Warning: This chapter also includes sometimes bloody violence, threats and attempted attacks against children, 2 permanent deaths, and a glimpsed body. Reader discretion is advised.
We Will Hold On Forever
by
DaveTheAnalyzer
Chapter 40: Anchors Away Part 2
Ruby, Petrie, and Chomper yipped and darted back into Mr. Clubtail, who swung his tail at Don. Don barely circled around as he returned to the skies. No sooner did Ruby, Petrie, and Chomper reunite with their friends that they were met with Dil's snapping jaws again. Mr. Clubtail walked backwards and the gang awkwardly matched his pace, finding it hard to keep up. The children bumped into each other, desperate not to fall behind. Don followed from above, avidly watching for another opportunity to grab Littlefoot and the others. Dil panted as she struggled to follow, her kind's belly-dragging walking making it difficult to move fast.
"Keep up! We almost have them!" Don said.
"Hey, you aren't the boss of us!" Ichy said. "We can hunt on our own, thanks!"
Don was irritated by this lack of respect but switched his attention back to the gang.
"These are the consequences for shaking up the world," he said. "If you continue on like this, you mightn't be guaranteed to survive. In Wing Father's world, you would never know the pain of change and becoming irrelevant. I used to know so much but time went on and my flock stopped respecting me. Change is a curse. Even if I haven't been killed by that sailback sharptooth, I wouldn't have been able to live a better life."
"That's where you're wrong!" cried a voice.
Don looked around, only to yelp when Mama Flyer crashed into his side. He spiraled down but he gave a series of hard flaps and regained his aerial balance. He rose back up in time to see Mama Flyer circle around and join Guido and Swooper who flapped in place. Petrie perked up. Littlefoot felt a swell of relief. Mr. Clubtail and the gang got so distracted they initially didn't notice Dil catching up.
They yelped when she bit at them. She growled and trailed after them, getting in Mr. Clubtail's stomach, who looked down in alarm. There was a patter of feet and Mama and Papa Fast Runner ran in through Mr. Clubtail and started kicking either side of Dil's face. Dil grunted and exclaimed. The pair didn't relent until she was forced to back away. Mama and Papa Fast Runner remained in front of them, Ruby elated.
"Mommy! Daddy!" she cried. After a moment, she wilted. "I'm sorry you have to help us again."
"Don't feel bad about it." Papa Fast Runner sent a smile over his shoulder. "It's our duty to help you and your friends. This also gives us an opportunity to take down an Anchor."
Dil shook her head before seeing the pair's figures. "Oh come on! I was so close to grabbing them!"
"We're the parents of one of the children you've been tormenting." Mama Fast Runner said sternly.
Dil blinked and sent a deadpan look. "There're seven of them. That doesn't exactly narrow down who you're the parents of."
Ichy flew over. "They're the fast runner's parents. The ones who interfered with Don are two flyers and a weird green sort-of flyer!
"Hey, I'm a glider…I think." Guido said. "And if you don't eat Petrie and his friends or anyone else, that would be fine and dandy!"
"We might not seem impressive but we'll make your lives mighty unpleasant if you hurt those kids!" Swooper said.
The gang looked at each other, touched, before looking up at Mr. Clubtail who smiled at them. Don shook his head and took stock of those in the sky and on the ground arrayed against him. His fury deepened.
"It's unwise of you to tangle with me again," he said, voice low.
"As long as you target our kids, we'll be in the way." Mama Flyer said. "You're wrong about change always being bad."
"What?"
"We all adapted to and benefited from change in this world." Mama Flyer said. "Sure, it can be hard and even bad but you could have changed with it if you chose to."
Don narrowed his eyes. He shot at her. Mama Flyer opened her wings horizontally and darted to the side, slapping him with her wing as he passed. Snarling, Don followed, slapping a wing toward her back.
"You wouldn't say that if you were in my position." Don said. "Your family saw the negatives of change too, trying to imitate land walker families. Do you discount that?"
"I regret a lot of that but sometimes you have to risk failure to discover new or greater happiness." Mama Flyer replied. "You could have learned and retained your position."
She turned and they batted at each other with claws, interrupted by the occasional wing slap. Kicking him away, Mama Flyer flew off. Frustrated, Don redirected his flight path to the seemingly easier target of Swooper. Up until that point, Guido and Swooper had been circling around watching nearby. Swooper heard Don's approach and started flying forward. Closing in, Don pecked at Swooper, who ducked up, down, and slid out of the way.
"You can't possibly agree with her, Swooper." Don demanded. "Do you like being old and blind?"
"It isn't always great but I adapted." Swooper said. "I even appreciate my other senses now I can't see."
To demonstrate, he abruptly turned and flew down. Don went down after him. Littlefoot and the others worried Swooper might crash into the ground if Don didn't injure him first. Spike inhaled breath when they saw a green figure gliding toward Don and Swooper but the gang remained quiet so as not to draw attention to it. Don was so focused on Swooper he didn't notice the green flying figure. Guido hit Don on the leg and bit and scratched Don's legs with his fingers and toes. Don yelped. Swooper leveled off short of the ground and flapped off.
Don shook his legs and managed to kick Guido off. Guido spun down with a yip but threw his arms out and his descent slowed. He regained height and passed under Don, who took off after him. Guido sent a nervous look but maintained his slow, descending glide forward.
"If I didn't take chances to adapt, I never would have learned I was a glider or been brave enough to help others." Guido said.
"You had to do that because you lost your memories!" Don snarled, slashing his claws at Guido. "Was that a good thing?"
Guido pressed his wings to his torso briefly to let gravity pull him out of slashing range, expression faltering. "I can't be sure. Hard to say when you can't remember."
"Then you and the others haven't adapted as much as you thought." Don said. "You aren't taking care of the bellydragger, who I'm sure has the children by now."
"You think?" Guido retorted, pointing down with his foot.
Lowering his gaze, Don found Ruby's parents throwing rocks at Dil. She grunted, snapping this way and that but the fast runners remained out of reach. They ran and circled around her, picking up more rocks and getting in the occasional quick kick. Dil exclaimed and growled in consternation, yet she could only go so far before she was struck again. Hovering above, Ichy attempting to shout out advice but his heart wasn't into it and he was frowning at Mama Flyer's words.
"You fools!" Don cried. "You haven't got the kids yet?"
"You strong-armed us to help you!" Ichy retorted. "Not exactly demonstrating teamwork with your lone tiff in the air!"
Don glowered at him but in the distraction, Guido circled around and bit Don's wing. Don shouted but Guido was already flying off to the ground. Though angered, he reluctantly assented Ichy's point and flew down to go after Mama and Papa Fast Runner instead. He went for Mama Fast Runner first, who was near Dil. Mama Fast Runner noticed and started moving faster. She dodged side to side from Don's strikes, tripping and her legs nearly getting bitten when she passed Dil again. She circled again to avoid Don and at one point climbed over Dil, who yelped and flailed in dismay.
"You can't believe change is good with Red Claw's actions in the Mysterious Beyond." Don said, keeping up. "You had to send Ruby away."
She punched him in the stomach, eliciting a gasp. She hopped off Dil, backing away.
"I wasn't happy that Ruby had to leave," she said. "But she was able to change and gain friends that are able to outwit Red Claw again and again. I wouldn't trade anything for it. You changed too, to pursue your questionable goals."
"You made an alliance with an otherworldly being." Papa Fast Runner added, going to her side. "You worked with the Anchors, who were other dinosaur kinds. You kept the herds integrated even in Wing Father's world. You could have found some other role that would've made you happy but instead you focused on your selfish desires in spite of their negative effects on others."
Don's expression twisted. He launched himself at Papa Fast Runner, who jumped away, tossing rocks at him. Papa Fast Runner dodged and blocked some of the claw swipes but winced when Don managed to slash his shoulder. Ruby gasped. Littlefoot became worried about where Ichy and Dil were but they lay in place not far off, listening to the conversation with conflicted expressions. Papa Fast Runner continued retreating, avoiding Don's slashes.
"How dare you!" Don cried, following after him. "I worked so hard to pass on my wisdoms. But the next generation only throws them away! Why should I be the one to change, why should I accommodate for the ungrateful-"
Don didn't notice the phantom clubtail they approached until Papa Fast Runner went through it. Don cried out and attempted to flap back up but Mr. Clubtail tail swung through him. Don bellowed, twitching and shaking in agony. Still in the middle of Mr. Clubtail, Littlefoot and the others had a full view of the horrific display. It looked like he got struck by sky fire. Flinching, Littlefoot, Ducky, and Spike stepped back. Dazed, Don flicked side to side before he noticed their fright. Ruby stepped back with an open mouth while Petrie had his beak covered. He flapped up,and for a moment, sent the gang a troubled look of his own. It was brief, as he quickly took to the skies and after Mama Flyer. They dueled each other with more claw slashes and wing slaps, boring into each other's eyes.
