Warning: This chapter also contains some dinosaur violence and the third scene contains a gruesome moment. As before, I try to keep some details minimal for the T rating but reader discretion advised.

We Will Hold On Forever

by

DaveTheAnalyzer

Chapter 24: Clash Over Youth Part 2

Ducky had to remind herself to wrench her hand from her mouth so she could breathe. She had wanted to stop watching the fight but her eyes kept getting drawn to it. Despite her continued energy, Tega was becoming overwhelmed. Whenever one of the three struck her, the other two weren't far behind with their own attacks. She batted them off with kicks or flings of that spiked tail but she was left little opportunity to collect herself. Mama Swimmer, Mr. Thicknose, and Pat stood back. Pat and Mr. Thicknose looked exhausted but from their glare, they could still go on. Mama Swimmer was wiped. She stood with her hands on her knees, heaving breath but that glare in her eye indicated she had drive to go on a bit more for her children.

"You've lost Tega." Mama Swimmer said. "Stop this now, or we'll have to kill you."

Tega stood there with more scrapes and bruises than she liked. She didn't looked worried but she didn't have that lazy confidence in her gaze either.

"Do you have a short memory?" she asked. "If I renounce Wing Father's ways, I will die, again."

"At least you'll choose a hopefully more peaceful way to go." Pat said. "Please, Tega. This isn't going to work out for you. Look at whatever decency you have left and do the right thing."

"I won't die. I would rather bring the whole world down than really go back there."

Mr. Thicknose looked at Mama Swimmer and Pat. There was a fear in his expression that scared Ducky. Receiving a sympathetic but grim look from Mama Swimmer, Mr. Thicknose sighed in resignation and approached Tega with Mama Swimmer and Pat. Skip's lips pressed together.

"Oh, no. Prepare to close your eyes when I say, you two," he said. "Unfortunately, I've had a lot of practice from the Mysterious Beyond."

"Why?" Ducky asked. "They – they are not going to -"

Spike whimpered. Ducky didn't want to think about what was going to happen but as she watched it became unavoidable. Tega reared herself up on her hind legs and stamped her forefeet on Pat's chest. Pat yowled, heavy feet thudding away. Mama Swimmer charged as Tega descending back onto all fours but Tega swung her head down and struck Mama Swimmer's face. Mama Swimmer lost her balance and cried out as she landed on her back.

Tega stepped toward Mama Swimmer, raising a foot, but Mr. Thicknose bit into Tega's tail, making her grunt. Mama Swimmer kicked Tega's face, rolled away, and pushed herself to her feet. Tega jerked up her tail, almost lifting Mr. Thicknose but his forefoot was hooked too strongly around her rear foot.

Dodging a kick, Mama Swimmer ran around Tega. Tega stepped forward, dragging Mr. Thicknose along, and swung her head as Mama Swimmer passed. Mama Swimmer screamed as her leg smacked into Tega's head. She held her leg, limping, but not before delivering a kick as she passed. Pat's tail struck at Tega's side. Grimacing, Tega flipped her tail and Mr. Thicknose let out a muffled ooph as his grip on the rear foot loosened and he fell with a thud on his side. Mr. Thicknose yowled as his tender muscles and bones felt the impact. She turned, striking her tail on his side, and the sound of his cry made Ducky's heart wrench.

"Stop that, Tega!" Pat warned. "Stop-"

Expression impassive, Tega stepped closer to Mr. Thicknose and hit him with the spikes of her tail, leaving behind cuts. She turned to face his back, using her left foreleg to kick him again, again, making Mr. Thicknose bellow within agony-

Pat's face contorted with fury, unable to take such cruelty. He charged with the sound of sky fire and Mama Swimmer quickly limped out of the way. Tega turned and raised her tail but Pat stomped into Tega's side. She gasped, staggering away from Mr. Thicknose. Pat followed her, stomping her side with none of the reservation he showed before, eliciting stomach-churning crunches. Mama Swimmer leapt onto Tega and Pat shoved his foot onto Tega's side, collapsing her into the ground. Tega struggled as Mama Swimmer wrapped her arms around her neck and began pulling.

"What are you-?" she said. "Let go!"

Her tail swung wildly before rising in Mama Swimmer's direction. Mr. Thicknose leapt up and intercepted it with his mouth. Grunting from the bruise on his side, he sat on the tail, the top part of it flailing in his mouth. Mama Swimmer put her feet between Tega's forelegs and bent Tega's neck, harder, harder, constricting her arms around the struggling spiketail's neck.

"No," she croaked. "I won't die. You'll – you'll pay for making me go-"

Skip jumped in front of Ducky and Spike.

"Don't look!" he said.

Ducky and Spike started and clapped their forelimbs on their eyes. There were the heaves of choking and a snap echoed through the clearing like a boulder breaking. Shaking slightly, Ducky took in the silence for some seconds before fluttering her eyelids open a squint.

"That's right." Skip soothed. "Not too fast. Keep your eyes almost closed, blurry, like you're seeing through water."

Slow, Ducky lifted her hands from her eyes. Her gaze was swimmy enough that she only saw a vague light green shape with the front bent at an odd angle before she pressed her head into Spike's neck.

"She-" Ducky panted. "Is she-?"

Mama Swimmer was initially silent. "I'm – I'm sorry you were around for that. Thank you, Skip."

"It – it was necessary." Mr. Thicknose's voice shook. "I have witnessed passings before. She – she wasn't going to stop."

"Hey, it's okay to be disturbed by this." Pat assured, though his voice was grimmer. "We did what we could. Now the thing to do is to watch out for the others and recover."

"Yes." Mama Swimmer said. "I hope the others are doing okay. Will – will this get rid of Wing Father's hold on the world?"

Ducky kept her faces pressed into Spike's cheek, hearing his breaths and occasional whimper. She didn't know what to feel. Tega had fought hard to make others suffer. It took the hard work of Mama Swimmer and their other grownup friends to stop her. A part of her was glad it was over but she felt guilty that she felt that way, wondering if that meant she was okay with her mother and the others suffering to get there. She just wanted things to be happy again. Was that selfish? She was tired of all these confused feelings. Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Spike's paw rubbing his chest and she did the same, attempting to get some heat to her chest.

