Mender's Tale

by The Rhombus

Based upon a roleplay with Historian1912 and set in the Seven Hunters continuity. Mender has the reputation as being the best healer in the Mysterious Beyond, helping all who require it, but that was not always the case. Follow Mender as she recalls how a lowly fastbiter eventually found her place in life once she met a most unusual pack. This is Mender's Tale.

21. Chapter 17: Partings and homecomings

-v-

Chapter 17: Partings and homecomings

"Due to the uncertain situation with the hidden runners, a proporal was recent made in the Great Valley meeting to send a delegation to discuss the matter with Ignis. No decision was made, as sending such a delegation in the Mysterious Beyond is a risky proposition, but it is likely that the proposal will be carried soon. Further information on the hidden runner situation will be conveyed in our reports as we intend to attend such a delegation.

As the longneck saying goes, "It is the sharptooth that is not seen that strikes the killing blow." It is time to shed some of the uncertainties about this situation."

Commander Chronos,

Update on the Hidden Runner Crisis

---

"Well then, me let them know you on the way. Though it look like our friends already spot you… but friends not tell pack before Spotter!"

Orchid looked at his packmates in confusion for a moment, his gaze shifting from Cynnil to Mender in the vain hopes that someone could politely tell him what Petrie was talking about. That was when he saw a tail quickly disappear into the water of the adjacent stream. The tail of a bellydragger.

"Opus, you not eat Nahoda!" Petrie spoke before Orchid could warn his counterpart. It was only then that Nahoda looked up from where he was drinking.

And saw a wall of teeth appear from the water.

Nahoda went from the water's edge to a backwards leap in an instant in order to avoid the mock attack. This was followed by a headlong sprint in the exact opposite direction.

"Well, this is an interesting reversal," Mender said, looking down at Nahoda, smiling as she turned away from her pack leader to look at what had just collided with her.

Nahoda was panic-struck and speechless as he looked up at the fastbiter, babbling incoherently. That was when Orchid realized that Mender and the others must not have seen what just happened as Nahoda had been behind the rest of the pack.

"Bellydragger!" Orchid exclaimed. The reaction was immediate.

"Yikes!" Mender was about an entire longneck's length away from the bellydragger before she bothered to stop running and look behind her.

Only to see an elderly bellydragger begin to laugh hysterically as he returned into the water with predatory silence.

"That not nice, Opus!"

Cynnil placed herself in front of the pack as she stared down the retreating bellydragger. Though Orchid could not be sure if this was her standard reaction to such a threat or a reaction due to her not seeing the threat until it was nearly too late.

"You said I couldn't eat them. You said nothing about scaring them!"

And with that the bellydragger fully disappeared from sight. Presumably to seek out prey that he could actually devour.

"Um…" Petrie began, "That is Opus. He helps the pack sometimes."

"Great, another thing that's changed," Mender muttered to herself as she walked back towards her packmates, not recognizing the name of the bellydragger, "One bellydragger was more than enough." One was too many. They're like swimming two-footers with that many teeth.

"Is that one of your pack?" Arial's concerned voice choked out as she hugged her mate.

"No, bellydraggers usually serve themselves. But we have agreement with this one. Don't hurt us or the kids, and we give leftovers."

"And he also gives you reports about what goes on in the stream… and prevents other bellydraggers from coming in…" Cynnil pieced things together based upon the available evidence.

I'd rather just avoid the stream and the swimming teeth, thank you very much, Mender thought. An odd thought occurred to her. "Is Darvin still around?" she asked, surprised she still remembered the bellydragger's name.

Petrie was expressionless. "Opus took his territory."

"It might be just because I was smaller then, but I could have sworn Darvin was bigger than Opus is. How could he lose a fight?" Mender inquired, suspicious at Petrie's lack of expression. Every time you act like that there's something you're not telling me.

Petrie sighed. "You know Spotter too well. The kids play with him one day… go into water as he make mock attacks… but Path not know that when he saw that."

"Oh." I guess Path had a rather nice snack, Mender thought, just a bit wrongfooted.

"The kids learn important lesson on that day," Petrie noted, "Some things are not joked about."

"Well that got out of hand quickly," Mender commented, "That's kinda odd, though. A bellydragger getting eaten by something that stays out of the water most of the time."

Petrie turned to look towards the direction of the pack's territory before giving an 'all is well' call. Within a few seconds a booming roar came in his direction as Path let him know that the message was received.

At least the pack now knew that everything was going well with the guests.

"Well, Mender, you nearly had the opposite happen to you," Petrie noted with a kind laugh, "Though I hope you visiting the pack turns out better than you joining it."

"Why you... augh..." Mender sputtered, unable to put her frustration into words. The surprise of having Petrie say 'I' was completely overwhelmed by a memory she had tried not to dwell upon.

The sudden loss of control was not overlooked by her packmates, however.

"Mender?" Buse asked, surprised.

Orchid for his part was now quite concerned as he had never see Mender lose her composure.

Cynnil, however, merely politely smiled. This was a bit of the old Mender. "I remember you telling me about that. You have a way of making dramatic entrances."

Nahoda sighed, remembering when he nearly became Mender's dinner before his mate intervened. "...You can say that again."

"Are you ever going to let that go?" Mender wondered aloud, not expecting an answer. How is it my fault you smell delicious, Nahoda? She turned back towards Cynnil. "What? You're not the only one that likes complicated hunting plans." Seeker seems to love overcomplicated plans.

"Oh trust me, Mender, I remember this song." Cynnil smiled as she noticed that Mender's nervousness had been consumed by her focus on the topic at hand. If only she could maintain that way until they reunited with the rest of Seeker's pack… "Maybe you could share the song with our new packmate and our guests?"

Petrie nodded, noticing the same thing that Cynnil was. "Yeah, it might be good way to pass time. It still long walk for you land-walkers."

"Oh, they don't want to hear about that," Mender deflected. Orchid and Buse will never let me hear the end of it. Buse will finally have someone to laugh along with him.

"Sure we do!" Arial replied cheerfully after catching Mender's deflection. Now her curiosity was now thoroughly piqued. Not to mention that she had a certain male to try to keep calm as well. Mender was not the only dinosaur who could over-think threats.

"What happened when you finally joined the pack, Mender?" Orchid finally asked, "Did Seeker change his mind and decide to make you do a test like you all did for me?"

"No," Mender replied, "Something that should have been a nice surprise turned out to be a whole lot more, um, surprising than expected."

---

The past:

"How are you feeling, Violet?" Ruby asked as they watched the swimmers from a distance. Soon it would be Violet's turn to create a distraction. Little did Ruby realize that she had made a mistake due to her own distraction.

"Scared to death," Violet admitted. Scared I'm going to fail in front of everyone.

Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Violet, you will be fine," she then realized her mistake and gave an apologetic bow for not using her adult name, "Shit! Sorry, Mender! I guess I am a bit distracted."

"By what?" Violet asked, curiosity getting the better of her. It only belatedly occurred to her than might not be the best question to ask, causing her to cringe.

"This group of swimmers," Ruby said as she gestured towards the larger male, "He seems pretty dedicated and is keeping the females close. Even if you distract him and Stern Claw's group tricks him into defending the other one, he might still be very close. It will be a risk for the attacking group."

"This is starting to sound a bit too familiar," Violet said more to herself than in reply. She double-checked her leg to make sure it was alright, despite the injury having long since healed. At least it's not spiketails this time.

"Hmmm…" Ruby pondered, "Any suggestions, Mender? If you were a swimmer, and water was your prefered escape, what kind of distraction would most make you want to escape?"

"That might be a better question for Tracker. She actually thinks water is a perfectly acceptable means of escape. I'm not really sure what would be a good idea." Violet sighed in frustration. "I'd run from any situation where I was badly outnumbered unless told not to." She was quite proud that there was no pause before 'unless told not to'.

"That's it!" Ruby exclaimed with obvious excitement.

"What's it?" Violet asked, very confused.

"We have to make him feel outnumbered near the water, so that he runs away from the water! If he runs away from the water, then he won't have the water to escape to." She looked pleased with herself. "I will join with the second distraction group. If the swimmers run in your direction then act ferocious to scare them in the other direction."

"That's assuming I don't get trampled. At least you guys have those vines on." Violet was now wishing she weren't the chief distraction; she was supposed to provoke a reaction.

Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Mender, Spotter will join in with your distraction." She then made a hand gesture at the sky which earned her a screech from the skies above. "And if the swimmer runs at you then run in the other direction. You are a fast fastbiter, and even a slow fastbiter can outrun a swimmer!"

"I hope you're right. I'd rather not be practicing what healing I've learned on myself."

