CHAPTER FIVE: THE FRIENDLY SHARPTOOTH
The Tickle Fuzzies ran. The Sharptooth was right behind them. They had thought they'd lost him. But then...SMASH! The tree they'd been hiding behind had fallen. It crushed many of them. The creature's red eyes glared at them. Yet there seemed to be some regret in them. Others turned to run.
However, sharp silver claws struck them and they died on the spot. Others were sliced at by claws and back talons. The Sharptooth stood over them, feeling starved.
He could easily have gotten less of them as this took a lot of effort to get so many. The alternative would be to eat Flatteeth meat. He ate this meal though. He was unwilling that any Flattooth should die to fill his stomach. He was friends with Leaf Eaters after all. Even if...even if most despised him and shouted angrily at him and then ran from him. A few times, they'd attacked him. He was usually able to get away on those occasions, though, on one occasion, his hungry parents got the offending Leaf Eaters and ate them without mercy while he looked away.
He had a kind heart and had, on numerous occasions, protected the lives of Leaf Eaters and, sometimes, killed Sharpteeth, defending himself of course, in the process. At least, he got something to eat when that happened. However, the rescued Leaf Eaters NEVER so much as looked appreciatively in his direction when he'd done this. He'd tried talking to them, but the fact that he could talk scared them. He knew they thought him dumb and stupid.
Yet, they were wrong. He was very bright. He was one of the brightest of his kind and, indeed, smarter than a majority of Flatteeth as well. For one thing, he knew a lot of Leaf Eater weaknesses, and, though he could certainly have made friends by divulging them to other Sharpteeth his age, had kept silent. He'd been in the Great Valley for over a year and so knew the strengths and weaknesses of many different Flatteeth. Out here in the Mysterious Beyond, the herds were segregated by kind and so finding a Combined Herd was out of the question.
He also was wiser than many Sharpteeth. Though packs were separated by species type and accepted by pretty much everyone, he'd always questioned his parents about this. If there could be a Combined Herd, there could be a Combined Pack. His parents couldn't say much other than that it had always been that way. Needless to say, it wasn't good enough for him.
He'd gone through the Time of Great Growing just like any other dinosaur. However, unlike many he often used to associate with, this came with things they never had to go through. He'd had to go from insects to fish and eventually to mammals. He'd been hunting birds lately too, for his unusual diet often left him feeling hungry. His claws had sharpened and become more dangerous, though, unlike nearly every other Sharptooth his age, he'd never used them on a Flattooth and never planned to. His teeth had all fallen out and he'd gotten 13-inch long ones. Though ideal for ripping the flesh of other dinosaurs, he'd never used them for such, at least, not in many cold times, and never planned to do so again.
From being short and called "Little Biter", he was now about 16 feet tall. He'd finally come into his prime and had reached his 20th Star Day, which meant he was of age. Chomper the Tyrannosaurus Rex was the friend of a Longneck, a Threehorn, a Swimmer, a Flyer, a Spiketail, and a Fast Runner. Though he'd had other friends, though none Sharpteeth, these were his main six, though he'd never seen them in many cold times indeed He'd gone back home after leaving the Great Valley, where he'd lived with his mother and father. Today though had changed that.
Chomper had left home, having come of age. He wasn't very popular in the Sharptooth world. Ok, that was the understatement of the epoch. He was the laughingstock of the Sharptooth world. Any Sharpteeth that he had met had laughed at his refusal to hunt Flatteeth or eat them. He had eaten bugs for years. However, as he grew into his teens, he started to eat fish and mammals and even non-saurian birds. He still ate bugs with those, of course. He wasn't starving but he could be eating better, but he knew what that would entail and he wasn't willing to go through with it. After all, Littlefoot had risked his life to save him and he wasn't going to betray that by eating Flatteeth.
His hunger had made his health poorer, but he would still live, though he got sick easier than most Sharpteeth. He'd spent hours hunting Tickle Fuzzies and could catch them in his sleep now.
Magnus and Tyra had given him a tearful hug and kiss goodbye and had wished him the best of luck. His father had said that he hoped that he found a mate. Chomper had had trouble suppressing a laugh. If he could go without eating Flatteeth again, for he had, though Littlefoot could never have known and he never was going to tell him that he had in fact eaten Flatteeth meat between the time he first left the Great Valley and the time Littlefoot and his friends had met him the second time, that would be enough of a miracle without the chance of getting romance when he was viewed as a, for lack of a better word, weirdo.
His parents too had taken a lot of flak from other Sharpteeth. Chomper knew that they couldn't be with larger groups of Sharpteeth as others saw him as an oddball. He felt that maybe now, with him gone, his parents could live better without him. It wasn't a pleasant thought.
