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

26. Chapter 26: It's Different

Hi, guys! I know it's been forever, and I apologize. I do hope I haven't lost anyone. This is my longest running project. I work on a piece of these stories all the time, and am just not sure where some of them fit. I've seen all your reviews and ideas. I've noted them. And I thank you for them and hope to hear more.

One idea that was suggested: The viewpoint of the story will probably switch to the gang in the near future. The next chapter will probably be! I am thinking I might split this into two parts, where the second part is primarily that of the gang's. After all, what is the Land Before Time without Littlefoot and his friends?

This chapter… It's been in progress forever, guys. It's going to be very long, and likely full of grammar mistake I missed in editing. But I thought it was time it was posted. This started out as something not meant to be posted. Something just for me as a challenge to gain a better understanding of Sierra's goal through another character's perspective.

I succeeded. But this chapter serves a lot of purpose to Sierra, who we will eventually be seeing more later. So here it is! Due to him being an unreliable narrator (you will see) in this chapter, I wrote from Britta's perspective. Also, we see Petrie's father more. Enjoy and I can't wait to hear what you think.

Coming up… The gang. Unless something else fits better. Chomper's parents have one more important chapter to go, as well.

Chapter 26: "It's Different"

Britta: Past

"Britta, wake up!"

She winced at the sound of her brother's voice. He sounded…alarmed. But he'd also sounded pretty convincing the last couple of times he decided to play pranks, too.

She pushed him off when he shook her too hard and rubbed her eyes. "What?!"

He closed her beak with his hand. She slit her eyes.

"Shh! Listen," he said.

Britta pushed Tim's hand away and listened. Someone was yelling. Off in the distance. But the rest of the night was quiet. Considering who they lived across from, this wasn't anything new.

"Sierra and his father?" Britta asked.

"I think so," Tim said uncertainly. For some reason, he was tense.

Britta narrowed her eyes. "You woke me up for that?"

Tim turned his head very slowly to look at her. "Well, they… it…. You didn't hear it?"

"No."

"How late do you and Pterano stay out, exactly?"

"We get in a lot earlier than you and Tess!" Britta snapped.

Tim opened his beak like he was going to defend himself. Then he looked insulted. Then convinced. This was always the process with him. "Touche."

A pause. "Britta, you really didn't hear that? Are you deaf?!"

"Oh, move."

Britta was just about to throw herself back in her nest when an ear-splitting screech sounded through their cave and tore through the night sky. It was the kind of screech they occasionally heard when a flyer was being attacked by a sharptooth, but still fighting for his life.

It was so close it frightened Britta. She thrust herself into her brother's arms. He held onto her just as tight. He was scared too, but being the braver one, he let go first and led her by the hand through their cave. They were adolescents, but it felt then as if they were young children waking up from nightmares and running to look for their parents.

"Come on," he whispered.

They found their parents peeking out of the entrance to their cave in the mountain wall. They were awake, too. Their father peeked out from behind the wall, concealed by the shadows. Their mother stood behind him and peeked over his shoulder, holding on to him tightly.

Kim flinched at whatever they saw. "Dan…"

Their father grabbed her hand to steady her and held it on his shoulder. "Shh…"

"What's going on?" Britta asked.

Their parents looked over at them.

"Why did you two get up?" their father asked.

Britta and Tim looked at each other. "We're scared…" Tim whimpered in a five-year-old tone.

Dan sighed. He'd given up on his son's "manly pride" years ago. Being a flyer with a sense of humor himself, it wasn't a big deal in their family. Tim was just their father times two in a comical sense.

Their father held out his hand. "Well, come on, then. Be quick crossing the opening. We don't want to be seen."

"Stealth mode… Huh!" Tim tumbled across the patch of light and landed in front of their parents. Having made it, he waved Britta over. "Beat that, Britta."

Britta jumped when there was another screech and darted over to her mother. Kim caught her and held her forewings protectively as they all looked across to the other mountain. They could hear yelling this time. Sierra and his father were fighting again. But this time, it was bad. Sierra could hardly be recognized. His body was covered in blood, bruises, dirt, and scratches. His eyes weren't even their normal color; they were nearly orange from anger.

But, this time, his father was in bad shape as well. Not as bad as Sierra, but still, worse than usual. Sierra was really giving it to him this time. The two tumbled on the ground, clawing at one another.

Tim turned serious. "Shouldn't we stop them?" he asked their father.

Dan sighed. "I'm sure our leader heard them," he said reluctantly.

Kim kept her eyes on the scene while the rest of them were distracted. She gasped. Britta felt her hold on her tighten. As a healer herself, their mother was not easily panicked.

"Oh, no…" she breathed.

They all looked. One of Sierra's little sisters had darted out of the nest and right in the middle of their fight, innocently begging their father not to hurt her older brother. They were all dangerously close to the drop-off of their home.

