The Gang of Five

The Land Before Time => LBT Fanfiction => Topic started by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 18, 2019, 02:08:12 PM

Title: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 18, 2019, 02:08:12 PM
Author's Note: This is part one of an series, covering the transition from Single to Committed for our beloved Characters.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Many cold times had passed. Each of the five had grown, being many times the size they had been in their younger days: Littlefoot was now three quarters of his grandfather's size and didn't seem like he'd stop growing any time soon. His skin-colors had darkened, making him look more like his father than ever.

Cera too had grown and was now about Tria's size. Several cold times ago her main horns had broken through, a thing which she had been waiting for impatiently. She still had the same colors as during her childhood, but anyone who made fun of that found himself with a face full of enraged Threehorn (with all three horns, as she'd love to point out).

Ducky had grown darker and larger over time, now looking like her mother while still being smaller, the top of her crest only reaching the lower part of her mother's bill. Her customary 'yep yep yep' had changed in a series of calls through said crest, something which amused and irritated her friends to no end. But they had gotten used to it and by now it was as much a part of her as her 'yep yep yep' had ever been.

Petrie had lost his way of speaking somewhere along the way, now only speaking like that when he felt very strongly about something. When his uncle Pterano had returned after his five winter-exile, everyone had been very amused that by that time the young flyer already looked like he was a smaller, darker-colored twin of the old flyer. The similarities had only increased as time progressed.

Spike still didn't speak much and his main priority was still his next dinner. Considering he too was nearly the size of a grown-up this lead to many amusing situations. His plates and spikes had come through only a winter after Cera's horns (for which he was silently grateful, since he preferred not to see the Threehorn angry at him for being faster in that regard).

Chomper had grown too, causing him to leave the Great Valley. He could no longer sustain himself on buzzing creatures and even fish had soon proven to be not enough for the ever-growing hunger of the Sharptooth. He had left soon thereafter to ensure he would not accidently hurt his friends or worse, harm a Valley-resident. Ruby had followed him, returning to her family. It had been a long time since the two had been seen by their other friends.

All five had only recently returned to the Valley with their families, each returning from Courtship-Day, which was essentially a meet-and-greet for young dinosaurs to meet potential mates and grown-ups to see distant relatives.

They had met up on the very hill they had huddled together after first finding the Great Valley so many cold times ago, their mates at their sides. Littlefoot had Ali resting at his side, which his friends proclaimed was a match they had seen coming cold times ago.

Cera's mate was a bulky Threehorn, whose dark-brown color reminded Littlefoot of earth. His horns were already fully-grown and his eyes were the color of sand. The lighter colors of his underside went only as far as his neck, but his darker back-stripe was flanked by two smaller stripes of the same color as his stomach. He introduced himself as Trike and seemed well underway to prove himself a much calmer dinosaur than Cera.

Ducky's mate was a Swimmer named Paro, who seemed to be a male version of Ducky. Cera jokingly asked whether the Swimmer was sure she had not accidently chosen one of her brothers as a mate. Ducky answered her with a lot of giggles, assuring the Threehorn she had already checked whether he was related to her. The following laughter echoed across the grassy plains of the valley, reaching the grown-ups who could not help but smile at the antics of their young ones, regardless of said young ones' age.

Rana, the dark-red flyer that had followed Petrie to the Valley, dryly commented that he had not exaggerated when calling his friends 'interesting'. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she nuzzled him. His blush at that move nearly matched her wings.

To his friends' surprise Spike had found a suitable match too. The dark-blue female Spiketail introduced herself as Tega and mentioned that they had found one another over dinner. That made much more sense to the others than the thought that Spike had actually courted her. Tega simply responded that he had courted her… by taking her out to dinner.

"So Littlefoot, how does courting go for Longnecks?" Cera asked after a while of meaningless chatter. "I doubt it's the same as that for Threehorn's…"

"Oh, let's share experiences!" Ducky exclaimed. "It'll be fun!" The deep sound of a Swimmer-crest-call echoed in the cooling evening-air.

"Uh…" Littlefoot looked to his right, where Ali nodded with a big smile on her face. "Ok then. Well, I and my Grandparents left before any of you did, since the Longneck meeting-place is further away from here than those of your kinds. Underway I started talking to Grandpa…"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 20, 2019, 01:12:54 AM
"Grandpa?" Littlefoot asked, walking beside the older Longneck.

"Yes, Littlefoot?" His grandfather looked back, meeting the eyes of the youngling.

"What exactly am I supposed to do on Courtship-day?" The younger Longneck asked the question that had been bothering him since they had left the Great Valley several days ago.

"Well, the first thing you'd have to do is find a potential mate." His grandfather told him. "But you already did that." He chuckled when the other male suddenly found the ground very interesting. "Not that there is anything wrong with that. Most dinosaurs meet their potential mates well before Courtship-day. Then you'll have to court her, obviously. And if she accepts, you two can do… other things, shall we say."

"Yeah, I got that. But how do I court her?" The young one asked exasperated.

"By watching. The first day is reserved for older couples, or those who lost their mates and search a new one. The young ones are meant to watch how the older ones do it and mimic it the next day. And mostly instinct." Grandpa Longneck explained.

"So… I basically have to watch strangers court one another and then hope I can keep a straight face when meeting Ali the next day?" Littlefoot frowned at the thought.

"Pretty much, yes." A voice from his other side came. Grandma Longneck was walking beside him, her kind eyes watching his reaction in amusement. "Of course, there is a way that would make it less awkward."

"There is?" Littlefoot would have jumped, had he still been small enough. As it was, his eager exclamation was enough to have his grandparents burst into laughter.

"Certainly, if I can get your grandfather to go along with it." Her long neck reached over her grandson, shoving her mate.

He blinked when he realized her intentions. "You want US to participate?"

"Why not?" She demanded. "It has been so long since we did. And if it helps Littlefoot, all the better." Her eyelids drooped a bit, but rather than tired, she seemed… seductive. A small shudder ran down Littlefoot's back at that thought, but it was quickly banished at her next words. "Unless you think you can't perform anymore…"

The older male came to an abrupt stop, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What?"

"Well, you are rather old…" His mate chuckled. "I have heard that age affects certain… things negatively." Her tail flicked back and forth as she walked on calmly.

"Excuse me!" Grandpa Longneck exclaimed, catching up with her. "You have yet to complain about that."

"Prove it." She demanded, facing him directly.

Only now did the old male realize he had run straight into her trap. "Fine, we'll participate."

Littlefoot was no longer sure how he should feel about that one. Then another thought came to him. "Do you think Dad will be there?"

"Of course he will." Grandma turned to look at him. "It's the first Courtship-day of his two sons."

"No, I meant…" Littlefoot looked down, scraping at the earth with his foot.

"As a bachelor." Grandpa realized. Both the older longnecks turned back to face the youngling as he nodded.

"Would it truly bother you if he did?" Grandma asked, catching Littlefoot's eyes with her own.

"I'm… not sure. I never really thought about it." Littlefoot admitted.

"Well, best not to count your hatchlings before they hatch." Grandpa said. "We'll see if he comes alone or not. But always remember, no matter what, he loves you."

"Yeah, we'll see…" Littlefoot started walking again, now flanking his grandmother together with his grandfather. She nuzzled him gently, giving him a measure of comfort.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The rest of the journey passed without much delay. The Sharpteeth knew better than to attack three grown-up Longnecks, even if only two had reached full size yet. Soon other Longnecks joined them, each heading for the Courting-grounds too. They even met some acquaintances: Doc and Dara were intending on participating too, though the Lone Dinosaur did not seem particularly thrilled at the idea of having to be around so many other Longnecks for such a long time.

As they traveled on there came a separation of sorts: Grandma would talk to Dara for hours on end, while Doc walked with Grandpa and Littlefoot. Occasionally Littlefoot would catch fragments of what his grandmother and Doc's lady-friend talked about. Most of the times it was about him and one of his many adventures: she never let him live those down.

He was quite relieved when they finally managed to reach the Courting-grounds of the Longnecks: the very same valley they had gathered to prevent the Bright Circle from falling from the skies so long ago.

"How about you go look for Ali and Bron?" Grandma suggested as they crested the valley-wall.

Littlefoot nodded happily, descending down swiftly as the older longnecks followed more slowly. He therefore did not notice when Grandma saw someone and gestured to the other Longneck. Grandpa nodded and both said their farewells to Doc and Dara, now walking towards the dark-blue Longneck she had pointed out.

"Dad!" Littlefoot called out as he saw the familiar silhouette of his father.

"Littlefoot." Bron greeted him, nuzzling the young one. "My, have you grown."

"It's been so long since I last saw you." Littlefoot exclaimed. "Where's Shorty?"

"Drinking." Bron gestured to the small lake. Littlefoot turned and gasped.

"Whoa…" His eyes grew big as he saw his adopted brother.

"Yeah, he kinda shot up there." Bron frowned a bit. "I guess that's simply his species. One day I could easily trip over him, the next he trips over me!"

"Understandable…" His son used a nearby tree to measure the green Longneck. "Shorty doesn't really fit anymore, does it?"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 21, 2019, 09:00:20 AM
"So, you got an eye on somebody?" Littlefoot asked his stepbrother as they made themselves comfortable to watch the Courtship of the older couples. To his silent relief his father would not be attending this year, instead focusing fully on guiding his two sons through the proceedings. He was talking softly to his former parents-in-law as they prepared to go down to where the courting would start soon enough. They turned, Grandma Longneck leading the way onto the grassy plain.

Bron laid himself down between his sons, frowning as he found that it put him right next to a massive tree. "Couldn't have picked a better place?"

"No." Shorty chuckled. "Where would the fun be in that?"

Littlefoot chuckled, before turning his attention to his grandparents again. They had reached the field now, Grandma crossing it to the other females as Grandpa remained with the other males. He could see Doc down there too, as well as the light-green form of Dara. To his surprise he saw the massive body of Sue, the huge longneck that had saved him from the red belly-dragger, among the females.

Suddenly a vibration started in the ground, traveling up his spine and making him gasp.

"It has begun." Bron stated, smiling. "The females are calling."

"The females are calling?" Littlefoot echoed, looking at the ground. He felt more than heard the vibrations, but for some reason they made his heart thunder in tune with them.

"An invitation to courtship." Bron gestured down with his head. "And now the males answer."

There was movement on the plain, the two groups mixing as each Longneck sought his counterpart. Littlefoot's eyes strayed away from his grandparents to Doc and Dara, who had begun to slowly circle one another. He was about to ask his father if all the Longnecks had the same way of courting when a roar sounded, causing all to look at its' origin. It was no Sharptooth, thankfully, but Littlefoot's grandfather. He was glaring at a dark-blue Longneck as his mate remained behind him, staring with wide eyes at the two males in front of her.

The dark-blue male seemed unperturbed, instead approaching both of them, before starting to drum with his two forefeet. The sounds echoed in the silence as the atmosphere of peace and love was shattered.

Bron gasped in horror. "He wouldn't…"

"What's wrong?" Shorty asked, the tension spreading out through the valley, even when the dark-blue male stopped.

"He's challenging for Right of Courtship." Bron gritted his teeth. "In an established couple no less. How dare he?"

Littlefoot gasped too. His grandparents had told him about challenging for Right of Courtship. It was basically a measure to ensure that a female would only be courted by one male even if more were interested in her. The males would fight, and the winner was allowed to court the female they had fought over. Despite that, – as they had assured him many times – only the female could give the Right of Mating, no matter how often the male had won Right of Courtship. To do so in regards to an already mated female was considered nothing short of barbaric.

The other Longnecks stopped, now only watching and waiting for the old male's reaction to such an outrageous action.

The sound of his feet hitting the floor in rapid succession reached them seconds later.

"He accepted." Bron breathed in disbelief. "Why did he accept?"

Littlefoot's brown eyes were fixed on the two males, watching as they started to circle one another. His grandmother had backed away even more, standing alone near the trees on that side of the valley. Angry roars alternated with the echoing sound of feet crashing down as each tried to get the other to back off. He had never seen his grandfather this angry.

The dark-blue male was the first to break that pattern: he rose on his hind-legs, balancing like that for a few moments before crashing down again, shaking the earth with the impact of his massive body.

Grandpa Longneck mirrored him, his own body now towering far above the trees surrounding the valley.

The tenseness in the air could be bitten in half by a Sharptooth as neither male seemed to back down.

"Oh no…" Bron knew what would come should neither back down after the power-display that was the rising on the hind-legs: battle.

Littlefoot only faintly registered that the empty area surrounding the two Longnecks grew bigger while an older female stood in front of Grandma Longneck. Her voice echoed in the silence: "Neither backs down, neither admits defeat. So it must be: the Challenge was accepted, and now it must be done. Loser loses the right to court, the winner may take all. Begin." She was the judge…

"Dad!" Littlefoot exclaimed. "Can't you do something?"

"No. Your grandfather accepted." Bron swallowed. "This is his fight now."

"But…" He was half on his feet.

"No." Bron stopped him, blocking his path. "If you interfere, he loses. And when he loses, the other may court your grandmother, not he. Stay here."

