Stories of the Valley

by Angelwriter84

Littlefoot and gang learn the stories of their loved ones and what they went through before finding the Great Valley. Hyp learns of his father's hardships and is affected by the story. Chomper's parents become the first sharpteeth in the valley, Pterano returns and finds his place in the valley, and more. But soon, old enemies arrive for revenge. Will they see a happy ending? Enjoy

9. Chapter 9: Lissie's Wish

….I did have time to finish part 2 today, after all. I had been working on this a while, and decided to post. This is a sad chapter, but it works out well for Nicolas later and explains a lot. I hope you guys can have the heart to read it, and I promise there are some fun chapters to follow up these tragedies. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it.

PS- Sorry for all the mechanical errors. I was disappointed in myself when I was doing a read through. It goes to show spell check isn't perfect. I hope to go back and do some editing because I noticed some points where they are a bit distracting. Thanks for being patient.

-Angelwriter84….

Chapter 9 Lissie's Wish

Hyp's Father

"After you were born, we had to wait until you were just old enough to make the journey. Meanwhile, your mother and I were occupied trying to keep you occupied."

Nicolas looked into his son's eager eyes as he finished what would be the current end of his story….

…. For the next few weeks, Lissie and Nicolas spent the majority of their time on their son. Teaching him right from wrong, showing him what things were, feeding him, keeping him clean, disciplining him after a misadventure that usually happened more than once a day, and worst of all trying to get him to sleep.

Despite the energy and time this took, Nicolas and Lissie enjoyed every moment because they knew that nothing could be taken for granted. When he finally did doze, Lissie would just smile whenever Nicolas would ask her what she wanted to do then. If they weren't asleep within seconds of that question, Hyp had been a well behaved son that day in that he actually sat still.

Nicolas loved watching Lissie play with Hyp. He treasured the moments when she would toss him in the air, and catch him. She would always pressed her forehead to his and giggle as he cackled. She would guide Hyp to Nicolas whenever he would chase their little hatchling around their home. "Got ya!" he would always yell. Hyp would always startle and laugh as Nicolas gathered him up and tickled him.

Soon, Nicolas and Lissie knew that their son was only a few days away from being able to at least start traveling. There had been no more deaths since Adam and the other who had died protecting him that night, but the herd stayed concealed under brush and in their homes most of the time. And there were twice as many dinosaurs assigned to keep watch at all times.

One night, Nicolas awoke to the sound of Lissie's voice as she shook him. "Nicolas! Nicolas! Wake up. I can't find Hyp!"

Nicolas groaned and rolled over. "He was just sleeping right here…"

Lissie turned to him with an impatient expression. "He got up and walked out, Nicolas! Get up and help me look."

Nicolas bolted upright when he saw that his son really was missed and dashed from the cave. Lissie dashed in a separate direction. "Hyp!" he called as he tossed aside foliage and scanned the ground.

"Hyp!" Lissie wasn't having any luck, either.

Nicolas turned at the familiar sound of their hatchling's laugh and the sound of a hiss. No. A land slider! He went barreling toward the noise. "Hyp!"

During his midnight adventure, their young son had seen his first land glider. Nicolas spotted him unknowingly heading straight for a land glider, who was hissing and coiling around a tree to warn him off.

Lissie saw too, because she screamed for her son to stop. "HYP, NO!"

Nicolas ran a faster speed than he thought he was capable of. Land gliders were bad news for dinosaurs and common to the swamp lands. They were strange looking creatures that could sometimes stretch to no end. They dragged themselves along on their bellies and made themselves known by their hissing noise. Nicolas hated them. Some poisoned dinosaurs with one bite, killing them in a matter of seconds. Some coiled around smaller dinosaurs and squeezed the life out of them. And, sometimes, preyed upon the young.

If this one had been interested in Hyp at all, Nicolas and Lissie would have never known what become of their newborn son. But the closer Hyp got, the more aggressive the land glider warned. Nicolas got there just as Hyp was about to reach out to it. "Hyp! Come here."

