The Land Before Hooves

by Moon Flame


Chapter 10: Whispering Winds

The sand wavered above the sand slopes. The jittering sound of the air reshaping it lingered while whispering winds carried the tree star.

Yes, it was called that by some creatures, others simply called it an unusually big leaf. Each time the leaf was about to hit the ground the whispers lifted it again. Pointy cliffs sailed by below it as its journey continued to where The Great Circle touches the ground. The whispers spoke.

Follow the bright circle...

The tree star was hit by another whisper. It gained speed.

Follow the bright circle untill you reach the mountain shaped like a longneck.

The wind disappeared. The leaf sailed limply to the ground and stopped.

I’ll be...

The leaf flickered. The whisper had it lift once again when a shadow suddenly closed in over it.

I’ll be in your...

The huge foot stomped the tree star, cratering it below the sand. The whisper was gone.

Sharptooth scanned the area for vantage points. The air exited between his densely placed teeth with a hiss. His nose breathed, cutting off the wind. It smelled that food was near.

Another set of feet placed themselves next to the Sharptooth. The female scanned her husband like he scanned the land, seeing just as many cracks and crevices like the latter.

The male sharptooth subdued his eager to lash out. In time he would chase this female away, but for now he needed her. Of course he did love her, but love was nothing in this land without blood and meat. He needed to bring her some food or he might as well find an empty trunk for a mate.

After Sharptooth almost chased down that colorful rodent he returned to his wife with the intent of bending the truth a little. It only took him one growl to mention ‘lavender rodent’ and the egg was dropped. His wife was now in complete trance, she had given Sharptooth no time to lie further, all she growled on about now was how sweet lavender would taste. It only made Sharptooth want to crush every bone inside whatever his teeth could reach further.

Sharptooth was watching the lavender rodent now, wandering off into the distance. He saw that it had joined up with the rest of its colorful family, the same ones he remember from the pond. Three leaf eaters had also joined them, one of them being a threehorn, one a bigmouth and one a longneck. The bigmouth would be a snack. Threehorns are cocky but easily outmaneuvered.

The longneck, on the other claw, was going to become a problem. Sure, Sharptooth could easily kill the longneck, since it wasn’t fully grown yet, but one smack with its tail was all that was needed for to get Sharptooths’ foot stuck between some rocks and possibly break it. If that happened, Sharptooth would not be able to hunt, satisfy his wife so they could mate or survive in general. No, Sharptooth could not risk open conflict with the longneck. He would have to become creative.

Sharptooth glanced sideways at his wife. She had her shaking pupils riveted at the rodents. Sharptooths’ deep growl rumbled the air. She looked at him and growled back. He conveyed the part about the longneck. His wife explained her plan.

After the carnivores had left the scene the crater that Sharptooth left behind gaped open. The wind returned, but no tree star ascended.


The ponies and the dinosaurs left the desert behind them, entering an area with scalding mountains and pointy cliffs. Cera felt a cooling relief once the cold touch of the shadows engulfed her.

“Ah, finally.”

“Finally what?” Ducky asked.

“Oh, nothing, Its just so cooling... I mean, nice to be able to walk so far without tiring.”

Littlefoot laughed. Cera glared at him.

“What are you laughing at?!”

“It’s just so good to have you back, Cera!” Littlefoot boomed.

Ducky couldn’t help but blush a little. Littlefoots’ voice sounded so manly now from when he was a child, so handsome.

Behind the dinosaurs followed the Equestrian beings. Their manes were all raggedy and coats dirty. Despite them becoming much thinner since their journey began they no longer felt hunger. The truth about wandering in these lands had gotten to them, a truth Littlefoot knew very well. - The rule of bare necessities.

“How are you ponies doing?” Littlefoot asked.

“Fine here!” Rarity answered.

"Yea!" Rainbow Dash boomed.

"I'm alright!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Yea." The rest said in unison.

Dashie leaned closer to Twilight and whispered like the wind. “You know we’re being followed? Right?”

“I know, Rainbow Dash, Littlefoot told me.”

Being a Wonderbolt, Dashie was trained for survival in difficult conditions. She felt responsible for her friends, who were all used of having a household. Dashie walked up to Littlefoot.

“I talked with Twilight back there. Are you sure we shouldn’t do anything about our followers?”

When Littlefoot turned his neck to answer the pony he felt a tinge of wonder. Rainbow Dash had a mane that were the colors of the rainbow. They reminded Littlefoot of the rainbow faces. “What do you suggest?” He asked.

“Suggest? I don’t know, you’re the leader.”

“Then, in that case, we walk in a steady pace. If we go to fast we won't have the strength to fend off an attack. If we let our guard down they might decide to rush us." Littlefoot faced the road ahead and continued distinguished. "I have been followed many times. Sharptooths’ are agile but lazy. If they find a dead animal or a herd with stragglers they usually leave the healthy animals alone, especially if one of them is a longneck.”

