Hi, everyone. Sorry for the very, very long overdue update. I won't bother you with a side story, but I've been very busy. I'm still working on the story, though. Never fear.

As always, please review and let me know if there are any characters or stories left you want to see. It also helps to know if you have any favorites.

Again, I apologize for it being so long. This honestly is my longest running story to date.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter! As always, there's another to follow!

-Angelwriter84

PS- I read a review asking for a Spike-centric chapter, and personally found the episode where it's from his point of view (I'd never seen it). I like the idea and have noted it. Thanks for the input! Spike should be interesting to work with.

Chapter 29 The Smoking Gorge

Littlefoot's Grandfather

Kenneth lay watching as his grandson and friends played in the watering hole with Chomper and his parents. They were having quite a time. He hoped none of the other adults would come and spoil it by fussing about how the sharpteeth were out of their boundaries. He noticed that they seemed restless in their part of the valley, and managed to get most of the council members to let them roam for a few hours with supervision. Today, they were at the watering hole under the supervision of him and Nicholas. He just hoped Mr. Threehorn didn't show up. He himself was nervous about sharpteeth in the Valley for a while, but after so many weeks of them not causing any trouble, he thought they had at least proven themselves.

A few cautious adults watched from afar as the sharpteeth minded their business around the watering hole. As of now, they were turning the entire watering hole into a pool of waves for Littlefoot and his friends by sloshing around in the water and whipping their tails around. He noticed the father had quite a powerful tail swipe. Each time the sharpteeth made a new wave, Littlefoot and his friends would be hurled backwards by the wave. When they reached shallow water, they would all laugh.

Eventually, the mother moved on to the Thundering Falls and chose to step under it. She shook the droplets off and laid down in the shallow water. Chomper's Father continued to wildly chase his son around in the wavy water for a few more minutes. When he caught his son, he quickly shoved him under water with his nose and blew bubbles. When Chomper came up laughing, he noticed his mate wasn't there and went over to where she was relaxing.

He looked down at her, back to Chomper, then down at her again. Without blinking an eye, he slapped the water with his tail several times. This caused waves strong enough to sweep her away from her spot. She made a long, low growling sound at him that sounded like a scolding.

Kenneth laughed.

Instead of going back to Chomper and his friends, he decided to plop down by her, causing a further disturbance in the water. When she growled at him again, he turned over onto his back and huffed at her nagging. Exasperated, she finally gave up and let him be.

Chomper swam over and climbed onto his dad's stomach. "No, Dad! You can't go to sleep! You said you'd make more waves."

His dad grunted in response and rolled over, causing Chomper to fall into the water. Chomper laughed and climbed onto his dad's back and patted around with dramatic steps. "You…can't….go….to….sleep!"

Chomper's dad made a rumbling noise and waited for Chomper to step on his nose before tossing him into the air. His mate watched with a smile as he did this over and over. Chomper laughed, not even having the chance to finish his sentence. Finally, Chomper's father stood up and waded back into the water with Chomper and his friends.

Kenneth laughed. "I miss having the energy to keep up with the young ones sometimes."

"I just miss my son being that little. Didn't talk back as much," Nicolas joked.

Kenneth chuckled. "Yes…. I've raised a teenager, too. It's not so bad when they are in their late teens…"

"Oh, that's years…." Nicolas groaned, pulling a hand over his eyes.

"They go by fast," Kenneth said, watching Littlefoot as he jumped into the water from the edge and frantically tried to swim away as Spike came in right behind him. The boy had a little of Bronn in him, but mostly, he was so like his mother. Kenneth sighed and watched as Littlefoot emerged from the water and laughed with his friends. Littlefoot laughed every day. He wished he could've given his mother the same chance.

A young Kenneth watched as his new baby daughter played around the pong with the other young longnecks, surrounded by the herd members. That was how the protected the young. Keeping them in the middle. Never on the outside. But Helene was just a few weeks old.

Mariam and Elaine were talking near their newly hatched young ones. Elaine's mate came up to him where he had a free moment. "You don't regret never leaving this gorge, do you?"

Kenneth laughed. "Hehe, no. Leaving Mariam….It just didn't seem possible. I forgot all about traveling the land spreading stories. It was getting lonely and tedious, anyway. I just didn't realize it until… I had something else."

He shrugged. "Well, it's nice having a full time story speaker here. The nights were beginning to get a little dull. Sharpteeth don't come in here…much. It's almost like a mini Great Valley. If it exists."

"I think it does," Kenneth said. "And this is nothing like it. If this was it, then sharpteeth wouldn't come after us. Ever. I could let Helene run free instead of chasing her back to the middle all the time, and being afraid of the day she is old enough to experience the world. Sharpteeth, firepits…."

"Well, she has a good father and family."

He startled when he heard Mariam and Elaine scolding their daughters. A green from underwater had floated to the bank. Helene and Elaine's daughter, Ava, both wanted it. They grabbed onto it at the same time and were pulling on it.

