A Life on the Line
"Petrie!" Ducky frantically called in hope Petrie had heard upon nearing his nest. Despite the heat she had made a good pace, but for some reason there is no sign of either her best friend or even Juni for that matter. "Oh! Where are they?" Moments later Juni arrives back and instantly notices the Duckbill waiting down below. Landing back in the nest, she quickly lets the children slide off, before peering over the edge to her.
"Ducky! Why are you waiting here?"
"I need to speak to Petrie! It is dire Juni! Something terrible has happened!"
"I'm afraid he has not yet returned!" She bears in mind the Duckbill's worry, and quickly looks out to where Petrie had last flown. There she sees a faint figure flying back this way, instantly knowing it is Petrie. "Hang on! He's returning here now!" A minute later Petrie carefully lands with the berries in his talons, placing them down before hearing Ducky out to find out why she is here.
"What the matter Ducky? You look pale!" Petrie finally begins after he peers over the edge of the nest.
"It is your uncle Petrie!"
"Pterano! Here! Why?"
"There is no time! You must come, quickly!"
Juni looks at Petrie watching Ducky rush off ahead. "I suggest you go hun. She is very worried. Something bad may have happened to him."
"Mhm!" Petrie is unsure, but eventually agrees and catches up to Ducky though deep down something long gone had inadvertently been stirred loose. What exactly am I meant to do now? Me miss mum so much me can't even face him right now. She had gone with him for an important matter, but never returned. Uncle Pterano doesn't even come back, then me hear news of mum's death and no sign of him. Me hate him for what happened! In his mind, Petrie pauses. Why does he now come back, after all these damn years! His thoughts cause a forgotten hatred to return, making him ready himself for a confrontation with his uncle no matter how violent it may become.
"Petrie, hurry! He is with Ruben!" Ducky looks back to the Flier, knowing he is still debating whether or not seeing his uncle is a good thing. "You cannot be doing this Petrie. He is hurt badly, and I do not know why."
"All the more reason for me not to see him! He has done absolutely nothing since mum died! He never even visited Ducky! Not even when me grieving!" His reply seemed forced with a hint of anger.
"But Petrie! This is your uncle! He is family!"
"Me know but, me just! Me can't! He has never been there for me!" Ducky is now slightly annoyed with Petrie's refusal as they continue to head to her nest. She gives him a little attitude and frowns at him when she stops.
"Petrie please! I did not come all the way to find you just for you to turn around and go back!" Petrie quickly silences himself after Ducky had raised her voice to him. "He is the only extended family you have left Petrie! Do not be heartless or you will never forgive him!"
"You NO understand how me FEEL!" Petrie had raised his voice louder than anticipated, stressing more on two words in his sentence which in turn made him feel even more upset.
"I could if you would let me! What if I say he had been calling your name? How would you feel then?"
"He, was?" Ducky nods before walking through the tall grasses that line the whole watering hole, though she knew deep down that Pterano had not spoken his nephew's name. Petrie soon follows her, and there he sees how bad his uncle actually is in Ruben's arms, lying motionless and limp. "Uncle! No!" Petrie rushes to Ruben, tears in his eyes. "What happened?! Who the hell did this to him?!"
Ruben's words have a hint of worry underneath them. "He mentioned Rincus and Sierra, then started explaining what happened. Before I could learn who ordered this; he lost consciousness." Ruben pauses, unwillingly wanting to mention what his status was. "Right now I.., I'm afraid he is comatose."
"Grr! Those fiends! They will PAY for this!" Petrie's angry voice had been raised to almost a bellow.
"Petrie you can't!" Ruben continued. "I found him battered and broken, badly wounded after Rincus and Sierra seemed to be beating him to death!" He pauses. "I was not sure. I heard his scream, but when I appeared they both were upon him."
"I will kill them both!" His anger is strong. "Where the damn are they?!"
"They flew off when I charged. I do not know where it was they went."
"Hrr!" He makes a loud Pteranodon cry towards the sky, one Ducky recognises in their past when Swooper suddenly died.
"Petrie! Please stop!" Ducky quickly tries to calm Petrie down with her hand on his shoulder. "This will not help your uncle in any way! You must care for him! You are the only one who might know how!"
