The Gang of Five
The Land Before Time => LBT Fanfiction => Topic started by: rhombus on January 12, 2015, 05:23:07 PM
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Welcome, everyone! The seven hunters are back and they are relating their adventures to their children. But we have only heard one story thus far, so what happened after their epic defeat of Redclaw? What crises befell the pack after they left the Great Valley? How did they take back their territory? What happened to their friends and allies? And, most importantly, how did these numerous children come about? Well gather around and listen along as the seven hunters answer these questions and more by singing to you tales of perseverance, love, and courage.
Please note that this is a sequel of sorts to my first fanfiction, The Seven Hunters. If you have not read that yet, then it is highly recommended that you do so in order to understand what is going on. That story is rated M for depictions of graphic violence (which you would expect from a story focusing on sharpteeth) so you may need to modify your content filter in order to see it. I plan to keep this story in compliance with a 'T' rating, however.
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/1/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/1/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Prologue
The night circle shined brightly on the lush vegetation of the massive forest. Its luminous reflection caused the world below the canopy to descend into a chaotic mosaic of profound darkness interposed with brilliant light. The magnificent green of the foliage shined through the darkness that permeated every corner of the verdant wilderness. For a leaf-eater such darkness would have caused great anxiety as each shadow could have hidden the instruments of their doom.
But for the predators who called this land their own, there was no such trepidation.
An adult fastbiter quietly stood in one of these beam's of moonlight as he growled to his mate and daughter who were resting at the base of a tree. As their nocturnal conversation continued, each paid little attention to the darkness that surrounded them. In this place they were undoubtedly safe. No one would dare attack them.
How very wrong they were.
In the darkness a pair of red eyes gleamed in the light of the night circle. As they were fixed directly behind the adult sharptooth, no one else in the family saw the coming danger. Slowly but surely, the predator approached his target under the cover of darkness. As it shifted from a stalking position to a pouncing pose, the hapless fastbiter only had moments left. Then, with a powerful thrust of his legs, the predator leaped into the air. The adult stood no chance.
Chomp!
"Ow! What the..."
"Ha! Got you, daddy!"
The fastbiter looked upon the retreating brown form of the youngling with barely concealed amusement. They had only begun to teach the young ones about using stealth in hunting the night prior and it seemed that the little one had decided to use his newly learned skill on a very inviting target.
His father's tail.
"That is very good, Biter, but your target isn't very good." Ruby called out in her sing song way. "We do not bite daddy. We bite food." Her voice was slightly reproachful, but her amusement was obvious.
"But, mommy..." Ruby's gaze turned towards the nearby form of a reddish youngling. Their daughter almost approached Biter in terms of her mischievousness. "...we have seen you bite daddy before. Why did you bite him if he wasn't food? If he wasn't food then why did you bite him?"
The stone gave me teeth and claws, but it couldn't fix a speech impediment. Ruby noted with amusement at her daughter's tell-tale vocal pattern. She was about to answer when another voice called out.
"Yeah... why do you get to bite the leader and we don't?"
As if on cue, the orange form of Taunt came into view of the small family. To his sides, his mate and their three children could be seen advancing in a rowdy mess. One child clung to their mother's back, while the other two did their best to try to catch the other's tail. The female's eyes were rolled in a way that only someone who was long since resigned to such chaos could manage.
"Well, dear..." Cera answered for the cheeky male. "She is mated to him and someone has to keep him in line." Ruby gave a thankful nod to Cera's comment as Littlefoot rolled his eyes at the dig that the females had at his expense.
Ruby nodded as she gave an answer to her curious daughter. "Mommy and daddy are bigger than you and it isn't wise to bite something that is bigger than you can chew." Ruby gave a smirk in Littlefoot's direction. "I can handle your daddy in a fight, but you wouldn't be able to."
"Then why can't I bite sis..."
As if guessing correctly her brother's actions, the youngling female rolled to her side and swiped the male's legs out from under him with her tail. In a triumphant strut she kicked dirt onto the stunned male's face.
The assembled sharpteeth laughed at the male's expense as he pouted on his haunches. After a few moments, Ruby and Littlefoot both helped dust their son off and made sure that he wasn't injured. The only thing that was injured on this night was someone's ego.
"Alright, everyone. That is enough fighting for today." Littlefoot spoke with a calm, fatherly voice. It had all of the imperiousness of his voice when he gave orders, but with the softness that only came from deep, undying love. The two little biters began to calm immediately.
"We have practiced your fighting over the last few days, but now I think that it is time that you learned more about your past..."
"Oh! Can we hear the one about Calin being killed?! I want to hear about how he was ripped apart again!"
Littlefoot sighed at the comment from Taunt's daughter.
"No, Ambush." The female's face fell at Littlefoot's response. "That is a story that your father should have left for when you were a bit older..." He gave the other male a glare, to which Taunt simply gave him an apologetic smile.
"Are you going to tell about the time when you all were food?!"
Littlefoot closed his eyes as Ruby could be heard behind him chuckling at how the night was progressing. The adult members of the pack gave Littlefoot a lot of deference, but the children on the other hand...
"No, Sniffer." The brown fastbiter chuckled. "We are not going to talk about our time as food." Littlefoot could tell that youngling's voice from anywhere. Spike and Breeze's children all had a healthy interest in food that they undoubtedly received from their father's tendencies. If they had arrive on the scene then that only left two more families. As the sound of running feet and flapping wings could be heard, he knew that he didn't have to wait long to hear from them.
"Are we going to hear about the rainbowfaces?"
"Grandma flyer?"
"The Stone of Cold Fire?"
"Quiet!!!"
Littlefoot looked over at the fastbiter who had made the interjection. The green fastbiter's exclamation would have been very surprising back in their leaf-eater days, but was par the course now. As Ducky often affirmed 'it takes a loud momma to be heard by loud babies.' She would know, she had five of them to deal with.
Littlefoot waited for the families to gather around him as they eventually settled into a circle. Cera and Taunt's family settled to Littlefoot's left, while Spike and Breeze settled to his right. Ducky's family settled in front of the leader's field of view and Petrie and his mate were of course listening on the tree behind them. Ducky's mate was currently helping Chomper inspect the territory otherwise he would be here as well. With those two exceptions, the entire pack was present.
Littlefoot gave a warm smile to the children. "No... today, I want to tell you a new song. One that you haven't heard yet." He thought for a moment as he took on a contemplative expression. "I think that we should sing to you about what happened to all of us after the valley was saved."
"But Seeker..." Petrie's voice called out from the tree. "That take all night. Too many songs."
Ducky nodded in agreement. "My babies are already tired from their swimming lessons." Littlefoot smiled at that. Even though she hadn't been a swimmer in seven years, she still taught her children that part of their heritage. After all, what better way to catch a swimmer than to swim? "I do not think that they can stay awake too long. Oh, no, no, no!"
Littlefoot nodded. "No, it will take us a while to teach you these songs, but we can get started tonight. Even the longest song begins with a single word. We will start with a short song tonight."
Ruby took on a ponderous expression at her mate's choice of words. "What song do you have in mind, dear?"
Littlefoot smiled. "Well, Spotter told us about Ignis's new litter last night. So let's start there."
He laid down as the children leaned in closer to listen to the elder's words. The adults also gathered around in order to join in their leader's rousing chorus at the proper time.
"This song is about our good allies, the hidden runners. I call this song the 'Tale of the Tail'."
So there you have it, just a little lead-in to the main story. This one will be more episodic than the Seven Hunters and I hope to have a chapter posted at minimum once every two weeks, though I will try to post every week.
And, as always, I welcome any reviews or constructive criticism that you may have.
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It's a short intro, but I still liked it. I'm happy to see that you decided to have their children learn about their leaf eater past. Though it's left unclear as to how much they do know. Did Littlefoot or Ruby actually tell them the tale, or maybe Taunt dumped it on them, much to Seeker's and Ponder's displeasure? Sounds like something he'd do! :lol
I'm wondering what's become of Chomper now, too. Are they not together anymore since he grew up? Maybe he got a mate and she didn't like being around fast biters that would roar at the moon every night? :p
Hmm, I'm also wondering it there's gonna be any mention of the Great Valley resident, or any other leaf eater, like Bron, Shorty, and Ali (Doubtful on Ali, but just throwing the name at you anyway! :p) I wonder if there had been any accidental encounters since they left the valley for good? Are they still in touch with their families through Pterano?
Anyway, this is a promising little start to a little follow-up story, and I'm wait waiting to see what's become of everyone! :)
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Thanks for the review. :)
It's a short intro, but I still liked it. I'm happy to see that you decided to have their children learn about their leaf eater past. Though it's left unclear as to how much they do know. Did Littlefoot or Ruby actually tell them the tale, or maybe Taunt dumped it on them, much to Seeker's and Ponder's displeasure? Sounds like something he'd do! dino_laugh.gif
I only kind of hinted at it, but since the kids ask to hear about Calin being ripped apart again and about their time as leaf-eaters, it is apparent that they have already been told the story of the Seven Hunters. However, the story of what came next is still unknown to them. So the kids and the reader are in the same position as the "songs" begin.
I'm wondering what's become of Chomper now, too. Are they not together anymore since he grew up? Maybe he got a mate and she didn't like being around fast biters that would roar at the moon every night? dino_tongue.gif
I mentioned in the prologue that Chomper and Ducky's (as of yet) unnamed mate are scouting the defenses of the territory. Don't worry, they will make an appearance eventually. ;)
Hmm, I'm also wondering it there's gonna be any mention of the Great Valley resident, or any other leaf eater, like Bron, Shorty, and Ali (Doubtful on Ali, but just throwing the name at you anyway! dino_tongue.gif) I wonder if there had been any accidental encounters since they left the valley for good? Are they still in touch with their families through Pterano?
Good questions and these questions will soon be answered. :yes
Anyway, this is a promising little start to a little follow-up story, and I'm wait waiting to see what's become of everyone! smile.gif
Thank you very much. :) I hope that you enjoy the future installments.
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Ah, so you decided to continue the story at the point in time where our Seven Hunters have grown-up, mated and started their own families while the things happening after the defeat of Redclaw are told in sort of flashbacks. That is a really nice idea as you can both show their life as adolescents and their life with their children etc. :yes
At some point in time, are you going to create a sort of family tree so I can always look up who belongs to which family (I was quite confused while reading :p)? I'm looking forward to reading the sequel! This is going to be interesting :)
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Yo, can I just say that "The Seven Hunters" was absolutely amazing. It's up there was some of my favorite fanfictions. Really, I read it all in one sitting, all 75 chapters and trust me, I was NOT disappointed. To be honest, when I first saw it I expected something COMPLETELY different (something on the level of Dark Side of The World's "Warriors of the Solar System" or something like that. Hey, it had something to do with rocks, right?), but I was very pleasantly surprised with what it actually was. So, good on you, mate, for keeping me pleasantly entertained.
So, I saw this and I'm just like, "Wow, LittlefootxRuby, go on..." (oh God, I ship it) not to mention I was really wondering what happened after they left the valley. Luckily for me, this was brought into existence! Let me tell you that I'm eagerly awaiting for more!
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Thank you very much for the kind words, everyone! :)
Ah, so you decided to continue the story at the point in time where our Seven Hunters have grown-up, mated and started their own families while the things happening after the defeat of Redclaw are told in sort of flashbacks. That is a really nice idea as you can both show their life as adolescents and their life with their children etc. :yes
Yep, yep, yep! The first "episodes" will deal with the immediate aftermath of the final battle and leaving the valley, whereas later on we will get to how the romances came along and the children.
At some point in time, are you going to create a sort of family tree so I can always look up who belongs to which family (I was quite confused while reading :p )? I'm looking forward to reading the sequel! This is going to be interesting :)
I am not sure about a family tree, though I may put up an author's note at some time to explain who is who. Of those that I have planned names for, Littlefoot and Ruby's two kids are named Biter (the son) and Swipe (the daughter). As we shall soon see, both of them are quite the handful.
Yo, can I just say that "The Seven Hunters" was absolutely amazing. It's up there was some of my favorite fanfictions. Really, I read it all in one sitting, all 75 chapters and trust me, I was NOT disappointed. To be honest, when I first saw it I expected something COMPLETELY different (something on the level of Dark Side of The World's "Warriors of the Solar System" or something like that. Hey, it had something to do with rocks, right?), but I was very pleasantly surprised with what it actually was. So, good on you, mate, for keeping me pleasantly entertained.
Thank you for the kind words. :) Reading it in one sitting must have been quite a lengthy process. At over 520,000 words in length that fanfiction is around the total length of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. I am glad that you enjoyed it and I hope that you enjoy the continuation. :yes
So, I saw this and I'm just like, "Wow, LittlefootxRuby, go on..." (oh God, I ship it) not to mention I was really wondering what happened after they left the valley. Luckily for me, this was brought into existence! Let me tell you that I'm eagerly awaiting for more!
Yeah, the Ruby/Littlefoot thing kind of came out of nowhere in the Seven Hunters, but I decided to go with it once the characters began to go in that direction. It is one of those pairings that would never have worked out (for obvious reasons) had the Stone of Cold Fire not changed them all. In this story we shall see how their little crush finally turned into something more. As for when the next chapter will be posted, I am still working on chapter 1 and classes start up today (in fact, I have to teach in about an hour) so I am off to a bit of a delay in my planned posting schedule. However, I hope to have the next chapter posted by Monday or Tuesday. :yes
Once again, thanks for the kind words, everyone. I hope to continue this story early next week. :yes
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Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/2/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/2/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
NIGHT 1: NOT SO HIDDEN AMBITIONS
Chapter 1: The Tale of the Tail
Several years ago:
"A scout from Blue Beak's pack made an incursion today, but our sentries stopped him."
Ignis tried to feign interest at the deputy's report. An incursion by Blue Beak's scouts was not an uncommon occurrence as the various hidden runner packs would often test one another's defenses by sending a scout and trying to leave without detection. This action was usually not an act of aggression, however, as this was the manner in which future deputies were trained. An odd sort of rite of passage where the successful hidden runner was then given tasks of more significance. Both she and the deputy knew this, but certain appearances had to be maintained. As a result, her response was automatic.
"Good work! Gather your sentries to my chamber, Argis. I will thank them personally."
Argis stood wide eyed for a moment before realizing his social faux pas and bowing deeply. To have a leader personally thank the lower ranks was rather uncommon. It was something that her father only did sparingly.
But she was not her father.
As the deputy hastily left the leader's chamber, she allowed herself a deep sigh. It had only been three weeks since the death of her father and nearly one week since the return of the survivors to the pack lands. The intervening time had been a period of mourning for those who remained and a struggle to return to some semblance of order. For Ignis it was a blur. Her formal installation as leader, her selection of a new deputy, her call to the pack to stay strong in the face of tremendous losses... It was hard to believe that a mere week had gone by since they had returned. It felt like ages. Only now was the pack returning to anything approaching normal.
The tasks ahead of her seemed daunting as she mentally considered what lay ahead. The deceased had been mourned and the orphans had been already assigned foster parents, which was a great deal off of her mind. However, the minutiae of pack life still remained. She had to consider the feelings of her father's former mates as they had suffered the loss in rank that their benefactor's death would entail. To that end she had carefully made promotions in order to prevent any threats to her leadership. Much of the sentries and deputies were complete novices due to the pack's losses in the valley and she was trying to boost the morale of the new recruits, which would be a very fragile commodity at this time. Then there was the whole issue of Viscond...
"Oh, father... How did you handle it all?"
With a gentleness and reverence that approached that of a religious rite, Ignis placed her hand on the scrape that served as the leader's perch. The scrape would appear as nothing out of the ordinary to any other dinosaur that approached it, but to a hidden runner it was sacred beyond words. It was the closest thing to a seat of power that existed in the pack. It had the scent and the presence of the Great Leader. The scrape obtained its dignity from the persons who had resided on it, not the other way around.
She closed her eyes as she touched the hard rock that made up the scrape. Despite the simplicity of the scrape, it did contain something that she valued beyond words. The cold, rough surface of the rock contained the very imprints of claw marks from times before memory. From before her father's father had even been an egg. But as she caressed the ancient scrape she felt what she had been waiting for. The impression of her father's claw marks. His small contribution to the ancient structure. The only physical thing that remained of him on this world.
Tears began to flow from the hidden runner's eyes. If the others could see her now then her break in emotional control would be part of the pack's gossip for days to come. As a result she struggled to regain control of herself before her subordinate returned. Besides, it would do the sentries no good to see their leader weep.
Regaining some semblance of control, she stroked the impressions again. There were so many present in the ancient rock. Despite only being as deep as a hidden runner's rump, it was the product of generations of gentle scraping by the leaders of old. Even after the first leader had carved out the scrape after nearly a year, each subsequent leader had made his or her mark on its surface. A small carving into the combined history of the pack. A history in stone to go along with the stories they told. Her father had done so when he was first made leader and now it was her turn.
Scrape... Scrape... Scrape...
Ignis closed her eyes as she allowed her claws to scrape at the hard surface of the stone.
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"Is this song seriously about a hidden runner scraping a stone?"
Chomp!
"Ow! Dad, Biter bit me!"
Littlefoot sighed and shook his head while the others barely constrained their laughter. Well, everyone but Taunt, who was laughing hysterically. The brown fastbiter had a strong suspicion that his daughter's antics reminded Taunt of himself at that age.
"Well, Swipe, for once your brother is right." He rolled his eyes as his son began to strut in triumph. "You shouldn't interrupt a song until it is sung." He then smiled a knowing smile at the other children. "Besides, there is a lot more to this tale than a scrape... now where was I? Oh yes..."
♪♪ As Ignis scraped upon rock black,
Memories of time gone by came flowing back... ♪♪
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It was only after she had personally thanked the sentries for their 'heroic' service that she again had a chance to resume her attempt to make her mark on the rocky scrape. However, despite scratching for the better part of the afternoon, her efforts had only earned her the slightest of markings. There was no deep gouge in the rock, only the slightest etching. With a huff, she ended her attempt and resumed sitting on the scrape.
"Ah, so you have started marking already?"
Ignis raised her head in surprise at the sudden voice. The face of an elderly female met hers from the threshold of her chamber. It was a face that she knew well, but had seldom seen since her childhood.
"Grandma?!"
The elder smirked as she chided her leader half-heartedly. "Young one, as you know I am not really your grandmother; and in any case I don't think that 'grandma' is an official title that a great leader should be using."
Ignis put on a smirk at the elder's tone. "As you know, Grandma..." She put great emphasis on the word in order to annoy the elder. "You were 'Grandma' for everyone in the pack who didn't know their own grandparents." Ignis then took on a playful smile. "As for it not being a title, perhaps I should make it one... you always said that I was the rash one."
The elder gave the younger female a stern look that would have horrified anyone else, but Ignis knew that stare. After a few moments the elderly hidden runner couldn't keep up the act anymore and let out a soft chuckle.
"You rascal! I always knew that you had some of your father in you!" She approached a bit closer but stopped at the prescribed distance for those of her rank. "He responded much as you did when he assumed your position."
Your position. The words echoed in Ignis's mind like a harbinger of doom. She was now in the same position as her father, a hidden runner that she admired above all others. Was she up to the task?
"He did?" Ignis asked, ignoring the pangs of doubt.
The elder nodded. "He was in a hurry to get things done, but he was also full of self-doubt... just like you are now." Ignis looked surprised at the elder's observation, but she continued on. "Don't worry, young one, I am sure that the others don't notice. But I have seen it all before and know of such things... it isn't like my moments are spent pining for hunts and males anymore."
Ignis normally would have laughed at the elder's untactful manner, but she was so struck by the older hidden runner's observation that she let that slide without notice. Instead, her mind was fixated on the matter at hand.
"How did he cope?" It troubled Ignis just how pitiful her voice sounded. She had put up a strong front since she had arrived back at the pack, but in front of the hidden runner she called Grandma, she allowed herself to show her true feelings.
Seeing this as an invitation, the elder approached Ignis and embraced her in a quick hug. After a few moments she broke the embrace and whispered a single word into the leader's ear.
"Patience."
Ignis blinked and stared at the elder with a bemused expression. "Huh?"
"Patience, my dear. I told your father then and I am telling you now, that patience is key. Nothing changes overnight. Not the placement of the stars, not the leaves on the trees, and not the gouges in a perch."
Ignis looked at the perch with a dismissive glance. "It isn't the perch that concerns me..."
"You will do fine as pack leader, Ignis. The pack, like you, just needs some time to heal and adapt." Ignis nodded absentmindedly at the elder's encouraging words. Despite their assurance, she still felt utterly lost. "In time you will leave your impression in those you lead and in the perch, just like the leaders that have come before you. You have already made an impression on those who fought at your side, especially the Viscond fellow you have your eyes on..."
Ignis seem to shrink back in embarrassment but said nothing. The elder continued with mirth.
"I would think being a leader is time-consuming enough, but you seem interested in nests and eggs as well..."
Ignis recoiled. "Grandma!"
The elder shrugged. "Now that, dear, isn't fooling anyone. The pack gossip isn't about who your first mate will be; it is about your second..."
The younger female sputtered. She knew of the gossip that transpired when her father was in power and it often focused on rather personal things, but it was quite another thing to be on the receiving end of such gossip. Ignis wanted to strike down the rumor despite its truthfulness, but instead she returned her focus on the elder in the hopes that she would stop her playful taunting.
'I thought that you didn't keep up with gossip anymore."
The moment that the elder turned around with a beaming smile, Ignis knew that she had made a tactical mistake.
"Ah, so the rumors are true, eh?"
Ignis crossed her arms but bowed her head in defeat. There was no use in hiding the obvious now.
"I respect him..." Ignis contorted her mouth as if deliberating what to say next. "And more than that... but I have to be careful and so does he." She finally admitted.
The elder nodded with a compassionate expression. "It is good that you are tending to such things, my dear. Politics in the pack can be a rough business, but I think that your choice is safe from challenge. He proved himself in the battle and he is taking the initiative in chasing down that butcher..." Venom hung in her words. "Once he brings you Calin's head I don't think there will be any objections in the pack."
Ignis's eyes went wide. "Calin's head?"
Grandma covered her mouth in fake embarrassment. "Oh dear! Did I blurt out that little secret? Viscond would be so upset with me if he ever found out." The look on her face indicated that she knew she was quite safe in that regard. "A bit morbid for a mating offering, but one the rest of the pack will appreciate."
Ignis nodded, immediately reading between the lines. "He knows the head will give him proof. So none of the other packmates will doubt his story."
Grandma took a little bow at Ignis's statement. "See, great leader, you aren't the only one who has given the matter a lot of thought. Viscond is as bright as you."
Ignis smiled as her eyes bored into the elder runner. "More like we both had the same advisor..."
Grandma feigned ignorance at the implication. "My dear, I have no idea what you are talking about." A smile soon returned to her face, however. "Regardless of who thought of it, you can put your mind at ease. I trust that your chosen one will be returning soon enough." She then took a deep bow in the formal parting to a higher ranked individual. "Farewell, Ignis."
Ignis returned the bow of the elder, as she echoed a formal hidden runner parting. "May your sprints be swift."
As the footsteps of the other hidden runner retreated out of the chamber, Ignis was alone yet again. However, for the first time in several hours, she felt quite at peace. Her leadership was secure and her mate-to-be was securing his own position with the helpful advice of an old wise runner. All that she had to do now was be patient. Without even realizing what she was doing until she had started, she began to claw into the rock of the perch once more.
She could not see the elderly runner begin to smile outside of the cave as the sounds of scratching again echoed from the chamber.
"A fast learner... just like her father."
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"This is for my brother you disgusting piece of spiketail dung!"
Viscond stared into the water with an intense expression. As much as he wanted Calin to suffer for what he did to his brother and his pack, to actually hear that suffering was something else entirely. The sounds of excited yelps and ripping flesh greeted his ears even from this distance. At least the screams had mostly died down once they had ripped out his tongue.
Slash!
A disgusting splattering sound erupted into the chaotic symphony of misery. This was immediately followed by something that sounded like a wet gasp and a helpless, shuddering sound. Viscond closed his eyes tightly. His mind was feeling in the gaps well enough without his actually seeing the violence.
These monsters are as dangerous as Calin. Viscond noted. They helped lure him into a trap and then betrayed him. His eyes suddenly went wide as another thought came to him. How do I know they won't betray me? I helped them complete their mission, but do they need me anymore?"
Realizing the possible danger, he decided to again face Calin's killers. If they did turn out to be treacherous then at least he would be able to see the attackers and to respond appropriately. As he turned, however, he immediately regretted that choice.
With a swift movement Viscond averted his eyes to avoid looking at the grisly scene directly, but he had already seen enough. The exposed lungs gave a clear indication of what had caused the shuddering a few moments prior. As he waited for the sharpteeth to finish severing the head and tail from their kill, Viscond remembered how he had encountered them in the first place.
That scent... I would recognize that stench anywhere.
The hidden runner examined the scent carefully for any additional clues, but the amount of time that had passed clouded the details that scent usually left behind. The only thing that he could ascertain was that there were three scents were present on this small impression of a foot in the soft ground. The bitter musk of the hated foe, Calin. An acrid scent that smelled something like fear, but seemed quite out of place considering the fastbiter he was tracking. It was the third scent that made him pause, however. It was a very generalized scent that wasn't as musky as Calin's. It was almost feminine in a way... It was also much recent.
A sudden sound of rustling grass made Viscond rise to his feet, spear in hand. Within mere seconds his spear tip was within two paces of a fastbiter's face. The same fastbiter that he had just smelled.
"Ah, one of the hidden runners..." The fastbiter growled. "Haven't you had enough revenge?"
Viscond narrowed his eyes. He spoke in a controlled monotone in the sharptooth language.
"Calin's underlings don't concern me." He noted the twitch in the fastbiter's eyes as he said 'underling'. "It is Calin that I am after. I want his head."
Without warning, a male voice answered him.
"That might be a problem."
Viscond shifted to his left and noted with panic that another fastbiter had found him without his knowledge. Not taking any chances, he reared back and prepared to run when the male's voice called out again.
"Don't even try it, runner. We have you surrounded." Upon seeing Viscond tightly grip his spear and enter into a fighting position, the male smiled. "You obviously don't want to go down without a fight. Interesting..."
Viscond snarled. "You should know this already, you fiends! I fought you in the Battle of the Valley and I will fight you right here! Either retreat or die!"
The female seemed unfazed as she began to circle him, a movement which the male cut off with a single wave of his hand.
"Regardless of what my companions want, runner, I am only interested in killing my former leader. Now are you going to make yourself useful in that mission or are you going to die right here in this ravine?"
Viscond seethed. "Why should I trust you?!"
The male shrugged. "You probably shouldn't after all we have done to you... but believe it or not, hidden runner, we have a common enemy. That bastard Calin ordered us to kill your kind..."
Viscond shook his head. "You could have disobeyed... you could have assassinated him..."
The male roared in anger. "And risk having my family killed?!" Viscond stood in silence as the previously calm and collected fastbiter roared in uncontrollable rage. "My brother and sister were part of the pack, runner. They did not know the family relation, but all Calin knew was that they were my allies. If I killed Calin then Redclaw would not only kill us, he would kill those I loved. He already got my older brother; I couldn't afford to lose what was left of my family."
Viscond stood in silence. That was a piece of the puzzle that made everything click in the hidden runner's mind.
"You split up and joined the pack at different times... so that Calin wouldn't force you all to fight to join the pack..."
The fastbiter seemed surprised that the hidden runner would know this, but he nodded in confirmation anyway. Viscond continued without interruption.
"You remind me of the two in Seeker's pack. The two defectors."
The male's face darkened in an odd expression. It was a mixture of sympathy and anger, a very disturbing sight.
"They left in the middle of the night after we left the hidden runner lands... Kerwat, my older brother, considered taking my family and escaping , but I cautioned him against it... The others would be more watchful now for defectors... Maybe if I had listened to him then Kerwat would still be alive."
It was at this point that the female spoke up. "Nonsense, brother! You know that would have just gotten us all killed! We all did what we had to do."
Silence reigned for several moments as the brother and sister stared at one another in contemplative silence. Even the male fastbiter in the bushes, who Viscond could now smell but not see, had taken on a somber scent. Words could lie, but scents seldom did. He realized that this family had been hurt just as much as his by this fiend. It only took him a few seconds to make his decision.
"I will help you." The fastbiters turned their gaze towards him as he continued. "I am a great tracker. Between the four of us that bastard will not stand a chance. I will consider Calin's head settlement for the blood you have shed."
The male nodded slowly and tentatively stepped forward. "As I will consider Calin's head settlement for the blood your kind has shed." This was followed by a deep bow.
As Viscond bowed deeply to confirm the pact, he considered the path that lay ahead. Calin's own packmates were as much victims as Viscond's packmates were. Though he would never forget the terrible deeds of the last two seasons, he felt a fleeting sensation that the great evil that brought those deeds into the world would soon be snuffed out.
Without any further words, Viscond and the fastbiters departed. They had another fastbiter to hunt...
Viscond blinked away the memory as he could see the fastbiter approach. The head that he held between his fully extended jaws confirmed that the deed was done. Viscond's people had been avenged. Kerwat had been avenged. The great terror had finally been snuffed out.
Thud
As the head rolled to Viscond's feet, he stared in transfixed disgust at the sight. Very little remained that could identify the terrible fiend beside his tell-tale scent. Little skin remained on his face, which seemed to stare at the hidden runner in an expression of permanent terror. His empty eye sockets seemed to seek something that Calin could not find. Calin had been blind to the feelings of his fellow dinosaurs in life; it was only appropriate that he was blinded in death.
"I believe that we have kept our part of the bargain."
Viscond slowly looked up from the gory artifact as he looked into the fastbiter's face. Even from several paces away, the stench of blood and rage was overwhelming. To add to the horrific scene, the sharptooth was drenched in the fallen fastbiter's crimson blood. It was like something out of a nightmare. But Viscond would not be deterred by the horrific vision in front of him.
"So you have." Viscond stated plainly. He watched the fastbiter intently and kept his hands near the spear at his feet.
The fastbiter stared at him with an unreadable expression for several moments, but he did not move any closer. After a rather uncomfortable wait, the fastbiter spoke again.
"What will you do with the bastard's head?"
Viscond was tempted to tell the fastbiter that it wasn't any of his business, but he soon thought better of it. The sharpteeth had not betrayed him and he did not want to give them an excuse to do so. Nonetheless, he was not going to give up information without a fair exchange.
"What do you plan to do with Calin's tail? Are you so eager to see Seeker again after what he did to your packmates?"
The fastbiter smiled, which resulted in a decidingly creepy expression. "You have worked with us for several days, yet you do not trust us... well... my father always said that hidden runners only had two things in their favor: speed and brains." He twisted his mouth in an odd expression. "He didn't say anything about the pointed sticks though."
Crack!
In a swift movement, a fastbiter sprung from the bushes and landed on Viscond's spear, securing it to the ground. Terrified to the point of panic, he turned to run...
Only to see the fastbiter's sister staring right back at him. A growl from his younger brother confirmed to him that he was now surrounded on all sides. He looked to and fro with a panicked expression as he tried desperately to find any route of escape. But on this day his luck had finally ran out. Within moments he could feel the male fastbiter's breath on his shoulder. With rising anguish, he clinched his claws and prepared to fight one last battle. A battle that he knew would end with his death.
"If we were to kill you now then we would be no better than Calin."
Viscond turned ever so slowly in order to look the fastbiter in the eyes. The crimson orbs of the predator greeted his terrified opponent with an ominous glow. In that moment Viscond felt very helpless indeed. His voice radiated no pride as he answered the pack leader.
"Then don't do it."
The fastbiter stared at him for several more moments with an unreadable expression. The only thing that radiated emotion in the fastbiter were his brilliant eyes. The expression of regret in them closely matched the regret within Viscond's own heart. He deeply regretted what he would not have a chance to do now. He would never have a chance to be with Ignis. He would never have a chance to raise a family. He would never have a chance to have his story told by his own progeny...
"They say..." The fastbiter continued as if this were the most normal conversation in the world. "...that right before death you know exactly what it is that you wanted most in life. Many a child will call for their mothers... many a parent will call for their children... many mates will call for the loved ones that they will never see again..."
Viscond was quaking with anger and sadness now. He had no idea why the fastbiters were toying with him, but he would make sure that they paid in the end. He would not go down quietly.
"The leaf-eaters may think that we are heartless beasts, but we know far more about life than they ever will. You learn a lot about life when you see how your victims behave in their final moments. You, for example... you... are no coward. You're planning on attacking us right now. You are just waiting for an opening..."
Viscond took a deep breath as he prepared to make his move. He would strike at the leader as soon as the others pounced in his direction. Then it would all be over... But the carnivore's next words made him pause.
"What is it that you value most, runner? What is it that you most regret losing?"
Ignis... Viscond thought to himself. He would never get to tell her just how he felt...
"The gifts of sharpteeth are odd things, runner. When we kill one but spare another, it is seldom looked kindly by the survivor. We are the choosers of the dead, which also makes us the choosers of the living."
The eyes of the leader seemed to stare into his very soul as he could see the fastbiter start to retreat back.
"I do not know who you thought of when you thought that your end was near, but I know that look... I know that it was someone dear and close to you..."
Viscond tilted his head in confusion. When you thought that your end was near? Does that mean...
"Take it from someone who would give anything to embrace his brother once more..." As he said this he made a waving motion with his claws. "Do not hesitate in telling your loved one how you feel... life is precious and short... do not waste it."
Swoosh
Viscond turned as the two fastbiters that were behind him disappeared into the bushes. They had left him as quickly and mysteriously as they had ambushed him.
"The gifts of sharpteeth are often not understood. But you helped me avenge my brother on this day. Therefore, from one chooser of the dead to another, please accept this gift."
Viscond turned back towards the fastbiter with a questioning gaze.
Only to see a barren field. There was no trace of the pack. It was as if they had just vanished into thin air.
-----
The children had awed expression on their face as Littlefoot continued to recount the tale in song. Gone were the looks of boredom from the beginning of the song. From behind him, Ruby watched the scene with a pleased smile. Littlefoot's grandfather had been a storyteller back in the valley. She had no doubt that wherever that longneck's spirit now was, he was looking upon this scene with great pleasure. In the stillness of the night, the well-toned voice of the fastbiter continued to sing.
♪♪ As Ignis slept in her chamber cold
Viscond returned with a demeanor quite bold... ♪♪
-----
Viscond walked across the threshold of the hidden runner's territory with little of the respectful hesitancy that was normally expected upon entry. There were certain times when such pleasantries were not required. Completing a mission on behalf of the leader was one of those times.
And when you want to impress your detractors into silence is the other. Viscond noted to himself as a confident smirk appeared on his face. He did not know why the fastbiters had threatened him and then let him go, but it had left quite an impression on him. Life was too short for half measures. He had taken risks to drive Calin away after the attack on his brother's pack and now he resolved to take risks now in order to claim what was his.
"Stop intruder!"
Viscond stared at the form in front of him. A clearly nervous hidden runner stood in the darkness with his spear clearly shaking in his hands. This was one of the new recruits, he quickly realized. One of the newly promoted pack members who now had to fill in for those who had died in the great battle. He could not tell if the shaking of the novice was from fear of the perceived threat or from a heightened desire to prove himself. Either way, Viscond did not want to cause the lad any more distress.
"Relax, sentry. It is Viscond."
The hidden runner tightened his grip on the spear for a moment, which made Viscond fear that the sentry was about to attack, but then the young male pointed his spear to the ground.
"Oh... I'm sorry, sir... I..."
Viscond waved him off.
"Don't worry about it, Twig." He noted the look of shock as he mentioned the sentry by name. "A good sentry is a cautious sentry. Your father would have been proud."
Twig lowered his head in remembrance of his father who had died in the terrible battle. Ever since he had left on that fateful day, Twig had to grow up overnight. He was the one who now had to protect the pack. It was up to him to carry on his father's legacy...
Twig's thoughts were interrupted when Viscond put a hand on the young runner's right shoulder.
"I also know that your father would appreciate seeing this."
Twig stood mouth agape at the blood-stained head that Viscond held.
"Is that..."
"It is."
Twig's face darkened for a moment, before taking on a strange contemplative look. It was an expression that would be more appropriate on a hardened veteran than an insecure novice.
"I will escort you to the leader's chamber."
Viscond shook his head. "Thanks, Twig... but that is not..."
Twig silenced him with a wave of the hand.
"Sir, you are a deputy of the pack and the slayer of that butcherous bastard. What would my father have said if I let you enter the pack unprotected? A consort of the leader deserves better."
Viscond blinked. "I am not the leader's consort..."
Twig snorted at Viscond's hesitation. "Well you obviously intend to be, sir." It was at this point that Viscond realized that his motivations would have been plain for anyone to see. To stroll on into the pack's territory with a severed head in the direction of the leader's chambers in the middle of the night was more than a bit suggestive.
"Very well then, Twig. Lead on."
As the two hidden runners proceeded into the pack's territory, neither of them paid much attention to the various packmates that had been awakened by the commotion. Amongst them was a certain elderly female who wore a knowing smile.
Patience is a virtue, but so is boldness.
-----
"Great Leader!"
Ignis rose from her slumber in a near-panic. For her to be summoned in the middle of the night, it must be an emergency of some kind. Quickly flexing her legs she ran to the threshold of the chamber.
"What is the prob... oh."
Viscond stood at the threshold of the chamber as the sentry gave them both a quick bow and then retreated. Now it was just them in the chamber, though the sounds of mutterings outside seemed to indicate that much of the pack had risen from their slumber.
"My dear leader... I have accomplished my mission..."
Ignis smiled slightly as she struggled to control the relief that she felt. She would let him finish his ritual before she intervened.
"Calin is dead. Our people are avenged..."
Viscond stepped forward, his legs obviously shaking with nervousness as he picked up the macabre gift with both hands and raised it towards her. It was obvious that he was finding it difficult to find the proper words.
Ignis smiled more broadly now. My poor Viscond... brave enough to harass Calin's pack... brave enough to seek out battle in a mysterious land... brave enough to take in the great leader's daughter after she has defied him... but yet speaking to me causes him distress... That was when it came to her. Viscond was prepared to die during those battles. He had been prepared to send others to die. But he was not prepared to be told 'no' by the runner that he loved.
She frowned for a moment, which made Viscond nearly stop what he was doing. The head was still being held in front of him in the manner that a potential mate would present an offering of a hunt as proof of their worthiness, but his eyes now communicated fear. He feared for her answer. Luckily for him, his fear was unnecessary.
"Did your mother not tell you how to complete the ritual?" She asked coyly.
Viscond swallowed as Ignis placed her hands on the head of the fiend. He found himself wondering how could Ignis be so calm at this time? He was a nervous wreck.
"Repeat after me..." Ignis smiled as she could see the male tremble now. "Do you accept my gift and my offer?"
Viscond swallowed as he struggled to choke out the words. "Do you accept my offer and my gift?"
Ignis smiled as he bungled the words in his nervousness. "Close enough." As she secured the head away from Viscond's possession and threw it unceremoniously to the side of the chamber, the sound of the head rolling away could be heard. It was the only thing that broke the silence until she whispered into his ear.
"The answer is yes, by the way."
As the two retired to another area of the cave, neither of them paid any attention to the scrape that had occupied Ignis's attention for many nights. If they had, then they would have noticed a new marking that had been made into the rock.
-----
♪♪ For as Ignis had learned in nights tense
A leader's perch was a heavy burden ♪♪
♪♪ But as she found solace in patience
A lover's boldness made her salvation certain ♪♪
As Littlefoot concluded the song, he looked down at the assembled children. Their eyes were bursting with excitement at the brown fastbiter's story. Though the romantic overtones would be lost on the little ones until they were older, the moral of the story would certainly make an impact.
"As Ignis found out on that day, both patience and boldness are necessary. If you are bold and lack patience then you will make rash decisions, but if you are patient but lack boldness then you will succeed at nothing." He smiled at the children as they began to nod at his words. "Part of growing up is finding out when to be which."
"See?" Biter suddenly exclaimed. "Daddy is telling you to be more patient, sis!"
Littlefoot rolled his eyes as Swipe rose to her feet and prepared to pummel her brother.
"Oh yeah? Well daddy is telling you to not be so bold! How did biting daddy's tail end up for you?"
Ruby then stepped in between the children. "No more fighting tonight, kids!" She chided them gently. "Daddy was talking to you both."
This caused Biter to smirk. "I know momma, but I was just kidding with sis."
This causes Taunt to speak up. "Beware, Biter. He who pokes buzzer nests often gets trouble... though that never stopped me in the past."
"Trust us. We notice." Petrie muttered from above, which earned a few chuckles from the assembled dinosaurs. However, after a few moments silenced reigned again. That was, until one of Spike and Breeze's children began to yawn.
At this point Cera rose to her feet. "Well, children. I think that it is time for all of you to go to bed. You have all had a busy day."
"But mom... we are not..." The female's protest was cut short as she yawned deeply. Littlefoot smiled. Cera's daughter had just excellently illustrated Cera's point.
"You see, kids." Taunt was now taking the opportunity to speak. "Your mother is right for once." He dodged the inevitable swipe from Cera as the kids giggled at their parent's antics. "We can listen to new songs tomorrow."
"Yep, yep, yep!" Ducky exclaimed. "Young hunters need plenty of sleep. We can do this tomorrow. Say goodnight to everyone, children."
-----
Within moments, each of the parents had safely tucked their younglings into their nests. The sound of restful snores greeted the night as the warm summer air hung over them all like a comforting blanket. However, two sharpteeth yet remained awake on this night.
"Not sleeping yet? That is odd for you."
Taunt looked over at his mate with an amused expression.
"Hmm... hoping to attack me while I am asleep and defenseless?"
This cased Cera to put on a cheeky smile.
"Nah, it is more amusing to attack you when you are awake. You scream like a leaf-eater youngling."
This earned an obscene gesture from Taunt, as Cera stuck out her tongue in response.
"You're such a bad influence on our children." Cera mocked. This earned her a playful swipe, which soon descended into a play fight that caused them to tumble head over heels until they crashed into a nearby tree. Luckily for them, however, only a snore from one of their children greeted their ears, which soon dissipated into restful sleep. Neither of them wanted to explain to their children why mommy and daddy were play-fighting after their friends Biter and Swipe had gotten in trouble for the same thing. With that scare dealt with, however, both of them curled up next to one another and began to nuzzle one another affectionately. It was only then that Taunt decided to say what was on his mind.
"I was thinking about telling the children about when we took back the territory."
Cera looked at him with a serious expression. Her face was calm, but her eyes were clearly concerned.
"That... story gets quite dark later on..." Cera noted. "It is one thing to hear about the enemies that we have struck down. It is quite another to hear about what nearly drove us all apart."
Taunt placed his hand on her shoulder. "I know... but the sooner that they hear that part of the story then the sooner they can hear about what kept us all together."
Cera smiled. "What would our kids think if they knew that you were such a softie at heart?"
Taunt rolled his eyes and ignored his mate's putdown. "Alright then, it is agreed. We will sing the tales that led to our children." He smiled as he placed his head in the nape of her neck. "Where do you think we should begin, dear?"
Cera yawned as sleep threatened to overtake her. Before it did, however, she thought of a fine starting point.
"I think that when we left Hanging Rock would be a good start. I am sure that Ruby wants a turn to sing..."
-
Well, the story about how things in the territory of the Hidden Runners went on is interesting :) A story including both exciting and teaching parts. :yes
As for the next one... that sounds even more exciting!
The pack gossip isn't about who your first made will be; it is about your second..."
Mate. Unless it's meant to be "made".
-
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, this chapter was kind of a start-up for the concept before moving on to the stories involving the pack members themselves. It also shows us that the storytellers are adding tidbits to teach the kids morality tales. We may or may not see more of that in the future, I haven't quite decided yet.
Also thanks for the correction. :) I should have the next chapter up in about a week.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/3/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/3/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
(Note: that link also has a character list for any of you who may be confused)
NIGHT 2: TAKING WHAT IS YOURS
Chapter 2: Awareness
Ha! I don't think they will see me here!
A pair of small red eyes peeked between the thick foliage of the tree. Despite being nearly ten feet up in the air, not even the eyes were visible from the ground. His orange body and black crest were expertly covered by the thick vines that descended from the monstrous plant like a squid devouring a shark. Only a slight creaking could be heard from where the predator's claws dug into the bark. Otherwise, the silent sentinel left no scent and no sound for his pursuers.
Pounce wanted to win at this game for once.
-----
"Damn it!" Ambush exclaimed. "I think we lost him!"
Cera opened one eye upon hearing her daughter's exclamation. With her yellow body and orange crest, Ambush looked just like a miniature version of her mother. This similarity extended into their personality as well as the only thing that exceeded Ambush's pride was her desire to win at all costs. Nonetheless, she wasn't about to let her daughter talk like that.
"Ambush... What have we told you about language?"
Cera smirked from her vantage point beside a large tree. She could clearly see her daughter go through several emotions. Embarrassment... annoyance... then pride... As soon as she saw the prideful expression, she knew exactly how her daughter was going to react.
"But he cheated!" Came the protest. "He knew that he couldn't outrun us, so the little coward went and hid!"
It was at this point that she could feel her mate stir beside her. It seemed that the post-meal nap had finally met its end due to the raucousness of their children. Had this been any other family then the parents might have had stronger words for their little ones. But this was par the course for Cera's younglings.
And she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Well..." As he began to speak, Cera turned her head in order to look at her mate. "Sometimes cowardice is the best plan, Ambush. If I remember correctly, it was you who was on your mother's back when Pounce and Sprint came after you last night."
A muffled "hmrph!" reached her ears and Cera did not need to look over to see her daughter's expression. Having made that face many times in her younger days, it seemed only fitting that she hear its echoes as an adult. Barely suppressing a chuckle, she decided to make this a learning experience for her young ones.
"So, little ones, Pounce got away from you. The question is: what did you do wrong?"
Ambush's response was immediate. "I didn't do anything wrong! I..."
Cera was resolute. "...you took your eyes off of your prey." At that affirmation Ambush averted her eyes and did not meet her mother's gaze. Pride had turned swiftly into shame.
Someone who thinks themselves perfect will never live up to their expectations. Cera thought to herself. Was it Thicknose that said that or was it one of those weird rainbowfaces? She snorted. Either way they had a point.
"Look at me, Ambush." Cera spoke softly. She could see Sprint began to turn his eyes towards his sister as well, which would make her even more reluctant to face her mother. "You look this way too, Sprint." Her son slowly turned in her direction with a concerned look. He was undoubtedly worried that he was in trouble for some reason. Finally, with a pensive sigh, both children were looking in her direction.
Cera gave them a reassuring smile. Now that she had established dominance in the conversation it was time drop the pretense of confrontation. Now listen to the lesson, hatchlings...
"What is the first step to solving a problem?" Cera asked rhetorically.
Silence reigned for several moments before Sprint finally spoke up.
"Um... I guess to know what the problem is?"
Cera nodded. "Exactly right, Sprint. We can't find answers until we ask questions." She then looked towards Ambush, who now seemed completely over her embarrassment. Just like an experienced hunter, she had forgotten her failure as soon as a new prospect had come along. She had failed in her 'hunting' of Pounce, but perhaps she could redeem herself by solving her mother's riddles. This was exactly the reaction that her mother had anticipated.
"I followed with my eyes, instead of my sniffer." Ambush finally deduced.
Cera nodded. "Correct, dear. Remember what Path always says? When having scent, track and sprint; when having sight, claw and bite. You did it backwards."
Ambush nodded sadly, but then quickly spoke with improved spirits. "Maybe if I can catch his scent again then I can find him... then claw and bite!"
Laughter erupted from behind Cera as the tell-tale sound of Taunt's voice responded to his over-eager daughter.
"I think that we should avoid the claw and bite, dear." A smirk was clearly present on his face as Ambush looked disappointed. "But perhaps if we help you to use your sniffer then Pounce will have a harder time hiding from you next time." Then his face suddenly turned stern. "But no more biting!"
Ambush sighed and bowed her head. "Yes, daddy..."
With a smirk on her face, Cera leaned over to her mate.
"How long do you think that promise will last?"
Taunt snorted. "I'm hoping until at least the end of the night."
Without warning, Cera nipped him on the tail, which caused him to yelp.
"Optimist."
-----
Scrape... Scrape... Scrape...
The rose-colored fastbiter stared at her handiwork as she continued to claw at the large sticks. The wood here was not as hard as it was back in the Land of Shallow Waters. The rich soil and temperate climate led to a softer wood that made it far more prone to breaking when used as a weapon. As a result, one had to be more careful in how the deadly tools were prepared.
"Rubbish." Ruby uttered in judgment before quickly throwing one spear to the side. Only the other two had the right structure to be used in their hunts.
Hmmm... It looks like I will need some harder wood... looks like that we will need to...
"Ha! I told you that you couldn't catch me!"
Ruby looked up from her work, to see Cera's children rapidly approach from their mother's nesting area. The cheeky response had come from their son Pounce, but Ruby knew all too well that he would not remain unanswered for very long.
"But we did catch you!"
"Only with momma's help! You couldn't find me otherwise!"
Ruby smiled as the clearly amused forms of the children's parents came into view. Cera was rolling her eyes, while Taunt seemed to be getting ready to intervene if the children started fighting.
"Unh uh! We could!"
"Then why didn't you, oh great hunter?!"
"Why you little..."
Just then Taunt moved in-between the children, which caused Pounce to look over his father's tail and stick his tongue out at his siblings. This earned an obscene gesture from Ambush, while Sprint simply laughed at the entire exchange. Unlike his two siblings, Pounce was far more laid back, but he still retained his father's sense of humor.
"Pounce! Sprint!"
Biter's voice called out into the night as he came running into the clearing.
"Ambush!"
Swipe's voice echoed shortly thereafter. With the entry of Ruby's two children, the dispute between Cera's siblings was quickly forgotten. However, before the siblings could engage in another game, a booming voice echoed into the night.
"Hello younglings!"
In an instant the children were frozen in terror as the ground shook with tremendous force. The trees almost seemed to part as the beast's head emerged from between their green foliage. His eyes were as red as blood itself and his voice echoed with the terrible fury of a thunderstorm. As the footsteps became louder, the children's terror turned into action as they sought refuge from behind their respective mothers. That was when the booming laughter started.
"That not nice, Path!" Came a voice from the skies above. "But it funny!"
It was only now that her father and the other parents came into view from behind the violet beast, that Swipe realized what had just transpired.
"Path, you tricked us! You meanie!"
Chomper laughed at the younglings condemnation. "Yep! you should have seen the looks on your faces!" His expression soon took on a more benign look, however. "A little biter just told me that you all were telling some stories tonight."
Littlefoot looked up at the purple sharptooth with an annoyed expression, which caused the remainder of the pack to chuckle to themselves.
"Little biter, huh?" Littlefoot smirked at his companion, who know was over twice his height. "If that is the way that it is going to be then I suppose that we could start calling you by your old leaf-eater name..."
Littlefoot swiftly dodged the mock bite that came his way from Chomper. Despite the supposed attack, however, everyone knew that their banter was in jest. It was then that Taunt finally spoke up.
"Well, when our dear leader is done antagonizing Mr. Purple Ass over there..." This preamble earned him obscene gestured from both dinosaurs and laughs from his children. "I think that we should get started... We have a lot to cover if we are going to tell the kids the entire story about how we retook our territory."
Ruby pondered Taunt's words as her mate settled down beside her. If they were going to sing the song of the reclaiming of their lands then that had to mean...
"You want me to sing the first song?" She asked with surprise. "It is a song that I haven't sung in a long time. If it hadn't been such a long time then I wouldn't mind singing the song."
Littlefoot smiled at Ruby's hesitation. Oh my dear... you are always the last to agree to sing, but one of the best singers...
"You will do fine, dear." Littlefoot spoke softly as he tried to calm his mate's nerves. "The reclaiming of the lands was something that began with a lot of pondering..." He then added his final words with a bit of mirth. "I think that it is a tale best sung by Ponder."
Ruby gave him a glare, but there was no malice in it. "You know that every time that you make that joke, I ponder your demise, don't you dear?"
In response Littlefoot gave a mocking bow at her critique of his sense of humor. "I am named Seeker, am I not? I seek humor, that doesn't mean that I have found it."
Ruby snorted in amusement. "Well... If you don't mind the first song being a bit rough, then I guess that I can get us started." Upon seeing her mate's smile, she couldn't help but smile as well. "Alright, children, gather around! It is time for all of you to hear another story."
Cheers of excitement erupted from the children as they sprinted towards the rose-colored fastbiter. Within moments twelve children were at her feet and several flyers were in the tree above her head. All of them had their desire to play evaporate at the prospect of another story from years ago. The anticipation in their eyes was contagious for everyone around.
Ruby looked around her for a moment, as the adults all proceeded to lounge around outside of the circle that the children had made. Even Chomper had laid down in order to hear the story. It was at that moment that she realized that Chomper was over six years their younger and was only now making that transition from child to adult. It was in times like this that she could still see the innocent excitement of the little biter in the eyes of the massive predator. In that instant she realized that despite all of the changes over the last several years, that they were still the same deep inside. This gave her the confidence to begin her song.
"Alright, children. Let me tell you of a time before you were even eggs. A time before we came to the Land of Two Forests... a time of both great hope and great uncertainty... a time when we decided to retake what was ours... Now how did my song start? Oh yes..."
♪♪ The land turned green as Spring appeared
But doubts arose as the time of parting drew near ♪♪
-----
Several years ago:
Bones... only bones remained of the tail of their once hated foe. As Ruby absently admired the bleached white appearance of the pack's morbid trophy, she found her thoughts turning to uncomfortable subjects.
"Look at what remains of you now, Calin." Ruby mocked the collection of white bones. "A few bones... No children will mourn you... nor will any songs sing your name..." She smirked slightly, though no humor was in her voice. "Well... besides our songs. Despite your best efforts, we remain. We remain despite your best efforts."
Despite how petty it seemed, she couldn't help herself. The bastard had tried to take so much from her... her life... the lives of those whom she loved... her dear friend...
"Having a conversation with our old friend?"
Ruby jumped with surprise. She had not heard her close friend approach until after he was right behind her.
"Seeker!" Ruby hissed in surprise.
Littlefoot laughed, which made a deep growling sound echo across Hanging Rock. "It's alright, I will leave you two to your conversation." The smile on his face indicated that he knew very well that his mocking tone would earn him a sharp rebuke. He didn't have to wait long to get the expected response, as he easily dodged Ruby lazy attempt at swiping him with her claws.
"Oh... you're asking for it!" Ruby threatened as her muzzle erupted into a wide smile. Littlefoot returned her smile as he playfully swiped at her face with his claws, which earned him a tackle from the amused fastbiter. Before either of them could engage in any more play fighting, both of them were laughing uncontrollably as they rolled on the ground. Their antics seemed quite suggestive to a certain flyer who happened to be flying into the area.
"Well, well, well... should we be expecting eggs in the summer?"
Both of the fastbiters rose from their prone positions and looked up at the flyer that had made that comment.
"Pterano?!"
Pterano made a wide shrug with his wings as he stood on a tree nearby. His face clearly indicated that he was talking in jest, but his words betrayed no such knowledge.
"It's alright. I can return later when you two are not so occupied..."
Littlefoot glared at the flyer as he shook the dirt off of himself. "Oh, get on with it, Pterano! What news do you bring from the valley?"
Pterano placed a wing to his chest in an expression of pain. "Oh, such words... it is as if no one appreciates me..." He then dropped all pretenses of being insulted by the fastbiter's protest and took on a wide smile. "I actually bring good tidings from Detras and Pearl."
Ruby's mood immediately improved at this news. "What does mommy and daddy say?!"
Pterano grinned. "First of all they send their best wishes to all of you and especially to their daughter." Ruby beamed at this. "Arial and Orchid also send their greetings, but they wish to tell Littlefoot that his brother is a 'meanie'."
Littlefoot laughed at the sudden turn in the message. Pterano was obviously trying to keep from cracking up as well as his formal style of delivering a message didn't really fit the ponderings of little kids. This caused him to ask an obvious question.
"And exactly why do Ruby's siblings think that my brother a 'meanie', Pterano?"
Pterano barely suppressed a chuckle as he responded. "From what I can gather, it seems that the little ones decided that it would be fun to hide from him when he was supposed to be watching them. This caused Shorty to get into trouble..." A smile erupted from his face. "Shorty had a rather interesting little revenge planned for the young ones though as this was sweet bubble day..."
"Uh oh..." Littlefoot had an idea where this was going.
Pterano nodded. "Exactly. So Shorty 'requested' that he be grounded for the day, but that the younglings be grounded with him. That way they could watch the others eat the sweet bubbles while they could not."
Littlefoot smirked. "I take it that a certain other longneck actually came up with this plan?"
Pterano smirked. "It was Bron's idea and Shorty went along with it, though the younglings blame 'Boulder' for it." He chuckled at Shorty's nickname. "Bron and Ruby's folks eventually gave them all sweet bubbles afterwards."
Ruby smiled. "I am glad to hear my brother and sister are doing well! If they weren't doing well then I wouldn't be glad!" She paused for a moment. "But they really need to learn to not hide from their watchers, because sharpteeth can be anywhere!"
Pterano deadpanned. "Yes, like right under me."
Ruby placed her hands on her hips with an indignant expression. "Oh, you know what I mean!"
Littlefoot soothed her friend's concerns. "I am sure that they will be careful when they leave the valley, Ruby. They just... really like to pester my brother."
Ruby nodded at this, though her concerns still remained.
A cough from above soon made them look up again, however. It appeared that Pterano still had more to report than the usual banter from their loved ones.
"I still have words from Bron and the others to say to the pack... but there is something that both of you should probably hear first."
"Oh?" Both fastbiters asked simultaneously.
Pterano nodded slowly as he seemed to look uncomfortable all of a sudden. "Yes... it is spring now and summer is approaching... The times of nests and eggs is coming soon."
Littlefoot was about to protest Pterano pestering him and Ruby again for their wrestling match from earlier, when he suddenly realized what Pterano was getting at. The time for nests and eggs was soon approaching for the valley... which meant...
"My family has to return to Hanging Rock." Ruby deduced at the same time. "The valley doesn't want egg stealers around when the time comes."
"Exactly." Pterano affirmed. "Not to mention that it wouldn't be safe for them... it would only take one misunderstanding..."
Ruby nodded as she turned towards Littlefoot. This was not unexpected news really, but it did mean that they couldn't put things off for much longer.
"We have to leave my family's home, so that they can have their home back!" Ruby exclaimed.
Littlefoot nodded. "And there isn't as much food for Path's parents anymore..." There was still enough for the pack, but the somewhat agitated looks from Dein and Terri after their recent hunts indicated that they were having more difficulty. Hungry sharpteeth and a vulnerable family did not make for a good combination.
Ruby gave him a sad smile. "...but before we get our home back, we may have to reclaim our home."
Littlefoot's face darkened at that affirmation. Within moments he gave Pterano his orders.
"Pterano, I will assemble the pack so that you can give all of them the news from their folks... but then we have to make some important decisions..."
Pterano looked at the brown fastbiter with a concerned expression. "Should I tell Petrie to get Path's folks?"
Littlefoot nodded. "Yeah. The pack needs to make some really hard decisions. They will all need to be there."
-----
Sigh... I never thought that going back home would make me feel home sick.
Ruby paced around the enormous rock that gave Hanging Rock its name as she pondered her feelings. At that moment all she could feel was a confusing jumble of agitation, fear for the future, and regret that she could no longer stay at her old home. Despite the fact that her family was not present, she still felt great affinity for this place. All of her formative memories as a child had this majestic location as their setting. Leaving Hanging Rock for the Mysterious Beyond felt like a second death in a way. Or would that be a third death? First she had left for the Great Valley in order to watch over Chomper... then she had changed and had to join the pack in the search for Chomper's parents... now here she was once more seeking out her future in the uncertain lands across the horizon.
"I imagine that it must be hard for you."
Ruby looked up at the calm, fatherly voice that greeted her. It would have been impossible for her to imagine assigning the word 'fatherly' to anything related to Thud prior to her change, but now she could clearly hear the wisdom that came from raising a child of his own. Without her ever saying a word to him, he had deduce the cause of her distress.
Ruby simply nodded, which Thud took as an invitation to continue.
"My family traveled a lot when I was young, so I never got attached to any one place. My father always said that home was people, not a place."
Ruby sighed. "I miss my family... I know that we have to be apart and I know that Pterano will allow us to talk, but..." She looked around at the majestic peak and gestured with her hands. "After being here for so many days... it just..."
Thud looked at her without blinking. "Started to sink in?"
Ruby nodded. "Yeah..."
Thud didn't say a word for several moments as he picked up a rock and gave it a cursory sniff. This struck Ruby as odd, but she said nothing until the fastbiter handed her the ordinary looking stone.
"What do you smell when you sniff this stone?"
Ruby gave him a bemused expression, but accepted the rock nonetheless. With a deep breath she scrutinized the scents with great attention to detail, which made her report all the more underwhelming.
"Well... I smell your scent on the rock... you are somewhat tired and concerned..." She twisted her mouth as her report continued. "I smell a slight hint of ground fuzzy... but that scent is at least a day old..." She then gave him a helpless expression. "I am sorry, Thud... I smell nothing interesting on this rock. This rock has nothing that smells interesting."
Thud nodded. "Exactly."
Ruby was utterly confused now. "Huh?"
Thud continued as if the lesson was the most obvious in the world. "A rock is just a rock and a land is just a land; it is people that give a place its worth. As long as you remember your parents and honor them with your actions, what does it matter that they are right next to you or days away?" Ruby looked down to ponder this as he finished. "It is this place that made you feel so lonely... but remember that your memories will never leave you and neither will your packmates."
Ruby sighed as she gave Thud a gentle nuzzle. The gesture conveyed the affection that a child would have for a beloved uncle. In a way that is what Thud was now. An older fastbiter who had showed them all the ways of their new kind. On this day, it seemed that he had to teach a lesson that Ruby had already learned long ago, but she still had to be reminded.
"Thanks, Thud... I knew all of this but I guess..."
Thud waved her off. "It is alright, Ponder. Sometimes we all just need to be reminded of what is really important." He then looked above her head, before putting on a slight smile. "Like avoiding my son's playful banter for example..."
In a swift movement, both fastbiters stepped back from one another and took on stern expressions. Neither of them wanted to be accused of affectionate relations by the master of insult himself. After all, Taunt needed little help in coming up with new banter to amuse and annoy his fellow packmates. He would have material for weeks to come if he had caught his father and his best friend's companion locked in an embrace.
As the thunderous footsteps of Dein and Terri began to echo across the bluffs and Taunt's playful banter began to enter into earshot, Ruby asked the elder fastbiter one final question.
"Do you think that we should find a new land or reclaim what was once ours?"
Thud shrugged. "We should most certainly find a new land that could support us. There are many lands which can support two packs of fastbiters. With the loss of Redclaw there are many places available in the Mysterious Beyond... but never underestimate the pride of a two-footer, Ponder."
Ruby nodded. "Dein and Terri will not give up the Land of Shallow Waters without a fight... and allies stick together."
Thud nodded. "The meeting's decision has already been made, Ponder, but I think that we are the only two who are aware of that fact." He looked down at her with a sad smile. "Nonetheless, let's join in this charade... as Brekan the Cruel once said: even if you can't stop the war, you might be able to pick the battles."
Thud did not realize how important those words would be in the moments that were to follow.
-----
Present day:
"What does that mean, momma?"
Ruby paused as Spike's son, Nibble, asked Breeze his question. He was greeted by a swift "shush!" from his brother, Sniffer. However, before Spike or Breeze could intervene, Ruby responded with a smile.
"You will just have to wait and see, kids." Despite the interruption she was thrilled with their interest.
"I am sure that mommy and daddy whooped however was in their land!" Biter affirmed with pride. "After killing Calin, who could scare them?"
Seeker coughed from the side, as he cautioned his son. "Any battle can be dangerous, Biter. In fact if you ever go into a battle comfortable then that surely means that defeat lies ahead."
Cera echoed this sentiment. "Battles for territory are not like play fights. In play fights the loser usually doesn't die."
As Biter sighed after having his prideful boast swept aside, his sister decided to ask the obvious question.
"So what did happen, momma?"
Ruby smiled. What the kids lacked in patience they certainly made up for in interest. She decided to waste no time in getting back to her song, lest the questions continue.
"That is what I am about to sing to you. The meeting was very tense...now how did that verse go? Oh yes..."
♪♪ As friend and ally argued and mused
It appeared that consensus was going to be refused ♪♪
-----
The meeting:
"I don't care who stands against us! They will fall!"
Thud closed his eyes at the verbal onslaught from the enraged sharptooth. Dein's response to the idea of seeking out a new territory was predictable, but no less depressing. It was once thing to leave the Mysterious Island which never had plentiful food, but it was quite another for him to think about leaving a place for which he had sacrificed so much.
"Redclaw couldn't take our land from us and I will be damned if anyone else will!"
Ah, so there it is... Thud thought to himself. Back when Terri was injured by Redclaw... He will not yield now.
Silence reigned for several moments after the sharptooth's tirade. Not even Terri spoke as she considered her mate's reaction. It was clear to everyone involved that the idea of vacating the Land of Shallow Waters was out of the question. Either they would help Dein and Terri reclaim their land after they left Hanging Rock, or they would have to vacate their alliance. After so much shared hardship and pain in the Battle of the Valley, no one contemplated that step.
Littlefoot was the one to finally break the silence.
"Very well. We will retake the Land of Shallow Waters." At this affirmation Dein noticeably became less tense, but Littlefoot still looked quite concerned. Thud noted the look of concentration on his face. He was now witnessing 'Seeker the diplomat' more than 'Seeker the pack leader'. Littlefoot knew as well as Thud did that he could not win through dominance in a battle of wills with a dinosaur many times his size. Here he had to use words.
"However..." Thud noted that Ruby edged closer to her companion as Littlefoot prepared to shift the conversation. Dein's eyes glared at him like daggers. "We need to determine the best way to prepare."
"The best way to prepare?!" Dein countered. "You enter the lands and call out your challenge! Let the challengers fall where they stand!"
"But dad!" Chomper protested at this. "Where would that have gotten us in the valley? We would all be dead!"
Dein seemed to consider this for a moment as his prideful rant was stopped before it could again reach full steam.
"Well..." Dein began. "That was many sharpteeth, son... a challenge for territory won't be like that."
It was at this point that Thud noticed Terri edge closer to her mate. Now that Chomper had caused him to shift his line of reasoning, she was no doubt now moving in to drive home the point. A mate always knows when to make their move. Thud noted with some amusement. Which is good because none of us can make that move!
"But we don't know that, dear." Terri spoke softly. "I think that Seeker is just wondering how we make sure that our challenge to any newcomers gets the job done..."
Littlefoot wasted no time in using Terri's opening.
"Yes. Certainly. Absolutely."
Thud had to resist laughing at Littlefoot's nervous affirmation at that moment. He doubted that he could have lasted as long under Dein's scrutiny as Littlefoot had and still remained composed. He certainly did not last as long when Redclaw had made demands upon him back when he and the beast were allies. He had simply obeyed. His recollections of his own cowardice, however, was soon interrupted by the rest of Littlefoot's statement.
"...we need to know who is in the lands and what their intentions are. Some may stay and fight, but most will probably leave if it comes to that."
Before he realized what he was doing, Thud said something that his father had once told him. "Sometimes if you take on the strongest then the weaker ones will flee... but if you go after the weaker ones first then the stronger ones can strike you when you are injured."
This caused an immediate response from Dein. "The weaklings run from the giant's fall, but the giants run towards the weakling's cry."
Cera spoke next. "Bash the biggest in the face, so that the others know their place." Upon seeing everyone stare at her with bemused expressions, with Taunt's stare bordering on amusement, she decided to clarify. "Umm... It was a threehorn saying... it means the same thing."
It was at this point that Taunt decided to spare his friend any further embarrassment. "So we need to attack the biggest bastard over there so the others know that we are the boss. Got it. But how do we go about that?" His question seemed to make something revert in Dein's eyes, which made Thud sigh. He knew where this was going. "What if the big sharptooth in the area already has allies? What if a one-on-one fight is not possible?"
"You see!?" Dein exclaimed. "This is why I said that we should just do it the traditional way! The better sharptooth wins and gets the land!"
Despite his best efforts, Littlefoot couldn't keep his mouth shut this time. "Yes... and the loser dies."
The meeting then descended into a confusing mix of arguments and exclamations. Ducky and Spike were both trying to suggest the advantages of going to another land for their territory, which would more than likely be free of significant challenges. Meanwhile, Littlefoot and Cera were both arguing for the virtues of making raids into the territory until a better picture of the situation could develop. Even Leap and Swift seemed to be getting involved in the conversation as they proposed leading the biggest inhabitant into a trap with one of them being the bait. However, in the chaotic symphony of voices, no one was really hearing any other. Littlefoot was quite adept at keeping his own pack organized, as was Thud with his, but with two unbound two-footers in the conversation there was really no one to take control of the meeting. The result was chaos.
Thud sighed. Had he been aware of how the Great Valley meetings typically went then he might have found some amusement with this turn of events, but as it was it only made him feel depressed. He owed Chomper's parents a lot, but he feared that their current line of thinking would either lead to a breakup of the alliance or a potentially fatal battle. He was at a total loss. He had no idea what words could possible lead to a consensus in the fracturing meeting. That was when something caught his eye.
Ruby appeared to be muttering to herself when, suddenly, Thud could see Petrie behind her. The two were obviously discussing something that was quite engaging as neither paid much attention to the arguments around them. He was about to put this curious development aside for a moment in order to round up his packmates, when Ruby did something that made him pause.
She winked at him and whispered something in his general direction.
This caught Thud by surprise and he had no idea what she had said. However, when she whispered again, he could catch the words that she mouthed out.
Play along.
He barely had any time to consider this when she walked into the middle of the clearing.
"Can I have everyone's attention?"
The sound of roaring voices and growling protests greeted Thud's ears as it was obvious that no one could hear what the fastbiter had said. Thud decided to rectify this situation.
"SHUT UP!"
The sounds died down as everyone stared in Thud's direction. Dein appeared ready to react unkindly to Thud's interruption when Ruby finally decided to speak.
"Thank you! I had an idea." Ruby walked between Taunt and Littlefoot as if she were unaware that they had been involved in a heating argument mere moments before. "A great dinosaur once said something about situations such as this: 'even if you can't stop the war, you might be able to pick the battles.'"
This reference to one of his childhood heroes stopped Dein in his tracks. "Brekan the Cruel..."
Ruby nodded. "Yes. He was right, of course... if you know that a war must be fought then it is best to pick your battles. If we know who we are up against then we will have a better chance against our enemies. A better chance against our enemies we will have."
Thud stepped forward. It seems that Ponder has learned diplomacy from Seeker... He paused. No... She told me that she was originally sent to the valley to build support against Redclaw... they must have learned from one another... He looked again at Ruby's companion, the now bemused Littlefoot. One leads from the front and the other leads from behind... A sudden realization then hit him. Speaking of leading, I think it is time for me to help.
"Yes... If Spotter can spot our enemies then that will give us a better idea of what we are dealing with." Thud offered tentatively. As soon as he saw the thankful nod from Ruby, he knew that he had played his role well.
Dein sighed. "Fine. That sounds reasonable enough." He then looked straight at the flyer, which from Thud's point of view almost looked similar to a fastbiter looking at a fly. "Spotter, you tell us what we are dealing with and meet us back at the lowlands."
Now it was Littlefoot's turn to be confused. "The lowlands?"
Dein growled. "Yes, the lowlands. We move out tomorrow."
With that he promptly stormed off, which resulted in Terri giving the fastbiters an apologetic nod. The lack of adequate food had obviously not done Dein's mood any favors and the packs were the recipients of his wrath on this day. It was only when the two-footers were out of earshot that the banter between the packs continued.
"Goodness. I thought Dein was going to eat you for a moment, Seeker!" Taunt joked.
Littlefoot gave Taunt a deadpan stare. "...and yet you didn't try to save me?"
At this point Thud saw his son shrug. "I am sure that if he would have eaten you that I could have avenged you bravely! ...by quickly biting his ankle and then running off."
Thud rolled his eyes as he bumped into his son in a playful way. "I am sure that your leader finds your commitment overwhelming, son." Upon not responding to his son's cheeky smile, which Thud was sure that his son was making, he addressed Ruby. "That was some diplomatic maneuvering there, Ponder. I am impressed."
Littlefoot nodded. "Yes, you did great, Ponder! When the meeting went out of control again, I thought that it was as good as over."
Ruby sighed. "I may have fought Dein's ego, but it is the enemies that I am afraid of. I fear that they will require more than words."
It was at this point that Ducky spoke up. "But what if the enemy is stronger than us and Dein still wants to fight? That scares me, it does, it does!"
Chomper grunted resolutely. "I will not abandon my mommy and daddy!"
Thud watched as Littlefoot looked in Chomper's direction with a sad smile. The smaller sharptooth seemed to become more uncertain at his friend's glance.
"What if they fight and lose, Path? What if it turns out that the pack is better off on its own?"
Chomper opened his mouth before closing it in an uncertain gesture. Finally he spoke in a small voice.
"I will follow the pack, Seeker. I made that choice long ago... but please don't just abandon them!"
Littlefoot raised a hand and nodded in a placative manner.
"Don't worry, Path. I am sure that this won't come to that... but it will one day. A pack stays together, but alliances shift."
Ruby stared at Littlefoot with an unsure expression. "Seeker? What is on your mind?"
But Littlefoot did not appear to hear her as he began to give orders to Petrie and the others. Petrie would soon have to scout their old territory and the others would need to relocate to the lowlands to build up their strength. Only then would their reclaiming of the Land of Shallow Waters become a possibility. The look that Ruby gave Littlefoot when he was finished though communicated volumes to the fastbiter leader. It was then with a heavy sigh that he waved off the others and gestured for Thud and Ruby to approach him, which they did with growing trepidation.
"We need to talk."
-----
Present day:
"And that is the Song of Awareness."
Ruby looked down at the kids and nearly broke down laughing as Biter's mouth hung agape and Swipe had her head tilted in an angle that communicated confusion. It was Ambush who broke the silence, however.
"And then what happened?!"
Ruby smiled at Cera's daughter as she addressed her with fake nonchalantness.
"Well... you will have to wait for the next song to find out..." She then looked upwards at Petrie and gave him a wink. "Speaking of which... it is getting dark... perhaps we should have Spotter sing his song tomorrow..."
The result was instantaneous.
"No! Mommy!"
"I'm not even tired!"
"You can't start a story and not finish it!"
"Don't be a meanie!"
Ruby laughed slightly at the protests of the children, but the other adults did not hold back. It was obvious that they were not going to sleep as soon as the Bright Circle disappeared across the horizon. They were sharpteeth after all; creatures of the night. However, her little joke had made her point.
"Oh... alright." Ruby responded with thinly concealed amusement. "But I trust that everyone will give Spotter their undivided attention?" The little ones nodded at Ruby's question that was not really a question. Since laying her eggs she had become the master at manipulating her younglings. Such were the duties of parenthood.
Speaking of duties... Ruby thought to herself. It's time to let the little ones know the moral of the song.
"A little bit of awareness can prevent much hardship, children." Ruby intoned as the younglings looked up with transfixed eyes. "On that day Thud knew my concerns and comforted me, as he was aware of what the others were not. On that day I used Thud's lesson to calm Dein, as I was aware of what he would respect even in his angriest moments. And on that day, Seeker proved to me that he was aware of something that had eluded us all." She scanned the crowd of younglings as she concluded her speech. "But I do believe that is something that Spotter is going to tell all of you about."
She paused for a moment as she walked away. "But before he comes down here, promise me that there will be no biting the flyers, children!" Upon hearing snorts of laughter, Ruby clarified. "I am mainly talking about you, Biter..."
"Aw... mom! They knew that we were just playing!"
Ruby chuckled to herself. "Maybe so... but not tonight, Biter. A song is not the proper time... besides, Spotter will be in range to peck you this time!" This earned her laughter from the tree above. After hearing him huff for a moment, she finally got an affirmative grunt from her son, which she knew was as good as she was going to get. It was only then that she walked out of the clearing and settled in beside her mate.
"See? I told you that you were a great singer."
Ruby snorted and gave Littlefoot a playful nip.
"Yeah... yeah..." Ruby admitted. "I just hope that the children listen to our lessons... we had to learn some of them the hard way."
Littlefoot smiled. "We learned them the hard way so that our kids didn't have to."
Both of them looked at their children as Petrie and his mate slowly glided down to the clearing. A few seconds later, they were joined by their children which landed behind the two adult flyers. Now the entire progeny of the pack was assembled together. It was only then that Ruby had a realization.
This is the first time the little biters have ever heard a flyer's song! This should be interesting.
She had no idea how correct she was.
-
When did Littlefoot become a Sharptooth?
-
In the previous story, The Seven Hunters. This is a sequel to that story.
-
When did Littlefoot become a Sharptooth?
Maybe you see the parallels to a certain RP ;) The RP inspired rhombus to write a fic about it after he inspired me to create the RP in the first place :p
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/4/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/4/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 3: Observation
What is daddy doing?
Dive looked at his father with a inquisitive expression. Despite his parents landing in the clearing a few moments before he and his siblings, they had not really moved for several moments.
The small flyer looked over to the assembled fastbiters who seemed to be eyeing him with unreadable expressions. For a flyer who was already anxious about being on the ground their scrutiny did not improve his mood. Sure he considered the younglings to be his friends, but he had been used as "the prey" in too many of their games to exactly trust them not to pull a prank on him. Their rapt attention did not exactly fill him with confidence.
In confusion at the preoccupation of the fastbiters, he looked over towards his two sisters. They too had confused expressions on their faces at the odd antics of the ground-walkers. Lift seemed to be in the process of edging closer to father, whereas Valaria simply looked in Dive's direction and gave him a concerned expression. Seeing that his siblings were just as clueless at the odd behavior of everyone as he was, Dive opened his mouth in order to speak to his mother. It was only then that another realization hit him.
Where is Momma?
Crash!
"Ahhh!!!" In terror, Dive took off into the air and soared back towards his nest. He had no time to see what predator crashed beside him, he only had time to react. The instinctual reaction was immediate. In the instant that followed the only sound that he could hear was his thundering heart and the screaming rush of air in his ears. He could feel the gusts of air from the wings of his siblings as they powered through the air beside him. It was only when he and the others had landed back in the nest, hearts pounding and breaths gasping, that he could finally hear another sound.
Laughter.
What... The small flyer peeked over the edge of the nest and looked back towards the clearing. A small stick was still situated where it had landed beside him moments before. Around the clearing all of the assembled fastbiters could be seen laughing. More surprisingly however, was the appearance of two amused flyers in the clearing and the sudden words of his mother.
"Well, children... you did what we always told you to do if threatened."
Dive's beak hung agape. Had mother done this?
"But you forgot the most important lesson."
Dive clicked his beak together. "Mother! That wasn't nice!" He glared at his parents as grunts of protest erupted from his siblings as well.
"We thought something attacked us!" Valaria offered.
At this point the rather unhelpful banter of Taunt's daughter could be heard.
"Yep, you were attacked alright! You were attacked by a stick!"
At the resumption of laughter from the numerous younglings, Dive looked down in embarrassment. He couldn't understand why his mother had scared them all like this and why father didn't disapprove of it. He looked back towards his siblings with a pouting expression when his mother's words suddenly returned.
"Come back down, children."
Had Dive had been older and a bit more assertive then he might have considered disobeying his mother's request, but in his current state he didn't feel anger. He simply felt confusion. It wasn't unheard of for the family to play tricks on one another, but to do so in front of the ground-dwellers was a terrible embarrassment for the flyer. Now he was sure that he would never hear the end of it from what his father called 'our good friends, the ankle-biters'. Despite the fog of confusion and discontent, however, he took flight and guided himself towards his parents. The others, seeing their brother obey his mother's call, followed in silence.
-----
Soar looked upon her children as they landed softly onto the soft ground. It pained her to see their downcast faces, but she knew that this had to be done.
Sometimes it is the painful lessons that stick. She thought to herself. And a little pain in training is better than the pain of loss. She sighed deeply as she prepared to speak to her little ones. However that was when she felt her mate whisper into her ear.
"Pride is a powerful thing. They get over this eventually."
She tilted her head without taking her eyes off of the children as she hissed back.
"You'd better be right, dear..." She teased. "This was your idea after all..."
In response to his mate's jest, he simply shrugged.
"Your mamma always call me bad influence." She could hear the smirk in his voice. "But me think it be important for them to learn moral before song this time."
To this she simply nodded and nuzzled him back slightly. In many ways her mate communicated more articulately through actions than with words and here was but one example. But now was not the time for affection, she realized. Now was the time to tell the children the lesson that they had just be shown. A lesson that Petrie had learned the hard way many years before.
"Children, I am proud of you." The heads of the three flyers looked up at her with confused gazes at that affirmation. "You did what you were supposed to do when danger comes and you followed directions even when you probably didn't want to." She noted the slightly ashamed look in Dive's eyes. It was not surprising to her that he had considered refusing. In many ways he was the most headstrong. "But it is very important that you pay attention to everything around you. You must observe."
A chorus of 'yes, mother' echoed from the children, but she was not dissuaded from her lecture by their response.
"You're wondering why I tricked you." The little flyers quickly nodded at this. "You're wondering why we embarrassed you in front of your friends." The nodding stopped as Dive's eyes bored into his mother's direction. He like the others were no doubt wondering about his mother's intentions. "You were tricked by me because none of you were paying attention and you all got embarrassment from that... but what if that happens outside of this forest? You would be eaten; that's what."
The little ones looked down at this. The truth was finally sinking in. That was when their father sealed the deal.
"The reason why momma tricked you, little ones... and the reason why me suggest it... is because Spotter learn that lesson the hard way."
Dive's eyes lit up at his father's words. "You did, daddy?!"
Petrie nodded with a smile. The storyteller had just roped in his audience.
"That is right, son. Me had important mission from Seeker, but me nearly die because me get careless." With that he waved a wing and his children immediately fluttered into the circle, ignoring their misgivings about the earlier prank. As they did so, Petrie turned and looked out at the other children in a well-rehearsed motion. He smiled at the little fastbiters and bowed with a graceful motion. He had learned a bit of showmanship from his uncle over the years, and he knew how to use it.
"The lesson this time, younglings, is about observation." He was so lost in his act that he didn't notice his speech impediment disappear as it always did when he worked himself up into the frenzy of a song. "Observation saved me; observation saved the pack; and observation can save you... So please observe all you little flyers, fastbiters, and dear friends, as Spotter recounts to you his song..."
As the flyer began to sing his low tones in preparation of the words that would follow, he didn't notice his mate share a knowing smile with Seeker. They both knew that whatever Petrie couldn't communicate well through speech, he certainly could sing.
-----
Water. Clear and reflective. In many ways by staring into the water a person could stare into their very soul. There was a certain sense of irony in that the process of consuming the liquid of life could allow one to reflect upon life. The need for water was as unavoidable as seeing one's face in the reflection. An unavoidable confrontation.
The irony was not lost on Petrie.
As he stared into the cool blue void he could see a face stare back at him that seemed alien despite it being his own. It still amazed him that the predator that looked back at him was himself. The only thing that hadn't changed were the eyes. The same desire to do good was there even if the innocence was not. A solitary reminder of who he once was.
Splash!
The fish didn't even have time to register the bite as Petrie swallowed the hapless creature whole. It was simply another victim that had to die so that he might live. The reality of his existence no longer horrified him, despite the harshness of it still rearing its head from time to time. He was a sharptooth now and nothing could change that.
But what kind of sharptooth would me be?
That was the question that still weighed heavily on the young flyer's mind. He would never abandon his friends, but he was a very different kind than them. This difference meant more than a simple difference in perspective, it also meant a difference in lifestyle. Despite being welcomed in the pack and still feeling like one of the gang, he knew that he was simultaneously something else as well.
He was a sharptooth flyer, but what exactly did that mean?
The others had numerous chances to learn the songs of their kind... to learn the rituals and the taunts... to learn how to use their abilities for the benefit of the pack... but he was different. He could not ask Pterano for pointers on how to be a sharptooth flyer, it was simply up to him to find out how to relate to his own kind. He couldn't help but wonder what songs the sharptooth flyers sang and what stories they told. It was something that he knew that he would have to explore one day.
"Spotter?"
Petrie sighed. Me suppose me think too much about me. He chided himself. Me is pack's flyer! Me need to help.
He quickly took to the air from the water he had been floating upon. The resulting splash and hard landing quickly caught Littlefoot's attention. An apologetic expression quickly crossed the fastbiter's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Spotter! If you need more time to catch your meal..."
Spotter shook his head and raised a wing to silence Littlefoot.
"Me already catch food. What going on, Spotter?"
Petrie stared at his friend with an unintentionally harsh expression. The piercing red eyes and the relative lack of expression in the mannerisms of his kind often made his packmates feel a bit self-conscious he noted. He regretted this aspect of his change when Littlefoot cleared his throat and looked at the ground.
Petrie noted Littlefoot's apprehensive expression. This not look good.
"We need to talk, Spotter."
Petrie's eyes went wide. Oh no! Now me know this not good! Despite the concern that now filled him, he kept his expression somewhat neutral. It was times like this that his lack of expression was a blessing and not a curse.
"What we need to talk about, Seeker?" Petrie offered tentatively. "Me supposed to scout Land of Shallow Waters, right? Me can do that fine. Also, uncle go with me." His expression did not capture the turmoil that lie inside. Surely Seeker did not doubt his abilities?
Littlefoot coughed. An odd, hacking sound that was made out of nervousness and not out of distress.
"No, Spotter, that is not what concerns me..." A deep sighed escaped him as he ran his claws through his crest in a flustered expression. "That is only part of your mission... that is your mission for Dein and Terri..." He looked up at Petrie with an intense expression. "The pack requires you for something else."
Everything froze in that instant for Petrie. The implications were clear. The 'pack' had another task to be completed and that would be his 'real' mission. They were going behind the backs of their allies... of Chomper's parents...
"Me obey the pack, Seeker." Petrie spoke with a firmness that surprised even him. "Me do whatever pack needs... but please tell Petrie what he be doing... and why me doing it." The piercing stare was now directed full-force at Littlefoot's face. "You may hide it from Dein and Terri, but no hide from Spotter. Me not hide things from you."
Littlefoot reared back as if he had been struck. The apprehension was now replaced with a look of apology.
"I'm sorry, Spotter, but I couldn't tell you last night." His face bowed slightly in a look of contemplation. "I had to talk to Ponder and Thud before the others... Thud is a pack leader like me and needs to plan what is best for his pack... and Ponder..."
Petrie waved off the attempt to explain his actions. "You not need explain Ponder... Me know why you not want to keep secrets from her." Littlefoot seemed to squirm a bit at that statement. "But why you keep it secret from others? And what you keep secret?"
Littlefoot sighed. "That is what I am trying to explain... I had to make sure that Thud's pack would be on our side if it comes to this..." Petrie stepped back at the mention of 'sides'. "And I had to ask Ponder how best to break the news to Path..." He waved his hand and made a gesture as if he were trying to grab the right words from the air. "You see, Spotter, if I am right then our time with Path's parents might need to come to an end."
Petrie nodded as he had already deduced this. "Yes, me figure that... but why must it end?"
Littlefoot exhaled a light breath as he looked at the small flyer.
"Both Thud and I smelled it, though it is slight... and Dein's behavior confirms it..."
Petrie had grown tired of this. "Spit it out already!"
Littlefoot stopped speaking and looked at the flyer in surprise. It wasn't everyday that Petrie was assertive in a conversation, but then again it wasn't everyday that Littlefoot was at a loss for words.
"Terri is going into heat."
Silence permeated the scene for several moments as Petrie processed that bit of information. If Terri was going into heat then that meant that Dein would be fiercely protective of her... and want to impress her... and...
"Oh crap." Petrie muttered.
Littlefoot could only nod at Petrie's understanding. "Exactly. He already is acting more unreasonable than usual and..." A sigh escaped him as he looked at his claws. "We have duties to them, but we need to start planning our escape..."
Petrie shook his head at this. "You no think they keep as allies?"
Littlefoot frowned at this. "I've talked to Thud about this and he says that the last you place that you want to be is by two-footers during mating season." He put on a distressed expression. "A fastbiter is a potential egg-stealer after all..."
Petrie blinked at this. "If they have new baby then they not want us near..." The implications kept on coming to the flyer and Littlefoot remained silent as Petrie vocalized them. "They not want no one but them there... and Path not part of their pack no more!" A horrified look then appeared on the flyer's face. "You tell Path?"
Littlefoot sighed. "Not yet... I need to make sure that everyone is ready first..." He contorted his face in a pained expression. "I don't want to tell Path until we are for sure, but..."
"You pretty sure." The flyer's words were not a question.
"Yeah." Littlefoot muttered.
-----
The next day:
"You seem preoccupied, nephew."
Petrie blinked as he turned towards his uncle. They had been flying since they had woken up, but Petrie had been uncharacteristically quiet during the entire morning. Realizing that it would be hard to hear him over the roar of the wind, Petrie guided himself into a circling pattern in order to reduce speed. It was only when the background noise became bearable, that he spoke.
"Petrie have lot on mind."
Pterano looked at his nephew with concern. The young flyer was seldom like this. In fact the last time that he could recall him being this way was back after the nearly disastrous first meeting with the hidden runners many months prior. The fact that Petrie had insisted on looking at a few other locations before going to their destination also concerned him. Not that they wouldn't be able to give the pack their report in time; they could meander for days and still be able to inform the others before they reached the Land of Shallow Waters. No... Petrie was usually very driven on his missions. The fact that he appeared to be dithering here was extremely noticeable.
Pterano bobbed his head in order to adjust his speed and then promptly turned back towards his nephew.
"Well, care to tell your uncle?"
The elder flyer looked intently as Petrie seemed to shift uncomfortably in the air. His eyes quickly darted from side to side as if to confirm there was no one listening in, which in this context made little sense. The rare moment of vulnerability made Pterano think about Petrie in his leaf-eater days. However, Petrie soon regained his bearings and again focused straight ahead. It was then that his words cut through the air like daggers.
"Me have other mission, uncle. Mission that Path's parents not know about..."
-----
"Well... well... what do we have here?"
Kralle watched the two flyers with suspicion as he attempted to fly above their line of sight. However, as both of the flyers seemed to be conversing with one another, this was a relatively easy thing to accomplish.
Hmmm... odd having a sharptooth flyer and a leaf-eater fly together. I wonder if...
He shifted in the air and feel several body lengths as the painful scar on his right wing again made itself known. He still had not recovered from the debacle in the valley. Everything had been going well until those damn carrion eaters came into the picture. Still, he had been luckier than most. Very well of his comrades had survived the ordeal.
But now that was all in the past. He had to go back to the old way of doing things. Solitary hunts and solitary meals. No pack to back him up and no collective security. It was entirely up to him if he lived or died. It was odd to think that in Redclaw's pack he could have found solidarity, but for the flyers such a bond had existed. It was the bond of being worthy. Of being something larger than yourself. Now that it had gone he felt hollow.
He looked down at the flyers again as they pass through the other end of a cloud. He could now confirm that it was indeed a leaf-eater and a sharptooth flyer. The very implications of that made a deep anger rise in him.
Has the valley begun to recruit my own kind now?! He knew that an alliance of the desperate had formed during the Battle of the Valley, but it was uncommon for sharptooth and leaf-eater flyers to do much interaction in the Mysterious Beyond. That was when something caught Kralle's eye.
The sharptooth flyer had the exact same coloration of the one that had fought Sierra. Could it be...
He crumpled his wings towards his chest and descended into a vertical dive, before again extending his wings and falling into a silent glide. This gave him enough speed to gain on the two targets. That was when he saw one more piece of evidence that made everything fall into place. The larger flyer had the same coloration of the one that had fought Rinkus. But that was not what caught his attention.
The flyer's eyes. Using his own superior sense of vision he could see into their depths. It was then that he knew that this was the one.
Kralle seethed. In his anger, his wings twitched in impossible to constrain rage.
I will finish what my comrades could not, you loathsome vermin!
With a final crumpling of the wings, he dived towards the unsuspecting flyers.
-----
"So, you are telling me that you think that your pack will have to move on soon?"
Petrie nodded. "Yeah. When two-footers mate, it not good idea to tempt fate. At least that what Thud say."
Pterano snorted. "Remind me to never ask Thud for lessons on poetry." He soon took on a more serious face, however. "Well... if you all will need to leave eventually, why don't you go now? I am sure that Chomper's folks can manage fine on their own."
"No! We not turn back on allies!" Pterano was taken aback by Petrie's fierce objection. "Path's family help us save old home, now we help them take back their home. Only then we leave."
Pterano sighed. Considering Pterano's own checkered past he was not about to lecture his nephew on matters of honor. However, he couldn't brush away the thought that Petrie would be better served by being a bit more self-serving in this case.
"Be that as it may, nephew, you are all putting yourselves at risk." Pterano nodded his head away from the nearby bluffs as he directed his nephew to circle back with him towards their original path. "The first step in evading a danger is to spot it. It seems to me that you are like a flyer who sees the mountain but is still willing to fly into it."
Petrie shook his head. "Pack not break mountains, but pack can break enemies. We do so again."
His uncle nodded. "I hope so..." A deep sigh escaped him as his nephew looked towards him. "Just remember what your job is in the pack, Petrie. You are an observer. So what do you observe now?"
Petrie was taken aback by this. "Me no understand."
Pterano smiled slightly. "What do you notice about this situation? What do you observe? Observations aren't just things you see, my dear nephew, they are things that you figure out as well." Seeing that Petrie was looking contemplative, Pterano continued. "Your friend, Littlefoot must do a lot of observing in order to keep the pack organized. He must have to know everyone's moods, their fears, their strengths... A leader must observe those things."
Petrie spoke without thinking. "Is that how you got others to follow you?"
Pterano cringed at his nephew's question, but answered truthfully.
"Yes, Petrie. That is how I did it." A frown descended upon his face as he looked ahead. "Once you know a person's hopes and fears you can easily know how they will react. It is not something I am happy about."
Petrie nodded. "Me manipulate bad flyers and hidden runners before. Me not happy about that either, but me still do it. Me wonder what Seeker trying to make us do."
Pterano nodded at this. "All leaders manipulate others, Petrie, but only good ones do it for the benefit of the manipulated. I don't doubt Littlefoot's intentions, but maybe if you can find out what they are then you can determine what to do."
Silence descended upon the flyers for several moments as Petrie pondered this. Only the sound of flapping wings and the occasional wind gust interrupted the blanket of quiet. Finally though, Petrie spoke.
"He want to protect Path. That why he not tell him yet." Pterano nodded at this insight from his nephew. Chomper, though already a battle-hardened sharptooth, was barely a young preadolescent. Matters of mating and his parents suddenly acting cold towards him may be difficult for him to understand. "He only tell Thud because he need Thud's support if packs leave quickly. And he only tell Ponder... well, because she is Ponder." Pterano chuckled at this. Being the companion of the leader entailed a special status all to itself. It seemed that Petrie was already aware of this. "Me need to find new places for pack to live... but Seeker tell me to search on way to Land of Shallow Waters... oh!"
Pterano looked at his nephew in surprise. "What is it?"
Petrie frowned. "If Seeker want me to find places by Land of Shallow Waters, then maybe he don't think we make it there! Maybe he think that pack have to leave before then! Or maybe he think that pack have to leave in hurry!"
Pterano nodded. "You see, Petrie. Littlefoot is already making contingency plans. Even honor has limits."
"Why he not tell me?" Petrie muttered despondently. "Me trustworthy."
Pterano shrugged with his wings, a gesture that caused him to rise slightly. "Maybe he was not aware of this himself? Sometimes our actions say more about us than our words say... sometimes they say even more than our thoughts." He looked back at his nephew with a contemplative look. "You should probably let him know when we get back. If he is that concerned deep inside then he should probably be made aware of that."
Petrie nodded at this though the downcast look still remained. "Like you say, uncle. First step to avoid danger is see danger. Me need to tell Seeker so he avoid it." He looked back at his uncle who was now at a slightly elevated position compared to him. He had to squint his eyes to see his uncle's form in front of the bright white clouds. "Thanks, uncle! Now me need to simply..."
That was when Pterano saw it.
"Petrie! Roll now!"
-----
Both flyers rolled evasively as the massive flyer careened past where Petrie had been mere second before. Not wasting any time, the flyer entered into a hard spin and began to circle back to where his target had been mere moments before. Though he had lost the element of surprise, he still had a great advantage due to his advanced speed. None of this was seen by Petrie, however, who was still in a chaotic spin.
Sharptooth flyer! Me have to get distance!
Quickly breaking out of his spin, Petrie flapped his wings in quick succession. He would eventually need to build speed, but in a chase that could not be done by wings alone. No, he would need to built altitude and then let gravity do the rest.
Flap! Flap! Flap!
His wings burned with exertion at the sudden onslaught of activity. He had not been under such pressure since the battle for the valley... since his injury. The blistering pain that now returned to his wings was a fierce reminder of what he nearly had lost in the rocky bluffs surrounding the valley. He hoped that his body could handle the task that it now faced.
"Petrie dive!"
Without thinking, Petrie crumpled his wings and descended right as the claws of his pursuer cut through the air that he had just been occupying. The sound of an angry screech and rushing wind then followed as Petrie quickly looked back towards the threat.
And promptly wished that he hadn't.
Pterano's diversionary attack had only delayed the other flyer for a few moments, as he was now quickly gaining on Petrie despite the pursuit of his uncle. It seemed that the sharptooth flyer desire to seek revenge on Petrie transcended all other concerns. The combination of the flyer's hulking form and his crazed eyes made Petrie's pulse quicken with panic.
What do me do?! He have advantage!
Quickly darting his head back and forth as he maintained the dive, he searched in vain for any piece of terrain that might give him an advantage. The bluffs were too far away and only grassland greeted the flyer's eyes. Grassland that was rapidly approaching.
Petrie smiled. That was it!
"Uncle, follow!" Petrie screeched as he turned on his side and extended his wings, causing him to circle in a wide arc. This single action caused him to begin to turn, but it also greatly slowed his velocity. At a higher altitude this would have been a death sentence, but this close to the ground...
Petrie twitched in anxiety as a tell-tale whoosh reached his ears. The enemy flyer had passed him up due to his great speed, but Petrie knew that he would be back. His stunt had only bought him some time.
But that was all that he needed.
"Petrie, are you alright?!"
The young flyer smiled at his uncle's voice. Despite his pained wings and exhausted muscles, he now had a plan.
"Uncle, me have plan! When he come back..."
-----
"I will get you! You worthless piece of spiketail dung!"
Kralle was enraged. The small flyer had evaded him not once, but twice. Nonetheless, he was certain that the pathetic flyer would not best him this time. The flyer had used up most of his velocity during his evasive turn. Now it was just a matter of catching up to him and finishing the job.
Unless his friend intervenes...
He stared at the sky around the small flyer and noticed something immediately. The elder flyer... was gone.
He darted his head back and forth, but it was only when he looked towards the clouds that he could see the other flyer. He was rapidly gaining altitude. It seemed that he was cutting his loses.
Heh... So much for leaf-eater loyalty...
With a satisfied smirk, Kralle pumped his wings and rapidly gained speed on Petrie. Within mere moments he would be within attacking distance of the hapless flyer.
But little did he now that he was playing right into their plans.
-----
Observe... Learn... Plan...
Pterano soared into the clouds as he focused on the chase going on below him. He could now observe details that he could not when he was in the heat of the battle. It was amazing what distance could do for one's perspective. With the old flyer mantra playing in his head, he considered the situation.
Observation: the flyer is totally focused on Petrie... now that he thinks that I am flying away he is paying me no heed...
His wings pumped vigorously as he struggled to match the horizontal speed of the enemy. He would have to be ready for when the right moment came.
What have I learned: the flyer is impulsive and fixated on one goal. He will not see the unexpected.
As he had these thoughts he could see the distance slowly close between the large flyer and his nephew. It was less than a longneck neck's distance between them now. Both flyers were pumping their wings like mad in order to keep up the necessary speed. At the same time, Petrie was noticeably sinking closer to the ground. This increased his speed, but also made the room for error much less. A loss of control at that altitude would mean a crash; and a crash at that speed would mean death.
Which is the plan... he will never know what hit him.
The distance rapidly closed as Kralle pumped his wings like mad. Soon only a tree's length separated the two combatants. It would be mere moments before the distance was closed completely.
Without hesitation, Pterano dove.
-----
I have you now!
Kralle's wings burned with exertion as the distance rapidly closed. They were literally a few body-length's away. From this distance he could see fine details on his enemy's body. He could see the swaying of the individual filaments that covered his wings... he could see the gleam from his wide eyes... he could see the gentle swaying of his crest... but most strikingly he could see the scars of battle past. Several scars on each wing... a healed gash on the head... this flyer had obviously seen serious battles in his short life.
Kralle smiled. Time for you to meet your last...
The distance had closed now and the two flyers were barely off of the ground. The grass below them swayed due to the rushing air from their wake. As soon as Kralle made his attack, the poor flyer would have nowhere to go but down. The battle would be over as quickly as it had started. With a quick strike from the air.
Kralle had no time to realize how very right that he was.
Slam!
With a sudden jolt and a burst of pain, Kralle felt the claws of the large flyer slam into his back. In an instant he lost any maneuverability that he once had. The sea of grass below him now turned into a green blanket in his vision. A blanket that was about to overtake him.
Wha...
He never heard the collision that ended his life.
-----
Petrie stared at the scene in front of him in shock.
The body of the sharptooth flyer lay in a crumpled heap. There was no wing or appendage that was not bent in a horrifying, unnatural direction. His neck was twisted in such a manner as if he were staring at someone behind him, which was a testament to how close the fiend had been to decapitating himself when he collided into the ground head first. The only sign of life from him now were the involuntary convulsions that came with a traumatic death. His eyes seemed to stare at Pterano in silent condemnation. Despite the necessity of his actions, it was simply another death that had been caused by his actions.
"Uncle!"
Pterano looked up at the small form of his nephew. His words had been choked out with an exhausted and weary tone. It was obvious that Pterano had made his move not a moment too soon.
Pterano took a deep breath as he too was trying to regain his breath. "I am glad that you are alright, Petrie." He looked over at the massive flyer. "It seems that the carrion flyers did not take care of all of our friends."
Petrie nodded as he stumbled over and embraced his uncle. The elder flyer could feel the trembling of his nephew like the rumblings of an earthshake. The danger had been destroyed and the emergency had passed, but now they had to pay the price that came with surviving the moments of mind-numbing terror. Petrie's observations had saved the day, but it had yet to be seen if the pack would be as lucky in the days to come.
-----
"Me was lucky on that day, but it was close. Spotter understood the need to observe in the days to come, but me was unaware of what was happening while Spotter away from pack..."
Dive quaked in excitement. "What happened next, daddy?!"
Petrie smiled. "Well... Me afraid that is a song for another day..."
A stream of protests erupted from the children as they were all now enraptured in the ensemble story that the pack had been singing. But, like Ruby before him, his feigned intent to bring the story to a close was just for show.
It was at this point that Petrie's beloved mate, Soar, addressed the children.
"Alright, kids. We will continue, but only if you all behave. No interrupting and no tail biting!" She looked at Taunt and Cera's kids as she said this, which made Taunt chuckle. As the mutterings of agreement arose from the children, Soar finally allowed a satisfied smile appear on her face.
"I guess that it is my turn. It is, it is!"
The children turned towards the new voice as the green fastbiter approached the circle. Leap gave her a quick nuzzle before she entered into the center of attention. It was only then that Petrie and Soar flew to where Littlefoot and Ruby were sitting. Their song in this particular story was finished, but the story had only begun.
-
Review of chapter 2:
Somehow I missed this update... This is another lovely story and lesson :) As always, it doesn't lack humour but it doesn't lack conflict either. Well done :)
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Review of chapter 3:
Well, you sure aren't getting rusty in writing fighting scenes :smile
I really like this song as observation is always helpful and sometimes can spare you unneccessary conflicts in our real world (we sure aren't faced with people with the intent of killing us every day ;))
We're also learning a little about Petrie's family here :)
I'll just join all the little sharpteeth and wait for the next song :p
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Hey, I don't know if this was specified, but what kind of raptors are the pack? I remember that it was mentioned that Skytail and his pack were Utahraptors, so are Littlefoot and the gang the same kind?
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Yep, they are all Utahraptors. The lone exceptions are Chomper (who is still a T Rex) and Petrie who is a Cearadactylus (Sierra's kind).
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Thanks for the review, Ducky. :) Yeah, I need to get to writing soon so that I can get this story going again. I have fallen way behind on my writing and I don't want to keep the little sharpteeth waiting. :p
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A brief note about the 'second sniffer' mentioned in this chapter. Many animals (but not humans) have a vomeronasal organ which acts as a second olfactory (smell) organ. Unlike your organs of smell, however, these are more closely tied into to the unconscious and instinctual centers of the brain. They are used to detect pheromones which may then induce changes in an animal's behavior in preparation for mating, including increased aggression.
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/5/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/5/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 4: No Safe Haven
Ducky settled into the center of the circle with a graceful scraping of the ground. Like many of the others she would not sit during her songs, but would stand freely in order to sway with the rhythm of her words. As Thud had told them when he had taught him of the rituals of their kind:
"Don't remember the song... feel the song. It has to come from deep inside."
Ducky sighed. That memory of the dinosaur who had effectively been the pack's mentor had awakened concerns that she hadn't reflected on in several days. I wonder how Swift and Thud are doing. We haven't heard from them since the Cold Time. She shook her head. He and Swift were a pack to themselves now and more than likely were fine on their own, but the doubts remained.
"So what happened next, mommy?"
Ducky looked down at little Verok. Her son had been named after her mate's fallen brother, one of Calin's victims. Even though Leap had been the one to end his brother's life, it had been Calin pursuit that had made that mercy killing necessary. When they had told the children about how Verok had met his end, it had nearly broken Leap's heart. She still remembered Verok's words.
"It's okay, daddy. Don't cry."
They had never seen their father cry before, nor since. It was something that was seldom talked about in the family. However, since that day Verok appeared to have a more disciplined manner to him. Her son was trying to live up to the memory of his namesake.
