Chapter 54: Soul Search
Sura opened her mouth and yawned long and loud. She opened her eyes and was confronted by the darkened cave, it wasn’t yet daybreak. Though daybreak was not far off. Sura quickly looked around the cave and almost immediately her eyes settled on the children sleeping beside her warm bulk. Each child slept in perfect harmony, only the sound of Spike’s deep snoring could be heard. Sura was surprised by how much she missed her son’s snoring, it was a reminder that he was by her side but lately that had not been the case. Speaking of Spike, she glanced over to the young Spiketail, a smile crossing her duckbill like beak. Spike had four children sleeping beside his belly, they were encircled by his tail. Ducky lay right next to Spike while Trough lay right next to her with Diver on the over side and Petrie sleeping almost on top of Ducky, his wings acting like a blanket over his dear friend. Sura certainly felt a little different, for until today she never had this many large bodies sleeping beside her, least of all one with teeth.
However, they had all earned her trust and Ducky needed them right now just as they needed her. Sura turned to see Cyrest sleeping beside her mother with Jane wrapped safely within his tail. A quick glance out of the cave told her that sunrise was just a few minutes off. She figured it was time to wake everyone up.
“Wake up little ones” she said gently giving each of the kids a gentle push with her beak until they stirred. There was a chorus of tired yawns but after the children got a glimpse of the time they quickly tried to shuffle back to sleep.
“Come now dears, you don’t want to miss the rise now do you?” asked Sura. That did the trick.
Ducky’s eyes opened wide. She jumped up onto her feet in a sudden blaze of energy, she of course had seen the rise once before and now wanted her friends to see it too. “Come on guys get up, get up, get up!” said Ducky rather loudly looking utterly ecstatic. She shook Diver, Petrie and Trough vigorously but all of them let got was miserable groans.
“It’s too early” mumbled Cera irritably.
“Come on guys get up, get up!” cried Ducky but her friends took little heed of her. Impatient, Ducky grabbed a large tree star from the ground star plant and filled it with the cold spring water. Sura had already gotten up and out of the way when Ducky flung the water over her sister, brother and her two close friends.
They all jumped up with cries of surprise and quickly shivered in discomfort at the touch of the freezing cold water. They were all wide awake, even Spike. Ducky didn’t waste any time in refilling the tree star and tipping the water over Ruby and Chomper, they both woke up with simultaneous cried of shock.
Finally, Ducky tipped the last tree star of water of Cera and Ali. Cera shrieked in shock and jumped onto her feet only to trip over her tail and fall in a shivering heap. “W-W What was that f-f for?” said Cera in shock.
“Cold” said Chomper, shivering beside Ruby with wide eyes.
“You guys would not wake up so I had to do that” said Ducky quickly, appearing to be almost oblivious to her friend’s discomfort.
“It’ll be worth it though” chuckled Cyrest who had been awake long enough to see what had happened.
“It better be” muttered Cera as she slowly got to her feet.
While everyone else began to get to their feet Cyrest gently woke Grandma Swimmer and then he very softly nudged Jane awake, she yawned and blinked tiredly but that was quickly dispelled when she saw the hum of activity around she got to her feet with an excited squeak. “Come along everyone, the rise is starting” said Sura from where she stood at the entrance of the cave.
In a few moments everyone had crowed the entrance to view the rise of The Bright Circle. It started with a gold light appearing over the horizon and slowly it started to expand, the ocean took on a sparkling gold, shimmering surface. The clouds were painted a bright yellow. Everyone watched in awe as the round gold orb that was The Bright Circle slowly rose into the sky. More of the ocean was bathed in the gold light and the first morning salty breeze blew across the water’s surface, leaving a sparkling ripple in its wake. The watching dinosaurs breathed in deeply of the enriching salty air.
The golden light travelled across the ocean and then across the beach, banishing the remaining darkness that still held clung to the land. This light travelled up the cliff until in washed over the miniature group of dinosaurs watching the rise. The gold light brought warmth and comfort and the cool salty wind brought life in its wake. Everyone stirred with new energy that the morning had given. A few of the distant clouds took on an orange hue and even a lesser few clouds took on a light red, pink hue. In addition, the sparkling water reflected light ripples on the beach and cliff.
It was a breathtaking sight, something that the bystanders struggled to describe in its sheer beauty and majesty. Ducky took a deep sniff of the refreshing air and looked beside her and saw that this time she was far from alone. Her brother and sister and her friends all stood beside her, each revelling in this breathtaking moment. They all looked like they were gold dinosaurs from where she stood and Trough, he looked absolutely gorgeous, she had never seen anything like it, his body was bathed in the golden light making him look more like a statue of gold then a person. He was the envision of the most perfect Swimmer she had ever known, he tall crest and strong body, limbs and tail and his handsome beak and those enchanting green eyes, they were light green like hers were light blue. His brown colour no longer looked dull but filled with warmth and love that she had come to love so much about him.
She held his hand, he looked at her with a loving smile spread across his beak. To Trough Ducky was the most beautiful Swimmer in the world at that moment, her aqua eyes conveyed so much love and compassion on everything they fell on. Her slender body, tail and limbs, they looked slender but they possessed a hidden strength always showed when she protected those she loved. Her crest, long and smooth and that beak which always held that friendly smile towards him, a beak he certainly had contact with before. He nuzzled Ducky and she nuzzled him back; this moment was perfect for them.
Ali was watching the two young Swimmer and she immediately noticed the signs of affection from both of them, they were as in love as she and Littlefoot were in love. It made her wish that he was here though to see the rise and be with his friends; to be with her and share their love with each other.
