Hello, everyone.

I'll get straight to it, this chapter is designed to somewhat makeup for the fact that last one was a bit short. There's a lot of action in this chapter, so I hope you as the readers will enjoy that. This is also where the story takes a very dramatic turn. Not necessarily darker, but certainly a prelude to that. I may change the rating to M later on in the series as I stated in some of the earlier chapters.

Also one more thing. To whoever our 'Guest' reviewer is, please stop writing multiple reviews for the same chapter that basically say the same thing. I understand you're impatient and you want more updates, but Rhombus and I are both busy people with lives outside of this. If you wish to make multiple reviews that address different aspects of the story, please do so. But if your sole purpose is to leave the same message over and over again, then I must ask you to refrain from doing it. It serves no purpose and does not make updates come any faster.

Anyway, with that out of the way. Enjoy!

Chapter 12. A Pack Conquered

"Sometimes a deal with the devil is better than no deal at all."- Lawrence Hill

The Land of Sands, Seven walking days from the Great Valley:

Roar!

Ducky nearly fell over in her headlong sprint into the sanctuary of the stream. The roar of the fastbiter duo had become a constant companion of the gang over the last few days. It seemed that in their struggle to follow the food, they had neglected to realize that Redclaw and his underlings might have had the same idea.

It was only when she heard the sound of four distinct vocal clicks followed by a growl that she relaxed and slowly returned to the land. If Spike was confident that they were far enough away then that was good enough for her.

"I think they are worse now than they were when we were food! I do, I do."

"And we still could be if we keep running into them all the time," said Cera, clearly frustrated. "How did they find us anyway? How do they keep finding us?"

Littlefoot shook his head.

"It doesn't make sense. This place is a wasteland. No one except us and Ruby's parents knew we were here, and they'd never give us away. And even Red Claw can't sniff things from distances that long."

But no one could explain it.

Ducky shook her head as she waited for her brother to come back to ground level from the ridges above. Unlike his old form, she did not have to wait long before the green fastbiter caught up to his friends and darted his head back and forth. It was as if he were searching for something.

"Oh… the scaly swimmers! Yes, Spike, I left you two by the rocks over there." Ducky noted with amusement as Spike wasted absolutely no time in running towards the tasty morsels. She may have forgotten what she was doing due to her panic, but Spike would never forget about a meal.

Some things never changed.

Meanwhile, Chomper and Ruby looked supremely concerned. However it had happened, Red Claw, Screech and Thud had found them and were not allowing them even a night's rest. They had been chased away from food sources, interrupted during sleep, and even trying to get water proved risky. And there was the grim reality that the stream they depended on for much of their nourishment was getting lower and lower with each passing day.

"What do we do, Chomper?" Ruby asked in a low voice. "If we hide then we are easy prey, but if we run then we are tired prey."

"I would rather avoid the whole prey thing if possible," Littlefoot noted darkly, "But how do we avoid them if they are focused on us?"

It was then that Petrie landed beside the others with a thud. "Me think they go to sleep soon, but Screech still looking by water."

"Where we tried to hide our scent?" Littlefoot asked with concern, his tyrannosaurus body hunched over in exhaustion.

Petrie nodded. "If he find scent then he find us!"

"Then we'll have to remain on the opposite side of the bank so they won't pick up the trail again," said Chomper methodically. "We'll follow the stream, because we can't go too long without water. And it's also a landmark. It's way too easy to get lost out here, and as much as we want to avoid Red Claw, we don't want to die of starvation or thirst either."

Spike made a series of grunts and clicks that Ducky translated.

"He is right, that cannot work forever, especially since Thud and Screech are extremely fast. And then there are bellydraggers to worry about."

"It's pretty much our only option," replied Littlefoot, sighing. "But let's take a vote on it. Who is in favor of trying to return to the hideout once Screech is out of sight?"

Littlefoot waited for several moments while the others maintained their silence. Cera and Chomper remained impassive, with their tyrannosaur features taking on foreboding expressions. Spike, meanwhile, merely chewed on his fish with his eyes doing the communicating for him, with Ducky standing beside him she made her vote clear as well.

Only Petrie eventually spoke.

"Well, me can fly away, but none of you can. So me think hideout not a good idea."

"For once, I agree with beak brain," quipped Cera. "I don't think going back there is safe now."

"I guess we're officially on the move then," Littlefoot said darkly. "Stick close to the river and hope we don't get chewed on."

Although a chorus of groans and muttered obscenities reached his ears, Littlefoot could see the others begin to follow him along the edge of the stream. The only pause was when Ducky turned towards their makeshift sanctuary, with its high ridges and deep stream, and gave it a farewell wave.

"Goodbye, hideout. You did not have much food, but at least we were not food either."

Littlefoot grimaced. He was hoping that their luck on that front would hold out.

"Whoa!"

Ducky barely had time to exclaim as Spike jumped into the air and landed mere feet away from the sudden threat. Within an instant his feet sent him careening into his sister and then over Cera as he jumped again. Leaving a disappointed bellydragger at the banks of the stream.

"And that is why we said to watch the stream, Spike!" Cera exclaimed as she hurriedly checked on Ducky. There was no need, however, as she joined the others in keeping their distance from the sudden 'guest'.

The bellydragger stared at them for several moments before slowly submerging into the stream once more. That kind was not one for much talking, or fixating on their failures. A new meal would come along soon enough.

Ducky dusted herself off as she walked over to the green fastbiter. As he lay down towards the ground, something in her heart broke. He obviously felt chastised.

"It is alright, Spike. No one got hurt."

Spike smiled, showing his razor sharp teeth ever so slightly. His sister always had his back no matter what.

He made a few clicks with his claw toe and Ducky nodded.

"Spike is right, it is getting late, it is, it is."

"I suppose we better settle down for the night," said Littlefoot, arching his head towards the west as the bright circle made it's way down towards to horizon. The sky was beginning to turn pink and gold with a purple hue resting on the edge of the clouds.

Cera came up to next him, giving him a slight nuzzle (something he did not expect) as she did so.

"You want me to keep watch tonight?" she asked.

"No it's okay," cut in Chomper. "I'll do it."

Littlefoot felt slightly guilty. The purple biter had kept watch two of the past three nights since Red Claw had first found them. He had already done more than his fair share.

Chomper would never admit it, but with the most monstrous sharptooth after them and food becoming more scarce he felt more of a responsibility towards his pack than ever. After all, if it weren't for one wish on a shooting star…

He pushed that thought away and redirected his attention back towards Littlefoot.

"It's okay guys," he said kindly. "As long as someone spots me, I'll be fine."

Spike made another click as he gestured at his eyes. I have the best night vision out of all of us, was the clear insinuation.

"Then it's agreed," said Littlefoot with a degree of authority. "Chomper will keep watch the first half of the night and Spike will watch the other half."