Their mother was coming quickly, desperately trying to get to her little daughter before they knocked her over the ledge.

Sierra turned his head quick, spotted his sister, and tried to throw his father off. His father dodged and threw his wing back to give Sierra one last blow. But instead, he accidentally knocked his youngest girl over the edge. Their mother cried and pushed past them. At the same time, the youngest flyer hit a rock that jutted out from the rocky wall of the mountain. She couldn't fly after that. She was completely still when she landed on the ground. Her mother quickly landed next to her and tried to wake her up.

Sierra and his father watched from the edge. They saw Sierra's breathing quicken when he realized his sister wasn't moving. It was a known fact Sierra loved his siblings. Most of the time, he fought with his father because he wouldn't let him harm them. He took everything for them. Even discipline if he fought someone younger for picking on them.

The fight started all over again. Viciously. Their father was in shock, and Sierra was going at him full force. They both landed only inches away from the youngest daughter and her mother, who was trying to protect her. As soon as Sierra's father was coherent, he went for Sierra again.

Kim couldn't take it anymore. "Stop them, Dan!"

This convinced Tim and their father to intervene. Their father gave Tim a gentle nudge as a signal to fly. They were there just in time. Tim pulled Sierra off of his father and did a good job of holding him back. Dan kept a good hold on Sierra's father. It didn't take much; Sierra and his father were exhausted.

Britta was shaking, and too scared to move. Her mother gently nuzzled her on the cheek. "Steady, my girl," she whispered.

Something she always said to comfort Britta as a child. Britta swallowed and grabbed her hand to show she was okay. Dan and Tim were arguing with Sierra and his father. It only got worse when they realized the youngest sibling wasn't waking up.

Sierra yelled something at his father. His father broke away from Dan and landed a quick, hard punch on Sierra's face. Sierra instantly fell on his side, shaking and unable to get up.

Suddenly, Britta thought of someone who should have been there by now. Ron, the husband of their teacher, Mrs. Ria, and the father of their friend, Leah, was the strongest member of the guard in their herd. He could have stopped this fight as soon as he heard the first screech. If anything, he usually knocked out Sierra's father with one punch while they waited for Pterano's father to fly there. Ron was a loving and devoted father, opposite of Sierra's father and usually disgusted by his behavior. As a guard, however, he never voiced an opinion. And by the time Pterano's father got there, Sierra and his father had settled down. And no one ever told Pterano's father exactly who was at fault, so nothing was ever done about it.

"Mom, why doesn't Ron stop them?!" Britta fretted.

"He's on duty," Kim whispered. The two watched helplessly as Sierra lay still in the dust and dirt.

"Sierra!" a familiar voice cried. Jen! She lived a few caves above and over from them. She'd seen it, too.

Britta panicked when she saw Jen fly to where Sierra was.

"Jen, no!"

She took off after her and, gently as possible, tackled her midair and got her to land.

"I have to get to him-" Jen begged. She clung to Britta for support as she sobbed.

"You can't," Britta whispered.

"Be patient, dear." Kim had followed and landed next to her. Jen immediately walked into her arms and started to cry. Kim patted her back and fastened her eyes back on the scene though they were all exposed now.

"Mom… We have to help-"

"Patience, Britta."

Britta turned back to the scene. Pterano's father had arrived somewhere amidst the chaos, along with Pterano. Tess was there too, and had probably come even though her father instructed her to stay home. Britta sighed in relief at the very sight of Pterano. Both Pterano and Tess were petrified by the scene. Pterano's father was talking with everyone there that was coherent, including Tim and their father. His clear voice rapidly began to rise when he spoke to Sierra's parents.

Tess pointed Sierra's little sister out to Pterano. Pterano hurried over and knelt by her. His father quickly turned on him. Apparently, he'd been dragged along for training purposes.

"Pterano, where ARE you supposed to be?!" his father asked.

Pterano answered something in a gentle, submissive tone they could barely hear. It sounded like, "There's a hurt child."

His father quickly joined him and looked down at the little girl. At first, he looked like he couldn't believe what he saw, then he was angry. He looked up and spotted them all standing there. He beckoned them to come to him. Britta, Kim, and Jen all went over. Britta was nervous. For whatever reason, she was not his father's favorite person.

Kim immediately set to work on Sierra's sister, along with Britta. Jen went to Sierra and lifted his chin to look into her eyes. "Sierra…"

Sierra's mother was crying. Britta and her mother immediately knelt by the child. Pterano and Britta made eye contact, just briefly. Then he backed away. Britta tried to see if she was breathing while Kim tried to find a pulse. At last, Britta saw her little chest rise and fall. She felt warm breath against her cheek.

"She's breathing!" she said to her mother.

Kim also had a pulse. "She's alive," she announced.

Sierra's mother cried even harder in relief. Kim held her hand out to her. "Faye, come here, dear."

