Chapter 8: Another Small Adventure
Petrie got his friends together. Seeing that the adults were getting nowhere in looking for Tara, the kids decided to look for her themselves. They always went on journeys and came back safe and sound, despite the dangers. Petrie flew into detail at how Tara disappeared and he thought she was in trouble. Why else would she leave without saying goodbye? Something had to be wrong.
"So you're saying Tara is missing?" asked Cera, looking visibly disturbed. "Where would she go?"
"Me no know," replied Petrie, sounding near to tears and looking frantic. "Tara is me auntie. Pterano is sad without her."
"How do you know?" asked Littlefoot, thinking back to how proud Pterano was.
"He won't fly with me no more," answered Petrie dolefully, bowing his head. "He always looks sad and he yelled at me for asking him questions."
Ducky patted Petrie on the shoulder, looking sad. "Oh, your poor uncle," she said softly. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no…"
"Then it's settled," said Littlefoot resolutely, looking determined. "We need to find her."
"But how will we slip away without the grown-ups seeing us?" asked Cera skeptically, looking back and forth.
"How we always do," replied Littlefoot, smiling. "We just walk out. They seem to be distracted."
"Where would we find her?" asked Ducky sadly, blue eyes sorrowful. "The grown-ups don't know where she went."
"She couldn't have gotten far," reasoned Cera, looking at the swimmer. "The sky water would have prevented anyone from going anywhere."
It wasn't snowing anymore but there was still freezing sky water on the ground. The weather was nippy and it made the kids shiver. Despite the chill, they were determined to find Tara. If she made Pterano happy, she had to come back.
"What do you say, guys?" asked Littlefoot optimistically. "Are we ready for one more adventure?"
The other children smiled in agreement and the vote was unanimous. It was time for another small adventure. As they began trekking out of the valley, they began singing a song together. Ducky started it in a clear, sweet voice.
"Look around,
But don't look down,
Everything is unfamiliar,
Waiting to be found,
Look ahead but don't look back,
Everything's a possibility,
And you can count on that…"
Cera bounded forward, smiling proudly like her father would.
"Hold on tight and don't let go,
It's another small adventure,
Where it is no one knows,
Close your eyes and enjoy the ride,
There's so many big surprises out there waiting to be found…"
Petrie flew up into the sky, feeling the warmth of the bright circle on his back.
"Waking up the sun,
Waking up the sky,
Waking up the great big universe,
Another small adventure,
Look at me!
Me wild and free!
Anything a possibility,
As long as you with me,
As long as you with me…"
Littlefoot smiled as the group broke into a run, singing as he went.
"Don't ever cry,
I see the sunrise,
I'm coming to save the day…"
Petrie broke Littlefoot off as he flew ecstatically through the air.
"Me going to fly,
Me high in the sky,
Me coming to take you away…"
Cera and Ducky began singing together, sounding very good in harmony.
"Waking up the sun (waking up),
Waking up the sky (waking up),
Waking up the great big universe,
Another small adventure,
Waking up the sun (waking up),
Waking up the sky (waking up),
Waking up the great big universe,
Another small adventure,
Another small adventure,
Another small adventure,
Another small adventure…"
The kids began laughing and running in excitement, eager to be going on their new quest, despite the fears and dangers.
…
(Pterano POV)
I felt absolutely terrible. Not only was Tara gone, but I chased Petrie away due to my anger and frustration. I had to find him and apologize. Even though I was hurting from Tara's disappearance, I should not had taken that out on Petrie. It wasn't his fault Tara went missing. I didn't know why she disappeared but I had to find out. Something wasn't right.
In fact, Tara's original home was unknown to me. My first encounter with her was her trying to fly. All flyers know how to fly from the moment they are hatched, or at the latest, a few months after their hatching day. How could a grown flyer not know how to fly? That question would remain unanswered.
I scratched my bottom beak in speculation. All right, enough of the pity-party! I had to find her if it was the last thing I would do, sky water be damned. Glaring up at the sky, I stretched my wings out and took off into the sky.
"Tara, I will find you," I murmured to myself, as if promising her. "I will always find you."
As I flew, I saw the adults gathering near the frozen watering hole. Something was wrong. The adults wouldn't assemble together unless something was wrong. I dropped out of the sky in a graceful manner and landed in the middle of the adults. I saw Dona's eyes full of tears and her face looked devastated. What happened?
"What's going on?" I asked anxiously, looking between Grandpa Longneck and Topps, who both looked unsure of how to reply. "Has Tara been found?"
"The children have gone missing," said Topps, looking angry with himself.
"Oh, no," I whispered in realization. "They've gone to look for Tara themselves."
"How do you know?" asked Dona thickly, wiping her tears with her thin claws.
