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Dozens of dinosaurs gathered in the Rock Circle, patiently waiting for any news on their dreadful situation involving the children of the Circle of Elders. The Elders’ Swimmer’s daughter, Ducky, had been kidnapped in the middle of the night by another member of the Elder’s families. No one could come to a conclusion as to what to do. The closest they came was Mama Swimmer’s insistence that she go off into the Mysterious Beyond on her own to find her daughter and give “that cursed Flyer” a piece of her mind, but everyone else thought this idea to be ridiculous, particularly her mate, so she stayed put.  However, they failed to realize until too late that their ignorantly long arguing had unwittingly led to their children sneaking out of the valley to search for their loyal Swimmer friend, and in response, Mama Flyer was sent to find the children with help from another Flyer.

Now, they were left waiting for any news about the children, and Mama Flyer. Some of them could care less about what happened to Pterano if he was still out there.

Mama Swimmer was the most frantic of all. She had not seen her daughter since the last time she and Spike went to sleep that night. She had noticed that Ducky was having a hard time sleeping, but thought nothing of it, but now she deeply regretted it. If she had only known that Ducky was going to sneak off in the middle of the night. Anything could have happened to her after Pterano abducted her. She could even be dead as a result of that Flyer’s appalling actions.

“I swear! If I ever see Pterano again, I will seriously consider giving him a piece of my mind for what he has done to my precious daughter! Mark my words!” she hissed, “Ducky could be anywhere! She could be dead or alive! I’ll never forgive that cursed Flyer for his despicable actions!”

“Darling, please calm down!” her mate spoke gently to her, “Ducky will be back before you know it. Ms. Flyer will do everything she can.”

“She’d better!” Mama Swimmer retorted, “After what her own brother has done, I don’t know if I can trust anyone right now!”

“Mrs. Swimmer, please relax!” reassured Grandpa Longneck, “We all know this is a very dreadful situation, but I assure you, our children will be back soon.”

“All of them,” added Grandma Longneck.

Mama Swimmer didn’t feel much better, but she refused to speak another word and decided she would save whatever energy she had left for any potential confrontation with the Flyer whom had taken her daughter away from her.

“It was one thing for him to lure my family to a Sharptooth, but kidnapping children!?” shouted Topps, “This is a step too far! I’m more than willing to give him the maximum punishment we can give him!”

“He deserves to be banished permanently for all I care!” agreed Mama Swimmer, “My dear Ducky is in danger because of him, and I could care less what happens to him!”

“We’ll have to wait and see if we get any news,” said Grandpa Longneck, “If our children come back safely, then Pterano will be punished accordingly.”

“Agreed,” said a majority of the other dinosaurs in the group.

Suddenly, there came the sound of a Flyer’s screech. The Elders immediately looked up at the orange sky for any signs of Flyers soaring over them, and there came a heartwarming sight … plus a not so heartwarming one …

“That can’t possibly be Pterano! What in the blazes is he doing here!?” hissed Topps.

“Wait! I see Ms. Flyer!” said Grandpa Longneck.

“And I think I see the children!” shouted Grandma Longneck excitedly, her eyes catching the sight of what just might have been her grandson’s head on one of the Flyers.

“Please tell me my Ducky is among them!” begged Mama Swimmer in desperation.

Soon, three Flyers came down toward the Rock Circle. Two of them were carrying children on their backs, and that sight alone was enough to enlighten the moods on many of the Elders, but from Mama Swimmer’s view, she couldn’t tell who was on who’s back.

Mama Flyer landed softly in the middle of the Rock Circle. Next to her, a much bigger Flyer came down and lowered his back. The Elders smiled with joy once they saw Littlefoot, Cera and Spike step off the Flyer’s back and emerge, appearing to be completely unharmed after everything they must have been through.

“Littlefoot!” the two elderly Longnecks shouted with joy.

“Cera!” Topps sighed with relief.

“Spike!” cheered Papa Swimmer.

Littlefoot, Cera and Spike ran towards their respective families and shared a very brief smile with them, but those smiles faded just as quickly.

“We were so worried about you,” said Grandpa Longneck, “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve put us through?”

“We just … wanted to save Ducky,” answered Littlefoot.

Cera nodded in agreement, not wanting to say a word that would further infuriate her father more than he already was.

“Well, the way I see it, you kids have quite a knack for making us worry sick about you, always running off like that, but I think we can save your explanations for later!” said Topps sternly.

The children nodded and turned their heads away from their parents and to each other. They didn’t know how they could explain the journey they had just endured. Who would believe they had not only traveled the Mysterious Beyond to save Ducky, but also to find the Stone of Cold Fire just to see if it really was magical, … with Petrie’s own uncle on their trail. Littlefoot and Cera agreed that it was best if this story was kept amongst themselves, Ducky, Petrie and Spike.

However, everyone’s eyes then turned to an orange and brown Flyer who landed next to Mama Flyer. All of them were glaring at him with pure hatred, and he simply returned the gestures with a look that told them that he knew what was coming to him.

“Well, Pterano, you’ve got some nerve!” shouted Topps, “What makes you think you can kidnap a young, defenseless Swimmer in the middle of the night!?”

“He’s quite right, Pterano! You have a lot of explaining to do!” agreed Grandpa Longneck.

“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER!?” Mama Swimmer screamed, and she began to charge at the Flyer, but her mate held her back at the last possible moment just before she could reach him, and she stepped back, maintaining a ferocious glare that seemed as if it alone could kill.

“Now, now! I can explain everything!” said a shaking Pterano, “I’ll be hap-“

“You can begin by telling me where my daughter is!” retorted Mama Swimmer, “What have you done to her!?”

Pterano looked at his sister, and she gave him a simple nod. He looked at Mama Swimmer again, and he lowered himself to reveal his own nephew sitting on his back, but the sight sitting next to Petrie earned a huge gasp from Mama Swimmer.

“DUCKY!?” she squealed in delight as she saw her daughter alive and well with very little harm appearing to have been done to her.

“Mama!” said Ducky happily.

Mama Swimmer’s instincts kicked in in an instant, and she grabbed her daughter off Pterano’s back and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, my! Ducky! I am so happy to see you again!” she shouted with such joy that she thought she would never stop feeling so happy that her precious child was safe and sound.

“I am so happy to see you, too, Mama!” sniffled Ducky.

“Oh, my dear Ducky! I thought I’d never see you again! I thought you were dead! I thought …,” Mama Swimmer couldn’t say another word, as her happy tears started streaming down her cheeks.

“It is okay, Mama,” reassured Ducky, “I am home. Yep, yep, yep.”

Everyone watched the joyful reunion between the two Swimmers. Some of them had tears in their eyes as they took in the heartwarming scene. Papa Swimmer was just as tearful, and he didn’t hesitate to step in and nuzzle his mate and daughter.

“We’re so glad you’re back, Ducky,” he spoke gently, “We’re so happy you’re home now, dear.”

“Me, too, Daddy,” smiled Ducky.

In a moment, however, the joyfulness of the Swimmers’ reunion died down, and everyone had their eyes fixed on Pterano again.

“The kids can explain their story later, but for the moment, I think that YOU, Pterano, are the one to do the explaining!” announced Grandpa Longneck, “Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused by kidnapping Ducky in the middle of the night!? Not only did you put her in grave danger, but you put her friends in danger, too, … including, if I may, … your own nephew!”

Pterano shivered coldly as Petrie lifted himself off his back and came down next to him. He knew his story of the recent events would receive lots of backlash, but he knew he had to take his only chance if he was willing to live any longer. He looked at Petrie, then at his sister, and finally the children whom he had endangered with his foolishness and stupidity. He closed his eyes and sighed, and he stepped up to the center of the Rock Circle, now with the attention of everyone surrounding him.

“You do know that causing harm to children in any way, directly or indirectly, is a serious crime in this valley, and such actions never go unpunished!” said Grandpa Longneck, “What gave you the idea that such an act was acceptable!?”

“You can explain from the beginning!” added Topps wrathfully.

Pterano opened his eyes and cleared his throat …

“Alright. I confess,” he began, “I overheard a conversation you had the other day … about an alleged Stone of Cold Fire.”

“Oh, this nonsense again!?” snorted Topps, “Don’t tell me it got into your head, too!”

“It did,” said Pterano hesitantly, “I truly believed that this stone was magical, and I wanted to use it to create a paradise.”

“That is one of the stupidest excuses I’ve ever heard!” shouted a Swimmer within the crowded adults.

“Me try to tell Uncle Pterano, Great Valley alrea-,” Petrie began before his mother intervened by closing his beak with her hand.

“Don’t interrupt, Petrie,” she said sternly.

“But, -“

“Quiet!”

Petrie closed his beak and didn’t say another word.

Pterano waited until he was sure his nephew wouldn’t speak again, and after a moment, he went on.

“Anyway, … after I finished listening in to your conversation, … I met my nephew’s friends for the first time, … and I wanted to get information from Littlefoot on where he said the stone might have landed.”

“So, that’s why you kidnapped my daughter!?” hissed Mama Swimmer.

“No!” replied Pterano.

“Then, what did!?” asked Papa Swimmer.

Pterano sighed as he shuddered to think about his next detail.

“Before I took Ducky, … I did something which I think might have been the worst thing an uncle could do,” he said sadly.
“What are you talking about, Pterano?” his sister asked him, panting as if she was thinking that her brother might have done something horrible to her son.

“I secretly told Petrie to ask Littlefoot where he thought the stone landed and bring that information back to me so that I could find the stone myself,” admitted Pterano.

“You mean, you used Petrie, your own nephew, as a tool for your own gain!?” Mama Flyer yelled in horror, “I can’t believe you could do such a thing! Sometimes I wonder why I’m related to you!”

Petrie cringed at this, and he tried to beg his mother to stop yelling at him, but she once again shut him up before a single word could come out of his beak.

“It was that night when my two associates and I found Ducky wandering aimlessly around the valley, and we knew that she was one of my nephew’s associates, … so … we took her in order to get more information on the stone,” said Pterano.

Ducky looked speechlessly at Pterano, very surprised to hear those words. She knew this wasn’t true, but she guessed that perhaps Pterano was willing to accept full responsibility for his, Rinkus and Sierra’s actions, rather than blame it on his lackeys, and also not to make her look guilty for eavesdropping on them.

“All of this over a stone that doesn’t even exist!?” hissed Mama Swimmer, “You’re despicable!”

“Well, I would see to it that since all of this was over some rubbish stone that has nothing magical about it, an extraordinarily severe punishment is in order!” announced Topps.

“I quite agree!” said Mama Swimmer, glaring murderously at Pterano.

“For harming our children for absolutely no reason whatsoever, I hereby sentence you, Pterano, … to PERMANENT BANISHMENT! This is-“

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Everyone jumped as Petrie ran to his uncle, screaming, and stepped in front of him as if he were trying to protect him from a Sharptooth.

“Petrie, what are you doing!?” shouted Mama Flyer.

“Me no let you take Uncle Pterano away!” yelled Petrie.

“Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised that his own nephew would try to put a stop to this!” roared Topps viciously.

The Gang gasped in horror and stared at Petrie. He seemed to be putting his own life in danger by defending his uncle after everything he had done to them.

“Petrie, please step aside,” said Grandma Longneck as gently as she could.

“No!” replied Petrie with wet eyes, “Me no let you banish me Uncle Pterano forever! Not after he save Ducky from falling off cliff!”

Everyone was stunned into silence. Pterano saving Ducky from falling off a cliff? That was the last thing they expected to hear.

“Petrie, what are you talking about?” asked Papa Swimmer.

Petrie panted and tried to think of the best possible answer, but his uncle tapped him on the shoulder and gently gestured to him to step aside. The young Flyer reluctantly backed away from him, and Mama Flyer pulled him back.

Pterano sighed and cleared his throat again.

“After we found the Stone of Cold Fire, and we realized it wasn’t magical, … the Smoking Mountain blew, … and the cliffside collapsed. Ducky was standing on that cliff when it crumbled right under her feet. I knew that I couldn’t endanger her any more than I had already done, so after I had taken so many lives in the past, I thought I’d give one back.”

“Is this not true, Ms. Flyer?” asked Mama Swimmer, and the Flyer nodded in confirmation.

“Ducky fell off the cliff, and if it wasn’t for Pterano’s quick thinking, she wouldn’t be here with us right now,” she said.

“Is it true, Ducky?” Papa Swimmer asked his daughter.

“It is true. It is, it is,” confirmed Ducky hesitantly, “The ground gave way right beneath me, and I began to fall before Pterano swept underneath me and saved-ed me. He did, he did.”

Nobody knew what to say. Silence befell among the gathered dinosaurs in the Rock Circle for almost a whole minute. Littlefoot’s grandparents whispered something to each other, possibly contemplating some alternative decisions.

“Mr. Threehorn, could I have a word with you for a moment?” asked Grandpa Longneck.

“This better be quick! I can’t stand looking at this Flyer any longer!” replied Topps, and the two whispered something to each other. The suspense among Pterano and the children lasted for several minutes. Nobody knew what would happen next. Cera suspected that this might have regarded Pterano’s fate, but she stayed silent.

Many of the adults then whispered some things to each other, and many of them nodded their heads. This went on and on until the children felt dizzy and confused.

Finally, the Elders turned to face Pterano again, and Grandpa Longneck cleared his throat.

“We have come to a decision regarding your fate, Pterano,” he spoke.

“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I will willingly accept any punishment given to me,” replied Pterano, sinking his head in shame and humiliation, “But before you give out my sentence, … I have one last thing to say.”

“Very well,” said Grandma Longneck, “Get on with it.”

“I’m sorry to everyone in the Great Valley for what I’ve done,” said Pterano solemnly, “I’m sorry to the children for the danger I put them in. I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Swimmer, for any harm that might have come to your daughter as a result of my stupidity.” He turned to his sister, “I’m sorry, my dear sister, for once again proving that I am not the kind of brother you can trust.” He paused and looked down at Petrie, tears leaking down his cheeks as he saw the tears come down from Petrie’s eyes, “Most of all, however, … I’m sorry, Petrie, … my dear nephew. I used you for my own gain, and I abused you in one of the worst ways possible. I put you in terrible danger, Petrie, … I put all your friends in danger, and I may have damaged your relationship with your friends. If Littlefoot and the others are suddenly wanting to see less of you, then you know it’s because of me. I’ve been the worst uncle anyone could ever be, and I don’t deserve to be the father figure you’ve wanted since the day your father left us to find a new home and never came back. I … I’m so sorry, Petrie, … and I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for what I’ve done.”

Petrie’s beak quivered as he listened to his uncle’s sincere words, and he took slow baby steps until he was right in front of him. Pterano looked down and noticed the depressing sight of his nephew looking directly up at him with wet cheeks and a droopy beak. It was a sight that broke the Flyer’s heart, and he wished more than ever that he hadn’t treated him the way he did.

“Me … forgive you, … Uncle Pterano,” whispered Petrie, and he held out his hand.

Pterano, shocked beyond words, hesitated for a moment before he accepted the gesture and shook his nephew’s hand.

“You have my eternal gratitude, dear nephew,” he whispered, and they let go before Petrie backed up next to his mother again.

“Is that all you wish to say, Pterano?” asked Grandma Longneck.

“Yes,” sighed Pterano.

“Quite frankly, Pterano, your behavior has been inexcusable!” said Grandpa Longneck, “But, in light of the fact that you helped save the children, your punishment will be reduced.”

Pterano was stunned. His heart almost skipped a beat in anticipation of something that could brighten his spirits. Petrie was panting nervously, hoping that his uncle would face anything but permanent banishment.

“It will?” asked Pterano, perking up with newfound hope.

“Yes,” announced Grandpa Longneck for everyone to hear, “We have decided that you should be banished to the Mysterious Beyond until five of the Cold Times have passed!”

“Five Cold Times!?” thought Petrie, his heart almost stopping with horror. Five Cold Times? It may have been right considering what Pterano had done, but Petrie couldn’t imagine his uncle being away from him for five Cold Times. What if Pterano couldn’t survive the cruel dangers and deserts of the Mysterious Beyond for that long? The mere thought of it was something the young Flyer couldn’t bear.

