Chapter 63: Crazy Cold Time Sura had to choke back a sob as she held the egg and flesh in her hand, even though the flesh was old and smelly she still nuzzled it like it was the most important object on earth even if it was from a dead Swimmer. It was one small part of her sister that had physically made it to her and she cherished it. However, that was nothing in comparison to the egg that she held so carefully in her hand as if she feared it would break at any moment. Her sister would have more than one child, one that none of them expected would come, however the most shocking thing about the situation was the person who had delivered these two precious parcels; The Fast Biter.
Sura looked at The Fast Biter and nodded before she went back to place the egg and flesh next to the appropriate nest. Many of the children gazed at the egg in awe as their mother returned to her previous position; in front of The Fast Biter and to his surprise, she offered him a hand. He looked at it a little hesitant at first but he eventually took Sura’s hand and allowed her to help him up.
“Thank you” said Sura.
The Fast Biter nodded, he understood what she would say long before she said it.
“How is this possible?” asked Sura.
Chomper translated her query.
“I’m sorry, I lost one egg on the way, I managed to save one of your sister’s eggs while Red Claw wasn’t looking and…Screech? Saved another one” Chomper’s translation was one of surprise. Ruphus cocked his head in confusion.
“Why would Screech save one of your sister’s eggs? That doesn’t sound like him” he said more to Sura but Chomper still translated his words to The Fast Biter who was also the one to answer.
“Because we thought it was the right thing to do, that hunt was wrong, Red Claw was starting to become Sharptooth and they have suffered by his claws”
“How did you even get here?” asked Sura. The Fast Biter’s response surprised her.
“The Badlands and I’m not the only one who is using that entrance” said The Fast Biter.
Sura and Ruphus shared a concerned glance at what The Fast Biter was implying. “What do you mean?” asked Chomper, as The Fast Biter replied Chomper’s face paled. “Oh no”
“What is it Chomper?” asked Ruby.
“It’s Red Claw, Screech and Thud, they are heading here as we speak in The Badlands they got through a hidden entrance.”
Everyone gasped. This was very bad news. If Red Claw had found a way into The Valley through The Badlands which were basically inaccessible to the larger dinosaurs of The Great Valley that could match Red Claw in combat then they were all in significant trouble.
The Fast Biter began speaking again but Chomper was to shocked by the announcement but luckily for him; Ruby also could understand Sharptooth and said “It’s not as bad as it sounds. Screech and Thud want to defect and only I managed to find a way through and I don’t think that they’ll risk coming into The Great Valley in The Cold Time, there is not enough food and the way I came in Red Claw would never be able to pass”
“Screech and Thud want to defect?” said Chomper in astonishment.
“That’s something I never would’ve thought I’d live to hear” said Ruphus. However, Sura was more curious about The Fast Biter then the current news. “Where did you come from?” she asked. Her question was translated quickly.
The Fast Biter pointed up to an area of the cliff near the top of the waterfall. “There is a cave up there and a nest that I found, it overlooks the entire area and she found me there and chased me down a hole that led to the bottom, behind those bushes” He pointed to the bushes he had come from.
“She?”
“A female Swimmer, old as him” The Fast Biter pointed at Cyrest “She was very……cold and was not of a hospitable disposition.”
“Who would be?” said Chomper to an undertone to Ruby “If a Fast Biter appeared near a Swimmer” Ruby nodded. However, their talk was cut off by a rather hasty movement.
Sura didn’t waste time when she was given the translation. She sprinted past The Fast Biter and into the water with a furious splash and charged through the water, a large wave proceeding her body and she reach the other shore and advanced through the bushes and their it was. A large hole at the bottom of the cliff, concealed by the foliage. There were The Fast Biter tracks and as if to confirm Sura’s suspicions there were the Swimmer foot prints that no doubt belonged to Sculra.
“This is how she snuck up on us the day Ducky made that agreement with her” Sura looked up at the top of the cliff just as Ruphus arrived on site. “How long has that evil monster been spying on us?” whispered Sura.
“I’ll find out” Ruphus said fiercely then disappeared into the hole.
The slide was steep, almost vertical, but still a very tight angle and the dirt was slippery but the sides of the wall had plenty of handholds and the small size of the tunnel made it easier for Ruphus to climb but that didn’t mean that it was easy. Soon Ruphus was panting and sweating with the effort and his arms ached as he pulled himself up on and on but his efforts were rewarded, soon he saw a small light above him and he quickly climbed with his reserve strength and pulled himself through the small hole in the floor of the cave. Panting with exhaustion.
