CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR


Ichy arrives back to where Chomper is, landing and catching his breath.

"What news did they bring?" asks Chomper.

Ichy replies "They already know the story, said they heard the reason the clubtails died from two friendly egg stealers."

"Did you find out why they wanted to take my egg? Am I just a tool to them?" Chomper asks.

Ichy replies "No, they think kidnapping is sick and something they say they would never do. I guess the whole thing must have been an accident, or perhaps destiny. Nice guys, glade we didn't catch them. And Chomper, they miss you, and hope you can come home soon and let your children play with theirs."

Chomper spotted Shredder coming. "You'd better leave." he said to Ichy. Ichy took off just before Shredder came into site.

Hello Chomper my nephew. I'd like you to help me lead the attack on the Flyer herd today. I seem to have lost the Longneck herd. he said to Chomper.

I bet they where so scared of you they left the land of mist forever and hopped they would have better chances in the land of the featherhead sharpteeth. Tiny says half humoredly.

The pack, after an hour of traveling, comes near the Flyer herd. "Hey Tiny, what is the status of the rest of the pack? I asked you, Marie, Zelda, Phyco, and Rusty to find out how loyal they are to Shredder. I'm guessing they are getting tired of him." Chomper whispered to his wife.

Tiny said "I am sorry Chomper, I have gotten sidetracked and forgot to check most of the time. But there is this one who formed a sudden habit of sleeping on his back with his legs in the air while saying 'Please, no more walking. No more walking.' in his sleep."

"So, Tiny, how do you think we can save the Flyers?" Chomper whispered to his mate.

Tiny replies "Well, they can fly. Catching them requires a special strategy, but the odds are in their flavor. I do have one idea how we can save them and no one could ever guess we had to do with it, but you may think it's kinda mean."

"I may think it's mean, but I bet the Flyers would probably prefer it to being eaten." Chomper said.

Tiny says "Stinging buzzers. As the pack reaches the climax of their ambush we toss in a nest of them, the flyers run away from the stinging swarm, and the hunt is ruined, everyone having the blame on the buzzers."

Chomper smiles and says "Perfect."

Meanwhile, Tucompso says to Guido and Bella Ok, you two promised you'd help me look for a mate. There is one place that I haven't looked yet. I had actually been on the way there when I had to go to the Great Valley to escape all of those Sharpteeth. It's that Lush Valley right next to the Great Valley. It's a young forest that grew up about 10 years after that Leaf Famine.

The two take Tucompso to the Lush Valley. They find a female shorty sharptooth there. She is looking around, wary.

I hope those aren't Sharp Beaks in the sky. I don't need any more of those today. And I got away from that Sailback too. Don't know how he even saw me and, even more to the point, why he thought me worth the effort of chasing. It's a wonder I make it through each day. she says to herself.

Tucompso said A Sailback perused you you say? I'd be glad to punish it by making it burn yet more calories. Such a foolish thing to waste the life of one so beautiful when it would not do them much good. You know, I was pretty close to this place at one point, their were fast biters, and Sharp beaks. Thankfully I found a place where you can go many days without facing the threat of being someone's food. Would you like to see? Your family says you're ugly? That's quite sad. Where are they? Are you alone?

The female shorty sharptooth says My name is Lumoava. I have left my family, in part because of them being such snubs about how pretty they are. Another reason is, well, I'm supposed to leave to find a mate. Nature's proving grounds. Yada. Yada. Yada. she says. What brings you here Tucompso? Were you hiding from the Sharptooth pack? They are quite dangerous. They took out a herd of Clubtails near the Long Valley. They attacked Domeheads in the Mountains that Burn. They attacked some Swimmers and Clubtails in a swampy forest. And they are currently heading into the Land of Mists. I had the bad luck to keep coming near them. Luckily, unlike with the Sailback, they never noticed me. So, you said you knew of a safe place? I'd love to go with you to there, but I do have my doubts. In the whole world, there doesn't seem to be ANY safe place.

Tucompso says Come with me, I will show you this safe place. It's beautiful. There's rocks that look like dinosaurs, trees as tall as mountains, if you don't believe me about it being safe I can always look for somewhere else after you give it a try. Wanna come?

Ok. she replies. The two go together to the Great Valley. Guido and Bella follow them.