Chapter 3: Valley of Plenty

It was late afternoon by the time Remy got back to her cabin. Luckily, she had packed everything the night before, knowing that she would meet her friends in the morning. The thought of waiting until tomorrow crossed her mind, but she was itching to see the world again. Remy wanted to see everyone and experience the next adventure that was in store.

She patted Ghost's head, checking his large dishes to make sure they were full of food and fresh water. Toys were laid out in reach, his beds were fluffed, and his litterbox had been cleaned that morning After she was satisfied, Remy knelt in front of the cat and rubbed his cheeks. "Don't miss me too much, little Saber Tooth. I'll only be gone for a few days." She tapped his nose before rising back to her feet.

Remy checked everything one last time, running through the small list she had written on her phone. Once everything was triple-checked, she tossed her phone onto her desk and slipped on her hiking bag. Since her first trip to the Great Valley, she had taken to sleeping in the guest room of the family of magical-rune-drawing humans who had helped her get back home. Remy appreciated it since she didn't have to sleep on the hard earth or worry about bothersome insects. Though, there were moments that she would sleep outside in her hammock, usually setting it up next to Littlefoot's or Ducky's family.

Without needing to bring extra food rations, sleeping gear, or extra clothes, Remy's bag was light. Half the things she usually brought on hiking trips were already at the rune-weavers' home, including her hammock, extra clothing, and hygienic supplies. The land provided easy food like fruit, vegetables, and rivers abundant with fish. Nonetheless, she brought her hiking bag along just in case she needed to pack all her things away and go on an adventure outside the Great Valley.

Bow and quiver full of rune-engraved arrows slung onto her back, Remy glanced around the cabin. After giving one last pat to Ghost, she exited her home, locking the door. She placed the cabin keys under a stone hidden by the thick leaves of the bush that guarded the front door. With everything she needed, Remy made the hour-long hike to her grandmother's rune engraved boulder.

The sun was low in the sky when Remy finally reached the stone. Wiping a small bead of sweat from her brow, she stared at the moss-covered boulder. Remy had gone into the magical realm of dinosaurs several times since the first day she had entered the realm. Still, every time she stared at the rune, she couldn't help but feel giddy. She was really entering a world of dinosaurs and magic. And little to no one else knew about it.

She pressed her hand to the rune, the image of a blue crystal on a bracelet flashing in her mind. Shane, the person her friends had spoken of earlier today, supposedly had a Shard. There was no way he had a rune-charm just like her, could he? Someone like him wouldn't enjoy a world filled with dinosaurs and magic, right?

Then, the strange, fuzzy warmth fell over Remy, pushing the thoughts away. When she opened her eyes, she was in the Great Valley, facing a stone wall filled with runes.

"Remy! You're back!"

Remy spun around, a golden-blonde-haired girl bounding toward her. With a small basket of herbs pressed to her hip, the other girl could only give Remy a one-armed hug. When she withdrew, her tanned face was bright with a large smile. "Everyone's been waiting forever for you to return."

"Sorry, Suri. Sometimes I forget that time passes twice as fast in this world. Every day in my realm is two in yours." Remy walked into the log cabin as Suri held the door open. "I try to visit twice a month, er, moon cycle, but sometimes I can't."

A soft sigh sounded from Suri as she let the door close behind them. "I know, Remy. But, many times, half a moon seems far too long, especially for your dinosaur friends who seem to get bored too easily. They managed to get themselves in a tussle with a small sharp-tooth several days ago. Their parents were not happy."

"I'm sure they weren't. They're all alright, right?"

"Of course, of course." Suri waved her hand as she placed the basket of herbs onto the nearest surface. "Cera was the one that instigated it, as usual. Her cold heart seems to have been ignited into some serious temper and aggression. Spike and Littlefoot made sure the others were safe and that your orange-scaled three-horn friend didn't get too hurt."

Remy breathed a sigh of relief, though she looked up at the ceiling in frustration. "I know Cera's had a tough upbringing with a father like hers. It doesn't help that she lost her entire herd, but goodness." The last word was stressed at the ceratopsian's brash behavior.

