Another Dead End?
After days of seemingly never-ending gloom, the barrage of sky puffies started to slowly disintegrate, allowing the frail rays of the Bright Circle cast their light upon the large mountain range. It wasn't enough to warm any of the dinosaurs taking refuge in the Streli's Hills but even a small sighting of light was enough to lift the spirits of many after a flight they had already thought would never end. The light was a perfect companion to the relative relief after the many battles that had taken the lives of many of their friends and relatives. However, that temporary brightness was completely lost on one flyer who looked at his deputies with a stern look. Deep frowns could be seen on his face as he spoke.
"I cannot overstate how intolerable all of this is! It has been a week since we got rid of that bastard Peak and already some are blaming me of all our losses in saving us from his and Nira's blight! And even worse, some have gotten the idea that it was me who ordered Deron's attack on us! Why, may I ask?" He said, his already pale face only losing more of its color as he did his best to avoid suffering a total meltdown. He had been more than happy with himself when he had managed to finish that journey of death and pain and hearing accusations towards him from his followers wasn't something he was going to tolerate.
Lenel knew that there was likely much bitterness towards him among Peak and Nira's former herds but he had hoped that this newfound sense of safety would drown at least most of the criticism among them. Slight voices of dissent could be expected but the intensity with which certain rumors seemed to spread these days was something that concerned the male greatly. He had hoped that there could be another explanation for this but his doubts had slowly transformed into real suspicion: there was someone working against him in this pitiful range of mountains. The highest-ranking flyer's mood was hardly boosted when he heard Taria's answer.
"Excuse me, Lenel, but I believe some are only confused by the loss of their leaders. Such rumors should die out in time one the others realize just how ridiculous such claims truly are." She said somewhat nervously, knowing full well the depth of Lenel's anger. He had made clear he wanted the situation calmed down as soon as possible but things were taking a turn for the worse. If those rumors were accepted by most of the herd, Lenel's position could be in peril far sooner than any had expected. Sireia looked at the other female and snapped back at her in slight annoyance.
"You should know better than to propose something like that, Taria. You know very well we must act before lies corrupt the minds of our herd. We cannot wait." She said, earning a look of apology from the deputy. A brief moment of silence followed but it was soon broken by the fourth participant in this meeting. Haste's voice was an unreadable one as she looked at the slopes below the four flyers, filled with their followers as well as other herds.
"That we cannot, Sireia. Lenel is right: we cannot count the possibility of our foes seizing this chance to plot against us. After all, things got worse soon after we arrived to the Hills." Her face turned even darker as she spoke, implying she was more than serious about her allegations. Lenel frowned deeply as he heard those words, the female's presence slowly starting to worry him. Something within her had started to raise suspicions within the male, not least because of the way she had ended up as his deputy. Deep down, the pale flyer even questioned her loyalty but even then, he couldn't take rash decisions. She had done nothing worthy of his condemnation and even worse, she was an indispensable ally in upholding his authority within the herd. Lenel hid his thoughts masterfully as he answered the other flyer.
"It indeed is regretful there are so many other herds around here, Haste. I believe we're both thinking of the same possibility." He asked, willing to hear if he indeed could read the slightly shorter dinosaur's line of thinking. Even if he had certain reservations against Nira's sister, he still wanted to believe his true foes were further away from him than that. It was even probable that Haste hadn't moved a finger against him but until he was sure of it, he'd follow her moves closely. Haste's face was unmoved as she answered.
"If you believe that our old foes might take this chance to attack us using the other herds, we indeed are. It was regretful that Peak managed to flee from that fight. If I were him, I wouldn't rest until I had my revenge." She said, looking at the majestic, white mountains that seemed to rise closer to the skies than any other place she had ever laid her eyes upon. Streli's Hills were higher than even hundreds of longnecks piled upon each other, a place worthy of honoring the great hero by bearing his name. Yes, it was a majestic place but it mattered little to the female. Lenel frowned deeply as he walked closer to Haste to observe the sight, thinking of her words. His voice was beyond thoughtful as he answered.
"Yes, I doubt we've seen the last of Peak even if his sight must be terribly weakened. However, we have no proof he is in any way involved in these rumors and in fact, we don't know if he is even anywhere near us." He merely said, not willing to make it seem like he was blaming his deputy for anything. He wanted to keep all his cards to himself in case anything regretful should happen. Haste was about to answer when Taria spoke to her leader.
"Of course you are right but she might have a point. We don't know if any of the other herds' leaders are Peak's allies or friends. There is a clear chance that we might overlook a major threat if we ignore the chance that someone here is plotting against us." She said, knowing that was one thing she could help her leader with. Lenel glanced at her in interest, weighing her words deeply. He then sighed as he looked at the pale form of the Bright Circle.
"I tend to agree, Taria. We have to get a closer look at the other leaders before we can start to make further arrangements for our coexistence here until the Warm Time arrives again. However, all three of you, remember to keep your eyes open. Whether it is Peak, Deron or someone else, someone here is attempting to sabotage our work in our herd. Trying to find out who is our foremost task. Remember that." He said, his face tensing up as he gave that order. Haste and Taria nodded to him immediately and they took off without further words. Lenel looked after them for a while before turning at Sireia and speaking to his mate in a low voice.
"Especially keep an eye on Haste, my love. I fear she may not have told us everything about her ambitions." He said but almost before he had finished his words, Sireia took a more serious look than before. The rather heavily-built female looked her mate in the eyes and crossed her arms as she spoke.
"I've noticed the very same thing. Her efforts to show her loyalty to us at every turn is something I don't like in the least." She said, surprising Lenel with her words. The male knew her mate was a clever flyer and it were times like these that made her more than happy she was here with him. He finally let out a slight smile as he spoke to the light-tan dinosaur.
