Cole tensed as the two adult T-Rexes circled him a bit as if to threaten him while not taking their eyes off him.
"Don't stand there Cole, run!"
Cole's eyes went up and saw Ducky and Petrie in a tree not far away, but they certainly looked concerned for Cole, but then Cole heard the female T-Rex talk again.
"Well?"
Cole came back to his senses and tried not to look frightened as he looked the predators in the eye which almost made him wish he hadn't.
"Mr. and Mrs. T-Rex.", he said even though his sides were quivering, "This is all a big misunderstanding I can assure you both."
The male adult T-Rex didn't look convinced as he crossed his arms as if to show Cole he wasn't buying what Cole was saying. Cole tried taking a step back, but the female adult T-Rex was behind him and chomped on the air near him as if to make him jump which he did, but he wasn't hurt or anything. Still, he turned to her and looked firm.
"Please, madam!", he snapped sharply, "Do you mind?!"
The male T-Rex growled which grabbed Cole's attention again.
"Do we have to remind you?", he sneered.
Cole felt his nerves start to fail again by the way the two predators were looking his way.
"Okay, we found an egg that we thought a couple egg-stealers took last night, but it turns out that it may have been yours cause it hatched earlier today and since the hatchling looks like you, I'm thinking that-"
"It hatched?", the male T-Rex asked raising an eyebrow as if curious.
"Hatchling?", the female asked also looking interested.
Cole suddenly felt braver.
"Yes, your egg hatched and the hatchling is a very healthy baby boy and my friends and I are very, very sorry about all this trouble cause we had intended to return it to you when it hatched."
The adult T-Rexes looked less angry and more interested, but that was cut short when Ducky and Spike's mother suddenly showed up with Cera's father and Littlefoot's grandparents.
"Get away from our friend!"
As soon as the T-Rexes looked away, Cole bolted to the tree where Petrie and Ducky were before pausing at the base.
"Jump Ducky!", he called up while holding his arms out, "I'll catch ya!"
Ducky was about to, but Petrie managed to fly her down smoother and the moment they were in Cole's arms, Cole bolted around the resulting battle between the adults going on. Cole saw Littlefoot, Cera, Spike, and Chomper in a nearby cave and headed towards them though they were more focused on the fight.
"Look at the grown-ups go.", Littlefoot commented.
"Get 'em Papa!", Cera cheered.
Cole observed as the fighting was soon clearing up with the predators leaving the clearing and the adults calming down since the danger had passed. Cole could see the kids were happy to have their parents save them as they headed over, but Cole looked unsure as a memory reared its head. It was back in his own world where Blake and him were watching something in their science class since it was near the end of the year. The movie was "The Lost World Jurassic Park" and the line from it was ringing in his ears.
"They're not hunting, they're searching."
/
By the time Cole came out of his thoughts, he and the kids had reached the adults who were talking.
"Those sharpteeth won't dare show their faces here again.", Mr. Topps stated firmly.
"But how did they get into the valley in the first place?", Grandma Longneck asked.
"It's never happened before.", Ducky's mother put in.
All eyes fell on Cole before Mr. Topps frowned.
"Why not ask him?", he asked firmly gesturing towards Cole, "Besides, it looked like he was talking to them."
Cole felt his nerves tense again, but Grandpa Longneck looked Mr. Topps' way a bit sympathetic.
"My friend, I'm sure Cole has a reason for doing what he was doing."
Cole sighed as he felt he should explain, but then Grandma Longneck brought her face towards the group.
"Cole, do you or the kids know how the sharpteeth got in?"
Littlefoot and the others tried not to look guilty, but Cole knew that it was better to just let them know.
"Not really.", Ducky answered, "Oh no, no, no."
Cole turned towards the kids.
"Guys, we have to confess."
"Cera?", Mr. Topps asked firmly as he came up also.
With the look her father was giving her, Cera's resolve break and the gulp she made only made her look guilty.
"Well, um…see…", she started as if thinking of an excuse, but she then relented, "After we chased some egg-nappers into the Mysterious Beyond with Cole."
"Mysterious Beyond?", Mr. Topps asked a bit confused.