"Then please, help me take him to me old nest!" Petrie had thought very hard on this, knowing Ducky would oblige as she used to visit his family a lot. All of his friends were here for him when he had to move nest that day the Sliding Mud destroyed the last. He nearly lost his mother then.
"I will help you, but Littlefoot is the only one who can easily reach." Ducky starts to head off. "I will get him for you. But please, stay here with Pterano until I return!"
"Me will!" Ducky quickly heads off to where Littlefoot's nest is, hoping he is able to help. Petrie assures Ruben that he will stay by his uncle's side, as he knows Ruben's children need someone of immediate family to care for them. Ruben nods before disappearing round the bend as Petrie tries his best to care for Pterano, hoping he will wake some time soon.
Returning to a nest adorned with skeletal remains in a mountainous region of the Mysterious Beyond, both Rincus and Sierra have news to give their leader. As long as they stay in the air, all carnivorous Land Walkers will never be able to reach them. But when it comes to other meat eating Fliers, if these two were not a part of the flock the most feared Flier in existence leads, then they would most certainly become a likely meal for them. Many of them are ruthless fiends.
Reaching the location of this nest, one burly built Flier meets them both in the air in quite a foreboding manner, staring down at them as if they were strangers. Both of them hover, before Sierra starts the conversation.
"Ah Brutus my friend. Nice to see you again."
"Leader Gnash has been waiting for you both!" His voice was very deep, and slightly frightening. "He is not pleased!"
"We are sorry to have kept our leader waiting." Rincus shakily replied.
"Hmm!"
"I, want, ANSWERS!" Bellowed Gnash madly as he simply whacked a fellow Flier backwards with force, causing him to grunt in pain.
"Gees Leader Gnash." The male Flier retaliated as he stood himself up holding his head. "That's the third time already!"
"What was that Crewe!?" Gnash darkly frowns at Crewe as he turns himself towards him.
"Nothing, your honour." He trips himself up to save being knocked down again. "It is absolutely great down here." Crewe then proceeds to laughing madly on the dry earth.
"How many more screws, is he gonna lose?" Another Flier questions to the one beside her.
"I lost mine years ago Mural, ha, ha. Don't go asking me. Ha, ha, ha!" Answers the Flier beside Mural as he falls to the ground.
"Clearly Clouse, and dearly."
"Rhyming again Mural." Another Flier replied quite annoyingly as Rincus and Sierra head to Gnash. "I love it when y..." His sentence ends with a painful grunt when Mural whacks him one upon opening her wings.
"Shut up Chuck!" Mural flies away to a higher perch.
"She, she likes me." Chuck had assumed.
"Don't bet on it Chuck!" Clouse concludes as he stands up again before Gnash's angry voice overtakes the scene.
"ANSWERS! GIVE ME ANSWERS!" He rapidly rushes over to them, intent on whacking them if they do not answer him.
"It took longer to get it done Leader Gnash, than we previously anticipated." Sierra answered.
"That is why we are late back Leader Gnash. We apologise." Rincus still seems a little frightened, what with Gnash's wings open and all. They both have had their fair share of painful whacks since being a part of his flock. They have even witnessed his second-in-command Brutus badly injure his fellow Fliers due to disgust and anger under orders. Never would Gnash bloody his own hands and talons, which is why he gets his henchman to do it for him. Those who fail him well, Brutus simply gets rid of them. There is only one time Gnash had actually killed, and that was an entire flock. With scars adorning his torso and another over his left eye, he is well known and avoided by many Mysterious Beyond residents.
"So. Pterano, is dead." He glares at them after checking his claws, expecting an answer he has been waiting for since Pterano went against him that day.
"A-about that, your leadership, sir." Rincus thought to continue, but Brutus punching his fist into his other hand and clicking his knuckles soon after, quickly silences the pink Flier. "Gah!"
"We tried Leader Gnash after finding him again at the Great Valley, but then a damn Big Face came charging to his rescue and, well; we could do nothing but flee."
"Bearing that in mind, sir, we did manage to beat him up quite a lot. Heh. We made sure he would be in no condition to fly away, ever. Heh, heh."
