The winter came and went. With it, the cold winds died down, and the trees were beginning to bloom again. The signal of spring: a new start for another year as past actions melted away. The Great Valley residents had returned as most of the Great Valley was fully reborn. Things could return to what they used to be before the cold time.
However, a certain old couple could not return to the life they had shared with their grandson. Grandma Longneck was gloomily lying on some soft dirt as Grandpa Longneck returned from his talk with Ducky's mother. He lowered his head down towards his mate.
"Dear, Candice is worried about you."
There was no response.
"And I am too," continued Grandpa Longneck. "I haven't seen you eat regularly."
"I ate," she plainly said, not looking at Grandpa Longneck.
"But it's unhealthy to just lie there all day."
Grandma Longneck looked up and slightly narrowed her eyes.
"It seems Littlefoot's death hasn't affected you as much."
Grandpa Longneck sighed and rested next to his mate.
"Dear," he said, facing her very closely, "there is not a day that I had stopped thinking of Littlefoot. Even nights. I dream about him all the time. The dreams are sometimes pleasant or sometimes frightening, but he has been in every one of them."
Grandma Longneck relaxed a bit as a tear went down her eye.
"I just miss him so much."
"I know. I do too. I just wish-"
"Grandpa Longneck," called a voice from above.
The old couple looked up to see a red-feathered, blue-eyed Archaeopteryx land in front of them. The pigeon-sized bird did not smile, but she gave a pleasant face.
"Oh, Avie," replied Grandpa Longneck, sitting up properly. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. I just came to inform you that we have guests from the Mysterious Beyond."
"Are they just passing by?"
Avie shook her head.
"I'm not sure. There're only two of them."
"Two?"
Avie looked back and smiled.
"Ah. Here they come. Bye for now."
Avie flew away. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck looked to see to figures were walking towards them. Though in the distance, they distinguished them as longnecks by their shape. One was grown while the other was a kid. Grandpa Longneck faced his mate worriedly.
"Oh, dear. Bron and Shorty are here."
"What do we say about Littlefoot?"
"The truth," he said and stood up. "Bron needs to know what happened to his son."
Grandma Longneck rose to her feet and looked towards the two longnecks. Her eyes, along with Grandpa Longneck's eyes, widened.
"That isn't Bron and Shorty," stated Grandpa Longneck.
"Littlefoot," whispered Grandma Longneck.
The small longneck stopped briefly and started running towards his grandparents. They lowered their heads and welcomed him with lovingly nudges. Grandpa Longneck was the first to welcome Littlefoot. He then lifted his head up and faced the stranger who brought his grandson back. Grandma Longneck rubbed Littlefoot's cheek as a tear strolled down her cheek. She face the longneck as Littlefoot;s head was still rested on her cheek.
"Thank-"
Her eyes widened as she released who it was. She lifted her head back up, parting from Littlefoot.
"Nestor?"
Nestor smiled.
"It has been a while."
Grandpa Longneck narrowed his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, dropping off my great nephew… I'm sorry what happened to your daughter. Littlefoot told me about what happened."
"How-how did you find Littlefoot?" asked Grandma Longneck.
"The funny thing is that he found me. I was in a cave, resting there until the cold time had passed, and then Littlefoot walked in. He told me he fell off a cliff since he got lost in a storm. I… I recognized him as your grandson."
Grandpa Longneck stood silent for a while. Nestor was nervously waiting for his brother to respond. Grandpa Longneck nodded contently.
"You have my thanks, Brother."
Littlefoot walked up to Nestor.
"Thank you, Uncle Nestor."
Grandpa and Grandma Longneck flinched at Littlefoot's words. Nestor smiled at the child. A tear rolled down his eye.
"You have my thanks, Littlefoot."
"So, are you staying?"
Nestor faced the old longneck couple and then back at Littlefoot. He shook his head.
"I'm afraid not, Littlefoot. I best be going along."
"But it's going to get dark. We have food, water, and shelter."
Littlefoot looked back at his grandfather.
"Please tell him he has to," begged Littlefoot.
Grandpa Longneck faced Nestor.
"I don't," he said, glancing down at Littlefoot, "that's a good idea."
"Why not?" questioned Littlefoot and then thought. "Is it because of what he did?"
The couple faced Nestor and narrowed their eyes at him. Nestor shrugged.
"Don't worry, I didn't go into details."
"Oh," remembered Littlefoot. "Um, what is mating? Uncle Nestor told me about how he almost mated with Grandma. Is that short for playmate?"
Damn kid, thought Nestor. I had hoped you'd forgotten.
"What!" roared Grandma Longneck, leaning her head towards Nestor in rage. "Nestor!"
"It isn't my fault Littlefoot remembers. I was hoping that he would forget."
Grandpa Longneck took a couple of steps closer to Nestor to exert himself.
"I think you should leave, Brother."
"Yeah, I should probably do so. I know where the exit is. Who knew family reunions could be so short? Well, bye, I guess."
Nestor was about to turn completely around when Littlefoot's voice stopped him.
"Uncle Nestor. Don't go."
Nestor faced the old couple briefly. He faced Littlefoot with a smile.
"That's okay, Littlefoot. Besides…"
Goosebumps crawled along Nestor's spine.
"This place gives me the chills."
"Why? It isn't cold today."
"That is not what I meant. It just…doesn't-"
Nestor shook his head.
"Ah, just forget it. Besides, crowds are not for me."
Nestor left the longneck trio. Littlefoot watched as Nestor became a blurry image to him. He faced his grandparents, kind of annoyed.
"Why? Why did you do that?"
"We have our reasons, Littlefoot," calmly answered Grandpa Longneck. "What he did was…unforgiveable."
"But…he was your brother."
"Hush now, little one," smoothly said Grandma Longneck. "I bet you're hungry. Come. Let's eat."
Grandma Longneck started walking off. Littlefoot glanced back at where he saw Nestor last and did not see him. He sighed and reluctantly followed his grandmother. Meanwhile, Grandpa Longneck stayed behind; looking at the far path Nestor had walked before disappearing from view.
Brother, at least I see you're alive.
With that final thought, Grandpa Longneck started walking to join his mate and grandson.