She smiled. "Well that is what I am about to sing about, son. Yep, yep, yep!" She beamed as she focused on the rest of her children. "While Spotter was out looking for information but finding trouble, we were simply trying to find any food at all. The ground was parched on the path to the lowlands and not even ground fuzzies were in abundance." She frowned at the memory. "That is where my song begins."
She then rose to her full height and took a deep breath as her children watched her with anticipation. Her singing voice had a beautiful but haunting quality to it that harkened back to something that had been long since lost. But it required ever bit of vocal power that she could muster. It was only with the third deep breath that she began to sway in time with the words... then the words came.
♪♪ On that day it was warm and blue
that was when I saw a dinosaur that we knew ♪♪
♪♪ He was tense and he wore a frown
that was when I knew that danger was around ♪♪
-----
The green fastbiter tilted her head at her friend. She had first noticed him acting distant and strange when they had woken up that morning and she had finally decided enough was enough and asked him about it during their noon hunt for ground fuzzies. His response was not what she expected, however. He had gestured for her to follow him to a separate area. When they had finally moved out of sight from everyone else she again asked her question.
"What is going on, Path? We are friends, we are, we are! You can talk to me."
Chomper grimaced and answered immediately.
"What do you know about my kind, Haven?"
Ducky tried not to look horrified at that question as the possible ramifications of it ran through her head. Is this what Seeker warned us about? Despite her internal misgivings, however, she managed to keep the fear off of her face.
"Well, your mamma and daddy helped us to hunt... so I know how they do that... You told us about how they met... so I know..."
Chomper shook his head. "No, that isn't what I mean... I mean..." He seemed to concentrate for a moment, but then sighed. "My mommy and daddy are acting weird and I don't know why." He finally admitted. "Seeker and Ponder are acting weird too."
Ducky nodded now, understanding his confusion. "Did you talk to either of them?"
Chomper gestured wildly with his stubby arms. His youthful excitability came through in the tone of his voice. "That's the problem! They won't tell me anything!" Ducky watched with both concern and sympathy as he began to pace. "Both of them told me that my parents are just hungry, but that isn't it!" He shook his head. "Daddy is acting like a jerk and mommy is focused on daddy all of the time. Daddy even roared at the pack this morning."
Ducky nodded. Dein's forceful order to 'wake up and find food' had been made in a tone that allowed for no disagreement. Chomper suspects something, but he cannot know yet. That might set him off. Ducky thought to herself. As much as she detested it, she would have to attempt to deflect the sharptooth's concerns. He is already showing the signs. He is, he is!
"Well..." Ducky began. "Maybe he is just hungry? Sometimes he gets..."
Chomper glared at her with an expression that made her stop cold. "No, not you too." His voice came out in an icy tone that cut her to the very core. "You're my friend! You're my packmate. I thought that packmates were honest with one another."
Ducky looked down. Path is right... Friends do not fib one another... She frowned deeply as she could hear the angry breathing from her friend. She knew what she had to do.
"I am ordered not to speak about it yet, Path." The connotation was clear and Chomper's' reaction was immediate. "We will tell you eventually, but that is..."
Chomper seethed. "Seeker ordered you?"
Ducky opened her mouth and let it hang for a moment. "Yes. But Path..."
Chomper did not wait for her to finish, but instead attempted to storm off. Despite her concern for her friend such an act of dismissal made something deep inside her rage. As a result she did something that was very uncharacteristic for her.
Oh, no you do not!
She spring into action and charged forward, quickly getting into position. This was exactly what Littlefoot had warned her about and it seemed that the unhappy duty to contain Chomper had fallen upon her.
"Get out of my way!"
The fastbiter had placed herself between the sharptooth and his desired escape route. Her crest feathers and tail were instinctually flared out in an aggressive display. Ducky was obviously not preparing for a play fight.
"I will not, Path!" She hissed lowly, utterly lost in her anger. "You will listen!"
Chomper glared at her defiantly. He was too lost in his own anger to understand why he was so angry. However, his survival instincts were enough to make him realize the threat posed by an angry raptor, so he made no further moves.
Ducky maintained her position, claws ready. "What are you doing right now, Path?"
Chomper growled as he faced off with his friend. He was slowly stepping to the side as if he were assessing if he could get passed the obstacle in front of him.
"Trying to find Seeker before you got in the way!" He finally spat with as much vitriol as he could muster.
Ducky flared out her arms further as if to appear larger. She did not want Chomper to get any bright ideas about rushing passed her.
"And what do you plan on doing when you find him?" She asked in an eerie calm voice.
Chomper did not answer, but Ducky could see his stance falter a bit. Good, Path... Think! She wasted no time in continuing her work. Now to do what Seeker mentioned... I have to break him out of this...
"Do you plan on doing to him what you did to me?" She asked softly as if she were hurt.
Chomper growled again. Annoyance was clear in his voice. "I haven't done anything to you!"
Ducky breathed. "Oh is that so?" In a quick gesture that Chomper couldn't make out, she reached to touch her side, very carefully and lightly piercing it with her claws. I hope this works... Grimacing, she then presented the blood stained hand to her friend.
Chomper stepped back. A horrified expression was plastered on his face. "What... I... no..."
Ducky frowned. She found this trickery as distasteful as it was painful, but it was necessary. She had to break him out of his previous line of thought before he did actually hurt someone.
Chomper looked away suddenly, his arms quivering anxiously as he realized the full magnitude of what he had done... or rather thought he had done. He had attacked one of his own friends. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why he had done that and why he was so angry. That was when she felt Ducky's blood stained hand on his shoulder.
"Look at me, Path."
With great reluctance Chomper slowly raised his head towards his close friend. Ducky's face was caring, but carried a very clear expression of hurt. An expression that conveyed a sense of betrayal. His reaction was immediate.
"I don't know why I did that!" He hissed out as tears began to streak on his face. "I'm so sorry..."
Ducky shook her head. "It is alright, Path. I know why you attacked me."
Chomper's expression turned to one of shock at that affirmation, as Ducky continued.
"The reason that Seeker has been trying to keep it from you is to stop that from happening." She then smiled despite her injury. "I guess it happened anyway though. It did, it did."
Chomper finally had recovered enough to speak again. "What have you been trying to keep from me?" His voice was raspy and anxious. "What is happening to me? To mommy and daddy? Are we sick?!"
Ducky gave a soft chuckle, a most welcome sound after the terrors of the previous moments. "No, Path. You and your mommy and daddy are not sick." She affirmed. "...but all three of you are not... quite you right now." Seeing that Chomper was going to speak again, she finished. "I think that Seeker should explain this to you, but only if you stay calm." The rebuke in her voice was gentle, but it was enough to make the purple sharptooth look down in shame.
"I will. I would never hurt my friends!" Upon realizing what he had said, however, he soon fell silent again. He had already hurt one friend today. Could he really make that promise? Thankfully, Ducky was there to interrupt his dark thoughts.
"Come on, Path. Seeker will explain all of this to you."
-----
Several miles away:
Nothing! Absolutely nothing! If only those damn fastbiters would do their job...
The barren plains greeted his eyes with the same monotonous background that he had seen for the previous few hours. Nothing but grass and the occasional tree gave the sight any variation. The path to the lowlands was always rather sparsely populated with prey even during plentiful times and it was even worse in the immediate aftermath of the Cold Time. It was quickly looking like that they would have to forego food until they finally arrived at their destination.
Dein let out a frustrated growl at his predicament, which earned a quick response from someone close by.
"Quiet, Dein! It is hard enough finding prey without you announcing us to them!"
Dein looked over at his mate. Terri wore an annoyed expression as well, but appeared to be holding out better than he was at the moment. All that he could feel was rapidly building rage.
"I don't think that we need to announce our presence to them, dear." He muttered sardonically. "If they are too blind to see two sharpteeth in the middle of a field, then they would certainly have been eaten already."
Terri rolled her eyes at him. For some reason this expression of hers, though not unusual because of Dein's usual antics, made something in him grow excited. It was almost like he was falling in love again.
"Well, dear..." Terri began, oblivious to the thoughts of her mate. "Your lack of concentration isn't helping." She looked at the field before them with an annoyed expression. "I had forgotten how much I hated this place. My aunt didn't call it the 'Land of Bones' for nothing. Many sharpteeth met their end here." Her eyes seemed to focus on something far away as she said this.
"Well if one more would have met their end here then we could eat." Dein muttered, which earned an amused shake of the head from his mate. "Let's see if those damn fastbiters have found anything..."
Terri seemed to pause for a moment, which made Dein look at her with an odd expression.
"What, dear?"
Terri shrugged with her shoulders. "Perhaps we try by the stream, dear... It is the one place that we haven't tried."
Dein looked at her with bemusement. "The stream that is greener than a swimmer and smells worse than a spiketail's backside? Do you honestly think anything would be hanging around that?"
Terri smiled softly. "Only something that would want to be where a sharptooth was not. It isn't like there are any other hiding spots here."
Dein sighed. "Alright, dear." Terri's eyes expressed shock for a slight moment as he gave in without any of his usual taunting. "Let's give it a try."
As the two sharpteeth proceeded to approach the distant green stream, neither of them were aware of the important conversation happening many miles away.
-----
By the ground fuzzy nests:
"So how long do you think that we have?"
Littlefoot considered Taunt's question for several moments as he quickly consumed the ground fuzzy. The crunching of bone and sinew occluded the resulting silence from the pack leader as his eyes seemed to focus on something far away. Taunt had already turned back towards his ground fuzzy nest when Littlefoot finally spoke.
"I'm not sure... I only know what your father told us. Dein will get more and more aggressive as 'that time' approaches."
Taunt snorted. "Yeah... but when is a two-footer not dangerous?" This statement earned him a playful outburst as Littlefoot tossed a ground fuzzy bone at the orange fastbiter. Taunt quickly recovered, however. "I mean... he tried to attack me once, you know? Way before I was even a member of Skytail's pack." He shook his head. "I just didn't realize that Path's kind were that crazy. To go totally mad over a female."
Taunt waited for Littlefoot's reply when something hit him from behind.
"Ow! What the..?"
Taunt was greeted by a smiling dark green fastbiter. It seemed that his father had entered the conversation.
"You will never have a chance to go mad over a female if you continue to neglect your surroundings, son." Thud mocked easily as his son gave a dismissive gesture with his claws. Thud then turned towards his son's leader. "I don't know how much longer we have before he goes completely into the mating frenzy of his kind, but I don't think we want to be around when that happens."
Littlefoot frowned. "I don't think that it would do him any favors to return and find us all missing. They are our allies, after all." He raised a finger for emphasis on that point. "We could leave after we have led them to the lowlands. Then we could do some scouting well ahead of them."
Thud sighed. "I agree that it would go against the alliance, Seeker, but I don't know if we can afford to wait."
"Wait on what?"
The assembled dinosaurs turned to face the new voice in the conversation. Leap had stopped upon asking his question, whereas Swift, Spike, Ruby and Cera approached close behind. It seemed that most of the pack was now in on the conversation.
Littlefoot gestured for the others to be at ease. "We were talking about the situation with Path's folks again."
Cera scoffed. "Gee... Why don't they just make some eggs and be done with it!"
Cera's bluntness made Thud shake his head with amusement.
"I can clearly see why my son fancies you." Thud deadpanned. "To answer your question, that wouldn't fix things. A two-footer protecting eggs in a dangerous thing indeed." He then smirked at her. "It would just make things worse, just like letting my son get a word in edge-wise in a conversation."
Littlefoot readied himself for an unhelpful argument between the three fastbiters when Ruby interrupted the conversation.
"Has anyone seen Haven or Path? I tried to find them earlier, but I couldn't find them."
Littlefoot frowned. It was then that he realized that he had not seen them for several hours. This was not uncommon during individual hunts like the ones that they had just finished, but the silence of the others indicated that he was not the only one to not see the two packmates. And considering Path's situation...
"Alright, everyone! We need to find Path and Haven." Littlefoot affirmed authoritatively. No one needed to ask why the sudden urgency was present in Littlefoot's voice. The changes associated with the time of mating would not only affect those Tyrannosauruses of that age... they would affect adolescents within range of them as well.
-----
Several miles away:
"I can't see anything worth eating here, unless you count green sludge!"
Terri stared at her mate. The rage in his voice was unmistakable, but she knew that it was not directed at her. However, that only made her more concerned.
"I am sorry, dear." She chose her words carefully in order to be uncharacteristically submissive. "I should have known better."
Dein turned suddenly and stared at her with wide eyes. She resisted the urge to laugh at his dumbfounded expression as she had to confirm her suspicions.
"It isn't your fault, dear!" Dein offered immediately. "It... it... is just Seeker and his allies! They aren't pulling their weight! We have to do all of the searching, while..."
Terri did not pay attention to the rest of Dein's rant, as she had heard what she needed to hear. She had begun to feel the signs within her. The excessive emotions... the increased appetite... the changes in her sense of smell. However, the changes that she was experiencing were not as dangerous as what had befallen Dein. A female in heat would drive any male into hyper-vigilance. Any dinosaur who he perceived as threatening his mate or their wellbeing would be seen as a threat to be destroyed.
And right now Dein's rage was focused on one source.
"If Seeker would only do what he promised then we would not be going hungry right now."
Terri took in a deep breath. "Dein?"
The large male looked at his mate once more. "Yes?"
"Shut up and listen." The female cautioned. "How do you feel right now?
-----
By the ground fuzzy nests:
"Angry and confused."
Littlefoot nodded at Chomper's answer. It had taken them several minutes to find the two missing packmates and the blood on Ducky's side confirmed his worst fears. Ducky had to resort to shocking Chomper back into his senses. However, the cost of a small scratch was far less than what could have happened. Now Littlefoot and the others were left with the task of explaining the situation to their friend without upsetting him further. It was a delicate operation.
"That is understandable, Path." Littlefoot affirmed. "Your father feels the same way right now. The reason why he is feeling that way is because your mother is... um..."
"She is ready to lay eggs again." Cera blurted out as Littlefoot closed his eyes in exasperation.
Chomper sprung to his feet. "She is?! That's great news! I always wanted brothers and sisters!"
Littlefoot put up a placative hand. "It isn't that simple, Path..."
Chomper blinked. "What do you mean?"
Littlefoot paused as he had trouble finding the right words. Thankfully, Ruby was able to put the situation in a form that the little biter could understand.
"Path, have you ever heard of your kind laying eggs when older children are still around?"
Chomper thought about this for a moment as a contemplative expression came to his face.
"Uh... no."
Ruby nodded. "There is a reason for that. The reason is because they can't um... do the stuff that makes eggs... until the nest is empty." She ignored the slight snicker from Taunt in the background. "When you left the nest in order to join our pack, your momma became fertile again..."
Chomper had a confused expression. "But how is this a problem? Why am I so angry and paranoid?"
"That is a good question, Path." Thud walked over towards the purple sharptooth as he began his explanation. "How much do you know about your second sniffer?"
"My second sniffer!" Chomper exclaimed as he looked around his body. "Did I grow one somewhere?!"
Thud smiled slightly as the rest of the pack laughed at the small sharptooth's reaction. It was a badly needed moment of levity in an otherwise tense situation.
"No..." Thud offered. "No, this is one that you had all along, but you have never used it before. What it smells you can't 'smell', you can only feel. It makes all of us kind of crazy during the time of mating."
-----
Several miles away:
"It is that time, dear. You know what that means."
Dein stepped backwards with a stunned expression on his face. His mate's words were horrifying in their implications. His antagonism with Seeker... his lack of patience with his good allies... the standoffishness of his son. It all made sense now.
"They must go. They won't be safe with us... with me."
He stared into the murky green water of the stream with a faraway expression. If the time of mating was approaching for him and his mate then they needed to put it off as long as possible in order to allow them to approach the Land of Shallow Waters. Terri would need plentiful food and a good nesting site and that would not be found in the lowlands. However, for every day that they put off this biological imperative, they both would become even more aggressive and dangerous. The fact that he now knew this did not change that fact. There were certain instincts that could not be reasoned away. He was so lost in his thoughts, that his mate's words barely registered in his head.
"I will talk to the pack, dear. I will let them know that they must leave... then we will go to the lowlands together."
-----
By the ground fuzzy nests:
"You are telling me that my second sniffer is making me mad at daddy?"
Thud nodded. It finally seemed like Chomper was understanding the situation.
"Yes, Path. Some part of you knows that your daddy is going to be dangerous soon."
"My instincts..." Chomper muttered softly.
Thud was about to respond when he felt a clawed hand on his shoulder. The assertive voice of Littlefoot soon greeted his ears.
"That's right, Path. And you should listen to your instincts."
Chomper's face then changed ever so subtlety. The calm understanding was replaced with a festering anger. Thud realized their mistake as soon as Chomper opened his mouth.
"Why should I listen to my instincts?!" The sudden anger made the rest of the pack jump back, but Littlefoot and Thud did not stir in response to their friend's agitation. They were like statues facing off with an angry observer. "Why should I give in to them? Isn't that what daddy is going?"
Littlefoot breathed in softly before he responded to the sharptooth's question. "Yes, but unlike other instincts this is not one that you can fight, Path. Not unless you want to hurt those you love or end up hurting yourself."
In an instant the purple sharptooth seemed deflated. His head sagged towards the ground in a morose expression. He now realized that this was a fight that he couldn't win.
"Path?" Littlefoot spoke softly. When the sharptooth did not stir, he spoke again.
"Path?"
Chomper slowly looked up at Littlefoot. Despite the look of nervous agitation in Chomper's face, he could see the unshed tears in his eyes. It was obvious that even though the pack might be able to get away with inaction for several more days, Chomper could not. He was being affected far too strongly by the instincts of his species. The pack would have to evacuate from Chomper's parents or risk an outcome that everyone would regret.
Littlefoot smiled grimly. "Before I changed, Chomper, my grandfather told me something very important. Something that is very important here..." He then recalled that conversation that had happened right after a particularly harsh sleep story.
"Oh, Littlefoot!" Grandpa began, "Sometimes our sleep stories mean nothing in particular. But sometimes they tell us what our instincts want us to know."
"Instincts?" Littlefoot asked inquisitively. "What are those?"
"Instincts tell us what we must do. Instincts tell us when we must save the bright circle. Instincts tell us who we love and how to love them. Instincts tell us what is dangerous to us. That is what instincts are." Grandpa stated, "Do you understand Littlefoot?"
"I think so. Instincts are those feelings that guide us." Littlefoot concluded and he looked for confirmation at his grandfather.
Grandpa nodded at Littlefoot's understanding. "Even I have scary sleep stories from time to time. They help to remind us of what we should be afraid of. Sometimes even the eldest of us need a helpful reminder."
Littlefoot smiled at the memory. "So tell me, Path... As the leader of this pack, what should I do?" He then pointed a single finger at the sharptooth's chest. "What do your instincts tell you?"
Chomper looked up at this close friend. His choice was obvious.
-----
Several hours later:
Terri sniffed the ground with great trepidation. She had instructed Dein to stay back and allow her to speak to her son about the coming danger, but he was nowhere to be found. She was certain that Dein's protective instincts would not permit him to stay behind for long and the last thing that she wanted was to possibly be forced to get between her mate and their allies.
"Damn instincts!"
She couldn't deny that her own instincts were getting the better of her, but she at least had the benefit of having time. The males would have a burst of instinctual protectiveness that would ebb out once the eggs were hatched, but females would have a more gradual rise and fall, which would not be completed until long after their hatching. Despite the current advantage that being female gave her, however, she could still feel the rising tension in her. The insistent need to have her mate close by. The need for protection and safety. The need to be safe from rivals.
She shook her head. If she didn't find her son soon then it would be too late and the pack might meet her in a less rational state. The last thing that she wanted was for her and Chomper to part ways in anger. He deserved better than that. They all deserved better than that. If only they had left some indication of where they went...
That was when she found it. Footprints.
The tell-tale imprints of raptor claws covered the moist ground by the ground fuzzy nests and seemed to follow the path to the lowlands. With their path established she scanned the horizon for any sign of her son or his allies.
-----
"Well we are over the hill now, so we should be outside of where they can see."
Littlefoot was quite pleased with their performance, despite the feeling of betrayal the entire episode made him feel. His pack had skillfully evacuated danger with the precision of a well-trained pack. Skytail and Bron would have both been impressed with their performance.
Roar! Roar! Roar! Stomp!
He froze. The sound of Terri's roar could only mean that their absence had been discovered.
Roar! Roar! Roar! Stomp!
Littlefoot could see Chomper turn in the direction of his mother's voice. Afraid that Chomper would give away their location, he edged closer to his friend, but was waved off with a dismissive wave.
"Mother wants to know if I am safe." Chomper spoke softly as he turned towards his friend. "Three roars and a stomp that was her old code to check on me when I was a baby. To see if I needed help when she couldn't risk giving away my location." His eyes were almost pleading. "Shall I answer?"
Littlefoot closed his eyes. Against his better judgment, he nodded.
-----
"Goodbye, mommy and daddy. Farewell."
Terri stared in the direction of her son's voice for several moments. It was distant and nearly imperceptible due to the resulting echo, but it was obvious in its meaning. Her son and his friends had already seen the danger and taken their leave. It was several moments later that she finally worked up the emotional energy to answer her son's call.
"Happy hunting, son. Be safe."
She was unaware of how long she stood there afterwards. It could have been minutes or hours. The only thing that she was aware of is that by the time she realized that her mate was beside her it was already dark. For the first time in many months she and her son were looking at the same blanket of stars, without any assurance that they would meet again.
"Did you find our son?" Dein asked softly. Upon her nod, he responded. "Is he safe?"
Terri smiled sadly. "With his friends, he is as safe as any of us."
As her mate began to nuzzle her in an affectionate manner, she realized that neither of them had the will to put off the inevitable for any longer. For better or worse she would enter her former home with her hopes for the future already forming within her belly. Before she allowed herself to give into the demands of nature, however, she spared her son one final thought.
We named you Path for a reason, son. Now follow your own path and don't look back.
-
I really love your idea. Chomper's parents have always been somewhat unpleasant to have around but now that they are in the mood to mate again, they are acting weird. Well, I know very well what an overdose of hormones is able to change in people's personalities so this is really understandable. :p
The scene between Ducky and Chomper is very powerful too. :yes
I don't really know what else to say do I'll just say: Well done! :D
-
Thanks for the review, Ducky! :) In the next chapter we shall see what happens when the pack has to decide on what to do next. For the first time in a long while, they find themselves unconstrained by an alliance. It will be interesting to see how they decide to handle their new found liberty.
-
Chapter 5: Divergent Paths
After the conclusion of Ducky's verses, silence descended upon the assembled dinosaurs. The angelic sounds had gone abruptly silent as the green fastbiter bowed her head slightly and gestured towards the massive dinosaur in the back of the pack.
Several of the children stirred at this gesture as they looked back to where their mother was gesturing. It was only then that a slight growl of amusement left the massive beast's body as he rose off of his haunches. It was at this point that the resounding sound of crashing feet could be heard. Chomper was in motion.
"Do not fret, children!" Came an amused grunt from the oncoming sharptooth as the children began to move behind Ducky out of concern for their safety. "I don't think that your folks would be happy if I crushed any of you."
"Oh, I don't know. Pouncer has been quite a pain lately..." Chomper rolled his eyes at Taunt's words as he knew as well as anyone what was coming next.
"Don't you start, dad!" Came Pouncer's retort as expected. "You're just mad that I beat you at that game!"
As the two bickered, Chomper took the opportunity to position himself in the middle of the circle. It did not take long for their humorous back and forth to continue.
"It isn't much of a game when your dad doesn't know he is playing son!" Taunt's voice had obvious mirth in it. "I don't like having my tail bitten in the morning."
Pouncer's voice echoed again across the short distance. "Yeah... that is why I won! Never let your opponent know you are coming!" The little biter seemed so distracted by his argument with his father that he didn't notice Chomper edge his face closer to the youngling. "See, I outsmarted you just like momma does!"
Cera laughed at this, which greatly confused her son. "Speaking of outsmarted, son.. you may want to look beside you..."
Chomper smiled. Now for the fun part!
Roar!
The small youngling jumped several times his height at the sudden roar from the sharptooth mere feet away from his head. In an utter panic he ran headlong towards his father and embedded his head in the elder's feathers. All thoughts of his 'triumph' over his father having been forgotten. It was only now that Chomper allowed himself to laugh, which was quickly followed by the other children and adults.
"Wha..." Pouncer's voice resounded over the laughter. "Path! Why you..."
Chomper smiled at the little biter as his booming voice echoed in the clearing. "It seems that you have learned what it is like to be in a game that you don't know you are playing!" Chomper's voice contained only mirth, but its sheer volume and the massive dinosaur itself made the gentle chiding horrifying to the small biter. "Make sure to never take your eyes off of the world around you, Pouncer."
The little biter seemed thoroughly humiliated now, as Taunt gently nuzzled his son back towards the clearing with the other fastbiter and flyer children. His son would have to deal with the embarrassment of being showed up by the massive sharptooth. It was only when Pouncer was back in position and glaring at his siblings, who were laughing at his expense, that Chomper decided to begin.
"As Haven has told you, children, we departed from my parents on that day. But we still had not decided what we were going to do from then on. Would we help scout our old lands for my folks, or would we strike off on our own? It is here that my song begins."
♪♪ So there it was, the possibility I dreaded the most.
Time had caught up with me. We had left behind our beloved hosts. ♪♪
♪♪ I felt crushed and dismayed. Was this really the end?
It was that very next morning when I confided in my dear friend. ♪♪
-----
The Bright Circle rose upon a desolate scene. The windswept ground was on the verge of cracking in the absence of discernable moisture, as periodic tufts of grass provided a cruel reminder of what they had left behind. Such lushness seemed like a distant memory now. The distant vistas of Hanging Rock beckoned in the distance, a reminder of the place to which they could not return.
It was in this place that the fastbiters slowly rose from their slumber. The coming of the morning meant that their ceaseless journey would soon have to resume in earnest. No food would be found here. Just like in their initial journey to the Land of Shallow Waters, the lowlands would have to serve as their salvation.
Littlefoot rose slowly from his perch near Spike's sleeping form. He had the final watch of the night and now that the first morning rays were emerging across the horizon, he knew that his work was done. Now he would have to wake his reluctant friends and begin the tireless journey to...
"Mother..."
The fastbiter stopped in mid-stride at the hissed word. His gaze immediately feel upon the purple sharptooth who was leaning against Ducky. His legs contorted in anxious spasms as another word crossed his lips.
"Daddy..."
Littlefoot slowly put his raised foot back on the ground and bowed his head. He is really taking this hard. A sigh escaped his mouth as he raised his head and again looked at the Bright Circle's brilliant orb rising in the East. I still have a while before we have to move... He grimaced. As much as he hated to delay, he knew that his friend needed a good talk.
He gently bent down and proceeded to nuzzle his friend awake.
-----
"So I was talking to Snap the other day and do you know what he told me?"
High up on the tree above, Petrie suppressed a sigh. He and his uncle had been inspecting the Land of Shallow Waters for days and had not found anything of particular interest. While Pterano took the opportunity to inspect the terrain and comings and goings of the various dinosaurs, Petrie was stuck spying on the conversations below. He had heard it all: the banter of threehorns, the romantic flirtations of swimmers, the arrogant ruminations of longnecks...
But nothing was more boring than the gossip of the fastbiters.
"What? That you have more scales than brains?"
Petrie shook his head. Maybe me be spoiled by friends, but fastbiter talk very boring! This pack stupider than threehorns on mating day! He then immediately shuddered at that thought. Sometimes he wished that flyers like him weren't so good at seeing things from a distance. Some things simply couldn't be unseen.
"No, you arrogant tail-biter! He told me about that pack from the wilds. You know... Seeker's pack."
Petrie's eyes went wide at the fastbiter's words. Suddenly the conversation wasn't so boring.
The other fastbiter snorted. "The one who supposedly went from a sap-sucker to one of us? Please..." She shook her head. "If Snap believes that then he is really stupid indeed. Perhaps all of his time thinking in caves has finally rotted his brain." She chuckled at that thought but then caught the indignant look on her companion's face. "Wait, you don't honestly believe that nonsense, do you?"
Her counterpart snarled. "Yes. Yes, I most certainly do." He edged closer. "You have heard the tales from the survivors. You don't honestly think that they are all false?"
The female huffed. "I am saying that the falling rocks did something to their brains. The food doesn't simply turn into the choosers of the dead. Even a hatching knows that!"
"Even a hatching knows that when the strongest of the strong submits to a youngling that there is a reason!"
Petrie stared at the evolving argument with rapt attention. He edge closer to the edge of the branch, his ear facing the two predators as if he were listening into a cave.
"Oh, be reasonable, Dodger!" The female exclaimed. "The children may be crafty, but who in their right minds would believe this nonsense about a Stone of Destiny? They are obviously just some newcomers who..."
"Oh, for the love of... Now who is being unreasonable?!" The male protested. "A bunch of feathered fastbiters no one has ever seen before... from a KIND no one has ever seen before... come over and defeat Redclaw and his entire pack." He shook his head. "But yet you doubt their words? I think that I would listen to a pack such as that. And we should listen to my brother... we should plan..."
The female spat at the other in an indignant display.
"Then believe what you will, fool! Perhaps you and Snap can work together on his nonsense. I swear I don't know which of you is the stupider one!" She then ran off in a huff, not even looking back at the somewhat amused male.
"See you later, sis!"
Petrie stared at the male for several moments as the sound of retreating footsteps could be heard from his departing sister. She was reminiscent of Cera in a way. Headstrong and unwilling to be made a fool of in front of others. However, it was the male's words the most caught his attention.
I think that I would listen to a pack such as that. And we should listen to my brother... we should plan...
Petrie blinked. He did not like the sounds of that. Just how much had this pack heard about Petrie's packmates and their methods... and what were these predators planning?
He followed the fastbiter with his eyes for some distance. After several minutes of silently observing the male, the flyer could hear the flapping of wings and the gently thud of his uncle landing.
"There is nothing new out there that we haven't seen before. Four leaf-eater herds, a pack of fastbiters, and several belly draggers..."
Petrie tilted his head without taking his eyes off of the fastbiter. "Anyone that we know?"
Had Petrie had turned his head he would have seen his uncle fix him with an exasperated stare. As it was he could hear it in his voice.
"Gee... I don't know, Petrie. It isn't like I can just go up to a bellydragger and ask in sharptooth: 'Excuse me, sir! Do you know my friends? They are several fuzzballs, a purple biter, and a flyer who asks stupid questions!'"
Petrie laughed as he turned around and faced his uncle. "You talking like me now, uncle?" He seldom heard his uncle act in such a snarky manner. "Was your flight that bad?"
Pterano shook his head. "You have no idea... we have been flying..."
Petrie interrupted. "You fly. Me listen."
The elder flyer nodded. "Yes... I have been flying around for four days now and there is nothing in this jungle except leaf-eaters and a few fastbiters. Needless to say I think Chomper's parents will have an easy time claiming this land as their own."
Petrie nodded absentmindedly, as he turned to face the retreating form of the fastbiter again. Petrie's distraction was evident to his uncle. He hesitated before speaking again.
"I take it that you have found something interesting?"
Petrie nodded. "Me not sure, but me need to find out."
Pterano watched as Petrie took to the air without another word. Petrie's lack of attention and unwillingness to engage his uncle cause the elder flyer to draw a conclusion of his own.
They say when you don't find trouble, that trouble will find you...
-----
“So…” Littlefoot started awkwardly. It seemed that there was no tactful way to start this conversation. “How are you feeling?”
The purple sharptooth did not meet Littlefoot’s eyes as the two plodded away from the slumbering forms of the others. It was as if the two were trying to find a private cove in which to have a conversation, despite there not being a tree or cave in sight. Just an open field.
“Sad.” Chomper stated plainly. He didn’t need to elaborate for the fastbiter to comprehend the meaning.
Littlefoot nodded and then stopped as the Bright Circles rays began to intensify noticeably at the passing of distant clouds. The others would be up soon and the chance for a private conversation would soon be lost.
“That is understandable. It is never easy to leave your parents. This is the third time that you have had to do this.” Littlefoot acknowledged. “Just remember that I am here if you need to talk.”
Chomper nodded and only then did he raise his head to look at his friend.
“This is the third time… and the last time.” Chomper frowned. “If I ever see my mommy and daddy again then it will be as an adversary.”
Littlefoot blinked. “Surely it wouldn’t be that…” But he didn’t get a chance to finish.
“If mommy and daddy make me brothers and sisters then they will be protected by them. Even if that means protection from me.” Littlefoot looked surprised at Chomper’s deduction, which caused Chomper to respond. “I am not stupid. Seeker. I knew about how my kind was long before you tried to hide the truth from me.”
Littlefoot licked his lips nervously. “Path, I thought that you were too young to know about all of that.”
Chomper smiled. “I knew about all of that… but I chose to not see where it was going.” He shook his head. “I guess that sometimes when the truth hurts that…”
Littlefoot finished for him. “...that we try to ignore it.”
Chomper nodded again as Littlefoot lightly nuzzled the little biter. If Chomper knew the full magnitude of what had transpired then that made his job a lot easier. But that didn’t mean that the path ahead would be an easy one.
“I have an important choice to make, Path.”
Chomper perked up at this. Littlefoot had seldom asked for direct input like this except during a group-wide meeting. In fact, his friend had not confided like this since their first months as a pack, back when Littlefoot was as unsure of himself as a swimmer in a desert. His mannerisms opened up many memories and few of them were pleasant ones.
“The pack is free now.”
Chomper nodded slowly. “We were always free, Seeker. We could have left at any time.”
Littlefoot looked down at his friend and smiled slightly.
“Yes, but there is a difference between being able to strike off on your own and actually being forced to do so. We have no bonds of honor with your parents now.” The finality of the statement made something in Chomper’s stomach shift uncomfortable. “We are truly free to ally with who we wish and to make a territory where we wish.”
Chomper spoke without thinking. “We answer only to ourselves.”
Littlefoot answered just as quickly. “We also only have ourselves to rely on. One false move and we are doomed.”
Chomper nodded slowly. He had to improve his friend’s mood as nothing good would come from having Littlefoot dwell on what could not be changed.
“Daddy always said that danger and opportunity were usually the same thing.”
Littlefoot snorted. “Yes, Path. But your daddy is a huge sharptooth that can afford to seek out danger. We are, to use one of your daddy’s other quotes, little fuzzballs that occasionally bring back tasty food.” Before Chomper could respond, Littlefoot continued. “What I mean is… I have to be cautious. The entire pack depends on us choosing wisely.”
Chomper paused for several moments to let that sink in. The very future of the pack was at stake, but yet he had been focused on his own personal anguish. In that moment Chomper felt more than a little shame. This turn in mood did not escape Littlefoot’s attention.
“There is nothing wrong about feeling upset, Path.” The sharptooth turned to see Littlefoot’s face turned towards him. His fierce eyes being contrasted with a light smile. “You have just as much reason to cry as the rest of us. How many times did you comfort us during our journey away from the valley?”
Chomper nodded. “Yeah…” He closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them as a thought struck his mind. “So what would be in the best interest of the pack?”
Littlefoot looked surprised. “What?”
Chomper continued. “Like you have said many times before, you have to consider what is best for the pack. So… what does that mean for us?” He gestured towards the sunrise. “If mommy and daddy take the Land of Shallow Waters then what is the best place for us?”
Littlefoot paced for a moment. “Well… we could go back there… but we would have to stay out of your parents way. They are sharpteeth, but a few fastbiters wouldn’t bother them too much. At least for a while.”
Chomper stared into his friend’s eyes for several moments. He could almost see the thoughts racing through his head. Despite his suspicion of what Littlefoot was conspiring to do, he asked the inevitable question.
“What do you have in mind, Seeker?”
Littlefoot placed a single digit to his chin in a contemplative gesture.
“I was thinking about…”
-----
Petrie landed on the perch with a soft thud, which the bluish-green fastbiter below thankfully did not notice. He seemed to be fixated upon something in front of his body. Looking more closely, the flyer could see that it was a pile of plants of some kind.
“Nope….”
A plant went flying across the cove of trees.
“Nope…”
Another went flying the other direction, which nearly made Petrie take evasive action. What this fastbiter doing? He thinking about eating green food? If so, he awfully picky!
The fastbiter then looked at a reddish root for several moments with a contemplative expression.
“Where did you find this, brother?”
Petrie was momentarily distracted. Brother? What brother?
“It was by the watering hole, where the swimmers drink.” Petrie nearly jumped in surprise at the sudden voice. It was Dodger, the fastbiter he had been spying on earlier. He had not noticed the other fastbiter sitting in the shadow of the trees. “For some reason they would not eat that, though they ate everything else.”
“How very strange. Normally sap-suckers would eat just about anything in front of their fat faces.”
Petrie stared at the root with his mouth agape. Oh no…
Dodger shrugged. “Maybe it doesn’t taste good. You know… kind of like why I never ate spiketail brains as a kid.”
Snap picked up the red root carefully between his claws. He made a quick cursory inspection. His nostrils flared as he inhaled something that appeared to be familiar to him. He lowered the root and his head turned to face his brother. “There is something familiar about this root.”
Dodger edged closer to his brother, which allowed for the illumination of his body by the light of the Bright Circle. His head was tilted in an inquisitive angle.
“Perhaps you heard about it somewhere… Is it a healing root?” Dodger offered.
In response to this turn in the conversation, Petrie could only cringe. If either of them tried to use the root for healing they would most certainly be cured. Of life.
Snap chuckled. “If it is what I am thinking of, then if you were to try to use it to heal anyone, you might as well rip out their throats to go along with it!” He looked back at the root. His smile broadened. “Well, there is one way we can find out for sure. Is there a pack of ground fuzzies nearby?”
Dodger nodded. “Yes… As my favorite female…”
“Are you referring to Opal? The fastbiter who hates your guts?”
Dodger glared at his brother a bit. “She just hasn’t seen my good side yet… but yes, dear brother, as Opal was telling me, there is an abundance of ground fuzzies nearby.” He gave a pathetic strut. “She said that she was worried for my well-being, that must count for something.”
Snap fixed Dodger with an amused smile. “It means that she thinks that you are a poor hunter and would starve without her help.” Snap then made an odd smirk with his mouth. “I suppose that she wants to be the one bring you into the Land of the Parted. She can’t do that if you starve!”
Dodger glared at his brother. “This is coming from the person who relates more to bones and plants than people.” It was a weak retort, but it was the best that he could offer. “Anyway, yes, Opal says that there are ground fuzzies nearby.”
Snap still had a smirk on his face. But he seemed to know better than to try to pester his brother further. He simply gave a nod of his head. Keeping the plant pressed firmly in his claws, he asked, “Can you lead me there?”
Petrie watched silently as the two fastbiter strided away from the cove and towards the watering hole. In a moment which seemed to stretch on into eternity, he tried to comprehend what he had just seen and heard. This was absolutely the last thing that they needed.
The flapping of wings caught his attention as he could see his uncle approaching cautiously from a distance. With a wing, Petrie gestured for him to come closer. Within moments, the flyers were united on the perch.
Pterano spoke immediately upon landing. “What is going on, Petrie?! You look horrified!”
Petrie nodded mutely. He took a few moments before speaking. “The pack have very serious problem.” His eyes seemed to stare far away as he said this. “A problem me no know how to fix.”
Pterano nodded at this before sighing. “How big of a problem?”
Petrie looked at him once before speaking. “I need you to tell Seeker something for me, uncle. Tell him that everything fine here. There are fastbiters but they not be a problem.”
Pterano sputtered. “But you said…”
Petrie nodded. “I know what me said. There be problem, but me fix it now. But you must go.”
Pterano gritted his beak nervously. “I don’t like this… But alright. I’ll do it.” He spread his wings out hesitantly. “Is there anything else you would like me to tell them?”
Petrie looked straight ahead as he contemplated this. “Actually, uncle…” He paused for several moments as if contemplating something unpleasant. “This be something that may require both of us. Do you see those roots over there?”
Pterano shifted his head to see what his nephew was talking about. He stared for only a few seconds before his eyes widened. “Yes…” He spoke in a lowered voice. “But..what exactly are you…?”
“They discover orange death.” Petrie spoke softly, but as he spoke it sounded like a distant storm. “They cannot live if pack is going to live.” He then faced his uncle again.
“Me have a plan.”
-----
“The lowlands. Finally!”
Taunt’s words echoed the sentiments of the other members of the pack as they looked upon the long sought-after sight. Their journey of several days had finally reached its conclusion. None of them dared think about the long journey that yet remained.
“Alright!” Littlefoot called out happily. “We are out of the barrens so it is now time for a hunt!”
Cheers emanated from the group at their leader’s words. As he looked over at the lowlands in the distance he could see the swimmer herd that had already taken residence by the streams. Younglings were visible in their ranks. He could almost taste the meat…
Cera was equally enthusiastic about the idea of a hunt. “Finally! I haven't had anything for two days!”
Despite his enthusiasm for the hunt, Taunt could not resist taunting his friend. “We noticed, dear. You mentioned it every few steps since Hanging Rock.”
As the two squared off, Ruby decided to intercede. “Alright, you two! Let’s hunt food and not hunt each other.” At Taunt’s triumphant expression, Ruby added. “...even if Taunt deserves it.”
“Wait what?” Taunt protested.
Littlefoot chuckled. “Alright, everyone! Let’s get ready. Finder and Haven, you two will need to be on scouting duty. Stern Claw, myself, and Ponder will be on chase duty. Spotter will be on…”
Littlefoot stopped in his tracks. His expression was suddenly overtaken with one of concern. Spotter and Pterano still had not found them yet. It had been several days.
“I am sure that they are okay.”
Littlefoot turned towards the soft voice of Chomper.
“You told them to inspect the Land of Shallow Waters and that is a large place.”
“Yeah.” Cera muttered. “A shame that all of their work is for nothing. We aren’t going with Path’s folks so there is no need for us there.”
Littlefoot looked at her with a guarded expression. His change in demeanor was not lost on the others.
“Seeker?” Thud offered as his packmates arrived on the scene. “What are you thinking about?”
Littlefoot cocked his head in a contemplative position. “What I am about to propose is risky, but then again so is any of our options right now…” He paused for a moment. “But let’s eat first… then we can discuss it with full bellies.”
This suggestion needed no encouragement from the others as they immediately got into their assigned places for the hunt, with Leap and Swift acting as the new scouts to replace the absent Petrie. Littlefoot couldn’t help but look with pride as his fellow packmates. It was further reminder of what he was honor-bound to protect. Before he gave the order to commence the observation of prey, however, he gave one final look to the blue skies.
Stay safe, Spotter, wherever you might be.
-----
“It’s working!”
Snap watched as the ground fuzzies began to violently convulse. The scraping of the roots through the skin of the small mammals had a nearly immediate effect. The frothing at the mouth and rolling of the eyes into their heads only confirmed his suspicions.
This was the orange death.
“The stories must have been true.”
Snap looked over at his brother. He couldn’t fault his brother for having some doubts, but the stories were almost too amazing to be false. This was the final confirmation of what he had been suspecting for some time.
Redclaw’s hordes had been defeated by the risen sap-suckers. The valley had been saved by their former residents. Now one of the weapons that had given them an advantage was in his hands. Now this jungle could now be bent to his will. Now he would no longer be underestimated by his inferiors. It was at this time that he said something that changed his fate forever. A barely-concealed joke that became so much more.
“Heh… I wonder if Seeker’s pack would ally with the likes of us?”
Caw!
In an instant Snap was forced to the ground by his brother as two flyers nearly collided in the end. It was as if they were swooping in for the kill and suddenly stopping at the last moment.
Snap shook his head in order to regain his bearings. As he rose from the ground he could see two flyers starring in his general direction. One of them had a very familiar scar for anyone who had heard the story of Seeker’s pack. Instantly, he knew who he was dealing with.
“Heh…" He laughed nervously. "Sandstorm or Spotter? Which name do you go by today?”
The flyer looked at his talons for a moment. It was only at that time that the two fastbiters realized that the flyer’s claws were drenched in a rather familiar orange fluid.
“Well…” The flyer spoke darkly, his eyes staring directly into Snap's eyes. “That be up to you.”
-
Chapter 6: Convergent Paths
Chomper stopped his song for a moment as he nodded in the direction of the flyers. At first, Petrie did not seem to understand what his friend was alluding to, but then he quickly came to a realization.
"No, you keep on, Path. You do good!" Petrie smirked. "Besides, brutal part of story need brutal voice!"
Chomper gave a toothy grin that made the children back away in concern as his friends chuckled lightly to themselves.
"Are you saying that my voice sounds horrifying, Spotter?"
Petrie looked at his mate and shrugged.
"Well, me can fly, so me say it. Yes, you have horrifying voice." Petrie's mate rolled her eyes at her mate's honesty. "No wonder you scare children." Petrie now had an arrogant grin in his eyes, as Chomper stared at him.
Chomper now turned his glare towards the children who ran back to their parents. As they did so, Chomper laughed boisterously.
"Now you see how intimidating Spotter can be, children. He is even willing to stare down a sharptooth like me!"
"Yeah!" A cynical voice arose from near Taunt as Pouncer came out of hiding. "Because he can fly away!"
Chomper shrugged, which was an amusing gesture considering the diminutive size of his arms. "Maybe so, but if you have an advantage then you are wise to use it." He then smiled a bit more good-naturedly. "Anyway, I think that I have had my fun with that. Come along, children, and I will tell you the story of how the pack came back together after Petrie's discovery.... and the unwitting chain of events that he set into motion.
♪♪ Darkness fell as the night came near,
A time of hope was also one of fear,
The pack's decision had yet to be made,
As Petrie's plot threatened two with their grave. ♪♪
-----
Littlefoot stared at the fresh kill with a mixture of ecstasy and contemplation.
The adolescent longneck's face was frozen in a perpetual expression of horror as the life had left its body. A single pair of gashes appeared down its right flank as evidence of what had slowed the poor soul's attempted flight. An orgy of gashes, ripped flesh, and bites stood testament to what had ended his life. The neck was nearly unrecognizable after the assault by his friends. In their hunger and excitement they had not even used proper technique in their hunt, opting to strike the longneck from the front as it was in mid-charge. They had gotten lucky this time, but it could have been far different.
Licking his lips, he took another bite from the victim's belly. He resolved not to berate his friends for their haste in this hunt. Yes, they had used improper technique. Yes, they could have risked serious injury by not taking the slow and dependable way of bringing down longnecks. But he couldn't fault them for their sloppiness on this day.
After all, he was hungry too.
"So..." Cera paused as she proceeded to chew the bit of flesh that she held in her mouth. "...you wanted to talk to us about something, Seeker?"
Littlefoot couldn't help himself.
"You seem more receptive to a meeting than you were earlier." He noted dryly.
She shrugged. "Give me a full belly and I will listen to any sort of nonsense! Even if it comes from you."
Littlefoot stuck out his tongue at his friend as she returned the gesture with that obscene hand gesture that Taunt was so fond of. Taking the sickle claw and pointing it at the ground. This brought them the attention of Taunt.
"Oh, the slow claw!" He wore a sardonic smile on his face as he contemplated the claw gesture with almost a connoisseur's grace. "Stern Claw must be talking about me again!"
"Perhaps..." Spike's voice came from the other end of the corpse. "...we should simply make that your new name, Taunt? You would simply be an unpronounceable hand gesture that caused everyone offense."
Taunt gave a little leap in the air in jest as his father rolled his eyes. "That's an idea! Why didn't I get that as my pack name?" He asked in jest.
"Skytail did not enjoy cursing, believe it or not." Breeze noted with a chuckle. "But you often drove him to cursing anyway!"
Taunt took on a cocky smile, but resisted the urge to make a snarky retort. Instead his response caused a turn in the mood of the entire gathering.
"I wonder what he would think of us now."
Silence fell upon all of the dinosaurs as they considered this. Breeze sat beside him in a friendly gesture, as Cera did the same on the other side. Spike, for his part, took his spot at Breeze's side to which Ducky followed. Ruby brushed up beside Littlefoot which was his reminder that she was still at his side. Only Chomper was some distance away from the others, which Littlefoot resolved by giving him a wide gesture to come to his side. It was only when he was present that Littlefoot spoke.
"That is something that I often wonder about, Taunt. I think that he would be proud of us, but we must always strive to be worthy of that pride." He smiled sadly. "You do not want to dishonor your friend and I do not want to dishonor my grandparents." He paused. "Or my mother."
"Or Mr. Thicknose." Ruby offered.
"Tranquil." Ducky nodded sadly.
"Valaria." Spike offered stoically. "Spotter was very distraught over that." He looked around for a brief moment. "Speaking of which, isn't he supposed to be back by now?"
Littlefoot nodded. "That is actually what I wanted to talk to all of you about. Spotter and Pterano have been gone for a while now in their search of our former home. We need to decide what we are going to do, before we can tell him what to do next." He looked at Chomper for a moment, who fixed him an understanding expression. "Are we still going back or are we finding a new home?"
Silence reigned for several moments as each packmate considered Littlefoot's words. Each looked at the others as if a nonverbal conversation was taking place. Cera had a look of ambivalence about her, while Taunt appeared to be in silent contemplation. Ducky and Breeze, meanwhile, were looking at Littlefoot for guidance. Ruby, however, had her eyes firmly fixed on Chomper.
"If we go back to our old home, then we will not be able to stay in our home." Ruby noted. "If we want us and Path's folks to be safe then we need to stay away."
Cera nodded. "I agree. Dein was not very nice when we left him."
Chomper protested. "Daddy couldn't help it!"
Breeze immediately intervened. "Stern Claw meant no disrespect, Path, but he was dangerous in the end."
"That's right." Spike affirmed. "It might be best for us to stay apart for a while. What was that old saying you said earlier, Thud?"
Thud stepped up to the circle at this point, with Leap and Swift close behind. Littlefoot looked more than a bit embarrassed upon realizing that he had forgotten to 'invite' the other pack to the discussion. He practically considered them part of the pack and had forgotten his etiquette. He bowed his head slightly and began to speak when Thud cut him off.
"It is better to be allies from afar than enemies for nearby." He then looked at Littlefoot with a smile. "It is alright, Seeker, the invitation ritual tends to be waived when packs travel together anyway."
"Then why did you not join in?" Ducky asked innocently, which was just the opening that Taunt was waiting for.
"Because he is old." Taunt smiled as Thud gave his son a wry look. "My dad never met a tradition that he didn't like!"
Thud rolled his eyes. "The tradition about eating disrespectful children is sounding pretty good right now."
"Ahem!"
All of the assembled dinosaurs turned their heads back towards Littlefoot, who now had a rather amused expression on his face.
"As much as I would love for the father-son bonding session to continue... I think that we need to talk about what to do next."
In response to this, Taunt gave a snort and nodded his agreement with Littlefoot's order as Thud did the same after giving his son a playful nip on the tail. Cera laughed heartedly at the antics of her friend, but nonetheless brought her focus back on Littlefoot and the situation at hand.
"I guess..." Chomper spoke unsurely as everyone went back to their places, the longneck corpse almost serving as a macabre focal point of the meeting. "I guess my mommy and daddy could be fine. I just don't know about food in the lowlands..." The others nodded at this. "What will we do in the summer?"
Ruby raised a finger as if to make a point. "Path's right. When food ran out in the last Dry Time, we had a hard time going to our new home. It will be even harder if home isn't home anymore."
Cera pondered this with a sigh. "Yeah... The lowlands aren't good for hunting all year round."
Ducky pondered this for a moment as she looked at her old friend. The purple sharptooth seemed to be about to say something, but no words left his mouth. She decided that he needed some friendly motivation.
"Do you have an idea, Path? We could use an idea. Oh, yes, yes, yes."
Chomper closed his eyes as he brought his arms down in a contemplative expression.
"Maybe." He said uncertainly. "Maybe mommy and daddy won't take all of the Land of Shallow Waters. Even the worst parts of it still had food."
"But we will still have problems once your new brothers and sisters grow up, Path! Your mommy and daddy won't like a bunch of fasbiters near their nest."
"Wait."
Everyone paused and looked in Spike's direction. Though by no means mute as he once was, he still seldom spoke during their meetings except when he had something constructive to say.
"If we listen to Path that still gives us some time. Time for Spotter to find us a new territory. That would be a lot smarter than going somewhere and hoping the prey follows."
Ducky nodded. "We have Spotter, so we can know where the food is."
Littlefoot smiled slightly as he considered his friend's plan. Yes, this certainly had risks, but it also had benefits. It was then that he shifted the meeting to the next order of business.
"Well... if we are going to the Land of Shallow Waters after all, then we need to know what we are up against." He looked in the general direction of his old home. "Should we go there now and have him meet us on the way there? Or should we wait for him to meet us?"
Taunt muttered. "Yeah, wait until Path's folks enter the lowlands. They were only a few days behind us, remember?"
Mutterings arose in the packs as they considered Taunt's words. Could they really afford to wait for Path's parents to threaten them yet again? The lowlands were too small for a pack to be safe with two two-footers on the prowl. The Land of Shallow Waters on the other hand...
Littlefoot took on a determined expression. "Alright, everyone. By a show of claws, who is in favor of staying here?"
Not a single hand rose at Littlefoot's proposal. With a short nod to Chomper, he looked in the direction of his former home.
Here we come, Spotter.
-----
Sandstorm or Spotter? Which name do you go by today?
Well... that be up to you.
Snap stared into the flyer's eyes as his words echoed in his skull. He had struggled for many weeks to prepare the orange death based upon the rumors that he had collected of the momentous events in the valley. As had been the case so often in his life, only his brother stood by his side as his peers ignored him as a hopeless fool. But he did not doubt the stories... no... he was hell-bent on following them to their logical conclusion. He would be like the weak leaf-eaters who managed to achieve much through cunning and teamwork. He would do whatever it took.
Now here he was.
As the flyer continued to stare at him, he could hear the breathing of his brother and the other flyer to his side. He knew that he should say something, but now that the initial shock had worn off, he was too overwhelmed to speak. One of the legendary pack members was right in front of him now. What could he say?
Suddenly the other flyer said something in leaf-eater to Petrie, which elicited a response in leaf-eater. This exchange only confirmed the situation in the fastbiter's head. It was only then that he decided to speak.
"You were going to kill us?"
Petrie stared back, his eyes unblinking. He did not say anything to answer his question, but his actions answered it for him. Shivering unconsciously at the flyer's coldness, Snap heard his brother speak.
"Why? We have done nothing to you!"
Snap sucked in a breath.
"Dodger? Please, be quiet."
He could hear the indignation in his brother's voice. "Snap? Why do..."
Snap cut him off immediately. "We know one of their secrets. That makes us a potential threat, brother. Sandstorm here wants to make sure that we are not another Calin." The flyer's eyes softened almost imperceptibly at Snap's words. "I think that you now realize that we are not like that, don't you?"
Petrie did not answer for several moments as he turned his attention towards Dodger, causing the fastbiter to flinch. Despite the fact that the flyers were on the ground and could not really manage a surprise attack on the fastbiters, the mere fact that they were now here and showing that they had the means to do so at any time scared the hell out of him.
It scared the hell out of Snap too.
"Me not smell evil on you, but evil sometimes done by good people." The flyer then looked back towards Snap. "Why you want orange death?"
Snap opened his mouth slightly before finally answering. "The same reason you wished to have it? To be able to defend myself and my brother."
Petrie stared at him in silence for a moment. It was at that time that the wind suddenly gusted, causing the flyer's wings to rustle in its motion. This made the small flyer look even more foreboding.
"Be careful what you wish for." The flyer spoken ominously. "They sometimes be not what you think they be." He then stepped forward and stuck out his right talon in an odd gesture. "Me wish for power to defeat Redclaw, but me become worse than him."
Snap protested, forgetting for a moment that the flyer still had the means to potential kill him and his brother. "That's not true! You're not worse than him! You saved all of us from that brute!"
Petrie looked at Snap with an odd expression, obviously being surprised at the antics of the fastbiter. But the flyer's response to this was even more surprising to the fastbiter.
He laughed. A dark and sad laugh.
"Tell that to sharpteeth we killed. Did we save them? Did we save others who fall around us? Did me save sister?" His eyes turned dark as he shook his head. "Orange death only brought death." He looked at Snap intently. "You not look like killer of own kind. Do you want to become one?"
"Leave my brother alone!"
Petrie stared at the offending fastbiter as Dodger tried to move in front of his brother. The flyer smiled at this.
"You ready to be killer of own kind, but only to help brother." The flyer noted. "But what does your brother want, Dodger? That be important."
Snap sucked in a deep breath. The flyer had seen through his act and knew exactly what he wanted to do. He knew that there was no reason to continue hiding the truth.
"I want to be strong enough to not be a burden anymore."
Silence reigned for a few seconds until Dodger spoke softly.
"Brother... you are not a burden..."
Snap shook his head. "Don't lie, brother. You know that you get most of the hunts, while I am too clumsy to be much help. As you said, I am better suited to looking at plants and bones than people." He smiled sadly as he bowed his head.
Snap stared at the ground for several moments as the magnitude of what was happening began to weigh on him. It had been his idea to search for the mysterious roots. It had been his idea to seek out the rumors of Seeker's pack. Undoubtedly the pack had heard of his interest and had sent their terrible flyer in order to eliminate a potential threat. This was all his fault.
-----
Petrie looked at the fastbiter with an unreadable expression, but deep inside he was distraught.
What me do now?
The initial plan had been simple and brutal. Fly in when the fastbiters didn't suspect anything and lightly strike at them with their poisoned talons. It was not a prospect that he enjoyed, but it was something that appeared to be necessary. He had to act. To have another pack with knowledge of the orange death would be...
And that was where the doubts began. Skytail had originally used the orange death so he must have learned from somewhere. Did Petrie and his friends have the right to murder others just because they were a potential threat? After all, the new fastbiter could very easily be a new potential friend, like Skytail was. Despite his resolution to carry out his dark plan, he still felt an underlying sense of unease. They had killed Redclaw for such tyranny. Would Redclaw's death be worth it if they became the very thing that they had fought so hard against? Against this backdrop, he had heard the words that had changed everything.
“Heh… I wonder if Seeker’s pack would ally with the likes of us?”
In an instant the doubts manifested themselves a hundred-fold. Despite being in the middle of the terminal dive that would purge the world of the two fastbiters, he could not carry through with his plan.
Now here he was. Staring at the two fastbiters and feeling just as lost as they surely felt. He was an executioner who suddenly was left to deal with the would-be victims. He did not doubt the emotions of the fastbiter in front of him, but he did doubt his ability to use the power wisely. Therein lay his dilemma.
"Do you feel comfortable doing this?"
Petrie looked up at his uncle.
“No... No me do not.”
The elder flyer’s face stared into his own for several moments. Petrie thought that he could see something ripple through his eyes, but Pterano suddenly took on a unreadable expression before Petrie could see what emotion was about to shine through. However, the next words out of the flyer’s beak carried all of the emotion that he had tried to hide.
“They don’t do it.” His uncle choked out, his voice hoarse. “Let them go and see how this plays out.”
Petrie’s eyes darkened. “Pack could be at risk...”
Pterano interrupted. “They could be at risk if we finish this too. They may have allies.” Petrie nearly cringed when he realized that he had not considered that possibility. “A peaceful solution might be advisable.”
Petrie sighed. He was only supposed to observe, not interact. Now it was up to him to negotiate on behalf of the pack. Again.
“Okay. Pack ready to make deal with you.”
The depressed fastbiter in front of him suddenly seemed to come to life, as he realized that his life was not yet over. “Yes? We would be willing to hear your terms.”
Petrie shuddered. Snap made it sound like Petrie was ordering his surrender. Which he supposed he was doing in a way. The unshed tears in the small fastbiter’s eyes communicated something else as well. Concern for his brother. Hope that he would no longer be a burden to the one that he loved. This made something break in the flyer’s chest.
“Good. Here be what me had in mind...”
-----
Two days later:
Cera grumbled as she and the others pushed ahead through the desolate wastes. They barely had enough time to eat a good meal in the lowlands and to get a night of sleep before they were forced to journey on again. She could not fault anyone for this decision, as she had agreed to it as well, but that did not mean that she was happy about the situation. They could have stayed an extra day... but the appearance of Chomper’s parents in the distance had forced their hand. If they were going to provide assistance to the great biters then they needed to hurry along. Despite the necessity of this, she couldn’t help but to gripe one last time.
“I had forgotten how much of a pain in the tail this journey was!”
She growled as she could hear a familiar male voice respond from behind her.
“I hadn’t! At least the wind isn’t blowing sand in my face this time.”
Cera was about to respond to Taunt’s banter when the wind decided to gust, causing hot sand to blow into their faces. Cera covered her face to protect it from the sudden onslaught.
“Damn it, Taunt! You just had to give the wind ideas!”
She could hear the fastbiter spit out sand as Thud coughed after inhaling the unwanted cloud.
“What can I say? Great minds think alike!” She was about ready to bite her annoying friend when his father beat her to it. “Ow!”
“Knock it off, everyone!”
Cera turned back in the direction of the oncoming dust cloud in order to hear Littlefoot’s voice more clearly.
“We need to get out of this crap, it...” The brown fastbiter paused as the onslaught stopped just as quickly as it had began. The thick cloud soon became a light haze. “Never mind... it stopped.” He looked around at the others for a moment before wiping his eyes with his hands. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again!”
Cera snorted. “You can say that again! How much further do we have to go anyway?”
She could hear someone walking beside her as the rose-colored form of Ruby appeared. Though her feathers were noticeably duller due to the all-encompassing dust.
“We are by the big rock and the big rock is by our old home.” She intoned. “Maybe a day?”
“I think we are a day away.” Ducky’s voice called out with little enthusiasm. “I hope so, anyway. I do not want to be in the barrens any longer than I need to be. Oh, no, no, no!”
Spike and Breeze then walked beside Ducky as she tried to get dust out of her ears. Spike tried to assist his sister with preening the dust out of her feathers, as Breeze took the chance to speak.
“I second that motion.” She then shook her head. “Though we need to decide what to do when we finally get there. We haven’t heard from Spotter. It could be dangerous for all that we know.”
Cera was about to speak when Thud addressed her point for her. “We have survived it in the past, I am sure that we can survive it now.” Cera could only nod at this. “Though it is odd that Spotter isn’t back yet.”
Cera frowned. “Spotter is fast and hard-headed. I am sure that he is fine.” However, her face betrayed her concern. “Though I wonder where he is...”
Littlefoot nodded as Swift and Leap then joined into the makeshift circle. “It is hard to say. He may have missed us and had to circle back... though I would think that he would now that we would be coming that way...” He then suddenly looked up at something in the distance. “Well speak of the flyer and he shall appear!”
Cera looked up suddenly as the small forms of two flyers appeared in the sky. “Spotter!” She was so overwhelmed with relief that she did not try to hide her emotion. Now the pack was united again.
“There you are, Spotter!” Ducky leaped with happiness. Her concerns about her feathers were promptly forgotten with the return of her dear friend. The forms of Petrie and Pterano slowly increased in size over the next few moments as they approached against the wind. Finally they were within hearing range.
“There you are!” Petrie replied with a booming voice. “You not where Spotter expected you to be!”
Littlefoot smiled as he shouted against the wind. “Things got bad!” He couldn’t see Chomper’s sad expression at that affirmation, but Cera did and gave the little biter a supportive hand on his back. “We had to do what we talked about.”
Petrie did not answer until he and his uncle landed a few seconds later in the center of the pack’s makeshift circle.
“Me sorry to hear that.” Petrie admitted in leaf-eater as he gave an understanding nod in Chomper’s direction. “So you want to find new home then?”
Cera looked up at the flyer as Littlefoot prepared to answer. No, that would have been the smart thing to do! We wanted to do things the hard way! She thought to herself sardonically.
“No.” Littlefoot answered in his old tongue for the sake of Petrie’s uncle. “We want to make sure things are okay in the Land of Shallow Waters before Path’s folks come back there... then we will leave.”
Pterano clicked his beak with concern. “Um... That may be a problem...”
Petrie shook his head. “Me think it me okay, but me could be wrong.” He paused as he considered his next words. “Me find new fastbiters and me kind of make proposal to them.”
Cera reacted before Littlefoot did. “You did what!?” All concerns about speaking in leaf-eater for the benefit of his uncle were forgotten. She stepped forward as Pterano shifted uncomfortably. “Don’t you think that the pack should make proposals!?”
Littlefoot nodded at this. “You should have observed and leave the talking to us, Spotter.” His face softened slightly as he could see the flyer was hesitating to speak. “Unless you didn’t have a choice... what happened?”
Cera watched as the flyer swallowed. “That be long story... It look like there be rumors about us.”
Ruby stepped forward. “What rumors about us are being told about us?”
The flyer sighed. “Other fastbiters talk about us like we horrifying. We scare them.”
Cera laughed arrogantly. “Then these fastbiters might not be so stupid after all.”
Petrie swallowed. “No, that be part of problem. They hear about orange death...”
“Oh crap!” Spike echoed the sentiments of everyone.
Petrie nodded. “Yeah... and one of them find orange death. He test it on ground fuzzies... Me had to take action.” He stopped for a moment as his face began to contort in obvious unease. “Me and uncle decide to kill them with orange death so they not be a threat, but... it not feel right.”
Cera frowned at the flyer’s story. She remembered what it was like to be forced to kill in the heat of the moment. The screams of the threehorn younglings that she killed in order to save Dein several seasons ago still occasionally echoed in her mind. She knew full well that Petrie had been forced to make such hard choices as well. The fact that he couldn’t carry out his plan this time could only mean that something convinced him that another options was available.
“What happened?” Cera asked softly.
Petrie looked down. “One of them joke about allying with us... and me call off attack.” Cera stood stoically as Petrie struggled to continue his story. “Me scare them instead... get information... both of them seem harmless. So me offer them my deal.”
Chomper smiled slightly at this. “It is always good when you can avoid a fight.” Even now the preference for pacifism in the sharptooth was evident in his voice. “What deal did you make them?”
Leap stepped forward. “Yeah, what did they agree to?”
Petrie nodded in relief as his packmates were open to hear his proposal. “They agree to not harm us or Path’s mommy or daddy. They agree to help us crush opposition in old home, which me need to talk to you about later, Seeker. They also agree to leave if we tell them too.” Cera smiled as this sounded like quite a great deal thus far. “They only request one thing.”
Cera tilted her head. “What’s that?”
Petrie smiled. “They want help finding new home if we make them leave.”
Cera looked over at their leader as he digested this information. When the brown fastbiter smiled broadly she knew that the pack’s decision had been made.
“Well, I would hate to violate an agreement in the pack’s name, wouldn’t you all agree?” He looked at his packmates as they nodded empathically. Seeing this reaction, he turned back towards the two flyers.
“Well, Spotter, it looks like we are in your debt. Let’s journey on and see if our new friends live up to expectations.”
-----
“Well... well... well... look who has returned.”
Snap hesitated before making a deep bow at the green fastbiter. He was rewarded for his show of submission by a kick to the head.
“Why do you disgrace my presence with your pathetic self, Snap?!” The fasbiter shouted as he stared down Dodger. “Not even our dear brother is stupid enough to defend you here.”
Snap coughed as he struggled to regain his footing. He tried to maintain his composure despite the other fastbiter’s words and actions. After all, this wasn’t the first time he had a run in with this fiend.
“You told me to never come back unless I could prove myself useful...” Snap began, as he gave a red root to the other sharptooth. “I finally found it. That which gave Seeker’s pack their power.”
The green fastbiter glared at his brother as he stared at the root for several moments. It was only now that his two other packmates dared to step forward. One of them was a fastbiter that Dodger had spoken to just the other day.
His sister.
“It seems that you were correct, Dodger.” She noted simply. “Our lame brother has finally succeeded at something.” Her words were venomous, but her tone indicated that the words were forced. She did not meet Snap’s eyes.
“Well...” The green fastbiter remarked. “It seems that you might be of some use after all. If I am to hold his land then we will need something more formidable than teeth and claws.” His tone was suddenly quite dignified, as if he were addressing a vast assembly. His eyes then turned towards Snap as he gave an arrogant smile. “I am pleased that you and your brother finally saw reason. I am the strongest of the litter.” His eyes were piercing in their intensity as Snap reared back in fear. “I take it that you want a place at our side again, runt.”
Snap merely looked down as he bowed his head again. “Yes, Clawsting. Me and Dodger both wish to be forgiven for our transgressions.”
Clawsting smiled at this. “Hmm... Isn’t this precious! Perhaps mother wasn’t completely wrong in not eating you, Snap.” His eyes then took on a serious expression as he directed his two sisters to move to his side. “You and Dodger will have my protection.”
Dodger now took his turn to bow. “Thank you, bro...”
He didn’t get the chance to finish as the massive body of Clawsting slammed into the smaller fastbiter. Dodger crumpled to the ground as he struggled to regain his breath.
“Never interrupt me, brother.” Clawsting spoke in a cold monotone. “For your years of being a thorn in my side and trying to turn our dear sisters against me, I should have you killed. You only live because I need Snap at the moment.”
Snap looked up with wide eyes. The threat in those words was implicit. If Clawsting ever got to the point where he didn’t need them any more...
“So, Snap...” Clawsting walked back towards the still groveling brother with a cavalier expression. “You were telling me that we were about to get some company?”
Snap nodded. “Yes, brother. Seeker’s pack is coming here. The two two-footers as well.”
Clawsting smiled as Dodger slowly rose to his feet. “Excellent! What better way to make a name for myself than my killing the strongest of the strong?” His eyes drifted off as he imagined the possibilities. “Just imagine, Snap... you couldn’t even kill a hatchling with your claws, but you have killed an entire pack with your words...” The eyes of his brother seemed to stare into his soul as he took the other roots from him. “I always told you trust was a weakness, brother... I am glad to see that you finally saw the light.”
As Clawsting walked away and began to bark orders to his sisters and the still-recovering Dodger, Snap’s mind was in turmoil.
I just want my family to be safe... but at what cost? He looked down with a despairing expression.
What have I done?
-
Review of chapter 5:
I really can't get enough of the playful banter of the family and their children :smile
Chomper's sleep seems to be troubled. He sure is having some issues with the decision the pack agreed on.
Word of the tales of Seeker's pack has gotten around as it seems :p It's really interesting to see the other pack discuss about whether it's just a stupid tale or actually something to worry about.
Nice conversation between Path and Seeker :) I like that Seeker referred to the time they needed comfort from Chomper.
Oh, now a pack possesing the Orange Death as well is truly something to worry about...
Seeker's pack has reached the Lowlands. I'm looking forward to the hunt in case you decided to give it some importance :)
Uii, Spotter is up to something... this should be exciting :yes
Good chapter! Glad to be able to catch up now :p
-
Review of chapter 6:
Well, nice discussion the pack is having. I'm interested to see whether their decision is the right one :yes
Oh, now that is exciting. Spotter has decided that the fastbiters might be helpful as allies. I wonder what the rest of the pack will think about that...
Oh, so that's what Spotter negotiated with them... quite a good trade if you ask me :)
The pack's reaction upon hearing what deal Spotter made was to be expected. Indeed if you can avoid a war then you should :exactly
Aww damn, looks like the others seek a war though... some of them anyway. That will be very exciting!
-
Thanks for the reviews, Ducky! :) Yeah, there is quite a complication with Petrie's plan of mercy. Now that the other pack is on the path to battle, it will be up to the gang and any cooler heads in the adversary pack to try to resolve the situation. I hope to have the next chapter (the last in this particular night of songs) done by the weekend.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/8/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/8/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 7: Crisis in the Swamp
"I think that it is your turn, dear."
Littlefoot blinked as Ruby's words registered in his mind. Right, we always did sing this part. He frowned. Not the easiest song to sing.
"It is also your turn, if you remember." Littlefoot replied playfully, trying to ignore the grimness of the song in his mind. "What does Taunt always call it? The dark duet?"
Taunt stirred from his vantage point at the other end of the pack. "The abysmal duet." At the stunned looks of the children, he clarified. "They sing it well, but the story is not a happy one." His expression took on a rare frown. "Not a happy one at all."
Ruby nodded. "Not all stories are, but it is one that needs to be told. If it isn't told by us then it won't be told."
Pouncer and Biter nearly spoke in unison.
"Don't tell me something happened to Snap!?"
"Or Dodger! Their brothers and sisters are jerks!"
Littlefoot gave a slight smile. "Well, I guess that we will need to tell the tale, dear." He then grasped her shoulder with one hand as he gestured with the other towards the children. "Otherwise the younglings will be left in suspense."
Ruby nodded. "Yes, let us finish the song."
Chomper nodded at his two friends as he waited for the younglings to make him a path back to his old sitting area. Upon making a step forward, Pouncer and Biter quickened their pace noticeably. Despite the reputation of the friendly sharptooth, neither of them wanted to be in the walking path of a dinosaur many hundred times their size. As he settled back down, he noticed that Littlefoot had moved to the center of the circle, with Ruby at his side.
"We will now sing to you of the end of this tale. Not all tales have happy endings. Some end in sadness. Some end in anger. But most tales are bittersweet. This song is all three." At that ominous introduction from Littlefoot, Ruby began the song.
♪♪ As the pack continued approached in haste,
Clawsting's pack prepared their plot,
Neither were aware of the hidden danger,
That arose from a familiar spot. ♪♪
-----
Snap ate his share of the fallen spiketail in silence. The only sounds greeting his ears were the snapping of his jaws and the munching of his siblings beside him. Well, most of them anyway.
He looked in the distance to the nearby pond where Clawsting was examining the pointed sticks with amusement. They were Snap's creation, of course, but Clawsting would undoubtedly be the one to gain glory from the creation. He tried to ignore the pang of pride that rose in his chest at that thought. His brother finally seemed to be approving of something that he had done.
"Why did you really come here, brother?"
Snap looked up from his meal. It was a mangled mass of shattered bone and removed tissue at this point anyway. What he saw in his meal's place was the yellow eyes of Voda, his eldest sister. Her mouth was closed in an expressionless line, while her eyes were stark and cold. However, the tone of her voice did not condemn.
"You think that my intentions are not truthful?" He asked carefully.
She snorted as a glimmer of amusement finally reached her eyes. "Of course, you intentions are not truthful!" She looked towards Clawsting for a moment as if she feared being heard. "You would never go here even out of desperation." She sighed. "You are too damn proud for that. That is the one thing that you share with our brother."
Dodger looked up at her affirmation, but he kept silent. Snap realized that his chastisement and attack at the claws of Clawsting was more than likely the cause of his sudden cautiousness. Could he even trust his sisters anymore?
“If I had not told you of the flyer’s offer, then all of you would more than likely be the first to die.” Snap offered. “Even though you have treated me as an enemy and my brother as a fool, you are family.”
A low growl came from his other side as Rustling made herself known in the conversation. “We never considered you as an enemy brother. However, one who eats alone is a rival. Two who eat alone are a rival pack. And a rival pack is dangerous.”
Snap laughed coldly. “Oh, yes… Like my lovely brother gave me much choice on that account. I think that his exact words were, ëthe weakling will only slow us down’ and he left me and Dodger to fend for ourselves.” He looked in Rustling’s direction. “You made us a rival pack, sisters.”
Voda spoke without emotion. “We were starving, brother. A choice had to be made.”
Dodger now was sufficiently angry to speak despite his apprehension. “So you decided to save yourselves at the expense of your other brothers?”
Rustling protested. “We decided to save ourselves. Dodger decided to go with you.” Her emphasis on Dodger’s name confirmed her impression that he was to blame for his own hardship. “I don’t blame you for being angry, brother, but we had to make a choice and we made it. The pack had to go on... even if one of us did not.”
Snap stared at the bloody mess that had been his meal. “Do you regret it?”
Silenced reigned for several moments as Voda and Rustling both looked towards the advancing form of Clawsting. He would again be within hearing range within moments.
“Yes.” Voda answered.
“Every day.” Rustling admitted.
Snap stared at the advancing form of his brother as he approached closer. “Meet up with Dodger then when it is time for us to scout for the other pack’s possible paths. I don’t think that you will get a chance to talk to me alone again until it is time.”
Voda blinked. “Time? Time for what?”
Snap did not answer as Clawsting rejoined his siblings and began to ask Snap enumerable questions about the Orange Death and the pointed sticks. Neither sister noticed the rage-filled expression on Dodger’s face.
Soon…
-----
The next day:
“We are almost there, dear.”
Terri laid down upon the ground with some difficulty. Despite the relatively short amount of time that she and Dein had been able to tend to the demands of the Time of Mating, she could already feel the changes to her body. Eggs would soon be coming. Then would come the time to prepare a nest. The time to secure a territory.
“Dear...“ Terri moaned as she felt another cramp. “Do you think Path and his friends are alright?”
Dein snorted. “I am sure that they are fine. They were smart enough to get the hell away from us, which shows that my son is not a meat-brain!” Count on Dein to make a compliment sound like an insult. “I am sure that they are far away. Living their own lives.” He nuzzled her. “Don’t worry dear… we will soon have new life to worry about.”
Terri snorted. “So you tell me not to worry and then tell me something new to be worried about?”
Dein rolled his eyes. “I never said I was good with this whole reassurances thing.”
Terri sighed. “That you are not.” She shuddered as she suddenly shifted uncomfortably. “These feel a lot different from when Path was coming. I think that we are talking about eggs, dear. Not an egg.”
Dein looked into her eyes as she said this. “Are you sure, dear. It took you many more days last time… um… the only time.” He was at a loss for words. “You didn’t feel like this until…”
Terri nodded. “...I laid Chomper’s egg. I know.” Her eyes looked concerned. “I still have many more days to go, dear, but I feel as if I am about to lay an egg. That must mean that I am full of younglings.”
Dein gave her a nuzzle. “Don’t worry, dear. With Redclaw gone and both of us healthy, I am sure that our younglings will do fine.
As the two lay together, the winds began to pick up in the barrens, causing sand to fly into their faces. They closed their eyes at the onslaught and awaited the ending of the horrible gusts. When it finally did end, they were surprised to hear the sound of flapping wings. Dein was the first to react.
“What the…”
The nervous form of Petrie greeted his eyes. “Uh… hello. Me sorry to disturb you, but there be a complication.”
Dein glared at the small flyer. “What is that, flyer?”
Petrie chuckled nervously as he stretched his wings.
“That be kind of long story…”
-----
“So, there is our old home.”
Littlefoot stared at the scene with an unreadable expression. His dour tone was in stark contrast to the enthusiasm of some of his packmates.
“Gee, Seeker, you almost sound like you are disappointed.” Taunt observed, the usual joking tone gone from his voice.
Ducky joined in. “Yes, this is our home. We should be happy! We should, we should!”
Ruby stepped forward to be beside her friend and stared into his eyes with an understanding expression. Wordlessly, she simply gave him a nuzzle.
“We can’t stay, guys.” Littlefoot noted sadly. “We are just hear to make sure things are okay for Path’s folks. Then we have to leave.” He gritted his teeth. “Our potential friends also concern me.”
Spike stepped forward. “You don’t trust them?”
Littlefoot turned and tilted his head at Spike in a contemplative expression. “Spotter mentioned that Snap’s brother and sister were arguing about the rumors of the Orange Death… Do you honestly think that Snap won’t tell his siblings about this?”
Leap nodded at this. “But they might decide to join in our arrangement. We help find them a new territory if they vacate this one.”
Cera suddenly had a stunned expression. “Wait! Why wasn’t Snap and his brother with the other siblings in the first place? Spotter said that they seemed estranged!”
Littlefoot gave a simple nod. “That is right, Stern Claw. I suspect a plot.”
Chomper walked over to his friend and sat by his side. A grim expression on his face.
“I don’t want to risk the pack, Seeker. You should do what you think is best for all of us.” Chomper looked down sadly. “Just… if it comes to that please have Spotter warn my mommy and daddy. I know that I have no duties to them now, but…” He trailed off as Littlefoot gave the little biter a soft nuzzle.
“Don’t worry, Path. I already have made arrangements to warn them and we aren’t leaving just yet.”
“Wait a moment.” Thud exclaimed. “Where is Spotter?”
Littlefoot frowned. “I already sent Spotter to warn Path’s parents of my suspicions. ...and Spotter already told Pterano to tell the valley about the other pack knowing of the Orange Death. This is a threat to the leaf-eaters as well. I have no doubt what they would ask of us if it were their choice.”
Swift frowned. “The only good sharptooth is a dead one?”
Littlefoot nodded. “If they had their way then they would want us to kill anyone else who knows of our methods, but I will give them a chance. A chance to prove themselves worthy of friendship or worthy of death.” He frowned. “Time to prepare our pointed sticks. Spotter will have the Orange Death ready shortly.”
The other pack members looked at him with sad expressions as they contemplated their orders. Even while they planned for peace, they were preparing for war.
“I do not like this.” Ducky complained. “I know why we are doing this and I agree with what we are doing. But it seems wrong.”
“We all do, Haven.” Thud admitted. “But I think this is one of those times when we need to prepare to commit a harder right over an easier wrong.” He then grabbed a branch from a small tree. “We have made our peace offering, now let us prepare for the worst.”
The others now began to move at the elder fastbiter’s words. As they prepared to commit another dark deed if their overture for peace failed, another conversation several miles away was beginning to take on great importance.
-----
Dodger looked at his spear with an uneasy expression. Its sharp point seem to glare at him like an unspoken condemnation. He had betrayed his word to dinosaurs who meant him no ill will in order to protect his family. Despite his noble motivations, he felt dead inside.
This is insane. This is completely insane.
“What is it, Dodger?”
Dodger looked up at Voda’s inquisitive eyes. He thought that they almost had a mournful quality to them… but maybe that was his imagination.
“Well… where to begin, sis? Our esteemed brother wants us to attack Seeker’s pack.” He gestured with frantic hands. “Seeker’s pack..the pack that killed Redclaw… the pack that is feared by sharptooth and leaf-eater alike. The children of death…”
“We get it, Dodger.” Rustling muttered. “But Clawsting has given us our mission…”
Dodger raised his spear in agitation and slammed it to the ground. “Yes, he certainly has! But his mission is insane. How can five of us take out a pack of ten?!”
Voda spoke uncertainly. “Well… brother thinks that if we injure one then they will get the point and let us be.”
Dodger laughed. A sad, bitter sound coming from his throat. There plan was hopeless. Utterly hopeless. They were being lead by a fool who was too strong to be challenged. Not unless he were willing to use the ultimate… no… he would not go that far… he couldn’t. Could he?
“If we hurt one of them then they would murder us all.” Dodger finally spoke in a cold monotone. “Do you understand, sis? We will all die. Unless we stop this madness now.”
Rustling frowned. “Why did you rejoin with us, brother? You obviously want to do your own thing.” She jabbed an accusing claw at his chest. “Why are you and Snap here?”
Dodger frowned. “I am here to save both of you. If you try to fight this pack then they will kill you all.” He looked away as his eyes began to shimmer. “You may not love us, sisters, but Snap and I do not wish to have your deaths on our conscience. If… if it comes down to it then we will fall with you.” He looked up at the two females sadly. “Do you remember mom’s last request?
Rustling looked down, while Voda spoke softly. “Of course. She wanted us to stay together. She wanted the family to outlive her. She wanted us to remember her songs.”
Dodger sucked in a shuddering breath. “Then tell me, sisters: is this how you honor her request?”
Voda now looked down. Dodger’s words were hanging over her like rain clouds on a dark day. When she finally spoke again, her voice was barely audible.
“What do you suggest, brother?”
Dodger sighed. "I suggest that we talk to our older brother together. If we all have spears then he would be unwise to use his strength against us."
Rustling was shocked. "You want us to threaten Clawsting?!"
Dodger shook his head in annoyance. "No! I want us to talk to Clawsting! He never listens unless he is forced to." He looked at his two sisters. Their eyes broadcasted their conflicted emotions to all who could see them. "I am not asking you to choose between your brothers, sisters. I am asking you to simply talk to our brother." He looked down. "If he refuses then Snap and I can go our own way... and both of you can make your choice."
"Considering that our brother doesn't listen, you are forcing us to make a choice, brother."
Dodger looked into Voda's eyes as she said this. Only hurt shown in those gelatinous orbs. He could only frown in response.
"I am sorry then. But... we should do this before Snap makes his move."
Rustling stepped forward, a concerned expression on her face. "His move?"
Dodger gritted his teeth. "Right now he is helping Clawsting gather the orange death." His eyes blazed with an inner fury. "Even though he told me his plans, I know that he is just as likely to change them..."
Voda glared at him. "Get to the point!"
Dodger growled. "Do you honestly think that if Snap sees an opportunity to end this violently that he won't take it? Our brother has shown him only scorn and left him to die!"
Rustling snorted. "Like he would be able to defeat Clawsting without..." Her eyes went wide in recognition. "Oh crap."
Dodger nodded. "Exactly. Let's go over there and talk to..."
His sisters took off with furious speed in the direction of their two brothers. Any consideration of their brother's plan being lost in their desire to prevent a bloodbath. They never heard Dodger's refrain.
"Wait for me!"
-----
“This is the root that you will need.”
Snap slowly raised the orange bulbs from the soil. Their brilliant color seemed to gleam in the sunlight. A beautiful color that was in stark disagreement with the reputation of the plant in question.
Clawsting picked up one of the bulbs with a flourish. Turning the bulb over in his hand, he inspected it as if it were the most interesting object in the universe.
“It is amazing that such destruction could be contained in something so small.” He grinned. “I suppose looks can be deceiving.”
Snap did not meet his eyes as he picked up a few more of the bulbs. “I suppose so.”
I could do it right now… He would be incapacitated before he could even make a move against me.
The larger fastbiter walked to his side.
“What are you thinking, Snap?”
I should do it now. While I have the chance!
Clawsting continued to walk around him until he found himself staring at his reflection in the water.
“Do you remember when mom and dad would bathe us in the stream, brother?” He laughed, an odd sound coming from Clawsting. “I couldn’t even hold my own in the water… but you were able to swim laps around me!”
Snap nodded. “It was the only place I wasn’t a disappointment to father.”
Clawsting sat down as Snap was shaking with obvious distress. His pointed stick shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“Father never liked you.” The booming voice of his brother admitted. “And neither did I. But not for the reason that you think.”
In a flash, Clawsting knocked the spear from Snap’s hands and looked at his brother as if nothing had happened. For his part, Snap looked at his brother with a horrified expression. His gambit had failed.
Snap stammered. “You never liked me because I was weak.” His words dripped with sadness and bitterness. “And now my weakness has doomed everyone that I love.”
Clawsting said nothing for several moments, as if he were contemplating something.
“I never liked you, Snap, because you never had the courage to do what needed to be done.” With a slow deliberate movement, Clawsting picked up his own spear and placed it against Snap’s throat. “You were contemplating killing me, brother, and you nearly succeeded. I didn’t see it!” His voice roared as he lamented his own lack of observation. “Do you hate me that much?”
Snap closed his eyes as he spoke. “The only thing I wanted from you is to be listened to… the only thing I want now is for you to stop this madness…” His voice came through is gasps as he struggled to not let the poison at the tip of the spear puncture his skin. “I want everyone to be safe.”
Clawsting roared. “They made their choice!” Snap fell to the ground as he took a kick to the belly. “A pack leader makes the decisions, Snap! That is something that you will never be!”
“What good is being a leader is you lead them to oblivion?” Snap choked out as he tried to think through the tremendous pain in his midsection. “A leader cares for his people.”
Clawsting snarled. “Are you saying I don’t!”
Snap looked up at him with a sneer. “I say that you care more about your position.” He then spat onto the ground. “What would you do if one of my sisters left your side? Would you bash them as well?”
As if to answer his question, his body again erupted into pain. Clawsting’s body slammed into his smaller brother’s side like an avalanche roaring into a mountain side. His world soon turned dim as his consciousness hung on by a thread. He knew that this was the end.
His older brother’s enraged form rose above him, spear raised. The Bright Circle shined behind the hulking form as the azure sky covered the land in a canopy of blue.
Snap closed his eyes. Goodbye, brother…
With a distraught roar, Clawsting’s spear descended towards its victim.
-----
Crack!
Silence reigned in the swamp for several moments as Clawsting completed his attack. Not even the sounds of flyers or the rustling of trees disturbed the ears of those who had witnessed what had occurred.
“Damn it, Snap!” The elder brother wailed. “Why did you push me to this!?” He made no attempt to walk away from his deed as he stared at Snap’s prone body.
“Mother always loved you… she always tried to protect you… she always gave you attention.” He grimaced. “And you just had to have her damn personality.” He began to shake. “You can never leave an argument without having the last word. You are always so damn sure of yourself.” He then began to beat the ground. “Why won’t you yield!?”
-----
Voda watched in horror at the sight in front of her. She had seen the very end of the argument between her brothers. She had seen the exchange of blows. She had seen Clawsting raise his spear. She had seen the coming of silence as the impact of the spear was heard all around.
My brother is dead.
The words echoed in her mind but she could not really accept them. It was like something out of a nightmare. Except that she knew that this was a nightmare that she had helped to create.
I was the one that agreed first…
Memories of the hard Cold Time came to her in a rush. Mommy and daddy had died. Now only the siblings remained. There was no doubt which was the weakest and which was the strongest. Food was so scarce and Snap was too slow to catch the prey that remained. Despite her mother’s final request, she decided to betray her word. Her sister had followed shortly thereafter. Only the idealistic Dodger stood by his brother’s side.
I could have stopped this.
Tears welled in her eyes as the world seemed to grow smaller. The only two things that she could see was the tail of her fallen brother which was barely visible and the back of her hulking brother. The murderer of Snap.
Her hands tightened their grip on the spear. She knew what she had to do. This madness had to stop. She would avenge her fallen brother, the one that she should have protected in the first place.
She barely registered the footsteps of her two other siblings behind her.
“What is it, Voda?” She sucked in a breath as it was obvious that they had seen nothing of what had transpired. “It looks like you have seen a…”
Without listening for the remainder of Dodger’s words she hurled herself forward in a headlong sprint. She would not let Dodger burden his conscience over this. She already had the blood of one brother on her hands, she would accept the burden of murdering another. One she killed by omission and now another by commission. But at least the pack would be safe.
“Why don’t you speak to me, Snap?” She could hear the monster say, as if her fallen brother could speak from the dead. “I always did what I thought was best for the pack…”
“Voda! Wait!”
She quickened her pace as she could hear the others scramble from behind her. Regardless of Dodger’s desire to avenge his brother, she would do the deed. He was too kind of a soul… she would pay the price.
Despite the protests from behind her, Clawsting did not look back. It was as if he were entirely focused on his act of fratricide. Of all the times her brother decided to be introspective, he had decided to wait until it was too late.
“Perhaps we will try it your way…”
She raised her spear for the assault as she prepared to leap into the air. It was time for her to put this sad episode to an end. As she put her weight on her back legs, Dodger’s scream echoed in her ears.
“Voda, please stop!”
She leapt into the air.
-----
“I always did what I thought was best for the pack, Snap. But… but... this once I will try it your way... Yes, perhaps we will try it your way.” The voice hesitated. “I… think I went too far this time...”
Schluck!
Snap was only fully aware of his situation once his brother suddenly stopped talking. The spear was planted firmly into the ground next to his head. It seemed that his brother had not had it in him to do the unthinkable either. At least his brother truly did care about the pack…
“Voda?”
“Oh no! What have I done!”
Snap slowly raised himself off of the ground as the voices of Voda and Dodger echoed in his brain. Shortly thereafter, their vague figures could be seen in his vision. As could a limp fastbiter.
“Br... brother?”
The other three siblings turned towards Snap with horrified expressions as he stumbled over to where his brother lay, ignoring the lingering pain in his midsection. A spear was planted firmly in the fallen fastbiter's chest. His sister’s spear. His mouth was contorted as if he were attempting to whisper at someone, but his eyes were blank and expressionless. His conversation with Snap had been his last.
“Brother!”
Snap grasped his brother’s face with both hands as he stared into those eyes. His brother had been a thorn in his side all of his life. Not once had he showed Snap the slightest compassion, except for when they were in the youngest of their youngling years. Yet, Snap could not shake the need for validation from Clawsting. This fastbiter who had been everything that he had not. Fast, confident, strong… Now in those final moments of his life, he had finally let the facade fall and shown the empathy underneath. A final expression of those traits that he had suppressed for his own vanity and…
I always did what I thought was best for the pack, Snap.
Snap shook as he could feel Dodger’s hand on his shoulder. He and Dodger had nearly starved during that Cold Time. If it wasn’t for a lucky piece of carrion in the barrens… Had his elder brother had been right? Were he in Clawsting’s position could he have made the hard decision? Was it hard for him? Until this time he would have said no, but despite his faults Clawsting’s words were not those of a traitor or a butcher.
They were the words of a leader.
As he stared into the blue sky once more, Snap did something that he had never done before.
He cried for his brother.
-----
Ruby's tried to control her breathing as she maintained her steady run through the underbrush of her former home. She knew as well as the others that they had to be silent here. Observe and wait was the mission. They would let the other pack confirm their intentions with deeds. If they wanted peace then they would honor that. If not...
Ruby tightened her grip on the spear.
She extended the length of her stride as she heard the labored breathing of the others behind her. As of yet she had not seen anything of any significance. But it was her duty as the lead runner to relay any notice to the others.
Grass covered the ground, with thick patches of bushes arising at irregular intervals in the verdant display. Ahead of her, four large trees rose from the edge of a stream. Nothing of notice resided there. Only the endless grass, sticks, and...
She raised her hand and came to a sudden stop, which caused the others to stop immediately. With a few careful steps forward she raised one finger and waved her spear slightly. As if on cue, Chomper and Spike, the two best sniffers in the pack, came to her side.
She simply looked at the purple sharptooth and the green fastbiter. A quick nod from her sent them into action.
She and the other crouched down as her two friends went to work. Her spear was ready for flight at the slightest surprise. She did not have to look behind her to know that the others were doing the same. The only sound that greeted her ears during this tense moment were the calls of distant flyers and the rustling of the grass in the wind. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few moments, Chomper cautiously walked towards her.
The small sharptooth simply raised his stubby claws five times. He then pointed at Ruby twice and at Spike three times. It only took her a moment to deduce the meaning.
Five fastbiters. Two female, three male. So only one more than we assumed.
With a wave of her arm, Littlefoot went to her side and awaited her report.
"One more than we expected." She whispered."A male."
Littlefoot nodded as he edged forward and looked at the fallen spear. She joined him in this visual inspection. They could have smelled if they were very near. Right now, their scent was recent... but not present. That was when Littlefoot noticed something.
"They left in a hurry. See the gashes in the ground."
Ruby took careful notice of the disturbed ground. Her friend's observations were quite correct. But that would also mean...
"That is why they dropped the pointed stick!" Ruby hissed. "That must mean that they are unprepared for us. And one of them doesn't have their spear."
She looked at Littlefoot who gave her a grim smile.
"Pack, get ready to prepare an ambush. We will end this one way or another."
At that moment a familiar flapping became audible as Petrie landed with an almost inaudible thud at Littlefoot's side. He only spoke when Littlefoot gave him a slight nod.
"Dein and Terri coming. What should me tell them?"
Littlefoot picked his spear off of the ground as he looked at the swampy land in front of him.
"Tell them to follow our scent. If strange fastbiters walk beside us then they are leaving. If they walk apart from us... then they may deal with them as they wish."
The flyer took to the air without making a sound. Littlefoot then simply raised his hand and gestured forward.
The plan was now in motion.
-----
Snap lay on the ground as the initial shock began to wear off. The sight of his impaled brother filled his vision as the wails of his sisters could be heard echoing off of the trees. Shuddering breaths racked his body as he recovered from his debilitating bout of grief. Now that the despair was gone, only emptiness remained. For some reason this seemed to hurt him more.
"I... I thought he had killed him... I..."
Snap turned towards his distraught sister. Voda was being embraced by Rustling as the guilt ridden fastbiter shook like a leaf in the wind. He had never seen anyone react in such a way since their parents had died many seasons ago. The echoes of those memories still haunted him. They had wandered aimlessly with Clawsting trying to hold them all together. Well, everyone but him.
Snap shook his head in order to clear the terrible memories. Wishing to look at anything else he looked towards his last remaining brother. The kind soul who had stood by him while the others had left. Dodger had a blank expression on his face as he stared straight ahead. It was as if his brother were someplace else even while his body was just in front of him. Finally noticing his brother, however, Dodger gave him an understanding frown which was followed by a nuzzle.
Snap then watched dumbfounded as his brother walked passed him and went towards their two sisters. Both were in states of abject despair, but Rustling seemed to be holding out the best of the two. Voda was utterly inconsolable.
Dodger moved closer towards Voda as she turned her gaze in his direction.
"Sister..." Dodger started as if he were unsure about how to begin. He placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked down.
"I killed him." Voda's voice came out in a low monotone. "I killed my brother..." Snap felt uneasy at the tone of her words. It was as if she were announcing a verdict.
Dodger breathed in with a slight shudder. "You thought that you were avenging Snap..."
"That doesn't matter!" The scream caused Snap to jump. The despair had turned into rage. "I have killed my own flesh and blood; what would mom and dad say to me now?!" Her eyes were like fire as the bore into Dodger like a spear. "They wanted us to stay together and I end up betraying everyone..." She began to sit down as if a massive weight had fallen upon her. "First, I leave Snap and you... and now I have sent Clawsting to our ancestors... what kind of monster am I?"
Breathing deeply, Snap stepped forward and joined his brother at her side.
"You are no monster." Snap spoke with a sob in his voice. "You saw what happened to me and you... reacted." He looked down. "He... he would want us to stick together."
Voda began to shake as Snap finished his words, which caused him to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. However, the shaking soon turned into a sad, cheerless laughter. A horrifying sound that made Snap's blood turn cold.
"Stick together?" The laugh was now something between a humorless chuckle and a sob. "Look what good that did him!" Snap looked down as the sound of his brother's death throes began to die down. "He never liked you, Snap! That's why I... that's why I thought..."
Snap closed his eyes as he spoke. "Do you know the last thing that he told me?"
Voda remained silent as Snap stroked her shoulder.
"He told me that he went too far this time... and that we would try it my way." Snap watched as his sister's muscles went limp. "He did not like me, but I think... No... I know he had the wellbeing of the pack in mind." His sister's sobs grew in intensity as he continued to speak. "I don't think that if he were still here that he would condemn you, sister. He would just want us to take care of ourselves." He then gestured in the direction of the remaining Orange Death roots and nodded at Dodger. "And that can't happen if you join him in death."
Rustling was startled by this. "What?!"
Splash!
Snap held his focus on Voda as both sisters looked in the direction of the splashing water. Rustling had a confused expression, whereas Voda looked defeated.
"I saw you looking at them, sis. Your death would help no one."
Voda snapped. "How do you know..." She growled. "I am the only member of this family to kill another. You would all be better with me gone."
Snap hugged his sister as Rustling and Dodger did the same.
"You know that isn't true, Voda... you will get through this." Snap looked up at his other siblings. "We all will."
Rustle... Rustle...
Dodger suddenly took up an alert posture as he picked up a spear.
Rustle... Rustle...
"We've got company, guys!" Dodger shouted as the others rose to their feet by instinct. Snap picked up a spear, whereas Rustling just then discovered that she had lost hers. That was when the chaos started.
-----
"Now!"
Upon Littlefoot's order, the pack arose from their hiding places. An endless sea of fastbiters and one two-footer rushed out from behind the nearby trees as their spears were raised in a threatening manner. An endless parade of poisoned spears greeted their eyes as a thunderous racket arose from behind them.
"Shit! Two-footers!" One of the opposing pack members called out in a panic. It was only now that the opposing pack knew that they were surrounded.
Carefully, Littlefoot raised a hand and the advance of his pack came to a halt. The time to show force had passed. Now the time for diplomacy had come.
Here goes nothing... Littlefoot cleared his throat.
"As we have promised, we have arrived. May I speak to your leader?"
Littlefoot watched in fascination as the mood of the opposing pack changed in rapid succession from one of uncertainty, then confusion, and then, finally, sadness. It was only when one of the males stepped aside towards a female that he saw a ghastly sight.
A dead fastbiter.
A spear was planted in the poor soul's chest and blood had escaped through his mouth and chest. Had the opposing pack already began to use their resources to build a territory? Did they have to defend themselves? A million possibilities raced through the fastbiter's head until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me speak."
Littlefoot did not need to look beside him to know that Ruby had spoken. Perhaps a pack leader might be too intimidating here. He noted. Especially if they have already been attacked by another pack... He then mutely nodded in Ruby's direction as she stepped forward.
Ruby looked at the dead body from a distance for several moments as the sounds of Chomper's parents approached. The fear from the opposing pack could now be smelled even over the scent of death. However, what she and Littlefoot both noticed was how the opposing pack behaved around the body.
They were standing beside it. As if they were protecting an injured member.
"Was he... one of yours?" Ruby asked tentatively.
"He was our brother." The smallest of the fastbiters answered curtly.
Ruby nodded. "You are siblings then?" Their looks confirmed her question. "What happened?"
Silence reigned for several moments as no one dared to speak. Each side had their spears raised. The two males of the opposing pack and the nine members of her pack. Only Ruby had her spear aimed downward in a show of peace.
"I killed him."
Ruby looked in shock at the female that had uttered those words. She had no spear and made no attempt to grab the spear that was still embedded in her brother. Nonetheless, Ruby tightened the grip on her own spear as the rest of the pack took a few steps forward at Littlefoot's nonverbal gesture.
"She... thought she was saving me from him."
The small voice of the male could barely be heard, but Ruby nodded and gestured for the pack to halt once more. This was when a soft thud could be heard.
"That him. He the one me talk with."
Ruby nodded at Petrie's words as the male tried to speak again.
"What is this? We have done you no wrong."
A tap on Ruby's shoulder told her it was time for her friend to take over. With a mute nod, she stepped back and joined the line of fastbiters. Her spear was again raised.
"I am Seeker." Littlefoot spoke with an imperious tone. "What stand before you are the victors of the Battle for the Valley. The killers of Redclaw. The slaughterers of countless fastbiters."
At his introduction, the smaller male stepped back several paces as he tightened his grip on his spear.
"Our packmate, Spotter, has made an agreement with you. You promised us that you would leave this place and help us clear it of hostile sharpteeth. In return, we agreed to help find you a new place to settle and to help you claim that land." He glanced at each member of the opposing pack in turn. "Spotter only talked to two of you. He was under the impression that the rest were hostile to you... Snap."
Littlefoot refrained from smiling at Snap's sudden look of fear. It was obvious which one would go by that name. Petrie had said that Snap was certainly the runt of the group.
"Yes."
Another voice called out now. The larger of the two males.
"Yes, my sisters were with my other brother. We were not together at the time."
Littlefoot nodded coldly. "So you took command from him?"
The other male looked horrified.
"No! I mean... We..."
"You don't have a leader then?" Ruby asked from the row behind Littlefoot.
Dodger looked down. "We were mourning him as you found us."
Littlefoot took a deep breath as the sounds of Chomper's parents could be heard nearby. The ground had already began to rumble as the massive beasts approached from the other side of the stream. Soon, he realized, they would be visible to all of the dinosaurs present. With slight hesitation, he gestured for the pack to lower their spears.
"If you still are willing to honor your agreement, then we will honor ours."
Littlefoot's pack waited with the spears aimed towards the ground as the opposing pack remained unchanged. Then, in an instant, Snap dropped his spear to the ground.
"I will honor my commitment." He then kicked his spear towards Littlefoot, which caused it to roll slowly in his direction. "I entrust my life into your claws."
Dodger was the next. He threw his spear into the stream and lowered himself in a gesture of submission. Rustling followed suit by impaling her spear into the ground and lowering herself in the same gesture that Dodger was making.
Only Voda remained standing, saying nothing. This made Littlefoot uneasy as he could not decipher the emotions in her eyes. Likewise, her scents were a confusing mix of despair and confusion. When he remembered that she was the one who killed her brother, he spoke softly.
"We will not hold what you have done against you." It was only now that her siblings noticed her silence. "You have nothing to fear from us as long as you are peaceful."
Dodger's expression immediately took on grave concern. "Sis! Just lay down, okay?!"
Snap spoke next. "Voda! Please don't do anything rash!"
Voda shifted her gaze to the spear that was embedded in her brother. Littlefoot saw her gaze immediately and raised his hand for the pack to again raise their spears.
"What are you planning, Voda?"
The female did not look at Littlefoot as he spoke. "This is none of your concern!"
Littlefoot cautiously took a step forward against the hissed protest of Ruby.
"Oh, I do believe it is." He retorted. "A potential friend thinking about suicide is certainly my business."
The female took a step closer to the spear, which caused her brothers to raise themselves off of the ground and approach her. In an instant, she pulled out the spear from her brother and placed its tip next to her neck.
"Stop, or I will do it!"
Both Littlefoot and the opposing pack stopped in their tracks.
"Don't do this, sis!"
"This won't bring him back!"
"Please, sis!"
Littlefoot gulped. He felt out of place in the unfolding drama. It was as if he were transported to the scene of a tragedy that he could not stop. Nonetheless, he knew that he had to try.
"You should listen to them, Voda."
Voda shook her head. "They will be better off without a murderer as a sister."
Petrie flew right beside Littlefoot and spoke before the others could respond. "You wrong, Voda. You not deserve to die! They not deserve to lose sister!"
Voda roared in rage. "What do you know?! You don't know me!"
"Me know what it like to lose sister." Petrie replied sadly. "Me not wish that on anyone."
Littlefoot took a cautious step forward. "I know what it is like to kill your own kind." He shuddered a bit. "Both my current kind and my own kind... it is horrible, Voda. But it doesn't have to be the end."
"Listen to them, Voda!" Snap called out. "We still need you!"
"Yes, sister." Rustling sobbed. "Just drop the spear. Don't leave us all alone."
Voda's hand shook as she looked at the spear with an unreadable expression. "Dying is temporary... my crime is not."
Roar!
In an instant, Chomper's parents made themselves known by tearing through the foliage on the far side of the stream. Trees toppled as the two sharpteeth entered the area in a rage-filled trance. The tension of the Time of Mating and their own annoyance had built up into an unstoppable combination. The ground shook as they approached.
"What?!" Voda looked up from the spear at the approach of the two two-footers. This was just the opening that Snap was looking for.