"Then all we need to do, is take him and dump him in Sharptooth Territory."
"Oh yes. Then we can watch them tear him apart. Very good." Sierra proceeds to laugh under his breath before continuing in his typical crouch-like stance. "When do we start?"
"As soon as possible." Gnash gives a maniacal grin, before heading away back to his extolling platform.
Arriving at the nest of both Littlefoot and Ali, Ducky seems to hear her friend nearby, though the voice certainly sounds playful in a way. Now she is certain Littlefoot would be able to help out Petrie, but upon appearing round the tree she realises something is amiss. Where is Ali? Bruno is the first one who sees the Duckbill, and motions to his dad that she has arrived. Littlefoot simply turns himself to greet her.
"It's nice to see you Ducky but, what brings you down here."
"It is Petrie Littlefoot! He is in need of your aid!"
"What's happened?"
"Pterano! He is hurt bad!"
"Petrie's uncle? Here?"
"Please! You must help! Only you can reach Petrie's old nest!"
"No one else? Ducky, at the moment I can't! I must wait for Ali to return!" He did not seem very amused by Ducky's plea.
"But! Only our gang knows this place Littlefoot! You, Chomper and Ruby were the only ones who helped him to move nest!" She pauses. "Do you not remember?"
"Of course I do Ducky. I understand where you're getting at now." He pauses. "I will help him. But if Cera finds out, there will most certainly be consequences." Littlefoot quickly looks to where Ali went earlier, before going back to talking with Ducky. "But first. I must wait for Ali's return. I'll meet you at your watering hole."
"Thank you very much!" Ducky quickly says her goodbyes, before disappearing back to her watering hole. A short while later Ali returns with numerous golden leaves found amidst the forest not too far away, though how she has managed to gather so many leaves in her jaws is quite amazing. Littlefoot happily greets her with a rubbing of their heads, before he explains some bad news.
"Ali. I'm afraid something has just come up. Ducky had arrived a few moments ago and explained to me this bad news."
"What is it? Problems with one of our friends."
"No. Petrie's uncle Pterano. Something bad has happened to him, as Ducky explained."
"Well, what does she expect you to do?"
"She had mentioned Petrie's old nest, where he had to move because of the Days of Rising Waters."
"So, you're having to take Petrie's uncle there I assume."
"It seems that way, though I'm not too sure why Pterano would be unable to fly there with his nephew." Littlefoot pauses upon a mental image of what he thinks may have happened. "Wait! Has he been hurt, that badly?"
"Go. I'll be fine." Ali acclaimed.
"Thanks Ali." They quickly caress each other, before Littlefoot heads off to the Duckbill's watering hole. Ali hates to think how badly Pterano has been hurt not that she knows him, and takes her mind off the thought as she nurses the kids and helps them to feed.
Littlefoot's arrival at Ducky's watering hole is answered with odd looks by a few residents nearby, but Ducky is surprised that her friend arrived there quite quickly. She directs him to Petrie and Pterano whereby viewing Petrie's depression, Littlefoot clearly understands the seriousness of the matter. He still had not regained consciousness so Petrie had explained, and the wounds inflicted on Pterano were completely heart-breaking. Both wings had been severed to the extent he could not fly; most of his body looked brutally beaten and bruised including a neat scar diagonally across his forehead, and though his beak in relation to the rest of his build seemed equal, that too was adorned with scars and possibly cracked in more places than one. Littlefoot could hardly bear Pterano being left in this manner, even though he never really liked the Flier.
"Oh hell no!" Petrie turns to his friend with tears in his eyes, but Littlefoot admits to something he wanted to keep to himself. "I may have wished harm on him, but never to this extent." Though Petrie was shocked to hear his friend's words he knew it was just his opinion, understanding Pterano has been the cause for many hateful thoughts of many residents including his friends since he first came to their home that day a strange flying rock had landed nearby.
"Please Littlefoot! You must help me!" Petrie pleaded once again.
"I've already decided Petrie. Don't worry. I'll carry him with the utmost care." Littlefoot ascertained before laying down so Ducky could place him on his back. Petrie instantly flies up to perch atop Littlefoot so he could be beside Pterano and carry him to the nest upon arrival. As Littlefoot rises, Ducky sees them off until they disappear from sight.
