Okay...yes I know it's been awhile. But unlike the last couple of times I was slow with updates, this time wasn't because I was lazy or unmotivated. My new job has kept me occupied rather frequently and it's much harder to consistently write.
That being said, as with my other story, I will try to be more consistent and at least devote time three or four times a week to chapter writing. I can't guarantee quick updates. But I don't believe you'll have to wait four or five months either.
Thanks to all of you for sticking with me. I didn't expect this story would do as well as it did, and you guys make that possible.
So without further ado, here's the next chapter!
Chapter 15. Another Unexpected Council Meeting
Herd gatherings within the Great Valley could be chaotic by their very nature. To ensure no one group of dinosaurs dominated the others, the Valley residents had appointed representatives from each respective herd in order to come to decisions collectively or as Grandpa Longneck phrased it "the spirit of unity for the greater good of all." These decisions were not without controversy- they were rarely unanimous and always contained a great deal of bickering. But, as much as everyone despised the disorderly and muddled council meetings, everyone could also agree that it was the best way they knew thus far to ensure peace within their lush home.
However, a day like today could challenge even that unspoken agreement among the herds. For the fact remained that a dinosaur had dropped dead in front of Topps Threehorn and his family and had given a grim warning: Red Claw was coming. That in itself wasn't the problem, the monster had been a threat for years but had not yet caused any lasting damage to the Valley, but never before had he personally delivered them a message in such a vile manner. It was meant to shock, to discourage, to cause the panic that was currently unfolding. Some parents were shielding their hatchlings' eyes to avoid having to see the corpse that was only twenty feet away in a deep, grassy spot within the meadow.
To Cera, this was yet another example of how the Valley could be unbelievably ineffectual at handling a major crisis. Though she wanted to scream in anger (she had had more than her share of issues with adults lately) she knew she had to stay silent as the grown ups clambered and talked over each other as if such a tactic would automatically bring about a solution. As usual, Littlefoot's Grandparents were trying to restore order, but to no avail.
"You all are a bunch of fools if you don't take this seriously!" Tak the Iguanadon asserted over the noise. "How can any of you ignore something like this when it's literally a body right there in front of you?!"
"Hearsay!" a clubtail replied back. "None of us except the threehorn family were here when this occurred! How can we be so sure of a threat?"
"Red Claw has been trying to enter this valley for years! We know what he's capable of!"
"And for years he has failed. Do not our walls afford us the protection we need?"
"And have these walls not failed on numerous occasions to keep out sharpteeth?"
"The peace and prosperity of this Valley should not be violated on the basis of empty threats!"
"Do you call THAT 'empty', you clubtailed fool!?"
"SILENCE!"
At that moment, everyone quieted down just long enough for Topps to reassert control of the situation.
"Goodness gracious, you call yourselves dinosaurs?" he asked incredulously. "I've literally seen hatchlings with more composure!" Shaking his massive frill, he continued. "In any case, if anyone here has the nerve to challenge my word, let them step forward. I have my wife and daughter as witnesses to what I saw. Or do you wish to challenge their words as well?"
No one was foolish enough to take on the threehorn leader physically or in a battle of honor. That didn't mean that everyone believed him or held the threat on the same level. Fortunately, the other herd leaders seemed to agree with Topps.
"I for one, believe Mr. Threehorn," Susa Duckbill said with firmness.
"As do I, and that's saying something," chuckled Violet. "He may be stubborn as a rock wall, but I've never known Topps to be capable of lying about anything. And I'm sure that Tria and Cera can back up what he says happened here."
Cera felt more than a little pressure having to testify in front of the valley, but would boldly do so if called upon. Thankfully, her dad wiped that notion right away.
"We're wasting time. The point is not whether or not his happened, it's what we should do now that we know Red Claw is planning an attack. Now I suggest…" he paused for a moment before looking up at Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, eyeing them with some surprise.
"You've been awfully quiet, longneck. You're usually the first to try and come up with a solution, as longnecks usually do."
The elderly longnecks shared a quick glance, before turning back to the threehorn patriarch.
"Nothing is wrong, Topps, I assure you," Grandpa Longneck said lightly but his tone did not match his eyes. "We are quite content to listen to whatever ideas you have, and we will go from there."
Topps' face still held suspicion, but he did not press the matter, perhaps satisfied he was going to speak without interference for once.
"Very well, in any case. I propose…"
Cera drowned out her father's words as she drew her attention to the 'longneck-who-must-not-be-mentioned'. She could see him in between his grandfather and his father, Bron, looking rather bored and even a bit angry. She wondered whether he too had a fight with his guardians about their respective relationship. Her heart gave a twinge at this, trying to push aside the overwhelming amount of emotion that swelled within her.
