A/N: The longneck family take a tour of the Great Valley after Chomper experiences prejudice.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Land Before Time and its characters. Original characters are mine though.
CHAPTER 3
Days had passed. Chomper was as still as a mountain. He just sat there staring off in the distance at nothing in particular.
He didn't speak, he didn't eat and he didn't drink. He just slept off and on all day.
Littlefoot was at his side. He was completely inseparable from the little sharptooth. He even turned away his friends when they came to get him.
Helen approached. "Littlefoot, Chomper. You two can't go on like this. You must nourish your bodies."
Bron approached as well. "Son, please. You have to eat something. Both of you do."
Littlefoot looked up at his parents, then down at Chomper who was looking at the ground between his feet.
Littlefoot then shook his head and went to lie down. Chomper followed him and curled up next to him.
The parents watched on with sad eyes. These two were hurting and they couldn't do anything about it. They turned away and let them be.
The rainbow faces looked on, perched from a tree.
"The little sharptooth won't last long at this rate. If anything happens to him, it will devastate Littlefoot even more. He may never recover." The male said.
"I suppose we have to intervene now. We can't have anything happen to the little sharptooth now." The female said.
They left their tree branch in search of food for the sharptooth. They gathered fish, furry diggers, berries and tree stars. They carefully placed the food near the sleeping duo.
Then they hid in the trees to watch over them.
The night circle was high in the sky by the time Chomper had woken up and sniffed the air. He looked around and blinked. Things that he ate was near him, he shook Littlefoot waking him up as well.
Littlefoot woke up, his eyes went wide as he saw a giant pile of tree stars near him. Both boys happily made their way to the food and began to eat.
They were ravenous.
They couldn't help it, they hadn't eaten in days now.
The rainbow faces watched on at the young ones ate everything that they had gathered for them. They followed them as they went to the watering hole.
After drinking their fill, Littlefoot and Chomper returned back to the nest and promptly went back to sleep.
"Mother." Littlefoot had called out to her.
Helen had awaken to a scared Littlefoot calling out to her. She got to her feet as fast as she could and went racing towards her only son. She knew something wasn't right. Then she heard the loud ominous roaring.
Loud roaring only meant one thing. A sharptooth. Helen ran faster, her heart racing.
She saw the blood red of its eyes first then its razor sharp teeth as it snarled towards her son and the three-horn child. Helen had come barreling into the sharptooth hitting it with her tail as hard as she could.
She slammed into the sharptooth with all her might but the sharptooth kept attacking. It seemed like no matter how much she attacked, the sharptooth kept coming back stronger and faster.
She began to tire and couldn't defend herself when it suddenly lunged for her. She cried out as she felt its claws and teeth rip into the flesh of her back.
The sharptooth jumped off of her happy with the destruction he had caused. It turned its sights on her son and his friend.
Too stunned to move or try to get away, her son and the girl were rooted to the spot. The sharptooth had bit at the ground taking both of them in its jaws. It threw its head back chewing then swallowing the screaming children.
Helen cried out as she couldn't protect her son. She had failed her son and failed as a parent. She then gave into the darkness, crying now.
Helen had wept her way out of sleep. She jolted awake, waking Bron in the process.
Bron blinked his eyes a bit before they were focused on his wife.
She looked beyond distressed. Helen had looked around wildly before seeing Littlefoot nestled up against Chomper and Shorty.
The three were asleep. Bron rubbed his head against her in an effort to calm her down.
"Helen, are you alright my love?" Bron asked soothingly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Helen looked around again at the three boys sleeping.
"Sharptooth." Was all she whispered.
All of a sudden the scar on her back started to pulse and she cried out a bit.
"Helen, honey." Bron's voice was full of concern.
Helen had a bewildered look on her face and tears in her eyes. Since the day of the great Earth shake, she had terrible sleep stories about what happened with her and the sharptooth. The terrible sleep stories always victimized her and left her feeling helpless and scared.
She looked into the concerned eyes of her husband.
"Bron, what are we doing?" She whispered out.
Bron gave her a puzzled look, blinking.
"My love, lie back down now." He cooed.
"Is Littlefoot?" Helen started, then she burst into tears.
"He's alright love. He's over there, sleeping." He answered her in a soft whisper.
Helen looked at the three sleeping children once more before she snuggled closer to Bron. Tears still in her eyes. She lowered her head back to the ground, closing her eyes once more. Bron watched on a bit, checking on the boys, his in-laws and finally settling back on his wife.
He watched her sleep for a long time before finally going back to sleep again.
The rainbow faces had gathered more food and left it near the sleeping boys. They knew that the little sharptooth wasn't ready to gather his own food yet.
Up until now, he didn't have to, his parents had hunted and he ate with them. It was going to be an adjustment and they knew they had to do what they could till he was able to do it himself.
The next morning, the elder longnecks were the first to wake. They scanned over their home and their family. Their eyes landed on the pile of fish, furry diggers, berries and tree stars. They exchanged looks.
"Oh my, this is something." Grandpa said.