"And here I even thought whether or not I should tell you about it. Apparently I was wrong to even consider such things." He said as he looked into the horizon, investigating the mighty river that flowed far, far in the distance through a frozen bog. His smile deepened as he heard Sireia's answer to his words.
"Of course you should tell me about everything! That's what we have done ever since we first met." She said even if there was no hint of blame in her voice. Lenel then turned at the female and his voice turned to his more normal one slowly but surely.
"I'm grateful that you remind me of that once in a while." He said simply, earning a slight chuckle from Sireia. She was just about to answer when he heard a loud yelp behind him.
"Lenel, your presence is needed elsewhere! Kero and Northwind have returned and they say they have news that will interest you greatly!" The courier said, his voice signaling that he knew just how important this issue was for Lenel. The pale flyer exchanged glances with Sireia, his heart jumping as he heard those words. He had waited eagerly for their return and with any chance, today could turn out to be one of the greatest days of his life. He answered to the courier immediately.
"Waste no time and show us the way!"
There had been more than a few times when Petrie thought like he simply couldn't flap his wings anymore during the last day of flying. His wings felt heavier than rocks and his breathing seemed to sound more forced by the second. There had even been a few occasions when the boy felt like his gaze was turning black from his fatigue but still, he knew had to keep going forward. If he lost the sight of his former companions, he knew he'd never be able to find them again, greatly diminishing his chances of ever finding Littlefoot or his family again. But even then, trying to keep up with the two larger flyers while doing his best to hide his presence from them was something that was far more difficult than he had initially expected.
Yet, day after day passed and he never let the thought of why he had embarked on this story slip away from his mind. His determination alone enabled him to fly faster than ever before and to ignore his fatigue and exhaustion, all of those struggles only driving him towards a happy ending for this Cold Time of misery and tragedy. He would live to see its end and he would find Littlefoot, no matter what.
When the sight of the mighty mountains finally appeared before Petrie, he nearly fainted from relief. These hills sticking up from the never-ending steppe had to be the fabled Streli's Hills, the place he had been looking for so long that Petrie felt like it had happened in some distant, other life. This was the place uncle Pterano had spoken of so very often, the place he had so badly wanted to reach with his nephew. A wave of melancholy swept over Petrie at those memories but in the end, he was too tired to really mourn about the relative happiness he had lost not so long ago.
Almost immediately after he had spotted his destination, he finally lowered his altitude and took a course different from that of his companions. He couldn't care less about what Kero and Northwind would do from now on, all he cared was to find those so very precious to him. And the best way was to take a brief look whether there were any signs of his precious family among the gathered flyers. After the boy made sure the two older males wouldn't be able to recognize him, Petrie rose far higher into the sky and headed upwards, gasping as he saw just how very high the mighty mountains went.
His eyes widened slightly as the wall of stone never seemed to end no matter how high he went. The walls of the Great Valley were nothing compared to Streli's Hills but eventually, Petrie managed to reach the point where more and more flyers started to appear behind him. The boy looked in slight shock at the sheer number of his kind out here but even then, he remembered that there were supposed to be many herds gathered around this season. But no matter how hard he tried to look, there was no sign of his family. But even then, he knew that finding them like that would have been a miracle but it was more than likely that someone here would be able to help him. It wasn't long before he started to see familiar faces on the higher slopes of the mountains. It seemed like practically everyone who had lived through the great battle against Peak's followers had survived the rest of the flight here. A promising sign for their future cooperation, Petrie figured.
However, that still didn't solve his problem. He needed to find at least someone who could help him without making his presence known to any potentially hostile flyers that might still blame him for what he did to Hoist. Now, where to begin… Petrie's eyes widened as he saw the only friend he had made talk with the boy he could now recognize as Brownbeak far in the distance. Maybe, just maybe, she could help him with his search?
And even if she couldn't, Petrie was more than excited to exchange a word or two with the other flyer even if he knew the duo's reunion would be short-lived. He took a deep breath as he headed towards her, hoping to receive at least some help from Glide in evaluating whether the new herds were trustworthy or whether they should be avoided. But no matter what, this would be a great opportunity to shake off the worst fears of his journey and to meet the friend again he had already thought he'd never see again.
"How many times do I have to tell you that it would be beyond foolish to try to try to find the highest peak of these mountains, Brownbeak? It's already cold enough here as it is!" She said as she put her hands on her hips, not exactly excited about the male's answer. She was more than annoyed by this conversation as the more days passed, the more she started to realize the two flyers didn't seem to have anything in common anymore. Brownbeak also frowned at her answer before he gave his answer.
"Come on, Glide! We simply cannot stay in our nests the entire Cold Time! Besides, this is a place of legend! We have the opportunity to find out its secrets and we simply cannot sit still until we head off again!" He said pleadingly, also growing slightly annoyed with the other flyer's antics. He was beyond captivated by the majesty of these mountains and he wanted to see whether they truly continued all the way into the skies. Besides, it had been told that Streli had flown higher than even the lesser lights themselves in this place and thus bought the flyers the gift to rule the skies forever. He simply had to explore this amazing place while he had the chance. Glide, however, didn't seem to budge from her stance in the least.
"Even that is better than to freeze out there or get attacked by some sharptooth flyer! Brownbeak, I know this is a famed place but we have to remember who we are! Just look out there! The mountains get only higher all the time in that direction and we would get too far away from our herd and you know what that would mean." She said, looking at the sloping hillsides which blocked the views to the north completely. Brownbeak snorted deeply at those words, understanding her point completely but that did little for him to drop his proposition.
