Enduring Lenience
Petrie is more than ready to fight this monster his uncle turned against. He did not care about the injuries sustained by Brutus. All he wanted was to free Pterano from their clutches by any means necessary, but despite his quick recovery he keels over in pain with a grunt.
"Damn." He slowly returns to his casual stance clutching his side. Brutus must have injured me more than me anticipated. It hurts. His thought proves that Gnash clearly knew he needed time to recover, but Petrie has no idea how long. Flying will prove a struggle for him right now, until he knows how injured his side may be or if any damage had been sustained elsewhere. He stands tall opening out his wings, and curses with a Pteranodon cry before realising someone was charging in his direction.
"PETRIE!" It is indeed Cera, screaming at the top of her lungs after hearing the news of Petrie's duel. She is not pleased that he never told her Pterano had arrived. How though, did she know her best friend was at this specific nest? "Come down here right..!" It is then that she sees Petrie in strong pain, holding his side and looking away at a loss.
"Me no able to. Can she no see?"
"Petrie. What is the matter?" She seems to gently take another step forward, as if to show Petrie she knows he is hurting.
"Cera, I..." He goes to just glide down, hoping he can prolong the descent but a twinge of pain in both his wings causes him to lose balance mid-flight. Crashing on Cera's back at the foot of the cliff when she catches him, he cries in pain as he slides off onto the ground. "Gah!" Cera rapidly turns around, seeing Petrie scrunched up in a ball amidst total agony.
"Petrie!" She wishes she could pick him up and return him to his feet, but unable to stop him from crashing in the first place tells her she is useless at this. It all happened so fast. "I'm so sorry Petrie."
Petrie grunts as he picks himself up, glad that Cera did not due to his pride and anger right now. Has Brutus even sprained me wings so me no can fly? He thought, before assuring Cera everything is fine. "I'm okay. Thanks."
"You're not okay Petrie!" She gives him a worried glance, knowing things are not how he stated. "Fliers do not just, fall down from the sky you know. You're injured. And badly too."
"Me say me fine!" Petrie had angrily replied, refusing to admit about his injuries before looking away.
"Alright! But still. What, happened to you? Who are the strange new Fliers here except those we already know? Exactly why is there news of a duel between you and Gnash?" Cera's questions seemed to have annoyed Petrie.
"Grr! I see it's already spread half way through the damn valley." He pauses before answering his friend's questions, trying to calm down. "They took Pterano away. Brutus did this to me by order of Gnash. My duel with Gnash is for Pterano's fate. If I lose, then Pterano dies. Why must he suffer so? Mum died thanks to them. All Uncle Pterano did was do what was right."
"You can't take part. Let us sort this out."
"But you can't. It's a duel between me and him alone. No one else is allowed to intervene. Me won't let you."
"But we have to do something."
"Me know but, me must do this on me own."
"If the others learn of this, they'll do the same thing as me."
"Try and talk me out of it, me know." He pauses in a little thought. "Me guess they will try to stop me fighting, but me have no other choice. Me can't lose him."
"It seems Pterano is up to no good again." Topsy complained to Kodi after hearing news that Petrie is going to duel.
"But father. How do you know?" Kodi questioned. "Perhaps something different is afoot this time, and I have no clue what happened before my arrival."
"It is a long story I do not wish to, put you through Kodi."
"I understand." Kodi replies before struggling to stand as he is worried Cera has been gone too long. His wounds from yesterday's battle have not fully healed, but he is certain a small walk would not cause any problems.
"Kodi!" Topsy stands in hope he can stop Kodi from harming himself. "Your wounds have not healed yet, son. Please, wait until she returns."
"But I'm worried."
"She did say she will be, visiting Petrie. She was angry that she, was not told about, Pterano's appearance. For all we know she, could be over there by, now Kodi."
Kodi tries to walk a step, but the pain becomes excruciating. "Damn this, stupid INJURY!" He had spoken through gritted jaws, before laying down in an act of angry submission as he could not move another step. He thumps his head down on the ground in utter loss and annoyance, a huff through his nose reminding Topsy of his younger days.
"She'll be fine Kodi." Kodi's two children then run from round the watering hole, Trisha and Tria following behind.
"Hey father!" She heads over to Topsy and greets him.
"Oh. Hello little Trisha."
"Dad. You know I'm not little anymore," Trisha replied in a somewhat annoyed but happy tone.
"You'll always be my little girl, Trisha. Now, what brings you here with your mum?"
