Author's notes: Soz for the long wait guys. This chapter took a long time to complete. I should manage a new chapter now within a month, which will be the same for all the remaining chapters I still need to write. If I get two done within a month, they'll both be uploaded. Again, my apologies.

The Fearless Children

"Where exactly did the other two go?" Chomper replied at the entrance to the canyon as the male Fast Runner carelessly crawls farther towards him. "I only remember seeing one." He looks down at the Fast Runner crawling underneath him, hearing him heavily breathing at every movement.

"Ahead… as fast as… Sky, Fire. Before I… even… got here." The Fast Runner breathlessly answered.

"And you are sure they ran into The Great Valley?"

"Calling… mama and… running off."

"Is Ruby, your mate?"

"Yes." He rises up finally able to speak without gasping for air. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason, other than being a friend. My name is Chomper."

"Yes. I believe she has mentioned you countless times." He replied as if he did not see a Sharptooth, or even slightly bothered that a Sharptooth can speak.

"Are you not, afraid of me?" The Fast Runner looks up to him, unfazed entirely.

"Do I need to be?" Chomper is speechless unable to answer the Fast Runner's question.

"Clara!" There is a pause. "Clara!" Cera calls again, hoping the little one hears her. She is searching around the trees near the grove where she thinks Clara may have gone to. Upon exiting the Hidden Canyon Cera came up with the idea to split up in three different directions in order to find each runaway child in a quicker time, so Littlefoot chose to search around the nearby hills whereby Ducky chose the adults' meeting point found just at the main entrance to their home. "Did she even come this way?"

"Mama, mama!"

"Huh?" Cera sees a glimpse of the child run by a tree in the opposite direction to where she was heading. "Hey wait! Clara!" She chases after the juvenile who looks in her direction before laughing as if they were playing a game of chase.

"Fun to run!" The child laughs again before running through the tall grasses.

"No! Not there! Stop!" Cera charges after the child, knowing something could be lurking in those tall grasses. "Come back! Danger might be in there!"

Littlefoot is watching exactly where he is putting his huge feet, carefully treading in all these awkward ways when dinosaurs much smaller than he casually walk underneath him. He hopes to search for this child, but how can he look for two different things at once? He may tread on the child, or even the small critters or nuisances. Not a pretty sight or feeling for that matter.

"Gees. Why do they never look up?" He goes to make another step towards the hills, but then he notices a glimpse of a Fast Runner speed off exactly where he was going to step.

"Mother!"

"What?! Seamus!" Quickly he moves his foot elsewhere, stomping right on a Prickly Green. "OW!" He rapidly steps off, checking for any injury and losing sight of the child in the process who complacently laughs as he disappears. "Grr! Watch where you're going boy!" He rushes off towards the sound of laughter, hoping it is from the juvenile. The next thing he sees when he walks up towards the ascent is the same child just about to jump off from the top of the hill.

"Not too far! Ready!" He backs up a little to add speed on his jump.

"NO! Do not jump! It is dangerous!"

"CHARGE!" The child refused to listen and runs before jumping over to the tree where he set his goal.

"Guh! What in..!" He rushes towards the tree, but already the child reaches the ground and runs on. "Please Seamus! Wait!" Littlefoot heads on after the child hoping he does not make any more daredevil acts.

Ducky and Spike have now reached the adult's meeting place, assuring themselves that the child is supposedly nearby. They start looking around the immediate vicinity for any places where a child might hide, hoping luck is on their side. Turning up at a large pond, they both see a juvenile ogling over the stepping stones. Both Ducky and Spike know this watering hole is too deep for a kid to swim in, especially a Fast Runner.

"Oh dear. Leon! Please, do not do what I think you are going to do!" She quickly heads towards him, ready to catch him in case he jumps. He seems ready to pounce, moving his hinds side to side as he watches the huge herbivore nearing him. When she finally crouches down to try and grab him he quickly jumps out of the way thinking this herbivore will fall suddenly, which she accidentally does due to a stray rock that moves underfoot. "Aah!" She makes a huge splash when she hits the water, and Spike silently laughs at her trip.

