Welcome back everyone to another installment of 'This Is Growing Up'. Hope you're ready, because this is a very in depth chapter and holds a great deal of emotion and conflict. I truly have enjoyed writing this and I can't wait to publish further chapters.
In this effort, I would like to thank 'The Rhombus' a fellow LBT author who has helped me with errors and editing. He is a tremendously talented writer. If you haven't already, go read his stories 'The Seven Hunters', 'Songs of the Seven Hunters', and 'Mender's Tale'. You won't be disappointed.
Also to the guest who keeps reviewing, I thank you. And keep on the look out, more characters will be entering this tale later on I promise you.
Moving forward, on with the story!
Chapter 6. Growing Pains
The watering hole was cool, clear, and refreshing on a hot day in the Great Valley. But one dinosaur was not in the mood to participate in what was usually one of her favorite activities.
The rest of her siblings (with the exception of Spike) seemed to be as enthusiastic as they ever were about swimming gracefully through the water, practicing their strokes with ease.
But not Ducky.
The teenage Saruolophus felt funny. And not the in the same way she usually did if she felt mad. This kind of feeling was not just in the pit of her stomach, but within the very confines of her entire body. It surged like boiling lava through her veins.
Jaded, apathetic, bored, angry, and weary of everything around her. The strangest part though was that she had no idea why. But at the moment, everything was stupid and pointless.
As she lay on the grass underneath a shady tree, her mother called,
"Ducky, don't you want to come in? The water's the best it's been all year."
"No."
Her mother raised an eyebrow at her.
"Are you sure? It's a hot day and…"
"I said no, mother."
Ducky thought that would be the end of it, but apparently she was too sharp because the next thing she knew, her mom was standing over her looking quite stern.
"What has gotten into you, young lady? I do not like that tone of voice."
"What else is new?"
"Now really this is ridiculous, for the past few weeks you don't want to do anything with me or your siblings. I've had to deal with them too but you have been by far the worst."
"I'm sorry I'm such a burden to you."
Her mother's expression changed from disapproval to anger.
"Ducky, I will not tolerate this attitude of yours. Come to the water and practice your swimming."
"I already told you I'm not interested. Leave me alone!" Ducky yelled.
"Ducky…" her mother warned.
"I don't care about swimming and you can't make me do anything I do not want to do" she said defiantly. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to find Spike and be with him for a while."
As she got up, her mother did not call after her or try and stop her path. Only confusion and shock how her once sweet daughter could react so negatively.
Ducky did not take any pleasure in talking to her mom like that, she felt more than a little guilty. At the same time, she was tired of her constant monitoring of her behavior like some sort of hovering flyer. It was more than enough to drive anyone crazy.
As she wandered towards the plains she couldn't help but remember what Mr. Thicknose had said to them about the Great Change- "One of the first changes will be mood swings…"
At the time she hadn't been overly concerned of what might happen as a result of the Great Change but looking back, these feelings had been simmering within her for longer than she had realized. And they were causing considerable strain between her and her mother.
Still keeping an eye out for Spike, she sighed to herself.
"I did not realize that getting bigger would be so difficult."
Petri hated being laughed at, especially by his siblings. His voice may be cracking, but he was not about to be a pure source of amusement to his brothers and sisters.
"Come on Petri," said one. "Say it again."
"Me no do it."
"But it's so funny," one of his sisters giggled.
"No."
"You know you want…"
"ME SAID NO!"
He hadn't realized he could project that loud and that deep, but it did the trick. His siblings shut right up.
"Relax Petri, we were just kidding around," said his younger brother.
"Me no talking to you."
Just then his mother arrived.
"What's going on here? Is everything okay kids?"
"Everything fine mama. Me was just leaving," Petri gave a dirty look to his siblings.
"Petri do you want to talk about anything?"
Walking towards the edge of the cliff on which their nest sat, the young flyer wasn't in the mood to discuss it.
"Me fine mama. Nothing to talk about with these guys."
And with that he flew into the air, soaring with his increasingly impressive wing span, but never high enough to avoid the misgivings within his heart.
This stink worse than clubtail herd on hot day
It was business as usual for Spike.
There was only one thing he liked more than eating, and that was to eat more.
So that is precisely what he did. Whenever there was a grazing opportunity he took it without thinking twice. Green food was one of life's joys, the Great Valley had plenty and he was more than willing to take advantage of that fact.
Munching happily, he consumed everything in his path endlessly, that is until he received a tap on the shoulder from an irate looking Iguanodon.
