Hey everyone, hope you are having a good week. Here is the next chapter. It was going to be with Pterano again, but I am still writing it because it is more complicated. So right now, we have Hyp for the first time. I sorry for the repetitive points of view, but we need some comic relief anyway. I hope to have the next chapter ready soon. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 10: Long Lost
Hyp
"Just come on and let's get this over with, you dopes." Hyp pulled Mutt by the skin of his throat with Nod trailing behind because he had to use the other arm to keep those stupid ribs from shooting pains through him.
"But Hyp. This isn't normal. You sure you're feeling okay? You're talkin' about…saying 'sorry'." Nod stopped in his tracks and looked up at him, but Hyp kept going.
"Uh, yeah." Mutt kept walking because he had to.
"Just shut up and follow me." Before I change my mind.
As far as he knew, his father was still sleeping in the cave. He had been sleeping a lot lately. Probably all tired out from having to take care of him, but Hyp could also see…sadness…in his face as he slept. Mutt and Nod had come over early that morning, and Hyp had managed to pull himself to his feet to leave the cave. And yes, he felt pathetic because he couldn't even stand without having to depend on something. His father had shifted at the noise, and then went still again when Hyp froze in place.
Aw, Dad. Hyp remembered checking to make sure Mutt and Nod weren't looking, and then quickly shifted a few scattered leaves from his father's bed back in place with his feet before quietly sneaking out of the cave.
"There she is. Over there." Hyp released Mutt and pointed over to the baby clubtail he and his father had fought about before that stupid tree fell on him.
Mutt and Nod glanced over at the little clubtail, happily running around in circles as her mother grazed. Mutt put a finger to his mouth in thought, but Nod looked uncomfortable. "But, Hyp. Her mother's over there too…."
Hyp spread his free hand. "So?"
Mutt spoke up in his usual slurred speech. "If your dad hadn't stopped her, we would be…."
Of course, he couldn't think of the right word. Hyp sighed. "I know, but it would mean a lot to my dad if I…" He stopped and glared at his friends when he realized what he had blurted out loud.
Great. Now they really think I'm sick. "UGH! Fine. I'll do it myself. And you babies can stay here!"
Mutt and Nod gave him blank stares. "Okay," they said in unison.
"Oh," Hyp was pretty sure he eyes had widened in surprise because that usually worked, "well…fine. Stay here and act like scaredy eggs for all I care."
He turned and started a few steps forward, but then a green blur tackled him in the stomach and knocked him to the ground. Hyp couldn't even react because he was trying to get the wind back in him. It had taken weeks or arguing, convincing, sucking up, and persuasion to get Britta to agree to let him go without that dumb brace for a few days as a test. And in return he had gotten lectures, instructions, and conditions from both her and his father. Hyp was pretty sure he cried out, but he couldn't hear it because the world went black around him as he tried to deal with the stabbing pains. A few more blackouts, and his vision cleared to see one of Nod's kind….a girl….glaring at him.
Mutt was helping him up, but Nod was frozen in place as he stared at the girl with eyes as round as the Bright Circle. Hyp tried to sit up, and had to clutch at his ribs to keep from falling apart. He was pretty sure Britta would stick him back in that brace as soon as she caught sight of him. He sucked in a few more gulps of air and yelled the first words he could find. "Are you crazy?"
"You ain't hurt that bad," the girl retorted. She kept her brown eyes fixed on him to show that she wasn't afraid one bit.
Hyp shivered as a series of shooting pains shot through his middle. "Aw, man…. Britta's gonna shove me back in that rib brace for sure…."
The girl's eyes widened in realization. Hyp felt his temper start boiling. Of course she knew who he was. "Oh, you're the one who got his ribs broke by some tree?"
Hyp sat up because Mutt kept shoving him absentmindedly. "Yeah, what about it?"
Her eyes hardened again as she sassed back at him. "Well, you deserved it! And you stay away from my little sister or I'll really make sure you go back in that brace."
"What!" Hyp scrambled to his feet, but still had to bend over. "I was only gonna say sorry!"