He always had been haunted by what he had almost done that fateful morning. He had been reluctant to actually hunt Flatteeth for a very long time. However, after giving into despair of never seeing his friends again and knowing what he was almost certainly likely to become when he got older, he at last relented to his parents. He had been trained to hunt Flatteeth but luckily had never encountered any that his parents hadn't gotten first. However, that morning was different. He could smell the Longneck, the Spiketail, the Threehorn, the Swimmer, and the Flyer. He had come upon them. They were asleep. He had stood there, deciding how best to attack the group of them without bringing damage to himself.
The Longneck had woken up, gotten up the others, and the Threehorn had gotten up last. They had seen his shadow and took off. He had followed. They could sure run, but he was a Sharptooth and that meant he could chase after them. Try as they might, he was right behind them. Eventually, they ran into a corner. They were trapped against a cliff wall.
Rather than turn and beg for mercy or try and make a brave last stand, they had just cowered, hunkering down, shaking in terror, with their eyes shut, awaiting their ends. It would only have been too easy to have had five Flatteeth for breakfast that morning.
However, as he had glared at them, happily, hoping to bring down the Longneck first, he suddenly recognized the markings of his friend from the Great Valley. Littlefoot had taken him in when he doubted any of the others would have, as he recalled that they had all ran from him and only Littlefoot had come back. The Longneck and his friends had taught him the Leaf Eater language. He had practiced it and studied Leaf Eaters from a distance, or, in what time they had left, when his parents had caught them and they had begged not to be eaten. His was a fast learner and had picked up a ton of things from the Leaf Eaters in the Great Valley, supplementing what he had learned since then by spying on them.
He had always wondered why the Leaf Eaters ran from him. What was it about him, he had thought, that they so disliked? He even tried to ask them, but they always ran before he had gotten close. It had made him weep and weep.
One day, he had gotten up the courage to ask his mom and dad why the Leaf Eaters hated him so. They had found this question odd but answered anyway. They said that he and they were Sharpteeth and that they ate Flatteeth and that the Flatteeth knew it, or could guess it. His parents had assumed Flatteeth to be rather stupid animals. He had told his parents that he knew that they were smart. His parents had always doubted him.
One day, they had given him Flatteeth meat. He knew what it was and long refused to eat it. He instead ate dragonflies and other bugs. However, after not being able to get enough bugs, he had one day actually taken a bite and found that he had liked it. After all, the Flatteeth were already dead, he reasoned, it wasn't hurting them anyway. He did, know, however, at that moment, that he may someday be an enemy of the Flatteeth.
He had been taught to hunt by his parents, and they had practiced on mammals, which, not being Flatteeth, he had consented to. He had finally killed one sometime before he met his friends again.
His friends, no, he hadn't killed them. It wouldn't be right. After finding that, as his friends had feared and he had been too naÔve to see, his parents would indeed eat his friends, he had hid them. Later, he had protected them from a Giganotosaurus.
Later, he recalled that, after being able to get off that island when the tide had come in low one day, he and his parents had gone to the mainland again. Things had gone well for a few cold times until Red Claw, the evil Sharptooth, had gone after him. He had challenged him and his assertion that he could just boss around the other dinosaurs of the Mysterious Beyond. Red Claw had gone after him, sending his Fast Biters after him. Screech and Thud were Red Claw's two head lieutenants.
Chomper had met Ruby the Fast Runner and her family sometime before meeting Red Claw. It was lucky Chomper found them first, as his parents tended to still have the annoying habit of viewing friends of his as dessert. Ruby was a Bothtooth and hence ate meat like himself, so she wasn't as put off about him as the Flatteeth he had encountered. After seeing that he wasn't attacking her, she had come close and even showed him to her parents. After they had initially freaked out, they too realized that he was friendly.
He had gotten his parents to swear on their honor not to eat any new friends of his. They did, so he brought Ruby and her family over. Ruby's parents had fainted, but, after finding that they weren't dead, realized that they could trust the two Sharpteeth not to eat them.
Eventually, his parents had consented to having him go with Ruby in the dead of night, telling her to look after him. Red Claw had fallen for the trick and had watched his parents for a while before figuring out that he had been had.
Red Claw had eventually tracked them down and he and Ruby had to leave her family and go to the Great Valley. Littlefoot had already mentioned him in the past so he had not too much trouble getting in, though some residents like Topps and Mama Iguanodon had mistrusted him.
After he and Littlefoot had tripped Red Claw, who fell off a cliff and surely must have died, Screech and Thud had fled. Chomper and Ruby had gone back home.
"You can stay son if you want." said Magnus in Sharptooth.