“This was definitely worth it” said Cera looking out over the ocean, her face a mixture of awe and joy. A feeling shared by everyone there. It was at that moment that Sura chose to cuddle Spike and Diver. The duo hugged her back as the each conveyed their love to each other, Ducky was not left out of this for long, she joined them moments later and was soon smothered by her close family members.
“Oh happy day” said Petrie.
“Oh yes, it is, oh yes, yes, yes” said Ducky after breaking away from her hug. With renewed energy Ducky jumped out of the cave and into the open “Come on follow me” she said in excitement and ran off toward the right. Everyone followed inquisitively, Ducky was heading for a large sand slide that had a rock like ramp at the bottom it was one of the only sandy area’s on this part of the beach.
With a joyful cry Ducky leapt onto her back and slid down the slide as fast as she could when she reached the ramp she took off into the air and did a spinning triple somersault and finishing off with a perfectly vertical dive into the water. She surfaced laughing happily. She waved to her friends near the top of the sand slope “Come on everyone it is really fun it is, it is!” she called.
Diver was quick to run to the slope and like Ducky she leapt onto her back and slid down the slope with an exhilarated yell, she reached the ramp and repeated her sister’s stunning acrobatics but she spun her body at very uncontrollable looking angles, it looked like she was going to stack but instead she landed in the water in a perfectly straight dive. She surfaced laughing like her sister.
“That was amazing Diver” said Ducky.
“I’m not called Diver for nothing” said Diver proudly.
They looked back up to the top and saw Trough take his place on the top with a piece of old drift wood hanging under his arm. Diver observed this curiously, she had not been blind to the affection this Swimmer had shown for her sister or the affection that Ducky had returned. There was something different about it. This was more than just simple affection it almost looked like love. Diver narrowed her eyes and scrutinised Trough closely. Wondering how Ducky had met him and how he had managed to seemingly win her over because they were acting just like her mom and dad when they were with each other…..and alone.
Diver sniggered to herself, she had once eavesdropped on her parents when they were alone at the nest and the way they were talking to one another……
It reminded her of Ducky and Trough. However, she still wanted to learn more about Trough so that she could protect her sister from any misunderstandings. “I wonder if we should expect eggs from you two soon” Diver was unaware she had said that out loud but was too busy watching Trough to notice Ducky’s face light up redder than a red tree star.
Trough threw the drift wood on the sand and jumped on top of it and surfed his way down doing some rather amazing acrobatics on the wood that left everyone staring in shock. When he reached the ramp he jumped off the drift wood board and went flying in a very erratic and uncontrollable fashion, he was spinning his whole body like a Frisbee and moving into different angles with perfect control and finally turned in for the dive, he was out past Diver and Ducky now but what surprised them was his angle of entry he went in at a very shallow, almost horizontal angle and he went in tail first. He kept his tail stiff and straight though and dived in the water nice and straight. After submergence Trough kicked his legs fast and wound up next to Diver and Ducky who were both staring dumbstruck at him.
He laughed at the looks on their faces. Diver was especially astonished because unless she had just dreamed that then she had been out dived!
“How did you do that?” said Diver in astonishment.
“That was amazing Trough it was, it was” said Ducky, positively beaming with delight.
“Thanks,” said Trough, modestly “I made that move up as a way to escape from the bullies in the herd and it totally works, they dive in headfirst but find I’m already going the other way before they have a chance to catch me.”
“Could you teach me how to do that?” asked Diver in awe.
“Okay” replied Trough but the loud yell cut off any more conversation as Cera, closely followed by Ruby, Chomper and Spike slid down on large pieces of fern that had once been used to cover the cave entrance during The Killer Storm.
Ruby slid past Cera and accidentally knocked her and that knock was enough to put Cera into a wild spin, she gave startled yell as she went out of control and hit Spike sending them both spinning down after Ruby with Chomper behind them. Ruby dived into the water first while Cera and Spike belly flopped it, feeling rather dizzy.
Chomper splashed down next to them. “Ruby beat you Cera!” he cried.
“So I think you owe me ten tree stars Cera” said Ruby proudly.
Cera muttered angrily under her breath. “I would have won if you hadn’t hit me” she said.
“It was an accident Cera, an accident it was” said Ruby.
“Humpth!” said Cera and joined the rest of her friends in the shallows to watch Ali and with Petrie holding her head tightly as she slid down on her belly with a frightened yell. Petrie held on tightly as they headed to the ramp that was rapidly approaching them. Ali screamed in fright as she took off and felt the new sensation of gliding through the air and it felt marvellous……at least while it lasted. She dived into the water and surfaced looking utterly exhilarated. “Ohh I want to do that again with Littlefoot” she said as Petrie landed on the bank beside her.
“Of course you want to do it with him Mrs Longneck” said Cera in a rather cheeky voice that made Ali blush, to the amusement of her friends.
They looked back to the top of the cliff to see Cyrest helping Jane onto the slide. “There we go Jane now you can go down”
Jane eagerly pushed off and slid down the sandy slide with a happy squeal. She landed in the water feet first and surfaced close to Ducky, splashing around happily as she made her way back to her friend.
Cyrest watched the scene with a chuckle but unfortunately he neglected his surroundings and forgot exactly what he was standing on. As he shifted his foot he slipped on the sand and fell on his side with a surprised yell which was cut off as he started rolling down the slope and getting sand stuck in his mouth in the process. His muffled cries were heard all the way down the slope as he flew off the ramp and belly flopped into the water with a huge splash that soaked all the children.
