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.

36. Chapter 29: The New Alliance

Author's Note:

A list of the major character names can be found below this author's note for your convenience. In this chapter we get the introduction of the other fastbiter packs in Littlefoot's little confederation. Though there are a lot of names introduced, please do not feel overwhelmed. Many of these characters will remain secondary characters despite obtaining a name in this narrative.

Additionally I would like to clarify for those of you who are wondering that, indeed, things will be getting quite intense for the next several chapters. This introductory chapter of the third act can be thought of as a prelude to what is to come. Now that all of the major factions have been assembled the situation is going to erupt.

Finally, Historian1912 and I would like to thank all of you for your interest in this story. As before my response to your reviews can be found at the end of this chapter. But I would like to thank all of you readers, reviewers and otherwise, for your continued interest in this tale. I hope that you enjoy the coming chapters.

~Rhombus

---

Character List:

The main pack members:

Seeker (Littlefoot) and Ponder (Ruby)

Stern Claw (Cera) and Taunt (lovable asshole)

Haven (Ducky) and Leap

Finder (Spike) and Breeze

Spotter (Petrie) and Soar

Littlefoot and Ruby's kids:

Biter (son)

Swipe (daughter)

Cera and Taunt's kids:

Ambush (daughter)

Pouncer (son)

Sprint (son)

Spike and Breeze's kids:

Sniffer (son)

Nibble (son)

Ducky and Leap's kids:

Fisher (son)

Verok (son) [named after Leap's brother]

Tranquil (daughter) [named after Ducky's mother's aunt]

Dodger (daughter)

Aqua (daughter)

Petrie and Soar's kids:

Dive (son)

Lift (daughter)

Valaria (daughter) [named after Petrie's fallen sister]

Rainbowfaces' kids:

Datum (son)

Axiom (daughter)

Ruby's family:

Detras (father)

Pearl (mother)

Orchid (brother)

Arial (sister)

The leaf-eater gang:

Sauria (Ali's mother and Bron's daughter - Littlefoot's sister)

Charger (Savine's son - mother was killed by Chomper's parents)

Datum (Son of the rainbowfaces)

Axiom (Daughter of the rainbowfaces)

Flip (a flyer)

Malka (a swimmer)

Tricia (Cera's sister)

The main members of the other packs:

Slash: Female pack leader who has a mainly female pack from Calin's survivors.

Thud

Howler: Mountain pack leader

Bellow (female) and Vengeance (male): Other mountain pack members

Loosejaw:A pack leader. Stern but compassionate, he has a loose jaw due to being bopped by a spiketail's tail early in life.

Valiant: Deputy of Loosejaw.

White Eye: Eager young volunteer of Loosejaw's pack. He wishes to build a reputation for himself in order to impress potential mates and to earn glory in songs.

Defiance: A very strict and authoritative pack leader who joined the alliance out of the best interests of his pack.

Oron: Son of Defiance and currently without pack name.

Frona: Daughter of Defiance and currently without pack name.

Scarneck: Is a bit of a smartass in his responses, but is loyal to the alliance and trustworthy in his deeds. Pack leader of the Lowlands fastbiter pack.

Grimace: Deputy of Scarneck that takes himself and his job a bit too seriously, almost as if he's trying to make up for his leader's overuse of sarcasm. Grey.

Luca:A quite old female pack elader who still manages to command her pack. In her old age she has a bit of cynicism (though not overly malicious) and a brutal wit.

Grunt and Astar: Two tyrannosauruses from the hidden runner lands.

---

Act 3

Chapter 29: The New Alliance

Echo was brave, smart, and just,

Beloved by all, hated by none

A story begun in a desperate fight,

And nothing he did as leader,

Put him in a different light

Rackus was harsh, cruel, and feared,

Despised by many, trusted by few

A story begun in a desperate fight,

And nothing he did as leader,

Put him in a different light

History can be confusing,

As words and deeds are never seen the same,

So do not be confused, dear listener,

When I tell you that Echo and Rackus are one in the same

~Ballad of Echo, the Ruler Rackus

From the Summation of Ancient Thought - Volume 32

---

Thump… thump… thump… thump…

The muffled reports in the distance became gradually louder as the narrow ravine's oppressively high walls began to give way to a more expansive view of the blue sky. Against this bright canopy of radiance the brown hues of what had been there travelling path on this day began to fade in favor of infrequent bushes and hardy grasses. At the same time the companionable silence of much of the journey was now being replaced of the ominous sound.

Thump… thump…

"Not to be rude, but what the fuck is that?"

Mender was tempted to mouth some thanks to the ancestors that her pack was well behind Littlefoot's, but she could not deny that she wanted to know the answer to Buse's questions as well. Even if he had blurted it out with all of the subtlety of a two-footer's roar.

Mender looked back at Buse and was unsurprised to see the rest of her pack be as discomfited as she was. What is going on? I know the ravine's probably making this seem more concerning, but this is starting to sound like trouble to me.

"It… sounds like two-footers!" Orchid noted with more than a hint of concern as he gazed at the others. "They did say they were at Hanging Rock."

Cynnil nodded at her companions. "That is a two-footer alert for an accepted threat."

The pack leader was greeted by three confused gazes as Orchid allowed himself to tilt his head as if to pose the unspoken question.

"To indicate that Seeker's pack is not a threat would be an insult. To indicate that he is a threat and to react aggressively would be a threat in itself. But to merely make an alert without roaring…" Cynnil shrugged, "It is the closest you will get to a show of respect from two-footers."

"And I thought hidden runners were confusing," Mender muttered.

"I never thought two-footers were confusing. If I see one - run!" Buse exclaimed with more than a little venom.

"That is usually a good idea," Orchid noted, "Being a fastrunner will do you no favors if you don't run."

Cynnil sighed heavily but said nothing more as they continued towards Hanging Rock. All the while the disappearing ravine walls made them seem more vulnerable to whatever lay in wait at Hanging Rock itself.

Mender still didn't like the situation, but she was willing to trust her former packmates. I hope Seeker knows what he's doing here. I'm not much more comfortable with all this than the valley probably is.

That was when the relative tranquility of creepy two-footer stomping was broken with something else entirely. A deafening cacophony of roars. Fastbiter roars.

Without another word all three of her companions reacted. Buse hurled himself behind a bush in a desperate attempt to find cover. Cynnil gripped her short sharpened stick as she took a defensive stance in front of her comrades. And Orchid...

"Oh no! Mom and Dad!"

"Whoa!" Mender hurriedly moved to cut Orchid off, "Easy there, Feather-head!"

Orchid nearly collided with his packmate before he managed to stop. "But if they are threatening my sister's pack, then…"

"Do you know what is going on, Mender?" Cynnil's voice interrupted the fastrunner's concerned lament as she glanced in Mender's direction.

"They're not threatening them," Mender explained then turned to Orchid, "You've spent most of your life with parents that like to observe things yet you don't know there's more than one way to use a roar?" Orchid, you are going to die from overreacting one day. What do I have to do? Sit on you until you learn to not rush into things?

Orchid's face went through several emotions in quick succession: relief, confusion, and then offense. "Mom and Dad did not make a habit of hanging out with fastbiters to find out what their roars meant."

Mender looked at Orchid, slightly amused at his reaction.

Orchid folded his arms and sighed. "They have more sense than me, obviously."

"They definitely don't try to rush towards a bunch of possibly hungry predators," Mender said, "So, yes, I would say they have more sense than you right now."

Cynnil ignored the banter as she put her small weapon back in a non-threatening position towards the ground. "Sense or not, we had best announce our presence, shouldn't we? I highly doubt we can avoid participating in this meeting."

She sighed.

"After all, our journey to the valley was the cause of all this."

Mender suddenly became more than a bit self-conscious. "Um, are you sure we should let them know we're here?" I really don't know how to deal with any of this.

Cynnil looked at each of her packmates in turn before nodding. "As soon as Seeker's pack joins the chorus of roars, we will do the same."

At the same moment Orchid noticed that the towering form of Hanging Rock was now peeking behind the bluffs. He was back home.

He smiled slightly. "Time to let my parents know we are here."

---

"What do you mean more have arrived?"

The elder pink fastrunner resisted the urge to hurl the fish into her mate's face as she cautiously laid it down on the bluff. Despite the row of fish now stretching from one end of the bluff to the other, a good twenty-five fish total, she knew that would not be nearly enough.

And, quite frankly, she was beyond caring.

"I mean that two more packs have arrived, Dear." Pearl stressed the 'Dear' with just enough emphasis to get on Detras's nerves. "So I guess this means each pack gets to share one fish and the two-footers can get two."

She was greeted by an audible groan as the elderly male threw up his hands and decided to sit down on the bluff. She allowed him a few moments to put his head in his hands before she lightly groomed his neck feathers.

An amused snort greeted her ears as he finally relented and looked up at the massive assemblage of packs and predators down below. A grouping so numerous that if even a dozen fastrunners had worked all day they could not have possibly sated them. He knew exactly what she was getting at.

"Fine, you win, dear!" he finally admitted with mock defeat, "But you knew that I had to try."