“Why, how nice to see you, Ruphus” said a falsely sweet voice, though there was a subtle hint of venom in it. Ruphus stood at his full height when he looked over at Sculra leaning on the cliff wall where the large crack could be seen.
“I can’t believe you” said Ruphus quietly though his next works were shouted as loudly as a breathless Swimmer could shout. “How long have you been spying on us from here!?” he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth at her.
Sculra walked over to him and around him, brushing her body against his in a seductive manner. “I’ve been around long enough to see you in action big boy” She gave his upper tail a slap and Ruphus turned red in the face from embarrassment but that quickly changed to downright fury when he got the implications of Sculra’s message that she had seen him at his most intimate times.
“How dare you! How dare you invade me and my family’s privacy! You sick bastard!” Ruphus pushed her away, none to gently. How much he wanted to attack and kill that disgrace to their kind and the longer he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him. He looked around the cave, it was secret and no one was around; yes, he would do it and this time no one would stop him.
Ruphus advanced towards her in a fighting stance and snarled two words “You’re mine!”
With those words Sculra looked suddenly fearful, she turned tail but it was too late to run. Ruphus charged and dived for Sculra and they both fell on the ground. The scuffle broke out as Ruphus pulled himself up on Sculra as she tried to kick him off, resulting in Ruphus getting a few good blows to the belly but despite being winded Ruphus pushed on, punching every inch of Sculra his fists could reach as he pulled himself up towards her neck.
Sculra was nowhere near as young or strong as Ruphus but that didn’t mean that she didn’t have any fight in her and Ruphus was already tired out from his climb. She managed to roll over so she was above Ruphus and gave him a punch to the face and stood up on his body and stomped her foot down on his chest. Ruphus gasped in pain but just as Sculra turned to run, he lassoed his tail around her leg and pulled her down. Ruphus and Sculra both rushed to their feet as fast as they could.
Ruphus got to his feet first and with a yell he charged right into Sculra, the two Swimmers smashed into the cave wall with the crack on it with a loud crash that shook the wall. Ruphus opened his mouth and sank his teeth into the flesh of Sculra’s chest, there was a terrible shriek from Sculra as her blood flowed down her chest and in blind retaliation she kicked Rupus hard in the upper tail. Ruphus gasped and moaned in pain as he feel on his knees, still holding onto Sculra however she pulled him up and slammed him against the wall and proceeded to make a quick succession of punches at his face but through fear induced speed or instinct Ruphus dodged each blow however the wall behind cracked further.
Ruphus slid onto his knees and headbutted Sculra in the gut and lifted her and threw her over him and against the wall which was now covered in huge cracks letting in more light to the interior of the cave. Sculra got up but only received a faceful of fists as Ruphus landed blow after blow onto her face which turned red with blood from her nose.
“FEEL THIS!” Ruphus thrust his elbow over Sculra’s throat and pushed her hard against the rock wall, chocking her.
Sculra coughed, she just managed to choke out “You know it won’t make a difference, your daughter will still do The Trial, your beloved mate has made sure of that by teaching her the wisdoms” Ruphus was too blinded with rage to hear, he was actually filled with an unpleasant kind of happiness at seeing his nemesis in this pain and to Sculra’s dismay she found Ruphus pushing harder at her throat. She chocked and tried to breath but her airway was constricted, she realised to her horror that this might be it, her hands wobbled about wildly and she tried to push Ruphus off but he had her pinned. However, he had her pinned to tightly. Sculra started to sink lower and lower, she was almost on the ground, her face blue due to oxygen depletion.
CRACK! It all happened in an instant; the entire wall gave way over the onslaught while Sculra and Ruphus cantered on the edge but because Sculra was now in a sitting position, only her top half dangled out over the edge, while the rest of her body was safely inside the cave and just enough to keep her from falling. Ruphus however was not so lucky he had been pushing with all his might against Sculra and when the wall gave way he fell right over her and off the ledge and down into open space.
Falling.
Someone screaming.
“NOOO!”The water coming up to meet him.
SPLASH! All went black.
*
“No” Sura whispered. She shook her head in denial and advanced through the water much slower than before. When she saw Ruphus fall, tumbling uncontrollably from near the top of the cliff she ran as fast as she could towards him but everything, his fall, her scream, her movements, the screams of her children; they all seemed to happen in slow motion except for the rapid pulsing of her heart which was now on overdrive as she made her way through the water towards the other side of the river and the opposite bank when she stopped.
