CHAPTER 7

NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

Two days after arriving in The Valley Of The Sick, Cera almost completely lost it. While she was examing several sharptooth, she heard the sounds of horror all around her. Many sharptooth were crying out in anguish, calling for help, reaching out for her to get her attention, have her get them some water, or whatever they needed, or wanted. She heard many of them sobbing for their mates, their sons, their daughters, mothers and fathers. Eventually, she reached her breaking point. She became completely disoriented by all of the sounds which seemed to only grow louder and more confusing with every passing moment. Finally, she just started shaking uncontrollably. She collapsed onto the grassy ground, shut her eyes tight and grinded her teeth. She put her front forepaws over her earholes, trying to block out the horrible sounds, but it was no use. Finally, she let out a terrible blood curdling scream that seemed to go on for an eternity.

Chomper happened to be close by. He dropped whatever he was doing and ran to her. He knelt down beside her and tried to comfort her by placing his arms around her neck and holding her close. "It's okay, Cera! I'm right here! Shh! SSSSHHH!" he said as he tried to soothe her.

Eventually, she just broke down and cried. Chomper sat down beside her and held her head in his lap. "It's all right, Cera! Let it out! Let it AAAALL out! You'll feel much better after. SSSSHHHH!"

Two sharptooth healers came towards them seeing if they could help. Chomper waived them off saying. "It's okay! I got her! She'll be fine in a little while."

A third one ran towards them, but the other two motioned that it was all right, and to go back to whatever he was doing.

"What happened?" he asked.

"She just snapped..." one of the healers said as they all went back about their business.

"Hmmm... Poor threehorn!"

Chomper started rocking her head back and forth and sang her a few bars of a lullabye he remembered his mother singing to him to put him to sleep when he was a youngling.

Eventually Cera's sobbing quieted down enough so that she could say what was bothering her. "The sounds! I CAN'T BARE TO HEAR THE SOUNDS! It's just too much!"

"I know! I know!"

After another fit of loud sobbing, she confided. "I miss my home! I miss The Great Valley! I miss daddy!"

"I know, Cera, I know!" then Chomper lifted her head up with his hands to face him. He was kneeling in front of her. "But remember? Before you left the valley? Your father told you to be brave and be strong, right?" Cera sniffed once, then nodded. "Well, he really meant it! And that phrase should take on no more meaning than it does right now!"

After a moment, Chomper continued. "Look around you!"

Cera hesitated.

"I'm serious! Look around you!"

Cera finally did.

"All of these sharptooth are counting on you to save them. You... can't... let... them... down! Okay!"

After a few moments, Cera sniffed, slowly nodded and said a soft "okay."

Chomper smiled and laid a hand on her cheek. "At a girl! Now, come on. I'll get you some water." They both got up and walked off towards the nearby pond. Chomper laid a comforting hand in the middle of her shoulders as he led her away.