We Will Hold On Forever

by

DaveTheAnalyzer

Chapter 09: New Arrivals Part 2

Littlefoot watched with relief as Cera, her family, and Chomper laughed at Verter's tall tales. He had been worried when Verter came close to Chomper's hiding spot but now all misunderstandings appeared to have been swept away. The only one who wasn't enjoying herself was Ruby. She was standing to the side, her pondering expression troubled. He waved his tail to get her attention, making his expression of concern clear. Ruby looked bemused but then shook her head and smiled reassuringly. Whatever was bothering her was no big deal and Littlefoot needn't talk to her about it.

Nodding reluctantly, Littlefoot turned away. The herd was becoming pretty relaxed, chatting easily with the valley denizens or eating and relaxing amongst themselves. The worry about ghosts had apparently left most people's minds and they were at least keeping up the appearance of good spirits.

Among the many herd members walking about, Littlefoot glimpsed a longneck who didn't bother to keep up such appearances. She was young, around her late teens and three-fourths the size of the average longneck adult, yet no guardian was with her. She weaved a slow, single path through the herd, gaze moving about without looking at anything in particular. The longneck teen didn't appear depressed but her movements were pensive and there was a familiar sadness in her amber eyes.

Littlefoot felt a stirring of sympathy, a coolness in his chest. Whoever she was, she had no parents or guardians with her and she didn't act close with any of the herd members. She looked quite lonely. Littlefoot had been that lonely once, so lonely after experiencing the greatest loss of his young life. He had been reminded it would be the first of many through that talk last night. With that reality in mind, he wouldn't feel right if he didn't at least come up and tried to make someone's pain at least a little better.

Littlefoot moved away from his grandparents and maneuvered through the herd until he caught up and walked alongside her.

"Um, hello," he said. "I hope I'm not being intrusive but…are you alright?"

"Hmm," the longneck teen said. "Oh, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about what to do after such a long journey."

"Ah. Okay." Littlefoot chewed his lip. "Do you need any water? Food? Migrating can make you hungry. The treestars from that tree are quite delicious. You can eat them and no one will mind."

A slight smile was pulled from her face. "Don't worry, I've already had my fill on the way here. I'm pretty experienced with these long travels, so I know when and how much to eat."

"Oh. Sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't know." She glanced at Littlefoot. "Why did you approach me anyway? It's kind of strange for a kid to go up to just any random stranger."

"I know, it's just…" Littlefoot looked away. "The way you were walking by yourself…you looked really sad. I thought if I came over, I might be able to help and keep you company."

The longneck teen stopped walking. She looked Littlefoot over curiously, not knowing what to make of him. She appeared to chew something over and at last met his gaze.

"Thank you for your concern," she nodded in greeting. "I'm Patty. Sorry if I was a bit rude. I keep to myself, so that doesn't make me the politest of company."

"That's okay." Littlefoot smiled. "Funny thing, the valley also has a Patty…uhh, a Pat. He keeps to himself but he's super nice. We keep trying to invite him to things but he keeps saying he doesn't want to intrude. There's nothing wrong with being a loner, so don't feel bad about it."

"You're correct." Patty said thoughtfully. "It does take all sorts to make a world. Why should I follow the crowd?" She gave him a considering look. "What's your name?"

"I'm Littlefoot. Nice to meet you Patty."

"Littlefoot." Patty repeated. She smiled wryly. "That name's going to be quite ironic if you grow to be big."

Littlefoot laughed. "I know. Some have suggested I change it when I grow up but I don't know…I'm quite attached to it. My mother gave me that name. Well, it kind of came from my dad but my mother chose it for me. It wouldn't feel right if I changed it to something else."

"I can understand." Patty agreed. "Patty's the name my mother gave me. I wouldn't want to change it either. Your mother must find it very sweet you want to keep the name she gave you."

"Uh, maybe she would." Littlefoot lowered his head. "I don't know. My mother passed away several cold times ago."

"Oh." Patty's eyes widened. "I'm sorry. It seems I brought up some painful memories."

"It's okay. I've gotten used to it. I've got my grandparents and made some great friends but I do miss her."

Patty appeared to have a hard time taking this in. She gazed up at the sky sadly.

"It seems this tragedy is common in the world," she said softly. "You see, my mother also passed away some time ago. She died defending me from a sharptooth."

Littlefoot's breath hitched. "I'm sorry. That must have been so hard," he paused. "My mother died saving me from a sharptooth too. One moment, she was encouraging me to go to the valley, the next, she didn't say anything again. I had to go on without her."

"Oh, that's heartbreaking." Patty said. "It's amazing that you actually made it here."

"I almost didn't. There were many times I nearly gave up. But I managed to make friends along the way. Without them, I'm not sure I would've been able to get here and we've been having fun together ever since. They're even here right now, with their parents. They're over there, there, and there. I'm glad to have them as friends."

Patty looked in the directions Littlefoot pointed, taking in each of them with great accuracy. She was quiet for a moment.

"Does your circle of friends include that sharptooth?" Patty said.

Littlefoot turned and saw that Verter moved, leaving Chomper in plain view for anyone to see him. Littlefoot saw some of the herd members stare at the sharptooth youth laughing at Verter's stories. A few talked questioningly with the valley denizens, who whispered and sighed while shrugging in helpless bemusement. Patty watched Chomper with a foreboding expression. Hastily, Littlefoot stepped in front of her feet.

"Chomper wasn't with me during that time but he is my good friend," he said. "Don't worry, he's nice. He only eats bugs and snapping shells. He wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone."

"I can't see why you would make friends with a sharptooth after what you experienced." Patty said. "Why would the valley allow him to live here anyway? That's just danger waiting to happen."

Littlefoot sighed. "We sort of accidentally hatched him. Long story, but I couldn't find it in my heart to abandon him. We gave him back to his parents but we met him again and he helped us out of a tough spot. When he and his friend Ruby needed help, we barely managed to get the valley to trust them. After they helped rescue some people, they were allowed to stay in the valley."

Patty was blinking. "I'm sorry, I'm still stuck on the part about you hatching and raising a sharptooth."

Littlefoot laughed. "Yeah, pretty amazing, huh. It was only for a day. Funny thing. When me and my friends had to come clean about our friendship with Chomper so they would listen to us about him and Ruby staying, my grandparents were pretty caught up on that. When I took care of Chomper, I asked them how to take care of babies. That weirded them out and they later told me they were shocked the truth was stranger than some of the worried explanations they were thinking up in their heads."

