Chapter Eight:
Trouble in The Mysterious Beyond
The day was warm, Claw crawled around and chased after Fang, who laughed and stopped, waiting for him to catch up before taking off again. Ruby chopped greens and mixed them into a large turtle shell she found washed up along the beach. Great trees were tied together by sets of woven vises; large leaves layered over the top to shelter them from the rain and provide shade from the bright circle. In a great pit, a fire heated the water, Ruby cooking slices of meat over top a twig-made rack that was heated by the flames. She made two types of stew, one part for the plant eaters and the second for the meat eaters. Calling to them, Ruby scooped and poured the stew into wood carved bowels, offering one to each of them. Chomper and Ruby sat, Chomper helping Fang with her bowl while Ruby spoon fed little Claw. When they were done, they encouraged Fang to have some responsibilities, washing the dirty items to contribute to the family. Though she got distracted and would play in the water. Still, she would carry out the job and be praised from both parents. Before Chomper could get settled with his family, he saw Screech approach him, huffing from running.
"That's not a good sign." Chomper uttered. "Screech, what's the matter?"
"Boss, someone is crossing the land path." Screech said. "Thud is there now; I came to get you."
"All right, we're coming." Changing tongue, he faced Ruby. "Ruby, get your weapons, leave your parents to protect the young, we need to move." Ruby was up in no time, getting her weapons and kissing Fang and Claw before she stood by him. "Right, kids, mommy and daddy will be right back."
Chomper changed into his towering sharptooth body, letting out a roar. In a quick bound, Ruby hopped onto Chomper's back, taking off after Screech. Through the jungle they went, Chomper wondering who was about to invade their island. By the land path, Thud stood, watching the stranger slowly approach them. Chomper and Ruby were there, Screech pointing to the figure.
"What do you want us to do, Boss, go out and kill the invader before they reach the island?"
"Wait, it doesn't look to be a large sharptooth." Sniffing the air, Chomper frowned. "Strange, very strange."
"What?" Ruby asked.
"Well, they're defiantly not a threat." When the figure closed in, they saw it was a female fast bitter, carrying four eggs in her arms, looking haggard. "Ma'am?"
"Alpha, please, help us."
She managed to get out before her eyes rolled back and she passed out. Ruby rushed to grab the eggs, not wanting them to break against the ground. Screech and Thud caught and held her up. All looked at Chomper, who was taken aback.
"Come, let's take her under the trees, get her some water, maybe catch her a few fish." Chomper said.
Ruby made a nest for the eggs, Thud sitting upon them to keep them warm while Screech fetched water. Chomper caught several fish and lay the items by the mother fastbitter, who slowly rose, looking around till her gaze fell on Chomper.
"Alpha, you must help us."
"Okay, I'll help, but you must tell me what has happened?"
She sat up, seeing Ruby. "A-a leaf eater."
"She's my wife, my mate and the one who rules beside me." Chomper said strongly.
"I heard the new Alpha had a soft spot for the leaf-eaters. I just never imagined he'd be mated to one. But that matters not, means nothing to me. All I know is I traveled everywhere to seek out and ask for your aid in an important manner." She saw her eggs were safe and cried slightly, sniffing, and collecting herself to speak on. "For a while, those with eggs are in grave danger. I fled my pack when they laughed off my suggestion to speak with you on the troubling topic. I hate to say but you have a mixed reputation. My pack falling into the type that doesn't acknowledge you."
"I understand, I'm not exactly the most liked Alpha, was never popular among the sharpteeth."
"Well, I remember hearing about the friendly sharptooth. My mother would tell us of how you moved my siblings, and I when were we in our eggs and took us to a safer area. If not for you, my siblings and I might've been smashed within the Great Valley."
Chomper was shocked, happy, but surprised to find himself face to face with one of the three eggs he and his friends moved. Though, Hype, Mutt and Nod helped against their will, Chomping hoping he and Hype could find some even ground and be friends. Unfortunately, Hype's obsession with Ruby grew stronger, along with his hate for Chomper. In the end, Chomper took Hype's life to protect Ruby, and still regrated it to that day. Shaking his head of the memory, he smiled at the mother fast-biter.
