Chapter XI: The Thick Water

Ozzy had sharp foreclaws, and a well-aimed blow could disembowel Strut or Littlefoot, but Ozzy wasn't interested in giving them a quick death. He had placed nooses of vines around the necks of Strut, Littlefoot, the ever-sleeping Cera, Spike, and even Ducky and Petrie. Now he was busily tying them to a tree branch.

After he accomplished this, Ozzy climbed up into the tree and broke off the branch they were tied to. He would drag them away. Either they would be suffocated or get their necks broken, and if they didn't, well, Ozzy knew a place where there were sharp rocks that would carve them up nicely.

Clubtail was woken by the sound of a branch breaking. He looked around groggily in the dark, and saw nothing out of place, just a few vines and an egg-stealer he took to be Strut. Ozzy, upon noticing Clubtail getting up, had quickly flopped down onto his side on the ground, pretending to be asleep.

Clubtail's armored eyelids closed and he went back to sleep.

Ozzy, congratulating himself inwardly on the splendid way he had managed to avoid detection, took hold of the branch and started walking away. He could feel that the vines behind him were slowly running out of slack. Before long he would have to use more force, and the dinosaurs the vines were tied to would start moving. He was finally about to get his revenge.

Then he stepped on the tail of Hyp's dad.

The runner jumped to his feet, staring at the egg-stealer, making out the bruise on Ozzy's neck that had been made by Hyp's dad's own tight grip. Ozzy froze, then gave the runner a raking blow on the face.

"Get up! Get up, you lazy good-for-nothings!" hollered Hyp's dad as he returned Ozzy's blow.

"Huh?" said Littlefoot, jumping to his feet. Then he realized he couldn't breathe. His breath was soon restored to him courtesy of Spike, who had been woken by the smell of food and had already completely consumed his noose.

"Thanks, Spike. Now eat theirs!" said Littlefoot, gesturing towards the others with his tail.

Spike did, making sure to free Strut last.

Ozzy and Hyp's dad were now in a choking contest. The runner had made sure to grab Ozzy by the sore spot, while Ozzy's claws were digging into his opponent's neck.

But Hyp's dad was the stronger of the two, and with his free hand he pried Ozzy's claws off his throat, then pushed him down with force that would have felled a sickleclaw.

Ozzy kicked the runner off and retreated a distance, then attacked again by running past. His claws made deep marks on the runner.

"I'm done playing with you," shouted Hyp's dad. As Ozzy came for another scratch-and-run, the runner stuck out his foot and tripped him, following this up with a well-aimed blow to the head that knocked Ozzy out. Then he took the vines and tied Ozzy to a tree. He would stay awake the rest of the night keeping guard.

Morning came, and the children amused themselves with throwing rocks at Ozzy. Even Strut joined in.

Clubtail wanted to take a few whacks at Ozzy, as did Hyp's dad, but Bigmouth overrode them, instead giving the poor struthiomimus an "examination" with the help of Thicknose. The big swimmer had settled into a role as expedition leader. Normally Threehorn would be the first candidate for the post, but the circumstances had changed him. He was usually silent, not speaking unless spoken to, or annoyed.

After eating their meal, the group set off, leaving their captive behind, with a few leaves stuffed into his mouth courtesy of Strut.

A few more hours of walking and they arrived at the Thick Water. The water was green, the mist was thick, the trees were covered with vines, and you could never tell if a belly-dragger was going to attack you.

As soon as the group was out of sight, Ozzy had forced himself to chew through the vines and was following them once again. He was so focused on them that he knocked right into several low tree branches. He arrived at the Thick Water just a few minutes after the flat-teeth did.

The group were holding on to each others' tails: Bigmouth first, then Strut, then Hyp, then Hyp's dad, then Threehorn carrying Cera, then Thicknose, then Littlefoot carrying Petrie, then Spike carrying Ducky, and last of all Clubtail who, with his short neck, couldn't reach Spike's tail, and if he had been able to, wouldn't have taken it.

A little mammal ran by, squeaking. "Tickles?" asked Ducky.

"I don't think so," said Littlefoot, as best he could with Thicknose's tail in his mouth, as the creature continued on its way.

Soon they had made their way into a shallow area of water. Ducky jumped off Spike's back and splashed around excitedly for a while until Clubtail gave her a disapproving look, upon which she returned.

Noon, and the mist had thinned out. It became easier to see, and the group let go of each others' tails. They were still in the water, though.

Ozzy knew where he was going. Instead of following the group all the way, he made his way to a huge, dead, vine-covered tree with a big hole in it, and he went into the hole to plot the downfall of Strut, Littlefoot, and Co.

Ducky was singing happily when suddenly there came a cry of pain from Threehorn. Ducky stopped singing as she saw the water around Threehorn's leg turn red.

The group was surrounded by belly-draggers. One sneered, "A twelve-course meal, right on time. Better start with appetizers!" and headed straight towards Spike.