"How did all this get here? I'm not so sure Helen and Bron did this as they are still asleep." Grandma said.
As if the mere mention of his name summoned him, Bron woke up. He got to his feet then took everything in.
He gave his in laws a puzzled look as he noticed the pile as well. Helen woke up shortly after that and had the same reaction. The grownups looked at one another with wide questioning eyes.
Chomper eventually woke up sniffing the air again. His eyes landed on the food and he went racing towards it. He hadn't noticed he had an audience watching as he ate.
The grownups watched on as the little sharptooth ate. This was new to them, they had no idea what to feed him so seeing this definitely answered the food question.
Once Chomper ate the last of the berries he noticed he had an audience. He shyly looked at the ground.
"It's okay Chomper." Helen spoke gently.
"We understand it's what you have to eat to survive." Bron said.
"When my mommy and daddy hunted I went with them but never participated. They always told me to stay back. Cause they didn't want me getting hurt." Chomper paused and Helen nodded for him to continue.
"They taught me how to hunt but only wanted me to start with small things first. Fish and the furry diggers. They said when I got bigger that I could hunt with them." Chomper paused again.
"Did you get all of that yourself?" Bron asked.
Chomper shook his head. "It's the same as last night."
The grownups exchanged looks.
"I was asleep and woke up to food. Just like this morning. I thought one of you did this."
"No it wasn't us." Bron said.
He then thought about the food he woke up to when he made the journey to the Great Valley. Someone was doing that. He just didn't know who or why.
By this time Shorty and Littlefoot had awoken too. They saw a huge pile of tree stars and began eating too. Once finished, they just listened to their parents and Chomper talk.
"Us sharpteeth don't eat berries. But one time I fell into a berry bush and when I went to lick it off, I found that I liked the taste of it too." Chomper said.
"Are you okay with eating fish, furry diggers and berries now?" Bron asked.
Chomper nodded.
"My Mommy and daddy told me that the circle of life is a balance and we have to do our part to keep that balance. They never hunted more than what we could eat."
Helen and Bron exchanged glances. They were learning new things about sharpteeth. And this little sharptooth had been taught a good lesson.
His parents had shown him not to kill without abandon and to only take what he needs and no more.
"Am I going to be okay being here? Littlefoot told me that sharpteeth aren't allowed in the Great Valley." Chomper asked nervously.
"This is true, but you're with us now and we'll look after you." Helen said.
Yes she was scared of sharpteeth but she knew she couldn't abandon this little one.
"Would you like to go to the watering hole? I'm sure you're thirsty after your meal." Bron said. Chomper nodded.
The long neck family made their way to the watering hole.
Mr. Three-horn had been at the watering hole, he saw the approach of the longnecks and didn't think anything of it. He bent down to drink more water then looked over as a small being started to drink water too.
He did a double take as he noticed that it was a sharptooth. He huffed haughtily.
"Longnecks. Why is there a sharptooth among you?" He asked angrily.
Others who had been near the watering hole gasped then looked around. Their eyes landed on the little sharptooth. Chomper had hid behind Littlefoot who was under his mother.
"As brash as ever, eh three-horn?" Bron asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"What did you say longneck?"
"I said have some discretion. Yes we are aware we have a little sharptooth among our family. His name is Chomper."
"I don't care what his name is. Fact of the matter is, he's a sharptooth and has no right to be in the Great Valley."
Other residents had agreed nodding their heads.
"And do you? Does any of us have the right to be here?" Bron countered, gesturing to the land around them.
The valley residents looked at each other.
"None of us are sharpteeth and these walls keep us safe from his kind." Mr. Three-horn spat.
"We're keeping him safe from his kind. He has the right to grow up and live a long life as well." Bron countered.
Hearing enough of this, Helen spoke up.
"Mr. Three-horn you will stop this right now. Chomper's parents are both dead. They were killed right in front of him and my son."
"Are you forgetting what sharpteeth are capable of? That scar of yours should be a forceful reminder of what they are capable of." He reminded her.
"How dare you bring that up Mr. Three-horn. I'm well aware of that, however we are not going to turn him back to the Mysterious Beyond. He's only a child, he needs a home, our love and protection. Just like all of us here."
The others seemed to be in agreement.
"If you think I'm going to allow my daughter to play with those boys of yours. You're sorely mistaken."
Cera, up until now was hidden and just listening. She ran out of the hiding spot.
"But daddy, Littlefoot is my best friend." Cera pleaded.
"Come Cera, you're not to play with the longnecks anymore." He turned to walk away.
"No." Cera said, then ran towards Littlefoot who was still standing under his mother.
"Cera, I am your father and you will do as I say. Now come." He bellowed out.
Crying now, Cera had made her way to her father. She turned back to Littlefoot with sad eyes then continued on after her father.
Bron addressed the crowd that had gathered. "Anyone else have objections to us having a sharptooth among us?"
Bron and Helen surveyed the others.
Some seemed to be taken with what Mr. Three-horn had said, some turned away to leave ushering their children to follow them.