Faye had a hard time making it, so Britta took her hand and pulled her the rest of the way. Faye knelt by her little girl. "Oh, what can I do, Kim? I…"

"I need you to try to wake her up. She might respond better if it's you. Don't move her. Just pat her face gently. Say her name. That's it…"

Britta admired her mother's ability to keep everyone so calm. They kept irritating the little flyer until, finally, she opened her eyes and mumbled something grouchily. It sounded like, "Mom, stop it."

Kim and Britta got excited. Kim went on treating her. Britta noticed Faye's confused look.

"It's good when they fuss," she said, "It…means they're going to be okay."

Faye gasped and smiled. Kim was smiling down at Sierra's little sister though she was still in pretty rough shape. "Your shoulder hurts?" she asked gently.

"Y-yeah." The little flyer's voice sounded rough.

Pterano's father had just pieced together the story and, ironically, was enraged by it. He hurt his family too, but in a different way. Sierra's father was just coherent enough to sit up with Dan's aide. Pterano's father grabbed him by the skin of the chest and gave him a hard shake.

"Did you hurt your family?" he yelled.

Sierra's little sister heard and began to cry. Tess tried getting Pterano to stop his father, but Pterano quickly refused. Sierra was still on the ground. He tried looking over his shoulder, but went into a fit of coughing.

Sierra's father eyed Pterano's father angrily. "I don't have to answer to you-"

Pterano's father swept him aside with one quick, powerful movement of his wing. It made a loud swooping sound. Sierra's father was knocked a few feet away, and didn't move. Pterano's father showed him exactly who he had to answer to within seconds. And Pterano, though gentle in nature, had been trained to be the same way.

No one spoke for a moment. Kim tried to quiet Sierra's little sister because it was hurting her to cry. Pterano's father shook his head and turned to a frightened Faye. "How long has this been happening?"

She got distracted when Sierra tried saying his sister's name, only to go into a violent coughing fit. Jen and Tim had to hold his shoulders to keep him somewhat sitting up. Pterano's father demanded an answer.

"Faye?"

She didn't know how to answer. All Britta's family knew what was coming. She'd let it happen all their lives. But it was…complicated. Faye, for whatever reason, loved her husband. But she loved her children, too. She always tried to protect them in any way she could from her mate's wrath.

"She let it happen!" Sierra rasped. His beak was so swollen his words sounded muffled and strained. He spit up blood the next time he coughed. He managed to turn over despite the pain this caused so he could see his sister. She looked back at him. Britta could only describe the look they shared as…uncertainty. It was the look that she'd shared with Tim when her father forced her to reveal that he was keeping a pet bug, except more serious. Kim noticed and decided to try to sit his sister up.

She cooed soothing words to her when she grunted in pain. "I know, baby. Shh… Try to think of something nice…"

Britta wondered how her mother could tell someone to think of something nice at a time like this.

Pterano's father slightly turned his head to look at Sierra over his shoulder. "It's happened before?" he asked. He realized the answer in Sierra's expression. "A long time?"

Shockingly, instead of looking at Britta's family, he looked at Tess. Nothing got past him. He knew they all knew. "You all knew?"

Tess was shocked. She didn't know what to say. She looked around a moment, but when no one had answers, she made her own decision and confirmed it. "We didn't know it was so bad."

Pterano avoided eye contact with his father. He'd be dealt with later for not telling him. Pterano's father moved on to Dan. "You didn't intervene?"

Dan ducked his head. "It had never been so bad before. And… We didn't think it was our place."

Pterano's father sighed when Sierra tried to get up and couldn't. For a moment, Britta looked at his face. He wasn't looking at her. He looked tired.

"Help him," he said suddenly.

Her mother looked up at her when she just stood there. Kim now had Sierra's sister into an upright position, and couldn't let go of her.

"Britta?" she said gently.

It wasn't until she said something that Britta realized he was talking to her. She immediately obeyed and walked over to a struggling Sierra. Jen's entire body was either covered in blood or dirt from helping him. And Tim's hands were bloody. Sierra's eyes were closed. He lay still with his head in Jen's lap, panting.

Britta tried checking Sierra's back and sides for deep wounds. Sierra flinched and jerked away when she first touched him. Pterano stepped forward, ready to protect her. Then he looked back at his father to see if he noticed. Jen quieted Sierra, while Britta assured him it was just her. She had Tim turn him over when she didn't find anything.

"I don't think there's anything too serious on the outside, mom. But, there's so much caked on him…I…can't tell," Britta said.

"Then have them take him to wash under the Thundering Falls, dear. Watch for sharpteeth," her mother cautioned, still trying to maneuver his sister into a good sitting position.

"Okay… Let's…" Tim tried to work Sierra to a sitting position so he could sling one of his wings around him. It was a struggle for them both.

