Fanfiction link:
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10967589/8/Songs-of-the-HuntersChapter 7: Crisis in the Swamp"I think that it is your turn, dear."
Littlefoot blinked as Ruby's words registered in his mind. Right, we always did sing this part. He frowned. Not the easiest song to sing.
"It is also your turn, if you remember." Littlefoot replied playfully, trying to ignore the grimness of the song in his mind. "What does Taunt always call it? The dark duet?"
Taunt stirred from his vantage point at the other end of the pack. "The abysmal duet." At the stunned looks of the children, he clarified. "They sing it well, but the story is not a happy one." His expression took on a rare frown. "Not a happy one at all."
Ruby nodded. "Not all stories are, but it is one that needs to be told. If it isn't told by us then it won't be told."
Pouncer and Biter nearly spoke in unison.
"Don't tell me something happened to Snap!?"
"Or Dodger! Their brothers and sisters are jerks!"
Littlefoot gave a slight smile. "Well, I guess that we will need to tell the tale, dear." He then grasped her shoulder with one hand as he gestured with the other towards the children. "Otherwise the younglings will be left in suspense."
Ruby nodded. "Yes, let us finish the song."
Chomper nodded at his two friends as he waited for the younglings to make him a path back to his old sitting area. Upon making a step forward, Pouncer and Biter quickened their pace noticeably. Despite the reputation of the friendly sharptooth, neither of them wanted to be in the walking path of a dinosaur many hundred times their size. As he settled back down, he noticed that Littlefoot had moved to the center of the circle, with Ruby at his side.
"We will now sing to you of the end of this tale. Not all tales have happy endings. Some end in sadness. Some end in anger. But most tales are bittersweet. This song is all three." At that ominous introduction from Littlefoot, Ruby began the song.
♪♪ As the pack continued approached in haste,
Clawsting's pack prepared their plot,
Neither were aware of the hidden danger,
That arose from a familiar spot. ♪♪ -----
Snap ate his share of the fallen spiketail in silence. The only sounds greeting his ears were the snapping of his jaws and the munching of his siblings beside him. Well, most of them anyway.
He looked in the distance to the nearby pond where Clawsting was examining the pointed sticks with amusement. They were Snap's creation, of course, but Clawsting would undoubtedly be the one to gain glory from the creation. He tried to ignore the pang of pride that rose in his chest at that thought. His brother finally seemed to be approving of something that he had done.
"Why did you really come here, brother?"
Snap looked up from his meal. It was a mangled mass of shattered bone and removed tissue at this point anyway. What he saw in his meal's place was the yellow eyes of Voda, his eldest sister. Her mouth was closed in an expressionless line, while her eyes were stark and cold. However, the tone of her voice did not condemn.
"You think that my intentions are not truthful?" He asked carefully.
She snorted as a glimmer of amusement finally reached her eyes. "Of course, you intentions are not truthful!" She looked towards Clawsting for a moment as if she feared being heard. "You would never go here even out of desperation." She sighed. "You are too damn proud for that. That is the one thing that you share with our brother."
Dodger looked up at her affirmation, but he kept silent. Snap realized that his chastisement and attack at the claws of Clawsting was more than likely the cause of his sudden cautiousness. Could he even trust his sisters anymore?
“If I had not told you of the flyer’s offer, then all of you would more than likely be the first to die.” Snap offered. “Even though you have treated me as an enemy and my brother as a fool, you are family.”
A low growl came from his other side as Rustling made herself known in the conversation. “We never considered you as an enemy brother. However, one who eats alone is a rival. Two who eat alone are a rival pack. And a rival pack is dangerous.”
Snap laughed coldly. “Oh, yes… Like my lovely brother gave me much choice on that account. I think that his exact words were, ëthe weakling will only slow us down’ and he left me and Dodger to fend for ourselves.” He looked in Rustling’s direction. “You made us a rival pack, sisters.”
Voda spoke without emotion. “We were starving, brother. A choice had to be made.”
Dodger now was sufficiently angry to speak despite his apprehension. “So you decided to save yourselves at the expense of your other brothers?”
Rustling protested. “We decided to save ourselves. Dodger decided to go with you.” Her emphasis on Dodger’s name confirmed her impression that he was to blame for his own hardship. “I don’t blame you for being angry, brother, but we had to make a choice and we made it. The pack had to go on... even if one of us did not.”
Snap stared at the bloody mess that had been his meal. “Do you regret it?”
Silenced reigned for several moments as Voda and Rustling both looked towards the advancing form of Clawsting. He would again be within hearing range within moments.
“Yes.” Voda answered.
“Every day.” Rustling admitted.
Snap stared at the advancing form of his brother as he approached closer. “Meet up with Dodger then when it is time for us to scout for the other pack’s possible paths. I don’t think that you will get a chance to talk to me alone again until it is time.”
Voda blinked. “Time? Time for what?”
Snap did not answer as Clawsting rejoined his siblings and began to ask Snap enumerable questions about the Orange Death and the pointed sticks. Neither sister noticed the rage-filled expression on Dodger’s face.
Soon…-----
The next day: “We are almost there, dear.”
Terri laid down upon the ground with some difficulty. Despite the relatively short amount of time that she and Dein had been able to tend to the demands of the Time of Mating, she could already feel the changes to her body. Eggs would soon be coming. Then would come the time to prepare a nest. The time to secure a territory.
“Dear...“ Terri moaned as she felt another cramp. “Do you think Path and his friends are alright?”
Dein snorted. “I am sure that they are fine. They were smart enough to get the hell away from us, which shows that my son is not a meat-brain!” Count on Dein to make a compliment sound like an insult. “I am sure that they are far away. Living their own lives.” He nuzzled her. “Don’t worry dear… we will soon have new life to worry about.”
Terri snorted. “So you tell me not to worry and then tell me something new to be worried about?”