Some gave sympathetic looks. This included Spike and Ducky's mom, and Petrie's mom as well.
Alas Littlefoot and Shorty's friends left with their families. The children gave sad looks before following after their parents.
The longneck family drank water then turned to walk away, Chomper included. When they got back to their nest, Helen looked down at Chomper who was kicking around a pointy seed.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that Chomper. But like I said, we aren't turning you away."
Chomper looked up and smiled a sad smile.
"It's okay. I now understand why Littlefoot told me that sharpteeth aren't allowed here."
Bron walked up, "It's okay Chomper, grownups say things when they are afraid. I expect you to be on your best behavior to show everyone here otherwise."
Chomper nodded his head in understanding.
Littlefoot spoke up. "Mom, dad, will my friends still play with us?"
The parents exchanged looks. It was Bron who finally answered the question honestly.
"As of right now, probably not. They are upset with us and because of that, they will not let their children play with you."
The three boys sighed in unison.
"But hey its three of you, I'm sure you'll find things to keep you occupied. Besides you have me and your father too. And we'll be more than happy to play with you three." Helen said.
She was being optimistic. She didn't want Chomper feeling any worse than he already did.
"Miss Helen, Mr. Bron." Chomper said in a small voice.
The grownups just smiled, giving Chomper their full attention. Chomper continued.
"Thank you." Chomper concluded.
The parents then bent down to nuzzle the little sharptooth. In their hearts, they already knew that they loved Chomper already.
And that they would never abandon him, come hell or high water.
"Let's play hide and seek, I'll be it. You four better get going. Helen, honey you too. I'm going to count to 20 tree stars." Bron said while closing his eyes.
His family took off in different directions.
The elder longnecks looked on with a smile on their faces. Things were difficult now, but they knew that together they could handle whatever came their way.
The longneck family including Chomper played the rest of the day away.
Thoughts from earlier in the day at the watering hole was gone. They were all enjoying one another's company. Peals of laughter reverberated throughout the trees from all of them. Others who had seen them laughing and playing just watched on in curiosity and amazement.
"Alright boys, the bright circle is starting to set. It's time we eat and settle down for the night." Helen had said once everyone was near each other.
Chomper had a worried look on his face. Bron picked up on this.
"We know you don't eat green food Chomper, so while everyone else is eating I'll take you hunting. Do you know where to hunt at?"
"Mommy and daddy said I can find the furry diggers where there's lots of holes in the ground."
Bron nodded, knowing just where to take Chomper. Helen nodded at this and she took Littlefoot and Shorty back to their nest to eat. Bron and Chomper headed in a different direction.
When they got to their destination, sure enough the ground had been dug up in multiple areas. Bron watched on as Chomper lowered his head to the ground just listening to movement beneath the Earth.
With lightning speed suddenly Chomper stuck his hand in one of the holes pulling out two rodents by their tails. He bit down on their necks, then thrashed his head about, killing them.
They were much easier to eat if they were dead as he didn't have to worry about them trying to flee or clawing at him.
Bron grimaced a bit, as he watched the little sharptooth do this. He knew with time it would get easier seeing this. But right now, it was tough.
He doubted the rest of his family would want to see this. But it's what Chomper had to do so he didn't starve. Bron watched on as Chomper did this four more times. He had eaten ten rodents total and was now full. Chomper turned to look at Bron then rubbed his tummy.
Bron nodded and the two headed for home. They were greeted by the rest of the family. After making sure the kids were settled for the night, Helen looked at Bron.
"So, how was it?" She asked.
"Let's just say, I'll be the one who takes him to eat. I'm sure you all don't want to see it."
Helen cocked her head to the side.
"Is that right?" She challenged.
Bron rose up to the challenge. He described in exact detail what all transpired. Helen looked like she was going to be sick. She sat down feeling a shudder travel throughout her body.
"Helen, honey?" Bron asked full of concern.
"Don't worry my love. I'm fine. Just hearing that, it made me a bit nauseous. For now you take him. But someday I'll go too. I have to be able to stomach him hunting."
"No Helen, that's okay. I'll do it."
"No Bron, as his parents now, we both have to do this. It's not fair to neither one of us. I don't want to deny him food because I can't stomach it."
Bron nodded. He understood exactly what his wife was telling him and she was right. They had to parent the little sharptooth together.
"You're absolutely right. Whenever you're ready to go with us, just let me know. Littlefoot and Shorty can stay back with their grandparents while we are away. Then, if they want to come along or when they are ready to come along, they can. How does that sound?"
Helen smiled at her husband. "That sounds perfect."
They engaged in conversation for a bit longer before going to sleep themselves.
The rainbow faces were in a tree looking over the sleeping family. The male turned to his companion.
"Fascinating isn't it? I didn't think the little sharptooth would hunt, but today proved otherwise."
"He's in mourning yes. But with the love he has from the longnecks they will help him get through it."
"And what of Helen?" He asked.
