A Dire Course
With the continuance of the rain moistening the arid earth to a more sustainable state, the land begins to feel much more like it should be. The cold drops that fall on both Bron and Grandpa actually makes them feel cool and relaxed, while they continue to head back to grandpa's nest not far from Littlefoot, Ali and their children. There is a large tree here that can easily shelter a fully grown Longneck. The rainfall had not been a problem in the past when grandpa had been younger, but now he is getting more frail as both Littlefoot and Bron have seen lately.
After grandpa is safely walked back to his nest and told to rest, Bron felt the need to inform his son about his grandma's passing now that the children have hatched. Both of them knew not to disturb a mated couple awaiting their eggs to be laid as things get stressful like family matters do. Even so, he still feels bad about giving the news in the first place despite knowing it has to be done. He seems to think he will regret what he is about to do, and possibly hated for it but he did not care. The stress of being a father-to-be is over now for Littlefoot and Bron knew that, but having a death in the family is completely different in many ways. Heading towards Littlefoot's nest, he braces himself for what emotional trauma both he and his son may suffer between them.
"Littlefoot!" Littlefoot stands to his feet upon Bron's arrival at his nest.
"Dad! What is it?" He walks towards him a little, wondering why he has called him.
"Can we, speak in private? There is something I must tell you."
"Em, okay." He heads to Ali to let her know what is happening, though he is confused about Bron's demands. What exactly is the reason behind the private talk, and why so suddenly? "Ali. Do you mind if I leave you alone for a while?"
"Not at all. I should be fine here for a while."
"Alright." He licks her on the cheek. "Thanks hun."
"See you later." Littlefoot walks back to Bron, before they head off to a private space. The walk is graceful, but Littlefoot seems to think something is wrong.
"Is there, something wrong dad?"
"It's about your grandmother." Littlefoot quickly stops Bron in his tracks due to the seriousness he feels.
"What has happened? Is she alright?"
"This news is very hard on me, as it has been on your grandfather." He pauses, trying to compose himself for what he is about to say. "You see. Your grandma she..." Bron looks down to the ground, unable to make eye contact with his son. "...She recently passed on, towards the end of the Hot Times."
"You mean. She.., she's dead?!" His eyes soon fill with tears, the emotion of his father's words hitting him like a punch to the face; weighing down his heart as Bron struggles to answer the question. "Why was I not told this?!"
"We couldn't put any more strain on you, not since you had been mated with Ali. It did not feel right. Mother would not have wanted the news to be forced on you." Littlefoot suddenly stomps his foot on the ground in anger.
"You should've told me sooner!"
"Littlefoot, I already said..."
"No! I will not hear of it! You should've been there for her!" By now Littlefoot had been raising his voice, Bron now guilty about giving the news of the death in the family to his son. He never intended for the sudden rush of anger to cloak Littlefoot in its dividing veil. "Why did she, have to die..?" Littlefoot curls his neck down in depression, closing his eyes and letting the tears fall to the ground.
"I'm, sorry son. I thought now would be the best time. Such a fool I've been."
"Yes! You are a fool! A stupid old fool! Not being there for any of us! How can I accept you as my father now that this has happened?!"
"You can hate me all you like, but I am still you father." Littlefoot could not believe how calm Bron's tone still is.
"How can you act so damn calm!? This is exactly how you were the first time! I even regret finding and helping you all those years ago!"
"Then why did you save me?!" Bron spat back furiously. "If I'm no good at being your damn father, then why did you not leave me to die?!"
"Because!" He pauses, unable to say the words he felt deep down. "Just because!" He then goes silent, having to undergo the change he must now endure.
"Anything else, for this useless old father of yours!" Bron had intentionally insulted himself; for all the things he should have done for his boy, he never did anything. The first time he saw his son, he did not even recognise him.
"I thought you had changed dad! I thought you'd be different! Clearly I misunderstood!" He starts to strut off, but turns back around unfinished. "You know. I wished for a father who would change my life! A father who would care for me!"
"And I'm trying..."
