Half an hour passes as the herd continues to walk the barren wasteland. Ken decided to put his crossbow in his backpack so he didn't always had to carry it. It helps him a little, but not by much as he was getting more tired each minute. Not to mention he doesn't have much food or water to hold on to. He's happy that he brought some along though, otherwise it would've been a huge problem.
Ali at the meantime continues to keep her distance from the mysterious human. She's still unsure if she should trust him or not. Not to mention it's unnatural to have another specie travel with the herd. Especially when no other herd practices this. For now, she'll allow him to stay, since her father seems to trust him and it would be terrible if they just left him to die in the wasteland. That would just be cruel and wrong of them.
Ken was getting bored on just walking now. He decided to try and come up with a conversation.
"So... Where are we going exactly?" Ken questioned.
"We are going to a land of greens towards where the Bright Circle rises." Ali's father replied.
"The what?" Ken raised his brow.
"That large glowing ball of light." The grown Apatosaurus looked at the bright object in the sky.
"Oh is that what you call the sun?" Ken asked.
"You call it something else?" Ali's mother asked in intrigument.
"Well... Yeah. In fact, there's a lot of things we named differently from yours." Ken said.
"Interesting. Can you tell us a couple?" Ali's father asked. As Ken was about to tell them, the entire herd suddenly stopped. They halted in front of a river, splitting the path. There were a few trees around with some leaves on them.
"We'll rest here. And we'll leave in the morning." An old wise female voice ordered. Most of the adults went to eat out of the trees as some went to get a drink and rest.
"Maybe we'll discuss this later?" Ali's father said.
"Sure. But one question. Who was that?" Ken asked.
"That is our leader, the Old One. She knows the way to a land rich with food and water. And she has had many experiences through these lands. We like to travel to different lands and move on. It's what we do." Ali's father explained.
"Yeah. And abandon families and friends." Ali's grumbled sourly.
"Ali!" Ali's mother shot. All Ali could do is walk to the river by a tree and lie down. Ken watched as Ali walked in frustration, noticing her quick change of attitude.
"Um... If you don't mind me asking sir, but what got her riled up?" Ken asked, which made Ali's father sigh sadly.
"She's just irritated because we had to depart from her old home. Back where we used to live, she had a lot of friends and she really loves the land we lived on. But as I said, we like to move a lot and give those who are less fortunate a place to stay and eat. But Ali doesn't agree with our way of travel and life." Ali's father said. Ken took another glance at the young purple Apatosaurus as she sulks under the tree in the shade. Hearing all of that made Ken realize she's going through the same situation he is. He understood her pain, sadness, and frustration.
"Well we're going to go and eat. You're welcome to join us." Ali's mother said.
"Thanks. I'll be with you two soon." Ken smiled at the grown adults.
"Splendid. Take your time." Ali's father smiled back as the two walked the opposite direction to another tree. Ken then slowly walked to Ali. As he got close, Ali noticed his shadow but didn't look at him. For a few moments they were silent as Ken sat next to her.
"So..." Ken paused awkwardly. "You like to travel?" Ken asked. He didn't get an answer as Ali stayed silent.
"I guess you're not. I'm not much for traveling either." Ken continued. Still no answer.
"What is traveling around the land like?" Ken continued hoping to get a conversation going. But still silence. Ken wanted to help this girl. This is a creature he never met before but somehow had a little bit in common. He wanted her to know he knows exactly how she feels. But for some reason this creature doesn't trust him. He knows by that speechless quietness. Finally, Ken took a long defeated sigh.
"Look... I know we barely just met and that you might not trust me. I understand that. You don't exactly know much about me and my species considering they're not from around here. And you're also probably scared of me. But I assure you, I'm not here to harm you or anyone else around. I probably can't, even if I did try. But I won't... Because I'm a friend. And you can trust me. I promise that." Ken assured as he finished. Still nothing. He felt a defeated wrench in him as he slowly got up and was ready to walk away. That is until...