Pearl answered by continuing to groom his neck feathers before finally lightly nibbling on his ear.

"Hey!"

She jerked back with a smile on her face. "And you knew that I would give you grief over it! Do you honestly think that the two-footers are going to care?"

Detras shook his head. "No, but I am not about to give a meal to the fastbiters, even a symbolic one, without having something for the two-footers. You know how they are."

Pearl gave him a long look before reluctantly nodding. "Yes… if the Dein and Terri fiasco showed us anything it is how they feel about duty."

Detras nodded before sneaking in and beginning to groom her neck feathers. "Yes, and that is why we have done ours. Just do me one favor, dear."

She was a bit lost in the sensation as she merely hummed, "Hmmm?"

"Make sure to remind me to give the half-rotting one over there to Path. After all, we can't thank him more than enough for sending all of his friends over here."

Pearl pushed him away playfully as if offended by the idea. But as she stared at the fish, now bloated and stinking, she took on a contemplative expression. "He would be honor-bound to eat the gift, wouldn't he?"

The only answer that she got was a wide smile.

Pearl shrugged as she walked over and picked up the catch. "Then let us be good hosts for our guests!"

---

Slash couldn't help but twist her tail into a smile at the well-executed calls of her pack. They roared distinctly against the competing calls of the other packs as they welcomed the two main guests to this meeting. Littlefoot's pack that had proposed intervention, and Cynnil's pack which contained the member that made war all the more certain.

"Alright, girls. Time to be at attention."

Her packmates, Rose and Allo, dutifully obeyed her order as they walked behind her statuesque form. Flutter Snout too followed their lead after sending off one more roar for good measure.

It was then that Slash realized that Althus and Donner were still roaring.

She closed her eyes in exasperation as her three original packmates began to laugh. I have gotten too used to only having female packmates over the years…

"And that goes for the guys as well," Slash added with some humor. They both obeyed without hesitation. With Althus giving her a grin on the way back to his usual spot.

"Forgot about us again, Slash?" Althus asked.

"I keep on forgetting that Flutter Snout didn't chase you off like the other males," Slash muttered in a mock biting tone.

"Not my best moment," Flutter Snout retorted earning her a sour look from Donner that was not matched by his amused tail gesture.

Allo, for her part, seemed a bit lost in her thoughts as she glanced at the packs around her. "This will make seven. The last time that I saw this many of our kind…"

"I'm not exactly sure I like this many packs together, either," Althus said, "It seems like there's an incident just waiting happen."

Slash took a deep breath in order to will her anger to subside. It had been years since Calin, but the memories still tore at her and the others under her watch. Althus may not have understood the implications of what Allo had said, but she most certainly did.

"Just remember that we are only one pack out of seven, everyone. We will not be forced to do anything that we do not agree with here. We are only bound by our honor and word," Slash spoke softly as she watched the other packs beginning to settle in. The solemnity of the moment appeared to speak for itself as even the most boisterous of the other packs began to grow silent. One could hear a pebble drop.

That was, until Chomper decided to speak.

"Are we all going to yell across the clearing at one another in the meeting? Gather closer, everyone!"

Slash took another deep breath. Thanks, Path. I'm sure my pack appreciates a two-footer giving orders again. That went so well for us last time. Nonetheless she gave the confirmatory order to her pack, "Let's do as he says. We are friends with Loosejaw so let's move to his left."

---

"Heh… it sounds like Path wants to kick some tail just as much as I do!"

White Eye's confident commentary broke into Loosejaw's consciousness as he watched the other packs move in closer. Though he was pleased to see Slash's pack grant him the honor of being on his left both the over-eagerness of the young biter and the muttering of his packmates filled him with misgivings.

"Calm down, White Eye," Loosejaw cautioned, "There's nothing to fight around here." And please don't change that.

"Come over here, White Eye. Let's let the pack leader do his job."

An audible sigh could be heard as White Eye retreated back towards his father's amused voice. Normally such an outburst from a youngster would have been unwelcome, but Loosejaw could guess why his packmate was not perturbed by his son's antics. After all, it was about time for White Eye and some of the others to part ways and to find their own way.

"I suspect someone will be itching to earn a pack name soon enough. He will not be the only one," Loosejaw's deputy noted with bemusement as he sat beside his pack leader and watched the slow proceedings taking place around them, "Got any ideas on which ones are ready and which ones should be held back?"

"White Eye might be ready or at least thinks he is," Loosejaw replied, "I think he needs a chance to prove himself first or he's going to do something reckless on his own."

His deputy, Valiant, nodded, "Well, he ain't going to earn his name here. You know our ways. He will have to impress another pack."

"Well, there are several here. He just might get his chance. Let's see what Seeker has in mind," Loosejaw said.

The elder pack leader then watched as a familiar female slowly approached from his left with five other fastbiters in tow. Though he did not recognize the two males he did have found memories of the other three. After all, anyone who helped his pack down a rogue bellydragger was a friend in his mind.

"So we meet again, Loosejaw," Slash greeted with the usual mix of casualness in word and respectfulness in pose, "I hope you don't mind us taking a place on your left?"

"Not at all," Loosejaw replied, "Just as long as we don't have another incident." Well, at least there's no bellydraggers around here.

This earned a sigh from Flutter Snout as Slash gave a slight tail-smile. "I do hope that the young ones learned a lesson on that day. Harassing a bellydragger is not a good idea."

"I think they learned that lesson, just not how to apply it," Loosejaw said. Otherwise I wouldn't be worried about possibly losing half our kids within a year of being on their own from trying to prove themselves.

It was then that his ears caught the banter of the young ones which thankfully was below the threshold of most biters.

"Look! Mountain biters!"

"Think you finally have a chance for some tail, White Eye? They aren't selective, are they?"

"Shut up, sis!"

Loosejaw resisted the urge to sigh. One day. Can they stop trying to provoke each other for just one day?

He was alerted by a cough to his left as Slash spared him a wink. "That would be Howler's pack. My condolences."

"I'd love to know how that happened. And who thought it was a good idea to include them," Loosejaw said, straining to not look like he was irritated at the other pack's mere presence.

He took a deep breath as he glanced in the direction of the advancing pack. What greeted his eyes were the same biters he remembered from the first meeting several Cold Times ago. Or, rather, the same kind of biters. Their slender forms and nimble legs were a testament to their lives spent in the mountains and bluffs, whereas their indistinct expressions were a testament to living in a pack that shared everything and knew each other.

But, creepy as they were, not acknowledging them would be an insult, and the last thing any of them could afford right now was to be fractured in the face of what they were facing.

Three fastbiters formed the vanguard of the pack with each of them walking in a line as if they were equal in rank. Infuriatingly Loosejaw could not even use his sniffer to his advantage to tell which of the similar-looking grey fastbiters was Howler. Or, for that matter, which ones were even male or female. Much like the rest of their pack, each of them looked like a reflection of the other in their mannerisms and hesitant steps. It was like they were simultaneously walking on thin ice but were not worried by that prospect.

Still unable to figure out which fastbiter was which, Loosejaw nodded in the pack's general direction.

Much to his annoyance the entire pack then nodded in return as if they were made of one collective mind. Mercifully, however, one of the fastbiters from behind the front three sauntered to the front. "Greetings, friend. I do hope that things have been well in the lowlands."

Loosejaw rolled his eyes. "If things were going well, would we all be here?"

There was no answer at first as the dozen or so pack members settled in no particular order to the right of Loosejaw's pack. In a few seconds no less than a dozen glances passed between various members. But then another voice, a feminine one, eventually answered. "We were only aware of troubles with Seeker and Verant's packs. Have the terrors visited your pack as well?"

"We're not going to sit around and wait until they do," Loosejaw replied. I have no wish to experience the disaster the hidden runners Verant was living with went through. Might need to ask him exactly what happened, just in case.

It was then that a hushed muttering echoed in the distance that made Loosejaw look into the clearing and the assembled packs that were closing in. The pack boundaries now appeared to disappear into something approaching a disorganized gang. It was a sight that understandably brought back mixed feelings to many. The sight of three towering two-footers awkwardly pacing while keeping their distance from one another merely added to the tension.

"Easy, everyone. We're all friends here," Loosejaw reminded his pack. For the moment, anyway.

His pack quieted their chatter slightly at the pack leader's calm words. The mutterings from elsewhere also calmed as no doubt their pack leaders gave similar orders. Though the tension was still thick enough to cut with a claw.

It was at this precise moment that their hosts appeared in the last remaining gap between the assembled sharpteeth. Against the sea of predators the pink and purple fastrunners stuck out like an isolated island. But Loosejaw knew full well that these were not just any fastrunners; these were the parents of Seeker's mate.

Detras stepped forward and presented the large fish in his hands, an obviously bloated specimen that no one would choose as their first choice for a meal. This fact was obviously not lost on some of the others either as White Eye added his commentary.

"I hope we don't get this honor!"

"Shhhh…"

Loosejaw smiled a bit. I'm gonna have to agree, but I don't think it's for any of us.