He snatched his son away from the land glider and passed him to his crying mother to show her he was safe. Nicolas backed away from the land glider slowly and urged Lissie and Hyp back into their cave.

When Hyp was fast asleep once more, Lissie held one hand over his back to keep him still until she was sure he was asleep. She sighed and looked to Nicolas. "I think it's best if we prepare to set out soon. It's not safe here anymore, Nicolas."

"I know." Nicolas took her in his arms and nuzzled her. "Do you think he is ready?"

She smiled at the sight of their son curled innocently in his sleep. "Apparently."

Nicolas and Abram agreed to prepare the herd to move out within the next couple of days. Everyone seemed ready because the land was changing, and sharpteeth seemed to be everywhere. Even Abram and Lissie's mother didn't seem to mourn the loss of their old home anymore. The only issue was how to get there, but they at least knew enough from the legends about where to start. Then they would have to find their way by traveling with other herds or asking others who did know.

They morning before they were supposed to leave, Hyp was playing around their home and jumped in the middle of Nicolas and Lissie's grass bed while they were distracted, tearing it to pieces.

"Hyp!" Lissie scolded him. Just as she was about to scoop him up, he back away in fear and jumped to the side. During his flight, he ran across Nicolas' lap, coughing him to break the rock he had been sharpening in two.

"HYP!" Nicolas tossed aside the project he had spent most of the morning working on. "Really, son?!"

Hyp looked up at him with tear filled eyes and made a series of tiny squeaks and croaking noises, trying to explain what had happened.

"Nicolas." Lissie scolded him now as she gently lifted her son. "It was an accident."

Nicolas huffed and brought a hand across his tired eyes. "I know."

"Looks like someone is feeling a little restless." Nicolas and Lissie glanced over jump in time to see her mother stepping into the cave.

"Yes! Yes, he is. Here. Take him." Hyp cringed when Nicolas took him from his mother's grasp and handed him to Lissie, who swatted at him.

"Nicolas!"

Hyp's grandmother tiled her head and nuzzled her grandson. "Sound like somebody needs a nap. What do you think, Hyp?"

Nicolas crossed his arms when Hyp croaked in agreement. Lissie shook her head and nuzzled her mother. "We're having father-son issues today. What brings you here, mom? I thought we were getting ready to leave tomorrow."

"Well, we are. But I have been watching the girls while Heather eats her feel, and they have been playing all morning. I was wondering if Hyp might want to come, too. You and Nicolas still haven't prepared to leave yet, so I thought this would give you a chance. Plus Abram and I have missed our grandson."

Nicolas and Lissie smiled at one another because Abram and her mother had stopped by every day to see their new grandson. But with Hyp getting into trouble constantly, they weren't ready to go. Nicolas had planned on keeping a sharpened rock on him as defense, but it was broken now. It would take too much of the day to start on another one. He and Lissie still had to drink, eat, rest, and bathe as much as they could because they didn't know when they were going to get to do it again. Whatever food they found along the way might need to go to the little ones within the herd.

Lissie smiled down at her son. "What do you think, Hyp? Do you want to see Lexie and Ella?"

Hyp made joyful squeaking noises and nuzzled his mother's nose as a yes. Lissie held out her hands. "Well, come tell me bye."

Hyp laughed and reached out to her. She nuzzled him playfully a moment, then called Nicolas over. "Now you two apologize to each other, then you can go."

Nicolas huffed. "Lissie, we have to-"

He didn't finish due to the icy glare. He sighed in surrender, then rubbed his son roughly on the head. "Bye, son. Sorry I yelled."

Hyp was at least intuitive enough to sense a false apology when he heard one, either that or didn't quite forgive his father yet. He made a low, growing noise and curled into a ball in Lissie's hands to hide his face.