"Helene!" Marian scolded gently.

"Ava, remember what I said about sharing…" Just as Elaine was about to snip it in half, both girls let go and the green went flying into the water. Both girls burst into laughter, amused by the new trick they'd learned. Both fathers smiled at the gurgling laughter of their two infant daughters.

Mariam rolled her eyes with a smile and scooped her daughter up by the tail. When Helene noticed they were walking toward Kenneth, she began kicking all four feet, eager to get to him.

Kenneth chuckled when Mariam sat her on his back. "Now, Helene, you know I missed you, too."

Helene laughed as he nuzzled her. Mariam nuzzled her daughter, then Kenneth. Helene wedged herself in between them when she realized that she wasn't getting all the attention anymore. Mariam sighed. "I think it's time for this young one's nap. Then we need to discuss 'sharing.'" Mariam nuzzled her daughter once more.

Kenneth checked on his daughter, who was prancing around on his back. "Nonsense. She's supposed to visit her grandparents. It's not polite to keep the leader of the herd waiting, is it?"

Mariam blinked. "I don't think it's polite for her to demand all their attention to herself."

"Well, her cousins will teach her all about their hierarchy," Kenneth said optimistically.

Mariam, knowing her family, laughed and proceeded to follow Kenneth to the farther end of the gorge. Suddenly, they heard a loud explosion nearby followed by a slight earthshake. Then everything stopped. Surprisingly, Helene didn't start crying from the noise. Mariam checked the uncracked ground and stood close to Kenneth.

"Kenneth, what just happened?"

He looked for an answer as Elaine and her mate joined them. "I don't…."

His eyes grew wide when he found the answer. Smoke was coming out of the smoking mountain that, only moments before, stood serenely above the gorge. He tried to hustle Mariam and the others to the outside of the herd before they got caught in the panic of the herd. "We have to go. Now!"

The hardest part would be keeping Mariam from going back. His mate blinked at him in confusion. "Wh-What…."

They all nearly lost their balance as the fire spurted out of the smoking mountain and began to quickly run into the river where, minutes earlier, their children ran been playing. Kenneth shoved Mariam to the outside wall of the gorge as everyone screamed and began to trample each other to get out of the gorge. Everyone who didn't have children or family took off first.

Kenneth watched in horror as the fire from the smoking mountain filled half the gorge where they lived, bringing horror to many of the families. The fire came closer and closer to them, still. Many were beginning to realize that there was no way to get their families back, and took off after the others. More loyal members of the families paces the around the edges of the fire, hoping a family member would arise from the ashes.

Kenneth looked back at a whimpering Helene and nuzzled Mariam, whose eyes were fixed on the horror before her. "Mariam…"

"Kenneth, my…my family lived back there. My father….Helene's grandparents….Can we go get them?" Mariam asked, in a daze.

Kenneth shook his head and saw a chance for Elaine and her family. "Run!" he shouted at them. Reluctant, but realizing they had no choice, they escaped the gorge.

Kenneth pressed his nose into Mariam's tear-stained muzzle. "I don't think so, dear. We'll find a safe place to wait, but we've got to get Helene out of this gorge. Do you hear me?"

For a moment, Mariam did nothing. But, as if in a hasty decision, she scooped Helene up by the skin of her neck with her mouth and carried her off. Kenneth followed closely behind them. Keeping anyone who nearly trampled his family away. They ran until they caught up with the last group that had escaped before them. And ran some more when they heard another explosion behind them.

When they stopped running, they were huddled in a tiny group. Exposed in the middle of the Mysterious Beyond with no food or water. They could still see the smoke coming from their former home. And they all knew it was just that. Former. There was nothing left to go back to.

After several minutes of discussion from the members of the group who were mentally able, it was clear they weren't going to stay together. It was nothing personal, but most of them had family or friends nearby that they hoped to catch up with. They all felt it was their best chance at survival.

Kenneth said nothing, but he was truly frightened for his family. Mariam kept watching the horizon, but none of her family showed up. He didn't have any left, which is why he became a story speaker to begin with. They had nowhere to go.

Just as everyone went their separate ways, Elaine's mate, Amos, walked the opposite way of the crowd to approach them. "Hi, Kenneth. I know Mariam lost her family today… And if you don't have anyone in mind, I have family nearby that will take us in. I'm taking Elain and Ava now. Would you and Mariam…like to join us?"

Kenneth sighed. "Thank you, Amos. I think that is our best chance right now. Let me get Mariam."

He approached his mate, who was beginning to look sadder and sadder as she watched the dying smoke on the horizon. The smoke turned white. "The fire is out and they still haven't come," she wailed. "They didn't make it, did they?"

Kenneth was silent a moment. "I'm sorry, dear. I really am. Your family were wonderful people. I wished your herd had stayed to give them a eulogy… and maybe once we get to safety we will. But everyone is scared, dear. We have to keep moving before sharpteeth find us here. We are traveling with Amos and Elaine. How does that sound?"

