Note: Surprise! I decided to post the next chapter 2 days early. I realized people might have more time to read the chapters over the weekend. Hopefully I remember to keep with this schedule and this works out for readers.
Warning: This chapter contains extreme but bloodless violence. Reader discretion advised.
We Will Hold On Forever
by
DaveTheAnalyzer
Chapter 30: Holes in the Mirage Part 2
"I'm too fast for you!"
"We'll see about that!"
"Ack! Rica, you'll pay for that!"
It was the afternoon. Cera was running around with her sisters, having just dodged Rica, who crashed into Horen. Shaking her head, Horen chased after Rica, who giggled at Horen's annoyed expression. With those two occupied with one another Cera could now focus on competing with Duane to chase Tricia. Tricia squealed and charted an erratic course between the trees, having the time of her life. Cera wore a smile. They were playing a clearing over from the family nest and with Verter away, she felt she was able enjoy herself for once. Building up speed, Cera leapt for Tricia, Duane doing the same. They bumped into each other. Turning, the two wrestled, laughing as they rolled in the grass. Duane was stronger than her quiet demeanor indicated. Cera struggled, feeling Duane's weight press down on top of her.
"Alright, alright, I give up!" Cera said. "You're crushing me here."
Duane stepped off, allowing herself to look proud. Tricia circled the pair, cheering and wishing for a chase. Cera turned on her belly, watching Tricia wryly before throwing a foreleg out and tagging her.
"There, you're caught. Happy?" Cera said.
Tricia seemed to be. She sighed and flopped onto the grass. Horen and Rica rolled by slow before Horen ended up on top.
"There," Horen panted, "now…you know your place."
"Well, it was worth a try." Rica said.
When Horen got off, Rica lay on her back. Cera flopped down in an imitation of Tricia. The sisters relaxed, panting, recovering from all expended play energy and enjoying the silent company. Upside down, Rica grinned at Cera.
"This was great." Rica said. "We should do this more often."
"Right." Cera said, then became puzzled. "Don't we always?"
"Not when you're with your friends all the time." Horen grumbled.
"Oh." Cera looked down. "I guess you're right. You…jealous?"
Horen grimaced. "N-no! Just stating a fact!"
"But that seemed to have changed recently." Duane said. "Did you have a fight with your friends?"
Cera sighed. Trust Duane to pick up that she was bothered. Cera chose her words carefully. "Something like that. Someone made a…decision I didn't like. I don't know what to think or feel about it, so I've been staying away."
"Oh that sucks." Rica said sympathetically.
"It must have been something big." Duane said. "You usually give more details about how they angered you."
"Come on, I'm not that bad." Cera said.
Rica laughed. "You kidding? You can rant for ages when they annoy you. Hopefully, you all make up."
Cera gave them a confused look. "With how you talk, I thought you'd want me all to yourself."
"We do." Horen said, smiling a bit sadly. "But you're less grumpy after being with your friends."
"They seem good for you." Duane said. "Anyway, it's time for lunch. Let's see what Mom's got for us."
Tricia brightened and got up to trot away. The other sisters rolled to their feet to follow. Cera brought up the rear, hearing them chatter animatedly. Cera smiled. It was great her sisters cared for her. They had made Verter's presence bearable. Even now, going back to the family nest, she barely dreaded seeing him again. Cera wanted to get closer to her birth mother. It would be great for her to feel that same warmth and connection with Mrs. Threehorn she remembered from so many cold times ago. Maybe this new world had its benefits
Cera was almost cheerful by the time four arrived at their nest, only to find Mrs. Threehorn sitting alone in the clearing.
"Hey kids, did you have fun?" Mrs. Threehorn asked.
"The best, Mom." Rica said, flopping near her. "We ran all over the place."
"I'm sure we beat the grass down in that clearing." Duane said.
"It was alright." Horen said, though she looked pleased. "I caught Rica. But Tricia was the best. She tagged all of us at one point."
Tricia gave a high-pitched squeal, enjoying the praise. She patted over to Mrs. Threehorn, who scratched her chin.
"That was very good Tricia." Mrs. Threehorn cooed. "You'd made a great racer someday, you would, you would."
Tricia kicked a foot, eyes closed in bliss. Looking up, Mrs. Threehorn frowned at Cera looking around nervously.
"Worried Tria might get jealous seeing this?" she asked. "Don't worry, Tria doesn't mind. Tricia seems to like both of us equally."
"It's not that." Cera said, though privately she still found the whole family arrangement with two mothers strange. "Where's Dad and Tria?"
"Oh, Verter mentioned he wanted to show them something." Mrs. Threehorn said.
Cera stared, her stomach sinking. "Show them? Show them what?"
"I don't know."
"You didn't ask?" Cera asked, raising her voice.
Mrs. Threehorn was taken aback. "Cera, calm down. I did ask. Verter's answer was evasive. I guess he wanted it to be a surprise for your father and Tria."
Cera didn't respond. Her heart started beating faster. Rica lifted her head, bemused.
"Cera?" she said. "Why do you have that weird look on your face?"
"I'm fine." Cera said faintly. "Mom, which way did they go?"
"Um, that way." Mrs. Threehorn said, pointing to the right behind her before she caught herself. "Wait, why do you need to know that?"
"You're going to follow them?" Horen asked.
"Sorry, I need to go." Cera said, jogging passed them.
"Wait, Cera!" Horen said, incredulous. "You're actually going to follow them?"
"What?" Mrs. Threehorn sat up, Tricia yipping as she slipped off her paw. "Cera, stay here! Come back at once! I'm not sure this is a good idea!"
"I – I won't be long!" Cera called, rushing forward. "I need to know!"
"No, come back! Just – ugh!" Mrs. Threehorn blew out a frustrated breath. "At least give them privacy if it's something adult!"
"What was that about?" Duane wondered.
That was the last Cera heard from her family as she crashed into the foliage, already jogging at a fair clip. Her mother and sisters must think she became really weird all of a sudden. At the moment, Cera couldn't care in the slightest. She scanned the grass, finding a few footprints here and there. They were vague and indistinct. The longer she walked, the harder they became to find. Mr. Threehorn, Tria, and Verter could have turned in any direction after Mrs. Threehorn took her eyes off them. Cera tried to keep her breathing even
*It's fine.* She told herself, pushing her head in random bushes to search for foot marks possibly hidden in or around them. *It's fine. They're probably just going for a walk. There's nothing to worry about.*
Yet no matter how much Cera thought this, anxiety continued to prickle in her skin. She saw a few dinosaurs walking by. Desperate, she started approaching them.
"Have you seen my daddy and Tria?" she called to a crested swimmer a few yards near her.
"No, sorry," said the crested swimmer, but didn't look sorry at all as he walked passed.
She glared after him, frustrated. Shaking her head, she walked over to a female spikeback.
"Did you see a pink threehorn, green threehorn, and dark gray threehorn go by recently?" Cera asked.
"I'm afraid not, sweetie," said the female spikeback, looking concerned. "I'm looking for my brother. I hope you find them."
"Thanks." Cera muttered, though hope wasn't very helpful now. Glancing around, she saw a domehead tapping a tree in boredom and made a beeline to him. "Did you see my dad and Tria go by here?"
The domehead yelped and peered down at her. "Oh, you scared me little lady. I'm waiting for my buddy to get here but he's late. I'm afraid I haven't been paying attention to my surroundings. But I should tell you, if you drink tree sap, it has great healing qualities that nourish your-"
"Don't care!" Cera said, running off.
She was growing increasingly scared. Had no one seen her parents? She couldn't find any more footprints and wasn't sure if she was still walking in the same direction Verter had led them. Cera broke into a wide clearing, seeing a whiptail longneck laying on her side bathing in the bright circle and a squareshield nibbling some grass. She darted her gaze about. It would take forever to ask everyone where Mr. Threehorn and Tria were. She didn't know where to look and they could be anywhere. She was seconds from giving into panic and running desperately around the valley when a voice called to her left.
"Cera, what's wrong?"
Cera started. Chomper had just broke through a nearby bush, breathless as though he had been running. Desperate, Cera went over to him.
"I'm looking for Dad and Tria," she said. "Verter took them somewhere when I wasn't looking."
