Okay, before I say anything else, I just want to issue a quick apology to those who were expecting this chapter sooner. I said it would be around June and it's now July...whoops.
I think that's partially due to the fact that I underestimated how long and how intricate this chapter is. It took a LONG time to write and to my own satisfaction. This is basically the climax of the story and it needs to be right.
So with that being said, thank you to all of you for being patient. I won't lie, the next update could be a month or longer but that's only because getting the last part of this story right is pretty crucial.
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy as always! Leave a review and happy reading:)
Chapter 17. In the Darkest Hour
Every fiber of Littlefoot's soul pushed him to go faster, even if it put strain on his body. Though stronger than he had ever been, at his advanced size, he had no doubt lost some speed. He had hours of endless eating to thank for that, encouraged by his grandparents.
As he sped by numerous dinosaurs from other herds, including a few of the refugees, many turned in surprise as they had never seen a longneck move so quickly for any reason at all. But Littlefoot paid them no mind. They didn't understand what was at stake, what he was after. Even if they had known his motivations, disapproval would rain from their mouths in all likelihood.
Story of my life, he thought. However, the time had long passed that he take control of his own destiny. If there was one thing he could appreciate about threehorns, is that they didn't always subscribe to the idea of fate. There was one in particular he had to thank for that.
As the image of green eyes entered his head, it only motivated him to go faster and push further beyond his limits. Cera was enough motivation, but there was also much more at stake as well. He had to convince his grandparents of the sincerity of their mutual feelings, to keep his father from being banned from the Valley, and perhaps most importantly, keep Mr. Threehorn from goring him.
That last one might be tough, he admitted to himself. Such a risk was worth it, however. For Cera, there was nothing he would not do. His optimism returning with a vengeance, he figured there had to be some way to convince Mr. Threehorn to give his approval. Even if he couldn't earn that, it wouldn't stop him. Approval was desirable but not necessary. The same applied to his grandparents.
Just when he entered his second wind, Littlefoot slowed to a halt, realizing that running aimlessly at blinding speed was not the surest way to finding Cera. He had virtually no idea where she was or what she might be doing. If she was with her family, notably Topps, his presence would be highly unwelcome.
Standing in the middle of a hill that overlooked part of the Valley, he gazed to the south, where the low plains and high grasses began, a favorite spot of the spiketails, not likely to hold many threehorns. The two groups were notorious for not getting along.
Then again, I haven't met any kind of dinosaur threehorns get along with, he joked to himself.
Looking to the east, the more mountainous, underbrush part of the valley, he saw numerous flyers in the air while duckbills grazed on the easy vegetation that awaited their mouths. Probably not a likely spot for Cera either.
He thought harder. Most threehorns lived in the center part of the valley, as it gave them plenty of space for them to congregate, socialize, and feed as they pleased. They also frequented the clearest watering hole and would spend hours at a time there. However, he also knew that Bron's trial would be there and as such, a wide variety of herds would be in attendance.
Littlefoot switched his gaze to the west, where the great forest stood proudly, a landmark as old as the world itself. He remembered Cera telling him once that the threehorn herds often went there for annual mating rituals, but that it was also a good place for anyone who wanted some solitary time alone.
Hmmm, if I were a pissed off threehorn wanting to get away from my dad, that's probably where I'd go.
He supposed that between the central plains, the watering hole, and the western forest, that the latter was the least likely place to find her. And yet, a hunch was telling him to go there first. Besides, if there was a chance he could speak to her alone without the potential wrath of her father, it was the best option.
Making his mind, Littlefoot headed in that direction, still running, but this time at a more reasonable pace, hoping with all his being that his search would bear fruit.
Cera peered over the rest of the dinosaurs that currently occupied the watering hole, scanning for any signs of a familiar longneck with amber eyes. There were plenty of spiketails in need of a drink, some flyers, a few duckbills, and even some threehorns, but given that there were no towering figures creating shadows, she figured that the longneck herds were off elsewhere.
They mostly live in the northern ranges of the forest, she mused to herself as she took a small drink from the watering hole and proceeded with her search. The herds often congregated in various parts of the Valley and longnecks had a liking for the north, where trees dominated the landscape and provided them with plenty of food without interference from other dinosaurs. However, she also knew Littlefoot's family lived slightly to the south towards the central part of the Valley in order to be in closer proximity with his friends. It seemed logical he would be somewhere within that area.
Then again, marching herself into a group of longnecks uninvited was not her idea of a good time. She wasn't scared by any stretch of the imagination, but relations between the two groups had been noticeably tense since her father and Littlefoot's grandparents had caught them 'together.' The last thing the Valley needed was a full scale conflict on its hands, not with Bron on trial later that afternoon.
Cera racked her brain for a possible solution.
Let's see, if I were a dumb flathead, where would I go?
Even as she thought those words, a blush spread across her cheeks. Even now, in the midst of the turmoil within her family and even the Valley as a whole, the mere thought of Littlefoot was enough to send her emotions into a girly haywire. She had never foreseen herself getting this goofy over a guy, but then again there were a lot of things she hadn't seen coming even a month ago. Her relationship with her best friend…well it was merely the tip of the tail of everything they had been going through.
