Chapter Fifteen:

Nicky

A clutch of eggs sat while a mother and father fastrunner admired their unhatched young. Given they lived in the dangerous Mysterious Beyond, they had to hide to keep their young safe from the wrath of Sharptooth, the largest, and meanest sharptooth of them all.

"We should be safe here, dear." The mother assured.

But their dream became a nightmare, when a great earth shake shook the land, their cave home crumbled down upon them. Each grabbed as many eggs as they could, running toward the exit. The male looked ahead and back, seeing his mate fall behind, a boulder coming down, though she managed to leap over it and follow. Not wanting to be crushed, he held the two eggs close, jumping out of the cave, seeing great cracks break the land apart. It seemed like the end of their world, the couple falling to the earth, unable to remain upright. Plumes of dust rose from the great craves, the pair feeling themselves falling downward. Hanging onto each other, they prepared for the worst.

Time passed and the couple woke, finding themselves alive, bruised and cut up, but all right. They walked along, trying to find a way out, going deeper underground. It was hard, but when their young hatched, they knew they had to find a way out or else they'd starve. The male found any greens he could, feeding the young, the parents going without. On the move, and with lack of food, the couple felt it take its toll, moving slower and slower. Their pace picked up when they heard a mighty growl, knowing it was a sharptooth, that they weren't alone in the great divide.

"Move, run!" The male carried their young, moving speedily through the passage.

"Keeping going, don't look back!" The female cried out, slipping and falling, her leg twisting.

"My love!"

"Go, keep going!"

A shadow crept along the cave wall, Sharptooth trailing them. He moved and went toward the down female. "No!" Magnificent tried to circle back, only to freeze. It happened in a flash, the great jaw opened and chomped down, eating her in one bite. In shock, he found himself unable to move, the great breast drawing closer to him.

"Daddy!" The young cried, gathering around him.

Nicky clung to his father's leg, Ricky tugging his father's tail to move. Some of the other young ran around, getting too close to Sharptooth, who snapped and managed to seize the stragglers. Magnificent got himself together and helped his remaining sons to run for their lives, reaching a steep section where they could climb out. Sharptooth was too big and wasn't able to reach them, clawing and snapping madly. Atop the rock, they looked back, seeing Sharptooth, hearing him roar in anger. There, Magnificent passed out, Ricky realizing he had to be strong, had to look after himself and his brother, Nicky. Going to fetch water and food, he brought it to their father, who ate and drank, trembling still. It was hard for Nicky and Ricky, their father seeming to go in and out of reality, never fully recovering from their mother's death.

Growing up in the shadows of the sharpteeth, the rulers of the Mysterious Beyond were obvious to the three fastrunners. Ricky took up the helm and led the family, his father beginning to put his faith, and love in the more mature of the pair. Magnificent offered for other lost leafeaters to join them, the small group becoming a large herd. Since Magnificent was the oldest, he did his best to find food, water, and a place where they could call home. The herd was lucky enough to find the Sanctuary, a place where they would be safe and have plenty of food and water.

By a lake, the herd were, Ricky getting food for his father. "Here, father, you'll need your strength."

The older male's gaze was hazy, taking the food and eating slowly. It was a difficult day, so Ricky oversaw the herd. Magnificent looked up, reaching out to Ricky. "Thank you, my son."

Nicky walked over to them, knowing his father was more coherent and that it was time for them to talk. "Father, how are you feeling?"

"Better because of your brother. What do you contribute to our family?"

"I do my best to please you."

"Well, I'm not pleased."

Magnificent was known to get angered easily, often lashing out at Nicky. The younger of the brothers lowered his gaze, Ricky patting Nicky's shoulder. Pulling away, Nicky went to sit away from them. Ricky gave a sigh, looking at his father.

"Why must you be so hard on him father, he does his best."

"No, you are the one who carries the burden of looking after us. My mind wanders, stuck in the past, with your mother." He paused. "Your mother, where is she?'

"You should rest father." Ricky said, knowing his father was lost again. "Save your energy."

Season cycles came and went, Magnificent letting Ricky tend to the herd. Nicky did his best to try and contribute, suggesting something to the pair one night.

"My plan is, we kill as many sharpteeth egg as we can. Then, we'll never have to worry about being eaten."

"Nicky, no, that'll throw our entire world out of balance. Yes, the sharpteeth are frightening, yet we should not tamper with the great circle of life."

"How can you sit there and say that? After one of them killed mother, our siblings!"

"Yes, where is your mother?" Magnificent asked. "Dearest, where are you?"

Ricky grabbed and threw Nicky into the cave wall. "Now, see what you've done." Pushing Nicky, Ricky went to Magnificent, trying to calm his father down.

Angry, Nicky stormed off. With their father asleep, Ricky left for a walk and Nicky tasked to keep an eye out. "I'll be back in a few days."

"You actually trust me with the Sanctuary."

"If you do well, then we'll talk about co-leader-ing." Ricky said, offering his brother a smile. "But you must put aside this sharptooth killing idea. We are safe, we are happy, what more do we need."

Nicky clenched his knuckles, glancing down to hide his anger. "Fine, I'll let it rest if I'm allowed to help you rule."

"Good, then I'll see you around."

The days Ricky was gone, Nicky did an outstanding job at overseeing the Sanctuary. And after some time, Ricky returned with a wide grin. In fact, Nicky had never seen Ricky so happy, so full of light.

"Father, Nicky, I have news, wonderful news!" Ricky hugged, lifted and spun Nicky.

"What, you found the Great Valley?" Nicky scoffed.

"No, I found a mate I wish to win over." Ricky said.

"A female worthy of you, Mr. Perfect?" Nicky mused.