Dein rolled his eyes. “I never said I was good with this whole reassurances thing.”
Terri sighed. “That you are not.” She shuddered as she suddenly shifted uncomfortably. “These feel a lot different from when Path was coming. I think that we are talking about eggs, dear. Not an egg.”
Dein looked into her eyes as she said this. “Are you sure, dear. It took you many more days last time… um… the only time.” He was at a loss for words. “You didn’t feel like this until…”
Terri nodded. “...I laid Chomper’s egg. I know.” Her eyes looked concerned. “I still have many more days to go, dear, but I feel as if I am about to lay an egg. That must mean that I am full of younglings.”
Dein gave her a nuzzle. “Don’t worry, dear. With Redclaw gone and both of us healthy, I am sure that our younglings will do fine.
As the two lay together, the winds began to pick up in the barrens, causing sand to fly into their faces. They closed their eyes at the onslaught and awaited the ending of the horrible gusts. When it finally did end, they were surprised to hear the sound of flapping wings. Dein was the first to react.
“What the…”
The nervous form of Petrie greeted his eyes. “Uh… hello. Me sorry to disturb you, but there be a complication.”
Dein glared at the small flyer. “What is that, flyer?”
Petrie chuckled nervously as he stretched his wings.
“That be kind of long story…”
-----
“So, there is our old home.”
Littlefoot stared at the scene with an unreadable expression. His dour tone was in stark contrast to the enthusiasm of some of his packmates.
“Gee, Seeker, you almost sound like you are disappointed.” Taunt observed, the usual joking tone gone from his voice.
Ducky joined in. “Yes, this is our home. We should be happy! We should, we should!”
Ruby stepped forward to be beside her friend and stared into his eyes with an understanding expression. Wordlessly, she simply gave him a nuzzle.
“We can’t stay, guys.” Littlefoot noted sadly. “We are just hear to make sure things are okay for Path’s folks. Then we have to leave.” He gritted his teeth. “Our potential friends also concern me.”
Spike stepped forward. “You don’t trust them?”
Littlefoot turned and tilted his head at Spike in a contemplative expression. “Spotter mentioned that Snap’s brother and sister were arguing about the rumors of the Orange Death… Do you honestly think that Snap won’t tell his siblings about this?”
Leap nodded at this. “But they might decide to join in our arrangement. We help find them a new territory if they vacate this one.”
Cera suddenly had a stunned expression. “Wait! Why wasn’t Snap and his brother with the other siblings in the first place? Spotter said that they seemed estranged!”
Littlefoot gave a simple nod. “That is right, Stern Claw. I suspect a plot.”
Chomper walked over to his friend and sat by his side. A grim expression on his face.
“I don’t want to risk the pack, Seeker. You should do what you think is best for all of us.” Chomper looked down sadly. “Just… if it comes to that please have Spotter warn my mommy and daddy. I know that I have no duties to them now, but…” He trailed off as Littlefoot gave the little biter a soft nuzzle.
“Don’t worry, Path. I already have made arrangements to warn them and we aren’t leaving just yet.”
“Wait a moment.” Thud exclaimed. “Where is Spotter?”
Littlefoot frowned. “I already sent Spotter to warn Path’s parents of my suspicions. ...and Spotter already told Pterano to tell the valley about the other pack knowing of the Orange Death. This is a threat to the leaf-eaters as well. I have no doubt what they would ask of us if it were their choice.”
Swift frowned. “The only good sharptooth is a dead one?”
Littlefoot nodded. “If they had their way then they would want us to kill anyone else who knows of our methods, but I will give them a chance. A chance to prove themselves worthy of friendship or worthy of death.” He frowned. “Time to prepare our pointed sticks. Spotter will have the Orange Death ready shortly.”
The other pack members looked at him with sad expressions as they contemplated their orders. Even while they planned for peace, they were preparing for war.
“I do not like this.” Ducky complained. “I know why we are doing this and I agree with what we are doing. But it seems wrong.”
“We all do, Haven.” Thud admitted. “But I think this is one of those times when we need to prepare to commit a harder right over an easier wrong.” He then grabbed a branch from a small tree. “We have made our peace offering, now let us prepare for the worst.”
The others now began to move at the elder fastbiter’s words. As they prepared to commit another dark deed if their overture for peace failed, another conversation several miles away was beginning to take on great importance.
-----
Dodger looked at his spear with an uneasy expression. Its sharp point seem to glare at him like an unspoken condemnation. He had betrayed his word to dinosaurs who meant him no ill will in order to protect his family. Despite his noble motivations, he felt dead inside.
This is insane. This is completely insane. “What is it, Dodger?”
Dodger looked up at Voda’s inquisitive eyes. He thought that they almost had a mournful quality to them… but maybe that was his imagination.
“Well… where to begin, sis? Our esteemed brother wants us to attack Seeker’s pack.” He gestured with frantic hands. “Seeker’s pack..the pack that killed Redclaw… the pack that is feared by sharptooth and leaf-eater alike. The children of death…”
“We get it, Dodger.” Rustling muttered. “But Clawsting has given us our mission…”
Dodger raised his spear in agitation and slammed it to the ground. “Yes, he certainly has! But his mission is insane. How can five of us take out a pack of ten?!”
Voda spoke uncertainly. “Well… brother thinks that if we injure one then they will get the point and let us be.”
Dodger laughed. A sad, bitter sound coming from his throat. There plan was hopeless. Utterly hopeless. They were being lead by a fool who was too strong to be challenged. Not unless he were willing to use the ultimate… no… he would not go that far… he couldn’t. Could he?
“If we hurt one of them then they would murder us all.” Dodger finally spoke in a cold monotone. “Do you understand, sis? We will all die. Unless we stop this madness now.”
