Rick had found that the trees made rather excellent cover from the rain. Coupled with the fact that he had more time to spend with Longtail.
"So Longtail, you got any stories you'd like to share? Seeing as how we may be here a while?"
The young flyer looked up to face the Longneck and sighed. "I suppose I do...which one would you like to hear?" he asked honestly.
Rick thought for a moment knowing most of the stories Longtail had to tell would be ones he knew already, but he simply grinned and replied, "Tell me of how you met Zaine."
Longtail gave a small laugh at that statement as he said, "Sure...well, it all started a few cold times ago. I was in a bad way, I was trying to hurt my friends and I didn't care who got in my way....And I was willing to prove it as I lashed out at anyone..even my own Uncle who tried to help me. And at one point I did indeed kill another valley member, but he had it coming for a long time, trust me.
After that the valley leaders cornered me by the south wall, and just before they could begin talking or fighting, and I'm sure it would've been the latter, I managed to get away and flew as fast as I could. I then stayed at the Tree of Life for several bright circles, but just as I thought there was no hope for me, I met Zaine...and by accident no less as I was asleep in the branches of the tree and fell out. In the end, he helped save me and the rest of the valley as well. And I'll never be able to thank him enough for that."
Rick smiled and nodded his head without saying a word, and then Longtail asked a question.
"Why are you and the newcomers here anyway? Not that its bad, I'm just curious."
Rick gave a nervous grin as he replied, "Well...I think we came here because we were meant to, as if some other worldly force guided us here for something that could be dangerous like Red Claw."
Longtail couldn't argue with that statement.
"Yeah, you guys really did help out alot with Red Claw, and let's hope he doesn't come back for a long time." he said with a smile.