Here we go with another chapter! Well, originally this chapter was supposed to cover a lot more than this, but ... I want to take time in fleshing everything out and not miss out on valuable character perspectives, and thus, chapters often get split off ... Like what happened here! Hence I have no idea how long this story will actually go hahaha. Originally, this and the next one were supposed to be one chapter, but so much is happening it just wouldn't all fit!
This chapter, as well as the next one, takes place in the Great Valley, approximately at the same time Ducky, Spike, and their new friends are eating the prickly plants in the Hidden Canyon. But there's plenty of other things going on at the same time and characters that we need to check in on! Had a total blast writing this, and I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did writing!
Warning for some Land Before Time equivalents of T-rated language in this chapter, and some T-rated humor I just couldn't resist. Also, for clarification, "Marina" is Mama Swimmer, I changed that up fairly recently. And of course, please fav/follow/review/PM, and Land Before Time and its universe belongs to Universal.
Chapter 26 – Dark Valley: Part 1
Early Morning Hours - Day 2 – Great Valley
"They're all asleep, right?"
"Asleep as long as they are sleeping."
Sitting in the center of the Great Valley, the four young dinosaurs, two defendants and two confidantes, spent the wee hours of the morning together. In an ironic twist of fate, because of Chomper and Shorty's precarious legal status, they, Bron and Topps were the only ones to whom the segregation decree did not apply besides the regime's enforcers. And thanks to Pterano's shrewd interjections and knowledge of defendant rights, the four of them were free to talk to one another as they pleased. Chomper and Shorty did not even have any shackles on them to hold them to the ground.
Yet they knew their relative freedom did not translate into any less of a bleak situation. One of their precious ten days had expired, and apart from seeing Tricia's gang put on a show of admittedly impressive and downright hysterical turmoil, nothing seemed to be happening in their favor. The day's legal events were stiff, dull and not at all encouraging. The jury had been named, and although on the surface it appeared to be impartial, consisting of dinosaurs of different kinds, every single juror came from one of the segregated herds, headed by a particularly austere looking threehorn who had none of Mr. Threehorn's gruff warmth. What's more, during the day's opening arguments, the jurors were plainly sympathetic to Gus's account of how Shorty had mortally wounded his friend and Trenton's testimony on how many herd members he had seen killed by twoclaws. Bron and Mr. Threehorn tried to intervene, with Bron arguing that Earl had been wounded well before his death and Mr. Threehorn emphasizing Chomper had already been wrongfully accused and proven his character, but their arguments were completely ignored, earning several eyerolls and even a yawn from the jury's longneck. By the end of the day, both Bron and Mr. Threehorn were exhausted and exasperated, for it was clear that the trial's result was a foregone conclusion, and the only thing it provided was a delay in their death sentences.
Even the relative freedom enjoyed by the prisoners and their confidantes was merely an illusion. For while they were not immobilized, they were still surrounded by several herds of dark-hearted dinosaurs, with a herd of longnecks, spiketails, clubtails and threehorns lined up on each side to block them off. They knew fully well that if they dared to make a break for it, they could be found in contempt of court and thus Leigh would be able to justify an immediate execution. But as time dwindled by with no encouraging developments, this seemed to become a more and more attractive option. The only thing they had going for them was that the herds guarding them were asleep in the dead of the night, allowing them to speak to one another freely in those precious moments. Yet they still knew they couldn't be too careful, for there was no guarantee that the guards were not merely pretending to be asleep …
"It's so frustrating," Shorty complained, glowering at the line of sleeping clubtails as he stood up. "I just wanna step over those rockheads and make a run for it!"
"No Shorty, please!" Ali insisted. "That's exactly what they want."
"If you go past them, then they have an excuse to put you in the past," Ruby warned.
Reluctantly, Shorty sat back down. "I can't stand this!" he moaned, stomping his paw. "We only have nine more days, and yet what are we doing? Nothing."
Ali looked at Shorty sympathetically. "That's all we can do, Shorty. But things will turn out okay, I'm sure of it."
Averting his eyes from her, Shorty merely snorted. "You're acting like you're not worried. But how can you? You're in just as much trouble as I am, remember? That crap about representatives having the same punishment as the accused or whatever it was?"
Shorty expected to see both Ali and Ruby flinch, but neither seemed to react. "We know, Shorty. But … I have enough faith to know not to give up yet," Ali said, trying to put on a brave face.
Remembering their earlier conversation, Ruby smiled at her supportively. "And no matter what happens, it would be better for us all to remain true to ourselves and true to each other, just like Littlefoot and the others would be."
"Well, you two are even stupider than me then," Shorty growled. "Not to realize when all hope is lost. I learned that a long time ago."
Ali looked at Shorty thoughtfully. By his tone of voice, she could tell he was referring to something that had left him deeply shaken and scarred. Putting a paw on Shorty's leg gently, she tentatively asked, "What do you mean?"
Shorty sighed, his head lowered as he felt that supportive paw embracing him. Was now really the time to open up about himself? Then again, there wouldn't be any other time in the future …
"I'm not like Littlefoot," he said finally. "I know what happened to his mother is tragic … But even he can't begin to understand the pain I went through …"
Shorty closed his eyes as his mouth contorted into a sorrowful scowl. "The truth is, my name is not an accident … I'm called Shorty because I'm a runt … And that's how it all went wrong."
As everyone sat in silence, Shorty continued. "My birth parents had three eggs. Altit, Horax, and me. I haven't seen Altit and Horax since I was six … But when I last saw them … They were a lot bigger than me."
"So?" Chomper asked, confused.
"You don't get it, none of you do," Shorty said exasperatedly. "All three of you are oldest or only children. But I'm a triplet! And the runt of the clutch … Which means I'm … expendable."
A comprehending chill went through Ali's heart as she clutched onto Shorty's paw more tightly.
"But why?" Chomper asked. "Just because you're the smallest doesn't mean you deserve any less love!"
Shorty shook his head. "You know why there's so few of my kind out there? Because we're huge! We're supposed to be two of Bron in weight! Which means we have to eat twice as much as other longnecks! And because we need so much food … There's not enough food out there to go around for all of us," he bitterly growled.
"I don't understand," said Chomper. "If you're little, that means you'd need less food than the others. Meaning you should be easier to take care of, right?"
"No, it's not like that," said Shorty angrily. "What it means is that I'm a weakling with bad genes who can't carry on my family's bloodline … Making me completely worthless, and the only thing I did was take away food that could be given to my stronger, better, perfect brothers."
Ali gasped, looking at Shorty in shock, pity and understanding, as his eyes had become narrow and hard. "That's … so cruel!" she whispered in disbelief, shaking her head. "Who told you that?" she asked quietly, though she had a feeling she knew the answer.
"My birth parents," Shorty spat out with disgust. "My disgusting, terrible, so-called parents! I hate them!"
He yelled the last bit out loud as he stomped on the ground, causing a slight earthshake, to which the others had to make sure didn't wake up any of the guards. When it appeared they were still asleep, Shorty continued angrily.
"Bron tells me hate is a strong word … But I really do hate them!" Shorty shouted, and as Ali stared at his hardened, passionate expression, she could tell that he had been holding this back for cold times, and only now that he was upon the precipice of death was he finally revealing his darkest, rawest feelings ...
"You know what Altit and Horax did for fun?" Shorty asked furiously. "They constantly swatted me with their tails and ripped tree stars out of my mouth! They tripped me all the time, and they hid in the bushes to jump out and tackle me when I was least expecting it!"
"You sure they weren't just roughhousing?" Ali asked gently, wanting to make absolutely sure that there wasn't any misunderstanding.
Shorty firmly shook his head. "They didn't just pin me down. They pummeled me, to the point where they broke my bones and left me limping! They didn't think twice about giving me bruises or causing me to bleed! All they wanted to do was raise their overinflated egos and leave me in the dust so I didn't take any more of their tree stars."
A long, drawn-out pause encapsulated the group as Shorty's eyes began to water, his eyes unblinking and narrowed.
"That's terrible!" Chomper finally gasped. "Didn't your parents try to stop them?"
Shorty turned to glare at Chomper. "You wanna hear what my parents did? What those sharptooth dirt eating jerks said?" Taking a deep breath, Shorty closed his eyes in anguish as he cried out, "She said she was proud of them for being strong, tough longnecks who'd carry out their bloodline. And he said I needed to toughen up if I didn't want to become sharptooth food."
Horror-stricken, the others stared at Shorty as he let out an enormous sigh. "One day, my parents promised that they'd find me a golden flower that would make me just as big and strong as my brothers. They said all I had to do was stand there, wait, and they'd come back to me with it. And I don't know, I guess I was so desperate, I believed them …"
His eyes filled with suppressed rage, Shorty muttered icily, "So I sat there and waited. And waited. Kept waiting for them to come. Until I heard footsteps … I turned behind me, and there was an ugly, drooling sharptooth! Uh … no offense," Shorty said awkwardly to Chomper.
"None taken," Chomper said understandingly.
"And it was then when I knew they were laughing at me," Shorty snarled coldly. "They left me to die there … So I'd never bother them again. And that I was truly unwanted."
Ali looked at Shorty sympathetically, her eyes widening with understanding. Suddenly, the reasoning behind why Shorty had reacted so strongly to Earl's bullying became crystal clear, along with all of his insecurities … He reminded her so much of Rhett … She could hear the pain in his voice as she fervently clung onto his sagging leg, trying to hug it as tightly as she could, as if the giant longneck was the smallest, most vulnerable hatchling.
"So is that why," Ali asked quietly. "You were so … Well, rough on Littlefoot at first?"
With a gulp, Shorty nodded. "Well, at first it was just a dumb attempt to raise my own self-image. I saw that idealistic fool stroll toward me, that faraway, happy look in his eyes, and it made me feel sick. How could he be feeling so happy while all I felt was pain? I felt like he deserved a cold, hard dose of reality, so I gave him a good tripping … It made me feel like I wasn't the biggest piece of sharptooth dirt in the world for a bit. But then it turned out that he's Bron's birth son …" Shorty gulped, as he sighed, "I was so mad! It felt like he was out to steal the closest thing I ever had to a real dad! The one who treated me … Like no one else had."
