Greatest Sacrafice

[Dosu2Dinner]

Here, have a review!!

Hm, well...I'm interested in finding out who these sharpteeth are...I was going to say they were the ones who attacked Grandma, but those were fastbiters. I can't work it out, I must be thick...

Wow, Grandpa Longneck acting like that? I can't say I didn't expect it, but still - talk about role reversal...

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

They're the ones that dragged Grandma Longneck's body off

Well, what is he supposed to do? Be his calm and controlled self? o.O :blink:

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Chapter: 5
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The young sharptooth was deeply asleep, unlike her parents. Her mother was looking out into the falling Sky Water, keeping watch to ensure Red Claw could not come upon them unawares. Her father had finally come round and now was tending the wounded female laying deeper in the cave. Sky Fire illuminated the world for a brief moment, immediately followed by the loud clap of Sky Rumbling.
The female started at what she had seen for a brief moment. A lone tree had thrown a long shadow, but it had not fit the form of the thing itself. Somehow, it had looked like a longneck, looking directly at the cave.
The next Sky Fire did the same. She narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better visual. Yes, definitely a Longneck-shadow. But there were no Longnecks around to throw it and the tree simply did not match the form at all. She hissed in surprise when Sky Fire struck the tree, setting it ablaze despite the downpour. Thankfully that tree was the only one, so there was no danger.
Blood-red eyes widened when the flames threw long shadows… in the form of a longneck. Something was seriously off here. She backed away from the cave-opening, never once taking her eyes of the dark form on the opposite mountain-wall.
As the fire finally was quenched by the falling Sky Water the shadow faded and when the next bolt of Sky Fire crossed the sky, the tree threw a normal shadow again.
“Tyra.” The voice of her husband came from deeper in the cave. “I did all I could.”
She looked one last time at the tree, before joining him. He was an accomplished healer, and the wounded dinosaur looked somewhat better now that he had tended to her.
Tyra looked her over. “Then we wait, until she either lives or dies.”
“There is not much else we can do anyway, is there?” Her mate said. “How about you get some rest and I’ll keep watch?”
“Good idea.” She made herself comfortable next to their sleeping daughter. “Rec?”
“Yes?” He turned back to her.
“Healer’s opinion. Will she make it?” She gestured to the massive body next to her.
“She is old. The blood-loss was severe.” Rec answered slowly. “Were she younger she might, but if the signs are any indication she is too old to recover from the wounds those Fast Biters dealt her.”
His mate sighed sadly at the notion. “Poor little one.”
“He already believes her dead. There was a flyer over the spot, remember? She probably saw us carry her off.” He lovingly nuzzled her. “Try to sleep, my dear.”
“I will.” Tyra whispered, watching as he took up watch at the cave-entrance.
She did not sleep much. Instead she watched the slow rise and fall on the massive chest next to her. She had no idea why she had even insisted they should try to save the older female. After all, by all accounts they should have feasted that day. She shifted her head, studying the unmoving face. She recalled her first meeting with the other female. She had been searching for her son in the very valley they were now only a short journey away from, together with her husband. But before finding their son – who had been hatched by some little ones, which ironically were the very same young ones she and Rec tried to eat – they had had a run-in with several grown-ups, including two old longnecks. Chomper had later told them those longnecks were the grandparents of the longneck who had hatched him. Perhaps that was why she had insisted they try to save the old longneck: she could relate to her. They both would go to great lengths to save their little ones. Sadly, it seemed that the lengths the flattooth had gone to were greater than she could survive.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The ëpoor little one’ had been found not long after the talk between his grandfather and Mr. Threehorn. Now Grandpa Longneck and Littlefoot were curled up at their resting-grounds, the older longneck using his body to shield the young one from the worst brunt of the elements. They had been talking the entire time now, mostly about their feelings.
The tirade of the threehorn had finally woken up Littlefoot’s grandfather and he had silently sworn that he would use his energy to support Littlefoot, who was far too young to have to deal with this, rather than allow himself to succumb to his grief.
“I never heard you sing…” The whisper barely reached his ears over the sounds of the storm above them.
“What do you mean?” Grandpa brought his face closer to the small one of his grandson.
“You hardly ever sang.” Littlefoot looked up. “Can you sing that lullaby to me?”
The older male blinked a few times in surprise, before slowly nodding. “You might find I don’t have a good singing voice though.”
The circle of life
Is simple yet profound
A quite straight forward line
That goes around and round and round
It starts at the beginning
And it will never end
And that to me
Must surely be
Life's secret, my friend
For the circle of life
Continues every day
None of us can stop it
From going on its’ way
With each new generation
One more circle is complete
On and on and on
It goes repeating
Repeating
Repeating
Repeating
It nurtures the young
Until they're fully grown
And soon life's magic circle
Brings them children of their own
The family of nature
Each husband and wife
Enhances the circle
The ever-widening circle
The wonderful circle of life
Littlefoot smiled weakly. His grandfather’s voice was much deeper than his grandmother’s had been, but the song still sounded wonderful with it.

