The Gang of Five
Role Play => Land Before Time RPG => Topic started by: LBTFan13 on June 28, 2008, 10:31:11 PM
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Previously on For the Stone or For Friendship:
After holding a small grudge towards Zaine in regards to Littlefoot and Longtail taken hostage, Cera, Cyrix, and the others in the group forgave the little longneck and agreed to help him find their friends and find the stone. Unfortunately, Ozzy and Strut had gotten far from the group, so Zaine had no idea where they would be. He decided to split the group in two to save time. One group, led by Chomper, headed in Ozzy and Strut's direction to save Littlefoot and Longtail. Zaine took the others and continued the search for the Stone of Cold Fire.
Chomper's group made haste until they found the egg eaters. After a small fight, Ozzy and Strut fled the area and Littlefoot and Longtail were saved. Meanwhile, Zaine and his group were having a difficult time trying to cross a fast moving river. While they pondered on what to do, Zaine was ambushed by Ozzy and Strut, who decided the only way to get the stone first was to get rid of the little longneck for good. Ozzy seemingly killed Zaine and the two left him for dead; however, Zaine was holding on to a slim thread of life but unable to move. Luckily, his friends arrived just in time to save him from death. Unfortunately, Zaine sustained heavy injuries, and the group decided to stop and let Zaine's wounds heal before they continued their journey.
Now, in part 3 :
Zaine's wounds have healed, however he still has trouble walking perfectly. Despite limping, he won't let it stop him and his friends from reaching the Stone of Cold Fire before Ozzy and Strut do. The group continued on their journey, but their path led them right into the Mysterious Beyond, a hellish nightmare for any dinosaur who accidentally loses his/her way. Luckily, Chomper offered to take them to his parents, who promised to protect Littlefoot and any of his friends after their last encounter on the Mysterious Island. Some of the group feel discomfort having never dealt with Chomper's parents before; however, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, and Petrie retain confidence that they can help.
Meanwhile, Ozzy and Strut have now entered the Mysterious Beyond. Unfortunately, the two egg eaters are on the wrong path. After losing much time crossing the fast river, they got lost in the vast darkness of the land. To make matters worse, they ran straight into a pack of sharpteeth, who are now chasing them.
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The two egg eaters continued to run as fast as they could, trying not to look back at the monstrous sharpteeth that pursued behind them. "Ozzy!" Strut yelled. "They're getting closer!"
"You think I didn't know that already?" Ozzy commented. "Just keep running! There has to be a way to lose them!" Unfortunately, the meat eaters didn't seem to give up the chase very easily. Ozzy realized that if he didn't think of something quick then they were pretty much dead. I am not ready to die here... Then he spotted a huge lake. "Strut! In there! They can't swim!" The two egg eaters rushed towards the lake and leaped in. They surfaced and spun around in time to watch the sharpteeth back off and walk away.
"Yeah that's right!" Strut yelled. "Run away you cowards!" Ozzy hit the top of his head with his hand and dragged it down his face sighing. He found it ironic that Strut was calling the sharpteeth cowards.
"You are an idiot Strut..."
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Meanwhile, Zaine and the others were in a much better position than the egg eaters. Well, despite the fact that Zaine was limping, they at least weren't being chased by sharpteeth. Of course, nobody wanted to jinx their current status.
Chomper was designated the navigator of the group since he knew the area the best. However, the group couldn't help but notice that Chomper was having a little too much fun with the job. "And over there is a very cool cave that many sharpteeth live in. And over there are some really cool bones! Oooh! I should take you guys to see my cousins! They're fast biters unlike my parents, so they love to chase me around.
Zaine on the other hand wasn't as enthusiastic about any of the things the little sharptooth was pointing out. "Look Chomper, I'm glad you're excited to be here and all, but we aren't here for a tour. We need to get through here as fast as we can so we can get to the stone." He then looked at the others who looked just a little nervous that Chomper was given such a task. Then again, he wasn't sure if they were worried about that or about his legs. They had been traveling for two days before they reached the Mysterious Beyond, and Zaine had been limping the whole way. Zaine hated being a burden to the others. I know they're worried about me, but this is rediculous! My legs should have healed by now. I can't stand this any longer... To keep his mind off the matter, he turned back to Chomper. "Besides, I think I speak for all of us non-sharpteeth when I say not everything is as appealing to us as it is to you."
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'Yeah. Chomper, don't you think that we should stay on course, so that we can beat the egg-eaters? Plus, I don't think they'll just want to chase us.' Vylor said. He was walking next to Zaine in case he needed support. Argaya was walking on the other side of Zaine, for similar reasons. 'Zaine, how are your legs feeling? Do you need a hand at all?' Argaya asked. Neither she nor her brother were ever thinking of Zaine as a burden, and always were quick to help in the past two days since Zaine was injured.
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Zaine shook his head. "I'm fine, really. I just can't walk perfectly yet. My legs just need a little more time to heal, that's all." He then hesitated before speaking again. "But...thank you for your concern. I guess it's only your jobs as my friends to worry about me. If it weren't for you guys, I'd probably be dead right now."
Chomper looked back. "Yeah, your lucky I sniffed you out! If it weren't for me, you probably wouldn't have seen the others again!" He was having too much fun with this, but Zaine was getting annoyed.
"Chomper, don't rub it in..." Zaine said.
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Dante jogged lightly beside his friends, now carrying a staff he had carved out of a tree branch.
"Hey Zaine. Don't take him too very seriously. I was on your scent too. You'dve beem fine."
He whispered to his friend...
"<Sigh> This place is vast. To think I once crossed it alone to arrive at the Valley."
Motochika muttered to himself...
"So...Chomper. You're absolutely sure your parent's won't dislike us? After all, Dante and I have...a reputation around these parts..."
Virgil asked, soundinc faintly concerned...
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Chomper nodded. "You guys will be fine! They promised as long as you were friends of mine or Littlefoot, then they would protect you. No problem!" He then continued happily pointing out random things of interest to him.
Zaine sighed and nodded at Dante's comment. "I guess you're right. I'm just...I should have been more careful, that's all."
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Ducky rode on Littlefoot who was walking along nearish the front of the group. He nodded to what Chomper said, "They did seem nice the last time we saw them." Littlefoot said.
"Oh, yes they were, one of them even smiled, without showing their teeth, one was, yes it was." She said nodding in agreement with what Littlefoot said. Though they were still a bit scary looking, and very large, they were, they were. I only hope they are still friendly." Ducky said, a bit concerned and worried with some of it in her voice.
Littlefoot briefly turned to look at Ducky, "They will be, just wait and see." He said.
"I hope you are right, I do, I do." Ducky said still not entirely sure.
"They do sound like they may indeed be friendly. With sharpteeth being individuals, it only is logical that some would be nice. I wonder if they'll be as nice as the sharpteeth and fastbiters that are with us now." Mim said as she looked at the various ones present in the group smiling.
(OOC: I never can tell which of Chomper's parents is the mother and which is the father so could not use the proper pronoun as to which one smiled.)
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Shera walks with the group, listening to their conversations. She shivered when she heard Ducky talking about how large they were. She felt a bit small and felt like the youngest of the group.. Will I still be here after this adventure?
A bit sad she turned her head towards the ground and walked on, listening more to her own mind than the conversations.
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NOTE: (I'll be gone for 1 week, maybe more. Might use my cell phone to make replies. Have a great time! )
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((OOC: @Kor - The dark green t-rex is the father, and the tannish/light green one is the mother. If you notice in LBT 5, during the battle between the sharpteeth, the lighter green sharptooth is injued and Chompr refers to it as his mom
@Lillefot - Have fun where ever you are going! We happily will await your return))
Zaine smiled towards Littlefoot's remarks about Chomper's parents. Maybe they can cheer the others up a little. Then he noticed Shera walking off on her own. "Chomper, keep leading the way, but please don't go off track." Chomper nodded, and Zaine walked towards Shera. "Shera, are you ok?"
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"Do you remember which one it was?" Littlefoot asked, to make conversation and to maybe help the others get their minds off of large sharpteeth. SNd to reassure them that at least one of Chomper's parents was friendly. He wasn't sure which one it was since he was on Elsie with Chomper and had not seen that.
"I think it was Chomper's mommy who smiled. She did not show her teeth while she smiled, no she did not." Ducky said," Cera was closer so she would know better, she would." Ducky said looking over to where Cera was. Then she looked at Littlefoot and pointed. "And one of them nuzzled you."
"Yes, and did a sort of sound, I think it was a happy sound." Littlefoot said, not having heard the sound before or since had no real name for the sound and they did seem happy at the time to get their son back so it made since to him it was a happy sort of sound. "I didn't know sharpteeth could make a sound like that. I had forgotten till you mentioned it." Littlefoot said.
(OOC: Thanks.)
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Shera looked up to Zaine.
"Yea.. I'm fine..", she said. She thought a bit more. "Well... There is something..." She was wondering how to say that. "You know, I don't really know my parents... I hope to meet them, some day. I hope they are still alive. My friends all found their parents back, earlier, but I didn't.. I don't know anyone of my whole family! And now I'm here, traveling with you... And we're going to some adult sharpteeth who will protect us... Although all of you say they're good, I don't know what to think of it." She sighed. "Even if they will protect us, we might get in danger... I actually want to meet my parents alive."
I shouldn't have left, stupid me.
Shyly she turned her head of, ashamed of what she tought was her own fault.
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Zaine hated seeing Shera down like this. "I know how you feel. It's hard losing those close to you, especially your parents." That's not really going to help her. There has to be something better I can say to her. He thought for a moment and then came up with an idea. I hope she doesn't kill me for talking to Shera about this.
"You know, you actually have some in common with Cera. She's a threehorn like you, and although she has her dad, she never met her real mother. I mean, she has Tria as a stepmom, but even so she still doesn't know half of her parents. Maybe if you talked to her about it you might feel better. Cera's become very strong for someone without a mother. Maybe she could help you out."
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Mim nods, looking at Shera, "Look at all the friends you have here. And likely more then you know you have and some you have not met yet." Mim said, attempting to try to reassure Shera. "Some see those who live in the Great Valley as their Great Valley family." She said, knowing that some did feel that way, though not all did.
Ducky nods, "You can have a family family and your Great Valley Family." She said agreeing.
"Spike never know parents. Him adopteded by Ducky's mommy & daddy & him do ok." Petrie said to also try to help Shera feel better.
Littlefoot walked over closer to Shera, "It is hard not having your parents with you, but you need to try to focus on the fact that you do have friends who care for you here. Your parents may well be here before you know it." He said.
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Shera listened carefully. She looked up to Cera. She hasn't got a mother... That must be sad too.
She whispers to Zaine: "Cera seems a bit grumpy sometimes.. I don't know what to think of her." She sighed. "Do you think I can talk to her?", she said with an unsure look on her face.
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Zaine laughed a little bit. She might sound annoyed about it at first, but inside she a really sentimental threehorn. I'm sure the two of you can talk to eachother about it."
((OOC: If GVG doesn't post when the time comes, then I will take over as Cera. However, I will not play as Longtail or Cyrix as they are his characters. GVG, I am in no way mad at you ;) :yes ))
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"Hmm, okay" Shera said thoughtfully. Once more she looked up to Cera. "I don't know .... " Come on, you can do it Shera. She's not gonna eat you! "Well.. I'll just try"
She walked over to Cera. "Hi Cera, how.. ehh.. are you?"
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((OOC: Yeah...sorry 'bout not posting early...finals and college...nuff said. But this post will be quick...and I'll update it again as soon as I can. ;) :yes ))
Cera and Longtail were talking about how much better threehorns were to flyers, which of course lead to an argument between the two, and before long it lead to them headbutting each other to prove their points.
Cyrix would have stopped them, but figured they needed the exercise, so he sat and waited for the two to tire out...which didn't seem to be happening. He was worried they would end up hurting each other if they didn't stop fighting, but again the need to see this play out was far too much fun.
"Both of them so strong willed, and eager to prove it to the other. Not willing to show weakness, give up, it makes me wonder what they would do if they were in real danger by themselves." Cyrix said to himself aloud.
Cyrix tapped Shera on the back and said "Now...is not a good time...but if you need to talk to her, I'll see if I can split them up."
He walked over and with surprising ease stopped the fight, and said "Cera, Shera would like to speak with you."
Cera looked shocked and said "She does?" She looked over at Shera and asked "Well, what do ya want?"
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Shera backed away a little. "well.. ehh.." She thought of the right words once again. "You are a threehorn, like me... And you have a father, right? I was just wondering... I don't know any of my parents. I though, you might understand.. You know.. You don't know your mother, do you? I wonder if we could well eh.. Talk about that." Shyly she looked away, having trouble with the words she just spoke.
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Cera was still upset from her argument with Longtail but Cera could see that this wasn't easy for Shera, and she sat down and replied "well...it's not something I like to talk about...but for as long as I can remember...it's just been me and my dad. I didn't know my mother that well, and well...since Tria took over, it's...been nice."
Cera then thought about something...as she asked Shera "Why are asking me this? You must have family somewhere right?"
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Shera sat down as well. "Ah.. yes.. Well, I don't know any of my family. When I was very little I used to do things on my own, until I found some friends." She thought very hard. "I can't remember anyone of my family.. No.."
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(Help me get unlost so I can keep up in the RP)
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Zaine turned towards Chomper. "I think we should take a quick break Chomper. Give everyone a breather."
Chomper nodded. "Good idea. We should keep an eye out for any sharpteeth that might try and attack us though."
Zaine scanned the area they stopped in. "It seems safe for the moment."
((OOC: @Ptyra: I posted a summary of what happened in the last rp on the first page. At the moment, everybody is stpping for a breather in the Mysterious Beyond. Shera and Cera are talking about family issues. Chomper is acting as the navigator, and Zaine is limping due to his injuries. Ozzy and Strut were running away from sharpteeth, so that about covers what's happened so far. Hope it helps you.))
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Dante walked over to Zaine, giving him a once-over for his injuries.
"Looks Ok. Nothing giving you too much trouble, right Zaine?"
He asked, then walked over to Hunter and settled to a seated posture...
Virgil sat near the others, looking off at the sky.
"This...This is near..."
He muttered, more to himself than anyone...
Motochika leaned back against a rock, shutting his eyes lightly and saying nothing as the group rested...
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Zaine shook his head. "Besides my legs limping, I'm pretty much all right. Thanks for your concern Dante." He smiled, but then realized he still had something to do. Longtail and Littlefoot didn't deserve to be kidnapped by those two eggeaters. I have to apologize to them. He then walked over to the group. "Littlefoot, Longtail, can I talk to you two? No, nobody's going to jump out at you this time." He led them off a little, but he made sure he was close to the group.
"Listen you two, I am so sorry that you two were kidnapped. I never intended for anything to happen to you guys, and I just wanted to aplogize for putting you both in danger. I hope you two can forgive me."
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Littlefoot nods, "Sure you can talk to me, but we shouldn't go to far from the others." He said as he went with Zaine. And listened to what Zaine said. He shook his head, "it wasn't your fault we were kidnapped. You shouldn't feel bad about it. You could not have known and couldn't do anything about it. Of course I forgive you, though there is no reason for you to ask my forgiveness." Littlefoot said looking at Zaine and trying his best to reassure Zaine and help him to feel better.
Mim moved slightly and looked in the direction Zaine and the others went in. She then looked at the the others, "How is everyone else doing and feeling?" She asked.
"I am doing well, I am, I am." Ducky said. She was a little worried but was glad she was here with both her old and new friends, that helped make her less worried and scared then she would normally be.
"Petrie, a little scared, but ok." He said from where he was perched.
Mim looked around at the others, "And how about everyone else?" She asked.
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Cera frowned at Shera...Cera like to say she was tough like her father, but the truth was...she was only so brave because she had her friends and her father and Tria to help when she knew she needed them. Now looking at Shera as she said she had no family....it made Cera see this other threehorn in a all new light.
Cera then said "Ya know...I'm sure my daddy wouldn't have any trouble with helping you find a family...and until then you can stay with us. After all you are a threehorn, and we are the best around!"
Longtail despite being over with Zaine and Littlefoot shouted "No! Stop lying to yourself Cera!" He then turned back to face Zaine again and said "Yeah...Littlefoot is right, you have nothing to apoligize for...besides...I would've gotten out eventually..." He giggled as he then said "I always do."
He looked up at Zaine, smiled and said "Everything is okay now...and we're all safe. That's the best we can ask for."
Cyrix was sitting alone for a moment just watching what was going on, while looking into the sky once in a while, just relaxing.
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Mim walked over a little closer to Cyrix, "how are you feeling and doing?" She asked him.
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Shera was shocked "Wow, really?" She smiled "Thanks, that'd be so.. so nice! Sorry if I interrupted you before." she said while looking at Longtail.
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Zaine looked at them. "You don't understand. It is my fault the two of you were kidnapped." He hesitated because he wasn't sure how this conversation was going to turn out. "The night before you were taken, they threatened me. They told me that they were following us to the stone, but if I told anybody then they would come after you guys. If I hadn't told you they were behind us... you would have never been kidnapped in the first place..."
He sighed, and a small tear ran down his cheek. "I'm glad you two forgive me. It's just... I don't think I can ever forgive myself for what happened."
Chomper looked up towards Mim. "Well, I would be fine if Ducky hadn't forced me to eat that icky treestar of hers! I can't understand how you guys like this green food."
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Littlefoot shook his head, "You shouldn't blame yourself. It's not your fault we were kidnapped. It's the fault of those egg eaters." Littlefoot said, not sure how to get Zaine to feel better.
Mim looks at Chomper smiling a bit, "I can guess you'd not like green food since you have sharp teeth." She said, "It seems not everyone eats the same types of food. I'm not sure why it's like that, but it is. Like you like crawlers and buzzers, but I can imagine Littlefoot & Ducky would not like those to eat." She said. She had wondered why things were like the way they were. Some were quite puzzling. "Why would she make you eat a treestar?"
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Longtail chuckled at Zaine and said "well they were aiming for you, but we just jumped the wrong way." He then looked serious and said "Forgiving yourself is very hard believe me I know, but you have to some time...or else the guilt will kinda eat you..like a sharptooth. It took me a while to forgive myself for killing those unborn sharpteeth, but I knew it saved other leafeaters...so in time it was worth it."
Cyrix smiled at Mim and said "well...I'm just guessing but they had some sort of deal, and Chomper lost." He then chuckled and commented "Well, I'm doing well, just waiting to see if Cera and Longtail will start arguing again. That was quite entertaining."
Cera nodded her head and replied to Shera "No trouble at all... I was just about to pound that stupid flyer for thinking something so silly...flyers better than us threehorns. How silly!"
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Zaine sighed. "I guess you're right. I just don't know when I'll be able to forgive myself for what happened. I guess the only way I can is when we destroy the stone for good."
Chomper shrugged his shoulders. "She just thought it would be funny to see how I would react to eating a treestar. They taste no different from when Littlefoot fed them to me as a hatchling." He then grinned. "I wonder how she woul like it if I forced her to eat a buzzing flyer."
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Meanwhile, Ozzy and Strut continued crossing the Mysterious Beyond. "That was too close," Ozzy refered to the previous sharptooth encounter. "Next time, don't scream that loud in a cave!"
"But Ozzy, a creepy crawly touched my foot," Strut complained.
"You idiot, that was your tail!"
"Well it felt wierd!"
"Sometimes I wonder why I keep you around."
"Why would you say that? I'm your own brother! You can't just dump me here!" Ozzy thought for a moment and then stopped.
"Watch me," he replied. Strut couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What are you saying Ozzy?"
"I'm saying I don't need or want you around me anymore. All you do is hold me back!"
"But Ozzy, you-"
"No more you spineless excuse for an egg eater! I'm through with you!" With that, Ozzy turned aroun and sprinted in the other direction. Strut stood there, confused, shocked, but mostly depressed.
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"Me want see that." Petrie said, curious himself now that Chomper mentioned it and he looked at Ducky.