"How did this happen Petrie?" Littlefoot began.
"Rincus and Sierra! The bastards!" Petrie had answered angrily.
"Seriously! But they originally had been your uncle's lackeys." He pauses. "Why have they changed sides?"
"Me no know! But when me find them me will kill them!"
"I would not recommend it Petrie, they'll be more skilled. As they managed to do this to Pterano, you might possibly be killed."
"They deserve to die!"
"Petrie! Stop being so adamant! I know they could easily kill you if they wanted to! You are not ready for anything like that! I won't let you!" Littlefoot had raised his voice after Petrie's answer.
"Me sorry, but me just can't stop wishing for their demise!"
"I know he's your uncle and all, but you'd be better off keeping him alive right now! You may never get another chance to be with him Petrie!"
"Me know." Petrie gives up for the time being. He knows Pterano is the first thing he must sort out. "Pterano be first thing!" Littlefoot continues to walk on until they reach the hanging rock where Petrie's mum's old nest used to be. He casually heads towards the cliff knowing how weak the ascent is now due to its many years of weathering. Once reaching the nest, he carefully rests his side against the rock face so Petrie could easily carry Pterano along his neck to the safety of the minute cavity.
"Will you be alright here now Petrie?"
"Me will Littlefoot. Thank you for your help."
"No worries." Littlefoot continues on in order to turn around and head back to his nest. Upon passing by his friend he says one final thing. "Please. Give him my regards when you can."
"Me will do! Bye!" Petrie quickly goes back to caring for his uncle, as Littlefoot disappears round the bend. Knowing he is safe here until recovery, Petrie decides to search for herbs he knows will help heal his uncle's wounds. But his uncle's wings are another matter, seeing that they have been sliced right through and quite far. He may never be able to fly if they do not seal, and Petrie has no clue what would help the wings to do that. If his mother were still alive she certainly would know what to find. Perhaps Juni will know. Petrie thought as he let the wind direct him back to Juni and his children.
Juni notices that Petrie is returning to her and their children, slightly surprised and in hope Pterano is okay. Emmet and his other four siblings all look to their dad fairly joyous to see him again.
"Dada. Mam, dada!"
"Yes Emmet. Daddy's coming. I hope you have eaten all you need."
"Ya mam!" Petrie then calls Juni as he comes in to land.
"Juni!"
"Petrie hun. Is he alright?"
"No." Petrie's reply seemed a little depressing. "He safe at old nest, but me no know what would help seal his wings."
"His wings?" Juni was curious to know more.
"They are severed badly, he no be able to fly."
"Oh goodness no!"
"Please! You must know what to find!"
"Your mother had shown me in the past, but I'm not sure if they are still there now."
"Hoh." Petrie turns away and covers his eyes with his wings letting the tears fall. "Me no wanna lose him." He begins crying quietly hoping his kids do not hear him, but Juni is quick to notice and tries to comfort him as best she can.
"Petrie. Please, don't feel bad. Things have a habit of surviving in the unlikeliest of places I assure you." She hugs her mate and rubs her beak with his, before giving the details as to what Petrie is looking for. "As you may already know of other herbs for Fliers, this particular one tends to grow at higher elevations near fast flowing water."
"So, if me go to chasm nearby, me may see them up high."
"That is very likely Petrie, but seeing as it is dangerously close to the Mysterious Beyond you know what may be waiting there."
"Me know they may be there, but me never saw them when me searching for berries."
"Hmm. Perhaps they have moved on already."
"Thank you love." He casually coos against her. "Me head off again now to check on Pterano after finding them herbs." Petrie flaps his wings and lifts off. "Bye!"
"Be careful!" Juni shouts after him, before she goes back to nursing their children. Emmet gives a little look of worry to his mum though she assures him there is nothing to worry about, before she plays a small game with them.
Pterano suddenly wakes and sees he is in a nest he does not recognise, though the area he could see looked very familiar. It is then that he realises earlier that day, he had arrived at the valley while being pursued by Rincus and Sierra.