“Then we just need to keep our cool and we’ll be alright.” Rainbow Dash looked back at her friends. “You heard the general, keep calm, your mood up, and we’ll be alright!”

“Huh... general.” Cera muttered. Dashe shot the threehorn a fat glower.

“I heard that! Got a problem with authority, soldier?”

“Soldier?” Cera shot the pegasus a smirk. “I’m a threehorn, threehorns don’t need others. We handle ourselves.”

“It’s not your choice, soldier.”

“Of course it’s my choice.”

“No it’s not, now stay disciplined or I might regret letting you in.”

Cera stopped. She faced the stubborn pegasus. “Letting me in? You didn’t let me in, i let myself in.”

“Yea... Thanks to me. If it hadn’t been for me, my friends would have left you in that pile of sand back there.”

Littlefoot genuinely admired the spirit of this rainbow pony, but he also knew that Cera would never back down.

“Ladies, this is really not the time. Cera, walk with me, and you Rainbow Dash, you walk with the ponies. We’ll settle this once our lives aren't at stake.”

Rainbow Dash kept glaring into Ceras’ green eyes. “You heard the longneck.”

Cera grinned. “You heard my friend.”

“He’s your commander!”

“He’s not!”

Littlefoot slammed his tail between the pony and the threehorn. “ENOUGH!”

Littlefoots’ neck and body towered six times Rainbow Dash. She backed away in humility. Cera grinned. “Yea! Back away you overgrown, flightless bird.”

Dashies' magenta eyes turned a tinge watery. Littlefoot shot Cera a scolding glare.

“Cera. What are you doing?!”

“What? Its not my fault she can’t fly.”

“Its not about that. Stop antagonizing others, for once in your life.”

Ceras’ voice gained a core of sincerity as it whispered to Littlefoot. “Why do we need these ponies anyway? We can find food ourselves, they’ll only slow us down.”

Littlefoot became silent. For a moment Ceras word made sense. He knew her enough to know that she cared, but still...

“Cera.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember when you and I first traveled to The Great Valley?”

“Of course I remember.”

“Do you remember when you went the wrong way?”

Cera opened her mouth, but no words came out. As the tension in the air disappeared around the group the memory of what was following them returned. Littlefoot continued darkly, clearly referring to the latter by motioning his head toward the Sharptooths. “Your pride could have gotten us all killed. Now, trust me Cera, pushing these ponies away is the wrong way.”

Abandon us was alright! Cera ranted inside, but now was not the time to delve into the past. The threehorn backed away. “Alright, old friend. I hear you.” She looked at Rainbow Dash. “I’m sorry, alright. I didn’t mean nothing by it.”

Rainbow Dash had won almost every areal race she had ever entered. Oh no, it was something alright. The threehorn would not get away with this, not for every hayburger in Equestria.

The group continued walking. Littlefoot sensed there would be water somewhere close by. If so, they would be able to regain strength and, hopefully, make the Sharptooths’ abandon their chase and look for other prey.

Ahead the rocks split the road into two paths, each one surrounded by rocky walls. Littlefoot did not like it. Both were perfect for an ambush. It was like Cera was reading his mind. “If only we had a flyer.” She said, suspiciously out loud. The rainbow pegasus looked angry at Cera.

But now another pony grunted, one that decided she have had enough moping. This world was depressing enough with its passed away mothers, dry landscape and barely fulfilled basic needs for water, food and shelter. It was all elementary for Pinkie Pie. For her, laughter was a basic need that was just as important. She came jumping on four hooves like the desert was a bouncy castle. Her highly pitched voice spouted.

“Well, I don’t know what you referred to, Littlefoot, with ‘going the wrong way’ but I’m sure it wasn’t at all something Cera is embarrassed by.”

“What!?” Cera faced the pink pony.

“Got your attention, grumpy. Stop moping Cera. Come on and smile!”

“I’ll give you a smile!” Cera charged the pony. She felt the empty air blow around her horn.

“What the?”

A cold sensation ran through Ceras' spine. She gasped. - The pony was jumping on her back.

“My name is not ‘What The?’ but it was close.”

“ROARGH!”

Cera shook the pony off and charged again. It was like the pony had been a mirage. She was now jumping on top of some cliffs.

“How the?”

“How The, What The, Pinkie Pie, I like this game, call me another name!”

“How did she get up there?!” Cera wailed incredulously. She turned to the ponies. They did not look at all surprised. Cera turned to look at the rock again and gasped. The biggest smile she had ever seen blasted only centimeters in front of her. Ceras’ eyes swam with surrender. The pink pony barely needed to breathe while spouting.