"Your turn to watch the little ones. I have someone to meet in the grove down a ways."
"Very well. Just return safely. Cera should be returning shortly."
"No worries father. Thanks." She turns to the two youngsters. "Now. We know not to jump on your father, don't we you two." They both nod. "And no jumping on your grandfather either."
"'Kay." They replied in unison with each other. Trisha looks to her father and Kodi. "See ya later." She then rushes off to meet whoever it is she is meeting.
"Kids." Tria laughs. "They grow up so fast."
"Trust me love, I know." Topsy complied chirpy way before ending with a laugh.
"Well. I have somewhere to be now. I'll see you boys later."
"Okay honey." Topsy slowly stands and heads to Tria before they both rub heads together.
"See ya round Tria," Kodi replied in a depressing manner before laying his head down again in boredom. Tria's original intent is overrun by her caring heart.
"What is wrong Kodi?" Tria walks to him. "Is it your injuries again?"
"Just my lower back and left hip." He is still unhappy being unable to do anything. "They still hurt."
"It will take time to heal I'm afraid Kodi."
"I know. I just wish I could walk again without this pain bringing me down."
"When Cera returns, I'm sure she'll check them then lather on more herbal paste." She pauses. "You'll feel better in no time."
"Thank you for your concern, I guess." He rests his head down again and goes silent, before raising his voice to his son who starts to wander off. "Tristan! Do not wander off! Come back please!" Tristan looks down in guilt for forgetting his father cannot walk today, then his sister quickly charges him without realising her strength.
After a few noises of upset, Tristan soon cries loudly. "Waaaah!" He closes his eyes while the tears begin to fall.
"Oriana! Mind your strength!" Oriana looks down in guilt with a tilted head. "Come on over, Tristan. Let's make it all better." Tristan runs to dad still crying.
"I guess I'll be heading off now." Tria began. "Bye!" She then heads off to wherever she needs to be.
"Bye!" Kodi soon rubs heads with Tristan's to make him feel better, then a plan comes to mind. "Quick. Go get her back. Go on. You know you want to." Tristan's tail soon wags side to side and he happily runs after his sister, chasing her in circles around a large rock nearby. They both start laughing as they continue to chase each other. Now that he and Topsy are watching the little ones, their boredom is soon over.
"Petrie! You cannot go taking part in this duel, you do not know how to fight." Ducky rebuked in a worried tone while she massaged Petrie's wings and shoulders. She could see they were damaged to a certain extent.
"Me have…guh…no other…choice…dhrr!" Despite the excruciating pain he receives from Ducky's massage, he knows to bear it so he can fly properly again and finally be able to get his uncle back from those maniacs. None of his friends seem fazed with the continuous grunts and groans that they hear and witness, instead they continue trying to talk him out of battle; standing around their usual meeting place where they used to go as kids, even though it had been twenty odd years ago.
"Ducky is right Petrie. You've never fought another Flier before. I just don't understand why you agreed." Littlefoot replied before pausing. "We'll have to save Pterano some other way, surely you can accept that."
Petrie shrugs Ducky off before crying a loud Pteranodon cry at Littlefoot despite her aid being unfinished. He is angry and flaps his wings which soon gives Littlefoot a reason to back down, as he retreats his head to the ground in shock. "Stop trying to pull me back!" He had raised his voice to Littlefoot while looking down at him intentionally.
"Petrie!" Ducky is surprised at Petrie's reaction. "Sto..!"
"NO!" He glares at Ducky before returning to his previous intent on shouting at Littlefoot. He does not wish to be this way, but all his emotions are getting forced out at once. "Gnash disrespected me! He damn well disrespected me! After telling Brutus to beat me and attack Pterano, he grinds his foot down on my head! Do you understand?!" He looks at all his friends rapidly. "Do any of you…understand how he treated me?! Like dirt! The bastard treated me like dirt!"
"Petrie!" She growls slightly in annoyance. "Lighten up for crying out loud!" Cera blurted against Petrie's better judgement. "Calm yourself down!"