"Petrie." His voice sounded weak, but as he looked around he did not see him. "He's, not here." When he looks around again, he catches a glimpse of a Flier over the high rise. At first he did not recognise it, but as it nears the location and alone he soon understands that it must be Petrie. "Petrie. It must be. But, how did he get me up here?" Pain soon shoots through his body as it recovers, causing him to cry loudly in pain.
Petrie gasps and soon speeds up carrying all the herbs needed for his wounds in his talons. "Uncle!" Within seconds he lands at the nest to tend to his uncle's wounds.
"Ow!" Pterano moves his wing when Petrie touches it, not welcoming the aid his nephew is trying to give.
"Uncle please, bear it and don't move! It will be easier then for me to help you. Me be as gentle as me can, but me no can give aid if you don't let me!"
"But, Petrie. There is too much pain." Pterano pleaded.
"Me know it will cause pain, but your wings cannot seal if me no rub them with herb paste."
"I guess." Petrie instantly crushes the herbs into a thick paste and rubs the remedy onto Pterano's severed wings as he continues to speak. "But I don't, understand."
"Understand?"
"Rincus and Sierra chased me; attacked me in flight; followed me here then harmed me further." Petrie began listening. "All because I went against Gnash and refused his wishes."
"Who Gnash?"
"He's a blood-thirsty maniac! Ow!" He pauses due to the pain again, before continuing. "He massacred an entire flock under no means necessary, other than a refusal by the leader." He does not wish to impart the truth any farther, but somehow his nephew's presence gives him the courage needed to do this. "That is why your mother and I headed off that day, to discuss matters with the others. I had never seen anything so horrifying as that massacre."
"So why mum die, and why you no return?" Petrie's question gave Pterano a depressing memory he did not wish to relive again. The pause had been too much for Petrie to handle, and he soon reacted with anger. "If you will not tell me then forget it! Me won't ever wish to see you again!"
"Petrie, I..."
"NO!" Pterano backs up in fright at his nephews anger. He has never seen him this angry, knowing too well that he has not been there for him. "ME HATE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID UNCLE!"
"Petrie please just, let me explain." He clearly understands Petrie wishes not to hear him out, with the dark glare he now gives him. "I've not seen that look, in a long time."
"Just, tell me GODDAMNIT! ME NO NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN!" Petrie tries to calm himself but even if he does it will not last long, though there is a tear forming from his eye.
"Gnash. He's the one who, ordered Brutus to deeply wound your mother." Pterano looks away, a trickle of a tear forming upon the memory. "She asked me to end her suffering so reluctantly, I did." By now Petrie breaks down; anger consuming him he strikes his uncle across the face with his beak, in a forceful manner that knocks him on his side. Pterano grunts and cowers after his nephew's attack, shocked after what he did.
"DROP DEAD!" Petrie rapidly bellowed in tears flapping his wings, causing Pterano to look on in silence and distraught at his nephew disappearing amidst the distance.
"Petrie. Please." He knew even if he shouted that Petrie would not hear him or even glance back, accepting the fact that he will never see his nephew again. "What, have I done?" He scrunches up into a tight ball, hiding his tears with his hands before breaking down. "It, wasn't... It wasn't my fault."
Petrie is perched atop a high ledge on the edge of the Great Valley, his hands over his eyes and tears still pouring both with anger and sorrow. His thoughts soon start acting up, as he mentally returns to the scene with his uncle over and over again. How he reacted so angrily at him, made him feel guilty and useless all the time. Maybe I was too harsh on him. But me just could not control me anger. Me feel so damn useless. Me can't even care for my uncle without hurting him. Oh! This is exactly how me felt years ago, when me couldn't even fly with me siblings.
"Petrie! You'll never get it right!" One of his brothers began as Petrie is standing worried and silent, his siblings lecturing him after what happened earlier during their flying practice.
"Yeah! You don't pay attention!" Another of his brothers moaned raising up his wings in annoyance.
"You flap your wings at the wrong time!" One sister complained as she waved her wings as if flapping them.
"You go up when we go down, you go down when we go up!" Another sister exclaimed moving her wings to add more of a visual concept.
