We Will Hold On Forever

by

The Analyzer

Chapter 02: From The Mists Part 2

Littlefoot watched in horror. He didn't even consider the wall remains attached to Spike; it didn't enter his mind for how to rescue his friend. If he had, it wouldn't occur to him that it breaking apart might prove an obstacle. Littlefoot should have thought more, but it was too late now and Spike might pay the price for this oversight…

At last no more pebbles were falling and Spike's tail at last snagged out of Dil's reach as he ran over to his friends. Dil attempted to follow but was thwarted when she stepped on those pebbles and kept slipping. Spike caught up to Littlefoot and Ruby, and the trio fled before Dil could catch up.

"Are you okay, Spike?" Littlefoot asked. "I'm sorry, you nearly got bitten because I didn't think about those rocks."

Glancing at Littlefoot in confusion, Spike nudged his shoulder and gave a reassuring smile, indicating he didn't blame Littlefoot for what happened. Instead, he thrust his head back to their pursuers and made a sound of exasperation and distress. Littlefoot nodded sadly, understanding.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he said. "I'm tired of getting into these life-or death adventures too. We get into so many of them. Hopefully, after we get out of this one, we'll get a reprieve."

Ruby waved for their attention.

"I believe I have an idea that might distract the bellydragger and give us a reprieve," she said.

"What do you mean? Distract them by making her and the sharpbeak fight?" Littlefoot asked. "How would that help? They practically argue all the time."

"I don't mean that kind of distraction. Though that's an interesting kind of idea." Ruby considered it before resuming. "I think we're near walls of glowing greens, and the walls are brittle around here, right? So what if we had the bellydragger snap at the walls and bite into the green stuff that even Spike wouldn't sample? If it tastes bad enough, she'll be distracted trying to wash that taste out of her mouth and we won't be distracted while we rest up and think of what to do next."

Littlefoot beamed. "Brilliant, Ruby! Spike, are the glowy greens close?"

As though apologizing for briefly freezing up, Spike sniffed determinedly. After several seconds, he nodded eagerly. Ruby and Littlefoot's spirits rose higher. They had a plan. They could hold their enemies back in a more active fashion, and keep the valley safe. The quicker the three implemented the plan, the more likely that hope became a reality.

"Spike, lead us to a cave where the other side of the wall is glowy plants." Littlefoot said. "Someone's going to taste that green stuff for you."

In the meantime, Dil followed quickly in the wake of the sound of those little footsteps. Those pebbles hadn't delayed her too much, only given the trio enough time to keep a good distance ahead of her. They still made enough noise for even an unobservant creature to follow and Dil could work herself up to a fast pace when she wanted to. The trouble was, she couldn't move quickly forever and she began becoming slightly breathless.

"Where do these kids get all the energy?" Dil huffed.

"They're kids." Ichy answered. "Growing up packs them with energy. They don't yet have to worry about lugging around so much weight."

"Watch what you're implying," she growled.

"I wasn't talking about your weight." Ichy said impatiently. "I'm just saying I'm not as swift and nimble as I was when I was a hatchling. It takes a while to adapt to moving around as an adult."

Dil grunted. "I hope you stealth adaptation hasn't lost its touch then, because I want you to see where those kids are going so we can actually corner them. I have my doubts about your ability to stay out of sight lasting long."

"Hey, have more faith in me." Ichy replied. "If even they're sniffers couldn't find me, I doubt they'll see me anytime soon."

Ichy accelerated ahead, following the sounds of Littlefoot, Spike, and Ruby. They quickened their pace enough that they disappeared from view. Through the twist of passageways, he eventually found them in yet another cave, this one with a hole big enough for Spike. They had tucked themselves under an overhang, where the shadows nearly hid them from sight. The three were pressed close together, for mutual comfort, their heads rising uncertainly.

"Are you sure we'll be safe here?" Littlefoot was asking.

"Positive." Ruby said. "This cave is quite out of the way and she can't see very well anyway. If we keep quiet, she might walk past us and never hear we're here."

"What about that sharpbeak?"

"If he comes through that hole, we're bound to notice and hear him. This'll hold up until we come up with our next course of action."

Ichy smiled deviously, hovering above the ledge. Oh, how wrong they were. He and Dil would play along but just when they let their guard down, Dil shall pounce. The mental image of their reaction was delicious. Ichy silently swung in place and was about to return to Dil when a shape to his right made him stop. He glided closer, eyes adjusting to the low light as he comprehended what was in front of him.

His smile, if possible, became even more devious.

Dil heard the familiar flap of Ichy returning to her.

"We have them where we want them," he whispered. "Allow me to show the way."

With Ichy's quietly spoken directions, Dil took a series of left turns at a few intersections before she found herself nosing yet another narrow hole. Like the one before, this entrance had thin enough walls that Dil could break through without much hassle. However, Ichy hissed into her ear and urged her onward. She made clearly audible steps as her side brushed against the wall, wondering what Ichy was thinking. The brats were clearly in that cave. She should just barge in and take them down.

Then she tripped slightly as she found a part of her was leaning against nothing at all. Dil backtracked and squinted at this absence of wall. There was a swoosh around her from Ichy that made her take a step in and she realized what he had been actually leading to this whole time.

A wider, darker entrance where she wouldn't be seen. Dil smiled.

*No wonder he was trying to keep in his chuckles* she thought approvingly. *Even with all his squawking, there is a reason I keep him around.*

Quietly, she padded into the cave, scanning what she could and taking a few experimental sniffs. Her nose wasn't up to the leagues of some sharpteeth but it had proven more reliable than her sight and it told her the general direction of where to go. She made airs of examining areas of the cave to the right, almost sensing Littlefoot, Spike, and Ruby hearing but unable to visually track her whereabouts. Let the three think she was too blind to notice them. There were some advantageous to being underestimated.

"I don't see them, Ichy." Dil said to thin air. "Are you sure you saw them go in – wait, what is that?"

On those last four words, Dil delighted at the thrill of movement to her left that indicated a series of startled jumps. Slowly, she turned her head and found three forms trying to phase through the walls. She gave Littlefoot, Spike, and Ruby her best crocodilian smile.

"Ah, there you are. I was wondering where you ran off to. You need to stop doing that."

"Please, leave us alone!" Littlefoot said, pleading. "We hate these dark tunnels. We just want to get out."

"Don't worry, I'll get you out." Dil purred. "You'll be perfectly safe – digesting in my belly."

"No!" Ruby gasped. "That isn't the way we want to get out at all!"

"Tough!" Dil snapped. "I want a lot of things but I had to compromise with not always catching prey, never being full enough! Being a poor-sighted predator sucks, and when I can find food that can fill my stomach, I sure as muck am not going to compromise!"

Spike whimpered, cringing down in fright. Dil turned her attention to him, licking her chops longingly.

"Ah, that's right. You're the one who robbed me of a meal back in the Land of Mists because you stopped giving everyone the silent treatment. You always looked the plumpest amongst these brats. I might as well have my revenge and a satisfying first bite at the same time!"

Dil snapped forward, making to bite for Spike. Faster than she expected, Spike rolled away and her snout slammed into rock. Dil grunted in pain, and before she could do anything else, Ruby hopped onto her snout and followed Spike. Littlefoot was next, his forefeet landing hard in his rush and his hind feet joining in before he leapt off. That allowed Dil to finally emit a sound.