"K...Ken?" Ali softly spoke up, stopping Ken in his tracks, making him look back in shock.
"Th-that... That's your name is it?" Ali shyly asked, making eye contact with him.
"Um... Yeah. And Ali was it?" Ken asked walking back.
"Yes." Ali answered.
"Okay then. We're making some progress here." Ken said as he sat back down next to her. "So why do you and your family travel?" He asked.
"I don't know and I don't like it. I mean I understand making room for others but why is it that I have to leave such great friends behind and will probably never see them again. It's not fair." Ali said in an irritated sigh.
"Yeah. I know how you feel." Ken agreed.
"You do?" Ali asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Back where I'm from, me and my family have to move out to a whole new area that I'm not familiar with. And I too have to leave a lot of my best friends. I don't know if I'll ever see them again either. It really sucks." Ken said.
"Wow. I didn't know." Ali said.
"Well now you do. And it seems we have little more in common than we originally thought." Ken smiled.
"Yeah. Who knew?" Ali smiled back. "So that rock around your neck. Who gave it to you?" Ali asked.
"Oh. My grandfather gave it to me for my birthday." Ken explained looking at it.
"Birthday? What's that?" Ali asked curiously.
"It's a day when you celberate the day when you are born. Each birthday marks how old you get each year." Ken explained.
"Really? How old are you." Ali asked.
"I'm now fourteen." Ken smiled.
"Wow. I wish I knew how old I am. I don't even know how." Ali said.
"Thats probably because you don't have a calendar." Ken said.
"What's a calendar?" Ali asked.
"I'll explain." Ken said with a smile.
For the next half hour, the two talked and bonded. They grew closer and closer together as they learned off each other and understood one another. It was a feeling both hadn't felt for quite awhile. Ali never knew this mysterious creature could be so interesting. He says things and does things that she didn't know about or even heard of. The more she heard, the more she wanted to know. And she discovered that this boy was not so bad. He was kind, gentle, and very friendly. She is happy to say she was wrong about him, that he isn't a threat.
Ken couldn't believe he was conversating with a live dinosaur. He didn't think he would ever come across such an ancient being. A being he didn't think could talk. But yet, here he is, talking to an Apatosaurus child. She had the innocence and character of a human child, something he didn't expect. He secretly thought like every other human that dinosaurs were just dumb beasts. Despite calling or saying certain things differently from his time, this creature along with every other dinosaur proved him wrong. Here they are, talking like he would with other human beings.
"So that's what my crossbow here does." Ken explained the function of his weapon.
"Wow. Your kind sound smart." Ali complimented happily.
"Oh well, we do know how to invent certain things." Ken chuckled bashfully.
"Perhaps you can show me how it works sometime?" Ali asked.
"I'll make sure of that." Ken nodded. Suddenly, a loud roar encompasses the land as Ali squealed in fear as the rest of the herd looked to the direction of the roar. They looked across the river to see a large dark green Tyrannosaurus Rex in the distance, feasting on an Iguanodon while a whole herd flees in fear.
"Sharptooth." The Old One whispered.
"Who? Sharptooth who?" Ken asked shaking from the sight of a live T-rex.
"Only the most feared sharp-tooth to walk on the land." Ali's father answered.
"What? Why did you say that name again?" Ken asked confusingly.
"Oh. That's his name, but it's also what we call those with sharp teeth that eat meat." Ali's father explained. "I suppose you give them a different name?"
"Yes. We call them predators." Ken said.
"I see. In any case, Sharptooth is the one who gave what you call 'predators' their name. He mercilessly attacks anything that gets in his way. Even his own kind. He won't stop until he's fed, satisfies his thirst for blood, and until everyone knows who they should fear." Ali's father said.