[Dosu2Dinner]

Ah, so that's who them sharpteeth are... Nicely explained...I expect you laid it out like that for the slower people like me...

Nice use of the song there, very moving. And does this mean Chomper has a sister?  :blink:

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Perhaps Or perhaps I just wanted to explain their motives for doing stuff

He might have in this universe...  

[Ducky123]

I just became emotional for some reason

I was a bit confused of Chapter 4 when there was this injured one... I seriously thought that's just some random carnivore but now I finally got it  

Letting Chomper's parents saving Grandma was a very very VERY brilliant move  

WAIT! That means... she's ALIVE yet...

and yay for daily updates

that's going to be an awesome fic, you got me

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

*whistles innocently*

Thank you, I am glad you enjoy it that much, but to quote Rec:

but if the signs are any indication she is too old to recover from the wounds those Fast Biters dealt her.

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Chapter: 6
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Days passed, flying by like tree-stars on the wind. The weather finally seemed to match the overall mood: the Sky Water would not stop falling, drenching the earth in and around the Great Valley. More than once rock-walls threatened to give way, opening the Valley to Sharpteeth. Each and every time word of that somehow reached Littlefoot he’d go into shock, all but clinging to his Grandfather for hours afterwards and Grandpa Longneck made it a habit to carry Littlefoot to his nest each evening, both needing the simple closeness of the other.
Where the grandson was haunted by day, the grandfather was haunted at night. Grandpa slept poorly; even in sleep the lack of a body beside him was evident.
He would wake several times in a cold sweat – at least how much that was possible in the downpour – during a single night. Too many memories mixed with her final moments, keeping him from finding rest. Had Littlefoot ever been awake during such a moment, he’d never have recognized the loving father-figure that had raised him in his mother’s stead. Instead, he would have been terrified by the haunted and disoriented look in those once loving eyes.
Despite the silent and unspoken promise not to fall under the pressure, Grandpa Longneck was doing just that.
Relief and help came a few days later. Bron had been near the Valley with his herd when the Sky Water first started falling and they had sought shelter behind the Great Wall from the worst of the storms.
Before he had even properly entered, let alone seen his son, a pink Threehorn had come up to him, asking for a moment of his time. It took him a moment to recognize her as Tria, Old Threehorn’s new mate.
“It’s good you came by.” She told him as they entered the forest.
“How come?” Shorty trailed after him as he followed the female away from the rest of his herd.
“Littlefoot needs you.” Tria bluntly told him. “And before you run off, hear me out.”
“Did something happen to him?” Bron was concerned. His duties kept him away from the Great Valley more than he’d like and months could pass where he didn’t see his son.
“Not to him.” She stopped him, gesturing out from between the trees. “What do you see?”
The falling Sky Water nearly obscured what she was pointing at.
“Littlefoot and Papa Longneck.” Bron answered her, bringing his head down to her level.
“That’s all that’s left.” She whispered. “A week or two ago an earth-shake hit. Several rubble-mounds collapsed in the aftermath. Grandma Longneck was one of those checking which ones had. The one she went to check up upon HAD collapsed. She held the breach in the Great Wall against over a dozen Fast Biters and even managed to cause a rockslide that closed it again, but she did not get back in.”
“Oh no…” Bron breathed, looking up again. He only now noticed how his father-in-law seemed slightly slumped.
“The Fast Biters killed her and her … body was dragged off by several bigger Sharpteeth.” Tria confirmed what he had already realized. “And while Grandpa Longneck truly tries to be there for Littlefoot, his own grief is overwhelming. They need someone who can be there for them. The other Valley-residents try, but it is not enough. What they offer is not what those two need: the support of a loving family.” She motioned towards the form of the older longneck. “They need you right now.”
He nodded, looking over at Shorty, who followed him out from the relative cover of the trees into the downpour.
Tria looked after them for a bit, before turning to return to her own family. As she left the forest on the other side, she was stopped by the voice of one of Cera’s friends. Ruby the Fast Runner softly, but quickly told the Threehorn that all was not well with Chomper: he kept blaming himself for what happened because he did not smell the Fast Biters until it was too late. He thought that if he just had smelled them on time, Littlefoot would not have lost his grandmother.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Tyra froze at the sound of falling stones. A quick glance around told her that no one was there.
They must have come loose from all the Sky Water. She set a few hesitant steps, softly cursing the weather which had not changed for days. While it hid her from her potential prey, it could also hide Red Claw from her and that was something she really could do without.
Despite being a fully-grown adult, she knew that should it come down to it, he’d wipe the ground with her, especially now that she was hunting in the very center of his territory.
She moved on, every sense on high alert. It couldn’t be much further now. Finally she found what she was looking for. She leaned down, studying the Fast Biter. It’d have to do.
Over the sound of the Sky Water came a terrifying roar. She looked up for a second, seeing a silhouette coming ever closer. It’d definitely have to do. She snatched up the Fast Biter and made a run for it.
Over the sounds of Sky Rumbling came a much more terrible sound: a Sharptooth giving chase. Had her mouth not been full, she would have cursed.
The light-green Sharptooth ran for her life as the other one came ever closer. He was not hindered by the weight of a Fast Biter and knew the terrain, which helped him a lot in catching up with her.
But unlike her, he was not desperate. Tyra made a turn left, up a hillside she’d never even have attempted had it not been storming for days beforehand. By some miracle she reached the top before the stones crashed down. She did not stick around to see Red Claw’s reaction to her escape. She didn’t need to: his furious roar echoed for miles in the desolate landscape of the Mysterious Beyond.