"Me sorry, okay!" He begins to tear up. "Me just…Me just feel so…so…" He could not finish his sentence and covers his face with his right wing. His friends knew he was crying, and that made them all the more guilty for trying to talk him out of it. "If me lose the duel, me lose uncle Pterano! Me can't afford to lose! They'll kill him! He is all me have left!" Petrie's words put a strain on all his friends; hearing how he spoke them through his tears made them feel deeply emotional with what they all know Petrie has been forced through, ever since his mother never came home that day. Littlefoot for sure knows how Petrie is feeling now, nevermore knowing why she did not return until his uncle suddenly appears close to death. It reminds him of the day he lost his mother, just thinking about it makes him turn away with his eyes closed, unable to reply. Cera instantly gets angry with Petrie, despite knowing why Littlefoot is acting in this way.
"Thanks a ton Petrie! Now Littlefoot is upset!" She gives Petrie a dark look before heading after Littlefoot to help comfort him.
"Doh! Me just a burden to you all. Me better off not even being here." Petrie soon flies off to Juni, without a second glance back or even a goodbye.
"No, Petrie! Please come back!" Ducky cries to him in hope her plea changes his mind, but Petrie just flies on. "Oh. This is all my fault." She looks down in guilt, before heading to Cera and Littlefoot. Spike unable to speak, will do anything he can to help and simply follows Ducky to his friends.
"Petrie dear. What has happened?" Juni worriedly asks as she hugs her mate, but despite her caress Petrie never sways from his sadness.
"Me just a burden to all me friends. They no understand."
"Did you have a fight?"
"No, not exactly. Me just cause problems all the time."
"That isn't true Petrie? Don't think that way." She rubs her beak with Petrie's, her second try at a smile which clearly does not work. "I'm sure there's an explanation for all this." Juni then notices Petrie's injuries, wondering how he got them especially on his wings. "But where did you get these injuries?"
"Gnash and Brutus!"
"Gnash is here?!" She soon turns to anger. "What the hell is he planning to do?! Kill us, like his murderous name implies!" She pauses. "And what of this duel he forced you into?!" Juni looks at Petrie with a worried look, hoping he will answer her question.
So it has reached Juni too. Doh! The whole damn valley will know at this rate. Me no can tell her what is going on. So many things will change if me do. Petrie angrily thought as he soon starts flapping his wings to be at the duel location without a second thought. Juni however, suddenly stops him with the gentle touch she knows will help clear her mate's thoughts. Her hands on his shoulders, her wings flailing against his body and her beak resting on Petrie's, he soon gives in and calms down welcoming her comfort and cooing. An assumed hug though he never wished to turn from where he stands now.
"Petrie. Please, I must know what is going on!"
"Juni." He reluctantly gives her the answer she is asking for. "Gnash ordered Brutus to beat me. Once Brutus reduced me to a mere being, Gnash then ordered Brutus to take Pterano from me. He'll die if me no do something. Though if me no retaliate, this would not have happened in the first place."
"That maniac!" Juni soon gets fumed with Gnash for what he did to her mate. "You must beat him senseless, Petrie!"
"Don't worry. Me plan to! Me refuse to let them take Pterano!"
"Just be careful. He fights dirty, and will use many tricks to win in this duel. I know his schemes. Never turn your back to him. Keep an eye on every move he makes."
"Why you know of Gnash's schemes?"
"I know most of what he does. My flock have had more scrapes with his Fliers than I can count." She pauses. "He'll look like he will make one attack then change it at the last moment. He will try to blind you momentarily with sand or dirt as well. Be unpredictable and please, stay alive."
"You say it like you know me be hurt. You're not even gonna try to stop me, like all me friends had done."
"Petrie. You know that whatever I say, it still will not stop this duel. Duels can never be stopped unless there is a victor." She pauses. "Please, be that victor."
She is expecting too much of me. But what if me lose? What will happen to her and our children? Me can't lose them. Petrie's thoughts are contradicting. He knows not to lose but has no idea how Gnash will battle, what he may do or even when he would fight like Juni mentioned to him. Should he get distracted or deceived, then Gnash gains the upper hand and forces his opponent to an untimely end if he so chooses. With no time to ponder on any plan, Petrie heads to the southern meadow upon Haika's cry.
Petrie lands in the meadow surrounded by a fair number of onlookers waiting to view the battle. If only Kodi or Topsy were here then this duel most certainly would be halted, ready for them to grasp the matter at hand and find out why it must go under way. Gnash simply stands perched atop the high point for all to see, among the few tall rocks in the centre. His gaze is soon directed straight towards Petrie, before he casually lands stylishly on the ground.
"Hmm. And not a minute later. I'm surprised you wish to lose so soon, Petrie."
