Chapter: 9
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
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Bron’s herd left the valley again, but without their leader. He and Shorty would stay with Littlefoot in the Great Valley. Life was slowly returning to normal and while Littlefoot still missed his grandmother terribly, he finally found joy in life again, much to the relief of his remaining family. Grandpa finally could sleep through the nights, though a permanent air of sadness seemed to have settled around him.
Outside of the Valley Red Claw began to encroach on the borders of what had once been his territory, but the two adults kept countering his every move. More than once their roars would be carried into the valley by the wind, making the dinosaurs there shiver in fear.
“Chomper ran off!” Ruby exclaimed one day as she joined their friends. “I can’t find him anywhere!”
The others helped her look, but she had been right: the young Sharptooth was not to be found. He had walked off into the Mysterious Beyond for some reason. Normally Littlefoot would have followed him immediately, but after what happened to his grandmother he was more reluctant than ever to risk someone.
Chomper meanwhile had indeed traveled out into the Mysterious Beyond. After hearing several roars he had decided that it simply couldn’t be coincidence that he thought each time it were his parents that challenged Red Claw and so he snuck through the desolate landscape to check.
His fine nose was leading him closer and closer to the place Grandma Longneck had died, but he ignored that. Or he tried too. As he came past the ravine, he froze, looking out over the small area. Several skeletons still rested on the ground, but their bones were too small to come from an adult Longneck. He steeled his nerves and walked past them, concentrating only on the scent-trail.
The trail led him away from the ravine and the Valley, deeper into the Mysterious Beyond.
Soon he heard voices, so he slowed down, sneaking closer. The voices stopped abruptly and he heard something big sniffing the air.
“Chomper?” His father was surprised when he recognized the smell of the one sneaking up on them. “Is that you?”
Chomper peeked around the boulder he was hiding behind, looking at the dark-green Sharptooth. Behind him was a younger female, shaded a very pale-green, looking at his father questioningly.
“Dad?” The young Sharptooth crept forward, revealing himself. Both stared at one another for a while until the older male chuckled.
“You have grown, son.” Rec approached his son. “I take it life in the Valley has not been too bad?”
“I missed you.” Chomper stated, briefly hugging his father’s foot. “But life in the Valley is not well.”
“Because of the Longneck?” The female asked, cautiously stepping forward.
“Chomper, this is your older sister White Star. We never got around to introducing her.” Rec told him at his questioning glance.
“Oh…” Chomper whispered. “Well… Yes. Do you know what happened to her?”
The look that passed between the two was all the information he needed: they HAD carried her off.
“How could you?” He exploded. “You knew who she was and you still ate her!”
“Chomper...” His father reached out, only to back off when the small jaws snapped at his hand.
“How can I face Littlefoot knowing YOU ate her?” Chomper screamed, turning to run off.
“Chomper!” His father’s voice echoed after him, but the young Sharptooth only wanted to get away. How could he ever face Littlefoot after this? Or his other friends? Or Grandpa Longneck? How could his parents have done that to him? They KNEW who the old Longneck was.
Suddenly someone snatched him up and no matter how much he struggled, wouldn’t put him down. “Let me go!”
“And have you run into Red Claw or something like that? No way, brother.” White Star held him tightly. “I’d be a poor older sister if I did that.”
“You already are! You ate my best friend’s grandmother!” Chomper reached down, biting her fingers. She cried out in pain, dropping him to the ground. He did not look back to see how much damage he might have done, he only ran off again.
The ground thundered when his older sister took up the chase again, her longer legs allowing her to catch up with him soon.
“Brother.” She did not pick him up again, but she did block his path with her own body. “Please, give me a chance to explain.”
“No!” He managed to duck between her legs and this time she didn’t follow him.
“The Longneck lives!” Those three words made him stumble and he looked over his shoulder at her in shock. She did not move and her voice was soft. “We saved her, not ate her. Come with me, brother, and I’ll show you.”
He hesitated, before walking back to her. “Really?” He looked up at his sister with poorly concealed hope in his eyes. She nodded and turned to walk away, expecting him to follow her. He did.
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Grandma Longneck was dozing in the cave, with one ear listening if the Sharpteeth were returning. Soon enough she heard footsteps, but there were smaller ones that did not fit any of the Sharpteeth she shared the cave with.
“Don’t worry, it’s me.” It was the voice of the younger female; White Star. The Sharptooth ducked inside the cave, closely followed by a smaller, grey one. Grandma immediately recognized him.
“Chomper?” She asked, surprised at his presence. He didn’t answer, only staring at her in shock.