A Brief Rest
A deep sigh escaped Petrie's beak as he slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the dark ceiling of the cave he and his siblings had slept in following the long and happy reunion last night. For the first time in what seemed forever, Petrie had truly slept peacefully without any hint of fear or sorrow as the presence of his family seemed to cast those sentiments into nothingness. He looked around himself with a curious look, noticing the morning was still young but despite that, his mother was still missing. However, that fact didn't bother the boy at all as he knew she most likely wanted to surprise her family happily on a day like this.
That thought alone made Petrie smile deeply as he slowly rose to a sitting position, both looking forward and dreading that what he knew would follow soon enough. His family would certainly want to hear what had happened to him but… he already dreaded how his mother would react to his news about Pterano and… and also just how his siblings would take his tale.
A slight frown rose to the boy's peak as he looked at some of his brothers and sisters, the seemingly endless days of torture a small group of them had put him through returning to his mind. The image of his older siblings doing their best to humiliate and hurt him still bringing a chilly feeling to his heart. However, he wanted to believe those days to be distant past and there was no reason to believe even his siblings would resume their sickening antics after this reunion. After all, he had been thought to be dead fore many cycles of the Night Circle and certainly even the worst his siblings had missed him at least a bit? Hopeful look rose to Petrie's face as he rose to his full height, preparing to greet the new day. However, after taking one step, his good mood died down completely.
As his foot hit the ground, the boy immediately felt it slipping in the cold ground… sending him falling straight forward... into a small, frigid, muddy pond he hadn't seen the previous evening. As the flyer felt his beak sinking into the mud and started to cough the water from his lungs away, he felt a sharp pain to his right side, followed by a cruel voice that he hadn't missed in the least.
"I'm happy to see you're still the pitiful, good-for-nothing weakling you always were, Petrie! Hopefully you didn't forget that fact while you were gone. But no worries, I'm here to remind you again." For a moment, a few tears formed in Petrie's eyes as he heard those words, the hurt of those endless days of bullying returning to his mind in full. The past weeks had been enough to cast that pain away but Donnie's memory had never truly gone away. It wasn't long before he heard another familiar but almost equally disgusting voice.
"It's more than a small wonder a flyer like you survived even an hour without momma, Petrie? Did some lonely threehorn protect you all this time while you lied in her nest whimpering?" The boy knew that that voice belonged to Terra and he closed his eyes slowly as he thought about what to answer. Even if the old pain and hurt was still there, only the boy himself knew he no longer was the Petrie Donnie and Terra had learned to know. He knew very well he could defend himself these days but… but could he gather his newfound courage against his long-time tormentors who were also his siblings? Petrie slowly turned to look at the duo and spoke with teary eyes.
"Neither of you… know what you talk about! But believe… believe me when Petrie say me can defend meself… this time…" He said in a voice which turned out to be so meek that not even a ground fuzzy would have taken it seriously. Donnie couldn't hide his amusement at those words and he nodded to Terra briefly as he started to approach his long-time victim.
"Excuse me, Petrie, but I don't believe you! You're still the same runt you always were! Terra, cool his head a bit, it seems like it's burning!" He said and before Petrie could react any further, the girl used her wings to raise a large amount of water and dropping it upon Petrie as Donnie moved closer, raising his fist.
"And now, I'll make sure you'll drop any thoughts you had of "defending" yourself. I'll just give you what you deserve…" He said as he prepared to hit Petrie in the cheek but before hit the younger male, Petrie sighed deeply as he grabbed Donnie's hand and regaining his footing. Donnie's eyes widened as he realized Petrie had managed to halt his hit. It wasn't possible! He was the strongest of his siblings while Petrie was a complete weakling! The latter's eyes widened as he growled his answer to his old nemesis.
"Petrie not fear you anymore, Donnie! If you ask me, Petrie just hope you'll drown in that stream along with…"
"What is happening here? Stop whatever you're doing, now!" Volant's voice rang through the cave, waking up all of the remaining children. The older female's eyes gleamed with disappointment and outrage as she looked at Donnie who frowned deeply before disengaging from his small fight with Petrie. Volant walked forward with shocked steps, clearly struggling to find words as she walked towards her eldest son.
"Donnie… I've been forced to punish you more times than I can remember, every time for something more disgusting than the last time. But this… THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING YOU'VE EVER DONE! YOUR BROTHER LITERALLY RETURNS FROM THE DEAD AND THIS IS HOW YOU GREET HIM? AFTER ALL THE SORROW AND PAIN I WENT THROUGH? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR CURSED MIND?!" She cried, not able to believe what was going on. All her life, she had hoped that Donnie would one day change but… but to see him act like this… Deep inside, she was starting to wonder whether the older child could ever change. Donnie looked at his mother for a few seconds before spitting his answer.
"As if anyone ever wanted him back. I, for one, liked it better to not have him as a burden on us others." He said to which Terra nodded and continued from.
"Indeed. We'll have many more tests ahead of us and I don't want Petrie to hold us back ever again! He was never of any use to anyone!" She yelled, causing Volant's heart to freeze immediately. To hear her own children say things like this… she had done her very best to raise them right and this was how badly she had failed? She had hoped that Petrie's return would be a joyous one but the duo had ruined everything once again. However, just as her composure was starting to break, she heard a cry which heartened her more than anything at this point.
"Piss off, you two! All of us deserve better than you two's stupidity on a day like this! And to think I once looked up to you, Donnie and Terra!" The voice belonged to Skybeak, a younger boy who had most of the time joined his two siblings in attacking Petrie. However, during his brother's absence, deep down he had realized that despite everything, he had always liked, even loved Petrie deep inside. And right now, his blood was boiling at the display before him. That sentiment was shared by Tovi who looked at the duo with murderous eyes and cried to them in a voice that dipped with hate.