She continued to observe the longneck family, until she noticed that as her father spoke, Littlefoot kept glancing up uneasily at Bron, who too shared the same look of uneasiness.
'So, my father wasn't imagining things. The whole lot of them look like they have a secret to hide.'
Cera wasn't one to pick out these subtleties easily, but she knew Littlefoot enough by now when he was feeling uncomfortable and this was definitely one of those times.
'I don't understand. What could be causing him and his family to be acting like…'
At that moment, she locked eyes with Littlefoot. And despite the obvious blush, something else came back to her as well, something she should have remembered far earlier.
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So everyone here right now is here to escape that monster and his fast biters," Littlefoot concluded. "Only Bron won't let anyone tell the valley because he didn't want to worry the residents."
"Including you," Cera added.
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It didn't take long for the teenage threehorn to connect the dots. Littlefoot, his father and his grandparents all looked guilty because they knew that Red Claw was the cause of all the refugees that had arrived in the valley recently. This was information they had withheld from the rest of the populace and it was in danger of being exposed.
She moved her eyes away from Littlefoot and back to her father, who was engaged with Kosh and a spiketail, thankful he was otherwise too occupied to care much about the longneck family.
'Maybe he and the other valley members won't ever find out. After all, Littlefoot only told me and I certainly won't blab. If we make sure the walls are secure, Red Claw won't ever get in here and we can just forget about this.'
How very wrong that hypothesis turned out to be.
"-because the foundation of a strong home is a strong defense!" argued Topps to the spiketail. "If we don't ensure that valleys walls are impenetrable, that monster could easily get through."
"Mr. Threehorn, it's been years since a sharptooth has gotten in here," the leader of the spiketails argued back.
"Some of the passage ways haven't been checked in years, including some of the caves," Kosh reasoned. "Couldn't hurt to check them."
"I think we all are being just a bit paranoid, here," the spiketail said, more to the crowd this time, which was followed by some quiet murmuring. "Red Claw is a fiend whose savagery knows no bounds. But is there any firm evidence to suggest an attack is imminent? He's tried getting into the Valley for years and has failed every time. What makes this time any different?"
Before anyone could respond, an unfamiliar pointed voice interrupted the meeting.
"Because Red Claw is single handedly causing the greatest disruption of the herds since the Great Land Shift many years ago."
Everyone turned to see where the voice came from, and in stepped a female Pachycephalosaurus with about a dozen fellow herd members behind her. Her skin was a vibrant purple and looked to be the matriarch of the clan that had just arrived. The crowd parted ways to let them through, but not without the usual muttering that accompanied such an unexpected arrival. As usual, Topps Threehorn was the first to address the situation in his confrontational manner.
"Who are you and what is your business?" he asked sternly.
"Topsy, be nice," Tria chided him slightly.
"It's alright," the female domehead said evenly. "No doubt this must be an unwelcome surprise for all of you here. My name is Dala, and this is my clan…or rather what's left of it."
Littlefoot, for his part, couldn't help but notice that Dala and her clan held the same tired and fearful looks in their eyes that the last group of refugees had. The ones that had been led by his dad.
For the second time, he caught Cera's eyes ever so briefly and aside from his usual blush he could discern the meaning of the warning in her glance. The fact that his dad had kept news of Red Claw's rampage from everyone was about to be laid bare.
Uh oh
"This is not the first herd that has come to the Valley recently," Susa Duckbill said quietly.
"Nor will it be the last," Dala said bluntly. "My clan and I were once thirty strong. But that brute has gone on a rampage that has disrupted the balance of the beyond."
"Explain further, please," Violet asked kindly but with a hint of anxiety in her voice.
Dala shook her head and bade her clan rest as she stepped forward to explain her story.
"This all started around during the last dry season. Red Claw began killing indiscriminately, beyond the dietary needs of an average sharptooth. Soon, other rival sharpteeth began attacking more frequently due to the lack of food. The fast biters have been especially restless; our clan has lost ten members to their packs alone.
"We have no idea what caused it, but rumor has it that he snapped somehow. Whatever the reason, everyone outside of the Great Valley, Haven Valley, and the Eastern Forest is scattered and trying to find reprieve from this onslaught. In fact, we heard a large group of dinosaurs made it to the valley a short time ago. We decided it was time to make the same trek, as it was no longer safe for us in our old feeding grounds."
"And the domehead that died right in front of us…" inquired Tria.
"Was my brother," Dala said sadly as she looked over at the grassy area in which the body had been laid. "He volunteered to go up ahead as a scout, to try and find a way in. I tried to talk him out of it but…" she shook her head, clearly racked with guilt. "Red Claw clearly got to him first."