The teenage threehorn craned her neck to the west and saw the Western Forest looming on the horizon. Anxiety rushed through her blood, haunting memories of the last time she was there flashing throughout her mind.
Though she would never admit it to anyone, the trauma of that incident with Frank had not left her, and sometimes she would wake up in the middle of the night doing all she could to hold her screams from the nightmares that plagued her.
She took a step back with her forepaw. It was the last place she wanted to be.
No sooner had Cera acquiesced to those fears, the willful part of her personality struck back.
What are you scared for? Frank's gone. He can't hurt you anymore. Not that he ever could, the stupid jackass.
Yet, she still hesitated. Her feelings needed no explanation, the forest appearing to taunt her with its mere presence alone. The shadow it cast was greater than even the biggest longneck; a symbol of terror rooted in her mind.
As a shiver was sent down her spine, she glanced upwards and noticed something she hadn't before. She could see her horns- not fully grown to their adult length of course- but lethal nonetheless, gleaming white in the afternoon sun. It was enough to fill the orange threehorn with pride once more.
I don't care if I am scared. I'm not going to find Littlefoot just standing here like a coward. I'll stop by the forest for a quick bite then I'll go to longneck land…if they don't want me there, so be it. I know how he feels, and I know how I feel. Nothing and no one will stop us from doing as we please…not anymore.
Cera thought back to her father, the dinosaur she still cared about, yet knew would never bother to understand the affection she felt for her best friend. Even if they hadn't always gotten along, there had always been an underlying respect and an unusually strong bond between those of their kind. Longnecks and threehorns, two species that could not be more different from one another, and yet here she was, going against everything she had been taught just to be with him.
All of a sudden, the prospect of going into the Western Forest didn't seem so intimidating, not compared to the task at hand. Memories of Frank faded in favor of a handsome longneck that had never failed to be there for her.
You always bring out the best in me, Littlefoot. Even if I never admit it.
Perhaps it was time she did so. Maybe the rules of the dinosaur world just didn't matter that much anymore. Whatever the meaning behind it all, Cera ceased her pondering, knowing that now was not the time to get her head stuck in the clouds. She would reserve that for Littlefoot…as well as a kiss on the cheek when she finally found him.
Of course, when I need to see Cera the most, there's not a threehorn in sight.
Standing at the edge of the Western Forest, he found that his hunch had not yielded his desired result. Not only were there no threehorn herds or individuals, but the area itself was devoid of any dinosaurs whatsoever. Only an open plateau full of short grasses and flowers that trailed off as they hit the first of the trees making up the thick forest.
"So much for that," he muttered to himself.
Littlefoot felt a growling in his stomach. He was fast becoming hungry again despite the fact that he had eaten at least twice that day, and the leaves on top of the trees of the forest were looking quite delectable.
His urgency to find Cera was still strong, but a small snack couldn't hurt.
"A dinosaur has to eat," he reasoned to himself. "I'm sure she would understand."
Standing on his hind legs, he stretched up his neck and stripped a branch clean of its leaves in a matter of seconds, a trick that his grandfather had taught him. Littlefoot was tall enough to reach these trees now, but he still needed to rear back a bit to get the necessary height. He was not after all, fully grown just yet.
Chowing on the delicious vegetation, the teenage longneck decided to take a few more mouthfuls of food before moving on. He wondered if this is what Mr. Thicknose had meant when he told them their appetites would have a noticeable increase.
I hate to think what'll happen to Spike, Littlefoot laughed internally to himself. Come to think of it, he realized he had not seen his friends- Ducky, Spike, and Petrie- in days, maybe a week. He had been so preoccupied in his own troubles that spending time with them had almost become an afterthought.
I'll make it up to them, he thought determinedly. Just as soon as I find Cera. I know my friends would accept us together. If the Valley doesn't, maybe we could go off together, just the five of us. Even find Chomper and Ruby!
Eating more leaves, he turned to the side and saw some of the yellow flowers at the base of a tree. It was precisely the kind a certain threehorn liked. Perhaps he would pick some and give them to her when they finally reunited…
Just then he heard a rustling within the trees, causing his attention to turn back to the edge of the forest.
Perking a brow, he figured it must have been either a ground fuzzy or a hatchling of some sort. But he wanted to be sure, so he stepped a few feet into a space between the trees.
Littlefoot peered around, the slight darkness making it somewhat difficult to see, not to mention the thick underbrush and numerous vegetation that obstructed any visual path beyond five feet. Even so, he did not detect anything unusual.
He was about to turn around when he heard a loud *thud to his right.
Becoming slightly unnerved, the juvenile longneck tried yet again to detect just what was out there. One thing was for sure, no creature that made that loud of a noise was a ground fuzzy. Perhaps a lone clubtail or spiketail? Some of the more solitary ones occasionally foraged in this forest.
He changed tactics, as he knew his eyesight would probably do him no good here. He sniffed the air, attempting to distinguish anything unusual other than the usual odor of green food and humidity. It was times like these he wished Chomper were still in the Valley, as his nose was far better than any of theirs. After about thirty seconds of this, he started to settle down once more, believing perhaps it was his imagination playing tricks on him.
Or maybe it's Cera playing another prank on me. Wouldn't be the first time either.
