Chapter 20: Somewhat Surprised

It had been a much more peaceful day than the last few days for once. Adults could hear the yelling and laughing of children nearby having so much fun. This was a good sign for all the dinosaurs in the Great Valley feeling reassured that the arguing is not going on like the days before. Now, they went about their daily business talking to each other, eating, having a cool relaxing soak in the waters or having a walk with others and enjoying the nice weather. The bright circle was starting to set at this time as the blue sky turned to a orange tan mixed with red as the sun lowered. The children were all on a hill with about three to five seed pods stood together a little further down it. Cera, Littlefoot, Ducky and Petrie were all sitting a bit back from where Wayne and Spike were. Littlefoot had told Wayne about a game that was similar to a game that Wayne had read about in a very old issue of a sports book once.

"Are you sure that Wayne's never played this game before?" Cera asked with a look of suspicion aimed over at Littlefoot.

"I think so, that what he said at least. He told me that he read whatever that word means about a game… something call 'bowling'?" Littlefoot said seeing Cera was facing him with an I'm-not-buying-it look, "I am not sure what 'bowling' is either but I think 'read' is something to do with those weird patterns on those flat things in the back holder," Littlefoot told Cera seeing the dumb expression on her face disappearing. She reverted her gaze back to Spike and Wayne.

"Well if that's so then why is he just as good as Spike?" Cera said keeping the score in her head, "they both have equal seed points and now they're on their last turn."

"Me thinked Spike will win at first but now me not so sure," Petrie confessed watching inquisitively to see what score Wayne was about get on his last rock throw.

"Oh yes, yes, yes. They are very good, they are, they are. I think it does not matter who wins, it is all fun!" Ducky said with a cheerful smile.

Wayne pulled his arm back and took a step back.

"I think he's had a unfair advantage over Spike since he pulls that arm back so much and swings it so it gives the rock more speed," Cera moaned as Wayne threw his arm forwards letting go of the rock. As he took a step forward with the rock rolling at the seeds, he managed to only knock two of the five seeds away.

"Damn!" Wayne cursed clicking his fingers. Everyone looked at him as he spun around. "What?" Wayne asked as he noticed them staring at him.

"What was that sound you made? That crackling noise with your hand?" Ducky questioned looking at him with wonder.

"Yeah, how did you do that?" Cera pushed the second one along before Wayne could answer the first.

"Oh that, all I do is put my middle finger pressing against my thumb then pull my finger inwards like so," Wayne explained to them and demonstrated at the same time. Again, the click sound came from his fingers.

"Me wanna try… oh me can't… me no have thumbs, but you could try Ducky!" Petrie said looking at Ducky.

"Oh yes, yes, yes! I will try it," Ducky said and tried to copy Wayne's actions as he demonstrated again. To her amazement, she managed to pull it off and a short, sharp snapping sound came from her fingers. "I dided it! I did I did!" Ducky cried triumphantly and did it again and again.

"Wow! Impressive Ducky! It's not possible for us to do that," Littlefoot said as he jumped up a bit, turning his front feet around a bit then quickly turning down to the ground landing on them. Everyone laughed a bit until Spike hummed loudly tapping his left, front foot with an impatient look wanting to take his turn. He was determined to beat Wayne's two seed point lead.

"Oh sorry Spike, take your turn," Wayne said waving him on. Spike smiled and turned away looking at the rock. Getting a good look at the seeds before hitting it, Spike knocked the rock with his head making it roll down hitting the last three seeds left standing.

"Spike wins!" Cera cheered running up to him. Wayne shrugged cocking his head to the left bit.

"Oh well… you win some… you lose some," Wayne said with a smirk walking over to his backpack.

Opening it up he brought out his last sandwich, "I guess a deal's a deal. Here you go Spike. Your prize for beating me." Wayne knelt down and Spike went over to him licking him on the face before taking the sandwich and eating it.

"Whoa! Hold it! Why did you give him that?" Cera cried at Wayne walking over to him.

"It was a little bet me and Spike made. He had a try of my sandwich, with lettuce, tomato and bread. He like it and gave me signs, pointing to the seed game of yours and the food. That's when I got the impression he wanted to bet. I proposed that if I lost, I have to give him a whole piece so I did," Wayne divulged to Cera. Littlefoot looked at the sky.

"I wonder why our parents haven't called us home yet," Littlefoot wondered looking back at the others who were surrounding Spike giving their cheers for him winning the game. Wayne looked at the sky, then Littlefoot.