Chomper blanched. "He has? Oh no..."
"Oh, right!" Cera said, an obvious idea occurring to her. "You can sniff them out. You can help in that way."
"Cera-" Chomper began.
"Find them, Chomper!" she said, stepping too close to him. "I know you're busy being with your parents and all but I need you, I-"
"I'm already on it!" Chomper interrupted. He backed away to give himself space. "My parents also vanished. I went off to eat some crawlers and after I came back, they were gone. When I sniffed where I last saw them, Verter's scent was there."
Cera mouth fell open. "Really? Why would he take your parents?"
"I don't know. But I've been thinking …" he shuffled. "Do you remember after he tried to take us, he went on about fighting sharpteeth? He also said something about bringing back the 'old threehorn ways'…"
Cera's stomach twisted. She and Chomper gazed at each other with fear, wondering what could be happening to their parents. She shook her head.
"We need to find them," she said.
Chomper nodded. He put his nose into the grass and started sniffing. With little other choice, Cera followed him. They left the clearing and saw a few more dinosaurs moving about as calm as the whiptail longneck and squareshield. It was hard to believe none of them seemed aware something bad could be happening. Why was no one running around and screaming like Cera felt like doing? She tried to calm herself. Chomper was with her. He was pretty reliable when it came to sniffing people down. As she looked about, she noted that there weren't as many dinosaurs about. The valley felt ever so slightly less crowded. A stray thought told her there was something off about that but she couldn't narrow it down to specifics. To their right, a pebbleback longneck walked into view, the tip of her bitten off tail growing back, which didn't appear to hurt or concern her. Cera grimaced.
"I see your parents are taste-testing everyone," she said.
"Huh?" Chomper said. He then spotted the pebbleback longneck. "Oh. Sorry. At least they aren't hurting anyone."
"It's freaky. I don't know how valley dinosaurs can stand being eaten."
"Apparently it's almost like getting a massage. Me and Littlefoot kind of talked about it yesterday. Funny what strange things people can get used to."
Cera pressed her lips together. "So you talked with Littlefoot, huh?"
"Yes." Chomper glanced back, aware he treaded on a sensitive topic. "He was checking up on everybody. I feel kind of weird about him too but he was-"
"We don't have time to talk about Littlefoot." Cera interrupted. "Let's find our folks, okay?"
Chomper opened his mouth but appeared to decide against pursuing the subject and jogged several steps ahead before sniffing the grass again. Cera was tense at the slow pace. She knew Chomper couldn't rush tracking a scent but anything could be happening to their parents now. Just as her thoughts threatened to go down another worry spiral, Pat came into view. He tore leaves from a tree in his easygoing manner. Chewing, Pat smiled warmly at the pair.
"Hey, you two," he said. "It's been a little quiet lately. I wonder where some people got up to?"
"Who knows," Cera said, "Sorry Pat, we're in a bit of a hurry. Have you seen our parents go by?"
"Your parents?" Pat repeated. He frowned and turned the question over. "Now that you mention, I think I saw three threehorns and two sharpteeth leave the valley by that entrance." He nodded ahead, to where the Great Wall loomed visible. "They were accompanied by a load of dinosaurs too. Ah, that explains where everyone gone. That Verter fella was leading the group with your parents. He seemed really happy about something."
Cera and Chomper traded fearful looks. They hurried passed, the valley entrance coming into view between the tree tops. Pat watched in bafflement.
"That saves us a lot of time." Chomper called. "Thanks, Pat."
"Umm, is something the matter?" Pat asked.
"We'll explain later." Cera said. "Gotta go!"
The pair rushed onward, weaving around several lush trees and a big bush to see the valley entrance unobscured. Cera felt a tight stitch develop in the side of her chest from all the moving but she currently had other worries.
"The Mysterious Beyond?" she panted. "Why's he taking them there? And with loads of other people?"
"Maybe it's safer in this world, so valley dinosaurs can visit it more often?" Chomper said uncertainly.
"But Red Claw still makes it unpleasant enough for you and Ruby to be here." Cera said. "She is here, right?"
"Yes." Chomper said. "But we're going into the Mysterious Beyond where there are still sharpteeth who might chase us. You sure it's safe?"
"Oh, um," she squirmed and attempted to shrug. "W-we can't die now, right? Besides, with our parents out there, it's worth the risk."
Chomper looked her over but nodded all the same. Soon, they were walking up the hilly path leading out of the Great Valley, the same one she swore Patty and Verter arrived with that herd what felt like forever ago. They got to the hill's crest and began down, Chomper lowering his nose near the dirt once in a while to make sure they were on the right track. In some places the earth was smooth, likely ground down by generations of heavy dinosaur feet.
The Mysterious Beyond rose into view before them, scraggly rock formation and mountains rising with more detail becoming visible the farther they went down. Cera's stomach clenched as the hill terminated on level ground, the rock formations and mountains looming over the pair, only some patches of green in sight. She stopped as her mind was brought back to a horrible time, vines tied hard around her as they were dragged along mountains paths. A supposed family friend was kidnapping her and Chomper, having manipulated their trust. She hadn't known what was happening or if she might survive to see home again. Cera breathing came in quicker hitches, pulse pumping too fast, when Chomper realized she wasn't following, and looked back alarmed.
"Cera?" he said, stepping closer. "Cera, it's alright! We're – we're not being taken by Verter. We're safe. I'm scared too but I'm here. We're together."
He touched her face. Shakily, Cera took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She saw how he had no green vines around him. Though he was nervous, he was willing to keep going. Sharing gazes, they moved on side-by-side, the patter of their feet an assuring sound. She felt a sudden rush of affection for Chomper. He didn't scold or judge her, he had only been worried for her. Cera focused on their surroundings, easing when she saw none of the rock formations and mountains looked familiar and glancing back none of the Great Wall paths either. To her left, a river slithered passed and into the distance, several boulders and small rock spires dotted about. They weren't anywhere near the place where that terrible day happened. Heartrate calming, Cera turned her gaze back ahead, seeing a pair of close mountains and what looked like a wide circular pit between them, a migrating herd's length away. Not a far walk, but Cera had her questions.
"Are our parents in that pit?" she asked.
"Not sure." Chomper replied, looking down to sniff. "I'm still tracking the scent."
"Hurry. We don't know what our parents might be doing…"
A snarl made the pair jump. Out of the river, a bellydragger emerged, scarlet eyes narrowing in the afternoon light. Quickly, Cera and Chomper jumped behind a nearby rock spire, its narrowness making Chomper press into her side. They peered around to watch the bellydragger smoothly cut through the water.
"Dang it, dang it." Cera murmured. "We don't have time for this."
"Don't worry, she didn't see us." Chomper hissed. "We're still a good distance from the river."
"Right," she said, before registering his first sentence. "Wait, she?"
There were small, quiet flaps. Looking up, Cera sighted a sharpbeak flying down and perching on the bellydragger's nose, yawning
"Nothing tasty so far," he said, voice echoing clearly to the pair's hiding place. "Not a lot of travelers aside from that weird herd. This place doesn't have a great variety to choose from."
"Come on Ichy, don't be picky," said the bellydragger, scarlet gaze stern. "It's good to have a varied diet."
"Oh there you go, being my mother again." Ichy said. "Would you stop it, I'm not into that."
Cera stared. She met gazes with a wide-eyed Chomper.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said. "Them again?"
"I'm not trying to be your mother." Dil the bellydragger said, rolling her eyes. "It's just I don't want my next meal to be delayed by you being particular. We were quite lucky that crested swimmer offered his head for supper."
"Wish I didn't have to see his head reform." Ichy said, gagging. "I nearly lost my lunch. It looked like the dirt that grass guzzlers chow on."
"Well then, close your eyes next time." Dil growled.
"Don't order me around."
"I was just giving advice."
"Ugh. It wouldn't work anyway. I would be able to hear it."
"There you go, always dismissing my suggestions. Why, I have half a mind to…"
Bickering, Ichy and Dil turned with the angle of the river and disappeared around a corner, their complaints fading away. Cera marched out, glaring after them.
"They never change, do they?" she said. "They should've just stayed in the Land of Mists."