Shorty sighed as he explained, "Bron first found me with a bunch of other orphans. Everyone in the herd took pity on them, and they were all adopted by lovey-dovey, adoring parents. Everyone said they were the cutest little things. But not me. No one wanted good-for-nothing, bad-tempered, stupid, ugly Shorty with the stupid bump on his head. And just when I began to hope Bron might really love me like a real dad, there he shows up ... His real son ... And he takes him away from me! The one good thing I ever had in life!"
Growling, Shorty sighed, "I know Bron tried hard. But he couldn't help but favor his real son. He went all the way here just to give him that Big Longneck Test … Yet he never stopped to give me it, even though I'm the older brother, even though I'm the one who's traveling with him every day through the stupid Mysterious Beyond! No, it's my perfect little brother who gets all the attention, and then it's dumb old Shorty, the one with his freakish weight and bad temper, who always gets left ignored. Even Littlefoot has no faith in me. He didn't even ask me to come along to save Bron on that trip to the Fire Mountain. He probably just felt I'd hold him back, just like everyone else."
Ruby however cut in. "Shorty ... Littlefoot does have faith in you ... He was the one who asked if you could be like brothers ... And he loves you very much."
Sighing, Shorty nodded. "Sorry ... I shouldn't have said that. I know it's not Littlefoot's fault. You're right, he loves me like a real brother, much more than my rotten nestmates. Really … He's the best brother I could possibly have. But it still hurts … You know? That no one cares about me ... for me. Not because they feel like they have to. Not because I'm Littlefoot's brother. But because ... Well, I'm me. You get what I'm saying?"
"Shorty," Ali said tentatively as she snuggled his paw, "I know it might not mean much, but well … I do care about you ... for you."
"Stop," Shorty snorted, "You're just saying that because you feel sorry for me."
"No, really," Ali told Shorty, looking up at him, her eyes concerned, warm and sincere. "I ... I've always liked you. Ever since we first fought those eggstealers together ... I've always felt a little something ... In here," Ali said, putting her other paw to her heart as she felt an odd tingle of warm satisfaction. "You can be a little rough around the edges and a little clumsy … Though personally, I find you all the cuter for it," she giggled as Shorty stared. "But you've also got a big heart … You showed up with Littlefoot and Cera, just as determined as they were to help save the Great Valley even though you didn't really know anyone here. You stood up for your father when Mr. Threehorn and Mr. Flyer were attacking his character, even risking your friendships with Cera and Petrie for it. Bron told me you rescued Tricia from Earl too … And then of course … Well, I know it sounds silly, but … I love how you care about me."
Shorty stared as Ali continued, "I have a lot of great friends ... But well, you're really special," she smiled, looking at directly into his eyes. "I mean, well, I don't know how to put this, but … No one else came to comfort me at the Old One's funeral. No one was as concerned as you when Earl was, well, you know … Or were looking at me quite the way you were when those sharpteeth were attacking me. I guess that's why I wanted to be your confidante, see ... Because you always seem to look out for me, no matter what else happens, that well … I haven't seen from anyone other than Rhett …"
"You mean … You really want to represent me? You actually wanna be on my side?" Shorty asked tentatively. "You don't think I'm just a lost cause and are just taking pity on me?"
Ali shook her head firmly. "No Shorty, that's not true at all ... I do have faith in you. So much that … If you go down, I'm ready to go down with you."
"Ali ..." Shorty stuttered. "I ... I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to," Ali smiled affectionately at him. "If we die ... We'll die ... Together."
Ruby looked proudly and knowingly at Ali, as she and Shorty began to look at each other with ever greater fondness. There was obviously something brewing between them … But much as she'd like to, she couldn't let another interspecies romance start to blossom just yet, not when such relationships were newly illegalized and would give Leigh a readymade excuse to issue them both an immediate death sentence. Besides, she couldn't help but feel that with the despairing nature of their conversation that the two of them were missing something … Something that neither of them would really understand, not having been on that many adventures with Littlefoot and the others yet. But it was something that could help them both enormously.
"It's kinda cute to hear you planning your deaths like that," Ruby said teasingly, causing them both to blush as she eyed them knowingly. "But I wouldn't catch your hatchlings before they hatch."
This unexpected cheek did just the trick in capturing everyone's attention as Ali and Shorty turned away from each other, Ali looking hopefully and Shorty disbelievingly at her. Behind her, she could just feel Chomper's eager grin, no doubt desperately wanting to lift the mood after listening to all of this melancholy and despair ...
Nodding toward Chomper understandingly, Ruby muttered, "We better be very quiet." Then she climbed up Shorty's tail and onto his back, and the four of them drew in their heads together, wanting to ensure they were out of earshot of any of the sleeping guards. Once they knew they were as safe as they could be, Chomper began to trip over his words before finally slowing down enough to tell everyone what he had been thinking.
"Guys, this is Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike we're talking about," Chomper whispered with a smirk as boundless hope sparkled in his glistening eyes.
"Yeah, so?" sighed Shorty indifferently. "They can't help us. They're probably dead, and if not, they're on the run somewhere … Abandoning us to save their own skins."
Chomper couldn't help but snicker and shake his head. "Sorry Shorty, but that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Give me one time they've not been there for us … ever."
Shorty snorted. "Great, so they're gonna get themselves killed too."
Now it was Ruby's turn to smirk. "You really haven't been on very many adventures with them as kids, have you?"
"Oh now you have to rub it in," Shorty snapped.
"No no," Ruby laughed. "No, I mean … You wouldn't be saying that if you knew how resourceful they can be."
"Yeah, you wouldn't know because you were too busy trying to boss us around," Chomper teased as Shorty just shook his head in annoyance.
"So often we can overcome obstacles now because Chomper is a fully grown sharptooth and you two are so big," Ruby explained. "But when we were kids, we didn't have that. We just had our own wits and teamwork to count on to get us out of trouble. How else do you think we escaped Red Claw all the time? And how do you think the five of them alone managed to defeat Sharptooth? Without any help from the grownups?"
As Ali and Shorty pondered the possibility, Ruby very quietly muttered with a knowing smile, "Knowing them, they've probably come up with some kind of crazy idea that the bad guys would never think of."
"You're right," Ali smiled, nodding. "That's how we survived our journey to get the Night Flower … And even the way you guys tricked Rhett …" she sighed, unable to stop another tear as Ruby petted her neck consolingly. "You've been on so many adventures with them, maybe you two know what they're up to. Maybe you even know where Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike would be hidden …"
She trailed off, for at the mention of that last word, Chomper and Ruby immediately turned to look at each other, their eyes widening and hearts beating, each with the same quizzical glance. Ali and Shorty stared, immediately knowing something was up.
"Do you smell something good with ... Something icky?" Ruby asked tentatively.
"Hmm ... Let me ask my sniffer," Chomper answered knowingly.
And as Ali and Shorty looked blankly on, Ruby looked up at Chomper eagerly as he turned his head toward the southwest and took a big sniff. He paused thoughtfully as he felt Ruby's eyes expectantly watching him.
Then slowly, Chomper's eyes began to flicker with life as a broad grin spread across his face.
"What?" Shorty asked dumbfoundedly as Ruby lightly kicked him to be quiet.
"Mmm!" he exclaimed, licking his lips, causing Ali and Shorty to instinctively flinch, before Chomper, barely able to contain his excitement, whispered, "I just love to have dinner!"
While Ali and Shorty looked at each other in bewildered disgust, Ruby, forcing herself to be very careful to avoid revealing her own glee, hurriedly asked, "What's on the menu?"
"Let's see ..." Chomper said, his eyes twinkling. "We've got stew, soup, liver of … uh, pot pie, uh … a la mode … And I think they might have more courses!" Chomper winked.
"Mmm, sounds tasty," said Ruby, rubbing her stomach as she winked back at him.
"It is! You flatteeth should try it!" Chomper snickered, giving them both a knowing grin.
Bewildered, Shorty looked imploringly at Ali. "What are they talking about?"
"Some type of sharptooth cuisine, I'd expect," said Ali, but she too could tell that there was a lot more behind what they were saying than what it seemed ...
Still, even in this moment of triumph, Chomper couldn't help but notice that Ruby still looked pensive.
"Is something the matter Ruby?" Chomper asked thoughtfully.
Ruby sighed. "I'm just worried about the twins and their friends."
Shorty began to loudly cackle, so much so that Ali, Chomper and Ruby had to nudge him to be quiet. "Sorry," he guffawed. "It's just … I've never seen a pack of kids cause that much trouble. Seriously, those kids have got rocks for nerves. They say you guys were troublemakers … But next to them, you must've looked like a bunch of sweet bubbles."
"I don't know," Chomper countered cheekily. "If it was us against the histrionic hollowhead, you'd have no idea what we might have been able to come up with!"
But while the others snickered, Ruby still didn't smile. "I don't blame the kids for fighting for their friendships … I know we would've done the same … But there's only so much resistance that the bad guys will put up with."
"You're not saying they should give up, are you?" Chomper asked concernedly.
"They're practically running the Great Valley resistance themselves," Shorty chortled, nearly quaking from mirth. "And they don't even weigh a spiketail combined!"
"I know," said Ruby cautiously. "But don't you think they might start being targeted if they keep this up?"
"Nah … They're just kids! Who'd hurt kids?" Chomper asked innocently, before the others looked at him questioningly. Sighing, he admitted, "Okay, never mind."
"What are you gonna do? Tell them to stop?" Shorty asked skeptically.
"No, that wouldn't work …" Ruby sighed, shaking her head. "But I wonder if the Valley is the best place for them anymore. If they're going to fight anyway … They might be better off with others who are fighting just as hard as they are," she said, nodding toward the frilled dinosaur zone.
"But they can't get in, Ruby," Chomper reminded her. "Remember what happened?"
Shorty and Ali again looked confusedly at one another. "Well, maybe their folks will find a way," Ruby reasoned.