"When did you become such a scaredy-egg, Glide? I remember when you were even braver than I was!" He said, hoping to get through to Glide even now. However, the girl's face turned only harder as she answered.
"Ever since over half of our herd was slaughtered practically before our eyes! It would be foolish to think bad things can't happen and I have no will to join all those bloody, mutilated corpses that littered the ground. Or would you wish to join your teacher, Brownbeak?" She asked in a voice that was even harsher than she had intended but it seemed to get the point through. Brownbeak seemed to be readying for another argument but then his face fell. Indeed, Blackclaw's loss still haunted him greatly and inside, he realized he owned it also to him to avoid taking completely foolish risks. His voice was almost resigned as he answered.
"You are right, Glide. I just wished we didn't have to live that way." He said merely, annoyed that he had been forced to resign like that. Glide's face softened slightly as she prepared to answer but before she had the chance for that, she was interrupted by a voice she had already started to miss.
"Uhh… Is it okay for Petrie to interrupt?" He said in a rather happy voice, immediately widening Glide's eyes completely. It had been over a week since the two had last met but it seemed to have happened many cycles of the Night Circle ago. She immediately turned around and spoke to the boy in utter surprise.
"Why, it is! But why… How are you here?" She asked, stuttering deeply. She had already considered him as good as dead to her by now but here he was again. She smiled widely as Petrie landed beside her, Brownbeak smiling slightly at this interruption. Petrie panted for a few seconds before he finally managed to catch his breath.
"Hi again, Glide. It true that Petrie should be home right now but… me plans changed all of a sudden." He said simply, deciding against stealing all the attention from Glide's possible news. Yet, it was Brownbeak who answered first and his voice was somewhat cold as he spoke.
"I saw you already many times but we've never really spoken. So, wasn't even your Valley good enough for you? Or did you finally realize just how pitiful that place really is?" He asked with a slight sneer, more than disgusted by Petrie's old home. Petrie's face fell slightly at that question but before he got the chance to defend himself, Glide turned at Brownbeak and spoke in a nearly threatening voice.
"Shut up, Brownbeak! He beat Hoist which makes him better than most of those pathetic fools within our herd! Including both of us." She said almost threateningly, causing Brownbeak's initial bravado to die down. Petrie looked at the duo with a slightly confused look but he was happy that Glide hadn't changed her opinion of him during these days they hadn't met each other. He waited for a short moment before answering to Brownbeak.
"Thanks, Glide. And Brownbeak… Petrie not sure what to say. Certainly, the Valley has changed since Petrie last saw it… and not for the better. But that not the real reason me here today." He said, earning a questioning look from the other boy. Brownbeak decided against giving any kind of answer to Petrie's words and it was Glide who spoke next.
"At least our herd has avoided any further attacks since you were away, Petrie. I've seen many are unhappy with Lenel but still, few are ready for another battle. And daddy has been away for a good while now so that's also good." She said, more than happy that her life seemed to slowly be turning to be safer after those weeks of fear and violence. Petrie nodded at her slowly before speaking to the girl with a slightly apologizing voice.
"Uhh… in fact, your daddy was sent to help me return to the Valley. So now that Petrie back, your daddy be too." He said as he crossed his hands behind his back, smiling at Glide awkwardly. The latter's face fell immediately as she heard those words and she sighed deeply.
"Simply great, Petrie. Well, I guess I'll hear of him soon enough anyway. Not that I was in any hurry for any of that." She said wearily as Brownbeak gave her a slightly mocking look. Petrie then cleared his throat as he wanted to ease the atmosphere between the three flyers. He figured this would be the best time to tell why exactly he was here.
"Me sorry, Glide. But as for Petrie, we three reached the Valley and me guess your daddy and Kero succeeded in whatever they were doing. But Petrie wasn't. Me wanted to find me friends and family in the Valley but all of them were gone from there long ago. There was nothing for Petrie there anymore." He said, hoping he'd learn something, anything of worth, from Glide and her friend. Brownbeak frowned deeply as he walked closer to Petrie and spoke to him.
"Gone? Gone where exactly?" He asked in a far more inquisitive manner than Petrie would have liked. He took a step back and gave the other boy a look of displeasure as he answered.
"That exactly the question Petrie would like to know! One of the flyers in the Valley told Petrie that this place a good place to search for any clues as there are many flyers here during Cold Times! She said there a real chance that someone would know me momma, brothers and sisters!" He said, causing both Glide and Brownbeak glance at each other in slight surprise. It was true there were many herds out here but still, it was a desperate thought that even one of these flyers would be able to help. Still, Glide asked Petrie the obvious question in case his answer would miraculously bring anything to her mind.
"What's her name, Petrie?" She asked simply, looking at him with a concerned look. Petrie's eyes widened for a while as he very rarely even thought that his mother had an actual name as he had never called her with it or mentioned it to anyone else. Yet, it wasn't until a few seconds later when he heard the obvious words leave his mouth.
"Her name Volant. She light blue and she must be with me brothers and sisters." He said even stoically, causing Glide to frown in response. She hadn't expected to be of any help to her friend but she still wanted to ask in case some kind of miracle would have happened. She then looked at Petrie and answered to him with an apologetic voice.
"I doubt I've seen her anywhere out here. And Petrie… I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to go speak to each and every flyer around here about her. Not only would it take forever but lonely flyers often tend to avoid large herds because… they could get into trouble easily." She answered, knowing just how accepting most herds were towards outsiders. However, her words did little to sate the boy's yearning for a happy reunion.