Patty stared and, when she caught on to what he was implying, chuckled. "They thought you saw or heard about…um, egg creation? Oh my, that is funny. It didn't sound like the truth was any more reassuring though."

"Nope. But I managed to sway them. They know Ruby and Chomper really well now and anyone who really gets to know those two can't be suspicious of them for long."

"I see. So this Chomper and the fast runner Ruby are really-"

"Nothing but good friends. They've rescued me and my friends so many times. I – I do worry about their future here but – all they want is a peaceful life."

The suspicion drained out of Patty and she gazed at the two thoughtfully. "Amazing. So I guess sharpteeth also have loves and want a peaceful life but with their diet…well, as long as they don't hurt anybody. This valley's more incredible than I've heard if it can accommodate so many different kinds. It's good this place allows you to spend time with your diverse company of friends."

"Yeah, it is." Littlefoot smiled softly.

"So, your grandparents take care of you?"

"That's right. That's them over there. With Mother gone, Grandpa and Grandma were the family I had here. They're doing the usual, making sure people are calm and helping in any way they can," he smiled fondly at them.

"They sound like they mean a lot to you."

Littlefoot nodded distractedly. "They're so nice. Even when I'm being a brat, they're patient with me. They have interesting things to say and can be very funny. Grandpa knows some very cool stories while Grandma gives me advice on how to stay safe. They do a good job looking after me. I wasn't always close to them but…I'm glad I got to know them better." Quietly, he added. "I just wish there was more time we can be together."

Patty considered him, surprise mixing with sympathy. "You're so strong. It isn't right you have to deal with such struggles but you seem to have been able to ride them out. You're so fortunate to have friends and family that look out for you."

"What about you?" Littlefoot asked.

Patty shook her head. "I have no one. My father might still be out there but Mom didn't talk about him much. My grandparents passed before I was born. We were always on the move, so I didn't have time to make friends. I only had Mom, and when she was gone…"

Patty trailed off. She was lost in thought until Littlefoot went over and gave her foot a brief nuzzle

"Sorry," he said, "I was only trying to make you feel better but I only loaded my problems onto you."

"That's okay." Patty said. "When you meet someone, you sometimes want to unload all your feelings – both the good and bad. Your kindness is enough to make me feel better."

Littlefoot welled up a smile. "Well, why don't we focus on the good things then. What do you enjoy doing? Do you play toss the seed? Swimmer and splasher? What games do you love?"

"I'm afraid I've grown too big to play such games." Patty said wryly. At his bemused reason, she added. "Not in a grownup kind of big. I mean my size. When you're with a herd, you have to mind what you do so you don't step on someone's foot…or someone small. You can't just move wildly about."

"Oh." Littlefoot blushed. "I should've known that. It's kind of sad you have to give some things up when you grow up."

Patty smiled. "I'm not grown up yet and I haven't given up on all things. When I'm alone and sure no one would get hurt, I sometimes play with my tail."

"You mean like whipping off treestars?" Littlefoot said eagerly.

"I've done more than that. When you're traveling and have all the time in the world, you learn there is more than one way to use a tail. For example, I can do this…"

She started swinging her tail in slow, gradually faster loops. Once she got the desired momentum, the tail flicked downward and she lifted her rear feet. The tail sailed right under them. The feet fell back down but as soon as the swinging tail returned, they jumped once more. Patty kept up the rhythm, the tail speeding up but her rear feet never making contact or staggering. Littlefoot watched, fascinated. A few other herd members stopped what they were doing to do the same, bemused or amused. When at last Patty slowed her tail to a stop and stood on all fours, she barely looked winded and there was more animation in her eyes.

"Whew, it's been a while since I've done that," she said.

"That was amazing!" Littlefoot exclaimed. "Can you teach me that trick?"

"If you're willing to put up with your tail hitting your feet, stomach, and back." Patty said.

"Well, ah…" That gave Littlefoot pause. "I've dealt with worse. Besides, it sounds like fun."

"I might teach you." Patty said. "It would be amusing way to pass the time. It beats the usual routine of walking around, eating, and attracting strange looks with my weird games…"

"Littlefoot? Littlefoot, get back here!"

Littlefoot jumped and walked back to his grandparents, Patty not far behind him. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck had finished speaking with the spikethumb leader, who stood aside and was now visually sweeping the area as though to count out her herd members. His grandparents were looking at him with a mix of relief and reproach.

"There you are." Grandpa Longneck continued. "We got worried when we couldn't see you."

"Don't bother our guests." Grandma Longneck said. "They've had a long journey and need their rest."

"Sorry." Littlefoot hung his head. "But I saw one of them had a lot on her mind and wanted to make sure she was alright."

"Don't be hard on him." Patty said. "He was only trying to help. Talking to him did improve my mood. He's very kind. You must be proud to have such a grandson."

Grandpa and Grandma Longneck stared at her, slightly surprised, before allowing themselves to smile.

"Why, yes." Grandpa Longneck said. "He fills us with as much worry as pride, but we wouldn't trade him for anything else. He's such a good helper."

"Even if his timing mightn't always be perfect." Grandma Longneck said. "Thank you for putting up with our grandson."

"It's no problem." Patty replied, smiling. "In fact, if you have no objections, I'm willing to put up with him a lot more in my stay here. I never had a sibling before and kids can be fun to play with."

"Now, don't entangle yourself in babysitting duties so soon after a long journey." Grandpa Longneck said. "Settle down. Think it over. We have been your age once, and it wasn't always fun to keep children company."

"If you're still willing though… we'd be more than happy that you'd keep our grandson company," Grandma Longneck added, noticing Littlefoot brighten. "These last few days have been tough on him and his friends. If you're really willing go out of your way to brighten their day, it would be appreciated."

"Thank you." Patty said.

"Everyone, can I have your attention?" The spikethumb leader was saying loudly. "These two have informed us of the usual sleeping locations for visiting herds in the valley. Follow me so I can show you where they are and then we can debate our next course of action. I don't want any stragglers. All must be present. When night falls, I want everyone at the usual sleeping spots, understand?"