The girl was so taken aback that she couldn't say anything for a minute, so Mutt took the opportunity to side with him. "Yeah!" Really, Hyp wished he could teach him to say something else sometimes. Maybe Britta could work on that like she had jumped in to help that crazy Pterano guy.
Hyp and Mutt looked to Nod, who hadn't moved since that girl of his kind ran up and screwed up his chance to be free of that brace. They waited on him to retort something too, but Hyp wanted to slap him when something finally did come out.
"Hi." Nod's mouth was the only part of him that moved. Another awkward hesitation. "What's your name?"
Mutt immediately started snickering, but Hyp was so taken aback he couldn't believe it. "Nod!"
The girl just stared at him for a moment, then got back to her point. "Amy. And you better not forget it because if you even touch my little sister again, you're dead. Can't believe you guys pick on babies, anyway. Can't find anybody your own size that you could actually win against, or something?"
Hyp wanted to fight back, but his dad would wake up soon. And he needed the time to find somewhere to hide until he could figure out how to act like he wasn't hurting again. If Britta didn't stick him back in the brace, his dad would if he knew about this.
"Look, I just wanna apologize to her. I know that was wrong, okay?!"
The girl….Amy….didn't buy it. "You just wanna 'apologize'?"
"Yes! Now can I go and just get this thing over with before anybody else sees me?"
Amy thought a minute, then looked pleased at the idea of his humiliation and stepped aside. Hyp wished he'd never said that last part. "Alright," she said, "go say sorry. If you so much as make her jump, I'll knock you flat."
Hyp glared at her. If his ribs weren't such a problem, he would've showed her who was boss. But he decided he would settle for smarting off now and get back at her later. Nobody knocks me down.
"Yeah, yeah." He managed to stand straight enough and started walking like he owned the valley. Mutt stayed behind, and Nod couldn't take his eyes off that Amy girl. "I didn't know that was your sister. Geez, where'd ya come from?" he heard him ask the girl. Sounded like Amy just ignored him. Really, Nod?
As Hyp took cautious steps forward, he noticed that the baby and her mother really were the same kind as Nod. Even though their kind looked similar to clubtails, they considered themselves a separate herd entirely. Nod would always get so mad when Hyp and Mutt would tease him about it and call him a clubtail, anyway. "I'm not a clubtail!" Nothing more hilarious on a boring day.
The mother saw and was about to do the same thing as her older daughter, when Hyp spread both hands. "Wait, wait, wait! I just wanna apologize." How does that word always make me feel smaller than a buzzer?
The mother looked stunned. "Apologize?" she huffed grouchily. At least she didn't tackle him.
"Yeah. I'm sorry for what I did the other day… It was wrong." Pathetic.
She considered a moment, then warmed up to the idea. Apparently more easy to deal with than her daughter. "Fine. There she is. Be quick."
She stepped aside so that he could approach the baby, which seemed happy enough trying to eat a leaf she couldn't quiet reach. When she saw his shadow, she jumped and turned around. He really felt bad when she began to whimper and cringe away from him. She seemed so defenseless. What was I thinking before? She was too little.
All the bones in his stomach crunched when he even thought about kneeling down on one knee, so he had to settle with leaning over as much as he could.
Now he didn't know where to start. "Hey…"
She just shivered at the sound of his voice. Probably associated it with being hit by a rock. That's what they had done. He had called out to her and threw a stone at her, all just to prove something to Mutt and Nod.
He cleared his throat and eyed the mother, who was watching every move. Every single move. And he could feel Amy's eyes boring through him from behind. I really don't think I'm gonna like that girl.
He cleared his throat one more time and tried to soften his voice. He really didn't know how. But his father had been trying since the fight with the Fast Biters, and when he did he wasn't as scary. He tried the best he could. "Hey, listen. Sorry for what I did the other day. It was wrong and, well…. I'm sorry, okay?"
His voice sounded awful to him, but apparently it worked. The baby stopped shivering and opened her big brown eyes to stare at him as he spoke. She hesitated a moment, then got up and slowly approached him, sticking out her nose to his fingertips.
He looked to the mother, feeling completely confused. What more does this hatchling want?