Ruby smiled. "You will be fine! May your sprint be swift, Mender!" Without further word she disappeared into the underbrush. Now all Violet could do was wait for Petrie's signal.

This is either going to work really well or I'm going to die, Violet thought worriedly, If they all come this way… Three adult swimmers would be quite difficult for one fastbiter to avoid.

Trying to both focus and distract herself from her more worrisome thoughts, Violet settled down and watched the swimmers. Their original intended target, the older female, had stayed relatively close to the water and had only gotten closer to it as the pack had started to move into position. While she could still be used to distract the male, she was now uncatchable unless the pack had a collective death wish.

Much closer to Violet was the younger female. She was currently contentedly eating, oblivious to the danger gathering nearby. Oblivious, or confident in the male's abilities to protect her, Violet thought, Judging by how close an eye this guy is keeping on things I'd say he's more paranoid than my brother. Then again they both have reason to be paranoid. Especially since they're swimmer. I don't think sneaking up on this guy is a real option, even faking it, but I'm not the one in charge.

Petrie continued to circle overhead but did not give a signal. It was as if he realized the complicated situation. Things were not going as they expected.

If we tried to scare the younger female and make her flee, that would leave the male either having to defend her or otherwise distracting us by leading us away. Violet was drawing more upon what she'd seen her brother do when she was threatened than any hunting strategies she'd seen. If he leads us away, we'll have isolated him. If he fights while the female flees, we'll have a good chance of running her down. Ugh, I wish I could talk to somebody. I think I might have an idea, but am I even allowed to suggest it? We did commit to a plan so… hey what's that?

Long experience had told Violet what rustling leaves sounded like. Is there supposed to be someone there? I can't remember. Not sure how to alert Petrie and unable to ask a packmate to investigate without abandoning her position, Violet reluctantly decided to keep one eye on the swimmers and another, along with both ears, on the sounds she was hearing. Whoever it is, they're not that good at sneaking. I wish Dodger were here. He could investigate himself or tell others my idea without being noticed. They might even consider it coming from him. Violet was certain she'd disqualified herself from any more suggestions about strategy at least until Thud and his pack returned.

Caw!

Okay, I guess thinking is over. Violet cautiously started to move forward, taking only slightly less care in her movements than if she were seriously trying not to be noticed. The plan had called for her to be seen, after all. Deciding that the younger female was a better target for a single fastbiter, Violet moved in that direction. However, she kept almost all of her attention on the male. I don't want to die because of a swimmer. A threehorn, sure. A longneck, maybe. A two-footer, that's normal. A swimmer? I'd be remembered forever as the worst fastbiter that ever lived.

The male saw the fastbiter almost immediately as he began to send out a low hum. As if on cue, the elder female ran into the water and the younger female edged towards its blue waves, but that was when a horrific scream could be heard.

"Momma!"

As if on cue, Cera's group descended upon one of her children, causing the female to hesitate despite the danger.

Um, now what do I do? Violet wondered. Not entirely sure if she'd been directly seen or if she'd just given away that she was in the area, Violet continued to edge towards the younger female. If nothing else she could make the swimmers more confused. Hopefully she's too distracted. I might be able to get an attack in if I'm lucky…

That was when she saw it. The male turned his entire attention onto the remaining female and charged at Taunt as he descended upon one of the children. It was only his swiftness that prevented him from being trampled, but that was when she saw that in the chaos Ducky had been knocked over. Until she got back up she would be defenseless.

"Now!"

It was at that moment that a familiar voice called out behind her. Thud's voice.

What is Thud doing here?! I wonder if that means everyone else is here? Violet quickly looked around to make sure that she wasn't about to get charged. When she was certain of that she got as close to a bush as she could to wait until things were slightly less chaotic. She had no intention of being in the way of a rushing fastbiter pack. Battles make more sense than this. What's going on?

Crash!

The ground shook as the male stumbled as Littlefoot slashed his legs in an attempt to buy Ducky time. However as the other packmates helped to get her to safety, Littlefoot's bravery had left him open to attack. Within moments the swimmer attempted to slam Littlefoot's body into the ground as he kept hold of the swimmer's legs.

Not sure whether she was being brave or stupid, Violet rushed the swimmer in an attempt to help or at least distract him from his attempts at crushing her pack leader.

Littlefoot desperately tried to remove himself from the swimmer, but his claws were firmly embedded in his shredded flesh. Now his claw's greatest strength had become a glaring weakness. As the swimmer thrashed about in pain there was every possibility that Littlefoot could be crushed once the swimmer fell.

"Seeker!"

Hearing Ruby's voice, Violet turned in her direction, hoping she'd know what to do. She had a plan of her own, but she'd be the first to admit she'd never actually had a good plan and managed to see it through to its intended conclusion. "Any ideas?" Violet asked, though it was more of a shout to be heard over all the noise. The swimmer was understandably very loud and very, very angry.

Ruby did not hear her friend but could see a flash of violet as she sprinted towards the swimmer. Seeing what Violet was about to do, Ruby decided to do the same and sprinted in the same direction.

Okay, two is better than one, Violet thought when she saw Ruby copying her. Being closer, she acted first, jumping onto the swimmer's side as she would've in a regular hunt, hoping to either kill him or at least take his thoughts off the fastbiter that was currently trying to detach himself from his leg. If Dodger sees this he's going to kill me, new pack leader or no.

The swimmer screamed in pain as Violet's claws dug into his abdomen, causing the viscera to spill out as she slid down his flesh with a sickening hiss. Ruby's claws also met their target as she dug into the swimmer on the other side. Within moments Violet could feel the swimmer falter as he swiftly began to lose consciousness due to the pain and blood loss.

Despite jumping off a non-moving swimmer this time, her landing wasn't any more graceful. Landing at an angle Violet overbalanced and ended up on her face. Ow. Again. I'm not that far off the ground and I still can't land on my feet?

That was when a sudden shadow began to appear over her as the swimmer began to tumble in her direction.

"Mender!" Ruby and Littlefoot both cried.

Violet let out a shriek of alarm and tried to jump out of the way, not getting very far. Now I won't be entirely crushed.

"Gotcha!" Taunt cried as he tackled Violet in an attempt to knock her out of the way. As the two tumbled end over end, the sound of the crashing swimmer could be heard as a deafening roar. It took several moments for Violet to realize that while she was now safe, Taunt had unintentionally pinned her.

"Taunt, could you get off me?" Violet gasped, "Before Stern Claw sees?"

Taunt groaned as he rolled off of Violet. "You're welcome… urgh… but don't worry, I am sure Stern Claw will kill me for even attempting that."

"Taunt!" Stern Claw's panicked voice called out.

"See?" Taunt's fatigued but humor-filled voice noted.

"Thanks, by the way," Violet said as she stood up. Ow, my chest hurts.

"Violet!" Violet heard her old name shouted, followed by her brother rushing over. "Are you okay?" Dodger's voice had an edge of panic to it.

"I'm fine," Violet said, trying to reassure herself as much as her brother, "I'm just a little sore." And possibly bleeding. She quickly covered up where Taunt had unintentionally cut her.

Littlefoot struggled to get to Violet and Taunt, as Ruby carefully inspected his body for injury, "Thank goodness everyone is alright!" Littlefoot then examined her carefully with an edge of concern to his voice. "Mender, lift your arms please."

Violet extremely reluctantly moved her hand. Help. Dodger's not going to like this. "Its nothing." Though that's a bit too much blood to be 'nothing'.

"Ruby, gather some healing plants, quickly!" Littlefoot then turned to Dodger. "Head bleeds often look worse than they are, but we need to get it under control. Dodger, I need you to put your hands on her wound."

Dodger didn't even hesitate. "Not even one day, sis. Not even one day." He was shaking his head in exasperation. Only you, Violet, only you. I guess it's Mender, now, though. Good name.

"Damn it!" Spike's agitated voice could be heard, "Thud's pack nearly ruined the hunt!"

Ducky hissed back, "Quiet, brother! We kept it secret so they couldn't have known."

Thud walked onto the scene as he and Swift noted the injuries to Violet and Taunt. Despite the vine armor, Taunt had taken a few cuts as well.

"This was a mistake," Thud noted upon seeing the effects of his initiative. He should have been more careful before doing a hunt in Littlefoot's own territory. He bowed his head in apology to Littlefoot who waved it off.

"You couldn't have known, Thud. We tried to keep the hunt secret." He shook his head. "Violet was supposed to be the main distraction, but when he saw all of you he overreacted, and we had to move up our plans."

"You had her do what?" Tracker asked, having only just gotten close enough to hear. She knew she was breaking a few rules and probably nearly breaking several more, but she just didn't care right now. Her best friend, her little sister, had nearly gotten killed and apparently had the most dangerous job to begin with. Judging by her mate's glare Dodger was having similar thoughts.

