Note: Hey, been 4 months since the last couple chapters. Now the tale continues. Hopefully, I can keep up the pace and finish the story.
Warning: The first scene contains torture. Reader discretion advised.
We Will Hold On Forever
by
DaveTheAnalyzer
Chapter 29: Holes in the Mirage Part 1
Littlefoot and Patty walked together in silence. The bright circle slid passed the middle point to the west, shadows beginning to lengthen. They passed Mrs. Maia with her children, who chattered about winning a toss the seed game with new friends and she complimented them warmly. Littlefoot wished he could be with his mother and grandparents. He had no idea what Patty was going to show him or why she had been so insistent in doing so. A few dinosaurs took a leisurely stroll or sat down for a late lunch but Littlefoot couldn't feel more the opposite of those they passed by. He felt like he was being taken to an execution.
"So how have you been liking the Great Valley so far?" Patty asked.
Littlefoot started. Patty's gaze stayed ahead, not needing to look to know he was still there. Her voice was back to its pleasant tone but Littlefoot was wary. After a few seconds, he responded.
"It's…alright," he said. "I visited my friends. It's strange to see Ruby and Chomper's parents here."
"Yes, I never thought I'd see sharpteeth roaming freely in the Great Valley." Patty agreed, frowning slightly. "But don't worry. Chomper's parents can't hurt leaf eaters when they're eating them. You've probably seen how content people are. Everyone's happy here."
Littlefoot lowered his gaze. "Not everyone. Hyp and his dad are still arguing."
Patty looked uncomfortable. "When this change occurred, it made people revert to their base behavior. Not everyone had a good foundation. Still…I'm sure it'll all work out. Everyone's better natures will come back soon enough. Besides, I heard this Hyp was a bully. Some people…don't deserve to be happy."
Her voice became hard on the last sentence. Littlefoot looked away. It was understandable some wouldn't be so forgiving. The Great Wall rose into view on their right. Some of the details about the surrounding tugged at his memory. Looking around, Littlefoot realized they were going the same route to the hidden tunnel Patty had led him through several days ago. He felt a chill. Why was he being taken there? He didn't want to go back to a place where he learned such awful truths about her and their friendship. But to his confusion, they stopped far short of the hidden tunnel entrance. They stood in front of an enormous rectangular boulder the size of Patty that lay against the Great Wall, huge and blocky but with many bent and angled surfaces. The edges of a cave were barely visible under it. Nerves and confusion twisted in Littlefoot's chest.
"Are we going in there?" he asked.
Patty nodded, an odd satisfaction coming in. "You'll get some stress relief here. Let me move this."
She wedged her shoulder into the boulder's side and pushed. It rumbled, shaking as it slid aside. With the ease someone her strength shouldn't have, Patty moved the boulder all the way to the right and stepped back, revealing an ovular dark cave entrance. The grass in front of the entrance was flattened but still green, indicating the boulder had been a recent addition. Beckoning with her neck, Patty went inside, disappearing into the darkness. Littlefoot stared. Why had this cave entrance been blocked? Taking a deep breath, he followed after her.
The darkness pressed against his eyes. He looked up and could barely spot Patty's tail waving above before vanishing from view. He cast his gaze about, glimpsing round or square patches of blue-black walls, barely able to make out a few lines and imperfections from weathering. He heard water dripping somewhere up ahead and the reverberating booms of Patty's large footsteps. With nothing else to work with, Littlefoot moved in her direction, uneasy.
"Patty, I can't see you," he said. "If you want to show me something, I'll need more light. Where-"
There was a growl. Littlefoot froze. Large bodies shifted and big feet scraped the ground. He heard the rock wall crackle before pebbles parted and tacked down. They weren't Patty or longneck. His vision slowly acclimated to the dark. He spotted Patty's outline, standing to the left of a hunched shape. To the cave's right, a similar shape sat. They both looked vaguely bipedal. Littlefoot's muscles tensed with fear. The metallic clank of rock clanking against rock echoed in the cave. Cautiously, Littlefoot stepped closer.
"Patty, are those people?" he murmured.
"Don't worry." Patty said. "They can't reach-"
Scarlet eyes snapped open. A muzzle full of sharp teeth snapped at him. Littlefoot screamed. Sharptooth! He staggered back, seeing those jaws gnash above him, the clanging ringing loudly in his ears. At any second, he was certain those jaws were going to chomp him in half. After several moments, Littlefoot realized those snapping teeth weren't reaching down any further. Those jaws froze and strained at the same high position, roughly above the height of a longneck's shoulders. With a grunt, the right figure pulled back, unable to reach him. Those scarlet eyes stared at him. One eye was bruised with veins.
"No." Littlefoot breathed. "Not him…"
He stepped back. He didn't know if his quickening pulse was making him see more detail but he now saw without a doubt these figures were sharpteeth. They sat on the other end of the cavern, shuffling but not moving far. To the left, where he could see Patty's figure more clearly, a sailback sharptooth pressed against the wall. Its golden hide swelled and contracted, pale orange eyes darting between Littlefoot and Patty. The figure to the right… the bruised, veined eye left Littlefoot with little need for other confirmation. That was the first sharptooth, the one who killed his mother. In contrast to the sailback, he sat with his back to the wall, those nonmatching scarlet eyes almost glowing in the dim light. For a moment, Littlefoot couldn't speak. Sure, the possibility the first sharptooth being alive had been brought up earlier but for him to be in the Great Valley…?
"Patty." Littlefoot's voice was hushed. "Why's he here?"
"Don't worry, he can't hurt you." Patty said, with a strange pleasure. "Neither of them can. Come on, get closer. Don't let him scare you."
Littlefoot sent her an incredulous stare. Patty stood close to the sailback sharptooth, who made no move to strike at her. If anything, the sailback appeared to beg afraid of her. At a loss, he stepped closer. The first sharptooth's jaws snapped out again. Littlefoot jumped but noticed they reached just as far as before. The first sharptooth growled at Littlefoot's approach, a sound low in his throat. As Patty said, he appeared restrained, not getting up or charging forward.