A sickening feeling of dread came over her as she saw blood fill the water. Sura shook her head violently, unaware of the tears falling or her children running over to the fallen body of their father with her. Sura finally arrived at the body of her mate, she had to hold her mouth shut in order to keep from chucking up as she walked through her mate’s warm blood. Sura pulled a motionless Ruphus onto the shore and cradled his head in her arms, just as she had done when her sister was fatally wounded.
She observed that the right side of Ruphus’s body had taken the brunt of the impact of not just the water but also the rocks. His right side was covered in gashes and scrapes. His head was bleeding on the side and his lips and nose were also scraped up badly. Blood was actually coming from his mouth and his right arm and leg looked very badly out of place; they were both dislocated.
It was the water that had saved Ruphus, it had cushioned his fall just enough but it was too shallow and the area he fell in was one of mild rocky topography and that was the main cause of all his injuries. Sura let out a slight sigh of relief when she saw Ruphus breathing. He was a lucky guy. Sura pulled Ruphus’s head up and nuzzled him.
“Daddy!”
Sura looked up to see all her children coming towards her looking terrified, many were crying. “He’s alive!” she yelled out in order to put her kids minds at ease, however they were still traumatised from seeing their father fall and nearly die.
“What’s going on here?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Oh my!”
Everyone turned to see several other Valley residents approaching, apparently attracted by the all action. This included all four of the Longnecks, Topps, Ariel, Mr Thicknose and a few Hollowhorns, Flyers, Clubtails and other dinosaurs. All the other members of The Gang were now present too. Everyone gasped when they saw Ruphus though and many of them screamed when they caught sight of The Fast Biter.
Mr Threehorn was immediately on defensive when he saw The Fast Biter. He advanced in a threatening manner, his horns lowered but The Fast Biter didn’t move or even change his stance from before he was just watching Ruphus having his leg and arm relocated with two terrible cracks by Grandma Swimmer and his body carefully carried back to the nest where he was gently laid down in his sleeping spot so everyone could see the state he was in.
His body was swamped very quickly by many of his children who pushed him and begged him to get up but their father was unseeing and unhearing. Their aunt gently nudged them all away and allowed them to come with her so she could provide them with comfort. No one seemed to notice the open cave above or Sculra crawling away, coughing up blood and totally drained of energy as she disappeared from her old nest without being spotted but the marks of the fight were still left on the cave and her along with Ruphus.
“What happened? Ruphus? The Fast Biter?” asked Grandpa Longneck.
Sura took notice of Mr Threehorn’s threatening position near The Fast Biter. “Don’t hurt him, he has done nothing wrong here, he is here with our leave for now”
“Have you lost your mind, Sura?” retorted Topps, not taking his eyes off of The Fast Biter.
“No, he has returned one of my sister’s eggs to me and has not tried to harm any of us” said Sura firmly.
“Then what happened to Ruphus?” demanded Topps, sounding convinced that The Fast Biter had attacked the wounded Swimmer.
“He fell from up there” Sura pointed up to the new cave high up on the cliff.
“Where did that come from?” said Ariel and flew up to take a look at the cave. She saw the old nest and the footprints of The Fast Biter and two Swimmer’s and a lot of the sight was drenched with blood. She glided back down. “It looks like a fight happened up there, I could see The Fast Biter tracks and two pairs of Swimmer tracks” she said.
“Then it could have been The Fast Biter” said Topps glaring at The Fast Biter.
“It wasn’t!” said Sura firmly. “He was down here the whole time Ruphus was up there and he only went up there because The Fast Biter said he saw Sculra up there” Everyone looked at Sura in surprise.
“Ruphus went up there and short while later the cave wall broke open from the inside and Ruphus was falling and saw I Sculra, clear as day, she was on the ground” explained Sura.
Oh, my goodness” said Grandma Longneck.
There was a sudden groan and a choked gurgle before Ruphus could be seen opening his eyes and rolling onto his belly and coughing up all the blood that had leaked into his mouth. When he finished he lay there in a trembling heap, rubbing his head and letting out a pained moan. Sura was by his side in an instant and she made sure Ruphus knew that, she embraced and nuzzled him. “Never scare me like that again dear” she said holding on tightly to her mate.
