Chapter 2: When the Bug Bites, Part 1
Once Fyn entered the Great Valley safely with Bron's herd, Bron thanked him generously for his help, and said he'd bring one of his herd members to Littlefoot the next day; one gifted in the ways of healing. Fyn accepted the thanks, bid Bron goodnight, and left for his nest. He had some questions that needed answering. He looked over at the Bright Circle. It was still barely above the horizon.
"Good," he thought, "I've made it."
As he entered his family's nesting area, he saw Littlefoot lying on the ground, wide awake, while his Grandparents slumbered behind him.
"I take it they're staying?" Fyn nodded to Grandma and Grandpa Longneck.
"Yeah," Littlefoot replied, "until I'm healed fully."
"Cool," Fyn said.
"How'd it go?" Littlefoot whispered.
"Fine," Fyn said, still trying to shake his memory of Shael, "everyone made it back safely."
Littlefoot looked at his friend's face. He seemed jumpy tonight. "Something the matter?"
"What?" Fyn said distractedly, "oh, of course not, nothing's the matter."
"Of course nothing's the matter," Littlefoot said, not believing his friend's story, "why did I ever think that?"
"You think I'm lying?"
"Yep, but your business is your business, so I won't press you for the information."
"Right," Fyn said, "I need to go speak with my parents." He dashed off, into the nearby forest. Littlefoot smiled. If Fyn was feeling what he thought he was feeling, things around here were going to get very interesting.
…
Fyn found his parents grazing in the forest, as they usually did at this time of day. They looked up as he approached.
"See?" Fyn said, "back before the Bright Circle left the sky, just like I said."
Labon reached up and snapped off an entire branch of Treestars, presenting it to Keva. She took the food and smiled at him. "Looks like I won."
Labon grumbled in mock displeasure. Fyn was confused. "What's going on? Am I missing something here?"
Labon laughed. Your mother and I bet each other a full branch of Treestars on when you'd be back. She thought you'd be here on time, and I thought you'd be late. As you can see, I lost.
"Well," Keva said, "what's the fun in winning when you can't share the spoils," she said, offering the branch to Labon. They both began to eat.
"Is the herd here now?" Labon inquired.
"They are," Fyn said, "and all of them arrived safely."
"Excellent."
"That's not why I came to talk, though."
"Oh?" Keva said, "then why did you come?"
"Well, you see, there was this, um..." Fyn stammered.
Labon and Keva looked at each other with a knowing expression. "Out with it," Labon said.
"There was a, uh... a girl with the herd."
"Well I'm sure there are plenty of girl dinosaurs in a herd," Labon said, winking at Keva, "so?"
"A girl Fin-Neck."
They were silent, but looked to Fyn to continue.
"I've seen other Fin-Necks before, but she was... different for some reason."
"Different?" Keva asked, smiling slightly, "how so?"
"Well, when I looked at her, I felt strange, like I... well, I don't know how to describe it, but when I tried to talk to her, I couldn't get the words right. Am I sick?" he concluded, "did something in the Mysterious Beyond do this to me? I know bugs can do stuff like this when they bite you, make you feel weird and all that." He looked over at his parents, who were suddenly in silent laughter. "What's so funny? This is serious!"
"Oh yes," Labon said, stifling his laughter, "it most definitely is serious!"
"What's wrong then?" Fyn said, suddenly concerned, "was I bitten by something?"
Keva grinned, "you could say that, yes."
"What was it?"
"A bug, like you said," Labon answered.
"I knew it! What kind of bug?"
Keva and Labon shared a smile, then answered simultaneously, "love!"
Fyn was shocked. Him? In love? Never had he expected to fall for someone. Since he was a child, he'd always sworn that he would remain alone and explore the Mysterious Beyond with his friends for the rest of his life. Love was most definitely not a part of his plan.
"Love? No way," he spoke.
"All the symptoms are there," Keva said, laughing.
Fyn was appalled. His parents thought this was funny? "I need to get out of here," he said, "I just need some time alone!"He turned and ran off, back to his nest. Labon and Keva chuckled again. Their son, it seemed, had finally grown up.