"None of you can know the pain I've gone through at my age!" Don shouted. "I had an earned position. I wasn't going to lose that again!"
"I'm older than you and I'm happy." Swooper said.
"That's because you have no responsibilities." Don said dismissively. "Those like me had important duties! I had to deal with so many slights, dismissal, my flock arguing with me."
"Do you think you're the only one who suffered?" Mama Flyer demanded. "We have a lot of ideas about the world that aren't true! We either adapt them or throw them away if they're no longer useful."
"My ideas are true!" he insisted. "I don't want to learn from the younger generation! That just isn't done! I was driven out. I shouldn't have had to deal with that!"
"That's sad but you became argumentative and violent," she said. "Of course that would strain relations."
"That's what they deserved for not respecting me!" Don retorted. "I was the elder! That should have been enough to get them in line. They should've been the ones to adapt. Oh, what became of respecting elders, of not questioning their opinions? No one will listen to me now. It's their fault I suffer. If only they and everyone hadn't spurned me-?"
"Oh, just shut up already!"
A transparent feathered shape shot up and phased through Don's heart. Don screamed and clawed at his chest as he fell. Abruptly he beat his wings and slowed until he landed a couple yards away. Don looked around for the culprit, only to see Ichy flying above, glaring with great ire. Don gawked, and he wasn't the only one. Littlefoot and the others stared, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.
"Did he just-?" Littlefoot said.
"He – he turn against Don?!" Petrie cried.
"Y-you!" Don stuttered. "Why did you attack me? You shouldn't be doing that!"
"Shut up!" Ichy said. "For an old flyer, you're the whiniest guy I ever met! Stop moaning and groaning!"
"Take that back!" Don said. "I'm warning you-"
Dil stepped toward him. "Since when were you the boss?"
"Since you decided to join me!" Don said. "I persuaded you to my cause!"
"Listen, old flyer!" Dil said. "You browbeated us into following you. You even threatened us if we didn't comply!"
"We're not anyone's followers!" Ichy added "It would be nice to be alive again but not in a world where we'd be yes-predators to some kooky whatever-Wing-Father-is! We particularly don't want to be servants of a guy like you!"
"I earned my position!" Don said. "You should be grateful for what I'm doing!"
Dil snapped a jaw at his wing. Don pulled it away and jumped back. She and Ichy slowly moved toward him, not so much as sparing a glance at Littlefoot and the others. Don was caught off guard.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "Stop! Don't you think of hurting me!"
"Why not?" Dil retorted. "What can you do to stop us?"
Ichy darted at him. Don dodged to the right and tried to fly backwards but Ichy rapidly closed the distance and went through Don's stomach. Don groaned of agony. Ichy flapped in place not far off, face filled with spiteful satisfaction.
"That was payback for making me part of your little attack squad!" he said. "And also having to bear with all your moaning and groaning."
"I don't moan and groan." Don gasped, descending one-winged while holding his aching stomach.
"Yes, you do." Dil said. "In the time we were waiting you were complaining, talked about how it wasn't your fault, that others should just do as you say…and now I say it aloud, that kind of sounds like us."
"What do you – oh." Ichy grimaced. "I hate to admit but we do argue like that. But at least we keep trying new things!"
"If you know about change in the world, then you must have suffered from it." Don drew away. "You shouldn't harm me. I suffered so much from this cruel, changing world. We can change it this time!"
"Join the club." Ichy said. "You think you're the only one who got their life thrown up because of change? We couldn't hunt on our own but you know what we did with the problem? We teamed up, learned how to speak leaf eater, worked together to catch prey. It didn't last forever but them's the breaks. You refuse to change because you think you're too good to adapt. A wise person would move with the times, wouldn't they?"
"You still failed in the end," Don said. "You ended up dead and she alone! Don't insult my intelligence. I know more than ever-"
Ichy went through Don's beak. He shut and clung to it, pained moan muffled. Don staggered away, as though seeing the sharpbeak as a threat for the first time. Ichy smiled smugly.
"For such a wise guy, you do keep getting taken by surprise when a ghost hits you!" he said.
Don narrowed his eyes. He shot out, not at Ichy but at Dil. Ichy called out in outrage. Dil heard him coming. As Don closed in, Dil stepped back and raised her muzzle, parrying his beak. He circled over Dil to hit her with another strike, only for Mama Flyer to intercept him, the pair slashing beaks. The pair briefly backed away.
"You're helping more meat eaters?" he demanded.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Mama Flyer retorted. "Probably not for long but you're the bigger threat. Do you remember what you've been doing to our families and children, the world? You manipulated Ruby and Petrie by pretending to be their friend."
Don opened his mouth but yelped when a few rocks hit his foot and neck. Mama and Papa Fast Runner ran around the area in a large oval shape, grabbing rocks that fell after impact and flinging them back at Don. Don winced and dodged a few before making a beeline for Papa Fast Runner. He closed the distance until only a few inches separated them, making clawing motions at the fast runner's back.
"From my understanding, you became fond of Ruby and Petrie." Papa Fast Runner said. "But you tried to kill us and Mrs. Flyer multiple times, and chased our kids all over. Don't tell me you didn't feel the prick of your conscience."
"It wasn't pleasant but it had to be done." Don said.
He caught up to Papa Fast Runner, who dodged and ducked under the grabbing claws. A rock hit the back of Don's head. Don whirled around and flapped toward Mama Fast Runner, who was on the opposite side of their egg-shaped running formation. She turned and started sprinting away. Don decided to circle to keep in range. When he got close enough to slash his beak and claws at her, she hopped out of the way, quick as a flash.
"Are you sure about that?" Mama Fast Runner asked. "You made everyone in the valley and its environs become playthings of Wing Father. You made the kids see and do things they'll never forget. You've seen their fear up close. Doesn't that linger in your memory?"
Don hesitated. "I – no, stop talking!"
He went after her, as though to get rid of the ideas she put into his head. Mama Fast Runner threw several stones into his face and ran off. He followed cautiously, seeing her run toward Mr. Clubtail. The gang saw the expressions Petrie and Ruby gave him, worrying how effective they would be. By chance Don looked in their direction and saw Petrie's pleading looks, still wanting to give him a chance. Ruby didn't do the same, watching with a resigned and angry expression. Don slowed and became troubled, distracted. Ichy took advantage and went through Don's chest, which Don held with a screech. Ruby and Petrie stirred, having a complicated reaction to the sight. Don descended, flapping feebly to keep in the air but Guido glided over to stand on his legs to weigh him down.
"Petrie and Ruby were willing to give you a chance and even be your friend but you used that against them." Guido said. "Think of the pain and hurt that gave them. It must've been what you felt when you realized Wing Father wasn't as noble as you thought he was."
"I'm not like – any harm was only a side effect!" Don sputtered.
He shook Guido off but no sooner did Swooper pass by and slapped him with a wing. Don went after Swooper but more following his instincts than any concrete planning. Swooper noted Don got above him and circled out of the way.
"You were willing to accept harm to the children and everyone else if it would accomplish your goals." Swooper said. "Do others' feelings mean much to you?"
"I'm not heartless." Don said. "Don't insinuate that I don't care – that I only care for-"
A phantom tail went through the pair of them and Don bellowed and hugged himself. He descended and crashed into the grass. Petrie and Ruby started at the sound of the impact. The adults advanced onto Don with a mix of grim and sad expressions, along with some discomfort. Ruby stirred, her face became pale. Mr. Clubtail started forward as though to join but realized Littlefoot and the others were in him and he had a conflicted look. He only took a few steps and turned around to reach his tail out. Littlefoot's heart sank when he saw all those expression, he, Petrie, and Ruby having a guess of what was about to happen. Don stirred before jumping on all fours and crawling away, panicked
"Don't get any closer!" he said. "Don't do this to me! I didn't mean to do that to Ruby and Petrie but I needed respect – don't!"
"This is the only way." Mama Flyer said, resolute face holding a tinge of regret. "I'm sorry."
She and everyone else grabbed him. She and Mama and Papa Fast Runner held Don down with nervous but determined looks. Dil grabbed a leg with her teeth. Don's breaths climbed before Ichy went through him and he screamed. Ichy shot into him once more and Don moaned. Ichy flew back and forth through him, further accentuated when Mr. Clubtail waved his tail up and down through the group. Mr. Clubtail's face was pained as he did this. He started when he realized Littlefoot and the others were still in him and glanced down.