"Ow! You're going to pay for that!"

Dil swung, snapping at the trio and nearly getting their feet. They jumped back and Dil advanced, her throat rumbling in consternation. Littlefoot, Ruby, and Spike were unabashed.

"We're not going to enter your stomach without a fight!" Littlefoot declared.

"You can't catch us!" Ruby said.

Dil growled. "I hate cheeky food!"

Dil made one more grab at them, and they squealed and scampered back. Dil was undeterred. The three didn't have anywhere to go. Their retreat would lead them to be pressed against another wall and if they dared to flee around her, the spaces were narrow enough that they wouldn't escape the reach of her snaps. She had only time to kill as she snapped at them again and again, occasionally brushing close to their legs but also nearly getting startled heads and clumsy tails. They weren't exactly graceful and their coordination would probably improve if they stopped urgently glancing at the wall. Dil surmised they were mentally counting down to their deaths, which only endangered their chances of delaying the inevitable.

"Almost…almost…" Ruby was muttering.

Dil laughed and made a strike for her ankles. "Yeah, yeah, it's almost time for you to die. Whatever makes it easier to deal with. I once had a fuzzy who sang annoyingly as one last curse to his fate. There are days where I switch between liking or hating Ichy for making me learn leaf eater."

"We know some songs that will drive you around the bend." Littlefoot said.

"Then start singing. As long as I can gulp something down, I don't care how annoying you are."

Soon, the trio were up against the cave wall. They looked amongst themselves, breath bated. Dil scanned the whole lot, finding her preferences shifting.

"Alright, new order." Dil said. "The longneck first. You're the leader of this annoying merry band and it would be a great relief if their lucky charm is taken care of for good."

"Oh no." Littlefoot panted. "Sorry guys. Sorry."

"That's right." Dil chuckled, surging closer. "You should be sorry for ever crossing us…"

"Now!" Ruby shouted.

Dil was caught off guard but had enough sense to snarl for her prize. Littlefoot zipped to the side, missing her by inches. That wasn't enough to keep him safe, as she snapped for him once more. He dodged again, oddly keeping close to the wall. He spun to face her and in that moment her eyes were drawn to the flutter of movement that was his tail. A third bite attempt followed, and Littlefoot dodged, fast and swift as always.

This time, though, not fast enough.

Littlefoot yowled at the top of his lungs as Dil's teeth closed around the tip of his tail. It wasn't much, nothing more than a few inches but Dil's grip was hard and it was enough to keep him from going anywhere.

"She's got me!" Littlefoot yelled.

Ruby and Spike charged in and grabbed Littlefoot's tail, pulling with all their might. Littlefoot yelled from the strain but his tail didn't so much as budge. Dil pulled from her end in turn.

"Oh no, you don't." Dil said, muffled. "You won't escape."

She opened her mouth slightly and gobbled up another inch of Littlefoot's tail. The pair tugged back, not willing to give any more ground to the bellydragger, Ruby's movements quick and panicked. Littlefoot moaned, the agony clear in his voice and yet no matter how much they attempted to get away from Dil, her jaw power was as strong as ever.

"Something," Ruby said, "there must be something that'll make her let go!"

"Ruby, Spike, don't risk yourselves!" Littlefoot then moaned. "Oh, I can't take much more of this."

Ruby looked around anxiously, desperately. "I can't – what should I do? There's nothing on the tip of my tongue-"

"The only thing on the tip of my tongue is this longneck's tail." Dil said. "Shall I bite it off? It tastes good enough already."

"We'll stop – wait. Biting is above the tongue. Maybe – maybe the answer is above too!"

Abruptly, Ruby abandoned Littlefoot and rapidly approached Dil, swinging out a foot for an almighty kick. It connected with a blaring amount of pain. Dil made a muffled "ow" but didn't let go. Ruby didn't give up though, and gave a second kick with her other foot, followed by a third kick. As a fast runner, Ruby's legs had a lot of strength, so Dil's snout was nearly numb from the assault when she brought one foot up and crashed it down atop the bellydragger's nose. Littlefoot cried out as more pressure pressed down on his tail tip but it was only momentary as Dil opened her jaws to yell out in pain and released Littlefoot from her grip. Hastily, the trio staggered away.

"Are you okay, Littlefoot?" Ruby asked.

Littlefoot flicked his tail experimentally and winced. "I think I'm not going to move my tail much the next couple of days. Now what do we do? That was supposed to be the determinate dodge!"

"We should…" Ruby rubbed her hands together anxiously. "I can't ask you or Spike to do that again…"

"Urgh." Dil blinked and twitched her snout, scowling at the trio. "Just because you have a fast and hard kick doesn't mean you can hold me off forever."

"Fast? That's it." Ruby relaxed and smiled. "Oh, you think so. Have you ever tried to catch a fast runner before?"

"First time for everything. Even fast prey can't do much in a narrow space like this."

"Do you want to bet?"

Dil's long face pinched in consternation and she snapped. Quickly, Ruby zoomed to the side, nudging the base of Dil's jaw. That only earned her another bite attempt but Ruby easily dodged around to the bellydragger's other side to give a light kick to the nose. Ruby evaded Dil once more and continued on this reckless pattern, touching some part of Dil's head to get her attention and then avoiding Dil's biting snarls, leading her closer to the cave wall. Littlefoot and Spike watched her, having some idea of her plan and being very concerned.

"Isn't she being a bit reckless?" Littlefoot whispered.

Spike gazed helplessly at Littlefoot and could only bay his confused agreement as Ruby continued her reckless plan until she was backed to that wall. Littlefoot and Spike stepped forward but she caught their eye and subtly shook her head for them to stand back. Her confident expression didn't waver as Dil's muzzle came within inches of her feet.

"I never tasted fast runner before." Dil said. "I heard the legs are delicious. They'll be the first to go."

Dil reared a few feet on her hind legs. She gave a growl of anticipation and dived straight for Ruby's feet faster than expected of someone her size, hunger and a longing to catch one of the hated children, even one she wasn't familiar with, giving her the energy to be swift.

Ruby was still faster. At the very last second, she ran to the side, leaving Dil's wide open jaws to crunch onto the wall and break it into bits. Dil landed back down with a thud, much of those wall pieces in her mouth, many of which showed glimpses of glowy green.

"What the…" Dil said, muffled. She stopped, eyes widening. "Oh my goodness, what's this gross taste? Get it out, get it – ack!"

Speaking only rubbed her tongue further against the mossy rocks and pushed a few down her throat. She made a gagging sound and charged forward, going through the hole in the wall she created and splashing into the tunnel river, coughing out the mossy wall bits and lapping up water when she cleared her mouth. She pawed at her tongue, alternating between saying "yuck" variations of, "Dang it, Ichy!" She paid no attention to Littlefoot, Spike, and Ruby whatsoever as they tentatively came over to watch the display. Littlefoot winced as his tail tip gave a twinge but he ignored that to turn appreciatively tow Ruby.

"That was smart thinking, Ruby," he said. "For a second, I was worried you were being too rash for your plan to work out but you managed to get it to work."

"Yes." Ruby murmured. "That plan did plan itself out…I'm glad it did." She shook her head. "Well, just like we've planned, it seems like clearing out that disgusting green fuzz would keep her occupied for a while."