Ruphus could only allow himself to be hugged by Sura, he was in too much shock and he had a terrible headache. He lay back and moaned as Sura gently helped him back down. Everything was spinning to him and he could not form any clear, coherent picture since all images and sounds were blurred only smell and touch could be relied on to gain any idea of what was happening. He felt Sura’s hand and held it tightly, he was very dazed and he couldn’t really remember what had happened before but after a few minutes he found his vision clearing and his memory returning. He saw in his mind’s eye Sculra, the fight and the fall but the conversation they had was still little more than an incoherent babbling.
“Ruphus, how do you feel?” asked Sura anxiously.
“I feel like I’ve had several rotten treesweets” he gave a slight chuckle despite his situation as did Sura who gave him a relieved smile.
“I’m surprised it’s not more than that” chuckled Sura in a vain attempt at humour but she couldn’t hide the relief she felt at seeing Ruphus like this, he was okay despite his fall.
“Daddy” Ducky was the first over to her father having been held back when her father fell by Trough and Ruby, now she threw herself onto her father’s beak and held it tightly, shivering uncontrollably. “I am so glad you’re alright” she whispered, wiping away a single tear as her father put a hand around her and held her gently by his beak while he nuzzled her consolably. However soon Ducky was joined by no less then all of her siblings along with Spike and in no time Ruphus found himself swamped by all his children. They were all so relieved that their father was okay and there were a lot of nuzzles exchanged between him and his children.
It took a little time but he finally managed to get all his children off of him and raise himself into a sitting position with no shortness of grimacing from the painful grazes along his right side. “Just stay put dear” said Sura with much concern as she helped her mate over to the nearest rock so he could sit with a back rest.
“Not like I can do much else at the moment dear” replied Ruphus as he laid his head back.
Sura got up and walked back to the assembled adults, none of whom was standing in a relaxed position, everyone was tense with The Fast Biter around. Topps was actually maintaining an uncompromising guard over him but The Fast Biter never moved from his position or showed any act of aggression. As a matter of fact, he sat on his haunches and watched with hardly a move, rather much like a statue.
“What are we going to do with this guy?” asked Topps staring down at The Fast Biter.
“He’s here at my leave Mr Threehorn, he’s helped my family and The Great Valley by coming here” said Sura with more authority than last time.
“HA! That’s a laugh, what has he done to benefit you or The Valley?” said Mr Threehorn as stubborn as ever.
Sura huffed out of annoyance. “Come with me” she said firmly to all even though her words were spoken specifically to Topps as she marched quickly to her nest and picked up the newly returned egg and held it in front of her so everyone could see it. “That Fast Biter returned me this egg from my sister who was killed by Red Claw at great risk to himself and he also told us news of Red Claw’s coming, if that is not worthy of trust then what is?” she asked.
“He could be playing you for a fool, making you trust him then in the dead of night he’ll take you in your sleep” said Topps in response, raising a fair point which Grandpa and Grandma thought to raise.
“He might be right, have no way of knowing what he really wants” said Grandma Longneck.
It was then that Chomper stepped in with a more compelling argument. “I smelt no lie from him”
“And you’re a Sharptooth” said Topps.
“Mr Threehorn, Chomper has our trust and he say’s The Fast Biter’s words are true, I trust Chomper and if this Fast Biter has gone out of his way to do this for my family and the Valley then I am willing to put doubt aside and trust him for the moment” said Sura a little harsher then she intended when Topps made the attack on Chomper.
Topps and Sura were now facing each other down in a fierce staring match with everyone watching with apprehension. Neither was standing down from there fronts and it was set to continue for a very long tome but that was not something anyone was willing to stand by and watch. Grandpa Longneck stepped between them both. “Break it up you too, there is no need for this behaviour” he said firmly eyeing them both. Sura reluctantly withdrew her gaze from Topps as did he with her. Grandpa then turned to Sura. “I am inclined to trust Sura and Chomper but I don’t trust The Fast Biter to stay around but if what he says about Red Claw is true then perhaps he should stay but not around the children.” Ruphus nodded in agreement from where he sat and so did several others.
“Fine” said Sura “but then where would The Fast Biter go then?” she gestured to the apprehensive looking Fast Biter, he understood what was going on through Ruby’s translation and now he was not sure if he liked where the conversation was now going.
“How about The Secret Caverns?” said Chomper. Everyone looked at him, making Chomper think he’d said something wrong but this train of thought couldn’t have been more wrong.
“That’s a great idea, Chomper” said Ruby “he could live in The Secret Caverns and we could keep an eye on him” she said.
