Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Wings of Fire or the story of Dinosaur, only how the story goes. The characters from Wings of Fire belongs to Tui T. Sutherland and the story of Dinosaur belongs to Disney. The only thing that I do own are the OC's of the story. I apologize for any errors in grammar and/or if I was not accurate in reference to something.

A/N: Prepare for the challenge of leadership. The clash of ideals come to light in this chapter.

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Chapter Eight: Getting left behind

The sun was starting to rise on a new day at the dried-up lake. The herd had finally calmed down and settled down to sleep. And once again, the major part of the herd stayed close and around the water hole while Clay, his family and friends all stuck together. Meatlug and Toothless were pressed up against Baylene while Plio, Yar and Zini laid against Clay's side. Clay was brought out of his sleep when he heard Suri say a little ways away, "Now, you two come out of there on three."

Clay opened his eyes and lifted his head to see where she was. He found his adopted sister sitting on a ledge in front of a small cave. Clay got up as she started counting, "One, two, three!"

Clay walked over to the side and climbed up to where the cave was. He heard Suri try to bring whoever was inside out by saying, "Come on. Come on out. No one's gonna hurt you guys. I promise."

"Hey, hey." Clay said as he joined her at the entrance. Looking inside he could see the two little dragons that hung around with Peril and asked, "What's going on here?"

"The little Clays haven't had anything to drink for a while. And they won't come out" Suri told him. Then she added with a small grin, "I think that they're scared of me."

"Well, who wouldn't be?" Clay cracked a grin. He then said, "You are pretty scary when you want to be."

Suri then emphasized this by making herself look scary and gave a little growl. The two little dragons, two Hivewings, only shrank deeper into the darkness. Clay then said, "Come on, little guys."

But the two just stayed put and Clay reassured them, "Relax, she's not going to bite. Now come on."

"Yeah, come on." Suri said as her adopted brother walked away. She then told the two brothers, "Come on, we're gonna get you some water."

At the word water, it seemed to coax the two brothers out of their hiding spot. The two Hivewings followed Clay and Suri down the slope. They quickened their pace when they saw the Mudwing stop a few feet into the dry lake bed.

Up on another hill, Peril had just woken up herself and climbed up to the top when she noticed that the boys were missing. When she reached the top, she could see the two brothers with the Mudwing that she sees a lot of. She's curious to see what they're up to and just watches for a moment.

Down on the dried up lake bed, Clay started digging and going over how it works, "Okay, first all you got to do is dig into the ground a little." The two Hivewings stopped on the other side of the hole and listened closely as Clay then placed his foot into the hole and said, "Now, just take a foot and press down."

Clay and the two Hivewings placed a talon into the hole. When they pressed down and water started to fill the hole. Seeing fresh water before them, the two brothers started snarling at each other and pushing the other. Clay then said, "Woah, now."

When they didn't stop, Clay placed his talons between them and said, "Come on. Come on, you two. Stop fighting." Then he suggested, "How about we work together here, huh? Let's try a little teamwork."

He placed his foot back into the water filled hole and waited for them. They placed their little talons in the hole too and he asked, "Ready, fellas?"

They nodded and Clay said, "Okay, then. Now, one, two, three. Press!"

They pressed down and more water filled into the hole. Clay backed away and looked to his adopted sister and said, "Good job there, Suri."

"No problem." Suri said with a nod. Clay then decided to ask the boys, "So, where are your parents, anyway, guys?"

"A lot of us are on our own now, actually." Peril's voice said from behind the two Hivewings. Clay looked to her as she approached them. Clay looked down as he couldn't really say much after all he and his family had been through. Peril then said, "You like kids, I see."

"Well, the skinny once can be a little chewy sometimes." Clay joked. Peril chuckled a little from his humor. Clay walked around the boys and their water and then introduced himself, "I'm Clay…" Then he shrugged as he added, "The dra-jerk."

"Oh." Peril said as she remembered what she had said a few days ago. Then she offered, "I'm sorry about that. I don't know why exactly I said."

"You're probably right about that." Clay said as he laughed. Then he added, "But it was mostly my uncle Zini who was trying to help me."

