บท 54: Tremor

Smaug looked through the marshy tree line, he narrowed his eyes more to try and get a sense of who was looking at him. He blinked catching sight of faint movement that quickly moved away. Smaug frowned as he walked forward with his eyes locked on the very direction he was looking at.

Shifting away from the clan, he began to pick up speed. Whoever this was, he was going to catch them and interrogate them.

It was suspicious, for days now he felt like he was being watched just like now. It was about the same time and it was happening again. He had to find out once and for all.

Smaug turned around a corner, he caught sight of someone running away. Flexing his claws, he continued onward. He came closer to the individual quite fast and he grabbed them powerfully.

Hearing a gasp of pure surprise from the one he had caught, he pushed them over. Smaug pinned them down with one of his feet.

Smaug could see this person now, it was a teenage rex. The color of their hide matched the very bark of trees, which was quite clever. But the real question was, who sent them?

"Please don't hurt me! I am sorry for watching you!", spoke the rex in a pleading tone.

"Why were you watching me? Who sent you?", replied Smaug in a unfriendly tone. He didn't appreciate being watched, and he was not going to stand for it.

The rex was a young male, he even had armor on.

This led Smaug to believe that he works for someone, and usually he was right about these kinds of things. Him being alone surely helped. He had many experiences and he remembered each and every outcome.

You had to learn fast if you were going to survive.

"I can't say!", replied the rex.

Smaug frowned, he moved his feet and grabbed the teen by the back of the head. He pulled the rex with him. "Then I guess we are going to hold you prisoner until you do talk."

The teen looked at him in pure shock, "I haven't done anything!?!"

Smaug glared at him, "You did do something. You merely don't just watch someone."

The teen actually began to struggle, he seriously thought he could escape his grasp which was why he was trying. "Let go of me!?!"

Smaug pulled him in front of him, "No."

Smaug looked up as the clan came into sight, the closer he got the more the teen squirmed. Everyone in the clan looked at the teen in silence, and seeing Smaug with them further increased everyone's attention.

Some of the clan began to talk, the trust they had for Smaug was high. That was apparent for they were looking at the teen with cold yet suspicious eyes.

If Smaug felt like they did wrong, then the clan surely believed that they did.

Sharpclaw blinked seeing Smaug approach him, his eyes slowly moved to look at the teen who looked up in pure fear.

"You know how I mentioned a few days ago that I felt like I was being watched, this is who I caught.", spoke Smaug who pushed the teen forward roughly.

Cobalt looked at her father and then at Smaug in surprise.

The teen remained on his stomach as he lay, a sign of pure submission. He knew he couldn't escape now, since he was in the heart of the clan.

"Why were you watching us boy?", asked Sharpclaw with hardened eyes.

The teen flinched, "I-I was intrigued, you had been struggling and now a few months go by and you are back on your feet! I watched because I was impressed...!"

"Don't try to sweet talk your way out, you told me that you couldn't say anything about who you work for.", spoke Smaug as he glared at the teen.

To think he would try to lie. Something was definitely wrong.

Sharpclaw watched how the teen reacted once Smaug spoke up. He legit flinched and shuffled uncomfortably.

"I-I...!", the teen began to find it hard to say. He closed his eyes as he shook his head, "I will not talk!"

Sharpclaw looked at Smaug, "Tie him up, no food or water for five days."

Smaug nodded as he picked up the teen by the back of the head roughly. He moved to tie the teen up against a large post that was in the middle of camp.

Hearing the verdict of no food or water, the teen had a great look of discomfort.

"Father..?", asked Cobalt.

Sharpclaw frowned, "He is no doubt a scout of that rex clan."

"If you know that then why..?", asked Cobalt as she looked at Smaug who was tying the teen up.

"I'm done messing around.", replied Sharpclaw. "That rex leader is getting on my last nerve, it is quite clear that he had something to do with us struggling."

Cobalt frowned upon hearing his words, "So are we going to attack him?"

Sharpclaw looked at her with a smile, "You bet we are, but let's wait and see what he does after his scout doesn't return."

Cobalt looked at him before looking at Smaug, there she was staring again.

It would appear that everyone was having their own problems, and with each problem that appears a even greater mishap would happen. Life merely loved to throw things at people, like it wanted to break them down.

The ground began to shake violently, the force behind it was as great as a massive stampede of the largest of sauropods.

Trees began to fall onto the ground, and the ground began to rise up creating large holes randomly in places.

Smaug looked up in his surprise as the force from the breaking ground began to rise up and become more intense. The whole clan took notice of this force of nature, and no doubt many other clans were feeling the effects as well.

Cobalt looked up as a low but loud thunderous sound erupted from somewhere far off. The sound was like the sky was breaking in two. "What was that!"

Sharpclaw looked upward, he looked to the side as he saw the blackest of clouds in the distance. They were so black he could see them from where he stood. "Diablo's Maw."