"Close your eyes, kids!" he said. "Don't see this!"
Littlefoot stared at Guido and Swooper's disturbed expressions sitting on Don's wings before the words penetrated. Cera, Ducky, Spike, and Chomper closed their eyes. Petrie and Ruby remained transfixed but Littlefoot waved to get their attention and they shut their eyes and covered their ears as well. Like last time, the Anchor's screams were still audible. Don called out higher and higher. He started babbling, as though the weights of his transgressions were crashing down on him.
"I was supposed to remain the wise one for life, I had to – oh, but the children suffered so much! I wasn't going to be part of Wing Father's terrible war game, I swear! I didn't want to put everyone through that! Why didn't I see this coming? Don't make me go back there, I'll be good, I shouldn't have done it! Petrie, Ruby, help me, don't let them kill me, I just wanted to be respected, I'm sorry, I'm sorr-"
Crack! Silence as Littlefoot shook. Hurried steps followed as the adults backed away. Littlefoot realized after a bit the front half of his body didn't feel Mr. Clubtail's cool. Cautiously, Littlefoot opened his eyes and looked around to see that Mr. Clubtail was facing away, tense. Mama Flyer had walked over and collapsed in front of the gang, hands shaking. To the right, Mama and Papa Fast Runner sat holding each other. Between the three, Swooper patted Guido's shoulder who kept his eyes closed. Littlefoot's friends opened their eyes too. Petrie and Ruby had a mix of emotions, sorrow, horror over what Don went through, and with some guilt, relief.
"Even…" Petrie's breath shook. "Even when he realize he wrong, he still fought to the end."
"He was too stubborn" Ruby said faintly. "Being stubborn has some value but when you're stubborn on the wrong values…"
Papa Fast Runner looked over to the gang. "I'm sorry you kids had to be present for one of these."
"Two, actually." Cera said. "We were there when Verter was taken down."
"Another Anchor was taken down?" Mama Fast Runner's shoulders slumped. "Oh, thank goodness. We're sort of halfway there already. Not that it makes okay you were present for two of these horrible fights…"
"What about Wing Father?" Ducky asked. "Has he come into the valley?"
"Not yet." Papa Fast Runner replied. "That's the next worry but we'll cross that path when we get to it."
Dil still hadn't let go of Don's leg. She eyed him suspiciously, as though expecting him to suddenly jerk back to life. The gang could only see the leg around Mama Flyer but it didn't move. So Dil crunched her jaws into it with relish. Hastily, Littlefoot and the others looked away. Mama Flyer stumbled to her feet and whirled around.
"Wait now, I don't think it's appropriate to-" she began.
"Look, lady." Dil said, voice muffled. "I've had a trying day. I was mind controlled, crushed underfoot, thrown off a cliff, chased by stabbing shadows, and I barely had anything to eat. Let me just have this meal, okay?"
"She's a bellydragger in the Great Valley." Ichy said. "Unless some of you want to volunteer, leave her be."
"Oh, you're being gracious." Dil said.
"Don't make it sound so unusual. It'll keep us out of trouble. Do you want to be chased out by a herd of dinosaurs?"
As the two amicably bickered, Mama Flyer closed her beak and let out a sigh. Hastily, the others adults averted gazes as the sound of tearing flesh ensued. They gathered around Littlefoot and the others to block the sight.
"Are you all doing alright?" Mama Flyer asked.
"We – we're fine." Littlefoot said. "He and the bellydragger didn't get a chance to hurt us."
"We had to run around a lot but we're fine." Chomper said.
"Good." Mama Flyer said. "I wouldn't know what I'd do if he captured you, or worse. I believe you can keep going now."
"But can we drink some water first?" Petrie asked. "Running and flying for lives has made us very thirsty."
"Alright, but be quick," she said. "We don't know when another Anchor might show up. From the mention of Verter, you kids seem to attract them."
"I'll continue to watch over them." Mr. Clubtail replied.
Mr. Clubtail following behind Littlefoot and the others, they returned to the pond and resumed drinking. Some of them gang eyed the pond and river cautiously after Dil's earlier appearance but Littlefoot thought Petrie made the right call. After what they went through, they needed it. A few bushes bordered the pond and after several laps of water, Spike went to them to tear off some leaves. The gang gradually calmed, feeling their energy returning. Nearby, the grownups talked.
"We shouldn't let the bellydragger and her sharpbeak ghost friend walk around unsupervised." Mama Flyer was saying. "Someone needs to watch them."
"Uhhh." Guido slowly raised a hand up. "Maybe me? Since the sharpbeak's a ghost, they technically can't reach me if I glide and stay in the trees."
"Make sure to have some help." Swooper said. "I would offer but even playing my minimal role in that fight took a lot out of me." He lowered his head with a sigh. "In more ways than one."
"Hey, I hear you." Guido touched Swooper's wing with an uneasy expression. "It isn't every day you help kill someone."
"Take all the time you need." Mama Flyer said, understanding. "I know this was hard on all of us. Thank you for all your help. I'm going to spread the word that two of the Anchors are gone."
"We wish to check on the children, to see how they're holding up." Papa Fast Runner said.
"The Tinysauruses from what we heard seem like sweet sorts." Mama Fast Runner said. "I'm impressed with how well the many different kinds in the Great Valley work together."
"We're long used to doing that." Mr. Clubtail commented. "It sometimes breaks down but from what I heard, we were doing that long before everyone in the world started doing it."
Ruby stirred. Her and Petrie's families, Swooper and Guido, Mr. Clubtail, and even Ichy and Dil were all pretty different but all played a part in taking down Don. Abruptly, Ruby thought about the past crises where the Great Valley denizens all worked together, including chasing out bellydraggers into the Mysterious Beyond. Together, the Great Valley could drive away any threat. Slowly, she had an idea of what made her friends and the valley special. She would talk with her parents later but she felt a thrill at beginning to find the answer of what alluded her for so many cold times. Chomper looked up after nosing the grass and slurping up a crawly.
"Ruby?" he said. "Why do you look so happy?"
"I'll tell you about it later." Ruby smiled faintly. "Hopefully, telling you will make you happy too."
Littlefoot pulled his head up and smacked his lips. "Alright, has everyone had their fill?"
"I had." Cera said. "Oh, I needed it."
"Me too." Ducky said. "It would be nice to go for a swim at some point."
"You can do that after all this is over." Mr. Clubtail said.
Then his expression faltered. Littlefoot and the others stared, then started upon realizing. Once the crises was over, Mr. Clubtail would go back to the afterlife with all the other ghosts. They wouldn't see him again in this lifetime. For a moment, the gang let the sad wistfulness linger in them. Mr. Clubtail coughed awkwardly.
"Anyway, shall we go?" he asked.
Littlefoot nodded gravely. "We're nearly there, so we should be able to fix Wing Father's crime soon."
The gang and Mr. Clubtail waved thanks to the grownups for saving them before jogging around them and moving on. They glimpsed the adults scatter to do their tasks and grimaced as they heard Dil continue her meal, Ichy flapping around and telling her how to eat it. At last, they were approaching the other side of the valley, making a beeline for a familiar line of trees. Littlefoot saw Cera and the others surveying it with recognition.
"Hang on," Cera said, "we were here before."
"We are close to the place where Wing Father made everyone start chasing us." Ducky said.
"Fortunately, I wasn't part of that." Mr. Clubtail muttered. "Not that makes everything I said in that cave better. Hard to believe all that and so much more happened today."
"Going to finally give more details about what bad Wing Father thing we're undoing, Littlefoot?" Ruby panted.
"You'll find out when we get there." Littlefoot said. "Oh, I hope it hasn't gotten buried."
His friends exchanged bemused looks. They were at a loss for why Littlefoot wouldn't elaborate. A few like Spike and Cera gained fearful expressions, as though expecting something gruesome. Littlefoot braced himself for the revelation to come. They broke out of the thick tree line, scanning for a pile of rocks or a giant boulder attached to the Great Wall. The remains of an avalanche came into view and Littlefoot feared that the cave was completely enveloped and they would have work hard just to dig their way through. To his relief, only a quarter of the big boulder and the cave it hid was covered. There was evidence some parts of the avalanche had been pushed and moved around when those caught in it dug themselves out. Moreover the avalanche itself or the dinosaurs getting out of it moved the big boulder enough that a gap into the cave wide enough for the gang to squeeze through was visible.
"There it is!" Littlefoot said. "In there!"