"Pterano, make yourself useful," his father said.

Pterano actually seemed relieved to be helping a bloody mess of a Sierra to his feet alongside Tim. With Pterano's help, Sierra was at least on his feet.

"So who wants to help…. Ladies?" Tim teased. He was really trying to get Tess to come.

"Psht." She came along anyway.

Pterano's father smirked. "How many young flyers does it take to escort one flyer to the falls?"

"I think the question is how many couples," Dan stated.

Pterano's father chuckled when Dan patted him on the back lightheartedly. But he let it go and went back to talking to Sierra's family.

They all took their opportunity and (as much as possible) quickened their step. Even Sierra. They all wanted to be alone together. Britta and Pterano dared not speak until they were in the shadows and out of earshot. She and Tess quickly switched sides whenever they could so they could be by their lovers.

Britta grabbed Pterano's free shoulder and held onto it tight, trembling. Pterano turned his head and gently nuzzled her under the beak though Sierra's weight was heavy on his other shoulder.

"Oh, Britta…" he sighed.

"I don't know if I can do this," she said.

"Of course you can. You have to," he said.

Tim wasn't one to dwell on hardships, so he immediately started with the jokes as soon as Tess came his way.

"He-lloooo…. And how can I help you this fine evening, ma'am?" Tim asked her.

"Tim…" Tess scolded.

Tim nudged her gently when she rested her head on his free shoulder, smiling ear to ear. They were always happy if they were together.

Suddenly, Rinkus and Leah hovered out of the shadows. Like they'd come from nowhere. They startled everyone at first.

Tim jumped back, nearly causing Pterano and Sierra to topple over. "Geez! Give us a shriek next time, will you?"

"We can't risk that," Leah said quietly. "We came in secret."

Rinkus immediately knelt in front of Sierra and tried to look into his face. Sierra's eyes remained closed tight. "Is he going to be alright?" he asked.

"Probably, but we gotta get to the falls. Stat." Tim examined Sierra's face and had the whole group continue walking.

Leah and Rinkus followed. Leah stayed behind with Jen, who cried a little into her shoulder. She was scared for Sierra.

Finally, at long last, they were able to get to the Thundering Falls. There was a bridge of rocks where they all stood to bathe so underwater predators couldn't reach them. They all hesitated.

"So… How are we going to do this?" Tim asked.

Britta thought about it. "I think… you and Pterano are just going to have to stand under the falls with him. Until all the stuff washes off."

Britta didn't realize how what she'd just said sounded until Tim slowly turned his head to look at Pterano and whistled twice with big eyes. All the rest of the girls except Jen started giggling. Rinkus chuckled and wrung his tail. Leah made a purring noise. A chortle escaped Britta because Pterano just looked so darn uncomfortable.

It took forever to get Sierra across the stones and behind the falls. Once they were there, Britta had them all step under the falls. Jen decided to wash off a little ways down from them with Leah and Tess' help.

Britta stood with Rinkus on the other side of Tim, Rinkus, and Sierra. She rolled her eyes when their jokes started to get old. "Tim, Pterano. I'm not kidding. Go this time."

They were dreading the cold. Pterano clenched his teeth. Tim bounced slightly. "Okay, okay…"

"One…"

"Okay. I'm ready."

"Two…" Britta crossed her arms.

"Oh, it's going to be so cold…"

"Three. Go."

They both actually stepped back this time, taking Sierra with them. A few cold droplets of water landed on Britta when they stepped under the falls.

"Whooooooo!" was all they heard out of Tim.

Britta had them soak for a moment before she reached in and pulled them all out. She took a good look at Sierra. All the dirt and dried blood was gone. She could see which cuts were the deepest. One still poured fresh blood. Sierra gasped now, shivering violently.

"That's enough," Britta decided. "We need to get him back to flat ground."

The guys did; Pterano, Tim, and Rinkus practically had to drag Sierra. They laid him down on the bank of the dark river. Sierra lay very still, breathing rapidly. Jen came back soon after him and knelt by his side. He didn't look nearly so bad now that he was clean. Britta thought he might need stitch work (which was a pain to get…one had to be skilled enough to pull veins from tree stars) on his left shoulder, the gaping wound on his side, and cold moss to get rid of the swelling on the right side of his face. Other than that, he should be fine. Over time. The scary thing was, she couldn't fix emotional damage. And only Pterano's father could do something about his family. Only if he chose to.

Britta decided to ask Tess for wet moss first.

"Tess, can you wet some moss for me?"

"Sure."

Tess gathered the moss. Tim stopped her just before she dipped it into the water.

"Wait, Tess!"

"What?"

"What's wrong with you? Didn't you learn anything in class? Mrs. Ria will be disappointed in you! Girl, you gotta check that water to make sure nothing's in it first. Something could grab you the minute you stick your wings in there!"