“Is it my turn now? Wrong Way! No, I’m sorry, that was mean, I meant Smile Machine - No pun intended - ahahahahaha!” Pinkie laughed insincerely. “...That, or Horny Prehistoric Animal. I guess thats viable, seeing your bones are probably going to be examined by an advanced future race in a million years or so. I guess that makes me a four hoofed, pink coat, fluffy mane, blue eyed prehistoric species!”

Fluttershy imagined someone digging up a smiling, prehistoric bone with a fluffy pink mane still attached. She giggled.

Cera had no idea how to react. It was like her anger was going around in circles in her mind. Pinkie Pie offered the threehorn a small, mushroom-like thing with green, moisturous cream in top. “Want a Cupcake?”

“Eeeeeh.” Cera blurted.

“Its not an ‘Eeeeeh.’ with four E’s silly, its a Eeeeeeeeeeeeeureka-Cupcake-with-sweet-DILL-CREAM ON TOP!”

And with that Pinkie Pie pressed the cupcake into Ceras’ mouth. The threehorn chewed. Her clueless eyes made her look almost like a hatchling. Littlefoot laughed secretly. As for Cera, she had no idea if she was to focus on the best thing she had ever tasted or the weirdest creature she had ever met. The sides of her mouth rose slightly.

Pinkie Pie sensed victory. “Come on Cera, Smile. You need it, both you and Littlefoot. You may both have lost your parents, but happiness knows no boundaries.”

“Pinkie?”

There was am urge in Raritys’ voice that miss Pie did not like. She looked worried at the white unicorn, who was head motioning the longneck. Littlefoots’ eyes swam with revelation, and sorry.

Realizing what Rarity knew, Pinkie felt her joy drop to the ground. Her eyes turned wet with sorry. “Oh. I am so, so sorry Cera. Your friend didn't know?”

Littlefoot met Ceras' eyes. They answered Pinkies’ question for her. The face of the longneck twisted in confusion. “Your father is dead?!”

Cera looked nervously left and right. “So what?”

Littlefoot turned to Ducky.

“Don’t look at me, I thought Cera told you.”

“So what? I forgot.” Ceras smile immediately gained a static nature. “Don’t be sorry. I was sad at first, sure, but I got over it.”

Littlefoot looked suspiciously at Cera. The threehorn raised her voice. “He was a bully and a grump! I don’t...

The ravine suddenly echoed with a soul raking roar, cutting Cera off. Twilight recognized it all to well.

“Shaprtooth!” Ducky exclaimed.

It was as if the cliffs was closing in around the yellow pegasus. There were three passageways around Fluttershy. One of them lead back to where they came and one lead straight into the sharp jaws of Sharptooth.

Littlefoot remembered there were two Sharptooths' after them. He felt the panic rise inside him. If they went the wrong way they would be trapped, if they weren't already. Suddenly, the yellow pegasus rocketed down the left path.

“Fluttershy! No! Wait!” Twilight went after her.

“Wait! Not that way!”

But Littlefoot was to late. The ponies had already galloped after their pegasus friend. Ducky pointed her finger after them and said with a ominous voice with preserved cuteness.

“That is moooooooost likely what the Sharptooth expects. Yep, yep, yep.”


The ponies galloped faster than the dinosaurs could keep up. Rainbow Dash hyper ventilated.

“Who knew Fluttershy could gallop this fast!?”

“Fluttershy, wait for us!” Rarity wailed.

The white unicorn had no idea why she hadn’t stayed with Littlefoot back there. This was stuff for fighters and survivors, not a misplaced fashionista who's greatest concern was forgetting her into-the-wild collection back home and having no hoof couture. She hadn’t showered in days, her hooves hurt, her hair was beyond saving, and now she was probably going to get eaten by a Sharptooth. - This was clearly the worst day ever, almost as bad as when she was forced to walk the stage of shame after overdoing her friends dresses.

The ponies reached an opening with rocks towering around them. Some of them formed small passageways. Fluttershy collapsed ahead. Twilight was the first to reach her.

Fluttershys’ eyes sparkled with regret as she turned to Twilight. “I’m sorry! I ran, I don’t know what got into me!”

“Don’t be sorry, you panicked.” The alicorn turned to her friends. They all answered her look, all except one. “Pinkie Pie, attention!” Twilight scolded.

The dead silence laid over the ponies like a cold shower of snow. Apple Jack, Rarity and Rainbow Dashs’ eyes quickly gained the same horrified expression as the pink pony. Twilight felt her blood freeze.

Right there, only a couple of meters in front of the six ponies, a rock stuck out from the ground. Peaking out behind the rock was a yellow dot. The dot was attached to a face.