"She doesn't understand your words, just what she thinks you feel. Reach down and touch her nose. Then she will know what you are trying to say."
Could've told me sooner. Really, I just want this over with. He reached down slowly so he wouldn't scare her, but she stood on her tiptoes and touched her nose to his hand when he reached down. She drew back with a thoughtful expression, then jumped back with a smile and wiggled her tail before turning her attention back to the leaf she couldn't reach.
It hurt to reach above his head, but he pulled down the branch for her. She reared on her hind legs and started eating the leaves one by one. Slowly. Hyp sighed and ran his hand along the width of the branch so the leaves would fall to the ground. "I can't hold it that long, hatchling."
She looked thrilled, regardless. She stood on her hind legs and placed her forepaws on his knee. The mother looked surprised. "Well," she said slowly, "I suppose she has formed a bond with you, Hyp."
Bond?! "Whoa, whoa, whoa…I…."
"Ip?"
"What?" Hyp spun in surprise when the baby spoke.
The mother smiled down at her baby. "Hyp," she repeated.
The baby tried to sound out his whole name, then decided it was too much effort. "Ip!" she repeated.
Her mother looked to a stunned Hyp. "There. She knows your name."
Well, isn't that just a little miracle? But… "Well…I guess I should know her name, then."
"Mae." Baby Mae turned her attention to her mother a moment. It reminded Hyp of his expression when his dad called his name. "What?"
"Yeah, well… It's nice to meet you, Mae." He had never ever said anything like that before.
He stood up as straight as possible, and cringed at the shooting pains. He needed to go home. Now. He looked back at the mother because it was awkward to just leave. "Thanks," he said.
"Thank you," she said. Huh. Not much of a talker, and not a "rub it in your face" kind of dinosaur. Her daughter obviously got her personality somewhere else. As he walked away, he could hear little Mae making use of the new word she had learned as she told her mom all about it.
"Ip! Ipipip… Ip." Aw, man… Please don't…
Anyway, it actually hadn't been that bad apologizing. That baby wasn't so bad. She was actually kind of funny to watch. But that didn't mean he was soft. Mutt and Nod must never have any reason to think so.
When he finally got back over to the group, his ribs were killing him. It was like he was being split in half. He hated to think how dumb he looked walking, so he gasped and straightened his back as much as possible, keeping one arm tight around his middle.
Amy was the first on his case, though she seemed like she had calmed the heck down. "Great. Now she likes you."
You're welcome. "Yeah, well…don't get used to it. Ahh…" Ribs.
Amy softened, but noticed. "Mess with her again, and you'll be used to that."
When she started to walk away, Nod made a last minute attempt to embarrass himself further. "Wait! You didn't say where you were from!"
That did it. Amy spun around as fast as she started walking away. "Why do you care and why would I want to talk to you? You picked on my baby sister too, you jerk!"
She kicked a pile of leaves into Mutt and Nod's faces and stomped off. Hyp just laughed under his breath as he enjoyed the show. Mutt dusted the leaves off, but Nod stayed frozen in place as they fell off themselves. After a few minutes of awkward silence and not blinking, Nod spoke in a shaky voice.
"Marry me."
Oh, that did it. Hyp and Mutt broke into guffaws and began pushing Nod around as he kept his eyes fixed on his cruuusshhh. "Really, Nod?" Hyp punched his friend's shoulder to get his attention.
"Yeah," Mutt had at least noticed.
Nod shook his head. "Huh?"
Hyp and Mutt pushed Nod onto his back so that he would have to flail his legs in an attempt to get up. And they were justified enough. He deserved it. After the effort, though, Hyp shuddered once again as a piercing pain in his middle reminded him to stop.
Now he had to use both arms to hold himself together. "Ugh, guys, I have to go home now. See ya later."
Nod had finally gotten over onto his side. "Do ya need some help, Hyp?"
"I don't need anybody's help!" Hyp snapped, already feeling edgy.