The way he explained the T-rex made Ken's spine shiver. And just seeing that beast shred the prey he captured like the animal he is was a disturbing sight. He also caught eye of the herd across the river. The stare it made was the most frightening Ken ever saw. There was no sorrow, no guilt, no sadness, no regret, or any emotion showing compassion like the Apatosauruses. There was just rage. Mindless rage for dominance and spreading fear to those who dare impose him. There was nothing in that monster. But knowing the herd was across a large river he can't walk or swim across, and the fact the herd were bigger and would outnumber him anyway, he simply went back to his meal. Ken sighed deeply as it didn't try to come over. Seeing a live T-rex from a distance was quite enough. The herd also went back to grazing and drinking.
"I always heard stories about him. But I never thought I'd ever see him." Ali said, hiding behind Ken.
"I thought I never see an actual live Tyrannosaurus Rex." Ken mumbled.
"A Tyrannosaurus Rex?" Ali asked curiously.
"That's what my species call his species."
"Oh. Do you have a name for my kind?" Ali asked.
"Why yes we do." Ken smiled. "The kind of species you are called is a Sauropod. But there are many different types of Sauropods. Yours would be classified as an Apatosaurus." Ken explained.
"Wow." Ali whispered, making Ken smile from her amazement. "What are the dinosaurs from where you're from like?" She asked excitingly.
That question froze Ken with white pale skin. How was he going to reveal that all dinosaurs from where he's from are extinct? The thought of revealing that her species, as well as all dinosaurs, will go extinct. That is if this is indeed the distant past of his world. But if that's the case, how is he going to tell her that. Ali notices his shocked expression.
"You... do have dinosaurs in the future, right?" Ali asked uneasily.
"Uh-why... Um... Yes. Yes we do." Ken quickly answered.
"Oh! Can you tell me about them?" Ali smiled.
"Uhhhhhhhhh." Ken stuttered.
"Perhaps that should wait another time." Ali's mother interrupted. "It's getting late. We should get some rest."
"Okay mother!" Ali responded. "Well you should tell me another time Ken. I would love to hear what relationships are like between humans and dinosaurs in the future." Ali giggled as she follows her mother.
"Uh... Yeah. Sure thing." Ken sighed. What is he going to do? He just can't tell her the truth. It would devastate her. As well as the entire herd. But at least he didn't have to tell her now. He began following Ali to there resting place.
Ali's parents lied next to each other as Ali lied in between the two. She notices Ken placing his stuff by a wall of rock and was ready to lie on the hard ground.
"You know... You don't have to sleep over there. It looks uncomfortable for you." Ali said.
"Oh it's okay. I can manage." Ken assured.
"Or maybe you can rest on me." Ali offered. This catches Ken's surprised attention. "I don't mind the hard ground. And I think you'll be more comfortable lying on me."
"But I don't want to be a bother." Ken said.
"I won't mind. I insist. You can rest on my side if you want." Ali assured. Ken pauses for a moment. He didn't want to be a nuisance. But looking at the rocky wall, it probably won't be comfortable at all. And seeing Ali with sincere eyes, he decided to give it a chance.
"Okay." Ken shrugged as he walks over to her. He sat down next to her and rested his head on her side. He then noticed something strange. She was soft.
"Is something wrong?" Ali asked concerned.
"No not at all. It's just... I didn't expect you to be so soft. It's quite nice actually." Ken complimented, making Ali blush with a smile. "Thank you." He said gratefully.
"Sure. What are friends for?" Ali asked as she lied her head down. After that statement, Ken looked at her with a surprised expression. She just called him her friend. And they just barely began to know each other. Hearing that warmed up his heart though. It was really nice to see this timid girl open up to him.
"Yeah. What are friends for?" Ken whispered.
"Goodnight Ken." Ali sighed.
"Goodnight Ali." Ken responded and relaxed his head on her side. As a few minutes went on, all of the herd fell deep asleep. But Ken looked at Ali one more time. Something about being with this prehistoric creature amazes him. He didn't exactly know why. He'd think it's because she and practically all dinosaurs apparently have the power of speech and have human emotions. But yet it wasn't. He for some reason can't put his finger on it. Whatever it is, he's sure he'll figure it out later.
"What are friends for?" Ken whispered as he shuts his eyes to sleep.