Littlefoot nodded. "The sharpbeak must be very mad at the bellydragger right now."

Ruby frowned. "Yes, but I'm not hearing any lecturing from him. Strange. Even from what I've briefly heard, they like to argue a lot. Why aren't they arguing now? I haven't heard the sharpbeak in a while…"

Spike sniffed, and also frowned. He sniffed again, turning around and even padding over to the entrance Dil emerged from to pick up a scent. He worked those nostrils hard and by the time he returned to Littlefoot and Ruby, he wore a worried look on his face. The others stared nervously.

"What is it, Spike?" Littlefoot asked. "Can you – can you smell the sharpbeak?"

Distressed, Spike swished his head side to side. Ruby put a hand to her mouth.

"If we haven't heard him in a while, that might mean he hasn't been here in a while."

Their stomachs sank in horror. Despite the trio's best efforts, Ichy gamed them and was going after Cera and the others.

Cera kept a close watch of the river as she and her chosen companions for this mission journeyed passed it. After they parted from Littlefoot's team, they went as far as possible through those passageways before they spiraled off in other directions and they were forced to return to the river tunnel. As of yet, they saw no signs that a bellydragger was going to emerge from the river but the group didn't like taking those chances and were on the lookout for any other passageway entrances they could use. At least in the passageways, the bellydragger wouldn't be able to catch up with them as quickly on land as in water. They had been moving in silence for a while now and though outwardly they seemed mostly calm, inside their minds kept going back to what might be happening to their remaining friends.

"Are we getting any closer to getting out of here?" Cera asked finally.

Chomper took a scent of the air. "I think so. Something like the outside's in the air but it's very faint."

Cera sighed. "Still a long ways to go then."

"Me could fly ahead and check." Petrie said reluctantly. "But with sharpbeak around, that not safe." He sighed. "Flying so useful with walking sharpteeth but not with flying ones."

"You aren't the only one grounded." Ducky said, in an attempt at being reassuring. "Being a swimmer means you can escape from some sharpteeth in water but when they're swimmers too, it isn't much help, it isn't, it isn't."

"Once we get rid of those two, we can go back to screaming away from sharpteeth the old fashion way." Cera said. "The others will keep them occupied."

"Yeah, but for how long?" Petrie asked.

"As long as necessary. They have brains too, they can outthink those dummies. Now let's use our brains to dummy up this place for good."

The others fell silent, only somewhat reassured by Cera's words. Cera stared onward as she led them, attempting not to show how nervous she was. She hated when the group split up like this. There was often no method for knowing how the others were coping until they regrouped. Ichy and Dil didn't seem that bright but they sniffed out a potential way to get into the valley and almost sneaked up on them. To survive this long, the predators must have some cleverness. They were certainly dangerous. It would be horrible if Cera's team came back and discovered Littlefoot's team had been fatally outwitted by those scary predators. Losing loved ones while away was painful enough that first time; for that to happen a second time with those she considered as precious as family was…

*No, no, don't even think about that!* Cera subtly shook her head. *They'll make it. With Littlefoot and Ruby's brains, they're bound to survive and Spike's no slouch either. They'll do their job. We shouldn't let them down by not doing ours.*

Still, even if Littlefoot and the others manage to survive, she couldn't shake the dangers her own group might face. What if Dil and Ichy give the three the slip and go after them? The mental image of the bellydragger and sharpbeak emerging from the darkness, ready to menace Cera and the others before their grisly demise, made Cera's ribcage vibrate with fear. She would do her best to protect her friends, to get them away from danger, but a traitorous thought reminded her there was only so much she could do as an adolescent threehorn. Cera took quiet calming breaths but it was hard to dispel the image and grim thoughts.

Instead, Cera tried to focus on the victorious feeling that would come about when they blocked the major entrance for Dil and Ichy. It wouldn't be too difficult. There was bound to be a weak rock somewhere that could cause the mouth of the river entrance to crumble down. Cera was good at breaking rocks, especially ones that led to a chain reaction. It was that skill that played a major part in rescuing Bron from the lava after all. Cera simply needed to not lose her cool, remember there was always a way out of danger, and work hard to find that way. She would feel quite satisfied when the task was accomplished. Though it wouldn't spare them from Dil and Ichy's wrath when they found out…

"Cera, are you okay?"

Cera started, realizing that she had been walking tensely with a look of barely strangled down worry. Ducky had made to walk closer, blue eyes aimed at her with concern.

"I'm – I'm fine." Cera said, staring ahead. "I'm just thinking."

"Oh." Ducky paused, as though thinking through her next words. "Are there bad thoughts in that thinking? Because if there are, don't worry. I'm sure we will get through this."

"Yeah. Sure." Cera said distractedly.

"We will." Ducky insisted. "You can smash any rocks with your head and that will be useful in blocking the river or getting away from the sharpbeak and bellydragger. The rest of us will help too, as we always do."

"Okay. Thanks." Cera said, still staring ahead, mind elsewhere.

"I mean, we do this sort of dangerous stuff all the time." Ducky paused. "Well, only once or a few times a cold time, but we're good at it. We'll survive, we will, we will."

"I know." Cera said, with a trace of annoyance. "Got the message."

"So everything will be okay, you'll see. We just need to stick together and do our thing, and then-"

"Alright, we got it, enough already." Cera snapped. "You know, it's okay if some of us aren't happy once in a while. You don't need to march up to us every time because us not smiling brings down your mood. Just let us be, we can get better on our own."

Ducky reeled back, as if slapped. After several seconds, her eyes fluttered around and a guilty look entered her face.

"Oh, I didn't mean-" she sighed. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know what I did bothers everyone, I didn't, I didn't."

She looked so contrite that regret burned in Cera's stomach. Ducky was so cheerful and good-natured lashing out at her could feel like kicking an infant. She was hardier than she appeared, but Cera didn't feel right for snapping. Awkwardly, she shuffled a foot in the dirt.

"Well, maybe I should have told you some other way." Cera said. "I meant nothing serious from it."

Ducky smiled softly and padded Cera comfortingly at the implied apology before she looked down. "This is a stressful situation, and I don't know how we're going to solve this. I'm only…worried about how everyone else might get out of this."

"Like Spike?" Cera asked softly.

Ducky nodded. "Yeah, a little. He can be clumsy and distracted, even if he's no slouch as you said. But I'm also worried about my many brothers and sisters. We're all in danger from that bellydragger and sharpbeak. It'd be pretty sad if we can't swim and splash around again."

"That not going to happen." Petrie said, flying closer. "Sharpbeak mean me brothers and sisters can't fly around either, so that means we make sure to stop them. Don't worry, we'll do it. And I like how you make me smile."

"Me too." Chomper nodded. "You always look after us, and that makes me feel better. We wouldn't have you any other way."

They moved over and touched Ducky's shoulder in support, Ducky perking up and giving the pair a warm smile. Eventually, Chomper and Petrie moved away and the four continued walking, mood slightly uplifted. Cera was slightly encouraged by this. She might bicker and moan but she didn't like really hurting her friends as much as anyone else. In some ways, she was glad to have these three here. They had some useful skills. With Chomper's nose, Ducky's swimming skills, and Petrie's ability to whoosh anywhere, they were guaranteed to locate and seal off the river entrance before Dil and Ichy could go through.