Both took their places again, though Littlefoot did so with great reluctance. He was about to return his attention to the battle when a horrified scream made his head snap back.

"Dear!" Her every muscle shook with the desire to rush forward as her mate struggled back to his feet. The other male had managed to have him lose his footing, causing several tons of muscle to crash to the hard ground. Grandpa Longneck rose once more, briefly shaking himself to clear his head before returning to his previous position: pressed against the other's side. Their neck crashed together, delivering terrible blows. Again and again their bodies vied for dominance by smacking into the other. Considering their size, the earth shook.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 22, 2019, 02:59:22 PM
Littlefoot shivered as the fight progressed. He winced at every blow his grandfather got, watching in terror whenever the old male threatened to fall to the ground.

With a loud roar Grandpa Longneck crashed against the blue male, sending him tumbling down. The earth shook when his weight crashed down. Neither moved, seemingly waiting for something.

"It is over." He had almost forgotten the old female. "The Challenge was won. Winner takes all, Loser leaves." She said, stepping away from his grandmother.

Grandpa Longneck did not look at the blue male again, instead turning his attention to his mate. Grandma nuzzled him, smiling in relief. The blue male rose to his feet again, and after catching Grandma's eyes, nodded and left.

Littlefoot sighed in relief, relaxing now that the Challenge was over. Beside him Bron also sagged in relief, watching as the blue male walked away from the field.

"Well, now that has been dealt with for the moment, the courtships continue." He softly said, all three of them watching as the Longnecks down on the field spread out again. "Shorty, you recall whom to watch?" He asked the green Longneck beside him. Shorty nodded. "Littlefoot?"

Littlefoot made a face. As if he was going to watch anyone beside his grandparents during this.

Down below the Courting started properly now.

"Most of the time, the males do all the work. The moment the female starts participating is when she accepted the male. At least, it's that way with Longnecks." Bron explained.

Littlefoot watched as his grandfather slowly circled his grandmother. Grandpa Longneck stopped when he was in front of her again and started to slowly wave his tail back and forth. Then in a matching rhythm his neck and both going faster and faster.

"Don't worry. It'll go too fast to get ill." His father whispered in amusement. "Besides, that part never lasts long."

The old Longneck meanwhile had stopped, now rising to his hind-legs. He was not the only one: many of the Longnecks now courting were standing solely on their hind-feet. A quick glance told Littlefoot that even Doc was doing so.

"Oh holy…" Bron gasped again. He was doing that often this day. "Littlefoot, don't do that, okay?"

Littlefoot's brown eyes widened when he looked back from Doc. "Holy…" He breathed and even managed to find some time to wonder how Grandpa could possibly swing his neck while standing without falling over. "He HAS to teach me that move."

"You won't use that just yet." Bron ordered. "Not for the first few Courting-Days. And certainly not when I'm around."

It repeated itself a few times: circling, standing, circling, standing… The young Longneck was starting to wonder if Grandma would ever participate or if she would just wait until the Bright Circle had touched down.

The next time the old Longneck rose to his feet, he met the eyes of a different Longneck. Bron's smile stated the obvious: she accepted.

Both Longnecks touched down and now everything got repeated again: they circled one another, rose to their hind-legs, touched down and did it all over again. It became a dance: Grandma deciding whether they circled forward, backward, half a turn, two turns and Grandpa following her every move.

"Finishing touch." Bron nodded. Below them the male slowly approached, resting his head just behind the head of the female. He gently slid downward until it rested on the juncture of her neck and back. Silence…

She mirrored his move, their two necks now resting against one another over their entire length.

They started to move again, eyes closed, slowly bringing their bodies together while ensuring their necks did not break contact.

They wound their long necks around one another and then froze. All over the field other kinds of Longnecks were still working through their routines, either because the females had taken longer to accept or because the courting of their kind was simply much more complicated.

"It isn't much." Bron whispered to Littlefoot. "But every Longneck on that field will agree that the way our kind does it, is one of the most intense feeling-wise. You'll see that tomorrow when it's your turn."

Littlefoot nodded absentmindedly, watching as his grandparents walked to the lake for refreshment. They stayed close together, their sides almost pressed together as Grandpa softly whispered something to Grandma.

"Go on. I'll follow with Shorty." Bron gently nudged him, knowing his son was dying to talk to his grandparents.

Littlefoot quickly made his way around the field to the lake. His grandparents were two of the few dinosaurs drinking, rather than watching what was happening on the field between the other couples.

"Littlefoot." His grandmother greeted him. "Enjoyed the show?"

"Mh-mh…" He nodded. "But…"

"The challenge?" His grandfather asked. "It happens at times."

"But you were an established couple." Littlefoot argued.

"It still happens." Grandpa Longneck countered. "Besides, I won."

"Narrowly." Grandma pointed out. "I feared for you there, dear." She reached out with her neck, resting it under his. "I feared you'd lose."

"Never." He assured her. "I'd never lose when fighting for you. Not to anything or anyone."

Littlefoot merely smiled as he watched them. They kept talking as more and more Longnecks came for a drink after finishing courting. Shorty and Bron soon enough joined them as well, Bron also introducing them to the couple that had been Shorty's example.

Suddenly a silence fell, spreading out from one side of the lake to the other. Then whispers rose…

Littlefoot gasped in surprise when he saw why: the blue male that had challenged Grandpa Longneck for Right of Courtship was heading straight for them, ignoring all talk of the dinosaurs he passed.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 24, 2019, 12:33:56 AM
"Good grief!" Grandma Longneck exclaimed. "You're hurt."

"I got thrown to the ground." The blue male answered her. "That is quite a fall for a Longneck."

Grandma glared at her mate.

"In my defense, he threw me down first." Grandpa Longneck backed away a bit from the angry female.

"It's alright." The blue male drew her attention to him again. "What else can I expect when throwing customs into the wind and Challenging into an established couple?"

"Uh, what's going on here?" Littlefoot asked.

The blue male looked from him to his grandmother and back again. "I take it this is your grandson?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Littlefoot, this is Toto, your great-uncle."

"Pleasure to meet you, Littlefoot." Toto told the young Longneck. "Please don't try to avenge your grandfather, I think my leg can't take much more."

"I still don't get what's going on." Littlefoot said.

"It's a bit of a tradition I rough your grandfather up. Normally that's verbally, but this time they asked me to do it… not so verbally." Toto told him.

"The fight was staged?" Bron demanded disbelievingly.

"No." Grandpa Longneck frowned at the blue male. "The fight was real. The intent behind it was not."

"Why would you do that?" Shorty asked.

"I have to be sure he can take care of my little sister, don't I?" Toto asked, grinning at Grandpa.

"You still act as if I cannot take care of myself." Grandma whacked him with her tail. "And if anyone, it should be Littlefoot you complain about. He nearly got me killed several times."

"Uh…" It was clear Littlefoot's great-uncle wasn't sure how to react to that one.

"That was so long ago…" Littlefoot muttered under his breath. "Won't anyone let me live that down?"

"I think I'm missing something here." The blue male said.

"Long story, brother." Grandma nuzzled him briefly. "Perhaps I'll tell you tomorrow. For tonight, I have different matters on my mind."

"I was afraid you'd forget." Grandpa softly said to her. "Come along then, dear. I'd like some privacy."

Littlefoot gagged once they had left, much to the amusement of his remaining family.

"They're still so much in love." Toto sighed sadly.

"And that upsets you?" Bron wondered.

"For them? No. For me? Definitely." Toto sighed again, before meeting Bron's eyes evenly. "We are much alike, you know. But unlike you, I never even found my child."

"I'm sorry." Bron whispered.

"There is nothing you need to apologize for." Toto smiled. "Now, how about I get properly introduced to my sister's grandchild? I take it there are some interesting stories there."

"Some?" Shorty echoed in disbelief. "More than Sharpteeth have teeth, I can assure you."

"Hey!" Littlefoot frowned. "Whose side are you on?"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

When Littlefoot woke the next day he was surrounded by family: on one side were Shorty and Bron, on the other his grandparents and Toto. He rose silently, hoping to get a drink without waking the others up.

Today was the day he'd finally court Ali. He just hoped he'd get that courting-dance right.

"Nervous?" A voice from behind him asked. Toto had woken, joining him at the watering-hole.

"A bit." He admitted, watching as the older Longneck bend down to drink some of the cool liquid. "Did you ever…?"

"Every chance I got." Toto looked up. "Courting is something wonderful to participate in."

"Dad said it was very intense…" Littlefoot mused.

"That too." The older male laughed. "But I'm certain you'll see that later today yourself, am I not mistaken?"

"Yes, with a female from the Old One's herd. You know her?"

"The Old One? Of course I know her! She's my cousin after all." The blue male chuckled. "Aah… Fond memories. So you're intending to court one of hers? Which one, if I may be so bold to ask?"

"Ali." Littlefoot gestured over to where the Old One's herd was still sleeping. "The Pink female."

"Mmmh… Never heard of her, I'm afraid. I guess that's not so strange if she's your age." Toto looked back to where the rest of their family had yet to wake up. "I am a wanderer at heart, switching herds regularly. I can't stay around the same people for too long."

"Oh…" Littlefoot tilted his head. "Did you ever be in a herd with Grandpa and Grandma?"

"Long ago." Toto told him. "When your mother was still a Hatchling, yes. I left several winters before she met your father though. That was shortly after I lost my mate and children. I couldn't stay."

"Sorry…" Littlefoot looked down as he saw the look of pain in the older one's eyes.

"It's not your fault." His grandmother's brother soothed him. "I do not even blame the Sharpteeth; after all, all they wanted was food and it just so happened that they had decided my family was to be that food."

"I guess so." Littlefoot looked up as another set of footsteps came closer. Grandpa Longneck had woken too, joining them.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 25, 2019, 02:54:00 PM
"Why did you even ask him to Challenge you?" Bron asked once he had woken too.

"I felt like it." Grandpa Longneck chuckled. "Besides, it was a good example for the young ones to know what to do when they're challenged."

"And what if he had won?" Littlefoot asked.

"Then he would have won." Grandpa stated. "And Littlefoot would have been forced to watch someone else. Such are the rules of Challenges."

"Though I would have turned him down immediately." Grandma said, rubbing her neck against Grandpa's. "I really don't need to be courted by my brother."

"I had no intention of winning." Toto supplied. "Otherwise I would have gotten up instead of waiting for the older female to call it quits."

"But enough of that." Grandma Longneck stated. "I believe it is nearly time for the youngsters to court." She gestured up with her neck, where the Bright Circle was steadily climbing up the sky, shining brightly down on them.

"Well, I guess this is it?" Shorty wondered. He took a deep breath. "Let's hope this goes as planned."

"Good luck." His grandparents nuzzled Littlefoot. "You both will do great."

"Speaking of which, you never told me if you had an eye on someone." Littlefoot told Shorty as they walked to the same field they had watched the older Longnecks the day before.

"Nope, I wasn't as lucky as you." Shorty chuckled. "Maybe I'll find someone."

"I'll cheer for you once I and Ali are finished." Littlefoot yelped when his adopted brother hit him with his tail.

"Just rub it in, why won't ya..." Shorty complained. "I just might try and steal her from you. Kidding, kidding!" He backpedaled when seeing his brother's face.

"You better." Littlefoot brightened when seeing that Ali was already waiting for him.

"At least the chances that anyone would want to steal her are small." Shorty looked around. A quick headcount told him there were almost 2 females for every male. "Cya tonight."

"Good luck." Littlefoot moved to the side of the field Ai was, facing her. She smiled at him, gesturing behind him with her head. He turned to look what she pointed at and saw his family as well as Doc and Dara looking down from the valley-wall. Well, talk about having an audience.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The rumbles traveled up his legs and reverberated along his spine. His heart matched their rhythm and his eyes remained fastened on Ali. He saw the vibrations travel down her legs and moved forward. He circled her, her blue eyes following him around her body. He stopped in front her, his eyes meeting hers and started to wave his neck from side to side. His tail followed soon enough, the air swishing in his ears.

He slowed to a stop and after a moment pushed himself to his hind-legs. Thank goodness his grandparents had insisted he practice that particular skill as he grew up. He thought it better not to try and swing his neck: he was pretty sure he'd taste ground then.

He grunted softly when he crashed down again. Without anything to break his fall, his legs bore the full brunt of the impact. He circled her again, repeating the maneuver.

He wondered how long it'd take for her to join in. He hoped not too long, his legs couldn't handle too many of those actions. He silently counted in his head.

Finally he met blue eyes at his highest point, Ali smiling as they went down together. They circled one another, short nods from her indicating when to rise. The earth under their feet rumbled as their bodies fell from the sky, their feet hitting the ground with enough force to leave dents in the fertile soil.

"You really are going to make me work, don't you?" He whispered when they rose for the umpteenth time.

"Definitely." She answered, smiling at him. "Want to be certain of my choice, don't you think?"

"I thought saving you from Sharpteeth several times should be enough for that, don't you think?" Littlefoot countered teasingly, grinning as they circled one another again.

"True that." She stopped, but did not rise. "I'm thirsty, let's finish."

