The Bright Circle was starting to set down. Soon the Night Circle will dominate the night sky along with all the stars. The wind was starting to get chilly, and it’s anyone’s guess how the Longneck Biters can live so high up in these mountains without getting cold.

Littlefoot was standing at the edge of a small pass at the top of the mountains that protect the Great Valley, facing the Mysterious Beyond. It’s incredible, no matter how many adventures Littlefoot has in the Mysterious Beyond; he cannot stop discovering new things. He wonders how big the Mysterious Beyond really is, he probably hasn’t even scratched the surface of it despite all of his adventures. And as beautiful and scary the Mysterious Beyond is, he still can’t grasp at the thought that Rex is still out there. How long has it been since he last saw his familiar face?

“Nice view, isn’t it?” Zitro, or Ken’ichi as he prefers to be called, comments as he approaches toward Littlefoot.

“It’s beautiful.” Littlefoot replies with a nod. “The Mysterious Beyond is just so big…Sometimes I dream what else is left to see out there. What secrets there might be lying in wait for us to discover them?”

Zitro nods, almost as if sharing the dream as well. “There’s a lot left to see out there in the world, you never know what you’ll discover next. It’s one of the many reasons it’s known as the Mysterious Beyond.”

Littlefoot nods in agreement, reflecting back on all the times he and his friends have gone out there. The time they went to the Land of Mists to retrieve Sun Flowers for his sick grandpa, the time they found the Big Water and the Mysterious Island, Chomper’s home. The world is indeed full of wonder, and it has always fascinated Littlefoot most of all.

Just as Zitro turned around to head back into the caves Littlefoot turned around, ready to throw a question, one of many he has thrown at the Longneck Biters all day. “What do you know of the Mysterious Beyond?”

Zitro stopped in his tracks, thinking on the question at paw. Wow, it’s been so many Bright Circles he himself has set foot out there in the Mysterious Beyond. He has told so many stories and histories to the group that his throat is practically begging for rest, but he still has things to say for the visitors.

“Well…” He began as he turned back to Littlefoot. “It’s a huge and vast place, with plenty to find and discover. It’s much bigger than you might think. There are lots of places with plenty of green food, water, caves, and even other valleys.”

Littlefoot blinked and tilted his head a bit at Zitro. “What, really? There are more valleys than just the Great Valley?”

Zitro nods. “Oh yes, lots more than you might think. You’d be surprised at how much you can find out there. You never finish learning and discovering…”

“Wow…” Littlefoot couldn’t stop thinking about it. He knew the Mysterious Beyond was vast and huge, but the way Zitro just described it he felt like it could go on forever. Does the Mysterious Beyond even have an end? You could go to the biggest mountain you could find and you could still see forever. He dreams what mystical places he would find out there someday, but one thing in particular has his curiosity.

“Have you ever been to these other valleys before?” Zitro nods in response, much to Littlefoot’s delight. He suddenly beams and hops excitedly over to Zitro, throwing a fit of questions at the Longneck Biter. “Wow! How are they like? How different are they from the Great Valley? Do other leaf-eaters live there as well?”

“Hey hey, settle down.” Zitro chuckled as he waved a paw the excited Longneck. “I’ve only been to two different valleys. Just settle down and I’ll tell you about them.” Like an obedient child Littlefoot settled down and sat down, a smile plastered on his face as he listened closely, much like he always does whenever he’s told a story.

“Okay,” Zitro began as he looked out to the Mysterious Beyond. “Like I said, I’ve only been to two valleys at least a couple of times before; Crescent Valley and Peace Valley.”

“Crescent Valley? Peace Valley?” Littlefoot echoes with curiosity.

“Mm-hmm. You could call them cousins of the Great Valley. Crescent Valley is a huge valley much like this one; its mountain walls protect it as well, only not as much.”

“How come?”

“You see, there’s a huge opening in one part of the mountain wall, leading inside.”

“Oh, like how the Night Circle looks in some nights?”

“Sort of, yeah. Leaf-Eaters live there as well; it’s a beautiful valley much like your home here. A huge lake, a small green forest; it’s beautiful…” Zitro looks back at Littlefoot for a moment before continuing. “As for the Peace Valley, well, it’s much closer than Crescent Valley and safer too. It’s smaller than your Great Valley, but it still has a range of mountains protecting it, and the only way in is through a series of caves. They’re pretty hard to navigate in and you could get lost, but if you find your way through it you’ll see the beauty Peace Valley holds. You’ll see a lot of flowers and trees, and a very loud thundering fall.”

“Wow…” Littlefoot didn’t think other valleys as wonderful as the Great Valley exists.

Before Zitro could continue…

“Zitro.” A youthful voice rings out from behind the Longneck Biter.

Zitro looks over his shoulder and turns around to greet the newcomer. A red Longneck Biter with yellow skin from the top of his head down along his back to the tip of his tail and a light-blue snout and underbelly. His feathers yellow and his claws are green. “Thunder…” Zitro mutters.

Littlefoot looks at the newcomer, Thunder, and gasps. He recognizes him. “You…I know you! You’re that Longneck Biter that saved me at the Great Valley!”

Thunder stops his approach and looks at the young Longneck, giving off a small smile and chuckles to himself as he lifts a paw and runs it through his feathers. “Oh yeah, I remember you. You ran after that Darkarian thinking he was a Longneck just like you.” He shakes his head and looks back at Littlefoot with a stern look. “Not too bright, are you?”

Littlefoot gave an insulted glare at him, mumbling to himself as he looked down at his forepaws before talking back to Thunder. “Well he did look like a Longneck to me from far away…And he was running away from me, I couldn’t get a good look at him.”

Zitro couldn’t help but chuckle. “Go easy on him, Thunder. He’s new to our kind. He didn’t know any better.” He then turned his attention to Thunder, inquiring about his presence. “Anyway, what brings you here? It must be something pretty urgent message to send the fastest one of our pack to deliver it to me.”

“Well yeah, it’s important.” Thunder responded with a nod. “It’s from Donovan, actually. He wants you back to run you through some sightings our spies picked up about the Darkarians and other important information from Phantom’s last visit.”

Zitro hummed and nodded. “All right, I’ll be right over.”

Thunder nooded in response and turned his head to Littlefoot. “I’d be more careful if I were you. Things are getting pretty dangerous lately. Your curiosity can get you killed if you don’t watch it.” Finishing with that, Thunder turns around and takes his leave.

Littlefoot watched as he left and slowly lowered his eyes down to the ground. He guesses Thunder is sort of right, but can you blame him for his actions? He went after that Longneck Biter mistaking him for one of his own kind, worried that he was going to be eaten like that Spiketail he and his friends found. Either way, he was very thankful Thunder showed up when he did and saved his tail.

“Don’t let Thunder get you down.” Littlefoot lifted his eyes back to Zitro as he spoke to him. “He’s very direct and doesn’t beat around the bush. He means well but he usually comes out like a jerk.”

Littlefoot giggled a bit as Zitro gave off a smirk upon saying the word ‘jerk’. To be honest Thunder does have a sort of history about being direct and coming off as a jerk. Like Zitro said, Thunder never bothers to beat around the bush, he always go direct to what he wants to say and doesn’t mind how he expresses his opinion and mind. Needless to say, he’s not too popular with some members of the Rock Ranger.

“Now, if you excuse me.” Zitro began as he turned around to take his leave. “You should head home too before the Bright Circle fully goes down. It’s pretty late.”

Littlefoot looks up at the crimson skies, time sure has flown. “Yeah, I guess it is.” Seeing Zitro moving away Littlefoot sprints to catch up to Zitro, after all he’s still unfamiliar with the cave system in the Great Valley walls and needs his help to get back to the Valley. “Hey, wait! I still have so many questions about you and your kind!”