The Valley residents were visibly shocked, and some appeared rather frightened. Even Topps did not look as self assured as he usually did.
"I can only say that this is just the beginning," Dala continued. "More will come as the crisis grows worse. We will leave it you to decide our status in your home."
At that, Dala motioned to her fellow clan members to move away to give the Valley residents space to decide what to do.
Like the crashing of a tsunami wave, an immediate uproar followed after the domeheads left the premises.
"What do we do?!"
"Red Claw is coming for us!"
"The Valley is not prepapred!"
"SILENCE!" Topps had to roar for a second time. "To panic over this is useless. We must now make the necessary preparations for a possible attack. Let this be a lesson to those of you who doubt the words of a threehorn."
"I quite agree, Topps," Grandpa Longneck finally spoke up. "All the open entrances to the valley must be sealed and watched around the clock."
But the threehorn patriarch rounded on the longnecks furiously, fire burning in his orbs.
"That domehead mentioned following another herd that arrived here previously. Sounds suspiciously like the one your son in law was leading. Which means you and your whole family knew about this the moment they stepped foot in our home!"
"Topps if we could…"
"Enough longneck explanations!" Topps was practically apoplectic at this point. "I've heard enough of them for a lifetime! This whole thing has a turned into a damned conspiracy! You held this information from us, and in doing so have endangered us all! What say you to that?!"
"This is outrageous-"
"Don't test my patience further," Topps practically threatened as the valley practically cackled with tension. "You've injured me enough these past few days. Give me one good reason I should believe anything you say?"
No one other than Topps, Cera, Littlefoot and his grandparents knew the true seriousness of the situation, but it was unnerving all the same for everyone else observing the scene. It was only when Bron stepped in did the situation diffuse slightly.
"Mr. Threehorn, do not lay blame at my family. The fault is mine. I knew of the situation with Red Claw but did not pass that information to anyone else," he said stepping to the front of the circle.
Littlefoot resisted the urge to look at his grandparents, as doing such would be a sure sign of guilt and he was sure his guardians were doing the same. He had enough sense to let his father do the talking.
Bron stepped forward, his imposing figure enough to silence most of the crowd, as the rest of the herds listened carefully, none more so than Topps.
"For years, my herd made its annual migration patterns unmarred or threatened except for the rare attack by a smaller gang of sharpteeth or fast biters. But as you heard, this past dry season, Red Claw has gone on a killing spree and his malice has touched everyone. In desperation, the other sharpteeth started to attack anything they could find, including my herd, which was once thought to be impregnable. Alas, it was not so…"
A sad look appeared in his eye as he continued.
"I and many others felt that the Great Valley was the only permanent residence safe enough to house my herd. We picked up a few stragglers on the way and word of our coming reached you sooner than later, as traditionally my herd doesn't stop here until later in the year. I withheld the information of Red Claw's increasing power because I believed if given refuge, I could form a plan to counter him without causing chaos to the Valley. I did not want to burden my in laws, nor my son."
Littlefoot could hardly believe his father's words. He had known for quite some time about Red Claw, so had his parents…and yet here he was, shielding them from possible retribution by taking all of the fault for the ominous revelation.
Is this what a leader does? Would I be willing to do the same?
He shook his head. Now was not the time to dwell on the hypothetical matters of being a leader. Bron's fate in the Valley would likely be decided in a few seconds and that thought caused his heart to accelerate. Of course, there was also the fact that a certain threehorn also knew of his secret and she just happened to be the daughter of their biggest adversary at the moment…
She wouldn't do that? Right?
He didn't dare look at Cera again, lest he incur the wrath of Mr. Threehorn yet again, but his stomach was a mixture of anxiety and butterflies as her likeness entered his mind. He couldn't help but be enamored by it, even in this moment when the balance of the valley hung on by a thread.
His thought process was interrupted as Topps spoke in a low, harsh tone.
"Very well Bron, leader of the southern herd. In light of your testimony, no punishment will be meted against Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, patriarch and matriarch of the longnecks in the Great Valley."
Meanwhile, Cera dared not say anything as her father spoke, even if she had felt inclined to do so. There was also no way she would enlighten him that Littlefoot and his grandparents had also known that Bron withheld information about the rising threat of Red Claw and his disruption to the herd of the Beyond. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
We've had enough fights lately. This is for my own sanity as much as it is for Littlefoot.
The thought of the handsome longneck still pained her but dwelling on the unfortunate incidents of the past few days would not serve her. So, she did what any threehorn would do: she pushed it aside and appeared strong to those who looked upon her, while her father continued to talk.
I'd bet a lifetime supply of treestars he'd love to get back at Littlefoot's grandparents right now. But even he won't do anything without solid proof, which he doesn't have.