He chuckled, reaching out with his head to rest it just behind hers. He lovingly moved it down her slender neck, resting it at the juncture of her neck and back. He felt her head come to rest behind his and she mirrored his move.

He gasped softly. Over the entire length of his neck he now felt her pulse, the steady rhythm her heart had been beating since before she hatched. It was... intense.

They remained like that for a short while, both simply savoring the experience and then Ali made the first step. She brought her body closer to his, slowly enough that a slime-dragger could have kept up with her.

All the time they twisted their necks to keep contact, stopping only when their chests nearly touched.

They only broke contact when it just got to uncomfortable.

"How about a drink, my love?" Littlefoot softly asked, gesturing to the lake.

"I'd love to." She agreed, following him off the field. From the corner of her eye she could see his grandparents descend from the Valley-wall. His father remained up there, waiting for his brother to finish.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 26, 2019, 02:04:38 PM
"He did find someone, by the way." Littlefoot finished his recounting of his Courtship-day. "You'll meet her when they next visit."

"What about that Toto?" Ducky asked. "After it was cleared up he seemed really nice."

"Oh he was." Ali assured her. "But he left during our courtship and no one knows where he went. Perhaps he'll come here, perhaps he won't."

"Ah, pity…" The swimmer sighed. "I didn't meet any hidden relatives while we were courting."

"Neither did I." Petrie agreed. "Though I had to watch Mom and Uncle Pterano court."

"Awkward." Everyone chimed. "How did that happen?"

"Basically the same way Littlefoot with his grandparents." Petrie told them. "Only neither had a mate of their own."

"Well, tell us all about it then." Cera smugly stated. "Especially the juicy details."

The scream Petrie send to the skies then was memorable, as was Cera's laughter. She was nearly rolling with it as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Me no need to hear that. Me no want to think that. Me no WANT!" Petrie shook his head to clear the image from it. His other friends were no help as they chuckled and laughed along with Cera.

Even Rana, his own mate, laughed along while patting his shoulder comfortingly.

"Me no want to think about that." Petrie shuddered. "Me like Uncle Pterano as Uncle."

"And no one wants it to be any different, I assure you." Littlefoot soothed him. "How about you tell us all, excluding the non-existant juicy details?"

"But how about we do that tomorrow?" Rana asked. "I do not know about your Courtingplaces, but ours is quite a flight away from here and I'd like to rest."

"Ditto." Ducky agreed. "Well, minus the 'flight'-part, obviously."

And so each said a brief farewell to the others, returning to their resting-grounds so they could sleep.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on September 28, 2019, 05:47:54 AM
"Are your friends always like that?" Rana asked Petrie the next morning.

"Pretty much." He nodded, offering her some green food. "But they're nice."

"That much was obvious from the stories of your adventures." She swallowed some tree-stars. "Though I still doubt that Sharptooth-part." She shook her head.

"Chomper did exist, does exist." Petrie defended himself. "You can ask anyone in the Valley. They'd support me in this."

"Fine, fine…" She raised her wing-hands. "So what happened to him?"

"Happened to whom?" Littlefoot's head appeared beside them, shortly followed by Ali's.

"You'd expect flyers to be the fastest eaters, considering their smallness." Cera's voice floated up to them from ground-level.

"I'm sure they just slept in." Ducky stated, a crest-call echoing in the cool morning-air to emphasize her point.

"Yeesh." Petrie flapped his wings a few times, landing on the Longneck's back. "Are you all in a hurry?"

"Well, we have still four more stories to cover." Trike said softly. "And no doubt more, if Cera's hints are any indication."

Rana joined her mate on the brown back, looking a bit unsure at the Longneck. Littlefoot merely smiled. He certainly was big enough to carry them both for a short while.

"Oh well." The dark-brown flyer shrugged. "Same place as yesterday?"

"How about the River-edge?" Ducky suggested. "If we go somewhere else for each story we can show our mates the Valley as we talk."

Her brother nodded in agreement. Tega stood a bit behind him, watching the other dinosaurs talk.

"Fine with me." Petrie agreed and the ten set out to a bigger clearing at the River-edge, where they were less likely to get into someone's way.

"Remember how this dried up?" Littlefoot asked his friends.

"Oh yeah, Dad was being his charming self over THAT one." Cera shook her head.

"When Cera thinks someone is overreacting, you know it's bad." Ducky chuckled, which earned her a glare from the Threehorn. Trike softly whispered into his wife's ear, somehow soothing her quickly.

"So, who's next?" Paro asked.

"Petrie." The Gang chimed, Littlefoot nudging the flyer, nearly throwing him down.

He rolled his eyes as he regained his balance. "Ok, well… we left as one of the last, since flyers are the fastest travelers…"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 02, 2019, 02:05:45 PM
On the way the weather turned nasty, Sky Water falling for quite a while. Pterano and Saphira, Petrie's mother so named for her stunning blue color, lead her children to a cave in the mountain-side to await the next day when the flyers could go no further because of the sheer amount of Sky Water, drenching their bodies to the bones and weighing the frail skins of their wings down.

The dark-brown male peeked outside, before looking at his sister. Several of her children were sleeping, but Petrie and two of his siblings were still awake, watching the grown-ups.

"I just hope the weather tomorrow is better." Pterano sighed in worry. "Otherwise we won't make it in time."

"At worst we'll simply have to fly through the night." Saphira answered him, frowning a bit. "We really can't afford to be late this year."

"No kidding, sister." He sighed again. "Come along, you three." He ushered his two nephews and niece to their siblings. "You have to rest for tomorrow. I know your mother, she'll actually do that."

His sister whacked him with her wing, before laying down to rest beside her children. Pterano stayed awake, watching out over the Mysterious Beyond to ensure no flying Sharptooth could come upon them unawares.

Pterano woke them all early next morning when the Bright Circle was still peeking over the horizon. During the night the Sky Puffies had left, leaving only a clear blue sky.

They flew the entire day, only resting for a bit when they came across a river. Petrie felt the desire to jump in, but if he did the water would weigh him down too much and they'd have to waste valuable time waiting for him to dry up.

They stopped early that evening, the Bright Circle still some time from setting down.

"It'll be several more days of flight." Saphira said, shooing the youngsters into bed. "Tomorrow we will fly the entire day, so that on the day after we can show you how to court and how to react to it. So sleep a lot now and rest your wings. You won't get any tomorrow."

"I wonder if the others have to travel this much too." Petrie muttered under his breath, settling down beside his uncle.

"I am sure they do." Pterano chuckled. "I still remember that one time when I flew over the Threehorn Courting-grounds."

"You did?" Petrie looked up, not noticing the silent glare his mother threw his uncle to remind him to stop with the lies.

"Sure did." Petrano nodded faintly, telling Saphira that he got the message. "It was during my exile after that Stone of Cold Fire incident. I even saw Old Threehorn there."

"Oh, I remember." Petrie nodded. "He and Tria left and when they returned, Tria was carrying Tricia's egg."

"Well, that was to be expected after what I saw there." Petrano winked at his nephew. "Anyway, I flew over there several flight-days from the Valley. So you can imagine how long they would have to travel by foot."

"Huh, I guess that should make me feel better, but I think Cera would skewer me should I ever tell her that." Petrie chuckled softly. "Good night, uncle."

"Good night, Petrie." Pterano nuzzled him, watching as the younger flyer curled up and covered his head with his wing to sleep.

"Good night, brother." Saphira whispered from his other side where she was resting. He nodded, already halfway to sleep.

She chuckled softly in amusement, before curling up herself. Soon enough the entire family was asleep. None noticed the Night Circle rising above the Mysterious Beyond, casting everything in a soft light.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 05, 2019, 02:01:45 AM
'Fly the entire day' had been the worst understatement his mother had ever used, Petrie decided. They only touched down long after the Bright Circle had set and he felt like his wings could fall off at any moment. The only ones who did not readily agree with him were his mother and uncle, having flown such distances many times over in their lives.

"I'm sure it'll all be worth it." Pterano assured him.

"Yeah, tell my wings that." Petrie sighed, trying to find a comfortable position that required as little wing-movement as possible. His uncle merely chuckled, patting his head in comfort.

They were roused early next morning, their wings stiffer than a Threehorn's frill.

"Considering you're most likely not flying today, that's not so bad." Saphira assured them, smiling slightly at her disheveled hatchlings – woe if she actually called them that, though. Pterano was standing a bit behind her, watching as she talked to her young.

"Which is why I'll perform with your uncle." Petrie's mother finished her speech.

"Can we skip the waiting-part though?" Pterano asked. "I really do not want to 'wait' for you, sister."

His nieces and nephews laughed at that, but his sister did not. "You at the very least will have to demonstrate what 'waiting' is. The boys will get no chance to peek at their elders, because they will have lost their place on the field by then."

Pterano groaned, but obediently moved a bit to the side. "You owe me for all this, Saph."

"We covered that already." She frowned a bit. "A branch of treesweets."

"A big one." Pterano muttered under his breath. "The first to laugh is the last to find a girl." He threatened the youngsters. They wisely kept their beaks shut.

After one last groan Pterano leaned forward, supporting his body with both his feet and hands and tilted his head upward. He took a deep breath and started snapping his jaws in quick succession. The sound echoed over the empty land, setting of reactions in any who listened. Despite the blood-relationship, the flyers were reacting to the message in the snapping: I am a healthy, strong male looking for a mate.

Soon the older flyer fell silent again, rising back into a more comfortable position. "And that is 'waiting'." He stated, brushing off his hands. "You do it either until nightfall or until a girl has taken interest in you."

"So what do we do when we have to wait until nightfall?" One of Petrie's brothers asked.

"Try again next year." Pterano stated. "Unlike the other herds, flyers only court for one day. If you fail to find someone this year, you either try next year or not. It is all up to you in the end."

"Now comes the complicated part." Saphira said. "Where you actually court."

"Does it require flying?" Petrie asked. "I don't think I could manage that today."

"It requires quite a bit of flying." Pterano crushed his hopes. "But none of you have to fly today: your mother and I will do that."

"Thank goodness." One of Pterano's nieces sighed. "I don't think I'd be able to do that today."

Her mother chuckled. "You'll have to get used to these distances, dear. At any rate you will only watch and rest today. Ready, brother?"

"As long as only they are watching." Pterano stated, moving into the 'waiting'-position again. "Ladies start, after all."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"Whoa…" Petrie gasped as he flew behind his uncle.

"These are the Courting-grounds of the flyers!" Pterano called back to the youngsters. "Tomorrow this is where you will find your mate."

They started to descend, gliding down in a wide spiral to a wide beach with sparkling white sand. It was empty, but in the surrounding hills and forests other flyers were already nesting, waiting for the day that the men would claim a piece of sand and 'wait' for a female.

"Rest well today, boys." Saphira told her sons once they had touched down in the hills. "You will need all your energy tomorrow."

"The same goes for you." Pterano told his nieces. "You do not need to 'wait', but you will need to be able to do the entire routine."

Petrie sat a bit to the side, drawing in the sand with his wing-tip.

"Is everything alright?" Pterano sat down beside him, being able to look the younger flyer square in the eyes by now.

"Me worried." Petrie whispered. His uncle's eyes narrowed when he noticed that he had reverted back to his childhood's way of speaking.

"What is it then?" Pterano coaxed. "You know you can tell me."

"Mama ever tell you about Day of Flyers?" Petrie looked away. "Me nearly mess up. What if me do again?"

"In the end you managed didn't you?" The older flyer asked. "Just as you did then, you can do again now. Besides, even if you by some miracle mess up, there are plenty of chances to try again. And there is no shame in being single your entire life. Look at me."

"You lots of trouble." Petrie pointed out.

Pterano made a face. "Yeah, but that was because of my pride, not my singleness. You are a marvelous flyer, Petrie, I am certain you have been told that more than once. And in the end, that is what this courting is all about: females judge a man by how he flies first and only later on what kind of man he is. On both counts you really should not have a problem."
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 06, 2019, 02:17:18 AM
The Bright Circle burned in the sky, only a soft gust giving some reprieve of the heat. Not a single Sky Puffie floated overhead. But Petrie paid the heat no mind, only 'waiting' on the white sand of the beach. He had managed to claim a piece of beach in the center of the flock, where – as his mother and uncle had told him – were the best spots. He had no time to see where his brothers were, having to focus on the females flying overhead.

He faintly saw his mother making slow circles higher up. They had talked long about it, but in the end he and his siblings had told her that if she wanted a new mate, they wouldn't mind.

His jaws started to hurt, but he ignored it. A particular gust of wind hit him as a Flyer landed in front of him.

The female was smaller than he, and with a beautiful dark-red shade. "Wanna fly?" She asked, tilting her head a bit and spreading her wings.

"Ladies first." Petrie smiled, watching as she took to the skies and following her. The Courting of Flyers was simple really. Most other dinosaurs had complicated dances or rituals, but not the Flyers. The female simply needed to know if the male would be loyal to the end. If he would risk his own health for hers or their hatchlings'.

Had any other Dinosaur been watching, he would have declared Flyers to be mad. He'd think they lost all sense of self-preservation.

They flew up, carried by the currents, Petrie following the dark-red female. They glided away from the general tumult above the beach and turned to the Big Water.