Rustling frowned. “Why did you rejoin with us, brother? You obviously want to do your own thing.” She jabbed an accusing claw at his chest. “Why are you and Snap here?”
Dodger frowned. “I am here to save both of you. If you try to fight this pack then they will kill you all.” He looked away as his eyes began to shimmer. “You may not love us, sisters, but Snap and I do not wish to have your deaths on our conscience. If… if it comes down to it then we will fall with you.” He looked up at the two females sadly. “Do you remember mom’s last request?
Rustling looked down, while Voda spoke softly. “Of course. She wanted us to stay together. She wanted the family to outlive her. She wanted us to remember her songs.”
Dodger sucked in a shuddering breath. “Then tell me, sisters: is this how you honor her request?”
Voda now looked down. Dodger’s words were hanging over her like rain clouds on a dark day. When she finally spoke again, her voice was barely audible.
“What do you suggest, brother?”
Dodger sighed. "I suggest that we talk to our older brother together. If we all have spears then he would be unwise to use his strength against us."
Rustling was shocked. "You want us to threaten Clawsting?!"
Dodger shook his head in annoyance. "No! I want us to talk to Clawsting! He never listens unless he is forced to." He looked at his two sisters. Their eyes broadcasted their conflicted emotions to all who could see them. "I am not asking you to choose between your brothers, sisters. I am asking you to simply talk to our brother." He looked down. "If he refuses then Snap and I can go our own way... and both of you can make your choice."
"Considering that our brother doesn't listen, you are forcing us to make a choice, brother."
Dodger looked into Voda's eyes as she said this. Only hurt shown in those gelatinous orbs. He could only frown in response.
"I am sorry then. But... we should do this before Snap makes his move."
Rustling stepped forward, a concerned expression on her face. "His move?"
Dodger gritted his teeth. "Right now he is helping Clawsting gather the orange death." His eyes blazed with an inner fury. "Even though he told me his plans, I know that he is just as likely to change them..."
Voda glared at him. "Get to the point!"
Dodger growled. "Do you honestly think that if Snap sees an opportunity to end this violently that he won't take it? Our brother has shown him only scorn and left him to die!"
Rustling snorted. "Like he would be able to defeat Clawsting without..." Her eyes went wide in recognition. "Oh crap."
Dodger nodded. "Exactly. Let's go over there and talk to..."
His sisters took off with furious speed in the direction of their two brothers. Any consideration of their brother's plan being lost in their desire to prevent a bloodbath. They never heard Dodger's refrain.
"Wait for me!"
-----
“This is the root that you will need.”
Snap slowly raised the orange bulbs from the soil. Their brilliant color seemed to gleam in the sunlight. A beautiful color that was in stark disagreement with the reputation of the plant in question.
Clawsting picked up one of the bulbs with a flourish. Turning the bulb over in his hand, he inspected it as if it were the most interesting object in the universe.
“It is amazing that such destruction could be contained in something so small.” He grinned. “I suppose looks can be deceiving.”
Snap did not meet his eyes as he picked up a few more of the bulbs. “I suppose so.”
I could do it right now… He would be incapacitated before he could even make a move against me. The larger fastbiter walked to his side.
“What are you thinking, Snap?”
I should do it now. While I have the chance! Clawsting continued to walk around him until he found himself staring at his reflection in the water.
“Do you remember when mom and dad would bathe us in the stream, brother?” He laughed, an odd sound coming from Clawsting. “I couldn’t even hold my own in the water… but you were able to swim laps around me!”
Snap nodded. “It was the only place I wasn’t a disappointment to father.”
Clawsting sat down as Snap was shaking with obvious distress. His pointed stick shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“Father never liked you.” The booming voice of his brother admitted. “And neither did I. But not for the reason that you think.”
In a flash, Clawsting knocked the spear from Snap’s hands and looked at his brother as if nothing had happened. For his part, Snap looked at his brother with a horrified expression. His gambit had failed.
Snap stammered. “You never liked me because I was weak.” His words dripped with sadness and bitterness. “And now my weakness has doomed everyone that I love.”
Clawsting said nothing for several moments, as if he were contemplating something.
“I never liked you, Snap, because you never had the courage to do what needed to be done.” With a slow deliberate movement, Clawsting picked up his own spear and placed it against Snap’s throat. “You were contemplating killing me, brother, and you nearly succeeded. I didn’t see it!” His voice roared as he lamented his own lack of observation. “Do you hate me that much?”
Snap closed his eyes as he spoke. “The only thing I wanted from you is to be listened to… the only thing I want now is for you to stop this madness…” His voice came through is gasps as he struggled to not let the poison at the tip of the spear puncture his skin. “I want everyone to be safe.”
Clawsting roared. “They made their choice!” Snap fell to the ground as he took a kick to the belly. “A pack leader makes the decisions, Snap! That is something that you will never be!”
“What good is being a leader is you lead them to oblivion?” Snap choked out as he tried to think through the tremendous pain in his midsection. “A leader cares for his people.”
Clawsting snarled. “Are you saying I don’t!”
Snap looked up at him with a sneer. “I say that you care more about your position.” He then spat onto the ground. “What would you do if one of my sisters left your side? Would you bash them as well?”
As if to answer his question, his body again erupted into pain. Clawsting’s body slammed into his smaller brother’s side like an avalanche roaring into a mountain side. His world soon turned dim as his consciousness hung on by a thread. He knew that this was the end.
His older brother’s enraged form rose above him, spear raised. The Bright Circle shined behind the hulking form as the azure sky covered the land in a canopy of blue.
Snap closed his eyes.
Goodbye, brother…With a distraught roar, Clawsting’s spear descended towards its victim.
-----
Crack! Silence reigned in the swamp for several moments as Clawsting completed his attack. Not even the sounds of flyers or the rustling of trees disturbed the ears of those who had witnessed what had occurred.