The others nodded and began settling down. It wasn't easy to get comfortable when there was no cover to be had from unwanted eyes.

As Littlefoot lay down he looked around their temporary abode. Just a blue stream, desolate wasteland on all sides, and the slightest hint of verdant vegetation on the stream's edge could be seen, though it all was covered in the gray haze of nightfall. Their predatory eyes may have allowed them to see the sights of night, but all of colors were washed away. It was a fitting symbol for what their lives had become.

"It'll be okay," Cera affirmed from behind him, "We just need to get to where there is more cover. Red Claw and them need to sleep sometime, don't they?"

Littlefoot nodded and brought himself close to her for warmth as the temperature started to drop. He still couldn't help but feel a great deal of anxiety. Evil had a tendency to never rest.

I wish that I could fix this, guys. But wishes have a way of turning out badly.

Chomper sighed as he turned his focus away from his sleeping friends and back towards the distant ridges of the sanctuary that they had left behind. They were now only visible due to the canopy of stars behind them, but they did represent something that they could not lose sight of - that it was yet another home denied to them.

It was as if fate were not content with them being orphans, it had to make them homeless as well. At least Chomper at one time had that.

Though they would have denied me that…. But maybe everyone would have been better off that way. Maybe they were right.

He shook his head. Second guessing and feeling sorry for their predicament would not solve any problems, only action could do that. With that in mind he examined the horizon again.

There was no sign of the canopy of stars being covered, which would indicate an object on the horizon, and there was no smell in the air from the predatory tyrant. Though, as Chomper realized, that did not mean much. If Red Claw wanted to track them without knowing then he was certainly capable of that. Though that would involve going all of the way around the gang… an all-night trek across the barrens for the meager meal that the gang would provide.

Maybe laziness does have some good to it, Chomper thought, Red Claw would have to be crazy to try something like that.

That was when he heard a soft click of a sickle claw. Though he knew what that meant Chomper couldn't help but show surprise.

"You are up early!" He exclaimed in a hiss. These were words that would have never been uttered about Spike in his spiketail days.

With a sigh, Spike merely shrugged. A yawn escaped his mouth soon after, presenting the truth of the matter to the sharptooth's eyes. Spike did not wake up willingly - but his instincts demanded it.

Right… his kind are usually morning-sleepers, not night-sleepers…

"You can try to go back to sleep if you want… I still have more of the night to cover."

A mere shake of the head was the only response from the fastbiter. It was obvious that he knew his body, and he knew any further attempt at sleep would be futile. Spike would not turn down a meal or a nap if it could be helped.

Chomper gave a slight tail-smile and gave Spike a polite nod. "Okay. Thanks, Spike. Wake me up before the Bright Circle, okay? We have a long trek tomorrow."

Chomper allowed himself to join the communal pile of sleepers as the affirmative click from Spike's sickle claw reached his ears. It was only when his eyes began to droop that he realized how tired he truly was. Perhaps the days of evading Redclaw had taken more out of him than he suspected?

Well… nothing that a little sleep won't fix...

Click! Click! Click!

"Urgh… not now, Spike, breakfast can wait…" Chomper groaned as he rolled over.

Click! Click! Click!

The purple predator's eyes shot open. That was a silent warning call!

He rose to his feet, ignoring the protests from every joint in his body. With a forceful shake of the others and a low growl he roused them from slumber. Amazingly none of them spoke out, remaining silent as if their instincts commanded it. It was only when he ran up to Spike that he spoke aloud.

"What is it, Spike!" He hissed with concern in a barely audible voice, "What do you see?"

Spike shook his head and clutched his nose. Then, with a wave of his hand, he gestured at himself. The message was obvious.

He smelled others of his kind. A pack had caught their scent.

Sleep or no sleep, it was time to leave.

Ever since Spike's warning, the gang had been in a semi-sprint non stop. They were not about to take any chances, even the smallest delay could seal their fate. They continued to follow the river, at this point not knowing where it would lead them as they had not explored the area that far. At the same time, three days of avoiding Red Claw and little sleep was beginning to take it's toll. The group was exhausted, and there was no telling how much longer they could keep playing this game of cat and mouse.

Still, they were faced with little other choice.

"Littlefoot? Can we slow down? I am tired, I am, I am."

"We have to keep going, Ducky," Littlefoot replied sympathetically. "Not with that fiend on our tails."

"Surely we've put some distance between us and them by now," huffed Cera, breathing heavily. "Can't we rest for a few minutes?"

Littlefoot gazed around. He knew that his pack was exhausted and that their bodies were not meant for long distance running. Turning to the dark green fast biter he asked,

"Spike, do you sense anything? Can you smell or see any other sharpteeth?"

A series of clicks indicated Spike could not smell or sense their enemy, but he indicated towards Petrie.

He can see farther than I can up in the air.

"Go and see, Petrie," said Ruby still breathing heavily. "Because we need to see where to go!"

The sharpbeaked flyer took to the sky to survey the landscape. He scoured from up above, giving no indication as to any other presence besides theirs. After around five minutes or so, he came back down and rested on Littlefoot's back.

"Me double check three times. No sign of Red Claw, or Screech and Thud."

The gang breathed a small sigh of relief and Littlefoot nodded to assure the others it was safe to rest for a moment or two.

Ruby wasted no time in collapsing as she was joined by the tyrannosauruses. "This cannot go on like this," she took a deep breath, "I am a fastrunner, but we are not made to be long-runners."

"None of us are," Chomper agreed. "And soon we won't be able to run at all before…"

He sniffed the air. The scent was faint, but it was also unmistakable. The stream they currently were following lead to something much bigger.

"What is it, Chomper?" Ducky asked.

"Water," the purple biter replied carefully.

"Well, duh, we're right next to a stream," Cera griped.

"No, I mean bigger water. It's not too far. If we go now, we should reach it by the time the bright circle is highest in the sky."

The gang was overjoyed to hear this news. Bigger water didn't just mean a nice, cool drink. It also meant vegetation they could hide in, areas they could rest in, and possible food to scavenge or kill, especially if there were ground fuzzies.

"Me can barely flap wings," Petrie said in an exhausted tone. "But maybe me can go just a bit further."

"Come on, guys," Littlefoot encouraged. "Chomper's sniffer is never wrong. I know we're tired, but we can do it. This may be the haven we've been looking for."

Reluctantly, the others began to rise once more. With a grunt and popping joints Chomper rose to his feet, while helping Cera to hers. Spike was already back on his two legs, more than ready for one final sprint to a place to feed rest.

Ducky was the last to rise. Her body was not meant for this kind of abuse, and it was obvious that she could not handle another day of the chase. Nonetheless, she forced a determined smile on her face when Spike gave her a concerned look.

"I am fine, Spike. It will be nice to see water again, it will, it will."

"I know, I could use a drink right now," Cera said. Of course she didn't mention that her stomach was getting rather empty again.