There were nods and grumbles, but the herd members started following the spikethumb leader as she led them onward. Patty sighed and turned to Littlefoot and his grandparents.

"Looks like I can't stay long. I'll see if I can meet with you tomorrow. Will that be fair?"

"Okay." Littlefoot said. "Have a good day, Patty."

Verter, meanwhile, had turned to the spikethumb's leader's words and sighed dramatically.

"Being part of a herd does have its downsides," he said. "Still, I'm sure things'll settle down. Topps old pal, I'll have fun with you and your lovely family later."

Mr. Threehorn nodded and smirked. "Don't take too long, Verter. We still have a lot of catching up to do."

"I look forward to it. Bye, kids!" Verter added, nodding cheerily to Cera, Tricia, Chomper, and Ruby.

He walked away and, in his departure, brushed passed Patty.

"With how sleeping arrangements are even in some of these bigger places, I wouldn't be surprised if we're packed next to each other." Verter chuckled.

To Littlefoot's surprise, Patty turned away. "If that happens, I'll make sure I'm not packed next to you."

Verter snorted, but the pair only separated as they walked in the same direction, disappearing behind a distant clump of trees. Littlefoot blinked and looked up at his grandparents.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Maybe their personalities rub each other the wrong way." Grandma Longneck said. "Remember, Littlefoot. People can be good or share the same goal, and not always see eye to eye. It's pretty normal in a community."

Littlefoot couldn't help but shrug in agreement. He had seen more than enough examples of those dynamics in the valley to believe the claim. Still, a stirring of unease ran through him. What could Patty find so offensive about Verter?

"The meeting's over? Thank goodness. I was about ready to fall asleep on my feet."

Mr. Clubtail walked over bleary-eyed, his grumpiness veiled by relief. Not far behind, the gang and their families gathered closer

"We're very sorry for awakening you, Mr. Clubtail." Grandpa Longneck said. "You did well here. Have a good rest."

"Thanks." Mr. Clubtail said. "Climbing those Great Wall paths is going to be rough at night, so I'll need the rest."

"What's so special that you need to be on the Great Wall tonight?" Cera asked.

Mr. Clubtail averted his eyes. "Well, there's going to be a great sight. It only happens once a cold time, so I want to make sure I'll be awake to see it."

"What is that great sight?" Ducky said curiously.

"It's, uh…it's kind of embarrassing to say."

"Is it something salacious?" Grandma Longneck said warily.

"No, nothing like that. It's just…you'll laugh."

"Hey, me and my friends get up to all sorts of weird things." Littlefoot said. "Compared to us, it mustn't be that bad."

"We'll try not to laugh." Ruby said. "I can't guarantee that for everyone, but…"

Littlefoot and the others nodded seriously, doing their best to compose their faces so they wouldn't be inclined to snicker. After a moment, Mr. Clubtail began to relax.

"You're right. The valley's full of weirdos. I guess even I can't escape it," he said wryly. "Well, the truth is, at a certain time tonight, the night circle is going to turn orange. It's quite beautiful to look at, but that's not the only reason I'll be up to see it. The truth is…it reminds me of sweet bubbles."

A wind blew by and the distant trees rustled. The reaction he got wasn't laughter but some blinking and confusion.

"Sweet bubbles?" Cera said incredulously. "What does the night circle have to do with sweet bubbles?"

"As I said, it'll be orangey tonight." Mr. Clubtail replied. "When I look at the orange night circle, it makes me crave orange sweet bubbles. They're sour but quite good and if you're put in the right mood, they're very delicious. Don't look at me that way. I'm sure some of you do the same thing."

"Looking at something else to remind you of food?" Petrie said. "Me don't get it."

"I guess that's a thing some people do." Chomper said reluctantly.

Mr. Clubtail sighed. "I knew you kids wouldn't understand."

"Hey, I kind of do that."

Mr. Clubtail looked at Ruby, stunned. "You do?"

"Sure." Ruby said encouragingly. "When I look at purple flowers sometimes, I do get a craving for purple sweet bubbles. When the night circle turns blue, I think about blue sweet bubbles. It's kind of fun to find inspiration for eating your favorite foods in all kinds of places."

Spike nodded rapidly and made understanding "uh-huh" sounds. Ducky drew up a smile.

"Even if some of us do not understand, it does seem to makes you happy," she said.

"To each their own." Grandpa Longneck murmured, smiling. "We all have our enjoyments we're guilty of admitting aloud."

Mr. Threehorn shrugged. "It's silly, but harmless enough."

"Thanks, you guys." Mr. Clubtail said, relieved. "Can you…keep it a secret? I do want to limit the number of people who'll make fun of me for this."

"Hey, we aren't that bad, right?" Cera said.

"Yeah, we only do good-natured ribbing." Mr. Threehorn said. "You don't need to take it so seriously."

Mr. Clubtail snorted. "You two sometimes have a hard time knowing when you're ribbing stops being good-natured. I'd rather not have to deal with any more people with such a lack of inhibitions."

Mr. Threehorn and Cera grumbled to themselves. Tria stepped forward smoothly.

"Whatever the matter, we'll respect your wishes," she said pleasantly.

"Yeah." Littlefoot said encouragingly. "You go out and have fun."

"Just be sure not to gorge too much." Cera said.

"Yeah, remember to leave some sweet bubbles for the rest of us." Mr. Threehorn said.

Irritation flickered in Mr. Clubtail's eyes, but he merely made a face at Cera and Mr. Threehorn, causing chuckles from the others. He turned determinedly from the pair.

"Thank you. I do appreciate the support of some." Mr. Clubtail smiled widely before a yawn broke across his face. "And speaking of that, I'm going to need the support of some extra sleep for tonight. Don't expect me to get up early tomorrow. I'm going to need the rest."

"We'll give you the space." Grandpa Longneck said. "Have a nice nap."

Nodding and appearing more refreshed, Mr. Clubtail walked off. Littlefoot, his friends, and their parents watched his departure with fondness or amusement. Cera watched with annoyance.

"Oh, he is going to gorge himself tonight," she muttered. "Oh well, at least I won't have to be there for his disgusting burps."

"At least there's a plus side for everyone." Littlefoot said sheepishly.

With the herd members leaving, most of the other valley denizens had also dispersed, to go back to what they were doing or to rest and recover. That left mostly the gang and their families. Littlefoot and the others eyed each other speculatively before they turned to their parents.