"Egg-nappers?", Grandma Longneck asked equally confused.
"Some rocks fell.", Cera continued, "Which made a bit hole in…"
She couldn't bring herself to finish, but the adults got the idea what she was saying.
"So that's how the sharpteeth came through.", Grandpa Longneck concluded.
"We must close the opening at once.", Grandma Longneck added.
The adults started heading off and Cole turned to see Littlefoot step forward.
"I want to help."
"Littlefoot, I'm sure they can handle it.", Cole told him.
Grandpa Longneck paused for a moment to look toward his grandson.
"No Littlefoot. You and the little ones, must stay here.", he stated, "Cole will watch over you in the meantime."
Littlefoot sat down disappointed as the adult headed off talking among themselves. Cole put a hand on Littlefoot's shoulder while giving him a sympathetic smile.
"Hey, no need to be down in the dumps."
As the group got back together, Cole noticed something.
"Hey, where's Chomper?"
"Has anyone seen Chomper?", Littlefoot asked getting worried.
"I haven't seen him.", Cera stated.
"I don't see him.", Ducky added looking around.
Petrie got up in the air and looked around a bit.
"Me no see him anywhere."
Littlefoot now looked more worried.
"I have to find him.", he said before running off, "He's out there all alone."
"Littlefoot, your grandfather told us to stay here!", Cera called after him.
"Oh, he's gonna be in big trouble.", Ducky said seeing that Littlefoot had disappeared.
/
The adult T-Rexes lumbered through a forest as they were recovering from the fight from earlier. As tempting as it was to chow down, they weren't there to hunt and the talk they had with Cole was still fresh in their minds. Still, they kept going on unaware that behind them a ways, Chomper wandered off looking anxious.
"Huh?", he asked as he continued to walk around.
Before, Chomper felt rejected and had run off as the rest had gone over to the adults. Now he was starting to think it may not have been a good idea. Just as he passed a bush, Littlefoot came out and looked relieved at the sight of Chomper being okay which helped the little predator feel better too.
"Oh, Chomper, I'm so glad you're okay.", Littlefoot said happily.
A bush nearby rustled and the duo turned to see Cole come out looking firmly at Littlefoot.
"Cole, what are you doing here?", Littlefoot asked.
"I'm here to make sure you're okay.", Cole answered rather loudly, "Do you have any idea what your grandfather is going to think when he finds out that-"
He was interrupted as another voice roared behind them all.
"You again?!"
The trio turned to see the adult T-Rexes looking at them firmly.
"Run!", Littlefoot yelled.
Cole rolled his eyes as he followed Littlefoot and Chomper until they came to a log over a small gorge where Littlefoot fell through the top and got his leg stuck in a hole on the bottom though he was still able to look out. Cole felt like he should help and Chomper looked down curious.
"Go on Chomper.", Littlefoot told him, "Save yourself."
Cole looked towards the approaching adult T-Rexes who had shown up though the sight of Chomper made them pause.
"Well, is this it?", the male asked Cole.
Cole nodded as he stepped back from Chomper. Now the female looked Chomper's way as if accusing him.
"Speak!", she said firmly.
Chomper paused and after a bit, he let out another raspy roar, but this time, Cole heard a small voice.
"Mommy!"
The adult T-Rexes suddenly looked surprised as the female brought her face close to Chomper. Littlefoot looked scared, but saw Cole didn't look frightened as when the female suddenly licked Chomper when her face was close. Chomper then hopped on her snout as the female pulled him away now smiling contently. As she and the male nuzzled with Chomper between them, Cole nodded before turning to Littlefoot.
"Wow, looks like we found Chomper's parents."
/
Cole then reached down and helped Littlefoot get his foot out and then turned to Chomper's parents.
"Well Mr. and Mrs. T-Rex, I really don't like to intrude but, may I have the honor of escorting you to the hole in the Great Wall from whence you came?"
The male T-Rex turned to Cole, but this time, he wore a smile of content and gave a nod before he, his wife and Chomper started off. Cole helped Littlefoot get back on the log before noticing his friend's expression.