Ducky shook her head, "I do not think I would like that, no, no, no." She said.
Mim nodded to Cyrix, "I was some, as long as no one intends to really hurt the other and they can remain friends after the argument is over." She said smiling.
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Longtail smiled and said "Yeah...I would call that about even...but first we have to get there." He then looked over at Ducky and asked "Excuse me Ducky...but who do you think is stronger...me or Cera...we need a third opinion."
Cyrix laughed as he heard Longtail's comment. He then said "This is going to be so much fun."
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Ducky looked from one to the other, not wanting to take sides or hurt either of her friends. She at first didn't have any idea what to say.
"uh.. well..." She started to say, stalling, then she got an idea. "I do not want to see friends fighing, no, no, no. Instead of fighting you can do some tests, you can, make them into games, to see who is strongest. Different sorts of games." She said, glad that she had thought of something.
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Dante smirked.
"I don't think either of you is. I think that title goes to me, my friends..."
He chuckled...
Virgil grinned, smiling at Ducky...
"Yet again, you come up with a solution that can make everyone happy. Well done..."
He said calmly...
Motochika looked up, then asked...
"Mind if I join in? This may be interesting. I doubt I'm the strongest, but still...I'd like to see..."
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Shera smiled, They all want to be the strongest! But I think brains are more important. Still sitting she watched those who wanted to join in. They all look strong though.
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Longtail looked over at Cera as Cera looked at Ducky and both of them said simultaneously "DEAL!" Cera then asked "So, what kind of....games...are we going to be playing?"
Longtail laughed and said "I don't know, but you're not picking any one of them!" He then looked over to Motochika and said "Sure, you can join, the more of us that can beat Cera the happier I'll be!"
Cera cried out "Hey! I'll charge you if you don't be quiet!"
Longtail laughed harder and said "You can't hit a tree! Try me!" And before he could take back his words Cera indeed charged towards Longtail.
Cyrix from his vantage point frowned and said "this won't end well..."
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Dante grinned and stepped aside as Cera charged, but Motochika wasn't so lucky. He ended up sprawled on the ground, rubbing his tail gingerly...
"Ouch. I don't think that was needed..."
He said, standing up...
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Mim looked over at Motochika, "Are you ok?" She asked with concern in her voice.
Ducky looked over there, "I hope you are not badly hurt, I do, I do." She said.
"That look like it hurt." Petrie said closing one eye.
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Cera glanced over at Motochika and said "Hey, you were in my way...we threehorns never stop once we start a charge!"
Longtail smiled and said "Oh yeah...then why have you stopped?"
This brought Cera back with a start and indeed Longtail was right...in order to speak to Motochika, she had to stop to turn her head around..and now she was madder than before. She then continued to charge Longtail shouting "Eveyone stay out of my way!"
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"I'm fine. Just a little jostled, that's all."
Motochika said, standing and dusting himself off...
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Ptyra was sleeping in a tree and woke slowly
Ptyra:...What's going on?
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Shera sat down next to Ptyra.
"They are going to play games to see who of them is the strongest." She said to answer Ptyra's question. "I just hope they don't get hurt."
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Zaine sat down next to Shera. "I guess this will be fun to watch. Two stubborn kids going at it against eachother? That's something I gotta see."
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Mim nodded, "This should prove interesting to watch indeed." She said sitting down once she found a spot that seemed to have a good view of the area.
Littlefoot sat down to watch the events, "I just hope they remember to have fun." Littlefoot said looking at the ones who would be participating.
Ducky nodded, "And they remain friends and no one gets hurteded." She said, finding a rock to climb on top of that should give her a good view of things.
"Me hope so too." Petrie said from the treebranch where he was.
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(ooc: Sorry for the triple post. No idea why it happened. It seems for some reason posting here became nearly impossible with the web site or server kept timing out. Maybe best to delete this and the post following. I would but I can't. Sorry again. ))
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(OOC: oops, delete this too. ))
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"I hope they don't get hurt..." Shera said unsure.
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OCC: ( Hey friends! I'm back. One prob though, I guess Mitch missed quite the much of this current conversation, so if anyone would throw a word on him I'd be happy.
To get me started again! :) )
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((OOC: Welcome back! Don't worry, I'll get you involved. Do you need a summary of what's happened so far?))
Zaine laughed at the others comments, then he noticed Mitch off by himself. "I'll catch up with you guys in a little bit. I just gotta check something." He then looked towards Chomper. "Hey Chomper! Yell if something's headed for us!"
Chomper nodded. "Sure thing Zaine."
Zaine then stood up and slowly walked towards Mitch. "Hey Mitch, you seem really quiet. You want to talk about anything?"
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"Nah, it's okay." Mitch said. "Thanks for your concern Zaine."
"All this talk of families made me started to think about my own family, the one that I don't have."
"It happens at times, it's not a memory I like to have..." he said silently.
"..."
He then looked up. "Ouch! THAT had to hurt!" he said and noded his head Cera nad Longtail's way.
"You sure seem to feel better Zaine. That glads me!"
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"We don't have to bring up your family if you don't want to. I'd rather not talk about a subject that only makes you sad." Zaine then looked down at his legs. "Well besides my legs, I am feeling better. I just wish I could have been stronger to protect myself. I am really lucky that Ozzy has terrible aim when he stabbed me with that rock." He then looked at the others. "I guess I've just been getting a little paranoid lately. I really want nothing bad to happen to any of you. Is this Stone of Cold Fire even worth all this trouble?"
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"Good question Zaine, next please!" Mitch chuckled.
"I really don't know... I guess the only one who can really tell is you. Otherwise, I guess time will tell."
"But I do know one thing: We'll be okay." Mitch smiled.
"We'll all make sure of that, togheter!"
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Zaine smiled. "I'm lucky to have friends like you. Thanks Mitch." He then looked towards Chomper. "Hey Chomper! Anything coming yet?"
"No!" Chomper replied. "It's strange. Normally the Mysterious Beyond is crawling with sharpteeh, but I can't sniff any out. What do you think it means?"
Zaine shook his head. "Well I don't know how sharpteeth think, but I do agree. It does seem very strange."
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"Either, they are causing trouble for someone somewhere, or something's caused trouble for them..." Mitch said.
"Not that I know what would cause trouble for Sharpteeth, but I'd sure like to know what that would be!" Mitch said and gave a angry look.
"I'd give my full support to whatever that'd be!"
"Nothing personal Chomper, but you don't know what happened to me in the past..." he said and looked away, as if it hurted to think about it.
And infact, it did. Everytime he had to.
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"Me wonder what sorts of games they will do." Petrie said.
"We'll have to wait, we will." Ducky said.
"I just hope they remember it's all games and don't hurt each other." Littlefoot said.
Mim nods, "As Ducky said, we'll have to wait and see. I trust they will remember and will remain friends."
-
Cera and Longtail collided again, and a loud CRACK filled the air. Both of them not willing to give into one another, that is until Longtail used his tail like a whip and tripped Cera. She blinked and growled at Longtail as he jumped over her and said "Look out Motochika...I think she's really mad now!"
Cera stood up and charged at both Longtail and Motochika not caring which one she got...she wasn't going to lose.
Cyrix smiled and laughed as he watched the activities below. "ahh...now this is entertaining."
-
Mim nods, "It certainly is. I wasn't sure if they'd go at it like that or not. I wonder how long it'll last." She said watching the action.
"It is a good show, yep, yep, yep." Ducky said.
"It fun to see. Me glad me not in it." Petrie said watching from where he was.
-
Chomper suddenly sniffed something in the air. At first he couldn't recognize it, but then he got a little worried. "Zaine! Come here quick! I think I smell something!"
Concerned, Zaine stood up and limped over towards Chomper. "What is it? What does your sniffer pick up?"
"I don't know, but it smells like egg eater."
Zaine gasped. "Oh great. Did they pick up our trail?"
Chomper shook his head. "It's not both of them. It's only one."
Zaine looked puzzed. "One? Why would only one of them follow us?"
"I don't know, but that's what my sniffer picks up. I wonder which one of them it is."
Zaine looked back towards the others. "Well either case, we should try and handle this on our own. The others are so peaceful right now. We can't interrupt them now."
Chomper looked down at Zaine's legs. "Are you sure you're up to it?"
"I have to try." The two friends nodded. "Get ready Chomper. Once he shows up, be prepared to attack."
"It's time for some revenge." Just then, a figure approached them. It indeed was an egg eater, but it wasn't who they expected. Instead, Strut stood before them.
Zaine glared at Strut. "You."
Strut gasped. "You...You're alive?"
"You seem surprised," Chomper growled. "You come back to try and kill him again? Well you wont succeed!"
"You don't understand!" Strut defended. "It wasn't my idea to attack Zaine! My brother is the evil one, not me!"
"It doesn't matter!" Chomper argued. "You are still guilty by association!"
"Wait! You have to listen to me!"
Chomper prepared to leap for him, but Zaine blocked him with his tail. The longneck glared even harder at Strut. "If you didn't come to kill me, then why are you here?
"I need to talk to you, privately."
EDIT:
Zaine laughed. "Nice try. You two already crippled my legs, so why should we trust you?"
"Because I am nothing like my brother."
Chomper looked towards Zaine. "As much as I hate to admit it, he is right. He is nothing like Ozzy. You think we should give him a chance?"
Zaine thought for a moment and sighed. "One chance. That's all you get." Strut humbly bowed his head. "However, you have to convince Littlefoot and Longtail as well." Strut looked back up.
"Ah yes. Those two. Again, it wasn't my idea to kidnap anybody."
"Do you think they will care whose idea it was?" Chomper asked. "Either way, they have to be comfortable with you around."
Zaine walked over back to the group. "Littlefoot, please follow me. I think somebody owes you an apology." He then looked over to the others. "Longtail! Stop trying to kill Cera for a minute. Someone has has something to say to you as well!" With that, he headed back towards Strut. "Good luck tyring to defend yourself, because after your murder attempt Longtail's been dying to get back at you."
-
Ptyra: Alright, I'm slow, what's going on here?
-
(ooc: I'll let Lbtfan13 do the summary for you. Hope you can rp.)
Littlefoot looks at Zaine, "Ok." He says. He get's up and walks over to where Zaine is, wondering who it could be.
"I wonder who that is, I do." Ducky said.
"Me wonder too." Petrie said.
"I suspect we'll all find out shortly if we wait." Mim said. "Till then how is everyone else as far as being tired, food, water, and any other needs?" She asked as she looked around.
-
Longtail and Cera locked eyes for a moment and growled at each other as Longtail said "Fine...you got lucky Cera...when I come back, I'm going to win! Count on it!"
Cera scoffed and replied "Yeah, keep talking flyer brain...keep talking!"
Longtail then walked over with Zaine and Littlefoot and asked "So who wants to speak with us...it'd better be important for the interruption."
-
cool, but wierd! :DD
-
((OOC: @ Lucario - I am not saying this to be mean at all, but since you are not in the rp, I would ask that you please make any and all posts about the story, characters, settings, etc... in the discussion topic in the discussion subforum. It should be called The Stone of Cold Fire RP Part 3 or something like that. Thank you for understanding ;)
@Ptyra - Cera and Longtail were playfully fighting each other to see which species was better, but it was interrupted because Strut appeared and wants a chance to defend himself.))
Zaine looks towards the two of them. "If you guys want your revenge, here's your chance. Strut claims it wasn't his idea to kidnap the two of you, so he wants to try and defend himself. I figured you two had to hear this." He then looked towards the egg eater. "Go on, but you only get one chance."
Strut nodded and looked towards his two previous hostages. "I am glad the two of you aren't hurt, and I am relieved your friend is alive after what we did. You have to believe me though. I didn't want any of this to happen to any of you. I only wanted to scare you, that's all. In fact, I didn't want to do anything to you! But my brother, he went insane with the idea of getting revenge on Littlefoot for what happened in the past. Then he got the flyer involved, and then when you escaped, he went mad!"
Chomper studied him. Apparently, it seemed like he was telling the truth, but there was something he still didn't get. "If you didn't want to do anything to us, then why stay with Ozzy?"
"He's my brother, and no matter how evil he is he is still my brother, and I could never leave him."
"Well, apparently he doesn't feel that way," Zaine commented. "Why did you threaten me the night before you kidnapped my friends? Why did you try to kill me? Why didn't you try to stop your brother?"
Strut sighed. "Before we left to find the stone, he threatened me multiple times that he would abandon me or even kill me if I got in his way. I know I shuold have stood up to him, but he's too powerful for me to handle on my own." He bowed his head in shame. "I know you may never accept my apology, and I fully understand that and don't care. I just want you to hear this from me." He then looked up. "I am so, so, so sorry for everything my brother and I put you through on this journey, and I humbly request to join your group."
Chomper and Zaine looked at each other, then Zaine turned towards Littlefoot and Longtail.
"Well, what do you two say?"
-
"If you're not evil why did you ask if you and Ozzy could throw me off the great wall?" Littlefoot asked, remembering that incident and how it took place just after Chomper had met his parents & had gone off with them. "If it weren't for Chomper coming back to save me, then his parents chasing you off when you threatened Chomper you would have thrown me off." Littlefoot said.
-
Virgil, who had been a short distance away, spoke up, saying...
"I'd say we should let him. After all, I did almost the same thing, and here I am. If it's any help, we will...keep an eye on him..."
He said softly...
-
Ptyra: What's going on here!? How do you know that egg stealer? And who's this 'evil brother' of his?
-
Chomper turned towards Ptyra. "It's kind of a long story, but the bottom line is when I was first hatched by Littlefoot, Strut and his brother, Ozzy, came to the valley. They tried to kill Littlefoot, but my parents and I stopped them." He then turned back to Strut. "Yes, why did you suggest the Great Wall if you weren't evil?"
Strut sighed. "I saw Chomper reunite with his parents. I had a feeling that they would have to pass by in order to return to the Mysterious Beyond."
Chomper was surprised. "You set Ozzy up? I'm actually impressed."
Strut nodded. "Also, if I hadn't suggested the Great Wall, Ozzy would have killed Littlefoot even quicker. I couldn't let that happen. Yes, I am an egg eater, and I have stolen eggs from others, and I fully regret it all. However, having said that, I am not a murderer. I'm ashamed that I can't say the same for my brother."
Zaine couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why didn't you come for help sooner? If you had left Ozzy before you tried to kill me, then maybe we would have been a little more lenient."
Strut nodded again. "I had thought about that for a while, but I didn't want to leave."
"Why?" Chomper asked. "What good would have come out of staying?"
"I wanted to find the Stone of Cold Fire as well. I wanted to destroy it before Ozzy had the chance to use it's magic for evil."
Zaine actually understood his reasons. "Ozzy does seem like the type of person to go after his own goals."
Chomper then spoke up. "I agree with Virgil. I say we keep a VERY close eye on him."
Zaine nodded. "Despite what's happened in the past, I believe everybody, even you, deserves a second chance." He then turned to Longtail. "What about you Longtail?"
-
"It really sound as if you had reasons for your actions..." Mitch said looking at Strut from top to toe.
"Where is your brother now?"
-
Ptyra: Yet again, someone else who's after the stone! I wonder who else is going to be after it.
-
"Maybe Mo is after it so he can visit Great Valley." Petrie said.
"That is silly Petrie, how would he get to the stone?" Ducky asked.
"Maybe it fall into water and there enough for Mo to swim from big water to it." Petrie said.
Littlefoot looks at Virgil a bit confused, "You almost did the same thing? I don't remember you ever asking Ozzy if you and he could throw me off of the Great Wall." Littlefoot said.
"Maybe he do it when you no looking or listening." Petrie said.
Littlefoot looked at Ozzy sighing, "I guess it may be ok, and you may have changed, like Pterano seemed to. Though folks will have to keep an eye on you and maybe you and Zaine should stay apart. Do you know what direction your brother may be now? And can eggeeaters eat more then just eggs?" Littlefoot said looking at Ozzy and briefly at Zaine and some others.
"Perhaps they can eat either some green food, and / or crawlers or creepy crawlers. There are some who can eat multiple things besides green food." Mim said.
Petrie, Ducky, and Littlefoot were not as discusted by the idea of eating the non green food like crawlers and creepy crawlers and the various types of buzzers since they knew Chomper and Guido ate such things and had gotten use to them.
"Maybe he try. Guido try green food and no like it." Petrie said.
-
Strut nodded. "I can adapt to eating green food. I actually always prefered that to egg shell." He humbly bowed his head. "Thank you for giving me a chance Littlefoot. I promise I will make it up to you." He then looked towards Mitch. "Unfortunately, I don't have any idea where Ozzy could be. For all I know, he could be at the stone right now, though I highly doubt it. Not even he can evade all the sharpteeth here."
Unfortunately, Ozzy was in much better shape than Strut hoped for. Somehow, he quickly learned Sharpteeth language and bgan to communicate with them. Far away from the group, Ozzy was gathered with a group of three fastbiters.
"What exactly do you want with us?" one asked.
"What if I told you I could make your wildest dreams come true?" Ozzy asked.
"How so" another asked.
"Legends tell of a stone known as the Stone of Cold Fire. This stone possesses magical powers which grants wishes. You could wish for all the food you could possibly eat." Of course, Ozzy made sure he didn't make the sharpteeth too hungry.
"So, how do we find this stone?" the third asked.
"Well, we shouldn't have trouble finding it," Ozzy explained. "I got rid of the kid who was looking for it before, and now I don't have my brother hindering our progress. It should be smooth sailing from here on out."
-
After hearing everything from Strut and listening to his friends reactions, Longtail narrowed his eyes, and one changed color as he said in a darkened tone "I don't like you, I don't trust you, and the moment you so much as breath the wrong way, I'll end your life, without a seconds thought or hesitation." He then looked back to the others and continued speaking...
"The only reason you're coming at all is because they trust you...I do not. So whatever you do...don't make any wrong moves...or Ozzy will be missing his only brother!"
Longtail then turned around, took a deep breath and said "Zaine I trust your judgement, so do what you think is best...I'll be watching him though. He won't leave my sight."
Longtail then turned and walked back to Cera and said "Sorry, our fight has to wait...we've got bigger problems."
Cyrix noted his nephews grim look and sighed. "this day is turning out to be rather unique."
-
"Hey, you'll have to get in line!" Chomper piped up. "I've got first crack at him!"
"Basically, you get the idea," Zaine said. "Don't make me regret this, because I have every right to kill you here and now."
"I understand," Strut replied. "So what do we do now?"
"Well, we were held up for a little bit no thanks to your brother, so we need to hurry." Chomper said. "My parents are supposed to provide us safe passage through the Mysterious Beyond, but I could always feed you to them if you do anything funny."
Strut grew very nervous. He remembered the last time he met with Chomper's parents. "Again, I'm sorry for that inconvenience, but-"
"Inconvenience? You attacked me and left me to die!" Zaine countered, then he calmed down a little. "Anyway, we should leave now if we are going to catch up with your brother. Knowing him, he took advantage of our stall."
-
I wish I could be more active, but I can't. :( I'll start a topic in The Fridge about my time at camp.
-
"Basing on how Ozzy has been acting so far he'll likely be doing something devious, so we may have to be as devious if not more so." Mim said.
"Me no know how to be devious." Petrie said.
"I do not know either." Ducky said.
-
Shera followed the conversation, not throwing herself in. I think he's okay... But I think that Ozzy will give us some trouble again.
-
((OOC: sorry bout this, but this idea was just too good to pass up! :DD ))
Longtail smiled as he heard Ducky's and Petries comments about being devious. He then laughed and said "Oh, being devious...is something I really can do."
He then started to sing "To be devious, one must be swift, sly, and be able to run. I know that its never easy, but you can always try telling the truth about being devious....just be crule. coy and deceptive in all that you do."
Cera then joined in "Can you feel it coming, that sinking feeling like a big water wave? It's the lies that were said and the hurt you give."
But before Cera could finish Cyrix stood up, smiled and replied "Okay...that's enough of that...Zaine is right, we need to get going. You two can finish your song when we get the stone, but for now, let's get a move on, and meet Chompers folks."