"Then what you think, Glide? Is there another way you'd search for me family?" He said in a starker voice, sounding even ruder than he had originally meant to. He immediately noticed his slight mistake which caused Glide's mood clearly but still, she didn't show much of it in her answer.
"I don't know, Petrie. It's just that… here in the Mysterious Beyond it is often difficult to find someone if you have no idea where they went or if they don't want to be found." She said with a glum voice, realizing how very depressing her words must have sounded to Petrie. The male prepared to snap back at his friend when he suddenly noticed a menacing shadow rise behind her. He jumped around in fear and prepared to face whoever the newcomer was. However, he was surprised to see that it was an ancient,, deep gray flyer whose eyes seemed rather dim but they still saw more than clearly. But in many other ways, this dinosaur reminded him of old Swooper back in the Valley. He suddenly realized that he should have greeted him back there but those thoughts were quickly pushed to the fringes of her mind as the old flyer spoke.
"You are completely right, young lady. But both of you should know that there is always a way to reunite with a loved one, no matter how far away they are." He said in a squeaky voice. Petrie took a few steps back, not really trusting the other dinosaur after his surprising entrance. He stuttered slightly as he spoke to the ancient flyer.
"Oh… Okay. B… but before we speak about that, wh… who are you? And why you sneak at Petrie like that?" He asked, slightly calming down as he saw the old male stand still, looking at him with an investigating gaze. He waited for a long before finally giving his answer.
"Some have long ago known me as Brightrise but most seem to remember me just as the Elder of Streli's Hills. I am the only flyer who lives here and as you may guess, I have heard many things during my life here. And I couldn't avoid hearing your tale, young one." He said, looking deep into Petrie's eyes. The boy gulped deeply as he prepared to answer, not able to quite decide what the older flyer was going after.
"Alright... But what does that have to do with Petrie?" He asked, looking at the older male with a slightly suspicious look. Glide and Brownbeak looked at Brightrise with an equal amount of confusion but decided to stay silent for now. The old flyer, however, didn't seem to react to their concerns in any way. Instead, he took a faraway gaze and looked far into the horizon as he spoke.
"I'm surprised none of you have heard of me. After all, many seek me out when they want to find help with something only a select few know. In fact, I'd say I've given advice to more dinosaurs than you'll ever meet during your life." He said, causing Petrie's mind to be even more suspicious of the old male. He didn't like in the least about the way he had made his entrance and Petrie would have at least wanted to receive clear, direct answers. This time it was Glide who spoke to Brightrise with an even annoyed voice.
"But you didn't answer our question! What is it that you want?" She said, causing the older flyer to look at her with an odd look. He refrained from walking towards her but it was clear the next words were directed right at her.
"Your father is one of the brightest flyers I've met in my entire life, Glide. Trying to find out the other's motives is often a winning strategy in many situations and you have clearly inherited that suspicion. Most excellent. But as for why I'm here, I want to give you one hint. One hint that will help you even find someone from the endless wastes of our world." He said as he turned at Petrie as he finished. Glide's eyes widened as he knew her name, not really expecting that her father was this well known around here. She knew that many flyers respected him greatly but that hardly raised her opinion about him. Brightrise then bowed at Petrie and spoke to him without allowing him a chance to cut him short.
"As for you, I don't know what disaster has forced you and your friends away from the Valley but what I know is that our world is too wide for you to simply search for them without any directions. You will spend your seasons wandering alone and even then, you will find nothing of worth. Luckily, I believe a certain flyer's legacy may help you in your search. I trust even flyers in the Valley have heard about Olres?" He asked, crossing his hands behind his back as he cocked his head at Petrie. Petrie frowned deeply as he looked at the other flyer, his curiosity finally rising. He looked at the older flyer and his voice was rather stern as he answered, looking the ancient flyer in his eyes.
"Olres… Petrie has heard that name many times by now but me has already cast it aside as me haven't really cared about him! But you bring it up again. Why?" He asked, finally willing to get some insight into this name that surfaced again and again among the other flyers. His thoughts were even further complicated as he heard Brownbeak speak to the older flyer shortly.
"You can't be serious! That is just a story! You cannot even think of claiming that any of it really happened, do you?" He asked from Brightrise who in turn glanced at the boy with a condescending look.
"I hope you aren't claiming to know more than me, are you?" He simply asked, causing Brownbeak to merely snort as an answer. Petrie, however, wasn't amused by those words and he demanded again.
"What you two talking about? Please, tell Petrie what you know!" He said, willing to hear any ideas on how to find his long-lost family and Littlefoot. Brightrise slowly turned back at Petrie and waited for a moment before answering. When he did, his voice was deeper and even overly dramatic for the boy.
"I never thought that I'd meet a flyer who knew nothing of him. In any case, Olres was the most celebrated of the great flyers of old, one whose memory we hold the most dear these days. He is also the one who turned Lenel's family into the mighty, respected line he represents today. Yet, it is one particular thing within Olres' tale that has interested many flyers during the seasons that I've been here and I'd be surprised if there hadn't been far more in the ages past. But to give you the idea of this most important of stories, you have to hear at least the rough version of what happened the day our kind faced its greatest danger ever." He said, causing Petrie's interest rise even further. It really seemed like this was a tale he should have heard a long time ago and if this old flyer thought it could help him in some way, then what was the harm in allowing him to say what he had to say?
"Okay, Petrie listen." He said simply, causing the older flyer to smile slightly as he cleared this throat. Glide and Brownbeak also moved a bit closer as they also wanted to know if this dinosaur knew something they hadn't been told earlier. The flyer's old but sharp eyes shifted from one of his listeners to the other as he started to speak.