He made a snapping motion like a bellydragger to emphasize his point.

They all looked into the dark pools of the water uneasily. Tess looked at Tim. "Wh-what do I do? It's dark?"

Tim pushed her forward by the small of her back so they were both leaning over the edge, susceptible to prey. "Well, you… You have to look really closely. And if there's anything there, you'll see a ripple of movement," Tim whispered. "See! Look. Look there!"

Tess leaned a little closer, beak half open in fear. Tim chose the moment when she was most focused and grabbed her by the sides, making a loud snorting noise similar to a growl. Tim was always bad at convincing growls, but spot-on with timing.

Tess screamed and jumped at least a few feet in the air. The moss fell into the water. Tim howled with laughter as he swiped it out of the water just before it sank and tossed it to Britta. Pterano was laughing, too. He put an arm around Britta as she rolled her eyes and wrung out the moss. Everyone got a good laugh out of Tess attacking Tim. Tim wrestled her down and laughed, triumphantly patting her thigh as he cackled.

"You guys are awful," Leah said.

Britta went over to Sierra and hesitantly tried dabbing at his face with the moss. She was afraid to touch him; he looked so tense. Sierra flinched when the moss made contact with his scales. Britta jumped back. Tim snorted playfully.

Britta tore off a piece and tossed it at her brother. "Shut up!"

Tim caught it and laughed, then tossed the slimy piece at Pterano. Her brother could be serious, but couldn't stand to see others suffer. He always had to lighten the mood.

She handed the moss to Jen. "He doesn't like to be touched, Jen. Why don't…you try?"

Jen hesitated a moment, but she understood. Sierra really didn't like being touched. Except for his siblings, possibly his mother, Jen, maybe Rinkus, and occasionally Tim if he was joking.

He flinched again when Jen dabbed at his face, then relaxed and gently held Jen's wrist as she pressed the moss to his face. Jen spoke to him very gently.

"Sierra. Oh, Sierra. Are you okay?"

He didn't answer yet, but he gradually opened his eyes. They were back to their normal yellow color now. Not angry, but just…sad. Rinkus knelt in front of him.

"Sierra's awake, right?"

Britta got more moss and slowly approached Sierra. "Hey," she said softly, "We'll have to treat those cuts. My mom has the things I need, but… I can clean them here. Buy us a little more time before we have to go back, if you want."

Sierra's eyes were desperate when he nodded vigorously. None of them wanted to go back. They just wanted to stay there with each other without chaos.

He flinched when Britta touched him to try to clean his wounds. Britta drew back in annoyance. "Sierra, I have to touch you. I'm sorry. I'll try to be careful, I-"

"Naw, it's…not you….I-" he sighed. "Go ahead."

He was still this time as she worked. Tim knelt in front of him. "Hey Sierra, that was…harsh, man. I'm sorry. They should do something…"

"Is that what you've been going through?" Jen asked. She looked around. "Why didn't you tell me?"

There was an awkward silence. "I didn't want you to know…" Sierra finally mumbled in a raspy voice.

Pterano stepped forward. "Sierra, I only ask because…I know my father will ask. And I might can help if you tell me. Do you wish to leave your nest early? Or have any requests for your siblings? He'll ask and I'll…try to suggest whatever you desire."

Sierra sat up because Britta was through with his side and ready for his shoulder. He was silent for a long time. "I need to think about it…"

Pterano nodded and stepped back. He and Sierra had never been the best of friends. Britta quickly cleaned his shoulder and stepped back. "There you go."

Sierra smirked. "Ow," he said sarcastically.

Tim's eyes bugged out. "Man….wait 'til you get those stiches…"

Sierra frowned. "Guys, thanks for the help n' all…but…can I have some time with Jen before we go back?"

Tim smiled. "Aloooooone?"

"Yeah."

They all walked back toward the waterfall, enough to be out of earshot so they could have some privacy. They saw Sierra bury his head in his hands in the distance while Jen clung to his good shoulder. They wished more than anything they had all done something now. Pterano's father might have had a point.

Britta looked up at Pterano. "Will you be okay? I mean, your father wasn't happy that you came off with us tonight…"

Pterano raised an eyebrow. "I did what I thought best. Besides, the worst he'll do is have me train harder in flying tomorrow."

Britta frowned because she'd seen Pterano after training with his father. Whatever his father had him do, he was lifeless from exhaustion. Once, his father had brought him over because Pterano was dehydrated.

Tess looked at Leah. "Won't…Mrs. Ria be worried when she finds you gone?"

Leah smiled. "She knows I'm here. What about your parents?"

"She tried to keep me from coming," Tess confessed. "But…I was worried. You all live in the same area."

Tim elbowed Rinkus. "What about your Mom?"

Rinkus smirked. "Still asleep. Won't notice."

Tess looked at Britta. "You and Leah have good mothers."

"How?" Leah asked.