Littlefoot sighed. "She wasn't supposed to engage the prey. She was supposed to be seen by the swimmers, causing a panic, and then Stern Claw's group and my group were going to cut off and attack one of the females."

Chomper suddenly spoke, surprising Thud's pack who had not heard him approach due to being focused on what was going on in front of them, "And then I was going to take it down, but Haven fell down."

Ducky looked down in shame. "I'm so sorry, it was my fault. It was, it was."

"You okay, Haven?" Violet asked, more concerned about possible injury to her friend than her own injury. Beside her, Dodger had to hide a smile at his sister's odd sense of priorities.

"I'm fine, Mender," Ducky confirmed, "I am glad you protected our leader, but I wish you were not hurt."

"There are certain times when it is acceptable to disobey orders, and that was one of those times," Littlefoot spoke with a tone that communicated gratitude, "But right now I want you to obey this order, okay? Try to stand still so that we can get your cut treated."

"Yes, sir," Violet replied, freezing as she did so.

"I have the leaves!" Ruby exclaimed as she and Breeze arrived with several of the soothing leaves. Ducky got into position to help as the others were shooed away.

"This will sting a little, Mender," Ruby noted as she placed the first of the leaves on the wound.

Violet hissed in pain but held still. You and I have very different definitions of 'a bit', Ponder.

"This is a big bleeder, but the cut does not look big," Ducky confirmed with obvious relief in her voice, "Looks like you will have a new battle scar, Mender."

"Not again," Violet muttered. A scar from a swimmer, or at least because of one. Really? "It didn't make that one I got from Prowler look worse, did it, Dodger?" Violet asked more loudly.

"Actually, I think it went right over it," Dodger said. Violet smiled in reply.

"A scar gained from protecting packmates is nothing to be ashamed about," Taunt confirmed as he examined his sickle claw, "I regret not being more careful, but I had to act before the swimmer fell," he then sunk his claws in the swimmer's corpse in obvious frustration. The sounds of the mournful females and children were now completely ignored by the sharpteeth.

"Thanks for looking out for her," Dodger told Taunt, "I owe you one."

Taunt shook his head. "It is just what packmates do for one another. If I had to do it again then I would," he ignored Cera's growl of frustration at Taunt's stunt. She could not disagree with his reasoning, but she had no desire to see him risk his life again.

"There," Ruby smiled, "I think if we keep pressure then the bleeding will stop. We just need to put some more 'no infection sap' on once it stops to keep the infection away."

Taunt couldn't help but smile. "Does that mean Mender is mended?" Cera's playful slap against his skull was audible to everyone present.

Ducky rolled her eyes. "I think so, yep, yep, yep!"

"I'm going to try to never get hurt again so I never hear that joke again," Violet said rather follow her initial impulse and bang her head against a tree.

"Ha, now you are beginning to sound like my mate!" Littlefoot teased only to be playfully slapped by Ruby.

"Males…" Ruby groaned, which earned a laugh from most of those present. It was partially due to the humor of the situation and partially due to the immense relief that everyone felt.

"Well," Thud spoke again as he considered the fallen swimmer, "That could have gone more smoothly, but I think that you all have reason to be proud of what you have accomplished."

Leap then looked at the swimmer as well. "I guess there are plenty of candidates to take the first bite, huh? Heroics all around."

Littlefoot nodded. "Well this was meant to be a gift, so even though I got the first strike I think that the first bites should go to our departing packs… or pack?" he questioned.

"Pack," Dodger clarified, holding up one claw. He then nudged Tracker to follow him so they were with their new packmates.

"For the time being, at least," Thud clarified, "A bigger pack will be stronger during the Dry Times."

Littlefoot smiled. "Well then, Thud, I do believe the honor of the first bite is yours."

"Yeah, so hurry up so the rest of us can eat!" Taunt responded playfully to his father.

"Son, I'm surprised no one has eaten you yet," Thud deadpanned.

Cera rolled her eyes. "I have been tempted."

"Love you too, dear!" Taunt responded sardonically.

"Bite me!" came Cera's reply.

Nip!

"It wasn't an invitation, you annoying…"

As the banter between the mates continued with the two packs looking on, Violet spared herself a glance at her brother, "You know, his humor grows on you after a while, but don't tell him that."

"Okay..." Dodger said, taking a step away from his sister in case she decided to copy Taunt.

Violet smirked. "Look on the bright side, brother. You are in Thud's pack now, and who do you think taught Taunt?"

Dodger groaned. "I'm not going to survive this, am I?"

Violet rolled her eyes. "You have survived worse."

Dodger was about to react when suddenly a chunk of swimmer hit him in the side, and Thud took the opportunity to speak, "I will let all of you know that I am not responsible for my son's terrible sense of humor. Though I did give him my charming personality."

Violet grinned. "Never mind, brother. You are doomed."

All of the fastbiters present laughed at the antics of Thud and Violet as the reality of the situation descended upon them. One pack was destroyed and in its place stood two expanded packs, but all of their members still remained. Though many changes had occurred and many more would be in store one thing was certain.

Whatever changes came they would face them together.

---

Several hours passed as the fastbiters devoured their prey in the manner of their species. Moments of ravenous feasting were punctuated by moments of rest as their gizzards processed the savory meal. However the feasts became shorter and the rests became longer as the swimmer swiftly became a bloody skeleton. It was during this respite that Violet took a long look at her assembled friends.

I guess this is the last time we'll be seeing each other for a while. I hope I made the right choice, Violet thought. The idea of being separated from the two people she'd spent nearly half her life with was still bothering her.

"Well, the swimmer was good while it lasted…" the deep voice of a familiar two-footer boomed in the distance.

"Yeah, it was good before a certain two-footer came by," Taunt mocked, "How much does it take to fill you up, anyway?"

"I don't know." Violet could hear the smile in his voice. "I imagine that I could fit in a fastbiter as dessert."

As if on cue, Violet felt Taunt edge closer to her.

"Ha! Coward!" came Chomper's boastful voice.

"I am just being prudent!" Taunt retorted as both Chomper and Cera laughed at the exchange.

"Then shouldn't you be next to someone that can't outrun you?" Violet asked, half joking, half not entirely getting Taunt's thought process. To her it would make more sense to get a few more obstacles between her and the two-footer.

Taunt smiled. "Path I can outrun… but not if my mate is holding me down!"

"Ha! Now you understand how his mind works," Cera muttered.

Taunt snorted. "I know how you think, dear!"

"Thank the stars I don't understand how yours works." Cera shook her head.

Violet considered speaking, but Littlefoot beat her in the verbal race, "Could you two flirt somewhere else? Some of us don't want to throw up our hard-fought meal."

Taunt rolled his eyes. "This isn't flirting… if you want to see what us flirting looks like then…"

"No!" came the response from Ruby, Littlefoot, and Thud simultaneously, which earned a playful smirk from Taunt. He knew that he had earned the annoyance of the others, which, in his mind, meant that he had won. The scent of self-satisfaction and humor radiated from him.

I'm never going to understand Taunt, Violet thought, Never.

"Don't let Taunt pull your tail," came a whispered hiss from Ducky.

"Huh?" was Violet's confused response. While she was pretty sure most fastbiters meant she was being messed with, one never knew whether Taunt would decide to make it literal. She did her best to slightly distance herself from Taunt just in case.

Taunt, having heard Ducky's whisper and Violet's reaction, laughed softly, but said nothing. If I were to attack your tail, Violet, then you would attack me, my mate would attack me, and Dodger would attack me. No, thank you!

Ducky tried to suppress a chuckle. "I meant to not take him too seriously. You know how Taunt is. Yep, yep, yep!"

"That's why I can't ever figure out what he's going to do next," Violet replied, "I still can't figure out why some of his jokes are supposed to be funny." I might be thinking about them a bit too literally.

"My mommy and daddy tried to eat him before he was in a pack," Chomper muttered as he pried his mouth between the swimmer's ribs in an attempt to find a few more morsels of meat, "So it has become a running gag. He acts like Taunt; I act like I am going to eat him; he runs off like the coward that he is..."

"Hey!" Taunt protested, somewhat disappointed that Chomper now had an opportunity to get another word in, but his mate's playful tackle of him soon kept him otherwise occupied.

Littlefoot groaned playfully. "If we didn't want to see you two flirting, then we certainly don't want to see that…"

As both Taunt and Cera rose from the ground with deflated expressions, Littlefoot couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. They were just playing, obviously, but it still felt good to win at a battle of wits. Though he knew that he would soon be on the receiving end of playful reprisals.

