Chapter 48: It's too late!
Littlefoot, Ducky and Spike gazed at each other. Anxiety was engraved into their expressions. Ducky cuddled up with Spike.
Petrie felt and heard nothing. Cera not only looked dead, she was dead. Or was it?
"Quiet, me need to listen..." Petrie called.
Littlefoot stopped walking around out of nervousness, Ducky stopped mourning and Spike stopped hyperventilating.
Petrie thought he had heard Cera breath but he wasn't sure. Waiting some more time, he neither noticed Cera's heartbeat nor any signs of breathing. The little Flyer didn't want to give up so early though. He climbed the Threehorn's neckshield and put his wings close to Cera's nostrils. If Cera was still alive - even if she was looking dead, she'd still breath every once in a while. Since her mouth was shut closed, she would breath through her nose if she still did at all. Petrie didn't notice anything too soon but the little Flyer didn't want to give up.
Ducky got increasingly teary-eyed. The tension tore her little heart apart. Spike did his best to prevent his friend from crying out loud but the little Swimmer struggled hard not to.
As Petrie didn't tell them anything, Littlefoot asked him after having nudged Ducky who had begun to sob audibly, still attempting to fight against the tears; a fruitless battle however.
"Hey Petrie, what's going on?" the Longneck spoke quietly.
"Me no think Cera dead but she not breathing.." Petrie responded shakily.
Spike gulped, so did Littlefoot.
"You're testing if there's any breeze, heh?" Littlefoot questioned.
Petrie nodded, concentrated on Cera.
"I hope she isn't... "Littlefoot fought against his watering eyes. "Y'know..."
"Me do what me can," Petrie stated.
"Please do not die... please do not die... please do not die..." Ducky begged, sobbing.
Spike placed his forelegs around Ducky. The Swimmer hugged Spike appreciatively.
"Pleeaaaaaaase..." she cried.
Littlefoot lost the struggle with the tears as well - Ducky's weeping was infectious. Spike began to allow his tears to flow too.
"It's alright, Ducky. I'm here," Littlefoot whispered, fondling the Swimmer both to console Ducky and to get consoled in return.
Petrie began to give up at last.
"Me no think she alive. Cera d-d-deeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaad!" Petrie cried, walking back to his friends.
"Nooooo..." Littlefoot lamented. To make sure Petrie didn't miss something, Littlefoot trotted to the body only to realise that Petrie was right. Cera's body was cold and unmoving.
"How m-many dinos-saurs are g-going t-to d-d-d-die?! THEY DO NOT D-DESERVE IT!" Ducky screamed in wail. She hid under Spike's massive body.
"Me know, Ducky... world unfair!" Petrie sobbed but Ducky didn't hear him.
"I...I'll cover Cera's back nonethel-l-less," Littlefoot spoke in an attempt to stay strong. "Wanna help m-me?" he asked shakily.
"It is no use, Littlefoot..." Ducky bawled. She chose to search for a different place to cry than under Spike where it was unpleasantly warm.
"What shall we do with the leaves then?" Littlefoot countered.
"I do not care, nope, nope, nope!" Ducky shouted, walking away.
"Ducky! Where you going?" Petrie called after his friend, getting no response.
"I t-think she needs some t-time for herself to calm d-down," Littlefoot suggested, as Petrie tried to follow her. He started to cover Cera's back.
Petrie shambled to Spike. Both were crying.
After Littlefoot had covered Cera's whole back (the leaves emitted a gooey juice that made them adhere to her back), he plopped to the ground, not fighting back the grief anymore.
Ducky had walked through the cave blindly, in search for the place she went to when she had run off from the group to be left in peace the last time. The whole way, she was crying bitterly. She needed a while to find the place in the darkness, but eventually she did. Curling into a ball, she moarned about the loss.