“Five Cold Times!?” he protested, “That so long!”

“Yes!” retorted Topps, “And some of us think it should be a lot longer!”

Petrie was about to counter again when Pterano spoke up.

“Oh, now please. None of the Far Walkers want anything to do with me. I’ll be alone and defenseless in the Mysterious Beyond. Is that really fair?”

“YES!” all the adults shouted simultaneously.

Petrie thought his head was about to explode. Everyone had come to their final decision, and it seemed there was nothing he could do to keep his uncle in the Great Valley. As far as he was concerned, Pterano seemed doomed to suffer a tragic, humiliating fate.

“Oh! Let him stay!” he begged to everyone, “He very sorry!”

Mama Flyer stepped in front of her son to stop him running aimlessly around the place, and Petrie stopped and noticed his mother giving him a look of sympathy.

“That may be,” she said, before her expression turned more serious, “But that doesn’t change what he did, and he must be responsible for that!”

“But!?” Petrie started, but it was the only word that escaped from his mouth before his uncle stopped him.

“Petrie, … she’s right.”

Petrie turned to his uncle, and he felt tears beginning to well up in his eyes. He was beginning to have a hunch that this was the last time he may ever see his “dear old uncle.”

“We must all be accountable for our actions,” Pterano spoke, and he crouched down towards his nephew, “I’ll be fine.”

This failed to convince Petrie that he would be fine. Five cold times felt like such a long time to survive in the Mysterious Beyond, … alone and defenseless.

“I will miss you, uncle,” sniffled Petrie as the tears began to escape from his eyes and trickle down his beak. It took him everything to not break down in tears in front of dozens of valley civilians whom wanted Pterano out of their home.

“And someday I shall return to the herd and prove that I can be trustworthy,” said Pterano, “I know there’s much I can contribute if given the chance.”

Petrie couldn’t take it anymore, and he jumped into his uncle’s arm and cuddled into him in an attempt to shield his wet face from everyone else. He felt Pterano’s warm arm gently wrapping around his back to return the embrace.

“I shall miss you, too, Petrie,” finished Pterano.

Everyone was silent for a moment as the two Flyers shared what could possibly be their final embrace. They all knew this would be hard for Petrie, but he had to face the fact that his uncle was a traitorous criminal and a fraud, and punishments had to be given to all criminals, relatives or not.

Petrie opened his beak and was about to say something to Pterano, but before he could utter a single word, he was interrupted by a stern growl.

“Go on, you!” came Topps’ furious voice as he eyed Pterano murderously as if looks could kill, “You, scoot!”

Pterano immediately placed Petrie back on the ground just before Topps reached them, and he turned his back on them and ran before flapping his wings and lifting himself off the ground.

“SCOOT!” Topps roared before he let out a fearsome, intimidating roar.

Petrie stood up after accidentally being knocked down by Topps, and he reached his hand out as if he wanted to say something, but again no words could come out of his beak.

“Then again,” hissed Pterano as he eyed the Threehorn loathingly, “There are others I shan’t miss at all!”

Petrie could only watch as his uncle took to the orange skies, and he maintained eye contact as his form grew smaller and smaller, until he disappeared completely.

“Me … no get to say … ‘goodbye’,” the young Flyer whispered to himself as his heart sank, and his beak quivered as his eyesight became watery. He blinked a few times, and the tears started running down his face like waterfalls.

“Do you think there ever really was a Stone of Cold Fire?” came Ducky’s voice, but Petrie paid next to no attention. He was so torn up over losing his uncle, even though he knew now that he was not as smart as he had once thought him to be.

“Well, … it was cold, and there was fire around it,” answered Littlefoot.

“Oh, please!” retorted Cera, “Like I said, that was just a dumb old flying rock! There wasn’t anything magic about it!”

“Besides, what do we need with magic, when we have each other?” said Ducky, “Right, Petrie?”

The Gang focused on Petrie, but he didn’t even look at them. He had his back turned on them, silently bawling his eyes out as he struggled to accept the fact that his uncle was a criminal and had to spend the next five Cold Times away from a place he could have happily called home.

“Petrie?” said Ducky worryingly, “Are you okay?”

“Hey!” Littlefoot gasped suddenly, instantly gaining the attention of the others, “The Far Walkers are about to leave! Let’s watch them go!”

The Longneck ran as fast as he could and left Cera and Ducky staring worryingly at their Flyer friend for a moment. However, Cera turned her back just as quickly and wandered off to find Littlefoot. Ducky cast one last glance at Petrie before Spike lifted her onto his back and ran after Littlefoot and Cera.

“I am so happy our little Ducky is safe,” Papa Swimmer sighed with relief once the children were out of sight.

“As are we all,” nodded Grandpa Longneck, “The same goes for our own kids as well.”

“I’m going to give Cera a piece of my mind one of these days!” snapped Topps, “The way she keeps running off with Littlefoot and the others like that! It’s driving me insane!”

“But we can at least be thankful that their actions ensured Ducky’s safety and return to our valley,” Mama Swimmer pointed out.

“But it doesn’t change the fact that they did it without our permission!” argued Topps.

“Okay, I think we should stop the arguing for now and call it a night,” intervened Grandma Longneck.

“Agreed,” her mate replied, and he turned to the many other gathered adults in the Rock Circle, “The rest of you may return to your homes for the night! This meeting is over!”

One by one, the huge assembly of dinosaurs dispersed from the Rock Circle, until only Grandpa and Grandma Longneck, Topps, Mama and Papa Swimmer, Mama Flyer and Petrie were left. It was only then that most of the Elders realized that the young Flyer was still among them, crying silently as he tried to hide his face.

Papa Swimmer tapped Mama Flyer on the shoulder to get her attention, and he pointed to his left. The Flyer promptly looked in that direction, and she saw that her son was still there.

“Petrie?” she said as she approached her son.

Petrie didn’t reply. He didn’t even show any signs of acknowledging his mother’s presence.

“Petrie? Would you like to watch the Far Walkers leave? Your friends must be wondering what’s keeping you behind,” insisted Mama Flyer.

“No one wonder what keep me behind,” responded Petrie in a muffled voice, still covering his face with one of his wings, “No one know how me feel at all.”

Mama Flyer sighed despondently. She knew that her brother’s banishment would have a negative effect on Petrie, and it took no time at all before it showed.

“Me no get to say ‘goodbye’ to him,” he lamented, and his mother gently rubbed his back and shoulders.

“Now, now, Petrie,” she whispered to him, “You’ll see him again after the next five Cold Times have come and gone.”

“Me no think Uncle Pterano can take five Cold Times in Mysterious Beyond,” sniffled Petrie, “Me may never see him again.”

“You will, dear,” his mother assured him, “Someday, your uncle will be back, and he’ll prove himself worthy of being in the family again.”

“Me no can wait that long,” pouted Petrie, and he took a few steps away from his mother and crossed his wings, still looking away from the grownups.

“Oh, Petrie,” sighed Mama Flyer sympathetically, “What am I going to do?”

“What’s his problem!?” said Topps unexpectedly, and Mama Flyer quickly turned to the Threehorn with a warning glare.
“I think you know the answer to that question very well!” she retorted.

“Pah! He’d best get over his good-for-nothing uncle’s banishment quickly, because if I had my way, it would have been a lot longer than five Cold Times!” ranted Topps, “Need I remind you all of what that idiot did to my family!?”

“Yes, we already know the whole story,” said Grandma Longneck, “There’s no need for it to be told again.”

“I’d be much happier if I never saw him again! He could go burn in a fire for all I care!” hissed Topps.

“Don’t use those words in the presence of my son!” warned Mama Flyer, but it was too late …

Petrie turned to face the adults, panting heavily and staring at them as if he had just seen a Sharptooth.

“What you say?” he said as his wings began to shake. He couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of the Threehorn’s mouth. Pterano burning in a fire until all that was left were charred bones? The mere thought of it made him shiver coldly, and his heart seemed to skip a few beats as he took in what Topps had just spoken.

“This cannot end well,” Papa Swimmer whispered to his mate, and she shook her head in agreement.

“What … you … SAY!?” Petrie screamed, and his mother jolted back in shock.

“You heard perfectly well what I said, Petrie!” answered Topps, “I don’t care what you think about your uncle! In my personal opinion, he is a good-for-nothing beak brain, and he’s as good as gone!”

“Take that back!” yelled Petrie as his mother tried to hold him back.

“That’s enough of this! Leave the poor kid alone!” ordered Grandpa Longneck, but his words fell on deaf ears.

“Or what!? You’ll commit such an evil act yourself by doing something horrible to your friends just like he did!? You know, I never really could stand younger Flyers, especially those of your age, easily believing anything that anyone says! The way they’ve been taught by a majority of their families have led them to committing such terrible crimes, and perhaps from what your good-for-nothing uncle’s taught you, perhaps you’ll grow up to become a criminal worthy of nothing but exile, just like him, unless your mother manages to set you straight!”

Huge gasps escaped the mouths of everyone else present. Petrie’s heart exploded, and his beak was wide open with tears leaking from his eyes, as if he was frozen in place. This had to be the worst anti-Flyer prejudice he had ever faced in his life. He was just a sweet, innocent boy whom had only been living in this world for five Cold Times, and he had four great friends he spent every day playing with. There was nothing about him that could be considered dangerous, and yet he had just been shammed, humiliated, and berated all because of something he didn’t do. It felt so wrong to be treated this way only because someone in his family was a criminal. It seemed that he and his entire family were about to get a bad reputation among the Great Valley, and he began to consider running away from this horrible, undeserved treatment and unimaginable emotional pain.

“Mr. Threehorn! That is just absurd!” said Grandma Longneck furiously.

“Unthinkable!” added Mama Swimmer, “Petrie’s just a little boy! How could you make such ridiculous predictions!?”

“What makes you think my son will become just like my brother!?” yelled Mama Flyer, “How dare you berate Petrie like that! I can’t believe you, Mr. Threehorn!”

Everyone’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of crying, and they all saw that Petrie was trying so hard not to break down and start weeping babyishly in front of them.

“You know what, then!?” he whimpered, “If something bad happen to Uncle Pterano before-“

“Don’t you dare use that name again, young man!” roared Topps furiously.

“Me no care! He me uncle and me can use name whenever me want!” retorted Petrie, “And if something bad happen to Uncle Pterano before five Cold Times up, then me hope something bad happen to you!”

“Petrie!” gasped Mama Flyer.

“EXCUSE ME!?” screamed Topps.

“You hear me! Now leave me alone!” cried Petrie.

“WHY, YOU, INSOLENT, LITTLE BRAT!” Topps began charging at the little Flyer despite the others’ frantic attempts to hold him back, but Petrie abruptly lifted himself off the ground before the Threehorn could possibly kill him on the spot, “That’s right, you little beak brain! Get outta my sight!”

“MR. THREEHORN!” the Elders all roared at him to lure his attention away from the little Flyer.

“We never treat our children that way!” shouted Grandpa Longneck.

“There’s a reason why we call these adult conversations!” said Papa Swimmer, “Those are not the kind of words that our children should be exposed to!”

Mama Flyer watched as her son disappeared into the orange sky, and she tried calling out to him, but within seconds, Petrie was gone.

“Do you ever consider treating your own child that way!?” Grandma Longneck asked Topps.

“Don’t you tell me how to raise my daughter!” retorted Topps, “Now, if you all don’t mind, I’m going home, before anybody else has any other reason to criticize me … or bring up that cursed Flyer’s name again!”

The Threehorn was just about to leave, when Mama Flyer stepped in front of him, looking as furious as she had ever been in her life. She could not believe that anyone could treat her precious son so cruelly, and she would ensure that the one responsible for that would not go scot-free.

“I will tell you this now, and I will tell you this only once,” she hissed.

“And what might that be?” pouted Topps.

“I won’t forget this!” said Mama Flyer in a deep, threatening voice, and before Topps could even think of a response, she lifted herself up into the sky and flew away in the same direction her son had taken off.

---

Petrie flew as fast as he could, crying the whole way. He didn’t care where he landed, nor did he even care where he was going. He just wanted to get away from everyone by any means necessary. He simply wished to be alone and try to get those cold words from Topps out of his head, while at the same time grieving over his uncle’s exile. The poor kid knew he didn’t deserve this kind of treatment from his peers after such a catastrophe that wasn’t even his fault, but fate was against him, and now he felt as if he didn’t deserve to stay in this valley. He just wanted to be alone, even if he didn’t know how long he wanted to be alone.

The Flyer flew over a beautiful stream of water with colorful plants and rocks surrounding either side of it, but he couldn’t decide if he wanted to pass the time by admiring the gorgeous sight. He soon looked back and decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea, as he noticed his mother pursuing him, and he obviously knew why.

Not wanting to face his mother as a consequence of his recent actions, Petrie shifted his direction to the right, and he found himself heading straight for a small, narrow cave. He gasped in shock and closed his eyes in anticipation of an inevitable crash.

He felt the setting Bright Circle’s rays no longer hitting his eyelids just before his right wing scraped against a rough, rocky surface.

“OW!” he cried as he opened his eyes and crashed beak-first into the cave’s floor, and he tumbled numerous times with painful thuds before he finally slid across the floor with his chest down and came to a stop, “AWWWHOWHOWHOWWWWW!”

The poor kid coughed and winced as he felt dreadful pain in his right wing from his collision with the cave wall, and he clumsily stood back up and brushed himself off. He shook his head to shake off the dizziness of his multiple rolls, and he took deep breaths to regain his breathing pattern.

“Me guess me deserve that!” he lamented to himself before he suddenly saw another ray of orange light straight ahead. He quickly realized that this cave was more of a tunnel than just some place to hide in, “Me wonder what in other side of this cave?”

Petrie took some slow, curious steps to see what was beyond this tunnel. Could it be another forest? Could there be another stream of delicious water underneath those trees?

He was almost at the exit, when …

“Going somewhere?”

Petrie stopped and hung his head down in despair. He knew that voice anywhere.

The Flyer looked behind him and saw the easily recognizable sight of his mother looking down at him as if she was suspicious about something.

“M-Me just wanted to be alone,” he stuttered nervously, “Me so upset about me Uncle Pterano, and Mr. Threehorn make it so much worse! Why he say such bad stuff about me!? If he think me grow up to be bad Flyer, maybe me should find somewhere else to live!”

“Not unless I say so, Petrie!” said his mother sternly, “I understand you’re upset about Pterano and that you’ve had your feelings hurt, but that is no reason to run away.”

“R-R-Run away!?” said a shocked Petrie, “What you mean, run away!? Me no want to run away! Me just want to be by myself for while!”

“In case you haven’t noticed, the Mysterious Beyond is just past that hole,” Mama Flyer said, pointing at the exit that Petrie was so close to peeking out of, “I think that fleeing the valley would be a terrible mistake when you still have so much life ahead of you, some good friends, and at least part of a good family, … and a bad wound I must say.”

“Bad wound?” said a confused Petrie.

“Your wing is bleeding,” said Mama Flyer.

Petrie looked at his right wing and gasped when he noticed that it was covered in his own blood.

“I noticed some rocks had fallen loose from the wall, and after that came a small pile of sand and a trail of red drops,” said Mama Flyer, “You must have taken quite a hit, Petrie.”

“With all those reasons, I’d consider you a fool if you made that rash decision,” came another voice that sounded so familiar to them.

The two Flyers slowly made their way to the exit, and when they looked to their left, they noticed none other than Pterano sitting on the ledge, staring at the Bright Circle lighting up the orange and purple skies.

“Uncle Pterano?” gasped Petrie.

“What are you doing here?” questioned Mama Flyer, crossing her arms, not so extraordinarily joyful to see her brother still within valley territory when he had no place being here, “You’ve got some nerve showing your face here!”

“Using my last few moments of contemplation before I make that flight I shall endure for the next five Cold Times,” answered Pterano, “I’ve done this before, sister, even when you and I were about Petrie’s age.”

“Well, I suppose you’d best make this quick before someone else finds you here,” said Mama Flyer.