"Now, where should I begin? Oh, that's right. As you most likely have already heard before, in the old, distant times they were the flyers who ruled this entire world. That doesn't mean there weren't other kinds out there but they were far smaller and weaker than the kinds we see today. Only we were able to work together and share the lands between ourselves in peace and in many ways, that was a paradise for our kind. That era of mighty flyers, of great stories and never-ending peace lasted thousands upon thousands of cycles of the Bright Circle, far longer than even I can truly understand."
Petrie listened to the tale with interest but he couldn't help but notice just how very closely this beginning resembled to the tales uncle Pterano had told him when he was but a helpless hatchling. He had always loved his stories and he would have wanted to hear this from his uncle's beak. The boy remembered that he had actually promised to tell him of all the great flyers of the past in time, a thought that nearly tore Petrie's thoughts away from Brightrise's words. He then asked a brief question that had always lingered within his mind.
"Petrie has heard all that but why things changed? Why aren't things like that anymore?" He asked, yearning for a paradise like the one the older flyer had just described. All thoughts of his friends were suddenly swept away as he thought of that kind of world where he could for once find safety and comfort. The grey dinosaur looked at Petrie for a moment before he continued.
"Indeed, many of us ask the same thing. However, we simply have to acknowledge that sometimes things change, regardless of whether we want it or not. In this case, during those times, the other kinds grew stronger and more intelligent over time, something our ancestors noticed as well. At first, they thought that things could be allowed to develop without them having to do anything. After all, their situation was still one that none of them believed could ever be threatened. But as sad as it is, that wasn't to be.
In addition to them growing in intelligence, their numbers also started to grow far faster than before. We, the flyers, were in many ways left behind by these escalating developments and before long, the landwalkers started to work together against us and one land after another, we were pushed back. We simply couldn't stand against the landwalkers' numbers." He said with a bitter voice, shivering as a colder gust suddenly swept beside the four flyers. He again took a brief pause as he caught his breath. Glide crossed her arms, somewhat disappointed that the tale had been practically the same she had already heard earlier.
Petrie, on the other hand, was slightly taken aback by the tale thus far. Of course, there had to have happened something terrible that had caused the flyers to lose their position so very long ago but to hear things like that about the landwalkers… Petrie remembered very well how badly the herds had despised each other during their journey into the Valley but things like these had mostly been wiped away from his mind in the Valley. But if the other flyer's words were true, there were far worse things that had happened in the past than even the recent massacre inside his very own herd. He gulped as Brightrise continued to speak.
"Even worse, as some herds started to lose their homes to the landwalkers, they were forced to flee to the lands of the other flyers', resulting in ever-growing discord and fighting inside our own kind. The newcomers would have wanted to share the lands again but there was hardly food for everyone even before their arrival. As a result, the flyers started to fight with one another, only weakening all of our kind in return. Those were truly sickening and horrifying times." The old flyer said as he shook his head in clear disgust. However, it was at that point that Petrie finally interrupted the other flyer and asked carefully.
"P… Petrie never knew anything about that. Me just happy that happened a long time ago. B… but what this have to do with Olres and Petrie?" He asked, not really seeing the point of Brightrise's story just yet. To him, it sounded lie a bad dream that could never come to pass in the world he knew. The old flyer narrowed his eyes as he looked at Petrie, not really approving of the younger flyer's interruptions.
"That is something you'll hear soon enough if stay silent for a bit longer! Now where was I… Oh, yes. After the flyers had been driven from most of the world and most of us had fallen in different battles, we tried to take one final stand against the landwalkers. The battle went on for days but in the end, we were all scattered to the winds, only a handful of flyers living through that disaster. That one battle was the culmination of all our mistakes and in that moment, everything seemed lost… but that was also the moment when Olres' tale truly began.
He was but a young member of one of the remaining herds, not respected by even most of his own companions. Olres himself was terribly wounded in the battle but unlike so many of the other flyers, he retained one thing most of the others had thrown away so readily: the hope there could still be a future for the flyers. However, even his faith was broken momentarily by the enormous loss of life in the aftermath of that battle. Especially after he tried to rally the rest of his herd and after being expelled from it for good." Brightrise took a brief pause to catch his wheezing breath.
Petrie looked at him oddly, not really having expected the story to be such a dark one. It was rather surprising his uncle hadn't told him of this story as it seemed to be an important one for the ancient dinosaur. Petrie felt a sting deep inside him as he thought about everything that had happened in those distant days and he couldn't help but feel for Olres' struggles in that day. Petrie could relate to the feeling that the entire world he had loved was collapsing around him but in Olres' case, that reality was even more concrete than it was for him. He would have wanted to ask another question from the older dinosaur but decided against it as Brightrise seemed to really dislike any interruptions to his story.
"The last any of his friends saw of him was him heading back into the battlefield to search for the remains of his companions as he hoped to at least find some solace in seeing them one last time. However, this is where this tale becomes extremely weird. Three days and nights passed and most had thought Olres had most likely met his end, alone and forgotten. However, he returned soon and he was nearly beyond recognition. Not because of his appearance had changed but because he radiated courage and decisiveness." He said, causing Glide to again join the conversation. She knew all that Brightrise had already told but this was one point where she wanted some clarification if at all possible.
"Yes, I know all that but I've never really heard any explanation what happened that day." She merely said, looking at the male in clear interest. The latter looked at the girl with an unreadable expression but he didn't wait until he gave his answer.
"I've heard few know about that. However, I am more than willing to share what I know if you could just wait a little longer. I see your friend still wants to hear the ending to the tale." He said, seeing as Petrie nodded in interest. This really sounded like some of the stories he had heard in the Valley and he could already tell what was coming.