“Haha, you’re definitely one curious child. Can’t it wait until tomorrow? After all, you and your friends are always welcomed here.”

“But remember; keep our existence here a secret. For the whole valley to know we’re here, could cause massive panic and they could try to go against us and chase us out. Without us here, the Darkarians would have a wide open opportunity to take the Great Valley.”

As Littlefoot and his friends were led back to the valley, he wondered how bad things would get for the Longneck Rangers if word got out that they exist within the Great Valley walls. He knows his grandparents would be a bit worried about the issue, but they would quickly accept their existence with them. After all, if they’ve been living there for a long time and haven’t done anything to them, they must mean well and not pose a threat to them.

Mr. Threehorn is a different story though. If he catches wind that Sharpteeth live within the Great Valley walls he would gather an angry mob of Leaf Eaters and try to chase them away at the drop of a leaf. He’ll most likely not accept the fact that they have been protected by their very enemies all this time. Either way, their existence will have to be kept a secret.

“It’s a little hard to believe that all this time we had Sharpteeth like them living right under my noses and we never noticed.” Cera pointed out as they all walked home.

“Oh yes, and to think that they have been protecting us all this time.” Ducky adds with a nod as she rides on Spike’s back. “It makes you think a bit more different on all Sharptooth. It does, it does.”

“Yeah well, don’t get used to it.” Cera remarks with a scoff. “These guys may be different, but not all Sharpteeth are like that. Not out there in the Mysterious Beyond, that’s for sure.”

“Still,” littlefoot began as he slowed down to a stop. “Even if they’re friendly or not, I think we shouldn’t tell the grown-ups about them.”

The group stopped and turned back to Littlefoot, surprised to hear what he just said. Cera arched an eyebrow and stepped forward. “What?! After all we went through to find them, talk to them and learn about them, you don’t want to tell the grown-ups that they’re here?!”

“Me no understand, Littlefoot.” Petrie continued as he hovered around Littlefoot. “Longneck Biters good. They friendly and protect us.”

Ducky nods in agreement. “Oh yes, they were very nice to us and have protected us all this time.”

“Why no tell?” Spike chimes in. It’s rare when he speaks in more than one word, let alone two.

Littlefoot shakes his head; seems like his friends don’t understand his motive. “Think about it, you guys. We all came to the Great Valley for one thing. To find protection from ever becoming food for Sharpteeth, right? If they ever find out that we’ve had Sharpteeth in the valley all along, everyone will get scared and grow into a panic. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been protecting us.”

“And even if some of the grown-ups accept that and are okay with it, we all know the rest of them will try to chase them away from the valley. Just like Stone said they would.”

Cera arches an eyebrow. It does make sense, but the fact that Littlefoot has so much faith on the Longneck Biters protecting them rather irks her a bit. The way he makes it sound it devalues the protective status of the Great Valley’s mountain walls, a utopia that they have fought so hard to find.

Cera just couldn’t keep quiet. “Not that you don’t have a point, Littlefoot. But how can you be so sure those Longneck Biters are the reason we haven’t been attacked by Sharptooth all the time? We got so many rocks and mountains protecting us from the Mysterious Beyond!”

“I know, but you don’t understand!” Littlefoot added as he stomped a foot forward. “Ken’ichi told us that there’s another pack of Longneck Biters out there called the Darkarians. They’re fighting against them to keep the Great Valley safe. If the Longneck Biters are chased away by the grown-ups, then there will not be anyone to stop them from getting into the valley.”

Cera opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Littlefoot had a point, the Darkarians probably know about the caverns too. And if the Longneck Biters, the Rock Rangers, are chased out of the valley walls, then the Darkarians could use them to sneak into the valley and slaughter them. Of course her father could protect the dinosaurs of the Great Valley no problem, but against a whole pack at once could be a problem even for her father…

“Besides, we promised Stone we wouldn’t tell on them.” Littlefoot adds.

“All right, all right, we won’t tell on them! Sheesh!” Cera replies with a snort. As right as Littlefoot may be, it doesn’t help that it sometimes comes off as an annoyance to her. Littlefoot has always been this way, the one with reason of the group. Sure it was a bit annoying sometimes, but you can’t go wrong with going along with him. It usually saves their lives when in dangerous situations.

“We did promise Stone.” Petrie admits as he perches himself on top of Littlefoot’s head.

Ducky nods. “Oh yes. After all, the Longneck Biters were very friendly to us; they will do no harm to us or the valley.” She paused as she looked down at her big brother from his back. “Right, Spike?”

Spike lets out a happy hum and a nod, giving the children a bit of the giggles. So it’s decided then, they keep the Rock Rangers a secret. After all, if the grown-ups know about them they could try to chase them away, and then who would be left to protect them from the Darkarians?

Littlefoot smiles and nods. “All right, then it’s settled! It’ll be our little secret.”

After everyone agreeing, they all returned to their nests, their parents would probably be wondering where they’ve been. The Bright Circle is down so that means the meeting is over and everyone would be at their nests gathering for the night’s sleep. They were all still scared from the Sharptooth attacks that have been happening lately. Who wouldn’t be…

-------

Yellow…Brown…Red…

It’s those colors that I have learned to despise so much…

The colors that my mother last saw before she died…

It was those colors that killed Shino too…

Depression has fallen onto Vlad ever since they returned from Fortress Valley. He wouldn’t talk to anyone. Ever since they arrived he’s been at the ledge near his home, lying on his stomach curled up with his head over his paws, just staring at either the stars above or just the valley. His wounds were treated at the lake and with some of the leaves around the valley, but he was basically mute.

And the fact that he angered his father isn’t helping either. For the love of Dracovol, what has he done? He risked his life to get revenge, and he killed his friend in the process. What was he thinking? Was he even thinking? All he could think of was getting back at Axel, taking her life for taking his mother’s.

He was just being an idiot. Every time Axel shows up or he even hears a mutter of the name, he gets angry and loses all reasoning. Now his recklessness cost him the life of a friend, and who knows how Shino’s parents will react to the news. He can’t face them after pulling their son to his death…

An ominous sound was heard behind him. Someone is coming. Vlad didn’t need to look, he knew who it was. His father. After all, he did say he was going to look into some things with Blackpaw, possibly have a talk with Kedem about what happened today and probably break the news to Shino’s father about his son’s fate. The latter probably being the difficult one.

Zarek stood on all four about ten feet away from Vlad, looking at his son with a mild glare. “It was difficult breaking the news to Draco…” Zarek mentioned with a heavy heart.

Draco…Shino’s father. He remembers him from the last time he saw him. Shino told them again and again how he’s one of the top warriors of Crescent Valley, one of those who protect the valley from the any invaders and a great hunter. You can easily tell him apart by his black form and all the scars he has all over his arms, chest and face. Zarek and Draco are in good terms, and it’s a painful thought that Vlad’s recklessness could (and probably will) destroy all of that. Vlad tried to look back at his father, but he was too ashamed to do so.

Zarek just gave off a heavy sigh; you could tell he’s angry. “What exactly were you thinking!? What were you trying to accomplish!?” The scolding made Vlad flinch. “Going off by yourself into Alimon territory, trying to hunt! Were you even thinking!?

“…I…” Vlad tried to speak, but the words just couldn’t come out. “I…”

“No!” Zarek reacted with a growl. “You weren’t thinking! You disobeyed one of our rules and went out to the Dangerous Beyond! You even went tried hunting an Alimon! And what’s worse you went after THE Alimon!”

“I…I’m sorry…I just…”

“Because of you Shino is dead!! You know how painful it is for a father to lose his one and only son!? How could you have disobeyed us, disobeyed me, and just waltz into enemy territory by yourself!? Do you for some chance have a death wish!? Do you know how much I would’ve suffered if Kedem didn’t tell us about you and Shino!? If I would have lost you!?”