Okay, what just happened? Violet wondered, trying to keep up with what was going on and understand it all at the same time. It only left her confused. She still wasn't used to messing around not leading to at least a warning if not serious repercussions.

Thud stretched from his place near the swimmer as he muttered to his packmates, "Seeker just invited more trouble for himself. I know how my son is."

"Does he ever stop?" Dodger wondered aloud, "He's going to overdo it one day." And hopefully it won't involve my sister.

Leap shook his head. "I am sure he knows his limits. If Stern Claw hasn't killed him yet, then he must know where to stop."

Swift chuckled. "I still remember the time he rubbed those fish in burning grass and then gave them to you as a 'gift'."

Leap groaned. "Don't remind me…"

Thud looked at Dodger. "That earned Taunt a tackle into the burning grass during the next hunt. Leap can be surprisingly forceful when he is upset."

"Those sap-sucking things hurt!" Leap defended himself as Swift and Thud both laughed. Leap also reluctantly laughed after a pause.

"What is that? I've never heard of burning grass before," Tracker asked. And I'd like to avoid it from the sound of it, she mentally added.

Thud suddenly looked surprised. "Um… you might want to look down…"

Tracker looked down, a bit alarmed and not all that used to tricks. Her poor attempts at the same demonstrated that.

Thud smiled. "Ha, made you look! But seriously, don't worry... the fire grass is very distinct and has red stems. I will show it to you when it is in season."

"And that where Taunt get it from!" Petrie's amused voice screeched from atop the swimmer's bare ribs.

Tracker was glad for Petrie's interjection. It helped her hide the bit of hurt she felt at being tricked. At least he's not trying to make me miserable. And he put more effort into it than Prowler's insults. There's a reason none of us three are that good at jokes. Or maybe it's us two, now, since Violet, or Mender now if I heard right, is not staying with us.

Almost imperceptibly, Littlefoot rose from his resting position as he nuzzled his mate, then he gave a long look at Ducky. She knew the message immediately.

Ducky suddenly grew rigid as she realized what was coming. "Mender, it might be a good idea to talk to our guests before they have to leave." As if to make her point she looked towards Littlefoot slightly; it was a clear invitation for Violet to see Littlefoot's posture and take the hint.

Violet could see the other packmates… her packmates, she corrected herself. They were beginning to walk towards Littlefoot, while Ducky was doing it with obviously slowness, as if to buy Violet some time. While not quite getting what was going on just from looking, Ducky's words cleared things up for Violet. She hurried over to her former packmates.

"Hey," Violet suddenly felt unsure of what to say, "Um… hello, Dodger… Tracker." It was all that her mind could process at that moment.

"It's Verant now," Dodger corrected, sounding a bit awkward.

"Staza," Tracker said, raising a hand, "It's just Hidden Runner for 'tracker'."

Violet hesitated a bit. "Oh, sorry! I guess we have new names to get used to." She then looked back at her pack as Ducky slowly walked back towards them, "Am I missing something? What is going on?"

"It's about time for us to go," Dodger explained. Thud had given him a warning shortly before his sister had rushed over.

"Oh," Violet muttered as the enormity of the situation began to fall upon her. This was it. Within mere moments her loved ones would be on their way, and she would be with a pack of her own. It would be the last time she would see them in quite some time. "I can't believe it is time."

She took a deep breath as she tried to keep her nerves under control. "About my choice, brother…"

"Like you said, it's your choice. Not mine. I couldn't be more proud of you," Dodger said, cutting his sister off, "Just try not to get crushed by a swimmer, okay?" And this is why I don't tell jokes.

Violet snorted slightly at her brother's comment. "I will try to avoid that," she deadpanned, "But I am sure that my pack will keep watch over me… just as you have." She smiled warmly as she turned to Tracker.

"And you keep swimmers from falling on him, alright?" Violet spoke with a humorous glint in her eyes, which hid her sadness over the parting, but not its scent.

"Not a problem," Tracker said. Oh, Violet… she thought when she caught her friend's not exactly hidden scent. "We'll miss you," she said softly.

Violet swallowed as she tried to keep her emotions in check. Were they in the same pack like before she would have offered her friend a hug, but she was unsure how to act now. Luckily her friend was willing to take the initiative for her.

Tracker pulled Violet into a hug, not caring if she had just broken a rule or not. This was the last time she'd see her friend in a long time. "You take care of yourself, alright?"

Violet nodded, trying to keep herself somewhat composed, "I will. And take care of yourselves," she then looked over at her brother as she gave the customary parting that she remembered from somewhere in her past, "I hope that the coming seasons are kind to you and your pack."

"May they be just as kind to yours," Dodger replied, barely able to hide his elation. How many times had he heard his father use that phrase? He'd lost count. She remembered something, even if she doesn't realize it. I never once used that where she could hear. Ever.

It was then that Violet noted the outlines of her brother's face. It reminded her of another face from long ago. A face that did not have a name attached to it, only an emotion. It was in a burst of clarity that it came to her, though she did not realize it at the time.

"Father would have been proud of you." Violet turned from her brother as if to sprint away and hide her emotions, but a hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"He would have been more proud of you," Dodger told her, "I just did what I was supposed to do." All I know how to do. "I wish I could've done better by you."

Violet then hugged Dodger, no longer caring about how it looked to the others. "Don't ever say that! You did the best that you could."

Thud watched the scene with barely concealed emotion as he gestured for Leap and Swift to get near him. He knew that Dodger and Tracker were now packmates for the time being, they were family to Violet first and foremost. He would allow this to run its proper course.

"You deserved better," Dodger said, his tone daring his sister to contradict him again. He looked at where both packs had gathered. I guess it's time to go. He sighed. "May the stars guide your path, and our songs guide your heart." He slowly but deliberately stepped back, gesturing towards his sister's new pack.

Violet had no idea what to say to her brother's words, and simply responded by instinct, "Our songs will never leave me," it was then that she noticed that her new pack had assembled. There was only one member left to join.

Her.

"Goodbye," Violet finally said as she began to walk to her new packmates. Each new step felt like a kick to her chest. A sense of finality had finally washed over her.

It is never easy, Thud thought to himself as he watched the scene, But a parent must let his children rise or fall, lest they never become adults of their own. Rise, Mender, and make my allies proud, as he thought this his eyes met that of his son's, who was having similar thoughts.

At least she can leave on better terms than some of us do. Don't worry, Dad, we will keep a good eye on her.

Violet took her place a bit behind Ducky. If I knew it would hurt this much, would I have made the same choice? She didn't have an answer for that.

Littlefoot raised his entire body so that he was at full height. Then, with deliberate slowness, he gestured towards Thud, "Thud, Swift, Leap, Verant, and Staza. Your presence was a welcome one, but our territory is our own," he said in a ceremonial manner. Technically it was not required, but he felt that formality in this instance was best to show respect. For Thud's pack it didn't matter, but for others it most certainly would.

"The honor was all ours, gracious host." Thud bowed slightly with such over-formality as to suggest mockery, which made Taunt stifle a laugh. "But we shall honor your territory."

The formalities were over, but Thud couldn't resist one final sentence to his packmates.

"...but if they wanted to catch us they wouldn't be able to anyway."

I guess that's it, then, Violet thought, not really being able to hear anything Thud's pack was saying. I'm alone now.

Littlefoot smirked, not realizing Violet's inner monologue. "Alright, Taunt. Since your dad has invited it, you can try to catch him. The rest of us will walk."

"Leaving all of the fun to me, huh?" Taunt asked.

Cera rolled her eyes. "Nah, we just want to see you make a fool of yourself!"

As if on cue, Taunt nodded at his father and bowed to indicate play. Then, in a split instant, the two went sprinting away, with Thud trying to reach the boundary of the territory before his son could catch him.

Ruby chuckled softly. "Families… even when we grow up, we don't outgrow them."

---

The present:

Mender's tones reached a happy crescendo as she brought her song to a close. Though the song always ended on a happy note, the song was understandably bittersweet. It was the ending of one life and the start of another in many ways, and the ending of a life always involved a loss. In this case it was the loss of having her brother and Tracker in her pack.

She smiled as she smelled the tell-tale scent of markings by the stream. Had the pack marked by the stream in the past then she probably would have never found the pack in the first place. No injury to Tracker… no reconciliation… no self-realization… no pack membership. But now the scent markings were very prominently placed, as if they knew that Cynnil's pack would follow a similar path as Prowler's pack had done so many years prior.

That was when it hit her: they were at the pack's territory. She had been so focused on her song that she had not noticed…

"Okay, this is just a bit too familiar," Mender commented, finding the irony both hilarious and more than a bit unnerving.