High upon the Hidden Canyon's walls, two little feathered dinosaurs were staring down upon the Great Valley. Their view consisted of an open space, loosely populated with trees and dotted with the seemingly small forms of frilled dinosaurs, remaining immobile while being bathed in the darkness of a quiet night. Still, the air was not filled with complete silence, for they could make out the sound of distant footsteps.
"What's that sound?" Guido whispered to Avie anxiously.
"That must be the border patrol," Avie answered. "No doubt making sure no one is sneaking around at night. But they must be over where the zones meet, not here at the Valley's edge."
Guido chuckled. "They must be real tired after everything Tricia and the Tri-Tris were up to," he joked.
Avie snickered. "Those little devils … I'm amazed they even fell asleep."
"You're sure about that?" Guido asked.
"Well, I spy with my little eye … The ringleader of the junior crimewave herself," Avie smirked.
Guido looked and right at the corner of the Great Valley, sleeping under a tree with five-petaled red tree stars and with several bushes nearby, was the little threehorn, nestled protectively in between her parents on either side.
"She's so cute," Guido said, shaking his head. "Who'd know she could be so … Well, naughty!"
"You know, I've heard you helped save that sleeping beauty out of danger once," Avie told Guido.
Guido blushed. "Aww, it was nothing. Cera's the one who actually caught her."
"Figures, of course she'd be the one responsible for the shrimp squad," Avie said with a smiling sigh.
"How can you call them that when the shrimps are bigger than us?" Guido asked.
They both laughed before Avie said more seriously. "Still Guido, you did everything you could to save Tricia's life, and Mr. Threehorn will always appreciate that. You've probably forever earned his trust."
"You know, you're right …" Guido pondered thoughtfully. Then he looked at Avie and said, "You think I should … Uh, never mind," he ended awkwardly, shivering with the prospect.
"What?" Avie asked quizzically.
"Well, uh, maybe I should, uh … Go talk to Mr. Threehorn," he said, before realizing going, "Oh wait. I don't want to be the first to find out what it's like to rouse the guy … He's scary enough even when he's had his beauty sleep … But if he's not sleeping …"
"Guido," Avie reminded him cautiously. "Littlefoot and Cera said talk to Mr. Thicknose."
"Yeah, but … That's because Mr. Threehorn usually would be stuck in trials," Guido explained. "But now, he and Mrs. Threehorn are right under our noses, and no one else is watching them. They might not be able to get the word out like Mr. Thicknose, but at least we can let them know, right?"
Avie sighed but nodded. "All right, but it might be dangerous in case someone's watching. I'll keep watch and be ready to fly you out of there in case there's trouble. But make sure Tricia's asleep, all right? Because if she finds out, she'd get so excited she could ruin the secret."
"Right," Guido said understandingly, before he took a deep breath and dived downward, right into the red tree star tree. No one seemed to hear his landing, and it wasn't until Guido got settled on the branches that he heard something.
"Don't worry … Guys … I won't let them hurt you … Ugh … Ugh … Just hold on … We'll be together again, promise!"
"She's sounding terrible, Topsy. We must do something," Tria said sadly.
Topps sighed and shook his head. "Like what? That hollowheaded son of a tarpit has taken over everywhere."
With a heavy sigh, Topps shook his head. "The one thing I still don't understand is how he got past Monty. Monty was supposed to be his and Bella's caretaker ... Yet somehow, he had him completely fooled."
"You sure we can trust Monty?" Tria asked thoughtfully.
Topps nodded. "Monty told me his secret, Tria. Which he made me promise not to tell anyone, not even you. Let's just say he didn't get kicked out of his old herd for anything he did, but for who he is. And I haven't seen anything to challenge my assessment of his character."
Shaking his head, Topps said, "The trial is going just as badly as I knew it would. I knew old Bonehead would crack under the pressure from those goons. They probably threatened him to force him to cooperate. Have you seen that jury selection?"
"It does look concerning," Tria admitted. "There is not a single dinosaur on that jury that I can trust."
Topps growled, "Of course not. This is a hopper court, plain and simple. Defending Chomper to these so-called jurors is a suicide mission. All of them are prejudiced, extremist brutes … It's obvious that not only the defendants but their confidantes, Longneck and I will be sentenced to death when the stupid trial is said and done. I don't know what Longneck was playing at when he thought it would help matters."
"Come on Topsy," Tria said. "It can't really be that bad, can it?"
Topps shook his head. "You don't know those creatures like I do, Tria. Always skulking around the edge of the Valley, giving us dirty looks as they pass. Apparently they had lived in the area for generations, before Old Longneck and the rest of us on the Circle of Elders established the concept of a combined herd here. Longneck always wanted to give them respect, believing it to be the best way to preserve peace. But someone had to keep those dangerous vagrants away from the children. I knew those bums hated Cera and the others the moment they proudly announced to everyone they were best of friends, even though they wouldn't dare say a thing to my face ..."
Topps sighed. "There were never enough of them at a time in the Valley to be a real threat. Never mind that the different herds weren't on speaking terms with each other. And with the Mysterious Beyond getting more fertile over the cold times, and them being so sick of the way we did things, many of them just went up and left. Longneck had always hoped they would learn from our example, seeing how well we, especially the children, got along. And indeed, even I had reason to believe such. I was not much better once, but I had changed, thanks in large part to Cera and Old Longneck ... And following my example, so did the others in our herd. We all had learned our lesson ... And I suppose I always expected my threehorn brethren to change just like we did."
Taking a brief pause, Topps continued, "But my hopes were dashed when that scoundrel Troy came here ... I don't know what I was thinking when I tried marrying Cera to him ... It was then that I realized the truth. Of how highly proud, insular, and downright incorrigible these herds are. Who fail to change as the world changes around them and grow embittered at anyone who does not cling to their outdated ways. I had hoped Troy would be better, being of a younger generation, and that he would at least be someone who would understand the flaws of segregated living himself. But rather than being better than the old fossils from these herds, he was if anything, worse ..."
Shuddering, Topps shook his head. "Such backwards thinking on gender roles, for instance. That whole attitude that males are dominant and females are submissive ... I hate it to my core. That's why I always made sure to raise Cera in a way so that she would always feel empowered and never repressed, and that she'd never feel inferior to any arrogant male. But Troy's whole attitude on how a wife should never leave the nest ... That disgusted me Tria, it really did," Topps sighed as Tria nodded sympathetically. "You were right all along about him. I just refused to see it ... I guess the one good thing that no-good lout did was made me realize how truly special Littlefoot was, in that I knew I could always count on him to help Cera forward and never hold her back."
Heaving one more heavy sigh, Topps explained, "Meeting Troy made me realize just how dangerously behind the times these herds were ... And that if the Valley failed to have strong leadership, we could easily fall prey to these fanatics should they ever have a reason to band together and unite to overthrow everything we hold dear."
"So that's why you were so … Desperate to lead the Great Valley," Tria observed. "You thought you were the only one who could keep the Valley safe."
Topps sighed and nodded. "Much as he'd try, Thicknose would have no chance standing up to the mob. Who knew what deals or schemes Pterano might have come up with in his exile, or what debts he might have needed to repay … And Longneck himself was a leader of a relatively segregated outsider herd. I did fear he was trying to establish a longneck dictatorship with all his interferences … Yet in truth, now I know he was only doing that because he was afraid of me and my bigoted past …"
Topps looked down at Tricia's trembling body before he said, "I failed everyone, Tria. I failed the Valley, by not thoroughly investigating that rotten hollowhead when he arrived, and obsessing over my own power grab so much that I failed to keep an eye on the mob. I failed you, for you and Twoped would still be at your old home if you hadn't moved down here for me."
"Topsy, we didn't ..." Tria began, but Topps continued.
"And I failed our girls … Thanks to me, Cera is on the run, probably already dead, and Tricia is in so much danger already … I fully deserve my impending punishment."
Sighing, Topps turned to Tria. "Tria, I'm going to do my best to take down as many of those rotten scoundrels as I can when they try to kill me. But know that try as I might, I probably won't make it out alive, and if the worst happens, I need you to keep Tricia safe … And so I've got a secret to share with you."
Cautiously looking to make sure no one else was listening, Topps whispered, "See that big rock over there?"
Tria nodded seriously.
"Well, that rock is not there by accident. It was pushed there by the Longnecks and I to seal off the Hidden Canyon many cold times ago," Topps explained.
"The Hidden Canyon?" Tria asked puzzledly. "Isn't that that place that those fast biters went through to invade the Valley?"
Topps nodded, his voice very low and quiet. "The thing is though, while few even remember the Hidden Canyon after all this time, even fewer can pinpoint the exact spot where the Hidden Canyon meets the Great Valley. And now that you know … And with everyone else having knowledge of it likely to be dead if not dead already… You'll be the only one who'll know about it."
"What are you saying, Topsy?" Tria asked thoughtfully.
"If you and Tricia ever need to escape … You can ram right through that rock with your horns, and you will uncover a secret passage," Topps said seriously. "Maybe you can take part of the herd with you, and maybe Tricia might even be able to take some of her friends along. I know I have messed up so badly … But at least I can pass on what little knowledge I have to you."
"Right," Tria nodded cautiously.
Sighing, Guido knew he had to step in. Gently gliding down to the threehorns, he quietly whispered, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Threehorn."
Topps and Tria both flinched backward before looking at each other in petrified terror. "Guido? What are you doing here?" Tria asked bewilderedly, not fully able to control her fear upon realizing their entire conversation had been eavesdropped upon.
"Just … saying you can't do that," Guido said cautiously, looking on either side to make sure no one else was awake.
The fear in Topps' eyes quickly turned into livid anger. "Look here Guido, who are you to tell me that I can't protect what little family I have left? And if you even think about reporting us to that son of a tarpit to save your own sorry hide …"
"No, no," Guido said hurriedly before very quietly whispering, "They're inside."
Something about his tone of voice caused Topps and Tria to freeze and look at each other significantly in a long, still silence.
At last, Topps muttered hoarsely, "You can't be serious."
"Why else would I be here?" Guido asked.
Stunned, Topps moved his mouth closer to Guido until it was right next to his ear. Hardly daring to believe it, he uncertainly asked, "You mean to tell me … That my daughter … My son-in-law … And the others … Are hiding right behind these very walls?"