-
Shera got a big smile on her face and felt like singing along. She likes to sing. But she knew it was smarter to go on with the journey now.
"Yup, we should meet them" She said.
-
Mim smiled to Ducky & Petrie, "No problem. I can teach you how to be devious, and not need to lie either." She said.
Littlefoot nodded, "Yes, we should get started. No telling what Ozzy is up to, but I'm sure we'll find out soon." He said.
"I do hope all this walking will still allow your legs to heal Zaine, though it would be better if we could stop and let you rest a few days." Mim said. "Though under the circumstances, that is impossible at the moment."
-
Zaine nodded. "Unfortunately, we don't have a choice. My legs will have to bear with it. Getting to that stone is more important, because if Ozzy gets to it first, goodbye world." He turned towards Chomper. "Well Chomper, point the way."
Chomper walked up and looked around, scanning the area. This part of the Mysterious Beyond was probably the only peaceful part in the entire land, so he felt relief that he couldn't smell sharpteeth. "This way," he pointed.
"Ok then. Chomper, keep leading the way. Strut, you are staying in the front so everybody can watch you. Trust me, you wouldn't want to try anything in this group, especialy with the evil flyer we have in our group." He laughed a little, wondering what Longtail would have said to that. "I'll be in the back to make sure everybody is still with us." He then limped slowly to the back. When he passed Longtail, he stopped for a second.
"You know, you do have a dark side in you. You just showed it with that threat. You could turn out to be a very demonic flyer." He laughed again, knowing Longtail probably would have enjoyed it.
-
As Longtail heard what Zaine said he gave a nervous smile and said "Yeah I know...its funny, but it kinda scares me too." he then laughed and said "Oh well...no time for that now...let's start walking!"
-
Zaine nodded. "Ok Chomper! Show us the way!"
Chomper smiled. "You got it! Let's go this way!" With that, Chomper started leading the group in the direction he was pointing at. Zaine kept a close eye on everybody in the group, especially Strut. He seems to be all right at the moment. Maybe he is legit. Either way, I still can't fully trust him. He then glanced at Longtail. Maybe that comment I made wasn't the best. I don't think he took it like I did. I really hope I didn't offend him.
Up at the front of the group, Chomper kept turning back to Strut. "I'm warning you egghead! You better not try anything stupid!"
"I understand why you don't trust me, but I can assure you-"
"I don't think you do. You tried to kill me when I was a hatchling."
"Only because my brother forced me to cooperate. I wouldn't have done anything if I had the choice."
"Everybody has a choice. You could have chosen to abandon your brother back then."
"I suppose you are right."
-
Longtail knew that Zaine only meant that last remark as a joke, but for some reason it made him think about what he could do...and in truth it scared him alot more than he wanted to let on. He then decided to ask what Zaine would think...
"Hey Zaine...how would you react...if ya know...I totally lost it, and well...killed someone. Not anyone in our group, but just in general?"
Cyrix had overheard the comment from his nephew but didn't want to answer before Zaine as the question was directed at him.
-
Zaine was surprised by the question. "Wow. I guess I never really thought about it." He hesitated to answer, because he didn't want to offend Longtail in anyway. "Well I would hope you never do go insane like that. However, if that was the case then I don't know. I would still try and look for the good inside you and try to change you back. Even if you do go ahead and kill, you're still my best friend, and our bond is too strong to let something like that break it." He hesitated even more before finishing his thoughts. "If I had no choice, and it was the only way to change you back to normal, then I would even fight you because that's how much I care about you."
-
Cyrix nodes his head in approval and says "Very good answer Zaine. It is that kind of friendship that will always give Longtail the strength to fight off his dark side. Besides even should the worst happen, he won't hurt any of us. I can assure you Zaine."
Longtail smiled at Zaines answer and his uncles compliment and said "Thanks...I feel alot better about myself now. And my Uncle is right Zaine, you guys won't be in danger if I lose control. I can smell the difference between all of you and other sharpteeth."
-
"That is good to know." Littlefoot said nodding as he walked along.
"It is good. But maybe better to not think about that." Ducky said from Littlefoot's back where she was riding.
"To scary for Petrie to think about." He said shivering a bit at the image in his mind from where he was riding.
"A good sense of smell is useful, but not the only useful thing someone may have." Mim said.
-
"Agreed. I'll...have to be careful too, since I might...lose it too. If that happens...I want you guys to subdue me. Knock me out, whatever, but don't let me hurt anyone."
Dante said grimly...
Virgil nodded at the others.
"We'll be on guard. But for now, let's just focus on the road ahead of us."
Motochika kept walking as he added...
"That is the only way we will find the stone before the others."
-
Cyrix nodded and replied "Yes Motochika is right, we must keep moving...come along everyone." Longtail quickly fell into step and smiled the whole time, knowing he'd be able to trust his friends to help him if he lost control.
Longtail then asked "Hey Chomper, you said we were going to meet your folks, will they be able to pick up my sharptooth scent?"
-
"Someone as big as his parents must have good sniffers, they must." Ducky said.
"They smell us hiding in bush." Petrie said, remembering back on the island where they met Chomper and how they were hiding in a bush and one of Chomper's parents was able to smell them.
"I guess we'll find out when we get to them." Littlefoot Said.
"I just hope that they remember their promise and it carries over to the rest of us. But as you said we'll not know till we get there." Mim said.
-
Ptyra: When this is over tell me everything I've missed!
-
Zaine nodded. "Don't worry Ptyra. Everything will be fine once this is over."
Chomper looked back towards Longtail. "Ducky's right. Besides, they'll find us because they can never forget my scent." He then looked over towards Mim. "Don't worry about it! They said any friend of Littlefoot's would be safe since he saved me back on the island."
Zaine smiled. "Good thing. I wouldn't want to be trusting sharpteeth if I wasn't guarenteed my safety.
Strut still felt uneasy about being near Zaine. After he and Ozzy had just tried killing him, Strut knew it was going to be virtually impossible to try to talk to him. Fortunately, that wouldn't stop him. "Zaine, can I talk to you?"
Zaine shook his head. "Keep away from me you creep. We may be letting you in, but I don't fully trust you yet. Just give me one reason why I shouldn't rip you apart right now."
Strut sighed. "I guess I can't give you any."
-
"Me hope they no forget." Petrie said.
"They'll remember Petrie." Littlefoot said, confident that they would.
"I hope they remember their promise, I do, I do." Ducky Said. "I wish my sister were here, or one of her friends, then we could ask the fastbiter herd she's a .... sort of member of for help maybe." Ducky said skipping over the word honorary since she knew she didn't know how to say it like her sister did.
"Me want to hear that story sometime." Petrie said, interested in what Ducky said.
-
Motochika nodded, looking over at the others.
"It seems that we all have our own interesting stories to tell at some point. Perhaps after this journey, we can."
He said, grinning faintly...
Dante stood at Zaine's side, then looked at Strut, eye ridge raised.
"So...What exactly does Ozzy want the Stone for?"
He asked...
-
Zaine looked over at Dante. "My guess is power. Isn't that right Strut?"
Strut nodded. "Ever since our last vist to the Great Valley, he cursed the residents who foiled his plans. In this case, Littlefoot and his friends. He wants the Stone so he can rule over the Great Valley and enslave everyone in it."
Chomper couldn't believe what he was hearing. "That's terrible! We can't let him succeed!"
"Don't worry Chomper," Zaine replied. "We won't. We'll get to the stone before him." Strut felt a little uneasy when he said this, and Zaine could tell. "You knew you were going to have to fight him."
"You're right. He may be my brother, but he is still evil and insane. We can't let him get the stone first."
Zaine nodded, but then remembered something. "So what was in it for you?"
"Yeah," Chomper said. "Why do you want the stone?"
"I told you already. I want it to stop Ozzy."
"That can't be the only reason you want it," Zaine said. "There's more isn't there."
Strut hesitated. "Yes....there is something else, but I-"
"What," Chomper pressured. "Tell us!"
-
"Him getting the stone would likely be very bad. But how many people can use the power of the stone responsibly? A few I"m sure, but not everyone." Mim said.
-
Shera listened closely. She walked over to Mim. "How powerful is that stone anyway?" She asked.
-
"I've heard various stories about it. It's suppose to grant your wish, though others say it can grant you all sorts of powers. Either way it's a dangerous thing for someone like Ozzy to get to it first. Not sure if I believe the stories of the stone, though Ozzy does and that is the important thing." Mim said.
"Just like some flyers believed the story the other rainbowfaces said before." Littlefoot said, leaving out their names since he didn't want to hurt Petrie's feelings. "But that stone was just a rock, a different looking rock then most that fall, but it had no magic powers to it." Littlefoot said, leaving out how he saw the rainbowfaces leave and how they got back to the great valley so fast, and his wondering if they were magical, or something else, but never having talked to anyone about that.
-
"Hmm. That in the hands of evil would be no good for sure. Grant your wishes, and give powers." She shivered. "That stone seems pretty scary to me! We should get there earlier than Ozzy..."
-
"I agree, yes I do." Ducky said nodding.
"Petrie agree." He said nodding also
-
Longtail sighed and mutted "I'm not too crazy about the whole magic rock idea, but I do believe in spirits and the afterlife." Then a thought crossed his mind and he spoke up so everyone would hear him "Hey, what do we do, if we find the stone, and it gives us more than one wish?"
-
"I think Zaine should get the first wish, but if there is more wishes that can be made that would take some thinking." Littlefoot said.
Mim nods, "A wish is a very large thing to wish and it may have, effects far beyond what you may think it would have." Mim said.
-
Zaine nodded. "I'm sure we would work something out. My guess would be to wish that the stone were destroyed so that no evil could get a hold of it."
"But Zaine!" Chomper replied. "Then you wouldn't be able to wish your parents back!"
Zaine glared at him. "Chomper, that's a personal matter, and I don't want to talk about it."
Chomper nodded. "I'm sorry I brought it up."
Zaine sighed. "I know you didn't mean any harm." He had to admit, he couldn't hide how much he wanted to see his parents again, but he was torn between that or the safety of the Great Valley. I can't be selfish enough to use the stone for myself, but this could be my only chance to see my mom and dad.
Strut curiously listened in on the conversation. "What do you mean?"
"Mind your own business!" Chomper shot back.
"So that's why you want the stone so badly. You want to bring your-"
"What part of mind your own business don't you get?" Zaine yelled out loud.
"Are you really willing to risk your friends lives for your own desires?"
"Shut up," Zaine couldn't take any more of this.
"You know, you aren't any different than my brother-"
"Don't you dare compare me to your brother!" Now Zaine was pissed off.
"Why not? You know it's true-"
"SHUT UP!" With that, Zaine lunged towards Strut and rammed him into a nearby tree. Chomper couldn't believe what he was seeing, and the others had mixed reactions as well. "DON'T EVER TALK TO ME ABOUT MY PARENTS OR YOUR BROTHER AGAIN, GOT IT?" He then pulled back and rammed Strut's stomach again, and then again, and then again. Finally, Strut coughed out, and a spot of blood splashed onto Zaine's face. Horrified, he realized what he had just done, but that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was he began to realize that Strut was right. What am I doing?
-
"Maybe you can wish first for," Littlefoot started then seeing the fight was startled for a moment, not expecting it to happen. "What are you doing?" Littlefoot asked shocked at what Zaine was doing. Ducky hugged Littlfoot tigher and hid her face in his neck.
"What go on?" Petrie asked looking around at the sound.
"Zaine, do you know what you are doing?" Mim asked as she moved to try to separate Zaine and Strut.
-
Mitch jumped forward, placing himself between Zaine and Strut.
He looked at Zaine, both with anger and understanding.
"Zaine! Hey Zaine! That's enough!"
He then looked at Strut with a look of disgust, then at everybody else.
"Now, can we please stop fighting!?"
"Look, I know everyone here has her/his personal reasons to get to this stone!"
"We all have dreams that we wan't to fulfill!"
"I for one have to!" "But, I also know one important thing, arguing and fighting WON'T lead us ANYWHERE!"
"Besides, we all here tend to use the stone for good reasons, right?
he looked serious at all of them.
"Well, from what this guy (he glared at Strut) has told us... trust him or not..."
He nooded of in a direction.
"There's someone, and maybe more out there who doesn't! And if we don't get our minds togheter, that one will suceed! And we, and I know much more, will not be able to even dream about this stone!"
He stopped. Breathing...
Then said with a calm voice.
"So, shall we settle this like the good friends I know we really are?"
-
Zaine slowly backed away from the group, still horrified with what he had just done. What have I done? I'm becoming insane! He stared at Strut, but the egg eater only replied with a small smirk. He knew he was right, and Zaine couldn't bear to admit it. He then slowly started heading towards the back of the group, but then quickened his pace. He didn't want anybody to see him like this, but it was already too late. Zaine kept in the back, and began to cry a little.
Chomper wanted to do something to cheer him up, but at this point he figured Zaine wanted to be alone. "I feel so bad for him," he sai out loud, but in a lower tone so Zaine couldn't hear him. "I can't imagine what's going through his mind right now." He then looked towards the others. "We should keep moving. This place seems to only bring out the ugly in us. The sooner we find my parents the better." He then glared at Strut. "You keep away from him or I kill you."
"As you wish."
-
Longtail was surprised at Zaines outburst, but he personally considered Strut lucky. He accidently said aloud "If that had been me, I might've killed him without a second thought."
Longtail then smiled and thought 'Well, that wasn't the smartest idea.'
Cyrix turned to face his nephew and said "I'm surprised at you Longtail! You should know better than that by now!"
Cyrix then turned to face Zaine and simply gave the young longneck an understanding nod, as dealing with Longtail had taught him a thing or two about being angry. He knew Zaine would want to be alone, but he said "Zaine, I am proud that you found the will to stop. That is the difference in knowing who to trust and befriend."
-
"I don't trust him, and I especially don't want him as a friend," he replied. Then he realized he was getting out of control with his rage. He calmed down and sighed. "The worst part is he's right. All this time I've been wanting to get the stone for my parents. Longtail and Littlefoot were kidnapped and I was almost murdered. I'm risking everyone in this group to find the stone, and I shouldn't."
Chomper grew very worried about Zaine. I hope he turns out ok soon. We all need him now more than ever.
Strut only watched everything that was happening. He then glared at Longtail. "I am grateful then that it wasn't you," he sneered.
-
Mim smiled a bit at Zaine. "Before you are to hard on yourself, consider, that you did stop. Some people would not have stopped." She said.
"I can think of some that would not have stopped, I can." Ducky said.
"We hurry to Chomper's parents before other sharpteeth find us." Petrie said a bit afraid of being out here.
"That does sound like a good idea, what do the rest of you think?" Mim asked.
-
Cyrix smiled and said to Zaine "But everyone here is willing to help you. If our lives are given up to help one we care about, then it would all be worth it. Longtail and I know this...and I'm sure everyone else does as well."
Longtail however heard Sturt muttering something, and was sure it was about him, Longtail then jumped in front of the egg stealer and bared his teeth and claws and shouted "Do you want to die? Cause I'm sure the others wouldn't mind if I got my claws dirty!"
-
Virgil and Dante had also stepped in on Strut, claws levelled at his throat.
"In my time, I sent many souls to the afterlife. I would have no qualms about adding one more to that total..."
Vigil said menacingly, while Dante added...
"I hate killing...but if you even think about hurting my friends, rest assured that I won't hesitate to take your sorry life..."
-
Zaine sighed. "I guess you're right. Thanks Mr. Cyrix." Then he noticed everybody threatening Strut. "That's enough! Everybody back off! This is just what he wants us to do!" He then walked over to Strut and glared at him. "I know what you're up to. You haven't changed at all. Ozzy sent you to destroy his threat from the inside didn't he?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about! I came here on my own!"
"We'll see about that," Chomper replied. "You're going to be watched very closely from now on."
"If you give any of us a sense of danger, we will kill you without second thought."
"Very well."
Suddenly Chomper stopped abruptly and sniffed the air. A worried look grew on his face. "Uhh guys, we might have a problem."
"What's wrong?" Zaine asked.
"Sharpteeth."
"Is it your parents?"
"No. These are definitely not my parents."
Zaine gre extremely worried. "Damn, and we were doing so well. Everybody stay together!"
-
"I'd guess they were sent by the other egg eater." Mim said.
Ducky got a look of fear on her face, "That is bad, yep, yep, yep." She said.
Petrie flew up into the air. Mim picked up Ducky.
-
Upon hearing the words 'Sharpteeth' and 'Not my parents' from Chomper, Longtail immediately jumped and using Struts head like a spring board jumped up and joined Petrie in the sky, and began using his eyes to scan the land before him, looking for the sharpteeth that Chomper had mentioned, and now he could smell them too.
"Guys...Over there!" shouted Longtail and he tried to point with his tai. He then flapped his wings lowering himself to the ground, so when he attacked they wouldn't see it coming.
Cyrix stepped next to Longtail and said "I'm ready, everyone else do as Zaine said and stick close together."
-
Petrie went pretty high and started to circle around looking for the sharpteeth. Once he found some he started to circle around, "They here and look nasty. Almost as scary as Cera's dad." Petrie called out very loudly, not sure if his friends could hear or not.
-
"How many are there?"
Dante asked, twirling his staff nervously...
"They might have others in reserve, so keep careful."
Virgil added
"They draw close. Be ready"
Motochika said, shifting to his ready stance...
-
"My brother must have sent them," Strut concluded.
"That's impossible!" Chomper replied. "How could Ozzy form an alliance with sharpteeth. If anything, they would tear him apart!"
"He's more cunning then you think. I wouldn't be surprised if he bribed them."
"I don't care what he's done!" Zaine interrupted. "We have to take care of these sharpteeth now before they can do even more damage." He tried to stand firm, but he winced from his legs.
Chomper looked worried. "Guys, we need to protect Zaine at all cost!"
"Here they come!" Just as Strut called it out, two fast biters jumped out and surrounded Zaine. "Oh no you don't!" Strut lunged towards one fast biter and clawed at its eyes, blinding it. He then grabbed it and threw it against a tree. "Zaine run!"
"Easy for you to say!" Zaine countered. While the first fast biter was down, the other glared at him. Oh great. Zaine tried running the opposite direction, but his legs hindered him. He limped as fast as he could, but the fast biter kept up the chase.
Chomper leaped into the air and sank his teeth into the fast biters back. It screamed out in pain and tried to shake him off, but Chomper kept strong. Eventually, Chomper let go and landed on his feet. The fast bitr tripped and fell onto the ground. This gave Zaine the chance to smash his foot on its face, crushing and killing it "Zaine, are you ok?"
"I am for now! Thanks Chomper!" Just then, a huge group of fast biters, most likely the rest of them, appeared out of nowhere. You've got to be kidding me. Two of them sepearated Zaine from the others.
"Zaine!" Chomper cried out.
"Chomper! Stay with the others!" Zaine began to limp the other way, hoping to lead the fast biters away from the group.
Strut observed Zaine's movements. That's just what Ozzy wants him to do.
-
Mitch managed to make his way trough between Zaine and some of the fastbiters.
"You stay right where you are, you pathetic cowards!"
he said with anger, attempting to hinder some of the fastbiters, giving Zaine a better chance.
-
"As an old ornery longneck said, looks looks like it's time to snap necks and take names." Mim said. "Hold on tight." She said to Ducky before putting her in her mouth, the best way she could think of with short notice to keep a firm hold on her and keep her at least partially protected with her own head and face providing a type of meat shield. Ducky was mainly side ways. She used her tiny hands to hold on to part of her jaw.
Mim slapped one across the face that was to her side with her tail and punched another one in it's solar plexus. It partally bent over, allowing her thrust her leg out hard, hitting it to the side of it's knee and snapping it. She shoved this one at another. Another fastbiter jumped on her back and started to bite her neck with it's arms around her chest. She reached down and grabbing it's pinky jerked it the opposite way it was suppose to go, snapping it and making the fastbiter cry out in pain. She quickly spun it around, wrapping her arms around its neck and with a jerk and a shove snapped it's neck, shoving it at another one.