"What's in that cave?" Petrie asked, shuddering. "Is someone in there?"
"Two someones." Littlefoot replied. "They can't get out. They're tied up and have been tortured. I was too scared and ashamed to deal with it but now we have to. Promise me you guys won't panic with who these guys are."
"Panic?" Chomper repeated. "What would we panic about?"
"Trust me. I know this'll be strange." Littlefoot said. "But even with those inside, it isn't right they're trapped here."
Cera and the others stare at him, unnerved. They looked at one another before some sighed and at last lined up to follow him. Mr. Clubtail looked at the size of the gap and down at himself.
"There's not enough space for me to squeeze in," he said. "Would you be alright on your own?"
"Um Mr. Clubtail, you are a ghost." Ducky said. "Can you not just go through it?"
Mr. Clubtail became embarrassed. "Oh, right."
Climbing around the rocks, they closed the distance to the small gap. Littlefoot noted it was barely wider than Spike. Hesitating, he slipped through. The wing flaps and footsteps of his friends followed, becoming echoey as they entered the cave. They looked around, the dark making it hard to see any detail. They jumped when Mr. Clubtail's head and shoulders phased through the boulder. He seemed to get stuck a moment and then he pulled back. Mr. Clubtail's front section next appeared through the wall, only to freeze again and tugged himself with teeth gritted in frustration. Eventually, he briefly disappeared and then pushed through the gap, managing to slid in somewhat more easily with some grunts and shoves. He blew out a breath.
"Just go through it, she says," he muttered. "It's not that easy."
"Me can't see Wing Father's captives." Petrie said.
"Just in front of us." Littlefoot said. "Now, remain calm."
"If only the boulder was pushed more so there can be more light." Ducky said.
"This place is creepy." Chomper said. "I think I hear big people moving in here." He sniffed. "Hold on. Why's that smell here?"
"What kind of smell?" Ruby asked.
Spike cooed and became uneasy. Quickly, Littlefoot went to the left. In some sense, there was a greater risk on that side of the cave but he had the feeling the bound dinosaur there wouldn't be as hostile to see them. Thankfully, his friends followed close to him, Mr. Clubtail bringing up the rear. Anticipation built as he suspected how the other bound dinosaur might react. Right on cue, transparent jaws appeared above them to the right, snapping in the gang's direction.
Cera and the others screamed and backed away, shaking with terror. Mr. Clubtail bellowed and leapt forward to stand on top of the gang. The jaws snapped and reached at them but they couldn't go any further. Growling, it pulled back. At the same time, they sensed a stirring in front of them. Their eyes slowly adjusting, they saw the outline of a sailback sharptooth get up, groaning warily. Then she opened her eyes and was surprised to see the gang and Mr. Clubtail there. The first sharptooth sat beside her, staring at them with mismatching eyes in disdain. For a moment, the gang took in the sharpteeth before them in this Great Valley cave with a mix of fear and surprise.
"That – that's the first sharptooth." Cera stuttered. "I recognize that eye bruise anywhere."
"What? You mean the one that chased you on your journey to the valley?" Mr. Clubtail cried.
"Then he came back as a ghost as part of Wing Father's test." Ducky said tepidly. "Oh, why is he here?"
Littlefoot approached the sailback sharptooth and nosed at her bonds on one of her legs. The sailback watched him, cringing as anticipating pain. Seeing that, Littlefoot felt pity slide in and that only solidified his decision. He examined the bond for any weak points and found small gaps where the rings connected and overlapped with each other. Littlefoot nosed at it and then pushed his head in to try to force it apart. The sailback jerked with surprise. His friends watched him squeeze his forefeet into the gap and attempt to widen it before they realized what he was trying to do.
"Are you kidding me?" Cera said.
"You can't be serious." Ruby said. "Are you serious?"
"You want us to help free the sharpteeth?" Petrie asked.
"Right." Littlefoot said. The connecting point fully opened and not only disconnected with a clang from the chain in the wall but dropped off the sailback's leg. "It isn't right they were tortured and kept in a cave for days on end. If everything about Wing Father has to go, this does too!"
"I get what you're saying," Chomper said, gesturing to the first sharptooth. "But he's very mean – and dangerous!"
"And the one you're freeing's even more so since she's alive!" Cera snapped. "Besides, Wing Father might give him powers to hurt others like last time."
"If Wing Father needed the first sharptooth for something, he wouldn't be here." Littlefoot said. "I know this is dangerous. But even they don't deserve this treatment, to stay trapped in here and starve and not be able to move. It's also dangerous if someone stumbles upon them. Either way, it won't be wise to leave them here."
"But they might do something and…" Cera closed her eyes and growled. "Oh fine! You make a good point! But you better know what you're doing!"
She made a beeline for the bind on the sailback's other foot. Spike cooed and shook his head but got closer, he and Ducky seeing the whip marks on the sailback's hide. Shocked, they gave her a look of sympathy, going for her tail bind. The others spread out, Ruby and Petrie climbing to work on the sailback's stomach bind and Littlefoot dealing with one on her chest. The sailback watched unable to believe what was happening.
"You're – saving me?" she asked.
Littlefoot felt her breath blow over him when she spoke. He found the gap in her chest bind and inserted a forelimb to get it open while keeping an eye on her.
"You heard us," he said. "What you went through wasn't right. I'm not happy about what you did to Patty's mother but I'm sorry I didn't help you sooner."
The sailback's shoulders relaxed with such relief she nearly threw the children off her.
"Oh, thank you," she said, eyes glistening. "Thank you. I never thought I'd be able to breathe fresh air again. It has been so painful. I want to be out of here."
"But don't attack any leaf eaters that're alive out in the Great Valley." Littlefoot said. He stopped short of fully opening the chest bind and sent a serious look at her. "I don't want you hurting anyone in my home. There's an exit on a hill to the left of where the bright circle goes down that'll be blocked off by the day's end. Go there and you'll be free."
"If you're really famished, you can eat a dead green threehorn on the way there if Chomper's parents haven't gotten to him first." Cera added." Or a certain spiketail if the others killed her already. But don't you hunt anyone who's walking and talking. Are we clear?"
"Very clear, very clear!" The sailback nodded quickly. "I have so many questions but I can live with them not being answered. I'm sorry what I did to that longneck's mother caused so much suffering."
"Hey, we're sharpteeth." Chomper said. "We can't help our diet. Next time, maybe be quick when killing prey. I know that can be hard but it'll hopefully reduce their suffering."
Rapidly, the gang opened the binds one after another. Littlefoot opened the one on the sailback's chest and then heard Ruby and Petrie due the same for her stomach below, and the clang of the other binds falling down. The sailback fidgeted but forced herself to remain still. It wasn't long now. Seeing them busy, Mr. Clubtail approached the first sharptooth.
"Well, since I'm already a ghost, maybe I should take care of this guy," he said. "I know dealing with him would be awkward for you children."
"Be careful, Mr. Clubtail." Ruby called. "He's not the type to be careful and gentle."
"Make sure he no hurt you." Petrie said. "Um, can you help him as ghost?"
"Since he's a ghost and can't get out of these binds, I think I might be able to fiddle with them." Mr. Clubtail replied. "Now let's see…"
He nosed the first sharptooth's right leg bind and received a growl in return. Mr. Clubtail tightened his lips nervously but bit at the leg bind. There was a flash and he yelped before he collapsed, gripping his mouth. The sailback and the gang jumped, Ruby sliding off her as they stared at him in shock.
"Mr. Clubtail, are you all right?" Littlefoot cried.
"That thing zapped me." Mr. Clubtail said, words slurred. "My mouth's numb. I got that feeling you get when you touch a certain kind of rock and it seems to strike back at you like a mini sky fire. Dang it, I'm dead, why does this hurt?"
Littlefoot stared wide-eyed before an idea occurred to him. "You also struggled to get through that boulder."
"What do you mean?" Petrie asked.
"I have an idea." Littlefoot said. "Let's free the sailback."
They climbed over her to get at her arm and neck binds, Littlefoot and Ruby working together on the neck one all the while carefully avoiding her jaws by ducking and pressing close to her skin. With another series of clangs and after the left arm bind was unlocked, she was free. The gang hastily slid off her. Slowly, the sailback sharptooth got to her feet, looking at her moving limbs as though to make sure she wasn't in a sleep story. She smiled, lumbering to the boulder. A rumbling shake filled the cave as she pushed the boulder aside and the cave was bathed in light. She slipped into daylight, leaning forward as though ready to run off.
"Wait!" Littlefoot cried, skittering after her. "We have another job for you!"