“Damn it, Snap!” The elder brother wailed. “Why did you push me to this!?” He made no attempt to walk away from his deed as he stared at Snap’s prone body.
“Mother always loved you… she always tried to protect you… she always gave you attention.” He grimaced. “And you just had to have her damn personality.” He began to shake. “You can never leave an argument without having the last word. You are always so damn sure of yourself.” He then began to beat the ground. “Why won’t you yield!?”
-----
Voda watched in horror at the sight in front of her. She had seen the very end of the argument between her brothers. She had seen the exchange of blows. She had seen Clawsting raise his spear. She had seen the coming of silence as the impact of the spear was heard all around.
My brother is dead. The words echoed in her mind but she could not really accept them. It was like something out of a nightmare. Except that she knew that this was a nightmare that she had helped to create.
I was the one that agreed first…Memories of the hard Cold Time came to her in a rush. Mommy and daddy had died. Now only the siblings remained. There was no doubt which was the weakest and which was the strongest. Food was so scarce and Snap was too slow to catch the prey that remained. Despite her mother’s final request, she decided to betray her word. Her sister had followed shortly thereafter. Only the idealistic Dodger stood by his brother’s side.
I could have stopped this. Tears welled in her eyes as the world seemed to grow smaller. The only two things that she could see was the tail of her fallen brother which was barely visible and the back of her hulking brother. The murderer of Snap.
Her hands tightened their grip on the spear. She knew what she had to do. This madness had to stop. She would avenge her fallen brother, the one that she should have protected in the first place.
She barely registered the footsteps of her two other siblings behind her.
“What is it, Voda?” She sucked in a breath as it was obvious that they had seen nothing of what had transpired. “It looks like you have seen a…”
Without listening for the remainder of Dodger’s words she hurled herself forward in a headlong sprint. She would not let Dodger burden his conscience over this. She already had the blood of one brother on her hands, she would accept the burden of murdering another. One she killed by omission and now another by commission. But at least the pack would be safe.
“Why don’t you speak to me, Snap?” She could hear the monster say, as if her fallen brother could speak from the dead. “I always did what I thought was best for the pack…”
“Voda! Wait!”
She quickened her pace as she could hear the others scramble from behind her. Regardless of Dodger’s desire to avenge his brother, she would do the deed. He was too kind of a soul… she would pay the price.
Despite the protests from behind her, Clawsting did not look back. It was as if he were entirely focused on his act of fratricide. Of all the times her brother decided to be introspective, he had decided to wait until it was too late.
“Perhaps we will try it your way…”
She raised her spear for the assault as she prepared to leap into the air. It was time for her to put this sad episode to an end. As she put her weight on her back legs, Dodger’s scream echoed in her ears.
“Voda, please stop!”
She leapt into the air.
-----
“I always did what I thought was best for the pack, Snap. But… but... this once I will try it your way... Yes, perhaps we will try it your way.” The voice hesitated. “I… think I went too far this time...”
Schluck! Snap was only fully aware of his situation once his brother suddenly stopped talking. The spear was planted firmly into the ground next to his head. It seemed that his brother had not had it in him to do the unthinkable either. At least his brother truly did care about the pack…
“Voda?”
“Oh no! What have I done!”
Snap slowly raised himself off of the ground as the voices of Voda and Dodger echoed in his brain. Shortly thereafter, their vague figures could be seen in his vision. As could a limp fastbiter.
“Br... brother?”
The other three siblings turned towards Snap with horrified expressions as he stumbled over to where his brother lay, ignoring the lingering pain in his midsection. A spear was planted firmly in the fallen fastbiter's chest. His sister’s spear. His mouth was contorted as if he were attempting to whisper at someone, but his eyes were blank and expressionless. His conversation with Snap had been his last.
“Brother!”
Snap grasped his brother’s face with both hands as he stared into those eyes. His brother had been a thorn in his side all of his life. Not once had he showed Snap the slightest compassion, except for when they were in the youngest of their youngling years. Yet, Snap could not shake the need for validation from Clawsting. This fastbiter who had been everything that he had not. Fast, confident, strong… Now in those final moments of his life, he had finally let the facade fall and shown the empathy underneath. A final expression of those traits that he had suppressed for his own vanity and…
I always did what I thought was best for the pack, Snap. Snap shook as he could feel Dodger’s hand on his shoulder. He and Dodger had nearly starved during that Cold Time. If it wasn’t for a lucky piece of carrion in the barrens… Had his elder brother had been right? Were he in Clawsting’s position could he have made the hard decision? Was it hard for him? Until this time he would have said no, but despite his faults Clawsting’s words were not those of a traitor or a butcher.
They were the words of a leader.
As he stared into the blue sky once more, Snap did something that he had never done before.
He cried for his brother.
-----
Ruby's tried to control her breathing as she maintained her steady run through the underbrush of her former home. She knew as well as the others that they had to be silent here. Observe and wait was the mission. They would let the other pack confirm their intentions with deeds. If they wanted peace then they would honor that. If not...
Ruby tightened her grip on the spear.
She extended the length of her stride as she heard the labored breathing of the others behind her. As of yet she had not seen anything of any significance. But it was her duty as the lead runner to relay any notice to the others.
Grass covered the ground, with thick patches of bushes arising at irregular intervals in the verdant display. Ahead of her, four large trees rose from the edge of a stream. Nothing of notice resided there. Only the endless grass, sticks, and...
She raised her hand and came to a sudden stop, which caused the others to stop immediately. With a few careful steps forward she raised one finger and waved her spear slightly. As if on cue, Chomper and Spike, the two best sniffers in the pack, came to her side.
She simply looked at the purple sharptooth and the green fastbiter. A quick nod from her sent them into action.
She and the other crouched down as her two friends went to work. Her spear was ready for flight at the slightest surprise. She did not have to look behind her to know that the others were doing the same. The only sound that greeted her ears during this tense moment were the calls of distant flyers and the rustling of the grass in the wind. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few moments, Chomper cautiously walked towards her.
