Hello everyone, welcome back! A lot to cover as you'll see in this chapter, but to clarify confusion, it takes place alongside the last chapter, but shows some other happenings with different characters, as will the next chapter. Enjoy yourself, and if you like the story, remember to fav/follow/review; I always appreciate it! As always, the Land Before Time and its universe belongs to Universal.

Chapter 13 - Sky Trouble

Shortly after the meeting dispersed, Petrie found himself wandering through the sky, still processing the events that just happened. What was a fairly boring, ordinary meeting turned ugly when Cera's dad turned to personal accusations to throw dirt onto his uncle and embarrass him in front of the entire Great Valley. Petrie shook his head. Sure, his uncle was far from perfect, with his conceited and grandiose attitude causing a lot of problems in the past. But whatever he had done, that was all so long ago, and so shouldn't he be forgiven for it? Pterano had paid his exile penalty without fuss or complaint,and he had just helped give the Valley a warning of the last eggstealer attack. Not to mention Pterano had saved his future mate's life more than once, and been the first adult to stick up for him and Ducky being together …

Petrie squirmed uneasily. He hated fighting with anyone, especially his friends, and part of him wanted to apologize to get the argument over with right then and there. But knowing Cera and Shorty, his apology could give them license to harp upon his uncle even more. He wanted them to realize that his uncle, while obviously far from perfect, was neither deserving of harsh belittling or hateful condemnation, as underneath, he clearly had a good heart. So reluctantly, he knew that he could not cave just yet. Not at the very least until Cera and Shorty have thought over what they had said …

"Ah! There you are Petrie!" came a voice, and Petrie saw that Pterano was gliding up to him.

"Oh, hi Uncle Pterano!" Petrie greeted. "Um, you doing okay?"

"Don't worry Petrie, I am fine," Pterano said reassuringly. "It's not like I'm not used to this kind of, uh, confrontation."

"That good," Petrie said.

"So I was just wondering," Pterano said, "If you would care to attend a gathering back at your mother's nest, welcoming Brara to the flyer family. Your mother is gathering a pile of treestars inside, your brothers and sisters will be in attendance, and we would be honored if you could join us."

Petrie felt a little uncomfortable. Not only did Brara make him uneasy, but he wasn't on the best of terms with the rest of his siblings, among whom he was always the odd one out. Even worse, he knew there was no way Ducky could come along considering she couldn't fit in the crowded nest. But he knew his family would be disappointed if he didn't go, so he said, "Er … okay, me will come."

"Grand," Petrie said. "Oh, and Petrie?"

"Yes?" Petrie replied.

"If you get wind of any rumors someone might be telling about me … I would like to know. You'd do that for your uncle, wouldn't you?"

"Me try," Petrie said uncertainly.

"Excellent," Pterano said. "Well best be off. I will see you tomorrow night."

Later that afternoon, Petrie found Ducky waiting for him at their sleeping spot. "Hello Petrie," Ducky said kindly as Petrie happily sat by her side.

"Hi," Petrie said weakly.

Ducky looked at him in concern. "You doing okay, Petrie?" she asked consolingly, to which Petrie shook his head. "Me no know why Cera and Shorty have to be so mean."

"I did not like seeing that, nope nope nope," Ducky said supportively. "They were not very nice about Pterano, they were not. But Petrie?"

"Yes?" he asked uncertainly.

"Well … Pterano was not very nice to Cera's dad either," Ducky pointed out. "And that caused Cera and her dad to get mad."

"But Cera's dad way worse!" Petrie protested.

"Yes, but …" Ducky said, looking uncomfortable. She didn't want to argue with her mate, but she knew if there was any hope in getting Petrie and Cera to reconcile, she knew she had to try and share Cera's perspective. "I think to Cera, Pterano was looking to pick a fight with her dad. And she has a point, she does. Pterano did interrupt Cera's dad in the meeting and said many things about Mr. Threehorn that were not very nice, even before Cera's dad said anything about your uncle. He did not show Cera's father much respect, he did not."

Petrie sighed as he saw Ducky look sadly at her. She obviously did not enjoy telling Petrie this, but he could see the truth in her words. "So to Cera … Me uncle the bad guy?"

"Yep yep yep," Ducky sighed. "And since she thinks you are defending him, she is mad at you too."