"Uh, oh!" The child continues to run as the wave of water engulfs Spike, hoping to find his mother. "Mum! Mum!"

Ducky quickly looks up to the running juvenile. "Spike! Catch that child!" Spike runs on after Leon as Ducky quickly catches up.

"Why are you chasing Leon?! Leon does not want to play this game." He suddenly stops causing Spike to slide into a halt within seconds. Luckily Leon ducks underneath him, but watches Spike crash against the tree. As Spike tries to recover from the collision, a large fruit falls onto his head and splits engulfing his face with its juices.

"We are trying to return you to your mum!" Ducky replied as she slides to a stop. "Your dad is not happy because you ran off."

"Leon can find mum on his own. Leon does not need help." He quickly runs off again knowing exactly where his mum will be.

"But, Leon! This place can be dangerous!" Ducky called after the child.

"Leon is sensible! Leon knows to avoid danger!" Ducky and Spike both follow him just to be sure he knows how to avoid the dangers. They just hope Cera and Littlefoot have had better luck than them.

Cera is now literally searching for Clara with her head down in the tall grass, hoping her head will part them for a clearer view. Despite thinking that there may have been a predator lurking in the grass, she has not found any threat since being in there.

"Clara! Clara!" Where the damn is she? She thought, not knowing what may be hiding anywhere ahead of her sightline. "Ow!" She had suddenly nudged a hidden rock with the side of her head when she turned.

"Ha, ha! Silly Threehorn! Silly Threehorn!" She then runs out from the tall grass, disappearing from Cera's viewpoint yet again as she proceeds to loudly growl with annoyance seeing just a glance of Clara up ahead.

"Clara! Stop running off!" She then loses sight of her once more, and suddenly acts worried unsure where Ruby is right now. Where would Ruby go if she has not found us? I'm worried I'll keep losing Clara if I follow her like this. If she knows her old friend, there is a certain location in the valley she would actually stay and wait for them. I just need to remember where it is she would go. She agrees to find Littlefoot in her thoughts, hoping he has some idea and had better luck in finding one of the other children.

Littlefoot rapidly heads on after Seamus the moment he sees him reappear, intent on catching him so he cannot run away again. He follows him close behind as quick as he could, pass the tall hills that surround Lookout Mountain as he and his friends called it when they were young. Seamus looks behind himself, unamused by the fact that this Longneck is still following him.

"Stop chasing me Longneck! You are in the way!"

"I am not chasing you! I'm trying to make sure you reach your mother unharmed!"

"I'll find mother on my own! Stay away!" He quickly runs to the right, making Littlefoot slide to a stop and sharply turn.

"I will keep this up, no matter how hard you make it for me! Only once you reach your mother, will I then stop this!"

"Good luck catching me then! Ha, ha!" He comes to the sinking sand and gets ready to jump across.

"Oh no! Don't you dare do that?! She'll never forgive me!"

"Try and stop me!" Seamus backs up, before carelessly jumping from rock to rock without stopping. Before Littlefoot could even think what to do, Seamus disappears behind the Sheltering Grass. How does Ruby even handle him like this? Never have I seen a child so daring in this place, especially one who does not even know of his surroundings. He thought, now trying to think where exactly Seamus seems to know where his mother Ruby may be. He then sees Cera heading towards him, and wonders why she is not searching for Clara as he walks to her.

"Cera! What about Clara?"

"I lost her." She seems to know Littlefoot has lost Seamus. "Have you lost Seamus?"

"Just now. He jumped across the Sinking Sands."

"Did you not think to stop him."

"Have you ever chased a daredevil?"

"No."

"I assure you, you really don't wanna have to. He jumped before I could think."

"The only place I have left to think of, is the place Ruby would go if she is waiting for us." Cera implied.

