Sweet Memory
By SparklyTree3876
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Pairings: None
Author's Notes: Hi, readers. I would like to present my first The Land Before Time fic. It is AU set during The Land Before Time and shows Littlefoot's mother has survived the Sharptooth attack and continue the journey to the Great Valley together after they have been separated from his grandparents. I saw the movie when I was six years old in theaters. I had always wondered what might have happened if Littlefoot's mother survived her injuries and continued the journey with him. I was saddened when she died. This means Littlefoot's first meetings with Ducky, Petrie, and Spike will be a bit different. Their characterizations may differ from the movie. This includes Cera as well. I decided to call his mother Mama, so I would not have to use his name to describe her constantly. This is my first chaptered fic without a pairing. I hope you enjoy this fic. Constructive criticism is welcome.
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Chapter 1: Shadows of the Earthshake
The late afternoon sun beamed its rays on the cracked, barren landscape. A faint breeze stirred the dust. This caused it to fly into the air. Three Pteranodons flew through the sky. They flapped their wings in almost perfect unison. They moved into a line. They gave their wings more flaps in which they gained some altitude. They squawked three times.
Four days had passed since the Great Earthshake. Littlefoot's mother managed to survive her injuries. She had to rest for at least two days before they could continue on their way because the pain was so bad. However, her injuries were healing well. They tried to find his grandparents on the first day of travel by looking along the Great Divide, but they couldn't find any sign of them. They were forced to abandon the search.
Mama moved with a careful grace, her long neck swaying slightly as she walked. She winced in a tiny bit of pain. Her legs were somewhat stiff, but it appeared it would vanish by tomorrow. Littlefoot walked beside her. He kicked up small puffs of dirt. His eyes scanned the area, but he didn't see anything familiar. He started thinking and got an idea.
"Where do you think Grandpa and Grandma are, Mother?" Littlefoot asked, looking up at her.
Mama's expression softened, though a flicker of uncertainty passed through her eyes. She slowed her pace, her tail brushing the ground.
"I'm not sure, Littlefoot," Mama admitted, her voice gentle but steady. "I do know they're heading for the Great Valley just like we are. They're strong, and they've seen hard times before. I'm confident they're making their way."
"Do you think we'll find them before we get there?" Littlefoot asked, feeling a little relief. "I mean, before any of us reach the Great Valley?"
Mama stopped in her tracks, her eyes drifting to the distant, jagged peaks that loomed against the sky. Littlefoot stopped alongside her while keeping his eye on her.
"I hope so," Mama said, a small smile forming on her face. She furrowed her brow as a frown came. "I'm not sure, though. The Great Earthshake—it split so many herds apart, Littlefoot. Ours wasn't the only one. Families and friends were scattered like leaves in the wind. So many didn't make it through the chaos."
Littlefoot stared at the ground. He knew he would never forget the Great Earthshake. He recalled how the ground split underneath him and Cera as it began. They ran for cover, only for Sharptooth to come after them. His mother saved them before they could fall into the Great Divide. She knocked him down there with her tail. He believed the monster was dead.
"It's my fault you got hurt, Mother," Littlefoot mumbled guiltily. "I wandered off to play with that hopper, and then I met Cera. We were having fun until… until Sharptooth came. If I'd stayed with you—"
"No, Littlefoot," Mama interrupted firmly, lowering her head to nudge him gently with her snout. "It's not your fault. None of it is. I was curious when I was little too. I was always poking my nose where it didn't belong. I got into more trouble than I can count. Grandpa and Grandma had to pull me out of messes more times than they'd probably like to remember."
Littlefoot looked up at her, surprise showing in his eyes. "You? I thought… I thought you were perfect."
Mama chuckled softly. "Oh, no one's perfect, my sweet one. Everyone has flaws—little cracks in who we are. Those flaws are part of us like our strengths. We have to embrace them both."
Littlefoot tilted his head. He took a few more steps in trying to match her stride. His front foot caught on a jagged rock. He let out a loud yelp as he stumbled and flopped onto his side in which it sent a small cloud of dirt into the air. He lay there ten seconds before getting up.