Detras cleared his voice awkwardly. "It is our custom to be good hosts for our guests, but we are but only two half-teeth. But it is our hope that you take our small gifts as a symbol of our hospitality." He then bowed ever so slightly at the assembled fastbiters before walking out of the circle entirely and walking decisively towards a certain purple two-footer. The audible sighs of relief by several pack leaders was easily drowned out by an exasperated groan from the target of this gift. Nonetheless as the fish was deposited in front of the two-footer he reluctantly took the prize into his massive jaws and consumed it all the same.

Detras looked up slyly. "We truly appreciate the guests, Path."

For his part the sharptooth tried to maintain his composure as he spoke under his breath in a low growl. "My pleasure."

When laughter broke out, Loosejaw could tell some of it was coming from his own pack but chose to ignore it. I can't say you didn't have this coming, Path. We could have met elsewhere.

His amused thoughts were soon cut off, however, by the sound of flapping wings as a familiar flyer landed in front of the pack leader with a large fish.

"I am helping out Pearl and Detras so that they don't have to carry all of these to everyone," Soar explained simply before walking behind the fish and nodding in place of the fastrunners. It was Loosejaw's invitation to eat the token offering.

Loosejaw dutifully ate his fish in one gulp, glad that his was a normal fish. He then nodded at the flyer as decorum demanded. Not great, but it's perfect for something I didn't catch myself. Looking around, he saw that the other pack leaders were acting similarly.

Well, most of them.

He briefly glanced at the mountain pack and watched as Howler took the first bite of the offered fish before offering it to the biter to his right. This ritual was then repeated, one by one, until the mangled remaining shreds of the fish arrived back into Howler's hands. It was only then that he finished the meal and nodded at a visibly confused Pearl.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Howler added as the entire pack nodded slightly.

Pearl then nodded back, relieved that the token was accepted. It was not lost on Loosejaw that she seemed to be in a hurry to be elsewhere.

You're not the only one that they confuse, Loosejaw thought, Why were they invited, again? I know they're one of the original packs in this alliance, which I still say was a bad idea in the first place, but why couldn't we have just sent a flyer?

Loosejaw looked around at the various pack leaders as they consumed their fish in turn. Slash, Defiance, Scarneck, Luca... they all communicated their power and dignity through how they carried through with this show of hospitality. But as the token meals were consumed they couldn't help but look at their counterparts and then to the remaining gap in their numbers. It was obvious that even with their experience that they could not fight the anticipation that was building in them all.

The time of the meeting was upon them.

---

Littlefoot couldn't help but jump a little when a familiar hand gripped his shoulder.

"Easy, Dear," Ruby's voice soothed as she proceeded to massage against his brown feathers as if she were trying to soothe an agitated youngling, "There is a lot to be nervous about, but there is no need to be nervous."

The brown fastbiter had to resist the urge to sigh as Ruby rubbed his shoulders. "You do realize that made no sense, right?"

He was rewarded for this epiphany by having the welcome shoulder rub come to an end as his mate walked in front of him and fixed him with a playful glare.

"You know what I meant. You are stressing out over this speech to the packs when all you do is speak to our pack. Just think of them like they are us."

Littlefoot nodded. "I also will not be the only one speaking here."

At this affirmation there was some noticeable confusion behind him as the pack looked at one another in confusion. Taunt merely looked bemused at this announcement while Leap, Ducky, and Mender noticeably moved as far behind the other dinosaurs as they could respectfully do so.

Cera stepped forward. "You are our best speaker, Seeker. You know I am better at dealing with problems than blabbering about them."

Though it was not meant as an insult, Littlefoot couldn't help but smile at his friend's blunt appraisal of the situation. "When we have more fighters this blabbering will be worth it."

It was both a polite dismissal and a means to walk away from an unintentional insult. Cera took the hint immediately and stepped back, only briefly glaring at her mate to dissuade Taunt from drawing light on her faux pas.

Littlefoot nodded at her slightly to confirm that no offense was taken. "I think that the others will need to see the true costs of this conflict. They need to see what inaction could mean for us all."

He fixed his eyes on the purple fastbiter who was shadowing behind Spike's green feathers.

"Er, there's not much to see, sir," Mender said, suddenly feeling like the kid that had just managed to join her first pack.

Littlefoot tried not to tail-smile as he gestured for her to step forward. "Maybe not. But your health will give them hope. They need that." He then reluctantly looked towards where Verant was trying to keep one eye on his sister and another towards the uncomfortably large group of fastbiters in the distance and tried to give a reassuring nod. "They will also need to see the costs of this terrible battle. I hate to ask this of you, Verant and Staza, but I think it will be helpful for our cause if the others could see what Wrok did to your pack… and family."

Verant's eyes flickered with annoyance, but he didn't say anything in response. Staza, however, looked positively murderous as her yellow eyes appeared to stare into Littlefoot's very soul.

Littlefoot took a deep breath. That is what I expected. "I only ask because I want to make sure that we honor bloodshed with bloodshed, claw with claw. I think this would be the best chance to make this hit them. We know your pain. But the new ankle-biters in these packs? They might not."

He took a slight step forward. His packmates, meanwhile, shifted uneasily as Staza's glare was unbroken.

"Will you help me ensure that we can stop this from happening to any other child?"

Staza finally ended her glare with a frustrated sigh. "Do you really think this will help?"

Littlefoot could hear his mate let out a sigh of relief as the battle of wills ended. For his part he gave her a reassuring tail-smile. "I think that it will. And I am sure they will feel more comfortable with an adult with them."

"If this will will help keep them safe..." Staza took a steadying breath before speaking in the dialect of her ancestors. "Gyors, Ungu. Could you come up here for a moment?"

The pack began to shift silently in order to make a path for the unseen children. As Taunt and Cera moved first, followed by Spike and Breeze, Littlefoot could slowly begin to see the pack's children as they remained dutifully within their assigned line. In light of the seriousness of this moment not even Biter or Pounce deviated from their parent's directives. Instead they merely looked around in confusion until they too moved aside to make room for the two siblings.

Both Gyors and Ungu looked confused and more than a little nervous. Once she had enough room to do so, Ungu moved from walking directly behind Gyors to walking a little to his side.

Littlefoot willed his expression to not darken when he realized what she was doing. She is watching his blind side like proper pack. Oh, Wrok, you will bleed for this.

He waited patiently for a few moments as the two children arrived in front of the pack leader. It was not lost on him that they were as nervous as an egg-stealer in a two-footer's nest.

"Don't worry, children. I am about to talk to the other pack leaders in a few moments, and I wanted to see if you two could help me out a little bit," Littlefoot said softly.

Somehow the kids managed to look even more confused. "How?" Gyors asked.

Well, that's a better reaction than them running off. "Our friends have not yet battled Wrok so they don't know what is at stake. But if they can see your brave faces, then they will know why we fight, and if they see Mender they will have hope." He then lowered his body slightly so that he was closer to their eye level. "Do you understand?"

"We don't have to talk to anyone, do we?" Ungu asked.

Littlefoot tail-smiled. "No. And I think if anyone wants to do talking then they can speak to…" He looked over towards Mender's looming form in the distance as if asking permission. Upon getting a reluctant nod he continued, "Mender. They need to see her too, after all."

Gyors looked back at Ungu, who nodded in acquiescence. "Alright," Gyors finally said, "We'll help."

Littlefoot gave the two little biters an appreciative nod before whispering. "I'm nervous too. Don't worry we will get through this together."

Gyors relaxed a bit at that while Ungu nearly started in alarm. "We'll be fine," Gyors whispered to his sister.

Reluctantly Littlefoot got up from his lowered position as he turned back towards the distant speaking circle between the packs. The time for him to come out of the shadows had arrived.

Here goes nothing...

---

Well, this is probably the largest group of sharpteeth I've ever seen, Mender thought, suddenly feeling nervous even though she wasn't the one speaking.

"My friends, our alliance of packs was created in blood. Blood that was shed by all of us - some unwillingly on the side of the tyrant and others against his murderous plans. But all of us, whether packs of the lowlands, packs of the sands, packs of the high peaks… we all agreed that this kind of terror must never happen again. If someone dared to unite the Mysterious Beyond in terror, then we, in our own best interests, would unite against them."

Thunderous thumping greeted Mender's ears as Littlefoot's words worked their magic upon the assembled packs. Despite their enthusiasm she could not help herself from reflecting on how hollow they were for those who were no longer here.

A little late for that, Mender thought, You almost lost one pack before you could do anything. I know not everyone here is connected with Ignis, but if we did something sooner... Ugh. I'm being ridiculous. I didn't truly realize there was a real problem for the rest of us until it literally stabbed me in the tail.

"Are you okay, Aunt Mender?" Ungu asked in a near whisper.

"I'm alright," Mender whispered back.

Littlefoot's voice continued with more than a little bitterness. "Sadly, we failed."

As suddenly as the stomping had begun it fell dead, leaving the packs staring at Littlefoot as if he has insulted them all. It was enough to make Mender look back at Littlefoot in shock.

Wow, Seeker. If we wanted to make everyone mad at us, we could've just had Taunt speak.