Petrie sat silently before asking, "Ducky, do you still think … Well … My uncle is good inside?"

Ducky chuckled a little. "Oh, of course Petrie! He saved my life, he loves us both, and he really has changed. And I am sure everyone else, even Cera, knows he is good inside. Only …"

"Only what?" Petrie said, noticing Ducky trail off.

"Well, even the nicest of us can seem bad if we are in a dark place," Ducky said delicately. "And I think I know what puts Pterano in a dark place."

"Dark place?" Petrie asked.

"Oh yes," Ducky said sadly, plainly struggling to find words before asking, "When do you think your uncle acts ... Um, bad?"

"Well … When he separate herd because he want to be in charge … When he want to take Stone of Cold Fire to take charge of Great Valley … When he kidnap you to … to … You know why he kidnap you?"

"Because I overheard Pterano and his mean friends talk about their plans to take over the Great Valley," Ducky answered.

"And now, he acting bad at meeting because …. Because …" Petrie gulped. He really didn't want to say this, but it was all beginning to make sense … "Because he feels threatened by Cera's dad … Because maybe he think … Cera's dad wants to take charge …"

Ducky sadly nodded. "So you saying … My uncle only does bad things when … He think about who in charge?" Petrie asked, his worst fears being realized.

"I … I think," Ducky said slowly. Both paused hesitantly. Neither one of them liked to think badly of others, especially those they cared about. But this explanation behind Pterano's behavior made sense. Not only did it explain how Pterano could be good inside yet capable of doing such bad things, but it also was a clear, singular motive that tied all of his actions together. Suddenly, Petrie remembered something that Pterano once said to him …

"Perhaps someday I shall return to the herd, and prove that I can be trustworthy. I know there is much I can contribute if given the chance."

As Petrie shared the memory with Ducky, they sat together thoughtfully, trying to piece everything together.

"So Pterano always want to better the herd," Petrie said. "He always good inside, but … It not always come out right. That why he wanted to take herd in a different direction, because he thought it right way to go … And why he went after Stone of Cold Fire …"

"To help the herd," Ducky continued. "And now that he helped the herd during the eggstealer attack, he proved he could be trustworthy, and could live in the Valley again."

"But now Littlefoot grandparents no here," Petrie said. "And they best leaders we had."

"He does not seem to think Mr. Thicknose is a good leader," continued Ducky. "Remember what he said? "Mr. Thicknose might not be able to manage it.""

"And he think about who else could lead Valley," added Petrie. "He know Bron not in Valley long and no know herd like he does. And he know Cera's dad also a herd elder. And if Mr. Thicknose goes … He could be leader of the herd."

"And Pterano does not want Mr. Threehorn to be herd leader, he does not," Ducky said. "They do not like each other one bit. "

"Me uncle probably think if Threehorn in charge, that end of Great Valley …" Petrie realized. "Remember how Threehorn almost split up the herds? How he led Cera into fire? And how prejudiced he was? There reason for him to think that …."

Ducky nodded as the two of them looked at each other, terrified with what they had come up with. At last, Petrie recapped, "So … Pterano no think Thicknose last long and think if Thicknose goes, Threehorn would be in charge … And he think if Threehorn in charge, that end of Great Valley?"

"Yes yes yes," Ducky sighed. "And he thinks the only way to stop Mr. Threehorn from becoming Great Valley leader and in turn save the Great Valley … Would be for him to become leader himself …"

Ducky and Petrie sat in shock with what they had come up with. It was only then that Petrie remembered what Pterano had said earlier that day.

"Hey … Pterano inviting me to dinner tomorrow," he said. "Maybe me can watch him and see if he getting into trouble …"

"Oh, that is a good idea, it is!" Ducky exclaimed.

Their conversation was cut short however, as the news of the Old One's death was beginning to spread. Though they did not know her well, Ducky and Petrie were very sad, especially for Ali's sake, since they knew she had always been a part of Ali's life. Trying to comfort one another, they spent the rest of the night cuddling up, soothing each other in their shared presence. Throughout the next day, Petrie half expected someone from his family to come up to him to tell him the family dinner was cancelled. But as the service continued and no one did, Petrie realized that chances were, dinner was still going as planned.

It then occurred to Petrie that while he could not take Ducky along to the dinner, there was someone else he could invite so he wouldn't feel so alone and outnumbered. So he found Guido eating crawlers in a nearby tree hollow.

