Chapter: 11
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
Author's Note: Guys, if I forget to upload the next chapter, kick me or something like that
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Tyra did think he went a bit far with his accusations towards the young ones, but she remained silent. His anger needed vending and she would not turn herself into its’ target. Besides, the Longneck would make sure that his words would be softened as she translated them, no doubt. She glanced over her shoulder, looking to where Chomper was peeking out of the cave. She saw him tremble in fear and horror. ëForgive me, little one, but your father’s will is law.’ She thought, turning to her mate again.
“I ask you again, Threehorn, considering I am a monster, why do you come to me like this?” Rec demanded, studying the near-black Leaf-eater intently.
“Did you honestly belief this would work?” It seemed as if something shattered in the Threehorn. His pride had died the night they had taken Tria and now everything that had him going was destroyed too. She did not understand what he was saying, but she knew the words had to come out like the Thundering Falls.
“I have to believe this works; I have to trust Grandma’s judgment. I cannot lose my entire family.” Grandma Longneck translated.
“I came here because I need to at least keep my daughters safe if I already failed at keeping Tria safe.” Tyra looked over her shoulder again, her keen hearing detecting sounds from inside their cave. It appeared that their guest had heard that last one.
“Keep her quiet.” Tyra snarled to her son. He glanced into the cave, disappearing from view.
The others had not noticed the exchange, being too focused on following the main conversation.
“There it is again. You think me a monster.” Rec growled, his tiny hands closing and opening in his anger.
“I saved your daughters dozen times, Threehorn, either by proxy or directly. I risked my life for theirs. They are my son’s friends! Why do you think I would kill them, causing my son pain and making my own actions useless? What is it going to take to make you see the father and friend in me instead of the murdering predator?” His voice rose in volume, his last few words nearly causing rock-slides on the higher slopes.
Tyra watched him stomp the ground, cracking the upper layers of dried mud. His eyes burned with fury, muscles shifting as he struggled to keep himself from attacking.
Beside them the Longneck was tense, fearing every moment that Rec’s anger would get the best of him.
“You took my wife.” Came the answer, the familiar emotion of anger calming Mr. Threehorn some.
“I will never be able to see you as anything but a monster now.” Tyra froze, looking at her mate. His face had become unreadable. The anger and fury had faded, his eyes having become pools of stagnant blood.
“Then we have both made ourselves monsters in the other’s eyes.” Rec growled.
“But I shall not be the one to act on it. Leave, as I will do.”
“What?” The Threehorn’s lips had not moved, it had been Littlefoot who spoke.
“I see now that we are too different if even the friends of my son cannot see his family as anything but monsters. I will take my family and leave these lands.” Rec softly said.
“Chomper will have to find friends among the Sharpteeth then, since the Flatteeth have no faith in him simply because of his species.” Behind them Chomper made a pained sound, tears forming in his young eyes. As Tyra looked at him, he turned away. He knew that his mother was in agreement with his father otherwise she would have interjected on his behalf already. He wanted to stay, but if his parents told him to leave, he’d have no choice.
“You can’t take him!” The voice caused Chomper to look back up and his mother to turn to the source. “We are his friends! And if we think him a monster, then he can always explain to us why we are wrong and we’ll change if necessary!”
She had much of her father, no one would deny that, least of all she herself, but if there was one thing she had not inherited of him it was his hate for all Sharpteeth. As Cera finished screaming, there was a silence, no one even breathing. Then Grandma translated what she had said and Chomper was certain his father had never expected that.
“Despite what he did?” Rec asked.
“Despite what I did?” “Despite that.” She stated with conviction. “I know him better than to assume he’d hurt my sister without a good reason.” Chomper couldn’t help but beam at that.
“And what about me and her mother?” Rec chuckled.
“What is your opinion about that? The Longneck-family saw Tyra carry her unmoving body out.” Here Cera fell silent, but she remained glaring at him.
He snorted, turning back to their cave.
“Leave, Threehorn, and take your family with you. We shall see if the relationship between the Sharpteeth and Flatteeth can be restored somewhat after these events.” “What about…?” The old Threehorn asked.
“I. Am. Not. A. Monster.” Rec growled.
“I had never any intention of upsetting my son. And harming a Valley-resident, no matter how justified, would have done just that. Your family was never in any danger - at least from me. Now take them and get out of my territory!” Grandma was smiling softly in relief as she translated that. He had listened to her and Chomper that night after all.