Littlefoot's face almost sneered at the crowd as he raised an accusatory claw towards his own pack and then at every other pack in turn. "We failed, because we were complacent. We failed because in our arrogance we assumed that a threat would come from our own kinds. We failed because we were blinded by our own delusions of superiority. I think it is important that all of you see the results of our failure."

Okay, so maybe you know what you're doing, Mender thought, Oh, wait. I think he means us. She hurriedly gestured for Gyors and Ungu to move forward with her. Here goes nothing...

Mender noticed the reactions of the other packs almost immediately. She resisted the urge to shield her niece and nephew from view. Well, it worked, Seeker.

She gave Gyors and Ungu each a nudge to tell them it was okay walk around the inside of the circle. They did start moving, but Mender noticed they never strayed far from her.

Mender looked up at the first pack they encountered and nearly let out a relieved sigh to see Slash's sympathetic face. Her eyes conveyed boundless sadness while her cliched claws confirmed her anger at what had befallen them. The scent of anger from the others, almost strong enough for Mender to make out, confirmed that this pack needed no further convincing.

With slow and steady steps, being careful not to overtake the little ones, Mender continued to the next pack in the assembled gathering.

Loosejaw's pack was a bit of a mystery to Mender. Loosejaw himself gave the trio a respectful nod but otherwise didn't react to the sight before him. His followers, however, seemed to try to make up for that with a demonstration of rage that caused Mender all but cut them off from her niece and nephew. The only thing that kept her from lashing out was the knowledge that their growls were meant for the unseen enemy and not for her loved ones.

Littlefoot took this moment to address the packs again as they took in the sight before them. "This is what is at stake. This is the what we stand to lose. If Wrok's minions could do this to a young one, then who is safe?"

They thought they were, Mender thought, I guess none of us were as safe as we thought we were.

She continued to venture forth until she noticed the familiar grey coloration of a pack that she remembered all too well.

Oh, great... These guys again. Mender barely resisted the urge to groan. Her experience in treating this pack's 'delicate problem' a season ago was one of her least pleasant missions as a healer. Despite her misgivings she gave them a respectful gaze.

The sea of grey fastbiters watched the silent procession in silence as Ungu and Gyors both watched the pack curiously. Despite Gyors being the subject of pity and a call to action in this instance, he couldn't help but stare at the pack with fascination. It wasn't every day that one came across a mysterious mountain pack.

Mender's gaze was fixed on another biter in the pack, however. What are you doing here? she thought, barely suppressing a growl in his direction.

The fastbiter in question, barely discernible from his packmaters, caught her gaze and then promptly tried to blend in with the rest of the pack. It looked as if he would disappear from reality if the ancestors permitted it. Instead he merely offered her a respectful nod.

Males! Mender thought as she continued past him.

They were now approaching the other end of the circle. Now they would be turning back towards Littlefoot as they walked by the other packs.

It was then that she was surprised by a rugged looking male stepping forward ever so slightly from his assembled pack.

Mender subtly shifted so that she was in front of the kids, Ungu outright hiding behind her.

Scarneck merely smiled at the reaction as he offered Gyors a kind tail-smile. "How are you feeling, little one?"

"I'm fine," Gyors said, refusing to admit he was still slightly uncomfortable with his missing eye.

He nodded ever so slightly. "I would expect nothing less from the son of Verant. You just hang in there, little one. When life gives you problems..." He gestured at the grievous scar on his neck. "...you keep on living. That is how all good songs are made."

And with that he offered the three a polite nod and stepped back into his position.

"T-thank you, Mr. Scarneck!" Ungu responded as she peeked around Mender's leg. It was only when she too received a kind nod that she resumed her original position in the trio.

Mender noticed that the next pack she passed, belonging to Defiance, barely reacted at all. I really don't know how to feel about that. At least it wasn't an outright negative reaction.

And that was when she noticed that one pack remained between her little convoy and Littlefoot's pack. A pack that was led by an enigmatic female that she had not seen in a few Cold Times. The elderly blue female's eyes met Mender's right before she passed by.

"Now there is a young biter I haven't seen in ages!" Luca exclaimed with a rough yet mischievous voice, "I wish it were under better circumstances, Mender. Or did you finally accept Taunt's suggested name-change to Mendsy?"

"Never," Mender replied, a slight hint of irritation showing. I'm going to get you for this, Taunt!

Luca nodded at that before looking at the two younglings at Mender's side. "I have never met you young ones before, but I can see your mother and father in you. Sounds like you two have had a hard time."

Gyors nodded in reply. Ungu managed to keep herself mostly covering her brother's blind spot, but it was obvious she'd had enough attention directed at her for one day.

Luca gave the young female a little tail-smile. "It's alright, little one. This old jaw-flapper isn't going to talk your tails off. Besides, I think ol' Seeker can't wait to convince us of what we already agree on." She then gave Mender a wink. "You take good care of em', Mendsy."

"I'm trying to," Mender replied. If they'd not try to copy Stern Claw's kids it would be a lot easier. She looked back at her niece and nephew. "Come on, you two." They didn't need any encouragement to follow their aunt out of the circle.

As she walked the remainder of the distance back to Littlefoot's side she could feel relief beginning to well up in her and in her niece and nephew. Their steps were now more certain and both of their heads were held higher. For both of them it had been a trial of courage in many ways. For their efforts they received a small but grateful nod from Littlefoot's pleased face.

Mender couldn't help but have her tail twist ever so slightly into a relieved tail-smile. I should have known that Seeker had this planned out.

When he gestured for them to sit beside him none of the three hesitated. If they could stand being presented to the other pack, then they could remain props for the pack leader's presentation.

"I know that many of you did not need that example. I know that all of you are all too aware of the stakes. But I also know that many of our esteemed packs have brought their best younglings before us, many of whom have not faced a threat like this before. It is for them that I provide this example. These are the stakes! This is what we stand to lose!"

Protests rang out among several of the younger biters.

"Never!"

"Over my dead body!"

Littlefoot looked at all of the packs by slowly turning his head to gaze upon them all. "If there is agreement on the problem and that we must fight it then we can move on to the harder problem of how to fight it. Are there any objections to vendetta being declared on this fiend?"

The only answer he received was silence. No one dared to even cough while the question hung over their heads. This was answer enough.

Everyone agreed on something? I'm surprised and not surprised at the same time, Mender thought.

Littlefoot nodded. "Then vendetta is declared. Our honor and our pride is joined for this terrible but necessary duty." He turned pointedly towards Defiance. "But I know many of you will want to work out how we are going to do this and how our most vulnerable and territories will be secured during the battle."

There were mutterings of agreement to this as Defiance's neutral expression noticeably turned more hospitable.

How are we supposed to do that? Mender wondered, I pretty sure we're kinda outnumbered here.

Littlefoot took on a determined look then. "Then let us get started with the hard questions. Pack leaders… two footers… let us talk while our members mingle. They must know their comrades and we must know our plan."

And with that Littlefoot brought a foot down and turned back towards Mender and his packmates before extending his arms in all directions in an inviting gesture. "Path, you're with me. Children, stay with Ponder and Staza. Everyone else, mingle but behave."

Taunt raised a hand. "So no…"

"Whatever it is, no." Littlefoot quickly commanded before giving the gesture again and smirking at his packmates. He then turned towards the center of the circle and proceeded to walk to where the other pack leaders were congregating, leaving the others to their own devices.

So he wants us to interact with several other packs, including one I really never want to see again, and not cause a problem. While including Taunt. Great... Mender was not looking forward to the potential barrage of questions she could get, either.

As if thinking the same thing, all of Staza's children quickly responded to her soft 'yelp' by quickly jumping on her back. It was then that she gave Verant a reassuring nod that the children were accounted for.

Though as soon as Verant and Cynnil went on his way with the other pack leaders Mender was left with a horrifying realization.

I'm going to be the focus of all this and I'm going to be the ranking member of my pack here? Mender thought in a slight panic, Can this get any more awkward?

---

"Wow! So they let food join a pack?"

"For the love of the ancestors, Oron, he can hear us!"

Orchid did his best to not give the fastbiters the satisfaction of seeing him afraid as he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Thanks for the mingling suggestion, Seeker! What can possibly go wrong with this idea?

Despite his obvious misgivings, he tried to not be antisocial or to hide behind Mender too much. Perhaps only half the time would be sufficient?

"Ah, so you're the fastrunner healer!"

It took all of his composure to avoid jumping and running off in shock. Instead he turned around to see a green fastbiter looking at him curiously as his packmates milled around behind him. It took only a cursory sniff of the air to find out that he was male, high ranking, and rathery old.

Orchid swallowed. "I am Orchid." He was careful to use the sharptooth version of his name.

The male did not seem terribly impressed by this but nodded all the same. "Not a bad name, I suppose. Better than whatever Seeker's name used to be. Little Feet or something? That's like naming a two-footer Spiketail Shit."

"Leave him alone, Frada," Mender interjected before moving to stand near her packmate.

The male waved her off with a disarming tail-smile. "It's alright, master healer. Seeker has been called worse by my mate, I am sure. Well, she is probably calling him worse right now."

