CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: PTERO TELLS PETRIE HIS SECRET
Petrie woke up in the middle of the night that night. He thought he heard someone crying. He went to go investigate. Much to his shock, it was Ptero. More to his shock, Ptero was eating something he hadn't thought a Leaf Eater could, Ground Crawlers. Petrie blinked. It couldn't be! "Ptero a Sharptooth!" he gasped before he could stop himself. Ptero heard this. Suddenly, he saw Ptero's red eyes turn his direction. He wondered if he should flee back to his nest, which, unfortunately, was some distance away. Could he make it?
He tried to flap away, but Ptero moved at him, zooming very fast. He knocked Petrie over. Petrie looked at him, his black eyes widening in fright. "Please no eat Petrie!" he begged.
Ptero grabbed him, held his mouth shut, for he didn't want Petrie getting the others, and took off with him. Petrie was impressed with how strong Ptero was. Ptero took him over the Great Wall and off into the Mysterious Beyond. Petrie's heart pounded. Ptero was a Sharptooth. He'd trusted him. He felt so betrayed. It seemed Ptero was going to finish him in secret so that he couldn't tell.
Ptero was wondering what to do as well. Petrie was his friend, but, on the other hand, if Petrie blabbed, he'd have to leave, and he kind of liked the Great Valley. However, if he killed Petrie now, and got back unnoticed, he could pretend that Petrie went off and fell victim to the Sharp Beaks in his pack. There were enough around that the theory sounded plausible.
But, on the other hand, he had few friends in the world. Could he kill Petrie just for the sake of keeping him quiet? But then again, Petrie was a Flattooth. He had always hated Flatteeth and knew that, prior to coming to the Great Valley, he'd never have hesitated to kill one before, even a child. If he killed Petrie, he could bring the body to his pack and his mother would be so pleased. Now she couldn't say that he couldn't handle it anymore. She'd have to admit that he could handle himself. This could mean more freedom.
But, on the other hand, he liked Petrie's mom. She'd already lost her mate. To act now would be taking her son too. He'd be breaking her heart. And she had saved his life too. He would be dead now had it not been for her. He decided to think it over.
Petrie, meanwhile, continued to shake. He wondered if he would soon be seeing his father Don again. Don would have wanted his son to live past the Time of Great Growing and to have a family of his own. Did Ptero care?
"Why you kidnap Petrie?" Petrie asked.
"I think you know the answer to that, Flattooth." Ptero replied calmly yet dangerously.
"You no plan to eat Petrie, do you?" he asked, trembling.
Ptero thought it over. Petrie was a liability. He raised his talons, preparing to silence the Flyer. Petrie whimpered and shut his eyes. "Oh, me done for!" he cried in despair. Ptero paused. Yes, Petrie could blab, but, Petrie was his friend. He really hadn't had friends until lately. His mother had seen to that.
"No." Ptero finally replied. Petrie sighed in relief and opened his eyes. "But we need to talk. You know I'm a Sharp Beak."