Family Ties
Life in the valley is now as luscious as it usually can be, despite the search for green food being more difficult for the residents since the dry spell began once more. Though they had a day of Sky Water, it was nowhere near enough for the plants to grow in abundance like they usually do at this season before the Cold Times. Locations are scrutinized high and low, with whatever being found instantly getting devoured by the first dinosaur that noticed. The heat of the late morning Bright Circle warms their bodies from the mild night, something they all know will increase dramatically due to this heatwave. Most prefer the night when the hot day comes around, but even then they never stay cold enough for long.
Kodi wanted to stand and give Cera a proper 'see you later' which would have made him feel much more at ease with her parting for the time being, but the wounds he sustained in battle impeded this movement at the instance Cera headed off. Not even her loving licks and head rubbing gave him enough comfort, for he misses her touch and presence already. If only he did not head out curiously that early morning when a dinosaur cry had been heard, he would not be in this mess. But the thought of more residents or even children getting killed and eaten coincided with his original ideals, so he had to do something.
"It should be me searching for their food, not Cera." He pauses, kicking himself for his earlier failure. "Damn that stupid Rock-head." The children soon start crying, after realising the presence of their mother has vanished. "Oh. Oriana, Tristan. Please, no tears. Daddy's here. You're not alone." His voice sounded very comforting and calming to their ears, before they instantly run to dad giving him a much needed comfort on his heart. "Why am I worrying? I have two, perfectly healthy children to keep me happy all the time she will be gone." He quickly calms down and closes his eyes as the children hugging up to their father do, listening out for Cera's return.
Cera has arrived at the last place she knows will contain the purple flowers, remembering the exact location her father had shown her when she was young. Looking around the dry grove, her hopes began to die. Not a single flower was in sight nor even any young shoots or budding greens, but she desperately continues searching for any hopeful signs.
"Where are they?" Cera questioned to herself. If I remember rightly, they were supposed to be in that location. Unless I actually did forget for once. Perhaps a small pond? After her thought, she seems to remember where a pond or even a small lake could be in this grove. At least the grove is not too far out the way to possibly get her lost, and that no hostile dinosaurs are present there. But if the plants are struggling to grow, then that means something dire is happening in their valley. A full day of Sky Water most certainly had her father worried yesterday, with Kodi then mentioning the forecast to her himself about how dry the land and plants will become. Cera would not know what to do if this heatwave continued. Luckily there had been no major heatwave during the Hot Times, but still Littlefoot's grandma had died then. If his grandpa dies, he most certainly would not be able to live with it and Cera knew this all too well.
Arriving at the lake Cera's hopes soon gleam again. Blooming in a large abundant group are the flowering plants she has been looking for, with a high variety that will keep both her two children happy. Pulling up enough of the bunches as she can, she disappears amidst the sheltered landscape back towards her nest.
Ducky already, has passed a minor watering hole that seems to have dried up almost completely. With no sign of the green foods she is searching for here, she doubts her mother's choice of location as she continues on forward. Understanding her mother is usually correct in most things, she stays around the floodplains of the valley seeing that the ground still looks quite soft and marshy, exactly what is expected in this natural environment. Ponds and small lakes certainly seem numerous in the deeper parts of the area, unlike where she is standing now at the edge of the depression.
Setting foot on this environment Ducky's speculations had been right. Beneath her feet the ground squelched and moved between her toes, much more welcoming than the dry ground elsewhere in her home. But despite this she is dangerously close to the edge of the valley and although no hostiles are present right now, if they learn of her existence then they would not hesitate to get at her or even try. Ducky did not like being this close, but if the plants are here then she would be pleased. Glancing farther out in the open, she seems to notice a familiar sign. As small as it may be she is certain they are the plants, and without a second thought heads over there to collect what is needed.
Ruben had agreed to stay behind and watch their children, staying by the watering hole before it dries up completely. He of course does not know of many places, due to the fact that he has not been there since his visit many years ago. She said she would be gone a while, but I'm afraid she's been gone longer than I first anticipated. Ruben thought as he glanced over the small rise where Ducky had first traversed earlier on.