Slowly, Guido nodded.
There was a long, profound pause as Topps and Tria struggled to take it all in. Then at last, Topps spoke.
"Knowing them," he said slowly. "They've probably come up with some kind of crazy scheme to set up some kind of resistance in there … Of which you're a part of, as their messenger. Is that correct?"
Once again, Guido nodded.
As Topps and Tria stared at each other, their hearts beating, Topps sighed as he shook his head. "Look, you better tell them to get moving before that son of a tarpit finds out. There's no way the six of you can defeat all these brutes by yourselves."
"Actually, it's not just the six of us," Guido explained. "We've got 14 of us in there now, not counting the babies …"
"What babies?" Topps asked.
Ignoring that question, Guido continued, "And we might have a bunch more coming. Cera's teaching a class on something about a cohesive. And according to them, not counting Avie, Cricket and I, they've got a headcount of 31 before speaking to anyone in the Great Valley."
Topps and Tria looked at each other in long, hard disbelief. At last, Topps muttered, "Tria … This changes everything."
"Yes, it does," Tria agreed.
"This resistance of yours … I thought it was madness at first. But if you've got recruiting and training … This is serious," Topps said thoughtfully. Then, a proud grin appeared on his face as his eyes shut smugly. "You go tell all of them for me, especially Cera and Littlefoot, how very proud I am of them. Who are the others?"
"Well, there's Etta, and then there's a bunch of orphaned teenagers. Two spikenecks, a threehorn, a spikeside, and a swimmer so far, I haven't seen the others yet," Guido explained.
"So apart from Etta watching over them, we've got a full-blown youth revolt," Topps observed with satisfaction. "Nothing to sneeze at. Well then, I presume these newcomers don't have a place to call home. You can tell them that if they pull this off, I will give each of them my blessing for full and immediate Valley citizenship," he said as Tria firmly nodded in agreement. "Such heroes certainly deserve a just reward. And if I'm on board, I'm sure the others would not object. We can certainly use some more gutsy kids in our time of need."
"Speaking of gutsy kids," said Tria, eyeing their sleeping daughter, who was still thrashing, grunting, and talking to herself in her sleep. "I think the path forward for Tricia and her friends is now clear. Since they'll be putting themselves in danger anyway … They might as well be helping the older kids who can instruct and protect them, rather than leave them to their own devices and the mercy of the mob."
Topps nodded in agreement. "Our daughter's a true threehorn, much more than those bigoted ruffians, and it's obvious that she and the others are not going to take this nonsense lying down. But how are we gonna get them out of here?"
"Hmm," Tria pondered for a while, before saying, "I don't think we are."
"What?" Topps asked, looking at Tria blankly.
Tria explained. "You know how Cera and her friends always come up with their own way to solve problems, even when they were kids? Well … I think it's best if we let Tricia and her friends do the same. If this new education turns out to be anything like I expect, the kids will not even want to stay in the Valley anymore, especially when they can be together elsewhere. I don't think they'll even need to know about the Hidden Canyon or the older kids. Don't forget, Mono, Rachelle, Oplax and Perri already ran away from home, and do you really think the others won't be inspired by that, as well as every time Cera and her friends sneaked out of the Valley as kids? So I fully expect them to make a break for it without needing to tell them anything. Guido, can you make sure to watch over them and that they get to safety?"
Guido nodded. Tria said, "Thank you." Turning back to Topps, she said, "The best thing we can do for them is not get in their way and let them find about Cera and the others for themselves. And of course, to keep our sleeping spots by the Hidden Canyon's entrance so the bad guys won't hear anything."
"And we can't do anything else to help?" Topps asked.
Tria shook her head. "I didn't say that, Topsy. In case you forgot, I gave Rythe the secret message. She'll know what to do, especially if she and Marina get a chance to talk. They can spread the word to the others, and I'll get the clubtails to cover for us tonight. That should provide a distraction to allow for both the kids and us parents to finalize a plan together. Then tomorrow night, we can lead an uprising to create another distraction while Tricia and her friends make their escape."
"Tria, that sounds very dangerous," Topps said cautiously.
"We're all in danger here, Topsy," Tria reminded him. "You put your life on the line for Chomper ... It would only be right for me to do the same."
"I suppose," Topps sighed reluctantly. "Well, I suppose I can tell the others in the herd to stand by in the meantime. They can lie in wait while the kids get mobilized and help them when the time comes. Speaking of which Tria … Perhaps you can accomplish something else in your uprising."
Curiously, Tria looked at Topps, who turned to Guido, so deep in thought that he almost forgot Guido was there. "Thank you for informing us, Guido. We can take things from here. You telling anyone else?"
"Doc, Dara, Mr. Thicknose, Sophie, Ms. Swimmer, and Ms. Flyer," Guido explained.
"Right," said Topps simply.
"Make sure Mrs. Swimmer knows to talk to Mrs. Twoped and tells her that Fourped says it'll be tonight," said Tria.
"Okay," Guido said, and he glided back up to the top. As he did, he could hear Topps say, "As I was saying Tria ... Since we've got a youth revolt going on back there, and since those scoundrels would no doubt try to follow us if we left ... Rather than try to escape ourselves, the best thing we can do is bolster their cohesive."
"What do you mean, Topsy?"
"Well, I'm sure you can think of others who'd fit right in, can't you?"
"Right, right, right ..."
As Guido returned to the Hidden Canyon, he looked for Avie, anxious to relay Tria's instructions. However, he couldn't find her anywhere at the top of the Hidden Canyon's wall. Concerned, he looked over and eventually saw her sitting on the ground right by the wall, talking to an adorable, light blue and orange feathery form. Gliding downward, Guido went over to approach them.
"Cricket," Guido asked, seeing how low the Bright Circle still was in the sky. "Why aren't you asleep? Isn't it a bit early for you to be up?"
"Yeah, but I want to see the Great Valley!" Cricket exclaimed enthusiastically. "Avie told me you guys are sending secret messages. Can I come along? Please?"
Guido looked uneasily at Avie, who looked just as uneasily back. Was it really wise to take a child to the Valley in this condition? Yet all the same, Cricket's pleading eyes made Guido's heart melt … And besides, he could use someone to keep lookout while he was conveying messages …
"All right," sighed Guido as Cricket cheered. "Just don't cause any trouble and remember to remain quiet."
"Right, I'll be a very quiet Cricket," Cricket giggled.
Though having Cricket on his back made gliding a bit more of a challenge, Guido was still able to glide up to the Hidden Canyon's wall without much trouble, and as he and Avie landed, they took one last look at one another.
"You've got Doc, Dara and Mr. Thicknose, while I've got Sophie, Mama Flyer, and Mama Swimmer, all right?" Avie asked.
"Yep. Oh yeah, Mrs. Threehorn wants you to tell Mrs. Swimmer to tell Mrs. Twoped that Fourped says it'll be tonight," added Guido. "She also said that Tricia and her friends will probably be planning an escape themselves and that we've got to watch over them."
"Ooh! Sounds like fun!" Cricket whispered, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Now you be careful Cricket," Avie warned, before turning to Guido. "Right then, bye," she said, and she flapped her wings and headed over to the Valley's north side.
Guido gulped as Cricket marveled at the sight of the Valley below him. Upon walking over to the far southern part of the wall, he took a deep breath. It was time to set aside his fears and start doing some full-out messaging duties …
He shut his eyes and plunged downward into the Valley, Cricket making a quiet whee of delight. As he straightened himself out a foot or so above the ground, he looked to see if anyone had noticed them. Luckily, the only other ones who seemed to be awake were Topps and Tria, still deep in discussion between themselves.
Cautiously, he began to float above the ground, looking from side to side at the individual forms and faces of the sleeping frilled dinosaurs as he slowly passed. Upon seeing the threehorns up close, he found it surprisingly easy to tell the difference between those from Cera's father's herd and those that belonged to the mob. While the resident threehorns of the Great Valley were plenty muscular and tough, they all seemed to have warm, rounded faces and frills, and larger, softer eyes. Their toes were all smooth and curved, their frills extended in a fan-shape, and their horns pointed more upward than outward. And while they had a little scarring, it was obvious that their main battle style was one of protection rather than one of aggression. They were all clustered relatively close to Mr. Threehorn, Tria and Tricia, no doubt trying to protect them in case of a sneak attack on the family and placed there by Mr. Threehorn to block off the mob's access to the Hidden Canyon's entrance.
The adversarial threehorns, spread out throughout the rest of the zone, however, seemed to have none of the former group's warmth. Their facial features were jagged, especially the males with their remarkably chiseled jaws. Their eyes were smaller, their toes sharpened, their frills pointed more upwards and were covered with scars, and their extremely sharpened horns were pointed outward, plainly frequently used for combat. Apart from this, there were clear sexual differences between them not seen with the Valley's threehorns. While the females were slightly slenderer but about as buff as their Great Valley counterparts, the males were much larger, plainly better nourished, and more well-muscled than the females or the Valley's males. What was more, many of the females had large groups of hatchlings sleeping at their side, seeming to come from many different clutches, making Guido wonder just how often the females were expecting and how they could possibly raise all those children. And speaking of the children, many of them looked frighteningly toughened for their age …
"Hey, there's a Thicknose!" Cricket whispered.
Guido looked, and sure enough saw their old herd leader, surrounded by clusters of antagonistic threehorns. Nodding thankfully, Guido glided them off toward him. Like Tricia, Mr. Thicknose seemed to be having a sleeping fit. Though he wasn't talking like Tricia, his teeth were clenched and he shivered. Thankful to have a chance to snap Mr. Thicknose out of his bad sleep story, Guido landed on Mr. Thicknose's head and quietly whispered in his ear, "Mr. Thicknose?"
Mr. Thicknose awoke with a loud gasp, but quieted down when he saw who it was. "Guido? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the twofooter zone?"
"Well, um, I'm not living any zone," whispered Guido. "Nor are the others."
"What others? Oh …" Mr. Thicknose said, with immediate comprehension. "You've got something going, I see."
Guido nodded.
