"A nice chapter you made here. Nice work."
Thank you for your kind statement. I do appreciate it.
Side Story: The Origin of Dusk’s Group
In which it is learned how Dusk came to meet his companions.
“Wake up, sleepyhead,” a female Sharptooth said, gently shoving the one sleeping beside her.
“Ugh. Not now,” he replied, turning over onto his side.
The female grinned. She wasn’t giving up that easily. She bent over him, hands extended, and started tickling his belly.
“Ha ha ha! Fine, you win.” He sat up and stretched, yawning loudly.
She suddenly hugged him tight, starting to tear.
“Hey now, what’s this about?”
“I’m sorry, it’s just, I’m so happy you’re alive again. When I found you dead, I just wanted to fall over and die myself.”
“Really, Menta, you cling to me too much. When I die, if it happens before you, I want you to find the strength inside to press on for the both of us. Dying as well wouldn’t be doing either of us any favors.”
“Dusk, my brother, we’re all that’s left of our herd. If I lose you, then I’ll be alone with no reason left to carry on.”
“Come on. You’re a pretty Sharptooth. I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard for you to find a nice, strong male to start a family with. Now enough talk of this. I’m going to get us some breakfast.” With that, Dusk arose and walked off into the distance.
“That sister of mine… When will she realize that life doesn’t revolve around me? Hm, what’s this?” he asked to himself as he saw a Flying Sharptooth nestled in a tall tree. He snuck up quietly, making no noise, then snatched him right out of it.
“Ack!” he screamed, flapping hard trying to get away.
“It’s no use,” Dusk said aloud.
“Please, don’t eat me! I’ll do anything!” he screamed.
“That’s odd. I’ve never met a Flying Sharptooth that could speak for a land walking one to understand. They usually just know squawks.”
“I’ve been around and picked up on your dialect,” he replied. “Now please, find someone else to devour.”
“Do you have a wife and/or kids?” Dusk questioned.
“Much as that information may save me, no, I am alone.”
“Impressive. You’re an honest one. Even knowing I might let you go if you have family, you made it clear that you did not. I wouldn’t think of harming such a noble creature. I’ll be on my way now.”
“Wait!” the Flying Sharptooth called.
“Mm?”
“I must repay you for sparing me. Let me come with you, and Iëll help until you feel weëre even. I have nothing else to do anyway.”
“What could you possibly do for me?” Dusk wanted to know.
“I can scout out prey over a great distance and report back to you. That would greatly reduce hunting time.”
“Very well. I will accept your service to me. Now if you don’t mind, you can start right away.”
“As you wish,” the Flying Sharptooth replied. Before he took off though, he added, “I’m called Ceit.”
“Dusk.”
With that, Ceit flew off. In a matter of minutes, he returned with news.
“Two adult Swimmers are grazing nearby.”
“Good work. Lead the way.”
It wasn’t long before Menta heard footsteps in the distance. Dusk was back and carrying two small dinosaurs, a Flying Sharptooth accompanying him.
“Made a new friend, did you?” she asked him.
“I suppose, yeah. Here, you can take this and I’ll split this other one with Ceit.”
“No, Dusk. You’re bigger than me. You need a whole one more than I do.”
“If I may interrupt,” Ceit cut in. “I’ll hunt for my own meal. You two enjoy these.”
“If you insist,” Dusk said.
“I do,” he replied.
After Ceit had left, Dusk explained what had happened.
“How long do you plan on keeping him around?”
“Eh, whenever I get tired of him. Endearment is not something to give up lightly. Anyway, I think I’m going to go for a walk.”
“Mind if I join you?” Menta inquired.
“Not at all. Nothing really for you to do around here.” With that, the two adult Sharpteeth took off for a relaxing stroll. Little did they know, however, that their walk would be anything but relaxing…
********************
“I hate being an only child. I hate it! Why won’t you give me a brother or sister!? I’ve been asking for months! You’re the worst parents ever!” a child shouted.
“I’m sorry, son. It’s just- complicated,” his father replied.
“Tell me why or I’ll keep shouting!”
Both of his parents sighed.
“It’s not easy raising a son that’s so disagreeable,” his mother told him.
“We have our hands full with you, and besides that, with the way you treat everyone, we don’t think it would be a very happy environment for a new child,” his father added.
“Grrr, I hate you all!” That said, the child stormed off in a huff as his parents sadly watched him go. His mother started to follow, but his father stepped in front.