The small sharptooth simply raised his stubby claws five times. He then pointed at Ruby twice and at Spike three times. It only took her a moment to deduce the meaning.
Five fastbiters. Two female, three male. So only one more than we assumed. With a wave of her arm, Littlefoot went to her side and awaited her report.
"One more than we expected." She whispered."A male."
Littlefoot nodded as he edged forward and looked at the fallen spear. She joined him in this visual inspection. They could have smelled if they were very near. Right now, their scent was recent... but not present. That was when Littlefoot noticed something.
"They left in a hurry. See the gashes in the ground."
Ruby took careful notice of the disturbed ground. Her friend's observations were quite correct. But that would also mean...
"That is why they dropped the pointed stick!" Ruby hissed. "That must mean that they are unprepared for us. And one of them doesn't have their spear."
She looked at Littlefoot who gave her a grim smile.
"Pack, get ready to prepare an ambush. We will end this one way or another."
At that moment a familiar flapping became audible as Petrie landed with an almost inaudible thud at Littlefoot's side. He only spoke when Littlefoot gave him a slight nod.
"Dein and Terri coming. What should me tell them?"
Littlefoot picked his spear off of the ground as he looked at the swampy land in front of him.
"Tell them to follow our scent. If strange fastbiters walk beside us then they are leaving. If they walk apart from us... then they may deal with them as they wish."
The flyer took to the air without making a sound. Littlefoot then simply raised his hand and gestured forward.
The plan was now in motion.
-----
Snap lay on the ground as the initial shock began to wear off. The sight of his impaled brother filled his vision as the wails of his sisters could be heard echoing off of the trees. Shuddering breaths racked his body as he recovered from his debilitating bout of grief. Now that the despair was gone, only emptiness remained. For some reason this seemed to hurt him more.
"I... I thought he had killed him... I..."
Snap turned towards his distraught sister. Voda was being embraced by Rustling as the guilt ridden fastbiter shook like a leaf in the wind. He had never seen anyone react in such a way since their parents had died many seasons ago. The echoes of those memories still haunted him. They had wandered aimlessly with Clawsting trying to hold them all together. Well, everyone but him.
Snap shook his head in order to clear the terrible memories. Wishing to look at anything else he looked towards his last remaining brother. The kind soul who had stood by him while the others had left. Dodger had a blank expression on his face as he stared straight ahead. It was as if his brother were someplace else even while his body was just in front of him. Finally noticing his brother, however, Dodger gave him an understanding frown which was followed by a nuzzle.
Snap then watched dumbfounded as his brother walked passed him and went towards their two sisters. Both were in states of abject despair, but Rustling seemed to be holding out the best of the two. Voda was utterly inconsolable.
Dodger moved closer towards Voda as she turned her gaze in his direction.
"Sister..." Dodger started as if he were unsure about how to begin. He placed a hand on her shoulder as she looked down.
"I killed him." Voda's voice came out in a low monotone. "I killed my brother..." Snap felt uneasy at the tone of her words. It was as if she were announcing a verdict.
Dodger breathed in with a slight shudder. "You thought that you were avenging Snap..."
"That doesn't matter!" The scream caused Snap to jump. The despair had turned into rage. "I have killed my own flesh and blood; what would mom and dad say to me now?!" Her eyes were like fire as the bore into Dodger like a spear. "They wanted us to stay together and I end up betraying everyone..." She began to sit down as if a massive weight had fallen upon her. "First, I leave Snap and you... and now I have sent Clawsting to our ancestors... what kind of monster am I?"
Breathing deeply, Snap stepped forward and joined his brother at her side.
"You are no monster." Snap spoke with a sob in his voice. "You saw what happened to me and you... reacted." He looked down. "He... he would want us to stick together."
Voda began to shake as Snap finished his words, which caused him to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. However, the shaking soon turned into a sad, cheerless laughter. A horrifying sound that made Snap's blood turn cold.
"Stick together?" The laugh was now something between a humorless chuckle and a sob. "Look what good that did him!" Snap looked down as the sound of his brother's death throes began to die down. "He never liked you, Snap! That's why I... that's why I thought..."
Snap closed his eyes as he spoke. "Do you know the last thing that he told me?"
Voda remained silent as Snap stroked her shoulder.
"He told me that he went too far this time... and that we would try it my way." Snap watched as his sister's muscles went limp. "He did not like me, but I think... No... I know he had the wellbeing of the pack in mind." His sister's sobs grew in intensity as he continued to speak. "I don't think that if he were still here that he would condemn you, sister. He would just want us to take care of ourselves." He then gestured in the direction of the remaining Orange Death roots and nodded at Dodger. "And that can't happen if you join him in death."
Rustling was startled by this. "What?!"
Splash! Snap held his focus on Voda as both sisters looked in the direction of the splashing water. Rustling had a confused expression, whereas Voda looked defeated.
"I saw you looking at them, sis. Your death would help no one."
Voda snapped. "How do you know..." She growled. "I am the only member of this family to kill another. You would all be better with me gone."
Snap hugged his sister as Rustling and Dodger did the same.
"You know that isn't true, Voda... you will get through this." Snap looked up at his other siblings. "We all will."
Rustle... Rustle... Dodger suddenly took up an alert posture as he picked up a spear.
Rustle... Rustle... "We've got company, guys!" Dodger shouted as the others rose to their feet by instinct. Snap picked up a spear, whereas Rustling just then discovered that she had lost hers. That was when the chaos started.
-----
"Now!"
Upon Littlefoot's order, the pack arose from their hiding places. An endless sea of fastbiters and one two-footer rushed out from behind the nearby trees as their spears were raised in a threatening manner. An endless parade of poisoned spears greeted their eyes as a thunderous racket arose from behind them.