Mr. Thicknose sighed. "Well, my poor leadership caused this debacle …"
"Don't think like that, Mr. Thicknose. For you can help fix it by helping us," Guido said knowingly.
"Yes, you are right," Mr. Thicknose said, before noticing Cricket. "Who's this?"
"I'm Cricket," Cricket smiled shyly.
Mr. Thicknose looked warmly at him. "Ah, another young one … You know Cricket, you remind me just of what this is all about. Protecting the future of you kids so you can grow up in a peaceful valley just like I did. And speaking of which …" Mr. Thicknose sighed. "It's obvious my gifted and talented class is not going to rest until they are together … And so I've got to help them … Somehow …"
"Mr. Thicknose," Guido reminded him. "Even though you may not be the surest leader, you sure are a good teacher."
Mr. Thicknose nodded. "Thank you for saying that, Guido. And a good teacher never lets down his students. And no matter what, I will not fail them," he vowed.
Seeing a wandering threehorn twitch, Mr. Thicknose said, "You best be off. You have anywhere else to go tonight?"
"Uh, to see Doc and Dara," Guido answered nervously.
Mr. Thicknose nodded. "Beware of the border patrol," he warned. "They won't react kindly if they catch you."
"Right," Guido said, before he and Guido glided off.
It wasn't long before Guido and Cricket got to the edge of the threehorn zone, where they concealed themselves in the tall grasses. As Guido watched closely, he saw that small units were patrolling the area, marching in straight lines going from north to south and back again, pausing and turning to investigate for rulebreakers. The line nearer them consisted of a bunch of surly looking, muscular threehorns, all of whom just by their glowering eyes were immediately recognizable as belonging to the mob's herds. Farther away but running parallel to them was a line of longnecks. Like the threehorns, these longnecks were markedly different from their Great Valley counterparts, with rectangular, chiseled heads, sharp, talon-like toes, extremely muscular builds, dark, faded colors, rough, spiky-like spines and eerily cold expressions. The two lines of dinosaurs never spoke to one another as they passed, only continuing to march steadily onward.
"No wonder Tricia's gang couldn't get through," Guido marveled quietly.
"You think we can?" Cricket asked tentatively.
"Well, we're even littler than they are," Guido said quietly. "We've got to wait for just the right moment."
Sure enough, the one downfall with the border patrol was that the threehorns marched at a faster rate than the longnecks. Seeing this, Guido waited for just the moment when the threehorns were out of sight, yet the longnecks were nowhere near returning. When the moment arrived, Guido took a deep breath and hurriedly glided and Cricket across the border.
"That was a close one," Cricket shivered as he saw the returning line of longnecks approach.
"Yeah," Guido agreed, as they proceeded into the longneck zone to find Doc and Dara.
Because of their sheer size, finding individual longnecks was a lot easier than finding individual frilled dinosaurs. Predictably, the wandering longnecks had similar group structures to their threehorn counterparts, with large families, a clear gender hierarchy, heavy scarring, and remarkably toughened kids. He also saw that a group of much softer looking longnecks were deep in discussion, and upon closer inspection, recognized them as members of Bron's depleted herd, but this group did not include Bron or the whiptail couple. After much searching for Doc and Dara, he finally found them, hiding out in the very corner of the longneck zone. They too were wide awake, as they sat with their necks craned downward, and as he and Cricket got closer, Guido realized that they were speaking to their adoptive daughter.
"Hey, who's that?" Cricket asked curiously, noticing the young whiptail.
"That's Destiny," Guido explained. "She's one of Tricia's gang."
"Cool!" Cricket said quietly, making Guido realize just how similar in age Cricket was to the Valley's leading band of troublemakers.
Before long, they got within earshot of the whiptails, and they could hear Dara talking to Destiny.
"Destiny, listen hon. The more of them that are stuck imprisoning us, the less of them there are to cause havoc on the rest of the Valley."
"But ..." Destiny stuttered, but Doc interrupted.
"Listen kid," he advised. "We don't like it either, but it has to be this way. It's the end of the line for us. But you've still got a chance. We'll hold off the longnecks. Your ride will deal with the threehorns. It's the only way we can get you through all those rustlers. You've put up enough of a fight, kid … Now let us take over."
"But Mommy! Daddy! I don't want to see you get hurt!" Destiny cried out, looking at them each in turn.
"Destiny, I'm sorry, but it has to be this way," Dara sighed as Doc nodded solemnly.
"But … You can't be snared by the bad guys!" Destiny exclaimed, turning to Doc. "You're the Lone Dinosaur, right? If you're not there, who else can save everyone?"
Doc put his head very close to Destiny as Dara, Guido and Cricket listened in.
"Kid, let me tell you something," Doc sighed. "The Lone Dinosaur has been around long before I set foot on this earth. It's a title that's been passed down from generation to generation of whiptails, right down to the scar placed on each of our heads in honor of the original legend. So yes, while I may be the current Lone Dinosaur, there will be another Lone Dinosaur to take my place."
Destiny nodded, as a thought suddenly occurred in her head. "The reason why you took me in … Am I supposed to follow in your footsteps? Am I supposed to be the next Lone Dinosaur?"
Doc slowly looked at Destiny. "There comes a time in the life of every Lone Dinosaur when their Bright Circle sets and a new Bright Circle begins. When Dara and I first saw you, I must admit, despite the fact you most likely won't reach the usual size of our kind ... I saw your potential and thought you may be the one to fulfill that legacy and become the first female Lone Dinosaur."
Doc then smiled at his adoptive daughter. "The truth is however, that couldn't be further from the truth. You remind me of the last brave young longneck round these parts, kid. For you've got a bunch of true partners right there at your side. You're part of a dino-mite posse that makes you much stronger than you'd ever be as a Lone Dinosaur. You can still be a hero, kid. But in order to do so, you've got to blaze that trail in your own way, not in the ways of an olden tradition."
Destiny nodded slowly. "We'll keep those rustlers at bay, hon," Dara promised. "You've just gotta focus on getting to safety and finding your friends, and we'd be happy knowing we've done our job right."
"Speaking of which, that would be your ride now," Doc said warmly as he heard footsteps approach. "Go west, young Dess, and happy trails to you."
Everyone looked up, and there strode in a young white longneck, her very long neck bathed in the Night Circle's light, as she smiled softly at Destiny.
"Hiya cutie," she said, warmly lowering her tail to allow Destiny to climb aboard.
"You're Mia, right?" Destiny asked as she made her way up the older longneck's back. As Destiny was a shade of very light gray, she was only the slightest bit darker and camouflaged nearly perfectly against the lightness of the older longneck.
"Yep, I sure am," Mia giggled. "And I'm here to make sure you get to see your friends safely."
Turning to Doc and Dara, she explained, "We've just got to wait for Cam. She's helping me with the other part of my mission."
Destiny looked at her in surprise. "Why are you helping us? I thought you two were those bad longnecks who tried to eggnap Oplax's adoptive siblings?"
"You got it, sweetie!" Mia winked. "But actually, that's just why I'm helping you! See, Cam and I were duped into that by some rotten old eggstealers, and to this day, we still feel awful about what we've done. But now … In helping you get through those meanies, I finally feel like I have the chance to really redeem myself! Oh!" Mia giggled excitedly. "There's my partner in crime right now!"
Sure enough, Cam arrived, carrying the body of one of the deceased threehorns who had attacked Littlefoot and his friends earlier, a look of befuddlement in her eyes. "Mia, what is this …" Cam began, but Mia interrupted her.
"Oh, thank you Cam! I knew I could count on you!" Mia exclaimed, quickly stretching her very long neck out to take the threehorn body from Cam at the soonest possible moment.
As Doc, Dara and Destiny looked quizzically at Mia, she explained, "Cam and I tried to frame Chomper for murder because we stupidly thought he was a threat to the Valley. Just like with the clubtail eggs, I've felt terrible since I found out he really is a friendly sharptooth ... But now … I can finally make it up to him!" she smiled. "He's bound to be getting hungry, right? And the bad guys no doubt want him to lose control of his hunger so they can have an excuse to kill him right there. Well that's not gonna happen … Because thanks to me, Chomper will have a chance to eat from this dead body!"
"Mia!" Cam exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. "You … you can't do that! You're going to get into so much trouble!"
"I don't care, Cam," said Mia, shaking her head as she smiled determinedly. "For if I free Destiny and feed Chomper ... I can truly call myself a Great Valley girl, and that is something I'll always be proud of!"
"Mia, wait!" Cam begged, but it was too late, for with Destiny safely on tow, Mia galloped right toward the border, Doc and Dara following in her wake.
"You know what to do, right cutie?" Mia asked as they just began to make out the line of longnecks on the border patrol.
"Uh … jump off and sneak in, right?" Destiny asked nervously.
"Right!" Mia smiled. "Your folks will hold the longnecks up, and I'll take care of the threehorns," she giggled, an evil smirk in her eyes. "Don't worry, I've got just the plan to get all those pointy faces distracted! I know I bullied your friend's big sis, but trust me, these guys really deserve it."
"What's she on about?" Dara asked behind them as she and Doc struggled to keep up with Mia's exuberant prance.
"Knowing that one? Trouble," Doc sighed, shaking his head.
They soon got to the border, and Mia slowed down, allowing Doc and Dara to catch up.
"Right," Doc said as they saw that the longneck patrol had already taken notice of them. "We'll hold these guys up."
So quickly, Doc and Dara made a dash to get across the border. At once, the longneck patrol roared and raced after them. Destiny tried to watch, but all she could make out was a jumble of bodies the sound of whiptails slapping against skin.
"Don't look, cutie!" Mia urged as she veered to the right, far away from the longnecks' scuffle, before charging right past the longnecks and into the threehorn zone. "Remember what you've gotta do!"
Destiny nodded, before Mia grinded to a halt. Lifting her neck up, Mia could just make out that the threehorns were just coming into view.
"Okay, sweetie," Mia whispered, her eyes glistening naughtily. "I've got this covered. Now run for it!"
