Cole followed Chomper who had started to skip merrily while Hyp, Mutt, and Nod kept up. Chomper paused at a large plant with huge leaves that could pass for dinner plates and started to pull one. Hyp stepped forward and helped with Mutt and the leaf came away eaisily.
"Thanks.", Chomper said thankfully.
"No problem.", Hyp answered, "You saved our butts with your folks and it wouldn't be fair for you to do all the work while we sat around on ours."
Chomper chuckled as Cole noticed a bush of berries and broke into song.
"Friends for dinner. I'm gonna have friends for dinner."
"We'll pick a couple of those.", Cole put in as he gathered handfuls of berries.
"A couple of these.", Hyp added gathering some exotic looking flowers.
"Things from the bushes and things from the trees.", Nod put in as Cole got some large colored leaves from a nearby tree.
"I think they're yucky, but I know they'll please my-", Chomper started.
"Friends for dinner.", they all sang together.
Back at the hideout however, there was a different vibe going on.
"Friends for dinner.", they sang together.
"He just wants to have friends for dinner.", Littlefoot put in.
"He wants to have three-horn soup.", Cera countered.
"Or Littlefoot stew.", Petrie added.
"You won't think it's funny when he chews on you.", Cera added.
Littlefoot tried not to look so eager.
"That's not a nice thing to do."
"To have friends for dinner.", they all (excluding Spike) sang together.
Littlefoot sighed as the fact Chomper was a predator sank in.
"He can't eat vegetables. Only meat."
"He'll munch and he'll crunch those little duck feet.", Cera sang gesturing to Ducky who gasped in fright.
"If he just eats Spike, wouldn't that be enough?", Petrie asked.
"He'd spit out Cera cause she's too tough.", Ducky stated.
"Hey!", Cera snapped before joining in with the other two.
"Friends for dinner.", they sang looking to Littlefoot firmly, "Don't want to be friends for dinner."
"We'd rather sink in the mud.", Ducky said sliding off of Spike.
"Fall out of a tree.", Petrie sang after.
"Roll like a rock right into the sea.", Cera finished.
"One thing we know we don't want to be is friends for dinner.", they sang together.
Back with Chomper who had gathered some tropical fruits and greens with Cole, Hyp, Mutt, and Nod, they continued to gather unaware that Chomper's parents had peaked around a corner and spotted what was going on. Chomper's father looked unsure as he turned to his mate anxiously even though he could see that Cole was watching over his son like Cole said he would.
"Sometimes I worry about that boy.", he admitted, "But now he's got even more plant eating friends?"
"Strongfang, he's young.", his mate told him calmly, "Besides, Cole seems responsible enough and with those other three helping out, he'll enjoy the time he has before he learns his role in life."
Stongfang looked to her more at ease.
"You always know what to say Rena.", he said to her, "I'm happy that you chose me of all the other predators during mating season."
/
Back at the hideout, the gang continued to sing.
"He'll gnaw your arm and he'll nibble your leg.", Cera continued.
"But we've known Chomper since he was an egg.", Littlefoot put in trying to be diplomatic.
"He'll bite off your beak.", Petrie sang to Ducky.
"That would hurt.", Ducky stated.
"Petrie pot pie.", Cera put in.
"And Ducky dessert.", Petrie added.
That was when both groups sang together unaware they were.
"Friends for dinner. Don't want to be friends for dinner."
"Don't want to be Spike a la mode.", Cera sang.
"Or Liver of Duck.", Petrie added.
Back with Chomper and Cole's part of the gang, Cole noticed Chomper look curiously at a large leaf.
"I wonder if this tastes good.", he said.
He took a bite and then spat it out while back at the hideout Cera, Ducky, and Petrie all made a sick gesture.
"Yuck."
"You know you've run out of luck.", Cera continued.
"When you're friends for dinner.", she, Ducky, and Petrie sang together.
Chomper helped get the banquet onto Nod's back which helped free his arms while Hyp and Mutt adjusted it.
"Friends for dinner.", they all sang together as they headed back.
Littlefoot looked a bit peaceful as he sang the last part.
"Just friends for dinner."
After that, Cole led Hyp, Mutt, Nod, and Chomper back to the hideout when he heard laughter.
