Chapter One:
For the Dancing and the Dreaming
The Big Water was calm, and the land path was visible again after days of being submerged. Chomper and Ruby stood, waiting, seeing a pair of fast-bitters head their way. It was Screech and Thud, the pair checking the beach to see if it were all clear of predators. Ruby wished Chomper wouldn't worry so about her, though asking for that would be like asking the Big Water to stop moving.
"Any sign of trespassers?" Chomper asked.
"No Boss, ain't no sign of trouble." Screech responded. "You okay, you look a bit tired?"
"I'm good, just umm, you know didn't get to sleep right away."
"Oh, I know what that means, you two were-"
"Screech, manners!"
"Thank you for checking the beach out, going ahead was kind of you."
Ruby said in sharptooth. Since they were kids, Chomper helped her learn the language, though when they were separated, she found it harder to retain. Luckily, she picked it back up, speaking sharptooth more than plant-eater, except when around her parents.
"Shall we try to find you all some food?"
"Yeah, I could use a real hunt." Screech was itching to forge beyond the Island.
"Screech, you're so ungrateful."
"All I'm saying is, I'd like a little bit more of a challenge. Besides, seafood gets old after a while."
"Right, you two go and I'll catch up when I can." Chomper glanced from them toward Ruby, hanging back with her.
"In other words, you're not going to hunt with us?" Thud looked Chomper over with an arched brow. "We know you well enough Boss."
"Forget him, let's go, babe."
The pair turned tail and dashed off, laughing, and playfully nipping at one another. With a steady expression, Chomper watched them race over the horizon and out of sight. He strolled along the land path, limbing due to the old wound. A cut ran along his left leg, never fully healing. The other marks went away within a few days, taking Ruby by surprise, unable to believed he healed so quickly. But Ruby wasn't oblivious and knew Chomper was hurt but smiled and tried not to let the pain show, grunting under his breath.
"Does is still hurt?"
"It's a dull pain." He answered, giving her a toothy grin, not wanting her to worry. "Least the scratches are hardly visible."
"Yeah, must be another gift from your sky-being parents." Ruby added, finding it hard to believe he was half, well, an unknown creature. "We're almost there, it's not too far away."
When they eventually reached the beach, Ruby wadded into the warm water, finding a clam to eat. She swam around and found some delicious seaweed to chew on next, coming up for air and noticing he never went too far. Giving a small sigh, she placed her hands on her sides.
"Chomper, you don't need to watch me like a mother to a hatchling. I can take care of myself, handle myself I can."
"I know Ruby, I just regret leaving you before, and the whole situation back at the Great Valley." Chomper brought up yet again.
"You seem to forget all the danger we were in back in our youth. Remember when we went to the Cannon of Shiny Stones and got caught by the flowing fire? Or how about when we ventured into the Mysterious Beyond to see the Jumping Water?" Ruby saw him smile and heard him chuckle, recalling it all too well. "Need I go on, should I proceed to list the dangerous adventures we went on?"
"You're right, Ruby. Remember when we went to Hanging Rock? Ducky, Spike, and I went after you." Face flushed; Chomper tapped his claws together. "In truth, I knew I cared for you long before we grew up. How you were always there, how you never looked at me with fear. Sometimes I wonder, in another life or situation, would we still be friends?"
"No matter what, I'd never see you as evil. And I knew for a while too, that I had feelings for you. When you left to befriend sharpteeth, when I couldn't find you, I thought my heart would break. I knew you were younger than me, that the age gape was great, yet in that moment, I didn't care." Ruby walked out of the water, going to him. "In some way, I knew I loved you back then too."
With a whistle, Chomper gazed down at her tenderly. They nuzzled his muzzle to her beak, Chomper's tail slowly sweeping back and forth with glee. Ruby noticed it and only smiled, listing as Chomper continued to whistler a merry tune.
Chomper:
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas,
With never fear of drowning,
And gladly ride the waves of life,
If you were there with me,
No scorching sun nor freezing cold,
Will stop me on my journey,
If you would promise me your heart,"
Ruby:
"And love me for eternity,
My dearest on,
My darling dear,
Your mighty words astound me,
But I've no need of mighty deeds,
When I feel your arms around me,"
Chomper:
"But I would bring your shinny stones,
I'd even sing you poetry,
And I would keep you from all harm,
If you would stay beside me,"
Ruby:
"I have no use for shinny stones,
I care not for your poetry,
I only want your hand to hold,"
Chomper:
"I only want you near me,"
Both:
"To love, to kiss to sweetly hold,
For the dancing and the dreaming,
Through all the sorrows and delights,
I keep your love beside me,
I'll swim and sail on savage seas,
With never fear of drowning,
I'd gladly ride the waves of life,
If you were there with me,
If you are there always."
Along the slow and steady tide, Ruby and Chomper moved across the beach. There were rocks, Ruby climbing to be eye to eye with Chomper. He struggled to get up the rock, Ruby walking over his head to slid down his back. Once on the ground, she took off, Chomper going after her, the pair slowing down to reach for one another. They took hands and spun around merrily, looking lovingly at each other as the world moved in a blur behind them. Once they stopped, they collapsed and breathed heavily, trying catch their breath. Chomper leaned over and nuzzled her tenderly.