He pulled his head out of the water which was to shallow for his liking and groaned as he tied to get up and fell back into the water, completely disorientated. He rinsed his mouth of any sand but it took him a while to be able to regain his bearings and stand without falling over. However, he was painfully aware of the roaring laughter coming from the kids at the sight of such an epic fail. With slow and uneasy steps, he pulled himself back onto the shore and fell on his belly with a groan.
“Oh dear Cyrest I expected much better from a Swimmer of your stature!” called a playful voice.
“No respect for the elders” moaned Cyrest at Sura’s cheeky remark.
“Let me show you how to really do it!” called Sura and leapt onto her belly and slid down the sandy slope and slid off the slide, doing an amazing set of acrobatics, that mirrored the style of her two daughters before she dived under.
Ducky clapped her hands in applause when her mother surfaced. “That was a great move mom it was, it was” she said, her companions nodding in agreement.
“Thank you dear” said Sura with a warm smile.
“I see you have lost none of your old skill Sura” called Grandma Swimmer from above “But you’ll find that I am still the master” she jumped on two the slope as she said that and slid down on her own two feet, she wobbled precariously but managed to keep her balance when she got to the ramp she leapt into the air and after doing one twirl of the body she pulled herself back into a horizontal position. She was gliding parallel to the water and as she did this she lowered her legs and made running movements on the water’s surface. Everyone’s mouths fell open in disbelief, Grandma Swimmer looked like she was walking on the water!
But Grandma Swimmer was really just using her momentum to give her movement and when she started to lose that momentum she executed a double somersault and dived into the water so perfectly that there was barely a splash of water.
She surfaced to see everyone gawking at her like startled gargoyles. She laughed at the astonished faces directed at her.
Cyrest spluttered “How……..?” was all he could say.
“Where…….?” Said Diver
“Did you” said Ducky
“Learn that?” finished off Sura, looking totally dumb stuck.
“I learned from the best” replied Grandma Swimmer “From an old, wise and cheeky Swimmer who absolutely loved to show off”
“Who?” asked Sura
“Your father dear, your grandfather little ones, he taught me how to do that and I’ll tell you the things he could do were real eye openers and he loved to show off his ability because no one else had it” said Grandma Swimmer.
“But I never saw him do anything like that” said Sura in amazement.
“No you wouldn’t he stopped doing those types of stunts after my first clutch hatched but in his day he did such moves all the time.” Explained Grandma Swimmer.
Sura looked down and sniffed “I wish I knew him better” she said a hint of pain in her voice. Her mother put a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I can tell you about him if you want me too dear” she offered.
Sura’s face brightened considerably “I would like that very much mother” she said.
SPLASH!
Water drenched everyone as the sound of a high pitched and squeaky voice filled the air. “Hello mud brothers!”
“Mo!” yelled The Gang, Ali and Diver looked at Mo in amazement having never seen a Big Water Swimmer before.
“It’s good to see you again” said Cera with a wide smile.
“Same here too” said Mo, doing one of his signature jumps.
“Mo this is Ali, she’s our friend she is, she is” said Ducky.
“Hi” said Ali shyly
“And Littlefoot’s soon to be mate” said Cera.
Ali cast Cera a threatening glance as everyone laughed.
“And this is my sister Diver” continued Ducky.
“Hello Mo” said Diver with a warm smile and a friendly wave of her arm.
Nice to meet you all” said Mo jumping up and doing a spectacular twirl and dive. “Is Littlefoot here too” he asked eagerly when he surfaced.
“Littlefoot here but not with us” said Petrie.
“He is with his father, with his father he is” said Ruby.
“But he will come soon, I know it” said Chomper.
“Yeah,” said Cera “wouldn’t want to leave Ali here alone would he” she said with a smile.
“No he wouldn’t” said Ali firmly to Cera.
“Hey Ducky?” inquired Diver “Can you tell us your story now?” she asked with a tinge of excitement in her voice, after all Diver loved stories.
Ducky shook her head “I want to wait for Littlefoot and Shorty” she said.
“Fair enough” said Trough. He turned to Diver with a smile “and now I think I’ll show you how to do that move Diver”
“Oh yes please!” cried Diver and eagerly followed Trough back up towards the sand slide. Diver couldn’t help but think of her sister Sandy as she looked at the slide “She’d love it here” she thought to herself as she prepared to finally live up to her name and Diver better then Trough, she was beginning to like him.
*
Littlefoot awoke feeling more tired than he wanted, he wondered why that was but then the events of last night swept through his mind as he remembered his reunion with The Gang and their reunion with Ducky, he was not surprised that he was tired now, after all he had been up awfully late last night, it was already midmorning.
A yawn to his left told him the Shorty was only just waking up too. “Hey Shorty” said Littlefoot, his voice sounded rather groggy and tired, Shorty’s replay was just as bad. Without another wood both boys got to their feet and headed to some nearby bushes. “Breakfast is served” said Shorty sarcastically as he and Littlefoot both started slowly munching on the leaves. The herd was long since up and already thriving with activity, children played and adults grazed in the sunny fields. They did not yet know that they were being watched.
“Ahh, you’re up”
The boys turned to see Bron standing over them.
“Morning Dad” said Littlefoot.
“Hey Bron” said Shorty briefly before moving back to his meal.
“You look tired” observed Bron.
“Oh we just didn’t get a good night’s rest” said Shorty with his back turned to Bron and with a mouthful of tree stars in his mouth.