"Hello?" Littlefoot called out. "Anyone out there?" It was better to be safe than sorry.
Nothing indicated there was anything within the confines of the trees, yet he couldn't shake the eerie feeling that he was being…watched somehow. He had accurately deciphered that instinct during the countless adventures he and his friends had been on, and more often than not that instinct was proven right. Yet, he could remember his grandfather's words from many years ago.
'Fear is the opposite of rationality, Littlefoot. Never let it dominate your senses. It has been the downfall of many a dinosaur.'
Of course, as the grandson of one of the most respected members of the Valley, he had tried to abide by these words. So, taking a deep breath he made up his mind he did not want to be in this forest any longer, even if it was Cera or a lone dinosaur simply having an early dinner.
Backing up slowly, Littlefoot kept his eyes in front of him and it was good thing he did, for in the next moment, several things happened at once.
His back leg stepped on a twig, with a loud *crack. Simultaneously, a downwind breeze drifted across his face with an unmistakable aroma. Suddenly, an ominous growl emanated from the underbrush.
Oh fu-
Littlefoot didn't have time to finish the foul epithet. In fact, there was no time to think at all as his next move was purely instinct.
He crashed out of the forest in a cloud of forest debris, his head narrowly avoiding being crushed by a pair ferocious jaws, which snapped at him with terrifying purpose and ferocity.
Stumbling slightly, he regained his footing in time to avoid another close call with those jaws and put some distance between himself and the predator that wanted to make a meal out of him. Preparing himself in a defensive position, it wasn't until a few seconds later that he realized just who it was he was facing down.
The monster was huge, bigger than any Tyrannosaurus he had seen save one. It's color was also a sickly green, as though the color had been turned toxic by the creature that wore it. But the most distinguishing feature was the blood red coloration of its left eye and the scar that trickled down all the way to its claw. Littlefoot obviously had a million questions as to how he had managed to break through the Valley's walls, but the beast in front of him was unmistakable.
Red Claw was here and ready to spill blood.
As if to prove this wasn't a horrible nightmare, the Tyrannosaurus let out a loud roar that would have sent even the bravest of dinosaurs reeling. Littlefoot didn't know the sharptooth language but he could deduce the message sent his way: out of my way or you're next.
Every instinct and every fibre in Littlefoot's body urged him to run. In fact, he was amazed he wasn't screaming in terror by now. Yet, he stood stock still in his defensive position, waving his tail as all his kind did when faced with a situation such as this. Though he was larger than almost anything he came across now, he was still only a juvenile and had not reached his full size and by extension no match for the adversary in front of him.
But whether it was pure bravery or foolishness, Littlefoot forced himself to stay rooted where he was. Perhaps he could hold off Red Claw long enough until the rest of the Valley showed up. If the sharptooth kept roaring, no doubt someone would hear it. Either way, he was not about to back down despite overwhelming odds that he would lose his life.
Closing his eyes for a split second, he thought of everyone in his life that he loved: Ducky, Spike, Petrie, Allie, Shorty, his Grandparents, Dad...
Cera
He could never live with himself if any of them got hurt or worse. He wouldn't let it happen. Not if he had anything to say about it.
Littlefoot stomped the ground and waved his tail wildly in a show of force to send a message back to the brute. He would not be easily intimidated.
"Come and get me you son of a bitch."
Though Red Claw could not understood the longneck, he got the hint. For he wasted no time in charging, teeth bared, eyes glinting with the undeniable desire to murder.
As the predator drew closer, Littlefoot did not flinch and kept his nerve, observing that Red Claw's furious rampage had left his flank wide open for attack.
Seizing the opportunity, the brown longneck struck out with his tail.
Petrie soared through the air with not a care in the world. To experience even a moment without the constant worry in his head could be considered a victory. Peering down on the Valley below, it gave the young flyer such pride that he could view things like this; up on high, imperious, strong, and privy to a world that no one else could even fathom.
He darted and weaved through a few small clouds, a favorite pastime of his and a good way to practice flying, an art that he had improved immensely in the past few years.
"Ah, it good to be flyer on day like this."
Unfortunately for him, that tranquility would be temporary as a loud roar reached his ears, one that was unmistakable.
Gulping, Petrie tried to avoid coming to the inevitable conclusion.
"Me sure I was just imagining that. That couldn't really be…"
Another roar served to cut off his remark, leaving him without any doubt what was going on.
"That not good," he said to himself. "Me better go tell someone."
He changed directions in his pattern to go back to the nest and alert his momma. But he realized almost as soon as he did so that the eastern side of the valley was far from his current position. Even if he flew as fast as he could, it would take a good portion of time for him to reach his home and the sharptooth could have done serious damage by then.
"Me hope I don't regret this."
Petrie again altered his trajectory, going into a steady dive towards the direction of the roar of the sharptooth he knew was below, anxiety pulsing through his wings. He could hear the echoes of his brothers taunts in his head.
'Man, I don't know how you went on all those life and death adventures.'
'Were you useful for anything?'
'I bet you were a scaredy-egg.'
Petrie narrowed his eyes and increased his speed. He was no scaredy-egg, and this wasn't for some misguided errand to gain glory. He was not his uncle, he was not his brothers. It was about time he proved that.