Mariam winced like she really didn't want to, but scooped Helene up and managed to stand. She put an exhausted Helene on Kenneth's head and walked alongside him as they followed their friends. An hour of walking and silence passed before Amos turned his head. "I could use a good story, if you're up to it, Kenneth."

Kenneth nearly refused. But thought long and hard when he felt Mariam laid her head against his as they walked.

"Did I ever tell you the story of how the Longnecks once saved the Bright Circle..."

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?!"

Nicolas, who appeared to be dozing, looked up. "Well, here we go. Mr. Threehorn has entered the watering hole."

Kenneth sighed and got there just as Chomper's father noticed Topps running up to him. "Wait, Mr. Threehorn, please! They are under supervision."

Mr. Threehorn saw the children playing around Chomper's mother, who just noticed the mix-up. "Yeah? Under whose approval? You need two council members, longneck!"

Kenneth rolled his eyes as Nicolas managed to stand and come into ankle deep water. "I approved. I want to know they be trusted around here without tearing the valley up. So far, they've done fine."

Mr. Threehorn seemed surprised. "Who else?"

Chomper's mother said something to Chomper.

"What did she say?" Mr. Threehorn asked.

"She said she thought this was okay," Chomper said politely.

"It is okay!" Petrie's mother flew in from above and landed on a tree branch. "I approved it, and the children are fine. I've been watching from my nest all day!"

Topps huffed and searched the area. "Then where is my daughter?"

A few people started to answer, but Chomper's father growled something and walked over to Mr. Threehorn.

"My daddy said that since Mr. Threehorn is looking at him, he will help him himself," Chomper said.

Chomper's father growled something else. Chomper looked uneasy and said, "He really said, 'I'll help the bossy threehorn.'"

"Bossy!" Mr. Threehorn huffed.

Chomper's father turned his head to Cera and grunted. "He said that's her," Chomper translated.

"Yes, I know that's her…" Topps realized he'd been insulted and stomped his foot down. "I'm talking about my other daughter! Tricia!"

Chomper's father said something to his mate, who shrugged and looked confused. He turned to Topps and snarled a response.

"Brown?" Chomper asked on his father's behalf.

"No, pink… What does that matter?!" Topps vented.

Chomper and his father talked back and forth in their language as Chomper's father sniffed the air and immediately stood beside a bush that was close to the watering hole.

"You mean to tell me she's been in the bushes this whole time?" Topps snarled. "That's…"

Chomper's father gave the bush a light nudge with his nose. Sure enough, Tricia and Mae came running out of the bushes laughing. Tricia stopped when she saw her father in front of her, wagged her tail, and rested her front paws on his foot.

Topps turned his attention back to Cera when Saban waded back into the water and began to make more waves for the kids by sloshing his feet around.

"You weren't watching your sister, Cera!" he scolded.

"I was, Daddy! I knew she was there. She didn't want to swim, so…"

Topps huffed and stormed off. Cera debated on what to do, then abruptly left the water and ushered her sister after him.

Kenneth sighed and approached Chomper's parents. His mother had scooped him up and was walking toward him with her mate.

"She says they are sorry," Chomper said.

"There's nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong. Mr. Threehorn always makes such a fuss of things. He's really not so bad once you get to know him…"

Chomper's father mumbled something Chomper really didn't seem comfortable translating. His mate nudged him with her nose.

"They are ready to go home now," Chomper said. "It's getting late."

"Of course. I'll walk you," Kenneth said. The children and other adults dispersed for the evening as they headed that way. Only Littlefoot came with them to walk Kenneth home and to keep Chomper company.

"I know getting to know Threehorn might be a little more interaction than you're interested in…" Kenneth said.

Chomper's father stopped and made a noise that sounded like a question. His mate urged him forward. Kenneth realized he'd guessed what the sharptooth had said earlier.

"But soon, he'll adjust to you being here. We hope you are adjusting well… You're welcome to do this again anytime."

Chomper told him his mother had thanked him.

When they got to the sharptooth's part of the valley, Kenneth stopped. "I was wondering….what are you names? We only know you as Chomper's parents."

The two sharpteeth looked at each other and took turns responding. Chomper smiled up at him. Their names are Saban and Risa," he said.

"Well, any time you want to look around the valley again, let us know," Kenneth volunteered, hating the idea of them feeling trapped.

Saban grunted something and crossed their waters. Kenneth smiled because he had a good idea of what he was. "Even though I'm fairly sure he likes the idea right now," he told Risa.

Risa's eyes widened, but she grinned when Kenneth smiled and turned away. Chomper waved over her shoulder. "Bye, Littlefoot!"

"Bye, Chomper!"

Kenneth sighed. "Well, Littlefoot, let's go home. Grandma will be wondering where we are."