Chapter IV
No reconciliation
When Cera woke up with the sunrise next morning her first thought was to meet Littlefoot, Ducky, Spike and Petrie on the play-meadow. But then she remembered what has happened the day before. She thought of her nightly colloquy with Spike. He hadn't known the answer on her question if Littlefoot would forgive her, if she would excuse by him. Now Cera was very facilitated that she had spoken with Spike, and nobody else, because she had admitted more than she was glad about now. One thing was obvious; if she really wanted to know if Littlefoot would reconcile with her... she hesitated before she finished the thought, ...she would have to ask him. Normally she would have been to proud to let down herself down to do this, but she felt it would be better for everyone when she tried to finish this quarrel as soon as possible. After breakfast she set off to a small grove Littlefoot would have to cross when he went to the play-meadow to meet with the others. It was a favorable place to intercept Littlefoot, because there were some good hiding places. If Littlefoot would see her from a distance he would possibly avoid her, and she had to absolutely speak with him undisturbed for a moment. Cera hid in a bush beside the way Littlefoot would certainly take, and waited. She hadn't to wait for a long time. Littlefoot appeared presently on the groves border. Cera looked at his face and felt frightened. Littlefoot's always- merry face had the same terrible petrified look like yesterday at the tunnel. Had he seen her? But this didn't seem to be case, because Littlefoot went on his way steady. If this was his normal countenance now, Cera thought worried, she must have really hurt him very hard. She hesitated for a moment. Should she really speak with him? But she had no choice; if Littlefoot had passed her it would be to late. So she jumped out of the bush, in Littlefoot's way. Littlefoot jerked as if a sharptooth had jumped out of the bush, and turned himself in a ready for a fight posture. Cera hastened to shout: "Littlefoot. I must speak with you!" Littlefoot relaxed and went on walking, ignoring Cera. "Littlefoot..." Cera halted. Maybe Littlefoot was right in this quarrel, but this didn't give him permission to treat her like this. He hadn't even listened to her. She run to her place in the sedge and reflected again. If Littlefoot was so stubborn he could be indifferent to her. But then she remembered Ducky, Spike and Petrie. They stuck to Littlefoot, and Cera couldn't imagine anything harder then to lose the friendship of them all. Suddenly Cera was startled from her thoughts by voices nearing her. She recognized the voices of Petrie, Ducky and Littlefoot. First she couldn't understand the words, but the voices neared still, so she could understand first single words and then sentences. She noticed soon, that they talked about her. She peered carefully through a crack between the sedges. Littlefoot stood direct in front of her, but with the back turned to the sedge, so he couldn't see Cera. Facing to him stood Spike, with Ducky sitting on his head and Petrie flapped above them. They were all too preoccupied with Littlefoot to notice Cera. It was an amazing chance, and Cera tried to eavesdrop. Just Littlefoot said angrily: "It's all the same to me if she is sorry or not. Even she is sorry I won't forgive her this. Nearly whispering and more to himself than to the others, Littlefoot continued: "And that although my mother had rescued her life too. She.", Littlefoot broke of the unfinished sentence. There was a glitter in the corners of his eyes. "I'm fed up with her arrogance and her brag!" Cera felt that her sight began to blur. Littlefoot's words had hurt her very hard. Nobody said anything for a few seconds, but then Ducky objected carefully:
"But she have rescued your life repeatedly. Oh yes she have!" "Like I've rescued hers too! We are quits", Littlefoot replied defiant. "And that has nothing to do with that, what she had done yesterday!" He passed Spike and Ducky and went away without looking back. Ducky, Petrie and Spike changed a dismayed look. And then Ducky noticed Cera. She didn't say anything, but looked very compassionate. Spike and Petrie had noticed Cera too now. She endeavored to change her deportment to a proud pose. When Ducky recognized this on her face became sadder. She cast a short look back over her shoulder, after Littlefoot, who had already withdrawn a long distance. Ducky looked back to Cera for a moment. Then she sighed sadly, jumped down from Spike's head, turned round and hastened to catch up with Littlefoot. Petrie did the same after short hesitating. Spike turned round likewise and started to trot behind the others. But suddenly he turned his head again. His features were stretched; he tried to say something. But he just brought out his typical sounds. Nevertheless Cera was sure to have heard out a "word" that had sound roughly like "serra". She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what and in the meantime Spike plodded likewise slowly behind Littlefoot. Cera sighed quietly and drew back to her hiding place.