---
Littlefoot was for a moment frozen in fear then he started to use his tail. He managed to trip a fastbiter, Petrie flew in and pecked it's face, further distracting it. Littlefoot then jumped on it's chest, not sure is weight would do much, but hoping that would at least stun it.
(ooc: Hope none of what I did was to power gamey)
-
Shera stood there, terrified. One of the fastbiters came her way. She didn't move, while he came closer.
Just when the fastbiter was getting really close she closer her eyes, lowered her head and ran towards him. She felt her horn hitting him, but kept on running, in fear.
The fastbiter fell on the ground. Shera ran away from the group without noticing.
-
To be honest Longtail was shocked at how fast these sharpteeth had managed to overtake their group. He was still looking around trying to count just how many there were, but he already knew two things for sure: They were outnumbered and were easily separating everyone in the group. He wanted to warn the others, but he just didn't have the time to do so, and with that thought in mind, Longtail took a deep breath and set loose his signature cry: The Guardian's Roar, causing the ground to shake, and crack, but at the same time sounding like a quiet loving song.
Cyrix having seen what was happening, covered his ears after throwing a sharptooth to the ground and stepping on it's neck to hold it in place. He then thought to himself 'This ought to get EVERYONE'S attention for a moment...long enough at least for Longtail to make a fast strike and help deal with these fastbitters.'
-
One of the fastbiters made a leap againts Mitch, aiming for his trout.
Mitch was prepared, he spun around, slaming the sharpteeth hard with his tail in mid-air.
It was sent airborn, and tumbled away on the ground futher away.
How many are there? And where did Zaine go?!
"Hey, Shera! Don't run away!" Mitch said as he saw Shera running away from the group. He set off after her, raming another fastbiter to the ground as he did.
This sound! Mitch made a face, as he couldn't cover his ears.
-
Shera heard her name through all the battle noise. She opened her eyes, seeing a rock in front of her, slowed down her speed and stopped just in front of it. Quickly she turned around to see if the fastbiter was still there. She saw the whole scenario. Where is Zaine... she wondered. Then she saw Mitch again, calling for her.
"I'm here! I'm sorry." She shouted at him because he was still quite a distance away from her.
-
"Shera, you okay?" Mitch said as he caught up with her.
"We have to stay toghete... Sigh* Now what...?"
Two fastbiters had shown up, blocking Mitch's and Shera's path back to the group.
"Stay behind me, Shera..." Mitch mumbled.
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way!" He called out to the sharpteeth's, as he wagged his tail trough the air, stomping a foot hard to the ground.
-
"I'm.. Okay I guess" she said.
She saw the 2 fastbiters. She stayed behind Mitch as she was told.
-
Zaine had noticed the fast biters approach Mitch and Shera. "Back off you creeps!" With all his might, he lunged towards the fast biters and body slammed right into them, sending them flying into a huge rock face near them. He landed and turned towards Mitch and Shera. "Are you two ok?" Then he winced and fell to his knees. Zaine could feel huge amounts of pain after that last move. Great. If these sharpteeth don't kill me, then I'll end up killing myself. He struggled but managed to stand. "Come on! The others still need help!"
Chomper continued to slash away at individual fast biters, either blinding them or disabling them. He quickly turned around and noticed Zaine with Mitch and Shera. Oh good. He's ok.
Strut eventually was surrounded by four fast biters. He looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon. He then saw a rock the size of his hand and a couple of vines. Quickly, he grabbed the rock and tied it to his hand. Then the fast biters approached. "It's game time." He spun around and swung the hand with the rock attatched at one's head. He then continued to smash the rock against the fast biters' bodies, effectively killing or knocking them out.
Meanwhile, from afar, Ozzy stood in shock. "This is pathetic. How are the sharpteeth losing? They're a bunch of children!" He then noticed some afults with them. "Oh great. They have help." Then he noticed Strut fighting alongside them. "Strut? Why that no good-" but his thought was interrupted when he saw Zaine. "No. It's not possible! He should be dead!" In disgust and shear shock, he turned around and left his hiding place. Nobody noticed he was there.
-
"I am fine" shera said to Zaine. She saw the painful look on his face. "But are you...?"
She walked to him, looking at his wounds. "Well.. Yes we should help them." Shivering she looked at all the fast biters threatening her friends.
-
Mitch nodded at Zaine, he knew that he was ill, but worrying about him at this moment wouldn't help anyone.
He approached the other fastbiters, that was treatening his younger friends.
"Hey you, vermins! Care to take on one of your own size!?" he said with anger, showing his teeth, and waged his tail from side to side.
-
Littlefoot felt a fastbiter grab him. Then Petrie pecked it's face near it's eye. It swatted a hand at Petrie in annoyance and Littlefoot slapped his tail against it's leg behind it's knee forcing it's leg to bend and it to go backwards and into a fastbiter attacking Mim. She used the confusion and opportunity to jump a little and kick it's side mid or higher up, helping to push it in the same direction and both went down in a tangle of arms, legs & tails with both saying rather impolite words in sharptooth.
-
Mitch slamed another fastbiter into a rock with his tail, knocking it uncouncious.
He then took battle stance next to Mim, Littlefoot and the others.
"Nice one! he said with a grin. You guys okay? How many more are there?!" he said, and looked out for new attacks.
-
"Thanks. I hope the others are doing ok." Littlefoot looked around to see how the others are doing. "How are you folks doing?" Littlefoot asked Mitch and the others near him glancing at them before he went back to seeing how the others were doing and at the fastbiters.
"I do not think this is a fun ride, no, no, no." Ducky said, still holding onto Mim's jaw and sideways in her mouth to keep both of Mim's hands free and to project at least some of Ducky. Mim looked around to see the state of things, with scratches and other wounds that would heal.
"Me no like this." Petrie said also looking around.
-
(You guys are going way too fast for me :( )
-
Longtail had to admit, this wasn't getting any easier, or fun...as he was pinned by two sharpteeth, and a third was licking it's lips. He looked up at the fastbiter and spat in it's face as he said "You don't scare me!" The fastbitter just laughed and stepped onto Longtail's neck and moved in to finish Longtail off.
Cyrix tail whipped a fastbitter into the ground and pushed another one face first into a rock. He then noticed that he and Longtail had been seperated, and he had no clue as to what was happening to his nephew.
-
(Right, I'll just stick with it)
Ptyra had fled in a different direction, and saw Longtail and Cyrix's ambush.
Ptyra: What to do...I don't want to risk more damage...
-
Dante flipped into the air, bringing his foot onto the sharptooth attacking Longtail, then whipping his tail around to flatten the other two.
"You okay, Longtail?"
He asked, dodging another swipe at himself...
Virgil tackled a fastbiter, stepping hard onto it's neck. Grinning darkly, he turned towards another group, asking...
"Who's next?"...
Motochika was spinning about, his tail knocking any who got near him to the ground...
-
Zaine nodded. "I'll be fine Shera. Thanks anyway." He then quickly limped towards a long stick lying on the ground and grabbed it with his mouth. He began to furiously swing the stick at random fast biters, knocking them out.
Chomper ran towards Longtail and helped him up. "Watch yourself! These sharpteeth aren't playing around!"
Strut had just finished killing another fast biter when he thought he saw something moving in the distance. "Who is that?" He squinted his eyes to try and get a better look, but whoever it was they were gone already. "Must be seeing things."
Zaine quickly looked around at the others, making sure everybody was ok. "Keep it up guys!" He then turned towards Chomper. "Chomper, how many more are there?"
"I think this is the last few!"
"We can't give up now!" Strut replied.
-
Littlefoot jumped on the fastbiters that tangled up knocking the wind out of a the one on top and then he jumped off and looked to see if any other needed help. He whipped his tail and tripped another one, Petrie giving it's head a few picks from behind as Mim was also in the process of punching it first with one fist, then as it was tripped by Littlefoot with her other fist that came from underneath hitting it's chin.
"How Everyone?" Petrie asked from his position hovering above and looking around.
-
Longtail took Chomper's help, and said "Thanks Dante, and you too Chomper, I noticed that these guys are tough. Now how about we push our luck and get out of here?"
Cyrix seeing what happened ran over to check on his nephew "Are you alright?! I'm sorry I got separated from you Longtail." He then asked "I think this fight is over. The sharpteeth are leaving."
-
"Looks like it..." Mitch said.
"Is anyone hurt?"
He then turned to Chomper.
"Chomper, a word..."
Mitch walked over to Chomper.
"I don't know much about sharpteeth, but is it normal for them to gather in soo much numbers? Besides, I'd be stupid if I didn't think they were looking for something, or someone...?"
-
Mim took Ducky out of her mouth and looked herself over, "I just have some cuts and a bite or 2, nothing major, Ducky is unhurt." Mim said holding Ducky and looking her over a bit before putting her on her back.
"I an unhurteded, and I am glad that is over, it was not fun, no it was not." She said.
"Littlefoot no look hurt." Petrie said landing nearby.
"I'm not really, maybe a scratch or 2 at most." He said.
"How is everyone else? Does everyone else want to rest here and treat any injuries or move on for a bit?" Mim asked.
"How is Zaine, he was already hurt before this began." Littlefoot asked looking around for Zaine.
-
Longtail and Cyrix walked over as Longtail said "I think he'll be okay."
Cyrix then said "Just don't do that again...we almost lost you, and I don't want to see that happen." He then looked up and over at Dante and said "Thank you again Dante for your help."
-
Shera knew she didn't help a lot in the fight. "I'm sorry. I was just so scared. But I'm okay, I guess." she said.
-
Ptyra crawls out of her hiding place
Ptyra: I feel like a coward...I don't want to face fast biters again...
-
Chomper shook his head. "No, sharpteeth don't normally gather in great numbers. Besides, I think I have the same feeling as you. They were definitely sent here to stop us, but Ozz couldn't have known that Zaine is alive. He neve saw him after he tried to kill him. My guess is Ozzy is becoming more desperate to find the stone."
Zaine limped towards the group. "Well I think I speak for all of us when I say I don't want to do that again. Chomper, how much farther until we find your parents?"
"It shouldn't be much longer. I think my sniffer is picking up their scent. We must be getting close. Besides, if we don't find them, they will most likely find us."
"That doesn't sound pleasent," Strut said.
"Well maybe if you hadn't tried to kill Littlefoot that one time you wouldn't be in any danger," Chomper sneered. Strut nodded, knowing he was right. "Makes no difference to me though. I wouldn't care if they had you for lunch."
"That's enough," Zaine said. "I've just about had it with all this fighting. We need to get out of here now if we have any chance of reaching the stone, because that fight slowed us down. Let's go." He started limping in the direction they were heading before. He managed to catch up with Shera who was feeling very down about the fight.
"Shera don't feel bad about the sharpteeth. You should be happy you survived and that we can continue on our journey. I understand how you must be feeling right now, but don't let it get to you. You did all that you could, and that's all to be expected."
((OOC: I've been thinking. Whatever happened to Cera? Did she just become forgotten all of a sudden? :DD ))
-
(OOC: GVG was doing Cera I think. Not sure if he is still doing her or someone else is. Maybe she was knocked out early in the fight or battling fastbiters on her own. ))
Mim looked over at Zaine. "Are you sure you are ok? Maybe Mitch and some others should carry you for a while so your legs can heal better. Or we can use 2 long sticks and weave vines between them and you can rest on that as it is dragged." Mim suggested. "We can treat our injuries once we're with Chomper's parents. That should be a safe place for that."
"I hope they will remember us, I do." Ducky said.
"Petrie too." Petrie said.
-
Dante limped over, nursing a wound on his right leg.
"I'll help him..."
He said, then staggered, almost falling on his face before Virgil and Motochika caught him.
"Easy there Dante. You're in no shape to be carrying any more weight. Let us take care of this one."
Virgil said, grinning at his brother and handing him his staff...
-
((OOC: Yeah... :^.^: Sorry bout that...I've just been getting used to my new classes this semester and I just kinda forgot about Cera... :lol ))
Cera who had miraculously come out of the fight completely unhurt, smirked as she walked along side Ziane and said "I don't know what the big deal was those fast bitters couldn't stop us anyway."
Longtail scoffed and replied "You only had to face off against one! I was pinned down by two of them and the third was about to kill me! If it weren't for Dante well, let's not think about it."
Cyrix nodded and replied "A very wise choice nephew." Cyrix then walked over to Dante and offered his help "If you need it I can help you walk until we meet Chompers folks."
-
Dante smiled at Cyrix, then shook his head, saying...
"I'm fine. Really. Thanks for worrying though. C'mon. Let's keep going..."
Vigil walked over to Zaine, then picked him up and slung him over his shoulders easily.
"Come Zaine. Now we need your help to find the stone more than ever. I think Ozzy may have spotted us. I think he's leading the others..."
-
Mim looked at the others, "It looks like everyone is ready to go." She then looked at Chomper to see if he was injured at all. "It seems everyone is ready, are you ready to guide us to your parents?" She asked Chomper.
Shera walked over to the middle of the group where she felt safest.
"Let us go. We need to get there, we do, we do." Ducky said still frightened by the attack and the fighting and wanting to get somewhere safe as fast as they could.
"Petrie ready too." Petrie said, also still feeling scared by the battle and wanting to get to someplace safe.
-
Cyrix nodded his head in agreement. He then commented "I to feel we should keep moving now. It isn't very safe here. Please Chomper lead the way." He then turned to Dante and said "It's alright, I'll still walk beside you in case you need anything alright?"
Longtail and Cera had gotten into another argument over how tough the sharpteeth were, but both had started to follow Chomper when he began leading the way again.
-
Ptyra fumbled nervously
Ptyra: If any other sharpteeth come don't let me run away. After my last experience with them...
-
Zaine sighed as Virgil picked him up. "You know there really is no need. I can still walk." He then thought about it. "Although, my legs probably could use some time to heal. Thanks Virgil."
Chomper kept sniffing out the scent of his parents. "We should be getting close. This area is very familiar to me, so I think they are nearby."
Strut still kept thinking about that figure he saw before. "I'm sure that was Ozzy. Who else could have manipulated the sharpteeth to do his will."
-
(Why's Ptyra being ignored?)
Ptyra: (to Strut) Why do you think that?
-
((Sorry, we aren't trying to ignore you))
"Well the figure looked a lot like him," Strut told Ptyra. "Besides, Ozzy is the evilist dinosaur I know, well next to a sharptooth anyway. There's nobody else who could convince sharpteeth to be his allies."
Zaine wasn't paying any attention to this conversation. He was still more concerned about what happened before their fight with the fast biters. He still couldn't get out of his mind what Strut had said about him. What if he is right? What if I risk everybody here for the stone just so I can use the wish myself?
-
Mim looked at Strut, "Sounds like it could have been. Maybe he was watching & enjoying what his servants were doing, at least until things didn't turn out like he wanted." Mim said.
"He is mean, he is, he is." Ducky said remembering him.
"He act like mean sharptooth." Petrie said agreeing with Ducky.
Shera listened to the conversation, but not having anything to add remained silent for now, hoping they would not run across this Ozzy person the others were talking about. He sounded very scary to her.
-
Chomper kept sniffing for his parents, but for some reason he still couldn't find them. "I don't get it. Their scent is close, but why can't I pick them out?"
"Maybe your nose is broken," Strut replied.
"Your nose will be broken if you don't shut up," Chomper growled.
"Maybe we just need to keep looking around," Zaine suggested. "You said yourself this area was familiar to you. Maybe it's interfeering with you trying to sniff out your parents."
"Well whatever it is, it's not making this any easier."
Just then, Strut noticed a rustle in the bushes next to him. "We're not alone."
Chomper looked at the bushes. "For once he's right. I'm picking something up."
Zaine nodded. "I'll go check it out." He slid down from Virgil's back and walked towards the bushes. I better not get pulled in from behind again. Zaine peered his head into the bushes and gasped. Not trying to draw too much attention, he grabbed whatever was behind the bushes and threw it to the ground. He pinned the fast biter to the ground and glared at it. "It must have gotten separated from the group earlier!" He then looked towards Chomper. "Translate for us! Ask him who sent him!"
Chomper nodded and walked towards the fast biter. He growled and roared out in sharptooth tongue, and the fast biter replied with hisses and louder growls. "He says 'I'm not talking'. Why do they always have to do it the hard way?"
Zaine looked towards the group. "Anybody want to help convince him that we aren't in the mood for this?"
-
Mim looked at the fastbiter saying, "We can put a large rock or log on his tail and tie his mouth shut with leaves and his hands so he can't free himself and leave him to starve," She said, being tired of battling mean fast biters, "or we can turn him over to the 'tender mercies'," she said, putting a lot of sarcasm onto the words tender mercies, "of the fastbiters and sharpteeth that are with us."
Shera saw the fast biter and got near Mitch for protection since he was the biggest in the group and she felt safer near him.
"Me to scared to think." Petrie said hoping over closer to Mitch since he was scared of the fastbiter, shivering as he landed near Mitch.
Ducky put her hands on her hips, "He's just a mean fastbiter. Make him eat green food or Lets just tie him up and turn him over to Cera's dad." She said thinking of the 2 worst things she could think of.
Mim smiled at that idea, "I'm sure Threehorn would, enjoy, having his own fastbiter to play with." She said.
"Top.." Ducky started then caught herself by clapping her hands over her mouth and looking over at Cera before she said Tria's pet name for Cera's dad, "Mr. Threehorn likes to play? I never knew, he does not seem the type, no he does not." Ducky said amazed at the idea that Cera's dad may like to play.
-
Cera glared at Ducky for a moment as she watched Ducky catch the words she was about to use. Then she smiled and replied "That is a wonderful idea, but my daddy isn't here now! I say we just turn him over to Longtail and Dante, I'm sure they can think of a punishment good enough for another sharptooth!"
Longtail gave a funny grin and said "That is one of the best ideas I've heard all day!" He shook his head and his eye changed color again. "Now, Dante, what do you think we should do to him, to get him to be a little more...cooperative with our group? I was thinking something along the lines of letting him bleed for a while, and then maybe..."
Before he could continue Cyrix cut Longtail off by saying "Uhh..nephew, we do still need him alive to talk to us...so try to control yourself."
Longtail nodded in response and said "Yes uncle...sorry."
-
Mitch smirked.
"Go ahead, I don't want anything to do with him." He said and glared angerly at the fastbiter. "But if you can't, tell him that I can always change my mind..."
Then chuckled abit.
"Though, I must say I like the idea of turning him in to Mr. Threehorn!"
-
Longtail looked to the sharptooth and growled and communicated with him in sharptooth. Cyrix then asked "What did you just ask him nephew?"
Longtail smiled and said "I just asked him if he valued his life enough to tell us why he was stupid enough to get caught!"
-
"Sounds like a good question to me. Unless he was a scout, or meant to delay us." Mim said.
-
The fast biter laughed at Longtail's threat and growled and hissed again. Chomper frowned. "He said 'Go ahead and kill me. I'm not afraid of your silly threats'."
"Well that helps," Strut replied.
"You got a better ideas?" Zaine asked
"Actually, I do." Strut walked towards the fast biter and began to speak in sharptooth tongue. Everyone looked surprised.
"My brother isn't the only one who can speak sharptooth."
"What did you say?" Chomper asked.
"I asked him if he knew another egg eater like me,"
"And," Zaine pressed. "What else?"
"He said if you don't die in the Mysterious Beyond, then his master will kill you. He has to be refering to Ozzy."
"Ok that's it! Chomper, translate this for me." Zaine kicked the fast biter's head with his foot and then showed him his scars on his legs. "You see these? Your master already tried to kill me once, and he failed. These scars mark his murder attempt! If you don't talk right now, I'm going to do much worse to you than what he did to me! And if I don't, my friends will, so don't be and idiot and talk!"