"Your uncle?" Peril asked. Clay nodded and the two kept talking. Over with the smaller group, Plio had just woken up and saw Clay and Peril hitting it off. Shaking her father she said, "Dad, wake up."

"Huh?" Yar said with a snort as he woke up. She pointed over to the two dragons and Yar immediately knew what she was talking about. They both smiled as they continued watching them.

"Why did you help that old one yesterday?" Peril asked, curious to know why he was willing to help Meatlug. Clay then shrugged as he said, "What else could we do? Leave her behind? I couldn't think of myself as a friend if I did that."

Peril looked to the ground as if that was what was supposed to him. Clay was surprised by the look on her face and said, "Oh. You mean, you actually-"

"Well, that happens all the time with this herd." Peril said as she had seen dragons fall behind before, even though while she wanted to do something about it, her brother didn't think so. Then she said, "You won't survive out in the world if you're not-"

"Strong enough." Clay finished, knowing where that was coming from. Peril nodded and said, "Well… yeah. It's what I've always been told."

"Is that you talking right now, or is it from your brother?" Clay questioned while gesturing to where Sky was. Peril glared and was about to say something to defend her brother, but couldn't find the words. She sighed in confusion and turned away while saying, "Everything's just so different now. It's what I was hearing for most of my life." She shook her head and felt lost as she said, "I-I don't know what to think anymore."

"Look, Peril-" Clay said, trying to tell her of a better way to keep the herd together. Then he said, "We look out for each other in my family." Then he pointed out, "Like before I came into the herd, we were being chased by those things that were following us."

"The Speed Stingers?" Peril asked, having seen them as well. Clay shrugged and said, "I guess. I don't know much besides from the island." But he then continued, "While were under attack, I get my family to safety, and they were able to defend me from them."

"Did you all get out okay?" Peril asked, knowing that they were able to bring down bigger dragons when they worked together. Clay then said, "My family did, and I was able to come out with only a few scratches." Then he added, "And a bite mark."

Peril took a look at Clay's right side and could see where the Speed Stinger bit him. She then said, "Ooh, that looks really bad."

"It's still a little sore." Clay admitted. Then he said, "But it doesn't really bother me as much."

"Still, had the Speed Stingers been able to get a better hold of you," Peril said with a shake of her head, "then you and your family would have been in a much worse situation." Then she asked, "Have you treated it yet?"

"No, not really." Clay said with a shake of his head. Peril then asked, "Do you know how Mudwings usually take care themselves?"

"Well, no." Clay shook his head. Then he said, "I haven't really met other dragons until coming the mainland."

"Well, luckily I do know a thing or two." Peril said with a smile. She walked over to the Hivewing's watering hole. The two smaller dragons had moved away when they had their fill of water. Dipping her talons into the water, she grasped a chunk full of mud and looked to Clay. With a gesture of her head she said, "Come over here."

Clay walked over and wondered what she was doing. Peril then said, "While being in the mud feels really good to Mudwings, it can also help relieve them of pain."

"Really?" Clay asked in wonder. Peril nodded before gently applying the mud where the Speed Stinger had bit him. Clay could feel the cool mud making the spot feel a little better. Peril looked to him and asked, "Do you feel any better?"

"I do. Thanks." Clay said with a nod. Then he said, "But back to what I was saying, if we all look out for one another, then we all stand a better chance of getting to your nesting grounds."

"You sound so sure." Peril said, feeling as if he knew that they might all make it. But Clay shook his head and said, "I'm not, but I but it's all I know. And 'cause it gives me hope for everyone."

Peril smiled at this and then changed the subject, "Uh, do you think you can teach me…"

She tapped on the dry lake bed and Clay figured out what she was asking, "Yeah. I can show you how." Clay then started digging in the dirt as he said, "It just goes a little something like this: first, you just dig enough of the dirt away."

"Can I try it?" Peril asked with an impressed smile. Clay looked to her and nodded, "Sure. And it's really easy. Just press into the dirt."

Peril placed one of her talons next to his and it slid a little before touching his talons. They both gasped from the touch but then started laughing. The Mudwing and the Skywing then pressed down and water started to fill the hole. The two dragons lowered their heads but ended up lightly butting them together. They laughed and Peril offered, "Sorry about that."