"Grandpa, Grandma," Littlefoot said, "is it okay if I play with my friends now?"

"We haven't gotten ourselves in danger yet." Cera said brightly.

"Yeah, the most that happened was me getting spooked." Chomper said.

"And some of us making new friends." Ruby said.

"It pretty lonely without my friends." Petrie said. "Can we go? Can we?"

"Pretty please?" Ducky said. "Please, please. Please."

Spike bayed to each of their parents, making his eyes as wide and pleading as his sister's. Their parents stared uncertainly at the gang before glancing at each other.

"I don't know." Mr. Threehorn said. "You kids still need supervision."

"We can't keep track of you together all day." Mama Swimmer said. "We have responsibilities to attend to."

"Oh, that's true. Most of you have siblings we need to watch over." Mama Flyer said.

There was a pensive silence as they considered this dilemma. Petrie scratched his chin nervously.

"Maybe…we all stay with Littlefoot's grandparents," he suggested. "Littlefoot's brother not in valley and herd business done now. So we won't bother them much."

"That is right." Ducky said. "You can trust Littlefoot's grandparents. They are very good watchers, they are."

"We won't go far." Chomper said. "We'll stay close to them while we play. Cross our hearts."

"They can escort our friends back to you parents when it's time for bed." Ruby said. "And for me and Chomper, they can escort us back to our cave. It sounds like a perfect arrangement, right?"

Grandpa Longneck smiled wryly. "And you suppose just because we only have Littlefoot, we have all the time in the world."

"You do remember our ghost duties, right?" Grandma Longneck asked.

Ruby almost blushed. She and the others awkwardly averted their gaze.

"Well…" Cera said. "Are there any ghosts you need to deal with now?"

Grandma Longneck chuckled. "Fortunately for you, today there is a bit truth to us having some free time. We'll be going around to make sure the herd is settling in well but otherwise nothing too taxing or attention-consuming."

"We'll be more than happy to watch you children for the day." Grandpa Longneck said. "Having an opportunity to have you all over is a treat – that is, if it's okay with your parents. Rest assured, we'll do our best to look after them and if a ghost issue does come up, we'll escort your children back – under that scenario, Littlefoot, Chomper, and Ruby might have to stay with one of you as well until we deal with our duty."

Mama Flyer only hesitated a moment before smiling warmly. "Of course. I know you'll make sure Petrie and the kids don't get up to any mischief. If ghosts or anything else happens, I'd be more than willing to look after Littlefoot, Chomper, and Ruby."

"Just make sure not to look for any adventure, Petrie." One of Petrie's sisters teased, causing good-natured laughter from the other flyer children.

"Um…" Mama Swimmer looked between Ducky and Spike, her hand to her lips uncertainly. Looking to her other children, she sighed. "Okay. At least I know they'll be well watched. But Ducky, Spike, behave. I don't want to hear of you doing anything that gives Grandpa and Grandma Longneck more work. And if you get sent back, cooperate, understand?"

Ducky and Spike nodded rapidly, instantly contriving to look angelic. Since Ruby and Chomper were guardian-less, they merely walked over to stand next to Littlefoot. Petrie wasn't far behind, a bit embarrassed at the teasing but smiling all the same. Ducky and Spike initially matched Petrie's speed, but slowed upon the neutral or uncertain gazes their brothers and sisters gave them. At length, they waved Ducky and Spike off. Ducky and Spike crossed the remaining distance to Littlefoot, Petrie, Chomper, and Ruby.

Now everyone watched Mr. Threehorn and Tria, who both seemed to have the most misgivings. Mr. Threehorn in particular stared at Cera as though fearing she would evaporate. However, upon seeing Littlefoot and the others in the comforting shadows of Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, Mr. Threehorn sighed.

"You'd better watch my Cera very closely," he warned. "If any harm comes to her…"

Grandpa Longneck nodded. "We know. We would say the same if you had to look after Littlefoot."

Mr. Threehorn nodded, stepping aside so Cera could go. She began to walk forward when she felt Tricia press against her foreleg, looking up sadly and making a pleading warble. Cera was confused until she remembered the trauma of two days back.

"Don't worry Tricia, I'm not going away. I'm just hanging out with my friends." Cera said. "I'll be back tonight. Count on it."

Tricia made a questioning sound, like a version of "You're sure?" and Cera gave a comforting nuzzle. Her spirits picked up, she gave a cheerful wave as Cera walked off to join her friends. Tria still appeared worried.

"Cera, don't be reckless," she said. "Keep your promise to Tricia about being back tonight."

"We're not going on some mission." Cera complained. "We're just going to play. You don't need to get bent out of shape over it."

She didn't get a response. With final waves and farewells, Mr. Threehorn, Tria, Mama Swimmer, and Mama Flyer departed with their other children in tow. Grandpa and Grandma Longneck turned to smile at Littlefoot and the others.

"Well, let's get going." Grandpa Longneck said. "Stay close, kids. We don't want to disappoint your folks by losing you immediately, now do we?"

Chuckling, the gang started walking in the wake of Littlefoot's grandparents, at ease now they were in each other's presence. Though difficult, the meeting with the herd had put some of them in a good mood. Chomper was humming, a cheerful tune that encouraged a few to join in. Normally, being able to hang out with Grandpa and Grandma Longneck made them happy. Their easygoing and gentle demeanors made them comfortable company. But Cera was notably grumpy.

"Me, be reckless," she said. "Why do they think we would be that way now?"

"Your dad and Tria are only worried about you." Littlefoot said. "Yesterday was a close call."

"It was, it was." Ducky said. "We were so scared me and Spike went to bed without eating anything."

"Really?" Petrie said. "That amazing for Spike."

Spike giggled bashfully, almost as amazed as the others. Chomper lowered his eyes.

"Me and Ruby slept next to each other," he admitted. "We…wanted to be close in case there were bad sleep stories."

"There were bad sleep stories." Ruby said. "They were better to deal with together…but they wasn't fun to deal with at all."

"Though things have been less fun for some of us than others." Cera said.

Everyone gazed at Littlefoot, who hesitated but didn't turn away. Certainty started to settle into him. After a long day, where Littlefoot was able to brighten the mood of someone he shared a common tragedy with, he now felt ready in more ways than one to talk with his friends about what he was worried about.