Nicolas jerked a pointed finger in his direction as a gesture to Lissie, who only glared at him in return. "Do it right." she instructed sternly, "Who is the adult here, Nicolas? Come on."

"Alright!" Nicolas threw up his hands in surrender and gently scooped his son into his hands. "Sorry, Hyp. Have fun playing today, son."

Hyp stared at him with fiery golden eyes for a moment before deciding Nicolas really did mean it. He nuzzled his father with apologetic baby squeaks, just to say everything was fine again.

"There we go. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Hyp and Nicolas exchanged uncertain glances as she kissed them both, causing Lissie's mother to laugh.

Lissie nuzzled her son one last time before handing him to his grandmother and waving. "See you soon, Hyp. I love you."

Hyp made two squeaks with a shy, loving smile before Lissie's mother smiled at them and started for Heather's home, cooing to her excited grandson all the while.

The young parents smiled as they watched them go. Nicolas held onto Lissie for the longest time before kissing her cheek. She smiled up at him rubbed noses with him. "Told you he would be a handful, didn't I?"

Nicolas remembered what she meant, but pretended to shrug it off like he wasn't surprised. "Well, he's your son, isn't he?"

When Lissie swatted his shoulder, he laughed and lifted her off the ground with a tight hug. For the first time since her brother's death and outside of playing with Hyp, her lovely laugh melted his heart. "I love you so much. You know that? Troublemaker?"

Nicolas smiled at the nickname. "I love you too, Lissie. And our troublemaking son."

When Lissie giggled, he pulled back and touched her cheek. "Ready to eat? We need to get started. We are going to have to eat our fill."

Lissie smirked. "What if we get fat?"

Nicolas chortled because that was at the bottom of his worry list and she looked fairly concerned. "Then we'll lose the weight together."

Nicolas treasured the moment when the giggles he loved most filled the air.

"Nicolas?" He turned to see Ace standing a few feet away. Lissie smiled and waved at her brother-in-law, then went about gathering leaves as Nicolas approached to talk with his younger brother.

"Ace. Is everyone almost ready to go?" Nicolas approached his younger brother, realizing that with everything that had been happening, they almost never had time to talk much anymore. All the same, he was so proud of his younger brother. Ace was shaping up to be a strong young boy.

"Yeah." After he and Nicolas embraced, he pulled back with a serious look in his dark eyes. "Look I, ah, brought you something." He held out something wrapped tightly in a leaf. "I started making them when...all this started happening. I didn't know if you had time to start one or not, but with you making this journey with a newborn son…I thought you and Lissie might need one the most. For defense. You were always so good at using them, anyway. You taught me."

Nicolas unwrapped the leaf, and found a steadily sharpened rock inside. The same kind he had been working on before Hyp had caused him to break it with a missed hit. It was small, light, effective, and perfect for journeying. Nicolas smiled down at his brother. "You made this?"

Ace rubbed his shoulder with a humble grin. "Yeah, that and a few others."

Nicolas wrapped the leaf back around the point. "Well, thank you. That's just what we needed. I was working on one, but a certain nephew of yours broke it."

Ace laughed, most likely trying to figure out how a baby had managed that. He tiled his head to look behind Nicolas. "Hey, where is that nephew or mine any-" His casual smile suddenly melted into a look of horror and realization. Before Nicolas could even react with confusion, Ace cried out a warning.

"LISSIE! LOOK OUT!"

Lissie! Nicolas spun around just in time to witness the worst memory he would never forget. The worst kind of memory anyone could ever be forced to carry. "LISSIE!"

The land glider, possibly the same one Hyp had encountered, was hidden under a pile of leaves in a way no one could possibly see if they weren't looking for it. Lissie was gathering leaves, oblivious to that the land glider was only one fatal step away. The land glider had just lifted his head from the pile of leaves concealing it to give off its warning hiss when Lissie took that one step back to retrieve a branch of tree stars a little higher in the tree.