"YOU'RE HOPELESS!" All Petrie's siblings shout at exactly the same time making their brother shrink up in a deeper depression than he was already. It is then that their mother intervenes to silence them, but Petrie still does not look up.
"Hush now, that's enough." She motions to them with her beak to go and sleep. "Go on, scoot! I want to talk to Petrie alone."
"Okay mum!"
"Goodnight! See you in the morning!" A brother and sister call as the rest follow to the back of the nook to sleep in their nest.
Petrie's mum soon tries to act happy as she sits down beside her son, a hand resting on his shoulder in hope it will cheer him up. "Petrie. What is the problem? You can be a good flier when you try, I've seen you." She starts tapping his shoulder gently. "Why can't you fly with your brothers and sisters?"
"Me no know!" Petrie replied not looking up to his mum.
"The Day of the Fliers will be here before you know it, and they're counting on you to be ready! Will you be?" She exclaimed seriously and gently, but Petrie spoke no words back. His mother stayed with her tone waiting for her son to answer her question. "Petrie!" She has her hand on his back, but Petrie seems to jump down from the small rock slightly annoyed, walking to the edge of the nest as he goes to answer still upset after the lecture he had from his siblings.
"Me, try me best okay!" His mum pauses for a moment, before walking after her son sad that her question had been answered uncertainly.
"I know you will, you always do." At this point she is rubbing her beak on her son to comfort him further with a smile. "Goodnight Petrie."
"Night mum." Nothing she had done made Petrie feel any better, as she walks off to the back of the nest to sleep amongst her children. When things quieten down, Petrie starts talking to himself slightly angered with his whole family, crossing his wings across his body. "They think me never do nothing right! Sometimes me wish me had a whole 'nother family!" After turning around to look back at his family, he lays down and sleeps out of the way.
"Petrie." There is a mysterious voice that Petrie seems to hear, one he recognises as clear as day. He remembers the gentle tone, how warm it was making him feel deep down inside. Then a word escapes his lips, as he wraps his wings around himself imagining his mother's comfort.
"Mum." Though the word was spoken under tears.
"Forgive him, my dear child."
"But, mum. You died, because of him. Me just, can't forgive. Me miss you so much." In the eyes of other residents if they were viewing the scene, Petrie would seem quite strange talking to the air. But they would not understand, not unless they lost someone they loved with all their heart. He could feel her presence around him, like her spirit had come to visit.
"I know my child. But he has changed his ways now. Not like the time he first visited the Great Valley, which I'm sure you can remember deep down."
"Yes. Me remember, like it happened yesterday. That night when Ducky was taken away."
"Help, help, help!"
Petrie was already looking up towards the cries of his friend Ducky, and three Fliers flying off. "Where she going?!"
Littlefoot runs answering Petrie's question a little out of breath. "With your uncle, and the other Fliers are taking her!"
Petrie gasps as he looks up to the Fliers, then looks angrily at Littlefoot flying to him within seconds to speak. "You wrong!" He then lands atop his friend. "Pterano never do..!"
His mother cuts in quite worried, causing them both to look up in worry. "No Petrie, it's true! It is Pterano!"
"No." Petrie sniffles and a tear trickles down his face. "Me will stop him!" When he decides to fly and catch up to his uncle he seems to hear a conversation going on between Rincus and Sierra, only seeing Sierra having difficulty flying so Petrie knew Ducky was being held hostage by him.
"Gees! Watch where you're going?!" Rincus complained after he is whacked by Sierra's wing.
Sierra is annoyed as he tails behind again. "You think this is easy, then how about you carry her?"
"STOP!" Pterano's eyes widened in worry that his nephew had suddenly arrived, speeding passed both Rincus and Sierra. "Uncle! You make mean Flier let Ducky go." He had to flap his wings rapidly so he could keep at Pterano's pace.
"Petrie, listen to me. Tell the others not to follow, and no harm will come to the Swimmer." He complacently flies on hoping Petrie will give the message, but instead he stammers and tries to catch up again.
"I no understand why you do this?!" Curiously asking this question, he never knew Rincus was so near.
"None of your business you little gnat, now buzz off!" Petrie screams after being hit by Rincus and free falls to the ground.
