Alright! If you thought the story was going to stay on the lighter side, then prepare to find out why the story's called Flames of Wrath!
Chapter 6: Awakening of Eldin, Fury of Fireclaw
"Here we go Chomper, we've got a small concentration of life about 3 miles north and 5 miles west of our current location. This time I can guarantee it's not plant forms either!" Fireclaw said enthusiastically. He and Chomper were beginning to grow frustrated after multiple attempts of scans were coming up as failures or nothing even showing up at all.
"Alright! Finally, now we get to see where everyone decided to go hide on us ran to!" Chomper shouted.
Chomper and Fireclaw grabbed nearly any weapon they had nearby. Chomper grabbed the rifle he used earlier to attempt to shoot down Rex's ship with, his 9mm Beretta that Fireclaw issued him after barely passing a basic weapons course during initiation, and his tactical vest consisting of three fragmentation grenades and three magazines for each weapon. Fireclaw grabbed an MRL-4, a Reptillon based missile launcher capable of firing up to four rocket propelled grenades at once with very good accuracy. This saved him once during a riot. Along with the MRL, he fit a small assault rifle onto a clip placed onto the side of his backpack. Underneath the canvas field pack was his sword. Fireclaw preferred to have powerful sidearms, so he decided to have his primary be yet another Smith and Wesson, only this time his .357 would be accompanied by a .44 magnum, which he stole from Allo before he took the ship back to the Great Valley. Fireclaw was brutal when it came to weapon selection, and would've grabbed a minigun out of Lavadome's arsenal if he was able to carry it quickly.
Standing at the mouth of their cave, Fireclaw looked Chomper directly in the eye, and said a few final words for luck before departing.
"Look Chomper, the reason everything's been short and sweet so far is because I know he's luring us into something. Listen, it's situations like this where somebody is leaving dead. Hopefully tonight it won't be us or anybody we know or love, because damnit we're going to make them regret ever being hatched!" Fireclaw said aggressively.
"And Fireclaw, if for some reason you decide to lose your cool, I've got your back. Toss me the grenade launcher and I'll see to it that Rex's army becomes a massive bloodstain." Chomper said equally as aggressive. Fireclaw's sword began to glow red again with his anger. The blade was able to reflect it's power based off of his emotions, which usually lead to anger.
Fireclaw and Chomper attached wing kits to their armor, which acted the same as a skydiver's wingsuit. They base jumped off of the ledge, and spread themselves out to get air. They glided to the ground gracefully, rolling upon impact. They got to their feet and headed for the hills. They could only hope that they didn't get killed, Rex has been known to be able to get large amounts of troops to one place quickly. Allo has yet to see this trait of his in action, and Fireclaw usually never tells him for the sake that he becomes super paranoid.
They climbed up a large hill, and with the help of Dimetro, they were air lifted to their destination.
"Alright! This is it! Dimetro, hover just above that treeline!" Fireclaw shouted over the engines. He opened a drop hatch and prepared to dive straight for the ground.
Dimetro hovered his aircraft just above a small grove of trees. If Fireclaw and Chomper landed exactly in this grove, they'd have enough cover to progress without being detected by even the keenest of sharpteeth.
"Alright Chomper, You ready?" Fireclaw yelled.
"Ready as ever, let's kick some ass!" Chomper yelled back.
"I'll be on stand-by in case you need me." Dimetro said over the intercom.
"Dimetro, head back to Lavadome and prepare to launch the Trinity Missile! I want these assholes to feel just how much I hate them!" Fireclaw shouted in reply. He loved talking about nukes.
"Alright Fireclaw! On your go!" Chomper yelled.
"Three, two, one!"
Chomper and Fireclaw slipped through the rectangular hatch and into freefall. They guided themselves for the trees, hoping not to impale themselves on a loose branch.
"This is going to be a risky landing Chomper, watch yourself." Fireclaw said over a small earpiece radio.
"Noted. Be careful yourself!" Chomper replied.
After what felt like forever they hit ground. The soft ground of the forest floor helped dampen the fall. They detached their parachutes and began to look around the area. Chomper fastened a silencer to his pistol.
"Alright Chomper, this little congregation is just up ahead about a hundred or so yards. You ready to slit some throats?" Fireclaw asked.
"I'm ready to go. Let's show them what it means to fight like Dinosquad 6!"
They advanced through the tangled mess of trees protruding from the ground. They moved silently and quickly, like fast biters ready to kill their prey. As though closing in on prey, they advanced as fast as they could for a small parting in the trees, ready for an ambush. An ambush was all too likely in this situation and environment.
Taking cover behind a tree on each side of the small path, Fireclaw and Chomper nodded when ready to attack. They gave each other a brief breather before advancing out.
"Alright Chomper, this is it. Give em' hell." Fireclaw said into his radio between breaths.