"Hi Guido!" Petrie greeted him as he flew over.

Guido stuck his head out of the tree, crunching. "Have you looked in the trees? There's so many crawlers! I bet even Chomper wouldn't go hungry off eating all the crawlers here! Take a look inside!"

Guido flew aside, and Petrie looked in, gasping. "Eek! That a lot of crawlers!"

"I don't know how I'm gonna eat them all to be honest," Guido said. "Maybe I'll have to ask Chomper to help out, because I'm filled up!" he said, rubbing his tummy.

"That good," said Petrie dispassionately.

"What's up with you?" Guido asked. "You don't sound so good."

Petrie sighed, and he told Guido about the dinner. "Sorry about it Guido, but ... Well, me feel better if friend with me."

"Ugh, I don't blame you for being nervous!" Guido said understandingly. "But I'd be glad to help! You need all the help you can get to get through that party."

"Yeah," Petrie said dourly.

"Hey, if your brothers and sisters give you a hard time, you don't have to stick around. And I'll even tell them off if they give you any trouble," Guido said kindly, as Petrie smiled appreciatively.

So with that settled, the two friends took to the air. Not far away in a clearing, Petrie could see the pastel rainbow-colored forms of Tricia's gang playing the pointy seed game, cheering and laughing wildly. Hearing the kids play together made Petrie think about his own fractured gang of friends, something not unnoticed by his fellow flying friend.

"Hey Petrie, are you doing okay after … You know," Guido said uncertainly.

Petrie sighed. "Me and Ducky talked over everything … Me see where they coming from, but me not ready to say sorry just yet."

"Okay, well I understand that," Guido said in relief.

"Actually," Petrie said. "We come up with idea about me uncle … Me wonder what you think."

And so Petrie shared what he and Ducky came up with about Pterano. Guido was intrigued, until he finally said, "Hmm … Well I won't deny your uncle can get a little creepy sometimes. And he kind of seems to show a lot of interest in herd meetings. You think he'd be a good herd leader?"

"Well," Petrie said, remembering. "Me think power gets to his head, and me … No want to see Pterano make big mistakes again."

"Makes sense to me," Guido said. "I don't think he'd be a good herd leader either. I mean, I know he's a good guy, but … Well, let's just hope it doesn't come to that," Guido said as they began to head back to his mother's nest.

The dinner at Mama Flyer's nest, predictably, was a crowded, tightly packed affair. Petrie could tell his mom, while trying her best to host the event, wasn't exactly happy with the circumstances, and he could see behind her smile were very tired-looking and even skeptical eyes. In contrast, Pterano gave Petrie and Guido a hearty greeting, and helped them find their place in the circle of flyers.

While the passage of time changed Petrie's family to some extent, the basic structure of it remained intact. His siblings, brothers Storm, Perkins, Jett and Stern and sisters May, Tilly and Windy were all gathered around, busily chatting to one another. While two of his siblings had left to live in the Mysterious Beyond, they were replaced by Tilly's boyfriend Skyler and Stern's girlfriend Curie. As always, they seemed to ignore Petrie, but this time, rather than only being focused on one another, their attention was also focused on the two biggest flyers in the cave. Petrie remembered how all of them were very impressed with Pterano and his stories when he first visited and was not surprised to see they were quite eager to eat with their uncle again. However, it was the mysterious new flyer that was most intriguing to Petrie's siblings, pretending not to notice all the stares she got, especially from Petrie's three unmated brothers, but not completely able to conceal a bemused smile.

"Ahem," Pterano said. "I would like to welcome you all to this event, uh …" he said as Mama Flyer rolled her eyes. "I mean, this space that my sister has graciously allowed us to use as a meeting place. To Skyler and Curie, I of course am your uncle-in-law Pterano, and it is a pleasure to finally meet. But I have someone else I would like everyone else to meet. This here is Brara. She grew up in a place far from here all by herself, surviving dangers in the Mysterious Beyond every day from a young age. But due to the special circumstances as a result of the fires, I have decided to do my part and take her on as my ward. As her family remains unknown, I would like to welcome her into ours, and I would like if you would share that same courtesy."

The others murmured in excitement, and soon began peppering Brara with questions.

"What was it like growing up in the Mysterious Beyond?" asked Jett eagerly.