"Shit! Two-footers!" One of the opposing pack members called out in a panic. It was only now that the opposing pack knew that they were surrounded.
Carefully, Littlefoot raised a hand and the advance of his pack came to a halt. The time to show force had passed. Now the time for diplomacy had come.
Here goes nothing... Littlefoot cleared his throat.
"As we have promised, we have arrived. May I speak to your leader?"
Littlefoot watched in fascination as the mood of the opposing pack changed in rapid succession from one of uncertainty, then confusion, and then, finally, sadness. It was only when one of the males stepped aside towards a female that he saw a ghastly sight.
A dead fastbiter.
A spear was planted in the poor soul's chest and blood had escaped through his mouth and chest. Had the opposing pack already began to use their resources to build a territory? Did they have to defend themselves? A million possibilities raced through the fastbiter's head until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me speak."
Littlefoot did not need to look beside him to know that Ruby had spoken.
Perhaps a pack leader might be too intimidating here. He noted.
Especially if they have already been attacked by another pack... He then mutely nodded in Ruby's direction as she stepped forward.
Ruby looked at the dead body from a distance for several moments as the sounds of Chomper's parents approached. The fear from the opposing pack could now be smelled even over the scent of death. However, what she and Littlefoot both noticed was how the opposing pack behaved around the body.
They were standing beside it. As if they were protecting an injured member.
"Was he... one of yours?" Ruby asked tentatively.
"He was our brother." The smallest of the fastbiters answered curtly.
Ruby nodded. "You are siblings then?" Their looks confirmed her question. "What happened?"
Silence reigned for several moments as no one dared to speak. Each side had their spears raised. The two males of the opposing pack and the nine members of her pack. Only Ruby had her spear aimed downward in a show of peace.
"I killed him."
Ruby looked in shock at the female that had uttered those words. She had no spear and made no attempt to grab the spear that was still embedded in her brother. Nonetheless, Ruby tightened the grip on her own spear as the rest of the pack took a few steps forward at Littlefoot's nonverbal gesture.
"She... thought she was saving me from him."
The small voice of the male could barely be heard, but Ruby nodded and gestured for the pack to halt once more. This was when a soft thud could be heard.
"That him. He the one me talk with."
Ruby nodded at Petrie's words as the male tried to speak again.
"What is this? We have done you no wrong."
A tap on Ruby's shoulder told her it was time for her friend to take over. With a mute nod, she stepped back and joined the line of fastbiters. Her spear was again raised.
"I am Seeker." Littlefoot spoke with an imperious tone. "What stand before you are the victors of the Battle for the Valley. The killers of Redclaw. The slaughterers of countless fastbiters."
At his introduction, the smaller male stepped back several paces as he tightened his grip on his spear.
"Our packmate, Spotter, has made an agreement with you. You promised us that you would leave this place and help us clear it of hostile sharpteeth. In return, we agreed to help find you a new place to settle and to help you claim that land." He glanced at each member of the opposing pack in turn. "Spotter only talked to two of you. He was under the impression that the rest were hostile to you... Snap."
Littlefoot refrained from smiling at Snap's sudden look of fear. It was obvious which one would go by that name. Petrie had said that Snap was certainly the runt of the group.
"Yes."
Another voice called out now. The larger of the two males.
"Yes, my sisters were with my other brother. We were not together at the time."
Littlefoot nodded coldly. "So you took command from him?"
The other male looked horrified.
"No! I mean... We..."
"You don't have a leader then?" Ruby asked from the row behind Littlefoot.
Dodger looked down. "We were mourning him as you found us."
Littlefoot took a deep breath as the sounds of Chomper's parents could be heard nearby. The ground had already began to rumble as the massive beasts approached from the other side of the stream. Soon, he realized, they would be visible to all of the dinosaurs present. With slight hesitation, he gestured for the pack to lower their spears.
"If you still are willing to honor your agreement, then we will honor ours."
Littlefoot's pack waited with the spears aimed towards the ground as the opposing pack remained unchanged. Then, in an instant, Snap dropped his spear to the ground.
"I will honor my commitment." He then kicked his spear towards Littlefoot, which caused it to roll slowly in his direction. "I entrust my life into your claws."
Dodger was the next. He threw his spear into the stream and lowered himself in a gesture of submission. Rustling followed suit by impaling her spear into the ground and lowering herself in the same gesture that Dodger was making.
Only Voda remained standing, saying nothing. This made Littlefoot uneasy as he could not decipher the emotions in her eyes. Likewise, her scents were a confusing mix of despair and confusion. When he remembered that she was the one who killed her brother, he spoke softly.
"We will not hold what you have done against you." It was only now that her siblings noticed her silence. "You have nothing to fear from us as long as you are peaceful."
Dodger's expression immediately took on grave concern. "Sis! Just lay down, okay?!"
Snap spoke next. "Voda! Please don't do anything rash!"
Voda shifted her gaze to the spear that was embedded in her brother. Littlefoot saw her gaze immediately and raised his hand for the pack to again raise their spears.
"What are you planning, Voda?"
The female did not look at Littlefoot as he spoke. "This is none of your concern!"
Littlefoot cautiously took a step forward against the hissed protest of Ruby.
"Oh, I do believe it is." He retorted. "A potential friend thinking about suicide is certainly my business."
The female took a step closer to the spear, which caused her brothers to raise themselves off of the ground and approach her. In an instant, she pulled out the spear from her brother and placed its tip next to her neck.
"Stop, or I will do it!"
Both Littlefoot and the opposing pack stopped in their tracks.
"Don't do this, sis!"
"This won't bring him back!"
"Please, sis!"
Littlefoot gulped. He felt out of place in the unfolding drama. It was as if he were transported to the scene of a tragedy that he could not stop. Nonetheless, he knew that he had to try.
