II – The Journey Begins

It was indeed nice and early the next morning when the Gang of Five headed out. They started out with a lot of nervousness, and even anxiety. As the Bright Circle made it higher in the sky, warming and brightening up the day with it, the Gang's spirits began to lift considerably, until there was no longer any anxiety. The five friends were all ready to go on a brand new adventure. They even sang themselves another reprise of "Adventuring" along the way.

By the time early afternoon hit, however, Cera's anxiety had returned, and she was beginning to have second thoughts. And whenever she had second thoughts about something, she was seldom ever the type to keep quiet about it.

When the Gang stopped for a short rest, Cera piped up. "So, um, why are we doing this?"

Littlefoot blinked. "What do you mean?" He hesitated, then added, "We talked about this. We're all curious to see the stone, aren't we?"

"Well, yeah." Cera pawed the ground uneasily. "But, like, what'll happen when we actually find the stone? You remember how it went last time, don't you?"

"Yes, but Petrie's uncle Pterano is not here, no he is not," said Ducky, nodding.

"What is it you're scared of, Cera?" Littlefoot asked gently. "Ducky's right; no-one is chasing us this time." As he said it, though, he glanced around uneasily, as if to make sure.

"And what'll happen when we find the stone?" asked Cera. "That last stone didn't seem to do anything. What if it's just the same thing as before where nothing happens?"

"Well, we can still go look at it," said Littlefoot. "I want to see where it landed."

"I do too. Oh yes, I do," said Ducky.

Petrie, who had been casually resting on Cera's head, perked up. "What if… what if this stone does do something? Me think Cera might be right. Maybe we should turn back."

"Yeah… I just… I have a bad feeling about this," Cera said slowly.

"It'll be okay," said Littlefoot. "We're just going to take a look. We don't need to get too close to the stone or anything.

But Cera could see it in his eyes. He was nervous too.

"You're sure it's this way?" asked Cera.

"Um, I think so," said Ducky.

Cera raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I did not see exactly where it landed, no I did not."

"But it was behind that mountain over there where you saw it fall, right?" asked Littlefoot, gesturing with his head.

Ducky rubbed her chin, then pointed. "Yes, that one over there… I think…"

Cera sighed. "I don't find that very reassuring."

"It's okay, we'll find it," said Littlefoot. "We just gotta keep looking."

And so, the brave little dinosaurs continued on their journey. The terrain grew steeper and rockier the higher they climbed. Eventually they reached a large chasm with vines suspended over the abyss. The vines appeared to be the only convenient way to cross to the other side.

"Oh no! We are not doing this again!" Cera stamped her foot and gave a pointed glare in Spike's direction. "You all remember what happened last time, don't you?"

Spike looked sheepish, while the others all looked concerned. Cera did have a point.

"It'll be fine," Petrie suggested with a hopeful smile. "As long as Spike not eat any vines this time, everything be okay, right?"

Cera rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and what are the chances of that happening?"

"What could go wrong?" Ducky asked innocently.

But the brave young dinosaurs ventured across anyway. Unlike last time, Cera did not go first. Instead she went last. Namely, she went behind Spike, all to keep a close eye on him and make sure his hunger did not get the better of him and cause another perilous predicament.

"Just keep going. Keep going," Cera prodded him along.

The good news was that Spike did not succumb to his ravenous instincts and snack on any of the vines, even if he did look tempted. The bad news was that the vines snapped anyway. Before the brave young dinos knew it, they were tumbling down towards the rapids and not-so-bravely screaming their heads off.

Littlefoot plunged headfirst into the water and spun around and around. His lungs burned from the many mouthfuls of water he gulped down. He broke the surface and managed to gasp in some air, only to be plunged right back underwater. The ruthless current pushed him along. He flailed his limbs wildly, his panicked mind racing.

Hr broke the surface a second time and, almost by chance, his legs managed to grasp onto a log. The log spun around a few times and he kept slipping off, but after that he was able to stabilize his grip.

"Littlefoot!"

Littlefoot glanced up. Even as his eyes stung and watered, he could make out Petrie flying overhead, his face plastered with panic and horror. Littlefoot tried to answer, only to delve into sputtering and coughing. But he knew they were both thinking the same. The others…

Ducky appeared soon after and climbed onto the log, giving them a great surge of relief, even if it were only a momentary relief. As the log carried Littlefoot and Ducky further downstream and Petrie flew along behind them, they looked every which way, but Cera and Spike were nowhere to be seen. Littlefoot, Ducky, and Petrie kept calling out their names all the while. Still nothing. As much as Littlefoot tried to keep a brave and hopeful heart, he feared the worst.