late to turn you now. But we can’t say the same for Cera and Chomper.”
“In your sleep stories!” Cera said, glaring. “We won’t follow you!”
“Do you really want to try taming a sharptooth?” Chomper growled. “You never know when I might turn around and bite your head off!”
“That’s what you say now but I’ve seen stronger wills broken with the right treatment.” Verter said. “Experience can change people. Even if you two somehow escape, you could still become like me.”
“No!” Chomper shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare!”
“You don’t know that.” Verter thrust Mr. Threehorn back. “Do you think people like me are born this way? I didn’t know this was where I would go but here I am.”
“Don’t listen to him, kids!” Mr. Threehorn panted, struggling to regain the advantage. “He’s trying to mess with you.”
“I had an adventurous personality like you, and look where that lead me.” Verter continued. “I can see that temper and those moments of selfishness leading you down a grim path, Cera.”
“What?” Cera yelped. “How do you know that?”
“I listened to you two while you were climbing. You shouldn’t have been so open about your feelings around others. You might have friends you care about now, but who knows, you might grow into someone who would come to abandon them for your pride.”
Cera closed her eyes, shaking her head. “No, no! I’d never!”
Mr. Threehorn pushed hard, anger energizing him. “Shut
up, Verter!”
Verter ranked his horns in and made his opponent stagger back. “Oh and there’s Chomper. Once so friendly, that kindness to his leaf eater friends turns embittered when he has to hunt their kind and he lashes out at leaf eaters and sharpteeth alike. So sad.”
“No! I’ll…” Chomper gulped. “I’ll eat if I have to but I won’t be cruel.”
“That’s just it!” Verter pushed Mr. Threehorn up the path. “You don’t know! The future is filled with many unknowns. You can’t prepare for everything. Even if you try to resist, you wouldn’t be able to deny what draws you. You say you wouldn’t commit harm but with what you don’t know about the future, can either of you be sure of that?”
Cera and Chomper looked down. Even with fighting pulling her this way and that, she couldn’t help the distressing thoughts coming to her mind. Verter was right. She didn’t know what the future held. She thought things would be more or less the same as they were now but who said her behavior during her first encounters with her friends wouldn’t resurface? They have before. What if the choices presented to her made her abandon them for her own selfish interests? Or she fought with them like her father and Verter were doing now, all those warm feelings turned to hatred? Cera had been avoiding thoughts about the past for the pain they brought but she realized the future was just as treacherous. Suddenly, she didn’t want to think about what was to come. She only wanted to get out of here and be back with her friends, playing and enjoying her time with them and hoping things would always be this way.
Chomper was looking worse. He gazed into the middle distance, mouth open. For someone who cared so deeply, the thought his future departure might involve hurting his loved ones tore him up. He was aware he would have to eat leaf eaters again someday, but what if the struggle of the transition made him attack others and cause suffering? He shut his eyes and lowered his head but the images kept coming to him. The pair’s turmoil caused Verter to laugh.
“See? You’re be better off leaving them to me, I’ll take care of their problems,” he said.
Mr. Threehorn growled. “Never! I’ll never let you influence the- ah!”
Verter’s horns slipped through and scratched the top of Mr. Threehorn’s frill. Verter pushed hard and Mr. Threehorn was toppled off his feet. He panted, laying on his side. He attempted to get up but struggled, suddenly very exhausted. He looked up at Verter, whose countenance was grim.
“Don’t make me do this, Topps,” he said quietly. “Even after all this, you’re still my old pal. Don’t let me down even more.”
Mr. Threehorn had enough energy to glare up. “A father never gives up.”
Verter sighed. “A disappointing end to a promising friendship.” His lips twisted. “I can’t promise this won’t be quick.”
He stepped back, aiming his horns at Mr. Threehorn’s neck. Cera and Chomper stirred, gazing up with dread.
“No Cera’s dad, don’t.” Chomper said.
“Daddy, just get out of here!” Cera said.
