The rest of the group shuddered before Grandpa Longneck continued.
"But then, just when the longnecks thought all was lost, the Lone Dinosaur appeared on the horizon."
"The who?", Petrie asked.
"The what?", Cera asked.
"The Lone Dinosaur.", Grandpa Longneck repeated.
"But what is a-", Ducky started.
"Shh!", Littlefoot shushed.
"The battle seemed to last for hours.", Grandpa Longneck continued, "It was a spectacle no one had ever seen before. A lone leaf eater taking on a sharptooth. But then the sharptooth scratched its claw across the Lone Dinosaur's face, but the Lone Dinosaur fought on and soon sent the sharptooth over the edge to its death. And just as suddenly as he had appeared, the Lone Dinosaur went away."
The group awed before Cera looked firm.
"That's it?", she asked.
"He just leave?", Petrie asked.
"Nobody ever saw him again?", Littlefoot asked.
"Well, legend has it, that not long after the defeat of the sharptooth, an earthshake shook the land. From it, a huge stone formation came which they called "Saurus Rock" which is there to this very day. Sometimes when the wind is just right and blows away the mists, you can see it… watching over the Great Valley… just like the Lone Dinosaur did so many years ago.", Grandpa Longneck finished, "They say if you look very closely, you can see the circle of teeth around its neck."
"Real teeth?", Littlefoot asked.
"I hear that the story goes that they came from the very sharptooth the Lone Dinosaur defeated.", Hyp put in.
Cole heard whimpering and turned to see Dinah and Dana huddled together clearly scared. Cera then looked thoughtful, but Nod seemed to catch on with Mutt.
"They also say that on some nights, the ghost of the sharptooth can be seen looking for his teeth.", Nod stated.
Dinah and Dana shivered more before Cera (who had snuck up behind them) jumped out and they screamed before they ran to Cole who didn't join in the laughter that followed.
"Cera, Nod, that wasn't very nice.", Cole stated.
Mutt seemed to reconsider as well.
"Yeah, that was uh, that was…uh, oh yeah, that not nice."
Dana and Dinah both huddled close to Cole as Grandpa Longneck looked curious.
"Well, I've never heard that part of the legend. But they do say that if anything happens to Saurus Rock, bad luck will descend upon the Great Valley."
"Is it all true, Grandpa?", Littlefoot asked.
"Well, it's a grand adventure.", Grandpa Longneck answered, "And a really good story. It is also nice to think that somewhere out there is a Lone Dinosaur watching over us all."
"Grandpa Longneck, are you filling these children's heads full of nonsense?", Grandma Longneck asked as she showed up, "And just before bedtime?"
"Oh, it's quite alright mame.", Cole said coming to Grandpa Longneck's rescue, "We just wanted to hear a good story."
/
Grandma Longneck seemed to understand and softened her tone.
"I know, but it's late. Time for little ones to be in their nest resting for another day."
Cole looked to see Dana and Dinah yawn as if tired out. Soon, more yawns were heard before talk came out.
"She right.", Petrie said sleepily as he took flight, "Me pooped. Goodnight Littlefoot."
Ducky came up to Spike.
"Now Spike, do not be scared to go home in the dark. The Lone Dinosaur will protect us.", she assured, "He will, but just in case, you go first."
Cera looked to the twins as Ducky and Spike headed off and Petrie flew off.
"Come on, you two.", she said.
"No uppies.", Dana complained.
"Dinah, Dana, sleepy.", Dinah added before she shared a yawn with her twin.
"I'll help Cera.", Nod said before he turned to the twins and knelt down, "Hop on."
The twins looked more awake already as they got on and Cera led Nod away with the twins hanging on his back.
"Well, I better head off too.", Hyp said, "Dad wants me to deliver those plants to Mr. Clubtail in the morning. Come on Mutt."
"Goodnight.", Mutt said over his shoulder as he and Hyp headed off.
Cole then got to his feet as Grandma Longneck turned to Littlefoot.
"And now it's your turn, Littlefoot.", she said before looking Cole's way, "It's good to see you too Cole."
Cole blushed before he yawned himself.
"Yes, Grandma.", Littlefoot said as he headed off.
Cole soon caught up to him.