"Hey kid, I know you're a spiketail, but do you mind saving some for the rest of us? We gotta eat too."
Spike looked back at the trail he had carved, and at first he couldn't believe what he saw. He had almost consumed about half the green grass in this one area. That had never happened before. Was his appetite becoming that ravenous?
The Iguanodon must have noticed his shock because his tone softened a bit.
"Just easy on the green food. Nothing personal alright?"
Feeling slightly dejected, Spike simply turned on his heels and began walking back towards home. He would see what Ducky was up to, she always managed to make him feel better.
As he began heading towards the nest, he noticed a pang on his back. Turning around, he saw that it was not anything sharp, a stinger, or anything of that kind. The pain seemed to be originating from the rows on his back.
Spike didn't understand, he knew that adults of his kind usually grew plates and spikes on their backs, but was this how the process started? If so, he did not like it one bit. The more he walked, the worse the throbbing pain became until he had to start gritting his teeth in order to stop from crying out.
Soon (and desperate to find a way to make the pain stop), while heading down the hill towards the nest, he came across his older sister. She didn't look too happy herself and Spike was initially hesitant to approach, he knew how she could be when she was upset.
But that hesitance faded when Ducky saw him coming. Her face lit up, which meant she desired his company. She rushed over to him.
"Hey Spike, I'm glad I caught you. Today has not been good. Oh no, oh no."
He nodded his head in agreement.
"You are lucky mom doesn't try and make you do everything she wants," Ducky frowned crossing her arms. "She cannot get off my tail lately."
Sensing her displeasure, Spike licked her face, a tactic that usually got her to laugh and giggle (one of the many things he loved about her).
It had the desired effect, as she smiled and laughed aloud.
"Thank you, Spike, I needed that. I did."
He grunted as if to say 'You're welcome' (Ducky usually understood him fine) until the pain returned with a vengeance on his back.
Groaning, his sister became immediately concerned.
"What is wrong little brother? Are you feeling okay?"
He shook his head and indicated behind him.
"What do you mean? Is your back hurting?"
A nod.
Ducky came around and observed his body. Spike trusted her, since she knew how to be gentle.
"Does this hurt?"
She pressed down slightly on one of his sort spots, and he immediately yelped, while she stepped back.
"Oh I am sorry, Spike! I will take that as a yes."
He looked at her with an almost pleading look as if to say 'What is going on with me?'
"Oh Spike, let's go down to the tall grass in the meadow, I will rub your sore spots. That's what mom used to do whenever I had a tummy ache. Maybe it'll work for you."
He indicated his agreement with this idea and they set off together.
"I love you, Spike. I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."
He licked her face in response as she giggled.
A little pink threehorn laughed and giggled at what were technically her niece and nephew, Dinah and Dana, but that hardly mattered. They were young, carefree and full of boundless energy.
And Cera had to watch them.
True, she was no longer jealous of Tricia as she was in her youth, but Dinah and Dana were still a handful.
"Cera, look at me!"
"Cera, loot at me!"
"Ugh, what?"
She looked and saw that they were getting ready to charge at one another with full speed.
Oh boy
It didn't take long for them to crash with considerable force and then start laughing and giggling.
"Not bad, you two. Remember to get lower and spring into your attack."
"Thanks, Cera!" they said together.
They turned to their pink companion.
"Come on, Tricia!"
"Yeah, it's fun!"
"Okay!" she said happily wagging her tail. "Can I go, sis?"
"Yes you may, just as long as I can see you. Daddy wouldn't be happy if you wandered off too far."
Nodding her head, she ran off to join the others.
Cera smiled to herself. She had grown to care deeply about her half-sister and it truly was a joy to watch her grow up. Tricia was still the baby of the family and a sweet little thing, full of curiosity and excitement.
She definitely took after Tria more than her dad. Whereas Cera had grown up under the tutelage of a stern, domineering parent, Tricia spent more time with a more motherly one. The results showed.
The teenage triceratops sometimes wondered how having a mother growing up would have impacted her. She had always been taught never to show weakness. A threehorn must be aggressive, confident and never back down from anything. Emotion could be shown, but only on occasion and never in front of outsiders, aka Longnecks, big mouths, flyers, and spiketails. Basically anyone who wasn't a threehorn.
She had embraced these ideals and carried them with pride. But there were doubts, doubts she never spoke aloud of course, but were there nonetheless. Tricia was a threehorn no doubt, but she did not carry some traits that were common among most of their species. She did not have the same assertiveness as her older sister. Because of this, she was already well liked by the members of the Great Valley. Cera was loved by her family and friends as well, but knew she possessed a mean streak that made her hard to be around and difficult to relate to.