"Petrie is the one battling?" Bemused mumbling spreads around the crowd after the Riojasaurus clarified, as the others learn that Gnash's opponent is in fact the Flier they have known for so long.
"I've arrived here to beat you Gnash!" Petrie stated plainly with attitude.
"Well." Gnash laughs under his breath. "I'm afraid your little wish will never be fulfilled." Petrie replies with a loud Pteranodon cry and flaps his wings in a forceful manner, stepping closer to Gnash in the process.
"Fool!" Gnash responds with a foreboding cry that rings through Petrie's ears, a prolonged sound that could easily terrify a younger dinosaur. He jumps closer to his opponent, flapping his wings and adding to his distance. Both of them are now within metres of each other, waiting for their opponent's next move. Gnash starts chattering his beak with a vocalised noise only Fliers know means 'make your first move'. Petrie replies with a different chatter and vocalisation simply meaning 'you first'. They stare each other down, still awaiting an attack; watching for the moment one does.
Gnash is the first to make such an attack, using his wing to swipe dry dirt up into Petrie's eyes, but Petrie quickly blocks with his wing, knowing exactly what move Gnash would pull off first.
"That is low, even for you Gnash!" Petrie shouted before running at his adversary intent on whacking him powerfully with his beak. Gnash skilfully pushes Petrie's beak up and away, before making an attack with his other claws to slice Petrie's neck. A struggle and cry from Petrie, before he instantly batters Gnash's arm with his wing to direct the claws elsewhere. They slice cleanly across his chest; a flow of blood causing the new wound to burn, and a quick back step to free himself from Gnash's hindrance. The burning pain causes Petrie to growl.
"Hrr! You made me stain my claws! Now I shall make you pay, with your pitiful life!" Gnash charges for Petrie with an open beak intent on grabbing him by the neck, but Petrie's quick wits have him open his beak to grab Gnash's before holding his grip there ready to push Gnash back with force.
Their repetitive cries cancel each other out, but Gnash has a plan in mind he knows Petrie will not foresee. Petrie tries to outbalance his enemy, but instead he is sent hurtling across the ground towards the tall rocks in the centre by Gnash's sheer strength. He simply watches Petrie collide with his back in a sidewards position, before casually strolling to him for his next attack.
Petrie groans as he tries to regain his stance, but Gnash reaches him and clobbers his head with his beak to knock him down again. With a grunt upon his landing, Petrie is too dazzled to regain his footing; unaware of Gnash's next move until his throat is forced into the ground.
"Now you shall know what true pain feels like!" Petrie begins to choke when Gnash strengthens his force on the Flier's throat, then proceeds to standing on him digging his claws into Petrie's torso. Petrie seems trapped in this pitiful state, with the memory of the pre-battle clear in his mind; in agonizing pain where Gnash continues to stand unable to retaliate. If he loses this duel, then what is the point in living if the last of his extended family is taken from him? Of course he still has Juni, and his siblings who have not yet found a mate for themselves. He has not heard from them since they set off, and he doubts they know of their mother's demise either. This makes him all the more eager to escape from Gnash's grasp.
By now, Petrie could feel Gnash's claws cutting into his flesh and drawing blood. An excruciating feeling when he forces them down further as if to crush him, for the pain to his side soon returns double it did back at the nest. Amidst Petrie's painful groans, Gnash simply laughs under his breath knowing for certain his adversary will lose. His satirical thoughts upon imagining what he plans to do with Pterano makes him feel a certain sadistic pleasure.
"Petrie! Get up!" A female voice cried amidst the crowd Petrie seemed to recognise.
Huh. Ruby? It can't be. Why would she be here?
"You can do this Petrie!" The voice continued. Now Petrie is certain it is Ruby. The same recognisable tone now more mature, the glimpse of a darker pink moving fast through the many onlookers and her build of body though larger, still reminds him of his younger years with his friends. The Gang of Seven, they were known as all those years ago, but then came growing up and the time to find mates. Her appearance and calls, however, give Petrie the strength he needs to fight back.
Using his wing, Petrie whacks Gnash to unbalance him so he unintentionally frees his throat, then proceeds to striking with his beak against Gnash's head. At first Petrie misses, instead slashing Gnash across his torso drawing blood and causing a sharp pain. Gnash holds his wound, then stumbles with a slight concussion holding his head where Petrie had just whacked him a second time. Blood on his talons from where he stood digging his claws in his adversary, Gnash rapidly recovers ready for a second round of attacks. Petrie too regains his footing as quick as his wounded body would let him despite his agony being excruciating, but he could clearly see his opponent in thought.