Slam!
Both fastbiters rolled end over end as the runt hit with more force than he had ever mustered in his life. The spear rolled onto the ground after it left the hands of the would-be suicide victim. Littlefoot wasted no time in kicking the weapon into the stream.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
The fastbiter's words were muffled by the bodies of her siblings, who had piled upon her to protect her from herself. Her words were soon drowned out, however, by the sounds of her own pained sobs. The emotional dam had finally broken again. Littlefoot could only look sadly at Ruby and his other packmates as the other pack comforted the emotionally broken fastbiter.
If I had killed one of my packmates then I would have considered the same thing. Littlefoot reflected.
"We came here looking for threats, but the biggest threat was ourselves." Littlefoot looked with some surprise as Chomper broke from the pack's defensive line. "They would all be alive right now if we had stayed away."
Littlefoot grimaced. "But your mommy and daddy could have been hurt."
Chomper nodded. "Maybe... or maybe this pack would have fled."
"We will never know, because we would have to have done something different for us to know." Ruby proclaimed. "But we can save what is left of them."
"Yeah..." Cera approached as the other walked forward as well. "We helped cause this... so we should help fix this."
Nods and growled affirmations followed from the rest of the pack as the other pack continued to be joined in communal mourning. It was only after a sigh that Littlefoot nodded at the pack's consensus. They would honor their commitment to the other pack. Despite whatever questionable motivations that pack may have had, they had earned a reprieve from their hardship.
"Are these the ankle biters that you wanted to kill!?"
Littlefoot looked up at the towering sharpteeth that now stood before them. The opposing pack could only cower as both of the predators looked upon them with murderous intent.
"No." Littlefoot stated simply. "The threat has already been taken care of. We and them will leave you in peace."
Dein growled in annoyance. "We can protect ourselves, you know!"
Chomper protested. "Not from the Orange Death, daddy! We took care of that!"
Father and son stared at one another. Littlefoot could tell that the instinctual response to the pheromones of Chomper's species was having an effect on the two Tyrannosauruses. Knowing that this might not end well, he intervened.
"I guess that we fastbiters aren't very good at following instructions, huh?"
The elder male snorted. "You listen about as well as my mate." This earned him a tail slap which he recovered from after some difficulty. He did not notice that the other pack had already been attended to by Thud and his pack. Now all of the fastbiters were together. Littlefoot took this as their chance to retreat.
"Chomper? Are you alright?"
The small purple sharptooth clinched his stubby claws several times, not answering his friend. But after a few moments, he addressed his father.
"Our kind's instincts suck, dad."
This earned a chuckle from the elder male, as his demeanor noticeably improved.
"You are just now figuring that out, son? I see that you are learning to cope."
Chomper hesitated. "I... I have to be there for my friends. I nearly snapped at Seeker the last time. I have to fight it."
Terri nodded as she stepped beside her mate. "I am glad that you helped us, dear. But it is best to not tempt fate."
Chomper nodded. "I know, mommy." He proceeded to jog in the direction of the rest of the pack, as he knew better than to risk one final nuzzle with his family in this condition. "Can you and daddy do something for me once I am gone?"
Dein nuzzled his mate as he stared at the retreating back of his son. "Anything, son."
"Tell my brothers and sisters about us..." He then took on a smile despite his somber mood. "...and don't eat Petrie when he checks up on you."
Dein snorted. "I can promise you the first request."
As expected, this caused an exclaimed protest from the flyer. Both parent and child laughed, the instinctual tension being forgotten for the moment. Nonetheless, he knew that his departure would have to be hasty. Both his and his parents' moods could shift like the winds in this state. As a result, he again turned back towards his friends. It was only now that he permitted his tears to flow.
As he continued his retreat, he could hear his mother clear her throat. He paused at this and slowly turned around to face his parents once more. It was at this point that both parents gave the obligatory farewell to a departing son.
"Happy hunting, Path."
Path smiled. "Happy hunting, mommy and daddy."
Path nodded in a low bow as Littlefoot and the others gave a respectful nod, whereas the other pack seemly looked upon the scene in mute horror. Finally, however, the pack resumed their movement out of the Land of Shallow Waters and back towards the barrens.
"You know..." Dein noted. "They never told us what the threat was."
Terri looked at the fallen fastbiter and gave it a sniff, recoiling immediately as she noticed the smell of Orange Death.
"I think that the threat they removed is obvious, dear."
Dein nodded as he looked at the pack retreating in the distance. "Yeah."
When the Bright Circle finally fell and the world descended into darkness, the pack finally exited into the barrens. It was only then that the threat had left the Land of Shallow Waters.
-----
As Ruby and Littlefoot concluded their song, the echoes of the final high notes echoed across the forest. The fading refrain seemed to haunt the children as the echoes were overtaken by silence. The quiet that followed was just as foreboding as several of the children huddled together for emotional support. It took several moments for one of Ducky's children to break the silence.
"That... that is so sad." Fischer lamented. "Clawsting died and... and..."
"He died for nothing!" Sprint protested, which caused the rest of Cera's children to nod. There lamentations were joined by the affirmations of Spike and Breeze's children as well.
Littlefoot nodded at the children's lamentations. "I guess that is what makes so hard, isn't it?" He gestured towards Ducky. "Haven's aunt, your namesake Tranquil..." He looked towards the small child. "...at least was avenged when Redclaw's pack was defeated. Spotter's sister was also avenged." He gestured towards the flyer family. "...as were my grandparents. But Clawsting simply died due to a misunderstanding. He was not a bad sharptooth, though he was not a kind sharptooth. He simply meet a pointless, tragic end."
Ruby then joined in the conversation. "I think that we spoiled all of you with our song about our change and the Battle of the Valley. You were all spoiled by those." Ruby placed a hand on Littlefoot's shoulder. "Even though it hurt us to retell how we killed leaf-eaters, none of you were hurt by that. None of you have ever had leaf-eater friends..."
"Leaf-eaters are food." Spike's son Nibble affirmed.
Ruby chuckled. "Indeed they are. But when you used to be a leaf-eater, you have a different perspective. That is part of the reason we will not allow you to have leaf-eater friends. It is easier if you can do what you have to do with no regrets." Her voice became much more somber as she finished her statement. "The leaf-eaters that we killed in our first story died just as pointlessly. Life is like that sometimes."
Biter walked towards his father with a bowed head. As he laid down at Littlefoot's side Swipe followed suit, yawning quite loudly.
"That's not fair, daddy."
Littlefoot nuzzled his son. "Sometimes life isn't fair, Biter. If you want fairness then you have to fight for it." He frowned slightly. "The only reason that we are still here is that we were willing to do harder rights over easier wrongs. This is a hard lesson, but we all felt that it was time for all of you children to hear it."
Littlefoot looked up at the children, only to see that they had all congregated around their parents. Several were already closing their eyes, whereas the others were yawning. It was obvious that the time for rest had come.
"Well, I think it is time for the little biters to go to sleep." Ducky cooed. The lack of any protests from the little balls of feathers confirmed how utterly tired they were. As one of her young ones, Aqua, fell off in her attempt to climb up her back, she couldn't help but laugh and help the others up. "Up you go, children."
Littlefoot and Ruby did the same, allowing their son and daughter respectively to climb up their tails onto their backs. Then, using their hook like claws to anchor themselves to their parents, they promptly closed their eyes and hunkered down. They were asleep before either parent were able to begin the trek to their sleeping area.
"I hope that they understood the message."
Littlefoot looked over at Taunt. He was now carrying two children on his back, while Cera carried one.
"I am sure that they did. They were never leaf-eaters like us, nor a friend of us leaf-eater like you, Taunt." Littlefoot acknowledged. "That greatly changes things."
"Perhaps it is better that way." Spike spoke, himself carrying two of his youngling on his back. "I wouldn't trade my memories of being a spiketail for anything, but it would have been easier..."
All of the fastbiters nodded at that as the towering form of Chomper let out a massive yawn.
"I guess that it is time for me to rest as well." He then took on a joking expression as he leaned his large head towards the fastbiters. "And your by my sleeping spot."
Littlefoot rolled his eyes. He was quite thankful that the excitable children were too tired to pay much attention to the antics of the large sharptooth. They had already had their scares of the day.
"Yep, we are." Littlefoot affirmed with a smile as he and the others began to leave the clearing. "Have a nice night, Path! We have a hunt in the evening I do believe."
Chomper snorted as he laid down in the clearing, causing a resounding thud. "Indeed. Unless you want to be hungry. The spiketail is now only bones."
As they left Chomper's visual range, Taunt gave the sharptooth a parting shot. "Yeah, because you ate the rest of it!"
Littlefoot did not hear much of Chomper's response except for something about 'whiney ankle-biters' but he nonetheless knew that the sharptooth had taken the playful jab in stride. They were still a pack and they would again hunt and feast together with the coming of the Night Circle. Then the songs would begin again.
Curled up next to his mate, he slept peacefully that night.
-----
Biter cautiously opened his eyes.
The snoring forms of his parents were curled a short distance away, while his sister's slumbering form lay next to his.
Good. They bought it.
Being careful not to wake his sister, he slowly moved away from his sleeping family. He was already late and he didn't want to keep him waiting any longer. As he moved at a steady pace in his stalking stride, he quickly moved past the loudly snoring form of Chomper and the swiftly flowing stream that provided them all with fresh water. It was here that he finally found his target.
"You're late!"
Biter smiled as the silhouette of his friend came into view. He had been hiding behind a tree on the other side of the stream, just like Biter had cautioned.
"The songs took longer than usual... but it should be safe for you to go out and feed now. Just remember what I told you."
The shadow of the dinosaur became more visible, as Biter could see the form shrug.
"I know... I know... Only eat in your pack's territory so no one else gets me and don't wake them."
Biter yawned. "I'm sorry, friend. I need to sleep. Mommy and daddy are going to train us before they hunt tomorrow..." Realizing what he had said, he quickly amended. "Um... so I will not be able to play tonight. Just stay safe!"
The dinosaur finally entered into the moonlight, which illuminated his form with a haunting glow. It was only now that the rainbowface youngling's bright colors could be seen in the reflected light. His face was surprising stern for his age, but his eyes were kindly. The leaf-eater bowed towards Biter with profound gratitude.
"Thank you, Biter. You are a great friend."
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/9/Songs-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/9/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 8: The Other Side of the Rainbow
The entire forest was enveloped in darkness as the light of the Night Circle gave rise to ominous shadows. The branches of the trees gently swayed in the wind as the creaking of the wood added its own tones into the symphony of the dark. The small longneck looked upon the scene with some trepidation. Children of her kind were not meant to experience such dangers alone.
“Is Datum back yet?”
The longneck jumped into the air as if she were thrown by some mystical force. Then, without looking at her surroundings, she went bounding off into the bushes. It was only after several moments that she realized what had happened.
“Darn it, Charger! That isn’t funny!”
The small threehorn chuckled from his prone position. “You should have seen the look on your face!” His voice was low, however, a testament to not only their delicate situation, but also to his injuries. “I was just wondering if he was back yet.”
The longneck huffed. “You can see just as well as I can that...” Upon seeing the threehorn wince, facing his injured side away from her, she quickly amended her statement. “...sorry. No, he is not back yet.”
The small threehorn’s body was muscular in the typical nature of his kind. This made the injuries on his right side all the more apparent. Deep gashes ran from his face to his side, showing signs of significant scarring. Meanwhile, his emaciated form showed the toll that the resulting infection had taken on him. He was now free of the scent of infection, but his body was a testament to weakness. His one remaining eye reflected his shame of his condition.
The longneck frowned. “Don’t worry. I am sure that he is okay.”
Charger put on a scornful look as he shrugged. “Of course he is! I am not worried about him!”
The longneck refrained from rolling her eyes at the small threehorn’s pride. Even in his state, he refused to admit his fear for himself or his fellow friends. Not even she or Datum’s efforts to save his life had changed that.
I suppose that is a good thing. She reflected. If he ever loses that pride, then I will be very worried.
“Well...” She cooed. “...I am sure he is okay. Biter has trusted him so far...”
“Sharpteeth cannot be trusted, Sauria.” Charger retorted. His voice gave away his concern for his companion. “I don’t care how ënice’ he says Biter is. Biter is still a sharptooth.”
Sauria sighed as she ducked down back into the bushes where Charger lay. This was a conversation that they had all had several times before.
“He is our best hope to stay safe until you can get moving again.” Sauria retorted. “If this is his parent’s territory, then they are all we have to worry about.” She looked at him sternly with almost a threehorn’s determined glare. “It is better to hide from one family of sharpteeth than to run from many of them.”
Charger sucked in a breath. “I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. Even Datum knows that it is dangerous, that is why he hasn’t told Biter about us.”
Sauria nodded reluctantly. When Datum had talked to the sharptooth in his native language, she thought that they were all dead.
-----
Seven days ago:
The trio ran as fast as they could. First they had lost their parents to the sharpteeth and now it seemed that they were soon to join them. The sounds of snarls and growls approached them with growing intensity.
“We have to get away from them!” Datum choked out between gasps. “They’re gaining on us!”
Charger seemed to falter as if he wanted to make a retort, but his exertions were now solely focused on trying to keep moving forward. Blood was still oozing from his face after their first escape from the sharpteeth and it was obvious from his reduced speed that the injuries were now taking their toll. As she desperately tried to match Datum’s speed, she saw the rock before Charger ran into it.
“Charger, wait...”
In an instant the threehorn’s injured leg hit the rock and buckled under his weight. The poor youngling turned head over heels as he rolled over the rock and finally settled onto his back. It was in that position that he lay, eyes closed. No movement emanated from his body except the slight movement of breathing.
Sauria looked upon the scene in shock. This was it for her friend... He was going to die. And there was nothing that she could do.
“Sauria, run!”
Sauria froze as she looked at Datum.
“Run now!”
She protested. “But, Datum...”
“Now!”
Already petrified with fear and overwhelmed by the adrenaline pumping through her system, she heeded her friend’s call and ran as fast as she could. Her sobs echoing into the woods.
It was only several moments later, as she lay behind a tree, that she realized her predicament. One friend was certainly dead and the other... the other...
She shook her head. Why did she run? Her mother had been brave when her friends had demanded it so why couldn’t she live up to her legacy? A deep feeling of shame welled up in the longneck.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
Sauria held her breath as the sound of running feet greeted her ears. This was soon followed by the sound of gasps and a nearby snarl.
Oh no... It followed Datum here...
She heard something impact a tree and the sound of scampering feet. The sound seemed to grow fainter as if someone were climbing a nearby tree. It was then that the running feet stopped and a horrifying laugh echoed into the forest.
“I know... I know...” The frightened voice of Datum resonated from above. What Sauria could only deduce was from up the tree. “You got me...” The sound of scraping feet could be heard as the sharptooth climbed as well. “You have what you want!” His voice became very soft as the fear overwhelmed him. “You probably already got my mommy and daddy, just finish the job already!”
The sounds of distraught sobbing resonated from the tree as the sound of climbing continued. Sauria steeled herself as she struggled to think of any way to help her friend. She knew that time was of the essence. If only she had some way of distracting the sharptooth in the same way that Datum had distracted him from Charger... That was when it came to her.
She would be the distraction.
With a deep breath she bounded from behind the tree that had been her shelter and prepared to get the sharptooth’s attention.
“I haven’t killed anyone.”
She froze. Had the sharptooth just spoken?
“My mommy and daddy haven’t even taught me how to hunt big things yet.”
She dove behind a bush as the spectacle dragged on. A talking sharptooth? What kind of madness was this?
The rainbowface stared at the young fastbiter in shock as he opened and closed his mouth several times. Both dinosaurs seemed to be locked in an uneasy truce. Each of them not being sure what to do.
“Are... are you going to kill me?”
Sauria shook at the grief resonating in Datum’s voice. He had always been the most curious of all of his friends. Now it seemed that his thirst for knowledge and adventure was coming to a premature end. She could only look on in shock. Her thoughts of creating a distraction having been lost in the confusing scene that was now playing out in front of her.
“I... Thought that you wanted to play.” The sharptooth’s voice sounded so innocent. “I thought that you were my sister when I heard the running feet. But when I heard you call me a ëlittle biter’ I still chased you...” The sharptooth seemed uncertain. “I guess... I am supposed to kill you now.”
The manner in which the sharptooth said those words brought up curious emotions in the longneck. In those words were a mixture of innocence and callousness. This was still a predator that had not yet killed another dinosaur. Datum seemed to understand this and used it to his advantage.
Growl... Snarl... Growl...
Silence reigned for several moments. Both sharptooth and rainbowface stared into one another’s eyes as their claws dug into the bark of the tree. Sauria had no idea what Datum was doing by growling at the sharptooth. However, the sharptooth’s response gave a clue.
Snarl... Snarl... Growl?
The rainbowface gave a sigh of relief as he nodded his head. “Exactly. My mommy and daddy taught me your language. They thought that it would help to keep me safe.” His voice broke again. The trauma of running for their lives and being separated from their parents was still fresh in their minds.
“My mommy and daddy told me a story... about when leaf-eaters became friends with sharpteeth...” The sharptooth paused as if contemplating something. “You are in my pack’s territory. If I were to tell you when it is safe to eat... then you should be safe. No other sharpteeth dare to be seen here.”
Datum looked surprised by this turn of events. “You... would help me?”
The sharptooth turned his head to look down at the ground, which caused Sauria to dive behind the bushes once more. After a few moments, however, she could hear the sharptooth speak again.
“My mommy and daddy always tell me to observe. Do you know what I observe?” There was a pause during which she could only imagine that Datum was shaking his head. “I observe that you could have kicked away the loose bark I was holding onto earlier, but you did not. Why not?”
The rainbowface’s words came out slowly. “I... I just couldn’t do it. You’re just a kid...”
Sauria looked from behind the bushes to see that Biter had bitten down on his hand and offered the bleeding appendage to the rainbowface who looked upon it in a mixture of revulsion and confusion.
“You spared me, leaf-eater. Daddy always taught me to win hunts, but he also taught me to never hurt allies.” He tilted his head. “What is your name?”
“...Datum.” The rainbowface stammered.
“Well, Datum. I am Biter. Let me show you how we fastbiters make allies.”
-----
Back to the present:
Charger watched as his friend stared off into space. He didn’t need to say anything in order to confirm that she was thinking about their frightful flight from Biter. She had seldom thought of anything else since it had happened.
She still blames herself for abandoning me. Silly girl, it isn’t like she had another choice.
He had not remembered much of their panicked escape. He remembered the burning pain from the injuries to his face and side. A reminder of falling headfirst into the brambles from the first attack. The attack on their families. Then he felt his feet hit something hard and his head impacted the ground.
It was only several minutes later that the darkness lifted.
-----
Seven days ago:
“He’s waking up!”
Charger groaned at the sudden shout beside his head. He felt like he was floating in fog. Or fire... There was a diffuse pain to go along with the confusion.
“Can you hear us, Charger?”
The threehorn gritted his teeth as he nodded slowly. With every move of his head it felt like he would lose consciousness. In addition to this feeling of unease, nausea was beginning to rear its ugly head.
“Okay... okay...” Sauria’s soft voice whispered. “What do we do, Datum?”
Silence fell as Charger reveled in the darkness of his closed eyes. This respite did not last, however.
“Charger, we need you to try to get up. Biter said that the stream will hide our scents.”
Charger felt something lurch in his stomach. “Who is Biter?”
There was a pause. “...a friend. He only knows about me right now... I can explain later, but we need to move now.”
-----
The present:
Charger shook his head. He was irate when he had heard what his friend had done. He had actually befriended a sharptooth of all things! He did not protest the results of Datum leading the sharptooth away, but he did not want his friend to risk his own life for the sake of his. It tore at his threehorn pride. But, more importantly, it greatly concerned him about his friend.
Though Charger would never admit that.
Once the trio was behind the stream in an area that Biter had indicated to Datum, Charger’s treatment began.
-----
Six days ago:
“You damn rainbow-ass! I will crush you!”
Or at least that was what Charger wanted to say. The others had had enough sense to force him to fill his mouth with leaves before treating his wounds. It would do no good for the sharpteeth in this place to hear his pained screams. Charger’s world was now covered in a red haze of pain. He was lost in his agony.
“I know it hurts, Charger. But you have to be strong.”
Charger bit down on the bundle of leaves even tighter. The sap of the special leaves had turned the dull ache of his wounds into a blazing fire of anguish. He could barely understand the words of his friends.
“Are you sure this is working, Datum?”
“Yes. This is just like what my mommy and daddy taught me. If it hurts, then it is working.”
Charger wanted to spit the leaves out. He wanted to tell them to just let him die of infection and to stop the pain. That he didn’t care about his pride. He just wanted the agony to end.
But yet he continued to bite down on the leaves. By the time he passed out again, the special leaves covered his entire side. It was only when his fever dissipated three days later that he realized the truth.
His friends had saved his life.
-----
The present:
Charger looked down at that memory. He owed his friends so much, but at the same time it was their foolishness that had led to the tragedy in the first place. Had they only stayed with the rest of the younglings then the sharpteeth wouldn’t have overcame them. They had all heard the screams after they had fallen down the hill and rolled into the brambles. They had all seen the bones and the blood after they had left their makeshift shelter. No sign of their parents could be seen.
It is all our fault. Charger lamented. Daddy... if you are still alive then I hope that you are not ashamed of me. Because I am ashamed.
“Datum!”
Charger looked up with his good eye. The colorful form of Datum could be seen approaching from the stream. He waved a hand to tell his companions to keep quiet.
“Shush, guys!” He hissed. “I talked to Biter and his pack is now asleep. They stayed up late tonight, but will be hunting tomorrow. You know what that means.” It wasn’t a question.
“We need to eat tonight, because we won’t get a chance tomorrow.” Charger deduced. He sighed. This was becoming a recurring theme. Eat a lot one day because you may not get the chance tomorrow. “Well, we had better get started. Hopefully in a few days we will be able to leave this place.” He did not mention that he was the reason that they were stuck here, but that reality still ate at him nonetheless.
Datum smiled. “I am sure that we will." He then looked at the nearby bush in the darkness. Despite appearing as a dark gray blob in his visual field, the lush food still called to him. "Let’s eat!”
-----
The Great Valley, the next morning:
“How do I let you all talk me into this crap?!”
The pink dinosaur fumed at the situation that she found herself. She was supposed to be the voice of reason and discipline. She was supposed to be the rock that remained unchanged in the winds of popular opinion.
She was a threehorn after all.
She sighed. Perhaps it would have been different if the other four members of the group were here, but their families had been part of the delegation to visit the hidden runners. As a result she had no other voice of reason to back her up...
So here she was. As she watched the roaring water splash across the rocks, she looked at the dinosaurs that had led her to this foolhardy enterprise.
The swimmer. Malka was perpetually infesting her friends with enthusiasm for their little 'adventures'. As soon as the little spiketail had gone missing, she had been the first one to speak up.
"The adults won't stop arguing!"
The threehorn sighed at the swimmer's pronouncement.
"Are you surprised, Malka? It seems to be what they are good at."
The swimmer was silent for a moment as the sound of flapping reached the threehorn's ears and the familiar weight of a small flyer appeared on her head. That could only be their friend Flip.
"My mom has agreed to search from the air." Flip noted smugly. "She will find him before the land-walkers do!"
The threehorn rolled her eyes. "That is unless the spiketail is hidden in the forest, which is where he was last seen."
The flyer seemed to shuffle around on her head as an amused squawk left his beak.
"What? Are you worried that we flyers might outdo you threehorns again?" The threehorn could feel her blood pressure rising. "Who needs horns when they have wings?"
This was the final straw as the threehorn bucked her head, causing the small flyer to flutter off to a nearby branch. Despite the reputation of threehorns being the most arrogant kind of dinosaur, the flyers certainly were a close second in that regard. The worst part was that you couldn't bash some sense into flyers, they would just fly away!
"Are you two done?" Malka deadpanned. "Because I say that we three can find him before any of our parents do."
The threehorn sighed. "So let me get this straight. You want us to directly disobey our parents, enter a dangerous forest, and look for a spiketail that will most likely be found anyway? Just because we are sick of our parents being useless?"
Malka shrugged. "Well... we were also bored, weren't we?"
"Tricia?"
Tricia sighed as the words of the flyer reached her ears. "Yes, Flip?"
"I don't think that the spiketail is over here."
Tricia closed her eyes as her sides began to shake. The flyer knew what was coming and promptly flew in the direction of their swimmer friend.
"Gee, you don't say, Flip!" Tricia raged as she bared her horns towards her friends. "We have been looking for who knows how long in order to find this darn kid and we haven't found anything! Are there any other obvious things that you would like to say flyer?!" The swimmer merely rolled her eyes at her friend's antics, while the flyer continued to be tense. "If that little leaf-gobbler knew what was good for him then he would get over here right now!"
Silenced reigned for several moments as she struggled to reign in her emotions. It was only when the danger had dissipated that Malka spoke.
"Well, you made her mad, Flip. Are you happy now?"
The flyer shifted uncomfortably and said nothing. This caused Malka to snort as Tricia strutted in satisfaction at the flyer's fearful response to her rant. After a few moments the swimmer began to speak again.
"Well, I guess that he isn't over here so perhaps we should..."
Suddenly a rustling in the leaves interrupted the swimmer's suggestion. The three dinosaurs looked upon this development with some trepidation as the unseen intruder approached. Within moments the flyer and the swimmer ran behind their threehorn friend. Despite Tricia's pride, she prepared to take flight as well, until a small green object slammed into her.
Tricia looked down at the terrified spiketail. The little youngling was no more than two years old, but must have understood the tone of her voice. He was shaking and looking up at her with chastised eyes. It seemed that her anger had actually proved to be useful after all.
"Wow, Tricia!" Flip exclaimed. "You're so scary that you scared him to us!"
Tricia sighed at the flyer's pronouncement, but could find no suitable retort. Finally, she addressed the matter at hand. "Well let's get this little guy back to his mommy and daddy. Because do you know what scares me more than me? My mommy and daddy. Do you have any idea how ticked off they will be if they find out that we weren't playing in the valley?"
Just then an ominous sound registered from the air, which could be heard over the wind. Within moments the sound of flapping wings could be heard as a large flyer landed in the clearing. It was Flip's mother.
"Oh, I have some idea." The large flyer frowned towards her son. "I think that someone may need to have their flying privileges taken away for a few days." The small flyer moaned as he collapsed on the ground, but he knew better than to dispute his mother's verdict. The flyer then turned her gaze towards the threehorn. "Your father is looking for you, by the way."
Tricia gulped. She knew that this wasn't going to end well.
-----
Topps growled in annoyance as Tria gave him a look to keep it civil.
"So tell me again, Tricia. Why did you decide to disobey my direct order and to go look for that spiketail?" He glared at his small daughter. The fact that she was nearly as large as Cera was when she entered the valley was not lost on him. "You could have been eaten by sharpteeth out there!"
Tricia opened her mouth before promptly closing it. She knew that her first instincts of what to say were seldom the best words to act upon. She looked down when she finally found her voice again.
"Well, daddy... none of the parents were searching so we... um... decided to do our own search."
"And what made you think that we adults weren't doing anything?" Tria offered.
Tricia blinked as she looked at her mom. What was her mom implying?
"We were determining the best way to find the child without attracting sharpteeth." Her father noted. "The forest is thick and most of us adults are large. If we had gone to the forest in huge numbers it would have told every sharptooth in the area that we were looking for something." He then glared at his daughter. "Having other children enter the forest would do the same thing."
Tria's mouth shook as she took in this information. I... endangered the child?
"...but... but we..."
Tria stepped forward. "Found him?"
Tricia nodded.
Tria frowned. "You succeeded this time, Tricia. You got lucky, but luck is not something that lasts forever. You remember what happened to your sister..."
Tricia looked down. How could she ever forget? Every time she and her friends had gone on adventures her sister was used as a reminder of why they wanted her to stay safe. It was annoying, but she could not deny their words.
"She is okay now..." Tricia protested weakly.
Topps snorted. "Yes, but look what she went through to get there. And all because she and her friends disobeyed us and touched that damn stone!"
He looked in the direction of what had become Crater Pond in the valley's interior. The blackened stone was still there, despite being mostly submerged by water. It now formed a small island in the pond's center, which the swimmers had named Fastbiter Rock. A constant reminder of what had come before... and what it had caused.
"I nearly lost her... and in some ways I have lost her." He gave a slight snort. "She has children of her own now. I am a grandfather. But I don't think that I will be able to invite the little ones over to the valley anytime soon."
Tria couldn't help but snort as well. "It is odd hearing about our daughter's accomplishment from Pterano. Though we all knew that it was coming."
Topps shook his head. "His exile to the Hidden Canyon ends this season." He then looked up at the sky. "Then he will fill all of the little flyers with his rubbish stories!"
Tria nuzzled him. "Well... it was your idea and he already is telling the little flyers of his stories. They can fly right over the rock wall, you know?"
Topps growled. "Yes, but if he is in the valley then I will be able to hear the rubbish."
Tricia attempted to take this opportunity to edge away from her parents. If they were concerned about Pterano then maybe they would be too distracted to actually punish her. This had worked before when her dad was angry at Bron or the other adults. With as much gracefulness as she could manage, she slowly walked away from her nest.
"Now where do you think that you are going, little one?"
Tricia looked down. Darn. It was worth a shot.
"I think that it is time for you to actually get some responsibilities in the valley. A busy threehorn has no time for mischief." Her father began. "Not to mention, if you think your life is boring now, just wait until you have to deal with actual adult responsibilities."
Topps smiled at his daughter. A disturbing sort of smile that made Tricia shiver at what her father had in mind.
Oh, just ground me and get it over with!
However, his next words ended any hope that she had of a normal punishment.
"Today it is my turn to greet any newcomers to the valley. You will join me."
-----
Tricia sighed as the endless parade of boredom never seemed to end. Thus far they had simply eaten a few leaves and waited on any new entrants or departures from the valley. The fact that Tricia had considered wishing a fond farewell to a departing longneck as the highlight of her day was a testament to how boring this job was. How did her father not go insane?
"See, you children don't have it too tough!"
Tricia looked up at the smiling face of her father. Her mind rebelled against this monotonous activity and her father's cheerfulness outright annoyed her.
"How do you stand this?" Tricia finally couldn't take it any longer. "Being grounded is better than this!"
Tria laid on the ground and huffed as she waited on her father's angry retort. But none came. After several moments she looked up and saw her father's smiling face.
"Had I know this punishment was effective I would have used it on Cera." His eyes seemed to look far away for a moment despite them still staring in her direction. "Oh, how I miss her."
Tricia slowly got up and nuzzled her father's foot, which earned her a nuzzle as well.
"I miss her too, daddy." When she thought back to Cera two different images came to mind. One was of an orange threehorn that in some ways reminded her of herself. Prideful, arrogant even, but kindhearted. The other was of a brutal fastbiter who had defended the valley from its mortal enemy. But the eyes... the eyes were always the same. Those eyes that exuded protectiveness for those she loved. There was no doubt that Cera was still Cera, regardless of what sharptooth name she went by now.
"My little girl now has little ones of her own." Topps intoned. "I wonder if they cause her as much trouble as she did in her time."
Tricia snorted. "Maybe you should ask Pterano the next time he comes by?"
Topps smiled. "I might do that. It would be better than having Pterano talk about the antics of Petrie's children or Pterano's adventures in the Mysterious Beyond." He snorted. "Though I guess he is biased. Petrie is his nephew after..."
Tricia was momentarily confused by her father's sudden silence. After a few moments she looked up at his face and noted the stunned expression plastered upon it. It was only then that she looked in the direction that he was looking.
Three long necks had emerged from the hidden entrance into the valley. The first to appear was Shorty. The tall neck of the green sauropod seemed far smaller on this day as it was bowed in a gesture of supreme sadness. His eyes were downcast and his expression despondent. Despite having just completed his Time of Great Growing the previous season, he now looked like a much older longneck. As if some horror in his short journey had noticeably aged him.
The next to appear were Bron and Uta. Normally Ali would have gone on such a mission, but her mother had decided to go in her steed as Ali was heavy with eggs. For his part Bron had dutifully accompanied Uta on this journey for, having lost his first mate while he was away, he resolved to not repeat that mistake again. He would defend Uta to the death if need be. He would not allow any more of his children be left without a parent as Littlefoot had been.
But yet... as the three lumbering forms came into full view, Tricia could notice that there were only four little longnecks on Bron's back, whereas Shorty carried the rainbowface family on his. Two faces were missing... one small rainbowface and one small longneck. Datum and Sauria. Her dear friends.
Tricia's mouth opened in horror as the dinosaurs approached. Neither of the two threehorns gave the customary greetings as the possible implications began to dawn on them. Topps was frozen in place as he attempted to will his legs to move. But that was when another form suddenly emerged from the entrance. A form that made Tricia let out a choked sob.
The lumbering form of Charger's father could be seen with a downtrodden expression on his face. An expression that Topps remembered well from darker days in his own past. The younger threehorn's mate was nowhere to be seen, but the large gashes on his sides gave clear indication of what fate had befallen his beloved and child.
Trembling, Topps finally stepped forward and asked the obvious question.
"Thunder? Bron? What has happened?"
The threehorn collapsed to the ground as the rainbowfaces cradled their remaining child and wept. Four of Bron and Uta's children huddled together on her Bron's back as they mourned their loss. Shaking with sobs, Uta was finally the one to speak.
"Sharpteeth attacked! Our children... Oh, Sauria!"
She bowed her head in anguish as Bron gently nuzzled her. Within moments Shorty collected his younger brothers and sisters on his back in order to allow his adopted father and step-mother to mourn their loss. For only the second time in his life, Topps saw the elder longneck cry. It was a sight that he had hoped to never see again.
A terrible tragedy had befallen the valley and now it was up to Topps to break the bad news to its unsuspecting residents. Ali had lost a little sister... three families had lost a youngling... and Tricia had lost three friends. It was only when that reality came crashing down on Tricia that the small pink threehorn finally broke down.
It would now be up to Tricia to tell her remaining friends that their gang would never be whole again.
-
Review of Chapter 7:
Well, that was an interesting read!
Quite a tragic story what happened to Clawsting... I was hoping to see a vicious battle but I think I'm quite satisfied with the outcome of this situation as well :yes
I must say though... somehow you've managed to write a long chapter but the most interesting part is the very last paragraph :blink: Little Biter is having secret friends, huh? :smile
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Review of Chapter 8:
Oh, a different POV this time. So far the story was always told from the POV of Seeker's pack but now there's a new perspective and a new... story.
That little bit about Biter in chapter 7 had more importance to the story than I suspected. There are three children working together, Charger, Sauria and Datum. They seem to be related to the Valley if I got that right. The three children in the valley seem to be the other part of that new "Gang"
Now it seems like Tricia is following her sister's footsteps... Topps' punishment is actually quite good and he really is amused about Tricia's reactions :smile
Then however a group of adults plus Shorty and some children arrive with sad news...
I wonder... was Seeker's pack involved? I didn't get that though I assume it was them... which would mean... Uh oh...
-
From what I gather the 'lost kids' are the two that befriended Biter, so they are still okay... if you call being in a place infested with sharpteeth that want to eat you 'okay'.
Hopefully, this'll have a happy ending, but you never know when Rhombus is writing it. :p
-
Thanks for the reviews, everyone!
From what I gather the 'lost kids' are the two that befriended Biter, so they are still okay... if you call being in a place infested with sharpteeth that want to eat you 'okay'.
Hopefully, this'll have a happy ending, but you never know when Rhombus is writing it. dino_tongue.gif
You now me all to well. :p The plot concerning the kids is certainly thickening in this chapter. We will soon learn of their fate.
That little bit about Biter in chapter 7 had more importance to the story than I suspected. There are three children working together, Charger, Sauria and Datum. They seem to be related to the Valley if I got that right. The three children in the valley seem to be the other part of that new "Gang"
Yep. There are some ironic echoes there. This gang is oddly reminiscent of the original 'gang'.
Now it seems like Tricia is following her sister's footsteps... Topps' punishment is actually quite good and he really is amused about Tricia's reactions Dino_grins.gif
Yep. :lol Topps has gotten a bit more inventive at this whole discipline business since Cera's departure. Poor Tricia now has to put up with a more experience father.
Thanks for the reviews! The next chapter should be posted in a few minutes.
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Chapter 9: Crashing the Party
"This is daddy's smell!"
Ruby smiled at Ambush's exclamation. The children always did enjoy sniffer training. However, the difficulty was being ramped up this time. They would have to do better if they were going to have their first hunt in a few weeks.
"Yes, Ambush," Ruby nodded in agreement, "but what else do you smell?"
She smiled as the little fastbiter struggled to sniff the branch again. It was obvious that Ambush was uncertain what Ruby was alluding to, but Cera's daughter just couldn't admit her confusion.
She is so like her mother and father. Ruby thought to herself. Well, they all are, but especially her.
Soon the other children clamored around the branch and began to sniff as well. It was only a matter of time until the ambitious children attempted to outdo one another.
"I smell treestars!"
"Water!"
Ruby laughed at the antics of the little ones. They did not realize that she was referring to what else they could detect from Taunt's scent. She quickly decided to put them on the right path.
"Indeed, children! Those are scents on the branch, but I was referring to Taunt," the children looked at her in confusion, "can you tell anything about Taunt from his scent? A good hunter must know details!"
In an instant the children were upon the branch again. The sound of sniffing noses was almost deafening as the little ones had no conception yet of being stealthy in this endeavor. It did not surprise the rose-colored fastbiter when her daughter, Swipe, finally made a guess of her own.
"Umm... did he eat some ground fuzzies this morning?"
Ruby nodded in pride as her daughter had solved part of the puzzle. Taunt had indeed eaten ground fuzzies before relieving himself on the branch.
"That's right, Swipe!" Ruby beamed, "he stole some of Finder's catch before he went with the others to hunt."
"That thief!" Spike's son, Sniffer, protested. "It isn't nice to steal!"
"Yeah!" Nibble, Spike's other son, agreed, "I am sure my daddy worked hard to hunt those!"
It was at this point that Pouncer, ever the defender of her family's honor, decided to speak, "Don't blame my daddy for tricking your daddy! He should know to watch his food!"
Ruby rolled her eyes as Cera's three children began to approach Spike's children aggressively. It was obvious that there would be a little 'play fight' if she did not intervene.
"That is enough children!" Ruby stepped in between the two 'packs' of children just as they began to strut in what was meant to be a threatening display, but ended up being cute and humorous. She then looked at Spike's children with an amused expression, "Besides, your daddy originally took the ground fuzzies from me!"
Ignoring the laughter from her own children, she watched as the two groups of children lost the will to fight almost immediately and returned to their original positions with somewhat embarrassed expressions. Ruby realized that controlling emotions was a tricky skill for sharptooth children to learn. Knowing this, she tried to use this moment as a learning experience.
"Now, children, how would your mommies and daddies feel about you acting like that?"
The five chastised children looked down at Ruby's question. They all knew the answer to her question.
"I didn't like them talking about my daddy that way."
Ruby looked over at the fastbiter who had given that explanation. She was not surprised to see Sprint. He was just as protective of her family's pride as her other two siblings.
"Yeah? Well then your dad shouldn't have taken my daddy's food!"
Ruby coughed, which made all of the little ones look in her direction.
"You mean my food," she smiled as Spike's children squirmed at being reminded of that fact, "the important thing, children, is that Finder was just playing a trick on me, and Taunt a trick on him. It was just a game." She looked at her own children as she said this. "However, if you say the wrong words, it can turn into something much nastier. Something much nastier it can turn into," she raised one finger for emphasis, though her face was kind, "we hunt leaf-eaters, not one another."
After she said this, Ruby noticed that Biter was shifting uncomfortably, which caused her some confusion. He had been absent from the little dispute, so why would her words disturb him?
"Mommy, I smell something else!"
Ruby smiled at her daughter's enthusiasm for the lesson despite the little interruption courtesy of her friends. However, most of her attention was still focused on her son. Why did he look worried?
"What do you smell, dear?" Ruby asked as she continued to watch her son.
Swipe turned around with a smile on her face. A predatory smile.
"I think that I smell a rainbowface!"
Ruby turned at that announcement and went to where her daughter was sniffing. Her concern at Biter's behavior was put aside as she pursued her daughter's finding. As a result she did not see that her son had closed his eyes, a morose expression on his face.
Ruby quickly sniffed the grass to which her daughter had gestured. In the resulting avalanche of information she was able to confirm Swipe's findings. This was the scent of a rainbowface, but that was not all.
It was that of a young rainbowface.
Ruby smiled, "Alright, children! How would you all like to use your sniffers to track prey?" The clamoring of voices was instantaneous.
"We can hunt now?"
"Yes! We can hunt while our mommies and daddies hunt!"
"I will make the first kill!"
Ruby laughed. "I don't know about all that," she ignored the disappointed moans from the children, "but you can show me that you can track with your sniffers!" She smiled as their enthusiasm returned, "...and if you are successful then maybe you all can have some rainbowface for dinner! Some rainbowface for dinner, you can have!"
As the children cheered enthusiastically and began to track the scent towards the stream, no one saw the horrified look on Biter's face.
What am I going to do?!
-----
Let's see... four swimmers. One adolescent, two adult, one elderly. Adolescent walking awfully slow. Heavy with eggs?
Littlefoot peeked through the bushes as he analyzed the scene that lay before him. Petrie and Soar had already given their report, but there were some things that he simply preferred to do himself.
Not to mention that the flyers lacked his sniffer.
Taking a deep breath, Littlefoot carefully admired the array of scents that came flooding through his perceptions. The sweet smell of flowering plants and pollen greeted his nostrils immediately, as he tried to focus on the finer details. The swimmers were quite easy to spot in the cascade of scents. Their stench was an odd mix of a pungent swamp and the sweetness of flesh. A most appetizing scent that made Littlefoot's mouth water. Nonetheless, he had to stay focused and continue to observe what he was smelling. They needed all of the information that they could get if this was going to be a success.
His thoughts were interrupted by a slight disturbance in the bush behind him. It was not significant enough to be noticed by the unsuspecting prey in the clearing, but it was enough to nearly make Littlefoot jump in surprise. He calmed quite quickly when Ducky and Spike's scents reached his nose.
"You may speak, but keep it low," Littlefoot cautioned without looking behind him, "swimmers are not deaf."
"I could have told you that. Yep, yep, yep." Ducky mused, "They are not from my family. I would smell it if they were."
Littlefoot nodded. Ducky obviously would have caught the scent of her family long before Littlefoot would have made the connection. If these swimmers were unrelated to her then that would make things a lot easier. No complications.
"The elder has several scars on its flank, but the adolescent is slow," Littlefoot smirked, "I know that your former kind began young, Haven, but this is ridiculous."
Littlefoot turned in time to see Ducky give him the obscene gesture that was Taunt's trademark, which caused Spike to simply roll his eyes at the antics of his sister. Even during the middle of a hunt they were not safe from the jocular remarks of their comrades.
"Well," Spike offered in a low whisper, "the more younglings they make, the more food for us. That swimmer is not pregnant, however."
Littlefoot took another sniff into the air and tilted his head, "How do you know?"
Spike smiled as he walked beside his friend, "I always told you that I had the best sniffer!" He quickly moved on with his point when he saw Littlefoot roll his eyes, "She has an infection. The scent is very light, but it is there."
Littlefoot looked at the small swimmer and narrowed his eyes.
"Well then, I think that we have our target. Go get the others, Haven, we have a hunt to start."
As his two companions darted away towards where the others were observing, Littlefoot couldn't help but smile. Today looked to be shaping up to be an easy hunt.
-----
"There they are."
The green fastbiter looked upon the scene with an ecstatic expression. His pack had been hoping to catch Seeker's pack unaware, which was quite the challenge with the flyers overhead. However, with the flyers suddenly breaking off their surveillance of the area, it seemed that his pack now had an opportunity to advance. With all of them hiding downwind from Seeker's pack, they had little fear of detection. Seeker would not know what was happening until it was too late.
"So, do you want to carry out your plan?"
The fastbiter looked up at the light blue female who looked at him with a coy smile. Three small fastbiter younglings clung to her back, as they were too young to travel on their own. Their silence was a testament to how well that the children had already been trained in their short lives. They would undoubtedly make good hunters one day.
He would expect no less from his children.
"Yes, dear... I think that is time to return the favor after how they 'greeted' us during the last Cold Time."
He then watched as the eight fastbiters positioned themselves in a more tactical position to strike the swimmers. The prey still had no idea what was coming. The lack of Chomper in the scene clearly indicated the strategy in what was to follow. A chase to flush out the slower swimmer, which was to be followed by Chomper finishing the job. A classic chase and hunt strategy.
But that did not explain where Ruby was currently hiding. If she were standing watch elsewhere then she might have noticed their approach. This filled the fastbiter with some dread. If she knew about them then she could ruin the entire plan.
"Is something wrong?"
He looked at his mate with an unreadable expression. Regardless of if she was out scouting ahead or not, he could not afford to terminate their plan now. They had to strike before the flyers returned. They had to seize the initiative.
"No, dear. I was just thinking." He then looked into her eyes as a smile reached his face, "Gather the rest of the pack. Let's show these ankle-biters what we are made of!"
As Littlefoot and his packmates continued to get into position, they had no knowledge of the invading pack encroaching on their position. Unfortunately for them, Ruby and the flyers were several miles away. There would be no warning of the coming threat.
-----
Ruby smiled at the advancing children. They had taken to the prospect of tracking down the rainbowface with great enthusiasm. Although she would save the kill for herself in order to save their first kills for when their parents were present, the fact that they were willing and capable of tracking the prey was a very good sign. She and Littlefoot had discussed organizing the first child-directed hunt for Swipe and Biter after the next cycle of the moon. Perhaps she might persuade Littlefoot to move up the schedule...
"I don't understand. The scent gets weaker over here. Did we take a wrong turn?"
Ruby noted Pouncer's question, as she positioned herself to where the children were congregating. This was a question that she would allow the children to work out on their own for now. Having the children develop their critical thinking skills was more important than their tracking ability. Even if the rainbowface was lost, she wanted this to be a learning experience for the children.
"Maybe they used the stream to hide their scent?" Swipe offered, which caused a noticeable wince from Biter. Ruby frowned at his reaction, which was quite different from that of the other children. What was her son up to?
"That's a good idea! Why didn't I think of that?" Ambush praised Biter in a rare moment of humility.
"Yeah! Let's follow the stream and see if we can find the scent again!" Pouncer agreed as the other children went to work sniffing the edge of the stream. Within moments the children were spreading out in a widening arc in their search to reclaim the rainbowface's scent.
However, Ruby's attention was only partially focused on the efforts of the other children. Biter was only absentmindedly sniffing at the stream edge in a poorly hidden effort to look active while not actually participating. This was very unlike her son who was always among the most proactive of the children. He had even 'hunted' his father's tail on several occasions. Ruby was about to walk over to Biter in order to ask him what was wrong, when she noticed him look towards the stream with a concerned expression. That was when she saw it.
A brief flash of color disappearing behind a bundle of vegetation. She had found the rainbowface.
Ruby smirked as she raised her arm in preparation to give the children the news, but that was when something in Biter's expression stopped her. There was fear there. Unmistakable fear. The kind of dread that could only come from caring for someone other than oneself. The fear of loss.
"I smell him!"
Both mother and son looked up at Ambush's alert form as her tail pointed in the air. She had found the scent once more. Within an instant the other children began to advance as a unit towards the other end of the stream. The hunt was back on.
"Son."
Biter froze as if he had been caught doing something naughty and looked back towards his mother with a guilty expression. He could not hide his motivations when his mother talked to him in that tone of voice. The smell of fear, anguish, and despair emanated from him as his mother held him in her gaze. Finally she spoke.
"We will follow the others and see if we can smell what they smell."
Biter nodded mutely and began to sprint ahead as his mother joined his stride. It was clear from his scent that he thought that his mother had not caught what happened earlier. That was when Ruby destroyed that idea.
"And to tell you the truth, you should tell me the truth." Her eyes seemed to stare into her son's eyes as he came to the chilling realization that his secret was out.
"Why are you protecting that rainbowface?"
-----
The swimmer munched on the leaves nervously as the gentle wind blew towards the forest. Her eyes continuously darted from her meal to the dark green of the massive trees. Who knew what dangers lurked in those depths? Being a swimmer far away from a major body of water, she could only keep herself prepared to run in the event of an attack. Swimming away would not be an option here. She would have to limp to the best of her ability.
"Damn this illness!"
The elder swimmer looked up at the adolescent with a concerned expression as the two other swimmers looked on.
"It is alright, dear. I am sure that the healing plants will make you better soon." His voice shook as he said those words. It was obvious to everyone present that he was not sure of their truthfulness.
The adolescent coughed several times as if her body were mocking the words of the elder. Finally, however, she seemed to regain some control over her breathing. After a few wheezing breaths, she spoke.
"I'm afraid that I don't share your confidence," she looked at the two younger swimmers, "Grandma, perhaps you should take Crest and Current with you. I can rejoin you when I feel better."
The two swimmers protested their younger sister's words.
"Don't be silly, Wave! We can wait until you are better!"
"Yeah! We are not leaving you!"
The elder sighed as her youngest grandchild began to cough again. Despite the healing plants that she had directed her towards it was obvious that they had yet to take effect. If anything, the cough seemed to be getting worse. Nonetheless, she could not argue with the assurances of her other grandchildren. She had already lost several of her children and she would be damned before she would come back to her eldest child with any of her grandchildren missing.
"Your brother and sister are right, Wave, we will stay with you until you get better. Now just keep on eating your green food. I want to get away from this forest as soon as possible."
-----
Littlefoot's feet tensed in anticipation. The elder was looking their way, but clearly had not yet seen anything. She was positioned between the two healthy swimmers, while the ill adolescent was a mere six longneck lengths from the edge of the forest. A mere ten second sprint for the hidden fastbiters. If they made the first move then they would have the initiative. They could injure the swimmer before her small herd could intervene. An injury is all that it would take.
Littlefoot smiled. ...and then Path could do the rest.
He raised his arm and then dropped it to the ground. In an instant he burst through the bushes as the sound of his packmates emerging from their hiding spots echoed into the clearing.
The hunt was on.
-----
"Sharpteeth! Run!"
Wave barely had time to process her grandmother's words when the feathered beasts appeared suddenly from the sea of green. In an instant the serene forest had shown its hand and revealed a murderous surprise. Such an event required no hesitation and no thought. It required immediate action. It required instinct.
And instinct was something that swimmers had in abundance.
Pumping her legs with an intensity that hardly seemed possible to her, she quickly burst from her position in a flurry of movement, causing a torrent of loose grass and dirt to fly in her wake. Running for her life, she could not see the malicious fiends who were chasing after her, but she could hear them.
The shrieks of the fastbiter. A most horrible and incompressible sound. A refrain that emboldened their kind and struck fear into the hearts of their prey. She could hear the sound getting closer as they approached. She had to speed up!
"Wave!"
She gritted her teeth as she could see her brother slow down and look back. "Go, Crest! Run!" She didn't have to repeat herself as he quickly resumed his pace beside his grandmother and older sister.
With more exertion than her frail body seemed capable of delivering, she inhaled deeply and continued to pump her legs. She could see her family members begin to get closer as she matched and slightly overcame their speed. In her panicked mind she realized that she actually had a chance to survive this. Just a bit farther and the fastbiters might give up the chase. Just a bit farther...
Schluck!
That was when Wave screamed.
-----
"Got her!"
Taunt leapt off of the swimmer as she fell to the ground and hastily resumed her run. However, Taunt had done the necessary damage. The torn flesh from her leg was a testament to that. Within moments he could hear the others approach. That was when he felt an all too familiar nip at his tail.
"Good work, dear!" Cera beamed, "Path should have no trouble now!"
Taunt raised his tail in a show of gratitude for her words as he looked towards the form of Littlefoot, who had just stopped beside the orange fastbiter.
"Darn it, Taunt, it looks like you broke my kill streak!"
Taunt bowed in a show of faux respect, which caused his leader to roll his eyes. Trying to be the pack member that struck the crippling blow was a kind of game that had developed between them. They had to be cautious and be very team-like for difficult hunts, of course, but for easier hunts such as this they had more room for levity. With that in mind, Taunt answered his leader's tease.
"But now the question is, Seeker: can you beat my streak?"
Littlefoot looked ready to respond, when Breeze finally broke the banter.
"Well let's get Path's attention before we get too carried away. I doubt he will be glad to know that dinner was delayed because the boys wanted to boast."
Cera chuckled at Breeze's chiding of her mate and the pack leader, as the two male fastbiters shrugged at one another. They both knew that the next time they had 'chase-down' duty for Chomper that their little 'game' would start anew.
Littlefoot turned in the direction that the swimmer had gone and noticed the three other swimmers surrounding their injured comrade as it painfully limped away. If they wanted to risk it then they could have easily chased down and killed the injured swimmer on their own, but to challenge multiple leaf-eaters always entailed risk. No reason to do that when a full-grown Tyrannosaurus was on your side. With a slight flourish Littlefoot took a deep breath to roar the signal that would get Chomper's attention. However, that was when something entirely unexpected happened.
"What the..."
Upon hearing Spike's exclamation, Littlefoot looked back towards the swimmers. They had begun to scatter as if they were dodging further attacks. Attacks from a most unsuspecting source.
"Intruders!" Littlefoot raged. A long wailing alert roar left his mouth as the others grouped around him. At least Chomper would now the situation when he came on the scene. "Let's show them how we treat intruders!"
Without another word the pack took off at full speed towards the debacle that was playing out in front of them. The elder swimmer had taken an injury to the hip as she and the healthy swimmers reluctantly backed away from their ill counterpart. Within moments the other pack had embedded their claws into her back and sides, riding upon the pain-stricken victim as if it were some kind of morbid mount. As they tore into her flesh the sounds of pained screams and fearful wails could be heard. It was only now, with the swimmer obviously mortally wounded, that the other swimmers mournfully fled. The only companionship that the prey would have in her final moments would be with her killers.
Littlefoot fixed his eyes on the dying swimmer in the distance as he flexed his claws. They had no orange death with them on this excursion as they preferred to hunt the old-fashioned way. However, this put them at a disadvantage in a pack fight.
We need to taunt and delay... once Path and the flyers are here then we can strike.
Littlefoot glared at the green fastbiter that was riding on top of the swimmer's back. He could deduce from his movements and demeanor that this was the leader. He would see to it that Petrie got the order to strike him down with orange death. A leaderless pack is a helpless pack. The cheeky bastard would pay for this insult. Who dares invade their territory?
The swimmer crashed to the ground as her legs failed her. As the enemy fastbiter leapt off of their kill in a celebratory fashion, he could begin to see details of the pack that lay before him. A light blue fastbiter... two brown fastbiters... and several fastbiter younglings who had just emerged from the underbrush...
Damn it! Littlefoot lamented internally. Just yield... I don't need the deaths of younglings on my conscience. To kill a younglings parents would be a death sentence for the unprotected younglings, as would trying to adopt them with the 'interesting' instincts of his kind. Littlefoot knew that if it came to that then the only humane choice would be to strike them down.
As that morose thought racked his brain, another thought took prominence. Why did the green fastbiter look so familiar. From his distance it was hard to see much detail. As a result it was actually Taunt that put everything together first.
"Dad?"
Littlefoot slowed as he stared at the green fastbiter once more. The shape of his tail... the contour of his back... the shade of his hide...
It was Thud. This was Thud's pack.
The pack slowed as they approached the swimmer carcass and the victorious pack. With the exception of the younglings, which disappeared as soon as they came into view, the other members of the pack did not react. Only Thud made an effort to react, which he did with a kind smile and a bow. Despite the usual protocol, Littlefoot permitted Taunt to advance ahead of him.
"Dad! It is great to see you!"
Thud smiled. "It is great to see you again as well, son. How do you like our peace offering?"
Littlefoot sputtered. "A peace offering?! You can't just steal our kill and call that a peace offering!"
Taunt looked a bit dumbfounded at Littlefoot's reaction, but stepped back nonetheless in a show of support for his leader. Thud, on the other hand, reacted in an unexpected manner.
He laughed.
"It isn't your kill until you actually kill it," Thud retorted in good humor, "however, my pack will, of course, allow your pack to eat this gift as a peace offering as a show of our esteem."
Littlefoot shook his head as a smile reached his face despite the not so subtle insult. He knew exactly why Thud was acting this way and he couldn't really blame him.
"This is about Thud calling you old, isn't it?"
Thud smiled at Littlefoot's deduction, "I just thought that Seeker's pack could use a friendly reminder that even an old fastbiter can have a few tricks," he looked at his son expectantly.
Taunt reluctantly nodded, "Alright, dad, you got us. Now can you drop the big bad pack leader act? I haven't seen you in a year! So much has changed!"
Littlefoot and Thud exchanged a glance as both packs stared at one another expectantly. Only the two brown fastbiters in Thud's pack had an aggressive stance, as they were obviously not used to the usual banter between the packs. With a smile and a nod, Littlefoot gestured at his pack to stand down, which Thud immediately did as well. Within moments, both packs were intermingling. A year worth of memories and tales were just waiting to be shared between the assembled dinosaurs. So many questions just waiting to be answered. Such as who the two brown fastbiters were in Thud's pack? Why did Thud take so long to get back into contact with all of them? And...
Littlefoot froze. Those younglings... that must mean...
Littlefoot turned towards Thud as Swift settled beside him. The younglings immediately leapt upon her back in the usual manner of fastbiter children of that age. Ducky and Leap stood a respectful distance from the family, as they bowed in a respectful manner. Despite their joy at Swift's motherhood, they both knew to not approach her younglings at that age. Lest the unfortunate instincts of their kind take hold. Instead, Leap merely showed his support for his beloved sister through his expression and soft cooing. It seemed that both surviving siblings had successfully made a new generation to carry on the legacy of their brother and parents who had fallen years ago.
Littlefoot smiled at the display between the siblings, but an obvious question came to his mind that was certainly on the minds of the others as well. If Swift was now a mother then who was the father? Littlefoot found himself looking at the two brown fastbiters. It either had to be one of them or...
Littlefoot blinked as the realization crashed down upon him like a boulder. If Thud was sitting right next to Swift and the children then that had to mean...
"Taunt, my son," Thud began with great dignity as he picked up one of the younglings from Swift's back and pointed it in Taunt's direction, "I would like you to meet your new brothers and sisters."
-----
"That was too close!"
Datum shook himself off as he approached his friends. He had heard the commotion from the excited fastbiter younglings and quickly followed the stream as his parents had told him.
When tracked water is your friend. It is easier to flee than it is to defend.
"Where have you been?" Came a gruff voice from the bushes. Datum recognized it immediately.
"I was... delayed, Charger," the rainbowface offered, "it seems that the younglings were not where we expected them to be." He prepared himself for the onslaught that he knew was coming.
"Damn it, Datum!" The irate voice of Sauria came from behind the rainbowface, which caused him to jump in surprise, "What did we tell you?! The healing plants could wait!"
"Yeah!" Charger offered as he took a few slow steps in the rainbowface's direction. Datum was heartened to see him moving much better, notwithstanding Charger's current anger at his friend.
Datum shrugged, "Yeah... yeah... well I made it, didn't I?" He then proceeded to drop the leaves in front of Charger with the utmost care as Charger dutifully devoured them. Only an annoyed grunt left his mouth prior to his impromptu meal. He knew full well that this was probably the last batch of healing plants he would need to consume. The sickness had been gone for several days.
Sauria, however, was not so docile.
"We were worried, Datum!" She quieted down when Datum gave her a concerned look. She resumed at a lower volume, but with no less irritation in her voice, "you could have been killed out there!"
Datum sighed as he sat down, "Do you not think that I don't realize that?" He looked at the leaves that were rapidly disappearing from in front of the threehorn, "I needed to get those leaves before the pack went back to their sleeping areas... the only plants that I could find were by their sleeping spots."
"What!?" Both Sauria and Charger exclaimed at Datum's admission. They looked at their friend as if he had lost his mind. Datum decided to preempt further protests from his companions.
"I grabbed what remained and then I headed for the stream," He looked at Sauria as he said this, "I knew that my smell would be there, but I also know what my parents told me," he waved his finger for emphasis, "When tracked water is your friend. It is easier to flee than it is to defend."
"What in the name of sanity does that mean?" Charger asked, with obvious irritation for his friend.
"It means," Sauria answered before Datum could respond, "that if he ran into the stream and followed it before crossing the other side then it would make him harder to track. My mommy taught me the same thing."
"It is one of those things that the 'good' sharpteeth taught the valley," Datum added as he placed his head in his hands, "if only our mommies and daddies had found those ones instead of..."
The stress of running for his life and defending his actions to his friends finally became too much as Datum went silent. Both of his friends knew that he was on the verge of tears, but too prideful to show that emotion. Charger, accordingly, went back to eating his healing plants as to not disturb his friend. Sauria, on the other hand, tried to sooth the poor rainbowface's nerves.
"I am sure that they are in a better place," Sauria looked into the stars as the nearly silent sobs of Datum could be heard in the silent night, "I am sure that they would be proud of you, Datum. You knew the plants that helped save Charger and you befriended Biter who has kept us safe so far," she smiled sadly, "I know that they would want us to carry on."
Datum nodded as he kept his eyes closed.
"I know," he silently spoke, "I will just be glad to get out of this place."
"We all will." Charger agreed.
The three friends sat together now that their friend's moment of weakness had passed. Though no further words were exchanged, it was obvious what their gesture meant. They were all in this together, and they would escape together. They would carry on the legacy that their families had left for them.
Rustle...
The dinosaurs suddenly turned at the unexpected rustling of the bushes behind them. Each prepared to sprint away at the apparent threat, but as a solitary figure emerged from the bushes Datum relaxed slightly.
"Biter? Uh... these are my friends..." But he grew silent as soon as he saw the look in Biter's eyes. A look that he had never seen before. A curious mixture of regret and fear. "Biter? What is it?"
Biter closed his eyes and sighed as rustling could be heard all around the assembled leaf-eaters. The prey could only cower as fastbiter younglings appeared from all directions. Finally, a rose-colored adult appeared behind biter with a stern look on her face. It was only now that Biter addressed his friend.
"I'm so sorry, Datum..."
-
Really interesting chapter, Rhombus!
So, Ruby is onto what Biter is up to, huh? Biter telling his leaf eater friends sorry does make you think one way, just like Chomper's first kill in that flashback, but maybe there's still hope?
Looking forward to the next part, buddy! :)
-
Thanks for the review! :) I should have the next chapter posted shortly.
-
Chapter 10: Discussions and Ruminations
"All of you should be hatching soon... so like your father, always sleeping in."
"Hey! I can hear you, you know?"
Ali laughed at her mate's jocular response as she nuzzled her eggs, being careful to arrange them so that they could all benefit from the warm sun. For countless days and nights she had tended to her clutch. She had laid them prior to her mother and father-in-law leaving the valley and it seemed that they would hatch before they could return.
She frowned slightly at that thought. She had hoped that they could see the hatching of her first clutch of younglings. However, she knew the importance of their mission. Since she could not attend an audience with Ignis, someone else would need to perform that duty. That was one alliance that the valley could not afford to weaken.
"Are you thinking of them again?"
Ali turned towards the deep voice of her love. His massive neck approached hers as he lumbered from his resting spot to where their clutch was situated. His voice was gentle, which matched his general demeanor. However, behind the gentleness was a protectiveness for his love. It was no accident that her nesting site was well away from all other dinosaurs and that he had taken to screening any visitors. Even in the safety of the valley one could not be too careful.
"Yes, Somni, I am," Ali admitted, "I expected them to be back by now."
Somni gently nuzzled Ali's neck as he lightly growled in a purr-like manner. Ali calmed almost immediately at his familiar gesture of affection. It was only when he could feel her heartbeat return to its normal rhythm that he spoke again.
"It is a long journey there and back, Ali. Remember how long it took us to make that journey last time?"
Ali nodded at his words. The first journey had seemed to drag on forever. Even with the assistance of flyers to keep them on the proper path, it involved days upon days of walking through barren wastelands and foreboding ravines. The journey would only had taken a day if a flyer had been the one to make the journey, but things were not quite that simple.
"Those healing plants were not going to carry themselves," Ali noted.
It was certainly a fair arrangement, Ali had to admit. The valley's wide variety of healing plants greatly improved the lives of the hidden runner younglings. Where before nearly half would die in the first year from the common ailments of their kind, now relatively few met a premature end. In exchange for the risk that the dinosaurs who carried the plants took upon themselves, the hidden runners vowed to maintain their alliance with the valley in the event that they ever needed assistance.
Somni snorted, "They almost were not carried at all. It took forever to find all of those damn things!"
Ali rolled her eyes at her mate's whining, "Oh, admit it, dear... you were just upset that you had to get up early to help find those things." Her smile grew as she knew how her mate would respond.
"Six days, Ali," his eyes were widened as if to show to hear the enormity of the time span in question, "I barely slept for six days finding those things."
"Oh?" Ali smiled coyly, "was that hard on you, dear?"
Somni sputtered, "Are you serious, dear? It was hard on all of us. Everyone in the valley worked through the night to find those things. We knew that the sickness was passing through the hidden runner herd and..." His face suddenly took on an odd expression as if he suddenly realized something. His next words had a suspicious tone to them, "You're playing with me, aren't you?"
Ali laughed, "Whatever gave you that idea, dear?"
Seeing that he had been bested in the battle of wits, Somni rolled his eyes and laughed as well. As the two gazed at their future sons and daughters in the nest, the white color of the eggs appeared to glow in the sunlight. Both of them knew that in the next few days that life would emerge from the seemingly lifeless orbs. They would soon have the great responsibility of caring for the next generation of the herd. It was a task that neither of them would take lightly.
"Have you thought of names yet?" Somni asked softly.
Ali smiled. They had made an arrangement that she would name the girls and that he would name the boys. As of yet, however, neither had disclosed their choices.
"I am still deciding. My mother once recommended to wait a few days until you knew their personalities, then name them. Perhaps we should do that?"
Somni was silent for a moment as he pondered that idea.
"So for a few days we would have children that had no names? The other dinosaurs would think that we were quite strange," He bobbed his head a few times in the longneck gesture for 'crazy', "what if any of them got lost? Would we have to run around the valley calling for nameless longneck 1 and nameless longneck 2 to return to the nest?"
Ali laughed, "Well, dear... if we watch the kids effectively then they shouldn't get lost. You make it sound like our kids are going to be trouble from the time that they hatch."
Somni shrugged, "Well they do have a certain trouble-maker I know as a mother." He lightly nudged her as she shrugged him off in a playful manner.
"...and they will have a certain pest as a father," she nudged him playfully in retaliation, but she soon took on a contemplative expression, "though I think you may be right, dear. Our children should have names on their first day."
Silence reigned for several moments before it was broken by Somni's words.
"I think that if we have a son, then it should be named Rhett."
Somni watched his mate carefully as her facial expression turned to shock, then melancholy, and then an odd mixture of emotions. He feared that he had made a bad choice, but Ali's words soon corrected that misconception.
"That is a beautiful choice, dear. I... am just surprised that you remember that tale."
Somni frowned and nuzzled Ali, "I remember you telling me that he was a friend of yours and that he made the ultimate sacrifice so that you might live. For that alone, I think your childhood friend deserves to live on in name."
Ali rubbed necks with Somni as her eyes threatened to shed tears. No words were exchanged for several moments, but then again, none needed to be exchanged. It was only after a short while had passed that Ali spoke.
"If we are naming our sons and daughters after past heroes, then I have too many names to choose from. So many of my friends died or risked death so that I could be here right now."
Somni nodded. "Aye. It is that way for any longneck. For every one of us that lives to be a parent there are many others who watch over us from the Great Beyond," his eyes fixed themselves on the sky, "I am the only one of my brothers or sisters to have this honor."
It was now Ali's turn to give her mate some comfort as she gave him a comforting nudge, "Then we will have to make sure that our children hear all of their tales. As a longneck once told me, your loved ones are never really gone as long as you remember them."
She didn't dwell on the thought that that longneck was not a longneck anymore, and had in fact been the one to send Rhett to the Great Beyond. He now had his life and she had hers. That did not change the truth in his words.
She was interrupted in her thoughts by the sounds of thunderous footsteps. Somni immediately sprung to action and turned in the direction of the sudden commotion, but he promptly relaxed when he saw the source of the footsteps.
"Mom! Bron!"
Ali walked excitedly towards the elder longnecks, which caused the rumbling sound of her feet to join in with theirs. She was so lost in the moment that she did not notice the expression on her mother's face. It was only when the amazingly tall form of Shorty appeared behind the elders that she noticed something was amiss. Shorty's long neck nearly dragged the ground in sadness. That was when she took a good look at her mother's face. In its gently gaze was an emotion that Ali hoped to never see again.
Gulping, Ali walked towards her mother and bowed her head respectfully. She already could ascertain the news that awaited her, so she resolved to spare her mother any more pain by feigning ignorance or hoping for the impossible. With a deep inner fortitude that could only arise from being used to tragedy, she steeled herself and asked the obvious question.
"Which one?"
Her voice nearly broke as she said those words. In response her mother bowed and in a soft voice confirmed the tragic news.
"Sauria. Our beloved Sauria is gone."
-----
Taunt stood mouth agape as the small younglings looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. These were his brothers and sisters, but the reality was almost impossible for the fastbiter to comprehend. Perhaps he was naive for imagining his father remaining un-bonded after the death of his mother, but to see his expectation be broken in an instant was quite the shock.
"Hello, young ones. I am Taunt. I am your older brother."
Taunt spoke softly as not to frighten the small younglings or concern their mother. At their current age they were utterly helpless and only capable of basic vocalizations. He knew that Swift must had been fighting her instincts to even allow them to get this close to Taunt without her lashing out at him. The ancient instinct that sometimes made rival males kill younglings would be firmly planted in her mind. Taunt's pack had found a way to resolve that difficulty, but that option was not available to Swift.
He watched as one of the younglings, one that he could smell was one of his sisters, walked towards him slightly. She stopped a few feet away from him and proceeded to sniff in his direction.
Grrrwl...
The light growl of his sister seemed to entice her siblings to build up the courage to approach him as well. Within moments their polite growls joined in the chorus. It was the standard greeting to a close relative; an instinctual vocalization that preceded all language and thought.
Taunt smiled as he growled back towards his younger siblings, as if against his will. It seemed that the instinctual response had seized him as well. In his unthinking response, he barely registered another voice growling behind him in the same manner. For several moments the growls of Taunt, the children, and the stranger behind him echoed in the clearing like some kind of primordial chant.
When he finally ended his response and could think about things rationally, however, he realized that he did not mind his momentary loss of reason, because that meant...
"Thankfully, we don't have to worry about the snapping instinct with you two," Swift observed with a smile on her face, "You may come over here now, Taunt," Taunt noted that Swift no longer had a defensive posture around the younglings, "and the same goes to you too, brother. It is nice to see you again."
Taunt blinked as Leap joined him in their advance to Swift, Thud, and their children. So Swift's brother had been the other one growling behind him. It was only now that Taunt realized that, with the exception of the growling, Leap had been silent this entire time. For that reason it did not surprise him when Leap finally broke his silence.
"Sister... Congratulations," Leap sputtered in obvious surprise at the situation, "and congratulations to you as well," he bowed to Thud in a gesture reminiscent to the greetings that he gave the elder fastbiter back when Leap was a member of Thud's pack, "I didn't realize that you two had mated."
Thud took in a breath as the little younglings proceeded to gather around the two newcomers and sniff them profusely. The extended family was beginning to become acquainted with one another by their unique scents. Such an interaction was more personal that any exchange of words could be. Even though the younglings were too young to speak, he realized that they were already having their first conversation with him. A conversation without words or pretense. A poem of the unsaid.
"This... is quite a surprise for me as well." Taunt admitted to his father. Any jocular words that he could have said seemed to fade from his mind in this moment. He had literally been stunned into politeness.
Swift smiled as she turned towards her brother, "How long has it been since the last time we met, brother? Since before the last Cold Time, I do believe... and what were you and Haven busy dealing with back then."
Leap coughed as Ducky proceeded to shift uncomfortably in response to Swift's innuendo. They had all been quite busy with 'adult matters' during the spring prior to the last Cold Time. Their children were a testament to that.
"I ignored the instinct at that time," Swift admitted, "but I resolved to not forsake my duty to the pack during the next mating season. The only difficult part was convincing your father," she turned towards Taunt as she said this, "that I did not need his help in finding a suitable male elsewhere. I already had one in mind."
Taunt couldn't help himself, "I am sure my father didn't need much convincing."
Rather than look embarrassed by Taunt's implication, she nodded in Thud's direction. "You would be surprised, Taunt. Your father was full of excuses." She paused as she nuzzled Thud slightly before nipping at his tail in jest, which caused their younglings to try to catch Thud's tail in imitation of their mother. "What were some of those excuses, dear? I am too old, you should have someone younger. I am old enough to be your parent," she nuzzled him again as he looked at his son with a 'see what I have to put up with' expression, "but you relented in the end. I am not a replacement of your first love, dear, but that doesn't mean that I can't love you."
Thud nuzzled her as well, "Indeed. Though she would have approved of you if she could have met you."
Taunt smiled slightly at the exchange. In his younger days he would have raged at his father's taking of another mate as a callous replacement of his beloved mother. However, with the benefit of the years, he understood that life had to go on after tragedy. He had not betrayed Skytail by joining with Littlefoot's pack, and his father had not betrayed Taunt's mother by again taking a mate.
"Well I certainly approve of this," Taunt bowed as Thud gave a noticeably relieved expression at his son's expression of support. "though that doesn't mean that I won't be giving both of you grief for this. You have no idea how much fun I can have with this." Taunt smirked as the two parents rolled their eyes at his antics.
"I support this wholeheartedly," Leap added before Swift or Thud could address Taunt's threat of future jokes and banter, "though you don't have to worry about much pestering from me." He gave Taunt a cheeky gesture with his tail as Taunt rolled his eyes at his friend's jest.
"Oh, we expected that to be the case," Thud affirmed with a wide smile, "that is why we trained our children to only do this to Taunt." He then gave a light growl and nodded towards Taunt as Swift repeated the vocalization.
Taunt's eyes went wide, "What is tha..."
He never got the chance to finish before the small little younglings proceeded to climb up Taunt's body and nibble at his skin. As he struggled to get his small siblings to willingly remove themselves from his body, the sounds of laughter could be heard emanating from behind him. It was only now that his packmates made themselves heard at his expense. It seemed that even without the gift of language his siblings had managed to best Taunt in the battle of wits.
Roar!
In an instant the children leapt off of Taunt and ran onto their mother's back. The two mysterious fastbiters from Thud's pack retreated to a defensive position in front of their leader and his mate, whereas Littlefoot's pack slowly turned towards the unexpected sound. They had recognized that roar.
"It's alright, Path," Littlefoot began, "it's Swift and Thud! They're back!"
The large purple Tyrannosaurus slowed to a stop as he glared in the direction of the newcomers. His expression soon turned to one of happiness, however, as his own eyes confirmed Littlefoot's news.
"Welcome back, guys!" The two brown fastbiters in Thud's pack trembled with the same amount of fear as Thud and Swift's children, whereas the remaining fastbiters smiled at their friend's warm welcome, "What brings all of you into our lands? We haven't heard from you since you went to the Misty Mountains."
All of the eyes of the pack turned towards Thud and Swift at Chomper's question. The surprise about Thud and Swift had overridden conversation on any other topic, but he did raise a good point. Why were they here?
Thud nodded, "That is a good question, Path, and one that will take a while to explain." He then turned towards the two brown fastbiters, who had relaxed slightly after seeing that the purple sharptooth meant them no harm, "I will also need to explain how Ripper and Torn came into our pack. So much has happened since we last met."
Littlefoot smiled, "Indeed it has. You haven't even had a chance to meet our children since they learned to talk."
Swift seemed to jump off of the ground in excitement at the mention of the other children, "Oh yes, how are the little ones?"
Leap smiled at his sister's enthusiasm, "They are great!" He then looked in Chomper's direction as the sound of his thundering feet could be heard, "but perhaps we should talk during dinner before Path devours everything."
Littlefoot laughed as Chomper proceeded to give their recently killed swimmer a sniff prior to taking a tentative bite out of its flank, "That is so like Path. If the pack is not in danger, then kill something and eat it. If the pack is in danger, then kill the danger and then eat it."
Chomper did not respond to his friends jocular comments except to make a somewhat dancing motion with his backside. This did not require him to actually lift his head from the swimmer's corpse. Laughing at his friend's antics, Littlefoot finally gave the order.
"Alright, everyone, let's eat! We can catch up with one another when we have full bellies."
-----
The female rainbowface shivered despite the warmth of the mid-afternoon sun. The fragrant scents of the blooming flowers greeted her nose, and the usual sounds of the valley greeted her ears, but those welcome distractions could not dissuade her from her inner torment. Her brother was gone.
"I just can't believe that he is gone."
After a shudder, another series of tears fell from her eyes. It was only when her father wiped them from her face that she again became aware of her surroundings.
"He always loved the valley this time of year," Chronos noted with thinly veiled melancholy in his voice, "he would be running through the grass right now leading his friends on some adventure of some kind," his eyes glistened as he reminisced about his son, "he was so like me when I was young. So full of energy."
Axiom took a deep breath as she wiped her eyes and looked down at the gently flowing stream. The saddened form of a young rainbowface greeted her. Her eyes red with exertion.
"He would be calling me a crybaby right now," Axiom observed, "he would want me to talk to our friends... to tell them exactly what happened... but I don't think that I can. What do I even tell them?"
Chronos looked at her daughter with understanding eyes, "Simply tell them the truth. They mourn for him and your friends as much as we do," he hugged his daughter as a tear fell from his eye, "I am sure that they would appreciate knowing that they haven't lost you as well."
"I am still here." Axiom retorted.
"Yes," Chronos noted, "but you are not with them. I know that you may not feel ready to see them, Axiom, but I think that they would do you some good right now. Grief is a chasm that can threaten to swallow you whole if you let it. We have lost so much, but it is important to remind yourself that we haven't lost everything."
Axiom wanted to retort. She wanted to scream that her brother was dead and that nothing else mattered at the moment. However, the logic in her father's words were undeniable. Her brother's legacy would live on through her memories and her friends stories. But it would be up to her to comfort what remained of the old gang. Her brother and Charger was no longer here to fulfill that duty. Although their loss had created a hole that could not be filled, she knew that her friends would have to cross it.
Axiom and Charger would have wanted it that way.
"Alright, daddy... I will try." She wiped her eyes one last time as she struggled back to her feet. She would not abandon her friends in their time of need, just as she knew that they would not abandon her.
"They are by the Thundering Falls, dear," he smiled softly as she looked at him in surprise, "they told me that they would wait for you there. They knew that you needed some time to yourself."
Chronos nearly gasped as his daughter hugged him tightly.
"Thanks, daddy. I will be back by nightfall."
Chronos nodded as Axiom turned to walk away, "Of course, dear. Mother and I will be here if you need to talk."
As the form of his daughter retreated towards the Thundering Falls, he finally allowed himself to sob quietly for several moments. He had been strong in front of his daughter, but now he could not contain what lay inside of him. He had no idea how long he had cried, it could have very well been minutes or hours, but he was finally roused by his mate's gentle nuzzle.
"Did she go to her friends?"
Chronos nodded as Logos sat beside him, "She did. It took some convincing."
Logos nodded as she looked in the direction of the Thundering Falls, "The valley is ready for the meeting, dear. Topps is going to tell the valley..." she closed her eyes as she struggled to finish her words, "tell them what happened."
Chronos closed his eyes as well, holding Logos close, "Well, let's go to the meeting then. At least Axiom is with her friends; I would hate for her to have to relive what happened."
As the two slowly walked to the meeting area, they leaned upon one another for comfort. They both knew that they would have to carry on for the sake of Axiom and for the valley, but the loss of Datum would leave a void that would never be filled.
-----
"We have known Ripper and Torn ever since we went to the Misty Mountains. We stole one another's food on more than one occasion."
Leap listened with interest as Swift told the story of her journey to the pack. The half-devoured swimmer was strewn across the ground as Thud's younglings played on its skeletal tail. However, Chomper had been careful to save more than enough for Ruby and their children who were still training. There was more than enough left to go around.
"We... um... had a few disagreements at first," one of the brown fastbiters noted, the one that called itself Torn, "but we soon found that Thud and Swift were fastbiters that we could trust."
"We began to join in hunts even though we kept a separate territory," Ripper added.
"That is an interesting arrangement," Littlefoot noted, "so each of you had a separate territory, but the one thing that a territory is meant to protect, the food, you decided to share?" He smiled as Thud shrugged, "Why didn't you four just unite as a pack right then and there?"
Swift smiled as Thud beamed happily and Torn shifted uncomfortably.
"The boys," she gestured to the brown fastbiters, "were hoping that I would join with them once I was in season, but once they were made aware that I already had other plans, they decided to do the obvious."
"Oh, so you really complicated things then, sister." Leap noted with some humor, "I take it things are settled down now?"
Thud nodded, "Indeed it is. We were actually moving to a new hunting ground in order to get enough food for my growing younglings here," he smiled as splashing could be heard as one of the younglings had begun rolling in the swimmer's blood. It seemed that the younglings would soon be due for a washing from their parents, "and also for any potential newcomers to the pack."
"I take it that Ripper and Torn are looking forward to new female members," Taunt added with a cheeky smile.
"How could you ever guess?" Torn added with a jocular tone. He was obviously not embarrassed by his predicament, only annoyed by it.
"Well then," Littlefoot spoke, "I am glad to see that everyone is doing well. As you and Thud both know, our own pack was nearly ripped apart due to the complications of mating. It is good to know that everything worked out for you."
Swift smiled, "Perhaps Ripper and Torn could be told that song sometime? I can think of few packs that had such an adventure in the process of becoming parents."
"You know us," Spike butted in, "we can't seem to do anything without having an adventure."
It was then that Leap had a sudden realization, "You know, guys, we have never told our kids that particular tale."
Taunt looked at Leap with an odd expression, "What? How our kids came along? Well that's simple I liked Stern Claw; she liked me; so her and I went to a secluded area and..."
"Not that, you lecher!" Cera muttered as she slapped Taunt with her tail, "Leap means what came after all of that."
"Those were trying times." Ducky added softly, her eyes deep in thought.
Leap took the opportunity to nuzzle her, "Indeed they were. All the more reason to tell our children the tale."
-----
Silence fell on the pack for several moments as Soar finally made herself known from the trees.
"Speaking of your children, should we go fetch them? Their sniffer training should have ended by now."
Littlefoot blinked at this. Soar was completely correct. The flyer children had already eaten their fill as they did not really use their sniffers to track prey, but the fastbiter children should have been done much earlier. What were they up to now? Littlefoot nodded as he looked in Petrie's direction.
"You are absolutely correct, Soar. Petrie? Would you mind telling Ruby that dinner is ready? I am sure that the kids are hungry and would be glad to see Thud and Swift again."
Petrie nodded in agreement as he took off in one strong burst of his legs, "Me get them! But now would be good time for my children to test their wings!"
Soar laughed as her children struggled to gain altitude despite being overburdened with the large meal they had just consumed. Her mate had quite the right idea in training the children to being ready to take flight at a moment's notice, but she suspected that he was mainly doing this for shear entertainment. Nonetheless, she decided to enjoy the show as well.
"Alright, children! Away we go! The last one to reach Ruby has to clean the blood-sucking buzzers from mommy's crest!"
Their speed accelerated as they advanced into the sky. They would find the children in no time.
-----
In the shadow of the Roaring Falls three dinosaurs lay on the moist grass. A small swimmer, a brown flyer, and a pink threehorn did not seem to be bothered by the onslaught of water from the waterfall's mist. They did not appear to notice much of what was going on around them at all.
Axiom unsteadily approached her friends as they sat motionless by the river. They obviously did not hear her approach over the roar of the Thundering Falls.
"Hey, guys," she softly greeted as she sat beside them. Their reaction was immediate.
"Axiom," Tricia greeted her friend warmly as she gave her a bow, "I am so sorry."
Axiom steeled herself as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her again. She had to be strong for the benefit of her friends. Her brother was no longer here to be the voice of calm in the group. It was all up to her.
"Oh, no you don't."
Axiom looked up at the swimmer with surprise. Malka had her arms on her sides, but had an understanding expression on her face. It was only then that she realized that her eyes were red. The mist of the waterfall had hidden her friend's tears, but her eyes gave her away. It was then that the swimmer embraced her and spoke again.
"You lost your brother, Axiom, don't pretend to be strong for our sake."
It was only then that Axiom allowed the emotional dam to break once again as she proceeded to weep openly. She could feel the landing of a flyer on her back and the light brushing of a horn against her side as her other friends began to comfort her. What remained of the gang was now joined in an outpouring of grief.
Little did they know that their three lost members were still very much alive...
-----
The flyers had departed several moments ago in order to fetch the children, which gave the rest of the pack plenty of time to talk to their allies.
"So did all of you have an idea of where you wanted to migrate?"
Thud shifted uncomfortably at Littlefoot's question as he looked towards his mate. That was when she gave him a nod and he gave an audible sigh.
"That is what I actually wanted to talk to you about, Seeker. As you know, the population of sharpteeth have been expanding in the Mysterious Beyond."
Littlefoot nodded, "Where there is prey, there will be predators. These are plentiful times."
Thud nodded, "Quite right. However, this is also a problem. More predators mean more competition, and we all know how that can end up."
Littlefoot took on a neutral expression as he began to guess where this conversation was going, "True. Though you are a pack of four, with two members of great reputation. Not to mention formidable allies."
Thud smiled at that, "Very true. You are formidable allies and friends. That is why I ask this with all due respect," Thud then took a deep bow, which caused Littlefoot's eyes to widen. He knew what was coming, "Dear Leader, what expanse do you claim?"
Littlefoot took a deep breath at Thud's words. His statement carried two meanings. The first meaning, that any fastbiter would have known, is that his question was one that inquired about the size of Littlefoot's territory so that Thud's pack would not encroach on Littlefoot's territory when claiming their own land. That was the obvious meaning, but the hidden meaning was no less important. The fact that Thud wanted to know where Littlefoot's territory ended indicated that he wanted to settle nearby. Thud would not be complying with Littlefoot's directives as a lesser ally this time. He would be an equal in all ways. That was what the term of endearment, Dear Leader, had indicated. Thud wanted his children to live in a pack where he himself was the pack leader. At the same time, he wanted to remain an ally and friend of Littlefoot's pack.
Littlefoot shifted his weight slightly as he maintained his expression. His pack had never really delineated the exact boundaries of their territory. Like most packs they would simply let any intruding pack experience their fury if they got too close for their comfort. However, thinking about where their hunts had occurred, he made a quick determination.
"Honored Friend," Littlefoot began as custom dictated, "we claim this forest and the grassland outside to ten longneck lengths," Thud bowed respectfully as Littlefoot spared him the ritualistic formula in order to make the request that he knew was coming, "we would be honored to have your pack next to ours. The forest that lies across the plain is not claimed by us. We would rather be surrounded by friends than my strangers."
"That's right!" Cera affirmed from behind her leader.
"Yep, yep, yep!" Ducky added her voice of support.
Thud smiled as Thud and Leap both gave vocal yelps in support of Littlefoot's decision. Even Chomper gave a loud roar which, although it scared Ripper and Torn, was also a show of support in his own way. He gave a swift bow and finished the necessary custom that he had instructed Littlefoot on several years prior.
"You have my thanks, Dear Leader. May the alliance continue to benefit us both." Then with a slow, deliberate motion he rose to his feet. The customary actions were now fulfilled.
"I certainly hope I got all of that alright," Littlefoot admitted with a smile, "I never had the chance to follow that ritual before."
Swift laughed, "Most who have the opportunity simply chase the intruders away anyway. We are glad that you did not take that option!"
"We would never chase away our friends in their time of need. Nope, nope, nope!" Ducky affirmed heartily as the others likewise affirmed her sentiments.
"I think Ducky speaks for us all." Littlefoot affirmed.
Thud smiled at their show of support, "You did quite well, Littlefoot, and we are all incredibly thankful for your offer. Two strong packs side-by-side will make any rivals to think twice before challenging our territories."
"And it will protect our children," Swift noted, "speaking of which, is that Biter? My goodness he has grown!"
Littlefoot and the others turned around at Biter's question as the distant form of Ruby and the children came into view. The children seemed happy enough, but Ruby had a noticeably unhappy look on her face.
"It looks like they have brought dessert!"
At Taunt's suggestion, Littlefoot then noticed the threehorn, longneck, and rainbowface which were in-between the small fastbiter younglings. The sight of young leaf-eaters walking under their own power between the instruments of their doom was truly an odd scene indeed. Not wishing to wait on their arrival, Littlefoot advanced towards the children and tilted his head in a questioning way towards his mate.
"It seems that our son has decided to ally himself with these sap-suckers," Ruby glared at her son, which caused Biter to look away in shame, "how would you suggest we handle our allied food?" she mocked with more than a little bitterness, "somehow I don't think they will be of much use in hunts except as bait."
Littlefoot sputtered at Ruby's words. He had never seen Ruby so mad at one of their children, and now the reason for her rage was obvious for him to see. His son had made a blood pact with leaf-eaters, which prevented the pack from eating the prey which now cowered before them. How was he going to handle this?
"Why son? Did you forget what we taught you?" Littlefoot lifted his son's chin as he scolded him, "making friends with the food will only make it harder to be what you must be."
Biter opened his mouth before promptly closing it. Before he or his parents could respond, however, Pouncer added his commentary.
"Can we eat them? We didn't make the promise."
"Yeah!" Another childish voice called out, "we are hungry!"
"Silence!" Littlefoot exclaimed, which caused all of the other children to huddle together in fear. They had never before been addressed by the pack leader like this, "go to your parents and eat the swimmer that we have caught," he then turned towards his daughter as the other children fled, "you too, Swipe. Ruby and I will need to have a talk with your brother."
Swipe turned once more towards his brother to give him a disapproving, yet concerned, look. It was only now that she seemed to realize the gravity of Biter's infraction. However, a light nudge from her mother made Swipe follow her father's instructions. Now Biter was alone with his parents and the three leaf-eaters.
"What are your names?" Littlefoot asked in leaf-eater, "I take it that my son has already spoken to you in our language?"
"I am Datum." Came the crisp response of the rainbowface in the sharptooth language, which nearly caused Littlefoot to take a step back. "and these are my friends..."
"You can speak sharptooth?!" Littlefoot and Ruby both exclaimed, interrupting the rainbowface's introduction.
"I can," the child affirmed, "it is something that my parents taught me in the valley."
Both parents looked upon the rainbowface with horrified expressions. Their anger at their son's actions being superseded by the revelation that they had just received. That was when Littlefoot took a hard look at the trembling longneck and the resigned threehorn with the blinded eye. He had never met these dinosaurs, but he suddenly felt as if he knew them quite well.
"And you will be happy to know, Littlefoot, that your eldest sister, Sauria, seems to be getting along with other kinds just like you did in your leaf-eater days. Your father wanted me to tell you that she is now hanging out with a swimmer, a flyer, both of Chronos and Logos's children, and two threehorns, including Tricia."
"Ha! That is lovely news, Pterano. I take it that they are causing my dad as much grief as me and my friends did back in our younger days?"
"Every day," the flyer affirmed with a smirk, "it seems that mischief runs in your family."
Littlefoot blinked. He had to know for sure.
"What is your name, longneck?"
The small longneck looked up in terror at the large fastbiter. The smell of fear and despair permeated her scent. It was only after a few breaths that she answered in a squeaking voice.
"Sauria."
Littlefoot took several steps back as he looked towards the three dinosaurs in shock. Ruby likewise covered her mouth at the realization of who these leaf-eaters actually were. It was enough to make Biter swallow his fear and ask the obvious question.
"Mommy? Daddy? What's wrong?"
Littlefoot continued to stare at the female longneck with astonishment, as she looked at him with confusion. The scent of confusion was now beginning to supplant the terror that had existed previously. With a carefully controlled voice that hid his concern at the implications of this discovery, he spoke in leaf-eater.
"This," he gestured towards Sauria, "is your aunt. My half-sister."
Upon the look of dawning comprehension on the Sauria's face, Littlefoot lightly bowed towards the leaf-eaters.
"Hello, younglings, I am Seeker. Perhaps you have heard of me?"
The younglings stared at him in shock.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/12/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/12/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 11: Hospitality of the Predator
Sauria looked up at the brown fastbiter with utter incomprehension. He was Seeker? The dinosaur who used to be known as Littlefoot? These were the sharpteeth that had saved the valley those years ago? Her brother... It was almost too much to process.
She looked over at the other fastbiters, who were standing many feet behind their leader. The horrific scene of a half-eaten swimmer being devoured by the fastbiter younglings was thankfully hidden by the body of the massive purple sharptooth.
Chomper... she deduced, which caused her to look at the other fastbiters. The orange colored fastbiter was talking to another orange predator with black stripes, That must be Cera , she thought with some amazement, Tricia's sister. She will be glad to know she is doing well. Beside her were the others that her mother had taught her in the stories. Spike, Ducky, and the flyer Petrie.
She swallowed as she turned back to her brother again. She now knew that his words were not false. Despite the misgivings that Ali and her mother had for Littlefoot, they both told her that he was a good sharptooth. But sometimes even good sharpteeth had to kill. She had nightmares for days when her mother had told her the importance of protecting eggs by explaining what Littlefoot and the others had done to her old herd.
Now the nightmare was standing in front of her...
"Are... are you going to kill us?" was her pitiful response. Despite this being her long-lost brother, she knew what fate awaited defenseless leaf-eaters who crossed sharpteeth.
The brown fastbiter looked at her with a mix of horror and guilt.
"No!" he choked out, which caused her to cower at his raised voice, "No, I would never hurt family, Sauria. Not now, not ever." he finished in a firm, but calmer voice. He kept his claws noticeably closer to his body than they were previously.
"But that swimmer wasn't so lucky, huh?!" came Charger's enraged reaction.
Datum shrunk back as he tried to stop his friend, "Charger..."
But the threehorn would have none of it. The shock of their situation was too much for him. The smell of fear and distress was almost overwhelming to the fastbiters as Charger continued to rant, "My daddy warned me about this. He warned me that sharpteeth could not be trusted, and now look where that has gotten us! Biter has betrayed us and now his parents are here..." he bowed his head as his legs began to shake. Charger's bravery had made its final stand and now only fear remained. All Sauria could do was to look at her friend with concern. She had never seen him in such a state.
"Biter did not betray you, little threehorn," Ruby corrected Charger, "I saw your rainbowface friend here and made Biter tell me what was happening." Datum looked down in shame as Ruby continued, "We do not eat friends, and if you are friends of Biter, then you are friends of us."
Charger sat down on his haunches as he tried to recompose himself. Sauria sighed as she closed her eyes. Charger was not the only one who was having trouble dealing with this new reality.
"Uh... aunt Sauria?"
Sauria looked up at the little brown fastbiter who was fidgeting awkwardly by his father's tail. Had the situation not been so surreal, she might have thought of it as cute. She mutely nodded for him to continue, as she did not trust her voice at that moment.
"I'm... I'm sorry for all of this," he looked down, "I... uh... never knew you existed."
Sauria nodded at this, "My mommy..." her voice cracked at mentioning her. She knew that she would never see her again. "My mommy told me that the seven had children of their own."
Littlefoot looked at her closely for several moments with a morose expression. He then carefully examined the others and noted their smells. It wasn't just the smell of fear that remained, it was also the smell of something else. Something far more bitter.
Littlefoot laid down on the ground in a placative gesture, as Ruby did the same. After a confused pause Biter did the same. The sharpteeth were all silent for a moment as Littlefoot gazed into Ruby's eyes. Their non-verbal conversation confirmed that she had the same suspicion that he did. Sighing, he tried to ask the question as gently as possible.
"Children, where are your parents?"
In the instant that the words had left his mouth the three leaf-eaters took on expressions of profound grief. Sauria looked down as she struggled to hold back tears, Datum closed his eyes and clinched his hands, while the threehorn...
Charger had curled up in a ball as he hid his horned head between his massive forelimbs. Littlefoot had only seen threehorns cry during the aftermath of the Battle for the Valley, and it was something that he had hoped to never see again. However, his reaction and that of his friends confirmed the worst for Littlefoot.
Their parents were dead. Ali's mother... the threehorn's parents... Chronos and Logos... It was enough to almost make him want to weep as well. He owed much to his friends in the valley, especially the two rainbowfaces. The fact that his sister was left without a mother and that Datum was all that was left of the legacy of his friends was almost too much to bear. That was when the other realization hit him.
Bron...
Littlefoot's eyes went wide as the full ramifications of their reactions came to him. If Ali's mother were with Sauria then Bron would surely be there as well; he would not want to leave his mate alone as he did with his mother so long ago. His father...
Shaking, Littlefoot looked towards Ruby, who quickly leaned against him in a show of support. Biter, who had not yet made the same deduction his father had, leaned against his father as well while giving him a confused expression.
"Sister," Littlefoot croaked as he took a deep breath, "was my father with your mother when..." he shook his head, "what exactly happened?"
He didn't even finish as Sauria nodded tearfully, "The sharpteeth came and we were all too far away from our mommies and daddies," she choked back a sob as seeing the morose fastbiter only made her grief worse, "it was all out fault! We shouldn't have been playing away from the sleeping area." she looked away in shame as Ruby silently cooed for her to continue, "We heard the sharpteeth when we were playing a game..."
-----
Several days prior, the day of the attack:
"You're it!"
Datum sighed as he felt Sauria nudge his leg. His bright coloration certainly did not do him any favors when it came to Hide and Seek.
"Alright, Sauria," Datum rolled his eyes at the longneck's enthusiasm in telling him that he had been found, "go and try to hide your freakishly long neck somewhere."
His mild insult earned him the sight of Sauria sticking out her tongue at him. He prepared himself to cover his eyes when the agitated sound of Charger reached his ears.
"Damn it, you two! I have been hiding in the bushes all this time, while you two have been catching one another!"
Datum could only smile at his friend's agitated response, "It isn't my fault that I am flashy," he posed as if to show off his rainbow snout which cause Charger to roll his eyes, "or that Sauria's neck makes her stand out like a tree."
Charger grumbled something about 'arrogant rainbow asses' which made Sauria laugh.
"Do you talk to your mother with that mouth, Charger?" Sauria asked playfully.
"Ha!" Charger smiled, "My mother curses even worse! We threehorns aren't afraid of words like you flatheads and rainbow butts are."
Datum rolled his eyes, but smiled at his friend's antics. For he knew that Charger was in a good mood if he were bragging about the exploits of his kind.
"Alright," Datum proposed, "I say that we change games. Perhaps we could race?"
Charger rolled his eyes, "And have you beat us? How about we play Head-Basher instead?"
Sauria laughed at this, "I don't think there would be much of you after that, Datum!"
Datum was not one to be outdone by her wits, "And your head would be even flatter, Sauria!"
Charger smiled as he sat down to watch the show. Sauria and Datum could certainly hurl insults when they were animated, and, much as he would not admit it to anyone else, he preferred to be the spectator in their little battles.
"Kids!"
The three children sighed as the distant call of Bron could be heard from the sleeping area. It seemed that their absence had been noticed by their families. They had wanted to play, but knew that they couldn't do that close to their families, lest they wake them up and be forced to resume the journey early. Taking a look at Bron's massive form in the distance, they noticed the small form of Axiom with her hands planted firmly on her hips.
"I guess sis is mad that we didn't wake her," Datum deduced.
Sauria nodded, "Well, she did have the coughing sickness..."
Datum deadpanned, "Do you honestly think that is going to save me from her wrath?"
Sauria laughed, "Nope. Have fun, Datum!"
As he began to walk in the direction of the sleeping area he muttered back, "She is going to yell at you too, you know?"
Charger made his presence known again from beside Datum, "Yeah, but you have to live with her!"
Datum rolled his eyes, "You two are enjoying this."
Charger laughed to himself, "Immensely."
Roar!
-----
The present:
Sauria choked up as she recounted the terrible moments that followed. The others were silent except for their soft crying at the reopening of their emotional wounds. Even Biter was clinging to his mother upon realizing what the children lost. Finally, however, Sauria built up the strength to continue.
"The sharpteeth went between us and our mommies and daddies. We heard screams... terrible screams. Then Charger's daddy screamed at us to run. We ran as fast as we could."
-----
The day of the attack:
"Momma!"
Sauria looked over at her threehorn friend as the screams of his mother echoed across the plain. She could see him begin to slow, but the growls of the tyrannosaurus behind them confirmed the continued danger.
"Keep going, Charger!" Sauria screamed despite her terror and exhaustion, "We have to get out of here!"
Sauria continued to pump her legs despite the burning sensation that was coursing up her legs. She knew that the predator was advancing on them, but yet safety did not seem anywhere to be found. It was looking increasingly likely that she would meet her end with her friends. Just another youngling to meet her end at the claws of a carnivore.
"Look!" Datum screamed from several body-lengths ahead of the others. This caused Sauria to look ahead with renewed vigor.
Looking ahead of their current position she could see that the plains seemed to give way to brambles and dry roots. However, upon further observation, she could see that the ground was sloping downwards. They could seek shelter in the brambles! The predator would not seek them out there!
Doing her best to ignore her burning lungs, Sauria redoubled her efforts and tried to outrun her pursuer. However, the thunderous sounds of its footsteps and the terrible vibrations from the ground told her that she had little time. The air from the strikes of the predator's feet were beginning to make itself known to the longneck's back. She wasn't going to make it...
"Sauria, look out!"
Before she had time to react, Charger collided with her full force as the tyrannosaurus's massive maw dug into the ground where she was an instant before. Then the ground began to dance around her as the longneck and the threehorn rolled end over end into the brambles and roots. That was when everything went black.
-----
The present:
"We both woke up to Datum slapping us. It was only then that I noticed that my leg hurt and that Charger had lost an eye." Sauria looked down as she recounted the horrors that they had faced. This was the first time that she had a chance to recount their tale, and the emotional impact surprised even her. She finally sucked in a deep breath, "Charger got sick and we got healing plants to make him better, but we had to stay here until we could move again. Then your son met Datum and... well... you know the rest."
Silence greeted Sauria's tale as Littlefoot continued to stare at the ground. Both his mate and his son looked towards him with concern. The rest of the pack kept their distance behind him out of respect. They would let their leader mourn in peace.
Despite his apprehension, Biter was the first to speak. His voice betraying his youthful innocence, "Daddy? Does that mean that grandpa is dead?" Even though Biter had only heard of the massive longneck from his father's stories, his voice were tinged with loss.
Littlefoot swallowed, his expression blank, "Yes, son." He paused for several moments as his own words echoed in his mind. "My father is dead. At least mom isn't alone anymore."
As he bowed his head and closed his eyes, Ruby took the opportunity to embrace him. Despite his loss, Littlefoot did not weep or shake as he had when he first heard the news. Now he was simply numb.
The three leaf-eaters looked at one another apprehensively as the silence again became repressive. With Biter matching his father's expression and Ruby comforting the brown fastbiter, they were left to themselves. It was only several minutes later that a brown sharptooth flyer silently landed beside the other three sharpteeth and bowed in a deferential manner.
At first Littlefoot did not react, but after a few moments he looked up at the flyer. Only now did he think to speak in leaf-eater again, so that the leaf-eaters could understand what was being said.
"I take it... that you heard all of that?"
Petrie nodded mutely, "We all did, Seeker."
Littlefoot closed his eyes for a moment as he sighed, "If my father..." he nearly lost his composure, but quickly retook control, "and the others are dead, then the valley doesn't know. We will need to tell them what happened, and that some of the children are safe."
Petrie paused for a moment as if he wasn't sure that his leader was done, but quickly gave a nod when he realized that Littlefoot had said all that he was going to say. Nonetheless he stayed present waiting for more specific instructions.
"Children?" Ruby began uncertainly, "Where did you say this happened? Could you describe the place to us?"
Datum stepped forward slightly, "Well... there were the brambles that we tried to hide in... then there was the forest where our families were sleeping." he thought for a moment, "we had to cross quite a bit of grass to get to this forest."
Littlefoot's eyes went wide, "The attack happened in the field outside of this forest?!"
Datum was frightened into silence, and simply nodded at Littlefoot's exclamation.
Ruby placed both hands on her face in a stunned expression, "How did we miss this?"
"It is a large field, and we only patrol part of it," Taunt noted, making himself known the group, "the attack could have happened when we were hunting deep in the forest."
"It is still too close for comfort," Cera noted, "Path is only one two-footer. If there are more than one wanting our territory..."
"If they want a fight then I will give it to them!"
The three leaf-eaters cowered as Chomper's massive form came towards the impromptu meeting. As the predators had switched back to their native language, they had no idea what was going on.
"I appreciate the thought, Path," Spike offered, "but we need to plan. They might know about our ways. If so then we need to be prepared for anything."
"The Orange Death?" Ducky questioned.
"The Orange Death." Spike confirmed.
By this point the fastbiter children had heard the commotion and had arrived on the scene as well. Their concerned faces joined in the chorus of confusion and surprise.
"Children?"
The pack looked upon Littlefoot with a confused expression as he looked in the direction of the leaf-eater children. The looks of his packmates communicated the obvious question: how could these leaf-eater be of any help?
Seeing that the children were frozen in fear, Biter walked towards them but then stopped and looked back towards his father. Finally receiving a nod from Littlefoot, he continued to walk towards them and began to speak.
"It's alright, guys."
Biter's rainbowface friend remained frozen in place as the other children cowered at the pack before them. That was when Biter had a revelation. Their fear smell is different. It isn't like it was with me and daddy. It's...
"Would you feel better if Path backed away?" Biter asked gently.
A simple nod from Datum caused an immediate response in the purple sharptooth as he backed away back towards the carcass of the swimmer. It was only now that their fear smells became less extreme.
He is the same kind that killed their parents... and my grandpa, Biter observed. The thought unnerved him in a way that he couldn't explain.
"Sorry, children." Littlefoot cooed, breaking Biter from his thoughts, "I didn't even think about Path being the same kind that..." he sighed, "look... if we are going to know what we are facing then we need you to lead us to where it happened."
The looks of horror from the children were immediate.