"What now?" The sailback asked, wary to be asked for more favors. "Will it take long? That scary longneck could come back any moment."
"My family's fighting her, so she's still occupied, hopefully." Littlefoot assured. "As soon as we're done freeing this sharptooth, we'll run out and I want you to push the boulder back in place."
"What are you doing Littlefoot?" Ducky asked.
"First you want to free the sharpteeth, then you want to trap this one in the cave again." Cera said. "Make up your mind."
"No, don't you see?" Littlefoot said, looking about at his friends. "If Mr. Clubtail struggled through the boulder and the wall, and was harmed by the binds, that must mean they're a way to keep a ghost here. If the binds meant nothing, then the first sharptooth could have shook them off and left the cave. We don't want him to be wandering the valley but we should be able to allow him to get back to the afterlife."
"Oh, now it makes sense." Ruby said. "But how do you know the cave won't just keep him from leaving for the afterlife too?"
Littlefoot faltered a bit. "I don't. Wait Mr. Clubtail, do you feel you can go to the afterlife from here?"
Mr. Clubtail grimaced. "I'm not in a hurry to," he said, words a bit less slurred.
"But when you think about it, do you feel anything from this cave that would prevent you from doing so?" Littlefoot persisted.
Frowning, Mr. Clubtail's eyes turned to the side as though attempting to see something of the landscape in his mind's eye. Slowly, he shook his head.
"No," he said. "I can still linger here for some time yet but if I wanted to go now, it seems nothing'll stop me."
Littlefoot nodded. "Good. Then he can move on without bothering any of us."
Petrie relaxed and wiped his brow. "Phew. You nice but at least you smart."
"Thanks…I think." Littlefoot said, bemused by the compliment. "Anyway, let's find a way to make the binds slowly open on their own. You might have to get to some of them Petrie, since he's a ghost and we can't climb him."
Petrie faltered. "Must I?" He sighed. "Oh, alright. But me not going to like it."
The gang cautiously slinked around the first sharptooth. They attended to the binds closest to the ground. Littlefoot and the others experimented with ways to open the binds enough that they'll slowly go all the way by themselves, some twisting arms and legs into the gap slowly, others stopping short of pulling them open all the way. Some bonds clanged open but Littlefoot and the other hastily closed them. Littlefoot worked on the tail bind, feeling the first sharptooth growl down at him.
"Don't do that. We're trying to help you." Littlefoot said.
"How humiliating, to be helped by your prey," said the first sharptooth.
"We can't exactly choose who helps us." Littlefoot said.
"This is beneath my dignity," growled the first sharptooth. "I don't need your kind of so-called help."
"That doesn't seem to be the case where we're standing!" Cera snapped from near his ankles.
"I should be able to get out on my own," said the first sharptooth.
"But you haven't. That means these binds are too strong for you." Chomper said.
"You didn't really struggle to get out when I was here either." Littlefoot added. "It seemed like you were resigned to your fate."
The first sharptooth growled at them. Some of the gang started but after a few seconds resumed fiddling with the binds.
"This is pointless," said the first sharptooth. "You're just doing this to soothe your conscience."
"At least we have conscience!" Petrie retorted.
"I have my pride," growled the first sharptooth. "I shouldn't be going through this. You're weak for relying on your friends. I should have been the strongest and most respected sharptooth now."
"But we survived." Ducky said. "And you did not."
The first sharptooth was silent for a moment. "If you're waiting for an apology, don't. I don't regret anything I did."
"We never expected you to." Cera muttered.
"I have killed countless of your kind," said the first sharptooth. "I fought many sharpteeth. I was the strongest and most feared across the land. Yet hear I am now. I won't accept your help, so if you have sense of self-preservation, stop. My pride won't allow-"
"What's the point of being the strongest and baddest of the land, if that gets in the way of being helped?" Littlefoot snapped. "What use is it? What's the point of all the cruelty and pain?"
The gang stiffened. Spike inhaled breath and Cera sent Littlefoot a fearful look. Littlefoot understood it wouldn't help but he was tired of the first sharptooth's recalcitrance. The first sharptooth's gaze snapped to Littlefoot, boring into him.
"Pride, prestige!" said the first sharptooth. "If you killed and defeated many, no one would mess with you. You'll be remembered for cold times to come! For a sharptooth, it's everything!"
"You don't have a lot to show for it!" Littlefoot retorted. "It doesn't seem to lead to a happy life! All that work to spread unnecessary suffering just to be respected. You did this to be remembered but we barely hear about you among leaf eaters. Chomper, do the sharpteeth you know talk about him much?"
Chomper gave an uneasy shrug. "Not really. Mostly that he was a menace and they're glad they don't have to deal with him anymore."
Littlefoot swung a glare up. "See? You aren't missed even among your own kind! Even we don't talk about you much even after all you did! What was all that work for?"
Ducky clapped her mouth. "Um Littlefoot, be careful!"
"You don't want to make him angrier than he already is!" Ruby added.
The first sharptooth snarled. "How dare you! I worked so hard to earn that position! All my blood, all my tears! I enjoyed my victories, my triumphs!"
"Did you really enjoy them?" Littlefoot retorted. "I remember you were angry and mad most of the time! There are many sharpteeth who do what you do and how many get remembered? Where are the joyful moments in your life? The small times where you laugh and cry with your friends and family? Even if it's common and unremarkable, at least it's happier than those pointless goals! You could have done so much good in your life. Wing Father used you! Doesn't that make you mad?"
"Littlefoot, stop!" Cera said. "What's the point? There's no way we can change his mind."
"You – you're right." Littlefoot panted.
There was some silence. The first sharptooth looked stunned for a moment before his expression closed. A creak came in as Ducky pulled the right leg bind apart by three-quarters. Spike joined her in looking at it before they made eye contact and nodded in satisfaction.
"I got it," she said. "Spike helped me find that when I open these binds a few of my hands short of when they would fully open, they will slowly part on their own."
"Good." Littlefoot nodded faintly. "Everyone, experiment with doing that."
The gang quickly got to work, Cera and Chomper pushing their forelimbs in and watching it open slowly while Ruby helped Littlefoot do the same with the tail bind. Petrie flitted from one bind to another, finding he could open it with a great push of his entire body. The gang slowly widened the binds to the right position a few times before pushing them back together, making sure to get the timing right. The first sharptooth continued to watch Littlefoot in unreadable silence. Littlefoot avoided eye contact.
After seeing the strategy was satisfactory, Littlefoot deemed they were ready and had all the binds re-closed a final time. They waited tense until Littlefoot made a circling formation with his tail and shouted.
"Now!"
Cera and the others pulled and shoved the binds open three-quarters of the way all at once. Petrie zoomed from bind to bind to open those higher in the air. Littlefoot and the others jumped away and raced for the cave exit, Mr. Clubtail joining not far behind them. The sailback remained near the boulder, darting looks out nervously. Cera and the others ran out with relief. Mr. Clubtail followed glad he didn't have to squeeze himself through the small gap again. They all almost vanishing into the sunlight when they realized Littlefoot lingering at the edge, panting as he made eye contact with the first sharptooth.
"I know it's too late in some respects." Littlefoot said. "Just – just make something better of yourself."
He ran out of the cave. The sailback sharptooth pushed the boulder, which ground and shuddered until it covered the entrance completely. The first sharptooth lowered his head, thinking for a while. The binds on him clanged off one by one, in rapid succession. He rose gingerly, all the aches and pains disappearing with freedom. He could go onto the afterlife and put this whole mess behind him.
He noticed a crack of jaggedly vertical light on the boulder's left. The first sharptooth stared at it, thinking it must be invisible from the outside. He remembered how Mr. Clubtail struggled but managed to get in through the small gap. He considered his options for nearly a minute.
He stepped toward it.
As soon as the boulder covered the cave, Littlefoot turned to the sailback, who lingered uncertainly.
"You can go now," He told her. "Remember our promise!"
She nodded with relief before she turned and ran off at top speed, foot thumps quick and loud. A few cries of dismay echoed nearby but there were no follow up screams of mortal peril. Littlefoot relaxed, glad she seemed to be honoring her word. Waving his head, they headed back into the valley. Littlefoot became aware of Cera and the others eying him, and felt a surge of guilt.
"I know I'm taking a risk freeing them and letting the sailback go into the valley," he said. "But I had to do it."
"We know." Cera said, a faint smile appearing. "We can't have something like that remaining in the valley.
"It was horrible seeing the sharpteeth beaten and tied up like that." Ducky said. "You did the right thing. I wonder what the first sharptooth will do now."
"That's for him to decide." Ruby said. "So have you decided what we should do now, Littlefoot?"