“Shorty I would like you to finish eating before you start talking and when you do start talking I want you to look at me” said Bron calmly.
Shorty rolled his eyes before complying to Bron’s instructions.
“No wonder your beat, been up exploring all night have we?” said Bron, his tone held no malice, rather deep agitation and annoyance.
“What are you talking about?!” said Shorty defensively even though he had just confirmed Bron’s suspicions.
“I was woken by Russ last night”
“What did that jerk want with you?” asked Shorty.
“He told me he had seen you two walking away from the herd, and I found no sign of you beside me” said Bron, eyeing the two boys who now looked rather shocked, they had been caught out and the look that Bron was giving them indicated that he wasn’t going to let off until they had told him the full truth.
“Dad it was all my idea so please don’t blame Shorty” said Littlefoot, taking full responsibility for his actions.
“It was your idea to go out and explore at night, away from the protection of the herd? I’m very disappointed in you boys” he said with a shake of his head. Both boys bowed their necks in shame but Littlefoot wasn’t finished.
“We weren’t exploring, it was all my idea to come, but it was not because I wanted to be in a herd” said Littlefoot slowly, there it was he couldn’t go back from here, Bron would soon know the truth.
A puzzled expression set across Bron’s face. “What do you mean Littlefoot?” he asked.
Littlefoot took a deep breath. “I only came to find one of my friends” he said.
Bron stared at him in surprise. “I thought her mother had died and I didn’t want to leave her out here alone, I had to help her” said Littlefoot, almost pleading for his father to understand.
“Why didn’t you tell me or your Grandparents?” asked Bron.
“I thought they would try and stop me, I just couldn’t leave her alone” said Littlefoot.
“And Shorty was in on this?”
“Yes” said Littlefoot “But only because I asked him to” said Littlefoot, trying to cover for his brother.
“Last night me and Shorty met up with my friends from The Great Valley, they had followed us here to tell us that our friends mother was alive.” said Littlefoot.
“Whose mother?”
“Ducky’s mother, see before you came a Flyer came and told us that she was dead and we weren’t sure whether to believe him or not, he wasn’t exactly trustworthy.” said Littlefoot.
“And you decided to act on the word on an untrustworthy vagabond?” Bron’s tone was getting more and more agitated and he was wearing a firm frown.
Littlefoot stuttered nervously. “Y-yes” he said.
“My friends told me I was wrong last night and I know I made a mistake but I just had to come” said Littlefoot, there was a tinge of desperation for understanding in the young Longnecks voice.
Bron heard this and his expression softened “I understand why you did it but you have still been very irresponsible, you ignored the lessons your family has taught you and-“ Bron was suddenly cut off by an almost condemning remark from his son.
“Lessons that you never taught” he said slowly and painfully.
Bron stared at his son awkwardly, an uncomfortable silence drifted over them. Shorty looked from each Longneck to the other in concern.
“I was taught by my mother, she and my Grandparents - they raised me and my mother died for me” Littlefoot was unaware of the few tears that fell down his cheeks at the mention of his mother, even Bron shivered at that statement. “And where were you? I know your reasons but I can’t respect them now, not after we first me, I don’t know if I can call you my father” Littlefoot’s voice was disturbingly quiet and condemning.
Bron looked shocked “Littlefoot, you know I love you and I would do anything f-“
Then Where Are You All The Time!?” bellowed Littlefoot unexpectedly. “You have not been my dad all this time, you’ve been a herd leader! I know you look after them but do they mean more than me? I want my Dad back with me and my Grandparents in The Great Valley not some herd leader who only turns up once a year!” Littlefoot’s voice contained so much pain and anger directed at his father.
“But Littlefoot my herd needs-”
“I NEED YOU!” Littlefoot yelled, tears now falling thick and fast down his cheeks. “Someone else can lead the herd, you have deputies don’t you? But I want my Dad back do you even care for me? Would you put your herd over your son?! I can’t keep doing this, if you can’t step down and actually be my dad then I don’t know you, you would never have been my father.”
Bron was staring at Littlefoot in numb shock, words utterly failed him, he could think of no retort for Littlefoot’s accusations.
“My mother was always there for me, but you are not. I saved your life at The Fire Mountain and you still left me. How could you do that!?” Littlefoot practically yelled out the last part, he couldn’t say anymore, he had lost his composure and just turned tail and fled from the Longneck in front of him, tears falling silently down his face.
“Littlefoot!” He ignored Bron’s distressed call and was unaware of Shorty giving chase to him.
Bron was just paralysed as the full magnitude of his actions finally hit home. His own son could no longer call him his father. Bron bowed his neck in shame and whispered mournfully “What have I done?”
Littlefoot meanwhile had run full speed into the underbrush and Shorty followed but got tangled in a few vines, by the time he got out he had lost Littlefoot.
“Littlefoot?!” he called but received no answer, “I shouldn’t have expected one anyway” thought Shorty as he walked through the underbrush, his pace increasing to a jog. He was sure he knew where Littlefoot was headed, after all it had been in that general direction.
*
The friends applauded as Diver successfully repeated Trough’s acrobatics and with a skill that left even Trough gasping, he was shocked by Diver’s ability to quickly pick out his technique and after only two attempts get it flawlessly right. “I guess that’s why she’s called Diver” thought Trough. He was currently sitting in the shallow water beside Ducky who was clapping her hands as her sister approached them.
“That was great Diver yes, yes, yes” she cried.