She looked confused when Nicolas and Ace cried out. Nicolas knew the shock in her eyes when that land glider sank its fangs into her ankle would haunt him forever.

For Nicolas, the world lost all sound for a while. He made a dash when Lissie stumbled back in surprise and fell to the ground. Nicolas was on the land glider before it could make its escape into the brush. The land glider twitched and squirmed as he hacked at its head with Ace's gift, over and over and over. Its stick thin body squirmed and contacted in sickening ways, even when its severed head was still. A lethal red head with a jagged structure meant fast acting poison. NO! Please not Lissie. Please don't take her from me…

"Lissie?" It came out as a hoarse whimper. When his sight and hearing focused, Ace was kneeling beside her, watching as she tried to make sense of what just happened.

Nicolas scrambled over to her and examined her ankle, which had two small, dripping holes where the land glider had left its mark of finality. Nicolas started shaking as he let out a gasp of realization. It was like the life was being sucked out of him.

Lissie's voice trembled from the shock when she put the past few seconds together. "It's…got…a jagged head….Nicolas?"

Nicolas felt his face twitching the realization was made real by the frightened looked in her eyes. His tried to answer, but couldn't because the rapid breaths were all he could manage to hold himself together. When Lissie found the answer in his eyes, her eyes welled with tears. She brought a hand to her mouth to quiet the sob as her face crumpled with mourning for what she had just lost. Suddenly, Nicolas snapped into action. He couldn't accept it. It couldn't be true. Not Lissie. Not the one who brightened everyone's day with a smile. Not the young wife who had just barely gotten to know their son. Not now. Not like this.

Nicolas gathered her in his arms and rocked her as she regained her composure. Ace winced as she pulled back and looked Nicolas in the eyes. "Nicolas…"

No. He wouldn't hear it. He couldn't. "Ace, please… Go get the healer!"

Lissie stopped Ace when he stood up to go. "No, wait. Nicolas, there's nothing the healer can do."

She looked up and begged Ace for help. "Bring Hyp here, Ace. Please go get my son."

Ace looked torn for a moment, so Nicolas shouted at him. "Go!"

Ace took off without indicating which decision he had made, or what he was going to do. Nicolas hoped to the Circle of Life that he would bring both, and that Lissie would hold out long enough. He gathered her in his arms and carried her back inside their home, feeling heavy and weak as he sat her on their broken bed of grass.

Nicolas supported her back as she startled and grabbed her ankle. When Nicolas gently ran his fingers over it, it was dead to the touch. Lissie would die within the hour.

"Oh, Lissie…oh, no….I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Nicolas," she lifted his face so she could meet his gaze with determination in her eyes, "listen to me."

He grabbed her hands and heaved for breath as dry sobs racked his body. Lissie held a tight grasp on his hands as she spoke. "You have to believe that it's not your fault, Nicolas. You can't shut down. Hyp needs you…he needs you to take care of him…"

No. Nicolas shook his head, willing his face to keep from crumpling into tears. "No! No, Lissie. It…it's not time for your goodbyes yet. We're going to get through this until the healer gets here, and…he…"

Lissie twitched against the poison coursing through her body and touched his cheek. "You and Hyp are going to have to go on without me, Nicolas. You both have to take care of each other for me. Please promise me you will. Nicolas?"

Nicolas sobbed again, feeling as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest. Then he went numb when the realization became real. The last thing he could ever do for Lissie was grant her dying wish. He couldn't save her this time, and she would have to leave them. She couldn't come back. Hyp would never know his mother…would be lucky if he held a second of the memory of her laugh, her voice, as she caught him in a game of chase and tossed him into the air to be caught in a loving hug.

Nicolas shook his head, unable to produce any tears. "Lissie, please don't leave me. You're the only one I've ever loved…you and Hyp are all I have left to live for…"

He grabbed Lissie's tiny hand for support when she caressed his cheek. "I know…but it's part of the Circle of Life, Nicolas. You will have Hyp…and he will have his father. Promise me you will find somewhere safe. Find the Great Valley, and raise him there for me. Even if Father won't go all the way, keep going. Please, Nicolas."

