Conditional Concepts

"Oh man!" Shorty stops as his friends stop. Following the cave has now become far too difficult for them, as both the light is too low and that the body of the cave has suddenly disappeared amidst the land. They could not tell where it would go next, or even if it goes any further. As the dusk continued, they knew that a safe place to sleep had to be found as soon as possible. "We really need to find a safe place to sleep!"

"But where can we go?" Ducky questioned, not being able to clearly see anywhere. "We cannot see in this light."

"I, don't know." Shorty started to shiver as the air around them got colder. "It's getting, colder!" Ruby hugs Shorty to try and keep him warm, but soon the others do the same. "Thanks, guys. But we can't, stay out in the, open like this." Cera then looks at Chomper with his eyes slowly glowing in the yellow that they do.

"Chomper!" Chomper looks to Cera. "You can, see in the, dark right."

"Yes. Which means, you'll have to, follow me. If it gets too, dark then even, I wouldn't be, able to see." Sure Chomper could see in the dark, but even he knew only specific Sharpteeth hunted at night. That being those with larger eyes than even his own. His friends follow him deeper into the swamp, hoping he could get them to a safe spot for the night. Chomper hopes that he finds a place before he too struggles to see at night, where he would unknowingly lead them to the wrong places.

Bron is just about to settle down for the night, as the degree gradually decreases. He knew he would be safe in this temporary abode, as the only way inside is from the desert that is too extreme even for the mightiest of predators. But just when he would be closing his eyes, Chesec suddenly appears in front of him. Bron raises his head to listen to the chameleon, but he never says a word. With a movement of his head, Bron knew to follow. He wondered why he would not speak, and then realised that Mr. Thicknose was beside him sleeping. Quietly rising from the ground, Bron follows Chesec after one last look at Mr. Thicknose's innocence as he sleeps there. Though light is to a certain extent diminishing over time, Bron could make out others going to the same location as him; the other Longneck; a Threehorn; a Spiketail, and a Duckbill. He still did not understand why they were going in this direction, as it is going farther and farther away from the one they are meant to be protecting. Resorting to curiosity, Bron started asking the questions.

"Where are you leading us? Why are we not back protecting your Seers?"

"That is none of your concern, Longneck!" A new chameleon replied maliciously. "You are to follow us, and that is final!"

"Lusani! Show some respect!" Sutoa answered back.

"Tch! Whatever!"

"Don't mind Lusani Bron." Chesec replied in a calm way. "Her Seer is one who doesn't take lightly to change." Lusani turns her gaze at Chesec quite belittlingly.

"Do you mind!" She looks ahead again in a snobby kind of way.

"Lighten up Lusani." Haruno casually responded. "Just be cool!"

"Oh shut up!" Lusani spat before speeding off much to the surprise of Haruno. "Hurry up! It is here!" Lusani ordered as the Duckbill quickened her pace.

"Ooh! She's getting far too bossy again." The Duckbill replied then disappeared amidst some trees. The others followed soon after, but already Lusani was atop a large rock looking down at those before her. The other chameleons climb the rock before commencing with the discussion.

"Well! Now that we are all here! We can be...!" Chesec started.

"Are you forgetting someone?" Lusani snapped.

"Hmm! I believe we are forgetting Rufos!" Haruno complied. "Oh well! Guess we'll have to start without him." He lays on his back again, with his forearms underneath his head.

"Rufos is always late!" Sutoa complained, but then a breeze blows followed by a familiar voice.

"Late! Surely you do not mean me perchance!" Rufos answered as he appeared on the wall of the cliff. He disappears again and reappears behind Lusani. "I am always on time!"

"Where have you been?!" Lusani inquired rapidly, turning her head toward the chameleon behind her.

"I've been around!" He passes by Lusani, stroking his tail against her side.

"Quit it!" Lusani evilly stood on his tail with a quaint grin on her face.

"Ow! Lusani!" Rufos started trying to pull his tail free from Lusani's weight, but she just lifts her foot and watches him fall. "Ugh! Why are you so hard to please?" He picks himself up and stands in line with his leader.

"Can we get this over with?" Lusani impatiently bossed to her other kin.

"Now that we are all here, we can begin!" Chesec assured, as Bron and the other leaders readied themselves to listen to the Keepers.

The degree in the cave has started to decrease, but Littlefoot never stirs. Around him, piles of mossy greens seem to keep him quite warm and very comfy indeed. But who has done this? Why would they be in this cave? There is a noise that echoes through the cave but whatever was watching Littlefoot had disappeared, or perhaps hidden in fright. The noise seems to disturb Littlefoot awake, but as he rises he reacts in surprise and confusion as to why he feels something strange around him.

"Huh! What?" He looks around the spot where he was resting, now realising something recognisable was around him. "Where did these Mossy Greens come from? Am I dreaming?" The cold he soon feels quickly tells him otherwise as well as his stomach. "This isn't a dream! Everything's too real!" He then looks around the cave unable to see anything, but again his stomach grumbles and he groans a little in debate. "I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten since before noon, but do I eat this! I don't know if I should." As his stomach grumbles a third time, Littlefoot could not resist a bite no matter how mean he could come across if someone put it there for him.

"Please, don't!" The feminine voice came from somewhere in the cave followed by a gasp as Littlefoot turns towards the sound.

"Huh! Who's there?" There is nothing that Littlefoot could hear other than the silence, but he knew her presence was near. He walks closer towards where the sound came from though he could not see. "I know you're there! Please, come on out! I won't hurt you!" Littlefoot was pleading for the owner of the voice to reveal her presence. "I can't see you!" The owner of the voice slowly walks out, but even though Littlefoot could not see her he knew she was scared. "Why are you so scared?" Her presence was very close, enough so that Littlefoot could talk to her kindly.

"The noises." She manages to answer the Longneck's question, seeing as she could make out his shape. "They scare me." Her voice sounded very timid, but she felt safer now that she knew a Longneck was around.

"What is your name?" Littlefoot sits down awaiting an answer.

"My, name? My name, is Sylvia."

"Do you want to eat with me?"

"But. I put those there, to keep you warm."

"You, did?" Littlefoot felt guilty now. "I'm sorry! I haven't eaten since the watering hole."

"How long, have you been out here?"

"Since last night!" He headed back for the mossy greens. "I had to stop my friend from sneaking out back home. So I brought out my friends, but then well. Things happened, and now I'm separated from all of them."

"Friends?" Sylvia sits down in depression. She did not want to tell this Longneck how alone she has been all this time, but thought to share her feelings with another of her kind. "I, have no friends. None like you, anyway."

"No, friends! Why?" Littlefoot sounded worried for her now.

"I've been, alone, for a while now." She begins to cry in her loss, though silent as it may be Littlefoot knew she was upset.

"Please don't cry Sylvia."

"I'm not crying, it's hay-fever." Though it had been a lie, she calms herself down and forgets about her feelings. "See. I-I'm fine, now."

"Then, do you want to sleep beside me?"

"That wouldn't be right."

"But it's gonna get colder here. Why not sleep with me? We can, keep each other warm." He certainly felt emotional, however sincere he had tried to be. Already pledged to love Ali, he knows not to be in the centre of a love triangle. Sylvia watches the Longneck lay back down again, and suddenly felt the chill in the cave. Without any debate, she heads towards him and lays beside him, gladly welcoming both the comfort and warmth that he offered her. But she has one final question to ask the Longneck here.

"What's, your name?"

"My name, is Littlefoot."

Reader's notes: Thought I'd introduce a new character. More of her backstory may be present in the next chapter.