“Thanks Ducky” replied Diver. She seated herself near her sister.
Trough watched the other children and finally voiced his thoughts. “You have a very…..unique batch of friends.” He said cautiously. Ducky directed her attention to him, she had expected this to come up sooner or later “How does a Swimmer have a Spiketail as a brother? And how does the same Swimmer be friends with a Longneck, Threehorn, Flyer and of all things a Sharptooth and Fast Runner?” he asked.
“It is a looooong story yep, yep, yep” said Ducky emphasising long so it was clear how big it was.
“A story I would like to hear” said Trough, now showing her keen interest.
“Well, I met Littlefoot, Cera and Petrie after The Great Earthshake we travelled for many days to reach The Great Valley and on the way I hatched Spike, he had no parents so when we all got to The Great Valley my mom took him in, he’s now my little brother he is, he is” said Ducky, it was an extremely short hand account of her adventures but introductions were best got out of the way early.
“I get all of it except that Spike is a little brother,” said Trough after all Spike was much larger then Ducky even though he was younger, he understood a little of what Ducky must have gone through “you had no one and you met your friends and you all went to find your families together. I can understand how you can be friends but what about The Sharptooth and The Fast Runner? How on this earth did you become friends with a meat eater and an egg stealer?” asked Trough in disbelief.
“Well, we hatched Chomper we did, we did” said Ducky.
“You…hatched…a Sharptooth?” Trough was gazing at her in shock and wonder.
“Accidentally” added Ducky. “Some Egg Stealers stole one of my mom’s eggs and me and my friends chased The Egg Stealers to get the egg back, we saved the egg….somehow” said Ducky. “We found an egg in The Mysterious Beyond and we thought it was my mom’s egg but it was really Chomper’s egg it was, it was”
Trough nodded, he seemed to understand the unusual circumstances of Chomper’s hatching.
“We helped get Chomper back to his family and we met them again at The Big Water but now he is living with us in The Great Valley because Red Claw is hunting him” said Ducky “and Ruby came with Chomper to The Valley to look after him and she is a great friend she is, she is” Ducky said cheerfully with a nod of her head.
I’m surprised you don’t have any Swimmer friends.” said Trough.
“There are other Swimmer’s in The Great Valley” said Diver “But most of them are just little tailed children” she said referring to the small tails of infants and toddlers.
“Okay I can understand now” said Trough simply.
“Oh I am glad of that yep, yep, yep” said Ducky with a smile. She looked back at her friends who were happily playing in the water, feeling that she wouldn’t be too badly missed she got up and said “I will be back shortly I need to take care of some business” she said and ran off without another word.
“Huh?” said Trough in surprise, getting up. He felt a little worried that his responses had somehow upset Ducky, perhaps he had not spoken of her friends kindly enough. He rushed to go after her but suddenly found his path blocked by Cera and Diver grabbed his tail from behind.
“Hey, what are you doing!?” he said in surprised annoyance.
“You don’t want to follow Ducky now,” said Diver “have you no manners?” she asked, giving Trough an icy glare.
“What?” asked Trough in confusion. It was Cera who answered his queries
“That’s what Ducky always says before she goes to relieve herself and you would not want to follow her when she’s doing that now would you?” she asked rhetorically.
“Oh, sorry” said Trough sitting back down on the bank “I didn’t know” said Trough.
“Well there’s a lot you need to learn about Ducky,” said Cera with a sigh then she gave him a cheeky smile. “especially if you like her so much” Diver giggled.
Trough became defensive immediately. “I’m just trying to be her friend” he retorted.
“Sure you are,” said Diver sarcastically. She gave Trough a more serious look. “I know my sister and I can tell she likes you and you like her”
“So perhaps we can give you some ëhow to approach Ducky tips for you’” said Cera with a cheeky smile.
Trough spluttered, unable to respond. “I think I know enough about Ducky to know what I’m doing thank you” he said.
“What’s Ducky’s favourite colour?” asked Diver immediately.
Trough was caught off guard by this unexpected question. “It’s…… um…… blue?”
The girls laughed at him, leaving Trough looking both confused and worried, his concern didn’t improve when Cera spluttered out “He’s totally doomed”
Trough sighed. Perhaps he could use some help after all “Okay, what is Ducky’s favourite colour?” he asked. He was about to learn a lot more about Ducky then he once knew.
*
With a relieved sigh Ducky walked away from the relief spot and wiped herself with a nearby leaf. Wiping was something unique only to dinosaurs with arms since for footers hadn’t the ability to wipe like her kind could but even them it was not a common practise except in a few places, The Great Valley being one of them. She could easily see the footmarks and large hole created by Littlefoot and Shorty when they feel in, Ducky really did feel sorry for them, she threw the leaf away and was about to head back off to re-join her friends when she heard what sounded like sobbing.
“Huh?” she said in surprise as she looked around for the source of the noise, she quickly pinpointed the source which was actually above her. She looked up to the top of the tall cliff and listened closely as the sound moved away, she suddenly set off for the path up the cliff, she didn’t know why Littlefoot was upset but she would be there for him now. She set off at a brisk pace.
She didn’t notice Shorty jog through the underbrush right after she left nor did Shorty notice her. They just continued onto their respective destinations.