"Both of you should be thrown off these cliffs with your wings tied together! Even a sharptooth is worth more than you, Donnie and Terra!" He cried, causing Petrie's expression to soften ever so slightly. Was this actually happening? Were some of his siblings… actually defending him? Especially Skybeak's words stunned him as he had once thought of him as something nearly as bad as Donnie himself. The boy looked at the larger male with a dark expression before addressing him.
"Petrie always knew you too bad to ever learn anything, Donnie, and Petrie was right. Me just happy others see it as well!" He cried to approving nods from the other children. Donnie cringed deeply as he felt the outraged, hateful stares upon himself but he would never, ever apologize to someone like Petrie. Not in this world nor in the next. He spat a bitter answer that made things even worse for him.
"I don't care what you others think but it was clear all along Petrie needed a lesson to cast away any thoughts he might have had of himself! You all know he's worth…" He started but before he could get any further, he was interrupted by a violent hit on his cheek.
"Silence, now! I will make sure you and Terra will pray for my previous punishments soon enough. I've had just enough of you two and I will leave nothing to chance this time around…" She said, her chilly words causing even Donnie's courage to fail. Petrie couldn't help but feel slight satisfaction at the situation but he didn't want this opportunity to shame he further pass away.
"Me hope so, momma, but Petrie not fear him any longer! You just a sad coward, Donnie, and me know you will never hurt Petrie again!" He said, more than happy by his ability to stop his attack earlier. Volant didn't exactly approve of those words as she didn't want the bullying to soon turn the other way around but she decided against condemning Petrie's words in a moment like this. She just took a forced sigh before speaking to the older boy in a lower but just as hateful voice.
"Stay here, Donnie, until we've got over Petrie's…" Volant started but Petrie didn't allow her to finish. The younger boy realized what his mother was about to say and cut her short as he thought about the coming discussion.
"He and Terra can listen to Petrie's story! Maybe then…" He started to speak but this time, it was Volant who interrupted him.
"Just let it be, Petrie! Donnie deserves to be punished but I'm not allowing him to say there to be despised by all of you others! I've tried to keep us as a family where no one is hated or discriminated against!" She said sternly, momentarily breaking Petrie's courage. However, he soon recovered it and spoke softly as he looked right at Donnie and Terra.
"No, me not want to attack them but… They think Petrie is just some helpless weakling! Ma… maybe me story will change some of that." He said in a stable and genuine voice, causing Volant to touch her beak with her hand. There was some wisdom to Petrie's words and after a moment, Volant finally turned at her two troublesome children and snapped at them impatiently.
"Well, follow me then, both of you! As for you others, say one word against Petrie, Donnie or Terra or you'll be in bad mess yourselves! I, for one, am interested to hear what your brother has to tell!" She cried as she headed towards the small clearing outside the cave, hoping that this day would continue without any further problems.
A slight look of impatience rose to Ortin's face as he looked at the flyer family not far before him. He was slightly eager to hear just how Petrie would portray his recent adventures but from the other hand, the boy couldn't say he was happy by any of the last night's events. Of course he was happy for Petrie but every moment he spent here raised the chances that Lenel could recover and reach the Land of the Dancing Waters unchallenged. He frowned slightly as he spoke to Glide.
"Hopefully this won't take too long. I just want to get moving before the evening!" He mumbled to his friend whose expression was more mixed. She took a slight smile as she answered but she simply couldn't deny that she was every bit as eager to move on as the male.
"So do I, Ortin. Of course Petrie wants to spend some time with his family and I'm willing to give him that but you're right. We must not tarry here for too long. I just hope Petrie knows it as well." She said, causing a painful thought to suddenly form within Ortin's mind. He sighed deeply as he asked a question he knew could be an uncomfortable one for the girl.
"Glide… I'd like to ask about your parents. I know you never liked them too much but… you actively stood up to your dad yesterday! You'll… they will never see you as family again." He asked, feeling his chest ache as he thought about his own family. The more the thought of it, the more he had began to despise every member of his "noble" line that he had known. He still wanted to find something positive about it all… but it was getting more and more difficult he thought of them and Peak. Glide grinned slightly as she heard that question, her voice a mix of bitterness and despise.
"Good riddance for them! Ortin, you know I never liked mother or father and now that I know what dad was always up to, I don't him to even acknowledge me either. It seems like neither of us exactly liked our folks." She said, clearly happy by the fact that she could now lead her own life. Ortin looked at her oddly, wondering if it were better to completely let his ties to his family disappear. He still loved his father but he had met his end a long time ago whereas his grandmother… Ortin shook his head as he tried to reconcile the good times with her with the elderly flyer's efforts to kill him. The boy's voice was meek and bothered as he answered.
"You are right but… even after all, I still have some in my family who I wish were alive but… but your folks are still here. It just doesn't feel right." He said, hiss thoughts and emotions a complete mess. He was at a complete loss of what to think but at the very least, the crushing pain he had felt when he had witnessed his family being torn to pieces had disappeared a long time ago. Now, he only had to get to terms with himself. In the end, he had to agree with Glide: despite all, both flyers' lives were easier now that hey had no oppressive families holding them back. Glide turned to look at Ortin sadly while speaking to him silently.
"We both know by now there are many things in this life that don't feel right, Ortin. But by all means, let's hear what Petrie has to tell." She said as she looked at the flyer family looking at Petrie curiously.