"Okay." Maybe Britta might give Mutt some word therapy or something. Mr. Thicknose had tried working with different age groups at first, including theirs. But Hyp and his friends found it unbearably boring and decided to cause so much trouble, he limited the age groups, leaving the hatchlings stuck with him. Hyp remembered his father being angry when he learned of this. Hyp had been homebound for as long as he could stand. But it was worth it. No more boring lessons.
He felt pretty sure he was stumbling by the time he drew near to his home. He had to stare at the ground to watch his steps because he was hurting so bad. Suddenly, he felt someone sling his arm over their shoulder to help him, immediately taking the weight off of him.
"I'm proud of you, son."
"Dad!" How much did he see? Did he wake up when Hyp snuck out earlier? That had been forever ago.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" He managed the question when his father didn't say anything else, but realized it sounded dumb as soon as he asked.
His father looked at him like he was dumb too, but answered anyway. "It's my home. I woke up and went to look for you. You weren't that far, so it's fine. I'm…proud of you for apologizing to that baby just now. I know that took a lot." Another pause. "Seems like she likes you."
When they reached his bed of grass, his father helped him sit and laid a hand on his shoulder. Great, he actually looks worried.
"Thanks, Dad…. How much did you see?"
His Dad was silent a moment. As if in answer, he handed him the brace. "Enough" was the answer.
"Aw, man…."
"You didn't listen to me, did you?!"
Aw, man! Hyp snickered though. Making Britta mad was the best. She wasn't the easiest person to pick on, but she was getting there.
Not long after his dad had tightened the brace around him, Britta had pranced in like she owned the place and exchanged greetings with his dad. She had taken one look at him, and shook her head. He was now sitting propped against the wall of the cave while trying to hold his middle together as Britta examined him.
"Aw, come on Britta. I listened to ya." Sadly.
Britta just frowned and held out her hand as an answer. Dread crept up on him when he realized what she wanted. But he had to look as strong as he had been the other day if he wanted any chance of keeping that brace off. Lifting his right leg shot all levels of pain through his middle.
"Ahh!" He winced and clutched his stomach.
Britta sighed and gradually lifted his leg so that she could hold his right foot in her hands. "You could do this just fine the other day."
"Yeah, well…I forgot to do the exercises, okay? Happy?"
Britta didn't buy it. "So what else is new?" How was he kidding? He always forgot.
When Hyp just sighed, she used both of her tiny hands to press against his foot as she had done so many times before. He put up as much resistance as he could, then jumped when the pain overwhelmed his body and dropped his leg.
Britta shook her head with flashing eyes and began grinding stiff leaves with a stone. "What happened? I said 'walking only'."
At least she wasn't yelling.
"Nothing," he said dismissively.
"He was tackled in the stomach and got knocked to the ground."
"Dad!" His father just had to crack. And what's more, he made him sound like a total loser.
Britta looked Hyp in the eyes, and this was what he hated most. Her eyes were no longer angry, they were just concerned. He didn't really like making Britta worry any more than he liked making his dad worry. "Hyp," she started warmly, "you have to be more careful or I'm afraid you might not fully recover. You're lucky they hit you in the very middle and nothing seems to be rebroken."
Thanks a lot, Amy. "Alright! I'll try to be more careful, okay? Can I stay out of the brace when I have to go out? I'll keep it on in here, but… please, Britta. It's so embarrassing…." There, he broke down. Again.
Britta crossed her arms and managed a nervous sigh. She considered a moment, looking Hyp over again before finally making her decision. "Fine!" She threw up her hands in surrender, then basically pleaded with him. "But please, please try to be careful."
Hyp sighed in relief and leaned against the cave wall. "Yes!" he whispered aloud.
Britta interjected. "But wear in at all times here. Please. And watch it. Your father worked hard to make that for you."
Hyp took one look at his father making up his bed of grass and instantly felt a little guilty. "I know…" he started irritably. "But he would be embarrassed to wear it out, too!"
Britta sighed and turned to his father. "Would you be embarrassed?"
She was hoping for a "no", of course, but Nicolas turned to look at his son as he thought about his answer. Hyp found the answer in his eyes when he didn't say anything and pointed at Britta to claim his victory. "Ha! Told ya!"
Britta looked frustrated at first, then cracked a smile. "You're not helping," she told his father.