"Well, it's a world filled with danger, sharpteeth in every canyon or body of big water. You need to have your wits about you, that's for sure. But really, there's nothing special about me. All of you could have done it."

"Really?" asked Tilly.

"Sure," Brara said confidently. "We are …" Her eyes then fell on Guido. "You're a flyer too, right?"

"Well I've got wings and I glided up here," Guido explained.

"Close enough," Brara said. "I don't want to offend anyone by saying this, but … Unlike the others out there, we are all very lucky to have wings. So long as we watch for sharpbeaks, who prefer easier prey stuck to the ground, we can go anywhere and not have to worry about being eaten. And this allows us to do great things."

Petrie saw his siblings watch intently as Brara suavely purred, "I've heard stories of many who flew across the entire world without rest, taking their knowledge of the world to new heights. Or others who lead sharpteeth to drown in the big water or trap them in rings of fire, all without getting their wings dirty. And in the process, save entire herds! Right, Pterano?"

Petrie and Guido looked at each other in shock. Was it just a coincidence that Brara mentioned rings of fire, like which they themselves were nearly incinerated from?

"You are quite right, Brara" said Pterano. "We are fortunate to have wings. Not only do they allow us to do great things, but they allow us to have a better sense of the world we live in. Just think about it. The others can only see what is in front of them. They simply cannot see the forest from the trees the way that we can by flying above the forest. This in turn often applies to their thinking. They simply see the path in front of them as the one to take, without considering other points of view which would give them valuable perspective. It is thus our duty to share our unique perspective with the other kinds, otherwise they would simply have no vision."

Petrie saw Mama Flyer roll her eyes as Guido muttered to Petrie, "What's he talking about?"

"Me no want to know," Petrie said uncomfortably. He tried to look at the others' eyes to see what they thought, but they were transfixed with Pterano's speech, hanging onto this every word.

"Alas, this is the downside to our capabilities," Pterano said sagely. "If we fail to communicate properly and underestimate the downfalls of being stuck to the ground, this may result in serious consequences … And I for one know more than anyone about that."

Petrie saw his siblings look at each other and murmur interestedly. Brushing aside a warning look from Mama Flyer, Pterano said, "I know you all by now must have heard the story of how I was exiled from the herd. And let me say first of all that I fully deserved my exile. So much so that I voluntarily chose to extend my own exile from five to twelve years, only returning when I was needed. And I will forever be ashamed that my decisions put so many in harm's way. But not once did they really listen to why I made the decision I made."

Mama Flyer issued a hard warning glare to Pterano, but Pterano pressed on. "As you may recall, we took a long, treacherous march west through the barren Mysterious Beyond to get to the Great Valley. Filled with danger, disease, and starvation along the way, which took a huge toll on our herds. Some of us were simply about to give up, and they needed an answer to put an end to their despair. So I wondered to myself, what if there was an easier way to reach the Valley? A way that may have been a bit longer perhaps, but was full of water, tree stars and a much less hot climate. So I took to the skies to see where we were going. As I expected, only harsh landscapes dotted the path we were on, which I knew would only lead to certain pain and suffering. But if we made a slight detour to the north, we would have taken a far more hospitable path to the Valley, where there was plenty of food and water for ..."

Shaking her head, Mama Flyer butted in. "Pterano!"

"What is it, Terese? I am merely saying facts."

"You did not mention the name of the place this so-called hospitable path goes through," Mama Flyer said sternly.

"I hardly think it is important," Pterano argued.

"Oh, it too is important," Mama Flyer said. "It explains why the elders did not take that path!"

Pterano sighed. "Very well. It goes through what's called the Biter Bluffs. But that doesn't mean …"

"Oh yes Pterano it means exactly that," Mama Flyer said. "Just what exactly were the sharpteeth who killed your herd?"

"Well, fast biters but … It was a risk I took, one that sadly did not entirely work … But the facts stand. It was a less desolate path to the Valley, and one I thought would be better than continuing with certain drudgery. Yes, there may have been more sharpteeth, but for the promise of a less arduous journey, it would be worth it, don't you think? And despite the holier than thou attitude of others, many perished along the way that did not follow my path at all. It was not like only those who followed me didn't make it to the Great Valley."

"All right Pterano, I think we've heard quite enough of your side of the story," Mama Flyer said, but Brara interrupted.

