Hello! So this is my first Land Before Time story, and I'm glad it's already got a follow. It really means a lot and inspires to keep updating, so thank you! This chapter is more centered around Mackenzie, and it will explain her actions in a later chapter. Also, I should mention that the events of this chapter take place on the same day as the first one. I'd appreciate some feedback as well. Enjoy and have a good week!
The teenage rainbow face woke up with a jolt, her body shaking almost uncontrollably. Mackenzie wondered why she would even dream of her family journeying to the Great Valley, but leave her to fend for herself in the mysterious beyond. For one thing, her father was against the mere thought of ever leaving the home they had made for themselves. But obviously her sleep story meant something, otherwise she wouldn't have had it at all. Howeve, there was no point in pondering about it now, so Mackenzie just tried to go back to sleep. Just as she felt herself succumbing to the darkness, a voice called her name. Was it morning already? Mackenzie groaned, turning her head in the opposite direction when Amelia nudged her, trying to get her to stir. "Wake up sleepyhead, morning is already here." When Amelia got nothing but a sad whine from Mackenzie, she furrowed her eyebrows in suspicion and concern. "Another bad sleep story?"
Mackenzie wondered how she could tell, but then again, Amelia was her mother. It would be foolish to try to keep a secret from her. Nonetheless, she nodded her head.
Amelia took a seat next to her daughter, sliding an arm around Mackenzie's shoulder as a comforting gesture. "Now tell me, what happened in this one?"
Mackenzie hesitated for a moment. "...You, dad, and even Miriam all left for the Great Valley but left me here...I don't know what I did, but you left me all alone. Would you really do that...?"
Amelia used her tail to bring Mackenzie a bit closer. "Oh, sweetie. That would never happen in reality! And your father's against the idea of going to the Great Valley. But even if we did journey there, we'd never leave you behind. Miriam would be so lonely without you...and so would we."
Mackenzie still felt unsure, but she was thankful for her mother's logic. "Thanks, mom."
"Good girl," Amelia chimed as she stood up. "Hurry up now, breakfast should be ready any moment now." And she walked out, followed by Mackenzie several moments later. Both dinosaurs expected the tree stars that Miriam and Mackenzie's father, Tristan, said he would gather to be organized into a pile, but instead, they found the male dinosaur nearly buried under the green food.
Amelia walked over to her husband, trying her best not to laugh. "A bit jumpy today, are we, Tristan?"
Tristan's response consisted of mostly stammers.
"You're adorable," Amelia commented to prevent Tristan from probably dying of embarrassment.
Tristan however, disagreed with that statement. Him and Amelia argued until they came to a compromise.
Mackenzie felt like she was going to be sick. She wasn't exactly too fond of the sappy displays of affection her parents used. Not only that; she also felt sick because of the sleep story that kept on replaying in her mind over and over again. Why couldn't she forget this sleep story and just remember all the good ones? She almost let a whimper slip through her mouth, muffling it just in time. But Mackenzie was getting impatient.
"Okay, we all know how much you two love each other. Now if you don't mind, I'd like some breakfast. I didn't get up for nothing, you know." She commented.
Amelia chuckled. "Right," she gathered a handful of tree stars, placing them in front of Miriam and Mackenzie, who were quick to dig into their food, despite their mother's warning to take it slow. "Okay, okay! There's plenty to go around, kids."
"Sorry, mom," Miriam was the only one who actually apologized. Typical.
"Yeah, we're just hungry." Mackenzie added. It wasn't really an apology, but it wasn't like Mackenzie cared too much. As she nibbled on her tree star, Mackenzie heard her parents talking. She didn't hear much, just little bits of their conversation. From what she could gather, they said something about this 'valley'. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Miriam shuffling over to her mother, and by her hand gestures, it seemed as if she was asking for permission to go outside. She was right. Mackenzie watched as her sister left. Great. As if it wasn't awkward enough already.
Just the thought of Miriam leaving was enough to remind Mackenzie of her sleep story. She began waving her tail anxiously, unaware that her father was right behind her. And with one unsuspecting wave, her tail hit the back of Tristan's leg, causing him to lose his balance and fall. Again.
Mackenzie immediately turned around and realized her mistake. "Oh dad, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, I swear! Please don't be mad..."
Tristan mumbled as he got back on his feet, shaking the dust off his tail. "It's quite alright, it was an accident. But you're acting like you through the great circle on me or something. You usually just say sorry. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing...really, I'm fine." Mackenzie tried to pull off a smile.
Tristan knew better. "I've heard that one before."
Mackenzie had to think of an excuse. And quick. Or...she could just tell the truth. Nah. Okay, maybe she could. But there was no harm in changing the story around a tad bit, right? "Dad, it was just a sleep story. It kept me up all night, so that's why I'm a little off today."
Tristan was still a but suspicious, but decided not to push it much further. "Okay...are you sure?"
Mackenzie gave a quick nod of her head. "Mhm!" And before Tristan had the chance to interrogate her any further, Mackenzie darted to her corner of the cave. And she planned to stay there for the rest of the day. Letting anyone other than her mother know that she was so scared over a sleep story would hurt whatever dignity she had.