"Nope," his father stated. His dad's honesty was the best when it worked for him.
Britta shook her head and turned her attention back to him, her patient or whatever. "Well, you need to get over what damage was done today by next week because I would like for you to do a therapy session with several others within the next few days. I need you to be able to do some exercises for what we are going to do."
Aw, man. Group therapy session? "With who?" he asked curiously.
"None of your business." Britta picked up the mixture of stiff leaves she actually thought she was going to get him to take.
Hyp crossed his arms, feeling even more irritated by this answer. "Well, I think I should know who I'm going to be embarrassed in front of…"
Britta didn't look as insulted as he had hoped. "You will fit right in because everyone will be doing the same thing you will have to do. If anybody should be embarrassed, it's me. So stop complaining and take this since you want to get knocked over."
Hyp caught that and eyed the bitterest leaves in the valley. He didn't want to go to sleep. "Yeah right, like you're going to get me to take th-"
Britta quickly jabbed him in the ribs where it hurt and dumped the mixture in his mouth when he opened to cry out. As Hyp did his best to swallow the mixture whole, he thought about how much he really hated this healer sometimes.
"I'll be back in a few days…" The last thing he could remember was hearing Britta say a few instructions for his father before he fell asleep.
A few days later, everything was back to normal. He went out for a walk with Mutt and Nod while his father was out. Nothing exciting happened since he could really do anything. So the day mostly consisted of him and Mutt slapping Nod around about his "crush". Nod outright denied it, but was completely worked up when Hyp mentioned getting back at her.
His ribs felt so much better, so he decided to stay out until dusk. And he actually got away with it because his father didn't come after him. He went home on his own, and came to a halt when he spotted his father talking with strangers, which didn't happen often because it wasn't his father's nature. And what's more, it was a female stranger! With two girls about his age standing behind her looking about as surprised as he was. Now those were rare in the valley. And he should know. He looked. His father, on the other hand, never gave other females of their kind a second thought unless he had to speak with them for council stuff or knew them.
Hyp approached self-cautiously, keeping one arms across his middle to keep his ribs from making themselves known. His dad saw him first. For a moment, his expression was grave, then his eyes turned uncertain when he decided something. He gently urged Hyp forward and kept a hand on his shoulder. Hyp barely noticed. When he saw his dad's expression, he immediately began staring at the girls to figure try to figure out who they were.
He spoke to the mother and her girls, sounding uncertain and…sad. "This is my son, Hyp."
The mother, possibly the age of his father, gasped and knelt down with a bright smile as if she had found some long lost treasure. "Hi, Hyp." She sounded breath taken as she spoke, but Hyp didn't mind. He liked her warm, sincere voice. She sounded like a mother. Her dark blue eyes shone with joy as she looked him over.
"Well, look at you!" she said. "You look so like your mother."
Hyp was shocked. Who would say something like that? Unless…
When he looked to his father for answers, his father answered by finishing the introduction with a knowing look. "Hyp, son…. This is Heather. She was your mother's friend…and your aunt."
His aunt! For probably the first time in his life that he knew of, Hyp couldn't speak. As he stared at all he had ever seen of his long lost family, Heather reached out and squeezed his hand with a smile. "Hyp I know this is very sudden. Your father and I are just as surprised. But… I would like you to meet my daughters if it's alright."
Her gaze shifted from him to his father on the last part. When his father nodded, she stood and urged one of the girls forward. The girl still looked surprised, but immediately made eye contact with him and stepped forward on her own. Hyp wondered which one was his real cousin at first, but this one was probably her because he recognized that wild, eager look in her eyes. He had it, too.
She very good looking for a girl of his kind. Unlike him, her mother, and the girl behind them that hadn't been introduced yet. She had the darker color, a little darker than his own father. She had wild, light green eyes that were a wonder. Hyp guessed Aaron had similar eyes to his mother when he was alive. Like him, she was slight with strong muscles that said she had been a handful of a child.
"Hyp, this is Ella. She is my daughter. Ella, this is your cousin Hyp." Heather stepped aside so they could meet.