"So if it wasn't for the limitations of ground walkers because they couldn't fly … Your way to the Valley would have been safer after all!"

"Well, yes, but …" Pterano said, but now Storm interrupted.

"Wow. We've never heard story like that before!" he said, intrigued.

"If we all followed you, we would have gotten to the Great Valley without having to nearly starve!" exclaimed Stern. "We could have just flied our way out of trouble! Too bad Mom has to be such a curmudgeon."

"And you're modest," May said. "You found a way to the Great Valley all by yourself."

"You really are a good leader!" exclaimed Perkins as the others began to murmur in agreement.

"May I remind you," said Mama Flyer, alarmed with her children's response, "That the way you chose Pterano did result in sharptooth attacks that killed off your part of the herd."

"But if the rest of the herd followed Pterano's way instead of refusing to listen, they could've warded off all those sharpteeth!" Perkins said. "It's not Pterano's fault that they died, it's the elders' fault for not coming with him!"

"You know that got me thinking," said Skyler. "Thicknose isn't a good herd leader. He's never once experienced anything in the Mysterious Beyond, he passes out in herd meetings and lets Old Threehorn run all over him."

"Yeah, and the last thing we need is Old Threehorn in charge, right Pterano?" asked Windy. "With his run into fire and split the herd up schemes?"

"Well," Pterano said diplomatically. "I can't say the prospect of Old Threehorn seizing power doesn't give me the chills. We all know full well how power goes to his head and the kind of rash, bigoted, narrow-minded decisions he can make."

"Then you've got to stop him, Pterano," urged Brara. "You know Thicknose isn't going to last long, right? And rather than let Threehorn seize power, you've got to challenge Thicknose for the leadership spot and become herd leader first!"

"Well, I …" Pterano said uncomfortably, before Brara asked, "Raise your wing if you want Pterano to be herd leader?"

Everyone apart from Pterano, Mama Flyer, Petrie and Guido raised their wings, and at once, an excited murmur broke out. No sooner did this happen though, than Mama Flyer butted in the center of the circle.

"All right, this is not what I've allowed you to use my home for," she said angrily.

"But Mom!" protested Jett.

"No buts! If you want to have this dare I say foolish conversation, take it outside, because I do not want a mutiny to occur in my nest. Now get out!"

Mama Flyer's stern voice and glare gave pause to the younger flyers, who one by one promptly took off. Then Mama Flyer turned and rounded on Pterano.

"As for you," she said, seeing with rage.

"Honestly, I didn't mean …" Pterano began, but Mama Flyer cut him off.

"I allowed you to use my home for a family dinner, not to stage a bloody coup!" she raged.

"But I didn't do it, it was …"

"Well let me say I will not allow you or Brara to use my home again," Mama Flyer said. "Speaking of which," she said, and with a wing, she pinned Pterano to the wall. "As your sister, you better tell me the truth. Is Brara who Mr. Threehorn says she is?"

"I … I don't know," Pterano sputtered. "I don't know who her parents are. I've never seen her before the fires."

"Well if you don't know that, let me put it another way," glared Mama Flyer. "Did you have your way with another flyer and left her when you found out she was expecting?"

"Well, uh … I wouldn't put it that way," Pterano said sheepishly as Mama Flyer's eyes narrowed.

"That's it. Get out. Now! And not another word to my children, or else I will have to inform Misters Thicknose and Threehorn about your actions. I do not want to see you exiled … But if you keep this behavior up, you will leave me no choice but to get them involved."

Pterano nervously nodded before hurriedly flying away. Mama Flyer stared at Pterano's diminishing form, arms crossed, before she turned back in and sighed.

"Oh Petrie," she said sadly. "Am I that bad of a mother?"

"No Mom," Petrie said. "You very good mother."

"I sure don't feel like it," Mama Flyer said. "I can't believe how easily swayed they were by Pterano's nonsense … I'm sorry you had to hear all that."

"That all right," Petrie said.

"Not that I'd really know, but," Guido said as he continued, "I think Petrie's right. You seem like a good mother to me. I mean, you're concerned about your kids for one thing. And you're doing everything you can to help them. But sometimes, you try your best, but you still have to deal with a bad treestar once in a while."