Petrie had never been a dinosaur who greatly enjoyed being the center of attention and even now, he felt very uncomfortable as the eyes of his siblings and mother bored deep into him. Even then, he was more than prepared to tell them everything he had gone through. His chest swelled as he thought about all the good and bad times that he had survived and he truly hoped that even Donnie and Terra would change their opinions about him. Petrie frowned slightly as he heard his mother speak to him.
"Go on, Petrie. Tell us everything as I'm sure there are many interesting stories you have to share." She asked with a smile even if inside she wasn't nearly as eager to hear her son's story. His encounter with Donnie had shown just how much the boy had changed and Volant knew that suck changes simply didn't happen by accident. She even dreaded about what was to come and she felt already bad for Petrie about it all. The male locked eyes with his mother before gulping audibly and asking her the first question.
"Me will, momma. But Petrie's story very long and… me would like to know about your departure from the Valley first. Petrie returned there first and… Etta told me that you left because the Valley became a bad place to live in and that the others only fought with each other." He asked, causing his mother's gaze to fall slightly. She felt sorry for Petrie for all the fearful searching she had forced him to embark on but before she could answer, Skybeak cried to him.
"That is mildly said, Petrie! The other herds did nothing but argue and threaten each other all day long! They acted even more miserably than you used to, Petrie." He spoke with a clear smirk, knowing he was testing his mother's patience. Petrie frowned at first but soon enough, he could tell that his brother's words were meant to be a harmless joke. Despite that, Volant gave him a murderous stare before giving her answer.
"That is true, Petrie. After the storm ravaged the Valley, I saw no reason for us to stay in the Valley surrounded by those idiots and… and I hated the fact that everything in the Valley reminded me about you. I'm so sorry about everything you went through to find us. I truly am, Petrie." She spoke, causing the younger flyer's gaze to fall as well. It had all been just a maze of mistakes and unlucky coincidences that no one had wanted to happen. He took a deep breath before asking another question he still wanted an answer to.
"It okay, momma. But… but why you come here, of all places?" He asked, looking at the wastelands around him. He had been slightly bothered by the fact that he had had no idea where his family could escape in a time like this. Volant took a brief sigh, her guilt worsening be the second.
"Petrie, I should gave told you all from the beginning where we'd go if something bad happened in the Valley. I just never… never thought something like that could happen. In any case, I spotted this place on our journey to the Valley and I found it to be a safe spot surrounded by at least little green food. I thought of this as a temporary place to retreat to from the beginning but I never told it to you, kids. I'm sorry." She said, looking at the younger flyers with apologetic eyes. Petrie stared at her with a slightly bothered expression, not willing to see his mother like this. He cleared his throat before starting his long story.
"V… very well. As for Petrie, me story a terrible one from the start. The first thing we tried to do after leaving all of you was to try to get Chomper home. Ruby would find her parents at some point but we had no idea where Chomper's momma and daddy were." He started, earning worried looks from his siblings. They had feared Chomper from the very beginning and their sentiments didn't seem much better at this point either. Petrie felt weird as he recited those events, feeling as if he was retelling a dream. It felt like ages since he had last met either of those dinosaurs. It was even like… like he hadn't met them at all. Like he was telling something he hadn't really been a part of. Petrie felt his heart aching as he continued.
"But that never happen. Soon, we met a group of fastbiters and… and Petrie was left all alone." He said, causing his mother to gasp audibly. She knew just how much his friends had meant to Petrie and she couldn't help but regret the fact that Petrie had been forced to go through all that. Besides, she knew very well how much she owed to Petrie's friends herself… The older flyer sighed sadly as she spoke to her son.
"I'm… I'm so very sorry, Petrie. None of them deserved that fate… except for Chomper. I wish I were there with you." She said, knowing her words would do little to help Petrie but she simply wasn't going to act as if Chomper had been innocent. The sharptooth had been behind all of this when he had killed a denizen of the Valley. Petrie's expression darkened at first but after a moment, it softened again. What was done was done. He had no wish to argue about Chomper with his mother, not after everything that had happened. He simply continued, not showing in any way he had even heard his mother's words.
"Me also hurt me wing on that day. For a moment, Petrie even thought me would die out there, all alone and with a broken wing. And Petrie would have… hadn't it been for uncle Pterano." At this point, there were even more signs of interest among his audience. His siblings stared at him in interest, Tovi crying to him in clear excitement.
"Pterano? How is he doing? What did you and he do then?" He cried, missing him just as badly as Petrie had. Terra's face brightened as well but she wasn't going to ask anything from the flyer she despised so deeply. There were other calls as well but Volant waved them silent. She then looked at her son curiously, genuinely willing to know what had become of her brother.
"I'm glad my brother could at least be of help to someone. But Petrie, I trust you'll tell more about his whereabouts as you continue." She asked, hoping the next parts of Petrie's recount would cheer him up a bit. Deep inside, she knew that was merely a fool's hope but that's what she wanted to believe. Petrie's heavy gaze killed that wish almost completely, though, as he continued.
"Uncle… saved me from a few sharptooth flyers… and gave me a new temporary home. He brought me to a large flyer herd where he acted as one of the leaders' deputy. That also where Ortin and Glide come in." He said as he nodded at the duo. Volant didn't like those words at all as she was far from convinced the duo were the best potential friends for her son, especially as she looked at their scars and their hardened facial features. She couldn't hide her unease as Glide started to speak.
"Or from my perspective, that's where Petrie came in! He beat me in a flying race even if he was still clearly hurt by his earlier accident! I can't blame him but he made my life very miserable as he earned his place among us." She said, prompting Volant to ask the next logical question. She frowned deeply as she spoke to her son, her heart racing as she thought about the possible answers.