“I know!” Vlad shouts back, turning his face to Zarek with tears in his eyes. “I was stupid, I know…I just…” Vlad lowered his head to his shaking paws, slowly clutching them into fists from the pain and sadness. “I just couldn’t take it anymore…I couldn’t take the nightmares of that Alimon killing my mother…And then her face…Her taunts…I couldn’t…I wasn’t thinking, I just…” Vlad closed his eyes and clutched his head, the tears streaming down his face. “What have I done…I killed him…I killed my best friend!!”

Zarek frowned as he listened to his only son sobbing, his thoughts on his friend Shino. Zarek knew Vlad had vengeance in his mind; it was what clouded his judgment and just went out there. And giving the fact that Shino is almost always trying to be the strong one of the group, much like his father, it pushed Vlad more into disobeying and almost committing suicide by going against an Alimon by himself. And to bear the pain of losing a friend, who he practically sent to his death, he must be feeling devastated.

“I wasn’t thinking, I was so stupid!” Vlad continued with his self-deprecating, blaming and torturing himself. “I just couldn’t help it, I wanted that Alimon dead so bad! For killing my mother and making my life a living hell and plaguing my sleep stories! I just couldn’t go on with that Alimon still out there…!”

His father sighed heavily and stepped forward to his grieving son, nuzzling his head softly and lying down next to him. “I understand your pain, my son. I spend most of my waking moment thinking of that fateful night…When that wrenched Alimon came into our lives…” He sighed heavily as he rubbed his son’s head as he buried his face into his shoulder as his sobbing continued. “I still remember that night…”

-------

To think that a rainy night like this could hold so much pain and sorrow…

On the highest mountain surrounding the Great Valley, a couple of Dracovols were nesting. Their son only hatched a couple of days ago and had another egg ready to hatch any day now, they couldn’t be any happier. He could walk and speak a little, but what was about to happen would be imprinted on his memory and psyche for the rest of his life.

The male Dracovol wished to go out to look over the area. With a night as stormy as this he was worried they might have water pouring into their home and pose a threat to their offspring. He only went out for just a few moments, and it was during those crucial moments that their worst nightmare would happen.

They were unaware that a group of Alimons organized a raid for that fateful night. They wanted to deliver a message to someone, and invading the Great Valley would be their best plan to do just that.

It was unfortunate that this family of Dracovols would be caught in the middle of it all.

The Alimon Raid was sprung. Pawfuls of Alimons made their way down the mountain walls, ready to attack the inhabitants of the valley. A group of Alimons was surveying the area, and found the cave of destiny…

One Alimon in particular was plain sadistic who would do anything for some fun. Inside she found a rare sight. A Dracovol and a little hatchling. How curious she was to hunt one of these. Oh what fun!

The Dracovol wasn’t happy to see them though. She fought as best she could to protect her young. Four Alimons against one Dracovol, an unfair fight; but a mother will protect her young to matter what. Despite her injuries, being outnumbered, she continued to fight. She clawed, tore, bit, but it just wasn’t enough. She was being overwhelmed and being critically injured, and one Alimon in particular was enjoying it.

It was a bloody fight, and the little hatchling was petrified; calling out for his mother, crying for the Alimons to stop. It was a heartbreaking moment, and it literarily tore your heart from your chest when the final blow was struck, and silence swept over the cavern.

“Looks like it’s just you and me…” The would-be murderer menaced the little one as it towered over the nearly dead Dracovol. You could see the hatchling’s mother trying to hold onto her life to protect her little one.

The Alimon grinned, and licking its lips it spoke again. “What a prize this is…A mother and her hatchling…” It chuckled as it neared the hatchling, its eyes narrow and a devilish grin on its face. “Tell me, little one, are you afraid?” The Alimon chuckled as it brought up a paw close to the hatchling, ready to sink its claws into him, to savor the moment. “Are you afraid of little ol’ Axel?”

That name…Axel…

Suddenly a sound was heard. And before they knew it another Dracovol roared in anger as it charged into the attackers, striking the others away and going for the attack on the murdering Alimon. It struck the Alimon away from its hatchling and the defending Dracovol was down on all four, towering over and protecting its son, a dangerous growl and glare at the invaders; the father, now home after his look out from outside, ready to defend his family. His eyes were set on his limp mate, and he knew he was too late.

“What…What have you done!?” The male Dracovol growled at his attackers, his voice almost gone from seeing his dead mate.

The Alimon responsible for the death of his mate only chuckled. It was salivating, to see another Dracovol in the premises. Perfect, it thought, all the more fun. Before anything else could be done, a loud roar was heard from the outside. The Alimons knew what that meant, and one by one they retreated.

However, that one Alimon debated whether or not to go. But in the end the Alimon retreated just the same, but not before leaving one final word. “Heheheh…Mark my words, we will meet again…A hunter never forgets the prey it never hunted…”

And they all left. Only sadness and grief remained in the cavern. The hatchling fumbled his way to his dead mother, nuzzling and nudging her muzzle and body. But no response, she was dead. The hatchling persisted, still innocent from the concept of death.

The male Dracovol grieved as well, for his own incompetence to protect his mate. He huddled his little hatchling close and searched the area for the second egg his mate left behind, but to no avail. No matter where he looked, the desperate Dracovol couldn’t find the egg anywhere. His heart heavy with grief and torn in two, he could only do what he could do.

And so, the lone Dracovol left the valley, to return to Crescent Valley with nothing but his young offspring, his only son…

-------

A single tear ran down Zarek’s cheek. He misses his mate, how his life together with her came to an abrupt end because of those retched Alimons, that event that scarred Vlad and to imprint the name “Axel” on his mind forever. As for the detail about the second egg, Zarek never bothered to let Vlad know about it. It was presumably lost in the struggle between his mate and the Alimons, he couldn’t find it anywhere. Besides, Vlad has no recollection of another egg, his lost brother or sister, and it wouldn’t do any good telling him now.

Zarek looked at his son as he cups his son’s chin in his paw, lifting his head up to look at him. “If anything were to happen to you…I don’t know what I would do…You mean the world to me, the only remaining thing from your mother…”

Vlad sniffs as he rubs the tears away from his face, trying to be brave in front of his father. “I miss her so much…”

Zarek held his son close in his arm, nodding to himself as another tear runs down his cheek. “I know you do, I miss her too…”

-------

After a good night’s rest, the group of adventurers was back on track, on their way to Crescent Valley. They spent a whole day getting through the region of Three Horn Peak and almost got burned in the Volcanic Region, but from the look of things it’s going to be smooth sailing from here on out. All they can see up ahead is nothing but green plains. Donovan said something about a desert, didn’t he? Maybe it was after they crossed this plain.

Rex was excited. It shouldn’t take long to get to Crescent Valley. Finally, he’d find the home of his kind, see them all in packs and how they live and react. His dream come true, he just couldn’t wait!

“You sure look excited.” Chomper commented as he stood next to Rex, who at the moment is standing still in the middle of this plain and just spacing out toward the distance.

“Hehe, wouldn’t you?” Rex replies with a smile. “Just imagine, after all this time searching high and low, I’m finally getting closer to the truth. I know now what I am, but not who I am.” Rex bowed his head a bit, kicking the dirt a bit as he contemplates what he will find in Crescent Valley. “I lived all my life in the Great Valley, but what could my life have been if I never gotten lost? I mean, I came from a Dracovol family, didn’t I? How would my life be like if I grew up with them instead of in the Great Valley?”

“Sounds deep.” Chomper replies as he scratches his head. “I never thought of that. I mean, if you wouldn’t have grown up in the Great Valley and had that adventure, we wouldn’t have met.”

