The group of longnecks walked along the huge gap in the ground. The only way to truly be safe was to get back with their herd. If they waited, they were easy prey for sharpteeth. They walked along the hot ground. They had been walking for the rest of that night. The earthquake happened a couple of hours before sunrise.
"C'mon," encouraged Littlefoot. "I see some green food up ahead."
The longnecks looked ahead and saw he was right. The trees were only a few miles away. Their smiles got bigger as they got closer. They finally reached the small trees. Most of the trees had fallen through the hole in the Earth, but a few reachable ones survived. There was a small creek next to the trees, but the water was drained out. The longnecks ran towards the trees as Littlefoot continued to walk patiently. He reached the gang as they act greedily. It looked like they hadn't eaten anything decent for a couple of days, which was true. They were forced to eat twigs and dried up leaves. Littlefoot found a small plant to eat off of. The taste of semi-moist green food made his mouth jump for joy. He continued to enjoy his food.
So strategy. Let's see. I got a few longnecks that couldn't even fight a teenaged sharptooth. Well, think of it as five other mes. Wait. Scratch that. If we are ever going to survive, we have to use our heads. Not in the physical sense. I got Ali who is caring and quick. I got Chris…I mean Fred… Gosh. I don't know what any of the other longnecks are capable of. I guess I'll see what their strengths and weaknesses along the way.
Littlefoot swallowed the pale of leaves in his mouth. He looked around. Everyone was still eating. He smiled.
Could I lead them? Cera and the others died. I guess I have to. Even though they have been walking in the Mysterious Beyond, I am pretty sure none have been alone like I was. I am not sure if we can find the others, but if we resume the path I was on before I met them, we could reach the Great Valley. The only problem is would they follow me?
Littlefoot walked to the river's edge. He lied down and sighed. He noticed there was a little bit of water. He got up and carefully walked into the empty river. He felt the ground. Ali walked up to him. She stood next to the river's bank.
"What are you doing?"
He looked up.
"See those water puddles? There might be some water underground."
She looked at him as he was crazy. She never had heard of such a thing. She watched with curiosity. Littlefoot found a soft spot and pressed it down heavily. Soon, water covered his a little of his foot. Ali looked at him with wide eyes. He looked at her.
"You want some?"
Ali walked down and stood next to him. She smiled at him and lowered her neck to get some water. She lifted it when she got her fill.
"It's so refreshing."
Littlefoot took a drink. He lifted his neck.
"You are right. I'll get the others. You can have some more."
"Littlefoot, how did you know?"
"How did you think I survived when I was on my own?"
Ali smiled. Littlefoot walked over to get the others.
"Hey guys. If you want water, there is some water. Ali is there."
Claire heard Littlefoot and walked to him.
"How is it possible? It is dried."
"Just trust me."
She decided to go to the river. Fred and Savannah were already there. Chris walked up next to Claire. Ali looked at them.
"Littlefoot found water."
They walked over to the group. Savannah moved away from the water and allowed Claire to get some. Claire lowered her head and took a drink. She was amazed by how fresh it tasted even though it came from the ground.
"This is good."
Ali looked around and saw that Littlefoot had not returned. She walked out of the dried waterway and walked into the small forest. She looked around and saw him. He was eating some more leaves. She sighed in relief and walked up to him.
"There you are. You had me worried."
Littlefoot lifted his eyes and saw Ali coming towards him. He swallowed the leaves in his mouth.
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"No. It's fine."
Ali now stood right beside him.
"Everyone's at the waterhole you dug out."
"Okay. The sun is still high in the sky. Let's meet with the others and head out."
Ali followed Littlefoot to the river. They saw the others talking amongst themselves. Chris looked up at Littlefoot.
"I suggest we stay here until our parents get us."
"We can't."
"Yes, we can," said Fred. "We won't starve."
"But we will become dinner if we stay here. Sharpteeth have sensitive noses. They will pick up the scent of water, and then, they will come after us."
"You know we could have just gone out with water," said Chris.
"I highly doubt that. Besides, we are not sure if the herd's path is passable. They are way bigger than us. What if there was a cave-in that we can only fit it? Though we are smaller and weaker, we can get through spots bigger dinosaurs can't."
"I agree with Littlefoot," said Ali. "As he said, the faster we get to the herd, the safer we will be."
The others nodded. Littlefoot led them out of the small forest.
"A good thing never lasts," sighed Savannah.
Chris grumbled to himself.
Why are we following him? He's just asserting himself. Sure, he has been alone in the Mysterious Beyond longer than us, but that doesn't mean he's wiser than us. He's like us. He's a kid. I'll talk to the others tonight.
Night approached. The gang rested in a large footprint that belonged to a terrifying beast. Chris volunteered to stay up for the second watch. Littlefoot had first watch. He agreed. As everyone slept, Littlefoot looked at the stars.
Mother, I haven't heard your whispers. Am I right? Am I on my way to the Great Valley? I don't know where I am, but I have to get onto the path I was walking on before that sharptooth attacked. You want me to go to the Great Valley for safety, and if I was a parent, I would do the same.
He yawned. His shift was almost over. He was getting tired. He hadn't had a good sleep since he and the others separated from the herd. He walked over to Chris and woke him up. He was about to complain when he remembered he volunteered to watch guard. He got up and nodded. Littlefoot yawned again and lied down to go to sleep. Chris walked away from him, looking back to make sure he was asleep. When Littlefoot was finally asleep, Chris walked up to every longneck except Littlefoot. Ali was the last dinosaur he woke up.
"What's going on?" she asked sleepily.
"C'mon. We're having a meeting."
She stood up and followed Chris. The others were huddled around together in the open, a few yards away from where they slept. Chris stood in the middle of them.
"Okay. So this Littlefoot?"
"What about him?" asked Ali.
"He's becoming bossy, like we don't know anything."
"He's just leading us to our parents."
"I never picked him to be the leader. None of us did. If he gets his way, he might lead us away from our herd and to the Great Valley."
"The place he talked about?" wondered Savannah.
"Yeah," said Fred. "He might lead us there and not to our herd."
"You also agreed with Chris?" questioned Ali.
"Of course. Littlefoot is smart and might confuse us to follow him, no matter where he goes."
"True," said Savannah.
"But we have to stick together," said Claire.
"And we will," said Chris. "We will separate when he screws up or if he leads us somewhere else."
"Okay," said Fred.
"I agree," said Savannah.
"Me too," said Claire.
They waited for Ali to respond. She didn't. Claire walked up to her.
"Don't you agree with us?"
"No. Littlefoot is the best chance we got here. He gave us food and water."
"Ali's right," said Claire. "I wouldn't have survived if I didn't get some water soon."
"He does know his way," said Savannah. "He's very resourceful."
"But he's tricking you," said Chris.
"I will not here another word," said Ali.
She started walking away.
"You're only backing him up because you like him," said Fred.
Ali stopped and turned around.
"I do like him, but I think he's our only chance of survival we have."
Ali continued walking. Soon, the others decided to get some rest. Chris narrowed his eyes and huffed. If Ali didn't agree, some of the others might not also agree. There was only one other option. He needed to prove his dominance.