"I don't look forward to this either, but if we can find their tracks then we can find out where they have gone... and decide on the best way to lead you all home."
Littlefoot looked down as the scent of fear was replaced with dread and acceptance from the leaf-eaters, a less pungent smell. Even though they remained silent after his request, he already knew that they would agree. Before the three began to lead the pack towards the fateful site, however, Biter could barely hear a few words from his father's whispered sigh.
"Father... keep mother company for me."
-----
Swipe walked behind the adults with an emotion building in her that she couldn't describe. Her grandfather was dead. She had never met him, nor seen him even from afar, but she had certainly heard of his exploits from her father. However, the emotion that this elicited in her was curiously muted. It was difficult to feel too emotional for someone you had never met.
But her father's reaction...
She had never seen her father mourn, but from her vantage point by the swimmer she could hear the choked sob. Despite her hunger, she had immediately lost her appetite as Littlefoot heard the news. It was his reaction more than anything else that colored her perception of what had transpired. It was that which made her shake with agitation. These two-footers, whoever they were, had made her father cry. She would never forgive them for that.
She looked to her side for a moment. Pouncer was giving her a concerned expression, but said nothing. Neither was there any cutting remark from Nibble about her brother making friends with the food. No, even her friends understood the magnitude of the situation and had taken on an ominous quiet. It was something out of their training.
"What do we do when the pack might be in danger?" Ruby asked the assembled fastbiters.
A shout rose as they spoke in unison, "Be quiet, sneak, and listen is the way to win the mission!"
Ruby smiled. They were such quick learners.
"Look there!"
Swipe looked up at where Pouncer was gesturing. Petrie and Soar were rising into the air and falling in the distance. They could barely be seen, but it was obvious that they had found something.
"Children..."
Swipe looked up at her father, only to realize that by using the leaf-eater language he obviously was talking to their three leaf-eater guests.
"Children, you don't have to follow us up here if you don't want to. You have done enough."
Swipe considered her father's words. If her parents had died, would she be willing to go back to the place where it happened? To see what was left? It was a horrifying thought that gave her pause. She had always thought of leaf-eaters as food. Even though her parents had told her stories about their leaf-eater days, it seemed like an afterthought. Even her father had stressed that she would have to kill leaf-eaters one day and that it was best to only think of them as food. She had taken his advice to heart.
But her brother hadn't...
She looked towards her brother, as he kept his place right beside the rainbowface he had allied with. For this transgression she so wanted to berate him... to criticize him... to make him do the right thing... but had he not done this then they would not have learned about her grandfather. Likewise, the pack would have unknowingly killed her aunt. It was enough to make her doubt her former views. If her brother was so wrong in befriending the leaf-eater, then why did it turn out so right this time?
"I will go ahead."
She looked towards the threehorn with surprise. His right eye and much of the right side of his body were marred by deep gashes and scars. It was as if he had challenged a fastbiter to a fight and lost. Nonetheless, both his face and scent communicated pride. Though he could not hide his fear from her sniffer. This dinosaur was an enigma to her. He was so much like Cera and her kids now that she thought about it. Had he had feathers and claws he could almost have fit in to her family...
"So will I."
The small little longneck stepped forward as well. In many ways, Swipe noted, she was even a greater enigma than Charger. The threehorn's pride and sense of duty compelled him to act the way that he did. The scent of it was all over him. But for the longneck, her scents were far more confusing. There was sadness and more than a little fear, but there was little pride overriding those distinct scents. In fact, the only other scent that she could pick up with her sniffer was...
Guilt. Swipe quickly deduced. But this only served to confuse her more. What did the longneck have to feel guilty about? It wasn't her fault that she and her parents are food.
"I will go too."
Finally, Swipe turned her gaze to the leaf-eater that had supposedly started this all. He had been the one to risk everything to save his threehorn friend from being discovered by Biter. He had been the one to talk to her brother and start the fateful friendship. He had been the one that got discovered by Ruby. In many ways this was all because of Biter and him.
His scents were far more obvious to the little fastbiter. She could smell great sadness on him, but little in the way of other strong emotions. In some ways this is what Swipe expected from the rainbowface. In her father's songs the rainbowfaces seemed far too logical for anything in the way of lingering over regrets. In some ways, he smelled like how a fastbiter would smell in a similar situation. The predator would mourn what had happened, but reluctantly move on nonetheless.
Without any comment from her father or mother, the pack resumed their journey towards where Petrie had signaled. Despite her own self-assurance earlier, she could feel a slight tremor in her legs as the realization of what awaited her tormented her mind.
"It's alright, Swipe."
She turned towards the source of the assurance. Dive and Lift, two of Petrie's children, spoke from slightly above her other packmates. It seemed that they had noticed her distress.
"I am fine," Swipe dismissed their concerns, though her voice gave away her apprehension. Thankfully none of the others seemed willing to press the point as she continued to advance with the others towards the site of the attack. Her legs were beginning to ache from the quick pace of their journey, but she allowed the pain to occupy her mind. At least it was something other than her own uncertain emotions.
The journey continued in its unending monotony. Under normal circumstances she would have complained, but these were not normal circumstances. Not even Cera's children said anything in the way of complaints. Only the soft conversation of Ducky's children and the distant songs of flyers added diversity to the sounds of their steady footsteps.
It was a choked sob that finally caught her attention.
Ahead of the adults stood the tell-tale bones of a threehorn's crest. Charger's emotional outburst needed no further explanation.
"Stop here, children," came Cera's reassuring voice, "it is time for us to check for tracks."
Swipe could only look on as Leap stayed with the children and Chomper kept watch from many longneck-lengths behind them. It would be up to their parents to assess the danger and determine what to do next.
-----
Littlefoot gazed upon the white bones of the massive dinosaur. Its crest glistened in the fading rays of daylight. Despite being stripped bare by many days of gnawing by scavengers and the relentless action of the elements, the skull and vertebral column of the threehorn was still mostly intact.
"Sorry... mom. I shouldn't have strayed."
Littlefoot frowned sadly at Charger's belated goodbye to his mother. He obviously had seen something on the skeleton that confirmed its identity, though he had enough tact to not ask him what it was at that moment. But this opened up another question.
Where was Charger's father? For that matter, where was Littlefoot's dad?
The massive form of the threehorn was the only sight that he and the others had seen. The few indentations that Petrie had helped track from the air had confirmed that the predators had long since moved on from this sight of carnage, but what could have happened to the others?
"I'm sorry too, mommy... daddy... sis."
Littlefoot then turned his attention to the rainbowface. He had sat on the ground and appeared to be hugging himself in his profound grief. Biter stood beside him, simply offering him comfort through his presence. It appeared that Datum had no bones to say his goodbyes. His parents and his sister must have been eaten whole.
He then turned his attention to Sauria. She was looking around in confusion, as if she had no idea where to go. The bones of her parents would have been far too massive to simply be eaten whole or to disappear in the span of a few weeks. That was when a sudden realization hit him.
"Sauria?"
The small longneck looked in Littlefoot's direction after some hesitation. After a moment she worked up the courage to speak.
"I can't find mommy and daddy! They should be here... this is where..."
She looked down at her predicament. However, Littlefoot had quite a different reaction.
"Did any of you... actually see your parents be killed?"
Charger screamed in rage, "Yes, you damn child killer! Who in the hell do you think I am trying to say goodbye to!?"
Littlefoot ignored Charger's anger, as it was justifiable under the circumstances. Instead, he pressed his line of thinking.
"Besides your brave mother, did any of you see your parents die?"
Datum began to pace as the questions of the sharptooth began to lead his mind in the same direction, "Uh... no."
Sauria then added, "...but we heard them scream!"
Littlefoot gazed into the longneck's eyes, "Out of fear for all of you... and for Charger's mom."
Silence reigned for several moments as Littlefoot, Ruby, and Spike began to walk away from carcass, their heads firmly focused on the ground ahead of them. They had checked for two-footer tracks, but they had neglected to focus on any other tracks. In particular one pair caught Littlefoot's attention. An alternating sequence of larger indentations in the soft ground. The weathered, but lingering footprints of running longnecks. Almost imperceptible... unless one was looking for it.
"What is it, daddy?" Biter questioned his father.
"What do you mean?" Datum demanded, "What do you see?"
Littlefoot looked up from the ground and turned towards the two dinosaurs. Gone was the mournful fastbiter. He had been replaced with a determined predator that his friends all knew and loved.
Littlefoot smiled.
"Hope."
-
A very nice, emotional chapter. Enlightening, too, since I had thought that it was Littlefoot's pack that attacked that herd, which was kind of confusing to me. Glad that was cleared up.
Littlefoot and Sauria got to share the same grief for a little while, though now they have hope.
Whatever happens, I hope these 3 leafeater kids stay in the story a little longer. They've really re-sparked my interest in the story, as I still love sharptooth/leafeater interactions in lbt fanfiction. Maybe they'll get to join the packs kids in hearing some of the packs stories?
-
Thanks for the review, Vaughn. :)
A very nice, emotional chapter. Enlightening, too, since I had thought that it was Littlefoot's pack that attacked that herd, which was kind of confusing to me. Glad that was cleared up.
Thanks for the kind words. I had actually considered making it so that the pack had been the ones attacking, but it is rather unlikely (to say the least) that Littlefoot and the others would attack Bron and the others unless they were utterly starving and mad with hunger.
Littlefoot and Sauria got to share the same grief for a little while, though now they have hope.
Yep. I quite enjoyed writing the scene between Littlefoot and his sister. Despite the species barrier, the similarities in their personality and temperament is quite striking.
Whatever happens, I hope these 3 leafeater kids stay in the story a little longer. They've really re-sparked my interest in the story, as I still love sharptooth/leafeater interactions in lbt fanfiction. Maybe they'll get to join the packs kids in hearing some of the packs stories?
Yep, yep, yep! :yes
I should have the next chapter posted in a moment.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/13/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/13/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 12: Revelations
Littlefoot leaned into Ruby's neck as she nuzzled him. The recent revelation was like a liberation for him. A tremendous weight had been lifted from his mind. The tender moment only lasted for an instant, however, before a certain young longneck interrupted.
"What?"
Littlefoot smiled at Sauria's befuddled expression, "What this means, sister, is that if our father did die then he didn't die here. Do you see a longneck skeleton anywhere?"
Sauria blinked at this as she looked back towards Charger's fallen mother. She looked away quickly, not wanting to stare at the reminder of what the sharpteeth had taken from them. She then shook her head.
"Only Charger's mother was killed here. That means there is still a chance that the others survived!"
Charger now reluctantly turned away from his mother as he stared at Littlefoot. His voice came through as a hoarse growl, "You mean that my daddy might be alive out there?"
"And my sister and parents!?" Datum exclaimed.
"Exactly!" Littlefoot smiled.
The three leaf-eater children all reacted in their own way to this welcome news. Sauria promptly gave a joyful bellow as she stomped the ground, whereas Charger returned to looking at his mom with an overtly more bittersweet expression. It was as if he knew that his mother shared his joy from the Great Beyond. Datum's expression was one of joyful exuberance, which promptly turned to one of contemplation. That look was something that Littlefoot had seen before from two other rainbowfaces several years before. As a result he knew that a question was soon to come his way.
"Do you think they made it to the valley?"
Before Littlefoot could respond Thud coughed from behind the rainbowface, which caused the poor leaf-eater to jump in surprise.
"That is what we should check first."
Littlefoot promptly translated for Thud, and then began walking back towards the rest of his pack, "I agree. But that is not our only concern," Littlefoot then gestured towards the leaf-eaters, "they will have to be brought back home somehow. I don't know about all of you, but I would rather we not leave the territory undefended with the two-footers nearby."
This gave the others pause as silence descended upon them. It was Sauria who broke the silence a few moments later.
"Maybe the valley could come back for us?"
Charger chuckled darkly at that, "And what? Be food for the killers that got momma?"
Littlefoot licked his lips, ignoring the obvious hatred for sharpteeth in Charger's voice and scent. He had earned the right to be angry at Chomper's kind.
"Well maybe we could meet them half-way? If we meet then half-way then none of us have to go all of the way."
Littlefoot pondered Ruby's idea for a moment when Taunt offered his own thoughts.
"That still leaves us with the problem of leaving the territory undefended."
"Yes," Cera added, "Not to mention I don't think that our guests would want to take their children across the Mysterious Beyond unless they absolutely have to. They have already risked much to get here to us."
Littlefoot looked confused for a moment, until he realized that Cera was referring to Swift and Thud's children. They were not yet at the age of safety, which meant that having them travel with another pack would be a tricky proposition. Swift would constantly feel the need to defend her children from any unrelated dinosaurs, regardless of their intentions. Not to mention if her pack remained here the entire time and the two-footers attacked...
"Maybe Path could stay here and defend the territory?"
Littlefoot looked with surprise at the small voice that had spoken. He did not hesitate to let the children speak at pack meetings as he felt that the best way for them to learn to be adults was to learn by practice, but they usually kept silent all the same. None of them wanted to say something foolish in front of their peers. Taunt's kids would have a field day...
Swipe seemed to be willing to risk it this time, however her bravado seemed to be short-lived. The surprised looks from the other children made her shrink back with a self-conscious expression. It was only when Biter gave his sister an encouraging nudge that she again held her ground.
"That be good idea, actually." Petrie noted, flying down from Chomper's massive snout.
Littlefoot nodded, "Indeed it is, but that would pass on the risk to Path."
Chomper laughed, a horrifying sound, "Those upstarts will learn what a risk is when they meet me! I will teach them a lesson they will never forget! No one invades our territory!"
His speech caused the three leaf-eater children to lay on the ground in terror. They could hear the sharptooth's words clearly and thus knew his intent, but that did not override their instincts on the matter. In fact Chomper saying his bravado-filled threat in leaf-eater seemed to make it worse.
Spike decided to take this opportunity to speak, "As much as we appreciate your enthusiasm, Path, I think that we should be cautious."
"I agree," his mate offered, "I would feel more confident if we had some... um..." she whispered to Spike for a moment, who laughed. This earned him an angry scowl from his mate, which he promptly remedied by giving her a nuzzle and whispering something in her ear. It was only then that she muttered, "assurances... assurances..."
As she played with the word a few times Littlefoot realized that she must have forgotten the leaf-eater version of the word, but not wishing to suffer Breeze's scowl he refrained from laughing.
"We need some assurance that they are away from the territory," Breeze finally finished.
"Me can do that!" Petrie affirmed, "Me and children fly around and see if sharpteeth nearby. We cover more ground than all of you land-dwellers."
Littlefoot smiled. He now had enough details to come up with a basic idea of how to proceed.
"Alright, everyone, I think that I have a plan..."
-----
One day later:
"Why is the pack not just going to the valley, daddy? We know that is where the kids have to go."
Petrie adjusted his wings slightly in order to slow his soaring. Trying to listen and speak while flying against the wind was a difficult task. The roaring air would drown out any hint of conversation. After a few moments, however, he was again in a position to respond to Lift's question.
"Well, Lift, it be impolite to drop in unannounced, wouldn't it?" Upon seeing her about to open her mouth to respond, he again spoke, "Besides me don't want to get wrath of momma! The valley has ways of dealing with sharptooth flyers."
This caused his son, Dive, to turn his head in an expression of confusion. His son was obviously seeking some clarification of his father's words, but this action caused him to fall out of formation with the other flyers.
"Watch out, Dive!"
"Whoa!"
In an instant Dive shifted his wings to rise and Lift veered downward, thus avoiding a collision. The remaining daughter, Valaria, remained in formation and rolled her eyes at her brother's actions. He was not the most graceful of flyers.
Kind of like Petrie in his valley days...
Petrie smiled a bit with his beak, as he shifted his wings and resumed his journey to the valley. It was only when he saw that all three of his children were back in formation that he spoke again.
"To answer unspoken question: valley worry that bad sharptooth flyers learn from us and do bad things in valley. So they find way to sneak on flyers. Me not figure it out."
Valaria finally spoke, "Are we safe? Grandma wouldn't attack us, would she?"
Petrie tilted a bit to the left as he addressed her question, "Not if she know who we are. Me sure she like to meet all you, but you need to make promise to daddy."
Valaria's eyes were curious, "What's that?"
"You promise to daddy that you not fly here alone. This only short flight for flyer, but long trip for land-dweller." he shifted to the right in order to take advantage of the rising warm air. He knew that this thermal should give them all of the lift they needed to coast to the valley. "They know if me go here that it be important, but they not like sharptooth flyers coming here often," he paused for a moment, "me not visit valley since battle."
This caused a shocked gasp from Dive, but he was careful to maintain control this time, "But you told us that you saw grandma last Cold Time!"
Petrie expected that question, "Yes. Me saw grandma by Red Coasts, but me not go to valley. We have different life. We have to kill life. Valley not want that in valley."
Lift looked up at her father as she soared on the thermal, "There is something else, isn't there?"
Petrie would have nodded if it wouldn't have ruined his soaring, "Yes. Mama have new hatchlings... my brothers and sisters... your aunts and uncles," he didn't have to look back to know that his children were shocked, "Mama always protective of us children. You not want to get in her way."
"We have aunts and uncles?! Like Seeker does?"
Petrie laughed at Valaria's question. Despite the difference in specie, she reminded him of his fallen sister in more ways than just her name. She also had the same spunkiness and curiosity.
"Yes, Valaria. Me saw mama going to Red Coasts when me fly to hidden runners. You know what happen there."
The children were silent for a moment as Petrie's answer didn't really invite a counter-response. If Volant was heading to the Red Coasts then she was obviously looking for a mate.
The flyers continued on their journey for the better part of an hour. The wind-swept gorges below them made an overwhelming amount of warm air life into the sky, which allowed them to soar without expending much in the way of energy. This journey was nothing more than the flyer equivalent of a walk in the grass. This gave Petrie a few moments to consider his situation.
One adult flyer needed to remain with the pack in order to scout for possible problems. As Petrie and the children knew the leaf-eater language, but Soar did not, it was obvious that she would be the best choice to remain with the pack.
"Are you sure the valley will be a safe place for the kids? It has been years since you were last there"
Petrie smiled at his mate's question. She was always protective of the children.
"Me sure. Me meet flyers and get permission before we enter."
She gave him an amused look.
"By flyers you mean Pterano, do you not?"
Petrie shrugged. "Probably if he meet me first. That a problem?"
Soar surprised Petrie by suddenly laughing, "Not for the flyers, but I don't think the threehorns will listen to your uncle's assurances!"
This caused him to laugh as well, "Well good thing threehorns can't fly." he then spoke softly, "The kids will be safe, dear. I won't let any harm come to them."
Soar surprised him again by poking him in the chest with her wing, "I knew it! My lessons are beginning to have an effect, Mr. Me!"
Petrie feigned ignorance of his break from his usual speech pattern, "Me have no idea what you talk about."
Soar would have none of it and began to fly towards the rest of the pack. Her half-mocking, half-amused voice called after him, "Very funny, Spotter, but mark my words: I will get you to speak properly one day!"
Petrie smiled. His speech pattern was as much of a part of him as his personality. Though he would never admit it to his mate, there was another reason why he maintained his use of me.
Me don't have old body or live in old home, but at least me have that!
He sighed as the gorges that led into the valley became visible in front of him. The last time that he had seen those majestic cliffs was when his pack had left the valley in victory. There were so many memories here. The best years of his childhood had been spent in the valley with his friends, though they often seemed hell-bent on leaving the valley during their adventures. Those cliffs were both a reminded of what had come before, and of what he had lost forever. As he gestured for the children to sink towards the gorge, he spoke to them somewhat cryptically.
"Enjoy your childhood... it not last long."
Before any of his children could hazard a response to his words, however, he suddenly veered to the left.
"Go to ground now!"
In a few terror-filled seconds the children went from slowly sinking to the ground to suddenly plummeting towards the orange cliffs. It did not take long for the children to land with distinct thuds. Petrie followed a second later.
"Daddy, what is going on!" Valaria exclaimed.
Petrie didn't respond immediately and instead lowered himself and extended his wings.
"Do as me do," Petrie requested.
A series of high pitched shrieks emanated into the air as Petrie gave his best recreation of the old alert call from the valley. Its shrill tone echoed across the gorge as the much weaker sounds of his children's shrieks joined his. As the symphony of shrieks continued for several moments, the children disregarded their father's order about their wings and covered their ears with them. Finally, however, Petrie stomped to indicate that it was time for his children to stop. Within moments the shrieks finally came to an end.
Then there was silence.
Petrie paused as he waited for any sign that the valley had noticed his calls. They were quite a way from the valley so it would be understandable if no one responded to them in a timely manner. Though Petrie was hesitant to advance much closer to the valley without explicit authorization. However, as the seconds turned to minutes, he assumed that they were simply too far away for their calls to be heard. Reluctantly, he gave his kids the news.
"Alright, kids, me guess that we are too far away for anyone to notice us. That is the alert call. It alerts the valley that a flyer has seen something important."
"Like food?" Lift asked innocently.
Petrie laughed, "No, like something else try to make them food. But anyway, we need to get closer to valley..."
"Not until we let you in."
Petrie and the children nearly doubled over in shock at the sudden intrusion from behind them. Where there had been nothing but rock moments before now stood a young adult flyer. His coloration was a cross between gray and brown. That was not what caught Petrie's attention, however. That face. He knew that face.
"Brother?"
The leaf-eater flyer laughed, which made Petrie's children hide behind their father uncomfortably, but made Petrie swell with happiness. He most certainly recognized that laugh.
"I see that me not only one who go back to valley. Did mama forget to kick you out of nest?" Petrie mocked playfully.
His brother shrugged in a flamboyant way, "Sadly, mother did kick us out of the nest right after the battle, Petrie. She told us 'If you are all old enough to fight for the valley then you are old enough to find your own place within it.' and then she gave a lesson in how to make nests."
Petrie chuckled, "She not think you all know how to make nests?"
His brother smiled, "You know mother, even when she was kicking us out, she wanted to make sure we were okay," he then added as an afterthought, "She did give me a good whack on the head though when I took some of her twigs for my own nest."
Petrie rolled his eyes at his brother's antics, "You were always an ass, Vero."
Vero smiled, "Some things never change, brother."
Upon feeling a tug at his wing, Petrie looked down at Dive's concerned face. Petrie could only smile in response. His children acted so brave in front of the fastbiters, but in front of other flyers their bravado was nowhere to be seen.
"It alright, children. This be my brother, Vero. Me no think he eat you."
Vero opened his mouth and closed it in a mock threat, which caused the children to back away. It was only then that Petrie began to realize something.
"You know sharptooth?" Petrie inquired with more than a little surprise.
Vero nodded, "Several of us went to the hidden runners in order to learn the language. Mother thought it would be a good idea to have spies that could listen in on sharpteeth."
Petrie deadpanned, "You spy on us in territory?"
Vero rolled his eyes, "Like we would need to, Petrie. We hear enough about you and the others from the sharpteeth in the Mysterious Beyond. You seem to make an impression on everyone that you meet."
A sudden thud behind Petrie alerted him to another arrival. He had barely turned partway before a voice that he had not heard in nearly a year greeted him.
"So these are the grandchildren!"
Petrie turned and warmly bowed at his mother.
"Indeed, mama. These are the young biters me and uncle tell you about," he nudged his children in order to get their attention. After they gave the customary bow to their grandmother, she looked at Petrie with an odd expression. Smiling, Petrie gave a nod.
"Wha..."
Dive, Lift, and Valaria were suddenly lifted into the air by the elderly flyer as she embraced them between her wings. She then quickly put them back down before they could even mount an instinctual response.
"Now that that is out of the way, what are your names?"
The three sharptooth children looked up at the elderly leaf-eater as if she were a gigantic monster. Their beaks were open, but no distinct words came forth. Undeterred, Volant maintained her stern motherly gaze at the three younglings. Finally, they began to croak out their names.
"Dive... grandma."
"Lift..."
Volant turned her gaze to the third flyer as it swallowed out of shyness.
"Valaria."
This caused Volant to look up at Petrie with a shocked expression. In response Petrie could only nod.
"Me thought that sister would have liked that," he looked at Valaria for a moment, "Me just tell her about that story during this Warm Time."
Now it was Petrie's turn to be hugged.
"You didn't mention their names!" his mother exclaimed, "Your sister would have appreciated this."
Petrie smiled, "Me was going to tell you their names, but someone more interested in flying to Red Coasts at the time..."
Volant broke away with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "Speaking of which, I need to return to the nest. I came out here when I got the alert, but the kids are expecting some food."
Now it was the turn of the children to be surprised.
"Alert?"
"How?"
"We didn't hear anything?!"
Volant smiled as she waved her wing tip at her grandchildren and gave them a teasing smile, "Now, grandchildren, the valley has to have its secrets. But let's just say that we knew that all of you were coming for quite some time."
"Yeah, so don't get any ideas, brother."
Petrie rolled his eyes as Vero walked beside him, "Me not go to valley to find food, Vero. Me already know you food. Me came here for something more important."
Vero stuck out his tongue at his brother, but then promptly took on a more serious expression as Petrie's words registered in his mind.
"What is it, Petrie?" Volant spoke with sudden urgency, "Is everyone alright?"
Petrie frowned a bit at his mother's response. The pack was certainly okay for the moment, but her reaction made it seem as if the valley were experiencing no difficulties. Perhaps Bron and the others had not come back...
Petrie hesitated, "Pack okay. It valley me worry about," upon Volant's confused head tilt, he spoke again, "We find Charger's mama's body."
The two leaf-eater flyers were silent for several moments as they bowed their heads out of respect.
Volant nodded as she sighed and gave Vero the signal to head back to the valley. It was only after he left with a polite nod that Volant looked at Petrie again. Her expression was noticeably grim.
"Bron, Uta, Servine, and the rainbowfaces came back a few days ago," she did not notice Petrie's look of obvious relief, "they were sent out to give the healing plants to the hidden runners, but they paid a high price for that. Several of the kids were lost when they were attacked," she frowned sadly, "I regret not going with them, but I have children of my own again. Maybe if they had some flyers to look ahead for them...
Petrie wrapped a wing around his mother, "Don't blame yourself, mama. You have to take care of my brothers and sisters," he then looked at his children, "children are precious things."
Silence descended on the two flyers as they reflected on the situation that lay before them. It was only after a few moments had passed and he felt his mother was ready for the news that he spoke again.
"Besides, me have some news about Datum, Sauria, and Charger. Do you honestly think that gang with Seeker's sister, rainbowfaces' son, and Stern Claw's cousin would not find some way out?"
Volant gaped, "Do you mean?"
Petrie nodded and wore a happy expression, "They manage to escape, but now we need to help them get to valley. You think valley help us with that?"
Her squawks of happiness could be heard all the way to the valley.
-----
Just outside of the pack's territory:
The massive footprint seemed to mock them.
Chomper glared at the depression in the ground with an annoyed expression. Despite over half an hour of analyzing the artifact, they were no closer to uncovering its secrets. It was too old to retain any of its creator's smell. Its contours contained no clues as to the sharptooth's physical condition or disposition. In fact, the only thing that they had deduced is that the sharptooth that created this footprint was a female tyrannosaurus.
Despite that there was something oddly familiar about these footprints.
"Look at the smaller footprints."
Chomper slowly lumbered to his left as he looked for the small footprints that Littlefoot had mentioned. He had no idea what his friend was talking about.
"In the footprint. By the heel."
The massive sharptooth then tilted his head and nearly planted his face in the footprint in order to examine its features. At first he was tempted to ask Littlefoot what in the heck he was talking about, but after several moments he began to see hints of what his friend had seen. Planted in the heel of the footprint were the tell-tale scrapes of a juvenile two-footers footsteps. In seemed that these children were quite literally following in their parent's footsteps.
"They have children." Chomper noted, "That would explain why they were willing to take the risk. Our reputation is well known." He then turned towards Littlefoot's much smaller form in front of the footprint. The fastbiter appeared to again be deep in thought.
Knowing not to interrupt his friends when he was in such a state, Chomper continued to stare at his friend with a deferential expression. It was moments like this that he reflected on the fact that this much smaller dinosaur had been with him when he hatched, and had been like a perpetual big brother to him. Even when he had been with his parents on the island the shadow of Littlefoot covered everything that he did and thought. Even though the size difference was now reversed between them, he could not shake his tendency to look up to the sharptooth even though he literally now had to look down upon him.
Sometimes old habits never died.
"That's what I am not sure about, Path. If they came from far away then they may not have known our exact territory," the fastbiter looked up at him with a contemplative expression, "if that is what happened then they may not really be a threat. They may be far away by now."
Chomper snorted, "Mistake or not, I just want to make sure that they stay out of our territory."
Littlefoot smiled, "Yeah..."
The two were silent for several moments. Chomper reflected that the talk of children seemed to put a different spin on the entire situation. He knew that Littlefoot would do whatever it would take to ensure the survival of the pack, but as a parent he knew the responsibility that having children entailed. The thought that he and his friends may have to kill and injure another family in order to protect their own was a horrifying one. Chomper could not really offer anything for that possibility except his support for the pack, but he could help his friend with an issue affecting children that was more close to home...
"Have you decided on what to do with Biter?"
Littlefoot sighed at his friend's question. It was not even something that he had broached with Ruby just yet, but he knew that a decision would have to be made soon.
"He is a lot like you and I, isn't he?" Littlefoot noted with a mix of pride and sadness, "He wants to fight against what fate has chosen for us, but eventually we have to be what we have to be."
Chomper gave a compassionate growl, "Had the dinosaurs not been from the valley would you have made Biter correct his mistake?"
Littlefoot's eyes went wide as he opened his mouth as if to protest, but he promptly closed it as the thought registered in his mind.
"No... I mean..." Littlefoot suddenly looked helpless, "He will have to hunt other dinosaurs one day, but I would not have him break a blood pact."
Chomper tilted his head, "What if he hadn't made a pact? Would you have him attack his leaf-eater friends? Would you ask that of him?"
Littlefoot swallowed as he looked down, "I wouldn't, but Ponder..." he trailed off.
"Has a different perspective?" Chomper offered.
Littlefoot nodded, "I think so. She has a tendency to do things that would make me uncomfortable, so that I am not faced with the decision. I will need to talk to her, but... she was upset and angry until we found out who those leaf-eaters were, Path," his eyes were wide as he gestured with his hands, "I think Biter's mentioning of the blood pact was the only thing that stopped her from ordering the kids to finish them off."
Chomper growled lightly, "Each biter who crosses a chasm has a mate who pushes him."
Littlefoot looked at him oddly, "What was that?"
Chomper gave a chuckle, a soft growling sound, "Something my mother always said."
Littlefoot nodded absentmindedly as he continued to contemplate his situation. Chomper did not envy his friend's predicament, but he knew that he could only offer support. This was something that he and Ruby would have to resolve on their own.
"We will have to hunt on the journey to the valley. I will have my children make their first hunt then."
Chomper gave his friend a surprised look. Littlefoot noted his shock and responded immediately.
"Biter cares for his friends, and they are surrounded by sharpteeth. The more food the pack provides then the less likely it will be that the other children might accidently decide to hunt his friends."
Chomper gasped in shock, "They wouldn't!"
Littlefoot blinked, "Of course not, but Biter doesn't need to know that," he sighed as he looked towards the falling Bright Circle, "he will have to hunt one day or he will be at a great disadvantage... if I have to use his fear for his friends as motivation..."
Chomper followed Littlefoot's gaze and stared at the falling Bright Circle as well.
"That might be for the best, Seeker. By the time Biter is old enough to understand what you did, he will be old enough to understand why you did it."
Littlefoot sighed, "I hope so, Path, I hope so."
The two sharpteeth stared at the falling Bright Circle for several moments until the sky finally turned into a brilliant shade of turquoise. Despite the uncertainties all around them, the certainty of the sun and moon was a comfort. One day they would all be gone, but the orbs in the sky would remain. As would their stories. It was only when the sky had firmly turned into a dark shade of violet that Littlefoot gave the signal for them to see what the rest of the pack had found.
"Well, I think that we have stared at the sky for long enough. The others should be done with their scouting by now. Not to mention I am ready for another helping of the swimmer."
Chomper let out an affirmative grunt, "Yes. Let's go eat!"
Littlefoot chuckled at his friend's single-track mind, "You're beginning to sound more like Finder every day!" He dodged the inevitable mock bite in his direction. Chomper's appetite had certainly grown during his Time of Great Growing. The comparison to Spike was not too far off.
"Look, Seeker! I found a perfect target. Its feathers are brown like the ground, its crest is red like blood, and its words are stupider than a yellowbelly!" Chomper playfully mocked.
Littlefoot laughed at his friend's mockery, "Well, Path, if you want this 'food' then you will have to catch it!"
Chomper gleefully chased his friend back into the pack's territory. The surrounding field shook with his thunderous footsteps as the two friends reenacted their antics from much younger days. A welcome relief from the recent turmoil.
Meanwhile the footprint remained like a silent harbinger of things to come. Little did they know that the creator of that footprint was not too far away.
-----
The Great Valley:
"What is all of this about?"
Tricia looked at Malka with a concerned expression. Her swimmer friend was normally a source of enthusiasm and kindness, albeit with a tinge of sarcasm, but in light of their tremendous loss she now seemed like a shadow of her former self. Despite her misgivings with her change in demeanor, Tricia could only bellow agreement with her friend's words.
"I suppose the adults will tell us," Tricia guesses without enthusiasm.
The sound of running footsteps could be heard, which was followed be the sounds of a dinosaur panting heavily. Tricia did not need to look beside her to know that Axiom had caught up with her.
"What is going on?" Came the rainbowface's exhausted questions, "why are the adults having a meeting?"
"It's probably about what happened out there."
All three children looked up at the massive longneck that was walking beside them. His neck stretched so far into the sky that it looked like it was scraping the clouds from their perspective. The tell-tale green coloration and dark green stripe confirmed to them all that this was Shorty, ironically the tallest longneck in the valley.
Tricia bowed her head respectfully, "Sorry, Shorty."
The massive longneck shook his head as his voice boomed from above, "No need to apologize. It was a loss for you young ones as well. Now we just need to see how to prevent this from happening in the future," he looked momentarily confused, "though we already had a meeting on this a few days ago. I wonder what changed?"
They didn't have to wait long to get an answer.
"Petrie's here!"
The children looked up at the excited flyer, while Shorty looked down at the brown child. His wings were beating much faster than necessary to keep him aloft, the sign of obvious excitement.
"Momma told us in nest! Brother has come home to tell us news!"
Tricia pondered Flip's excited words for a moment. What news could Petrie have brought that would necessitate flying into the valley itself? Even when his kids were born they simply communicated that news through Pterano.
"What news could that be?" Shorty's voice rumbled.
"I am curious about that as well."
Shorty and the others looked towards Shorty's back where a large flyer had just landed. Though Pterano was officially banished from the valley for a few more days, an exception was made in the case of valley meetings. As it was being banished to the lands immediately outside of the valley wasn't much of a banishment in the first place.
"Pterano," Shorty greeted with a mix of kindness and annoyance, "what have I told you about using my back as a perch?"
Pterano shrugged with great flamboyance, a trait that often annoyed the threehorns, "Why my dear, Shorty, it isn't my fault that you are the tallest thing to land on in the whole valley." Nonetheless, Pterano gave a respectful nod which indicated that his mockery was in jest and proceeded to fly off of Shorty's back into a slow circling beside the children. For his part, Shorty rolled his eyes and gave a respectful nod as well. His eyes then turned towards the meeting circle that lay ahead of them.
In the clearing stood leaf-eaters of every size and description. The threehorns all stood together in their family units, with only Tricia staying apart with her group of friends. Charger's father, Servine, stood noticeably apart from the others. Despite not being among the most dominant of his herd, he was being permitted to stand in the front of the group. A tremendous show of respect.
Logos and Chronos had settled in several longneck-lengths from the threehorns, with the swimmers taking their places closely behind them. In an obvious show of support for the two parents, Ura and her latest clutch of children sat immediately beside them, with several of her adult children lounging to the side of the family. Even though half of Ducky's siblings had already sought out new locations to call home, the massive population of swimmers was still a tremendous thing to behold.
Elsewhere, the longnecks were likewise gathering. Bron and Uta stood towards the front, with Somni standing beside them. Ali being noticeably absent in order to watch over her nest. A flyer lightly landed on Somni's back and, upon receiving a nod from the sauropod, crushed a red treesweet in order to leave a small red stain on his back. A sign that Somni would vote on behalf of his absent mate.
"Tricia, you should probably go with your parents. The same goes to all of you children," Shorty noted, "I am sure that all of you can talk and play after this is over with."
Tricia couldn't help herself, "Hopefully they won't gab all day, and just get this over with!"
Shorty chuckled as he walked into the clearing. It was obvious that he didn't disagree with her sentiments.
"Well, I guess that he is right," Axiom spoke with a tired voice, "I will see all of you later."
Malka looked at her with concern, "Are you alright?"
The rainbowface simply shook her head, "Are you?"
Tricia looked down, "I guess none of us are..." she sighed heavily, "let's meet up after the adults are done, okay?"
Flip then flew down and joined in the collective embrace as the remainder of the gang nonverbally said their goodbyes. In moments Tricia found herself beside her father as Petrie flew into the center of the clearing. As was the custom in such circumstance, he was accompanied by six of the largest flyers as if he were a prisoner of the valley.
Because in a way, he was.
-----
Topps cleared his throat as he turned to address the valley, "Petrie has flown a great way in order to bring news to the valley."
There were muttering amongst the crowd as he said these words. With the newer residents being much less open to this development than the older ones. Nonetheless, there were no sounds of protest or discontent.
"The flyers have deemed this news to be important so I have called this meeting," he then turned towards the sharptooth flyer, "It has been a long time, Petrie." he then nodded politely, as Petrie did the same.
"It has Mr. Threehorn," Petrie affirmed, "Me pleased that valley look well."
Topps spoke gruffly, "It goes better for some than others. No doubt you have heard, we lost several children many days ago."
Petrie sighed as he looked up at the rest of the assembled crowd. He could see the heavily scared threehorn that must have been Charger's father. He could see Bron and the visible melancholy on Uta's face. He could see Tricia's unease and obvious annoyance.
He now knew quite well how his words would affect the valley. They all suspected that their children were dead from the attack, just as much as the leaf-eater children had presumed that their parents had died. Nonetheless, no matter how difficult the truth, it could only be free once it was told. With that in mind he opened his beak.
"Me come to valley to give very important news. You not lose as much as you think."
Petrie could feel the eyes of the entire valley upon him at these words. Bron and Uta were broken free of their melancholy as Petrie's words registered in their mind. Their children, assembled beside their parents, were likewise alerted by the flyer's words. Tricia's eyes opened widely at the possibly implication of Petrie's introduction, whereas Charger's father looked ready to charge the clearing.
"Pack find three leaf-eater younglings in clearing. Your children be alive."
-----
Elsewhere in the Mysterious Beyond:
"Daddy, when are we going to find more food? I am starving!"
The massive green tyrannosaurus looked down at his young daughter. Food had been scarce in the last several days. It almost made him wish that she had stayed in the plentiful field where they had killed the threehorn. However, his mate was insistent on returning to a land that they had thrived in before. This meant a detour through the territory of some old acquaintances.
"We will be at Hanging Rock before long, Tyrania," her mother growled with less impatience than she actually felt, "it is just ahead, though we can't see it in this darkness. Once we are there then we can have a proper hunt."
Tyrania sighed at her mother's words, but said nothing else in response.
"Are you sure, dear?" The male inquired, "We can go a few more days without a meal, but it is hard on the younglings."
The female growled softly, "We will survive and thrive, dear! Don't you worry! After all, we can get some help in finding suitable prey from our helpers."
The father snorted, "I think you put too much confidence in the fastrunners."
"Fastrunners have more speed that sense, dear, but they are good at finding things. I am sure that they will continue to fulfill the pact that we made so long ago." the mother retorted.
The male snorted as he rolled his eyes, "I hope that you are right. Their daughter certainly turned out to be worthy of our trust."
The female nodded, "Indeed. I hope that the rest of the family is as worthy as she was," she paused for several moments as she squinted at the darkness ahead of her, "I think that we are close enough, dear."
This caused the male to squint into the darkness as well. Despite the near pitch black conditions, the light of the Night Circle was enough to make the figure of Hanging Rock to appear in the distance. They had finally arrived. With a deep breath he called into the night at the unsuspecting fastrunners.
"Hear me, Detras and Pearl! Remember the pact that was made in Cold Times past! Dein and Terri have returned!"
-
NIGHTS 3, 4, and 5: DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOVE
Chapter 13: A Leap of Faith
Petrie stood in silence as the meeting descended into complete pandemonium. The silence that had preceded Petrie's announcement was replaced by the uproar of confused and agitated voices. The flyer's news had been welcome news to all who had heard it, but it had also been utterly unexpected. Topps began to walk in front of the agitated meeting in an apparent attempt to call them back to order, but another voice beat him to that task.
"Everyone, be silent!"
Bron's booming voice shook the ground as the longneck rose and slammed the ground with his front feet. The resulting percussion caused the adults to fall silent immediately. It was only then that Petrie noticed Servine's advancing form.
"My son is alive?!"
Petrie took on an expressionless face upon hearing the father's tone. The sound of despair being invaded by hope was obvious for anyone to hear. It was enough for Petrie to contemplate what he would feel if any of his children were ever to be lost. How would he and his mate face such a horrible prospect? It had been one thing to imagine such horrible scenarios as a youngling, but to imagine them as a parent was another thing all together. His heart broke for the agitated threehorn.
Out of the corner of his eye, Petrie could see the three younglings perched beside their grandmother as they looked towards their father with a look of concern. Petrie had to will himself in order to complete the task that lay before him. They be safe, Spotter. Now me need to let Servine know his son safe.
"Yes, your son safe. Seeker's son, Biter, find them." Petrie nodded slightly as the elder threehorn closed his eyes in relief. The shuddering of the male's sides confirmed that he was struggling to hide his emotion from the other threehorns. Even in a time of grief or happiness appearances had to be maintained.
But then Petrie frowned. Should me tell him about Charger's injuries? As Petrie considered this an old saying from Cera's leaf-eater days popped into his mind. Something that she had said when Ducky attempted to hide information from her.
Spike bowed his head in shame at his mistake. His pile of tree sweets had been right next to Cera's and he had lost track of what he was doing until finally both piles disappeared into the bottomless pit that was his stomach. The gang had tried their best to distract the little threehorn, but she had been determined to eat her tree sweets first before they played any games. As a result, when she finally arrived at where the tree sweets were arranged, she was in for an unpleasant surprise.
Cera looked at the group with a betrayed look, "Why didn't you tell me about this?"
Ducky looked at the agitated threehorn with a confused expression, "We did not want you to be sad. Oh, no, no, no."
"We thought we tell you later," Petrie added, "We get more tree sweets to replace ones that Spike ate."
Spike bellowed an apologetic sound as he looked away. He had never intended to hurt anyone's feelings.
Littlefoot looked at the threehorn with concern, as if he expected her to explode at any moment. However the next words out of her mouth confused them all.
"My daddy always says that a rough truth is better than a weak lie."
Littlefoot tilted his head in confusion, "Cera?"
Cera groaned, "What it means, flathead, is that it is better to face the truth than to ignore it."
This caused her four friends to shift uncomfortably as they realized that their attempt to remedy the situation has in fact made it worse.
"Now," Cera smiled at them with an almost predatory smile, "We can play a new game. I call it 'Find New Tree Sweets or Cera Rams You', doesn't it sound fun?"
As he remembered Cera's words, Petrie sighed. He would give the threehorn the full truth before he could find out in person.
"But Charger be injured pretty bad," Petrie's heart nearly broke when he saw the look that the threehorn gave him, "He not have infection anymore, but he get hurt running from sharpteeth... he have scars and lose eye." Petrie bowed his head out of respect, "Me sorry to tell you that."
Servine closed his eyes for a moment as if to process all of that information. Petrie was expecting an emotional outburst or perhaps an angry response from the threehorn, but what he got instead surprised him.
"It is what it is, flyer. The important thing is that my son lives." His gravelly voice echoed across the clearing as Petrie could only look on. The threehorn seemed to collect himself emotionally for a moment before he concluded his words to the flyer, "His mother died protecting others and I shed blood to do the same. I would expect no less courage from my brave son."
The threehorn, obviously choked up at this information, returned to his place at the front of the threehorn herd. No other member of the herd formally greeted him or offered comfort as that would imply weakness. Instead, they increased their distance around him, but made an almost protective circle. Even when their loved ones were in a moment of weakness, the threehorns could only respond with an outward show of strength.
"What about Sauria?!"
"Datum! What about our son?!"
Petrie smiled at the advancing longnecks and the rainbowfaces which almost seemed to be running circles around him. "They be fine. In fact, it be Datum's speaking sharptooth that saved them all."
Chronos gave an audible sigh of relief, as Logos began to cry happily beside him. Axiom, on the other hand, could be seen running towards several other children who had broken away from their parents.
Petrie smiled. Happy swimmer... happy flyer... happy rainbowface... and Tricia... He knew at that moment that he was seeing the new 'gang' that had formed in the valley. Despite its differing composition Petrie could feel the same kind of comradery radiating off of them that he felt with his pack. It seemed that Tricia and the others were maintaining the legacy of the Gang of Seven.
As the four friends celebrated the welcome news with uncontrollable excitement, Topps made himself known by clearing his throat. Petrie could see a momentary odd look from the threehorn before his face took on a more neutral expression.
"This is very welcome news, but now the question is: how do we bring them home?"
Petrie frowned. That was the question, wasn't it?
"Pack have idea... if you want to hear it."
-----
Cera watched the threehorn from the bushes. His scars stood out under the noon sun as his friends ate some distance away. Their absence clearly indicated to the fastbiter what was going on.
They know when to give a threehorn some space.
Cera frowned at this, but remained silent from her vantage point. She had sent her children with Taunt for a while with the pretext of them needing another hunting lesson from their father. Her children, being quite enthusiastic about the idea of their father helping them find ground fuzzies, had erupted with approval almost immediately. Taunt's expression towards her had clearly communicated 'I will get you for this!' but his demeanor indicated that he actually didn't mind watching the kids for a while.
Besides, she knew that Taunt would not understand what she had to do here.
A small flyer, one of the feathered kinds, landed on Charger's back as the threehorn shuddered at the sudden intrusion. This only deterred the flyer for a moment as it landed along with several others. As they began to peck at the threehorn's back his actions became more indignant as he rose to his back legs and bucked several times. It was only then that the flyers flew away for good.
I guess he never heard of how useful buzzer-eater flyers can be, Cera observed.
His rebellion against the flyers seemed to have irritated Charger as he paced anxiously, shaking his head in an annoyed way. This agitated behavior soon intensified as an audible groan left his lips. This was followed by rather violent scratching at his shoulder, which caused a bit of blood to fall from one of the scars. Finally, he again laid down on his belly and proceeded to stare blankly at the grass. The smell of melancholy radiated from him.
"Those flyers can help you, you know?"
The threehorn rose in surprise as Cera broke her silence and appeared from the bushes.
"They eat blood-suckers, and you have a lot of those on your back."
The threehorn's expression shifted in a few seconds from one of surprise to one of annoyance. However, by the time the threehorn finally responded, it had shifted to one of faux indifference. An expression that Cera had often seen and used during her threehorn days.
"I survived a sharptooth; I don't think that a few blood-suckers are going to kill me."
Cera kept her face neutral despite the urge to smile at Charger's bravado. His reaction brought back many memories.
"Maybe so, but I think your friends would not be pleased if you got an infection again," she gestured at Charger's reopened scar, "based upon what your longneck friend said it was a very close thing."
Charger growled in annoyance, "Her name is Sauria, you damn fastbiter! She is your leader's sister; shouldn't you know her name?"
Cera now allowed herself a smile. She had just the opening that she wanted.
"Ah... so the prideful threehorn is willing to defend a flathead?"
Charger looked surprised for a moment but quickly tried to avoid being outmaneuvered in the conversation.
"Uh... well she helped me out... so it is the least that I can do..."
Cera restrained the size of her smile to avoid freaking out the threehorn, which caused her tail to rise in an equivalent gesture of levity.
"Now, Charger, you and I both know that isn't true. You defended Sauria because you care about her. Just like how you also care for Datum," his frown did not dissuade her from continuing, "there is no harm in admitting that, Charger."
Charger began to walk away in a dismissive fashion, "Phtt.. why do you even care, fastbiter?"
Cera quickly and silently sprinted and surprised Charger by suddenly appearing in front of him, "I care, Mr. Cheerful, because you remind me of a certain someone I used to know long ago. And I don't want you to make the same mistakes that she did."
Charger stared down the fastbiter for several moments, with his smell of annoyance rising to high levels. However, within several moments a rather calm response came from him.
"What mistakes did you make, Cera?"
It was Cera's turn to be surprised. He picked up on my meaning quite fast. This is not a dumb one! The fastbiter hid her reaction, however, and quickly responded to the threehorn's query.
"Too many to count, though I only wanted to talk to you about one."
Upon saying this Cera laid down upon her haunches and turned towards the rainbowface and longneck in the background. The longneck was devouring the lower offerings of a tree while Datum seemed to be examining the tree's bark with all of the careful attention that Cera would expect from Chronos or Logos.
"He is always like that," Charger sighed in a good-natured way, "we once were playing the pinecone game and he demanded that we let him have the pinecone afterwards."
Cera tilted her heard as an invitation for the threehorn to continue his explanation.
"We had no idea what he was doing. He said something about learning how trees made tree younglings. Some crazy rainbow-ass nonsense."
Cera laughed out loud upon hearing the insult 'rainbow-ass', which caused the threehorn to look at her oddly. However, he soon chuckled as well despite his obvious misgivings towards the fastbiter who had interrupted his alone time.
"That was something that Finder told us about as well. Back when he was a spiketail he focused on little else but green food and his friends. If he could have told us back then that the hard parts of tree sweets made more tree sweet trees then we would have been saving those up.."
Charger looked surprised, "Datum was right about the trees?!"
Cera laughed, "Yes, young one, your friend wasn't pulling your tail on that one."
Charger looked towards Datum in the distance with a shake of the head, "You can never tell with Mr. Rainbow-ass. He will tell you some crazy stuff just to pull your tail, but then he will talk about crazy stuff that is actually true." He sighed at that admission as he laid down again, "I wish that I knew as much crap as he did."
Cera looked intrigued at the prospect of the threehorn admitting to a stranger that another dinosaur had an advantage over him, but merely allowed herself to ask a less incendiary question, "Have you ever asked him to teach you?"
Charger merely shook his head.
Cera could smell a confusing mix of scents from the threehorn. She was obviously hitting at something here so she decided to give the conversation a nudge.
"You could always ask him for a trade."
Charger's head rose at that suggestion, "Huh?"
"You could teach Datum some things about threehorns," upon seeing Charger begin to shake his head, she continued, "not the sacred stuff, but the other stuff. The stuff he would learn as an adult being around them anyway. In exchange you could ask him to teach you about other things... like healing plants, for example."
Charger seemed to consider this for a moment, but he remained silent.
"I know that it would be improper to submit to a rainbowface but that's the great thing about friends: asking them for help is not a sign of weakness."
Charger looked suspicious at this, "I am sure my dad would disagree."
Cera shrugged, "Maybe so, but I doubt that he has given you any lessons about how herds battle sharpteeth yet, has he?"
Charger could only shake his head at that. He obviously had no idea where Cera was going with her line of conversation.
"It is only when we shed our blood that we know who are true friends are. It is only in a time of weakness that we know where our allies lie. A friend will not challenge a fallen comrade."
Charger's eyes went wide, "Is... is that some kind of threehorn wisdom?"
Cera smiled and nodded, "Indeed it is. My daddy told me that after he told me about what happened to my mother and sisters. After he lost them he nearly fell into despair but his deputies did not take the opportunity to challenge him for the leadership. They had seen what he was willing to sacrifice for the herd and put their own personal ambition aside."
She gestured towards the two leaf-eaters that lay ahead of them as she remembered her father's words on that day, "Your friends are not threehorns, Charger, so they do not understand your ways. My friends never did back in our leaf-eater days either. However, they don't need to. All that they need to know is that although you may not always be able to show it you trust them with everything," she smiled down at him, "and before you say it, yes I am sure that they already know. But they nearly lost you, Charger. In the event that fate takes you or one of them to the Great Beyond one day, you should make sure that there are no unsaid words between you. Life is too short for regrets." Thoughts of Skytail echoed in her mind as she concluded her words. That was a lesson that she did not truly learn until she was a sharptooth.
Charger looked towards the Bright Circle as silence descended upon the two dinosaurs. It was several minutes before he spoke again.
"I suppose you are right, Cera. I guess if all sharpteeth knew the threehorn lessons then they would be much better off."
Cera rolled her eyes at Charger's praise of his own kind, but she was pleased with his acceptance nonetheless. However, he suddenly changed in demeanor as a sad smile appeared on his face.
"Though I suppose they won't do me much good. A half-blind threehorn would be a burden on the herd."
Cera wanted to challenge Charger's words, but she knew that they carried some truth in them. Threehorn herds were based upon the strength and reputation of the herd members. A half-blinded fighter could be given an honored position due to his deeds prior to the injury, but a child on the other hand...
"But a threehorn that knows about healing plants wouldn't be a burden!"
Cera jumped into the air as the rainbowface appeared right behind them. When she again touched the ground she could see that the rainbowface had positioned himself next to his threehorn friend.
"Do you think so?" Charger inquired hopefully, "A threehorn healer isn't exactly a common thing..."
Datum scoffed, "Fighters have to be healed somehow or they will die, right? If one good fighter is useful to the herd then how useful would the healer be that saved ten fighters? Trust the words of this 'rainbow-ass', there is hope for you yet!"
"Yeah!" Sauria's higher-pitched voice suddenly made itself known, "So as soon as you drop the 'high and mighty threehorn act' like Cera suggested then we can get started!"
Cera tried but failed to suppress her laughter as Charger turned towards the fastbiter with a helpless look. They had obviously listened in on a good portion of the 'private' conversation between the threehorn and former threehorn. In response she could only nod in a good-natured way as she began to walk away.
"I said that your friends could be trusted, Charger, I never said that they weren't devious," an audible protest from Sauria and 'thank you' from Datum could be heard as Charger rolled his eyes, "We will let you kids know when Spotter comes back."
As Cera walked away the awkward hushed tones of the threehorn could be heard in-between the supportive words of the two friends. It seemed that some encouragement from a former threehorn was just what Charger had needed in order to put aside the past and look towards the future. It would be a changed future, but then again fate often had a way of changing destinies. She and her friends could attest to that more than most.
Before she turned to track down her mate and children, she looked back in the direction of the bones of Charger's mother. The glorious rays of the Bright Circle greeted her gaze.
You're welcome.
-----
"This is an amazing place, Daddy. You grew up here?"
Petrie smiled upon hearing his son's words. He and his three children were perched on one of the ridges overlooking the valley as they waited for the adults to finalize their decisions. The general idea of the pack and some of the valley residents meeting halfway was agreed upon without much hassle, but the details were another story.
"Yes, son, me and friends grow up here. It good place for leaf-eaters; much better than where me and others grow up in Mysterious Beyond." He shuddered at the memories of his friends' initial journey to the valley. It had been that great struggle that had forged their friendship.
"And much better than where I was during my exile."
Petrie looked over at Pterano, who was perched along with the children. The presence of Pterano was not an odd occurrence as the old flyer would fly over and exchange news several times during each cycle of the Night Circle, but his presence in this location was certainly a rarity.
"Oh, the canyon not that bad," Petrie retorted, "You still within screeching distance of valley."
Pterano nodded, "Yes, but I was referring to where I was before the terms of my exile were changed. Before you and the others had your little change."
Petrie hesitated as he considered this and then nodded. His uncle had told him about that before. It must have been horrible to be left alone in the Mysterious Beyond with only your remorseful thoughts to keep you company.
"But your exile ends soon, doesn't it, Pterano?"
Pterano smiled at Lift's question, "Yes, little one. Topps says that I have five days to go, but they made an exception for this meeting."
Valaria rolled her eyes, "Why doesn't the threehorn just let you in? Haven't you proven yourself?"
Pterano paused for a moment as he interpreted the young flyer's words. Despite having learned the language during his journeys to visit the pack, he was still a bit rusty.
"Mr. Threehorn is nothing but dedicated, young one." Petrie smiled at that as Pterano paused to look down at the adults debating below. A rather impassioned discussion seemed to be taking place between some of the longnecks. Finally, however, Pterano finished his thought, "Besides punishments mean little unless they are carried out."
Valaria seemed to be satisfied by that answer. A pack's entire routine was regulated by expectations of discipline and order. Even the little flyers understood the necessity of such things.
"You can't be serious, Bron! I nearly lost you once; you can't put me and the kids through that again!"
Petrie frowned as he observed the longnecks below. Bron was asserting his case to go with the departing dinosaurs with a rather unhappy mate and worried children.
"I understand how you feel, dear, but one of us needs to go for Sauria... and you need to be here for the kids."
Uta was adamant, "We both need to be here for the kids."
Bron sighed and gave her a brave smile, "All the more reason for me to make sure I get Sauria back safely. Don't worry, dear. I will be back in a few days and the entire family will be united again."
Elsewhere, the rainbowfaces could also be heard making arrangements.
"Axiom, we will need to go just in case they need healers. You be a good girl and stay with Mrs. Swimmer."
The little rainbowface put her hands at her sides as she scowled at her mother, "I am a big girl, mom. I can handle the Mysterious Beyond."
Chronos rolled his eyes, "That maybe so, dear, but you shouldn't have to. We will feel a lot better knowing that at least one of our children is safe while we are gone."
The little rainbowface pouted, but said nothing more.
"This is a trying time for all of them."
Pterano's words brought Petrie back from his observations. He could only nod in response.
"Me wonder if pack realize how hard this be. Me had no idea until me see it."
Pterano looked at his nephew with a curious expression before shaking his head slightly, "You really have changed so much, Spotter." Pterano was careful to use his sharptooth name when addressing him in his language, "Of course we leaf-eaters are especially concerned. The number of sharpteeth in the surroundings of the valley have increased over the years."
Petrie shrugged, "More food means more eaters."
Pterano snorted and shook his head, "That may be true, nephew, but it looks very different when you are not one of the eaters."
As Petrie considered his uncle's words, the discussions below could still be heard.
"You will need to stay here, Tricia."
The pink threehorn was not pleased with Tria's command, but her edict was further confirmed by Topps.
"You can see your friends when we bring them back. There is no need to have you children go into danger."
Tricia growled at this, "But you will be going into danger, Daddy!" As the elder threehorn looked ready to retort she continued, "Not only are they my friends, but Cera will be there. Did you not think that I would like to see her again?"
This caught the threehorns off guard. Topps could only look at his mate with the same dumbfounded expression that she was using to greet him. The entire situation just got even more complicated.
Petrie sighed as Bron, Topps, Servine, and several other threehorns gathered into a circle. They were joined by a few flyers. It seemed that the valley had selected their heroes for this task. Several upset mates and unhappy children observed the scene. Chief among them were Tricia's gang of friends.
"Me hope they not do something stupid," Petrie muttered to himself before turning towards his uncle and the children, "Let's go talk to Mr. Threehorn and see when they plan to leave. Then we go back to pack."
As Petrie flew down into the clearing he could feel an unpleasant feeling in his stomach. He had no doubt of the abilities of his friends or the valley, but were they equal to the task that they now faced?
For the first time in a long while he feared for the future.
-----
That evening, outside of Hanging Rock:
Orchid stared at the gorge with an intense glare.
This feels so wrong...
"We have to do this, brother. Unless you plan on breaking our family's oath."
Orchid turned to look at his sister. With her pinkish-red crest of feathers and soft pink skin she almost looked like a copy of Ruby right before her change. Her face was fixed with an annoyed expression, while her hands were fixed at her hips. The overall gesture would have been much more effective if it wasn't for the fact that he was her brother.
"Oh, come on, sis! I have seen you give me better glares than that," He mocked.
This earned him a face-full of dust as Arial kicked the ground in a frustrated manner.
"I don't enjoy this either, brother, but it is our duty. Even if we were the sort of fastrunners to break a promise I know that neither of us would want to risk mom or dad. We are young and fast, but they are not as fast anymore."
Orchid wiped the dust from his eyes and nodded in agreement despite his annoyance at his sister, "Yeah... but that doesn't mean that I can't be angry about the damn situation!"
Arial nodded grimly, "I think we are in agreement on that, brother."
As the two walked further into the gorge, they descended into silence. The only thing they had going for them was a superior ability to track smaller prey and better knowledge of the area. It would be up to the tyrannosauruses to make the kill...
"Sis? Aren't these domehead tracks?"
Arial leaned towards the ground as she examined the small indentations carefully. They were obviously made by a juvenile over a day ago, but they were certainly domehead tracks. Her face went from annoyance to grim acceptance. She had never been responsible for the death of another dinosaur until today, but now she knew that her innocence was over.
"Orchid, go tell mom and dad what we have found... I need to tell Dein and Terri that we found them a meal."
-----
The pack's territory:
"Alright, everyone! We have all heard what Spotter had to say. Tomorrow we go to Hanging Rock and send you kids back home where you belong."
Murmurs of agreement echoed amongst the pack as they began to stretch in preparation for sleep. Petrie's report had been brief and to the point, but the questions that he had received had far exceeded him in verbosity. All of his packmates wanted to know about the whereabouts of their families in the valley. It was one thing to hear reports from a distance from Pterano, but it was quite another to hear the descriptions come from Petrie. It was these little moments that continued to echo in Ducky's mind.
"How is Shorty doing, Spotter?" Littlefoot asked curiously, "Pterano said that he had been growing..."
The flyer laughed at his friend's question. It seemed that with Littlefoot reaching his maximum size as a fastbiter he was becoming a bit more self-conscious about his size relative to his former kind.
"Shorty huge, Seeker! He be about as big as Doc was!"
Littlefoot's mouth went agape as he considered this information. The last time that he had seen his brother was after the battle in the valley. It was hard to believe that Shorty was already a giant by longneck standards.
"What about mommy?" Ducky asked, "...and what about new brothers and sisters?"
Petrie smiled, "They be fine. Your momma seem to have hand full with kids."
"With Malka around how am I not surprised?" Sauria rolled her eyes. Upon seeing Ducky's confused gaze Sauria continued, "She has to be quick witted to put up with Tricia and Flip."
Petrie laughed, "Yeah, me meet him. He and Tricia argue a lot."
Cera puffed up her chest a bit as some of her kids tried to imitate her arrogant pose, "That sounds like my sister. Somebody has to keep the flyers in line."
Laughter echoed from several of the other fastbiters as Petrie and his kids could only roll their eyes. It seemed that some things never changed.
"Do we have to go to bed now, Mommy? I am not tired."
Ducky looked down at her son, Fisher. His eyes were innocent, but despite his words the elder fastbiter could see some fatigue in them. Perhaps she could help that along so the kids could have a good night's sleep before their journey?
Ducky rose and cleared her throat, which caused the others to turn towards her direction. Everyone was still here except for Littlefoot, Chomper, and Thud's pack who had begun to take a tour of the territory and the areas to defend. It was a rare thing for another pack to be called upon to defend a pack's territory in its absence, and everyone wanted to be as prepared as possible.
"Fisher here tells me that some of you aren't sleepy."
A chorus of agreeing voices came from the children, both sharptooth and leaf-eater.
"Yeah!" One of Cera's children called out.
"I can stay up a bit longer," Charger grunted.
"It's barely dark out!" Biter affirmed, despite the fact that it was several hours after nightfall.
Ducky smiled as she gestured towards the clearing and gave her mate a nudge in that direction. Within moments the other pack members were surrounding Ducky and a very confused Leap.
"What are we doing, dear?" he whispered in confusion.
"We are going to sing a story," she smiled, "and I think that we know just the perfect one to sing for this occasion."
Ducky rose as she took a deep breath, "You children have heard the stories of our leaf-eater days. You have heard the story of the Stone of Destiny. You have heard about how we came to our lands. But there is one story that you have not yet heard... how all of you children came to be in the first place."
Taunt interrupted, "Aren't they all a bit young to learn about the flyers and the buzzers?"
A soft yelp could be heard as Cera nipped at her mate's tail. Ducky rolled her eyes, she was obviously not going to focus on those parts of the story.
"Speaking of which, I think Taunt would be a good place to start the story," Leap mentioned with some amusement, "After all, if it wasn't for his pranks we might have not come together."
Ducky smiled, "Yep, yep, yep! I think that is a good idea, dear."
Spike coughed, which caused Ducky to look towards her brother, "Not to be rude, sis, but it will take us quite a while to tell the children about how all of them came to be. Those are too many songs for one night."
Ducky smiled at her brother's comment, "Very true, Finder, but luckily for us we have several days of travelling ahead of us."
Ruby nodded, "Several days of travel will give us several days to sing. Now the only question is: which one of you will start this song, so that the singing can start?"
Taking Ruby's question as an invitation to begin Leap rose to his feet and gave a nod to Ducky, which was reciprocated. He would start off this song and Ducky could sing along.
"Alright, children, let us tell you about how Haven and I became companions."
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/15/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/15/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 14: Leaping mad
A few years ago:
"You can try all that you want, sister, but you will never catch as many as me!"
Leap's arrogant boast echoed across the field as Taunt absentmindedly picked at the remnants of last night's hunt. However, the words of his fellow packmate caught his notice. This could get interesting...
"Oh yeah?" Swift's taunting words soon responded to her brother's challenge, "I seem to remember that I caught more ground fuzzies than you yesterday..." Taunt could almost hear the smile in her voice, "are you trying to redeem yourself, brother?"
Taunt leapt from his food and edged towards the tall grass. Carefully peeking above the vegetation, he took stock of the scene. Swift and Leap were face to face, while Ducky and Spike could be seen watching the sibling rivalry play out in front of them. When Spike laid a ground fuzzy in-between him and his sister and gestured towards the siblings Taunt realized that he was making a bet with Ducky on the outcome of the impending competition. For some reason this amused Taunt even more.
"It is sad, it is, it is. They forgot that I beat them both."
Taunt bit down on his hand to avoid laughing out loud at Ducky's words to Spike. It was obvious from her expression that she had not intended to say that loud enough for everyone to hear. Her brother, for his part, attempted to hide his amusement with little success. Now the competition had turned into a three-way contest.
"Well then..."
All four of the fastbiters turned towards Littlefoot's approaching form. His face was clearly amused as he made no attempt to hide his emotions. Like Taunt, he appeared to be eager to see the results of this friendly contest.
"Perhaps the three of you can prove who is the best? It was getting a bit boring around here..." He looked up at the Bright Circle and used his hand to measure its distance from the horizon. He nodded after this and turned towards the trio, "All of you have until the Bright Circle touches the ground. Then we'll count up your ground fuzzies and see who is best... though... I think that there should be something more at stake in this competition."
Taunt smiled at this. Littlefoot was toying with his packmates. He could certainly relate to that.
Leap sighed with annoyance upon seeing what his boast had gotten him into, "What would this 'stake' be, Seeker?"
Littlefoot smiled, "Oh... I don't know... maybe the winner gets all of the ground fuzzies..."
"What!?" Ducky and Leap both exclaimed in exasperation, which only made Littlefoot's smile wider. However, Swift had quite a different reaction.
"Well, dear brother, if you know that you will win then you have nothing to fear, hmmm?"
Leap groaned as he looked towards his sister. Meanwhile, by the tall grass, Taunt no longer tried to hide his amusement but instead laughed openly. Oh this was going to be good...
"My sister is going to beat you all, so I hope that you all aren't hungry!"
"Haven couldn't beat me if her life depended on it!"
"I will teach you all, yep, yep, yep!"
"Alright, enough!"
Littlefoot's words boomed from the clearing and the three competitors quickly quieted down.
"You can all settle this during the hunt. Save the taunting until then," he smiled broadly, "good luck!"
Taunt watched as the three fastbiters walked close to one another and exchanged a few words that Taunt couldn't discern from his distance. He could only assume that they were underhanded wishes of good luck considering the circumstances. He was so enamored in this sudden development that he didn't notice that he had an audience of his own.
"Are you enjoying the show?"
Taunt leapt in surprise, but quickly calmed down when he realized the source of those words, "Damn it, Dad!"
Thud smiled, "I think that pack life is turning you soft, son. If I were a two-footer then you would be a meal right now."
Taunt scoffed, "If you were a two-footer then I would have heard you."
"...and you would probably have learned better manners," Taunt nearly jumped again as Cera appeared to his side, "Dein and Terri seemed to be quite polite compared to you."
Taunt glared at her, "You do realize that they did try to eat me once, right?"
Cera smiled, "You see? They aren't all that bad."
Bypassing the chance to help his son, Thud decided to instead defend his honor, "Are you implying that I did not teach my son good manners, Stern Claw?" His smile confirmed that he was speaking in jest.
Cera laughed, "I am saying that he must have ignored those lessons."
Thud rolled his eyes, "You have no idea..."
Taunt looked at his two tormentors with great annoyance, "Yes, yes, very funny... Since you all apparently know me so well how about you tell me what I am going to do next?"
Both Thud and Cera looked at Taunt with amused expressions. It was Cera who decided to speak first, however.
"Knowing you, Leap's little competition will not be enough to keep you amused. So I take it that you are going to mess with them in some way?"
Taunt looked dumbstruck at his friend's answer. It was as if she had read his mind. Was he that transparent?
"Yes, you are that easy to read," Cera confirmed with an amused smile.
Taunt stepped back and cleared any emotion from his face. He didn't know what was creepier: the fact that Cera now knew him so well as to guess what he was thinking, or the fact that he hadn't noticed this change until it had gotten to this point. Had it been any other dinosaur then he would be distraught by this development, but in the case of her...
"Ah, the guessing-your-thoughts stage... that brings back memories..." Thud noted, "You had better watch out, son, or you may soon enter the helping-her-build-a-nest stage."
Taunt groaned. He was not accustomed to losing in the battle of wits to this extent, "Dad..."
Upon seeing that his insinuation had attracted the glares of both Cera and Taunt, he relented with his hands raised in a placative gesture, "I am just saying..."
Taunt shook himself off at this brief respite, "Well then, if both of you are done reading my mind then I think I will be moving on to the fun part. I think that our three friends are due for a bit of mischief."
Cera tilted her head, "You never learn do you? What are you planning on doing to our friends?"
Taunt took a mock bow, "Who? Me?"
Cera continued to stare at him for several moments, but the orange fastbiter did not say anything further. She shook her head at this and decided to attempt to get in the last word.
"Alright, have it your way, Taunt. But just remember that when this come back to bite you in the tail... because it will... that I will enjoy that immensely."
Taunt smiled as he took a final look at his two companions, "We shall see, Stern Claw, but just remember that in order for fate to bite my tail that it will have to catch me first!"
The two fastbiters watched in amusement as the fastbiter sprinted towards whereabouts unknown. The only certainty was that wherever he went, mischief would follow. Thud's thoughts matched her own.
"One of these days he will learn a lesson in humility."
Cera snorted, "You are way too optimistic. I suppose that we might as well watch the action. Whatever Taunt does I want to be there when it happens."
Thud smiled inwardly as he followed his son's companion to the open clearing. She is so much like my boy...
-----
"You want Petrie to do what?"
Petrie eyed Taunt with a mix of incredulity and amusement from his perch. The fastbiter had pulled some interesting stunts in the past, many of which had amused Petrie, but now even the flyer thought that he was taking things a bit too far.
"It should be a simple enough thing to do," Taunt softly cooed, "just go to Leaps's nest and put some of Haven's scent there. Just like how you tricked me back when I was in Skytail's pack." The fastbiter looked up at the flyer with a toothy smile. With Taunt's orange and black coloration it almost looked like a fire was smiling back at him.
Despite the obvious potential for humor, however, Petrie had his misgivings.
"Leap and Haven already at one another's throats; if me do this then they really be at one another's throats!"
Taunt scoffed at Petrie's suggestion, "Oh, come on, Spotter! They are good friends and it wouldn't come to that. I am sure that it will just add to the rivalry... it should make things a bit more interesting around here."
Petrie rolled his eyes, "Only you would think that claiming new territory be boring. You nearly trampled by longneck herd! That not enough danger for you?"
Taunt glared a bit at Petrie for the insinuation, "I am just saying that Haven and Leap both could use a bit of competition in their lives. They are both so damn agreeable."
"Unlike others me know." Petrie deadpanned. However, the more that Petrie thought about Taunt's proposal the more that it appealed to the more adventurous part of him. He did not like the idea of deceiving his friends, but pranks had already been established as acceptable conduct in the pack. Besides, it not like me or Taunt can't admit things if it get out of control!
Taunt shifted around as he waited on the flyer's answer. Petrie noted that the fastbiter looked to be at a loss in the absence of Petrie's immediate agreement. Me in control here... maybe it time for me to play trick of my own?
"Okay, me do it."
Taunt looked up with surprise. "Really?"
Petrie held back the desire to laugh. Taunt obviously had expected him to request a higher price than a few ground fuzzies.
"Really. Me curious how this turn out. But you better have three really big ground fuzzies. It never good idea to cheat flyer."
Taunt nodded, "Sure thing! I will leave them by this tree, just make sure that..."
Petrie waved with his wing, "Don't worry about me! Me tell no one what me doing!"
Petrie took to the air as Taunt shouted a 'thanks' in the flyer's direction. For his part Petrie did not look back but rather let the warm thermals carry him aloft. Within moments he was speeding towards the sleeping areas of his packmates.
Me know how to annoy Haven and Leap, but how me annoy Taunt?
It was at this point that he saw the small form of Ducky down below. Her head was neck deep in the ground in an obvious attempt to catch a ground fuzzy, while a large pile sat next to her body. No one else could be seen in the distance.
Hmmm.... this give me idea!
-----
"Eight ground fuzzies! Let's see my brother beat that!"
Swift shook the dirt off of her as she rose from her latest hole. Despite several missed chances and nearly being bitten by one of her prey, she had managed to collect her greatest number of ground fuzzies that season. She was quite confident that there was no way either of her competitors would be victorious now.
She sniffed the furry corpses with satisfaction. Now the only task that was left was to drop all of the vermin at Littlefoot's feet by sundown. She looked towards the Bright Circle and cursed. It looked like she would have to somehow carry them in one trip.
"Need some help?"
Swift groaned upon hearing Taunt's voice. The last thing that she wanted to deal with was one of Taunt's tricks.
"I can carry these myself, thank you." She forced out as she grabbed five ground fuzzies with her arms and placed the three remaining specimens in her mouth. She was rewarded for her ingenuity by fumbling two of the prey and dropping them in front of the orange fastbiter. He simply folded his arms to his sides and smiled.
"It sure looks like you need some help."
Swift seethed, "What do you want, Taunt?!"
Taunt shrugged, "I am just trying to be helpful."
Swift rolled her eyes, "You would help one of us if we were in trouble, but I know you better than to trust you with a game. You are not going to get any of my ground fuzzies. I caught them fair and square!"
Taunt gaped in fake shock, "Oh, you slay me, Swift!"
Swift snorted, "I wish." Not wasting any time she grabbed the ground fuzzies once again with a more careful hold. She now found that she could carry her catch without much difficulty. Now for victory!
"What if I annoy your dear brother? Would that be worth a few ground fuzzies? After all, you are going to get their catches as well, and I can tell you that you have them beat by a wide margin."
Swift sighed without opening her mouth. Taunt was not taking 'no' for an answer this time. Reluctantly, she tilted her head to tell him to continue.
"Ah, good! Let me tell you what I have planned for our two friends..."
-----
A short time later:
Ducky growled in annoyance. Her pile of four ground fuzzies stood in front of her like a silent condemnation. She knew that this would not be enough to defeat Swift if she had any luck at all.
This is what I get for being a big mouth. Yep... yep... yep...
Without any preamble she grabbed a ground fuzzy in each hand and placed the other two in her mouth. She knew that victory was but a remote possibility, but even that possibility would evaporate if she didn't return her catch to the clearing in time. She quickened her pace as the Bright Circle turned a shade of red as it approached the horizon.
"Me promise not to tell anyone what me do, but me tell you one thing... don't get mad at Leap, he not deserve it."
"What are you talking about, Spotter?"
"You smart. You figure it out. Just make sure to find time to smell the sweet bubbles."
Despite her misgivings Petrie's words continued to echo in her mind. What exactly had he meant by his cryptic message? She could deduce that Petrie had been called upon to do something that he promised not to divulge to others, but the little clue that he had given was not enough for Ducky to make sense of the situation.
Well, he told me he was doing something but he did not tell me what he was doing... this must mean that he only promised not to tell anyone what he was doing... but that didn't mean that he promised that he wouldn't tell others that he was doing something...
She could see the clearing approach as the two ground fuzzies in her hands suddenly felt like massive weights. It was as if she was being weighted down by her failure. Despite this, she continued to ponder her situation. It wasn't like her morose thoughts would change the near certain outcome.
Spotter is always good with his words... Ducky chuckled at the irony of Petrie being the pack's diplomat of sorts. But why would he want to tell me about whatever plan he is attempting?
She shook her head as the voices of the others could be heard in the clearing. Swallowing hard, she looked up and greeted her packmates with a nod.
"Ah, here is Haven! How many did you manage to catch?"
Ducky looked behind Littlefoot and closed her eyes when she noticed the two piles. A triumphant Swift stood beside a pile of eight ground fuzzies, whereas a noticeably irate Leap stood by a pile of six. Her face flushed with embarrassment. With a reluctant sigh, she dropped her catch at Littlefoot's feet.
Silence enveloped the pack for several moments as the four mauled fuzzballs rolled to the pack leader's feet. For his part, Littlefoot merely picked them up and put them in their own pile. Neither Swift or Leap made a comment on Ducky's poor showing. They knew that losing this badly was a punishment in itself.
Looking down, Ducky swallowed hard and braced herself for what was coming. However, what Swift did next surprised her.
"Good try, Haven."
Ducky looked up warily at her packmate has she offered the best forced smile that she could. Though Ducky appreciated the kind words, she knew that Swift had made her point on this day.
"Congratulations, Swift," Ducky softly offered, "I hope that you enjoy your meal."
Leap sighed as well as he knocked his pile of ground fuzzies towards his sister.
"Likewise, sis... you win this time," he offered a bit less graciously.
Swift smiled at the capitulation of her two rivals, though her conduct indicated more than a bit of subterfuge. Normally the winner of such a competition would be boasting about it for days to come. However, Swift was uncharacteristically gracious.
"Thank you both for getting me dinner!" She exclaimed with a little mirth, as she grabbed one of the ground fuzzies and began to chew it slowly. Her subdued reaction was enough for Ducky to take notice.
Something isn't right here...
As Ducky looked over at the others, she noted that both Taunt and Swift were eyeing her oddly. No... not just her.
Her and Leap... Petrie's words echoed in her head again...
"Me promise not to tell anyone what me do, but me tell you one thing... don't get mad at Leap, he not deserve it."
"You smart. You figure it out. Just make sure to find time to smell the sweet bubbles."
Ducky frowned slightly. She knew that those two were up to something.
"Well, that was a nice try from all of you," Littlefoot's words interrupted the awkward silence, "perhaps Stern Claw and I should try this tomorrow? She has been a bit boastful lately..."
Cera's laugh echoed across the clearing, "Only if you want to be shamed, Seeker!"
Littlefoot took a mock bow as he gestured towards himself, "It is nice to know that you care about my dignity, Stern Claw. Maybe we should also have the one who is not capable of shame join us tomorrow?"
Ducky looked over in Taunt's direction as Thud gave his son an encouraging push into the clearing.
"Ow! Damn, you all could have asked, you know?" His eyes drifted over to Leap and Ducky for a moment, but they quickly focused back on Swift. However that was enough for Ducky to make a deduction.
Both of them are in on it... whatever it is.
"Haven, are you alright?"
Ducky looked over at Spike's concerned form. Only concern could be deduced from his scent. This made Ducky smile slightly. However, despite her reluctance in lying to her own brother, she knew that she had to use this opportunity that he had provided her. Carefully, she turned her head so that she could see Taunt and Swift out of the corner of her eye.
Here goes nothing...
"Umm... Actually I am feeling a bit tired. I think I will go to my resting spot."
Taunt twitched as he looked over towards Swift with a smile. This was immediately followed by a glance towards Petrie.
Gotcha...
"I am sorry to hear that, Haven. We were about to sing songs to the Night Circle." Littlefoot's concerned voice called from behind her. She was always one of the most enthusiastic singers. "Do you need any healing plants?"
Ducky waved him off with a slight smile, "No, I will be alright, I am just a bit tired..." she stopped for a moment as a moment of inspiration struck her, "...although, Leap, would you join me a moment?"
-----
Taunt could barely contain his excitement. Not only was Ducky already heading towards her sleeping area, but Leap was with her as well. This meant that his wonderful little surprise would soon work its magic. He knew that he had to be there when that happened.
Especially if things go wrong... A part of his mind cautioned.
"Are you sure about this, Taunt, she seemed a bit ill."
Taunt considered Swift's whispered words. Yes, Ducky did not exactly seem to be in the best mood to deal with one of his pranks, but when else was he going to get this chance? ...and it wasn't like he could undo it at this point without giving everything away.
Taunt forced out a whisper, "If this gets bad then I will have to let them know what is really going on. But I need a distraction."
Not to mention that if we don't get to follow Haven then I won't see her get angry! Taunt added mentally.
He could hear Swift sigh slightly as she hurriedly grabbed a few ground fuzzies. This caught Spike's attention.
"Taunt and I are going to bring them some food in case she gets hungry. I think I can spare each of them a few ground fuzzies."
Taunt repressed a smile. Nicely done, Swift.
"That sounds good, Swift. We will start the songs when you two get back."
That was too easy.
-----
"I lied back there."
Had she not been so focused on the task at hand, Ducky would have laughed at the expression Leap gave her. It seemed that Leap had been totally oblivious to anything going on besides the competition.
"Then what is going on?" Leap asked cautiously in a low voice, "You were the one who bragged about..."
Ducky smacked herself in the head and shook her head, "It isn't about that, Leap! Your sister and Taunt are trying to play a trick on us!"
The sudden outburst made both dinosaurs go silent. Ducky out of embarrassment that she had lost her kind demeanor, and Leap out of surprise at this development. It did not take him long to put the pieces together, however.
"...and we want to trick them first?"
Ducky smiled slightly as they continued their slow walk to the sleeping areas, "Yep, yep, yep! Now the question is: how do we trick them when I don't know what the trick is?"
Leap rolled his eyes, "You do realize that you sounded like Ponder just then?"
Ducky growled, "I did not!"
-----
Swift held back a laugh as the sounds of an argument could be heard from their two targets.
"It sounds like they won't need much more to set them off... oof!"
She lay motionless on the ground as the realization of what had happened reached her brain. She had tripped and possibly given away their location. So much for eavesdropping now. She groaned when Taunt's voice greeted her.
"Nice going, graceful..."
-----
Leap attempted to stop upon hearing his sister fall to the ground, but Ducky held his arm tight and pushed him along. A hissed whisper reached his ear.
"Keep walking, I don't want them to know that we are on to them."
Leap quickly sped up his pace and followed her green companion. Their pursuit by his sister and the pack prankster only served to highlight how little they knew what they were facing. They would have to carry on two conversations if they were going to make this work.
"You are an arrogant girl, you know it?" He yelled with fake anger in an attempt to show that the argument was still going on. He quickly whispered in her ear, "what do you know about this, exactly?"
Ducky growled loudly, "You're one to talk, two-footer breath!" she then whispered as well, "Petrie did something at Taunt's request. He only gave me a few clues."
"Oh, like you are one to talk!" Leap then looked at her expectantly. He was now firmly aware that carrying on two 'conversations' was not very easy.
Ducky simply growled as she whispered again, "He told me that whatever happens is not your fault, and that I should stop and smell the sweet bubbles."
Leap looked at her oddly, as the soft crashing of feet into grass could be heard behind them. They were being shadowed again.
"If you want an apology then you are looking at the wrong dinosaur!" Leap bellowed before he quickly whispered, "sweet bubbles are for mating proposals."
Ducky's eyes went wide. What was Petrie insinuating when he told her that?
"Well, we are all full of surprises!" Ducky yelled, not quite sure what to make of the new information, "Maybe you will surprise me one day." she added with a jerk of the head. It was only then that Taunt realized that he had reached her sleeping area.
"Wha..."
Ducky ignored Leap's words as she stepped forward into the scrape that served as her sleeping area. It was nestled below a large tree and surrounded by vines that served as Ducky's emergency armor. It was perfectly disguised to any approaching strangers, and easily recognizable by any of her friends. That was what made what she smelt all the more enraging.
Leap's scent. Leap's scent was everywhere.
She scanned the sleeping area with a stern expression as Leap stood back in more than a little fear. Had they not known that this was Petrie and Taunt's doing, then he and Ducky would have had a major disagreement. As it was, he could smell the rising annoyance come from Ducky's form. To violate another packmate's sleeping area was quite the personal challenge to the fastbiter that received it. It was a thing only to be done to assert dominance or to...
Ducky rose as she picked up a single sweet bubble. A symbol of love.
-----
Swift covered her mouth in astonishment as Taunt's mouth went agape. Petrie was not meant to have done this! He only wanted him to put Leap's scent on Ducky's sleeping area and vice versa. Not to fake a proposal from the poor fastbiter.
Damn it, Spotter... this is too much! What were you thinking?
Taunt bowed his head and rose from his hiding spot. He would not let this charade go any further. He was willing to prank his friends, but he refused to hurt them.
He swallowed down the lump in his throat and proceeded to walk towards his two packmates.
-----
Ducky held up the sweet bubble as if it were incriminating evidence that doomed Leap. For his part, the poor fastbiter could only sputter a response.
"I... proposed to you?"
Ducky snorted softly as the absurdity of the situation caught up to her. Taunt putting Leap's scent on her sleeping area certainly seemed like something that he would do, but to make a fake proposal was cruel to the extreme. This made her suspect that something else was going on. Something that...
Sudden movement from behind Leap caught her attention as the form of another fastbiter become visible. Through the reflected light of the Night Circle she could see that it was Taunt... but his expression was most strange.
Remorse... fear... uncertainty... suddenly all of the pieces fell into place in Ducky's mind.
This wasn't Taunt's plan; this was Spotter's! Which means...
Ha! Taunt isn't the only one pulling a trick!
She looked up at Leap with a smile on her face. This made the male fastbiter shift uncomfortably.
"Haven?"
Ducky approached him with deliberate slowness. Her hand were in front of her in a tentative gesture. Then, with careful precision, she touched his shoulder with one hand as she touched his chin with another. A hissed 'play along' was the only hint that he received for what was about to come.
"I accept, Leap. Will you be mine?"
Leap could feel his mouth hang agape at Ducky's words. However, the sound of two audible gasps and several ground fuzzies being dropped behind him motivated him to follow along. After all, he and Ducky both knew that this was just for show, and that was what mattered.
"Forever and always, Haven. Forever and always."
-----
The present:
Leap repeated the words twice more before his voice finally became silent. Several seconds later Ducky's refrain likewise ended as the two mates nuzzled one another. The adults in the pack regarded the scene with approval. However, the children were less than amused.
"Well, what happened next?!" Charger exclaimed, "both of you were faking it to freak out Swift and Taunt... so how did you actually become a couple?"
Ducky smiled at the young threehorn's question, "I thought that threehorns didn't care about romantic stories? Especially sharptooth ones..." The two had struggled to translate their song into leaf-eater while keeping the same cadence of the words, but the reaction of the sputtering threehorn made it all worth it.
Sauria decided to step in and save her friend's pride, "I'm sure he doesn't care, but I do... When someone starts a story they should finish it."
This caused the fastbiter and flyer younglings to join in as well.
"Yeah, what happens next?" Pouncer inquired.
This cased Lift and Dive to join in as well from their perch in the trees, "Yeah! Finish the story!"
Ducky gave her mate a knowing look, which he responded to with a nod. They now knew how they were going to keep the children occupied for the long trip to Hanging Rock.
"We will, children..." Leap smiled at the assembled children, "we will finish our song... tomorrow."
The sound of groans and protests was nearly deafening upon Leap's announcement, but it was not lost on the other adults that the protests were interspersed between yawns. The story had served its purpose.
"Alright, children, time for sleep." Littlefoot asserted firmly, yet kindly. Ruby appeared from behind him and quickly directed Biter and Swipe from the group of children as the other parents did the same for their younglings, "After we leave for Hanging Rock then we can listen to Haven and Leap's song... and then perhaps some of us can share our songs as well."
This caught Biter's attention, "What other songs, Dad?"
Littlefoot smiled, "Well, son, for one thing I don't think mom or I have sung about the time that you and your sister hatched... I think that it is about time that we remedied that."
-----
Hanging Rock:
Arial looked at the scene in front of her with disgust.
What have we done?
The swimmer lay on its side as the two massive beasts began feasting upon its still-breathing body. The pale brown ground had quickly been cloaked in a sea of crimson. Now only the sounds of the tyrannosaurus family's feast could be heard. The sounds of scraping bones and smacking mouths having replaced the pained screams of the dying.
"This is a side to us that you haven't seen until now, children."
Arial looked over at her father who was still where he had been when he had tricked the dinosaur into the gorge. Like her, he seemed to be forcing himself to look at his handiwork.
"I wish that I never had to see it."
Arial looked over at her brother who was obviously struggling to look at the scene in front of him. Disgust was apparent on his face as his shaking hands indicated anger. Though where that anger was directed towards was a mystery to Arial.
Pearl nodded after stepping from her mate's side, "Sometimes we half-teeth have to make alliances, children. Terri and Dein spared Ruby long ago, and Ruby helped to take care of Chomper."
Arial was bitter, "So great... we get to be used by one side and be hated by the other!"
Detras frowned, but he did not disagree with her assessment, "Sometimes it works out like that. Your mother and I first came to Hanging Rock to avoid... such awkwardness."
Orchid looked sick, "Awkwardness?! Those things just gutted the swimmer!"
Detras lost his patience, "Yes, but it is better that he be gutted than any of us!"
Both children fell silent at their father's angry outburst. Orchid actually looked ready to cry as he looked away from the scene finally, no longer caring about looking brave. Arial, for her part, continued to stare at the swimmer with anger rising deep within her like a fire. She was angry at her father for agreeing to this; she was angry at the two-footers for demanding this; but most of all she was angry at herself for being part of this. It felt like as if some part of herself had died on this night.
Detras sighed as he rubbed his face, "Look at me... I try to be calm about this but I am just as upset as either of you."
Arial allowed herself to look at her father, and was nearly taken aback by his reaction. He was cradling his head in an expression of exhaustion. Her mother had joined her mate and embraced him in a show of support. The anger in Arial's belly had dissipated nearly as quickly as it started.
"What do we do now, Dad?"
Detras was silent for a moment at Arial's question. Even though he said nothing Arial felt as if she could sense the battle raging in her father's mind. For a fastrunner who always seemed to know what to do it was jarring change in demeanor.
"I don't think that your mother or I should decide this. I think that we should decide this as a family."
Both children looked at their father with surprise. What was their father suggesting?
"Both of you have killed tonight. Even if you were not the ones to strike the killing blow, you did help the sharpteeth in finding their victim," he sighed, "you have lost your innocence in order to protect your family. By all rights you are now adults in my eyes."
Arial looked at her father in stunned silence. She was an adult now?
"So... where do you all think that we should go from here?"
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/16/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/16/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 15: A Leaps and bounds
"Ha! I bet that they won't find us here!"
Littlefoot watched as Datum and his friends ran up the stream. Splashes followed them as the water covered their tracks in a way that nothing else could. This made the fastbiter smile. The pack had used the same trick when they hid from Screech and Thud during their evacuation from the valley so long ago.
"Looks like my trick is still being used."
Littlefoot looked up at the massive sharptooth, "It certainly looks like it."
Chomper snorted as Charger and Datum tried to fit Sauria into a hollowed out log. The little threehorn eventually settled on ramming the longneck, which finally pushed her fully inside. The muffled scream indicated that she was not pleased with his solution to the problem.
"I hope that all of the leaf-eater aren't that smart! Otherwise we will soon go hungry!"
Littlefoot laughed at Chomper's cantankerous tone. He was becoming more and more like his father every day.
"I don't think it will come to that. It seems that these are our replacements of sorts in the valley," Littlefoot noted in a nostalgic tone.
Chomper rolled his eyes, "Then should we expect to see them several more times? I don't look forward to meeting the same fate of those sharpteeth who missed with us!"
The pair watched Datum and Charger disappear into the vines on the other side of the stream. Had both of them not seen the trio take their positions in the last few minutes then they would have had no idea that leaf-eaters were nearby. Undoubtedly the pack's children would be out soon in order to 'hunt' for the leaf-eaters. Littlefoot had told the leaf-eaters that this was a 'game', but it was obvious to the parents that this was also 'practice' for the young fastbiters and flyers.
When else where they going to have willing leaf-eaters to use for tracking practice?
"Are you sure that you want to do this?"
Littlefoot twisted his mouth into a contemplative expression at Chomper's words. The quandary that was facing him and Ruby was not an easy one, but it was one that they owed their children to get right.
"I think that I will tell Biter and Swipe tonight," Littlefoot said softly.
The tyrannosaurus looked down at his friend as the first of the flyers began scouting overhead.
Littlefoot sighed, "We will have them hunt during the journey to Hanging Rock. I know biter won't be happy about it, but it needs to be done."
Chomper nodded silently. He was angry at his parents for several days after his first kill, but in hindsight he realized that it was a necessary part of his upbringing. Biter and Swipe would be made stronger by this hardship, but they would have to pay the price first.
After all, losing one's innocence was part of growing up.
"Are you sure that you will be alright without us?"
Chomper snorted at his friend's sudden change in subject. His friend had already made up his mind about the hunt, and was ready to simply move on to business.
"Seeker, I am a two-footer!" He stomped his foot with a thunderous boom that made several of the fastbiter children huddle for cover before cautiously resuming their search. "Of course I will be fine. And no, before you ask, you don't have to worry about me eating Thud. He is not as big of a jerk as Taunt."
Several of Taunt's children could be heard laughing at Chomper's words as they began sniffing at the edge of the stream. Swipe and Biter, meanwhile, edged into the stream and began to observe the currents. It was obvious by their mannerisms that they were considering the implications of losing the scent trail in the stream.
Littlefoot smiled and rolled his eyes at Chomper's attempt at a joke, "Well that's good, Path. Eating Taunt's father would have caused some problems."
Splashing could be heard as Biter went in one direction down the stream and Swipe went down another. It won't be long now, Littlefoot noted.
Rising to his full height, Littlefoot gave Chomper a respectful bow and then stretched in the rising morning sun. It was about time for the two packs to meet up before they parted ways.
"Just be careful, Path." Littlefoot spoke solemnly.
Chomper noted his friend's tone and responded in kind. "You as well, Seeker. Don't you worry, those two two-footers won't stand a chance against any of us!"
Littlefoot smiled, "I hope you're right, Path. But for some reason I think that I am missing something."
Splash!
"Gotcha!"
The sound of a victorious roar emanated from Swipe as the other fastbiter children let out groans at being beaten. Littlefoot's children had taken the evidence before them and made the correct deduction.
Yep, they are ready, Littlefoot affirmed.
"Well that's nice, but can somebody get me the heck out of here?!"
A grunt could be heard as the log rolled onto the ground and proceeded to pick up speed along the stream edge. It seemed that Charger had been a bit too successful at getting Sauria into the log. Now fastbiter children were scrambling to get out of the way from the speeding projectile.
Crash!
The log slammed into a boulder, which caused the hapless sauropod to land unceremoniously in the mud. A subdued groan was the only sign of life as the two leaf-eater children ran to her aid.
"Sauria, are you alright?!"
The sight of Sauria's tail smacking Charger in the head made Littlefoot nearly keel over in laughter. She was certainly alright.
"That is what you get for pushing me into that death trap!"
As the two dinosaurs bickered while Datum and the sharptooth children looked on in confusion, Littlefoot glanced at Chomper with a knowing look.
"I think that we should probably save Charger from Sauria," Littlefoot laughed, "I don't want my children to be taught that longnecks are scary."
Chomper laughed as he followed his friend to the stream. He was almost sad to see the leaf-eaters go, but he knew that their lives had to be separate from that of his packmates, regardless of how happy the resulting nostalgia was.
He just hoped that everyone would return in one piece.
-----
That evening:
"Argh! Do you fastbiters ever stop?"
Pouncer suppressed a laugh at the threehorn's agitated question. He had to admit that the threehorn was growing on him despite the fact that he was food. The leaf-eater's arrogance and dry humor reminded him of his mother in some ways.
Well, she did use to be a threehorn...
"Getting tired, Charger?" Pouncer mocked with ease. He knew that he would not have to wait long to get a response from the threehorn youngling.
Charger gave the small fastbiter an irritated look, but his gasping breath was sign enough of his fatigue.
"No, but I am worried about my friends."
Pouncer was ready to continue the verbal volley but then he took a look behind the threehorn. Sauria's neck seemed to drag the ground due to fatigue, while Datum was grasping at his bulging legs. It was obvious that Charger had a point.
"Dad?" Pouncer offered slightly in Taunt's direction, "I think that the leaf-eaters are getting tired... I am getting kind of tired as well."
As Taunt stopped to look at his son several other voices called out.
"Yeah, my legs are tired!"
"The Bright Circle is about to fall... can we stop?"
"I want to sleep!"
Taunt's face took on an odd expression at the last outburst from one of Spike's kids. To have the rambunctious kids admit that they wanted to sleep was quite a development, and a testament to how eager they were to stop walking.
Taunt coughed in order to get the attention of the others, but they had already began to slow at the commotion. It was then that Littlefoot took a look at the situation.
"Well, I suppose that this is the first long walk for the children. I suppose that we can call it a day."
A chorus of enthusiastic yells echoed across the ravine as the children stopped and began to stretch their legs. The leaf-eaters, meanwhile, took this opportunity to promptly lay on the ground in exhaustion. Datum even let out a relieved groan to no one in particular.
That was when Pouncer noticed something. Why wasn't Biter with his leaf-eater friend?
He looked over towards the back of the procession of children. It was only when Ducky's five children shifted that he was able to see his friends, Biter and Swipe.
They look so worried!
Biter had an overwhelmed expression on his face as he barely seemed to react to the world around him. Swipe, meanwhile, was shifting on her feet uncomfortably. She looked as if she were about to embark on a harrowing journey, whereas Biter looked like he had already embarked on the mission. It was enough to make Pouncer question what had transpired with Littlefoot's children.
"Alright, children. Here are the promised ground fuzzies!"
Pouncer ignored his observation of Biter for a moment as Littlefoot began tossing the ground fuzzies that the adults had carried for the better part of a day. Within moments the vines were no longer wrapped around the pack leader's back and the small mammals were flying into the air. The fact that the corpses were cold and partially decomposed did not matter to the young, hungry mouths.
Pouncer ignored the disgusted sounds from the leaf-eaters as he grabbed his ground fuzzy from the air and began to hungrily rip its body into shreds. The taste of blood and sinew was a great relief after a day of nonstop travel. However, his respite from the hunger was very short lived. Before he even realized it that ground fuzzy was gone.
"That's all that there is, children! We will have to hunt tomorrow in order to get more food..."
It was then that Pouncer noticed that Littlefoot had held his gaze for an extended moment at his two children. Pouncer curiously looked over at his friends in order to see their reactions. What he saw from Biter and Swipe surprised him.
Fear? Why are they afraid?
Pouncer had finally had enough and began to approach his two friends. What was going on?
"Hey, guys! What is going..." but he didn't have the chance to finish.
"Okay, everyone! I think that it is time to finish our song!"
As the chorus of cheers echoed in his ears, Pouncer realized that he would get no answers now. Ducky and Taunt would soon finish their song, and then it would be time to sleep. Then another day of laborious travel would begin again... However, Pouncer was not daunted by this reality.
Morning... I will talk to them in the morning. My friends are upset and I want to know why!
He made a point to sit next to Biter as the children gathered around the two adults. Not knowing the drama going on around them, Ducky and Taunt resumed their song with a flourish...
♪♪ As Taunt and Swift departed in haste,
It was only then that we realized what we faced... ♪♪
-----
Several years ago:
"I think that they're gone."
Leap quickly broke his embrace of Ducky upon hearing of Taunt and Swift's departure. In the aftermath of this action both fastbiters looked at one another with awkward expressions. Leap stood on one foot as he scratched his tail nervously with his other foot, whereas Ducky looked away slightly out of embarrassment. The unspoken question hung over them like a cloud.
What do we do now?
"So... um..." Leap began uncertainly, "My sister and Taunt now think that we are a couple... should we tell the pack that it was a trick?"
Ducky looked at him uncertainly, "This was Spotter's idea, so I am sure he will tell the others. He only wanted to trick Taunt and Swift." Her voice clearly indicated that she doubted her words.
Leap eyed her carefully, "But you told me that he only said that he was going to do 'something' and then he gave you some confusing nonsense about 'stopping to smell the sweet bubbles'. How do you know that he wanted you to trick Taunt and Swift? Maybe he just wanted to lessen the impact..."
Ducky interrupted with a laugh, "Your sister is right. You question yourself too much, you do, you do!"
Leap scowled at her, "I was not questioning me; I was questioning you, dear ." He practically hissed out the term of endearment as Ducky took on a mischievous expression.
"Well, in the case you were questioning your better half, dear ," she returned the endearment in kind.
Silence reigned for several seconds as the two fastbiters stared at one another with harsh expressions. Then, suddenly and without warning, both erupted into laughter.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Leap choked out between laughs. Ducky did not seem to have an answer as she grasped her stomach and laughed heartily at the situation. The entire situation was too crazy to believe, and they had no one else to blame beside themselves.
Well... and Spotter , Ducky's mind noted. That gave her an idea...
"What if we tell the others, but we wait a while first. Perhaps a few days?"
Leap looked at Ducky as if she had grown a second head. What was she getting at?
"That way we can fool all three of them for putting us in this situation," she clarified, "We could even trick Spotter if he thinks that we are actually accepting of the proposal."
Leap sighed and rolled his eyes, "Seriously? You want us to trick all of our friends, make them think that we are mates-to-be, and then tell them all it was a trick later on? That would be quite cruel."
Ducky placed her hands on her hips, "And faking a courtship offer wasn't cruel?"
Leap tilted his head in amusement, "And you think the others may have been in on this too?" The lack of an answer was confirmation enough for the fastbiter, "Still... it seems a bit cold for someone named Haven..." he mocked playfully.
This earned him one of Taunt's trademark obscene gestures, which looked very odd coming from Ducky, "I suppose that I have been around you ankle-biters too long. I have, I have!"
Leap laughed at her outburst, which caused her to chuckle as well. Both of them radiated the scent of surprise. Not only for this situation, but from their reactions as well. Taunt's prank had affected them more than they had originally assumed. Leap finally confirmed his approval of Ducky's plan.
"Alright, I suppose that we can keep them in suspense for a day or two... but no longer than that. By the time we announce it was a trick the others won't be too upset."
Ducky nodded and proceeded to clean up her sleeping area. It was then that she looked at the small scrape awkwardly and let out an audible groan, which was followed by an amused snort and a malicious smile.
"If we are mates-to-be then they will expect us to sleep near one another... and I already have my sleeping spot... so I hope that you enjoy building things!"
Leap looked aghast, "Why can't I just share your sleeping area tonight?"
As if to answer his question, one of Taunt's dropped ground fuzzies smacked him in the head.
"Ow! What was that for?!"
Ducky pointed at him as she laid down, "That was for trying to go too fast, Mr. Love ! Even if we know we are not mates-to-be, I don't want our friends to think that we are already mates!"
Leap stuck out his tongue at the green fastbiter, "Well you were a swimmer before, and we know how they are... Perhaps our friends will think that old habits die hard?"
This did the trick as Leap had to struggle to escape the onslaught of random objects that were being thrown his way. His insult to her former kind had obviously enraged the former hadrosaur and he soon had the sores to confirm that. The only good thing was that he now had several sticks from Ducky's resting place to help build his own sleeping area. The fact that the sticks in question had been hurled at his head in anger did not really concern him.
Well, I suppose that I will take all the help that I can get...
-----
Several minutes later:
Leap grumbled as he grabbed a few sticks in preparation for his own sleeping area. He would have to make something hasty tonight and try for something a bit more permanent tomorrow. All this for a damn joke...
Within several moments, however, his makeshift sleeping area was taking shape with sticks arranged in a circular pattern and a carved out niche appearing in the ground where he would lay. As if to apologize for her outburst earlier, Ducky even dropped off a few more sticks from her own sleeping area. This would have the effect of making his sleeping area have her scent, which would indicate that its construction was a joint effort. Now she wants credit for my work! Leap mocked internally.
Finally, however, Leap's sleeping area was finished. It was a hastily thrown-together affair, but it would work under the circumstances. Feeling more exhausted than he realized, he carefully laid down in his freshly dug scrape and allowed a yawn to escape his lips.
"Goodnight, Haven."
Ducky rose slightly to look at her new 'companion'. Despite her harsh and mocking words earlier she gave him a weak smile, "Goodnight, Leap."
As Leap allowed himself to drift off into the world of sleep stories he allowed himself one final coherent thought.
She would be rubbish for a mate... but I do kind of like her...
Neither of them noticed Petrie lifting off into the air from the nearby tree.
-----
The next day:
Ducky groaned softly as the radiance of the Bright Circle put an end to her slumber. Ever so slowly she propped herself onto her legs and opened her groggy eyes. That was when she was greeted by an unexpected sight.
“Congratulations, Leap! I always thought that you and Haven would be great for one another!”
In an instant Ducky the grogginess dissipated from Ducky’s mind and she was up on her feet. What is going on? Oh...
Suddenly the memories from the night before came crashing down upon her like a tsunami. They had played Petrie’s game and were now trying to trick the others into believing their ruse. However Littlefoot’s words caused her some concern. Seeker always expected this? But me and Leap were never...
“Oh, you are up! I am so glad for you!”
Ducky looked at Cera with bulging eyes. It was creepy enough to have her act so chipper, but to have all of her friends reacting to this news so happily, without any awkwardness...