"Are you feeling alright, Littlefoot?" Ducky said.

"I'm okay." Littlefoot answered. "Sorry for falling apart last night. It wasn't a pretty sight."

"Hey, yesterday super scary." Petrie said. "Me surprised more of us not fall apart, especially me."

"My parents did that more than I did." Cera admitted. "I've never seen Dad so blank and nervous, or Tria so down. They haven't been talking much since we came back and had me and Tricia pressed between them when we slept."

"I don't blame them." Littlefoot said. "I don't blame any of our parents. Yesterday was…difficult. It brought out a lot of issues that I didn't want to think about but now…"

"That offer to talk is still open." Chomper said gently.

"I'm ready. If this becomes too uncomfortable, say something. This might be a bit heavy…"

Gradually, Littlefoot laid out his fears about mortality and his grandparents, and how they all started with a random sleep story four days ago (Had it only been four? Everything that happened since made it feel so much longer). His friends listened attentively, some gaining looks of understanding or sympathy. They did little more than nod and make encouraging noises, so Littlefoot was wary of their full reactions. By the time he finished by detailing what he and his grandparents talked about last night, he waited for someone to speak up.

"Huh." Ruby said. "That explains why you've been more concerned about us than you already are."

"I hope I haven't been too insufferable these last few days." Littlefoot said.

"Hey, it is okay." Ducky said. "Worrying about how long you will be with your grandparents is normal, it is, it is."

"We don't blame you for wanting to protect them." Chomper said.

Littlefoot allowed a smile. "Thanks, guys. I just…it makes me really sad. I love Grandma and Grandpa. I don't want them to leave anytime soon. You guys should count yourselves lucky. At least your parents will still be around when you're grownups."

"Maybe." Cera said. "Dad is always grumbling about how he's too old for this or that and Tria must be his age. I think they're middle-aged, so they'll still be around but maybe...not as long." She shook her head as though dismissing a thought.

Ruby nodded sadly. "My parents are a bit older than Mr. Threehorn and Tria. By the time me and my brother and sister are grownups, they will be old grownups. Not to mention the Mysterious Beyond is very tough and it can be hard to stay tough in old age. And if Redclaw doesn't go away anytime soon…"

"It's tough for my parents too." Chomper said. "I mean, they aren't old but Red Claw really hurt them. With how many wounds they got, they wouldn't have been able to do anything but scavenge for a while. And if someone picked a fight with them…" he fidgeted. "I – Ruby's dad said they've gotten a lot better when we visited her family. I hope their injuries are gone now. Being a sharptooth is tough enough, they shouldn't suffer for the injuries they got because of me…"

Chomper and several others appeared pensive for a moment before he looked up and started guiltily.

"Sorry Littlefoot," he said. "Uh, we didn't mean to make this all about us."

Littlefoot shook his head. "It's okay. I guess it's only natural me worrying about my folks will make you worry about yours. That's all the more reason we should do what we can for them while they're still around."

"Yeah, me agree." Petrie said. "But Littlefoot, when that happen – and me hope that not for very long time – you can stay with my family. Well, maybe on side of nest, since me don't want you to roll over in sleep and fall off cliff. But there not enough room, so maybe sleep in back of nest. But that might crowd brothers and sisters. Um…"

Littlefoot chuckled. "That's okay. I appreciate the thought. Whatever happens, I'll be sure to visit often."

"And we will visit you too." Ducky said. "We can even have sleepovers. That would be fun, oh it would be, it would."

"Aren't sleepovers a childish thing?" Cera asked.

"The great thing about being a grownup is being in charge of when you want to be mature and when you want to be childish." Ruby said. "Being in charge of how you'll hang out with your friends is also a benefit."

Cera eyed her dryly but only said. "Well, I guess it would be nice to have a place to escape to when my parents are being insufferable."

There were laughs. Littlefoot shook his head fondly, unable to stop his giggles and feeling much lighter in spirit.

"Well, I'm glad you all plan to be there for me but let's not get too ahead of ourselves," he smiled warmly. "Thanks. For listening. Letting you guys know about my worries is a lot off my chest."

"Of course." Petrie said. "We talk about our worries all time. Now it your turn."

"Who knows what might have happened if you held it in any longer." Cera said. "It is nice to know."

"Not to mention it reminded some of us of what is important." Ducky said.

"Uh-huh." Spike nodded, nuzzling Ducky who hugged him in return.

Littlefoot's heart melted at the sight. Before he could say anything, Cera bumped into him, eyes sharp and mischievous.

"Hey, now that you got those worries off your chest, let's go and have some fun," she said. "How does tag sound? I bet I can catch you guys faster than you blink."

Littlefoot slowly smirked. "Why, Cera. Are you volunteering to play the role of sharptooth? I thought you didn't like that."

"Oh, be quiet. After getting chased all over the place these past few days, being the chaser would be great for a change. Any objections?"

"Not really, it is just…" Ducky giggled. "Because we have been chased so much, we are prepared. You will not be able to catch us so easily, you will not, you will not."

"Being a sharptooth, I do know how to run from them." Chomper said.

"And being a flyer, me can just fly until you grow bored." Petrie said.

"Is that what you think?" Cera said.

Cera eyed him. Suddenly she pounced at Petrie, who squeaked and flew out of the way. He flew above her just out of reach and blew a defiant raspberry. Cera was unoffended.

"You can't stay up there forever," she said.

"Yeah, well me can try!" Petrie retorted.

"Flying might have advantages but being a fast runner also has advantages." Ruby said. "Can you outrun me?"

"Everyone feels like making big boasts today." Cera said. "Who knows? Let's test them."

Cera crouched as they walked, head low as she eyed her friends speculatively. The others followed her example, Littlefoot with his tongue stuck out as he made sure to keep pace with her. Everyone kept their distance. Then Spike started crawling closer, barely able to stifle his giggles, and a riding Ducky cried out in alarm. Cera took the bait and pounced but Spike jumped out of the way just in time.

Laughing, they all began running, ducking and dodging in and around foliage, Cera almost always reaching but not quite tagging any of her friends. Littlefoot could see his grandparents watching them out of the corner of their eyes with content smiles. Littlefoot and the others were smiling as well. Cera eventually tagged one of them, leading to the role of tagger switching around, but they were glad that was their biggest worry. As the sun began to sink on the horizon, Littlefoot and the others were glad to have an ordinary day of play.

