Ugh, writer's block is a bitch. Here's the next chapter, read carefully 'till the end ;)
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Chapter 47:
The tall Longneck stood at the entrance of the cave, his gaze wandering across the lush vegetation, illuminated by the rising form of the Night Circle. Surely, in a land so fertile and green, he would find what he desired more than anything else - even more than power. A plant more powerful than any other on this earth - a plant which awoke feelings in him nothing else could… and it made him insane if he couldn't find it!
For many years the lands had been suffering under a terrible drought. Recently, signs that the drought was drawing to an end had been accumulating but the Mysterious Beyond was still a hostile place. Ever since the land he used to call home had become dry and hostile, he hadn't seen this mysterious leaf ever again. Ever since he had been restless, trying to find another place that offered him what he was looking for. So far, he hadn't been lucky, it drove him crazy!
"Ricky, where are you?" Hart was waiting for his son to return from his scouting tour. Did he find something?
*
Shorty lay on the ground, restless. Bron's lecture had helped little to reestablish the rest of self-esteem he still had and, if anything, he was more angry than he already was.
"I know it was wrong to hurt her, get over it already!" Shorty ranted. He had long since come to terms with his punishment and the things he had done - there had been plenty of time to do that after all. It had been an accident and, while the beating had been extremely entertaining, Shorty knew it was not worth the aftermath. As much as he despised Cho for what she was, he didn't want her dead. "Which almost happened…"
As time passed by, seemingly in slow-motion, Shorty thought about the other aspect of Bron's lecture.
"I am only causing him trouble…" It was a fact. Shorty had been doing a lot of things that were causing Bron problems. He had been a troublemaker and Bron was completely right about that.
But Shorty knew that now. He knew that he would have to change at least some of his behavior. It had always been the most important aspect of his life to be respected and admired by everyone around him. He had to be strong - which he wasn't back then, to impress others so he had trained hard, gaining skills in the process which weren't only important in fights against Sharpteeth and other hostile creatures. There were many ways the green Longneck had tried. Showing off whenever possible and intimidating those younger than him were his favourite. He would bully those annoying hatchlings around because he had the courage, strength and attitude to pull it off… they were no match obviously.
However, and even more so now, instead of gaining respect through these actions, all Shorty received was rejection.
"They don't see how strong I am…" Maybe a fight would show them what he was truly capable of. That was when a sharp reminder entered his usual line of thinking.
"If I fight others, they will reject and fear me so… there must be something else to do, something…" Shorty was searching for the right word. "Something that will show them that I'm not a spoiled brat but somebody who… who is admirable and… and good!" At heart, he was good. He wasn't like his evil father who had no hesitation at all to commit murder if necessary.
"I like being mean but I can change! I can be better than that! And if only for…" That was when he saw her… with him.
"Ali…" he sighed. The pink Longneck was walking side-by-side with the dinosaur he'd like to meet the least right now - aside from Bron or his father perhaps.
"Let my girl alone…" Shorty hissed. Rage was boiling in him upon seeing his girl with Bron's son, walking suggestively close to each other. He'd just managed to calm down after the fight with Bron only to be enraged yet again.
"I'll show that wannabe! I'll beat the living crap out of him!" Gone was the promise to lock the violent and mean part of his personality away - right now he wanted blood! Littlefoot seemed to have conquered Ali - she was HIS girl. He'd show Ali what kind of idiot this Littlefoot really was!
As he was preparing to charge, some voice inside of him suddenly voiced up.
"They will reject you for fighting him," Shorty's muscles remained tense but he was less unreasonable now.
"Ali will hate me if I beat him up… what would I gain? If anything, I'd lose her completely!" Gnashing his teeth, Shorty remained where he was as he had to endure seeing Ali and Littlefoot together until they finally separated. He'd get his chance eventually to show Ali who he truly was. All he had to do was being patient and keep his aggression under control to get away from his current punishment as quick as he could.
*
Meanwhile, Ricky was heading towards the cave where his father expected him to be by now, awaiting his report.
"Ricky, you're late!" Hart hissed when he finally saw his son return to him.
"I had to make sure that nobody notices me, sir," Ricky explained upon being called out for being back after dawn. "I was at the other side of the valley when the Bright Circle disappeared and I had to wait until others fell asleep - I had a feeling they were watching me so I made sure not to cause any trouble." It was a blatant lie but it worked. All that mattered to his dad was that their agenda remained hidden.
"Okay then… Found anything?" Hart inquired.
"Not yet… but this place is too big to look at every spot in just one night," Ricky replied cautiously.
"Yes, quite so…" Hart mused absentmindedly. "I've thought about a strategy, son."
"Yes, sir?" Ricky wondered, mildly excited.
"We split up."
"I thought we would do that anyway?" Ricky cautiously wondered.
"Unlike you, son, I'm a creature of the night. You are not so you won't be of much help there. At night, even a tall Longneck like me is unlikely to be seen. You can do the scouting during daylight, you're still young and small enough to remain unsuspicious even at daylight. Evesdropping on other herds and listening to gossip could come in handy…"
"Okay, good plan, sir!" Ricky exclaimed, saluting. "Though… what kind of gossip should I look for?"