"The little sharptooth will help her get over her paralyzing fear of them. The scary sleep stories will fade and eventually, she will be free of them."
The rainbow faces continued on just watching over the sleeping family.
Weeks had passed and sure enough Cera, Ducky, Spike and Petrie hadn't played with Littlefoot and Shorty. Their parents had forbade them from playing with them since they kept company with a sharptooth.
Cera hadn't disobeyed her father because a part of her was also disgusted that they had a sharptooth living among them. However, she couldn't help but to miss Littlefoot.
The others always gave in to whatever she wanted because they didn't want a fight.
Littlefoot challenged her and she liked challenges and wasn't one to back down. They would fight from time to time and Cera liked that.
Cera sighed, then looked at all her friends who were moping about. She knew that they all missed Littlefoot and Shorty.
Cera sighed. "Come on, let's go see what Littlefoot and Shorty are up to."
"Oh yes yes yes. Please. I miss both of them. I do I do." Ducky clasped her hands together. Spike grunted in agreement.
"Me miss both of them too." Petrie agreed.
"But Cera, our parents said we cannot play with them. We cannot."
"So? That's never stopped us before. Besides, it's not like we're going into the Mysterious Beyond." Cera rolled her eyes.
They all just looked at each other, then they started to head to where Littlefoot and Shorty lived.
Under Bron and Helen's watchful eyes, Littlefoot and Shorty were playfully running away from Chomper in the game they called sharptooth attack.
At first, the grownup longnecks didn't like the idea of it and what they called it. But they eventually got used to the idea of it seeing their boys take turns being the sharptooth.
Chomper had fun playing it too and didn't mind when it was his turn to be the sharptooth. Littlefoot had been running about. He didn't notice his friends clearing the bushes.
He crashed into Cera and the two went sprawling. Littlefoot was on top of her now.
"Cera? What are you doing here?" He asked completely shocked.
"We're here because we want to play." Cera answered with a growl. "Get off, you weigh a ton."
Littlefoot eased himself off of her, finally noticing everyone else.
"Hey guys, I missed you all so much."
All his friends surrounded him, giving him hugs and licks. Shorty came up and they gave him hugs and licks as well.
Chomper finally caught up with him then came to a screeching halt upon seeing everyone.
He looked at everyone, then looked back at the grown up longnecks. They in turn, nodded their heads in encouragement.
Chomper took a step forward, then stopped. He had remembered their reactions from before. He ran back to Helen and Bron. Helen looked down.
"What happened Chomper?" She questioned gently.
Chomper just backed away even further till he tripped over Bron's foot. Bron bent down and nuzzled Chomper. Helen did the same.
She picked him up and placed him on Bron's back. Chomper clung to him. Littlefoot finally remembered they were playing a game and finally noticed Chomper wasn't anywhere near them. He looked around and only saw his parents near.
"Hey, where is Chomper? He was just here playing with us." Littlefoot asked Shorty.
Shorty shrugged. "He was here, maybe he's with mom and dad."
"Littlefoot, we want to play and if we have to play with the little sharptooth than that's what we will do." Cera said. The others nodded in agreement.
"Cera." He sighed exasperatedly. "His name isn't little sharptooth. His name is Chomper."
Littlefoot glared at Cera. Cera returned Littlefoot's glare.
Sensing tension, Shorty got in the middle of them.
"Let's just go find Chomper so we all can play." Shorty suggested.
This seemed to have worked. They all nodded, then headed towards the grownup longnecks.
"Hello children, what can we do for you?" Helen asked.
"Hello kids." Bron said smiling. Chomper hadn't made a move.
They all greeted both Helen and Bron.
"Mom, dad. Have you seen Chomper? We were playing and now we can't find him." Littlefoot said, looking around.
The grownups exchanged looks. Something must have happened for Chomper to have run away from them.
"Children, did something happen previously with Chomper?" Helen asked.
The gang all looked at one another. Then looked up at the grownup longnecks who patiently waited for an answer.
"Well, the day we chased the egg nappers into the Mysterious Beyond. We fought about what to do about what we saw." Shorty started.
"Chomper had followed us to the caverns and when we saw him we all ran away from him. We did, we did. " Ducky continued.
"After noticing Littlefoot wasn't with us, we came back. And we all saw Littlefoot talking with him. I started yelling at Littlefoot to get away from the sharptooth. Then we argued about it." Cera continued.
"We didn't want to tell the grownups about Chomper, because we thought it would make things worse than us just wandering into the Mysterious Beyond." Littlefoot continued.
Helen and Bron exchanged looks.
They had understood why the children felt the need to keep Chomper a secret because they too understood the prejudice from the other Great Valley dinosaurs.
"Littlefoot, I know you want to play with Chomper and your friends. But I'm not so sure Chomper is ready to play with everyone just yet. He heard the argument between you and your friend and he heard what Mr. Three-horn said as well. " Helen said.
"But mom, I just want Chomper to play with all of us." Littlefoot countered.
