Chapter Eight: What I Deserve
Hyp was around fifteen when he started crushing on Ruby, watching her from afar, mingling with the gang and that sharptooth. How Hyp envied him above all, for Ruby would hug him, show a great deal of affection toward him, that little monster. If only Hyp were in his place, longing for such things, given his father wasn't really the hugging type, thus he thrust for such tenderness grew stronger and stronger with each bright circle cycle.
Hyp:
"I deserve a little kindness, I deserve my due respect,
I deserve to be beloved, just like everybody else,
I deserve my place in the Valley, I deserve an equal share,
I deserve my rightful cut of anything, everywhere,
Come Ruby, am I asking for too much,
Why should I have to beg for what everybody wants?
Take me right now I don't care, if I have your love, I'll have no fear,
Nothing even, nothings fair, Ruby I didn't ask to be here,
I'll pick the lock, I'll draw a claw,
I'll climb the wall I'll crash the rock,
Cause I deserve a happy life,
Whatever I'm not given, I'll take,
Come Ruby, am I asking for too much,
Why should I beg for what everybody wants?
I deserve a little kindness, I deserve my due respect,
I deserve to be beloved, just like everybody else,
I was given this life I'm living, you better make no mistake,
I deserve to be given,
What I don't I'm not given, I'll take."
When he got the courage and saw she was alone, he decided to make his move. She was bent over the water, eating a shell whole. "Hello Ruby." Her eyes looked to him, knowing him, not well, but enough to recognize his gruff voice. With all his might, he tried to soften it, but there was no point, for it continued to come across as rough. "So, I was wondering if you're not busy, did you maybe want to go for a walk, just the two of us?"
"Alone?"
"Yes, we could talk and get to know each other better."
"Hyp, that is very kind of you ask. I would, though I have to keep an eye on Chomper, he's always sniffing off somewhere. You could spend time with us, if you wish to talk."
It always came back to Chomper, didn't it? Hyp and his idiot pals, Mutt and Nod meet the little bitter before. In fact, he found himself helping the gang move fast-bitter eggs, risking their lives, so flesh-eaters could grow into brainless killers. Personally, he wished to smash them, but no, that good-hearted Chomper wanted to spare them, thus Little Foot and the others convinced him to assist, for his own safety of course. At one point, Mutt and Nod told Hyp that when they were separated, Chomper used fear to get them to continue on. Though Hyp took it out of context, thinking Chomper threated them instead of using a bit of word play, calling them out on their cowardly behavior. Regardless, after that, Hype never trusted Chomper.
"Chomper, huh?" Hyp clenched his fists, trying to keep his cool and not lose his temper, embarrassed for even asking. "Little Foot or Cera could watch him for you. I'd prefer for him not to be there."
"Why ever not, Chomper isn't mean, won't hurt you."
"You can't know that for sure, he's a flesh-eater after all. Look, I'd like it to be only us, you, me, that's it. No friends, no sharptooth, okay."
Ruby didn't like how forward Hyp was, hearing a bit of anger in his voice for reasons she didn't know, or want too. "Hyp, I think I should go."
"Wait, I'm trying here, hear me out."
"Ruby, everything okay?" Came Chomper's voice, creeping over undetected. He glanced from Ruby to Hyp, who frowned at him. "Hey, Hyp, how are you?"
"I was better before you got here." Hyp said bluntly and coldly.
"Oh, sorry to hear that."
Ruby went to Chomper, ushering him to walk. "He has to get home and so do we." Taking Chomper by the hand, she was relieved to have an excuse to leave.
"Ruby!" Hyp in a desperate attempt to get her attention, reached and took her by the feathers on her back.
"Gah, that hurt!" Ruby cried out.
Suddenly, Chomper, recognizing Ruby was in distress, went to push Hyp away. "She said it hurt, so let go!" Tiny and not nearly as strong, Chomper tugged at Hyp's arm in a feeble attempt to help Ruby. "Release her!" He shouted, hoping someone, anyone might be close by and able to aid them. When no one came, he grew fearful, the situation becoming serious.
Suddenly, a foot harshly kicked Chomper back, Hyp showing no sign of letting her go. "Get lost shorty!"
Seeing Ruby struggle, eyes welling with tears due to the pain, Chomper let out a small growl, digging his claws in the earth before rising again. "Get away from her!" In a flash, Chomper bit Hyp's arm, the one that held onto Ruby.
"What the-" Hyp shouted, letting go and hoping Chomper would release his arm. "Are you crazy?"
Chomper detached, steeping back, not even using his full bite force, knowing it wouldn't snapped Hyp's arm right off. "I warned you, she asked you nicely to let go, you were just to stubborn to listen." Coming protectively between Hyp and Ruby, Chomper bared his teeth in a threatening way. "Go, and don't come near her again."
"You did it now, just wait till I tell my father. They'll have you tossed out of the Valley for this sharpttoh!" Hyp called, leaving to rat Chomper out.
By the next day, Hyp's dad ordered for Chomper to be thrown out for such an attack, though he only heard one part of the story. Hype twisted the story a bit, claming Chomper attacked him for reasons he didn't know. However, when Ruby and Chomper said what truly took place, the adults felt it was simply a squabble between young, nothing to get upset over. After all, Chomper never bit anyone before and showed no aggression toward anyone, even the bullies whom picked on him and his friends.