"My name is Rana." She introduced herself.

"I'm Petrie." He answered her, smiling. "Think this is high enough?"

She looked down, measuring the distance to the waves below. Then she nodded, grinning a bit. He grinned too, ignoring his thundering heart as he flew forward and then turned to meet her head-on.

Their claws locked in each other. The next thing he realized was that they were falling. Their wings folded at their sides nothing kept them aloft, sending the two crashing down to the blue expanse of the Big Water.

The wind howled in his ears and every instinct told him to let go and spread his wings to stop his descent. But that would mean giving up and Petrie would not give up. Rana looked at the white foam beneath them, then at him. She nodded.

They let go, breaking their descent just a Threehorn-height above the water. Petrie flew to Rana, running his beak along her spine.

"How about a little show?" He asked, grinning.

"Certainly." She smiled at him. They spend the rest of the midday flying around one another, cork-screwing down to the waves or just gliding on the currents.

The beach became empty as more and more flyers found their potential matches.

Petrie found a patch that was modestly private and invited Rana over.

"What would you prefer? Coming with me and what remains of my family, or have me join yours?" He asked, resting on the green grass.

"You'd actually leave your family?" She asked surprised. "I watched you yesterday and you were so close with them."

"Yeah." Petrie nodded. "But what kind of potential mate would I be if I just told you to come and not consider your feelings?"

"I'd like to come with you." Rana told him. "I don't have any proper family to return anyway."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Petrie apologized.

"They're not dead." She quickly assured him. "I just… don't have a good relationship with them."

"Well, I'm sure my mother will like you." Petrie smiled. "She and my uncle when probably beseech you to keep me out of trouble; they never quite forgave me for getting into many, many troubles when I was a hatchling."

"Your uncle?" Rana asked.

"The older flyer you must have seen yesterday too. My father is dead, killed be a Fast Biter." Petrie smiled wistfully. "I do not even remember him anymore. He died just a few Night Circle Changes after I and my siblings hatched."

"Oh…" Rana tilted her head. "You look a lot like your uncle."

"Yeah, I heard that quite often when growing up." Petrie grinned. "Littlefoot once wondered how it was possible I did."

"Littlefoot?" It did not sound like a name any sane parent would give their child.

"A friend of mine, a Longneck." Petrie grew amused at her face. "My friends are a bit… mixed in that regard."

"Okay…" She blinked a few times.

"All in due time I'd say." Petrie gestured to the forest. "Shall we go look for my family so you can meet them?"

"Yes." She agreed.

As he led the way into the sky, she turned to look to a spot further down the coastline. Then she followed him, not looking back to where her parents were.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 09, 2019, 12:58:03 AM
"Huh, decidedly less drama than Littlefoot had." Cera stated. "Unless your mother did not like her."

"She loved me." Rana chuckled. "She did mention something about 'hoping that he won't run off into the Mysterious Beyond anymore'."

"They never let us live that down, do they?" Littlefoot wondered.

"Never." Ducky agreed. "Then again, we did get lost quite often." A crest-call punctuated that statement.

"Often enough to make us wonder if there was a way we could stick you to us." Grandma Longneck came from the foliage. "Or put you all on a leash."

"Grandma." Littlefoot exclaimed.

"I can say such things." She stated. "Come along, everyone is waiting for you ten."

"For what?" Cera rose to her feet.

"Introductions." Grandma smiled. "Besides, your father is starting to get decidedly frustrated with the lack of his daughter. I think he fears the worst."

"Urgh…" Cera groaned.

Trike merely snorted. "There we go again."

The old Longneck left now that she had delivered her message. Littlefoot tilted his head as she walked away, frowning a bit, before turning to look at the Threehorn. "What is that with your father?"

"He is overreacting to the fact I found a mate." Cera groaned. "I think he fears he'll become a grandfather the moment he turns his back on me."

Trike chuckled at that. "Considering the amount of Threehorns you beat up, I think he needn't worry."

"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Cera grinned. "Serves them right for not accepting 'no' though."

"Uh, guys?" Ali piped up. "Aren't they waiting for us?"

"Good point." Petrie agreed. "Race?"

"That would be very unfair, it would, it would." Ducky stated, walking at the front of the group. "You can fly."

"So?" Petrie looked down from where he was flying.

No one answered, just looking at him with exasperated faces. He was already quite ahead of them all.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 10, 2019, 01:09:16 AM
"That was awkward." Ali told Littlefoot. "Mr. Threehorn really dislikes Cera no longer being alone, doesn't he?"

"I don't think I need to answer that." Littlefoot chuckled. "If looks could kill, Trike'd be dead in a matter of moments."

"He'd not be the first." Cera sighed, covering her face with her forelegs. "You should have seen Dad when I was being courted. I think the only reason he didn't beat up every guy that came close was because he had to protect Tria."

Trike solemnly nodded beside her.

" 'Protect Tria'?" Ducky echoed. "Why would he need to protect her?"

"It's the Threehorn-courting-method." Cera explained. "Men beat each other up for a girl, and the winner can become her mate. Or at least try to become her mate."

The others blinked a few times as they digested that.

"No rituals?" Ali wondered.

"Only if 'beat the others up' counts as a ritual." Cera gestured to Trike. "He beat up about half a dozen."

"Eight, to be exact." Her mate pointed out. "And then I stood up to her father, which was a challenge all in itself."

The Gang nodded solemnly at that before breaking out in loud laughter. After all these Cold Times, Mr. Threehorn was still much like he had been in their youths, breaking in a rage at the tiniest excuse. They still remembered when a lone Fast Biter – not Screech or Thud – had managed to sneak into the Valley and threatened Tricia. He had nearly been catapulted out again by the enraged father. It had ended when the Fast Biter, with bruises all over, had sprinted out faster than anyone would have thought possible.

Since then Mr. Threehorn had earned the nickname of Brokenhorn – though heaven forbid you ever called him that to his face – since he had rammed a boulder so hard one of his magnificent horns had lost its' tip.

"Wait, does that mean you watched your father fight the entire time?" Petrie wondered.

"Pretty much." Cera nodded. "I guess it's my turn?"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 12, 2019, 12:46:07 AM
"How far is it exactly?" Cera asked, watching as her father plodded ahead. He was leading the small herd, since there were several Threehorns participating this year and they had decided to travel together.

"About a week of travel." Tria answered from beside her. Tricia had stayed behind in the Valley, still being too young to attend the Courtship. Not that she minded, since she thought romance was icky. Her father was very happy with that.

Cera groaned at that. "Really?"

"The Great Valley lies quite a bit away from the place where we court." Tria told her. "But don't worry, there isn't much climbing involved."

"Not much?" Cera echoed. "What is 'not much'?"

"Only the mountains around the Great Valley." Tria assured her. "Nothing more."

"Well, I guess it could be worse." Cera muttered under her breath.

Both of them fell silent, walking through the desolate landscape into the direction where the Bright Circle was at its' highest point and they only stopped when it had long set. The Night Circle was bright this particular night, casting its' light far across the field they slept upon.

Mr. Threehorn joined his daughter and mate somewhere in the middle of the night, having spent the first half of it on the lookout for Sharpteeth.

Most of the journey was uneventful, except for an incident about halfway to their destination where they were ambushed by a pack of Fast Biters. While they managed to hunt them off again, one of their herd-members was wounded and would be unable to make the rest of the journey. One of the older couples offered to help him back to the Valley, forsaking their chance to attend this year. This way the herd had lost almost a quarter of its' members and would lose even more when youngsters would leave with their mates rather than return to the Valley with their peers.

Cera glanced at the youngsters in her herd. Aside from her and the male that had been forced to return to the Valley to await the Courtship of next year, there had been three others that would attend for the first time. Then there was another older couple aside from Tria and her father and one old widower who wanted to see if he could find someone to spend his last few Cold Times with.

Tria had explained to her extensively what Threehorns looked for in a mate, so she passed the time by subtly judging the others. She and Tria would be among the most sought-after females from this group, because of their rare coloring and good descend (which basically meant that if your father could beat another threehorn up, your sons would most likely be able to do the same, hence the boys would like you more). She had snickered when Tria told her that piece of information. Her father really was perfect in that regard.

Her father had no reason to worry either – aside from the fact he already had a mate and was only going to reaffirm that relationship while escorting his daughter to her first Courtship – since he was amongst the most massive Threehorns Cera had ever met. He once uprooted several trees just because he didn't want to walk around them and then had had enough strength to topple a huge boulder.

The widower was similar enough in build to her father that she doubted he'd get any trouble, aside maybe from his age which had to have some negative effects on his stamina.

The other older couple was moderate. The female would not get fought over like she was the last Tree Star in a desert, but also not ignored completely. Cera of course could not say anything of her 'descend' since she doubted she'd meet the older female's father. Her mate, while certainly muscled and well-build, was suffering from an old Fast Biter wound which would act up after long use of the leg it was on. She doubted he would be able to fight many duels as she had been told were common at Courtship.

The other three participants were a bit harder to judge. One was a male who was not yet fully grown, being slower in that regard since he had suffered from lack of food when he was young. While smaller, he still was well-build and his horns were surprisingly thick for a Threehorn his size. She guessed he might not get one of the best females, but certainly get one of the better moderate females.

The second was another female. While her mud-brown color was not something that would entice many males to her, her descend could make up for that. Cera had seen the female's father briefly and to her own dislike had to admit that he was possibly better than her own father.

The third was another male, brother to the female. Sadly he had more of his mother than his father. He was a shade of pale-grey much like her father's belly color and was quite shy for a Threehorn. She doubted he'd have the guts needed to fight more than one or two duels if at all for a female.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 14, 2019, 01:05:34 AM
Their courting-grounds were a wide open field of low ferns surrounding an impressive water-hole. When Cera broke free from the forest on one side she gasped softly at seeing the sheer number of Treehorns grazing peacefully.

"Less than last time I was here." Tria said absentmindedly as she looked the field over. "Though there is a better distribution."

"Huh?" Cera was only listening with half an ear to her step-mother.

"Last time there were almost three times as many males as there were females." Tria smiled. "This time the numbers are more evenly matched, I say."

"Is that good or bad?" Cera looked at her.

"For you it doesn't make much difference." Her step-mother told her. "But for the 'lesser' females it does." The pink Threehorn broke free from the small herd, walking to another group in the distance. "Want to meet my family?"

"Sure." Cera answered, following the older female over to where she saw several Threehorns with similar coloring to her step-mother. Her father kept leading the other Threehorns from the Great Valley to a different spot where they would rest during the nights.

"Tria!" An older female greeted the other. It was only then that Cera realized she was lagging behind. She quickly caught up with Tria, waiting as she greeted everyone.

"And who is your friend here?" One of the males said. He was colored a deep purple and an ugly-looking scar ran down the entirety of his shield.

"This is Cera." Tria introduced the orange female. "Topsy's daughter. Cera, this is my older brother Ridus."

"Ah." He said. "Pleased to meet you, Tria told us much about you."

"Likewise." Cera nodded in greeting. "Do I want to know what she told you?"

"Only the good stuff." A dark-brown female answered, chuckling softly. "I am Cornia, Ridus' mate."

"Good stuff?" Cera echoed, looking at her innocently smiling stepmother. "Triaaaa?"

Tria chuckled. "Nothing too bad or embarrassing, I swear. I saved the embarrassing for your father."

"Okay…" Cera wasn't sure how to react to that, so she just went with the flow. The rest of the conversation was a lot less awkward, mainly introducing the others to her and telling interesting stories. She even heard one or two about her father. It was hilarious.

Though halfway through one of them her father actually appeared and he thought it a whole lot less amusing than she and Tria did.

She became worried when her father and step-uncle locked horns after a short shouting-match, but her step-mother and step-aunt assured her it was just how those two behaved around each other.

"Your uncle wasn't that happy with how Topsy acted in the beginning." Tria explained. "He still hasn't quite forgiven him."

"Is that how he got that scar?" Cera watched as the two males disengaged, now merely glaring at each other.

"No, that was a Fast Biter." Cornia said. "He got that when he was protecting a sleeping me from it. I am a deep sleeper and would have slept straight through it too had he not bumped into me."

"Really?" Cera asked, giggling under her breath.

"Jup, ask Tria. She was still in the herd back then." The brown female gestured over to the pink one.

"I wondered about that, actually." Cera said. "You appeared in the valley without a herd, what happened?"

"Broken heart." Tria simply said. "It's a long story really. Let's just say I wanted to see if I had a chance with your father for several reasons I won't delve into right now."

"Yeah, that might have almost not worked out, no?" Cera remembered, laughing softly at the trouble she had given Tria back then. The laughter coming from her side told her that Tria was remembering the same thing.

"It was a pretty close call." Tria admitted after their laughter died down. "Had I just known you were more like your father, I'd have confronted you like that sooner."

"No doubt." Cera rolled her eyes. "'Cera, you look tired, are you alright, sweety?'" She mimicked Tria in a sweet voice. It didn't work at all.

"I don't sound like that." The pink threehorn objected.

"You sure did." Her orange step-daughter countered.