"I'm the Lone Dinosaur.", Littlefoot said to himself, "I can find my way home in the dark, all alone."
Just then, some animal screeching came out and Littlefoot froze. Cole crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Well?", he asked, "Aren't you going to keep going?"
Littlefoot didn't look so sure as he looked to Cole.
"Will…you come with me?", he asked.
Cole sighed and chuckled.
"Of course."
It didn't take long before they reached Littlefoot's bed when Cole looked thoughtful as Littlefoot settled.
"You okay Cole?", Littlefoot asked.
"Yeah.", Cole answered as he looked up into the starry skies, "Just remembering the last time I was here."
Littlefoot just settled into his bed and Cole got a bed made for himself before settling down himself.
"I wonder if it's really all true.", Littlefoot said before he nodded off.
"Maybe it is and maybe it's not.", Cole answered, "Who knows?"
/
The following morning, Cole awoke and after doing some stretches, he shook himself to get the tiredness out of his legs before turning to see Littlefoot starting to wake also.
"Good morning.", Cole said pleasantly.
Littlefoot got up just in time to see Hyp come by with an armful of plants and looking frantic.
"Oh, good morning.", he said as he dashed by.
Cole ran after him and it didn't take long to catch up.
"What's the rush?", Cole asked.
"I overslept!", Hyp answered, "If my dad finds out I missed the delivery, I'm dead!"
Fortunately, a clubtail came out and Hyp skidded to a halt just in time.
"Mr. Clubtail…I…assume?", Hyp wheezed.
Mr. Clubtail nodded and Hyp handed over the plants.
"Sorry about the delay here."
"Oh, it's fine.", Mr. Clubtail answered as he headed out, "Tell your father I said hi."
"Will do.", Hyp answered before breathing a sigh of relief, "Whew, that was a close one. Now I just need to get the berries to Mrs. Flier at the cliffs and the water to Mr. Duckbill by the water. Or was it the other way around?"
Hyp headed off and Cole returned to Littlefoot.
"Guess we go find the rest of the Fellowship, huh?"
Littlefoot looked confused at first, but then he understood what Cole ment. He got ahead when Cole felt a breeze behind him which made him pause.
"Now what?", he asked.
"A friendly hello I believe."
Cole turned to see Imastun coming out of some trees and Cole looked at ease.
"I sense you're curious about something.", Imastun said knowingly.
Cole nodded and held his charm out.
"Imastun, why did that ruby merge with my amber?", Cole asked, "And why did I have that strange vision that led me to it?"
"Your answers will come in due time.", Imastun answered, "But for now, if you look to your left, you will find the rhyme you need to solve."
Cole turned to his left and saw some colored leaves arranged into words in a bush.
"A legend and misfortune are tied at the hip. Repair the damage within two trips.", Cole read before looking confused, "Imastun, what does that-"
He turned only to find that Imastun had disappeared like he had often done. Cole chose to let it slide as he ran to catch up with Littlefoot who stopped to have some green food for breakfast. Cole helped himself to some as well before they headed out again. Cole noticed more colored leaves and it told Cole that it must be autumn. Soon, Hyp showed up looking pretty breathless.
"Okay, that…was the…last one.", he sighed, "Whew, Dad really had some deliveries today."
Cole looked thoughtful thinking that Hyp's dad was a delivery service or something before dropping it.
"So glad you made it Hyp.", Cole stated, "We were going to find the rest of the fellowship."
Hyp looked curious and then smiled as he caught on like Littlefoot did.
/
Before long, the whole gang was together watching Dana and Dinah while gathering tree stars. Nod let the twins get on before he rammed another tree making more tree stars fall while the twins scampered up. Cole couldn't help but smile amused before a gruff voice brought the fun to a screeching halt.
"Hey! What are you children doing?"
Cole turned to see Mr. Tops looming over them wearing his usual firm look.
"Oh, hi Daddy.", Cera said nervously.
"Mr. Tops, how long were you-", Cole started.
"Zip it!", Mr. Tops said to Cole sharply, "Don't you realize this is the time of the changing tree stars? We can't waste those that haven't fallen yet. They must be eaten before they dry up. Do you want us to run out of food entirely?"