Ella spoke hesitantly, like playing at shyness. "Hi." She threw up a hand as she spoke.
"Hey." Hyp didn't throw up a hand dismissively like he normally would because, well, he was meeting his cousin for the first time while trying to keep his ribs from cracking beneath the weight of standing.
Ella noticed and looked down. She gestured to his injury pleasantly. "That…looks painful."
Now he really felt self-conscious, but he just chuckled. "Nah," he caught himself waving his free hand dismissively.
Ella stepped to the side to talk to his father, her uncle, as Heather walked forward with the other girl. "And this is Lexie. I raise her as my own."
Wow! Hyp blinked to keep his eyes from widening. He was afraid he might look all freaky like Nod. Ella was good looking for sure, but Lexie was beautiful. Her sea blue eyes were innocent, and she was a lighter color than him. She stepped forward delicately, revealing a small and slender frame. Even smaller than he and Ella were. Hyp couldn't help but notice that Heather's touch on her shoulder was different. Gentle…very gentle. Like his father's touch when he had first been injured. He wondered why.
The way Lexie's big blue eyes drifted to the ground a moment revealed that she might be somewhat shy. She didn't bother with another greeting all the same. "It's nice to meet you. And I hope everything gets…better."
Say something. All he did was shrug. "Yeah, me too."
Lexie giggled a sweet laugh just as his father laid a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm afraid it's almost time to go in." Heather looked to the sky, which only had a stream of light left in it. "We still have to fix our beds."
Hyp felt his dad straighten. "Do you need help finding your place? It's getting dark. Hyp and I might be able to help."
Heather shook her head and gestured to the little cave that was basically right across from them. "No, we are just over there so I think we will be seeing each other. An old longneck pointed out this cave for us. He was very kind."
"He is." He apparently wasn't moving any, so his dad ushered him toward their cave. "Okay, it's good to see you. Maybe Hyp can show the girls around the valley. How about it, son?"
Hyp startled. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Sure…" Dad! How would he explain that to Mutt and Nod?
Both girls giggled for some reason. Ella waved at him as Heather ushered them both home. "Nice to meet you."
Lexie just waved over her shoulder in the most graceful way. Yes! Hyp threw up a hand. "Yeah, see ya."
His father kept a hand on his shoulder as they walked into their own home. "Are you okay, son?"
Hyp really didn't know. His heart still missed a thud from the story of his mother and their lost family. He hadn't even been able to tell Mutt and Nod about it yet, even though they both had missing parents as well. But now her best friend and his aunt had returned, after all these years, to live in the valley. And there was a strong possibility that more of his family might be alive. Yet…he would never know his mother. It didn't seem fair. Really, he was worried for his father, but he couldn't read anything in his face. The only thing he got was concern, and it was for him. He gave a simple answer for now to keep his father from worrying.
"I guess…"
His father just sighed and began tightening that stupid brace around him so he could sleep. Britta said that if he tossed the wrong way, he could redamage everything. So paranoid. He wanted just once to breathe when he slept again.
Hyp silently gasped when his father gathered it too tight from the back.
"Sorry, son." His father loosened it. He was distracted.
Hyp tried to distract him again. "Dad? Why did Heather come here? After all this time?"
His father kept working with the brace. "I don't know, son."
A hesitation before he voiced what was really on his mind. "Do you think anyone else is alive? You know, like Ace, or…maybe my grandparents?"
His father decided it was too loose after all and retightened it again. "Most likely. I never doubted they were alive. I just didn't know where they were."
Hyp tightened his grip on the cave wall to steady himself. "What makes you so sure?"
His father made sure the brace held up and sighed. "Ace and Abram were always strong. They would make sure everyone that could managed to survive."
Another pause. "Dad?"
"What, son?"
Hyp didn't know how to ask, so he decided to be blunt as usual. "Do you want to see them again?"
His dad just looked at him. "Yes. Yes, our course I would."
"Then why didn't you try to find them before? I mean, why didn't we go with them to begin with?"
His dad's voice grew softer for some reason. "I told you. I was angry."
Another pause. "Dad?"
"What?"