Orchid blinked as he thought back to what he knew of the packs that made up this alliance. He had only heard of them in flyer messages when he was back home with his parents, but he had heard enough to know who would dare speak so openly in an insulting way. "You must be Luca's mate?"

The fastbiter nodded. "Aye. I have been paired with her ever since she beat me in a dominance battle."

"How romantic!" Taunt's voice mocked.

This made the other male's eyes widen. "Ah, there is the disreputable troublemaker! Excuse me, fastrunner, but I need to catch up with nest-wetter over here!"

And just like that Orchid was left alone again. On second thought, maybe hiding behind Mender is a good plan.

"You alright, Orchid?" Mender asked.

As if to punctuate that the answer was 'no' Orchid jumped at the mention of his name. "I-I'm fine!"

Mender stared at Orchid disbelievingly. "You sure about that?"

As if sensing the tension Ruby's pink form appeared in the distance as she told another fastbiter to give her a moment. Then, speaking to her children on her back, she quickly made Orchid's embarrassing moment even more embarrassing.

"Hey, kids! Do you want to help out your uncle Orchid?"

Orchid could only close his eyes in exasperation as the answer was obvious. What child would not jump at the chance to get off of their mother's back and to see the excitement around them?

"Feeling nervous, Uncle Orchid?" Biter asked.

"Don't worry! Most of them are nice! We can show you!" Swipe added.

And just like that Orchid now had chaperones for his social interactions even while Ruby had outsourced her babysitting duties. The resulting final look between Orchid and his sister was as humorous as it was expected.

I will get you for this, sis!

---

Well, at least Orchid has some help now, Mender thought, trying not to laugh at the form that help took.

"So then I put fireweed in the fish! You should have seen the look on Path's face!"

"Taunt, seriously, how are you still alive?"

"I hid at the edge of the territory for three days, but it was so worth it!"

Mender turned to look at the expected form of an orange fastbiter talking with more than a little excitement to an elderly green biter. Taunt, you have no sense, but your friend here isn't much better.

"Um, h-hello Mender!"

"Yes, Bellow?" Mender asked, turning around to face the mountain pack member.

The grey fastbiter appeared to consider her words carefully as her brother milled around in the background being ever so careful to not look directly in Mender's direction.

"I realize that there was a misunderstanding when you helped our pack last time with our.. unique problem. I just hope that you are not angry with us and understand that my brother meant no offense."

"A misunderstanding? Mender asked angrily, "That's what you call it?"

The female looked down awkwardly. "My brother… and most of us have not really interacted with outsiders before. He thought he was being polite with his offering; he did not understand that you outsiders do things differently."

"If he'd realized that when I said "no" the first time, there wouldn't have been a problem," Mender explained, "But did he stop... no"

The female sighed as she looked at her brother in the distance. "Well, um, you did remove any confusion when you slammed him into a tree. I just hope that you hold no ill-will to our pack for this problem. We still owe you thanks, and we would hate to have betrayed that."

"As long as no one tries to proposition me again, we're good," Mender said.

Bellow noticeably perked up at this and gave Mender a thankful nod. "Our pack will see to that, Mender! We are grateful to be in your good graces."

Somewhat awkwardly, Mender then noticed that all of the grey packmates of the mountain pack were now nodding in her general direction. This only lasted for a brief moment before they all returned to their different conversations, but it was unnerving all the same.

I wish they'd stop doing that, Mender thought with a slight shudder. All the same she returned the nod as politeness required.

Not wanting to stick around longer than necessary, Mender looked around to see if anyone she knew was nearby. There's Orchid's parents, but I don't want to bother them. They look like they've been babysitting Taunt's kids. Never mind. That would probably be easier than hosting everyone here. Maybe.

Mender couldn't help but smile at the two fastrunners who were lounging beneath the massive rock which gave Hanging Rock its name. All the while they were chatting with their fastbiter daughter and Soar's massive winged form. It was as if even when their daughter was present they had to speak with an intermediary.

"Do you think we will finally have a chance to earn our names?"

"Oh, I'm sure, brother. I'm sure songs will be sung for ages to come about how you earned the name Tail-chaser!"

"Frona! Well, I'm sure with your cheerful personality you will earn the name, Easy Tail!"

"Why you little!"

Mender couldn't help but stare as the siblings bared their teeth but kept their tails in a playful curve. Great. We're dragging kids into this. They're still able to act like that without appearing insane.

"Looks like those are some of Defiance's little shits. They are like seeds in a seed ball, that pack."

Mender turned to see a grim-looking grey fastbiter. I don't think we've met, she thought, as she tried to figure out who he was. "What do you mean?" She asked after a moment.

The grey fastbiter turned towards her with a grim, yet not unfriendly expression. "I mean that they are strict in that pack. Even stricter than my tastes, but once any of his pack get a bit of freedom they are like tiny biters in a swimmer nest." He shook his head as he watched the two siblings. "They will need to be under a stern deputy. I can see it now."

He then turned around again and offered a slight bow. "My apologies, I do not think that we have been introduced. I am Grimace, the second of Scarneck."

"Mender."

He nodded. "Of course. Your name and appearance is known throughout the Mysterious Beyond by sharptooth and food alike." He then examined the two siblings again, who were now in the agressively circling phase of their argument. "Does that ever get tiring? I mean… look at these two. They can act like idiots here, and it will not be recalled by anyone. But if you, Seeker, or Ignis did anything it would be known by every pack with a flyer within three days."

"You learn to either get used to it or just stop caring about what others think after a while," Mender replied, "I'm really just worried about what my family and friends think of me. Everyone else..." She shrugged. "I don't even know most of the people that know who I am before I meet them."

Grimace appeared to ponder this for a moment. In the interlude Mender briefly considered whether the conversation was over and she should move on, or if she had said something wrong to the other dinosaur. As such when he spoke again it nearly startled her.

"That might be a problem going forward if you nearly dying was any sign," he noted grimly, "I would be checking anyone's claws before healing them, with all this hidden runner shit going on around us. Ignis is as trustworthy as a hungry flyer, but this Wrok fellow is something else."

Grimace took a deep breath. "He killed two of the two-footers that used to raid our territory, you know. There is a reason two of the short-arms came along today."

"I'll be honest. If I hadn't been the one hurt, I'd be trying to convince Cynnil to just have us stay out of this. Especially since Orchid just joined up," Mender said. Why do I keep worrying about Orchid all the time? It's not like I'm his mother. Though he does seem to lack the sense a fastbiter hatches with. The whole thing with Ovie was proof of that.

He gave her an appraising look. "Something makes that seem unlikely to me. Wherever there is an illness you are there. And as for danger." He gestured at Orchid's awkward looking form as he talked with a fastbiter youth who was licking the outside of his own mouth in a hungry fashion. "I'm sure he would find some anyway."

Mender's eyes grew wide with alarm when she saw Orchid. "If you'll excuse me for a moment," she said before immediately stalking towards the young fastbiter and oblivious fastrunner.

Grimace could only shake his head as he watched the great healer rush to her friend's aid. "Ancestors help us. This is going to be pack with seven heads and not a single mind between us."

---

As their packs intermingled under the truce of their alliance, the leaders assembled in a large circle by the stream which gave Hanging Rock its limited vegetation. All the while, overhead, Petrie kept a silent vigil. His shadow crept along the ground as his intimidating wings covered a portion of the sky in an intimate embrace. All the while forming an unending circle high above the assembled multitude.

It was probably no one's surprise when the silence was interrupted by Luca's elderly form.

"Well, are we going to talk strategy? Or are we waiting for me to die so that Frada can take my place?"

"We probably would not need to wait much longer, Luca. Or do you get younger every time you attack someone with your tongue?" Scarflank interjected with some wit of his own.

"If only. If that were the case I would have been stuck in my egg," Luca deadpanned.

This earned some laughter among the fastbiters but did little to calm the three two-footers who waited outside the circle.

"Is that all you fastbiters do is flap your jaws?" one interjected angrily. His large green body cast its own shadow over the proceedings as Chomper began to stir. It was only a placative wave from Littlefoot that prevented his packmate from using some intimidation of his own.

"The jaw-flapping before a hunt often prevents deaths during a hunt," Littlefoot responded easily, "Though you are right, my friend, in that we should get to the matter at hand. Namely, how we are going to do this."

As Littlefoot said those words he leaned back and sat down. This was the only invitation everyone needed to begin speaking.

"Why don't we just start killing hidden runners and keep doing that until Wrok runs out of them?" Loosejaw suggested.

"Not a bad way to start," Verant said.

"That would be an idea except that we are dealing with our allies as well. If we end up killing more of Ignis's people we are surely to incur her wrath," Defiance noted.

"Which is what Wrok wants," Slash deduced, "I think he would probably want nothing more than for us to simply attack every hidden runner we see."

"And then we would have three idiots trying to kill us in our sleep," Howler noted. His grey and slender form seemed out of place without his mountain pack counterparts present. "We need to find a consensus on how to attack Wrok without attacking the others."