"Indeed, Olres sought out here his old herd and even if he had already been exiled, it seemed like nobody really seemed to care about it. That mighty flyer immediately showed he was the right leader to lead them in that ghastly situation. Even more astonishingly, he then united the last herds together and even after endless Cold Times of fighting, he managed to unite the flyers again into one herd again.
The landwalkers were already preparing to finish off the last of us but Olres rallied our kind together and in another massive battle, he managed to secure the flyers one last sanctuary. It is said that Olres himself stood his ground against a dozen threehorns, longnecks and many others, beating all of them. But most importantly, it was his inspiration that urged the others on and despite most of his companions having already resigned to the thought that the day of the flyers was over. But that isn't even the end to it all." He said as he looked at Petrie's excited expression. The boy couldn't help but admire this last kind that had saved so very much. A bit by bit, he was starting to understand just why Olres' name was that deeply revered by some many. Still, he didn't want to interrupt Brightrise as he really wanted to know what came after the miraculous victory.
"The landwalkers were completely outraged by their defeat and they wanted to immediately try to wipe us out again. Olres, however, could have tried to capitalize on his victory but he knew that the glory days of our kind could never again be restored. Too much had been lost already but Olres, unlike many others of leaders, knew that most of the other kinds were reasonable in their hearts and he then called to each of them to one, great meeting. It was on that day that Olres struck a deal with the landwalkers that they'd allow us, the flyers, to retain our mastery over the skies and the high places of the world if we simply wouldn't bother them ever again. We still had what we loved the most and ever since that day, our kind has been safe from those who would wish us harm. All thanks to that one flyer." Brightrise finished as he crossed his arms, looking towards the skies with a warm, faraway look. Petrie was completely silent for a moment, not really able to decide what to think. Most of the time, he had believed these tales because he had wanted to but this seemed different. Something deep within him seemed to whisper him that these events were more than one old flyer's banter. Petrie didn't even realize that he was panting slightly as he spoke.
"That really quite a story! B… but me still have so many questions! Why did the landwalkers act so bad? When did this happen and where? What happened to Olres that one night?" He asked, thoughts overflowing his mind. He was beyond astonished by what he had heard and he could already tell why exactly Olres was this deeply revered. Brightrise chuckled slightly as he looked at the young boy's genuine curiosity but he coughed deeply before he answered.
"Now, these are the questions that most wonder all their lives. What you just heard is one of the most complete versions of Olres' deeds anywhere even if I still know some herds somewhere still hold different pieces of knowledge. But I'd still guess that the landwalkers were envious of the flyers' glory in our old days and they merely wanted their piece of what their lives in this world could offer them. As for when this happened, it must be hundreds, thousands or even more Cold Times since those distant days, praise the Bright Circle." He said slowly, this conversation clearly starting to tire him slowly. However, he still was determined to finish his point before sending the younger flyers on their way.
"As for what happened to Olres, no one can say. But whatever it was, it was something no flyer can dream of. To think that he changed from a meek, weak flyer to what he'd become is an unthinkable change to most and I cannot even begin to imagine what caused it. However, what I do know is that something amazing must have taken place as after that night, everything Olres did turned into a success and he got the gift that his own deeds brought him all the luck he ever needed in his mission, And if I had to guess, I'm sure that change didn't happen by itself." He said with a strange smile, causing immediately a new question from Glide.
"What do you mean? What do you possibly mean that "it didn't happen by itself"?" She asked, frowning deeply at those words. This was exactly one thing that she had wanted to learn for a long time but she hadn't even heard this much before. Brightrise looked at her for a long time before he finally gave his answer.
"That is something Olres never revealed to any flyer during his entire life. It is a mystery many have wanted to find out during the seasons but none have succeeded. However, I am more than sure that whatever happened isn't something we can even hope to explain. But what I do know is that there was something in that place, some force we don't understand. And I see no reason why it wouldn't be there today. After all, this world is full of stories that are filled with the kind of wonders that should be impossible. I'm afraid that's all I can tell you, young ones." He said, a longing look lingering within his eyes.
Petrie, however, was left more than torn by those words. So, he had one old flyer's word that all of this had happened but it took him a short while before he finally realized what the old male's point really was. His voice was uncharastetically sarcastic as he answered to Brightrise.
"So, let Petrie get this straight. You say that all of this old story really happened and that this thing, that you don't even know anything of, might also help Petrie find me family and friends? That me would try to get to the bottom of this simply for me own problems?" He asked, not really realizing just how much he sounded with Cera as he spoke. Any of his old friends would have noticed the change within the once-naïve flyer but now, Petrie didn't want to embark on another adventure without knowing things would be all good afterwards. However, his thoughts were interrupted as he felt Glide hit his back with a quick blow and whisper to him angrily.
"Come on, Petrie, show some respect! Whatever you do, don't anger those wiser than us!" She said, surprised by the largely uncovered sarcasm that dipped from the boy's voice. However, Brightrise took a wide smile as he waved Glide to relax.
"It's alright, it's alright. As for you, Petrie was it, you may decide to listen to what I told you or you may not. However, I just ask you to remember that it would be a miracle if you found your lost family and friends by yourself, alive at least. Miracles can happen but I have learned in my life that there is no reason to leave things to chance if you can avoid it. Finding out Olres' secret will also be a struggle but I can see that you might just be up for it." He answered, leaving Petrie to look extremely conflicted. All the thoughts about Olres' fame and wisdom were lost on him completely and he would never chase anything in search of them and he voiced his doubts immediately. He took a deep breath before he answered.
"Petrie not want to be any flyer of legend! Me just want to be Petrie and find me family and friends again!" He said miserably, causing Glide's eyes to widen at this answer. The older flyer bowed at him and spoke briefly to the boy.