"On three. One, two, three!"
Fireclaw and Chomper rolled out into the clearing, but were shocked to be greeted by nothing. Not even an armed guard posted in front of a cave. They checked their surroundings, sure that they were about to get filled with bullets or laser beams any second. Making full circles around each other, they checked every hill around them, but could find nothing. To their right was a small cliff which they both inspected for snipers, but nothing turned up.
"What? Don't tell me that scan was a failure!" Fireclaw said angrily.
"Check your monitor on your arm, it may not be." Chomper replied.
"It says they're here! Where the hell is everyone?" Fireclaw shouted.
"I have a very bad feeling that maybe that hill over there is hiding something." Chomper said, pointing to the hill directly in front of them with the muzzle of his rifle. Fireclaw felt a sense of dread upon hearing that.
"Well, what do we have to lose? Ready Chomper, hopefully we don't get wasted up here." Fireclaw said nervously.
They walked up the hill and weren't dissapointed by what greeted them just over it. About ten yards head stood a green Tyrannosaur about Ghenghis Rex's height wearing a long trenchcoat with a butler's jacket touch towards the bottom. He was accompanied on both sides by two fast-biters, who were normal dinosaurs compared to their master. In front of them were Petrie, Littlefoot, Ducky, Cera, Spike and much to their surprise Shorty. Fireclaw could sense something was up, and his sword began to glow a bright red, indicating that he was only growing more infuriated.
"Chomper, what does this look like to you?" Fireclaw asked over radio to prevent any noise.
"I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt they have guns, maybe they're showing them something?" Chomper replied.
"Don't say guns right now. I don't want to have to deal with a firing squad execution right now, especially with Littlefoot and his friends." Fireclaw replied dreadfully.
As they moved closer, six armed guards apparently assigned to each dinosaur moved out of the woods and stood behind them. They walked in a very militaristic way, single file, marching, weapons held a certain way. He saw that the weapons they had were fossilizers, kind of interesting that they'd have those because a fossilizer isn't lethal.
"Oh wonderful! Our guests have arrived!" The Tyrannosaur said.
"Let them go! You sadistic bastard, who the hell are you anyway to take kids hostage! Turn and face me!" Fireclaw shouted.
The Tyrannosaur turned around. Fireclaw and Chomper both recognized the deep red scar running from his eye straight down to his right index claw. Redclaw somehow managed to gain a humanoid form, exactly as a dinosaucer's form is. Fireclaw could only assume that this was the work of Ghenghis Rex.
"Isn't it marvelous? I no longer walk as one of those archaic beasts! I have intelligence, power, new found physique! All thanks to who you hate most, Fireclaw." Redclaw taunted. His accent sounded almost identical to Pterano's.
"Redclaw, you may have a new form, but you're still the same son of a bitch I've always known. So long as you breathe, I'll hunt you just like all those you've hunted before. Let me guess, you're perfect leaf eater also came from him, didn't it?" Fireclaw asked.
"You're so clever, Fireclaw. You sure do learn quickly, don't you?" Redclaw responded. Screech and Thud stood unusually obedient at his side. Thud looked as though he'd been severely beaten a few times.
"Your vocabulary tells me you've been choking on some recently, is that something Rex taught you too?" Fireclaw joked.
"You dare insult me in such a manner? Very well, allow me to demonstrate my authority in a way that may even, oh what's the term, 'piss you right off'." Redclaw replied. Chomper's mouth was wide open as he listened to the conversation between Fireclaw and Redclaw. He never thought he'd see the the day that Redclaw actually becomes a legitimate threat.
"Two claws hate each other, ironic." Chomper said to himself.
"I dare you Redclaw. Go ahead, drive me insane, I'd love to see you try haha!" Fireclaw retorted back.
"I never thought you'd ask."
Redclaw motioned his arm as a signal. He could hear something struggling very loudly, followed by swearing and threats. After what sounded like a long struggle, Grandma Longneck was brought out before everyone. Littlefoot and his friends were turned around to bear witness to something just plain awful. Fireclaw began to see red again. His eyes began to glow a bright red, though he felt as if he could go even further.
"Drop her down right in front. I want the best view possible for this magnificent show!" Redclaw shouted to the group of Tyrannos tugging against the steel cords that were attached to a steel collar around Grandma Longneck's neck. An electrical pulse was sent up the cords, dropping her instantly to her knees. She groaned in pain as she went down. She was coated with dried blood, cuts and bruises were scattered all over her now fragile and broken body. Leading the Tyrannos onward was Terrible-Dactyl, carrying a rather large anti-tank rifle, one that could be used to punch through brick walls with no trouble at all.
"If you even fire one round Fireclaw or Chomper, I execute the children as well." Redclaw shouted at them.