"I know Father. Yet I feel that there is something out there for me. Something special. That I have some part yet to play in the great Circle of Life. For good...or..." he shuddered, "for bad. I hope it's not the latter. I'm so different from all the other Sharpteeth. It would be so easy just to..." he said in Sharptooth. But he wouldn't think of doing it. He couldn't.
Tyra knew what her son had been referring to. The curse all Sharpteeth seemed to have: they hunted their fellow dinosaurs. But her Chomper had been special. He had taken a name given him by Flatteeth and had adopted it as his official name. The Flattooth Littlefoot had saved her boy's life. Every time she hunted a Flattooth now ever since that day, she felt pity for the poor creature. Yet, it seemed too late for her to change her ways. This was her life now. She knew Magnus felt similarly. But her boy, he'd never set his claws or teeth into a Flattooth to kill. In fact, he'd saved Flatteeth before.
"Chomper, if you are set on going on, then I wish you well in whatever you choose for your life. Choose wisely. Don't let your emotions get in the way. I want you to enjoy life, but if things don't go the way you hope, then don't up on yourself. You are special Chomper."she said in Sharptooth.
The two watched their boy leave. He seemed so innocent and kind. They wondered how long he could keep it up and what he'd do if, and, likely, when, his dreams of being a Flattooth friend were to come crashing down. ,
Chomper headed off into the moonlight. Night seemed a better time for hunting. At least, that was how he accustomed himself to. He didn't hunt Flatteeth or even, if he could help it, Sharpteeth, after all.
Chomper went near a pool of water. He got fish out of it and ate them. He'd learned to feed himself and could hunt what he wanted to hunt. He could be on his own. Anyway, he was a Sharptooth. It was the Flatteeth who had to fear being alone in the Mysterious Beyond. He caught his reflection and jumped back. It scared him.
He'd once been blue and later purple. However, now he was a dark green. Bright red eyes stared at him from the pool. He saw 13-inch long razor sharp teeth. He saw razor-sharp claws and razor-sharp foot claws. He wasn't nearly as cute as his childhood. He scared himself sometimes. He sighed. "Why couldn't I have been born a Flattooth?" he asked aloud.
As he couldn't eat green, and wouldn't eat the dinosaurs who did, that meant a lot of hunting. It had been wearying, but it was worth it to him. He went off, perhaps hoping to find a few birds to snack on.
Ruby, meanwhile, was with Ovi and Tor. "Find any great guys yet Ruby dear?" asked Ovi.
"Nope Mom. I have not found one. Found one I have not." she the Fast Runner. She'd grown up and had left home three cold times ago. The Time of Choosing should have come for her, but her personality, her carefree attitude, irked guys.
"Don't worry Ruby dear. You will." said Tor. Ruby nodded. She was feeling really lonely. She went off toward her home. She lived about a mile or two away from her family. She hugged her parents, as well as her now teenage brother and sister, goodbye. She didn't like walking in the dark, for it seemed a great way to meet unpleasant things like a Sharptooth. But what choice did she have? She was grown up after all and wanting to stay home for the night just because of a fear she might get eaten seemed kind of silly.
Chomper passed near where he had met Ruby, he saw an Oviraptor who looked vaguely familiar. She turned and ran. "Sharptooth!" she yelled. Her voice, though a bit older-sounding than when he'd last heard it, sounded an awful lot like Ruby's. He moved toward her, excited that it might be his old friend. He couldn't wait to talk to her again, for he felt lonely. He underestimated what it appeared, from Ruby's point of view, what he was planning to do to her.
Ruby was terrified. She had met Chomper here many cold times earlier. However, on this spot, a full grown Sharptooth was looking at her. She noticed his red eyes, which seemed to stare at her. She saw his huge 13-inch long teeth and razor sharp claws. She knew what Sharpteeth did to those they caught: they became their meals.
She did not want to be eaten. She had escaped Sharpteeth before and so she would do again. The green Sharptooth moved faster, chasing her.
She ran, but the Sharptooth followed. She soon found that she had wandered into a dead end. She turned around to face him, terrified. He moved forward. She was trapped. She knew that this may well be her last moment on earth. She let out a scream!
Her life flashed before her eyes. Her time with her parents, Ovi and Tor, and her siblings, who now well into the Time of Great Growing themselves. Her friend Chomper the Sharptooth. He could talk. However, Chomper had been purple and cute. This one looked a lot creepier, though, she admitted, this one still had an innocent look about him. Still, one wrong move and she would be inside a stomach.
She figured that he was waiting, perhaps this was his idea of tormenting her before he finished her. She took the opportunity to think of her Flattooth friends next: Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike. If this was truly to be her end, they would NEVER see her again, at least not in this life! And they wouldn't know what had become of her either. She began to weep. It wasn't that she feared what came after death, for she had been such a kind Fast Runner that she had no fear of that. It was what she would have had in her future that made her so sad.
