CHAPTER 1
FAMILIAR GROUNDS
He had set out almost as soon as the crisis began to worsen. There was no doubt now where the origin of the sickness that afflicted his brethren came from. Now, all he needed to do was call upon his old friends for help before it was too late. At least, I hope they still remember me as a friend, he thought to himself as he trudged on ever closer to his final destination.
It has been many seasons since he ventured out this way. He remembers being just a hatchling a day or so old when his parents left this area with him. Since then, he had grown up to be a fine sharptooth! He had grown from a not even one foot tall hatchling to a 10 foot tall monster capable of killing the largest threehorn there is singlehandedly, although he never actually tried. He lost the light blue tinge he had as a hatchling to develop the more olive green hue that was characteristic for his kind. His underbelly had turned light green, also typical of his kind. The only thing that didn't change were his soulful red eyes, which seemed to always get the attention of most female sharptooth of his kind. He always thought that that was what really won the heart of his mate, whom he had taken a few seasons ago. He hoped that his old friends would be able to recognize this, when he met up with them again. But at worst, it would be when he spoke the words he remembers that they should be able to recognize him.
It surprised him how much he remembered the original route that led to where he needed to go. He had only traveled down the winding path once or twice before; and it took him a whole two days to finally reach the more familiar surroundings he remembered from his youth. He knew it had taken him two days, because he counted the times the big bright circle rose and fell in the sky. It can't be much further now, he thought to himself.
Finally, he was almost at the entranceway to the place he only knew as "the valley where all the green eaters lived". The rocky terrain before him was barren, and he heard his own stomps echoing through the narrow ravine as he kept placing one foot in front of the other, seemingly without end. He vowed not to rest until he was able to talk to his old friends again.
He was surprised to see that the passageway to the valley was no longer blocked. His parents had told him that they blocked the entrance a short time after they left the area; but the green eater that lived there were somehow able to unblock it again. He noticed two very distinct dark grey shapes at the mouth of the entryway. Threehorns! He thought to himself. They're guarding the mouth! He grew more nervous with each approaching step. Okay, Teek! This is no time to be afraid. There's no turning back now. He already knew that they were watching him approach, probably asking themselves what he was doing there so far away from home. They will find out soon enough!