Rex nods in agreement. “It all sounds scary in a way. I mean, I could come into Crescent Valley, but depending on what I find there I won’t ever be the same.” He lowers his head a bit, his mind heavy with thoughts of what ifs. “In a way I’m excited, but on the other paw, I’m terrified of what I will find and how it’ll change me…”

Chomper frowns and tilts his head at his friend, kind of reading his mind. “You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

Rex looks at Chomper and shakes his head. “N-No, of course not. It’s just…Well…”

“Hehe, you sound worried about nothing!”

Rex and Chomper turn around to come face to face with Yu. The Fast Biter heard the whole thing and couldn’t stand seeing his friend so worried about what could be. “I’m not going to say I know how you feel, because I’ve never went through what you’re going through. But hey, just because you’re going to Crescent Valley and probably discover a whole new life you never knew you had, it doesn’t mean things have to change. We’ll still be your friends and you will always be welcomed here with us.”

Rex smiles faintly. “Yu…”

Yu continued with a smile. “So what if you were meant to live in Crescent Valley? Your home will always be the Great Valley with your friends. No matter who you are or where you are, they’ll never forget you or stop loving you. As long as you think of them and remember them, you’ll always be you, no matter if your real name was Claw, Biter, or even Wingy.”

Rex and Chomper couldn’t help but laugh at the names Yu gave off as an example. Where does he come up with this stuff? But he’s right though, no matter where he’s destined to be, or who he was, one thing will never change: His friendship with those he love in the Great Valley and in the Mysterious Beyond. They saw another example yesterday between Silence and Dice. They were of different species and didn’t seem like they were meant for each other, but look at them now, they couldn’t be any happier being together, and in love for that matter. And Rex wouldn’t give up his home at the Great Valley for the world, and that won’t change.

“You know what? You’re right!” Rex finally comments after he stopped laughing. “Even if my real home is Crescent Valley, I was born and raised in the Great Valley, and that will always be my home.”

“Of course it is!” Chomper adds with a smile. “And even if you’re someone else entirely, you’ll always be Rex to me, to Yu, to everyone. I don’t care if we do find your real family and they say otherwise!”

Rex giggles and smiles at Chomper and Yu. “Chomper, Yu, thank you. I couldn’t ask for better friends.”

“Hey, you three!”

Rex, Chomper and Yu turn their heads to spot Tanner coming back at them with Terrel by his side. The Alimon was rather annoyed that the three of them stopped to talk without even giving them any warning. “I know it’s always fun and all to talk between friends about stuff, but we got a little sidetracked yesterday and we’re a little behind. So please, move your tails! The sooner we get to Crescent Valley the better, especially now that we have a young raplet with us.”

Terrel blinked and looked up at Tanner with a glare. “Hey!”

“Oh, right.” Rex looked at both Chomper and Yu. “We better get going. Like Tanner said, the sooner we get to Crescent Valley the better.”

They both nod and resume their journey. The path was easy on their paws at least, a nice change from the region yesterday. All rocky and rough, it was nice to walk on soft grass underneath their paws and just having a good walk in the soft breeze and under the blue sky. Yup, it seems like it’ll be a beautiful day. In fact, something crept into Rex’s heart, and out of his mouth in a song…

“Answer must be somewhere

Searching the world

For the answers we're looking for

You can believe that

As we search the world…”

They continue their travels through a flower-ridden area of the plains, all the meanwhile Rex, Chomper and Yu remain upbeat to the beat they have going, their heads sort of bobbing to the beat as Rex continues.

“You and I brave the world,”

“Through the night, the rain, the wind and the sun.”

“Searching for that path we should take

Through the grass, the sand, the wave and the snow”

Chomper hums the song until this point, where he has his turn to sing.

“But the world can be such a huge and vast place”

“Where to find the place to call our home?”

Yu adds in as he takes his turn to sing.

“It doesn't matter where we will go”

“Just as long you're here with me today”

Rex, Chomper and Yu sing the following together as Rex jumps on top of a boulder, looks up and lifts his paw up to the sky.

“That plaaace that we call our home”

“Is just a dream today?”

Rex then continues the following by himself as he slowly lowers his paw and clutches it into a fist.

“Just reach out with your dreams and your hopes”

“And the answers you want will come to you”

The trio continues with the song as they follow in their footsteps toward their adventure.

“Another day tomorrow”

“Is to try to find the answers that elude us”

“But to find our answers”

“It just takes a little step at a time”

“Answer must be somewhere”

“Searching the world”

“For the answers we're looking for”

“You can believe that”

“As we search the world”

As the trio finished their song they couldn’t help but laugh and fall down to the grassy ground, giggling and laughing from the silliness of randomly breaking into a song just out of nowhere like that. Terrel couldn’t help but giggle at the randomness of it all, and if he was a good singer he would’ve joined in as well.

Tanner on the other hand just couldn’t grasp such a concept and stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder before slowly turning around and walking back to the laughing trio. “Was that really necessary?”

Rex giggled as he rolled over onto his stomach and looked up at Tanner. “It’s just in good fun, Tanner. Nothing makes the time pass faster than singing a song when you’re traveling!”

Tanner rolled his eyes and started to turn around to continue. “Well, if you’re going to sing a song, at least have the lyrics make a bit more sense. The tune is fine, but the words leave something to be desired.”

Rex gave Tanner a bit of a glare as the Alimon continued forth. He didn’t hear him contribute to the song, but perhaps Tanner is not a good singer or creative enough to come up with the words. Oh well. The three got up to their feet to continue along; they still had a lot of road to cover today.

“Well, I liked the song.” Terrel gave his opinion to break the momentary silence that swept over them.

The travel through the plains was rather peaceful, not one Sharptooth or any other dinosaurs were seen around here. It almost made it seem like they had the whole world to themselves. It was rather nice to be so free of worry, but also it was a little unnerving to be the only ones there. The group managed to keep themselves from getting bored by bringing up some topics here and there, nothing too interesting to take note of.

Before they knew it the Bright Circle was over them, and the day began getting even hotter. After what felt like a very long time of walking the group finally stops for a moments rest and to get their bearings. They’ve been walking for a good while and haven’t seen any hints or anything about a desert. Perhaps they went around it all this time? Donovan said it was before a huge field of green food, and they are traveling across a plain full of grass. Rex could only hope that they didn’t get lost.

“Hm, are we going the right way?” Rex inquires, a bit worried.

Yu sighs as he lies down. “Yeah…We haven’t seen any sign about a desert. Didn’t Donovan say we would have to cross one sooner or later?”

Tanner didn’t pay too much attention though, he continued forward until he had to climb up a small hill and jump on top of a boulder, better height for scanning the area. He had to admit he doesn’t know the way exactly like he should to avoid getting lost, but he’s sure they’re going the right way.

He scanned the distance to see what he can see. More and more green with some…Mountains in the distance to his right, and nothing to the left. That nothingness is probably where the desert is, and their next destination. “Well, the desert is this way, that’s for sure.”

“Great…” Chomper groans as he bows his head down, his tongue hanging out. “First the flowing fires yesterday, now the desert. It’s like the heat is following me trying to kill me…”

“I know…” Terrel chimes in as he’s lying down next to Yu, trying to hide in his shadow to cool off.

Tanner shook his head as he looked over his shoulder. “There’s no use whining, boys. Besides, I thought you were all tougher than that, unless you want to turn back with your tails between your legs.”

Rex shook his head. “No way, I’m not turning back now. I’m going all the way until the end.”

Yu stands up and puts on a brave face. “If Rex is going, then I’m going too.”

“No way am I going back like a scared Sharptooth!” Chomper chimes in.

Terrel jumps up and nudges Yu’s leg. “Then if you’re going, I’m going too! No way are you going to send me away now!”

