Chapter 3: New Problems

(Third Person POV)

Just Pterano was starting to get settled in the nest, he heard a distinct sound of flapping wings and started up. He looked back and saw his sister and her family sleeping peacefully in the nest so he went out into the night to investigate the sound. His eyes scanned the darkness and saw two familiar forms of some flyers that had a grudge against him. Rinkus and Sierra, no doubt. He silently flew over to their forms and approached them to confront them.

"Rinkus, Sierra," he harshly whispered, gaining their attention.

"Kinda late for a stroll, innit?" asked Sierra darkly.

The two flyers turned to look at him and the looks in their eyes made him flinch on the inside. Seriously, what did they want?

"Well, well, well," said Sierra, placing his hands on his hips, "if it isn't ole Pterano. How's life in the Great Valley suiting you after you abandoned us?"

Pterano felt fear well up in his stomach but kept a straight face as he glared at them contemptuously. "That was a long time ago," he dismissed their remark quickly. "Now, what do you two want?"

"Revenge," answered Rinkus darkly, glaring at him.

"How petty," snorted Pterano, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Probably," admitted Sierra, shrugging, "but we're here to get back at you."

That warning didn't surprise Pterano because he should have known they would have tried to get him back for turning on them. "Stay away from my family," demanded Pterano, crossing his wings in front of him like a cloak. "If you come near them, I will know."

"We don't want your little brats, Pterano," sneered Sierra, "but if they cross in our path, we'll get them. Be seeing you." With that, they flew off, leaving Pterano in their wake.

"Pterano," he heard that familiar soft female voice from behind him.

He turned and saw Tara standing there with her wings crossed, her expression fathomless. A jolt of anxiety went through him because he didn't want her to think less of him for having such horrible "friends".

"Tara," he whispered, "what are you doing out here this late?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," she said dully. "I woke up and saw you gone so I decided to investigate but I guess I didn't need an explanation to what's going on." Her brown eyes had a hint of anger in them that made him flinch.

She turned to walk away but he grabbed her by the shoulder to stop her. "Tara, you don't understand…" he said but got interrupted by her angry voice.

"Of course I do," she whispered loudly. "You're still loyal to those beak-heads!" With that, she tore herself away from him like he burned her.

"No, I'm not!" Pterano shouted loud enough to wake the whole valley up. "Tara, they were trying to threaten my family so I made it clear that I wanted them out of my sight!"

Tara's expression softened but she still looked unfathomable. "Don't do anything untrustworthy. Surely you don't want Topsy and Mr. Longneck to kick you out again." She cocked her head while arching an eye at him suspiciously.

"I want to put the past behind me," he stated firmly, holding his head up. "I promised Petrie that I would make myself better and prove myself trustworthy. As you said earlier, you will always be there to remind me of who I am, wouldn't you?"

"I did say that, didn't I?" she asked gently, smiling now. "We should go back to bed before your family gets suspicious. Come on." She leapt up in the air and took off into the night to get back to the nest.

Pterano smiled gently after her but didn't follow her yet. He needed time to think because he smelled a strange scent that drew him in to her. For some reason, he felt like he wanted her to be his mate but that was a far-fetched idea.

A song that drifted in his mind finally came out and he began singing: "I've been a walking heartache,

I've made a mess of me.

The person that I've been lately,

Ain't who I wanna be but,

You stay here right beside me,

And watch as the storm blows through.

When I need you…

(Chorus)

God gave me you for the ups and downs,

God gave me you for the days of doubt.

For when I think I've lost my way,

There are no words here left to say, it's true…

God gave me you…"

Finally, Pterano flew off into the night to get back to his nest and future.

…

Tara got back to the nest but didn't fall asleep immediately because she had feverish thoughts racking her brain. For some reason, Pterano plagued her mind a lot and it made her feel strange like she loved him but it was too soon for that. What could she do?

"Angel in disguise,

Stories in his eyes,

Love for every true heart that it sees.

Was it just a lucky day,

That he turned and looked my way,

Or is it heaven right before my very eyes?

He showed me all new things,

The shimmer of moonbeams.

I was blind but now he's helped me see,

I was lost but now I'm found.

His happiness surrounds,

And now I've found that my dreams can come true.

(Chorus)

Cuz I'm gonna love you,

For the rest of my life.

I'm holding you safe here,

In this heart of mine.

I can't live without you,

Cuz my soul would die.

You know I'm telling the truth,

I'll spend the rest of my life loving you…"

After her little song, she saw Petrie wake up and sleepily walk towards her.

"Tara," he said wearily, "why you up so late? Where's Uncle Pterano?"

"He had to take care of some business, Petrie," she whispered gently, touching the little flyer on the shoulder tenderly. "Go back to sleep, honey. We'll be there soon."

"Okay, okay," mumbled the little one, stumbling back to sleep.

"Tara," whispered Pterano and he perched himself next to her in the nest. "You ready to sleep?"

She nodded with a smile on her beak and she bent in to twine it with his. He followed suit and it was like a pterodactyl version of a kiss because it made her heart soar in her chest like she was flying. Because of the moonlight, she could see the love and gentleness in his eyes that she thought only existed for Petrie. Their hands twined and they rested their foreheads together. By their shadow, it seemed they were forming a heart which described their feelings perfectly.

After sitting for a while, Pterano and Tara snuggled next to each other and drifted off to sleep together but they were unaware of the two spies that were near the nest.

…

"Hmm," said Rinkus, watching the two entwine in the nest, "it seems Pterano has a soft spot for this girl. What should we do, Sierra?"

"Nothing yet," answered Sierra, smirking unpleasantly, "but if she crosses our path, we should take her to draw Pterano in."

The two cackled quietly as they flew off into the night, leaving the nest in their midst.

A/N: UH-OH, this doesn't look so good! Rinkus and Sierra are back and this time they're mad! What will Pterano do to protect his loved ones? Find out in chapter 4 (which won't be posted until I get my laptop back)! Stay tuned! Read and review!