She wanted to have a family. She imagined a loving tall, blue crested mate and three adorable Fast Runner children running around her and her lover. One of them, a pink one with a red crest, pulled on her and said "I love you Mommy!" "I love you too dear." said Ruby. Her mate picked up the girl and handed her to Ruby. "She's adorable, just like you dear." he said. "I love you Ruby! I'm so glad I've found you. You are dear to my heart." said her imaginary mate. "I'm glad that I've chosen you. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you." she said. The two kissed.
She imagined her children older and eventually them leaving with mates of their own, while she and her mate stood joyfully watching their union ceremonies. Her thoughts came back to the present and she sobbed uncontrollably. That was what she hoped for her future: a loving family. However, it looked like instead she'd end her days as a Sharptooth's lunch. It wasn't fair! Tears poured from her eyes. She wailed. The Chain of Life seemed about to break for her. Her future gone! The future of many Fast Runners who would have existed had she lasted longer: gone!
She had to make a try. She couldn't go without a struggle. She knew it was pointless to try and fight the Sharptooth. She decided to reason with him and try and beg for her life. She fell to her knees and began pleading. She looked Chomper right in the eye.
"Sharptooth, please! I know this might be asking much, but I want to live! Want to live I do! Please! I can get you shells and other things. Don't eat poor Ruby. I want to live and have a family! I'm begging you! Please spare my life! Please!" she begged in Sharptooth. She knew the Sharptooth language, having been around Sharpteeth and, being a Bothtooth, had had little trouble picking it up.
Chomper knew Sharptooth. It was Ruby. He came forward eagerly. She, however, still didn't recognize him.
She noticed that he wasn't backing off. She figured that meant that her life was about to end. She wondered how dying would feel. Would it hurt a lot or would it go quickly? Would the Sharptooth be at least decent enough to get it over with quickly or would he drag it out so that she suffered? The Sharptooth stared at her. His lips curled into a smile.
What does that mean? Is he going to spare me or am I about to learn firsthand what happens to creatures Sharpteeth catch? she thought. She glared at the Sharptooth with strong hatred, furious at what he was going to take from her. It wasn't just her life, it was the future of many Fast Runners! She put her hands over her head and sobbed.
She shut her eyes. She thought the Sharptooth looked underfed. Well, he had been underfed, she thought miserably. In a few moments, he'd have something in his stomach: her! "Please get it over with." she said in Sharptooth, resigned.
She wasn't going to watch teeth and/or claws coming down at her. Images of her six great friends, as she had last known them, as well as her family, flashed through her mind. If this was the end, they were going to be the last thing she thought of. They would never know what had become of her. On the other hand, perhaps this was best, as the truth would greatly sadden them.
Chomper stared at Ruby. She seemed to be expecting death. He sighed. Being a Sharptooth meant that every non-Sharptooth you met expected you to kill them he figured. The strong look of hatred she had given him shocked him. The agony in Ruby made him so sad and was at the heart of why he never hunted Flatteeth. It would hurt his conscience too much to have to do that to someone, even for food. Tears dripped from his own eyes at Ruby's desire to have a family and her fear that he was going to take that away from her.
He gently patted her on the back with one of his clawed hands. She nearly jumped out of her skin. "This is it! I'm done for!" she cried.
"Ruby, you know me. We went to the Great Valley together to hide from Red Claw, Screech, and Thud. It's Chomper, your friend." he said. Her eyes flew open and she turned and stared at him. "Chomper?" she said in shock. He nodded.
She ran up to him and hugged his leg. She admitted, he had had a growth spurt or two since they'd last met and his head was out of her reach. As he didn't attack her, she knew that he was still the same Chomper as always. "Hello my old friend, my old friend hello." she said. "I'm so glad to see you again Ruby." said Chomper.
"I'm so glad to see you too buddy. I thought you were going to eat me and that I'd never get to have a loving mate and adorable children." she said. "Nah, I've found that Fast Runners taste awful. You're fine Ruby." he said. She knew he was joking and they both burst out laughing.
"Seriously Ruby, I want you to find your heart's desire and would never take that by snacking on you. You, unlike me, at least have a chance of getting a mate at the Time of Choosing." he said.
They both had come of age. He just now at 20 and she at 22. She was still single though. He knew that he wasn't likely to find romance as a Flattooth friend. "Ruby, the Time of Choosing came for you three cold times ago. Why didn't you find the right one yet?" he asked her.