Yu groans and rolls his eyes. Even if he wanted to send him back, they’re too far away from their pack now to do so. Like it or not, Terrel is here to stay with them. Tanner gave a smirk as he shook his head, expecting those responses. “Fair enough, let us continue on then.”

With a nod from all of them the group head out. Tanner leaps off of the hill to continue ahead, but something unexpected happened next.

“Aagh!!”

Rex stopped and blinked in surprise. “Tanner?” The four Sharpteeth look at each other before running up the hill, stopping in their tracks to see Tanner surrounded by four Fast Biters! Oh great, just what they need. Can’t they ever have a moment’s rest?!

“Tanner!” Rex cries as he runs down the hill to help Tanner with Chomper hot in pursuit.

“Find a place to hide, Terrel!” Yu commanded to his little cousin before following the others. Terrel couldn’t do anything else but to comply and find a place to hide within the many boulders on this hill.

“Great…” Tanner growls as he eyes the Fast Biters. How did he not see them and let them ambush him? He must be getting rusty. An Assassin of the Rock Rangers, ambushed this easily. There’s something for the others back home to laugh about. Doesn’t matter though, these Fast Biters are going to be dead soon, all he needs is to find which one of these is the weakest and work his way from there. Suddenly his senses caught something…

“Eh?!” Tanner looked over his shoulder to see, to his horror, the others approaching to help him. “No, don’t!”

But it was too late. Before they knew it they were stopping dead in their tracks as more Fast Biters leaped out from their hiding spots and surround the group. Great, now they’re caught too. They should’ve known it was too good to be true about having this entire field all to themselves. “Agh, more of them!” Rex points out the blindingly obvious.

The trio stands together back to back as their eyes watch their ambushers, none of them making a move. Fast Biters can be pretty fast and sneaky, the last thing they want is to agitate them and spring out at them when they least expect it. To be caught like this, it had to be a trap. These Fast Biters knew they were coming this way and waited for them. But who would know of them and catch them off guard like this?

That didn’t matter though. They would have to fight their way out.

“Hmhm, now that was a bit too easy.” Someone chuckled. “I was expecting something more from Judah’s son.”

Yu couldn’t help but gulp. Whoever is talking it sure knows him. The group witnessed as the Fast Biters backed off, and from behind them one Fast Biter in particular stepped forward. This Fast Biter was black with some brown stripes along his backside, his eyes a pair of aqua. He was a bit on the young side, not much older than Yu. He looked rather gentle despite the ugly glare he’s giving off. Needless to say though, he means business if he was the one responsible for this ambush.

“W-Who are you?” Yu questions with a bit of a stammer. “And…How do you know my name?”

“You don’t know me?” The Fast Biter replied, he then shook his head and continued. “I’m not surprised; I was never in the Lines of the Sodom Pack.”

The Lines…The Lines is a concept of organization most Fast Biters apply to their packs. The Frontier Lines, the first line of defense and attack; the Middle Lines, the backup for the Frontier Lines; and the Backer Lines, the pack’s last line of defense. Those assigned to these Lines are the ones who are ordered to attack and defend the pack; those who are not part of it are usually behind the Backer Lines either in hiding or protecting others who cannot fight. It’s worthy to be reminded of that just not too long ago Rex and Yu were assigned as part of the Frontier Lines by Judah, Yu’s father.

“The Sodom Pack?” Rex echoes with a hint of fear in his voice. “You’re from the Sodom Pack?”

Also worthy of reminder, the Sodom Pack is a pack of Fast Biters who are in a constant feud with Yu’s Pack, the Toviel. Ever since their battle about a year ago they’ve been on constant fights whenever one meets the other. They’ve been fighting each other for so long they don’t even bother to remember if it’s for territory they’re fighting for, or if it’s a personal vendetta between the two.

“My name is Runner,” The Fast Biter, Runner, introduces himself. “And I hope you take some effort to remember me, because we’re going to see more of each other from now on.”

Chomper arches an eyebrow and scratches his head. “W-Why? Did you just get promoted to the Lines?”

“You could say that.” Runner simply chuckled. “You’re looking at the new leader of the pack. And I’m afraid I have unfinished business with you four, especially Yu.”

Yu reacted in surprise upon what he just heard. “The new leader?! What happened to the last one the pack had?!”

“Yeah! And what do you mean by having unfinished business with us?” Rex added, in shock as well. The last time they saw each other, the leader of the Sodom Pack, whom they are unaware as Zill and Bull’s father, was alive and in perfect health.

Runner just shook his head with a mild chuckle. “He unfortunately had to retire early. But don’t worry; I’m more than capable of filling his place.” He then started to back off, letting the Fast Biters again to surround the group, preventing an escape. “As for our unfinished business, I believe you three destroyed something precious of mine a long time ago. And I aim to make you three pay what you took from me with your lives!”

Rex, Chomper and Yu didn’t know what he was talking about, but they didn’t have time to ponder such questions, for the Fast Biters snarled and jumped for the attack!

One Fast Biter leaped in to attack the three, but Tanner jumped in and tackled the Fast Biter right out of the sky. He managed to push the other Fast Biters out of the way and jumped for the safe, stunning the others for a moment. “Tanner!” Rex exclaims.

“We should run!” Tanner shouts back at them as he pins the Fast Biter down. “There’s too many of them!”

A Fast Biter tries to attack Tanner but Chomper rushed in and tackled it down to the ground, turning around and growling at the others. “He’s right. We can’t take all of them at once!”

Rex and Yu turn to the other approaching Fast Biters as they back off. They’re right; Runner was going for overkill here. Tanner managed to get by four Fast Biters, and they themselves were surrounded by four, two of them of which were taken care of by Tanner and Yu, for a total of eight opponents and who knows if there are more in backup. No doubt about it, they’d be killed within minutes.

One Fast Biter lunged to bite them, but Rex dodged the bite and with his claws slashed the attacker across the face, knocking it down to the ground with a bleeding face. “Darn it, we’ve been trumped!” With no other option left, the group turned and made a break for it. Sometimes it’s better to run and live to fight another day.

“Terrel!” Yu cried as they make a break for it. “Come on! We’re leaving!”

Runner, who was watching from behind his followers, just shook his head. “What cowards.” He looked at his followers and cried out his command. “After them!” The Fast Biters screeched and obeyed their leader’s command, chasing after the group.

Rex, Chomper, Yu, Terrel and Tanner were running as fast as their feet could carry them. Now they wished they weren’t in the plains were there was no hiding spot in sight. And with how flat the ground was, they could be seen from miles. Their only hope would be if fog moved in, but then again that would make them lose each other as well.

And that Fast Biter, Runner, what did he meant by them destroying something precious of his? They never met the guy before let alone know him to destroy what he values most. What did he meant? Was someone he held dear killed in one of their encounters?

“Hahh…Hahh…” Rex gasps as he continues running from their pursuers, his heart beating rapidly against his chest. The thought about being ripped apart by Fast Biters wasn’t appealing at all! “Where are we supposed to go?! It’s a death wish staying here!”

“Huhh…Huhh…The desert!” Yu replies as he takes the lead alongside Tanner, constantly glancing down to make sure Terrel is keeping up. “If we head there, the heat could probably chase those Fast Biters away!”

Tanner shakes his head furiously. “Are you crazy?! We’ll burn out under the Bright Circle before they call off the chase!”

Chomper gasps and heaves as he tries to keep up. “Well…Huhh…Do you…Hahh…have any better ideas?!”

Tanner scans the area, his eyes once again taking note of the mountains present in the distance. He would hate to get off course, but their lives are on the line. They couldn’t risk it. “The mountains!” He shouts to the others. “It’s a stretch, but we could lose them there!”

“Are you crazy?!” Yu spits out. “There’s no way we’re going to lose them there!”

“You got any better ideas?!”