"I hope that river doesn't go near the pit." Chomper said, following her. "I don't want to get eaten. I know we can't die but still..."
"I know. If I ever want that to happen, I can just ask your parents."
Chomper snorted. The pair moved on. One of the mountains near the pit loomed closer, a bit larger than its brother. A fast biter popped up on it for a few seconds to gaze around. Cera tensed but the fast biter popped down out of view. Cera's spent the next few steps listening carefully for prowling feet, wondering if the fast biter saw them. Behind the other mountain, she could hear the distant booming steps of large sharpteeth. She hoped their route didn't cross with her and Chomper's. He took a few wary sniffs of the air, indicating he was aware of the danger. They were three-quarters the way to the pit but anything could happen. A flyer flapped lazily across the sky. Staring up, Cera wished she could fly too, so she could avoid these meat eaters so firmly planted to the ground.
She was distracted when the flyer started not flying as smoothly as before. The flyer was buffeted from left to right, as though being slapped around by giant hands. The flyer's wings flailed, like the winds were too chaotic to flap properly. Cera found her attention fixed on this struggle. She hadn't realized she stopped until Chomper looked back at the bottom of her vision.
"Come on Cera, we're almost there," he said.
"That flyer," she said faintly. "Look at that flyer in the sky."
Chomper followed her gaze and his eyes widened. Pounded by a ninety degree current, the flyer was blown diagonally up. The flyer struggled and dropped fast, flapping wings with a jerky panic. The figure got close enough that Cera could make out dark green skin before a current smacked the flyer, who dived like a falling rock. Cera became aware of a piercing whistling sound. In a few seconds, Cera and Chomper realized the flyer was plummeting right above them. Screaming, they ran back. They had enough time to duck behind a boulder before Cera glimpsed a green blur shoot down and there was a mighty bang. Rocks and debris went flying. She and Chomper crouched, the boulder being nicked and cracked as it was struck by rocks. Cera winced when some gravel hit her tail but they were spared the worst of the damage. Just as soon as it started, the sound of debris fell away. Gasping, Chomper rushed around the boulder to the impact zone.
"Are you alright?" he cried.
Cera followed slowly, already suspecting what they would find. Getting close to the crater, she saw the flyer had landed stomach first, its short crest indicating she was female. Her beak pointed into the air, her neck cracked at a ninety-degree angle. The lower half of the flyer's left wing was bent into itself, like a folded leaf. Her eyes were blank with terror and she wasn't moving. Cera sucked in a breath. Chomper was so still he didn't seem to breathe. They had just watched someone die. Someone's life ended and they didn't do anything. For a moment, all Cera could think about was how useless she was, how it didn't occur to her to find a way to save the flyer. Chomper lowered his head, the pair having a few seconds of silence. Then Cera looked at the flyer again and all her grief became confusion.
"Wait a second," she said. "That shouldn't be possible now. Shouldn't this flyer just-"
The flyer gasped. Cera yelped and Chomper scampered back. The flyer pulled herself up, snapping her head back into a forward facing position. Waving her bent wing, it extended out and cracked back to mirror her other wing. With a few more snaps and creaks, the flyer's broken body was all back to normal. The flyer panted, staring at her formerly broken wing with wide eyes. Gawking, Chomper was stunned until he seemed to remember something and looked relieved.
"Oh," he said. "Oh right. I forgot death doesn't exist anymore."
The flyer goggled at her shaking hands. "How…? How's that possible? With the impact, I should've-"
"Are you alright miss?" Chomper asked loudly. "That looked like it hurt."
The flyer finally noticed the two. She looked at Chomper and jumped. "Oh goodness. A talking baby sharptooth. What?"
Cera jumped next to Chomper. "Yes, yes, a talking sharptooth. Welcome to the Great Valley. We like weird. Why were you finding it so hard to fly?"
"That's the first question you ask?" The flyer demanded. "Not why still I'm alive? I'm trying to wrap my head around…" She briefly put a hand to her eyes. She calmed herself, despite a frustrated sigh. "I don't get kids these days. Well, I was traveling on a wind current when suddenly it blew in the opposite direction. I tried to get out but it was chaos. Wind currents kept appearing and disappearing, blowing me all over the place. Before I knew it, I was careening to the ground like a fast runner."
"Wait, back up." Cera said, chill rising up as she realized what the flyer's second sentence meant. "Did you just say you were shocked to be still alive?"
The flyer gave a confused look. "When did I say that?"
"Huh?" Chomper said. "Just a few moments ago!"
"No I didn't." The flyer said. She tilted her head. "Why are you staring at me like that? Surviving these kinds of crashes is normal."
"You didn't say that." Cera said. "You just asked why we weren't shocked you were still alive. You also went on about those currents appearing and disappearing."
"I just forgot which wind current to use." The flyer touched her chin. "Now that I think about it, I remember slamming into the cliff above my uncle's nest when I was young. Yes, crashes are normal. Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I need to visit my mom. "
Standing and causing pebbles and rocks to bounce off her, she drew out her wings and took off into the air. She circled up to her previous height and glided away, disappearing over the Great Wall. Cera stared after her open-mouthed.
"What was that about?" she said.
"I don't know." Chomper said. "Forgetting what she just said…something's up with that." He jumped. "But we can't talk about it now! We still have to find our parents!"
Cera jerked and quickly followed him as he resumed tracking the scent. Her mind couldn't help lingering on that strange flyer. What did that natter about her seeming to still be aware of death mean? But with a cooling chest, she determined she would have to think about that later. The pair were many yards from the pit. As they got closer, Cera began to hear distant voices from it. There were people in the pit.
"Do you hear that?" she asked.
Chomper nodded, uneasy. The voices resolved into cheering, becoming louder the nearer the pair got. Underneath that, Cera thought she heard grunts and bellows, the painful slap of bodies hitting each other. She jumped when there was the sound of breaking bone and agonized screams. The cheers grew more enthusiastic. What sick game was going on in that pit?
"Sharpteeth?" Cera said, voice gaining an edge.
Chomper sniffed and shook his head. "No, mostly leaf eaters from the Great Valley. Why are they here? I can smell our parents are also down there."
"Are they?" she said. "Why do I not like hearing that?"
They were only several feet from the pit. The cheers became all-encompassing, almost verging on jeers. Cera could see the play of dinosaur shadows on the pit walls. The smacking sounds still traveled up, making her stomach curl. Reaching the edge, Cera exchanged a last look of trepidation with Chomper before they gathered their courage and peeked into the pit.
Their jaws dropped. They were looking into a round hole over seventy feet deep. Twenty feet below, a cliff hugged the surrounding wall. Another twenty feet below that, another cliff hugged the wall and a further twenty feet below there was another cliff, each cliff a bit larger than the one above. Standing crowded on every cliff were leaf-eating dinosaurs, shouting down and shaking fists in eerie near-unison. A few cave entrances dotted the edge of the top cliff, which had so many dinosaurs some stood there obscured in shadow. A dozen feet passed the distant third cliff, the pit terminated into a floor of sand, where four dinosaur silhouettes engaged in combat. Cera had some familiarity with this spectacle, having been present at a few threehorn duels. But there was something ugly about the audience's cheers. Two of the fighting silhouettes were threehorns and one was pink.
"Look, there's Dad and Tria!" Cera said, pointing. "I think those are your parents? Are they fighting?"
"What?" Chomper said, bending his head down. "Yeah, I can see them. Why are they fighting? I didn't know they were into-" He blanched. "Wait, don't do that! Stop fighting! Stop!"
Cera jumped. She had almost never heard Chomper scream with such panic. Slowly, she looked down at the fighting figures far below.
Her and Chomper's parents were fighting alright. They hit, bit, and stabbed each other ferociously, circling before inflicting more injuries. Tria circled Mama Sharptooth, her left horn bitten off. A roar echoing up, Tria charged and her right horn disappeared into Mama Sharptooth. Papa Sharptooth had his teeth in Mr. Threehorn's back. The two pulled at one another before Papa Sharptooth ripped off something dark. Mr. Threehorn scream of agony went right through Cera. It was a far more brutal fight than her parents had ever been involved in and it left her horrified.
