The sun beamed down on the river. The water was pushed back by rocks that most likely fell due to an earthquake. Two longnecks stood at the bed of the dried river. They faced the pile of rocks that either diverged or blocked the water. Littlefoot looked at the rocks.
"If we just let a few rocks loose, the backed up water should push the other rocks out of its way."
Ali looked at Littlefoot.
"How do you suggest we do that?"
Littlefoot thought about it. He looked around and sighed.
"Well, there seems to be no logs that can help us."
He paused to ponder and hatched up the best idea he could do with limited resources.
"Well, we can clear some rocks."
Ali looked at him if he was crazy.
"What! Littlefoot, do you know how dangerous that could be? The water can push away the rocks while we're still down here. We'll get swept away by the fast waters."
"I know it's dangerous, but we need to do it."
"I'm not doing it. You shouldn't either. We should find a log or something."
"But there's nothing here. We have to do it."
Al sighed.
"Fine, but if something goes wrong…"
"Relax. What can go wrong?"
Littlefoot walked up to the stacked boulders. Ali called back to him.
"Littlefoot, I don't know if it's a good idea."
"Trust me."
Ali stood her ground as Littlefoot started to move one of the looser boulders. Water soon slowly seeped out through the cracks, creating a miniature, miniature waterfall. This only lasted a few seconds though. The applying force of the water was much greater than the pile of rocks. Soon, water rushed out down the path of the dried river. It wasn't the depth of the water that brought the longnecks to their knees; it was the surprise and unexpected force. For a few moments, they stayed submerged in the water. Finally, they lifted their heads above the water as for most of their body was under the surface of the water. After a minute, the river calmed down. The two longnecks stood to their feet. Littlefoot slowly looked back to see an irritated Ali glaring at him. He nervously smiled.
"Well…um…that was easy."
There was a moment of silence. Littlefoot felt awkward by this.
"Let's just get out of the river."
As they walked out of the river, Ali began to talk.
"I told you."
Littlefoot turned towards her.
"Uh, I know, but…"
"Why didn't you listen? That could have swept us away."
"I kind of doubt that. We weigh like several tons each."
"… Are you saying I'm fat?"
"What? No! Of course not!"
"Good," replied a slightly calmed Ali, "but you should've listened to me."
Littlefoot sighed.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to get it over with. Look, we found the problem and fixed it. Most importantly, we survived."
"No, we were just lucky."
Littlefoot thought about the difference of survival and being lucky.
"I'm pretty sure they're the same thing."
Ali thought about it also.
"Well, with this short journey, pretty much."
As he saw Al calm down, he faced the running water.
"Look. The water is flowing down through the river path. It will reach the Great Valley soon."
Ali looked at the river. She smiled and faced Littlefoot.
"You know what? Despite your mistake of knocking down that loose rock when we stood directly in front of the water's boulder wall, you did good."
Littlefoot half-closed his eyes.
"You brought water back to the communities who needed it," Ali continued. "You're a hero."
Littlefoot's face lightened. Ali looked at Littlefoot.
"A hero?" he wondered. "Hm…"
"You saved several, if not, hundreds of dinosaur lives."
"Wow. I'm like the Lone Dinosaur."
Ali smiled.
"Well, you're not alone. I'm with you."
Littlefoot smiled.
"True, but what if I did become the Lone Dinosaur?"
Ali narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You better not. What about me?"
"Well, I can just visit you from time to time, while I help other dinosaur herds."
Littlefoot chuckled slightly. He soon noticed the stern look on Ali. He slowly stopped his chuckling.
"It was just a joke."
"I don't find it very humorous."
Littlefoot sighed and looked up at the sky. The sun was still high up. If they starting walking back, they would probably be back at the pond by sunset. He faced Ali.
"Well, should we start walking?"
"Not yet, Littlefoot. Let me get a drink."
Littlefoot watched as Ali walked to the bank of the river, which was only three steps away from where she stood. She lowered her head and started to drink. Littlefoot watched Ali drink out of the water. After two gulps, Ali felt that she was being stared. She looked back and saw Littlefoot looking at her. She slightly blushed.
"Um, Littlefoot, what is it?"
Littlefoot didn't respond.
"Littlefoot?"
Littlefoot heard her the second time around and shook her head. He faced her.
"Huh? What?"
Ali half-closed her eyes in irritancy.
"Were you looking at my tail?"
"No… Well, not entirely."
Ali lifted her head up and turned towards Littlefoot.
"Pervert."
It was silent for a few seconds.
"It's mating season."
"You stood there for a few seconds and only came up with that lame of an excuse?"
"… It's the best I could come up with. I just… I just can't control my ranging…um…urges."
"Just keep it to yourself for now."
There was another long pause.
"But Littlefoot? May I ask you something? Do you have any feelings for me?"
"Of course I do."
"Well, I mean like much more."
"Once again, I do. Ali, when I was in the Great Valley, my mind would occasionally wander off towards you. During the adulthood years, I always hoped you would return one day. The day you did come back, I was hoping that you would stay with me, but you never came. After my grandparents died, I knew I had to find someone. That's what drove me to leave the Great Valley. My mind told me to find a mate…but my heart still yearned for you."
Ali stiffened a bit. Littlefoot's heart wanted her?
"But then Janet appeared in my life, and we had some many similarities. So many likes and dislikes? Though it had been only a couple of days, we had a strong connection. It was because of that, we got together."
There was a couple of seconds of silence. Ali took two steps towards Littlefoot.
"Littlefoot, do you still have feelings for her?"
"Um, a little."
"But what about me? I thought you said my heart yearned for me?"
"My time together with Janet will always be in my head, but they will just be memories of the past. What I've learned as I grew was that you shouldn't live in the past. You have to keep moving forward."
Ali smiled. She got closer to Littlefoot.
"Then what does your heart say you should do?"
"Opinions of it now were the same to when I lived in the Great Valley. Ali, I wanted to tell you for the longest time. Janet is a longneck from the past, but I envision a future with you. Ali, I want-"
"Littlefoot, you don't have to say it. Show me."
Littlefoot blushed. Ali leaned her head towards Littlefoot. Her mouth planted on his mouth as they exchanged in a kiss. Littlefoot's eyes widened for a couple of seconds, shocked at what happened. In her mind, Ali hoped he would return it. After a short moment, he did. He pushed her head back a little as they continued their passionate kiss.
"Littlefoot!"
Ali and Littlefoot quickly parted from the kiss in surprise and fear. They looked towards the west to see two longnecks only standing a few yards away from them. Littlefoot gulped as he knew the two. It seemed that Rhett and Janet had followed him too. What was this? Follow the Littlefoot?
"Janet," he breathed.
Though he had saved hundreds of lives and brought water back to the Great Valley, his true problem had just unfolded.