"Papa, papa!" Cried one of the four kids running, pointing at another just getting ready to dive from a fallen tree into the deeper section of the watering hole.
"What is it Paris?" The one called Paris starts jumping, pointing still at his sibling. Ruben looks to where Paris is pointing, getting quite a shock at what is just about to happen. "Lena no!" Ruben quickly jolts to catch her as she dives, but upon being caught she just starts laughing. He sighs with relief while laying on his back. "Lena! What have I told you?! You are not ready to go diving yet!" Lena looks a little upset now, after being told off by her dad. "Besides. You are still too young to go swimming in the deeper waters." By now the other three quickly jump onto their father, using his belly as a vaulting platform to see how far they can vault. "Oh. So now I'm a trampoline." He then begins to entertain and play games with them after releasing Lena, passing the time until Ducky returns.
His flight to reach this area of berries had been quite long for Petrie, losing his way to start with and then having to back track just so he could head in the right direction. Upon his arrival though hardly any berries were present. Even after the Sky Water had fallen most fruits were still verdurous and immature, certainly not what Petrie had been expecting.
"Huh!" Petrie exclaimed as he looked around. Why, have they not matured? All that Sky Water we had has done absolutely nothing to help in their growth. They should be ready by now. Petrie thought in his despair while hovering above the trees, then he remembers a secret location his mother used to go to. "Ah!" Perhaps that canyon not far from here has fully mature berries. This new thought leads Petrie to the hidden location his mother had shown him, just after the time he first met Juni.
Appearing at the canyon Petrie could see how green the leaves of the plants actually are, but still there was no sign of the berry bushes that host the berries he is looking for. His only hope was to near the regional boundary that is the Mysterious Beyond, and search for them there. Knowing most hostiles particularly Flying Sharpteeth live there to avoid competition he wished they would not spot, feel his presence or even be there right now. He knows of one location in this canyon where most green food still receives moist water from the mist of a waterfall, but it can be very dangerous in that particular point between the canyon walls. Despite knowing of all these dangers, Petrie still dives down to collect the berries there.
Juni now is worried that Petrie has not returned from his search, understanding all the more clearly that the land is drying up rapidly. Trusting her mate knows where to find these berries, she has hope he will return with a large batch for all five of their kids as the time of branching draws closer.
"Oh. I hope he finds them."
"Mam!" One of the children began as he waddled to his mother.
"What is it Emmet?"
"Hot!"
"I know dear child, I am too. Please, stay in the shade where it is cooler."
"Kay!" Emmet quickly waddles back to his siblings, trying to stay as cool as he can. Already Juni could tell that the heat is rising again, she could feel it more on her back. Even the youngsters were feeling it in the shade, and this made Juni worry for them. With the main river that still flows without pause, Juni knew a water problem will be no issue for them. Understanding the children need water, she calls them onto her back and carries them to the river.
Zaria lays with her back towards the Bright Circle, her son beside her in the shade she gives trying to keep him cool. Spike had left a while ago, in search of the green food his parents taught him about during their travels. Of course she did not want him to go searching, but understands that he knows what he is looking for. Her main concern was their son, and she would do anything to protect and keep him happy.
"Cilan. Time to wake up little one." With a groan, Cilan wakes up and looks to his mum.
"Ma. Me, sleepy."
"I know dear child, but I must keep you hydrated. Today will be hot, and that means you must keep drinking water."
"Ya ma."
"Well then, shall we go?" Zaria rises up then Cilan stands with a yawn. "It's a short walk to the river, but you'll be fine."
"Kay." Walking out into the light of the Great Circle, Zaria and Cilan soon get hit by the heat so far as they continue towards the river.
