Hey guys, thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. Here is something short and fun from Heather I just wrote before we get more into Chomper's parents and some of the villains. We've got a fun memory with Lissie and a few of the other characters. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 14 Oh, My Child

Heather

It was nearly nightfall, and Heather had just returned from gathering tree stars and sat them down in front of the kids; Lexie, Ella, and her long lost nephew, Hyp. He looks so like Lissie. It was so strange how much she still missed her best friend. She could also see Nicolas still missed her as much as she did Aaron.

She pushed the pile of leaves toward the adolescents, who turned dangerous as they claimed their portions. Heather held up her hands, palms up, and backed away. "Okay, okay. There's plenty to go around, kids!"

Lexie giggled. "Sorry, mom." She was the only one who apologized.

Heather crossed her arms and grinned. "Well, I guess you guys would be hungry after today."

Ella swallowed her first bite, and looked at Hyp. "Yeah, it was fun getting dunked in the water." Hyp cocked his head innocently before taking another bite without a response. Ella looked at her mother. "Britta's amazing! I don't know how she does that. So much patience."

Heather smiled, remembering the old healer of her herd long ago. "Yes, she is. Healing is a gift."

Ella turned to Hyp again with curiosity. If anyone was going to be the first to speak, she had no problem taking on the role. Just like her father. "Do you think they are together? Pterano and Britta, I mean?"

Heather was appalled by her young daughter's abruptness. "Ella," she warned.

Ella shrugged defensively. "I don't know. I just think it would be kind of sweet. They look good together."

"Ha!" Hyp seemed to think otherwise.

"He seems nice to me…" Lexie said. Lexie was probably the most thoughtful.

"Well, he's done some things that didn't seem too nice to me," Hyp stated, sounding a little agitated. Heather wondered what the flyer could have done to deserve such treatment from the others.

Ella didn't know either. "Well, didn't he serve some kind of sentence for it?"

Hyp shrugged. "Yeah, but-"

"Well, it shouldn't matter now, then. Anyway…" Ella offered her opinion as she did with everything else. "He might have learned something from it. It doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to be happy. AND…" She looked to Lexie. "I like his accent."

Lexie giggled as Heather cracked a smile. Lexie and Ella were always looking for the occasional dinosaur with an accent. They had been playing the game since they were little ones traveling with the herd.

Hyp sighed. "Whatever," he grumbled.

Heather decided to change the subject. "Hyp, is your father coming to dinner? I brought plenty."

Hyp shrugged. "I came here because I thought he was."

"Hmm." Heather decided to let it go. "Well, maybe he will make it in a little while."

Ella tiled her head at the mention of her uncle. "He still misses…" She cut off at the death glare Heather shot her, but Hyp picked up on it anyway. Heather shook her head. Oh, my child.

"My mom," he finished before ducking his head to stare at the ground. "Yeah."

There was a silence before he spoke again in a quiet, serious tone. "Sometimes when he doesn't think I'm looking he just…looks so sad. I just don't know what to say."

He looked to Lexie, who offered a small, sad smile. Heather lifted her nephew's chin. "Oh, Hyp. There is really nothing anyone can say. Those are just the moments he has to get through."

Hyp seemed to want to speak, but took a moment before he came up with the best way to ask. "Do you still miss…"

"Aaron?" Heather asked after the hesitation, then answered. "All the time."

Ella smiled at Hyp and Lexie. Heather hated that this was the thing these children had in common. Loss.

Ella, as she and Lexie often did, turned to her. "Mom, can you tell us a story about them?"

Heather sighed, then looked at Hyp uncertainly. She wasn't sure how much Nicolas had shared with him yet, and didn't want to upset him right off. "Like what, Ella?" I don't-"

Her daughter interjected. "I don't know. Something funny, maybe? Do you have any stories about playing in the river? Like what we did today."

Heather thought a moment, and pulled up a memory, but wasn't sure if she should tell. "We couldn't play in the river as freely as we did today. In the swamplands, the water was almost as dangerous as the land. But on some days, the herd would gather together and go on a hot day. Underwater predators do not attack large groups often."

Hyp leaned forward as much as his aching ribs would allow (Heather could tell that he was still sore in the way he had to move). Interested, he asked the same as Ella. "Can you tell us?"

Heather took a tree star. "I'm not sure if-"

"It's okay," Hyp answered, "I would like to know more about 'em."

Heather smiled at the group of eager adolescents. "Okay."

Heather rested her head on Aaron's shoulder as the couple watched their best friends play in the river. She smiled at Aaron as Lissie shyly licked Nicolas' cheek as a kiss, who blushed and nuzzled her in return before saying something that made her laugh. Nicolas had saved Lissie's life twice now and helped her through her recent recovery. It was her first time back in the river since she had recovered, and she seemed to be enjoying it.