"I don't know." Littlefoot admitted, blowing out a breath at their understanding. "I haven't thought that far. Maybe join our brothers and sisters in hiding…but I'm worried about how Grandpa, Grandma, and Mother are doing with Patty. Also if we succeed all the ghosts would disappear. I want to be there to say goodbye."
"I agree." Cera said. "But where do we go so we won't get caught by the two remaining Anchors?"
"I'm not comfortable with you kids endangering yourselves anymore." Mr. Clubtail said, smacking his lips. "My mouth's no longer numb, by the way."
"You won't hear me complain about not endangering ourselves. Hmm." Petrie tilted his head, thinking. "Maybe we should hide with Tinysauruses after all."
There was a pause as some crossed arms and looked around thoughtfully as they moved forward. Spike frowned. It was a tough choice. It would be great to reunite with his brothers and sisters to wait this crises out but he wished to help his friends if there was still more to do. As he wracked his brain, his ears picked up an odd sound. They were back out in the grassy plain, with small groups of trees and other foliage. The sound came from a group of trees they just passed. Chewing noises emanated from it, followed by coughing. The voice was familiar. Spike sniffed and his stomach curled as he recognized it. He nudged Chomper, who started out of his thinking pose.
"What is it, Spike?" Chomper said.
He mimed sniffing and nudges his nose in the direction of the tree clump. Bemused, Chomper took an experimental whiff and his eyes went wide.
"Oh no," he said. "Guys, Tega's here! She's watching us!"
"What?" Ruby cried.
They stopped with the tree cluster still to their right. It was just in time to hear the coughing stop and a body shuffle. They froze. She was a line of foliage away from them. Littlefoot attempted to stare for Tega but the green was too varied to differentiate plant from dinosaur. Mr. Clubtail stepped over the gang protectively. Ducky stared at the trees and bushes, face taught.
"What is she doing here?" she said, voice hushed.
"Let's not find out." Littlefoot said. "Quick, that way."
He nudged his head to their left and they all ran further into the plains. Mr. Clubtail continued to stay on top of them. Littlefoot caught sight of other dinosaurs rushing by or pausing to look around them cautiously. If Tega tried something, Littlefoot hoped the other dinosaurs would intervene or call for help. But Tega surely had some other plot. Littlefoot attempted to think of what when they heard footsteps following, the lazy but fast trot of a spiketail in pursuit. Cera and the others sped up into a jog of their own, beginning to panic.
"Oh, not again!" Cera panted. "Why's she chasing us out where anyone can see her? Does she want to be attacked?"
"She must be planning something." Ducky said. "Oh no, oh no, I hope it is not something that works."
"Keep going." Mr. Clubtail said. "If we come across a crowd, maybe she won't be able to get us."
The gang and Mr. Clubtail started running as fast as their bodies would allow. They kept going even when the open area became hilly. A clump of trees stood in the way but they just pelted through it, not wanting to let Tega catch up by going around it. They ducked under the branches and hopped over the leaf litter. Mr. Clubtail went through branches and even trees without the slightest trouble and he appeared grateful for once that he was a ghost. They burst out the other side and kept running, eyes darting about.
"Is she still following?" Ruby cried.
Petrie looked back "Yeah. She even catching up!"
"What do we do?" Chomper asked.
"Find somewhere to hide where she can't reach!" Littlefoot said. "Or someone who'll help – oh no!"
His friends looked ahead and they let out cries of dismay. They were running into a dead-end bounded by a tree-covered hill. It was so steep it would be like climbing a cliff. They look to the sides but they couldn't find depressions or rocks to help climb up them. The gang and Mr. Clubtail slowed, hearts in throats.
"It's a trap!" Littlefoot cried.
An unpleasant chuckle echoed behind them. With dread, they turned to find Tega approaching leisurely, spinning the piece of grass in her mouth with quiet satisfaction. She stopped not far away, gaze full of avarice.
"You brats make it too easy," she said. "Do you know how much green food I had to eat before you noticed I was there? What a waste I had to cough it all up."
"Go away!" Cera shouted. "This is the third time we've been chased by you Anchors. Leave us alone!"
"Nothing doing." Tega snapped. "The other Anchors couldn't catch you? I guess I have to be the competent one here. I'll make you pay for making me unable to eat again. Do you think I like not being able to keep it all down? Well, at least all that discomfort will lead to the outcome of catching you kids."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Mr. Clubtail said, standing more firmly over Littlefoot and the others.
Tega eyed him with an irritated frown. "Oh yes. You'll be a problem. But I'll think of a way around your type."
"Give up, Tega." Ducky leaned up on top of Spike, the two glaring identically. "You do not want to do this. You will only meet the fate of the other Anchors."
"I can afford being annoyed by you brats' dodging and trying to get away from me." Tega said. "But that'll only make the inevitable punishment worse."
"We are not talking about being annoying." Ducky said. "You would not be able to change things back anyway. Verter and Don are dead."
There was a beat of silence. Tega stilled. She often had her eyelids halfway down but her eyes now widened until their whole whites was visible. She closed her eyes briefly before scowling at the gang.
"All of us Anchors are dead, spawn," she said. "I thought you knew that."
"But now they are dead in the traditional way." Ducky said. "Our families and friends fought those two and the ghosts went through them until they stopped moving. They're gone for good."
Tega goggled at the gang but saw they were resolute. Quickly, Tega flitted her gaze to the side. Her irises flitted up and down as though attempting to call to someone in the distance. Then her gaze appeared to focus on something else.
"That can't be true, right Wing Father?" she said. "They can't possibly do that to us. Stop being angry and answer. What did-?"
She flinched and stepped away, as though shouted at. Her eyes darted about, shaken, unable to believe what happened. At last, Tega returned her gaze to Littlefoot and the others, and it shook for a different reason.
"You children…" she said. "You took away my opportunity for a good life! Now we can't change things back! This is all your fault!"
"We didn't do anything!" Cera protested. "Other people took care of your fellow Anchors!"
"That was only possible because you changed the world back!" Tega snapped. "I should've known you spawn would've been trouble! Why can't you stop pretending to be oh-so-selfless?"
"We do not pretend at all!" Ducky retorted. "Everyone was suffering! We could no longer stand by and ignore our conscience!"
"Conscience? Pah!" Tega spat at the ground. "That's what you lot always say when you feign to care about others! At least I'm honest about my self-interest! But the world's built for groups. It was better in Wing Father's world where everybody did as they were told and could look after themselves!"
"You weren't looking after yourself." Littlefoot snapped. "You depended on Wing Father and the other Anchors to get the world you want. Even in that horrible place, you still couldn't do things yourself."
"Shut up." She stepped forward, eyes bulging. "I'm done arguing. You're coming with me. You'll meet with Wing Father and be forced to sort this out. I'm not staying in this stupid feelsy world any longer than I have to! If you don't cooperate, when we do get Wing Father's world back, I'll make sure you brats are buried separately for all eternity!"
Littlefoot and the others stumbled back, unnerved. They rarely saw Tega this furious before. With the way air shot out of her nose, she looked ready to torture those who wronged her in ways unimaginable. The gang looked about again, seeking any sort of escape. Tega approach them and still crouched over the gang, Mr. Clubtail growled at her. She growled with just as much force back.
"Don't give me that!" Tega said. "If you have any hope of being alive again, you would step aside! You'll go back to the other place if the kids have their way."
"I won't hurt Littlefoot and his friends again!" Mr. Clubtail said. "I'm no longer just thinking about myself, like you are!"
Tega sneered and swung a tail into Mr. Clubtail's face. Tega yelped but watched as Mr. Clubtail also winced in pain. Tega threw her tail toward him again but this time he threw his tail into hers and she uttered a loud scream. Tega gritted her teeth before throwing her tail in a third time and it hit the earth near the gang, who yelped as they got pelted with dirt and pebbles. Mr. Clubtail yipped yet he didn't dare move from his spot and if he was flesh and bone, he would have dug his feet into place. Tega surveyed him.
"You can hurt me but I can at least hurt you back!" she said. "Taking chances does sometimes produce its own reward. If you won't accept the leaf, I'll have to use the rock on you. I can find ways to hurt you even if you're a ghost. If you have any sense of self-interest, you would stand aside now!"
Mr. Clubtail gritted his teeth. "No!"
She slammed his tail through his head again. He threw it up with an agonized cry. Littlefoot and the others called out to Mr. Clubtail in alarm.
"Trying to soothe your guilt by being selfless?" Tega rolled her eyes. "How pathetic. You could have helped yourself and lived in ignorant bliss if you just let a few brats suffer."
