In the high arctic, total darkness has lasted for 6 weeks. The weather was still chilly, the sky was partially cloudy and the wind was a problem. Scar was lying around in his nest as he nuzzled the pod that was next to him. It was a clutch of Stenonychosaurus eggs that Stella laid for him. Scar knew that he wouldn't need to eat again until the eggs hatched in the spring so he knew he had to keep them warm. Patch's nest however was empty.

"Hey no hunter; didn't get the girl." Scar taunted him. Patch looked at him as his huge eyes were curled in anger. He laughed as he knew Patch was pathetic to his kind. Patch didn't get the girl but his hunger was still there. Patch got up as he knew now was the time to hunt. Without the bright full moon as cover, he knew that a big prize was waiting for him as it was like an opportunity was knocking for him at the door. He approached the cave where the king was as he knew now was the time to pounce. The scent of blood draws Patch in. Patch was hesitant about it as he continued to wander in. There was the Nanuqsaurus as it was resting. If he could kill it now, he would not only have food but also shelter. However the moon was going to be in favor of the larger predator. The clouds pulled back revealing the bright moon. Patch knew he was in trouble as the Nanuqsaurus' eyes opened. All Patch saw was a pair of gaping jaws as it leaped at him. Patch leaped up and pulling back seeing the predator come close. Using his agility to his advantage, he turned on a dime and darted away from the cave as the Nanuqsaurus pursued Patch. Patch quickly got away as the predator was looking around Patch had vanished before him. The Nanuqsaurus turned back as it went back to its cave.

Hampered by his bad leg, the Nanuqsaurus now waits for small prey to come to him. However the injury was healing and it wouldn't be long until he would spread terror through the forest once again. He soon closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Anything that got his attention he would ambush.

Not far away in the dark, the Nodosaur was looking for any vegetation he could find. Seeing a leaf up there, he knew he could run forth and get the leaf down from the tree.

"Well it would be worth a try." The Nodosaur said to himself. He soon ran forth, ramming his armored body into the tree. The leaf wouldn't budge seeing it was healthy and firmly anchored to the tree. "Well that failed; let's see if I can reach it." The Nodosaur soon spoke to himself He noticed the log right by the tree as he soon leaned as he puts his front feet on it trying to reach for the leaf. He knew he couldn't reach it but he just had to try. He soon leaned a bit further up as he bit into the leaf as he soon chewed it before swallowing the pulp leaf down. "Ahh, success." The Nodosaur responded before he backed down but the log soon gave way as the Nodosaur was suddenly flipped to his size before rolling onto his back sliding down. The Nodosaur roared as he slid down the hill with his back as the sled. He slid for some distance until he reached the bottom of the hill. The Nodosaur was trapped as he couldn't push himself onto his hard feet without help. "Turtle? Sparrow? Anybody? Help!" The Nodosaur roared to himself as he was wondering who would come to his aid. There was no response as they were long gone. The Nodosaur was now completely helpless.

Far to the south, Turtle and Veteran were on a desperate hunt for the herd. The two of them were plodding along in the wasteland as they were trotting alone. After days of Fruitless finds, they soon came upon the fresh evidence of another animal in the area but was it friend or foe?

"What's going on there's food?" Turtle mewed to Veteran. Veteran looked at the kit as they were looking for who was behind there.

"Now we shouldn't be taking food without the permission of the owner." Veteran told Turtle as he reared up on his hind legs. Turtle wanted to do the same as his friend as he reared up on his hind legs too. "Whoever you are, show yourself." Veteran told the bushes to show themselves that they hid behind. Soon the bushes began to move as a creature began to come out of the bushes. It limped along as it wanted to make itself known. It was an injured female Pachyrhinosaurus.

"She looks in bad shape; we should try to befriend it. If it is friendly?" Turtle mewed as he knew that they could have another ally. She was soon eating the bushes as Veteran nodded, they soon decided to approach it. She turned as she was wondering who it was.

"Who are you?" She grunted as she was trying to figure out who these strangers were. Turtle and Veteran stopped as they looked at her.

"I'm Veteran and this is my friend, Turtle. We need food if we are going to find our herd." Veteran told her as he introduced himself and Turtle. She looked at them.

"Oh I'm Willow, help yourself if you want to get back to your herd as I'm looking for mine." Willow responded as she turned back to feast on the bush. Turtle and Veteran walked up to the bush as they began to feast on it seeing how these plants would provide some nourishment to continue the journey south. Veteran was struggling to take in the plants as Turtle looked at him. Veteran sneezed as it was clear his condition was slowly getting worse over time. He was becoming disorientated and unpredictable. Turtle looked at him as he sneezed again.

"You okay Veteran?" Turtle asked as he was wondering how his companion was doing. Veteran sneezed again.

