Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter two of "Sweet Memory." I can't believe I got two reviews for chapter one. I didn't think that would happen, but I am happy it did. I want to thank the readers who reviewed it. As for other readers, don't hesitate to review. I would love to hear your ideas for this fic. Anyway, I plan to have Ducky make her first appearance very soon. I can't wait to do that. Stay tuned for chapter three.

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Chapter 2: Echoes of Paths Diverged

Littlefoot and Mama were still walking an hour later. The wind picked up a little bit. It caused dust to fly in the air. It swirled around them before settling on the ground. Some of it landed on them. They stopped and shook it from their bodies. They resumed walking at a steady pace. A lizard ran out in front of them, forcing them to stop in their tracks.

"Talk about a quick lizard, huh?" Littlefoot asked.

"I agree," Mama responded with a smile. "It pays to be quick in this dangerous world of ours."

"How quick?" Littlefoot wondered.

"Sometimes, you have just a split second to make a decision. It can mean the difference between life and death," Mama explained.

"Like when you nearly stepped on Cera when Sharptooth attacked her and me," Littlefoot said, his eye ridges raising. "I pushed her out of the way, so she wouldn't get crushed."

"That's right," Mama commented, nodding slowly. "Never underestimate anyone. You never know what they could be capable of."

Littlefoot darted ahead of his mother. He spotted a dragonfly flying above him. It went up, down, and diagonally. It went to him, landing on his nose. He wrinkled it, letting out a loud sneeze. This sent the dragonfly off into the sky. She came up beside him. They observed it flying away. They looked at each other.

"Mother, you said you got in a lot of trouble when you were little," Littlefoot said with much curiosity. "What happened? Tell me about one of those times. Please?"

Mama formed a small smile on her face. She shifted her attention to the horizon as she sighed softly. Her tail swung up and down twice. It did the same side to side three times.

"Oh, there were plenty of times," Mama said, her voice showing amusement. "There's one in particular that stands out. I must have been a little older than you are now. I'd wandered off again and found a tar pit."

"A tar pit?" Littlefoot asked, tilting his head slightly.

"It looked like a big, shiny pool of water, and I was so thirsty that I didn't think twice. I jumped right in and started drinking," Mama explained.

"What happened then?" Littlefoot asked.

"Well, it wasn't really water," Mama continued. "I started sinking, the sticky black stuff pulling me down. The more I struggled, the deeper I went. My legs got tangled, and I couldn't move."

He pressed his lips together. "Were you scared?"

"I was petrified," Mama admitted, nodding. "I thought I'd never get out. I called for help. I shouted as loud as I could. Grandpa and Grandma came running, especially him. He ducked his head down. He grabbed me by the tail with his teeth and pulled me free. I was covered in tar, shaking all over. He scolded me gently afterward. 'You've got to stop wandering so far,' he said. He was just glad I was safe."

"Grandpa was brave," Littlefoot said, his voice tinged with awe.

She smiled. "He was and still is. The same goes for Grandma. They've always been there when I needed them." She tilted her head while letting out a contented sigh. "There were other times, too. Once, I chased a hopper so far that I ended up stuck in a thorn bush. Another time, I climbed a hill too steep and rolled all the way down. Grandpa had to fish me out of the mud at the bottom."

Littlefoot giggled as he pictured his graceful mother as a clumsy, adventurous little longneck in his mind. He had no doubt he would get into the same silliness that she did.

"I wish Cera had come with us," Littlefoot said, looking up at her. "It's safer together, isn't it?"

"It is, but that little three-horn has to find her own way, Littlefoot," Mama commented in a gentle way. "No one can choose her path for her, not us, not anyone. She's stubborn, but she's strong. She'll figure it out."

Littlefoot frowned, kicking a pebble away. "How many times will the bright circle rise and set before we get to the Great Valley, Mother? Do you think Cera will get there too?"

Mama lifted her head, narrowing her eyes at the sun. "I don't know how many days. It could be many, or it might be sooner than we think. As for Cera, I hope she finds her way there. The Great Valley's big enough for all of us."

Mama leaned down and nudged her son playfully. He tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help himself.

"What else do you want to know about my mischief? I've got plenty more stories," Mama said.

"Tell me more!" Littlefoot said, jumping into the air. He landed very gracefully. "What else did you do?"

Mama laughed and blinked three times. She swayed her neck from side to side three times. She swung her tail up and down twice.

"Oh, where do I start?" Mama commented. "There was the time I tried to eat a shiny rock because I thought it was a fruit. Grandma had to pull it out of my mouth before I choked. Then there was the day I followed a buzzing flyer right into a swarm of stingers. I got stung on the tail. I ran around yelping for hours!"

Mama smiled joyfully down at Littlefoot. He laughed so hard he nearly tripped again, his tail wagging furiously. He ran in circles three times before jumping into the air. He landed with a puff of dirt flying upward.

"You were funny, Mother!" Littlefoot said in much delight.

"I suppose I was," Mama agreed, her voice showing affection. "You're a lot like me. You are curious, brave, and maybe a little clumsy. We'll get to the Great Valley together, and maybe we'll have some stories of our own to tell."

"That would be so neat," Littlefoot responded as they resumed walking. "Perhaps I could tell the stories to my own children."

"That is a long way off. You will have to find a girl first," Mama pointed out.

"I don't care. I am sure I can find one in the Great Valley," Littlefoot said eagerly. "Whenever we get there, that is."

"I have a feeling we will encounter Cera again very soon," Mama said thoughtfully.

"Really?" Littlefoot said surprisingly.

"Yes," Mama admitted with a smile. "She may look mean, but I have no doubt she is a sweet girl deep down."