“And your willing take that risk? He could eat you in the middle of the night” called one of the nearby Longnecks.
“Regardless we still need to decide now whether to let him in and under the supervision of Chomper and Ruby.” said Grandpa Longneck, he looked around at the assembled dinosaurs, it wasn’t the whole herd but the whole herd never actually showed for meetings anyway since they were voluntary for the most past but there was still a significant number of spectators that represented every herd in The Great Valley. “And I think we should decide this now.”
“I vote no!” said Topps firmly, a cascade of ëNo’s’ followed him. However, the Fast Biter let out a sharp screech that made everyone turn to him. When he was sure he had silence he turned to Chomper and started growling when he was done communicating with Chomper he stood to attention as Chomper addressed the assembled dinosaurs.
“He say’s that he will swear in blood that he will remain with us at all times and that he will not harm a single dinosaur in The Great Valley and if this pact where to be broken then he will accept his death by The Valley’s residents without hassle” Chomper finished addressing everyone and The Fast Biter saw this as his time. He may have already had a nasty scrape on his tail but this ritual required a fresh offering of blood now. He drew his claw over his side and a little over his abdomen which was a far larger wound then necessary but he knew that now was not the time for half measures. He placed his bloody claw up and bowled his head, he just needed to wait till they returned the favour.
Chomper translated The Fast Biter’s ending growls. “If you accept me then return the favour if not then you can do what you want with me. But remember that I know where Red Claw is coming from and I can help fight him.”
The residents started murmuring among themselves for several minutes but soon a consensus was finally laid in to Grandpa Longneck. “It appears that the majority is in favour of The Fast Biter staying” He said.
Sura stepped forward to the Fast Biter and with a sharp stone she cut her side and offered the bloodied hand to The Fast Biter, he took it and the shook hands. They had an agreement.
“Take him away then” growled Topps unpleasantly to Chomper and Ruby before he marched off in a rather foul mood.
“See you guys later” said Chomper to his friends and they all exchanged a fair well as Chomper and Ruby led The Fast Biter off towards The Secret Caverns.
*
“Well, that is not something you see in The Great Valley everyday” said Cyrest as he helped dress the cut on Sura’s side.
“I can’t believe he went through all that trouble to take Bluey’s egg here, he had no reason too” replied Sura.
“That’s what troubles me, he seems to kind and we have no idea what his true motivations are. If you ask me we shouldn’t trust him when all he might be playing at is a ruse to get close to us and particularly you. You can’t let your guard down around him” said Cyrest.
“I can’t explain it Cyrest but there’s something about that Fast Biter that makes me think that he’s worthy of more then my trust” said Sura.
Cyrest shook his head and sighed “There’s a time and a place to go on a feeling Sura and it should never be when a life is at stake”
Sura raised herself and chuckled “There are those whose lives have been saved by a mere feeling Cyrest, don’t forget that” she walked back to Ruphus.
Cyrest followed her but Sura quickly changed that subject before Cyrest could make another remark. “I think it’s time we gave Ducky a run down on the manoeuvres that we’ll teach her after The Cold Time ends since all water training is practically on hold now.”
Cyrest gave Sura a stern looked that she avoided but while Cyrest had his quarries with Sura about The Fast Biter he couldn’t deny that she was indeed correct. With an irritated sigh he called Ducky over. Normally they might do this someplace else but since it was no secret that Ducky was learning the wisdoms now and coupled with the presence of The Fast Biter in The Valley and that fact that Sura was keeping a close eye in her mate after his fall he took her over to her parents. Ducky made it over with her Grandmother joining them presently.
“I think now it’s time for you to learn about the manoeuvres that we’ll be teaching you, we’re not going to practice them yet until the end of The Cold Time” explained Cyrest.
“Okay” said Ducky.
However, before the lesson could begin properly they interrupted by the arrival of all of Ducky’s clutch mates and Spike. “Can we stay too” asked Diver, she was intrigued about the topic of the lesson.
Ruphus chuckled “Your call, dear.”
“They take the butting in after you” retorted Sura playfully but nevertheless she didn’t think there was any point in sending her little ones away when they’d just eavesdrop. “Gather round then little ones.”
“Wait for me!” cried Trough and hastily joined the group.
“Ok that’s it? No one else trying to get in?” asked Cyrest and when he received no answer he took that as his que to start the lesson. “Right, you know the basics,” he spoke more to Ducky “We going to put emphasis on those and build up for more advanced stuff.”