Fireclaw and Chomper looked on, powerless to do anything in fear that Littlefoot and his friends would be killed. Fireclaw maintained his distance from Redclaw in order to keep himself under control, but the urge to kill was growing even stronger. Fireclaw's eyes darted quickly, looking for a potential target to take a shot at first. Everyone he targeted was within reach of the kids. Now or never, he'd have to make the shot eventually.
"Well well, Fireclaw can't do anything to save his precious friends. How does it feel to be helpless, Fireclaw, especially after what you did to me!" Terrible-Dactyl took off the pilot's helmet to reveal a very battered and scarred face. Fireclaw and Chomper couldn't believe their eyes. Pterano betrayed everyone. Pterano loaded three rounds into the rifle, which were easily six inches long.
"There's no way in hell Pterano's going through with this. This is a scare tactic Fireclaw, don't freak out now!" Chomper radioed. Fireclaw didn't hear him.
"See here, Fireclaw. This is the Grandmother of Littlefoot. I'm sure you know her quite well. Pterano here was banished in a joint decision by her mate and herself many cold times ago. You know what they say, Fireclaw, an eye for an eye-"
"Makes the whole world blind." Fireclaw finished Redclaw's sentence.
"Maybe in your case, but let's just see if she agrees." Redclaw replied.
"LLLIIIIIRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAA" A loud voice boomed out, much louder than a sharptooth's roar.
"What the hell was that?" Chomper asked.
"Eldin's angry..." Fireclaw replied. His voice sounded like a demonic echo, as if hundreds of demons were speaking for him at the same time, all in very low tones.
Fireclaw began to grow dark black streaks that swirled just above his arms, beginning from the tip of his sword. Chomper noticed right away and began to back away.
"I can see you're angry Fireclaw, and now to fulfill your request. You want insanity, I give you fury-driven insanity exactly as you wanted, Fireclaw! Now enjoy!" Redclaw said with a sinister cackle.
Grandma Longneck looked up at Littlefoot one last time.
"Don't look little one, I'll be alright. I love you Littlefoot." Grandma Longneck said quietly and softly.
"I'll miss you, grandma." Littlefoot said between quiet sobs. Tears dripped off of the tip of his nose and onto the soft dirt below him.
"Dear Littlefoot, please understand that it's for her own good, and it has nothing to do with you." Pterano said with his usual snide-sounding voice.
Littlefoot glared at Pterano, who looked him in the eye and a shot rang out. A very loud bang ripped the air like paper. The rifle flew into the air, yet Grandma Longneck was fine. She opened her eyes and looked around startled. She turned to see Pterano stumbling from a bullet wound to the shoulder.
"You bastard!" He shouted.
Chomper stood holding his rifle to his shoulder waiting for another shot. Redclaw made a gesture, and the guards raised their weapons. Grandma Longneck took them out with her tail, then rolled over onto the guard to her right. Chomper shot the one to her left in the head. He turned and retreated into the woods afterwards to set up communications if they were needed urgently.
"A quick thinker, as always. Shame you didn't think this would happen." Redclaw said as he produced a pistol from under his coat.
Fireclaw lost it. He dropped all of his equipment, unsheathed his sword and thrust it skyward. The blade was much longer now, and was turning itself from it's original broadsword form into a very heavy, broad Claymore. Fireclaw's skin complexion turned blacker than midnight itself, his fury was now in control. He levitated off of the ground, holding the blade straight into the air as he did so. Dark storm clouds began to swirl overhead, lightning flashed, and thunder cracked like whips as Fireclaw began to build power. This kind of fury was nothing like any other emotion he'd ever felt before. It was sweet to the taste, yet he hated everything around him. He could no longer think rationally, anything that could breathe was now a target, and he was ready to commit a genocide with his bare claws. A beam of light engulfed Fireclaw as he hovered at least twenty feet off of the ground. The clouds began to swirl faster, the white light surrounding Fireclaw turned a bright shade of red. The guards behind the children ran for their lives, only to be impaled by long rock shafts Fireclaw rose from the ground. He let the sword go, and it levitated a little higher than he was. Suddenly, the blade spun itself in a circle, then turned into a full on star of sword blades. Six sword blades protruded in all angles, the one handle on his sword now forming a circular base for him to grab, making it easy to spin.
Chomper rescued the children while Redclaw stood waiting for Fireclaw to make a move. A bit phased, but he felt slightly more confident that he would have liked.
"Oh Redclaw, did you really think it was just me you'd have to face? Do you know the real reason everyone looks up to Grandpa Longneck so much? I have a demonstration of my own as well, and I'd like to show you now, you heartless bastard. I'd like you to meet Eldin, also known as the mate of who you failed to kill!" Fireclaw boomed out.
The ground began to shake heavily to the beat of footsteps. Slow and steady, trees falling and crunching in the woods directly behind Redclaw, the awakened monster approached.