"Guess I'm pretty clumsy, huh?" Littlefoot said with a humorless chuckle.
"I was clumsy too," Mama said warmly. She bent down to nudge him to his feet with her snout. "I was always tripping over my own feet when I was your age. It took me a long time to find my balance. You'll get there, Littlefoot. Just keep going."
"Okay," Littlefoot said, smiling.
"That's my boy," Mama responded and gave him a wink.
Littlefoot dusted off his side with a flick of his tail. As he straightened, a low growl rumbled from his stomach. It was actually loud enough to make him wince.
"I'm hungry," Littlefoot said, looking around. He could see the ground was mostly bare. It was dotted with dry shrubs and brittle, leafless trees. "It doesn't look like there is anything to eat."
"I am sure there is something," Mama responded. "Let me look."
Mama lifted her head, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. She gasped delightfully when she spotted something.
"Look over there," Mama said, gesturing toward a cluster of trees a short distance away. Their branches were heavy with dark green leaves, a rare splash of color against the muted browns and grays. "Let's stop for a bit."
The duo approached the trees. Mama clamped her jaw around a leaf-filled branch. She gave it a gentle tug. She got it free and laid it on the ground before Littlefoot, the leaves rustling as they settled.
"There you go," Mama said affectionately. "Enjoy."
Littlefoot dove in eagerly, tearing off mouthfuls of the sweet, tender leaves. His mother joined him, plucking another branch for herself and chewing slowly, savoring the taste. The quiet crunch of their eating filled the air, a peaceful moment after days of uncertainty.
Suddenly, rustling sound came from the bushes nearby. Littlefoot's ears perked up. He swallowed his latest mouthful and turned just as a familiar figure emerged. It happened to be a young three-horn with a stubborn set to her jaw and a scowl on her face.
"Cera!" Littlefoot exclaimed excitedly.
"What do you want?" Cera snapped as she stomped closer. She seemed to have a weariness in her posture.
"Nothing!" Littlefoot said, his tail wagging slightly. "We're just eating. Come join us. There's plenty!"
Cera huffed, tossing her head. "I don't eat with longnecks. Three horns only eat with each other." Her stomach started to growl. "Hmph."
Mama formed a small smile on her face. "You must be hungry, little one. There doesn't seem to be much green food around here for miles. You're welcome to share with us."
Littlefoot nodded eagerly. He pulled a few leaves from his branch with his teeth and dropping them at Cera's feet.
"Here," Littlefoot said. "Try some."
Cera stared at the offering, her snout wrinkling as if she might refuse out of sheer stubbornness, but Mama added a few more leaves to the pile, her movements slow and deliberate. Cera wasn't sure. She hesitated, her pride warring with her hunger, before finally lowering her head to snatch up the leaves. She chewed quickly. She seemed to be doing it almost defiantly, but the tension in her shoulders eased as she swallowed.
Littlefoot chuckled and tugged off another cluster of leaves, nudging them toward the three-horn. Mama did the same. Cera found herself eating steadily, her earlier aloofness melting away with each bite. When she finished, she let out a long, satisfied sigh. Her eyes half-closed in relief. She licked her lips and looked up.
"Thanks," Cera mumbled almost reluctantly.
"You're welcome!" Littlefoot said cheerfully. "Hey, why don't you come with us? We're going to the Great Valley. It'd be better than traveling alone, right?"
"No thanks," Cera said defiantly. "I'm going to find the other three-horns—my parents, my sisters. They're out there somewhere, and I don't need anyone else." She sighed heavily. "However, you two should be careful, okay? Watch out for sharpteeth."
"You too, Cera. Good luck," Littlefoot said and raised an eye ridge.
"Take care, little one," Mama said and looked down at him. "We'd better get moving, Littlefoot."
Cera walked away with her head held high. Littlefoot watched her go, a frown crossing his lips. Mama gave him an encouraging nudge. They proceeded to walk toward the horizon. Their tails swayed from side to side.