CHAPTER THIRTY: PTERO'S INDECISION
Ptero wondered what to do. If he stayed here, his mother would be furious. He didn't think that she'd like to live with Flatteeth. Or, perhaps she would, but only as food. He decided to bring up his fears to the others.
"I'm not sure what to do about my Mother. She seems to not like Flatteeth. She says that there is only one good place for Flatteeth." said Ptero.
"The Great Valley?" asked Cera.
"Our stomachs." answered Ptero grimly.
"Ecccch!" said the others, minus Spike, who just grimaced.
"You don't feel that way, do you Ptero?" asked Littlefoot.
"I used to. I used to cheer every time that Mother brought me a Flattooth to eat, knowing that there was one less Flattooth in the world. I hated them so because they had taken my Father from me. But you guys are different and taught me how to forgive." replied Ptero.
The others were wondering to do about Ptero's situation. Cera, meanwhile, was worried. She feared that Ptero could turn on them at any moment. The way he could fly, he could overwhelm them easily. She mistrusted Ptero.
"I still don't trust him." she whispered to Littlefoot.
"I do and he's staying." whispered Littlefoot back, glaring at her.
"I don't know why you're so worried, Ptero. We let Chomper stay here until Red Claw was gone and he could go back home safely. As long as you and your mother don't try and eat anyone, it should be all right." said Littlefoot.
"What it like having to hunt?" Petrie asked Ptero. Ptero found this an odd question, one that he didn't think that a Flattooth would ask.
"It's very sad. Knowing that in order for you to live, something has to die. I've cried many times doing it. I wish I didn't have to anymore. But Mom says that I must do it to please Dad and that I'm supposed to lead the pack. My whole life has been planned by my Mother." said Ptero.
"And I thought I had it bad!" said Cera, feeling sorry for Ptero.
"The look that creatures give you, knowing you're about to get them, it haunts you." Ptero continued.
Littlefoot said nothing. He could get leaves and things like that. He'd never had to go through something like that and never would. He wondered if that was how Chomper felt. He resolved to treat Sharpteeth better in the future. He'd only heard the Leaf Eater side all his life. Now he knew how the other half lived.
Ptero decided that it would be a good idea to go see his mother. Perhaps he could talk her into living here. It seemed that maybe now his life could be better here. The whole pack might be able to come, as long as they ate fish and mammals and didn't try and eat the Combined Herd. Indeed, he could still lead the pack and could eat green when he got sick of hunting and needed a break.
"I'm going to go talk to my Mother. I'm going to try and convince her to let me stay." said Ptero.
"How do we know you aren't planning to lead her here and get us eaten?" asked Cera.
Littlefoot glared angrily at her. "Cera!" he snapped.
"No, I don't want to hurt you. Had it been when I first met you, I probably would have led you into an ambush. But now, I don't want you to get hurt. Petrie, your mother, who is such a wonderful dinosaur, and I wish she were my mother, is going to go tomorrow to my Mother. Mother and the pack will eat her and Pterano if she goes. I'm going tonight to Mother. I'm going to try and get her to stay here and be a nice Sharptooth." said Ptero.
"Hope it goes well. We'd love to have you here." said Littlefoot. Ptero left to go see Agatha.