Chapter Eighteen:

On My Way

Outside the house, the kids packed up their supplies onto the great turtle shell. Claw struggled trying to load his pack, Star using her telekinesis ability to place her bags on. Fang simply lifted and placed her supplies on, looking to her younger brother.

"You want help, or do you want to continue to struggle and look like a fool?"

"Why don't you go suck up today!"

"Why don't you grow the cuss up!"

"Why can't we just get through one day without you two bickering!" Star put in.

"Now, now, kids, let's get this done." Trudy walked over with Thud.

Fang helped Trudy as Claw rolled his eyes. "Kiss up." He uttered.

"Say, where is the Boss?" Thud glanced around.

"Yes, and I haven't seen Ruby, seen Ruby I have not."

"Maybe their in the house." Star added.

The kids, along with Thud and Trudy entered the home to look for them. Trudy placed her finger to her beak, seeing the point of Ruby's spear sticking through the door. Thud kept the kids behind him, the pair creeping to the door slowly. When both were there, Thud kicked it it, the five rushing in. Within, Chomper and Ruby were in a tight embrace, sitting up and sitting apart from one another. Thud and Trudy froze as the kids walked in to see what all the fuss was about.

"They're still in bed!" Claw folded his arms over his chest. "How can you be sleeping in a time like this?"

"I don't think they were sleeping." Thud smirked as Tudy elbowed him. "Without Screech, someone has to make the snarky comments."

As if things couldn't be more embarrassing, Rodney entered. "Hey everyone, why are we in here?"

"Dad, mom, everyone, get out!" Ruby said at last.

"But what about packing?" Star asked.

"We'll continue." Rodney took Star and Fang's hand, leading them out.

Trudy ushered Claw out, all the while Thud shook his head. "You two really need to pick your moments-"

"Out!" Chomper watched them leave, looking at Ruby. "Well, so much for that."

"Oh, you're not going anywhere." Ruby kept her arms around him. "We still need to finish."

"We probably should."

They shared a smiled and got comfortable once more. After their private time, the pair joined the rest, going over all the items, making sure they were ready. With all accounted for, all they had to do was wait for the following day, when the land path would be visible. During the night, the Big Water receded, revealing the Land Path. As the bright circle rose, the family were on the move. Ruby gave one sorrowful glance back, seeing their home fade from view. Crossing the Land Path, they entered the beach, Chomper leading the group, pulling the load of supplies with his larger form.

Entering the Mysterious Beyond, Chomper saw the racks left by Rex, who returned to his own turff. Sniffing the air, Chomper stayed on high alert, the same as Ruby, Trudy, Thud and Rodney. Traveling by day, when night drew close, they set up camp and each of the adults took a shift, so someone could keep guard during the night. When it was Rodney's turn, he noticed something in the air, a flier, being pursued by other fliers. Unsure if it were friend or foe, he woke the other adults.

"It's a sharptooth flier." Chomper said, able to make out a bit of the conversation.

"Should we shoot it down?" Trudy clutched her bow and arrows.

"Let's wait a moment." Ruby added.

Then, the flier who was being attacked dropped, Chomper going forward to try and catch it. Moving quicker than even the fastest fast runner, Chomper jumped and caught the flier, gazing up as taloned feet came at him. Shielding the flier, he snapped his jaw, swung his tail, kept them back. The flock flew up and down, clawing, biting and bringing Chomper down. His tail struck the earth, and he sat up, roaring as a soft blue glow moved ups his back. Before he could let lose his beam of light, an arrow flew throw the air and killed one of the attacking fliers.

"Leave him alone!" It was Ruby, who sprang through the air, firing another arrow, hitting another flier.

"This isn't it, you haven't seen the last of us. When the true Alpha comes, he'll make you suffer!" One shouted.

"Any allies of the false king will suffer!"

"Whom is it you follow!"

"The Immortan!"

Chomper held a confused expression. "Immortan?"

"Chomper, the flier is hurt!" Ruby looked over the flier who lay on the earth. "Her wing is broken."

Chomper lifted her up, carrying the flier back to their camp to be tended to. When the female flier woke, she gasped and jumped, was shocked to see the pack of misfits who stood around her.

"It's okay, you're safe." Chomper offered her some stew. "Do you have a name?"

"Alpha, you saved me. Rex was right about you being kind to your subjects."

"You know Rex?" Ruby asked.

"Yes. There are many of us who are trying to get the sharpteeth to be loyal to you."

"Who is this Immortan, Immortal, whatever he goes by. Or she?"

"Alpha, he is a strong sharptooth, large, a gigantic. He claims to be immortal, invisible. He has followers, those who believe he'd make a better Alpha than you."

"I've never heard of him."

"He comes from beyond the waste lands. Those fliers, they work for him. He's trying to rally an army."

"Army, for what?" Chomper wondered.

"To take you and those loyal to you out."

"Chomper, we need to get to the Great Valley, before we run into any of these followers of the Immortan." Ruby added in leafeater.

"Miss, you can come with us, where you can heal in the safety of the Great Valley." Chomper gestured to her wing that had been wrapped by Ruby.

"Oh, thank you. My name is Wind, for I go where the wind calls me."

"I hope Littlefoot and Cera allow her in with us."

"I hope so too."

As night passed, the group moved on, Wind walking slowly. "I'm sorry, I'm slowing you down, you should leave me behind-"

"That's not happening." Chomper said.

Claw looked their newest member over, grumbling. "I say we leave her."

"Don't be mean." Fang hissed.

"It's a cruel world, only the strongest survive."

"Says the prey." Fang added.

"Do you want to go!"

"Bring it!"

"Stop it, you two. Fighting will get us nowhere. Now, Fang you walk with your father, Claw, you help miss Wind along." Ruby scolded the pair, who hung their heads but did as they were told.

Like any family trip, Fang and Claw were the ones to fight often, and at one point, Chomper turned around and spoke.

"Don't make me turn this migration around!"

"Fang was touching me!" Claw shouted.

"No, I wasn't." Fang held her arm out; her claw was only inches form Claw.

"Hey, we're past the smoking mountain!" Star climbed a formation of rocks, pointing ahead of them.

From where they stood, they could see the Great Valley in the distance. What lay ahead, none could say, but they were only a day's travel from the safe heaven. Once there, Chomper told himself his family would be safe from all harm. The Great Wall kept out any enemy, including this Immortan. Ruby stood by Chomper and took his hand, the pair breathing a sigh of relief, for the answers to their troubles was over, or so they thought.