The good news for Littlefoot was that thus far he had managed to avoid any kind of injury. He had also done well enough to keep Red Claw away from the center of the Valley and his anger focused on him.
However, that was also the problem. He had the monster thoroughly pissed off, and as a result, his attacks were becoming increasingly ferocious.
The battle raged as Red Claw lunged once more, attempting to strike at Littlefoot's backside. But again, he was too late as a whip-like tail met his face with thunderous force.
*SMACK
The teenage longneck had managed to hit the Tyrannosaurus at least half a dozen times. But though the blows left him staggering, it only proved to make him angrier and showed no signs of slowing down. Red Claw was simply relentless.
Littlefoot sidestepped another bite and lashed out with his tail, which caught Red Claw on the upper thigh, causing his adversary to yelp in pain.
"Gotcha!" he said triumphantly.
But his good fortune was short lived, for aside from a small gash, the meat eater seemed undeterred as he looked up from his wound, snarling with ill intention.
Does this guy ever tire? Littlefoot thought with a measure of frustration. He couldn't keep this up forever. A part of him still hoped that help was on its way, but he also couldn't bet on such an outcome either.
Red Claw charged yet again and though Littlefoot dodged the strike, his enemy was on him just as quickly.
He ducked a swipe from the monster's own tail and bellowed as loud as he could, doing whatever he could to get the massive predator to back down. Of course, this did little to deter him and not a second later the teenage longneck was facing down yet another attack.
This time he would not be so lucky. He dodged the bite that Red Claw aimed at the base of his neck and countered with a bump from his massive body. Unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect, as though it temporarily threw the carnivore off balance, he quickly responded with a tremendous head butt.
The force was such that Littlefoot was immediately thrown to the ground and onto his side. He had no idea that the skull of a Tyrannosaurus could pack so much punch. In fact, it had left him so dazed he barely registered that his adversary was bearing right down upon him.
Adrenaline shot through him as Red Claw approached his exposed body with the full intent to kill. There was no mistaking that terrifying look in his eyes. Littlefoot knew he had to get out of the way somehow, but there was practically nothing he could do while on his back. By the time he was able to get back on his feet, those jaws would be sinking deep within his flesh and his life would be ended.
The red eyed monster roared and prepared to strike, teeth bared and his foot ready to disembowel his target. All Littlefoot could do was take a deep breath and wait. He had done everything he could short of killing the beast and now he was about to join his mother in the beyond…
*WHAM!
Without warning, an orange blur came in out of nowhere, ramming Red Claw to the ground, thoroughly knocking the wind out of him.
Littlefoot hardly dared to believe that he was still alive. Yet, as he gazed around him and felt his extremities he reluctantly accepted he could call himself among the living.
"Come on, ya dumb flathead! Get up!"
His heart raced as he felt a force assist his massive body to return upright. There was no mistaking that strong, feminine tone, however.
"Cera?!"
"That's my name last time I checked!" the threehorn dismissed him. "Geez, leave it to a longneck to get himself into a life and death battle with the most evil sharptooth of all time."
"It's good to see you too," Littlefoot chuckled and he couldn't help but notice that Cera went red as they made direct eye contact. "Believe it or not, I've been meaning to talk to you. About a lot of things actually."
"You don't say?" Cera's sarcasm was in full force. "Well save the cheesy, lovey dovey line you were planning to use on me until after we get rid of Red Claw."
Littlefoot had never been more grateful for his best friend's presence, however, the noble part of him still dictated that he put his life on the line first.
"Cera…"
"Don't even try, Littlefoot," Cera interjected. "Whatever chivalrous speech you're about to say to me, you can forget it. We're doing this together. We may be teenagers, but I'm not about to let this bastard get any further into the Valley, are you?"
The juvenile longneck shook his head sternly.
"Not a chance."
"Then let's get rid of him once and for all!"
It wasn't a request or a question. They were in this for the long haul, for better or worse. If one of them left to try and warn the grownups, the other would not survive. There was only one real choice. They would either kill the beast themselves, or die trying.
Littlefoot nodded affirmatively.
"I'm with you forever and always."
With that, the two teenagers fixed their gazed on the predator before, as he slowly rose from the enormous hit he took from Cera moments before. Though he certainly appeared more dazed than he had before, the Tyrannosaurus was not about to be deterred now. His ultimate goal of domination over the Valley could wait if he could sink his teeth into the hides of the pesky sap suckers before him. No one defied him and got away with it. He had seen to that to every meal or rival that had crossed him.
Red Claw roared with a ferocity that echoed across the land. Lesser dinosaurs would have run away instantly.
"I think he's quite angry with us," Littlefoot observed.
"You don't say?" Cera responded humorlessly.
However, quite suddenly, a flapping noise could be heard above them as a small gust of wind indicated the presence of a flyer, one with a familiar speech pattern.
"Petrie!" Littlefoot called out.
"Hey! You guys, okay?"
Petrie swooped down in front of them, hovering slightly to maintain eye contact with his friends.
"Just peachy," Cera mouthed. "Where's the rest of the Valley?! Surely they've heard this racket by now?"
"Me come all the way from eastern cliffs!" Petrie panted. "Most of the herds too far away!"