"Follow me!" said Chomper eagerly. "I promise we'll get there soon."

Though the fast sprinting of earlier had long since become a memory due to their battered bodies, the sharpteeth resumed a brisk pace as they followed Petrie's directions. This jog soon turned into a steady run as the tell-tale smell of moisture began to greet their nostrils.

Perhaps their sanctuary was at hand?

The massive tyrannosaurus examined the scene in the distance, his head barely edging around the rockwall so as to avoid detection. Despite the groans of his two raptors, his plan had worked masterfully. They had found a land of plentiful food and water, but also a land that would be easy to subjugate. A land where any attempt to escape would invite attacks in the open. The perfect trap.

"They have nowhere to go now."

With an affirmative grunt both of his fastbiters tore away from the massive sharptooth and advanced towards the lake in a headlong sprint. He couldn't help but feel a bit of satisfaction.

He had them now.

"My aching claws," moaned Cera as she plopped herself down at the edge of the lake. It had turned out to be better than expected. The body of water was a large oasis that supplied a small supply of vegetation. Many a leaf eater had been saved from starvation upon stumbling into this place, and even sharpteeth had quenched their thirst from time to time.

"It's lucky Chomper managed to find the water, it is, it is," said Ducky thankfully.

"Well let's just hope it'll hide us from Red Claw too," Littlefoot added.

Spike grunted in agreement before practically submerging his entire head under the water, which made them all laugh.

"Oh, Spike," Ducky giggled, and others followed suit with taking a refreshing drink.

Meanwhile, Chomper and Ruby were resting in the shade underneath a small tree. They were utterly exhausted, but pleased all the same.

"It is good that we found this place, because if we hadn't found this place then we would not be in a good position at all," Ruby ruminated on their predicament, "How… is the hunger, Chomper?"

Chomper cringed before sighing, "Bearable… but it is the others I am concerned about."

Ruby nodded, "Well we have water here, maybe…"

Roar!

Immediately the gang turned their heads towards three noticeable figures approaching them from each side of the lake. And when they saw who it was, their eyes widened with fear.

"It's not possible!" cried Chomper. He had been convinced they had managed to throw Red Claw off the trail.

"Forget it!" replied Ruby. "RUN!"

Summoning all their strength, the group took off without any hesitation and just in time. Screech's jaws snapped shut where only seconds before Ducky's head had been previously. Thud aimed a strike at Ruby, but the fast runner stayed true to her name and barely avoided his toe claw.

"This way!" yelled Littlefoot as they sprinted away from the sanctuary of the water and into the open lands. Having no other recourse they headed towards the distant rockwall that led into a gorge. They had no idea if this would give them sanctuary, but at this point they had no alternative.

Ruby pumped her legs to the best of her ability, but her stamina was not what it once was. Days of laborious travel had seen to that. Despite her terror she also felt the sting of despair. If their journey had not led Redclaw off their trail then what could?

It was only then that she noticed Spike running beside her, periodically looking back to make sure his sister was keeping pace. The fact that he had not stopped to check on her, or cried out in despair confirmed to Ruby that the others must have been alive… for now.

The pack advanced with as much speed as their battered bodies could muster, barely keeping a few steps ahead of their pursuers. As the walls of the gorge finally appeared beside them they knew that the moment of truth was now approaching. Either this gorge would have some kind of hiding place… or it would be their final resting place.

"There hole in wall!" Petrie shouted as he flew high above. "Go there now!"

Littlefoot saw what the flyer was referring to as he kept his legs moving. There was indeed a small crack within the wall of the gorge, and it looked just big enough for all them to squeeze into.

It was now or never, they wouldn't be able to run for much longer and Thud and Screech were slowly gaining on them.

He turned to Cera.

"It's our only chance! Lead the rest of them towards the hole!"

She nodded and roared loudly, signaling the pack to follow her.

They took the hint, and began forming into a line so as not to crowd when they reached their refuge.

"Spike! I cannot do it!" Ducky cried as her body slowly failed her.

The concerned green fast biter hardened his eyes with a steel-like determination. Easing behind his sister, he nudged her forward, not allowing her to fall victim to Red Claw and his thugs.

You can do it! He said through his body language.

She obliged by summoning the last of her reserves and surging forward with speed that surely would have exceeded her species under normal circumstances.

Littlefoot was the first to reach the hole, squeezing through it, followed by Cera, Chomper, and Ruby. Petrie dove down with a great gust of energy and crash landed through the hole, skidding to a stop at Littlefoot's feet. Only Ducky and Spike remained outside of the safety of the walls.

"Come on!" Littlefoot encouraged. "You can do it!"

Ducky forced herself forward as her sides were pinched by the immovable rock. With a final push to her flank, Spike pushed her through the threshold. Then, with a mighty leap, Spike barely avoided having his tail grabbed by Screech's razor-sharp teeth. In the end he crashed into the rest of the group, sending them into the rock wall.

But at least they were safe from the murderous duo outside.

"This is the second time in the past few years I've had your butt in my face," Cera groaned, referencing their vine adventure when going after the stone of cold fire.

Spike merely grunted as he lifted himself up, allowing the others to do the same.

"Aw, now isn't this amusing? I suppose that you can't take the leaf-eater out of the new sharptooth."

The others turned towards the massive Utahraptor's head one the other side of the crevice as Screech mocked his opponents. Within their minds, fear slowly creeped in. They didn't know how, but the implication was clear.

They knew of their true identities.

"If you spent less time taunting perhaps you would have caught the fast biter," Thud said in a bored monotone.

"Oh shut up, Thud! You didn't even get a bite in on the little shits!" Screech answered with an annoyed screech as he examined the sharpteeth inside once again, before taking a deep inhalation.

"I save my killing blows for situations that require them," Thud shot back. "Something you still seem to lack might I add…"

"Why you little…"

"Enough!" boomed a thunderous voice. "You both are wasting your time. Neither one of your hides can fit through that crevice. But no matter, we will catch them soon enough."

"How?" Thud asked.

"Simple," the massive tyrannosaurus replied. "They have nowhere to go, now."

He then appeared to address them directly, despite not lowering himself down to the small hole.

"Run while you can, but you cannot hide from me."

The message chilled the gang to their bones, even as Red Claw and his minions began walking away from their little hole. Petrie gulped, and Ducky was shaking, but it was Cera that eloquently summed up what they were all feeling.

"We are so screwed."

Despair.

It is curious what being trapped can do for one's emotions. Littlefoot had been trapped before; he had experienced loss before; but he had never experienced something like this. For the last three days there had been no escape from their captors. No respite from their constant torment. Even their modest victories, like sneaking out and enjoying a cool drink, seemed more like planned victories, like something that Redclaw intentionally allowed.

In the end they felt more like ground fuzzies than the sharpteeth that they were.