"I honestly didn't know what to do, Ruby was hurt and no one came to our aid. Not even when I called loudly in hopes someone might hear me." Chomper spoke, wringing his hands. "I was really scared what he'd do to Ruby if I left, or if we didn't get away."
"Sounds to be like the boy defended the girl." Mr. Topps said gruffly, glancing to Chomper. "Was that the way of it?"
"Yes, sir, I'm not strong and was worried for Ruby. I feel really bad though, honest."
Grampa gave a nod to this. "Certainly, sir, in your younger days, you made mistakes. Why, we all have." Grandpa said in a calming voice. "It was simply a big misunderstanding, for Chomper would never attack someone less it was his last resort."
"Are you all insane, he attacked my boy and yet you show him mercy? Check your eyes, he's a sharptooth, a monster! A cold-blooded killer! My wife is dead because of one of those things!"
"Your wife is dead because she followed Pterano." Mr. Threehorn added sharply.
"He's still a monster, you can't argue against that!"
The words made Chomper sink with guilt, shamed by his mistake and wishing he'd gone for help instead of biting Hyp. Yet, he was scared to leave Ruby, not knowing what Hyp might do to her should they be left alone.
"Our decision is final, Chomper behaved in a way to help Ruby while your son displayed very poor behavior against the fastrunner girl. If anything, I believe you need to teach your son that no means no." Grampa gave the verdict, all the adults agreeing.
"The only reason you think that is because your kids play with that beast. Favoritism, that's what this is. Wait till he grows and take someone out, then you'll see I was right." Hyp's dad took his son and went to leave, shouting while he did so. "You'll see, you'll all see. Sooner or later, that thing will turn on all of us!"
Hyp was disappointed that the adults allowed Chomper to stay, telling him to maintain his distance from Ruby henceforth. After that, Hyp was patient, knowing in time Chomper would be forced to leave, one way or another, he'd see to it. The youthful Hype aged to his mature self, rubbing the marks with his thumb. Yes, he got what he wished for, if only he could get what he desired most, Ruby's affection. However, she was stubborn, putting up quite set of rocks to keep him out. Still, he wasn't one to quit and would try again. Leaving, he went back to his pals.
Back in the cave, Ruby peered out. "Good, he's gone. I mean, can one imagine, he and I together, ewww." Ruby shuddered, sticking her tongue for it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Wanting to clean herself of the thought and grim of the day, she went to a hot collection of pools within the cave. There, she dipped a toe in, moving slowly to slip in till the water came to her shoulders. Neck sticking out, she shut her eyes and went all the way down, disturbing the surface on the hot pool.
The ripples moved across the water, revealing a younger Chomper and Ruby, who stood along the edge. Ruby smiled and rubbed her hands together with excitement. Chomper was a bit leery, sniffing the steam that rose from it, finding it was safe enough. "Boy Ruby, what luck, we have our own personally pools of water." Chomper said with excitement, throwing his arms to them.
Ruby kept him from drinking it, getting a feeling the water was different, given steam rose from it. "I don't think it's for drinking, Chomper, for it is warmed by something. However, I'm not above swimming in something heated, especially since it's cold out." Rubbing her arms, Ruby shook. "I really don't like the cold times."
"Mean either, but their probably too deep for me to touch." Chomper peered down, unable to see the bottom. "Remember how I almost drown, trying to get the fast water back?"
"You were tangled in vines if I recall, besides, I can help you."
"Ruby, let's be real, sharpteeth weren't made for swimming."
"You learned to talk, something most can't do, so who's to say you can learn how to swim?'
Ruby made a good point, as she always did. There was no sense in saying otherwise, simply giving in and having to put his faith in her, which he full heartedly did, there was doubt about that. Ruby went in first, holding her arms out to help him. Though scared, he jumped in and sank, feeling her arms grasp and keep him up. Once he surfaced, he took a breath and kicked his feet.
"Right, so, watch and do as I do."
It was hard at first, Chomper struggling to understand to move his arms to keep afloat. He took on water a few times, not giving up and wanting to learn. Ruby was there, never once leaving his side. From where they were, there was an opening above, the stars shining brightly overhead.
Ruby:
"All those days, watching from afar,
All those years outside looking in,
All that time, never even knowing just, how blind I've been,
Now I'm here blinking in the starlight,
Now I'm here suddenly I see,
Standing here, it's all so clear, I'm where I'm meant to be,
And at last, I see the light, and it's like the fog has lifted,
And at last, I see the light and it's like the sky is new,
And it's warm and real and bright,
And the world has somehow shifted,
All at once, everything is different,
Now that I see you,
Chomper:
"All those days, chasing down a daydream,
All those years living in a blur,
All that time never truly seeing thing the way they were,
Now she's here, shinning in the starlight,
Now she's here, suddenly I know,
If she's here, it's crystal clear,
I'm where I'm meant to go,
Both:
"And at last, I see the light,
Chomper:
"And it's like the fog has lifted,"
Both:
"And at last, I see the light,"
Ruby:
"And it's like the sky is new,"
Both:
"And it's warm and real and bright,
And the world has somehow shifted,
All at once, everything is different,
Now that I see you."
They gazed up, holding hands and swimming. It was a night Ruby would never forget, running her hand over the water to wash the vision away. So young, believing there was a future for them in the Valley, a foolish notion in hindsight. She recalled the time leading up to Chomper leaving and once again, she found herself lost to the past.