How did I let him strike me like that? This unskilled Flier should be simple to beat. Gnash has never been wounded by any other Flier in his life before now. His initial wound from a much younger and ill-skilled Flier like Petrie has him now on edge, slowly succumbing to an anger deep down from within, which he has not felt since the very first injury he suffered. The scar that adorns the left side of his head, was given to him from a carnivore at a younger and less mature age. Now though, even carnivores fear him for his gangster-like reputation. Those who still follow him, are the ones that accept any form of meat he throws at them, be it another Flier, Leaf Eater or even Sharptooth.
Gnash soon cries another foreboding cry, but this time a hint of anger is present. His flock members have never seen him act in this way for quite a while, knowing quite soon that he will strike with no self-control in his actions. The intent of these actions, quite simply to mean Petrie's demise.
"Heh, heh, heh. You're in for it now, little Flier." Rinkus complied towards Petrie.
"Yes." Sierra glances towards Rinkus. "You're right, Rinkus. Heh, heh. Ain't no way Petrie will survive what Gnash has in store for him now." His gaze quickly returns to the duel in time to see Gnash charge at Petrie with force.
"Grr!" Petrie flaps his wings and cries a repetitive Pteranodon cry before bracing for impact, his beak ready to block Gnash's attack. The clash is powerful and Petrie slides back upon contact miraculously keeping to a balanced stance; nullifying the force and quickly countering with a head-butt of some kind to outbalance his opponent.
"WHAT?!" Gnash's sanity wavers closer to lunacy as he manically clobbers his adversary with his beak. Petrie loses balance but regains it in a quick manoeuvre, returning to attack position. Gnash charges with an open beak, grabbing his opponent by his in order to try and throw him down. Petrie however was waiting for this, and controlled his positioning to keep to an anchor. Both will remain in this posture turning around trying to gain the upper hand until one of them is thrown to the ground.
"Guys! Guys!" Ruby starts looking around for her other friends at speed. "Where are they?" Then it hits her. The meeting place where it is we used to meet. They must be over there. Upon her thought she runs there as quick as a flash, hoping her hunch has been right all along. "We need to be helping Petrie win." When she reaches her destination however, a depressing scene is all that she sees. Nobody is there. "Huh?" She pauses while looking around. "Oh dear. Where is it they have gone?" Her next hunch is of course finding them at their nests, so she quickly runs in that direction leaving the empty scene behind.
Petrie is still bracing Gnash's powerful strength, trying to study him throughout their battle tie. How long is this maniac going to keep this up? Petrie thought amidst a minute fatigue. He quickly dodges Gnash's talon strike, learning how long his adversary takes in the manoeuvre before he can manage even a tarry or attack back. Gnash repeats his last move but Petrie knew he had changed it slightly, his mind dead set on what Gnash may do next to wound him again. Before he could however, Petrie manages to grab Gnash side on and throw him down to the ground where he instantly stabs his beak into his enemy's shoulder. Gnash's entire flock stare flabbergast when their leader screams in pain.
"GAH!" Petrie pulls out his beak now dripping with his opponent's blood, causing Gnash to grunt in pain holding his wound, which is now bleeding profusely. He looks at it in a loss, seemingly losing his mind as he backs up on his back in agony and worry. "You, can't defeat, me. I, am Gnash. The most, feared Flier, in all the, Mysterious Beyond. Heh, heh." He quickly goes silent when Petrie cries a loud Pteranodon cry at him.
"You lose Gnash! Now leave my home!"
"Never! I shall never lose. Not to you, not to anybody." He throws dirt into Petrie's eyes causing him to back up with a cry covering them. "Hah. Hah, hah!" He rises agonizingly before whacking Petrie with his beak, dazzling him in hope to strike again.
"You damn obnoxious Wing-brain!" Petrie is struggling to wipe the dirt from his eyes, and Pterano could see what Gnash plans to do next. He tries to force himself to stand upright, and shouts in worry towards his nephew.
"No! Petrie!" He grunts and crashes on the ground when Brutus rams his beak against Pterano's head.
"Stay down you chagrin!" Brutus forces his foot down on the weak Flier to keep him from standing again.
"Please! Have mercy!" Pterano pleaded.
