Chapter Nineteen: Don't Mess with The Gang

A great tree was uprooted and pushed aside by some great force, Cera throwing objects out of her way with a toss of her head, Spike and Tippy coming behind her, given she cleared a nice path for them. Little foot towered high, searching for sign of life, fear written across his face. Voices echoed, following it, Spike sniffing and nodding for them to continue on their course, picking up on several scents.

"We're almost there!" Tippy announced for his mate Spike.

The voices grew louder and louder, Little Foot managed to catch up to the mob, yelling out to one in particular. "Hyp, stop this madness!"

Spinning to the sound of Little Foot's voice, Hyp frowned and yelled. "Never, sharpteeth are bad, ever one of them." He gestured for Mutt and Nod, along with others to keep the gang back. "Stop them from interfering with our business." A row was formed, coming between the gang and Chomper, a wall of brute force to prevent them from closing in.

"All we want is for you to let Chomper go." Little Foot said, seeing the gang line up to face the group. "We don't want to fight."

"What's this we business, I'm up for a challenge." Cera said, grinning to few who stood in their way.

"Hear me out." Little Foot pleaded, hating for the situation to lead to violence. "We're all members of the Valley and want what's best. Hyp, I know there is good in you, enough to make the right choice-"

"If you stand on the side of this monster, you've shamed your own kind and the leaf-eaters of the Valley. You mother was killed by one of these beats, don't you want avenge her death?"

"I've made peace with the past, something you'll have to do to."

"Never, I'll never let go!" Hyp shouted, pointing to them. "End them, take them out!"

"There must be a peaceful way to resolve this." Little Foot called in a last attempt to stop the brawl.

"Finish those fool!"

"On it!" A male spoke, eyeing Little Foot up. Seeing this, Cera charged the male threehorn, who dropped his own head and went to strike Little Foot. "Little Foot!" Called Cera, rushing to defend her love. Stepping back, Little Foot saw Cera leap into action. They came together, Cera pushing for all she was worth, keeping him from hurting her mate. Her feet dug in the earth, sending her back, only for Cera to get a better stance and shoved back even harder.

A club tail charged Spike and Tippy, who split and ducked to avoid a heavy tail to the head. "Spike, watch out!" Tippy called, lifting his own tail to hold back the clubbed one, using all his strength to keep it at bay. Their tails quivered, both using all their strength to overpower the other. Grunting and huffing, Tippy felt sweat roll down his face, seeing the guy glare his way and slowly push his tail down. Spike made a sound of anger, going to assist Tippy. He dropped his head and hammered the clubtail in the gut, flipping him on his side, sending him rolling like a bug on his back. Tippy sighed with relief and smiled to Spike, who threw a wink his way. "Thanks babe, you're the best." Tippy licked Spike's cheek, seeing him flush.

Unlike the others who fought, Little Foot went to try and stop Hyp, only for Nod and Mutt to stand in his way. Another longneck stood, facing Little Foot. "Hold up there, you aain't going nowhere."

"I believe you mean anywhere." Little Foot corrected, seeing the guy wouldn't move. "Please step aside."

"Make me."

Head high above, they stared into one another's eyes, still and seeing what the other would do. Slowly, the guy huffed and took a step, Little Foot reacting and doing the same. Unlike most, a pair of longnecks fought differently. Their front legs lifted from the earth, holding their body weight on their back legs and slamming thier necks together. A pair of shadows fell over Cera, who saw Little Foot fight the other longneck. "Wow, that's kind of hot." She quipped, admiring his fiery side she seldom saw. Turning back to her opponat, she continued her own fight, seeing her could handle himself.

Necks slamming together, Little Foot landed with a thunderous stomp, twisting to his side and whipping his tail to knock the guy over. Falling like a might tree, Little Foot was won and easily pushed by Mutt and Nod. Neck low, he spoke again. "Please, have a heart guys."

With his back to the pair, Little Foot wasn't aware that Nod was about to charge him. Seeing Little Foot in distress, Cera threw the male aside with ease and went to aid him. "Little Foot!" She ran and upended Mutt, sending him flying through the air, only to get hung up on a tree limb. As for Nod, she sent him sprawling and bumping his head on the ground and knocking him out. With them out cold, she looked up to Little Foot. "You, okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, but we'll never be able to catch up to them now. I hope the others are having better luck than us."

Cera looked to where they went, frowning with worry. "With luck, Duck and Petrie can manage to step it up and help."