Heather crossed her arms with a victorious grin at Aaron. "Told you."

"You told me," Aaron admitted. He laughed and pulled her into a hug. Occasionally when he laughed, wrinkles would show at the corners of his eyes, which Heather loved because that meant he was truly happy. She touched his face with her hand and rested her head on his chest.

"No, Max. Honey, don't! No." Heather and Aaron turned their attention back to Max, who was trying to help Callie swing from the top of the waterfall and into the river below, where their other friends were waiting. Callie clutched at the vine with both hands, shaking violently. Heather would be one of the first to say that Max was a jerkoff, but he would never hurt Callie.

"Callie! Baby, calm down. It's fine. Look." He gestured to the open water below, where everyone else was coaxing Callie or dunking each other. "See? Everyone else made it okay. They are waiting for you. Come on, sweetheart. You can do it."

Heather snorted at Max's pet names. Max cast a quick "shh" glance at her before turning back to Callie, who looked like she might actually go through with it. She started to swing, then stopped and shook her head. "No, I can't do it. I don't even want to jump."

Max threw down his hands in exasperation, then tried to persuade her again. "Callie, it'll be fun. Would you do it if I went first, then came back up and got you?"

"You've already done that." Callie kept her voice timid.

"Hey, guys." Lissie and Nicolas walked approached them, hand in hand.

"Nicolas, what's going on, man?" Aaron stood up and shook Nicolas' hand. Lissie came and lay down in the water beside Heather as the two talked. Heather smiled at her best friend, thankful to have her there with them.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Much better." Lissie adjusted her foot, which still had a leaf wrapped around it.

"You're walking so much better." Heather shook her head at Aaron and Nicolas, who had ventured over to Max and Callie. Nicolas looked reserved as ever, but Aaron was teaming up with Max against Callie.

"Aaron! Don't put any more pressure on Callie. If she doesn't want to jump, she doesn't want to jump!" Heather yelled at her soon-to-be-mate, who shrugged at her dismissively and kept talking to Max, who had stormed off briefly in frustration.

Heather sighed and caught Lissie smiling as she watched Nicolas try to explain things to Callie to make her feel better, tugging at the vine to show her how sturdy it was. Heather smiled knowingly and rested her chin on her hands. "So…you and Nicolas…."

Lissie smiled excitedly and glanced back to make sure no one else was listening before explaining with bright eyes. "He's so sweet, Heather. He helped me all the way through my recovery. I never thought about it before, but…."

"You like him, don't you?" Heather felt so happy for her friend as she watched a smile slowly spread across her face.

"Very much, I think. I'm…just not sure how he feels."

Heather splashed her friend when she realized her doubts. Lissie sputtered and turned to her. "What-"

"Lissie, he always has liked you. Even before he did save your life. He just never said anything because he thought…" She quoted Nicolas in a conversation where she and Aaron had come the closest to getting him to admit his feelings for Lissie. "'You deserved better.'"

Lissie looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yes! Didn't you feel anything when he carried you back, or brought the medicine for you when you got sick?"

Lissie hesitated a moment, then giggled and splashed Heather back. "Yeah…"

Heather laughed and laid a hand on Lissie's shoulder. "I am so happy for you and Nicolas, Lissie. And so is Aaron…" She cut her eyes over to Aaron, practically wrestling Max and Callie back to good terms. "And let's just say that I wish Aaron would be a little more like Nicolas in this situation."

Lissie giggled as Nicolas approached and sat down next to her. "Hey," he said quietly, plopping down in the cool water.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Is Aaron playing matchmaker?" Heather asked Nicolas teasingly.

Nicolas glanced over at the scene and tried to be nice. "Just being a leader."

Lissie scoffed. "Or nosy."

Nicolas shrugged. "Maybe that, too."

Max and Callie were now embracing, and Max held onto Callie as he tried to encourage her gently. Heather and Lissie kept a close watch on them, but turned away when Callie seemed more confident. Aaron jogged over, looking as handsome as ever and scooped Heather into an embrace with a lick on the cheek. Heather pretended to be upset about being ignored earlier; Aaron got it and drew back. "Aw, do we have to make up, too?"

Heather crossed her arms. "That would be nice," she teased.

Lissie narrowed her eyes at her older brother, while Nicolas ducked his head. Aaron nuzzled her. "I'm sorry, baby," he said in a false, playful tone.

"I'm sure," Heather nuzzled her cheek and stood up. "Well, isn't our turn after theirs?"

"If she ever jumps-" Aaron startled and turned around when he heard the cries.