"Oh, I'll tell you in the morning, son. Now get yourself some rest. I'll look around a bit meanwhile…" A faraway grin quickly appeared on his face. Then he turned around, heading towards to exit of their cavern, taking a quick overlook of the valley below him.
"The Night Circle is almost full tonight, good for scouting" he quickly noted. Then he quietly walked into the night.
*
With slight worry, the elderly Longneck scanned his immediate surroundings.
"Where is our grandson?" Grandpa Longneck knew that he had been with Ali for most of the day. Maybe they simply had a bit too much fun to realise how late it already was?
"I'm sure he'll be back home soon, dear," his mate spoke optimistically upon noticing the worried look on her husband's face. "What should have happened to him here? There are simply so many of us even at night to scare any pack of Sharpteeth or other malicious creatures away."
"Well, he could have walked far, not remembering how to get back here…" Grandpa Longneck reasoned. "This place is quite similar to our valley and it is large enough to get lost. Especially in the dark."
"I'm sure he's just gotten a bit distracted playing with Ali, don't worry," Grandma assured. "Or he's still with Bron, getting to know his dad better."
"Right, that is a possibility too," Grandpa admitted. "Though if he would like to spend the night with him, he should let us know!"
"I'm sure he would do that. And I don't remember Bron to be that irresponsible either," Grandma mused.
"I hope you are right…" Grandpa sighed, placing his huge body back on the ground, waiting for Littlefoot to show up.
*
"I knew it was a bad idea to stay away from home for so long…" Littlefoot was already far too late. Unless there were special days or nightly lessons of the Great Valley's eldest Thicknose, the little Longneck was usually expected home before the Night Circle was high up in the sky. That moment had long since passed and he was beginning to feel the tiredness that usually came soon after that. Luckily, he was almost home.
"Hello Grandpa, hello Grandma!" he called from the distance as soon as he spotted his grandparents at their nesting area.
"Littlefoot!" Grandma Longneck sighed in relief.
"I'm sorry for being late… but Ali and I were at the other side of the valley so we kinda had a long way back home," Littlefoot explained with an apologetic expression.
"We were worried about you, Littlefoot," Grandpa stated in a neutral voice. "But anyway, how was your day my grandson?" A slight smile quickly flashed across the elderly Longneck's face.
"Well, Ali and I had a lot of fun again!" Littlefoot chuckled as the memories of the day returned to his mind. "We'll meet early tomorrow if there's nothing you two have planned."
"Well, after you've had your breakfast, dear, you may go play tomorrow," Grandma Longneck spoke warmly. "Though now it is time for you to sleep, Littlefoot."
"Yes, I'm already a little tired," Littlefoot admitted reluctantly which earned him a chuckle of his grandpa.
"You must have had a very eventful day," he mused, chuckling heartily.
"You bet," the young Longneck replied, yawning a little.
"How did the meeting with your father go by the way?" Grandma Longneck asked as she prepared her grandson's sleeping spot.
"Oh right…" Littlefoot had almost forgot about that after the things that had happened thereafter with Ali.
"Well, it went alright," Littlefoot mentioned. "I ended up telling him about how I and my friends found the Great Valley back then. He seemed to enjoy hearing about Sharptooth and about... my mother but… I have a feeling he doesn't like my friends because they're not Longnecks like me…"
"Well, your friends aren't here, Littlefoot, so there shouldn't be any problems," Grandma Longneck spoke warmly though Grandpa remained cautious.
"He hates other kinds, Littlefoot. It might be better for the time being if you don't mention your friends while he is present."
"Why? What is so wrong about other kinds? They're not much different at all!" Littlefoot complained. "I was shocked back then when Ali was afraid of my friends, she was taught that way by her herd."
"Well, some dinosaurs do not like to mix with other kinds, Littlefoot," Grandma Longneck explained carefully.
"That's what my mother told me too…" Littlefoot grumbled.
"I am sure that Bron will tell you why he thinks that way if you ask him kindly," his grandma encouraged him. "Though now, let us get ready for the night."
"Yes, Grandma," Littlefoot responded, yawning, curling himself up in his sleeping spot and falling asleep quickly.
Only then, Grandpa, whose mood had dropped significantly during the talk, dared to speak up to his mate.
"I am not sure if Littlefoot should hear this, dear…"
"What are you talking about? Surely, it is alright for him to ask?" she responded, surprised by her mate's words.
"You do not know the story since you weren't there at the time… you were away looking for food when it happened."
Grandma still didn't get what Grandpa was alluding to, giving him a questioning look.
"Well… there was a reason why we suddenly left our original nesting area in a hurry…"
*
As Hart strolled through the calmness of the night, looking for the plant, he was thinking about the plans that were constantly shaping in his head.
"Hmm, this is a good place. Lots of food, lots of water… enough space… and it has defined borders. Just too many people around here!" As Hart carefully lifted his feet above the tail of a sleeping Longneck, he felt the sudden urge to stomp on the Longneck in question - however, he knew it wouldn't do him and his agenda any good so he quickly trashed that thought again.
