Abe's sword came down, releasing a shower of metal. The raptors jumped out of the way, but one managed to have its leg cut off. However, no blood appeared as the leg grew back. Abe eyed that beast, knowing that he needed to burn it into ashes. He looked at Littlefoot.
"Littlefoot," he said as a raptor charged at him. "One of the raptors has the power to grow back. We need to burn it."
"I'm busy right now," said Littlefoot as he defended himself with his flaming tail.
The raptor lunged at Abe. He jumped above it as it landed in his spot and kicked it. It flew back and hit another raptor. Both of them roared and scrambled to their feet. Abe stabbed the ground and summoned the Earth powers of the blade. An earthquake soon was felt. Tall rocks shot up from underneath the ground. The raptors were all on the other side. Littlefoot turned himself off, and Ali changed back to normal from her water state. The three dinosaurs faced Abe.
"We have no time to waist. We need to go."
Suddenly, the rocks began to break. Abe growled and faced Littlefoot.
"Find the white feather. A feather has tickly stuff on it."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine."
"But-"
A crack formed on all the rocks.
"Follow orders and do it. I'll take care of them."
Littlefoot knew he couldn't convince him. He nodded to Ali and Vinna, and they ran through the opening of Black Rock. The rocks Abe created finally crashed. The raptors only noticed Abe, but they didn't care. It was just an easier kill for them. A raptor came at Abe with such speed. Abe's sensitive nose and ears tracked it as it approached. It was only a few centimeters above him when the half-demon clawed his throat. The raptor fell on top of him. He caught it and threw it to the side. The other raptors screeched and ran towards Abe. He smiled.
"You're all next."
Littlefoot looked back and hoped Abe was right behind them. He grew sad when Abe did not appear. Ali walked over to him and nudged him.
"Give him some time."
Littlefoot nodded.
"Well, we have to find the feather here. Don't know what one looks like though."
"Didn't Abe yell to use it was white and tickly?" wondered Vinna.
"Oh yeah," said Ali. "I heard that too. Littlefoot, shall we go?"
Littlefoot sighed. He wanted to wait for Abe, but he knew Abe would told him to go get the feather.
"Okay."
They walked deeper into the cave. It soon forked, and Littlefoot decided to stay in a group. They took the path to the right.
"We better watch out," said Vinna. "The hermit lives here."
"You said it was just a blind flier," reminded Ali.
"But who knows if he's magic like the raptors."
Just then, Littlefoot saw a shadow. The shadow disappeared as fast as it appeared.
"Did you guys see that?" he asked in a quiet voice.
"What?" asked Ali.
"Shh. Someone's in the cave with us."
Ali sprayed him with a stream of water in his eye. He looked at the annoyed her.
"Don't tell me to shush."
"But Ali-"
Footsteps were heard. Ali gasped and shivered in fear. Littlefoot signaled with his head that they should continue. The three of them crept onward. Ali's heart was beating uncontrollably. Littlefoot sensed it and looked back. He saw Vinna trying to calm Ali down, but it wasn't working. Littlefoot approached Ali and nudged her nose.
"There's nothing to be scared of."
A pebble rolled out in front of them, making Littlefoot jump a little. Ali huffed and mumbled under her breath. Littlefoot ignited himself and looked around. The figure stepped out of the shadows frantically.
"Woah! Fire! I smell fire! Every flier for himself!"
Ali extinguished the flames on Littlefoot with her water powers. The flier sniffed the air and let out a breath of relief.
"I thought I smelled a fire here."
"You did," said Ali.
The old flier faced who spoke. The grayish flier smiled.
"Well, what do we have here? Youngsters?"
Littlefoot approached him.
"Are you the flier who lives here?"
"Indeed, I am. Lived here for quite some time now."
Vinna noticed his eyes. They had no colored pupils.
"What happened to your eyes?"
"I'm blind."
"Then how do you know-"
"It was you? Well, I can feel ya, through the ground. Plus, I smell you. Judging by the smell, I say a male longneck is in front of me. Boy, sonny, do you need a bath."
Ali walked up to Littlefoot's side.
"You get used to it, I guess."
The flier chuckled.