"Yes, she was lovely, single too. Though there is one thing. It seems she's been captured by a monster, a sharptooth."

"A-a sharptooth?" Their father asked. "Are we in danger."

"No, father, but the female I want is. Nicky, we must lead a group to get her back."

"No, my son, it's too dangerous." Magnificent asked.

Nicky was silent, as Magnificent always gave into Ricky, the favorite. Though it seemed Magnificent was clearer that day, helping Nicky while Ricky was away.

"But father- "

"I said no."

Ricky gave a nod and turned to leave, Nicky following him. "Hey, where are you going? It's just a girl, who cares, there are plenty more where she came from."

"No, not like her. No one says no to me. Now, I'm going to find those willing to help me. As for you, you're doing an excellent job." Ricky patted Nicky's shoulder. "Right, watch over father, I'll return with my mate once I save her."

Nicky saw Ricky leave, taking a deep breath. Over the course of time, Magnificent looked around with confusion. "Where is Ricky?"

"He went to find his chosen mate." Nicky answered.

"Why haven't you found a mate yet?"

"I just haven't."

"Why can't you be more like your brother. He knows he wants and goes for it. You simply sit and do nothing."

Nicky snorted, hoping Ricky would return, though after many, many days, Nicky got a feeling Ricky would never come back. It was funny, while Nicky felt bad, there was a small part of him that was relieved and was excited for that meant he'd be the next in line to take over the Sanctuary. His first order of business was to find out what happened to his brother. Thus, he sent a flier out to search and report back when the information was gotten. After a few days, the flier returned. Fluttering down from the sky, a female flier bowed respectfully to him.

"Well, what news do you have of my brother, Ricky?"

She was silent for a moment, trying to think of the best words. "Well, it's-it's an interesting tale."

"I don't care, just cut to the chase."

"Very well. From what we hear, he was slain."

Nicky was quiet, taking in what she said. "How, how did he die?"

"Well, apparently, a sharptooth killed him. Your brother was interest in a female fast-runner, who apparently, chose the sharptooth over your brother."

"Disgusting. I hate sharpteeth." Nicky said.

"Too bad we can't get back at them." Added a three-horn named Horner. "Even the playing board."

"I'm working on it, a plan to fight back. For now, with Red Claw around, we must be careful."

"Actually no one has seen Red Claw in some time." The flier, Glider smiled. "I've come upon some fantastic news."

"If this about you mingling with a handsome flier, I don't want to hear it." Grumbled Horner.

"Any news is welcomed more than the silence." Thunder added, being a towering long-neck.

"Yes, do share." Damper was a swimmer and sat in a pound of water.

"Red Claw is dead. In fact, he's been dead for quite some time." She spoke, all gasping aloud.

"Now that is good news." Horner mused.

"Dead you say?" Nicky cut in. "Which mean the Alpha spot is open."

"Alpha spot?" Questioned Thunder.

"Yes, you see, the sharpteeth have an Alpha, a large, powerful and protector of their kind. Though if they have no savor, then we must move out."

"What do you mean?" Damper asked. "How will that affect us?"

"Because, without a leader, they will be helpless, they will be vulnerable. Finally, I think I have a way for us to finish them off."

"Nicky, what are you talking about?" Horner asked.

"We've been going about this all wrong. Think about it, who are the weakest among the sharpteeth?"

"Umm, the injured?" Horner guessed.

"The sick!" Stella said.

"Those with eggs." Nicky said, seeing the other's nod in agreement. "I finally have a great plan. If we set out, we kill the mother's smash the eggs, break the cycle of life, the plant-eaters will prevail and rule all. No longer will they have to travel the Mysterious Beyond with fear. No more being preyed upon. No more flesh eaters."

"Here, here!" Called Horner.

"Wonderful!" Damper said excitedly.

"Indeed, with all of us, we'll be unstoppable." Thunder said, slapping his tail down.

"With me as the eyes in the sky, we'll have no trouble finding these mothers and their young." Glider added.

"Come, my friends, it's time we move out." Nicky led the group.

Like a storm over the land, Nicky was proud at what their new assignment was. It started with a few, then more, and more, Nicky enjoying the massacre they left in their wake. Dead females, eggs broken and left to rot among the earth.

"Let the Great Purge begin!" Nicky called, leading the Anti-Gang.

The sharpteeth for once in the many season cycles found themselves on the run, trying to flee the Anti-Gang who perused any they could. Some even formed a pack to take on the Anti-Gang, meeting them head on. The battle between them raged for a full day, and the Anti-Gang were victorious, which only added to their cause. It was then, some wished for the aid of the Alpha.

While Nicky was gaining traction and pretended to be Magnificent, there was still one issue left, that fact, the real Magnificent, his father was still alive. By late evening, Nicky sat by his aging father.

"I hope I'm making your proud father."

The older male breathed heavily and shook his head. "Where is Ricky? I want my favorite son."

"I'm still here father." Nicky took his father's trembling hands. "I'm right here father."

"Yes, but you'll never replace him."

"I'm doing all I can to help our kind, to defend the leaf-eaters." Nickt said.

"But you'll never be Ricky."

The comment dug deep, Nicky still living in the shadow of his older brother. "Sometimes I think you'd have preferred it if I died while Ricky lived, am I wrong?"

"You are correct." Father responded. "It'd have been best if you were in Ricky's place."

"Well, I'm not and all I can do is try."

"No matter what you accomplish, it won't bring him back to me." Magnificent uttered softly.

Nicky felt his eyes moist, knowing that no matter the heroic deed he did, his father would always see him as lesser than his deceased brother. But the herd of Sanctuary adored him, worshiped the very ground he walked on. Thus, he tried his best to enjoy the power he felt being leader, the joy he had killed the sharpteeth mother and their eggs.