Well, it was weird. That was all that her mind could process at the moment. They had wanted to freak out their friends and to throw Taunt’s joke and Petrie’s counter-prank all in their faces. But now it seemed that those plans were in ruins.
“Um... Thank you, Stern Claw,” Ducky offered softly after a moment’s hesitation, “It all happened so suddenly...”
Ruby stepped beside Cera and offered Ducky a hug, “Well, we have all been expecting this for some time. If we hadn’t been expecting this for some time, then we would be surprised.”
What are they talking about? Ducky thought to herself, I have nothing in common with the arrogant ankle-biter! How could everyone have been expecting this?
She resisted the urge to shake her head in confusion, but instead graciously accepted the well wishes from her friends.
Has everyone gone mad?
-----
This was easily one of the most surreal moments in Leap’s life.
"When you and Haven decided to leave together I figured that was what you were up to."
Leap could only stare at the green fastbiter in front of him. Spike's smell was hard to read because of the fresh blood that he wore on his feathers. The pack had obviously had a morning hunt without them.
"When we saw you two in your new sleeping areas we decided to make the hunt without you two. We figured that you may need some privacy..."
Leap turned towards the smirking face of Taunt. He wanted so much to tell him that it was all an act and that the joke was on him...
But he couldn't. Not like this. Not with everyone being so happy for them and wishing them well.
"That is enough, Taunt," Spike growled at the intruding orange fastbiter. This caused Taunt to merely wave his hands in a placative gesture as he backed off.
"Easy... I was just pestering the pack's latest couple over here." Taunt then smiled at the flyer overhead in a gesture that would have been easy to miss if Leap hadn't been looking straight at him.
So Spotter wasn't trying to trick Taunt? He was in on it the entire time? Why that... His thoughts did not have time to develop when Taunt walked by and whispered into Leap's ear.
"I always thought that you two just needed a helpful push. You can thank Spotter for the idea."
Leap's eyes went wide as Taunt merely strolled on by as if nothing had happened. His mind was now reeling. Now he couldn't even throw the situation in Taunt's face. It appeared that even he had done this in order to get him and Haven to get together and admit their feelings. How could Leap now turn around and admit that no feelings existed between them? Have and I are friends, but...
"Come along you two! There is plenty of swimmer to go around!"
In a daze Leap settled next to Ducky as they walked behind the others on the way to the scene of the kill. They exchanged no words but the look that they shared communicated their thoughts quite well.
How do we get out of this?
-----
That night:
Ducky fell into her sleeping area with a resounding thud.
"How did I get myself into this?"
She sighed and took a deep breath. She knew that she only had a few moments before the others would be settling down for sleep as well. This only gave her a few moments to reflect upon her situation and to vent.
"Well, it was your idea to trick all of them."
Ducky jumped up and turned around at the voice. Leap was already settled into his sleeping area in a relaxed posture, but his eyes were anything but calm.
Ducky suppressed an agitated scream, "My idea?!" She then closed her eyes and clenched her clawed hands. She could not discount the truth in his words, but his nonchalant attitude still elicited rage in her. "How can you be so calm about this? We can't just tell them that it is all fake! They all seem so happy for us..."
Leap nodded, "They even seem to have expected it."
Ducky rubbed her hands together in agitation as she looked at the Night Circle. One could almost see the thoughts rushing through her mind. It only took her a few moments to reach the same conclusion that Leap had settled upon minutes earlier.
"So... we play along?"
Leap sighed as he shrugged, "I think it would be for the best. At least for a while."
Ducky quickly agreed, "Yep, yep, yep. A while... then we can convince them that we... um..."
Leap chuckled, "Grow apart?"
Ducky nodded as she laid down for a final time, "Yep, yep, yep... then we can find out how to torment Taunt and Spotter for this."
Leap rested his head on the ground as the incompressible sounds of distant conversation could begin to be heard. A yawn escaped his mouth as he muttered, "It seems that we agree on something, Haven."
-----
"It seem like they want to keep the charade going."
Littlefoot laughed at Petrie's report. When Petrie had first told them of Taunt's trick and his counter prank, the entire pack had been scandalized. To fake a mating proposal was quite rash even by the pack's standards. However, once they had head that the two 'companions' wanted to keep the trick going to fool the pack, they had decided to go along with it. Keeping a straight face when congratulating them that morning had been quite difficult, but the swimmer blood was quite effective at hiding the scent of insincerity.
"Seeker? You listen?"
Littlefoot shook the thoughts out of his head, "Oh... yes, Spotter I was listening. Well, I guess that we can keep up the charade as long as they are."
Spike and Swift took the opportunity to walk in front of their leader. With a sigh, Swift spoke first.
"Even though he can be an ass at times I don't want to hurt my brother."
Spike nodded and stepped forward, "This was fun and all, but I am worried that this could really hurt her. Haven is such an innocent soul."
Cera rolled her eyes, "So innocent that she would try to throw Swift and Taunt's trick in our faces?"
"Hey! It was Spotter's idea to put the sweet bubbles... I just..."
Littlefoot shook his head and waved a hand, "Enough. We will let them know what happened in a few days. We can just pretend like nothing is amiss until then."
Ruby growled in agreement, "Yes, it might be best to let their emotions calm down."
The others growled in agreement as they proceeded to walk towards the sleeping areas. It was then that Spike had a thought.
"What if they actually do begin to have feelings for one another? If we told them it was a trick then..."
Littlefoot chuckled, but immediately took on a serious expression as Spike eyed him with a serious look.
"If that happens then we will welcome that with open arms, but I highly doubt that, Finder. What do you think that is going to happen? That they suddenly are going to chase each other through the flowers?"
-----
The next day:
"Alright, now you know what to do, right?"
Leap rolled his eyes, "Yes, dear . You chase after me like we are having an argument."
Ducky growled in annoyance at his tone, but smiled nonetheless.
"Yep, yep, yep. We have to make this believable so that they think that things are not going well." She then pondered for a moment with a perplexed expression, "But what would we argue about?"
Leap smirked, "Besides that we aren't a couple, you mean?"
Ducky scowled, "You know, I used to be so nice and agreeable until you came along!"
Leap gestured wildly at his sleeping area, "And whose idea was this, dear ? I was just going to tell Taunt that we were on to him."
Ducky placed her hands on her hips and stared coldly at the male. It was so much his tone that angered her as the fact that he was absolutely correct. This was her fault.
Leap returned her stare. I will miss these little arguments when this is all over. That was when he saw something that would work perfectly.
Ducky's newly prepared vines. She had worked on those for days.
"What are you doing with that!" Ducky screamed in agitation.
Leap smiled and shrugged, "I guess it is mine now."
In an instant he bolted into the field as a shriek and the sound of crashing feet could be heard behind him. He no longer had to worry about making the argument seem believable... now he had to worry about his safety.
-----
Littlefoot and the others stared in surprise as Leap and Ducky sprinted across the field where wildflowers were in full bloom. The sound of unintelligible insults were emanating from Ducky, which would have made them fear for the male fastbiter's safety if it weren't for one particular sign.
Leap was laughing.
Littlefoot shook his head as an annoyed Spike walked in front of him.
"You were saying, Seeker?"
-----
The present:
The children erupted in laughter at Ducky's words. They could only imagine how humorous it must have been for the others to mistake Ducky's agitation for romantic play.
Leap smiled and allowed the younglings to settle down first before continuing with the song.
♪♪ Days passed of taunts and misdirection,
but neither of us noticed the signs of affection. ♪♪
♪♪ Our warmth for one another began to grow,
but each of us had resolved to not let the other know. ♪♪
♪♪ It was this blindness that each of us stubbornly held,
that nearly destroyed what the prank had helped to meld. ♪♪
-----
Several weeks after the 'argument':
"You do realize that this is all your fault."
Leap sighed. This was the same conversation that he had heard since their frolic through the flowers.
"If you hadn't been laughing during that then they would think that we had an argument. But nope, nope, nope! You had to mess it all up!"
Leap tried to fight it; he really did. But he just couldn't take it anymore.
"Why are you laughing?!" Ducky's hands were firmly on her hips again as she fixed him with an icy stare. It did not appear to have any effect on him whatsoever.
Leap sucked in a breath as he tried to respond, "I'm sorry, Haven, but it is just so hard to be afraid of you. When you do that you look as threatening as a baby yellowbelly!"
Ducky's mouth hung agape, "What did you call me?!"
-----
"Again?"
Taunt looked bemused at what Chomper was telling him. However the small purple tyrannosaurus showed no signs of speaking in jest.
"Yeah!" Chomper gestured wildly with his small stubby arms, "It was like that time that you called Stern Claw a horn-face. It was about as funny too!"
Taunt glared at Chomper, "That wasn't funny at all! I still have the scar on my tail from that!" He rubbed his tail as if it had been freshly injured, "What makes you think that they were playing? Perhaps they are having an argument..."
Chomper shook his head, "Then why were they both laughing?"
-----
"You're a jerk, you know it?!"
Leap tried to escape from Ducky's hold, but she had grabbed him securely around the back and had her mouth neck to his neck. A position in which any attempt at escape might cause injury to either participant.
"My sister informs me that it is one of my better qualities."
Ducky rolled her eyes as she rolled off of him. It was only then that he could shake the dirt off of his skin. It wasn't every day that he was thrown headfirst into a mud hole.
Leap carefully checked his body for abrasions before lightly licking a small cut on his back. One of Ducky's claws had found their target despite her best efforts to be careful.
"Oh, no, no, no! I hurt you!"
Leap smiled slightly as he shook his head, "Don't worry about it, Haven, it is only a scratch. You couldn't hurt a buzzer..."
Ducky ignored his insult as she grabbed a tree star and firmly placed it on his wound, "You need to get some healing plants on this just to be safe. You may be a jerk, but I don't want to hurt you!"
Leap tried to ignore the odd feeling in his stomach as he took position of Ducky's leaf and applied light pressure to his cut. Despite the occasional argument there had been no actual malice towards each other over the last several days.
Or ever... An unwanted voice called out in his mind.
"It's... alright, Haven. I know that you would never want to hurt me. You just want to let go of this lie..." he hesitated before reluctantly forming the words, "...just like I do."
There was silence from Ducky for several moments while Leap tended to his injury. It was only when he looked in her direction that she responded.
"Yep... maybe it is time for us to just be honest with our friends?"
Leap took a good look at Ducky as she averted her eyes. There was obvious moisture there.
"Haven... are you alright?"
Ducky looked surprised by his question and immediately looked away.
"Nope, I am fine. I am, I am." Leap rose to his feet as he did not believe her for a second, but she refused to look at him.
"Haven?"
Ducky clutched her claws to her chest as she repressed a sob. She knew that she had to end this now before she lost her composure.
"I am going to help Stern Claw find fish. You make sure to take care of that cut."
Leap stepped forward and extended a hand towards his distressed friend, "Haven!? Wait!"
He never got the chance to reach her before she burst into an outright sprint. Within seconds she was out of sight, having disappeared into the thick grass. His hand continued to extend into the air as if it were trying to touch a ghost.
Leap never felt so alone.
-----
"For the love of... tell me what is wrong, Haven!"
Cera didn't mean to lose her patience with her friend, but it wasn't everyday that Ducky came to her in tears. All thoughts of catching fish or doing anything else had evaporated in that instant. She had hastily sniffed her for any sign of what was wrong, but no signs of injury were present. Only feathers that were covered in mud.
"Leap..."
Cera stepped back. If he has done anything to hurt Haven... She clinched her claws and stepped forward.
"Where is he?"
Ducky looked at Cera in shock. The cold tone in her voice clearly indicated Cera's intent, which only made the green fastbiter feel worse. As far as she was concerned Leap was not the one at fault.
"No! It is my fault! I should have told the truth from the beginning!"
The fastbiter broke down in tears as her body shook with violent sobs. Cera immediately wrapped comforting arms around Haven as she waited for the sobs to subside. In the ensuing minutes of feeling Ducky's chest convulse uncontrollably Cera began to tear up as well. She had not seen her friend so emotional in a long time. Not since the battle for the valley.
Finally Ducky's shaking began to subside and the steady torrent of tears became a slow trickle. It was only then that she dared address Ducky again.
"It's okay, Haven. Tell me what is wrong."
-----
"It was all a lie! All of it!"
Taunt recoiled in shock at Leap's declaration. He had never seen the small fastbiter so animated and enraged. The smell of desperation and regret hung over him like a low hanging cloud. In the resulting onslaught of emotion Taunt could only mutely listen.
"She wanted us to drop the act. She wanted us to do it gradually so that we wouldn't hurt everyone's feelings, but as usual I manage to screw everything up!" Leap clinched one hand into a fist as he closed his eyes and shook with emotion, "Why did I have to keep on joking around with her when she was being serious? She obviously doesn't have feelings for me, and I should have respected that."
Taunt took a deep breath as he realized the full magnitude of what his prank had caused. Even though he knew that the gestured was insufficient, he bowed remorsefully out of shame. He feared that he had inflicted a wound on his friends that he would have regretted even inflicting on his enemies. It was with a hoarse voice that he finally spoke.
"Do you have feelings for her?"
-----
"So you like him?"
Cera asked the question cautiously, but the sudden jerk from Ducky's body was answer enough. It seemed that the prank had indeed succeeded in forming an attachment between Ducky and her 'companion'. The fact that it appeared that Leap did not share this feeling made her feel that much worse. I should have never joined in with this...
"He... makes me laugh. He does; he does!" Ducky admitted as she regained control over herself. The mere act of telling another person about the lie had taken a huge weight off of her shoulders. "But he makes me so angry at the same time."
Cera chuckled a bit, "I certainly know that feeling."
Ducky looked up at her friend with concerned eyes, "You aren't mad at me? I lied to you."
Cera sighed, "Haven... there is something that I have to tell you as well..."
-----
"What?!"
Taunt had managed to calm down his friend enough to talk to Leap's pack leader, Thud. Under normal circumstances seeing his father shift uncomfortably would be a humorous sight.
But not in this case.
"We... we heard from Spotter that you wanted to trick us all so we decided to beat you to that," Taunt admitted after some hesitation, "We were going to tell you about the prank after a few days, but then we saw you two acting so happy together."
Thud nodded, "I must apologize, Leap. In both packs and friendship there is nothing more important than trust." The elder fastbiter lightly bowed his head, "I must beg forgiveness."
Leap looked stunned, but merely shook his head, "For what? It seems that we have all been bad packmates." He sighed deeply, "I just wished that this hadn't hurt Haven. If I had just played along..."
"And lied to her?" Thud questioned, "Maybe it is time to stop pranking and lying. Maybe it is time for you to tell the truth."
Leap looked up at his pack leader with a stunned expression, "But she doesn't like me much."
"Spiketail shit! That's a lie and you know it!" Taunt erupted, "You told me that she chased you around and played with you. Not only that, but she also was deeply concerned about your small cut. Does that sound like someone who doesn't like you?"
Leap blinked, "Then why did she run away?"
Thud sighed as he placed his clawed hand over his face, "Urgh... I am too old for his crap!"
Leap continued to look utterly confused as Taunt merely clasped a claw on his should and gestured towards some nearby bushes.
"I think that it is time that you made a proper proposal, Leap."
-----
"Are... are all of you sure?"
Ruby placed both of her hands on her hips and gave Ducky an affirmative nod, "I am sure that he feels the same way, but he needs to know that you feel the same."
Swift smiled, "I know my brother and there is no way that he does not care for you immensely. There was a reason we decided not to tell you about the prank. We didn't want to stop what was a beautiful thing."
Cera still looked apologetic at the mention of their silence. This was enough to rouse Ducky to action.
"I forgive you, Stern Claw," she then looked towards the others, "And I forgive everyone else too. We all made mistakes."
Cera smiled, "Now it is time to show Leap that one of our mistakes wasn't a mistake after all!"
Ducky accepted the sweet bubble from Cera as she embrace her friend once more. She was immediately joined by the other females in a group hug. Despite the overwhelming emotions of the moment she allowed herself a mischievous thought.
Now I can tamper with Leap's sleeping area for once!
-----
"You can do it, Leap! Just be honest when she comes around!"
Leap nodded at Littlefoot's enthusiastic support, but still felt terrible nervousness, "What if she says 'no'?
Chomper jumped up excitedly, "You won't know until you try!"
Spike smiled, "I don't think that she will reject you, Leap, and I know my sister."
Petrie landed beside trembling fastbiter as he dropped a sweet bubble at his feet, "Use this! Hopefully it cause you less trouble this time!"
Leap picked up the small berry and held it with some trepidation.
"Now drop it into her sleeping area, silly!" Taunt mocked.
Leap was still hesitant, "But... I want her to be happy. What if this isn't what she wants? What if we are wrong?
Thud stepped forward and placed a hand on the smaller fastbiter's shoulder. He voice was fatherly in its cadence, "If that happens, then it happens. But would you rather live not knowing what could be?" Thud smiled, "Look at it this way, if she wants to be with you then she will be happy with you. If she doesn't want to be with you, then you will know and she can still be happy with someone else. Either way you will be doing your duty as her friend."
Leap began to bow in gratitude, but then his shoulders were tightly grabbed by his pack leader.
"Now drop the damn sweet bubble and let's see how this goes."
-----
Ducky forced herself to walk forward as the other girls walked behind her. She was doubtful that she would have been able to go through with this if it wasn't for their support, but even so it felt like she were walking by instinct. Her legs felt like they were walking on thin air as she neared the crest of the hill. The hill that would lead to her sleeping area.
You can do this, Haven...
Closing her eyes, she walked over the crest of the hill and allowed herself to feel the gentle breeze from the wind-facing side of the hill. She could almost imagine herself walking through the night sky. Being somewhere else entirely.
"I heard that love is blind, but this is ridiculous!"
Ducky's eyes flew open as the distinct form of Leap appeared in front of her. The other pack members were behind him, each of them wearing expression of anticipation and happiness. That was not what caught her attention, however.
The bastard has marked my sleeping area again!
Relief filled Ducky like a rushing river. Her feelings for him were obviously mutual.
"It looks like I beat you to it again, dear !"
Ducky smirked at the insufferable voice that she had grown to love. She resisted the urge to toss the sweet bubble in his face or to chase the cheeky bastard. She knew the social etiquette here. He had made the proposal so it was up to her to accept it or not.
She carefully approached the sleeping area and allowed her own sweet bubble to fall beside the pile of sticks. As expected his scent now dominated her personal space. The sweet bubble, meanwhile, had been placed directly in her scrape, where her body would lay.
"It looks like you did it properly. Better than the first time."
Leap protested, "Spotter did it the first time! That is what we get for having a flyer do a fastbiter tradition!"
Ducky chuckled, "You know the others didn't do this whole proposal thing?"
Leap groaned upon the realization that she was dragging this out, "Lucky them!"
Suppressed laughter could be heard from the pack, which had now reassembled into one group behind them.
Ducky gave Swift a little wink as she smiled predatorily at Leap, "Your sister tells me that the female can make demands on the male if a formal proposal is made."
"Thank goodness I skipped that then... ow!" Taunt's words were quickly put to an end by Cera's forceful slap.
"Seriously, dear!"
Ducky shrugged playfully, "I am not, dear, yet! Hmmm... what should I demand?"
Leap crossed his hands, "See what has happened to your sister, Finder?"
"Yep, you seem to be a good influence on her!" Spike responded with a laugh.
Both fastbiters glared at Spike, which caused the others to laugh heartily as well. All attempts to maintain silence and decorum had failed due to the playful banter of the ones to be solemnized. After everything that had happened it still seemed that their friends had the last laugh.
Ducky smiled. That gave her an idea.
"I will accept your proposal on one condition."
Leap looked at her expectantly, "Anything! Just name your demand."
Ducky smiled as she embraced Leap, and eyed the stars above, "Every star day of this night you will help me destroy Taunt's sleeping area."
"What!" Taunt protested.
"...and we will give Stern Claw sweet bubbles to apologize her for Taunt's bickering."
Cera smiled, "Sounds good to me!"
Taunt looked at her as if she had grown a second head, but she merely put her hands on her hips and gave him a cheeky smile. In that instant Taunt realized that he had lost.
Leap hugged Ducky close as he suppressed a laugh, "I accept. Forever and always."
Ducky nuzzled him back, "Forever and always."
-----
Back to the present:
Ducky's son, Fisher, jumped up in realization at the conclusion of the song, "So that is why you destroyed Taunt's nest last season!"
Taunt groaned as the others laughed at his annoyance. Despite the groan, however, he still smiled.
"It is a little tradition that we do," Leap smiled broadly, "Unfortunately, Taunt has taken it upon himself to prank us on our star days."
Taunt smirked, "Nothing special there. I prank everyone on their star days!"
Ducky rolled her eyes, "You pay special attention to ours though. You do, you do!"
Leap and Ducky gave the orange fastbiter a playful glare as he gave a placative gesture in a mocking manner. The emotional wounds of that incident had long healed, but each would continue to commemorate it in their own way. However, it was not lost on anyone that Taunt was only responsible for the initial trick.
"It is prank me most happy about." Petrie affirmed, "You should be happy about it too, Fisher. It make you possible."
All of Ducky's children contemplated that for a moment. It was an odd idea that a mere prank could have made the difference between existence and having never been hatched. However it was not the philosophical aspects of that thought that caught the mind of one of Ducky and Leap's sons. He was thinking of something a bit more direct.
Verok tilted his head in an inquisitive expression, "How did that happen anyway?"
Tranquil echoed her brother's words, "Yeah! How did all of us come along?"
Leap laughed at his children's enthusiasm. He considered offering to sing another song, but then he remembered what Littlefoot had told him earlier in the day. Biter and Swipe would certainly need their rest for what was coming. The other songs could wait until after a good night's rest and their hunt.
"Well, children, I think that will be an excellent song for tomorrow night."
The expected groans and protests could be heard at Leap's proclamation, but that was not what caught his attention. Biter downtrodden demeanor only grew more morose with the mention of tomorrow, while Swipe's expression still communicated intense contemplation. Considering their situation Leap could not fault them for their feelings.
A new song begins for you two tomorrow... make it a good one.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/17/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/17/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 16: A bloody ordeal
"I'm so sorry, Datum..."
The rainbowface backed up to the cavern wall with a look of horror was plastered on his face. Once he made contact with the wall he collapsed to the floor. His eyes were focused on his former friend. The fastbiter who had been protecting him and his friends. Now all that could be seen of his friends were the prone bodies at the threshold of the cave.
Now it was his turn...
"Biter? Why?"
The fastbiter frowned as a tear dropped from his face, "My family has to eat, Datum... I will make this quick..."
The sounds of whimpering became louder as the fastbiter approached his prey...
"Psst... Biter, wake up!"
The fastbiter gasped as Pouncer's words echoed in his head. Instantly realizing that it had all been a dream Biter groaned and rolled over onto his side. His eyes remained closed, but he did not dare attempt to go back to sleep.
Chomp!
"Ow!" Biter squeaked as he felt sudden pain from his tail. Within an instant Pouncer was face to face with a rather irate Biter. Bared teeth greeted a cheeky smile.
"Now you're up!" Pouncer whispered as he looked over at the other children. As only a few groans and shifting bodies greeted his eyes he then looked over at his friend again, "Come on, we need to talk."
"Talk? Talk about what?!" Biter practically yelled in annoyance.
Pouncer immediately shushed his friend as Taunt began to talk in his sleep.
"Ha! You won't be getting that ground-fuzzy back..." There was a muffled groan as Stern Claw's tail landed on his mouth, seemingly out of an instinctual drive to shut him up. Within moments the snoring of the couple resumed.
Biter looked over at the sleeping forms of Pouncer's parents. It was now obvious that his friend wanted to talk with him in private, without waking the others. What could he want to talk about?
The hunt. The thought suddenly came to him. His father had not openly announced that Biter and his sister would be joining his parents on a separate hunt, but he clearly hinted at it before last night's song. Biter could feel the adrenaline begin to course through his veins again as the emotions from that day came flooding back to him.
He looked passed the fastbiter that had awakened him and focused on the leaf-eaters that were still sleeping soundly together. The form of a small rainbowface caught his attention in particular. His steady breathing a testament to his lack of awareness of what his friend was about to experience.
Still safe... He needs to go home so that he will stay that way.
Biter sighed and closed his eyes. His head was bowed in an expression of exhaustion, as if he had the weight of the world upon his shoulders. He couldn't talk to his leaf-eater friend about his predicament. The reality that he had to live was entirely different from Biter's world of death and blood. A world that he would soon be forced to embrace fully.
But maybe Pouncer will understand?
Biter opened his eyes and looked up at the clearly concerned fastbiter. His mouth was twisted in an expression of annoyance, but his eyes were clearly sympathetic. For several seconds their eyes were locked as if they were each trying to read the other's mind. Finally, however, Pouncer shook his head and gave his friend a 'come here' gesture with his tail.
Trying to ignore the bitter taste of adrenaline in the back of his throat, Biter followed in silence.
-----
It was only when the sound of footsteps had disappeared that Datum opened his eyes.
Something isn't right here.
Despite his exhaustion during the previous day's journey the agitation between Biter and the others had been noticeable to the small rainbowface. The normally talkative Biter had grown silent ever since his father had called him and his sister aside that morning. The few times that he had spoken to his friend he had been greeted with short monotone answers. Datum was not adept at picking up nuance from the sharptooth language, having only been taught the basics from his parents, but he could deduce when someone wasn't telling the full truth about something. What could Biter's father have told him that would traumatize him, but not the others?
Maybe they have 'new' plans for all of us?
Datum gasped as that thought appeared in his consciousness. Biter had admitted to his mother about his friendship with the three leaf-eaters, and he had met him as the result of a chase...
No! He would never do that! he protested immediately, Besides his family is helping to lead us home. No... there must be something else going on.
He watched as the two fastbiter children continued to walk through the barren expanse. It was obvious that whatever they wanted to discuss was a private matter. Something that was not meant for the ears of their parents... or that of the leaf-eaters...
Datum's eyes narrowed. Something was troubling his friend and he would be damned if he wasn't going to get to the bottom of it.
As stealthily as he could manage the rainbowface followed the departing duo.
-----
Pouncer sucked in a deep, shuddering breath.
The flat expanse in front of him seemed to mock him. The lush green of his pack's territory, and its plentiful prey, had been replaced with the austere expanse that lay all around them. Only scattered patches of grass gave his eyes anything to dwell upon, as the light of the morning sun began had begun to shine upon the world. It was obvious that the they would soon be greeted by the blistering heat as the Bright Circle rose into the sky. If it wasn't for the fact that Petrie knew where the rivers and streams were then their predicament would be quite dire. Instead, it was merely unpleasant.
"It is time that you children learn how to handle yourselves in a journey."
"Awesome! We finally get to do adult things!"
"Let's see if you are so enthusiastic when we are actually underway, Pouncer. Growing up is not an easy thing to do."
His father's words echoed in his mind. His father was notorious for his sense of humor and his delivery of taunts to friend and foe alike, hence his name. However, there was something about his tone back then that had given Pouncer pause. A seriousness that was often absent. After a day of seemingly endless travel he now knew where that seriousness had come from.
But Biter's words had indicated that hard travel was the least of his friend's worries.
"Are you worried about not catching prey? Because I am sure that your mommy and daddy will understand if you have trouble. This is your first time after all."
Pouncer was more than a little jealous that his friend was getting the opportunity to hunt before him. Sure they had hunted ground fuzzies, but never another dinosaur. Now it seemed that Littlefoot had decided that Biter and his sister was ready.
Biter sighed, "It isn't that, Pounce..." Pouncer smiled at the mention of his nickname. If one of his siblings called him that then he would bite them, but Biter was an exception. However his smile soon fell as he realized that something else was the matter. Biter's eyes were fixed on the ground as his words faded.
"Then what is it, Biter? You're the first of us to hunt. Aren't you proud?" Pouncer was at a loss due to his friend's behavior. Had Pouncer had been allowed to make his first hunt then he would be boasting to everyone in the pack.
"Leaf-eaters are like us. I mean... Datum is my friend... how can I..."
Pouncer's eyes darkened. Oh, he is worried about that. Pouncer had never really confronted his friend about keeping his friendship with Datum secret from the pack. The rapid cascade of events had prevented that. However there was some annoyance there. Sure the leaf-eaters were pleasant enough, but they were still obviously food. It was only his friendship with Biter that prevented Pouncer from reacting with annoyance. Nonetheless his response was quite blunt.
"Well, Seeker isn't making you eat him, is he?"
Biter jumped up and looked at his friend with shock.
"No! Daddy wouldn't do that to me!"
Well that got him talking anyway, Pouncer noted to himself. Now he had to get to the heart of the matter.
"Then what is the problem?"
Biter looked at him with the oddest of expressions. His eyes appeared angry, but his shoulders sagged in a depressed manner. It was enough to make Pouncer regret his bluntness.
"I will be killing another dinosaur like him. How can I do that?" Biter responded in a morose, breathless tone as he took a deep breath. His next words were more resigned than sad, "Is this what mommy and daddy felt before their first hunt?"
-----
Datum swallowed hard as he saw the scene play out in front of him. The rock was enough to barely hide his body, but at this point he was shaking enough to give away his hiding spot. Thankfully the two fastbiter children were too involved in their conversation to pay attention to the vibrating rock.
"It is hard to think of mommy as a leaf-eater... as food."
Datum's face darkened a bit at the words of Biter's friend. However he could not really be upset with the fastbiter. Of course he would think of leaf-eaters as food; he was a sharptooth. Biter was not so detached as his friend, however.
"I can't think of Datum as food!" Biter protested at his friend's tone, "We played games when you and the others were busy. We talked about our families... he is just a kid like us."
The rainbowface smiled slightly as his eyes brightened. He felt more than a little shame for even doubting Biter for a moment.
Pouncer sighed as he pawed the ground. "We can't think like that, Biter. Remember what Seeker always tells us..."
"We are the takers and they are the givers. We should only take what we need." Biter responded from memory, "I know all of this, Pounce! But I hate this! It isn't fair!"
Datum watched as Pouncer slowly walked towards Biter and placed a hand on his shoulder. Within mere moments Biter's demeanor changed and some of the tenseness of his shoulders dissipated. This was not lost on Datum.
At least Biter will still have a friend when I go.
It was hard for the rainbowface to believe how close he had gotten to Biter in a few short weeks. At first his offer of friendship had been made in order to save his friends and himself. However within days he had found that he enjoyed spending a few hours with the small brown fastbiter. Datum was just another kid to Biter, and he had welcomed the rainbowface with open arms. It was something that Datum's leaf-eater friends had trouble understanding, and it now seemed that a similar situation existed on the other side. It seemed that the other fastbiter children were more inclined to see them as food. Friendly food, but food nonetheless.
I am what I am, and he is what he is. Datum clinched his fists with anticipation, My friend helped me and now it is time for me to help him!
Without a word, the rainbowface rose from behind the rock and walked towards the two fastbiters.
-----
Biter froze. The sudden appearance of his friend filled him with dread. How much of the conversation had he heard?
"Why didn't you tell me about the hunt, Biter?"
Biter felt a chill go up his spine. He had heard everything. He could see Pouncer step back awkwardly as the rainbowface walked forward as if he were not even there.
"I didn't know what to say," Biter spoke in a pitiful voice. "I was worried..."
"That I would be angry? That I wouldn't understand?" Datum spoke bluntly as he stopped a few feet from Biter. His expression gave no hint as to his emotions and his scent was an odd combination of smells. All that Biter could do was nod mutely.
A growl escaped from behind Biter as Pouncer made himself known, "You may not understand leaf-eater, but we sharpteeth have to do what we got to do."
Biter cringed as Pouncer tried to defend his friend's honor. He now felt like a ground fuzzy being pulled apart by two different sharpteeth. He had no idea that Datum and Pouncer's viewpoints were not so different.
"My friends would not understand, Pouncer, but I do. You aren't the only ones to have parents that changed."
Both Biter and Pouncer stared at the rainbowface in shock. It wasn't until Pouncer spoke that Biter realized what Datum was talking about.
"Star people?"
Datum tilted his head with an odd expression, before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"Ha! I was wondering how your parents told you about that in the songs... but yes, my parents used to be half-teeth on their... old home." He rubbed his chin in a contemplative manner, "It is hard for me to believe too, but it is the only way for mommy and daddy to know some of the things that they know." He sighed deeply and looked at Biter apologetically, "Not even my friends know that part of the story. The valley would think that we were crazy."
Pouncer snorted at the rainbowface's response. He was now noticeably more at ease. "From what our mommies and daddies said, the valley thinks that you rainbowfaces are crazy anyway!"
Datum took a mock bow, but did not respond verbally. All of his attention was on his friend. Biter appeared to be slowly recovering from his shock. Within moments Biter finally ended his silence.
"So you are also keeping a secret from your friends?" The parallels between Datum's situation and that of Biter was not lost on anyone present, "Why? Can't you trust them?"
Datum shook his head, "My mommy and daddy made me promise to not tell anyone. It is hard sometimes, but I have kept my promise."
Understanding that Datum's words were an invitation, Pouncer took this opportunity to speak, "See, Biter? Even Datum has to do things that he doesn't like sometimes."
Biter shook his head as he again found the strength to speak, "How can you take this so well? I have to kill someone today."
Datum looked at his friend with sympathetic eyes. "Biter, one of my friend's has seen his mother die in front of him. We have all been chased by sharpteeth and barely escaped with our lives. Then you finally decided to spare me, even when you didn't have to. Even when bringing me back to your parents would have made them proud."
Biter couldn't argue with his friend's words. He had thrown away a perfect opportunity to be the first of the children to complete a hunt. Instead he had decided to have a new friend. He could not have imagined where that choice would have taken him.
"My parents told me a lot of stories about your parents, you know? We leaf-eaters may not do song-stories like you sharpteeth, but we still tell our tales. I seem to remember a longneck who refused to abandon a baby sharptooth."
Biter nodded, "My daddy."
Datum nodded as well, "It looks like that you got your father's kind heart. But even your father had to kill, didn't he?"
Silence enveloped the three dinosaurs as Datum's words echoed in Biter's mind. He had never thought of it that way before. Was that why his father was giving him this test now? To ensure that he could do what he had to do?
The sensation of Datum's hand touching his shoulder made Biter's attention shift back to the present.
"Stay safe out there, Biter. I will still be your friend when you get back."
-----
The three dinosaurs continued to converse quietly as Biter's demeanor quickly became more relaxed and confident. Between the recounting of Datum's family history and Pouncer's growing appreciation of the rainbowface, it seemed that all that were present had learned a great deal that morning. It was in this position that Biter's parents discovered him nearly an hour later.
"It looks like our son is feeling better." Littlefoot noted with more than a measure of relief, "I was worried that I was too hard with him yesterday."
Ruby looked over at her mate. Despite the early hour and the knowledge that an exhausting hunt lay in front of them, she was quite heartened by the scene in front of her. She gave Littlefoot a happy smile.
"You did what you had to do, because no one else could have done what you did," Ruby comforted her uncertain mate. She then studied the interaction between Biter and the rainbowface. It reminded her of a certain longneck and sharptooth long ago. "It looks like the rainbowface is as understanding as you were with Path."
Littlefoot nodded, "Well, he does have good parents."
She nuzzled her mate and nipped at his crest playfully, "So does a certain son of ours."
The two relieved parents watched the three dinosaurs for several moments until the sounds of the other packmates waking reached their ears. The time of the hunt had finally begun.
-----
"Good news, children! Spotter has spotted two longnecks!"
The cheers were deafening as the mention of food greatly improved the morale of the children. The aching in their bellies no longer seemed to be as unbearable now that it was known that food was on the way. When the happy mutterings of the children finally died down Ruby continued her speech.
"You know the plan, children. Your watchers are Breeze and Finder while we are hunting. Treat them like they are your own parents, especially for those of you who have them as your parents!"
There was some laughter from Datum at Ruby's sing-song manner of speaking. The other children, however, quickly muttered their agreement to Ruby's words. They all knew that they would have to deal with their real parents if they misbehaved under Spike and Breeze's watch.
"That is, except for Biter and Swipe," Littlefoot smiled pridefully at his two children as the other children gave them confused glances, "You two are to participate in today's hunt."
The other children gasped as the two little fastbiters walked forward stoically. The formality of joining one's first hunt was not something that they had been taught, but rather seemed to come from something more primitive and instinctual. They knew full well what this even entailed. On this day they would be taking their first steps to adulthood.
With great nervousness at having the eyes of the entire pack upon them, Swipe and Biter slowly turned towards their friends once they reached the hunting party. They kept their faces expressionless despite the torrent of emotions that were coursing through their minds. Finally Spike freed them from their anticipation.
"To those who are about to hunt, may your prey fall before you!"
The roars of the children were deafening as they wished the hunters the best in their own way. During this vociferous symphony of roars Biter could see the leaf-eaters move back cautiously, except for a certain rainbowface who stood his ground. Now words were spoken between the two, but the expression in Datum's eyes communicated volumes.
Stay safe.
-----
"Alright, children, what is the first rule when hunting?"
Swipe struggled to keep up with the elder fastbiters as they ran to where Petrie had indicated the longnecks had been sighted. Despite her aching feet and empty belly she felt hyper-aware of everything going on around her. Her nervousness over what was expected of her was only matched by her excitement of finally becoming a true hunter.
"Keep your eyes open."
Biter's answer was spoken with a bit of breathlessness, but gone was the melancholy from the day before. Swipe could only guess that something that the rainbowface had said must have eased her brother's spirits.
"Very good, Biter!" Littlefoot affirmed as he ducked down to avoid crashing into a limb. After a few more moments of dodging the oncoming obstacles he spoke again, "Now it's your turn, Swipe. What is the next thing that we must do?"
Swipe smiled confidently despite her inner misgivings. It seemed that her father knew of his children's nervousness and wished to distract them until they could perform their duty. Nonetheless, she had to admit that it was a welcome distraction.
"We cannot let the prey know that we are coming."
Littlefoot nodded as he slowed his pace, "Which means?"
"Travel downwind!"
"Be quiet like the wind!"
"Let your surroundings hide you!"
Littlefoot laughed at the rapid fire answers from his children. He could tell by their answers that they knew their hunting lessons, but how would they handle the real thing?
The pack suddenly stopped as Littlefoot held up a hand. The two siblings glanced at one another in confusion at their father's action. Nonetheless they remained silent. They knew full well that their father would not have ordered a stop unless it was necessary.
"Children, come forward."
Swipe cautiously stepped forward as her brother followed close behind. She now could see that her father and the others had crouched down, and so she did the same. Within moments they were on either side of their father's arms, and could see what he was looking at.
It's the longneck!
"That is what we are going to be taking down today. What do you notice, children?"
Swipe was confused by the question at first, but then quickly deduced that her father wanted them to look for anything that could help them in the hunt. Now realizing this she took a close look at the longneck.
He is moving awfully slow... Is he hurt?
She thought about speaking right then, but decided against it as the longneck let out a low-pitched bellow into the air. This was followed by the longneck stopping his forward motion and looking in the direction of the pack. Swipe quickly dove as he did this in order to avoid being seen.
"Is something wrong with his eyes?"
Swipe looked at her brother in confusion, but then quickly rose up to again gaze upon the longneck. That was when she finally saw what her brother had noticed. The longneck's eyes had a glazed look to them.
"That's right, Biter." Littlefoot smiled with pride, "He has what my grandfather called the 'glazed eye sickness'. He is a goner even if we don't do anything here."
Swipe looked up at her father, "Someone else would eat him?"
Littlefoot nodded, "Exactly. That is why he walked out here in the first place."
Both siblings now shared a perplexed look at their father's words. The same though was running through their minds. Why would a longneck intentionally want to be eaten?
"It is a final walk, children," Ruby suddenly made herself known as she walked behind the children. It was only now that the two siblings could see that the others were not attempting to hide anymore. They knew that it was no longer necessary.
Swipe tilted her head in confusion, "A final walk?"
Ruby smiled softly but there was a hint of sadness in her expression, "It is something that longnecks do when they feel that they are a burden on the herd. They simply walk away."
Littlefoot nodded at his mate, "Your mother is right, children, that is exactly what a final walk is. My Grandpa had to explain it to me when an old far-walker decided to walk away. His eyes had the same glaze to them." It was now that the children could notice that Littlefoot's eyes also had a glint of sadness to them, "I guess that my Grandma and Grandpa would have made the same walk eventually had the battle not taken them. It is the longneck way."
Biter now looked horrified, "Is... is that what we do when we are a burden to the pack?"
Swipe felt a shiver go down her spine at her brother's question. She was only familiar with her parents, their friend's parents, and Thud's pack as elder fastbiters. As a result the final fate of elderly fastbiters was unknown to her. She knew of death of course, but she did not associate it with what could happen to those she loved. Youth bred such dreams of immortality and it only took a dying longneck to shatter such dreams into pieces.
"Don't worry, Biter. Thud is the eldest of us, and he still has a long way to go before... he would have to consider that..."
Silence descended upon the children as the indirect confirmation shocked them to the core. Just as this longneck would soon die for their meal, they would die one day as well. The choosers of the dead would one day be chosen themselves.
-----
Littlefoot remained silent for several moments in order to allow the full magnitude of what had been said to sink in. Petrie had chosen their target masterfully. First the children would confront the necessity of death... then they would take their part in the great circle of life. Looking up at his mate, he could see that she was echoing his thoughts on the matter. Almost imperceptibly, he gave her a slight nod.
"This will be what we are going to hunt children, but it is not what you are going to hunt."
Biter's eyes glistened with interest, "Then what are we hunting, Momma?"
Littlefoot carefully positioned himself in-between his two children and directed their gaze towards the lumbering longneck. "You see how the longneck is bellowing every few seconds?" the children nodded in response, "That is because he knows that someone followed him out here that doesn't belong."
Swipe looked at her father in confusion, "Who, Dad?"
Littlefoot smiled as he pointed into the distance, the small figure of a longneck youngling could be seen walking towards the longneck from about a mile away. The drooping head of the young one confirmed his fatigue.
"This little one seems to be on the adventurous side, and wants to protect his elder. I suppose that he doesn't understand why the longneck is doing this," Littlefoot's eyes suddenly turned dark as he looked at both of his children, "You are too teach him that bloody lesson."
Biter's glistening eyes made something lurch in the fastbiter's stomach, but Littlefoot did not yield. He knew that if he did not force his son to do this now then it would be that much harder in the future.
"Kill the youngling, children. That is your mission."
The time of mercy was over.
-----
Armo heard the bellow from his grandfather and quickened his pace.
He is over here! he thought with grim determination, I have to talk him out of this!
It had all started during the meal that morning. His parents were quite somber and few words were spoken. It was only when his grandfather arrived that he had any indication of what was transpiring.
"Are you sure about this, Father? Surely you have many more days left?"
The elder smiled sadly, "My son, you always looked on the bright side of things, but all things must come to an end. Now is my time. I should go while I can still see you all say goodbye."
Armo shivered at that memory, as his willed himself forward through the forbidding terrain.
"But you can't do this, Grandpa! We can take care of you!"
The elder was holding back tears as the youngling mourned in front of him. He was resigned to his fate, but the youngling still had the boundless hope that came with youth. A commodity that he still respected even if he lost that innocence so long ago.
"Yes, little Armo, but that would not be what is best for the herd. You know this."
The little longneck let out a sob as he trampled the ground with his front legs.
"Do you think it would be best for your family to have you gone? We love you, Grandpa! Did you think about us?!"
His grandfather let out a soft bellow as he nuzzled his grandson, "Of course, child. But sometimes we have to do things which are unpleasant. Trust me, I am not looking forward to this. Try to understand."
Unfortunately it was all too much for the little longneck. He had experienced his fair share of death as a youngling, as was common with longneck children. He had seen three of his siblings fall from illness, and one sister who mysteriously disappeared. That sense of loss was something that he never wanted to experience again. To have his own grandfather willingly put him through such tragedy again was too much for him to bear.
So he ran.
He had cried for hours by the stream. The comforting words of his parents and the other adults of the herd did little to console him. Their utterances could not bring his grandfather back... but perhaps his words could?
In the instant he considered that option all other thoughts were drowned out by his newfound hope. He simply had to succeed! He had no time to waste, however, as his grandfather had walked away from the herd hours before. If he was going to catch up and convince the elder then he had to move immediately. Telling his parents or the other herd mates was out of the question.
So, like the Gang of Seven in their leaf-eater days, he struck out on a journey of his own.
There he is! Armo thought happily as the elder's neck appeared over the crest of the hill. He could not see his grandfather's expression from this distance, but he assumed that he would be displeased. Nonetheless that would play into Armo's plans.
If he has to bring me back to the herd then he can't do this today. I can still convince him!
Unfortunately Armo neglected to consider his surrounds in his headlong sprint. In an instant one of the brown boulders appeared to move. That was when he came to a horrifying realization.
"Sharptooth!"
-----
Ruby smiled in pride as Biter quickly gave chase to the small youngling. The reddish form of Swipe could be seen in the distance as Biter closed in on the prey. The children had chosen a good strategy in having the more camouflaged one start the chase and the other cut off any route of escape. They would make their first kill quite quickly at this rate.
"Shit!"
Ruby turned around from her duty of supervising the kids from a distance. The tell-tale sound of Cera's voice being heard from this distance was a clear indication that something was not going according to plan.
"Oh no," Ruby muttered quietly in shock. Now she could see what had caused Cera's ire.
The elder longneck had evaded the ambush by the other adults and had begun to run in the direction of his embattled grandson. What had started as an easy hunt now had turned into an imminent threat for the children. She knew what she had to do.
With as much speed as she could muster she ran towards the children. She had to help them evade the lumbering giant, no matter the personal risk to herself.
"Run, children! Run!"
-----
The sound of his mother's voice filled Biter with increased motivation. In the thrill of the hunt all of his prior misgivings were forgotten. The feeling of his feet pummeling the hard ground, his lungs burning with exertion, and the smell of fear from his prey overrode all other thoughts. It was intoxicating in a way that Biter had never experienced before.
"Oh crap!"
At the sudden exclamation of his sister the longneck broke off to his left. This confused the young fastbiter as his sister was supposed to hide until the longneck was nearly upon her. Why did she break her cover?
The sound of thundering feet some distance away soon answered his question. It was only then that he looked at the situation behind him.
"Momma!"
In horror Biter could see that his mother had assumed a position between the children and the charging longneck. Her back was turned away from him, but he could see the tension in her muscles as the beast approached like an avalanche. Biter had no idea what his mother was planning on doing, but he didn't have to wait long to have his unspoken question answered.
In a swift motion, Ruby dodged one of the massive feet of the longneck and hurled herself at the sauropod's neck. In an instant that seemed to drag on into eternity she managed to latch onto the base of the longneck's neck with her teeth and claws. This caused an immediate stream of blood to flow from his trunk-like neck.
"Grandpa! No!"
Neither of the two young fastbiter gave their prey much heed as they focused exclusively on their mother's fate. She had just taken a great risk in order to save them from the rampaging longneck. However it was in this moment of supposed triumph that tragedy struck.
With a single forceful turn of the neck Ruby was hurled off of the longneck's body. With an audible thud she landed hard on the surface of the ground. Ruby was unmoving.
"Mom!!!"
Both children screamed in horror at their mother's fate. All thoughts of the hunt or their own safety had evaporated in that horrific moment. All that they could do was watch as the longneck slowly recovered and again took on a firm footing on the hard, sun-baked ground. Then, with a grim expression, he began to advance towards the fallen fastbiter. With the rest of the pack well behind the massive longneck there was no hope of a last-minute intervention. They were about to see their mother killed in front of them.
Biter growled in anger. Something had been awakened in him. Something primal. He would do anything to rescue his mother, but there seemed to be no possibility at his disposal. That was when he had a sudden realization.
The youngling had stopped running to watch the fight.
Biter turned towards the child with a grim expression and blood red eyes. His mother still had a chance.
-----
The elder longneck edged towards the fallen fastbiter. The sounds of groans indicated that it was still very much alive, but just incapacitated. A situation that he resolved to soon remedy.
This is for my grandson.
"Ah!!! Help!"
With rising horror he looked towards the sound of his grandson's voice. Armo was pinned by two fastbiters younglings. A reddish one had a firm grip on his hindquarters, whereas the other one had his claws planted firmly around his throat. His heart sank. He knew that he could not save his grandson now.
"If you want him to live then you have better leave our mother alone!"
The longneck stopped and stared at the brown fastbiter that had just spoken. Leaf-eater from a sharptooth?
"If you hurt her then I will rip out his throat!"
The elderly longneck's legs began to shake as the loss of blood began to take its hold on his body. It seems that their mother has already put an end to me, he thought morosely, but my grandson still has a chance. With grim resolve he ignored the fallen fastbiter and stepped towards his grandson.
"Leave him alone! He is only a child!"
Biter did not appear to be impressed with the elder's pleading as he tightened his grip on the longneck and moved his mouth threateningly close to Armo's neck..
"I will do it! Don't get any closer!"
The elder was almost lost with despair at this point. His grandson was now being threatened with destruction if he took any action on his behalf, and he could feel his life slowly drain from him. It was at that moment that he had a realization. I know of only one pack of sharpteeth that speak leaf-eater...
"You... are from Littlefoot's pack, aren't you?"
The brown fastbiter was taken aback by this and nearly lost hold of his grandson's neck. With a grimace, the elder could see that his grandson's neck now had a minor cut from the fastbiter trying to regain his hold. However, the young one seemed to be healthy otherwise. When he spoke again Biter's words came back with a cautious tone.
"Yes... I am his son. How did you know?"
The longneck snorted as he could feel numbness rise up his tail. Very soon he knew that his legs would follow. Then he would be making his journey into the Great Beyond.
"Every longneck now alive knows about your father and his friends, little one." He tried to keep his voice calm despite his concern for his grandson and the coming of death. He knew that he couldn't risk having the youngling kill his hostage, "You are the cursed ones. The ones that were cursed in order to help the many. The merciful sharpteeth." He then took a shuddering breath as he tried to make his case, "I am old and feeble, which is why I am here. Spare my grandson. Surely I am enough of a meal for all of you."
The young fastbiter seemed to consider this as he held on to Armo's neck. The gaze of the brown fastbiter was planted firmly on the prone form of his mother. It was obvious that he would not budge until she was safe from potential harm.
It was then that he had an idea. I can't be much of a threat if I am dying. This place is as good as any other. Exaggerating the loss of sensation from his blood loss, he willed his hind legs to shake and fell onto his side. Despite doing this of his own free will, he knew that he lacked the strength to get up again, He would not be moving from that spot. He had come to the place of his death.
"You're dying," the fastbiter's voice softly spoke as the rest of the fastbiters surrounded their fallen comrade and slowly roused her. There was an odd sense of pathos in the words, as if the sharptooth was unused to seeing death directly. Meanwhile, the mournful sobs on his grandson could be heard from under the fastbiter's clutches. This seemed to make something change in the fastbiter's demeanor.
Almost imperceptibly Biter looked over at his sister and gave a slight nod. She looked taken aback for a moment, which was an odd sight for the elder longneck to see. But, with cautious slowness, she detached herself from the youngling's flank and nodded back. His grandson was now free.
"Run back to the herd, Armo," the elder longneck demanded with a profound sense of relief. His gambit had worked, "I will be reunited with Grandma soon, and I don't want to explain to Grandma why I let you die."
Armo continued to sob as he looked back towards his fallen grandfather, "I can't, Grandpa! I can't let them do this to you!"
The elder longneck smiled softly in response, "Oh, Armo, you are so like your father. So hopeful. But all things come to an end, and here is mine." He watched as Armo bowed his head as a final show of respect, "Just promise me one thing, young one."
Armo looked up with determination despite his despair, "Anything, Grandpa."
The elder smiled, "Live a good life. See to it when you are in my position that you have no regrets."
The young longneck closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in his anguish, "I promise, Grandpa!" He then began to shake as the sobs threatened to overtake him. It was in that moment that Biter nudged him in the leg and Armo took flight. His cries of mourning echoing across the barren landscape.
Take care, Armo.
It was only then that the longneck noticed a larger brown fastbiter standing in front of his face. With his body now prone and fast losing its vitality, he was completely defenseless to the pack that lay before him. Even the fallen pink fastbiter had again rose to her feet as her children gathered around and embraced her. It seemed that his time had come. He would be the only one dying today.
"Do you have any regrets?" Littlefoot echoed the elder's previous statement.
The longneck took a shallow breath as his vision began to dim slightly, "Not anymore."
The fastbiter seemed pleased with this answer as he gathered his two children in front of him and growled something unintelligible at them. This caused the two younglings to look at the elder's neck with an odd expression. He now knew what was coming as he closed his eyes.
Make it quick, children...
-----
Biter looked at his handiwork in muted shock. Where sun-baked ground was below his feet previous, now a sea of crimson stood in its place. He did not have to look at his reflection in the lifeblood of the longneck to know that he was covered. Where a pink and a brown youngling stood before, now only two crimson younglings stood in their place.
Which, in a way, was a perfect allegory for how they felt.
"Very good, children. He did not need to suffer any more than he already suffered."
Biter could hear the words from his mother echo in his head, but he did not immediately process them. Instead his focus had shifted to the longneck's eyes. Where before life and vitality emanated from those half-blinded orbs, now only stillness remained. A lifetime of knowledge and memories had been destroyed in a few minutes.
"It is quite different killing other dinosaurs, isn't it?"
His father's words finally snapped Biter out of his inner thoughts as he looked over at Littlefoot. His eyes were kindly and compassionate even as his expression was stern and confident. It was then that Biter realized that his father knew exactly what he was going through.
"This... was going to happen anyway. If not us then someone else."
His sister's words were undoubtedly true, but Biter still felt unease at his actions, "Is it always like this?"
Littlefoot smiled slightly as he put a comforting hand on each of his children's shoulders, "It gets easier, Biter. It gets easier. Remember how I said I was after my first kill?" Biter nodded in confirmation, "When you know that you have to do it then it gets a lot easier, but you should never lose that respect for life that I see in your eyes. When you start to see them only as only food... that is when monstrous things can happen."
Biter blinked, "Like Calin and Redclaw?"
Littlefoot nodded, "Like Calin and Redclaw."
Silence descended upon the family for several moments as the siblings processed what they had just done and what it meant for the future. Some part of their previous naivetÈ had died that day, but something else now stood in its place. A respect for life that came from knowing the price of survival. A lesson that could only be learned from killers or their victims. A lesson that was told in blood.
"You let your target go, children, but that was the right thing to do. The pack already had its meal, and your quick thinking saved your mother." Upon Littlefoot's proud words, Ruby nuzzled her children. More than a few relived tears were falling down the faces of the blood-soaked fastbiters, "Part of being a hunter is knowing when to let the prey go and to choose another battle. You did that today."
The other packmates gave the family room as the children relished in the warmth of their parents. Between nearly seeing their beloved mother crushed, and being forced to kill, their emotions were as chaotic as crashing waves upon a shore. They needed time to understand the magnitude of what had transpired.
After several moments however, Biter finally broke the silence.
"What do we do now, Dad?"
Biter's innocent question broke the stillness. It had been Littefoot's idea to have the children strike the killing blow against the large longneck even though their original quarry was allowed to get away. They had already learned their lesson, so he had no reason not to let them have a 'kill' even if it was already a foregone conclusion. However, with some amusement, he realized that they had not be trained in what came after a hunt. Before he could answer however a familiar voice answered in his place.
"We eat him, silly! It isn't like he is going to run away now, is it?"
Littlefoot rolled his eyes at Taunt's exclamation as the others laughed softly. Even the shell-shocked children chuckled a bit at the fastbiter's joke. Their grim determination to face what they had to do had turned into a growing acceptance. Seeing this, Littlefoot gestured towards the slashed neck of the sauropod and spoke gently to the children.
"The killer of the prey gets the first bite, children. Then the rest of us will eat and get the others." Then as an afterthought he lifted one of his daughter's feathers, "Though before your leaf-eater friends get here you might want to take a bath."
Biter looked more than a little self-conscious, "We won't... we won't have to sing about this to them, will we?"
It was at this point that Ruby gave her son a light nuzzle, "I think that song could be told in sharptooth only, don't you agree, dear?"
Littlefoot nodded, "Absolutely, but you will be singing tonight, you two."
"But, dad..."
"But, I can't carry a tune! Pouncer's siblings will laugh at me!"
Laughter now echoed from the hunters at the discomfort of the children. Singing was part of the tradition, and an important part of how knowledge was passed on from generation to generation. This was simply an embarrassment that the children would have to struggle through.
"We can help you plan the song, children, so don't be worried about that!" Littlefoot affirmed through his laughter, "Besides it isn't like your song can't be any ornerier than some of Taunt's..."
"I resent that!" Taunt playfully replied with no actual offense in his voice.
Caw!
The levity was suddenly interrupted by the distant call of Petrie. The children had no idea what that signified until Littlefoot softly explained.
"Spotter was to help lead the child away from danger. That means that he is on his way to safety," Littlefoot looked more than a bit contemplative, "I imagine his story will not be as happy as ours."
The laughter that had seconds before erupted from the victorious fastbiters now seemed like a distant memory as the children were again reminded of ramifications of their actions. Yes, they had simply done what their place in nature demanded, but a child would be forever traumatized because of what happened here today. It was with that in mind that Biter approached his fallen prey.
"Thank you for this gift."
As the small fastbiter took a bite from the longneck's flesh, his sister joined him at his side and took her first bite as well. It was only then that the rest of the hunting party began to feast upon their favorite parts.
Biter and Swipe had just taken their first tentative steps towards adulthood.
-----
"I wonder if we made the right choice."
Arial could only look towards the Night Circle with uncertain eyes at her brother's statement. She doubted that any of them knew what was the right choice anymore. But since her mother and father were getting slower in their old age, they all knew that it would be up to one of the children to take the risk.
"Keeping Hanging Rock is our best chance to keep the family safe," she replied guardedly, "If we leave then Dein and Terri might decide to keep it for themselves."
Orchid snorted bitterly, "Who is to say that they won't do that already?" Upon seeing his sister's glare he continued, "I know that I agreed to it, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it! I would rather be dead than be Dein's servant, but that doesn't mean that I particularly look forward to either possibility!"
The male fastrunner threw a stone into the shallow stream, which caused it to skip all the way over to the other side. He could only hope that his journey would be as successful.
"Take care, brother."
Orchid turned to his sister with a soft smile, but quickly amended this with his classic smirk, "Don't worry, sis! I will be back in no time! You just keep the beasts happy until I get back."
Arial snorted at this, "You had better not tell Chomper that you called his parents that!"
Orchid shrugged, "I guess that I will have to remember to use more appropriate words when I talk to Chomper about his parents, like 'meat for brains' or 'carrion suckers'."
Arial shook her head, "You are so going to get yourself eaten!"
Without replying verbally, Orchid quietly gave his sister a brief embrace. She returned the gesture where usually she would have knocked such a response away.
"I will be back soon! Just you watch! I will be back before you even know it!"
As the two siblings prepared to return to their parent's shelter one last time, each could only wonder if they would meet again. One would have to continue serving the sharpteeth with her parents, whereas the other would be embarking on a messenger mission unlike any he had ever undertaken before.
His fate and possibly that of his family hung in the balance.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/18/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/18/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 17: Love is in the air
"Wow, Swipe! How did you and Biter take this one down?!"
Swipe suppressed a sigh at Sprint's question. He was as ornery and playful as the rest of Cera and Taunt's children, but was noticeably lacking in seeing what was in front of his own snout, as Taunt would say. Thankfully, Pouncer saved her from explaining the situation in more detail.
"They finished off what our mommies and daddies did, Sprint. Do you honestly think that they nibbled this thing to death?"
Swipe let out a slight chuckle at Pouncer's comment as Sprint retreated a bit in embarrassment. The image of two little younglings taking down a full-grown longneck was too humorous to ignore. However, she did have the wits about her to thank her companions for their compliments.
"Thanks, guys! Yeah, my momma hurt it badly, but then it tried to hurt momma!"
Biter took that moment to join in. His feathers still glistened with a crimson hue from their bloody work.
"We decided to threaten the young longneck until the big one got away from momma! Then we went over and finished him off..."
Pouncer and Sprint listened in fascination as the two siblings retold their story about the hunt. That was until a certain adult came on the scene.
"Part of the tradition is to sing the story... not to tell it."
Biter and Swipe both turned towards the form of their mother. Her hands were firmly planted on her hips in a stern gesture, but her tone of voice and eyes gave away her lack of actual anger.
"But Mom..." The siblings replied in unison.
"No buts about it, you two! As soon as your friends are finished with dinner then you can sing for the pack."
Pouncer chuckled, "I wonder if you can even carry a tune, Biter."
Unfortunately for Pouncer if there was one thing that troubled Biter more than his fear of singing, it was his desire to always win their little contests... and Pouncer had just given him quite the opening.
"I bet you that I can!"
Pouncer looked at his friend coyly, which caused his brother to nudge him.
"What do you bet?" Sprint inquired.
Swipe rolled her eyes as she walked closer to her mother. I don't want to be any part of this...
"I bet that me and my sister can sing better than you guys!"
Swipe turned around as if she was struck. She ignored the laughter coming from her mother and father at the growing dispute. "Biter... what are you..."
"You're on!" Ambush's voice echoed from across the fallen longneck's tail. It seemed that her interest in the meal had been overtaken by her familiar pride, "The losers get to give the winners ground fuzzies for an entire day!"
Swipe was not having any of this. "Guys..."
"Deal!"
Swipe bowed her head at her brother's arrogant agreement. What had he gotten her in to?
"Well... that is an interesting bet, children," Cera's voice could be heard as she walked up to Ruby. The mothers of both families were smiling widely at this little display, "But I think that you forgot something. You and Swipe can sing about the hunt, but what are my boys and girls going to sing about? Being bored and waiting for the hunt to finish?"
Now that she had put it that way, Swipe began to think about the possibility of her and Biter winning. This noticeably changed her tune on the entire endeavor.
"Then it was silly for them to agree on the bet, wasn't it?" Swipe nudged her brother in annoyance despite her change in opinion on the bet. She wanted him to be well aware that she was not happy to be 'volunteered' in that way.
Upon seeing the suddenly less than enthusiastic expressions on the faces of Cera's children, Ruby decided to show some mercy, "You never agreed on a time so perhaps we should wait until they get to hunt before you all have your challenge? That was your challenge would actually be challenging?"
"Mom..." Both children whined as they could feel victory slip from their grasps.
Littlefoot and Taunt, who had been silent until then, decided to speak up.
"I agree, dear." Littlefoot's expression was full of amusement.
"As do I," Taunt's expression was firmly directed at his children, "But maybe you three have learned a lesson about being too hasty to make bets? It nearly cost you this time."
"And it still will!" Biter affirmed boastfully.
"Will not!" Pouncer retorted, as the two friends began to circle one another with mock aggression. Despite being many miles away from their territory their antics made the inhospitable gorge feel like home. Nonetheless Littlefoot knew that they had to hurry up and finish what they had started.
"Go ahead and eat up, children. We need to fill our bellies here and you two," he stared at his children, "need to quit wasting time and sing your song... then we can get your other friends. Somehow I don't think that Sauria, Charger, or Datum want to see a dead longneck after what they have been through."
Biter looked at his father with an understanding expression, Yeah... I don't think they would want to hear my song either. Except for Datum. I am sure he is worried about me.
Ruby, misinterpreting Biter's sudden look of contemplation, added softly, "Yep. And after you two sing your song I bet that all of you children wouldn't mind hearing the next song about how all of you came along."
Swipe's face perked up at that. "What happens in that song, momma?"
Ruby laughed. "You will just have to wait and see, Swipe. You will just have to wait and see..."
-----
"Crap, crap, crap, this is too close!"
Orchid hissed to himself as he watched a small brown fastbiter youngling disappear behind the corpse of the fallen longneck. From this distance the fastrunner could not deduce what was being said, but he could see one important fact. This was obviously some other pack than his elder sister's. He would do no good if he got eaten here.
Orchid took a deep breath as he hid behind the small stone which served as his shelter. The fastbiter is behind the longneck now, which means that his parents must be there as well. Maybe if they are already full then they won't want to chase me?
Thoughts of Calin then sprung into his mind. The evil fastbiter had nearly killed his father and his sister back in the Battle for the Valley. Despite being very young during that time, he remembered that detail as if it had happened yesterday. That pretty much made up his mind for him.
I can't take the chance! I will have to make a run for it!
He raised his head above the stone once more and stared at the fallen longneck's back. There was still no one present. If he ran now then he might have a chance of continuing onto his destination without being seen.
Now!
He did not dare look back as he pumped his legs with as much speed as he could muster. He had long lamented his father's insistence on having him and his sister run races until they were exhausted, but now he realized the necessity of those sprints.
He now realized the necessity all too well.
In what could have been minutes or hours as far as the fastrunner could tell, his legs began to feel like burning sand and his lungs ached from his non-stop exertion. It was only then that he allowed himself to collapse to the ground, and to rest. If something was chasing him then they could have their meal as far as he was concerned. His legs refused to go any further.
Over many moments of lying in the now cool sand of the barrens, he could slowly feel his leg muscles begin to obey his commands again. It took longer for his breaths to form something other than desperate gasps, but eventually those too returned to normal. It was only then that he allowed himself to look up at the new surroundings that he found himself.
Nothing but barren sand. He was now in the barrens just outside of where Petrie had once said that the pack's territory now resided.
I... I ran that far?
A slight chuckle then left the mouth of the fastrunner, which was soon followed by another. Then, like the small rock which starts the landslide, he began to erupt in raucous laughter. He was alive! And now he could finally get help from his sister's pack.
Meanwhile, in the pack that he had just escaped, a song was about to begin. A song that was going to be sung by a fastbiter that he didn't see prior to his desperate flight. A fastbiter that he hadn't seen in several years.
His own sister.
-----
...but first there was another song to attend to.
Biter and Swipe shifted uncomfortably as the members of the pack stared at them. They had succeeded in the hunt and had won the praises of the adults, but the act of singing in front of the assembled dinosaurs caused them immense fear. Even Datum seemed to take on a predatory gaze in the minds of the two siblings. They knew that their scent of nervousness was probably apparent to everyone now.
"You can do it, children! Just pretend like we are not here."
Biter gulped despite the encouraging words of his mother. They may have left their killed prey behind for the sake of the leaf-eater's, but he could still taste his flesh in his mouth. He had taken life from another living being, and now he had the obligation to sing in thanks of his sacrifice. In fact, they both did.
Biter looked at his sister one last time before she gave a slight nod of the head. They had worked on the words after the feast, and now it was simply up to them to do them justice. With a thundering heart and shaking limbs they began their chorus.
♪♪ We two had never hunted, but hunger came for the pack
It was food that we wanted, and so a longneck we had to track ♪♪
♪♪ We were scared of what we had to do, we had never done it before
But mommy and daddy said it was our time, that we could not ignore ♪♪
♪♪ The longneck was big and stocky, but old and weak and blind
He went out from his herd, but he did not leave everyone behind ♪♪
♪♪ We saw a little one following, when daddy then explained with trust
That our parents would hunt the big one, but that this hunt was for us ♪♪
A chorus of howls then broke out between the two children as they were caught in the chorus of their hunt song. The part that conveyed emotions that words simply couldn't capture. The part that was unknowable to non-sharpteeth.
Had Biter been fully aware of the situation around him then he would have been relieved that only Datum understood the sharptooth language amongst the three leaf-eaters, as the remainder of the song was quite brutal. However, in that moment he was simply lost in the song. He was not aware of the adults looking at them approvingly as they swayed their tails in unison with the song's cadence.
Soon however their song resumed.
♪♪ The little one ran as we gave chase--
His scent became so heavy that we could taste--
The fear and terror of our approach--
We were about to take what he valued most ♪♪
♪♪ But then the grandfather came charging in--
Our parents had not brought him down--
It looked like the end--
But then momma attacked without making a sound ♪♪
♪♪ Momma had made a killing blow--
But from the ground she could not go--
The grandfather wanted to stomp--
But that we had to stop ♪♪
Datum noticeably tensed up upon hearing these words. He had barely had time to speak to Biter since he had returned to the pack's location. The rather odd path that they had been lead pretty much confirmed to him that the pack didn't want them to see the aftermath of the hunt, which was wise on their part, but Biter's words were nonetheless placing the young rainbowface into that hunt. He could almost feel Biter's fear... his desperation. He clinched his beak in anticipation of what happened next.
♪♪ The little one weak and small,
was grabbed by our maws,
He screamed and the grandfather froze,
which bought time until mom rose ♪♪
Datum's mouth was agape at this news. He had no doubt that Biter and his sister would do what was necessary to help their family, but to be forced to threaten a youngling in front of an elder was too horrible for him to contemplate. He couldn't imagine what Sauria would have thought had she been able to understand this song.
♪♪ The elder agreed to lay and fall,
so that his grandson could escape after all,
The little one still questioned,
but then his grandfather gave his final lesson ♪♪
♪♪ The Bright Circle rises,
The Night Circle falls,
A hatching climbs out of an egg,
Only to grow old and eventually fall ♪♪
♪♪ We all have a place, whether sharptooth or flat,
One of the hardest lessons is to understand that,
Now is my time to go but you can still live on,
Tell my story to your father, my son ♪♪
♪♪ The elder then died by our own claws,
We can still taste his blood on our feathers, our maws,
Know that he gave life up so that we might live on,
Thus ends the story of the longneck and his grandson ♪♪
As the two small fastbiters ended their song silence descended upon the assembled sharpteeth. Sauria and Charger looked creeped out by the eerie song that they couldn't understand, whereas Datum looked horrified for quite a different reason. Littlefoot and Ruby however fixed their children with approving looks, which was matched by the expression of the other adults as well. This was the only sign of any reaction until Pouncer broke the silence.
"That was awesome, guys!"
This break in tradition was followed by further outbursts from the children.
"Wow, you saved your own momma!"
"I bet that longneck was scary!"
"That was a good song!"
Within an instant the other children were around the two stunned siblings. The gathering that had started when Biter and Swipe originally tried to tell their story had again formed around the two new storytellers. Only this time they were joined by the adults who were also wishing them well. Only Littlefoot and Ruby stayed behind for a moment.
"The rhymes were a bit rough in places, but that is a fine start," Littlefoot affirmed to his mate.
Ruby simply nodded as she nuzzled her mate. The terror of nearly being killed by the prey was still fresh in both of their minds. For that reason they did not notice a small rainbowface approach.
"Um... Seeker and Ponder?"
Both of them looked down in surprise at the small leaf-eater. His eyes shone with an odd mixture of innocence and understanding. It was then that Littlefoot remembered an important detail.
"You understand our language... I nearly had forgotten..." He paused for a moment as the implications of that dawned on his mate. He quickly tried to offer an apology, "I am sorry, Datum, you shouldn't have had..."
Datum shook his head as he interrupted the fastbiter, "No, I am glad that I heard it... I... I actually talked to Biter about what he had to do before the hunt."
Ruby gasped, "He told you about that?"
Datum smiled slightly, "I actually kind of invited myself into a conversation he was having... I wanted to know what was upsetting him, and that's when I heard about the hunt," his eyes darkened for a moment as he continued, "This is why he and I have to be apart, right? He would never eat me, but..."
Littlefoot looked at his mate as they shared a knowing smile. Within moments Littlefoot was patting the rainbowface on the shoulder, "You are wiser than I was at your age. It wasn't until the night before I changed that I finally accepted that Path would have to leave the valley one day..." the brown fastbiter smiled, "...but that doesn't mean that your friendship has to end."
Datum stammered, "Really?"
Ruby chuckled at his response as she nuzzled Littlefoot and whispered something in his ear that Datum could not discern. As soon as Littlefoot nodded in return, she spoke, "Well Pterano doesn't get much news from us lately, so perhaps he could carry some other news to the valley and back..."
Littlefoot chuckled, "I am sure that Mr. Threehorn will love to hear Pterano bickering about being reduced to passing news to kids."
Datum likewise chuckled at the idea of Mr. Threehorn actually smiling about something as he considered the possibility of him and Biter conversing through flyers with excitement. It was hard for him to believe that he had not known Biter a mere few weeks before, but now he considered him a trusted friend. It reminded him of a certain longneck and a purple sharptooth in a story...
He was soon interrupted in his thoughts by a smiling rose-colored raptor.
"I don't know about you, Datum, but I think that your friends will want to know that you are not crazy..." She gestured towards the distant forms of Sauria and Charger who were looking at Datum as if he had grown a second tail. "And we will need to rescue our son and daughter from the crowd..."
Datum looked over in the direction of Biter and Swipe but found that he could not see them over the horde of small children who were roaring excitingly in conversation, and gesturing wildly about the story that the siblings had told. It was then that he realized that the scene would appear horrifying and confusing to someone who didn't know the language.
My friends probably think I am crazy, the rainbowface noted before quickly adding, Well, crazier than they thought that I was already.
Unaware of the rainbowfaces thoughts, Littlefoot looked over at his mate with a jocular expression, "I don't know about you, dear, but I think that I know what would distract the children for a while..."
Ruby smiled at the unstated suggestion. She agreed entirely.
"Children, you will need to settle down and gather around if you want to hear the next song!"
She didn't have to yell twice.
-----
Several years ago:
The sharptooth flyer flew in front of him as if to mock his abilities. She swayed to and fro before finally performing a spin in the air and descending into a steep dive.
"Oh no, you don't!"
With a resounding screech Petrie twisted himself into a vertical dive and edged closer to the mysterious flyer. He did not dare allow her to make any move that he did not repeat the next instant. A spin was followed by a spin... a dive was followed by a dive... within moments a clear pattern was established, and Petrie's reactions became more rapid.
Until finally Petrie was not repeating the others actions, but rather was flying in formation. It was as if they were one mind... one body...
Without warning the other flyer grabbed Petrie's talons with her own. Then, with a slight bob of the head, she sent both of them tumbling into a head-first dive. But yet Petrie didn't feel any fear. This all felt right somehow.
Petrie awoke with a start.
"What the..." The flyer struggled to return to equilibrium after the oddly intense sleep story, but within a few moments he realized what had happened, "It that same sleep story again! Why won't sleep story let Petrie sleep?!"
He didn’t dwell on the thought that part of him wanted the sleep story to play out to its conclusion. Or, for that matter, that the Bright Circle was already high in the sky.
Despite the dream lacking anything truly horrifying in it, he had never failed to wake up from the recurring dream with a racing heart and frayed nerves. It was as if his body was compelling him to not ignore what it was telling him. For several days the flyer had been at an utter loss as to why he would be chasing another sharptooth flyer in a sleep story. But then had come the departure of Thud and Swift. Their words had opened his eyes to a possibility that he had never considered...
-----
Earlier that week:
“Leaving? Why?”
Thud examined his son with a mixture of pride and amusement. Taunt had grown into a very loyal and strong fastbiter despite his own failings as a father, and a sickly youth. However, the fact that his son would sometimes not see what was right in front of his snout was a recurring trait that the years could not take away.
“Son... it will soon be the warm season, and this is your sixteenth year.”
Cera looked at the elder fastbiter with a look of incredulity, “I know that he is a bit of an ankle-biter, but I think that he is smart enough not to melt in the Warm Time!”
Thud watched as the other members of the pack laughed at her jocular words. Taunt rolled his eyes and lightly nuzzled Cera in an obvious show of affection, while the other pairs were also subconsciously indicating their feelings. Littlefoot and Ruby were both tilting their heads in a show of mutual confusion at his and Swift’s decision, an expression that Littlefoot seldom had employed until he picked up on it from his companion. Spike and Breeze meanwhile were both laughing at Cera’s little joke, and were not aware that their tails were touching in a show of mutual possessiveness. Only Leap and Ducky seemed to take notice of what Thud was getting at when their amused expressions suddenly turned into serious ones as they shared a knowing look with one another.
Leap saved Thud the trouble of explaining the situation.
“You and Swift are the only unbonded ones here.”
Those words caused the laughter to cease immediately. In an instant the assorted pairs began looking at one another in contemplation, in a scene that would have been amusing in any other circumstance. Now, however, it only confirmed Thud’s suspicions.
“Yes,” Thud replied, “You are all already bonded, but I am not. I am sure that I don’t have to tell you how mating pairs can be when a ëthreat’ is nearby.”
Taunt sputtered at this, “You are not a threat, Dad! I think that we all know that!”
Littlefoot nodded, “And besides... what makes you think that this is the season that um... that stuff happens.”
Petrie settled onto his perch with rapt attention as the fastbiters explained their confusion at Taunt’s actions. He had told no one about his strange dream or the odd feelings that he had been having. The desire to travel to cliffs... to seek out others of his kind... he wanted to hear more from the only father in the group.
“Yes, Thud. How you know this?”
Thud looked up at the flyer. He did not know anything about the situation with flyers, but he was well aware of the facts of life as far as fastbiters were concerned.
“Well...” The elder fastbiter gestured at Littlefoot, “You for one have begun to act like your mate,” He didn’t even bother to use the term companion, “How long have you been tilting your head like that?”
Littlefoot, obviously dumbstruck by Thud’s accusation, tilted his head in confusion as to its implications. Upon realizing what he was doing he quickly shrunk back in embarrassment. Ruby put a hand to her mouth in surprise. They were now aware of something that had been obvious to the others for quite some time.
“And you, my son, when you aren’t trying to bite your friend then you are trying to nuzzle her. And... in case you haven’t noticed... she hasn’t been pushing you away much lately, now has she?”
Taunt and Cera both looked at one another with somewhat contemplative expressions as the elder fastbiter walked towards the next couple in the way, Spike and Breeze.
“You two are still touching tails. That is a way of marking each other as being taken.”
He didn’t even look to see their reaction to that revelation as he looked towards Ducky and Leap. They, however, did not appear as confused by these developments as the others. For that reason Ducky spoke next.
“My momma always told me that when it was time then you would know... she always used to fix up the nest real nice when it was time for more brothers and sisters.”
Thud did not speak for a moment as Ruby had an epiphany.
“I... just cleaned the sleeping area last night. Is that way I cleaned the sleeping area?”
Ducky nodded slowly. She did not feel the need to mention that her and Leap had been doing the same to their sleeping area the night before. It was beginning to look a lot more like a nest that it was previously.
The other pairings began to shift uncomfortably as well in the realization of what was going on. Their instincts had been guiding them towards an obvious destination, but none of them had seen the signs. Or rather, they had failed to heed what they had seen. Now, however, the journey that they were on was too obvious to ignore.
Thud nodded, “Now do you understand why I must go? Even packs must split for a time during the Time of Hatchings, so what luck would I have during that time?”
Taunt took a deep breath as his father’s voice echoed in his mind, “Dad...”
Thud shook his head, “Don’t worry, son, I have seen fiercer battles that merely caring for myself. I will be fine. It is all of you that I am concerned about... the pack will need to disband for a time.”
Silence descended upon the pack as each considered the elder’s ominous words. It was Littlefoot who finally had the courage to ask him to elaborate.
“Why would the pack need to split? We have been through hard times before.”
A heavy sigh behind Littlefoot finally alerted him to the presence of the purple sharptooth. Chomper had begun to grow larger chest muscles in a sign of the Time of Great Growing that was soon approaching. He was now about as old as Littlefoot was when he entered the valley, which only confirmed the passage of years to the brown fastbiter.
“Seeker, remember when my mommy and daddy were having my brothers or sisters...”
Littlefoot did not say anything, but instead bowed his head. The implications of Chomper’s words was obvious to everyone. No one would be safe when the parental instincts began to manifest themselves. The desire to kill any threat... or any competition... no matter how small or young... would be overwhelming. It was a reality that none of them wanted to face.
“We wouldn’t get that bad, would we?” Cera asked helplessly.
Thud simply remained silent for several moments as he rubbed his head, “Well I am leaving my son behind because of what is about to come. What does that tell you, Stern Claw?”
“But we’re good people!” Ducky protested, “My momma didn’t hurt other people when she was heavy with eggs.”
“Your momma wasn’t a sharptooth, Haven,” Chomper replied sadly.
“No,” Thud agreed, “And sometimes even good people do bad things for good reasons. When you were hatched, Taunt, I have no doubt that I would have ripped out my own father’s throat if he had come into my territory. The instincts are that strong. Do not doubt that for a moment.”
The pack fell silent as Thud’s words echoed in their minds. The wind continued to howl in the clearing and the Bright Circle continued to shine, but it felt like something fundamental had shifted in the great order of things. The idea of the pack disbanding and every family fending for themselves was too horrifying to contemplate. Even if it was only for a relatively short time.
Even a short time was an eternity when one had to fend for oneself in the Mysterious Beyond.
It was then that Leap’s sister, Swift, finally walked towards the elder fastbiter and bowed her head slightly. Being unbonded, and not desiring to challenge any of the other females for their mates, she knew what she had to do.
“I guess that I should leave too,” Upon seeing Leap frown at the prospect of seeing his sister leave, she put on a kind smile and replied jocularly, “Don’t worry, Leap, I think that I can resist Thud’s advances.”
No one laughed at her little joke, but no one resisted her suggestion of leaving either. Instead Littlefoot reluctantly gave the gesture for the pack to congregate at the usual meeting spot. It was now time for a discussion on the pack’s future, and to wish two of its allies a temporary farewell. No one knew what the coming weeks would bring, but they did know one thing for certain:
The pack was now on notice for what was to come.
-----
Petrie bowed his head at the memory of that day. The pack had decided to tough out whatever hardships may come, but they agreed on Thud's insistence that they would split if the tensions became too much. However, Petrie could see the fastbiter's true thoughts in his eyes. Thud knew that the pack would eventually have to disband for a time.
It was just a matter of time.
"Come back here, you little pest!"
Petrie's dark thoughts were interrupted by a sudden shout down below. A certain pink fastbiter was chasing after the leader of the pack... who was curiously holding a piece of bark in his mouth. As Petrie contemplated the significance of this Ruby chomped down on his tail and the piece of bark came flying out.
"Ha! You win this time! You got one of them, but can you save them all?"
At Littlefoot's words Ruby let out a deep growl of frustration. The oddity of the situation made Petrie do a double-take as Ruby's response was nearly identical to what he would expect from Cera during one of Taunt's pranks. However that was not as surprising as what happened next.
Littlefoot bit down on Ruby's tail.
"Ow!"
Ruby lunged for a retaliatory swipe, but Littlefoot dodged masterfully. With a chuckle that bordered on maniacal, he sprinted headlong into the bushes in the general direction of their sleeping area. No doubt another piece of Ruby's handiwork would soon be grabbed by the playful fastbiter.
"Damn it, Seeker! If you take another stick then I swear I will do worse than bite your tail!"
Petrie watched in fascination as Ruby also disappeared into the bushes. Her angry snarls following Littlefoot's playful laughs. This was an unexpected sight, but that was not what worried Petrie.
It was uncharacteristic for both of them.
Seeker and Ponder acting like Stern Claw and Taunt! What got into them?
He didn't dare answer his own rhetorical question for he already knew the answer. Everyone was making additions to their sleeping areas... everyone was acting more agitated and playful... everyone was getting more physical...
"When one paired female enters her time, then the others will enter their time. The males then follow. This is why I must leave, Taunt, I don't want to get like that. I am an unbonded male... your mother has long since entered the Great Beyond. If I were to enter my time... then I would be a danger to all of you."
Thud's words echoed in the flyer's mind. The entire pack apart from him and Chomper were entering the Time of Mating. That much was obvious. What was not obvious to him was what to do about it.
"I guess Thud was right."
Petrie looked down at the purple sharptooth that had settled underneath his perch. Chomper was no longer the small youngling that he once was, but yet he was not the terrifying harbinger of death that he would soon become. What remained was a dinosaur who was in transition. A youthful body being tempered with mature eyes.
"Me think so too," Petrie agreed.
Petrie could not read his friend's expression at that moment, and he lacked the acute sense of smell that the rest of the pack was graced with. This left him wondering what the sharptooth thought about their predicament. Petrie didn't really know what he thought for that matter. All that he knew was that they were entering a time of great uncertainty.
"You're feeling odd too, aren't you?"
Petrie looked down again only to see the sharptooth fix the flyer with calculating eyes. Chomper's mouth was closed firmly and his breathing came in controlled bursts. Petrie couldn't help but feel like a prey animal who was being studied by a predator. He could feel his breathing speed up as his heart raced.
"How you know?" Petrie replied helplessly.
He didn't have to wait long for a response. Chomper merely snorted in amusement and averted his eyes in a gesture that made Petrie calm down immediately.
"Well... for one thing the Spotter that I know would not be afraid of anything that can't fly up and catch him. And in case you haven't noticed this little things..." Chomper waved his small arms, "...aren't going to get me into the air any time soon."
Petrie allowed himself to chuckle at the sharptooth's words. It had only been a few years since Chomper had been quite self-conscious about his small arms. The battle and its aftermath had made Chomper far more comfortable with what he had to be.
"Also, the Spotter that I know wouldn't let me see his fear even if he was scared..." Chomper stared Petrie down once more as if he were reaching a conclusion. Within moments Chomper seemed to make up his mind, "Spotter, are you entering your Time of Mating?"
Petrie froze as Chomper uttered those words. He could not deny what his friend was saying. He had been getting overly emotional and expressive of his emotions. He had been overreacting too things just like he had done back in his leaf-eater days. And there were those dreams of a certain flyer. A flyer who was just like him, but without a crest... because female flyers lacked those.
Petrie gulped. He knew that he might as well admit to Chomper what he had been refusing to admit to himself.
"Yes, Path. Me think me am."
Chomper stared at the flyer for a few moments before nodding twice. His eyes became less calculating and his expression became far less predatory. It was an odd change that confused Petrie until Chomper finally spoke.
"At least you admit it. The others don't seem to get what is coming..."
Petrie looked down at Chomper's dour expression. The sharptooth's tone radiated with compassion tinged with frustration. He seemed like a sharptooth that wanted to help, but who had no idea how.
"Me... me not admit it to myself until now," Petrie admitted as the eyes of Chomper's fell upon him again, "Me... me scared of what comes next."
Chomper tilted his head inquisitively. In response Petrie decided to answer his unspoken question.
"Me think me know what sleep stories tell me to do, but lot me no understand... Me only know that me on my own."
Chomper nodded, "I know that feeling."
Both of them fell silent for a moment. Petrie was feeling the welcome inner peace that came with finally accepting a truth, whereas Chomper was still grappling with what to do next. However, over the next several moments, Chomper too took on a calmer expression as if he had finally made up his mind. It was in that moment that their eyes locked once more.
"When are you leaving?"
Petrie was taken aback by his friend's question, but quickly decided that Chomper had reached the same conclusions that he had.
"Today, me think..."
Chomper nodded as he looked in the direction that Littlefoot and Ruby had gone moments before. The sounds of angry growls interspersed with laughter could be heard from some distance away. A low growl clearly indicated what Chomper thought about the sudden change in his friends. He stared at the grass with such intensity that Petrie mused that the grass would wither out of fright. It was then that Chomper spoke with an odd sense of formality.
"They will realize that they are wrong eventually. They will need to decide whose territory is whose before they get too far gone."
Petrie nodded, "We don't want them fighting each other for their territory..."
Chomper gritted his teeth, "Exactly."
Petrie looked over at the sleeping areas in the distance. The folly of building what were quickly looking like nests so close together was now obvious to the flyer, as there was no way that predators would tolerate other predators being within visual range of their own nest. They were working for nothing. The pack would need to split up their territory so that the coming crisis would not turn into a tragedy. That was when Petrie had an idea.
"Which part of territory you want?"
Chomper looked at Petrie in confusion, "What?"
Petrie shrugged with his wings, "Like me said, which part of territory you want? If you demand a part then the others have to take notice."
Chomper stared at the flyer for a moment before a grin appeared on his face, "What exactly do you have in mind, Spotter?"
Petrie leaned down at the sharptooth. He supposed that it wouldn't hurt to help the pack get their affairs in order before he flew off on his own adventure.
"We only need to get them to make plan. They follow plan later when they realize Thud right." Chomper nodded as the logic of Petrie's words sunk in. However, Petrie knew that in order for the pack to take it seriously then there would have to be a sudden shock. He knew just the thing...
"Path, how about you demand stream as your territory? That get their attention!"
Chomper smiled for he knew that they might have just found a way to save the pack from itself.
-----
The present, the Mysterious Beyond:
"I told you that this was a stupid idea!"
"Shush, Flip! It might still be around!"
Tricia tried to calm her racing heart as she and her friends hid in the small cave. This had all been her idea, though admittedly the rest of her friends had not exactly disagreed. This wasn't the first time that they had left the valley despite the warnings of their parents.
"We shouldn't have snuck after our parents..."
Tricia frowned at Malka's statement. The swimmer usually had a firm grasp of the mood of the group, and the nod from Flip confirmed that she was not alone in her sentiments.
We could have just waited for our parents to get back with our friends... but that wouldn't let me see my sister! It isn't like the valley is going to invite them over for dinner!
"You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
Tricia looked over at the rainbowface. Axiom had the same inquisitive nature as her brother, but often her questions were directed at people rather than things. It was this quality that often made the threehorn push her away, but her deduction held true on this night.
"Yeah... This is the only way I will get to see her, you know?" Tricia allowed herself sit down, though she held back on expressing the true extent of her emotions. Threehorns don't cry!
Axiom looked over at Malka, who opened her mouth but then shut it upon thinking better of it. Within moments, however, Malka threw up her hands and shrugged.
"Well, I guess this is where we will have to stay for the night. I don't know what that thing was, but I don't care to meet it again!"
Flip shuddered, "Are you sure that it is gone?"
Axiom shrugged, "If it was a sharptooth then it would eat us if it found us. The fact that we aren't dinner shows that it either wasn't a sharptooth or it hasn't found us yet... so look on the bright side, Flip, we probably won't be eaten by whatever it was."
Tricia rolled her eyes, "Gee, Axiom, that is so reassuring!"
Axiom merely stuck out her tongue, "Well worrying about it isn't going to help us, now is it? Does anyone have a better idea of a sleeping spot for the night?"
The others remained silent. They obviously did not.
Axiom said nothing as she laid down in preparation for sleep, which was an act that the others repeated in the dark cave. Undoubtedly the valley would soon be aware of their absence, and their punishment would be quite severe, but each of the children had a reason for their disobedience. Cera wanted to speak to her sister for the first time in many years... Malka wanted to see the mysterious sharpteeth that she had only heard about in tales... Flip was here for the sake of his friends... and Axiom...
"He doesn't blame you, you know?"
Axiom curled herself into a ball and ignored the threehorn's words. Her friend had mentioned that many times before, and her sentiments had been echoed by her parents, but she still couldn't shake the guilt of having ran while her own brother and friends were under threat. She ignored the wetness on her face as she willed herself to sleep.
Tricia stared at her friend for several moments as Axiom tried to hide her tears. Had Malka seen this she would have intervened, and Flip would have also asked her what was wrong, but Tricia had a far different perspective. A perspective that had been drilled into her due to the rigors of being in threehorn society. She would not defile her friend's privacy or demand answers that she was unwilling to give. She would just let her know that she was there.
"I'm always here when you want to talk."
She got no response, but she did not expect one. Sighing in fatigue and frustration she settled upon the hard rock, and tried to pretend that it was soft moss. Soon the snores of her friends could be heard around her, and she could feel her own eyelids begin to get heavy.
See you tomorrow, Cera...
-----
Arial sighed as she heard the snoring echoing from the cave. She had not heard much of the conversation, but she had heard enough to know that there were four children in the cave. Four children just like her.
Four potential meals for the sharpteeth who were currently asleep.
Please get here soon, Ruby! I don't want to do this again!
The pink dinosaur sniffed the ground once more in order to commit the leaf-eaters' scents into her memory. Despite her reluctance she knew that she would do whatever was required to protect her family... even if that meant having more blood on her hands.
She bowed her head and walked away. Even though it would mean more hardship for her family, part of her hoped that these children returned from wherever they came from before the Bright Circle rose the next morning.
Another hunt was fast approaching.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/19/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/19/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 18: The flyers and the buzzers
♪♪ Path took the flyer's words by heart--
And roared a meeting to order--
But as the pack assembled to start--
There were already signs of disorder ♪♪
Biter listened as Petrie and Soar took over from his mother and began to sign an eerie chorus. The sudden jarring shift in the narrative and the tone of the song caught him by surprise.
Why are Spotter and Soar singing the song now?
He didn't have to wait long to have his unspoken question answered.
-----
Several years ago:
"You demand what?"
Littlefoot could only stare at the purple sharptooth in amazement. Had Chomper made such a demand a mere year earlier then his response would have been one of laughter at the supposed joke, but with his Time of Great Growing having turned the sharptooth into a rather fearsome adolescent that Littlefoot knew that he shouldn't underestimate. Although he trusted his friend he still didn't think the idea of having an irate Tyrannosaurus on his hands was a very good one.
"Like I said, I claim everything from the stream to the prickly bushes. I will allow the rest of you to drink from the stream, but the prey will be mine."
Littlefoot averted his eyes slightly from Chomper's unreadable expression. He could feel the apprehension from the rest of the pack as Ruby shifted uncomfortably beside him. He knew that this was a bit of a power play from the sharptooth. Though he had expected this sooner or later it was difficult not to take it a bit personally.
It is the way of things, Seeker... the strong command the weaker... the larger command the smaller...
Despite his reassuring thoughts to the contrary, his mind was not entirely at peace with the idea. He knew full well that what he was seeing was the beginning of his demotion from 'leader of the pack' to 'leader of Chomper's food chasers'.
He sighed. I need to put the well-being of the pack ahead of my pride...
"I see... I take it that Spotter convinced you of this?"
Chomper tilted his head slightly which made Littlefoot crack the slightest of smiles. His suspicions were confirmed.
"Spotter shares my thoughts on the matter," Chomper stated plainly, "We think that the pack should split until the younglings are passed the Age of Safety."
Taunt finally had enough of the battle of egos and attempted to lighten the mood, "Ha! Count on Path to count our eggs before they are even laid!"
Chomper turned his head towards the orange fastbiter and took a deep breath. This resulted in the assembled fastbiters looking at Chomper oddly to which the purple sharptooth merely rolled his eyes.
"You do realize, Taunt, that my sense of smell is much better than that of ankle-biters?" It was now the turn of the fastbiters to roll their eyes at Chomper's little insult. Littlefoot, on the other hand, rubbed his head with his hands as he knew where this conversation was going, "Based upon what my sniffer says that you and Stern Claw have been doing for the last few days... I would say that eggs are in your future."
This acknowledgement of her private activities earned an irate growl from Cera while Taunt simply looked at her apologetically. Though it was no secret what mates would be doing during this time, each packmate tried to hide the signs of such affections as to not distract the others. It was then, however, that Littlefoot suddenly realized another aspect to their secretive behavior.
"It's the smell that makes fastbiters act weird during the Time of Mating... so surely we can use the stream to prevent the smells from making us act crazy?"
Chomper looked at Littlefoot with a sad smile. He gave a small shake of the head before he delivered the bad news.
"Water may trick your sniffer, Seeker, but it won't trick your second sniffer..." he gestured into his mouth as he did this, "You may not be aware of what your second sniffer tells you, but your body is. Remember what happened with my mommy and daddy?"
"But we aren't two-footers..." Ruby protested weakly.
Chomper shrugged, "Perhaps not... but your kind can get dangerous around the Time of Mating. Thud said so himself."
Littlefoot subconsciously edge closer to Ruby in a protective gesture. He could feel the slightest bit of anger rise from somewhere deep inside him, but he was unsure of the cause. All that he knew was that Chomper had crossed some line with his latest statement. He was about to tell Chomper to back off when he realized what was going on.
Am I really that angry at Chomper for contradicting Ponder?
A chill went up the fastbiter's spine as the horrifying realization came to him. Just like what had happened after they had changed, he was beginning to lose control over his reactions. Though it was not hunger this time... it was something else.
Littlefoot knew what he had to do.
"I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to agree on our territories... if it comes to that..."
Though he did not smile, Chomper exhale of breath was enough to communicate his relief. Even though his friend was only considering making preparations, Chomper knew that this would forestall a potential catastrophe when his packmates' instincts finally reared their ugly head.
This was a good idea, Spotter... I hope that your journey is going well...
-----
Me forget how crowded Red Coasts was.
The cliffs in front of the brown flyer were absolutely covered in flyers. Flyers of all species were congregated here. Flat-teeth flyers... sharpteeth flyers... even some that he couldn't identify. All were engaged in the unique mating displays of their respective kinds. It made for a chaotic deluge of color and noise that would have driven a land-dweller insane.
But not so for a flyer. Within mere moments his eyes had fixed themselves to a group of brown flyers on a high cliff. Their coloration matched his own, and their less-than-modest crests made his heart beat a bit faster out of annoyance and anticipation. These were the males of his kind... his competition... but where were the females?
"Finally decided that it was your time, huh?"
"Ahhh!!!" Petrie took to the air at the sudden intrusion. However, within moments, the source of the voice registered in his mind, and he settled down to land.
"Uncle?!"
Pterano laughed, "Indeed, my boy. I haven't seen you in nearly a Night Circle cycle, how have you been?"
Petrie shifted uneasily, "Well... obviously me know it be my time." It was then that the flyer came to a realization, "Wait, Uncle! Are you trying to court female?"
This caused the elder flyer to laugh and shake his head, "No, Petrie, there will be none of that in my future. I just figured that your mother needed an escort. The flight can be a dangerous one for a flyer."
Petrie sputtered at the overload of information, "Momma want more babies? Me thought me and siblings already drive her crazy. Why she want more?"
Pterano smiled at his flustered nephew, "Obviously you all have driven her crazy... otherwise she would not want more of them." This earned him an annoyed glare from Petrie, which only made Pterano smile wider. He quickly addressed his nephew's question, "Actually she is here to accompany her sister, and I am here for extra protection for the journey. I don't think that your mother will be ready for these 'festivities' until next year. I was just pulling your wing, nephew."
Petrie took a deep breath at that clarification. "Even though me know it time for that... but it odd to think of Momma making more brothers and sisters..." he paused as if he were thinking about something deeply, "...me wonder if she have weird sleep stories like me."
Pterano was silent at that acknowledgement from his nephew. His eyes communicated understanding, but he made no move to speak.
"...do you have those sleep-stories, uncle?"
It was only then that Pterano nodded slightly, "All flyers do, Petrie. They show us what to do and tell us when to do it."
Petrie nodded, "That was what me thought. The pack would be better off if they had sleep-stories to talk to them. They not listen to Thud or me, but maybe they listen to Path..." he looked up at his uncle with a slight smile, "If you want to torment Topsy then tell him Stern Claw be mating soon."
Now it was Pterano's turn to be surprised, "It is the Time of Mating for fastbiters?"
Petrie chuckled, "If their behavior any sign, then yes." It was then that his eyes caught something in the distance. Something that made his heart beat faster... but not out of frustration.
"Do you see something, Petrie?"
Petrie did not turn back towards his uncle, but instead kept his head turned towards the distant scene, "Me sorry, uncle, but me got to go. We talk next time you come to territory."
Pterano nodded, "Alright, Petrie, just remember that..."
A fluttering of wings interrupted his words. Within moments his nephew was flying full speed towards something in the distance. Though Pterano could not see what had gotten Petrie's attention, he could certainly guess.
Hmmm... I suppose a female would be better company than me at this time... Good luck, nephew.
-----
The present:
"This must be when daddy met mommy!"
Dive covered his beak as soon as he realized that he had spoken out loud during the song. The glares of his two sisters bored into him like falling boulders, but his mother's laughter quickly diffused the situation.
"Indeed it was, son, but we were not mates just yet."
"Not that you made that easy..." Petrie muttered with some amusement.
Soar smiled at him coyly, "Well, I had to make sure that you were the right one, dear..."
The antics of her parents caught Valaria's attention, "What do you mean, Daddy?"
Their daughter's question made Petrie and Soar look at one another knowingly. That part of the story was soon approaching.
Petrie finally spoke after a pause, "Let's just say that me had some competition."
-----
Several years ago:
Soar sighed deeply. The scratches on her wings would heal in time but they were proving to be painful reminders of what it took for her to claim her perch.
The best cliffs attract the best males... but only for the best females.
She shuddered upon remembering her mother's words from many years ago. She had departed her children long ago in order to raise another nest, but not before she passed on her wisdom to her sons and daughters. That had been one of her harshest lessons.
"What do you mean by best, Momma?"
Soar stared at her mother with inquisitive eyes. She was the smallest of the litter that yet remained, but she was far healthier than the brother and sister who had met their end. Nass and Perdo had met their end during the harsh winter, when food was scarce and warmth was even scarcer. The memories of them slowly fading away, and of mother tearfully ripping them apart in order to feed her remaining children would forever be imprinted on her mind. The small flyer still had scars from fighting her brothers and sisters for the meager food that was found that terrible season.
She had resolved to never be the runt, neither in body or in demeanor.
"I mean what you think it means, Soar," her mother smiled slightly, "When it is your time you will have to be strong and fight for the best place. The weaker females will simply have to hope that there are plenty of males around."
"What about us boys?" Her brother, Grath, asked.
Her mother chuckled, "The story is much the same, son. You will either need to strong to fight off your competition, swift to dodge the other males, or smart in order to fight off a stronger opponent. Mating is not a privilege of the weak or feebleminded."
Her mother's brash words continued to echo in her mind. She was not a brutish flyer, but she had been fierce enough to prepare her children for the harshness of the world.
Soar glared at some of the encroaching females as she again sounded off a warning call at her competitors.
"Come here and I will thrash you again!"
Two females who had moved in-between Soar's and another female's courting spot quickly dispersed to more promising areas. They knew that a fight with Soar would not end well for them.
Hmmm... At least they aren't stupid. They might live to find themselves a male after all.
Soar sucked in deep breaths in a bid to calm down. She had struggled to gain a spot on the cliff for the better part of the day as the other females had expected Soar to be an easy battle due to her size. With her reputation on the cliff now established, however, she knew that her position would be much more secure.
Now it is time for the males to fight over me.
Squawk!
She fixed her attention on the sudden commotion in front of her. Unlike the alert calls that she had been hearing for much of the day, this was one that she actually welcomed.
Finally a contender appears...
The brown flyer appeared to be roughly her size, which put him at the smaller end for her species. Despite this, or perhaps because of his small size, he appeared to be covered in scars. This immediately made her feel some affection for this male.
A small one like me... who had to fight to survive...
Squawk!
The calls of the other males was deafening as they finally noticed the upstart getting close to the females. It seemed that he was trying to seek an advantage by starting the courting early. This reminded her once more of the words of her mother.
You will either need to strong to fight off your competition, swift to dodge the other males, or smart in order to fight off a stronger opponent. Mating is not a privilege of the weak or feebleminded.
She fixed her eyes on the upstart male. Let's see if he is up to the challenge...
-----
She seem interested!
Petrie could feel his heart swell at the female's obvious interest. Even from this great distance he could see the multitude of females position themselves to stare at him. However his eyes were firmly fixed on one female in particular. She seemed so much like the flyer in his dreams...
Squawk!
Petrie froze at the sound of the approaching males. From the cliff face the assembled males had taken flight with almost fanatical speed. It seemed that Petrie had broken an unwritten rule of his species.
Damn it! No one tell me these things!
He grimaced as he began to circle in the air. Bits of battles were in his odd sleep stories, but he had not made the connection that they would be part of the courting process. Nonetheless he knew that it was too late to change his course now. He would either have to flee or to fight off his attackers.
How can me take them? Me only one flyer!
He circled higher and higher into the sky as he built up momentum from the thermals of the cliffs. As the other males got closer and closer he knew that he would soon have to use his speed in one way or another.
Squawk! Ack!
Suddenly one of the flyers was slashed by several of the others, sending him careening headfirst into the cliff. The sound of cracking bones and angry screeches nearly made Petrie take flight, but that was when a thought suddenly came to him.
They after me so why they attack him?
Being careful to maintain his speed, Petrie observed the rapidly advancing group of flyers. More skirmishes were breaking out on the side of the flock facing the cliff face... on the side facing the females.
Petrie smiled, Me have idea!
-----
What is he doing?
Soar stared at the strange male with a mixture of fascination and confusion. By instinct and tradition she was expected to favor the winner of the competition, as were the other females, but she had to admit that the brave flyer had caught her interest.
Though her interest would do him little good if he didn't survive.
As she watched in transfixed silence she could see his chest expand with each breath, his wings strain with each beat, and his body adapt effortlessly in the air. In a situation where most flyers would have fled he continued to fly as if nothing was wrong. It was a display that was both amazing and disconcerting. She found herself wondering if this flyer could even feel fear.
Then he dove towards the cliffs...
-----
Petrie appeared to hug the face of the cliff as he followed its rocky contours. Rocks passed him in all directions as he spun and maneuvered around the assembled females. It was an impressive display that, although other males could certainly perform the feat, none would attempt it during a courtship display.
After all, it left the performer open to attack...
Squawk!
Petrie deftly shifted to his right as the other male misjudged his descent and landed hard against the cliff. He began to make an attempt to again take to the sky, but was swiftly attacked by another male.
"Away! Away!"
Petrie did not dare to look back at the fight that was happening behind him, but instead maintained his course. He knew that he had a head start on the other flyers, so he simply had to not slow down.
Slam!
Petrie dodged again as the dazed body of another flyer fell from somewhere above him. Then, in a scene that made a chill go up his spine, he saw the swarm seem to collide with the cliff in a torrent of violence and confusion.
Squawk! Squawk!
"They are mine!"
"No they are mine, weakling!"
"Ahhh!!!"
In an instant male flyers entered into the protected territory of females and were attacked by competing males and females alike. The mass of flyers began to rive like maggots feasting on a bloated corpse. In the confusing torrent of mayhem that followed flyers could be seen falling from the rock wall, whereas other fled for their lives. Petrie had just evened the odds by baiting the most aggressive males to attack themselves.
However, before Petrie could gloat over his success, fate intervened.
"You!!!"
Petrie barely had time to raise his talons in a protective gesture before the larger male collided with him in midair. Within an instant the two flyers were careening through the air with the rapidly approaching terrain circling underneath them.
Petrie gritted his beak together.
"She mine!!!"
Locking his talons securely into his opponent's, Petrie turned his head towards the face of the cliff.
And he dove...
-----
Soar clung to the edge of her perch. The sound of battle raged all around her as females drove males away from their territory, and males fought with other males, but all of her attention was on one battle in particular.
I hope that you know what you are doing...