*
Littlefoot lay on his belly at the top of the cliff looking inland to where his father’s herd was, he noticed that Bron was nowhere to be seen, he had certainly caused a conflict in the Longneck. However, all he could feel at that moment was the lingering pain from his confrontation with his dad. He had lived for so long without his father and had spent precious little time with him, now however he could no longer wait, he had been separated from him way to long and that made him feel alone, his father didn’t exactly stand as tall as his mother, she who hatched him and raised him , taught him to listen to his heart and sacrificed herself so that he could live. It was her spirit that guided him to The Valley and even now he knew that she was watching over him like the guardian angel she always had been.
He was expelling lots of tears over the issue of his father and mother, never has he been confronted with such an issue in his life and this time he would have to deal with it alone, devoid of his mother, separated from his father and many days travel away from his dear grandparents but little did he know that he would not face this issue alone.
Suddenly he felt a small, gentle hand place itself onto his flank and the voice that followed brought some measure of comfort to him. “Littlefoot are you all right?” asked Ducky, there was much concern in her voice at seeing her friend like this.
“Ducky” he turned to look at his dear friend, her face was clearly worried for his wellbeing. “How did you find me?” he asked quietly.
“I know this area and I heard you crying, I did, but what is wrong? Why are you sad?” asked Ducky hopping onto his back and putting a reassuring hand on the base of his neck.
It’s….my dad. I yelled at him, I told him that he wasn’t being a father, that he didn’t care for me” Littlefoot closed his and placed his neck on the ground in despair and sniffed.
Ducky looked alarmed at Littlefoot’s explanation and his reaction. She got off his back and walked over to his head and hugged and nuzzled his cheek in an attempt to provide some comfort to her friend. “I am so sorry Littlefoot I am, I am” she said sadly “I know what not having a father feels like I do, I do”
“Your father left didn’t he?” asked Littlefoot, Ducky nodded, there were tears in her eyes now. Although her mother had never told her siblings what happened when her father had left she had secretly witnessed the fight, she woke up in the middle of the night to find both her parents absent but she heard furious yelling in the distance, she recognised her mother’s voice and ran to the top of the sand dune and hid within the shrub but what she saw horrified her beyond anything else she had witnessed so far in her life. Her mother and father were fighting, punching, biting, scratching and rolling over each other in the water. She saw them yell at each other in fury and then she saw her father leave. Sura didn’t know that she had not wept alone that night. Ducky wept with her, her mind in chaos as she believed that she was the reason her father had left and it broke her gentle heart.
Her mother found out within a few days and had to assure her that it was not her fault that her father left, even though Ducky had still been traumatised by that event in her life. She could easily relate to not having a father. “I thought it was my fault” she said, a few tears building around her eyes. “I did, I did”
“I just want my dad back” said Littlefoot.
“Your dad does love you Littlefoot, he always has and always will” said Ducky.
“I don’t know” said Littlefoot, closing his eyes in dismay.
“I am sure he will try to be a father to you soon” said Ducky in a reassuring voice as she nuzzled his cheek again. “My daddy came home but it just took him a long time and it is taking your daddy a long time to really come home to you” said Ducky.
“But what if he doesn’t?” asked Littlefoot.
“I am sure he will come back to you Littlefoot, even if you think he dies not love you, he knows that he loves you, he is just not used to being a dad” said Ducky.
“That might be why I see him as herd leader, he doesn’t know how to be a dad” sighed Littlefoot. He closed his eyes tightly but when he opened them again there was clear resolve in them. “He loves me, your right Ducky, he will come back, I just need to help him realise that he is my dad and then maybe we can finally be a family again” said Littlefoot.
He bent his neck and nuzzled Ducky gratefully “Thanks for helping me feel better Ducky” he said, Ducky smiled in return.
“You are my friend and that is what friends do yep, yep, yep” she said cheerfully, her warm voice chasing away the pain in Littlefoot’s heart, he smiled and got to his feet with renewed vigour. “Come on Littlefoot,” said Ducky and led him down the trail in the direction of the cave.
*
“And that was the last I saw of him” said Shorty as he quickly finished explaining the confrontation between Littlefoot and Bon to the startled friends.
“But where Littlefoot go then?” asked Petrie, sounding worried to the verge of panic.
“I don’t know!” said Shorty angrily “I thought he would come here but I was wrong, I don’t know where he is now” said Shorty.
Cera looked to Petrie. “Do you think you can find him from the sky Petrie?” she asked.
“Me no think me need to” said Petrie and pointed past Cera. The friends turned to see Littlefoot walking slowly towards them with Ducky on his back. Everyone watched Littlefoot with apprehension but Littlefoot just walked over to Ali and sat next to her on the warm rocks, she gave him a comforting nuzzle.
“Are you okay Littlefoot?” asked Shorty.
“I’m better now Shorty; don’t worry” replied Littlefoot before turning to Ducky whom had gone to re-join Trough, Spike and Diver. “Why don’t you tell us your story now Ducky?” asked Littlefoot with genuine curiosity.
“Oh yes, yes, yes” she said eagerly.
“Hey what’s going on here?! What have I missed?!” said a sudden voice the children turned to gaze in astonishment at a female light blue Swimmer approaching them. Diver herself was gawking at the sight of this strange looking Swimmer.
“Hi Bluey, how was the night?” asked Sura with a friendly wave to her sister.
“It was just fine Sura,” replied Bluey in a friendly voice, her gaze settled on all the children sitting on the bare rock “but what is going on here? I don’t recall this place being so crowded” she said.
“These are Ducky’s friends, they arrived here last night after journeying here alone” said Sura, a little bite in her remark, she then walked down to Ducky and put a hand on Spike and Diver’s back “and my son Spike and my daughter Diver” she said with a smile. Bluey on the other hand looked surprised as she approached.