Petrie twiddled his fingers. In spite of their injuries, Mama Flyer and the fast runners had recovered from Petrie's bungle and continued their offense against Don. The fight went back and forth on who got more injured or overwhelmed. Petrie couldn't be sure but he thought the fight was now going in the parents' favor. Mama Fast Runner held Don in her arms, wings flailing as Mama Flyer flew back and struck his chest with her claws again. Don ripped himself free, only for Papa Fast Runner to charge and deliver an uppercut to Don. Wincing, Don flapped out of reach. Mama Flyer and Ruby's parents stood together to present a united front but the sight of their pants filled Petrie with guilt.

"Not going how you expected?" Papa Fast Runner called.

"It is a tie." Don said. "No more than that."

"I'm afraid it isn't going even that well for you, dear." Mama Fast Runner became grim. "Seriously, call this off. We know you are in a bad place, but you can end your life on your terms. We all have our role to play in the circle of life. "

Don sneered. "So you are the type to say that phrase. You wouldn't be saying it if this Red Claw took your children away."

Mama Fast Runner touched her beak in disquiet. Mama Flyer pressed her beak together.

"Last warning, Don," she said. "You have tried to take our children away but you don't have to be at the center of this crises any longer. Come along quietly and you might be remembered with some grace."

Don glanced at Petrie and Ruby and for a moment, hesitation crossed his face. Then he looked forward with a hardened gaze. "Don't you dare make me go back to the dark."

He launched down at the three. Papa Fast Runner waited until Don neared and raised a fist to punch the flyer. Don grunted, the base of his beak bent. Mama Fast Runner grabbed his wing and Don flapped it hard enough she was thrown back by his ascent. Mama Flyer flew after him and bit his neck, eliciting a yowl. Petrie winced, not used to his mother being so brutal.

Mama Fast Runner waved up at Mama Flyer and she flew after the fast runners. Breathless, she landed and Don kicked at her wing, making her fall down. He landed, raising a foot to stamp her back. Papa Fast Runner crashed into his side. Don got up and flew after Papa Fast Runner as he ran off. Mama Flyer flew after him and her claws scratched at his wing. Don growled as she flew ahead, but yelped when she threw a rock at him.

He descended after her, his claws bared out. Mama Flyer flew down and flew out of the way just before Don crashed down, spewing dirt into the air. He glared after her and leapt up, driving his claws at her. She backed away, dodging side to side as they neared the mountaintop's edge. Mama Flyer cried out as those claws gouged her chest. She fell onto her back and Don kicked her, vicious. Covered in scratches and gouges, Don reached down for her throat.

"Don, stop!" Petrie cried. "Don't make them hurt you. It – it no have to be like this!"

Don glared. "They leave me no choice! You'll see the necessity of our actions once we change the world."

Petrie shook his head. "Me no want to if you do this."

"Are you really this attached to this deadly world? Naïve." Don looked down. "Well, your mama won't last long. You'll see the benefits if you want her b-"

Two pink and violet blurs sped toward him. Don turned his head but too late, they raised their feet and kicked his back. There was a sickening crack and Don spun over Mama Flyer. He barely landed on his feet, tripping forward, but something was wrong with him. Ruby gasped and Petrie's cry of horror died in his throat. Don's back was thrown back. The area from his tail to his neck bent in with a vague half-circle position. His wings were bent at a forty-five degree angle, unnaturally stiff. Don staggered around, eyes wide, mouth opening and closing.

"My – my back," he croaked. "What did you do to my back?" His wings twitched feebly. "I – I can't fly. They can't move. What have you done to me? What have you-?"

He stumbled close to the edge. Petrie shouted and threw a hand out but already Don toppled over. His screams filled the air, becoming fainter before terminating with a thud. Petrie and Ruby stood very still in the silence. Slowly, Swooper shuffled to his feet, his ear sadly bent toward where Don's screams had echoed out.

"I'm sorry," he said. "For what you had to do."

Mama Flyer got up, shivering as she held a wing. Papa Fast Runner stood a few more seconds on the alert before he collapsed, placing a hand over his forehead, staring blankly. Mama Fast Runner sat down, rubbing a soothing but stiff hand on his back. Guido couldn't bear to look anywhere near where Don fell from.

"M-Mama…" Petrie said.

Mama Flyer had trouble meeting his eye. "There was no other way, Petrie. I'm – I'm not happy about it either."

Ruby put a shaking hand on Petrie's back. He didn't know what to think, couldn't think. His mind felt still, misty. He tried to tell himself it had been necessary, that Don wasn't going to stop but that brought no comfort. Don's motives to change the world eluded some of his understanding. He heard a hitch in Ruby's breath. Even if those who better understood still struggled, then what did that mean for him? He was tired of not understanding. He rubbed his chest but it brought no warmth.

Littlefoot's heart felt strained with tenseness. His grandparents and Patty had been exchanging blows with their tails and necks for what seemed like forever. Patty always had the energy to fight and whenever it looked like his grandparents were about to collapse from exhaustion, they got a new drive to fight on. He found it hard to watch his grandparents continue to hurt themselves for his sake. Even worse, a part of him knew they couldn't go on much larger. Patty stepped back from the latest bout of fighting, examining them seriously.

"You can't win this," she said. "You are wearing yourselves out. Going any further will kill you."

Grandpa and Grandma Longneck gasped, taking their time to replenish their breath. Grandpa raised his head and frowned.

"Showing kindness to us?" he asked. "That's new."

"My kindness has always been honest." Patty said.

"Not without a hidden agenda."

Patty sighed. "You still won't let that go. Understandably. You'll see the good of this soon."

"I don't think we ever will." Grandma Longneck raised her head. "What you are up to will only harm many people especially Littlefoot. And we'll do anything to protect our grandson."

