"Go to the Great Valley for a visit?"

Janet nodded as Rhett repeated her question aloud for himself. The sun was descending from the sky, but the day still had more sunlight to shed. The wind blew across green valley with such comfort and peace. Mady, Rhett's girlfriend, stood next to Rhett as Janet had briefly posed the question to him. She looked at him and smiled.

"Wouldn't that be nice, Rhett?" asked Mady.

"Mm…"

"I mean it would be nice to see Littlefoot and Ali," mentioned Janet.

"… Yeah, you're right. We haven't really talked to them recently."

"Well, for a long time now," said Janet. "I think it's almost the season the leaves change colors."

"Well, yeah," said Rhett. "Alright. It will be good to visit them."

Janet smiled. She faced Jett, who was standing next to her.

"I bet you and Littlefoot would get along nicely."

"Littlefoot? Why does he keep his name? It doesn't...seem appropriate from what you already told me about him."

"Well, he does call himself that. It's probably because his mother. She gave him the name in remembrance of his father."

Janet remembered the story Littlefoot told about his mother. It was quite sad of how she died, protecting him. However, she was glad that, even after her death, Littlefoot retained some of her aspects. She seemed like a great longneck, and if she was given the opportunity, Janet wanted to meet her, though it was impossible now. She did meet some of her character through Littlefoot's personality. Jett nodded.

"Oh, okay."

Janet faced Mady.

"And befriending Ali won't be hard. She has a great personality, like Littlefoot."

"Yeah," agreed Rhett. "This is coming from the longneck who hated Ali's guts at first."

Janet narrowed her eyes and stared coldly at Rhett. He felt a chill going down his spin and slowly turned towards Janet. He nervously smiled. He opened his mouth, but he didn't get a chance to say anything. Janet whipped his head with her tail. It wasn't that hard, but it stung Rhett for a little bit. He shook his head and looked back at Janet. She huffed and faced Mady.

"He's a joker, this one. Just let him not get too carried away."

Mady sighed.

"I know. He says the wrong things at the wrong times, but his clumsiness is one of the things that define him special to me."

"I'm not clumsy."

Mady half-closed her eyes and just looked at Rhett.

"Alright. Not that clumsy."

Mady shook her head and smiled. She faced back at Jett and Janet.

"So, when do we leave?"

"The Great Valley is a couple of bright circles away," explained Janet.

"We can just leave tomorrow when the bright circle is barely rising up," said Jett. "I would rather stay one night in the Mysterious Beyond rather than two."

"I ditto that decision," said Rhett.

Janet nodded.

"So, it's agreed. We leave for the Great Valley tomorrow. Ali and Littlefoot would be so surprised."

Zank rose to his feet and looked at Littlefoot, annoyed he ruined his chances to score with Ali, the only female longneck the Great Valley had to offer. He narrowed his eyes.

"Don't you any respect? I am the leader of the herd."

Littlefoot shook his head.

"Not me. In fact, not to half the herd. It's always a mystery to me on how you passed the longneck test. You don't have the traits to lead. All you care about is yourself."

"That isn't true."

"Let's see. Ever since I joined the herd, we have come to face eleven sharpteeth and two groups of fast biters. And how many you fought? None. I and the other males had to fend them off. Well, except for that one time. I was too weak after being brought down and a female had to jump in and protect me, but nonetheless, you didn't help in that battle...in any battle."

"Yeah, but don't forget it was I that let you into the herd. If I didn't wander into that forest, you would've probably been dead."

Littlefoot thought about it.

"I'll give you that much credit, but what you were planning to do is wrong. I've heard what you do when we visit valleys that have longnecks in them. I was wondering where you went in the last valley we rested in, and one of the longnecks said you were tending to the woes of the single females. I knew what he meant, and I couldn't allow this to go on. What kind of leader are you?"

Zank slyly smiled.

"Kind of late, Littlefoot. You've been traveling with us some time, and you didn't know? Besides, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do as a leader. I will lead my herd how I want to and do what I want to."

"Your pride will be your biggest downfall."

"An inexperienced longneck that almost died is telling me I'm a bad leader? Ha. Don't make me laugh."

"Just to let you know the herd will cast you aside soon. They see me as a more suitable leader. A true leader I might add."

Zank's eyes widened briefly as he heard this. His herd would get rid of him soon? This had to be the work of Littlefoot. He narrowed his eyes at the dark brown-grayish longneck.

"Very well, Littlefoot. Why don't we settle this tomorrow? If the herd thinks you are the leader they need, then prove it. I'll enjoy crushing your bones, and they'll remember why I'm the leader."

Zank looked up through an open spot through the large garden of trees.

"When the sun is over the smoky mountains, we'll fight just outside the Great Valley, and I tell the herd to meet us near the entrance into the valley to witness you're downfall."

Zank walked passed Littlefoot, not looking at his challenger or Ali. Littlefoot watched him as he left and slightly looked back as Zank walked out of the trees and into the clearing. Littlefoot closed his eyes, thinking the potential outcome of this. His thoughts were disturbed by a female longneck. He opened his eyes and looked down at Ali. He then remembered. He smiled, and he was welcomed with a smile from her.

"Hi," was all Ali could say for the moment. The presence of Littlefoot standing next to her after three months was something so grateful to her. Her boyfriend, and future mate, was back.

"I'm sorry about this," he sincerely said. "You shouldn't have gone through that."

He looked slightly down in shame. It was more for him than Zank. He was naive on what Zank had done in valleys. Luckily, he saved Ali.

"That's alright, Littlefoot. I'm just glad you came."

Ali leaned forward to kiss Littlefoot. Littlefoot blushed at this and moved back his head. Ali was surprised by his gesture.

"What's wrong?"

"W-What are you doing?"

"Well, kissing you. Or at least, trying to," said Ali, slightly annoyed Littlefoot moved his head back as if he was some child receiving his first kiss.

"But why?" questioned Littlefoot. "I don't even know you."