"What's your dad doing to my dad?" she demanded.
"I don't know." Chomper said, mouth open. "I thought our parents got along. This isn't right! We – we have to stop them!"
He looked about, desperate. Spotting a wide path going down into the pit, Chomper waved for her to follow and the pair raced down. Reaching the first cliff, their progress slowed to a literal crawl. Dinosaurs were backed to the corner shouting and gesticulating. The pair had little choice but to climb under tails and between legs. Cera worried the enthusiastic stamping and number of people might cause the cliff to collapse.
"Come on, move!" Cera growled, shoving a crest-headed swimmer's tail out of the way. "Move!"
"Why are you all cheering for this?" Chomper said, ducking around a longneck's foot. "What's wrong with you?"
A few shot annoyed glanced but most seemed too transported by the fight to notice them. Between the many legs, Cera glimpsed Mr. Threehorn, missing his frill, charge and impale Papa Sharptooth's stomach. Papa Sharptooth bellowed in agony and some of the crowd cheered Mr. Threehorn harder. Finding another path cut rectangularly into the cliff, Cera and Chomper ran down to the second cliff. She could see Tria on top of Mama Sharptooth, impaling her horn into Mama Sharptooth's jaw. Mama Sharptooth cried out, a yelp that hurt to hear. Cera was sick.
"What are you doing, Tria!" she shouted. "Stop fighting! Why are you fighting?"
They got onto the second cliff, which was just as crowded, even though it was wider. They climbed through the tails and legs, every pained cry and rip of flesh making Cera's stomach clench tighter. The pair had to time their movements carefully not to be squished underfoot. Finding another descending path, Cera and Chomper sped down just as Papa Sharptooth buried teeth into Mr. Threehorn's back. Mr. Threehorn tried to pull away, slapping his tail into Papa Sharptooth but moaned, gaze half-lidded with pain. His frill only regenerated three-quarters of itself, the red-brown clay visible. Chomper looked as though his worst fears were happening before him.
"Daddy, stop!" he cried. "You're hurting him! You're not supposed to hurt him!"
They climbed down to the final cliff. There weren't as many dinosaurs but it only gave the pair a clearer view of the carnage. Rushing around the audience members and stopping close to the edge twelve feet above the sand, they saw the cliff and dinosaurs on the opposite side. As Mr. Threehorn finally pulled free with a huff and glare, Mama Sharptooth grabbed Tria's tail with her teeth and wrenched her onto her side. All four were covered with scars and wounds. Mama Sharptooth missed a claw, while Mr. Threehorn's torn back exposed more red-brown clay. Cera felt like throwing up. They should be dead a dozen times over. How have they not collapsed in pain? Why were they involved in this sickening display?
Reeling, Cera glanced around when she saw a familiar face on the opposite cliff that made her go cold. Verter stood at the edge, observing the action proudly like a herd leader holding ceremony. Behind him, a tall, unidentifiable figure stood in shadow but Cera didn't have the mental space to notice that dinosaur. She felt hatred surge through her.
"Him," she said.
Chomper followed her gaze and his eyes widened. Cera's rage made her heartbeat sharp. It was Verter. This was all Verter's doing. Of course he would create something like this. Of course he would have their parents to tear each other apart, watching with relish.
"Stop." Verter said, voice cool and carrying to where the two stood.
Cera and Chomper's parents ceased fighting, pulling away from one another. Mr. Threehorn had a scratch on his newly regenerated frill. Mama Sharptooth's hand was missing both claws this time. In spite of their many injuries, they remained on their feet, panting but ready to go again.
"You call that a fight?" Verter continued. "I'll show you a real fight. Let's kick things up."
Verter leapt, landing with a muffled boom in the sandy pit. Mr. Threehorn, Tria, and Mama and Papa Sharptooth turned to glare at him, enmity forgotten. Even as Cera watched, their wounds closed back up, Mama Sharptooth's claws growing back in and Mr. Threehorn's bitten back wound shrinking and closing up. The four slinked around Verter, whose smirk didn't waver. They moved like predators, looking for an opening to strike. Cera didn't want to ever see that look in her parents again.
"What's wrong with them?" she said. "Dad and Tria aren't acting like themselves."
"My parents aren't either." Chomper said. "Oh, this is all wrong!"
"Now who should I choose?" Verter said, sweeping about his gaze. "I think…Topps old pal!"
Verter turned and charged, impaling Mr. Threehorn in the face. Mr. Threehorn yowled. Throwing him up, Verter sent him crashing onto his side. Mr. Threehorn groaned, two stab wounds covering his cheek and forehead. Tria charged in next, meeting horns with Verter, great clacks echoing in the pit. He made her topple onto her back. He stamped onto her face. She screamed and he laughed. Papa Sharptooth thundered forward, beating his muzzle into Verter's head. Verter stepped back, smirked, and stabbed into Papa Sharptooth's chest. Papa Sharptooth gasped, the sound choked.
"Come on, come on, you sharpteeth can do better than that." Verter taunted.
Mama Sharptooth snarled and charged to his left. Pulling his horns out of Papa Sharptooth, Verter slammed his head into hers. She bellowed, stumbling away. Verter threw his head in an arc and his horns slashed across Mama Sharptooth's neck. She cried out, two slash marks on her throat. Chomper screamed, terror in his gaze.
Cera had enough. She couldn't just stand back and watch this. Gritting her teeth, she waved her head to Chomper indicating they were going in and inspected the sandy pit bottom below. It was a dozen foot drop. She hesitated but upon seeing Verter crush Mr. Threehorn's head into the ground, she determined it was a drop worth risking. Jumping down, Cera met the sandy ground a few seconds later and stumbled. Her body shook with some pain but the thick sand broke most of the fall. A second later, Chomper landed beside her, snout first and limbs splayed. Rushing to his feet, he rubbed his nose and the two ran into the battle.
"Stop!" Cera cried. "Stop this fight right now!"
Verter loomed over a down and dazed Tria, raising his horns to stab her face. Cera jumped in between them. Verter stopped with surprise.
"No!" she glared up. "You won't hurt her!"
Tria stirred, focusing on her. "Cera…what?"
Chomper made a beeline for the still and wounded form of Papa Sharptooth. Mama Sharptooth stood above him, panting as her throat slash marks closed up and vanished.
"Daddy, are you alright?" he asked. "Mommy? Why were you fighting Mr. Threehorn and Tria?"
"Chomper?" Papa Sharptooth mumbled. He opened his eyes. "What are you doing here? What was I…?"
The ugly cheering that overwhelmed the pit died down. Cera sent up a glare of fury. How could her Great Valley neighbors support such a horrible sport? Surprise melting away, Verter threw his head back and laughed.
"Oh, you children," he said. "You found my secret little hideaway."
"What have you been doing to our parents?" Cera demanded.
"It's nothing they weren't persuaded to agree with." Verter said. "It's time for threehorns and sharpteeth to get back to their roots. And nothing signifies that more than a brutal fight. Fun, isn't it?"
"This isn't fun!" Chomper shouted. "This is torture! Sure some sharpteeth might be into this but it isn't what my parents would like!"
Mama Sharptooth winced. "Stop speaking so loud, Chomper. It hurts."
Chomper started guiltily. "I'm sorry Mommy. Don't worry, things'll get better soon."
Hearing this exchange, Cera sent a look of deep anger to Verter. "You have a lot to answer for. You're going to pay for what you did to our folks."
"Should you speak to me that way Cera?" Verter said quietly. "Let me remind you that you and Chomper are now in my territory. I can beat you the same way I beat and crushed your parents. Who knows, maybe this time you're training will actually go better."
In spite of herself, Cera stepped back. Verter gave a soft laugh. She felt humiliated that Verter still could put great fear into her. She was still the same scaredy-egg as before. She was distracted by Tria pushing herself up. Tria looked at Cera, double-checking as though not quite believing she was there. Cera watched her, wondering suddenly why Tria looked so lost. Tria looked at Mama Sharptooth, who helped Papa Sharptooth to his feet. Eyes widening, she looked up the pit, at the many dinosaurs staring down before finally looking at the violent slash-marks and rough foot prints in the sand. Fear came into Tria's expression.