"Chomper, I often feel under-appreciated. I feel unimportant as nobody listens to what I have to say as they feel that what I have to say is unimportant." she said. "I don't believe that." said Chomper. "Thank you Chomper. However, sometimes I wish I could be in charge to be important as being in charge makes one important." said Ruby. "You already are important." said Chomper.
"Guys don't just appreciate me. Perhaps it is my carefree personality." said Ruby. "Their loss." said Chomper. "If anyone gives you trouble, I can always eat them." he said. They again burst out laughing.
"So, I've told you about me. Told you about me I have. What about you?" said Ruby. Chomper told her about his life. "Glad you haven't hunted Flatteeth. I'd have feared, but, then again, I know you. Still, you're welcome to eat shells with me too. It can help your diet" she said. "Thank you Ruby." he said.
"Do you have a girlfriend? If you have a girlfriend, I'd like to meet her, if she's safe. If she's not safe, I'm not sure I'd like to meet her as she wouldn't be safe and might eat me." said Ruby. Chomper laughed hard. "Ruby, I'm an oddball Sharptooth! No girl is going to want a guy who won't hunt Flatteeth." he said. "Don't count your eggs before they hatch Chomper. Being so sure about that is something you shouldn't do as the right one may come along soon." said Ruby. Chomper desperately hoped that she was right. "I hope you're right. I've got no Sharptooth friends." he said. "You're so lovable! So lovable you are that you must pull at someone's heart strings. Pull at someone's heart strings you shall, someday." said Ruby.
"So, how are things going on around here?" he asked here. "Chomper, there are many things going on around here. Bad things." said Ruby.
"I'd hoped that I was the worst 'bad' thing to happen around here lately." he said. She smiled weakly. "No such luck buddy. For one, Red Claw has come back." said Ruby. "Red Claw is dead!' said Chomper. He'd seen Red Claw fall.
"He's back, I'm afraid, and so are Screech and Thud. And, even worse, he's gotten more Fast Biters. He's been worse than ever around here. " said Ruby. "Well, I'm older now. Maybe I can take him." said Chomper, flexing his muscles. Ruby laughed. "Chomper, Red Claw has been around longer than you. He probably won't be that easy to beat. You got lucky last time." said Ruby.
"And Chomper, Red Claw isn't the worst of the news." said Ruby. "There have been many fatal attacks around here. None of my own kind have been hit at all. But others haven't been so lucky. Many Spiketails have died. The Leader of Tippy's herd was killed." said Ruby. "Was it Red Claw?" Chomper asked.
"We're not sure, but it doesn't appear so. The Spiketail Leader didn't appear to see it coming. He appeared comfortable with whoever he was with. He certainly wouldn't have been comfortable with Red Claw." said Ruby. "Swimmers, Threehorns, Club Tails, even Sharpteeth have been found dead. Egg Stealers too. However, there seems to be one kind that seems to be really getting it." said Ruby.
"What?" said Chomper. "Longnecks. Who is behind this seems to have it in for Longnecks or be looking for someone who is a Longneck." said Ruby.
Chomper immediately thought of Littlefoot. Luckily he was safe in the Great Valley. But what about Rhett, Shorty, Ali, and Bron? Were they in danger or were they….were they…..?
"The being is known just as the Terror of the Mysterious Beyond. Attacks are happening pretty much everywhere. Your area must be one of the few ones not to have hits. Sharpteeth aren't hit as much. As for the Terror of the Mysterious Beyond, nobody has seen the creature." said Ruby. "Any safe places out there?" Chomper asked. "Yes, the Great Valley has had no hits yet. The Great Wall appears to be working. I doubt they even know much of it is going on." said Ruby.
"How are things in the Great Valley?" Chomper asked. Ruby shook her head. "Haven't been back there yet. I could have but never got around to it." said Ruby. Chomper sighed. How he missed his friends!
"Herd separation seems to be on the rise lately. It's such a pity. We need to cooperate to fight this fiend, not stick to our own kinds so we can die alone which is what we'll do if we stick to our own kinds." said Ruby.
The two walked on. He was glad to hear that Rhett, Shorty, Ali, and Bron weren't among the dead. They walked into the middle of a desert. That's when they saw him. Red Claw!
The evil Sharptooth came toward them. "Hey, you, hand over the Fast Runner, she's mine!" said Red Claw in Sharptooth to Chomper. "No!" said Chomper. "Screech, Thud, Regulus, go teach our friends some manners!" said Red Claw to his two Utahraptor minions and a new Velociraptor minion in Sharptooth. They advanced toward Chomper and Ruby. "Run!" Chomper told her. She didn't need telling twice.
The two ran. Eventually, they were cornered. More and more Fast Biters were closing in on them. Red Claw approached, grinning.
