Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter three of "Sweet Memory." Ducky and Petrie make their first appearances in this chapter. I am not sure when Spike will be introduced or who will find him. It remains to be seen. Stay tuned for chapter four.
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Chapter 3: Companions in the Dust
The early morning sun beamed down on a small waterhole nestled among a scattering of rocks and scraggly bushes. Its light reflected off the water, making it seem like it was sparkling. A gentle wind went through the bushes. This made their leaves rustle quietly. Three dragonflies flew up and down. They moved in a straight line. They buzzed almost as if they were in a chorus.
Mama stood at the water's edge. Her long neck arched gracefully as she nibbled at a cluster of plants sprouting near the shore. She and Littlefoot had stopped here to rest after a long night of walking. They were fortunate to have found a second place with food and water in such a desolate area. It wasn't known how long it would be before they found both again. They hoped it would be very soon.
Mama worked her jaws steadily, tearing off leaves with a soft crunch. Her eyes half-closed in contentment. She opened them fully and looked at the gashes along her side. She saw they gleamed faintly in the sunlight. They were now little more than scars, a testament to her resilience. She started chewing at a slow pace. The tip of her tail twitched quite a bit. She swallowed and proceeded to get a few more leaves.
Littlefoot walked around, his eyes scanning the area. He licked his lips before sniffing the air. He sighed in content at the scent of plants and water. He heard a pop and looked toward the water. A frog leapt out, landing on a nearby medium-sized stone. It lashed out its tongue, catching a fly on it. It pulled that back into its mouth to eat its meal.
"Oh!" Littlefoot exclaimed, his tail wagging with delight. "Hey, hopper!"
Littlefoot crouched low, his legs tensing. He sprang forward, hopping after the creature with a playful smile. The frog leaped away just as his snout brushed the stone. It landed not far from him with a soft plop. He laughed and watched it hop again, his eyes tracking its every move. He bounded after it once more, his focus entirely on the chase when his head collided with something solid.
"Ouch!" Littlefoot yelped, stumbling back and rubbing his forehead with a foot. "That smarts!"
A splash followed quickly. Littlefoot blinked in surprise as a small, green figure surfaced from the water, shaking droplets from her wide, flat snout. He saw she was a Saurolophus aka a swimmer.
"Ouch!" the swimmer shouted, rubbing her own head with a webbed hand, her large eyes blinking up at him. "That hurt."
Littlefoot tilted his head, curiosity overriding the sting. He blinked three times before arching his neck.
"Where'd you come from?" Littlefoot asked.
"I could ask you the same thing!" the swimmer said. "You're a longneck, aren't you? I'm a swimmer. Yep, yep, yep!"
Littlefoot smiled. "Yeah, I'm a longneck. Where's your family?"
The swimmer's smile faltered, and a shadow crossed her face. She looked down at the water, her hands fidgeting.
"I'm all alone," the swimmer said quietly. "I lost them in the Great Earthshake. It was so loud and scary. When it stopped, they were gone."
The swimmer's eyes glistened, but she blinked hard, trying to hold back the tears. Littlefoot's heart sank, a pang of empathy tightening his chest.
"I'm sorry," Littlefoot said softly. "My mother and I got separated from my grandparents in the Earthshake too, but we're still going to the Great Valley. I'm Littlefoot, by the way."
"I'm Ducky," the swimmer said, her smile returning, though it was smaller this time. "Hi, Littlefoot."
"Littlefoot!" Mama called. She lowered her head, her long neck stretching toward them. She smiled down at the pair. "What's going on over there?"
"Mother, I just met a swimmer!" Littlefoot said, turning to her. "Her name's Ducky."
"I'm pleased to meet you, Ducky," Mama said as she glanced at her.
"I am pleased to meet you, too!" Ducky responded and gazed up at her while clasping her hands together. "Yep, yep, yep!"
"We're going to the Great Valley, Ducky," Littlefoot said as he hopped closer to Ducky. His excitement bubbled over. "You should come with us!"
