The next day, we are preparing to depart. Our kits are already on Ellie, waiting to go. I head over to Diego. "Where are we goin' next?" I ask.
"Well, we're going to the Cavern of Lost Memories," Diego answers.
"Is that place one of th' dangerous ones?" I ask curiously.
"Yes, in a way. It causes anyone that enters to remember everything bad about their past. In a way, the cavern haunts them with memories of past events that they'd rather forget," Diego answers.
"Oh…So…we actually 'ave ta go there?" I ask hesitantly.
"Yeah. Sorry. I take it you don't want to go there because you have a lot of things that you'd rather forget?" Diego inquires.
"Yes. That 'bout sums 't up," I mumble. I shiver slightly out of nervousness. There are a lot of things that I don't want to remember.
Taisley places her paw on my shoulder. "It's alright, Buck. We all have things that we'd rather forget. Remember my own past? It's not exactly a happy one," She points out to me.
"I know…'m sorry 'm botherin' ya…I didn't mean ta…" I trail off. My eye holds a slightly sorrowful look.
"Oh, you're not bothering me, Buck. I love you. I always want you to be happy," Taisley smiles at me.
"Thanks, Tais. Let's just go an' get this over wi'," I reply. We start heading off, following Diego on our way.
When we get to the entrance to the cavern, I am a little hesitant to enter. I try to keep most of my hesitance hidden from Taisley. However, I know that she can tell that I'm a little scared. Okay…maybe a lot scared…But that doesn't mean I want Taisley to know that! So, as to divert her attention, I enter anyway.
We have only been in the cavern for a couple of minutes before the first memory begins to appear. It is the memory of when I lost my eye. As I see the beast tear it out again, all my fear begins rushing back. I find that I'm shaking from my fear.
I feel three pairs of arms being wrapped around me. I look to see that the arms belong to Taisley, mom, and dad. I look at their faces, fear clear in my single eye. I clamp my eye shut, hoping to avoid the visions being played before my eye. I bury my face into Taisley's shoulder, shaking from both fear and suppressed sobs.
"It's okay, Buck. Don't be afraid," Taisley whispers into my ear.
"S…some things are betta off forgotten…" I mumble shakily. I sniffle and wipe at my eye. I look back at the cavern to see that the vision has shifted. I see myself in my old cave back in the dino world. It is while I am sick with an infection in my eye. That vision causes me to shake even more. I remember how much I suffered when I had to deal with that illness.
I shrink back against Taisley. "Let's…Let's get outta 'ere…" I whisper nervously.
Taisley nods her head. She hugs me tighter. "Don't worry. We'll be out of here in no time at all," she promises me.
I look at Taisley with tears in my eye. "I hope yer right, Tais, 'cause this place freaks me out. It's bad enough that I 'ad ta live through 't once…" I shiver slightly. We continue through the cavern in each other's arms.
About an hour later, much to my pleasure, we exit the cavern. I smile at the sight of grass and snow-covered hilltops. I watch as our kits bound forward and roll around in the grass. I begin to frown, though, when I catch the questioning glance from Taisley. "Wot is 't?" I ask.
"I…I just want to know what happened to you when you lost your eye. Please, tell me what happened," Taisley requests.
I flinch. "I…um…well…ya know that 't was a giant white dino that took my eye, right? Well…after 'e did, an' I took 'is tooth, I found a cave 'bout a mile away from 'im. I stayed there fer a while. I used herbs ta try ta heal my eye, er…lack of. However, 't got infected. I was sick fer quite a few days. I was vomiting on an' off an'…can I tell ya a secret?" I ask, whispering into Taisley's ear. The herd and the rest of my family are a fair distance away. They aren't within earshot.
"Sure. Go ahead. I won't tell anyone. I promise," Taisley places a paw on my shoulder.
"Well, when 't was infected, I couldn't move. Th' pain was too much. I…uh…I kinda…wet myself…once…I…I didn't 'ave a choice…I tried ta get up, but I was too weak," I mumble, a deep red tint beginning to coat my cheeks.
"Oh, Buck. I told you before. You don't have to be embarrassed. I love you," Taisley smiles softly at me.
"'t…'t 'urt…so much…when I 'ad that infection…" I whisper. I have tears in my single eye. I can't get rid of the memory of pain and weakness.
"Don't worry, my love. Everything will be fine. Now, why don't we go talk to your parents. Maybe you should tell them about everything that happened when your eye was infected," Taisley suggests.
"No way! At least, no' th' part 'bout me wetting myself," I mumble.
"You don't have to tell them that. Just tell them about everything else," Taisley puts in.
I nod my head. "Alright." I agree. Taisley and I head off towards my parents.
"Mom, dad, Taisley talked me into telling ya wot 'appened when my eye was infected," I start.
"'kay, Buck," dad says.
"Well, when my eye was first torn out, I made my way ta a cave away from th' beast. I stayed there fer a good long while, waiting fer th' socket ta heal. I 'ad used herbs on 't. When 't became infected, I wasn't able ta leave th' cave. I was much too sick. I stayed there, confined ta my nest. I was forced ta suffer there, alone," I explain.
"Ya were there alone. I take 't ya wanted ta be wi' someone, an' 't 'urt ya ta be alone. Is that right?" Dad asks.
I nod my head. "Yes, dad. That's right," I answer.
"Well, son, you're no' alone anymore. We're 'ere wi' ya. We won't leave ya. I promise." Dad places his paw on my shoulder.
I smile. "Thanks, dad. I love ya both," I hug my parents tightly.
"We love ya too, Buck," mom says.
"I do 'ave one question, though. If ya were confined ta yer nest, then wot 'appened when ya must 'ave 'ad ta go. Ya know…" Dad gives me a knowing glance.
I wince. "I'd rather no' tell ya…" I mumble.
"Ya wet yerself, didn't ya," dad puts in.
I tense up. I glare at dad. "Well, maybe I did an' maybe I didn't! 'm no' telling ya!" I growl slightly.
"Buck, it's fine. We understand," dad says. He strokes my forehead.
I loosen up my tensed shoulders. "Thanks. Um…'m sorry I yelled at ya…I didn't mean 't…" I apologize, my ears pressed against my head.
"Don't worry 'bout 't, Buck. 'm no' mad at ya. I know that ya were only upset," dad smiles at me while continuing to stroke my forehead comfortingly.
"Thanks. Let's get moving," I suggest, heading off to gather the kits.
"Alright, Buck," mom, dad, and Taisley agree. Once the kits are ready, we continue to follow Diego.