Chapter 7: Let it Go

I couldn't shake the feeling that I had put the Great Valley in danger. If what Rinkus said was true, then I had to leave and manage this myself. My wounds were still healing and it was a little painful to move my wings but I had to do it. Also, I had to find a way to turn back to a human. I couldn't stay here, no matter how much I wanted to. I still had a family back where I lived before and I missed them.

It was night and I waited for everyone to fall asleep. As much as I loved Petrie and everyone, I didn't want them to follow me. Scooting past Petrie and his slumbering family, I stood in front of the rock cave and spread my wings. I took a deep breath and began to take flight. My muscles were still a bit sore from lack of use and I stretched a bit while flying. When I flew above the trees, I felt the chill in the air and saw the clouds rolling in. It looked like it was going to snow. True to my speculation, I felt cold frozen drops on my back, chilling my spine.

I looked back and saw everyone I loved sleeping. I finally felt the weight of my actions. My eyes stung with bitter tears and I blinked to hold them back. Swallowing deeply, I turned my head back and resolved to never look back.

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight,

Not a footprint to be seen,

A kingdom of isolation,

And it looks like I'm the queen,

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside,

Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I've tried…"

The tears finally began flowing and my voice quavered a bit.

"Don't let them in, don't let them see,

Be the good girl you always have to be,

Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know,

Well, now they know!"

With determination coursing through my body, my flying grew stronger and quicker. I could feel the exhilaration in my blood and my heart began beating faster. As much as it hurt to leave it all behind, I had to do this.

"Let it go! Let it go!

Can't hold it back anymore,

Let it go! Let it go!

Turn away and slam the door!

I don't care what they're going to say!

Let the storm rage on!"

The snow began falling but it didn't hinder my movements. Nothing would stop me now, not snow, or rain, or anything else.

"Let it go! Let it go!

I am one with the wind in sky!

Let it go! Let it go!

You'll never see me cry!

Here I stand in the light of day!

Let the storm rage on!"

I flew into the mountains and passed over the Mysterious Beyond. Everything was slowly becoming covered in the white cold snow but it didn't affect me, oddly enough. It might have been the adrenaline coursing through me that kept me warm. The excitement made me shudder with anticipation.

"My power flurries through the air and to the ground,

My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around,

And one thought crystalizes like an icy blast!

I'm never going back!

The past is in the past!"

Tears, unbidden, fell down my cheeks and my lower beak trembled, wanting to release a sob. I closed my eyes tightly as I landed near a cave where I could stay for the night. Instead of heading into the cave, I stood out in the snow like a powerful ice queen.

"Let it go! Let it go!

And I'll rise like the break of dawn!

Let it go! Let it go!

That perfect girl is gone!

Here I stand in the light of day!

Let the storm rage on!

The cold never bothered me anyway!"

With that, I turned and walked into the cave to rest for the day.

(Pterano POV)

I awoke with a sigh and stretched my wings out, expecting to feel Tara next to me. My eyes snapped open when I felt she wasn't there beside me. I sat up in a hurry and gazed around for her. She wasn't anywhere in the cave. Since my sister and her children were still asleep, they wouldn't have seen her if she did go. My heart clenched with anxiety and my hands tightened into fists. Tara was gone!

"Where did you go?" I asked quietly to not wake my sister.

"Uncle Pterano?" I heard Petrie's tired little voice squeak out. "What the matter?"

To not worry him, I adopted a soft face and stroked his small head with my pointer finger. "Oh, nothing, Petrie," I replied, smiling to show him nothing was wrong.

"Where Aunt Tara?" That question stopped me in my tracks. I had no idea Petrie saw her as his aunt.

"I don't know," I answered calmly, "but don't fret, I will find her. She probably went flying to stretch out her wings. You know, Tara has always been a free spirited girl. She will go when she wants to."

That mollified Petrie a bit, but his eyes looked nervous. "Okay," he replied, nestling with his brothers and sisters.

Smiling to hide my nerves, I walked to the mouth of the cave and saw frozen sky water covering the valley. There was no way she'd be out in this. The big wind would come up and knock her off course. With renewed worry, I gazed back at my sister, who was just starting to wake up.

"Pterano," I heard her soft voice say, "where's Tara?" She sounded a bit worried.

"I don't know, Dona," I replied, biting my tongue nervously. "I think she flew off. You didn't see her leave, did you?"

"No," answered Dona, twiddling her claws. "I didn't see her leave. If she left, she was very quiet. We should ask the others if they saw her go."

I nodded resolutely, clenching my fists tightly. "I have a bad feeling about this," I murmured to myself.

(Tara POV)

It was a few hours later when I awoke. I didn't really sleep that well because I wasn't in a nest. Rocks dug into my back and made it hard for me to have a restful sleep. Sighing, I stretched my wings and sat up. It was time for me to move on some more. There had to be a way for me to get out of here. I had to be able to go back to my own time. How would I be able to go back home?

Then it came to me. Maybe those Rainbow Faces that talked to Littlefoot from the movie would be able to help me. They did seem to be very intelligent and full of knowledge regarding strange things. Between you and me, I thought they were aliens. Well, aliens or not, they had to know how to get me back.

Taking one last stretch, I spread my wings and continued my quest onwards. Nothing could stop me now. No matter the cost, I would get home. As much as I loved Pterano, I didn't belong in this time or as a dinosaur. It hurt me to admit it, but I knew I could never belong here. Tears welled up in my eyes as I took to the sky. A heart-wrenching cry came from my throat and the tears fell at a rapid rate.

(Pterano POV)

I could barely breathe. Everyone said the same thing. They hadn't seen Tara. That meant she left during the night and didn't tell anyone where she was going. What was I going to do? Without Tara, there was no light. Without Tara, there was no love in my life. Without Tara, there was no peace in my mind. Unable to comprehend it, I sat on a rock, trying to re-collect myself before continuing onwards.

"Uncle?" Petrie's little voice woke me from my stupor. "Me can't find Tara anywhere." He sounded disappointed in himself. My heart softened at the sadness in his voice.

"It's not your fault, Petrie," I said softly, feeling a pang in my chest, as I gathered him into a hug. Tears gathered in my eyes and trickled down my beak.

"It not your fault either," piped Petrie, hugging my beak, as tears fell from his eyes as well. "We will find her. Me and the others will find her."

Nothing more needed to be said. We wept at our loss, wishing for her to come back to us. I didn't understand why she left but I would find her, not matter what. I would always find her.

A/N: Sooooo, yeah. The original chapter on my old laptop got wiped the minute the old laptop died. I have struggled with my feelings about it. I'm disappointed in losing all my work on the old laptop but I can make something new. Anyways, enjoy this. BTW, the song is the World of Color version of Let it Go. Type it in on YouTube and you will find it. It actually sounds better than the original. See you guys later.