"Before I rip you into bits, might I have the pleasure of your name?" Red Claw asked in Sharptooth. "You know me stink breath! My name is Chomper!" said Chomper in Sharptooth back. Red Claw grinned maliciously.
"Well, well. I've been waiting to meet you. I got my memory back. You and your Longneck friend will catch it! Get me the Fast Runner. I want our friend here to watch her die first before we end his miserable life!" said Red Claw in Sharptooth. "Sure thing Master." said Screech in Sharptooth.
Chomper would not let them take Ruby while he still drew breath. He bared his teeth, bracing for what surely would be some fights to the death.
"Hey you, leave him alone!" cried a voice in Sharptooth. They all turned. A blueish green female Sharptooth with hazel eyes was glaring at Red Claw and his minions. "Going to kill him over food. How barbaric!" she said in Sharptooth, shaking her head. "This doesn't concern you." said Red Claw in Sharptooth to her.
She came up to Screech, Thud, and Regulus and whapped them with her tail, sending them flying. "You!" said Red Claw angrily in Sharptooth. "I guess it concerns me now." she said back in Sharptooth. Chomper laughed.
Red Claw advanced toward her. However, Chomper used the opportunity to go on the offensive. SLASH! He used the hooked talons that were attached to his back leg to slash at Red Claw. The red Sharptooth howled in pain. "Run!" yelled Chomper in Sharptooth.
His new friend and Ruby certainly didn't need telling twice. They ran for it and were able to give Red Claw the slip. "I'll get you, and your girlfriend too!" yelled Red Claw in Sharptooth, unable to find them.
"Girlfriend?" said Ruby in shock. "Nice job. What's his problem?" said Chomper's new friend in Sharptooth. "That was Red Claw. He doesn't like me." said Chomper in Sharptooth.
"The Red Claw? The most feared of our kind, Red Claw?" she asked in Sharptooth. "Yep." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Oh my! Daddy says that I'm certain to get myself in trouble one of these days!" she said in Sharptooth. "That was awfully brave of you to help Ruby and I." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Ruby?" she asked in Sharptooth.
"She is my Fast Runner friend. We've been through a lot together and so I don't eat her." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Pleased to meet you. " said Ruby in Sharptooth.
"I'm Andromeda." said the female Tyrannosaurus in Sharptooth. Chomper's red eyes locked with Andromeda's hazel eyes. A funny feeling came over him. He'd never felt this way before. Something about her made him want to smile. He was glad that Ruby couldn't see eye level with him anymore.
"My name is Chomper." said Chomper in Sharptooth, feeling as though he'd eaten a bunch of wriggling mice, even though he knew he'd eaten only Tickle Fuzzies, who had all been dead when he'd eaten them too, for that day. "Chomper, cute name." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "Yeah, my Leaf Eater friends gave it to me." said Chomper in Sharptooth.
Andromeda snickered. "Good one Chomper." she said in Sharptooth. "He's serious you know." said Ruby in Sharptooth. "Oh very funny joke you two." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "It's no joke. Though I do have a great one about the Fast Biter, the Longneck, the Fast Runner, and the Egg Stealer." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Oh for the love of…." said Andromeda in Sharptooth, putting a claw to her head in exasperation. "Well Chomper, that went well." said Ruby.
"Yes, Andromeda, I am serious. I can speak Leaf Eater too." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "I think you are pretty Andromeda. It's best that you cannot understand me as I don't see how we could….oh who am I kidding?" said Chomper.
"I cannot understand what you said. You know Leaf Eater. Bet it makes it easy to hunt." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "It might, if I'd ever hunted a Leaf Eater." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "You haven't?" said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "Never have, never will." Chomper lied in Sharptooth. He didn't want to say in front of Ruby that he had once hunted his very good friends before recognizing them.
Chomper turned to go. "Where are you going Chomper?" said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "Isn't it obvious? I'm a freak. I'm friendly with Leaf Eaters. I'd like to thank you for helping me with Red Claw. No Sharptooth, well, except Mommy and Daddy, would ever do that for me." said Chomper in Sharptooth.
Andromeda felt sorry for her new friend. He is so sweet. He's so unlike the other guys I've met. They just want me so that they can be the pack leader. He was friends with the Fast Runner, and was going to fight Red Claw to protect her. To even think of taking on Red Claw and knowing it was Red Claw, he's got guts. Maybe he can get over this Leaf Eater thing. Andromeda thought.
"Chomper, I like you. I'd like you, and, er, Ruby, to come with me to meet my parents. I'm sure they'll like you, er, once they get to know you. You're braver than any other guy I've ever met." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. Chomper's green face turned bright red.