“He’s too angry to listen to reason. Let’s just let him cool off.”
“Alright.”
“How dare they not give me a sibling! They don’t deserve to be parents!” The child was kicking a rock as he stomped along. Each time, he kicked it harder and harder. Finally, he kicked it so hard that it went soaring threw the air. As he saw where it would land, he tensed up. The rock hit a grown Fast Biter squarely in the head.
“What the- Why you little-” he snarled, having seen the boy.
“Uh, I’m really sorry.”
“You’ll be even more sorry when you wind up in my belly!” he growled, starting to chase him. Agu ran as fast as he could go, but the Fast Biter caught up quickly. The child turned at a clump of trees and looked back to see the angry adult nearly upon him. However, since he wasn’t looking where he was going, he ran into something- someone, to be precise. He fell onto his back from the impact and looked up to see two grown Sharpteeth gazing down at him.
“Don’t let him eat me!” he exclaimed, hiding behind Dusk’s foot.
“Give the little brat to me, strangers. He’s my prey, not yours,” the Fast Biter declared.
“Aw, Dusk, we can’t let him eat this cute little boy,” Menta whispered.
Agu heard her and smiled innocently at them.
“Very well. Leave the boy alone, Fast Biter,” Dusk told him.
“How dare you steal my lunch!” the boy’s pursuer yelled. But knowing he could not overpower two full-grown Sharpeeth, he went on his way.
“Thanks, guys,” the boy said appreciatively.
“Our pleasure, dear,” Menta replied with a smile.
“Where are your parents, son?” Dusk questioned. “We’ll take you back safely to them.”
“My parents? Uh, right. Well, you see, they’re- dead! Yeah, that’s it! They were killed in that big earthshake that happened not long ago. I don’t have a family anymore.”
“Oh, Dusk, we have to take him in! We can’t let such a young boy face the world alone.”
“Sister, be reasonable. We’ve never parented before.”
“No one is prepared to parent before they try,” Menta argued.
Dusk let out a heavy sigh. Ceit had just been added to the scene, now his sister wanted another addition.
“I suppose we can look after him for a while.”
“Alright! Thanks!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dusk replied. “So what’s your name, kid?”
“Agu.”
“Dusk, and this is Menta. Anyway, let’s head for home. I’ve walked enough for now.”
The three Sharpteeth turned and began to return to the mountain that Dusk and Menta lived on.
“So, are you two mates?” Agu asked them.
“If we weren’t siblings, we probably would have ended up getting hitched,” Menta said with a laugh. “We’re very close.”
“I see,” Agu replied. “Whoa, look at that! There’s a big fight over there!”
However, Dusk and Menta had already noticed it. A single, female, adult Sharptooth was fighting against two Three Horns. Her mate was already dead, killed by the sharp horns.
“Dusk, we have to help her!” Menta exclaimed.
“On it!” Dusk replied. They started to run over, but they were too late. The two leaf-eaters had her corned, and the male finally gouged his horns into her chest, killing her as well.
“Mommy!” a little girl screamed.
The Three Horns were about to kill the child too, but Dusk and Menta overpowered them, killing them quickly. Menta stooped over and picked up the sobbing child.
“Mommy… Sniff hic!”
“Oh, Dusk…” Menta trailed off.
“No, no, no! Ceit has moved in with us, and now we have little Agu as well. We aren’t switching from two to five in one day.” Then Dusk took a good look at the little Sharptooth in his sister’s arms. She gazed up at him with a the most pitiful look he’d ever seen.
“Ugh! Fine.”
Menta hugged her brother right away then set the girl down.
“Don’t worry, dear. We’ll take care of you. What’s your name?” she asked her.
“Sniff it’s Coaley.”
“Well, Coaley, I’m Menta, this is my brother Dusk, and the little one here is Agu.”
“Thank you so much,” she replied, hugging Menta tight.
The group arrived back on the mountain and were greeted by Ceit.
“Who’s that guy?” Agu asked.
“Ceit, a friend,” Dusk answered.
“Have an interesting walk?” Ceit marveled.
Menta giggled. “You could say that.”
Dusk plopped onto the ground. “I’m so tired of my kind being killed off just because our diet is meat. If everyone could live off of plants, there wouldn’t be so much trouble in the world.”
Menta rested a hand on his shoulder. “That’s a nice thought, brother, but it’s only something that could happen in dreams. Best not trouble your thoughts with things that could never be.”