"Wait a minute," Littlefoot cut in. "The herd leaders are meeting to debate my dad's banishment today. They're at the center of Valley by the large stones near the watering hole. Petrie, you have to alert them!"
"But me can't just leave-"
"Yes, you can!" Cera cut him off. "We can hold Red Claw off long enough until the adults get here. Just let my dad and everyone know what's going on!"
"But-"
"There's no time! You're the only hope we have between saving our home and an early death. Go, now!"
Petrie had only seconds to register these words, but that was all he needed to swell up his chest and take the initiative. Littlefoot and Cera were counting on him, the whole of the Valley was counting on him. Having that weight on his wings scared him more than anything, but regardless he needed to see this through. No, he had to see this through.
No further motivation was needed as he soared into the air, wings spread in graceful elegance, gliding as fast as he could…but not before buying his friends some time.
Red Claw had barely begun his next charge when a six-foot wingspan and sharp talons virtually blinding him.
"Take that, you stinker!" the flyer screeched as he scratched the monster's head and muzzle, leaving angry gashes that served to anger the predator further. By the time he registered what was going on, Petrie was well out of reach of his jaws, flying away towards the center of the Valley.
"Okay, not to take away from the bravery shown there but did Petrie's voice-"
"Crack as per usual? Yes, yes it did."
Littlefoot laughed as the sarcastic threehorn finished his thought for him. The fact that they were in the midst of a life or death situation didn't seem to register quite as much with Cera at his side. Perhaps dark humor was the only thing to be had, perhaps her presence was the antidote to unbridled fear. It didn't seem to matter at this point.
Red Claw, free of pesky flyers and now recovered from the blow Cera dealt him earlier resumed his assault. He ran forward at full speed, the same murderous gleam in his eyes, droplets of blood trickling down from the gashes inflicted by the flyer. His intent was certainly no mystery, but now he had two formidable adversaries to battle, not one. And the air of the battle had changed.
The massive Tyrannosaurus went after the threehorn first, testing her for any potential weaknesses while simultaneously aiming to separate the pair from each other.
Unfortunately for Red Claw, the unlikely couple were more than ready for him. Cera threw a wide jab at his left flank, resulting in his jaws missing her back by a wide margin. However, his focus on Cera exposed his right side and Littlefoot landed a powerful blow on his rib cage, sending the predator into agony.
The two teens stepped back in a defensive position, anticipating the next attack, smiling at each other knowingly.
"Remember all those times we had to run from this piece of shit?" Cera announced loudly. "Well I'm not running anymore. How about you and I return the favor?"
Littlefoot swung his tail menacingly, recalling the full memory of tricks and attacks his father and grandfather had taught him. He appreciated the threehorn's banter, but he knew she was well aware of what was at stake. If they couldn't hold the line until the rest of the Valley showed up, well…it wasn't something he wanted to think about. So, he wouldn't. Instead, he dug in his heels and focused his eyes on the sickly green predator that threatened their very existence.
"It's about time we dished out what we've been receiving for years."
The meeting to decide the fate of Bron had only been underway for around five minutes and the herd elders were already up to their eyeballs with Topps Threehorn's bossiness. Susa Duckbill remembered why the presence of Grandpa and Grandma was so usually vital. Without them, the aggressive Triceratops dominated the proceedings.
"What is there to talk about?" he growled, stamping his foot while the rest of the herbivores rolled their eyes. "Bron is profoundly guilty of endangering this Valley by keeping vital information from our knowledge about the Beyond."
"Topps, I understand your frustration and sense of urgency. But at the very least, this meeting deserves more than just a few seconds deliberation on whether the longneck should stay or go. He is the father of one of our members after all," Kosh tried to reason with him.
But the threehorn patriarch was having none of it.
"Hmph!" he grunted. "I don't see why we have to beat around the bush about this. We've been accepting various outside herds for months now without taking into account why they were here in the first place, and now Red Claw could strike any day! Longnecks have been mucking up the affairs of our home for years! I say it's time we drew a line in the sand!"
"We already excluded the herd leaders of the longnecks from this meeting due to conflict of interest," spoke Violet. "What more do you want?"
"To see the safety of this paradise secured for generations to come!" Topps pressed. "To see that the flatheads who hold sway over the damn politics around here don't endanger us ever again!"
That was enough for Susa, who had withstood all she could of the threehorn's pretentious blustering.
"Topps, for the sake of all of us here, will you give it a rest?!"
The outburst was so sudden that it silenced everyone in attendance, even Topps, but even that was temporary.
"Susa…how dare…we're conducting a Valley meeting here!" he sputtered.
"Which you have dominated to an unconscious degree! No one here can get a word in edgewise!" Susa shot back. "You say Littlefoot's grandparents were unfit to be a part of these deliberations…I'm wondering if we should have excluded you instead!"
"You dare-"
"Oh, for the love of the ancestors Topps!" the duckbill mother cried, throwing her arms into the air. "Enough! It's one thing to discuss the conduct of a guest who may have broken Valley rules. But is this really about that? Or this another one of your anti-longneck crusades? Because I can't tell anymore. Perhaps we should recess until you've gotten your head on straight."
The rest of the respective herd leaders muttered in what sounded like a tentative agreement, a fact not lost on Topps.