"Most assuredly not."

"Most assuredly yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"You both did." The brown threehorn interrupted. "Now stop it. You're worse than those two." She gestured to the two males, who were still glaring at each other.

"Do they usually take this long?" Cera asked surprised that those two were still at it.

"They forget all time." Tria sighed. "I have half a mind to just start flirting with some of the other males and see how long it takes Topsy to react."

"Same here." Cornia nodded in agreement.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 15, 2019, 12:23:34 PM
The bellowing calls from Threehorns echoed across the field. The females were grazing idly as around them the males fought as if they were possessed. Cera looked up briefly from the ferns she was munching, watching as several males clashed in her field of view, which Tria had told her meant they were fighting over her.

She watched with some disinterest as the victor of one round immediately got challenged by someone else. Her step-mother had not been kidding when saying she would be one of the most sought-after females this year.

As the males fought in front of her she looked over to where her father and step-mother were. Since they were an established couple, the fights between the males were merely for show, though the 'attractiveness' of the wife indicated how many fights the husband had to win to not lose face. It did not look like her father had lost yet.

She absentmindedly chewed the last bit of the ferns as another fight started. She sighed in disappointment that again the victor of the fight was not the one who won the duel before that. If it continued like this, she'd go home lonely because too many had been fighting over her…

The orange Threehorn looked up when a new challenger appeared. Now that was a Threehorn she wouldn't mind winning. He was about her age and towered over several of the other males, dwarfing some of the smaller ones. Several of them backed down, turning their attention to other females, but several still stayed behind, apparently not amused with the fact that there suddenly was a new face interested in her.

He however seemed to care less for all the males now turning on him. Instead he calmly told them to get moving, either by leaving, or by attacking. Most choose attacking.

Cera stopped eating completely now, watching as he literally battled his way through her suitors without seemingly even breaking a sweat. She had to admit she was quite flattered with the devotion he seemed to put in winning the right to try and become her mate.

She flinched when one of the other Threehorns screamed in pain as the sharp tip of one of the horns of the brown male cut into his frill. For him the Courting was over: once wounded, even if he won every battle, most females would turn him down for carrying such a wound.

It was after the fourth victory the male started to pump blood into his own frill, revealing the striking pattern. Now he was really getting serious about this. Several more retreated at that, redirecting their attentions elsewhere.

She faintly noticed that her father had a break in his fights and was now watching what was going on with his daughter. She wondered how he'd react to the blood-filled frill of the male in front of her.

Cera made a mental note to ask Tria about that later. But for now she watched the happenings in front of her, her green eyes narrowing as she studied the few males remaining in front of her.

Her head tilted forward a bit as she saw several of the rejected males return. As if they'd stand a chance this time around…

It took her a bit to realize they would not be properly fighting the brown male and were instead planning to gang up on him.

She snorted in anger. Now that wouldn't do at all.

One of the smaller ones charged as another was occupying the brown male in the front by locking horns with him. But instead of hitting the brown body as intended, the male ran straight into another set of horns, startling green eyes glaring at him in anger. His own widened when he realized who had stopped him in his tracks and was even pushing him back.

"Buzz off." Cera snarled, pushing a bit more. He backed away quickly.

She meanwhile had turned, where it seemed the brown male had won even that battle.

"How about a walk?" She asked him softly, tilting her head to look at him demurely. Despite there still being several hours of light left, she had made her choice.

"Certainly." He answered her, stepping up beside her, ignoring the other males. "Lead the way."

The looks they got as Cera led him from the field were mostly out of jealousy, though she could feel the eyes of her father burn in the back of her head too.

"I am Cera." She introduced herself as they settled down in the cool shade.

"Trike." He told her. "You certainly attracted a crowd out there, didn't you?"

"No kidding." She shook her head lightly. "You joined pretty late though."

"I arrived too late." He countered. "A fast-water flooded, forcing my herd to make quite a detour. But considering you choose me you can't mind that much, can you?"

"True." She relented, watching as he got up and approached her. "You do realize my father is watching?"

Trike looked over his shoulder. "Well, he looks happy." In other words, Mr. Threehorn was glaring so hard even a boulder might crack under the intensity of it. "Mind if we take it somewhere where he does not see us?"

"You want to die, don't you?" The orange female wondered, but she got up none the less.

"Best to die early and happy, than to die later and unhappy." He winked at her. She surprised herself by giggling and following him.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 17, 2019, 01:06:30 AM
"And you survived that?" Rana looked down on the brown Threehorn from where she was perched in a tree beside Petrie. "He doesn't seem to be the type to forgive something like that."

"Barely." Trike admitted. "Broken horn or not, I think he would have handed me my ass on a Treestar if Tria had not interfered."

"He would have." Cera agreed with him, chuckling a bit. "I think even Red Claw would have been hard-pressed to get such a glare."

"That… Is that even possible?" Ducky wondered, her sky-blue eyes wide.

"It is hard to fathom." Littlefoot agreed, looking over to where the rest of the Threehorn-family was grazing in the distance. "But he does not seem to have a problem with you now, does he?"

"It did take him a while to forgive me." Trike stated. He chuckled as well. "Oh, the glares he threw my way. It made me almost regret getting it on with his daughter."

"Excuse me?" His mate demanded, glaring at him.

"I said 'almost', my love." Trike nuzzled her.

"You better." Cera huffed, turning her head away from him. She yelped when he poked her with his nose-horn.

Soon enough her friends were laughing as if there would be no tomorrow and they only laughed harder as she glared at them.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"These Mud-pools are wonderful." Rana sighed. Cera had invited the other females to join her there for some time away from the boys.

"Even if Ali doesn't fit." Ducky looked at the Longneck resting on the ground a bit away.

"Well excuse me." Ali chuckled. "I could squeeze myself in, but then none of you would fit."

"I think even then it would be a tight fit." Tega stated, resting next to her sister-in-law. The Spiketail rumbled in happiness as she sank a bit deeper into the warm mud.

"True." Cera looked at the other four. "Besides, I think Tria would not forgive us for wrecking her mud-pool."

"I can imagine." Ali dipped her tail in. "It seems to be quite nice."

"It is." Ducky's crest call echoed in the small glade. "Also, I must admit I was wondering about something…"

"Oh?" Rana righted herself, looking at the Swimmer opposite of her.

"Well, we all no doubt did… that somewhere during these last few changes of the Night Circle." Ducky giggled softly. "So I was wondering: who of us already has some eggs on the way?"

The other females looked at her in a mixture of surprise and shock.

"I think I do." Ali suddenly said. "I can't be certain yet though."

"I don't." Rana admitted. "There's not much time for… that…" She mimicked Ducky's way of saying it. "when you're flying."

"I am certain I do." Cera stated. "I haven't told either Dad or Trike yet, so you all shut up."

"I think it might be smarter not to tell your father." Tega chuckled. "I'm not, by the way. Having your mate more interested in eating with you than… doing that with you does not help." She laughed softly.

Now all four looked at Ducky, who despite asking the question, had not yet answered it herself.

"One: why does it seem like you are making fun of me?" Ducky counted on her fingers. "And two: what do you think yourself? I am a Swimmer, not a Longneck. No offense." She looked at Ali at that last one.

"None taken." Ali assured her. "It's true that Longnecks are slow breeders. Especially compared to Swimmers. And yes, they were making fun of you."

"So in short: the Threehorn, the Longneck and the Swimmer will have hatchlings and the Spiketail and the Flyer need to wait a bit more?" Tega summarized. "And the Swimmer gets picked on?"

Ducky glared, but soon enough dissolved into loud laughter. She still couldn't remain upset with anyone, even after all these Cold Times.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 18, 2019, 01:11:10 AM
"It's strange really…" Cera mused. "I mean, overall the ways we court are quite the same: the males have to impress the females. All that despite the fact that we are completely different."

"You think Sharpteeth are the same?" Ducky wondered, splashing in the water with her tail absentmindedly. The small waves lapped at the shore.

"Might be." Littlefoot said. "In the end Chomper was just like us, only eating meat instead of leaves."

"It's strange to think about…" Rana tilted her head in thought. "No offense, but Sharpteeth always were monsters and suddenly they are just like us?"

"Aside from their diet." Petrie added. "Believe me: our grown-ups had quite the problem with that too."

"Particularly my father." Cera rolled her eyes and sighed. "Remember how he told Chomper he would fall apart?"

"He was so upset about that." Ducky agreed.

"And then Petrie forgot he was terrified of the Sky Puffies to save Chomper's tooth." Littlefoot chuckled. "Dove straight through them."

"You are afraid of Sky Puffies?" Rana demanded incredulously.

"I Was." Petrie quickly corrected. "I got over it quite a while ago."

"When he saved that tooth." Littlefoot pointed out.

Petrie glared at him, a move that was more hilarious than threatening since Littlefoot could easily step on him and not even notice if that happened.

"Well, it hardly matters now, does it?" Paro answered.

"Besides, didn't we come here to hear the Swimmer's tale?" Trike supported him. "Personally I am very curious as to how they do it, since they don't have any things to do."

"Excuse me?" Ducky demanded. The call of her crest sounded in the cool air, echoing back from the surrounding trees.

"You make music?" Tega dryly asked.

The characteristic sound of the call sounded again: 'Yep, yep, yep'…
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 19, 2019, 01:39:32 AM
The journey was boring, that much was certain. At least, Ducky thought so as they trudged through a forest to reach their Courtship-spot. Sure, the surrounding areas were interesting, but after the 302th tree even that got boring. She shook her head, sighing in exasperation.

"Are you alright?" Her mother came to walk beside her, ducking under a low-hanging branch as she did so.

"It's a bit boring." Ducky admitted, looking around. "And strange to not have Spike with us."

"True." Her mother, Olophia, agreed. "But I don't think he would find anyone at the Swimmer-courtship, or what don't you agree?"

Both chuckled at the thought. Spike had grown these last few Cold Times and had reached the size of a grown-up recently, making him one of those dinosaurs that are ridiculously easy to pick from amongst the Swimmers he still called family.

"Somehow I doubt he'll find anyone at the Spiketail-Courtship either." Ducky's crest-call bounced back from several trees. "He's still more interested in peace and dinner." She nodded along with the statement, missing the branch on collision-course with her sensitive crest. "Autsch…" She muttered, rubbing the dark-green length.

"Careful there, you are no longer small enough to pass under everything anymore." Olophia rubbed the crest gently. "Can't have you break it, after al."

"That would hurt…" Ducky muttered, dropping her arms down again. "Considering a bump feels like a Longneck stepped on my head."

"That too." The older female agreed. "Not to mention you most likely wouldn't survive if that happened."

"Way to make us happy, mom!" One of Ducky's brothers called, snorting as he did so.

His mother just rolled her eyes, snorting herself. "You just concentrate on practicing your song, young man, otherwise there's no way you'll ever get happy."

He frowned, growling something under his breath, quite displeased that his mother had reminded him that his musical skills were not exactly at 'get a girl'-levels so callously. His brother's just patted him on the back in comfort, while his sisters giggled at his predicament.

The old female took the lead of the herd again, leading them down a rocky path left by Fast Waters long ago. Massive boulders lay strewn on the ground, carried by the water which had rushed down this particular hillside long ago.

Stones rolled down beneath their feet, bouncing the entire way.

Suddenly their mother froze, raising herself on her hind-legs to full standing-height. The rest stopped immediately, several brothers mirroring her while peering through the thick foliage.

There were many calls that could be made with a Swimmer's crest, each sounding different according to the form of the crest in question. But there was one call that sounded the same across all the different Swimmer-kinds: Sharpteeth.

The small herd worth of Swimmers ran down the hillside, Ducky now clearly being able to see the forms running alongside of them. She counted at least two of them, blurred by the trees and just waiting for one of them to fall behind.

The way their mother lead them turned into the forest where the great Sharpteeth would have trouble maneuvering. Sadly, the many trees now in their way forced the herd to scatter, weaving through the brown giants rising into the sky.

Ducky missed being small: when she could just have hidden in the small spaces between the roots of the trees and waited the attack out.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, noting with horror that the two Sharpteeth were hot on their heels. The next thing she realized was that her foot got stuck behind a root. Just a little less than two and a half tons of Swimmer tumbled to the ground, pain shooting through her side as she slapped against the solid trunk of one of the many trees.

She gasped in pain, struggling to get back to her feet. She didn't know if her family had even noticed she had fallen behind quite literally, but right now all that mattered was to get away.

But the dark-green Swimmer froze in horror when she saw that there were three Sharpteeth, one of which already moving past her to cut off the path to her family. The other two were on something that could only be called a 'killing-course' with her.

She managed to get up just in time to avoid the jaws of the smaller individual, only to nearly run in the larger one. She wheeled around just in time, avoiding them by the width of a breath. She could feel the teeth scrape across her skin!

The one that had cut her off attacked her, jaws snapping closed dangerously close to her face. The small one used her distraction, ramming her into the ground.

"Ducky!" The voice of one of her sisters echoed from lower on the hill, but there was nothing she could do to save her sibling.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 20, 2019, 02:31:28 AM
"Ducky?" The smallest Sharptooth echoed, coming to a screeching halt. Then he quickly snarled and growled something to the other two.