"Now, that is something many other flyers could learn from. Do what you want, Petrie. Just listen to what your heart has to say." He simply said as he rose to his wings, leaving the three flyers behind him. Petrie was about to speak again but before he managed to form one words, the older flyer was gone. He looked into the ground, thinking of everything he had heard. Silence reigned for a long time before Glide's slightly concerned voice alerted Petrie into the present again.
"Petrie… are you alright?" She asked, causing Petrie to twitch noticeably. He then looked at Glide and spoke in an absentminded voice.
"Oh… Petrie well enough. Me… me just need some time alone. See you later Glide and Brownbeak." He said before he headed into the skies, leaving a concerned and rather annoyed flyer behind him. Petrie didn't notice it just but there was also a third pair of eyes looking behind him keenly.
A slight cringe rose to Petrie's beak as he kicked a small rock with all his might. Not only was his physical fatigue starting to overwhelm him but Brightrise's words haunted his mind. Bit by bit, the memory of Pterano's endless trust in unexplainable powers rose to his mind and inside, he had come to terms that his uncle's actions back then were very close to the definition of foolishness. The Stone of Cold Fire had been a lie from the beginning so why would this be any different? Would such a place at the center of such a story really help him find his family and Littlefoot?
He had come to these mountains to search for any hints of them but only now did Petrie realize just how foolish his quest was. It had been wishful thinking his mother would come to this exact place and it was true, it wasn't worth it to ask each of the hundreds of flyers here whether they had seen a light-blue flyer with her children. Petrie knew she hadn't had any old friends outside the Valley so any sightings anyone here would have of her would be vague or extremely brief ones. But even then, he'd have to keep on trying, for their and his own sake.
A deep sigh of longing escaped the flyer's beak as he sat down on the nearby cliff, looking at the other flyers far below him. He had flown here for days only to see his journey face another major challenge. But even then, trying to rely on an age-old story would only be the confirmation to his despair and in many ways, Petrie had grown to loathe his former naivety. If he hadn't trusted anything he was told, he would have taken a stronger chance during his last journey with his friends and especially during his final conversation with his dear uncle. The old Petrie had wanted good but even then, his old trust had never yielded any positive outcome. In this way, the boy would have wanted nothing more than to wave Brightrise's words away as some kind of lie he tried to tell him for some reason.
Yet… another fact fought for its place within the boy's mind. He knew that Northwind and Kero had tried to find out some details about Olres' story in the Valley, most likely for Lenel. Of course, Lenel was told to be related to Olres so that might just explain his interest in that age-old story. Yet… even then, the light-colored flyer hardly seemed like someone who would waste time chasing some stories, even if they happened to some distant ancestor of his. Petrie shook his head, wondering whether Lenel knew something he didn't but even then, he wasn't ready to put much weight to whatever Lenel was planning.
With slow, forced movements, the boy rose back to his feet and started to walk around the small mountain path, feeling as his heart beat in his chest, longing for any ideas on how to move on from this moment where everything seemed to be falling upon him. There was a chance for him to reunite with those he cared about but what was the right, the most promising path to take? How could he possibly…
"Olres' story truly is one that seems to speak directly to most flyers. However, I know there are many other things in your mind as well." Petrie turned to look at the source of those words, frowning as he saw a rather young, short and weak-looking flyer land beside him. He seemed rather familiar to the boy but he couldn't quite tell when he had seen this particular dinosaur. His voice was wary, even hostile as he answered.
"Yes, Petrie has already enough in me mind and me have nothing to tell you at this point. Just leave Petrie be, whoever you are." He said, hoping the other male would simply take the hint and let him be. Just yet, he couldn't tell what was coming in this discussion but the next words caught his undivided attention.
"Of course I could but I'm still quite sure you're interested in hearing what happened to your uncle, now aren't you, Petrie?" He asked, knowing that Petrie wouldn't try to send him away anymore. Indeed, the boy looked at the other flyer with an increasingly annoyed look, not in the least sure why so many seemed to take interest in him on this day.
"Uncle Pterano died fighting beside Lenel in order to prevent any further fighting within the herd. That's all there is to it. He died doing what he thought was right but… but he still died." Petrie said as his face fell, hating to think what could have happened if only a few things had happened differently. He looked at the young male with sad eyes as he gave his answer.
"That he did. However, the tale Lenel and the others told you isn't quite true. If we are completely honest, that entire battle could have been avoided if Lenel could have just kept his lust for power in check. It wasn't Peak or Nira who betrayed Nimble's memory. It was Lenel." He said with a heavy voice, causing Petrie's face to take a highly suspicious look to it. He would have been lying if he had said he cared greatly at this point of the problems between the herd leaders even if he had a small idea what the other flyer was getting at.
"And what does that have to do with Petrie? Are you saying me uncle betrayed the herd?" He asked with a clear snort, not really liking the thought of where the other flyers was getting at. The older male was taken aback by Petrie's dismissal of those words completely but even then, it was likely that a virtual outsider wouldn't really care about such things. Even then, he didn't allow his momentary astonishment delay his answer.
"I am not. Your uncle was Lenel's deputy but he wasn't told the entire truth. I hate to tell it to you but your uncle was a pawn and really, he didn't even want to start the fight. But he didn't really have a choice: everyone else present joined Lenel's plan readily and your uncle would have paid a heavy price for disagreeing with Lenel like that." He said, allowing Petrie to think of his words for a moment. The boy looked at him oddly and it was many seconds before he finally spoke again. This time his voice wavered as he spoke.