Chomper quickly growled and roared Zaine's words in the sharptooth language, and the fast biter looked worried for a sec. Then he hissed back and Chomper looked at Zaine. "He said 'It doesn't matter. The egg eater can't be stopped. He will find the stone and you will all pay.' How original."
"It's obvious he's not going to talk. He didn't help us at all."
"Actually, if you paid attention, he did," Zaine replied.
"What do you mean?" Chomper asked.
"He confirmed Ozzy sent him, which means he's becoming desperate. He's run out of resources to use against us. First he tried kidnapping Littlefoot and Longtail, but that didn't work. Then he tried killing me, but that failed also. He's run out of possible ideas to use, so he sent these sharpteeth to do the dirty work for him while he went after the stone."
"Then my brother must be close by," Strut concluded.
-
Mim nods to what has been said, "Yes, this little fastbiter here has been most helpful and informative." She said, then nodded again to what Zaine said, "This Ozzy does sound desperate indeed."
"Are you going to do something to him before we go to Chomper's parents?" Ducky asked looking at the various grownups and older dinos around.
-
"Chomper, refeering from Strut's smell, can you try to smell Ozzy?" Mitch asked Chomper.
"Do what you want with him, I couldn't care less..." Micth sneezed and turned around. Then looked back, "But I sure could help..."
-
Longtail gave a long and dark laugh as he said "Oh goody, I was starting to get hungry, Hey Chomper, Dante, wanna help me get some food?!" He then took several steps forward and said in sharptooth language "You are about to become my lunch, as I missed my morning meal, and all the fighting earlier has made me rather...." he licked his lips with a crazy look in his eyes and finished by saying "...hungry."
Even Cyrix had to smile at his nephews method of persuasion, but he couldn't tell if Longtail was telling the truth, or bluffing.
-
"I wonder how he convinced so many fastbiters to follow him." Mim asked.
-
"It doesn't matter," Chomper replied. "Yeah, I could probably pick up his scent also. It'll be harder though because I've never had to sniff for an egg eater before."
Zaine glared at Longtail. "Longtail, you're becoming insane, just like you were afraid of. You're not a murderer, so don't stoop down to his level. Besides, not even he deserves to die. Ozzy only manipulated him and used him. That's pretty much punishment already."
Chomper understood what Zaine meant, and he stepped in front of Longtail to kind of restrain him. "I'm sorry Longtail, but he's right. I wan't to kill him also, but then that would make us no better than Ozzy."
Strut was actually impressed with the mercy Zaine was showing. "I gotta say I'm surprised you're letting him live."
"I never said I would let him go," Zaine shot back. "Mim's idea was a good one. We're going to tie him up and leave him here to starve to death." He then looked over towards the group. "We need vines and a rock to put on his tail" Unfortunately, the fast biter took advantage of this opportunity. He jumped up from underneath Zaine, whirled around, and backhand slashed at Zaine's head. Zaine stumbled to the ground, and the fast biter turned around and sprinted into the bushes.
"You son of a-Come back here!" Chomper chased the fast biter into the bushes, but it was too late. He was already gone. HE walked back to the group. "The coward ran away!" But everyone was alrady looking towards Zaine.
Zaine had a slash mark running over his right eye, but the eye itself wasn't damaged. It wasn't bleeding as much as his previous wounds, but he couldn't hide the pain.
"Wow you are just a magnet for injuries aren't you?" Strut joked.
"Make one more wise crack joke like that and I'll let Longtail eat you." He's right though. Why does this keep happening to me?
-
Mim sighed a bit. "We should go on and try to find Chomper's parents." Mim said. "No use trying to chase him down, it would only slow us down. Once we are with his parents then we can see about maybe resting a bit, getting some food & water as well as treating everyone's wounds."
Ducky nodded, "We would be safer, if they remember their promise, then we are here, yes we would, we would." Ducky said.
-
Longtail after watching the sharptooth scratch Zaine and run off Longtail clenched his claws together and said through clenched teeth "You should have let me do my job. This is what happens when I am held back!" He looked over to where the sharptooth had fled and said "I still have his scent, I can track him down, and finish the job." He then gave a wicked smile and said "Besides I wasn't fibbing...I'm really getting hungry."
Cyrix sighed and grabbed Longtail and held him as he said "Either you control yourself or I'll put you to sleep..."
Longtail sighed and stayed silent as Cyrix said "Good, now go up front with Chomper and use your sniffer to help find his folks."
-
Zaine realized what was happening. He's losing control, just like he said he would. I guess now is the time to stand up. Please forgive me, but you have to hear this. "Longtail stop it. Do you realize what you are saying? You are not a sharptooth, and you will never be one. Trust me, I don't think you would want to be one either, no offense Chomper. I'm sure we can find you something else to eat, but killing him wouldn't have solved anything." He then sighed. "Besides, there was nothing you could have done. If you had tried to kill him, he probably would have hurt you instead."
Chomper didn't want to interrupt Zaine during this lecture, but he was afraid of what was going to happen next. Oh great, now Longtail is going to kill Zaine. "Uhh Zaine, maybe you shouldn't say something like that towards Longtail. After all, all he wanted was to help you out. I mean, sure he went a little overboard, but his intentions were still noble."
Strut laughed to himself. "I hate to interrupt this little chit chat, but we should leave before we start killing each other."
"That's the first time I agree with you." Chomper sniffed the air, and then he grinned. "I found them! I found my parents! They're very close by!"
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me. This time I found them!"
"Well then lets get out of here."
Chomper led the group down the path, and Zaine followed close by. However, he kept an eye on Longtail. I can't believe I have to do this, but Longtail could really hurt someone if he doesn't calm down. He then looked at Cyrix. Hopefully his uncle understands.
-
Mim looked at Zaine. "Are you feeling ok, or do you want someone to carry you for a while?" She asked.
Ducky continued to ride on Mim. Petrie landed on Mitch so he could keep a good watch for any fastbiters. Littlefoot walked near Zaine in case he needed any help.
"We'll be there soon." He said to Zaine to try to help him to feel better.
-
Even as they walked Longtail was thinking on what Zaine had said. After a few more moments Longtail stopped walking and fell towards the back of the group and closed his eyes. He took several breaths and the last one was the deepest of all, and after holding his final deep breath for a few moments he let it out slowly while sitting down on his tail.
Cyrix noticing this turned and walked back to his nephew and said "Are you alright Longtail?"
Longtail response was not exactly what Cyrix wanted to hear as Longtail said "No, I'm not....Zaine....is right...I...I'm losing...control...but...for the moment I'm doing better than I was. We can go now."
-
Zaine shook his head. "I'm fine Mim, really. Thanks you anyway." He then noticed Littlefoot next to him. "Well now that Chomper found his parents, I think we'll be there soon also, and it's a good thing. I can't stand this place anymore." He then looked over at Littlefoot. "Was the last time you guys went after the stone this difficult?"
Strut noticed Longtail and felt really bad. I know I'm not on the best terms with him, but maybe I should talk to him. I hate to see him like this. He then stepped back and walked next to Longtail. "For what it's worth, I believe you could have torn him apart easily." He then hesitated. "I know you may never forgive me, but I am terribly sorry for what I did to you and Littlefoot."
Chomper kept leading the others, following his parents' scent. "Just a little farther. Their scent is getting stronger." He then glanced over at Zaine. Hold on Zaine. My parents will help us, and then you can finally rest.
-
Mim nods to what Chomper said, "Yes, we can all rest there, treat wounds, get some food & water as well hopefully." She said.
"We would be safer with them then out here alone anyway." Littlefoot said.
Shera was unsure of all this talk of Chomper's parents so she edged closer to Mitch. If the others thought they would be safe, maybe they would be, but she'd feel safer with some of the larger ones in their group.
"I wonder if they will remember us, I do, I do." Ducky said.
"Petrie hope so." Petrie said.
"They will guys, you'll see." Littlefoot said to his friends.
-
Longtail who his still at the back of the group hears what Strut says and gave a sad smile as he replied "I know what you're trying to say....and thank you. But I've...I've never felt that way before...losing control like that...made me feel horrible, but....at the same time...all that anger...and rage....it just felt so wonderful...I-I can't describe it...I- I don't know what's going to happen now, but...I don't want to hurt my friends."
Longtail then looked up at Strut and asked "S-Should I leave the group? Just so I know that I can't hurt anyone else?"
-
Strut immediately shook his head. "No, you should never leave your friends. They all care about you a great deal, especially Zaine. They will help you if you ever lose control like that again." He then paused. "I'll even try my best to keep you...well...you."
Zaine observed Longtail and Strut talking to each other, and he smiled. Good. They're talking without using threats. Maybe Strut really i turning a new league. I think we can finally trust him.
Eventually, the group ran into two sleeping sharpteeth. Chomper jumped up with joy. "We found them! We found my parents!"
-
"Everyone has a dark side." Mim said.
"It is true, it is." Ducky said, remembering her incident with the sky color stones.
-
Longtail smiled at Strut and after a few moments said "Thank you...for your help. I don't want to think about what might happen if I ever lose total control...I've had sleep stories about it happening though. Alot of sharpteeth die in those stories."
Cyrix smiled as he too noticed Longtail and Strut getting along. 'Well it's about time. Longtail could use another friend.' He then looked over and his face paled for a moment upon seeing Chomper folks...even asleep they were still quite frighting.
-
Chomper noticed the fear in the group's faces. "Don't worry guys. I promise you they won't hurt you. They could never break their promise, especially after Littlefoot saved me back on the island." Chomper remembered the incident with the other sharptooth and how he fell into the big water and Littlefoot jumped in to save him.
Zaine was amazed at the size of the sharpteeth. "Wow, they're big even when they're lying down."
Strut had the most fear in his eyes. He still remembered tht his last encounter with Chomper's parents was not a pleasent one.
-
Longtail poked Strut on the back with his tail and said "Don't worry, we will convince them that you mean well...after all you did kinda help us get here...so I'm sure they won't try to hurt you."
-
Ducky looked at them, "They are even biggerer then I remembered, they are, they are." She said a bit worried.
"Petrie too." Petrie said and tried to hide from Chomper's parents behind Mitch's neck if possible.
Littlefoot nodded. "And Elsie saved us." He paused a moment, "I hope she is doing well, wherever she is. I hope she meets Mo's water family." Littlefoot said.
-
Mitch did his best to remain his calm.
He sure didn't like the new company. But he focused on that they were Chomper's parents, and that they, incrdliby enough, were somehow different.
"So, atlast. Umm... Do we want to wake them up? If so, please do it the good way!" he said, keeping in mind what two Sharpteeth would do if they were disturbed in their sleepstories.
-
Dante finally managed to limp up, leaning on his staff, panting slightly.
"Wait...I recognize these two. They helped me out before, when I was on the run. They helped me hide from a group after me. They really are friendly..."
Virgil nodded.
"So you were nearby. They lied to me. I guess that I owe them."
Motochika's breath caught in his throat.
"Why did I not see that earlier? They mentioned that they had a son when they pointed me towards the valley. I should have guessed it was you, Chomper..."
-
Mim looked at the 2 sleeping large sharpteeth. "I think it may be best if Chomper wakes them up. He likely knows best how to do so and if they are grumpy when they wake up as some are they'll be unlikely to do anything to their own child. That is just my opinion, maybe a wrong one." Mim said.
"I do not want to try, no, I do not." Ducky said.
"Me to scared to try." Petrie said.
-
Chomper nodded. "Don't worry. I'll get them up." He then walked over towards his parents and then began to speak in lightly hiss and growl. Just then, the two sharpteeth slowly began to wake up. They looked around an saw Chomper in front of them.
'Hi Mom. Hi Dad.'
'Son, why did you wake us?' his mom asked.
'I'm sorry to disturb you, but my friends and I need your help.'
'What kind of help?' his father joined in. At that point, he noticed Chomper's friends behind him. 'You've made more friends since the last time they were here.' Then he noticed Strut trying to hide behind everybody. 'I see you also brought us some food.'
'No, he's not to eat.'
'Then why is he here? He tried to kill you last time we met.'
'It's confusing, but the bottom line is he's different now. He's not evil like before, but his brother is still bad.'
'If you insist. You always had a habbit for trusting dinosaurs of different species.'
'We were hoping you two could give us safe passage through the Mysterious Beyond. We need to get to Smoking Mountain and fast.'
'Why?'
'It's another very long story, but you have to help us. Please?'
'Like we said before. Your friends saved your life, so we will protect them.'
'But keep an eye on the egg eater. I understand if you want to give him a second chance, but don't let him take advantage over you.'
'I will, and thank you so much!' Chomper hugged both of his parents and then returned to the group.
Zaine was the first to speak. "What did they say?"
"You guys have nothing to worry about. My parents promised to protect us. All of us."
Strut sighed in great relief. "Thank you young one."
-
Longtail smiled and said "Ya see Sturt...I told you Chomper would handle things." But then he looked up at Chompers folks and a question formed in his mind. He walked up to Chompers mom and dad, then started speaking in sharptooth. "Excuse me...you two don't remember me...do you?"
-
Chomper's parents looked at each other, then back at Longtail and shook their heads. 'No, we don't recall you. Should we?'
Strut nodded at Longtail's comment and then thought to himself. I can't understand why Ozzy despises these children. They're actually really friendly, and they want to destroy the stone for a good cause.
Chomper was confused with Longtail's question. "What are you talking about?"
Zaine nodded. "Yeah, do you know them ore something?"
-
Littlefoot smiled up at Chomper's parents, a bit nervous. "Hello there." He said looking up at them.
Ducky looked over at Littlefoot, "Do not forget to tell them that Ruby has been taking good care looking after Chomper, she has." Ducky said nodding.
Littlefoot looked over at Ducky, "I would but I doubt they'd understand much of what I said." Littlefoot said to her.
"Maybe he ask them way to Great Valley." Petrie said concerning what Chomper had asked Longtail about.
-
Longtail frowned at Chompers folks and said "Well...I remember you two very well...after the accident that took my home from me, you two were the first sharpteeth I met...that didn't try to eat me. In truth you two saved my life that day." He then whispered "It was such a long time ago though...."
Cyrix walked up to his nephew and patted him on the head and smiled down at the little flyer. "So you've met them before have you Longtail?" He asked with a grin.
Longtail nodded and said "Yes, Uncle...I have."
-
Mim looked at the others, "Do you folks want to rest & get food here while some folks's wounds are treated here or would you rather we traveled for a bit before we do that?" Mim asked looking at the others.
-
Dante looked up at the two, grinning slightly.
"I doubt you remember me, but...it's good to see you again. It's been a long time."
-
(Sorry for the long pause. We'll continue now.)
Chomper's parents looked at each other confused. "How do these children know us already?" They both looked at Dante and nodded. "Whoever you are, it's good to see you to."
Chomper than stepped forawrd. 'Mom, Dad, one of my friends is hurt really badly. Strut's brother tried to kill him, but he failed. Unfortunately, now Zaine can't walk very well. Is there anything we could do to help him?'
Chomper's mom nodded. 'He must be important to you.'
Chomper nodded. 'Not only is he my best friend, but he is the only one who knows the exact location as to where the Stone of Cold Fire landed. We have to protect him at all costs.
Chomper's father looked around until he found a giant leaf on the ground, along with two thick tree branches. He reached down and picked up the items, and tied two ends of the leaf to each branch, creating a hammock. 'Your friend can rest on this, and your mother and I will carry him. We have to leave now if we want to get out of here in time, so he can rest while we move.'
Chomper smiled 'Thank you mom and dad so much!
After seeing this conversation, Zaine stepped forward. "What'd they say? Are we heading out?"
"They said they would carry you on this big leaf, and yes we will be heading out."
Zaine sighed with relief. "That's good. We don't know how much time Ozzy has gained on us after that battle back there." He then winced a little because he felt a sting from his slash mark.
Strut stepped towards Zaine. "You definitely need some rest. You've been through a lot lately, thanks to my brother. Don't worry, we will make him pay for this once and for all."
Zaine nodded. "I'm looking forward to it." Then he turned towards the others. "Any objections to getting out of the Mysterious Beyond finally? Chomper's parents are going to lead us to the path we need to go on."
-
Shera was relieved that Chomper's parents are all good.She sighed hapilly now they could continue their journey.
"I'm in, I'm sure they can protect us now." she said softly.
-
Mim nodded, "That is a good idea, Zaine does need to rest." Mim said.
"Yes it is a good idea. He can rest and heal." Littlefoot said.
"It is, it is. He can rest and heal at the same time." Ducky said nodding.
Mim noded, "Though I'd like to see if his and anyone else's injuries need seeing to, we may not have the time now. Maybe later." She said. Then looked around. "What does everyone else feel about Chomper's parents and traveling with them?"
-
Dante looked at Chomper's parents again, then nodded and said.
"They saved me once before, so I trust them. What about everyone else?"
As he waited for the group's consensus, he turned back to look at them, then added...
"I remember you from when I was running from the other Sharpteeth. You told them you hadn't seen me, and they left. You saved my life then, so... Thanks."
-
Longtail nodded in response to what Dante said and replied "Yeah, my story is like his as well...only...I kinda bumped into you while you were sleeping and I was so scared I just started speaking sharptooth. Heh...handy skill I'd say."
-
With that, Chomper's parents prepared the leaf, and Zaine stepped onto it. He then laid down, and the two sharpteeth lifted the leaf off the ground. "Wow, it actually works," Zaine said with a surprised expression. That's good. This will give me time to heal. "Ok guys! Let's get the heck out of here!"
Chomper jumped up with joy. "Yeah, and lets go find the stone! And then we can take down Ozzy!"
Strut sighed at this comment. "Ozzy, you are going to pay for sending those sharpteeth on us. You will pay for attacking Zaine, and you will pay for everything you have done to Littlefoot."
Finally, the group headed down the path that would take them out of the Mysterious Beyond. Zaine looked around at the horrifying scenery that surrounded them. It all looked very dead, but mostly sad. He didn't like it at all, and he wanted to leave it behind now. He looked at the others and felt bad. None of them deserved to be put through this dangerous journey, and yet they all remained loyal to him. They were even willing to forgive when Littlefoot and Longtail were kidnapped.
-
As Chompers parents lifted Zaine on the leaf Longtail flew overhead using his eyes and nose to keep a look out for anything that might pose a threat, 'But then again...' he thought 'with Chompers folks here...nothing would be stupid enough to attack us. Oh boy I do hope I didn't just jinx us.'
He then looked over at Zaine and said "Ya know, I feel ready for an adventure like this...but I'm not sure I'm ready. Sometimes I wonder if I'm strong enough to help everyone I meet."
-
Zaine was surprised to hear this from Longtail. "Longtail, you of all dinosaurs do not need to worry about being strong or weak. You managed to settle your differences with Kor, you whithstood being kidnapped by Ozzy and Strut, and you just fought off a bunch of sharpteeth. You are a very strong flyer, and everybody here agrees, especially your uncle. You just can't be so hard on yourself. Whatever happens happens. This scar over my eye is not your fault. Me being attacked is not your fault. Trust me, you can do anything you set your mind to, and that includes helping others."
Chomper nodded. "Besides, you scared the daylights out of that last fastbiter who followed us, even though you did it in a demonic way. You are probably scarier than any sharptooth we come after, at least except for my parents."
-
Longtail sighed after hearing Zaine and Chompers arguments...and he only sighed because they made sense. But still he spoke up and said: "Well for starters Zaine...I may have settled my differences with Korr but he will ALWAYS hate me...why..I don't know...actually I wouldn't be at all surprised if we ran into him working for Ozzy. I know not everything is my burden to carry, but when it involves my friends I just feel this need...to put my life before everything else, it's just who I am."
He then looked down at Chomper and said "Yeah...I can agree with you on that. Your parents are very scary. And that scaring off the sharptooth...that was just for fun. I get bored easily."
Cyrix chuckled from down below and said "Yes, you do my nephew...although I often wonder why...when you're always with your friends?"
-
"None of this is your fault Zaine. It's all Ozzy's doing." Littlefoot said.
"He is right he, is he is." Ducky said nodding. "It's all the fault of that mean ol Ozzy."