"Max! Max… MAX!" Callie screamed when Max unknowingly pushed her off the cliff, swinging down at an alarming speed. Lissie stood up to attack him, but Max stood frozen with his hands in front of him as if it had been an accident.

"Cal-" he stated worriedly, but had no time to finish. Callie still hadn't let go of the vine (in fact, she was clinging with all her being), and swung back up, still panicking. When she was level with Max, she grabbed his arm. Max looked at them in terror for a split second before being dragged over the edge with Callie.

"Ca-a-a-a-lliiieeee!" Max's legs flailed helplessly in midair. Luckily, Callie was forced to let go just when she and Max was above the safe, open water. Max hit the water first, and she came just after. Heather, Nicolas, Aaron, and Lissie were searching frantically over the edge of the waterfall while everyone below waiting for them to come up.

After a few more seconds, Max came up laughing with a gasping Callie.

A breathless Callie looked up at Max. "I'm sorry," she said timidly.

Max laughed and drew her into an embrace. "Are you kidding? That was a blast! Callie, you are a genius."

He called up the four of them of the ledge. "You've got to try two at a time!"

Everyone laughed; partially in relief and partially at how scared Max had been when Callie accidentally pulled him down with her.

Aaron burst into laughter and caught the vine. He passed it to Nicolas. "Do you two want to try?"

Nicolas took it, then looked at Lissie. "Do you think it's a good idea? With your leg just getting better and all…"

"I'll be fine," Lissie interjected confidently. "I have missed doing this."

Heather smiled at the memory of Lissie being a vine hog, always doing tumbles and flips in the air.

Nicolas searched her a moment, then proceeded to hand her the rope. "Do you want to go first?"

Lissie started to answer, but Aaron rolled his eyes and did it for her, also telling Nicolas what he meant earlier. "Together….?"

Heather elbowed him in the ribs. Nicolas realized the meaning, then asked Lissie with his eyes. Lissie smiled and crossed her arms thoughtfully. "That did look like fun."

Nicolas, still uncertain, looked at Aaron. "Do you think it's safe?"

Aaron put an arm around Heather shoulders with a short snicker. "If Callie can make it with Max dangling around, I'm pretty sure you and Lissie could make it."

"Okay," Nicolas said quietly as he shifted his weight and tightened his grip on the vine. Lissie got behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist in a tighter grip. Nicolas started to swing off the edge, then stopped and looked back at Lissie. Heather and Aaron smirked. They were so cute.

"Make sure you hold on tight, Lissie. I don't want you to-" Nicolas never got to finish before Lissie interjected.

"Got it." She used her good foot to push them off the ledge and squealed when Nicolas released his hold and sent them tumbling into the open water amongst their herd. Lissie giggled when the two popped up out of the water, sharing a grin with Nicolas, who was just now overcoming his anxiety at being pushed over before he was ready.

Aaron caught the vine again when Nicolas swung it back. Heather rested a hand on his shoulder. "Aren't they sweet? She seems so happy, Aaron."

Aaron gave the vine a tug to be sure it was still steady. "As long as she's happy. Nicolas is a good guy."

Lissie taunted her brother from below, tying up the score from whatever he taunted her about this morning. "Beat that, Aaron!"

Aaron smirked and muttered under his breath. "Ooohhh, girl, you have no idea. It's on."

Heather smiled when he licked her cheek as a kiss. "Ready to go, baby?"

Heather crossed her arms. "No tricks?"

"No tricks," Aaron promised.

The look in his eyes said it all. "Yeah, right."

Aaron offered her the rope irritably. "You want to swing us, woman?"

Heather sputtered and turned Aaron back around so she could hold on to his waist. He knew fully well that he was twice her size and that would never happen without a fatal end by the rocks below.

She laughed when Aaron pushed off the ledge and felt the rush of the hot wind blowing with them. Aaron picked just the right moment to let go of the old vine. Heather flailed when he used his strength to turn them in a somersault before they submerged into the air. Before Heather could do anything, strong arms wrapped around her, and then Aaron pushed them both back up to the surface, where the herd was cheering for them.

Heather choked on the mouthful of water and pressed a hand to her soon-to-be-mate's cheek when he pressed his nose to her temple. "I thought you said no tricks," she hissed.

Aaron laughed and nuzzled her with a smile. "Sorry, baby. I love you-" he just managed this before Lissie and Nicolas dunked them again.

All three adolescents smiled at the story. Hyp looked interested and thought. Lexie watched him while Ella spoke up.

"Aw," she said.

Heather smiled and pushed more tree stars over to them. "Yes. We were kids, too."

They all looked to the mouth of the cave when they heard cautious footsteps crunching outside. Nicolas stood respectfully outside while craning his neck to see if anyone was home. "Heather?"