"I'm fine." Veteran responded. It was clear they couldn't wait that much longer. They needed to keep moving.

The shadows over the short day were beginning to lengthen as Turtle, Veteran and Willow were on the move, they were thrown together through disaster; they were now a band of the young, the ill and the injured. Willow limped along as they knew they had each other. Turtle turned to his new friend.

"So Willow, you seem all alone, were you separated from your herd as well?" Turtle asked Willow. Willow was at the same pace they were traveling.

"Sadly I was; my leg was burned when that torrent came down, those I was traveling with in my small group were all ambushed and murdered by some predators and I was the only one to remain." Willow told Turtle as they kept moving along. They knew the tracks meant it was their only way to finding the herd. However the next day brought some hope. Turtle was traveling along. He soon stopped as he heard a faint bellow.

"Veteran do you hear that?" Turtle asked wondering if he heard that sound. Turtle trotted along as he wanted to keep up with his friend.

"Yes I did and it sounds like… the herd?!" Veteran told them. Turtle, Veteran and Willow continued their travels as Veteran was right. Far ahead of them was the herd. Vast numbers of cats and Edmontosaurus were still soldiering on, a moving fortress that would provide safety for the stragglers once again; if Turtle, Veteran and Willow were able to reach it in time. On a hill looking down on the three of them was the Albertosaurus. It was slowly following them from a distance as it sniffed. It was clear that whoever was to fall just far enough behind would provide it with a meal. It soon continued to follow it.

The sun was setting again as Turtle and Veteran were still following the herd's tracks. Turtle turned back as he saw Willow was falling dangerously far behind. It was clear that the female Pachyrhinosaurus was struggling to keep up. Turtle trotted to Veteran.

"Veteran, should we slow down for Willow, she is lagging farther and farther behind." Turtle was concerned for her being. Veteran soon turned his head to Turtle as he knew that a slow mover like her would be a magnet for predators.

"I'm afraid we can't we tried and I sensed we've fallen even further behind." Veteran told Turtle as they kept walking along. Veteran knew he had to make a difficult choice but it would be necessary if they were to find their herd. "Turtle I don't think there is much more we can do for Willow, we must leave her behind to her fate." Turtle's eyes began to water as he knew they were going to abandon Willow. They continued migrating along following the footprints left by the herd as Willow knew it would be a matter of time before she could see them no more.

The moon was full as the duo continued along. Veteran sneezed again as it was clear whatever his sickness was, was messing up his brain. He reared up on his hind legs before sneezing a few more times. Veteran turned to Turtle as he began to fall out.

"Hello? Hello?" Veteran called out. It was clear they were the only ones out there. Veteran soon turned as he began to go another way. Turtle was shocked as Veteran was now doing the unthinkable, wandering aimlessly away from the tracks left by the herd. Turtle looked at the herd's tracks and then to Veteran's.

"Veteran! You're heading the wrong way this is the way to finding the herd." Turtle called out. Veteran didn't listen. Turtle gulped as he soon began to follow Veteran as he knew he sensed something was wrong but all he could do was follow.

The Albertosaurus looked at the footprints as its breath smelled them. Willow passed this way recently but she kept her feet on the tracks. The Albertosaurus decided to follow the prints from the track way thinking easier meals would be nearby.

The wind was howling as Veteran and Turtle knew they were exhausted and cold. Veteran sneezed as he soon approached the area.

"Well we need to settle down. The wind is freezing and I need some rest." Veteran told Turtle as he needed the strength to keep going. Veteran soon collapsed and curled up as he wanted to rest. Turtle knew that they would all huddle together for warmth. He soon went to Veteran as he curled up next to him but Veteran soon leaned forth and bit Turtle as a sign of leave me alone. Turtle was shocked as his own friend has turned on him. Blood was dripping down from the small bite wound. It was clear he was only pulling the predators closer to him.

Back in the arctic, a warm weather front passes through, lifting the temperature above freezing for the first time in weeks. Patch's clawed feet crunched through the snow as it was clear the crust had softened as he knew he needed some food but he decided to switch up his game. He was going to use his ears, not his eyes. Hearing something scurry beneath the snow, he sense that it was in the area where the sound was being emitted. Soon sensing that the prey was close, Patch leaped up and he fell down into the snow as something screamed. He soon pulled his head out of the deep snow as he had caught a mammal. Patch soon scarfed the mammal down as it was clear he was getting the attention of others.

"Looks like you're getting the hang of hunting." Stella chirped to Patch. Patch looked at the female as he knew that she was spending time to keeping herself alive.

"Oh I decided to use my ears to get that." Patch told Stella as the two of them began walking along. Another female soon approached.

