Restoration and Rescue

Littlefoot listened intently. The predators stopped attacking the tree. The earth beneath him stopped trembling, and the wind disappeared.

Did this mean Aylene succeeded?

Thinking of his human friend, and worried for her safety, Littlefoot lowered himself to the ground and peeked out of the opening. The T-Rex was staring in the direction of Saurus Rock. It snarled something, to which the Allosaurus replied in a nasty manner. The T-Rex turned sharply, snapping aggressively at the Allosaurus, who roared in retaliation.

Littlefoot didn't need to understand their language to know they were arguing again.

And that could work to his advantage.

Inhaling silently, Littlefoot dared to step out. The Allosaurus was on the other side of the tree. He wouldn't see him. Littlefoot kept low, hyperaware of his surroundings. He moved slowly, trying not to disturb the grass, and hoped it would conceal his presence. He kept his eyes on the T-Rex, making sure he was in its blind spot.

The two predators began circling each other, their roars and snaps becoming more vicious. Littlefoot's heart pounded harder. The only thing he could hope for was that he wouldn't be spotted.

At last, he came to a cluster of bushes. He ducked behind them, watching the predators. They still hadn't noticed him. He was far enough away. He crept into the woods, his pace quickening. Their roars grew distant, and the long-neck began to run.

He came to the clearing and stopped. He looked up at Saurus Rock. The Stone had dimmed to a deep ocean blue. The strange energy it had been emanating from it was gone.

Several yards in front of him was Aylene's arrow, sticking straight up out of the ground, and with the Time Stone tied to it.

But where was she?

Littlefoot ran over to it and yanked the arrow out of the ground with his mouth.

"Aylene!" Littlefoot called in a hushed voice, mindful of the predators nearby.

"Littlefoot!" came the reply in the same tone. "Over here!"

Littlefoot turned sharply and saw Aylene crawling backwards down a slanted tree trunk a few feet away.

When she was close enough to the ground, she hung onto the trunk with both hands, dangling off of it like a monkey bar. She let go and dropped down, hissing and clutching her injured arm.

Littlefoot hurried over, reaching her just as she picked up her bow.

"You did it!" Littlefoot said, astonished.

"Thanks to you," Aylene replied, picking up her bow and slinging it over her shoulder. "Now let's get out of here before those two fang-faces realize what's going on."

Aylene winced as another sting of pain ran through her arm. She clutched the wound tighter, making more blood seep out.

Littlefoot handed her the arrow. "Here."

"Thanks."

She untied the Time Stone and put it back around her neck.

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

The Stone glowed a soft green, and a glittering mist began to flow from it. It rapidly spread, swirling around Aylene like a gentle whirlwind. Aylene flinched and shut her eyes, and Littlefoot stepped back in fear.

What was happening to his friend?

The pain in Aylene's arm faded at once, along with the little stings from the cuts on her body. She snapped her eyes open just as the mist faded. She removed her hand and gasped.

The gash was gone!

Littlefoot stared agape. He had watched as all of Aylene's scratches and bruises disappear in a heartbeat. The gash on her arm closed up completely, leaving only an outline of dried blood.

She was healed!

"What the—!"

"Hey, where'd the long-neck go?"

The harsh growl of the T-Rex made the two friends jolt.

"Let's get out of here!" Littlefoot said urgently.

Aylene leapt onto his back. "Run like the wind!"

Littlefoot was off like a shot. As soon as Aylene put her hands on his back, her stone lit up again. The mist swirled down her arms to Littlefoot, surrounding him in a fog of glittering green. Littlefoot shrieked at the suddenness of it, skidding to a halt and nearly tripping over his feet. Aylene stared as the scrapes and scratches on Littlefoot's hide faded away like streaks of water drying on glass. The three in his side closed up and vanished altogether, leaving no scars behind.

Once Littlefoot was healed, the Stone dimmed, and the mist dissipated.

Aylene grabbed her necklace and held it up, her face vivid with astonishment.

"The Stone has healing powers now?" she said.

"Must've happened when it touched the Stone in Saurus Rock!" Littlefoot said, in the same state of surprise.

"Yeah, but—"

Thundering footsteps cut Aylene's sentence short.

Before either Littlefoot or Aylene knew it, two large shapes came bounding out of the trees towards them!

They screamed at the sight of the Allosaurus and T-Rex closing in for the kill!