Dusk sighed. “You are right.” Then he suddenly put a hand on his head.
“Dusk, are you alri-” but Menta immediately felt odd as well. Ceit, Agu, and Coaley felt unusual too, and Agu groaned loudly.
Suddenly, Dusk, Menta, and Ceit shrank exponentially. Dusk and Menta were barely bigger than Agu, and Ceit was small enough to perch on one of their shoulders. Everyone let out a cry of surprise. Next, everyone’s coloration changed. Dusk was the first one to speak.
“This- power. I don’t understand it, but, I feel great!” He turned to a small ledge overlooking a cliff. He gazed down at the shadow it left and shouted, “Shadow Pull!” The ledge quickly gave away and plummeted down to the ground.
“I feel power too,” Menta added. “Do you think it is what shrunk us?”
“Has to be. We suddenly became like kids again as soon as we got this power. I wonder, is this a dream?”
Menta came over and pinched him.
“Ow! Couldn’t you have pinched yourself?” Dusk asked. Menta only giggled.
“This is so awesome!” Agu exclaimed. “Copy!” Out of nowhere, two more Agus came into view.
“What can the rest of you do?” Dusk asked.
“I can move things with my mind, hear thoughts, and scan for knowledge in other dinosaurs,” Menta said.
“I can create things that aren’t real that can act on their own, alter how things seem, and change someoneës memories,” Ceit added.
“I can move things anywhere I’ve already been,” Coaley concluded.
“Greetings,” a voice suddenly rang out. Everyone turned to see a Rainbow Face. “You all must be a little confused right now. Allow me to explain.”
“Hey, you’re a leaf-eating dinosaur!” Agu pointed out. “How come we can understand you?”
“You’ve all been given a gift. Part of that gift is universal speech. In other words, you can understand any form of communication. But that’s not what’s important. You now all have abilities thanks to the Stone of Cold Fire. Itës power has finally spread enough to reach this spot.”
“How can a stone that is cold be on fire?” Menta questioned.
“It isn’t really a cold, burning stone. It’s a symbolic title. For something to be cold and on fire at the same time means that it must defy nature. The stone defies the boundaries of all that is natural by giving dinosaurs special abilities- magic. Of course, there are a few side effects in most kinds if dinosaurs, as you can see from the new sizes and colors.”
“Fascinating. Is there anything else we need to know?” Dusk inquired.
“I’ve told you all that you need to know about the stone. What I will add is, I could use your help finding it. It was recently hidden somewhere on this mountain.”
“It’s hidden on this mountain?” Dusk asked. “I’m sure there’s some long story involved, but we’re not interested. I’ve had a very busy day, and I’m not up to go searching for some rock. Maybe some other time.” Dusk turned to Menta and thought to himself, “You said you can hear thoughts, right? Blink if you heard that.” Menta blinked. “Good. Now, he seems to be withholding information about this stone. Scan his mind for what he’s not telling us, then tell me in my head.”
“Okay,” he heard in his thoughts.
She then did so, and Dusk’s eyes widened.
“Very well,” the Rainbow Face replied in a disappointed tone. “Do you have a psychic in your group?”
“I am,” Menta replied. “Why do you ask?”
Dusk mentally sighed. He didn’t want this guy knowing what all they could do.
“Excellent. Well, if you ever come across an unusual stone, just contact me telepathically. Well, good-bye for now. Transport!” And with that, he was gone.
“So now what do we do?” Agu asked.
“Well, I-” but Dusk was interrupted by thundering footsteps down below. A large herd of Long Necks was passing by. They came to a stopping point near a clump of trees and started to eat. Two small children came into view and started running away from the others.
“What should we play this time?” the girl asked.
“Rescue,” the boy answered.
“Again? Can’t we play something else? You always say that.”
“”It’s decided then. I’ll run a little bit away then you scream for help. Then I’ll come and pretend to fight off Sharpteeth.” With that, the boy ran back into the herd and waited for a bit. The girl, being so fed up with rescue, started to walk off.
“I’m curious about that memory changing ability of yours, Ceit. Despite what I told that Rainbow Face, I do hope to find this stone, and we could use as much help as we can get. Ceit, do you think you could alter that little Long Neck’s memories to think we raised her from a hatchling?”
“As you wish,” Ceit replied, flying off. He flew to a moderate distance over her head, then closed his eyes and concentrated. Finally, he opened his eyes and landed right before her.