This close, Littlefoot could at last make out strange circular stones bound around the sharptooth's wrists and ankles. Four series of thick gray hollow circles rose up from these binds, each almost as large as Littlefoot himself and clasped into each other, terminating at circular attachment points above the first sharptooth. Looking at the sailback sharptooth, Littlefoot saw similar bindings. Each of the sharpteeths' wrists and ankles were bound close together. From how they shuffled, it was like there was no way they could move any part of their body more than a few feet. That meant Littlefoot was safe. But that didn't make him any less confused and terrified. Why were two sharpteeth trapped in a Great Valley cave?
"See, they're bound to the wall." Patty continued. "They can't attack. Those metal binds are Wing Father's invention. He assured me the sharpteeth won't be able to escape them."
"What is this?" Littlefoot asked, looking about. "Why's that sharptooth here? Who's that sailback? Why're they tied up in in a cave?"
The sailback sharptooth looked between Patty and Littlefoot, beginning to pant. Lower jaw twitching, Patty paced.
"This is a reward for our service," she said, voice trembling. "There have been many dinosaurs who have done great wrongs in the previous world and only became greater because of it. Some of their wrongs have been undone but – Wing Father is giving us an opportunity to change that injustice. He wants to test righting the unfairness of the previous world. Who better to do that than the two who served him so well? We'll punish those for what should never have happened in the first place."
The sailback sharptooth growled nervously, suddenly not making eye contact. "I'm sorry. It wasn't personal. I – I just needed to eat."
"Be quiet!" Patty snapped. "Don't speak unless you're spoken to!"
The sailback sharptooth flinched. Littlefoot started. The way Patty glared at the sailback with such fury made it look personal. Slowly, he gained a creeping suspicion.
"Is that," he said shakily, "is that the sharptooth who killed your mother?"
Patty turned and bared her teeth at the sailback, who stared hard at the ground. The first sharptooth didn't say anything but sent the sailback a look of disdain.
"I have Mom back." Patty said lowly. "But the pain from that day hasn't been forgotten. The way she made Mom suffer…it isn't fair that this sailback could just go on with her life like it didn't happen. I – I can't stand it."
Littlefoot didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure if he liked what Patty was presenting to him. Punishing others? He looked at the sailback sharptooth, her orange gaze mixed with fear and…guilt? That somehow didn't fit in this new world. If Alis's death didn't happen, why didn't the sailback just look confused? Meeting Patty's level gaze, he gasped.
"It can't be," he said. "She remembers what happened in the previous world. But – I thought that only me, my friends, and the Anchors could remember?"
"Wing Father allows exceptions." Patty said. "You can't very well punish someone if they don't remember what they've done. Part of the punishment is knowing what you're suffering for."
"Then that means…" he said slowly, looking at the first sharptooth.
"Yes," she replied. "He remembers everything he did, that has happened to him."
Littlefoot let this sink in. The first sharptooth stared back at him, scarlet eyes prideful and challenging. Littlefoot was still confused and scared about this whole situation. As his chest cooled though, a part of him did feel assurance that the first sharptooth was now unable to hurt anyone else. Looking at the sailback sharptooth, he wasn't so sure about punishing her. What did Patty mean by "punishing?" Maybe he needed to know more but the sailback didn't seem malicious. Even if she did hurt Patty's mother…
Some of Littlefoot's conflicted feelings must have shown on his face, for the sailback sharptooth looked at him pleadingly.
"Please help me," she said. "I don't want to be stuck in a cave. I know I hurt some people but…"
Patty's expression twisted. "Don't you dare talk to him!"
She threw her tail back and whipped the sharptooth. The sailback screamed, a long, thin mark appearing on her hide.
Littlefoot started. "Patty, what are you doing?"
Patty didn't listen. She continued whipping the sailback sharptooth.
"He had already lost someone because of one of your kind!" Patty shouted. "How dare you beg him for help!"
The sailback yelped. "I'm sorry! I didn't know this would happen! I can't help eating other dinosaurs!"
"But you didn't have to torture her!" Patty yelled. "I saw how she twisted and screamed. You made her last moments agony!"
"It was because she was fighting back!" the sailback shouted. "I had to do something to take her down! Please, stop hurting me!"
"Not until you get a taste of the pain you gave her!"
Patty's tail grabbed the sailback's upper arm and bent it backwards. There was a loud snap. The sailback threw her head up, roaring in pain. Patty lashed the sailback, each tail wham eliciting more screams. The sailback closed her eyes, clearly wishing for this to be over. Yet, no matter how much pain she inflicted, the wild anger didn't leave Patty eyes. Littlefoot watched with an open mouth, horrified about what was happening. As Patty circled around to whip some other part of the sailback's body, he couldn't stand watching anymore. Littlefoot jumped in front of her.
"Stop it, Patty!" he shouted.
Patty rounded on him. "You're defending her? She killed my mom! Get out of my way!"
"Hurting her isn't right!" Littlefoot said, standing his ground. "I know she hurt you. I don't like that some dinosaurs have to eat others but it can't be helped!"
"Aren't you angry about the lack of consequences for dinosaurs like them?" she snapped. "That they can hurt and kill and then just go on living like everybody else? Now we can fix that. Do you really not support it?" She glared at the sailback, eliciting a whimper. "I admit, I am a bit disappointed. This is my mother's killer?"
"I guess sometimes those who hurt you aren't as big and bad as you expect," he said. "That isn't an excuse but…we shouldn't punish others like this."
She levelled him with a deadened gaze. "Would you say that if it was your mother's killer?"
Littlefoot faltered. He remembered some aspects of revenge played a part in drowning the first sharptooth. At that point, he would have been glad to really hurt the sharptooth. Rubbing his chest, Littlefoot wondered if he was a hypocrite for saying not to punish others through pain. He didn't want to think about that aspect of him. Still…
"Maybe you'd understand if it was him…"
Littlefoot looked up. Patty had said this. Her head was lowered in thought. The first sharptooth looked at her and for some reason his gaze became grim.
"You never met this sailback," she muttered. "You hadn't learned to hate her. You have to know and hate the person. You'd see the value of this kind of punishment if it was your sharptooth."
Littlefoot stared, getting a sinking feeling. "Patty? I don't think-"
"Come over here."
Patty went over to the first sharptooth. Reluctantly, he followed her. The first sharptooth glared at Littlefoot, who tensed but saw he even had a neck and chest bind to keep him restrained. Littlefoot reached Patty's side, uneasy.
"What's going to happen?" he asked.
"I think you know." Patty smiled but it had a hard edge. "We're going to drown him."
Her tail rose and hit a spot halfway up the wall. A large dome-shaped object descended slowly from the ceiling, clanking in the same way as the first sharpteeth's bindings. Lowering past the sharptooth's muzzle, it came into clearer view. It looked like a pond and it surrounding environs had been cut out of the ground, the hard, rocky container transparent and about twice the size of the first sharptooth's head. As it clanked to a stop several feel below his neck, the first sharptooth stopped looking at Littlefoot and eyed the dome-lake warily.
"Wing Father got the idea from visions of the past and the many possible futures." Patty said. "It turns out you weren't the only one to punish someone through drowning."
Littlefoot jumped when the rock floor in front of him melted and pushed up. A stone shaped like a stick formed out of a half-circular object in the earth, solidifying and hardening. Littlefoot's jaw dropped: how may weird things was he going to see today? Patty's tail pushed him closer to the stone-stick.
"It won't hurt you." Patty said. "Wing Father calls it a lever. He says it'll start the punishment. Come on, push it."
"You want me to…what?" Littlefoot blanched. "That thing will make him drown? How?"
"Just push it. You'll see it in action."
"I'm not sure I…"
Littlefoot stared at the lever, feeling its pull. Such a simple thing could cause such pain. The sharptooth appeared ever-so-slightly nervous.
"Push it." Patty said. "This is your greatest opportunity. Avenge your mother."
In spite of himself, Littlefoot walked to the lever. He looked up at the first sharptooth when he got close. Though wary, the first sharptooth met his gaze with no regret. His chest cooled. If there was anyone who deserved being hurt, it was the first sharptooth. He killed Littlefoot's mother and almost took away the best friends he would ever make. He nearly killed their families as a ghost. Now that the first sharptooth couldn't die, he might as well suffer. Hesitating, Littlefoot pushed against the lever. It was heavy. He pushed harder, putting all of his strength into it. He felt the lever give an inch.
Suddenly, he was struck by a bout of wooziness as he became aware of what he was doing. He staggered back, his morals revolting. How could he think to do this? Even as he had that thought, the temptation to hurt the first sharptooth remained. He felt like he was being pulled in two contradictory directions, his values fighting with a not insignificant desire for vengeance. Shaking his head in indecision, Littlefoot found the first sharptooth watching with a grim sneer.
"Well?" he growled. "Do it. Mmm, maybe you'll become as twisted as me."
Patty's expression contorted. "Littlefoot's not anything like you!"
She threw her tail out. Littlefoot leapt out of the way just before it struck and pulled the lever down. With a clank, the first sharptooth's bindings pulled his head back and shoved it into the water. The first sharptooth gasped it in before he could stop himself. He choked, bubbles escaping his throat. He coughed and sputtered. Patty watched, panting and with a burning look in her eyes. Through the transparent stone, Littlefoot could see the first sharptooth's attempt to be calm and indifferent. After several seconds, though, the first sharptooth jangled harder at his bindings. His expression contorted. He sloshed his head side to side, to try to lift the corners of his lips for the slightest breath but it was no use. He acted like he was suffocating. Panic entering his scarlet gaze, he thrust his muzzle hard into the dome-pond, desperate to crack and break it apart.
Seeing the first sharptooth's panic, Littlefoot tried to feel satisfied. This was the sharptooth who hurt him so personally and nearly did so again as a ghost. He had no remorse for his actions. But all Littlefoot could feel was increasing nausea. He opened his mouth and choked.
"S-stop," he wheezed.
"What did you say?" Patty said distractedly.
"I said – stop!" Littlefoot shouted. "Stop, stop! I can't take it anymore!"
He leapt to the other side of the lever and pushed with all his might. Somehow, the lever swung back into its previous position. With a clank and splash, the first sharptooth's chains pulled his head out of the water dome. The first sharptooth inhaled air and coughed, water shooting out in thick bursts and dribbling down his sides. He wheezed, his voice still wet. Littlefoot staggered back, retching but nothing came up. Patty stared in shock before rounding on Littlefoot.
"What did you do that for?" she demanded.
Littlefoot shook his head, voice still a wheeze. "Why did you think I would like this?"
"You want justice in the world. This is justice. I'm only showing what will make you happy."
"This doesn't make me happy!" Littlefoot said. He regained his breath and began shouting again. "I tried, I don't know why. But it only made me want to throw up. I don't like hurting people!"
"Don't you want payback for your mother?" Patty demanded. "Your family suffered so much because of this sharptooth! You should pay him back for what he did!"
"No!" Littlefoot backed away, glaring at her. "This isn't justice. This is torture. I hate the first sharptooth but doing this isn't me! If you thought this would make me happy, you don't know me at all!"
Patty winced. Littlefoot was vaguely aware of the first sharptooth watching him. For a moment, Patty looked hurt. Then her face twisted.
"Don't tell me you didn't cheer when you stopped sharpteeth from eating you?" she shouted. "I remember your stories of injuring or tricking them. Why wouldn't you approve of this?"
"Because the threat was driven away!" he said. "Sure, we might have enjoyed seeing them hurt but we were just happy to live and make the sharpteeth go away! This isn't my idea of paradise! I hate this! And I can tell you didn't like it either!"
"What?" Patty reeled back. "No, I always enjoyed seeing jerks get what they deserve. Wing Father said this would make me happy."
"Did it?" Littlefoot demanded. "You just got angrier and angrier. And what's the point? We all live forever now! Do we just keep punishing them for eternity? That will only lead to endless wallowing in the pain. No one will ever move on."
Patty stared. She opened and closed her mouth before stubbornly pressing her lips together. "Then what should we do? Let them go about their lives like nothing happened? That doesn't sound right."
Panting, Littlefoot looked down. "I don't know. Maybe there should be consequences for those who hurt others. But I know one thing. I don't approve of this. My mother would never approve of this. Would your mother?"
Patty faltered. Her gaze traced the ground, troubled. "I only…Littlefoot, please…"
"Don't." His voice came out harsh. "Don't take me here ever again! I'm not like you! Leave me alone!"
Littlefoot turned and ran out of the cave. Patty didn't stop him. The bright circle stung his eyes as he navigated through blurry shapes and silhouettes. Did Patty always like the idea of torture? Even if she didn't do it herself until recently, she was satisfied to watch others get their comeuppance. What did it say about her that she thought Littlefoot would feel the same way? He wasn't sure what kind of person she was anymore. He hated how he had almost been tempted into doing something horrible. Littlefoot had to get away. His gaze blurred with tears and he ran faster, afraid that the friend he judged her as never existed.
The cave walls echoed with the patter of many feet. In any other circumstances, Ducky might have been worried about where these footsteps were coming from. But now, hearing them walk with her in this cave only brought her joy. Ducky turned and waved.
"Come on," she said. "What I want to show you is not far."
Her brothers and sisters murmured with varying degrees of nervous ascent. Ducky led them through the underground caves they discussed earlier. She couldn't believe this was happening. She was taking all of her siblings on an adventure. Ducky felt so happy she was tempted to skip along. Now she could share a part of her life that her family was mostly absent from. Many of them looked a bit apprehensive and Spike sent her a worried look but that was okay. In Ducky's opinion, they would see the fun of adventuring soon enough.
Currently, the underground cave they traveled through had many sand-sized sparkles embedded in the walls and ceiling. They twinkled yellow and white, bringing a magical feel in the low light. Her brothers and sisters turned their heads this way and that, watching in fascination. Her hatch sister Eda slowed at a trio of golden sparkles in a rock, examining the glittering from different angles. Ducky was pleased her siblings seem interested in their surroundings. They all walked behind her and Spike in lines of three, keeping them close but not so close they wouldn't instantly bump into each other.
"Huh?" Bitty said, gaze trailing at shining green pebble in the wall. "I wonder what Cen would think of this."
"I've seen some of this on the way to the Great Valley." Bill said. "We had to go through some caves then, remember Fussy? I have a friend who'd love to do hide-and-seek here."
"Do you think this is safe?" Fussy asked, glancing around anxiously. "What about earthshakes?"
Ducky turned around and put her arms wide. "Do not worry. There has not been an earthshake in days. I told Mama where we are going, so we she will help if anything happens. Besides, when you are adventuring, you have to be brave, you do, you do."
"I guess." Fussy said.
She and a few of the younger siblings didn't exactly look encouraged. Frowning, Ducky turned ahead. Well, Fussy was always a fretful sort. Having watched the exchange, Spike put a head close to murmur to her.
"What?" she replied. "I did check it was safe."
Spike murmured again, glancing back as he appended a question at the end.
"It is their first adventure, of course they are nervous. It will get better soon. They will like what they see, they will, they will."
Not knowing how to respond, Spike sighed and kept walking with her. Annoyance prickled in Ducky's chest. Why was he doubting her all of the sudden? He had always went along with her ideas, whether it was a game or adventure. This was a great opportunity for Spike to also spend time with his brothers and sisters. He should be having fun instead of being worried. She needed to fix that. With a spur of inspiration, Ducky threw a hand up.
"Anyone want to ride on Spike?" she called. "You'll get a great view of the surprise I want to show you."
Spike sent her a surprised look. Before he could respond, there were delighted squeals and several brothers and sisters detached from the lines to clamber onto him. He tried to look disapproving but with the siblings ticklishly climbing up his back, he couldn't help breaking into giggles. As they got firmer holds on top of him, Spike jostled the group side to side. The siblings on him laughed and gave calls of approval, especially middle batch brother Osber who sat on Spike's neck. Ducky was pleased. Nothing brought more happiness to her other siblings than riding on Spike and Spike giving fun rides. With everyone in better spirits, Ducky looked ahead and found the cave ended in a low-lying tunnel.
"Watch your head, Spike riders." Ducky said. "Going in."
She went into the tunnel and Spike followed, many of his passengers having to press onto his back to fit through. The tunnel here was narrower, only a couple inches wider than the three lines of siblings behind Spike. Ducky heard the three lines enter and have to press closer together, worried mutters echoing out.
"It's cramped." Shean said from the middle batch. "I have to stand closer to Loch."
"Hey, what's wrong with standing next to your big sister?" Loch said indignantly.
"Do not worry." Ducky assured. "We are not far."
"Do you always walk this much with your friends?" Eda muttered. "I wish I was playing with Donna now."
"Hey, do not be like that." Ducky said, turning to jump onto Spike's back, nearly dislodging Osber to wag a finger. "We need to enjoy our family time. We will all live forever but that will not do us much good if we do not have fun together, yep, yep, yep."
A large footfall rumbled through the ceiling, causing some bits of sand to patter onto their heads. Some siblings cried out.
"An earthshake!" Bitty said.
"No, that was just a big dinosaur walking around!" Ducky said impatiently. "If they made underground tunnels collapse, we would have no underground tunnels at all, we would not."
"But what if those big feet are breaking the tunnels slowly and the next step causes it to collapse?" Shean asked, looking up as though scared to find cracks in the ceiling.
"Hey, don't spook us!" Norkel said, hugging himself.
"Alright, that is enough." Ducky waved sternly. "Now is not the time to be scared and grumpy."
Her siblings settled down but not without some mutters. Ducky couldn't help feeling annoyed. They were on an amazing adventure together and all her brothers and sisters could do was complain. Didn't they value their time together? She told herself it would all work out. Once they saw what was in the cave up ahead, they would surely cheer up. The narrow tunnel was already terminating into an entrance shining faintly with light. Hopping down to continue leading, Ducky heard Bill and a few siblings murmur with interest and try to crane their heads around Spike. On Spike's neck, Osber put a hand to his eyes and squinted. Buoyed, Ducky led them into a wider cavern. Spike followed her in, looked around, and gasped with wonder.
The cavern's walls and ceiling was covered in transparent shiny stones. Glittering light-green stone teeth rose from the ceiling and floor to Ducky's left. The walls were covered in green and yellow stones, with a mix of white in between. A blue patch lay on the ceiling on the other side of the cavern, Ducky and her siblings' shadowy reflections dancing along it. Blue shiny gravel lay on the ground, as though their owner dropped them a few seconds ago. On the opposite end of the cavern was a green patch of glowing rock like a frozen pond. Ducky had come across this amazing sight once before when she got separated from her friends down here while exploring. She always wanted to show it to her siblings and now that was becoming reality.
Some of her brothers and sisters filtered around the cave, a few gasping and murmuring. Ducky beamed, waving them on encouragingly. Osber slid off Spike to examine the green stone teeth uncertainly. Bill picked up a blue shiny pebble and turned it in her hands. One of the youngest sisters Tuo walked forward and gasped when she stepped on the small green rock patch, smiling as she tapped it with her foot. Fussy walked around the perimeter, taking in the wall stones and her reflection, intrigued but cautious as though her reflection might bite her. Bitty stood with the youngest siblings taking in the view. Ducky bounced on her feet, heart swelling as she watched her brothers and sisters' reactions.
"Well?" Ducky asked brightly. "This is cool, is it not?"
"This is pretty." Bill said, fidgeting with the blue pebble. "I think my buddy would like this."
"Cool." Tuo said, patting her foot on the small green rock patch again.
"This one's glitter is pretty neat." Osber said, tapping the blue stone tooth. "Where does this light come from? I wonder if Cora would know."
"I do not know why it glows." Ducky admitted. "But see the fun when you explore? You get to discover amazing things." She glanced at Bitty. "What about you, Bitty? Do you like it?"
Bitty jumped and put a smile on. "Yeah. This is – pretty. Very pretty. Thanks for showing us."
Ducky stared. Bitty said the right words but her voice didn't have the enthusiasm it did when she was excited. Ducky's chest chilled.
"What is wrong?" she asked.
Bitty started nervously. "Nothing."
"It is not nothing. You do not sound happy. Are you sick?"
Bitty hesitated. Nearby Bill raised her head and looked wary. Spike's gaze darted between Ducky and Bitty. Ducky stepped closer, putting a hand on Bitty's shoulder.
"Why are you being so quiet?" Ducky asked. "Do not worry. I am your sister, you can tell me. Please."
"Did we all have to come along?"
Ducky jerked back. As soon as the words left her lips, Bitty clapped her mouth. Her raised voice made many of their brothers and sisters look around in surprise. Bitty stared around, guilty, then defensively.
"I mean, I had plans today," she continued. "I was going to see my friend. I'm sorry but I'm not interested in shiny stones. Not all of us wanted to go. Also I don't like big walks and we had to do a lot of walking for this."
Ducky opened and closed her mouth. She stared at the others for assistance. Instead a few like Fussy nodded, almost relieved someone gave voice to their feelings. Tuo looked scared, as though a flying rock had been flung into the cavern. Ducky felt like she had been punched in the gut. Not only did Bitty feel this way but there was agreement? Bill looked at the blue pebble in her hand contemplatively before nodding too.
"She has a point," she said. "I like this but it might have been better if everyone didn't have to come."
"Yeah," said Shean, stepping away from the green stone tooth with a bored look. "I mean, shiny stones are alright but they aren't what I'd call fun."
"I like it." Osber said quickly. "It's cool but…couldn't it have happened later? I had things to do with Cora."
Ducky looked around slowly. Did her siblings not like having this kind of adventure with her? It couldn't be. She tried so hard to think of a good place they could go together. She felt Spike's concerned violet eyes. An ugly, hot bubbling rose in her that she realized was anger.
"I cannot believe it," she said at last. "Do you all not like this?"
"That isn't what we said!" Eda shook her head, looking upset. "Didn't you hear? Bill and Osber said they liked it! I'm sure a few others do too. But not everyone had to come along."
"Not you too, Eda." Ducky said.
"What? She's right." Riv said. "Not all of us want to go on adventures like you do."
"I mean, that you and Spike do it is pretty cool." Osber said. "But not everyone can or should be involved in dangerous stuff."
"Definitely." Fussy agreed, eying the cave walls warily. "I'm still nervous about being in these underground places. Can we go now?"
"No!" Ducky shouted. "We are not done yet!"
Her brothers and sisters jumped. Her teeth were gritted and hands balled into fist. A few siblings stared in shock before becoming angry themselves.
"We're not?" Eda said. "I thought this was the only thing you wanted to show us!"
Ducky faltered. "I – I forgot to say to say there was more." She became stubborn. "But we are going to see it and you are going to like it."
"Hey, that's not fair." Bill said. "We did not agree to this."
"If you wanted us to explore more you should have said that before we agreed." Osber said.
"No." Ducky said. "Do not do this! This is our family time, do not ruin it."
"Come on, don't be like that." Eda said. "I was interested in seeing more, but you're not being nice about it."
"She's right." Bill said. "Take us back. You can't talk to your brothers and sisters like this."
"Yeah, take us back."
"Take us back right now!"
The other siblings joined in the shouting. Spike staggered back. Shocked, Ducky clapped hands over her ears. She rarely had her brothers and sisters angry at her before. Why couldn't they understand? In the cacophony of sound, Spike appeared surprised but seeing her distress, he stepped closer to comfort her. A few of his siblings noticed and began shouting at him too.
"Come on Spike, make her see sense!" Osber said.
"Tell her to let us leave!" Fussy said. "You're closer to her, you can do it!"
"Please, I want to go Spike!" Bitty said, hands clasped.
Spike's gaze swung between Ducky and his other brother and sisters, opening and closing his mouth with indecision. Ducky looked up at him pleadingly. They spent all their time together and he was so loyal to her. He would take her side, right? But hesitating, Spike's eyes flicked down and the siblings called out in outrage. Ducky felt like she had been struck. If Spike didn't have the heart to choose either side, what did that say? Maybe having all her siblings together on an adventure was an impossible dream. Did they share nothing in common? Maybe her brothers and sisters didn't want to be close in the first place…
Her confusion and hurt turned to anger. She played with her brothers and sisters so many times but when she wanted to do something, they weren't interested. How was that fair? She didn't always see many of them when they lived with their father. Why couldn't they spend time together on her terms for once? The shouts echoed in the cave, their defiance increasing Ducky's anger until she stamped hard on the ground.
"Stop complaining!" she shouted. "You are going with me and that is final!"
Abrupt silence. Her many brothers and sisters froze wide-eyed, many with mouths open as though cut off mid-sentence. Ducky blinked, looking around. Spike and her hatch-siblings Bill and Eda looked shocked. Bitty and more than a few of her own hatch siblings stepped back as though afraid. Ducky grew uneasy as the silence stretched on but then something worse happened. A few of her brothers and sisters' eyes filled with tears.
"But." Osber said. "I was going to meet with Cora today. We always meet up."
"I wanted to play hopscotch on the lily pads with Cen." Bitty sniffled. "Now she's probably mad I didn't come."
"My friends and I were going to find a good place to star watch tonight!" Shean said. "Now – I can't. The cool star pattern won't show up for another cold time!"
Ducky's mouth fell open as the cave now echoed with the sounds of crying. Bitty sobbed, rubbing her eyes. Osber covered his face and cried, Shean patting him while glaring at Ducky. Tuo and others from the youngest hatch batch wailed throatily, scared out of their minds. Bill and Eda ran over, attempting to give comfort to anyone they could reach.
Ducky's anger was replaced with horror. She – she didn't mean to harm them. She only saw her siblings with her parents. It wasn't easy to remember they had their own friends, friends she pulled them away from. Spike took in all this with a devastated expression, feeling terrible he didn't side with them. And that was her fault, Ducky thought, her own guilt deepening. He felt too loyal to really stand against her. Was this who she was? Someone who forced others to be what she liked regardless of what they wanted? How could she forget her brothers and sisters had their own interests? As the tears and cries echoed in the cave, Ducky put her face in her hands, wondering what kind of horrible sister would bully her siblings like this.
At last, the lecture was over. Petrie and his family sat up, stretching out their wings and working the cricks in their necks. Petrie could only be relieved. Most of the lecture had went over his head. Don had used so much technical terminology that Petrie often lost track of what he was talking about. He was weirded out his siblings had been able to sit still throughout the lecture. Usually, there was a bit of noise and movement when they were together.
He would have felt foolish except Ruby and Littlefoot had also looked confounded throughout the lecture. He had seen them fidget, annoyed and bored. The other dinosaurs got up and spoke, standing or wandering together in little groups. Petrie spotted Mr. Thicknose chatting with a crested swimmer about the lecture. Don glided down from his rock pillar and weaved among the crowd, listening in on the conversations and making his own comments. He appeared proud about what he overheard.
"I can't believe that's how wind currents work." Mama Flyer said, ceasing her stretches. "Being flyers, I guess even we still have a lot to learn."
"That's the danger of making assumptions." Papa Flyer agreed. "I always thought the current perpendicular to the bright circle went the other way."
Mama Flyer looked down. "Did all of you enjoy the lecture?"
Many of Petrie's brothers and sisters smiled and nodded. "Yes, Mommy!"
"I liked it," said one brother.
"I didn't know the Great Valley was so special for keeping sharpteeth out," said a sister.
"I couldn't understand everything he was saying," another sister admitted, with a few concuring nods. "But I will when we listen to him more. I like learning from him."
There were calls of agreement. Petrie hoped he didn't laugh too loudly, stomach clenching at the thought of going to more of Don's lectures. Mama Flyer chuckled fondly.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," she said. "Hopefully we all got something out of it. Especially Ruby's family. They need Don's wise advice on their situation."
"The Mysterious Beyond is a wild place." Papa Flyer said. "Maybe if they don't make too much noise, they'll be able to escape this Red Claw's attention."
"I don't think making too much noise is the reason Red Claw bothered them, dear."
Papa Flyer frowned. "Meaning?"
"Nothing. I was just giving more details about their situation." Mama Flyer said. "I talked to Ruby's mother about it."
There was a hint of tension. Mama and Papa Flyer didn't meet each other's eye. Petrie suddenly became nervous. This sniping wasn't as playful as before. This was the tension that usually came before an argument. But his parents had been getting along so well. It wouldn't happen in this ideal world, right? Most of his siblings were oblivious but a few sent wary looks at their parents' tone.
"You okay, Dad?" asked a sister.
"No, nothing to worry about." Papa Flyer crossed his wings. "Just the challenges of parental bonds. We'll be leaving soon."
"Oh." Petrie said. "Me was thinking of saying hi to Ruby."
It been a while since he had been able to talk to most of his friends, he thought rubbing his chest. He had talked with Littlefoot but that had been before the lecture. Today had been a day of so many changes and Ruby was right there. Why not chat with her? A few siblings shrugged, used to him flying off to his friends, but Papa Flyer pressed his beak together.
"Oh alright," he said. "But don't dawdle. And don't go nosing into their Red Claw affairs."
"Dear…" Mama Flyer sent a stern look before smiling at Petrie. "Go on, say hello to Ruby. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about."
Petrie turned and opened his wings to fly over but Papa Flyer's growl made him and his siblings jump.
"There you go, undercutting me again." Papa Flyer said. "Do you really want a fight?"
"I'm not seeking a fight." Mama Flyer said patiently but frowned in slight irritation. "I was just offering my own opinion. I'll stop, since I can see I'm making things tense."
"Dang right you are," he said, crossing his arms. "I just want to make sure Petrie doesn't get dragged in fighting this Red Claw again."
"We not fighting Red Claw." Petrie protested. "It okay, Dad. We just saying hello. We not talk about Red Claw much, really."
"You don't know what'll come up!" Papa Flyer snapped. "One second, you say you're just visiting friends but the next thing we hear, you're almost getting hurt in the Mysterious Beyond again!"
Petrie flinched. At Papa Flyer's raised voice, a few dinosaurs looked up. A nearby crested swimmer got up and shuffled away. Sternly, Mama Flyer stepped closer.
"Dear, that's enough," she said. "You're overreacting."
He rounded on her. "Do you like him always getting involved in his friends' nonsense?"
"Of course I don't like him being endangered but those friends are good for him," she said. "They brought him to the valley. They make him happy."
"Which I'm grateful for but they're so nosy and it rubs off on him," he said. "Is it so bad to ask him to not look too deeply into other people's problems?"
"Petrie has the right to be concerned about others." Mama Flyer snapped, losing patience. "A good friend looks out for those they care about. Sure, they shouldn't get involved in danger but -"
"That's where it becomes a slippery slope! The next thing we know, they're risking pain by going on a journey or helping weirdos who maybe can't be saved. Normal families don't deal with this! I just want us to be at least a bit of a normal family, is that too much to ask?"
"I'm not going to tell our kids to stop being themselves!"
The argument drew the attention of most at the meeting circle. Any of Petrie's brothers and sisters who weren't fearfully staring at their parents' shouting hid their heads under their wings in shame. Their family was fighting once more and it became a public spectacle everyone got to watch. Mr. Thicknose stared, aghast such a conflict was happening after the lecture. A nearby group of rainbow faces pushed themselves up and skittered away. Don glared at Petrie's parents with arms crossed, angry this was happening at his event. Petrie felt humiliated but the worst was seeing Ruby and her family. Ruby cringed in sympathy and her family wore looks of shock. Petrie wished he could just burrow into the ground and never come up. This wasn't what he imagined when his parents got back together. They should be happy, not arguing again. Running between Mama and Papa Flyer, Petrie waved desperately to get their attention.
"Stop Dad! Mama!" he cried. "Please no fight! Me glad you care about us but don't be mean to each other!"
"It takes being mean to get stuff done sometimes!" Papa Flyer retorted. "Otherwise, you get walked all over."
Mama Flyer pressed her lips together. "Oh, you're impossible! Now I see why we almost didn't work out. You don't compromise in the least."
"And you compromise with literally everyone else." Papa Flyer turned away. "I've had it. It's clear you want to make the decisions for this family. You don't need me."
"No, Dad! Wait!" Petrie cried.
He threw a hand out but Papa Flyer kneeled and leapt into the air, ascending before becoming indistinguishable from the other flying figures above the Great Valley. The crowd watched Petrie's family, the occasional whisper audible. Many of his brothers and sisters shook, a few sniffling and still covering their faces. As the whispers became louder, Mama Flyer glared about and those closest by fell abruptly silent. She maintained that glare until she her children's faces. She looked ashamed.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have gotten sucked in. That…must have been hard to watch."
A sister wiped a tear. "That was scary."
"So you still fight?" asked another sister, rubbing her eyes.
"I thought we were better." Mama Flyer shook her head. "I should have thought about how engaging with him would impact you. I guess some differences between mates are harder to overcome."
"You're telling me," said a brother, shuddering.
"Will Dad come back?" asked another brother.
"He has to." Petrie panted. Heart beating cold, he spread his wings out. "Me will go and talk with him."
"No!" Mama Flyer said sharply, putting her hand in front of him. "Your father needs space. He won't be in the mood to listen in his angry state. He needs time to sort through his emotions. He'll come back. Let's go home."
"Finally," said a sister, relieved. "I don't like these people staring at us."
"I know."
Mama Flyer looked around, seeing some wince. Sending apologetic looks to those nearby, Mama Flyer turned and took off, circling as her children did the same one after the other. Some of the crowd turned away, sending concerned glances. Petrie was miserable.
*Why my family not like me want?* he wondered.
He looked to Ruby's family. Though a bit shaken, Ruby's family pressed close to each other with the easy comfort that came with long practice. They were together and that wasn't going to change anytime soon. Something complicated twisted in Petrie's chest.
*Me wish my family was like Ruby's,* he thought, and flew away.
With a heavy heart Ruby's gaze followed Petrie as he joined his family circling above before they disappeared over the trees. She wished she could have done more for him. She had sent Petrie a sympathetic look before he left but she wasn't sure he noticed. The whispers had resumed now the flyer family was gone. Ruby's parents held her and her siblings, the warmth of their arms having brought comfort through the public argument. Her brother and sister shook beside her.
"That was scary," said Ruby's sister Emmy. "I didn't know there was going to be yelling at this talk."
"If we knew, we'd have warned you." Papa Fast Runner said, patting her. "But don't worry, it's over."
"You won't fight like that, right?" asked Ruby's brother Saph, looking anxiously between his parents.
"I'm afraid we can't promise that." Mama Fast Runner said, stroking his head. "All parents fight. But rest assured if we do your father and I will try to make up for it."
"Thank you, Mommy, Daddy." Ruby murmured.
She leaned into them. Ruby had missed being held by her family like this. Having Emmy and Saph relax beside her brought back many great memories of cuddling under the stars. It was only the horrible events that brought about their reunification that made her feel guilty she could hug them again.
She opened her eyes and saw Don talking with Mr. Thicknose and a couple other dinosaurs.
"…sorry you had to deal with a family crises after the lecture." Mr. Thicknose was saying.
"Oh, no need." Don said. "Some flyers experiment with different family arrangements. What was witnessed can be the unfortunate results."
Ruby felt a surge of anger. How dare Don use Petrie's family fight to encourage his narrow-minded views about flyer families? She had half a mind to march over and shout that not only was his talk incomprehensible, it was also boring. But Ruby's anger drained away, leaving her sour. It was perhaps wise not to lash out anyway. Don was an Anchor and she didn't know what powers he could use to retaliate.
"How did you like my talk about what made the Great Valley special?" Don continued. "Interesting, yes?"
"It was fascinating," said a rainbow face.
"No wonder threats find it so hard to get in here," said a squareshield.
"Not that we still can't get injured." Mr. Thicknose said. "Fortunately, falling from cliffs doesn't lead to any lasting harm."
"Indeed." Don said, sounding proud.
Ruby tuned out the rest of the conversation. Her parents had let out impressed "oohs" when Don went on about what made the Great Valley special and it had had been very hard keeping her expression neutral. She hated how much her family had been taken in by Don. The details about how sharpteeth found it difficult to get into the Great Valley had some value but Ruby didn't think that was the only thing that made the Great Valley special. There was another element, more relevant to her family's troubles in the Mysterious Beyond. It was the people, she thought. Something about the Great Valley's people was special. Ruby couldn't put her finger on what it might be but she thought one lead might be…
Her chest cooled. That wasn't important to think about anymore. Her parents were currently here to take up the task of defeating Red Claw. In the current world, he was much less of a threat anyway. Maybe if she listened to more of Don's lectures, he would become more understandable. That only lowered Ruby's mood. She had to get out of her head. When her parents finally let their children go, Ruby sat down beside her mother, overhearing a conversation from two flyers sitting nearby. She allowed herself to get lost in their chatter.
"…know the wind currents were laid out like that?" asked one female flyer.
"Not me," said a male flyer. "I thought the Bright Circle current came into the Bright Circle. Wasn't that why we called it the Bright Circle current?"
"That's what I thought. It's a miracle I was able to use it if I had things that backwards," said the female flyer.
"A pity Dactyl didn't come to listen," said the male flyer. "She would have liked this…ah, speak of the flyer!"
Hearing hurried flaps, Ruby glanced up to see another flyer hastily descending, staggering as she landed beside her friends. She was bedraggled, like she had been in a whirling wind.
"What's with you?" asked the male flyer. "Did you have a tussle with Terra again?"
"No. You won't believe this," said the newly arrived flyer Dactyl. "The Night Circle current changed direction.."
Her male friend got to his feet, goggling. "It's what?"
"Are you sure?" asked her female friend.
"Of course I'm sure." Dactyl said, waving her wings wildly. "Do I look put together? I was traveling on the Night Circle current to catch up with you guys but then it just started blowing in the opposite direction. I almost fell out of the sky!"
"Whoa," said her female friend, shaking her head. "I – I can't believe it."
"You didn't get smacked into a mountain, did you?" asked the male flyer, worried.
"No but it was a near thing." Dactyl plopped down beside them. "I managed to escape and just skipped wind currents since they were being so unpredictable. It's strange. Did you hear about anything like this happening before?"
Dactyl's friends said they haven't heard remotely like this at all. As they continued chatting, Ruby looked away, struck by sudden bout of anxiety. A terrible suspicion came to her. No, it couldn't be. It must be a coincidence. Don's lecture couldn't have done that. She was so distracted it took several moments to register her mother's voice.
"Ruby. Ruby?"
She started. Her family had gotten up and were now blinking at her.
"We're getting ready to leave." Mama Fast Runner continued. "Sorry to pull your head out of the sky puffies. Do you want to ask Don a question?"
"No!" Ruby said. Her family jumped and she realized she spoke too loudly. "Sorry. I mean, no thank you. I'm not sure I want to ask him anyway."
Her family gave her concerned looks but didn't say much as she stood and joined them in departing from the meeting circle. Others were starting to do the same, the rumble of footsteps an assuring background noise. Ruby's mind still buzzed. It might still be a coincidence, she thought. But no sooner did Don's lecture about wind currents conclude that one current changed drastically. Maybe she was overthinking it but…what if Don's lecture actually changed nature? Ruby was shaken by the thought. If that actually happened what else could Don change and was he the only one who had this power?
Littlefoot slowed as he neared his family nest. The bright circle set, tinting everything in oranges and yellows. Standing in the cool shadow of a group of trees, he panted from more than the remaining adrenaline. He exhaled slowly, attempting to slow his beating heart. He didn't want to think about what happened in that cave. He tried to calm himself enough his family wouldn't suspect anything. He resumed his approach. Once his family came into view, the relief he felt was more than could be described. He had been away for much of the day and it was a balm to see them again. He plotted over as his family chatted with Patty's mother Alis.
"Oh welcome back Littlefoot." Mama Longneck said, turning to smile at him.
Littlefoot looked up and for a moment all his worries washed away. He had forgotten how wonderful his mother's smile was. When she lowered her head for a nuzzle, he accepted it all too gladly. His grandparents looked on fondly. Chest cooling, he thought that maybe there was some good in this new world. Raising his head, he found Alis looking around in confusion.
"Erm," she said. "Where's Patty?"
"Huh?" Littlefoot said. Then he remembered Patty had said they would reunite with their parents after her surprise. "Uh, something went wrong with what she showed me! She told me to go ahead while she fixed it."
"Oh, how considerate." Grandma Longneck said.
"Yes." Alis agreed, though she frowned slightly. "It is like her to try to solve a problem by herself. I'll go and try to track her down."
"It was wonderful speaking with you." Mama Longneck said.
"You too." Alis said. Turning to leave, she hesitated. She looked at Littlefoot. "Um, is Patty alright?"
"What?" Littlefoot said.
"She's become more independent. I'm proud of her but," she averted her gaze, "she's still struggles with a temper. Growing up, you have to learn to compromise with others. She's always worried about me. Though I'm happy to have such a devoted daughter, I want her to have her own life. "
He squirmed. "Um…"
"Oh, there I go." Alis chuckled. "Didn't mean to unload my problems on you. I'm sure it'll all work out. See you tomorrow."
With that, she rumbled away, her shadow stretched out by the setting sun. Littlefoot didn't know what to say. It was clear Alis loved Patty very much. How would Alis react if she knew what Patty had been really up to? Littlefoot yawned.
"Why don't we have a last evening meal?" Mama Longneck said, smiling. "Then we can go to bed early."
"Sounds good to me, dear." Grandpa Longneck said.
"I'm fine with that." Littlefoot said. "I'm tired. And a bit hungry."
The four went over to the nearby trees and feasted on treestars. Littlefoot gladly accepted those gifted to him by his mother, wondering fleetingly if he was spoiled in this world. Once the bright circle left the sky and the night was covered with stars, the family curled together for an early night's rest. Littlefoot sat down between Mama Longneck and Grandpa Longneck, while Grandma Longneck pressed into Grandpa's other side. Littlefoot laid down and closed his eyes. He was fondly reminded of the old days when his mother and grandparents slept like this on the journey to the valley. Still, those memories couldn't shake the uneasy clench that remained in his chest.
"Littlefoot?"
He jumped. Mama Longneck stared at him with a bit of concern.
"Is there something bothering you?" she continued.
Littlefoot raised his head. "What do you mean?"
"You seemed to be weighed down by something." Mama Longneck said. "Do you want to talk about it? I promise I'll support you."
Littlefoot felt a lump in his throat. There was so much he wanted to say – about his friends, the Anchors, this new world. Right now, there were two sharpteeth held against their will in the Great Valley. Should someone know? After a few seconds, he lowered his gaze.
"No," he said. "I'm fine."
Mama Longneck looked slightly disappointed. Nuzzling him, she lay down. Littlefoot stared at the grass with lingering guilt. Maybe he should have said something. But there was nothing his family could do about this new world. He wasn't sure if they would believe his claims anyway. Yet he remained uneasy about the trapped sharpteeth. Even if one of them was the first sharptooth, it didn't feel right they were stuck in a cave. What should he do in a situation like this? Uncertainties churning inside him, Littlefoot fell into an uneasy sleep.
Next time…
Part 2
Note: Part 2 will be posted next Sunday. If you want me to post a warning note above about Petrie's parents' heated argument or anything else, feel free to me ask me to.