“I think it’s best to start with one of the most common and useful manoeuvres that our kind can do; The roll” The children looked at each other with interest then back to Cyrest expectantly. “This move is a simple roll or spin of your body while going in a straight line but it helps by making you move faster and if your real good you can break off in literally any direction, perfect for tricking Sharpteeth biting at your tail.”
“That doesn’t sound so hard” said Rapid.
“I am sure I could do that yep, yep, yep” said Ducky.
Cyrest supressed a smile as he thought of the trick behind the move. “It’s tricker then it looks, for it is very disorientating especially because if you want to go faster then you’ll spin faster and breaking off into different directions when your dizzy means it is very easy to get wrong but once you get past that then it is very useful”
“I can handle dizziness” said Spinner.
“Of course, you can mister tail chaser” teased Sandy.
Trough’s eyes lit as he saw an opportunity to have some fun at Spinner’s expense. “Oh, so that’s why you swim in circles, you are chasing your tail which is not something a Swimmer doing the Trials would do, only a little tail chases his tail” That got the children laughing while Spinner looked rather indignant. “I’m especially surprised that you’ve never caught it even after all this time” Spinner gave Trough a rather dirty glare and stuck his tail up at him deliberately catching Trough by surprise, he didn’t think he had offended him that badly.
“Spinner! You turn around and apologise to Trough” said Sura sounding disappointed in her son.
Spinner grumbled and slowly turned to Trough with a rigid glare. “I’m sorry” he said through gritted teeth as he turned around and walked away from the gathering still fuming.
“What was that all about?” asked Trough to Ducky in an undertone.
“I will tell you later” replied Ducky in a whisper.
Trough nodded and returned his attention back to the lesson. Cyrest described what each manoeuvre achieved but he neglected to mention how they were executed for the obvious reason so none of the children would think to try something they didn’t know, he would of course explain how they were properly performed to Ducky when the water finally warmed to a more reasonable temperature.
He described the barrel roll, the one eighty tail spin which would allow a Swimmer to turn in the opposite direction very quickly. He told them about the longitudinal and latitudinal swimming styles which the children were already familiar with however he said that they needed to be perfected to great speed to be very useful.
However, it was after the basics were finished and Ruphus, Sura and Ruphus started addressing the more imaginative swimming moves that were deployed in a situation when a Sharptooth was around, though most of them were designed for use against land based Sharpteeth like Fast Biter’s and the like who didn’t have the natural edge that a Swimmer possessed when they were in the water. Something that many children found interesting was that these Swimming moves were more aggressive and focused more on attack involving a tail belt, headbutt or a side blow from the hands or legs once or twice as a way of stunning the threat before a quick escape.
However, when they started referring to moves that would counter other Swimming Sharpteeth there were much fewer, the emphasis was put on a more evasive and slippery approach to escape as swiftly as possible which was all good when it came to dealing with Belly Draggers and other large Swimming Sharpteeth. But there was one great big hole in this tutelage and that was that these moves were designed to go up against threats that were slower and less manoeuvrable then a Swimmer and when it came to use against swimmers that were fully designed for water like fish or sharks as Sura found out during her chase with the Megalodon, these moves were barely enough to keep her alive.
It was something that Ducky seemed to notice. “Is there any way to get away from a complete Swimmer Swimming Sharptooth?” she asked as she was aware that the creature in the caves was not like anything that could be counted with the moves that she was being told about.
“I don’t recall any move that could be any use against a full Swimming Sharptooth” said Cyrest.
“But I do”
Everyone turned to look at Grandma Swimmer. She was older then Cyrest and had hence been around when the true swimming manoeuvres were in use and though she was never proficient at them, she had seen them performed so many times that she knew how they were done.
“Really?” asked Sura.
“I know what the master moves were dear, yes even though I never had the skill to perform them I knew and remember all Swimmers that could do them which were few and far between. I even knew a Swimmer who could perform the master manoeuvre itself” Stated Grandma Swimmer.
Everyone looked a little confused when she spoke about the master manoeuvre and the master Swimmers. “I thought those moves were just old tales” said Ruphus, rubbing his chin sceptically.
“Oh, they were as real as you or I but they are largely forgotten but I knew someone who could do them with ease” replied Grandma Swimmer.
“Who?” Everyone said at once.