Littlefoot's throat closed up. He felt moved but he wished their compassion didn't have to lead to more fighting. Becoming grim, Patty approached and so did Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, slamming their tails against her front. Patty struck her tail at Grandpa Longneck's side. Grandpa Longneck gasped. Grandma Longneck glared and lashed Patty back with her tail. Patty's tail came sailing back in, only for Grandpa Longneck to ram his head into hers, distracting her.

Seeing an opening, Grandma Longneck stuck her tail onto Patty's back. In spite of herself, Patty backed away. Eyes narrowing, Patty rose on her own hind feet, only Grandma Longneck rumbled to Patty's side and gave a hard kick. Patty shouted and thundered back onto all fours. The grandparents rammed their necks into Patty's and walked on either side of her, slamming their tails into Patty's back one by one, her grunts climbing to shouts of pain. Facing Patty's tail, they ground their feet around hers. Patty raised her tail to strike back but Grandpa Longneck's long neck ducked under the lash and he grabbed at it, grinding it between his teeth.

Grandpa Longneck slammed Patty's tail into her back. Grandma Longneck struck Patty's back, and Grandpa Longneck alternated with his own tail strikes. With their legs wedged between Patty's, she could only wiggle in pain. Their tails struck harder and harder, faces frighteningly wild to overwhelm her. They didn't relent, wrapping their tails hard around her middle and tightening harder, harder, oblivious to her cries.

Then a crack rend the air, followed by Patty's scream of utter agony. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck froze. They untangled their tails from Patty and staggered back, expressions full of horror. Littlefoot didn't know why but from how they looked at Patty's smaller size and bent posture, were they thinking about her…?

Patty's eyes snapped open. She slammed her tail into the grandparents' faces. They shouted, their heads thrown back. Patty followed, ramming her head into each of them and striking them with her tail. The grandparents tried to fight back with tail slaps of their own, but Patty didn't give them a chance to retaliate. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck couldn't keep up, stumbling back, having expended most of their energy they hadn't already used in the run here into those last blows. Littlefoot's breath quickened.

*No. Please, no.*

Patty continued to head butt and tail strike them. Whatever mercy she showed before was long gone. Each hit unleashed a cry that sliced at Littlefoot's heart. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck retreated toward his spot with what little energy they had left, tripping, floundering, having a hard time keeping on their feet. She struck at them more, making them curl inward. She was going to go for the ultimate solution to their hostility. Littlefoot couldn't let that happen, he must do something. He threw his head about, to find some inspiration that would save them. Then his eyes caught something big to his right and he became still.

Grandpa and Grandma Longneck's backed unsteadily and bumped into each other, their swings becoming feebler and struck aside. They attempted to stay on their shaking legs as they passed under Littlefoot's cliff but with one last wham of Patty's mighty tail, Grandpa and Grandma Longneck collapsed. They lay into each other, covered in bruises, struggling to get in hoarse breaths. They tried to glare in defiance but their exhaustion allowed fear to slip in. Patty stepped closer, her cold expression turning into something eerily calm and sympathetic.

"Don't worry," she said. "You won't be gone long. Once Littlefoot and his friends complete their duty, you'll be with your grandson again. You won't even know anything happened."

Patty raised her tail. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck flinched and pressed their heads into each other. Throwing her tail a few feet back, Patty was about to throw it down when a shadow fell over her. She looked up-

The boulder struck her head. There was an ugly crack, and her head appeared to compress. Patty gave a strangled gasp. Her gaze rolling up, she staggered from one side to the other, her legs trying to support themselves before her foot caught the edge and she fell over, several seconds passing before a crash rang out.

Grandpa and Grandma Longneck stared at where she had been, mouths open before they looked up. They saw Littlefoot on the little ledge they placed him on earlier, its edge crumbled a bit from the pushed off boulder.

"Littlefoot?" Grandpa Longneck asked.

Littlefoot didn't respond. At his vantage point, he could glimpse over the mountain path's edge and see a sprawled shape far below. He stepped back shaking his head and curled into a ball. Eventually, his grandparents regained enough strength to get up and approach his small ledge, raising their heads to him.

"Li-Littlefoot." Grandpa Longneck said.

Littlefoot pulled away from them. Suddenly, having any contact was intolerable. He didn't want anyone near him.

"Why does life have to be like this?" he said.

His grandparents remained silent.

"I – I can't take it anymore. All this death, suffering, killing people. I just want it all to stop. Things should to be better. We shouldn't be dealing with this in the first place. Why do we have to deal with this? Why?"

His sniffles were the only thing audible. He felt Grandma Longneck begin to nuzzle him and he jerked out of reach. His grandparents exchanged uncertain, sad looks before Grandpa Longneck threw a glance at the cave.

"Littlefoot," he said. "We're going to investigate the cave. We'll try not to be long. Shout if there's any danger."

Littlefoot's back didn't move. With resigned steps, Grandpa and Grandma Longneck turned and rumbled toward the cave. Littlefoot only stared at the Great Wall, eyes wet. He just wanted all this to be over. He didn't know if he wanted to ever feel again. He felt tired. He felt so tired.

His chest felt cold.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

Chomper ran to his grandparents. Mama and Papa Sharptooth had walked in his direction foot booms slow and tired. When they met him, they only too quickly lowered their heads as he hugged them. He pressed into their warmth, glad to feel that great strength that could crush giants once more be so gentle to him after so long.

"Oh, Chomper." Mama Sharptooth said. "It's been so long."

"Yeah." Chomper sniffled. "I – I missed you."

"Me too." She nudged him

"I knew you were doing alright." Papa Sharptooth said. He softened. "Ah, crud. I can't keep this up. I missed you too."

Chomper laughed, tears pricking his eyes. For a moment, they lay into each other warmth, wishing they could always be like this. Then something in him sank down and he pulled away.

"Chomper?" Mama Sharptooth asked.

Chomper saw their confused gazes and looked away. As great as it was for his parents to be here, the feelings of failure rose back up. He tried to be strong and independent but he couldn't defend himself. His parents had to risk their lives to rescue him. Seeing their wounds and bruises only made him feel like a dead weight all over again.

Mr. Threehorn and Tria stood with each other. They kept their focus on Cera and the sharpteeth, resisting the impulse to look in the direction of what remained of their friend.