And with a quick leap off of Mia's back, Destiny threw herself into the tall grasses, carefully crawling low to the ground to avoid detection. Meanwhile, the threehorn patrol had just noticed Mia. Her eyes twinkling, she was ready. It was time to redeem herself to the Great Valley once and for all.
"Hiya guys!" Mia exclaimed effervescently as she ran straight to the threehorn patrol.
The threehorns looked at Mia in disbelief as she smirked teasingly at them. "Hey! Out of the threehorn zone, flathead!" one of them ordered.
"Oh, sorry," Mia giggled, her eyes flashing daringly. "I just couldn't help but notice how much of a bunch of macho horny superstuds you grumpy muscle boys are! Tee-hee!"
Speechless for a moment, Mia took advantage of their moment of confusion and began to head toward the center of the Valley, before the border patrol finally realized what she had said to them.
"Hey guys … Was she flirting with us?" one asked dopily.
"She's a longneck! Trespassing in our zone and flirting with us? That's two criminal offenses in one night! Come on, let's get her!" ordered the patrol's leader.
"But she called me horny!"
"We're all horny, you idiots! Now after her!"
Mia could feel the strapping threehorns catching up to her, but she knew she was on the verge of success as she could make out the familiar forms of her two herdmates and of course, the young dinosaur she had wronged so horribly … And only now was she finally going to properly make it up to him.
Leaping straight over the row of confused rogue spiketails, Mia threw out her neck and shouted, "Chomper, eat!"
The threehorn carcass went flying, straight toward Chomper. Luckily, Chomper had been smelling them coming, and he, Ali, Shorty and Ruby had figured out the purpose of it. Hurriedly, he wolfed down a chunk of the threehorn carcass, and Mia saw even Ruby take a few bites along with him, just so Chomper wouldn't have to commit the act of eating leafeater alone. Mia felt herself being surrounded and shunted along by rogue spiketails, but she didn't care. For she had succeeded in both helping Chomper avoid starvation and getting Destiny past the border patrol. Considering all that, her imprisonment certainly felt worth it, for now she knew she could really call herself a true Valley girl.
"So I guess we can't talk to Doc and Dara anymore," Guido sighed as the two of them were shepherded over to the southern wall, where several guards moved in to surround them. Soon following them was Mia, being pushed in by a thick wall of spiketails, her head held up high defiantly as a smaller group of longnecks moved in to enclose her. All of those longnecks, burly, massive and not smiling, didn't even look at their prisoners as they stood, other than to give them occasional glares. But Doc, Dara and Mia knew better than to resist their arrests, for they knew any failure to cooperate would give Leigh the excuse to murder them on the spot.
"I don't get it," Cricket asked sadly. "Why doesn't anyone try to stop them?"
But as if on cue, just as the spiketails started to head back toward the prisoners in the middle, a speckled green longneck with a beige belly and a boxy shaped head clumsily hurried over to her newly imprisoned friend.
"Wait!" Cam pleaded to Mia's guards, her eyes wide and desperate. "You can't punish her! She's my friend! She didn't do anything wrong!"
"Shut it, or else," one of the guards warned.
"I won't!" Cam insisted, teary-eyed. "She just tried to save everyone, don't you get it? Chomper has no choice but to eat red food! If you don't give him something to eat, he would be starving and a threat to everyone! We learned that the hard way!"
"Cam, don't do this!" Len called out, having woken up and rushed over to his girlfriend.
Cam however, ignored him. "Please, please, please!" she begged. "You've gotta let my friend go! She was just trying to help!"
Mia's guards looked at each other unflinchingly and did not answer.
"Pretty please?" Cam asked desperately. "Please! Show some mercy, she didn't do anything wrong!"
"Get back," ordered the guard. "And stop causing a disturbance. Or else."
"I won't!" Cam shouted, and impulsively, she pushed at him with her front paw in an effort to break through to Mia.
The guard stumbled back, but not before the others surrounded Cam, ensnaring both her and Mia.
"Let Cam go!" Len shouted, but he too was ignored.
Mia turned to Cam. "You didn't have to do that," Mia sighed sadly.
Cam shook her head. "It's the least I can do Mia … For if you're stuck … At least I can be stuck with you. And hey, at least we can be true Valley girls together, right?"
"Right," smiled Mia. "Ali would be so proud of us."
"Enough mush," growled one of the guards, before giving them a hard tail whap, causing both longneck girls to squeal in pain.
Bron sighed heavily as he looked at his group of fellow longnecks, unable to help himself from hanging his head somberly. In the past, he had hoped he could be appreciated as a wise herd leader. But as he felt eleven pairs of weary, disillusioned eyes upon him, he felt that he was anything but. From the moment he and Shorty first went off to see Littlefoot, leaving the herd in the care of an interim leader who would only later prove to be incapable, he had been making one bad decision after another. True, he had brought to his herd into the Great Valley to recover after that disastrous sharptooth attack, but even that couldn't save many of his herd members from dying of their gaping wounds. He should have known just from that episode that he had been trying to accomplish too much.
But in the days that followed, he had only overextended himself further. There he was, trying to take on the extraordinary task of mentoring the completely ignorant Earl, Gus and Len about herd life. Yet he failed to realize just how taking them on would heighten the already extreme insecurities held by his foster son. Then there was the matter of trying to assume greater responsibilities, both over what was left of the Old One's herd as well as over the Great Valley as a whole, yet all the while failing to ensure his own herd's safety from a surprise sharptooth attack. And through it all, both of his sons were in grave danger, one on the run because of whom he loved and the other falsely accused of murder. It was only after the scheming youthful tyrant took over that he finally took any real action to protect them … But by then it may have been too late.
Now, setting aside the tumultuous younger members, the once proud pair of herds had been reduced to a mere dozen, including himself, with five survivors from the Old One's herd – Peaches, Genevieve, Harland, Benton, and Linda, who was Ali's mother, and aside from the eccentric Wild Arms and the missing Etta, seven survivors from his old herd – James, Kelsey, Hilda, Roland, Decia, Brent and Dorian. Only two things held them all together now, a shared sense of loss and a wistful sense of days gone by.
As they stood solemnly in a circle, Roland spoke up. "We are sorry to have to call this meeting Mr. Bron, but … We must inform you that the situation we found ourselves in was completely intolerable."
Bron couldn't even bring himself to reply. Then again, the situation spoke entirely for itself, and there wasn't even a real point to respond. But why were they speaking in past tense?
"Do you know the single most important reason why we have always migrated?" asked Genevieve. "It is because the life of a wanderer is a life of freedom. It is the ability to go anywhere one pleases, so long as there are tree stars around."
"We tried settling down here, Mr. Bron," Decia sighed. "We followed your lead and took up residency here. We understood how important it was for you to be with your son, especially considering how he lost his grandparents, just got married, and is living in a place without a leader. And we gave it a chance, Mr. Bron … But living here has confirmed all of our worst fears about sedentary life."
Brent nodded in agreement. "Living under the rules of a stationary, combined herd like the Great Valley, where not everybody has everyone's best interests at heart, has once again proven to be a disaster. It may have worked here when your parents-in-law were in charge. No doubt they were very special individuals. But inevitably, such systems fail when fracture takes over and an authoritative regime emerges … Whereas if we stick to ourselves, we would only have all of our own interests to consider and thus, we would be able to keep each other safe at all times."
"We know that outside this Valley dwell sharpteeth," said Kelsey. "But you cannot pretend that this Valley really is the haven of peace that it claims to be. For because we were lulled into a false sense of security, we have just suffered heavy losses through a coordinated sharptooth attack, as well as further losses to help save your son, but ... There is only so much loss of life we can take ... I ... I ... hope you understand ..."
"Even among our young ones, supposedly the future of our herd," Peaches put in. "When we merged herds after the Old One's death, we had seven young longnecks between us, and the future momentarily looked bright. But now look at them. One of them has been murdered, another is accused of being his murderer. A third is prosecuting the defendant, a fourth is representing him, and the fifth and sixth are imprisoned for disobedience and are calling themselves Great Valley girls. Only Len has not been dragged into this incident, but considering he is Gus's only surviving friend and Cam's girlfriend, he would most likely be as well if we did not act."
The others looked at Dorian, who let out a heavy sigh. "We mean you no disrespect, Mr. Bron … But considering the dire circumstances … We have got to think of our own best interests. We have tried our hardest to be patient with you and to be understanding of your situation. But as the problems with staying in the Great Valley continue to escalate …. We had no choice but to take this matter into our own paws."
Hilda nodded sadly. "The eleven of us had no other choice than to speak to the hollowhorn and ask if we could leave the Great Valley. He took some convincing, but he has agreed to our departure, under the strictest of possible terms …"
"What do you mean by that?" Bron asked, though he thought he knew the answer.
Benton sighed. "We had to officially renounce our ties to the Great Valley. We vowed that we would leave before the Bright Circle reaches its highest point, upon which we would be escorted by a herd of flyers until the Bright Circle sets, and that if we were ever to return again, we would be subject to criminal charges ... And you know what that means." Shuddering, he continued, "The good news of this deal however, is that apart from Shorty with his murder charges, if any of the others renounce their ties to the Great Valley, their criminal charges will immediately be dropped. We have not spoken with the other young ones yet, but we hope that they see the wisdom of it and accept this deal."
"The thing is," said Harland cautiously. "The deal applies to you as well."
Bron stared at them. Were they really asking what he thought they were?
"So what we would like to ask," Harland continued hesitantly, "Is for you to renounce your ties to the Great Valley so you could lead us once again as a migratory herd. We know this sounds terrible, but you have to look at things realistically. The jury seems overwhelmingly likely to issue a guilty verdict for your foster son. It may not be right, but it is what it is, and your foster son will be dead in a matter of days. Your other son, being inexperienced with actually living in the Mysterious Beyond, is already dead, so you do not feel you have to stay in the Valley for his sake anymore. And in case you've forgotten the terms of the trial, you too would face a death sentence if your foster son is found to be guilty. We will do our best to persuade the other young ones and get as many of them out of this cursed Valley and off to the safety of our herd as we can. We feel awful even asking this, knowing how hard it must be for you, giving up on your children, but … We know that as a herd leader, you'd understand that sometimes you have to cut your losses before you have nothing left to save ... I hope you can understand, and not be too angry with us."