"I always knew you were a great flyer when you were allowed to do it your own way, Petrie. But… I have to know, what herd was it?" She asked, noticing Ortin and Glide's deep unease at those words. Back in the day, she had been forced to know the names of practically every flyer leader and even in the Valley, she hadn't skipped the chance to listen to news from the farwalkers. The female's face fell as Ortin spat in disgust before answering.
"Our herd was led by Peak, Nimble, Nira and Lenel back then. I'm sure you've heard those names." He said in a chilly voice, confirming much of Volant's fears. One pride-filled flyer was already bad enough but to have four of them… she didn't know the continuation of the story but she knew it wouldn't be to her liking. She took a few gasps before sitting down on a small rock to calm her mind. Petrie was about to check if she was alright before he heard his mother ask him almost sternly.
"And what was my brother doing with them?" She brought her hand to her forehead, dreading to learn everything that had happened. The change within Petrie and Pterano's absence made her stomach sick but even then, she had to know the rest of the story. The boy cocked his head slightly as he thought about his answer. After a moment, he gave it.
"He was Lenel's deputy and his most trusted one at that." He merely said but there was no change within Volant's expression. After a while, the female growled oddly.
"Go on, Petrie." She said, causing a wave of nervousness wash over the male. He hated the fact that he was going to confirm his mother's fears but he knew she deserved him to be honest with her.
"Well… Petrie was accepted into the herd and after a while, me got to know Ortin and Glide. We liked each other already but… me tell of it later. At first, Petrie thought uncle Pterano and me new friends would make things good again but… it wasn't long until bad things start to happen. It all started when… when Ortin's dad was killed." He said but before anyone could say anything, Ortin walked closer to the flyer family while struggling to keep his rage at bay.
"He was murdered in cold blood within his sleep! I was at his side all along but noticed nothing! When I woke up, my… my dad lied dead beside me, his throat cut open! And the worst thing is that I'm sure the one we got later for that deed wasn't the real culprit! It was all a lie!" He cried with teary eyes, causing the other flyers to look at him with either stunned or sympathetic eyes. Volant sighed deeply as she looked at him, not at all surprised that the boy's life had been anything but easy. However, before she could speak, another flyer answered to Ortin first.
"W… what do you mean? Why would you punish someone who hadn't done anything?" Tovi asked, the other male's words not making sense in his mind. Ortin rolled his moist eyes but he didn't waste time giving his answer about this most sickening of memories.
"I guess he did it but he certainly didn't act alone! The investigation stopped there because our leaders felt that investigating further would have broken the peace in our herd! My father was Peak's cousin so… so it was a difficult issue for many." He said, finally allowing his emotions to show. There were close to no unsympathetic faces around the clearly mournful flyer. Volant crossed her arms before speaking silently.
"All of that sounds far too familiar. All of that plotting and intrigue is the main reason I never searched for safety among the larger herds. I'm so sorry for everything, Ortin." Volant said, earning only a slight nod from the younger dinosaur. Petrie exchanged glances with him before continuing from where he had ended his little tale.
"But things got worse quickly. Petrie… ran into a problem with Ortin and Glide because… because of me being from the Valley and me already thought our friendship was over. For a while it was… but things got better again but only much later. A bit later, we were attacked and… Nimble was killed in that battle." Those words caused Volant to look towards the skies, knowing that in the next few seconds she'd hear something she certainly wouldn't like. She could question Petrie about his friends later but right now, the trio seemed to be on good terms. She merely waved Petrie to go on, a chill starting to form ion her heart.
"After that, the other leaders didn't trust each other and after a long fight… they decided to break the herd apart. All of them but Lenel… who attacked the other leaders and their followers." He said with a heavy voice, doing his best to keep himself from losing his calm as he thought about the horrifying night. However, when he heard one of his sisters' question, he broke up completely.
"But… uncle Pterano was Lenel's deputy, wasn't he? Did they win?" She asked but at that point, Petrie could no longer hold his emotions in. The boy turned at his mother and sobbed to her in an inconsolable voice.
"Uncle Pterano never see the next morning! He was slaughtered out there and Petrie could do nothing about it! Uncle is dead, momma! Dead because he served an evil flyer like Lenel!" He cried with wide eyes, looking as the older female stared at him with glassed eyes. For a moment, Petrie looked at his mother with an expression that begged for consoling but Volant wasn't able to give it. Not now. There was a chorus of mournful wails and alarmed questions from her children as the older female tried to rise to her feet but before she could take a step, she stumbled to her feet, dropping on all fours to the ground as tears started to fall to the ground.
Yes, her brother had done sickening deeds and yes, he had betrayed her trust twice in the most serious way but… but he was still her brother! The duo had shared their entire childhoods and even as adults, they had been closer than most siblings of their kind. Volant started to weep even more as she thought about the days when both he and Tuulen had been there by her side, the three of them facing the future together.
And even after her mate's death, Pterano had been there. Even if she had been far from happy with him back then, she couldn't deny the contributions he had given to keeping the children safe and her spirits up. And after his exile from the Valley, she had genuinely hoped he had changed back to the Pterano she knew but… that was all over now. She'd have no chance to tell him how much he had meant to her, no chance for some final reconciliation… nothing. After a moment, she heard Petrie's alarmed voice speak to her.
"Momma, are you alright? Please get up!" He asked, the sight of his mother practically lying in the ground haunting him immensely. After a few seconds, she slowly rose back to her feet while trying to calm herself down. She took a deep breath before asking her son the obvious question.
"I'm… I'm so very sorry, Petrie. B…but what happened to him? Do you know… what happened to my dear brother?" She asked, tears falling down from her eyes. The other flyers around the duo were either staring into nothingness or sobbing deeply. Yes, they had known Pterano for a short time but they could still remember him during the early days of their lives. It was clear that there would be no moist eyes left tonight. Petrie tore his gaze away from his mother as he tried to find the right words.