"What…are you seriously considering this?!" he spat. "To not only let that boy's father stay here but to exclude me from this decision?!"
There was a sudden SLAM that echoed throughout the meadow. Kosh had slammed his tail on one of the tall stones that marked the site and it brought everyone's attention to heel.
"Topps," a Spiketail said mildly. "Please cease and let the leader of the proceedings speak."
"Thank you, Dez," Kosh nodded. "Topps, you must control yourself. I understand you feel strongly on this issue but banning someone from the Valley is not a decision to take lightly. What Bron did is controversial, but also understandable to some degree. In light of the revelation the domeheads gave us, might it not be prudent to keep him and his herd around for further protection in the event of an attack?"
The threehorn patriarch turned a delicate shade of prune as he digested these words. Did these fools not understand? Longnecks had been undermining him and everyone else from the very beginning! He would not allow the species that had hoodwinked his daughter into a shameful relationship to jeopardize the safety of their walls as well! Why then were the rest of the elders against him? Why were they always against him?!
He was about to voice such opinions when a loud screeching could be heard from above, betraying the presence of a flyer.
"Oh, for the love of…. not now!"
However, the rest of the herd leaders were much more curious, as a juvenile, colored in a light brown and cream, landed in the middle of their semi-circle.
"Help!" the young one said, gasping for air. "We under attack! Red Claw here in the Valley!"
It was only then that Susa recognized that the flyer in question was one of Violet's children, Petrie was his name. She should know, after all, the lad had spent more than enough his days with Ducky and Spike.
"Whoa! Slow down Petrie," his mother tried soothe him as she hopped down beside her son. "Now what's going on?"
"Red. Claw!" the young flyer emphasized with his wings. "He here in the Valley!" and he flopped on his backside to catch his breath.
That got the attention of the rest of the adults, as high pitched pandemonium ensued following Petrie's message.
"But-but how?" asked Dez the spiketail asked. "How could Red Claw breach our walls so quickly?"
"I don't know," Petrie responded, sitting up. "But me see him with me own eyes! He's here near the Western Forest and he trying to hurt Cera and Littlefoot…"
That statement brought another round of pandemonium as the adults scrambled to collect their collective thoughts amidst the chaos that had unfolded among them.
"SILENCE!"
Topps may have been a giant pain to the rest of the Valley members, but he had a surefire talent for bringing a crowd to order and it was well appreciated in times such as these. Besides that, the male threehorn had an added interest in the situation given that his daughter's name had just been mentioned alongside that of the most fearsome predator of the age.
"Now let me get this straight," he said quietly but in a tone that betrayed heavy concern. "Did I just hear that Red Claw is here in this Valley battling my daughter?"
"It's true, sir," spoke up another voice, one that everyone among the circle had not heard for years.
A pink fastrunner appeared seemingly out of nowhere, slightly bigger in height and frame than the last time she had been among them, but unmistakable nonetheless.
"Ruby?" Susa gasped. This was just one of many surprises that were popping up out of nowhere. She was barely registering them all at once.
"Yes Mrs. Duckbill," Ruby replied politely as she bowed deeply to the herd leaders as a sign of respect. "I would normally make a more formal introduction, but Petrie is right! Red Claw is here, and we must defeat him."
Kosh's pupils seemed to shrink with the overwhelming revelation that their greatest enemy was walking among their territory.
"Would not we have seen some evidence of his presence?" he asked shakily.
That question was answered immediately as a loud roar could be heard off into the distance, its ferocity quite frightening even to those who were miles away.
"My goodness! She's right!" Susa said, feeling her anxiety rising rapidly.
"I wouldn't lie about that, as lying would serve no purpose," Ruby responded, a sense of urgency entering her voice. "We must help them before it's too late!"
"Ruby, where Chomper?" Petrie cut in, eyes full of concern realizing that her arrival here surely meant that the purple biter was among them as well.
"He went to head off Red Claw. Though he must have fallen short of doing that, as it sounds like Cera and Littlefoot have already done so."
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Violet said loudly. "I for one do not believe this a false alarm!"
"But there is the factor that an egg stealer and her companion are not…"
"Shove it, spiketail!" Topps cut across him. "My daughter is out there fighting this monster, who has breached our walls and now threatens to kill and ransack our beloved home! I don't give a damn what this fast runner eats. There's no time to waste!"
Another roar could be heard, but this time it was much louder and carried a heavy hint of malice. That got the adults moving, running as fast as they could towards the western edge of the Valley.
"Come on!" Petrie yelled. "Me and Ruby lead the way!"
"I'll notify Littlefoot's father and grandparents, you go ahead!" Susa said, running towards the north.
That caught the attention of a certain male threehorn, who only just now seemed to realize something.
"Wait a minute, did I just hear that Cera is…"
"Yeah, she with, Littlefoot," Petrie responded nervously.
Topps was about to raise an objection, but Violet sensed another outburst and cut him off before he could begin.
"Save it!" she said to him, as she flew overhead. "Set aside your prejudice one time for the sake of our kids and for everyone living in this Valley. Who's the real enemy here after all?"
He did not need telling twice, as Ruby surged past them, leading the rescue mission.
"Come on! This way!" she motioned with her feathered arm.