“Who is she mom?” asked Diver, pointing to Bluey “I’ve never seen a Swimmer like that before” she commented to the amusement of Grandma Swimmer and Cyrest.
“This Diver is Bluey, she’s my sister, your aunt” said Sura.
Diver gasped in shock as she took a new look at Bluey, she certainly looked like she was related to Sura not as much because of her skin colour but because of her friendly smile and kind demeanour.
“Nice to meet you” said Diver.
“Nice to meet you to little one” said Bluey and gently nuzzled Diver as if she was her own child, Diver chuckled as her aunt’s muzzle tickled her, Spike was next to be nuzzled by the light blue Swimmer. Bluey broke off and looked at the other children “Yes, your all Ducky’s friends, she told me all about you all including you two” she said with a surprisingly friendly smile over at Ruby and Chomper.
Bluey sat down on her haunches and said “Now I believe you were going to tell your friends about your journey Ducky” she said.
Ducky took that as an invitation and began her tale from the moment she and her mother had left The Great Valley. She told them of their journey through the cave and the brief reunion with Archie and of their time in The Land of Mists. When she got to the cave her mother told them all about her misadventure at the sinking sands, it left everyone especially Diver rocked to the core, she had not known that her mother was an adventurer but to hear that she had lost two of her siblings on one adventure really hit home the message that adventures didn’t always end well.
Ducky then moved on to tell them about the dawn attack by Dil and Icky and their narrow escape. “Those idiots, it serves them right for trying to eat you!” said Cera when she heard of what had become of them.
Sura then told them of their stumble on Ducky and Diver’s birthplaces, she happily retold the story of her two daughters hatching. “So you were nearly eaten right after you hatched?” said Cera to Ducky when they finished “And I thought I was bad too” she commented to herself.
Ducky took it from there and told them about their encounter with The Spiketail herd. Spike was overjoyed to hear that Tippy was doing alright. Sura then told the kids of the close shave with Red Claw and his two Fast Biters; Screech and Thud. That sure made everyone more tense.
However, the narrative took on a harsh turn when the kids herd of the Fast Biter attack and the horrible result it had on Sura and Ducky, they were amazed that she had survived especially after hearing about her recovery.
However, Littlefoot couldn’t help but feel extreme sympathy for Ducky after the attack, he knew how she felt all too well and the teling of the attack brought back the ever present memory of his mother’s final battle. Cyrest then told them about the training he had given Ducky as well as going into the disastrous attempt at the local Rapids.
Mo then told them about their reunion and the challengers that Ducky had done from Thunder pool, to the underwater cave and the race to rescuing Sura from the Megalodon Shark.
Diver hugged Ducky so tightly it hurt when she heard what Ducky had done “Oh I’m so glad you saved mom and that your alive” she said gratefully, Spike grunted in agreement and gave Ducky a large lick across her front. Cera was astonished when she heard about Ducky taking on Thunder Pool, but so was everyone else, none of them could really believe she had actually done that.
Ducky then went on to tell her friends about meeting Trough and The Swimmer herd as well as her Grandmother and Aunt. Trough was surprised by all the looks of sympathy he got when the friends heard about how he was treated. “Bullies” said Littlefoot angrily.
“They so mean” said Petrie in agreement.
“They’re lucky I wasn’t there” said Cera firmly.
Ducky then told them about Sierra’s attack.
Spike was growling with rage when he heard what that bastard Flyer had done to his sister. Ducky put a gentle, reassuring hand on Spike’s snout. “I am okay Spike I am, I am” she said gently.
Then It got to The Killer Storm. Ducky and Trough both told their respective parts though they both left out their first kiss and Ducky’s accident, they’d never hear the end of it of they had told them. Her friends were just glad that she and her companions had survived and were okay.
The last part of the story was the bullying Ducky endured and the meeting that followed which was soon followed by the Fast Biter attack. Everyone was glaring furiously when they had heard about how the children of the herd had treated Ducky, Cera snorted and stomped her foot on the ground aggressively and Spike was shaking with rage. Sura and Ducky had to calm him though Diver let out an angry rant “If I ever see those bullies I will kick their butts so hard that they won’t even be able to sit down again!”
“Yeah!” shouted Cera in agreement.
The children were glad the meeting had gone well but when they heard about the Fast Biter’s attack they were all chilled, especially Chomper “He sounds like he has nothing to lose, that’s dangerous” he commented. However, they were all left gasping when they heard about him capturing Ducky and Trough’s heroic actions.
Poor Trough was quite literally smothered by Ducky’s friends and found himself in the iron hug of Diver and Spike licking him until he was on the ground, laughing. “Thank you for saving my sister Trough” said Diver.
“She’s my friend and that’s what friends do” said Trough.
“I don’t care what those other Swimmers say, you are a good friend and you don’t deserve to beaten up just because they think you’re a loner because you are not a loner anymore” said Diver.
“Yeah!” everyone said in union.
“Thanks everyone” replied Trough who by this time was blushing deeply.
“I think that’s all there is to tell” said Sura.
That was a very amazing story mom” said Diver. Spike grunted in agreement.
“Thank you dear” replied Sura and observed just how late it was the sky was already turning orange in preparation for night. However, there was still one more guest to arrive before the night.
“Hello everyone” said an unexpected, yet familiar voice.
*
Bron had stayed exactly where he was the whole day, by the waterhole looking deep into the water as if he were searching for something elusive deep in its waters, his mind was in complete turmoil. The accusations that his son had thrown at him had caused more damage than the strongest Sharptooth. Normally he might have been able to just act tough and pull through but not with his own son, the words his son carried had great meaning to him because they meant a lot to Littlefoot.