"Petrie agree with Littlefoot & Ducky." Petrie said as he flew up to hover next to Zaine and nodding his head. "You no feel bad, you rest." He said.
"Yes, It's best that you focus on resting and healing as much as you can." Mim said to Zaine looking up at him briefly as she walked along.
-
Dante shook his head.
"When it comes right down to it, I think we all are afraid if we're strong enough. After all, we're looking for some magical stone in the beyond, right?"
-
Zaine nodded. "I guess your right. I guess I can't help the feeling that I got you all in to this."
Chomper shook his head. "Zaine, you didn't get us into this. We all chose to come with you on our own, and we're going to stick with you all the way."
Zaine smiled. "Thanks Chomper." He then noticed Shera looking a little quiet. "Hey Shera, are you ok?"
-
Ducky looks over at Shera, "Are you ok, I hope you are, I do, I do." Ducky said with concern in her voice.
"Maybe she tired." Petrie said looking over to where she was.
"Try to relax Zaine, it wasn't your fault." Littlefoot said while smiling. "You just relax and try to get better." Littlefoot said.
Mim nodded, "That should be your main concern right now." She said to Zaine, the looked over at Shera after she heard what Chomper said.
-
Longtail smiled at Zaine and replied "Hey don't even think that you got us into this...even if that stone hadn't fallen...I'd have come out here anyway...I get bored in the valley really easy, so sometimes I like to just...leave." he giggled for a moment and said "It's fun."
Cyrix however scoffed and said "Not for me. I hate when I have to worry about your safety."
-
Mim looked at the others, "Is anyone hungry or thirsty?" She asked. "If so maybe we can gather some leaves or other food during our trip or visit where some water is also." She said.
Ducky looked over at Longtail, "Maybe if you want to leave the Great Valley you can try visiting a place that is safer then other places in the mysterious beyond, you can, you can. "
"Safe in mysterious beyond?" Petrie asked, "There no such place."
"Yea." LIttlefoot, "We've been there and nowhere seems safe here." Littlefoot said.
"It scary." Petrie said nodding.
"In most places, but maybe it is safe in the area where my sister's fastbiter friends live." Ducky said remembering some of the stories she would tell the others and their mother of their journey after they were separated from their mother and father. "She
-
Shera smiled. "I'm okay.. Just a bit tired, and thirsty too." She looked up to the sky, thinking of her friends in the great valley. "I miss my friends too, but I'm sure they are okay." She looked back to the others again "But I still got you guys" she said with a big smile.
(Sorry for being so quiet.. Couldn't really focus on what she should say)
-
Zaine nodded. "If you want we can find a place to rest a drink. I'm sure there is some water here."
Chomper nodded. "Yeah, I'm kind of getting hungry as well." Of course, everybody glared at him. "What?"
Strut laughed a little. "No offense Chomper, but nobody wants to hear that you are hungry." Chomper blushed and laughed in embarresment. "Anyway, I think the safest thing for all of us would be some rest."
-
"Yes, that would be nice" Shera said, smiling at Zaine.
-
Longtail smiled and said "Yeah I know there are at least two places I can go in the Mysterious Beyond that are safe...but I only fly so far...after all...I don't want to leave you guys alone, and have you miss an adventure."
Cyrix chuckled, then replied "I think resting and finding food would be a wonderful idea. however for those like Chomper...I'm not sure if we'll find any crawlers around here...but we can certainly look for some."
-
"Or maybe fish. My sister said that is one of the main things, the friendly fastbiter herd that she knows of eats, including some of the flying sharpteeth who are members of their herd." Ducky said suggesting an idea.
"I'm sure we can find some food for the sharpteeth who are with us." Mim said then looked at Chomper's parents, "At least food for some of them." She said.
"Maybe if we find some green food we will find some crawlers on them." Littlefoot said.
"When Guido & me groundstar plant in Blackrock me see crawlers on leaves that Guido eat." Petrie said.
-
Dante nodded slightly.
"I'm all for a little rest. I think we all could use it, after all."
Virgil thought for a moment before adding...
"That we could, brother. And besides, if the others have survived out here, I'm sure we can, too."
Motochika looked at the sky , a small grin on his face...
-
Longtail smiled at the mention of fish, and he slowed down until he was able to land and walked along next to his uncle as he said "I could do with some sleep...after all this adventure is really making me tired."
Cyrix nodded in agreement and replied "Does anyone want to rest now? Under the bright circle it can get very hot if we stay in one place too long. I don't want anyone getting ill from being too hot."
-
Zaine looked around at the others. He could tell they were getting tired, and he didn't blame them. "I think it would be wise to stop for some sleep." He looked down at Chomper. "Chomper, can you ask your parents to stop for now?"
Chomper nodded. "Sure thing." He walked up beside his parents and began his growls and roars. His parents then nodded and gently placed the leaf carrying Zaine on to the ground. "They said they would keep watch for anything that would attack us, so we should be safe here."
Strut sighed. "I could definitely use some sleep. I'm all worn out." He found a spot on the ground and began to settle down. "Let's all form around Zaine. If something deos try to attack, we all must protect him."
Zaine smiled. He was glad Strut was turning a new league, and even more glad that he was concerned for his safety. I guess I can finally trust him.
-
Longtail smiled at the suggestion of protecting Zaine even while they slept. He quickly walked over to his friend and curled up beside him and almost instantly is asleep by his side.
Cyrix however just smiles and sits down towards the front of the group hoping to watch over the children.
-
Dante seated himself near the sleeping Zaine and Longtail, staff resting on his shoulder, eyes warily scanning the horizon for any sign of trouble.
"Rest well...my friends..."
He whispered to them, smiling faintly...
Virgil, too, was seated nearby, though lost in his own thoughts about what would happen when the stone was found.
Motochika perched on a small rock near the others, taking his instrument and strumming a soft melody from his homeland, a soothing, quiet song he was very fond of, as he watched over his friends...
-
Littlefoot nodded, "Yes, resting now sounds like a good idea." He said.
"Resting sounds like a good idea, it does it does." Ducky said nodding.
"Me agree." Petrie said.
He finds a good spot near center, or or less, of the group and lays down to go to sleep. Ducky and Petrie go over and go lay down next to him. Littlefoot makes room for them with his tail and one of his front legs. The 3 of them settle down and go to sleep one by one.
Mim goes over to sit and rest next to Cyrix.
-
Cyrix smiled as he noticed Mim sitting next to him. He then looked at her and asked "How are you Mim? Are you wondering what will happen durin this adventrue because I am..."
-
Mim nods, "I am. Quite a bit has happened already." She said looking at some of the others briefly.
-
Cyrix nodded in reply and said "Yes...this has been a very busy adventure. I do hope the little ones are up to the challenge put before them...and I also wonder who the wish will go to once we reach the stone?"
-
Strut overheard the conversation and moved towards them. "Mind if I join? I'm sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help but hear your conversation. I would think Zaine would receive the wish, since that's the reason he even decided to leave on this journey in the first place. I'm guessing he would want to use the wish to see his parents." He thought first before saying his next thought. "But then again, what if something happens that would force him to change his wish?"
-
Cyrix for a moment was startled at Sturt's intervention....but upon hearing his response Cyrix simply nodded his head and replied by saying...
"I honestly think that you may be right...but even if something does change...I'm sure everyone would at least try and make Zaine happy. I mean...that is why we came on this journey right?"
Longtail murmured in his sleep about breathing fire from his beak.
-
Virgil nodded, having joined them a few moments ago.
"I agree. Zaine has the best motivation to use the wish, and I feel that he is the least likely to...succumb to temptation. It does beg the question, however, of further wishes. If that happens, who then gets the wish?"
-
Cyrix then gave a wide smile and said "Then I suppose it goes to those who actually want to make a wish...I know....Longtail would have a reason to use a wish...and that's only if more are gratnetd...and I'm sure there may not be any more than one."
-
Strut sighed. "The most logic thing would be to destroy the stone so that it cannot be used by evil. I can only imagine what my brother would use the stone for if he got his hands on it. The first thing that pops into mind would be world domination and enslaving." He then realized what he was saying. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't be saying this in front of the children."
Meanwhile, Ozzy kept hidden, but watched the group. He made sure not to be tracked by the sharpteeth's scents. "I can't believe he would join them like that. Well he's right. Once I get the stone, I will take control of the world, and I will make him pay for crossing me." He then glanced over at Zaine. "How the little longneck survived is beyond me. I should have killed him with that stone. Well it doesn't matter now. Once I achieve my new power, I will take great pleasure in toying with him. I will make him suffer right in front of his little friends." With that, he slipped away, unnoticed by the group.
-
Suddenly, a group of raptors dropped around Ozzy. The leader of the group, the purple raptor named Kireek, eyed him coldly, then tilted his head down as he asked...
"Tell us. Does this group happen to have two fastbiters like ourselves in it? A blue one with gold streaks and a black one with red marks? If so..."
-
Ozzy shook his head. "I don't know who you are talking about, and it doesn't concern me." With that, Ozzy ran and leaped over one of the raptors and fled. He was too far away from the others before they could react. That was too close. I have to be more careful if I'm going to succeed.
-
Kireek ran after Ozzy, quickly catching up to him.
"You misunderstand me. We are willing to help you. Those two in that herd have done us wrong, and we seek vengeance on them. Will you take our offer?"
-
Mim nods, a bit startled by Strut but quickly getting over it, "I do think that Zaine should get the wish, and from what I heard the stone, if the stories are true, usually has just the 1 wish." She said thinking of some of the legends that she had heard. "As for if there are any other wishes maybe as a group we can hear what the others wishes are and approve if they get a chance after Zaine has had his at making a wish & I do hope he does get to see his parents or his herd." Mim said as she looked over at Zaine.
-
Virgil nodded.
"If I were to have a wish from the stone, I... I would wish to at least see my family one last time."
-
Cyrix nodded to Mim and said "I agree that we should take turns...but only if more than one wish is involved. However..." he paused for a moment and then continued by saying: "I know what Longtail would wish for...but even the stone may not be able to grant it...I do hope that for Longtail's sake only one wish is all the stone is able to give."
He then turned to Virgil and said "That is a very peaceful wish. But we will have to wait and see what happens."
-
Virgil nodded.
"You're right. We cannot get ahead of ourselves. Right now, stopping Ozzy is what's important. I only can hope he doesn't ally himself with...Them..."
He said, a glimmer of worry crossing his face...
-
Zaine and Chomper slept peacefully, not knowing about the conversation between everybody else. Strut nodded. "I hope the stone only grants one wish as well. Then again, Zaine could lose his only chance to see his parents again if that's the case, and I'm guessing wishing for more wishes is out of the question."
Meanwhile, Ozzy was surprised somebody wanted to help out. "Really, so you want to help out? Well here's a job for you. Bring me the little green longneck alive, and unspoiled. I tried killing him, but apparently he managed to survive. If I can't make him tell me where the stone is, then maybe his friends will spill. If I threaten to kill him, they'll have no choice but to do as I say. Then once we get the stone, I'll enslave them and you can have an equal share of the power."
-
Kireek nodded to Ozzy.
"Of course. We will bring him to you...your lordship."
-
Even in his sleep induced state...Longtail was now beginning to feel uneasy. He rolled away from Zaine subconsciously and started to fidget in his sleep...swinging his tail and clawing at the dirt under his feet. He also began to mumble about running out of time.
Cyrix looked over just to check on the children and noticed Longtail's behavior...and immediately remember seeing him do this once before in the Great valley. He stood up and walked over to his nephew and carefully picked him up so as not to wake him up by accident. He then turned to Mim, Strut and Motochika and said "We may have a problem."
-
Dante nodded.
"Yeah. Something just...doesn't feel right. Like something bad's coming closer."
He said, standing up and warily eying the surrounding area...
Motochika stopped playing his music, dropping off the nearby spire he had perched on.
"There is some sort of group that draws near to us. Five raptors, with a purple one at the lead." He reported...
When he heard Motochika's alert, Virgil's eyes flared, and he shook his head in a show of duress...
"It's as I feared. Ressentiment. My old herd. I knew Ozzy would be able to turn them to his side..."
-
Cyrix upon hearing Virgil's remark shifted Longtails weight onto one arm and held out a hand as he said, "Wait...Resentment...THE Resentment...it can't be...well..perhaps...if I'm lucky I can do it again...I just hope the Guardians are on my side like last time."
-
"I guess we'll have to deal with that when we come to it." Mim said still resting. "Any information you think the rest of us may find useful? Though it may be best tell the others that info in the morning." Mim said looking around a bit at the sleeping folks around.
-
Virgil looked at his friends, then he spoke again.
"Ressentiment is...was formed when I was against my brother. Cyrix may remember them as having invaded the Valley a long time ago, while I attacked Dante and Longtail. The members are Alastor, a sadistic, twisted, madman with a taste for blood, Lien, the seductive, manipulating one, Faust, who kills others in the name of his 'Research,' and Mephisto, the one who believes himself to be darkness incarnate. The one leading them is Kireek. He's by far the most dangerous. He's smart, cunning, and strong, so if it comes down to a fight, let me take him. I have the best chance."
-
Strut sighed. "I was afraid my brother would forge an alliance with someone, especially sharpteeth. We better be extra careful from now on. Zaine is in more danger than ever."
Meanwhile, Zaine was in the middle of a dream involving his parents. He was sitting in his nest, talking with his mother. "Mother, I can't help the feeling that something's wrong. I feel like we're running out of time."
"Zaine, you must be careful, because Ozzy is becoming more desperate to retrieve the stone. If he obtains the power, he will enslave the world."
"That's awful!"
"It will be unless you prevent it."
"How am I supposed to do that?" Unfortunately, when he asked this his dream turned into a nightmare. All around him, the Great Valley was transforming into a dark and baren wasteland. The lush green grass dried up, and the moon shined with an evil glow. "What's going on? Is this the Mysterious Beyond?"
"No. This is the Great Valley. At least, it will be if Ozzy gets the stone."
Zaine couldn't believe what he was seeing. His once beautiful home became a world of pain and suffering. He began to see his friends as slaves. "No, Littlefoot, Longtail, Mim..." A tear began to roll down his cheek. Everyone he knew was suffering. He couldn't take it anymore. He screamed until he woke up, panting.
He looked around and saw everything was still the same. His friends were all ok. He breathed heavily for a few seconds.
-
Dante turned around when he heard Zaine's scream.
"What is it, Zaine? What's wrong?"
He worriedly asked...
-
Zaine panted and looked towards Dante, but it was too hard for him to say it. "I............. I saw................I saw the Great Valley...................under Ozzy's control............If he gets the stone.............he will enslave everybody................especially all of you guys................." He couldn't say anything else because he was in too much shock. I can't let it happen. I won't let it happen.
Strut looked at Virgil. "My only question is why Ozzy would form an alliace with these sharpteeth. If they are truly as evil as you say, why wouldn't they kill him?"
-
Mim jumped up and looked back to where Zaine was, startled by his sudden scream.
Petrie flew up high into the air before he was fully awake sure something horrid and scary had appeared and Ducky jumped up and grabbed Littlefoot's nearest leg also startled.
"What happened?" Littlefoot asked.
"Sounds like Zaine had a very scary sleepstory." Mim said, "and a very bad one." She said with concern in her voice.
Ducky want over to pat Zaine, "Do not worry, scary sleepstories can not hurt us, no they can not." She said trying to comfort Zaine.
Petrie came back down to land on Littlefoot. "Me think something happen." He said, finally calm enough to talk and land.
"We'll stop Ozzy. Everyone needs a good rest and food & such. And then we can talk over some tactics and strategy." Mim said.
"Maybe we need to get good sharpteeth on our side." Ducky said.
-
Zaine shook his head. "This wasn't just some scary sleep story. If Ozzy gets the stone, everyone is going to become his slaves. I'm not going to let that madman get what he wants!"
Chomper had woken up along with the others, and he looked concerned. "Yes, but for now you need to rest. You've sustained too many injuries in the past and need to heal. Everything depends upon you."
-
"That sounds scary..." Shera said about the dream of Zaine. "We should get it then, I think... Not that Ozzy person!"
-
Cyrix completely agreed with everyone...especially Chomper when he said Zaine needed his rest. "Chomper is right...everything...depends on you. Your well being is our first concern."
However Cyrix's attention then turned to his nephew who had not only slept through the commotion but seemed to be having troubles while sleeping.
Longtail's breathing was coming in short, quick bursts and for a moment Cyrix thought that the color of his scales was a trick of the light...but no, Longtail looked and after a moment felt like he had a fever.
Cyrix frowned at this, but before he could raise any comments Longtail began to cough and wheeze, as if he were underwater and not getting any air. Cyrix immediately put Longtail down and took several steps back as Longtail began gasping and clawing at the ground.
Cyrix then bent down and place one hand on Longtail's head, and the other over his heart, took a deep breath and just sat there...waiting for something to happen.
-
Dante was almost immediately by Longtail's side, looking at Cyrix with worried eyes.
"What's wrong? Is he okay?"
He asked, obviously panicked...
"The only reason they probably allied with Ozzy was either revenge on me and Dante, or that they were promised a share in Ozzy's new world..."
Virgil said to Strut, eyes focused grimly ahead...
-
Zaine begin to panic as well. "Oh no Longtail!" He immediately knelt beside him. "What's happening to him?"
Chomper grew very worried as well. "Is he sick?"
Strut shook his head. "He would make a promise like that." He then turned and noticed the commotion. "I'm afraid we'll have to finish this later. Right now Longtail is in trouble."
-
Cyrix gave a small smile as he heard the others concern for Longtail. He then looked up and said to everyone "Longtail will be okay..I think. When he has a really bad sleep story his emotions tend to affect him like this. He should be waking up right..about...now!"
At those words Longtail's body went completely limp and after several seconds he opened his eyes. He looked around and seeing all his friends yawned as he asked "What...what's wrong? Aww...did I fall out of another tree?" He then looked up at his uncle and asked "So you just going to sit here, or are you gonna let me go?"
-
Zaine sighed in relief. "Oh thank god. Longtail you had us worried sick!"
Chomper nodded. "Yeah, you were acting really strange. Your breathing was short and you were going limp!"
Strut approached. "Longtail, what was the sleep story you had? It might help us."
-
Longtail gave a sheepish smile and said "Sorry guys..." he then looked at Strut and said "Well...I guess I could tell you all."
"It had to do with the stone...Ozzy got to it at the same time we did...both he and Zaine made their wishes at the same time...but because the stone could only grant one...it required a living sacrifice to do it...and before any of us could try to stop it...we were ambushed by this purple sharptooth and his herd."
Longtail took a deep breath and continued..."Ozzy then said to Zaine...that you'd suffer seeing...your friend die...knowing it would be all your falut...and...thats when he pointed to me and said my name...and the stone started...to...kill me...it felt so real..."
Cyrix held Longtail for a moment and said "Everything is fine, you're safe now and with us....we will never let anything happen to you or us."
-
Dante nodded.
"Yeah. That's right. Now that we know that, we might be able to do something about it. Glad to see you're okay, pal."
Virgil looked up grimly, then said...
"Brace yourself, because a part of your nightmare is about to become much more real..."
Motochika yelled from a short distance off...
"They draw near! Be on your guard!"
-
Longtail smiled and replied "Thanks Dante." But then he and Cyrix looked up at Virgil and Motochika's warning. Longtail was the first to take up a battle stance as he said "This just isn't my day."
Cyrix frowned and said "I hope who ever this is is ready to lose their life for this attack!"
Hunter immediately stood beside Dante and gave a smile as she said "This outta get Longtail off that silly story of his. Now let's fight!'
-
Zaine grew worried and stayed low. "What's going on? Are we under attack again?"
"It would appear so," Strut replied. "We just can't get a break now can we? Zaine stay down!"
Chomper jumped into some sort of fighting stance, scanning the area. "Where are they coming from?"
-
Mim stood up and got ready to fight. Ducky & Petrie went to stand on Littlefoot, knowing from past experience that they were best and strongest when they stayed together instead of being separate.
