Chapter Eighteen: A Million Miles Away

Swoosh!
Several thick vises shot up and around Chomper, preventing him from going to Ruby. Arms tucked close to his body, he found it hard to walk and fell to his stomach, wiggling to get free. Holding Ruby was Ricky and Mutt, the ones who attacked were some members from the Valley. While he wanted nothing more than to bite at them, he didn't for the armored members protected those who held the vines.

Ruby struggled in their grasp, seeing the mob surround Chomper. "What's the meaning of this, let him go! He's done nothing wrong!"

"Oh, no, from what this fella told us, he captured you and brought you here against your will." Hyp said, standing over the bound sharptooth. "We're here to rescue you and slay this beast once and for all."

"What, I wasn't brought here against my will, I came on my own accordance." She turned to Ricky, glaring at him. "Chomper has done all he could to protect me from other sharpteeth, he is my dearest friend."

With a cocked brow, Ricky was really confused. "Friends? A sharptooth and plant-eater, that's hilarious."

"Idiot, Hyp, call off the attack and return to the Valley."

Hyp glanced from Chomper to Ruby, notching they shared the same starry-eyed gleam in their eyes. It struck him, Ruby cared for the sharptooth, their bond went deeper than friendship. Thus the anger turned to jealousy, knowing he had to take out the other suitor. "He must be a smooth talker, for it seems you've developed feelings for this monster."

"There's only one monster and he's right in front of me." Ruby stated.

"The beast must've brainwashed you, there's not a moment to waste, we must end him." Hyp said, gesturing for them to leave.

"I won't let you harm him!" Ruby stomped on Ricky's foot, throwing in a nice punch to Mutt's face. Being the daisy Ricky was, he fell backwards unconscious while she went forth to shove Hyp to the ground. "Release him at once!"

"Hey, hands off the boss!" Shouted Nod, coming between them.

"Yeah, don't touch him." Mutt added, taking and holding her back from kicking Hyp. "What should we do with her?"

Hyp rose, wiping the blood from his mouth. "Grab some vies and tie her to the tree. Can't have her interfering with our plans."

"Don't harm her!" Chomper struggled to rise, only for a clubbed tail to smack him on the head, knocking him out. Unable to stay awake, his vision was blurry, making out only Ruby till all went dark. Body going limp, he passed out fully, helpless to fed off those who meant him harm.

"Chomper, wake up, fight!" Hoping he'd fight as he did with the pack of fast-bitters. Yet he was still, motionless. "Chomper!"

"I've heard enough out of you." Hyp backhanded her across the face, causing her to grimace from the hit. "Take him away, I'll see she remains here." Hyp saw the group take Chomper away, waiting a few minutes to make sure he was alone with Ruby and Ricky.

"Oh, that girl sure can hit." Said Ricky as he got to his feet, seeing Mutt managed to avoid a few hit by Ruby, who didn't give up so easily. "Let me help."

Ricky and Mutt pinned Ruby to the truck of a tree, Hyp restraining her with a set of vines. When Hype was happy with their work, he patted Ricky's shoulder, Mutt leaving to catch up with the mob. Glad there were no witness around, apart from Ruby, Hyp smiled and spoke. "Great work, now, I have no use for you." In a quick move, Hyp grasped Ricky's head and snapped Ricky's neck, killing him on the spot and showing no remorse. "What a fool."

Ruby turned away, gasping in shock and fear he'd do the same to her. "H-how could you be so cruel."

"I'll be back for you once we're done." He approched her and ran his finger across her cheek, removing it when she tried to snap at him. "Whoa, you've been around that sharptooth too long, have become savage. Don't worry, fare Ruby, I shall tame you down."

"Drop dead, Hyp, when Chomper wake's he'll kill you."

"Oh, yeah right. He doesn't have the stuff, the power to kill me. But I do, I lose no sleep taking a life, ending his." Hyp grinned, his eyes full of no shame or restraint, the vision of a true killer. "With him gone, you'll come back to the Valley and be my mate, whether you want to or not." Hyp turned and left the body by her. "Else you wish to end up like him."

