Thank you all for your kind words in the reviews! Sorry this one is kinda short. Welp, hop to it I guess!

Note- Italics indicate thoughts. (italics look like this by the way. :0)

"Littlefoot?" The sound of Grandma longneck made his eyes open.

He stretched as his Grandmother spoke again. "It's time to start the day." She looked down at him warmly as Grandpa longneck and Bron made their way over to him.

"So what's the plan for today, Aalok?" Littlefoot cringed as Bron spoke his new name. He nearly forgot. It was something that he just had to get used to.

"Um, well I was thinking of spending the day with my friends-"

Grandpa longneck rushed into the conversation. "But since Ali won't be here for long, why don't you spend more time with her?" Littlefoot noted the eagerness in his voice.

Overwhelmed by his family's strange attitude, he jumped to his feet and desperately tried to walk off. "D-don't worry! I will!" He called by before rushing out of sight.

He could hear his grandparents shift restlessly behind him. He knew they were up to something. He would have to confront his friends about that, they always know what to do.

As Littlefoot made his way through the valley in search of his friends, he nearly jumped as a falling treestar landed on his head. This reminded him that he needed to eat breakfast.

Littlefoot found a healthy looking tree, and he reached up to take a mouthful of treestars. It felt stiff on his tongue. It didn't taste as good, but it was fine enough.

He continued to eat absentmindedly until he saw Ali and Shorty walking by. They were engaged in a friendly conversation. Ali noticed Littlefoot's eye and happily made her way to his side.

"Good morning, Littlefoot! Uh… I mean, Aalo-"

"It's ok, you can just call me Littlefoot." Littlefoot insisted.

Shorty situated himself on the other side of Littlefoot, so that he could feast on the treestars as well. "You sure? I mean, If I had my naming ceremony, I'd want people screaming my name and everything!"

Littlefoot let out an amused scoff. "Because that's just you."

"Well, I guess he's got a point." Ali sighed with slight reluctance. "You should be more honorable towards this sort of thing."

Littlefoot let out a sigh of his own. "I know… I just don't see why I need to go by something else… It sounds like I'm someone I'm not."

"Exactly!" Ali said comfortingly. "Now that you're older, you have a fresh start in life. At least that's what the grown ups say."

Littlefoot blinked at her and looked away, wishing they had something else to talk about.

Thankfully Shorty saved him from further discomfort of his forceful identity. "So what do you have planned for today? Some chaotic adventure that'll put our lives at risk? Are we gonna go into the Mysterious beyond? Or maybe win a game of toss the seed and we rub it in Cera's face when her team loses?"

Littlefoot smiled at Shorty, amused. That all seemed like a full day of excitement, but today, he had something else in mind…


Littlefoot made his way up the rocky slope that led to Chomper's and Ruby's cave. He steadily poked his head inside. Neither of his friends were there.

"Hm, maybe they're still out getting food…" Littlefoot assumed to himself. He noted that it did take Chomper a while to find enough food. Hopefully his sharptooth friend is holding up for now. All the ground fuzzies will be hidden away from the coming cold.

He turned around in hope of finding his friends elsewhere, when he was suddenly face to face with a certain fastrunner.

Littlefoot yipped with surprise. "Oh- Hello, Ruby! I was just looking for you!"

She turned her head with confusion. "What is it?" Chomper sluggishly made his way up the trail, mumbling complaints the whole way.

"All the prey is hiding! And I'm too sleepy to scare them out of their holes.."

"But wouldn't it be safer if you hunted early in the morning? That way the grown ups won't freak out about you eating red food." Littlefoot stated.

"Do you think they already know?" Chomper whispered, as if all ears were turned to their conversation.

Littlefoot could only shrug. "I really don't know. No one has said anything though… at least not that I know of."

"I think you would know if anyone knew anything because Mr threehorn would be the first to announce it." Ruby stated flatly.

"Yeah… " Chomper slid his gaze to the ground in shame, before looking up again at Littlefoot. "So what's wrong? You didn't have to come all this way just to see us. I thought we all agreed to meet near the watering place?"

"Yes, that's true. But I actually came for something else." Littlefoot forced his anxious eyes to stare calmly at Ruby, who had a wary expression of her own.

Chomper looked on with a knowing look.

Littlefoot cleared his throat. He just hoped Ruby didn't refuse his offer with another excuse. "Ruby, there's something I need to show you."

Ruby examined Littlefoot skeptically. "Is there trouble?"

"No no, not at all! In fact, I think you'll love it. If you don't mind, of course." Despite his eagerness, Littlefoot thought it would be polite to give her the choice.

Ruby shifted her stance, unsure of what to say until Chomper's snout scooted her forward. "Hey!" She yelped with slight protest.

"Go ahead, it won't do you any harm." Chomper encouraged with a warm smile.

Ruby looked up at him with pleading eyes, to which Chomper returned the gesture with a stern but ushering manner.

Littlefoot watched as the expressions passed back and forth. It was like they were having a speechless conversation.

When their silent argument ceased, Ruby looked back at Littlefoot with slight reluctance. "Ok, I'll go."

Littlefoot's face fell. Did she really hate him that much? As they departed from Chomper, Littlefoot couldn't stop the buzzing thoughts in his head.

