Category: Land Before Time
Rating: T
Couples: canon ones of the adults
Warnings: AU
Chapter: 8
Copyright: Characters & places © By Appropriate Copyright-holder, Plot & OC´s © by me
Author's Note: this is a sequel to Future before Time
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"You are really just going… to leave me again." The two elder Longnecks had broken off from the group returning into the valley.
"Only for a bit." Grandma softly stated. "There are things that I need to look into."
"But this soon?" Her husband demanded sharply, yet softly. "Two changes of the Night Circle does not nearly feel enough time,"
"It is not enough time, no where near enough." She agreed, looking forward to where the rest was walking. "But they need to be reminded of us regularly, before they forget. You heard the translation earlier. They are already forgetting that we are worth more than their curiosity. The scars we bore back with us came precisely because some of them think us mindless, with as much intelligence as a rock. Much like what we used to think of Sharpteeth."
Up ahead, Tyra looked back at that, having heard her.
"But you?" He could agree, perhaps, with her statement that there needed to be a reminder, if this was the case, but why her?
"Tyra is who will keep her husband in check if he ever tires of all the rules that have been put in place for their stay here." Her tail whipped through the air. "Tria has yet to even regain Old Threehorn's trust and Hadria will still be with egg..." She quirked an eyebrow at her husband. "And I feel most will not want Pterano be a diplomat… or trust him to."
"Sometimes, I hate logic." Grandpa took a deep breath. He could not yet offer the thing that would keep them from separation; him joining her. Neither did she.
"At least you'll know where I went this time?" She instead offered softly. "And Littlefoot will still be around."
He made to answer, but stopped himself. Taking a deep breath, he instead shook his head lightly.
"Dubious about which one you'd prefer?" Her body reverberated with a soft chuckle. "I know that feeling."
He allowed himself a small chuckle along with her. "Something like that, yes." He reached for her, resting his head against hers briefly.
They shared a brief glance, before looking ahead again. Littlefoot did seem to be in a deep discussion with Bron about something. Tria still walked a good distance from her husband, closer to the resident Sharpteeth where she didn't even seem to consider the potential danger.
Said husband was almost as far back as the two elder Longnecks, glowering at the herd ahead.
"You can use the time when I am not here to deal with him." She whispered lowly, gesturing at the Threehorn with a playful grin.
"You are cruel, my love."
"You have frequently stated that, my dear."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"When are you going to talk to dad?" Cera demanded softly, looking up at the older Threehorn resting in the mudpool.
"About what?" Tria opened her eyes to look at the two younger Threehorns that had sought her out.
"Everything?" The orange form settled into the ground, her younger sister sliding into the mud to clamber onto her mother.
"Is this about him… being reluctant about matters?" It was a very diplomatic way to describe the Threehorn-male's state.
"Yes."
"It won't help if I do, Cera. He needs to get to the point of acceptance by himself." Tria pointed out. "If we try to force the matter, he'll stubbornly refuse out of principle."
"But this isn't stubborness..." The little form countered. "Everyone is accepting everyone, except him you."
"Cera..."
"He is accepting of everyone, except you!"
"Sweetie." Tria's voice dropped to a murmur before sighing. "Can we have this talk later, when there's less chance for someone to stumble across us in surprise? I need to get out and clean off anyway, so shall we meet at the water-hole?"
"Alright."