Ducky looked round carefully. She didn't want anybody else to hear their talk. The sun had already set hours ago and the stars sparkled on the dark sky. A short while ago she had woken up Spike and had gone to Petrie's nest. After she had woken him up too she had led them to a big rock nearby, a good place to talk undisturbed. "Why have we gone here?" Petrie asked curious. "Littlefoot and Cera!" Ducky said decided. "We must make them finish this nonsense. Oh yes we must!" Petrie and Spike nodded, but a few seconds later Petrie asked unsteady: "That's right, but how we shall make them finish it?" "Well I've no good idea yet", Ducky admitted sadly. "That's why we have gone here." There was a short pause and then Ducky asked: "Has anybody an idea or an suggestion?" Everybody was quiet. They all knew the problem. Littlefoot would forgive Cera nearly everything, but offending his mother was certainly the most important exception. They had tried to persuade Littlefoot to speak with Cera nearly the whole day, till he had intimidated them unmistakable, that he wouldn't speak with her, and that it would be as if he had never known Cera. "You don't believe Littlefoot means what he said in earnest, don't you?" Petrie asked uncertain. Ducky shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know if I believe it. Oh no. I don't know not at all what I shall believe, and I don't know what to do yet." Nobody said anything for a while. Finally Petrie asked: "How would be Cera in the meantime?" "I don't believe she is well", Ducky said sadly, and Spike, who was near to fell asleep, because he was unable to join the conversation startled and nodded determined. He knew more than Ducky and Petrie, because he had spoken with Cera. But he was unable to tell Ducky and Petrie about that, and moreover he was sure, that Cera wouldn't want anybody else to know from the colloquy they had. Ducky continued slowly and quiet: "This quarrel is doubtless Cera's fault." "You mean it serves her right?" Petrie asked indignant. "Certainly not!" Ducky said hasty, "But put yourself in Littlefoot's place." "You would act like he?" "For some days... yes!" "Also Cera would excuse, like she have done today?" "Maybe. It is hard for us to understand Littlefoot. Oh yes it is! We haven't lost our parents. It is probably simply to early for him to forgive." Petrie looked very thoughtful. "And we can't understand Cera too. Why have she done it? We are no threehorns. Oh no!" Now Petrie nodded slowly and asked: "And if you would be in Littlefoot's place, you would forgive Cera later?" "Certainly. It takes time to cool down. We shouldn't throng Littlefoot." "You mean all we can do is waiting?" "I fear", Ducky sighed. "And how long?" "I don't know. Oh no, no, no, no, no!" Petrie nodded again. And then he croaked with a wry grin: "Oh I wish some terrible catastrophe would happen. That would accelerate Littlefoot and Cera weld together. Just like then." Ducky laughed first time since the quarrel had begun: "Let's hope we won't need a catastrophe." Petrie and Spike laughed too. They enjoyed it. "It's time to fly back to our nests", Petrie said. "We won't fly. Will we Spiky?" Ducky answered grinning and Spike lowered his head to let Ducky climb on it. "Good night!" Petrie croaked, swinging himself up into the air. He disappeared in the darkness with a few flaps. Ducky and Spike went back too.
No reconciliation
When Cera woke up with the sunrise next morning her first thought was to meet Littlefoot, Ducky, Spike and Petrie on the play-meadow. But then she remembered what has happened the day before. She thought of her nightly colloquy with Spike. He hadn't known the answer on her question if Littlefoot would forgive her, if she would excuse by him. Now Cera was very facilitated that she had spoken with Spike, and nobody else, because she had admitted more than she was glad about now. One thing was obvious; if she really wanted to know if Littlefoot would reconcile with her... she hesitated before she finished the thought, ...she would have to ask him. Normally she would have been to proud to let down herself down to do this, but she felt it would be better for everyone when she tried to finish this quarrel as soon as possible. After breakfast she set off to a small grove Littlefoot would have to cross when he went to the play-meadow to meet with the others. It was a favorable place to intercept Littlefoot, because there were some good hiding places. If Littlefoot would see her from a distance he would possibly avoid her, and she had to absolutely speak with him undisturbed for a moment. Cera hid in a bush beside the way Littlefoot would certainly take, and waited. She hadn't to wait for a long time. Littlefoot appeared presently on the groves border. Cera looked at his face and felt frightened. Littlefoot's always- merry face had the same terrible petrified look like yesterday at the tunnel. Had he seen her? But this didn't seem to be case, because Littlefoot went on his way steady. If this was his normal countenance now, Cera thought worried, she must have really hurt him very hard. She hesitated for a moment. Should she really speak with him? But she had no choice; if Littlefoot had passed her it would be to late. So she jumped out of the bush, in Littlefoot's way. Littlefoot jerked as if a sharptooth had jumped out of the bush, and turned himself in a ready for a fight posture. Cera hastened to shout: "Littlefoot. I must speak with you!" Littlefoot relaxed and went on walking, ignoring Cera. "Littlefoot..." Cera halted. Maybe Littlefoot was right in this quarrel, but this didn't give him permission to treat her like this. He hadn't even listened to her. She run to her place in the sedge and reflected again. If Littlefoot was so stubborn he could be indifferent to her. But then she remembered Ducky, Spike and Petrie. They stuck to Littlefoot, and Cera couldn't imagine anything harder then to lose the friendship of them