“And also because, … we didn’t get to properly say ‘goodbye’,” admitted Pterano.

“M-me wanted to say ‘goodbye’ to you, … but me no get to,” sniffled Petrie.

Mama Flyer sighed and patted her son on the back, “I guess we could spend these last few moments we have together and get it over with.”

“That was a very noble thing you did back there, Petrie,” said Pterano admiringly, “But I feel as if I don’t deserve it.”

“Me just … no want to lose you forever,” replied Petrie, “Me know deep down that there such good inside you.”

“That really means a lot to me, in spite of what I’ve done,” said Pterano, “I may have proven myself an unworthy disgrace to our family, but if you really believe in me, then I’m sure that one day, … I will be worthy again.”

“You always …,” Petrie stopped when he noticed his uncle frowning at him.

“Oh, my. Petrie, your wing looks terrible,” gasped Pterano as he noticed the bloody wound on his nephew’s right wing, “Let me treat that for you … as a final act before I make my leave.”

The brown Flyer grabbed a tree star and wrapped it gently around Petrie’s wing, tying a knot on top to make sure it wouldn’t fall off.

“That should stop the bleeding, and hopefully you’ll be back in the air tomorrow,” said Pterano, “Just … don’t tell anybody it was me who healed it, otherwise they might get suspicious.”

Petrie nodded his head and frowned at his uncle, still feeling uneasy about the fact that this may be the last time he may ever see him. He wanted this goodbye to be a very heartful one. He wanted his uncle to know how much he truly cared for him and loved him despite his wrongdoings and the fact that he had manipulated him, used him against his friends’ wills, and almost killed one of them.

“I honestly don’t know you anymore, Pterano,” said Mama Flyer, “It was one thing for you to lead all those innocent dinosaurs to their deaths, but almost doing the same to children just blows me away! My mate once told me he thought you’d become despicable, and I must agree now that I’ve seen it for myself.”

“In case you don’t remember, sister, your mate told me before he left that if he never came back, he’d rely on me to become the father figure to your children,” Pterano reminded her, “He trusted me, and I swore to keep the promise I made to him.”

“Oh, really!?” hissed Mama Flyer, “Someone like you!? Please! You just got so blinded by your views over time, and you simply became this untrustworthy disgrace to our whole family!”

“In fact, so did many others on our father’s side of the family!” said Pterano, “It’s a common thing for us Flyers! Who could blame me!?”

“Many of those on our father’s side of the family were lunatics, and you know it all too well, Pterano! My mate would never have trusted you if it had slipped to him that you were slowly turning into a-“

“STOP!”

Mama Flyer and Pterano froze in place and looked down at Petrie. The little Flyer was trembling with fear from watching his own mother and uncle fighting each other. The mere thought of it scared him, and he did not wish for his family to turn on each other just because of Pterano’s bad deeds and their contrasting views.

“P-Please! Don’t fight!” the kid stuttered with a sniffle, “Me no like it when me family fight each other! Please stop!”

The two older Flyers sighed down at their younger relative, then they looked at each other as if they were completely confused, although they knew full well that they should stop lashing out at each other as long as Petrie was in their presence.

“You’re right, Petrie,” said Mama Flyer, “We’re sorry we scared you.”

“Same,” Pterano simply put in.

“Pterano?” said Petrie nervously.

“Yes, Petrie?” replied Pterano.

“It true … that … you really want to be like daddy to me?” asked Petrie.

“I did,” sighed Pterano, and he chose his next words carefully, “In the event that your father never returned, he’d trust me with being the father figure to you that he otherwise wouldn’t be able to be … in his … absence.”

“What happen to Daddy?” questioned Petrie.

“I belie-“

“Ahem!” coughed Mama Flyer, glaring at her brother, “That story will have to wait until Petrie is older.”

“But, Mama!? Me really want to know what happen to Daddy!” whined Petrie.

“I’m sorry, Petrie, but I think that someone your age would not be able to understand,” said Mama Flyer.

“She’s right, nephew. That would be a story for another time,” agreed Pterano.

Petrie saw right through his mother and uncle’s excuses, and he decided that he would not stop begging until he got the answer to a question he had been wanting to ask practically his entire life.

“Me no understand!? What about Littlefoot!?”

“In the case of Littlefoot, that was different, dear. He watched his mother die right in front of him. You, on the other hand, only have a memory of when you last saw your father take off from our old family nest,” explained Mama Flyer.

“To do what!?” shouted Petrie aggressively.

“Don’t you start shouting at me, young man!” his mother replied sternly, “We will tell you the story when you’re older, and that’s final!”

Petrie jolted with a scream and lost his footing, and he stared in shock at his mother with tears leaking from his eyes. He knew his mother could get somewhat frightening when he disobeyed him, but not this frightening.

Mama Flyer saw how scared Petrie was, and when she noticed the tears coming down, she regretted what she had just done to him, especially since it was simply over a tragic story she did not want to tell him yet.

“Petrie, I’m sorry,” she said gently, realizing her mistake, “I didn’t mean to scare you like that. It was wrong of me. I’m sorry.”

She slowly picked up her distraught son and hugged him gently, and Petrie slowly regained his composure and looked up at her.

“Me one who should be sorry,” he lamented tearfully, “Me just, … me have no memory of Daddy at all, … and … me just wish me could know him or at least know what happen to him, … if he even still around or not. Now me about to lose me uncle Pterano, and me no have any Daddy or anyone like Daddy.”

“I understand, Petrie, but it won’t stay that way forever,” assured Mama Flyer.

“It will only be for five Cold Times, Petrie,” said Pterano, “Those Cold Times will come and go before you know it.”

“Me no sure if me can wait that long,” cried Petrie doubtfully.

“You must have faith, nephew,” insisted Pterano, “It is the one thing that will keep you going. You already have a family in the valley.”

“Except me brothers and sisters always make fun of me,” pouted Petrie, “Sometimes, they tease Petrie so bad, it make me feel like Mama only one who treat me like family.”

“Now, now, Petrie. Everyone has a brother or sister that picks on them from time to time,” consoled Mama Flyer.

“But especially me!” said an annoyed Petrie, “All me brothers and sisters rudely wake me up almost every morning, and they tease me about how me talk!”

“I can teach them to stop waking you up rudely, but other than that, only time can do the rest,” said Mama Flyer.
Petrie pouted in response and looked away.

“Petrie, please stop being so surly,” said Mama Flyer, “You’ve been through one rough evening already, and I think you should take it easy for a while.”

“Why me can do that when everything-“

“Petrie, … I really hate to say this, … but … my time here is nearly gone,” said Pterano, “Since you wished you wanted to say ‘goodbye’ to me properly, we mind as well do it now before I take my leave for the Mysterious Beyond.”

Mama Flyer shared a brief grin with her brother as she lowered Petrie back on his feet. She knew it was really an excuse to get Petrie to stop with his bad tempers, but she was also aware that he wanted to make sure that the two got their proper goodbyes in case, by the stupidest of chances, he would never return to the Great Valley.

Petrie slowly approached his uncle and felt more tears building up in his eyes. He was still unsure if Pterano would survive five Cold Times in the Mysterious Beyond, but if faith was what it took to believe that he would return one day, then faith was what he would give it.

Pterano lifted his nephew up and enveloped him in a hug even tighter than the one he had given him a short while ago in the Rock Circle. Petrie did not hesitate to return the embrace, wrapping his arms around his uncle’s neck and rubbing him beak-to-beak.

“I will miss you, Uncle Pterano!” he sobbed, “Me will miss you so much!”

“I will miss you, too, Petrie,” Pterano replied calmly, “I know it may feel like a long time, but I’ll be fine. I’ll be back before you know it, nephew. Trust me.”

Petrie had his doubts, but he didn’t want to push it any further, so he said nothing and continued to let his uncle cuddle him for as long as he could let him. He wished this moment would last forever, but alas, time was cruel, and any moment could be the last he may ever see of him.

“Me hope you come back soon,” sobbed Petrie.

“Don’t worry, Petrie. I will,” assured Pterano.

“Mr. Threehorn say he never want you to come back,” lamented Petrie.

“Now, now, Petrie. Don’t ever listen to what Mr. Threehorn has to say,” said Pterano in a comforting manner.

“Ahem,” interrupted Mama Flyer, “Um, I don’t think such a lesson like that will be useful in the long term, Pterano. Perhaps you could stop trying to teach Petrie what you believe is right, because, in fact, it isn’t.”

Petrie felt dreadful when he heard this, and now he didn’t know if his uncle could really teach him something useful or not.

“You’re right, sister,” said Pterano shamefully.

“Petrie,” said Mama Flyer to get her son’s attention, “In case you’re wondering if there’s anything you have learned from your uncle, … it’s what not to do, … and how not to be. I hope you remember that.”

“M-Me remember that, Mama,” said Petrie with a shaking beak.

“That’s my good little boy,” smiled Mama Flyer, “While I’m not pleased with you and your friends running off into the Mysterious Beyond yet again, I am, however, astounded, because you did it for the sake of a friend, you showed your uncle the error of his ways, and you’ve shown great nobility and loyalty. For those reasons, I’m proud of you, son.”

“R-Really?” muttered a surprised Petrie.

“Of course, dear,” said Mama Flyer, patting her son on the head whilst Pterano continued to hug him, then she looked at her brother and her smile slowly faded, “As for you, Pterano, I hope to have a much better brother the next time we meet.”

“I swear on my life that I will return in five cold times a much different Flyer than I am now,” promised Pterano.

Mama Flyer silently nodded, and Petrie looked at his uncle.

“Petrie, … you be a good little one … for me, … okay?” said Pterano.

“O-Okay,” sniffled Petrie, sensing that the dreadful moment was very near.

“I’m afraid I must go now, … so … I guess this means … goodbye,” said Pterano.

That last word instantly triggered a fresh stream of tears to fall from Petrie’s eyes, and he instinctively hugged his uncle around the neck again, refusing to let go.

“Petrie, it’s time for you to let go, dear,” said Mama Flyer.

“N-No! P-please! Just few more moments!” begged Petrie through sobs.

“I’m dreadfully sorry, Petrie, but my time is up,” sighed Pterano sadly, “I’m gonna have to ask you to let go, nephew.”

“No!” wailed Petrie, “Me no ready yet!”

“Sister? Could you please?” Pterano asked his sister, and Mama Flyer obliged and gently pulled her son back.

The instant Petrie felt his wings no longer being in contact with his uncle’s neck, he buried his face within his wings as he felt his mother hugging him. It took almost a minute for him to calm down, and he exchanged tearful looks with his mother and uncle.

“Goodbye, sister. Tell your children I’m wishing them well during my absence,” said Pterano.

“I will,” replied Mama Flyer, and she turned her son around so that he was facing Pterano, “This is your chance, Petrie. Say the words. It’s now or never.”

Petrie hesitated for a moment before he finally gathered the courage to speak the words he couldn’t have imagined speaking to someone whom he wished was like a father to him.

“G-Go-Goodbye,” he said in a weak, sad voice, his heart torn to pieces, “Goodbye, Pterano! M-me love you, uncle, … and me wish you one day be just like Daddy to me!”

Pterano was touched by his nephew’s words, and a single tear escaped from his eye as he rubbed Petrie’s beak.
“Goodbye, Petrie. I love you, too. May the valley give you a wonderful life, and I promise to return to you … as the father-like Flyer you’ve longed to have,” the older Flyer replied.

Petrie’s heart was beating abnormally quickly. He not only felt so touched by the fact that his uncle loved him like a son, but he was still doubtful if he may ever make his return lest something happen to him.

After a moment’s hesitation, Pterano stepped right up to the ledge of the cliff they were standing on, and he began flapping his wings to lift himself off his feet and into the air. Petrie tried to follow him, but his mother kept him in a tight hug to prevent him from doing so, shaking her head. The poor boy kept his wet eyes on his uncle as his form slowly grew smaller and smaller within the orange sky before he disappeared altogether.

The instant Pterano was gone, Petrie’s floodgates opened, and he started openly crying like a baby. His tears landed on his mother’s shoulders as he cried his heart out. Mama Flyer gently hugged her son and cradled him lovingly. Petrie had tried his best to keep those tears in for so long, but watching his uncle disappear for possibly the last time had triggered his emotional breakdown, and now he could keep nothing in any longer. He had to let it all out now.

“There, there, Petrie,” Mama Flyer soothed her son, “I know, dear.”

Petrie cried uncontrollably for several minutes before he could even try to recompose himself. Once he let all his tears out, to the point in which there were practically none left, he finally started to take deep breaths with his loud crying dying down to excessive sniffles and hiccups.

“Are you okay now, Petrie?” asked Mama Flyer once she was sure that Petrie had emptied his tears.

“M-Me … n-n-no … know,” stuttered Petrie in between sniffles.

“I know this will be very hard for you, dear, but your uncle has to face the consequences for committing such unforgivable crimes, particularly after what he did to you and your friends,” said Mama Flyer.

“Me know,” replied Petrie glumly, “He very sorry, though.”

“You and I both know he regrets what he’s done, but you can’t change the past, Petrie,” explained Mama Flyer, “Many of us still haven’t forgotten his despicable act that killed a good portion of our herd, and kidnapping Ducky was the last straw.”

“Me still wish he could stay,” lamented Petrie.

“I know, dear, but the fact that he participated in an act that could be considered evil has created a scar that cannot be removed. After all, causing harm to children is one of the worst things any dinosaur could do,” said Mama Flyer, rubbing her son’s back.

“Scar?” said a confused Petrie, “Pterano no have scar.”

“No, Petrie. I’m not talking about the scars you get when you’re hurt. I’m referring to emotional scars, the ones you get when something so terrible happens that leaves you feeling so sad that it seems as if you may never be happy again. Pterano has left a permanent scar on all of us because we will never be able to forget what he did. Not only did he emotionally scar us, … but I’m afraid to say that he did the same … to himself.”

Petrie was shocked by this explanation. He began to understand the damage Pterano had done, but he knew deep down that his uncle had no intentions of causing harm to him or his friends.

Suddenly, a frightening thought crossed his mind. Was this why Topps insulted him in front of everyone? Had the Threehorn suddenly changed his opinion of him just because of his uncle’s actions? Was he keen on turning against the entire Flyer family just because of the actions of one member of that family that they believed to be so cruel and unforgivable?

“What is it, Petrie?” asked Mama Flyer as she noticed that Petrie was seemingly frozen in thought.

“Is … that why … Mr. Threehorn … h-hate me now?” sobbed Petrie as his eyes began to water again. Now he wondered just how many tears he still had left.

“Oh, Petrie,” sighed Mama Flyer sympathetically, “I don’t think Mr. Threehorn hates you. He’s just … upset right now. Just give him some time, and he’ll come around and hopefully apologize for what he said to you.”

“Me hope he sorry for offending me!” said Petrie angrily, “Me never forgive him if he no sorry!”

“Now, now, Petrie. You two will have to forgive each other eventually. What would happen if you never forgave him? Cera would probably not want to be your friend anymore,” said Mama Flyer.

Petrie moaned dreadfully, and his mother patted his back three times to get him to look at her.

“Speaking of your friends, I think you should fly along and join them. You may have missed the Far Walkers, but you still have those whom you care about, and right now, your friends are much more important than missing your uncle,” she said with a warm grin.

Petrie wasn’t sure if his friends were eager to see him after they had likely heard about what had just happened, particularly Cera. After his heated exchange with Topps, he felt certain that Cera may have wanted nothing to do with him.

“Me no think friends want to see me,” sniffled Petrie.

“Oh, Petrie,” sighed Mama Flyer, “I know your friends may be thinking differently of you after what Pterano did, but they still care about you, and they would be willing to help you during this difficult time.”

“What if Cera no care? She blame me for Pterano taking Ducky away, and she probably hear from her daddy that me get mad at him,” said Petrie.

“That’s just the way Threehorns tend to be, Petrie, but deep down, they have good hearts and care for those around them. You just don’t see it very often,” explained Mama Flyer, “Cera and her father are no exception.”