So she knows I like her. And she doesn't want to hang out with me because she doesn't like me…

Littlefoot glanced below him. The small fastrunner was staring at him with longing eyes, but realizing that she got caught in the act, she swiftly looked away.

They continued to tread in silence, when Littlefoot cleared his throat to detract the embarrassment. "So about this place. Do you know the north side of the border?"

"Hm, well I don't really go over there that much since that's where the nests are and-" Ruby's voice trailed off, and based on her expression Littlefoot suspected she didn't want to say more.

Littlefoot exhaled in frustration. He knew what Ruby was about to say anyway. Ever since the time of great growing, the residents started taking more cautions around Ruby and Chomper. Especially Chomper. No one has spoken out about it, but it won't be long before someone does.

"Are we here?"

Ruby's voice made Littlefoot's thought bubble pop. He gazed up at the looming rock wall.

"Yep! This is it!" He said excitedly, waiting for Ruby's energetic response.

"...A wall?" The fast runner squinted her eyes at the structure, completely perplexed.

Littlefoot had to laugh at her confused state as Ruby continued to stare at the wall, as if to figure out why it was so interesting. After some time, he decided to help her out. "It's not the border that I want you to see, come on."

Littlefoot made his way up the wall, tripping over loose pebbles and rocks. He turned his head to see if Ruby was following. At first he couldn't see her. Then, he heard the swift scuffling of rocks and dirt.

He faced forward again to see that Ruby was already ahead of him. She advanced the slope with ease. Each nimble leap was performed gracefully, and Littlefoot stopped mid-climb to admire her gracious form.

"Whoa!"

Ruby's exclamation told Littlefoot that she made it to the top. He scrambled his way up until he stood behind her.

Ruby's eyes sparkled with wonder and amazement. Yes, they've all been in the Mysterious beyond many times, but from a bigger perspective, it was truly a wondrous and misjudged site.

For once in a long time, Littefoot saw her smile. "Wow.."

He tried to squeeze his way beside her. "Figured this would remind you of home."

"It does…" She said with a far away tone. After some time, Ruby continued. "Littlefoot… There's something I need to tell you-"

Suddenly the ground below them quivered, then they felt the world shake. Littlefoot and Ruby were jostled around by the earth's violent quakes.

Littlefoot slipped over the jumping pebbles, a squeal of alarm erupted from him as he struggled to keep his balance. He felt new weight on his back leg and saw that Ruby had clung herself to him. He was about to instruct that they go down the wall, but since they were at a high range it would be too risky. He crouched down on his stomach and curled Ruby close to him with his tail, awaiting for the earth shake to stop.

After the earth's tantrum, the loose stones settled back into place, and the trees stopped swaying.

Littlefoot raised his head cautiously. Earth shakes were always unpredictable, but this one seemed more violent than others. He looked down to see Ruby huddled next to him. She wasn't hurt, Littlefoot noted, just startled. "Are you ok?"

Dust clouds still lingered in the air, and Ruby coughed as she inhaled to make a response. "Yeah. We should go see how the others are doing. This wasn't a minore earthsake."

With a confirming nod, the two made their way down the rocky slope.

When they reached level ground, the rest of the gang rushed to their side, along with Ali and Shorty.

" You guys ok?" Shorty puffed with exasperation and shock.

"Yeah, we're ok." Littlefoot said, while also recovering from the earthshake.

"What were you doing up there anyway?" Ducky asked.

Littlefoot glanced at Ruby, who stared at him with confusion. "We were sightseeing." He answered simply.

"Well can you not do that during an earthshake? Everyone was wondering where you were after it happened." Cera grumbled.

Littlefoot gave her a glare of his own. "How was I supposed to know it would happen? Honestly, I think you just enjoy arguing." He turned his head up and gave her a petty look.

Cera growled between her teeth. "You stupid flathead! Don't you realize you're in enough trouble as it is?"

Littlefoot's expression fell. "What?"

Cera turned her nose in the air. "My dad knows all about your get up. So be careful." She said coldly.

"Cera…" Chomper sneered accusingly.

"What? I'm only warning him alright?" Cera eased her aggressive posture.

Ali's face turned with confusion. "Warn him about what?"

Suddenly, Cera shot cautious glances around her, as if someone else was listening in on the group. "Oh- Nothing, nevermind that." When everyone gave her skeptical looks, she frantically thought of what to say. "But anyways- what's the plan for today?"

Littlefoot stared at her. She's hiding something isn't she? Oh well, it's not like we'll have a chance to bribe her. "Um… Well, since it's a little chilly today, I figured we could warm ourselves up with a quick game of hider and finder."

Cera scoffed with disgust. "Seriously? That's a hatchling's game-"

"I think that sounds like a great idea, Littlefoot!" Ali cut Cera off and gave her a disapproving glare. The threehorn merely scoffed once more, but didn't shoot another salty protest.

Everyone else seemed to agree, and so they headed to the clearing where they usually played. But while on their way, Littlefoot adjusted his walk so that he matched Ruby's. "So what were you going to say on the wall? Before the earthshake?"

Ruby gazed forward, and after a hesitant pause, she said "Oh, nothing. "