-
Dante grinned as Longtail and Hunter shifted into their fighting stances, then kicked his staff up onto his shoulder, crouching into his ready stance. Coolly, he tuned to face Zaine, agreeing
"Strut's right. Stay safe. We can't afford to lose you."
Virgil glared readily about.
"If I know Kireek, he'll send the others to go after us, then one of them will either attack me and Dante or grab Zaine. Someone should stay close to him, just in case."
He said warily...
Motochika nodded.
"In that case, I will be one of the ones to protect Zaine. That is my area that I can likely do the most good."
He replied calmly, striding over to Zaine's side...
-
Cyrix nodded in response and said "Mim you and I can protect Zaine as well. We should stand next to him just so those sharpteeth don't try anything stupid."
Hunter was tense as she alwasy got before a major fight. She looked over to Dante, then Longtail and finally back to Zaine when a faint smile crossed her face.
"I hope this goes fast...I really could use a break." she said
Longtail for his part had closed his eyes and was taking a deep breath when his eyes shot open...he then shifted his weight onto his right foot and using it like a spring shot right past Virgil and readied his claws as he reached the side of a small slope of dirt and he brought his calws forward and....
SMACK! Right into the face of a sharptooth that was about to strike.
Longtail smiled as he jumped back and gave a triumpant roar and said in sharptooth "NOW YOU COWARDS FIGHT A REAL WARRIOR! ME....UNLESS YOU ARE LITTLE HACTHLINGS AND ARE AFRAID OF ME!"
-
Mim nodded, "I agree." She said as she moved to stand next to Zaine and got ready to fight. Littlefoot got as close to Zaine as he could. Petrie took to the air and Ducky jumped from Littlefoot onto Zaine to do what she could to protect Zaine and so Littlefoot would be more free to fight if he needed.
-
Zaine was very glad that everyone was crowding around him. He felt much safer knowing his friends were going to protect him. "Thank you guys." Just then, he noticed another fast biter trying to flank them. He spun around and shouted, "Behind us!"
Strut grabbed another staff-like stick and faced the sharptooth. "Don't come any closer you creep!" Unfortunately, the fast biter charged, and Strut swung his staff at its head, launching it to the side.
Chomper kept looking around. "Where are my parents? We need them now!"
"We'll have to keep fighting until they get here!"
Meanwhile, Ozzy was scoping the area out, waiting for the right moment to strike at Zaine. He looked over towards Kireek. "I'm going to distract them. Sneek around him and grab the longneck. Do not get too carried away with revenge." With that, he stepped out and approached the group. "Well what do we have here?"
Zaine glared at Ozzy. "You."
"I'm surprised to see you alive Zaine. I thought I killed you already."
"Lucky for me your aim sucks."
"Strut then stepped in. "Ozzy stop this madness now!"
"Strut you were always pathetic, but joining with these kids brings you to a new all time low."
"Shut up! You know nothing about me!"
-
Dante saw another blur of movement out of the corner of his eye, and he turned around in time to bring his staff up into Faust's jaw, then kick him into a rock wall.
"Watch out! I think Kireek will make his presence known soon!"
He yelled, staff ready for the next attack.
Motochika spun around to strike at Mephisto with his elbow, then drive a knee into his chest.
"These are true foes with killing intent! Be on guard!"
Virgil nodded, then saw a purple blur dart for Zaine as the other were distracted. He lunged forwards to intercept it, knocking Kireek aside with a rapid kick.
"Don't even think about it Kireek! You won't take Zaine!"
-
Just as Strut and Ozzy were speaking to each other...a green blur knocked Ozzy to the side as Hunter slid to a stop. She grinned as she turned to Strut and said "Your brothers voice is annoying...and makes him sound like a hatchling."
Longtail was busy dodging two other fast biters. He was so preoccupied with them that he didn't see a third one coming up behind him until it was almost too late.
Cyrix saw what was about to happen to his nephew and shouted "Look out!"
-
Dante wheeled about, throwing his staff into the attacking fastbiter.
"You okay, Longtail? Keep your guard up!"
He said, vaulting into the air to catch his staff...
-
Longtail gave a nod in Dante's direction as he tail whipped another fast biter to the ground. He then turned and said "Don't worry about me. Just keep an eye on Zaine and my uncle...he's more than likely to make a mistake."
Cyrix groaned as he heard his nephew quick quip. He then pushed another fast biter out of his way to try and protect Zaine.
-
Mim remained next to Zaine keeping an eye on him as she attempted to keep the fastbiters away from him, punching one and using her tail to whack that one after it had started after her or Zaine again. "Keep close to Zaine, we can protect him best if we remain near him." Mim said.
Littlefoot did his best to wack the fastbiter near him with his tail like he had seen Doc do with Petrie pecking at the fastbiter at the back of it's head or the top of it's head to distract it to give Littlefoot a better chance of whacking it.
Ducky remained on Zaine to try to keep lookout and shout the others if she saw any sharpteeth look like they were heading towards Zaine or others.
-
Motochika spun in place, knocking another two fastbiters away, then turned to Mim.
"You are right! Everyone, remain close to each other as well! The enemy will be unable to exploit blind spots that way!"
He yelled...
Virgil was facing off against Kireek. Both parties circled warily, each waiting for the other to move...
"So...the once-mighty Virgil has fallen to relying on hatchlings for help? You are weak... my lord."
Kireek spat mockingly at Virgil...
"You know nothing. Even after all this time, you still are blind...Kireek!"
Virgil retorted, eyes narrowed...
-
Even before Virgil or Kireek could attack each other Longtail appeared and jumped off Kireek's head, quickly followed by two more fast biters. The flyer smiled as he watched one of the fast biters fall over their new leader and he then spun around twice and smacked the other sharptooth with his tail and watched it fall.
Longtail then bounded over to the others as he'd heard Dante's remark. He then stood between Hunter and Zaine and smiled while he did so, knowing he was protecting his friends.
-
Dante grinned at Longtail as he spun back to join the others.
"Good move there, Longtail! Keep it up!"
He cheered, swiping another fastbiter onto the ground...
-
Petrie continued to pick at a fastbiter so Littlefoot could whack it with his tail as it turned it's head to attack Petrie, only to have Petrie peck at it's head or face as it turned to start to attack Littlefoot. Once one was knocked out or down they would wait till the next one got close enough to attack, Littlefoot remaining near Zaine so the fastbiters could not get close enough to hurt him.
Mim continued to jump and hit as well as kick fastbiters when she could as well as using her tail as a weapon when she could. She usually kept her back or side to Zaine and managed to keep an eye on him most of the time, with a glance here and there.
Ducky continued to remain on Zaine and shout out warnings to the others if she saw any fastbiters coming or who looked a bit to close.
-
Longtail sighed as he said "Okay, this is taking just a bit too long...Everyone cover your ears...it's about to get loud!"
The young flyer then jumped forward, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, and held it for a few moments. He then let loose his signature cry, and the ground began to quake in response, but even after he stopped the shaking continued.
Longtail was now starting to worry...the only thing that could make the ground shake this bad would be a really big sharptooth, or a real earthshake! "Awww...this won't end well!" longtail cried as he flapped his wings and took to the sky.
-
Dante braced himself, feeling the tremors beneath his feet.
"Longtail? What'd you do now!"
He yelled, half-jokingly...
Virgil took the opportunity created to lunge at Kireek, intent on ending the fight in one swift blow...
-
Cyrix reached over and grabbed Mim, trying to help keep her on her feet as the ground conintued to shake.
Longtail who was still in the air looked down and noticed that two things were making the ground shake so badly.
"It's Compers parents! Alright!" cired Longtail as he looked up and saw the other reason...a smoking mountain in the distance had gone active and was shooting smoke into the air.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." commented Cyrix
-
Mim looks at Cyrix, "Thanks." She said smiling at him. Hearing what Longtail said she looks over in the direction of the sound while doing her best to keep an eye on the fastbiters present.
"That should end this fight quickly, I hope." Littlefoot said. Petrie didn't respond since he used the distraction to peck at a fastbiter near Littlefoot to add further distraction to it.
"They will help us, they will they will." Ducky said clapping her hands happily and smiling.
-
Dante grinned.
"Excellent! Let's get this wrapped up, shall we?"
Virgil nodded.
"Understand now, Kireek? It is unity that makes the whole strong. You still have yet to see that, don't you?"
Kireek hissed.
"Ressentiment! Fall back!"
The other raptors stood, then raced off as swiftly as they had come...
-
After seeing kireek and his group run off Longtail turned and asked "Is Zaine okay? he's not hurt is he?"
Cyrix looked back and replied "No, Longtail...Zaine is okay for the moment. I think." Cyrix turned to Zaine and asked "Are you alright?"
-
Right on cue, Chomper's parents appeared and chased the raptors away from the group. Ozy gasped and started sprinting the other way. "You fools don't even realize that it's already over! You'll regret ever crossing me!" They yelled a mighty roar and turned back to the group. Chomper walked up to his mother, and she spoke to him.
"She says we're safe now, they won't come back anytime soon. Well that's a relief." He looked at the others. "Is everybody ok?"
Strut looked around and then grew worried. "We're missing somebody, and I'm afraid of who it is." He looked around again to see if he was mistaken, but to his dismay he wasn't wrong. "Zaine's gone!"
Chomper stared in horror. "Oh no. Ozzy must have gotten him when we weren't looking! We have to find him!"
Strut nodded and began to wander around. "Zaine? Zaine! Where are you?" Damnit Ozzy. If you hurt him I swear I'll make you regret it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, Zaine had indeed been taken by one of the raptors who attacked from behind right after Longtail's scream. He tried to squirm out of the raptor's grip, but it was no use. He couldn't yell for help either as the raptor held his hand over Zaine's mouth. When they were away from the group, the raptor threw Zaine to the ground, right in front of Ozzy. He stood up and glared at the egg eater, but Ozzy simply laughed. "My my, you sure are a very annoying little pest aren't you?"
"First you kidnap my friends. Then you try to kill me. Do you honestly think kidnapping me will do you anything?"
"Oh it will, because you are going to help me find the stone."
"What makes you think I will help you? And don't try threatening me, because trying to kill me again will only hurt you even more. Without me, you won't know how to reach the stone." Ozzy stepped towards him and spoke with a cold, evil tone.
"Which of your friends should I kill first? Maybe I'll start with the little threehorn, Shera was her name? How about Littlefoot? He deserves to die after foiling my plan numerous times. Or what of that runt of a flyer, Longtail?"
Zaine froze in horror. "You.......you wouldn't"
"Yes I would, unless you do as I say."
"You monster..."
-
Motochika swore under his breath.
"The ocean swallow it all! I can not believe that I let them take our friend! Accursed..."
Virgil shook his head and spat on the ground.
"I was weak. I let my personal agenda get ahead of myself..."
-
"We should continue towards the stone, or at least a group should since that is where they'll be headed." Mim said.
"I wish we could rescue him but that may be best since Ozzy will be headed in to that. and there are 2 of use who heard where the stone is." Littlefoot said looking over at Longtail.
(ooc: I wonder what happened to Ducky who was on Zaine through out the entire battle.)
-
Longtail hadn't spoken since the worst had been realized. However his breathing had become deep and heavy...his right eye changed color again...and his scale color began to darken over to almost a deep, dark, midnight blue. And Longtail at that point let out a ear piercing and feral scream...far worse than the one he'd done earlier...this one...wasn't normal by any standards.
And that's when Cyrix finally noted aloud..."oh no....he's lost control..."
Cyrix then turned to the others and said "You all need to stay behind me...I just hope he nows what he's doing."
Just as Cyrix finished talking, Longtail turned around and looked directly at his uncle as he said with a dark and commanding voice:
"Uncle Cyrix....All of you have to go after the stone...Chompers folks will protect you."
Cyrix looked shocked at his nephew's coherence and asked "What about you?"
Longtail gave a menacing grin as he said "Hehe.....I'm going to find Zaine...and I'll bring him back...and Kill every sharptooth that gets in my way." Longtail then turned to Dante and said "I'm sorry...but I have to do this alone...Ozzy will be expecting us to split into groups to find the stone and find him as well...if I go alone...I have a better chance of tracking them without getting caught...I am half flyer after all!"
Longtail then spread his wings and gave a maniacal laugh as he took off following his sniffer to where the sent lead. 'Here I come you Eggstealer...I hope you're ready to lose your life!'
-
Dante had been silent this entire time. Now, however, he looked up, and Virgil gasped. Over the side of Dante's face was what appeared to be a strange mask, made up of what appeared to be bone.
"Go. After the stone. I'll...Make sure Ozzy doesn't get to it. If any stand in my way...They're dead."
He pulled the mask entirely over his face, then turned and ran off following Ozzy's trail...
"Be thou prepared, scum. For now, the shadow comes for thee..."
The darkness in his mind whispered...
-
Chomper began to panic and looked around. "Zaine! Zaine! Where are you?" I can't believe we were sidetracked by that fight, and now Ozzy has Zaine. We have to get him back!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zaine looked around, but he didn't see any way of escaping with all the raptors around. "You do realize what you've done right? My friends aren't going to stop until they find us, and I think Longtail is going to be very pissed with you!" Ozzy then laughed.
"Well we're going to have to fix that now." Zaine wasn't sure what he was talking about, then he noticed something terrible. They were standing right next to a cliff with a dropoff into big water.
"You don't want to do that," Zaine warned. "You really don't want to do that."
"Maybe I do. If you are not going to cooperate, then you are of no use for me. I know where the stone is, and without you your friends will become hopelessly lost. This time, you won't be coming back." Without warning, Ozzy body slammed into Zaine. Zaine yelled out as he flew over the edge of the cliff, and landed on a huge tree branch sticking out the side ofthe cliff. He squeezed tight in order to stay on, but he could kind of felt like he was slipping. Ozzy peered over the edge and grinned. "Have a nice fall little longneck. I promise I will thank you for finding the stone for me." He then turned around and left with the raptors.
Zaine tried not to look down, but unfortunately it was no use. He glanced at the height and yelled out. "Somebody help me!" I hate heights! I can't stand them!
-
Longtail suddenly stopped flying for a moment and turned around and listened closely to the sound he heard. He then smiled as he flapped his wings and headed towards a waterfall in the distance.
After flying for several more minutes he could see the cascading water...and a branch with a leave. 'wait...that branch looks bigger than normal.' thought Longtail to himself.
He flapped over and as he got closer he could see it was Zaine! Longtail then sped up and climbed higher into the sky, as he did he shouted to Zaine "Hang on...I've got you just sit still!"
_________________________________
Cyrix patted Chomper on the back and said "Don't worry, Zaine will be fine...if anyone can find him fast enough it'll be Longtail.
-
Zaine noticed Longtail approaching at hih speed. "Longtail! Hurry! I can't hold on any longer!" He felt himself letting go of the branch, and it only made him squeeze tighter. Suddenly, he started to slip until he was holding on with one foot. Oh no! This is it! "Longtail!!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chomper nodded. "Yeah, you're right. The best thing to do is wait." But waiting was the last thing Chomper felt like doing. His best friend was in danger, and all he could do was nothing? Not really appealing.
Strut kept muttering to himself. "Ozzy I swear I'm going to kill you for this."
-
Mim thought for a moment looking around as she thought to herself before she looked at those present. "If we have someone who knows where the stone is then at least some of us go to find the stone. What do you others think, should all of use go towards the stone or do you think some should go in rescue of Zaine?" Mim asked.
"Zaine may be injured from whatever Ozzy will do and it is to dangerous here for him to make his way to the stone by himself. But Ozzy may be expecting that some will try to rescue him." Littlefoot said, not sure what to say. He looked around, "Has anyone seen Ducky?" Littlefoot asked, concerned that he had not seen or heard her yet.
- - - - -
Ducky had held onto Zaine during the battle and a bit afterwards. One of the fastbiters grabbed and pulled her off of Zaine.
"We're only to catch 1, and you're to small for even a snack." the one said holding her and threw her away. Ducky flew through the air screaming.
Zal the Quetzalcoatlus was flying, heading towards the Great Valley when she heard a screaming. Looking down she saw a small swimmer fly through the air and land on some grass and slide for a bit in a clearing. "A flying swimmer, that is a most unusual site and may bode something ill." She said as she headed to land near where Ducky was.
Ducky sat up, rubbing her head, and some other parts. "They were not nice, no they were not." She said, her eyes closed as she rubbed her had and her chest.
"Are you hurt?" She heard an older female voice ask. Ducky opened her eyes and was about to scream when she saw it was one of the large flyers, she had seen their kind before, though not very often and only once before up close.
"I hurt a bit but am not really hurted. It was those mean fast biters. They took Zaine and threw me. Though I am glad they did that instead of eating me, I am, I am." Ducky said.
"Where were they taking this Zaine, maybe we can help him." Zal said.
"There are to many fastbiters, and they are following a really mean egg eater. I need to get back to my friends and tell them, I do, I do." Ducky said.
"Why don't I take you back. We should be able to find them and avoid fastbiters if I fly us around. Safer then wondering around on the ground." Zal said smiling. "I guess you are heading to the Great Valley? If so you are going in the wrong way, it's back over yonder." Zal said as she pointed back to the direction where the Great Valley was. She then put out a hand. "The sooner we get into the air the sooner we can find those friends of yours & mozy on over to them." Zal said. Ducky nodded and got into her hand. Zal put Ducky on her back at the base of her neck and took off.
-
Longtail then dived down through the sky knowing there wasn't any time left, he was nosediving straight for Zaine and just as Zaine's foot slipped Longtail reached out with his talons and grabbed the back of Zaines neck.
Longtail still moving in a nosedive suddenly realized that the ground was coming up a lot faster than he'd thought it would. Then he realized that the combined weight of him and Zaine was the source of their speedy fall/dive. Longtail had an idea, but he had to wait just a few more seconds...which in free-fall felt like a lifetime. Longtail then at the last possible second using his tail for momentum he flipped himself onto his back and landed on the ground with a bone crunching thud.
Knowing that he still held Zaine, Longtail had purposely used his body as a giant cushion and let Zaine bounce/roll off. However Longtail didn't have the strength to get back up...his scale color returned to normal, as did his eye as he passed out from the impact...just hoping Zaine was okay.
~~~~~~
Cyrix frowned as he answered "I'm not sure Littlefoot...I know she was watching out for Zaine when the sharpteeth attacked, but since then I have yet to see her." The rainbow face looked up and noticed something.
"What is that? It looks like a flyer, but it's not my nephew..."
-
Zaine felt the impact and rolled off Longtail and onto the ground. He slowly stood up, his body sore from the fall, but then noticed his friend's condition. "Longtail!" Zaine knelt beside him and shoved him to try and wake him up. "Longtail! Please wake up! You can't be dead! You can't be!"
Meanwhile, Chomper looked to where Cyrix was watching, and he too noticed the flyer. "Wait. That flyer is holding something!" He squinted his eyes as the flyer got closer. "It's Ducky!"
Strut sighed with relief. "Well that's one missing child found. Thank goodness nothing happened to her. Now we just need to find Zaine."
-
Longtail groaned as Zaine nudged his body...he was still in too much pain to really do anything signifigant so Longtail settled for tapping Zaine with the end of his tail. He figured that would be enough to grab Zaine's attention as he fell back to sleep.
~~~~~
Cyrix sighed with new found relief as he noted Chomper was right...Ducky was okay. "I'm very glad to hear this...We should thank this flyer once they land."
-
Dante saw Longtail fall, and he raced over to his side.
"And you say you don't need my help? Well, too bad. Right now, you're gonna need it."
He smirked...
________________________________________________________________________
Virgil nodded.
"It's good to have at least one of our friends back. There's hope yet."
Motochika looked.
"They are unfamiliar to me. Perhaps we should refrain from our joy yet."
He said, eyes wary...
-
Mim shielded her eyes as she looked up where Cyrix and Chomper were looking. "It looks like Ducky is getting a ride indeed and it looks like it's one of the large flyers." Mim said studying the figures in the air.