"Oh no," she said. "That…actually happened."
"I can control myself now." Papa Sharptooth murmured, swaying as he regained balance. "That wasn't a sleep story? I remember biting a chunk off Mr. Threehorn's back…"
"What's going on?" Chomper asked, uneasily looking between Tria and Papa Sharptooth. "You're all talking strangely."
"Oh, here it comes." Verter said. "I've been waiting for this."
Cera's anger faltered. Something weird was happening. Hearing her father's groan, she turned to find his head cracking back into shape and wounds stitching back together. Ignoring her queasiness, Cera ran over.
"Daddy, are you alright?" she asked.
Mr. Threehorn blinked his eyes open. He rose on wobbly legs, wearing that same dazed expression as Tria. He squinted at her and started.
"Cera?" he said. "When did you get here?"
"Get here?" Cera repeated. "Why are you so blasé after that horrible fight?"
"Fight?" he said. Then slowly, his gaze widened. He glanced at Cera, then the sharpteeth, Verter, and the audience above with increasingly aware alarm.
Worried, Cera stepped closer. "Daddy?"
"No. No!" Mr. Threehorn said. "Did that actually happen? That would mean – I refuse to believe it. It's not possible! Verter wouldn't-"
"Daddy, calm down!" She stepped closer. "What's this about? You and Tria vanished and I was searching all over for you. Why are you here?"
"I don't know." He shook his head as though to shake out cobwebs. "My brain's all misty. My – my first clear memory is after you girls went off to play. Verter appeared and asked me and Tria to come with him. He said he had a surprise for us. After we started following him, he invited the sharpteeth and kept asking more and more dinosaurs to come along. I asked him why he was gathering so many people but he kept putting me off. I was so confused when we went into the Mysterious Beyond. He said he'd answer our questions when we got down into the pit…"
"But that didn't happen." Tria continued. "After we jumped into this sandy area, my mind changed. I suddenly felt like I had to hunt Chomper's parents, hurt them. Before I knew it, I was biting, stabbing, and kicking with all my might. My body was acting on its own. The pain was unbearable. I tried to stop or run but I just kept fighting." Her breath hitched. "I wanted it to be over so many times. Why didn't you help, Verter? Why did you join in?"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure you found it very sad." Verter said, flicking a forepaw. "You always were too sensitive."
Mama Sharptooth glared. "What's wrong with you? I hurt Tria. I tore and bit one of the nicest dinosaurs I know but you're treating this like a joke. What happened to us, Verter?"
"Explain yourself." Papa Sharptooth snarled, stepping forward. "You're taking this a bit too cavalierly in my opinion."
"Your opinions don't matter." Verter raised his head, proud. "As an Anchor, I have the privilege to control you however I like. It's a power only a few can wield. Though your kids can sway some things if they wanted to."
"What are you talking about?" Cera said. "We're not like you!"
"Keep telling yourself that." Verter paced, throwing looks at Mr. Threehorn. "Don't you miss the good old days, Topps old pal? If anyone hurt our pride, we can fight them and beat them until they accept who's really on top. If a threehorn gained enough power, the others would be too scared to question them. Well, I'm going to bring that back. It's what I deserve after my service to Wing Father. Really, you four had that beating coming."
"What?" Mr. Threehorn said. "Stop it. This isn't funny."
"It can't be." Tria said faintly. "Can you really control others? Is this how you felt about us all along?"
"I don't want to believe it." Mama Sharptooth shook her head. "But the smells coming off him. He's being honest."
"Is this a trick?" Papa Sharptooth asked. "Call this game off Verter. If you don't …"
"This is a sick joke!" Mr. Threehorn said, voice harsh. "Enough of this nonsense, Verter. You're going too far."
Verter sighed. "Oh Topps old pal. Believer to the last."
"You wouldn't act like this!" Mr. Threehorn snapped. "Right? You can be mischievous but you wouldn't control us even if you had such a power! But it doesn't exist! It's nonsense! This – this is all just nonsense..."
Even as he said this, the anger in his voice wavered. His expression twisted with the beginnings of denial and pain. Cera looked away but saw Tria shaking her head with wide eyes and Mama and Papa Sharptooth step closer together, deep fury belying the horror in their scarlet gazes. It was bad enough for Cera to see her father and Tria go through Verter's betrayal all over again. But that Chomper's parents were experiencing the same hurt brought Cera near the edge. Chomper stared up at his parents, heartbroken on their behalf. With a surge of anger, Cera thrust her gaze up at the audience on the cliffs above. How dare her fellow Great Valley dinosaurs choose to be part of this? They were just as guilty. She had a half mind to have them experience the same pain her and Chomper's parents went through, see if they enjoyed it…
But the crowd on the cliffs didn't look angry at the fight being interrupted. They only appeared confused, and increasingly, frightened. On the second cliff, a crested swimmer had a look of dawning realization and clapped her mouth. On the first cliff over forty feet above, a longneck stepped back, shaking his head and looking ill. On the cliff twelve feet above she and Chomper jumped from, a spikethumb talked to a domehead, checking details with each other and looking fearful. Cera's anger drained away. Shock began to overtake the crowd, hushed voices rising in volume.
"Oh my, what was I doing?"
"I was cheering dinosaurs tearing each other apart!"
"It was horrible! They were so injured, I could see inside them!"
"This isn't me! I'm not into this kind of blood sport…am I?"
Cera felt her stomach sink. She looked at Verter, who smirked as though finding the audience's cries a sweet lullaby. She almost blamed the wrong people. Those watching were as much victims as her and Chomper's parents. They didn't willingly cheer on such violence. This was all Verter's fault. Cera glared at him, unable to recall when she ever felt such hatred for someone.
"You couldn't stop, could you?" she said lowly. "Messing with our parents wasn't enough. You had to make the others from the valley as twisted as you."
"Do you have a problem with that?" Verter asked, widening an eye in mock question.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Tria repeated. Her voice rose in incredulity. "Is that all you have to say? Don't you feel the slightest bit bad for doing this to your friends?"
"Hmm. No." Verter said. "I'm long past considering you friends."
"You're being serious?" Mr. Threehorn asked, shaking. "No Verter! Show's over! Be – be honest!"
"I am being honest. Honest for the first time in a long while." Verter titled his head with a knowing grin. "Well…from your perspective, at least."
Mama Sharptooth stomped forward. "Dear, don't you think he looks tasty?"
"Not until you said just now." Papa Sharptooth's growl thundered in his throat. "I think he needs to spend a long, long time in our bellies."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Verter said. "It didn't go well last time."
"You're being honest. You're actually being honest." Mr. Threehorn said. He staggered about, all the grief and pain slipping through. He appeared to need all his energy to not break down. He was devastated for a moment before he gritted his teeth and gladly let fury overtake him. "Just – just wait until we tell the others! You'll never be able to step foot into the Great Valley again. You'll be lucky if you're just banished. Wing Father won't be happy about this. He'll probably give you pain we can't even imagine, see how you like it!"
"Would I?" asked a new, smooth voice.
Cera felt the color drain out of her face. Slowly, she looked toward the shadowed figure that had stood in the cave. Floating forward, Wing Father appeared, calm smile holding the slightest hint of satisfaction. Stepping back, Chomper exchanged a look of dread with Cera. How had they not recognized his silhouette? The crowd became hushed. The longneck on the first cliff peered over and jumped upon recognizing Wing Father. A few like the spiketail and domehead pair dropped to their knees in nervous reverence. Tria and Mama and Papa Sharptooth's jaws dropped. Only Verter didn't look surprised. Mr. Threehorn stood stunned.
"W-W-Wing Father?" he stammered. "What are you doing there? Were you there this whole time?"
"Yes." Wing Father said.
"Why didn't you step in?" Mama Sharptooth demanded. "We were getting hurt out here! You were collecting evidence of Verter's intent, right?"
"I was waiting for the right opportunity to appear."
"What does that mean?" Tria asked.
Wing Father didn't respond, smile eerily vague. A few people began to whisper. Why was the great being of the world acting so strange? Cera was gaining a rising, horrible suspicion. Looking so smug slime should be oozing off him, Verter turned to Wing Father and bowed.