"I guess they want to make sure you know whose territory it is this time," Orchid muttered with a laugh, remembering the song about how her original pack had encountered Littlefoot and the others in the most unfortunate way, "But… um… what is the correct way to do this?"

"Not repeating what I did would probably be a good place to start," Mender said, "I'm honestly not sure how this is supposed to work."

"Sure you do," Cynnil encouraged as she glanced at the pack's two 'guests, an excited Arial and petrified Nahoda, "The first step is to announce that we are here."

"I think Spotter has already alerted them to that fact," Buse noted.

"Um…" Orchid began, pondering how to proceed, "How do we do that? Do we just shout out 'Here we are! Please don't eat us.'?"

"Well, if we were a normal pack it would be best to bring a peace offering. I vote for using that fastrunner that's hanging around somewhere," Mender said in an attempt to explain what needed to be done, "I don't think they'd expect us to bring down something big."

Nahoda shifted uneasily. "Well… we could get some fish from the stream, but…"

"You are not fond of some of its residents," Arial noted with amusement before giving him a playful nudge.

"A shame, I think he was rather fond of Nahoda," Buse added.

"Well maybe we could make sure that Opus is elsewhere and then get some fish," Orchid proposed, trying to avoid killing one of his own kind, "It is what us fastrunners are good at."

"That might work for you guys, but I don't think that'll work for me. It's not what fastbiters usually catch," Mender countered, "I don't mind hunting on my own this time." She turned towards Cynnil, seeking her input.

Cynnil understood what her packmate was suggested and gave her a curt nod. "That sounds like a plan, though you will need an escort. We are near the territory of another. Friends or not, we should not strike off alone."

"Buse, do you mind coming with me?" Mender asked her other hidden runner packmate.

As Buse and Mender descended into the tall grass they had no idea that they were being watched.

"Taunt, no!"

Cynnil turned suddenly as Nahoda and Arial only caught a glimpse of an orange tail disappearing into the waving stalks of verdant grass. Had Petrie's voice not alerted them to his presence then he would have never been seen.

"What does this mean?" Nahoda asked uncertainly as Cynnil shook her head.

"It means I'm going to need to hurry," Mender muttered irritatedly, "Come on, Buse." She turned and hurried back the way her pack had originally come.

The fastrunner sniffed the air with more than a hint of annoyance. He had found the perfect territory, chased off the weaker fastrunner resident, and had evaded the pesky fastbiters, and what was his reward for days of struggle?

The scent of a fertile female… that was already mated to another male!

He kicked the dirt in frustration as he struggled to find the scent trail. He had little doubt that he could deal with the male, but what if the female resisted? In a two-on-one battle the odds would certainly be against him. All of that was pulling on the rational side of his mind, but unfortunately that was not the side of his mind that was dominant right now.

He dared to mark my territory! He will regret that mistake!

He shook his head in order to reset his focus once more. In order to catch the upstart he would have to find him… and that required focus. Closing his eyes and opening his mouth he sucked in deeply.

Fastbiter!

Having apparently noticed the shift in the wind's direction, the fastbiter exploded out of her hiding place and rushed the fastrunner.

He burst forward, barely dodging her lunging claws as he let out a yelp of fear. Gone were his thoughts of victory and mates. Those were now replaced with the fear of impending death. Relying on his instincts he began to shift from side to side, forming an S pattern in his path of escape, hoping to dislodge his attacker. That was when his situation went from bad to worse.

"Na, na! I bet I can catch him first!"

He screamed as he jumped in a desperate attempt to avoid the sudden appearance of the orange fastbiter. With his legs burning with exertion and his heart threatening to beat out of his chest, he knew he was giving all that he could give.

But that was when fate smiled upon him.

The pursuing fastbiter barely managed to avoid a direct collision with her orange counterpart. Overbalancing as she tried to swerve around him, she soon found herself tumbling, any hope of catching her prey now lost.

The fastrunner allowed himself a victorious yelp as he continued his headlong sprint. He had just gotten a second chance at life… and love.

And despite the hardship he knew that he would be back.

---

Taunt bowed his head softly as he offered an arm to the fallen fastbiter. "Um… sorry, that didn't go as planned."

"You think?" Mender snapped back, still physically and emotionally sore from her fall. She still took the offered help, though. "I almost had him."

Taunt sighed as he could smell his mate approaching. "Well… if it's any consolation you get to see me get my head bitten off." He smiled as he heard an annoyed grunt from his mate in the distance. "In my defense I made Spotter a bet."

"You leave Spotter out of this!" the flyer protested from somewhere in the sky.

Taunt rubbed his head as he gave Mender a polite nod. "It is good to see you again, Mender. I take it that the journey went well until I came along?"

"Well, no one died, so I guess it turned out well," Mender replied, deciding to let Orchid tell about the incident with the threehorn himself, "Getting ready to leave, however..."

A rustling in the grass alerted them both that their conversation had come to an end as two hidden runners quickly broke into their line of sight despite their camouflaged feathers. The bright hues of Arial, Orchid, Nahoda, and Stern Claw soon appeared, however, turning the area into a rainbow of awkwardness.

"Taunt, you…" Cera paused, before noticing their company and giving a polite nod as she slapped her mate in the face with her tail, "Mender! It is so good to see you again!"

"I wish I could see you now…" Taunt muttered.

"Shut up, Taunt," Cera hissed under her breath, not breaking her happy expression at seeing a long-lost former packmate.

"Hi," Mender replied awkwardly, at a loss for how to behave.

"Welcome back, Mender."

Mender turned around to see a familiar face. One that she had not seen for years. With his brown body and red crest, she would recognize him from anywhere. The two small fuzzballs on his back, however, she had never seen before.

"I would like to welcome you all to our territory which our.. ahem… enthusiastic packmate has already done."

"But I did it so Spotter still owes…" Taunt began.

"Shut up, Taunt," came the response from nearly everyone present, which was then followed by laughter. It was then and only then that the other packmates came into view.

"Now there is a face I have not seen in many cold times, nope, nope, nope!"

"I wasn't trying to stay away," Mender replied, now quite embarrassed at just how long she'd been away.

Mender was greeted by laughter as she walked towards the long lost fastbiter and, when she offered a polite nod, she was instead embraced by the green fastbiter. "It has been too long! You have not even seen my young ones yet, nope, nope, nope!"

"How many did you say you had again?" Mender asked once she finally pulled away from her friend.

"I have five little ones..Though they are not as little as the once were. Leap." She gestured for her mate to come to her side, which he did a bit awkwardly considering the circumstance. "has been a good father, though for some reason he wants me to do the child carrying."

Leap gave her a tail-smile. "Well, dear, you do have the feathers. I just have a back, and Verok and Aqua love to dig in with their claws." As if on cue two younglings ran from the grass and landed on his back, jumping up and down playfully.

"Are you Mender?" one asked in mid-jump.

"Momma talks about you a lot!" the other added before playfully bumping the other one nearly off of their father.

"She does?" Mender asked, surprised that Ducky would bother telling her kids about someone they'd never even seen before.

Leap carefully nudged the children as they returned to the ground. "Yep, we taught you all her song, haven't we?"

As if on cue the five children began the song in varying degrees of tone.

As Mender wandered with her p-p-pack,

Through the void, mysterious and b-b-black,

A folly would soon force them to unite,

Though that would not occur without an unfort-u-nate fight

Mender glanced at Ducky as if to ask why she'd told her kids about her adventures. Many of them weren't exactly pleasant, especially not as things she'd lived through.

"We started with how you met all of us, and how you joined the pack, but some of the details will be covered later when they are older," Ducky noted in a whisper.

"And how I joined the pack was considered 'okay'?" Mender whispered back, "There's a few details I'm not sure are kid-friendly, a certain not so nice fastbiter being among them."

Ducky smiled. "Don't worry, Mender. If they are old enough to learn about the Battle for the Valley then they can handle that."

"Oh, look how you two have grown!"

Mender glanced over at Ruby talking with her siblings. It made her feel slightly better that she wasn't the only one that was getting attention.

Orchid protested as Ruby took it upon herself to examine her siblings and to pester them about their adult size, "You saw us only a few Night Circle cycles ago..."

Ponder put her hands on her hips in mock indignation. "And in those few cycles, my sister has found a mate, and my brother has decided to join my friend's pack. Speaking of which…"

Nahoda tried his best to stand tall and respectful as the predator drew closer. He only slightly flinched when Ponder politely touched his shoulder.

"Scared but still refuses to run… yep, I think you chose well, sis."

"He can definitely run," Mender called over to the fastrunners and former fastrunner, "Trust me on that one."