"No, no." Clay said with a shake of his head. Peril then leaned down to take a drink of water and Clay quickly joined her.

Yar and Plio were smiling to see that Clay may have found someone for him. Zini was starting to wake up as well. Yar's grin didn't falter as he said, "One down… and," He looked to Zini but stopped knowing that he didn't want to be insensitive and just said, "Well, one down."

Zini looked over to the scene and immediately knew what his father was talking about. He couldn't help but be a little bit jealous, but was also happy for his adopted nephew. Both Clay and Peril took in a few sips before glancing to each other. They smiled before Clay stepped back to let Peril have her fill.

Their moment was also being watched by someone who was awake. Sky sat up on the hill and had watched the whole thing. Though he was a little happy that his sister might have found someone for her, he didn't like how Clay was looking down on his ideals. Sky wanted his sister to be happy, but he didn't want it to be a trouble maker. But his thoughts were broken when he heard Dune's voice shout, "Sky!"

Looking to his left, he could see the Sandwing limping up to him. Sky was shocked to see that Dune was alone, and even more shocked to see that Dune's foreleg was gone. Dune then informed him, "Wyverns!" He grunted in pain from his wounds and said, "We were ambushed by a couple of wyvern brothers."

"What?" Sky said as he stood up. It sounded preposterous to him as he said, "They never come this far south."

"The fire ball must have driven them out." Dune said, thinking it was the reason they were here. A new sound came to Sky's ears and he raised up on his back legs to hear it. His eyes widened to the sound of a wyvern howling, and that particular howl meant that they found Dune's trail. Sky looked to Dune with a glare, "And you just led them right to us!" With a snarl he said, "Maybe you can feed them with your sorry hide!" Then he ordered, "Move the herd out of here, double-time, now!"

Dune closed his eyes from Sky's harsh words, but knew that Sky was somewhat right to say them for his stupid mistake. Opening them, he complied with his leader's orders and let loose a roar that caused the herd to wake up. All the dragons in the sleeping herd started to move about from the roar. Sky let loose a roar of his own to get them moving as well. All the dragons rose up onto their feet and started moving after their leader.

Clay and Peril looked to see the herd moving and the former asked, "Hey, what's going on?"

"My brother's moving the herd out. But I don't know why." Peril said before they moved to where Sky stood guard.

Up on the ridge, Sky watched to keep an eye on the herd as they moved along to escape the coming predators. His attention was diverted when he heard his sister's voice, "Sky!" He looked down to see her and the Mudwing running up to them, "What's going on? Why are you moving the herd?"

"Wyverns." Sky said, making Peril gasp to what they meant. Sky then told her, "If don't keep moving, then they'll catch up to us for sure."

"But the others in the back-" Clay said, thinking of his friends. He shook his head and said, "They'll never make it. They won't be able to keep up."

"Then they'll slow down the predators." Sky said, not willing to risk the entire herd for a few. He looked back to the moving herd to watch over them. This angered Clay as he growled, "You can't just sacrifice them like this!"

Peril watched in fear as Clay rushed up the hill. Sky looked to the Mudwing with a glare as he joined the Skywing. Clay then shouted down to the herd, "Hold it!" His shouting drew their attention, "That could be you guys back there!"

Sky glared as he didn't like Clay trying to take his leader ship. With a snarl, he took a step towards the Mudwing. Clay turned to him just as Sky grabbed him with both talons and then shoved him down to the ground. Peril winced and Clay grunted when his back hit the ground. When he tried to get back up, Sky slammed one of his talons onto Clay's chest to keep him pinned. Sky stood over Clay with a growl and warned, "If you should ever interfere like this again…" He got in the Mudwing's face as he growled, "I will kill you, Mudwing."

With a snort, Sky stepped off of Clay and started walking off. Clay was breathing heavy from the assault and his eyes were wide from shock from the threat. Peril had climbed up after Clay to try and stop him, but made her way to help him up as the Mudwing started to rise. But when Sky looked back and ordered with a snarl, "Get away from him, Peril!"

He came back with a roar to scare Clay back a little. Then moving between his sister and Clay, Sky slapped the Mudwing in the face with his tail. Clay grunted in pain from it before looking at Sky with a growl. He was about to fight back when Peril shook her head, "Clay, stop." Clay looked to her as she said, "You should just- you just go. I'll be okay, I promise."