"So long has he remained dormant. Eldin is a force to reckon with! His power is one that can make smoking mountains erupt at his will! Your actions have awoken something that now not even I can control! Why don't you look for yourself? You're a coward. You would have killed an innocent's grandparent for the sake of taunting the enemy. They say everything has a price to pay, you ignorant sadist, and that price will be your head!"
"Eldin?" Redclaw asked under his breath.
Redclaw turned around, and his eyes widened. Pterano had run back into the woods, abandoning Redclaw with Fireclaw and the gigantic monster that came stomping over the treeline. The once docile Longneck now stood upright almost five stories tall, eyes glowing with the fury of the sun itself. His skin turned black, with a blood red figure-eight pattern running down his back. In his hand was a tree.
"I'm the coward? I can't even float. Why don't you come down here and fight me like a real sharptooth would?" Redclaw said.
"I'd be obliged if you hadn't nearly killed Grandma Longneck out of cold blood." Fireclaw replied.
Redclaw ducked just in time to miss the swinging tree coming at him fast. A back swing knocked him off of his feet and sent him sailing backwards. He landed in a roll and stopped face down.
"Alright then Fireclaw, if it's a battle you want, it's a battle you'll get!" Redclaw shouted.
"Yes, that's exactly what I want from you you shameful prick!"
Fireclaw lowered himself to the ground and signaled for Eldin to stand back. Fireclaw spun the star blade over his head as he approached Redclaw.
Redclaw unsheathed two very elegant looking daggers, each a foot long that were conceiled on each leg by a thigh strap. He spun backward, attempting a downward stab on Fireclaw. Fireclaw dodged this and countered with a hard knee the stomach as he moved in close. Following his knee he turned for a hard roundhouse kick, sending him flying towards Eldin. Eldin stopped him with his foot before kicking him back towards Fireclaw. Redclaw rolled out of the way and swung a dagger up, barely clipping Eldin's leg. Eldin swung his tail in retaliation, catching the dagger and sending it sailing into a tree. Redclaw looked once at his dagger,rolled under Eldin's massive foot, stabbing him in the other as he leveled himself. He tried to stab again but Eldin took him out with his tail, sending him sprawling again. Eldin took the tree and tried to smash Redclaw's head with it. Redclaw yet again rolled and attempted a slash at his ankle. Eldin lifted his foot and swept him with the tree, throwing him again towards Fireclaw. Fireclaw readed himself with the blade in hopes of catching him on it, but Redclaw thought quickly and positioned himself in a way that he missed a blade, and collided straight with Fireclaw, sending them both backwards. They tangled for the dagger that Redclaw dropped when he collided with Fireclaw. Redclaw sat on top of Fireclaw, attempting to stab him in the neck, but Fireclaw punched him in the face. Redclaw stumbled backward, and Fireclaw tackled him, grabbing the dagger and forcing it towards his face. Redclaw grabbed Fireclaw's wrist as he tried to stab him and pushed it away, attempting to elbow him. Fireclaw rolled clear and grabbed the dagger.
"You're good, Fireclaw. You're very good." Redclaw taunted.
"You fought Eldin more than I. I thought you wanted to do battle?" Fireclaw taunted back.
Redclaw attempted a tackle but instead met the claw on Fireclaw's heel. Blood gushed from the would above his eye. Fireclaw then charged forward and leaped into him crushing his ribs with a well placed knee. Redclaw fell to the ground and gasped for air. Fireclaw picked up a rock and bashed him on the head with it, knocking him unconscious.
Fireclaw looked at Eldin and nodded. Eldin returned the gesture and walked back into the woods. Fireclaw crouched over the concussed Redclaw and searched him for weapons. His pulse was fine, though Fireclaw wanted to kill him. He had a better idea instead. He'd always known Redclaw to be easily persuaded, something that not many would know unless they actually knew Redclaw on a more personal level. Many encounters with him taught Fireclaw this.
After binding Redclaw with some vines, he looked at the dagger he picked up.
"Hm, it's a nice blade. Wonder where he got this." Fireclaw said.
After retrieving the other one that embedded itself into a treetrunk, Fireclaw radioed in for an evacuation.
About ten minutes later, a Dinosaucer dropship landed nearby. Chomper opened the door and jumped out. Fireclaw picked up Redclaw over his shoulder and carried him to the ship.
"You alright?" Chomper asked.
"Yea, I'm fine. Slight headache, probably from the adrenaline, but I'm fine." Fireclaw replied.
"On the bright side, good thing I took that rocket launcher before you got a chance to use it." Chomper joked.
"Yea, probably." Fireclaw said with a laugh.
Chomper closed the door behind him and the dropship left for Lavadome. Fireclaw was glad to be flying back rather than walking.