Category: Land before Time

Rating: T

Couples: none

Warnings: Blood, Character Death (Same level as first Movie)

Chapter: 11

Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Chomper snuggled close to his mother that night, resting against her head. It had been long after the Night Circle had risen that they finished talking. His father and sister had arrived shortly before the Bright Circle had set.

Chomper had apologized fearfully to his father, sagging in relief when the older male assured him he had not been upset about it considering it had been an understandable reaction.

The old longneck slept for most of the day, something which worried the young one somewhat. His father assured him she needed the rest.

"It was a big miracle that she survived those wounds to begin with." Rec told his son. "It will take her quite some time to fully recover from them. Weeks at best."

Tyra seemed to mull something over. Something had been bothering her ever since the Longneck had woken. But whenever someone asked, she denied that something was wrong.

"You know… I wondered about something." White Star was resting next to her father. "Why is she the caretaker of that little Longneck? Where are his parents?" She asked, frowning a bit. "Just wondering, you know. After all, she is so old and that little one so young."

"His mother is dead, his father was leading a herd and thought him lost too." Chomper told her. "His mother got killed by a Sharptooth."

"Didn't you say the Valley was safe?" His mother demanded, shocked.

"She died before he came to the Valley." Chomper assured her swiftly. "Long ago."

"Must have been traumatizing." She faintly recalled him telling her about it in passing. "He must have been so young then."

"Not to mention he got separated from all grown-ups at the same time." Chomper climbed on her foot. "He and the others had to get to the Valley on their own. Though he did mention something about his mother's spirit guiding him."

"What?" White Star demanded, looking at him incredulously. Neither noticed their mother freezing in shock. Her eyes darted to the burnt remnant of a tree in front of their cave as she thought back to a storm about four weeks ago. The tree had thrown shadows that had not fitted. It had thrown Longneck-shadows. Could that have been the young Longneck's mother helping the old female survive?

"Was she the child of her?" Tyra gestured to the sleeping Flattooth.

"Yes." Chomper answered her. "Why?"

"I think she did not only help her son." His mother stated. "She…" She again gestured to the sleeping Longneck. "Should have died. Instead she lives. After I see a strange Longneck-shadow on the opposite canyon-wall."

"You never mentioned that before." Rec frowned a bit. "When was this?"

"In the storm that burned that tree." Tyra gestured to the tree in question. "I thought it a trick of the light and the Sky Water, but now I'm not so sure anymore."

"Nice to know that Flatteeth protect each other even after they die." Rec sighed. "Must I fear that every Longneck I eat will haunt me?"

"Rec, at times I want to bite you." Tyra sighed exasperated.

"You already did that once, remember?" He countered.

"Would you have preferred that Swimmer remained stuck on your nose?" She snarled. "I'm sure Chomper can convince her to latch on again."

"First I'd have to convince the grown-ups to let you close." Their son pointed out.
"That does put a stop to that idea." Tyra chuckled, her small child wobbling as the reverberations passed through her body. "What are you going to do now? Will you return to your friends, or will you stay?"

"I never really thought about that." Chomper admitted. "My friends must be worried that I just left. But I'm not sure I could keep quiet."

"Think about it. You can't leave now at any rate." Rec told him. "The Bright Circle has set and the closest entrance is too close to Red Claw's domain."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Chomper is gone." Littlefoot told his father and grandfather when he and Shorty arrived at their resting-place.

"Where?" Grandpa Longneck lowered his head to them.

"Into the Mysterious Beyond." Shorty answered. "Apparently he thought those new Sharpteeth were his parents."

"Did he now?" The face of the oldest Longneck hardened.

"Yes." Littlefoot nodded. "I don't know why though." He peeked up at his grandfather.

"Why don't you go drink something, Papa Longneck." Bron suggested. "You shouldn't say things like that." He told the two young ones when the older male had left. "It'll only upset him for no reason."

"Sorry." Littlefoot looked down. "It's just… I'm worried about Chomper. What if that weren't his parents?"

"Then we can't do anything." Bron sighed. "We can't just run after him. He is a crafty kid, if your stories are anything to go by. He'll manage." He nudged the two of them to the place where they slept. "Try to sleep some."

"Ok." The two boys curled around one another while their father remained up to wait for their grandfather. It took him the better part of the night to return and he was still tense.

He went to sleep without another word, but the frown remained on his face. Bron sighed, following him into the land of the Sleepstories.