Chapter Fifteen: Let Me In
Side by side, the pair slept comfortable next to the other. Chomper was the first to move when the night became day, blinking and noticing Ruby held tightly to the rose. Funny how he was holder her, thinking she looked adorable next to him. With a half grin, his eyes scanned the horizon, seeing a familiar land path, along with other figures. With a gasp, he rose, stirring Ruby in the process.
Up, Ruby glanced around with a sleepy gaze. "What's wrong?"
"The land path, it's reappeared."
"So, what's that mean?"
"It means other sharpteeth can come here." Chomper spoke with fear in his voice.
"Well, we can hide, we'll be okay."
"Ruby, I'm might not be strong enough to protect you."
"You seem to forget I survived in the Mysterious Beyond long before we meet." Ruby added a bit harsher than she intended.
"I didn't mean it like that, I just won't be able to live with myself if something were to happen to you." Chomper blurted out, growling slightly. Lowering his head and placing a hand to his muzzle, he sighed. "I didn't mean to bear my fangs."
It was the first time he made such a primal sound, clearly worried for her over himself. Still, Ruby wished he wouldn't put so much pressure on himself. "Sorry, I raised my voice too. It's hard for me to imagine not looking after you, especially since I looked after you for so long. You're clearly grown and don't need me anymore." Eyes soft, she turned away from his gaze.
Going to her, he rubbed her with his muzzle. "No, Ruby, I may not be small, but in some way, I need you still." Chomper said, wanting to confess something he held in for so long. "For you see, Ruby, ever since I left, I've kept a secret with me, carried it for many seasons."
Spinning to face him, her eyes locked to his. "What bothers you?"
"Ruby." His eyes looked from her for a brief moment, noticing movement. "Ruby, do you trust me?"
"Yes, of course, Chomper." Ruby answered, holding the flower and unaware a group of fast-bitters emerged from the forest and were quickly approaching them.
"Good, then hold on tight to me."
Chomper picked Ruby up in his small yet strong arms, carrying her from the pack. They were faster than Chomper, catching up to him in no time, sweeping around him like a swarm of singing buzzers. Leaping up and clawing, they bit his body that shield Ruby who was tucked safely in his hold. She peered out, eyes wide with fear, hearing them screech. He grimaced, huffing for air while they continued to follow him, never letting up.
"Fool, why do you protect that meal?" Asked one, latching onto Chomper's shoulder and trying to claw at Ruby.
"Don't touch her!" He growled, biting the fast-bitter and tossing him away. "Hurt me, but don't lay a claw on her!"
"Stupid, how long do you think you can handle the power of the pack upon you?" The several crawled on him, trying to weight him down, some snipping or clawing his legs.
"Stop it, you're hurting him!" Shouted Ruby, eyes welling with tears. She saw Chomper's skin was covered in cuts, marks going from head to toe. It pained her, made her feel helpless. "Chomper!"
Blood poured down his face, legs trembling from the amount of pressure they put on him, a couple or more clampering onto his back ad tail. Unable to take another step, he was brought to his knees, hunching over to keep Ruby safe. His body shook, vision blurred and the sounds around came in and out, but one thing was clear, Ruby's desperate cries.
"Chomper? Chomper, don't give up, you're stronger than this, I know." Ruby yelled, leaning into him and hoping he wouldn't give up. For despite his kind disposition, she knew under all that, that there was a powerful being, one that could stand up for what was right. "Chomper, rise, fight!"
Chomper heard her pleases, realizing he had to do whatever it took to keep her safe, to protect the one he cared for, cherished above all else. Some part of him snapped, the beast within was summoned by Ruby, awaken, motivated to get up. Throwing his body up, he sent the many fast-bitters airborne, roaring loudly. Sweeping his tail, he swept them away, taking off once again. The pack caught up and attacked again, making him wave back and forth, not paying attention to where he was going.
Ruby gazed up, glancing to see a tree not too far away. "Chomper, watch out!" She called, gripping his arms tightly.
Stumbling side to side, Chomper found himself crashing into the tuck of a blossoming tree, groaning from the impact. Peddles fell like sky sparkles, Chomper tumbling and sliding down the little slop to come to a stop. From the ledge the pack came, pouncing to kill him. Chomper got to his feet and opened his great jaw, biting and throwing one into a few, slashing and sending his tail to grip one who went for Ruby. On the ground, Ruby watched in awe, seeing him fight and battle like a vicious sharptooth. Ironically, he didn't kill them, only hurting and scaring them off.