[Ducky123]

Ah, Bron returns, hopefully he can help Littlefoot and Grandpa  :unsure:

Whoa! Even Sharpteeth have to run away from Redclaw, what a meanie :blink

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Yup, Bron's back xD

Well, don't they do so in the Series as well? Besides, he's kinda pissed atm xD

[Dosu2Dinner]

No wonder Chomper blames himself, if he saw his parents drag of Grandma...unless he didn't stick around to see that...

And I sense Redclaw is going to be a pest...oh, and hey Bron!

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Nope, the wall was closed before he could see He blames himself cause he COULD have smelled the Fast Biters, meaning she wouldn't have needed to go out and wouldn't have ended up as dinner (as far as they know).

He might be...

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Chapter: 7
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
With Bron there, the old Longneck finally started to recover. Although his sleep would still be broken by terrible sleep-stories, the fact that he could somewhat depend on someone else to take care of Littlefoot and so could focus on himself a bit more helped greatly.
The weather improved somewhat too, finally short times of light breaking apart the Sky Puffies. But there was bad news too: travelers would report an increased activity of Sharpteeth around the valley, most talking about a family of the greater breed having taken up residence at the side Grandma Longneck had died.
At first Chomper thought it might be his parents, and while the overall description of the two grown-ups fit, the third member, a half-grown female, was unknown to him. He preferred it that way, actually. He did not want to think about how Littlefoot would react had those been his parents, considering strange Sharpteeth – so most likely those three – had carried of the body of the old Longneck.
What was surprising was that Red Claw seemingly abandoned that part of his territory to the three new-comers, traveling and hunting only on the other side of the valley. This made for a strange safe-zone where the two territories bordered on one another, since all four were seemingly reluctant to go there.
It soon became clear WHY Red Claw had abandoned the northern reaches of the Mysterious Beyond: Screech had been killed by the female of the two grown-ups. Had she been alone, he would have retaliated almost immediately, but considering she had two near fully-grown Sharpteeth to back her up he waited for the right moment to strike. It shouldn’t be said that he did not know the virtue of patience.
As the weather continued to improve, Littlefoot finally came out of his shell again and while sometimes he would descend into grieved silence, his laughter could be heard again in the valley, though only for short bursts.
“I think it’s better if I stay here.” Bron one evening told Grandpa Longneck. “I just can’t leave you two this soon with a good conscience.”
They were resting on the ground at the sleeping-place of the Longnecks. Between their bodies slept Littlefoot and Shorty, curled together.
“You cannot abandon your herd.” Grandpa stated, gesturing over with his head to where the members of Bron’s herd were sleeping already.
“I can abandon it more easily than my family.” His son-in-law answered him, looking down on Littlefoot. “I left once, and I lost my wife. I left again, and I lost my mother-in-law. Who will be next? No, I will stay.”
“You could not have saved her.” It took a great deal of willpower for the old Longneck to admit it. “She was lost the moment those Fast Biters attacked.”
“Perhaps I could not have.” Bron whispered. “But I could have been there for Littlefoot. Instead it took a storm for me to get to him and even hear what had happened. What would have happened had the bad weather not hit when it did? How long would he and you have floundered on alone?”
He brought his head closer to the one of the older Longneck. “What would have become of the both of you had I not showed up? Do not lie to me, Papa Longneck. You were breaking, following her into death. I saw the look in your eyes. Luckily Littlefoot is still too young to recognize it.”
Grandpa Longneck sighed. “You are right, of course. But still, I do not feel comfortable with you just abandoning them.”
“It’s not like I’ll just send them away.” Bron chuckled softly. “I’ll make the proper arrangements, do not worry.”
His father-in-law smiled weakly, before laying his head down to sleep. As the old one descended into sleep, the younger male remained awake for a little while longer, watching over the three sleeping bodies beside him.
As he looked north, for a fleeting moment one of the few Sky Puffies took the form of a Longneck, before being blown apart by a breeze. Then, he too went to sleep.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
White Star, the youngest member of the Sharptooth-family, was walking through their newly acquired territory, looking for an easy meal. That was easier said than done when her parents forbade her from hunting Valley-residents. She sniffed the air.