"Maybe they just caught up with something." Littlefoot looked at Wayne carefully since he had seen the way Wayne snapped at the others lately. Littlefoot thought of Wayne being a hero and all saving his life was caring but he seemed to be very self-centred too. It was all too confusing for Littlefoot. He had never met a human until three days ago and it seemed that they had emotions so much like dinosaurs did but what was surprising was that Wayne was able to keep an argument going with Cera for hours on end both not backing down one tiny bit. It's like Wayne could be kind and gentle like Littlefoot's Grandpa then the next, every bit as rude as a Threehorn could be and argue like one too.

"Littlefoot?" Cera said but he didn't respond, "Littlefoot…" Cera said again but he still remained inert, "Littlefoot!" Cera shouted with Littlefoot jumping a bit looking over at Cera.

"Sorry I was thinking," he mumbled. Cera turned her head a bit to the right looking him in the eyes.

"Thinking? About what?"

"Oh… nothing important," Littlefoot replied walking over to Spike, "Nice game Spike. You always seem to beat everyone at this."

Cera was angry with Littlefoot for changing the subject but watching Spike lick Littlefoot on the face showing a pleased sign.

Cera was about to walk off when she saw her dad coming up to where they were.

"Hi Daddy…" Cera gulped, "Am I late for home?"

Mr Threehorn looked at his daughter and shook his head.

"No Cera. You're not late for coming home. I was coming to talk to you kids before you all go home for the night. That's why no one has called for you children to come home," Mr Threehorn said with the children gathering around him in a semi circle. All except Wayne who remained where he was standing not even moving towards him.

"That includes you!" Mr Threehorn barked looking over at Wayne. Wayne felt his heart give a horrible lurch as the scariest thing he'd seen in his life had just beckoned him to come forwards. Wayne took a deep breath before walking up to the point just behind the others.

"Wh-why?" Wayne managed to ask with a nervous tone behind his voice.

"I will get to that in a moment," Mr Threehorn said to Wayne. He then turned his eyes to the rest of the children.

"There has been a meeting going on about the human boy, Wayne. We've been talking long and thought hard about it when that longneck leaves."

"What! Doc's leaving?" Littlefoot said "When?"

"He has already left," Mr Threehorn replied. Wayne panicked slightly and as about to take the nerve to leave but he was promptly halted by a heavy bellow.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mr. Threehorn snapped. Wayne froze and slowly turned looking at Cera's dad.

"I-I-I was going to…" Mr Threehorn shook his head, "Look Wayne. He left because one of us adults is going to be staying with you until you find a way back to your own home," Mr Threehorn told all of them. Mr Threehorn stood strong to what he was going to say to them in a second.

"But who will look after Wayne Mr. Threehorn? Huh? Huh?" Ducky asked followed by Spike who had an expression of great wonder to who would take Wayne in.

"Me like to know too," Petrie said wondering just as much as Ducky and Spike were.

"I wonder who it is. I haven't seen anyone liking the idea of having Wayne around," Littlefoot quoted and Mr Threehorn looked at Littlefoot knowing he was, indeed, right. For a child, Littlefoot was sharp on the spot to the Great Valley dinosaurs.

"Who is it Daddy? Who will it be?" Cera asked taking a step forward asking ever so softly and calmly.

Silence came after their questions with no one saying a word. Wayne stood there wondering who would look after him. 'Why bother?' he thought since he had handled being on his own and coped fine for nine, long years. In a sense, not including the trade posts he found along the travels. Mr Threehorn finally spoke up.

"I did…"

With that, everyone hugged their mouths in shock including Wayne. He stared at Mr Threehorn not expecting that at all.

"Daddy! You're joking right?" Cera spoke once she was able to overcome her stunned silence.

"No Cera, I am not joking. If I was, I would be laughing and am I?" Mr Threehorn said to Cera who gave a shake of the head.

"Y-y-y-you?" Wayne said very nervous looking at the large triceratops with fear. He felt like he was going to pass out from the heat that was building up from the internal shock.

"If you don't like it… TOUGH! Now come on. Cera, time to go home," Mr Threehorn ordered. Cera, who had started to walk home, looked back at Wayne who remained motionless. From his frozen position, she could tell that Wayne was very fearful of her father and didn't want to be near him at all.

"That includes you Wayne… and stop being scared! I am not going to crush you," Mr Threehorn said rather angrily at Wayne who stopped looking at him then slowly walked behind Mr Threehorn as he started to make his way home. Wayne took a glance back at the others then turn back to look at Mr Threehorn who was just ahead keeping to a distance.