Nicolas shook his head in despair. "I don't know if it exists, Lissie."

"It does." Her eyes were so full of certainty he believed her. "Why would so many dinosaurs risk everything in hope of finding it if it didn't exist? Please take Hyp there and raise him, so he can grow up in peace."

"I will, Lissie." He broke down into dry sobs again. The poison was beginning to take its toll, because he could see it took more effort than she would show to reach up and lick his cheek as a kiss.

He slowly raised his eyes to meet her again, and took both her hands in his. He leapt to his feet when she cringed, but she gave his hand a feeble tug to pull him back down. "I'll be fine, Nicolas. I'm….okay with it. Please show me you will be." Her voice was growing weaker.

Nicolas couldn't say anything. Okay. Okay? How was he supposed to even pretend he was "okay" with this. But Lissie needed him to answer, so he forced himself to nod his head, then he shook it again. "Oh, Lissie. It should have been you raising our son."

Just as Lissie was about to say something else her family, Ace, the healer, and Heather burst into their home. Nicolas held onto Lissie, but stood to question the healer with a desperate plea in his eyes. The old healer indicated that he had seen the land glider, and gave the saddest shake of his head to say there was nothing he could do. Abram let out a heartbroken gasp and fell to his knees. Nicolas spotted Hyp nestled in his grandmother's hands with an excited expression at having spotted his father.

Lissie's mother broke down into sobs when Nicolas lifted an oblivious, cackling Hyp from her hands and gave him to his weakening mother.

"Hi, Hyp." The love a mother could only share with her child immediately shone in her eyes as she took her son for the last time. She stroked his little head with a smile as he squeaked at her in his own language, telling her all about his day. As she laughed and nuzzled him, Nicolas knelt down beside them and helped her support Hyp in her hands because they were starting to shake.

If Nicolas had ever doubted the theory that babies could sense when something was wrong, he believed it then. Hyp felt her hands shaking too, and must have sensed the sadness in his father's touched, because his smile faded into a frown, and his cheerful squeaks turned into tiny whimpers as he tried to tell his mother she would be alright.

Lissie pressed her forehead to his and nuzzled him as tears spilled down her cheeks. The numbness Nicolas thought had washed over him turned to shooting pain as he watched. He thought he felt tears spill from his own eyes at some point, but he wasn't sure. Lissie spoke in a soft comforting tone as Hyp licked her face as small kisses. "Oh, my sweet baby boy. You're going to grow up beautifully because you have your father to raise you now."

Hyp made soft, cooing noises as he looked into her face with desperate eyes, like he was pleading her to stay. Lissie understood, as she often did, and nuzzled his cheek. "I'll always be with you as long as you want me to be, Hyp."

She gasped as a sign that the venom was beginning to get the better of her body, caused Nicolas to cringe a little. She looked to Nicolas, telling him to take their son with her eyes. As Nicolas stood, she looked her son over one last time and licked his forehead as a kiss. "I love you so much, Hyp. Please remember."

Hyp resisted and began to cry out when Nicolas took him from her hands and turned away. As any baby would in his situation, he tried struggling to get back to his mother. When he couldn't he tried calling out. Nicolas turned to Ace because Lissie was beginning to cry. "Please, take him."

Ace lifted his struggling nephew and carried him out, trying his best to soothe his cries along the way. Nicolas grimaced at the desperation in his son's cries, then turned his back and went back in. Abram and Lissie's mother were whispering their goodbyes to their daughter. Her mother sadly stroked her face to comfort her, and Abram silently grasped her tiny hand. Her sisters were all standing nearby, and Heather gave her one final hug. Nicolas stood back with the healer respectfully and let them have their time with her. Soon enough, too soon, she made a terrible gasping sound and clutched at her chest. Everyone cringed and reached out for her, but the healer urged Nicolas to her by gently pushing in forward. It was then that Nicolas knew time was running out.