“As if there’s anything from outside the Valley around here…” She muttered, moving softly between the pointy rocks. “Anything that gets even remotely near here will go there immediately…”
She froze as she heard grunting coming from her right. She sneaked forward, sniffing the air as she progressed. Something big was in trouble. As she rounded a corner she saw a most astonishing sight: an adult Longneck was trapped under rubble and straining to dislodge it from his back. The rain must have weakened the slopes of the hills, causing them to collapse as he walked across it, dragging him down from the top.
A scream from above alerted her to the presence of another Longneck. The female had been lucky: she had not been caught in the rockslide that had trapped the male.
The Longneck would be a feast, no doubt. But they could not leave the cave unguarded, so he was simply too big.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw the side of his face: a scar ran down just behind his eye. It was famous: the Lone Dinosaur. He growled at her, but considering his current predicament, he was pretty much helpless against her…
The wind carried an elusive, but unmistakable scent: Sharptooth. She felt the soft vibrations of something big approaching. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the massive dark-green form of her father stalk closer. He looked worried.
“I know that smell. Your brother is close.” He whispered. “Meaning his friends won’t be far behind. Come, we must leave before they see us.”
“But the Longneck…” She started.
“The Lone Dinosaur will survive another day. Come now.” Her father ordered. She followed him, only glancing over her shoulder one more time. She thought she saw some children near the female just before she herself rounded the corner.

[Ducky123]

This female Sharptooth seems to have a major role and we don't know much about her so far... and she killed... SCREECH?!? Awesome
Bron staying in the Valley is the right decision imo. Littlefoot and Grandpa need him, his herd will survive w/o him for sure.
And finally introducing: The Lone Dinosaur, trapped though  :blink:

you left this one on a cliffhanger Can't wait 'till the next update

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

and she killed... SCREECH?!? Awesome

It's less awesome when you consider that Red Claw is now kinda P.O'ed at her

Yup and yup... I guess there was a bit too much rain?

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Chapter: 8
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
Author’s Note: Going on a Weekend-long vacation, so no updates till Sunday, sorry guys

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

“I wonder why that Sharptooth left.” Cera wondered as they led Doc and Dara to the Valley-entrance. They had seen the pale-green Sharptooth as she had walked away from the site instead of attacking the trapped Longneck.
“What do you think?” Dara asked Doc, walking a bit behind him on the ledge they were using to get to one of the few entrances to the Valley.
“I’m not sure.” He admitted, looking back over the Mysterious Beyond. “It certainly wasn’t because she was afraid of me.”
“Probably because they still had enough meat.” Littlefoot said, gritting his teeth. He kicked a loose stone away with much more force than had been strictly necessary. The sound of it falling down echoed between the walls of the surrounding rocks.
The two older Longnecks were surprised at this, but Ducky softly mouthed ëLater’ and shook her head when they made to ask him what was wrong.
“How about you warn your grandfather that there are visitors in the Valley, while we help them?” She suggested to Littlefoot as they crested the Valley-wall. The others nodded in agreement and he left.
“Now, what’s this about?” Doc lowered his head to the level of the children when Littlefoot had disappeared to where the silhouette of Grandpa Longneck and several others could be seen in the distance. The children told him what had happened to Grandma Longneck and how three Sharpteeth, of which the pale one was one, had carried her off afterwards.
The two Longnecks shared a glance of horror. Granted, most their interaction while in the Valley had been with Grandpa Longneck, but from what little they had had with her, it had become clear she was a wonderful dinosaur. No wonder Littlefoot was so devastated over her death.
“The children told us.” He later told the Longneck-male when meeting him. Grief had left its’ marks on the old one’s face, telling of a terrible blow. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Much obliged.” The other nodded sadly in thanks, tears shimmering in the depths of his eyes.
“How’s the kid handling it?” Doc gestured over to where the children were dozing in the light of the Bright Circle. Littlefoot was resting between Cera and a youngster who had introduced himself as Shorty, adoptive brother of Littlefoot.
“As well as can be expected.” Bron answered him. “It’s the loss of his mother all over again.”
Dara gasped softly. “Oh dear…”