"How did I get so lucky to meet you?" With each words spoken; he left a kiss to her neck. "A mate who is smart, kind, loving…and sexy."
"Oh, Chomper, stop it. You'll make me flush."
"That's not what you said last night." Chomper wiggled his brows at her.
"Maybe you need to refreshen my mind."
Ruby joked and planted small kisses on his muzzle. Chomper went to speak, only to lift his head, catching a scent on the wind. Ruby saw the concern in his expression, looking around to spot the danger for herself.
"Is it another sharptooth?"
"Stay close to me Ruby."
Chomper rose to his full height and limped along, Ruby getting up and keeping close by. From over the ride a finned back sharptooth appeared, walking toward them. With a small growl, Chomper bared his teeth.
"State your business stranger?"
"Alpha?" Came the voice of an older female.
Surprised, Chomper held a curious expression. "Who's asking for him?"
"I mean you, or your mate no harm. Would you allow me to come closer?" Gaining a small nod from Chomper, she walked to them, stopping to leave some space between them. "I heard of what you did to Stephany."
"Were you loyal to her too?"
With a sad smile, her gaze fell to her feet. "A mother's love never wavers." Ruby and Chomper were dumbfounded. "She came to see me before going to the Great Valley. She was angry with me, never forgave me for telling Red Claw to banish her. He wanted to kill her, and I convinced him to banish her to keep her alive. It was the hardest thing to do, to see my baby be forced to leave for her senseless killings. Despite her twisted mind, I couldn't bear to lose her."
"If it's not too much to ask, why are you here? If you expect me to feel bad, well, I do, I felt terrible for killing her and her pack. I'm sorry, ma'am for your loss."
It was her turn to be taken aback, not expecting such a response from an Alpha. "I thank you for your condolences. In some way, I knew there was no saving her. There was a darkness in her, a fate she could not escape. Not matter how much I loved her; it was not enough to heal her tormented heart."
"There is light and darkness in us all, anyone can be lured to one or the other. I like to think there was light in her, buried far out of sight."
"Still, you came all this way. Do you seek sanctuary?" Ruby asked. "Are there those that mean you harm for being the mother of Stephany?"
"While that's very kind of you to say, I was wonder, hoping, you might be able to help me in another way." The older female held up an egg, the pair gazing from it to her. "I'm old and don't have the strength to raise a hatchling. I know the offspring is the daughter of your enemy, but perhaps…" She trailed off, taking a shaking breath. "Perhaps you could find it in you to look after it, until I can find another…Though I doubt anyone would want the offspring of Stephany..."
"Y-you want us to have Stephany's egg?"
Ruby held concern, yet waited to see what Chomper would do. To her surprise, his expression held only softness while eyeing up the egg of his former foe.
"I wouldn't blame you if you smashed it instead-"
"Never, I would never harm an egg, it can't help who its mother was. We'll take it, raise it as our own, love it."
"Thank you…" She whispered, doing her best not to cry, grateful they'd look after the egg. "You are truly a benevolent Alpha, unlike most who would crush it."
"I get that a lot." Chomper took the egg and held it close, feeling it move. "I'm curious though, why us?"
"Well, truthfully, I know no one else would want it. And if any knew it came from Stephany, they'd see only evil, wouldn't give the hatchling a chance." She looked at Chomper. "I heard tales, of a sharptooth, who could speak to leaf-eaters. Whose heart was too full of love to kill. Whose thoughts were far from our own. I figured out of all; you'd be the best to hand my grandchild over to."
"Thank you, ma'am. If you wish to stay and see the baby grow-"
"No. It'd be best if she didn't know of her true origin. It'd also be too painful for me." Rubbing the egg, she went to leave. "Take care of it."
"We will." The older sharptooth left, heading off into the Mysterious Beyond. Chomper glanced at Ruby. "So, how do feel about being parents?"
It happened so fast, Ruby didn't full process it. Not that she didn't want young, she simply accepted that it wouldn't happen for her and Chomper, least not in the typical way. Then again, their relationship had been anything but ordinary. Perhaps, it was their chance to move toward the next step, to be parents.
"I never expected us to have a hatchling of our own. But thinking about it, I think it sounds nice." Ruby took the egg and held it close, running her beak along the shell. "It's a brand-new start."
"Yeah, an unfamiliar path." Chomper said nervously, smiling and following her across the beach.
They found Screech and Thud, washing the blood from their hands and faces. The pair looked up, noticing the egg. Of course, Screech had a snarky comment.
"Wow, you two have been busy."
"Not now, Screech," Chomper said.
Thud held a concerned expression. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Mrs. Boss, you hold a finned back sharp tooth egg in your hands."
"I know Thud, I'm taking it with us." Ruby went to the land path carrying the egg in her arms.
While she went ahead, Screech and Thud looked at Chomper, who only sighed heavily and shrugged. He followed Ruby, the two sharing a confused gesture, knowing anything went when it came to the pair. With a chuckle they trailed after the pair.
