20 Setback

Mistakes were a common problem in this world of survival, much like deciding if someone should live or die. No matter how hard many try, there will always be that one person who will stab you in the back.

Trust was just as important as communication, without either you were as good as dead. If no one trusted you, you were destined to face the world alone.

Deviant lifted his head carefully, everyone in the camp were asleep or so it appeared. The brute slowly got to his feet, his orange eyes narrowed at the sleeping figures around him.

He looked at his back, his wounds were still bad and they stung like hell. Deviant looked around and took notice of Lesion and Jr, his gaze were locked on them.

To him they were without a doubt a easy meal, however he knew that the leader would have his head if he tried anything. Deviant walked carefully throughout the camp, his eyes shifted to the food that the camp had gathered.

A nasty smile grew upon his face, there was so much food and how could he deny not taking it. Deviant took a good large portion of the food before darting off with it.

The brute looked back to make sure he was not followed, when he didn't see anyone did he walk off. The food he had stolen was in his mouth, his gaze glittered due to the moon in the sky.

Was he grateful to the clan that saved his life? No, how could he? The brute was only looking out for himself and that was all. Deviant walked into the dark trees unaware of being followed.

Deviant stopped a good way from the camp, he began eating the food that he stole. He chuckled to himself, he was finally away from those two rexes. The brute blinked and screamed out in pain, he twisted his head around to see Jr latched on to his tail.

"You little pest!", he snarled at Jr who looked at him and grinned.

Deviant lunged to bite Jr, and at that time the youngster let go of his tail. The brute blinked and screamed out in agony for he bit his tail instead of Jr.

"You little bastard!?!", he roared out in pure rage.

Jr laughed at him before blinking and running away, the brute quickly however caught up to him.

"Ah!?!", yelped Jr when he felt a foot being firmly pressed down on his back.

Deviant glared at him, "I am going to make sure I hurt you a lot."

Jr looked at Deviant with fear, he squirmed under him. "DADDY!?!", yelled Jr as he felt pain from the brutes claws.

Deviant chuckled ready to squish his little body, "I'm going to enjoy this!"

A loud roar erupted in the air, Deviant's mouth was about to bite down on Jr's nape but trees were being broken down and fast toward his location.

Deviant looked up and his eyes went wide, those sounds he knew. "Shit!" The brute kicked Jr as he quickly turned around and ran. Fear consumed him.

"Shit! Shit! SHIT!?!", screamed Deviant as a massive mouth came up from his side through the trees and biting down on his neck.

Bloodmaw ran over to Jr, the roar that happened was from Bloodmaw while the trees falling came from someone else. Someone who Deviant feared.

Lockjaw had Deviant's neck in his mouth, the brute was screaming in agony as he felt the bone crushing jaws. "Let me go!?! PLEASE!?!", begged the brute with blood gushing out of his mouth.

Bloodmaw looked over at Deviant who was crying and pleading for his life. The brute looked at Bloodmaw, and in that split second a loud crunch occurred.

Jr looked at Lockjaw in surprise, Deviant's body had went limp in the massive jaws. His lifeless eyes were on Bloodmaw, as blood poured out of his body.

"Are you okay son?", asked Bloodmaw looking over his son with worry.

"I'm okay.", spoke Jr who struggled to stand up. "I tried to take him on."

Bloodmaw smirked lightly, "You are still to young. Besides, you shouldn't do anything on your own."

Jr looked up at his father, "But he stole from us! I wasn't going to let him get away with it!"

Bloodmaw looked at Lockjaw who dropped Deviant's corpse, the massive beast began tearing up the corpse with his massive toe claws.

Jr looked at Lockjaw and he looked up at his father, Bloodmaw looked at Jr as he said. "I admire your bravery but you are still to young. If I lost you I wouldn't know what I would do."

Lockjaw walked away from the corpse, his massive frame walked toward the direction of camp.

Jr frowned at his fathers words, he nodded silently.

Bloodmaw looked at his son with worry, the behemoth began walking back to camp and making sure Jr was beside him.

Lesion was happy to see his brother was safe, Bloodmaw looked at Lockjaw who was already back at his mates side.

Scarface looked at Bloodmaw and he sighed happy to see that they returned with Jr.

Helm looked at the food, "He stole from us, how predictable."

Dingo shrugged while chuckling, "I'm sure he paid for it."

Jr was a little hurt, but nothing to life threatening. However, blind carnivores will see him as a easy target not that they would attack with Lockjaw around.

The beast from the looks of it reacted to Jr's screams.

"Harmony, thank Lockjaw for me.", spoke Bloodmaw who looked at the beast at her side.

Harmony smiled nodding toward him, "Sure, thing." She then asked, "Did he kill who I think he did?"

Bloodmaw nodded, "Yes. I heard my son screaming for me, but never had I seen a giant like him run so fast."

Harmony lightly laughed, "He can move fast when he wants too."

Bloodmaw looked at Lockjaw with gratitude before smiling, he turned around to check on his sons. Lesion was looking Jr over, obvious concern was upon his face.

Grim snorted clearly not surprised at what happened, Ebony looked at Bloodmaw and she smiled softly glad to see that nothing serious happened.