"Do you think Heather knows where they are?"
"I don't know, son!"
"Well okay, then!"
They glared at each other for a moment, and then broke into chuckles because now it was just funny. There were just too many questions and not enough answers right now. It wasn't often his dad really smiled much, but he was as he patted Hyp's shoulder before settling down on his own bed.
Hyp was about to settle down himself when he noticed the gaps in the streams of long grass that hung down at the front of their cave. They were nothing new, just enough to offer shelter. But Hyp suddenly didn't want anybody seeing him in this brace. Even in their home.
"Aw, man!" He walked over and began tugging at them so that they would cover the whole mouth of the cave.
His father noticed. "They're not going to close, Hyp."
Hyp gave up and flung the piece he was fidgeting with aside. "Hey, Dad. Are Lexie and Ella both my cousins?"
His dad was already lying on his stomach, but lifted his head to search his face. "Ella is the daughter of Aaron and Heather. Lexie was the daughter of Max and Callie. Heather raises her. Why?"
Hyp didn't answer because he didn't really know why he wanted to know. "Was Max and Callie related to us?"
Now his father just sounded exasperated because he apparently caught the reason. "No, son. Lexie is not really your cousin."
"Well, I was just asking," Hyp said with an edge.
His father gave him the "yeah, sure" look.
"Well, I was."
Another look. It was no use. "Time for bed, Hyp."
Hyp sighed and shuffled around. As soon as he got comfortable, he drifted into sleep.
As soon as they saw Ella and Lexie the next morning and learned that they would be showing them around the valley, Mutt and Nod immediately inquired about who they were.
Since it was complicated, Hyp put it into the simplest terms with an edgy tone so he wouldn't have to explain. "They're my cousins."
"Whoa. I didn't know you had any of those, Hyp." Nod looked confused.
"Well, I do. So let's go, you creeps."
It was then that he noticed Mutt staring at his cousin as if she were the most wondrous creature in the valley. "Wow…" he whispered.
Uh-uh. Hyp grabbed Mutt by the skin of his throat and pulled so he had no choice but to look at him instead. "You got a staring problem, dope? Now, come on!"
Ella and Lexie waved cheerfully as they approached.
Hyp waved back. "Hey, guys. These are my friends, Mutt and Nod. They wanted to tag along today. Hope you don't mind."
He turned to Mutt and Nod with a reinforcing look because they had already been instructed on what to do. By him and his father, who didn't seem too thrilled about them going at all. "Act right," he'd said.
"Guys, this is Ella and Lexie."
Lexie just smiled, but Ella just threw up a hand. "Hi!"
"Hey," Nod answered as friendly as he probably knew how. Mutt just stared.
"Ella? Lexie!" A familiar voice called from the bushes to the side.
Ella and Lexie both spun on their heels and ran when they saw who it was.
"Amy!" Lexie cried. No! No no no.
Amy stepped from the bushes and walked into Ella's hug. Really, why did girls squeal so much?
"Amy, it's been forever!" Ella squeezed her head.
"I know. What are you guys doing here?" Amy actually sounded friendly.
"We just got here yesterday. We're going to see the valley today."
"Well, it's amazing." Amy stooped to allow Lexie to climb onto her back like Hyp sometimes did with Nod. Ella startled and helped her up with that same gentle touch Heather had used last night. Hyp watched Lexie as she climbed and she seemed to manage perfectly well. What was wrong? She seemed fine.
Hyp and Amy caught a glance at each other, then turned to the Ella and Lexie and asked the same question in unison. "How do you know them?"
Ella caught a rivalry and tilted her head. "Well, Amy is an old friend we haven't seen in forever…and Hyp is my cousin we just met. These are his friends."
Amy narrowed her eyes. "Uh-huh."
Lexie was hoping to smooth things over, and explained further in a gentle tone. "We met Amy a long time ago as we traveled. And Amy, Hyp is Ella's lost cousin that we just met last night. He is going to show us around the valley."
After an awkward silence, she changed the subject. "You should come with us!"
No! But it was too late. Ella jumped in. "Yeah, Amy!" She looked to the group, and Hyp figured he was the only one who caught that familiar mischief in her eyes. "We could all catch up."