Solemnly, the others nodded as Bron looked at his herdmates. The time had come for Bron to prioritize, and ultimately make the decision he should have made long ago … His family or his herd … There was no way he could have it both ways this time …
Bron sighed, but as painful as this decision was, it was also one in which he had no difficulty in making.
"I'm sorry," Bron said firmly. "But I can't leave the Great Valley."
The others stared in disbelief as Hilda asked, "Are you sure?"
Bron nodded. "I need to be there for my sons. They're the only family I have left. I couldn't be there for my wife when she was in peril … And I'm not going to fail to be there for my sons now that they are."
"But Mr. Bron, your sons are or will be dead!" Peaches cried out.
The others stared as Bron continued. "It may sound crazy to you, but I know in my heart that Littlefoot is not dead. I can feel that he's somewhere out there, doing everything he can to bring about the end of the bad times to this Valley. And at the same time, I know Shorty needs me. I am his legal representative, without which, he'd have no one. But more importantly, I am the closest thing to a true parent Shorty has ever had. And a parent must do all they can for their child ..."
With a heavy sigh, Bron turned to face the others understandingly. "I don't begrudge any of you for leaving. None of you have any personal responsibility for Littlefoot and Shorty like I do. And I am very aware that it wasn't any of your ideas to come to the Valley in the first place."
"Mr. Bron," said Benton earnestly. "Please listen to us ... We don't want to see you get killed."
Bron sighed. "I know I might be in personal danger … But this is what I know is right. I have failed Littlefoot and Shorty for far too long ... And now, I know I must do everything in my power to be there for them. This is absolutely final, and there is nothing you can say to change my mind."
The others nodded understandingly, looking at Bron with saddened eyes. "Well if that's how you feel Bron, we respect it … All we can say is good luck to you," said Roland weakly.
Bron nodded. "I know how hard this is for all of you. But I will say this. When this valley returns to the wonderful place that I know it can be, under new and decent leadership, I will gladly welcome you all back to my herd. I still have hope in the Great Valley ... And in all the good dinosaurs who live here."
And sighing, the herd sat together in a circle, wanting to spend all of their remaining time together before the new dawn. All except one.
"Excuse me, sir ..." she asked quietly, feeling a lump in her throat. "I ... I must speak with my daughter."
"What? Renounce my ties to the Great Valley?"
Having been pulled aside from Chomper, Ruby and Shorty, Ali couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her eyes were wide with shock and her heart was beating rapidly, Ali stared at her mother, trying to make out any traces of ambiguity in her eyes. Could she really be serious in what she was asking? Looking desperately at her, Ali saw her mother couldn't even look into her eyes as she held her head low to the ground, heaving another sigh.
"I'm sorry Ali, but it's the only way," she said, gently but firmly. "Look around you. This Valley has become a dangerous place, the kind of place our herd has always tried our best to avoid. And just look at what has happened to all of our herdmates … Including your friends."
"But … Cam and Mia," Ali said feebly. "They're imprisoned and … I … I can't leave them."
"I understand, Ali, but leaving the Great Valley is the best thing you can do for them." Ali's mother replied.
"What do you mean?" Ali asked tentatively.
"The hollowhorn has offered a deal," Ali's mother explained. "If Cam and Mia renounce their ties to the Great Valley, they can leave with the rest of us. Right now, they are refusing to leave, but they are most likely doing it for your benefit, because they know how much you like it here. You can save them, Ali, but only if you renounce your ties …"
"No, Mother, I can't do that," Ali interrupted.
"Ali, they won't save themselves without you," her mother replied earnestly.
Ali thought to herself. As much as she wanted to help free Cam and Mia, they weren't the only ones she was worried about ...
"But … What about my other friends? My friends here?" Ali asked desperately.
Ali's mother looked at her sorrowfully, before embracing her in a hug. "I'm sorry Ali, they …"
"How do you know?" Ali interrupted, causing her mother to be taken aback. "You told me there was nothing we could do about Littlefoot's grandpa, but we got the Night Flower for him!"
Ali's mother sighed. "Even if they're still alive dear, they cannot come to the Great Valley. Their marriages have been criminalized, and …"
"Chomper and Ruby! They're still here!" Ali insisted desperately.
Ali's mother looked surprised. "The sharptooth and his egg …"
"Fast runner, Mother, and call them by their names, all right?" Ali scolded, remembering vividly the time when Littlefoot scolded her for calling Chomper "the sharptooth", and beginning to really understand how he felt ...
"Since when have you been friends with them?" Ali's mother asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Well, we've been getting a lot closer," sighed Ali. "But I've always liked them, I guess … Ever since I met them with … With Rhett …"
And as Ali sniffled and more tears streamed down her face, her mother looked at her concernedly. "Oh Ali, don't you understand? ... I ... I ... don't want to lose you."
"I know," Ali sighed. She hated displeasing her mother like this, especially when she was only concerned for her safety. Yet all the same, there was no way she was going to budge on this. But her mother would not give in, and stared at her with hard, insistent eyes.
"Ali," her mother said seriously. "I'm sorry, but ... I don't think you really do. This is a hopper court. Do you know what that really means? It's when a jury is so stacked with biased judges …"
"I know, okay?" Ali snapped.
Ali's mother stared. "What's with you? You're not acting like yourself, Ali. That's the fifth time you interrupted me …"
"Well, now it's the sixth!" Ali shot back, surprising even herself.
Ali's mother looked at her thoughtfully, pondering. "It's that boy, isn't it?"
"What? No … I mean yes … I mean … I like Shorty a lot!" Ali spluttered.
Ali's mother looked at her sympathetically. "Ali," she said gently, looking at her with knowing eyes. "I know how badly you must still miss Rhett, but ... He's not going to bring Rhett back."
"It's not that! I mean, I miss Rhett ... but ... I'm just starting to get to really know Shorty," Ali said, tears flowing from her eyes. "There's a lot more to him than meets the eye and ... I don't feel right leaving him."
"Ali, please," Ali's mother insisted, but Ali interrupted saying, "Mother, I'm his personal confidante!"
"Exactly," said Ali's mother exasperatedly. "And that is why we must get you out of here right now … Otherwise, you will be killed with him!"
Ali's mother expected this to be a moment of realization for her daughter, but she saw instead that her daughter looked defiant, oddly like the threehorn friend she had made here. "No Mother, we're going to get through this!" Ali shouted.
Ali's mother sighed sadly. "You've been hanging out with those Valleydwellers too long, dear. Can't you see this is hopeless?"
"Well, I … I'm their friend!" Ali insisted. "And friends stick together!"
"I know Ali … But don't you see? I'm trying to protect you! I care about you too much!" Ali's mother replied back.
Ali sighed as she looked at her mother's passionate, plaintive eyes. How could she get her mother to understand?
"I know you do," Ali said finally, looking at her with focus, trying to convey her seriousness as firmly as possible. Slowly but clearly, she continued, "But you know what I told Cera when I was a kid? I told her … Maybe we'll all live together someday. Well, I've decided that someday … is today."
Ali's mother looked at her, at a loss for words. "Ali, this is no time for childish fantasies. You're going to get yourself …"
"Mother, I mean it!" Ali insisted, her sharp voice once again leaving her mother speechless. "Now that Rhett's not here anymore … And now that I've spent so much time with these guys, I … I feel like I truly belong here," she said, looking at her mother unwaveringly. "Even if it is for only nine days."
Stone-faced, Ali's mother stared in shock as Ali continued.
"I spent my childhood following you and the Old One's lead," Ali told her. "I did whatever you asked without question ... most of the time ... Without even letting you know how I felt. But now, I'm nineteen cold times old. I know I'm only just above age, but ... I've been through a lot in my life, between Dad and Rhett ..." She gulped again, before continuing, "I know what I'm getting myself into, but ... I feel like this is where I should be. I know you don't like hearing it ... But this is really important to me ... This is my home now ... With my friends ... So can you please let me follow my heart?"
"Ali, I … I …" Ali's mother trembled.
"Please Mother?" Ali asked desperately, and as her mother looked at her, she could see how conflicted she looked.
Ali's mother looked at the ground, deep in contemplation. There was a long, pronounced silence, but eventually, she shuddered and began to shed her own tears.
"Ali …" her mother sighed tearfully, "I'm going to miss you so much …"
"I know, Mother," Ali tried to say soothingly, as though she had suddenly taken on the motherly role in the relationship. "And I'm going to miss you too."
"This ... This is the last time I'm going to see you!" Ali's mother spluttered as she rubbed cheeks with her daughter, barely able to stand up due to all of her trembling.
"No it's not, Mother," Ali whispered. "We'll be together soon. Once we … I mean the Great Valley is safe, you can be free to come back. Your renunciation won't mean a thing once we res ... I mean, once everything becomes right again."
Ali's mother looked at her incredulously, as if she had never heard such ridiculous nonsense. Plainly, she was sorely tempted to bring Ali back down to reality. But seeing how unusually decisive her daughter was, she knew that any effort to make her see sense would only backfire and damage their relationship, and if these were their final words together, she wanted them to be positive ...
"Well, good luck to you Ali," she said hollowly, with a big gulp. "But just know this, Ali … I will always love you."
"I love you too, Mom," Ali cried. And rubbing their necks, mother and daughter tearfully looked at one another before some prison guards approached them. "All right, time's up!"
Saying their final goodbyes, the prison guards coldly shoved Ali back in with the other prisoners as she could hear her mother, fighting back tears in her presence, lose control over them completely as she headed back to join her herdmates. Chomper, Ruby and Shorty meanwhile looked sympathetically as Ali fell onto her knees and began to cry, her long neck tucked around her body to meet her tail.
Then Ali felt something warm. Blinking a few times, she saw that Shorty too had sunken to the ground, his face right against hers.
"Are you okay, Ali?" Shorty asked as he protectively placed his warm, heavy paw on her side.
Ali shook her head, unable to say anything. He was still showing concern for her, even with his own life in grave danger ...
"Don't worry, Ali," Shorty said soothingly. "You said it yourself ... No matter what happens, we'll always be together."