"Thanks Guido," Mama Flyer said. "But that's the problem. I'm afraid the tree stars didn't fall far from the tree ... Pterano's tree ... And if they all reinforce each other like that …" Mama Flyer shuddered at least, before going to hug Petrie. "Promise me Petrie, that you'll be careful. Pterano and Brara may have a way with words, but if you stay true to your heart, I know you can see through it."

"Me try my best," Petrie said to his mother sadly.

"And I'll make sure he doesn't get into trouble," Guido said.

Mama Flyer smiled. "Thank you so much … Well, I at least I didn't fail everyone … Good night you two."

"Night," Petrie and Guido said before returning to their nests.

The next day, Ducky and Petrie decided to go to the Mysterious Beyond. Petrie desperately wanted to tell Ducky all about what happened at dinner, but he couldn't afford the risk of Pterano, Brara or any of his siblings eavesdropping in on them. However, once they got to the charred Mysterious Beyond, Petrie knew it was safe to be able to tell Ducky everything.

"So do you think Pterano wants to lead the Great Valley?" Ducky asked when he finished.

"Me no know," Petrie said. "But me know one thing. Brara wants him to, and so do me siblings. Me not sure Pterano able to say no if they all want him to do it."

"At least your mother does not want Pterano to do it," Ducky said brightly.

"That true," Petrie smiled. "She happy I not falling for Pterano this time."

"You think we should tell Littlefoot about this?" Ducky asked.

"Maybe," Petrie said. "But we no tell Cera yet. If Cera tell her dad, Pterano will be kicked out of Great Valley for sure."

"Yes yes yes," Ducky sighed. "I talked with Littlefoot last night. Do not worry, Cera was babysitting Tricia and friends. He is worried about Pterano wanting power too, he is. He thinks we are right, that he is not at his best when he is hungry for power. But he says his and Cera's dads are worried about Mr. Thicknose's leadership too, they are."

"You think they might want to lead herd too?" Petrie asked.

"Well you know Cera's dad," said Ducky. "He would never say no to being in charge, he would not. And Littlefoot's dad is used to leading a herd himself, he is."

"Yeah, but … Cera's dad always make bad decisions! And Littlefoot's dad knows nothing about Great Valley herd! They no be good leaders for Valley!"

"No, they would not, they would not," Ducky sighed. "But Mr. Thicknose is still herd leader, he is. And our parents and the other elders still like him, they do. So things will turn out okay, I think."

"Yeah, that true," Petrie sighed.

"We should do something to take our mind off grownup problems, we should," Ducky said cheerfully.

"You right," Petrie said, very appreciative of Ducky's positive mindset.

"How about you fly up and see if there is any green around?" Ducky suggested. "It would look so much happier than all this burned stuff, it would."

Petrie happily obliged, and taking to the air, he scanned the Mysterious Beyond, still thoroughly blackened with fires. "Nothing over here," Petrie called out. "Nothing here! Noth …" Then he paused, for as he flew a little higher, he saw a small but very green butte, high above the charred land around it.

"Hey! There patch of green up there!" Petrie called out as he swooped down excitedly. "Follow me!"

So quickly, the two of them hurried through, Ducky's footsteps and Petrie's flapping echoing with the absence of any other life around them. Soon they were able to get to the butte, but upon reaching it, soon saw that it was far too tall for Ducky to climb.

"Uh-oh, I cannot get up there, I cannot," Ducky said.

"Me no able to carry you up," Petrie said, shaking his head as he flew to the top, but then he smiled. "Hey! There big vine on ground. Me stand on top so you can climb up!"

So Petrie threw the vine down, and Ducky was able to climb it up. Panting as she reached the top she took a second to sit on the edge, staring out at the Mysterious Beyond. "Wow Petrie, you can see everything from here, you can! And if everything was green, it would be so pretty, it would!"

"It always look like that when you high above ground," Petrie smiled. "Something that never get old. Me remember when me learned to fly, the first time me could see like that …" Petrie sighed, remembering. "Me so proud of that moment!"

"You were very brave too, you were," Ducky smiled. "I will never forget when I thought Sharptooth ate you … I mean I know Littlefoot, Cera and Spike were sad, but I … Felt it all over, in here," Ducky said, touching her heart. "But when you came back, I was so happy, I was! I will never forget when you reappeared on that cliff, and I just could not help but hug you, I could not! "I guess that is when …" she giggled, "Well, I first knew I loved you, yep yep yep!"