"We know you do son, but your mother is right. Chomper may not be ready to play with everyone yet. Just give him some time. Okay?" Bron said.
Littlefoot took a deep breath. "Okay dad."
He then turned and gingerly strolled up to Cera, tagging her. "You're it."
He then took off. Cera had been so stunned she hadn't even noticed Littlefoot and the rest of her friends running away from her.
The grownup longnecks just looked on after the kids.
Helen peeped over and noticed that Chomper was nestled against Bron, asleep. Bron looked back and saw the sleeping Chomper as well.
"I think whatever the little three-horn said must have really hurt Chomper, so much that he doesn't even want to play." Helen observed.
"She is her father's daughter. The tree star doesn't fall far from the tree. Brash and stubborn are three-horn qualities." Bron said, moving to settle down under a large tree to shield Chomper from the bright circle.
Helen sighed looking over at Bron and the sleeping Chomper.
"I think he's fine playing with Littlefoot and Shorty. But it's going to take some time before he gets fully comfortable with everyone else."
"That also includes him being comfortable enough within the Great Valley. He hasn't left here and when he does, he never strays too far. I think if we toured the Great Valley with him, he'd warm up to his new home." Bron observed.
"That's actually a good idea. While we stop to talk to the other residents, Chomper can take in his surroundings."
"Okay then, its settled. Tomorrow all of us will tour the Great Valley with Chomper." Bron declared.
The rest of the day had flown by and by the time Littlefoot and Shorty said their goodbyes to their friends and went home, Chomper and Bron were away.
"How was your day you two?" Helen asked. The boys regaled her about their day then concluded it with they wish Chomper was there too.
"I know you wanted him there, but as I said earlier Chomper needs to get used to your friends and the residents here and the Great Valley itself."
Littlefoot and Shorty looked at one another. Helen then took a branch and wiggled her head making the tree stars fall.
"Eat now, and when your father gets back we will talk about what we are doing tomorrow."
When Bron and Chomper had returned they all talked about touring the Great Valley. The elder longnecks smiled at the idea. They warned that they would get resistance, and that they needed to be prepared for it.
Bron and Helen stated that they would start with Littlefoot and Shorty's friends family first. Then depending on that, they would return home or they would continue on.
After saying their goodnights to one another, everyone went to sleep.
The next morning Bron woke everyone up.
"All right everyone, lets eat then we'll start making our way around the valley."
Chomper woke up rubbing his eyes, he walked over to Bron who in turned picked him up and placed him on his back. They made their way so Chomper could hunt. Helen woke up and fed herself, Littlefoot and Shorty. After some time Bron and Chomper had returned.
"Our first destination, is the watering hole. Not the biggest one, but the one surrounded by the tall grass and the hills." Bron said.
"Oh that's where Ducky and Spike live." Littlefoot said.
The longneck family made their way to the watering hole. They came upon the swimmer family who was already up and about, swimming and playing in the water. Ducky and Spike included.
Spike was the first to notice the approach of the longnecks. He nudged Ducky. Mama Swimmer stopped playing with her other children as she noticed the approach of them as well.
"Well, hello there." Mama Swimmer greeted them.
Helen smiled. "Hi, nice day out for a stroll."
When Ducky noticed Littlefoot and Shorty her face lit up.
"Littlefoot, Shorty! We are playing swimmer and splasher now. We are. We are."
Not needing to be told twice, Littlefoot and Shorty went racing and jumped into the water. Chomper had hung back.
"We're touring the Great Valley today with Chomper. He hasn't seen the valley and hasn't met its residents. We feel if the valley residents meet him, they will acclimate to him being here." Bron said.
Mama swimmer sighed, half smiling. She looked over at Chomper who was near Bron, as if he was hiding himself from her. Helen noticed this.
"He's a bit shy around everyone. So were also hoping that by him meeting its residents, he'll open up. He didn't want to play with the other kids yesterday."
"Ah, I see. No wonder Ducky and Spike were gone all day yesterday." Mama Swimmer laughed.
"While I'm no stranger to having a different species among my family. I can certainly tell you its going to have its challenges and its rewards. We love having Spike with us. He's my special little guy."
In the midst of playing, Spike heard this. He beamed up at his mom, smiling.
He then looked at Chomper who was hiding himself behind Bron. He could feel that he was nervous.
Spike was nervous about being near a sharptooth, but the sharptooth looked really sad and scared. He made the decision to go to him.
Spike left the water and made his way over to Chomper. While the grownups continued to talk, Spike inched closer and closer to Chomper.
Chomper in turn, backed up till he tripped and fell.
He made no move to get up off the ground instead curling himself into a ball, to brace himself from whatever was about to happen.
Spike finally got to him and looked at him with sad eyes. He sniffed the little sharptooth, licking him a bit then lowered his body to the ground. He nudged Chomper a bit to try and get him to uncurl himself.
The little sharptooth made no such move. Spike nuzzled him a bit. He wanted the little sharptooth to see that he meant him no harm.
Ducky finally noticed Spike was missing. She had stopped swimming.
