Chapter IV: The Tables Are Turned

"Those grass nippers don't have a chance," Ozzy said to Strut. "When I get close I'll just give them one of my scariest looks and they won't be able to move."

"Are you sure that will work, Ozzy?" questioned Strut.

Ozzy wasn't sure at all, but he felt he had to reassure the intellectually challenged Strut somehow. "Of course it will. I practice it on rocks all the time, and THEY never move."

Mr. Thicknose followed the tracks at top speed. Why didn't I watch the young ones more carefully? I should have known better than to let them venture into a location in the vicinity of the Beyond.

Up ahead, Littlefoot had already cried "Scatter!" The problem was that he yelled it just as they entered a small canyon. "Uh, never mind," he said as Cera shot him a dirty look.

"You'll never get away, you little moss munchers! Right, Strut? Strut?" called Ozzy, hard on their heels. Ah, who needs that stupid herbivore anyway?

Strut had stopped some distance back to eat while he could. He never saw Mr. Thicknose, intent on the tracks, barreling towards him. Strut was thrown into a tree. His injuries were only minor, but he was a most comical sight tangled in the branches. He immediately began eating himself out. Mr. Thicknose thought he had hit a rotten stump and continued on his way.

The children had somehow managed to find a dead end. They simply cowered in a corner while Ozzy came ever closer. When he was just a few inches away, he tried his look, but was caught totally off guard when Cera stepped forward and imitated it perfectly. She had remembered what her father had taught her: Stand and fight. Don't run away.

Ozzy spread his claws and moved closer. So did Cera.

"What do you think you're doing, you stupid tree taster? Think I'm fooling around with you, do you?"

"I'm not afraid of you, you big bully!" said Cera.

Ozzy reached out and grabbed Cera by the horn. He didn't notice the others behind her.

"CHARGE!" shouted Littlefoot.

"Huh?" said Ozzy, letting go of Cera. The next instant he had been bowled over by the young threehorn.

Mr. Thicknose, out of breath and slowed to a walking pace, suddenly froze when he saw an egg-stealer running past with five laughing children in pursuit. He blinked a few times and started off in the direction they had gone.