"Petrie!" Ducky could do nothing to help Petrie, crying his name in horror as she is taken further away. The scene between Rincus and Pterano after the attack may have been seen by Petrie, but if anything he would only partially see his uncle Pterano whacking Rincus in flight as he continues to fall screaming. Within moments the pond below comes dangerously near, then the cold water submerges him under. Petrie heard a splash of some kind but had no clue who, what or even where, until he is soon brought back to the surface of the pond by his best friend Littlefoot who had charged to where Petrie was free falling, so he had assumed.
"Phew." Recovering his senses Petrie smiles in unison with Littlefoot relieved, before gasping at Ducky's scream as she is carried off into the distance of the night. "AAAAHHHH! Help, help, help!"
"But why did you have to go mum?" Petrie asked after returning to the present day, hoping to know the reasons as to why she left in the first place.
"It will be easier if you let your uncle explain Petrie. After all, he was one of the first to view the massacre. One of the very first to do something about it. Now I'm worried that he may not live another day."
"But, he here in Great Valley. Me cared for him before me suddenly lost it."
"Then you have already tried to forgive. Please, don't let my death hold you back from what really matters now." Her voice then starts fading away, causing Petrie to feel cold once more. "Pterano needs you, my child."
"Mum! Wait! What must me do!?" He shouted out through the air, receiving no reply as her spirit had already gone. But her last words linger for a moment as Petrie stares out into the unknown, remembering the incident where he nearly witnessed her demise.
"NO! MUM!" Petrie cried as his mum disappeared under the flowing mud, even Littlefoot had no idea what to do. Of course, his warning to Petrie's mum was all he could do. Silence was soon imminent between them, even Ruby and Chomper. Good news came from Chomper seconds after, saying he can sniff her out and find her. Petrie watches him bravely dive into the mud, but time may not be on their side. This Petrie feared the most, thinking when his mum is finally found she would have already drowned. It did not take Chomper long to reach her location, and also knowing the problem of being buried under mud he instantly eats through in hope Petrie's mum was still alive. Petrie could see exactly what Chomper's plan was, his heart skipping a beat when his mum gasps for air after the Sharptooth cleared it away from above her.
Never had Petrie ever come that close to losing his mother before, despite all the other times she had been searching for him in his child years. Now he will never see her again for the rest of his life, all thanks to Pterano not being there for her. But then remembering his mother's words before her presence faded, he soon understands that Pterano has tried all he can to fix the things of the past and present. The only way Petrie would know, is if he listens to his uncle's story. With his mother's presence watching over him, he feels ready to hear the truth and care for his uncle in his time of need. His thought gives him enough courage to do what is necessary. Me must be there for Pterano. Right now he needs me, now more than ever. Unknown to Petrie as he flies back to Pterano, Gnash's flock have just appeared in the distance following Rincus and Sierra straight to the Great Valley. They were the only two who knew the way there in this flock.
When Petrie finally returns to his uncle the first thing he does is apologise for his actions, caressing him as gently as he could under his joyful tears. Pterano is completely flabbergasted by how quickly his nephew returned despite all the thoughts and emotions racing through his head. It is then that he asks a question, while Petrie lets him go.
"What, made you come back Petrie? And so quickly too."
"It was mum uncle. Her spirit came to visit me, and helped me decide what me must do now. Me will care for you, like me say me would to me friends."
"I am fine Petrie. Really. Though I have missed you, so very much." There is a sudden dark presence behind Petrie, and Pterano soon cowers once more.
"Huh!" Petrie turns around to see both Rincus and Sierra hovering just outside the nest, gasping in surprise and instantly shielding his uncle from view.
"Aww! This is all so very touching, but you see Petrie. Pterano, belongs to us." Sierra proclaimed unnerved by Petrie's glare.
"No! You stay away from him!"
"I'm afraid we can't do that. Leader Gnash has been waiting. He is very impatient." Rincus continued a little threateningly. "Heh, heh. We will be taking him before we leave. Now hand him over!"
"I said STAY AWAY!" Petrie rushes forward in a threatening way, crying a Pteranodon cry in hope it will send them away.