"And I do believe that he has run enough," Arial noted before giving him a hug, "So I don't think he needs to be trained right now."

"How are you going to put that in your song, Mender? Though I was about to catch this fastrunner - having a blast - Arial neglected to tell me that it was her desired piece of as-

As Taunt recovered from her mate's backhand and their kids laughed, Stern Claw simply shrugged. "Well, it was a somewhat catchy tune."

Arial groaned. "Is he always like that?"

"Always."

"Yep."

"Certainly."

"He's usually worse."

"That's our daddy!"

Mender did her best hold in a laugh. "At least one thing hasn't changed since I left." Though as the others began to laugh, she stopped trying to hold it in.

It was when everyone finally settled down that Littlefoot gave an alert call, and his pack fell into formation. Despite being surprised by the sudden change in tone, Mender quickly joined the rest of her pack in getting in formation as well.

"I must apologize for Taunt's attempt to win a bet… but I suppose it did 'break the frozen water' as the rainbowfaces would put it," Littlefoot began as he gestured at the smirking fastbiter, "Though we have neglected an important part of the greeting. We need to introduce ourselves because as you can now see… our pack has expanded since your pack has graced our lands."

He gestured at the numerous kids to make his point.

Littlefoot began as he gestured towards Ruby's feathered back, "On my mate's back are my son, Biter, and my daughter, Swipe. They have only recently had their first hunt."

I really hope they never find out how my first hunt went. Smell-blindness sorta makes everyone think you're useless. Not that I wasn't useless, because I was also smaller than everyone, but...

"I guess it is my turn," Cera began as she gestured at her mate's back, "Here is my daughter, Ambush, and my two sons, Pouncer and Sprint."

"Here are our lovely sons, Sniffer and Nibble," Breeze affirmed as they jumped from Spike's back to hers, and then back again.

Somehow, I thought Taunt's kids would be the ones with the most energy. Guess I was wrong.

"Well, Mender has already met two of ours, but here are our children, our sons Fisher and Verok, and daughter, Tranquil, Aqua, and Dodger," Leap affirmed as he nuzzled each one, earning a few playful licks and chirps in response.

Okay, go... WHAT? Mender froze, stunned. That's just... wow. Though considering how things went the last time I saw my brother and Leap together, this is a bit surprising.

"And Spotter's children with my mate right now. They are training to be messengers, and they send message to your brother and Staza, Mender."

This left only one member of the pack out of the greetings. It was a conspicuous absence.

"And you can all meet Path when you get to our dens… right now he has guard duty."

Nahoda looked around. "Guard duty? I think you all should be safe with this many claws around."

"Ah… but the welcoming dinner might not be safe," Littlefoot replied with a tail-smile.

"Longnecks tend to attract a lot of attention," Ruby clarified.

"There's a longneck herd around here?" Mender wondered aloud, "I haven't heard any."

"It was a straggler, actually. One that had gone on his final walk," Littlefoot spoke with a hint of melancholy, "I guess he wanted to see the pack of talking sharpteeth before he went to the Great Beyond. We obliged him."

"He had good leaf-eater stories," Biter noted, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"That he did," Littlefoot agreed.

"I actually tried listening in on one once," Mender said, "Got chased off for deciding a bully needed to pick on someone his own size."

Taunt laughed. "That sounds like a song in itself. The song of Mender, the bully, and the aborted hunt!"

"I didn't say I didn't catch him," Mender replied defensively, "I just didn't get to eat him for a while." I can actually catch stuff, you know.

This earned laughter from everyone except for the obvious exception of the fastrunners. That was when Littlefoot waved everyone forward with his arm.

"Well then, Cynnil, would you accept my invitation for your pack to dine with us today? Luck has decided to give us all an offering."

Cynnil nodded. "Who am I to deny the offerings of fate? I gladly accept for my pack."

With the formalities over, the packs then intermingled once more as they all proceeded deeper into the territory of the pack. It was a curious inversion of what she had experienced years ago when her brother and Tracker were leaving the pack. A reminder of how much times had changed, and the power of memory. But now, despite the awkwardness of their meeting, and the words that still needed to be exchanged between friends, she felt at peace.

Without realizing it she began to hum the tune of her song under her breath.

---

The past:

Violet watched her brother and Tracker disappear into the underbrush as her pack stood at attention at their territorial limits. Marked with their own scent, it was the demarcation line between 'home' and 'outside', between 'fight with your life' and 'fight only if necessary'.

Between pack and outsiders.

"Don't worry, Mender, I am sure we will see them again."

"And if we don't, Haven?" Violet asked, voicing her biggest fear. She could barely imagine losing what remained of her family, but the thought wouldn't leave her alone. She'd always worried when she couldn't see Dodger or Tracker, especially since for most of her life she couldn't knowingly smell anyone. Now that they were gone, she knew she'd go insane if that worry didn't fade. Unfortunately for her it had only intensified with every step Thud's pack took away from hers.

Ducky sat on her haunches as she watched the five fastbiters disappear from sight, "That is something that we all must deal with, Mender. We all worry about our mommies and daddies as well."

"Yep," Littlefoot confirmed, "I worry about my brother and father."

"Tria and my dad," Cera offered, she then nudged Taunt.

"Hey! Yeah, and my dad too."

"It be hard when your family be food," Petrie noted, "At least your family be sharpteeth. Me sure they be safe with Thud."

"I hope you're right," Violet said, not really convinced. She'd had too many near-misses in her short life to not still worry.

Ducky placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Your brother was able to keep you and Tracker alive for years, right?"

Violet nodded. Had she said 'safe' I'd be lying if I told her 'yes'. Between Prowler and everything else, safe wasn't something I ever actually experienced. Did I feel safer with Dodger, I mean Verant, around? Yes. Did I feel completely safe? Rarely.

Ducky smiled, sensing part of what Violet was thinking. "Thud is no Prowler. I am sure he and Dodger will make a good team."

Spike muttered, "I thought Leap was his deputy?"

Taunt rolled his eyes. "I'm sure that will last a long time."

Spike stuck out his tongue. "Longer than your stint as spar leader…"

"So says the fastbiter who…"

Ducky tuned out the banter behind her as she looked into Violet's eyes. "You know, Mender, there was a song that all of us used to sing when we were leaf-eaters. A song that captured what was truly important, even when things seemed darkest."

"What was that?" Violet asked, extremely curious.

It was at that point that each of the original gang looked at one another, which made Taunt and Breeze look at one another in confusion. It must have been a song that they did not know.

Ducky smiled as she began, " Don't lose your way… With each passing day… You've come so far… Don't throw it away. "

Sounds a bit like something Tracker, er, Staza would have come up with, Violet thought.

Cera then joined in, " Live believing... dreams are for weaving… wonders are waiting to start. "

Well, my life's definitely changed in ways I've never dared dream about…

Ducky then sang again, " Live your story… Faith, hope and glory… Hold to the truth in your heart. "

What I know in my heart is that I'm just a smell-blind fastbiter. Maybe I can be more than just that, but I'm going to need help.

The entire pack then joined into the chorus, while Taunt and Breeze looked on in amazement, " If we hold on together... I know our dreams will never die... Dreams see us through to forever... Where clouds roll by... For you and I. "

Now I'm really wishing the others could have heard this, Violet thought, finally giving up on getting her family's new names correct for the day, We stuck together and survived. I hope I didn't just mess that up… While still worried, Violet could manage a sad smile. The song could very well have described her old pack, summing up everything that happened to them in a way they'd never managed to do with far more words.

The pack then sang the next verse and chorus, working themselves up into a frenzy, as fastbiters in song were prone to do.

Souls in the wind

Must learn how to bend

Seek out a star

Hold on to the end

Valley, mountain

There is a fountain

Washes our tears all away

Words are swaying

Someone is praying

Please let us come home to stay

If we hold on together

I know our dreams will never die

Dreams see us through to forever

Where clouds roll by

For you and I

Okay, this is just a bit too accurate, Violet thought. Her pack had never once managed to find a place to stay. Just staying two nights in the exact same place invited trouble. I'm not forgetting this song, she promised herself.

Violet had not noticed Taunt and Breeze move next to her as they watched their packmates sing the beautiful song. They had always assumed that leaf-eaters told stories, but it appeared that the gang had sung long before they obtained teeth and claws, back when they were leaf-eater younglings. Some part of Taunt almost wondered if that had been a harbinger of what was to come.

When we are out there in the dark

We'll dream about the sun,

In the dark we'll feel the light

Warm our hearts, everyone

If we hold on together

I know our dreams will never die,

Dreams see us through to forever

As high as souls can fly,

The clouds roll by

For you and I

If anyone had said anything to Violet she would not have heard them. She was nearly struck dumb by the song. It was beautiful, heartbreaking even, and applied to herself and her family in a way that the singers probably didn't even realize.

