CHAPTER NINE: PTERO'S HUNT
The Bright Circle went down in the Great Valley. Littlefoot heard Sharp Beaks. He had been on the Great Wall, looking out into the Mysterious Beyond at the sunset. Two came near him. He was afraid. He hid behind some dark grey rocks. They sniffed for him. They were getting near him and Littlefoot wondered if he was about to die. They started pulling at the rocks with their talons.
"NO!" yelled Littlefoot.
Hey you, we're supposed to be looking for Ptero! came Agatha's voice.
But we found dinner! the two protested.
No dinner until we find Ptero! Agatha shouted firmly. The two left, annoyed, and went after Agatha. Littlefoot hadn't understood a word they had said as it had all been in Sharptooth.
He went to his grandparents. "Sharp Beaks nearly got me." he said. The two gasped. "They were near the Great Wall."
"Yes, that is the downside to the Great Wall. It doesn't work on Sharptooth Flyers." said Grandma Longneck.
"At least you are safe. Go to bed Littlefoot." said Grandpa Longneck. Littlefoot and his grandparents went to sleep. Ptero, meanwhile, was still awake. He landed, and, much like Littlefoot, was glad to still be alive.
"PHEW! That was close!" gasped Ptero. He was glad to be away from the Sharptooth and to still be alive. He realized that not all Sharpteeth were good. His mother had neglected to tell him that interesting tidbit. He was glad not to be a meal.
And speaking of meals, he realized that he hadn't eaten all day. There were no Tree Stars around. His stomach rumbled. This could be resolved only one way. Ptero sighed. A poor creature was going to be his guest of honor for dinner tonight.
Below him, he saw a cute Purgatorius move. An idea occurred to him. It was an idea though, that would not bode well for the furry critter below. Still,what else would he be able to do to fill his stomach at this time of night? But, he had just been hunted himself and knew how it felt now to be the one hunted. Also, to be quite frank, he found this whole hunting thing, especially what came at the end, to be quite messy, not to mention sad, indeed. Yet, he reasoned, the world was sad and awful like that. He would go hunting.
He took to the air, stalking his dinner. He began to sing. The tone of his song was rather gloomy and fatalistic and sounded a tiny bit like "Rhythm of Life", except that it was darker.
"It's a hard and cruel world out there!
In this world there is many a scare!
Having just been hunted myself it seems so strange
That the position would now rearrange."
The animal moved, trying to shake the hunter. However, Ptero had been trained well by Agatha. The animal moved left and he followed it. It moved right, but it could not lose him.
Ptero continued to sing. "But then again, this world is sad.
Just think of what happened to my dad." He moved lower, his claws outstretched, ready to strike. "They killed him when I was but a small lad.
I'm doing this because I'm hungry, not because I'm bad!
I assure you that this in no way makes me glad." sang Ptero, hoping that the creature would forgive him. He swooped down and missed. He moved after the critter, for if it got away, Ptero wouldn't eat.
" I certainly don't like to kill.
It definitely gives me no thrill.
I know that this business isn't neat
But hey I've got to eat!
When I'm not hunting, you'll find I'm really sweet.
It's a hard and cruel world out there.
And I have no close friends with which to share.
Hunting and following her is all my Mother will let me know.
And it has caused me great woe. "sang Ptero. He once more went toward his prey.
"It's a hard and cruel world out there.
One can win only if one dares to dare.
It seems as if nobody could care.
You've got to try as hard as you can try
Or else you will certainly die.
And that's the truth, I'm not going to lie." Ptero continued to sing. He moved lower, his talons outstretched.
He sang to his prey, for he felt sorry for the poor critter. "I've got nothing against you.
This is something I just must do.
It's a hard and cruel world out there.
As you are no doubt surely aware.
It's not that I see you as only meat.
But I trust you know what we Sharp Beaks eat!" He swooped and missed again. However, he didn't give up. He was going to get a meal before he went to sleep.
"I hope you can forgive
A guy who is forced to hunt to live.
Some may consider this to be rude
But I've got no Tree Stars for food!
I'd really like to be friends instead.
But the sad part of hunting is that something ends up dead.
Understand that it's the only way that I'm going to be fed.
Believe me I really do have a heart.
Hunting is an activity I wish that I didn't have to take part." he sang.
