Hey, everyone. Here is the next chapter. Sorry it is short, but I wanted it to be shorter so all the things covered in this chapter are not missed. Though it is short, there are a lot of things here that you will need to know to make the previous and next few chapters make sense. Also, I give you… VILLAINS and a minor character we haven't heard from yet.

I hope everything comes together and starts to make sense for you, and that you enjoy it. Thank you so much for telling me all about how you're relating to/enjoying the story, what throws you, ect. I am always happy to hear feedback and am looking forward to hearing about this next chapter. Enjoy and have a great read!

Chapter 16 Sneaking Around

Red Claw

"What do you mean their parents got around me?!" Red Claw snarled.

He had Screech and Thud cowering in the corner within moments. Eventually Thud, one of his Fast-Biters, answered.

"Great One…we…we didn't know."

Screech interjected. "We wouldn't have known if we hadn't spotted them outside the Great Wall with their parents."

Red Claw huffed irritably. Those idiots. "How did this happen?"

"We…don't…know…" Thud cringed at his roar.

Red Claw advanced on them. "Why didn't you attack?!"

Screech answered when Thud couldn't. "We couldn't, Red Claw. Both of Little Biter's parents were there, along with the family of fast-runners. We didn't stand a chance."

Red Claw snorted, and then turned away. "I should have eaten both children when I had the chance. But thanks to you two, they escaped and their parents sent them away. Still, they just wander right into these parts, and what happens? Every child slips away. All seven. Again and again."

Thud stepped forward. "Master, we…don't understand why we have to focus on these children. We know of what happened before, but doesn't everyone fall into the jaws of sharpteeth eventu-"

He cut off when Red Claw whipped his tail, instantly throwing him again a boulder. Screech backed away, indicating he did not wish to speak.

"Because those children killed my son! And now those families allow their children to be friends with them? I think our actions speak for themselves, Thud. Now, I ask again. How did those families reach those children without our knowledge?"

Thud was still working to pick himself up off the rock, so Screech was forced to speak up. "We don't know. Lots of sneaking around, we think."

Red Claw hesitated, and then forced an amused snort. Of course. "Well," he laughed, "we will just have to keep a closer watch on them, won't we?"

Dil

The Great Belly Dragger skimmed through the murky water of the swamp lands, listening for prey. She might have poor eyesight, but she could hear. It was just enough to catch enough to survive on, but not quite enough to satisfy. Right now, she was only looking to satisfy. She and Ichy thought the kill those sharpteeth left for them for their fulfillment on their part of the deal would last them forever. But it only lasted a day until lust for meat set in again. They were still quite full, but not for long. So they scavenged to satisfy. It was a shame the remains of their payment fell into the clutches of Red Eye's henchmen.

Suddenly, something small landed right on the tip on her big nose. Aha!

She tossed it into the air and took a vicious snap, only to find it had been Ichy all along. The feathered thing was pounding around in her mouth.

"Let me go! It's me, Dil!"

The belly dragger reluctantly opened her mouth so her comrade could fly out. She rolled her eyes when Ichy coughed dramatically.

"You idiot!" he shouted.

"You know not to land on my nose without calling out first, Ichy. What'd ya find?"

Ichy sighed. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Hmm." Ichy climbed onto her head as she started moseying downriver.

"Well, I'm glad those sharpteeth brought that big kill we asked for. You didn't even have to go that far to deliver the message."

Ichy scoffed. "Yeah, but the risk of being caught by Red Claw cost extra."

Everything was silent for a while before Dil thought of something. "What was the message again?"

"It was…" Ichy cleared his throat. "Tell the family of fast-runners we will meet up with them by sunrise, and that we should make it to the Great Wall by midday. I think."

Dil stopped and rolled her eyes to glance at Ichy even though she couldn't really see him. Old habits die hard. "Well, I hope you understood 'em all the way because I don't want 'em coming back here. Those two sharpteeth scared the daylights out of me."

Ichy kicked her in the head. "You're telling me. You're not the one they caught in their mouths."

Dil stifled a chortle, remembering the moment. "Well, you flew. You know not to do that when they are so close. Besides, they didn't hurt ya none."

"HMM!" Ichy disagreed. Dil kept swimming and changed the subject. "What were they doing at the Great Wall?"

"They had some kid in the Great Valley (don't ask me how) along with the oldest daughter of those fast-runners. Wanted to go see them without Red Claw noticing, or something."

Dil snorted. "Simple enough for such a big payment. How will their kids know? Last time I checked, the Valley was blocked."

Ichy settled back on her head. "Said they had some other messenger for that. Some funny lookin' blue-green guy was with the fast-runners when I found them."

"Hmm…" Dill dragged herself through the murky water and left it at that.

Guido

The Little Green Messenger, as everyone now nicknamed him, left Ruby's family to catch the wind back to the Great Valley while the current was blowing that way. Since Petrie and his friends had pointed out that he could "fly" using the hover method, he had learned to use the wind to his advantage. He considered his primary home to be in the Great Valley near Petrie's family, though he was only there half the time. The rest of his time was spent as a messenger.

Littlefoot's grandfather found him to be quite useful and quickly made him known as the Great Valley messenger. "Thanks to you," he said, "the residents of the Great Valley can communicate with those beyond the Great Wall."

Guido was hesitant to venture back into the Mysterious Beyond so much, but he soon found himself enjoying new responsibility. He needed something to do, anyway. And the whole thing at least made him feel useful. And since he tended to sleep-hover anyway, procrastination was hardly an issue. He could actually remember the things he was awake for. Even Mr. Threehorn got over the fact that Guido had mistaken him for a lady once and made use of his messages from time to time.