Threehorn, longneck, spiketail, swimmer, flyer, etc. it didn't matter. Only getting to the edge of the Western Forest in time before the unthinkable happened. Because if they didn't, there wasn't a dinosaur among them that would be able to forgive themselves.
The race against time…and Red Claw…was on.
When Littlefoot thought back to the trials of the 'Great Growing' Mr. Thicknose spoke about, fighting the evilest sharptooth in generations had not been on the top of the list.
He side stepped another potentially fatal blow from Red Claw as Cera rammed him again with her horns, causing him to roar with pain.
He and the orange threehorn shared a look, giving a mutual smirk despite the gravity of the battle they were currently locked in.
Then again, falling for Cera wasn't on top of the list either
"You look bored," Littlefoot said to her.
"On the contrary," Cera said with fake affrontery, "I'm having the time of my life kicking his ass."
She turned her frill towards the monster, who now had numerous gashes along his side and more than a few on his head due to Petrie. He growled ominously, the murderous glare in his face no less potent than it had been at the beginning of the fight. But despite his injuries, Red Claw's energy seemed endless, and was due for another attack.
Littlefoot heaved an angry sigh of frustration. It appeared to be something a stalemate. Using teamwork and superior agility, they had managed to stave him off and inflict casualties on his person. Red Claw's sheer size ensured that they could evade him without too much effort. But the ferocity and frequency of his attacks barely left them a moment to compose themselves. It had been a miracle they had not suffered a scratch thus far. This was a contest of speed and wits versus strength and power.
"He doesn't quit this sharptooth."
"He's too stupid to know better," Cera said with her usual bravado, but Littlefoot knew enough by now to know her bluster. She was worried too and more so than that, he got the distinct feeling that Red Claw was certainly no fool. His gut told him that somehow the monster still remembered who they were all those years ago when they were mere younglings; the ones who had escaped him so many times. Perhaps that explained his vicious ferocity towards them.
Then again, this is Red Claw we're talking about. He'd probably kill anyone that looked at him funny.
Sure enough, the teenage longneck's thoughts were confirmed as Red Claw charged again, teeth bared, roaring in an almost feral manner.
"Same old attack gets you the same result," Cera boasted. "You ready, Littlefoot?"
They would employ their tag team and maneuver strategy. One of them would act as the target, stepping away from those lethal jaws before they could inflict serious damage, while the other would inflict a blow to his exposed flank. It had worked thus far and were more than prepared to execute it.
But Littlefoot noticed something different this time around; Red Claw's teeth were bared but the jaws themselves were not open. His massive skull was lowered like a battering ram and he was headed straight towards Cera, who was prepared to give another show of her proud horns, unaware of the danger.
"Cera, wait!" he called out to her.
But it was too late, as Red Claw smashed into the teenage threehorn's front, causing her to topple over into the grass and on the edge of the hill leading into the Valley below. That was all the Tyrannosaurus needed to strike. Cera was so dazed from the blow that she scarcely had any time to recover and by then it was too late. Red Claw landed on top of her and brought his jaws down on her right front leg with a sickening crunch.
Littlefoot watched in horror as his best friend screamed in pain as the monster began violently shaking his head back in forth in an effort to effectively cripple her, his clawed toes trying to rip into her soft underbelly as she struggled to pry him loose.
A fire lit inside the longneck like never before and adrenaline seemed to dictate his every move and action, his concern no longer with himself; only for the one that mattered most to him in the world.
Launching himself like a flying rock in the sky, he crashed his full body weight into Red Claw, which proved to be more than enough to send him backwards into the dirt with an almighty thud.
Knowing he had only moments to check on Cera before the crazed sharptooth struck again, Littlefoot used massive back as a support to lift her up again.
"Easy, easy…I got you Cera."
"OW! Careful, ya numbskull," she responded gritting her teeth. "D-don't worry so much, I'm fine."
Littlefoot would normally humor her outside attempts at appearing strong and unbreakable, but this was not a normal situation.
"You nearly had your leg ripped off by a bloodthirsty killer. You're anything but."
The threehorn had no answer for that, as she slowly rose from the ground and upright, however, she winced horribly as she did so.
Littlefoot noticed her leg wound was not bleeding as badly as he originally thought, but it was bent at an awkward angle as Cera struggled keep herself standing.
"Can you put any weight on it?" he asked.
"Barely," she responded between gritted teeth. "It's not broken but he definitely twisted it in some way."
At that moment, there was a mighty roar as Red Claw had also righted himself and back on his feet. There was a strange look on his sharptooth features, something almost goading and triumphant and he snorted through his nostrils as if savoring the smell of flesh that hung in the air. Blood glistened off his teeth as the implication was all too clear. He was close to victory and he knew it.
Littlefoot gulped as he shielded his body against Cera's, waving his tail threateningly, but such threats would certainly not deter the Tyrannosaurus now. Fighting for nearly two hours had left him exhausted, and without Cera to aid him he wouldn't last on his own much longer. As Red Claw prepared to charge again, it seemed that the end had come.
"Stay behind me," he said craning his neck down to the injured threehorn.
"Littlefoot…"
"You're in no condition to fight, Cera."
"You can't beat him by yourself!"
"I'll find a way to hold him off!"