"Wing Father, aren't people so easy to trick?" he asked.
"They are." Wing Father said. "You're fulfilling your role well, Verter."
The crowd became dead silent. Everyone stared, uncomprehending. Papa Sharptooth stepped forward, pants deep.
"No." he said. "What did you say? Say – say it again!"
"I knew it." Cera said loudly.
"Cera, be more respectful!" Tria said harshly.
"Respectful? Didn't you hear what he just said?"
Mr. Threehorn shook his head. "No, we must have misheard. Wing Father would – would never do something like this!"
"Are you sure about that?" Chomper asked.
"I just can't believe it." Mama Sharptooth said. "I won't believe it."
"It takes a while for the message to sink in, doesn't it?" Wing Father said.
"It does." Verter chuckled. "Well, let me hurry it along. Wing Father supported this fight. He's been on my side in this project the whole time."
Gasps and inhales of breath echoed in the pit. Wherever Cera looked, there was disbelief and shock of the highest order. Mr. Threehorn stared up, lips opening and closing but no words coming out. Papa Sharptooth shook his head, as though someone unexpectedly rammed him. Tria and Mama Sharptooth exchanged looks, appearing to check with one another they were hearing Wing Father and Verter right. The audience broke out in whispers, voices growing with distress. On the second cliff, she saw the crested swimmer gawp down and then cover her eyes, as though she could deny reality this way.
"This – this isn't true, right?" Tria stepped closer, stumbling. "You must be working undercover to expose Verter's cruelty, like Mrs. Sharptooth said. Wing Father, please say that is it!"
"If that were so, I would have intervened sooner." Wing Father said, waving a dismissive hand. "But your torment was necessary."
"Why was it necessary?" Papa Sharptooth demanded. "You've been part of this world's peace since the beginning. Don't tell us you're turning your back on that."
"Oh, far from it. There are greater goals that necessitate this sacrifice. Other peoples exist out there who don't know my peace yet."
"Who?" Mr. Threehorn said angrily. Even so, after two betrayals, his voice was cracking. "Who's left that don't know your peace? You control the entire world! Why put us through this torture?"
Wing Father lips thinned. "Not every place in the world knows my power. There are those who are jealous of the Great Valley's peace and bounty. Dinosaur wishes are contradictory, so fighting is inevitable. These threats must be put down before they actualize. To do so, the Great Valley must learn to bare and deliver pain. We shall defend the valley and conquer all those who stand against our ways. Our vision will spread across all lands. But we can't be content there. One day, we must turn our gaze to the stars."
"Stars?" Mama Sharptooth repeated. "What does that mean?"
"You'll find out eventually." Verter chuckled. "Think of this as an opportunity. A life of battle and passion. This would bring back the ways threehorns and other kinds have been losing touch with. I'm sure some of your sharpteeth brethren would agree. Fighting and forcing out enemies to submit to us, spreading our territory endlessly. Doesn't that sound like the life?"
"Who would want that?" Papa Sharptooth demanded. "Sure, I'll defend my home but constant fighting isn't the life I seek. Who's this threat, anyway? Where do they live? You're being vague on the details."
"What happened to you, Wing Father?" Tria stepped closer. "You were always so kind. Why are you like this?"
"I'm merely following my nature." Wing Father said. "Just as I always have."
The crowd gasped and cried out in alarm. A few burst into tears. Mr. Threehorn backed away, shaken. Tria looked like she wanted to cry. Cera tried to understand this reaction. She had only known of Wing Father for a few days. But to her family and everyone else, he was a powerful and benevolent protector who existed since time immemorial. It would be like if a beloved parent or elderly herd leader revealed they never cared about you. It was the only comparison Cera could make for why there was such a broken and terrified response from those present. She glared, digging her feet into the sand.
"I always knew you were a bad guy," she said.
"Please Cera, don't be so simplistic." Wing Father slid a placating hand in a graceful arc, smile widening. "Verter has a point. There must be a purpose to one's existence and there's no greater purpose than battle."
"No there isn't!" Cera said. "You just want to mess with us."
"Your anger is misdirected." Wing Father said. "I do have all of your best interests at heart."
"I doubt it!" Chomper snapped. "If you did care, you wouldn't make us fight or hurt others. Daddy's right. We'd hate that."
"You didn't hate it when you defeated Red Claw and others who would have harmed you."
Chomper flinched. Then he caught himself and glared. "That was because we just wanted Red Claw and others like him to go away. Stop twisting our words!"
"I can see everyone is upset." Wing Father said. "It'll be challenging to make you see reason. Tell you what, return home. Let your tempers cool. Think about what I said and we can discuss it in the morning."
"Don't talk to us like we're angry toddlers!" Tria snapped.
"That's right!" shouted several from the audience, anger setting in.
"We were planning on leaving anyway!" Papa Sharptooth sneered. "You aren't the boss of us."
"Of course you're allowed to have your own opinion." Wing Father said.
"Don't patronize us." Mama Sharptooth snarled. "You lost that right. You're going to regret doing what you did to us."
"Be careful, Mommy." Chomper said nervously.
"No, go on." Wing Father said. "Get some sleep. You'll all be reasonable tomorrow."
"I don't think so." Mr. Threehorn said. Any grief had drained away to be replaced by fury, glare like black fire. "In fact, we're tossing you and Verter out! You two will never see the Great Valley again. You'll regret betraying us so thoroughly, you'll see!"
"I guess we shall."
Verter laughed mockingly. Mr. Threehorn turned and charged at Verter for a few steps. Cera ran up to his side, gaze pleading not to be rash. Mr. Threehorn gritted teeth at his former friend before scoffing, turning to stalk off. Tria followed in his wake, looking back nervously. Mama and Papa Sharptooth weren't far behind, not giving so much as a backwards glance. Soon, the pit was full of the footsteps and wing flaps of departing dinosaurs. Those who stood near Wing Father jostled one another to make a hasty exit. A few jogged up the paths, glancing down warily. Cera and Chomper hastily followed their parents, Mama Sharptooth helping the two get up on the cliff. Chomper glanced around bemused but it made sense to Cera for everyone to leave quickly. As they ascended the pit paths, Cera looked down. Verter and Wing Father remained where they stood, smiles smug. This made Cera uneasy. Those two should be worried. They had unleashed everyone's wrath and were going to be banished from the Great Valley. So why did Verter and Wing Father act like the crowd behaved exactly how they wanted?
"No, that can't be true!"
"I said the same thing but my memory doesn't lie."
"It must have, you all saw illusions or – for some reason, you have a grudge against Wing Father-"
"Why would so many of us have a reason to lie?"
Littlefoot didn't believe he would ever see this kind of meeting again. The bright circle fell, casting the sky in beautiful purples and oranges above the packed meeting circle gathering. Every Great Valley dinosaur seemed to be present. He saw many familiar faces – Pat, the Tinysauruses, Mr. Thicknose, Mr. Clubtail. Littlefoot could barely glimpse Hyp and his parents standing together, uncomfortable to be squished so close together. They all had gathered to hear the impossible, the unthinkable. Littlefoot had heard earlier how the Cera and Chomper came back with a dinosaur group who almost stampeded into the Great Valley. Things at the meeting circle hadn't been much better, Cera and Chomper's parents' tale having led to shouts and protests. But despite his own fears, Littlefoot had little doubt - Verter and Wing Father had brainwashed Mr. Threehorn, Tria, and Mama and Papa Sharptooth to tear and stab at each other in a bloody battle, with other dinosaurs forced to cheer as spectators.
Standing between his mother and grandma's legs, Littlefoot had to fight down nausea over even the vague fight description. Cera was by her parents, looking angry and defiant. Horen, Rica, and Duane pressed around Mr. Threehorn's leg, in near tears. Mrs. Threehorn's appeared troubled and Tricia nuzzled her forefoot to try to soothe her. Chomper sat in Papa Sharptooth's arms, so he could tell his story to more of the crowd. Littlefoot could see the rest of his friends dotted about with their families near the center of the circle. They all looked as horrified and scared as Littlefoot felt.
"It doesn't make sense." Tria continued. "We all look up to Wing Father. He contributed so much to the world. What would we get for making this up?"