Yeah, right. Hyp gave Amy a desperate plea with his eyes, but she wasn't paying attention. "I'm not goin' nowhere!" she protested.
Ella crossed her arms. A few minutes and words later, they were on their way. With Amy. Great.
As soon as they got to the main river, they all stopped to get a drink so Hyp could point out everything that could be seen around it. The hatchlings were splashing around in the water playing some game.
"Aw!" Lexie turned to watch them.
"They are so cute!" Ella stepped forward to the water and took a drink.
"Whatever," Hyp muttered. Amy heard and shot him a look to tell him not to blow it. So far, she hadn't said anything. And for some reason, he didn't want her to.
Lexie spotted someone else she already knew. "Hey, Britta!"
Britta rose from her afternoon in the sun and started walking over. "Hey!"
Well, wasn't that a miracle? You usually couldn't get Britta away from her sun spot for anything when the sun began to set. She hadn't even been in the valley that long, and Hyp had already figured that out. Whenever he would tease her about it, she would just confirm it and drop what she was doing so she could catch the sunset. And now, Lexie had gotten her to come over with no effort at all.
Hyp gave her a teasing look. "Gee, do you know the whole Great Valley?"
Lexie shook her head. "No, we just met Britta last night on our way to our new home."
Hyp smiled at her. "Do you need a tour of the valley, or did Gramps take care of that already?"
Lexie gave the sweetest giggle before Britta approached. Britta folded both arms on Amy's back like she owned the valley and smiled at the girls. "How is everyone doing?"
Amy was just fine with it, even smiled at Britta. What? Did girls just bond by looking at each other, or something? How did they know each other?
Ella answered first. "We're good. Hyp and his friends are showing us around."
Britta took one look at Hyp and his friend and let out a mocking breath. "You're letting Hyp and his friends show you around the valley? Are you sure you're okay?" she asked flatly.
"'Course they're okay!" Hyp cast a teasing glare at Britta, who retorted with a sly smile.
"Do you know where you're going?" Oh, she just sounded so harmless and curious.
Hyp snorted. "Better than you."
"Well, start the tour." Britta smarted off.
Hyp sighed. "So the Smoking Mountains are to the left…."
"You mean to the right?" Britta caught him already.
Hyp sighed and crossed his arms as everyone laughed.
Lexie giggled when she saw Britta was right.
Amy chortled. "Can you not tell directions?!"
"Shut up," Hyp said, not even having the energy to sound edgy.
Ella laughed. "I think Britta needs to check your vision, Hyp!" she teased.
Mutt and Nod both burst into guffaws despite his piercing glares. Britta remained silent and just smiled because her damage was done. Hyp guessed their unspoken score was tied now. He would get her back later.
Hyp yelled at everyone. "Are we going to do this thing or not?"
Ella was the first to recover. "Yeah, yeah. Want to come, Britta?"
Hyp interjected before she could answer. "No, she doesn't. She would miss her sunset."
"How do you know?" Lexie asked curiously.
"Ask Amy."
When everyone looked at her, Amy rolled her eyes. "Umm hmm… she don't miss those."
"That's right." Britta straightened and smiled at him as she walked off.
"Be good," she said meaningfully. Health and social wise.
"Sure," he answered begrudgingly.
"Well, are we going or not?" Amy asked.
"Yeah."
"Wait!" said Ella. "I want to meet those kids over there."
They ended up with the little longneck and his gang whether Hyp and his friends liked it or not. Yep, Ella was his cousin alright.
The hatchlings were friendly enough. Everyone introduced themselves except for the threehorn, who was always introduced indirectly anyway. As they talked, Hyp stole a glance back at Britta and startled when he saw her talking with that Pterano guy. They were both practically crying. Why? That flyer would be moved to the top of his list if he made Britta cry.
"Hyp, everyone's ready to go now. Are we going?" Nod's voice snapped him back to his task.
"Ugh, yeah sure." Hyp cast one most quick glance Britta's way before treading from the water with a whole trail or adolescents and hatchling trailing behind him.