She would never openly admit it, but there were moments where she wished she carried Tricia's natural sweetness and gentle nature. Not just for popularity but for another reason.
As Cera was now nearing adulthood, her father had begun to make strange inquiries. Ones she did not like discussing.
"So…Cera. Have you thought about other Threehorns lately?"
Pausing, she looked up at him puzzled.
"Other than you, Tria, and Tricia I'd have to say no. What do you mean?"
Her father appeared unusually nervous, which gave her reason to be more suspicious.
"Well I just…you're growing up. In a few years' time, you'll be an adult and being an adult comes with certain expectations."
"Such as?"
"Being the leader of the herd of course. When I'm gone, I fully expect you to carry that mantle. But you'll need someone to share that burden with, someone you care very deeply about."
"…."
"Cera listen. There will come a time that you will want to have a mate, like me and your stepmother."
She definitely didn't like where this was going.
"Dad, please. Not right now."
"I was only wondering if you were interested in some of the other males yet. There are some fine young bulls out there that would be more than happy to…."
"Dad! No! Please, I really don't want to talk about this."
Looking quite sheepish, her father seemed to not want to upset his daughter further.
"Okay I'm sorry I just…"
"Just leave this topic to Mr. Thicknose. I don't know why you were so upset at Littlefoot when clearly you had no intention of telling me about this stuff until AFTER he stumbled upon two clubtails bumping uglies."
"Cera…"
"Dad, I'm just not ready for this conversation yet okay? I'm not even thinking about boys yet, let alone mating."
Topps didn't say anything. He only shrugged and turned to go find his wife, clearly not desiring to try and engage further.
Cera's head was simply buzzing.
"That went well…" she muttered.
In retrospect, she should have seen it coming and not have been so harsh towards her dad. But could you blame a girl for being defensive? She wasn't exactly dating material to begin with.
Craning her neck to check on her sister and the twins, who were trying to ram treestars down with their horns (with little success), she turned her attention back to her own thoughts.
Cera had met enough male threehorns in her life to know what they were like and if just getting along with them was tough, mating with one was impossible. It wasn't that she didn't find some of them attractive, but too many were overly domineering, brash, and single minded. Just like her dad. Just like…herself.
Topps carried many of the positive qualities in male threehorns. There was no one she admired more. But she didn't think she could marry someone like him. And the males among her own age group were worse- cocky, crude, and utterly devoid of tact.
Look who's talking, said a voice in her head.
Yes, but I actually have to marry one of these idiots, she countered. And they have to marry me.
The point being: she was not anyone's vision of a dream girl. Especially not for a male threehorn.
So what did she like in a guy anyway? What was the antithesis to all those traits?
Kindness, thoughtfulness, consideration, diplomatic, prudence. Or as my father would say: being soft.
Chuckling slightly, she realized someone immediately came to mind that summed up these traits.
"Littlefoot."
It was true, Littlefoot was all of these things. Largely inherited from his grandparents, he was, in some ways, beyond his years. But there was no way Cera would ever consider him soft. Naïve at times, and too optimistic, but certainly not weak. He was a natural born leader. Even with her threehorn nature, there was a reason why the group deferred to him in times of crisis.
Over time, since their tumultuous childhood spats (their first meeting had not been especially agreeable) the two had grown to admire each other. Their arguments were usually no more than minor barbs. Each liked to tease the other, but in a friendly, well intentioned way that had been absent before. There was no doubt that she considered him her best friend and vice versa.
And there was something else. Lately, she had begun to notice just how big and strong Littlefoot had gotten. Longnecks were always easy to pick out of a crowd, but the other day when they had play fought, she had barely been able to hold her own against him. It wouldn't be long until he would become far too big for her to knock down.
Then there was the fact he was also getting to be quite handsome.
I didn't really just think that did I? she mused to herself. No, she could not afford to feel that way. There was far too much at stake to consider even exploring those thoughts more.
Snapping out of her own mind for a moment, she took a look back at the young ones, and it was a good thing too. Tricia was far too close to the edge of a rotten log on the ledge above. As usual, Dana and Dinah were oblivious to the danger.
"Be careful you guys, get away from there!" she called out to them.
However, they seemed not to hear her. As the three young threehorns wrestled with one another, Dana was pushed by Dinah, inadvertently causing them to knock Tricia off her feet and off of the edge of the log.
"Damn it!" Cera muttered as she sprang into action.