"No! You're not!" Littlefoot interrupted, wanting to get his point across. "I never see you for very long! You didn't even recognise your own son when you first saw me! I mean. How damn low am I to you even?!"
"I know I haven't been there for any of my family. My herd is always moving, so I never have a chance to stay for very long. You know that."
"And is that the same thing that happened with mother?!"
"Why are you bringing that up?" Bron's reply had been the last straw. Without warning Littlefoot bellows with a powerful stomp on the ground, his eyes watering again and his voice heard by those nearby.
"'CAUSE SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE IF YOU HADN'T LEFT!" The emotion had been very strong, forcing Bron to go silent which very rarely happens. He could not bring himself to speak, for Littlefoot's words had been too much of a shock to him. "Oh! So that's it! You can't even answer your own son!" Littlefoot rapidly turns away intending on using his tail to whack his father, though he only seems to contact his father on the side of his neck. "I hate you father! I bloody well hate you" He then storms off in his depression and anger without giving even a single glance in his direction. Bron had tears flowing from his eyes, as the sadness overcomes him.
"Littlefoot. Littlefoot!" Bron tried to call his son back, even making a few steps in his direction. The reality soon explaining everything, that Littlefoot wants nothing more to do with him. He heads away shaking his head, now under the fear that he may lose his son for good this time.
Come the afternoon, Littlefoot still had not returned after the spat between him and his father. Ali was hoping he would have come back by now, calmer than she previously heard. Only when Bron appears at the nest, is she then worried about him; his countenance saying everything. He walks closer to her, ready to ask his question.
"Has he not returned?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Hoh. This is, all my fault."
"Why are you blaming yourself Bron?"
"It's because of me that this has now happened."
"It's not my place to ask but, why exactly did you need to speak with him?"
"Because, mother died... She died, during the Hot Times."
"Grandma Longneck, died." Ali seemed a little distraught, but can easily accept a loss of a family member seeing as her gran died a while back. These sort of things she does not let get to her, but Littlefoot lost his mother at too young an age. All he has known is his grandparents during the first years of his life, then Bron suddenly appears shocking him quite strongly the first time. She thought Littlefoot had accepted Bron after the first time. Now that his gran has died, he cannot seem to take it. Ali tries to calm the matter. "This is so unfortunate for you both, and I'm sorry about hearing this news. My, mother knew her. She was a great Longneck at heart, and I feel for you."
"Thank you Ali." After smiling, Ali then thinks up a sudden idea that might help Bron find his son's heart again.
"The others may know where to find Littlefoot."
"You mean, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike could help find him.
"Yes." She goes to wake up her three hatchlings, but cannot bring herself to disturb them. "Em."
"I'll go. You have your paws full right now."
"Thank you Bron. I'm sure Littlefoot will forgive you, once he's had time to think on the matter himself. Please don't be angry with him. He had loved his gran very strongly. I've known ever since I first met him."
"I understand."
"Go to Petrie's place first. Let him know of your worry and he'll gather news to his friends quicker by air."
"And you are certain he'll pull it off?"
"Definitely. I hope to see you both soon." Bron then heads off in search of Petrie at the ridge. He knows the location as he recommended it to them when they struggled to find a place to roost in the late Season of New Growth, so Petrie's mate knows to trust him nearby.
It did not take him long to find the path that led to the high peaks of the Great Valley. The rain though still falling, is not a major downpour so it is safe for Bron to ascend there despite the groundwater flow that travels down its descent. In a few short moments, the rise he recognises comes into plain view and the two Pteranodons he knows are Petrie and his mate. He calls Petrie as he nears.
"Petrie!"
"That be Bron Juni."
"Okay hun." She covers up the children with her wings as Petrie turns around and heads to the edge of the nest, the Sky Water dripping on his beak and annoying him. "You call, Bron." Another drip causes him to push up the large leaves with his right arm rapidly.
"Yes. Have you seen Littlefoot at all while you've been up here today?"
"Littlefoot. Me no sure if Littlefoot be Longneck who was headed for mountain clearing." He pauses. "Do you want Petrie to tell others?"