She looked around for him. Then looked back at her friends. "Where is Spike?"
She looked around finally noticing him near Littlefoot and Shorty's dad. She looked back at her friends.
"I am going to check on Spike. He is over there. He is. He is." She pointed and Littlefoot and Shorty followed where she was pointing.
They too saw Spike.
Ducky swam to the edge of the water, then pulled herself out. When she finally got to Spike, she noticed that he was nuzzling the little sharptooth.
Her first instinct was to scream and run. But upon closer inspection, she noticed that he was in a ball and shivering.
Littlefoot and Shorty had come up as well.
Littlefoot approached the sharptooth. "Chomper its okay, my friends aren't going to hurt you."
He nudged Chomper a bit with his head. Chomper eventually uncurled himself upon hearing Littlefoot. He sat up, and Ducky inched closer to him.
"Hi Chomper, you are cute. Yes you are. I'm Ducky and this is my brother Spike. We are sorry if we scareded you. But we will not hurt you."
She then went to hug him. Chomper returned the hug. Spike got closer too and licked him too.
Chomper stared in amazement.
He thought he was the only one living among a different species. But hearing Ducky call Spike her brother, made him turn to Littlefoot.
"Are we brothers too?" Littlefoot and Shorty nodded.
Chomper then turned to Ducky and Spike.
"Hi Ducky, hi Spike. I'm Chomper." He waived shyly.
As the grownups were wrapping up their conversation, Mama Swimmer noticed her two weren't in the water anymore. She looked around before finally spotting them near Bron.
They were all together. She smiled. Following her gaze, both Helen and Bron looked down spotting the children as well.
They smiled as Chomper wasn't trying to get away from them.
"Well don't let me hold you up anymore. It was pleasant chatting with you both. Hope to do it again real soon." Mama Swimmer then turned her attention to Ducky and Spike.
"Ducky, Spike. Tell your friends you'll see them later. They are leaving now." She called out to her two children.
The kids exchanged goodbyes then went running towards their mother. The grownups bid one another farewell then Bron led his family away from the watering hole. They started walking in the direction of where the cliffs were located.
Lots of flyers made their nest there.
Helen glanced down at Chomper, "Well how was that? Did you meet Littlefoot and Shorty's friends?"
Chomper smiled up at Helen.
"Yes, Ducky and Spike are nice. And they are siblings even though they are different species."
Bron glanced down as well. "That's right. So how do you feel about that?"
Chomper looked to be thinking, but his little face brightened up. "It means Littlefoot and Shorty are my brothers now too."
The grownups exchanged looks, happy with Chomper's revelations.
"Chomper, did you have siblings?" Helen asked.
Chomper shook his head. "No, I'm an only child. I asked my mommy and daddy why I never saw any other children my age in the Mysterious Beyond. And they told me that sharpteeth grownups eat their young if they don't prove themselves worthy."
Bron and Helen were careful not to change up their expressions. As is, their eyes widened ever so slightly. Hearing that was highly disturbing.
Littlefoot and Shorty didn't show any such discretion. They scrunched up their faces and looked to be completely disgusted.
"Well Chomper, that is certainly something new. We never knew that." Bron said, looking straight ahead again.
"Yeah my mommy and daddy told me that they didn't believe in doing that."
'Thank goodness for that.' Helen thought to herself.
Littlefoot perked up as they approached the cliffside. He recognized Petrie's nest.
Mama Flyer was in her nest tidying up a bit. Moving sticks here, moving leaves there.
She stopped when she saw two grownup longnecks who were now looking at her. They were tall enough to stand there and have a conversation with her without her having to leave her nest.
"Hello there." Mama flyer greeted both of them.
She then peered down and saw the children. She waived at them. They waived back and she noticed the little sharptooth as well. She turned her attention back to the grown up longnecks.
The longnecks greeted her with smiles on their faces.
Petrie had looked like he just woke up. He stumbled into view.
"Mama, who are you talking to?" He then turned and saw the longnecks as well.
"Oh it Littlefoot and Shorty's parents!" he exclaimed.
"Petrie." Littlefoot called.
Petrie looked at his mother. "Mama, can I?"
She nodded and he flew down to visit with his friends.
"We're touring the Great Valley today so we can introduce Chomper here to its residents. We figured we can start with friends families first." Bron said.
Mama flyer had a worried look on her face briefly. Then she beamed.
"That's wonderful. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried since he is a sharptooth. But as you said, he's just a child and has every right to grow up and live a long life, like all of our children here too."
"Thank you, it means a lot to hear that." Helen smiled.
As the grownups engaged in conversation, Petrie had perched himself on Shorty's head. Chomper had griped Littlefoot in a death grip.
Littlefoot looked down.
"Its okay Chomper, Petrie isn't going to hurt you." Littlefoot whispered to Chomper.
Chomper looked up at Littlefoot then looked at the flyer on Shorty's head.
Petrie was looking at Chomper with wide eyes. He had never been this close to a sharptooth and he was scared.