Her mind was like a confusing waterfall of emotions, with many rushing forth with great intensity but with little control. In that moment she didn't stop to think about why she wanted 'her' male to win... She didn't think about why one male was fixated on her to begin with as opposed to wanting to woo an entire group of females... She didn't even consider why a smaller male would risk everything for her... In that moment all that mattered was the feeling in her heart.
She had fought for her perch with the dedication of a warrior. She had received more injuries than she could count so that she could have the honor of mating with the strongest instead of being relegated to one of the lesser males. But it was in that moment that she decided that was not what she cared about right then. She knew what she had to do.
She dove...
-----
With a thunderous crash Petrie and the other flyer landed hard on the water below. Petrie turned head over tail as his body slid on the soft mud that he had carefully aimed for. However, as Petrie had intended, the other flyer impacted the sharp rocks closer to the cliff. Despite Petrie's discomfort, he allowed himself a forced smile as he heard the sound of ripping flesh. He knew in that moment that his plan had worked.
"You ruined my chance! You will pay for this!"
Petrie groggily shook his head as the blurry form of the other flyer came into focus. He seemed to be just as beat up as Petrie, with numerous lacerations covering his body, but yet he seemed ready to continue the struggle that he had started.
"Ha! You not get female down here!" Petrie taunted as he struggled to regain his footing. The possibility of taking flight was one that he quickly discarded. The other flyer would be upon him before he could get airborne. "Why you not fight for other female? Leave mine alone!"
The other flyer spat at Petrie, "You insufferable bastard! The females were mine to have. You hear me? Mine! All mine!" It was only now that the flyer rose to his full height and Petrie could see that his boast was not founded in fantasy. He could have easily secured numerous females through intimidation alone. However, his lacerated wings would prevent any displays for females on this day. Petrie's little stunt had brought his Time of Mating to a sudden end. "Now look at my wings, runt! I will see to it that this is your last journey to the Red Coasts!"
Petrie stepped back as he shifted his weight to the back of his talons. He knew that although flight was out of the question the possibility of his opponent leaping using his powerful leg muscles was quite high. He would have to tread carefully if he were to have a chance.
He didn't have to wait long for the attack to come.
Splash!
Petrie quickly leapt to his right as the massive flyer landed where his body was previously. A massive wave of water erupted from the other flyer as he impacted the shallow water. Unfortunately this was enough of a distraction for the flyer's next move to catch Petrie by surprise.
"Ahhh!!"
Petrie dodged just in time as the flyer landed again. In his haste to escape, however, Petrie had landed on his back in the shallow water. His opponent now had the flyer exactly where he wanted him.
Splash!
Using the only option that he had at his disposal, Petrie slapped water into the flyer's face with his wings and regained his footing against the walls of the cliff. He now could no longer move forward as the other flyer had him cornered. He could only move in for an attack against a stronger enemy, or parry to either side, leaving him open for attack. Either way he knew that his opponent had gained the upper hand.
Petrie grimaced at the cocky smile on the other flyer's face as he place his talons against the wall behind him. He knew that his next move could very well be his last. He resolved to ensure that it would rip that look off of his enemy's face.
However, he never got the chance.
Crack!
Petrie let himself fall against the hard cliff face behind him. The massive flyer which had been towering over him now lay in the water as the it quickly turned a shade of crimson. It was with a dawning sense of horror that Petrie slowly looked up from his enemy's shattered neck to see what new fiend had replaced his foe.
"You?"
In that instant the female flyer looked to Petrie as if the sky itself had taken corporal form. Her eyes radiated kindness, as her talons were bathed in the fallen flyer's blood. Her hide was imbued in the most beautiful shade of brown that Petrie had ever seen, but covered in scars that only harsh experience could give. Her previous position was lofty, but now she was sitting on the ground. She was a confusing series of contradictions that he could not begin to understand in that moment. In that moment he could only offer his wing to the female as a show of submission. This was a gesture that she repeated as Petrie mutely rose back to his feet.
She smiled at Petrie's obvious shyness. The quickening of his heartbeat when her wing touched his only made her smile grow wider.
"Yes, I think that you are the one..." Petrie held his breath at her words, "...after all, you only had eyes for me, didn't you?"
Petrie could only nod at her statement. He wanted to say so much, but his body would not comply. He was both fascinated and transfixed by this female who seemed to look through him.
She moved a bit closer at his affirmative nod. Now only a flyer's length separated them.
"You know, flyer, males are supposed to get as many females as possible... Why did you want to settle for one?"
Petrie swallowed, "The same reason you settled on Spotter... you leave your spot for me..." The significance of her gesture was not fully understood by Petrie, but he did realize that it was a sacrifice of some kind. However her next words stunned him.
"I gave up on mating with best in order to be with you..." Petrie was agape at those words as she tilted her head at him, "...because I think you are the best."
Petrie froze, "Me not strongest..."
She smiled, "Nor are you the best talker, but you do have two things going for you, Spotter." she leaned in to his ear as she looked up at the continuing battle above them. Undoubtedly some of the battle now involved a scramble for her old perch, "You stick to whatever you put your mind to..."
Petrie breathed, "And... the other thing?"
She looked into his eyes, "You chose me, which means that you are smarter than any of the numbskulls above us!"
Petrie didn't know how to act at first, but within moments both of the flyers were snickering at one another. The snickering soon turned into chuckling, which then descended into raucous laughter. The terror, confusion, and determination of the previous few moments had been replaced with relief. Now they were together.
It took several moments, but finally their laughter subsided. A friendly silence replaced their previous commotion, but Petrie found that he was uncertain about how to proceed. The sleep stories had showed him how to make the flight with his love, but not when was the appropriate time to begin. So, as he had grown accustomed to during his time as a sharptooth flyer, he carefully observed his companion. Trusting that she would indicate how to proceed.
He didn't have to wait long.
She quickly noticed this change in her chosen male and edged away from the cliff face. Tilting her head towards the sky she looked at Petrie coyly.
"I am in the mood for a flight... care to join me?"
She didn't have to ask twice.
-----
The present, the pack's territory:
My sister has to be around here somewhere.
Orchid looked around frantically for any sign of Ruby or her pack. He knew from the old directions that Petrie had given them over a year ago the general location of the pack's lands, but not specifically where the pack would be. After all, sharpteeth would move to follow the herds.
At least the fish and plants stay put for the most part, he thought sardonically.
The pack's territory did not make his task any easier. All that he had seen since he arrived was a sprawling forest, which was punctuated by a major stream and many smaller tributaries. This made the act of even finding out when he was going in circles a difficult one. It was enough to make Orchid wish that he had his sister's observation skills.
However the fastrunner did not know that he was being observed himself.
"It has certainly been a long time, Orchid."
The fastrunner cowered at the sudden roar, which seemed to come from the very ground itself. Its low tones seemed to echo in his skull in a frightful way that was both alien and familiar all at the same time. The massive voice was soon replaced with a growing rumbling in the distance. It only took a few moments for the nearby trees to part and a massive purple sharptooth to appear.
"Ch..Chomper?"
The large dinosaur laughed with a roar that made the ground shake, "I never forget a scent. You were a lot smaller the last time that I saw you, but you are certainly Ponder's brother."
"So... so were you." Orchid admitted as the fastrunner slowly got up from his prone position. The sharptooth was nearly as large as a full-grown tyrannosaurus now, and his purple hue only made him stand out even more conspicuously against the night sky. The reflective radiance of the Night Circle gave him almost an ethereal glow as he stood over the small omnivore like a towering colossus. Despite the fastrunner's misgivings about Chomper's parents, he knew that he had no choice but to enlist his help and that of the pack.
"Forgive me for asking this, but why are you here, half-tooth?" Orchid was frozen by Chomper's question despite its reasonableness, "Are Seeker and the others alright?"
Orchid tilted his head, "I was about to ask the same thing. My sister and her friends are still here, aren't they?" He was suddenly struck with the thought that perhaps Chomper and the rest of the pack may have gone their own ways. Path does look to be of mating age... "I need to talk with them."
Chomper relaxed slightly, but remained guarded, "Oh, so you haven't met them? They were heading towards your home."
"They what?!" Orchid asked in shock. Had the pack already heard of his family's misfortune through other means?
Chomper did not appear to catch the fastrunner's shock, "It is a long story, but the pack found some younglings that would be too much trouble to eat, so they are returning them to the valley. The leaf-eaters and them decided to meet up at Hanging Rock."
Orchid froze as his expression turned grim. Gone was his hope of enlisting the help of his sister in convincing the sharpteeth to leave his territory. In its place was a new fear. The fear of what would happen when the pack's obligations collided with the needs of Chomper's parents. He had no doubt that Ruby and the others would keep their word to the leaf-eaters, and would defend the dignity of Ruby's family, but what would Chomper's parents do? An odd screeching noise began to rise from the fastrunner's beak as he grinded his teeth together. It was only now that Chomper saw the full extent of the dinosaur's agitation.
"Orchid, what's wrong?" Chomper asked with sudden concern.
"Chomper... We have a serious problem."
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/20/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/20/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 19: Growing apart
Biter tilted his head as the Petrie echoed his final verse.
♪♪ As me and she fly away,
we took no head of the fading day,
But as twilight turned to night,
The pack's problems began to take flight ♪♪
He is talking about our mommies and daddies! Biter deduced, as the pack was finally referenced after a long fixation on the two flyers. He had been interested in Petrie's and Soar's story, but for obvious reasons the tale of his parents interested him more. What happened to all of them?
He spared a glance at his father as he thought his curious thoughts. Littlefoot was looking at Ruby knowingly as they seemed to carry on a conversation with their eyes. The slight tinge of embarrassment on Littlefoot's face, and the supportive look of Ruby made a chill go up the youngling's spine. He remembered the adults singing about the possibility of the pack splitting up, but the significance of his father's response was uncertain to him. Was he the one that caused the splitting of the ways? Part of him wanted to ask his parents what happened, but a slight pinch caught his attention before he could say anything.
Swipe's face greeted his, but there was none of the usual playfulness in her expression. Instead she simply gave a friendly shake of the head which communicated her message clearly.
Let mommy and daddy tell us in the song.
Biter paused and briefly considered responding in kind to his sister, but he soon thought better of it. She was right, of course. The rest of the song would soon be sung, and their questions would undoubtedly be answered.
"Alright, children, I think that we might want to leave it there for tonight."
Before he realized what he was doing, Biter could feel the whine escape his throat at his father's announcement. His whine was barely heard, however, over the combined protests of the rest of the assembled children. Even Sauria's loud 'boo' could be heard in the cascade of dissents. It was enough to make Ducky laugh openly.
"Don't worry, children! We will finish tomorrow, yep, yep, yep! But all of you will need to get some sleep before then."
Spike nodded, "We will have another long day of travel. You might even be too tired to stay up to hear the rest of the songs..."
A chorus of protests arose from the children as Spike smiled widely in Taunt's direction. Spike knew how to get the children into a frenzy, and Taunt nodded at his handiwork. This then caused all of the adults to stare in Littlefoot's direction as he feigned annoyance, but he eyes gave away his insincerity.
After all, the best way to get the children to agree to something is to make them think that they have won...
"All right, we can do one more song tonight, but then it will be time for sleep. No exceptions!"
The children cheered in agreement as Littlefoot looked over at the other parents with amusement and a wink. Their little conspiracy had worked. Then, after a long stretch for his legs, he positioned himself in the center of the circle.
"Alright, Taunt, I think it is time for us to tell our tale. Tonight, children, you will hear how the pack parted ways."
Biter watched in transfixed silence as Taunt joined his father in the circle, and gave a quick bow that was quickly reciprocated. It was one of the most important gestures that a sharptooth knew by instinct. The gesture that let everyone know that what followed was an act, or play. The sort of gesture that one would only do prior to sparring or demonstrating a dangerous attack. Its offering by both adults before the song indicated the severity of what was about to not only be sung, but also acted out, in front of the children. It was enough to seriously worry both Biter and several of Taunt's children.
"Dad?" Biter asked in confusion.
"Daddy?" Pouncer offered with great concern.
Littlefoot turned towards the children and gave them a calming smile. Taunt, for his part, addressed their concerns.
"Many things were done in those days that none of us are proud of. Friends attacked friends," gasps erupted from several of the children, "and a darkness descended over us that we had not seen except in hunger madness."
Littlefoot nodded, "We have long since made peace with what happened, and asked for forgiveness from those we have hurt, but the emotions are still raw, children." his face took on a stern expression, "So I ask all of you to promise us that you will not be angry at your friends' parents, or taunt your friends about what happened back then... it is all in the past."
The children mutely nodded, Littlefoot and Taunt's explanation having scared them more than it reassured them. Now they truly had an indication of what happened during those dark times. And it wasn't good.
Littlefoot took a deep breath upon seeing the stunned agreement of the children, "We will now sing to you the Song of the Parting of Ways."
-----
Several years ago:
"I could have taken the swimmer!"
"And leave the pack's flank exposed?"
"You don't need to make all of the kills, Seeker. The rest of us are quite capable..."
Littlefoot shivered at the memory of the day's hunt. They had managed to bring down the swimmer, but Taunt had taken it as a personal affront that Littlefoot had called him off and made the kill. Deep inside Littlefoot wanted to diffuse the situation. He knew that in his desire to protect the rest of the pack he was being a bit too zealous in his efforts. However, in that moment, his instincts got the best of him.
"Says the sharptooth who left his packmates exposed..."
Taunt froze as those words left his leader's mouth. Everyone else stopped as well at Littlefoot's utterance. It was nearly unheard of for him to openly insult another packmate in a non-jocular way. In the seconds that passed Cera carefully positioned herself beside her mate in a show of support, while Ruby did the same behind Littlefoot. The others stayed where they were, as if they had no idea where to go.
"What did you say to me?"
Taunt raised his head defiantly at Littlefoot's insult, not moving from his position. It was a challenge.
Littlefoot hesitated at Taunt's open defiance. He had spoken without thinking, and his instinct-crazed mind had made the situation infinitely worse. However in that instant he didn't dare consider the possibility of apologizing or backing down. He was the leader, and Taunt was showing him up in front of his mate! He would not yield here.
"You heard what I said."
The words were cold and emotionless. The utter lack of affect even surprised Ruby who let out a small squeak behind her mate. Meanwhile, Cera was uncharacteristically standing behind her mate and said nothing. Had any of them been thinking rationally then they would have tried to stop the situation or talked sense into the participants, but everyone remained silent.
Only the two fastbiters growling broke the silence.
Without considering what his actions meant, Littlefoot clinched his claws and placed his full weight on his back legs. He would not permit a challenger to stand unopposed! He was the leader! His challenger would either yield or fall.
"Hey, guys, what is going on?"
Littlefoot jerked at the sudden bellow across the territory. A small part of his mind told him that the voice belonged to Chomper but in that moment it screamed 'bigger sharptooth!'. He knew that this challenge would have to wait for another day.
"Guys!"
The purple sharptooth could be heard running as the ground shook with the reverberations of his footsteps. This was what finally motivated Taunt to speak.
"We will settle this tomorrow."
Littlefoot glared at Taunt, "I will meet you tooth and claw any day."
Both fastbiters turned around without a sound as their mates followed them wordlessly. In their wake the rest of the pack could only watch as their packmates went to their respective sleeping areas. It was in this state that Chomper found the dead swimmer and the rest of the pack.
"What in the name of sanity is going on?!"
"Dear?"
Littlefoot jerked violently as his mate called for him. This caused her to shrink back into their sleeping area, which was now more of a nest than anything else. The submissiveness of her actions were completely unlike her some part of his mind confided in him, but a deeper part told him that this was the way of things when eggs were coming.
I am expendable; she is not. I must protect our position.
"Yes, dear?" he attempted to put on his bravest face as he faced her, but his eyes could not hide his agitation. Nor, for that matter, could his trembling claws.
Ruby paused for a moment before she took a few steps out of the nest. Her demeanor changed in those few moments, his mind noted, as something seemed to harden in her demeanor even as her eyes remained as sympathetic as ever.
"How are you holding up, dear?"
Littlefoot clinched his clawed hand, "As well as can be expected. I never expected to be challenged... especially not by one of my friends."
Ruby nodded as she nuzzled his side, "Surely there is some way out of this?"
The brown fastbiter shook his head as he looked at the vines that he had prepared earlier. They were laid out with great precision. A reminder of what he would face the next day. Only now they would not be protecting him from the enemy, but from a threat much closer to home.
"I... don't think so, Ponder. Not unless Taunt sees reason and backs down."
He fell silent after those words and looked at the vines once more. These were nearly a month old now, and were ready to be replaced with a newer batch. He could see the signs of wear and tear on their surface... the ripping at the edges from constant use... and even a familiar set of claw marks on the vines for his neck.
Taunt's claw marks.
He remembered that day like it was yesterday. He had been sparring with several of the other members of the pack, a regular occurrence for all of them. Ever since the Battle for the Valley they resolved to always remain in top physical form, and with robust vines covering their bodies the risk of injury was greatly reduced. It was this security, however, that allowed Littlefoot to get too cocky. It was then that he learned another lesson in humility.
"Come on, Taunt! I know spiketails that are faster than you!"
Littlefoot smiled as his little insult had the desired effect. Taunt lunged forward and attempted to slash at Littlefoot's neck, but he easily dodged to the right and retaliated with a slash to Taunt's retreating arms. He was able to make a glancing blow against the vines on Taunt's arm.
"Arm strike! Keep fighting!"
Littlefoot grimaced at the announcement from Petrie. In order to prevent injuries the pack had decided to only fight until a 'lethal' blow was delivered. After all, that was what it would take to win a battle.
The two fastbiters began to circle one another as each looked for an opening. The distant forms of their friends were ignored as each predator only focused on their counterpart.
"Come on, dung-for-brains! Are you going to chase your tail all day?!"
Littlefoot glared at Taunt. Even though this was only practice, the petty insults each threw at one another were quite effective at eliciting rage. Here in the meeting circle they agreed that there would be no limits to the vitriol in their threats and insults, as in a battle they would have to remain calm no matter the instigation.
However it seemed that no one was better at finding the right words than Taunt.
"Are you this slow when you are with your mate at night?"
Boiling hot rage descended upon Littlefoot at Taunt's accusation. For reasons that would remain a mystery to him for quite some time, Taunt's words against his prowess as a male fastbiter made something snap inside of him. The result was instantaneous.
Roar!
With a massive burst of energy from his legs, Littlefoot propelled himself forward and slashed blindly at Taunt's head. In the resulting blur, Littlefoot could not see how the other fastbiter had evaded him, but he could see that he now had his back turned and was preparing to flee. The predatory part of his mind knew that this was the right time to strike. Without thinking of anything else Littlefoot leapt into the air, his aim squarely at Taunt's back.
Slash!
"Stop fighting!"
"Oh no! Seeker are you alright?!"
It took several moments for Littlefoot to realize what happened. He had been in mid-leap for Taunt's vine-covered back when the sudden appearance of an orange tail and a flash of claws entered his vision. Then there was only the brown hues of dirt.
His thoughts were confused, 'Taunt tricked me?'
"Hey, Seeker, are you alright?"
Littlefoot looked up as Taunt looked down upon him with concern. His face was joined by Ruby's and Ducky's as Cera carefully examined his neck.
"That was too close, dear!" Cera reprimanded her mate, "You nearly cut the vines all of the way through!"
"I didn't exactly give him much of a chance, Stern Claw..." Cera shifted her gaze to Littlefoot as he began speaking, "...not unless he wanted a chunk out of his back..."
Relieved to see that her mate was relatively uninjured, Ruby pushed through the others and gave Litlefoot a light nuzzle. Her offer of a helping hand was readily accepted as Littlefoot rose to his feet once more. Now he could see the rest of the pack and their relieved expressions. However, it was the look of one fastbiter in particular that surprised him.
Taunt's eyes were wide with worry, as his head was downcast with a look of shame. His tail drooped and his scent radiated misgivings for his actions. It was only then that Littlefoot realized how much his actions had affected the fastbiter. Taunt had no choice but to defend himself or risk injury, but yet he still regretted striking his friend.
Taunt jerked as Littlefoot patted him on the shoulder.
"I think that you won that round, Taunt."
Taunt hesitated, "Seeker... I'm..."
Littlefoot waved him off, "No one can fault you for defending yourself," then seeing that he still looked penitent he continued, "I'm just glad that you are on my side!"
It was only then that Taunt laughed with his characteristic humor. Regardless of their respective flaws, Taunt and Littlefoot were good friends and packmates. Nothing would ever change that.
Littlefoot gulped as the intruding memory faded from his consciousness. He had no idea that his overreaction to Taunt's insult was the beginning of something more serious, nor did any of them see the signs of heightened emotion. The change in his perspective and behavior was now too much for Littlefoot to ignore as Thud's cautionary words echoed in his head. Worse yet, his most recent words to Taunt only confirmed how far he had come from the friendly, forgiving leader that he was a mere month ago.
"I will meet you tooth and claw any day."
Littlefoot shuddered at the memory of his words. It was exactly the sort of threat that Calin would have made to his underlings. What was he becoming?
"What have I done?"
He closed his eyes as the slow breathing of his mate beside him made his body shudder. Ruby's loyalty during this time was the only thing that prevented him from breaking down completely. It was an almost unthinking loyalty, some part of his mind cautioned. The kind of loyalty that only existed between mates and the closest of friends.
Like the one that he just challenged.
"If you hadn't held your ground, then he might have taken yours. If he had taken yours then you wouldn't be leader anymore."
Littlefoot sighed at Ruby's words, "But at what cost, Ponder? Taunt is my friend!"
Ruby broke away from him and looked him up and down with a fatigued expression, "He is my friend too, but I am more concerned about you, dear. You were right not to back down, but you need to stop this before it goes too far."
Littlefoot nodded, "Taunt might get hurt."
Ruby glared at him, "You might get hurt. That is what I am concerned about!"
Littlefoot smiled at her with confidence that did not reach his eyes.
"I will be alright, dear. I have thought of a way to get out of this honorably... I just hope that that smug bastard is smart enough to understand what I am doing."
Ruby didn't bother to confirm the identity of whom Littlefoot was speaking, "...and if he isn't?"
Littlefoot frowned as his eyes turned cold, "If he wants to learn his lesson the hard way then so be it."
Ruby closed her eyes and shook her head sadly as her mate embraced her once more. She could only hope that the coming night would not be the last time that she felt that embrace.
-----
"Just who does he think he is?!"
Taunt slashed the tree with unrestrained fury as splinters of bark flew from its surface like flyers from a cliff. He had struggled for many moments to control his rage, but nothing seemed to work. He had been talked down to by his own leader, and the loss of face infuriated him on an almost primal level. The reason for his extreme reaction, or the retort from Littlefoot did not matter to him in this moment of passion. All that mattered was the restoration of his position.
My children will not have a coward for a father!
Behind him Cera's concerned form watched his battle with the tree in silent contemplation. She knew that it would be useless to try to talk him down in his current state, nor to convince him that his anger was misplaced. She too had felt the burning anger at having her mate so easily dismissed, but unlike Taunt she had noticed the hesitation. Littlefoot knew he had gone too far, but could not bring himself to retract his words. Not in the face of outright opposition to his authority.
She sighed as the sounds of slashing ended and her mate's heavy breathing took its place. She could see that though his energy had been dissipated, his anger had not. The fury in his eyes still radiated out into the fading sunlight.
"He hesitated, you know."
Taunt turned from his position in front of the tree at his mate's sudden statement. Confusion clouded his eyes for a moment, which gave him an almost crazed look, before they were again overtaken by his anger.
"That won't serve him well when he faces me then. A slow fastbiter is a dead fastbiter."
Cera frowned. She scraped her hind leg on the ground as if she were making a scrape to rest in, but then promptly sat down in front of where she had been standing. She knew her mate well enough to understand when he was speaking reasonably or not.
"Do you plan on making him a dead fastbiter?"
The momentary look of shock on Taunt's face was enough confirmation for her that some part of him realized how insane this situation was. For that reason she ignored his next statement.
"He said that he would meet me tooth and claw any day! If he dies then he will have no one to blame but himself!"
He promptly faced the tree again and took on a fighting stance as if he were going to slash some more bark off of its face. However, he did not move in on his fictional opponent, but merely glared at it as if it were the most obscene thing in the world. Some part of Cera mused that this was the perfect analogy for their current situation. Waiting for a stupid battle that was started for stupid reasons by two males who could act very stupid when it suited them.
When she clasped her hand on his shoulder he nearly yelped in surprise.
"You didn't say 'yes' to my question."
Taunt frowned and groaned in annoyance, "I didn't say 'no' either."
Cera nodded as Taunt finally faced her again, "No, but I know you, dear. You want to knock some sense into him... heck, I want to do that too... but you don't want to murder your friend," she frowned at him, "You are not that kind of fastbiter."
Taunt held his gaze for only a few seconds before looking away and giving a heavy sigh.
"No... No I am not, but I might have to be after tomorrow. I can't just back down, Stern Claw! I just can't! You deserve better than that and so do our children!"
Cera fell silent upon that outburst. She knew quite well that was the crux of the problem, but she had to force Taunt to admit it.
"Damn it, Dad, why did you have to be right about the Time of Mating?"
Cera sighed as she sat beside her mate and joined him in watching the falling of the Bright Circle. The sounds of distant flyers and the bellows of unseen leaf-eaters gave the fading day a sense of normalcy that was terribly out of place on this day of uncontrolled passions. Cera could only muse on its meaning. Was it the calm before the storm, or a sign of calmer days ahead?
"If you want to back down, dear, I won't think any less of you."
Taunt turned towards his mate with an almost insulted expression, before calming slightly when he saw her concerned face.
"I will not back down, Stern Claw. This must be."
Cera sighed as she watched the pink hues of the setting Bright Circle fill the cloudless sky. She was not always the most introspective dinosaur, but she knew her mate well. What he needed was a change of perspective. Her perspective, to be more precise.
"I used to be a threehorn, Taunt. I was taught by my father to never back down from a fight, and to fight until you couldn't carry on anymore. I was taught to never show weakness, because it was only by acting strong that the herd was motivated to stay strong. And I followed those words without question until I was five Cold Times old, and do you know who taught me to back down every once in a while?"
Taunt remained silent, but reluctantly nodded for her to continue.
"Seeker was even more annoying as a longneck, if you can believe it. He kept on insisting that he knew the right way to the valley because his mother told him before she died. Well finally after being chased by sharpteeth, having no food or water, and dealing with his smug face the whole damn trip I finally snapped."
Taunt blinked, his anger having been pushed aside by his curiosity. He had not heard this part of the story before, "What happened?"
"I insulted his dead mother." Taunt stared wide-eyed at her, "He demanded an apology. From me. A threehorn. It was that fight that led the gang to split up."
Taunt licked his teeth nervously before he spoke with a disbelieving voice, "You guys split up?"
Cera nodded. "Yep, it seemed like a good idea at the time. The others decided on following my lead, whereas Seeker went on his own. Thank goodness he came back for us after he found the valley otherwise we all would have been dead," she looked at him with an almost sheepish expression, "There is a reason that I let him be the leader in our little adventures."
Taunt looked down for several moments as he drooped his shoulders in a look of defeat.
"If you think it is best for the pack that I back down, Stern Claw..." he clinched his claws tightly as he grinded his teeth, "Then I will back down. I will do it for you..."
Cera interrupted, "Taunt..."
"But don't think that I will forget his insult. If I back down then I will never be able to look at the others again."
Cera growled, "I am not asking you to back down!" Taunt tilted his head in confusion at that clarification, which made Cera sigh, "I am asking you to give him a chance to make amends. Just like I did after we got to the valley. If a young arrogant threehorn could admit to a longneck that she was wrong, then I know that Seeker can do the same. You just have to give him a chance. He is our friend, Taunt. Even if he may not seem like it right now."
Taunt was silent for several moments as he processed his mate's words. The anger was still there. The idea that another male would try to insult him in front of his mate was outrageous to the extreme in his eyes. But I did force the matter with my challenge. A leader can't stand down from that and still be leader...
"I really screwed things up, didn't I?"
Cera nuzzled Taunt's neck as she growled softly, "Yes, you did. But not as much as Seeker. Just promise me one thing, dear."
Taunt nodded his head, "Anything, you name it."
Cera closed her eyes, "Just promise me that you will get back to me in one piece."
Taunt didn't blink, "I promise."
The two fastbiters then embraced as the Night Circle took watch over the skies. Its pale light illuminating the pack's entire territory as day became but a distant memory. Neither of the two would-be combatants knew of the meeting that had just ended by the stream.
Its consequences would be felt for seasons to come.
-----
The next day:
Ruby was awakened by a sudden touch on her shoulder.
"It's time, dear."
The rose-colored fastbiter's eyes opened with glassy incomprehension before finally settling in grim realization. The Bright Circle was high in the sky and the sound of singing flyers could be heard. Above her, her mate wore an oddly emotionless expression as vines covered his arms and chest. Protection from what was about to come.
"Seeker..."
She did not push back when Littlefoot suddenly embraced her. It took everything that she could muster to avoid shaking with fear in anticipation of what awaited him. But she knew that he needed her to be strong at that moment. He would have enough doubts without her adding to his inner struggles. It was only when he broke away that he finally spoke again.
"I hope... that he realizes what I am doing."
Ruby tried to put on a brave face, but her eyes betrayed her uncertainty, "I'm sure that he will, dear. Just... be prepared in the event that he does not."
The brown fastbiter nodded grimly, "If it comes to that then I will be ready."
Roar!
Littlefoot closed his eyes as the echo of the roar seemed to vibrate through his bones. That was the alert call, and he knew what was coming next.
Roar!
"Well, I suppose that I shouldn't keep him waiting," he gave Ruby a sad smile, "It is time to end this."
With a sad sigh Ruby nodded at her mate's words. Littlefoot and Taunt had placed themselves in an impossible situation where neither could back down and still save face. Now it had come to this. Thud's words had never seemed more prophetic.
If we had just split up like he recommended then we wouldn't be in this place... Her mind reluctantly acknowledged the truth, He didn't want to appear weak in front of me, and Taunt did not want to appear weak in front of Stern Claw... We really messed up!
With solemn silence the two fastbiters walked the short distance between their sleeping area, and the pack's usual meeting area. It did not take long for the distinct forms of the other packmates to appear in the distance, while Chomper was nowhere to be seen. The fact that Cera and Taunt were positioned side-by-side only heightened the tension in the waiting group. Each of the others stood by their mates, neither looking directly at the two competitors. Only Taunt's yellow eyes greeted his with their cold, unreadable gaze.
Littlefoot willed his body into remaining calm as he approached the meeting circle with his head held high. He slowly looked at the other packmates in order to assess the situation. The obvious glare from Taunt and Cera standing by his side was not unexpected, but the apathetic expression of the others surprised him. It was as if they had already made up their minds about something.
Littlefoot frowned. He... or Taunt... would have to deal with that later. Now he had a challenge to attend to.
Littlefoot shifted his gaze once more at Taunt's blazing yellow eyes. They were as unreadable as ever, though Taunt's scent communicated nervousness. Welcome to the club, Taunt.
"You are here to challenge me then?"
Littlefoot was careful to keep his voice neutral despite his instincts telling him to rip Taunt limb by limb. He now fully realized what was going on, and what he needed to keep under control.
"I am... unless you admit your fault."
Littlefoot blinked at this. This was not the same obstinence that he had experienced the day before. They were ready to go to blows before Chomper had intervened. He resisted the urge to visibly relax at this fortuitous change, but his hopes were raised nonetheless.
"To admit fault during a challenge is to admit defeat," Littlefoot intoned cautiously, "Are you demanding that I step down?"
Taunt's tail twitched several times as Cera visibly tensed. However, Taunt's words were controlled even though they were a bit terse.
"I am demanding an apology. That is what I demand."
Littlefoot could see the other packmates shift uncomfortably in the background as mutterings could begin to be heard. Some part of his mind noted that it was an odd reaction, but he forced his attention squarely on the subject at hand. Taunt had given him an opening, so it was only right for him to do the same. He tried to hide his nervousness as his tail gave a slight tremor. If Taunt failed to take what he was about to propose then he had little hope of resolving the issue peacefully.
"If you step away from your challenge then I will step away from my words."
There it was. The only peace offering that Littlefoot could make without stepping aside as a matter of tradition. An offer to return back to the status quo, and a way to apologize for his mistakes. He knew that to offer an apology even after a challenge was withdrawn would be seen as weakness in many packs. A possible grounds for further challengers. However, he knew his packmates. If this unfortunate matter was put aside then they would welcome it with open arms.
The mutterings among his packmates stopped as the reverberations of Chomper's footsteps could be heard in the background. The others seemed to hold their breath waiting for Taunt's response. Would he accept this offer or would he force Littlefoot's hand?
-----
Taunt resisted the urge to shift uneasily as Littlefoot's stern form stared at him with an unblinking expression. He met his counterpart's expression with a stoic glare of his own. The words from his pack leader still echoing in his mind.
"If you step away from your challenge then I will step away from my words."
He took a shaky breath as he considered what Littlefoot was offering him. He would not allow Taunt to best him in the challenge, but he would renounce his hurtful words from the day before. Part of him demanded that he fight this to its conclusion. That he not give Littlefoot any way to save face. That he show his dominance here and now.
No... That is instinct talking... I have to be strong here. He is my friend!
He took another breath as he stepped forward towards Littlefoot's position. He could see his friend tense up as he prepared for any eventuality, but Littlefoot refused to leave his place. The pack leader refused to resort to violence, but yet he refused to show any weakness either.
Neither will I.
"Very well, Seeker."
The sound of exhaling could be heard from the assembled fastbiters as the realization of what happened registered in their minds. Littlefoot relaxed slightly as well as his tail sagged in a mixture of fatigue and relief. It was only when Taunt saw this that he averted his eyes and calmed his racing heart. It was over.
Roar!
Taunt froze at the sudden deafening percussion. Littlefoot also froze in confusion as he spared Taunt a surprised look. It was an expression that Taunt returned before he turned towards the source of the sudden roar.
Chomper.
"I am pleased that you two have made up, but this cannot continue."
Taunt tilted his head at Chomper's imperious tone. It was not a statement of opinion that Chomper was offering, but rather a direct order. It was only then that he noticed the positions of the others.
They were standing in front of Chomper. A show of solidarity. Taunt's mind couldn't wrap itself around the meaning of this, but Littlefoot knew right away.
"You're challenging me, Path?"
Taunt looked at his friend, which had mere moments before been his adversary. The sound of betrayal in his voice made something rise in Taunt's throat. The loyalty that he had nearly betrayed the previous day had now returned in full force. He did not consider the meaning of this sudden change in feeling, but Chomper was all too aware of its meaning.
"Even now Taunt stands beside you protectively, Seeker. He was ready to attack you yesterday. What does that tell you?"
Taunt stepped back as if he had been struck. Littlefoot's response was immediate and harsh.
"I will ask again: are you challenging me?"
Now Taunt could see what Chomper was getting at. Littlefoot had just made a magnanimous offering of peace to Taunt moments before, but now he was as obstinate as Taunt was the previous day. His concern began to change to horror.
Chomper snorted, "Listen to yourself, Seeker! You sound just like you did yesterday. At this rate how many of your friends you will attack before Ponder lays her eggs?"
"This has to stop! I don't want to see anyone hurt. No, no, no!"
It was only now that Littlefoot looked at the assembled pack in front of Chomper and considered its significance. Ducky was the first fastbiter to say anything beside Littlefoot and Taunt. But she was not the last.
"I can feel anger when I am by Finder, even though he is my friend and Haven's brother. What could happen if one of us goes to blows?" Leap offered, "How would I explain myself to my mate?"
"And it's getting worse!" Spike exclaimed uncharacteristically, "How bad is it going to get?"
Littlefoot was seething, "Have all of you turned against me?"
Taunt looked helplessly at Chomper. He could not imagine what the situation seemed like from Littlefoot's perspective. For Taunt this was merely the confirmation of what needed to be done, but for Littlefoot it was nothing less than a coup.
"Littlefoot..."
Littlefoot merely glared at Taunt's use of his leaf-eater name as the brown fastbiter advanced towards Chomper. It was only now that Cera dared move into the meeting circle and whisper in her mate's ear.
"We need to stop this!"
Taunt sighed and whispered back, "What can we do? Path is right you know."
Littlefoot did not hear the hushed conversation behind him as his attention was directed firmly on the purple sharptooth that lay before him. Eventually he stopped and addressed him directly.
"How can you do this, Path?! And all of you! Haven... Leap... Finder..." He was nearly hysterical, "Have I not been a good leader?"
Ruby advanced to his side, "Dear..."
Littlefoot looked down as the reality of the situation became apparent to him.
"Dear... it's over."
Taunt sucked in a breath at the events playing out in front of him. It seemed that the rest of the pack wanted to avoid a bloodbath, and they had called upon the only dinosaur that they knew who could bring the fastbiters under control.
"I am now the pack leader!" Chomper exclaimed loudly. The resulting silence made a shiver go up Taunt's spine. Not a single sign of protest emanated from the pack. "And I will be until all of you are fit to be a pack again!"
Taunt closed his eyes. He knew what was coming.
"You are my friend, Seeker, even if you don't think so right now. It is time to do what is best for the pack, and deep down you know what that means right now." Littlefoot did not stir as he continued to look down at the ground below him. Chomper merely shook his head and continued, "Go to your territories, lay your eggs, and care for your children. The Bright Circle will rise over the pack again one day, but it will not for some time."
Silence fell upon the pack as they awaited the inevitable order.
"The pack is disbanded. Disperse!"
The time of parting, that had for so long been delayed, had finally come. In that terrible moment no one could foresee what awaited them in the days to come. The only thing that they knew for sure was that for the first time in years they would be forced to face it alone.
-----
The present:
The children were silent as Littlefoot and Taunt finished their duet. Swipe and several children were visibly teary-eyed, whereas Biter and Pouncer both looked shell-shocked upon hearing how their fathers nearly fought to the death. It was so absurd and terrible as to defy belief, but the emotions in their parent's words destroyed all doubts.
"That... that's terrible!"
Littlefoot nodded sadly at his daughter's words, "Yes it was, Swipe. Yes it was. It was one of the most terrible days that the pack had ever had."
Taunt nodded, "Your father didn't realize it at the time, but Path did us all a favor by taking command at that time. He was the only one who could give that order... otherwise Seeker would have fought the challenge."
Biter spoke softly, "Would you have fought anyone else, Dad?"
Littlefoot merely gave his son a sad look. That was answer enough.
"We all were not ourselves back then," Leap affirmed, "If the pack had not been split up by Path's order then it would have split up violently. We did what had to be done."
Breeze nodded, "It was not an easy decision, but Path was resolute that it was necessary. So... we allowed him to make that challenge and we made sure that Seeker knew that we were on Path's side. It was one of the hardest things that I have done."
Cera frowned at those memories, "The song leaves out how angry I was... it was probably a good thing that the pack was apart for awhile."
Ponder nuzzled her children as she motioned them towards the makeshift sleeping area, "I was upset as well, but I soon realized why the rest of the pack had done what they had done. Your father realized it too."
"Though no one had better get any ideas!" Littlefoot yelled in a jocular fashion, "If one of you challenge me then I might just let you have the pack... then you can have all of the fun of trying to keep all of these ankle-biters in order..."
Taunt took a little bow, "I dodged quite a burden back then, didn't I!"
The pack laughed as Taunt dodged a playful swipe from Littlefoot. It was heartening to see that the friendship that had been threatened during those dark days was still intact. However the question of what happened afterwards still troubled the assembled children. The answer to that question would have to wait until the next night.
Little did they know that their stories of the troubles of the past would soon be overtaken by the troubles of the present.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/21/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/21/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
NIGHT 6: STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICES
Chapter 20: Difficult days
"Malka! Where can she be?"
Ali awoke with a start at the sudden exclamation. The bellowing wail from the distant swimmer sent shockwaves of terror to rampage through the longneck's body. Operating out of pure instinct she quickly turned towards her eggs.
All of them are here... they're safe, she registered immediately, then that must mean...
"Sauria?! Sauria, where are you?!"
Ali closed her eyes upon hearing her mother ask the question she had heard many times before. She did not need to wait for confirmation. She already had a good idea where Sauria could be.
"Mom, I think we all know where she is."
She looked over at her mother with a compassionate expression as Sauria's brothers and sisters muttered amongst themselves around their sleeping area. They had been through the aftermath of their sister's adventures more than once before. Thankfully for Bron and Utu the other children were far more cautious than their adventurous sister. It seemed that only Sauria had been born with the wanderlust that ran in Bron's lineage.
"Momma, are we going to get Sauria back?"
It was the innocent question of one of Sauria's brothers that finally broke Utu out of her fear-induced trance. With a stern resolve she shook her head.
"Our best and strongest are already out the valley, children..." her mouth trembled as she contemplated her own words, "We can have some of the flyers tell your father and the others... but Sauria will have to get through this on her own."
Ali sighed as she observed her mother's drooping neck. With more than a little effort she rose from her position and nuzzled the elder longneck.
"I'm sure that Sauria will be alright, Mom. She and her friends have gotten out of worse."
Utu did not meet her eyes as she looked towards the rising Bright Circle, "I hope you're right, Ali... I hope that you're right..."
-----
"There she is... Hanging Rock."
Bron resisted the urge to tease Servine for referring to the inanimate rock as a female. It was one of the threehorn's quirks, but he knew that now would not be the right time. After all, Servine had already a female of his own...
But not his son.
The longneck admired the distant rock for a moment as it jutted into the air like a finger thrust into the unknown. It was both inviting and foreboding. Welcoming but never welcome. Much like the omnivorous fast runners that called the rock home.
"Good! The sooner we get to it then the sooner we can get our children and leave!"
Bron cracked a smile at the Topps's gruff response.
"In case you don't remember, we do have to wait on our children to get to Hanging Rock first," Bron noted with some amusement as he mentioned their carnivorous offspring, "We may have to wait a while..."
Topps took the bait just like the longneck had anticipated, "Well our children will have no excuse to be beaten by us. They are fastbiters, after all!"
Bron was about to continue the banter when the sound of fluttering wings interrupted his thoughts.
"Well, if you two want to argue all day then I am quite sure that our children will beat us!"
Bron crossed his eyes in order to focus on the flyer that hovered in front of his face. The comedic expression caused Topps to burst into light laughter, and odd sound coming from the usually stern threehorn. Despite his slight irritation at being the loser in this battle of wits, Bron found himself laughing as well.
"Speaking of children, shouldn't Petrie be giving us an update soon?"
Volant allowed herself to land on the back of Ali's mate as she considered her response. Somni, for his part, did not seem to mind. He seemed fixated on something in the distance.
"That is what I will be doing today. I think that is time that I pay my son a visit for a change."
Bron tilted his head, "Will your children be alright?"
Volant smiled, "They should be fine. Besides caring for their younger brothers and sisters will be good practice for my older children." she allowed herself a bittersweet smile at that thought. Two of them had departed the valley in order to seek out mates of their own, but several still remained. She knew that sooner or later they would have to depart as well. "Several of the other flyers should be here soon to help you all keep watch."
Servine deadpanned, "Watch what? I don't think the big rock is going to be going anywhere."
Volant snorted, "Perhaps not... but it never hurts to have a head start on any threats..." she quickly turned towards Bron before the threehorns could make a boast about their fighting prowess, "I take it that you all will be alright?"
Bron smiled, "We will be fine, Volant. Tell our children that we will be waiting for them."
The assembled dinosaurs watched the flyer head off in the distance for several moments before Topps finally got restless. He prepared to give the order to head out and resume their journey for the day when he noticed Somni's distracted expression.
"What is it that you see, Somni?" Upon looking out into the distance he could clearly see the fluttering figure of a distant flyer, "Oh! It looks like Volant wasn't joking about other flyers coming shortly."
Bron's face darkened immediately, "They are going awfully fast..."
Caw!
Topps closed his eyes upon hearing the alert call. Of course there just had to be trouble!
As the assembled dinosaurs waited for the report from the flyers, they had no idea that the danger was not focused on them, but rather their own mischievous children.
And the danger was a lot closer to their children then they could possibly imagine.
-----
Outside Hanging Rock:
"I thought that you said that you knew the way!"
The pink threehorn's frustration finally erupted into the open as they once more came across the same piece of rocky terrain. They had been going in circles for the better part of the morning
"I do!" The flyer protested. He also was frustrated by his inability to see a way up despite, or perhaps because, of his aerial vantage point. It was hard to see anything in the confusing jumble of boulders and bushes. "The way up is around here... somewhere..."
Malka merely walked behind them in a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. If this continued any longer then she was tempted to tell Flip to fly back to the valley and get help. However, much like her threehorn friend, pride was stopping her from taking that step. They had resolved to see the reunion with their own eyes, and nothing was going to hold them back.
She just hoped that Axiom was somewhere safe. Because she certainly wasn't anywhere in this gorge.
Far above them, hidden by an outcropping of rock, the trio was being watched by three pairs of eyes. The slightest hint of pink and purple from their beaks were the only possible sign of their presence. After nearly half a day of journeying they had finally found their targets.
"They certainly seem lost, don't they?"
Arial nodded at her father's words. It was obvious that the two dinosaurs and one flyer were not accustomed to wandering in the Mysterious Beyond. They were like swimmers out of water.
"I would help them... if that wouldn't hurt us."
She knew that her affirmation was not news to her parents, but she felt compelled to protest their predicament. Even though no one could blame the sharpteeth for taking advantage of the available food, and no one could blame her family for doing what was necessary to keep them safe, there was something that felt utterly wrong about this. She was an omnivore, and as such she usually had a choice... she could spare eggs and younglings unless she was starving.
But that was not a choice now.
"As would we, Arial," Arial felt her mother's hand on her shoulder, "...but until your brother comes back with help we need to do what we must. This territory is too safe... too plentiful for us..."
"To throw it all away. I know." Arial spoke with more bitterness than she intended. She still focused on the younglings below instead of looking at her parents. She did not want her parents to see her weakness.
Pearl reached for her daughter's arm again, only to earn a slight shake of the head from Detras. He realized what she was trying to do and did not want to provoke her emotions when she had a job to do. The tears and regrets could come later. Right now it was time for necessity.
"Are you ready, daughter?" He asked with all of the assertiveness of a pack leader. It was an appeal to her sense of duty and pride.
It was successful.
"As ready as I can be, father. You will gather our 'guests'?"
Detras nodded at the bitter tone of the word guests. He had to admit that Dein and Terri's welcome was running out in his mind as well. "They will be gathered." It was only know that he placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder, a gesture which her mother repeated.
"Good luck, Arial! Remember why you are doing this. Remember what is at stake."
Without further word Arial heard the quick footsteps of her parents darting away from her crevice. She was now alone. Alone with the reminder of her duty echoing in her ears. She was doing this for her territory, and for her family's future. She could not show mercy here. She could not go back on what she had decided. Her family had decided to keep their territory until it became dangerous for them to stay. She had placed her hand in the pile along with everyone else. Her brother had agreed to risk his life in getting help, while she had agreed to risk her innocence by doing the unthinkable. Now it was time to pay the price.
Her mind perfectly summed up what she had agreed to. Time to be the villain.
She did not hesitate to make noise as she climbed down the crevice. She knew that what was being conspicuous to her would still seem like stealth to the younglings down below. They were valley residents and would not know the ways of the Mysterious Beyond. She could use its secrets to her advantage.
"Hey, guys! Did you hear something?"
It was odd, she noted, how familiar some of them seemed. The pink threehorn that just spoke almost looked like an older version of Tricia. She quickly shook her head at that thought. It was just her nerves getting the better of her. She had a mission to accomplish.
She smiled as the trio looked over at her advancing pink form. She answered their surprised expressions with a kind wave.
"It looks like all of you are lost. Need some help finding your way up?"
She forced cheerfulness into her face and voice, despite the knowledge that she was leading them to their doom.
"Oh, thank you!" Malka spoke before the others had a chance to respond, "Flip here has no idea where we are! And we can't find our friend!"
Flip bristled at her insinuation, "That's not true... It just be a long time since Mama show us this place." He relented after a pause though, "But I'm worried about Axiom. She fell but wasn't where we thought she would be... so we went down here to look for her."
Aria kept held back the bile in her throat at the mention of his mother. She would not just be leading them to their death, she would also be taking a child away from its mother.
"Is your mama nearby?" she inquired cautiously.
Flip looked embarrassed at that question as the others likewise averted their eyes, "Um... we actually kind of ran away."
"We wanted to see our brothers and sisters when they get back, but our mommies and daddies told us to stay home..."
Arial waved them off out of fear that any further mention of their families would make her lose her nerve, "Well, once you get back up out of this gorge then you all can work it out... but you all need to stay close to me... it is dangerous in the Mysterious Beyond. Once we are out of here... then we can look for your friend."
The danger is in front of you.
Malka was unreserved in stating her opinion, "Thank you very much! We could certainly use your help."
Tricia eyed Arial cautiously for a moment, as if she were sizing her up. As if there was something about the fast runner that caught her eye. But then she relented, "Thank you very much for helping us... do you by any chance know the fastrunners who live by Hanging Rock? They are friends of the valley."
Arial ignored the pounding in her chest and the chill that ran up her spine. She now knew that these were children from the valley. The same valley that had protected her and her family. The same valley that they owed a great obligation towards. This greatly complicated things in ways that she could only begin to think about while responding quickly enough to maintain her cover.
"I'm sorry, I don't know any of them. I try to avoid the territory of other families." she lied quickly, "But it is not a problem at all to help all of you... please follow me."
She knew that there was the possibility that the children could escape from any hunt, and if that happened she wanted to make damn sure that the valley did not know of her families' unwilling partnership. For that reason she knew that she had to avoid being asked any more questions.
"By the way, what is..." Flip asked before he realized that the fastrunner was already several lengths ahead of them.
"Hurry, everyone! We need to get out of this gorge before a sharptooth finds us! We can talk later; now we run!"
She didn't wait for any of them to agree as she broke into a steady jog. She could hear the sound of sprinting feet shortly thereafter as she led them speedily through the gorge. She would not give them a chance to ask any more questions. She would not give them a chance to make her second guess what she had to do.
As her head ached and her chest burned, she tried to force her misgivings to the back of her mind. The suspicious familiarity of the dinosaurs... the fact that they were from the valley... the fact that by leading them to their doom that their friend would be lost somewhere out there... it was all too much for her to even begin to contemplate. She had to choke back the idea that these dinosaurs could have been her friends under different circumstances.
I hope they make it quick for all of you.
She continued to run in silence as her footsteps echoed across the walls of the gorge like the thunderclaps of a distant storm.
-----
Damn it! Count on me to fall down slick rocks!
Axiom resisted the urge to call for help as she knew that might attract predators. It reminded her of something that her mother used to say.
When the fastbiter hears the youngling yell, he comes running... but not to help.
The young rainbowface sighed. She would have given anything in that moment to have her parents beside her. They always seemed to know what to do even when things seemed hopeless. Though they had told her many of the tricks they had learned, she lacked their years of accumulated experience. The most that she could do right now was analyze the situation. Just like her parents had taught her.
Okay... mommy and daddy always said the first step was to observe your surroundings...
She quickly looked around herself. Some distance above her was another gorge. She only knew this because she had slid across that gorge and then went through a crevice before she had finally landed in this one. She could not see any hint of how to access the slick rocks above her, however. So going back out the way she came was not an option.
The next thing that she noticed was the sharp rock that she had kept attached to her arm with a vine. This was something that her parents always kept with them in order to break open hard-shell sweet bubbles, to cut vines, or to make marks for their silent language that only the rainbowface family knew. Knowing that she needed to keep the invaluable tool she quickly grabbed the sharp rock and retied it to her arm. Then she resumed her observations.
In front of her seemed like the only possible path, and it offered little in the way of detail. Only many boulders and a lot of suspicious caves and crevices greeted her vision. If she had to use trial and error to find her way out then she would be here all day.
This is hopeless! How am I supposed to find my way out of here? There is nothing to see... nothing to hear..."
"So... led... down... here..."
Axiom froze before instinctually throwing herself behind a boulder. The disjointed echoed words from the gorge wall were in leaf-eater, but their pronounced in an odd way. She recognized those voices from somewhere... but where?
"I know, dear... but can sharpteeth kill... children might flee..."
Axiom's eyes went wide. She knew who those voices belonged to. See had not heard them since the days of her childhood after she was first hatched, but there was no doubt in her mind. It was Detras and Pearl. She rose from her position in order to yell in their direction when she heard words that made her hesitate.
"I know you aren't happy with this, dear. Neither am I. But if we are going to hang on to this territory then we need to keep our guests happy until help arrives or they decided to leave. It isn't like we haven't done this before."
What are they talking about?
"But only when we were starving before the kids were hatched! We are talking about helping Dein and Terri kill kids, Detras!"
Axiom's mind went blank. She simply couldn't process this new piece of information. She found herself beginning to shake out of fear and confusion.
"You know that we have to do this, dear. That is why you didn't try to talk Arial out of it. It is better them than it is to risk all four of us."
"We might still lose Orchid."
"All the more reason to do this, dear. We can't let his mission be in vain. We have to hang on to what we have while he gets help. We all agreed, remember?"
"I know but it is so hard... the children don't deserve this."
"None of us do."
As the footsteps trailed off slowly, Axiom finally allowed herself to breathe again. The fastrunner family was in league with sharpteeth? They were leading younglings like her to their doom? That was when a realization hit her.
They're probably talking about my friends.
The rainbowface's body shook with a ferocity that she had never before experienced. It was more than mere fear. It was an anger that could only come from the heat of betrayal. She did not care about the fastrunner's predicament in that moment. She did not care about their sacrifices. She only cared about keeping her friends safe.
Before she realized what she was doing she had grasped the sharp rock in her hand.
And ran in the direction of the voices.
-----
Many miles away from Hanging Rock:
"There it is, children! Can you see it?"
Littlefoot suppressed a chuckle as his children climbed up his back in order to get a better view. The other children were doing the same to their parents as they squinted their eyes towards the horizon. Finally the excited form of Swipe confirmed what he suspected.
"I can see it! It looks like the rock is just hanging there!"
Littlefoot could feel the sensation of Biter nodding on his back, "Well duh, sis, that is why it is called Hanging Rock."
Littlefoot rolled his eyes and Ruby chuckled at her children's antics. With Swipe's playful attack in Biter's direction, her brother quickly hopped off of his perch on his father's back. Littlefoot did not need to look behind him to know that Swipe was strutting in order to provoke her brother.
"Alright, Swipe, down you go!" Littlefoot lightly bucked her off of his back in order to let the children get their play fight out of the way, "But yes, that is indeed Hanging Rock. We should be there by the end of the day!"
Cheers erupted from sharptooth and leaf-eater alike at Littlefoot's pronouncement in the leaf-eater language. It seemed that their long journey was finally coming to an end.
"We can finally see our mommies and daddies!" Sauria exclaimed happily.
"My sister..." Datum added, "...and our friends. I wonder how Tricia and Flip are holding up."
"Probably wondering what is taking us so long. This journey never ends."
Littlefoot suppressed a chuckle at the grumpy response of the little threehorn. It seems that the cheerful demeanor of threehorns starts early! He noted to himself, Stern Claw still hasn't grown out of hers.
"I am ready to be done with this journey as well. It is hard to run fast when you have three stragglers." Cera added sardonically at her less-than-swift leaf-eater counterparts.
"Are you calling us slow?" Charger asked arrogantly, momentarily forgetting that he was addressing a full-grown Utahraptor.
Cera puffed out her chest as if she had been mocked by Taunt himself, "Well, you all certainly aren't fastbiters!"
Charger retorted under his breath, "Thank the Bright Circle for that..."
As was the case on most days, Taunt decided to use the most awkward time to ruin Cera's moment.
"Ah, so that is where you get it from, dear. Did the little threehorn show you up?"
Littlefoot rolled his eyes as Cera turned towards her mate with an expression that Littlefoot could not see. He knew that it was time to wrap this up before Taunt or Stern Claw made further fools of themselves.
"Alright, everyone, I have an idea... how about we sing the rest of the song as we travel? That way our leaf-eater friends here will not miss out on the song."
Silence fell over the adults as they considered this, whereas the children were more enthusiastic.
"That's a great idea!" Pouncer exclaimed.
"We can finally hear how we came along!" Came agreement from Petrie's son Dive.
"And how our mommies and daddies survived being alone." Swipe added more somberly. It was that reminder of the darkness of the song that made the children quiet down.
They are getting the seriousness of the message... that is good. Littlefoot affirmed to himself. He was about to begin the refrain of the next verse when Petrie interrupted.
"Um... Seeker? Maybe me should go to Hanging Rock? To let fastrunners know."
Littlefoot considered this for a moment, before Ruby answered for him.
"The adults should be there by now, Spotter, and I am sure that the flyers in the valley already told them. With an entire herd with them what could possibly make them late? What could make them late if they have an entire herd?"
Petrie nodded after a pause, "You have point there, Ponder. Me sure they be fine."
Littlefoot smiled, "Alright then. Let's get a move on, everyone, and we will start up the song. Finder, I think it is your turn again."
Spike nodded his agreement, "Indeed it is... It all began with a misunderstanding."
♪♪ In my territory cold and bare,
we tried to protect our food and lair,
But as the day turned into night,
others would often try to chance a bite ♪♪
-----
Several years ago:
Spike watched with concern as Breeze's chest rose and fell with each breath. Below her were the now covered eggs. Six fragile shells which contained their hopes for the future. Six new lives.
Assuming they were given a chance to hatch.
Spike sighed. Breeze had laid her eggs several days before, but yet she still insisted on performing the daily hunts. He had tried to protest, only to nearly be rendered unconscious by the irate female. From her perspective it was the male's job to watch the nest and the mother's job to hunt while the eggs had still not hatched, then it was the opposite after the children had hatched. This was yet one more little cultural difference that had surprised Spike. He was expecting the leaf-eater way of handling the situation.
It is a father's duty to provide.
However, now that Breeze had returned once more without anything to show except a few ground fuzzies, Spike had finally gotten her to agree to let him do the hunting. She had to sleep, after all, there was no reason for him to sit idle.
Perhaps it was her fatigue, or her own doubts about her solo hunt that day, but an exhausted Breeze had finally agreed. He would try to do what Breeze had been unable on this long day. He would try to provide some badly needed food.
"Then go! Just make sure that you are here when I wake up... we have to protect the children!"
Being careful not to wake his snoring mate, he quietly exited the sleeping area and emerged into the fading light of the clearing that made up much of his territory. The shadows from the trees seemed to mock him as his eyes darted back and forth for any sign of movement. Any sign of the absent meal that his family badly needed.
Hmmm... I see and smell nothing... except for those swimmers in the forest. His thoughts took on a dejected tone, not that I can go there without a fight...
The forest to the right of his clearing was mainly the territory of Seeker and Ponder. The only exception was a small portion up to the sweet bubble bushes which was in his territory, and the area by the stream which was claimed by Chomper. The large sharptooth would allow them to scavenge from his left-overs, not that he left much, and would allow them to drink from the stream. But in all other contexts it was a forbidden zone for the fastbiters. Chomper had decided to keep the water source open to all in the only way that he knew how.
Through fear and intimidation. It was enough to strike some sense into his and his packmate's instinct-addled minds.
She can get water when she needs it, but we can't count on Path to have enough left-overs for us... but what if I got some food while getting some water... Path said it was open to all...
Spike took on a slight smile as the thought came to his mind. Yes, he could hunt fish under the guise of drinking from the stream. If anyone asked then he could just claim that he was bathing.
Well... if Path asks... the others won't get close to me if they know what is good for them!
As had been commonplace in the days since the pack split, his thoughts of the others had split into an odd dichotomy. He viewed them as his closest friends at the same time that he also viewed them as his adversaries. Every part of his instincts told him to protect his territory until the children were hatched, and to support his mate. The worst part was that he was having trouble even telling the two opposing drives apart in his mind. He could only hope that clarity would come once his children were out of their eggs.
Shaking his head, Spike tried to force the errant thoughts from his mind. Regardless of when his senses returned to him he had to provide for his mate now. All other considerations were irrelevant by comparison. With his mind made up on catching some fish, he proceeded to take the path which would lead him to Chomper's territory. That was when he heard it.
Footsteps.
He froze as he lay on the ground like a snake. His ears strained for every little reverberation that echoed in the distance. Within moments his mind confirmed what he had suspected. There were footsteps in his territory.
Someone has made a mistake that they will regret.
He clinched the spear at his side as he proceeded to sniff the air. That was when he came to a realization.
They were downwind. That meant that they could smell him, but he could not smell them. They had a tactical advantage.
He seethed. He would make whoever it was pay.
No one invades my lands! No one!
Seeing a flash of green behind some distant bushes, he quickly reared back and proceeded to aim his spear at the unknown threat. He had four more spears beside him if the need arose, but he was going to make sure that whoever it was knew that they were not welcome. He did not hesitate as the spear left his hand.
Thud!
The spear landed just in front of the bush as the sounds of footsteps stopped. Spike cursed himself under his breath as he grabbed another spear and began to aim once more. That was when the sound of something whistling in the air caught his attention.
Thud!
A spear impaled itself on the ground mere feet away from the fastbiter's pile of spears. The intruder had the nerve to attack him on his own territory.
"Die, you worthless pile of spiketail dung!"
Now in an unthinking frenzy due to his rage, Spike clawed at his vine armor as if to confirm its presence on his chest, and sprinted away from the bushes he had hid behind. In the torrent of exploding leaves and dirt, it almost looked like Spike had arisen from the ground itself. He knew that his opponent was expecting another spear and was zeroing in on his location, so he would instead take the fight to the enemy. His strategy worked better than he could have hoped.
In a flurry of movement, his body crashed into the body of his unseen opponent. Instantly, vine collided with vine, and flesh collided with flesh as a torrent of feathers erupted from the melee. It was only when the scent of his adversary reached his snout that he broke off his attack in surprise.
"Haven?"
The other fastbiter stared at him with equal surprise, as her vines covered her ruffled feathers. Only a small amount of blood dripped from her back, a product of her brother's unexpected assault. The only hint of her reason for entering his territory lay some distance behind her.
The dead body of a longneck. She had been searching for food as well, and unlike him and his mate, she had found it.
Ducky noticed the shift in his gaze and bowed her head in anguish. With an anguished cry she proceeded to retreat back into her territory, conceding her prey to the victor.
"Haven, stop!"
Ducky reluctantly froze at the sound of her brother's voice. She did not turn her head, but he could see its slight tilt. She was awaiting his response.
Spike closed his eyes. Damn it, Haven! You nearly made a murderer out of me!
"You made the kill, Haven. I was going to get fish, so I wouldn't have seen it anyway..." he gritted his teeth as he fought against his instincts, which were telling him to take his prize and to mock the loser of this battle of wills. But there was enough food here for both families. This gave his reason the strength to overpower his chaotic emotions. "Take the legs and head for you and your mate... leave me the rest."
Only now did Ducky turn with deliberate slowness. Her eyes had a softness to them, despite the glare on her face.
"We are even then? No reprisals?"
Spike held his breath. This was exactly why Chomper had split up the pairs, to avoid these petty territorial disputes from turning into full-blown vendettas. Knowing that his instincts were pushing him in a direction that only lead to tragedy and death, he nodded and responded in kind.
"No reprisals. But mind my territory from now on!"
-----
Chomper watched the small green fastbiter take her share of the prey with some difficulty under the supervision of a watchful Spike and an exhausted, but somewhat better spirited, Breeze. He had only arrived after Ducky had made her anguished cry. The slight bleeding on her back and the embedded spears in the ground were the only signs of what had come before.
I was nearly too late.
He was pleasantly surprised by this turn of events, however. The act of mercy by Spike was a sign that the drive for separate territories was finally coming to an end, to be replaced by the time of hatchings.
The mothers and fathers protect their lands and nest, but after hatching only the babies test.
The pack might be able to do joint hunts after the children hatched, but there would be uneasiness as far as the children were concerned. The ancient instinct would be operating in the background, poisoning everything when the children were present. The children of another male could be subject to violence if emotions ran too high. Until the children reached the Age of Safety, only those families that shared relations could meet together. Otherwise the risk was too great.
Better to avoid a problem then to face it head on. If any of them hurt the other's children then they would never forgive themselves... and I wouldn't forgive myself for allowing it.
With a final glance at the retreating fastbiters in the distance, Chomper returned to his sleeping area that he had prepared. He would see to it that the pack did not join back together fully until the children were at the Age of Safety. In the meantime he had seen the first act of mercy and friendliness towards others that he had seen since the eggs had been laid. This made an emotion appear that he had not felt for quite some time.
Hope.
-----
"Hey, little ones. Don't worry your mother will be back soon."
Littlefoot shifted uneasily as he repositioned himself over the four eggs. It was an odd experience trying to keep the eggs warm, but yet it also seemed right in some odd way. Everything from his feathered arms to his warm body seemed adapted for just this very purpose. He could feel the heat radiating off of his body to the smooth shells on the nest below. It was something that he would have never experienced as his old kind, even if he had been female.
A longneck can't exactly lay on the eggs... I hope that I am doing this right.
Despite the inherent 'rightness' of the sensation, he still worried about his mate. She was out in the territory hunting, which seemed to him to be a job that he should be doing, but Ruby had insisted. From Littlefoot's perspective it seemed that she had a hard enough job of making and laying the eggs, but yet she was out there insisting on doing even more.
He looked over at the fish bones at the other side of the nest. The only remaining signs of the most recent hunt, which he had performed while she slept. The ability to hunt large prey was no longer available to them with the lack of available help. The risk was simply too great to hunt such beasts alone. One wrong move would leave his unhatched children as orphans.
But not as risky as having us all together, Littlefoot noted dejectedly, I really messed things up.
In the intervening days since the packmates had split their own ways, Littlefoot had had a chance to contemplate his choices in those final days. The irrationality of it all horrified him, but not as much as what that implied.
I am not angry anymore, but what will happen when the pack comes back together? Will my children be safe from... well from what my kind can do... He growled in annoyance, Why would they even want to do that to my kids?! Why would I do it to theirs?!
He wanted to protest the claims that Thud had made over a month ago. He wanted to tell himself that he wouldn't dare hurt a child just because it wasn't of his line. But recent events confirmed to him that he could not afford to overestimate his willpower. If recent events had taught him anything it was that if something could go wrong then it would go wrong.
Littlefoot closed his eyes for a moment and let his mind wander from such unhappy thoughts to the pleasant sensation of roosting on the nest. He was not aware of how much time had passed until he heard a familiar voice.
"Sorry, dear, I could only find a longneck leg."
Littlefoot jerked his eyes open. He hadn't realized that he had dozed off.
"That's... alright, dear, perhaps I should hunt now?"
Ruby merely gave him a glare, "Eat first. You are not going to go hungry like you did last night."
Littlefoot raised his arms in a placative gesture, "I know... I know... you told me last time. But you still need the food more than me..."
Ruby merely resumed her glare which brokered no disagreement. In response Littlefoot rose without any further protest and sheepishly walked up to the dismembered leg. That was when he caught the scent of the catch.
"Haven's scent... where did you get this?"
Ruby shrugged as she took a bite from the foot. In between chews she answered her mate's question, "Where Haven left it. It isn't my fault that she and Leap do a poor job of guarding their kills."
Littlefoot closed his eyes in exasperation, "Dear..."
"I know... I know... but we need to get food. Food we need to get."
Both fastbiters stared at one another as the reality of what had happened registered in their minds. Ruby's expression showed no hint of regret, whereas Littlefoot's only communicated concern.
"This opens us up to reprisals."
Ruby nodded sadly, "I know."
Their conversation entered another pause as Littlefoot considered their situation. They had food for the day, but they had opened themselves up to further problems in the future. Could they really attack Leap or Ducky if they tried to steal Littlefoot and Ruby's food? Would they even realize that it was Ruby who stole the longneck leg? Would they react with anger? There were far too many questions and not enough answers. Worse yet, he had not interacted with any of the others since the pack had split. He had absolutely no idea how they would react.
"I will need to make amends."
Ruby looked at Littlefoot with utter horror, "No, you do not! They may not even know that we took the leg!"
Littlefoot looked into her eyes, "Maybe not, but if they find out..."
"...then we will deal with it." Ruby finished for him, "Don't do something stupid like you did with Taunt."
The look of horror appeared on Ruby's face as she realized exactly what she had said. This look was joined by a look of shock from Littlefoot which promptly turned into one of regret. The criticism from his own mate seemed to make something break in the brown fastbiter. It was confirmation of his own dark thoughts from earlier.
"Dear... I didn't mean..."
Littlefoot shook his head, "You're right. You're totally right. That was all my fault."
"Dear..."
"And you paid for my mistake... just like how I am going to pay for yours."
Ruby blinked, "What?"
Littlefoot frowned, "I gave into my instincts back then, and you gave in to them today. You went into our friends' territory and stole their own prey. This will keep us fed tonight, but what about in the nights to come? They will find your scent in their territory, and when that happens they will put the facts together," he took a deep breath, "When that happens I want to limit the damage. Our kids deserve to be safe."
Ruby bowed her head sadly, "I never intended..."
Littlefoot nodded as he gave his mate a slight nuzzle, "Neither did I, but we have to live with our choices. I think the safe way to do this would be to give the proper call by the stream."
Ruby looked up, "In Path's territory."
Littlefoot nodded, "I will meet them on neutral ground and we will decide on how to resolve this."
Ruby paused as she considered her mate's words, but then she opened her mouth to speak. Littlefoot knew this was coming and preempted her offer.
"I will go. Not you," Littlefoot asserted in a tone that forbid any disagreement, "They have not smelled my scent in their territory, so they will be less inclined to be unfriendly with me."
Ruby looked down as she leaned into her mate's embrace. She could not argue with his reasoning, but yet she trembled with the knowledge of what would soon come.
"I will keep the children safe while you are gone." Ruby affirmed.
Littlefoot nodded, "Of that I don't doubt, Ponder." seeing that she had a noticeably frightened expression he continued, "Now don't you worry, I will get back to the nest safely."
Ruby sighed as she closed her eyes, "You'd better, Seeker. You'd better."
The two fastbiters embraced for several moments as the reflected brilliance of the Night Circle illuminated the mysterious forest around them. Much like the shadows in the forest's depths, neither of them could know what would lurk in the shadows of the future. All that they could do is silently question what the consequences of their actions would be.
The morrow would bring them the answer.
-----
The present, just outside of Hanging Rock
"How dare you hurt my friends?!"
Pearl covered her bleeding shoulder as she looked at the rainbowface in shock. Detras had taken position in front of her in order to defend his mate, but even he seemed transfixed by the enraged youngling. That was when Pearl finally put the pieces together. A female rainbowface youngling using a weapon confirmed who her attacker was.
"Ax... Axiom?" She inquired.
Detras stepped back from his aggressive posture as he looked at the rainbowface with shock. He had not put the pieces together until his mate vocalized the truth.
"How dare you!? We all trusted you!"
The rainbowface advanced again and tried to slash at the now distracted male. However he quickly regained his wits and deflected the rock with a firm swipe of his tail. Both rainbowface and fastrunner stared as the rock crashed to the floor. The rainbowface struggled to dive at the rock only to see the foot of the fastrunner cover her only weapon. She was now disarmed and at his mercy.
"Don't hurt her, Detras!" Pearl exclaimed as she saw him lean towards the upset rainbowface. This cause him to growl in frustration.
"She hurt you!"
"And we betrayed her friends!" Pearl retorted. She glared at her mate as he wore an expression of utter rage on his face, "Do you know what that means? Remember when we were in the valley after the battle... remember who Tricia played with after they hatched."
Detras's anger suddenly evaporated as his expression paled. "The rainbowface children... then that must mean that the pink threehorn..."
Both fastrunners stared at the now crying rainbowface. She shook with fear and rage, as anguished growls left her mouth. It was as if she were waiting to die.
Pearl took a deep breath, "I have done many terrible things for the good of the family, dear, but I will not betray the children of our friends. I will not betray those who risked all for us. If that means that we have to leave this place then so be it. These rocks are not worth the blood of our allies."
Detras closed his eyes as he heard his mate's nearly flawless sharptooth. He merely nodded before responding, "We don't have much time if we are going to save the kids, dear. We already gave the alert to Dein and Terri. Arial will be leading them to the pass any time now."
Pearl's eyes turned cold, "Then we will have to hurry, won't we?"
The rainbowface grew silent as the fastrunners spoke in sharptooth. Her response in flawless sharptooth made both of the fastrunners freeze in surprise.
"What if my friends were not from the valley? Are the lives of leaf-eaters worth so little for you?"
Pearl swallowed. She had not realized that the rainbowface had been taught the sharptooth language. "We did what we had to do for our family..."
The rainbowface glared at the fastrunner with an unblinking stare. Rage practically radiating off of her. Her voice answered the fastrunner's explanation in a cold monotone that seemed out of place coming from a child's body.
"And I will do what is necessary to protect mine. My friends are part of my family. Don't ever forget that, fastrunner."
Silence reigned as both fastrunners shared a helpless glance. Both knew that the breakdown of trust could probably never be repaired between themselves and the child they knew from so long ago. It was one thing to understand that one had to kill, it was quite another to be on the receiving end of such violence. For the first time in her life Axiom had a taste of the harsh realities of life. It would be a lesson she would never forget.
"Come, child, let's fix our mistake before it's too late. Your friends don't have much time."
With a swift burst of speed both fastrunners sprinted back into the gorge and proceeded to hurl themselves over the boulders. Despite her rage and uncertainty, Axiom did not dare hesitate. Reattaching her sharpened rock to her vines, she reared back on her hind legs and took a deep breath.
Before following the fastrunners into the unknown.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/22/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/22/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 21: A Flyer's interlude
The present, just outside of Hanging Rock
Arial tried to ignore the exhausted panting of the leaf-eaters behind her. She would have closed her eyes and fixated upon the burning in her legs or the sensation of wind in her face if that were possible without running into the walls of the gorge. Anything to ignore the reality of what was about to befall her hapless acquaintances.
"Gasp... can we slow down?"
Arial reluctantly slowed as she turned back towards the sound of the voice. The sight of Malka leaning against the rock wall greeted her eyes, while her desperate gasping was nearly all that she could hear. She had failed to consider that the swimmer would have a more difficult time keeping up with her smaller stature.
"We can't wait here for long! There is no way to hide in the gorge!" Arial cautioned.
"Well, we have been around this gorge four times and we haven't been eaten yet!"
Arial turned towards the booming voice of the pink threehorn as Tricia tried to catch her breathe. The expression on her face communicated annoyance more than exhaustion.
"I don't see anything coming from up here."
The fastrunner looked up at the distant form of the flyer. He had an easier time than the others in following her in her headlong dash, but he had also done something that she had not anticipated.
Of course he would know if a threat is coming or not! Arial scowled at the realization. This could throw their plans into chaos... and then an even worse outcome could await her family. Come on Dein and Terri, be slow for once!
"You almost seem disappointed."
Arial looked at the threehorn with surprise. For her part Tricia stared down the fastrunner as a fastbiter would size up its prey. Her eyes grew cold and her expression was as unreadable as the summer winds. Arial felt a chill go up her spine as the situation has seemingly turned on its head. Now she was on the defensive.
"Tricia?" Malka questioned, before a shake of the head caused her to grow silent. She knew not to interrupt when Tricia got into one of these moods. It only happened when someone had gone against her family honor... or there was danger.
Arial's eyes locked with the threehorn's as she tried to open her mouth to explain herself. She could feel the words on the tip of her tongue. The assurance that she was just concerned about them stopping... the insinuation that the flyer might give away their location to any threats that may be hiding... the repeated warning that they needed to flee now...
But nothing came out. It was as if something clicked when she looked into the threehorn's eyes. A flicker of recognition from many seasons ago. It was then that the name that Malka had called the threehorn finally registered in her mind. Now she knew the identity of those she was about to betray. Now she understood the true magnitude of her family's mistake.
"You're Tricia?!"
The threehorn's face did not soften, but rather took on an even colder glare. She had reached a conclusion of her own.
"That is my name, fastrunner. Now who are you?"
Arial took a step back at Tricia's question. She had already told the gang that she did not know the family that lived in Hanging Rock. So how could she come clean now?
"Who are you?" Tricia stepped forward with her eyes communicating murderous intent. For their parts, Malka and Flip had moved to the side and were watching the exchange in silence. Their eyes now communicated just as much suspicion as the threehorn's. It was then that the fastrunner realized that the charade was over.
Arial bowed her head. She knew what she had to do.
"I... you see..."
The sudden thump of a falling rock stopped her statement in its tracks, as a shower of dust and stones erupted from the rocks above. The tense situation momentarily suspended, both she and Tricia dashed towards the other side of the rock wall where Malka and Flip were situated. That was when a familiar purple fastrunner landed in front of them.
"Dad!?"
"...Detras?"
The exclamation of Arial was quickly followed by the stunned realization of Tricia. She may not have recognized the older Arial, but Detras still had the same appearance as years ago. There was no doubt of his identity. Before either of them could react further, however, two new intruders arrived on the scene.
"There you guys are! We have to get out of here now!"
Arial stared in shock as a small rainbowface suddenly slid down the rock face and promptly began gesturing with wild tones at her friends. She was in a frenzy. But that was not what caught her attention, however.
"Mom, you're hurt!"
Pearl looked briefly at the small cut that had caught her daughter's attention. It was a shallow but wide gash, which still bleed lightly as if it were fresh. The reproachful glance of Detras in Axiom's direction, and the sharp rock attached to her arm, began to make connections in Arial's mind.
"Don't worry about it, dear, I will be fine. But we need to get out of here!"
Detras nodded, "That's right! The sharpteeth will be here any moment!
The leaf-eaters responded in unison, "The sharpteeth!?"
Arial shared a look with her parents as the news echoed in the minds of the leaf-eaters. Her father had an expression that she had not seen since she was a small youngling. A look of desperation, mixed with anger. She had only seen that look when he had evacuated the family to the Great Valley before the great battle. It was the look of defeat. Her mother, on the other hand, had the same look that she had given her children when she thought that Detras had died in the aftermath of the battle. It was the brave face that one showed when bravery was the only thing one had left. It was then that Arial knew what they had already decided.
"We can explain on the way..." Arial spoke as if in a trance, "But we have to get out of here now... we all do. Hanging Rock won't be safe for any of us."
The leaf-eaters seemed to process that information in silence. All except for one angry rainbowface.
"Oh yeah? Then what about our parents? Do you expect us to leave them for your sharptooth friends?"
Arial jerked back in shock at the enraged words of the rainbowface.
"Your parents? Your parents are going to Hanging Rock?"
All three fastrunners took on concerned expressions as Malka nodded, "Yes, they are here to get our friends back. The Seven will be here as well."
Detras's mouth hang agape as the full implications of this came crashing down upon him. It seemed that his sought after help was arriving after all, but what kind of nightmare had they created for them?
-----
"Where is Soar?"
Thud looked at the massive sharptooth with concern. It was not every day that Chomper could be seen running in a dead sprint, nor with the smell of fear radiating off of him.
"She is helping the rest of the pack with the hunt. I imagine they should be back by daybreak."
"You are hunting at night?" Chomper scowled, before quickly shaking his head. Obviously with a small group a night hunt would be more fruitful than one in the daytime. It would be easier to catch the prey while they slept. "Never mind, you need to tell her to fly to Hanging Rock as soon as she gets back."
Thud was deeply concerned now, "Path, what's wrong?"
Chomper shook his head, "Very little time to explain. My parents are staying at Hanging Rock until they have enough food in their bellies for a long journey."
Thud's expression fell, "But... the pack... the valley residents..."
Chomper nodded, "Exactly. I have to leave tonight!"
Thud held up his hands, "Wait, Path! We can gather the pack and go with you..."
"No time!" Chomper roared, "No time at all! I have to go now. You know that I am the only one who can stop my parents without resorting to sticks and Orange Death. I cannot wait!"
Thud bowed his head, "Do you think it will come to that?"
Chomper looked at the fastbiter sadly, "What would you do for the sake of your children, Thud?"
Thud did not look up as he answered, "Anything."
Chomper frowned with his eyes, "My parents will do no less for my sister. Of that I have no doubt. My pack needs me and I will not let them down."
Thud looked up at the sharptooth as Chomper began to walk away in the direction of the bright Night Circle. There was no doubt from his words as to which pack Chomper would serve. If it came between his pack and his family, he would choose his pack. This made something lurch in Thud's stomach. This was a choice that no child should have to make.
"Good hunting, Path, may your foes fall underfoot."
Thud bowed his head as the words left his mouth. He had said such a parting to Redclaw back in his days of toil under his rule, but now he was saying those words to a sharptooth he felt was actually deserving of such wishes. The response came shortly thereafter.
"My foes will fall, but my friends will stand."
Thud rose to his full height as the sharptooth sprinted away as quickly as his bulky form would allow. It was only then that he noticed the fastrunner running slightly ahead of him. A silent indication of how Chomper received his news. Within moments the fastbiter was left alone with his sleeping younglings. He would have the duty of giving word to Soar when she returned. Then the tense wait for news would begin.
However, as Thud slowly returned to the makeshift sleeping area for his children, he couldn't help but focus on one thought that echoed in his mind. A realization that both impressed and horrified him.
He sounded so much like Redclaw.
"We're making good progress! I am sure we will be there by the time the Bright circle sets!"
Chomper would have glared at the fastrunner had he had the strength to do so. Not to mention that it was hard to glare at something that was balanced on your back.
"Whoa!" Orchid cried as Chomper felt the fastrunner try to regain his foothold. Eventually, however, he head the fastrunner land on the ground. He was now forced to jog just as Chomper was.
"If I'm going to be exhausted making this journey, then so are you!" Chomper mocked as he continued his monotonous journey, "No free rides!"
Orchid rolled his eyes, "Whatever you say, Big Guy! We just need to hurry!"
Chomper growled as he took a mock bite in Orchid's direction, "Don't you think that I know that!"
Not being used to Chomper's antics, Orchid jumped and then advanced forward quite a distance. He was not going to take any chances on the purple sharptooth. He knew that he was the 'friendly sharptooth' back in his childhood, but that had been years ago. Perhaps he had changed in that time?
Like his parents.
"I was just playing."
Orchid looked back at the sharptooth as the two continued their forward advance. There was a hint of hurt in the voice, which could not be obscured even with the intricacies of the sharptooth language. This struck Orchid as very telling. As rumors of Chomper's exploits had confirmed, he did not mind having a fearsome reputation.
But to be seen as unfair still caused him distress.
"I guess you are still the friendly sharptooth to your friends then."
Orchid covered his mouth once he realized what he had just said aloud. His sister had always told him that he had a big mouth, and now he had actually spoken his mind to a two-footer. His belly twisted with concern as he awaited the angry or defensive response.
But none came. The only thing that could be heard was the steady footsteps from the two dinosaurs. When Chomper finally did respond it was in a soft tone that Orchid would have never expected.
"I just hope that my friends are okay."
The fastrunner wore a sad smile as he looked back towards the massive sharptooth.
"You and me both, Path. You and me both."
-----
The Barrens, several miles from Hanging Rock:
Littlefoot had no sooner concluded his verse when he felt an unexpected weight on his back.
"So what happened next, Daddy?"
The laughter of the adults rose over the echoing footsteps as Littlefoot rolled his eyes at his son's antics. He quickly turned towards the young fastbiter only to see a trio of fastbiters hanging onto his back. Biter, Swipe, and...
"Pouncer? Have you forgotten who your parents are?"
The small fastbiter appeared to shrink as he recoiled in embarrassment. It was only know that Biter and Swipe took notice of their friend's impulsive action. Pouncer quickly jumped off as the other two took this as an opportunity to playfully chase his retreating form. It appeared that they had already forgotten what had brought them onto Littlefoot's back in the first place.
"Our children certainly seem to have a lot of energy. Perhaps they wouldn't mind if we picked up the pace then?" Taunt teased.
A smile quickly appeared on Taunt's face as his tease had the desired effect. Within moments the impromptu chase of his son had ended to be replaced with the protests of the children. His smile turned into an outright laugh when he heard Sauria and Charger's disgruntled muttering from behind him.
"I would ram the jerk but I don't think it would be worth it..."
"Well you would certainly get some more running in once he began to chase you."
"You are certainly grumpy when you are tired!"
"Oh, that is rich coming from a threehorn!"
Littlefoot shook his head in amusement at the antics playing out before him. Both his own children and the leaf-eaters reminded him so much of his own youth. The innocence that came with inexperience in life coupled with the friendly snarkiness that came with overcoming hardship with the help of others. He quickly realized that he would have to bring the amusing scene to an end, however, if they were ever going to finish the song before they arrived at Hanging Rock. With that in mind he gestured towards Petrie to resume the song. As the flyer began his first verse everyone instantly went silent.
♪♪ Soar and me spent nights in nest,
happy as a couple could be,
But one night me find her not,
Me wonder where she could flee ♪♪
♪♪ But while me quest to find mate,
through endless sky and rain,
Seeker was on quest of his own,
To where Path held reign ♪♪
-----
Several years ago:
Seeker took a deep breath.
Before him stood the sweet bubbles vines, which only now were blooming with their brilliant white flowers. A hint of the fruit that would soon thrive in their place. Ahead of these conspicuous plants was the green expanse that led to the gently flowing stream. This was the land of the purple sharptooth. The territory of his packmate.
My leader now. Littlefoot thought with conflicting emotions. He still thought of all of his friends as his packmates, even though the pack had been dissolved. However, the role of Chomper was a hard one for his mind to comprehend. He always knew that he would have to concede to him one day. His fellow fastbiters would have to be the chasers, and Chomper the killer. However he never thought that the day would come so soon. He most certainly didn't see it happening the way that it did.
Littlefoot shook his head. Such matters could wait for the hatching of the eggs and the settling of the instincts. Whether he was leader in the future, or Chomper, or someone else, didn't really matter in the long run.
As long as our children are safe.
He advanced through the bushes with some speed and resisted the urge to mark them with his own scent. He knew that Chomper wouldn't appreciate that gesture, but old habits were hard to kill. As he advanced forward into the tall grass he could feel and smell the humidity gently increase. It was like stepping into the fog on a warm morning. Though now the lack of visibility carried a more sinister connotation. He no longer had the rest of the pack to count on.
Growl... Growl... Yelp!
Littlefoot was careful to make the tone of his voice clear. There was no room for error here. He had to ensure that Chomper knew that he entered his territory not for water, or to invade, but under truce. He did not have to wait long for a response.
Roar! Growl...
Littlefoot rolled his eyes at Chomper's lazy response. To any other sharptooth the response would have indicated a very assured dinosaur who did not especially care about having the others in his territory. A kind of threat veiled in the lack of response. But in Chomper's case his location gave him away. His roar had come from his sleeping area, and even now the sound of a sharptooth rising could not be heard. Chomper was just being lazy.
"It seems that being in charge didn't make Path a morning person!" Littlefoot mused silently to himself.
"Well with a face like that he certainly needs his beauty sleep!"
Littlefoot jumped into the air as he turned towards the sudden voice. However nothing was there to be seen. Only the hazy fog greeted his panicked eyes as his feet crashed into the muddy soil.
"Hey! No need to splash me with mud!"
Littlefoot closed his eyes in exasperation. He knew who that voice belonged to.
"Taunt, what are you doing here?"
"What? I needed to be invited in order to steal Path's fish?" Taunt ignored Littlefoot's audible groan, "Besides it seems that you just offered a truce. For what reason I don't know."
Littlefoot squinted through the fog and could just begin to see Taunt's figure appear in silhouette. The scent was still being blown away from him towards the stream, but he could deduce that he would have smelt bemusement.
"There was a misunderstanding between Haven and us. Ponder decided to take some food..."
"...that belonged to me. I noticed, I did, I did!"
Now it was the turn of both males to jump as Ducky's voice echoed in their ears. She was still somewhat distant, but approaching quickly.
"That is why I am here. I had to steal from Path because you stole from me."
Littlefoot allowed himself to relax slightly at Ducky's tone, but still was concerned at the nature of what had happened. He knew that this opened himself up for reprisals.
"I am sorry about that, and I want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings. I am prepared to make amends." he offered carefully, "Ponder was hungry and... was not as careful as she should have been."
Laughter greeted Littlefoot's ears which caused him some bemusement. That was when Breeze's voice could be heard in the distance.
"Don't worry, Seeker, I don't think that you have much to worry about. At least you didn't nearly kill Haven like her brother did."
This caused Taunt and Littlefoot to both gasp in unison, "What?!"
Ducky finally appeared in a clearing in the fog as she gestured with a shrug, "A misunderstanding. I was hunting in Finder's territory and we kind of... um... used our spears."
Silence descended on the two males as they struggled to comprehend what had just been said. Their instinctual response had nearly led to murder. It was a testament to just how correct Chomper had been when he split up the pack.
Breeze walked into the clearing as well with several fish impaled on her spear, "That is why our two families have been hunting together since yesterday. We don't want a repeat of that!"
Littlefoot placed his hands on his snout as he tried to grapple with that revelation, "So let me get this straight... you nearly killed Finder... he nearly killed you... so now you and your mates are hunting together with spears?!"
Taunt's mouth hung agape but he nodded in Littlefoot's direction anyway. He shared Littlefoot's confusion.
Ducky took the opportunity to answer, "You and Taunt were so angry that you challenged one another, so why are you so calm right now?" She tilted her head inquisitively, "Is this not the same fastbiter that you said you would go tooth and claw any day?"
Littlefoot blinked at Ducky's question. I said that about Taunt... but we made up... I think...
Taunt hesitated as he looked awkwardly at Littlefoot, "I... um... don't feel the same way now... is that because um..."
Breeze snorted, "Because your mate is done laying eggs so that you can be sure that they are all yours?"
Both Littlefoot and Taunt jerked back as the females laughed. The realization that their responses had been due to making sure that their females were not courted by another male caused odors of embarrassment to wash from them. Neither of them had the thought of courting the other's mate which made the situation all the more absurd.
That was when Littlefoot had a realization.
"But... you and Finder still attacked one another... what was that about?"
Ducky smiled as she tilted her head at Littlefoot, "We found out that it was just the nests that made us like that. We have to protect our eggs, you know? Away from the nests we could get along just fine... just stay away from the babies."
Breeze nodded, "Exactly. The first joint hunt went well. We haven't eaten better since before the pack split."
Littlefoot gave Taunt an inquisitive stare as he contemplated what the others had just said. If only the nests caused that kind of reaction then perhaps there was hope yet. Perhaps the pack could get back together, if only during hunts.
Littlefoot tilted his head at Taunt, "I will have to talk to my mate but are you thinking what I'm thinking, Taunt?"
"That I won't have to take your ground fuzzies anymore?"
Littlefoot jerked back, "That was you! Why you..."
"Focus, boys!" Breeze's laughter echoed in the marsh, "I think that you were talking about a four-way hunt."
Littlefoot glared at Taunt as the other gave him a teasing look, nonetheless only playful scents radiated off of them. A testament to how much of their strife was due to their instincts to protect the nest.
"I'm in," Littlefoot affirmed, still looking in Taunt's direction.
Taunt nodded, "Provided Stern Claw doesn't gut me for the idea... I'm in too."
Ducky snorted, "If Stern Claw has not gutted you yet, Taunt, then she is not going to. Nope, nope, nope!"
-----
Chomper's carefully listened to the distant conversation as he lay in his sleeping area. His slightly opened eyes were the only sign of consciousness until the end of the conversation reached his ears.
As laughter echoed through the fog a distant sharptooth smiled at the scene. It looks like Seeker and Taunt have agreed to the arrangement... now maybe they can stop stealing my fish!
Rolling his eyes in amusement more than annoyance Chomper finally rose to his feet in order to greet the new morning. The pack was back together... in a manner of speaking. Littlefoot could lead the joint hunts as he had done in the past, and each hunter could bring the spoils to their nests.
Chomper sighed deeply. Now there was only one packmate left to account for.
I wonder how Spotter is holding up.
-----
A few weeks prior, in the Mysterious Beyond:
Where is she? It be five days!
The brown flyer stared at the cliffs before him with careful eyes. It had been five long days since he had awakened to find his sleeping spot surprisingly cool. There was an absence in their makeshift nest. An absence that made him squawk with indignation.
His mate was gone.
He had had five long days to search the available nesting sites for his beloved flyer, and five long nights to contemplate their last words to one another. Those words that nearly seemed prophetic on a dark moonless night.
"You are certainly an odd one, you know that?"
"That why you like Spotter. Me screwed up as you!"
An exchange of laughter and playful lunges erupted from the two flyers as they settled down for a night's rest. However the conversation that had led to the exchange was one that Petrie was quite serious about. It involved something that he had on his mind for quite some time.
Soar ruffled her wings as she prepared to settle into her sleeping area. Her sudden quietness was a noticeable counterpoint to her previous boisterousness.
"You were serious about your question, weren't you?"
Petrie blinked at Soar's tone, but quickly nodded despite his growing concern, "Yes, me was serious."
The eyes of the two flyers locked for a moment as each sized up the other. Petrie's eyes communicated concern with more than a little confusion, whereas Soar's expression displayed something akin to pity. She finally bowed her head as she considered how to answer the question.
"Had any other flyer told me the story that you told then I wouldn't believe them... but you are undoubtedly you. The scars match the rumors of the trickster Sandstorm... your words match the stories of Spotter... and well... you know things only a leaf-eater would know and don't know things that any sharptooth flyer would now." she smiled sadly, "so... your mother never told you about what came after?"
Petrie shifted uneasily, "Well me know what me and you did and me know that eggs come next, but..."
Soar chuckled, "Yes, dear, at least I didn't have to give you instructions on that!"
Despite his concern he found himself chuckling as well. Soar always seemed to have that effect on him, "She never tell me about raising babies. Me only know that she only did that. Me never know father."
Soar nodded, "Few flyers do. Your friends may have had fathers, Spotter, but flyers only are cared for by mothers. Eventually I will need to go."
Petrie looked down which caused Soar to look guilty at her words. "But me love you..."
"I love you too, dear. But there is more to raising younglings than love. For the good of the children I will need to raise them alone."
"But with a daddy there could be two providing for them!" Petrie protested.
Soar shook her head, "...and a male who could hurt them."
"I would never do that!"
Silence fell over them for several moments as Soar looked into the now agitated male's eyes. Her look of pity now turned into one of sadness. She had no idea that it would be this difficult.
"You told me about your friends, Spotter. About what Thud said about their instincts. We are not immune from that. If you care about the children then you will stay away until they are at the age of safety." she gently nuzzled his neck, "You have fought with tyrants and fiends, but in a battle with instincts, the instincts will always win."
Petrie closed his eyes, "Me not fly away from battles."
He could hear Soar's sad sigh, "Maybe in this case you should."
Petrie shuddered at the memory, which caused him to shift awkwardly in the air. She had left some time during that night without any warning or preamble. But considering the subject of their last conversation Petrie could understand why.
She want to leave when she can. Me should have known.
Her last words before he went to sleep haunted him.
"You know, dear, I think that we can forego the competition during the next Time of Mating."
"That good, me not enjoy almost dying."
Soar's laughter echoed in his ears, "I think that I would just seek you out again and be done with it. I think we have already made our choices." she then yawned deeply as he nuzzled her, "What was that name of your sister again? The one that died during the battle?"
Petrie groggily replied, "Valaria. Some part of me die when she die."
"Valaria. That would be a good name for a daughter."
The two had fallen asleep together, but then he woke up alone. He knew from the beginning what that had meant, and the magnitude of their final words together. She had wanted his input on one of the children's names.
The last input that he would receive as the father.
But Petrie's words were more correct that Soar could have known. Petrie was not one to simply abandon a battle unless there was no hope of victor, and the battle for love was no exception. She only realized this when a familiar brown flyer came flying into her visual range.
"Good nest place! It took me a long time to find it! How are the eggs?"
-----
Soar froze at the sudden appearance of the male. The lovable charm of Petrie was still there, as was his empathy and perseverance. However there was now one thing present that wasn't a mere day before.
The eggs.
Her eggs.
She didn't even have time to process what had happened before she sprang into action. Wing collided with wing and beak collided with flesh as she charged at the unsuspecting male. He took off in a mad flight as she continued to squawk and bite at his wings. She was beyond thought now. She was beyond control. All that roared in her mind was the ultimate obligation of a mother.
Chase the intruder! Protect the children!
It was only when she saw his form slowly and on the opposing cliff face that marked the end of her territory that she realized what she had done. The form of Petrie stood before her with more than a few new scrapes on his brown exterior. His eyes communicated horror for a moment, but then quickly reasserted a determined appearance. It was something that her instinct-addled mind couldn't determine how to respond to.
"My territory! Stay out!"
Petrie continued to stare at her as she puffed out her chest in an aggressive gesture. He stood at the cliff face and said nothing. This was a side to him that she had only seen during his mating display. It caused a confusing torrent of emotions to erupt within her.
"So this cliff not in your territory then?"
Soar merely glared at the male as she remained on her cliff. Her failure to continue the attack confirmed that he was correct.
"Good. Then me claim this cliff for Spotter. Me live here now."
It was only now that Soar brought herself to speak again. "Did you not listen to me, flyer?! I will do anything to protect our children, even if that means hurting the father. Don't do anything stupid or I will make sure that it is the last thing that you do."
She quickly turned back towards her nest and retreated at full speed. Now the emotions were returning to her. Her love for Spotter... his odd sense of humor... his almost naive view of right and wrong... she could not let these interfere with what her instincts were shouting at her to do.
Damn it, Spotter! Why do you have to make this any harder than it already is?!
As she flew back to her nest she swore that she could hear Spotter's voice in the distance.
"Me may not see babies, but me make sure you safe."
And Petrie was true to his word.
-----
A few weeks later:
Squawk!
Soar only leveled off the assault once she saw that the male was again on his side of the gorge. It didn't matter that he had dropped a fish in her territory. It didn't matter that her kids were hungry. All that matter is that the kids were safe from him.
That was when she heard the hungry cries of her children.
"Coming, darlings!"
She quickly used the thermals in the gorge to carry her back to the nest, but not before she heard a quip from the outsider's territory.
"You welcome!"
-----
Two days later:
Splat!
Soar opened her eyes and emitted an audible groan. It seemed that she had only now gone to sleep when he had begun his usual tricks.
He is only trying to help... and he is helping... some part of her mind noted, but I can't let him feel welcome. It would be too dangerous for the kids.
For that reason she carefully rose from the nest in order not to wake the infants, and took to the air. This was when she saw an unexpected sight.
The fish were only on the threshold of her territory. It was as if Petrie had merely tossed them from his cliff to her side.
"Me not want to wake you or the babies. Sorry."
Soar took a deep breath, "You're not giving up on this are you?"
Petrie did not attempt to say another word to his mate as he had long since experienced the futility of that. His response was merely to calmly toss another fish onto her side of the territory. The dry humor of his actions were not lost on Soar.
"Fine, have it your way, Spotter. But fish or no fish don't think that I will not let my guard down!" Then, as promptly as she had arrived, she picked up one of the fish in her beak and flew in the direction of her nest. The agitated reply and lack of gratitude would have dissuaded most flyers, but not Petrie. For Soar's own words had betrayed her on this day.
Petrie smiled to himself. She finally call me by name again!
-----
The next day:
Squawk! Squawk! Squawk!
Soar stared at her six children as the instinctual call for food emanated from them. Had she been a leaf-eater then their fuzz-less forms, huge eyes, and gaping beaks would have made them look like abominations. The screeching calls of flyer young were known to scare leaf-eater younglings at night as their horrific calls echoed into the dark. However, unlike leaf-eaters, Soar’s maternal instincts told her exactly what to do in this situation. Carefully tilting her head back she felt the fish rise from her gizzard, and within moments she was regurgitating the morning’s catch into the hungry mouths of her children.
Squawk! Squawk!
Soar sighed. That had been the third fish of the day, and yet her children were still hungry.
Mamma wasn’t lying when she said that this was hard! she noted to herself. It brought to mind an old saying that her mother used to say to her when she had to do something difficult, Crying never solved any problems; fly on!
“I will be back, children! Stay silent for momma, okay?” She then began to purr a soft growling noise, which was the cue for the children to grow silent. Within moments their instincts overpowered their hunger and they were as silent as a pack of predators stalking prey. This was not something that she was ever taught, it just seemed to come naturally to her. An instinct to help keep potential predators away. Like other flyers... like that damn male...
With grim determination she flew into the sky once more. There were two streams in the area with plentiful supplies of fish. One was in the middle of several flyer territories, and thus was always under conflict. Under normal circumstances she would have avoided entering there. However the other stream was securely in the territory of a flyer that she wanted to avoid.
Spotter will insist on giving me the fish… I can hunt on my own!
She gritted her beak at the thought of the male. She appreciated his help, but his constant insistence on helping made something scream at her from her subconscious. Perhaps it was his desire to be near the children despite the instinct that made males dangerous around hatchlings… maybe it was the fact that he arrogantly claimed the good stream… maybe it was her embarrassment of having attacked him during their first meeting...
Or maybe it is my own pride, an unwanted voice noted in her head, if my mother could do this alone then so can I!
-----
“Caw!”
Petrie awoke suddenly at the pained exclamation. It only took him a moment to determine whose voice that was.
“Soar!”
He pumped his wings without hesitation as he promptly rose into the air. All thoughts about respecting his mate’s territory evaporated as soon as he heard her give the alert call. He could be attacked later for all that he cared.
It only took him a moment to witness the situation that had befallen his mate. She was attempting to guard her children with her wings as a larger female attacked her with her beak. The intruder was using Soar’s own protectiveness against her. This was enough to make Petrie see red.
You disgusting blood-sucker...
Petrie picked up his pace as much as he could. He knew that screeching would only alert the female to his presence so he instead tried for the silent route and used the thermals to gain altitude. From there a sudden dive would be silent and indefensible. With his body finally soaring into the clouds he decided that it was time to strike. He curled his wings underneath him and pointed his eyes on his target. That was when he saw something that made his blood run cold.
A small object in the attacker’s mouth.
That was when Petrie snapped.
-----
Soar choked back her anguish as she heard the sickening crunch of her child’s head in the intruder’s beak. She had failed Volorn, but she still had his five brothers and sisters to protect. The harsh instincts of her kind drove her on to protect what remained of her family. Mourning could come later.
The flyer shifted to the right as the beak came her way once more. Soar countered this by striking at the attacker’s neck. She only got a glazing blow on the fiend, but her scream confirmed that Soar had inflicted pain on the female. Perhaps enough to make her cease the attack. Perhaps enough to save her family.
The intruder jerked back and spat blood onto Soar’s face. Her son’s own blood. It was enough to make Soar fight back a sob in her throat. However the intruder did not press her attack. She merely gave Soar a cold glare. Though no words were exchanged its meaning was obvious.
If you enter my territory again then I will kill you.
Soar held her gaze with the female. Despite her loss now was not the time to seek vengeance or to show pride. She had to think about the wellbeing of her remaining children, which would be doomed were she to fall. For that reason she merely tilted her beak downward which was enough for the large female.
The intruder snorted arrogantly at Soar’s display of submission as she stepped back to the ledge of the nest. She hesitated one last time as she placed weight on her wings to take off. Just one moment to savor her victory.
That was her final mistake.
A sickening crash made Soar look in terror at where the intruder had been moments before. Where a flyer had been previously there was now what appeared to be a confusing torrent of beaks and feathers. From the chaotic maelstrom of violence came spatterings of blood and shrieks of pain. Soar froze in place as her children continued to shriek under her massive wings. Within moments those wings were covered in blood just like the walls of the crevice they called home. That was when she realized something.
The cries of pain were only coming from one of the flyers. A flyer that she knew quite well.
“She's dead, Spotter. You can stop now.”
Soar was almost horrified by the monotone coldness in her voice as Petrie suddenly stopped his assault on the other flyer’s corpse. What was left to fall on the ground was something that was barely identifiable as a flyer. Now she was merely another victim to fall under Petrie’s talons.
That was when the site of her son’s crushed body again came into view.
Both flyers stopped for a moment as their eyes locked on the horrific sight. The loss of children to predation or reprisals was rather common for sharptooth flyers, but that did not make the emotions any less raw. Vorlorn would never have the chance to grow, to speak, or to become a flyer of his own. Instead he had become a victim of another flyer’s vengeance... and Soar’s own arrogance.
“This is all my fault,” Soar sobbed silently, “I am sorry, son.”
Petrie quaked with rage, “Don’t... say... that,” he hissed between agitated breaths, “How this you fault! She the killer!”
Soar noted Petrie’s anger and carefully placed herself between him and the still crying children, “I decided to use her stream instead of yours. I...” she fell silent again and she looked down in shame, “My pride got our son killed.”
Petrie sucked in a deep breath as he saw the children peaking from behind their mother’s wings, “Pride? Like my pride that make Spotter take stream in first place? Pride that ignore what you say?” he shook his head sadly as he looked at his son, “Me sorry, son. Me fail you as much as momma. Me not fail your brothers or sisters... not anymore.”
Soar hesitated as she watched Petrie moved back towards the entrance to the crevice.
“What are you going to do?” she asked cautiously.
Petrie shrugged, “That up to you. Me should have listened before. This dangerous place, but with me here it more dangerous. Me already kill other flyer’s babies, how can me not be sure me not kill yours?”
Soar raided her voice in a mixture of exasperation and rage, “What are you talking about!? You haven’t killed anyone’s babies!”
Petrie shook his head, still not facing his mate. “Me kill this momma...” he gestured towards the shredded corpse, “Which mean that me kill her babies. Babies not live on own. Either hunger get them... or predator get them... or me get them.” he then turned towards his mate with an ashen expression, “Which be better? Because me not know. Me not know anymore.”
Soar sighed deeply as the full extent of Petrie’s actions became apparent to her. He had indeed condemned an entire family to death through his actions. Now with the full magnitude of what he was capable of staring him in the face, Petrie was not so confident about being part of his children’s lives. The justifications for his actions were irrelevant as the highlighted an underlying truth. Until their children were at the age of safety they would not be safe around their father.
“Her nest was well hidden... I saw it by the stream which was why she...” she shook her head, “...predators probably won’t find it in time... it might be best for you to... take care of it.”
Better to die quickly than to die of starvation. Soar’s own thoughts horrified her.