"Okay, guys… how long have we been without food?" Littlefoot licked his teeth, almost considering biting his tongue just to taste the welcome relish of blood's sweet embrace. But he knew that would only invite the hunger madness. It wouldn't be long until it reached them again.

"Me don't even know," Petrie said tiredly. "It getting harder to find anything to eat."

"My tummy keeps rumbling," Ducky admitted.

"Let's face it, we're one more day away from going crazy," Cera said bluntly. "This is a no win situation. If we don't find anything to eat soon, we'll starve in here..."

"Or get eaten out there…" Littlefoot finished for her.

He turned to Chomper, who was lost in thought, contemplating their situation.

"Chomper, we need your help," Littlefoot told him. "Do you have any ideas at all?"

Chomper sighed as he tried to ignore the aching in his belly. They had to escape from their predicament, but that would entail great risk. The captors would need to be misdirected in order to make an opening… but any misstep…

"We… could try to split up and lead them in the wrong direction while the others get free."

"But if we split up in order to get away, one of us might not get away!" Ruby affirmed, her head quickly returning to its hunched over position.

"We would save some of us.. But doom the rest. I do not like that, oh no, no, no," Ducky added.

Littlefoot sighed. He was at a loss as to what to do, and the hunger in his stomach made it increasingly hard to think clearly. Every time they tried to find food or even get water, Thud, Screech, and even Red Claw would drive them away and back to their sanctuary. Most of the time they would spend the day hiding within their crevice, not speaking or doing much. There wasn't much to say when your life was on the line and the most fearsome carnivore in the land on your tail.

"There is one thing we could do that we haven't tried."

"And what's that?" Chomper asked.

"Well, we can't try to find food in broad daylight or at night. But if we tried heading out at dawn before Red Claw wakes up, maybe we could get something and bring it back before they notice."

"And how do you know they won't have stayed up all night waiting to catch us?" Cera asked, her fear and low blood sugar getting the better of her rationality.

"Even Red Claw needs to sleep," Ruby pointed out. "Littlefoot's right. It may be our only chance to survive."

"So we try to make a run for it at night?" Ducky asked as her stomach growled, "Where will we go?"

An annoyed growl left Spike's throat before he quickly looked away. It was obvious that he was feeling the same hunger that the others were. How long would it take before they lost control again? And what would they do when that happened?

"I don't know but it's now or never," said Littlefoot firmly. "None of us want to go back to that place. And it's where we're headed if we don't find a meal. Are you guys with me?"

Cera grunted, "What choice do we have?"

"I guess we need to try, yep, yep, yep."

"Me will do what me can. Maybe Petrie can distract them if they find out?"

An affirmative grunt came from Spike, who continued to stare at the wall of their narrow crevice.

But one of the gang was noticeably silent.

"Ruby?" Littlefoot asked hesitantly, as he spared a look at her sunken form. The fastrunner was leaning against the rock wall, her head bowed as if it were too heavy for her to carry. But that was when he had to look away. Her ribs were beginning to become visible, a sign of the start of malnutrition.

"Ruby, you can stay here if you need to. We can find something and bring it back to you."

Ruby sighed. "No, if we are going to get something, then I will have to be at that something," she gave them all the most believable smile she could manage, "We may not have long to eat whatever we find."

Littlefoot nodded, it was decided then. They would either bring home food on this night or die trying.

The brown tyrannosaurus sniffed the air with growing agitation. However, after several seconds of sniffing, he shook his head. Nothing.

Littlefoot bowed his head as he considered what they had accomplished thus far. They had scoured the nearby lands for anything, anything at all to scavenge. But, with the exception of a few ground fuzzies, they had found nothing. As the Bright Circle threatened to rise across the horizon, he felt rising despair. His pack was his responsibility, some part of his mind affirmed. He couldn't bear to be the one to doom them to hunger.

They didn't have much time either. The faint glow of the bright circle was noticeable on the edge of the skyline and it would not be long when the first rays of light would appear in the sky. And if they did not get back to the gorge in time, they would be easy pickings.

"Cera, do you smell anything?" he asked his best friend, who was currently searching right beside him.

The other tyrannosaurus gave an exasperated grunt, "Not a damn thing!"

Littlefoot turned to his left to Ducky and Spike. Their expressions also told him that they had also not been able to locate anything. With more than a bit of guilt he dared to turn his head towards the person who was taking their situation the worst.

"How are you holding up, Ruby?"

The pink fastunner was a few steps behind, her breathing more than a bit labored due to the exertion. Chomper was supporting her, and the purple biter looked supremely worried. Ruby's kind did not suffer from the kind of hunger madness that sharpteeth did. She was not a danger physically, but without food she would perish all the same.

"Ruby, please. Go back to the lake and eat some green food, you can still eat it. It may be all we can find out here."

Ruby shook her head, "I already had green food, but I cannot only eat green food. My… I need whatever red food haves right now."

Littlefoot looked at Chomper with concern, earning him an equally concerned look as Chomper walked to Littlefoot's side..

He spoke in a low voice to the purple biter. "She's not going to make it much longer the rate that this is going. You have to sniff out something, you have the best nose out of all of us."

Chomper gasped, "She is not in the death hunger, but…" he sniffed in her direction, "...her body is getting ready to get there. I will find something."

As if possessed, Chomper sprang forward and turned his nostrils towards the ground, sniffing for any sign of food. Anything that might indicate their salvation. In the resulting torrent he could smell themselves, the plants, and their adversaries… which gave him an idea. Red Claw was a good hunter despite his other flaws, what if his scent had a trace of…

There it was: carrion. A scent that most biters would have missed, but it was unmistakable against the monster's scent. If they had feasted on carrion then that meant only one thing: there could be left-overs.

Thank you, Redclaw, you are actually useful for once.

"Follow me," Chomper commanded as he race forward, catching the others off-guard. It now fell upon Spike to help the fastrunner, who waved him off as she followed closely behind.

"I'm not that bad yet, just a bit of a slow runner instead of a fast runner. Let's get this food before we become dead runners."

Spike couldn't argue with that logic.

"Petrie, can you go up and try to spot the carcass for us?" Chomper asked.

"Me on it," the flyer replied affirmatively. He took to the sky at once and beckoned the others to follow him.

"What are we looking for, Chomper?" Littlefoot asked in mid-run, before briefly sniffing the ground. "What… oh, is that…"

As if on cue, Petrie began his diving motion to indicate he had found food. Before quickly descending upon whatever it was that he found.

"Dead meat," Cera gasped, her mouth suddenly watering as her eyes began to appear more than a bit crazed. It was a sight they had all seen once before.

"This is what we need, yep, yep, yep!" Ducky affirmed with a grunt as she gave Cera a look, "Cera?"