"P… Petrie wasn't there but me… me heard that Peak… attacked him in the back and tore his throat open! Me only saw his body later on… poor uncle…" He sobbed as he thought of that horrible morning. At first, Volant was about to turn around to gather her thoughts until she realized what she really had to do. With forced movements, she knelt besides her son and embraced the boy slowly. She tried to fight her own sorrow as she comforted the broken child in front of her.
"There, there, it's over now, Petrie. I… I can't imagine what it was like out there. I'm so very sorry you had to go all that. No one ever should have but these things happen sometimes. Just don't blame yourself for any of it." She said, as she raised her gaze upwards. These news were monstrous enough on their own but to hear what Petrie was gone through… it was all so very, very wrong… She listened silently as she listened to Petrie's next words.
"Pterano continued to make many mistakes… but he never deserved this. Not even if this was the worst mistake he ever did…" He sobbed, regretting he'd have to continue his story further. He had gotten over the most painful part but the memory of that moment lingered in his mind without any end. Volant slowly let Petrie go before answering to him in a warm voice.
"None of us do if we are willing to learn from everything we did wrong. B… but what is this mistake you're talking about?" She asked, willing to get over thus most depressing of moments. Petrie sat on the ground behind himself before going on, returning himself into the day that was likely the worst one of his entire life.
"Lenel was evil all along and uncle still helped him! Petrie tell of that later but me continue telling what happened after that. Petrie tried to get out of the herd but when that failed, a flyer called Hoist I had met a few times before appeared. He… wasn't Petrie's friend." He said, his sorrow slowly turning to guilt. Volant was trying to keep her interest in the story up even if her mind lingered within her memories of Pterano.
Glide listened to Petrie with saddened eyes, not having heard that part of Petrie's past recounted this deeply. At this point, she simply hated herself for trying to end her friendship with Petrie in the first place and adding to the pain the boy had felt. It seemed his past had been even more difficult than she had thought. However, she hoped her thoughts would brighten in the next parts of Petrie's tale.
"In fact, he started to attack uncle Pterano after his death in the most disgusting ways possible. Petrie… me could stand him and we fight… and me nearly kill him." He said to many gasps. However, before anyone else could say anything about those news, Donnie walked closer to Petrie and snorted at him in disgust.
"You couldn't hurt a maimed crawler, Petrie! That is a bad lie and that makes one wonder, how much more of your tale is made up? Perhaps you just hid in some small hole in the ground inventing some story simply to make yourself better in momma's eyes? And those two are likely some as pitiful outcasts as you are? Am I right?" He asked, Petrie's eyes widening in outrage as Donnie approached him. Volant turned at her son in outrage and snarled at him in cold rage before she was cut short.
"How dare you, Donnie? Your brother was through all of that and you… STILL MOCK HIM? GET OUT…"
"Is that it? Do you really wish to test just how pitiful we are, Donnie, was it? You really should have taken Petrie's place as you would have been torn to pieces within a day in our herd." Ortin said as he walked towards Donnie whose courage nearly failed as he saw the more muscular boy approach him. At first, he thought of simply asking him to get away from his eyes but then, he simply decided that he wasn't going to show any weakness to the other flyer.
"How can I know that you aren't? At least only a fool would befriend Petrie." He said but inside, his mental blockade was starting to fail. For the first time in his life, he saw someone apart from his mother defend Petrie and he didn't like it in the least. Usually he had earned his siblings' admiration by humiliating Petrie but now… now he was the center of despise and outrage. Slowly but surely, he felt doubts starting to rise within him but no matter what, he'd never reveal that to Petrie. His mood fell further as Glide moved to Ortin's side.
"You know what, Donnie? Hoist was far worse than you were and Petrie beat him all on his own. I can only advise you to stay far away from him if you wish to keep being this small, slimy idiot you are! Come, Ortin. He isn't worth our time." She said before turning around, soon followed by Ortin. Donnie looked after them, extremely relieved inside that they had left him alone. Petrie had followed that scene warily but in the end, he was more than thankful to his two friends for helping him on this hour. He cleared his throat again as he prepared to continue.
"Me can tell every word true, Donnie. But after that, Lenel sent me away to the Valley. That was when Petrie thought me would see you again but that never happen of course. But it wasn't all for nothing because at the very least I learned that L…" His expression brightened as he was about to tell of the longneck's survival but a sudden realization killed the words within his mouth. Of course he should tell his family the truth but…
The boy suddenly frowned as he realized that if he told that his journey was still incomplete, his mother would try to prevent him from going on or at the very least offer her aid. But doing so would cause his entire family to be put to severe danger when the final showdown with Lenel eventually came. And that could mean only more bloodshed and sorrow. Petrie suddenly felt more miserable than in a while as he looked at his mother's expectant look, knowing he'd have to lie to her. He could only hope he'd make the right choice for his family, for Littlefoot and for himself.
"I learned that Guido was still out there! Yep, Guido and Etta were both there! Petrie would have wanted to stay in the Valley but… me wanted to find all of you! Me friends gone as well so there not that much for Petrie out there. Especially with everything that happened there." He said but his little lie wasn't lost on his audience. Volant frowned as she noticed that Petrie was lying but she couldn't say about what. And she wouldn't want to embarrass him before his siblings in a moment like this so no matter how difficult it was for her as a mother, she silently accepted Petrie's words.
"I already told you I'm sorry, Petrie. I should have been there but… there was no way I could have known you we alive! I thought it was certain that you were gone when you spent weeks and weeks away from the Valley! At least I would have wanted some message from you." She said heavily, her mind dwelling within her memories with Pterano. She couldn't help but pity her poor son… it was a wonder he had gone through all of that and still able to be even as close to his old self as he still was. Petrie looked at the older flyer for a while before answering those words.