"Yes," Littlefoot agreed, "We need to either force him into scattering his pack, which will weaken him, or to drive his pack into a corner."

"What if we worked with Ignis a bit to avoid attacking the wrong packs?" Defiance suggested, "At least until we get a better idea of how we can hurt Wrok."

This earned murmurs of agreement from everyone present. Even the two-footers growled in an agreeable manner that did not make the fastbiters fear for their lives.

"Great, so we attack this Wrok fellow and allow Ignis to win her little leadership spat. Then what?" Luca prompted.

"Then we go home," Verant said, surprised that it wasn't obvious.

"Home?" The elderly female seemed to size up Verant with all of the dignity of a elder who had long ago stopped caring about pretense, "What about this other fellow? Questor? How do we know he is not involved? And how many more claimants might there be? Make no mistake if we do this then it will be more complicated than a lone hunt on one pack."

"What's so complicated about killing everything that doesn't like you until they're either all dead or too scared of you to bother you again?" Verant asked.

"That may work when your enemies are nice enough to let you know that they are your enemies. Do you think the hidden runners will always be so accommodating?" Luca questioned.

"That's just the same problem you have with any enemy. No one is your enemy until they are. Hence you have to keep an eye out for new enemies even after dealing with old ones," Verant said, "I'm not seeing any new problems here."

"Try not to take this the wrong way, Brave Verant, but perhaps you have been with a hidden runner pack for too long?" Defiance suggested with a piercing gaze, "The rest of us want to avoid perpetual paranoa for our packs."

Luca merely sighed and rolled her eyes. "Here we go…"

"It's not paranoia. It's just how things are," Verant said frustratedly, "You don't expect trouble to show up, but you don't ignore it just because more trouble might show up."

"I don't think anyone is suggesting that we avoid the trouble with Wrok," Howler suggested in his usual sing-song voice, "But that we minimize what trouble may come later."

"What's left of the pack I was staying with is back with Thud in Seeker's territory. They tried to minimize trouble, and look what happened. The only way to defend against trouble is constant vigilance," Verant said bluntly, "I wasn't paying enough attention once. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice."

This finally silenced everyone. Unspoken in his words was an implicit dare: ask me to neglect my duties to my people and see what becomes of you.

It was only now that Littlefoot rose to his full height. His brown feathers gleamed in the light of the Bright Circle as his red crest and arm feathers caught the light like freshly shed blood. When he did look at his colleagues it was with the grim resolution of someone who had heard all of the arguments and knew where he stood.

"I would recommend that we focus on Wrok for now, and go after any of his allies that stand in our way. Once my packmate is avenged and Verant gets his vengeance, then we can look at how to proceed. We did not choose this battle, but I know that we are strong enough to finish it."

"Aye!" Howler was the first to rise upon sensing that a consensus had been reached. His interpretation of the turn in events was confirmed moments later as each pack leader in turn stomped their feet in a sign of agreement. Though it was not lost on Littlefoot that Luca was not as enthusiastic about this event as the others.

"Congratulations! We have all agreed to attack the person who attacked us first. What a brave action," she drowled, "What is more important for who we send on this mission is how we are going to accomplish this? Do we all propose to send our entire packs for this mission and then retake our territories afterwards? If so then you can be certain that Wrok will find some other sharpteeth that will be all too happy to secure our lands in our absence."

Slash shrugged. "We each could send some volunteers."

"But we will need people to stay behind for defense," Loosejaw noted with sudden realization, "This will need to be a balance between defending our homes and crushing Wrok."

---

Littlefoot nodded grimly at the other pack leader's question. "Yes. Yes, each pack will need to find a balance. Not everyone has a brother pack that can fill the void like we do with Thud. But for our pack we will be sending all of our members of pack name."

What? Verant thought in surprise. He knew this was coming, but he was still surprised at hearing it declared to all the packs.

This earned Littlefoot the surprised gazes of everyone present, including both of the two-footers besides Chomper.

"You are risking much, Seeker," Slash interjected.

"Aye," Loosejaw agreed, "You know Thud's pack is still a small one? Good enough for the barrens but small by some of the others."

Littlefoot nodded. "That is why they will be defending our children and the refugees in Hanging Rock and not our territory. We will simply have to retake it from whoever decides to take advantage of the situation."

"I can help with that," Verant said. Likely in return for having Staza stay with Thud. I doubt she's going to be willing to not have one of us protecting the kids at all times.

This appeared to have the desired effect as far as Verant could determine. Because no sooner as their declarations had been made the other pack leaders began to present their offers.

"My second can take command of my pack in my place. I will take myself and any volunteers to join the fight," Loosejaw declared as he rose. This earned him a respectful bow from both Littlefoot and Dodger.

"Aye, I will do the same," Scarneck affirmed.

"As will I," Howler agreed.

I'm glad everyone here is willing to fight, but how many volunteers are we going to get? Verant wondered.

Luca rose as well. "I too will allow any volunteers to join. There will be no shortage of young ones ready to prove themselves, trust me. But I do hope if you forgive me for not joining in the battle personally. I hardly think Wrok will be defeated by my joint pain and failing eyes."

Slash rose before sighing. Her head was tilted downwards as if ashamed. "Seeker… there are but enough of us to call a pack. If we…"

Littlefoot waved her off. "Your territory occupies critical ground by Ignis's lands and ours. You would be doing us all a favor by simply holding your own."

Slash took a deep breath. "Thank you, Seeker. Our apologies again."

Verant glanced between the two pack leaders. Hm. I wonder if they're also worrying about kids, or future kids. Can't say I blame them. If we hadn't been attacked directly, Staza and I would be arguing about whether we should fight or not.

Defiance then rose. "I will need to talk to my second about who would best represent our pack in command. But we will likewise contribute any volunteers."

Littlefoot nodded in appreciation once more.

I wonder what the two-footers are going to do. They usually don't work well with others, and I don't know any of these guys at all."

There was silence for several moments as the various pack leaders began to covertly look over to where the two other two-footers stood, each about a longneck apart. Path, for his part, stood like a rock formation behind his pack leader.

Well, that's interesting, Verant thought, It would be intimidating for potential attackers, but it isn't an outright threat.

It was the green two-footer who spoke first. "I fear no hidden runner in combat, but their spears and poison plants are the work of cowards!" His low voice hummed through the assembly as it resonated through the rocks themselves. "How am I to take territory when some small biter can jab me with a stick and drop me?"

Verant could hardly believe what he was hearing. Not very interested in others, are you?

"No honor among tiny arms, I suppose," Luca breathed in a whisper that only Verant and a few others could hear.

The other two-footer, which was a slightly lighter shade of green, grumbled something inaudible at the other predator's words before taking two steps towards the council. This made Chomper visibly tense, but Littlefoot waved him off.

"My father was one of those killed. Regardless of what Grunt wants, I want revenge!"

Verant watched as Littlefoot simply looked at the two-footer with a serene expression, his eyes never leaving the gaze of the much larger predator. "What is your name?"

The two footer looked down at Littlefoot's diminutive fastbiter form. "Astar."

Littlefoot did not move a muscle as he stared at the two-footer. "Then revenge you shall have. With a pack of fastbiters your main disadvantage will be dealt with. And… even if our friend here wants all of the territory for himself…"

Grunt lived up to his name as he audibly grunted his confirmation.

"...I am sure that there will be plenty to claim."

Astar gave the slightest hint of a nod. "Then we have agreement."

Verant was rather surprised that one of the two-footers was willing to help. Well, at least one of them is willing to fight. I'm sure we can get him some territory from Wrok. It's not like they're going to be able to hold onto it when they're dead.

Littlefoot then turned back towards the council of pack leaders with a tired expression. "Then, that is that. Our course is clear. But there is one final matter that will need to be attended to before we can seek volunteers."

Loosejaw, for his part, seemed confused by the sudden shift to melancholy. "And what is that?"

Littlefoot gave his fellow pack leaders the slightest hint of a tail smile. "I do believe that a pack does not work well with many leaders. For our missions… our battles, we will need to determine who is to lead."

You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking. Verant barely resisted the urge to sigh. Do you honestly expect this to go well when the entire group is made up of pack leaders? I seem to remember just the two of us having some unexpected problems the first time we met, Seeker, and that was only with one pack leader and a former deputy that couldn't quite grasp that he actually was a former deputy.

Several others of those present seemed to have the same thought as Defiance sighed and Loosejaw audibly groaned. Slash, meanwhile, took this as a cue to sit down clean her claws as she was not part of this arrangement. Luca on the other hand waved an arm dismissively.

Oh, boy. Here she goes, Verant thought.

The elderly female looked at each of the males in turn from her spot. "Well… I am sure you young males can do the rational thing in this situation. Are you all going to spar for it? In my old age you never see males spar for you anymore."

Scarneck groaned. "Let's not do that and say that we did."

"I might have a proposal that can allow us to find consensus," Howler suggested suddenly as his slender grey body rose to its full height.

Littlefoot and Scarneck both waved for him to continue lest Luca taunt them again.