Fierce Loyalty trembled, and the Time Stone flashed in reply. Just as the pair of savage jaws moved in to snap, the energy field surrounded the two friends. The sharp teeth of the predators collided with a force as solid as a rock, and the reeled back in surprise and pain.

"RUN!" shrieked Aylene.

The energy field around her and Littlefoot dispelled as he darted into the woods. A second later, they heard and felt the poundings of footsteps behind them. Aylene glanced over her shoulder.

The predators were after them again!

"Don't look back!" Aylene ordered.

Littlefoot ran hard and fast, bobbing and weaving through the maze of trees, hoping to shake off the pursuers. He heard their roars of frustration from behind grow more distant. The large trunks certainly proved to be an obstacle for them.

Yet, the crackling and splintering of wood told him that the trees wouldn't hold them back for long.

Finally, the two escaped the forest.

As soon as Littlefoot thought they were safe, he saw the canyon ahead. He skidded to a stop, making Aylene squeak and tighten her grip. They stared down into the crevasse, panting franticly for breath.

From behind, the predators grew closer, trembling down weaker trees and squeezing through gaps.

Littlefoot looked around.

"There!"

Before Aylene knew it, Littlefoot made a dash to the right. Then, she saw it. A path leading down into the canyon. Littlefoot made for it like a bullet, and Aylene held onto him for dear life.

Just as the Allosaurus and T-Rex broke through the forest, the two disappeared below the ledge.

"There they go!" Aylene heard the Allosaurus shout.

She looked back in time to see it and the T-Rex look over the ledge. And in a split second, realizing something horrifying.

That path was wide enough for them to walk on!

"Get them!" roared the T-Rex.

The ground below once again shook with the thundering steps of the predators. Littlefoot tripped and stumbled forward, almost throwing Aylene. Fortunately, he managed to regain his footing, and raced off with surprising speed.

Seeing their pursuers step off the rocky platform, Aylene took off her bow and drew out an arrow. She strung the bow, keeping it horizontal.

"Keep running!" she said. "I'll slow them down!"

With one fluid motion, Aylene twisted around, pulled back the arrow, and released. Her arrow sped through the air with a hiss. It struck the leg of the Allosaurus, causing the monster to howl in pain and surprise. He tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground.

He was down. Alive, but down.

The T-Rex continued the chase, leaving his rival in the dust. He eyed Aylene, who glared back. She wasn't going to show him fear.

As he got closer, she prepared to pull back another arrow.

Littlefoot dared to look back.

Suddenly, something caught his foot and he fell. Aylene flew off his back with a shriek. She landed on her side, grunting as pain shot through her body. She lifted herself up and looked up.

Littlefoot was down! And the T-Rex was almost on top of him!

Aylene swiftly rose to her feet, drew Fierce Loyalty, and dashed forward.

Littlefoot's senses returned just as the T-Rex's jaws moved in for the kill.

Suddenly, a field of emerald energy blocked the attack!

Aylene was standing beside him, raising Fierce Loyalty above her head. The blade shone, emitting the protective sphere around them.

The T-Rex growled in anger before turning back with deadly force. The impact of his attack made Aylene stagger. The barrier remained strong, but the T-Rex kept coming, lunging and biting harder each time.

Then, Aylene heard something.

A crack!

She looked up, and her face paled.

A thin, white, jagged line was forming in the shield!

The T-Rex bit down again.

The crack grew! Shard of the shield fell off, disappearing into thin air!

The shield was breaking!

"Get ready to run!" Aylene shouted to Littlefoot.

But it was too late!

With one final snap of his jaws, the T-Rex's bite shattered the force field!

Littlefoot flinched and covered his eyes from the broken shards. Aylene fell backwards from the shock, landing on top of Littlefoot. Fierce Loyalty's brilliant glow went out in an instant.

The T-Rex moved in again! The two friends stared death in the face! All of their senses went numb as they stared down that massive throat!

This was it!

TWANG!

ZIP!

TWACK!

The T-Rex suddenly reared back, roaring in pain.

Aylene gasped. There was an arrow sticking out of the end of his nose.

"KEEP YOUR TEETH OFF MY SISTER!"

Aylene jumped at the voice. She and Littlefoot turned around fast, and their hearts leapt with joy.

Several yards away, Grandpa Longneck and Doc stood firm, with Derek and Elaine on their backs. Derek scowled angrily at the T-Rex, and Elaine prepared an arrow.

"Aylene, you and Littlefoot get to safety!" said Elaine. "We'll handle this!"