Everyone made way for him as he went through, and he took Lissie in his arms when she reached out for him. He sat down on their broken bed of grass and leaned against the cave wall for support as he held her in his lap. She had no more strength to lift her head or support herself anymore, so she leaned on his shoulder as she managed to whisper her last wish.

"Nicolas…"

Nicolas took one of her hands and looked into the eyes he had melted into so many times, feeling as if his world was slipping out from under him. When he met her eyes, she spoke softly and sincerely. "You and Hyp have….filled my life….with so much joy. Thank you for…saving me, Nicolas."

He drew in a deep breath when he recognized the familiar words, then managed a smile and nodded and pressed his forehead to hers. "I love you so much, Lissie."

She managed a weak smile in return. "I love you, too."

She was cut off by a series of racking gasps as she fought to keep her heart beating, When she got her breath back, she cringed and lay still for a moment before opening her eyes to look into his again. Her last wish was spoken so softly, only he heard it. "Take care of him. Make sure he knows….that I love him….."

Nicolas nodded with promising sincerity in his eyes, then licked her cheek as a kiss when her eyes closed for the last time. A few more raged breaths, and then she went still in his arms. He felt the life go from her before she went limp. Everyone sat in silence for a while. Whatever had been dormant in Nicolas before slowly made itself known by building in his chest until it exploded because he couldn't hold it anymore. One deep sob racked his body once, then he held a hand over his eyes as a series of uncontrollable cries followed. After the unbearable grief has swept over and the slightest bit of numbness washed over him, he sniffed and regained his composure.

He used the numbness as the strength to stand and carefully laid her body down on the broken bed of grass that they had shared since they made this cave their home, the very one Hyp had broken only this morning as they chased each other around the cave. He lay her down so that she looked peaceful…peaceful and perfect. He might have said she looked like she could be sleeping, but Lissie always ended up sleeping curled into a ball.

Everyone stood in stunned numbness for a while, then Nicolas heard Abram breathing grow rapid. His breaths were something between gasps and sobs. Within seconds, Nicolas was slammed against the wall of him own home. He didn't feel the pain when he hit the wall, but a few rocks fell.

"What are you doing?!" Heather's eyes were widened in shock.

Abram's angry eyes bore straight into his as he raged about the death of his children. Lissie and Aaron had meant the world to Abram, and now they were both gone within a matter of weeks, and both deaths heavily connected to Nicolas.

Nicolas just stood silent as he said his piece. "You! My son and daughter are both dead now, and you are left alive after witnessing both. I never should have…"

Lissie's mother took a frantic step forward and cried out in disbelief. "Abram! What are you saying?"

Abram ignored her and said more, but Nicolas didn't hear in because something else replaced the sorrow and the numbness. Anger. Anger at everything. Anger that Aaron would never fight with Heather over who held the girls again. Anger that Lissie had died only a day away from escaping this death sentence of a place. Anger that she would never raise their son. Anger at himself for not doing something different that could have saved them. Anger that he didn't know where the Great Valley was or how to comfort his crying son. All of it.

His face must have shown it, because Abram just started to soften when he realized what he was doing. He began to back away with regret in his eyes, but it was too late. The blow Nicolas landed on the side of his face sent him stumbling backward and into the opposite wall. Abram could probably have fought back and won, but he was a broken father. They both were. Nicolas felt a hint of regret from his actions when he slid down the wall and began to cry, but he didn't have the energy to second guess himself. His decision was final.

He used the wall of the cave to support his body as he spoke to everyone in the cave in a shaking voice. "You…have these next few moments….to say your goodbyes to Hyp. I am taking him….to look for the Great Valley….. For Lissie…..We can't journey with you anymore."