Cera was distracted by those pleasant thoughts by the sound of actual but distant whooshing coming from behind them.

"Petrie, are you still with us?" Cera said slowly.

"Me right here." Petrie hovered lower near Cera's head in puzzlement. "Why you ask?"

Cera glanced at him, her ears on alert. "If you're here," she said slowly, heart trilling warily, "then what's making that sound?"

The others looked back, where the whooshing got closer and became distinctly, horribly familiar. Ducky's breaths quickened.

"Oh no, no, no. Littlefoot and the others should have kept them occupied."

There was an eerie laugh. "They're keeping Dil occupied. Have you forgotten who's the brains of this operation here?"

The whooshing had become feathery flapping. Cera and the others glanced up desperately to track Ichy down but there was no more glowing moss in this part of the tunnel and the ceiling was obscured by darkness.

"How did you find us?" Cera demanded, hoping anger limited how her voice wavered.

"Oh, through the method of eavesdropping." Ichy replied. "Voices carry in these tunnels and you lot do like to argue. It was child's play to get an inkling of your plan and work around it."

"Yes, well, so much for that." Cera said. "You're still smaller than me and Chomper. If it comes to a fair fight, we will win."

"I'm not interested in a fair fight. I have the darkness on my side. I could simply sneak up on you and snatch up your smaller friends before you know where they went. You also forget this sharpbeak has some experience in taking down larger prey. All I need to do is apply a bite in the right part of the neck and voila – the ground is died red and the swimmer and flyer no longer have protectors and I can eat enough to make my belly burst."

"I will make something burst." Chomper said angrily. "I have much bigger teeth than you – even if you get me, I'll have you in pieces!"

Ichy laughed. "Am I supposed to believe the cute sharptooth who pals around with leaf eaters has the will and skill to take me down? Softie. Not like the sharpteeth that really sent chills down my spine."

"Look, just go away." Petrie said nervously. "Look at river! It has lots of water swimmers. Just eat them and be on your way."

"They might make a satisfying snack for me but not for Dil." Ichy said. "Besides, this is about more than eating. This is about vengeance. You have robbed us of our home and dignity. We can't get our home back but at least we can regain our dignity and pride by picking our teeth with your bones!"

"We can swim!" Ducky said desperately. "Your bellydragger friend is not around, so we can escape you in the water!"

"And when you can't hold your breath any longer and go back to the surface for air, I can just grab you with my feet. It's kind of hard to swim and lookout for enemies above at the same time. Face it hatchlings, I can come at you any when, anywhere. Like close to where you breathe."

A whish went past Cera's throat. She yelped and staggered away.

"Around where you fly."

A blur circled Petrie's wings, making him scream and topple out of the air.

"Under where you keep balance."

A whoosh of air went under Chomper's tail and between his legs. Chomper shrieked and jumped as though dancing on hot coals.

"I can even be behind where you speak."

An arrow of wind whipped up Ducky's back and inches from her forehead. She screamed and flailed her hands to swat it away but Ichy was already gone, his laughter echoing off the walls.

"Yes, continue screaming. You are all cowards, idiots, wusses, brats. Luck might have saved you last time but now it's over. All you can do now is entertain me while I work up my appetite. Might as well get out the last of your yelling. You never know when any of these passes might be your last!"

Cera jerked away as a whoosh went past her side. She saw a whish kick up dirt beside Petrie's feet, a great wind nearly knock down Ducky, a blur dart around inches from Chomper's neck. Ichy swooped in and around them faster than any of them could see, making them scream and be uncertain where to step. Wherever they turned, he darted past mockingly and when they watched where they last saw him, they felt a presence swoop past the back of their heads. They just didn't know where to go and the constant near misses and mocking laughter was cracking their resolve.

"What we do?" Petrie said, panicked. "Oh, we can't – we can't stay here! We must move!"

"We stick together!" Cera said, with an attempt at authority. "Ducky, Petrie, stay close to us!"

"I don't want you guys to get hurt!" Ducky said.

"He's just winding us up!" Cera said, half convincing herself. "Don't listen to him!"

"I'll protect you…" Chomper panted. "I'll protect you guys!"

"Let keep moving this way." Petrie said. "If we do that, maybe we can break the-"

"Do you want to escort him into the valley?" Cera said angrily. "Let's try losing him for now. Stay close, and he won't be able to get close unless he wants to get gored by my-"

Something touched Cera's neck, light but cold, close to the jugular. It was only for a second but Cera, already scared and keyed up, saw her mortality and lost her head completely. She screamed, circling to get away and she inadvertently knocked Ducky off her feet. Chomper reached out for Ducky but a swoop caused him to shriek and stumble away. Petrie tried to take off into the air but a blur kicked him and he tumbled, latching onto Cera's tail. They scattered, making a beeline for any passageway entrance they could find, too panicked to know what they were doing or where they were going other than to get away.

Ducky found herself tripping and staggering down a tall passageway, pants echoing loudly. She looked about for signs – of where Ichy was, of her location, of her friends' whereabouts. So far, Ducky saw nothing and every second alone caused her panic to ratchet up to new heights.

"Where are you?" Ducky whispered. "Petrie, Cera, Chomper."

She sighed. She hated when she got separated from the others. Even if just one friend was with her, she would have been okay but stranded alone, she felt like a target was painted on her back. Ducky might have an advantage with finding escape routes and refuges with her small size but when a predator set its sights on her, even the smallest meat eater could still make a meal out of her. Not only did she not want to die, the loneliness only accentuated the terror of the danger. She only hoped she could find the others soon before she encountered any dangers that would give her a lonely end.

When she found a three way intersection in the passageway, she brightened and picked up her pace. Maybe there was a route to get her reunited with her friends there. She turned to the left passageway, the direction where she last saw the others. There was a call of recognition from the right passageway, from the last voice she wanted to hear.

"Aha, there you are!" Ichy said. "Just the swimmer I was looking for."

Ducky shrieked and pelted forward. She moved with all the energy in her but Ichy's awful flapping quickly caught up with her. No matter how fast she ran, he rarely strayed from above her. All the movement was draining. She didn't know how long she could keep this up but fear drove her onward. As exhaustion made her footing clumsy, she called desperately into the air.

"Petrie! Cera! Chomper! Help! Help!"

"You're not getting any help." Ichy said. "No last minute rescues for you. This time you're going to be eaten and nothing will stop me!"

"I don't want to be eaten, no, no, no! Someone, please, help me!"

"You were the last of our prey to evade us. I think it's kind of fitting you'll be my first meal. After all the insult you gave us, finally we'll have our dignity back. Just think, your family will forever wonder what happened to you. I wish I could watch. They'll never know you died alone, not doing some heroic sacrifice but trying to save your own hide. It's guaranteed to be delicious. Not that you'll ever know. You'll die anonymously, the object of ignorance and ignorant of how others react to you."

Ducky whimpered, tripping again and barely able to stay on her feet. "Spike…Spike! I need you!"

"You're weirdo brother isn't going to help you." Ichy jeered. "I don't understand why you would decide to be a sister to lazy creatures like spiketails, since you swimmers like to have so many children, but never mind. It's nearly lunchtime."

Ducky attempted to double her speed but she had little energy to double on. Her sore muscles made her stiff and clumsy and she got a stitch in her chest. She pressed against the problem area to stifle the pain but doing that distracted her and her foot caught on a jut. She fell with a smack. Groaning, she weakly pushed on the ground but could do no more than rise a few inches before collapsing back down. The flapping was loud and stationary.