"Well now. A female longneck. You smell like the water in this cave."
"Thank you. Um, what's your name?"
"Dexter. What's yours?"
"I'm Ali, the longneck that smells bad is Littlefoot, and the rainbow face is Vinna."
Dexter faced Vinna.
"A rainbow face? I would never have guessed that. For a moment, I thought you were a pile of sweet-smelling stars."
Vinna blushed. Littlefoot groaned, seeing he was the only one that got the bad compliment.
"Dexter, how good do you know the cave?" asked Littlefoot.
"I memorized every detail of what is my home. I know this cave front and back. Kind of have to since I can't see."
He chuckled.
"Can you lead us through your home? We're trying to find something."
"You lost something? Tis a shame. I'll help you find it. Follow me."
Dexter walked deeper into the cave. The three dinosaurs followed.
Lucastrof sat on the edge of a cliff, His spy approached him. The sun was setting.
"Sir, those bewitched raptors attacked the group."
"Did they succeed?"
"Hard to say. From where I was, a sharptooth appeared, so I ran."
The spy thought he was going to get it. Lucastrof shrugged it off. The spy was astonished as to why he wasn't angry.
"Sir?"
"That longneck. The one that can ignite himself. He almost killed me."
"But he had Abe's help," pointed out the spy. "Littlefoot would've died if he fought you alone."
Lucastrof stood up and faced his companion.
"Littlefoot? Tell me, you've been here longer. Do you know a lot about the longneck?"
"Only that he resides in the Great Valley with his grandparents and friends. My herd only heard of how he got to the Great Valley."
"The Great Valley? That's where you've been spying?"
The spy nodded. Lucastrof grinned.
"Tell me all you saw in this so-called Great Valley."
"Well, this here is where the ground treestars are."
Dexter led the young ones deep into the cave. Light shined down through a gaping hole in the ceiling. It provided some energy for the tree that had its attached branches on the ground. Ali and Vinna opened their mouths in happiness.
"Dexter, can we please have some?" asked Vinna.
"Heh heh. I don't see why not."
Ali and Vinna rushed over to the tree and started eating. Littlefoot followed the girls, looking around the room. He wasn't sure why they were hungry, but he had more important things to worry about. He looked around the tree and noticed something behind it. It was a white thing that looked very fragile. He touched it gently, and it brushed his foot. He chuckled and picked it up with his mouth. He walked to Ali and Vinna.
"I found it," he said as it was still in his mouth.
Vinna took it from his mouth and laughed.
"Abe was right. It does tickle."
Littlefoot lowered his head.
"I wonder what's taking him so long."
"I'm worried too," said Ali. "Dexter, we found it."
"Oh, that's good little lady. Are you heading off?"
"I'm afraid we must. Our parents are worried."
"Well then. I'll lead you down."
The young ones followed Dexter.
"Dexter," said Littlefoot. "Um, don't you get lonely right here?"
"Sometimes, but I've gotten used to it. Besides, I can't leave the cave. I might crash as I fly and then the sharpteeth will get me."
"I wish I could fly. Then we could all go to the Great Valley."
"Don't worry. I'll be fine, sonny."
They neared the entrance.
"This is where I stop. The entrance is not far from here, and I don't want to expose myself to sharpteeth."
"Okay. We hope to see you later."
"You be careful now, kiddos. Heh heh heh."
Dexter walked back into the depths of the cave. Littlefoot, Ali, and Vinna looked at each other before exiting the cave. As they did, they noticed a few bodies on the ground. They were mostly raptors, but one stuck out. The trio ran over and looked down at the body. Littlefoot looked away, and the girls formed tears.
"Why? Why? Why!"
"Littlefoot," said Ali. "Calm down. Screaming won't make him come back to life. We need to go. There might be some raptors here."
Vinna checked the body.
"Where are that sharp stick, the map, and the two objects we collected?"
"The surviving raptors must have taken them," concluded Ali. "Littlefoot, what should we do?"
Littlefoot faced them with a stream of tears. Though he cried, he gave his command.
"I guess we go to the Great Valley. There are no leads for the last one. It's best we keep the feather safe."
With the sun almost gone, the depressed group headed their way to the Great Valley.