Mr. Threehorn gazed with some relief at his daughters. As promised, Cera had returned by nightfall and was sleeping next to Tricia, contented smiles on their faces. Tria lay beside them, no longer holding the same anxiety of the previous night. Mr. Threehorn couldn't resist a smile. Today had done them some good. His family were as they should be, happy – and safe.

Safe in spite of his own blunders.

Mr. Threehorn shoved the thought aside and readjusted his position, but sleep continued to evade him. He had watched his family wink out one by one only for him to remain awake. Now the night circle had risen wide and full, a bright orange-yellow, and it didn't look like he was going to get rest anytime soon. It looked like Mr. Clubtail wouldn't be the only one awake tonight. Stifling his grumbles, Mr. Threehorn closed his eyes and put his head down, attempting to see if staring at the inside of his eyelids would eventually do the trick.

"Topps. Psst, Topps!"

Mr. Threehorn jerked up and looked around alertly. He found a shape had appeared in front of the trees ahead. He tensed, wondering how it slipped past his notice. His wariness gave way to relief though when the shape stepped forward and revealed itself to be Verter, beckoning with a head wave.

"Come over here," he said. "Let's talk."

Mouthing in incomprehension, Mr. Threehorn got to his feet and walked over to Verter, standing in the shadows of the trees.

"Verter, what are you doing here?" Mr. Threehorn asked. "Didn't – I thought that spikethumb said the herd should stick together?"

Verter smiled slyly. "Well, that wasn't going to stop me from spending some time with my old pal. Besides, is anyone really going to know that one of their number took a stroll come morning?"

Mr. Threehorn tried to give his best stern look but Verter's devil-may-care grin was such a fond echo of so many nights of youthful mischief that he couldn't really keep it up. Mr. Threehorn looked away.

"Just don't let them catch you," he muttered. "I might have to say something then."

"Don't worry, I've been out in the wild, I'm good at not being noticed." Verter reassured. "You don't sound like you're up to as much mischief as you used to be."

"I'm a father now – childish shenanigans aren't so fun when you're dealing with them on the parent side of things. Besides, the world is tough. That doesn't leave much time for fun."

"Why, you make being a grownup sound so boring. It can't be that bad, right?"

"Oh, there are some good points." Mr. Threehorn admitted. "The company here in the valley can be weird but reliable in a pinch. There are my daughters. As much as they can frustrate me, they always find a way to make me smile. There's Tria – she makes sure things don't get boring in my life. Those happy moments are the reason I try to protect them so much." A quiet moment. "I just wish I've been doing a good job of it."

Verter tilted his head, puzzled. "Topps, that sounds weirdly…vulnerable. What's up with you?"

"The past several days have been…very trying." Mr. Threehorn said. "They've brought to the forefront several things I don't like. I haven't been telling you everything I went through."

Verter put himself in a listening position. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I shouldn't be unloading my problems on you. I should be able to handle them on my own."

"Friends are there to hear each other's problems. I'm sure Cera does that with her friends all the time and doesn't that leave her in a happier place?"

Mr. Threehorn hesitated, but he couldn't dispute that fact. "Well, the truth is…Tria isn't my first mate. I had more daughter before Tricia came around."

Verter widened an eye quizzically but Mr. Threehorn continued.

"I had another mate. She was tough, and smart. We had sparks. It got so intense we kind of had a…daughter," he blushed. "We were young parents, so we fumbled a bit. Fortunately, she didn't hold it against us and went on to have twins. Being a grandfather this early is a privilege. Erm, anyway, after we became older and more experienced, we had another batch: Cera, Horen, Rica, and Duane. They were rough, tumbling, and got up to trouble. They were our light and stars. Then…" he sighed. "The Great Earthshake happened. Cera got separated from us.

"We were trying to find a way to the other side. We searched everywhere. We tried to be careful but the earth was delicate after the earthshake and at one of the cliffs…you could guess what happened to them. When Cera came back to the valley…I was the only one waiting for her. For so long, it was just the two of us."

"I see." Verter stared. "You've been through some tougher crud then I thought."

Mr. Threehorn nodded distractedly. "That's why I've been so protective of Cera, and Tria and Tricia. I did all I could to make the best out of the bad situations that come up and I've been trying to put the past behind me but then…you heard about those ghosts, Verter. She and my little girls came back."

"Oh. Now that's some really tough crud."

"It was nice to be with them one more time, to have a proper goodbye, but I had to face again that I couldn't save them. I was as helpless to prevent them from disappearing as I was to prevent their deaths. Like before, I felt I was only there to watch. So when that sharptooth ghost attacked yesterday, going after Cera and her friends, I thought, at least I can help them. Here was something I can do."

"I can surmise from your expression it didn't go well." Verter said.

Mr. Threehorn laughed hollowly. "The others warned me, as they always warn me, but I didn't listen. I started taunting the sharptooth, attempting to make him feel as small as I felt the day before. Here was someone who deserved no sympathy that I can vent my feelings to until he turned tail and disappeared. Instead…I only made him angry enough that he could touch and injure us. Our children were the ones who had to put him down in the end. It was because of my selfishness that Cera and her friends nearly died yesterday."

"Oh, I'm sure it isn't that bad." Verter said. "Even a parent makes a big mistake once in a while. Just be glad nothing happened."

"This wasn't the first time…there was that moment when there was fire in the valley and I nearly led Cera into being burned alive…I almost broke up the herd when the swarming leaf gobblers drove us out of the valley and Cera and her friends left to keep us together…I led a crusade against some tiny longnecks over a misunderstanding and nearly got them buried alive, which released fast biters into the valley that nearly got Cera and her friends…No matter what I do, I keep screwing up and putting my daughter in danger. She and her friends have done a much better job at solving these problems, and they're kids! They shouldn't have to. I'm proud of what she's done but I fear how long her luck will last before…before…"

Mr. Threehorn's vision blurred slightly but he shook himself, breaths wet and barely controlled. Now he knew how Littlefoot felt yesterday, how all the fear bottled up inside grows until it pushes you to the breaking point. But that longneck boy could let it all out, he needed to cry, and he had his grandparents to rely on during that vulnerable moment. Mr. Threehorn was a grownup, the protector of the family. He should know how to deal with these emotions better than this. He didn't have time to breakdown and he couldn't burden his family like this. Mr. Threehorn shoved those feelings down but they kept rising back up and he shut his eyes to attempt to control them.