Spike thought he saw the fuzzy green food around this place the other day, unsure why they are not here now. Despite the facts he would not give up the search until he found them, even if it meant looking until nightfall. Why do I not see them? Have they been eaten around here already? Spike had thought upon glancing round again. It is then that he remembers another place he found at the time his parents were staying in the Great Valley, a more isolated area that was also near the Mysterious Beyond. His fear of Sharpteeth used to be very mild, but after his near death experience a year ago it has once again sky-rocketed. The ferns he is searching for are most prominent in swampy locations, this he knows after his adventure in the same swamp he is heading to now; the memories of his past looming over him once more.
Arriving here was easy, but now Spike must find the correct path and remember it, or take any path in hope the ferns would be found somewhere along there. Surprisingly, the presence of a hostile for some reason has faded away. Surely he would have stayed there until his last days. The Sail-backed Sharptooth Spike could recall as clear as day, but he was not there anymore. I know he was here when I was young, that time I ran away. My sister went in search for me, with all my friends. Coming here we got lost and separated. I nearly lost her then. Spike's memories have become very strong nowadays, why else would he reminisce a past experience so many years ago. Turning left beside a tree twisting and shrivelling, he had recalled the exact location the many ferns grew.
"Bruno please. I'm trying to wash you." Littlefoot has been trying to clean his son for a good five minutes, but whenever his tongue came out of his mouth, Bruno ran and hid underneath his father. This time however, Littlefoot looked underneath his body at Bruno and smiled. "Come on Bruno, both your sisters have had their wash." Bruno shakes his head and backs up further into his dad's hind leg; a worried stare making him look quite cute. "I guess mummy will have to then. And she'll take a long time." Littlefoot stresses the word long, but Bruno still disagrees. "Either way, you will still be getting that wash." Understanding that he will not get out of this wash, Bruno finally complies as mum does take much longer than dad. "Oh, so now we be brave. You'll feel much better after, I promise you."
Knowing Ali will be gone a while, Littlefoot simply minds the children for her. But despite the length she has been gone already, Littlefoot never really worries. He knows she will be fine and will only go searching for her if she does not return by the time she had stated. Rolling Bruno over, Littlefoot begins to wash him.
Ali does not want to keep Littlefoot and their three children waiting any more than she has to, but if she cannot find a tree with the golden Tree Stars she may have to make them wait longer. I swear they were on these trees a few days ago. I saw them, but now they are bare. Perhaps I should've got them last night when the Sky Water ended. She pauses. No I couldn't, the trees wouldn't have absorbed the moisture until the Great Circle started to rise. Her thoughts caused an unprecedented worry she had not felt since her mother disappeared when she was just reaching the Time of Great Growing. She had been searching for these golden leaves with her daughter that day, but in the process her presence simply vanished from Ali's side. Even now she still has not found out what the cause of her disappearance actually was, only the fact that before she could even begin to think what had happened a carnivore started chasing her. The memory is still fresh in her mind, one she can never forget.
Quickly taking her mind away from the past, she remembers another place that may not have been touched yet and thoroughly heads there with the new hope of finding many untouched trees. Upon her appearance there a short while later, prayers were answered with what she had been expecting all this time.
Out in the barren wasteland of the Mysterious Beyond, a lone Threehorn is searching for green food with a wound recently inflicted by something much larger. Unknowingly being watched by a large predator, it shows a clear weakness of breathlessness and chest pains, due to the injury sustained to its upper torso. The dinosaur seems fairly old with quite a few battle scars from past battles and ruts by the looks of things, including the loss of both his head horns. Not much of a hazard now and also looking like he will die within the next week, Chomper had chosen his prey for both himself and his soon to be pregnant mate Tyrana. Now he just needs to catch and mercy kill him without drawing too much attention.
With a loud vocalised huff through his nose and a stomp of his foot upon appearing, the Threehorn knew he was a target for a Sharptooth and began backing away from the carnivore. Unable to fight back, the meat eater bears down upon him. The attack is swift as Chomper's jaws grab the dinosaur round his neck; pinning him to the arid earth and ending his life with a crushing of the neck, its cry echoing through the land. The lifeless body of his kill bleeding from the bite and fresh blood dripping from his jaws, Chomper's first hunt here had been a success.