They didn’t have any choice. At least in the mountains they could find some caverns or something to hide from the Fast Biters. One thing to worry about is that Fast Biters can be pretty good at scaling upward, so it’s anybody’s guess how they will fare in a mountain setting when they have about eight Fast Biters chasing them. At the moment they would try anything to get away.

As they reach the mountains they climb up the boulders lying by the bottom. Rex uses his wings to scale up faster while Tanner and Yu (grabbing Terrel in his mouth) climb up from boulder to boulder with their dexterity and speed. Chomper on the other hand had some slight problem keeping up, he wasn’t good at climbing like the others, a disadvantage he despises especially in these situations.

Rex looked back down and saw Chomper falling behind. Not one to leave anybody behind Rex climbed back down to help Chomper. They managed to get ahead of the chasing pack, but they were catching up. At this rate they’ll start climbing and get to them soon. They had to hide.

“Hurry, Chomper!” Rex pleaded as he allowed Chomper to climb up first to speed him up.

“I’m trying! You try being a Sharptooth who’s not exactly known for climbing!”

Tanner made it a fair way up and stopped to gasp for breath. He made it up to a path on the mountain. This path leads to the east side of the mountains, perfect to get moving, but what if it ends in a dead end? Heck, he’s positive it leads to nowhere and just to more rocks. They can’t afford wasting any more time climbing; they’d be wasting energy and stamina.

Yu managed to catch up to Tanner and dropped Terrel to the ground to catch his breath. “Hahh…Hahh…What now, Tanner?”

“I’m working on it…”

Terrel looked down by the edge of the platform at Rex and Chomper, gasping as he saw the pack already catching up and climbing up to catch them. “Hurry up! The Fast Biters are coming!”

Chomper grunts as he claws at a boulder to climb up, but he manages with a gentle push from Rex. “Huhh…We’re trying!”

Down below the Fast Biters have caught up and are now slowly climbing up to catch them. Runner just watched and gave a little hiss. “Typical. Always running and you call yourself hunters!?”

The insult was loud enough for the others to hear. Rex looked down at Runner and shot off a glare at him. He calls them cowards for running; he’s one to talk, sending eight Fast Biters to do the killing for him. He doesn’t care if Runner’s the leader of the Sodom pack now, it doesn’t give him the right to make others do the dirty work. That’s basically hiding behind your followers and make them do the work, that’s a coward right there.

“Run all you’d like, it won’t change a thing.” Runner continues as he looks up at the fleeing group. “In fact, it makes it all the more sweeter when I finally catch you!”

“Why!” Rex shouts back at Runner. “Why do you hate us so much!? What did we ever do to you!?”

Runner shoots of a nasty glare toward Rex’s direction as he begins to growl. “You…You should know, Sharptooth…I’ve heard much about you from my older brother so many Bright Circles ago…”

“Your…Brother?” Rex couldn’t make any sense of what he’s saying. Brother? He has a brother? How would his brother know about him? Rex has never communicated with anyone from the Sodom Pack. Unless…

“Yes, my brother. The one you and your stupid friends killed a long time ago…Bull!”

Rex jumped so high that he almost fell off of the mountain, the mere mention of the name almost giving him a heart attack. “Bull!?”

“No way…!” Yu was as shocked as Rex was.

“That’s right!” Runner continued with hatred in his voice. “Because of you and your stupid friends my older brother is gone! And not only did you take him away from me, but also his brother! My brother too!!”

“That can’t be!” Rex just couldn’t believe it. Zill and Bull had a third brother!? Runner is the third son of the leader of the Sodom Pack!? Now it’s all making sense now. His hatred toward them, the sole reason he wants them dead. Just like his father. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, after all.

“You killed my brothers! Make my pack look like fools! You even added insult to injury by killing them for protecting Leaf Eaters!” Runner continued, his voice increasing ever so. “Protecting stupid Leaf Eaters! What kind of stupid act is that!? What kind of Sharptooth are you!?”

Rex didn’t bother to reply, he didn’t know the answer well himself. He grew up with them, what else was he supposed to do? He loved them. He’s not going to let them get killed by others on his watch. Sure, it may sound unnatural for the predator to protect the prey, but…But…Oh how can he explain that to an angry Fast Biter bent on revenge!?

“I…I…” Rex stammered for a good answer as he continued climbing up, his eyes still glued to Runner.

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it!” Runner spat with a ferocious growl. “I’m sick of you! Of your friends! Of your stupid pack! I took this position from my father for one purpose only! To regain the honor of my pack and avenge my brothers!”

Tanner snarled and shook his head. “Allow your mind to be clouded by anger and revenge and you will suffer a pitiful fate much like your brother, Bull!”

“Enough! Kill them!!”

The Fast Biters roared out and began a furious ascend up the mountain. Rex screamed and used his wings to fly up to the ledge the others were at. With no time to waste they continued their mad dash for survival, anything and anyplace they could go to get away. And this path was their only exit.

One Fast Biter managed to catch up to the ledge and charge after them. Rex, who was at the back of the group, looks over his shoulder and gasps upon seeing the incoming Fast Biter. He skids to a stop and turns to the Fast Biter, growling at it. The Fast Biter jumps at Rex, who jumps to the side and shoulder tackles the Fast Biter, pushing it over the ledge and dropping it to its apparent death. He watches and winces as the body hits and bounces against the boulders, that must’ve hurt…

But as soon as that danger is averted another roar prompts Rex to look back and run away. Two more Fast Biters caught up and began the chase.

The Fast Biters chased the group of adventurers; they were salivating at the thought of catching them and devouring their flesh. They could taste their blood already, and they couldn’t wait to grab and feast on them. Upon turning a corner they reach a circular clearing within the mountain range, but to their horror they cannot see the Sharpteeth they were chasing. Gone…Into thin air! How is that even possible!? There weren’t any other way they could’ve gone other than jumping off the ledge and to their death. Their other five comrades arrive at the clearing too, they too confused over the sudden disappearance of the group. They couldn’t understand it, where could they have gone!?

Runner, who was climbing up after them as well (being the Fast Biter that he is, he couldn’t pass up the chance to see these guys die a horrible death), shoved through them and looked around the place. His eyes narrowed and his growl got louder. They’re gone! But to where!? He looked to his left, nowhere to go. He looked to his right, a small cavern, probably big enough for them to gotten into.

He growled and looked to one of his followers. “You! Go and check!”

The Fast Biter snarled and made its way to the cavern opening, poked his head in and sniffed the air, purring gently while doing so. The Sharptooth couldn’t see anything inside, just a bunch of stalagmites and rocks. The Fast Biter looked down upon hearing a small squeak, and caught the sight of a mouse with whiskers, its fur tan and smooth. The Fast Biter snarled and lunged forward, catching the innocent victim within its jaws and gulping it down with one chomp before turning to its leader. Not a good substitute for looking those other much appetizing victims.

“Nothing!?” Runner was displeased. They couldn’t have gotten far then. He looked forward to the other possible path and snarled. “Find them!”

The pack didn’t have any other choice. They continued down the only available path they could’ve gone. There’s no way they were stupid enough to enter a dark cavern such as that one, visibility would’ve been almost zero and then they would be risking getting lost in there and never see the light of day again.

Little do they know though, sometimes the stupid choice could turn out to be the best choice.

Deep in said cavern we will find our group of adventurers hiding behind stalagmite and within the darkness, their chest heaving as slow as possible to avoid making any sounds, each of them paralyzed with fear. Luckily, no one came after them, they were safe for now.

“Are they gone…?” Yu asks as he hides behind a stalagmite with Terrel right next to him.

Tanner listens closely for any sound. He then slowly emerges from his hiding spot with his eyes set on the entrance. “I believe so…”

Chomper sighs in relief as he slumps down against the cavern wall. “Phew…That’s a relief…I don’t know if I could’ve run any further…”

Rex slowly emerged from his hiding spot as well, his eyes glued to the cavern’s entrance. “That Runner guy…Is he actually Bull and Zill’s brother?”