"Or where she would be in thought." Littlefoot answered, adamant that he is right.

"Then that leaves her thinking place. Would she still know where it is?"

"I'm certain she will remember."

"Then let's go." Cera concluded, before they both rapidly head to the only place they know Ruby would still go.

"Leon! Stop running so far ahead! We cannot catch up!" Ducky shouted to Leon who simply just continues at the insane speed he is capable of. He glances towards them and stops for a moment due to losing Ruby's scent.

"Mum?" When suddenly he picks it up again, sharply backtracks running under Ducky before making a right towards a high mountain that he could see. "Mum! Leon is on his way!" Ducky looks in Leon's direction as she slides to a stop causing Spike to slide and turn, colliding side on into her as she stops him. Spike huffs through his nose and stomps his back foot in annoyance looking to where Leon disappeared, but deep down he seems to remember the high rise that he now sees. He glances up at Ducky then looks back, hoping she could see where his sight is leading towards.

"That place over there is very familiar. It is, it is. You remember it too Spike do you not?" Spike nods in agreement before walking off in that direction. "That is where Leon ran off to as well." She follows Spike without a doubt, that the place he showed her is in fact Ruby's thinking place from years ago. It has not been used since she left the valley with Chomper that day, when The Time of Great Growing started to affect him. "I am certain we will find her there."

Not long after reaching the mountain Ducky and Spike could already see Leon climbing it. They are indeed worried that a rock slide could happen soon, seeing as wherever Leon climbed scree started to fall. Then they catch a glimpse of two more Fast Runner children running up the mountain.

"Clara! Seamus!" Ducky called to them, but they both ignore her and continue out of concern for the danger that may happen, seemingly even if it does.

"Ducky! Spike!" Cera shouted surprised to find they are near Ruby's thinking place. They both turn to face them, still worried something may happen.

"Did Seamus and Clara pass by?" Littlefoot questioned as they both stop at the foot of the mountain.

"They did, they did. But I am worried about Falling Rocks."

"Falling Rocks?" Cera asked confused.

"The sides are loose. I saw small stones roll down from Leon's feet…"

"Leon's up there too?" Cera interrupted suddenly. "Now I'm certain Ruby is up there."

"Yes, yes. We too are sure."

"But none of us can fit through the caves now. How do we know the children made it safely to their mother? There's no way round the mountain for us to get there!" Within moments a familiar voice is heard from above.

"Hello my friends, my friends hello!" Ruby is given reassured looks from her friends who are very surprised Clara, Seamus and Leon are running circles round her feet non-stop, laughing and playing chase as if they never left her. "Why are you all here, seeing as here is where you all are?" As usual her way of speech is the same as always, reassuring her friends even more that everything is fine.

"We were keeping watch over your little ones, seeing as they had been running rampant for the last hour." Cera answered.

"Oh, they do that all the time, as all the time they run." She heads down the side of the descent towards her friends as her three children follow suit, soon back to running circles round her and now the others. "Thank you for keeping watch."

"How do you handle them so well?" Littlefoot curiously questioned.

"The same way you handle your children, like parents handle children. Why though, did you not help Petrie in his need of aid? You are his friends, and friends always help their friends."

"We tried our best, but he kept on saying we must not intervene. We wanted to, but he said otherwise surprisingly with anger towards us." Ducky stated plainly.

"Anger? Petrie never gives anger. Had it been that bad?"

"Totally. He left us without even a glance back or apology. I just hope he is alright after that duel of his." Cera looks at Ducky, Spike and Littlefoot. "Which that reminds me. We must check on him and Pterano."

"Oh yes, yes. We must. Gnash fled with his flock a short while ago, so I know Petrie won the duel. I feel bad that we did not watch his fight. He would have been happy if we cheered him on."

"By the way he treated us, I'm glad we didn't."

"Cera. That's not fair on Petrie at all. It was not his fault. Gnash is to blame for all that he did to him and his uncle."