She and Chomper threw themselves at Verter’s forefeet. Cera rammed into the flesh with all the practice Verter had taught her, hearing the sounds of Chomper biting and scratching with equal force. But he only lightly kicked them away. Lying on the ground, she looked up at her father in fear. She saw his eyes stray toward her and Chomper. He couldn’t do more than jostle on the spot. Exhausted, with pain thrumming through her, Cera could only watch as Verter pulled his head back and thrust his horns down in a blur of speed…
There was a rush of feet and Mr. Threehorn pulled out of the way. He got no more than a scratch to the nose as Verter’s horns jutted past into the dirt. Mr. Threehorn disappeared from view but Verter stopped and cried out in dismay as Mr. Threehorn’s horns clanked into his, the pointy ends coming in from the left from Cera’s perspective. Verter jostled, pinned in place by the horns.
“You just don’t know when to quit, do you!” he snarled. “Don’t think I haven’t gotten this kind of trick before.”
“I know that.” Mr. Threehorn said.
“Then what are you trying to-”
Mr. Threehorn roared. Verter stopped, confused, but he almost didn’t hear the quiet rumble of feet before a crunching sound filled Cera’s ears. Verter’s eyes went wide and he struggled harder but there was a snap and a slackness came above Cera’s neck.
“Run, Cera!”
Obeying Tria’s voice, Cera ran, adrenaline masking the exhaustion as she fled pass Verter’s head. Her movements were restricted by the vines on her body but at least she was free. Tria ducked back and made to go around Verter to get Chomper’s vine.
“No!”
Verter jostled his horns out and slammed the side of his face into Mr. Threehorn’s, raising a rear foot to kick Tria as she passed. She gave a cry, scrambling as the force of the blow made her skid perpendicularly to the edge. Cera’s heart stopped but Tria regrouped and ran passed Verter, getting to Mr. Threehorn, who looked a bit dazed but still ready to fight. He stood protectively near Cera, who pressed herself against the rock wall. Verter backed away, forefoot pressing Chomper back.
“I won’t give him up.” Verter growled. “You may have her but I’m not giving him up.”
“Verter, enough!” Mr. Threehorn said. “Release Chomper and come back to speak for your crimes.”
“Crimes? Ha!” Verter laughed. “This is the threehorn life. Chomper is only going to make it more entertaining.”
Tria ran forward and crackled her horns against Verter’s, clinking them in, walking backwards to drag him back. “Oh, you’re not getting away.”
Verter unhooked himself and clanked back, growling. “Like you can do anything to stop me.”
“I just saved Cera, didn’t I?”
“Only with your sappy mate’s help! Even if he tries the same trick again, you won’t have a second victory.”
“Are Chomper and Cera really that important to you? Is what why you really did it? Murdered Mr. Clubtail?”
“What?” Verter blinked.
“You plotted that so you can have Cera and Chomper to yourself and influence them how you see fit. Oh, that was so convenient, I should have seen that com-”
“What are you talking about?” he demanded.
“Don’t play dumb.” Tria said. “I’m talking about how you killed Mr. Clubtail.”
“That wasn’t me!” Verter said, glaring. “I admit, I was planning on doing something but he was already dead when I found him. I merely took advantage of the situation.”
“What?” she blinked. “But – then who killed him?”
“Don’t listen, Tria.” Mr. Threehorn said. “He’s only trying to distract us.”
“Y-yeah.” Tria glared. “You won’t get away.”
Verter snarled. “You’re delirious – both of you!”
He pushed her away. Tria shook herself and rammed back, jostling her horns into Verter’s hard. She tried to get her mind back on task. She really screwed up when she hesitated over dazing Verter. She had been rattled by the damage she could do to another person when she should have found a way to free one of the kids. Now she tried to brace herself and discover how to free Chomper. She saw the poor sharptooth youth pant as he was jerked around, looking ready to collapse. She could bite the connecting vine off Verter’s neck vine if she stunned him again but then Chomper would have to drag all that plant weight behind him. Tria could bite it at the nape of Chomper’s neck but she would have to be quick before Verter roused himself. Mr. Threehorn could go in to free Chomper to deal with the time issue but that would leave Cera defenseless and Verter would notice this. There must be a way. Tria grappled with Verter, attempting to push her sharp points at the skin around the base of his horns, ignoring the aches and pains wincing through her.
“Avert your eyes, Cera.” Mr. Threehorn was saying. “This isn’t going to be pretty. We might have to fight extra hard and I don’t want you to…Cera?”
