Chapter 40: The tale about the Great Valley
The crowd applauded after Grandpa had finished narrating the tale of the Lone Dinosaur.
"Thank you," he said and nodded to a few individuals. "Should I continue with the story about the Great Valley?"
"Grandpa will tell it from the view of a certain group of Great Valleians; some had already been there and some decided to stay there after we arrived," Grandma added.
Everyone seemed interested, even those Great Valleians that had heard this story several times before.
"Well, everything started when the land began to dry up," Grandpa began. "Watering holes and vegetation became rarer and rarer and it became more difficult to satisfy our hunger and thirst. Back then, we didn't do much together, we just lived separately- every herd, every kind for its own. As you can see, we stick together nowadays, especially in times like this. This story is about how we discovered the Great Valley, together. We heard rumors about a place still lush and green that was said to be safe from Sharpteeth."
"Was it really safe? I mean, those creatures always find a way in sooner or later, don't they?" a Swimmer questioned.
"It was, almost..." Grandpa replied.
"You'll hear more about it later," Grandma promised, blinking to Grandpa.
"That is right. Anyhow, many families decided to migrate, each on their own for the time being," Grandpa continued. "Though very soon, Sharpteeth began to stalk us, taking away the weakest of us. Because of that, we eventually formed a mixed herd for the sake of safety in numbers, like we did just yesterday. From that day on, we ate and drank together, fought together if a Sharptooth threatened our children and we made decisions, together. Though the Great Valley was just a mystery, we followed the Bright Circle to where it touches the ground. Since we couldn't avoid having contact with the other dinosaur kinds, some individuals started to befriend dinosaurs of other kinds. We got to know each other better and this was the key to our success. After a long, long time of travelling, one of our Flyers spotted the Great Valley. We settled there and the bonds between the different kinds endured. Together with some residents, we eventually developed a true community." Grandpa cleared his throat before continuing. "One day though, about one Cold Time after we had arrived at the Great Valley, two huge Sharpteeth somehow climbed the so called Great Wall and sneaked in."
Some individuals and the kids gasped.
"Don't worry little ones, nobody died back then," Grandma assured them.
"'Cept one of those raptors..." the Threehorn grunted.
"SSSSSHHHH! Do not spoil everything!" a Domehead scolded.
"I continue..." Grandpa interrupted. "Of course they had been spotted fairly quick; everyone gathered at the Rock Circle where we would meet whenever there is a problem to be solved, or a decision to be made. As a group, our chances to drive those Sharpteeth out of our Valley with success were fairly high. The Flyers spotted the intruders and we headed towards them and fought them back to where they came from." Grandpa suddenly hesitated to continue. He knew he would hate telling the part that would be next, yet he decided to tell this story. With a sigh, he eventually continued. "When we were close to the Mysterious Beyond - that is, what we used to call everything outside of the Valley - my daughter pushed one of them down an abyss. The one that was left fled off. We know that this very Sharptooth finally took revenge for that by attacking us in the oasis."
"And did he get your daughter?" One of the Swimmer kids questioned shyly.
"Yes... he got her," Grandpa sighed and Grandma came to his side.
A flood of condolences, was the reaction of the crowd.
"Thank you," Grandpa responded, toneless.
He didn't tell more stories after that incident. Instead, he announced everyone may continue to tell their own stories which they did so he had time to think. For some odd reason, he accused himself for not protecting his daughter at the most important moment although he knew that he couldn't have helped her... it would have ended only in unneccessary bloodshed. "This way I protected Grandma at least," he reasoned, which made him feel much better. He should be grateful for the things he still had and not complain about those he couldn't save. He just hoped Littlefoot was indeed all right and not hurt... He joined the audience listening to the ones speaking...
Petrie's Mother soon arrived at a spot where three paths were separating.
"I should've suspected I would encounter something like that," she cursed, Pterano's words in her head. Sighing, she took the rightmost of them.
Pterano was walking along the path until he too had to decide between two divergent paths. "Told ya!" he said, gritting his teeth. He took the one that was less narrow. What he didn't know, was that the Gang took the narrower path...