Category: Land before Time
Rating: T
Couples: none
Warnings: Blood, Character Death (Same level as first Movie)
Chapter: 7
Copyright: © characters and places by United Pictures; © Plot and OC by me
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With Bron there, the old Longneck finally started to recover. Although his sleep would still be broken by terrible sleep-stories, the fact that he could somewhat depend on someone else to take care of Littlefoot and so could focus on himself a bit more helped greatly.
The weather improved somewhat too, finally short times of light breaking apart the Sky Puffies. But there was bad news too: travelers would report an increased activity of Sharpteeth around the valley, most talking about a family of the greater breed having taken up residence at the side Grandma Longneck had died.
At first Chomper thought it might be his parents, and while the overall description of the two grown-ups fit, the third member, a half-grown female, was unknown to him. He preferred it that way, actually. He did not want to think about how Littlefoot would react had those been his parents, considering strange Sharpteeth – so most likely those three – had carried of the body of the old Longneck.
What was surprising was that Red Claw seemingly abandoned that part of his territory to the three new-comers, traveling and hunting only on the other side of the valley. This made for a strange safe-zone where the two territories bordered on one another, since all four were seemingly reluctant to go there.
It soon became clear WHY Red Claw had abandoned the northern reaches of the Mysterious Beyond: Screech had been killed by the female of the two grown-ups. Had she been alone, he would have retaliated almost immediately, but considering she had two near fully-grown Sharpteeth to back her up he waited for the right moment to strike. It shouldn't be said that he did not know the virtue of patience.
As the weather continued to improve, Littlefoot finally came out of his shell again and while sometimes he would descend into grieved silence, his laughter could be heard again in the valley, though only for short bursts.
"I think it's better if I stay here." Bron one evening told Grandpa Longneck. "I just can't leave you two this soon with a good conscience."
They were resting on the ground at the sleeping-place of the Longnecks. Between their bodies slept Littlefoot and Shorty, curled together.
"You cannot abandon your herd." Grandpa stated, gesturing over with his head to where the members of Bron's herd were sleeping already.
"I can abandon it more easily than my family." His son-in-law answered him, looking down on Littlefoot. "I left once, and I lost my wife. I left again, and I lost my mother-in-law. Who will be next? No, I will stay."
"You could not have saved her." It took a great deal of willpower for the old Longneck to admit it. "She was lost the moment those Fast Biters attacked."
"Perhaps I could not have." Bron whispered. "But I could have been there for Littlefoot. Instead it took a storm for me to get to him and even hear what had happened. What would have happened had the bad weather not hit when it did? How long would he and you have floundered on alone?"
He brought his head closer to the one of the older Longneck. "What would have become of the both of you had I not showed up? Do not lie to me, Papa Longneck. You were breaking, following her into death. I saw the look in your eyes. Luckily Littlefoot is still too young to recognize it."
Grandpa Longneck sighed. "You are right, of course. But still, I do not feel comfortable with you just abandoning them."
"It's not like I'll just send them away." Bron chuckled softly. "I'll make the proper arrangements, do not worry."
His father-in-law smiled weakly, before laying his head down to sleep. As the old one descended into sleep, the younger male remained awake for a little while longer, watching over the three sleeping bodies beside him.
As he looked north, for a fleeting moment one of the few Sky Puffies took the form of a Longneck, before being blown apart by a breeze. Then, he too went to sleep.
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White Star, the youngest member of the Sharptooth-family, was walking through their newly acquired territory, looking for an easy meal. That was easier said than done when her parents forbade her from hunting Valley-residents. She sniffed the air.
"As if there's anything from outside the Valley around here…" She muttered, moving softly between the pointy rocks. "Anything that gets even remotely near here will go there immediately…"
She froze as she heard grunting coming from her right. She sneaked forward, sniffing the air as she progressed. Something big was in trouble. As she rounded a corner she saw a most astonishing sight: an adult Longneck was trapped under rubble and straining to dislodge it from his back. The rain must have weakened the slopes of the hills, causing them to collapse as he walked across it, dragging him down from the top.
A scream from above alerted her to the presence of another Longneck. The female had been lucky: she had not been caught in the rockslide that had trapped the male.
The Longneck would be a feast, no doubt. But they could not leave the cave unguarded, so he was simply too big.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw the side of his face: a scar ran down just behind his eye. It was famous: the Lone Dinosaur. He growled at her, but considering his current predicament, he was pretty much helpless against her…
The wind carried an elusive, but unmistakable scent: Sharptooth. She felt the soft vibrations of something big approaching. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the massive dark-green form of her father stalk closer. He looked worried.
"I know that smell. Your brother is close." He whispered. "Meaning his friends won't be far behind. Come, we must leave before they see us."
"But the Longneck…" She started.
"The Lone Dinosaur will survive another day. Come now." Her father ordered. She followed him, only glancing over her shoulder one more time. She thought she saw some children near the female just before she herself rounded the corner.