"Now, now.", Grandpa Longneck said gently as he showed up, "There's no need to frighten the young ones."
Mr. Tops snorted before turning to Cera again.
"Anyway Cera, you should be watching the twins."
"But Daddy, I am watching them.", Cera protested.
"Oh really?", Mr. Tops asked raising an eyebrow, "Then where are they?"
As if to answer him, Dinah and Dana fell out of the tree, landed on his face and then into some fallen tree stars.
"Right here.", Cera said trying to look at ease, "See?"
Mr. Tops walked away grumbling and Grandpa Longneck followed. Cera then turned to the twins.
"Way to go.", she said to them, "You almost got me in big-"
"Cera.", Hyp said firmly, "They didn't mean to."
Dinah and Dana looked more at ease seeing that someone big was watching out for them. Cera tried to calm down and after a couple deep breaths, she did.
"What we gonna do now?", Petrie asked.
"We do not want Cera's dad mad at us again.", Ducky stated, "No, no, no."
Cole sighed.
"Gotta love that guy for speaking his mind, but he really needs to take a chill pill.", he muttered.
"What was uh, what was…uh, oh yeah, what that?", Mutt asked him.
Cole thought fast.
"Oh nothing.", he said, "So, what we gonna do now since Mr. Tops stopped us?"
Littlefoot looked interested.
"Hey, I know. We can play "Lone Dinosaur"."
"Huh?", Petrie asked.
"How do you play?", Cera asked as if suspecting.
Littlefoot looked a bit lost in thought when Hyp spoke up.
"Well, one of us could be the Lone Dinosaur, one of us is the sharptooth, and the rest are the ones who get chased and saved."
Littlefoot was thankful for the support, but the group didn't look like they were all eager to play this game.
/
"Who gets to be the Lone Dinosaur?", Cera asked.
"Well, it was my idea.", Littlefoot stated.
"Then who's the sharptooth?", Cera countered.
Cole could see Cera didn't want to be the one who got beaten when he had an idea.
"How about me?", Cole suggested.
The whole group looked his way.
"You?", they all asked.
"Why not?", Cole answered, "Everyone will get a shot at being the Lone Dinosaur when we're done."
Everyone seemed to agree on that as Cole got some mud nearby and stuck some sticks to his head to make it look like he had teeth.
"Not as good as Stongfang and Rena, but it'll do.", Cole reminded.
Littlefoot waited til Cole chased the others to a stone wall near some cliffs before chasing him.
"Now, little morsels, prepare to meet your death.", Cole said playfully.
The others cringed as Littlefoot showed up.
"Hold on there sharptooth.", Littlefoot said pretending to be brave.
Cole turned and sneered.
"Fine, you die first."
Coel came forward and pretended he was trying to take a bite of Littlefoot's neck though Littlefoot avoided him and pretended to hit him a couple times as they headed up a cliffside
"Wow, Cole makes a good sharptooth.", Nod said in awe.
"Yeah, he's good.", Mutt agreed.
Hyp looked firm.
"How about I be sharptooth next?", he suggested, "I can be mean."
"Oh, we know.", Cera said, "Like the time you bullied us."
"Hey, I went through a phase, okay?", Hyp countered.
By then, Cole and Littlefoot had gotten to a rotten log on the cliff above and Cole looked ready to pounce.
"And now leaf eater, your death will be by my claws.", Cole said smiling ghoulishly.
Littlefoot didn't look so certain.
"You may talk big, but you are no match for-"
He was cut off cause he had backed up on the rotten log and it broke under him! Cole cut the act as he got to the log and quickly grabbed Littlefoot's tail while he held on to the log.
"I think…we should…play something else.", Cole strained as the stuff slid of his face.
Littlefoot looked up to Cole and nodded though the mud and sticks made it hard.
"If we live, I think we should.", he stated.
And that was when the log broke in Cole's hand and now both Littlefoot and Cole were plummeting down to the group below who watched in horror. Just as Cole thought the ground was about to take him, something caught him and Littlefoot before setting them softly on the ground. After taking a couple breaths, Cole and Littlefoot turned and hoped to say thanks to the one who saved them, but the moment they did, they saw something that made their jaws drop.