"Not everyone's like you, Tega!" called a new voice.
Tega looked up and cried out when Mama Swimmer slid down the steep hill and drove her elbow into the side of her neck. Glancing at Mama Swimmer, she ran d Mr. Clubtail to grab for Littlefoot and the others, only for Mr. Thicknose to rush ahead of her from behind and stand in her path. The thump of footsteps followed and Pat appeared. Hopping off Mr. Thicknose's frill, Skip landed in front of Littlefoot and the others, glaring up at Tega like the others. Tega looked around in frustration, twirling her grass between her lips.
"Really, this again?" she asked. "Do you think it'll go any better than last time?"
"It could." Mama Swimmer said, lips twitching. "But we aren't alone this time."
The rumble of feet and the flap of wings followed. More dinosaurs ran up from behind Tega or slid down the hill or descended from the sky, over twenty in all. Living and dead alike, they gathered around to glare at Tega. A whiptail longneck raised her tail alongside a ghostly spikethumb who flexed her fore-digits. A rainbow face and ghost domehead curled their hands into fists. Even a living clubtail shifted her legs alongside a phantom squareshield. The gang took all this in, even seeing Mrs. Maia and a few of the Tinysaurus' ghostly parents. Littlefoot and the others were amazed so many braved to come. Ruby clasped her hands, looking strangely pleased. In some respects, they were unsure if enough valley denizens would come to help but they now all shared they had to defend their home from a common threat. Tega was wary. She eyed the ghosts in the crowd.
"It's over, Tega." Mama Swimmer said. "Your terror against our children, the valley, and the world ends now!"
Tega looked around more before gritting her teeth. "Do you think you'll accomplish anything with this many dinosaurs? You'll only get in each other's way. Really, this can work in my favor."
"I don't think so, Tega." Mr. Thicknose said. "You're outmatched."
"The children might've been able to beat such odds when you sicked us against them but they had each other." Pat said. "You're all alone."
"And what's wrong with that?" Tega said. "It's how everyone should be!"
"Nothing wrong with being a loner but you shouldn't impose that way onto everyone else." Mama Swimmer said. "You and the other Anchors turned everyone against Ducky, Spike, and their friends for a cruel cause. Now, the numbers are truly not on your side."
Tega looked around. "But can all of them fight? Do they want to risk dying now that it's a factor again?"
This caused a shiver of nerves. Mrs. Maia suddenly appeared wary, as though worried what would happen to her children if she lost. Freezing, the whiptail longneck reappraised Tega with new caution. Mr. Thicknose winced, as though reminded of an unpleasant memory. Still, many shook themselves, regaining their determined looks. Littlefoot and the others become worried. There were more dinosaurs present but some clearly had little fighting experience and others were either old or had close calls in the past. Ducky and Spike's attention focused on Pat and Mr. Thicknose.
"Mr. Thicknose, Pat, will you be okay?" Ducky asked. "You really got hurt the last time you fought Tega. I do not want you go through that again, or worse."
Spike nodded emphatically to back up her point. Mr. Thicknose and Pat looked at each other and sent warm looks to the gang.
"We'll be alright." Pat said. "We have more people to help us this time around and we now know what to do. Please don't shoulder anymore guilt, kids."
Ducky fidgeted. "It is hard to do with what we did with the ceremony."
Littlefoot and a few others nodded, some lowering their heads. Mr. Thicknose made a sympathetic expression.
"I know it is," he said. "I would feel the same in your position. But what you did saved my life. I could feel my life fading after she crunched my head. It was really it for me. If you kids hadn't decided to change the world when you did…"
"We would have been ghosts." Skip said. "Tega broke my back and I felt a lot of things going wrong inside me. I wouldn't have recovered from it. The change came at the right time and made us brand new."
"If not for the change, the ghosts wouldn't become the help they are now." Mama Swimmer said gently. "Wing Father wasn't allowing any ghosts to appear in the valley. I wish you weren't forced to take part in that ceremony but in a sense, you saved us in the end. And now we're all going to give back to you."
Littlefoot shuffled. "I – I guess you aren't wrong there."
"If you want to fight, can't stop you." Cera said.
Ducky sighed but steeled herself. "Oh, alright. As long as you are careful, I will support you two – and everyone here."
There were nods and calls of agreement. Many were buoyed by Ducky's words and gave appreciative looks to the gang for all that they did. Ducky's lips spread into a tentative smile and Spike bumped his head up at her. The gang were heartened there was goodness and selflessness in the valley residents. Mrs. Maia squared her shoulders and joined everyone else in returning their gaze to Tega. Tega ground her piece of grass between her lips, thinking hard and very aware that she was surrounded.
"You won't take me down!" she said.
Tega charged right at Mama Swimmer. Mama Swimmer ducked to one side to avoid the descending tail spikes. Tega pulled her tail spikes back in an attempt to graze Mama Swimmer, who ducked to the other side to avoid them. Mama Swimmer kicked at a ninety degree angle at Tega's neck. Tega grunted. Mrs. Maia came in and crashed into her, scraping her nails on the front side of spiketail's body. Tega slammed Mrs. Maia back. Pat loomed over and Tega pulled her tail in on itself as he rammed his tail into her. On impact, both of them yelled, Pat pulling away with his stabbed tail. Tega advanced toward him, only for the domehead ghost to charge through her and she bellowed. Mr. Thicknose rushed in and hit her from her right side. Tega grunted and rammed her body into him.
As he groaned and backed away, the whiptail longneck came in. She and Tega whipped their tails at each other, pushing them against one another and circling before striking again. A part of Tega's tail spikes grazed the whiptail longneck, who yelped and was rewarded with a slice to the chest that made her call out louder. Mama Swimmer ran up behind Tega and jumped onto her back.
"This all could have been different, you know." Mama Swimmer said.
Tega's lips twisted and she reared on her hind legs, only for Mama Swimmer to forcefully punch her side with a spare arm. Tega grimaced, faltering back onto all fours.
"What are you babbling about?" she asked.
Mama Swimmer got off and circled to punch her, and Tega parried the blows with her tail. Mr. Thicknose thrust a small boulder at Tega, which hit her side and made her cry out.
"You could have been a loner but not acted the way you have." Mama Swimmer said. "Stealing from and bullying others. You wouldn't have everyone angry at you for this."
"That's their problem." Tega replied. "I do what I want."
The living clubtail charged in, her club crashing into Tega's head. She let out a scream of consternation before throwing her tail in. The living clubtail dodged about and hit the tail with her club. As a fellow club wielder, Mr. Clubtail cheered her on. Tega instead threw her tail at the living clubtail's legs and knocked her off her feet. Mama Swimmer took that opportunity to jump at Tega from the side and wrap her arms tightly around her neck.
"Do you expect no consequences?" Mama Swimmer asked. "It's one thing if it's for some greater good but you did it for your own selfishness. Now we're all teaming up against you."
Mr. Thicknose charged in and Mama Swimmer pulled away in time for him to use his thick nose to strike Tega's head at different angles. Tega struck her head back, alternating with dodging and pulling away from his blows. They backed away from one another. Tega sneered.
"Teamwork. You really believe that nonsense?"
"We do." Mr. Thicknose said. "It's how we all get by in the Great Valley and how Don and Verter were finished off."
The spikethumb ghost charged at her from behind. Tega became aware and hit her tail spikes into him first. Though Tega's face writhed in pain, the spikethumb retreated with a whimper. Pat closed in, whipping his tail at her. Tega grabbed it with her mouth and ground it between her teeth. Pat yowled but pulled just as hard back, determined.
"We might be cautious but we're not going to surrender to you," he said. "Our agenda's united in stopping you, whether to protect ourselves or our friends and family. Not everyone's as selfish as you think. You're confusing others with yourself!"
Pat pulled his tail even more, enough Tega got dragged forward and was forced to let go. The squareshield ghost rushed her and Tega only had time to pull away enough so she partially went through her. Tega groaned, staggering away. Mama Swimmer slinked around and sneaked a kick under Tega's stomach. Tega snarled.
"You delude yourself! Whenever a crises happens in the Great Valley, it's every dinosaur for themselves. You never fought us Anchors the first time we showed ourselves!"
Tega reared onto her hind legs and kicked Mama Swimmer back. Other dinosaurs rushed in but Tega beat Mrs. Maia away with a tail swipe, the living rainbow face with a hind leg kick, and even a head butt to the living clubtail. She charged through the ghost squareshield, who shouted and seemed to buckle in pain. The rest of the dinosaurs backed away, uncertainty and guilt appearing on many faces. Mr. Thicknose panted as he kept a safe distance, gaze becoming sad.