Tess rubbed her shoulder. "They…know you. They aren't afraid to stand up for you."

Britta hugged her knees to her chest. "You have a good mother too, Tess."

"Yeah," Leah said, "She knows you. That's why she keeps you quiet. To protect you."

"If she wanted to protect me, she'd stand up for who I am," Tess said.

"She does," Pterano said. "You know how our father is."

Tess looked confused. "What does he have to do with her finding her nerve?"

"Simple," Tim said. "You're too mean. Your father has a different standard for you entirely. Your mother loves him, so she just keeps the peace. Until he realizes you don't have the personality of a peach on his own."

Tess' beak hung open. Everyone snickered when she popped him one. Tim was confused. "WHAT?! Tess, it's not right to blame your mom!"

"You called her mean…" Leah cackled.

"She is!" Tim cried.

Tess pointed a finger at Britta. "Well, she's mean too!"

"She is!" Tim reasoned. "She's just lucky she has a Dad who understands that healer blood means bossy from Hatch Day. Your father…does not. It doesn't make your mother wrong!"

"But mean?" Rinkus asked.

"Give me a better word, then! Pterano?"

Pterano looked over his shoulder with a smile. "Out-spoken. Both of them."

"There you go," Tim said.

"I guess…" Tess sighed. "Then what about…Faye. Pterano, you need to think about that."

"Why?"

"Does she really deserve the punishment Sierra's father will get?"

"No, but… I have the feeling she'll take it with him anyway," Pterano said.

"Why?"

"Because she loves her husband," Tim said. "Love makes everything complicated."

"Well, what punishment is he looking at?" Rinkus asked.

"Exile, I think," Pterano said. They all gasped.

"Not with her children! They'd be goners out there," Leah said.

"My father might not turn them out. Faye has so many young children…" Pterano tried. They didn't know about that. His father would sooner take her children from her than have it said he allowed a herd member to harm his small children.

They had no solution.

Jen waved them over. To talk.

When they were all there, Sierra was leaning against a rock, impressively coherent. Jen was sitting close to him. They both looked uncertain. There was a moment of silence.

"Pterano… Sierra has…made a decision," she said.

When Pterano looked at Sierra, he shrugged. "I want out of that cave," he said.

Pterano was silent.

"What about…your brothers? And sister?"

"I'm the problem," Sierra said in a low voice. "I ain't…submissive. Dad and I…we can't deal with each other. The rest of them do as they're told. Except my sister."

Pterano was at a loss. "What…do you want to do about her?"

Sierra glanced at Jen with a smile. "We'll take her."

"What?" everyone said at once.

"It's so close to time for us to leave our nests…" Jen said. "If it's possible. Well… Sierra asked if… I would marry him early."

"What?" Britta gasped. "But…You don't have to rush it…because of this."

"I asked her a long time ago," Sierra said. "We've been talking about it for a while. But now… I think it's the best move."

They all exchanged glances. Most of them thought this was an absolute horrible idea. Pterano's father almost never approved early marriage.

Pterano was the least phased, but honest. "My father might only approve if Jen's parents give consent."

"They consent," Jen said. Her parents did like Sierra. He wasn't the easiest to get along with, but he was certainly good for Jen.

Pterano turned away. "You realize my father will have you live on your own? Not with your family?"

"Yes."

He turned to Sierra. "I will…try to help persuade him, though I think it will mean more if…you and Jen ask. It will be a miracle if he consents to that. But…to take your sister from your mother and let you assume care…that's another matter. I will say now it is probably out of the question."

"Then maybe you can think of somethin', Pterano," Sierra snapped. "I half raised her!"

"You can try," Pterano tried. "If it were up to me, Sierra, you could have her as long as Jen were there with you. I honestly don't know-"

Just as it all seemed hopeless, Ron flew in from nowhere and landed directly in front of them. They couldn't tell from his expression whether he was coming to help them or if they were in trouble. Ron, Ria's husband, was head of the guard for their herd. He was huge, dark grey, and had scars from years of fighting all over his body, made visible in the moonlight.

Ron was intimidating, but he was also the kind-hearted father of Leah and mate of Ria. If he were dealing with Sierra's father tonight, he would have instantly struck him to the ground due to his low tolerance for the way he treated his family. The first thing he did was reach out to Leah. She gave him a hug.

"Daddy! I thought you were on watch," she said, hugging him tight.

"I was, but I was called off to assist Tristan. I saw you here. What are you doing out so late?"

When she didn't answer, he pulled back. "Your mother let you."

He sighed when he realized it was true. He knew what his assignment was. That's what made him a handy guard. "You and Rinkus should go home, Leah. There is nothing more to do here. More flyers would only cause more trouble from here."

Leah nodded obediently and reluctantly bid them all goodbye. Rinkus patted Sierra's shoulder and took her home. Ron stayed behind with them, and looked to Sierra next.