"You like me?" said Chomper in Sharptooth in shock. "Yes. I don't see an odd diet as a reason to turn down a fellow." Andromeda replied in Sharptooth. "Nice to have a friend." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Glad to be one to someone like you Chomper." she said in Sharptooth.
Chomper had a feeling that Andromeda might be more than friends with him someday. He smiled at her, showing his gratitude to her. She smiled back. He grinned. The move wasn't lost on Ruby, who stared up at the two. "Well Chomper, I think you have a girlfriend. A girlfriend you have Chomper." said Ruby, smiling at him. Chomper said nothing. He was definitely entering a new phase in his life.
Chomper and Andromeda came to the Valley of Sharpteeth with Ruby. The T-Rexes glared at Ruby, and Chomper and Andromeda, guessing what they might have had in mind, quickly shook their heads at them. They backed off, frowning.
"What is this place?" Chomper asked his new friend. "The Valley of Sharpteeth. " said Andromeda. "I've never lived in a Sharptooth pack before." said Chomper. "So, who is in charge here?" Chomper asked. "My father." said Andromeda. "Your father?" said Chomper.
Chomper felt uneasy. It was only a matter of time before her father found out he was a weirdo. That he was nice to Flat Teeth. He'd been mocked by other Sharpteeth before for that. He'd had to keep his frustration in check too, because, outside the Great Valley, no Flatttoth would come near him because of what he was. They never bothered to take the time to get to know him. He was fed enough, that was true, but he could easily supplement his diet with Flatteeth meat. Didn't the Flatteeth realize that he knew many of their strengths and weaknesses from his time in the Great Valley and that he was very bright? If he chose to hunt them, they would surely fall before him.
He thought about the Great Valley. It had been many cold times since he'd last been there. Would they still remember him or would they have forgotten about him? If they had forgotten him, they might see him as a fiend and not let him back in.
Andromeda took him and Ruby inside of the valley. Chomper noticed that this valley only seemed to have one entrance and it had narrow edges on either side of the main canyon entrance where one could hide without the enterer knowing they were there. There were other T-Rexes like himself here.
No, not like me. Nobody is like me. I'm one of a kind. Chomper thought.
Ruby felt nervous. She was glad Chomper and Andromeda were with her. She was certain that if she had come here without them, she would have undoubtably ended up inside the stomach of a Sharptooth.
She was glad for Chomper. She could tell, though she knew he thought she couldn't, that he was developing a crush already on Andromeda. Andromeda had saved their lives and so Ruby felt that she could, probably, trust her. She knew it hae taken her a while to trust Chomper when they had first met.
Ruby hoped that Andromeda wouldn't get hung up on Chomper's fondness for Flat Teeth. You have a keeper there Andromeda. He may have pointy and freaky long teeth, not that you'd care, but he has a great heart. He'd give his all for you if you let him. So loyal, so brave. You'd never be able to find a friend as brave as Chomper. Well, there is Littlefoot, but I don't think he's your type Andromeda. Ruby thought.
Chomper gives so much up to keep things right with his Leaf Eater friends. He could easily clobber many residents in the Great Valley and eat until he got fat. However, even now, after all of these cold times, he's still loyal. He'd be that loyal to you, if you let him into your life. If you break his heart, I swear I'll make you pay! You might eat me bit by bit afterward for it, but I swear I'll make you pay! Ruby thought.
Andromeda wasn't sure what to think of her new friend. He has a sense of humor, that was for sure. She liked that in a guy. He had courage, as he had tried to take on Red Claw and had known it was him too. Had she known that was Red Claw, she might have been too afraid to come to their rescue. Yet, his Leaf Eater friendship thing he claimed seemed so unnatural. How did he stay alive if he wasn't hunting them?
"Chomper, if you are a Leaf Eater friend, then how are you staying around? I trust you can only eat meat." Andromeda asked him. Chomper nodded. "I hunt Tickle Fuzzies and fish and birds. I also eat Stinging Buzzers. I could have more, but that would involve hunting…Flat Teeth." said Chomper.
"When is the last time that you met your Flat Teeth friends?" Andromeda asked him. "It was over 10 cold times ago." said Chomper. "Well, they might not care for you anymore. Perhaps it's time to move on with your life." Andromeda said in Sharptooth.
Chomper said nothing. It wasn't like the thought hadn't occurred to him. However, he had always viewed Leaf Eaters as being on an equal footing with Sharpteeth, and hence was very reluctant to take one of their lives. If he were truly hungry and would die without food, well, then, maybe. But, in that situation, it wouldn't be him.