"I don't know!" Mr. Clubtail stomped a foot. His face was twisted in anger that underlay denial. "Maybe you…you ticked Wing Father off somehow."
"Yeah, that's right!" called a domehead.
"Now, now." Mama Longneck said, sending about a stern look. "There's no need for that."
"Why not? Not like it's impossible to think about with Mr. Threehorn." said a whiptail longneck grimly.
"How dare you!" Cera snapped. "What makes him deserve getting bitten and his frill ripped off? Wing Father ticked us off by treating everyone as playthings!"
"Hmm." Mrs. Threehorn murmured. She appeared to be thinking it over. "This is all hard to believe. But…none of you would lie about something this serious."
"I hate Verter!" Duane said, with rare passion.
"I always thought he was kind of weird." Horen muttered.
"Maybe Wing Father and Verter changed for the worse." Mama Sharptooth said. "That can happen in life. Still, for Wing Father to fall like the rest of us…"
Cera and Chomper winced, strangely troubled by the statement. Littlefoot looked at his mother. Though a hint of trepidation could be seen in her eyes, she listened and had kept her cool while moving the meeting along. He felt a flutter of admiration for her. His grandparents traded grave looks, shaken but grim. Though still struggling to wrap their minds around this, at least his other friends' families seemed to be starting to believe. Mama Flyer fidgeted but there wasn't doubt in her gaze and Mama Swimmer had a hand to her mouth with the shock that came with credulity.
"I'm sorry you all had to go through that." Mama Swimmer said. "It was cruel."
At her feet, Ducky and Spike's brothers and sisters nodded and called out in agreement. For some reason Ducky and Spike stood a few feet apart from their siblings. They had been awkward coming to the meeting but that was all forgotten judging by their scared expressions. Mama Fast Runner walked over and put a comforting hand on Tria. Mama Longneck closed her eyes and took a deep breath as though stealing herself.
"There must be consequences," she said. "We can't let brutal acts like this continue. I don't like having to exile people but it's clear they aren't regretful for their actions."
Papa Sprinter looked skeptical. "But how do you exile Wing Father? Let's say I believe this for a second – it seems like a tall order."
"Yes." Big Daddy said, pacing. "Wing Father influences the world. Where would you send him where he doesn't have power?"
"You have a point." Grandma Longneck said, troubled. "What if he and Verter raise an army against the valley?"
"They could be dangerous to those in the Mysterious Beyond too." Grandpa Longneck said. "But there are few other options."
There were concurring calls, though there were still dinosaurs who scoffed and looked incredulous, still not believing the accusations. Littlefoot was glad to see at least some of his adult friends taking these claims seriously. Mr. Thicknose frowned in thought, weighing the matter with great seriousness while the Tinysauruses murmured, sending sympathetic looks to Cera and Chomper. Petrie looked about nervously, as though wary Don might be skulking among the crowd or in the sky. Fortunately, the Anchors had been conspicuous by their absence. Mama Flyer closed her eyes and braced herself.
"I understand everyone has hurt feelings," she said. "But let's not make any rash decisions."
"Oh, so you're on their side now?" Mr. Threehorn demanded, riling up.
"I'm not doubting you," she said heatedly, putting a hand to her chest. "It's just I want us to plan carefully. Wing Father's now our enemy. He's a dangerous being. We have to think hard about how to get rid of him."
"But this is Wing Father." Mr. Clubtail said. "He's like the bright circle. No amount of thinking can get rid of him."
"This is pointless," said a domehead. "Is everyone actually starting to believe these claims that Wing Father did something wrong?"
Mama Fast Runner sighed. "We've already been through this. I know Chomper's parents. They respected Wing Father. They wouldn't have any reason to lie about this, particularly with so many backing their story"
Papa Fast Runner nodded, putting a supportive hand on her. Ruby and her family stood a couple rows to the right of Littlefoot. Ruby looked an odd mix of relieved and tense, comforting hands on Saph and Emmy's shoulders. Next to her family, Pat shook his head slowly.
"We should plan carefully but not take all night planning," he said. "If Wing Father has acted like Mr. Threehorn and the others said…we might only have until tomorrow at the latest. Wing Father could even attack at any moment before then."
"Then let's start planning." Mama Longneck said. "I'll suggest an idea to get things rolling but if anyone has better ideas, please contribute. If we can't exile Verter and Wing Father, we should trap them in a sturdy cave like the secret caverns. How does that sound?"
Nods and affirming calls rang out. Still, there were more than a few skeptical sighs and eye rolls.
"No cave can hold Wing Father," said a squareshield. "Earthshakes can make the cave collapse and then he can escape. It's futile to fight him."
"I still think you're all making a big mistake." Mr. Clubtail said.
"If you don't like it, leave!" Mrs. Threehorn shouted, causing the others to jump. She stamped a foot. "I'm tired of hearing you doubt my mates and daughter. Go! The grownups are talking."
"Fine, we're leaving," said the domehead, turning. "No use talking sense into you."
"I'm going too," said a sprinter. "You're all playing with fire. I'm not sticking around when you burn everything."
More dinosaur turned and left, squeezing between those still present or also leaving. As this happened, glares and scoffs were exchanged, especially from those who had been forced to cheer on the fight, a few resisting the urge to strike at each other. Mr. Clubtail glared around before also parting, club tail waving as though itching to hit something. The atmosphere the doubters left behind was tense. Papa Sharptooth snorted.
"Good riddance," he said.
"Please, none of that." Mama Longneck chided. "Let's not hold grudges against one another. Not everyone can or should be involved in a fight. At any rate, let's continue planning."
"I want those two exiled." Mama Sharptooth said. "Sure, they might hurt others out there but let's spread word about their bad nature."
"Yeah, let's make it a true exile. Like Pterano's." Mr. Threehorn growled. "Pterano can even redeem himself by spreading the word about those two."
"Maybe." Mama Longneck said, frowning thoughtfully. "Whatever our plan, we might have to fight to make them leave. From what you said Tria, Verter isn't the type to go quietly. Wing Father neither."
"But has anyone seen Wing Father fight?" Tria asked. "How good is he? Can he fight?"
Many adults hesitated. Few have ever seen Wing Father use his powers. Many were filled with dread on what that might look like. The few who did see some of Wing Father's powers gave eyewitness testimony, which inspired others to give ideas on how counter him. Some of those forced to cheer on Verter's fight volunteered to be lookouts and take shifts in case Wing Father and Verter struck at night, angered but determined. Amid all this, Littlefoot and his friends exchanged looks, every face taught and wary. Acting on instinct, Littlefoot waved his head to indicate they talk in private. A few sent nervous looks at their parents and siblings, as though hesitant to leave them but his friends joined him in sneaking away and weaving around the maze of legs. They joined together far back at the edge of the meeting, surveying each other with concern.
"This – this really is happening." Littlefoot said.
"They going to fight Wing Father?" Petrie shuddered. "That scary."
Ruby touched her chin. "That was rather sloppy of Wing Father. Why did he help hurt Cera and Chomper's parents two days after he helped changed the world? Even with everything changed, people would turn against him if he's cruel."
"Who knows how bad people think? I do not want to know, oh no, no, no." Ducky fidgeted. "Are you okay Cera, Chomper? Oh, it must have been so hard for you."
"Take a wild guess." Cera muttered. "I was in a panic all day. Ever since I saw...that, I couldn't eat."
"I wasn't there for you when it happened, Chomper." Ruby murmured, wracked with guilt. "I wasn't there for Cera either. I'm sorry, you two."
Chomper shrugged, looking away. "It's not your fault. I didn't think to ask for your help. We were so scared trying to find our folks. I heard my parents talk about Verter like they were friends but what he did to them and their hurt when Verter revealed himself…"
Spike let out a mournful breath, bunting his head to Chomper and then Cera, who didn't protest the comfort. Spike looked up at the packed grownups and Littlefoot followed his gaze. A few other dinosaurs had left in the meantime but those who remained seemed to be nodding along grimly as some were assigned rearguard positions. Littlefoot's chest clenched.
"They're really going to fight," he said. "They'll get hurt. I don't know how powerful Wing Father is but if he can make them feel pain...it'll be terrible."