"You've decided what you're going to do next?"

When Sierra just nodded, he sighed and gently threw Sierra's wing around his shoulder. He helped him to stand with little effort. "Are you ready to move?"

Sierra winced, but was now able to stand up straight as he leaned on Ron. Pterano helped from the other side. Ron instructed the rest of them to watch for predators as they made their way back in silence.

Britta leaned close on the other side of Pterano with Tim and Tess just behind her. She felt tired. Tired and insignificant. She could barely even help Sierra. Even though… Sierra was more broken on the inside than he ever was on the outside. No one would ever get him to admit that.

She didn't notice Sierra glancing at her until her cleared his throat. "Britta…"

Britta startled, but kept pace as she looked at him. "Hm?" she asked gently.

Sierra tried to grin around the swelling in the corners of his mouth. "Thanks."

She smiled back at him and followed them quietly as they returned to where their families were. Britta was careful to stay behind, out of Pterano's father's way unless he addressed her directly. She saw her mother with Sierra's little sister, who was finally dead asleep. Her mother was the gentlest healer anyone could ever meet. If Britta could ever be half the person her mother was, she would consider herself lucky.

Pterano's father turned when he heard them approaching, seemingly annoyed by how long they took to return. His eyes lost their coldness a moment as he glanced Sierra over, checking the progress Britta had made. She gritted her teeth until he nodded.

"Very good…" was all he said.

Britta took it. She nodded politely and quietly stepped away to join her mother, still afraid to handle the child. Her mother smiled up at her. "Wonderful, Britta. You've done very well, sweetheart." Britta felt her father put a hand on her shoulder from behind.

She got nervous for Sierra's father when Ron left Tim and Pterano to support Sierra. Soon enough, the head of the guard stood right in front of Sierra's father, along with Pterano's father, who only said one word. "Banished."

Faye grew frightened when she heard. "Our-our whole family?" she asked in a trembling voice. Sierra's father only stared back at Ron with resentment. It wasn't hard to see that, if Ron could kill anyone, it would be Sierra's father.

"No Faye," Pterano's father answered quietly. "Not your family. Not Sierra. Just him. It seems you have a decision to make. I won't have this kind of behavior in my herd, anymore."

Sierra's mother looked to her children. "If we go out there, my children, they…might not…"

"You and your children can stay Faye," Pterano's father said again.

"He was gon' hit her," Sierra mumbled to his mother. "You know he was. Ain't just me no more."

Sierra's father lunged for Pterano's father. "You can't just-"

Pterano's father knocked him away easily with a single blow. Ron, who stood a head taller than Sierra's father, took Sierra's father by the wing and pushed him back by taking a few steps forward so that he was beak to beak with his enemy. Sierra's father did not come again when Ron easily pushed him well away and stood still, daring him to make another move.

Faye watched nervously as her husband backed down from Ron. She covered her beak as she broke down in tears. "I can't…" she sobbed.

Pterano's father narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and looked to the rest of Faye's children, which he really didn't want to send to their deaths, either. "I see."

"Don't banish 'em," Sierra said quietly, still trying to stand upright. For a few minutes, he did it without the support of Pterano or Tim. "If she won't make him leave, I will. It's about time I leave the nest, anyway. Been waitin' my whole life."

Pterano's father narrowed his eyes, as he very stern about his rule that they could only move out at a certain age. Absolutely no less, hardly more.

"Why would I allow that?" he asked. "You still have a few weeks left until you can build your own nest."

"I talked with Jen's family," Sierra answered straightforwardly. "They said I could stay until we have the day where we are assigned jobs. Then I wanna marry Jen. Always did. I'd do better there, anyway. My family, they…"

"Granted," Pterano's father answered, taking everyone by surprise.

Jen's excitement got the better of her. She folded her hands. "Really?" she gasped.

Jen was the one person Pterano's father never said a harsh word to. But, tonight, he looked into her eyes with an intense, serious stare. "That is up to your family."

Sierra folded his wings in an awkward way that suggested his ribs still hurt. "What about my sister? You're gonna…leave her with 'em?"

Pterano's father glanced down at the injured child. "What else do you suggest I do in this situation?"

Sierra rubbed his wrist as if he didn't know how to ask. "I'll take her. Me and Jen-"

He didn't get to finish. Pterano's father sort of laughed aloud as if Sierra had just told him an amusing joke. Faye gasped and took her child's tiny hand in hers, once again in tears.

"Please don't take her…" she sobbed.

"Father…"

Pterano beckoned his father to the side and, as he promised, tried to persuade him to make an exception for Sierra and his sister. No one could hear what they were saying, but Pterano soon had a disappointed look on his face that told Britta his father wasn't particularly working in anyone's favor tonight. His father put a hand on his shoulder at one point, and Pterano bowed his head in acceptance. When their leader returned to make his final call on the situation, he explained it all to Sierra and Jen in a gentler way.