Nicolas used whatever hardness had consumed his heart to force the words before it vanished. They hurt. Badly. Even though Abram regretted his words, he had meant them. And nothing would change them, not for a long time. Not until he was able to accept the deaths of his children. Which might be never. Nicolas knew he couldn't travel with them anymore because every time he looked into their eyes, he would see a trace of that thought. And he couldn't bear it. Not now, not ever. He also knew Abram couldn't risk the lives of his herd to push through the journey it would take to get to the Great Valley, which he believed was nonexistent.

Abram didn't look at him when he voiced his decision because he was buried in his grief, Lissie's mother seemed to understand before breaking down into sobs. Heather was the only one to make eye contact with him as she kept a hand on her mother-in-law's back, pleading with him to reconsider. Nicolas remembered his promise to Aaron, but Heather couldn't search for the Great Valley right now outside of the herd. Not with two little girls. She stilled needed them. And Aaron only wanted them to leave in search of a safe place, and they would soon carry out his wishes on their own.

"Remember Aaron's wish," he mouthed the words to her. She nodded to say she got it, and he left what had been his home since before Lissie even noticed him without looking back because he couldn't.

He shoved some green food down his throat without tasting it and drank a few sips of water for his own sake and stood by with guarded numbness as Hyp's grandparents whispered their goodbyes to their distraught grandson. The healer eventually approached and touched his shoulder. "The boy will cry out for his mother for quite some time, especially at night. I know this will be hard for you, but you must comfort him. You must show him you both still hold a bond, so he will accept that you will take care of him."

Nicolas nodded, and patted the healer's hand as he thanked him one last time. When he returned to retrieve his son, Abram passed Hyp into his hands with quite tenderness without a word. Lissie's mother licked his cheek as a kiss and nuzzled Hyp one last time. "Goodbye, Nicolas."

Everything that Nicolas had needed to hear from her was in that soft tone when she said goodbye, and he nodded to show her he knew they understood…and were at peace with his decision. "Goodbye," he whispered before gathering a miserable Hyp in one hand and turning to Ace and Heather.

Heather approached first and gently stroked Hyp's back. He didn't respond, he just lay so still as his sad eyes stared at her. "He'll be okay eventually, Nicolas. I wish you luck."

"You too, Heather," Nicolas whispered quietly, "thank you."

He wished he could say more, but between the numbness and not being one for goodbyes anyway, he could only find words for what needed to be said. The only comfort he could find what that everyone seemed to understand.

One of the hardest was when he turned to his brother. Neither of them spoke for a moment because they didn't know what to say. Finally, Nicolas looked into his kind eyes. "I'm so proud of you."

Ace smiled. "And I'm proud of you." He rubbed Hyp's little head sadly before meeting his eyes again. "Take care of him."

Nicolas nodded, and then Ace smiled when he read the question Nicolas couldn't put into words at the moment. "I'll tell her, and I'll keep them safe."

They embraced one last time, then started their journey with a heavy heart. At first, he struggled with every ounce of his being to keep going. He didn't think Hyp would survive the first few days because he cried out for his mother throughout the night, and sometimes during the day. Nicolas had to force him to eat on the rare occasion that they did find food, and couldn't keep track of what he ate and how often.

They ran into a herd of many kinds heading for the Great Valley soon enough, and found themselves traveling alongside one another. Some of the female dinosaurs of the group took pity and helped him form a stronger bond with Hyp. No one talked much at first, especially Nicolas. But soon enough, everyone knew someone who had lost something dear. Then they debated on which routes to take. They started to become friends. The journey was long and tiring, but they held on.

Hyp never wandered far from Nicolas on instinct, but he soon met two other baby boys about his age that were traveling along with their solemn families. Mutt and Nod. Nicolas found himself bonding with their families because they spent the majority of the time catching each other's kids. At long last, they were able to sit their exhausted children down on the lush grasses of the valley they feared only existed in their fantasies.