Tria’s heart fluttered at the confusion and faint panic in her mate’s voice. She wanted to look around to check what happened but she couldn’t with the fight she was in. A flutter of movement went past her and there was a faint crunch. Verter froze, and both battlers’ eyes turned to the side. Cera was grinding her teeth on Chomper’s connecting vine, moans muffled as she tried to rip into the nasty plant material. She froze when Verter looked at her, his face contorting with anger.
“Don’t you dare!”
He threw a forefoot back but Cera hastily worked on the vine and it broke apart. The forefoot hit the place they stood a second too late as the pair darted under Verter and Tria’s heads, going up the steep path, Cera poking at Chomper’s tail to urge him on.
“Go, go, g-!” she said.
There was a growl, and Cera screamed as she turned and found Verter in her face. He swiped one forepaw and another at her, Cera barely dodging and ducking as vines constricted her movement. He backed her against the wall and, though a part of her knew she had to run, those furious eyes rooted her to the spot.
“Useless girl,” he snarled, his face looming close. “You had to go and ruin everythin-”
There was a snarl and Chomper jumped in front of her.
“Stay away from her!” he said.
Verter drew back, thrown off for a moment, but he swiped a forefoot forward. Tria rushed in and crashed Verter aside with the side of her head.
“Get behind us, kids,” she said.
The pair moved. Tria pushed her horns into Verter’s, who watched Cera and Chomper rush up the path.
“No!”
He clanked Tria aside and went to follow but yowled when she bit his tail to keep him back. Mr. Threehorn almost reached them as he galloped down but Verter lashed his tail out of Tria’s teeth and pursued. Mr. Threehorn met his horns with his, just keeping them back in time for Cera and Chomper to get behind him as they backed up the path. They got to the top, where the ground was level, Verter pulling back and standing near the edge. Mr. Threehorn moved to block the pair from view, Tria catching up to present a united front
“Stop this, Verter.” Mr. Threehorn said. “You lost.”
Verter’s contracted pupils turned on him. “You…this is all because of you…”
He charged forward, ramming his horns into Mr. Threehorn’s.
“If only you hadn’t changed!” Verter said. “If only you hadn’t betrayed your own kind!”
“I haven’t betrayed anyone.” Mr. Threehorn said. “Verter, stop. Don’t make me-”
Verter screamed, and broke through Mr. Threehorn’s horns. He charged for Cera and Chomper, who screamed and circled around Tria, Verter following. Tria grabbed the dangling vines on his neck with her teeth when he passed, making him stop and gasp as his throat was constricted. Tria gritted her teeth and attempted to keep him in place but Verter’s progressed forward step by step, making Cera and Chomper back to the edge. The vines snapped and he charged, Cera and Chomper jumping and running along the cliff, the vines slowing their legs as the booms of those forefeet came in inches from their tails. Cera cried out when her tail tip felt an agonizing pressure, and fell onto her side as Verter pinned her in place.
“I will have one of you!” Verter said, breathing close. “I will show everyone who’s the strongest! Even if I have to-”
“Let her go!”
Verter turned and looked up. Mr. Threehorn ran in, pushing Verter hard, rocks crackling as the latter’s hind feet scrambled to stay on the edge. Cera felt the pressure lift up and the pain became that of a bruise exposed to air. She scrambled to run, Chomper doubling back for her and pulling her onward. Verter’s rear feet staggered as he pushed back against Mr. Threehorn with equal force, blue eyes boring into the dark with anger.
“You just had to get in my way!” he said. “Traitor! Traitor! Trait-”
There was a crackle and faster than anyone could react, Verter slid over the edge. Mr. Threehorn’s jaw dropped and he ran over but Verter was already falling, screaming, legs grabbing at the air as his figure shrank with distance. Cera and Chomper closed their eyes and pressed their faces into each other but they couldn’t block out the scream that went on for far too long before there was a thud, and they were left with silence. Shaking, Cera pulled herself away and looked around.
Tria stood a few paces back, mouth agape. Mr. Threehorn was near the edge, looking down, frozen. Cera couldn’t tell if he was breathing.
“T-Topsy?” Tria said.
Mr. Threehorn didn’t respond. Hesitantly, Tria stepped closer.
“Topsy, are you alright?” she asked.