Chomper turns his head to Rex and absently nods. “I guess so…I mean, doesn’t he have the same color as Zill?”

“That really doesn’t matter at this point.” Tanner points out with a light snarl as he moves away from his hiding spot, looking at the cavern exit and deeper into the cave to ponder what to do next. “We got a pack of Fast Biters on our tails and we’re stuck in this cavern. Darn it! Just once I would like to do something without being sidetracked like this!”

Rex sighs as he leans against the stalagmite, slowly slumping down on a sitting position. This is all wrong, why can’t they do anything without something trying to kill them? He knows every day in the Mysterious Beyond is a struggle for survival, but this is too much. First the Darkarians, then a big Sharptooth, the stupid flowing fire, now this. The whole world is trying to keep them from getting to Crescent Valley.

“Are we ever gonna reach Crescent Valley…?” Rex mumbled to himself.

Tanner growled in frustration and shook his head. “With those Fast Biters out there, we can’t risk going out the other way.”

Yu hummed to himself, trying to think of a way to get out of here and keep going. They could try to sneak their way out from where they came from, but there are eight Fast Biters out there searching for them. If they’re caught, they’re finished. What to do…

“Hey.” The group turned their heads to Terrel, who was looking in deeper into the cave and wondering. “Maybe this cave leads to another way out of here? Probably one away from the Fast Biters?”

Tanner wandered a bit deeper into the cave and sniffed the air. Alimons have a very strong sense of smell, if Tanner could smell something that could imply an exit through this cave; it could be their ticket out of here safely. “You might be onto something, kid.”

“Heheh, yay!” Terrel jumped and cheered happily. He got a sudden sense of pride that he helped out on finding a way to escape.

“What? You mean go deeper down there?” Chomper shuddered and backed away; he wasn’t fond of the idea of going into deeper darkness and potentially lose their way.

Rex nodded and stood up, a determined look on his face. “Worth a shot.”

Chomper watched in dismay as the group begins to go deeper into the cave. No no no, after that last experience in the darkness in the rapid waters, the last thing he wants is to go back into darkness and have it happen again! He almost drowned back there! He would rather prefer staying near the exit where there’s light, thank you very much.

“Oh dear…” Chomper whimpered. He then heard a roar from outside (presumably from the Fast Biters), made him jump in fear and prompted him to run into the cavern and rush after the others. “Wait for meeeeee!”

-------

A mysterious black creature who can stand on his hind legs sits on the brown ground with his back resting against the mountain wall. His eyes are closed as if he’s taking a nap, but there’s no time for a nap right now. For even now he’s sitting on dangerous ground. He’s lucky he’s managed to get this far without being killed. His feathers are droopier than usual, most of them drooping forward and over his eyes, covering most of them. It’s interesting to note that he has a scar on his nose as well.

“Heheh, you’d never guess who I just found right outside.” A young voice giggled out to the sitting dinosaur.

The dinosaur slowly opens his eyes and turns his head to the right, seeing another creature similar to him walking toward him; black skin and a scar over his right eye. He looks very young but strong for his age. His feathers do not droop like his comrade’s; they’re more erect with some slight drooping.

“It’s our old blue friend.” The young one reports with a childish grin. “You know the one.”

The older creature just closes his eyes and returns his head to its previous position. “I am aware of who he is, Pascal. I am not an idiot.”

Pascal frowns and folds his arms, turning his shoulder to the creature with a grudge. “Well excuuuse me, Tamal. Just trying to be friendly, no need to be so mean.” He turns back to Tamal with a slight grin. “Though the actual question is, what is he doing all the way over here?”

“That’s a good question.” Tamal replies with a nod. “If they’re here, then they’re putting themselves in a very serious and dangerous position.”

“You want me to go ask them?” Pascal adds with a grin.

Tamal just shook his head. “Are you serious? Blow our cover and it could put up in a very tight spot. We’re already disobeying Druce’s order by staying here longer than we should.”

Pascal just giggles and walks closer to Tamal, playfully poking his clawed finger to Tamal’s nose. “I’m not an idiot, Tamal. Even I know not to do that. As long as he’s not in any danger, that is.”

Tamal just looks at Pascal with an uninterested look and nips Pascal’s finger away from his face. “You better know your role in this, Pascal. Remember how you almost blew our cover a couple of Bright Circles ago. We nearly lost the trust of them.”

Pascal groans as he throws his arms up in dismay. “Ugh, don’t remind me. Just one little slip and look at what happened.”

“And you also remember what we had to do to get their trust back.”

“Oh, definitely! Rip out the wings of that poor Dracovol and then slash his neck open! You amaze me, Tamal. Doing all of that to an innocent dinosaur. Heck, even I couldn’t keep a straight face!”

“Heh.” Tamal didn’t put any other comment. He couldn’t forget that moment either even if he tried. Pascal, with his usual happy-go-lucky nature and joker of a personality, tried to surprise Tamal with a joke. Little did he know that Tamal wasn’t alone, and it nearly ousted them as spies. It took them a lot of work to get their trust back, and how did they managed that?

A test of trust basically. They had a Dracovol prisoner who once tried to go against them. He was to be punished by ripping his wings off. Pascal was nearly disgusted by the fact, but Tamal kept a straight face. It had to be convincing.

Despite the agony of ripping its wings the Dracovol still protested. They then forced Tamal to silence him permanently. With a good, clean cut of its throat. That Dracovol won’t be fighting back anymore.

“And you know how I feel about that…” Pascal adds seriously before gulping. It brought back some bad memories.

“You’re not the only one.” Tamal adds as well. “But that aside, the problem is this: What are we going to do about our little friend? He can’t stay here.”

“Are you suggesting what I’m thinking you’re suggesting?” Pascal grinned from ear to ear as he saw a smirk forming on Tamal’s face. He knows what he’s suggesting, all right. “Well, in that case, I’ll be on my way then.” With that he turned around and went on his way.

“Don’t go too far.” Tamal warned with a snarl. “If you break him…”

Pascal turns, slightly offended. “I’m not gonna kill him!” He snarled. “Just enough to give him the message that he’s not welcome here. Besides, if he doesn’t listen then he’ll have to go through worse things. Believe me, he doesn’t want to be here.”

Tamal arose from his sitting position and scratched his chest. “And we don’t want him here either.” He turned his head to his young companion and gave him a nod. “I’ll try to keep them busy to give you some time to send him away. Usual time limit.”

Pascal nodded with a giggle. “All right, that should give me enough time. You be careful out there.”

Tamal chuckled as he fingered his head feathers. “Touching, but I don’t need it.”

And with that the two companions part ways. What could they be up to to be in this place? Who are they spying on? Nobody knows but them and a selected few. Are they intentions righteous? Or are they aligned with darkness? A puzzle, indeed. And they are not talking. What could they possibly be doing to justify the murder of an innocent Dracovol? These creatures work in strange and barbaric ways. When all is said and done, it’s everyone’s hopes that what they are doing are for the right thing.

-------

“Finally! Liiiiight!!” Chomper was more than happy to be out of that cavern. He ran immediately to the middle of the area just outside of the cave to bathe in the sunlight. Terrel was more than happy to join him in the happy hops and running around in the sunshine.

Tanner just smirked at the picture. “Hehe, look at them go. As if they’ve never seen sunlight before.”