Tricia fell, screaming with fear, that is until Cera caught her with her frill.
Relieved, the pink threehorn gazed into the eyes of her big sister, who did not look amused.
"Sorry, sis" she said giving her the 'big eyes', something Cera hated. "I didn't mean to fall."
"Don't give me that look. You're cute enough for me not to yell at you but please be more careful next time. Stay away from high up places."
"Yes, Cera," and she nuzzled her head against her sister's (she could feel her heart melt slightly, Tricia always had this effect on her).
"Sorry, Auntie!"
"We didn't mean to do that," the twins called out.
"As for you two, you stopped being cute a long time ago. Get down here before I start getting really mad."
They obeyed without question, using the rocks below to leap down from the log and onto the ground.
Honestly, what is it with those two and falling off ledges?
"You're lucky I'm not going to tell your mom about this. Now come on, it's time to go home for the day."
Setting Tricia down on the grass, Cera nudged them forward towards the east, back where her own big sister, Ann, resided.
Feeling more than a little worn out, she couldn't help but wonder what Littlefoot was doing at the moment, and whether or not it was more fun than playing babysitter.
"That's it, Littlefoot, you're really starting to get the hang of this."
The teenage longneck was currently with his grandparents. Now that he was growing at a very fast rate, they were taking the time to teach him some of the tricks that only adult longnecks could do. At the moment, he was bending the trunk of a tree in order to snag the leaves on the very top, out of reach to most dinosaurs, but not him.
And though he was not quite big enough to do this to every tree, his ability in this skill was becoming better all the time. In addition, he was learning how to use his tail, neck, and sheer size as both a mechanism to get green food, and defense against predators.
It made his grandparents beam with pride.
"Thanks, Grandpa! You know there was a time I thought I'd never be able to do any of this cool stuff."
"I remember that well," laughed his grandfather. "It seems like only yesterday you were trying to bend over that small fern bush."
"And yet here you are. As strong and capable as any longneck we've ever seen," his grandma chimed in. "You're a fast learner."
Littlefoot swelled a little at the compliment.
"Thanks, Grandma. This has been really cool. I appreciate you guys taking me out today and teaching me everything you know."
"We know that the Time of the Great Change is not an easy one to go through. Many difficulties lie ahead, but your grandma and I wanted to show you that are also many benefits that come with this change as well."
"Is that why you guys have been teaching me so much the past few days?' Littlefoot asked.
"Yes, that is partially the reason. We also love to spend time with you, as you are our only grandson," replied his grandma giving him a small nuzzle. "But we also want to impress upon you that a great deal of responsibility comes with becoming the tallest creature that roams the Great Valley."
Littlefoot nodded. He could recognize a serious talk when he heard one.
"What I'm saying, Littlefoot, is that you must be ready to take your place in the great circle of life and that time is drawing nearer."
"You mean becoming a leader?"
"Yes. We've seen this within you from a young age. It is a gift that is not found within just any dinosaur. The day will come to lead a herd of your own."
Littlefoot tried to take this in as best he could. He had no idea his grandparents had been thinking this much about his future.
"Does this mean I'll have to leave the Great Valley someday?" he asked, with a note of anxiety in his voice.
That's when his grandpa interjected.
"Of course not. Whether you decide to remain here or join another herd is entirely up to you. In the end, this is your decision."
This brought relief to the teenage longneck, but he noticed that his grandparents were looking at one another with a degree of conflict. It wasn't often that they didn't agree on something, but this appeared to be one of those times.
Grandpa longneck noticed his grandson's inquisitive gaze and knew that the discussion had run its course. He could talk about this later with his wife; he didn't want to induce too much pressure on Littlefoot all at once, as the boy was extremely perceptive and always had been.
"Come now. Let's go to the watering hole to get a drink. The days are getting considerably warmer with the change in seasons."
He gave a look to grandma, who understood it to mean they would have this conversation later.
"Yes, of course. Lead the way Littlefoot," she said smiling at him once more.
Littlefoot happily obliged at the chance to have a nice cool drink, but he couldn't help but ponder over the words of his grandparents, buzzing in his head like a nest of swarming stingers.
"The day will come when you will lead a herd of your own."
He knew the implication of that statement.
Gee, growing up is a lot more complicated than I thought.
Of course, what he didn't realize is that things were about to get far more complicated than he could possibly imagine.
Thank you all again for reading. As always, please leave a review and feedback. And keep on the lookout for the next update! Should be published within the week.
Rock on! ~Punkrocka23