Part III:
Setting: At night in the mysterious beyond. Being on the outskirts of the Great Valley the land is still very much green, with the occasional tree full of tree stars and bushes of berries growing about. Dawn is beginning to break over the horizon, lighting up the sky with the brilliance of a partial sun mixed with partial night.
< the gang is on the move, but everyone is tired. Ducky has collapsed on Spikes back and is sleeping while Spike is barely keeping his eyes open. Petrie is gone, having flown ahead at Littlefoot’s insistance. Cera is tired but trying not to show it and Ruby and Chomper are both walking slowly, exhausted>
Littlefoot: <glances at the horizon> Hmm its getting pretty late… we should find someplace to rest.
Cera: <blinks a few times to phase out the sleepiness but fails> Ohh…so tired…
<the gang walks on in the night, and soon Petrie comes down and lands on Littlefoot’s back.>
Littlefoot: <turns to see him> Petrie, any luck looking for a place to stay?
Petrie: <eyes half shut> Oh me so exhausted… <yawns> It look like there is a cave ahead, but it so dark and me to scared to go any farther <shivers in fear>
Littlefoot: <groans in thought> Well I guess it will have to do… <stops and turns back to the others> This way! It’s only a bit farther!
< Upon entering the cave the group spends a little bit of time checking that the cave isn’t currently occupied before settling in. A quick sniff from Chomper confirms it’s deserted. Spike with Ducky asleep on his back finds a rock and settlings next to it before nodding off. Cera, unsatisfied with her spot, makes her own by ramming a few rocks out of the way before also laying down. Ruby, who is used to sleeping in caves, curls up on the spot with her head in her arm. Littlefoot, the last to settle, looks for a moment at Petrie who has fallen asleep on his back in amusement before going into slumber himself.>
Chomper: <still outside the cave, looking at the stars> Mommy, daddy, I know your out there somewhere… <looks at the dark outlines of cliffs in the distance and smiles> And we’re going to find you tomorrow!
<Chomper walks inside where the others are asleep. Just as he enters the cave a cold wind rushes across the plain and blows into the cave, displacing a few pebbles.>
Chomper: <shivers> Man, its so cold tonight. <looks at the others, all snoozing, and looks for someone to sleep next>
< Seeing as everyone is taken, and he doesn’t trust Cera, Chomper silently walks up to Ruby and lightly buffets her with his nose>
Ruby: <wakes up> Huh…what?
Chomper: <embarrassed> Umm… I feel kind of strange for asking this but, do you mind if I…
Ruby: <knows what hes going to say> Oh… <smiles> be my guest!
Chomper: <lays down next to her> Thanks Ruby… <yawns and then they both fall asleep>
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Setting: The deep Mysterious Beyond. The land is arid and sandy. High mesas and cliffs cover the landscape and on this a light wind is eroding them down once more. Where Littlefoot has taken the gang the ground is soft and sandy as on one side lies a cliff face and on the other lies open desert.
< On the gang walks, with Chomper and Littlefoot in front leading the way. Cera walks close behind, determined to not be seen as the weakest. Ruby and Spike/Ducky bring up the rear while Petrie flies around above>
Littlefoot: <smiling broadly as he walks behind Chomper – clearly this is his zone> Chomper, have you sniffed anything yet?
Chomper: Nothing yet … but I keep getting sand in my nose. <rubs his nose with his clawed hand>
…
Ducky: <looks at the ground> Hey! Footprints, and lots of them!
Cera: <sarcastically> Hmm well these certainly look like they belong to a pair of vicious, hungry Sharpteeth…
Ruby: <stops> But they do! Look! <points at one of them>
<the gang turns at Ducky’s find, and Littlefoot with Chomper backtrack to look at it too. We see all of the gang of seven looking down from above in wonder>
Ducky: <observantly> This one is pretty big, it is, it is!
Littlefoot: <turns to Chomper> Hey Chomper this could belong to your mommy or daddy.
Chomper: Ya! <looks unsure> But only… my mommy or daddy don’t have four toes <counts his toes> They have five!
Littlefoot: <confused> Well if they aren’t your parents, they who do they belong to?
Ruby: I’ve seen these before! <points to the lines in the dirt> See there’s a crease on the left side, and a chip in the claw…
Petrie: What that mean? <claws over his eyes in fright>
Ruby: Why… they belong to Redclaw!
<As if on queue a hoarse, throaty roar blares out through the rocks and the nearby landscape. Then the ground shakes with stomping footsteps, and Redclaw trudges out from behind a rock face with teeth bared with Screech and Thudd - his two henchmen like fast biters – stalking in front of him>
Everyone: REDCLAW!!! <they scream in fright>
Ducky: <gulps> And Screech and Thudd too!!!
Littlefoot: <yells> Quick, RUN!!!
<The gang runs as fast as they can in panic. Redclaw runs past the two lesser Sharpteeth and is soon right on their tails. He snaps first, barely missing Spike and Ducky and dredging up some unfortunate earth.>
Redclaw: <shaking his mouth clear> Rarrrr!
