CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: LITTLEFOOT'S NEW FRIEND
Littlefoot had a new friend. He was always glad to make new friends. That was just who he was. He went to go explore the Great Valley with Ptero, who wanted to look around more. Ptero loved playing around in the Thundering Falls. Littlefoot sensed that something was troubling Ptero. "What's bothering you my friend?" Littlefoot asked.
"My Father." said Ptero.
"You miss him, don't you?" said Littlefoot.
Ptero nodded. He started to cry. He didn't want to get emotional around a Flattooth.
"Did you see it happen?" Littlefoot asked.
Ptero shook his head. "Didn't see it happen. Mom did though." said Ptero.
"I saw my Mother die. I couldn't save her. It still bothers me, even now." said Littlefoot.
"She wasn't murdered was she?" asked Ptero.
"No." said Littlefoot.
Ptero, after a long pause, said "My Dad was."
Littlefoot gasped. "What happened?" Littlefoot asked.
"I don't want to talk about it." said Ptero. Especially with a Flattooth. he thought.
Littlefoot felt sorry for poor Ptero. He couldn't blame him for not wanting to bring it up. He himself barely brought up his own mother's death because of how sad it made him.
"He loved you, though, didn't he?" Littlefoot asked.
"He loved me very much. His last words were about me." said Ptero.
"That is odd." said Ptero.
"What is odd?" asked Littlefoot.
"He was murdered, yet he mentioned me last. You'd think he'd have shouted out the name of his attackers." said Ptero.
"Maybe he wanted you to help." said Littlefoot.
"I don't see how I could have helped. I don't know whoever killed him." said Ptero.
"Did you ever catch them?" asked Littlefoot.
No, but if I ever do, they are going to wish they'd never been born! Ptero thought angrily.
"Unlike your mother's killer, my Dad's killers are still free, off to do more wicked things." said Ptero.
"When did it happen?" Littlefoot asked.
"When I was really young. I went to go try and save him. It was when I first learned to fly." said Ptero. "In fact, my coming to him was the REASON I got flying down finally." said Ptero.
"Ptero, if there is anything I can do to make you feel better, please let me know." said Littlefoot.
"No, that's ok. I don't see how you could." said Ptero. "And Littlefoot..." said Ptero.
"Yes Ptero." replied Littlefoot.
"Please don't mention this to the others. I don't want it brought up and everyone asking me about Dad's death." said Ptero.
"But the others could help you. Some of them have lost..." said Littlefoot.
"I want your promise Littlefoot." Ptero interrupted.
"I promise." said Littlefoot. It was a promise he planned to keep.
Littlefoot and Ptero came to Petrie. He was with his siblings. They were going up, trying to fly through the clouds. Petrie didn't like going through the Sky Puffies, as he sometimes got wet. However, they were practicing flying. They had completed the Great Day of the Flyers, but there were still other things that one had to do, especially if one wanted to be a Flyer leader. Petrie hoped to get that spot. However, his panickyness didn't help matters.
The wind picked up. Petrie was nervous. "Me no sure about this." said Petrie.
"I'm going to help him." said Ptero to Littlefoot.
Ptero took off toward Petire. "Petrie, come with me." said Ptero.
"Me nervous. Me no like going through Sky Puffies." said Petrie.
"You need to face your fears. I'll go with you." said Ptero.
"Me no sure about this." said Petrie.
The wind continued to pick up. Petrie was even more nervous. "Just give it heart. That's all you can do. My Father taught me that." said Ptero.
Incredibly, Petrie agreed to go with Ptero. The wind was blowing quite hard now. However, Petrie kept going, though very nervous. Ptero, however, was fearless. He'd hunted before, as painful as that had been to him. He'd seen death. A little wind wouldn't faze him.
"Come on Petrie. Just follow me." said Ptero reassuringly. Petrie flapped after him. Petrie seemed likely to get off course. Ptero dove, making some incredible flips midair. He'd had plenty of practice changing course rapidly while hunting. This was easy for him. He caught Petrie. He moved him up. "You need to finish what you started." said Ptero.
Petrie flew through the Sky Puffies, following Ptero. They both went through. They landed, wet, but glad. "Told you that you could do it." said Ptero. Petrie's siblings cheered him on.
"You're quite an impressive Flyer." said a voice. It was Cera.
"I learned from my Mother and my Father." said Ptero.
"That was incredible. It was. It was. You were a big help to Petrie. Yep, yep, yep, you were." said Ducky.
Spike nodded and then reached out and hugged Ptero. Ptero felt glad to have friends. He'd never enjoyed life like this since before Sydo had died. However, he was starting to feel hungry. And not for green. What his mother had filled his head with hadn't gone away so easily. He still wondered if the Flatteeth could be trusted. They might be nasty liars. He had to check the Great Valley. Littlefoot and his friends might be good, but there could easily be wicked Leaf Eaters, including, for all he knew, his father's killers, residing here. Right now though, Ptero needed meat, for he craved it.
"I...er...need to pee." lied Ptero. He took off. He went to a secluded spot near water, dove into the river, pulled out a fish, and hungrily ate it. He didn't like this, but Agatha had started to put it into him. He just hoped that he didn't snap one day and hurt Littlefoot.
Meanwhile, Cera asked Ducky. "Where is our new Flyer friend?"
Ptero came back. "Sorry, had to answer the call of nature." Ptero lied. "I'm back now." he said. He played for the rest of the day. He was enjoying being liked. The pack liked him, to be sure, but Agatha wanted them to fear him more than she wanted them to just like him. He had never liked that. This kind of being liked here, he liked better. He went to sleep with the Flyers. He felt more at home here than he had at home since he was a boy.