Sharptooth had his prey in sight. The silence? - That was just it, and would always be, the fatal mistake of leaf grubbers. - They believed that just because he was big Sharptooth could not sneak up on them. He noticed the lavender rodent that shamed him earlier. The other rodents, he would eat himself, the lavender one he would bring for his wife.

Twilight leaned closer to Fluttershy and piped. “Now you can run.”

The face with yellow dots came sprinting way faster that his enormous body seemed to allow.

“RUN!” Twilight screamed.

“NO NEED TO TELL TWISE!” Apple Jack replied in panic.

The Sharptooth was so heavy the ground rumbled. The six ponies galloped for their lives.

“RUN! DON’T LOOK BACK!”

The steps came closer.

“THIS WAY, RIGHT!”

The ponies encircled the Sharptooth via a rock formation, allowing them to break his momentum. But the Sharptooth was way better at navigating through the rocky landscape than they thought.

Ahead laid a ravine. How long it reached the ponies had no time to interpret. With one push of their hooves they jumped it. Fluttershy saw Rainbow Dash spread her wings, flap them in vain and fall. It turned out that the Sharptooth only needed his two legs to jump the crevice. The ponies had no time to think about Rainbow Dash.

Sharptooth thought he’d head down that ravine later and find the body of that rainbow rodent. Maybe he would ask his wife to do something herself for once? It quickly turned out that running the rodents down was not the problem, but grabbing them. He slammed his teeth only centimeters from their heads. They gasped and prayed in panic.

“GALLOP IN ZIG ZAG!” Apple Jack screamed.

“NO, STAY TOGETHEEEEEREE...!” Sharptooth got hold of Twilights’ tail.

“TWILIGHT!” Pinkie Pie wailed.

Sharptooth tossed the lavender rodent airborne. He intended to catch her with his jaws but he had overestimated his toss.

The world spun around. The ground came closer below. Twilights’ horn lit up but her magic wasn’t strong enough to prevent her landing. The alicorn hit the rock with a gasp.

“NO!” Rarity screamed.

“LEAVE ME!” Twilight wailed. The jaw of the Sharptooth approach her with the speed of a heartbeat. Twilight felt it would be her last one.

The Sharptooth made a mid-growl whimper and staggered.

The longneck only glanced down at Twilight long enough to know that she was alive. Littlefoot had his tail raised high, ready to smack the monster.

Sharptooth let the grogginess lay itself. Slowly, his vision cleared. Littlefoot quickly realized that attack was the best defense. With one sudden blast of energy he rammed the Sharptooth with his head.

Sharptooth quickly rose to his feet after losing breath. - He saw the disappointed face of his wife in front of him. - Enraged by the image, he sprinted toward the rodents’ defender, faster than it had the time to raise its tail. With one push of his legs Sharptooth jumped onto the longnecks' back.

Littlefoot felt the claws of the Sharptooth pierce his skin from above. It would only be a second before he would bite hold of his neck. With one push for his life, Littlefoot rose to his hind legs.

Sharptooth had a horrified look on his face. How this juvenile longneck had the strength to lift him he had no idea. Maybe his wife had eaten so much of his prey he had lost weight?

Littlefoot let his body fall backwards, clamping the monster between himself and the rocks. The Sharptooth wobbled sideways. Littlefoot used his landing to gain momentum and swing his body around. He pressed his legs to the ground and jumped so high he almost made a side flip. Using his entire weight, Littlefoot smacked the Sharptooth with his tail while flying though the air. The monster fell backwards and hit the ground with a boom that rocked the ravine.

Sharptooth studied his attacker, who was walking toward him. His long neck ended with his face growling. The longneck was way smaller than him and appeared to be wounded. But he was also young and strong, probably a loner since before. Sharptooth was experienced, but was a bit old and, as much as he dared to admit it, a has-been in the hunting department. He had no idea what business this longneck had with these colorful rodents, but for some reason this fool was ready to fight to his death for them.

Maybe he could tell his wife he slipped? - Sharptooth figured and turned tail.

The Sharptooth dissapeared behind a rock formation ahead. Littlefoot breathed out and let the pain get to him. Rarity was already over her friend and helping her up. Twilights’ face contorted in pain.

“It’s my hoof. I think its sprained.” Twilight spared her friends any more whimpering. “Thank you Littlefoot. I owe you my life.”

Ducky came sprinting. “Littlefoot, you’re hurt!”

Cera followed shortly behind the swimmer. The face inside her yellow disc widened in amazement. “You fought off the Sharptooth? All by yourself!?”

“Thank you friends. Cera, I know you would have done the same for me.”

"I wouldn't hope for you to, don't ever do it again!" Cera scolded. Was she flinching?

“Everypony here? Rainbow Dash?” Rarity looked around for her pegasus friend.

There was a whispering wind in the air. Was it spelling out a name? Fluttershy answered Rarity with a cracking voice.

“She fell.”