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« on: May 31, 2020, 01:59:44 PM »
The old male had settled down on bare rock. Some loose stones dug into his stomach as he staid as still as the rocks surrounding him. Even his breathing was so shallow one could miss it at a quick glance.
Of all the places Tria could have started calling home, she had to pick the one they lived. He had no doubt that the words of the Longneck had been true. They'd kill him if he stayed. He had to leave... His son wouldn't be happy with this.
He sighed, his entire body moving briefly. As they had re-found their fury, he had found his fear again. He had been terrified of Longnecks ever since that Grandma had smashed in his face and even now he had been wary of Longneck-herds they encountered, staying as far away as had been possible without raising questions.
And of course the one time he cared about other things more, he met the wrong herd. Damnit.
"Father." The voice of his daughter – the one that had pretended dying to get Tria back to Topps – sounded from nearby. "Are you alright?"
"No." He stated softly. "Why did you come here?"
"You're my father." She answered, lying down beside him. She was the oldest of his children and the one the most like his late mate. "I care about you."
"Their anger is not unwarranted, Astra." He murmured, not moving his head as he spoke. "Their hate is justified. It will do you no good to take my side."
"What did you do?" She whispered, nudging him lightly.
He remained silent, not speaking for quite a while. When he finally did speak, his voice was defeated. "I'd rather not talk about it."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
"I'd rather not talk about it." Someone else said at that exact moment as well, his voice cool.
Littlefoot shuddered at that sound, completely unused to this way of acting of his grandparents. His grandmother, desiring to be alone, had thrown a withering glare at his grandfather and since he had still been hanging from the elder male's jaws, he had felt the shudder run through the massive body at it.
Grandpa seemed to have realized the unsettling effect his change in character had had on his grandson and reached down to comfortingly nuzzle him. "Some pains are hard to explain, little one."
"But..." The young Longneck looked up, before being shushed by the elder.
"Look at your grandmother, Littlefoot, and tell me that that is not pain." Grandpa whispered, gesturing to his mate a short distance away. Silent tears were trailing down her face. "He hurt us badly, in ways you cannot yet understand even if I could explain them, and that has made him our enemy."
"Why do you think that?" The young one demanded. "I'm not stupid."
"Of course you aren't." The customary warmth and gentleness was returning. "But some pains are only truly understood if you feel them and perhaps one of the few in this Valley that could possibly understand is Old Threehorn."
Now that confused Littlefoot, making him blink in surprise. The thought that Cera's father could understand anyone was rather strange. The faint hint of amusement that was on his grandfather's face indicated that the old male had followed his line of thought.
"I see..." Littlefoot tilted his head. To be honest, he could not see, but he knew he wouldn't get much more on the subject out of his grandfather. "So... what will happen now?"
"I don't know." Grandpa Longneck lifted his head again, looking into the direction they had come from. "I spoke truly back there, Grandma and I cannot – will not - accept Tria's grandfather in the Valley. It is up to them to do something with that to keep the peace. I will not stop her again. She would never forgive me. Nor will she take you into consideration again."