"M… me wanted to get back but… me no longer knew where the Valley as after the sand cloud. As for uncle, he would have wanted to contact you in the Valley… but Petrie didn't. Me feared the Valley would still hate me for what happen with Chomper." He said, only now realizing the full folly of what he had done. Volant shook her head in disbelief as she knelt by her son's side.
"Petrie, look at me. Yes, the days following that meeting were more than difficult and the domeheads started a real push to drive the longnecks from the Valley. When they left from their own free will, they agreed to drop their demands against Ducky and Cera's families and me. It is true that many wouldn't have wanted your return back then… but that should never have stopped you from returning.
I will never let any of my children suffer because of the pride of some foolish herds and I would have done anything for you if I just knew you were still alive. The reason I didn't head after you immediately was that a real battle was starting to start in the Valley and when that threat was over, you had already managed to head to some place where I didn't find you before dark and by next morning it was already too late. But if anything like this ever happens again, come back to me as soon as you simply can so that these kinds of messes will never come to pass again. Do you understand?" He asked while she stared deep into her son's eyes. Petrie returned that look s he took a deep breath before answering.
"Me do, momma. Petrie… Petrie was just afraid back then. Afraid of both the Valley and even afraid of what you say about Chomper." He said while cocking his head slightly. Volant pulled Petrie slightly closer to herself as she gave him the answer.
"From the very beginning I thought that allowing Chomper to the Valley was a mistake, Petrie, but I would never blame you for something someone else but you would do." She said, earning a slight smile from Petrie. He didn't approve in the least about his mother's comments about his old friend but… after all this time, he simply didn't care enough for him to start arguing with his mother. He still loved Chomper but… his friendship with the sharptooth felt so very distant right now. His thoughts were interrupted as Ortin's curious voice broke the brief silence.
"Who is this Chomper? I don't think I've heard of him before." The flyer asked, that name causing him to frown somewhat. It was an odd name for any leaf eater and even after everything he knew about Petrie, he wasn't ready for the answer which wasn't given by Petrie but by Skybeak.
"Chomper was a sharptooth that helped us a few times but he was still a sharptooth! I feared he'd lose his mind one day and attack someone and it did happen at last! His killing of a resident of the Valley was the real reason all of this started!" He cried to which Petrie finally snapped in an annoyed voice that clearly demanded that conversation to stop.
"Chomper only protect his best friend from the clubtail! He still not a monster even if his attack did kill her! Stop attacking him for that, he deserve at least that much!" He yelled, earning deep frowns from his siblings. Petrie's own eyes were locked with those of Ortin and Glide's who stared at him in clear suspicion. They were clearly beyond stunned by those news but even then, both of them realized they shouldn't have been surprised by those news. It seemed like Petrie could surprise them more and more by the day. After a few moments, Petrie calmed down again and started to speak but before he got much further, he realized one thing he had overlooked.
"Well, after me visit to the Valley, Petrie started to follow two of Lenel's new deputies… Uhh… me just realized me didn't tell how that previous battle end. Well… Lenel kill Nira and drive Peak away. He now the only leader." He said, causing his mother to shake her head once again. At this point, she wasn't particularly interested in herd politics but she was still disappointed by those words.
"I had hoped better from Olres' heir but it seems like I can't underestimate the pride of flyer leaders." She said, causing Petrie to frown deeply. So, Olres' name was practically as widespread as he had been made to believe if even his own mother had known of it all along. However, he didn't allow that to hold him back as he went on to finish the story which he hated deeply but which had made him better in so many ways.
"Anyway, Petrie was sent to the Valley with his deputies and me hid meself from them as Petrie returned to the herd. Etta had told Petrie to start me search for you in the same place the herd was but… Petrie learned nothing new there. There only more bloodshed and death when Peak return to kill Lenel.
It was at that point when Petrie saw Ortin again for the first time since… since uncle's death. Lenel want to kill him as well because he a part of Peak's family. He the last one left of it." He said as Ortin nodded simply to the others to confirm that tale. Volant looked at the boy in clear compassion even if she knew it as well that she didn't have many tears left for strangers. She only spoke to Ortin briefly, sick from the thought of all that had happened.
"I can't imagine how you got through all of that, Ortin. I'm so sorry that not even children can be saved from these atrocities." She said, looking as a few tears fell from Ortin's eyes. Even if he managed to retain a somewhat brave face, it was clear to everyone he was hurting badly inside.
Petrie glanced deeply at his friend, his mood falling further as he realized this was his time to wrap up his story. If he wanted to keep the remainder of his quest as a secret, he couldn't tell of Littlefoot's survival or his lingering feud with Lenel. He hated those thoughts but that was the only way to keep his family safe.
"The worst thing of all is that it happen yesterday. After that, we tried to find some meaning in it all… unless me saw Tovi flying above us. That how we got there." He said, a moment of silence reigning over the group for a moment. Glide was especially torn as she looked at her friend, realizing very clearly that he was lying. But inside, she was more than content with it as that fact confirmed that Petrie hadn't abandoned the trio's plan after finding his family. She was more than unhappy with the emotions Petrie's tale had raised but of course, all of that was to be expected.
Another flyer who was uncharasterically silent was Terra. She had turned her head away from Petrie, not willing to see him in her eyes. She still despised everything within him but… but his story haunted her mind. She tended to believe her friends that it was all a lie… but her mind told her otherwise. Everything within the boy's story sounded genuine enough and his two companions supported everything he said completely.