"Hey, it's okay Littlefoot.", Cole told him, "I was taught that if you truly love something, let it go."
Littlefoot seemed to calm down and cheer up a bit.
"I'll try and get back to the others.", he informed Cole.
Cole looked unsure.
"You sure?", he asked, "I just want to be sure you'll be okay."
Littlefoot nodded and headed off so Cole shrugged and turned before heading to the other side of the log and was soon caught up with Chomper who was now on the ground walking alongside his parents. Cole felt uneasy, but as Chomper walked up to his leg and hugged him, his parents seemed to be calmer than before so Cole felt better as they continued walking.
"So, who do we have the honor of thanking?", the male T-Rex asked.
Cole gave a nervous smile.
"I'm Cole.", he answered, "And I'm really sorry about all the trouble my friends and I caused."
The female looked content.
"It's quite alright.", she answered, "I'm just happy our son is okay. How did you look after him all this time?"
Cole looked a bit embarrassed.
"I kind of kept an eye on him and got him food by fishing."
The male looked interested.
"Fishing?", he asked before looking curious, "Hmm, why didn't I think of that?"
As Cole and the T-Rex adults got into conversation, they didn't notice that they were near the hole in the Great Wall. But then the sound of Littlefoot's voice called out from above. Chomper looked firm.
"Chomper go help.", Chomper squeaked as he started walking up the ramp to the ledge above them.
Cole looked to the adult T-Rexes and when both gave a nod, he gave chase just in time for Chomper to let out another roar attempt, but saw Ozzie and Strut holding Littlefoot near the edge as if to drop him off when Chomper's attempt made them pause.
"Ozzie, do you-", Strut started.
"Oh, don't tell me you're falling for that shadow thing again.", Ozzie said firmly, "Look."
Strut did and Strut saw that there was no danger so he grabbed Chomper who squirmed in his grip.
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you.", Cole warned.
/
Ozzie looked Cole's way curiously.
"And why not?", he sneered.
That was when Cole heard Chomper's parents.
"Drop him now!"
Ozzie turned just in time for Chomper's mother to jump up and try to chomp down. Ozzie backed away with Littlefoot and dashed away with Strut who dropped Chomper and followed. Soon, they were running away and with Chomper's parents right on their tails and Cole looked content.
"Well, that worked out nicely.", he commented.
He turned to Littlefoot and then to Chomper as the two came to him.
"Come on you two, it's time.", he said leading them up the ramp.
They had only gotten a short distance before they heard voices behind them.
"Hurry!"
They all turned to see the adults from before with a bunch of others obviously here to help. Cole looked to Chomper.
"Chomper, I know you came to know us as a family, but you need to go with your mom and dad okay?"
Chomper looked confused so Cole picked him up and got to the top of the hill where Chomper's parents were still seen a short distance off.
"I know this is hard, but it's better this way okay?", Cole asked.
Chomper looked sad, but Cole's smile helped him smile a bit.
"Chomper not see you again?", he squeaked.
Cole smiled.
"Hey, we'll always be with you as long as you remember the things we did together.", he told the little predator, "In a way, we'll never be apart for we are part of each other."
Chomper looked better as he started down the hill towards his parents and though Littlefoot sniffled, he looked better as the rest of the group showed up and started calling good-bye to Chomper. Before long, Cole had helped the kids to a ledge where the adults would push some rocks to help patch the hole in the Great Wall.
"Are you sure the sharpteeth left Cole?", Grandpa Longneck asked.
Cole nodded but looked guilty.
"Sir, I know your grandson disobeyed you, but he just wanted to make things right again."
Grandpa Longneck seemed to understand as he allowed Littlefoot to launch a boulder after the adults pushed rocks down which filled half the hole which caused more rocks to fall and fill the hole completely. After a bit, the whole crowd started back to the valley and Cole felt a familiar feeling.
"What now?", he asked.
"Now it is time for you to go home."
Cole turned to see Surya who looked his way understandingly and gave a nod before she turned and vanished into the crowd. Cole then saw that Littlefoot and the others hadn't noticed he was vanishing and neither did any of the adults until he was already gone without leaving a trace.