…
Fyn raced to Littlefoot's side, shaking his friend awake.
"Ow," Littlefoot said, "watch the side, it still hurts."
"Sorry," Fyn whispered.
"What are you doing here, anyway?"
"Littlefoot, I need to tell you something urgent."
"Go for it," Littlefoot said, leaning back onto his right side.
"You've got to help me," said Fyn, "I think I'm in love!"
Littlefoot's face was blank for a moment, then a huge grin broke out over his face. "I knew it!" he whooped. His Grandfather snored loudly, almost waking. Littlefoot looked around, shutting his mouth. "I knew it," he whispered again, "alright, who is it? I have a right to know."
Fyn couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Littlefoot thought this whole thing was a joke, too?
"Why does everyone think this is funny?" he asked aloud. "This is terrible!"
"No it's not," Littlefoot said, "really, it isn't."
"What? Can't you help me?"
"I suppose I could," Littlefoot said, with a smile, "but I'm so tired right now." He exaggerated a yawn.
"You're just going to sleep on this thing?"
"Yep."
"You can't do this to me!" Fyn said.
"Wanna bet? Watch me." Littlefoot pretended to doze off.
"Oh, come on!" Fyn said, "what should I do?"
"Talk to your parents," Littlefoot said, "they know more about this stuff than I do."
"I just did," Fyn said, "and they didn't help at all."
"Try again. They just like to tease about stuff like this, that's all."
"Fine," Fyn said, "if that's what works..."
"If you need anything else, talk to me in the morning." Littlefoot's words trailed off as he fell into slumber again.
Gathering his courage, Fyn decided to go back to his parents. He stood up and began to walk back to the forest. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. He couldn't lose himself this time. He saw his parents exiting the trees and met them at the forest's entrance.
"Sorry I ran off," he said.
"Oh, don't be," Keva said, "we were teasing you pretty hard."
"Still, that's not an excuse."
"Don't worry about it."
"Do you want to talk to us about this?" Labon asked.
"If you don't mind, yes." Fyn answered.
"Well then," Keva said, let's get back to the nest. We'll talk there. They walked under the Night Circle's pale light back to their nesting area, where Labon and Keva both laid down, only raising their necks. Fyn followed suit, relaxing on the ground as well.
"Now," Keva started, "let's start with the simple questions. Do you know her name?"
"Shael," Fyn answered almost instinctively.
"Shael," Keva murmured, nodding, "it's a very beautiful name."
"I don't see what knowing her name has to do with this," Fyn said, "I'm just trying to find out what's wrong."
"Oh, nothing's wrong, dear," Keva said.
"How do you know?"
"Well, do any of these feelings you have make you feel bad? Maybe sad?"
Fyn thought about it. Come to think of it, none of them had. If anything, they'd made him feel a bit giddy.
"Not really," he answered, "but is this really normal?"
"Of course it is!" Labon said. "Did you really think your mother and I were just... together one day?"
"Well, I guess I never really thought about it," Fyn said.
"Yes," Keva continued, "it's quite normal for this to happen to a Longneck your age. In fact, it happens to almost everybody, and now that you're old enough to begin searching for a mate, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't get to know this 'Shael' more."
"Hm," Fyn said, "maybe you're right." He lowered his head and yawned, his weariness finally catching up with him.
"I guess I'd better... I'd bett... I..." Fyn's words faded away as he sunk into an exhausted sleep.
"Sleep well, my little Fyn," Keva said, touching her muzzle to the top of her son's head. She gazed at Fyn, recalling how much he'd grown over the years. It was so hard to believe he was a young adult, now. As the light from the Night Circle flooded the Great Valley, she and Labon fell into a comfortable sleep. Tonight, it seemed, the whole Valley was at peace at last.
Off I go into previously uncharted territory for me. I mean, seriously! I'm this far in, and no one's died yet. Very different for me. Still, it's been fun so far. I always knew it was time for a break from dark, serious stories. Now, I can relax and have some fun with this. Please review and enjoy!