"And so it ends." Ichy said. "It was nice knowing you, swimmer, but it's time to fill my stomach. Don't worry, I'll make this painless. It can be annoying when the food struggles down your throat."

There was a final flap and Ducky heard Ichy dive bomb for her. She curled up into a ball and closed her eyes, hoping that if she shut out the world, she wouldn't notice when she everything went black. The several seconds Ichy took to get closer stretched on for an eternity. Ducky thought about her friends, Spike, and the rest of her family, the many brothers and sisters she wished she got to know better but now never would…

Several seconds passed before she realized nothing had happened. She should have been struck down by now but all she had felt was a brief brush of cold across her back. The flapping was now ahead of her, Ichy making a noise of confusion.

"What? How did I – I'll get you!"

Once again, there was the sound of Ichy diving for Ducky. She cringed again, the sound closing in, right on top of her…and then zooming past her with another brush of cold. Ichy's voice was strangled.

"I can't be missing – why? Again!"

For a third time, Ichy attempted to snatch Ducky and once more, Ducky heard him miss, that mysterious cold coming across her back again. Ichy was beside himself.

"Oh, not now. Not now! This is the worst time for me to lose my touch!"

Ichy swooped down for a fourth, fifth, and sixth time. Each time, she felt no pain, no contact, only the cool disturbance of air as Ichy kept somehow missing his target. Ducky opened her eyes and uncurled herself as she came to realize something was going very wrong for her would-be killer.

"What am I doing wrong?" Ichy groused. "I've done this dozens of times before! She's not even moving, I should have gutted her. At the very least I should have scratched her! What's going on?"

While he raged, Ducky tentatively got to her feet. She still couldn't see Ichy in the darkness, but he didn't appear to be paying attention to her. When his ranting about his feet reached another octave, Ducky took the opportunity to jog quickly up the passageway. She was still exhausted but the confusion had reinvigorated her with hope, which rose as Ichy's voice didn't follow her. Eventually, she stopped hearing him altogether and continued her journey.

The passageway was curving back to the tunnel by the time Ducky heard voices again, much more welcome than Ichy's. She picked up her pace and found Cera, Petrie, and Chomper standing anxiously at a passageway intersection.

"What happened to her?" Cera was saying. "Oh, how can I face the others if Ducky was taken by that sharpbeak?"

"You don't need to worry about that, because the sharpbeak couldn't take me." Ducky said, stepping into view.

The three jumped. After a second or two of staring, they rushed to her with relief.

"Ducky, you alright!" Petrie beamed, briefly embracing her. "We so worried."

"When you were gone too long, we thought…" Chomper trailed off. "Wait, 'sharpbeak couldn't take me?' You ran into him?"

"How did you escape?" Cera asked.

"I don't know." Ducky answered, brushing her chin in puzzlement. "I really thought I was a goner, but for some reason, I only felt cold wind as he kept missing me. That was confusing, since he caught me with his feet just fine in the Last of Mists. But I'm glad that confusing thing happened, I am."

"You're far from the only one." Cera said, relieved. "Sorry I tripped you up like that. I tried not to listen but he seemed to know how to get into our heads and twist our brains and-"

"Hey do you smell that?" Chomper interrupted, frowning.

"You have best sniffer, so we probably don't." Petrie replied.

"But sometimes you can pick up what I smell too." Chomper sniffed experimentally. "It's kind of muffled by the water but I smell something like…flowers and grass and treestars. Those aren't in caves, are they?"

Cera blinked, and her expression dawned. "Of course not. But if you're smelling them, that means we must be near-"

"The river entrance!"

Hearts soaring, they followed Chomper through the passageways until they got back to the tunnel, where they walked a short distance. At last, they were back on track and they were going to fulfill the mission Littlefoot gave them. There was nothing that was going to stop them now.

Then they came across a thick, sturdy wall. The surface was rough and uneven, as though some rocks and boulders had been melted into the dark rock. Ducky and the others stopped before it in consternation, glancing at where the river lapped tepidly at the stone.

"What is this?" Cera said. "Did we take a wrong turn?"

"No." Chomper said. "I'm sure we went the right way."

"But river end here." Petrie said. "That strange."

"It is, it is." Ducky agreed. "If water keeps flowing here, this should be flooded. Let me see what's going on."

Ducky moved to the edge and dived, briefly acclimating before she swam forward. A few fish moved past her and she blinked as they didn't slow but lowered to the river floor, approached the wall, and wriggled right under it. Following their example, she descended until her stomach brushed sand and rock. From her low vantage point, she was able to see a shimmer of light shining below the entire wall, low but distinct. She surfaced near the others.

"There's an opening near the bottom here." Ducky said. "The water swimmers swam through it and I can see some light."

"Of course." Chomper said. "I thought the plant smell was kind of wet."

"You mean to tell me we came all this way only to learn the bellydragger and sharpbeak can't come through here anyway?" Cera said, outraged. "What a rip-off!"

"On bright side," Petrie said, "bellydragger and sharpbeak can't come through here. They just don't know."

"Maybe if they did know, that might discourage them from trying to take the valley." Chomper said.

"Who says they won't use these tunnels or another river to get into the valley?" Cera retorted. "We might still have to cause cave-ins, but we don't know where. Oh, it'll take forever to get rid of them."

"Maybe Littlefoot and the others might have some idea about that." Ducky suggested. "There must be a way to get rid of them, there must."

"Not to mention that it would be a long walk for the bellydragger if she decided to enter from another river." Chomper pointed out. "And not all the tunnels can fit her. If we can confuse the two enough, maybe we can get them lost."

"If we don't get lost first." Petrie said.

"Let's find Littlefoot and the others before we think about getting lost." Cera said. "Chomper, use that sniffer. We need to get to them before the bellydragger gets them."

Littlefoot's lungs were searing. He, Ruby, and Spike had been all over the passageway network for an hour, leading Dil on a wild goose chase. They wedged her in tight passageways, trapped her in caves, and even collapsed rocks to pin her underwater. Each time, she used her strength to break or crack the stones enough to free herself and the chase was on again. Still, it bought the trio time to brainstorm solutions for their friends' predicament and they used every second available to them.

Not that it led anywhere.

"We can't split up." Ruby said. "One of us will have to be alone, so splitting up is dangerous."

"Cera and the others are in danger right now." Littlefoot said heatedly. "We have to do something!"

"As I said before, if we go rescue our friends, the bellydragger will go with us and rescue her friend too." Ruby replied evenly. "Even if we trap her somewhere good and leave, she might eventually free herself and go up the river to trap us or our friends. Face it, there is little we can do with the plan we have. We're going to have to trust they'll know what to do. We know that trust hasn't been broken in the past, right? Let's focus on keeping the bellydragger unfocused until they get back."

Littlefoot glared, but Ruby stood her ground. Spike looked between them, baying in confusion. Apparently, he could see Ruby's point but wanted to make sure his sister and the others were unharmed too. After a moment, suppressing a flinch from another tail twinge, Littlefoot breathed out slowly.

"I know you're right," he murmured, "but I hate just not knowing what's going on with them."

Ruby laid a hand on Littlefoot's shoulder, eyes distancing. "Yeah, I hate that kind of not knowing too."