Grandma Swimmer looked at Sura with a smile. “Your father.” She chuckled at the astonished look on her face. “Believe me, he was so good that he showed off these moves all the time just to rub it in the other Swimmer’s face, cheeky guy.” She smiled at the memory. “Did you know that the day I met your father was the day he did the master manoeuvre itself and right in front of me too.”
Sura looked surprised, once again she was given an insight in the life her father used to have before she was born and from the sounds of things, she thought he sounded a bit like her when she became an adult.
“But what is a master manoeuvre?” asked Ducky curiously.
“It is the move that defines you as a true master Swimmer however it’s largely been forgotten save in old stories. It was a young Swimmer about your age that invented it. His name was Aquarius* the stories say he was albino and not much is known about him except that he lived in the time of legends of our kind which was many lifetimes ago.”
Everyone looked enthralled with Grandma Swimmer’s story so she continued.
“The Master manoeuvre was created as a way to counter actual Swimming Sharpteeth. It was created when he was your age little ones, he is the sole reason why The Swimmer Trials exist. He created something at a young age that was the pinnacle of a Swimmer’s ability so the elders decided that whenever younglings reached his age they would undergo a rite of passage that allows young Swimmer’s to show what they can do in the water.”
That was a rather big surprise for everyone gathered. None of them had know where The Swimmer Trials had originated from till now and it was amazing that they were created by a Swimmer of their own age.
“He didn’t exactly invent it over time, he kind of made it up on the fly, a desperate attempt to save his life from a Swimming Sharptooth at The Big Water and a herd of Swimmers were passing by the cliffs and saw him perform it. It was terrifying, he swam through the creature’s open mouth at times, the move was so dangerous, as dangerous as The Trial itself and yet he just managed to keep one step ahead of that Sharptooth at all times and when he completed it, he left the Sharptooth heading in the wrong direction and he was able to escape to the shore unharmed and I know how it is performed” concluded Grandma Swimmer.
Ducky gazed into the distance, her mind a flurry. If a Swimmer her age could outmanoeuvre a true Swimming Sharptooth then why couldn’t she? This new Swimmer had now become a beacon of hope for her. He was someone that did the impossible and reminding her that even the impossible was within her limits and he didn’t even know the wisdoms. But she did. She could do this and if she could do that master manoeuvre then she was sure that she could do it The Trial, if her Grandmother could just teach her. She felt a daze of excitement as this new hope revealed itself to her, there seemed no doubt in her mind that she would succeed in The Trial which was a very comforting feeling.
“Could you teach me Grandma, could you?” she said in desperate hope and excitement. However, the look she got from her Grandmother made her stomach drop.
“I wish I could little one, I truly do but I was never that good at moves like that and while I remember how it is done, I’m afraid that without me showing you then you will never be able to perform it” she looked away at the rather desperate face that Ducky had on become one of defeat and a little of fear as a part of the hope she had just gained left her but not completely. After all this had been done before. A Swimmer her age had gone up against a Swimming Sharptooth and come out on top, she would do all in her ability to do the same. Little did Ducky know that that The Trial was mirrored after that particular move. The idea was to pit a Swimmer through a difficult life or death situation that was achievable to the Swimmer to perform however over time that tradition had been clouded and changed and now was being used to suit the needs of the vilest opportunist Swimmer in The Great Valley.
*
“Welcome to The Secret Caverns” Chomper growled in his native language as he entered the now familiar cave system with Ruby beside him and the strange Fast Biter. He eyed the caverns with a neutral expression that was impossible to decipher but the scent he gave off was one of satisfaction. After all he had seen many caves before and had recently been staying in them more often then he used to.
“Why call it The Secret Caverns?” asked the Fast Biter, wondering why a place with the term ësecret’ was common knowledge to the residents rather than secret as its name implied.
Chomper shrugged “I don’t know, I think it is because it’s never been fully explored”
Ruby nodded. “It’s not like anyone but us and our friends ever explored this place but even we haven’t seen all the places there are to see in the caves.”
The Fast Biter sighed thoughtfully as he walked over to the wall and started digging out a scrape leaving a silence that was only broken by the sound of claws scraping on dirt. It was an uncomfortable experience for both Ruby and Chomper.
“So…I’m Chomper and this is Ruby” The Fast Biter paid then no attention as he continued to work on his scrape which only made the two friends feel more awkward so they waited. All the while as he scraped a sleeping spot The Fast Biter thought over the recent events. He now knew that the Swimmer he had met up in that cave was not to be trusted in the least and yet he didn’t tell them what he knew about her betrayal, perhaps it was because he thought that he might be able to make the most profit from that situation and maybe also to spare the feelings of that Swimmer he once fought. Finally, The Fast Biter had finished his scrape and laid down in it and started licking his wounds clean.