Nicolas felt the first of the weight lift as he watched his son run free in the safe haven of the Great Valley. The rest of the pain faded away over time, but what didn't go away he was forced to push to the back of his mind as he realized he would never fully forget. He vowed that somehow, when Hyp was old enough to understand, he would honor Lissie's last wish….

….. "That's it, son. Now you know."

They sat in silence for a few moments staring at the faded stars, then Hyp leaned over and clutched his ribs as a sob racked his body.

"Oh, son." Nicolas held onto him as he mourned for what he didn't even know he had lost until now. Nicolas just sat and let him cry because there was nothing he could say to make it better. Hyp hadn't cried in front of him like this since he was a young boy, but somehow the sobs were more heart wrenching than the cries of a young boy after punishment for a misadventure.

Hyp looked embarrassed when he finally pulled back, but Nicolas indicated he understood by laying his hand on his shoulder with a solemn look.

Hyp quickly brushed away a stray tear, then turned to him with the most sincere look in those familiar golden eyes that Nicolas had seen since he became a rebellious adolescent. "Thanks, Dad."

Nicolas nodded, then leaned forward once more and looked for the brightest star. "I wish I had been able to tell you sooner, son. She really loved you. So much… the last thing she asked was for me to tell you that."

Hyp sniffed. "I still feel like I don't know anything about her, Dad."

Nicolas met his son's eyes. "Well, you can ask anytime and I will try to answer as best as I can."

"Okay." Another pause. "You really loved her, didn't you?"

Nicolas leaned against the outside wall of the cave. "Yes, more than I could ever say."

He pointed when he found the brightest star in the sky. "Your mother used to say that one was her favorite because it was a showoff."

Hyp sputtered because he was expecting something more sentimental. Both father and son broke into laughter before quieting again.

"Dad, did you ever see…any of the herd again?"

Nicolas felt a stab of pain as he shook his head. If there was anything he could have done over, he would have tried to reconsider at least offering for the herd to go with him. "No."

"You miss them?" When Nicolas nodded, Hyp scanned the valley as grey light started to spread over it. "Are you glad you and I found the valley."

Nicolas turned to make eye contact with his son so that he could see how sure his answer was. "Yes. I am glad I am yelling at you for misadventures rather than training you to run for your life day after day. That was your mother's wish."

When Hyp offered a small smile, Nicolas felt a portion of the long forgotten weight set him free.

Hyp continued to get better each day with Britta's help and, soon enough, was able to walk on his own again. Nicolas and Britta found themselves at war with him to keep the brace on for a while longer, but he eventually complied with their terms and moved on. He asked little things about his mother from time to time, and Nicolas was surprised at how easy it was to answer. Sometimes pain overruled his heart, but most of the time he found that he himself felt better too.

One day while Hyp was out walking with Mutt and Nod with Britta's consent, he went to the watering hole for a drink. Just as he was about to splash his face with the cool water, a familiar voice sounded from behind. "Nicolas? Is that you?"

He spun around and froze in place when he realized who it was. When he spoke, he sounded as stunned as he felt. It couldn't be…

"Heather?!"

…Sorry, guys! I know. I had grown very attached to Lissie, myself. And I am sorry for the lingering death scene! I just couldn't make her death sudden because I found that it fit better to give her time with Nicolas and Hyp. I hope you were surprised by the cliffhanger in a good way. Coincidence, right?

Anyway, in case you are wondering, Nicolas is done for now. I may or may not do his point of view again, but I think we are switching to Hyp, and we will see plenty of Nicolas from an external point of view. He will also share some stories of Lissie whenever Hyp asks, so you will see more of the fun moments with her that I didn't get to discuss in Nicolas' story.

If you were hoping for details on his journey to the valley, feel free to voice that to me. I did it in summary because of his state of mind at the time and taking away from his story with Lissie, but I may put in a few outstanding incidents that took place during the journey if you happen to be curious.

Thanks so much for reading and patience, and I hope you have a great week!...