"It does look like it. I've not seen that type very often." Littlefoot said looking up in the direction the others were looking. "I"m just glad Ducky is safe. But now how about Zaine." He said.
"Me go say hi." Petrie said. He flew up into the air towards the larger flyer. It looked like one of the large types he'd seen now and then and were not to common. He wasn't very afraid of them. 1 of them had helped to carry some of his friends from threehorn peak back to the Great Valley a while back.
- - - -
Zal flew around in a wide circle. Ducky looked down and pointed down. "There they are. My friends are there, they are they are." Ducky said happy.
"Quite an unusual looking group." Zal said looking at them in the distance & turning to head towards them. "Not often you see sharpteeth & fastbiters traveling with green food eaters." Zal said as they drew closer.
"Looks like of your friends is coming up to greet us." Zal said as she saw Petrie heading in their direction. She continued to draw near and slowed her flight as Petrie got close.
"It is Petrie, it is it is." Ducky said to Zal then louder so Petrie could her, "Hello Petrie. Zaine was taken." Ducky said.
"We know. We glad you ok." Petrie said then he looked over at Zal. "Me Petrie. Me glad you bring Ducky back." Petrie said.
Zal smiled, "I'm glad to help. & anyway I couldn't let Ducky here just wonder about on her own without helping." She said as the 3 of them drew closer to where the others were.
-
Zaine noticed Longtail's tail and breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Oh thank goodness you're alive. Don't worry Longtail. We'll get through this." Then he noticed Dante caught up to them. "Dante, I don't know how you got down here without hurting yourself, but I'm glad you're here. Longtail had a really hard impact from the fall. We need to get to some place that's safe so we can get some rest. We'll need it if we're ever going to meet back up with the others. Hopefully they've gone ahead for the stone." Zaine propped Longtail on his back, trying hard not to hurt anything possibly broken. "Thank you again Dante, for coming with us."
----------------------------------------------------------
Strut walked over towards Cyrix. "This is only a suggestion, but maybe we should head towards the stone. If my brother is really going to use Zaine as batm then they will surely be heading towards Smoking Mountain."
Chomper turned towards Strut. "I'm going after Zaine!"
"Chomper it's too dangerous. Ozzy would kill you if you tried to rescue Zaine. Besides, Longtail and Dante are going after him, so he should be taken care of." Strut knelt beside Chomper. "In the meantime, we need you and your parents now more than ever. Once we get out of the Mysterious Beyond, then we can worry about Zaine."
Chomper nodded. "You're right. Zaine will be fine. We do need to get out of here. Maybe this new flyer can help us."
Strut looked at the flyer with Ducky. "He certainly seems friendly. It's worth a shot." He stood up and walked towards the flyer. "I'm sure you've heard by now of our little predicament. I'm Strut, and my brother is the one who has our friend."
-
Longtail moaned as he felt Zaine moving his body onto his back, but then again he really wasn't in any position to say or do anything about it...so he settled for sitting still and letting his friends take care of him for the moment. But he was so grateful for his friends being here to watch out for him in his times of need.
~~~~~
Cyrix nodded to Struts comment and replied:
"Yes, I believe you have a point. Longtail and Dante should be able to help Zaine when they find him. If anything finding the stone should help us gain some ground on Ozzy. If he's trying so hard to take Zaine out of the issue...he's not too far to the stone. We may have a chance if we push on."
-
Dante looked at Zaine, then raised an eye ridge in concern.
"You sure you're okay, Zaine? I mean, you're still hurt and all, so if you need me to, I can give you a lift..."
He said, grinning faintly...
_________________________________________________________________________
Virgil nodded.
"I'm worried, though. Dante in that state might not be able to keep control of himself. He might become a danger to his friends..."
Motochika looked at Virgil.
"What do you mean, that state? Does this have something to do with that mask?"
Virgil nodded...
-
Zal finished landing, with Petrie landing beside. Zal grasp Ducky and put her onto the ground then she nodded. "Yes, I heard and it does sound rather, bad indeed." She said. 'I did notice some commotion or something going on. Though they'll be unhappy if they go into the territory of a certain fastbiter friend of mine. But what sort of help do you need?" She asked looking at the others.
"Friendly fastbiter herd? Sounds like a story I heard one of my sisters tell of, It does it does.
Mim nodded, "We're trying to get to the stone of cold fire before Ozzy is and those working for him." Mim said.
"Friendly fastbiter herd? I'd like to hear that story sometime." Littlefoot said looking at Ducky
-
Longtail in a state of semi thought said, "Heeey....relax Dante...I'm sure Zaine...knows...what he's doing...d-don't cha Zaine?" and then he fell asleep once more.
~~~~~~~
Cyrix looked to Virgil and asked "Wait...a mask..I remember hearing about in a story from long ago...something about bring darkness and peace at the same time...but I'm not sure I remember it too well."
-
Dante looked at Longtail, then sighed and shook his head.
"Zaine might, but I don't think you do right now, pal. Just rest up..."
_________________________________________________________________________
Virgil nodded.
"My brother is what is called a 'Visored'. That mask is the embodiment of his supressed anger and other dark emotions. When he puts it on, he is able to move faster, hit harder, and overall is better at fighting. The reason he seals it in a mask is that it lets him keep his sanity when he wears it."
He trailed off...
-
Zaine nodded. "Don't worry Dante. I'm fine. Longtail is the one who needs help right now." He flinched a little from the impact of the fall, but held strong. "Well, it's going to be a while until we meet up with the others, so let's get out of here before we attract the attention of something else unfriendly." Zaine walked down the path with Dante right behind him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ozzy hurried down the path with the other raptors at his side. He kept looking back and said out loud, "Maybe I shouldn't have thrown him off the cliff. Well it doesn't matter now. Either way, he was a nuisance." He looked at Kireek. "What do you think I should have done?"
-
"Maybe I'll tell you more about that herd where there's more time. I've heard stories of a stone of cold fire, but they all seem to be just myths." Zal said.
"I've heard much the same." Mim said, "But this one may be different and anyway we do need to stop Ozzy from getting there first either way." Mim said to Zal.
"Only a few know where this stone is and we have to hurry there." Littlefoot said.
"Me glad me no know were stone is, to scary Petrie only know." Petrie said.
"Maybe it is, but it's better then just one knowing, it is it is." Ducky said.
-
Dante nodded, prying the mask off his face with a soft sucking sound.
"Right. Let's keep moving. I hope the others are safe..."
He said, looking off at the direction he had come from...
_________________________________________________________________________
Kireek nodded.
"Your decision was unflawed, my lord. He would have been nothing but an obstacle to us, and now his friends will be no threat at all..."
He uttered, then broke out into a cold laugh...
-
Zaine nodded. "Yeah, I hope they head for the stone. Maybe they'll have better luck than us." He then looked back at Longtail. "Get some rest buddy. You've had enough action for one day." He then thought about the mask that Dante was wearing. "Uhh Dante. What was that mask you had on just now? I've never seen you wearing it before."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ozzy nodded. "I guess you're right. They won't be a problem so long as we get the stone first. I promise once the world is ours, you will have your share in the power."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strut nodded. "That would be interesting to learn about. At this point, we can use all the friendly sharpteeth we need."
Chomper stepped in. "Well I wouldn't be surprised. Not all sharpteeth are evil and terrible."
-
Virgil nodded.
"My brother is what is called a 'Visored'. That mask is the embodiment of his supressed anger and other dark emotions. When he puts it on, he is able to move faster, hit harder, and overall is better at fighting. The reason he seals it in a mask is that it lets him keep his sanity when he wears it."
He trailed off...
Cyrix nodded in response understanding why Virgil hesitated with the rest of his story. He walked over and placed a claw on his shoulder while saying: "Don't worry Virgil...as long as Dante has Longtail and Zaine to help him...I know nothing bad will happen to them. You have my promise!"
-
Zal looks at Strut and Chomper, "I can tell you about the, but it seems your group are in a hurry to mosy on somewhere after where this here stone is." Zal said.
Littlefoot nods, "We need to get here as fast as we can to beat Ozzy an egg eater who wants to use it to rule the world." He said.
"That would be bad, it would, it would." Ducky said nodding her head and worry in her voice and on her face.
"It to scary, for Petrie to even think." Petrie said with fear in his voice as he cringed at the thought of Ozzy ruling the world.
"Yes, we must do our utmost to stop Ozzy's plans." Mim said.
-
Dante looked over at Zaine, then twirled the mask around his hand.
"This? This is basically a mask that is everything I wish I wasn't. The anger, the resentment, and the fear that I feel is kept in this thing. It makes me stronger, but still...I hate using it..."
He said, half-smiling...
_________________________________________________________________________
Virgil nodded.
"You're right, Cyrix. Nothing will come of worrying about it. Let's just keep moving.
Motochika turned towards where the stone was, looking over the horizon.
"We can not allow Ozzy to obtain that stone. Come, let us go."
He said, starting to walk off...
_________________________________________________________________________
Kireek touched his forehead in a display of loyalty, then bowed to Ozzy.
"Thank you, my lord. You are too kind..."
He said, quietly...
-
Cyrix nodded his head and began walking after Motochika and smiled as he said "Zaine and Dante and Longtail are bound to look after each other, but I can't help but worry...those three tend to get themselves into trouble even when they don't want to."
-
Strut dighed. "Well, hopefully those three manage to find their way. I really do worry about Zaine. My brother might try to kill him again, and if that's the case he may not stand much of a chance."
"Relax Strut," Chomper said. "Longtail and Dante have his back." He then walked over to his parents and spoke to them. 'Do you think you guys can sniff out Zaine's scent?' Chomper's mother raised her head into the air and sniffed a few times. She bowed her head.
'I can smell him, but it's very faint. I don't know where he is, but at least we know he is alive.'
'We should leave now,' Chomper father stepped in. 'If that coward plans another attack, we won't be ready for him.'
Chomper nodded and looked towards Cyrix. "Well I guess you or Mim are the leaders now that Zaine is missing. My mom and dad think we should leave, and I agree. But what do you think?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zaine sighed. "That's a lot like Longtail's Sharptooth side. I guess you two have been through so much that you share something like that. I wonder if I'll ever have a mark like that. Although, I probably never want a mark like that."
-
Dante nodded.
"That you don't, Zaine. This mask...every time I use it, I risk losing control... That's what scares me. It's like Longtail. I just hope that...I don't do anything I regret...?"
He said glumly, staring at the ground...
_________________________________________________________________________
Virgil and Motochika nodded.
"Right. We can't just sit here and do nothing. We need to keep moving."
Virgil said, turning to head off.
"Indeed. We shall make all due haste. Let us depart."
Motochika agreed, positioning himself at the back of the group...
-
"Maybe shared. Each person has some strengths, skills and knowledge that others may lack." Mim said.
"I agree. Best to use the strengths that each of us possess, & we are unprepared here for an attack should they return." Zal said, understanding sharptooth.
"We can do it if we stick together and work together." Littlefoot said with determination on his face.
"Me hope so." Petrie said, scared of the whole idea and of where they were.
"I do hope Zaine, Longtail and Dante are ok and are together, I do, I do." Ducky said with concern in her voice & on her face.
-
Cyrix smiled at the worry in Duckys voice and he gave a sigh as he thought 'At least I'm not the only one concerned for their safety.' He then nodded his head and replied "Yes, despite these setbacks we need to keep moving to the stone...with any luck Ozzy's constant attacks will slow him down enough that we can get to the stone."
~~~~~
Longtail chose that moment to finally come to from the landing. He groaned and sniffed the air a few times, and then he muttered, "W-what...happened...I remember...trying....to catch...Z-Zaine...and then...nothing."
He then sniffed the air again and gave a weak smile as he opened his eyes and said "Hi Dante...nice to see you."
-
Littlefoot looked at Ducky, "They'll be fine as long as they stick together, just like we do." Littlefoot said while smiling, trying to ease Ducky's concerns.
-
Dante smiled at Longtail.
"Yeah. Good to see you too, buddy. The reason you don't remember is because you were unconscious. You landed pretty hard, and you were out. How're you feeling?"
He asked, concern apparent in his voice...
-
Zaine noticed Longtail coming to and smiled. "Oh thank goodness Longtail. I was so worried about you. Well, Ozzy kidnapped me again, and he knocked me off the cliff. You caught up to me and grabbed me, but we were falling fast. You broke my fall, and that's where you blacked out. Dante managed to jump down here without getting hurt, so we're on our own for now." He looked down the path in front of them, and he spotted a small pond next to a group of trees. "We should rest over there. I don't think we're in the position to be walking at the moment, especially you Longtail. Any objections?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While the group walked, Ozzy thought for a second. Maybe there is a chance they are still alive. If that's the case, then we need to get rid of them now. He looked over at Kireek. "Can you order a couple of your fastbiters to seek out Zaine? Make sure they are disabled for the time being. Once we get the stone, we'll go back and round them up. Meanwhile, send a couple more to spy on the rest of his friends. We need an idea of where they are."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chomper nodded. "Ok, let's get out of here. My parents will still protect us, but I think we should leave now while we have the chance." With that, the group continued on their way. Chomper's parents walked at the head of the group, and Strut followed right behind them.
-
Longtail smiled as he set his head back down and replied "Yeah, some water and more rest sounds good right about now." He then looked over to Dante and said, "So Dante...you were hoping to save the day again huh? The big sharptooth hero...you showoff!"
~~~~~~~
Cyrix fell into step behind Strut and then asked "What do you think Ozzy's next move will be Strut? You are his brother, so he may have said something that would give his next plan away. Is there anything you can think of?"
-
Dante grinned at Longtail, his eyes lighting up.
"Who said I was trying to play the hero? I just didn't wanna see you and Zaine getting hurt, that's all. Not to mention that... Ah, nevermind. It's good to see that you're alright. Just get some rest for now, 'k?"
He said, smiling with relief that Longtail was absolutely okay...
-
Strut sighed. "Well that's the thing. Becoming allies with sharpteeth is a first for Ozzy. I knew he was desperate to get the stone, but I didn't think he would go that far. I'm not sure what he has planned, but he may try to slow us down again, so we should stay alert."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zaine smiled. He was very happy that Longtail was ok, and now that Dante was with him he felt safer. "I'm so lucky to have you two as friends. I don't know what I would have done without you guys." When they reached their resting spot, Zaine gently layed Longtail on the ground, but used a rock and some leaves to support his head. "If you need anything Longtail, we're right here for you." He then looked at Dante. "I'm just about ready to die of thirst. Wanna join me?"
-
"Yes, Maybe the flyers can fly around to see what they can see to warn us, and some of the sharpteeth can try to see if they can give warning if they smell something. Any other ideas you folks may have?" Mim asked looking around.
Littlefoot shoot his head. "Other then be sure to stay together and not to go alone." Littlefoot said.
"Yes, being alone is dangerous here, even if Ozzy and the others with him were not here, it is, it is." Ducky said.
-
Longtail smiled as Zaine set him down, and he said "Thanks." He then yawned as he said as well, "I'm still a little tired...if it's okay with you two, I'm going to try and catch a few more winks." Before either Zaine or Dante could respond Longtail was already fast asleep once more.
~~~~~~
Cyrix smiled and said to Littlefoot and Strut "I'm sure they will stick together. And Strut I can promise you that I will stay fully alert and keep my eyes open for any potential sharpteeth attack."
-
Strut nodded. "That would be very wise. Now lets get out of here."
Chomper ran to the front. "All righty guys! We're leaving! Let's go!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zaine smiled. "Sleep peacefully Longtail. You deserve it." He then looked at Dante and ushered him towards the pond. "Come on Dante. You have to be somewhat thirsty." The two walked over to the water, taking in the peace that they had for now. Zaine smiled again. "The water looks so clear. I hope it tastes as good as it looks." He lowered his head and licked up some of the water. "Oh man, this has gotta be some of the best water I've had in a while."
-
Motochika nodded.
"Yes. We should depart. I can only hope that we will encounter the others soon..."
Virgil stood next to Cyrix, holding Dante's staff.
"Yeah. Let's go."
He said, quietly...
_________________________________________________________________________
Dante nodded as he took a long drink of the water.
"Yeah. Same here. Call me crazy, but this tastes sooo good!"
He said, a smile brightening his face as he smiled at Longtail.
"Y'know, sometimes he makes no sense. When he left, he told me not to follow him, but now he's just fine with it. Ah, whatever, right?"
He laughed...
-
Zaine nodded. "I guess he's just glad that we're all Finally Together Again. At least, I know I am." He drank some more water, and then looked around at the area. "It's pretty quiet here. I actually like it. It's the first peace I've liked ever since we got here." He then looked back at Dante. "Hey Dante, do you remember when we first met each other?"
((OOC: yes I am such a nerd for using the title again....))
-
Mim nodded, "Yes, let's go. It is better then waiting around here." Mim said.
"Yes, we need to go to where the stone is." Littlefoot said.
Ducky nods, "We do need to move on, we do, we do."
"If we move maybe they no find is easy." Petrie said.
"You can't get closer to your goal unless you do move on, so I concur." Zal said.
-
Dante nodded, a faint smile on his face.
"Yeah. I remember. It seems like it was so long ago, but it really wasn't, huh? Funny how we all have had such wild adventures since then..."
He said, taking another long drink of water...
-
Longtail at that moment began to roll across the floor in his sleep. He also began to laugh lightly as he continued to roll in a circle, but just as he did he was starting to move towards the water. He then said in his dream "I just want to see why the water is green mama!"
-
Zaine nodded. "I knew there was something different about you the moment I first saw you. Who knew you were going to turn out to be one of my best friends? Pretty crazy don't you think?" He then noticed Longtail rolling around in his sleep. "Well, it's a good thing Longtail is dreaming peacefully. Although maybe we should stop him before he rolls into the water."
-
Dante nodded.
"Yep. Life's funny that way."
He said, then chuckled as he walked over to Longtail and picked him up.
"Hey. Wakey Wakey, sleepyhead."
He said, looking at his friend with a grin...
-
Longtail's eyes opened halfway at the sound of Dante's voice, and almost immediately he began to laugh. Through his laughter he managed to say "You....can't stop....me...I'm...a superhero!" and promptly went limp and started snoring once more.
-
Zaine rolled his eyes. "Good old Longtail." He laughed as Dante gently layed Longtail back on the ground. "I just hop I never act like that when I am dreaming. Who knows what I would openly blurt out rolling around like that." He laughed at the thought of him claiming to be a superhero and then sighed. "Maybe we should get some rest. The others have probably left for the stone already, so we'll need to have a lot of energy if we are to catch up to them."
-
Zal looked at Chompers parents and asked them in sharptooth, "Are you 2 ready to move out?"
-
((OOC: Because the rp is reaching the average page goal, I'm probably going to end it soon. We can start discussing about the next part of the rp, or we can take a break since the amount of active people has decreased greatly))
Chomper's parents nodded. "Let's go" The two large sharpteeth led the group down the path.
Strut looked up at Zal. "We would really appreciate it if you came with us. You saved Ducky, and we could use as much help as we can get if we're going to find the stone and our friends."
Chomper walked beside Strut. "I gotta hand it to you. You really are making an improvement in terms of friendliness. I was really skeptical about you when you came to us, but I'll admit it's nice to have you with us."
Strut smiled. "I'm glad you think so Chomper. I meant what I said when I found you guys. I wanted to change, and I thank you for giving me the chance."
"Don't thank me. Zaine was the one who decided to let you in the group. I merely decided not to rip you to shreads By the way, your welcome for that." The two of them laughed together for the first time.
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Longtail smiled as he finally opened his eyes since he fell asleep. He blinked and asked, "Hey guys whats up? What did I miss...oh...is that water?" He then crawled over and started to drink his fill.
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(OOC: I wonder most would prefer a break while discussions are done of various types, or only a short discussion before the next part starts. )
Zal nods, "I would be glad to help."
"Hopefully we can travel faster the he can since he has to stay in charge and issue orders to all those serving him." Mim said.