"This isn't over, freak, we'll be back for the food when the land path is visible again. And we'll have reinforcement, like Red Claw, Screech and Thud. You'll be no match for them." One called, fleeing with the pack.
Chomper huffed, standing tall till they were out of sight. Unable to hold his own weight, he collapsed to the earth with a thunderous thud. Laying there, he thought about what the leader said, Red Claw, the one who slaughtered his parents, hated him. If they were to come, they'd show no mercy to him or Ruby, there'd be no bargaining, no way to keep her safe. It pained him to think they'd have to part ways again, but at least he could send her off with a proper goodbye.
"Chomper, are you all right, can you hear me?" Ruby asked, rubbing her hands over his inured body. "Oh Chomper, please, answer me."
Eyes opening, he saw the blurry outline of Ruby, her face coming in clearly, tears running down each cheek. "R-Ruby, you're not hurt, are you?"
Shaking her head, she kept the rose to her heart. "I'm fine thanks to you."
"You must go, leave here at once." He spoke.
"What?" Ruby was surprised by his words, wondering why he'd say such things.
"They're going to come back, with Red Claw." His eyes were pleading, hoping she'd understand. "I can't promise your safety."
"That doesn't matter, I'll stay, be here when they come."
"No, you'll go back to the Great Valley, where you belong."
Her lower lip trembled, crying with anger now. "I won't leave you here to die alone!"
"So you'd die with me?"
"Yes, if it comes down to it, I will die by your side, proud to stand with you."
"Don't you get it, I can't lose you again!" Chomper shouted back, getting up to his full height. "So, please, just go." Huffing, he turned from her, hanging his head low and sniffing. "I want to be alone; can't you see that?"
Ruby stood, knowing he hid something, kept things from her. He yelled and tried to act scary, to be ferocious, but she knew it was simply an act and nothing more. For the Chomper she knew was scared, alone in the world like she felt. There was only one way to convince him, prove she would remain by him, through the ups and downs, no matter what life threw at them.
Ruby:
"Leave me alone, I don't want your embrace,
Words that you said, to push me away from you,
You don't want me to see your heart,
It's been so long since you've opened up,
Are you scared you don't have anything left,
Only your anger, fear and your sorrow,
Night closes in as you struggle,
Still you can't let yourself talk about it,
Lend me your voice,
The voice you try so hard to hide,
Let me see,
Open up your heart to me,
I will promise I'll listen, till the end,
You say you'll be okay alone,
That's all you've know, since you hatched into this world,
Tell yourself every night,
Every night, over and over again,
Hoping to try and convince yourself,
But you know, I always think of you,
I am determined to see you, accept you,
No matter what lies inside,
Lend me your voice,
Let me see your face you try so hard to hide form me,
Please let me in,
Open up your heart to me, I will promise to listen,
Please let me in,
Let me listen to the story of your life,
You can't pick where you start,
Open your heart,
I will go to your side and stay there with you,
Till the end."
While his back was to her, he heard every word she sang, feeling his heart melt. Eyes welling, he was overcome with emotion, unable to believe she actually cared for him the way he did for her, that she was willing to die by his side, so long as they were together. Ruby, the fastrunner who ran away with his heart.
She stood by him, seeing he was crying. "Now you know the truth that I held back, so it's your turn to reveal your secrets. I'm here as I've always been."
Sitting, he was able to lean into her, all be it awkwardly, still, it felt soothing to feel her body against him. "I don't want you to go. But I fear what will happen if you stay."
"I care deeply for you, Chomper, deeper than any fastrunner had for a sharptooth."
"Remember how we were going to change the Mysterious Beyond, mold it into the Great Valley." He spoke, sniffing a little. "Foolish dreams of younglings, huh?"
"I don't know about that, anything is possible." Ruby patted him, laying her head atop his snout and looking into his eyes. "Especially if it comes from a good place."
They stood there, Chomper crying for the first in several years, Ruby shedding a few tears herself. The dream to change the Mysterious Beyond was fruitless, knowing that only one held power, control, and that was Red Claw. Red Claw got power after a powerful Sharptooth was knocked off his pedestal by Little Foot and his friends long ago, opening up for many to come forth and fight to take his place. It was an old tradition, yet sacred and obeyed by all, that included them.