Heather smiled and ventured outside to meet him. "Hello, Nicolas."

Nicolas appeared to be searching the area while speaking politely to her. "I'm sorry to bother you and the girls. Have you seen my son?"

As if on cue, Hyp emerged from the cave and stood beside his aunt. Heather shook her head with a smile and lay a hand on his shoulder. "Why, he came over for dinner."

Nicolas cast a confused glance at his son, indicating he probably wasn't planning on coming to dinner. "Why didn't you let me know, Hyp?"

Hyp shrugged. "I came because I thought you were," he stated simply. Heather caught that he came because he didn't think his father would otherwise.

Nicolas looked flustered, so Heather lightly pushed her nephew forward with a soft laugh to smooth things over. Just as Nicolas laid a hand on Hyp's shoulder, Mutt and Nod found them.

"Hey, Hyp!" Nod (Or so Heather thought she remembered Lexie and Ella calling him) called to his friend. "My mom found some sweet berries for desert. Do you want any?"

Hyp took the cue and circle around his dad. "Can I go, Dad?"

When Nicolas didn't respond, he circled again. Nicolas swatted the air to kid back with his son, confirming he could go. Hyp looked back. "Thanks for dinner, Aunt Heather."

"Anytime, Hyp. Glad you could come."

Nicolas called back to his son in a stern tone as he trotted off. "Be back before it gets dark."

When Hyp didn't respond, he warned him. "Hyp!"

"Got it," Hyp called from the distance.

Heather chuckled and folded her arms against the chilly night air. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine. You couldn't have known. It's probably good for him, anyway." Heather searched Nicolas' face for a moment.

"He seemed to be waiting on you, too. We had plenty. I think Ella and Lexie would like to get to know you a little better."

"Oh," Nicolas looked briefly surprised a moment before nodding. "Maybe some other time."

"Anytime you're ready." After another hesitation, she asked the question she was afraid to ask. "How much did you hear?"

Nicolas made eye contact with her. "Not much. Just some. I was looking for Hyp."

"Oh," Heather drew in a ragged breath. "I'm sorry. They wanted to know and…"

"It's alright. You…did the right thing."

There was a long pause after that as the two searched the night sky. Heather waited to Nicolas to ask the question he seemed to be contemplating on.

Finally, he asked as bluntly as ever. "Heather, what brought you and the girls here? After all this time? Did you leave the herd?"

Heather drew in a breath. "Yes, we did. We learned when the valley was, then the girls and I decided to make the journey here. Together. It was harder on Ella, but I had to, Nicolas. Lexie was getting so ill…and the healer is gone….her only chance was the valley."

Nicolas kicked aside a small, sharp rock Heather had failed to notice, probably sparing whoever hurried outside the cave the next morning. "I see," he said sadly, thinking.

Heather nodded to him because Nicolas was never one to need a full explanation, then started to walk away before he voiced another quiet question.

"How are they, Heather?"

When she turned around and tiled her head in confusion, he stepped forward as he explained his question. "Abram and Lissie's mother…the herd…are they still alive?"

Heather could tell he had been haunted with lack of knowledge for a long time, and immediately answered gently. "Yes. Yes, they are alive. Some would never be able to make the journey here, but they are alive."

Nicolas sighed and looked up with dark, saddened eyes. "And Ace?"

Heather smiled. "He's alive-"

"Mom?" The sound of Lexie's voice told her she really needed her. Heather wanted to tell Nicolas more about his brother, but looked back to check on the girls.

"Thank you, Heather. I'm…glad to hear that." Nicolas started walking away to leave them alone, but Heather called after him.

"I can tell you more, Nicolas. If we could meet for dinner or lunch, I could-"

Nicolas hesitated a moment, then nodded his consent before the two turned away. Heather noticed his stance and called out again. "Nicolas!"

He stopped and turned his head to the side again. Heather drew in a breath. "They never blamed you."

Nicolas' eyes lit up in surprise for a moment, then he nodded. "Thank you." His voice sounded sincere, meaning he had probably been wondering for a long time.

They jumped when something snapped from the direction Hyp and his friends had gone, accompanied by guffaws and cackles. Nicolas turned to the noise. "Hyp?!"

Hyp managed to call out to him around his cackles. "Dad! Mutt's stuck in a tree!"

Heather and Nicolas shared a confused look. How did that happen?

Ella called out for her now. "Mom! Lexie needs the herbs, but I don't know how much to give her. If you don't come in here soon, I'm going to assume it's the whole shell!"

Both Nicolas and Heather startled at her coaxing. Heather nearly tripped trying to spin on her heel to get to them. "No, Ella!"

She snatched the bowl from her daughter and sighed at their teasing cackles.