And as he stroked her across the back, Ali couldn't help but feel a slight smile. He really did have a tender heart, even after everything that had happened to him ...
Ruby then looked at Chomper, who fervently nodded back at her, and Ruby knew at once that he would be okay with it, as would their other five friends, wherever they were. "Well, I know it's not much of a time for a welcome, but … Welcome to the gang, Ali," Ruby smiled.
At once, Ali lifted her head, staring at Ruby incredulously, her tears having abruptly stopped from the shock. In the midst of all this trauma, now was the time when her childhood wish was becoming officially fulfilled?
"You mean … I'm really a part ... Of you guys?" Ali asked tentatively, blinking to clear her eyes, upon which she could see Ruby's soft, supportive smile.
"Of course," Chomper giggled. "You know how it goes ... We're a family and you're one of us now!"
"I … I … I …" Ali stuttered, but Ruby smiled. "We'll save it for dinner."
Ali smiled, but something still did not feel quite right. She really was part of the gang ... But was that where she really belonged? Especially if it meant that someone else was left out ...
"Is something the matter Ali?" Ruby asked quietly.
"Well … Thanks guys ... But I don't think I can be a part of the gang ... If Shorty's not part of it with me," she said slowly.
Shorty turned to stare at Ali, his eyes round and watery. Could this really be the place where he belonged? Not just as Littlefoot's brother that everyone felt sorry for, not just as an afterthought ... But actually, truly, one of them? And was Ali really willing to give up her offer just for him?
"Ali, you don't need ..." Shorty tried to interject, but Ali shook her head. "If I belong with them ... So do you."
"Well, yeah," Chomper said, trying his hardest not to laugh. "Of course you belong, Shorty! How can you not? You're Littlefoot's brother, Cera's equal in hardheadedness, and Ali's, uh ... Confidante!" Chomper said, chuckling as Shorty began to feel very hot and blush profusely.
"You and Ali might be new to the gang," Ruby said wisely. "But so were Chomper and I once. It took us a while for us to feel like we really fit in ... But now that we are ... We can't imagine what it's like not to be friends anymore!"
"Oh, uh … Yeah, great!" Shorty said awkwardly as he smiled at her, but despite his lack of eloquence, the expression on his face more than revealed the impact everyone's words had on him. Especially from the most beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful longneck of all ...
And as they all looked at each other fondly, the four of them moved closer together, cramming each other in, like four dinos under a soft, velvety, invisible blanket. And as they snuggled with each other side by side, it didn't seem to matter that that they were four prisoners facing seemingly insurmountable odds. No, it really didn't matter, for they knew that combined with their friends who though not with them in body were there in spirit, they were part of a gang of nine, in which nothing was ever really impossible.
As she pushed herself through the tall grasses, only one thing was on Destiny's mind – she had to find her friends before anyone would find her, or all of Doc's, Dara's and Mia's efforts would be worth nothing. She thought about who she could trust to not rat her out to the border patrol. Obviously Tricia's mother was friendly, and she knew while Tricia's father could be intimidating, he would do anything for his daughter. Mono and Rachelle's adoptive parents would also be safe, as would Mr. Thicknose ... Once she found any of them, she knew she would be okay …
Her thoughts were interrupted as she bumped into something hard. Bouncing backward, Destiny fell onto her back before she heard something move. There, at the very spot she had crashed into, something had moved. And before she knew it, there stood the dark, shady silhouette of a fully grown threehorn, barely visible in the pink early morning sky … And then she felt his gaze on her exposed, vulnerable underside.
Her heart pounding as she closed her eyes, bringing her paws as close to her belly as possible to give her what little protection she had, she waited for the inevitable roar of anger or call to the rest of the mob. What she didn't expect however, was a rough yet comforting whisper saying, "It's okay, little one."
Opening her eyes, Destiny saw that the dark gray threehorn had his face lowered right next to hers, and as Destiny looked closer at him, she saw a small but warm, almost fatherly smile, and a gentle look in his eyes, a far cry from the ferocious horned guards who had fought to separate her from her friends ...
"Come on," he muttered. "You're safe here."
Tentatively, Destiny looked at the threehorn, and began to feel reminded of another adult of his kind. As she hesitantly climbed onto his frill, he gently strolled along, amazingly enough, further away from the border, and over to the very corner of the frilled dinosaur zone. Maybe she wasn't being betrayed?
"It's all right," he said kindly. "You can talk."
"Who … who are you?" Destiny asked softly.
"My name is Shayle," he said. "I'm one of Topps' herd."
"Topps, that's …" Destiny began as Shayle cut her off.
"Tricia's father, yes," he smiled. "And I know just how badly Tricia's been wanting to be with her friends."
Slowly, Shayle walked onward, as Destiny rode his back, looking at all the sleeping threehorns.
"They're not gonna wake up, are they?" Destiny asked.
Shayle shook his head. "It wouldn't matter if they did. See, out by the border, you'd be seeing all of those ruffians. But everyone over here belongs to our herd. And we're all what real threehorns should be. Protective, not bellicose. Cautious, not hateful. Tough, not brutal. And above all, we have a deep sense of loyalty to one another and in turn, to the rest of our Great Valley family ... Including those without horns."
As Shayle strode onward, he explained. "Like our herd leader, we have all learned over the cold times. We were not much better than those jerks at one point … But since then, we've learned the importance of harmony, cooperation, respect, and even tolerance, welcoming young Littlefoot into the herd as an honorary threehorn himself. And none of us will ever betray you to Leigh and his group of monsters, no matter what … For that is the very opposite of who we are inside."
Destiny nodded, her heart warming, as she gained a new fondness and appreciation for these normally gruff, serious threehorns who rarely stopped to chat or even exchanged a greeting. Yet underneath it all, they too were true Great Valley dinosaurs … Just like her favorite threehorn of all …
"Here you are," Shayle said as he reached the corner of the Great Valley, where he could see that Topps and Tria were, lying underneath a red tree star tree with several bushes nearby. And as Destiny looked, her eyes couldn't help but light up with excitement as she saw just who was cuddled up in between them.
"Morning Shayle," Topps said glumly, before noticing Shayle's forehead. Walking cautiously over, Topps approached.
"Found her," Shayle explained simply.
"Say no more ... I'm just very glad you did," Topps smiled as the threehorns headed back.
"We want you to know, Mr. Topps, that we're all still behind you," said Shayle fervently. "All of us. If you ever need us to come to your aid, we'll all be there to protect you. In case the mob tries any of their rotten business ..."
"Thank you, Shayle … And I appreciate hearing you say that," said Topps gratefully.
"Hey, we stuck with you in your leadership bid because we have faith in you, and that is not going to stop, no matter what the histrionic hollowhead might say," he smirked, as he and Topps chortled, and even Destiny couldn't help but crack a smile.
Once they got to the red tree star tree, Shayle headed back to make sure no one else was watching them, while Topps and Destiny alone walked towards Tria and Tricia.
"You are just what Tricia needs, kid," Topps informed her. "She was having terrible sleep stories about you guys. I don't know what you had to do to get over here, but … Well, I know I should never underestimate you kids, that's what."
As Destiny smiled her thanks at him, they reached Tria, who had been watching them come. "Hi Destiny," Tria whispered. "Do you want to wake Trish or should I?"
"I'll do it," Destiny said with quiet enthusiasm, and beaming, Tria moved aside to let Destiny awaken her friend.
With a playful smirk, Destiny put a paw right on top on Tricia's head and began to rub it. Tricia giggled a couple times, but still seemed asleep. Inspired, she got an idea. Creeping right over to Tricia's side, she steadily pawed at Tricia's belly, nudging her over until her belly was completely exposed. Then, Destiny began to rub aggressively at Tricia's belly, causing her to giggle hysterically as she began to wake up.
"Okay Mommy, that's enough," Tricia shrieked with laughter, until at last, her eyes opened, and she saw the little longneck smiling back at her.
For a moment, Tricia just froze, staring at Destiny in disbelief. But that moment ended as quickly as it happened, and before Destiny knew it, Tricia had knocked her to the ground before pulling her up to give her a big hug.
"Yayyyy! Yayyyy! Yayyy!" Tricia joyously cheered, desperately trying to keep the sound to a minimum as she kept on gripping Destiny tighter and tighter, exuberantly rubbing her wet face, covered with tears of purest delight, all over Destiny's body. Knowing she had to do something to let out her euphoria without squealing her head off, Tricia finally let go of Destiny and began to jump up and down before hurriedly scampering in circles. As she came back panting, her eyes, wide and ecstatic and her mouth stretched into the biggest, most adorable grin her mother had ever seen, Tricia lunged in and tackled Destiny over, giving her an enormous bearhug.
"Dess! It's really you! I can't believe it! Yayyy! Yayyyy! Yayyyyyy!" Tricia cried, this time wrapping her front paws around her neck so tightly that Destiny almost choked. "How did you beat those stupid guards?"
"It was a lot of trouble," Destiny smiled modestly. "But seeing you makes it more than worth it!"
"In here!" Tricia declared, and nodding toward the nearby bushes right by the Valley's walls, she jumped in. Destiny followed, finding that the space could easily conceal the both of them and that they could talk to each other under the canopy's surface.
"I can't tell you how excited I am!" Tricia hurriedly whispered, her eyes gleaming with enthusiastic energy. "Wait till I tell Mono and Rachelle! They're gonna be so, so happy! As happy as me! Well, almost!"
"I'm so happy too, just being here with you now, and knowing I'll see Mono and Rachelle soon," Destiny grinned as Tricia beamed back.
"Well guess what Dess, we're just getting started," Tricia smirked mischievously, her eyes wide and excited, before loudly and gleefully whispering, "We're all gonna be back together again … Once we make our great escape!"
So at last, Tricia and Destiny have been reunited ... But can Tricia's gang really get together and escape the Great Valley in one piece? Just what is Leigh up to, and what is this "emergency re-education"? What's going on in the twofooter and tailed zones? And just what are the grownups plotting? Remember to fav/follow/review/PM, and there's more Passage to the Future coming, right here on this website!