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

White Star followed her father back to the cave, occasionally looking over her shoulder.  It was because of this she missed her father coming to an abrupt stop and crashed into him. Luckily he was simply too big for her to topple, otherwise both of them would have fallen to the ground.
He was staring into their cave, where she only now noticed the massive body standing in its’ depths. A long neck turned to them, the owner hissing in pain when half-healed wounds objected to the movement.
“The Longneck woke.” Her mother said, stating the obvious. The light-green Sharptooth stood between the Flattooth and the entrance, her fingers twitching with her nervousness.
White Star ducked a bit when the gaze of the Longneck fell on her. The old female was glaring.
“You’re Chomper’s mother, aren’t you?” All three Sharpteeth jumped at this. Despite a slight accent, the Sharptooth of the Longneck was flawless.
“How can you…?” Tyra asked, her blood-red eyes narrowing.
“Standing in the Great Beyond can do quite a few things.” The Longneck smiled weakly. “But I couldn’t stay.”
“You did come close to doing just that, though.” Rec told her as he entered the cave to step up to his wife. “Those Fast Biters nearly had you for dinner.”
“And I thank you for saving me.” The Longneck lowered her head a bit. “I believe we never got properly introduced, didn’t we?”
“Only if tail-against-face counts as an introduction.” Tyra chuckled, carefully approaching the older female. “Thrice even.”
“That would have been my mate.” The Longneck chuckled too, slowly reaching out with her neck to the Sharptooth. “I went for your legs. My name is Tosa, though everyone by now calls me Grandma Longneck.”
“Tyra.” The light-green Sharptooth pointed to the darker-colored male. “My mate Rec and our daughter White Star.” She gestured to the younger female still standing half outside of the cave.
“Chomper never mentioned having a sister.” Grandma Longneck studied the young Sharptooth in surprise.
“We never got around to telling him he did.” Rec frowned. “We hardly had him used to us when Red Claw forced us to send him away to your Valley.”
“Yes, he did mention that.” The old Longneck carefully bedded herself down. “Not that that kept him out of trouble.”
“That he gets from his father.” Tyra sighed. “They keep getting into trouble like a flattooth-hatchling in Fast Biter Valley.”
“As if you never got us into trouble, ma’am ëI’ll get us dinner by killing Red Claw’s lackey and making him furious at us’.” Rec growled under his breath. His mate glared at him, flashing her teeth. He got the hint. “Speaking of dinner, our Longneck-guest needs food quickly.” He left the cave again, walking deeper into the surrounding hills.
“White Star, come here.” Tyra beckoned her daughter closer. “Stay with the Longneck while I get our dinner.” She followed her husband out and away from the cave, leaving the pale-green Sharptooth with the dark-grey Longneck.

[Ducky123]

GRANDMA CAN SPEAK SHARPTOOTH?!?!?  :blink:

Now that's interesting

I'm so glad she's alive oh and you named her Tosa just like somerandomfangirl Coincidence?

They had a pretty enjoyable conversation

"Only if tail-against-face counts as an introduction.” Tyra chuckled, carefully approaching the older female. “Thrice even.”

 

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

Well, I point you to the American dude who suddenly only spoke Swedish after a hit against the head xD

Well, I think it is. There are only so many names you can make from Apatosaurus, after all

Well, it did happen like that *shrug*

[Dosu2Dinner]

Aarrgh, I'm late...

Ahem, so here are my thoughts on the two chapters - great stuff. It seems that now dear Tosa is again, things shall get interesting...not that they weren't interesting before, of course!  

I'm still interested in seeing what move Redclaw will make next. I don't know if he's biding his time, or what... :blink:

And I want Chomper to meet his sister! Well, presumably he will eventually...

Great work!

[Sleeping-force's-inside]

It's okay ^^

Yup and Yup and Red Claw IS bidding his time... For the moment... *evil grin*