The orange biter charged forward in a momentary lapse of judgement. The carcass of a domehead lay ahead, most of the meat still hanging on the bones. Unfortunately, at that moment, another scent hit Chomper's nose, one he knew anywhere, one he should have seen coming…

"Cera! Stop! It's a trap!" he called.

But it was too late. For just as the former threehorn reached the carrion, a familiar dark green predator with a gnarled, red scar on his side appeared from behind the rocks with a mighty roar. It was a threat that Petrie, being reliant on his eyes, simply could not sniff out.

Red Claw had found them, and he was not alone.

"Shit! Everyone run!" Littlefoot called out as he waited for Cera to scramble to his location, it was only then that he joined the others in their headlong struggle to escape.

He did not notice that Red Claw was merely watching them go. With a wicked smile he sent out a mighty roar. Now it was time for his chasers to have their fun.

Littlefoot only had a fleeting moment to consider their predicament when the familiar snarls of the Utahraptors greeted his ears.

Thud and Screech.

It was at that moment that all hell broke loose, and the group split into several different directions.

Chomper could only watch the carnage unfold as a realization hit him. Red Claw had been planning this all along. The bait had been laid out and they foolishly took it.

I should've known better. What were the odds of finding a random corpse out here? Of course Red Claw had to have been nearby! I'm such an idiot!

He got his thoughts in order and tried to get a semblance of what was going on. Currently, Screech was blocking their way back to the gorge. Spike was snarling and lashing out at him with his jaws, Ducky behind him, but he was not big enough to take on the larger raptor on by himself. Littlefoot was defending Cera from Red Claw, but that too would prove to be futile if they were not careful. Petrie was flying overhead, trying to direct his friends from danger.

There was only one dinosaur missing…

Ruby!

It was then that a familiar scream reached all of their ears. In their rush to escape they had forgotten that the burden of hunger had hit her the hardest. In an instant that felt like an eternity, Chomper turned his head until he saw the familiar pink fastrunner.

Thud was standing over her, with his sickle claw ready to strike.

"Ruby…" Chomper moaned, knowing that his friend and caregiver would soon be entering the Great Beyond. The only respite that he felt was that they would probably soon be joining her. At least the endless torment was over.

"I must admit that you did very well in evading us. But it is harder when you have to catch your food, isn't it you new biters?"

Chomper looked up in horror at Red Claw's massive form. Why wasn't he simply going for the kill? He had them in an indefensible position.

"Just get it over with," Chomper said defiantly. Though he was not currently being held hostage, he was not about to beg for his life either. He would retain some dignity before his death. "You caught us, now finish it."

Littlefoot and Cera, (who were cornered by Red Claw) and Ducky and Spike (who were cornered by Screech) looked more frightened than ever. Clearly they did not want to lose their lives, but it looked like it was their fate were they to continue to fight. Ruby was simply too exhausted to put up any sort of resistance.

However, the monster gave something that could have passed for a smile, surprising the purple biter.

"On the contrary, young ones. I have no interest in killing you. I have other uses for you."

"W… what?" Littlefoot choked out, not expecting anything more than a boast before the murders began. "What do you want from us?" It was only then that the rest of the gang turned towards the larger biter, questioning their own eyes.

"What I want is very simple. It's something you want as well. Food."

He nodded towards the corpse that caused them to be entrapped them in his grasp. "You are on the cusp of starving. I can sense it, and so can my minions. You have not eaten for days."

"What does that matter to you?" snarled Cera a little too boldly.

"Do I not struggle to find prey in this vast open space?" replied Red Claw in a deadly tone, glaring his red, evil eye in her direction. "Do we not all need to eat in order to survive?"

No one said a word, and the air hung as silent, with no wind to interrupt them.

"You children have avoided my wrath for years. Even while you were leaf eaters, you were impossible to eliminate...oh yes, I know of your past history," he smirked even as Littlefoot contemplated just how Red Claw had managed to find that out. "Now that you are sharpteeth, you can be useful to me. You are small, but also agile, quick, and resourceful. I need dinosaurs like yourselves to aid me in the hunting of other prey."

He nudged the carcass of the domehead towards the center of the group.

"Consider this a token of my goodwill. I want you all at your full strength when we commence the hunt this afternoon."

It was then that the pack realized what had befallen them, and it was simultaneously miraculous and horrifying. Red Claw wanted them to be his chasers and scouts? He wanted them to join the ranks as the most hated sharpteeth in the Mysterious Beyond? The offer was like something out of a bad sleep story, but yet here it was.

Despite their predicament, Littlefoot forced himself to respond. "Oh yeah, and what happens if we don't?"

Chomper hissed in his direction, noting that this was Ruby's only chance, "Littlefoot!"

"The choice is yours," Red Claw replied. His demeanor displayed on almost casual indifference, but there was an air of menace as well. "But shall you choose not to aid me, I will be picking the bones of your fast runner friend from my teeth."

The threat was not an empty one. And the gang knew it. As much as they didn't want to help Red Claw, a prospect they could never have foreseen, there wasn't much choice if Ruby was to survive.

Littlefoot turned towards the others, "Ducky?"

The former swimmer bowed her head before finally giving a nod. She knew the stakes, and this was their only chance.

"Spike?"

The small fastbiter snarled at Screech before sighing and nodding his head as well, earning an amused snicker from the older fastbiter.

"Petrie?"

The flyer landed near Ruby, but out of striking distance of Thud. It only took a few moments for Petrie to make his voice heard, "Me guess we have no choice."

"Guys!" Chomper protested, his anger growing like a building storm. This monster had killed his family, how could he possibly forgive that? How could he possibly ally himself with that?

Littlefoot carried on, "Cera?"

The tyrannosaurus closed her eyes as she turned away from the others. She could not bare to show defeat in front of this hated opportunist, but she knew that she could not squander their only chance at survival, along with Ruby's. Eventually she nodded.

Chomper could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw Cera agree to help their biggest, most formidable enemy. That is until he felt everyone's eyes on him, including Red Claw's.

Littlefoot and the rest didn't say anything. The expressions on their faces were all too clear. As much as none of them wanted to do this, lives were at stake. He glanced over at Ruby, who was breathing heavily, Thud's sickle claw dangerously close to her throat.

I can't lose Ruby. I can't put her life at risk like that. I...we need her.

He looked directly into the eyes of the their adversary. Their intent was all too clear.

Join me, or I lay you to waste.

In the end, he made the only real choice.

"Alright. But promise to let Ruby go once the hunt is over."

Red Claw, surprisingly nodded.

"It shall be done."

It was only then that Chomper nodded, before storming off in the direction of Cera. I will avenge my momma and daddy, you monster. A killing claw can come from anywhere. Even from a packmate.

This only left Littlefoot. The implications of joining this monster were as unthinkable as they were unpalatable, but his thoughts turned in the same direction as the others. This would buy them time. Maybe one day they could be free of their deal with the unthinkable.

