The Morning Departure

The Bright Circle has now reached the peaks of the mountains, slowly moving until it is out of sight from the Great Valley residents. As the darkness started to embrace the valley with a cool breeze blowing, everyone began to settle down for the night. Littlefoot was searching for Shorty, trying to think where he would have gone. Like the first time he met him, despite the bullying through jealousy, he knew that something had been on Shorty's mind. A tragic past maybe. All he had known was Bron and the young Longnecks that were with him, until they were taken in by other adults. But for some reason they never took him in, quite depressing for someone so young at the time.

"Shorty!" Littlefoot started calling. "Shorty where are you?" It is then that Shorty appears from behind the rock where he was hiding, looking at Littlefoot in a little worry.

"Oh. Hi Littefoot."

"Why are you way over here? Bron is worried about you!"

"You know why Littlefoot." He starts back for behind he rock where he came from just now, his head down.

"Shorty listen." Shorty stops and listens. "You'll always be special to Bron. He's been caring for you like his own son. I've only seen him four times, but you've known him all your life almost. So don't think he'll just disown you now that I'm around again. Come on. Bron has been wondering where you are."

"Okay." Then his thoughts begins to act up again. Bron really does care for me, doesn't he? Why do I keep thinking he wouldn't? All the time I've been with him in my life, he's been like the father I never had. He follows Littlefoot to where Bron has been waiting, and settles down for the night.

"There you are Shorty. I don't like you wondering off. I worry about you."

"I know! I'm sorry!"

"No worries!" As the Sky Stars begin to show up, all three of them close their eyes and rest for the new day.


The new day came slowly as the land brightened up in the early sunlight. Shorty wakes up and instantly realises something is wrong. Where was Bron? He had been beside them both the night before. Why would he suddenly just disappear? Shorty looked around for him, and also noticed Littlefoot's grandparents were nowhere in sight. There is a confounded pause as Shorty walks up to Littlefoot in order to wake him.

"Littlefoot." He shakes him but he does not stir. "Littlefoot!" The second shake was unintentionally stronger, as he uttered his name louder than intended under worry. His reply was a simple moan, as Littlefoot opened his eyes and moved away to try and sleep again. "Bron is missing! Littlefoot wake up!" Littlefoot tried to stand under a second moan, but stumbled over as he eventually gained his footing. "Shorty! It's too early!"

"We have to find Bron!"

"Oooohhh!" He looked towards him with his eyes drooping, but could not open them long. "Can't it wait till later!"

"No!" Shorty started for the field beside Littlefoot's nest, before looking back.

"I'm going back to sleep!" He headed back for his sleeping place, as if he were sleepwalking.

"Are you coming or not? Besides! Your grandparents aren't here either!"

"Yes they are?" He neglected to look at the location where his grandparents usually sleep, and started to lay down again.

"Ugh! I'm going!" He walks off in his stubborn attitude, leaving Littlefoot behind.

"Ooooohhh!" Littlefoot gets up and follows Shorty anyway, despite how tired he still is. How can Shorty wake up so early? He thought as he unawarely kicked a small stone that would not budge "Ow!" He continued on through the tall grass where Shorty headed to, and slowly followed him only looking up to see where he was at.


Shorty is still rapidly searching the area for Bron, thinking where he would go. He only looked back to see how far Littlefoot had gotten to, which was not very far. He could see him stumbling over his own feet, and not looking where he was going. At this rate we'll never get anywhere. Shorty thought as he looked back to Littlefoot tripping himself up again, and then it hit him. Laughing under his breath, he thought up a way to try and wake him up upon seeing a large stone on the ground. I wonder! If I get it right, I could knock a stone right on his nose. He'll never see it coming! Shorty uses his tail to flick the large stone, intent on it hitting Littlefoot's nose. But instead of a success, it lands beside his foot as he walks on.

"Oh! My aim needs to improve." He then searches the area for something else, spotting a pointy seed lying on the ground under a large tree. "Aha!" He heads to it, and readies his next idea. That seems like it could work. If I can hit it so he stands on it, he'll get a rude and painful awakening. Waiting for the right moment, he hits the seed with his tail in the direction of Littlefoot's feet, watching in case Littlefoot steps on it. His hopes are diminished further when Littlefoot steps over it and continues on walking. "Huh. Oh!" His turns slightly annoyed that his second plan was not a success, but then he hears the noise that stinging buzzers make. He looks to where the hive is hanging, and sees a bunch of them swarming around. "Heh, heh! Stinging Buzzers will work." He runs over there and finds a small stone that he positions on a slanted rock jutting from the ground in line with the hive. Waiting for Littlefoot to turn up at the right moment so the hive would land on his head, he whacks the stone to hit the hive from the tree. As hoped for the hive falls, but the result upon its crash landing forced him to run away screaming as they swarmed after him. Littlefoot looks up to Shorty, confused as to why he is running like mad.

"Shorty! What are you doing?!"

"Aah! Running away!" Shorty reaches a ledge above a large pond, and instantly jumps to avoid the stings of the buzzers. "Aah!" The splash scared Littlefoot awake, thinking Shorty may drown in the water.

"Huh!" He gasps after realising. "Shorty! Hold on I'm coming!" He charges to where he heard the splash, but does not see Shorty anywhere. "Oh no! Shorty!"

"I'm over here." He scrambles out of the pond and shakes himself dry as Littlefoot runs over.

"Are you alright!"

"Yeah sure. Teaches them to mess with me. They are so dumb!"

Littlefoot then gets annoyed at Shorty for scaring him like he did. "Shorty! Why did you do that?! You could've gotten really hurt!"

"Well at least I woke you up."

"Hnn! That is beside the point!" He struts off in his attitude.

"Chill out Littlefoot!"

"Hnn! I'm going to find my dad!" He heads off to his right as Shorty follows, unsure if it is the right way.

"Are you even sure you're going the right way?"

"Yes! Now come on!"

"Alright already! Gosh!" They both head off towards the adult's meeting place, where Littlefoot is certain everyone has gone. When they both arrive, they are surprised that everyone else is there waiting. They then see their friends on the hill overlooking the meeting place, despite their tired eyes unable to be open long. Knowing they are not allowed to stand with the adults, wait with the others watching Mr. Thicknose heading out with Bron and those who came with him.