“Hey, Ceit,” the Long Neck greeted him. “Where are the others? Sorry about wandering off like this.”
“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “Dusk and the others are this way.” Ceit then lead her back to the other Sharpteeth.
“Ceit, may I speak to you in private please?” Dusk requested.
“Of course.” Then the two of them walked a small distance away.
“Even with our powers, I don’t want to risk that herd worrying about their lost one and coming to find her. That many Long Necks are a serious threat even with our powers, especially now that I’m so small. You also mentioned being able to make things that aren’t real. When you were in her head altering her memories, were you able to see her old ones?”
“Yes.”
“Then, would you be able to make a fake version of her that would act normal enough to stay with that herd?”
“Not a problem.” Ceit took off and flew near the Long Necks. Again, he closed his eyes and focused. A dinosaur suddenly appeared on the ground looking just like the girl. Ceit then hastily flew away and watched what she did.
“Where’d you go?” the boy from before called.
“Sorry, Rhett! I just walked a little bit too far. We can keep playing now. Ah, I’m being attacked by Sharpteeth! Save me!” she acted.
Rhett rushed over and started whipping his tail into the air as if he was fighting. Ceit grinned then returned to his friends.
Dusk looked down from above and thought to himself, “Eh, her color is slightly different, but maybe no one will notice.”
“Mission accomplished, Dusk. Her name is Ali, by the way,” Ceit whispered.
“Excellent job, Ceit. Attention, everyone,” Dusk continued. “There is a special stone somewhere on this mountain. I want us all to spread out and start looking for it.”
“What does it look like?” Agu asked.
“No idea. Just look for a rock that’s unusual.” As everyone started to scatter, Menta approached Dusk.
“There is another interesting thing I found in his mind as well. There seems to be some prophecy that someone from this world will try making a wish that will cause trouble, and it would take the combined efforts of seven diverse kids to stop the wish from happening.”
“What do you mean, ëSomeone of this world’?” Dusk inquired.
“Oh, right. It turns out that that Rainbow Face comes from another world.”
“Fascinating. You did very well, Menta. And by the way, I would appreciate it if you didn’t read my mind again without permission.”
“Thank you, and I promise that I won’t. Well, I’ll start looking for this stone now too.”
The six dinosaurs searched for hours but had no luck. Everyone finally met back up, and Dusk had more to say to them.
“I want all of us occasionally looking for a group of seven kids, each different and living in one place.”
Menta raised a brow, but knew that he would explain when he was ready.
“I don’t see how my wish would cause any trouble, but there’s no harm in being careful,” Dusk thought to himself.
Days passed as the group switched off between looking for the stone and looking for those kids. They had no luck with either search. Finally, a familiar face approached Dusk.
“Hello,” Rey said to him, who was alone.
“We meet again.”
“I noticed that you’ve been scouring this mountain. I presume you’re trying to find the stone now?”
“I don’t see how my activities are any of your business.”
Rey chuckled. “Then you must be. If you weren’t, you’d’ve surely just said no.”
“Perhaps.”
“Listen, friend, I don’t want any trouble with you. But that stone is property of my kind, and I will see to it that it comes back into our possession.”
“I don’t recall any forming of a friendship between us. And surely you’ve heard the saying, ëfinders keepers’?”
Rey let loose an abrupt chuckling. “So that’s how it’s going to be, eh?”
“In any case,” Dusk said, changing the subject, “what do you think about this world being free of meat-eaters?”
“That would be catastrophic. Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Now if you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
Dusk met with Rey and eventually Reina as well on numerous occasions after that, each time growing more and more hostile towards each other. One night, as everyone was gathered around, Dusk had something to say to his companions.
“I have a plan to make this world a better place. For now, I only ask that you trust me and follow my orders.”
“I’m with you, Dusk,” Menta replied.
“I’ll follow you anywhere,” Ceit added.
“I’m with ya too, Dusky,” Coaley chimed it.
“Dusky, huh?” Duck thought, not amused with that nickname.
“I remain loyal to you, Dusk,” Ali told him.
“I guess, whatever,” Agu concluded. Menta gave him a light but abrupt smack on the head.
“Show some respect,“ she ordered, and Agu grimaced. Turning to Dusk, she continued, “You make a fine leader. Therefore, I believe that you deserve a title worthy of your position. I will help you achieve any goal you set out to accomplish, my lord.”
“Lord, eh? I like the sound of that.”
