Chapter Sixteen: Ricky in The Valley
Back in the Great Valley, Little Foot and Cera roamed, seeing all were happy, enjoying the peaceful day. Cera held a serious expression, Little Foot grinning to himself and playfully nudging her with his hip. The motion jolted her from her intense stare, hitting him back.
"Do you ever miss the old days?"
"You mean almost being eaten by a sharptooth? No, not one bit."
"What I meant was, the adventure, the thrill of being out on our own. Don't you ever hope for one last round, one more before we get too old to move?"
"Are you dying?"
"I'm serious Cera, I kind of miss it every now and then." He peered around, taking in a deep breath. "Gets sort of boring around here."
"Well, it's not like someone is going to stroll in and change all that."
"Help!" Shouted someone, a speck getting bigger and bigger, turning out to be a male fastrunner.
"Oh, boy, I spoke too soon." Cera grumbled.
"Let's not get huffy, I'm sure he's simply happy to be safe."
"Doubtful, very doubtful. He reminds me of that Wild Arms fella, remember him?"
"Yeah, wouldn't shut up and yelled a lot."
The fastrunner, threw his arms about, gasping and trying to talk. "Help! Someone, anyone, you must help me!"
"Easy friend, tell us what the trouble is?" Little Foot spoke calmly.
"Yeah, and do get to the point, we don't have time for your life story." Cera chimed in.
"H-he's got her, took her!" Shouted the male, running in a circle. "Against her will too!"
"Who took who now?" Cera wondered, unable to understand what he was getting at.
"A sharptooth, he kidnapped her, for reasons I don't even know." Dropping to his knees dramatically, it caught the eyes of many, including Hyp, Mutt and Nod. "It was awful, I tried to save her, but there was nothing I could do against that vile beast."
"What is all this?" Ducky spoke, walking over with Petri flying overhead.
"Who yelling guy?"
"Some idiot raving about a beast who kidnapped some damsel in distress." Cera answered dryly.
"Back to this girl, was she a friend of yours?" Little Foot asked, trying to get more information.
"Not quite, but she and I were going to be mates. Till it showed up, snatched her from me. Why, look, he attacked me." He held still long enough for everyone to see red along his skin.
Spike ambled over, coming from behind and licking the red substance, showing it wasn't blood but something else. "I think you are lying, yup, yup, yup, for Spike wouldn't lick you."
"Are those berries smooshed along your body." Cera stated, having an uncertain expression. "What is your name?"
"Ricky, and we must hurry, for the creature has taken her to its island dwelling."
"Island dwelling? Was it located among the Big Wather?"
"Yes, I've seen it go there and come back to prey on leaf-eaters."
Little Foot put two and two together, hoping the male was wrong. "Did this sharptooth speak with you?"
"No, but he managed to lure that poor girl to him, flattering her no doubt."
"You don't think?" Cera said with worry, looking to Little Foot.
"I do Cera, I get a bad feeling."
"What are you waiting for? The strongest among you must help me lay siege upon that island and take the monster out." Ricky went from one to another, stopping by Hyp. "Certainly, someone will help save that poor innocent girl from the clutches of that thing?"
"Sure pal, but why bother, the girls probably dead and rotting away in the sharptooth's stomach by now." Hyp stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What if I were to tell he could speak our langue." This got Hyp's attention. "Who's to say he won't show up outside your Great Valley, call upon other innocent lives, beckoning them to venture out where he could nab them easily. Think about it, you're all in real danger."
"Wait, wait, wait. There's been a misunderstanding, the sharptooth you speak of is Chomper, and the fastrunner who went with him, was our friend Ruby." Little Foot did his best to clear the air, feeling it get tense. "She left the Valley to catch up with him, spend some time before she returned here."
"Well, when was the last time you saw this sharptooth?" The gang were quiet to Ricky's comment, passing uncertain glances. "I thought so, now who's with me?"
"I'm not one to believe a stranger, but he speaks the truth. If this sharptooth can talk, who knowns, he might be teaching others to speak our langue." Thinking he could get rid of Chomper once and for all, Hype found the fool might prove the perfect opportunity. Hyp climbed upon a rock, gaining the attention of several. "Think of the outcome, our very Valley could be in danger. He could ban a entire army of sharpteeth, fast-biters to come here and end us all. Are we going to sit by and let that happen?"
"No!" Shouted the crowd.
"Right, those who wish to take this monster out, step forward and prepare to leave!" Hyp stated, seeing Little Foot and friends hang back. With a snort, he jumped down to make plans.
"I don't like this, not one bit."
"But what can we do, Little Foot, there's no way we can reach the island before them." Cera said.
"No, but we know how to get there faster than they do." Petrie spoke with a hint of bravery, quite unlike his usual nervous self. "With me in air, can guide us, take short cut they not know about."
"Good idea Petrie, yup, yup, yup." Ducky put her arms around him, nuzzling and making him blush.
"Okay, save the mushy stuff for later, we have a friend to save." Cera took the lead, the other's following her.
"So much for not wanting an adventure, huh Cera?" Little Foot said, coming up beside her.
Rolling her eyes, she focused on the task at hand. "Whatever, longneck, lead the way Petri." Petrie rose higher and higher, scanning for the best way to travel. The group of six made their way along, hoping they'd get there before Hyp and the angry mob of plant-eaters.