"If you can find out if they know where he would go, then I'll meet you down the bottom."
"Hm. Me be as quick as me can."
"Thank you." The leaf becomes side heavy, and a mini waterfall falls on Petrie's head angering him.
"Doh!" Shaking the water off, he heads off in search of the others who might know where Littlefoot may be as Bron heads back down.
Though the Sky Water is weighing Petrie down in the air, he continues regardless knowing he can handle the flight. His first stop is Cera's nest, whom he knows is the closest friend Littlefoot has had since they first met. Upon his arrival there, Kodi stands to his feet to greet him.
"Oh, Petrie. Nice to see you."
"Same to you Kodi. But me need to speak with Cera."
"Is something going on."
"Yes. Littlefoot seem to be missing. Me think Littlefoot be Longneck I saw heading to mountain clearing, but me need clarification with Cera."
"So you think Cera knows where he may be?"
"Me do."
"Okay." He heads to Cera in hope he can take over child minding while she speaks with the Flier. "Cera." Cera turns her gaze to him. "Petrie has arrived. May I watch the children so you can speak with him?"
"Sure." She rises to her feet as Kodi takes over the duties until feeding, and heads to Petrie wondering why he needs to talk. "What's up Petrie?"
"It Littlefoot. He missing and Bron be worried."
"Missing!" She thinks for a moment. "Have you tried his thinking place?"
"That why me ask you. Me no know where it is."
"Neither do I. He never mentions where he goes."
"Not even to you."
"I'm afraid so. I know I'm his closest friend and all, but still he never says. Maybe the others might know." She pauses, though noting Petrie's depressed look. "I'm sorry I can't be of any more help."
"You be a great help. Thank you." He flaps his wings and hovers. "Me see you later maybe." With a forceful push against gravity after Cera's nod of agreement, he soars into the sky to find Ducky as Cera returns to her kids.
Finding Ducky was not a problem for Petrie. Being her closest friend they both shared their secrets more often than not, maybe even romanticised thoughts between them. His familiar crow is well remembered by all his friends, but Ducky remembers much more than the others. She quickly heads towards the edge of the watering hole to meet him, knowing that her mate has their kids well under control.
"Petrie!" Petrie lands carefully, knowing the ground near the water can become quite slippery at times.
"Hey Ducky!" He looks up at her tall stature. "I forget how tall you be now."
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"I'm hoping you can help me."
"What is the problem?"
"It Littlefoot. He be missing. Cera no know where his thinking place be so me hoping you might."
"If Cera does not know then I certainly do not know."
"Hoh!" He looks down a little sad. "Me feel like me gonna let Bron down. He be worried about Littlefoot."
"But did he not have an argument with Littlefoot this morning?"
"Argument! Me no know that the cause for worry." He pauses. "How you know?"
"Petrie. Nearly half the Great Valley had heard Littlefoot bellow his final words before everything went silent."
"Did he shout that loud?"
"He did. Ruben was the first to notice, then he told me. But come to think of it, Littlefoot tends to disappear toward high rises and places where he can look out across the Great Valley. He had done in the past."
"Then me sure that was Littlefoot who I saw heading for mountain clearing."
"The mountain clearing? That is near Spike and Zaria's nest. Maybe if you ask them, they can tell you if he passed by."
"Then me do that right now." He starts to flap his wings.
"Please. If you see Spike, check he is okay for me."
"Sure." He starts to soar. "See you later!"
"Bye Petrie!" Ducky happily heads back to Ruben, who is keeping their kids entertained. If she was right, then both Spike and his mate could clarify for Petrie that Littlefoot had passed by them not long ago.
Petrie arrives at Spike's nest, wondering where they might be resting in shelter from the Sky Water. Not even he should be out in this weather, but still it did not stop him from doing the job that Bron had asked him to do. Perhaps he is already waiting for him back at the bottom of the pass to the ridge.
"Aha!" Petrie has now spotted the location of both Spike and his mate, underneath the tree a few strides from the nest. "Spike! Zaria!" Both of them look up to the Flier gliding down to greet them. Zaria quickly stands to meet him where he lands as Spike casually carries his son to Petrie's location.
