Chapter 43: In search of the cure
Spike and Petrie sitting on the Spiketail's backwalked some distance before they decided to have a break for eating their fill. So far, neither of them had discovered any of the leaves Ducky had described.
After a while, they continued to search for them.
Littlefoot and Ducky soon came to a halt in order to eat some green food. However, since concerns about Cera's wellbeing spoiled their appetite, they didn't eat as much as they should've done in order to regain their full strength.
When they were walking along the little vegetated area, Ducky eventually broke the silence that had been a result of their concerns regarding Cera.
"Littlefoot?"
"Yes Ducky? What is it?"
"I still do not understand how you could have left Cera alone, no, no, no." Ducky wasn't disappointed though her no, no, no sounded somewhat disappointed. "What, if she wakes up all alone?"
"Ducky, I'm confident she won't ever open her eyes again..." Littlefoot explained.
"I know, therefore we search for these leaves, right?"
"Sure, but I'm afraid it'll be too late to save Cera..."
"Do not say that! What makes you so confident anyway, heh?"
"I... Ducky, please..."
"Tell me the truth, Littlefoot. Please... I know you are thinking that I cannot endure the truth but I can."
"Are you sure, Ducky?" Littlefoot was kind of worried about Ducky's sudden robustness of mind.
"I am, Littlefoot, I do know the truth already... I know that she is about to die, just like our parents did. Is it that what makes you so confident?"
"Yes, Ducky. I... in the night where the storm was raging, I dreamed about my mother and... she died in this sleepstory. Just before she closed her eyes forever, she sounded exactly the way Cera did..."
"Are you afraid of seeing her die?" Ducky asked ruder than she intended to.
"'Course not, Ducky! I just don't want to do nothing at all, that's it."
"But at least one of us could have stayed with Cera..."
"Nobody should walk around alone in the Mysterious Beyond, Ducky. Stay in a group."
"Do not remind me of these wisdoms. I know them by heart, I do, I do. But why do we need two groups? I do not understand."
"To be faster... If there are any of these leaves, we're more likely to discover them in time if searching with two teams. See, if we waste too much time, it might be too late to save Cera..."
"Nothing is going to work!" Ducky whined discouragedly.
"I'd have liked to have somebody take care of Cera, Ducky. I considered this; the risk is too high. I'm sorry."
"No, I am sorry because I did not see that you were right, Littlefoot. I did not want to argue, nope, nope, nope."
"We didn't exactly argue, Ducky. We're not Cera after all..."
"Still, I feel sad now."
"Let's just forget about this, okay?"
"But I cannot forget it right now..."
"Ducky, it's really okay. We both had a point of view that we were trying to defend and I'm glad you voiced yours." Littlefoot stopped walking and nuzzled Ducky. Ducky in return gave Littlefoot a short hug.
"Let's go on looking for those leaves."
"Oh yes, we need to hurry, we do, we do!"
With that, they continued their so far fruitless search, in harmony again.
"Spike?" Petrie piped up during the monotonous seeking. "How come you not talk like we others?"
Of course, Spike couldn't reply in a way Petrie would understand. The Spiketail wondered if the Flyer would get messages transmitted by gestures. It was worth a try, Spike figured. He made a scary face that was meant to resemble the Sharpteeth that killed his family. "Ah, me geddit..." Petrie squeeked falling silent again. Spike really wondered why the Flyer made himself comfortable on his back. Couldn't he just fly? He would see a lot more from up there for sure...
Neither Pterano nor his sister found anything of interest. Discouraged, they walked back to their herd to announce the bad news. But Pterano eventually saw a small side path that he hadn't noticed at first. Fresh hope coursed through him and Pterano entered the path, walking along it...