"Looks like someone had something funny to say.", Cole commented.
"Well, may as well get to eating.", Hyp stated.
He and Mutt took a moment to shake some flowers gaining the other group's attention.
"Hello, can we come in?", Cole asked.
There was no answer so Nod walked in with the banquet and instantly the others looked eager before Cole heard footsteps. He turned and saw what he guessed was a Baryonyx who lumbered up to the patch before noticing Chomper.
"Hey there little ting.", the predator said in a friendly Jamaican voice, "What ya doin with all dat veg and fruit?"
Chomper looked a bit uneasy, but luckily Cole spoke up.
"Oh, he invited us to dinner and we're sharing a meal with him."
The Baryonyx gave a chuckle.
"Well now, dat sound like a great offer. Ol Barry just came by to deliver de catch of de day to Strongfang and Rena after adding a bit of spice to it."
/
Cole heard the sound of munching from behind the plants before Barry came up and gathered a small handful before a couple other Baryonyx dinosaurs came around with a large flat stone piled with fish before Hyp, Mutt, Nod and Littlefoot peeked out and looked nervous.
"Who are they?", Hyp asked.
"Relax mon.", Barry said as he noticed the new members of the conversation, "Ol Barry and his pack no chase your kind. Too much work so we settle for fruits of de sea."
"Totally.", one of the other Baryonyx answered sounding like a surfer, "Waste our strength running? Not cool."
"You know Barry, I think our little friend found his old sitter.", the third Baryonyx said revealing to be a female and sounding like a hippie.
Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike looked out and saw the trio and the fish though Cera looked firm.
"Oh great, more sharpteeth.", she groaned.
Barry looked her way and took a step toward her without taking his eyes off hers.
"Yeah, you tink cause we have sharp teeth in our maws dat we just eat meat, but you'll not bodder to look behind de teeth.", he said before stepping away, "You get told that our kind eat meat and yours eat de plants wit no exception. No, no, Ol Barry tink you need to retink your way of life."
Cera frowned as if she was threatened. Littlefoot however looked a bit interested as the other two Baryonyx ground up the flowers Barry had picked over the fish they had evenly.
"So, who are the other two?", he asked.
"Name's Chad, little dude.", the second Baryonyx answered.
"And I'm Onyx.", the third answered before she finished applying the ground up flowers to the fish, "That three-horn is filled with so much negative vibe. She needs to learn to go with the flow."
Cera looked ready to explode.
"Who are you calling filled with negative vibes?", she countered, "You're sharpteeth."
"Oh, you think that because we eat meat, we don't have feelings?", Chad asked sharply, "Totally not cool man."
"Ignore her.", Barry said calmly before turning to Chomper, "You see ya old man around?"
Chomper shrugged as to tell Barry he didn't know, but Barry didn't look so worried.
"Well, we best get goin.", he said, "Nice to meet ya."
"I'll help you Barry.", Cole said, "The more hands you have, the less the load will be."
Barry turned to Cera smiling.
"See, dis rainbow face no mind helpin Ol Barry's pack. He know a good soul when he sees wit his heart."
As Barry, Chad, and Onyx walked away with the fish, Cole and Chomper followed, but after they were a bit aways, Hyp looked to Cera firmly.
"Why are you so mean to Chomper after he stood up for us?", he asked.
"He's a sharptooth.", Cera answered.
"We can see that.", Nod answered just as firmly, "But he's young."
"He may be cute now, but someday…", Petrie started but couldn't finish.
"He might decide we are things to be eaten.", Ducky finished.
/
Hyp looked interested.
"Oh, you think that because he eats our kind, he doesn't have feelings?", he questioned, "Well, I think he does and I'm willing to give him a chance."
"Me too.", Nod answered, "He's a nice guy and Barry seems nice too."
Mutt looked interested too.
"Hey, how come we were able to understand Barry and his pack like that?", he asked, "We didn't hear it before."
Littlefoot looked interested too, but Cera wasn't budging.
"I don't know, but I'm happy they left.", she said stubbornly, "I don't know what Cole sees in Chomper, but he must be blind."
"Cera!", Hyp and Littlefoot said firmly together.