"Chomper?" The Swimmer realized.

"Jup!" He grinned at her, by now towering over her. "Sorry about that chase, didn't recognize you."

"Well, I didn't recognize you either!" Ducky hugged him. "You've grown!"

"Sure have." He posed lightly. "You remember my parents?" He gestured to the other two Sharpteeth.

"Yep." She looked at them, smiling briefly.

"Ducky?" Her mother called, slowly walking back.

"It's Chomper, mom!" The young Swimmer answered her, pointing at the Sharptooth beside her.

"Oh my, you've grown!" Olophia greeted Chomper just as warmly, while staying out of range of his parents.

"Thank you, miss." Chomper answered. "Sorry about hunting you, we were a bit hungry. Not that we'll eat you!" He quickly added. "What are you doing out here anyway?"

As he remained talking with the Swimmers his parents left, no doubt searching for another food-source.

"We're on our way to our Courtship-place." Ducky told him. "You?"

"Uh… living?" Chomper said. "Sharptooth-life, you know. But you gotta tell me: how is everyone?"

The herd moved down the original path again, this time a Sharptooth among them. Unlike most Dinosaurs in the Valley, Ducky's family had had hardly any problems with Chomper when he arrived in their valley, send by his parents to keep him save from Red Claw.

"Well, everyone's still alive." Ducky told him. "The others are on their way to their Courtship-grounds too, so soon everyone will no longer be single."

"You hope." Chomper pointed out.

"Well, considering what we have been told by our grown-ups the only one who might have some trouble is Spike, on account of still preferring to eat then do anything else." Ducky punctuated the sentence by her three crest-calls, surprising her friend a bit.

"Still the same?" Chomper chuckled after a quick explanation about her habit of crest-calling instead of 'yep, yep, yep'ing.

"We all are, just bigger." Ducky stated. "Cera has her horns, Spike his plates and well… spikes. Oh, and Mr. Threehorn we have secretly dubbed Mr. Broken-Horn, but don't tell him."

"Oh, what happened?" Chomper asked.

"A Fast Biter wanted to kill Tricia." Ducky told him. "But he drove him off. He rammed his head, with said Fast Biter on it, against a rock so hard his horn broke off."

"I didn't even know that was possible." Chomper's eyes, as red and deadly as those of his parents, widened.

"We didn't either." Olophia said from his other side. "And what about you, Chomper? How have you been all these Cold Times?"

"Like a Sharptooth?" He answered her awkwardly. "Learning how to hunt and the like…" He trailed off.

"And what about Ruby?" Ducky quickly asked, realizing that her friend found his time with his parents, at least in the company of his Flattooth-friends, a very uncomfortable subject.

"She lives with her family again." Chomper smiled. "I still visit her, but I have to be careful; Red Claw is still prowling around."

"He is?" Ducky's mother demanded, shocked.

"Not here." The Sharptooth was quick to reassure her. "Even he won't fight three Sharptooth over a territory: this is… these are my parents' lands. But didn't you encounter him when leaving the Valley?"

"No, no one has seen him in Cold Times." Ducky shook her head. "He just up and vanished from around the Valley."

"Huh, that's weird." He muttered. "Well, makes the world safer for you guys, right?"

"Unless we run into you…" One of Ducky's sisters joked.

"I already apologized, didn't I?" Chomper sighed. "I probably should be glad I didn't run into Cera and her family, that'd have been terrible to get out of."
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 21, 2019, 03:22:23 PM
Chomper escorted them safely through his parents' domain, leading them to the border they had been heading for anyway.

"Do come by for a visit." He called, waving as the small herd of Swimmers was on their way once more.

"We will." Ducky promised, making up the rear of her family as she kept waving until she could no longer make out his form among the trees.

"I didn't think we'd see him again." One of her sisters mused as they maneuvered through the trees.

"Neither did I." Their mother agreed. "But stranger things have happened, have they not?"

"Like a Spike-tail becoming a member of a Swimmer-family?" Her oldest son asked sweetly.

"As if you minded." Ducky countered, poking him.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

If they were worried about how close Chomper's family hunted to their Courting-grounds, the Swimmer-family did not show it. The field was bordered by a wide Fast Water, the clear liquid cascading down the rocks forming the riverbed.

They were among the first to arrive, the field being mostly empty.

"Well, with Chomper showing us a short-cut we got here faster than I thought we would." Olophia said.

"Does that mean we can catch up on sleep?" The group scattered.

Ducky moved into the low waters, drinking of the fresh liquid. It was cold, coming fresh from the mountains. A small shiver ran down her spine as she moved deeper, her eyes scanning the surface for indications of Belly Dragger who might try and attack her.

She turned back to her family when hearing the abominable song of her brother.

"He needs some practice." She wheeled around, nearly slipping on the loose stones beneath her feet.

A male Swimmer looked in concern as she regained her balance. "Whoops, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"Then cough next time." Ducky suggested. "But yes, my brother needs some practice… and a miracle."

"I didn't want to say it." He smiled at her. "I am Paro, you?"

"Ducky." She returned the smile. "You're here early too, aren't you?"

"Oh, I am one of the resident herd." He pointed to the opposite side of Ducky's family. "We stay on that side of the river because of some Sharpteeth."

Ducky blinked, stopping herself barely from telling him that she knew these Sharpteeth in person and was friends with one of them. "Must be handy to live directly at the Courting-grounds."

"You would be surprised how much it is not." He chuckled. "There is always a terrible mess when all the other dinosaurs have left. And we're left to deal with it."

"That might be less good, yes." Ducky chuckled too. "But I always enjoyed the Far-walkers coming to my place, surely you do too?"

"You're stationary too?" He asked. "Yes, there is something nice about having new faces come along, but still. Just wait until Courting is finished. You won't believe your eyes."

"I am certain I have seen worse." She countered.

"Wanna bet on it?" He challenged.

"A branch of Treesweets." She agreed, grinning at him.

"Deal."
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 23, 2019, 01:21:40 AM
All Swimmers had dozens of hatchlings over their lives, their main defense against the Meateaters being numbers unlike the Threehorns with their horns and the Longnecks with their sheer sizes. That of course meant that when all Swimmers gathered somewhere, you would soon start talking about herds covering entire valleys from the bottom to the very top.

The Swimmers that long ago declared this valley to be the courting-grounds had certainly taking those numbers into account when doing so, but Ducky still found the thing to start becoming dangerously overfilled as the Courting-day approached. It seemed Paro would win that branch of Treesweets, because she was quite certain she'd never see the like of this again in her life.

His smug grin told her he knew that too.

Her mother reminded her that nothing could top the group she and her friends had and still do form. Now Ducky had a smug grin whenever she saw him, much to his consternation.

She had a feeling he wouldn't let her win so easily.

They became slightly competitive over time, challenging one another to different things each day. They were quite evenly matched, until one day shortly before their Courting-day.

Paro had suggested a simple day of talking over some greens, instead of yet another argument about who was better. Ducky had agreed, joining him higher on some hill where there were some good-tasting Tree-stars, as he had assured her.

"I still think you are far too confident over our bet." Paro couldn't help but state as they munched on the green food,

"I think you underestimate me." She countered, grinning widely. "Just ask my family: I have something that will top anything you can come up with a dozen times."

"They're biased." He pointed out, frowning just a little bit. He looked kinda cute like that.

"Perhaps, but I still think my thing is better than yours." Ducky chuckled.

"What is it then?" He demanded.

"That would be telling, now wouldn't it?" She grinned.

"If I don't know what it is, how can we ever decide who won?" He asked sweetly.

"Oh, as if you didn't think of the answer the entire time." Ducky countered, pushing him lightly.

"And as if you mind." He defended himself.

"I never said I did." She shrugged, turning back to return to her family at the Fast Water. "But that is the solution to our problems."

"Not if we'd decide to stay here." He joined her, walking close at her side.

"I will not leave my friends." Came her abrupt answer. "Nor would I leave my family."

Both fell silent for a short while after that outburst.

"Are they that important to you?" He whispered, looking at her questioningly.

"A friend of mine turned down a chance to live with his long-lost father because that would mean leaving us." The female Swimmer answered. "Another defied his very nature for the sake of being with us. Each of would give their lives for the others."

She saw realization dawn on his face. "Are your friends that which I will never be able to top?"

She nodded.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 25, 2019, 01:02:55 AM
A Swimmer's song was the most haunting thing you could ever hear. The music that filled the glade was unlike anything ever to be heard on Earth itself. To describe it was to take part of its' beauty and do it a severe injustice.

Mates, prospective or already found, sung together, weaving their calls into a duet that traveled up to the Sky Puffies, entwining together like two creeping vines. Occasionally a duet was interrupted by a challenger for either gender, turning into a vocal battle as to who was superior.

Ducky and Paro had no such interruptions, because neither were good enough singers to be that interesting to most of the other bachelors on the field. That, or the fact that they had secluded themselves a bit, putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the Swimmers.

The night grew silent, the echoes faded.

Neither of them returned to their families that night, spending it high up on the mountain, talking about unimportant things as the Night Circle made its' way across the vast expanse of the skies.

They hadn't talked about who would live with who again, but both knew that by tomorrow they would have to; Ducky's family would leave as soon as they had had breakfast. Paro left once Ducky had gone to sleep, sneaking towards his own family.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

He wouldn't tell Ducky where he had been, or what he had discussed with his father that night. He joined her family, he and two others replacing six of her sisters who had chosen to go with their own mates. They left the way they had come, silently hoping they wouldn't run into Chomper and his parents again as they crossed the Sharptooth-territory.

They had no luck, in a way. Perfect in the middle of the forest they encountered a massive blue-grey Sharptooth.

"Chomper." Ducky grinned. "I'm passing through again."

"I hope you don't make that count as 'visiting again'?" He chuckled, ignoring the Swimmers that were new to the group and were terrified of him. "That would be very unfair."

"Says the one who KNEW where we live and never shows his face anymore." Ducky's mother pointed out, lightly glaring at him. "And if you don't mind, we have to go before the new ones start fleeing in a blind panic because of you."

"Oh, very nice." Chomper rolled his eyes. "Hey, don't I know him from somewhere?" He pointed at Ducky's mate.

"He's my mate, he's off-limits." She moved in between, frowning.

"Just wondering." The Sharptooth ducked lightly under her gaze, a move useless since he was still much bigger than the Swimmers. "Lived down in the Valley?"

"Yes." Ducky nodded. "Bye, Chomper."

"Bye." He grinned. "I'll see if I can convince my parents to let me visit you guys soon."

"Do that, I'd hate to have to start arguing with them." Ducky joked, accepting his hug without fear.

The group continued on, Paro staring at his new mate. Yes, she definitely won the bet.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 26, 2019, 03:29:00 PM
"See?" Petrie told his mate as Ducky finished her story. "Chomper is real!"

"And huge…" Paro added. "I swear I nearly had a heart-attack when Ducky hugged him." He shuddered at the memory.

"Oh really now…" She rolled her eyes. "Imagine how I felt when he and his parents chased me!"

"Are they still as big as they were when we last saw them?" Littlefoot asked, thinking back to their stay on the island Chomper and his family had lived on.

"Oh yes, definitely." Ducky nodded. "With still as many teeth too." She grinned at another shudder of her mate. "Oh, it's not like you will ever meet them."

"No offense, but while I do look forward to perhaps seeing Chomper again, I can do without meeting his parents again." Cera shook her head.

"Says the one who hugged one of them." Littlefoot said with an innocent smile. "Did you ever tell your father about that?"

Cera spluttered at that, her eyes widening marginally. "No and neither will any of you!"

Her friends laughed at her face, their mates only chuckling.

Many of the adventures that had happened had yet to be told about and more often than not the five were left in the dark about inside jokes.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 26, 2019, 03:29:21 PM
"You know, I just realized something…" Ducky mused. "Spike doesn't talk…"

"Huh, good point." Cera looked at the Spiketail-male. "Tega, you want to tell us something?"

"I wouldn't be sure what." She looked around shyly. "I don't have anything interesting to mention: we never actually courted and I certainly did not meet some Sharptooth-friends."

"So? I still would like to know how you two got together, exactly because you did not court." Ali pointed out. "From what I remember, Spike was never a guy to go out on his own."

"She got a point there." Petrie added. "But if you really don't want to, no one's going to force you."

"Well, perhaps I can tell a little story…" Tega relented. "But I have to warn you, I'm no story-teller."

"Yeah, neither are most of us, if you didn't notice." Ducky soothed her. "Littlefoot just got lucky that his Grandpa is a good Storyteller and he inherited the talent."

"Why, thank you…" The Longneck stated. "You make it sound like that is something bad."

"Just unfair." Ali soothed her mate. "Take a deep breath and forget these small ones."

"Hey!" Cera shot up. "Watch it, flathead."

"Here we go again." Her friends muttered. "Just start your story, Tega, ignore Cera."

"And that'll work out so much better?" Rana wondered.

