THE LAND BEFORE TIME XVII: THE THREEHORN GATHERING

CHARACTERS

Littlefoot Male Apatosaurus (Longneck/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Cera Female Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Ducky Female Sauralophus (Swimmer/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Petrie Male Pteranodon (Flyer/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Spike Male Stegosauurs (Spiketail/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Topps Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Tria Female Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Tricia Female Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Olivia (OC) Female Triceratops (Therehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Dana Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good but annoying
Dinah Female Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good but annoying
Alfred (OC) Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Tryus (OC) Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: A piece of work but ultimately good
Grandpa Longneck Male Apatosaurus (Longneck/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Grandma Longneck Female Apatosaurus (Longneck/Flattooth) Alignment: Good
Angus (OC) Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Bad
Banger (OC) Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Bad
Prong (OC) Male Triceratops (Threehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Bad
Bradley (OC) Male Onehorn Type (Onehorn/Flattooth) Alignment: Bad

Topps was with his wife and children. They were in a valley, and the food source was starting to run low. Being the hothead that he was, it didn't take long for an argument to break out. "We need to share. There's no way around it. My father has taught me that you have to act tough when the times are tough." said Topps.

"Well, be that as it may, we were here first." said one of the Threehorns. "Well, we need to share if we hope to survive." said Topps defiantly. "I suggest you leave." said another one of the Threehorns.

Topps held his ground. Then, it happened. The Threehorns charged. Topps charged as well. The groups collided, their horns banging against each other. "Stop it Topps!" said his wife. Topps, however, was too hot-headed to give up. He had always been taught to never back down and to stand tough. His father had taught him that. In the fight, they collided with the edge of a canyon wall, their heads butting together, forcing each other forward and backwards. There were large grey rocks perched on top near the edge.

It happened really fast. The rocks came loose and landed on his wife and kids. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" yelled Topps. Topps charged forward and there was a fight. When all was done, the attackers had scampered off, wounded. Topps looked around. His wife and kids were all dead. He turned and saw Angus, Banger, and Prong. Angus was a longtime rival of his father Tryus and Banger and Prong were his two sons. Also, there was Bradley the Onehorn. He was friends with Angus, Banger, and Prong. The three younger ones had been bullies of him when he was younger. "You didn't help!" said Topps angrily.

"You have to be tough Topsy! You needed to stand your ground! You'll always be weak!" said Angus. The three left. Topps went searching, for his older daughter Olivia wasn't there and was still alive. He eventually found her. She was devastated when she heard about her mother and siblings. They held out hope that Cera, Topps's daughter, who had been lost recently after the Great Earthshake, was still around.

Topps was in grief. He was so saddened that he didn't even bother to yell too much at Grandpa and Grandma Longneck when he'd met them for the first time. He had always believed in the separation of the kinds. However, he needed company and would even take Longnecks at this point.

And, in a strange twist of fate, they too were sad. Their daughter had vanished as had their grandson Littlefoot. Topps felt that he could get along with them as they had something in common. Well, get along enough to get by anyway. It wouldn't do to pick any more fights at the moment.

Topps had been delighted when he saw his daughter Cera come to the Great Valley. She had changed herself and was now more tolerant of other kinds and was best friends with a Longneck, a Swimmer, a Flyer, and a Spiketail. Though Topps had disapproved of friendships with other kinds, he would let this slide…for now. He himself realized that Threehorns weren't as great as he'd always believed. He'd always believed that they were the best. That they were superior. Yet, they had taken his wife and kids from him.

He decided not to tell Cera just yet what had happened. She had always believed that Threehorns were so great. Why spoil it for her? She knew that her mother and siblings, other than Olivia, had died. She didn't know the how of it, but, of course, the journey to the Great Valley had so many dangers that she had believed that Sharpteeth or something had done it.

Eventually, Olivia had married and had two children, Dana and Dina. Topps was a grandfather. Topps was really protective of Cera now, for Olivia had a family of her own now and Cera was all he had left to raise. Some may have thought him harsh and overprotective, but, when asked, he always said that he was just being a dad.

Years went by. Eventually Topps married Tria, an old friend of his from years ago. Cera had taken some time to get used to Tria but had eventually assented to their marriage. Topps and Tria had had a daughter, Tricia. Over time, Tricia got older, as did Dana, Dina, and Cera.

Topps sat awake at night thinking of all of this. He thought that he would never have to think of those dark days in the past again. That nothing would bring back the old hurt. He was wrong.