"You aren't wrong about cooperation breaking down during a crises," he admitted. "I stayed quiet when I should have spoken up many times."
"I joined others in believing Doc caused bad luck." Mrs. Maia said.
"I agreed with splitting up the herd after the swarming leaf gobblers came around," said the ghost domehead, lowering his head.
"But when we did work together, we were able to solve the crises." Mama Swimmer said.
"That's right." Mr. Thicknose said. "When we actually helped each other out, we felt rewarded for doing so."
"Often after much arguing," said the whiptail longneck with a sheepish smile.
"It was usually Littlefoot and his friends who often pushed us to work together to find a solution." Mrs. Maia said, looking at the gang. "Without reminding us, we would probably have gone our separate ways struggling to survive, or worse."
"I've been in the valley long enough to see that." Skip said, smiling softly. "It's good to have friends."
"Especially those who look out for you and give you a home." Pat said.
"We have each other but what do you have, Tega?" Mama Swimmer asked. "You work alone and don't have the other Anchors to back you up."
Tega faltered. Real fear entered her eyes as she took in the numbers. Whatever she proclaimed, Tega couldn't take them on all at once. The crowd closed in on her. Tega screamed and kicked and bit a few, throwing the whiptail longneck back with a bruise on her chest, making the rainbow face stagger away while waving a bitten arm. The living clubtail got slashed in the foreleg but bit Tega's tail and kept it in place. In the scuffle, a few ghosts came by but Tega writhed around so much that the ghost domehead and spikethumb reared back, shaking themselves in agony. The Tinysaurus parents made a beeline for her head and stomach only for her to pull her tail free and wave it through them, who flinched and stumbled faces stretched in pain. Tega screamed each time they made contact and appeared to get weakened herself.
"Nonsense." Tega said, pants rough in her throat. "I only need myself. Others only get in the way. It'll all breaks down when everyone's self-interest clashes. Teamwork never-"
Mr. Clubtail charged through the crowd. He went through Tega's head and she screamed and shook her head as though dazed. His green eyes glared steadily at her.
"I'm not much of a people person myself but I know when one needs help," he said. "I helped with defending the children against fast biters after the Thundering Falls got blocked up and drove out bellydraggers that got into the Great Valley. Enemies crumble when outnumbered."
Tega charged at him in retaliation. Mama Swimmer intercepted her, elbowing her side to make her stop. Mr. Clubtail ran and went through her. Tega screamed, body vibrating. A few like Ducky and Spike clapped their ears at the agonizing sound. One of the Tinysaurus ghost parents lunged at her from behind but Tega's tail spikes whipped through his face and he called out. The living rainbow face punched her and she butted her head into his stomach and he retreated with a groan. Pat threw his tail into Tega's side and she kicked the wounded part before it made contact, making him yell. Tega kicked and bit and slashed anyone that got too close until everyone pulled back. Tega glared around wildly.
"There's no such thing as teamwork!" she shouted. "You're all selfish, you don't really care! I won't go down because of such a stupid idea! Even if it does exist, I manipulated Ducky and Spike easily because of it! I'll just kill you all and the spawn would have no choice but to do the ceremony again! Say goodbye to your mama!"
She tackled Mama Swimmer, crashing her into the ground. Screaming, Mama Swimmer kicked and bit at Tega, who dug her feet into the dirt and kicked a forefoot into Mama Swimmer. Ducky and Spike cried out in dismay. Mr. Clubtail ran through Tega and she yelled but stayed on top, kicking Mama Swimmer. She lashed a tail at Pat, who bit it but was forced to stagger when she waved it side to side. Mr. Thicknose charged into her, making her bellow as he pressed her into the ground. Mama Swimmer kicked and pushed to free herself and stepped back. Then the ghosts ran and flew through her from all directions, eliciting more screams from Tega. The spiketail staggered side to side, looking around in wild anger.
"I won't let you do it!" she said. "I won't be taken down by so-called compassion and cooperation! I'm right about the world! You can't possibly all be this selfless. When we get the old world back, you're all following the spawn in being buried separately for all-"
The few Tinysaurus parent ghosts approached, growling with lowered heads. Mama Swimmer closed in on her. Tega reared onto her hind legs to kick Mama Swimmer, only for Mr. Clubtail to go through the lower half of her body. Tega screamed and slowed, allowing Mama Swimmer to grab her forefeet and wrestle her to the ground. Tega writhed but Mrs. Maia, Mr. Thicknose and other living adults moved in to kick and hit and hold her down. Mrs. Maia lay on her tail. Mr. Thicknose climbed atop her torso and Pat helped by pressing his a foot on the space Mr. Thicknose couldn't cover. Mama Swimmer held onto her neck as Tega thrashed.
"No! Don't you dare!" she shouted. "Don't you dare snap my neck again! When I come back, you'll face the consequences!"
"I won't be doing anything with your neck!" Mama Swimmer said, bracing herself.
The ghosts advanced. Tega kicked and lashed her tail but couldn't move more than a few inches in either direction before the Tinysaurus ghosts were the first to pass through her. Mr. Clubtail hesitated but followed after them. The gang winced when Tega screamed, throwing her head about. More ghosts started passing through her. She gave a voice-searing moan like a wounded sharptooth. The piece of grass she had in her mouth for the entirety the gang knew her fluttered off her lips and disappeared under Mama Swimmer's elbow. The ghost spikethumb phased through Tega, the domehead and squareshield ghosts following. Skip darted into view of Littlefoot and the others and waved to get their attention.
"Close your eyes!" he said. "You don't want to see this!"
The gang immediately shut their eyes and shoved their faces into each other, some covering their ears. Littlefoot knew he was pressed into Ducky and Spike judging by the feel of their shaking body shapes. Littlefoot remembered to block his ears but knew this wasn't very helpful. No matter how much his forefeet pressed into his ears, Tega's screeches were still audible. Tega's screams went on for a couple more seconds going up and down in octaves before abruptly terminating. Littlefoot heard the thud of a body hitting the ground. There was the shuffle of living dinosaurs moving away. After more sounds of steps, Mama Swimmer's voice spoke.
"You can open your eyes now."
Reluctantly, the gang did so. They found her and Mr. Thicknose standing in front of the body. With so many of the other dinosaurs around and behind them, even catching a glimpse of what remained of Tega was impossible.
"Is she – is she really gone?" Ducky asked at last.
Tentatively, Mama Swimmer and Mr. Thicknose looked over their shoulders and there was the sound of something being prodded. Queasy, the pair hastily looked back to Littlefoot and the others.
"It seems so." Mama Swimmer said. "Ducky, Spike, I'm sorry you and your friends had to be present for that. Thank you, everyone."
Some of the living and dead dinosaurs nodded and gave wavering smiles. The rainbow face rubbed his head.
"It's the least we could do to quell this unimaginable threat," he said.
A Tinysaurus mother nodded. "It was intimidating but once I acted, seeing the effect we had on her made the fear go away. It was to protect the community that gave our children a home."
Pat shrugged uneasily. "I knew it was necessary but I still didn't find it exactly comfortable killing someone."
The whiptail longneck squirmed. "Was it exactly killing if the Anchors were already dead?"
"I…barely see the difference." Mrs. Maia shook her head. "At least that was the third Anchor taken care of."
A mixture of relief and discomfort settled over the area. The living clubtail was wary but glad that most of the Anchors were gone. The Tinysaurus and domehead ghosts looked to each other and shook their heads, not sure how to feel about what they did. Mr. Thicknose looked mixed about his part. Skip fidgeted, as though reminded of unpleasant memories from the Mysterious Beyond. Ducky and Spike shook, filled with a guilty mix of sadness and alleviation.
"She – she was a mean person until the end." Ducky said.
Mama Swimmer patted her and Spike. "I know. There was nothing you could do for her. Still, think of those you and Spike's kindness have helped."
Ducky and Spike looked about at their friends and the many dinosaurs in the area, including Pat, Mr. Thicknose, and Skip. Ducky and Spike managed a smile at their mother. The rest of the gang attempted to give encouraging smiles but they remained shaken. Tega was a horrible person but it was horrible the way she died. Littlefoot knew it was unavoidable but that didn't make him feel any better. The gang had seen more death than they liked today. Littlefoot took a shaking breath. Was Patty going to go through that?
Next time…
One Last Chance
Note: Don't know if and when the next chapter will be posted, which'll be the rare one parter. We're near the end, with 5 chapters left. See you later. In the meantime, Free Palestine and if you can donate and help.