Ducky's eyes widened with great surprise. She laughed excitedly and clapped multiple times. She jumped up and down.
"Yes, yes!" Ducky cried and let out a quiet gasp. She calmed herself with a deep breath. "I would love to. Oh, I would. I would."
"Then we should be on our way," Mama said, shaking a few stray leaves from her snout. "Come along, both of you."
The trio set off, leaving the waterhole behind as they ventured back into the dusty expanse. Littlefoot and Ducky bounded ahead, their steps light and playful.
"Don't step on a crack, or you'll fall and break your back!" Ducky sang while hopping from one patch of solid ground to the next. "Hee, hee, hee!"
Littlefoot laughed, mimicking Ducky's jumps. Their voices mingled in a chorus of delight that echoed faintly across the barren land.
"Littlefoot, do you think all the herds are going to the Great Valley?" Ducky asked curiously in between hops.
"Oh, I'm sure they are," Littlefoot answered with much confidence. He emitted a soft snort. "My family was heading there before the Earthshake, so I bet everyone else is, too."
Ducky nodded eagerly, her tail swishing. "I hope my family is going there. Yep, yep, yep. Maybe we'll find them!"
Ducky darted ahead a little, her small form weaving between rocks. Mama watched with a quiet smile. She lowered her head to Littlefoot, nudging him gently with her snout.
"That was very kind of you, inviting her along," Mama said, her voice showing much pride.
"We need to look out for everyone, Mother, no matter what they are. Isn't that right?" Littlefoot said, looking up at her.
"Right," Mama agreed.
"The Great Valley's full of tree stars, Ducky," Littlefoot said as he turned to Ducky. His mouth began watering a bit. "They are big, juicy ones!"
"Oh, I love tree stars!" Ducky replied, clapping again. "We'll eat so many when we get there. Yep, yep, yep!"
The trio shared a laugh. They looked toward the sky to see dragonflies flying around. They listened to their soft buzzing.
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Cera walked across a barren landscape. She kicked up puff of dirt on occasion. Some wind picked it up and blew it around. It blew the dust into her face, causing her to come to a stop and start coughing. She shook her head once it cleared. She mumbled inaudible words about it, but it was obvious they were not pleasant at all. She resumed walking. She kicked a small stone aside, followed by another one.
Cera emitted a soft sigh. She had found a small waterhole last night. Its surface was murky but cool. She used it to wash the dirt and shame of her encounter with the hostile three-horns from her hide. She slept there in which she curled tightly beneath a scraggly bush. She left as dawn painted the sky in soft pinks and golds.
Cera heard her stomach growl. She groaned painfully as her throat burned with thirst. She picked up her pace. She spotted a patch of green ahead in which it happened to be a cluster of bushes near a shallow pool. She sighed in great relief and ran for it. She dipped her head in the water once she reached it. She drank deeply, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. She smiled, shaking droplets from her snout.
Cera turned to the bushes, tearing off a mouthful of leaves. The leaves were tough and bitter, but she chewed eagerly. She swallowed with a satisfied grunt. She grabbed another cluster, eating quickly, when a rustling sound broke her focus. She froze, but she thought it was the wind and kept eating, her hunger outweighing her caution. Without warning, a small, winged figure burst from the bush. She was startled so badly that she screamed. The creature tumbled out, landing on his backside. It was a Pteranodon aka a flier.
"Ow!" the flier yelped, rubbing his tail as he blinked up at her. "That smarts."
Cera stared down at the flier, her heart pounding. She raised an eye ridge as he scrambled to his feet, his leathery wings flapping awkwardly.
"A flier?" Cera said in disbelief. "What are you doing on the ground?"
"Me climbed in bush last night for safety," the flier stammered. "Me Petrie. Who you?"
Cera chuckled, a dry, skeptical sound. "Fliers don't climb things. They fly to them."
Petrie's face fell as he looked down. He leaped into the air, flapping his wings furiously. He hovered for a minute. He crashed back to the ground, panting hard.
"Me no fly good," Petrie admitted, his shoulders slumping. He squinted at her. "You three-horn? What your name?"