"This was the only way, right?" Tria said.

"Of course." Mr. Threehorn stared ahead. "Verter wouldn't give up. There was nothing that could hold him back. The – the only way to stop him was to end him. "

Tria glanced at Mr. Threehorn. His expression was hollow, like all life had been drained from him.

"Not all friendships are forever," she said. "People change, sometimes for…the worse. There wasn't much we could do."

"I already know that." His voice came out harsh. "I don't know need any reminder of that now."

Tria opened her mouth, to try to pull him out of his shell and really offer him comfort, only to see it as futile and look away. Cera overheard their conversation and her stomach sank. No relationships stayed the same forever. Sometimes, bonds ended, even terribly, and there was nothing you could do about it. You couldn't predict what kind of person you would become. Cera felt fear blaze in her stomach, and she closed her eyes, attempting to block out those thoughts, that she might become as horrible a person, someone who broke friendships apart, like him.

"What's the matter, Chomper?" Mama Sharptooth said.

"It's – nothing." Chomper said.

"Oh, I know the kind of 'nothing' you're talking about." Papa Sharptooth growled. "Spit it out. Come on. If you tell us, we might be able to help."

Chomper appeared conflicted but as he raised his gaze, that feeling started to ebb. "Well…"

Mama and Papa Sharptooth lowered their heads as though to listen, only to wince. They grabbed at the top of their stomachs.

"Mommy? Daddy?" Chomper asked.

Mama and Papa Sharptooth closed their eyes. An ominous gurgling came from their stomachs. They started coughing.

"What's wrong?" Chomper said.

Mama and Papa Sharptooth staggered back, shaking their heads, growls of pain intermixing with the intensifying coughs.

"Please, stop. You're scaring me. What – what is it?"

The threehorns stirred. Tria raised her head with concern as Cera, standing not far from Chomper, stepped back as Mama and Papa Sharptooth rocked on their feet, heaving. Mr. Threehorn stepped forward.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I – I don't know." Chomper said. "First, they were talking like normal and then-"

Mama and Papa Sharptooth threw their heads down, gagging harder until they started screaming, screaming horribly. They staggered, shaking the ground, unable to focus in pain. Chomper ran for them but Mama Sharptooth's foot stamped inches from him.

"No!" Cera scampered forward, grabbing Chomper with one foreleg to pull him back. "It's too dangerous!"

Chomper didn't listen. He struggled, screaming two sets of growls that sounded like like "Mommy!" and "Daddy!" with increasing desperation that tore Cera's heart. Mr. Threehorn and Tria stepped up behind Cera and Chomper. Mama and Papa Sharptooth thundered unsteadily, Mama Sharptooth knocking down a tree, their gag-filled screams puffing out at higher intensities. Then they threw their heads down and Cera and Chomper closed their eyes just in time.

The wet slap of something hitting the ground filled the air. Mama and Papa Sharptooth's heaves filled the air before more of that horrible vomiting sound occurred. This continued two more times, followed by a few seconds of silence. Then, the noise of something…slimy slithering across the ground that gave Cera chills. This was followed by strange crashing sounds, like flesh ramming into each other, one after the other, accompanied by tar-like squelch. A "ah" broke the air and there was the sliding sound of someone wiping themselves off. Cera opened her eyes a smidge and her heart fell down her throat as Verter put a foot down after cleaning himself and turned to smirk at them.

"Bet you didn't expect that," he said. "I told you this wouldn't be the end."

Mr. Threehorn and Tria stared. Chomper shook. Mama and Papa Sharptooth collapsed near Verter, breathing haggard, so exhausted that horror barely make a smidge in their red eyes.

"No – impossible." Mr. Threehorn said.

"You have to stop using that word when Wing Father's around." Verter said. "Did you think you could kill me again? Wing Father's power flows into me. Not only did it bring me back but it keeps me alive. I might be put out of commission for a bit but I won't stay dead. As long as that connection exists, I will always come back no matter what you do to me."

"That can't be." Tria panted. "That isn't fair. That isn't fair. After all we did! There – there must be a way to stop you!"

"There isn't, female. You're dealing with a force beyond mortal understanding. So, how do we pick things up from here?"

Mama and Papa Sharptooth strained to glare. Stirring, they feebly pushed themselves up, only for Verter's tail to slam them down. Their figures became still.

"No." Chomper said.

"Cera." Mr. Threehorn said. "Chomper…get behind us."

Verter slinked toward them. Slowly, Cera and Chomper backed off between Mr. Threehorn and Tria, until they stood over two threehorn lengths behind the parents. Mr. Threehorn lunged, horns clanking into Verter's, who only used a bit of strength to shove him back. Growling, Tria charged, ramming her horns into Verter's, managing to slip past and stab his frill. Verter's smirk didn't waver and he rammed her back with great force, making her stumble back. He followed, clanking his horns into hers again, and she struck back but she was so drained they were turning into light shoves. He raised his horns up and slashing a long scratch onto her frill. Tria screamed. He rammed the side of his head into hers and she fell down. She put her forefeet under her and they shook, lifting her a few inches before she collapsed.

"No," she said. "I won't let you take them …"

Ignoring her, Verter turned to Mr. Threehorn. "Now, where were we?"

Mr. Threehorn's expression contorted. Inhaling through his nose, he thrust his horns into Verter's. He tripped, pants searing from him, but he attempted to push Verter back. Mr. Threehorn shoved into Verter's horns, to do some damage, only Verter stepped back and into the blows with relaxed steps. Fear came into Mr. Threehorn's gaze and he shoved away and made to circle around Verter to attack his vulnerable spots, only Verter intercepted him and slashed at his shoulders, eliciting a yell. Mr. Threehorn's stumbles escalated, digging up dirt, and Verter stabbed or dueled him with increasing aggression. His pants increased as he kept going with energy he was running out of. He closed his eyes briefly and when they opened, they were filled with pain.

"Run – run, kids!" he cried. "I can't hold him off for much longer."

Cera's eyes widened. "No! We won't leave you!"

"Listen, once he's done with us, he'll get you too." Mr. Threehorn got driven back. "I can't let them have you."