Cera didn't look like she was backing down, but Littlefoot suddenly went after Cole and Chomper before Hyp grabbed the remaining tree star before he, Mutt and Nod gave chase. Cera seemed to calm down a bit, but the others kept their distance while Cole and Chomper were helping get the fish where Strongfang and Rena would pick it up like they always do. Soon Strongfang and Rena arrived.
"So nice to see you again old friend.", Strongfang said to Barry.
Barry flashed a smile.
"Yeah, it good to see ya too Strongfang.", he said back, "We just met Chomper's friend here and he's a good one."
Chad and Onyx both chuckled lightly.
"Totally.", Chad added, "Your son is very lucky to have him."
Rena looked amused before looking to Cole.
"Thanks for being there for him.", she said.
Cole gave a shy smile as he felt more comfortable than before though Strongfang rolled his eyes comically.
"Oh Rena.", he sighed.
Cole began to think that Strongfang and Rena were the names of Chomper's parents before Barry spoke again.
"Well, we best be gettin back to de shore for our evening catch.", he said, "Take care."
After Barry and his pack left, Strongfang and Rena got into eating the fish before Chomper and Cole joined in. It didn't take long before the fish was gone and Strongfang looked to Cole a bit more at ease.
"Cole, I…I know that your friends might think we're just big predators, but we have a roll to play.", he said as if he had something to explain, "We do hunt meat, but the greatest hunter never takes more than they can eat. If we overfeed, there won't be enough to keep the plants in check. Not that I'm against it or anything, I just believe that balance is mandatory."
Cole gave a nod.
"I know, I…I get it.", he answered, "You're a great guy Strongfang."
Strongfang looked a bit complimented.
"Just don't let Chomper play with his food okay?", he asked.
/
After eating, Strongfang and Rena started off though Cole looked behind him and saw Littlefoot, Hyp, Mutt, and Nod coming up.
"Oh hey guys.", Cole said, "How much did you hear?"
"Hear about what?", Hyp asked.
Cole noticed that Mutt had something in his hands and Nod looked awestruck.
"Hey, Cole's necklace is glowing."
Coel took a look and sure enough, the amber lit up while Mutt opened his hand to reveal a tiny ruby that was glowing the same way.
"Mutt, where did you get that?", Hyp asked.
"I found it.", Mutt answered, "When we were gathering for Littlefoot and the others."
Cole looked interested as he came up to Mutt.
"May I?", he asked.
Mutt shrugged and let Cole take the ruby, but the moment Cole brought it close to his amber, both stones came together and fused like magnets before shifting into what Cole would pass for a Yin/Yang symbol with the amber and ruby as the colors.
"Wow, how did it do that?", Littlefoot asked.
Cole shrugged.
"I don't know, but I'm happy that Chomper understands that we're still friends even though we're different.", he answered.
Chomper looked complimented before Rena's voice came out faintly.
"Chomper, can you come here please?"
"Well, I gotta go.", Chomper said, "See ya later.",
"Will do buddy.", Cole said.
"You got it.", Hyp added.
"Yeah, you got it.", Nod agreed.
Mutt looked confused for a moment.
"Uh, well…uh…oh, yeah we friends forever."
Chomper smiled before he headed off and the rest turned to return to the hideout while Hyp held out the tree star he swiped.
"Hey, we thought you might like the last one.", he offered.
"Thanks, Hyp. I really appreciate it.", Littlefoot said gratefully as he started eating it.
"No problem.", Hyp answered before turning to Cole, "So Cole, you think when we were able to talk to Barry and his pack, your necklace made it happen?"
"Maybe it did.", Cole answered, "I'm not sure myself, but I am wondering if it works like the stones from Shannara."
"Where?", Nod asked.
"Oh, I heard that some stones were enchanted long ago and only a select few with enough of the blood of the ones who placed those enchantments can work them.", Cole explained.
"Could your necklace be one of those stones?", Mutt asked as if interested.
Before Cole could answer, they heard a loud roar which made them get a bit scared.
"That was not Strongfang.", Cole commented, "We better get back fast."
(A/N: I chose to use the names of Chomper's parents from Elise Lowing's work (I don't claim anything) and I'd like to thank LORfan2187 for the suggestions used here.)