Petrie sighed as his mind was again filled with sad thoughts that only made him want to lament and blame himself for everything that had happened, even though he knew it wasn’t truly his fault at all.

“Come on, Petrie” said Mama Flyer, placing her son on her back, “Let’s go back and join the others.”

Petrie didn’t reply as he wrapped his wings around his mother’s neck, and she walked back through the cave before lifting herself off her feet and into the air on their way back home.

---

The Night Circle had risen into the sky. Littlefoot, Cera and Ducky were conversing. Spike was simply observing the conversation with Ducky on his back. After everything they had been through, they were glad to finally return to their peaceful lives in the valley, and in just a matter of time, it would seem like it had never happened, with the exception of Pterano having received the punishment he very well deserved for his crimes.

One thing seemed off, though. Petrie had not joined them to watch the Far Walkers leave, and even now there was still no sign of him. Littlefoot and Ducky were concerned for their Flyer friend, but Cera was skeptical as she knew why Petrie hadn’t joined them.

“Where is Petrie?” asked Ducky, “It is not like him to miss out on what we do together. No, no, no.”

“I’m sure he’ll come along soon,” assured Littlefoot, “He just … needs time.”

“Time to get over what his own uncle did to us!” retorted Cera, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t join us for a couple of days after this!”

“I don’t think he’ll stay sad for that long,” argued Littlefoot.

“You saw the way he reacted when they threw Pterano out of the valley,” hissed Cera, “He looked as though he had just lost his father.”

“I do not think we should make such a big deal out of this,” protested Ducky, “Petrie will be okay soon enough. He will, he will.”

“Speak for yourself,” sighed Cera, “Anyways, I think I’ll be going-“

She stopped mid-sentence as she looked up at the sky and saw a familiar sight coming down to land towards them. The other children noticed her staring intently, and they turned to see Mama Flyer come down to land in front of them with Petrie on her back.

“Well, well, well, where have you been?” asked Cera.

“Don’t!” responded Littlefoot with a warning glare.

“Are you okay, Petrie? You missed-ed the Far Walkers. You did, you did,” said Ducky worryingly.

“Me sorry,” said Petrie as he jumped off his mother’s back and slowly walked up to his friends, “Me just … so sad and tired.”

“Be sure to come back home once you’ve all finished conversing here, okay?” instructed Mama Flyer.

“Okay, Mama,” her son responded.

“We will, Ms. Flyer, and thanks for the help,” added Littlefoot.

“No problem, kids,” grinned Mama Flyer, “Well, goodnight to you all.”

The elder Flyer quickly lifted herself off the ground and soared away.

“Goodnight, Ms. Flyer!” Littlefoot and Ducky called as she disappeared from their sight.

Cera looked closely at Petrie and noticed something very strange …

A blood-soaked tree star on his right wing.

“Petrie, what happened to you?” she asked awkwardly.

Petrie noticed what she was talking about, and he felt his heart racing as he tried to come up with a coverup story.

“Me feel so sad after me uncle get banished, and me wanted to fly somewhere quiet so me could think, but me crash land,” he said sheepishly, “Mama find me, though, and help me.”

“Does it hurt, Petrie?” asked Ducky with concern.

“It hurt a little, but maybe okay soon,” answered Petrie.

The Flyer was utterly surprised to find that his friends found his made-up story to be so believable.

“So … what me miss … beside Far Walkers?” he asked, rather embarrassingly.

“I was asking Littlefoot the same thing,” said Cera, shifting her gaze to the Longneck with an awkward stare.

“Like I said, that would be telling, wouldn’t it?” smirked Littlefoot.

Cera could only sigh in annoyance, while Ducky simply chuckled at the idea of there being such secrets that would be so hard to uncover in this world.

“What you know we no know?” asked Petrie curiously.

“Oh, Petrie. There’s so much we don’t know, but that’s part of the fun, thinking about how much we still have to learn,” said Littlefoot wisely.

“Hey! I know lots!” argued Cera.

“Me, too!” added Petrie, “Me know more than Uncle Pterano, that for sure. He not so smart after all!”

“Oh, no, no, no!” giggled Ducky, “But we are plenty smart, right, Spike?”

Spike simply murmured in agreement.

“Well, guys, … this has been quite an adventure, and I think I’m going to head home,” said Littlefoot before letting out a yawn he had been holding in for quite some time.

“Me, too, before my dad has another panic attack,” sighed Cera.

“Me will have to walk home,” lamented Petrie,” Me no can fly with wing hurt.”

“Would you like me to take you home?” offered Ducky, and she leaped off Spike’s back and held her hand out in front of her close Flyer friend.

“You know, … me especially happy you safe again, … so … me really happy if we walk alone together,” said Petrie, his beak forming a genuine smile for the first time in what felt like days. Only a few minutes ago, he was all torn up over losing Pterano, but with the presence of his friends, he could find a way to overcome his emotions and find that sense of happiness from the fact that he still held those who cared for him by his side each and every day.

“I am so happy we are safe together, too,” chuckled Ducky.

Spike nuzzled his sister, and she let out a cute laugh as she patted his head.

“I am going to take Petrie home, Spike. I am sure you know the way home, don’t you?” said Ducky.

Spike simply nodded and turned away.

“I think he does. Yep, yep, yep,” commented Ducky.

“Well, goodnight, everyone,” yawned Littlefoot, and he made his leave with Cera right behind him.

“Goodnight, Littlefoot. Goodnight, Cera,” responded Ducky.

Before long, the Swimmer and Flyer were alone, and the two held hands and slowly began their peaceful walk.

“Me no know when last time we spend any time alone together,” said Petrie, unable to recall any memories of when it was just him and Ducky with nobody else around.

“Me neither, but it sure does feel nice. Yep, yep, yep,” replied Ducky.

Petrie chuckled a little and smiled at such a happy thought.

“You know, Petrie, … I felt-ed very bad when Cera argued-ed with you about your uncle Pterano,” confessed Ducky, “The night that … he kidnapped-ed me, … I actually sneaked-ed out of my family nest … so I could come to see you and make you feel better.”

Petrie looked at his Swimmer friend in shock. It hadn’t dawned on him until now why Ducky would mysteriously sneak off in the middle of the night, but now that he knew that Pterano had kidnapped Ducky primarily because of him, he began to feel guilty for indirectly leading his best friend into grave danger.

“So … it my fault that Pterano kidnap you?” the Flyer gasped.

“No, Petrie. It was not your fault at all. No, no, no,” assured Ducky, “It was mine because I was not careful when trying to hide from Pterano and the other Flyers. Please do not blame yourself, Petrie. You had no control over what happened-ed, … and I know you never meant to put us in danger. You will always be my best-est friend, Petrie.”

Petrie stared wondrously at Ducky in stunned silence. Compared to his other friends, Ducky always seemed determined to put a smile on his face, even at times when no one else could. There was something about her that made her such a warm presence to him compared to Littlefoot, Cera and Spike, … and maybe even his own mother.

“M-me so happy … you always be me best-est friend, too,” Petrie spoke in a soft voice that Ducky thought sounded so adorable.

Ducky smiled and pulled Petrie closer to her so that she could comfortably hug him while being careful not to cause further strain on his injured wing.

“I am sorry about your uncle, Petrie. I feel somewhat responsible for what happened-ed,” Ducky apologized.

“That okay, Ducky. Me sorry me actions seem to lead you in danger,” replied Petrie, wrapping his good wing around Ducky’s back in return.

“It is okay, Petrie,” smiled Ducky, “At least we got quite an adventure out of it, and we discovered-ed that we do not really need magic after all.”

“Yeah,” agreed Petrie with a cute grin, “Besides, what we need with magic when we got each other?”

The two chuckled and laughed together as they made their slow walk under the dim light of the Night Circle. They wished this night would last much longer, but, as cruel as nature was, they needed their sleep after such an exhausting adventure, and Petrie needed a little more time to emotionally recover from his uncle’s banishment.

With no further words said, the two best friends made their way to the large rock that Petrie and his family called home, and they saw Mama Flyer waiting anxiously for her son.

“Oh, Petrie. I’m so glad to see you made it home,” she said as she soared from the cliff in front of her cave down to the ground in front of them, “Hello again, Ducky.”

“Hi, Ms. Flyer,” greeted Ducky, “I just thought I would help bring Petrie home since he was hurt-ed and I wanted-ed to spend a few minutes alone with him.”

“Thanks so much, Ducky,” grinned Mama Flyer, “It means a lot to Petrie.”

Petrie blushed as he heard this, and only Ducky seemed to notice, but she didn’t press it further.

“I am just being a very good friend. Yep, yep, yep,” she said cheerfully, “And I wanted-ed to apologize to him for kinda … getting us in a little trouble.”

“You have nothing to be ashamed of, Ducky,” assured Mama Flyer, “You were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. In fact, neither of you have anything to be ashamed of.”

“You sure, Mama?” asked Petrie doubtfully.

“Of course, dear,” his mother answered, “I don’t blame either of you for what has happened in the past few days. It was just by pure coincidence that my crazy brother just so happened to turn out here.”

“I am sure there is some good inside Pterano, Ms. Flyer,” said Ducky thoughtfully, “He can be good if he just thinks about those around him, like we do.”

“I suppose,” sighed Mama Flyer doubtfully.

“Me know me Uncle Pterano not so smart after all, but me know he good if he set his mind to it,” said Petrie.

“Listen, kids,” said Mama Flyer, “I’m glad that you still have the heart to speak kindly of my brother despite what he’s done, and maybe one day you may be proven right. What I will say is that there’s one important lesson you and your friends all learned.”

“What that, Mama?” asked Petrie.

“Knowing who to trust and who not to trust,” his mother answered, “Just because someone is a member of your own family doesn’t make him as trustworthy as you may think them to be.”

“Oh, I certainly know who to trust and who not to trust. Yep, yep, yep,” said Ducky.

“Me, too, … me guess,” added Petrie, scratching his head.

“Thanks again for bringing Petrie home, Ducky,” smiled Mama Flyer.

“You are welcome, Ms. Flyer,” replied Ducky cheerfully, and she hugged Petrie gently for a moment, making him feel nervous yet warm at the same time, “I will see you soon, Petrie.”

“You, too, Ducky,” said Petrie softly before the Swimmer broke off.

“I guess I had better be going home now,” said Ducky.

“I suppose your parents are going to have quite a serious talk with you,” Mama Flyer predicted, “After all, they were worried sick while you were gone.”

Ducky gulped nervously and began to hesitantly walk away as she anticipated somewhat overprotective behavior from her parents the instant she returned home.

“I just hope they … do not keep me awake all night,” she said, shuddering, “Well, … I will see you later, Petrie.”

“See you later, Ducky,” replied Petrie, looking thoughtfully at his Swimmer friend.

“Bye, Ms. Flyer,” said Ducky, waving her hand at the elder Flyer before she turned and walked off into some nearby trees.

“Bye, Ducky,” Mama Flyer called back before the Swimmer was out of sight.

Petrie and his mother looked at each other, and Mama Flyer noticed a hint of sadness on her son’s face. It was quite apparent that he was thinking about Pterano again, and she knew deep down that it would take a long time for him to get over his uncle’s exile, along with being humiliated by Topps. She wanted to lash out at the Threehorn for berating her son so cruelly, but now was not the time. She had to comfort Petrie in his moment of need, and she knew it would start by making sure he got a good night’s sleep.

“Okay, Petrie. I think it’s time someone got some shuteye,” the Flyer spoke to her son, and she gently picked him up and placed him on her back before she lifted herself off the grass and soared up to the ledge in front of their home.

“Me no sure … what me going to do tomorrow,” sighed Petrie as he slid off his mother’s back and slowly walked into their cave.

As he and his mother walked into their home, he was very surprised to find his brothers and sisters all asleep. He began to wonder who had taken care of them while their mother was out in the Mysterious Beyond looking for him and his friends.

“In case you’re wondering, I had another Flyer stay here and keep an eye on your brothers and sisters while I went out looking for you,” said Mama Flyer as if she was reading his mind, “And what to do tomorrow is entirely up to you, Petrie. You can play with your friends like you always do, now that everyone is safe again, or you could find some nice peaceful spot somewhere in our valley where you can think happy thoughts. It’s the best way to start off fresh again after everything you’ve been through, you know.”

“Me guess,” murmured Petrie with his heavy doubts.

“I just want you to know that you still have all of us by your side, too, Petrie,” said Mama Flyer, “Don’t ever forget that, dear.”

Petrie sighed sadly, but when he looked up and saw his mother grinning lovingly at him, he couldn’t help but chuckle and grin back.

“I love you, Petrie,” smiled Mama Flyer, and she kissed her son on the head and nuzzled him affectionately.

“Me love you, too, Mama,” said Petrie softly.

“Now, let’s get some sleep so we can really start fresh again,” said Mama Flyer, and she spotted Petrie’s snuggling stuck and handed it to him.

“Thanks, Mama,” said Petrie as he grasped his stick tightly in his wings and rubbed his cheek against it.

Mama Flyer lied down on her side and gently patted her precious child.

“Goodnight, Petrie,” she whispered to him.

“Goodnight, Mom,” Petrie replied weakly before he lied down in front of his mother and placed his cheek over his snuggling stick while keeping it wrapped within his wings.

Mama Flyer watched intently for a few minutes as Petrie struggled to fall asleep, obviously deep in thought, but the little Flyer eventually gave in and closed his eyes. She knew this would not be an easy time for Petrie, no matter what happened in the forseeable future. He may have still been very upset on the inside that his uncle was gone, and a particular Threehorn had harshly shammed the poor boy in front of everybody, but with friends and family by his side, Petrie could hopefully stop himself from dwelling on his uncle’s absence for the next five Cold Times until he made his return to reintegrate into society. It would be a long path ahead for Petrie, but his mother knew that there was hope it would be a happy one.

---

---

The yawns of many tired children interrupted the peaceful ambience of a cool, breezy night, as a Swimmer family were about to settle down to sleep in their nest; a mother and father tucking several recently hatched babies in the nest, while their older siblings spread throughout the nesting area, a Spiketail being the odd one out among them.

Ducky let out a long yawn as all the playtime she had spent with her friends that day had worn her out to the point where she could barely keep her eyes open, as Spike carried her back home.

“It really has been quite a day, Spike. Yep, yep, yep,” she yawned weakly.

“You sound like you really need some sleep,” her mother chuckled.

“I am … not that tired,” sighed Ducky, although trying to stay awake proved to be much more of a challenge than she anticipated it would be.

“Oh, I think you are, dear,” replied Mama Swimmer, “You should go ahead and get yourself some much-needed rest. You look as though you’ve had quite a trying day.”

“Okay, Mama,” said a defeated Ducky, and she curled up next to Spike and let his presence warm her own body soothingly.

Before long, all the children were asleep, except for Ducky, who was still trying to keep herself awake for at least another minute or two. Her mother, being the smart and ever-so-caring parent she was, took notice of this in just about no time at all, and her parental instincts immediately kicked in.

Once her mate was asleep, Mama Swimmer walked over to Ducky and Spike and crouched down to their level.

“Okay, Ducky,” she whispered, “Why aren’t you asleep yet? This doesn’t seem like the normal you, staying awake for as long as you possibly can.”

“Oh, it is nothing, Mama,” insisted Ducky, although her mother was harder to fool than she hoped.

“Hmm. I can tell something’s troubling you,” said Mama Swimmer, “Would you care to tell me what’s wrong?”

In fact, so much was on Ducky’s mind at that very moment. She hadn’t started thinking about it until very recently, when one night she swore she could see the stars taking the form of a friend she had once had so long ago. However, she felt hesitant to mention it. She didn’t want to continuously trouble her family with this issue that had continued to trouble her for all the wrong reasons. Two cold times had passed since that fateful day, and she shuttered to let those thoughts linger inside her much longer.

“Maybe, … I should tell you in the morning,” she finally said after a long silence that seemed to last forever.

“Good idea, Ducky. Don’t let your thoughts dwell on you whilst the Night Circle is still out. Delve into your happy thoughts. Once the Bright Circle comes up, then you can free yourself from all your thoughts, good or bad, and enjoy the start of a brand new day,” said Mama Swimmer.