There was a groan. The trio looked down at the pit to find Dil shaking off broken rocks, dazed and tired. A few minutes earlier, the trio had almost stumbled into the shallow pit in this cave while fleeing from the bellydragger and quickly drafted up a plan. Ruby lured her in, her slender limbs and sharp fingers allowing her to climb back out while Dil slid and toppled into the pit. After seeing how her descent shook several stalactites from the ceiling, Littlefoot, Ruby, and Spike lobbed rocks until they all came crashing down, burying Dil in the remains of the stone teeth. That had knocked Dil out for a few minutes, allowing the trio time to try hashing out a plan. Now Dil examined them mutinously.

"You three are really going to pay for that," she growled. "I was thinking of drawing out your suffering but since you made me so tired and hungry, I'll eat you so fast you wouldn't know what happened."

"That's if you can climb up first." Littlefoot retorted.

Seething, Dil muttered in what she thought was an inaudible timber. "Ichy, I hope leaving me to flail in the dark was worth it."

Littlefoot ignored her. "Spike, can you guide us back to the river."

Spike sniffed and nodded agreeably. Littlefoot was really glad to have drafted Spike to the team. If it wasn't for his nose, they would have gotten lost in all these passageways a long time ago. Ruby glanced back nervously.

"Not to hurry you up," she said, "but the bellydragger found a way to hurry out of the pit, so we'd better get ready to hurry off again."

Littlefoot and Spike followed her gaze, noting Dil found purchase on several protrusions on the curvature of the pit and was already halfway up. When she got back to solid footing on a passageway on the other side, the trio ran, the slap-dash of her footsteps a constant encouragement to keep going. Through a twist of passageways, they ended up back in the tunnel, quickly looking around to regain their bearings.

"Where now?" Ruby said.

"I don't know." Littlefoot replied. "I'm running out of ideas. How many ways can you bury a bellydragger before it actually has an effect?"

"We'll come up with something on the run, like always. And speaking of running, I think we should come up with another tunnel before she comes back to the water."

Glancing about, Littlefoot saw no passageway entrances in the immediate vicinity, so he picked a direction and led them in a jog. He just so happened to pick the direction where Cera and the others had last been seen but he didn't expect to bump into the four while on the run. They were either busy sealing up the entrance up ahead or evading Ichy. Littlefoot hoped for the former but feared the latter, so he was quite surprised when he saw shapes running toward them in the distance, calling his name.

"Over here, Littlefoot!"

"Littlefoot, we're back!"

"It's the others!" Littlefoot said.

"One, two, three, four." Ruby smiled. "Four out of four, all safe."

Spike keyed joyfully and bounded forward. Littlefoot and Ruby didn't hesitate to follow. The seven reunited, Spike almost pinning his sister to the ground as he nuzzled and licked her, their laughter food for the soul.

"Thank goodness you're all alright." Littlefoot said. "I thought the sharpbeak might have got you."

"He did almost get us." Ducky said. "But for some reason, he couldn't."

"He what?" Ruby shook her head. "You can tell us about that later. Can you tell us if you were able to seal up the tunnel?"

"We didn't need to." Chomper said. "There already was a wall there."

"It pretty thick." Petrie said. "Ducky said only itty bity space for water swimmers to swim through."

Littlefoot was stunned. "Are you serious? Those two really can't go through there?"

"Not unless they shrank." Cera huffed. "Seriously, all that hassle to find that out. What a waste."

"Maybe it's not so wastey after all." Ducky said slowly. "The sharpbeak did boast a lot while he was scaring us and we all know he and the bellydragger like to fight a lot. Why don't we make them fight?"

"That is a good plan." Ruby beamed. "From what we heard while running, the bellydragger doesn't always like the suggestions and plans the sharpbeak gives her."

"We just need to tell them the truth." Littlefoot said. "At least enough of the truth they would be at each other's throats. The trouble is how do we get them to listen to us?"

There was a snarl and the swirl of disturbed water. Dil had caught up at last, having followed the voices to track them down. She leered in their approximate direction.

"Give it up, kids." Dil said. "You're weak and divided."

"Does it sound like we're divided?" Cera said.

Dil stopped, stunned. "You four are back? Ichy should have taken care of you lot!"

"Shows what he know." Petrie said. "He couldn't even get Ducky."

"He isn't as smart as he thinks he is, oh no, no, no." Ducky wagged a finger. "You can't enter the Great Valley here. We found a great big thick wall that we couldn't get through. There is only enough space for water and small water swimmers to get into the valley, which means you can't get through."

"What are you talking about?" Dil demanded. "Are you screwing with my head?"

"We're telling the truth here." Chomper said. "I smelled the other side of that wall and the Great Valley is out there. Your Ichy didn't think to check first to make sure this route wasn't blocked off."

Dil's anger drained into confusion and even distress. Her eyes darted about as she mentally digested this.

"No way, this can't be true," she muttered. "Ichy sounded so sure about his strategy. You've got to be pulling my leg."

"If anyone's doing the leg pulling, it's your sharpbeak friend." Littlefoot said. "Don't tell me he hasn't led you astray before. He couldn't get us in the Land of Mists and he couldn't get us now, so his plans aren't foolproof."

"His plans aren't foolproof." Dil repeated, lip curling. "Yes, I know. Why, if he really did mess up… if he can't keep track of you brats-"

"Dil! Dil! There you are!"

There was a series of flaps and Ichy's breathless voice became apparent.

"Have you managed to eat those brats? Mine somehow slipped off and it would do me good if you somehow gave a blow to their…there they are!" he exclaimed disbelievingly. "Yours managed to give you the slip too? Come on Dil, it shouldn't have been that hard to get them! They're smaller than you, swallowing them should've been a snap!"

"Easy for you to say!" Dil snarled. "They've been burying me in rocks left, right, and center ever since we started this chasing game. Did you forget I was blind or something when you went dallying off to play with those children?"

There was a slight gasp, as though Ichy hadn't expected Dil to lash out quite like that. He replied frostily. "Well, I didn't exactly hear any disagreement from you. Besides, grumping at me isn't going to fill your stomach. What are you just floating there for? Attack them!"

"Have you actually checked that river exit thing?"

"What, river exit – we're trying to eat these kids!"

"But what about eating other members of this stinking valley? Because I was just told we can't get in through this tunnel!"

Ichy's next pause held a bit of surprise. "We can't?" Then, angrily, "They lie! They just want to make sure we can't get out!"

"They seem pretty ticked they ran all that way to seal it up only to find it was block up anyway." Dil retorted. "Have you actually checked to make sure there wasn't a wall there or the kids caused a rockslide to stem us?"

"Well, um…" Littlefoot and the others could practically hear Ichy glance away. "I was busy making sure the kids didn't actually get to the entrance by following them around. When they came back here, I thought we could team up to make sure they didn't separate again and…"

Dil's eyes narrowed. "Liar! You lost them and didn't even think to check. You're just covering your tail feathers! I should have known you'd screw this up!"

"I'd screw this up?" Ichy repeated incredulously. "You were the one who couldn't even eat a slow spiketail!"

"And you couldn't even catch a whimpering swimmer!"

"It was dark, I couldn't – wait, how do you know that?" Ichy then growled. "You mouthy tattle-tale!"