The silence finally got the better of Ruby and she spoke out in an attempt to break the ice. “Who are you then? We never got your name and having a name is better then having no name at all” said Ruby inquisitively.
“Do you always talk like that?” The unexpected question caught Ruby by surprise, it wasn’t said in a hostile tone but she could certainly here the irritation in The Fast Biter’s voice.
“Not all the time” she said nervously.
“She speaks the way she likes” said Chomper looking unimpressed by The Fast Biter’s rude comment.
A disgruntled “Fine” was all the reply he got. The Fast Biter looked out into The Valley with a distant look on his face. What he was thinking was lost on the two friends but it was evident that he wanted to be left alone…or so they thought. As they were about to leave the Fast Biter spoke to them. “How does a young Biter and Fast Runner end up in The Great Valley with leafeaters that they can somehow get along with?” they turned at once to see a curious look over their guest’s face.
“I was hatched by my friends and Ruby promised to look after me here and our friends allowed us to stay here” said Chomper.
The Fast Biter eyed him with even greater curiosity. “You were hatched by those leafeaters?” He recalled the children he saw during the battle on the plains. It was a rather diverse range of children that was not usually seen.
“It’s a long story, they found me rather by accident but when I hatched they took care of me, saved me from egg stealers and got me back to my mom and dad” The Fast Biter laughed at Chomper’s explanation.
“I’ve heard some wild stories but that is the most unlikely I’ve ever heard” he said though spasms of laughter.
Ruby and Chomper look at each for a moment. “It is true though” said Chomper with Ruby nodding beside him. “My friends saved me and we came here because it’s safe from Red Claw, he thought I was an abomination because I’m friends with leafeaters.”
The Fast Biter stopped laughing at that, the explanation seemed to explain why the two were here but he could hardly get his head around that Chomper was friends with leafeaters but when he dug a little deeper he saw no reason to doubt, one was because Chomper could speak leafeater, an ability he would only gain from long exposure to leafeaters and the most important part was the lack of deception or untruth in his scent. He also couldn’t help but feel sorry for Chomper’s plight of being hunted by that giant tyrant of a lizard.
“And can I ask…that Swimmer, the adult brown. What is her name?” he asked.
“Perhaps you could give us your name before we tell you, we asked you first anyway” said Ruby, raising an eyebrow in a contemplative expression.
“My name is not important.”
“Now that’s is just a load of crap” said Chomper.
“Everyone’s name is important” said Ruby.
The Fast Biter sighed and held a claw over his head as he shook it with annoyance “Fine, my name is Striker, now will you tell me the Swimmer’s name?”
“I think her name is Sura, she’s our friend, Ducky’s mother” said Ruby.
Striker nodded, he now knew who those two Swimmer’s were but before he could continue pondering there was an unexpected guest.
“RUBY!” Everyone jumped as Petrie swooped in low over there heads and stopping in front of Ruby’s face and hovered there. He wore an expression of urgency and he was panting with exertion. “What is it Petrie?” asked Ruby.
“Outside……now!” was all Petrie managed to say between ragged breaths.
The sense of urgency was such that Ruby quickly ran outside of The Secret Caverns and what she saw made her freeze and gasp.
“Oh…..my” she in a small voice.
*Aquarius. For those of you who don't know Aquarius is the character I'm currently playing as in the LBT RP. When I saw the Fanfition topic for a LBT legend I thought that I'd try to incorporate one into my most recent chapter. I don't plan to put a bit more development into this legend later. For those of you who are doing the RP I set Aquarius time many generations in the past.
I declare the half a year TST hiatus over. This chapter has been in the works for months and is shorter then my more recent ones which is a pleasent change. I am really glad to finally get the next chapter up and I'll try to keep a more regular schedule of posting new chapters. Yep, yep, yep
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I must say that it is very well done considering the time restraint and speed you had to move at to get this done but it is doesn't distract. The background like seems to be the perfect picture. Rather much like the original cover of the land before time just with different characters and speaking of characters I must say they are all very impressive with a few differences here and there and in some cases different to how I envisioned them but I still think it is good the way it is. The atmosphere I must say is just right with everyone seeming like they have some burden on there shoulders as they journey together. 