Against the will of every muscle in his body, Littlefoot allowed himself to lay on the ground in a gesture of submission. No one had officially made him the pack leader, but the gesture meant the obvious all the same. He was surrendering the pack.

The rest was in the hands of fate… and his new 'packmates'.

The meal had passed in silence, as the resolution of their hunger only barely muddled their feelings of betrayal and helplessness. Every one of the fastrunner's desperate rips of the flesh of the fallen prey had been a reminder of what they had nearly lost. But, as was fresh in everyone's mind, what if in return they were losing something even more precious?

"Are we really doing this?"

"We have no choice, Cera," Littlefoot replied wearily, as they followed Red Claw back to the heart of his territory.

"I know but…"

"It's either that or Ruby gets killed," he said as he peered ahead. She was still in the grasp of Thud, and he knew he would not hesitate should she try to escape. Though they all had been properly nourished from the domehead corpse, none of their stomachs felt particularly sound.

"How on earth can we do this?" Cera said, her voice almost breaking into anger. "We're not supposed to kill, Littlefoot, you know that. If we do…"

She did not need to finish her sentence.

"I don't know, Cera," Littlefoot answered giving a somewhat apologetic, and even affectionate look towards the orange biter. "But somehow we have to figure out a way."

Everything depended on it.

"Alright, little biters! The time for rest is over! Time to hunt!"

Ruby groaned at the sudden call of Thud's voice. A mere day ago it would have been greeted with terror and a chase, but now it was just a reminder of what was about to transpire.

My friends are Redclaw's chasers now… oh, Daddy, what would you do in this situation. Because if I knew what to do then I would do it.

Reluctantly rising, she quickly examined the rising predators. Littlefoot was quick to get up, the burden of what he had led his pack into weighing heavily on his mind.

It is not your fault, Littlefoot.

Cera was next, giving Screech a frightening snarl, before forcing herself on her feet. She was followed by Ducky and Petrie. Though it was only then that Ruby noticed that Spike was already awake and pacing, his fastbiter form almost looking like a smaller form of Thud.

We have to hold together, everyone. We will get through this somehow.

That was when she turned her attention to the biter that she was really concerned about.

Chomper was on his feet, his eyes glaring at the ground as he held back obvious anger that radiated off him as a better scent. There was no doubt as to the reason.

"Chomper," Ruby began as she tried to comfort the young biter as she whispered in his ear. "We just have to get through this, until we can be rid of them."

"I know, Ruby," Chomper said without giving her a glance.

Ruby nodded. Just control your anger, Chomper, because all of us are depending on you.

"There is something else… you know that they cannot kill, Chomper," Ruby added, "You need to convince Red Claw to only use them as trackers and chasers, because if you don't convince Redclaw…"

"And how am I supposed to convince that monster of anything?"

"Come on, biters!" Screech's voice now echoed in the morning air.

Ruby took a deep breath. She had more than a little history with trying to get people to see things her way. The fact that Chomper had been allowed in the valley was confirmation of that.

"Appeal to his pragmatism, because you won't appeal to his kindness."

Chomper didn't say anything, but gave a slight nod to indicate he had heard her.

She's right. I do have to convince him somehow, just in case.

How ironic it had been that he had attempted to get the rest of the gang to consider eating talking food...and now here he was trying to prevent them from doing so.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked up behind the massive tyrannosaurus, who had just sent Thud and Screech on another errand. He knew he had to be careful here. Red Claw had a notorious temper when angered and it would not do to upset him now.

"Excuse me, Red Claw, sir?" Chomper barely avoided hissing out the sir.

The massive tyrannosaurus turned around to look at the smaller biter. It was hard to believe that the two fools he had killed in the barrens could have given rise to this diminutive biter. Nonetheless he was a potential source of victory. If he could truly convert this tiny biter to his side then it would be an ultimate betrayal of his parents, and his ultimate victory.

"Yes, Chomper?" Redclaw intentionally lowered his voice to a conversational level. Conversations were like hunts, each with their own mysteries to solve, and sometimes a feign was a better starting point than to show one's true intentions.

"Well a thought had just occurred to me before we begin this hunt. My friends, the former leaf eaters, have little to no experience killing anything bigger than a ground fuzzy. It would be a shame if we were to track potential prey only to have it escape due to their incompetence."

"Are you telling me that they have been sharpteeth for a cycle of the Night Circle, and they haven't even killed a tinysaurus?" Redclaw couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice, "It is amazing that all of you didn't starve before I found you."

"Yes, indeed. We have managed to keep ourselves fed to this point," Chomper said evenly, though deep down his blood boiled at having to suck up to this killer. "We have not hunted large game. That is why I think the honor of the kill should go to you, or one who is more experienced with such matters."

I wonder which one of them taught you how to lie, Chomper, probably that fastrunner. What could you be hiding here? Time to test something. "Oh, I think that we can afford to have you all have some practice. There are plenty of swimmer younglings by the stream."

"Well..uh..I don't think you want to do that," Chomper stuttered slightly. He had to come up with a good excuse or else they would all be toast.

Hmmm… there is more here than inexperience. Interesting. "And why is that, little biter?"

"Younglings tend to be fast and rather agile," Chomper spoke and he could feel his back begin to burn with agitation. "Targeting a slower adult, or a sick elder might be more practical. Perhaps my friends could be used as a false ambush in order to scatter the herds. And a kill that big would need to be taken down by someone far bigger."

A fast thinker on his feet. Hmm… I wonder if this reluctance only extends to your friends. "A fine idea. And if we fail to kill bigger prey and have to take what we can then I suppose you would want to be the one to kill a youngling?"

"Yes. I have killed before, sir. My parents were not idle. I know how to take down younglings."

Only his friends then… I will have to test this later, "Very well, Chomper, tell your friends that the hunt begins soon. The Fisher can spook the younglings away from her side with her presence, your flyer friend can make the swimmers weary about their nests, and the others can lead a diversion at Thud's signal. Those are my orders." His final tone brokered no disagreement.

"I will report them to my friends," Chomper said, bowing low out of deference to the massive sharptooth, however much he despised it.

As Chomper left to talk to his friends he did not notice the pink fastrunner watching his performance with a sad smile. It was a small victory in the squall of a larger defeat.

"You want me to do what?"

Despite what had transpired over the last day, Ducky could not believe what she was hearing. How could she spook the herd of swimmers just so Redclaw and the others could… she couldn't even finish the thought.

"Just scare them Ducky," Chomper said almost apologetically. "You don't even have to roar or charge at them. You only need to make them nervous."

Ducky heard Chomper's words, but that did not put her mind at ease. She was still contributing to the deaths of other swimmers. It only took her a moment to realize that the "other" no longer applied in her case.

"What about the others? If they kill a swimmer then they would stay a sharptooth, they would, they would," Ducky forced herself to think about the others so as not to focus on the swimmers who would soon face a terrible end.