Ducky clasped her hands innocently. "You did try to catch me, like, six times. I thought it might be worth bringing up, I did, I did!"

"So it is true!" Dil hissed. "Your harebrained schemes have lost us food again!"

"Me! You couldn't even catch those kids and there's not a lot of ways to get lost in those tunnels!"

"You think? This place is a maze! If you hadn't left me alone, I might have caught some of them!"

"You would have caught them if you paused and used that thing you call a brain!" Ichy snapped. "Then you wouldn't be always falling into their traps every time like you say…"

The pair proceeded to argue, tones growing louder and bouncing off the walls. They totally forgot about Littlefoot and the others. If they noticed the seven at all, it was as a springboard to air out more grievances against the other. Littlefoot and the others just watched, bemused.

"There's not much love lost between the two." Ruby muttered to Ducky.

"Yeah, they did a lot of arguing in the Land of Mists too." Ducky whispered.

"Now what do we do, Littlefoot?" Cera said.

"I don't think there's time to check every tunnel and make sure they don't lead to the valley." Littlefoot said. "But if we egg them on, maybe they'll leave and not want to have anything to do with each other again."

"But what about sharpbeak?" Petrie asked. "Bellydragger mightn't come back but sharpbeak can fly. He can eat some of us small hatchlings like me and Ducky."

Littlefoot winced. That was indeed a quandary. He looked back up to where Ichy's voice emanated, mentally running through all the plans in his mind, even the ones that trembled his stomach. He had to make some hard choices in the past, but will he have do them again?

"It's going to take forever to find another path!" Dil was ranting. "Do I look like the type that can walk long distances? A sharpteeth might make me its snack before we get to another river!"

"There must be another way to get in through these tunnels." Ichy said. "We just need to learn them!"

"And by then, we'll get lost and starve. These little water swimmers aren't going to fill me up any good, Ichy! I should have known this plan of yours was dodgy."

"Dodgy? I'll tell you what's dodgy? That I hang around with a blind musclehead who can't strategize her way out of a tangle of seaweed! I should have contented myself with the fuzzy tree dwellers and runaway hatchlings! Ever since I met you, you've been nothing but a liability!"

"Right back at you!" Dil said. "Every time you tell me what to do, you give me a headache. And it isn't even helpful! You said that learning leaf eater will be easy, that it'd give us the advantage, but instead it allowed the prey to know everything we're doing. We'd have been better off not understanding them at all. Other predators get by just fine! All of your plans go up in flames this way, and you never own up to your mistakes. Honestly, I'd be better off just sitting in a bog on my own and waiting for idiot water swimmers to swim into my mouth. It'd mightn't be a complex plan but unlike your plans, at least it'll get the job done."

Ichy's teeth ground together. "Don't pin all the blame on me! I'm sick of you having to rely on me for every obstacle you bump against when you could use your brain instead. Why should I bother giving better directions, you suck at following them and lose your temper as though that's my fault. Dammit woman, if you ever thought of using that cranium of yours, I wouldn't have ended up getting swallowed hole by you in the first place!"

His voice echoed out among the tunnel. A quiet followed like a sudden, cold draft.

"…what are you talking about, Ichy?" Dil's voice held a different catch. Oddly, she winced as though a rock thudded her cranium. "Ow, now I really have a headache. C'mon Ichy, stop giving me the silent treatment."

"I…I don't know." Ichy said uncertainly. "Those words…they just, they suddenly fell out of my mouth…"

"Now what are they complaining about?" Cera said. "I'm confused."

"They seemed just as confused as we are." Ducky said. "Oh yes, oh yes."

"I still haven't been able to see or smell this sharpbeak." Chomper said, taking another vain draft of the air. "If he's been flying around all over the place, he should be sweating enough for my sniffer to pick him up."

"Me think me see him." Petrie said, trembling.

"Where Petrie?" Littlefood scanned the high ceiling. "I can't see anything."

"He over there, halfway above her head but…me must be seeing things."

Puzzled, Littlefoot and the others focused above Dil's head, raising their gaze further and further until…they almost missed the flicker of a shape hovering there. He was easy to miss, like a whisp of smoke held in place, the caves so dark he was almost invisible. The five who went to the Land of Mists remembered well how Ichy blended into the fog and darkness, wings silent until he was almost upon their smaller brethren. But this form of stealth was different, impossible…

"Guys." Ruby said. "Sharpbeaks can't be see-through, can they?"

Ichy started and glanced down at himself. Behind the flyer's black, grey, and white plumage was the tunnel wall, blurred like in a weak fog. Ichy's breath clambered up a few notches even as he took in no air, his chest hitching in spreading fear.

"This can't be possible," he said. "Why can I see through myself? Dil, explain yourself. Dil, say something!"

"Why are you blaming me for your delusions?" Dil said, confused and slightly panicked. "The lack of food is messing with your head. Just eat one of the kids and everything will clear up."

"I'm not delusional! I'm transparent and even those brats can see it. Look!"

Ichy darted down and landed on Dil's snout, close to her eyes. His feet sunk down as though in mud and he gave a panicked flap to get them back on firm reptilian skin. Dil's nose twitched in consternation.

"Hey Ichy, your feet are cold. Don't I tell you not to stay on for long? I can see you fine now, you look great and healthy…and I can see right through you to my nose."

Dil shrieked and slushed water as she backed away. Ichy remained where he was, feet standing on thin air. He didn't need to flap his wings to stay in place. That only further horrified him.

"I don't understand!" he said. "I'm so confused. Did I – was I…no, no!"

"Does anyone have an explanation for what's going on?" Cera demanded.

"Maybe…maybe she did eat him." Petrie gulped. "He said that because it true but he didn't want to think about it until he too angry to ignore it."

"So he's a ghost who didn't know he's a ghost." Ruby said softly.

"I'm a ghost?" Ichy squeaked. "If I'm a ghost, then I'm…that can't be true, it can't be!"

"And that means I – " Dil's voice became strangled. "No, no. I spat him out, I spat him out! I almost ate him, but I realized my mistake before it was too late and threw him up. That's the only thing that makes sense. I should remember this. But why – why can't I remember spitting him out."

"Maybe you're right and we're both delusional." Ichy said eagerly. "Yeah, hunger is messing with our brains, it's making us see things. There's no such thing as ghosts. You damn kids are just screwing with our heads. All we need to do is just gobble you up and this will all go away."

"But if you haven't eaten, how were you able to chase us all over the place?" Ducky said. "Doing that is very draining. You should have dropped, you should have, you should have."

"Shut up!" Ichy snapped. "I'm just running on fumes, that's all! All that workout should be making me famished. Any second now, I'll be so hungry I can eat all of you without feeling full. That's right, it all makes sense. I just need to wait and everything'll be back to normal. You'll see! You'll be the ones who die!"

"And then you'll be solid again?" Littlefoot shook his head, almost sad. "I'm sorry. You really are see-through and standing on thin air. You're…dead."

That gave Ichy no comfort. He rubbed at his neck and chest feathers, looking around desperately, searching for a way out. His breathing became more and more panicked until he let out a wrenching scream.

"I don't want this, I don't want this!" he shouted. "I don't want to die! I had so many plans, I had so much to do! It can't end like this, all because of a stupid mistake, all because of –"

Ichy's eyes landed on Dil. Fury shook through him, and he jabbed an accusing finger toward her.