"You should listen to them, Voda."
Voda shook her head. "They will be better off without a murderer as a sister."
Petrie flew right beside Littlefoot and spoke before the others could respond. "You wrong, Voda. You not deserve to die! They not deserve to lose sister!"
Voda roared in rage. "What do you know?! You don't know me!"
"Me know what it like to lose sister." Petrie replied sadly. "Me not wish that on anyone."
Littlefoot took a cautious step forward. "I know what it is like to kill your own kind." He shuddered a bit. "Both my current kind and my own kind... it is horrible, Voda. But it doesn't have to be the end."
"Listen to them, Voda!" Snap called out. "We still need you!"
"Yes, sister." Rustling sobbed. "Just drop the spear. Don't leave us all alone."
Voda's hand shook as she looked at the spear with an unreadable expression. "Dying is temporary... my crime is not."
Roar! In an instant, Chomper's parents made themselves known by tearing through the foliage on the far side of the stream. Trees toppled as the two sharpteeth entered the area in a rage-filled trance. The tension of the Time of Mating and their own annoyance had built up into an unstoppable combination. The ground shook as they approached.
"What?!" Voda looked up from the spear at the approach of the two two-footers. This was just the opening that Snap was looking for.
Slam! Both fastbiters rolled end over end as the runt hit with more force than he had ever mustered in his life. The spear rolled onto the ground after it left the hands of the would-be suicide victim. Littlefoot wasted no time in kicking the weapon into the stream.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
The fastbiter's words were muffled by the bodies of her siblings, who had piled upon her to protect her from herself. Her words were soon drowned out, however, by the sounds of her own pained sobs. The emotional dam had finally broken again. Littlefoot could only look sadly at Ruby and his other packmates as the other pack comforted the emotionally broken fastbiter.
If I had killed one of my packmates then I would have considered the same thing. Littlefoot reflected.
"We came here looking for threats, but the biggest threat was ourselves." Littlefoot looked with some surprise as Chomper broke from the pack's defensive line. "They would all be alive right now if we had stayed away."
Littlefoot grimaced. "But your mommy and daddy could have been hurt."
Chomper nodded. "Maybe... or maybe this pack would have fled."
"We will never know, because we would have to have done something different for us to know." Ruby proclaimed. "But we can save what is left of them."
"Yeah..." Cera approached as the other walked forward as well. "We helped cause this... so we should help fix this."
Nods and growled affirmations followed from the rest of the pack as the other pack continued to be joined in communal mourning. It was only after a sigh that Littlefoot nodded at the pack's consensus. They would honor their commitment to the other pack. Despite whatever questionable motivations that pack may have had, they had earned a reprieve from their hardship.
"Are these the ankle biters that you wanted to kill!?"
Littlefoot looked up at the towering sharpteeth that now stood before them. The opposing pack could only cower as both of the predators looked upon them with murderous intent.
"No." Littlefoot stated simply. "The threat has already been taken care of. We and them will leave you in peace."
Dein growled in annoyance. "We can protect ourselves, you know!"
Chomper protested. "Not from the Orange Death, daddy! We took care of that!"
Father and son stared at one another. Littlefoot could tell that the instinctual response to the pheromones of Chomper's species was having an effect on the two Tyrannosauruses. Knowing that this might not end well, he intervened.
"I guess that we fastbiters aren't very good at following instructions, huh?"
The elder male snorted. "You listen about as well as my mate." This earned him a tail slap which he recovered from after some difficulty. He did not notice that the other pack had already been attended to by Thud and his pack. Now all of the fastbiters were together. Littlefoot took this as their chance to retreat.
"Chomper? Are you alright?"
The small purple sharptooth clinched his stubby claws several times, not answering his friend. But after a few moments, he addressed his father.
"Our kind's instincts suck, dad."
This earned a chuckle from the elder male, as his demeanor noticeably improved.
"You are just now figuring that out, son? I see that you are learning to cope."
Chomper hesitated. "I... I have to be there for my friends. I nearly snapped at Seeker the last time. I have to fight it."
Terri nodded as she stepped beside her mate. "I am glad that you helped us, dear. But it is best to not tempt fate."
Chomper nodded. "I know, mommy." He proceeded to jog in the direction of the rest of the pack, as he knew better than to risk one final nuzzle with his family in this condition. "Can you and daddy do something for me once I am gone?"
Dein nuzzled his mate as he stared at the retreating back of his son. "Anything, son."
"Tell my brothers and sisters about us..." He then took on a smile despite his somber mood. "...and don't eat Petrie when he checks up on you."
Dein snorted. "I can promise you the first request."
As expected, this caused an exclaimed protest from the flyer. Both parent and child laughed, the instinctual tension being forgotten for the moment. Nonetheless, he knew that his departure would have to be hasty. Both his and his parents' moods could shift like the winds in this state. As a result, he again turned back towards his friends. It was only now that he permitted his tears to flow.
As he continued his retreat, he could hear his mother clear her throat. He paused at this and slowly turned around to face his parents once more. It was at this point that both parents gave the obligatory farewell to a departing son.
"Happy hunting, Path."
Path smiled. "Happy hunting, mommy and daddy."
Path nodded in a low bow as Littlefoot and the others gave a respectful nod, whereas the other pack seemly looked upon the scene in mute horror. Finally, however, the pack resumed their movement out of the Land of Shallow Waters and back towards the barrens.
"You know..." Dein noted. "They never told us what the threat was."
Terri looked at the fallen fastbiter and gave it a sniff, recoiling immediately as she noticed the smell of Orange Death.
"I think that the threat they removed is obvious, dear."
Dein nodded as he looked at the pack retreating in the distance. "Yeah."
When the Bright Circle finally fell and the world descended into darkness, the pack finally exited into the barrens. It was only then that the threat had left the Land of Shallow Waters.