Ducky couldn’t help but smile at such words from her mother. She sounded so wise when she said those words, and she hoped she would remember them for a long time.

“That is such a very good lesson. Yep, yep, yep,” giggled Ducky in a whisper.

“Of course, it is, dear,” smiled Mama Swimmer, and she gave her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek, “Goodnight, Ducky.”

“Goodnight, Mama,” yawned Ducky as she stretched her limbs and leaned against Spike.

Soon, the young Swimmer could keep her eyes open no longer, and she slowly let sleep take over her. The last thing she thought of before she went to sleep, … was a Swimmer that looked just like her, except with green eyes …

---

Ducky opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of a dense forest. Trees were everywhere, but there was little grass on the ground compared to what she had been used to in the Great Valley. A few shallow rivers also ran through the forest.

The Swimmer quickly noticed that this forest looked very familiar to her. She could recall seeing trees, almost bare ground and narrow creeks that all looked just like this.

“Is it me or does this place look like I have been here before?” she asked herself as she stood up and looked around, wondering if anyone was near. There seemed to be no sign of life anywhere. It was just the sound of the rivers gently trickling, not even the slightest hint of the tiniest breeze.

Ducky looked up at the sky, and she saw that it was broad daylight. However, the Bright Circle did not shine. The skies were blanketed in a thick form of grayish-purple, which could only have been sky puffies. Somehow, the young Swimmer felt uneasy by how so little light managed to shine down on the forest, completely blocked by the sky puffies. It was like this forest was such an unhappy place, even though she had quickly summed up why it looked familiar to her …

“Is this where I grew up?” she asked herself, “It sure looks like it was.”

Ducky could recognize every tree in this section of forest as she walked to a three-way intersection in the dirt pathway right next to a creek. She knew this place very well, as she had come here very often during the first five cold times of her life. This was the spot she would come to whenever she felt down and needed time to herself. Nobody outside her family had wanted to play with her during those depressing couple of cold times, except for one Swimmer …

“Judy?” she gasped in realization.

Even if it was she herself whom had spoken the name, it would still hit her like a ton of boulders. She had remembered that unforgettable name of the Swimmer whom had tried her best to change her life for the better before destiny chose different paths for them. Two cold times later, she had never forgotten that Swimmer that was as sweet as herself, nor her even sweeter name (as she once put it).

Ducky was about to dip her feet into the creek for a sense of nostalgia, but the instant her left foot touched the surface of the water …

“DUCKY!” a child’s voice echoed across the forest from what sounded like miles away.

Ducky recognized that voice immediately. Even though she had not heard that voice in two cold times, she still remembered its innocent, sweet-sounding tone, much like her own.

“Judy!?” she called as she looked in the direction she assumed the voice was coming from, “Is that you!?”

“DUCKY!” the voice screamed again from afar, “HELP!”

The Swimmer didn’t need to be told twice. Her selfless instincts immediately took over as she got right back up to her feet and ran as fast as her legs would allow her to. She dashed through the dimly-lit forest, desperately trying to find the source of the voice. She didn’t know if it could be Judy or another child calling for her help, but as the voice had spoken her name, she was sure it was someone who knew her. For all she knew, it could have been any of her friends, although it sure sounded like Judy, and even if it wasn’t, she knew she had to help her by any means necessary. She would not sit back and let a poor, innocent child suffer the same fate that Judy had.

“I am coming!” she called in an effort to reassure whomever the child in distress might have been that she was on the way and help would come in just a short bit of time.

The further she ran through the forest, the darker it seemed to become, and before long, the skies turned grayish-black, and Ducky was nearly blinded by the darkness. She could see practically nothing but black, just a few dark blue-shaded trees indicating where she was.

“Hello!?” she called as she started breathing faster, “Anybody!? Does somebody need help!? Where are you!?”

The Swimmer began to panic, as the voice had stopped calling for her, and the forest was practically as dark as a cave. She seemed to have stumbled into the middle of nowhere. Perhaps she had gone in the wrong direction, or she may have been too late. Maybe the voice might have been a trap set up to frighten her.

“Hello!?” she called again.

No answer.

“Where are you!? Where am I!?” she yelled in fright as the situation began to scare her tremendously. Now she began to fear that her own life was at risk. A Sharptooth could be lurking at any corner or hiding behind any tree, and, given their strong sense of sight when it came to roaming in the Mysterious Beyond in the middle of the night, the poor Swimmer was completely helpless. She was all alone in a dark forest with nowhere to run and nobody to turn to.

“M-maybe I should … g-get out of here,” she stuttered, “I do not like this place at all. No, no, no.”

However, when she turned around, a nest with three Swimmers had suddenly appeared, apparently from out of nowhere. Ducky gasped at how so suddenly they had appeared, but when she got a good look at who the Swimmers were, she gasped loudly in horror …

The two Swimmers who were sleeping peacefully just so happened to be none other than her long-lost friend Judy and her mother, Nitha. Beside them, Judy’s father, Rolf, was roaming around the nest, looking as if he was planning to do something.

Ducky realized immediately what this was: she had stumbled into Judy’s nest, and she was probably about to relive the worst moment of her life. She never wanted to visit this memory again, even though she had not actually been at the nest to see it happen that night, and when she saw that Judy and Nitha were sleep rumbling, she sensed that she probably had an opportunity to prevent this terrible event from ever happening. She would do anything to see Judy again, even just for a moment.

“Judy!” she whispered as she ran to her friend, “Wake up!”

Judy only stirred a little, prompting Ducky to shake her gently.

“Please! Wake up!”

Judy turned and groaned before she opened her eyes and yawned, and when she turned to Ducky, she gasped in surprise. Ducky looked up to make sure Rolf was still looking away, and she frantically gestured to Judy to come with her.

“Ducky? It’s the middle of the night,” whispered Judy weakly, “What’s bothering you?”

“Judy!” whispered Ducky frantically, “We have to get out of here now! Your daddy is about to do something horrible!”

“What are you talking about, Ducky? My daddy always does something horrible to me,” replied an oblivious Judy, “It’s not like he’s ever going to change his ways.”

Ducky looked behind Judy and noticed Rolf breaking a stick off a tree. Her eyes turned wide with horror as she realized exactly what that stick was: … the same one that had taken Judy’s life. Her mouth was wide open with terror, and she began to hyperventilate. She had to get Judy out of her right now, or she’d be gone forever.

“Judy! Please! Come with me! I beg you!” panicked Ducky.

“Ducky, I know how much you care about me, and I care about you, too, but I don’t want to put you in danger just for my own well-being,” assured Judy, but Ducky was still eyeing Rolf as he was about to turn around.

“Judy! Your daddy is about to kill you!” she screamed, although she quickly covered her mouth with her hands as she realized her mistake…

Rolf had turned around and noticed Ducky standing in front of Judy, and Nitha was groaning as she slowly woke up.
Judy looked back and saw the stick in her father’s hand, and she seemed frozen in place for a moment, but even that was more than enough time for Ducky to act quickly and grab her friend by the arm.

“Come on! Now!” she yelled, “We have got to get out of here!”

Judy didn’t argue with Ducky, and the two children ran away from the nest, but when Ducky looked back, she saw Rolf chasing after them with a murderous look on her face, the stick still in his hand.

“Get back here, you, miserable little overgrown egg!” he raged, “I told you I’d kill you if you ever left the nest again!”
“Where are we going!?” asked Judy.

“Anywhere away from here!” answered Ducky, “Do not ask me again until we are safe! Trust me!”

Judy hesitantly nodded her head, and the two kept running, hoping to soon get away from her horrible father.

Soon, the two young Swimmers found a large log ahead of them. The log just so happened to have a hole that was small enough for them to fit through. Wasting no time, the duo jumped on top of the log and waited for the right moment to jump into the hole. Ducky timed Rolf’s movements precisely, and the moment he was about to strike them with the stick, she yelled, “NOW!”

Judy responded instantly and jumped into the hole, and Ducky followed suit, Rolf missing her by mere inches before he toppled over the log and fell on his side with a big thud.

Ducky and Judy panted as they listened to Rolf crashing to the ground, and they tried their best to settle themselves down with the possibility that they were safe, at least for the moment.

“What do we do now?” whispered Judy.

“We stay completely silent,” replied Ducky in a very faint whisper that her friend could barely hear, “He will think we are running out of the log and going back to my nest.”

“But what if he doesn’t?” said Judy worryingly.

“He will. He will. Yes, yes, yes,” panted Ducky quietly.

However, her assumption was proven wrong, as they felt the log being picked up. Ducky knew it could only have been Rolf, and the two kids pressed their hands and feet against the insides of the log to keep from falling out. They didn’t dare make a sound or move a muscle so that hopefully Rolf could be fooled into thinking that they had already escaped and were long gone.

Ducky dared herself to look up, and she was met with the sight of Rolf’s eye peeking inside their hiding place. Her blood turned cold as she realized their cover was blown, and she closed her eyes as Rolf shook the log violently, throwing the two kids inside around like tiny rocks. It didn’t take long before the two fell out of the log and landed on the ground.

“You thought you were clever enough to hide from me just like you always have? Well, I’ve had enough of this! It all ends now!” said Rolf with a murderous-looking stare, enough to make Ducky flinch with fright as if looks alone could kill.

“STOP!” roared a female adult voice, and Ducky knew it could only have been Nitha.

Sure enough, when Ducky looked to her right, she saw Nitha charging directly at Rolf as if she was preparing to ram him.

“LEAVE … JUDY … ALONE!” she screamed, and she bashed into Rolf’s side and knocked him down with a painful thud.

“Mommy!” cried Judy with relief, although Ducky felt little to no relief. She could still sense danger. She knew Rolf could still get right back up again and strike at any moment, surprise or not.

“Judy!” Nitha panted, “Thank goodness you’re alright!”

She turned to Ducky and smiled at her.

“Thanks so much for warning us, Ducky. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t know what could have happened,” said Nitha.

Ducky noticed Rolf about to get back up, and she panted heavily with sweat running down her face.

“We … need to get out of here!” she cried.

Nitha saw that her mate was getting back up, and she scooped up Judy in her arms.

“Lead the way, Ducky!” she ordered.

Ducky turned and started running with what little energy she still had. Nitha followed right behind her with Judy in her arms, but behind her, Rolf was gaining on them quickly.

“Where are you leading us to?” Nitha asked Ducky.

“My … nest,” panted Ducky, “I … hope.”

“GET BACK HERE!” Rolf’s voice echoed behind them.

“Hurry!” shouted Ducky, trying desperately to figure out where she was even going with next to no night vision.

Suddenly, she heard a scream from the Swimmers behind her, and she turned around to see Nitha get pummeled to the ground by her mate. Judy slipped out of her mother’s arms and ran towards Ducky.

“Nitha!” yelled Ducky in horror, “NO!”

“MOMMY!” shrieked Judy.

“Get off me, Rolf!” hissed Nitha as Rolf kept her pinned to the ground with his foot.

“I told you I’d never be warning you again!” retorted Rolf, and he picked up a large stick from the ground, “I never wanted to lose you, but you just kept insisting on trying to take your family life elsewhere until you found this little beak face!”

Ducky flinched at Rolf’s insult as he spat right in her face. A few tears began to form in her eyes.

“I will not let that happen! Nobody leaves me! You are mine! You’ve been mine since the day you mated with me! Judy has been mine since the day she hatched! I’m going to make sure it stays that way!” finished Rolf, before he charged up his arms and prepared to swing it back down towards his mate.

“NO! STOP!” Ducky screamed, but it was too late …

“SCHLUCK!” the stick sliced its way right through Nitha’s chest, and she let out a painful moan. Blood began squirting from the gigantic hole in her chest, and even more blood poured out of her mouth as she screamed with what little breath she had left.

“MOMMY!” whimpered Judy in despair.

“NITHA! NAAAOOOOOO!” wailed Ducky.

Rolf then forcefully pulled the branch back out of Nitha’s chest, and she could only let out a few more mumbling, choking moans of pain before her head slumped to the ground and she fell completely silent and motionless.

“I HATE YOU, DADDY!” screamed Judy in a sudden fit of rage, “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!”

Judy began to charge at her father. Ducky grabbed her tail in an effort to hold her back, but her friend resisted and continued her charge towards the Swimmer whom had just murdered her mother.

Rolf easily picked up his daughter and grinned evilly at her, then he turned to Ducky.

“You want to know what happens when anyone in my family tries to defy me? Want to know what happens when anyone in my family tries to get away from me? Well, you’re about to regret the day you ever hatched!” he chuckled sinisterly.

“Let her go, Rolf!” shouted Ducky tearfully, “I will not let you hurt Judy again! She is my friend, and she does not deserve a daddy like you! No, no, no!”

“Be quiet, you, disgusting beak face! You have no say in what I can and cannot do! Judy is MINE, and YOU will never again have anything to do with MY child!” hissed Rolf, “You crossed the line in trying to take her away from me, this so-called ‘friend’ of yours! Who would want to be friends with you, anyway, Ducky!? You and your 'yep, yep, yep' always drove the whole herd crazy, and yet you wondered why nobody ever wanted to play with you!? You are an ill-made spiteful little creature, filled with envy, lust and low cunning! Your mother and father never did a good job teaching you to shut your big mouth! What makes you think Judy could be your friend!? She is just using you as an excuse to get herself away from me just like her mother used your mother!”

Ducky felt tears welling up in her eyes as Rolf’s berating words tore her poor, innocent heart to pieces. She looked at Judy, and she was frantically shaking her head to gesture to Ducky that Rolf was lying, but the poor Swimmer couldn’t decide what to believe. She had been an annoyance to the other Swimmer children in the herd her whole life, and nobody had ever wanted to play with her until Judy came into her life. What was the point in life if nobody wanted to be her friend except for another Swimmer whose father was a murderous lunatic?

"You'll never be that all-so-friendly Swimmer that you've always wanted to be! You were born a worthless beak face! You'll die a worthless beak face and having always been a blasphemous disgrace to our entire herd! And now, you'll regret the day you ever hatched!” continued Rolf.

What Ducky saw next was something she would deeply regret …

Rolf charged a small stick directly into Judy’s chest. Ducky’s heart stopped as she watched the stabbing before her very eyes. Judy screamed in agony, blood squirted from her wound, more blood poured out of her mouth, and her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Duck-key?” she sputtered before her father dropped her to the ground. The stick popped out of her chest as she hit the ground, and she lay in a pool of her own blood and that of her mother’s.

“NAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOO!” Ducky wept loudly as she fell to her knees and her eyes exploded with tears. She had once again seen her best friend die in the hands of her father, and all she could feel now was nothing but contempt for the Swimmer whom had taken his own family in cold blood, “You monster! You m-murderer! You … YOU … BASTARD! I HATE YOU, ROLF! You are the worst Swimmer I have ever meet-ed! You are! You are! Yes, yes, yes!”

“You really do have a big mouth,” remarked an unimpressed Rolf, “Your mother and father never did teach you anything, just like I never got to teach Judy, because YOU took her away from me, and I’m going to make you pay for what you’ve done to my family.”

Ducky looked up and saw the hideous Swimmer towering right above her with a small stick in his hand, the same one that had taken Judy’s life. She knew that his words just now had been completely senseless, but she didn’t have the strength to argue any further. She felt as if she had just lost the will to live after watching her beloved friend die a gruesome death.

“I’m going to kill you, Ducky. I’m going to destroy you,” said Rolf with an evil-looking smile that just about scared the poor child, “After tonight, no one will ever again question my authority. I’ll be sure to enjoy it all as I look into your face when I kill you.”

Ducky glared hatefully at Rolf with the tears still soaking her face, and she managed to come up with one last brave statement …

“You know what, then? I h-hope the herd banishes you or kills you for what you have done to Judy! Yes, yes, yes!” she shouted with her last ounce of bravery.

“Don’t talk back to me, you, blasphemous beak face!” retorted Rolf aggressively, “I’ll be giving you a silent, painful death before that happens, so none of it will matter to you! Now shut your filthy big mouth while I see the light leave your eyes!”