But he made no move to harm him so he relaxed a bit.
"Hi Chomper. Me Petrie. I a flyer."
"Hi Petrie, I'm Chomper. And I'm a sharptooth."
"Yes me can see that." Petrie laughed nervously.
"Littlefoot and Shorty are my big brothers." Chomper announced proudly.
When Petrie looked at both of them, they only smiled and nodded.
"Chomper went from being an only child to now having us as brothers. Its pretty cool." Littlefoot said.
"Me wish me was an only child. Me siblings make fun of me." Petrie admitted.
Petrie looked at Chomper again. He really wasn't as scary as he originally thought.
Similar thoughts occurred to Chomper. He was bigger than the flyer so he had nothing to be scared of.
And he was friends with both Littlefoot and Shorty.
"Well thank you for having us and talking with us. We appreciate it." Helen said to Mama Flyer.
"It was no trouble at all. I hope the rest of the residents don't give your family issues."
"Like old Mr. Three-horn." Bron laughed.
Helen and Mama Flyer laughed as well. He was certainly grumpy.
"Well I'll let you be off. Thanks for the visit." Mama Flyer then peered out seeing Petrie with his friends.
"Petrie its time for your flying lessons. Tell your friends you'll see them later."
After exchanging goodbyes, the longneck family left the cliffside. Bron led everyone towards the high grass surrounded by the tall palm trees.
"Well, how was that Chomper?" Helen asked.
"It was fine. The flyer has siblings too. Just like me." Chomper smiled at that.
"Glad to hear it." Helen said.
The family continued on their way.
A worried Littlefoot stopped, realizing where they are heading. He called out to his father.
"But dad, this is going to Cera's home."
The family stopped. The grownups looked down at the trio.
"Yes, Littlefoot I know. They are also a part of the residents in the Great Valley. We can't leave them out of this tour." Bron said
Picking up on what had Littlefoot worried, Helen spoke up." Don't worry Littlefoot. We just want to talk with them." Helen paused then turned her attention to Chomper. "That is, unless you don't feel comfortable Chomper."
Chomper looked at Littlefoot and Shorty then up at Helen and Bron.
Yes it was true he thought the three-horn father and daughter were scary. But if the Great Valley was his new home, he did need to meet the residents.
And thus far, the previous families he met were very nice.
"It's okay. I think I want to meet them." Chomper said unsure but still determined to see it through.
The grownups nodded. Littlefoot and Shorty nodded. The family continued on their way.
When the longneck family got to their destination, father and daughter were struggling to move a fallen heavy tree.
"Need some help with that three-horn?" Bron asked.
"Not a chance, we don't need help longneck." Came the gruff response.
Littlefoot and Shorty had come running around towards Cera.
"Why are you pushing this tree?" Littlefoot asked.
"To cover the holes in the ground, these furry diggers are annoying." An out of breath Cera replied.
Chomper's ears perked up. He too made his way towards Cera.
"Did you say furry diggers?" He asked.
Cera stopped helping her father then whipped around to stare at the little sharptooth. "Yeah, what of it?" She asked harshly.
Helen heard this. Then addressed the three-horn. "Mr. Three-horn are there furry diggers here?"
"Yeah they dig up the ground around here. And we cover the holes with boulders and fallen trees."
Bron ignored the earlier remark that they didn't need help with the tree. He simply moved the tree with ease.
Much to Mr. Three-horn's dismay.
"Thank you longneck." Came the response.
Helen and Bron noted a tinge of pink on old three-horn's face. While they could use that to poke fun at him, they choose to ignore it.
The three-horn looked down at the children. He bristled again. "You brought the little sharptooth here?"
"Yes, this is Chomper's new home and we want the residents here to get familiarized with him." Bron said.
"But this is unheard of. Surely you can see that." He stopped as he watched Chomper lowering himself to the ground. "What is he doing?" The three-horn asked.
Bron smirked. "You'll see."
Bron had wanted to ease Shorty and Littlefoot into what was about to happen. But when nature calls, you answer. And besides they were growing up and needed to see this part in the circle of life.
Cera was looking at Chomper with open confusion now. She turned to Littlefoot."What is he doing?"
"I. I don't know." Littlefoot said.
And he honestly didn't know what Chomper was doing. The only one who knew what Chomper was doing was Bron.
Chomper was very still as he was listening to the scurrying feet below the ground. He was aware he had an audience, but he didn't care. He was hungry. After a few more moments of listening. He reached his hand into the hole very quickly and pulled out three furry diggers.
He bit down into all of them and shook his head violently, killing them. When they stopped moving, he then started to eat one by one.
Bron looked at everyone and they each had a different look about them. The three-horn jaw was slack and eyes wide.
Helen and Littlefoot were wide eyed. Shorty and Cera looked like they were going to be sick.
They all watched on as Chomper did this a few more times near all the holes.
"That's what he eats?" The three-horn asked.
"Yes, so as we were saying, Chomper needs to get acclimated to his new home." Helen started.