"I know but, his attitude was uncalled for." With Cera's pause, Ruby then remembers why she came back to the Great Valley in the first place, she needs to find Chomper.

"One question." They all look to her, ready to listen. "Where is Chomper?"

The Hidden Canyon is peaceful despite the intense heat. Chomper is resting with Tyrana in submission as she cleans his face and wounds again, and Midas is simply just laying down by the entrance watching for any sightings of either Ruby or one of her friends, hopefully returning with the children. It did not take long before vibrations could be felt through the ground by a heavy footer, most likely Littlefoot. He then sees the Longneck looking around out there, perhaps because Sharpteeth are not allowed in the valley. Are they this Sharptooth's friends? Is that why they are keeping him secret? It has to be. Moments after his thoughts, Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky and Spike head through the entrance with Ruby close behind. Chomper opens his eyes and turns his head to his friends, laying on his back as Tyrana continues to clean his leg wound, though she stares towards them a little awkwardly. Who is the new dinosaur she has never seen before?

"Are they safe now?" Midas questioned in awe, as the three children quickly pounce on him to relieve him of his worries. "Whoa!? He then glances under laughter, towards Ruby who carelessly heads to both of the Sharpteeth. She realises that this news she needs to give will put a strain on her best friend who used to be her responsibility, and she knows just by looking at him and the female that they both are mated, perhaps very recently. She does not wish to inform him that something terrible has been happening back at his home before he left, but understands this is a must as his parents have specifically asked her.

"Chomper! It is dire that you know of what I am about to tell you, as you need to know how dire it is."

"I see you haven't changed Ruby. But what is wrong?"

"It is your parents."

"My parents?" He rolls over after vocalising to Tyrana that he will be getting up. "Please! Tell me! What has happened?!"

"They are under a threat much larger than them. They have asked for your assistance, but seeing as you are now mated with Tyrana I cannot let you do this."

"But they have asked for my help! I can't just lay here and do nothing! I can't lose them!"

"But you can't just leave Tyrana." Ruby's reply makes Chomper stomp his foot down on the ground in anger.

"I have the right! No one can stop me!"

"Chomper! That is uncalled for!" Littlefoot acclaimed. "Ruby is only their messenger. She was the only one they could entrust in being responsible for you, due to RedClaw controlling the Mysterious Beyond at that time. Surely you understand how much they care for you!"

"Of course! I just don't understand why I'm not allowed to go and help them! They're in danger!"

"I was also told that if you ever became mated with Tyrana, I must refuse your offer. It was their own words, and they felt bad having to tell me so I could tell you about this threat, as they know you have been with Tyrana since you met her. They know you've had an interest in her, and do not wish to keep you from her. Please understand."

"I understand, but what if they get killed by this threat! I'll never forgive myself!" He turns to Tyrana and speaks in Sharptooth. I know I cannot leave you Tyrana, but surely you understand just how important it is for me to help them.

But Chomper, your parents specifically stated. You can't go against their word. Whatever the threat is, you may not survive. I do not wish to lose you again, especially in the unforgiving place out there like before.

You will not lose me again Tyrana I assure you. I know how to fight and survive out there. How do you think I knew how to get here in the first place?

But that was different. This threat could easily defeat you. She said it was even larger than your parents.

"Ruby. Perhaps, we could help you out." Littlefoot stated, motioning to himself and his friends.

"But Littlefoot don't forget, they would rather eat us you know." Cera acclaimed. "A free meal amidst their troubles, they would just take it."

"Maybe even give us to the larger threat as an offer of peace, and that is bad. It is, it is." Ducky complied.

"I'm afraid I must refuse your offer. You have family here, and you cannot leave your family. They need you. Which is why I've decided to go back on my own."

"But Ruby! It is dangerous out there! I can't let you!" Chomper suddenly blurted out. "Not without a hunter who would protect you."