A void started to form within the girl's mind as she tried to decide what to think and believe. Deep down, she knew her comments of Petrie being a completely hopeless failure had been wrong but… she simply wasn't a flyer who gave up that easily. She glanced at Donnie whose expression was just as torn, both of them knowing that their carte blanche from their siblings to harass Petrie had come to an end.
Volant stared at her son with a stunned look, everything about his tale sickening her deeply. She knew he hadn't told everything about Lenel or his search but right now, she was only thankful about that. Her heart was already heavy enough and deep down, she only wanted to get away from this situation to gather her thoughts and start mourning properly. Finally, she spoke to the boy that was simultaneously warm and tired.
"You certainly have a natural tendency to find adventures, don't you, Petrie? Though, this time everything would have been better if this one hadn't happened. Thank you for telling all of this to me. You are more than welcome to come speak to me about it all if you want to but… I'd want to have a short moment to think about my brother. But know that I'm beyond overjoyed to see you back here, Petrie. And you two as well." She said as she nodded at Ortin and Glide.
Inside, however, she knew that nothing would ever be the same again. Petrie had seen countless dinosaurs getting killed before him, including his uncle, and he had even been ready to kill this Hoist in cold blood. All the tragedy and drama that had happened would never leave her son's heart and Volant realized more than well that his siblings would have a hard time understanding Petrie's mentality from now on. She couldn't help but smile solemnly at her son's lost childhood as he answered to her again.
"Me likely will, momma. But that's mostly what Petrie been doing lately. Petrie sorry about uncle Pterano but… me had to tell about him too." He said as he looked at his mother's haunted expression. The silence around him was deafening as none of his siblings found any words to say after hearing of their uncle's passing. Volant glanced at Petrie briefly, speaking to him silently before she turned around to take her leave.
"Of course you had to, Petrie. You owe it to him and… we others as well. Children, you can always seek me out if you want. I understand these news will be difficult but… but it is all a part of the Circle of Life. I'm just sad that I…I couldn't fly it to the end with him." She sobbed as she headed away from the small clearing, her sense of responsibility still intact within her. Even in a moment like this, she couldn't go very far or she'd leave her children unprotected.
Petrie looked after her with heavy eyes, hating to see her like this. He sighed deeply, in a clear loss about to do from now on. He locked glances with Ortin and Glide before the duo rose into the air, more than willing to give the distressed family a bit more time to calm down.
After a while of wandering around, Petrie understood just why his mother had chosen to move to this particular place. The peak on which the flyers' new nest lied on overlooked wide distances of the surrounding lands, making ambushing anyone living on it practically impossible. Even better, its slower slopes resembled a complicated maze and it offered many places to hide from any sharpteeth. The boy smiled slightly as he saw small patches of green sticking out from under the ground sparkles which was a rare sight on this season. Yes, this was a place worthy of being called home but… but that very thought caused Petrie's mood to fall steeply.
The thing is, he wanted to stay here, grow up with his siblings safe from most dangers and forget everything about Lenel, his herd and the bloodshed he had caused. Even Littlefoot… it would be so much easier to stay here and tell to himself he could never find the longneck anyway. He had everything he needed here, many great brothers and sisters, shelter, food, his mother…Everything would be so very simple if he simply ended his adventure here and started to live a quiet life away from everything bad.
Even Donnie had stayed silent during the conclusion of his tale and their encounter in the morning had proved that the older boy was no longer the threat and nuisance he had once been. A slight smile rose to Petrie's face as he thought about the future he could have if he simply did nothing. All it would take was to explain the situation to Ortin and Glide and his life would take a major turn for the better.
The flyer sighed as he looked at the sight around himself, more than surprised to see the smoke rising from the Mountains that Burn far, far away in the distance. These lands reminded him of his first adventure even if they weren't quite as desolate as they were back then. The memories of these areas returned to his mind and in a way, they raised nostalgia to the mind of the young dinosaur. Yes, this would be a good place to call his home and…
"Hey, Petrie! That was quite an impression you made upon the others! I… I didn't know just how much your uncle's death affected you. I'm sorry I ever attacked you about him." Ortin said as he landed beside his friend. Petrie twitched noticeably as he saw the duo land beside him but it didn't take long for him to calm down and answer that comment.
"It okay, Ortin. Yesterday was a terrible day for everyone. Petrie not even remember that fight anymore." He said, not finding the strength to care about such things anymore. Ortin gave him a slight smile for that answer but it didn't take long until Glide got to the main part of the conversation. Her voice was kind but urgent which didn't make Petrie's thoughts much brighter.
"That's great, Petrie. But anyway, we have to get going soon enough! I know you're happy you found your family but that doesn't change the fact that Lenel is getting better every second and we can't waste more time if we wish to stop him!" She said, the implications of her words more than clear. Petrie stared forward for a few seconds while burying his head in his hands. When she finally answered, his voice was a weary and unsure one.
"Me thought about that and… Petrie thought that me have pretty much anything me need out here." He said simply, causing the girl's jaw to drop. After everything that had happened, that hadn't been the answer she had expected to hear. She frowned deeply as she moved closer to Petrie, willing to end this dispute here and now.
"Petrie… we all agreed that we'd stop Lenel and find the Land of the Dancing Waters, remember? This is something we simply have to do." She said softly, willing to hear no further objections. Petrie turned at her slowly, clearly torn inside.
"But back then, me hadn't found me family! And now that Petrie has, me don't want to lose them again!" He said but before he got any further, Ortin spoke to him in a much sterner voice that wasn't nearly as understanding as Glide's.