Cera opened her mouth and then closed it again as she grimaced in pain, her leg almost collapsing beneath her.
"Even now, you're still an impossible dreamer," she said half mockingly, half admiringly. "You really think this is a winnable battle?"
"No, but I can buy you some time."
"To do what?! Limp away to the rescue?"
"It's better than both of us dying."
"I'm not leaving you!"
Littlefoot looked into the beautiful green orbs he'd known for so many years and saw that she meant it.
"After all we've been through, you really think I'd let you face this alone? Let you play 'lone dinosaur' and try to do it by yourself like the noble idiot you are?"
The longneck realized that despite her pain Cera was teasing him. Facing the brink of death, she had one last barb stored just for him. It was fitting in a nostalgic sense. He couldn't help but a feel a surge of emotion as he tried to play the noble idiot one last time.
"I-I don't want anything to happen to you…I lo-"
"I know, you goof," Cera finished for him softly. "But I wouldn't get very far on this leg even if I had planned on leaving you. Whatever happens, we'll face it to the end."
She gave the handsome longneck a smile, not bothering to hide how she truly felt about him any longer. She figured he was owed that much.
Littlefoot nodded.
"Then face it we shall."
His body still blocking Cera, he resumed his defensive position and just in the nick of time. Red Claw was aiming for the kill, digging his feet into the ground, jaws open, teeth shining, and stomach ready to receive the first delicious casualties of his war against the Valley.
Though the teenage longneck felt tremendous fear, he also willed himself to stay even keeled in the face of those terrifying jaws. He wouldn't give the monster the satisfaction of squirming like a coward in his final moments. Neither would Cera. For death and glory this was to be the last stand.
Red Claw growled, his body practically shaking in anticipation of the feast he knew was coming, but before he could so much as take a step towards his quarry, another roar could be heard within the Western Forest, one that caused several trees to shake.
It was enough to make both parties stop and wonder just who it was. Red Claw, of course, could guess, but the leaf eaters' hearts practically dropped at the thought of another sharptooth joining in the fray.
"Tell me that wasn't what I thought it was," Cera groaned.
Can't help you there, Littlefoot thought unpleasantly. If they weren't doomed before they certainly were now. He closed his eyes, almost wishing that whatever killer was out there would just show up rather than prolong the inevitable.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long. Quite suddenly, a purple blur burst through the trees and leapt through the air, landing between Red Claw and Littlefoot with thunderous force, roaring with such fierceness it was amazing the sound barrier wasn't broken as a result.
"Red Claw! You will leave them and the Valley alone! You have no business here!"
The green monster was only taken aback for a moment before he laughed (as much as a sharptooth can) and began taunting the smaller biter.
"On the contrary, little biter. My business is merely moments from entering my stomach. And if you were any kind of real sharptooth you would aid me in devouring these fools. As I said before, living among them has made you soft."
The purple biter snarled in response before answering.
"You're wrong, Red Claw. As you are with so many things. I have a greater understanding of our world because I have lived among and befriended the leaf eaters. I may consume their kinds for nourishment, but I do not relish in making them bleed. You, who kills for pleasure, who thinks himself superior because he is the biggest and strongest…that is not how the balance of the world works."
"Meaningless words from a meaningless sharptooth," Red Claw shot back, snidely. "I am in no mood to be lectured in foolish theories. You fail to see the opportunity the Valley presents. An endless supply of food from those who practically offer their hides to us. I will do what no sharptooth has dared to do and seize this opportunity to ensure no sap sucker ever challenges us again! It starts with these two morsels, who dare to have openly defied me for years!"
All the while this was happening, Littlefoot and Cera could not understand a word of the conversation as to them it sounded like nothing more than roars and short growls. But as the smaller, purple sharptooth did not join Red Claw in the onslaught, it dawned on the leaf eaters that whoever this sharptooth was sought to protect them, not harm them. That could only mean one thing.
"Chomper?"
The juvenile Tyrannosaurus turned around with a small, sheepish grin.
"Hey, guys. Long time, no see."
"But, where? How? Wh-"
"I'll explain later!" Chomper said a little more impatiently. "The only thing that matters is getting you guys out of here as quickly as possible."
"Chomper, look at him!" Littlefoot cried. "He's huge! He's going to rip you apart!"
It was amazing that a half-grown Tyrannosaurus could still look so innocent as Chomper did. But such appearances rapidly dropped, as he took on a much more serious disposition, one that erased all traces of the hatchling he used to be.
"I can handle, Red Claw, Littlefoot," he said in dark, quiet tone. "I'm a sharptooth after all. This is something I'm meant to do."
Chomper turned back towards the larger adult, who still regarded him as a mere nuisance, the smaller biter's red eyes fixated on the sickly green monster with harsh intensity.
"You're nothing but a bloodthirsty fiend, Red Claw," he said, as his growls bounced off the trees. "And when this fight is over, you'll regret ever trying to get into the Valley."
Without needing an invitation, Chomper sprang forward, ready to defend everything he loved and cared about….to the death if he had to.
Well, needless to say it's ON now. Chomper defends them at great personal risk while Littlefoot needs to aid the injured Cera. Will the adults get there in time? Can Chomper do enough to maim or kill Red Claw before it's too late?
Find out in the next update!
~The Wasp