The entire pack then joined in singing the chorus one more time, as was the custom when being taught a new song. As their voice became quiet after singing the last note, however, the impact of the song became apparent to them all.

"You sang that as children?" Taunt questioned in amazement.

Littlefoot nodded. "It was something that my mother sang when times were dark. My friends and I kind of built upon it. There were no darker times than in those dark days before we reached the valley."

"I still remember some of it," Spike affirmed, "Even though I had just hatched… that song remains."

Violet looked at Spike, shocked. If he'd just hatched then… oh. Wait, then how is he about the same age as everyone else? He's older than me! Ow, my head hurts. She gripped her head in pain and frustration, having managed to give herself a slight headache.

Ducky noted her reaction and reflected on how she reacted to her brother earlier. "What is your earliest memory, Mender?" She had to make sure her hunch was correct.

Huh? "I thought… oh, wait, Breeze was the one asking me those questions that time. Where'd you go?" Violet may have been asking a question, but her tone suggested she was thinking out loud, a bad habit that had gotten her into trouble more than once, one she'd thought she'd broken.

"Right behind you," Breeze whispered, "Sorry I moved when the others were singing… but I agree with Haven's question. How far back do you remember?" She had remembered Violet's memory test from after her head injury, but she, like Ducky, was curious if anything new had arisen. sometimes new experiences bring things back up.

"My first clear memory is Dodger dragging me back to the nest after I tried to sneak off. I wanted to see the Grand Valley for myself," Violet answered, "I was seven, okay?" And I messed up with the new names thing. Again.

Littlefoot smiled. "Reminds me of the antics we got into."

Ducky nodded. "It is okay, Mender. I just thought that I would check. You had to experience saying farewell to your family today, and I thought that may have made you remember things."

Ruby nodded. "As my mate always tells me, your loved ones are always with you if you remember them. Some things you see with your heart."

"It was actually kind of weird. I said something to my brother that just felt right. I don't know where it came from. It's not something I would've come up with. I'm not that smart," Violet said.

Ducky clasped her on the shoulder. "You are smarter than you think; you are, you are! What did you say to him?"

"I hope that the coming seasons are kind to you and your pack," Violet said hesitantly, feeling quite embarrassed. It was far too formal a thing coming from her.

Littlefoot smiled. "And was that something that your brother taught you?"

"No," Violet replied, "I've never heard it before."

Littlefoot looked a bit perplexed as well, but that was when Taunt spoke.

"It is a very formal farewell between friends. I remember my dad telling it to me when my uncle, Screech came by." He shrugged. "That was before Redclaw came into the scene."

Littlefoot tilted his head. "So it is something that she must have learned from her parents?"

Taunt nodded. "I would assume so, yeah."

"Wha... How?" Violet asked, "If I took another hit to the head I'd forget my own name. How can I remember something I've forgotten?"

Ducky smiled as she looked into her friend's eyes. "This was the first parting you have experienced since you and Dodger.. er… Verant had to flee, right?"

"Since we got swept down a river, yes. Like my brother said, you guys are the first pack we've ever really had a chance to talk to. Though I guess Thud's has the honor of the being the first to not try to kill us." Oops. "Sorry," she said, moving into what was now a very familiar posture for her.

Littlefoot ignored the harsh truth the best he could, with only a slight wince indicating that he had heard it, "Then that must be why then. If this was your first parting since then… then this must be your first chance to recall that memory."

Ruby smiled as she bounded towards Violet. "Consider it a gift! As long as your parents are in your thoughts, they are never truly gone, even though they are gone!"

Ducky smiled. "Perhaps we can go back to the meeting place and sing the song again while you think about those parting words? Maybe you could put a face to the words then? Yep, yep, yep!"

"I can try," Violet said, not at all confident in her ability to remember much of anything.

As the pack walked back towards the meeting area, Violet felt oddly more connected to her family than she had when her brother had been with her face to face. A piece of the puzzle had been dangled close to her mind, and she marvelled at the promise it held. Despite her lack of confidence, some small part of her still had hope. Without realizing it she began to hum the song as the others walked in front of her.

Don't lose your way… With each passing day… You've come so far… Don't throw it away.

She had remembered the running most of all. The emotion of fear and sadness, but that sadness had come from loss. A loss she could no longer remember… unless…

Live believing... dreams are for weaving… wonders are waiting to start.

That parting had come from somewhere… perhaps her father was saying goodbye to an old friend, or a child who was ready to leave? Either possibility made sense. But what else had jogged her memory? Was it merely the parting?

Live your story… Faith, hope and glory… Hold to the truth in your heart.

What part of the story was she missing? How could she attempt to tell it in her mind when the details were blacked out by the ravages of time and her injuries?

If we hold on together

Wait, that was it! She had also been looking at her brother when she had said the parting. Perhaps it was something about his demeanor?

I know our dreams will never die

Wait, he had said something different after I said my parting… what was it?

Dreams see us through to forever

That's when it came to her. 'May the stars guide your path, and our songs guide your heart.' It was something formal too. Almost like something a parent would say to a child who was leaving… that was when another scene came into view.

Where clouds roll by

A fastbiter that looked much like Dodger. The same eyes… similar coloration… the same stern commitment to his duties. She knew this fastbiter. But in her mind he had no name, only a label. Only an identity. It was then that it came back to her.

"What is it, Mender?" A voice seemed to come from somewhere in front of her, she vaguely realized. "What do you remember?"

For you and I

"Dad…"

---

The present, Verant's location:

Nothing in Verant's life could prepare him for the sight that greeted his widened eyes. On the ground, now crimson and bare, lay the very thing that he had struggled to protect. More than his son lay on that bare Earth; his hopes and dreams also lay wounded against the merciless night.

He arrived at his child's side without knowing how he had gotten there, all of his awareness now fixed upon the now threatened life that he had failed. The life of his very son.

Staza all but obstructed anyone else's view of her son, trying to figure out just how bad her son's injury was. "Gyors? Gyors? Please, son, wake up." Her voice sounded more and more panicked with each word.

"Dad…" came a pained squeak as his son's body jerked. Then, as if the situation descended upon him at once, he screamed in pain as his body began to thrash.

It took all of her willpower for Staza not to panic; she wouldn't be able to calm her son down if she weren't calm herself. Rather bizarrely to onlookers, she started humming the familiar tune from when they were hatchlings.

Sleep little biters, don't you cry… The night will end, as the Circle rises in the sky...

It took several moments, but eventually the little biter's thrashing ceased as he became more subdued. His scream dulling into a gentle cry. It was when Verant saw his son grinding his teeth and holding his forelimbs against his face that he realized that his son was struggling to control himself with determination beyond his age.

Verant took a shallow breath as he gently touched his son's shoulder, earning a sob before his son reluctantly turned his attention towards his father, only one eye open.

"Son, we need to take a look if we are going to make it better," he forced himself to say, despite knowing that there were certain wounds that time could not heal.

Slowly and reluctantly, his son removed his hands from his face. What greeted them was a confirmation of their worst fears. A large gash covering one of his eyes, clear fluid leaking from what was left of the orb.

"Should we try to get him to Seeker's?" Staza whispered towards her mate. She knew that there was no way to actually heal her son's injury, but maybe they could keep anything else from going wrong.

"We are still five days away," Verant whispered, the implications being clear.

"Is Gyors going to be okay, Momma?" one of the fallen fastbiter's sisters asked, as the others hid behind her, as if hiding from the fate that had befallen their brother.

"He'll be alright, Lula," Staza replied. Alright, in this case, meant that Gyors would live, assuming the injury didn't get infected.

"But his eye…" a brother, Tormid, protested. He was staring in transfixed horror at the sight before him. Even at his young age he knew what losing an eye meant for a hunter.

Despite the horror of what had transpired, Verant had managed to keep himself composed. From Ovie's terrible loss, the destruction of the hidden runners he had defended, to their flight from the now occupied territory, he had tried to be the rational one. The calculating one. The one who knew what to do. But the words of his other son made something in him break. For he knew what lay behind that utterance. It was an understanding that was as stark as it was unavoidable.

Without two eyes his son would not be able to hunt prey in the manner of their species. He would not be able to aim at a side and tear down as his prey fell before him. He would be unable to perform the most basic of tasks for any pack, which meant that critical test would be forever denied to him. As soon as his son left the time of parting, he would be a dead biter walking. No fastbiter lasted long without the benefit of a pack.

Verant looked away, his composure suddenly leaving him. If they saved their son from infection, what then? Were they just setting him up for an even more merciless end.