I half-smiled in knowing way. "Those kids are always on adventures, aren't they? Petrie always told me stories about how he and his friends went on adventures. They followed me when I took the little swimmer. You don't think they would look for Tara?"
All the adults exchanged looks, knowing I was right about those kids.
"We need to look for them," I continued, taking advantage of the silence. "I volunteer to go after them. With my flying, I can track them faster. This isn't just about Tara. I need to find my nephew and apologize to him. I accidently lost my temper with him." I bowed my head in shame, thinking back to how hurt Petrie looked when I snapped at him.
(Flashback)
I perched myself on a rock, staring at the bright circle in the sky. Tara was brighter than the circle. She shined with kindness and empathy. Her eyes told a story and yet didn't reveal all the details. Her wings were beautiful and her beak with smooth and sleek. Just thinking about her made me feel depressed.
"Uncle?" My head jerked at the sound of Petrie's tiny voice. "Can we go flying today?" He sounded very hopeful and I could almost feel his big eyes gazing at my back.
I sighed, almost irritated. "Not today, Petrie," I replied tonelessly, keeping my eyes on the bright circle.
His little form came up beside me and he insistently tugged on my wing. "Can you tell me more stories about your adventures?"
As much as I loved my nephew, he was beginning to grate my nerves. I glared down at him and he flinched under my gaze. "No, Petrie! Stop asking me so many questions! Just leave me be right now!"
Tears welled up in Petrie's eyes and he hurriedly took off into the sky, leaving me to my thoughts.
(Flashback end)
"I will find them," I continued, glaring in determination, "and bring them back home." My glare showed them I would not be deterred by anyone.
Finally, Longneck nodded and sighed. "Alright," he said, sounding a bit worried. "Just be careful, Pterano. The frozen sky water storms will be dangerous."
"I'm not scared of danger," I assured him, "but I will be cautious. Farewell for now." With that said, I spread my wings and took off into the sky.
…
(Tara POV)
My injuries prevented me from going too far. I had to hunker down in another cave and lay down to rest. My eyes grew heavy with weariness and my body began to relax. Sure, the stone cave was uncomfortable but beggars couldn't be choosers. I closed my eyes and hugged my wings around me to keep myself warm. Feeling helpless, I sighed in disappointment.
"Who knows where those rainbow faces are," I muttered sadly. "They could be anywhere right now. I wish they were here."
Suddenly, I heard a female voice echo from the back of the cave. "You called, dear?" I looked back and saw the rainbow faces standing together, staring at me knowingly.
My pulse jumped in my chest and I got up to approach them. "I need your help," I said softly, hugging myself to stay warm.
"What is it?" asked the male, cocking his head to the side.
"Well, it's a long story." I flew into my story of how I ended up in the prehistoric time and how I fell in love with a certain flyer. They seemed to listen to every word I said without judgment and nodded occasionally.
"And now all I wanna do is to go home," I finished, sighing. "I have family there, and friends. They'll miss me."
The female's eyes seemed to soften sympathetically. "Skylar, we brought you here," she finally said, causing me to jolt at my real name, "because we knew you would be the one to heal Pterano and make him stay good. We wanted him to stay on a good path. You are key in doing that."
"But why me?" I asked, feeling numb.
"We don't know," replied the male, shrugging. "You seemed to know well about his life so we figured you could help him."
I put my clawed hand to my head. "Is there any way for me to go back home?" I asked, sounding tired.
"Do you want to?" asked the female, giving me a penetrating look.
That question made me stop and my beak dropped open. "W-well, I-I don't know…I mean, I love Pterano and Littlefoot and his friends, but I miss my family. What should I choose? Can you tell me?" I gave them a beseeching look.
"What makes you happier?" asked the male in a gentle voice. "Being here, or being in your world?"
I had to think about this one. Being here and with Pterano made me very happy. My family made me happy too, but I had to make my own choices. I closed my eyes and saw Pterano and Petrie smiling in my mind's eye. I couldn't help but smile too. When I made my decision, I opened my eyes and gave the two rainbow faces a look.
"I wanna stay here," I finally said, sounding very sure of myself. "With Pterano, and Petrie, and everyone else."
The female nodded. "I see," she mused, smiling. "Remember, Skylar, if you ever want to go back home, all you have to do is find us. We're just a call away."
I took her hand in mine and gave her a grateful look. "Thank you," I said softly. "I should go back. Everyone will wonder where I am."
The two rainbow faces smiled at me. "See you some other time, Skylar," said the male kindly.
I returned their smile and nodded in acknowledgement. "Goodbye." With that, I walked out of the cave, spread my wings, and took off into the sky, feeling more confident in my decisions.
A/N: I suck at ending chapters, but stay tuned!