They both turned a corner. There was a canyon wall in front of the creature below. The animal was trapped. Ptero moved downward, elated. He would soon be having his dinner. The animal turned to look at him. Ptero could see his reflection in the creature's frightened eyes. He wanted to look away, as the look made him have such pity that he didn't think he could go through with what he needed to do if he kept staring.
If I don't get a grip on myself, I'm never going to be able to lead the pack. Mother will be so disappointed and I'll let Dad down. Ptero thought.
"I don't like the way things tend
But this is how it's going to end.
What nature makes me do is awful, I know.
But that's the way things go.
It's a hard and cruel world out there.
And despite all you've seen, continuing to live without hope is something for which one cannot prepare." sang Ptero. He landed next to the trapped animal. He could sense the dread in the poor creature and hated that he was the one causing it. Agatha might love the feeling of terror that her prey had in their final moments, but Ptero certainly didn't. He sighed. It would come to this again. What he hated most about being a Sharptooth. Something had to die so he could have a meal.
The animal stared right into his red eyes. It expressed shock, no doubt, as it was expecting to see hunger and violence in them, but it saw pity and remorse instead. However, it did see one thing that it dreaded: death. Why? Why this? Ptero thought miserably.
Ptero licked his lips. The instinct he'd gotten from his mother made him want to act now. However, the kind nature of his father held him back, making sure he did this properly and with as much kindness as possible. He began to sharpen his talons on a rock. The creature, unable to flee due to Ptero blocking the way, just stared at him. Ptero knew that if it could talk, it would be pleading.
The poor Tickle Fuzzy eyed him. He didn't see hatred in the creature's eyes, and for that he was glad. The animal moved and tried to run for its very life. Ptero swung his wings at the animal and knocked it back into the wall.
Ptero sighed. He was only a kid yet he already knew the sad truth about being a Sharptooth. If you showed any pity when you got a meal, then you wouldn't get a meal. While the only place the animal would be going would be the inside of his stomach, he'd at least show the creature the pity he felt that it at deserved.
"Trust me, I don't find this fun.
I'll concede you had a good run.
And if I weren't so hungry, I'd have hoped that you'd won.
It's a hard and cruel world out there.
And there is nobody that it will spare.
One has trouble not falling into despair. " sang Ptero.
He had his talons ready now to do the messy, yet necessary, task. He moved toward the doomed animal. It tried to flee but he blocked it again with his wings.
"It's a hard and cruel world out there. Trust me, doing this is very hard for me to bear. I'd love to just let you go. But I'm afraid it can't be so." sang Ptero. Ptero did a quick scan of his surroundings. The canyon had no edible plants, he was getting tired, and his stomach was growling very hungrily. He truly had no choice. He sighed.
"It's a hard and cruel world out there. It seems like one big nightmare! I know, it's just not fair." sang Ptero, finishing his song. The animal moved against the rock wall. Ptero moved forward. The animal shut its eyes, knowing what was about to happen. Ok Ptero. Time to do what you came here for. he thought grimly.
A tear fell from Ptero's eye. He couldn't bear to see the poor critter suffer in dread a moment longer. He let out a Pterodactylus victory cry. He flew at the animal, his talons outstretched. He moved so fast that it couldn't react in time. He felt something wet hit him as he struck the creature. It was blood. The animal fell over, dead. Ptero sighed. Another poor beautiful critter had left the world so that he could remain on it. He shook his head at the brutality of it all.
He looked down, feeling bad about what he'd done. True, he needed to eat, but he really wished he hadn't done this. He'd done it before with his mother, who always prompted him to do it. However, he felt guilty, having done it all of his own volition this time. "I'm sorry this had to happen. You are gone, just like Father. But, I promise that I'll always be kind and not cruel like wicked Flatteeth." Ptero vowed.
He grabbed the corpse and took flight with it. He landed on a rock. He should be safe from both predators and food stealers here. He licked his lips, staring at what, a moment before, had been a live animal, and now was going to be his dinner. Right before he took the first bite, he thought of his father. Having seen death again, his father came to his mind. "Dad, wherever you are, I hope I'm making you proud." he said.
In the Great Valley, meanwhile, Petrie the Flyer had woken up, hearing Ptero's victory cry. "What that?" asked Petrie, frightened.
"That, my dear nephew, is a Sharptooth Flyer." replied his uncle Pterano, grimacing. "Sounds like he's gotten something. That was a hunting cry. I've heard it before. Uggggh!"