"Sierra, I have no doubt that it is in your best interest to leave this nest. And, as long as you have arrangements, I will not stop you. But you and Jen are young, too young. I'm afraid giving you custody of your sister will only send her from one unfit home to another, despite your good intentions. However, Faye is still a fit mother. I cannot just take her away. I am sorry. Does this affect your decision to leave?"

Sierra looked his little sister over in silence for a few moments. "No," he finally said. "I just…didn't wanna see her hurt. She's a good kid."

Ron surprised everyone by stepping forward. "You won't."

Britta leaned into her father when Ron made it clear what he had been called for by dragging Sierra's father a little ways off. Sierra's father put up a struggled, but Ron easily knocked him to the ground and doubled any damage Sierra had done by striking him repetitively with several quick, powerful blows. Britta's father held her close to his chest as struck him again and again. Sierra somehow held Faye, who panicked and began to cry again. Poor woman.

Pterano's father appeared not to have planned this, but he didn't stop Ron until it was absolutely a good idea to. Finally, he called out to his long time soldier. "Ron."

Ron grabbed Sierra's father by the skin of his chest. "If you cause this girl, your wife, or any more of your children any more pain than you already have…if this girl ends up dead because of you… I will not stop next time. Do you understand?"

It sounded like Sierra's father answered yes, but Britta wasn't sure. Ron pointed a finger at him. "I'll beat you to death. I'll beat you to death if you touch them again! And trust me… I will hear it if you do."

Ron shoved Sierra's father into a sitting position against a boulder and started home without another word. Britta watched him go, suddenly realizing why he sent Leah home. It was hard to believe that this was the same man who would embrace Mrs. Ria, their gentle teacher, so lovingly when he got back to his nest.

"Then it's settled," Pterano's father said, putting an end to this whole terrible night.

Surprisingly, Faye went to Sierra first and gave him a gentle hug. Sierra tensed, then leaned on her shoulder because he couldn't quite keep his posture if he returned her hug. She came to Britta's mother next and gently touched her child's head.

"C-can I get her home?"

Kim managed to hand Sierra's sister to her father. "Let Dan climb up with her. Try to keep her steady, dear."

Britta watched as he father gently cradled Sierra's sleeping sister in one wing. She grunted a little as the transition was made, but never woke up. Faye went to her husband as Dan climbed, and helped him to their nest as best as she could. Kim touched Britta's wing.

"Come, Britta, our work is done. It's time we go home."

Britta glanced at Pterano to say goodbye, then followed her mother home. The others stayed longer, but she knew Sierra and Jen would be alright. Jen's family loved him. In a way, maybe Sierra finally had a piece of the happily ever after he needed.

She couldn't sleep, and laid with her head in her mother's lap until their father came home with Tim. Later on, early morning, she and Tim laid on their stomachs and watched the sun rise from their nest, exhausted.

"Tim?"

"Hm?"

"Why does Pterano's father deal so harshly with Sierra's father…when he does the same thing to his children?"

Tim didn't answer for the longest time. Just when she thought he didn't have one or didn't want to, he looked at her.

"It's different."

Britta didn't say anything else because she knew Tim was right. She rested her beak on his shoulder because, despite all her brother's best qualities, her favorite moments with him was when he was like this. Perceptive.

Just when she was about to doze off, Tim sighed out a song. "Sierra and Jen….." He yawned as she laughed. "Sittin' in a tree…"

Britta chortled and swatted at him lazily. "Stop."

….

Present

Britta cried silently as she scrubbed the dried blood on her hands in the watering hole later that night, careful to look and make sure no one saw her. She shook her head to clear the memories. The wound on that baby clubtail wasn't healing as quickly as she thought. One more time of her working on the wound, and the poor thing might bleed out. But if she didn't, the wound would become infected.

Despite many years of practice that surpassed that of her mother, she still didn't feel like half the healer her mother was. Britta shook her hands dry when she was finished and sniffled, not quite ready to go back to her nest in the Great Valley. She wished she had her brother's optimism at times.

Sierra

"Sierra, aren't you going to sleep?"

Sierra knew Rinkus was talking to him, but it took a while for him to process his best friend's words. Sometimes the guy was just too much for Sierra. Everybody was. The grey-brown flyer clenched one fist and scraped his palm again and again, just to feel something. He did that sometimes. Whenever his mind wandered back to Jen.

Finally, he realized what Rinkus was asking.

"Yeah," he mumbled without blinking.

Rinkus went to his spot on the opposite wall of the crevice they had found. "You still want to go back to that Valley?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna kill Pterano…and those kids."

He rolled over then without feeling a thing. Jen wasn't coming back. Especially not by a miracle done by some Stone of Cold Fire. And if she wasn't, someone was going to pay.