Chapter 3: A lot of dispute
After a few minutes had passed, the Great Valley residents calmed down.
"What's just happened?" the old Threehorn shouted. His distorted face was clearly showing how furious he was. Mr. Threehorn hated everything that was changing in the Great Valley, especially, if it was threatening the life of his three daughters; Cera, Cara and Candy.
"It seems as if a hot spring is located under this watering place!" Grandpa assumed, puzzled.
"Yes, Longneck, you might be right, but none of the hot springswe know of stinks so abominable like this one!" the Threehorn answered.
"This is no ordinary hot spring, that's for sure!" Mr. Thicknose added. "I haven't seen anything like that before!"
"You haven't seen something like that before?!" the Threehorn raged. "All of us thought you know everything having been everywhere!"
"How should I know, I..." Mr. Thicknose stammered.
"All of us thought you'd know what needs to be done, but if you ask me, he doesn't know anything!" the Threehorn roared.
"But..."
"Shut up! Go away! You better abstain to ever visit the Valley again! THAT'S AN ORDER!"
"Hey! Calm down everyone... let's find a resolution in peace," Littlefoot's Grandpa suggested.
"Exactly, again and again, we can't decide on matters because you have to argue every time," Littlefoot's Grandma added sending an accusative glare to the Threehorn.
The gathered residents quarreled and quarreled with the old Threehorn, who throughout didn't want to change his opinion, until Mama Swimmer reminded them to take the presence of their children into account. Thereupon, the old Threehorn also relented.
"Well! We'll discuss that further, when our little ones are in their nests," Littlefoot's Grandpa spoke.
All of them agreed so every herd went their ways and so did Littlefoot's herd.
As the Bright Circle disappeared behind the Great Wall, that shielded the Great Valley from Sharpteeth and other dangers coming from the Mysterious Beyond, and as the Night Circle rose, it was time for Littlefoot to get to sleep. His mother brought him a water-filled Treestar since Littlefoot occasionally got thirsty at night. Just as she went to nuzzle him Littlefoot said something.
"Stinky!" His whole family heard him uttering his first spoken word. Within a blink of an eye, all of them gathered around the little one.
"He said 'stinky'?" Littlefoot's father asked in excitement.
"I think so!" Littlefoot's mother whispered and hissed, "Don't be so loud, Bron, you're gonna wake up the whole Valley!"
"Forgive me, dear!" he answered, now with a damped voice. "But this father thing's simply incredibly exiting! To see how my son's growing up and learning, makes me completely fidgety." He grinned at his mate, who cuddled her neck against his.
Littlefoot's Grandparents looked at each other and smiled.
"He's already asleep!" Littlefoot's Grandma stated.
"Now, then let's discuss with the other adults what has to be done!" Littlefoot's Grandpa suggested. They walked towards the formerly best watering place in the Valley.
After all of the kids had been brought to their nests, the adults met again to discuss whether Mr. Thicknose should stay or not and what to do against the odd events.
"First of all, you're allowed to stay, Thicknose, but in spite of that I think of you as a swindler!" The old Threehorn started the debate. "You don't know more than the other residents, you've disappointed all of us!"
"Something like this hasn't happened yet, so how am I supposed to know what to do?"
"You've always affirmed that you know everything, Thicknose!" Mr. Threehorn retorted.
"Don't start arguing again..." Littlefoot's Grandpa sighed. "We need to discuss what has to be done."
"Yes, of course you're right, Longneck, but what are we capable of doing when no one can tell us what's responsible for the events of the last days?" Mr. Threehorn spoke, clueless.
"We should keep some distance to the water emitting, hot and stinky watering place!" Mr. Clubtail suggested.
"We should block the watering place with rocks!" Mr. Threehorn's mate suggested.
"We should ask all our visitors for advice!" Littlefoot's Mother suggested.
"We mustn't lose sight of our kids!" Mama Swimmer shouted, scared - she had brought up 12 children herself being very protective over all of them.
"We should do exactly that and wait how things will develope in our mysterious and dangerous world," Littlefoot's Grandpa said.
"I agree with you, Longneck!" Mr. Threehorn said. "We can't do anything but waiting."
"To block the watering place with rocks, isn't a good idea, if you ask me!" Mr. Thicknose got himself included. "That won't stop whatever is lurking under that watering place."
"Right! How could we heave them to this place anyway?" Littlefoot's Father questioned.
"All right! When YOU say it, Thicknose, it must be right!" the female Threehorn shouted. The old Threehorn grunted.
"My friends, difficult times will come, but we'll survive them like we always did and will do," the old Threehorn said in a leader-like voice. "Let's go to sleep now."
All of them went to their nests and fell asleep quickly. Many of them had bad nightmares since they were startled that they might have to leave the Great Valley their lives being threated.