"Maybe I should stay here for a little longer. Those pests should leave as soon as the event has occurred. Few might stay but I can chase them out if necessary. However, I will need to find the plant here, otherwise this place is worthless for me too!" Hart just hoped he would find it here. He had never seen a place so fertile since the day his home had become a hostile desert. It would be the perfect place to set his evil plans into motion.
"Ricky is a good guy but he lacks recklessness. He always does as I tell him and he worships me for what I stand for but would he be able to replace me one day? None of the other brats were of any use. I never wanted any females, only keeping them in case they could become useful one day… but they were weak. And the two boys were stupid and useless. Shorty even ruined my plans back then, stealing MY offspring. I have to find a female and mate with her as soon as I can… Ricky will be useful but he won't understand what I am planning…"
*
A little later:
"That's horrible, why have you never told me?!" Grandma was shocked to hear the story her mate had just told her.
"I don't know, dear. Either way, this is why Bron thinks so low of any kind other than ours. And this is why Littlefoot shouldn't know. He has only made positive experiences with other kinds in his life and I don't want him to know about this. I doubt Bron would tell him the truth but I wouldn't encourage him nonetheless."
"Well, I'm sure he will have forgotten about it by tomorrow anyway," Grandma sighed slightly.
"Probably… yes. I just hope he takes our advice when he meets him again."
"I'm sure he will, dear. Now let's settle for the night ourselves," Grandma suggested.
"Yes, yes… you are right. Goodnight dear," Grandpa spoke, both Longnecks finally laying down on the ground in a protective circle around their grandson, their heads resting on each other's as they usually would.
*
"Ali, you're late!" Ali had just arrived back home where her very unamused mother was waiting for her.
"Hello Mom, I'm sorry," Ali stated quickly. "You didn't say when exactly I should be back home so I assumed I was allowed to stay out until the dark," the young female explained. "Oh blast it! Don't ruin everything, mom!"
"Well, that was quite a bit ago though!" her mother retorted sharply.
"I still had to walk back home after all, mom," Ali retorted. "And say goodbye to Littlefoot…" she added in her mind.
"Please don't make me worry about you like that, dear. I've had a whole life's share of worrying about you as it is…" Fiona sighed deeply as she relaxed visibly.
"Sorry, mom…" Ali apologised, looking down on the ground.
"It is okay, Ali, I'm not mad."
"Is it okay, when I always come home like today, Mom? There are no dangers here, are there?" Ali pointed out, giving her mother a slight puppy face to look at.
Fiona sighed.
"I suppose I cannot argue about that. I would like you to be with someone if you stay out for so long though in case you get lost."
"I'm with Littlefoot most of the time, we'll be perfectly fine, Mom!" Ali reassured.
"Right… then you may," her mother spoke hesitantly which earned her a quick hug from her daughter. She did not fail to notice the sparks in her daughter's eyes when she mentioned her friend.
"Thanks mom, you're the best mom ever!" Ali exclaimed, smiling.
Fiona couldn't help but chuckle.
"Those are some big words out of the mouth of a small girl." Fiona gave her daughter a quick nuzzle. "Now, though, let's tuck you in really quick, dear. You must be tired after such an exciting day."
"Okay, good night," Ali called, knowing it was useless to complain. She wasn't feeling particularly tired yet but she didn't mind having to go to sleep now. There were a lot of wonderful things to think about after all until sleep would come eventually.
*
Meanwhile…
"Keep moving, I can almost see the shore!"
The group of four children waded through a swamp surrounded by vegetation everywhere. Lots of rotten logs, water lilies and insects could be seen around them as they finally made it towards the shore after many hours of crossing it. However, there were also crocodiles just waiting for such little young ones to walk right into their mouth. Though not these four young ones. As they climbed onto the grassy shore, one of them started to brag.
"Hah! Guess I taught that guy not to mess with a Threehorn!" While the Threehorn continued to bathe in her pride after accidently saving her friends from one of those hungry creatures, the others crawled onto the land exhaustedly.
"Now that we on dry land, can we please find place to sleep?" the Flyer asked groggily. It was already quite dark, merely moments away from the rise of the Night Circle.
"Like where for instance?" the Threehorn responded, shrugging.
Just at that moment, the Flyer walked right into a rock due to walking with his eyes closed.
"This look good to me…" he mumbled before dozing off in an instant. Nobody seemed to object his choice.
With groggy steps, a swimmer dragged herself over to the rock the flyer had bumped into.
"Do not worry, Cera, we will find Littlefoot in the morning, yep, yep… yep." She spoke with a tired voice. As soon as she had arrived at the rock, she curled herself up, snoozing off quickly. The Threehorn and the Spiketail, who was the forth member of the group, joined them without another word. Within a blink of an eye, all four were sound asleep.
*****
Oh come on, you didn't seriously think I was going to leave the Gang out of this, did you? xD
Well, I believe it took me about two dozen chapters to describe the events of one single day... at that rate, the story will have hundreds of chapters :DD I think the last scene was a good one to round it up :)
The next chapter will start the next day... which will be no less eventful I think ^^