Little Ruby had recently started asking him to send messages back and forth to her family as he had the chance. He found himself quickly becoming friends with the family, and eventually learned they had been trying to reach their daughter for quite some time, but never risked the wrath of Red Claw. Guido felt bad about not seeking out Chomper's family, but he was sure the little sharptooth got his "no sharpteeth" policy.

It was just a matter of luck that he happened to be with Ruby's family when that rude feathered flyer dropped by and for whatever reason, delivered a brief message from Chomper's family saying when to meet them at the Great Wall. The strange bird gave him a hateful look, and Guido was relieved when he flew back to the swamp lands.

At his questioning look, Ruby's father only offered a quiet, brief explanation. "We've been doing some underground work for quite some time, Guido, and have decided to try to get around Red Claw so we can see our children. We don't want to get you involved, but could you please tell our children to meet us at the Great Wall in two days?"

Guido nodded, but was concerned all the same. "Won't that be dangerous?"

Ruby's mother nodded, but held fast to her mate's forearm. "Yes, but we miss our children more than we fear Red Claw. And we'd like to know what Ruby and Chomper found."

Guido nodded, then turned when he felt the perfect direction of the wind. "Well, I've got to catch the wind. They will be excited."

He started to lift off, then turned his head back to them. "You know you could…stay…in the Great Valley?"

When Ruby's father nodded that he was aware of the option, Guido waved and took off.

Finally, he landed in the Great Valley, reported all messages (including that of Ruby's parents) to Mr. Longneck, and set out to find the children. He also got wind that Petrie's uncle had recently returned to the Valley, and wanted to meet him since Petrie seemed to think so highly of him. Then again, the guy had been banished. Also, he had been the one to carry the message seeking out a new healer when that bully kid got hurt. He was curious to see how Britta liked her new position in the valley.

It took a while for him to locate a healer. Lots of asking around. But he finally found a humorous old swimmer who recommended Britta.

"I told her to quit practicing already and start he own healing practice. She's looking for a place to start."

When he finally did meet Britta, he was shocked to find that she was the most beautiful flyer he had even seen. She stumbled back at the sight of him at first, then seemed embarrassed by her reaction when the old swimmer introduced them. He felt foolish trying to stammer out an explanation of the situation, and was surprised when Britta agreed to come as soon as she could. He thought she would make a wonderful healer for the valley.

He decided to see whoever he found first, and found everyone at once. All of the children seemed to be at Petrie's place waiting on him to come play, and Britta was talking with Mrs. Flyer and a huge flyer he assumed to be Petrie's uncle. He landed right in the middle.

The children spotted him first. "GUIDO!"

He waved timidly. "Hey, everybody."

This got the adult's attention. Britta was the first to recognize him; her clear blue eyes shone as she approached him.

"Guido! Thank you so much for recommending the Great Valley for me. I couldn't have asked for anything better."

Guido blushed and scuffed one of his heels on the ground. "Yeah, glad you're enjoying it."

He turned his attention to Petrie's uncle, who didn't react quite as swiftly as Britta had at first. He just put a hand over his heart and took a step back in shock, blinking at the sight of him. Probably trying to figure out what he was.

Petrie's mother noticed and swatted him for it. "Pterano, don't be rude. This is Guido."

Petrie landed on Pterano's shoulder. "Oh yes, Uncle! He newest member of our family."

Pterano's beak went completely agape at that statement. He looked back and forth from his sister to Guido a few times. Petrie's mother looked insulted. "Not that way, Pterano!"

Guido sputtered when he caught on and starting to babble nervously. "Nonono….It's just that…I was…h-helping Petrie here…uhm…get ready for the Great Day of the Flyers. Not that he's a bad flyer, he's great. It's just that I didn't know how I got here and I needed a place to stay and I-"

He paused when he realized his error. Pterano just looked dumbfounded, while everyone else started trying to stifle giggles. Finally, he held offered his hand to Pterano. "It's a please to meet you. I've heard so much about you from Petrie."

Pterano glanced at Britta for a split second, then hesitantly took his hand and gave it a shake. "Pleasure's all mine, uhrm…"

"Guido."

"Guido." Pterano repeated the name, then made a further effort to break the silence. "It's my understanding that you were ever a friend to my nephew and the one who sought out Britta?"

How did he get all that from my babbling? Maybe he is smart. "Yeah…that was me," he managed with a sheepish smile.

Pterano's black eyes softened when he offered a small smile. "Well then, it seems we all owe you our gratitude."

"Aw, it was nothing."

Mrs. Flyer smiled and changed the subject. "So how was your flight, Guido?"

Ducky ran up to him excitedly. "Oh, yes yes yes! We went to hear about it! We do, we do."

Littlefoot walked over. "Did you carry all the messages for me and my grandpa?"

Ruby and Chomper wandered over excitedly. "Did you get to talk to my parents?" Ruby asked.

Guido decided to stop his head from spinning right there. "Actually Ruby, Chomper, they left a distinct message and I'm going to need you to listen."

Everyone grew silent at the serious tone of his voice. Tria walked up and whispered in Britta's ear. Before he could continue, Tricia bounced in his path, wagging her tail. "Gweedo!"

"Hey, Trish!" Guido patted her head to say hello. Britta wandered over and picked her up. He sniffed and wagged her tails.

"Bwee!"

Britta chuckled. "Yeah, I think somebody needs a little more medicine."

Tria smiled. "Mind if I borrow Britta for a few minutes, everyone?"

When no one answered, Pterano took the initiative. "Please."

Britta shot him a look. "Who are you talking to?"

Everyone laughed for a few moments as Britta walked off with Tria and Trisha. It took a few moments before everyone turned their attention back to Guido.

Guido resumed his previous message. "Your parents think they have found a way to come visit…"

His heart felt for the children at the sound of Ruby and Chomper's gasps of excitement. Finally, he decided to resume the whole message.