Pterano had been separated from Petrie for years, due to getting banished for a careless act that had cost him his heard and not owning up to it. After a reduced banishment that Pterano had gotten for saving Ducky, though arguably, she wouldn't have needed having had not Pterano kidnapped her, he'd come back after the five year banishment had been up, just in time to save Littlefoot and his friends from Dil, Ichy, Rinkus, and Sierra.
Petrie shook his head. "Poor thing." he said. "Will it get Petrie?" he asked nervously.
"I don't think so. Sharptooth Flyers can be pretty dangerous, but they don't come to the Great Valley."
"One did. You remember him?" Petrie said.
"Yes I most certainly do. However, your mother and I are here and they aren't getting here without getting through us. Go back to bed Petrie." said Pterano.
Petrie went back to bed, clutching his snuggling stick. "Oh, the memories of the Mysterious Beyond! Glad I'm back here now and the banishment is over." said Pterano, shuddering. He went back to sleep too.
Petrie and Pterano didn't know what it was like to have to do what Ptero did. Petrie had lived a relatively sheltered life. Pterano had seen his whole herd die before him and so knew pain and loss better than Petrie.
Meanwhile, in the Mysterious Beyond, Ptero had finished his dinner, having made sure to eat every last bite out of respect to the poor critter that had had the bad luck to cross him when he was hungry and had paid for it with its life. He was feeling sleepy after having a full meal. He took a drink, for he hated the taste of blood. Though most Sharpteeth wouldn't care, Ptero didn't like the blood stains on his talons and went to wash them off. He found a stick and used it to pick his teeth clean. He now needed a place to rest. One where he wouldn't become dinner for someone else.
"That was pretty good. Still, I prefer Tree Stars. You don't feel sorry for those." said Ptero. This was his first hunt all by himself. His mother would be so pleased, though she was no doubt furious at his disappearing act. He planned to come back, eventually.
A Baryonyx came by and nearly stepped on him by accident. Hey, watch it! Ptero said angrily at the Sharptooth. The creature snarled at him. He knew that she probably didn't have good intentions for him and took off in flight.
He landed some distance away. He saw two Fast Biters approaching. They appeared to be a couple and seemed to be about to go to bed. They noticed Ptero.
Hey look dear, some dessert. That will go nicely with the Fast Runner that we got for dinner. You never get me much. Can I please have this weird-looking thing? asked the female in a whining wife voice.
All right. I'll get this weird-looking Flyer and then we can go to bed and you can shut up. groaned her mate.
My name is Ptero and I am not weird-looking! shouted Ptero angrily.
Get him! shouted the female Fast Biter.
Don't eat me, I taste like tar! pleaded Ptero.
We'll see about that. muttered the male Utahraptor.
What's this we stuff? asked Ptero, moving away in a panic.
The male jumped at him. He moved aside. He tried to fly away. The female snapped at him. Ptero moved the other way. The male swung his claws at him. Ptero turned the other way and barely dodged the female's claws. They were getting closer. The male came at him. He had his claws raised. He swung them at Ptero. Ptero bit him in the hand, causing him to cry out in pain.
Man, that bites, doesn't it! Ptero smarted off.
Get off your tush and help me! shouted the male to his wife. She moved toward Ptero, swinging her claws. He dodged her and she barely missed him.
Hey, I've had enough close shaves already tonight! Ptero shouted at her.
The male went at him now. Ptero just barely got away, flying straight up. The male cut the female with his claws, missing Ptero. She slapped him. Idiot. You cannot do anything right! I don't know why I chose you! You never get me anything I want! she whined.
But dear, I tried! I don't know why I chose such a whiner as you! protested the male.
Ptero, meanwhile, was in flight. "Those two need counseling." he commented. He rested a while later. He was near some water.
"That was close!" said Ptero. A Swimming Sharptooth came out of the water and nearly got him. He took off into the sky, his eyes widening in fright. Even if he was a Sharptooth, if he stayed out here in the middle of the night, it could well be his last night on earth.
He took off over a rocky wall. He landed in some trees. This place seemed peaceful. He had come to the Great Valley, though he didn't know it yet. "I'll stay here. I hope it's safe." said Ptero. He snuggled among some leaves to keep warm. He soon was asleep.