Recalling the pleasure he felt with Tyrana made him all the more glad that he can finally be a father, the dream he has wanted since his relationship with her had first started. He closes his eyes upon the memory, but then remembers his battle with the bull T. Rex and how he could have easily lost everything. The only thing that brings him back to reality are the cries of Fliers amidst the distance, making him look up to their position in the sky.
"Huh!" He suddenly seems to recognise one of the three Fliers, and soon realises it is a dangerous fight between them. The intentional dives to cause harm on the one trying to flee from its assailants are just maddening in his eyes. Another dives and attacks with its talons; dazzling its target and causing its flight pattern to become unbalanced, like one of its wings have just been severed, sprained or even broken. Somehow it manages to fight back and push itself from the attacker to vault off ahead of them both. Then Chomper realises the fresh blood he spilled could soon draw others towards the kill where a fight for the spoils would commence. Picking up the carrion in his jaws, Chomper quickly heads back to Tyrana unaware that the Fliers are heading for the Valley.
Entering the Great Valley full of fear the injured Flier soon understands that it has been to this place some time in the past, but before it could recall any minute details both attackers dive for it once more madly vocalising their monstrous cries. Knowing this could be the killing blow on its already ruined body, it does the only thing it could. Evade. This manoeuvre however, suddenly causes it to lose stability and plummet to the ground below screaming with a masculine cry only a few residents of this land would recognise. Grunting upon landing, he is unable to recover his footing as his two attackers start circling overhead.
The scream carries itself off to the nearest location it can, into Ruben's ears before fading away into nothing. This instantly forces Ruben to a standing position, where he asks another of his kind to keep an eye on them until he returns. Of course they oblige being a relative of his, assuring him they will be fine. With no further ado, Ruben heads off to where the scream originated in hope nothing bad has happened or that he could help in any way necessary.
Back at the scene, both Fliers land intent on causing more suffering to their victim; with laughs reminiscent to those who know them from the past. The injured Flier tries crawling away but the larger of the two quickly steps onto his wing to hinder his escape.
"No! Please! You are going to.., too far!"
"Our leader despises you. He wishes you dead. Who am I to say otherwise?"
The other seems to laugh in a maniacal way. "Yes, besides. If we do not do this, he will be displeased with us."
"No, please! Have mercy!" The injured Flier continued to plead.
"Pipe down you worthless piece of..!" He uses his beak to whack his victim round the head, forcing out another painful grunt.
"You better do as he says, heh heh, or else!" Pterano quickly becomes mortified by the threat.
"Oh don't worry." He laughs under his breath. "This will be over, very soon." He then proceeds to beating his victim with the other consistently, that is until Ruben arrives charging to send them away.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE YOU RUTHLESS FIENDS!"
"Uh!"
"Aah! Let's get out of here!" He flaps his wings and lifts off.
"Doh, damn it! Tch!" He flaps his wings and lifts off to catch up with the other. "You got lucky this time Pterano!" His shout faded away as he continued to fly off.
"Oh my goodness! What happened to you?" All Pterano could do was look up at the Parasaurolophus with a struggle, his wounds bleeding and his body broken both mentally and physically. "Please hold on! I must take you to Ducky!" Without a second thought, Ruben carefully picks up the Flier and takes him back to the nest now that Ducky should have returned. By the moment Ducky saw him when Ruben appeared, she drops all she was carrying and backs away with a horrified gasp.
"Oh no, no, no! I must tell Petrie!" Ducky rapidly heads off to find Petrie's nest and inform him about the sudden appearance of his uncle Pterano.
"Who is he? Ducky!" Ruben calls after her, but she does not look back or even answer him as she disappears over the hill. Pterano though weak and battered, summons enough energy to answer the leaf eater's very first question when he found him. "Rincus! Sierra!" His words are very faint, but Ruben could clearly hear him. "They, attacked me, by the order, of..." Before Pterano could finish his answer, he suddenly loses all manner of consciousness as his body goes limp in Ruben's arms.