"This is all your fault!" he said, causing her to jump. "I should have left you to bumble around in that forest. But no, I had the bright idea you might be useful, that we could benefit each other. I can be the eyes and you could be the teeth. What an idiot I was! You never had good impulse control, I should have saw it coming!"

"I-it was an accident, Ichy." Dil stuttered, sloshing away from him. Her face broke out in self-directed horror. "Oh goodness, this is actually happening. That means I really did –" She then shouted at him, at herself. "I didn't know it was you, I didn't know it was you! I'm telling the truth!"

"Oh really?" Ichy flapped closer, teeth barred. "Did the feathers not feel familiar, did the shape not remind you of a certain someone? How many times did I have to tell you to look before you leap, look and then leap! You didn't stop to think about what you swallowed, did you? You were just satisfied you got a full stomach for once."

"I didn't want to fill my stomach with you!" Dil said desperately. "No matter how much you drove me up the wall, I never wanted to eat you."

"Fat lot of good that does me!" he snapped. "You at least got your fill. I'll never be able to eat again! I'm dead, and I hold you responsible! And you know what, bellydragger…I'm out of here!"

Ichy turned and flew away, back where he and Dil came from. Dil swam after him, so stricken.

"Ichy, wait! Please, let's just talk this out! I didn't want any of this to happen. I'm sorry!"

"Stop, stop!" Ichy whirled around. "I can't stand to be with you. After killing me, I shouldn't care about you anymore but when you speak to me and look at me like that…" his voice broke. "I'm dead, so why do you make my chest hurt?"

With that, Ichy opened his wings and flew off as though fleeing a truth he couldn't stand. Scrambling, a devastated Dil went after him.

"Ichy, come back! I'm sure we can work this out! Ichy…Ichy!"

Soon, she too was gone. Littlefoot and the others stood there, stunned, having difficulty comprehending what they just witnessed.

"Ch-Chomper." Littlefoot found his voice. "Can you sniff our way back to the entrance?"

Chomper nodded faintly. "Yes, yeah…I can do that."

Numb, they began the long walk out. They were alive and had drove off the latest threat to the valley but there was no feeling of victory in what they did.

Their spirits only lifted slightly when they came across more and more of the glowing moss. They soon encountered the opening that curved up and led to the surface world. The gang would have immediately ran up to get out of this tunnel, but Littlefoot stopped them and began looking for loose rocks and long vines.

"But they aren't coming back!" Cera protested.

"Even if they don't, what if someone else does?" Littlefoot said. "We need to seal off this cave. For the good of the valley."

Cera blew out a breath, but she and the others did as Littlefoot said. They also searched the river tunnel exit until they found a vine. They waited until they moved into the exit passage before they started pulling the vine, pawing and toppling loose rocks around the plant. It was slow work but there was a collapse and the dust cleared to reveal a pile of stones with nary a gap to glimpse the river or glowing moss. They traveled up the passage, Littlefoot looking around anxiously. He wasn't content with one collapse. At about the halfway point, they found another vine and collapsed the passage there. It was as slow as last time and the rocks that burst down from the ceiling nearly led to more than one bruise but Littlefoot was willing to take the risks so he wouldn't have to see what he just witnessed again…so no one in the valley would go through the agony and heartbreak of what those two predators experienced…

With a bit of pushing, there was a rumble and they backed away as the entrance to that whole nightmare was collapsed for good. They panted and fell onto the grass, reveling at the feeling of the warmth of the earth, the gentle glimmer of sunlight, of being on the surface at long last.

"What was that?" Cera said.

"I never saw anything like that before." Littlefoot looked at the others. "You're all here. Thank goodness. If anything happened to you…"

The others turned their heads to him, startled by Littlefoot's statement, their faces for a moment communicating confusion and concern over his heightened protectiveness of the last several hours. But they put that aside for now and gave exhausted, reassuring smiles that filled him with such warmth he returned the expression. Even his tail tip getting another faint thrum of pain didn't bother him much. Before they could bask in the moment, there was a distracted snort.

"Ugh, what was all that racket? Did you kids cause it?"

Littlefoot and the others scrambled to their feet. The sleeping spiketail had awakened. She glared at them through half-lidded eyes, though sent a nervous look to the collapsed cave entrnace.

"Uh, we bumped into some rocks and they fell." Littlefoot said sheepishly. "Sorry for disturbing you. We'll be on our way."

With that, they nodded in farewell and hastily marched off, retreating from the spiketail and the memories of the supernatural life and death peril they had just experienced.

Dil was finding breathing hard. Even in the water, she barely kept up with Ichy. When light came into her vision, she knew she finally escaped the confines of those caves, but that brought her no comfort. She couldn't escape what had been discovered there, the guilt and horror of what she did. She had thought more than once jokingly or with annoyance that she should just eat him just to shut him up but for that to actually happen…chest hurting from more than exertion, she called out again.

"Ichy, are you still there? Come on, I can't keep up this chase if I don't know where you are."

"That's kind of the point." Ichy's voice said. "For someone said they were better off sitting in a bog on their own, you stick around like a leech."

"I did think I'd better off in a bog without you but if you really go, what am I going to do?" Dil said. "We've been together for so long. I'm really sorry. Just stick around so we can do things as we always do them – I don't care that you're dead!"

"Don't say that." Ichy said, panicked. "I've been reminded too many times of what I am already, if this happens one more time, I'll start to – to…"

The sound of the flapping slowed and Dil caught up enough to see the faint figure of Ichy hover quietly.

"Too late." Then he murmured. "So this is what our meals felt. I never thought about it, but…"

"What are you on about?" Dil asked nervously.

"I hate being sappy." Ichy said. "You were the last person I ever expected to be here for this, Dil. You always pissed me off but now…you're the only one who will give a damn in the end."

"Don't say that." Dil got closer. "Alright, I admit, it's my fault. I own up to it, I should use my brain more often. Just…bring out your stubbornness, and do something."

"I'm dead, Dil. No one can out-stubborn that. I just haven't left yet. And I'm not mad about what you did. Not anymore. You were only obeying your hunger. If our sizes were reversed, I might have done the same thing. If I survived being eaten, I might have considered it a sign our partnership was doomed from the start and cut off ties with you. Except now…" Ichy laughed. "It's funny. I thought I'd be glad of any way to be rid of you but the thought of going on without you…it burns. Now I know what 'can't live with them, can't live without them' really means."

"I know now too." Dil said, voice catching. "What would life be without your annoying squawk?"

"Oh, you'll find some other voice to nag you. You got by without me before, and you'll do the same again. At least we both know now that this alliance of ours actually had some meaning."

Ichy was hovering away, becoming faint. Dil splashed hastily to follow.

"No. Wait. Don't go!"

"It's already started. Goodbye, Dil. My mind might have sucked at coming up with plans but at least it is good enough to remember all the times we had together."

He was getting farther, fainter. Dil tried to keep up, swam with all her might but soon all her limited vision could see was blurry blue sky. Her eyes became blurrier, and she blinked hard.

"Ichy, come back. I take back every bad thing I said. Alright, I don't, but I don't care about that anymore, just be here with me. I don't want to be alone. Are you still there, Ichy? Ichy?"

All that greeted her was a vacant wind that carried no trace of flapping feathers.

Next time…

Forgotten Lessons