CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: PTERO AND MAMA FLYER


"Why exactly did you run away from home?" Mama Flyer asked Ptero.

"My Mother is so controlling of me. It's always 'listen to mother'. I never get to do what I want. Every time I try, she always brings up Dad, saying that I'm letting him down." lamented Ptero. "She's a vicious Sharptooth!" said Ptero. He again felt foolish for telling the truth. Petrie's siblings laughed. Phyra, however, didn't. However, she didn't suspect Ptero of being a Sharp Beak either.

Phyra shook her head. "That is overbearing, though calling her a vicious Sharptooth is a bit too much." she said. "What of your father? Was he controlling too?" she asked.

"No. He let me be me." replied Ptero.

"I wonder why he'd be disappointed in you then for you being you." Mama Flyer asked.

"Well, er, let's just say that Dad didn't die of natural causes. Mom doesn't want me to end up like him." said Ptero.

Mama Flyer gasped. "Oh, you poor dear! Petrie lost his father to a Sharptooth attack. His father never even got to see Petrie fly." she said sadly.

"My Dad never got to see my fly either. I was close. I flew the very night he died. I tried to save him but I….." and Ptero broke down into sobs "I wasn't fast enough." he said. "I first flew when I went to go save him in fact. If only I'd made it." Ptero lamented.

"Ptero, you poor dear. Whatever happened?" she asked in a concerned tone.

"I don't like to talk about it." Ptero replied.

"I understand." she said. "I let Petrie be himself. I correct him when he gets out of hand, but I'd never live his life for him. Ptero, I'll tell you what, in two days, I'll go with you back to your mother. I'll talk some sense into her." remarked Mama Flyer.

"That won't be necessary; I can go back on my own." Ptero quickly said.

"No, Ptero. I cannot risk you going into the Mysterious Beyond alone. Your mother would never forgive me if I let you go back out there all alone. What if I lost you? No, Pterano and I will go with you." she said.

Ptero was worried now. However, he noticed Littlefoot coming to see him. He decided he wanted to talk to his friends. He'd have to leave soon as he knew his pack would kill Mama Flyer and Pterano the moment they flew into their territory and he couldn't be the cause of that. This would likely be one of the last times he saw Littlefoot. He went out with Littlefoot.

"I want to go talk to you. Er, somewhere private." said Ptero.