Ducky had no time to register the next thought before she felt burning pain in her left leg.

“OOOOOOWWWWWWW!” she screamed in agonizing pain, and she fell on her back and saw a gaping hole in her left leg, but before she could even comprehend what had happened, Rolf suddenly brought the stick down and sliced into her right leg in the same fashion, “AAACCKK!”

Ducky curled herself as her last line of defense. She buried her face with her knees as she cried in agony and despair. She wished it would end soon or that someone would rescue her, but when she looked up one more time, Rolf had the stick pointed directly at her.

“MOMMY!” she screamed out of desperation that her mother would answer to her call and come to her rescue, but nobody came, and she closed her eyes and prepared for the end, awaiting the final blow that would end her short life.

Finally, Ducky felt the stick touch her forehead, and everything turned black and silent …

---

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The entire Swimmer family was awoken by the sound of a loud, ear-piercing scream that echoed for miles. The children all panicked and looked around their nest, until they found who it was that had screamed. Mama Swimmer had immediately stood up from her sleeping spot next to her mate and rushed over to Ducky. Spike backed away from his sister as he had been startled by her scream.

Ducky panted heavily and hyperventilated as she tried to get those horrific images out of her mind, but as soon as she had come back to reality, she felt a warm and pleasant sensation on her tail and legs. Her eyes widened as she figured out why she felt so warm, and when she looked down, the grass underneath her looked as though someone had stepped on it after jumping out of some water. Her cheeks turned deep red in shame and embarrassment. She knew immediately what had happened.

The stench from Ducky’s urine quickly spread throughout the nest, and everyone held their noses while the babies in the nest ducked their heads down to avoid the nasty smell. Spike covered his head with his forepaws.

“Ducky?” came Mama Swimmer’s gentle voice as she approached Ducky, and the smell soon hit her sniffer, which she promptly covered with her hand, “My goodness, Ducky! Did you really have that bad of a sleep story?”

Ducky refused to answer. She felt humiliated and ashamed of wetting herself in her sleep for the first time in what seemed like a long time. She thought she had outgrown it by now, and so did the rest of her family and friends, but her worst nightmares continued to plague her every now and then and trigger these nasty accidents. Ever since Judy’s untimely death, she would occasionally have terrible sleep stories about her that sometimes made her wet herself, but over time she started having these sleep stories less frequently. Tonight, however, was perhaps the worst she had ever endured.

“Are you okay, Ducky?” asked Mama Swimmer gently.

Ducky shook her head and refused to make eye contact with her mother.

“What in the world happened, Ducky?” said Papa Swimmer, “Are you feeling alright?”

The young Swimmer turned her head away and let the inevitable tears fall from her eyes. She didn’t want to say anything to anyone. Mama Swimmer, however, was not giving up just yet, as she gently stroked her daughter’s face and got her to make eye contact with her.

“Ducky, what happened?” she asked once more.

Taking a few deep breaths, Ducky finally gave in and mouthed with her lips, “Judy.”

“Oh,” gasped Mama Swimmer with wide eyes, knowing exactly what had happened, “I see. I’m … I’m so sorry, dear.”

Ducky shut her eyes as she felt more tears welling in them, and her mother slowly picked her up and held her in her arms.

“Let’s go and get you washed up, dear,” whispered Mama Swimmer.

Ducky simply nodded in agreement, and the rest of the family could only watch cluelessly as Mama Swimmer carried her eldest daughter away. Spike was keen on following them, but Papa Swimmer held him back, shaking his head. The Spiketail frowned and stayed put where he was.

---

Mama Swimmer brought Ducky to the valley’s river, and she carefully placed her daughter into the shallow riverbank. The young Swimmer felt extremely cold sensations in her feet from the river’s water, but she welcomed whatever pain she’d face. It reminded her that she was still alive, unlike her very first friend. She sighed and relaxed as her mother rubbed her with some water to wash the urine off her tail and legs, and soon Ducky was all clean again. However, she felt no better than she did a moment ago.

“Would you care to tell me what happened, Ducky?” asked Mama Swimmer.

“I … I do not know. No, no, no,” replied Ducky, shaking her head.

“My dear Ducky, … you can tell me anything. I’m your mother, and you know I can help you with anything,” assured Mama Swimmer kindly.

Ducky’s shiny wet eyes met the caring, loving eyes of her mother, along with a gentle grin of reassurance. The child gulped and took a deep breath, and she explained the entire sleep story to her mother. She did not leave out a single detail, even going as far as to admit that she had cursed at Rolf. When she was done, Mama Swimmer looked speechless. She knew Ducky had gone through plenty of bad sleep stories about Judy ever since the murder, but never had they been this frightening for her, … until tonight.

“I know you haven’t been able to get over such a terrible tragedy, Ducky, but you know that Judy wouldn’t want you to stay sad forever just because she is gone,” said Mama Swimmer, “You know that Judy will always be in your heart.”

“I am still scared-ed of Rolf,” cried Ducky, “Even though he is dead, he still scares me in my sleep stories, … just like … You-Know-Who.”

Mama Swimmer knew whom Ducky was referring to. Ever since their arrival in the Great Valley, the young Swimmer had refused to speak of the deadly Sharptooth whom had terrorized their old herd.

As Ducky cried over her long-lost friend, another thought suddenly slipped into her head; something she had wanted to ask her mother ever since that fateful night …

“Why couldn’t we save Judy, Mama!?” wailed Ducky, “I mean, … you said-ed you and Daddy would try to save Judy before it was too late, but you never did anything! Why didn’t you and Daddy fight back!? He attacked-ed me in our old nest, and you did nothing! Why couldn’t you have fought-ed back and tried-ed to get him thrown out of the herd!? Why, why, why!?”

Mama Swimmer let out a deep sigh as Ducky’s accusations hit her like a ton of boulders. She felt guilty for not helping Judy when she had a very good chance to do so. However, being the mature, good-natured Swimmer she was, she had refused to fight Rolf, even after he had barged into her family’s nest, uninvited, while Judy was begging for help, and went as far as to throw Ducky into a rock that left her face bruised for a week.

“You probably may not agree with me on this, dear, but I’m afraid that fighting Rolf would not have been the solution. If anything, fighting would have only made things a lot worse, and our whole family would have ended up in danger, particularly you, me and your father. Rolf would have sworn revenge on our family, and we probably would have had to leave the herd for our own safety. Fighting is never the answer, Ducky, … even when you think it is the only solution,” she explained with as much as sincerity as possible.

“B-but!? W-why would that not keep Judy and Nitha away from him!?” retorted Ducky harshly, unable to believe what she had just heard.

“Ducky, … Judy and Nitha would have still been in danger if we decided to fight Rolf. The only thing we could do was inform our herd leaders what was wrong, and it would be up to them to deal with Rolf and end this child abuse that Judy was enduring. However, we didn’t have enough time to act, and we unfortunately lost two innocent lives because we spent too much time contemplating on what to do with him. We simply never anticipated that he would commit such an act in the middle of the night while we were all asleep. He did it when we were least expecting it. There really was nothing we could do to keep them protected at all times. As much as I hate to say it, dear, I’m not really sure if anything we could have done might have been enough to save their lives.”

“We could have saved them, Mommy! We could have saved-ed Judy before it was … before it was-,” Ducky couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence, and she buried her head within her hands and felt the tears ready to come pouring out of her eyes. It was just unacceptable to her that nothing could have been done to save Judy and Nitha from that evil Swimmer, regardless of what they tried. Even if Judy and Nitha got the best help they could get, Rolf would have still tracked them down and killed them for abandoning him. It seemed as if Judy had been destined to a cruel fate from the day she hatched, and Ducky had befriended a Swimmer whom had already had her fate sealed before anyone knew it. All she really did was to help make Judy’s short life as happy as she could make it while she tried to avoid her lunatic father.

“There, there, Ducky. Come here,” said Mama Swimmer in her sweet, motherly voice, and she lied down and hugged her distraught daughter, “Shh. It’s okay, my little Ducky. Mommy’s here. It’s alright. Calm down, my little baby.”

Ducky tensed a little at that last word, blushing in embarrassment.

“Mama, I am not a baby anymore,” she sniffled as the tears continued to come down.

“I know, Ducky. I’m just trying to help you feel comfortable, because it’s my job to keep you safe, protected … and happy,” said Mama Swimmer, “You’re my daughter, and I want you to be able to enjoy the happiness that the Great Valley has brought you.”

Ducky tried to give her mother the faintest grin, but instead she could only give her a tearful frown of despair that was filled with the remorse she still felt about not being able to save Judy’s life.

“You also have six wonderful friends who care very much for you. I’m sure they’d be happy to help you. After all, they’ve each suffered similar tragedies, and they can relate to yours, so they’d be willing to sympathize with you,” added Mama Swimmer.

Ducky looked into her mother’s warm, kind eyes, then she sighed sadly and looked away.

“What is it, dear?” asked her mother.

Ducky gulped and looked at her mother in the eyes again, and what she said was something she would soon regret saying …

“I have not told-ed my friends about Judy.”

Mama Swimmer stared at her daughter as if she had just been smacked in the face. The fact that Ducky had concealed Judy from her friends for two cold times had come as a big surprise to her.

“Do you mean to tell me that after two cold times you have never told any of your friends about Judy?” she said in shock.

“N-no,” moaned Ducky shamefully.

“Ducky, hiding your story about her from your friends for so long is a terrible thing to do! I can’t believe that after all this time you’ve not spoken a word about Judy to those who would sympathize with you! The rest of us had kept it secret from them for your sake, but we trusted that you would eventually tell them. Why haven’t you told them?” spoke Mama Swimmer in a serious tone.

Ducky looked down as her mother scolded her, and she shamefully shielded her face with her hands and lied down, facing the ground.

“Ducky? Please look at me,” said Mama Swimmer.

The child uncovered her eyes and looked into her mother’s eyes.

“Why haven’t you told your friends about Judy?” asked her mother.

Ducky waited until her sobs turned into hiccups, and she gulped nervously before she gave her response …

“Be-because … I … did not want to remind myself … of … how sad I felt-ed when Judy died,” she cried, “It still hurts me, … and I do not want to revisit the past. No, no, no. I have never been able to get over it, … and … I miss Judy so much!”

With those last few words, she broke down in tears again and wailed in sorrow as she was continuously picturing her memory of that terrible morning when she found Judy’s dead body and cried over her corpse until her mother was forced to pull her away. Although she had happy memories of Judy, they all reminded her that she was no longer around to play with her or share an adorable smile with her. Those memories were cruel reminders of the fact that she was gone, never to be seen again. Thinking about this hurt Ducky worse than anything. Now she was feeling guilty for hiding her true emotions from her friends for so long. She had foolishly not wanted them to look at her in any way differently than they had over the last two cold times.

“Ducky, listen to me,” said Mama Swimmer in a gentle yet stern voice that instantly gained her daughter’s attention, “I know you don’t want to revisit your worst memories, and you don’t want your friends to see you as someone who lost a best friend so long ago, … but talking about it with others might be a big help. You don’t have to remind yourself of the bad memories. Think about the good things, just like Littlefoot and the others do, … and I think you’ll find that they each have their own stories of friends they once had … that didn’t get to live in the valley with us, … just like Judy. Littlefoot lost his mother in the worst way possible, Cera lost almost her whole family when that … Pterano … decided he’d be that leader he wasn’t capable of being, Petrie lost his father very tragically, and Spike, as we all know, was abandoned when he was still an egg. Even Chomper and Ruby got separated from their families from that dreaded Red Claw, and yet they’re living happily among us. I’m sure that if you gathered up the courage to tell your friends about Judy, they’d all be able to understand the pain you feel, because they’ve all felt the same kind of pain from losing a friend or someone in their family. We are all one big family at heart, Ducky, and families never keep such dark secrets away. Always remember that.”

She finished with a kind, knowing smile, and Ducky, having listened intently to every single word, finally managed a faint smile in return. She understood that her mother was right. Keeping such a dark secret from her friends for so long would not help in any way. Her friends would have to know sooner or later. Maybe one or more of them might also have a dark secret of their own about a lost one.

“I understand that you miss Judy, my sweet Ducky, and I miss her, too, … and her mother, Nitha, … but when someone close to us passes on, we all have to come to terms with such a terrible loss, even if it seems we may never be able to. It took a while for your father and I to get over their passing, but we’ve been able to move on and raise you, your brothers and your sisters to be very good children. You have to be able to move on in life after you lose a loved one. They would not want you to be trapped in a dark state of misery and despair within yourself for the rest of your life. You’ve got to find the bright side within your emotions, Ducky. Let your heart guide your feelings and let those feelings out when you really need to. Somebody dies every day, Ducky. I know that sounds hard for someone your age to believe, but I’m afraid it’s true. However, we don’t spend the rest of our lives despairing over the losses of loved ones. We remember the good things about them, and we can spread what they taught us to future generations and so forth.”

Ducky was speechless. She had never been able to truly understand death, being as young as she was, even though she had been devastated when Judy died. This was all completely new to her, and she started picturing the world so differently. Dinosaurs may have been dying every day in some part of the world, but their peers never forgot what they had done in life nor what they taught their friends and loved ones, so their wisdom could be passed on to the next generation. Suddenly, it began to make sense to Ducky; death should not be despaired upon for the rest of all time, but it should be accepted as a part of life, … the great circle of life. Even though Judy had been taken from her by an act of pure evil rather than a natural cause, she still taught Ducky so much about friendship and selflessness during her short time on Earth, and it turned Ducky into the sweet-natured, selfless, lovable Swimmer that everyone in the valley admired today. If it hadn’t been for Judy, Ducky couldn’t imagine what could have become of her life.

“M-Mommy?” she stuttered with tears still sliding down her cheeks.

“Yes, Ducky?” Mama Swimmer gently responded, and tenderly stroked her daughter’s back and patiently waited for her to say what she was about to say.

“Tha-thank you s-so much for that … le-lesson, … M-Mama,” sniffled Ducky, “I … never really … gave any thought about … the circle of life. Littlefoot once mentioned-ed it, … but I thought nothing of it … until now.”

“Did Littlefoot tell you about the circle of life?” asked Mama Swimmer curiously.

“N-no. I overheard-ed him talking about it with his grandma and grandpa while I was relaxing in the river one day. They didn’t even know I was there,” explained Ducky.

“Oh. I understand, Ducky. Littlefoot’s grandparents are possibly the wisest dinosaurs I’ve ever met, maybe even wiser than our old herd leaders,” said Mama Swimmer, “Just don’t tell anyone I said that.”

“I will not, Mama,” said Ducky, “And … I am … s-sorry that I never told-ed my friends about … J-Ju-Judy.”

“It’s okay, Ducky. I know how hard it can be. You’ve been struggling to cope with this loss for two cold times, and you haven’t been able to get over it yet, but you will have to try the best you can to come with the terms of such a loss. You know what I think you should do? When the Bright Circle comes up, you should meet up with your friends and tell them your story of Judy. Tell them what she was like, particularly the good things, the best things you remember about her, and how she helped you to become the ‘you’ that you are now.”

Ducky gulped as a few more tears escaped from her eyes, and she brushed her eyes with her fingers and blinked a few times. She still didn’t feel sure about revealing her tragic story to her friends, but if her mother was right in saying that they each might have had their own tragic stories in some form or another, then hers mustn’t be kept secret forever.

“Um, … I will try, … I guess,” said Ducky nervously.

“Promise me you’ll do it, dear,” said Mama Swimmer, and she held her hand out in front of her daughter.

Ducky hesitated for a moment, feeling unsure if she’d be able to do it, but she didn’t want to upset her mother, nor did she want to keep her friends clueless about her darkest secret, so she slowly placed her hand into her mother’s, and Mama Swimmer gently shook her daughter’s hand up and down.

“I promise, Mama,” the young Swimmer finally answered.

“That’s a good girl, Ducky,” smiled Mama Swimmer, “I know it won’t be easy for you, but your friends deserve to know.”
Ducky silently nodded in agreement.