If anything were to happen to his two sons, the behemoth would probably close up. To lose a mate and then his children, he would see the world dully. It has happened before, so many times.

Sure, he had spoken of remembering those who had died. But the loss of someone important changes them, and not in the best of ways.

Their judgment would diminish to completely nothing, they become reckless and cold. Often times, young brutes will end their life if their spouse was killed. Why would anyone want to continue living after losing someone.

They were weak, as bad as that sounds.

Life was quick and brief, live to the fullest and take on everything. That was what Ebony was going to do, and she learned that from Bloodmaw.

Swiftscale looked at the youngsters before walking over, he smiled at them. "I am glad that Jr wasn't hurt."

Lesion looked at Jr with a grin, "Same I don't want to be brother-o-less!"

Swiftscale looked at Lesion funny, only cause Lesion struggled to say that last part. That and he was making up words.

Jr looked up at Swiftscale and he gave him a serious look, "I want you to tutor me as hard as you can! I want to fight!"

Swiftscale looked at him surprised, Lesion on the other hand looked at his brother terrified. "You ain't my brother!?! He never makes a face like that!?!"

Bloodmaw chuckled watching the three of them, his eyes turned to Gambit who walked over.

"I should of watched him better.", spoke Gambit.

Bloodmaw shook his head looking at him, "He would of most likely died anyhow. You can't change ones nature."

Gambit looked down at his words, he nodded silently.

Scarface looked at Gambit with a understanding look, he knew how Gambit felt about death.

Bloodmaw looked over at the food and he sighed, "The moment that the sun rises, we will need to get more food.

Scarface looked at him as he spoke, "I will help."

Gambit looked at him with a look, "Don't do to much! I swear to god if you pass out again I am going to kick your ass!"

Scarface sort of smiled, "Yeah, yeah."

Grim snorted loudly, "I will hunt as well."

Swiftscale felt his heart jump, maybe he could talk to Ebony while he was off hunting somewhere. Clearly, he knew of the consequences but he wanted to at least have a little chat with her.

Bloodmaw looked at Swiftscale as he spoke, "You could teach my sons how to fish. I don't see why we can't use fish meat either."

Dingo perked up, "Aye! I love fish!"

Helm smiled, "It wouldn't hurt to change up the menu."

Swiftscale looked at them a little embarrassed, "Okay, I can if you guys want it."

Ebony looked at Swiftscale and she smiled, "I wo.."

She was cut off by Grim, "You're hunting with me."

Ebony looked at Grim surprised, "Excuse you? Didn't you say I can't hunt?"

Grim smirked, "Prove to me you can then."

Ebony glared at him, "Okay I will!"

Swiftscale had never felt so disappointed in his life, he closed his eyes before saying. "I will get you guys some fish."

Lesion smiled, "Fish!?!"

Jr sort of smiled, "I guess I can help."

Bloodmaw smiled before looking at Harmony.

"I can help you fish, Lockjaw could help with hunting I can ask him of course.", Harmony smiled for she was going to try and help out the clan.

Grim nodded, "Sure, I don't mind."

Everyone was going to work together, that was the true key in survival. The night began to lessen getting ready for the approaching dawn. With everyone going to gather food, the valley turned out to be a good home.

Devastate was walking under the shade of the trees, he still followed Scarface's scent. The environment around them began to look completely different, he didn't know where he was. On top of that, the darkness hindered his sight faintly.

Belle softly woke up, she looked around as she asked. "Where are we?"

"Some place distant.", replied Devastate as he continued to walk. His wounds from Smaug were clearly visible, sure they hurt but not so bad to hinder him in anyway.

Belle would no doubt disagree with him, after all she was one hundred percent against him getting hurt. "I don't know where we are.", spoke Belle.

Devastate sort of smiled, "You don't know cause you have never seen this place before."

Belle laughed, her laughter was in pure amusement. "You caught me!"

Devastate looked back at her with a smile, however he looked back hearing noises.

"What is it?", asked Belle looking in that direction.

The behemoth narrowed his eyes before he quickly turned around and began running. This action caught Belle off guard, she held onto him as he ran.

Out of the bush rushed out two blind beasts which were both baryoynx, the skulls on their heads gained his attention when he glanced back. "Of all times!", he growled out.

Both baryoynx would jump upward, trying to grab Belle.

"Ah!?!", yelled Belle as she struggled to stay on as well as dodge them trying to grab her.

Devastate glared, he waited until one of them jumped again. When the beast did on his left did he move his body toward them in a sideway tackle. The beast yelped in a shrill cry as it was hit which knocked them over.

The one on the right jumped onto his back which caused him to look back and snap at them. Belle had her eyes closed as the behemoth grabbed the beast by its side and threw the baryoynx to the ground sideways while still running.

Devastate continued to run with the beast closing in again, large trees cracked behind Devastate. The behemoth looked back and saw Smaug who was closing in. "Persistent bastard!"

Belle looked back and she looked at Devastate worried, "What are we going to do!?!"

Devastate struggled to give her a response, the last thing he wanted was to put Belle through another fight. From what he saw Smaug wasn't going to let him go, he was going to have to think of something and fast.