"That's just how horn-faces are. It's not just her and her family that have that righteous air about them." Suri pushed open the door to the guest room, ushering Remy inside.

"Well, if worst comes to worst, I could stay for almost half-a-moon and help those rambunctious teenagers. That'd be about ten to fourteen days here and between five to seven days in my realm. Then I could have a long adventure and maybe teach those teenagers a lesson. But never mind all that. How's everything else been in the Valley?"

"Wonderful, as always, but we've also had a few hiccups here and there." Suri sat on a cushioned chair near the doorway. "It's nesting season for some of the residents. Sadly, I've heard that some eggs have gone missing."

"Missing? Did some egg-eating dinosaur get into the Valley? Or…I think my friend Heather mentioned that some tiny mammals eat dinosaur eggs. If that's what's going on, I could help set up traps."

"It could possibly be smaller animals stealing the eggs…" Suri mused, brow furrowed in concern. "I haven't heard of any type of egg-eater getting into the Valley. They have guards at the entrance for a reason. Though, some of them aren't the greatest at keeping an eye out for the smaller dangers that could get into the Valley." She twirled a lock of golden-blonde hair around her finger, too blue eyes cast downwards. "It's sad for all the waiting parents who have lost eggs. They will never know what their lost child will look like, or who they would have become later in life."

Remy opened her mouth to mention that the dinosaurs had many more eggs, but the comment was insensitive. Then, she remembered that the dinosaurs in the magical realm had much smaller nests than most egg-layers in her world. With dotting parents, there was no need for massive nests. Most females only laid one to three eggs every few years. Remy settled with a better choice of words, "We'll figure something to help the residents if eggs keep disappearing."

The darker-haired teenager then shrugged off her light backpack, placing it at the foot of her bed. "I should really visit Littlefoot and the others. I'm sure they are itching just as much to see me as you were." Remy pulled the journal she had been looking at earlier in the day from her backpack. "Also, thank you and your parents so much for writing and drawing this journal. It's been really helpful."

"It's no problem. My parents and I love gardening and herbs. It's the best to know what's edible, medicinal, and poisonous, especially with the ability the Shard allows you to wield."

Remy placed the journal next to her nightstand, continuing to rummage through her bag. When everything was in order, she grabbed her bow and quiver full of arrows and walked out of her room, Suri following steps behind. Just as Remy strapped on her archery equipment, a shaggy golden-blond head peered out from around the hallway.

"Hi, Remy," the young boy greeted, peering further into the hallway at his older sister and the newest realm-hopper to the Great Valley."

"Hey there, Lumi." Remy gave one last tug on the chest strap and jiggled her quiver to make sure nothing was too loose. She then ruffled the boy's golden hair. "How are you doing today?"

"Good! Anoda helped me pick fruit this morning, and then we explored the Valley." His smile faded, and he shamefully lowered his head, staring up at Remy with doleful orange eyes. "We almost got yelled at by Mr. Clubtail. He didn't like it when I walked through his berry bushes. "

"Anoda? That's Petrie's younger sister, right?" Remy asked, ignoring the part where the boy had disturbed the ever-grouchy club-tail. "It's nice of her to play with you. Anyway, I'll see you tonight, Lumi. I've got some dinosaur friends to visit." She ruffled his head again before walking out the door, waving at the golden-blond-haired brother and sister.

"Remember to stop by Ebrima. He's made more arrows for you. I've already carved and activated the runes this morning when I stopped by and visited him. I think he wants to see you in person today since he didn't let me take them."

Remy laughed. "I'll visit him right away. And, thank you for carving the runes. I'm glad that Ebrima makes such good arrows and that you're so willing to carve and activated the runes. It means a lot to me with all the stuff you do."

"It's nothing much." Suri picked out a flower from the basket of herbs. "Mom and Dad want me to improve with weaving magic into runes. It's great practice. Ebrima's always in need of something to keep him busy in his old age. Well, other than when he's chatting with Mr. Thicknose."

Remy giggled. "Yes, Mr. Thicknose and all his studies, though, Ebrima is just as bad. If my dinosaur friends could sit still long enough, I think they could learn a thing or two from that old frill-head and his human companion. Anyway, I do have some other friends to say hello to. I'll hopefully be home for dinner to say hello to the rest of the family."