“I love you, dear,” whispered Mama Swimmer with a loving smile, and she nuzzled her daughter with her bill, earning a faint chuckle from her.

“I love you, too, Mama. Yep, yep, yep,” Ducky replied.

“Now, let’s go back to the nest and get some more shuteye,” said Mama Swimmer.

Ducky tensed and backed away a step. She didn’t want to close her eyes again after that dreadful sleep story she had just experienced.

“Um, Ducky, are you alright?” asked her mother worryingly.

“I am not sure I can go back to sleep, Mama. No, no, no,” said Ducky as sweat ran down her face, hinting clear signs of sleep anxiety.

Mama Swimmer sighed as she saw the state her daughter was in, and she sympathetically picked her up and hugged her tightly.

“It was such a scary sleep story. I do not want to see that monster again. No, no, no,” sniffled Ducky fearfully.

“Would you like me to cuddle you for a while? Actually, even better, would you care to sleep with me for the rest of the night? I’ll make sure you are still comfortable for the rest of the night so that you hopefully don’t have any more scary sleep stories,” offered Mama Swimmer.

Ducky perked up at this offer, and she was willing to accept anything that could stop her horrible sleep stories so that she could have a good night’s sleep, even if she had to have someone hug her while she slept.

“I think I would like that, Mama. Yep, yep, yep.”

“Okay, Ducky,” smiled Mama Swimmer, “Let’s go back to the nest.”

Ducky sighed and nodded her head, and her mother carried her back home.

---

Papa Swimmer was pacing nervously around the family’s nesting area. He had disposed of the grass that Ducky had accidentally urinated on in her sleep, and the children had all fallen back asleep once the nasty smell was gone. Now, he was waiting anxiously for his mate to bring Ducky back, so he could check on how his daughter was doing. He knew Ducky could only have had such a horrifying nightmare judging by how loudly she had screamed, and by the terrible condition of the grass she had slept on. Few things ever managed to scare Ducky in her sleep that badly, and it could only mean that she must have suffered a lot of sleep story trauma afterward.

A sigh of relief escaped his mouth when he saw his mate returning to the nest with Ducky in her hands.

“Are you feeling alright, Ducky?” he whispered, “I was so worried about you.”

Ducky sighed as she looked at her father, and she couldn’t think of anything to say. Mama Swimmer brought her bill against one of her mate’s ears and whispered, “Judy.”

Papa Swimmer tensed as he heard that name. He knew all so well about how Judy’s death had greatly affected Ducky to the point of her almost losing the will to live before that Earth Shake suddenly changed everything.

“Two cold times, … and she’s still emotionally distraught over her?” he said in a clear state of dismay.

“Ducky is still emotionally scarred by what happened to Judy. On the inside, I fear that she may never get over what happened to her, though I am encouraging her to try,” replied Mama Swimmer, looking down sympathetically at her daughter.

“The least we can do is encourage her and help her remember the good things. Her friends could be doing the same thing,” said Papa Swimmer.

“Um, … do you think we can talk about this some other time?” asked Ducky nervously.

“Of course, Ducky,” her father responded kindly, “It’s only right that you got some sleep first.”

“She’ll be sleeping with me for the rest of the night,” informed Mama Swimmer, “It should help her get at least some sleep without those sleep stories plaguing her.”

“Good idea, dear,” agreed Papa Swimmer.

The two parents briefly kissed each other and said their goodnights, and Mama Swimmer lied down on her side and held Ducky tenderly in her arms while wrapping her tail around her.

“Ready to go back to sleep, Ducky?” she asked her daughter in a whisper.

“I … I guess,” gulped Ducky before she received a tender nuzzle on her forehead from her mother’s bill.

“I love you, Ducky,” Mama Swimmer whispered lovingly.

“I love you, too, Mama,” Ducky responded with a small smile as the sensations from her mother’s nuzzle finally managed to get her to close her eyes.

“Goodnight, my dear Ducky,” whispered Mama Swimmer, kissing her daughter on the forehead.

“Goodnight, Mama,” yawned Ducky before sleep finally overcame her, and she fell into a comfortable slumber within her mother’s tender hold.

Mama Swimmer watched for a few minutes as Ducky slowly fell asleep, then she closed her own eyes and fell asleep herself, her arms and tail never letting go of her precious daughter for even one moment.

---

When the Bright Circle rose the next morning, Ducky was very slow waking up, and her mother fed her a tree sweet for breakfast before she finally managed to get on her feet and take a slow walk towards the river for a drink.

A short while later, the young Swimmer thought it would be a good idea to take a walk to the Thundering Falls. She often liked to listen to the sound of the waterfalls crashing into the river. It provided her with constant relaxing sensations whenever she was close enough. Whenever she was feeling down or just wanted to be alone when not at home, this was one of her favorite places to relax and chill. Today just so happened to be an occasion where all she wanted was a good sense of relaxation.

However, her peacefulness was not to last …

“Ducky?”

The Swimmer sighed and looked to her right, only to find Littlefoot, Cera, Petrie, Spike, Chomper and Ruby all joining her. She knew that Spike had undoubtedly taken a guess where she was and had brought the rest of their friends here.

“Why you no join us, Ducky?” asked Petrie.

“We were going to play ‘Stop the Seed,’ Ducky. Do you want to join us?” asked Littlefoot.

Ducky turned away and stared off at the Thundering Falls, saying absolutely nothing.

“Ducky?” said Chomper, “Are you alright?”

“My dad said he could swear he heard someone screaming last night,” said Cera gruffly, “He was going to go give that someone a piece of his mind before Tria told him otherwise.”

“I heard it, too,” replied Ruby, “I was awake in the middle of the night because I couldn’t sleep, and then I heard someone screaming.”

“That was me,” said Ducky, and everyone looked at her and gasped in surprise. It didn’t take long to guess what had happened …

“You have bad sleep story, Ducky?” asked Petrie, “Me know no other reason for screaming at nighttime in Great Valley, … unless there be Sharptooth.”

Ducky sighed sadly and looked down at her reflection in the river. She knew she had just gotten herself into quite an awkward situation with her friends, and she couldn’t hide it any longer. She had to tell her friends now … about the darkest days of her life. It was now or never. It was keep her promise to her mother or never be forgiven.

“I had a very bad sleep story last night. I did, I did,” she said nervously.

“We all have bad sleep stories sometimes, Ducky,” sympathized Littlefoot.

“Hmph! Except for Threehorns!” hissed Cera.

“Say one who get scared of Hidden Runner,” teased Petrie, prompting Cera to charge at him. The Flyer instantly took to the skies above to avoid the attack and came back down when it was safe again, grinning mischievously at the Threehorn.
“Oh, how about you, Petrie!? You’re scared of … everything!” Cera retorted.

“Me no scared of everything!” Petrie fired back.

“Stop it right now!” yelled Ducky, “I am not in the mood today! No, no, no!”

Cera and Petrie stopped arguing and gazed at Ducky with shock. It was never like her to act this way around them.
“Ducky, … are you sure you’re alright?” asked Chomper.

Taking a few deep breaths to prepare herself mentally, Ducky turned to her friends.

“I do not know how to tell you, guys, … but … did any of you ever have a friend before we all joined-ed together and found-ed the Great Valley?” she asked shyly.

“I had a friend or two before I met Chomper, … but their families had to go on the run from Red Claw,” answered Ruby.

“You’d have no idea how the rest of us were living,” Cera responded to the Fast Runner, “It was hard just to make friends where we were living.”

“Me no have any friends before me meet all of you,” said Petrie sadly, “Me no could fly then, so everyone make fun of me.”
“Neither did I,” sighed Littlefoot.

Ducky was somewhat shocked by this revelation. She knew it had been hard for them to make friends in that dreaded area they were living in at the time, separated because they were only allowed to play with their own kind, but she couldn’t have imagined that of all the friends she made on her journey to find the Great Valley, none of them had any previous friends at all, … except for herself.

The Swimmer turned away and closed her eyes, feeling her emotions beginning to well up again.

“What’s wrong, Ducky?” asked Littlefoot.

Ducky opened her eyes again and looked at the waterfalls crashing into the river.

“One time, … I had a friend,” she began, “I had a friend, … that I was so thankful to have. She was a Swimmer just like me, and she looked-ed just like me, … except that she had gorgeous green eyes. Without her, … I do not know where I would have ended-ed up.”

The gang listened with interest as they found this to be very intriguing.

“Her name … was … Judy.”

“Judy?” said Petrie, “That … sound like … wonderful name for friend.”

“Judy was the first friend I had ever made-ed. I was the first friend she ever made-ed. Nobody in our herd liked-ed my ‘yep, yep, yep,’ and nobody wanted-ed to be anywhere near Judy.”

“What?” gasped Littlefoot, “Why?”

“Judy taught-ed me so much about being friendly and caring to others, and before long the grownups started to like me very much, but their kids still would not play with me or Judy. We were outcasts, so we spent-ed time alone as much as we could.”

“Why no one play with Judy?” asked Petrie curiously, “Nobody like her, either?”

Ducky sighed as she dreaded bringing up the next detail …

“Judy had a lovable mommy named Nitha, … but her daddy, … Rolf … was … such a horrible Swimmer.”

Nobody knew what to say. They couldn’t even make any guess as to what made Rolf such a terrible Swimmer.

“Rolf was a dangerous Swimmer who would hurt her family every day,” explained Ducky, “He never wanted-ed Nitha or Judy to ever leave their nest for any reason at all. Any day I did not see Judy, the very next day she would have these scars and bruises on her.”

Everyone gasped in sheer disbelief at the idea that an innocent child and her mother would get constantly harassed and tortured by her own father, someone she should have been able to love and trust but seemed far from the case.

“Rolf was feared-ed among the Swimmers. Nobody dared-ed to fight him lest they get beaten up. He was why nobody wanted to play with Judy. They were scared-ed of her daddy.”

“Did anyone ever try to fight him and scare him out of the herd?” asked Cera, “My dad certainly would have.”

“Once I found-ed out about Rolf, I tried-ed to get my Mommy and Daddy to help Judy and Nitha, but they were not sure what to do. Then, one morning, Judy came to my nest and begged-ed me to help her, but I did not know what to do. Mommy and Daddy were about to help, when … Rolf suddenly broke into our nest, … insulted-ed me and accused-ed me of taking Judy away from him, … then he insulted-ed Mommy and Daddy, and I tried-ed to stand up to him.”

She paused as she knew the next detail would be very dreadful.

“What happened next?” asked Ruby.

Ducky felt a single tear escape from her left eye, and she responded, “Rolf yelled-ed at me and threw me into a rock face-first.”

There were collective gasps among the gang as they listened tensely.

“My face was bruised-ed and bleeding, and it took me two whole days to recover, … but I became so scared-ed of Rolf after that,” sniffled Ducky, “After that, … Judy and I saw each other less often, … because … Rolf threaten-ed to kill Judy and Nitha if either of them ever left the nest ever again.”

“Oh, my!” gasped Littlefoot.

“That no good Swimmer!” hissed Chomper.

“Did Judy still come to see you in secret?” asked Ruby.

“Sometimes,” replied Ducky, “Although, every time I saw her, she looked-ed even worse than ever. She and Nitha would still get beaten up by Rolf, and Mommy and Daddy told-ed our herd leaders to help them before it was too late.”

She paused and took several deep breaths, feeling as if she would never be able to mentally prepare herself for bringing up the worst part of her entire story; the worst day of her entire life.

“Then, … one day, … everything changed for all the wrong reasons,” she continued as the tears openly began to stream down her face, “Mama woke me up one morning … and told-ed me there had been … a horrible accident … at Judy’s nest. I jumped-ed out of the nest and ran as fast as I could to Judy’s. I wanted-ed to make sure she was okay, … but … w-when I got there, … she … sh-she was …”

Nobody had the heart to say a word as Ducky broke down completely and let her emotions loose.

“JUDY WAS DEAD!” she screamed, “I found-ed a big hole in her chest, … and Nitha had a huge hole in her chest, too! When Mama pulled me away from Judy, I saw Rolf with a large tree branch stabbed right through his chest! Blood was everywhere, all over the bodies and the nest!”

Everyone groaned with disgust, particularly after hearing Rolf’s description from when Ducky found his family’s dead bodies. Petrie looked as if he was about to vomit.

“I was told-ed later that Rolf had murdered-ed Judy and Nitha in their sleep during the night then killed-ed himself! We could not save their family! I could not save my friend! I could not save Judy! The only friend I ever made! JUDY IS GONE BECAUSE OF ME! I MAY AS WELL KILLED-ED HER! IT WAS ALL MY FAULT! I MISS YOU, JUDY! WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?”

With that, Ducky finally collapsed, and her emotions exploded. She wailed loudly like a baby as a puddle of tears formed beneath her. She buried her face with her arms and curled herself into a ball.

Littlefoot and the others all stood there, speechless. They could not have imagined that Ducky had been keeping such a horrible tragedy a secret from them for two cold times. They could not have imagined that she once had a good friend who was taken far too soon because of some evil father. They couldn’t even comprehend that a father could do such a thing to his own family.

“I thought the bad sleep stories would have been over by now, … b-but they are not!” cried Ducky, “Oh, Judy! Why did you have to leave me like that!? Why did your daddy have to be such a cold-hearted bastard!? WHY, JUDY!? WHY!?”

The others stepped back in shock. They had once seen Ducky get mad before, but never had she gotten this mad. What further shocked them was that she was mad over something that happened two cold times ago. This “Judy” apparently meant so much to Ducky that when she lost her, she was left so heartbroken that even now she hadn’t gotten over it. A part of Ducky seemed to have died with Judy, and it left her emotionally broken for a long time, although she had been hiding it to keep her friends from potentially reminding her of the friend she had so cruelly lost.

“D-Ducky? Are you alright?” asked Littlefoot softly.

“Am I alright!?” retorted Ducky, “You would have no idea what it was like! None of you were there to see Judy die! You do not know how it feels! No, no, no!”

“We!? Having no idea how it feels!?” shouted Cera, “I lost my mother, my brothers and my sisters! Littlefoot lost his mother! Petrie lost his father! And yet you say that we don’t know how it feels!? We all know how it feels to lose somebody so close to us!”

“But the first friend you ever made!? Someone who was once your best friend before she was murdered-ed in cold blood!?” Ducky fired back.

“Hey! Stop this!” Littlefoot protested, but he fell on deaf ears.

“A best friend that you lost two cold times ago! I cannot believe you kept that a secret for so long! You could have told us much earlier, and we would have been able to understand better, but you’re only telling us now!?” roared Cera, “What’s more: you say that this … friend … was murdered by her own father!?”

“Didn’t I just tell you that!?” hissed Ducky, “She and her mother were BOTH murdered by her father … IN THEIR SLEEP!”

At that moment, strange thoughts were spiraling in Cera’s head. She had never heard anything about a father killing his own family in such a matter, and when she thought of that, she thought of her own father. He had always been a cold-hearted, unhappy dinosaur for as long as she could remember, at least until Tria came along, and after hearing how Ducky described Rolf, she began to wonder if her own father might one day become just as horrible as Rolf.

“Wait!” she said, and she paused for a moment, contemplating her thoughts that seemed to frighten her, “Does this mean that … maybe one day my dad will become just as ruthless as Rolf and kill me, Tria and Tricia in our sleep in the middle of the night? Maybe he’s been mad at me for so long and has had enough of me!”

Those words built up a huge rage within Ducky. She slowly turned to look at Cera, an expression filled with sheer hatred all over her face. She gritted her teeth and tried to let out a fearsome growl. Chomper and Ruby hid themselves behind a bush, while Petrie ducked behind Littlefoot’s neck. Spike crouched and covered his face with his forelimbs.

“Me no can look!” Petrie whimpered in fear.

Ducky stomped toward Cera and stopped right in front of the Threehorn with a scornful look on her face.

“ROLF WAS A COLD-HEARTED-ED BASTARD RIGHT FROM THE START! NOBODY ELSE’S DADDIES WOULD EVER MURDER THEIR OWN FAMILIES IN THEIR SLEEP! YOU SHOULD BE LUCKY YOUR DADDY LOVES YOU AND DOES NOT ABUSE YOU, TRIA OR TRICIA! IF HE EVER DID WANT TO MURDER YOU, YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN DEAD A LONG TIME AGO, CERA! YOU WOULD! YOU WOULD!”