"Yeah, I remember that. The bullies helped my friends and I with the rather large task."
"I find it hard to believe Hyp helped you." Ruby added.
"Anyway, it seems our worst fears have come true. Without a feared Alpha, some leaf-eaters took it upon themselves to seek revenge on our kind. They go around killing the mothers, then smashing the eggs. So, I come here, asking for you to investigate and put an end to these senseless and horrible killings, to stop the herd who's doing this."
Chomper swallowed hard, realizing why the feared Sharptooth and Red Claw were both so cruel, vicious, and mean to the leafeaters. It was their way of keeping order and control, to prevent them from rising and attacking them. For there was strength in numbers, herds could easily take down a single sharptooth. Even worse, they could band together and take many sharpteeth out, mothers with nestlings being the easiest target. Not to mention it'd cut off another generation, allowing the leaf-eater numbers to grow. Though it would have a ripple effect and ruin the balance of the great circle of life.
By his side, Ruby was, knowing they couldn't sit by and enjoy their peaceful life having knowledge that mothers and their young were in danger. While she was a half-tooth and would never be taken seriously among the sharpteeth, Ruby hoped to help in any way she could.
"Chomper?" Ruby asked.
"Right, Ruby and I will investigate it at once. We'll leave tomorrow for the Mysterious Beyond. As for you, ma'am, you're welcome to stay here till we return, and the cost is clear." Chomper said.
"Thank you, Alpha." She said with a glimmer of hope.
As promised, the following day, Ruby packed supplies, Chomper changing into his fastrunner form, thinking blending in might be easier to find the vengeful leaf-eaters. Fang helped Ruby as Claw crawled around and climbed onto Chomper's tail while Rondey, Trudy, Screech and Thud were given instructions from Ruby.
"Mother and father will stay with Fang and Claw."
"Of course, we will look after them." Trudy smiled and picked little Claw up to hold him close.
"Yes, now is the time for you and Chomper to fitful your destiny as Alpha of the sharpteeth."
"I love you both." Ruby hugged them tightly.
"Screech, Thud, you two will take care of the fast bitter mother and make sure to patrol the island. By tomorrow the land path will disappear and with luck we'll be back by the time it reappears." Chomper said.
Kissing and hugging their young, Ruby and Chomper made their way to the land path, crossing it and reaching the far side by noon. They stood for a moment, watching as the water level rose higher and higher, the land path, their way home was cut off for a good-few-weeks. Taking a deep breath, they left heading far into the Mysterious Beyond.
"What kind of jerk kills mothers and their young? I mean apart from someone like Red Claw."
"Who can say. Someone who clearly doesn't understand the great balance, someone who doesn't respect the circle of life."
"Are we dealing with another insane killer like Stephany, only it's in leaf-eater form?"
Chomper shuddered at the thought of Stephaney. "Boy, I hope not."
As they went deeper into the Mysterious Beyond and farther from the warmth of the beach and island, it grew colder and colder. The leaves on the trees were all but gone, leaving only bare branches. The skies grew gray, and Chomper sniffed, his nose becoming congested from the bitter cold.
"Must be the cold times already." Ruby held layers of woven vines and leaves over her, keeping the wind form cutting through her. Still, even she found it hard to keep going. "Let's find shelter for a while."
All Chomper could do was nod, finding he minded the cold more since he was used to the tropical climate on the island. They found a large cave to stay in, Ruby starting a fire for them to warm themselves by. Ruby held her hands up, rubbing them before holding them close to the flickering flames. Chomper hunkered down and wrapped up, trembling and coughing.
"Are you all right, Chomper?"
"Yeah, just cold." Chomper answered between the chattering of teeth.
Ruby got up and went to sit by him, laying her woven cover over his back. "I know it's not much, but I hope it helps."
"It does Ruby, thank you."
Chomper leaned into her; glad she shared her body heat with him. Ruby looked up and it was too cloudy to even see the stars, which meant it'd be hard to tell where they were. Though, they could still see the bright circle, which would provide some direction. With a yawn, she was lulled to sleep by the sound of Chomper's purring. They slept in the cave, leaving once it was morning.