"Yeah, that moment really special to me too," Petrie said warmly as the two of them hugged another again.

"Hey!" Petrie exclaimed. "Me just get idea from being here! We can make sleeping spot above the ground!"

"Oh Petrie, that sounds like fun, it does!" Ducky exclaimed. "But I do not know how …" Ducky trailed off however, as she saw the woods in front of her. The trees all had long branches, covered with thick, broad leaves that Ducky observed were soft to the touch. What's more, long thick vines just like the one Ducky climbed up to get to the top littered the forest floor, while the trees produced thick pools of sap that collected near their stumps.

"Petrie," Ducky said breathlessly. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"Me think so!" Petrie exclaimed. "Me see lots of things that can hold you above ground and create soft spot for both of us!"

"Oh yes yes yes!" Ducky cheered.

And the two of them eagerly began to play around with the vines. Gathering many sprawling vines and tying them up together in all kinds of combinations, the two of them tied their creations to the trees around them to see if they could support their weight. Supporting Petrie, who was very lightweight, proved to be easy, as even the flimsiest arrangement of vines could keep him aloft. But while Ducky was much lighter than Littlefoot, Cera or Spike, she was still far heavier than she once was, and every time she tried laying down on one of their creations, she fell right through, hitting the dirt ground with a hard thud.

"I do not think I will be able to sleep in one of these," Ducky said after the umpteenth fall.

"Well, as vine patterns we make get better, it take longer for you to fall," Petrie observed. "And we no try using vines like this yet! This'll make it even more strong!"

And eventually, the sleeping spot became thicker and thicker, and while it gradually lost nearly all its flexibility, it more than made up for it by what it gained in sturdiness. Eventually, Petrie tried picking it up, but though he tried to lift it, he could no longer carry it easily.

"Do not worry Petrie," I can lift it up," Ducky brightly said, and so she was able to lift the sleeping spot up to the trees, while Petrie was able to hold onto the other edge as Ducky tied each edge to a tree.

"You think it can hold you this time?" Petrie asked as Ducky finished.

"Well, there is only one way to find out, yep yep yep!" Ducky said as she tentatively put a foot on the sturdy sleeping spot. To her surprise, the spot didn't show any sign of breaking, and encouraged, she moved to sit on it. Again, the spot did not budge, and enthused, Ducky hauled her entire body onto the sleeping spot, and miraculously, it was now strong enough to hold her weight.

"Yay, it can hold me now, it can!" Ducky exclaimed, rolling on the sleeping spot. Then however, with a crack, the trees holding it cracked, and Ducky once again was sent crashing to the ground.

"Looks like we need to hang it on stronger trees," Petrie observed.

"But look, the sleeping spot held me up, it did!" Ducky exclaimed, pointing to the sleeping spot, which despite the fall was still unbroken. "And the trees back home are real big, they are! We can find trees back home tht are big enough to hold us up, yep yep yep," she said brightly, before hugging Petrie again.

Soon, they started using the sticky sap to paste the soft leaves onto the vine structure they created, and before long, it was covered with a thick coating of leaves, making the sleeping spot nice and cushy.

"This is really fun Petrie, it is!" Ducky exclaimed as she put another leaf on. "Even if we cannot sleep anywhere with it, it is still fun making it with you, it is!" Ducky exclaimed.

"Yeah, me think it fun too! Especially more fun than being at Pterano dinner, that for sure!" Petrie smiled, and playfully, he leaned into give Ducky a kiss.

Ducky giggled, "I love you too Petrie!" and kissed him back.

And happily, the two of them dove onto the sleeping spot and began to snuggle each other while laying on it, tickling each other's faces, giggling, and having the time of their lives. It seemed so long ago that they were worried about the problems back in the Valley …

Then however, they heard a rustling in the woods, and through it, emerged a small dinosaur slightly older than themselves. It was a small spikethumb, all dark gray but for his bloodshot eyes, and he looked very cranky.

"Hey, that's …" Petrie said,

"It is Dispo, it is," Ducky finished, recognizing from Hyp's gang. But what was he doing on his own?

"Canyatwostopmakin'somuchnoise?" he slurred irritably.

"We sorry," Petrie said.

"Good. Nowminderobusiness," Dispo growled, before heading back into the woods, bumping into a tree and cursing before ambling off.

Ducky and Petrie looked at each other. "What wrong with him?" Petrie asked.