"I know but…" Chomper's gaze wavered. "What if he does something bad to you?"

Still on the ground, Tria scared expression turned into a look of resigned determination. Mr. Threehorn rammed Verter back, trying to push him back.

"Look, I'm sorry." Mr. Threehorn said. "I can't really protect you. This is all – this is all we can do. Please, run! Save yourselves!"

He stumbled and continued to ground his horns against Verter's. The grassland was wide, with only a few pockets of deep foliage in the distance, with no other dinosaurs in sight. Cera looked between the fight and her surroundings until she screamed and she and Chomper turned to flee, heart feeling like it was going to burst as the crashes of battle whittled down behind them.

Mr. Threehorn was knocked down. Standing over him, Verter raised his horns but Tria lashed out, biting Verter's foreleg. Grunting with consternation, Verter struggled and wrenched his foot out. He smacked his tail on her neck and she became still. Verter looked at Mr. Threehorn, who pushed a foot up, blood trailing from the corner of his gritted teeth.

"No," he said. "I won't let you…"

Verter's tail struck down hard. Mr. Threehorn shuddered and he slumped to the ground, unconscious. The two sharpteeth lay where they were, only the slightest hint of air puffing from their lips. Verter stepped closer to his former opponents, blue eyes ominous, but he shook his head and glanced in the direction Cera and Chomper disappeared off to.

"Running to hide, are they?" A smirk formed on his lips. "Well, no problem. Ready or not, here I come…"

Petrie watched with mixed feelings as Ruby approached her parents. Papa Fast Runner stayed where he collapsed and Mama Fast Runner had sat down beside him, the pair leaning into each other. Swooper had enough strength to crawl about but he settled down near them. Petrie saw Mama Flyer check in on Swooper before she went out of sight and heard her talk with Guido. Mama and Papa Fast Runner's gazes appeared elsewhere as Ruby closed up on them.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

They stirred. Slowly, their eyes focused and they smiled.

"Oh, Ruby." Mama Fast Runner said. "Come here."

She and Papa Fast Runner pulled Ruby into a hug, holding her close between them. Ruby didn't resist, laying limp in their arms for some time before they pulled back.

"We wish it was under better circumstances, but we're glad to see you again." Papa Fast Runner said.

"Yeah." Ruby eyes glinted with wetness. "Oh. I'm happy you're here but how did you know you needed to be here?"

"We and Chomper's parents saw a herd in a hurry to get away from the Great Valley," he said. "Chomper's mother recognized Petrie's mother when she went to talk with them. When we saw that, we thought we should check on you. And when Mrs. Flyer told us what was going on, we couldn't stand by."

"Thank goodness." She blinked and looked around. "Wait, where are my brother and sister?"

"They're with the tiny longneck called Big Daddy." Mama Fast Runner said. "That's another reason why we took a bit to get here. We were searching for holes where the tiny longnecks lived so we could place them in their protection. If things become safer, I am sure your brother and sister would like to see more of the Great Valley."

"I would be happy to get them to see the Great Valley." Ruby beamed as she considered this but as the seconds past, her smile drained from her. She fidgeted. "Mommy, Daddy, I have to tell you something. I'm sorry. I still haven't found what makes my friends and the Great Valley special that can defeat Red Claw."

"What?" Papa Fast Runner said. He and his mate appeared caught off guard by this topic before they shook their heads. He gave a smile. "Don't worry about that now. You need to rest. Besides, I'm sure you've noticed some clues in your stay in the valley. And there's still time to really investigate what makes this valley and your friends special."

"But should I be taking my time? I followed your advice to have fun too much. I didn't think much about the answer and thought I would stumble onto it but I haven't found any clues at all. I have tried to find some but I'm still lost. Red Claw is still hurting people out there. The more I take my time, the more time Red Claw has to hurt more people and I just don't know. I don't enough. How to do I look for it?" She lowered her gaze "I'm sorry. Really. I didn't mean to fail you."

"Ruby…" Mama Fast Runner hung her head.

Mama Flyer walked over to Petrie, placing a hand on his back.

"Swooper and Guido are a bit bumped up, but they're going to be fine," she said. She looked beat, in terms of injury and looking exhaustion.

"That good." Petrie looked down. "Mama, sorry for distracting you with stupid advice."

She managed a smile. "Oh Petrie, it's okay. You were just trying to help. We were still able to recover and do our job."

Petrie looked at the place where Don fell. "Did we have to kill him?"

Mama Flyer hesitated. "He wasn't going to give up. You heard him. Between you and Ruby's safety and his, we took the best choice we could."

"But was his goal so bad?" He rubbed his chest. "Me – me thought life was fine but me not sure anymore. A lot of bad things happen."

She sighed. "I'm not happy about it myself. But it is how life is. People live, they grow, and they die. I wish death didn't come sooner for some but I don't know how things can be different. Besides, I don't trust what this Wing Father is selling."

"Mmm." Petrie said. "Me still no know. That no help, just like me not help you."

"Hey Petrie, don't be like that. You're plenty helpful. If there are any issues, we can always work on that." Mama Flyer started. "Oh! We need to check the barrier! We must make sure no other sharpteeth have gotten through! If all the other fights turned out fine, we can have Chomper's parents spend some time with him before we have them leave and then you can help me close-"

A shadow swooped over them. Petrie looked back but he only had enough time to glimpse Mama Flyer's gaze up with horror before something slammed into her. She fell and Petrie yelped as her hand forced him to topple with her. She looked up, eyes bleary.

"No," she croaked. "It – can't…"

Her head tilted, her eyes shut. Petrie screamed as a firm hand grabbed him, lifting him into the air. The fast runners jumped up at the commotion, expressions uncomprehending and Petrie's view of them rapidly neared as the attacker converged toward them.

"Im – impossible!" Papa Fast Runner said.

"What? What's happening?" Swooper asked.