-----
As Ruby and Littlefoot concluded their song, the echoes of the final high notes echoed across the forest. The fading refrain seemed to haunt the children as the echoes were overtaken by silence. The quiet that followed was just as foreboding as several of the children huddled together for emotional support. It took several moments for one of Ducky's children to break the silence.
"That... that is so sad." Fischer lamented. "Clawsting died and... and..."
"He died for nothing!" Sprint protested, which caused the rest of Cera's children to nod. There lamentations were joined by the affirmations of Spike and Breeze's children as well.
Littlefoot nodded at the children's lamentations. "I guess that is what makes so hard, isn't it?" He gestured towards Ducky. "Haven's aunt, your namesake Tranquil..." He looked towards the small child. "...at least was avenged when Redclaw's pack was defeated. Spotter's sister was also avenged." He gestured towards the flyer family. "...as were my grandparents. But Clawsting simply died due to a misunderstanding. He was not a bad sharptooth, though he was not a kind sharptooth. He simply meet a pointless, tragic end."
Ruby then joined in the conversation. "I think that we spoiled all of you with our song about our change and the Battle of the Valley. You were all spoiled by those." Ruby placed a hand on Littlefoot's shoulder. "Even though it hurt us to retell how we killed leaf-eaters, none of you were hurt by that. None of you have ever had leaf-eater friends..."
"Leaf-eaters are food." Spike's son Nibble affirmed.
Ruby chuckled. "Indeed they are. But when you used to be a leaf-eater, you have a different perspective. That is part of the reason we will not allow you to have leaf-eater friends. It is easier if you can do what you have to do with no regrets." Her voice became much more somber as she finished her statement. "The leaf-eaters that we killed in our first story died just as pointlessly. Life is like that sometimes."
Biter walked towards his father with a bowed head. As he laid down at Littlefoot's side Swipe followed suit, yawning quite loudly.
"That's not fair, daddy."
Littlefoot nuzzled his son. "Sometimes life isn't fair, Biter. If you want fairness then you have to fight for it." He frowned slightly. "The only reason that we are still here is that we were willing to do harder rights over easier wrongs. This is a hard lesson, but we all felt that it was time for all of you children to hear it."
Littlefoot looked up at the children, only to see that they had all congregated around their parents. Several were already closing their eyes, whereas the others were yawning. It was obvious that the time for rest had come.
"Well, I think it is time for the little biters to go to sleep." Ducky cooed. The lack of any protests from the little balls of feathers confirmed how utterly tired they were. As one of her young ones, Aqua, fell off in her attempt to climb up her back, she couldn't help but laugh and help the others up. "Up you go, children."
Littlefoot and Ruby did the same, allowing their son and daughter respectively to climb up their tails onto their backs. Then, using their hook like claws to anchor themselves to their parents, they promptly closed their eyes and hunkered down. They were asleep before either parent were able to begin the trek to their sleeping area.
"I hope that they understood the message."
Littlefoot looked over at Taunt. He was now carrying two children on his back, while Cera carried one.
"I am sure that they did. They were never leaf-eaters like us, nor a friend of us leaf-eater like you, Taunt." Littlefoot acknowledged. "That greatly changes things."
"Perhaps it is better that way." Spike spoke, himself carrying two of his youngling on his back. "I wouldn't trade my memories of being a spiketail for anything, but it would have been easier..."
All of the fastbiters nodded at that as the towering form of Chomper let out a massive yawn.
"I guess that it is time for me to rest as well." He then took on a joking expression as he leaned his large head towards the fastbiters. "And your by my sleeping spot."
Littlefoot rolled his eyes. He was quite thankful that the excitable children were too tired to pay much attention to the antics of the large sharptooth. They had already had their scares of the day.
"Yep, we are." Littlefoot affirmed with a smile as he and the others began to leave the clearing. "Have a nice night, Path! We have a hunt in the evening I do believe."
Chomper snorted as he laid down in the clearing, causing a resounding thud. "Indeed. Unless you want to be hungry. The spiketail is now only bones."
As they left Chomper's visual range, Taunt gave the sharptooth a parting shot. "Yeah, because you ate the rest of it!"
Littlefoot did not hear much of Chomper's response except for something about 'whiney ankle-biters' but he nonetheless knew that the sharptooth had taken the playful jab in stride. They were still a pack and they would again hunt and feast together with the coming of the Night Circle. Then the songs would begin again.
Curled up next to his mate, he slept peacefully that night.
-----
Biter cautiously opened his eyes.
The snoring forms of his parents were curled a short distance away, while his sister's slumbering form lay next to his.
Good. They bought it. Being careful not to wake his sister, he slowly moved away from his sleeping family. He was already late and he didn't want to keep him waiting any longer. As he moved at a steady pace in his stalking stride, he quickly moved past the loudly snoring form of Chomper and the swiftly flowing stream that provided them all with fresh water. It was here that he finally found his target.
"You're late!"
Biter smiled as the silhouette of his friend came into view. He had been hiding behind a tree on the other side of the stream, just like Biter had cautioned.
"The songs took longer than usual... but it should be safe for you to go out and feed now. Just remember what I told you." The shadow of the dinosaur became more visible, as Biter could see the form shrug.
"I know... I know... Only eat in your pack's territory so no one else gets me and don't wake them."
Biter yawned.
"I'm sorry, friend. I need to sleep. Mommy and daddy are going to train us before they hunt tomorrow..." Realizing what he had said, he quickly amended.
"Um... so I will not be able to play tonight. Just stay safe!" The dinosaur finally entered into the moonlight, which illuminated his form with a haunting glow. It was only now that the rainbowface youngling's bright colors could be seen in the reflected light. His face was surprising stern for his age, but his eyes were kindly. The leaf-eater bowed towards Biter with profound gratitude.
"Thank you, Biter. You are a great friend."