"I do not think Dispo normally acts like that," Ducky said. "We should follow him."

"You think?" Petrie asked anxiously. "He be real mad if we do."

"Yes, but I do not feel good about him, I do not," Ducky answered.

"Well okay," Petrie said nervously, and so carrying their sleeping spot, they crossed through the woods to the other side of the butte.

What they when they reached the other end however took them thoroughly aback. There was Dispo, splayed on the ground, his head stuck in a bush of peculiar spiky flowers.

"Mmmm … Mmmmusthavveflowwers," Dispo moaned to himself.

Ducky and Petrie looked at each other awkwardly. It then occurred to them that they hadn't seen Dispo in the Valley since he abruptly left the herd meeting two days ago. They didn't see him with Hyp and his friends each time they saw them at the waterhole, so maybe he had been gone ever since ... And what exactly was Dispo doing in there in such an unusual position?

However, at that moment, Dispo stuck his head out of the flowers and saw Ducky and Petrie. His face turned red with rage, matching his bloodshot eyes. "HeyIthoughtItoldyagetlost!"

Ducky and Petrie looked at Dispo in concern. "Are you okay, Dispo?"

"Yeahocourseiokay," Dispo slurred, stumbling as he fully extracted himself from the flowers, "Betterthanyagoodygoodiesany … Ugh …" He said, as he slumped forward, landing with a belly-first bang.

Ducky and Petrie looked at each other. "We should take him back to the Great Valley, we should," Ducky said worriedly.

"Ohnoyadont," Dispo barked. "Ilikeitrighthere … Thismowngrayvalley … Andinnohavestinkineldersputtinmonpoopduty."

"This nice place but not Great Valley," Petrie said confusedly. "No one else lives here."

"Nomaflowersdo," Dispo slurred lustily, gazing to the flowers longingly. "Andyouknowhat? Youdontgetflowerscuzeyallmine."

Petrie looked at Dispo anxiously. He had heard about unusual flowers which could relieve pain, decrease stress and elevate mood. But judging by Dispo's reactions, he was acting in a way that went well beyond these good feelings and made him seem almost crazy. Whatever was happening to Dispo scared him, for he seemed completely under the flowers' spell …

There was nothing else for it. As Dispo made another dive for the flowers, Petrie swooped down and yanked them out of the ground, and before Dispo got a chance to surface, Petrie hurriedly dropped them, sending them flying to the ground far below them.

For a moment, Dispo stared at Petrie with his bloodshot eyes. Petrie half expected Dispo to try to strangle him, and he prepared to dart away from Dispo's flailing arms. But instead, Dispo banged his chest and shouted, "YOUGAHRIDOFLOWERS! THENIGOJOINEM!"

And before Ducky or Petrie knew it, Dispo took a running start and began to sprint toward the cliff ….

"No!" they both shouted, but Dispo didn't seem to hear them. Luckily he tripped again, giving them a second to collect themselves, but he got right back up and continued going onward ... He was really going to do it, going to hurl himself off the cliff …

But then Ducky had a sudden inspiration. "Petrie!" she exclaimed, throwing the sleeping spot they made toward him. "Catch him!"

Petrie caught the sleeping spot just as Dispo jumped off the cliff. And in that moment, what he had to do was very simple; he had to get to Dispo before his body could hit the ground. So taking in a deep breath, Petrie shot as fast as he could to the ground, dragging the sleeping structure with him. But as fast as he was flying, Dispo was falling too, and could crash at any moment …

Swooping down in a sharp angle that made his wing ache all over, Petrie finally was able to steer the sleeping spot under Dispo just before he hit the ground. The sleeping spot bent as it cradled the weight of the falling spikethumb, weighing down Petrie greatly and straining his back, but he was nevertheless able to slow Dispo's fall to a gentle landing.

Petrie then flew back to the top and sat on a vine to allow Ducky to climb down it, and upon her making the ground, they both went over to the unconscious Dispo, laying on the sleeping spot they had built.

"Do you think he is all right?" Ducky asked worriedly.

Petrie moved his hand over to take his pulse. "He still alive!"

"That is good, it is!" Ducky exclaimed. Now let us get back to the Great Valley and help him out, yep yep yep!"

We'll see what's been going on with Littlefoot, Cera, Chomper and Ruby next time!