"No, because I start ramming people when they ignore me." Cera grinned. "But I'll forgive you, Tega."
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 30, 2019, 01:57:48 AM
Tega moved along with the rest of her herd, sighing in frustration once more. She really did not want to go to the Courting-day, but her parents had all but threatened to throw her out of the herd if she did not go.

It would be the third time in a row that she went, and she just knew that it would be the third time in a row she wouldn't find anyone. Was it her fault that most of the males thought her too unattractive?

So she had decided to not go to Courting this time, only to have her parents force her participation. What were they hoping for? That a blind male would come along and pick her? She had inherited her father's colors, but the dark colors that were favored among the males were a major turn-off in females, leaving her very much at the bottom of any male's list of favorite potential mates.

She sighed once more, walking at the back of the herd listlessly. She was so going to search for another herd, with or without mate, because if she had to go through another one of her mother's lectures she would go mad.

The area where they were heading was an almost-desert like place, with little vegetation, but a wonderful view for Sharpteeth for miles around.

She wouldn't even try this Courtship-day, she decided. She'd just see which herd would be willing to take her and be done with it.

Small clouds of dust got whirled up at her every step, her spiked tail swinging lightly as she passed a small stream.

The rest was already reaching the gathering, but she slowed down and turned to a group of small trees and ferns just a bit off the field itself. Might as well get dinner, she wouldn't miss anything anyway.

The dark-blue Spiketail entered the shade of the trees, finding to her surprise that she was not the only one who had decided to forgo Courting in favor of an early dinner.

He was dark-green – in other words, a guy the girls would fight over – but he was contently munching on some of the ferns in front of him. He didn't even seem to notice her approach him.

At least, she thought that until he looked at her and moved aside a bit, as if offering her some of the ferns he was eating.

Intrigued, she joined him, pulling some of the ground.

They ate in amiable silence then, even as the sounds of Courtship wafted over from the field. He didn't once look up, instead moving from plant to plant, just eating his fill.

She too looked only a few times to where her family was, ignoring them as they started to search for her. She was sick and tired of dealing with their pushiness.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 30, 2019, 01:58:04 AM
The male didn't speak up once, which was fine with her. Instead he kept eating up until someone came looking for him.

"Spike!" A female voice called. "Where are you?"

Tega looked up as an orange female entered the cluster of trees. "Oh, who are you?"

"I'm Tega, ma'am…" Tega answered, looking shyly at her.

"Oh, you're the one that herd was looking for?" She asked, chuckling lightly. "Some of them suggested you found a mate, others doubted it sincerely."

"What did the herd do?" Tega asked, not noticing that the male had stopped eating and was looking at her with an unreadable look on his face.

"Left." Came the short answer. "Dunno why."

"Great…" Tega frowned. "I was thinking about switching herds, but they just left me here…"

"You can come with us." The orange female offered. "Spike already seems to like you."

Tega looked at the male, who smiled at her and walked up beside her.

"He doesn't talk, by the way." The female grinned. "So don't expect him to ever actually say it." She chuckled as Spike growled lightly at her, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Why?" Tega couldn't help but ask.

"I have no clue." The other shrugged. "You two coming? Preferably before my mate comes along to look for you."

Spike made a sound of irritation, but followed her nonetheless. Tega, having no clue what else to do, followed them both to their herd.
"Are you her son?" She asked the dark-green male beside her. He shook his head.

"He was adopted by a Swimmer-family." The orange female had heard her question. "For obvious reasons he couldn't join them to Courtship so he came with us. He's a stationary Spiketail, while we are far-walkers."

"Oh…" Tega breathed, surprised.

"That doesn't even cover his friends." She added. "But it's your decision whether you want to go with him, or with the rest of the herd."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Tega remained awake that particular night, looking up at the stars while thinking about her life.

The rest of the herd was sleeping a short distance away, their chests rising evenly with each breath.

She honestly didn't know what to do. She had always been a far-walker: it was the only life she had ever known. But Spike had her intrigued… She looked over her shoulder at him as he slept peacefully just a bit outside the herd.

Then she sighed. As if he'd be interested in her! Then again… he was walking beside her constantly, and shared his green-food with her.

She groaned softly. Why couldn't he just tell her what his opinion about her was? Was it pity because her parents and herd simply abandoned her? Or was it something more? She buried her head in her front-legs, remaining like that for quite a while.

A soft, questioning sound had her look up. Spike was standing next to her, concern written all over his face.

She sighed, looking away from him. He laid down beside her, repeating the sound.

"It's nothing…" She told him. The look on his face left no doubt that he did not believe her. "Really."

He nudged her, looking at her with a demanding glimmer in his eyes.

"Why are you so nice to me?" She demanded, glaring at him. "And why don't you talk?"

He did not answer – to be honest, she hadn't expected it anyway – but her eyes widened when she felt a soft tongue lapping her cheek. He nuzzled her, purring softly as he did so.

For a moment, she just stared at him. Then she returned the nuzzle.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on October 31, 2019, 01:37:05 PM
"Aawww…" Ducky cooed. "Spike, I didn't know you were so romantic."

Spike was blushing, making an embarrassed sound as he looked away. The rest of the group chuckled in amusement.

"Must have been quite the shock to be introduced to a group of Swimmers as in-laws, wasn't it?" Littlefoot changed the subject quickly.

"Oh, I got warned." Tega shrugged. "And their faces were sooo worth it." She grinned at Ducky. "Apparently now of them expected Spike to find someone."

"In our defense, had you not wanted dinner at that exact moment, he wouldn't have." Ducky pointed out, poking her sister-in-law in the side. "So there…"

"We could still have walked past each other had he not offered me food." Tega countered.

Spike looked like it wasn't the first time his mate and sister were arguing.

"Reminds me of Trike and Dad." Cera mused as she watched them. "They're arguing the entire time too."

"Because someone told her father she was pregnant." Trike sighed in defeat while glaring lightly at his mate. "Nearly got me killed too… And now I need to hear him preach about 'how I should have waited' and so on."

"That was bound to happen, no matter when I got pregnant for the first time." Cera returned the glare.

"You could at least have warned me." Trike demanded exasperated. "I could have gotten a Head-start, you know…"

"It could be worse." Ducky pointed out. "He could have told you that your kids would get some aunts and uncles that are their age…" She called through her crest half-heartedly. "Like a certain mother of mine did."

Littlefoot looked mildly uncomfortable at that, but in the end it passed over even if it was not quickly enough for Ali not to notice. She decided to ask him once they walked back to their nest later on.

They kept talking for the rest of the day, the five sharing stories about more adventures they had had in their youth.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 02, 2019, 02:16:16 AM
Several months passed and the newcomers seemed to settle into Valley-life nicely. Ducky was the first to lay her eggs, her friends one day coming to the resting place of her and Paro and finding a small hill securely holding half a dozen eggs.

The proud mother was resting beside it, still a bit out of breath of having laid them. Paro stood at her side, looking up with a wide smile when the rest of the ten arrived one by one.

"Congratulations." Ali said, leaning down to look at them more closely. "They are beautiful."

"They are, aren't they?" Ducky carefully nudged one of them. "They seemed so much bigger when we were small… I can hardly believe we used to have such trouble moving them."

Littlefoot snorted softly at the fond memory. "Oh yes, particularly moving Chomper's egg. Now I could easily move a whole nest of those…"

"Being big does have its' advantages." Cera smiled as she too looked at the eggs in front of her. She and Ali had still some time to go until they could lay their own nests while Tega and Rana had still not gotten to even carrying them. Neither of them seemed to mind though, figuring that three nests were more than enough.

Considering there were no Egg-stealers in the Valley, most of the eggs would reach hatching, meaning that there would be at least a good dozen hatchlings soon.

"I should start looking for a good nesting-site as well." Ali mused.

"Perhaps talk to Grandma?" Littlefoot suggested, looking briefly to where he could see the necks of his grandparents as they ate. "I'm sure she can tell you where a good spot would be…"

"Later today." His mate agreed as their group fell into a pleasant silence.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"A place to lay your eggs?" Grandma looked at the younger female with faint amusement.

"Yes." She inclined her head. "I don't really know if there are designated places for that in the Valley."

"No, but some are off course better than others." The old female smiled warmly. "I might know one for you, if you wish."

"Yes, please." Ali returned the smile with equal warmth, following her grandmother-in-law as she started to move through the trees. They walked up one of the mountains to a ledge higher up – though still hidden from view by the trees.

"But there's already a nest here." She said in surprise, looking at a collection of 5 round eggs.

"I know." Grandma softly said, walking up to them to check on them.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 03, 2019, 02:50:27 AM
"But… Won't their mother mind me being here?" Ali softly asked, looking around to look for her.

"No, that won't be a problem." Grandma smiled serenely at her. "I wouldn't have led you here if I minded you being here, after all."

"You?" Ali had to do a double take, looking from the nest to the older female in shock.

"Yes, I." Grandma chuckled. "And yes, I know I am old, no need to point that out."

Ali merely blinked at that, watching as the other Longneck curled around the nest with her body.

"But… when?" She murmured, hesitantly settling down on the ground as well.

"Probably the night after I and Grandpa Courted." She laughed at the younger female's face at that tidbit of information. "Oh dear, you should know how eggs are made by now!"

"Yes…" Ali shook her head, chuckling as well. "I just forgot that for a moment. Uughhh…"

Grandma struggled to calm down, succeeding only slowly. "Oh my, it has been far too long since I could laugh like this."

"You're welcome…" Ali snorted. "Does Littlefoot know?"

"I think you would have noticed had we told him." Grandma pointed out. "His scream of horror and disbelief at the fact his grandparents had a nest would have echoed in the Valley, don't you think?"

Ali laughed now, imagining her mate's face once he found out. "Can I be there when you tell him?"

"Certainly." The old female smiled warmly. "So, what do you say? Will this place be adequate for your nest?"

"I think it will do." Ali smiled gently. "At least I'll have support and help halfway across the clearing."

"Hey now, you'll have to do most of it still." Littlefoot's grandmother hoisted herself up again. "Well, let's tell Littlefoot then, shall we?"

Ali giggled as she followed the old female out of the clearing.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

In the end Littlefoot did not scream, but he looked near ready to puke, much to his grandmother's amusement.

His friends reacted much like his mate did: laughing their asses off at his face.

"Well… And here I was complaining about my kids getting aunts and uncles their age." Ducky snickered.

"Oh, shut up…" The Longneck glared at her lightly.

"You're not happy for your grandparents?" Grandma demanded with an innocent face. "Really now, Littlefoot."

"I'm happy, I just want Chomper to eat my brain now." He groaned. "I got the worst mental image at the moment."

Even more laughter followed after that, which was followed by another glare of the young longneck-male.

"How did Grandpa react?" He asked in the end, hoping that changing the subject would save him.

"He was as surprised as I was that that had managed to happen at our age." Grandma rolled her eyes fondly. "He can't wait to tell the rest of the Valley though for some obscure reason…"

"Probably to watch them all react in the same way Littlefoot did." Cera snorted.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 04, 2019, 01:41:50 AM
And react in the same way they did, much to the amusement of the two old Longnecks. Sadly Littlefoot was not there to see it: Ali had started laying the eggs and he wouldn't miss that for anything in the world.

Though he couldn't stop himself for occasionally peeking over at his five aunts and uncles, whose eggs were covered with branches to keep them shaded while their mother was elsewhere.

"They're beautiful." It was perhaps halfway the morning that all thoughts of his grandparents' eggs were banished from his mind. Two perfect round eggs rested securely on a rise, their mother resting beside them with a proud smile on her face.

"That they are…" She looked from her nest to the one just a short distance away. "Well damnit, we have been outdone by your grandparents, Littlefoot."

"We can try to get more next time." He chuckled. "Still young and all that…"

Both laughed softly at that statement, keeping their voices low as if to lessen the risk of the eggs being disturbed. It would have been funny to them, if not for the sheer love they already had for their unhatched children.

Their heads turned as one when the sound of rustling leaves reached their ears. Grandma Longneck had returned to her own nest, smiling warmly when she saw that Ali had too laid her eggs.

"Bigger than those of your mother." She told Littlefoot softly after regarding them for a while. "You best guard them well so Tickly Fuzzies will not see them as an opportunity for an easy meal."

"We will." He assured her. "What about yours?"

"Well, what do I have you two for?" She teased him before walking over. "I bore many nests in my life, Littlefoot. While devastating, I can handle the loss of an egg. But would you be able to do the same with your small first?"

It was a rhetorical question, but one that carried quite some truth. Even if it might seem cruel that a mother would talk so about her own children.

"How many nests did you have?" Ali asked curiously.

"Four before this one, totaling about 20 eggs. Fifteen of those hatched, and ten lived long enough to become grown-ups."

Littlefoot did not ask the question that formed in his mind at that: what had happened to those ten, considering he only knew of his mother as child of his grandparents. He feared he'd dig up a hidden hurt if he did and he loved his grandmother too much to even consider hurting her.

He'd probably never know, the look in her eyes saying enough about the sensitivity of the subject.

A mother will only speak casually about losing her children if she has practice losing them, after all. And losing 20 could almost be considered 'practice'. It was a cruel reminder that life outside the Valley was not as kind to Dinosaurs as life inside of it was...