Remy waved good-bye again and walked out of the log cabin.

The fragrant humid air of the Great Valley filled Remy's lungs. She enjoyed the nature and creatures around her, greeting many of the residents she passed. Over the hills, she saw the large forms of Littlefoot's grandparents standing in the lake's slow-flowing waters. A group of long-necks lumbered past them as they cross the water on a large log. A pair stuck out, one a rich green while the other a pale yellow. Oddly, their colors reminded Remy of Spike and Cera. Ducky's mother and father were also grazing the waters with the elderly long-neck couple. Not far away, Cera's father lounged in the grasses with other residents, seeming to be enjoying the midday sun on his back.

Distracted by the residents in the distance, Remy nearly ran into a terracotta-colored body. The male grunted in warning, unable to say anything since his jaws were clamped down on a cycad leaf. He stood on his hind legs, smaller forelegs pressed to the cycad's dark yellow trunk while his long neck reached into the leaves. Remy stopped and gave the tall dinosaur an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Teosa. I was lost in my own little world."

"I see that." The curve-neck grunted, having stripped the leaf bare.

"Have a good day." She waved him off, though the male didn't seem too happy.

Soon enough, Remy was walking through a lush, flowering meadow, the grasses tickling her calves. Ahead was a familiar large, beige body, the head obscured by the flowers. Beside the body, an elderly man lay, weaving flower stems into an intricate crown.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Thicknose and Professor Ebrima."

The frill-head looked up from his meal, swallowing the last bit of grass he had been chewing. "Why, good afternoon, Remy. We haven't seen you in almost half-a-moon cycle."

"I assume you're here to pick up my wonderfully crafted arrows?" The dark-skinned man struggled to his feet, using the large dinosaur's frill to help himself stand. Striding over to the girl, he placed the weaved crown on top of her head. "I've told you this many times, Remy. You don't have to call me Professor. I haven't taught in over ten years."

"But you're still researching, Professor. You've got all sorts of new human cultures to study in this strange magical realm of humans and dinosaurs. I heard Ima talking about that room full of journals. All of them are written by you from all your adventures in this world."

Ebrima chuckled, patting Remy on the back. "Ah, yes. It seems I'll never get away from my anthropology studies or that itching need to travel." His hand stayed on the small of her back as he guided her to the little hut nestled amongst a few trees and surrounded by the flowering grasses. "The arrows are inside."

The hut was cramped and smelled of incense. Numerous charms, handmade crafts, and tools were strewn about, along with several hand-written journals. Ebrima grabbed the handful of rune-engraved arrows and twirled his finger in the air gesturing for Remy to turn around. She did so, and he deposited the arrows into her quiver.

Ebrima turned Remy around again, hands placed on her shoulders, dark brown, almost black, eyes staring into her lighter, honey-brown ones. "Did I ever tell you that your eyes look familiar?"

"Several times."

The elderly man's arms dropped from Remy's shoulders. He stooped over one of the journals sprawled on his table, flipping through its pages. His lips pursed in thought, he straightened, scratching his head, fingers digging into the tight, frizzy grey curls of his hair.

"Never mind. Never mind. Go off and have fun with your trouble-making friends. I'll have a singer call for you if I remember." Ebrima tapped his chin, staring into Remy's eyes one last moment before sending her off with a few flicks of his hands.

"Thanks again for the arrows, Ebrima. I'll see you and Mr. Thicknose soon. My friends might not appreciate your teachings, but I do."

"Yes. Yes. Find them before they get too antsy. I think I heard from the flyer that Littlefoot has found something of interest that he is dying to show you. I'm sure the rest of your dinosaur friends are just as excited to see you." The man picked up a sheet of paper from his desk and slid a strange charm across the table.

Remy finally walked away, a grin on her face. The last thing she saw was Ebrima drumming his fingers, deep in thought. In his other hand, he rolled a small, orb-shaped glowing blue crystal between his fingers.

Author's Note: Fun Fact; Teosa is a dinosaurs that appeared in the intro of Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure.