Gathering
Back in the Great Valley…
Elaine looked around at the other dinosaurs nearby. She could already tell that the rumor Aylene had warned her about had gotten around. Even when she or Doc had their backs turned, she could feel the suspicious stares of the Great Valley residents. When she would look at them, they quickly looked away, afraid to meet her eyes.
All Elaine could do was sigh and keep working. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened to her and Doc. They had faced the reactions of superstition before. There wasn't much she could do now.
Doc had noticed it as well. However, being the stoic Diplodocus that he was, he just ignored the stares, and focused on clearing the debris.
Grandpa Longneck and Topps were pushing a large fallen tree towards a pile they had started when they saw several dinosaurs stop working. Dinah and Dana were close to Topps's feet, trying their best to help. The elder Apatosaurus and Triceratops had become aware the other dinosaurs were looking at Doc and Elaine. Some even whispered to one another, their faces shifting between fear and distrust.
Topps gave an annoyed scowl. He, too, had heard the rumor about bad luck coming over the Valley because of the two newcomers. Whether that was true or not didn't matter to him. All he knew was that it was distracting everyone from cleaning the Valley.
"Hey, this valley isn't going to clean itself!" he shouted.
The dinosaurs jumped and immediately got back to work. Dinah and Dana both shrunk back from Topps with fearful expressions before racing away and hiding behind Elaine's legs. Elaine knelt down and gently stroked their heads. Topps's face softened immediately when he realized what he had done.
"I'm sorry," he said remorsefully. "Didn't mean to shout."
Dinah and Dana just smiled and laughed, satisfied with the apology. They then went back to trying move an enormous boulder.
Elaine lowered her gaze and walked over to Topps.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Threehorn," she said.
"What are you apologizing for?" Topps replied. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I know, but it seems our arrival has disrupted the peace in the Valley."
"Don't say that," said Grandpa Longneck. "No one really blames you for these…misfortunes. Storms like this are just part of the Great Circle of Life."
Elaine sighed heavily.
"Thanks, Grandpa Longneck. But I'm not sure everyone shares that sentiment."
"Elaine's right."
Elaine looked up. Doc was walking towards them.
"We've dealt with this before," he said, "as soon as the Valley's cleared, I'll set out on my travels again."
"Now there's no need for that," Grandpa Longneck replied.
"I'd be moving on anyway," Doc shrugged. "Now's as good a time as any. No need to cause trouble."
Doc turned to Elaine. Her face showed both sadness and understanding. He lowered his head to her level and she rested her hand on his snout.
"I'm glad I got to see you again," he said. "And to meet your grandchildren."
"Thank you," Elaine nodded. "I'm glad you got the chance to meet them. And that we got to meet again, even if it is one last time."
At that moment, the shouting voices of young children disturbed the somber atmosphere.
"GRANDPA LONGNECK!"
"DADDY!"
"GRANDMA!"
Elaine, Doc, Grandpa Longneck, and Topps all turned in the direction of the voices. The Gang came running towards them with distress on their faces.
"What is it, children?" Grandpa Longneck asked, concerned. "Where are Littlefoot and Aylene?"
"That's just it!" Derek said urgently. "I think they went to find what is causing these disasters! At least that's what Kosh said!"
"What are you talking about?" Topps asked.
"Kosh told us that he saw Aylene and Littlefoot climbing up a mountain ridge, and that Aylene's stone was glowing I think they're trying to find the source of the earthquakes!"
"Are you sure, Derek?" Elaine said.
Derek nodded.
"Which way were they heading?" Grandpa Longneck asked.
Derek was about to answer, but then fell deadly silent. All the color drained from his face. He was in so much of a rush that he had forgotten to ask Kosh where had seen Littlefoot and Aylene, or which direction they were going.
He looked back at Cera and the others. They had come to the same realization that he had, and all of them became horror-struck.
But before the fear could set in, Doc's ancient voice broke through.
"I think I know."
The Diplodocus had raised his head and turned to the northwest. Beyond the mountain ridge, dark clouds were creeping across the sky. Faster than any normal storm, and what Doc could see, stronger than the previous one.
"That's the same direction the other storm came from," Doc said in a low voice.
"Are you sure?" Grandpa Longneck asked.
"Positive. And if Aylene's Time Stone is in involved, then my guess is that it's leading her and Littlefoot to where they need to go."
Then Doc's face changed. To everyone else, it was just a look of concern. But Elaine had seen that look before to know it was much more than just concern.
It was worry.
"What is it, Doc? What's wrong?"
"That's the path I took to get here," he whispered.
"Yeah, so what?" Cera asked.
"We have to get moving," Doc commanded. "On my way here, I passed a pair of predators who were fighting for territory."
"P-Predators?" Petrie squeaked with fear.
"Predators!" Derek jerked up in alarm. "Something Aylene and Littlefoot don't know anything about!"
"Let's get going!" Elaine ordered. "We haven't a moment to lose!"
Doc lowered his head down to Elaine again. She climbed up onto him. As he raised his head, she slid down his long neck to his back.
"Topps, please help us!" Derek begged the Triceratops. "We could really use your horns!"
"Very well," Topps replied.
"We're coming, too!" Cera replied.