all. Suddenly Cera was startled from her thoughts by voices nearing her. She recognized the voices of Petrie, Ducky and Littlefoot. First she couldn't understand the words, but the voices neared still, so she could understand first single words and then sentences. She noticed soon, that they talked about her. She peered carefully through a crack between the sedges. Littlefoot stood direct in front of her, but with the back turned to the sedge, so he couldn't see Cera. Facing to him stood Spike, with Ducky sitting on his head and Petrie flapped above them. They were all too preoccupied with Littlefoot to notice Cera. It was an amazing chance, and Cera tried to eavesdrop. Just Littlefoot said angrily: "It's all the same to me if she is sorry or not. Even she is sorry I won't forgive her this. Nearly whispering and more to himself than to the others, Littlefoot continued: "And that although my mother had rescued her life too. She.", Littlefoot broke of the unfinished sentence. There was a glitter in the corners of his eyes. "I'm fed up with her arrogance and her brag!" Cera felt that her sight began to blur. Littlefoot's words had hurt her very hard. Nobody said anything for a few seconds, but then Ducky objected carefully:
"But she have rescued your life repeatedly. Oh yes she have!" "Like I've rescued hers too! We are quits", Littlefoot replied defiant. "And that has nothing to do with that, what she had done yesterday!" He passed Spike and Ducky and went away without looking back. Ducky, Petrie and Spike changed a dismayed look. And then Ducky noticed Cera. She didn't say anything, but looked very compassionate. Spike and Petrie had noticed Cera too now. She endeavored to change her deportment to a proud pose. When Ducky recognized this on her face became sadder. She cast a short look back over her shoulder, after Littlefoot, who had already withdrawn a long distance. Ducky looked back to Cera for a moment. Then she sighed sadly, jumped down from Spike's head, turned round and hastened to catch up with Littlefoot. Petrie did the same after short hesitating. Spike turned round likewise and started to trot behind the others. But suddenly he turned his head again. His features were stretched; he tried to say something. But he just brought out his typical sounds. Nevertheless Cera was sure to have heard out a "word" that had sound roughly like "serra". She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what and in the meantime Spike plodded likewise slowly behind Littlefoot. Cera sighed quietly and drew back to her hiding place.
Ducky looked round carefully. She didn't want anybody else to hear their talk. The sun had already set hours ago and the stars sparkled on the dark sky. A short while ago she had woken up Spike and had gone to Petrie's nest. After she had woken him up too she had led them to a big rock nearby, a good place to talk undisturbed. "Why have we gone here?" Petrie asked curious. "Littlefoot and Cera!" Ducky said decided. "We must make them finish this nonsense. Oh yes we must!" Petrie and Spike nodded, but a few seconds later Petrie asked unsteady: "That's right, but how we shall make them finish it?" "Well I've no good idea yet", Ducky admitted sadly. "That's why we have gone here." There was a short pause and then Ducky asked: "Has anybody an idea or an suggestion?" Everybody was quiet. They all knew the problem. Littlefoot would forgive Cera nearly everything, but offending his mother was certainly the most important exception. They had tried to persuade Littlefoot to speak with Cera nearly the whole day, till he had intimidated them unmistakable, that he wouldn't speak with her, and that it would be as if he had never known Cera. "You don't believe Littlefoot means what he said in earnest, don't you?" Petrie asked uncertain. Ducky shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know if I believe it. Oh no. I don't know not at all what I shall believe, and I don't know what to do yet." Nobody said anything for a while. Finally Petrie asked: "How would be Cera in the meantime?" "I don't believe she is well", Ducky said sadly, and Spike, who was near to fell asleep, because he was unable to join the conversation startled and nodded determined. He knew more than Ducky and Petrie, because he had spoken with Cera. But he was unable to tell Ducky and Petrie about that, and moreover he was sure, that Cera wouldn't want anybody else to know from the colloquy they had. Ducky continued slowly and quiet: "This quarrel is doubtless Cera's fault." "You mean it serves her right?" Petrie asked indignant. "Certainly not!" Ducky said hasty, "But put yourself in Littlefoot's place." "You would act like he?" "For some days... yes!" "Also Cera would excuse, like she have done today?" "Maybe. It is hard for us to understand Littlefoot. Oh yes it is! We haven't lost our parents. It is probably simply to early for him to forgive." Petrie looked very thoughtful. "And we can't understand Cera too. Why have she done it? We are no threehorns. Oh no!" Now Petrie nodded slowly and asked: "And if you would be in Littlefoot's place, you would forgive Cera later?" "Certainly. It takes time to cool down. We shouldn't throng Littlefoot." "You mean all we can do is waiting?" "I fear", Ducky sighed. "And how long?" "I don't know. Oh no, no, no, no, no!" Petrie nodded again. And then he croaked with a wry grin: "Oh I wish some terrible catastrophe would happen. That would accelerate Littlefoot and Cera weld together. Just like then." Ducky laughed first time since the quarrel had begun: "Let's hope we won't need a catastrophe." Petrie and Spike laughed too. They enjoyed it. "It's time to fly back to our nests", Petrie said. "We won't fly. Will we Spiky?" Ducky answered grinning and Spike lowered his head to let Ducky climb on it. "Good night!" Petrie croaked, swinging himself up into the air. He disappeared in the darkness with a few flaps. Ducky and Spike went back too.