"He can come here and eat all he wants, especially if it's going to keep those annoying diggers away." The three-horn said with laughter in his tone.
Bron and Helen exchanged knowing looks. The three-horn was brash but he wasn't stupid. He recognized he needed help in this dilemma and the little sharptooth was the one to help him.
Cera looked like she was going to upchuck right then and there. She sat down catching her breath. Littlefoot looked on worried.
"Cera are you alright?" He asked her.
Shorty looked like he was going to be sick too.
"That's so disgusting. But I guess it's better than eating us."
She swallowed deep, willing the green food she ate to stay in her stomach.
"Shorty are you okay?" Littlefoot asked.
Shorty nodded. "It is gross, but if it's what he has to eat to survive then so be it. I just don't ever want to see that again."
Chomper had come up rubbing his full tummy. Grinning, showing off his teeth.
"That was fun. And so yummy."
Cera backed away, turning her head to the side. Chomper having no idea she was feeling sick, had run over to her.
"Hi I'm Chomper. Thank you for telling me about the furry diggers here."
"I'm Cera. Uh yeah you're welcome. Uh, Littlefoot?"
Cera looked at Littlefoot with pleading eyes. Littlefoot caught on.
"Chomper, I think we should give Cera a little space now." Chomper looked at him then looked back at Cera. He went over to Littlefoot and Shorty.
"Catch you later Cera, hope you feel better." Littlefoot called out, as he, Shorty and Chomper made their way back to their parents.
The grownups were wrapping up their conversation as they approached.
"Well thanks for the help longnecks. See you around." The three-horn said.
The grownup longnecks nodded, bidding their farewell. They started to make their exit, with the three boys in tow.
"Chomper, right?" The three-horn had called out.
Chomper stopped and looked back.
"Thank you."
Chomper waived, "You're welcome Mr. Three-horn." He then took off after his family.
"Well, how was that Chomper?" Helen asked.
"It was great. And now I know where more furry diggers are."
"Yes that's right. The three-horn said you can come by and hunt." Bron stated.
"Really?" Chomper lit up.
Bron nodded. "Yes, although I think he and his daughter will leave you to it. Did you see how nauseous she looked?"
They all laughed.
"Why are you laughing? You were nauseous too Shorty." Littlefoot pointed out.
"Well yeah, but only for a little bit."
"Yeah right." Littlefoot clearly didn't believe him.
"Hey, I said only for a little bit." Shorty retorted, he then rammed into Littlefoot.
"Oh no you don't." Littlefoot rammed back into Shorty.
Chomper looked on with curious eyes. Did all brothers fight? He wondered.
Not wanting things to escalate even more, Helen swiftly grabbed Shorty by his scruff and placed him on her back.
She repeated the same thing to both Littlefoot and Chomper setting them both on Bron's back.
"There, much better." Helen laughed. "Regardless of who got nauseous or not, I think it's good that we found another place for Chomper to hunt."
"I agree. And since those creatures are so small, breeding for them isn't a problem which means Chomper will have plenty to eat here in the Great Valley." Bron said.
Littlefoot's curious ears picked up on that. "Dad, what's breeding?"
Helen shot Bron a glare.
Bron had a sheepish smile on his face.
"Nothing any of you three need to worry about for a long time." Helen said in a tone that suggested the conversation about breeding was over.
Bron laughed a bit, but continued walking.
The family spent the rest of the day touring the Great Valley and meeting its residents.
While some initially were fearful, they came to realize that he was a young child and his family was clearly taken with him as he was with them.
They could feel the love radiating off the longnecks for the little sharptooth. And that in turn made them trust and accept the sharptooth.
Chomper had loved this. He had found many places where he could hunt and he was enjoying the scenery too.
The Great Valley really is beautiful and there was plenty of things he could do and plenty of games he could play with his brothers and new friends.
After a long day of touring, the longneck family made their way home. They were all greeted by the elder longnecks.
While the boys started getting settled for the night, the grownups conversed. Overall they were happy with how today had gone and had high hopes that Chomper could grow up comfortably here.
They knew that someday, he would feel the sting about being the only sharptooth living among leaf eaters. But when that time came, they would handle it.
For now, the focus was just to make Chomper feel that he was loved and accepted. The grownups eventually settled down for the night as well.
The rainbow faces looked on perched from a tree.
"How fascinating. This family is truly remarkable. And the little sharptooth is a great addition to it." The male said.
"The little sharptooth is a special one. He will make the residents here question their own prejudice towards different species. He's already gotten some to warm up to him. And he's only a young child." The female said.
"He will grow up having the best of both worlds. Even his parents knew he was special. The longnecks see it too."
"It's a shame we couldn't do anything about his parents though." The female shook her head.
The male had looked at his companion in surprise. This was certainly something new from her.
"Unfortunately their fates were already decided. The little sharptooth was destined to be here with his longneck family." He said, looking down at the sleeping family.
"Yes, I know." She agreed.
They continued to watch over the sleeping family well into the night.
A/N: Read and review, please. Thanks!