"But, as for you, Bron, your future in this Valley is very much finished. I think I speak for everyone here when I say you should be banished, immediately!"
Littlefoot's stomach dropped like a stone at these words, as the rest of the valley went into uproar. That is, until a female voice rang out.
"Hold it!" It was Susa Duckbill, and the crowd went silent. "Now, I'm in agreement that Bron not telling us the situation is a serious breach of trust. But to banish him without deliberation among the herd leaders would be too hasty. After all, he is the father of one of our most cherished members and he has not lead us astray in the past. I say we take two days to meet and discuss the matter before any conclusion is reached."
That seemed to calm down some of the fervor. But as everyone knew, it would take a majority vote for a decision to be passed and Topps was not about to go down without an argument.
"Susa! You can't be serious! Our home is now in jeopardy because of this longneck and his kind's usual grand ideas! We need to rid ourselves of any distractions in preparation for a potential attack!"
"Topps," another female voice spoke, and this time it was Violet. "I don't believe we need remind you of all the instances in which a decision was reached too hastily and our home paid dearly for it. You were usually at the forefront of those decisions. For the sake of reason, and for a child and his father, let's talk this over."
"No!" yelled out the leader of the spiketails. "The threehorn is right. We must act now!"
"Then it must come to a vote," Kosh interrupted. "Both motions, one for deliberation and one for banishment, have been put forward. Are there any objections?"
There were none, as most of the Valley seemed resigned to make a firm resolution one way or the other.
"Very well, we shall commence the vote now," Kosh continued. "All those in favor of immediate banishment?"
This was the moment of truth, and Littlefoot could hardly bear to watch or hear. He looked at his grandparents for silent support, but they remained impassive, equally fixated on the potential outcome.
Please, don't banish my dad, was all he could offer as a prayer to the heavens.
Seconds after Kosh's question had been asked, a chorus of 'Aye's' rang throughout the circle. It had been a fair amount of dinosaurs and Littlefoot could only freeze in anticipation as the counter motion was received.
"All those in favor of two days deliberation?"
The second chorus of 'Aye's' rang out, and Littlefoot perked up, noticing it had been stronger than that of the first motion. But ultimately, it was for Kosh to decide which had been the majority…
"The motion for two days deliberation has won out," the clubtail said with firmness. "The other herd leaders and myself and I will convene tomorrow at a different location yet to be determined, out of respect for the dead." He gave a solemn nod in the direction of the fallen domehead.
"Hold on a minute!" Topps called out and a visible groan could be heard from the crowd and it took Cera a great deal of self control not to share that groan. They all knew what was coming.
Daddy has to have the last word, as always.
"We all know that the longnecks are going to defend their own, (Cera snorted at the irony) I say the leaders of the longneck herd be left out of these deliberations for the sake of a more impartial verdict."
No one could deny Topps had a point, but Littlefoot found it unfair and knew that the threehorn would do anything to try and get his way. Even so, the crowd seemed to be in favor of the notion.
Kosh looked at the elder Apatosaurus's and spoke to them respectfully.
"How do you feel about this Grandpa and Grandma Longneck? You may challenge this if you like."
It was a true testimony to the respect that the two carried that such a question was asked, as very few would have been afforded the opportunity to speak in their defense. Grandpa looked at Grandma, who gave him a silent look, one which no one could interpret, not even Littlefoot. They then briefly glanced at Bron, who's own face was much easier to read- 'don't do anything for my sake'.
"There is no need," Grandpa Longneck said at last. "If the council feels that the deliberations will be more impartial, as Bron is our son in law, then we will gladly recuse ourselves from active part in this decision."
Not everyone seemed happy with this, especially not Littlefoot and even Kosh looked slightly surprised, but Topps was quick to seize the momentum.
"Very well. That settles it. The deliberations on the fate of Bron will begin midday tomorrow, with a resolution the day after. The leaders of the longneck herd will be absent from these meetings due to conflict of interest. In the meantime, we need to check the walls for any potential weaknesses or entry points that Red Claw could exploit. I will send a few of you to scout at first light in the morning. Until then, this meeting is adjourned."
And the firmness in Topps's voice left no doubt that the session was over. But as the herds began to disperse from the grassy meadow, Littlefoot and Cera knew that this latest meeting raised far more questions that it had solved. In the balance lay the fate of Bron, Red Claw, and the Great Valley itself. But neither could deny the most prominent uncertainty of all.
As they left with their respective guardians, each took one last look at the other before disappearing out of sight, hearts heavy with doubt and discontent.
There wasn't much else that could go wrong...
Well, well, isn't that ominous. Not exactly a cliffhanger. But almost no indication of what's to come. Do you hate me yet or what?
Until next time!
~TheWasp