"Oh dear. I'm shaking." Sierra joked sarcastically as they both laughed at his pitiful attempts to scare them. "You are nothing compared to us. So be a good little Flier and give him to us. Now!" He ends with a growl, causing Petrie to do the same back and stand tall showing off his large wingspan to make himself look bigger. Sierra loudly Pteranodon cries readying himself to attack, but Gnash manically bellows impatiently as he appears behind them.
"ENOUGH YOU PITIFUL FOOLS!" They both turn rapidly around.
"But, Leader Gnash he refus..." Sierra tried to explain, but his sentence is cut off with a painful grunt when Gnash whacks him round the head with his arm.
"Get out of my way! I will sort this punk out myself!" Rincus flies off after Sierra, afraid he will get whacked again. Gnash menacingly lands on the edge of the nook glaring darkly at the one refusing to comply. "So! I see it is you causing all this, irritation."
"Don't you dare lay one claw on him or else!" Petrie had made a threat without even thinking straight.
"Petrie! Stop! You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
"I am not about to let them take you uncle!" Petrie is quick to make another Pteranodon cry, and flaps his wings quite forcefully.
"Hmm!" Gnash begins walking with a slow strut along the edge, admiring his claws before glaring back at Petrie once more. "Such a dimwitted move, and I was beginning to think you were smart." He pauses, before heading off to the side of the nook to lean there with a smirk. "Brutus." His voice had such a shadowy tone to it that Petrie felt uneasy as if he just walked into a nightmare, then Brutus instantly flies down with a cold stare towards the new flier as he lands. Compared to Petrie, Brutus was twice his size.
"My leader." His dark voice makes Petrie feel that much more cold inside
"Deal with this pest." He motions sombrely with his eyes towards Petrie.
Within seconds, Petrie is charged into and held by his neck against the rocky wall by Brutus' large shoulder. He is whacked round the head by Brutus' beak, and powerfully kneed in the abdomen, grunting in agony when he is kneed there a second time. When Petrie struggles to get free, Brutus continues the same strike again and again.
"No! Petrie!" Pterano cried horrified over Petrie's groans by what Brutus was doing to his nephew. He forces himself to stand no matter how weak his body still is after the beating it had sustained. "ENOUGH OF THIS!" He stumbles but recovers his stance basally balancing his weight with one of his arm wings, though he struggles to keep himself from falling again.
"So, you do still have some fight left in you." Gnash acknowledged quite surprised, before he just laughed it off. "Why don't you just die already?!" He answered back in an evil tone, then remembers the female Flier Pterano had been with the day he massacred an entire flock. "Die like she did!" Petrie angrily growled after Gnash's tenebrous words. "Oh! These memories are so amusing!" He concludes with another laugh, much more manic than his previous after Petrie's reaction.
"You take that back you damn Beak-head!" Petrie insulted, forcing all his strength into his adversary to get free and attack Gnash. "Grr!" Despite every ounce of strength he had, Petrie could not push Brutus off of him.
"BRUTUS!" Gnash bellowed after the insult sent him on edge. Petrie is then pulled away from the wall and body thrown into it with all of Brutus' might, sliding down to the rocky floor unable to recover for a short instance after a sharp painful wail upon the crash. Brutus then knocks Pterano senseless with a swipe of his beak when Gnash simply orders him to. He groans in pain after hitting the rocky floor below him. Gnash walks up to Petrie, before grinding his right talons onto Petrie's head.
"Leave him!" Pterano scrambled to his knees, raising an arm in mercy.
"Take your foot off me!" Petrie ordered, but Gnash just grinds down further.
"Hmm! I shall enjoy what I have in store for you. You wish to stand up to me do you?" Petrie's dark glance meant a yes in Gnash's eyes, and Petrie too had gladly complied in his mind. "I see! Very well. Our duel for Pterano's fate will take place momentarily, in the large meadow to the South. Do not let me down, little Flier." Gnash quickly glances to Brutus, informing him on the agreement. "Take Pterano down to where our stand-off will commence." He takes one last look at Petrie's pitiful being. "You have until Haika's cry! Don't be late!" He then flaps his wings and flies off after Brutus leaves with Pterano in his talons, leaving Petrie injured and alone watching Gnash's flock members flying around giving news of his duel.