"All the dinosaurs in the world and it had to be the father of Cera…" Wayne mumbled to himself feeling rather sick. Littlefoot, Petrie, Ducky and Spike watched Wayne, Cera and Mr Threehorn disappear from view. They took a look at each other before they started to laugh seeing the funny side of Mr Threehorn. Out of all the dinosaurs in the Great Valley to keep an eye on Wayne, it had to have been him. As they stood there laughing, the calls they had been expecting a while ago quickly came. They all said their goodnights, once they had all calmed down from laughing, and headed to their homes for a good night sleep. As they made their ways home, they all wondered how Wayne would cope with being near Mr Threehorn tonight.

Night came quickly. The night circle was out with the stars showing in the clear night sky. The quietness was perfect for anyone to get asleep peacefully except one who was not even trying to go to sleep. Wayne paced backwards and forwards next to where Cera and her dad were sleeping. He had thought of leaving whilst they slept but that would have been a bad idea since, now, the whole Great Valley knows that Mr Threehorn was the one looking after him and putting a lot on his back. Wayne hated himself for thinking such disrespectful thoughts, but he couldn't stop the feeling of being really scared of Mr Threehorn. He kept walking back and forwards feeling like an idiot for being scared so much that he didn't want to even sleep at all. Mr Threehorn opened one eye and saw Wayne was pacing up and down; he stood up and walked up to Wayne. Wayne heard the hefty footsteps of Mr Threehorn from behind him, which sounded like a ton landing each time. Wayne looked at Mr Threehorn fearfully as he came to a stop which was far too close for him to be comfort.

"Why haven't you gone to sleep yet? You're going to be very tried when the bright circle comes up," Mr Threehorn said with some concern.

"I-I can't sleep…" Wayne complained.

"And why not?" Mr Threehorn asked probingly.

"I-I am sc-scared of you…" Wayne answered nervously. Mr Threehorn gave him a weird look.

"Humph! I know that since I yelled at you to do so three days ago!" Mr Threehorn said rather gruffly. Looking at him, he could tell that the tone of voice he was using was only scaring Wayne more and more, "I am not going to say sorry but I am not going to hurt you. I will give you my word, that's all I am doing kid."

Wayne still felt scared and it took quite a lot for him to be scared so much by one individual.

"I-I don't think this will work…" he sighed.

"It will if you give it a chance too you brat!" Mr Threehorn snapped at Wayne who was now becoming angry instead of fearing him.

"Don't call me that! You over grown horn head!" Wayne said rather rudely. Realising what he had just done, he threw his hands over his mouth backing away fearing the worst to come. As he stood poised to be charged at, he saw Mr Threehorn react in a way he never would have expected to see. He was laughing.

"Cera was right. You do have a flare of a temper and an uncontrollable rage inside which only comes when the slight offensive word that is said to you," Mr Threehorn chuckled. Wayne slowly lowered his hands away from his mouth and looked at Mr Threehorn dumbfounded.

"Very odd for a creature as small as you having such a talent to say the words with the right anger. Must have been created from all the loneliness you had, nine cold times if I am right." Wayne stared at Mr Threehorn even more dumbfounded than before. He wasn't sure why but after that laughing from the large triceratops, the fear had left and now he was left to wonder how did Mr Threehorn know Wayne was on his own for nine years long. He had no family but he knew that Doc wouldn't have told him since Doc made that promise not to tell.

"How did you know that? I never told anyone," Wayne asked slowly.

"Let's say, it came to me in a dream…"

Wayne felt a little more relaxed now that the fear and dread he felt before had melted away. He felt calm and completely unthreatened in just a shift of a moment. It was like the anger shell was removed from Mr Threehorn.

"Ok… I can believe that…" Wayne said quietly yawning a bit. He instinctively put a hand over his mouth.

Mr Threehorn just left it at that and walked back to where he was sleeping. Turning away from Wayne, forcing him to jump over the end of his tail, he prepared to settle down. Wayne watched Mr Threehorn lay down and then slowly close his eyes and going back to sleep. Wayne scratched his head wondering what in the world had just happened back there and why he was calm. It was like a spell had been cast upon him from nowhere. It was the weirdest thing that had ever happened; he had gone from being scared stiff of Mr Threehorn to being calm and totally confused at the way Mr Threehorn had reacted to his insult. That seemed to change the looks and points of view between Wayne and Mr Threehorn. Wayne sat down near to where he had placed his bag and laid down to rest his head on it. He stared at the night sky as his eyelid suddenly became very heavy. Slowly, his vision started turning dark as he closed his eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.