"Shut it!" Brutus whacks him again, causing a grunt, before watching Gnash charge with anger towards his opponent. Petrie knows that if he is unable to see, he will most likely get barged to the ground or even stabbed in the chest by Gnash's beak. He understands now that Gnash simply wants to kill him for his humiliation so the former is certainly Gnash's intent. He sees a glimpse of his enemy just seconds before dodging the sharp beak and sends him careening to the large rocks with a powerful strike on the back of his head. When Gnash tries to push off from the rock after colliding front first, Petrie clobbers him against it and proceeds to talon strike his back with force drawing more blood and causing agony. Another agonising scream is cut abrupt with a third hit to the side of Gnash's head before Petrie finally forces his foot down on Gnash's throat as he lay in manic horror backwards over the short grass. Petrie's other foot is simply pressing down on Gnash's left leg so he cannot move to attack with his talons and his arms are being held by Petrie's.
Gnash cannot believe his failure, getting beaten like this and humiliated once more in front of his entire flock and the whole crowd of Leaf-Eaters who stayed to watch. Brutus is surprised the little Flier actually beat Gnash so he instantly takes his foot off of Pterano before walking away a few steps. Another Flier, female and unlike Petrie, simply lands on the large rock her leader had perched on earlier to judge.
"Flier never fought, like this before in his life! Loser never lost!"
"Haika!" Gnash replies outraged.
"Do you surrender, Gnash?" Petrie interrogated looking down at Gnash's lowly stature.
"Flier now questions, leader of whom they all fear! Choices, choices now!"
"I never surrender t…" Gnash is quickly silenced when Petrie forces down further on his throat.
"Yes…or no?" Petrie keeps pushing down, intent on making Gnash signal his surrender for all to see. At first he refuses, but soon realises this Flier means to kill him if he does not; the dark glare Petrie gives tells him everything he needs to know, and he is in no position to retaliate in any way.
"I…" Gnash is unable to speak as he cannot breathe and stomps with his right foot rapidly on the ground not willing to be suffocated, which could happen very soon.
"The foot it goes down, rapidly against the ground! Gnash he surrenders!" Petrie takes the weight off of Gnash's throat, giving him a chance to breathe gasping for air.
"You lose this duel, Gnash! Pterano stays with me!" Petrie complies before stepping off and freeing Gnash from the pin so he can stand, slowly and painfully on his own. "If you dare threaten him again, me will kill you! Now leave this place and never return!" Petrie concludes with a loud prolonged Pteranodon cry of a threatening remark that quickly sends Gnash flapping off in fright and anguish.
"We're leaving! Now!" Gnash screams at all his flock members in fear and they abide by his order without a second guess.
"Grr." Sierra makes a threatening fist towards Petrie then proceeds to shout at him. "This is revenge Flier! Revenge, I tell you!" Petrie growls and cries angrily at him, watching Sierra leave with Rinkus and the others over the walls of the Great Valley. The crowd disperses while Petrie instantly heads to his uncle, helping Pterano to stand before walking him gently back to his mother's old nest.
"Where are they? Where are they?"
Ruby is still searching for her old friends. Even though everyone has now matured, she would still recognise them to a certain extent despite not seeing them for years. Her new hunch has been a failure since appearing at each of her friends' retreats, learning of their mates when she arrived at their nests only to be told that they have not returned since leaving earlier on when the duel had been spread around. If she does not find them soon, she will have to find her mate still in the Mysterious Beyond with her three children and direct them safely to the valley. She only left him behind so she could check the safety of the path to the valley, but he assured her he would be fine keeping watch and heading there on his own. This is why Ruby went searching for her best friends in the first place. "Please! They must be nearby!"
At the same time, a male Fast Runner like Ruby suddenly enters a canyon, completely out of breath and crawling along the ground.
"Ruby! The…children…they…" He could not even speak a sentence without pausing to catch his breath, but who he sees is not Ruby. Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Spike, Chomper and Tyrana all look at the male Fast Runner dragging himself across the rocky floor still breathing heavily. "Leon, Clara, Seamus... Why did…why did they run…run off?" Everyone is soon confused by why Ruby had been mentioned, why the Fast Runner is so tired, or even why a very young pink Fast Runner had suddenly entered the valley without any wavering fear. "AAAAAHHH! Stop! CLARA!" He proceeds to loudly cry in a very dramatic way, his arms high in the air. "WHY!?" He pauses letting his whole body fall flat to the ground. "I'm such a…terrible husband!" With his hand outstretched to where the youngster had disappeared, everyone just curiously stares at each other before running on after the child.