The attacker crashed into the fast runners. Mama Fast Runner got tossed down from the impact. A scream called out and Ruby was suddenly under Petrie, dragged across the ground by a pair of flyer feet. Papa Fast Runner remained standing, the attacker flapping forward, pushing Papa Fast Runner back, making him stagger as he attempted to stay on his feet. Terror seized Petrie's stomach as they reached the edge. Papa Fast Runner hastily shoved back to try to slow the attacker. He tripped, glancing back, shoving harder, fear in his eyes-

He dropped out of sight and they flew onward, away from the mountain. Papa Fast Runner's screams filled the air.

"No!" Ruby cried. "No!"

Petrie looked to the side, and felt a chill as Don continued flying, gaze unwavering, Papa Fast Runner's screams fading with distance...

"I'll get him!" Swooper's voice shouted.

Ruby twisted to look back and Petrie strained to turn his head around but Don's grip made it hard to move. He could only catch glimpses of the blue, pink, and green of Mama Flyer, Mama Fast Runner, and Guido, but not the drained blues of Swooper on the mountaintop. He must have gone after Papa Fast Runner. Petrie strained to see him or Papa Fast Runner at any point below the mountain but he couldn't see either of them and Papa Fast Runner's screams was no longer screaming…

"Give him back!" Ruby screamed, struggling. "Turn back right now and give him back!"

"Stop." Don said. "This is all because you didn't cooperate. You resisted, all of you, and these are the consequences."

"No!" she screamed. "You – you won't blame this on us! You won't!"

"Believe whatever you like. But do you want to join him with your struggles? It's in all our interests for you to remain alive. And if you want to fix this, you know the right way to do it."

She turned her head back, her last feeble kicks going silent. "Daddy…"

Petrie stared forward, starting to shake in Don's grip. They thought they had won but now Mama Flyer and Mama Fast Runner have been hurt and Papa Fast Runner might have paid the ultimate price. Petrie wanted to think Swooper could save Papa Fast Runner but at his age, Swooper wouldn't be strong enough to not fall with Ruby's father and share the same terrible fate. What – what were they supposed to do now? Petrie hated he couldn't think of any ideas. At a loss, terror like metal in his veins, Petrie had no choice but let Don take him and Ruby toward the mountain peak where Wing Father awaited.

Mama Swimmer approached Spike and Ducky, rocking with exhaustion. Relief and guilt mixed in her eyes and a few of her cuts and bruises became more apparent up close, showing the true extent of her fight. Feeling a swell of emotion, Spike and Ducky ran forward and Mama Swimmer lowered to embrace them.

"Ducky, Spike," she said. "Thank goodness you're safe."

A mix of emotions ran through Spike. Relief that it was over, guilt over what the others had to do. He could feel the fatigue in his mother, from the slight way she hugged them to how her breath blew out of her throat. She wasn't the only tired one. Mr. Thicknose had sat down after the fight ended, still moaning over some injuries and his gaze remained troubled. Pat stood and rubbed a gentle tail over him, murmuring about how to treat those wounds but even he winced once in a while. Skip watched the embrace with a faint smile, though his gaze slid in the direction of Tega and looked away, unnerved. Spike and Ducky pulled away from Mama Swimmer, the images of his grownup loved ones hurt or rattled lingering in his mind. He wasn't surprised when Ducky examined Pat and Mr. Thicknose.

"Oh," she said, finger to her lips. "You all got hurt a lot."

"We'll get better." Mama Swimmer assured. "There are ways to heal injuries in the Great Valley."

"Okay." Ducky scratched her face. "I wish we could have done something, so you would not have got hurted as much."

Spike nodded, eyes lowered. Mama Swimmer's expression fell.

"Oh, you did the right thing by not getting involved," she said. "You could have gotten hurt or worse if you did. It was better you stayed in one place, so we wouldn't be distracted when fighting."

"Mmm." Ducky hung her head. "Maybe – if we did not try to get away from her, you would not have gotten hurt at all…"

"Don't say that!" Mama Swimmer snapped. "We fought so hard so you wouldn't be taken by this Wing Father! Don't make it like we fought for nothing!"

"Mama?" Ducky stepped back.

Spike had also backed away, whimpering. Mama Swimmer shook out of her glare and kneeled down to rub their backs.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have lost it with you two after what you've been through. I just wanted to make sure you didn't feel bad for being helped."

"No, we should be sorry." Ducky said. "We have been the ones saying sorry a lot first."

"Okay. The past few days have been very scary." Mama Swimmer gave them a speculative look. "Is this also about what Tega has said to you?"

Spike and Ducky started and looked down. Now he thought about it, that appeared likely. He and his sister even talked about it yesterday (Was it just yesterday? It felt so much longer than that.). Spike rubbed his chest. It made him miserable that Tega still had that hold over them.

"I never heard what you were talking about with her." Mama Swimmer continued. "It must've had an effect on you."

"Yep, yep, yep." Ducky fidgeted. "She made us wonder if anyone was truly selfless. She said everyone did things because it would help them, that everyone just thinks about themselves. She even said you had so many of us to continue the family line, she did, she did."

Mama Swimmer sighed. "I don't deny there is some selfishness involved. But people are complicated. They can do things for more than one reason. I liked being a mother and wanted more but that doesn't mean I don't care about each of you."

"Can you care about all of us equally?" Ducky asked. "Maybe it is something you think is true but it is not."

"It is true!" Mama Swimmer insisted. "I have paid some more attention than others. But some of you have more needs than others. And yes, sometimes that can selfish, but a lot of the time it can't be helped. And in those selfish times, that is balanced out by the good in you."

"So because I have good in me, that makes up for the selfishness?" Ducky rubbed her chest. "That doesn't sound right."

"It's like – look, you know Mr. Threehorn. He can be very rude and callous. But he also risks his life to save you children and does his best to make sure the valley is a better place. Of course, many people are nicer than Mr. Threehorn – don't tell him I said that – but everyone has many sides to them. It's not always good or bad, it's just how we are."

"But a safe Great Valley benefits everyone. And what if the selfishness really takes over? What if it keeps coming back, does that still make people good? I am confused. Are the selfless moments not also moments of selfishness?"