"Petrie. Why have you come out this far North in this weather?"
"To ask if you see Littlefoot pass by not long ago."
"Littlefoot! Why? What has happened?"
"He be missing. Bron came to my abode in a worried state. Please, say you see him pass by."
"I believe we saw someone, but they were rapidly walking." Spike nods in agreement. "We couldn't see them long enough to get a better look." She pauses in thought. "We'd know then if it was indeed Littlefoot."
"Me see a Longneck heading for mountain clearing. Ducky say you lived nearby. Could mountain clearing be his thinking place?" Spike then goes into a noisy bout, trying to say the words even though he cannot. Zaria seems to understand what Spike's noises all mean. She has had to learn another language in a very short amount of time, seeing as she became Spike's mate during that time which she had wanted ever since their first meeting. Once Spike finally stopped, Zaria imparted what she was told to Petrie.
"Spike was just saying, he has heard from others that a Longneck had died recently near the Hidden Lake. Could that be where Littlefoot has gone?"
"Me no know! Me only know of argument from Ducky. Me have no clue either where Hidden Lake be."
"Then I suggest you tell Bron that Littlefoot may have gone to the mountain clearing."
"Hoh. This has all been waste of time." He pauses. "Thanks for helping though. Goodbye." Petrie flaps his wings and soars back to where Bron will be waiting for him. He must inform him on what he has gathered from those who know Littlefoot. He understands that Ali will not know either, seeing as Bron came to him personally for help in the first place. Considering the weather does not change drastically, he will make it back to him in a very short time.
Bron is already waiting for Petrie at the bottom of the pass that took him to the ridge previously, searching around in hope he may see the Flier flying back towards him. A graceful dive through the Sky Puffies is all he needed to realise Petrie had returned. He walks to greet him once more hoping the news he receives of Littlefoot is good.
"Bron!"
"Any news of him? Please!"
"No good!" Petrie lands atop Bron's back. "He may have reached the mountain clearing by now."
"The mountain clearing? Why would Littlefoot go there?"
"Me think it the place he goes to think on matters like this one right now."
"Of course. Why did I not think of that?" He pauses a little in guilt upon not knowing his son. "This is why we argued in the first place. I haven't been around for any of my family. Littlefoot knows this as well as I, that herd leaders never have enough time to do anything other than things on the go. I feel so ashamed with myself."
"Don't be. It not your fault."
"But it is Petrie." Suddenly thinking of the distant past when Littlefoot was still an egg, Bron could not help but insult himself. "Damn myself! If I hadn't have left Tessa in search of a new home, none of this would've happened in the first place! I wouldn't have become a herd leader! I would've been able to protect her!"
"But then Littlefoot not meet all us; not meet Shorty; not have another brother. He no grow so much. Good always come from bad."
"I appreciate all your supportive words my friend, but they will not be able to change the past, or even change me."
"Me know that. Me just want to help."
"Thank you." He pauses. "Well. I don't want to keep you away from your family any more than I have already."
"But. Me want to see him too."
"Please Petrie. This problem is only between me and him. I don't want you being involved any more, or I'll never forgive myself."
"Oh." Petrie seemed a little sad, but can understand where Bron is coming from. He has had the same trouble with his uncle recently, why his mother never returned from outside the valley walls. This overwhelmed him so much, that Littlefoot's emotions simply reflect his own at that time. "Me guess me shouldn't get involved in these upcoming matters. Petrie will go now." He flaps his wings and lifts off. "See you. Hope things be sorted soon!" He heads back towards the ridge, where Juni is waiting for him.
"Sorry Petrie. But I'm afraid I may have to leave, soon. Littlefoot may not be able to accept this again, but I have to try and make him understand." Bron disappears towards the mountain clearing, where he is sure Littlefoot has gone. Petrie possibly knew this already, but like he said he needed to clarify and Bron can understand that. He disappears behind the tall trees, and along the path that leads to the clearing amidst the mountains of the Great Valley.