Chomper looked around a few times to make sure they were not being overheard.

"I managed to convince him to not have them make the kill. I imagine Red Claw will do so himself, or perhaps Thud and Screech. Either way, the rule isn't being broken. I promise."

Ducky stared at him a long moment before shaking her head, "That may not work next time, Chomper. And then we would be stuck, yep, yep, yep."

"We'll figure out something, okay? Right now we just have to get through this and think of another plan to get him off our back."

Just then a roar echoed in the distance, as the swimmers began to congregate closer to the water. Both dinosaurs knew what this was. It was the distraction before the hunt. If the threat was in the distance then it could not be close by.

But dangers could hide even in plain sight.

Without a word, Ducky sighed and proceeded to emerge herself in the water. She knew that as she went closer to the herd that the younglings would stay clear on the other side. Which is exactly what their new overlord wanted.

She forced herself to look at the herd.

The stream's blue waters cut through the flat landscape like a thunderbolt through the night sky. For miles to the west and east nothing of any significance could be seen apart from tall grass and the barrens beyond. It was only to the north, the stream's source, where the landscape gave way to bluffs and plentiful trees. It was here where Redclaw would emerge after the others launched their diversion from the grass. In Ducky's mind the pieces all fit together so perfectly, it was beautiful in an odd sort of way. The beauty of death.

She closed her eyes. What am I becoming?

Chomper, meanwhile, left the swimmer with her thoughts. The rest of the pack had a hunt to start.

Petrie had always enjoyed the riveting experience of flight. It was freedom in action. To be able to soar high above other dinosaurs was a gift that every flyer was taught to value from a young age.

At this particular moment, however, he would rather have never moved another inch off the ground if he could avoid what he was about to do.

Me going to scare swimmers by trying to get eggs. Me thought I never have to do that again.

Eggs were quite tasty, he had to admit, but this instance was quite different. Rather than feed off the dead, they were deliberately snuffing out the existence of the living.

Still, he knew that if this went bad, his friends would pay dearly. He feared Red Claw's temper and though he had the ability to fly away, he would not abandon them to such a fate. Which is why he concentrated his efforts on the slowly moving specks below he knew to be the swimmer herd. His keen sight was able to spot the nesting area without much trouble.

Here go nothing, he thought sadly to himself, but also with determination.

Yellow eyes gleamed through the canopy of grass as the predator stared at the distant flyer in the sky. Though many hundreds of body-lengths separated them, he knew that they were all in this together.

"Your first hunt, kid?"

Littlefoot turned towards the green fastbiter with a bewildered expression. Upon seeing it Thud quickly broke into a laugh.

"I take that as a yes. Well, kid, you can't survive on dead meat alone. Consider this a learning experience."

He wasn't sure how to respond to that. They knew about their past lives as leaf eaters, but he wasn't sure if they knew the part about being unable to kill. And if they didn't, Littlefoot hoped to keep it that way for however long he could.

"You'll forgive me if I'm not exactly thrilled at being involved in this," he replied casually.

The green fastbiter shrugged, "Trust me, there is nothing more thrilling than a hunt. It is nothing like what you might have experienced in your sap-sucker days."

"You don't exactly need to chase after tree stars in order to eat them. Food just kind of sits around waiting for you."

The fastbiter crotched down and gestured for Littlefoot to do the same. As soon as the smaller sharptooth did so Thud gestured at the swimmers in the distance.

"What do you see?"

Littlefoot hardly knew what he was supposed to seeing. He knew the raptor was testing him for something.

"A bunch of swimmers doing swimmer stuff?"

Thud tried to hide his amusement, "Well at least you aren't blind. Do you see any weaknesses, little one? Try to forget what you know and listen to your inner voice."

Littlefoot attempted to do as Thud instructed, though a part of still resisted, he managed to see the herd a bit differently this time around.

"Well the younglings are further towards the center so they're protected by the adults. The more elderly are also there to look after them. The most healthy are all on the edges."

He wished he had Ducky here to tell him more about the dynamics of her herd but Thud nodded in approval.

"That is what you should see. As you are a sharptooth now you will need to focus on the details, as those may mean the difference between life and death." Thud then sniffed the air and growled with amusement, "What did your sap-sucker parents tell you about mating, kid?"

"Enough to know that it makes eggs…"

Thud chuckled as he pointed at a particular swimmer, "Do you smell the stench coming from that leaf eater?"

"Wait is that what I think it is?" Littlefoot asked as he took a sniff and recognized a musty smell that could only mean one thing.

"Yep," Thud affirmed, "he has his eyes on the female over there, which means that he is distracted. I will give you two guesses on who my brother is going to go after, and the first one doesn't count."

Thud focused all of his attention on the male. "As soon as Screech makes his move I will block the swimmer's path to the water, and you will spook the female. The boss will do the rest."

Oh boy, Littlefoot thought nervously. He didn't know whether to be excited, revolted or just plain scared. Currently, he was a combination of three and that bothered him. Or did it?

"Pay attention you former leaf lickers!" barked Screech as Cera and Spike stared absent mindedly in no particular direction. "You have to be on high alert on a hunt at all times!"

Cera grunted in annoyance, but obeyed nonetheless as she tried to look straight ahead. Only my father talks to me like that, and I don't even like it then!

Spike, meanwhile, felt an almost irresistible instinct to obey the elder member of his kind. He instantly went on point, his tail sticking straight behind him. Had he been raised as a fastbiter he would have recognized his own behavior. It was the deference of the lowest-ranked member of a pack to his superiors. Nonetheless his eyes gave away his real feelings on the matter.

If Screech noticed Spike rolling his eyes he did not give any indication of it.

"Eyes ahead," he said bluntly. "If I know Thud, I think I know which one he'll go for."

Cera forced herself to consider what she was about to do and examine the herd in front of them by peering through the grass, "Well I am glad he does. I just see swimmers everywhere."

"Pathetic," growled Screech. "Looks like we have more work to do than I thought."

Cera and Spike both paled a bit at that statement. Just what did he mean by that?

"We're almost ready," the dark gray fastbiter stated. "Follow in behind me, but don't fuck it up. Target the male on the edge of the herd. He's distracted. If he gets away from the first assault, flank him so he doesn't get away."

"Yes, your highness," muttered Cera.

"What was that?!" Screech lashed at them with a nasty growl.

Cera, however frightened she was, did not back down in fear, old threehorn instincts coming into play (or perhaps her newfound Tyrannosaurus ones).

"I said, yes, sir,"

Screech eyed them carefully but gave no other thought to the matter. Just then, the small click of a sickle claw could be heard above the noise of the herd.

"That's the signal," Screech remarked with a terrifying glint in his eyes. "Let's go."

"Oh, Tumble, you are so silly!"