"We can hope!" Little Foot saw the threehorn charge, reacting quickly. "Cera, watch out!" He nudged her aside, tripping the guy with his tail. Falling, the guy's head dug up dirt and was stuck under the pile of soil.

"Nice one, logneck."

"Anything for you dear."

Tippy and Spike managed to send the clubtail on the run, Tippy painting heavily. "That takes care of them, now what leader?"

"Follow me."

The four went on, Spike sniffing and gesturing for them to hurry. While they liked their adult forms, it did make traveling slower, moving like their parents did. While the gang made their way through the forest, Ruby, Ducky and Petrie were hot on Hyp's heels. Though, there was a good deal of ground to cover, the mob reaching the ledge and awaiting orders from Hyp.

Going in and out conciseness, Chomper felt his body being pulled, the earth moving under him, hearing voices fad in and out. Ears ringing, the noise died down and he slowly stirred, waking and looking around with a blurry vision. There were many leaf-eaters of all shapes and sizes, glaring at him with anger. Among them was Hyp, who was shouting and waving his arms around. When his senses returned fully, Chomper was able to comprehend that they intended to kill. Given his muzzle was the only thing left untied, he coughed and cleared his throat.

"Wait, hold it!" This got their attention, Chomper speaking up. "Certainly, you'd allow me to say some final words, or something."

Rolling his eyes, Hyp folded his arms over his chest. "So, any last words, freak?"

"I'm sorry Hyp, truly, regrettable remorseful for what I did, for biting you. If I could take back what I did, take your pain and anger away, I would in a heartbeat. I never meant to hurt and if you'd let me go, perhaps you and I could become friends. Why, eve Ruby might like you for allowing me to live." Chomper said, buying himself time and hoping Hyp would give in. "What do you say, we put the past behind us and move forward, together?"

Hyp was quite for a moment, thinking it over, then he spoke. "No, tie his muzzle shut, I don't want to hear anymore false words."

"No, wait, don't-" Chomper was cut off, vines wrapping around his maw. Head shaking side to side, he pushed back those who muzzled him. His muffled yelles where heard unable to be made out by any.

"Right, over the edge with him!"

Unable to move, Chomper was pushed, inched closer and closer to the edge. Legs dangling over, his tail swept side to side in a state of panic. A bit of rock fell, splashing into the water, knowing he'd soon follow it. It brought back the memory of when he was young, when he found himself and a mean sharptooth falling into the Big Water. Unlike that time, no one was around to come to his aid, leaving him on his own.

When he was almost shoved over, Ruby darted out, holding a branch and striking at Hyp. "Call it off!"

Hyp ducked and reached to hold her back, gripping close to each of her fists. Face to face with the angry fastrunner, Hyp smiled. "You sure are stubborn, stupid to come and face me."

Anger boiled within, Ruby spinning and smacking him with her tail, sending him to the earth. "You shouldn't have threated the one I love!" Hyp down, Ruby went to try and move those who meant harm to Chomper. "Leave him be!"

Before Ruby could stop the mob, Hyp grabbed her leg, yanking her down, forcing her to watch helplessly while Chomper tittered on the ledge. "Now you love will die!" He flet a few kicks, yet managed to keep her down, chuckling. "There's nothing you can do now!" With no land left under Chomper, he was sent falling over and edge and out of sight.

"Chomper!" Cried Ruby, reaching out and seeing him slip form her grasp. "Chomper, no!"

"It's done, we won, we did it!" Called Hyp to the rest who cheered. "The monster is gone for good!"

"Jerk!" Tear filled her eyes, Ruby heartbroken and angry, finding the energy to fight back. Elbowing Hyp, she managed to spin him to the earth, the pair rolling side to side, each trying to win over the other.

Behind them, a voice spoke. "No, we're too late!" Little Foot stumbled out of the woods, watching in horror at the misfortune of his friend.

The gang emerged from the brush and gathered around, shoving the Valley member aside to see if they could spot Chomper among the crashing of waves. "Move you fools, you've done enough!" Cera snorted, moving them easily or pocking few who didn't budge. "Away, get out of here."

"Are you all happy with what you've done?" Little Foot scolded. "Killing someone simply because their different. For shame. He was good, he tried to bring kindness into this world and you killed him. You're all monsters."

"Petri, see if you can locate Chomper." Ducky asked, peering down.

Diving over the group, Petri glided across the water, searching with a keen set of eyes. "This no look good." Petire added, seeing only bubbles along the surface.