He closed his eyes in shame, his son had every right to be angry with him after all where was he all his life? He never saw him hatch and he never helped his mate fight Sharptooth, the guilt that he might have saved her had he been their rose like a flood to overwhelm him. Littlefoot was right, he had not acted like a father, but that was only because he didn’t know how. He knew how to be a responsible herd leader and that is what was outwardly communicated to his son. He wasn’t sure how to be a father, he had spent so much time devoid of a son and after their reunion he spent too little time with him.
The guilt rose into a torrent of agony, he had never been there for Littlefoot, not in his life before they met and not now. His shame was heightened when he thought back to Littlefoot saving his life at The Fire Mountain. He meant a lot to his son, so much that he was prepared to risk everything to save him, he couldn’t blame him for being angry when he left. It was true that the herd had become like a family to him, he knew everyone by name and they knew him, he had grown to respect them and protected them to the best of his ability but neglecting his son in the process.
“What kind of a father am I?” he asked himself. “Am I a good herd leader but a bad father? Is that why Littlefoot is so upset?”
Littlefoot had lived a life in The Great Valley with his friends and under the loving care of his Grandparents but still he had no father there, all because he chose his herd over his son.
Bron closed his eyes tightly, a few tears falling from his eyes as he realised his failure as a parent, Littlefoot may look like him and act like him but he was always like that, he wasn’t taught how to do that, it was his mother that taught him, she had given him every tiny piece of love she could afford to her son, she gave up her own life for him.
Bron realised how much of a disappointment he must have been, to not live up to the example of his mate, how would she react if she were here now? She would not want the family split up like they always had been so far, Bron knew that if she were still alive he would have stayed in The Great Valley because of how much he loved her but he had failed to show that love to Littlefoot, his loving son, whom had risked everything for him.
“I can’t keep doing this” said Bron out loud to himself, he couldn’t stay away any longer, it was long since time to step up and be a father to Littlefoot, he had already caused his son more pain then he’d care to admit and he had to redeem himself for it, no longer would he stay separated from his family, no longer would he shun his responsibility to his family, he would be a dad. Littlefoot’s dad.
With his mind made up, a calm sense of peace descended upon Bron’s mind, he knew in his heart what decision he had to make and got to his feet, he proceeded with a firm resolve to complete that decision, “I am sorry for all the sadness and pain I have caused you Littlefoot,” said Bron apologetically “but I will not cause you anymore pain, I will be your father, We will be a family again, my son” Bron finished with a strong firmness and set off with a powerful determination in his stride.
*
“Momma!”
“Petrie!”
“Ariel?”
Everyone let out exclamations of surprise as the blue Flyer landed on the beach, Petire immediately flying into his mother’s welcome arms.
“What are you doing here?” asked Cera in surprise.
“Looking for you kids” replied Ariel sternly. “Did you think your absence would be unnoticed for long?” she asked. “Your father’s not happy with you Cera” stated Ariel as a matter of fact.
“So what else is new?” said Cera casually, she hardly expected her father to be happy with her.
“Oh Sura, it’s so good to see you again” said Ariel with a happy smile.
“Likewise Ariel, the kids have already told me about Sierra and thanks to them he won’t be bothering us anymore” said Sura. Petrie’s mother widened her eyes at the implications of Sura’s words.
“You know about Rapid and Ruphus I take it?” she asked cautiously.
Sura nodded solemnly “Yes, I know.”
Ariel turned her attention to the children “Well, what am I going to do with you?” she said. “You can’t just wonder back on your own.”
Sura cleared her throat loudly “Actually I’ve been thinking to go back to The Valley, after all in The Valley I won’t be hunted by Fast Biter’s, the kids could come home with us”
There was a chorus of cheers and affirmations from The Gang and Ducky especially. Trough looked a little shocked, if she was going to go home then she would be leaving him until his herd journeyed to The Great Valley. With that in mind he voiced his request “Can I come too?” he asked.
Ducky pricked up when Trough said that “Oh yes, yes, yes, Trough can come can he mama? Please, please, pleeeeeaaaase” she said putting on her most adorable face she could.
Sura chuckled at her daughter’s reaction, “I am perfectly fine with him coming dear, as long as it is okay with his mother.”
“YAY!” cried Ducky jumping up and down, her tail going berserk. Her friends couldn’t help but grin at Ducky’s ecstatic display.
“When are you planning to leave?” asked Ariel.
“I think tomorrow would be good if very one agrees with me, Cyrest, are you okay with completing Ducky’s training in The Great Valley” asked Sura.
“Do you have to ask Sura?” was his reply “Of course I’m okay with going to The Great Valley again, it’s been too long” said Cyrest eagerly.
“Excellent,” exclaimed Sura. “I think we can leave tomorrow.”
“YES!” cried out all the children, none of them could wait to get back home.
“I’ll fly back and tell everyone that you’re on your way home” said Ariel.
“Thanks Ariel” said Sura as Ariel took off.
“I’ll see you at home Petrie” she called to her son.
“See you soon mom!” he called as she flew off into the sunset.
Ducky was trembling with sheer anticipation and excitement for tomorrow she was finally going to go home. Sura decided for the kids to get an early night for they would all have a very big day tomorrow.
Sorry for the long wait my computer hard drive died with no files recoverable, I had already done most of the chapter, so I've had to rewrite the chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