"At least no one will die." Ruby said, then looked worried. "Unless…Wing Father and Verter can make death exceptions for people they don't like."
"Stop, stop!" Petrie shook his head. "Me no want to think about it!"
"It'd suck if we lose our parents after changing the world to save them." Cera muttered.
"But we cannot stop the fighting." Ducky asked. "What can we do?"
"Yeah." Chomper lowered his head. "We're too little to do anything."
"We shouldn't give up." Littlefoot said. "I don't know what we should do but let's be prepared for tomorrow. We should be ready to take action."
Cera's gaze hardened "And why should we listen to you?"
"Cera…" Chomper said.
"Hey, you still on his side? After what he did?"
The others flinched and awkwardly looked away. Meeting Littlefoot's gaze, Spike made a sympathetic nervous expression. Littlefoot took a calming breath, pushing down the mixed feelings churning in him. Losing his cool wouldn't be of any help now.
"Look, I get you're mad with me," he said lowly. "I'm not saying you shouldn't be. But with the fight that might happen tomorrow, let's put that aside. We might need to work together in case our parents and the valley need us. That okay with you?"
Cera held the glare before she let out a low breath. "If we must."
Huge feet stopped behind him. "Come Littlefoot. It's time to rest."
Littlefoot jumped. "Oh. Uh yes, Mother!"
Dinosaurs were dispersing from the meeting circle. Mama Longneck stood by the gang as others stepped around her, presence large and stolid. Cera and the others stared up at her before averting their gazes. Littlefoot realized this was the first time most of his friends met his mother face-to-face and they didn't know how to react. She surveyed Cera and the others with a gentle smile.
"You children should be careful too," she said. "The valley will likely become dangerous tomorrow. Don't wander far from your families."
"Uh yes." Ruby said, steepling her fingers nervously. "Yes. Good advice, Mrs. Longneck."
"T-thank you Littlefoot's mom." Petrie said.
"You're welcome children." Mama Longneck said, turning to Littlefoot. "Now let's…"
"Thanks for saving me and Littlefoot during that earthshake long ago!"
Cera's mouth snapped shot. She was almost mortified by what she blurted out. The rest started and stared. Mama Longneck looked at Cera with surprise.
"What earthshake was this?" she asked. "I'm afraid we had to save you children from a lot of them."
"Um." Cera scrapped a foot in the ground. "From – from before we were separated from our parents and…that sharptooth."
Mama Longneck's face dawned. "Oh! On our journey to the Great Valley?" She smiled. "That was a long time ago. You didn't have to thank me. Still, I appreciate it. Have a good night, children."
His friends gave awkward nods. Cera tentatively smiled at Mama Longneck until Littlefoot caught her eye and she quickly looked away. With final waves, the gang split, maneuvering cautiously around many feet to join their departing families. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck drew up between Mama Longneck and Littlefoot. With little more than a brief look at each other, the four departed. Flying and walking shapes hurried passed and vanished into the night. Some eyed their surroundings as though fearing a monster might jump out. In the deep dark of the nights, Littlefoot thought he was part of a migrating herd.
"Cera and the others seemed nervous around me." Mama Longneck said.
"What?" Littlefoot said, mind elsewhere.
"Your friends," she looked at him. "They're usually pretty friendly but they seemed wary of me all of a sudden. Did I do something to upset them?"
It took a moment for Littlefoot to wrench his focus to the present. He hastily shook his head. "Oh, no, no, it isn't you. They're just scared after hearing about Wing Father and Verter. Cera and Chomper are still affected by what happened."
"I see," she said but still frowned. "Well, I was organizing the meeting, so maybe that's why they were staring at me like that…"
Grandpa Longneck shuddered. "I can only imagine what Cera and Chomper went through. I'd hate to think of either of you or Littlefoot seeing Grandma and I in that position."
"One way or another, we'll put a stop to it." Grandma Longneck said. "Don't worry, Littlefoot."
Littlefoot squirmed. "Just be careful."
"It's okay, Littlefoot." Mama Longneck said. "We will be."
"I mean it. Wing Father's dangerous. If there's a fight…don't be in the thick of it."
Mama Longneck's lips thinned. "I'm afraid we can't do that. For better or worse, we helped create the plan."
"It'd be horrible if because of our plan, others got the brunt of injuries." Grandpa Longneck said. "We won't be reckless but we must do our part."
"What we want is a promise that you'll run and hide when we say so." Grandma Longneck said. "Will you do that, Littlefoot?"
"But, no!" Littlefoot scampered a bit faster. "Please think about it! Don't…!"
"We've made our decision." Mama Longneck said. "We want to keep everyone safe, Littlefoot. Including you. Don't worry about us. We're stronger than you think. What we want is to make sure you'll find someplace safe to hide until it's over. Will you do that for us?"
Littlefoot wanted to protest. With three sets of expectant eyes looking down on him though, he could only lower his head and nod. Even when each of the three nuzzled him in turn, he was troubled. There was still so much he didn't know. What if Wing Father could take his family away – put them in a coma or make it so they never existed? He couldn't shake the thoughts even when they settled down at their nests. He pressed against Mama Longneck for comfort. However, the sleep stories were still terrible, full of flashes of Wing Father throwing his and his friends' parents over the Great Wall like pebbles, him not remembering his family, and his friends walking away from him under angry grey sky puffies. Even with these horrible images, when Littlefoot awoke the next morning, it was the dread of the battle to come that really frightened him, of the actual losses that might become reality.
His mother and grandparents stretched and yawned. Grandma Longneck pushed herself up to strip leaves from a nearby tree. Even with the coming battle, they didn't look the slightest bit worried. Littlefoot wondered how they could be so composed. Mama Longneck took one last gaping yawn and smiled at Littlefoot, who became resolved about a decision.
"Why do you look so nervous, Littlefoot?" she asked.
"Um, I was thinking." he said. "I still think you shouldn't fight. You still don't know what Wing Father and Verter can do. What if I lost you?"
Grandpa Longneck yawned and blinked. "Fight? Why would we fight Wing Father and Verter?"
Confused, Littlefoot looked between his mother and grandparents. They looked tired but not so tired they shouldn't be able to recall what happened.
"You're planning to exile Wing Father and Verter," he said. "For what they did to Cera and Chomper's parents."
"Exile?" Grandma Longneck repeated. "What are you talking about? Wing Father and Verter have done nothing to Cera and Chomper's parents."
Littlefoot felt a chill. "Okay, this isn't funny. You know what happened. Verter and Wing Father made Cera and Chomper's parents fight each other. They hurt them."
Mama Longneck stared. "Littlefoot, don't make up such a horrible claim. Why are you speaking about Wing Father like this?"
"Because it happened." Littlefoot said.
Grandpa Longneck hesitated. "Littlefoot, are you okay? Do you have a fever?"
"No, I'm fine!" Littlefoot started panting. Fear set icy fingers in his skin. "Why are you acting like you don't remember?"
"Because it didn't happen, dear." Grandma Longneck said.
"It did!" Littlefoot yelled. "How could you forget what happened yesterday? Ask the others, they'll tell you what Verter and Wing Father did!"
"Littlefoot-" Mama Longneck began.
"Talk with any dinosaur, you'll under-"
"Littlefoot!"
Littlefoot jumped. He had rarely heard his mother shout like that. She nudged him with a tail so he could look her in the eye.
"Take a deep breath," she said. "Please, look around you. If Wing Father did become an enemy, that would cause panic in the valley. But Wing Father would never do that. Yesterday was just another ordinary day. Do the people around here look afraid?"
Shaking, Littlefoot looked about. Dinosaurs were rising with the bright circle, yawning and stretching. A line of flyers flapped by, lacking the stiffness that came with being alert for an attack. Two spikethumbs girls kicked a rock between them, their parents' smiles warm and untroubled. Wherever he looked, Littlefoot only saw families waking up and moving about with the laidback air that came with Great Valley life. A crested swimmer mimed punches as he passed, muttering "must be prepared for the duel." Littlefoot felt like he was going mad. He struggled to keep his breathing even. Despite his memories of the night before, no face showed fear or worry. It was like yesterday never happened.
Next time…
Breakdown of the Illusion