"And because of that, you wish to let the monster who ruined our families off the hook? Is that really what you are going to do, Petrie? Is it?" He asked, not willing to believe this was even an issue. Petrie started to stutter, knowing he was wrong… even if it felt like it was right. He tried to gather his thoughts, hoping to save the situation somehow.
"Petrie sure you could stay near us as well! There no need to go see more death!" He tried to reason but before he could finish, Ortin grabbed Petrie's arm and spoke to him almost menacingly.
"Even if we could stay, I wouldn't be able to rest for a moment, knowing Lenel is going to rule our entire kind. After all, it was you who so convincingly preached about the magical powers of that place and if you were right, Lenel will claim all of them! It was you who wanted to find this friend, Littlefoot was it, using those very powers! Was he completely made up or are you willing to abandon your friend to his fate because you tell yourself that your life is complete now? Are you?" He asked, causing Petrie's beak to shudder slightly.
Suddenly, the brown-colored boy realized just how selfishly he had acted towards everyone. The joy of reunion had just blinded his judgement for a moment but inside, Petrie could feel his heart telling that what he was saying was wrong. Littlefoot was still out there and he simply couldn't allow Lenel to win, not after he had done to Ortin's family… and uncle Pterano. Petrie turned to look directly at Ortin and took a deep sigh as he prepared to answer.
"You right, Ortin. Petrie just wanted to believe it all over for me… but me cannot leave you in trouble. Nor Littlefoot. Hopefully you not mad at Petrie." He said, slowly realizing all the implications of his earlier hesitation. Glide's face softened first and she even smiled as she spoke to Petrie.
"Don't worry about that. Of course anyone would want to sometimes lay down and believe the worst is behind us. But finally moving on is the most important one even if I's sure leaving your family behind is far from easy for you." She said, causing the boy no nod slightly. He waited for a while before speaking again, already regretting the pain he'd have to cause to his mother again. Still, there was no longer hesitation within his voice.
"Me no know if you realized it but Petrie never told of out future plan to momma because inside, Petrie always ready to move forward. But let me spend this evening here. It… easier for all of to move on in the dark of the night." He said, looking in deep regret at the small cave she had seen her mother go to gather her thoughts after her brother's death. He hated everything about his situation but inside, he knew it would get far worse before it would get better. Ortin rolled his eyes as he turned to look at the skies and gave his answer.
"That's the best we can hope for, I guess. Just remember not to make any fuss when we finally leave a few hours after the Bright Circle sets." He said, not expecting to hear any objections but Petrie wasn't completely happy with that order. He quickly turned at the other male and spoke to him even more urgently than needed.
"Petrie not do that! Me mean that… momma, brothers and sisters deserve to know where me go this time. Petrie will wake Tovi up and tell him where we are going to go." He said with distant eyes, causing Glide to snap at him in near shock.
"You can't tell him that! They'd follow us immediately!" She cried, not really willing to believe her ears. Petrie, however, wasn't too happy by the question and his expression was nearly hostile as he gave his answer.
"Of course me not tell them where we going! Me just tell that we off to stop Lenel and find Littlefoot! Hopefully that good enough for you!" He nearly cried before realizing just how excessive his voice was. However, he saw no clear reason to apologize for those words and Glide's exchange of glances with Ortin confirmed that his plan wasn't too badly received." After a while, the girl gave her answer and spoke to her friend in a more silent voice.
"Very well if you truly believe Tovi is trustworthy enough to not alert the others immediately! Let's go, Ortin. We'll have a long day ahead of us." Glide said as she took off, immediately followed by Ortin.
Petrie looked after them for a moment, taking a deep sigh as he turned to look at the Bright Circle which still lingered relatively high in the sky, praying deep down that this wouldn't be the last evening he'd ever spend with his family. Yes, he still had work to do but… but he could just pray that the things he had already won wouldn't be stripped away from him by some cruel twist of fate. The flyer looked longingly into the horizon, having decided to savor this short moment of peace before the next, hopefully last part of his journey.
It seems like the last chapter's reunion was but a small stop for Petrie as after everything that has happened, he simply can't turn his back to all his friends. Whether his decision will be the right one, it will be seen soon enough… Yeah, this chapter was a much slower one but I felt that we had to see just how Petrie's family reacts to Petrie's adventure. To be honest, the idea wasn't just my own as it was proposed by Rhombus so thanks to him!
You may or may not have noticed but Donnie, Terra and Skybeak were the three bullies from DiddyKF1's rather recent short story Gone Too Far as I felt that allowing them to make kind of a cameo would make Petrie's development in this fic more concrete. Thanks a lot for allowing me to use them, Diddy! That being said, I hope you liked this chapter and let me know what you think of it!
Anagnos: I'm really happy about your praise! Battle scenes aren't what I find the funniest to write so that makes your words even better! Your comments about Greentail are very true as Ruby has been sorry for Greentail's injury from the beginning and her death will be a huge blow for her, certainly. And it goes without saying that the entire family will have a very bleak future from now on.
And yep, this chapter is certainly very long but there weren't many scenes I felt could be cut as this installment needed a lot of time to live up to its potential. Though, that won't be a major problem going forward as there will be one major battle left at most. But again, thanks a lot for the kind review!
Guest: Hmm, not sure. Perhaps but not in this story.
The Rhombus: Hollow victories often tend to be the ones with the most interesting and emotional outcomes, at least in my opinion. Here, it allows us to move on from this long chase but simultaneously creating new plotlines that will help this story in its way towards conclusion. Ruby is most likely the one most hurt by these events and she certainly has much to come to terms with in the next chapters.
I'm also happy by your words about the pacing as I'm quite content with it myself. This battle seemed to move forward naturally to thanks a lot for those words! As for the future, it will indeed be bleak and I truly hope I can build on the apparently well-received events of this installment.
