Chapter 10: New Acquaintances and a New Plan

Five days have passed since I started the trial, and it's been a long and tedious five days. I have had to deal with Sharpteeth, finding food, and the constant risk of death. But that time had been worth it, as it started grooming me into a warrior. I have been forced to face Sharpteeth whenever they found me, but I still haven't been able to make my 'Berserker's Mindset' my main fighting mindset.

The first thing I did while out here was set up a small base. Luckily, I just happened to find a small cave, have a sleeping bag (exactly why I say my duffle bag has everything I need always), and never had to deal with like, mosquitoes or whatever (if there was one advantage to being stuck in this world, its that there was next to no bugs).

My first instinct was to make a weapon. I found a branch that was actually very straight, and started using it as a staff. This staff has served me well over the past five days, as well as the 'Valley Garb' (the elders of the valley said that 'Valley Garbs' are made of a material that doesn't get dirty, and this proved to be true so far)...

The 'Valley Garb'. This was what I wore the whole time I was out here. And in only two days, it would be my permanent outfit. The trial I made up proved tough, but doable. However, I have yet to complete my main goal.

As I continued to wait in the cave, I heard many footsteps, so my instinct was to see what was there (as well as to grab my staff, just in case). Looking outside, the first thing I saw, was what looked like a herd of Longnecks in the distance. Something made me curious to who they are (mainly a memory of Littlefoot talking about his family).

Walking out of the cave, the herd was approaching from my left. The first ones that got my attention were two teenagers. One was green, one was brown, and both were running like there's no tomorrow.

Once I was fully out of the cave, one of the two ran right into me, sending us both falling to the ground. Once up, I saw which of the two it was. The Brown Longneck got up, and said, "Who the heck are you?!"

"Name's Yuri," I told him, to which he responded "Are you the one who Ali told us about?"

"How do you know Ali's been talking about me? Wait... Ali's been talking about me"

"Nonstop," the green one said, joining in "When we get messages through the crystal waters, you're usually the first topic on her mind."

"... Crystal waters?"

The green one sighed, "Well Rhet, looks like we've got a lot to explain to this guy."

The explanation was quick and simple. First they introduced themselves (the Green one is named Shorty and the Brown one is named Rhett), and then they explained what they were doing.

Apparently, Shorty and his adoptive dad Bron (Littlefoot's Dad, from the info Littlefoot had given me) were heading out to see Littlefoot, and along the way, they had begun traveling with Ali's herd (of which Rhet is from). They were also receiving messages from Ali through the Crystal Waters.

This was apparently a river, running a very long way through the Mysterious Beyond all the way to the Great Valley, with a crystal at the Lake it's connected to, and allows people to talk to each other (somehow magically sending the sound to whoever the message is for), if they are connected in some way.

So, by the end of it, my mind was blown.

So, after all was said and done, I had made two new acquaintances, and learned about the Crystal Waters. They showed me the way to the river that is the Crystal Waters, and then went on their way.

Once I was at the Crystal Waters, I figured I should try. "Ali..." I whispered, "Are you there?"

...

For the first few moments, there was nothing. But as I got up to walk away, I heard one of the greatest sounds I've heard in days:

"Yuri... I'm here."

The moment I heard this, I immediately got back on my knees, and started talking into the water. "Ali! You're a sound for sore ears."

"So you found your way to the Crystal Waters?"

"With the help of Shorty and Rhet. They also said you've been talking to me."

And while I couldn't see it, I was certain she was blushing. Especially by the fact of how she said "Yeah". After that akwardness had passed, the two of us just... talked. There was no rhyme or reason to our conversation. We just were talking. Nothing really to it.

Eventually, she said "Yuri... Are you sure the trial has to be seven days?"

"Yes," I told her, "I must finish it. I know it's not fun, but it's just that thing I must do."

"I understand. It's just that... I miss you."

'She misses me?' That was a good sign. See, ever since the dream, I have been thinking about her a lot more. Eventually I found myself... how do I put this... wanting to ask her out. I mean, it's weird to want to date a dino, but right now, instinct was overpowering logic, so I asked:

"Hey Ali. When I get back, do you maybe wanna... Go out?"

...

"Do you mean... like a date?"

"Yeah," was my response, "So how about it?"

"Yes! I'd love to!"

And with that, I the two of us said goodbye, and I felt like nothing could ruin my good mood. No matter how weird it may seem, I liked Ali. At first I was questioning why, but than I realized other than being reptilian, there was pretty much no difference between her and a normal human.

And she brought out my more... wild side.

So, this chapter is finally here. I've just been very preoccupied (as I am going back to school tomorrow), and this was what I got to do. And yes, Yuri and Ali are now the start of a thing. Don't ask why I did this OCxAnthro pairing, but I did, and I is.

And on the Crystal Waters, I wanted to have a way for characters to talk to each other without having to be in person. And on the Valley Garb being not dirty, I just didn't want Yuri to have to waste time on figuring out how to wash it. Call it lazy writing, because it probably is.

My promise is that I will get the next chapter up by Thursday. I'm still trying to figure out my new uploading schedule.