It has been a few days since I talked with Ellie. She's been very helpful to me. Unfortunately, I've still been having nightmares. Every time I wake up, screaming and gasping for breath, Ellie soothes me. She knows what the dreams are about. She understands. Tonight, the dreams are no different:
I'm in a clearing, far from anyone. I see Taisley in the distance. I go over to her. "Taisley! I've missed ya so much!" I call to her.
"Well, I didn't miss you! You left me waiting there! I hate you!" Taisley shouts.
"But Taisley…I…" I try.
"Just go away and leave me alone!" Taisley screams at me before running off.
I'm left standing there, alone, with tears streaming freely from my left eye.
I wake up with a scream. I sit in my nest, gasping, with one paw on my chest. I start whimpering. Fear is evident in my single eye.
I feel something touch my right shoulder. I look over to see Ellie standing there. "Are you alright, Buck? Did you have another nightmare?" She asks.
"I…I did…an' 'm not alright. If…if I evah see Taisley again, she'll 'ate me," I whimper.
"No she won't, Buck. I'm sure she'd like to see you again," Ellie places her trunk over my shoulders.
"No. She'll 'ate me after I left 'er like that. She'll nevah forgive me," I let out a high-pitched whine. Tears gather in the corner of my eye. I sniffle and whimper.
Ellie pulls me closer. "Go ahead. Let it out. Cry," she whispers.
"N…no. I…I'll wake th' others. They'd see me cry. I don't want them ta know 'm weak…" I mumble, while holding back the tears.
"You're not weak, Buck. Even if they wake up, they'll understand. They wouldn't think any less of you," Ellie strokes my back with her trunk.
My bottom lip starts quivering. The tears that I've been holding back start to fall. I sniffle and whimper even more. I bury my face into Ellie's fur as I begin sobbing loudly. I faintly hear the others waking to my crying. I don't pay much attention to them, though. I no longer care if they see me. I just feel so hurt.
When, finally, I stop crying, I start to notice the rest of the herd sitting by me. Crash and Eddie look especially worried. "What's wrong, Buck? Why were you crying?" Crash asks.
"I…uh…Ellie, could…could ya tell 'em? I just…I couldn't…" I lower my head.
"I understand." Ellie whispers into my ear. She turns to the others. "Buck left this world for the dino world a good few years ago because he found out that he was adopted. He was angry with his adoptive parents for lying to him, so he ran off. The reason Buck was crying is, before he stumbled upon the dino world, he met a girl named Taisley. When he left this world, he also left her behind. He's afraid that she'll never forgive him," Ellie explains.
"I…is that true?" Eddie asks, turning to me.
"Yeah. That 'bout sums 't up…" I mumble.
"I'm sorry, Buck. It must be hard," Crash says, placing a paw on my shoulder.
"'t is…" I whisper.
"Maybe you should get back to sleep," Ellie suggests.
"No…I don't feel much like sleepin' anymore…" I speak, my tone laced with sorrow.
"Buck, you need to sleep. You'll feel better," Ellie tries to persuade me.
"Leave me alone! I don't wanna sleep! I just wanna be alone!" I snap. I look away from the herd, my ears pressed against my head.
Ellie isn't deterred by my tone. "You're afraid, aren't you? You're afraid of having more dreams. You're afraid of feeling that loss in your heart," Ellie states.
I nod my head. I open my mouth to speak, but I can't make a sound. "Yes…I…I am afraid…" I finally manage. I hate admitting it, but I can't get around the question any other way.
"It's alright, Buck. It's alright to be afraid. Just remember, though. You have all of us to help you. You're not alone in this. What hurts one of us hurts us all. We'll help you get through this. I promise. Right now, though, you need to sleep. It's not healthy to stay awake too long," Ellie strokes my back with her trunk. Both Crash and Eddie nuzzle me on either side.
I look down. "Thank you. 'm…'m sorry I…yelled at ya…" I apologize.
"I understand. Just get some sleep. We'll be right here if you need us," Ellie smiles.
I nod my head. I curl up on my nest. I fall asleep there, with Crash and Eddie curled up on either side of me. That night, I sleep peacefully. Unbeknownst to me, the next day, the possum brothers would put their plan in motion.
