CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

(Note: This chapter has stuff that is rated T.)

Two hours before dawn, Chomper woke Tiny and the other allies. "I've got to to get the Longnecks out of here. And we need to find a way to stop my uncle today. Nobody must die in the Great Valley if I can help it. Also, once he gets in, he'll find out I was lying about the five Flatteeth being dead. Then he'll be onto me, and, if he looks into it enough, all six of us." said Chomper to Tiny.

"Well, hurry up. I'm going to get some Domeheads to eat. I've spent plenty in the Land of MIsts." said Tiny, licking her lips.

"Tiny, did you find out if any of the pack would be willing to join us? I know you said one was having bad Sleep Stories about walking too much. Any others? Also, are there any that would definitely side with Shredder over us? Any that are pretty loyal to him?" Chomper asks Tiny.

Tiny said Definitely by definition, no, so far none that would assuredly side with Shredder, but I have noticed some seemed to be holding back quite a load of emotions about that long hunt yesterday.

Phyco said You know Chomper don't get me wrong, I find your fondness of the flatteeth beautiful, but the only reason I don't complain that your efforts to save them could result in going hungry is, well, with Shredder's extremity in these hunts I worry their won't be any flatteeth left, which kinda justifies going hungry.

Chomper went to go see the group of Longnecks. They were all asleep. He recognized one of them, Rhett. Rhett and he weren't on the best of terms. Still, Rhett would know that he was a friendly Sharptooth. It seemed his best chance. He shook Rhett awake.

"I told you, your tree stars blew away, I did not steal them, now go back to sleep." Rhett grumbles, then tosses turns and curls up defensively to try harder to sleep.

After a moment back asleep Rhett wonders if perhaps it was someone else with a more important reason for waking him. He turns and looks at Chomper. "Hey I remember you. You're the reason I'm going to die a virgin. What do you want?"

"I wanted to warn you. There is a Sharptooth pack about to attack your herd. They were going to do it last night but luckily that Earthshake saved your tushes. Their leader, Shredder, was going to try and go for you right away but I suggested that he rest first and attack later. His plan would have gotten some of the pack killed and some of you guys killed. I convinced hm to attack at dawn, so that, of course, I could be there earlier and save you guys. You should get the herd leader and convince him or her to send the herd to the Great Valley. It's going to be attacked tomorrow and will need all the help it can get." Chomper told Rhett.

"Hurry Chomper. We need the herd out of here before the pack gets up. " Tiny calls to Chomper.

"Who is she?" Rhett asks.

"My wife." replies Chomper.

Rhett said "Well, don't want to get eaten. Get out of sight Chomper, I got this, don't want the herd to see you first thing they wake up."

As soon as Chomper is gone Rhett bites a Longneck's tail.

The Longneck snaps "Ouch! what the $#*! was that?"

Rhett replies "A Sharptooth! it tried to eat you in your sleep but your scream scared it away. Look, footprints! That is from a member of the pack that's been causing all the chaos, we are all going to die if we don't go now!"

The Longneck wakes the others and the herd leaves. Sometime later, Shredder and the rest fo the pack stare at the footprints of the gone herd. We had them, how could they have left? he asked.

Don't know. said Tiny.

Well, this pack isn't eating anything till we find them. We must be skilled at catching herds, or else we won't be able to beat the Great Valley tomorrow. Shredder says. The pack moans. They set off after the Longnecks.

Phyco says Hey Chomper, you happen to have anything that will make my tummy less angry? My apologies if I come off as grouchy, I know you just don't like the idea of flatteeth getting hurt but I wish we could eat something, perhaps let the get caught just one time? I just don't want to be hungry like... Phyco stands their for a moment starring off, a blank and somewhat horrified expression on his face.

Tiny cries Phyco?... Phyco you ok?

Phyco doesn't reply. Come on Phyco snap out of it.

Phyco says I'm sorry, I was having a flash back. He then continues walking like nothing ever happened. Let me know if you find something we can eat when you know who isn't looking.

Chomper asks What kind of flashback were you having? I would like to know about you when you were out there after your parents died. How did you meet Tiny? Tiny and I have been pretty busy and haven't had much time to mention all of her past. She doesn't want to talk about an incident involving you and her and Sailbacks when she was in her teens.