"We could alternate leadership between those of us who go. It works for us mountain packs, and it keeps disputes to a minimum. I am here today simply because it was my turn."

"And how does it do that, Howler? Unlike you all, we do not share everything," Loosejaw noted with unveiled annoyance.

Howler shrugged. "Sharing does have some of its advantages…"

"...and disadvantages," Verant noted. As his gaze shifted to the mountain pack leader he could see the concern level rise dramatically.

It was now that Littlefoot intervened. "It is an idea, Howler, but it has some issues. Namely, what if one of us wanted to go to one place and the others disagreed on their days? Would it be wise for us to lead this, uh, hunting group in a circle?"

Howler sighed. "I suppose not."

"I could lead you ankle-biters," came an annoyed growl from Grunt which made several of the assembled dinosaurs rise in alarm.

Thankfully, Chomper and Astar glaring at him at the same time had the desired effect of shutting up that suggestion, but not before an exchange of garbled threats.

"Well," Luca interrupted the silence, "You do seem to think highly of your flyer, Little Feet, perhaps you could make him pack leader? I am sure that will totally not go down into song."

Littlefoot took a deep breath though his composure did break as his eyes rolled as if defying his stoicism and control. "With all due respect pack leader Luca, but how does acting like Taunt help us find a solution?"

She gestured at all of them. "It shows how threehorn-headed all of you are being, for one. You are leaving out the most obvious possibility because it would hurt your egos too much."

Is she trying to be a pain in the neck, or does it just come naturally? Verant wondered.

"And what is that?" Littlefoot queried.

Luca rolled her eyes. "All of you could do this crazy mountain biter rotation thing for battle leader, but then make big decisions, like where to go, by consensus. That isn't too hard to figure out."

This earned some silent contemplation from everyone present as they looked at one another, as if seeking out any objections. Within a few moments it was obvious that there were none. At least none voiced.

This is not going to end well, Verant thought, It didn't work well with my own kids unless I was there to make the others listen when I was trying to teach leadership, and it's probably going to be worse here. We've got a bunch of leaders that are going to be constantly changing who is in charge, but everyone seems to expect stability from it? Confusing everyone we're supposed to be leading is going to be the least of our problems.

"I think that Verant has an objection."

"What makes you say that, Slash?" Verant asked. It's less an objection and more a declaration that we should never listen to Howler or Luca again, but that probably won't go over well.

Luca snorted after giving a momentary sniff in his general direction. "Go ahead, Verant, my scales will not shatter if you disagree. I am not that fragile."

"Do any of you guys have kids?" Verant asked.

Littlefoot nodded needlessly while all of the others, save for Slash, grunted confirmations of their own.

"Did any of you try to let them have turns being in charge?" he asked.

"With all due respect, Verant, none of us here are children." Scarflank retorted.

"No, we do not let our children command," Littlefoot acknowledged.

"Well, I gave some of mine a chance to try amongst their siblings. Care to guess how that turned out?" Verant almost smiled at the memory. Gyors and Sana would be good leaders, just not at the same time. Though I'm not sure what to do about Gyors now. One problem at a time.

"I can just imagine with Biter and Swipe," Littlefoot muttered.

"Or Oron and Frona," Defiance agreed.

Luca looked at Verant contemplatively. "Fair points. What would you recommend?"

"We need someone to always be the one in charge," Verant said, "and I don't mean me."

Littlefoot leaned back and sighed. "In this alliance I am merely the mediator. All of you know this, and this is why I do not make my voice known until I have already heard your voices. But know this: if we are going to give leadership to one biter over something that is made of many packs, then we will be following the footsteps of those that this alliance was meant to deter. None of us want to follow the example of Redclaw."

The effect was immediate as both Slash and Loosejaw agreed loudly and stomped their feet, whereas the others nodded in agreement. Luca, however, looked contemplative.

"There were two who led combined packs in the past."

Silence fell upon them all as they looked at the elderly female. For her part she looked directly at Littlefoot.

"...and I seem to remember one of them not being too bad. One who is in this circle right now."

I hate Redclaw and Calin as much as you, Seeker, but he wasn't entirely stupid, Verant thought, slightly disgusted with himself, I can't believe I'm even thinking that. You did the same thing so you could fight back. Are you willing to do it again?

Littlefoot's head hung low suddenly as if an unseen weight had been placed upon it. Then, with deliberate slowness he looked up at the others.

"I must abstain, Luca, but if you wish to call it to a vote, then I will not object. I… will abide by the decision of all of you."

Really, Seeker? If we're willing to choose a leader, do you really expect us to pick anyone other than you?

---

"So then she tries to chase me up the tree, but she totally forgot about the sticky sap I put on her claws…"

Mender groaned, having heard the story a few times already. It's not any funnier because you're telling someone new, Taunt. She looked over at Cera in the distance only to be greeted by her death glare aimed in Taunt's general direction. See? She agrees.

"Mender?" Cynnil's voice snapped Mender out of her thoughts.

"Yes, Cynnil?" Mender replied.

The hidden runner merely gestured ever so slightly with her head in the direction where her two packmates were pretending to look at some healing plants. Pretending, in Mender's perspective, because of the exaggerated gestures Orchid was making at a small no-pain leaf. Cynnil removed all doubt that this was going to be a pack meeting of some kind when she put her claws to her chest and raised four digits before raising one. Four becoming one: a pack meeting.

"What's this about, Cynnil?" Mender asked as she approached her leader.

The pack leader, as if mocking her newest packmate, grabbed the pain leaf and began to make an exaggerated expression of curiosity as well. As if the small leaf contained all of the world's mysteries within its verdant form.

This was enough to make Orchid's feathers puff out in annoyance, which earned him a playful nudge from the pack leader.

"We need to discuss our role in what is to come," Cynnil said simply.

"So hiding in a cave somewhere is not an option?" Buse suggested.

"You wouldn't be able to keep quiet, anyway," Mender said. We, or at least I, seem to be a target, anyway.

"Aren't we going to fight? They attacked Mender!" Orchid hissed as he gestured at his friend.

Silence reigned for a few moments as Cynnil looked at her fastrunner pack member. In the end she gave him a sad smile. "How much experience do you have with a sharp stick, Orchid?"

Mender noticed that Orchid seemed to wilt a bit, but it didn't seem like he was any less willing to fight.

"Well, only a little… what Dad showed me…" His feathers were event more puffed out if that was possible. "But we have to do something! This cannot stand!"

Cynill nodded grimly at this. "I cannot fault you with your loyalty, Orchid. But there are other ways to help."

"You want us to do what we've always done. Be healers," Mender said. Not a bad idea.

Orchid was noticeably taken aback as he gently clicked his beak closed. Though his eyes still contained the same fire as before, now there was an odd contemplative gaze.

"So we help our allies as they go to fight," Buse muttered. It wasn't a question, and it also appeared that the hidden runner was turning the idea over in his mind.

"That's probably the best idea," Mender said, "I'd hate for one of us to get hurt on accident." She looked meaningfully at her two hidden runner packmates before outright glaring at Orchid.

This was enough to finally make Orchid look down in defeat. "This… would not offend you? I thought..." he rubbed his crest feathers awkwardly, "I thought wronged packs do what all of these packs are about to do."

"Not always. Sometimes the only option is to run," Mender said. Like when I was a kid. "We have another option. We can't really fight, but we can help those who can."

Orchid bobbed his head a few times as he contemplated this.

I guess most of what he's heard comes from Ponder and her packmates, Mender thought.

"That does sound like a better idea," Orchid agreed.

Buse smiled at the purple fastrunner. "Less of a chance of dying too."

Cynnil, who had not said anything for several moments, merely put her claws together in front of her as if she were resting them against her chest. It was then that Mender realized that Cynnil had not given any orders or made any suggestions. She let her two established packmates merely pull at the idea that she had suggested. I guess that's one way to avoid objections, Mender thought.

"Excellent. That settles that then," Cynnil confirmed with a smile, "Now let's talk with the others before they suspect that we are conspiring something behind their backs."

It was at that exact moment that Chomper's voice rang out and silenced everyone present. "The pack leaders will now announce their decision!"

Cynnil blinked. "Or not."

"Let's see what the tail-chasers have decided," Buse declared before he was greeted by Mender's glare, "Sorry, the esteemed tail-chasers."

Mender rolled her eyes as she followed her packmates. What am I going to do with you, Buse? Between you and Orchid I keep expecting to see a fastbiter snacking on one of you.

Mender's thoughts were soon interrupted by the sight of an elderly pink fastrunner advancing through the assorted sharpteeth like a swimmer through water. A sight that would have been insanity given corporal form if not for the circumstances of this meeting. It did not take Mender long to identify the dinosaur in question as she extended a hand in greeting.

I guess Pearl wants to talk. Mender nearly said something but then noticed that her packmates hadn't noticed her yet. She deliberately kept quiet a let Pearl approach unnoticed. I wonder if Buse and Orchid might realize they need to pay more attention after this.

"Not going to say hello, son?"

As if he had transformed into another kind entirely, Orchid's feathered form puffed out into something replicating a seed ball before quickly deflating upon realizing the source of the interruption. "Mom?" he practically squawked.

