Littlefoot woke up the next morning and looked around. The sun was already up and most dinosaurs were up. He must have had overslept. It was probably because he didn't have a lot of sleep during his travels. It was nice to feel completely rested. He stretched out his neck and tail. He got to his feet and decided to get some food. He walked from the covered area he slept in and walked out of the trees. He walked around and saw a tree with palm-like leaves on it. He plucked the leaf off and ate it. He looked around and thought.
It's great to be home, but so many issues have come to my attention. First, it looks like all my friends are not friends. I'm to blame for the separation and Cera becoming a bully. Second is the leader. As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Cera. Ali's leader is too weak. She is courageous, but she doesn't know how to lead a herd properly. She didn't motivate anyone to fight. They could've easily defeated those sharpteeth, but they were too scared. She must not only display courage, but she must also give it to others. Finally, Ali. Ali wants me, Littlefoot. I am Littlefoot but I can't tell her that. If I do tell her, I'm not sure what will happen. Nonetheless, I can't be with her. She hates traveling. I would have to give up being the Lone Dinosaur. It's okay, but I think I'll be letting a lot of people down. Geez. Let's just tackle one problem at a time. First, I have to see what my friends are doing. I'll have to climb up the valley walls to check.
Littlefoot finished eating and headed towards a sloped valley wall. He started to climb up it. He climbed to the point where he could see the entire valley. He looked around. He noticed a group of teenaged dinosaurs that looked familiar. It was the bullying herd from yesterday. They were driving the kids away from the peaceful pond. Littlefoot grated his teeth at their actions; mostly Cera's actions. He knew he couldn't do anything now. Besides, if he got the old gang together, that might make Cera leave her mean friends. He continued to look around and spotted Ducky, Spike, Petrie, and Ali. He thought the gang had broken up, but Ali's presence probably drew them together. He smiled and thanked Ali in his mind. They were in the Tall Trees. He began to descend the hard slope to hopefully meet his old friends.
"It's really him," said Ali. "It is the Lone Dinosaur."
Ali was explaining what happened yesterday to Petrie, Spike, and Ducky.
"The Lone Dinosaur?" wondered Ducky. "The new one?"
Ali nodded.
"He came out of nowhere and saved me and my leader. He killed those two sharpteeth."
"Two?" wondered Petrie. "He's brave."
"If it wasn't for him, I am sure I wouldn't be here today."
"So did he say where he is from and stuff?" asked Spike.
"Not at that moment, but we talked later on. He didn't exactly say where he is from, but he traveled the Mysterious Beyond with his mother, then grandparents, then foster father."
"So he comes from a migrating herd like you," pointed out Ducky.
"You could say that."
"Ali, if you don't mind me asking, but do you like him?" asked Spike.
"Why do you ask?" wondered Petrie.
"The tone on the way she talks about him."
"But she likes Littlefoot."
"Petrie," called Ali.
The three dinosaurs faced the longneck.
"I do like Littlefoot, but I can't seem to deny that I also like the Lone Dinosaur."
"But Ali," said Ducky. "You can't be with both. I mean Littlefoot is still gone, but what if you meet him again?"
Ali looked down. The two dinosaurs she liked were introduced in her life and then were gone. It happened with Littlefoot, and it would happen with Dave.
"I know but…"
They heard something coming towards them. They looked to the north and saw a longneck stopping beside them. The smaller dinosaurs were confused, but Ali's face lit up with joy. She looked down at her friends.
"Guys, this is the Lone Dinosaur."
The dinosaurs gasped and looked at the longneck.
"Just call me Dave."
Petrie flew up and landed on the longneck's head.
"Dave? Hello. I'm Petrie."
"And I'm Ducky," said Ducky.
"The name's Spike," greeted Spike.
Littlefoot was overwhelmed that Spike could now talk. He smiled at them.
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you."
"Ali's been talking about what you did yesterday. She has."
Littlefoot faced the blushing Ali. He smiled and looked at Ducky again. Ali's blush deepened when he smiled.
"So Dave," said Spike. "What brings you here?"
"Just wandering."
"You've traveled the whole Mysterious Beyond?" questioned Petrie.
"Not the whole Mysterious Beyond. My foster father warned me that there was one place in this world that you should never go. It is known as Death Valley. I have never been to that place and don't exactly know where it is, but I've heard tales from my foster father."
"Probably Ali knows," said Ducky.
The dinosaurs looked at her. She shook her head.
"I have never heard of it. Maybe the Old One knew, because we always had a distinct path we traveled on."
"Well, if I ever go there by mistake, I'll do my best to tell others if I escape."
"I think you would," said Petrie. "You won against two sharpteeth."
"I was lucky to be honest. That was the most number of big sharpteeth I fought in a long time. If it would've been three, I don't know if I could handle it."
Littlefoot decided to sit down. He folded his legs and rested his belly only an inch from the ground. Ali and the others also decided to sit down.
"So, have you guys lived here all your lives?"
"Yeah," said Spike. "We came here as babies. We were separated from our parents and would've died, but Littlefoot helped us reach here. If it wasn't for him, we would all be dead."
"I see. He seems to be a very good leader."
"He was," said Ducky. "It is bad that he left. After his grandparents died, he just left with Doc without saying a word. It was predictable that he went with Doc, but it made us mad that he didn't tell us."
"Maybe he didn't want you to follow him, because you would risk your life to reach him."
"You're probably right. We have done that before and were either attacked by sharpteeth or the landscape changed."
"But none of this would have happened if Littlefoot hadn't gone," said Petrie. "I'm mad at him, but I miss him."
"We all do," said Spike. "We don't know if he's alive or dead."
"Don't say that," said Ali. "I know he's out there."
Littlefoot sighed.
"I cannot say, but if you believe he's one or the other, then believe it. This Littlefoot seemed like a great leader. It takes a lot to get a leader down. I believe he isn't dead. He's just lost, but he'll return one day hopefully."
Ali smiled. Ducky walked up to Dave and patted his leg.
"Thank you. You really believe he's alive."
"Sure I do. If he came right now, he wouldn't want his friends to grow apart. I met your threehorn friend the other day. He would look down at that. He would have wanted you to live together and peace."
"I guess," said Petrie. "It just that when we get together-"
"It doesn't matter. Change will happen, and friendships must adapt to that change."
"You are very knowledgeable," pointed out Spike.
"Traveling has taught me a lot."
Spike faced Petrie and Ducky.
"You guys want to play Knock the Seeds?"
"Yes!" Ducky almost screamed.
"I haven't played that in a long time," said Petrie.
"You two want to join?"
"Why not?" said Ali.
Littlefoot smiled and nodded. The group of dinosaurs walked off to find a steep hill and pine cones. To them, they were about to play a game with a new friend. To Littlefoot, it was like old times.