The next day, I wake up feeling a little better. I still miss Taisley, though. I wish I could see her again, if only to apologize. I go through half the day missing her, wishing she were by my side right now. I skipped breakfast. Ellie came by with lunch, but I refused to eat any of it. I just don't feel much like eating. I know the herd is worried, but I just feel so hurt and broken.
I noticed earlier that Crash and Eddie aren't around. I can only wonder where they went. I suppose, as long as they're not getting into mischief, they're fine. I know. Sounds funny coming from me, right? Well, I may be crazy, but I know when to stop. Those two possums don't.
Suddenly, as I'm sitting in the cave, Crash and Eddie bowl me over. I get up and dust myself off. "Alright, boys! Wot was that 'bout?" I ask.
"We have a surprise for you! Come on outside!" Crash and Eddie both beckon me towards the cave opening.
Before I can leave the cave, though, Ellie comes in. "Buck, Crash and Eddie found Taisley. She's waiting outside. Crash and Eddie told her why you never met her then. She seems to understand," Ellie tells me.
My remaining eye widens. I lower my head. "But…last time I saw 'er…I 'ad two eyes…would she think of me any different now that I 'ave only one eye?" I ask nervously.
"No, Buck. She won't care that you have one eye, now. She'll care about you for you. Trust me," Ellie smiles.
I raise my head, more confident than I was before. I exit the cave. I see Taisley standing outside, just as beautiful as the last time I saw her. The only difference is that she's wearing a leaf dress. She also has a fur scarf around her neck, presumably pawmade using borrowed fur. Taisley, at first, looks shocked by my appearance. The shock leaves her face quickly. She smiles. "Buck, it has been so long," Taisley starts.
"Taisley, I…I've missed ya. 'm…'m sorry I left ya…can…can ya evah forgive me?" I ask, my ears flat against my head out of nervousness.
"I already have, Buck. At first, when you never showed up, I was mad. however, when I never saw you again, I was worried about you. I knew you would've come by to apologize, unless something had happened. I knew you had a good reason. When the possums came by, I knew I was right," Taisley says in an understanding tone.
"I…I…thank you…" I whisper, my eye holding a happier look.
"Maybe…maybe we should try dating again? I never so much as looked at another weasel since you left," Taisley suggests.
"Ya…ya still like me…even…even though…I only 'ave…one eye?" I ask, hesitantly.
"Buck, I couldn't care less about what you look like. It's the weasel in here that maters," Taisley says, while placing her paw over my heart.
Tears of happiness gather in the corner of my eye. I lift my arms hesitantly to hug Taisley. She closes the distance between us with her own arms. She breaks our hug to capture my lips in a kiss. I close my eye as I reciprocate her affections. Right now, I am happier than I've ever been in my entire life. Nothing could be sweeter than this moment.
That is, until this moment is ruined by two very mischievous possums whose names are irrelevant. I suddenly find myself bombarded by a whole catapult full of berries. Taisley and I are covered head-to-toe in the gooey berry juices. "Crash! Eddie! Yer in fer 't now!" I growl as I lunge at the duo, who squeal from fear and run in the opposite direction.
"Buck! Wait!" Taisley calls, halting my pursuit of the possums. I turn back towards Taisley, who is looking at me with a kind, yet serious, expression. "It's okay. Just let them go," Taisley speaks again.
"Wot? But why? They hit us wi' berries!" I protest.
"Then how about we just prank them back, you know, instead of beating them up," Taisley suggests.
"Okay, but one more thing. Before we get those two back, I want ta take ya on a real date. 'ow does that sound?" I ask.
Taisley's smile widens. "That sounds great! Where are we going?" Taisley asks.
"'ow 'bout we 'ave a picnic at th' river," I suggest.
"Okay! When will we go?" Taisley asks.
"We'll 'ave 't as a dinner an' watch th' sunset after. Th' sun will make ya look even more beautiful than ya already do," I smile in a flirtatious way.
Taisley playfully pushes me. "Oh, stop! Well, shall we get ready?" Taisley asks.
"We shall," I answer. I take Taisley's paws in mine and lead her away in a gentlemanly fashion. Things are now great, for Taisley and I are reunited at last.