Then he felt a bump on his head. Verter pulled back and gently pressing the side of his frill against Mr. Threehorn's again, again, attempting to reassure him with brief, strong moments of contact. Mr. Threehorn didn't expect it, but it turned out to be just what he needed to draw in enough breath and compose himself.

"I shouldn't have done that." Mr. Threehorn said. "It was stupid. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"There, there." Verter said sympathetically. "Even if you prepare for everything, life's surprises still sometimes get to you."

"Right." Mr. Threehorn sniffled and welled up a tired smile. "Thanks, Verter. I really needed that. It's just…I fear what'll happen to Cera and her friends. They always keep getting into dangerous trouble and if they continue to tangle themselves in this ghost business…"

"If they've gotten into danger so many times, surely you and the other parents must be experienced enough to recognize the signs, and stop them."

"We try. But it's hard to be on the alert all the time and they always think of clever ways to slip away while we're distracted."

"Hmm…" Verter frowned, appearing to find this strange. "Well, Cera and her friends do sound like a determined bunch, I'll give them that. It sounds like they aren't going to stop their adventurous ways anytime soon, so we might as well hedge our bets."

"Hedge what bets?" Mr. Threehorn said, confused. "Wait, you mean…"

"That training offer is still open." Verter said. "Those kids will need some strong support out there and if no grownups are around, it might as well be Cera and Chomper. You already said Cera broke some big rocks in her recent adventures. Why not make sure she can do that on a more reliable basis? We've known some older kids who could push down boulders without breaking a sweat. It would be good for Cera to have that sort of strength. Chomper, too. Why not make sure he builds up all the strength and endurance a sharptooth possesses?"

"I'm not sure it's a wise idea to make Chomper more dangerous than he already is." Mr. Threehorn said.

"Why, you sound like you don't very much trust the boy." Verter said.

"It's complicated." Mr. Threehorn looked away. "If there's one thing you can say about him, it's hard to think he's up to anything dangerous. I'll admit I even kind of like him. It's his sharptooth side I'm distrustful of. Right now, he's content with eating bugs but if he gains the confidence that comes with that added strength you talk about, I fear what'll happen when bugs won't be enough for him."

"Ah, yes." Verter nodded wisely. "I believe training might still be the solution then. We can have Chomper trained to be strong but I can discipline him to use that strength wisely. You and Tria must be experienced with disciplining your daughters. Doing the same with Chomper will be no different. He only needs a strong, guiding paw."

"That might be useful." Mr. Threehorn said slowly. "If you can make Chomper a safer friend to be around…"

"It will benefit everyone. I'm sure you can persuade Tria to see the good in this. Cera and Chomper will surely jump at the opportunity to be stronger. I'll train them firmly but fairly for their age. They need this in our dangerous world. Come on, Topps. You know I'm right."

Mr. Threehorn hesitated. The offer was very tempting. The world was a dangerous place. Mr. Threehorn knew this, thought he could handle it, but the endless crises were wearing him down. No matter what he and the other parents did, Cera and her friends still wound up getting involved in the latest life-threatening escapade. If their wanderlust couldn't be stymied, at least they should be equipped with the skillset needed to survive, right? Not to mention Cera and Chomper did express genuine interest in Verter's proposal. No matter the difficulties, it would be worth it if Cera and her friends had a higher chance of coming back home.

Just as he began to feel encouraged, Mr. Threehorn remembered the true extent of the difficulties involved in that training. He sighed.

"No." Mr. Threehorn said. "I'm sorry, Verter. I really am. But Tria's right. The Threehorn Ascension training is too much for kids like Cera and Chomper. I don't want Cera to carry any lasting injuries and if something happens to Chomper, we would have to answer to his sharptooth parents. It's just not going to work out."

"But Topps, they'll be more vulnerable if we don't -" Verter pleaded.

"I'll raise the possibility with Tria again when there's time." Mr. Threehorn interrupted. "I'll bring up your points but…don't get your hopes up. We'll be keeping an eye on the kids in the meantime. No ghosts appeared today, so maybe that means things are settling down."

"I see." Verter said, disappointed. "Well, you're the father here. I should…defer to you."

"I'm really sorry. Maybe something else can be worked out. But don't think you're unwelcome. We loved how you distracted the kids from the ghost troubles and we wouldn't mind if you come along again. We sure can use a few laughs." Mr. Threehorn covered up a yawn. "Anyway, I have to sleep. It's getting late. Go back to your herd before your absence is noticed. If nothing else horrible happens tomorrow, we can meet up. I can't wait for us to catch up. Goodnight, Verter."

"Yes." Verter welled up a smile, all disappoint gone. "Have a nice rest, old pal. See you in the morning."

Mr. Threehorn turned and went over to settle back with his family. Within a minute of closing his eyes, he was asleep. Verter slowly walked back to the herd. He had dropped his smile.

*Nothing else horrible, huh?* he thought. *Well…who knows what'll happen tomorrow.*

"Ah, that is a rather scrumptious kind of orange."

Mr. Clubtail resisted the urge to smack his lips as he gazed up at the night circle. It was a clear, sky puffy-less night and the stars were out in bright bloom among the expanse of blue-black. The night circle hung round and wide, almost seeming to loom over the valley, smudged with mysterious dark spots and light pockmark holes. The bright orange filled every detail of it, as though it was water died by the sweet nectar of a tree sweet. It was an amazing sight and Mr. Clubtail wondered why more people didn't stay up to see it.

*I can't be the only one awake tonight. How can people ignore this?* he thought. *Oh well, more for me.*

He continued walking, staying clear of the drop to his right. Far behind him, he heard the faint crackle of pebbles parting from the ledge and tacking down to the grass below. From his vantage point, the lower part of the moon was obscured by the mountain tips and, though it wasn't much, he wanted to see the whole of it in all its unobstructed majesty. He was moving on one of the ledge paths that protruded from the Great Wall, having chosen the widest that were closer to the mountain tops than the forests below.

