Chapter 2: Revelation

Littlefoot and his friends were struck dumb by what Chomper had just told them. He'd never tried to hurt anyone before. Why now?

"Chomper," Littlefoot said, "are you sure?"

"I wish I could deny it," he replied simply. Fyn spoke next.

"But I've never seen you act aggressively towards anyone. You're gentler than most of the Leaf-Eaters here."

Everyone instinctively looked at Cera for the second time that day. "What?" she said, "I don't like showing weakness! And anyway, stop trying to change the subject."

"There must have been some reason," Ducky said, addressing Chomper.

"Yes Chomper," Ruby said, "tell us exactly what happened."

Chomper breathed deeply, to calm himself, then began. "After we all went our separate ways last night, I decided to wander around outside the Great Wall. I was hungry, and I couldn't sleep, so I had to distract myself somehow."

"But you told me you were only going to the Wall and back," Ruby said.

"That's right. I didn't want you to worry. Anyway, I spent a while out there, just exploring. When the Night Circle started to leave the sky, I started heading back to the Great Valley. That's when it happened."

"What, exactly, happened?" Cera prodded.

Chomper thought hard, trying to recollect each moment. "I was rounding a corner. It was still dark, so I had no idea what was in front of me. I probably should have smelled the Threehorn, but I wasn't really paying attention to what was around me; I just wanted to get back. When I'd completely rounded the corner, I saw a shadowy dinosaur; it called out to me. Since I wasn't expecting him, he startled me. When he did, though, something happened. It's like I lost control. He became something I had to deal with: a threat. From there, everything's a bit of a blur, but what I do remember is that I attacked him. I did what I swore I would never do in my life faster than you could blink an eye. I didn't snap out of it until I realized it was a Threehorn I was attacking. I pulled away as soon as I could, but I hurt him. He ran away, and I tried to call him back to apologize, but- this was the worst part- I couldn't remember what to say. Instead, I just roared. Why? Why me? Why now?" Chomper was panting, and in tears at the conclusion of his story.

"I can tell you why," Ruby said, quietly. Everyone's attention diverted to the Fastrunner.

"Please," Chomper said, "I need to know."

Now it was Ruby's turn to reveal what she knew. "It's time I told you the truth, Chomper. You're old enough to know, now. I warn you, though, you may not like what you hear." Everyone was fixated on her, now. Her tone had lost its usual charm, and was deadly serious.

"I'll accept whatever you can tell me," Chomper replied.

Ruby sighed, then began. "Alright, then. Just before you and I left for the Great Valley, your parents spoke to me in private. They told me to take care of you, and to make sure you were fed, and always safe, but they also told me something else: as a Sharptooth, you'd never be able to stay in the Great Valley forever."

Everyone was shocked, and Ducky even gasped. "What do you mean, Ruby?" the swimmer asked.

"Chomper," Ruby continued, "your parents said that in a Sharptooth's life, there comes a time when every Sharptooth, no matter where he's grown up or who he's grown up with, will be forced to follow their instinct to be a hunter."

"Instinct?" Chomper asked, "what's that?"

"I don't know for sure; it's kind of confusing, but your parents said it's the reason why so many dinosaurs migrate, and why we fall in love, and why we either eat plants or meat. I guess you could say it's acting without really thinking about it first."

"So my attack on the Threehorn was an instinct?"

Ruby nodded. "Your parents told me that once the instincts started to appear, you'd be less able to control them. In Sharpteeth, the instincts eventually become so strong that they block almost everything else that you feel out."

"What are you saying?" Chomper asked, riveted to the spot.

"Chomper, there will come a day, maybe soon, when you'll lose all memory of your past. You won't be able to speak Leaf-Eater, you won't remember us, you may not even remember your name. All that you'll know is that you have to eat, and survive."

"When will this happen?"

Ruby hesitated.

"When?" Chomper almost roared.

"It's already happening," she said.

Chomper stepped back, in shock. "So I'm just like the Smoking Mountain, then. I'm here, talking peacefully to all of you tonight, but who knows? Tomorrow, I might be at your throats, endangering you all without a care! It's not fair! This can't happen to me!" He was almost pleading, now. "I know all of you. I've known you all of my life. I can't just forget everything." He broke down. "Please..."

Littlefoot moved to his side. "Chomper, we'll never forget you. Know that."

Chomper stood up and straightened out. "Tomorrow, I need to speak to your Grandpa," he said to Littlefoot. "As of now, I'm a danger to everyone in this Valley. I need to leave and find a home elsewhere, before my instinct takes over completely."

"Where?" Petrie asked.

"Anywhere but here. Maybe I'll try to get back to my parents."

"Maybe we can talk this over." Fyn said.

"Not tonight. Tonight, I just need to talk to Ruby, and think." Everyone nodded, and began to leave.

"I'm sorry, Ruby," Chomper said as everyone left, "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

"I understand," Ruby said, "it's a lot to understand."

As Littlefoot left the cave, he glanced back at Chomper. Chomper nodded, and in that nod, Littlefoot knew that, for tonight at least, all would be well.

"As it should be," he thought. Tomorrow, he knew, would be a trying day for everyone.

He walked back to where his grandparents were sleeping in deep thought. He had known Chomper since the Sharptooth was an egg. Now, he had to be prepared to lose him, more than likely forever. If nothing else, they would meet again as enemies.

Littlefoot yawned and stretched as he settled in to sleep. Something occurred to him, then. He couldn't just leave Chomper to look for a place to settle in the Mysterious Beyond by himself. Whether he was a Sharptooth or not, he was still vulnerable, and what if he couldn't find a place to live? Something had to be done. It was then, as he began to fall asleep, that Littlefoot made up his mind: Chomper would not make his journey alone. He would spend his last few days of being who he was with his friends. Littlefoot's last thought before sleep took him was to talk to his friends about it in the morning. With luck, everyone would agree to accompany Chomper on his journey. Shortly, the Longneck was asleep, preparing for the next day, and what it would bring.

Special thanks go to my reviewers, you've definitely inspired me. This is it for tonight. My writing engine demands apple crisp to continue, so until next chapter (which should come tomorrow), I bid you goodbye, and as Fin-Necks say, "May the Bright Circle's light always guide your journey."