Phyco said Sorry I can only tell one story at a time. I pick how I met Tiny. It was 5 cold times after my parents had died, and I had found the three horn herd that had killed my parents. I wasn't quite ready to take them on, but I was about ready to take away about 45% of a teen age threehorns health. Years of pain had built up inside of me, near starvation, fatal illnesses, bad wounds, nearly eaten by other sharpteeth, all because I had no parents to shield me from such horrors. At the time the forest was dry, and I found a flowing fire pool. It gave me a idea.

I then picked up a stick, and set the brush ablaze, being sure to set up all the escape routs I can. Then the threehorns began to panic, making all kinds of three horn noises, they could not decide where to run to so they had ran all over. However after that I then realized that I was in my own mess. Trapped, no way out, and doomed to burn in my own fire. So I had ran from the flames, trying to get away from them but they where hot, they where everywhere, I had trouble seeing in the smoke the light and the memories suddenly clouding my vision. Then, I saw a area I might be able to climb out, higher ground on a rock ledge. The smoke was thick, my lungs where burning, but I did not want to die.

Tiny said At the time I to was alone, a orphan looking for food. I then looked out and beheld the forest was on fire, dying threehorns where out their, screaming, burning, I thanked my luck that I was well out of reach. Then, I saw a poor little twoclaw pup trying desperately to climb up to me, his feet looked like some of the packs feet are starting to with shredder in command, his tummy stuck to his backbone, many scratches on him, eyes that said "I have seen some things". I realized he had gone through worse then I had. I couldn't just let him die. I reached down, and I pulled him to safety. From that time on we had remained together for the next 8 cold times, together we where able to get food 12 times easier, we protected each other, if not for each other we surly would have died. Then, we began to find more of our kind.

Phyco said Once the flames had died we searched the aftermath, and we had found some of the threehorns escaped the fire well enough that their bodies where unburned enough to eat, and the smoke and burn made their meet last four extra weeks without being able to spoil. It was good eating that day.

Tiny said I wonder if any threehorns survived.

Phyco said Even they don't know the answer to that.

Meanwhile, a Longneck says to the herd "Rhett here saved the herd. Rhett warned me about the Two Claws and we were able to get out in time."

"Yes, I did, I saved the herd." said Rehtt, smirking.

"So, these Sharpteeth have come after us twice now. What should we do?" the herd leader asked his herd.

A really stupid Longneck replies "If they won't give up, rather then running how about we go on the offensive?"

"Attack a pack of Sharpteeth? Do you really think that's necessary?" asked the leader, raising his eyebrows. The dumb Longneck just shuts up.

"What do you think we should do Rhett? You've alerted us to the Sharpteeth and helped save the herd." the herd leader asks Rhett.

Rhett replies "Uh... we can, sleep in shifts? Some awake and on guard while others sleep?"

Around nightfall, Tucompso and Lenoava have their union ceremony.

At last, I have a mate! says Tucompso happily. So, now that we are together forever, got any goals for our future? Perhaps we can have our honeymoon on the beach, have a buffet of both sea and land food.

Lumoava said Ok, sounds like a great idea handsome. The two go to the beach.

Tucompso said You know I always believed skywater is the big waters breath, know why? He points to fog rising in the distance becoming clouds.

No, I don't. she replies.

Tucompso suggests Perhaps play toss the shell?

They play toss the shell. Eventually, it gets too dark to see. Ok, I cannot see that well anymore. I lost the shell when I tossed it and cannot find it. We'll have to do something else now. said Lumoava.

Tucompso said I do have one other idea what we can do, would you prefer to do it in the morning where we have better light? If so, lets go to bed, and in the morning, we will have the comfort of the bright circle.

How about now? suggested Lumoava.

Tucompso asked Want to mate?

Lemoava replied I'd love to.

Tucompso is excited, he begins to nuzzle Lemoava then rubbing her back. Well there is only one appropriate way to thank you for saying yes. He begins to mount her nice and slow to savor the moment.

Not too hard. says Lumoava, grinning at him.