Bron has travelled the width of what may be half the entire Great Valley before even reaching the mountains on the edge of the land where the clearing inside resides. If he is right in thinking his son is out there, then he has no need to worry so much seeing as even that is protected by the rigid walls of the mountains from the Mysterious Beyond. It also gives a good view over that vast landscape many wild dinosaurs can call home, despite most places in dire need of sustainable grounds they never seem to get. It is there that he finally finds Littlefoot, sitting on the edge in major thought. It is a wonder he is never spotted by any carnivores that Bron can clearly see patrolling the lands down below. He casually walks up to his son, ready to speak his apologies. Littlefoot though notices him nearing, and quickly steals the words right from Bron's mouth.
"I apologise."
"Huh!" Bron looks confused as Littlefoot rises to his feet.
"I shouldn't have reacted the way I did to you. I'm sorry dad, for the worry. I tend to come here a lot to think, watching the Sharpteeth surviving down there both alone and with their family. From what I've witnessed and learnt helps my train of thought; helps me to relax. They're not much different from us you know."
"But this is a trek in itself, coming all the way out here. I understand this is your thinking place and all, and I have no intention in changing things."
"I know that." He pauses. "I've been thinking about this a lot and, I'm ready to visit her resting place."
"Are you sure about this I mean, it will be very shocking for you? Knowing where it is she had passed on; what had happened."
"I've informed myself on what I may see, and will learn to accept this change."
"A wise choice my son. I can now see, just how much it is you have grown mentally. You have been raised very well, and it's a shame I haven't been able to be there for you to view it with my own eyes."
"I understand. I also get the feeling that you are leaving again soon. I've seen it in your herd, how restless they are becoming." Bron is surprised by how observant Littlefoot is now; how he can tell.
"Yes. I'm sorry that I must again. It puts a strain on me too much, but my responsibilities to my herd must come first."
"It is nice to see you though. But now I have responsibilities here. It hurts to part ways, but I know I can always see you again."
"Yes. As do I." He pauses. "Come on. She'll be glad you stopped by at the Hidden Lake." Littlefoot, now much calmer than before gladly walks with his father to the Hidden Lake where Grandma Longneck passed.
"She was the best gran I could ever ask for."
As Littlefoot and Bron near the location of the Hidden Lake and ultimately to the resting place of Grandma Longneck, the Sky Water begins to let up. Now that Spike and Zaria have realised Littlefoot has returned to his sanity, they could rest easy knowing the rain will soon stop. But Mr. Threehorn started having his doubts on the weather, like this morning at the meeting. Thinking fire would start or that the land will become too dry to sustain life. As long as the Thundering Falls stays flowing things would remain sustainable for a long while, until waters run clean or some other impediment happens. He never wanted the Sky Water to stop as their land has been in dire need of moisture since the start of the season.
"I don't like the looks of this." Mr. Threehorn more or less told himself as he rose to his feet. He then notices a Flier coming in to land at his location, causing Kodi to appear wondering why a Flier has arrived at their nest.
"Father. What's going on?"
"Oh Kodi. This one is among a group who check on weather patterns daily."
"So, it's a weather report?"
"Precisely."
"I'm afraid things are going to get dire sirs." The Flier began once settling on the ground. "Any sign of Sky Water is nigh impossible for the most of this time."
"Are we not going to have any after this one?"
"I'm afraid so sir. Not even a cool wind has been predicted for the rest of this Time of Changing Tree Stars. We're in the midst of a heatwave, and nothing is said to change. There may be a shower or two, perhaps a storm. But unlike today, they will not last for this length of a time."
"Well that's just our, damn luck then isn't it?"
"I'm sorry for how dire it may seem."
"Thank you for informing us of these, matters."
"It is a pleasure." The Flier then lifts off to join his group once more as Mr. Threehorn quickly goes into a worried state, with Kodi on the receiving end of a new meeting he feels will cause the Great Valley residents to suddenly act in a panic. Now that the Sky Water has come to a stop, the horror may start sooner than expected.