"Looks like you're going to be a master in no time. I think next winter you would be able to prove yourself in the mating game." Stella told Patch. Patch chirped as they continued walking along, they heard the rumors of creature in distress and they wanted to know what was happening.

Snow was beginning to take form on the stiff body of a large herbivore; its eyes were closed as the predators were approaching. It was clear the Nodosaur had been trapped upside down for the past three days. His eyes opened to see some Stenonychosaurus approach. Would salvation be here for him?

"Help!" The Nodosaur bellowed wondering who would be there to help him off of his back. With his armor useless beneath him, he was showing his soft underbelly. "Help! Somebody help!" The Nodosaur bellowed again. Patch and Stella looked at the Nodosaur as more Stenonychosaurus began to appear. They didn't want to help the Nodosaur as much as make a meal out of him. They didn't have a plan as they were still hanging back. However, their numbers were growing.

Turtle was sleeping as the morning rolled around but a shadow was approaching. The huge eye looked out as it saw the kit. Turtle soon felt something poke it as it soon woke up. Turtle turned as his eyes looked at the newcomer being a huge Quetzalcoatlus. Turtle got up as he began to try to chase it off.

"Get away! Go on! Shoo!" Turtle hissed at the Quetzalcoatlus as the huge flying animal took off as it was scared of the kit. It was clear Turtle still had the strength to defend himself from some predators. But Turtle looked around as he saw that Veteran had wandered off. Turtle soon turned as he began to sprint after Veteran, he was exposed in the wasteland without a companion. Unfortunately for Turtle, Veteran was the only companion he has. The Quetzalcoatlus was following Turtle as it was waiting for when he would die in the wasteland. The Albertosaurus soon arrived as it sniffed a puddle of blood seeing easy picking were nearby.

Veteran was walking along alone as Turtle was approaching him. Turtle wanted to call out to make sure his friend was able to recognize him.

"Veteran? It's me Turtle." Turtle called out as he wanted to make sure Veteran knew who he was but Veteran didn't even recognize him. After all of this, was this what his friend had turned into? "Veteran? You there? Veteran?" Turtle continued to call out to him. Veteran didn't respond as he just kept going. They didn't even know about the Albertosaurus that was following up behind them. Turtle turned his head seeing the huge predator approach. "Run Veteran! Run!" Turtle called out as he began running. Veteran soon turned his head seeing the black feathered Albertosaurus following them. He soon got up on his hind legs as he began to run as the two of them were being pursued by the predator. "Faster Veteran faster!" Turtle begged as he kept running. Turtle followed behind as he knew that the predator could catch them. However they didn't know was that they were running into a trap, just ahead of them was a cliff down into a deep hole.

Turtle soon ran as he soon knew that there was a gap ahead of him. He soon skidded to a stop as Veteran was sprinting up behind him. They knew there was no way out.

"Stop Veteran stop!" Turtle cried out as they realized they were cornered. Veteran stopped as Turtle looked back to see the Albertosaurus approach them. Turtle turned to Veteran. "Veteran save me!" Turtle wailed as he tried to get under Veteran. Veteran reared up as he bellowed at Turtle.

"Get out of here Turtle." Veteran roared as Turtle turned as he scurried himself to safety.

"Come on Veteran." Turtle cried for his friend. Veteran knew that there was no way out. If he left the Albertosaurus would still pose a threat so he wanted to knock the predator away from Turtle.

"Go on Turtle, save yourself! Don't forget about me!" Veteran bellowed to Turtle as it was a message that would involve sacrificing himself. "Go on, run Turtle!" Veteran bellowed. Turtle turned his head as Veteran continued to get Turtle to flee. Soon the Albertosaurus charged at Veteran, clamping its jaws around the old Edmontosaurus' neck. Veteran roared in pain as the predator continued to chomp down on his throat. All Turtle could do was watch as the predator continued to clamp around him.

Veteran soon knew he could trap the predator here right now so he banged his head against the predator as he knocked himself free. Soon he turned as the Albertosaurus clamped around his neck. Veteran continued to roar in pain as he knew he had to save Turtle. He soon spun himself around as the Albertosaurus had its back against the cliff. Soon A chunk of the cliff gave way dragging the predator down. All Veteran wanted to do was save his friend. However the weight of the predator against his neck was too much as blood seeped from the holes. Soon Veteran and the Albertosaurus fell off the cliff, falling to their deaths. He and his killer roared as they hit the bottom, silence soon drifted over the land. Turtle looked as he went to the cliff as he looked down. His friend had sacrificed himself for him. Turtle began to weep as he began to work his way back to the beaten path.

Turtle knew he was alone once more.

[A/N]: How was that of Veteran, sacrificing himself for his friend? Would Turtle and Willow be able to make it out of this wasteland and back to their herds, read this chapter and give me your opinion, that is all until next time.