Clay sighed as he knew that she was right. He couldn't think of fighting Sky right now. He had his friends to worry about. The Mudwing opened his wings and jumped off the ledge to glide to the back of the herd. When he landed his sprinted towards his friends and family.

Peril watched him go with a sigh of her own. Sky then growled while making her go forward, "You are not to go near the Mudwing ever again."

"Sky, please…" Peril started to say. But her brother just huffed and said, "Not one more word about it. Now let's get moving. We don't have much time."

Peril only sighed again as she turned her head and kept walking. Clay ran up to the others just as Meatlug, Baylene and Toothless were starting to stand up. Clay then tried to hurry them into getting up, "Come on! Let's go! We gotta get out of here! Wyverns are coming!"

"Wyve-what now?" Yar asked in confusion. The Scavenger looked to Meatlug when she said, "Wyverns." She shook her head as she said, "Dragon that likes to taunt its prey and can have a really bad attitude." She was with Clay when she said, "Come on, let's get out of here."

"Come on, you guys! Get on! Get on!" Clay said as the four Scavengers quickly climbed onto his back. When they were secure, Clay started running as he said, "We're gonna get left behind if we don't hurry."

Clay started running while the trio were slowly coming along behind them. Clay shouted behind him, "Let's go, you guys! Hurry up! We're starting to lose them!"

"Clay," Plio said as she looked back. She grabbed his horn and told him, "You need to slow down."

Clay stopped running and looked behind him and his face fell. He had been trying to catch up to the herd that he nearly left his friends behind. Meatlug, Baylene and Toothless were doing their best to get a move on, but with age it was hard. Clay looked between them and the fleeing herd before sighing. The Mudwing watched as Sky, Peril and the rest of the herd disappear from the dried-up lake. Clay let out another sigh and only hoped that they could rejoin the herd at some point.

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The herd was starting to enter a canyon that connected to the lake. Dune was doing his best to keep up, but with his injured limb and many other wounds he was starting to fall behind. Dune looked to the head of the herd, but his face fell when he saw that Sky wasn't even looking back. And the further that the herd traveled, the more that he started to fall behind. And just as the sun started to reach midday again, Dune felt completely alone when the entire herd was way ahead of him. He sighed before groaning in pain from his injuries and stumbled as he walked.

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Much later that evening, though Clay, his family, his friends and the herd had cleared out, the dry lake was far from empty. Dark clouds had rolled in during the day and a rain storm was a coming. But the clouds overhead didn't bother the two wyvern brothers as they arrived on the scene. Their footsteps caused ripples in the small water holes as they approached. The smaller wyvern looked to his brother and said, "It appears that we just missed the feast, my brother."

"It does seem that way." The bigger wyvern nodded as he looked around. He glanced down to the ground and saw something that caught his eye. A grin formed on his face as he said, "But it would seem that my plan worked perfectly."

The smaller wyvern joined his sibling and looked down. Staining the sand in a trail was the blood of the Sandwing that they had fought in the maze of rocks. They both looked to where the trail lead to and it joined with a large number of footprints. The bigger wyvern then said to his sibling, "They will run themselves ragged in trying to get away from us."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go get them." The smaller wyvern said and started to walk. The bigger wyvern then said, "Easy there, brother." Then he assured, "We will get to them soon enough. But first…"

He looked to the large watering hole and said, "How about we refresh ourselves."

"Very true." The smaller wyvern nodded. Then he said, "I haven't had any fresh water since we left home." He shook his head when he added, "And the blood from our kills don't do us very good."

"No, they don't." The bigger wyvern agreed. The two lowered their heads and started to drink their fill of lake water. Thunder started to rumble as the bigger wyvern lifted his head and looked to where the foot prints and blood went with a growl and a sinister grin.

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Author's Note: I know that I've mostly ended the latest chapters with the wyverns, but it kind of foreshadows the coming danger. Next is the cave scene and the fight between Clay, Dune and the two wyverns. I'm going to do my best to do better than the movie. I look forward to reading your reviews. Be sure to leave a comment either about if I've done something wrong or if you want something specifically to happen. See you next time.