"As long as there is life, there is hope."

Verant turned again, only to see the familiar pink fastrunner staring back at him. Her voice was reassuring, but her eyes betrayed an inner hardness. She had not allowed herself to give in to death, and she was not going to let her savior do the same.

He did not answer, still trying to think about what to do next. For some reason he could not think of anything else but the words echoing in his mind. Son. Doomed. Failure.

"You once talked to me about your sister, Verant. The famous Mender."

Verant jerked in response as Ovie continued to talk. Despite how she had turned out he still felt regret at not knowing now what he knew then. There were so many mistakes that could have been avoided.

"She overcame much in her life, and I am sure that your son will do as well. But only if you get up right now and tell the others what to do."

"You're right. You're right," Verant said. He shook his head, as if he could shake away his previous thoughts. "Help me get everyone up. We need to get moving. Where there's one hidden runner there's probably more." And we need to get Gyors to a healer as soon as we can.

That was when he heard the most curious sound over his son's calming sobs. It almost sounded like a gust of wind, but the air was calm. Which could only mean…

"Thank goodness we found you! Are you alright?"

Verant was soon surrounded by flyers of all description. Three leaf-eater flyers were joined by one of Spotter's kind and even a carrion eater. That was when he noticed what they all held on their talons. An unmistakable red sap.

You guys couldn't have showed up a little sooner? Verant wondered irritatedly. "My son is hurt," he explained as calmly as he could. If he let himself show his worry now, he'd never get his composure back, and his son didn't have time to waste on panicking. "Could one of you fly him to Seeker's pack? They've got healers there."

"Dear?" Staza hissed with concern.

"Gyors needs a healer now," Verant explained, nuzzling his mate, "He can't afford to wait days for us to carry him there ourselves."

"But, what if he falls?" Staza whispered softly, "He is scared, Verant. Scared and hurt. He doesn't need to be alone right now."

"If he doesn't go soon, he's not going to make it," Verant emphasized, "Staying here isn't going to do him any good."

"Staza, right?"

Staza turned towards the flyer that had spoken, attentive and more than a bit concerned. She nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes?"

"I have done this before, hun. Sometimes when children get stranded in the valley they send one of us." She raised one of her talons. "These are not for killing, but they can hold your son tight. He won't be going anywhere but his destination."

"He won't fall?" Staza asked, somehow sounding both concerned and hopeful at the same time.

"Nope. But I think that he might appreciate his mother telling him so." As the flyer paused Staza noted her demeanor as she looked towards the fastbiter, this was a mother as well. "I take it that he has never been carried by a flyer before?"

Staza shook her head in response. "I'll tell him," she said before walking back to her son to do just that. "Gyors?"

The little biter almost didn't hear his mother over the calming chirps of his brothers and sisters who had made a protective shield around him of sorts. Their bodies quickly calming his racing heart with the sensation and smells of normality. He could almost imagine he was back to the way he was. That his assault had not happened.

"Mom?" his voice cracked, still in pain. As soon as he caught sight of the flyers his mind began to race. "Who are they?"

"Help," Staza explained simply, "One of them is willing to carry you to a healer if you'll let her."

The little fastbiter tried to hide his fear, but the scent gave him away. His parents had always warned them about potentially being snatched by flyers. "Carried by a flyer?"

"She's done it with kids in the Grand Valley many times," Staza said, doing her best to reassure Gyors despite her own misgivings, "You'll be perfectly safe."

Her son heard the reassurances, but his heart still quaked at the prospect of going off into the night alone with one of these flyers. He wanted to be with his family. He wanted to be where the smells communicated home and safety. But his mother's words communicated something else, an urgency that he seldom heard except when one's life was in danger. The smell of regret radiating off of both of his parents only confirmed his suspicions.

He swallowed. "It's okay, Mommy. You both did what you could." He was not about to let his parents wallow in guilt over what might await him.

"You're going to be alright, Gyors," Staza replied rather forcefully, hoping her son would understand it, "You're just going to see some friends of ours before we do."

Gyors looked at the flyer warily. If his mother said this was for the best then…

"I can go with you if you don't want to go alone."

Upon hearing Ungu's offer Gyors mind was made up. If his sister was willing to go on a flyer just to give him courage, then he would not let his will fail him here. Neither Mommy or Daddy acted like cowards and neither would he.

"I will do it," he affirmed simply as he took tentative steps forward, trying to ignore the stinging pain from his face. It had faded into the background now, his instincts forcing him to consider what he could change and not what he couldn't.

While absolutely relieved that Gyors was willing to be carried by the flyer, Staza wasn't entirely sure her heart didn't stop when Ungu moved to follow him. "Ungu..." she started to protest. Her daughter turned to look at her. "...look after your brother," she reluctantly finished.

"Okay, little one, if your parents have a vine then have one of them tie it around ya. This can help make sure that you are secure," the older flyer instructed as she examined the little fastbiter, grimacing once she saw his injury.

At the same time Ungu had walked right up to the carrion flyer, leaving him bemused. "You don't look hurt."

"I'm going with my brother so that he isn't lonely."

The carrion flyer looked at the plant-eater flyer with confusion before she gave him a nod. With a shrug he gestured for one of the others to tie the daughter too. "Loop it in front of her legs and then loop it around my neck."

"Ungu, while you're there, Haven's in charge until I get there," Staza instructed her daughter, "Understood?"

Ungu nodded as a hidden runner tied the vine around her, "Yes, momma. But how will I know which one is Haven?"

"You'll have to ask, but she's green," Staza replied, "She's a good friend of mine."

Ugnu nodded as the flyer placed his talons around her carefully, earning a gulp from the youngling. "Okay, Momma, I will."

Over at the other flyer, Verant was making sure that Gyors was ready to go. "We'll see you in a few days, Gyors," Verant said with more confidence than he felt.

Gyors tried to stay calm as he felt the flyer's talons around him, but as the pain threatened to overwhelm him again he allowed himself to submit to the inevitable. "Daddy, my friends and I were making a song for our friends who are with the ancestors. Can you help them finish it for me?"

"You'll help them yourself when we see you again," Verant replied forcefully, keeping the emotions welling through him away from his face. His son had no idea what he just implied, and Verant was not about to sing the end of his son's song just yet.

Gyors did not know why his father was so forceful in his affirmation, but he nodded nonetheless, "Okay, Daddy, see you in a few days."

The next few seconds seemed to drag on for several eternities as the two flyers let out a forceful flap of their wings, going airborne in a single stroke. Within mere moments their children were small objects quickly disappearing among the stars. Indistinguishable from the ancestors that watched over them. He could feel his mate lean against him, allowing the silent sobs to show now that they were hidden from the view of their remaining children. He gave her a nuzzle in return before making a quiet plea to the ancestors above.

"Keep an eye on them, will you? We need all of the help we can get."

He heard the remaining flyers cautiously move around him, obviously waiting for an audience but being unwilling to interrupt the parents in their moment of reflection.

"Yes?" he finally spoke, forcing himself to look away from the silent stars.

"If Wrok is capable of all this then what do we do now?"

Dodger glared at the flyer, his resolve unbreaking. "It's simple. We kill him."

---

Thanks for the comments, everyone. My apologizes for the delay in getting this out, but the end of the semester is approaching and both Historian and I have been quite busy. Nonetheless I hope that you enjoy this installment.

byran mccloud: Interesting thoughts there. I suppose it is possible that the now half-blinded child could become a healer one day, though in his case it is an especially cruel wound. Much like with Charger, in Songs of the Hunters, losing an eye is a special disability. Whereas Charger would not be usable as a fighter, in Gyors case it would prevent him from being an effective hunter, as depth perception is necessary for guiding the pounces onto prey. And, of course, he who cannot hunt is most likely not going to be accepted into a pack one day... we will have to see how his situation develops.

gordhanx: Thank you for the in-depth review! As for Gyors, as we have seen he is not dead yet... though damage has certainly been done. And now we have some idea about how he and Seeker's pack are going to intersect. A most happy homecoming is about to be shattered with news of a most unhappy variety. Though it has taken over 230,000 words the introduction is over... now the conflict truly begins.

Keijo6: You are quite correct about the ending, though Gyors still is not out of the woods yet. As for the number of new characters, there are quite a few, though several were introduced before. Ugnu and Gyors were Verant's kids, for example, whereas the hidden runners... well... we will see if they make another appearance. Let's just say that how people live and manage to survive under oppressive leaders is as interesting as the oppressive tyrants themselves. Sometimes we must simply do what we must in order to survive.

Oh, and this should only be a 3 act story. Though considering how long Act 1 was your word count may not be that far off. XD Though I would be surprised if this story exceeded 550,000 words.