Mama Swimmer opened her mouth but pressed a hand to her head with a groan and appeared to give up on the subject. Regret came across Ducky's face and Spike wondered if he should have pushed for such a hard talk to be stopped. He mulled over the subject, wondering if him just keeping back from matters was also selfish. It made him uncomfortable but before he could go down that train of thought, they heard a sickening crack.

"What?" Mama Swimmer glanced back, grimacing. "The body is settling. We should move away, I don't feel comfortable having you two near a body."

"Wait." Mr. Thicknose frowned. "I don't recall hearing bodies making that kind of sound."

"Me neither." Pat said "Not even when they're moved."

Mama Swimmer touched her chin, uncertain. Nervous, Spike and Ducky stepped closer to her. A few pops came into the air. Mama Swimmer made sure to stay in front of Ducky and Spike with her tail down to block Tega's body but there was enough of a gap between Mama Swimmer's tail and her legs that Spike saw a green shape shift in the distance. Spike felt his throat tighten.

"Mama, what is happening?" Ducky asked. "I do not like those sounds, are they – no. Oh no, no, no."

More cracks popped out. They came one after the other, like a line of stones being crushed, making Spike ill in the stomach. The feet of Tega shifted. Slowly, they pressed themselves into the grass and began to shakingly push the body up. Spike watched, mind blanking, unable to process what he saw. Skip stood with round eyes.

"This – this can't be happening," he said.

Those feet stood fully, more cracks echoing out. Then one last snap of finality. Mama Swimmer's tail flicked away in shock, just in time to see Tega shake her head and readjust her standing position, neck completely straight.

"I'm back. Finally," she said.

They just stared at her, mouths open, uncomprehending. Mama Swimmer shook her head, closing her eyes hard, gulping to take care of the dryness in her throat.

"We – we snapped your neck. You can't be alive. After all we did - no one can come back from that!"

"I have Wing Father's power flowing into me, remember?" Tega said. "Not only does it keep me full and strong but I don't stay dead. I do kind of die but itis always temporary. It's not fun or pleasant though. I'll make you pay for making me go back there. I don't like when it happens, even if it never sticks."

"No." Mr. Thicknose stepped back. He attempted to look determined but panic dominated his face. "There – there must be a way to stop you. All things have a weakness and we-"

He almost didn't react fast enough. The next second, Tega was charging at him. He almost ran backwards, Tega's spiked tail missing his face by inches. Tega only briefly paused for that tail swing and rammed into Mr. Thicknose face first. Mr. Thicknose staggered back. He lowered his head and stepped forward as though to charge but this time that spiked tail made contact. Ducky covered her mouth as Mr. Thicknose screamed, gouges appearing on his face. He tripped away, only Tega rammed into his face once more, and he crashed into his side. He groaned, eyes unfocused. Stepping close, Tega hit her head into his one final time, and with a crunch, Mr. Thicknose shuddered and his eyes closed, the area between his nose and eye indented slightly and covered in bleeding scratches.

"Mr. Thicknose!" Ducky screamed.

Pat rumbled toward her, his wrinkly, gentle features stretched in anger.

"I'll make sure you don't get up agai-" he began

She turned and slammed her spiked tail into him. Pat winced, stepping away with a yelp at the cuts on his foot. Tega approached, reared on her hind legs, and kicked him in the chest, making him lower his head with a yowl. She racked her spiked tail onto the back of his neck while it was still close to the ground, eliciting another yowl.

"No Pat, no!" Ducky cried.

"Stay here, you two!" Mama Swimmer said.

She charged toward the scene but Tega already kicked with both feet at one of Pat's forelegs, causing the longneck to crash down. He groaned, pressing his feet into the earth but he had expended a lot of energy in the fight and the fall had been too much for someone his age. Tega kicked her forefeet to his head and with a groan, he fell unconscious. All this happened in a few seconds. Crying out in anger, Mama Swimmer converged and her kick connected with Tega's rear back a few seconds after the knockout blow. Tega only raised her tail and grazed Mama Swimmer's side with her spikes. Mama Swimmer yelled and stumbled back, pants rending her throat. Tega turned and charged, head striking Mama Swimmer's stomach, taking the breath out of her.

"You guys are giving me a headache." Tega said. "Fortunately, that won't last-"

Mama Swimmer's hands snapped out, grabbing Tega's neck. Staggering into a standing position, Mama Swimmer tried to pull Tega up. Mama Swimmer panted, kicking at Tega's chest, shaking arms lifting the spiketail a few more feet, pattering feebly to the side in an attempt to repeat her previous neck snap. Tega lifted a forefoot and kicked Mama Swimmer, making her yell and let go. Mama Swimmer bent over, clutching her chest. Tega slammed her tail on Mama Swimmer's side and head. Dazed, Mama Swimmer thrust her arms out to Tega, holding her back. Tega continued to strike, Mama Swimmer barely able to do more than keep her grip on the spiketail's back and let out cries of pain. Ducky gave a small yelp with each hit and Spike winced, feeling horrible as more cuts appeared on their mother. Mama Swimmer closed her eyes briefly and her body appeared to shake before she forced them open.

"Ducky, Spike!" she cried. "Get out of here! I can't hold her back much longer!"

"Mama, do not!" Ducky said. "We cannot leave you!"

Spike cried out, expression horrified. He tried not to consider it but terror filled him as a grim possibility became more likely with each passing second. Skip stepped closer, fingers fidgeting against each other with anxious speed.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "There must be something we can do, something I can do!"

Mama Swimmer pushed Tega back harder, hunching over with a combination of exhaustion and the blows from Tega's tail.

"Please!" she said. "I'm tired, this is the most I can do! Please, protect them Skip. I'm sorry I didn't treat you all as well as I could! I beg you, go! Go!"

Spike and Ducky swayed their gazes darting between Mama Swimmer and their surroundings. It was impossible. They couldn't leave their mother like this. She was fighting so much, they had to help her. But she was getting overwhelmed. Skip watched the beat down with a horrible look that indicated this wasn't the first time he saw this. Spike couldn't think of any ideas of how to hurt Tega or turn the fight in Mama Swimmer's favor. And if Tega got to them…there was only one horrible choice. Spike and Ducky turned and ran, tears blurring their eyes.