"Cera," Cera said curtly while turning away. "I'm going to the Great Valley. I got to keep moving." She started walking, her tail flicking dismissively. "I can't stick around."
"Good luck!" Petrie called, his voice small but sincere.
Cera stopped, her hooves digging into the dirt. She glanced back at him, his wide eyes and helpless stance tugging at something deep inside her. Memories of Littlefoot and his mother flashed through her mind. They showed their kindness and their offer to travel together. She sighed, her stubbornness warring with a flicker of guilt.
"Fine," Cera muttered, turning back. "You can come with me."
Petrie laughed very happily. He scurried over, clambering onto the girl's back with surprising agility.
"Thank you, Cera!" Petrie chirped, settling between her frill plates. She grunted as she resumed walking. "Thank you."
"I got separated from my Daddy and Mama and sisters in the Great Earthshake," Cera said, her voice gruff but softer than usual. "I lost them in all the shaking and falling."
"Me too," Petrie admitted. "Me no fly, so me lost Mama and brothers and sisters. They fly away, me stuck on ground."
"Well, they're probably heading to the Great Valley too," Cera said, her expression softening with a rare sympathy in her eyes. "We'll find our families soon."
"Me hope so," Petrie said. "Me hate being out here."
"I do too, but we have to go across this landscape," Cera said, sadness lining her voice. "We don't have a choice."
"Let us hope we find green food later," Petrie commented.
"Yeah," Cera said, a soft chuckle coming from her. "I hope it is all on the ground."
"Me too," Petrie replied. "I hate climbing."
"Then you should—" Cera started.
A low growl rumbled through the air, freezing the duo still. Petrie squeaked and ducked into her frill, his body trembling. Cera whipped her head around. She gasped in horror when she spotted Sharptooth, alive and stalking toward them. She could see his jagged teeth gleaming.
"No way," Cera breathed, her voice shaking. "I saw him fall into the Big Underground!"
Cera swallowed hard, her eyes darting to a large bush nearby. She and Petrie ducked into the thick foliage. He peered over her frill, his teeth chattering. She felt her heart begin to pound.
"Quiet!" Cera whispered, her teeth clenching. "Be quiet, Petrie."
Sharptooth prowled closer, sniffing the air. His massive claws gouged the earth. He passed the bush, his shadow looming. Cera seized the chance, creeping out the other side with careful steps. Unfortunately, Sharptooth's head snapped around, his roar splitting the air as he charged.
"Run!" Cera screamed, breaking into a sprint. "Hang on, Petrie."
Petrie clung desperately to Cera's back. Her heart pounded as she spotted a rock wall with a narrow hole at its base. She dove through, scraping her sides. Sharptooth's snout slammed into the opening. His frustrated bellow shook the stone. He clawed at the hole. He pulled back, stomping away with a final growl. She collapsed, panting, her chest heaving.
"We safe now?" Petrie whispered, peeking out.
"Yeah," Cera gasped, relief washing over her. "We're safe."
Cera stood up after regaining her bearings. She began walking again. Petrie climbed to the top of her frill, a laugh coming from him. He looked ahead with a smile.
"Thank you, Cera, for letting me come!" Petrie said happily.
"Don't mention it," Cera muttered and turned her attention to the sky. The memory of the three-horns' cruelty flickered through her mind. She saw their taunts and their rejection. She frowned, her jaw tightening. "Hmph."
"What you thinking?" Petrie asked, tilting his head.
"Nothing," Cera said sharply. Her expression turned rather soft. "I don't wanna talk about it."
Petrie nodded, letting it drop. "We meet more friends, maybe?"
"I hope so," Cera admitted, surprising herself. "We need to stick together, or we won't make it to the Great Valley alive. There's endless green food there—bushes, ferns, and trees everywhere."
"Me like that! Lots of food, lots of family," Petrie squeaked.
Cera chuckled. "That's right."
Cera increased her stride and proceeded to sing nonsense. Petrie laughed while swaying along. He hung on tight as she leapt from one crack to the next.