Another Matter

The Great Valley is still somewhat silent for some of the adults; the children missing since yesterday, much to the surprise of their parents who are heading back towards the meeting point in hope they have returned. Topps by far has already arrived there, much to his despair when his daughter does not appear with any of the others who she has gone with. He remembers the previous day when the Flyer appeared to give them the news from the night before, where he then mentioned a Threehorn and Longneck had come out of a cave. But this did not mean that they would not return by the second day. Topps charges for the entrance to the Great Valley and instantly bellows for his daughter as the others arrive.

"CERA!" His voice echoes out in the open, though no one out there would hear it.

"Mr. Threehorn please!" Grandpa Longneck demanded, but Topps seems to have a trickle of a tear down his cheek as he walks back in utter loss. Cera has been gone far too long.

"Where are they? I can't bear Cera being away for this long."

"And if you start bellowing out there, who knows what Sharpteeth would appear!"

"But, Cera..." His words trail off into tears as he walks away, much to Grandpa's digression and of the guilt that he feels. He quickly thought to apologise for how he acted just now and walked up to him, though he knew Sharpteeth would never enter the valley from the entrance. It would be too conspicuous as they would be found out within seconds.

"I'm sorry about that Mr. Threehorn. They were gone this long when our migration came around that day. As of course you told us when we returned."

"Yes, but they had made it to all of your kind by this time."

"They were still out for two nights without an adult with them, so I am sure they are fine out there." Grandma considered as much to her memory as she could, to try and ease Topps of his worries.

"They've been through worse than this, and still they had made it back safely." Mrs. Flyer reminisced.

"I just want her home!" Topps declared in his depression. "Why can we not just go and find them?"

"The only way is across the fast water but now that Belly Draggers are living there as well as the bridge gone, it is impossible for us to go that way." Grandpa Longneck stated, then Grandma reminded Mr. Threehorn about the Flyer.

"Have you forgotten about the Flyer Mr. Threehorn?"

"No, of course not! I remember what he told us yesterday, but it still does not mean we can't find another way across."

"He has a point!" Mrs. Swimmer acclaimed. "How will they return if we do not find another safer way back?"

"Do you want me to head out there and find them?" Mrs. Flyer proposed as she landed beside Topps.

"No! There's no way you can handle the heat out there. Don't forget, we are in the midst of the Hot Times right now. We can't possibly handle the heat come the high day." Topps complied much to his better judgement. He does not want to leave Cera out there anymore than he has need to but knows that when the high day comes around, not even other kinds that can take the heat would go out in the open. There is enough shade in the valley whenever that time arrives, for the daily siesta until the season ends. That is, if the storms do not arrive at the time.

"So, what do you propose we do?" Mrs. Flyer inquired, causing the voices of the adults to fade into discussion. Guido though is perched atop a branch overlooking the meeting place, watching in curiosity and wondering why his friends have not returned. If anything he would go out there on his own, but then he remembers how desolate the Mysterious Beyond can actually be.

"Ohh! Why must the Mysterious Beyond be so desolate? I can't fly out there to find my friends. Plus, there is no wind to have me soar through the Sky Puffies, as Petrie and Swooper taught me that day after we escaped from Black Rock. If I were high enough out there, I could definitely glide in search for them." He then recalls about the Hot Times. "These times are so annoying, with all the heat and no wind." Guido debates whether or not he should go out there, and then glides out the tree towards the mountain border that surrounds the Great Valley.


Esterio is hiding behind a large rock just after the land bridge from the prairie, sobbing with loss to his only home. He did not want Sylvia to see him crying, or any of the others for that matter. Though his name was being called, he never stirred from his hiding place.

"Esterio!" Sylvia called after realising Esterio was not with them. "Esterio!" She looks around but does not see him. "Oh! Where has he gone?"

"Do we have to find him?" Cera asked much to the despair of both Littlefoot and Sylvia who would not stop searching for him.

"We must find him Cera! He'll be defenceless out here on his own!" Littlefoot urged before going back to finding the lizard. Shorty has only just realised how beautiful Sylvia actually is, falling for her though he does not know her. Her voice is so soothing, and her eyes are pure silver. Seeing her body sparkling silver in the light of the Bright Circle made him all the more captivated by her, a long oval blush across both cheeks. He could not help but show it when he sat down looking at the ground. A sigh of infatuation is heard by everyone nearby, and they all look to him in curiosity.

"She is, so beautiful."

"Shorty! Get it together will you!" Cera complained.

"Cera! Can you not see that he likes her?"

"Of course I can Ducky! But we can't waste any more time!"

"But!"

"Enough Ducky! He needs to pull it together and focus! We can't have him all lovey-dovey, not until we are safely with Bron!"

"Cera right! Me no know how we can make it to Bron without Shorty guiding us!"

"Exactly! So with Shorty acting like this, we'll get absolutely nowhere!" They all continue to watch, but both Ruby and Chomper start feeling uneasy, like something is watching them nearby.

"Guys! I think we should go!" Chomper insisted.

"Yes! Whatever is watching us, is still watching us!" Ruby looks around for the presence, but does not see anything besides the rocks on the edge of the desert. That is when she seems to realise that Esterio could be hiding behind one of them. She runs to Littlefoot and Sylvia, to tell them her thoughts on Esterio's location. "Guys! Maybe Esterio is hiding behind one of those rocks you can hide behind." They both look to her pointing to the rocks in the vicinity, before Sylvia quickly runs towards them to hopefully find Esterio.