"Sorry, Mama!" Ducky said. "Sorry!"

Spike whimpered. The sound of fighting rang out behind them. A cry pierced the air and there was the boom of something thudding into the dirt. Spike and Ducky picked up their pace, fear thrumming through their skin. Skip scurried beside them on all fours, the guilt in his eyes mirrored in the siblings' but overtaken by survival's determination.

"Follow me, you two!" he said. "I know the tunnels out of here. If we can find a hole, I'm sure we could-"

There was no warning. A spiked tail sailed in from out of nowhere and struck him into the air with a crack. He spun over and over and landed on his side several feet back, a strangled groan coming from his small, oddly bent figure.

"No, Skip!" Ducky cried.

A swoop cut though the air and Ducky yelped as she leapt to the side, missing a tail swipe across the grass. Spike's mouth seized her hand and jerked her with him and they missed another tail swipe by inches. With little choice, Spike and Ducky ran faster, losing themselves in the bushes and Tega's rumbling feet becoming distant. Spike attempted to focus on running but the images of Mr. Thicknose, Pat, and Skip's still forms lingered in his mind. Once again, people risked themselves for his and Ducky's safety and all the sibling could do was hang back or flee. Why couldn't he have thought to take some sort of action? Spike didn't know how things as they were now could work for the better. With no ideas, the only thing Spike could do was continue running with his sister.

Littlefoot lay curled up on the little cliff. The bright circle shined brilliantly, nearing the middle position. He couldn't believe it was still morning. So much had happened he thought it should have been night by now. The weather was good, sky puffies only trailing thin white lines in the blue sky. Waking up to these sights in the Great Valley usually made his spirits rise but now he didn't think he would be happy again. He killed Patty. Yet again, he killed someone to survive. He could dismiss it as the necessity of life but this was the different from the first sharptooth – he had gotten to know Patty. She had been kind to him. Littlefoot hoped she could be reasoned with but the circle of life wouldn't let him redo what he had done. This time, she was dead for good.

*What am I going to do?*

He had no choice but to move on. If the other Anchors weren't already dead, they would have to be, to stop Wing Father's actions. The gang's parents would be shaken at the concept of taking a life. How were they going to cope? That was, if the Anchors didn't overwhelm them with their great strength. He didn't know the fates of any of his friends or their parents. What if someone else didn't survive today? That made his heart flinch but it was something he had to face. He would have no choice but to accept the loss but he didn't know if he could. He didn't know if he could go on in life without any of his friends. What the Anchors worked for might be noble but their actions weren't. At least, it was what Littlefoot tried to tell himself.

In attempting to stop Patty from enacting that vision, Grandpa and Grandma Longneck had sustained many injuries. Were they severe, or even permanent? Would the injuries shorten his grandparents' lives, give them more pain? He wished they didn't have to suffer so much, that he saved them sooner. At least he made sure they were still alive but killing Patty to do so brought him no comfort. Even if he could play with his friends like before, he would still have to live with taking her life, as he took the sharptooth's life. Those feelings would linger even after his family was gone, after his friends and other passed for the many reasons the circle of life offered. He wasn't sure how he could live on with losing any more people, especially his friends. He had the feeling it wouldn't be the last time he took a life or lost someone close to him. The concept left him cold.

"I'm sorry, Patty," he whispered. "What now? How are we going to deal with what happened?"

"Did you really think that would finish me?"

Littlefoot's gaze widened and jumped back when he saw large honey-brown eyes staring into his. Patty stood in front of the little cliff, glaring at him. She was covered in many red and curling cuts and bruises. Even as he watched, the injuries appeared to mend, close up like mouths. A large cut on the side of her head shrunk and popped a stray stone out.

"Wing Father's powers brought me back," she continued. "It still flows through me, so I'll never truly die. Not even cracking my skull with a boulder or falling from a great height will end me. No matter what you do to the Anchors, you will never stop us."

Littlefoot stood there, mouth open, lower jaw shaking. His mind filled with terror, blotting out any other feeling or though except hopelessness, the utter hopelessness that the Anchors could ever be defeated. It seemed impossible the gang and their families could ever win. He was so consumed by this terror he didn't notice Patty's tail sneak toward him until he felt it snake around his middle and he jumped, scrambling against the tail's pull.

"No! No!" he screamed. "Let go of me!"

"I'm tired of your struggles." Patty replied. "You'll meet Wing Father whether you like it or not."

"No, I'll – I'll fight back! I won't go to that cave!"

"Not even with your grandparents still there?"

Littlefoot froze. A slow, sinking feeling filled his heart.

"They have been gone for a long time." Patty continued. "They wouldn't leave you defenseless for so long. I have been to the cave, it's not that big. Shouldn't they be back by now?"

Littlefoot remained silent. He had been too miserable to notice but now he thought about it, his grandparents had been away for a while. They wouldn't take this long to investigate when he was nearby and alone. Not unless…

"Wing Father's in there," she said. "It's the only place where he can appear and talk to the Anchors directly. He's a kind savior but how do you think he would react to intruders who want to stop him? Will you stay out here while Wing Father could be doing anything to them?"

"Ah – I…" he said.

"You have a choice to make, Littlefoot. You can either stay here and wait for your grandparents when they mightn't come back. Or you can come with me to check on them. I don't know what decision Wing Father has taken. They might be alright but who knows for how long. And if they aren't okay…there is one way to fix that."

Littlefoot didn't move. Carefully, Patty picked him up with her tail and he didn't resist. He remained still as she set him down beside her. He faced the cave entrance, the light bright compared to the outside. His heart beat a tattoo against his chest. His feelings felt like they were many longnecks lengths outside his body. He knew he shouldn't go in. He should turn and run. He should use his knowledge of the many caves and nooks of the Great Valley to hide and never be found. If he went into the cave, there would be no way to get out unless he did what Patty and Wing Father wanted. But if grandparents were in danger – if there was some way to make sure they were alright…

The crackle of pebbles and gravel came into the air as Littlefoot stepped toward the cave entrance.

Next time…

The Great Step