"She was fun to play with when we encountered that hopper," Littlefoot commented. "She didn't like being with me at first, but she let it go and joined in."

Littlefoot and Mama picked up their pace a little bit. They proceeded to talk about snakes.

00000

Cera walked at a steady pace. Her stubborn steps kicked up dust in which the wind picked it up and blew it behind her. More came into her face. She stopped to cough. A little bit entered her nose, causing her to wrinkle it and sneeze loudly. The sneeze was so loud that it sent an echo across the land. She groaned annoyingly before resuming walking. She looked over her shoulder, her heart skipping a few beats.

"I should have gone with those longnecks," Cera said softly. She shook her head rapidly. "No, they were nice with giving me food and all, but I'm a three-horn. I only go with my own kind. Daddy, Mama, and my sisters are out there. I'll find them."

Cera sighed heavily as she glanced around at the empty landscape. She couldn't see any plants or familiar faces. It was just endless stretches of cracked earth and jagged rocks. She raised her shoulders, her horn glinting faintly in the dying light.

"They're heading to the Great Valley too," Cera said and formed a big smirk on her face. "I'll get there. I don't need anyone else."

Cera picked up her pace somewhat. She thought the leaves Littlefoot and Mama shared with her tasted really good. She was grateful her stomach was still full from them. She wasn't about to dwell on their kindness for very long. She knew she would need to find more to eat soon, but she was aware it would be hard and might have to search the same a few times.

Cera came upon a small hill. She went up it and caught sight of something familiar. Her eyes narrowed at a small herd of Triceratops grazing on a patch of scraggly bushes. Their gray-brown hides blended with the earth, but she could make out a leader with a broad, scarred frill, his mate standing beside him, and three young sons roughhousing nearby. A few other adults trailed behind. Their heads were low as they nibbled at the sparse foliage.

Cera knew it wasn't her herd, but they were her kind. She considered that enough. She was even excited about possibly playing with the boys, especially the oldest. She thought he looked brave like her, though he probably got scared at some things. She laughed and broke into a run, her small frame barreling down the slope. The herd stopped, heads jerking up as she skidded to a halt before them and panted heavily.

"Hey!" Cera called boldly. She held her head high and formed a big smile on her face. "Can I join you?"

The leader was a hulking figure with a chipped horn. He snorted loudly, his eyes narrowing at her. His mate happened to be a lean female with a sneer. She stepped forward.

"We don't travel with strangers," the leader rumbled, his voice cold and dismissive.

"That's right," his mate said, her voice dripping with disdain. "Who are you, anyway? Some lost little hatchling?"

"I'm a three-horn just like you!" Cera protested, planting her feet firmly. "We should stick together. I'm looking for my family—my Daddy and Mama and sisters. They're out there somewhere."

The leader's nostrils flared and gritted his teeth. He shoved Cera back with a heavy foot, his strength sending her stumbling. His mate laughed with much harshness.

"Get lost," the leader growled. "Go find your own family if you've got one."

"Pathetic little orphan," the mate taunted, spitting at the ground near Cera's feet. "Look at her—alone and whining. No one wants you."

Cera's face burned with shame and anger as the oldest of the three sons approached her. He was stocky male with a smug smile. He kicked a cloud of dirt into her face. She coughed, blinking furiously as the dust stung her eyes.

"Yeah, get out of here!" the first son taunted. "Girls are worthless anyway."

"Sons are leaders," the second son said mockingly. "Girls just cry and get in the way."

The third son charged at her and knocked her down with a cruel chuckle. "Go back to your longneck friends!"

The trio burst into raucous laughter as their parents nodded approvingly. They and the rest of the herd walked away. Cera let out a determined hiss. She watched as the last of the herd passed her. She tried to follow, her small legs pumping to keep up. However, the sons caught her quickly. They circled her as if they were a pack of scavengers.

"Thought you'd sneak along?" the first son taunted.

"You will pay for it!" the second son added.

The third son smirked. "Yes, you will."

The oldest lowered his head and slammed into the girl's side. She yelped, tumbling to the ground in a heap. The brothers closed in, kicking dirt on her. Their cruel laughter rang in her ears. One spat on her, the wet glob landing on her flank. Another one mouthed 'weak little runt' to her. Their parents watched from a distance, chuckling darkly.

"Look at her squirm," the mate said gleefully. "So pathetic."

The sons finally grew bored and trotted off to rejoin the herd. The oldest looked over his shoulder at the girl with a loud snort.

"Stay away, loser!" the oldest shouted and emitted a loud snarl. He looked ahead with a smirk. "She is so…"

Cera squeezed her eyes shut as she listened to the family's cruel laughter. She had never felt so humiliated in her life. She wished she had never talked to them. She pushed herself up, dirt clinging to her hide. She opened her eyes, tears stinging them. She refused to let them fall. After the herd's silhouettes shrank into the distance, they finally fell in sheets.

"Daddy! Mama!" Cera cried, her voice cracking with desperation. "Sisters, where are you?"

Cera cried hysterically, multiple sniffles coming from her. She turned away from the hostile herd, swallowing hard.

"How could my own kind do that?" Cera muttered, her breathing turning into shudders. "Are all three-horns like that?"

Cera looked toward the sky as she thought of Littlefoot and his mother. She recalled their kindness and their offer of food. She admired the way Mama had stood between her and Sharptooth without hesitation.

"Longnecks might be nicer," Cera admitted grudgingly while wiping her snout with a dirt-streaked paw. "That mama longneck—she saved me. Littlefoot wasn't so bad."

Cera let out a shaky breath. She started walking again, her path uncertain but her resolve hardening. She knew Great Valley was out there, as was her family. She was aware she'd find them, no matter what. However, she wondered if she made a mistake turning away the only friends she made.