"But I can't Chomper. Think about Tyrana. Will you return when her eggs are laid, as you will need to return when her eggs are laid? Will she ever see you again, as she will need to see you again? You are the only other carnivore here, and when her eggs are laid she cannot leave them alone. You know what that means don't you?"

"Yes. I will have to hunt for her until our eggs hatch. But I intend to return when they are laid. I will promise to."

"That will not be good enough if you do not return to see her again." She pauses. "Talk with her. If I do not see you catch me up, I will be doing this on my own." She quickly heads off to Midas as Chomper lays down beside Tyrana.

"She is right Littlefoot. We have our families. We can't leave our families just to help out another. What if we never return." Cera declared.

"I understand. We have to stay behind and protect our families as well as our home. Guess we are of no use after all." He starts to head off.

"No one said we were of no use Littlefoot. Do not say things like that, no, no, no." Ducky acknowledged.

"I'm sorry Ducky, but it is how I feel." He turns to Ruby. "We'll see you when you return Ruby."

"That is if I return. I cannot guarantee I will return but I am their messenger, and a messenger needs to return to give them the news that they are expecting." She looks back to Midas, and licks him on his cheek. "I shall see you again if I return to see you again Midas."

"I'll keep them in safe hands Ruby. See you soon." Ruby speeds off back into the Mysterious Beyond as the others leave Chomper alone with Tyrana.

I promise Tyrana, that I will return to see you again. I know my parents do not wish for me to leave you alone like this, but I must help them by all means.

Just come back unharmed, that is all I ask. I want you to see them. I want them to hatch with us both beside them.

I will return when they are laid, I promise you my love. Chomper gives Tyrana a few licks on her neck and cheek, a beautiful feeling that makes her close her eyes in pleasure, before he heads off to catch up with Ruby. He gives one final look back, before disappearing behind the mountain face.

Entering the Mysterious Beyond, he does not see Ruby anywhere nearby but knows exactly what path she has taken. As he heads on ahead, her scream is heard in the distance. "Oh no! Ruby!" He rapidly charges to her aid and suddenly finds her amidst an ambush from Fast Biters. As she tries to run she is pounced on, but before her captor could sink his jaws into her throat, Chomper's bellowing roar is heard close by as he suddenly appears charging to save her. Stay away from my friend! He bellowed in Sharptooth, making the Fast Biters turn on him.

Stay away from our kill! She is ours! The leader threatened. How dare you tar our reputation by saying this Fast Runner is your friend?! We hunt them for sport! Nothing more!"

I said stay away from her! He rapidly tail strikes the leader into the side of a cliff dazing him, before turning his gaze to the other five, stomping his foot angrily into the rocky ground. Who's next?! The other Fast Biters flee from the scene, as Chomper stares down at the leader looking up at him in fear. If anyone is going to eat my friend, it will be me! Primal instinct without her even knowing! Now leave! After the leading Fast Biter struggles to his feet, he runs on after his troop as Chomper heads to Ruby.

"Thank you, Chomper." She quickly stands to her feet.

"Are you okay?"

"I've been in worse scrapes than that. But thanks for coming when you did." She pauses. "So, you have decided?"

"Yes. I know it goes against my parent's wishes, but they need me."

"And Tyrana is okay with this?"

"She is."

"So. How recently did you finally mate with her?"

"Why do you ask?"

"So that I know there is still time for you to get back when the time comes."

"Only around a few hours ago. Do you think I will return by the time she lays them?"

"I believe she has two weeks before they are laid, so I will remind you when the time nears. Just don't expect your parents to be happy about this."

"I know what may happen when I arrive, so I'm ready for a lecture if it happens."

"I see. First thing's first, we need to find my siblings."

"Why?"

"Just, trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"Very well. Do you know where they will be?"

"I have a hunch, I just hope it is right." She heads on rapidly as Chomper keeps to her pace as best he can, before they disappear in the distance amidst the distorting heat.

Author's notes: I intended for a happier chapter, due to the two previous chapters of Petrie's story arc.