Still, nothing. A shape seemed to be reflected in his eyes. Looking for anything, Tria glanced at the kids. Chomper’s head lay on Cera’s cheek, breaths shuddering, occasionally whimpering. Cera kept her gaze from the edge. She didn’t want to even glimpse what was left of Verter; she saw enough today.
“Topsy, we should get going.” Tria said. “The kids need to be treated, right?”
Mr. Threehorn’s lips twitched. “R-right.”
It didn’t take long to get back into the valley. Cera was barely aware of when their vines were bitten off or their wounds washed. Her feet passed through the tickle of grass. The trees were still, no breeze in the air. Occasionally, they went by a collection of flowers. Everything around her was distant, like on the other side of a canyon. Other dinosaurs passed by, voices indistinct. It was like another day in the Great Valley but it couldn’t be. It didn’t feel real after what she went through. Cera moved with Chomper and her parents, gaze vacant. Right now, all she wanted to do was retreat to her nest and escape the world in sleep stories…
“There you guys are!”
Littlefoot and the others were running towards them, accompanied by Grandpa and Grandma Longneck. They stopped, gazing at the four’s injuries with concern.
“My goodness, what happened?” Grandma Longneck asked.
Tria glanced around. Mr. Threehorn was still staring at the grass blankly and since no one else seemed fit to speak, she took a deep breath.
“We found Verter dragging Cera and Chomper out of the valley,” she said. “He wanted to use them for his brutal threehorn ways. When we told him to give them back, he refused and we were forced to…”
There were hitches in breath. Littlefoot and the others looked at Cera and Chomper.
“Is that true?” Littlefoot asked.
Cera nodded distantly. “He – he was taking us away. He wasn’t going to let us see our family or friends again.”
Littlefoot gave a soft gasp and he and the others came forward and embraced them. Cera didn’t protest, leaning into their touch, a part of her hoping they wouldn’t let go. She glimpsed Chomper inches to her right, small in Ruby’s arms.
“I’m sorry.” Grandpa Longneck said. “That must have been horrible for you.”
“Was he planning this this whole time?” Grandma Longneck asked.
“He pretty much admitted it.” Tria answered. “He used Mr. Clubtail’s death to pressure Cera and Chomper to train with him. He worked them so much he hoped to have them depend on him and they could be persuaded to leave. He claimed to still be our friend but he kidnapped Cera and Chomper behind our backs and-”
Crash! Cera and the others broke apart as Mr. Threehorn’s left foot buckled. He leaned into the ground, eyes suddenly all too wide.
“Daddy?” Cera said.
"Topsy, what’s wrong?” Tria asked.
Mr. Threehorn didn’t respond. He panted, breaths climbing in pitch until he screamed, screamed like something had been torn out of him. Cera broke from her friends, running over to press into Mr. Threehorn’s forefoot.
“Daddy, what is it?” Cera said. “What’s wrong?”
“We’re alright, dear.” Tria pressed into his side. “We’re here.”
Mr. Threehorn didn’t appear to hear. He continued screaming, breaking off with gasping breaths before he screamed again. Cera hadn’t heard anything like this before and that it came from her father was terrifying. Gradually, it subsided and he leaned there, shaking. The gang and the grandparents watched, horrified, sympathetic.
“You two should rest. We’ll have those wounds tended to.” Grandma Longneck said. “Still I can’t believe Verter killed Mr. Clubtail. All for the children…”
“Mr. Clubtail…” Chomper looked up. “Is this our fault? All because we didn’t agree to train with him the first time?”
“Don’t blame yourselves.” Grandpa Longneck said. “Mr. Clubtail’s murder is the fault of Verter alone. Even if he did this to get you, you bear no fault in his actions.”
“That is if he was the one who did this.” Tria said.
Grandma Longneck stirred. “What do you mean?”
“When we were fighting, I accused him of killing Mr. Clubtail. He looked shocked. It was as though he found the idea ridiculous.”
“Is that so?” Grandpa Longneck said uncertainly. “Well, he was good at hiding his emotions. Maybe that was just an act-”
“But this was after we confronted him. I was fighting up close with him, it looked too genuine. I don’t think we can rest easy.” Tria turned, looking around at the valley. “The killer’s still out there.”
Next time…
The Anchors Part 1
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Note: Hope to have the next set of chapters up by February or March next year.
