CHAPTER EIGHT: THE FIGHT AND THE AFTERMATH
Thud looked at Chomper; he marveled at how much he had grown since he had last seen him.
And these are...? Jessica asked her tyrannosaur friend, not immediately connecting the Fast Biters with what he had told her about Red Claw.
That's Screech and Thud. he replied.
You're not with your Flattooth friends in the Great Valley anymore, are you. Thud said to Chomper. It wasn't a question so much as a statement of fact.
Chomper knew that he and, likely Red Claw, knew, and that there was no point denying it; he shook his head, before squinting his eyes and looking at Thud. What are you doing here? he asked.
Red Claw has come to make you an offer.
Chomper cocked his head. What kind of offer? he inquired.
Red Claw has a score to settle with the Great Valley, which, I'm guessing, you aren't affiliated with anymore. They didn't like that you ate meat, so they turned you away. Red Claw is upset about his eye but is willing to set that aside if you'll join him in settling a score with some of the residents. a Fast Biter said.
Red Claw would be wiser to stick his head up his cloaca than to ask me to help him with anything after he killed my parents. Chomper growled.
Touchy, aren't you? Screech remarked, shaking his head.
I have no score against the Great Valley. Those in question that did give me trouble are now dead. Chomper replied.
Red Claw would pleased to hear that you have given up on your silly affections to the silly Flattooth residents of the Great Valley. Thud said.
Are you going to eat those Longnecks? They're making my mouth water? a Fast Biter asked, pointing at Isabelle and Jared.
No, I'm adopting these Longnecks. They're orphaned. Chomper replied.
Adopting Longnecks? What nonsense! Screech laughed.
Didn't Red Claw adopt you? Chomper replied.
Real cute. A remark I'd expect of a juvenile such as yourself! Thud scowled.
Enough guys. He's just delaying us! Screech grumbled.
Kill him! Thud told the others.
The Fast Biters pounced on Thud's command; however, before they could connect with Chomper, the closest raptors to him were rammed aside, and one was snagged in a pair of long, sleek jaws and thrown aside.
Are you sure you want to go through with this? Jessica, growled.
The Fast Biters persisted in trying to attack them. An intense fight followed with the Fast Biters, in which all but three of them were killed and Ichy received a (luckily not serious) injury to his wing, making him temporarily unable to fly, and in which Dil, Chomper, and Jessica had bleeding arms. Some of the Fast Biters had tried to kill Isabelle and Jared, but the two Longnecks began to whack them in the face with their tails, which kept them busy long enough for Chomper to come to their aid. The two Longneck children were terribly frightened but otherwise had remained unharmed. Only three of the Fast Biters remained alive. One had fled, leaving Screech and Thud, as he had figured, to die.
Chomper, Dil, Ichy, and Jessica had Screech and Thud pinned down.
Should we kill them? They tried to kill us. Jessica asked Chomper.
Chomper looked down at Thud, who was pinned under Jessica's foot, intently. He had never seen so much fear in the eyes of one of his enemies.
Let them run. he replied, deciding to show some mercy. They aren't worth wasting energy on.
You're not going to kill us? Screech gasped in astonishment.
No, I'm not, Chomper said, lowering his head slightly. Under the condition that, once we let you free, you immediately leave. If you don't, I certainly don't mind having Fast Biter steak. My kind can be as happy eating Sharpteeth as we are eating Flatteeth. These words were followed by Chomper growling and baring his teeth; if the two Fast Biters didn't comply, they knew they would have to deal with those.
Why are you sparing us? Red Claw certainly wouldn't had he been in your position. Thud asked.
Well, I'm not Red Claw, am I. Chomper replied.
No, you're not. This isn't the first time you've saved my life. Thud said.
When did he save you before? Screech asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ages ago. Saved me when I got stuck after that earthshake. I'd have been dead if I had to rely on Red Claw and you for help.
It's every dinosaur for himself out here. Red Claw at least shelters us from the bigger Sharpteeth.
He says he does, but really he just uses us.
Red Claw is going to kill you when he hears you talking like that.
Who says I'm going back?
You're going to stay with this lot?
If they'll have me. We can both stay.