"You're about ready to burst." The old female stated softly. "What is it?"

"I'd hurt you if I told you." He truthfully told her, briefly glancing at Ali.

"Let me guess: where those ten are?" Grandma Longneck laid down beside her own nest, nudging the branches in place. "Most died of starvation and illness actually. Only your mother and two others died by Sharpteeth. Most of them know better than to attack a fully grown Longneck, after all."

She looked up again, smiling serenely. "Never be afraid to ask something, Littlefoot, you never did when you were little either. If it hurts someone to talk about something, they'll tell you."

"Yes, Grandma." He chuckled softly. Even at his age, she was still a source of wisdom to the still-growing Longneck.

"Now, aren't you getting your grandfather, Littlefoot?" Ali looked up at him. "I'm sure he'd appreciate you telling him that his grandson is going to be a father."

"Yes, dear." He chuckled harder, quickly leaving the clearing before she'd consider hitting him with her tail. Even playful smacks could sting, after all. And Ali was a master at delivering smacks that would sting for days (not that he'd tell her, she'd smack him).

"I wonder if we could convince one of the Flyers to go look for Bron and tell him he is about to be a grandfather…" Grandma mused as she watched her grandson disappear among the foliage of the trees surrounding them.

"It won't hurt to ask…" Ali grinned at the little joke she added in there.

"True, true…"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 06, 2019, 12:58:14 AM
Bron's reaction when he was told when he arrived to be present for his grandchildren's hatching was certainly the most memorable: his jaw nearly unhinged from the rest of his body, much the other Longnecks' amusement.

"Aren't you a bit old?" He demanded as he looked from the nest to his in-laws.

"Why is that the first thing dinosaurs ask us?" Grandma looked at her mate with amusement written across her face. "It's almost as if they are not happy for us."

"I am happy for you." The younger male interrupted. "But you have to admit it is unexpected."

"True." Both conceded the point. "What about you, Bron? Any more grandchildren on the way?"

"No." He softly said. "And I doubt there will be, at least any time soon."

"You loved her." His mother-in-law stated, hoisting herself up to look into his eyes. "But you shouldn't cling to her. If you find someone else, you have our blessing."

"I'll remember it." He briefly rested his neck against hers in a hug. "But I truly haven't found anyone yet."

He smiled as he looked over to his son's nest. "Beside, I am about to be a Grandfather soon."

"And there is the age-thing again." Grandpa rolled his eyes fondly. "I am not that old, I assure you."

"Sure you aren't." His wife countered with a snort.

Before he could retaliate someone approached the Longneck nesting-site. Ali appeared among the foliage, Trike in tow.

"Mr. Threehorn is about ready to murder me, so I am hiding here until Tria calmed him down." He told them at their questioning glance.

"Cera laid her nest?" Grandma guessed, snorting in amusement when the Threehorn grimaced as he nodded.

"Four eggs, that much I could tell before I had to run." He snorted as he looked around. "Sorry if I am imposing, but you know my father-in-law."

"He's just like my brother-in-law." Grandpa mused. "He too nearly had my head when Grandma had her first nest."

"He had your head every time he heard I had a nest." She snickered in amusement. "The sight of you running for your life I'll never forget."

Her husband merely groaned at that.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"I'm sure Tria will have him calmed down soon." Ducky looked at the mother of the nest beside hers. Cera was fuming, not amused with her husband literally having been hunted away from his own nest.

"Well, she better hide him." The orange Threehorn growled. "Hunting Trike away like that!"

"I'm afraid that is your father for you." Littlefoot softly said. "You know how he is. And those glares he was throwing Trike's way did give another warning."

"It's almost as if… as if he thinks I picked the wrong guy!" The Threehorn snorted in anger.

"I think it's the same with all fathers: no guy can be good enough for their children." Pterano sat on a tree-branch a short distance away, having joined his nephew and said nephew's wife to visit the newly-laid nest. "And in the case of your father… Well…" He shrugged.

Cera snorted again, swinging her head from side to side, making her present friends scatter to stay out of range. "Wonderful… Should we do the same we did with Rhett, only this time with him not running?" She joked.

"If we can get Chomper, we could." Littlefoot chuckled. "Any volunteers?"

"Ducky is the only one who knows where he lives, and I doubt she'll leave now." Petrie stated dryly. "I refuse to go on a Sharptooth-chase without a guide."

"Perhaps Chomper will finally visit us after I asked him to do so?" Ducky suggested.
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 07, 2019, 12:56:47 AM
Surprisingly, he did. Though at least the Sharptooth had the decency to send in Ruby to warn them before entering himself.

"Chomper!" Littlefoot beamed, greeting him warmly. "Good grief, you are huge!"

Huge enough to make their mates take double-takes when the Gang greeted him warmly. He chuckled, looking his friends over. "You grew too. Well, aside from Petrie. He shrunk."

Everyone snorted in amusement at the face the Flyer made at that one. "Well, excuse me for not being a Longneck." He playfully whacked the predator's face with his wing, shocking his mate senseless.

"At least I can see how he would warrant some running away." Trike had been told about the conversation they had had while he was with the old Longneck-couple. Thankfully Tria had made it redundant, reminding her mate about how her family had been around him.

Somehow, that reminder had caused a small miracle. Though none dared point that out in fear of reversing it.

"Is that a compliment…?" Chomper looked at the female Threehorn beside the one that had spoken.

"I guess it is." Cera smiled. "Chomper, this is my mate Trike."

This unleashed a series of introductions, during which several of the grown-ups appeared as well, before leaving again. Thankfully Mr. Threehorn was not among them, because everyone could do without his reaction to Chomper's presence.

"What was I suppossed to do?" He countered when asked why they had come to the Valley after such a long time. "Ducky was quite adamant that I should come."

He grew serious after that though. "I have some bad news though: I encountered Red Claw when I came here. I managed to lose him by going deeper into the Mysterious Beyond, but he most definitely is moving around the Valley again."

"He's back?" Littlefoot exclaimed in horror. "Where was that?"

"A few days ago to the side where the Bright Circle rises." Chomper gestured over. "It's why I was coming from the wrong direction: I had to ensure he couldn't follow me in. At least Screech and Thud have abandoned him – or they died, I can't say."

"Wonderful..." Ducky groaned. "The timing couldn't have been worse."

"I – well, Ali – , Cera and Ducky have nests." Littlefoot told their two friends at their questioning glance. "Ducky's are near hatching already."

"Congratulations." Ruby beamed, before sobering. "Yes, that does make his timing terrible."

"Want me to try if I can hunt him off?" Chomper offered. "I think I could take him: he's grown old."

"Most certainly not alone." Littlefoot stated. "I'm not going to let you run against him on your own."

"Same here." Ducky stated. "We're friends, we'll help."

"I'm not going to let Cera go out there alone, Tops would murder my ass." Trike spoke up, suppressing a chuckle.

"Guess we're all going then." Tega finally said something as well, swinging her tail lightly.

"Our parents are going to like this so much." Petrie muttered. "Back into the Mysterious Beyond it is."

"Better get going before they notice." Ducky grinned, pulling along her husband to the nearest exit. "They'll scold us anyway."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"The kids are off again?" Their elders noticed the lack of Gang soon enough, realizing almost immediately what must have happened.

"Yes." Hadria rolled her eyes, snorting lightly. "They and their mates are all gone."

"Leaving us to nest-sit." Threehorn frowned, looking at the nest of his daughter beside him. "I wonder what dragged them outside this time."

"Adventure." Saphira muttered, sitting in a tree nearby. Her brother sat on the ground below her, looking over to where he knew the Longneck-nests were. "Same as always."

"Are we going after them?" Tria wondered, watching a Treestar float to the ground.

"They're old enough to deal with anything that might come up on their own." Pterano finally opened his beak to contribute. "And they do have a good track-record in getting back safe and sound, no?"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 07, 2019, 03:14:08 PM
"It's been a while since we did this, isn't it?" Ducky stepped over several boulders in her path, her friends walking along around her. Chomper was leading the way, following the scent-trail of Red Claw away from the Valley.

"Cold times worth." Petrie flew overhead together with his mate. "Littlefoot was much smaller then."

"Well, that could mean a change of the Night Circle ago too..." Ali joked, earning herself a playful dive-bomb from the Flyer. She easily moved her head out of the way, swinging it after him.

"Guys, we're getting close." Chomper stated softly, the request of silence remaining unspoken. He progressed alone, looking every bit the predator he was. It was another piece of indisputable proof that they had all grown. Their friend was a true Sharptooth now, despite his lingering closeness to the group.

Not to mention that long ago none of them would have thought about challenging Red Claw like this and now they intended to drive him off. Their mates followed them and Chomper, despite long-held fears of Sharpteeth.

Trike looked at his wife sideways as they waited for the Sharptooth to give the signal. She returned the glance, a faint smile pulling at her mouth-corners. It seemed like she was actually enjoying this. Definitely the daughter of her father. He grinned lightly, looking into the direction the Sharptooth had disappeared in.

The Swimmers stood a bit to the back, muscles tight with anticipation. Above them the Flyers circled and above those – well beyond what they would instantly notice – a dark-brown form flew over, peering downward as it did so before turning into the direction of the Valley.

Soon enough the oppressive silence was broken by thundering roars, sounds of battle filling the air.

All eleven moved forward immediately, the ground shaking underneath their feet.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"I like being big." Cera looked down the canyon-wall. Far below her was Red Claw, defeated for the last time.

"I can agree with that." Ducky joined her in looking down. "We certainly couldn't have done this a few Cold Times ago."

Paro moved up to his mate, resting his hand on her shoulder. Aside from cuts – and a nasty bite on Chomper's side - they had carried away no wounds from this. "Let's get back to the Valley." He suggested. She nodded in agreement, following him away from the site back to the entrance they had used to leave their sanctuary.

"Let's see how our parents will react to this." Littlefoot chuckled, frowning playfully as Petrie took to sitting on his back again.

"Oh joy." Cera rolled her eyes. "I can already hear Dad's tirade..."

"I can already see his charging horns." Her husband quipped. "He'll kill me for letting you participate in this."

The others laughed at his misfortune of being old Threehorn's son-in-law.

"Mom and Pterano will be upset as well." Petrie murmured. "Here they were hoping that Rana would keep me inside the Valley, instead I drag her outside at the first opportunity."

"Oh believe me: I'll make you regret this." She warned him, poking him lightly. "That way they at least won't blame me."

"You wish." The voice was older than Petrie's, as was her owner. Pterano looked down upon them, before turning away. "Found them!"

"You guys followed us?" Ducky demanded incredulously as several of the grown-ups appeared among the rocks.

"Of course." Grandpa Longneck chuckled. "That you are nearly grown does not mean you can just up and challenge Sharpteeth and have us wait it out calmly, thank you very much."

"That'll only happen after we died." Old Mr. Threehorn agreed, glaring at Trike. "Your mother's – and one grandmother – were frantic when Pterano told us you were aiming for Red Claw of all challenges."

"You're kinda late to stop us." Paro spoke up. "He's already dealt with."

"We know, we watched from a distance." Pterano stated, pointing to a far-away ridge. "You better hope I do not tell your mother about what you did here, Petrie, she'd have your head."

"Hehe…" He awkwardly chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Let's get back to the Valley, shall we?" Grandpa suggested. "Prepare for trouble, young ones. Your mothers will give you hell about this. Especially considering a collection of nests."

"Were we supposed to let Red Claw run around freely here?" Littlefoot dry-panned. "Perhaps we can convince Chomper to take his place."

"Nono, you can't!" Chomper backed off immediately, blood-red eyes wide as Longneck-footprints. "Thank you very much, I prefer staying where I am. No need to throw me down a ravine, nope…"
Title: Re: Courtship of Ages Past
Post by: Sleeping-force's-inside on November 07, 2019, 03:15:30 PM
"And to think we're grown-ups now…" Littlefoot's head was still reeling from the lecture his grandmother had given him. "This is even worse than the one I got after nearly dying in the Sinking Sand."

"I am beginning to think I made my life a lot more dangerous when I got together with you…" Ali murmured. "Sinking Sand, Sharpteeth, Big Water, Fast Water… Is there anything you did not nearly die with?"

"Treestars." Cera was quick to point out.

"Unless that episode with the Tickly Treestars and their bad luck counts." Petrie chuckled.

"I thought we agreed they did not bring bad luck?" Chomper mused, having been the only one not to get reprimanded for their attack on Red Claw. If only because he had decided to explore the Valley a bit as that was going down.

"I still feel like there are a good many more stories to tell here…" Paro turned to Trike in amusement.

"Totally." The brown Threehorn agreed with him, a smile tugging at his mouth-corners.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

After that they stayed with their nests until they hatched. Soon thereafter Chomper and Ruby left them again, returning to their homes once more.

The sound of little hatchlings soon filled the air in the Valley, the little ones getting in nearly more trouble as their parents had once done. Their grandparents – great-grandparents in the case of Littlefoot's – were very amused at the karma their children were suffering now.

The Gang understood their frustration a lot better now, more than once having to get their own children out of the same trouble they had once gotten into.

The Circle of Life kept turning right on.