"You… you mean uncle Pterano was forced to join the fight that didn't have to happen? B… but it was Peak's fault Nimble was killed! He… he had to be dealt with!" He asked in confusion, not willing to accept all of the implication of the other flyer's story quite yet. However, the older male's face didn't even twitch at the younger flyer's words.
"That's what Lenel want us to believe but the truth is, Peak and Nira thought that after Nimble's death, it was no longer profitable to stay in this herd as Nimble was the only one the three other flyers really listened. That should have been that but no, that was not acceptable to Lenel. He decided that it was only up to him to decide whether the other herds had the right to leave his or not. He launched the attack to destroy all of his competition and to bring all others under his thrall." He said slowly, clearly making sure none of his words were lost on Petrie. However, the boy wasn't exactly content with the answer and he put his hands on his hops as he answered. He wasn't about to listen some unknown flyer insult his uncle's memory, not after everything he had done for those around him.
"Tell Petrie one reason why me should believe anything you say! Me uncle say Lenel a good flyer and if you think me believe you rather than him, you are terribly mistaken! Pterano did what he thought was for the best and if he thought Lenel was the one who could leave you the best, Petrie must trust in him!" He cried, annoyed that he had to even argue about this. Inside, he was more than bitter towards the herd for robbing Pterano away from him but in the end, he had done all of it willingly. No matter how Petrie wished he could have made Pterano to give up the fight, all the boy had left was to believe he had sacrificed himself for a noble cause, a thought that this insufferable flyer was trying to prove wrong. However, the latter wasted no time giving his answer.
"Whether or not you believe me or not, that matters little. However, I will say that I, too, have long served a flyer who I trust fully and that flyer has seen all that I told with their own eyes! So in the end, you will learn the truth and I wish you did so sooner or later. Your uncle died fighting for a treacherous murderer and that is the whole, sad truth." He said, causing Petrie's mind to grow ever more agitated. The boy suddenly stepped forward and snapped at the older flyer with a voice that seethed with outrage.
"Go away and stop telling lies about uncle Pterano! He deserve better than this after everything that has happened!" He cried, looking at the older flyer with livid eyes. However, the other male was mostly just amused by the child's antics and he slowly bowed towards Petrie, speaking in a more silent voice.
"If you want more proof, I have one small detail about Olres' story you might be interested in. You see, Lenel sent Kero and Northwind into the Valley because he had heard that they might have some idea about the location of where Olres' near-rebirth happened. They found the answer and in turn, my leader knows it as well." He said with a slight smirk, turning Petrie's rage into confusion and hesitation. He still didn't know what to think and truth be told, he wasn't interested in asking this insufferable flyer to tell him anything. However, before he could really even think of it, he heard the obvious words slip from his beak.
"Then where was it? And if the Valley always knew of it, then why haven't they sought it out?" He asked, surprising even himself with the excitement within his voice. The dark-grey male bowed even closer to Petrie and lowered his voice even further, as if to make sure no one else could hear him even if there was no one else anywhere to be seen.
"Only few flyers know the full implications of what can be found in that land. It seems like the Valley sees it only as a legend and have no interest in finding out the truth. As for where it is located, it is somewhere far to our east and north, at least many weeks' flight away from here. That place is known as the Land of Dancing Streams these days." He said, causing Petrie to frown deeply as he heard those words. He had never heard of such a place and hearing those words, only one more question rose to his mind.
"Why you telling Petrie all this? Why do everyone want to tell Petrie these stories?" He asked, finally thinking of voicing his overall suspicion of the other male's motives. Petrie expected the other flyer to give some kind of vague answer that would only raise other questions but instead, the answer was a direct one even if it still worried Petrie somewhat. The older male smirked at the boy briefly as he prepared to take off.
"I and my leader only want as many as possible to see the error of Lenel's ways and possibly even thinking of one day standing up to his vile plans. That is all there is to it." He said as he jumped into the air but before he could even flap his wings for the first time, a loud voice pierced the air. It was a voice that was too familiar for Petrie by now. A call of alarm, most often used when one member of the herd was under attack. The young flyer's face fell as the next words escaped his beak.
"Oh no, not again! Can things ever go the way Petrie would want to?"
This chapter was quite heavy on conversations but I addressed many things here that needed to be shed light on. Again, Petrie finds the walls close on his previously planned way forward but Brightrise's tale and the anonymous flyer's appearance gave him even more to think about. But as the ending shows, there is still more events to come before Petrie will even get a chance to start searching for his family and Littlefoot. There will be one more chapter coming before my next short story and I hope you have a great time until then!
TimeLordMaster108: It is great to hear you find my portrayal of Ruby's family well done as I like writing them myself. And truth be told, their role has turned out even better than I had initially expected and I'm quite happy about this plot as a whole. As for Ducky, yes, I expected many to rejoice about this development but indeed, Spike's whereabout are a mystery. It is likely Ducky will have answers but that will have to wait for the next time.
Eris: Your idea was a really decent one so thank you for reminding me of this opportunity to bring Chomper back into this story, if only for a moment.
The Rhombus: I'm afraid the pace of revelations didn't abate that much in this chapter either. In any case, Ruby indeed is in better spirits after Chomper's appearance and I'm glad you liked the way I portrayed her conversation with her siblings and friends. Of course, their decision is a ludicrous one from a practical point of view but at least they are in this mess together. That means much to all of the omnivores after what happened.
And yes, Ducky's appearance alive breaks most of the barriers I had built during the last year and a half around the supposed demise of the rest of the Gang but I warn against making too many conclusions about her survival. The swimmer and the fastrunner indeed head for the new adventure but there is still so very much left unrevealed. But the next chapter will shed more light on those questions.