< Redclaw starts running, catches up, and snaps a second time barely missing Cera’s tale>
Cera: <screams> Ahhh! <turns to Littlefoot in mid-stride> Littlefoot, DO SOMETHING!!!
Littlefoot: <thinks for a moment and is about to respond before being interrupted>
Ruby: <stops on top of a large rock and then yells> OVER HERE!!! Come and get me you big bully!!!
Redclaw: <turns at the sound of a familiar voice and sniffs the air. He looks at her menacingly before licking his lips>
Ruby: <surprised her plan worked> Oh…ummm…
<Redclaw turns and proceeds to stalk towards his prey, knowing she has no escape. Screech and Thudd slow down and stop content to watch their master and hope he leaves some scraps>
Littlefoot: <stopping along with the rest of the gang> Ruby! Go up the cliff if you jump high enough he can’t get you!
Cera: <to Littlefoot> So what…he can just turn around and eat us?
Littlefoot: <in insult> Cera….
Cera: I’m just saying that’s all…
Ruby: <screams> Guys…HELP ME!!!
<Like Littlefoot said, Ruby jumped off the tall rock and hopped between a few protruding rocks, propelling herself high enough to grab a ledge with her hands. She hangs in the air, just out of Redclaw’s reach. Redclaw takes advantage of the situation and jumps, snapping at the air and narrowly missing Ruby>
Ruby: <desperately> I can’t hold ON!!!
Petrie: <in alarm> We gotta do something!
<Suddenly another deep roar echoes down the edge of the mountainous cliffs right from behind Screech and Thudd, who were still standing and drooling in anticipation. Startled and caught completely by surprise, both of them turn around to face two more massive Sharpteeth. Their teeth were bared and their expressions were full of hunger and murderous intent. Desperately, the two fast biters scrambled to avoid the new attacks and made for the desert but one of them wasn’t fast enough. Screech was caught in the jaws of the darker of the two newcomers and shaken in the air, screeching in pain like his name.>
<Redclaw, having been born and having lived as a fighter, challenged the newcomers immediately by ramming into the lighter one while the darker one was occupied with Screech and knocking it to the ground, both Sharpteeth roaring in rage.>
Chomper: <in glee> It’s my Mommy! And my Daddy!
…
Ruby: <lets go and flumps to the ground and says to herself> Wow that was close <rubs her head with her hand>
…
<The larger Sharptooth sees that Screech has stopped making a fuss and hurls him against a nearby rock. He smashes into it and doesn’t get up. Redclaw and the female continue to fight, and judging by the bruises and cuts Red Claw is winning.>
Chomper: <runs out and speaks in Sharptooth> Daddy, daddy its me!
<Chomper runs out in excitement and the larger Sharptooth snorts as he corrects his stance>
Cera: <turns to Littlefoot> Is it just me or does Chomper’s dad look different from the last time we saw him?
Littlefoot: <jaw drops in horror> That’s not Chomper’s dad…. <yells> Chomper! Chomper! Stop he’s not your daddy!!!
Chomper: <stops running> … Daddy?
<the larger Sharptooth looks down at the new prey in front of him. One of his kind he judges, but a meal is a meal. Snarling he lunges forward with his jaws. Staring down the face of death, Chomper just stands there mesmerized as if his entire world just ended>
Ruby: <dives in just in time> Gotcha!
<the large Sharptooth roars in rage at being denied his meal, but his attention is quickly diverted by a call of help from his mate, clearly things are not going well in the fight. Indeed Redclaw had beaten his adversary because she was now backing off, covered in cuts and bruises with some bleeding. Redclaw was a smart fighter and saw the blow coming from the male, ducking under and ramming upwards driving him off his feet. While the three Sharpteeth fight on the gang makes their getaway>
Littlefoot: This way! <runs up a place where the cliff is less steep> We can lose them up here! <looks down to where Ruby is picking herself up after grabbing Chomper> Ruby, Chomper come on!
Ruby: <picks herself up, and lets Chomper down>
Chomper: <dusts himself off> Ruby, you saved me!
Ruby: <looks back> We’re not out of danger yet … <glances at Littlefoot and the gang climbing up the cliff> Lets go!
Chomper: <in alarm> Right behind you, its Thudd!
<Thudd had watched the fight intently, waiting for his chance to feed. As soon as the opportunity came he made his move. By the time Chomper noticed him it was too late to run away because he had gathered so much speed>
Ruby: HIYAH!!! <kicks Thudd in the face, just as he gets within striking distance> Take that!
<Thudd flinches in surprise, while Chomper and Ruby take the opportunity to run away as fast as they can>
Chomper: <looks back while running> Wow you really got him good!
Ruby: <angrily> Well he deserved it!
Petrie: <flies in> This way quick! <points up the path> We hiding up there!
<they both run up the side of the cliff after Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, and Spike, getting away from the swirling Sharptooth melee down bellow. Thudd rubs his nose and gives them a dirty, vengeful look but does not follow>
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