The male swimmer eyed the young female with hungry eyes as he again intentionally made a botched mating call. To any other female this would be the sign that the male was unsuitable, but she knew him well enough to know when he was playing.

"What, Aqua, you don't like my call? How about this?"

As if on cue he emitted a horrifically botched call that sounded like a cross between a threehorn grunting and a longneck having its tail ripped off. It was ended prematurely as Aqua slammed into him, however.

"Oh, give me a proper call will you, you tease?"

He smiled, "Who me?"

But he knew when the gig was up, and not even Aqua would put up with his nonsense indefinitely. Furthermore, with the Fisher on one side of the stream and the annoying sharpbeak making mock dives, he had no idea when the herd would panic again and bring a premature end to this courtship session. It was time for him to make his move before any challengers could appear or Aqua could lose interest.

Carefully, so as to put as much air as possible through his vocal apparatus, he reared back to make his call.

"Sharptooth!"

Tumble aborted himself mid-call as the screams of the younglings echoed in the air. The rest of the herd quickly scattered. It only took him a moment to see what had led to the panic.

Two fastbiters and a two-footer, and they were heading straight for him.

He took a quick glance towards Aqua as she propelled herself towards the water. Her headlong sprint was cut short, however, when she swerved to avoid something and slammed straight into Tumble's side. It was only then that he realized the full magnitude of their predicament.

There were now three fastbiters between them and the sanctuary of the water. Worse yet, as if to add insult to injury, two youngling two-footers stood between them and the tall grass, as if to dare them to sprint away from the sanctuary of the water. It was only in a brief moment of insight that he resisted the instinct to sprint into the path of least resistance.

His love was not as fortunate.

"Aqua, no! That's what they want!"

But it was too late. In a horrifying moment that seemed to last for an eternity, Aqua rushed passed the two younglings as they quickly dove out of the way. The two elder fastbiters then pursued her into the tall grass and towards the woods and bluffs beyond. By the time the massive tyrannosaurus appeared from the trees it was already too late.

"Ahhhhhh! Noo..urk."

In the seconds that followed his mind refused to process what he was seeing and hearing. It would only be in the days to come that the mental images would plague him in his sleep stories and quiet moments. But as his love's body was swung side to side in the massive sharptooth's jaws and then slammed against the uncaring ground, he could hear the sounds of terror from the herd. In an instant she had been right here next to him, and now she was being dismembered as the last ragged, pained gasps left her lifeless body.

He took no notice of the two young two-footers staring at him with pity as he silently ran towards the stream and the sanctuary of his herd. The sharpteeth had spared his body on this day, but had devoured his heart and dreams.

Little did he realize that he and his love were not the only victims on this day.

The gang couldn't help but be horrified by what they saw...and hungry. As Red Claw dug into the main portion of the flesh, Thud and Screech joined in on some of the leaner parts of the carcass.

"Should we uh…" Littlefoot began but Chomper cut him off.

"No. In most packs, there's a hierarchy to eating. The biggest and strongest always eat first, then it moves down the line."

Meanwhile, Ruby, who had returned to the gang from her temporary captivity felt more than a little anxiety at what had just occurred.

"I cannot believe we were part of this!" Ducky cried as she turned away from the handiwork of the pack. They may not have been the ones to strike the killing blow, but they all knew that they had blood on their claws all the same.

"This feels pretty rotten," said Cera sadly.

Unfortunately, there was another sentiment among the group that was far more subtle, but no less present. Chomper was the one to say it out loud.

"Then why did it also feel...good?"

Everyone turned to him and Littlefoot was about to reply, when all of a sudden an enormous slab of meat was thrown down in front of them.

"A reward for your assistance today," Red Claw said nodding. "I hope you enjoy." The gang didn't see him grin rather ferally as he walked away.

"Oh, and make no mistake, I will be back to seek your services once more. A pack can never have enough hunters. Consider this an official claim to you and your little group."

Chomper and Ruby's eyes shot open, but the rest of the gang could only wonder at what that meant.

"And I warn all of you: try to escape this land and you will suffer. I will take that little fastrunner, and tear her apart, limb from limb. And I will make all of you watch. This is your first and only warning."

There was a deafening silence, and there was no mistaking the terrifying carnivore's intentions. He meant every word.

"Screech, Thud. Come."

And with that, having had their fill, he and the adult fast biters walked off into the distance, shadowed by the afternoon sun.

No one said anything until they were completely out of their vision, upon which Ducky turned to the purple biter.

"What did he mean by 'claiming' us, Chomper? I'm confused, I am, I am."

"It means we're a part of his pack now," he replied grimly. "Though most two footers hunt alone, some take any number of smaller biters under their protection to use them to hunt a greater variety of prey."

"Oh, great. So we're basically his minions now?" Cera said sourly. "That's just fan-tucking-fastic."

"Chomper," Littlefoot cut in. He was as unhappy as everyone else at being claimed by Red Claw, but something else was on his mind. "You said the hunt felt good?"

The little tyrannosaurus looked more than a little guilty at this question.

"It was nothing, just...never mind."

It was then that Chomper noticed the others turning their attention to the remains of the swimmer that lay in front of them. In some ways it was no different than the scavenging that they had done previously, but in another way it was fundamentally different. Because they had contributed to this hunt. They were part of the reason that this swimmer lay dead.

"I just… it felt nice to do sharptooth things with all of you…" Chomper struggled to explain himself, "I mean wasn't the chase exciting?"

Littlefoot opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but in the end nothing came out. He could not deny the feeling of excitement as the prey ran from his gaping maws. As much as he didn't want it to be true, Thud had been absolutely right.

There was nothing more thrilling than a hunt.

Hanging back behind the pack, Ruby could only watch them with fear. Not fear for herself, but fear for what they might be forced to become. They had now passed one barrier in assisting another in making a kill, but how long would it be before one of them crossed the ultimate line? The only thing that she was sure about was that she would not abandon her friends. If they were forced to do the unthinkable.

Now in varying degrees of contemplation or denial, the pack arrived at the appetizing gore in front of them. What had previously been inside of a living being now lay in the Bright Circle's uncaring gaze, baking in the midday heat.

"Me no want to eat this," Petrie muttered, but his stomach betrayed his words.

"We didn't kill it, remember?" Cera pointed out.

Spike made a series of clicks and grunts.

But we were a part of it. What if the next time, one of us strikes the blow?

"Let's not focus on that now," Littlefoot said. "We can still change back. For now, we must do what we can to survive."

The noticeable change in attitude was not lost on the rest of them, and slowly they all stepped forward to take their fill of the delicious meat.

It still tasted a little too good for comfort.

Like I said...long chapter. Love to know what you guys think! And I think the big question remains in everyone's mind: what's going to happen to Littlefoot and co. now that they're under Red Claw's terrible claws?

Find out soon and keep your eye out for an update!

~The Wasp