"I'd rather die than be a mate to the likes of you." Ruby spat, turning from him.

"You'll have little choice." Hyp said, walking away from her.

Brush rustled and in minutes, Hyp was gone, leaving her alone. No eyes watching her, Ruby did all she could rip the vines from her body. Sadly, with how they tied her to the tree, not even her neck could crane or bit at the vines. Moving, she didn't know where they drug the unconscious Chomper to, or what they were going to do once they had him under their mercy. If he woke, he'd be sacred, not for himself but for her, a burden he carried and took seriously. Chomper, the very thought of him brought forth a warm sense. Her heart ached, helpless, alone and stuck with that body of Ricky. It was her starday, and here she was, about to lose it all, lose the one she held so near to her heart. A tear ran down her face, Ruby taking a shaky breath.

Ruby:
"Light glimmers in a flower, like jewels in a dream,
The sky breaths life, love to everything,
At times I've though, "I'm not enough"
These vines that tie my heart,
But there's still a path that lies ahead,
For you and I,

Memories fade away, clouds of yesterday,
With no one, to love,
Is this life worth living?

Come back to me, and stay by my side,
I feel my heart shake, come, ease this ach,
I'm standing over here, reaching for you,
A million miles away, come back and stay,
No matter how far, the memories may be,
When I close my eyes, you're all that I see,
Come back to me,
A million miles away,
Come back and stay."

Just when she though all was lost, something caught her attention. A shadow fell from the sky, coming down to land before her. A cloud of dust floated out from the impact the being made, dust floating around a slumped over shape. Rising, it turned out to be some type of flyer, long bill and wide wings. Not only was it a fly, but it was none other than Petrie. For when he stepped into the light, he smile was clear as day.

"Petri?" Ruby exclaimed, shocked to see him on the island. "How? I mean, you are here, here you are."

"Ruby, you okay, not hurt too badly?" He asked, rushing to try and untie her. The vines were too thick for him to untie, pulling and falling back when he lost his grip. Poor Petrie, still clumsy as ever no matter his age. "Whew, where Chomper?"

"He's in trouble, I must help him."

"We know, all came to help."

"All, as in the entire gang?"

"Yup, yup, yup." Duck said, coming out from behind a tree to grab the vines with her hands and bit them off with her mouth. She and Petrie helped untangle Ruby, leaving Ricky's corpse behind.

"That weird guy, such shame."

"Yup, yup, yup." Ducky looked to Ruby. "Who did this?"

"Hyp, he's gone made and I fear he'll kill Chomper!"

With a nod, Ducky faced her mate. "Petrie, mid flying up and seeing where they went."

"No problem, Petri go now, see how others make out." With a few flaps, Petrie rose and darted across the sky.

"I hope we're not too late." Spoke Ruby with worry, clutching her hands nervously.

"Don't worry Ruby, I'm sure it'll all be okay, it will it will." Ducky assured her, patting Ruby's back tenderly.

"With luck you are right, Ducky."

In the air and over top of the luck Island, Petrie scanned the ground, seeing Little Foot, Cera, Spike and Tippy were close to the group of plant-eaters who managed to drag Chomper pretty far. It seemed they head to ledge by the Big Water, guessing the worst for the sharptooth. Swooping down quick, he went back to Ruby and Duck, staying in the air.

"Anything, sweetie?" Ducky asked.

"Yes love, this way, Petrie lead, Duck and Ruby follow." Going ahead, he looked back to them. "Others might already be there to stop Hyp."

"What do they plan to do to him?"

"Not sure, but they by Big Water." While he tried to hide his fear, he did a poor job of it. "Oh, not looking good for Chomper.

If they were planning what she thought they were planning, there was little time to waste, Ruby breathing heavily. Hurrying, she moved quickly along the path, throwing brush aside to reach Chomper before it was too late. If they didn't reach him, well, she didn't want to think about that.