Littlefoot and Taka were walking, neither said a word until Taka called out his name as he lost his footing and slid down a slope. Littlefoot landed on top of something that turned out a few seconds later to be someone. "Hey"!

Taka came down to see an old dinosaur sniffing Littlefoot who was no longer on his back.

The old dinosaur spoke in a gruff voice. "What's going on here"? The sound of Littlefoot's crying could still be heard. "What's your problem? You're not hurt". Although Taka could see Littlefoot's face turn angry, he could see the longneck was still in despair. "It's not fair! She should have known better. That was Sharptooth. It's all her fault".

"All whose fault"?

Littlefoot gave a tearful answer. "Mother's".

Rooter gave a 2 second 'oh', he now understood. "I see". His face was now friendlier. "I see".

"Why did I wonder so far from home"? Before Rooter could say anything else, Taka spoke. "It's not her fault Littlefoot, or yours". Rooter agreed. "Your friend is right. Now, you pay attention ol' Rooter.

Littlefoot gave a small 'but'.

Rooter continued. "It is nobody's fault. The Great Circle of Life has begun".

Taka heard the saying before. In the Pridelands once when he accidently came across his brother being taught by their father. Ahadi discovered him and threatened physical punishment if he was caught snooping again. And Taka knew he wasn't bluffing. Ahadi had hurt him before.

"But you see, not all, not all of us arrive together at the end".

Littlefoot was confused. "What will I do? I miss her so much".

Taka spoke again. "And you always will. But as long as you remember her, she might be gone, but never forgotten". Rooter nodded in agreement. "He's right. In a way, you'll never be apart, for you are still apart of each other".

"My tummy hurts".

"Well, that too will go in time little fella. Only in time".

Rooter tried to leave but Taka stopped him. "Wait. Can we come with you. Please, we won't be a bother".

Rooter sighed. "I would be happy to. But I don't have many days left. And someone big and old as myself would only attract predators. Trust me, company would be nice. But you have a better chance of surviving without me to slow you down".

Taka could see the logic in that. Once when he wanted to hang out with Mufasa and his friends. Sarabi said he would easily attract predators with his scrawny size. Shaking away those memories, Rooter spoke again. Besides you have him and he has you". With that Rooter departed.

Taka went towards the depressed Littlefoot. Taka tried to think of how he could comfort him. "Do you have a dad"?

Littlefoot only gently shook his head. "Do you have any family"?

"My grandparents, but I don't know where they are right now".

Taka said nothing. To his surprise, Littlefoot spoke. "What about you"?

Taka didn't really want to talk about his family, but realized it might get Littlefoot's mind away from his own problems if only for a minute.

"My parents don't really care for me that much. Neither does my brother. To them I was a disgrace. My father is all about strength. Having a scrawny son like me was an embarrassment to him. My mother often ignored me, she made no attempt to protect me from being bullied and when I tried telling her Mufasa was bulling me, she would say I was being too sensitive. Of course, when Mufasa complained I was annoying him, she grounded me".

Littlefoot could not believe what he was hearing. They sounded horrible. Littlefoot actually wasn't thinking about his mother at the moment, this was shocking to hear. "And my brother Mufasa. He's was always picking on me, trying to humiliate me in front of other cubs. Always trying to scare me. I was a very lonely cub". Littlefoot wasn't sure this was the right question to ask, but he was too curious. "Did you have any friends"?

"There was this one cub. Sarafina. She was the only cub who would play with me. She'd stick up for me and could even get Mufasa and Sarabi to back off now and again. She's the only one I miss".

"I'm sorry".

"It's not your fault. It's not mine either. I didn't ask to be like this. But that didn't matter to them. Truth be told, part of me actually thinks I'm safer here then I would be with them. My father didn't hit me often, but when he did, it would leave a mark for a few days".

Previously Taka tried to cheer up Littlefoot, now he tried to comfort the young lion. "Don't worry. I'll be your friend. Although perhaps I should get your name first".

"Taka. And you're Littlefoot right".

"Yes. How did you know"?

Taka's eyes widened. "…Lucky guess". He didn't need to tell Littlefoot he heard his mother say his name before she died.

Taka wanted to keep Littlefoot's attention away from his grief, so he kept the talking. "What do you prefer to eat, green or meat"?

Littlefoot looked surprised. "Green food. Don't you".

"No, lions don't eat stuff like that. We prefer to eats things like zebra for example". Littlefoot was horrified. "Is a zebra a living thing"?

"Yes. Where I come from. Some animals eat grass and we eat them".

Littlefoot backed away in shock. "What. You mean you kill things and eat them"?

"Of course not! My mum and the hunting party does that".

Littlefoot was horrified. "You eat things that are alive"?

"We all do technically. Even herbivores". Littlefoot looked confused.

"Eaters of the green".

"What are you talking about".

"Do you know that trees are living things, like you and me. They can't walk or talk like us though".

Littlefoot actually seemed impressed. "Really". Taka nodded. "It's how life works. When we die, our bodies become soil and the soil makes the green".

"You really are smart".

"Thanks. I always had the brains. My family prefers brawn though. But you Littlefoot, you have been kind to me".

Littlefoot smiled. "You too". Taka smiled. "Friends". Littlefoot nodded. "Friends, I like that".

"And don't worry, I'll try to figure out how to survive without eating you". Littlefoot gave him a dirty look and Taka scratched his head. "Too soon"?