Rex sighs and sags his head down. “Can you blame them? That cave was scary and creepy, a lot of those rocks looked like Sharptooth’s teeth…”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Yu comments with a giggle, but it soon stopped and he frowned as he thought back to their trip through that cave. “Although I could’ve lived without stubbing my toes with pebbles and rocks. Man, those hurt…”

Rex chuckled, he knows that feeling. All in all it wasn’t so bad; at least it was better than being chased by Runner and his pack. He still couldn’t believe that Runner is the third son of the Sodom pack’s leader, the third brother of Zill and Bull. He couldn’t help but feel guilt knowing that he was the one that killed them both, took them away from him like Runner said. Rex frowned and sighed heavily. “It was my fault…”

Yu looked over at Rex with a confused expression. “Your fault? What is?”

“Everything.” Rex began as he looked at Yu. “If I didn’t killed Bull and Zill, we wouldn’t have been chased all over the place by Runner and his pack. Your pack wouldn’t have to constantly fight with the Sodom pack every time they’ve met.” He sighed and rubbed his left arm with his right paw. “Let’s face it, I’m always bringing you nothing but trouble since the day we’ve met.”

Yu shook his head, unable to accept this. “Don’t say those things…Yeah, I know things would’ve been a lot of easier if Zill and Bull wouldn’t have gone into your life. And maybe things would’ve been a lot easier like you said. But for what it’s worth, I think it was a good thing that Bull and Zill meddled in your life.”

Rex blinked in shock and looked at Yu, his mouth slightly gapping. Did he just hear right? “W-What…?”

Yu nods in happiness. “Yeah! I mean, think about it. If Bull and Zill hadn’t done what they have done, you and I would have never met. We wouldn’t have gone on all these great adventures, you wouldn’t have met Chomper. And, most importantly, you wouldn’t have never have discovered about your kind!”

Rex’s shock slowly was replaced with a slight smile. “Yu…”

“You can’t just look at things for the bad stuffs they make happen. You gotta look at the positive side of things. Otherwise, well, life just gets too depressing. I mean, I used to remember how I always lashed out at things on impulse. I always thought that would never let me have friends. But then you came along, you helped me get over that and now look at us! Couldn’t be any happier!”

Rex took a moment to think about what Yu told him. Yeah, there’s always a negative side to things, but if we stop to focus on them all the time, the good things in life just disappears and we end up in an endless loop of stress and depression. But if we stop focusing on them and turn to the positive side of things, we may not only find the happiness we’re looking for, but it also makes the dark situation a little bit brighter and more bearable to live through.

Sure, Rex could wish that his meeting with Bull and Zill would have never happened, but then he would be sacrificing all the good things he’s received from that encounter. He couldn’t let all of that go…

In the end Rex gave off his familiar smile and gave a happy nod. “You’re right, Yu. I can’t stick to the negative side of things. I gotta start thinking on the good things and act on them, can’t change the past. And even if I could, I don’t think I could give all of this away.”

“Haha, there you go!”

Rex kept smiling at his best friend. “Thanks, Yu. I really needed that.”

Before the two friends could exchange any more words Terrel’s scream broke the two out of their conversation. Turning their heads they witness Terrel running toward them and hiding behind Yu’s leg, looking very petrified.

“Guys…” Tanner calls out to them.

Rex and Yu lift their heads and gasps. Chomper is slowly backing away as Tanner stands his ground, growling at the intruder standing before them. The intruder is a black Dracovol with red stripes along its backside and a nasty-looking scar over his right eye. Rex was sort of shocked to see another Dracovol here, and this one of all Dracovols…

“Well, isn’t this a welcome.” The Dracovol jokes around with a giggle. “Being growled at by an Alimon and having a little kid running away from me.” He then wags a finger at them. “That’s not nice, you know.”

“You…” Rex stammers. “I remember you…”

“Oh you do?” The Dracovol scratches his cheek, blushing a bit. So he does remember him. “And here I thought you wouldn’t remember me.”

“I remember you too.” Yu responds, but he stops and thinks about it. “Let’s see…You’re…Oh!” He grins and looks at the Dracovol. Now he remembers. “You’re one of the Shadow People!”

Pascal was about to say something, but he came up short completely, stunned by what Yu said. “I…I…Wuh…What?!”

Rex and Chomper gave a sigh with a shake of their heads. Shadow People, of all things. Yu just came up with that because they remember this Dracovol and his pack always used to disappear on them when they least expect them, back into the darkness of shadow, silently as they came. Rex remembers one of them used to do that to him about a year ago, when he helped him find where his friends were.

“No.” Rex spat out to Yu before turning his head back to the Dracovol. “He’s one of the members of the Arich Pack, remember? They helped us get Littlefoot and the others back home.”

The Dracovol nods with a smile as he points at Rex. “Yes, he’s right.” He then points at Yu. “You’re not.” He giggles and flexes his claws a bit. “It’s so nice to see you again, Rex. Tell me, what brings you all the way out here in the Mysterious Beyond and so far away from home?”

Rex was about to say, but stopped when he saw Tanner look at him with a stern look and shaking his head. Right, they’re going to Crescent Valley and he’s sure he can’t tell anyone about it. It’s supposed to be a secret mission of sorts, and they don’t need any more distractions or people tagging along with them.

The Dracovol, noticing Rex isn’t going to say, just shook his head. “Whatever, I don’t need to know. It’s your business.” He then folded his arms and kept his gaze at Rex. “But really, you showing up here is a big no no. I don’t know how you managed to get here, but you won’t be getting as far as this.”

Chomper tilted his head and stepped forward. “Why? Where is this place anyway?”

“It’s nothing of your concern, that you can be sure of.”

Rex stepped forward to try to reason with the Dracovol. “Listen, we don’t want any trouble. We just want to go through here. We’re being chased by a pack of Fast Biters and we just need to find a safe way out of here!”

“And what’s wrong with the way you came here? You look just fine to me. So logic tells me that that’s a safe way out.”

“That’s not an option!” Rex shouts, a bit of anger in his voice. “If we go back we run the risk of running into them again! And that’s something we just can’t risk!”

The Dracovol grins. “Not my problem.”

Tanner growls in anger and steps forward with a loud stomp. “Listen, Dracovol! I am in no mood to listen to this bickering! Either you let us through or I’ll make you move!”

The Dracovol stares at Tanner and couldn’t help but grin. “Really now? Is that a challenge?”

Tanner’s eyes narrowed slightly more. “What do you think it is?”

The Dracovol just stayed quiet. How rich is this, an Alimon bringing on a challenge. He couldn’t help but giggle as he turned his back to them and walked away a couple of steps. They just won’t take a hint.

“Please…” Rex adds.

The Dracovol chuckled. “Fine by me.” A long pause of silence was held for a moment. Nobody spoke or moved. A rather unneeded dramatic silence, but the Dracovol loved moments like this, keeping everyone one edge before throwing the punch line. Then, on cue as if to mimic a dramatic silence in a movie, the Dracovol suddenly turned with a playful growl, dropping on all four and glaring at Rex’s general direction.

“How about this?” He began with a smirk. “If Rex beats me one on one, you fellows can pass. But, if he loses, it’s back through the cave with you all!”

“W-What!?” Rex was stunned. A challenge? He has to fight him and win to be able to pass? What kind of game is this Dracovol playing?

“Well?” The Dracovol winked with a grin. “Sounds fair, doesn’t it?”

Rex just started dumbfounded. He has to fight?

“Doesn’t look like he’s giving you much of a choice.” Tanner commented with a scoff. “Fine. We play by your rules.”

He has to fight?

“You can take him, Rex!” Terrel cheered.

…He has to fight?

“Be careful, Rex.” Yu warned.

He has to fight!?

“If you have to…” Chomper comments.

He has to fight!

“…If I win, we pass?”

“Cross my heart!”

“…All right.” Rex dropped on all four, similar to the Dracovol, and bared his teeth with a growl. “If I have to, then bring it on!”

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Song lyrics are original by me going to the tune of the opening song “Answer Must Be Somewhere” from Stream.

Hope you enjoyed this read!