"I got two Fast Biters once. I saw them after a young Swimmer. I stepped in the way of their chase. They got mad at me and told me to go get my own meal. I told them to back off. They went for me. I kicked a rock at them to protect myself. The rock loosened a bunch of other rocks and they killed the Fast Biters. I was kind of hungry so I ate the Fast Biters. The Swimmer just stared at me, shaking. I admit I should have said something to her sooner, but, well, I was hungry. Those Fast Biters were great. Anyway, I then went to tell the Swimmer that she would be all right and not to fear, but found that she had taken off." said Chomper in Shaprtooth.
Andromeda thought that Chomper was very sweet, sticking up for Leaf Eaters even when they never thanked him for it. "You don't mind that they never thank you? It's never occurred to you to eat them for their ungratefulness?" she asked in Sharptooth. "Not really." he replied in Sharptooth. "I want you to meet my Mother and Father. They'll like you. We'll just keep the Leaf Eater thing a secret." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. Chomper smiled weakly at her.
They made their way across the valley. Ruby kept close to the two as they went. She didn't want to be caught lagging too far behind or ahead of them. Other Sharpteeth stared at her and she saw, with some fright, that some of them were licking their lips and looking in her direction. She shook her head at them. They just smirked at her.
They eventually reached two Sharpteeth who seemed to be important, as others were showing deference to them. One of them, the male, turned to Andromeda and said "Who's your new friend Andromeda? I see that he's a boy. That is good. You know I've looked for a mate for you for a long while. But you are so picky!" he said in Sharptooth. "His name is Chomper. He is very brave. He took on Red Claw." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "Red Claw? He's back, isn't he? I'd thought he was dead!" said the male in Sharptooth. "So did I." said Chomper in Sharptooth.
"Ah, so you've had the misfortune of meeting Red Claw before too, eh, Chomper?" said the male in Sharptooth. "Yes, I did. He's been after me for many cold times." said Chomper in Sharptooth. "Yes, he and his brother once lived here. But they wanted to control the pack themselves. I said no so they tried to kill me. I got this scar here." he said in Sharptooth, pointing at a nasty gash on his side, "from fighting them. He and his green brother. We chased them out eventually. Lost a few of our guys, so strong were they. Red Claw got the worst of it, including getting his claw injured. That's how he got the name so. His brother was said to have died in the Great Earthshake." said the male Sharptooth.
"So, you're Andromeda's father." said Chomper nervously in Sharptooth. "Yes. She can be really sweet, once you get to know her. Don't let her stubbornness fool you." he said in Sharptooth. "She helped me with me Red Claw." said Chomper in Sharptooth.
"You catch her a Fast Runner?" asked Andromeda's mother in Sharptooth. "No Mom, this is Ruby, a friend of his." said Andromeda in Sharptooth. "Looks like a normal tasty Fast Runner to me." said Andromeda's mother in Sharptooth. Ruby's eyes widened.
"Tell her not to eat me. Tell her that I taste bad. Please." begged Ruby to Andromeda in Sharptooth.
"She gets bad gas a lot. You wouldn't want to eat her." Andromeda said to her mother in Sharptooth.
"Andromeda dear, I've eaten creatures that gave me bad gas before. I don't care if they have bad gas." said her mother in Sharptooth.
"Please don't. It will make Chomper most unhappy. They've been friends for so long." pleased Andromeda in Sharptooth.
Chomper smiled. His new friend was sticking up for Ruby. He hoped he'd get the opportunity to get to know Andromeda better. The idea of the Time of Choosing came to mind. Was it so impossible that he couldn't have true love? He was of age now.
"All right fine. I'll spare her. It's not like she's a Longneck." said Andromeda's father in Sharptooth. Chomper gulped nervously.
"Yes, we hate Longnecks. They drove us out of our homes. Killed many of us." said Andromeda's mother to Chomper in Sharptooth. Chomper gasped.
"Would Longnecks do such a terrible thing?" said Chomper to her in Sharptoooth in shock.
"Dear, Flatteeth can do awful things too. Don't be so naive." she replied back to him in Sharptooth.
"So, Chomper, let me show you around. My name is Antiochles and my wife's name is Ursa." said Andromeda's father in Sharptooth.
Chomper yawned. He felt so tired now, for he had been up in the day too. However, he needed to be sure of one last thing before going to bed. "I'd like to rest here if that's ok with you." said Chomper in Sharptooth. Andromeda's parents nodded. "However, well, my friend Ruby is no doubt worried that if I got to sleep, she'll wake up in someone's stomach." said Chomper in Sharptooth. Antiochles nodded.
"Everyone here. This Fast Runner is not to be eaten. Understood?" he said in Sharptooth. The others nodded. Chomper lay down. Ruby lay next to him. Much to his surprise, Andromeda lay near them too.
Andromeda's parents stared at each other. Their daughter had never been this comfortable around a boy before. It seemed that she was entering a new phase in her life too.