“And what best for our children?” Petrie choked back a sob, “For the ones that are left?”
Soar stared at the flyer with an unreadable expression, “It is best that they have a father... but not yet.” she carefully began to lick the blood off of her children, “I didn’t believe that at first... but now I am certain.”
It was only now that Petrie dared look her in the face. His eyes communicated fear as his body and gaze was clearly shifted away from the direction of his own children. Most notably away from the curious stares of their young children, A clear indication of what he was fighting.
“You’re feeling the instinct now, aren’t you?” Soar asked carefully.
He looked down, ashamed and confused. No additional words needed to be spoken on that.
Now you know, dear... at least you can fight it... Soar frowned. It seemed that they both had their own share of revelations on this horrible day. Though they were too late to save their poor son.
“Then... go now," Soar choked out, "Use that instinct where it would actually do some mercy. The children and I will see you in the Dry Times.”
Petrie hesitated one last time as he looked out on the gorge that lay before him. His voice was more helpless than she had ever heard from him, “Will you and babies be alright until then?”
Soar smiled sadly, “Now that you have killed the biggest competition we should be fine..." her callousness even made Petrie shiver, but she could not be bothered to have any concern for the murderer of her child, "Have trust in me, dear, just like how I have trust in you. I will return to you when the times are safer... and you don't have to fear yourself.”
Petrie gave her a slight nod as he took a deep breath. He seemed to size up the sky that lay before him as the wind shifted his wings like a breeze rattles leaves. It was only then that he spoke in a faraway voice, “Until Dry Times then. Farewell, Soar. Farewell, children. Father wait for you all.”
Then, without waiting for a reply, he took off into the blue sky. Like a summer storm, he was gone just as soon as he had appeared. Afraid of what chaos he could cause if he challenged his instincts too much. It was enough to make Soar hug her remaining children close.
Farewell, Spotter. We will meet again.
-----
As Petrie ended his tale, only the sounds of silence greeted his ears. His children rested on the backs of the leaf-eaters with agape beaks at the tale they had just heard. They had known that they lost a brother back before they even had memories, but they had never heard the full tale. Their mother was not willing to relive that particular memory.
"So you would have..." Dive began as he gestured helplessly with his wings, "But we know you, Daddy! You not do anything like that!"
"Why do you males even have that instinct?" Sauria demanded, "Mama always told me that instincts help us to survive when thoughts take too long. How could killing babies help you?"
"They eat other things for food, does it really surprise you that they would eat their own babies?" Charger muttered with little tact. It was enough to earn an angry glare from Petrie.
"Me not know, but me know that mama who lose eggs wants to make eggs after. So maybe that why it exist? Me not know, but you be idiot to think that Spotter enjoy this. Me glad the instinct be gone!" he looked away from the threehorn and muttered to himself in sharptooth, "Threehorns not gentle giants either. How many sharptooth eggs they kill?"
No answer reached his ears, as Datum did not translate those words. He merely gave a helpless look to Biter who shared his worried look. They had known that hardships occurred before their hatching, but they had no idea about the magnitude. Flyers hatched much faster than land-dwellers, which meant that even more could go wrong before the fastbiters' day of hatching arrived. It was this thought that finally provoked Swipe to ask the fateful question.
"Daddy, you said in the last song... before Spotter's... that you had four eggs and that Finder had six... did we lose any brothers and sisters?"
Littlefoot stopped in his tracks for several moments, as the rest of the pack stopped as well. The brown fastbiter struggled for the words, when Ruby finally spoke for him.
"Opal and Topaz were going to be their names... but they never got the chance."
This caused an audible gasp to erupt from the children, but the adults were not done.
Spike swallowed hard, "We were going to wait until we saw them to give them names... but we never got the chance. They took them from us. Only you two remain." he gently nuzzled his two sons who looked upon him with sad eyes. They had never known their brothers or sisters who were never born, but they could tell that it obviously caused their parents sadness.
Ducky looked down, "We got lucky, but it nearly wasn't so."
Sauria spoke softly, "What happened?"
Littlefoot took a shuddering breath, "Children... it may be hard to understand, but sometimes happiness is born from the nest of sadness. It was the loss of so much that finally allowed us to bring the pack together... and to make sure that all of you hatched safely into the pack that you know. But the price that we had to pay was high. Far too high," he gritted his teeth as he recollected his thoughts, "To answer your question... it was the egg-stealers that happened."
The children began muttering amongst themselves. Their parents had told them about egg-stealers. Even sharptooth feared their single-minded focus on the most precious of things. Now it seemed that they knew why their parents always seemed to have a special hatred for them. That was when Cera finally spoke.
"Children, we will now sing to you about the time of loss."
-----
The present, Hanging Rock:
"We can't find any sign of them. Maybe they moved elsewhere?"
Topps gritted his teeth at the report from the flyer. First they hear that their kids had disobeyed them in order to make the journey, and now this.
"And nothing of the children?"
"No sign. We will keep looking."
Topps sighed inwardly at Bron's panicked tone. He had embarked on this journey to see his child returned to him only now to see that other children were in harm's way. They had been through this before many times. Topps had been through Cera's little adventures, and now he was experiencing one of Tricia's. He only hoped that this was not her last.
It won't be as long as I have breath in my body!
"We will find them! Fastrunners or no fastrunners!" Topps's expression turned into a cold glare as he went into an assertive mood that brokered no disagreement. Not that any of the assembled adults were inclined to disagree.
"If they are following us then maybe we should continue on our way? That is where the kids would be going right? To Hanging Rock?"
Topps grew silent as he considered Savine's suggestion in his mind. As much as the idea of not actively searching for the kids went against his instincts, it did make a lot of sense in this case. If they couldn't come to their kids then they could have their kids come to them.
"That's a good idea," Topps quickly affirmed as Bron opened his mouth to speak, "What good would we be if they search for us at Hanging Rock and we aren't there?"
"And the flyers could search around wherever we aren't." Somni finished the threehorn's thoughts. Despite the longneck's reputation for having his heads in the clouds, it seemed that his perspective was well-suited for times like this. It was almost enough to make Topps consider the longneck's detachment useful.
Almost.
"Well... if the flyers can keep watch then perhaps we can go to Hanging Rock... but I think that someone should stay behind..."
Topps suppressed a groan, "And split up the herd? Destroy our only advantage? What if sharpteeth attack?"
"What advantage do the children have!?" Bron nearly roared, his uncertainty gone. There was no doubt in the threehorn's mind that the longneck had already made up his mind.
"Everyone... I think..." Somni tried to speak up.
"Our children are strong, and we need to be strong for them!" Topps growled in response, "In case you don't remember it is my child who is out there alone... your child is safe with..."
"With your other daughter and his son? The sharpteeth?" Savine asked bitterly as he looked towards the other threehorn and the longneck.
Now it was Topps turn to go on the defensive, "Now Savine, they saved the valley countless times! You can't simply..."
"Guys..." Somni tried once more.
Bron stepped in front of Somni as he addressed Savine directly, still angry over the entire situation, "In case you have forgotten, threehorn, if it wasn't for our children then your child wouldn't even have a chance..."
Savine gritted his teeth as he cocked his head aggressively, "You try my patience, longneck..."
"Everyone be silent!"
Stunned silence fell upon the assembled dinosaurs as three angry pairs of eyes fell upon Somni's form. They were joined by the others that had joined them. A collection of the valley's strongest dinosaurs. Chief among them was Topps who looked upon his counterpart as if he had grown a second head. That was when he noticed that Somni wasn't looking at any of them.
"What is that?"
It was then that Topps spared a glance in the direction that the longneck was staring. He was staring at the not-so-distant form of Hanging Rock. That was when Topps noticed what had caught Somni's attention.
Sharpteeth. They were obviously too far away to be much of a threat so the flyers had held off on the alert call. But based upon the way they were moving they were obviously looking for something. But what?
That was when he looked up to the rock face above the towering beasts. On the barren walls could be seen a few vague figures slowly transversing its length with great slowness, but it was one in particular that caught his attention.
A pink figure. Far too small to be an adult fastrunner, and far too wide to be a young fastrunner. With dawning realization he felt his blood run cold. This was a threat that his daughter would not face alone.
"They're after our kids! Come on, let's show these child-killers how the valley deals with sharpteeth!"
He didn't have to ask twice.
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Review of Chapter 9:
It's been so long since I've read a new chapter of this great story... I've started reading from the start because it's been so long...
This chapter was really exciting! First of all we have Biter in the extremely unpleasant situation of training his tracking abilities on Datum with the possible outcome of their deaths (which would absolutely destroy any trust the Great Valley has im them if they somehow found out). Ruby proves her skill in observation by... discovering Biter's secret.
That little argument between the little biters was also quite amusing as always :smile
The other fastbiters are preparing and carrying out a hunt... with a twist... :idea
First it seemed like the intruder's intentions were hostile but then it turned out to be Thud's pack! I thought they were still around and visited regularly but it seems like the last time they've met was quite a long time ago...
Now the question remains... what is going to happen to Datum, Charger and Sauria? The next chapter will tell for sure which I will read asap :DD
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Review of Chapter 10:
Ali's mate seems like a cool guy to have around. I'm amazed you didn't do the obvious by shipping her with Shorty :p
It's a really nice gesture that Somni (who lives up to his name :lol) wants to name their first son Rhett. I still remember the tragic story :(
A question like the one Ali asked can only come from someone who has seen too many loved ones go to react like Ali... If only they knew Sauria was alright... yet :p
Taunt is tortured by his siblings, hehe :smile And there seems to be another episode of songs coming soon... :)
Poor Chronos and Logos (and Axiom) :( They have to cope with the void every loss causes in our hearts but they are wise enough not to despair but to look forward and move on, knowing that not all is lost afterall :yes
Ah, now Thud requests to settle down and hold a territory next to Seeker's pack's territory. That indeed means that any intruders will meet the combined force of two packs.
Poor children... they think their friends are dead while they are not.
Not yet... It must be awfully terrifying for a leafeater kid to be amongst a group of sharpteeth who may or may not want to eat you. If it wasn't for Biter, Ruby would have hunted them down.
Speaking of Biter, I wonder if he's still in trouble for befrieding leafeaters after Seeker's pack realises that those children are actually allies from the Great Valley and, in case of Seeker, even relatives! Sauria is no less than his half-sister (I think)!
What an interesting development :yes
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Review of chapter 11:
Oh, not only the gang in the valley but also Seeker mourns for somebody who is still among the living. The Sharpteeth's willingness to help the kids is not something to be taken granted. They could just tell the children the way back to the valley but it sounds like they're going to accompany them.
I think their main motivation is learning about a possible threat and (just a thought) meeting some dinosaurs they haven't seen in ages. Also, it might actually be their duty as allies to do so or it's just their conscience, knowing that they might encouter sharpteeth on their way and die.
The possibility of other sharpteeth possibly challenging their territory keeps the plot exciting.
Moreover, I wonder if the whole pack will go or if some stay behind to protect the territory... and the children are another problem...
Well, there we go. Seeker begins to realise his mourning might not have been necessary after all. We know Bron is fine, he doesn't but now it's dawning on him ;)
Nice chapter again :) I'm also hoping these leafeater kids are going to be important in the story for much longer :yes
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Review of Chapter 12:
What do you know? Why didn't I suspect this sooner?! So Dein and Terri are the cause for all the trouble! :p
I wonder if they'll encounter Seeker's pack at some point and how that will go...
Nice to see Petrie meet residents of the valley and, particularly, his family again. They will be surprised when Petrie breaks the news :smile
That talk between Seeker and Path was also nice. They're still brothers :yes
I wouldn't know what else to say besides: This is good stuff again!
More reviews incoming soon...
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Thank you very much for the review! :) I am glad that you enjoyed the mid-story developments. My review of your latest chapter will be coming very shortly. :yes
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Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/23/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/23/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 22: Beginnings and Endings
Cera took a deep breath as she prepared to sing the introduction to the saddest of the pack's songs. It had been one that they seldom sang except in hushed whispers to the night sky. Only the desire to sing for their children who would never be hatched motivated them to sing it at all.
"Perhaps a break would be good?"
Cera looked over at Littlefoot with a momentarily befuddled expression, "No... no I can do this. If I don't do it now then I won't have the nerve to do it at all."
The children shifted uncomfortably as Cera made that pronouncement. The thought was unspoken but present in all of their minds. It takes a lot to make Stern Claw lose her nerve...
"Wait! Who that!"
The assembled dinosaurs turned without hesitation at Petrie's alert. Within moments claws were in striking position as the adults took positions in front of their children. Biter, Swipe, and Pouncer, for their part, took protective stances around the leaf-eaters. Their protective stances did not last for long however as the strange shadow spoke in an apologetic tone.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to disturb all of you. I didn't think you wanted me to interrupt your song."
The fastbiters' defensive stances eased immediately as the flyer children erupted from the ground like a smoking mountain.
"Grandma Flyer!"
Within an instant the elder flyer was nearly tackled by the five children as they swarmed around her like buzzers would surround their queen. This caused some curious looks from the fastbiter adults, but that was nothing compared to the reaction of the fastbiter children.
"Who is this!?"
"Is that Spotter's mom?"
"Took her long enough..."
Volant gracefully moved her head around that of Petrie's younglings and looked towards the dinosaur that had spoken the last few words in leaf-eater. Instead of being upset at the tone, however, she wore a look of immense relief.
"It is a great relief to see you, children. We have been so worried!" she then pauses as she stared at the threehorn, "Charger, can you see me alright?"
Charger noticeably jerked at Volant's tone. He despised being pitied by anyone, and he knew the nature of her question. A threehorn without sight was useless to the herd. A mouth to feed which could not contribute to the good of his peers. A dinosaur who would be expected to do the right thing and take one final walk... the prospects for a threehorn with one eye were better, but would deny the dinosaur a place with the defenders. Until Datum had suggested that Charger become a healer, he had nearly fallen into despair.
"I still have one good eye, Mama Flyer," Charger spoke politely, but curtly, "That is enough for a healer."
Volant looked surprised by his answer, but nonetheless looked relieved. She knew full well what stigma blinded threehorns often had in the herd.
"Are our parents nearby?"
Volant turned towards the small form of Sauria as she walked in front of Biter's brown form. She had a few new scars that could be seen, but they were far less numerous than what was present on Charger. The nearly unscathed form of Datum then walked beside his longneck friend, which provided final confirmation for the flyer. All of the children were safe and accounted for.
"They are, children!" she replied happily, "They were approaching Hanging Rock when I left to check on all of you."
This had the expected reaction as both the sharptooth children and the three leaf-eaters cheered. In fact only Taunt had a somewhat negative reaction to the news.
"Oh no! The sap-suckers might beat us!"
Smack!
Volant couldn't help but laugh at Taunt's words, and the numerous instances of ëOh, Daddy!’ emanating from what she assumed to be his and Cera’s children. He certainly had not changed since he appeared in the valley for the first and only time. But now she was armed with knowledge that she had not had then.
"Indeed, the sap-suckers have beaten you," Volant suppressed a laugh at the confused stares from the fastbiters as she spoke in their own language, "Of course you can be forgiven for that considering what you are bringing with you."
"Wait... you know sharptooth now?" Cera asked with incredulity.
"Uh... me sorry for forgetting to mention that," Petrie stammered out as he realized his oversight, "Me busy with other things."
"Oh good, she is speaking in sharptooth now. As if the flyers were not weird enough." Charger muttered to no one in particular.
Datum smirked at Charger's response, "I speak sharptooth too, you know. Does that make me weird?"
"Yes!" Sauria and Charger both answered in unison as Datum rolled his eyes. Some things never changed.
It was at this point of levity that Biter and Pouncer did something unexpected.
They approached the flyer with uncertain expressions, but then promptly bowed their heads respectively and spoke in formal sharptooth, "Welcome to our territory, Grandma Flyer. You have our protection in this place."
This stopped all conversation, as Littlefoot, Ruby, Taunt, and Cera watched the children with pride. Sauria and Charger could not understand the words, but they understood that it had to be something important.
Volant nodded back, "Thank you for the hospitality. I only regret that I have no offering to give," she then looked at Biter with a curious expression, "That is the proper response, isn't it?"
Biter looked helpless, "I don't know. Mommy and daddy only taught us this a few days ago."
Pouncer rolled his eyes, "All due respect, we probably wouldn't be able to eat your offering anyway. We aren't leaf-eaters."
Littlefoot laughed at the exchange as he stomped a foot rhythmically in a show of approval, "Close enough, children. With that ritual it is the intention that counts, not the ceremony." It was only then that he and Ruby approached the perch that the flyer had landed on. A small tree that seemed to rise from the barren lands like a lonely pillar. "How long have you been here, Volant? We didn't see you until Spotter spotted you."
Volant smiled at Ruby’s usual sing-song manner of speaking, "I saw you all a while ago, but heard that a song was being sung, so I stayed back by the cliff face. I only approached when I heard the song end."
Petrie shifted uncomfortably, "Uhh... how much you hear, momma?"
Volant smiled back, "Enough to know how these wonderful grandchildren came about!" she hugged them tightly as Petrie looked embarrassed at that revelation. Volant then looked towards the fastbiter children contemplatively, "Though I did not hear how all of you came along."
Littlefoot's smile turned into a slight frown, "Yes... that was the song we were about to sing. Perhaps you would like to hear the rest of the tale as we proceed to the herd?"
Volant smiled as her grandchildren urged her on, "Oh... alright." she pretended to be hesitant, "But after that I will need to report back to the herd. They wanted me to make sure that you were on the way. Your parents are eager to see you all again."
Littlefoot smiled softly, "Bron is there?"
Cera spoke up as well, "And Dad?"
The flyer chuckled, "Yep! Bron, Topps, and Ura are all there. You don't think that they would miss the chance to talk to their wayward children, now do you? Or to see their grandchildren?"
"Now you will finally see my mother, Leap!" Ducky exclaimed, "And all of you children will get to see your grandmother."
A nearly inaudible grunt and encouraging nudge was all that Spike offered to Breeze and his children, but it communicating the same idea.
Littlefoot beamed at that response. Despite his strong suspicions that he would see his father and Topps there, as their children were missing, he had not expected Ura to be present. It seemed that even Ducky and Spike's mother found a way to make it work. However, he knew that they would get nowhere if this was allowed to carry on much longer. With that in mind he whispered in Cera's direction.
"Ready?"
Cera locked eyes with Littlefoot for a moment before nodding. Being reminded of the happiness of the present had given her the strength to begin the saddest of their songs. A reminder of all that they had to be thankful for.
"Alright, everyone, as we head towards the valley's herd I think that we have time for one last song. Is everyone ready for one more?"
The chorus of affirmative responses was now joined with a nod from Petrie's mother. It was now time.
♪♪ As pack joined to hunt away,
it was agreed that the nests stay,
protected by one parent in the nest,
while the other could provide and rest ♪♪
♪♪ However as Petrie arrived again,
none of us could begin to defend,
against a threat that none of us could apprise,
until a reluctant ally opened our eyes ♪♪
-----
Several years ago:
"There should be plenty for all of us if this goes well. Ha... even Strut might be able to get an egg!"
Ozzy glared at the leader with the makeshift 'herd' with unrestrained contempt. He had risen in the hierarchy of the group, such that it was, but he was not foolish enough to challenge the leader. Though the leader was also not foolish enough to challenge him. The result was an overt stalemate of sorts between the two that had lasted months. The fact that there were only seven Struthiomimus in the herd only made it that more awkward.
"Just who do you propose we still eggs from, Ayers? You mentioned a herd, but there are few herds with eggs around here. The Warm Season is approaching." Ozzy did not hide his doubt in his voice, "There is plenty of fish in the stream... and plenty of damn plants if it comes to that."
Ozzy gave a sideways look at his brother while not taking his eyes off of Ayers. His mention of plants earned him a slight smile from Strut, though it was greatly muted from the boisterous response he would have given a year prior. However, his time in this group had forced them both to change. They were surrounded by members of two families, each with their own motivations and alliances. In such an environment, Ozzy had to play off both groups in order to defend his position and be seen as a potentially useful tool of the others, whereas Strut, not being astute in herd politics at all, merely settled for being at the bottom of the hierarchy. It burned Ozzy up inside, but part of him envied Strut in a way.
He doesn't have to hide who he is. I have to fake it every day.
"Well, my friend..." Ayers mockingly addressed Ozzy, "Nanine and I were actually looking at the fastbiters in the forest... there are plenty of eggs for the taking there."
The reaction from the two brothers was immediate.
"We can't do that!"
"Do you want to get us all killed?!"
Ozzy's response quickly turned attention away from Strut's words, saving him from a potential loss of face. Ozzy knew the identity of the 'fastbiters of the wood' as the other egg-stealers had called them, but he never dared to mention his dealings with them in the past. It would only give Ayers cause to force Ozzy from the herd, whereas right now Ozzy was protected by those who considered him useful, and Strut was protected by being seen as compliant. It may have been a herd of treachery, but there was more food to be had in a herd than in foraging alone.
Ozzy and Strut had more than enough experience with that.
Ayers looked at Ozzy with a malicious glint, "There will be no harm to us if we follow my instructions. Fastbiters are fast, but they are also stupid. I have a plan to trick them."
Nanine glared at Ozzy, "Do you doubt my brother, Ozzy? If memory serves he was the one who spared you when the lean times came."
Ozzy forced himself to be expressionless. He and his brother had been spared when the group was starving during the last Cold Time, but another member had not been so lucky. It had been a subject that none of them had breached until now. Not even Ayers would relish the memory of eating one of their own kind.
"What is your plan, Ayers?" Another egg-stealer finally asked.
Ayers smiled, "Well... the fastbiters seem to be forming hunting groups, which is odd for when they are nesting... I was thinking that we could use this to their advantage..."
As the other egg-stealers listened to the leader's words they paid little attention to Strut walking away from the group. Only Ozzy noticed his absence and suspected its significance.
For once brother, you might have the right idea...
-----
“Alright, Spotter, we are counting on you. With the each girl watching a nest, and the males hunting... it will be hard to keep the eggs protected. Can you keep watch over the territory?”
Petrie gave a respectful nod to Path. Perhaps other flyers would have felt used by being asked to do work immediately after returning from a long journey, but Petrie was not any other flyer.
He was back where he belonged.
“You can count on me, Path! Now um... who exactly leader now?”
Petrie suppressed a chuckle at that memory. It seemed that his question actually broached a subject that had not been overtly worked out between the dinosaurs.
The purple sharptooth shifted uncomfortably as the fastbiters maintained a respectful silence. Littlefoot’s reaction was quite telling as he looked up towards his friend and former follower. Now his position was uncertain.
“Seeker leads the fastbiters.”
Petrie held his breath as he processed Chomper’s words. The fact that he did not say “Seeker is our leader” but rather went out of his way to indicate that Littlefoot led the fastbiters was very telling.
“Alright, fastbiters...” Littlefoot began awkwardly, as if he had not given an order in quite some time, “We will wait until Spotter finds suitable prey... and then we will investigate.”
Path nodded at Littlefoot’s words respectfully, but not give an affirmative grunt as the others had, “That sounds like a good idea. Tell me when you have a plan of attack... then you can chase it to me.”
Petrie blinked. His suspicions were confirmed.
“Understood, Path,” Littlefoot looked up at Petrie, “Any questions, Spotter? We can hold the territory until you come back.”
The flyer shook his head to clear his thoughts. No matter how the position of Chomper had changed in the hierarchy, Petrie was still one of Littlefoot’s followers. Petrie wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“No questions, Seeker. Me go now.”
As the familiar sensation of wind in his wings registered in his brain, Petrie had time to reflect on what had just transpired. It was only then that he smiled.
Pack back together... that all that matter.
Petrie smiled as the memory faded from his consciousness. That had been a week ago and several more hunts had transpired since. They all followed the same winning pattern. Petrie would find a target and alert the fastbiters on the hunt, either the males or the females. Then they would chase it into a trap where Chomper could finish the job. It was as methodical and ruthless as it was effective. It was like something that Redclaw would have done.
Petrie shuddered at that thought. “We only take what we need. Hurt who need to be hurt. We not like Redclaw!” Though the similarities were still too close for his comfort.
Petrie took a deep breath as he soared over the nesting sites. From his altitude he could see the distinct forms of the males incubating their eggs. Littlefoot clutching a spear as he shifted himself over his clutch, while a great distance away Taunt could be seen delicately cleaning the eggs of his unborn children.
Petrie snickered, Taunt does have soft side! Though he would allow the fastbiter to keep his secret. His mother had always told him that discretion came with being a flyer. From those who see much, much is expected.
Petrie sucked in a breath. Now it was time.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
He watched as the males looked up from their vantage points at his soaring form. None gave an obvious response except for Taunt quickly sitting on his eggs as if nothing had happened. However their reactions confirmed that his message had been received.
The girls are on the hunt. Be vigilant while I am gone.
Not wasting any time, Petrie arched his wings towards the Bright Circle and allowed the thermal updrafts carry him higher and higher. If he were going to find suitable prey then he would need the broadest field of view possible. Within several moments he was alone in the clouds, with only the sound of the roaring wind reaching his ears.
It was in times like this that he could think. Ruby had her thinking place, but to him the sky was his thinking place.
So pack back together... but what they do when eggs hatch? Thud say that fastbiter daddies danger to other babies when they young... so does pack stay apart until babies older?
He adjusted his wings slightly to slow his speed. He did not want to overshoot the hunters in his search for prey nearby.
What if kids play together? Who take them home? Would mommies be safer at doing that? Or would they make that job for Spotter?
He grimaced as a cloud moved into his field of vision. Without wasting any time he began to lower his altitude by lowering his wings towards the ground. Within moments he was through the cloud and the resulting terrain was back in focus again. Now all he had to do was wait for his eyes to see movement from a suitably large target. He allowed himself to do this function as his mind continued to wander.
But... would they trust Spotter... my kind eat younglings too. Petrie frowned at that thought. He had to leave his mate and children in order to keep them safe, but would he have to separate himself as well in order to keep his friends from being concerned? It bad enough that we have to look out for egg-stealers on daily basis!
Just then his eyes focused on a suitable specimen.
Ah... adult longneck... not look sick... He moved in a bit closer, knowing that a longneck would not be concerned about a flyer. Older... scar on leg... slow walker... Petrie smiled, Me find prey. Pack do rest.
Flapping his wings furiously, Petrie prepared to take himself into the sky once more. It would only be a short journey to the hunters, and then they and Path would do the rest. It would be up to Petrie to watch over the nests to give the males advanced warning over any threats.
Like the egg-stealer that Petrie just noticed below him.
Hmmm... Spotter still have Orange Death on claw... his eyes sparkled with malicious intent, If me kill one far away then that one we don’t have to kill close to eggs.
Petrie dove.
-----
Ozzy seethed with anger as he walked through the clearing. Though, in his conflicted state, he could not determine who he was angrier towards at that moment. His brother for walking off and giving Ayers an excuse to send Ozzy away to search for his brother, or himself for getting them into this situation in the first place.
Ayers knows that he can get credit for the eggs now and take me down a notch. That bastard... If he thinks that I will settle for being at the bottom then he has another thing coming! I’m far better than him!
Ozzy’s rage did not allow him to consider his own failings in the past, including the abysmal episode in the Great Valley. All that mattered in that moment was that his plans were being squandered. This would mean less food for himself and his brother, which was the entire point of joining this herd in the first place.
“I don’t know about this, Ozzy. They don’t seem too nice.”
Ozzy resisted the urge to slap his brother as he gestured wildly, “That’s not the point, you idiot! Remember how many eggs we had when we helped those fastbiters? We stand to get more eggs in a group than alone!”
Strut hesitated for a moment before giving a deadpan response, “I don’t know, Ozzy... I think I trusted the fastbiters more.”
Ozzy groaned, “You imbecile! Just trust me on this! I hardly think our own kind would be any worse allies than the sharptooth and his fastbiter friends. Offering your services... what were you thinking?!”
Ozzy frowned at that memory. His brother’s concerns had been far more prophetic than he could have realized. The herd had been nothing but schemes against schemes since the first day. From egg-napping attempts being foiled suspiciously as if to ensure certain members lost face at the right moment... to the killing of one of their own under suspicious circumstances to provide a convenient meal during the Cold Time... to his own plots to promote himself amongst the two families... he could hardly think that even a sharptooth pack would have such treachery within its ranks.
And then there was his brother...
His brother had never fit into the herd, and had taken on an oddly detached coping style. Gone was the annoying yet happy demeanor, and in its place was an odd silence. It was not lost on Ozzy that it may had been Strut's silence and supposed compliance that had saved him when Flawn had mysteriously met his end. Given the choice between the incompetent yet compliant Strut and the modestly capable yet disagreeable Flawn... Ayers had made his choice.
Not that Ozzy could prove the herd leader was the killer by any means, but he was not blind enough to not see the signs. Though his brother appeared to have seen them before the fact.
Ozzy frowned at that realization. It was an odd thing for him to consider. His brother actually being observant and seeing what he did not... It was almost as if he had previous experience dealing with difficult companions.
"Sigh... I am such an ass." he allowed himself to mutter in confidence that no one could hear him, "How are we supposed to get dinner now... it isn't like Ayers will let us have a share of their catch."
He growled in frustration. Regardless of who was to blame for this mess he was going to throttle someone.
But someone beat him to that.
"Ozzy, look out!"
Ozzy barely had time to look in the direction of the voice when Strut's body appeared seemingly out of nowhere. In a flurry of moment that was something between a jump and a tackle the two egg-stealers collided sending both of them hurdling into the bushes nearby. For several moments only the sound of cracking branches and the sensation of prickly sticks reached their consciousness.
Then the shadow came.
Caw!
Acting on pure instinct Ozzy rose from his prone position. Pain clouded sensation from his legs, as burning scratches made their presence known on his back and side. Despite this, however, his eyes could see quite well the monstrosity that lay before him.
An enraged brown flyer... and in front of him lay the person who had saved him.
"Strut!"
A muffled groan arose from the brown egg-stealer, but his movements were slow and awkward. Too slow.
Ozzy's legs tensed up. His instincts were telling him to flee while he still had a chance, whereas the site of his brother at this flyer's mercy made him pause. Strut being the only dinosaur who would earn that response from Ozzy.
"You two? Why you here?!"
Ozzy froze at those words. He remembered that voice. That voice from many years ago. It was a voice that was both welcome and intimidating. Not again...
"Uh..." Strut muttered semi-consciously, "We owed you... so we're here to help."
Ozzy suppressed a groan at Strut's tone. It was so obviously a lie created in the heat of the moment that no fool would believe him.
"You horrible liar," Petrie's angry tone lost some of its edge as he looked the egg-stealer up and down, "And me can kill you with Orange Death at any time... so tell Spotter the truth."
"The rest of the herd is going after eggs... but Strut didn't want to..." Ozzy choked out. He didn't know how to feel about blowing the cover on his 'allies', There would be no profit in being killed, but there would be none in losing their little group either. Terrible as they were, they did bring home food. "I was after him..."
Petrie stared into Ozzy's eyes for several moments as Strut carefully lay on his side. It was as if the flyer were determining something in his mind.
"Pack near here... so no hunt here... or we hunt you."
Ozzy swallowed at Petrie's tone. He knew very well that Petrie meant every word.
"You're going to let us live?"
Ozzy closed his eyes in frustration and terror. Don't encourage the damn flyer, Strut! You damn idiot!
"Seeker keep you alive years ago... me not kill you now." Ozzy allowed himself to breathe again as Petrie stared directly at him, "Though Spotter want to."
It was then that a sudden thought appeared to reach Petrie's mind. In that instant the brown flyer rose his wings to their full extent, showing off his drenched talons, with a distinctly orange substance. A substance that even the egg-stealers had heard hushed rumors about. A nonverbal threat.
But this time Petrie had a new target.
"Ack.." Ozzy collided with the tree behind him as Petrie slammed the pads of his feet into the egg-stealer's chest. Now only inches stood between Ozzy and imminent death from the poison that lay on those talons.
"Ozzy!"
Petrie looked at Ozzy with an odd expression that unnerved him even further. It was as if he were not even there... as if Petrie were looking through him. At plans that only he could see.
"If you move then me kill him."
Strut sputtered as Ozzy shivered under the flyer's murderous gaze, "But you said you wouldn't kill us!"
Petrie tilted his head, "Yes... but Spotter think that this one not tell me everything..." he leaned in closer as he whispered at his prey, "...and me know Ozzy care about Ozzy most..."
Ozzy held his breath. The flyer had seen through him. Worse yet he had correctly deduced the weaknesses of himself and his brother. Ozzy had risked his life for his brother once, but there was one person who Ozzy would risk all for no matter the circumstances.
Himself.
"I didn't want to do it, but Ayers thought it was a good idea!"
Petrie pushed harder though his talons still had not punctured the skin, "Whose Ayers? What idea?! You tell Spotter now!"
Ozzy could not think about his herd members, nor the risk that he would be putting them under. All that mattered right now was saving his own skin. He soon told Petrie all that he needed to know.
"Ayers is the leader of the herd! He wants to take the eggs! All of them! The bastard knows that no one will challenge him if he succeeds at getting the eggs from the fastbiters!"
Petrie jumped off of Ozzy in a flurry of wing beats. With his beak agape, Petrie spoke in a cold monotone,
"What you say?"
Ozzy shook as the fear of the flyer and the relief of being let go finally overtook him, "They're after your eggs.... they were going for them when I left..."
Ozzy barely got the words out when a sudden gust of air and dust blew into his face. In an instant the flyer was nowhere to be seen as the shadow ascended into the sky as fast as he had appeared. Now all that remained were the two brothers and the memories of what had just transpired.
"They'll kill them, Ozzy..." Strut noted as he slow rose from his position. It was only in a dazed state that Ozzy realized that he was being helped to his feet. Gone were the thoughts of anger in Ozzy's mind. Now only a cold darkness remained. A realization that he and his brother had been played once more by the former residents of the valley.
"And we are responsible..." Ozzy muttered as he watched the flyer disappear into the sky.
Silence reigned for several moments as Ozzy briefly considered warning the others about what had transpired before the reality of what that entailed entered into his mind. They were already halfway to the pack's nests and they would have no way of catching them in time. Useful or not his herd allies could not be salvaged.
"We're leaving them, aren't we, Ozzy?"
Ozzy looked at his brother with a surprised expression.
"I think Ayers wanted me out of the herd..." Strut's tone was uncertain, as if he were waiting to be smacked by his enraged brother, "he gave me the same look that he made before he killed Flawn."
Ozzy sputtered, "Why... why didn't you tell me, you imbecile! I could've protected you!"
Strut looked down, "You were happy here... so I was going to leave..."
Ozzy rubbed his beak in frustration, "I was not happy, you idiot! The others treat me as a thing to be used, and they treat you as useless!"
Strut shrugged, "But I thought you said I was..."
"You're not as useless as them, and you know it! They would kill us at a moment's notice if it suited them!" Ozzy fumed at no one in particular, "Eggs aren't worth this!"
They both grew silent after Ozzy's outburst. Strut in silent contemplation and Ozzy in surprise at his own words. But it only took a few moments for him to realize their truthfulness.
Eggs aren't worth this!
"Let's go, Strut," Ozzy spoke in an exhausted voice, "Let's get out of here."
Strut did not protest as he followed his brother's side. Ozzy could not suppress the feeling of nostalgia, as if something were back in place. They were alone... there would be little food... they would be wandering around aimlessly... yet he and his brother were alive.
"Where to now, Ozzy?"
Strut gave the slightest of smiles.
"Wherever we decide to go, Strut... Wherever we decide to go."
They never looked back.
-----
"Where is that damn flyer?! We don't have all day!"
Ruby suppressed a chuckle as Cera's commentary reached her ears. She was beginning to get annoyed with the delay as well, but she could sympathize with his predicament. Larger food was usually further south this time of year... but it was hard to move when you already had nests prepared...
"I am sure Spotter is doing the best that he can. He does a lot for us, he does, he does."
Ruby carefully examined her spear as the conversation continued around her. It had only been during the previous day that the pack had a chance to repair their spears and vine armor as a group, which made it a far easier task. It was one of the minor benefits of pack life that they had taken for granted until their split had occurred. The ability to work together as a team.
"Well, I don't think we should move around, because if we move around then Spotter will have to look around to find us," Ruby finally offered, "The boys are watching the eggs, Stern Claw, so don't be worried." Though, being a concerned mother, she had lingering doubts herself.
Cera frowned slightly, "It isn't the eggs I am worried about, it's the fact that we are waiting here doing nothing!"
"I guess we are doing exactly what our males are doing right now," Breeze muttered absentmindedly. As the other female spoke, Ruby noticed that Breeze was tugging at the vines on her chest. We should probably get those loosened... She promptly began walking to Breeze's location and gestured towards the vines. An affirmative nod was her sign that her help was welcome.
As Ruby loosened Breeze's vines she could hear Cera's sarcastic reply, "We are sitting on our tails, which is exactly what Taunt does all day, so he should be good at it!"
"Well if he is sitting on his tail, then he is not pulling someone else's tail," Ducky deadpanned.
Ruby smiled as she tied the vines in place, "Well, Stern Claw didn't say that was the only thing he is good at. Who knows? Maybe he is telling the eggs about all of his pranks? He has many pranks to tell the eggs about!"
Cera merely groaned at that thought, "Urgh... my children are going to be a handful, aren't they?"
The girls shared a laugh at the situation that they found themselves in. It was almost like old times. Almost.
"It will be nice when we all can be together at the same time," Breeze noted, "Two seasons and a Night Circle... it will be a while until the age of safety."
This silenced the remaining laughter as the females took on more contemplative expressions. It was finally Cera who spoke next.
"We have been through worse and gotten through okay, and we will get through this... Provided I don't strangle Taunt before the time of safety arrives then we should all make it through okay."
Ruby smirked, "Tired of being the sole victim of his pranks?"
Cera scowled, "Yesterday he tied my legs together while I was napping. Then, when I fell over, the ass called me a 'push over' and pushed me over again!"
The resulting laughter made Cera roll her eyes, "Fine... fine... laugh all you want... but when Taunt is finally able to get near your nests again who knows what kind of pranks he has in store for all of you... At least he has to sleep with me... that keeps him in line for the most part."
"As in line as Taunt can be in," Ducky amended.
Cera nodded before joining in the laughter, "That is true."
The girls chatted for a few moments as they stretched in preparation for the run which undoubtedly awaited them. Not another word was spoke about Petrie's tardiness until Ducky finally saw a flyer appear in the distance.
"I think that Spotter is here!" She replied happily, "It is about time. Yep, yep, yep."
Cera grunted, "You can say that again... at least he seems to be in a hurry."
Ruby watched the flyer for several moments as he appeared to be in a full rush towards their clearing. He usually glides in the warm air... or so he says... why is he flapping hard then? Ruby pondered for a moment. That was when she saw him make a maneuver that made her blood run cold. A maneuver that she had not seen in a long time.
Petrie rolled twice, before descending and rising once more. It was only when he did it a second time that anyone spoke.
"What the..." Cera interjected.
"It's the silent alert!" Ruby rose to her feet and picked up her spear. Seeing that Cera and Breeze still had an uncertain look on their faces, she clarified, "Remember? It's the call that Petrie said he would make if we were too far away to hear him!"
Instantly Cera rose from her position and picked up her spear as Ruby had. They had no idea what any of this meant, but they knew that this couldn't be any good.
"But what is the alert about? He can't tell us from out there..." Breeze started.
"We can raise our sticks to let Spotter know that we understand!" Ducky proposed, "If we tell him that we understand then he might be able to show us more!"
Ruby nodded at Ducky's proposal. It was the best option that they had at this point.
"Alright, everyone!" Cera ordered gruffly, "Sticks over your heads!"
In unison the four females took their spears in both hands and raised them over their heads. This was followed by head bobs from Cera and Ruby, and a repeat of the raising gesture from Ducky and Breeze. It did not take long for Petrie's movements to change.
He flew down towards the ground and made a hard turn. It was as if he were circling a very small point and creating a circle in the air with his trajectory.
"Something round and on the ground..."
Ruby turned towards Cera as the implications of what that indicated came to them. A look of absolute horror greeted them both.
"The eggs!"
-----
"Don't you guys worry, daddy is here."
Littlefoot cooed as he shook his feathered arms over his precious clutch. Despite the knowledge that his children probably couldn't hear him, and most certainly could not understand him, he felt compelled to speak to his future hatchlings. Despite his trepidation about being a parent, he felt the need to be there for his children. Even if technically his children were not here yet.
"Mommy is out finding some food right now. She seems to think that nest watching is a male's job."
I am sure that Topps would have a lot of fun mocking us about that. It was certainly the other way for leaf-eaters. Littlefoot mused to himself. It seemed natural by now, but some of the residual weirdness remained. The females had taken to being the sole hunters again since the pack came together, which means the males were stuck watching the nest.
"You know, kids, I wonder if my friends are talking to their eggs right now," he smiled down at the white orbs, "You will meet all of them when you hatch... well... a little after you hatch, actually... but after that I am sure that you will like them. Finder does the silent treatment but he is kind... Leap is a bit jumpy but is loyal to a fault... Spotter is one of my best friends... though I hope you don't learn to speak from him..."
Littlefoot laughed to himself as he tried to explain his friends to his unborn children. He was finding surprisingly difficult to put his feelings into words. I suppose that is why my kind uses songs. Songs capture what the growl cannot find. He smiled at that saying of Dein. I wonder where Path's parents are now...
"Then there is Taunt... let's just say children that he will be the one to teach you what a prank is..." he chuckled in a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "Assuming Stern Claw doesn't kill him in the meantime for his..."
Suddenly Littlefoot's red crested head rose and scanned the scenery around him. He could have sworn that he had heard something rustling in the bushes.
Thump... Thump...
Littlefoot suppressed a chuckle as the thunderous footsteps of Chomper echoed in the distance. Oh, it was just Path...
"Then there is Path, children. He is a two-footer, but he actually is quite nice. Though I don't really know what to call him now... is he the leader of the lands? The leader of the pack? I'm not really sure..." he wrinkled his snout in contemplation, "I lead my friends, but Path is in an odd spot... he has taken his own path, if you will."
Littlefoot snorted, "Oh, dear... If I start talking like your mother then all of your speech will be screwed up! I will have to guard against that." he laughed softly, "...but don't tell your mother about that. She is very self-conscious about how she talks, but I quite like it."
This time Littlefoot did not hear the rustling of the bushes because of his one-way conversation.
"Her dad told me that she always had that way of talking but it got worse when she helped Path learn to speak leaf-eater. She would always repeat things to help him along," Littlefoot smiled at the memory, "I will have to teach all of you that language too. It will be hard to hear what the prey are saying... but knowing that language can be very important. It might save your lives one day... and Ponder and I only want the best for you."
He sighed deeply as he repositioned himself over the precious orbs. It is hard to believe that my children are in there waiting for the proper time to get out... It seems like only yesterday I was...
That was when he heard it. A rustling in the grass.
Littlefoot frowned at the sudden noise and tightened his grip on the spear. He knew that it could have been a false alarm like all of the other times, but he couldn't take any risks. With a steady hand and a pounding heart he walked towards the commotion.
Only to see the grass rustle again.
He sucked in a breath and used his spear to push the grass aside, being careful to stay near his clutch. That was when he saw something that surprised him.
Several small stones.
How could these have gotten here? He could feel his mind quickly process the situation as he prepared to turn back to his nest, There obviously isn't anyone here because this is upwind and I would have smelled them...
Littlefoot's heart skipped a beat at that realization. If the stones hadn't been dropped then they must have been thrown from somewhere where he couldn't smell an intruder... Before he could put his horrified thoughts into words he turned back towards his nest.
This time his eggs were not alone.
-----
Shit!
Ayers froze as the fastbiter stared at him with murderous intent. His companion had succeeded in getting his attention by throwing the stones, but now it seemed that he had underestimated the time he had available. In that instant he did the only thing that he could do.
He ran.
-----
Time seemed to stand still as Littlefoot stared at the brown egg-stealer. The egg of his unborn child rested in his clutches as he stood over the clutch like a predator over its prey. Within mere seconds the egg-stealer's eyes locked onto his. Yellow orb stared into yellow orb as the wind blew across the silent expanse between them. As the egg-stealer turned to run, Littlefoot sprung into an immediate charge. However he didn't even have time to let out an enraged roar when a distinct whistling reached his ears.
Shluck!
The egg-stealer seemed to freeze in place for an instant. One of his legs hung over the nest in mid-step while he held the egg to his chest as if it were his dearest possession. The only thing that changed was the expression of his eyes. They were now glassy with the expression of one who no longer saw the world. Of one who had left the land of the living. Ruby's spear, which was now embedded in his chest, had seen to that.
Crash!
-----
Ruby ran as fast as her aching legs would carry her. She had seen the egg-stealer go down, but now it was time to check on her mate and her precious children. She would not rest until she was sure that they were alright.
What greeted her eyes when she reached the clearing stopped her in her tracks.
The egg-stealer lay dead in front of the nest, mere Meters away from where her spear had struck his chest. His glazed eyes no longer seeing anymore. However, this was not what caught her attention. Beside the egg-stealer there was another hue beside the all too familiar crimson. Yellow. The yellow interior of an egg. The cracked shell underneath the egg-stealer's bulk confirmed what had happened.
Ruby fell to her forelimbs as she stared at the face of her beloved mate. He now carefully kept vigil over the two remaining eggs as he shook with unspeakable emotion.
"He fell... he fell on our babies..."
Ruby reluctantly stepped forward to the impaled corpse of the egg-stealer. With tears pouring from her eyes she gave the spear a shove and finally saw what was underneath.
Her two children. Featherless... breathless... and never to enter the world of the living.
Roar!
Ruby seethed with anger as her bloody spear shook in her hands. Not only were two of her children dead, but Cera's roar now confirmed that egg-stealers were attacking her friends as well. An attempted attack while they were at their least protected. A desperate assault against desperate parents.
I'm so sorry Topaz... Opal... Mommy couldn't protect you... but I will protect your siblings.
"I will kill them all!"
Littlefoot rose from the remaining eggs but then pauses as if her were confused about what to do. His words only came through as a half-sob, "Dear..."
Ruby's eyes shined with fury as she spoke in a cold monotone, "Watch our children..."
She had already sprinted towards Cera's nest before Littlefoot could respond.
-----
Chomper stared at the sight in a mixture of surprise and horror. Try as he might, his mind simply couldn't process what he was seeing.
Bodies. Bodies lay strewn everywhere.
The disemboweled remnants of a female egg-stealer seemed to stare at him with her lifeless eyes. Her legs continued to twitch as if some element of life remained. A reminder of what she had been doing when his packmates had caught up to her.
A longneck-length ahead of her lay another egg-stealer. Thanks to a spear that impaled him to the ground, he seemed to be perpetually leaning forward as if to reclaim something that he had lost. The yellow yolk from a large egg lay several yards ahead of him hinted at what he had lost. It was a fastbiter egg.
One of his friends' eggs.
Chomper walked in shocked silence at the macabre spectacle. He had ran towards the sounds of the screams, but now he could only shuffle along in mute sadness. Tragedy had visited his friends again.
It didn't take him long to finally find out where his missing friends were. Beside an egg stood Ruby with a blood-drenched spear pointing at the surrounding land, as if she were waiting for another fiend to slaughter. Taunt stood close by, as if he were being careful not to get too close to the egg in question. The usually jocular fastbiter now wore a remorseful frown. Meanwhile Ducky and Spike huddled close to a bush as Ducky viscously brought down her spear.
The tell-tale shaking of a leg and tail confirmed what it was that Ducky had targeted. Another egg-stealer had met its end at the pack's vengeful claws. It was only now that the two siblings broke down in tears.
Chomper struggled to say anything. To do anything. However in his friends' moment of need he could not think of any words that would help. No wisdom that would heal. All that he could see was pain and the legacy of children who would never be born.
A mournful roar erupted from the Tyrannosaurus. A lament for those who had been lost.
"The others watch nests," Petrie reported sadly as he landed nearby, "Seeker lose two. Cera lose one. We not know how many Haven and Breeze lose."
Path turned towards the flyer reluctantly as he turned away from his mournful friends, "How can they not be sure how many they have lost?"
"Because we don't know whose egg this is..." Ruby answered sadly as she began to break down, "Except that it is not mine. Mine it is not."
Taunt carefully approached her as Ruby dropped her spear, "Ponder, it is not your fault..."
"I am their mother! They depended on me!" She roared back. He took this opportunity to carefully retreat as she finally broke down into tears beside the unclaimed egg. A reminder of what she had lost.
"Let me handle this, Taunt," Ducky finally spoke to the tearful fastbiter, "You go back to your mate."
Taunt closed his eyes in shame, "I failed to protect my children. How can I show my face to her again?"
Ducky looked up at him with a stern expression, but sympathetic eyes, "If you were not there then you would have lost all of them, Taunt. Stern Claw needs you now... go to her."
Taunt slowly walked back towards his nest as Ducky leaned in towards her friend. Ruby said nothing but merely broke down into Ducky's embrace. There were some feelings that no words could describe. Loss was not something to be heard, it was something that one had to feel.
Chomper closed his eyes and turned away from the scene. Despite the fact that he could not have outran the egg-stealers he still felt some guilt for his friends' loss. Now his only thoughts were on protecting what remained.
"This isn't working... there has to be a better way."
He could feel the flyer land on his back as Petrie's tell-tale voice spoke over the lamentations.
"Me may have idea... but it be up to females to do it."
-----
The present:
With a single mournful howl Cera brought her portion of the song to an end. In the resulting silence the reactions of the entire pack could be heard. The adults breathed slowly as they embraced their children, many of which were emitting soft howls of mourning for the brothers and sisters that they would never know. Even the leaf-eaters could not spare a dry eye between them. They had been acquainted enough with loss to realize the pain that their fastbiter rescuers must have experienced.
Their realization paled in comparison to the experience that one of the onlookers had however.
Volant bowed her head at the sad tale that had played out before her. It had pained her to hear about Petrie's lost child in the previous song, but to hear of the cataclysm that faced the pack was to add another blow to what should have been a happy tale. It was enough to remind her of what happened to her first clutch. The one that she almost never spoke of. The lost children.
"There are many risks in this world, and few of us even get to lay eyes upon it. Be grateful, children, for all of the days that you have. For you have more than many ever know."
Everyone turned towards the elder flyer as she spoke these words. Her tone conveyed the years of painful experience, and her expression conveyed her hard-won knowledge. Petrie's children nodded mutely out of respect, while the fastbiter children considered her words with silent contemplation. Finally, however, Petrie took his cue and flew down to the center of the pack. The final song of the saga was one that he would be responsible for starting.
Caw!!
Petrie nearly collided into the ground as the panicked alarm call of his mate seemed to come from nowhere. Within mere moments he found himself face to face with someone who should have been miles away.
"Soar?!" Seeker and Cera exclaimed simultaneously.
"Dear?!" Petrie squawked, "What going on?!"
Soar sucked in deep breaths as her exhausted body lay on the parched ground. Her eyes focused directly on her mate.
"Path and Orchid are coming I saw them a while ago..."
Ruby froze. My... brother... my brother is with Path?!
Taunt sputtered in surprise, "Path is coming here, but Seeker said..."
"Path's parents are in Hanging Rock and they are hungry!" Soar finally finished. It was only then that she allowed herself to collapse on the ground as Petrie embraced her.
"Oh no! The others! Most of the herd is going there!"
Littlefoot looked at the others as the magnitude of the problem became apparent to him. Old friends were about to collide and it seemed that they would soon be in the crossfire. But there was another complication.
"Not my mommy and daddy!"
"Why can't they leave us alone?!"
Littlefoot stared at his packmates with a sad smile. He knew the answer before the question ever reached his mouth, but it had to be said.
"This might get messy... is everyone up for this?"
Cera smiled with bravado that Littlefoot suspect she didn't actually feel, "I'm always ready!"
"I'm ready, sir." Leap stated plainly.
"We're with you," Spike answered for himself and his mate.
"We can't let them down, oh no, no, no!"
"Me ready!" Petrie shouted as he continued to check on his mate.
"Let's do this, Seeker!" Taunt answered enthusiastically.
Littlefoot gave a grim, determined smile to the assembled children, "Children, follow Haven's lead, the rest of us are going to be in a dangerous situation. It will be even more dangerous if we don't know that you are all safe. Understand?"
A chorus of affirmative responses greeted his ears, some reluctant and some assured. It was a question from his own son that stopped him in his tracks, however.
"Daddy, what if Path's parents won't listen?"
Littlefoot turned towards the looming figure of Hanging Rock in the distance. What used to be a vista of promise now appeared to be a harbinger of the unknown.
"Then we will fight them until we can't... "
-
Here are some more reviews :p
Review of Chapter 14:
Oh, the story now is getting a completely new touch... though this chapter was mostly humourous instead of romantic but you, the most evil geometric shape, of course saved that for the next chapter and sent those poor children to their nests :p
Taunt's prank is good but Spotter's is glorious :DD And to make things even better, Ducky plays along :lol
Can't wait to see how that unfolds in the next chapter, yep, yep, yep!
It's a shame Dein and Terri use Orchid and Arial as their slaves. I wonder what the family will decide...
Again, it was an enjoyable read :)
Review of Chapter 15:
So that is how Leap and Ducky became mates. First they hated each other and then it turned into love :)
That was a cool song for sure, yep, yep, yep!
Also, I wonder how Biter's first hunt will go :smile
Review of Chapter 16:
Wow, that sure was a very intense and emotional chapter!
The conversation Biter, Swipe and Datum have been having was done excellently. It really helped the two young hunters in their first hunt :yes Speaking of which, I really liked that you are not afraid of hurting the good characters yet concluding the story with a happy end ;)
Review of Chapter 17:
Ah, the little sharpteeth are to be told that story which nearly drove them apart and explains how these little pests came along :p
Instincts are a bitch in Sharptooth society because they are impossible to ignore. Ironically, only the non-fastbiters seem to catch the words of Thud...
It's also nice to actually hear a full song for once ;) the kids did a fair job there.
And the new Gang is up to no good again, why did I not see this coming? :smile
I'm reallly excited what happens next :) Good chapter again!
Review of Chapter 18:
Oh, now this was quite epic! Petrie certainly isn't the strongest Flyer but he is damn clever! He outsmarted his competition and earned the heart of his love! ;)
The conversation among the pack was also interesting in more than just one way ;)
I do see some tension at Hanging Rock soon... and I'm looking forward to reading about the result :lol
-
Thank you for the feedback, David! :) I hope that you enjoy the subsequent chapters.
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/24/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/24/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 23: Reunions
Whoa!
Tricia quickly leaned forward as she felt Pearl give her a helpful push towards the rock wall. That had been too close.
Damn cliffs! I will be happy if I never see another one of these again!
The five dinosaurs conspicuously stood out against the cliff face's brown hues. Tricia's pink coloration was matched in intensity by Aria's brilliant pink feathers. The leaf-eaters of them were being careful to lean against the rock face, lest they fall down the unstable rock formation that they currently found themselves on. Only Flip was spared these dangerous complications due to his gift of flight. Meanwhile, the fastrunners seemed to maintain their footing with relative ease. This journey was proving to be a struggle for their new companions, but taking an easier route was no longer an option.
"Dear, do you smell anything?"
Tricia closed her eyes and tried to hide her fear as one of the two sharpteeth roared something below her. Thoughts that the massive beast looked somewhat familiar were buried under her instinctual fear of carnivores. Besides, all sharpteeth looked the same, didn't they?
"I thought that I smelled a spiketail's backside, but it was only you."
Tricia felt a sudden tap on her backside as Pearl gave her an assertive gesture forward. Her mind was conflicted with memories of their alliance from so long ago, and the more recent attempted betrayal. However even she understood that now was the time to be difficult. She had to get out of this alive. Tricia glared at the elder fastrunner but reluctantly did as she indicated.
"Ha! Shame that your hunting skills are just as poor as your wit!"
Tricia picked up her pace. Unstable or not, she was not going to stay on this rock face any longer than necessary. The winds could shift at any time... then they could find us!
"How is the hunting, mommy and daddy?"
The two sharpteeth looked at one another with a knowing expression before they looked down at the small green sharptooth. Apart from the color she looked so much like Chomper at that age. And the similarities did not end there. With a roll of her eyes Terri addressed her disobedient child.
"Verda, what did we tell you about hunts?"
The little sharptooth's expression took on a sudden cascade of emotions, from shock, to realization, to finally embarrassment. "Uh... that I was supposed to hide while you and Daddy got food..."
"That's right, little one," Dein's booming voice echoed across the ravine, "So why did you stop hiding?"
The little sharptooth placed one of her stub-like arms to her chin as she thought for a moment, "Uh... I got tired of looking at rocks?"
Terri rolled her eyes. She is so much like Chomper at that age... she couldn't bring herself to berate her daughter when she gave her such an innocent look, "Well, you are here now... so stay close to the walls and don't stray. Hunts can be dangerous."
Verda's eyes brightened at the idea of being near her parents while they hunted, "What are you chasing?"
Dein snorted, "A few younglings. Though they don't seem to be where the fastrunners said."
Verda tilted her head with some bemusement. As she gazed upwards towards her parents' massive forms she could clearly see the confusion in her parent's faces. She had not been permitted to see the fastrunners except from a distance due to her parents' insistence on 'respecting their territory'. However even she could clearly see the bright colors moving on the rocks well above her parent's heads.
"Uh..." Verda muttered tentatively, "Did the leaf-eaters include a horn-face?"
Terri snorted as she sniffed the air, "Threehorn, dear. They are called threehorns. And, yes, supposedly there is a threehorn among them."
Verda jumped up and down excitedly, "They're over your head, daddy!"
Dein groaned, "Darn it, dear... I have to hear insults from your mother, I don't need to hear it from you too..."
"No, Daddy! It's over your head! Look!"
Dein looked confused for a moment before replicating his daughter's gesture and staring towards the top of the cliff face. It was then that he came to face to face with a dinosaur he hadn't seen in years.
-----
Tricia froze as the sharptooth locked eyes with her. There was no roar. No growl. Not even a movement. Only the piercing stare of the massive predator. She could not see the others quickly scampering across the cliff face. In that moment it was as if she were alone with the predator.
"Tricia, hurry!"
The words of Malka seemed to echo from somewhere far away as the crimson eyes of the predator stared at her. It was as if some measure of recognition was there.
"That... is that Stern Claw's sister?"
Tricia froze as the massive sharptooth growled something into the air. It only took an instant for a flurry of small falling rocks to roll in front of her as Detra's purple body appeared in front of her field of vision.
"It is. Would you have us betray those who risked so much for us?"
Everything seemed to go silent after the fastrunner finished his odd roar. Tricia could not make any sense of the proceedings. All that she knew was that she was now at the mercy of the massive predator. Should she make a run for it, or would that subject her to further risk? Was the fastrunner trying to talk down the sharptooth, or was he merely trying to distract him? In that moment she had no answers so she stayed put.
"You risk a lot, Detras," Terri spoke in a low growl as she stepped beside her mate, "My family is my only consideration. If you think I will turn my back on them for your alliances then you are mistaken."
Arial could hold her tongue no longer, "Are they not your allies as well?"
Only a slight twitch from Detras communicated his displeasure with Arial's interruption. Dein responded immediately.
"Would you have us ally ourselves with our food? Would you have us starve for honor? Would you have us turn our back on our daughter for such nonsense?" the irritation was evident in his voice, though it did not increase in volume. This was even more unnerving to the young fastrunner than an angry roar would have been, "We will do what we must."
"A threehorn youngling isn't even a meal for you!" Axiom shouted in anger as she too moved towards her cornered friend.
Terri stared at the rainbowface youngling for a moment as she moved towards her friend and with a protective pose held her sharpened rock at her side. This caused the female sharptooth to do something that none of the dinosaurs present expected.
She laughed.
Axiom stood dumbfounded as Tricia took the sudden raucous laughter as her cue to bolt. Through some mixture of luck and instinct the threehorn managed to avoid falling from the steep rock face, but the ill-prepared rainbowface was not so lucky. Before Pearl or the other fastrunners could react Axiom lost her tenuous hold on the cliff.
-----
"Daddy! You caught one!"
Dein tried to ignore his daughter's exuberance at catching the small youngling on his snout. In that instant memories of his first entrance into the Great Valley came to mind. Though back then it was a certain swimmer that had landed on his snout.
It seems that the rainbowfaces' daughter is braver than her parents... and a bit more foolish.
"Axiom!"
"Oh no!"
"I can't watch!"
Dein eyed the other younglings which resided above the recovering rainbowface in his vision. The concern for their friend reminded him of a certain other gang so long ago. A pack which had not yet achieved packhood.
"Wha..."
Dein spared his mate a glance as the rainbowface began to regain her wits from the collision. He was not surprised to see her expression match his own. Bemusement and confusion. Despite his angry response he could not really blame the fastrunners for their change in loyalties. Because their loyalties had not really changed at all.
They risked their lives for the valley once... and they have now risked their home for the children of the valley... he grimaced as the rainbowface finally registered the situation and began to hastily rise to her feet, These children will not keep us fed... but perhaps the fastrunners can find something later on that can...
"Daddy?"
Dein resisted the urge to speak as his daughter expressed her confusion. She was so much like Chomper at her age... What would he want us to do?
He closed his eyes. He knew the exact answer to that question.
-----
Shorty trotted behind the rampaging threehorns as the sharpteeth began to appear clearly in their sights. They could not see the full picture like he and the other longnecks could, and at that particular moment he wished that he couldn't see the full picture either.
"Oh no! They've got Axiom!" Bron called out as his labored breathing became louder behind the larger sauropod. It did not take long for the two rainbowfaces on Shorty's back to react to the news.
"Axiom, no!"
"Not our daughter!"
Shorty held back the taste of bile that sudden rose in his throat. Sharpteeth had already taken a mother and injured a son of the valley, and he would not tolerate any further tragedy. Keeping in mind the lessons that his adopted father had taught him long ago, he pushed the rage to the back of his mind and allowed the cold numbness to wash over him. There would be time to mourn the fallen rainbowface later; now was the time for action.
He didn't bother to look at the slaughter he was certain was playing out above. He focused his gaze entirely on the two sharpteeth in the distance.
You will regret the day you attacked our children...
-----
Malka did not hesitate to grab her friend as the sharptooth's snout edged towards the rock wall. She knew full well that if the sharptooth had wanted them dead then it could have eaten them all while they cried out for Axiom. Within an instant the rainbowface was safely against the cliff face as the massive form of Dein stood before them.
"Th... thank you..."
Malka could not understand what the rainbowface was saying, but she could guess. It wasn't everyday that your life was saved by a sharptooth. It only took a few moments for the other sharptooth to growl something unintelligible to the assembled group. Afterwards the tell-tale sigh of Pearl finally addressed the confusion of Malka and her friends.
"Terri says that a leaf-eater child who is willing to risk all to help her friends deserves a second chance."
Malka's eyes went wide. Did she just say...
"Terri? As in Chomper's momma?" Tricia's eyes were almost crazed as she inspected their carnivorous faces, "It... It is them..."
Malka blinked as Flip landed to her side. She had never seen the sharpteeth face-to-face as she had been with the evacuated children when the battle for the valley had occurred. So these are his parents...
Dein seemed to snort as he stepped back from the rock face and growled something at the smaller sharptooth down below. A sharptooth that Malka could only assume were Dein and Terri's child. The swimmer didn't have much time to consider the situation, however, before Arial gave her a nudge.
"They're offering to help all of you down."
This suggestion finally made Flip break out of his silence, "For what? So they can eat us easier?"
Malka resisted the urge to slap her companion, "If they wanted to eat us then they could have done it earlier, Flip! I would rather take my chances with them than my chances with this darn cliff!"
"Tell me about it..." Axiom muttered as she continued to clutch her head, "I would rather go down slowly than quickly..."
Tricia sighed. Despite her misgivings with trusting the sharpteeth who they recently were trying to hide from, she couldn't deny that they had proven their good intentions. Or at least their lack of interesting in eating us... they seem to be looking for something bigger.
Flip shivered as he had the same thought, "Okay, just get it done quickly. I don't want to hang out with hungry sharpteeth!"
The pink threehorn snorted as she helped Axiom back to her feet, "Alright, let's get this over with. Axiom can you..."
Tricia never got the chance to finish her statement as an all too familiar roar echoed across the ravine.
"Daddy?"
-----
Littlefoot's legs burned with exertion as the pack sprinted headlong towards the massive forms in the distance. From his vantage point only the green forms of Dein and Terri could be seen against the brown face of the ravine, and even that was obstructed by the angle of rock wall.
It looks like they are looking for something on the rock wall... what are they up to?
In that moment he considered giving out an alert call to let the massive sharpteeth know about the presence of his pack, but he quickly thought better of it. What if the herd had not yet been alerted to the presence of the sharpteeth? If so then he could instigate a needless battle. Worse yet, what if the herd had already been informed about Chomper's parents in the most extreme way?
A kill for survival is a just kill... but what if it was someone that I know?
Littlefoot felt something sink in his stomach at that thought. This was the exact reason why the pack had to leave in the first place. Not only did they have to kill, but they would see their loved ones under threat of being killed. For all that he knew some of their allies could have very well killed valley residents. It was easier for everyone to keep their distance and to live as they had to live. But now it seemed that fate had forced them together once more.
"Axiom!"
The entire pack froze in a moment of horror as Datum had seen what they initially could not. The small rainbowface was perched on Dein's massive snout.
Littlefoot clinched his claws at the sight. He knew that he had no right to intervene here as Datum's sister was not part of his pact to bring the children back, but yet could he watch as the father of one of his packmates consumed the sister of one of his son's best friends? Thankfully, however, what happened next spared him that question.
"His putting her back!" Taunt exclaimed excitedly.
A choked sigh could be heard from the rainbowface, as Littlefoot gestured towards the others.
"Alright, everyone, listen up! We need to take care of Path's folks before they complicate things." he then gestured at the leaf-eaters, "Leaf-eaters, stay here with our children. Beside two sharpteeth is nowhere for a leaf-eater to be!"
Datum nodded mutely, while Sauria and Charger seemed to be staring in horror at the two sharpteeth in the distance. No one else spoke a word or questioned the surprising reaction.
"Alright, children, I need you to..." Littlefoot began to give orders for his children, but he never got a chance to finish. As had been common during his time in the valley, Topps had finally decided to get a word in as his roar echoed across the ravine.
Oh crap.
-----
"Shorty, join me behind the ridge! The threehorns will need support!"
Bron arched his head downward as he struggled to maintain his current speed. A full run for an adult longneck was little more than a fast trot, and his aging body was beginning to air its grievances.
Shorty slowed ever so slightly as he ran beside his adopted father, "Flanking?" he yelled questioningly.
Bron could only make a slight nod as he forced himself to continue, "Yes!"
The last thing that we need is for the sharpteeth to try to escape through the threehorns! he remembered full well what happened during the Battle for the Valley all those years ago, Then the rest of the herd would be in danger!
"Swimmers, defensive line!"
Bron spared Shorty a brief glance as the green longneck shouted at the rest of the pack authoritatively. It reminded him so much of himself when he was in charge of his herd. Showing determination and confidence despite unspoken misgivings. Being the strong rock when others were shifting like loose sand. This was to have been his dream for Littlefoot when he was a longneck. Bron had had no doubt that Littlefoot would have been a leader of the valley or of his own herd one day. But an entirely different kind of leadership had awaited his son.
Bron glared at the sharpteeth ahead. There was something oddly familiar about them, though he could not quite place where that feeling was coming from. As a leaf-eater he was not adapted to identifying sharpteeth by smell or sight. As it was the only reason Redclaw had been so well known was due to his cut eye. Unless the sharpteeth had an identifying mark or an odd quirk most leaf-eaters would merely know them as a sharptooth. No additional identity had to be given to the choosers of the dead.
"Bron! Look!"
For a moment Bron was taken aback by Shorty's demand, but he quickly saw what his adopted son was looking at. One of the sharpteeth had a rather distinct series of scars. Three scars to be exact.
No...
In the instant everything seemed to freeze in the elder longneck's mind. Much to his shame he had not had a chance to look closely at the attackers of Savine's mate, as he had lead the remaining children and the rainbowfaces to safety. They had demanded to hold the line, and she had paid the price. However, the recent scaring only confirmed who this sharptooth was. It was in this shocking moment that his mind made another connection. One of the sharpteeth was an olive green, whereas the other was much darker. Much like a certain couple that he had seen so long ago.
No, it can't be...
-----
Chomper's parents?!
It took everything in Topps's constitution to avoid freezing in that instant. But there was no escaping from the shocking reality that had just been revealed to him. Here were the valley's old allies... and they had taken the life of one of the valley's own. Savine's murderous glare and the clear scars on Dein's back were clear enough evidence of that. He had always known that once the sharpteeth left the valley that leaf-eater and sharptooth alike would have to live as nature intended, but he had hoped and expected not to meet the duo again.
Life it seemed had decided to play yet another cruel trick on the valley.
"Careful! They know our tactics!" Topps yelled without further introspection.
This caused one of his deputies to look his direction, "What do you mean, sir?"
Topps glared straight ahead, "Do you not recognize Dein and Terri?"
He could not see the reaction of his deputy or of the rest of the threehorn line. All that he was aware of were the thunderous footsteps of his fellow threehorns, and the not-so-distant roar of Dein as he prepared for the imminent assault. However, but a few moments later, his deputy's response was made known to all, as he decided how to implement the herd leader's directive.
"Flankers!"
In an instant two of his fastest threehorn's advanced a few body-lengths ahead of the rest of the line, almost forming a V formation.
Topps frowned grimly. There would be no escape for the valley's former allies.
-----
"Daddy, no!"
Tricia yelled at the advancing threehorns with all of her might, but from her position it was no use. Even if the herd were focused on her they would be unable to hear her words over the roars and the thunderous trampling of feet. With a sinking feeling in her stomach she realized that there would be no way to prevent the bloodbath that was about to begin. A bloodbath that would not have happened had they not ventured from the valley.
This is all our fault.
She could fell the slight push of Malka and Axiom against her body as they all pressed against the surface of the rock face. The pink and violet forms of the fastrunners were in front of her, but their sagging shoulders all but confirmed that they were thinking the same thoughts that she was at that moment: how did it all come to this?
"I wanted them off the land... not dead..." Arial muttered silently.
"Death finds us all eventually," Detras spoke with a stoicism that would have put a threehorn to shame. However even Tricia could hear the regret in his voice, "We need to get you children off of this rock before you join them."
Malka was confused, "What about all of you?"
Pearl sighed, "We got you into this mess, and we will make sure that you get out of this in one piece..." she then frowned as she noticed the gap from where Axiom had fallen earlier. There would be no escape from that direction, "...somehow."
This finally snapped Tricia out of her melancholy. Her father's words echoed in her mind as she felt the warmth of her friends beside her. A threehorn never gives up... a threehorn never abandons the herd.
"Flip, go and look at the rock paths!"
Her flyer friend was confused by the sudden order, "Huh?"
Tricia nearly stomped her feet, but had enough sense not to do it on the shaky rock wall, "Try to find other paths off of this thing! We don't want to be on here when they start fighting!"
She barely had time to finish her thought, however, when Malka began shaking behind her.
"I think that we are too late..."
Tricia looked down below to where the battle was beginning. Dein and Terri had joined in a back-to-back formation as the threehorns swarmed around them in an unusual formation. It was more akin to what a pack of fastbiters would use compared to the tactics of a prey species. That was when the realization entered into Tricia's mind.
Savine's about to charge...
Sure enough, within a split second the scarred threehorn let out an almost feral roar and broke from the makeshift circle of horns and stomping feet. The immediate loud calls from Topps and his deputies did nothing to dissuade the threehorn from striking his desired target. With the focus on a hunter zeroing in on his prey his footsteps grew with intensity as he increased speed once more towards Dein's massive form. Within mere moments he was barreling towards the predator with the intensity of a roaring avalanche. He was mere seconds from impact.
"Everyone, brace now!" Detras screamed.
Tricia did as she was instructed, or at least as well as she could manage with barely any room to maintain a foothold. It was in this crouched position that she watched the end of his charge with growing horror. Savine, being blinded by his rage and desire for vengeance, was not watching his surroundings.
The result was inevitable.
With a swiftness that seemed impossible for a sharptooth, Dein shifted his massive tail to his left and allowed his mate's body to shift against him, propelling him away from the charging threehorn's path without a second to spare. With no time to realize that his charge had been foiled, Savine's momentum propelled him towards the rock wall. With a resounding crash that threatened to deafen everyone present, the threehorn slammed into the rock at full speed.
Then there was silence.
Tricia froze in terror at the sudden quiet that enveloped the ravine like a cloud. For several moments there was no hint at the terrifying charge that had just taken place. However, ever so minutely, the silence was broken by a very odd sound. A sound that was barely perceptible to the threehorn's senses. A sound that was reminiscent of the minute actions of the Smoking Mountain. A sound that was almost always a harbinger of bad things to come.
The sound of cracking rock.
-----
Cera gritted her teeth in frustration as the pack continued their sprint into the ravine. How can they be so damn stupid! Can't they see that Tricia is up there?!
She had watched as the threehorns had created a circle around the sharpteeth. A small part of her mind actually praised them for the effective envelopment tactic, as the pack had used similar methods in times past. However it had been the actions of one threehorn that had made her feelings change into those of anger and frustration.
Why did they attack them head-first? The entire purpose of the circling technique is to attack at once...
"Dad!"
Cera's blood ran cold at the words from the distant threehorn. It was obvious that Charger was referring to the now prone body of the incapacitated threehorn. The threehorn that had charged the sharptooth. Now all of the facts began circulating in her head... Savine's rage... him acting while the other threehorns did not... the ignoring of the other childrenn... It did not take her long to determine why Savine reacted that way that he did.
Dein and Terri... they must have been the ones who killed Charger's mother.
"We have to get them to realize that the kids are the priority!"
Littlefoot turned towards his yellow-fathered friend, "Stern Claw, that might be easier said than done!"
Cera shook her head, "I don't think so..." she sucked in another breath as her head-long sprint began to take its toll on her, "Charger's daddy did not act according to plan."
This caused both Littlefoot and Ruby to look at her oddly. They both knew that Cera was the pack's best authority on threehorn tactics. Cera quickly responded to their unspoken question.
"The threehorn's would have charged as a line if they had intended to do that... but Charger's dad acted first," she sucked down another breath as the threehorns became progressively larger as the pack's distance closed, "I think that the fastrunner situation is the least of our worries with Dein and Terri. Charger's dad was out for blood."
Neither fastbiter said a word as Cera finished her statement. There were certain unspoken rules that were always followed when a pack was in danger. One was to not waste a breath when the pack was potential facing a life-or-death situation, which explained her friends' silence. Another was to report to the pack leader and then to obey. There was no time for debate or deliberation during a battle, there was only time for action.
And it did not take long for Littlefoot to make his actions known.
"Wide spread! Show strength!"
Cera frowned at Littlefoot's orders but obeyed without question. She quickly shifted her center of gravity to the left as she spread out to the left of Ruby's rose-colored form. Taunt and Spike followed her to the left, as Ducky and the others went to the right. This was to be a show of force, something that threehorns understood all too well. Though Cera was not sure of its effectiveness. That was until Littlefoot hissed one final order in Cera's direction.
"You will speak, Cera! Your dad might listen to you!"
Cera frowned with determination. He had better damn well listen to me!
-----
"Dad!"
Ambush looked at the screaming threehorn with more than a little compassion. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose her mother and then to have her father fall as well. To her Taunt and Cera were like giants, both physically and in terms of respect. She wanted nothing less than to be like them when she was an adult.
But now Charger had the unenviable prospect of not following in his father's footsteps, but to be his replacement. A specter of what once was. Strong though he may be, Ambush could smell the desperation radiating from him. She knew that any more loss would risk breaking the poor threehorn.
"I don't think that we can do anything for him."
Ambush shifted slightly as her younger brother, Sprint, stepped beside her. She did not doubt his statement, but that did not mean that she had to like its implications.
"We can't just sit here and watch our parents rip one another apart!"
Both siblings turned as Datum appeared to shout towards the distant forms of the fastbiters. Their orders were clear, but no one seemed pleased with them.
"That's right!" Biter agreed with his friend, "There has to be some way that we can help!"
This caused mutterings amongst the fastbiter and flyer children. They had disobeyed their parents before, but not when it came to anything this dangerous. However they had found the prospect of what awaited their friends to be as unpalatable as they did. The unspoken question seemed to radiate out amongst them: what could they do to help?
"We can't let our friends stay trapped on that cliff!" Sauria affirmed loudly as her sauropod body went rigid with anger, "They can't be safe up there!"
Datum nodded his agreement, "We have to be able to help them down somehow!"
It was then squawking could be heard in the distance. It appeared that Petrie and Volant were attempting to communicate with the approaching herd. However, the threehorns remained in their positions around the two sharpteeth. And the fastbiters continued to approach into the unknown...
Biter frowned as his sister, Swipe, began to look at him with a knowing expression. With a swift nod of understanding she finally addressed the assembled children.
"Guys, I think that I may have a plan..."
-----
Petrie grunted with relief as the line of swimmers and spiketails finally stopped their charge towards the sharpteeth. The same blind herd mentality that caused mass panics could also lead to mass violence, and Petrie knew that better than most. He had used the infliction of panic more than once in order to help his pack gain an easy meal.
"Daddy, stop!"
Petrie quickly shifted his gaze to the pack as they stopped in a line formation two longneck-lengths from the threehorns. Just enough distance to be threatening, but not enough to make escape difficult. It was a clear sign of the pack's uncertainty about the entire situation.
Topps shifted his position away from watching the two sharpteeth and barked a roar that echoed across the ravine. In an instant one of his deputies took his place in the circle, as another followed him in looking towards the line of fastbiters. Even from this distance the look of surprise on his face was striking.
"Cera?" his gravelly voice croaked with restrained emotion, "You're not with them, are you?"
Some part of Petrie's stomach felt like it had entered his chest as soon as he heard those words. The unspoken questions were unmistakable. You're not allied with Chomper's parents, are you? Please tell me that we aren't going to have to kill you too.
Cera glanced over at Dein and Terri as they too seemed surprised by this sudden turn in the situation.
"No, we are not with them. We have brought the children as promised."
Petrie could hear his mother land beside him as a snort emanated from Dein. It communicated 'thanks for nothing' better than any words could have conveyed that message. However Petrie was left with a bad taste in his mouth. Were they simply supposed to leave Chomper's parents to their fate?
Topps bowed his head slightly in relief. His face conveyed little emotion, but the tremor in his leg indicated the impact that Cera's assurance had on the elder.
"Good... then tell your friends to stand aside," he spoke softly, as if begging her to obey him one last time, "This does not concern them."
Petrie watched the two sharpteeth as silence permeated the conversation. Dein was eyeing the prone form of Savine with murderous intent, as he maintained his posture next to his mate. Meanwhile the threehorns appeared to be moving closer on Dein's side, leaving a growing gap on Terri's side. The circle was now more of an egg shape. A weakness in discipline that would not have occurred had Topps been focused on Dein and Terri.
"Terri's side is weak, Seeker!"
Volant glared at Petrie immediately, which made Petrie squirm, "Me tell pack in case things change, Momma. You never know with threehorns."
The elder flyer sighed as she waved off the other leaf-eater flyers that had been alerted by Petrie's call, "You also never know with fastbiters, son." her glare only abated when she noticed the fastbiters shift their line in accordance with Petrie's alert. It seemed that he was being truthful with his intentions.
Petrie suppressed a sigh as he saw the green tyrannosaurus youngling clutch at her father's feet. Come on, Dein and Terri. Use your damn brains!"
-----
Dein groaned at the flyer's alert call.
Damned flyer! Some help for us would be nice!
He considered the threehorn line with great uneasiness. He and his mate had recovered from herd attacks before, but not with such a determined enemy as this. He knew full well that a headlong assault would allow a breakthrough for one of them... but the other probably would not live to tell the tale. Likewise fighting them off one-by-one would not be an option. As soon as one was blocked, then another could strike. They were in an unwinnable situation.
Terri's side is weak, Seeker! What a fucking insult! My mate is strong you ignorant beak-face...
That was when the thought hit him. What if the flyer's words meant something else entirely?
He shifted slightly to his left, which caused his mate to shift to her right. They both knew that the back to back formation had to be maintained or else they would be open for attack. Within moments, however, he could see what Petrie was referring to. On what had been the side of the line facing Terri there was now a large bulge outwards, away from the sharpteeth. It was a promising line of attack.
Distraction... and then a charge... but at what cost?
Dein looked down at the small form of his daughter. She was clutching at his massive foot in fear. He knew that if he and his mate escaped from this hell then her life would certainly be forfeit. He had to find a way to send her to safety.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he lowered his snout to the ground. Without any words being exchanged, she knew to climb onto his snout. As he did this, the threehorns on his side began to advance, but he had enough time to rise to his full height before they even got another longneck length towards his position. With a quick brush of his snout onto the rock wall, he deposited his precious child next to Detras.
"You will stay with the fastrunners, Verda."
Dein turned before he could look at his daughter's face again. He didn't need to be talked out of his necessary action.
"Daddy?"
He breathed heavily, as the threehorns stopped again. There was now only a longneck-length between the threehorns on either side of them, "We will meet you when the battle is over, dear, but you have to go with them now, okay? Mother and I will see you again, I promise."
There was a sad affirmative grunt as the little biter complied. That was when Detras's sad voice reached his ears.
"Dein?"
Dein took in a deep breath. He knew very well what the next few moments could mean for him and his mate, even as he gave a comforting lie to his daughter. He would not lie to his ally.
"I ask only one final thing from you, Detras. See to it that she finds a safe home once this is done."
This caused his daughter to panic, "Daddy?"
The sound of a few falling rocks could be heard as Pearl pushed the little biter back onto the safe area of the rock wall. Detras answered Dein's call with stoic acquiescence.
"Your child will be as safe as one of my own, Dein and Terri. This I promise."
Dein stepped forward towards the threehorns as he nudged his mate to follow his lead. Before he made his charge, however, he resolved to do one thing that he should have done long ago.
"I free you, my loyal servant, of your obligations to me. We who might die thank you."
"Goodbye, my dear Verda," Terri choked out, "Stay safe."
Verda cried as both adult fastrunners held her in place, "Mommy! Daddy!"
As Terri shifted around to where Dein was facing both sharpteeth could hear the other threehorns give the order to advance. It was now or never.
Dein gave his mate a smile with his eyes, "Charge!"
-----
Cera hesitated as her father's words continued to echo in her mind.
Good... then tell your friends to stand aside. This does not concern them.
She gave a slight glance to Tricia on the rock wall above. How would she and her friends hold up if the battle commenced again? She knew full well that the rock wall may not have been as stable as it looked.
"My sister concerns me," Cera spoke plainly, "Why risk them?"
Topps gritted his teeth at his daughter's words. She could almost see the wheels turn in his mind as he contemplated what to say. In this situation he was not just her father, but the herd leader as well. He could not afford to lose face or, for that matter, confirm that one of his own herd members had violated his orders.
"If the sharpteeth will permit them time to get off the damn cliff, then that would be much appreciated," Topps finally offered, "If they will even listen to you."
Cera resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she noticed the others shifting their positions according to Petrie's alert earlier. Her father was wasting valuable time.
"Will you offer them safe passage out of this ambush in exchange for the kids having safe passage? I might be wrong, dad, but I don't think they will comply with an offer that still involves them being trampled to death." Cera immediately cringed at her tone. Me and my big mouth...
Topps's expression darkened, "They should have considered that before they killed one of the valley's own."
Littlefoot now spoke up in a rage, "You can have your revenge later, damn it! There are children up there! Do you think Sauria, Charger, and Datum will accept that you let their friends die for your damned vendetta?!"
His roar caused the threehorn to grow silent. Cera could see the processes going through her father's mind in a way that only a family member could. She could see his anger at being called out rapidly turn into guilt for neglecting his duties. Or at least that is how she interpreted his demeanor, as she was not aware that Savine's actions were not ordered by him.
"You're right, of course," he grunted as he looked over at the children, "Though he will never forgive us for letting them go... what is that?!"
Cera turned her head in confusion as she turned her head to where her father was looking. The rock wall of the ravine had numerous crevices and crannies which rose from the ground to the pinnacle of the cliff at irregular intervals. It was in one of these crannies that she could clearly see several fuzzballs of various colors, a small longneck, a certain one-eyed threehorn, and a swarm of small flyers.
"Ambush, Pouncer, and Sprint! What in the name of sanity do you think that you are doing?!" Cera roared with frustration. The shouts of the other parents soon followed.
"Biter, get down from there!"
"Swipe, you are supposed to be back there! Back there you are supposed to be!"
"Kids, come back!"
Cera shook her head. It seemed that their children were not content for sitting back and watching the chaos play out in front of them. It was a mindset that she could relate to.
"Are those... my grandchildren?" Topps asked softly, having picked up on the responses of the pack despite not understanding their words.
Cera nodded and gave an exasperated sigh, "Aye, three of them are. And they seem to have grown tired of waiting on us..."
Despite the shear insanity of the situation, or perhaps because of it, Topps began to chuckle slightly at the proceedings. The next logical course of action was obvious to everyone.
"Alright, threehorns, we need to make sure the children are safe..." he began as he turned back towards the deputy he had made in charge of detaining the sharpteeth, "Right flank, advance towards Savine, and left flank..."
He never got the chance to finish his orders as Dein and Terri began their headlong charge towards the left-most threehorn in what was now the oblong circle around them. The high price for the threehorn's failure to resolve the matter promptly had finally made itself known. The battle which had nearly been averted had now erupted in full force.
-----
Crash!
The surprised threehorn barely had any time to react when Dein and Terri charged at him at the same time. As he presented his horns to dissuade Dein, Terri had just the opportunity that she needed. Within an instant he was propelled into the rock wall. Now the path of the two sharpteeth was free.
Or, rather, it would have been had it not been for the severity of the impact into the rock wall.
Crack...
"Oh no! Children, quickly over here!" Pearl screamed as she struggled to push the children away from the splintering rock. Within mere moments, however, her attempts proved to be for naught as the tenuous foothold of the dinosaurs began to give way from the falling rocks.
"Ahhh!!!"
In a sudden lurch the shelf of rock began to give way from Tricia, Malka, and Orchid. All that Detras and Pearl could do from their position was to look in terror as the end looked inevitable for their daughter and the two leaf-eaters. That was until a flurry of feathers suddenly appeared around their limbs.
"Gotcha!"
Malka's small form was promptly pulled up to a higher ledge by a gray fastbiter child, while Orchid and Tricia were held against the rock wall only through the collective struggle of an entire pack of fastbiter children and a trio of conspicuous leaf-eaters. Each of the endangered dinosaurs had hands clutching each of their limbs, with Sauria and Charger holding fast to the tails of Biter and Swipe in order to prevent the entire pile of fastbiters from falling off the cliff along with their dear friends.
Detras held his breath. It was a tenuous reprieve at best, but it prevented what would have been certain death for his dear daughter and the leaf-eaters.
"Hang on, children!" he screamed, "We will help you back up!"
He struggled to look for anything that might allow him to make his promise a reality, but his mind was drawing a blank in the hopeless situation. The threehorn and Orchid were simply too heavy to push up to the higher ledge, and the chasm between himself and the stricken dinosaurs was simply too great to transverse even with the greatest of leaps. If there was to be any salvation for them then it would not come from his ledge.
"Hurry, daddy..."
Pearl screamed, "Hold on, dear! We will get you out of there!"
Detras shook with agitation. What could he possibly do to save what he valued the most in life? That was when a booming voice suddenly echoed from nearby.
"Need a lift?"
-----
Topps looked at the crushed body of the threehorn with burning rage.
Castor. The nephew that he had treated like the son that he had never had. The threehorn who had comforted Topps after the death of Whitehorn. The dinosaur who he had been rearing to become the next deputy of the herd. Now he was just another victim of Dein and Terri's violence. Before there had been the possibility of putting the battle aside, but now his decision was set. He could not let such an outrage go unpunished, nor could he let such a threat remain unresolved.
They will die...
With a bellowing roar, he ran headlong towards the two massive sharpteeth.
He didn't notice that Castor was still breathing.
-----
"What do we do now?"
Littlefoot stared at the ensuing chaos with a dumbstruck expression. He was torn between his concern for his children and the continuing tragedy that was playing out between the enraged threehorns and the retreating sharpteeth. He had been accustomed to always having a plan in place. But for once in his life he was left completely uncertain.
"Seeker?"
Littlefoot finally looked towards Ruby's questioning face. She looked just as shattered as he was.
"I... we can't help them." he frowned sadly, "Let's go get our children."
One by one the members of the pack turned back towards where their children had been seen climbing up the rock wall moments before. That was when a familiar sound changed everything.
Roar!
Littlefoot froze. He knew full well whose voice that belonged to.
Chomper...
-
Review of Chapter 19:
Wow... this was intense.
As much as I would've loved to see the fight, I know it was probably for the best that Path took over and the pack parted ways.
I must say I really like Cera's reference to her younger self there :)
So that was about past troubles... now to the troubles of the present I guess :p
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Review of Chapter 20:
Well, now this is truly sad... Dein and Terri force Pearl and Detras to lead children from the valley to their doom. That's quite a dark part of this story, I hope the situation doesn't get worse and the death of these kids (I knew they'd get themselves into trouble!) can be prevented somehow...
Oh, from one dark story to another... The situation the Seven Hunters are in must feel very alien to everybody... Friends turned into intruders, Spike almost injures Ducky and Littlefoot might be up to facing a similar situation. They'd better not produce even more offspring and go through this again... :p
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Thank you for the reviews, Ducky! :)
Yeah, in chapter 19 things finally come to a head, and Chomper has to take action for the best interests of the pack. This is something that is simply made absolutely necessary by the overpowering instincts that they are feeling (the ever annoying 'must keep all competing males away from my female' instinct) and the complexities of maintaining the pack. This is something that will be elaborated on in the next chapter...
And yep, despite the (temporary) breaking up of the pack into separate territories, things nearly turn deadly between Ducky and Spike. It is important to note, however, that although the "must protect my family's nesting area" instinct is still in effect, the "must protect my mate from competing males" instinct is now waning. After all, the eggs have already been produced so the girls are no longer in breeding condition. This may play a role in how things develop in the future.
But yeah, after the hassle that the pack has had with their first batch of children, they may want to plan things out better next time. Or talk to the rainbowfaces about birth control. :p
Thanks again for the reviews. :) I hope that you enjoy the remaining chapters.
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Review of Chapter 21:
Oh dear, there will have to be some explanation from the fastrunners soon... :p Moreover, they have to deal with the dangerous meet-up at Hanging Rock...
Oh? The Seven Hunters seem to get along again :)
The story about Petrie and Soar was really exciting and packed with emotions. Damn instincts, huh? ;)
Eggstealers... uh oh... I sense emotional stuff coming :p
The grown-ups... they haven't changed a single bit :smile Though now we have a problem...
Interesting set-up for the next chapter. I'll try to get around to reading it soon :yes
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Oh dear, there will have to be some explanation from the fastrunners soon... dino_tongue.gif Moreover, they have to deal with the dangerous meet-up at Hanging Rock...
Yep, the fastrunners certainly have a lot on their plate at this point. And a clash of multiple players is about to occur right on top of them...
Oh? The Seven Hunters seem to get along again smile.gif
At least when they are away from the nests (and the eggs). So the normal hunts can resume, with one parent at each nest, but it will take some time for them to avoid the "person is near my nest = murder them!" instinct to dissipate. And this is before the children even hatch...
Eggstealers... uh oh... I sense emotional stuff coming dino_tongue.gif
Yep. I am indeed even a jerk to the unborn children in this story. :p
Interesting set-up for the next chapter. I'll try to get around to reading it soon in-yes.gif
Take your time. As I am in the middle of finals week I can totally relate to having a lack of time to get everything done. I just hope that you enjoy the next few installments.
Thanks for the review! :) I look forward to your opinions on the next few chapters.
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Note: This will be another 2-parter, as its 13,900 words exceeds the single-post character limit.
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/25/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/25/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 24: Conflict
"Need a lift?"
Verda shook in fear as the massive longneck suddenly appeared in front of the group and muttered something that was unintelligible to her. Despite the fact that she was situated between Pearl and Detras, she had never felt so alone. Her parents were gone; their situation unknown. Against the foreboding cliff stood numerous leaf-eater younglings and odd feather-covered sharpteeth, none of which she had any acquaintance with. All that she knew was that she was surrounded by massive leaf-eaters who appeared to want her parents dead. Now one of those very leaf-eaters had taken notice of them.
"Shorty?"
Verda looked up at the pink fastrunner which stood beside her. Is that the giant green thing's name? She didn't have much time to consider this possibility, however, before several of the small leaf-eaters promptly fell onto the longneck's head.
"Easy there! Down we go..."
The sight of the leaf-eater children being lowered to the ground was an odd one to say the least. In the distance, a confusing symphony of grunts, roars, and crashes could be heard, but here by the cliff the longneck was calmly assisting the children to the ground. That was when Verda felt a hand on her back.
"We have to remove ourselves from this cliff, Verda. Do not worry, this longneck will not harm you."
Verda blinked as the fastrunner spoke in an oddly formal form of sharptooth. The kind of speech that would be used when speaking to a very young sharptooth to avoid any confusion. However she had little time to consider why the male would speak in such a way before another longneck's face appeared in front of her.
"There is a sharptooth here!"
The longneck looked at her with an expression that conveyed surprise.
"Just help them down, Somni. I think that one of these might be my brother's..." The green longneck bellowed, though Verda could not understand any of it, "What? Are you afraid that the little green one will eat ya?" he mocked.
"Yeah! They're friendly!" Tricia tried to explain as she shook off the shock of landing on the longneck, "They helped us!"
"We can explain!" Swipe exclaimed from somewhere unseen.
Verda froze as the longneck finally turned back towards her as the leaf-eater and sharptooth children alike continued to explain the situation in the leaf-eater language. Finally, however, the longneck noticed the sharptooth's fearful appearance and softened his expression somewhat as he nodded towards the fastrunners. Much to her surprise, the next words out of his mouth were translated word for word by Detras.
"Don't worry, little one. Let's get you and your friends off of this cliff before it falls down."
-----
Chomper had been prepared to do many things when he arrived at Hanging Rock. He had been prepared to chase off his parents if they threatened his pack or the transfer of the children. He had been prepared to help negotiate safe passage for the children. He had even been prepared to fight his parents if it had come to that.
Seeing his parents being pursued by threehorns was not something he had anticipated.
Roar!
The threehorns stopped in a firm line as the sight of the new arrival surprised them all. They all had Dein and Terri cornered, with the tails of the sharpteeth facing the ragged rocks of the cliff and their bodies facing an impenetrable wall of horns. Any attempt to flee would open them up to a parting attack from the threehorns. They were trapped.
Some distance away stood the uncertain form of a purple fastrunner. Orchid had mentally prepared himself for an unpleasant situation as soon as he heard about the Great Valley arriving at his home, but he had halfway expected it to result in the sharpteeth fleeing from a superior force. To see threehorns not letting their opponents flee, but rather trying to kill them, was a sight that surprised him.
How much have the valley dinosaurs changed?
"Hold the line!" Topps unmistakable voice croaked, "We got them cornered and this two-footer can't get us without facing our line!"
A growl escaped Chomper's throat. So Mr. Threehorn we meet again... what has gotten into you this time?
That was when a sudden flash of realization hit the sharptooth. There was only one situation that he could think of that would make his old allies turn to murder. It was a situation that had last occurred during the Battle for the Valley... and a situation that his pack had faced after they had changed.
His parents must have killed a valley resident.
-----
"I can tolerate many things, Mr. Threehorn, but attacking my parents is not one of them!"
The gray threehorn froze at that pronouncement. The last time that he had seen the purple sharptooth was when he was but a child. Now a much larger killer stood in front of him.
Damn it... he protested internally as he kept his face devoid of emotion, We have already lost one member of the herd; I can't tolerate losing one of the valley's defenders too! The tension was enormous as Topps weighed his options over the next few seconds. As much as he would have claimed indifference to the purple sharptooth years ago, he couldn't lie to himself about Chomper now. This was the same sharptooth that had allowed his daughter and her friends to survive their horrific changes into predators. This was the same being that had protected the valley in its time of greatest need. And he had no doubt, despite his fearsome appearance, that the same empathetic being resided inside that sharptooth that existed in younger days.
But his choices were limited.
The growling form of the threehorn stood near him. Savine. The scarred threehorn had lost a mate and nearly lost a son in the terrible attack by Chomper's parents. No amount of reparations would bring her back or deprive him of his lust for vengeance. Topps knew full well that Savine would feel that obligation as an untouchable duty.
Worse yet, there was the herd to consider.
They would not tolerate Topps backing down at this point. Even if he had it in him to give such an order he knew that Savine would resist and attack alone, with many others possibly joining in at great cost. In this situation if he didn't take the hard action then more of his herdmates would fall, of that he had no doubt.
"Your parents have killed a member of the herd, Chomper." Topps communicated in a grave voice, "I have no choice."
The purple sharptooth did not flinch at his announcement, which confirmed to Topps that the predator must have assumed the truth of the situation. It was then that he heard a growl escape the sharptooth's mouth, which was reciprocated by the two parents.
Topps grimaced. He did not like where this was going.
"The killing was not in the valley. How is my family supposed to know they are off-limits?" Topps grimaced at the sharptooth's words, knowing full well that Chomper's parents probably wouldn't care either way, "Shall we ask every single leaf-eater that we meet if they are valley residents?"
"You bastard!" Savine growled, ignoring the standard order of rank, "My mate died out there!"
Chomper shrugged, an infuriating gesture to the assembled threehorns. It was at this point that Topps realized something. He is trying to make us angry... he did not notice the two sharpteeth edging backwards.
"Will killing my parents bring them back?" Chomper said this as he made an odd gesture with his claws, "Will being killed by us bring her back? There are three of us. Do you honestly expect to attack us and leave unscathed?"
Topps cocked his head so that his horns were facing the sharptooth. It was obvious that Chomper had decided to make this a fight.
"Chomper..." Topps warned, "There is no going back from this..."
Topps gritted his teeth in anguish as he saw the expression that the purple sharptooth then gave him. The eyes were firm and as red as blood itself, but the mouth almost seemed to soften somewhat.
"My pack is not part of this, Mr. Threehorn. This is just me... we all must do what we must do. I will not allow my sister to become an orphan." Topps closed his eyes briefly as the implications of that sank in. Topps reluctantly prepared himself to give the orders which would make his herd attack one of the valley's old residents. No sooner had Chomper separated his pack from his actions, however, he gave a loud roar to something in the distance and looked at the agitated deputy head on.
"If you want my parents, horns-for-brains, then you have to go through me."
Topps didn't even have to give the order.
-----
"We have to help them!"
Littlefoot shook in fear for his friend as he deflected the charge of one threehorn, which resulted in a loud crash. Within moments there was an outright onslaught as threehorns began to almost collide into one another in an attempt to strike out at the purple sharptooth. Despite this, however, Chomper's previous roared statement still echoed in his mind.
"This is a diversion! Stay out of this!"
Littlefoot gritted his teeth. He hoped that his friend knew what he was doing.
"We all heard his order. We need to stay out of this..."
Cera nearly rammed into Littlefoot as she waved her arms frantically at her leader, "Are you serious!? My father will kill him!"
Ruby nodded as she walked beside Cera with an equally agitated expression, "We have to protect Path even if he doesn't want to be protected!" She was joined moments later by the nods and grunts from the others.
What about our children?" Littlefoot asked bluntly as another crash could be heard from the warring dinosaurs in the distance. Thus far it still seemed like a standoff of charges and deflections, "Are we to leave them on that damn cliff?!"
"I do not think that we need to worry about our children, oh no, no, no!"
Littlefoot was about to ask Ducky what had gotten into her but that was when he noticed the direction of her gaze. As he turned to follow her eyes he could see the tell-tale form of a giant green longneck alongside a familiar brown one. Each one with distinct fuzzy forms on their backs. Littlefoot blinked. It seemed that his children had been bailed out in much the same way that they had been in the distant past: through the welcoming back of a longneck.
"Well, if we attack the threehorns then we risk everything..." Littlefoot muttered as he considered the changed dynamic. The valley dinosaurs now held possession of what they valued most in life, "We have to be cautious."
Spike growled in annoyance, "I don't think that your own brother is going to stomp on our kids, Seeker!" The roars and crashes continued in the distance, "But those threehorns might gore our friend!"
Taunt jumped with agitation, "We have to do something!"
"What me do?!" Petrie's form suddenly landed with a thud, "Whatever me do, me must do it now!"
"We will do it together," Soar finished as she landed heavily upon the ground, her exhaustion obvious.
The brown fastbiter closed his eyes for a moment. Had this been any other circumstance then he would have protested such insubordination, but in this case he understood completely. They were just as desperate for a solution as him, but what form could that solution take? That was when he caught sight of something that made him freeze, Yes... that might just work...
"Ponder and Taunt, you're with me! Everyone else, make sure the kids stay safe!"
-----
Bron did his best to ignore the roars and crashes in the distance as he examined the threehorn in front of him.
"Can you hear me, Castor?"
He stood there for several moments as the massive dinosaur failed to show any sign of life. But then, ever so slightly, he could begin to hear heavy breaths emanate from deep within Castor's chest. That was when he suddenly raised his head as if something had bitten him.
"The sharpteeth!"
Bron edged away immediately, "Easy there, Castor. You took a pretty big hit. The rest of the threehorns seem to be dealing with them." ...and I would be helping if it wasn't for the rest of the herd being left undefended.
The threehorn growled as he forced himself upright once more, standing uneasily with most of his weight on his front legs, "Then that is where I must be!"
Bron gritted his teeth as he resisted retorting the threehorn's idea. Despite the fact that his son and Somni had gone to rescue the children, and the rest of the herd was left without orders and on the verge of panic, Bron knew very well that Castor's single-mindedness could not be challenged with words and reason. Castor wanted blood to be paid for the loss of his herdmates.
It was a sentiment that Bron certainly understood.
"Bron? What should we do?"
Bron forced himself to look back towards what remained of the united herd. In front of him stood Ura who was showing the clear signs of being near panic. Not knowing whether to flee or to fight. It was the scourge that each leader of leaf-eaters had to recognize and learn how to fight. He knew that panic here could result in bloodshed regardless of what Chomper's parents did in the distance. For an undisciplined and splintered herd was a prime target for opportunistic predators.
"We need to regroup," Bron began sounding much more confident than he actually felt, "The strongest of the herd need to stay on the outside to protect the weaker ones."
There were murmurs from the assembled dinosaurs as they tried to obey his directives for the third time since the crisis began. Most notably the spiketails were slow to reconfigure their placement in the group. This reluctance was not lost on Bron.
"If the threehorns give us the sign then we will advance and help them, but not before. We do not want to get in their way," Bron spoke firmly, "Our children are by the cliff. They take priority." Please listen...
Bron's uneasiness did not abate as the murmuring in the crowd grew louder. Some voices could be heard demanding to advance to where the children were located, whereas others demanded to fight Chomper's parents. Still, others seemed to be partial to holding their defensive positions. The uneasy arrangement was soon shattered, however, by an all too familiar voice.
"The children are with two of our strongest. It is those sharpteeth that need our attention right now! Let's make sure they never get a chance to take what we hold dear from us!"
Bron sighed internally as the voices for acting against the sharpteeth grew stronger. Castor's call to arms had pushed the herd into a frenzy. A frenzy that he now knew that he couldn't control.
"Yeah! Let's kill the two-footers!"
"They can't stand against us!"
Bron tried one last time to desperately calm the angry mob.
"Everyone, we have got to stay calm! If we advance without discipline then we will be of no help!"
But no one seemed to hear him as the calls to action grew louder still. Bron knew that something would have to give. Sure enough, within a matter of moments, Castor sealed the herd's decision.
"Let's crush the murderers!"
As Bron tried to keep up with the swifter members of the herd he realized that it was out of his control now. The herd was out for blood and no amount of caution would control them in their panic-induced frenzy. He could only hope that their casualties would be minimal.
-----
"Die, sharptooth!"
Chomper edged backwards as Savine's massive horns were aimed squarely at his body. He did not have much room to maneuver, but it didn't take much to do what he had in mind. As he prepared to move his body to strike the offender with his tail, however, he found that one of his companions had left his side.
"Savine, watch your right!"
The purple sharptooth froze out of surprise as his father lunged forward and went between Savine and Topps. Savine responded aggressively by rearing his head to his right, but Dein countered by slapping him with his tail. It was only by the barest of margins that he was able to avoid the counter attack by Topps. Within moments father and son were again side by side as the threehorns struggled to regroup.
"You could have warned me, Dad! I could've taken care of him!"
Chomper could not see his father's face, but he could hear the smile in his voice, "You could've been gorged as well! Never retreat in front of a horn-face!"
Chomper did not have much time to react as another threehorn attempted to advance forward, but he advanced too quickly for his comrades to maintain the line. In a swift movement Chomper turned around, carrying his massive tail straight into the horns of the over-zealous threehorn. Ignoring the burning pain from his now battered appendage, he could see his mother attack the threehorn from the side, causing him to roll into his advancing friends.
"Fall back, damn you! We have to move as a group!"
Chomper rolled his eyes as Topps struggled to maintain order over his fellow threehorns. Their relative youth and inexperience was evident when compared to the mature demeanor of Topps.
"We have to break through somehow!" Terri exclaimed as she retreated from the fallen threehorn. She could have finished him off, but his comrades were distracted in trying to save him. She knew full well that a distraction here would serve them better than a mere kill.
"Yes, dear! That is only what we have been working on since the horn-faces started attacking!" Dein exclaimed as he barely avoided being gored by another threehorn. A swift ramming of the threehorn's side by his son promptly caused him to retreat.
Chomper stepped forward as a group of four threehorns formed a protective line in front of their fallen comrade, struggling to assist him to his feet. It was a touching display that would have moved Chomper to help him in any other circumstance, but now the situation was quite different. He was no longer a friend of the valley.
Chomper's expression turned dark. That might work...
"What are you doing, son?" Terri asked as his fixation was obvious. He was now a full body length in front of his parents and a mere two body lengths away from the defensive line from the incapacitated threehorn. Behind him the rest of the line was regrouping and preparing for a continued assault.