They're a bunch of oddballs! We're best sticking with the natural order of the bigger dinosaurs ruling the roost.
I want something better. With Red Claw, it was a slight improvement. Instead of being pushed around by all of the bigger Sharpteeth, we just got pushed around by him. But Chomper is different. He's wiser I think. His group took us down by working together. I say we join this pack. Then maybe we could get rid of Red Claw and let all of the kinds, including this Sharp Beak, have an equal say.
I like the idea. But how are we going to just ditch Red Claw?
Simple. The other Fast Biters, minus the one that got away, are dead. When she gets back, she'll tell Red Claw what happened. When we don't return, Red Claw will think Chomper killed us. It's what Red Claw would have done, after all, had he been in his spot.
Shouldn't we ask them first before joining?
Ok, fine. Can we please join you?
Jessica and the other Sharpteeth looked at Chomper, waiting to see how he'd respond; Chomper thought very hard.
Yes, so long as you don't harm the Longnecks. he finally said.
Where'd you find the orphaned Longnecks? Thud asked.
It's a long story. Chomper replied.
What a shame, because I have somewhere to go and I am already five minutes late. he replied sarcastically. Chomper and the other Sharpteeth laughed.
Chomper sat down and explained the circumstances in which he had found the little Longnecks - entertaining himself in some tunnels and finding them in a cave where they were being hunted by a different Sharptooth - before going over the incident with their herd and how they saved them from the Albertosaurus before the Fast Biters arrived.
...and that's when you and the rest of the Fast Biters arrived. Chomper finished.
Meanwhile, the surviving Fast Biter reached Red Claw. Red Claw knew immediately that something was wrong, due to his greatly diminished supply of returning Fast Biters. What the hell happened?! he inquired, his eyes glaring angrily at the Utahraptor.
Chomper had friends with him. Other types of Sharpteeth. A Sailback, a Belly Dragger, and a Sharp Beak. He also had two Longneck children. They killed our entire group. I was the only one to get away.
If Red Claw's arms were long enough, he would have face-palmed.
Why did I ever think Fast Biters could do anything right? he growled to himself, shaking his head.
You think we should just forget about Chomper? the Fast Biter asked. After all, he's in the Land of Mists and not bothering us.
Red Claw considered his options; it was unlikely that Chomper was going to budge, but - if he had a falling out with the Great Valley, as he assumed - perhaps he wouldn't throw any wrenches into his plans of assaulting the Great Valley.
At the same time, he couldn't help but think; if he could find a way to push the right buttons and properly turn him to his side...
Perhaps we can leave Chomper for now. Right now, we need to find a way into the Great Valley without his help. Red Claw finally said.
Any idea how to get into the Great Valley? the Fast Biter asked Red Claw.
I don't know. Red Claw replied.
How about we just get in and out the same way the Flatteeth do? Why don't we ever try that?
Go in the main way? We'd be spotted. My brother, I heard, tried it and he picked a good time, when they were distracted by many Leaf Eaters arriving during the last leaf famine. His plan was ruined, unfortunately, by those kids. Those kids, as you know, are now adults and are our targets. I want the Longneck, the Threehorn, the Swimmer, the Flyer, and the Spiketail dead. I also think we should kill the Fast Runner too for good measure. Red Claw replied.
Why not come in during when they are having a bunch of new arrivals at the Great Valley? There is a another leaf famine and they're probably getting tons of new arrivals. the Fast Biter suggested.
We could. Red Claw mused. The problem is, they've got many different types that work together. I learned that the hard way after taking them on and them putting fruit down my throat.
They put fruit down your throat...? the Fast Biter began to laugh. He quickly stopped as Red Claw aimed a kick at him, knocking him to the ground and knocking the wind out of him.
I was younger then and naiver. It won't happen again! he growled. Anyway, he continued, if Chomper and his Sharptooth friends can best us so easily, we'll need more than just Fast Biters to get into the Valley and successfully take out those six Flatteeth and the Halftooth.
Perhaps we can recruit Brownridge Sharpteeth. the Fast Biter suggested.
Worth a try. They won't lose so easily as Fast Biters.