Currently, he had a good view of much of the valley, with the night circle and stars providing enough light to see the trees and the pinprick forms of resting dinosaurs below. Up high here, Mr. Clubtail felt like he was the only one awake tonight, with just himself and the night circle to keep each other company. It was a wonderful feeling and he wasn't eager to leave anytime soon.

Gradually, he moved from one end of the valley to the other, legs slightly sore from the distance he had to cover. Despite what the view from up here might tell someone, the valley was a big place and it would take a lot of luck to get to most of its locations within a single day. Mr. Clubtail didn't look forward to the long walk back but assured himself that on the bright side, some sweet bubbles would be waiting for him and he wouldn't be tossing and turning as much when he finally fell asleep. He paused once he reached the other side, where he at last had a clear view of the moon.

He stared up appreciatively, drinking in every detail. Already, the orange was reminding his tongue of previous tastes, the burst of sour that came when the surface was penetrated, the dabble texture of the fleshy fruit as it got chewed up. Mr. Clubtail was looking forward to getting some orange sweet bubbles when he was done. Being prepped to crave a favored food only made that food all the more delicious when the time came to eat it.

Mr. Clubtail sighed contently, glad the only sounds around were the distant buzzes and chirps of nocturnal insects and the woosh of wind blowing through the leaves. With the usual valley hullabaloo quiet for the night, his mind could now focus on the beauty hovering in the sky and the sour delicacies that awaited him when he returned.

*I wonder if Ruby or any of those kids ever had a taste of orange sweet bubbles.* Mr. Clubtail mused. *It was nice she didn't make a big deal over my silly obsession. Maybe I can talk to her about sweet bubbles and other greens.*

His mind buzzed agreeably. Mr. Clubtail always preferred the simple life, so having someone pleasant to occasionally swap food stories and suggestions with sounded grand. He would give neighborly tips to Ruby about what to try next, to brighten her day, and if she had recommendations, well, he wasn't going to turn them down. He hadn't been everywhere in the valley. Her inquisitive nature might lead her to foods he never noticed or couldn't reach. It would benefit everyone. He took a few steps forward as he looked at the night circle, smiling at the possibilities.

Then his perception…changed. He noticed the cave entrance.

Mr. Clubtail blinked and lowered his gaze to several yards ahead. The ledge path turned and led to a cave opening in a small mountain peak with four roughly ovular openings along his eye level. He was bemused. He hadn't noticed this unique formation before. Never, until now. One second, his eyes slid over it like it was another part of the scenery. The next, the details became clear as though he dunked his head in water and could see for the first time. Mr. Clubtail thought he would have remembered a place like this and that he missed it on so many of his trips was strange.

But what was truly strange was the warm glow coming from the cave.

Mr. Clubtail stared. The crackle of rocks behind him was the only sound in the air. Caves normally didn't glow, he thought. Usually, there was molten rock or some plant matter that could be set alight. Yet there wasn't the orange of lava or the unsteady flicker of fire. Where was the light coming from? Slowly, he began to approach, each step filled with increasing unease.

He stopped at the entrance. He found himself looking into a great cavern, wide and dome-shaped, with grooves straggling up the walls to the center of the ceiling. The ground was smooth and level, without a crack or protrusion in sight. Mr. Clubtail was impressed. There was more than enough room for most of the meeting circle regulars to conduct an assembly here. To his right, the four openings gave a grand, expansive view of most of the valley. If one wanted to get their bearings on where a person or place was, it would be here.

But no matter where Mr. Clubtail looked, he couldn't find the light's source. There was no fire or molten rock. There were no crystals or bioluminescent plants. There wasn't even a crack in the ground that issued earthly light, like that place Grandpa Longneck occasionally used to entertain the kids with stories. The light was simply there, warm and present, but terminating outside the cavern's boundaries. Mr. Clubtail wavered, unnerved. Caves shouldn't be glowing for no reason. Was this somehow connected to the past few days' supernatural events?

Then he noticed the stones. There were eleven of them, unnaturally flat and smooth, aligned in a pattern on the ground. On the outer edges were three rectangular stones, spaced in an odd T-formation, large enough for adult dinosaurs of varying species to stand on. Further in were seven much smaller heptagonal stones that only youths could fit on. At the center, there was a polished circular stone. There was nothing special or interesting about its appearance. It was quite ordinary. Mr. Clubtail's eyes kept getting drawn to the center stone like a magnet. In spite of himself, he found it hard to look away. It was as though he expected someone to arrive there, to appear out of thin air and stand on that stone any second now…

Mr. Clubtail staggered back as fast as he could, heart beating quickly, an unspeakable fear buzzing in every part of him. He stared at the cave, wide-eyed.

"What – what is this place?" he said.

"You've seen too much."

A crackle of rocks, this time much too close. Mr. Clubtail whirled his head toward the voice. Before he could turn fully, something big and large whammed into his side. He gasped, all of his breath taken away. Before he could react, there was a second wham. He staggered, tried to balance, but then another wham came, and another.

He attempted to turn, to find a way to strike back with his clubtail but the strikes were relentless. His attacker wasn't giving him any quarter to recover, the pain such he stumbled away to give himself even a second's respite. Whimpering, it took all he could to keep his wits together. He glanced at his attacker, to search for any weaknesses, and froze in shock.

"You?" he gasped. "Why – why are you-"

His attacker didn't answer, didn't pause, but whammed Mr. Clubtail's head and shoulders, again, again. He shook his head, blinking some red out of his eyes. He found the blows were forcing him back, driving him with purpose toward the edge.

"No!" he said, panicked. "Please, no!"

The words weren't acknowledged. With another wham, Mr. Clubtail's right legs shifted on the cliff. He scrambled desperately, searching for purchase, but with the greatest wham yet, he was sent over the edge.

Mr. Clubtail screamed, turning over on his back as he fell, his attacker's cold face shrinking with distance. Terror and grief consumed him. No, not like this, he still had so much to do, so many ordinary but wonderful things left to accomplish. He waved his legs desperately, trying to grasp something, anything, but he could only watch helplessly as the ground rapidly neared.

There was almighty crack. Mr. Clubtail was aware of white-hot agony radiating from his back, slicing furiously, mercilessly, through every part of him.

And then he knew no more.

Next time…

Seeking Sanctuary Part 1

Note: Hope to post the next set of chapters by March or April. Haven't written the chapters that follow them and depending on how they go, I might have to alter some details on said next set before posting them.