"When I advance towards the threehorn, I want both of you to plow through Topps and get out of here."
An audible gasp from Terri was joined by an empathic response from Dein.
"You must have consumed too many funny berries for you to believe that we would do that, son! We either get out of here together, or we make our last stand here."
Terri advanced to Chomper's side as the threehorns began to move in a steady fashion forward. It seemed that they were not going to wait for their comrade to rise before striking a blow against the sharpteeth. This only made Chomper more certain of his plan.
"I have a plan, mother. But I can't do it unless both of you do as I say."
Silence reigned for several moments as the steady stomping of feet echoed across the ravine's walls. The threehorns were making their aggressive show of force prior to charging at their enemies. A mixture of intimidation tactic and morale booster for the somewhat battered threehorns. It was obvious that they were going for the kill in their next strike.
"Are you sure, son?"
Chomper nearly shuddered at the defeated tone in his father's voice. It was a sound that he had only heard on some of the most harrowing moments in his life, but yet it seemed that fate had decided to give him another moment to contemplate with dread. It was at this moment that Chomper's eyes fixed themselves upon a rather familiar purple form on the rocks above the threehorns.
Chomper grinned with determination.
"Both of you run when I give the signal."
-----
"What is going on!?"
Shorty opened his mouth to answer Somni's question but promptly closed it when he realized that he did not have an answer. It seemed as if the entire herd had taken upon itself to charge at the sharpteeth in the distance.
Bron would not have allowed this, which means...
"Hey look, there is Daddy! But what is he doing?"
Shorty considered the small brown fastbiter's question as he stared into the distance. Though his eyes were not as acute as those of a predator's, he did have the advantage in terms of perspective. As a result it only took him a moment to see what the small predator was looking at.
They split up into two groups... Shorty could see five adult fastbiters rapidly advancing in his general direction, an understandable reaction considering the predicament their children were in, and three others were running along the side of the ravine, including a familiar looking fastbiter with brown feathers and a red crest. Brother...
"I think that he is trying to help Chomper," Shorty answered with a grave tone of voice, "And the rest of your parents are coming to get you."
Somni rapidly turned his head towards the towering green longneck, "We can't let him do that! You know what Chomper's parents did!"
Shorty narrowed his eyes, "Would you have me attack my own brother, Somni?"
The smaller longneck seemed taken aback by Shorty's bluntness as he made the connection in his mind. He had never seen the almost mythical leaf-eaters turned sharpteeth, with the exception of Petrie when he entered the valley.
"No..." Somni admitted as Shorty nodded, "But what are we going to do? The herd has gone nuts, the threehorns are trying to kill Chomper's parents, and..."
"Oh no! Run mommy! Run!"
To Shorty's horror the herd suddenly seemed to lurch towards the fastbiters which had been heading for their children. In their rage-dazed state of mind the herd did not seem to care which sharptooth that they attacked. The leaf-eaters that had been fixated on pursuing Chomper's parents now had a more immediate target.
Now the predators had become the prey.
"Children, stay here! We have to take care of this!"
Shorty did not wait to hear the responses from the children or the fastrunners as he ran headlong towards the unruly herd. It did not take long for the thunderous footsteps of Somni to join his in the pursuit. He was resolute in his determination that he would die before permitting anything to happen to his brother's friends.
He just hoped that it didn't come to that.
-----
"What in the name of..."
Crash!
Cera barely had time to shift her body to the left as the threehorn's crest crashed into the ground, sending torrents of mud into the air like a waterspout. She barely had any time to adjust to the horror of her situation, however, before seeing a group of spiketails charge in her general direction.
"We have to get out of here!"
The pack adjusted their course as the spiketails continued to rush forward. They were now heading to the side of the ravine instead of heading towards the advancing herd.
Cera gritted her teeth at Breeze's exclamation, "And go where?! Our children are back there!"
Ducky nearly crashed into both of the fastbiters as she and her brother tried to flee from the rapidly advancing horde.
"They wouldn't, Stern Claw..." Ducky offered as she realized the implications of what Cera was suggesting. The Great Valley would not do that to its friends, oh no, no, no!
"Would they?" Cera growled out as she gestured for a lagging Leap to catch up with the rest of the group. They were trying to make a circle around the herd, avoiding their repeated charges. "They are attacking Path and now they are attacking us! We have to get to our children before anything happens to them!"
"Here comes Bron!" Leap yelled as he caught up with the others.
As if on cue the tell-tale form of Bron appeared at the periphery of the herd, appearing to yell at the assembled dinosaurs. However this seemed to have no effect as the spiketails and domeheads continued to follow the lead of Castor.
Sometimes I really hate my former kind, Cera thought irreverently, For once listen to the damn longneck!
"They are congregated in the center, maybe we can go around them?" Spike's uncertain voice rang out, "It doesn't look like the longnecks are on their side."
Cera grunted at Spike's proposal before shaking her head, "They want us to go to their side, that way we would be trapped. See how they are positioned, Spike?"
Spike's gaze shifted towards the assembled herd. Castor was in the front of the line, with domeheads and spiketails grouped on either side of him. Besides the angry mob in the center there was also two distinct outliers on either side of the group. A spiketail which was positioned to the side, as if they were preparing to charge towards the side of the ravine. The obvious sign of a pincer attack.
"Damn it!" Spike realized the truth of the situation, "Regroup then?"
"And what? Hope that the freaked out herd settles down before they trample our kids?" Cera retorted.
"The longnecks seem to still have their wits about them," Leap offered hopefully. He did not have long to contemplate that statement, however as a loud roar escaped from Castor's throat and the herd advanced in an uncontrolled manner. It was obvious that they had grown tired of waiting on the fastbiters to fall for their trap.
Cera narrowed her eyes. Panic made people do strange things, but that rationale did not absolve them in her mind. Her children were somewhere on the other end of that mob and she had no idea how to help them.
"Fall back..." Cera hesitantly gave the order, "Fall back and we will get the children when the herd is gone!"
It was with great regret that she gave a special order to her children that she hoped that she would never have to give. An order communicated by a single tapering roar.
Hide yourselves until we come back.
Unbeknownst to her, the fastbiters were not the only ones under threat.
-----
"What you doing?! Pack not hurt you!"
Petrie did his best to dodge the sudden onslaught of flyers that came in his direction. Seemingly from nowhere a torrent of angry flyers dived down in his general vicinity and then retreated before he could react. It was a classic diversionary tactic and he knew it.
Damn you! We not threat to valley!
Grunting with exertion, Petrie pumped his wings in order to gain altitude. He knew full well that hovering would waste his energy and that he had to gain some momentum if he was going to break this aerial blockade of the pack. He was soaring into the blue sky with that very intention when a familiar call emanated into the sky.
Soar!
Petrie immediately allowed himself to roll and begin to dive, which caused several of his pursuers to barely dodge his accelerating form. That was when he saw a sight that enraged him to his core.
Soar was on the ground and not moving.
-----
"Soar! Soar, can you hear me?!"
Ura could only look at the scene in horror. Not only had the herd decided to attack the sharpteeth in their irrational panic, but they had succeeded as well. The herd that was rapidly moving away from them seemed like an out of control behemoth. A ferocious thing of nature that attacked friend and foe alike. Now Soar lay on the dusty ground, a testament to the brutality of now terrified dinosaurs.
"Is she alright?" Ura moved closer to the fallen flyer as Volant inspected her injuries. It was only now that she noticed that two of Petrie's siblings were hovering over the scene and making snapping gestures with their beaks. An obvious show of aggression to any other flyers who may decide to attack the fallen sharptooth flyer.
At least there are still a few sane ones left, Ura lamented as she shook from the adrenaline in her system. It was in a swimmer's nature to seek water and flee in such a situation, but she forced herself to hold firm. She owed it to her child who was now being chased by the herd, and she owed it to Ducky's friends.
She just hoped it wasn't too little, too late for Soar.
"She's out."
Ura nearly collapsed at those horrific words. What was supposed to have been a hopeful reunion of lost children had now turned into a tragedy of immense proportions. How could they explain this to Petrie? How would the pack react?
"She's unconscious, but I think she will be alright."
Ura righted herself as Volant clarified her statement. Panic in a herd and you won't be deterred, panic alone and you will never go home. I have to keep control. I can't.. . she refrained from finishing the thought as she shuddered at what the others were doing in their rampage. All thought disappeared when panic took hold.
"Soar!"
Petrie's shrieking voice made Ura sprint away for several moments until her panic-addled mind finally processed who had made the statement. It was only then that she edged back to the flyers.
"...took a hit to the head, but I gave him worse. But the herd has gone mad, Petrie. You have to get your pack out of here!"
"Not without my mate and kids, me not!" Petrie erupted with rage as he pointed one of his wings at his mother, "Me know leaf-eaters be idiots when panicked, but this idiotic even for them! We help you and this how you repay us?!"
"Petrie..."
"Me should go and rip them to shreds for..."
"Petrie, not all of the herd have gone nuts! Look at your brothers and sisters for crying out loud! Would you make yourself the enemy of us all?"
Ura swallowed as she saw the pained expression of Petrie's face. It was an expression that she had seen many times before, most notably when the herd had lost so many on their journey to the Great Valley. It was the expression of pain.
"Me... me not do that... but me have to do something! They chase my friends!"
Ura looked out at the now distant herd. In the massive throng stood many of her friends and kin. Many fellow swimmers and others of different kinds as well. Dinosaurs she had swam with and celebrated with. However she could not deny that if something was not done soon then the herd might do something that it might very well regret.
Something far more serious than knocking a flyer unconscious.
"I think that I have an idea."
Ura almost wanted to bolt as the eyes of all of the assembled flyers fixed upon her. It was obvious that they did not expect to hear anything from her. They had expected her to be outright panicked.
She narrowed her eyes with determination. She had raised well over forty children, she was made of sterner stuff than that.
"If you attack try to distract them from the air then the flyers will try to stop you, but what if you sneak over there?"
She watched as the flyers in the herd began to dive at the retreating pack. Only a few kept vigil over the herd in case the sharptooth flyers returned.
"Not to be rude, Ura, but how do you plan on doing that?" Volant inquired.
Ura smiled, "Well you an everyone else is expecting a panicking swimmer. I say that we give it to them."
Volant and Petrie shared a glance for a moment before the elder flyer turned back in her direction to ask for clarification. But she never got the chance before the sound of trampling feet swiftly interrupted them.
"What... is... going... on?" Somni choked out as Shorty trotted to a stop beside him. It was obvious that the sprint had taken a lot out of the adult longnecks.
Petrie glared at no one in particular, "Short story? Threehorn act like idiot. Gets others to act like idiots. Then idiots attack pack."
Volant immediately took off into the air and glanced at the backs of the longnecks, "Where are the children?!"
Shorty answered, "We told them to stay put with the fastrunners by the rock wall. We had to stop the rest of the herd."
Volant audibly shreeched into the air, "Fine job you did there! How goes stopping the rest of the herd? Now not only have you not stopped them, but the herd is still chasing them!"
Somni shook his head as he tried to catch his breath, "It didn't look that far away back there."
Ura tried to ignore the agitated banter as she looked back to where the children were supposedly located. That was when she noticed something that made her blood run cold.
They were gone.
Fighting the panic growing in her belly she looked at the sides of the ravine in the hopes of finding the missing children. That was when she found a familiar pink form. Pearl was standing protectively beside a visibly confused Verda, but both of them were looking at something in the distance. Following their gaze she found what she was looking for.
Several fuzzy figures were running in the distance with two fastrunners keeping close pursuit. Behind them ran the missing leaf-eater children, obviously unbeknownst to Detras and Arial. They were all heading in the direction of their retreating parents... and the rampaging herd.
"No, children! Get back here! It isn't safe!" Shorty yelled as his nephew and his friends ran into the heart of danger, "What... what are they doing?"
Ura prepared herself for sprinting as she gestured for Petrie to go into her arms. She could explain her plan to him when they were in transit. The children didn't have time to waste.
"Did Ducky and her friends ever listen to us when we told them to stay put? Then why would their children?" Ura began to sprint as the others followed, "Come on! We have to help them!"
-----
"Watch your claws, guys!"
Biter tried to keep himself steady as the young flyer held tight to his feathers. He almost fit in with his brown coloration except for the pointed beak sticking out.
"Are you sure about this, brother?!" Swipe's rose-colored form inquired, with another one of Petrie's children resting on her back.
"Of course he is!" Pounce responded, likewise carrying a flyer, "We can't wait for the leaf-eaters to trample our mommies and daddies!"
Biter briefly glanced at Swipe and Pounce's sprinting forms as they kept pace with him. He knew that somewhere behind him ran the rest of his friends, and somewhere behind them two agitated fastrunners. But he wasn't going to let anyone talk him out of this course of action.
We have to buy them some time!
"You all know the plan: we distract them and then we run off. We are fastbiters! And what did our mommies and daddies always say?"
"Fastbiters never die as long as they keep running!" His companions shouted as if in chorus.
Biter nodded as he could feel the determination rise in his belly. It was as if the chant itself made its own mantra reality. With his friends and their parents' training he was confident that they could do anything. What arose from the next was almost something out of pure instinct.
"What are we going to do?" He shouted.
"Run!" The rest exclaimed.
"And when are we going to stop?" He asked.
"Never!"
Biter grinned with determination. Regardless of what terrors the next few minutes brought he was confident that his pack would face them together. It was a sight that would have made his father proud if he wasn't dealing with a situation of his own.
-----
"Damn flyers!"
Littlefoot dodged another attempted swiping by a flyer as he threatened it with his spear. Their constant assaults had made navigating the ravine a difficult proposition. Nonetheless, despite the fact that the valley dinosaurs were attacking him he did not want to potentially kill one of them. He knew that would be a point of no return.
But had they already crossed that line?
In horror he watched the line of threehorns advanced towards Chomper and his parents. He could not see any detail from his vantage point, but he could see that a distinct purple form was advancing to meet the threehorns head on.
Path...
Littlefoot briefly considered their options as Taunt and Ponder ran beside him. They could announce their presence and more than likely not even distract enough of them to change the course of the fight. They could attack one of them and not change the course of the fight, and be guilty of murdering some of the valley residents.
Littlefoot froze as the realization came to him. There was no way out of this that wouldn't result in bloodshed. He had to make a choice between neutrality and protecting his friend.
He gripped his spear as he nodded to his companions. He had made his choice.
He dodged another diving flyer as he looked at the advancing line of threehorns that lay just ahead of him. They appeared to be in a line that was seven threehorns in length, with Topps squarely in the center. Two other older threehorns appeared to grunt every time that Topps barked out an order.
Deputies... If we take out his deputies then the line will falter.
Littlefoot's heart was pounding. He knew that there was no going back from this decision. Once he made this choice then he would be an enemy of the valley. Despite the previous good deeds of the pack he knew that their name would be used as a curse by the short-sided majority. The reason for their original separation from the valley was being laid bare.
But we have no choice...
He could sense Taunt's presence a mere moment before he leaned in, "What are your orders, Seeker?"
Littlefoot looked at his mate briefly and noted her grave expression, cold eyes, and tightened grip on her spear. She had reached the same conclusions that he had moments prior.
"We kill the two deputies. Those are..."
"...the grunters." Taunt finished with a cold tone that almost sounded like it came from someone else. The gravity of the situation was not lost on him.
Littlefoot nodded, "Yes. We kill them in one go and then we run. Path will have to work with that."
Ruby gritted her teeth, "...and what of our children?"
Littlefoot glared at the backside of the deputy he planned on targeting, "I hope they listened to Stern Claw order and hid." With a final look at his two companions he gave a final nod. No further words needed to be spoken. Now was the time for action.
Without a word they sprinted towards the threehorns.
-----
Chomper stared at the gray threehorn with an unreadable expression. Despite the ferocity of the two deputies, Topps held them at bay with a single growl. It was an impressive display.
Topps took a step forward as Dein and Terri once more took on an aggressive stance. Each of them bore the scars of the ensuing battle; with scratches and contusions from the numerous blows they had been dealt. Had it not been for Chomper's intervention then he had no doubt that the desired vengeance of his herd would have been obtained by now.
This thought brought his eyes back to the purple sharptooth. Gone was the small sharptooth with the innocent eyes and the boisterous attitude. In its place stood a formidable adversary, and one that still retained the courage Topps had remembered from years prior. This was still the same Chomper and he had no doubt that like he did in the past, Chomper would not step aside.
Nonetheless he had to make the offer again.
"Chomper. You have attacked my herdmates. You have injured several of them, including myself." Topps noted the blood dripping from his snout with some detachment. He couldn't be sure if it was from one of his injuries or from one of Chomper's. "Normally this would earn you death... and my herdmates certainly would prefer that..."
Growls emanated from the deputies as they stomped their feet in anger. Despite this Chomper looked impassive.
"But you are one of those who protected the valley. For that reason, and that reason alone, I will ask you once again: step aside. Step aside and I give you my vow you will be allowed to leave."
The sharptooth seemed to look far off in the distance for several moments before finally glancing at his mother and father and letting out several roars. The roars were so low pitched that they vibrated the ground, sending off pulsations through Topps's bones. It was as if he were talking to someone far away, even though his parents were right there.
With almost deliberate slowness Chomper took a step forward and again seemed to glance into the distance as if he were looking for a signal from the heavens to tell him the proper course of action. Then, with an almost inaudible growl which again vibrated the earth beneath his feet, he looked up at the threehorns.
"There is one thing that my father told me, Mr. Threehorn, that I think you threehorns could learn from."
Topps held back at his anger as the slight insult in Chomper's statement sank in. However, being fully aware that he might be forced to carry out his threat against Chomper, he allowed the sharptooth to speak his peace, "And what would that be?
"He always says that one shouldn't lose sight of what is truly important..." Chomper nodded his head as if he were signaling to someone, "...like family."
Topps closed his eyes and lowered his horns in preparation for the final assault. He now realized what Chomper had decided.
Caw! Caw!
Topps opened his eyes in a flash at the sudden alert call from the skies above. It was an odd call that sounded like a flyer's alert call, but it had an overly gravely tone. That sounded like it came from the top of one of the walls of the ravine, but that must mean...
Caw! Caw!
A second call suddenly emanated from somewhere behind the line of threehorns. This time there was no doubt in the threehorn's mind. This was an alert call. And the urgency could only mean one thing.
"It looks like the herd is under threat. So answer me this, Mr. Threehorn, are you going to sacrifice them for this vendetta?"
Topps glared at the sharptooth. He knew that the nature of the call meant it was urgent, but it went against everything in his nature to turn from a fight. However, he would not risk the herd for the sake of someone who could never come back.
"Let's finish this!" Savine roared as he stepped forward, "The herd can run towards us if..."
"No," Topps answered with a stern voice.
"But, sir..." Savine protested.
Topps sighed as he growled for the threehorns to prepare to move out, "Our children are back there somewhere, Savine, and they take priority. We can't bring you mate back, but we can make sure that your son survives. But only if we move out now!"
Caw! Caw!
And then there was a third call, which much like the rest was cut off abnormally. Almost as if the flyer was cut off in mid...
"Threehorns, regroup with the herd!"
Not sparing the sharptooth another look Topps forced his battered body to sprint in the direction of the herd. The land behind him swiftly becoming covered in a hazy cloud of dust. In his haste to protect the herd he could not see a purple fastrunner and three fastbiters come out of hiding. He also couldn't see a satisfied grin appear on Chomper's bloodied face.
"You know, son. I never would have thought of making fake alert calls to trick the threehorns." Dein admitted.
Chomper smiled, "Neither would have I if it wasn't for being forced to listen to Orchid's musings for an entire day."
Orchid finally slid down a traversable part of the wall as he landed on the ravine floor, "Hey, they came in handy, didn't they? It is a good way of getting territorial flyers off of your back when you are trying to catch fish!"
"Only because some of us are better at carrying a tune than you are!" Taunt retorted as he shook the remaining dirt off of himself, "I'm amazed that he fell for it."
Perhaps it was because of the absurdity of the situation, or perhaps it was because of the simple joy of being alive, but the assembled dinosaurs couldn't help but laugh at their situation. The fastbiters were exhausted, and the two-footers were injured, but they were still all here. One member of the pack was not so joyful, however.
"Path... we were this close to killing them," Littlefoot raised his spear for emphasis, its tip covered with orange sap, "If it wasn't for Orchid's call..."
The purple fastrunner considered the elder fastbiter contemplatively for several moments as the implications of Littlefoot's words sank in, "I... well... you could have made the calls too... I mean..." the fastrunner shook his head, suddenly flustered, "You ended up making the last two calls... if you knew how to do that then why didn't..."
Ruby stepped forward as she placed a clawed hand on Orchid's shoulder, "Yes, but if you hadn't done that then we would not have thought of doing that. We did not have much time to think." She looked at the retreating threehorns in the distance. Despite their rapid retreat she knew that they would be back soon once they realized the ruse, "Thank you for sparing us that, brother."
For the first time in several years brother and sister embraced. Despite the fate of Ruby being permanently changed by the stone it still seemed that their destinies had again intertwined. Both were grateful for the opportunity, but were each mindful that the crisis was not yet over. It was with that in mind that they eventually broke apart once more, leaving a silent group around them.
"So... I guess we need to get out of here, huh?" Chomper finally asked.
Littlefoot nodded as he looked towards the retreating threehorns. Their shuffling gait and noticeable slowness was a testament to the beating that they had obtained, but he knew full well that Chomper and his parents were equally beaten up from the battle. It was obvious that the threehorns would intersect with the rest of the herd at any time, and Chomper's family needed to be outside of visual range by that point. For everyone's sake.
"Yeah... I guess that we can take care of this here, but I do not think that Mr. Threehorn will want to see your beautiful face again." Littlefoot mocked.
Chomper made a mock bite in Littlefoot's direction before he groaned in pain from the soreness, "Yeah... he didn't exactly give me a very warm welcome."
"Um... Seeker?"
Littlefoot turned towards his mate who was looking back towards the herd with an odd expression. An expression that seemed an even mix of confusion and fear, "Yes, dear?"
"The others were supposed to get the kids, right?"
Littlefoot nodded as he ran up to her position, "Yes, you were there. That is what I ordered... what..."
That was when he saw it. The tell-tales figure of Cera and Ducky fleeing from a spiketail in the distance, with many other leaf-eaters in pursuit. It was as if the rest of the herd were attacking his pack, and not merely going after Chomper. And they had just tricked the already enraged threehorns into the melee, with the rest of the pack in the middle...
"Oh crap..."
-----
Castor watched with satisfaction as the fastbiters retreated through the ravine. The sound of his fellow threehorns' thundering feet could be heard echoing in the distance, which could only mean that the dreaded murderers of one of the pack's own had fallen. The pack had been distracted long enough to finish what honor demanded of them.
However this left open the question of what to do with the fastbiters.
The threehorn watched the retreat of the feathered carnivores with a mixture of anger and uncertainty. He knew that the pack had to have harbored the vile sharptooth who had killed Savine's mate. How else could the herd have just happened to have stepped in on their children being threatened by the massive carnivores? How else could Chomper have so conveniently appeared to back up his mother and father in their murderous mission?
They obviously didn't plan on their being so many of us. They will pay for their mistake. They will pay for this treachery!
"Time for you to eat dust, fastbiter scum!" he roared with righteous anger, "You will pay for what you tried to do here!"
As the fastbiters continued to flee from the advancing herd he did not expect an answer. However, he was then greeted with another surprise on this day of many surprises.
"What did we try to do?!" A yellowish-orange fastbiter screamed, "Try to rescue our kids who were trying to rescue yours?! What in the fuck is wrong with you?!"
Castor could hear some of the footsteps slow in the line immediately behind him that could actually hear the words, which caused others to run into their slowing counterparts. In response he gave a loud roar, which made the herd advance again. Over the tumult of stomping feet and angry shouts almost nothing else could be heard. Nonetheless he responded to the insolent fastbiter.
"Spiketail dung, you worthless traitor! You expect us to believe that!" he could see the fastbiter shake her head as she shifted to the left along with the rest of her pack, keeping up the distance from Castor and the others, "You led us all here to be food! Well now you are going to pay!"
He barreled ahead despite his exhaustion and the lingering pain in his head. He could barely hear something screamed from a green fastbiter that was drowned out by the commotion behind him, but he no longer paid that any heed. These fastbiters could not talk their way out of their just punishment. He would see to it that their attempt against the herd cost them their lives.
He lowered his horns as one of the slower fastbiter went squarely in his line of sight. What the fastbiters had in speed he could more than make up for in stamina. He now knew who his first victim would be.
"Leave Finder alone horn-face!"
Castor nearly tripped over his own feet as the young sharptooth flyer suddenly flew into his face. A burning sensation immediately overtook his right eye as another flyer spat something red into his eyes.
"I hope you enjoy lunch as much as my brother did!"
Castor roared in rage as the stench of partially digested longneck filled his nostrils and blinded one entire side of his vision. Within moments the rest of the herd began to stop and collide into one another in confusion. That was when the massive threehorn felt something prick him in the foot.
Hiss!
Castor looked around him in confusion as he searched for the source of his discomfort. That was when he saw the small flyers land on several conspicuous fuzz-balls on the ground below.
"Uh... guys, I think we need to run!"
Castor could not understand a word that the small fastbiter child had said, but in his anger and humiliation he no longer cared. Despite the children's bravery, they would not save their parents. As far as Castor was concerned a dead fastbiter child was simply one less adult fastbiter to worry about later.
"Is that one of their kids?"
Castor glared at the swimmer who had muttered those words, "Trying to protect their murderous parents. Let's finish this! Are you going to let their attempted murder of us all go unpunished?!"
Roars of anger and frustration erupted from the spiketails and domeheads as they charged ahead with Castor. The herd simply had more targets in their righteous mission.
Castor did not notice most of the swimmers falling behind.
-----
Orchid watched the sad scene from the edge of the ravine. Chomper, Littlefoot, Ruby, and Taunt sprinted into the ravine behind the threehorns they had moments before cleverly distracted. Meanwhile the threehorns ran into the ravine expecting to find the herd under threat, and the herd's actions would only confirm the suspicions of the threehorns. Caught in the middle were the rest of the pack, their children, and two notable forms.
Father... sis... no!
Orchid looked around desperately. I have to do something! But what? In those desperate few seconds he racked his brain for any information he had gleamed in his short life that could possibly be relevant. Anything that could buy his family and friends even a second of extra time. Anything that could save their lives.
Sharpteeth kill with tooth and claw, but fastrunners must observe and learn.
Orchid forced himself to take a deep breath as his mother's words of wisdom entered into his mind. He could not really help fight off the threat that loomed over his loved ones, but he could use his eyes, ears, and mind. That is what he could offer them right now.
The purple fastrunner looked again at the landscape in front of him. Two large rock walls rose from the ground like trees in the Land of Mists. In between them was merely a barren expanse no more than three longnecks in width. A width that could be easily blocked by a herd.
The perfect place for a trap.
He grimaced. He would not find any hope by looking at the foreboding terrain so he set his sights on the various dinosaurs in the expanse. The threehorns had obvious signs of exhaustion and injury as several in their front line were half-limping to where the herd was located. Had they not been injured then they would have already have reached the pack by now...
Then there was the herd itself. Castor was running ahead of several spiketails and domeheads who were half-running, half-stomping towards the sharpteeth and fastrunners that lay in front of them. Some flyers continued to dive at the retreating sharpteeth, which made their retreat rather erratic. However, that was not what caught his eye.
Some of them have stopped!
To his amazement he could see nearly all of the swimmers and most of the flyers stopped some distance away from the still advancing portion of the herd. The only exception was a massive green swimmer who seemed to be holding something in her hands. Bron unmistakable form could be seen shouting something to those who had stopped while Somni took position in front of them. Then, without missing a second, Shorty and Bron continued their sprint towards Castor and his group. It was obvious, however, that they would not arrive until it was too late.
That last thought echoed in Orchid's mind. He had no idea what any of this meant. The swimmer holding an object... the longneck staying to talk with the swimmers... but he did know one thing.
He had to buy them all some time.
Orchid watched as the three groups grew closer and closer. The fastbiters were able to keep ahead of the domeheads and spiketails, but the threehorns would be upon them soon. Somehow he had to distract them.
But how can I do that?!
Orchid paused for a moment as he felt his heart race in his chest. I... I have to do that... Ha! That's it!
The fastrunner lived up to his kind's name as he ran into the center of the ravine, where he could be easily seen. I hope that this works!
-
And here is part 2:
Topps continued to run towards the agitated herd. He could only imagine what may have upset the herd. Perhaps Chomper and his family had allies that had decided to attack them from the other side of the ravine? Perhaps the herd had simply heard something that made them think that an ambush was on the way?
That was when he saw it.
Several fastbiters were running at full speed away from the advancing herd. Though their sizes were different than when he had first seen them, he recognized them immediately. It was Seeker's pack.
"They must be behind the alert call! They must have attacked our herd!"
Topps nearly stumbled upon hearing his deputy's words, "Nonsense! My daughter and her friends would never do something like that!" he glared at the threehorn for several seconds as he did not decrease his speed in the slightest.
"Chomper said that we had to choose between his family and the herd... so he knew!" Another deputy asserted.
"It must have been the pack's plan all along!" Savine declared.
Topps growled in frustration, "You are all mad! She would not do such a thing!"
With those words he stared at the now quite visible fastbiters and fastrunners. The small children that lagged behind their parents were obviously scared out of their wits, as were the fastrunners. But it was the adults that caught his eye. The green bodies of Ducky and Spike... The gray form of Breeze... The diminutive figure of Leap... and his daughter...
Could my daughter actually be behind something like this?
He immediately raged at himself for even considering the possibility, but the rational part of his mind would not let up on its suspicions. It was very convenient for them to happen upon Chomper's parents threatening the children... it had been convenient for the pack to appear right when the alert call came...
"No!" Topps yelled despite himself, "I cannot accept that! We will block them and then take things from there!"
Savine immediately protested, "But, sir!"
"If they are behind this then they will be dealt with!" Topps snapped as he glanced again at his daughter. Though in his heart he doubted his own words. That was one order he could not bear to give.
Caw!
Topps remembered the alert call from earlier. Would that sound be the harbinger of further bloodshed? Even now the memory seemed to haunt him despite not even being a minute old...
Caw!
Topps blinked. That was no memory. He had heard the alert call again and it was coming from...
Caw!
Topps stopped and turned around as if something had bitten his tail. This caused the remainder of the threehorns to nearly trip over themselves in confusion as they too took on alert stances. That was when they saw it.
"It's a fastrunner! They must be trying to distract us!"
Topps tilted his head at the distant fastrunner. It responded by waving his arms rapidly as if he were intentionally trying to get their attention. It was at that moment that everything clicked in his mind. I am such an idiot...
"Which is what the original call was."
The other threehorns looked at Topps as if he had gone completely mad. The fact that he then began to laugh did not dissuade them from their hypothesis.
"Sir?"
"Did you ever think, Savine, that perhaps they were simply trying to buy Chomper some time?"
Savine nearly sputtered, "What?!"
Topps shook his head, "If your friend had picked a fight with another friend what would you do? Watch them kill one another, or separate them?" he turned again as he saw the fastbiters losing ground on the herd. It seemed that their stamina was fading fast, "We should put an end to this."
As soon as Topps said this he took a hesitant step forward as he prepared his aching body for another sprint. He would risk everything to protect his daughter and grandchildren from this growing mistake.
Unfortunately Savine did not share his sentiments.
"Indeed we shall!"
Topps went wide-eyed, "Savine, wait!"
But he was too late. The father who had lost so much at the claws of the sharpteeth they had left behind would show no mercy upon those who helped them escape. As he sprinted away with murderous intent Topps knew that he would not catch him in time.
"Advance! We have to stop him!"
But that wouldn't stop Topps from trying.
-----
Ura could see some more of the flyers peel away from the chasing group. She knew that it would be now or never.
"Now, Petrie!"
With a swift movement she lifted her arms and Petrie propelled himself into the air. Seeing several flyers propel themselves from the cliffs in his direction, she knew that they would not be able to reach him in time.
She could only hope that she had given him enough cover to do what had to be done.
-----
"Oh no!"
Arial tried to flee from the advancing threehorn, but she found that it was rapidly gaining ground on her. Fastrunners could outrun anything in the short-term, but if there was nowhere to hide...
"Leave her alone, one-eye!"
"Die you stupid flying shits!"
Arial could hear the footsteps get slightly further away as Petrie's children again tried to distract the threehorn. Though she knew what would come next.
"Hey, try to catch me, horn-face!"
Another shift in position could be heard as the threehorn tried to chase after Pounce's small form. However, the little biter still had enough speed to avoid being trampled. This distraction once again had slowed the threehorn, but to what end? We are trapped!
That was when the unexpected happened.
Cawwwww!!!!
She looked around in confusion as an odd sound seemed to vibrate from everywhere and nowhere all at once. It was like the orders that sharpteeth could give but much more noticeable.
Cawwwww!!!!
The footsteps finally stopped behind her as she tried to make up ground. She had no idea what was going on, but she was not going to let an opportunity like this go to waste.
"It's the swimmers!" Ducky roared in an almost celebratory manner from several feet away, "It is the stand down signal! They're telling everyone to stop what they are doing!"
Arial's smile widened. We might make it through this yet.
"What are all of you doing?! Don't mind the swimmers, they're getting away!"
Arial groaned as she heard the affirmative grunts from a few of the spiketails. Why won't this oaf give it up already? She didn't have much time to consider that however before she felt a flyer hit her in the side.
"Arial, no!"
-----
Detras saw the flyer a mere moment before the collision, but by then it was too late. His daughter had been knocked from her feet.
With his legs bursting with energy it only took him a few moments to reach his stricken daughter. What he saw then made his blood run cold.
She was clutching her leg. There was no way she was going to escape from this.
"Daddy?"
Detras felt his throat close up as he looked into her daughter's eyes. In those depths he only saw fear and a desperation to live at all costs. However he knew that he couldn't offer her any protection. In any other circumstance such a sprain would be a recoverable injury, but not in the middle of a chase.
This had been her final run.
"Hey, Arial," he began, barely choking back emotion, "You did your best... the children..."
"Run, daddy."
Detras shook at his daughter's words. He couldn't leave her here.
"No," the tears finally came, "If my daughter had stopped running on this day then so shall I."
The footsteps of the threehorns and spiketails grew louder as Detras's window of escape was rapidly closing. But with his voice cracking, Arial knew that he wouldn't budge. He had make up his mind.
"Dad, what about mom?"
Detras smiled at that. Arial was being compassionate to the end. "She will live on... as will your brother. Their race goes on, but ours must come to an end," he looked directly into her eyes, "I just wished that it would have gone on a bit longer."
Arial finally snapped at him, "You can go, you know?!"
Detras shrugged despite his daughter's obvious distress, "You know me, dear. Stubborn. I do not intend to outlive my children," he listened as the footsteps got even closer. The harbingers to his upcoming demise, "This is what I get for not having us flee when we had a chance. This is what I get for caring too much about the territory..."
Arial touched her father's face, which caused him to go silent, "We decided together, Dad. I am not being punished for your mistake, it was our mistake. Now we will face it together."
Detras could feel the vibrations of the footsteps echoing in his bones as he realized that the point of no return had come and gone. Now they only had time for their goodbyes.
"Arial, I..."
Screech!
"Ah! My fucking eye!"
A torrent of mud erupted onto the fastrunners as the massive threehorn crashed his front legs into the ground, his head wagging wildly back and forth as he tried to clear his vision from the scratch that had been made just under his eye. The spiketails all stopped immediately as the mad flyer began to slash at their faces as well. That was when the excited exclamation of Pounce finally alerted the stunned father and daughter to whom they owed their lives.
"It's Spotter!"
-----
"Go, daddy! Rip them up!" Dive exclaimed while being firmly planted onto Pounce's back. However, despite Dive's recommendation, his father immediately took off into the sky once his threat had been made. Between his actions and the stand down order, the herd's aggressive stance had been replaced with confusion and inaction.
Pounce watched the scene with more than a little concern, however. The fastrunners were far too close to the commotion and any sudden move by the threehorn could still spell their doom.
"Pounce?! What are you doing here?!"
The little fastbiter felt like his belly had sunk below the ground. Busted. He turned around to see his mother standing with several of the other adults. Each one looked equal parts confused and scared.
"Mom... I couldn't let my friends fall from the cliff!"
Cera rolled her eyes as she quickly gestured for Ambush, Pounce, and Sprint to hop onto her back. As much as she wanted to weave her children from using her as a means of transportation, in this case it was necessary. It was only when the children were firmly on her back that she again spoke.
"That is not what I'm talking about, children! I told you all to hide with the fastrunners until we came back!"
Cera could not see the reactions of her children as they struggled to stay attached to their mother as she searched for some path that would allow them to bypass the herd and the threehorns.
And now the fastrunners are hurt because of us... Biter lamented, but why has everyone stopped?
-----
Biter reluctantly stayed close to Ducky, as she had her children hop onto her and Leap's backs. This gesture was repeated with Spike and Breeze's kids as well, until only Biter and Swipe were by themselves.
"Why did the threehorns stop?" Swipe inquired.
Biter shook his head, "Who knows? I am just glad that they aren't chasing our mommies and daddies anymore."
As if to punctuate the settling down of the entire situation, an exhausted Ura, Shorty, and Bron finally arrived at the location of Castor and the spiketails. With a highly aggressive gesture, Shorty slapped the ground in between the fastrunners and the others with his tail, sending a shower of mud in the direction of Castor and several of the spiketails. Then, his intentions being made clear, he stepped in front of Detras and Arial. There was no doubt from any of those present that they were firmly under Shorty's protection now.
"Hey, look! It's Sauria and Charger!"
Biter immediately turned his head at his sister's exclamation, "And there is Datum!"
Datum and his sister were running side by side as Bron protectively placed his tail in front of the leaf-eater children. Their attempt to help their sharptooth friends had ended in their safe apprehension. Though the nuzzling that Sauria received from Bron was not lost on Biter.
"Welcome back home, guys... it was nice getting to know you."
For several moments Biter and Swipe merely watched the unfolding scene with mixed emotions. They were happy for their friends, but mindful of what this reunion now meant. Just as their recent chase had indicated to everyone, they had to live apart. This was something that Biter might have protested days before, but now experience had made him wiser. Much like their observation of the reunions, their friendship would have to be from a distance. For everyone's sake.
Be safe and happy, Datum, he smiled as the rainbowfaces finally arrived on the scene and embraced their children. Though this tender moment was interrupted shortly thereafter when Chronos ran to Arial's side in order to assess her. But Biter had heard the tales about the rainbowfaces, and he knew that Arial was in very capable hands.
"Well, I don't think the threehorns are moving... perhaps we should talk to Bron and go from there?" Cera noted after more than a little hesitation. Thank goodness they have finally come to their senses!
"Sounds good," Breeze noted after a moment, "Bron never lost his nerve during this."
Cera was not accustomed to acting as temporary pack leader, and it felt odd to put more trust into the longnecks than in her former kind. Even though the line of threehorns were much closer to them at this point, she knew all too well how they might act around sharpteeth, "Stay close Swipe and Biter. We may have to run together."
Biter was about to acknowledge Cera's orders when a mighty roar suddenly erupted into the air. With terrified expressions the fastbiters turned towards the threehorn line only to see that one of their number had broken away and was charging straight at them.
It was Savine.
-----
"Children run!"
Cera nudged Biter with her snout as he and his sister erupted towards the distant longnecks. Within moments the entire remnant of the pack was sprinting forward in shear panic as the thunderous footsteps of the massive beast sounded in their ears. Its only competition was the loud heartbeats from their rampaging hearts.
"He's gaining on us!" Biter cried as he desperately tried to keep up with the adults. However his smaller size and the over-burdened child-covered backs of the adults were slowing them down considerably. They no longer had the speed that they needed.
"Don't look back, Biter! Run!" Spike yelled as his own children tried to hang on desperately to their father's back. In these moments instinct took over and the children latched on as if their survival depended on it.
In this instance it did.
"Children, no!"
"Savine stop!"
"Flyers, advance!"
Biter barely registered the protests from the leaf-eaters in the distance. The fact that they had discovered Savine's rampage did not matter now. There was no way that any reinforcements would reach them in time. The sound of flapping wings and numerous calls to stand down were being drowned out by the pounding of his heart and the stomping of the advancing threehorn. That was when he saw something suddenly appear in his vision.
"Charger?!"
Both Biter and Swipe nearly stumbled when they saw the small threehorn charge in their direction. They almost had no time to react as he advanced towards them with all of the fury that a threehorn could muster.
"Get out of the way, you fools!"
Biter and Swipe both dived away from the threehorn as he barreled through where they had been without slowing down in the slightest. It was then that both fastbiter heard something that made their blood run cold.
"Pounce!"
Both fastbiters turned as the shriek of Cera could be heard over all else. Pounce had fallen from his mother's overburdened back as she tried to dodge Charger. Now he was prone on the ground. Completely defenseless. Biter and Swipe ran towards him without any hesitation.
"Children, run!" Ducky cried as the tragedy unfolded in front of her. Her lament was drowned out by the cried of Cera and her Pounce's distraught siblings as she continued running forward to save what remained of her children. She knew that if she stopped moving then the entire family would be lost.
But Biter and Swipe kept sprinting until they arrived at their friend's side. He was stunned, but still conscious.
"Wha..."
"You have to get up now, Pounce!" Biter cried, "We have to run now!"
"Up!" Swipe yelled as she shoved Pounce back to his feet.
But they were too late as the shadow of the threehorn suddenly fell upon them. His roar was only matched by the thunderous percussions of his stomping feet. Acting entirely on fear, all three fastbiter collapsed onto the ground. It was as if their senses had suddenly shut down under the sensory onslaught.
"You will not hurt them."
Silence reigned for a split second as the feet suddenly came to a stop in response to the small voice. It was only when the terrible sounds ceased that Biter regained his wits and looked up from the ground. He then realized who it was that had stopped the rampaging threehorn.
Charger?
"Son?" Savine's voice choked as if he couldn't believe his eyes, "Son, is that you?"
Despite obvious wetness in his one good eye, Charger repeated his statement, "You will not harm them."
It was only then that Savine seemed to register his son's words, "But son, they protected those who killed Elsa! Who killed your mother!"
Charger turned sideways in order to cover more of the fastbiters with his body. It was entirely a symbolic gesture, but it made his resoluteness very clear.
"They protected their friend, and they saved me. Is this how the valley treats its friends?"
Savine's reaction was immediate, "Friends? Friends?! Would friends plan to ambush their allies?!"
"They did no such thing!"
Biter turned his head in stunned silence as Sauria and Datum appeared and took places in front of the two fastbiter children.
"There was no ambush... we... well..." Sauria began.
"We saw our friends up on the rock wall, so we ran to help them," Datum clarified, "Our sharptooth friends..."
It was only as Datum opened his arms to his side that he noticed that the rest of the leaf-eater gang had appeared in front of them as well. Malka, Axiom, Flip, and the pink form of Tricia. Behind them stood Cera, Spike, Ducky, Breeze, and Leap. The leaf-eaters were making a stand for all of them.
"...our sharptooth friends went to help us once they saw what we were doing." Datum finished.
"The only ones who began attacking were all of you when you saw Chomper's parents." Sauria added.
It was only now that Biter noticed Charger looking up at his father with a softer expression. It was joined by a noticeably ashamed expression on his father's face.
"Those... monsters are still out there..."
Charger nodded, "There are many monsters out there father and I trust that the herd will deal with them if we ever see them again, but my friends..." he gestured with his horn at the assembled sharpteeth, "...are not monsters. But what would we be if we finished what we started here? What would that make us, Dad?"
The silence of Savine was countermanded by the gradually increasing volume of the approaching herd and threehorns, within moments the space between the fastbiters and the various leaf-eaters became quite cramped indeed. Everyone was staring at the stunned threehorn.
It was with a very slow movement that the threehorn looked up again at his son. An expression of contemplation was plastered on his face.
"That sounds exactly like what your mother would have said... she was always looking for the better in people," he smiled slightly at the memory, "I wonder what she would say about all of this."
Despite the solemnity of the moment Charger snorted slightly, "She would probably call us all a bunch of idiots."
In the moments that followed an ominous rumbling appeared to rise from the bowels of the Earth. The rumbling grew into a steady hum. Within moments, however, the laughter could not be held any longer and both threehorns laughed with the emotion that could only come with immense relief after terrible loss. His mate was dead, but his son was alive. He had made a terrible mistake, but he had not yet killed an innocent. His past had died, but he had a future yet to be written.
All that he had to do was embrace it.
With shaking frills and unsteady feet Savine lowered his head to nuzzle his child. It was in that moment that Biter realized that the terrible moment was over. The crisis had been averted. For that reason he did not act surprised when his parents suddenly appeared with utterly exhausted expressions and embraced him and his sister. He knew that everything would be alright.
Charger smiled, "It's good to see you again, Dad."
"It's good to have you back, son," Savine's voice cracked, "Let's get out of this horrible place."
All of the assembled dinosaurs watched in silence as the threehorn and his son walked slowly away from those who had very nearly been killed out of anger. As they walked through the herd, they parted ways in order to allow them to walk unimpeded. Like a sharptooth in an old pack song who had finished his role, they simply faded into the background.
The crisis was over.
-
review of chapter 22:
Well, our hunters seem to get a lot of visitors from above in this chapter :lol While Volant is bringing them good news and joy, Soar's message is less uplifting... though they take it much better than expected... :p Wonder how that will go (though I think I already said that in a couple of previous reviews :angel )
Today's song was really depressing. For some reason though, I think the actual action and the aftermath were short compared to what you usually do with you chapters. Still, it was nice to see that even fastbiters have to fear these eggstealers (though, to be fair, I think eggstealers fear them even more ^^). Ozzy and Strut sure have changed and, for a change, made the right decision :exactly
Well, now we finally know what happened to the unborn children and teh action at Hanging Rock is about to take off! *Grabs popcorn* ^^spike
-
Thanks for the review, and my apologies for not responding until now. :) I am glad that you enjoyed the chapter even though the subject matter was quite depressing. As for the shortness, that is entirely intentional. As you shall see with today's chapter... the saga of the eggs will only be finished after the climax of the story.
Thanks once again for your continued interest in the story. :) I will have the next chapter posted within the next hour.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/26/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/26/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Chapter 25: Resolutions
The silence dragged on for several moments as Charger and his father walked away from the assembled dinosaurs. What was left in their wake was a mixture of confusion and relief. In that instant everyone realized that no one was truly beyond blame. The pack had protected the Dein and Terri, the killers of one of the herd's own, but they had also saved the leaf-eater children as they had promised.
As Cera carefully observed Pounce's injured leg she allowed herself a sigh of relief. Seeing that there was no break, merely a sprain, she helped him back onto her back along with the rest of her children. It was then that she broke the silence.
"Well, Dad, I didn't see the reunion going this way."
Despite the tenseness of the situation, Taunt couldn't help himself from snorting at her understatement.
Topps sighed as he walked in front of the line of threehorns. The crisis had been averted upon hearing Charger's explanation of events, but the tension remained from the previous battle. Many of them would wear new scars courtesy of Chomper and his parents... the same sharpteeth that Cera and her pack had helped to protect. Despite this tension, however, no one challenged Topps advance.
"Are those my grandchildren?" Topps asked with great interest. For their part his grandchildren clung to Cera's feathers with an almost vice-like grip. An instinctual response from having a massive threehorn in their line of vision.
Cera smiled slightly, "The one that was saved by Charger is Pounce..." as if on cue Pounce gave a nervous nod at the massive gray threehorn, "...and his sister, Ambush, and his brother, Sprint. Children... this is your grandfather, Topps."
Topps couldn't help but chuckle softly at the tentative nods and greeting 'chirps' that were directed his way. In any other situation he would have reacted to young sharpteeth as if they were future threats to be eliminated, but these were his grandchildren.
"Hello, little ones. I'm sorry that you saw this side of the valley today."
Silence reigned from the three little biters. None of them really knew how to react to this situation. Finally, however, Ambush found her voice.
"The threehorn that Path's parents killed... she was of your herd?"
Several of the threehorns muttered in surprise at the young fastbiter's words. Topps, for his part, answered in a level voice.
"She was. I knew her since I was a young threehorn," he stopped himself before becoming emotional, "When her and Savine became mates I was extremely happy for them."
Pounce finally had enough courage to jump to the ground and approach the threehorn, as his brother, Sprint, followed him close behind. Sprint then spoke in a soft voice.
"A pack protects its own..."
Topps tilted his head, "What was that, Sprint?" he hesitated as he recalled the little biter's name, "I do not speak your language."
Sprint froze upon being called by the massive threehorn, as Pounce put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "He says that a pack protects its own... it is the same way for herds, isn't it?"
Topps nodded at his grandson, "That it is."
Pounce nodded in understanding, "Then we can't blame you for what you did, but you also can't blame us for doing what we did. Path is our family... and she was yours."
The wise words from the grandchildren seemed to drain any remaining anger that remained in the other threehorns. They may not be as understanding of the sharpteeth or their lifestyle, but they did understand the bonds of honor.
Topps smiled, "I can see that your mother has taught you all well."
Taunt couldn't help himself as the precious scene played out in front of him, "Hey, I helped!" Despite it being a whisper, the result was immediate.
"Ow!"
Topps watched the scene with amusement as Cera nipped her mate on the tail. "He hasn't changed, hmm?"
Cera rolled her eyes, "Not a bit."
"Quickly, we need some healing plants over here!"
The assembled family turned with confusion as Shorty's loud roar echoed across the clearing. In the welcome relief that followed the end of hostilities Cera had not realized that there had been a major casualty.
---------
"Sister! Are you alright?!"
Ruby's exclamation came out in something between a squawk and a roar. It had only taken her a few seconds to sprint to her family's side as soon as she had seen her sister's prone form.
Arial smiled at her panicked sister. Normally the sight of a fastbiter roaring in her face would be a most unwelcome sight, but when the fastbiter in question was her sister it greatly changed things.
"I think it is just a sprain, Ruby... Ow!"
Arial clicked her beak together in pain as the male rainbowface place pressure on her knee.
"A pretty bad one," Chronos noted, "You won't be running for at least a few days."
Arial hissed, "Was that necessary?"
Chronos shrugged as he observed Shorty shouting orders at flyers, "Yes. It will also be necessary when we use healing plants on your scrapes and cuts."
Ruby suddenly went into healer mode as she realized what Chronos was saying, "Stinging-no-infection sap?"
Chronos nodded, "Stinging-no-infection sap."
Arial groaned, "I am not going to like this, am I?"
Taunt arrived on the scene as Cera and his children followed close behind, "Well that depends, do you like feeling like you are on fire?" Arial clicked her beak together in annoyance as Taunt continued, "But seriously, Arial, don't worry. This is the stuff that they used on me when my leg was broken. It isn't pleasant but it gets the job done."
Taunt exchanged a grateful nod at the two rainbowfaces as they continued to examine Arial's leg. With Ruby joining in the inspection, the entire family had reunited.
Littlefoot finally walked upon the scene as the other members of the pack backed off some distance and gave the fastrunner family their privacy. It was enough for them that Ruby's sister would be alright.
"This was far too close," Littlefoot whispered at Cera as he settled in beside her and Taunt, "We nearly lost everything."
Cera's eyes focused on her children for a moment. They continued to talk with the other children of the pack as the leaf-eater children kept watch over the fastrunners. Confident that they were giving the fastrunners and rainbowfaces enough space, she turned towards Littlefoot, "This was a mess... all of it was a mess."
Littlefoot nodded, "We should have used the flyers better. We were caught off-guard, and our children..."
"...acted exactly like us when we were that age," Cera noted, "Should we have expected anything less?"
Leap sighed as he and ducky settled down beside the others, "My father always used to say that children are a reflection upon your own childhood."
"What does that mean?" Spike asked as he and Breeze walked up to the others.
"I think that it means that whatever things that we did as children will be revisited upon us as adults in our own children," Leap clarified with a contemplative expression.
Silence took hold of the dinosaurs for a moment until laughter could be heard from the original five.
"We are so doomed... we are, we are," Ducky mused.
Littlefoot sighed, "How many times did we leave the valley when we weren't supposed to?"
Cera rolled her eyes, "However many times you persuaded us to go with you."
"Hey! I wasn't always the one who had the idea to go on an adventure..." Littlefoot defended, "I... um... well sometimes it was someone else's idea."
Spike muttered, "I never wanted to go on adventures, but nobody ever listened to me."
Cera snorted, "But you never talked back then!"
"I bet those were the days," Breeze teased her mate as he tried to nip her tail, "But honestly, all of you couldn't have been that bad as children... uh... never mind. I remember some of your early songs."
Littlefoot groaned at that affirmation. He did not need to be reminded of the times that he and his friends had traveled to far-flung locations as diverse as the Mysterious Island or the Land of Mists. "If our children ever go to the Land of Mists..."
Ducky shook her head, "Do not give them any ideas. Nope, nope, nope!"
The pack members shared a hearty laugh at the exchange as they considered their current predicament. Now they were on the receiving end of having children with initiative. It was quite a reversal of roles.
Littlefoot blinked. Speaking of a reversal of roles... "Stern Claw, how did you like being pack leader in my absence?"
Cera held her breath for a moment as she turned to face her pack leader face-to-face, "You know how you mentioned that Taunt or I would probably be strong enough to beat you in a fight if our pack decided leadership that way?"
Littlefoot nodded with a somewhat uncertain expression on his face.
Cera glared at him, "Well, if you ever resign as pack leader then I will personally beat on you until you take the position again!"
Littlefoot smiled as laughter erupted around them, "So... it was that bad, huh?"
Cera rolled her eyes, "Threehorns are scary when they are chasing you!"
"I'm sure that your dad would be proud to hear that," Taunt teased.
Finally Cera began to laugh as well, but she couldn't dispute her mate's words, "Don't encourage him!"
--------
"Do you think that we will act like that when we are older?"
Biter watched at the parents appeared to argue about who was the most irresponsible as a youngling. It was a scene that would have been quite familiar to Littlefoot's pack when they were young leaf-eaters in the Great Valley. Along with the responsibilities of adulthood came the disagreements.
Swipe smirked, "Nah... we kids don't argue as much as our parents."
Pounce walked up as Valaria and several of Petrie's other children used him as a walking perch. "Yeah, we don't argue like that because we already know that Biter is the most irresponsible."
Biter turned around with bared teeth, "You take that back, Pounce! I wasn't the one who had the idea to steal sweet goo from the stinging buzzers!"
Swipe rolled her eyes, "But you were the one who had the idea to steal food from the bellydragger youngling..."
Within moments the other children had joined in the discussion, with Biter arguing that he was responsible, while the others began jabbing at each other over their own misguided adventures over their short lives. Unbeknownst to them, their antics were being watched by Ura and Shorty.
"They are so much like their parents," Shorty smirked, suddenly glad that he had taken lessons from the flyers in understanding the sharptooth language. He couldn't speak in the language, but the banter that he was hearing was worth it for the entertainment value alone. "Shall we share with them some of the stories their parents probably never told them?" He watched the rest of the pack some distance away. By the time that they would plant the idea in his nieces and nephews' heads it would be too late for the pack to stop them.
But no response came from Ura. "Ura?"
He saw the blur of green a moment before he heard the excited squeal of Ducky as mother and daughter finally had a moment to reunite. It did not take long for Ducky's children to be scrutinized by the massive swimmer with all of the attention that she would have given to her own children.
Shorty smiled, Well, I guess it is up to me then. I am sure that my brother's children will be thrilled to hear about the yellowbelly story!
--------
Several miles away:
“So, what now?”
Chomper hissed as he licked one of the enumerable wounds on his leg. His mother’s question was a valid one, but also one that had only one possible answer.
“We get Verda back.”
Chomper turned towards his father as he observed his expression. Dein had taken a beating prior to Chomper’s arrival and was obviously in more need to clean his wounds than Chomper was. Despite this, however, he tried desperately to keep up a strong facade which was only betrayed by the obvious scent of fatigue radiating from him. He would not have tried to keep up appearances in front of family under these circumstances, but in front of an outsider it was a different story.
An outsider... heh, Chomper mused. Despite the fact that he had been considered an adult ever since he defied his parents and stood with his pack so long ago, the concept of him not being 'family' in the two-footer sense was still an odd one to comprehend. Nonetheless he decided to respect his father's desire to keep up appearances.
"Well, sir," Chomper added with his tail cocked in a position indicating respect, while his eyes communicated jest, "Might I recommend waiting for the fastrunners to bring my sister back? Somehow I think the horn-faces would just love to see us again."
His father blinked before finally taking on a more relaxed expression, "Son?"
Chomper nodded now that his father had dropped the tough two-footer act, "Yes, father?"
"You seriously need to stop hanging around Taunt. I think he has rubbed off on you," he returned his son's mix of respectful posture and joking expression, "But, yes, perhaps you could call for your flyer friends to gather her."
"I am glad that he still has his friends, dear," Terri added somewhat forcefully, remembering distinctly what they had risked to save her and her mate, "I wonder what calmed the herds down?"
"That be long story!"
All three sharpteeth turned towards the familiar voice as the brown flyer landed with a resounding thud on the ground below. His skin showed the numerous injuries that he had obtained from the valley flyers.
"Spotter!" Chomper greeted immediately, "How is everyone?"
"Beaten up, Path," Petrie replied with a sigh, "Though we are all in one piece. The same goes for your sister..."
"Thank goodness!" Terri exclaimed as her mate merely grunted approvingly. Had Petrie a better sense of smell he would have smelled that Dein was just as emotional as Terri.
"Where is she?" Dein finally asked.
"Well that's kind of up in the air at the moment," Chomper noted as he stared at the sky with a coy expression. Within moments his mother caught what he was seeing and reacted accordingly.
"Oh no! A flyer's got her!"
"That be Swooper's grandson! He no threat!" Petrie protested.
Chomper snorted, "Swooper managed to find a mate?" The last time he had seen Swooper he had been an elderly, blind flyer.
"And you decided to let her ride on one?" Dein asked in exasperation. Flyers were the main risk for sharptooth hatchlings and younglings.
"He have children before he come to valley, apparently. They find him after he come to valley, but after we all left." Petrie muttered, not particularly curious about Swooper's pedigree, "And, yes, your child on a flyer. It either that or we let other leaf-eater escort her. You know how much they love all of you right now."
Dein merely grunted at the flyer's response. He could not discount his words, but that did not mean that he was pleased with the arrangement. Before he could protest further, however, another landing could be heard nearby.
"Seems that you have had a bit of a hard time, nephew."
Petrie nearly jumped at Pterano's sudden appearance, "Uncle! Where were you?"
Pterano snorted as he inspected Petrie's injuries, "Someplace a bit less dangerous, apparently," he then grimaced as he saw some of the deeper gashes, "Are you alright, nephew?"
Petrie inspected the gashes and nodded slowly, "Ponder put anti-infection sap on there. It should be fine."
Pterano protested, "Surely one of the other flyers could have..."
"One of the other flyers who attacked him in the first place?" Chomper finally spoke, which caused Pterano to turn towards the towering purple figure, "It seems that the pack has resolved things somehow," How they managed that is beyond me.
"That be Charger's doing," Petrie affirmed, "He talk sense into his father and others follow. But others still angry."
"Oh, and you have been banished for the rest of your life, Chomper," Pterano added with some humor, "Topps wanted me to give you that solemn announcement."
Chomper rolled his eyes at Pterano's condemnation, "Nice to know that Topps has decided to outsource his pronouncements! But the rest of the pack... how are they doing?"
Petrie smiled, "Let's just say that they are currently being regaled by one of Shorty's stories. He currently telling tale about..."
"Momma! Daddy!"
Chomper promptly shifted his gaze to the small green tyrannosaurus as it jumped from the massive flyer's back and ran towards her eager parents. Within moments soothing growls could be heard from them both as the child finally allowed herself to cry at the homecoming that seemed so improbable hours ago. It was with some hesitation that he allowed himself to move closer to the reunited family, while remaining distant enough to not be considered a threatening gesture.
"Momma? Who is that?"
Chomper smiled as his sister looked up at the new figure. It was with the slightest of nods that Dein gestured for Chomper to continue moving closer.
"This... is your brother, Verda," Terri spoke softly.
"You're Path?" Verda tilted her head, "Mommy and Daddy told me about you."
"Oh, have they?" Chomper growled in a manner communicating friendliness, "I hope the only mentioned the good parts."
"I seem to remember mentioning that you were the one who decided to run off with ankle biters," Dein offered playfully.
"They have their uses," Chomper joked back.
"They... they were the ones that protected me, weren't they?" Verda asked with sudden realization.
Chomper nodded, "That they are. I am glad to see that they succeeded," he tried to keep his voice as low as possible as not to scare the youngling. He knew that even though she was his sister as far as her instincts were concerned he was an outsider that she had never seen before. That made what she did next all the more surprising.
Without warning she ended her nuzzling of her father's large foot to edge closer to her brother. Then, without hesitation, she made the same gesture to her brother's large foot.
It seemed that Chomper was family again, if only for a short while.
In these emotional seconds he did not hear the conversation taking place nearby.
--------
"So, what do we do now?" Fishbore asked with some confusion. He was not the only flyer of sufficient size to carry the little sharptooth, but he had been the only one who had not been involved in the attack on the pack. Truth be told he found the entire situation hard to understand.
First I am told the herd needs reinforcements and then I am told to carry a sharptooth youngling. What do I look like? A transporter of sharpteeth and their spawn?
"That be the question, isn't it?" Petrie noted, "They need food to get where they going, but fastrunners no need to be helpers anymore."
"I... might have a solution for that," Pterano spoke with a distinctly low whisper. It was as if he were talking to someone in a conspiracy.
"And what that be, uncle?" Petrie asked with an equally soft tone. It was only now that he noticed that Fishbore was watching the scene between the sharpteeth and was not paying attention to his two fellow flyers.
"What if we provide our three friends here some food for their journey? He is not called Fishbore for nothing."
Petrie tilted his head, "Forgive me, uncle, but that make no sense. How is Fishbore going to get enough food to feed all of them?"
"I didn't say that he would catch them, but he can find them. He has the best eyes of us all. Even better than yours, I do believe," he then paused for a moment, "There is a lake a day's journey from here, so if he could find where the fish are then perhaps your pack could do the rest."
"My pack not like idea of all that work, but if it helps the fastrunners..." Petrie hesitated for a moment in thought, "Me talk to Seeker about it... but how you convince Fishbore? He not look like one to help sharpteeth."
"He owes the fastrunners a favor from when they helped rescue him after a crash," Pterano whispered as Fishbore continued to watch the reunited sharptooth family, "Which is why he agreed to carry Verda in the first place."
Petrie snorted, "So you try to manipulate him into one more favor?"
Pterano gestured in an elaborate fashion reminiscent of his younger days, his tone playful, "Me? Manipulative? Surely you don't mean that, dear nephew?"
Petrie rolled his eyes in amusement, but did not address his question, "Good luck, uncle! Me try to convince Seeker."
Pterano for his part gave his nephew a playful pat, before calling after him, "May your skies be clear!"
"And may your flight be swift!" Petrie answered in the traditional leaf-eater flyer parting. Within moments he was airborne.
Pterano sighed as he edged closer to Fishbore's location. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself to once again work his magic with words to make his acquaintance see things his way.
"My dear fellow, I think that I have a proposition for you..."
--------
A few hours later at the herd's location:
"So let me get this straight... you want us to help catch enough fish for Path's parents, the dinosaurs who started this entire mess, so that they can travel to where they want to go without going hungry," Littlefoot asked with more than a little irritation, "Just how in the name of sanity do you expect us to find enough fish to feed them all?"
The pack had congregated some distance away from Volant as she regaled the children with another story. It was far enough away as to not be obstructive, while at the same time being within vocal range of their enraptured youth. Around the pack, only the parents of the gang and a few stragglers were present. The rest of the herd waited some distance away for the injured to be treated before the inevitable trip back to the valley would begin.
"Fishbore is good at finding collections of fish," Shorty noted, again reminding Littlefoot of the fact that he knew the sharptooth language even if he couldn't speak it, "This would not be the first time that he has used that ability for the good of the herd. He once convinced a pack of little biters to let him get fish for them in exchange for not chasing our children."
"I'm surprised that you didn't chase them off," Cera admitted.
"I wasn't there. The children had decided to go off on their own little adventure and we had to send the flyers to look for them," Shorty replied with more than a hint of a sigh.
"Let me guess... the children in question were... ahem..." he gestured with some amusement at Sauria, Tricia, and the other leaf-eaters who were now enraptured listening to a story from Volant, "...the bad influences over there?"
Shorty rolled his eyes, "Yes, they are quite a lot like a certain longneck I knew from long ago. Whatever happened to him?"
"He grew up," Littlefoot deadpanned with a smile on his face.
Shorty took the opportunity to get up and rise to his full height, which was a truly impressive sight that utterly dwarfed Littlefoot and his pack. The pack seldom encountered longnecks of such a size in the Mysterious Beyond, and when they did they generally chose less formidable prey. When he had finished his display Shorty smiled cheekily, "He grew up, huh?"
Littlefoot shook his head, smiling, "Show off."
"You set yourself up for that one, Seeker," Taunt noted as he made a gesture with his tail that roughly translated to 'well played' towards the longneck. Though he now hoped that Shorty didn't try to replicate the gesture, lest a massive longneck tail come swinging in his pack's general direction, "But are we going to do it?"
"It seems like a good idea... well... the best that we can do," Spike noted.
"I agree," Ruby affirmed, "If we can find them food then they don't need to find food. Then they can leave my family's territory."
"And get away from the valley," Shorty noted as he lowered his head towards Littlefoot and whispered, "I'm amazed that the herd is as calm as it is right now."
"That is because my father has moved the threehorns apart from all of us," Cera observed as she watched the rest of the herd talking some distance away.
"It is as good as can be hoped," Bron noted from behind the pack, being careful to keep his voice low so as not to disturb the excited children and their story. He then looked Littlefoot in the eyes, "Your children were brave. All of them were. It reminds me of certain younglings that I remember from long ago."
Littlefoot puffed his chest out in a mixture of pride and gratitude, "I merely taught them what I learned from all of you."
Taunt interrupted, "They taught you how to hunt?" This earned him a shove from Cera.
"Except for that," Littlefoot rolled his eyes at Taunt's antics before switching back to the leaf-eater language, "But I fear that our children have also inherited something else."
"Your predisposition for causing trouble?" Ura asked playfully with a glare at her daughter.
This earned some laughter from Ducky and the others. But within several moments the banter died down as they watched the children listening intently to the story from the elder flyer. It was reminiscent of times years ago when they would play all day and then wait with anticipation for the nightly stories. That joy still lived on in their songs, but now they also realized the joy of being the teller of the tales and to see the joy on their children's faces.
"Tell Pterano that we agree to his idea," Littlefoot finally spoke, "Soon we will need to depart."
"That good, because he already try to convince Fishbore of it," Petrie replied.
"Nice to see your uncle hasn't changed," Cera muttered, earning a stern look from Petrie.
"So... I guess the reunion is about over, huh?" Shorty asked with more than a bit of melancholy in his voice.
Littlefoot nodded sadly as he looked towards his brother and father, "I suppose so. The herd cannot stay in the Mysterious Beyond for long, and our pack must resolve the whole Dein and Terri issue."
"It would have been resolved if Chomper had not intervened," Topps noted darkly.
"But we resolved it on our own terms," Cera answered back assertively as he held his father's gaze. Neither could maintain the facade of anger for long, however, as each softened their posture.
"Our children will miss all of your younglings," Littlefoot admitted, "But it is better this way."
"And my son would agree, no doubt," Chronos spoke up for the first time as he gave Arial's leg a final examination, "I will see to it that the flyers keep them connected. It is the least that I can do after sparing my son."
He then bowed his head in contemplation, "But this has complicated things."
Logos nodded, "That is an understatement, dear. Technically, the pack has helped a murderer of one of the herd's own."
"Which is why we resolved to never meet in person again. We all knew that something like this could have happened," Cera spoke with more than a little regret in her voice, "But we had no choice here."
Everyone grew silent at her words. They were undoubtedly the truth, no matter how harsh they were. Once more it seemed, the time of parting had arrived for the pack.
"You know, mom," Ruby spoke all of a sudden which made Pearl jump, "I don't think you ever heard the end of the tale either."
"What tale is that, dear?" the fastrunner asked in confusion.
"A tale that we left on quite a cliffhanger," Littlefoot smirked, "We never did tell the children how the story of their hatching turned out... and I am sure Datum and the others would never forgive us if we left it unfinished."
Littlefoot slowly rose as he heard the last words of Volant's story resonate across the expanse. The children cheered at the conclusion of the story as the flyer took a respectful bow. As she looked up towards Littlefoot, however, she guessed his intentions and began to move away from the clearing.
Ruby smiled, "Ready for one last song before we leave, dear?"
Littlefoot back at the assembled pack as they rose to attention. It was obvious that they were ready as well. With a smile on his face and a nod to his mate, Littlefoot led his pack towards the makeshift story circle.
Let's tell the children where they came from before we show them where they are going.
--------
I guess this is it, Biter thought mournfully, I will never see my leaf-eater friends again.
As his father slowly walked towards the story circle, each of the assembled children assumed that this meant one thing: it was finally time to depart. The impatient glances of the adults outside of the circle, and the outright hostile glares of some of the threehorn deputies, only heightened that unspoken message.
"I will miss you, Biter."
Biter froze as Datum's words reached his ears. As he turned his glance towards the small rainbowface he could see the slightest hint of moistness in his eyes. It was a sentiment that Datum would have also smelled radiating from Biter had the rainbowface shared his great sense of smell.
"So will I," Biter struggled to keep his voice level, "Will... will all of you be alright?"
"Ha!" came Tricia's haughty reply, "If Malka's nonsense hasn't killed us yet then it probably won't!"
The small swimmer rolled her eyes at her friend's arrogant reply, "I seem to remember a certain threehorn leading most of the 'nonsense', Tricia."
"In all fairness I think the two of you are tied when it comes to nonsense," Axiom playful entered the conversation, but ended on a more heartfelt note, "But we have gotten through it all because of our friends."
"That sounds like all of us as well. Though Biter tends to be the idiot in our pack," Pounce replied playfully.
"...and yet you follow him. What does that make you?" Swipe questioned.
"A friend," Littlefoot's voice surprise everyone present as he interrupted the conversation between the younglings, "Friends stick together no matter what. Even when they can't be there in person."
The children grew silent at Littlefoot's words as the brown fastbiter settled into the center of the makeshift story circle. From his vantage point, Biter could see his father looking back towards Bron and Shorty with a noticeably subdued expression. Gone was the playful banter and fake outrage that he had expressed when Shorty told the kids about the yellowbellies, gone was the conversation that he had with his father about the rigors of raising children, and gone was the companionable silence that had mostly held reign during the stories that had been told to the kids. What remained now was a fastbiter who realized that he would have to once again say goodbye to those he had never expected to see again.
"How can we do that?" Biter asked after a moment's silence, "We have to eat their kind, we can't be around them."
Biter glanced out of the corner of his eyes at his friend, Datum, who merely nodded in understanding. All of the leaf-eater children, even Tricia, were not taken aback by his bluntness. He had expressed a thought that they were all considering at that moment.
"You are right, son. In the same way that I cannot be around my father, or my sister, or any of the others. We must live in a world apart, but that does not mean that we have to be apart entirely," he glanced at the little flyers, "After all, some of you will need to get messenger training soon... and some valley flyers will need defense training."
Petrie's children looked taken aback for several moments before Valaria, taking after her deceased namesake, took the initiative and spoke, "You want us to speak to the valley?"
Littlefoot smiled, "Not exactly. I expect them to chase you away before you get there, but that doesn't mean that you couldn't relay some information before they do."
"That's a great idea!" Pounce shouted as the other fastbiter children began to cheer, "We can still hear from one another!"
"And we get to be chased?!" Valaria muttered with less amusement than her fastbiter counterparts.
"And we get to chase you! Everyone wins!" Came Flip's playful reply. He was obviously much more enthusiastic about the possibility, which earned him a glare from several of the sharptooth flyer children.
Ruby chuckled at the display, "Now, now, children... No one is going to be chased just yet. Spotter can still be the messenger for now, but you will all need to take on adult responsibilities soon," she looked at her children as she said this, as officially they were hunters now, "We cannot change what fate has decided for us, but we can decide how to follow its decision."
The children all considered Ruby's words in silence for several moments. The communal scent of the assembled dinosaurs soon went from subdued sadness to a more promising emotion: hope.
"Boo! Enough with the emotional pep talk! We want to hear a story!"
Thud!
Biter turned his head back towards the leaf-eater adults as Littlefoot noticeably groaned and rolled his eyes. He was able to see Shorty dodge a playful whack of the tail from Bron as the impressive looking longneck had a most amused and playful expression on his face.
"Just trying to catch you up on several years of lost time, brother!" Shorty playfully exclaimed, "Aren't you sad that you didn't get to grow up with me?"
Littlefoot snorted, "You always did know when to push things along, Shorty... tell me, dad, you had to put up with him for many years. How did you resist the urge to stomp on him?"
Bron laughed, "When he was smaller, he was too quick. Then he grew up and he was too big."
Shorty's amusement noticeably dampened for a moment as the others descended into laughter at his expense, before he too fell into an amused chuckle. Nonetheless, Shorty's playful interruption had moved the conversation along in a direction that was long overdue.
"Now, children, I think that we would be in remiss if we ended this reunion without finishing the tale..."
"Not without me, you aren't!"
Littlefoot stopped again as a small threehorn came charging into the clearing, nearly colliding into Biter and he settled in near Sauria, Malka, Tricia, and Flip. Charger had returned.
"Nice to have you back with us, Charger!" Littlefoot spoke out of surprise, "Your... um... father doesn't mind?"
"Dad's on watch duty, so you better hurry your tail before he finds out that I'm gone!"
Now it was Topps turn to laugh as he heard the small threehorn's words. Once again, one of the children lived up to their rebellious reputation.
Littlefoot and Ruby both chuckled, before Ruby finally spoke to the assembled dinosaurs, "Alright, we will hurry before your dad finds out, because if he finds out then we will have to hurry! Please listen to our words, as we finish the song of the hatching."
♪♪ As the nesters mourned their loss,
the males feeling dismayed,
the females stared at the assembled eggs,
feeling angered and afraid ♪♪
♪♪ However as the eggs glistened in the light,
of the Bright Circle's immense beam,
a certain flyer thought of a plan,
that might keep the remaining eggs pristine ♪♪
--------
Several years ago:
Taunt slowly walked back towards his nest as Ducky leaned in towards her friend. Ruby said nothing but merely broke down into Ducky's embrace. There were some feelings that no words could describe. Loss was not something to be heard, it was something that one had to feel.
Chomper closed his eyes and turned away from the scene. Despite the fact that he could not have outran the egg-stealers he still felt some guilt for his friends' loss. Now his only thoughts were on protecting what remained.
"This isn't working... there has to be a better way."
He could feel the flyer land on his back as Petrie's tell-tale voice spoke over the lamentations.
"Me may have idea... but it be up to females to do it."
The sobs did not stop immediately as it took several moments for the fastbiters to gain awareness of anything other than their grief and anger. Gone were any remaining tensions over their instincts, as those had a new target. The egg-stealers than now lay scattered on the ground, some impaled and some ripped to pieces. All knew that the tensions would rise again, however. But no one seemed to know what to do about it.
Until now.
"What is your plan, Spotter?" Chomper asked softly as he continued to look at the horrific scene. As a sharptooth he was not a stranger to such scenes of despair, but his friends were usually not on side of victims.
"Yeah, what can we do, Spotter?" Ducky choked out, "We cannot help those that we lost... but... but we have to do something for the rest of them."
"I am a horrible parent," Ruby spoke darkly as she glared at the ground, "If I cannot protect eggs than how can I protect them when they are hatched?"
"I tried to help my mate raise our kids, you know?" Petrie's words seemed to jolt everyone back into reality for a moment as he spoke in a manner most unlike him, "Me... My mate even want me to speak proper, so I try that. But it not enough."
Cera looked up as Petrie's voice welled up with barely restrained emotion. Despite her own loss and volatile emotions she could not bring herself to berate the flyer, "What happened?"
"Baby get killed by intruder. Me kill intruder, but me... I... I realize my mate was right," he shook his head as the purple sharptooth that served as his perch listened in amazement, "I had the same instinct me warn you all about. The instinct to kill babies. So... Soar and I agree to raise kids together only after they get to age of safety."
Ruby paused, "I am glad that you worked that out, Spotter, but how does that help us? We need two in order to keep our kids fed, and if we can't even keep them safe..."
"You not change instincts, but you may use them," Petrie responded cryptically, "Me not know if it work, but maybe it worth a try."
Breeze looked up at the flyer, "What do you have in mind?"
Petrie grew silent for a moment, "Gather all of the eggs from your nests, but do not let males help. We have to save our children from ourselves."
--------
Littlefoot stared at the empty nest with the cold numbness of despair growing in the pit of his stomach. Even though he knew that the two remaining eggs had been taken by his mate and were presumably safe, the mere sight of an empty nest was enough to make something deep within him snap.
I have failed as a parent. I couldn't even defend my fucking eggs!
Before he realized what was happening, Littlefoot struck out at the ground with his claws before catching sight of the disemboweled egg-stealer and latching onto him like his life depended on it. For several moments Littlefoot was lost to the world. The only sights and sounds in his world was the sound of ripping flesh and the sight of crimson blood. By the time he had finished with the corpse, it was barely recognizable. Rather than feel relieved, however, the lack of anger now left him feeling empty and cold. He was all alone.
It's what I deserve...
"Seeker..."
Littlefoot looked up at the voice as Taunt's tell-tale form appeared in the brush. He had his head bowed in a placative gesture, as he held both clawed hands to his side, "The... our mates are ready to see us now, apparently."
Littlefoot remained silent for several moments as Taunt looked at him cautiously. It was not lost on Littlefoot that Taunt's legs were primed to flee at a moment's notice. With the loss of the eggs, however, Littlefoot's will to defend his nest had gone. Only the eggs mattered... only his children mattered...
"If we can't even protect our unhatched children then how can we protect them later on?"
Taunt looked at the pieces of dismembered egg-stealer and shook his head, "I don't know, Seeker. I don't know. But I know that we have to try. We can't do that if we don't see what the females have come up with."
Littlefoot did not move for several moments. Finally, however, he nodded to his friend, "Let's go then. We are of no use protecting empty nests."
The two fastbiters walked in silence for several moments as they passed their respective empty nests. The territories that they had worked so hard to maintain over the last several weeks now suddenly ceased to matter. The only thing that mattered now was the new nests, wherever the females had placed them.
"I wonder why they did not want us to help move the eggs." Spike noted as he walked beside Littlefoot and Taunt. His expression was easily as haggard as Littlefoot's.
"Probably because they don't trust us anymore," Leap responded sadly, as he didn't even try to put up a brave front, "I couldn't even defend a damn egg!"
Littlefoot did not respond immediately, "They have every right to be mad at us. Maybe they should watch the eggs now. We all seem to be doing a..."
"Shut up!"
Littlefoot froze as his mate walked up in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere.
"All of you shut up! There is nothing that all of you could have done, otherwise all of you would have done it!"
Littlefoot opened his mouth to speak, but promptly shut it once he caught Ruby's icy glare. Upon seeing the tears in his eyes, however, her gaze immediately softened.
"I blame myself too, dear. But I had to hunt, and you had to watch. But having one watcher is not enough," she embraced him as he shook, "I know that you did the best that you could."
Taunt did not dare interrupt the reconciliation between mates as he and the other two males continued to walk into the clearing that contained their mate's scent. That was when Taunt let out a surprised yelp upon seeing his mate on a new nest.
A nest that was overflowing with eggs.
"If you do not know who the egg belongs to, then you will assume it is your own."
Chomper's words caused Littlefoot to break from Ruby's embrace as he sprinted to where the other males were. He froze in surprise as he caught the same sight as them.
"But... but... we won't know which kids are ours!" Littlefoot sputtered a moment, "I mean... after the age of safety..."
"After the age of safety, we will let you all know which is which," Ducky smiled as she sat on the other side of the nest to incubate the eggs that Cera couldn't reach, "We marked them with sticky sap before we did this."
"Until then, we all raise the children and we all protect the nest," Ruby glanced at Littlefoot, "And that is our order to all of you."
Littlefoot looked at the communal nest once more. It was an ingenious idea, but one that was completely unconventional. It was something that only an outsider to fastbiter life could have come up with.
"Tell... Spotter that he has our eternal thanks," Littlefoot spoke softly, "Where is he?"
Breeze smiled as she secured a spear in her hand, "Keeping watch over the borders. Which is something that should be easier now."
Littlefoot glanced at his fellow males as they took the situation in with a mixture of surprise and acceptance. It turned instincts on their head, but they could not argue with the logic. With a tentative move towards one another, they each finally locked their hands together in a show of solidarity.
We are all in this together now.
--------
A few weeks later:
"Come quick! Eggs hatching!"
Littlefoot tossed his spear to his side as he completely put aside the prey that he and the other males were tracking. Within moments all four of them were sprinting headlong towards the communal nest. A hunt could come at any time, but to see a child's hatching was a once in a lifetime event.
Like a storm ripping through a forest, the males half-skid, half-tumbled into the clearing as they struggled to make it in time. With a happy chirp, the females called them over towards the eggs which were now filling with cracks.
The children were arriving.
The entire pack froze as they gathered around the white orbs. Petrie landed with a thud around the makeshift nest, while Chomper stood a short distance away. Both of them realized that this was a moment for the fastbiters, but that did not mean that they couldn't be part of the momentous occasion.
After all, they were family.
One of the eggs rolled from the ludicrously oversized communal nest, as the mothers allowed it to settle on the ground below. Within moments a vaguely brownish snout could be seen erupting from the shell as its occupant seemed in a hurry to escape.
"Heh... looks like he is tired of being in there," Taunt mused as the egg rolled again and came to rest on his foot. He tilted his head at the little biter as more and more of its body emerged from the egg. That was until the little biter opened his eyes and stared at Taunt's foot.
"Hello, little one, I am... Ow!"
"What is it, dear?" Cera ran over to her mate, only to see the little biter try to bite Taunt's foot again, "Ha! Looks like we have ourselves a biter!"
"Biter..." Ruby ruminated on that a bit, keeping her expression neutral so as not to indicate to the males that she knew this was her son, "That might be a good name, provided the pack agrees of course."
Ducky was tempted to say that Ruby could name her son whatever she liked, but she restrained herself in time, remembering to wait until the time of safety, "That seems like a good name, yep, yep, yep! Oh look, two more are hatching!"
Breeze and Spike looked down at the two orbs as the two began to roll towards one another, and then promptly collided. Within moments the eggs collided again, as if each occupant were annoyed by the movement of the other.
"These two will be feisty!" Cera smiled at the display.
Within moments the back of the shell of one of the eggs had broken away, exposing a vaguely orangish little biter, with his head still covered in a shell. The other egg, now consisting of a nearly complete shell with legs sticking out, charged at its competitor without hesitation. Within an instant both biters were free from their white prisons.
"Ah, the first girl!" Spike noted, quickly noticing her pink coloration, "Gee, I wonder who the parents of this one are?" he joked.
Ruby and Littlefoot both froze at Spike deduction, afraid for a moment that the dreaded instinct would manifest. However, Spike merely nudged the little biter on her feet.
"Hmmm... a bit of purple too. Could be any of ours..." he looked at the girl with some amusement, "Who do you think your parents are, little one?"
The hatchling merely looked at Spike's form with wide eyes as she tried to make a little chirp at the male. However, she was soon set upon by a threat that she had ignored.
"Now, now, little one!" Breeze tried to shoo the organish hatching away from the pink one, "We don't pounce on our brothers and..."
Thud!
With a swift move of her tail, the pink fastbiter sent her packmate tumbling to the ground. It was at this point that Ruby placed her tail between the two younglings to prevent further violence.
"Pounce and Swipe... if the little ones keep on naming themselves then we will have none to name ourselves!" She noted with amusement, as the other parents laughed in a mixture of amusement and relief.
"Oh, I think we will have plenty to name, look!" Cera exclaimed.
The parents turned their attention back to the nest, as the other eggs began to shift in their cocoon of mud and branches. It appeared that nearly all of the eggs were hatching at once.
"Well... um..." Leap looked upon the scene with amazement. Inexperienced as he was with eggs, he knew that it was rare for a clutch to have all of the eggs hatch, "Looks like we will all be busy for a while."
Ducky nodded with beaming happiness being communicated with her tail, "I see many hunts in our future."
Littlefoot nodded as he nuzzled each of the children in turn, "And now we will be doing the hunts right, children. A pack stays together no matter what."
Ruby smiled, "This reminds me of a time long ago..."
Cera nodded as she nuzzled one of the eggs as a blue tail emerged from its shell, "Me too... after we left the valley. We had just begun to get our minds together after that first hunt."
"And Hanging Rock appeared on the horizon, and we knew that there was hope."
Littlefoot smiled as he watched the setting Bright Circle as star began to appear in the swiftly forming darkness, "Hope... well, children, I think that your first night might be a good night for a song. Your ancestors are appearing in the sky, and I know that my mother and grandparents will love to see all of you."
"...and my sister," Petrie affirmed.
"...and my aunt," came Ducky's reply.
"My brothers and sisters," Cera smiled sadly, "And my mother."
"Screech," Taunt added, reflecting upon his fallen uncle.
"My brother," Leap smiled, "He will be glad to know that the pack lives on..."
And indeed the pack did live on despite its fair share of adversity. From that moment on, they resolved to face their hardships together, even if that meant skirting the rules that instinct had set for them. Because regardless of whom their parents and ancestors were, they were one family. One pack. And nothing would ever change that.
-
Fanfiction link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/27/So...-of-the-Hunters (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/27/Songs-of-the-Hunters)
Epilogue
"Here are the fish, you bloody corpse-munchers!"
Littlefoot couldn't help but smile as Fishbore expressed his hatred of his kind with a flourish that only a flyer could manage. It was easy to berate a sharptooth when you knew they had no way of catching you.
"Do you think we should tell the sap-sucker that we know his language?"
Littlefoot turned towards Taunt as his counterpart snagged a fish in his jaws. Another small morsel for the two-footer family.
"Nah, he already knows. He just doesn't care," Littlefoot replied as he made a smiling gesture with his tail. With a swift bite he then caught another fleeing fish and carried it to the shore where the others had been hauled. That was when he heard the most unusual sound.
Growl...
He turned around only to see a brown-feathered head bob out of the water with a massive thrashing fish contained in its jaws. Around the perplexing sight were tails and legs of a variety of colors, and the amusing sight of several fastbiter younglings grabbing a hold of the poor fastbiter's tail in order to drag him to shore.
"Having fun, son?"
Biter fell to the shore with a gasp as the fish finally flopped free from the predator's grasp. It took him more than a few gasps to catch his breath as the other children began to playfully slap at their newest catch.
"Ha!" Biter sucked in another breath as he pointed at Pounce, "Beat you! That is a much larger fish than what you got!"
Pounce shrugged, "But you didn't catch it... you had all of us drag you to shore."
Biter made an expression somewhere between a smile and a taunt, "That doesn't matter! I got that scaly swimmer far and square!"
Ruby laughed at the display as she tossed another fish ashore, "Easy, children! How about all of you catch fish that are closer to your size, so that the fish doesn't catch you?"
Littlefoot smiled, "Indeed. I think the winner of your little competition was actually the scaly swimmer. It looks like he was the one who was dragging all of you!"
Biter groaned at his father's teasing, "Dad!"
The adults laughed at the antics of the children as they again proceeded to wade into the water. For Ruby and Ducky this was nostalgic, harking back to the days when they were not sharpteeth. But for the others it was also a surprisingly pleasant diversion despite the fact that they were catching food for others.
Little did they know, however, that they were being stalked.
--------
With the careful maneuvering that only came with years of experience, the belly draggers silently moved up the stream. The chatter of the children and the blood from the fish alerting the mated pair to the abundance of food upstream. It was only when they were about a longneck-length away that they stopped.
"You go for the brown one... I will go for the orange one."
The male merely gave an affirmative grunt as he proceeded to swim to his destination. The stream was shallow in this area, but it got progressively deeper as one went to where the fastbiters currently were. He had no doubt that once they escaped the shallows the fastbiters would have no chance to dodge their ambush until it was too late.
Foolish biters... but their loss is our gain...
That was when he felt something wrap around his leg.
Acting purely on instinct he tried to thrash away from the sudden intrusion, but this only made the vines grow tighter. Despite his rising terror, he tried to keep himself as silent as possible. His family needed this meal.
"What the..."
It was the panicked exclamation of his mate that finally propelled him into action. He simply had to escape from this and release his mate from whatever terrible fate this was. No longer acting within the realm of reason, he began to gnaw at rapidly tightening vine around his leg. The pain and bleeding were immaterial, only his family mattered.
"Oh look! I told you that Datum knew what he was saying!"
The belly dragger's blood ran cold as he turned and saw one of the prey gesture towards him from the shore. All of the other fastbiters were there as well.
There went his meal.
"Looks like the rainbowfaces have saved us again... though why did Datum tell you and not the rest of us?"
"I think this is one of those 'little secrets' that his parents wanted to not be thrown around. But I don't think these bellydraggers are going to be talking."
The belly dragger froze at the words of the two fastbiter younglings. This was some kind of trap?
Not like this! It won't end like this!
His vision turned red as his fear overrode his senses. The entire world erupted into a torrent of anger, pain, and numbness as he proceeded to bite through his leg. In his senseless state he never noticed the two-footer until it was too late.
Crunch!
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"Come back here, you little rascal!"
Ali carefully picked up the little longneck with her teeth as she laid him back down in the nest. This was now the fourth time that he had tried to make a dash for Bron's massive feet.
"Looks like Wander is the perfect name for him," Sauria laughed as she gave her nephew a nuzzle, earning herself a small squeak, "Looks like he has the family wanderlust in him."
Ali groaned with mock exasperation as she secured her tail around the nest of younglings, "Don't you be giving them any ideas, sister! I am sure they will come up with enough ideas of their own," she laughed as one of her children tried to climb over her tail.
"Um, dear?" Somni's voice called from nearby, with obvious amusement in its tone, "Look's like you missed one."
As if to confirm his words to his mate, he lifted his tail to expose one of Wander's sisters who squeak at the sudden loss of her shade. Gently then, taking his daughter's scruff in his teeth, he placed the wayward hatchling back in the nest.
Bron's laughter could be heard echoing from nearby, "Children are a blessing, but so is sleep. Come along, children!" he spoke softly to his own offspring, "I think it is time to let the new family get some rest."
Ali's mother was prompt to agree, "Indeed, kids. How about you all go play with the swimmers until the Bright Circle sets?"
Sauria rolled her eyes at her mother's suggestion, as her siblings began to joyfully bound off in the direction of the swimmers.
"And, yes, Sauria, you can go play with your friends..." Ali's mother spoke as if reading her mind, "...but stay away from fastbiters this time!"
"Or cliffs..." Bron muttered with some amusement, thinking back to her previous run in with the Thundering Falls due to a dare from Tricia.
"Don't worry, I..." but Sauria didn't get a chance to finish.
"Or the Endless Gorge," Somni added, remembering when he had to stick his neck in a particularly deep hole to get the children out of a crevice in the gorge's innumerable rocks.
"Or the Smoking Mountain..." Ali added for good measure, thinking back to an adventure in her own wild days, as she gently licked her children clean.
Sauria groaned as she prepared to speak again.
"Or the whispering sands..." Topps called as he suddenly walked by as if running an errand of some kind. His words made Sauria freeze in horror.
How... how could he possible know about that?! My friends and I told no one!
"Heh..." Bron muttered to the passing threehorn, not noticing Sauria's expression, "I think that is the only place we haven't found her running off to yet."
Topps chuckled, "All the more reason to tell her not to go there!"
Seeing the opportunity present itself, Sauria wasted no time in bounding off towards her friends and away from the watchful gaze of her family.
"Grandchildren..." Bron muttered to no one in particular as he and his mate nuzzled, watching the new family in the distance. "What a beautiful world you are just beginning to enjoy."
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"How are your sister's hatchlings?" Malka questioned as her friend's neck finally appeared over the bushes.
"They're fine," Sauria replied happily, "Though I don't think Somni is going to be getting much sleep."
"Ha! Active hatchlings, huh?" Tricia asked with a smirk. Being the eldest of the gang, she had a bit more experience in seeing hatchlings enter into the world, "Did any more of the eggs hatch?"
Sauria nodded, "All but one. It looks like we had two latecomers."
Flip snorted, "So they take after you, huh?"
Sauria groaned, "It isn't my fault that I can't just fly everywhere, Mr. Wings-for-brains!"
"Ah, now that is a new insult!" Charger replied playfully, "I guess you must have been hanging out with Datum too much. We all know the rainbow-ass is the master of flyer bashing!"
"Quiet down, everyone!" the rainbowface's voice called out from somewhere in the bushes, "We don't want all of the adults to hear, do we?"
Now Sauria was curious. Hmmm... everyone is in an awfully excluded area... "What are we up to, now?"
No one answered immediately, but within a few moments Axiom rose from the bushes with an astonishingly well-sharpened spear. The odd shaped stick, Sauria noted, had what looked like a sharp stone at its end... and its smell....
"Is something burning?" Charger asked with concern.
"Not anymore," Datum said cryptically as he appeared to stamp on something unseen behind the bushes. The brief exchange of expression between the rainbowfaces was unreadable to the assembled dinosaurs, but Sauria thought that she heard a mouthed apology from Datum, "I take it you all recognize this?"
Charger's expression darkened, "Yeah, it's one of the damn things that those fastbiters had!"
Axiom nodded, "Yes. And if anyone asks, that is how Malka learned to make these."
Malka blinked, "What?"
"If anyone asks Sauria listened to lessons from the fastbiters... and told Malka how to make these. You most certainly did not see us make this."
Sauria smiled coyly, "Well... it is obvious that Malka did not make this, because I think she would have put the stone a bit more securely on the stick..."
It was then that Axiom noticed what Sauria had mentioned. The stone, which had been firmly secured on the spear as its spearhead, had managed to fall off, "Darn it..." Within moments both rainbowfaces were mouthing accusations of incompetence to the other as they tried to look at the spear and find out where their design had failed. Despite her amusement at seeing the two siblings go at it, Tricia wanted to put the little dispute to an end.
"It's alright, guys... but why did you want to show us that anyway?"
The two rainbowface younglings stopped for a moment as if they were considering how to respond. After a heavy sigh, Axiom picked up the spear head and presented it to Sauria.
"We... we all nearly didn't make it and um..." Axiom was uncharacteristically out of words.
"We wanted to make sure that if anything happened... if sharpteeth attacked the valley... then all of you knew where you could find a spear to help protect yourselves," he sighed heavily, "I mean it wouldn't help you, Sauria, or the threehorns... but Malka has two arms so she might be able to hold it... so..."
"...so you figured that you would share some of your parents' 'hidden knowledge' to help us out?" Charger finished.
Axiom nodded, "Yeah."
Sauria grew silent for a moment as she studied the sharpened stone. The stone held the promise of new power for the leaf-eaters: the power to strike down their foes. It was not a power unknown to them, but the ability to make a spear like this would greatly shift the balance of power. Both the power to do good or evil...
Reminds me of a choice from long ago...
"Perhaps your parents wanted you to keep this secret for a reason," Sauria gently turned the stone over with her foot, "Perhaps... they know what this knowledge would do to us?"
Charger tilted his head, "Like what?"
Tricia agreed with his incredulity, "Yeah, like what? It's not like we are suddenly going to grow teeth and claws. This stone doesn't glow," she teased.
Sauria stared at the sharpened stone, "No, we might become far worse. The... hunters..." flashes of the fastbiter pack appeared in her mind, "...have no choice but to kill for their food... but, we... we would kill for another reason."
"Yeah! To save our skins!" Tricia snorted, "Sounds like a good reason to me!"
"And how many would we leaf-eaters kill to do that?" Sauria questioned, staring at her friend with a pointed look, "If every domehead and swimmer found out how to use these... would we not become worse than the sharpteeth? What happened to my brother when he wished for power?"
Silence reigned for several moments as the entire gang stared at the sharpened rock. Sauria's words had reminded them all of the story of the hunters. Yes, their actions eventually resulted in renewed balance to the Mysterious Beyond, but at a huge cost.
"I remember how my father was before I stopped him," Charger spoke, breaking the silence, "Another leaf-eater with something like this might become as fearsome as a sharptooth."
Malka nodded, "The fear of sharpteeth is enough without also being afraid of our own people."
Axiom looked down at the stone, before finally picking it up.
"I guess it might be best to keep this knowledge to ourselves then..." Datum reluctantly agreed as he picked up the stick, "...but if things get bad then we will share this knowledge with you. It is the least that we can do."
Much to his surprise, Datum suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder as the gang gathered around side-by-side in a show of solidarity with the two rainbowfaces. He quickly offered his embrace to the group hug as he tossed the stick to the side. The message was clear: even though the rainbowface's offering was rejected, the gesture was appreciated. Instead of relying on technology to keep themselves safe, the gang would use what had always worked in the past... sticking together.
They did not see the rainbow-colored snout peeking out from a nearby tree.
And now you have just learned one of the most important lessons of them all, son. It isn't the power that you have that matters, it is what you do with it. If a tree outgrows its roots then it will die. It is the same for cultures. If knowledge grows faster than wisdom then calamity is the result.
Chronos smiled as he saw the children head over to the stream, presumably to play a game. He was left with one lingering thought though as he absently twisted a piece of vine in his hand. Remembering another 'little hint' that he and his mate had given a certain fastbiter a few days previously.
I do hope that Littlefoot used the trick wisely...
--------
"It is called a snare, apparently. It did wonders on the belly draggers!"
The fastbiters watched as Dein and Terri tore into two predatory swimmers with the zeal that could only come from overwhelming hunger. Verda, for her part, was enjoying the fish with the fastbiter children. Now that her parents had a more than sufficient meal, the fish could be enjoyed by everyone else.
"I guess that you all will have to go soon," Chomper sounded almost mournful as he spared his sister another nuzzle, "Just be careful out there."
Dein grunted as he rose from the gore that used to be a bellydragger, "Don't you get all mushy on me now!" he teased, "I think that those fastbiters have made you soft!"
Chomper smiled, "Nah... what has made me soft is all of the fat that I have on me. You know, from being a good hunter."
Terri snorted at her son's comeback as she spared a moment from her meal, "We will be fine, son. We already know who else is in that territory and, well, if Balfur wants a fight then he will deserve what is coming to him!"
Chomper snorted, "Balfur, as in the fish-catcher? That's all that there is over there?"
"Not much competition, huh?" Dein asked as he resumed his meal.
"No. No it's not," Chomper agreed, before smiling, "You know... it almost sounds like those lands could handle an extra pack without too much trouble..."
Dein growled in annoyance, which made Verda laugh, "Don't even think about it!" Dein smiled sardonically as he gave Taunt a stare that would horrify any sharptooth, "Or I will eat the orange one like I wanted to years ago."
Chomper beamed, "Oh? You will eat him as well? This deal just gets better and better!" The laughter of the other fastbiters, Taunt excluded, confirmed to the children that they were joking before any of them could rise to Taunt's defense.
"See what I have to put up with, kids?" Taunt sighed in mock exasperation.
"What did you do to make Dein want to eat you, dad?" Pounce asked in between mouthfuls of fish.
Taunt placed his hands on his hips in mock offense, "What makes you think that I did something to deserve that?"
All of Taunt's children stared at their father a moment, as if assessing if he were serious or not, before turning their glance to their mother. Cera beamed at this.
"Well...well... Taunt... I do believe that we have a story for the children, now don't we?" Taunt groaned as his mate grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the children, "Gather around children for the Song of the Infamous Fish-Stealer!"
As the children laughed and gathered around the less-than-impressed orange fastbiter, Littlefoot couldn't help but notice his mate looking more than a little apprehensive. Before he asked the obvious question, however, she answered his unspoken query.
"I hope that my family is alright."
Littlefoot frowned knowingly before giving her a nuzzle, "Don't worry, dear. They are just as safe as they were before the two-footers arrived."
Ruby sighed, "I know... it's just... I remember what it was like losing siblings," she shivered at the memory of her mother's second clutch. Not one of them survived the Shivering Sickness, "I know that she is doing alright. I just would feel better if a healer was around, you know? Someone to keep watch over her, since over her we can't watch."
Littlefoot smiled, "Well... there is one option you know? She still owes us a few favors."
Ruby looked at him without comprehension for a moment, before recognition came to her. "That... that would be great, dear, but would she... I mean..."
Littlefoot gave her a slight smile as he waved for Petrie to fly over, "Don't worry, dear, I am sure that she will be safe with her pack around her. Mender doesn't travel alone."
Ruby sighed, "It's not Mender's safety that I am concerned about, dear. It's... well... you know..."
Petrie landed with a thud, as Littlefoot waved his mate's concerns away, "Don't worry, dear! I am sure there will be no misunderstandings this time."
Ruby rolled her eyes.
That is exactly what was said last time...
--------
Hanging Rock:
Arial picked at the snapping shell with some annoyance. Finding snapping shells was one of her favorite pastimes, and not just because they were quite tasty.
Damn leg... I will be glad to be moving again!
She quickly consumed the tasty meat of the small creature as she tossed its shell aside. Having her parents and brother provide her with a meal not from her own labor was a brutal blow to her. It was only now that she realized how much she valued her independence.
Well... I guess I should get hobbling back to the nest before it gets dark. No need to be crippled and blind.
Despite her somewhat dark thoughts, she realized that her predicament was a temporary one. Resolving to put a brave face on the situation, she grunted and slowly moved forward with her good leg. It was only then that a thought came to her.
Wait... where is my brother?
Crack!
Arial froze as she turned towards the sound of the breaking stone. That was when she saw it.
A flash of green behind the rocks. She was in the middle of an ambush.
"Oh no!"
The fastrunner defied her pain as she forced herself onto the rocks that led to her parent's nest. With the determination that could only come from the threat of death, she forced one leg in front of the other and slowly began to ascend the rocks. But in her headlong struggle to find safety she neglected to secure a good hand-hold.
"Wait!"
The hidden runners shout broke Arial from her dash and caused her to try to look back, a costly mistake.
"Wha..." Thud!
As soon as her head collided with the rocks, she could feel herself begin to fall backwards. Unable to stop her inevitable descent, her thoughts immediately turned to her family... to her mother's happy smile... her father's wise eyes... her sister's pink crest... her brother's violet color... a color that she could almost see...
"Oof!"
Arial groaned as her downward momentum suddenly stopped, being replaced with the sensation of being in a warm nest. Though nests didn't typically rise and fall rhythmically.
"Huh?" Aria groggily tried to get up, only to see a somewhat concerned violet fastbiter standing over her.
"Um... hello, I am Mender. I have been sent here to fix a fastrunner's leg," The fastbiter awkwardly spoke as she bowed her head apologetically, "Are you Arial, by any chance?"
Arial mutely allowed her head to rest on the rock below her, suddenly feeling dizzy.
Heh... something tells me that this will be part of a song one day.
The fastbiter tilted her head at the fastrunner's reaction, confused.
"Was it something that I said?"
TO BE CONTINUED IN MENDER'S TALE
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Review of chapter 23:
Whoa, this is just the kind of tragedy I expected! Really wonder if Chomper can save the day... ^^spike
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Review of chapter 24:
Well, if the previous chapter was already action-loaded, this one certainly beat it ^^spike
Very exciting chapter with a happy end and a bit of nostalgia since it reminded me a lot of the epic final battle for the Valley :)
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Thank you for the reviews! :) I am glad that you enjoyed the last few chapters. I must admit that although the misunderstanding was chapters in the making, the full extent of the misunderstanding (and the resulting battle) even surprised me. It was a prime example of one mistake leading to another. But thankfully it ended up (mostly) okay for our favorite dinosaurs. :yes
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Review of Chapter 25:
Well this chapter was a lovely and entertaining read. Well done like always! ^^spike
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Review of the Epi©logue:
Epic? Well yes. The story overall is a very good sequel to the Seven Hunters. While not reaching that level of awesomeness (we're talking about the highest level of awesomeness here so don't get me wrong ;)) it did a perfect job at expanding the universe you created with the first story. It was a great read and I regret that this masterpiece will more than likely never make it on screen... That would make a great second season of the Tv-series, wouldn't it? ^^spike
Now about the actual last chapter... that was a very interesting last chapter. Oh and I should nuke your cities in our Civ 4 game for even daring to end this with a cliffhanger? Too bad there's somebody even higher on my list of priorities... ahem getting OT :p Good to know this is not the end of the series I've so grown to love and envy at the same time. Keep it up! ^^spike
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I am glad to hear that you thought this was a worthy sequel to the original story. :) It ended up being not quite what I expected, as I originally planned to simply have a series of one-shot stories tied together with minimal intervening dialogue, but then an actual 'present day' story formed around the smaller stories and the story turned in a totally unexpected direction. Overall though, I was pleased with how it turned out. Though the 'write as you go along' technique that I used in this story was not as desirable as my use of extensive planning in the Seven Hunters in my opinion, so I plan to return to that style of preparation in my next story.
The next story that I plan on posting is 'Mender's Tale' which will actually be a slightly story-ized version of a roleplay that I have done with a writer on fanfiction.net named Historian1912. As such it will have non-standard pacing and a particular focus on the aforementioned fastbiter, but I hope it will still be enjoyable to fans of my other works in this universe.
Simultaneous to Mender's Tale, I also plan on writing a canon-compliant story with the tentative name of 'Negotiations'. This story will follow Chomper and Ruby through how they first met, how Chomper was taught the leaf-eater language, and how they managed to get into the valley. It can serve as both a prequel to the Seven Hunters, and as a stand-alone story filling in aspects that were not explained in the series. Though we might still see a few OCs from the Seven Hunters as cameos... somehow I think a fastbiter that looks suspiciously like Taunt might managed to get chased by sharpteeth a few times... :DD
But thank you very much for your reviews and constructive comments. :) I hope that you enjoy the next installments that will be coming in the next month or so.