Pearl gave him a smile before embracing him in a hug. "I think Mender was intentionally negligent in her watch duties…"

Orchid sighed before breaking the embrace. "Don't worry, Mom, I am sure Mender will give me the lecture soon enough."

The laughter was contagious as the two fastrunners simply revelled in one another's company after a very trying time apart. Though some had it harder than others…

"And how are all of you faring? We feared for the worst until we got the glorious news from Seeker that you had recovered."

Cynnil nodded politely. "It has been… rough. But now that our packmate has been spared we are well."

"I wasn't doing that bad," Mender said, "Was I?" She looked at her packmates somewhat uncertainly.

She was greeted by the sight of both Buse and Orchid trying desperately to not meet her eyes, whereas Cynnil's gaze contained both a sad smile and mournful eyes.

"Her recovery was nothing short of a gift from the ancestors," was all Buse could say before politely coughing as if to collect his voice.

Pearl nodded. "I'm sure all of your packmates did their part. But it is glad to see you up and… yourself, Mender." She then turned her gaze towards her son, "I suppose that your sister has told you the news about Thud?"

Orchid blinked. "Um..."

Pearl took a deep breath. "By the ancestors... more of Seeker rubs off on her season by season…"

Huh? Mender wondered, What's so bad about that?

"They discussed the matter with us, unlike this meeting… and they decided it would be safer to have Thud's pack move here to watch over us and the pack's kids. That will be safer for your younger siblings too."

Orchid could only blink. "But I don't have… are you saying…?"

Pearl smiled and patted her son on the head, much to his embarrassment. "That's right. So you be careful out there, Orchid. Because I want your new siblings to be to hear about the great healer Orchid and not to hear a sad song about how he didn't look behind him."

Orchid laughed before pushing her hands away. "Mom… you're embarrassing me in front of the pack."

"This is going in his song," Buse whispered as he looked towards Mender with a smirk.

"Want me to add some verses back into yours, Buse?" Mender asked slightly threateningly.

"Mhm," Cynnil agreed before stepping forward to give the elder fastrunner a polite bow, "Congratulations, Pearl! I do hope that all of this has not been too much of a burden when you have to worry about your eggs-to-be."

Pearl smiled as she saw Detras approaching in the distance. "Seeker always repays his favors. This was a burden… but the help of a pack during the Dry Season will be worth it."

"What might you need help with?" Mender asked curiously, not entirely sure what a fastbiter pack could do that was worth this much effort.

"Protection from other packs and food, namely," Detras affirmed as he arrived on the scene. Unlike Orchid's reaction to his mother's arrival he gave his father a nod of the head which was returned, signifying that they were equals. "What will all of you be doing while the Mysterious Beyond bleeds?"

Cynnil nodded in return. "We will heal the bleed the best that we can."

"That is what healers do," Orchid added.

The elder male breathed a sigh of relief at this. "With your sister and Nahoda staying in the pack's lands and Ponder going into the battle, it will be a relief knowing that you at least will be taking a different path."

Not entirely listening, Mender started looking around to keep an eye out and soon noticed the leaders returning. Well, no one is dead, so I guess things went reasonably well.

Orchid frowned as he saw the same thing that Mender had. "It looks like our paths are parting again, father. I hope that they cross again."

This earned him a hug from his mother once more as his father agreed. "As do I, son, As do I."

That was when Chomper's deafening roar to attention brought all conversation to an end. The announcement of the sharpteeth's decision had arrived.

---

Chomper's towering form stood over the packs like a purple colossus as the fastbiter pack leaders stood behind him in a straight line. As she looked upon the scene with her children firmly planted on her back, Staza could only shiver. Having a two-footer give the announcement was so much like the last time...

"It has been decided that the packs will fight under one leader for one cause!"

The stomps of approval and roars of adulations were as deafening as they were fanatical. Between the deputies rushing to support their pack leaders and the young ones ready to earn their pack names there was not the slightest hint of dissent. Not the slightest hint of defiance. It was as if the packs spoke as one body with one set of claws. It has been a long time since Staza had experienced anything like this.

"Volunteers, step forward into the clearing!"

You can count me out, Staza thought, I can't believe everyone agreed to this.

As she mutely watched the proceedings it seemed like every young fastbiter capable of hunting emerged from the assembled packs. Like a ravenous swarm of leaf-gobblers they descended upon the clearing in varying degrees of speed, but all of them had enthusiasm. The growls of anticipation and excited roars were confirmation of that.

Staza couldn't help but shudder at the sight before she remembered where and more importantly when she was. Get a hold of yourself. That was years ago. Watching the forming superpack more calmly, she had another, almost as disturbing thought. They've got a lot of younger ones joining. If this is their first fight, many of them aren't coming back.

As if a signal has been given Chomper stepped aside to reveal the pack leaders. Littlefoot, Verant, Slash, Howler, Loosejaw, Defiance, Scarneck, and Luca. As Littlefoot gave them a nod several of them went into the crowd and gestured for their seconds to step forward.

Staza noticed something rather odd. Some of the pack leaders switched places with their seconds. I guess the leaders aren't just going to be leading their own packs, she thought, Verant doesn't really have a pack anymore, and one of us has to keep our kids safe, so unless he's advising or seconding for Seeker... Why'd he agree to be part of this, anyway?

Littlefoot then stepped forward with a grim look on his face. "Fighters, your leaders have appointed me for battle leader. Do you all still remain?"

Not a single soul moved as the crowd roared in a deafening display of terrifying power. No volunteer would dare leave under such an onslaught lest they risk eternal shame. Against her skin Staza could feel her children hunker down as she watched the deputies move in front of Littlefoot. Her mate, Stern Claw, Howler, Loosejaw, Valiant, Defiance, and Grimace all stepped forward as if commanded by an unseen order.

Littlefoot nodded. "Deputies, select your battle packs. Our fight begins tomorrow. May the ancestors guide our claws!"

A final deafening series of roars drowned out any sound as Staza turned away from the scene, her face contorted in an expression of disgust.

I want no part of this. The only thing everyone in that pack has in common is their enemy. If that's all they have to focus on, they'll start finding enemies everywhere, Staza thought worriedly.

She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

I don't think even Seeker can keep that from happening.

---

Thank you all for your reviews!

Anagnos: Indeed, the valley is having the classic argument between isolationism and interventionism. This debate, already complicated in our time due to multiple instances in history where either option would have been preferable to the other, is further complicated by the role of the pack. They are both heroes for their past actions and accomplices to the killers of some of the valley's own. In the end the valley's decision of neutrality is probably better than some of the other options.

As for the slower pace that was noticed by me as well. Though this chapter and the last one were slower-paced, I do hope that everyone enjoys the payoff for this deliberate slow development in the chapters to come. With so many factions and character arcs to arrange in an organic way, a slower pace from time to time is the price that is often paid.

Thank you for your recent reviews and kind words. (: I hope that you enjoy the latest installment.

Keijo6: You are quite right in your suspicions about the last chapter being the calm before the storm. Although this new chapter did not really have much action in terms of battles and such, I think it is kind of obvious that the new events here will directly lead to the unleashing of new hostilities. The events in the valley during the last chapter is kind of an echo of what happened here, though with an opposite effect. The valley and the fastbiters, due to their differing mindsets and ways of life, were almost equally unanimous for opposite decisions.

I am also pleased that you liked the Datum-Orchid conversation. I had intended for Datum to be a bit different than his father in terms of his manner of preventing cultural contamination. Despite the younger rainbowface being a bit more loose with what he reveals through his words, he is actually a bit more strict in keeping some of their important secrets confidential. Only time will tell, however, as the generations go on if the rainbowface line will be able to prevent future instances of "cultural contamination". That being said, new cultural contamination will not be a thing in this story. So you don't need to worry about Datum showing people how to make bows and arrows or anything like that. :p

Thank you for the kind words and the in-depth review. (: I hope that you enjoy the final act as it slowly develops over the months and (considering the slow update schedule) years to come.

gordhanx: Thank you for the detailed review as always. The previous chapter is in many ways the direct predecessor to this one in terms of events with the reunion of the sharpteeth with their families in the Hidden Canyon giving way to the reunion of the fastbiter packs in a makeshift war council in Hanging Rock. Though there has been a bit of levity in this chapter I do hope that I have effectively conveyed a fundamental shift in tone. Littlefoot is now leading a super-pack with a majority of its members being eager younglings wanting to earn their pack names. Not only will this lead to ethical dilemmas moving forward, but also questions concerning the role of such a super-pack. These have only existed once before and, needless to say, that did not go so well...

graystripe: True, the crystals do not permanently protect against the effects of old age. As for Chomper trying to maintain order, I do hope that you found his antics in this chapter to be entertaining. Pearl and Detras took it upon themselves to make sure that he got a taste of his own medicine. :p Sadly for Chomper there are no females among the two two-footers that showed up. Better luck in the future, Chomper. :p

Guest: I actually have a few ideas for that. :p I might make a standalone story at some point explaining how Screech and Thud earned their packnames.