A yellow, teenaged Triceratops with green eyes was hanging around with Petrie, Ducky, and Spike. They were near a small river where a waterfall rushed down onto it from the top of the nearby cliff. Ducky, the green Saurolophus with blue eyes, was in the waist-deep pond, soaking the feeling of the water brushing against her. Her step-brother Spike, a green, teenaged Stegosaurus with violet eyes, was lying down next to Cera, the Triceratops. Petrie was on his head, also soaking up the sunlight. Petrie sighed.
"That sure was depressing."
"Mmm-mmm," Spike nodded in agreement.
"Can't believe they are dead," commented a teenaged Ducky, getting out of the water.
"We all knew it would happen," said Cera.
"But it's still sad. Yep, yep, yep."
"Where is Littlefoot?" brought up Petrie. "After we sealed his grandparents in the caves, I have not seen much of him."
"Well, it's only has been one day, Petrie," said Cera. "Not even an entire day. Give him some time, and he will toughen up."
"I don't know," said Ducky. "His grandparents were his only true family. I haven't seen much of Bron."
"Besides, his grandparents were like a father and mother to him," pointed out Petrie.
The four types of dinosaurs thought. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck were only a few of the wise dinosaurs the little ones respected more. They were all saddened that Grandpa and Grandma Longneck were gone, but it was nothing compared to what Littlefoot felt.
"Maybe we should go talk to him," suggested Petrie.
"I would just let him be," Cera said. "Give him some time, and he will go on."
"I don't know if we should," commented Ducky.
"But seeing us might give him some memories…about them."
Petrie nodded.
"Cera is right."
Ducky sighed. She clearly understood Cera. Grandma and Grandpa Longneck not only helped Littlefoot and spent time with him, but they did the same to them. They enjoyed the company of the elders, unlike being next to Mr. Threehorn when he got agitated. However, something in her heart told her she should comfort her friend. When they had all retreated back to their parents, she would sneak off and talk with her friend.
Littlefoot sighed. Today marked the day of change in his family. He had awoken up to see his grandparents dead right before him. It was like seeing his mother dying again. It was a devastating feeling. He remembered it so well. He finally had found his mother lying down on a rock. He had been searching for an hour. During that hour, rain had poured down, damping the asymmetric ground. He hopped over a small gap and found his mother. He encouraged her to get up, but she couldn't. She tried, but she fell down. She had lost too much blood. He walked up to her big, beautiful eye and looked at it, worried. She was calm about it, as if she accepted it. Her last words were that she would always been with him.
A tear rolled down Littlefoot's eye. Unlike his mother, his grandparents did not say anything and died peacefully. He was happy that his grandparents weren't mincemeat for sharpteeth, but it was gloomy to watch them go. The last thing that they said to him was that they loved him. He had smiled and told them he loved them too. He smiled slightly as he remembered the warm smiles they gave to him yesterday night.
He continued to lie down near the shore of a water spring, looking at his reflection. He had grown much older, and he had to admit he was handsome. The reason why he admitted that he was handsome was that now he realized he needed to find a mate. His grandparents would've wanted him to. He was the last of his herd bloodline. Instincts of survival kicked into his brain. Though it was depressing that his grandparents were gone, he needed to expand his herd, or what was left of it. As far as he was concerned, it was only him.
He got up and looked at the sky. The yellow sun was beaming down at him. The warm breeze tickled against his reptile skin. Though today was a day of sadness, it was a new day for him. He knew what his grandparents would've wanted. He began to walk to the grazing field to join the others for lunch.
He slowly walked out into the grazing fields. Lunch for them was one-thirty in the afternoon. Some dinosaurs had already eaten early. He walked along the grassy lands to find a good tree with some fresh stars. Luck was on his side. He found a tree after walking a short distance across the field. The tree was filled with his favorite: treestars. The treestars' moisture had slightly gone, but they were still good to him. Littlefoot reached the tree's bottom branches and started to grind the green maple leafs with his teeth. He ate his food contently.
As he ate, he was surprised that no one had confronted him ever since that morning. A few dinosaurs had seen him walk across the grassy plains and said nothing to him. Probably they thought it was best for him to reflect on what just happened by himself. Littlefoot was fine with this. He still needed to think. He was considering on following his thoughts.
"Littlefoot."
Littlefoot looked down at the ground and saw one of his friends. Teenaged Ducky stood proudly, awaiting his response. He swallowed the treestars in his mouth with one gulp.
"Oh, hey, Ducky."
His voice wasn't depressing or happy; it was moderate.
"Um, I just wanted to check on you."