"No, Cera," Topps replied sternly. "You and the other young ones must stay here."
"Please, Dad. Littlefoot and Aylene are our friends and they need our help. I promise we won't be in the way."
Topps and Cera held each other's gaze for a long time. As intimidating as Topps was, Cera determination and will to rescue her friends was shining in her eyes so strongly that even her father could see it. There was no way he would talk her out of coming.
Finally, he sighed and nodded.
"Okay, but if there's any danger, then I want you and the other children to run as fast as you can. Understood?"
"Yes!" Cera replied.
"Dinah, Dana come!" Dinah spoke up.
"Ussie go go!" Dana followed up.
"Oh no, you two are staying here," Topps ordered. "It's too dangerous for you."
"C'mon, we gotta go!" Derek urged impatiently.
"Right, let's go!" Grandpa Longneck commanded.
The rescue herd set off at a quick pace toward the approaching storm. Doc led the way while Grandpa Longneck, Topps, and the Gang followed close behind.
Dinah and Dana both turned to each other. Through some shared link of their twin bond, they silently agreed to the idea that was brewing in each other's minds. All it took was one exchange of excited smiles before setting out after the others.
Meanwhile…
The sunlight continued to dim as Littlefoot and Aylene walked on. It made the Time Stone seem to grow brighter. The wind was starting to pick up, and the pressure was changing around them. It was all slow and subtle, but even Aylene's human senses could tell something was amiss. Littlefoot could definitely sense it, even better than Aylene could. It made him nervous, but he still pressed on.
As time went on, the two began to feel something strange. Neither one knew how to explain it, but it was as part of the world had slipped out of place. It was liking a delicate balance had been shifted, and something that wasn't meant to change was changing too quickly.
The more they walked, the more ominous that feeling became.
Eventually, the two friends came to the edge of a deep canyon. They both looked down to see the depth of it, and Aylene's senses swam with irrational fear. The canyon was a straight shot down, and several meters wide. The faint sound of a small river could be heard between the towering walls.
Aylene sat up and shook away the dizziness. She then blinked.
She had seen this canyon before, she was sure of it.
A memory flashed in her mind like lightning.
That dream she had after the storm! She had seen this canyon!
That must mean they were going the right way!
But how would they get across?
"What now?" Littlefoot asked, breaking Aylene's trance.
"Well," Aylene said slowly, "we got to find some way across. I have no doubt that our destination is on the other."
"Yeah, but do we do that?"
"Good question."
Aylene and Littlefoot both looked around. They could try to use a fallen log, but with the distance they would have to cover, they would not be able to find one they could lift or roll. They could travel down into the canyon and up the other side, but that would take too long. Judging by the gathering clouds, time was something they could not afford to waste.
Then, Littlefoot saw it. Several feet away from them were massive pillars of rock that rose up out of the canyon like stepping-stones. While their tallness varied by a few inches, they were very close to the height of the cliff they were standing on. Even better, they were wide and flat at the top.
"We can use those."
Aylene looked at the pillars and swallowed hard. Going across those would mean going across a great big pit that dropped down into shadows. She had absolutely no confidence she would be able to focus her jumps. If they were surrounded by water, she would not be as nervous. However, with nothing but air to break her fall, she trembled at the thought of slipping.
Littlefoot could feel Aylene shiver, but he knew that she knew they had no other choice.
"Just hang on tight and I'll get us across, okay?"
"Okay," Aylene replied uneasily.
As Littlefoot prepared himself to jump, Aylene flattened herself on his back and held on to the base of his neck. She inhaled sharply as he leapt over the chasm and onto the first pillar. She refused to scream. She didn't even dare close her eyes. Despite feeling faint from the thought of how high up they were, she felt a little more at ease to be able to see where they were rather than being blind to it.
Using his tail, Littlefoot found his balance. He looked ahead at the next pillar: it was a little higher than the first. He tensed his muscles and jumped. He made the landing. He looked at the next one ahead and jumped. He continued with quickness and precision. It wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be, but he still kept his wits about him.
As he got to the last one, the Time Stone suddenly flashed.
"LITTLEFOOT!"
As soon as Aylene screamed, the ground beneath her and Littlefoot shook again!
Littlefoot nearly lost his balance on the pillar. But before he could slip and plummet into the abyss below, he made a remarkable leap of faith. His forepaws caught the edge, and his feet landed on steady footholds. Aylene held onto him for dear life, screaming and shrieking like a banshee. The earthquake shook the them to their cores, and threatened to loosen the rock they were holding onto.
From behind them, the rock pillars crumbled and broke at the weakest cracks! They fell into the canyon with a deafening crash!
Then, earthquake stopped.
Littlefoot wasted no time. He hoisted himself and Aylene up with all the strength he could muster. As soon as they were safely on the edge, he collapsed. The two took a moment to recover. They then looked back, and their hearts sank like millstones.
Their pathway was gone!
Neither one of them spoke. They just exchanged looks of concern.
The human and long-neck remained where they were for a minute or two more. Their limbs were shaking so bad they couldn't so much as stand. All they could do was collect their wits and calm their nerves.
As soon as they could find the strength to move, they resumed their journey. They were not far now. They could feel it.
They were almost to the source of bad luck.