Cobalt looked at her father in puzzlement, she had remembered that he had said that before. She was a lot younger then, but he said those same exact words. "What..?"

Sharpclaw looked at her with a serious expression, "It's a peak of fire a good days distance from here, it would seem it woke up again."

Smaug looked at him as he walked over, "I've heard of that peak."

Sharpclaw looked at Smaug before looking out toward the black clouds. "It woke up right when Cobalt was little, at the time I didn't think it was that bad since it is so far away. But I learned then that was not the case."

Cobalt looked to where her father was looking with worry.

Many of those who were wiser as well as older could tell you stories of Diablo's Maw. Cobalt had heard her father speak of it, and so many others have heard tales of a large massive peak with the hottest of fire that it held.

The only reason why so many talk about it, was that it was the biggest dilemma that has ever happened here. The force behind each eruption was unlike anything that anyone has seen before, and it always brought with it a black thick cloud.

It would take years to fix the damage that it had caused. Perhaps this was why it was so hot lately?

Smaug looked at the black clouds with narrowed eyes, he frowned as he said. "What are we expecting from this."

Sharpclaw looked at him as he replied, "Black skies, increased heat, toxins entering certain bodies of water."

"Is our water going to be infected?", asked Cobalt as she looked at the marsh with concern.

Finally the clan was looking up, and now this happens. She couldn't help but feel scared. Sharpclaw looked at her as he replied, "No it has never reached our water, but from how bad it sounded I don't know?"

Smaug looked at her as he smirked, "Don't worry, we just have to wait and see what happens."

Cobalt looked at him feeling a little better, she smiled.

Sharpclaw looked over at the teen, his eyes looked serious. "Looks like we have two things to think about."

Smaug looked at the teen silently before nodding, "I will keep a eye on him."

Sharpclaw smiled as he nods, "I know you will."

As everyone in Sharpclaw's clan tries to settle down after the massive force of the eruption a few days away. Others were taking notice of the humidity and changes that the earthquakes have caused.

It was in the middle of day, it was so close to noon as Bloodmaw looked up as a strong odor started to fill up the air, he also took notice of how darkened the sky seemed to look. His eyes were glued to the sky as he saw patches of dark clouds in the distance.

Was it a storm, he didn't fully know.

Devastate looked outward in the same direction as Bloodmaw, "Seems like the peak erupted."

Bloodmaw looked at him with a sharp look, "You don't mean what I think you mean do you?"

Devastate nodded, "Diablo's Maw."

Bloodmaw frowned, he thought he noticed something in the distance. It took on the appearance of a large but black mushroom like shape. The sounds that followed were intensely loud.

Bloodmaw blinked however as Swiftscale came running to them, beside him was Dingo as well as Helm.

"We have a problem!", spoke Helm.

"What happened?", exclaimed Bloodmaw.

Swiftscale frowned as he said, "The waterfall has stopped flowing water."

Bloodmaw looked at him in great surprise, "Show me!"

Swiftscale ran toward the waterfall, as Bloodmaw begun to follow him. It became a big thing for soon the whole clan was walking up to the waterfall after Bloodmaw.

Gambit looked at the waterfall that has ceased flowing water, "Well that is a problem..."

Adder frowned, "It is."

The waterfall was there only source of continuous water, without it was a horrible thing to have happen. The water below the waterfall even took on a nasty hue of brownish red.

Belle looked at Devastate with clear concern. "What do we do now?"

Ebony looked at Fiala and Jr as well as she looked at Lesion. "With no water we can't stay here..."

Harmony looked at the water with clear disgust, the odor that came from the water was utterly horrid.

For so long the valley had provided them with everything that they need, but now it was becoming apparent that they would have to leave it.

Bloodmaw frowned, "We will have to move."

Grim didn't say anything as he began to walk away, obviously taking the hint that he should start packing up. Lesion followed after Grim clearly going to give him a hand.

Scarface looked at Ruby who looked beyond terrified, she looked at this place as her home. To simply leave it was no doubt hurting her. "It is okay Ruby, we will find another place."

Ruby looked at Scarface as she smiled, she softly nodded. "I know..."

Lockjaw frowned his deep voice was a intimidating rumble. "I will go ahead and help Grim with the move."

Harmony nodded as she watched her husband walk off after Grim.

Fiala looked at Bloodmaw with a small smile, "I know my father will accept you into the clan. I am sure that he will!"

Bloodmaw looked at her silently, her words held truth but the thing was that he was going to tell him that he was not going to uphold the pact. If he does so what would happen?

He couldn't tell Dreadtooth now, of all times. He also didn't want to put his children as well as his clan in with Dreadtooth. Bloodmaw didn't know what he should do, if anything he was going to do a vote with his clan.

That would be the right call.

"I'm sure he would as well but I wish to ask my clan and see what they would like to do.", replied Bloodmaw as he smiled to her respectfully.

Fiala nodded understanding him.

Bloodmaw looked at his clan with a serious look, "So, any thoughts?"