He needed more time alone, but he didn't want to shoo off his friend who was trying to support him. That was just…mean.
"Thanks," he slightly smiled. "I'm just…doing my best."
"You are welcomed to stay with us to stay the night if you like."
"Thanks for the offer, but I think it is best that I sleep alone. Today was…a rough day. I need to recollect my thoughts."
"So, what do you plan to do?" asked Ducky. "You are not a full-grown dinosaur. You are big, but not an adult."
Thanks for the obvious, Ducky.
"I know," replied Littlefoot kindly, "but there is something in my mind on what I should do. I don't know. I need more time to think it through."
"Okay. Um, if you want, we will be at the watering hole."
Ducky left to join Cera and the others at the pond she was at earlier after the morning's ceremony. Littlefoot resumed eating the leaves off the branch. He remembered when he was smaller his grandfather would shake the treestars off the tree or bend the tree trunk with his big foot so Littlefoot would reach the treestars from the ground. He smiled at the memories. It reminded him why he loved treestars so much: it was his mother's gift to him.
Littlefoot finished filing his stomach with enough food and turned around. He just stared at the scenery, thinking what he should do. The trees he looked like he was staring out slowly began to move. A warm, strong breeze had made its way into the valley. Littlefoot smiled. The warm breeze gave him the comfort needed. No friend can know what he was going through and could help him. They just didn't know. The warm breeze felt like his grandparents hugging him as their souls would finally rest in the afterlife. He looked up at the sky. It was clear. Tomorrow, he had a feeling it would be like this.
"Littlefoot, you're thinking?"
Littlefoot looked down. Mr. Threehorn, Cera's gray father, looked up at Littlefoot with a concerned face. To be honest, he expected him to be the last dinosaur in the whole valley to comfort him. It wasn't shallow or anything like that, but what were the chances?
"Hello, Mr. Threehorn."
"How are you holding up?"
"Okay, I guess," said Littlefoot, answering in respect.
"Son," breathed Mr. Threehorn, only to get a flinch from Littlefoot, "words cannot describe what you are feeling-"
Really? thought Littlefoot. How about sad? Lonely? Stricken with grief?
"-but you must let this pass. When my father passed on, I was devastated. He was my role model. I learned everything from him. He was the last of my family to go. I…I just went on, because I knew what he wanted me to do. If he saw me all gloomy, he would pity me. He wanted me to live life to the fullest, which I believed I have. It pained me to see him go, but it made me stronger that I can live day by day for and because of him."
"Thanks for the message, Mr. Threehorn."
There was an awkward paused before Mr. Threehorn nodded and decided to wander off. He didn't get far before Littlefoot's voice stopped him.
"Mr. Threehorn, what do you consider me as?"
Mr. Threehorn was confused by the question, but he answered it with a smiling face.
"A teen on the outside, but an adult in the inside."
Littlefoot nodded.
"Thank you."
Mr. Threehorn walked off in content. Littlefoot took in Mr. Threehorn's answer. He viewed Littlefoot as an adult. He felt he was mature enough, and it was time anyways. Ducky mentioned that she and the others were at the watering hole. He headed towards that direction, with a content look on his face.
He walked towards the running water that cut the valley into three main sections and followed one of the rivers up to the watering hole, one of the sources of all the water in the Great Valley. He went through some thick trees and made it to the watering hole. He was greeting by Ducky's smile. Ducky and Spike were in the pond. Petrie was relaxing on the sleeping Cera's back.
"Littlefoot."
Ducky's word made Spike look in the direction Ducky was, made Petrie stand up slowly, and gradually woke Cera up. Petrie fell over to Littlefoot and landed on the ground in front of him.
"Hi, Littlefoot," he greeted. "Are you-"
"So, Littlefoot," said Ducky. "What do you want to do?"
Cera, Ducky and Spike walked towards him and stood next to Petrie. Littlefoot made a small smile.
"Guys, I just wanted to thank you, for always being there for me."
"Of course," said Petrie happily. "We are your friends."
"Yes, yes, yes," said Ducky. "We will always be."
Spike nodded happily.
Littlefoot looked and paused at all his childhood friends individually. He remembered when he first met each one and most of the adventures they had.
"We have grown with each other. I'm grateful for that, but things always change."
"Of course, they do," said Cera. "I mean we've changed; we're bigger now."
"Yes," said Littlefoot, "but with also being bigger, we set our priorities first to live fulfilling lives. I believe that is what I must do. My grandparents would've wanted me to do this."
"Do what?" asked Petrie.
Ducky's smile dropped.
"Littlefoot?"
"I need to leave the Great Valley."