"Esterio! Please!" She walks over the sand, to try and get a look behind as many rocks as her eyesight can reach. That is when she sees a Fast Biter staring at her, its jaws drooling. She screams and runs away as the carnivore chases her, but Esterio peers out from behind the rock in absolute horror that Sylvia may get caught. Sylvia quickly hides behind Littlefoot as the predator appears, giving everyone a reason to scream as he roars with desirable hunger. Considerately smaller than what they previously have faced, another two appear from behind them.

"RUN!" Littlefoot screamed before everyone runs into the desert in hope they can escape the jaws of the three hunters, giving Esterio a reason to climb the rock he was hiding behind and jump at the leading Fast Biter with his jaws open. Anchoring himself on the female's back, he bites her on her neck and forces her down onto the sand. The other two disliked the attack when they stopped to avoid a collision.

"Esterio!" Sylvia called as she turned her gaze to him.

"GO!" Esterio climbs another rock and jumps to attack the second one as Sylvia keeps going, but careers into a third rock after he is swiped by that carnivore. Crashing into a strong daze he is picked up by the carnivore's hand ready to be devoured, until Shorty comes to the rescue. With a painful cry as the Fast Biter is whipped by Shorty's tail, Esterio is dropped onto the sand where Shorty quickly picks him up and runs again. The female struggles to recover her stance, stumbling to her knees in a manner Shorty seems to recognise. He watches her shaking her head before standing again, but the result is the same. "Thank, you..." Esterio conveyed tiredly, before suddenly falling unconscious as he is carried. Shorty never stops running, catching up to the others quite quickly. The young dinosaurs carry on in this way with just one Fast Biter chasing after them, but even he stops when the shelter of the rocks diminishes. A roar of anger is all he says towards the runaway prey, as he watches them disappear amidst the heat. Knowing that he and his kin could just wait to scavenge on their remains despite their hunger, he reluctantly heads back to the other two.


Bron is the first one to wake, seemingly hearing a faint scream from Littlefoot though he did not know for sure. Was I dreaming? Bron thought as he soon realised he was still in the location of the Monument from the previous day. Appearing on a rock Chesec seems curious at his leader's reaction, wanting to find out why he woke so suddenly.

"Is everything alright, my leader?"

"Yes, though I thought I heard Littlefoot scream."

"Your son I presume."

"He is, yes."

"Why would he come here?"

"I don't know! He's supposed to be back with his grandparents, though I may have just had a Sleep Story." Bron goes back into thought. Littlefoot has no need to be out here, so why would I hear him screaming. His main concern would be to walk back out into the desert and prove his thoughts wrong, finding Littlefoot running for his life from a Fast Biter or something else. But even though he heard Littlefoot he also heard his friends, before the thought that he was dreaming comes into play once more. "They just, can't be out there!" He decides to head towards the entrance to this place, despite his coinciding thoughts.

"You don't expect to find them out there, do you?" Chesec questioned quite callously.

"I have to be sure!" Bron continues, much to the disregard of Chesec knowing the kids will interrupt things.

"I cannot allow that, Bron!" Chesec disappears when a breeze blows, his voice echoing on the wind in a dark manner. "They must not interfere!"

"Huh!" Bron looks around but does not see Chesec where he once was, under thought that he may be up to something. "Chesec! What are you up to?!" Though he shouted the question, there is no reply. "If he plans to stop me going out there, then I will have to discuss with the other leaders." He continues regardless in hope he may get to the pass before Chesec, but the other chameleons are watching him from the cliff ridge.

"What is Bron doing?" Sutoa questioned to herself. "And where is Chesec?" Suddenly, Chesec appears beside her in a major stress before heading towards the entrance to this valley. "Chesec!" Sutoa called, but he never looked back.

"What has gotten into him?" Haruno enquired thoroughly relaxed.

"Ooh! That Bron!" Lusani acclaimed before she charges after Chesec intent on an answer.

"Wait Lusani!" Sutoa runs after her, leaving Haruno relaxed with Rufos.

"What is he thinking Rufos?" Haruno asked, but he received no reply and did not see Rufos anywhere. "Rufos!"

Bron still continued towards the entrance hoping he could at least catch a glimpse of his son out there with his friends, if they are out there that is. He still has no idea, and had to find out for himself. Rufos then appears atop his back, before climbing onto the flatness of his head.

"Hmm! You plan to find your son and his friends, don't you Bron?"

"Huh!" Bron stops in confusion and looks up, suspiciously wondering how Rufos even knew about his son and his friends. Chesec, Lusani and Sutoa have also stopped, waiting to see if Bron would move again. "How, did you even know Haruno?"

"I have been watching them, ever since the watering hole."

"Are they alright?"

"They have been better. A few close calls. I last saw them escape from the cave. I know they are still alive out there, and that they are on their way here."

"And Chesec thinks they'll intervene with your plans. What exactly are your plans? No one is telling us anything!"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer your question! You see, these things are meant to be found out by yourself. We can't inform you on anything, for it is against our regulations."

"But what about our meeting? Did you not mention we were the new Seers?"

"That was a question asked by the Spiketail leader, though he had answered it himself."

"But why would they interfere with a funeral? If they are told what it is, they would understand."

"A funeral! Hmm! That's a new one."

"Well. I can understand it, by what Chesec had told me."

"So, Chesec broke the rules I see. What did he mention?"

"Only that his Seer, Mr. Thicknose's life cycle was ending. This I can understand very well, being the age that he is. So I have a feeling that all these Seers have come here, to this haven to pass on."

"Well then! I suppose we let you find your son and his friends. I'll speak with Chesec upon this matter." Rufos then disappears again and his voice echoes on the wind. "He shall know of this matter!" Bron knew to wait until Chesec had been informed, turning his gaze towards the three chameleons as if he knew they were following him along the ridge.