Everyone gasped with horror. Tears were streaming down Spike and Petrie’s eyes out of fear. Chomper and Ruby refused to leave their bush. Even Littlefoot was at a loss for words. Cera had finally gone too far, and she had driven Ducky beyond her breaking point.

“D-Ducky?” whispered Littlefoot in shock.

Nobody could say a word as Ducky panted heavily and stared at Cera with a death glare as if she wanted to seriously injure her for insulting Judy’s memory.

Slowly, however, Ducky’s angry expression began to turn sad, and tears started pouring from her eyes again. She knew she had over-reacted so unnecessarily when Cera and the others couldn’t completely understand how deeply she had been affected by Judy’s death, nor could they understand what it was like to live with a horrible father. Cera’s father may have been harsh at times, but, unlike Rolf, he had a good heart inside him, and he loved his family deeply. Nobody Ducky knew in this valley had a clear understanding of being abused by their own relatives.

Soon, all of Ducky’s anger had been replaced with guilt and sadness, and she broke down once more, falling to her knees and sobbing uncontrollably.

“I am sorry!” she cried, “I am so sorry, Cera! I am sorry, all of you! I do not know why I just … got so angry! I AM SO SORRY! I just … I JUST MISS JUDY SO MUCH! I could do anything to bring her back just for one day!”

Nobody knew how to respond to this. They had never seen Ducky act this way before. They all began to understand that Judy meant a great deal to Ducky, and her death almost destroyed her emotionally and mentally. They had each lost someone close to them at some point during their lives, and for the longest time they thought that Ducky had never lost someone so close to her. However, this was quite the contrary. She had lost someone so close before she had even met them, just like the rest of them did. Now, they could all relate in some way with the losses each of them had suffered.

“I am so sorry,” Ducky whispered once she had settled down, “I … I keep having bad sleep stories about that night when I lost my first friend … forever. I did not want to tell you all because I did not want to reopen old wounds from my past. No, no, no.”

“Ducky, … I know how hard it can be,” sympathized Littlefoot, “When I lost my mother, I didn’t want to tell you at first because I knew it would remind me of someone I didn’t have with me anymore. Even now, I still see her in my sleep stories from time to time.”

“M-me miss me Daddy very much,” stuttered Petrie nervously, regaining his composure, “After me Mama tell me how me Daddy get … killed … by some Sharptooth, … me have scary sleep stories every night for whole week before me decide to tell you about him.”

“When exactly did this happen, Ducky?” asked Littlefoot, “The night when, … well, … you-know-what happened?”

“It was only five days before the Big Earth Shake,” answered Ducky solemnly, “After my herd was killed by the Earth Shake, I spent-ed many days trying to find my family, … but Judy’s passing was still fresh on my mind that I could not figure out which way to go, and I cried-ed every single night. I did. I did. And then I found-ed you. I had no one else to turn to, and I was so lost that I wanted-ed someone to help me find my family, … and in the end, … we did.”

Littlefoot softened and smiled at his longtime Swimmer friend.

“I knew that with new friends, I could keep Judy out of my mind until we came to the Great Valley. Sometimes, when I look at the stars at night, … I think I can see her up in the sky, … smiling at me, … because she taught-ed me how to be so friendly and caring to others, … and she is probably happy that I found-ed my family and have a wonderful home in the valley, … and many good friends.”

Chomper and Ruby emerged from their hiding spot and hesitantly approached Ducky.

“I didn’t know you had such a special friend, Ducky,” said Chomper, “I … I wonder how it would have been like if she got to see the Great Valley.”

“Maybe she would have loved the valley, as the valley is a place for everyone to love,” said Ruby.

Ducky faintly grinned and looked up at the sky. At that very moment, she could swear she could possibly see the sky puffies taking the form of a young Swimmer that looked just like her, … smiling proudly at her friend for never giving up and not staying sad forever. She could only guess … that it was Judy.

“I think Judy would have loved-ed this valley,” whispered Ducky to no one in particular, “And I think she would be very proud of me. Yep, yep, yep.”

The others saw that Ducky was staring intently at the sky, and they promptly looked up and were astonished to find what might possibly look like a young Swimmer among the sky puffy forms in the blue sky above them.

As Judy’s supposed form dissolved into simple sky puffies again, Ducky looked down at the Thundering Falls and wiped the last few tears from her eyes. She knew Judy would have been proud of her for managing to take her lessons at heart and make new friends just like she said she would one day.

“I am so sorry I yelled-ed at you all,” sighed Ducky sadly, “I … was just … upset, … after having another scary sleep story last night … about that terrible night when Judy died. I do not like being angry at my friends. No, no, no.”

“It’s okay, Ducky. Now we know we’ve all lost someone so close to us that we felt like we couldn’t move on without them. Thanks for finally telling us, Ducky. You did the right thing,” said Littlefoot.

“I hope so,” said Ducky somewhat doubtfully, staring at the Thundering Falls.

Littlefoot then turned and noticed that Cera still looked traumatized by having Ducky yell at her. He couldn’t tell if she was thinking that her father might be what she feared he would become, or if her argument with Ducky had left her speechless.

“Cera?” said Littlefoot, “Are you alright? You look as if you’ve seen a monster.”

“I … I think I need to be by myself for a little while,” Cera responded, and she quickly turned her back on them and ran off as fast as she could.

Ducky felt worried that she might have startled Cera so badly that she may have suddenly become scared of her, but she was sure her Threehorn friend would come to her senses in good time.

“Uh, … would you like to play ‘Stop the Seed’ with us, Ducky?” asked Chomper.

“I think I will stay here by myself for a little while. Thanks for the offer, though,” answered Ducky.

“Okay, Ducky. We’ll be near the Watering Hole if you want to join later,” informed Littlefoot, “See you later!”

“See you later, everyone,” sighed Ducky.

“Bye, Ducky,” called Petrie.

Spike gave Ducky a playful nuzzle, earning a small giggle from the young Swimmer, and before long, the others left Ducky to once again contemplate her thoughts in peace.

Unbeknownst to her, however, her friends were not really on their way to play their planned game of “Stop the Seed” …

---

Word of Judy and Ducky’s past soon spread to the other families of the gang. Littlefoot’s grandparents were staring at their grandson in disbelief by the time he finished telling them what had happened to Ducky’s long-lost friend. They couldn’t believe that the young Swimmer once had such a caring friend who just so happened to have an abusive father who constantly tortured and eventually killed her and her mother. Petrie’s mother was just about rendered speechless after she was told by her son about Judy. She felt so bad for Ducky that she promised to share her sympathies the next time they met.

Topps and Tria, however, were not told the story by Cera, but rather by Littlefoot’s grandparents. Topps was quite baffled by the idea that someone had such a cold heart and would become the worst kind of father imaginable. Tria couldn’t imagine looking at Ducky in the same light again after hearing Judy’s tragic story.

Cera was still traumatized by being yelled at by Ducky, and by her paranoid beliefs that her father would one day turn just like Rolf despite Ducky’s forceful reassurance. She avoided her father and Ducky for the rest of that day, and she found it hard to sleep that evening when the Bright Circle went down. The two girls didn’t speak to each other for several weeks afterward, and Cera began to grow wary of her father and spend less time with him, although she still kept up her appearances so as not to make her family suspicious of anything.

Mama Swimmer was disappointed that Ducky was being avoided by one of her friends after being told the story of what happened to Judy, but there was little she could do about it. However, she was very grateful to Littlefoot and Petrie for sharing the story with their families, and she was very proud of her daughter for finally opening up to her friends and sharing with them the secret that she had kept to herself for two cold times. She hoped that with support from other adults in the valley, they could put an end to child abuse toward any children living within the Great Valley or visitors from the Mysterious Beyond, particularly to those who were close to their own children.

Grandma and Grandpa Longneck, and Mama Flyer, came to see Ducky by the river near her nest one day, and they gave her their condolences and deepest sympathies. The young Swimmer couldn’t have been happier to receive such support from her friends’ families, and she burst into happy tears, believing that Judy had finally received the send-off she had rightfully deserved for so long.

Eventually, Cera came to her senses and had to accept the fact that her father was nothing like Rolf, and she grew to love him again. However, it seemed that her friendship with Ducky had taken a bad turn and would never be the same again. As a way to make up for her lousy paranoia, Cera invited Ducky to watch the stars with her and the others on nights when they would stargaze, and she willingly accepted. While Littlefoot would see his mother amongst the stars, Cera would see her mother and siblings, and Petrie would see his father, Ducky would see the friend whom had turned her into the Swimmer she was now …

“I will always miss you, Judy, but you are always with me in my heart. Yep, yep, yep.”

---

Caption away!

I was bored today, and since I love seeing pictures of Ducky and Petrie together, I thought I'd make one of my own!  

This is my response to the FanFiction challenge prompt for February 2018, about "undying love." I looked back on the epilogue for my 2017 DuckyxPetrie romance story, "Secret Love," which is viewable on FanFiction.Net, and this idea came into my head. This will be set in the same continuity as that story.

"Love is an Adventure"

Chapter 1 - Out of the Blue

The Great Valley was bathed in natural light as the Bright Circle gave rise to a new day. For many, it simply meant the start of another typical day in the valley, but for two particular teenagers, it meant beauty that would warm their hearts as it created such a bright, lively atmosphere that they could never resist enjoying. It was the brightest days that they enjoyed more than any other day, and not only did it remind them of their adventurous childhoods, but it also reminded them of how much they loved each other and how much they loved being together any day.

On the ledge in front of a mountain cave in the middle of the valley, a teenage male brown Flyer stared into the distance as he admired the view of the Great Valley under the early morning light. A smile crept onto his beak as he watched the river below sparkle with the Bright Circle's light. It was a sight for sore eyes, and whenever he looked at water, he could only think about one particular dinosaur who meant so much to him; one he had loved since childhood, one who cared for him and comforted him when no one else could, and one who was more selfless than anyone else he knew.

"Ducky," the Flyer sighed thoughtfully as he kept his gaze down towards the river.

His peaceful moment only lasted for another minute before a female voice that sounded middle-aged came up from behind him.

"Good morning, Petrie," said an old, female blue Flyer as she stepped beside him, towering over him by just a few inches.

"Good morning, Mom," the brown Flyer replied, his voice retaining the slightest bit of squeakiness that he had during his childhood.

"I’ll go ahead and take a wild guess," said Mama Flyer, "You're thinking about Ducky again, aren't you, dear?"

Petrie shyly chuckled and responded, "Lucky guess."

"You know, Petrie, last night I was watching the stars, and I noticed that the way they looked was very similar to one particular night twelve cold times ago that I can remember vividly," said Mama Flyer.

Petrie's gaze shifted over to his mother in surprise. He had no idea that she could recall something that had happened that long ago, since many her age would have forgotten by now.

"Really?" he said.

"Of course, Petrie," smiled Mama Flyer, "That night twelve cold times ago when the stars looked exactly like they did last night ... was the night you first told me that you had fallen in love with Ducky."

Petrie gasped as the realization hit him like he had been bonked in the head by a pointy seed. How could he not have known that the day before yesterday marked the twelfth anniversary of the day he and Ducky began their relationship? That was such an important night, as it was the first time in the Great Valley's history that an interspecies relationship had bloomed, and although others weren’t welcoming of it at first (in fact, even threatening to banish them once they were discovered), the valley eventually came to accept them being in love, and now twelve cold times had passed since that fateful night. Petrie felt stupid for not remembering exactly what day the anniversary was, but there had been one thing on his mind lately; something he had been wanting to do for the past few months. Suddenly, it reminded him of the one thing he had wanted to do, and now that he knew that twelve cold times had passed since the day they first confessed their love for each other, he knew he had to do it today. It was now or never.

"That suddenly reminds me," the 18-year-old Flyer said with a look of determination, "I’ve been wanting to do this since right after my eighteenth hatch day, but I felt so shy and kept backing out of every opportunity I had. Today, ... I'm gonna do it."

"Do what, Petrie?" his mother asked curiously.

"You'll see, Mom," Petrie replied, and he turned back into his family's cave, which was empty for the most part since nearly all his siblings were out somewhere else in the valley.

The Flyer looked to his right and saw a red shiny stone that had a decoration on the front that had been created using pieces from tree stars. It showed a Flyer and a Swimmer playing with each other, with a large heart directly above them. A stem had been glued on top so that it could be worn around a child's neck. Petrie smiled and felt his eyes welling as he recalled wearing this shiny stone as a necklace during his childhood whenever he and Ducky were on their loving, playful dates. Now, though, it could no longer fit around his neck, so he kept his as a souvenir to remind him of the many times he and Ducky had romantic nights together as little children.

Right next to the red shiny stone necklace was a deep blue one (a sapphire) that he had found after stumbling into a canyon of shiny stones somewhere in the Mysterious Beyond. It was in a glorious shade of blue; as blue as the water and the sky. Its color reminded Petrie of how much Ducky naturally loved water since she was a Swimmer, and he had wanted to give her this sapphire after inadvertently collecting it on yet another one of the Gang's misadventures that happened a few months after Ducky and Petrie started their relationship. Twelve cold times later, it still retained its blue beauty and its shine, and Petrie knew now that after all this time had passed, there would be no more holding back. He was determined that Ducky would finally get to see this sapphire after he had sneaked it with him back to the valley, hidden from all his friends, and kept it in the Flyer family's cave ever since.

"Yes," Petrie said to himself as he gently picked up the sapphire, "Today’s the day. I won’t hold back any longer. I’m more determined than ever now. I will do it."

"What are you up to back there, son?" came Mama Flyer’s voice from afar.

"Something I should have done a long time ago," replied Petrie, and he stepped out of the cave with the sapphire in his hands and stood on the ledge once more beside his mother.

Mama Flyer managed to get a glimpse at her son's sapphire and felt nothing but confusion spiraling in her head.

"You've had that shiny stone for twelve cold times, dear," she gasped, still not understanding what Petrie was up to, "What could you possibly be doing?"

"Ever since I got this shiny stone, I've been wanting to give it to the one I love so much," said Petrie, "I've waited way too long to give her this shiny stone that's as blue as the water she swims in. Now, … I won't wait any longer."

Mama Flyer suddenly realized what her son was getting at, and she nodded in understanding.

"I see, dear," she said slowly, "It sure does look as blue as water."

"And water is one of the things she enjoys the most," added Petrie, "She would love this."

"Would you like me to help you take it over to the Swimmer family nest?" Mama Flyer offered, "Shiny stones are much more precious than all the green food we have here, and to break it would be deeply regrettable."

Petrie sighed as he kept his gaze on the sapphire, and he looked at his mother with a faint grin.

"Okay, Mom," he nodded.

Without hesitation, Mama Flyer flapped her wings and got her feet off the ledge, and Petrie held the sapphire high above his head. His mother carefully grasped the shiny stone with all the grip her talons could put on it, and her son then lifted himself off the ledge and soared his way down into the lush valley grounds below with his mother following close behind.

...

Next to a nest that was right next to the river, a teenage green female Swimmer sat right on the bank with her feet dipping into the fresh water that gently cooled her soothingly. She smiled down at her own reflection in the water as her mind was clouded with thoughts; memories from the past and plans for the future. Although she been very happy living in the Great Valley for the past thirteen cold times, the Swimmer was still uncertain as to what the future would bring to her. There was only one particular dinosaur (or rather, pterosaur) that she could think about when it came to times like these when she was alone and her family was tending to the nest.

"Petrie," she sighed as she looked away from the river just in time to see another female Swimmer (a much older one) approach her.

The teenager nearly jolted as the sudden presence of another Swimmer briefly startled her.

"Oh. Mom, it's you," the Swimmer panted as she quickly recovered from her tiny moment of shock.

"Of course, it is, Ducky," chuckled the older Swimmer, "You wouldn’t think it'd be anyone else, did you?"

"No, it's just that I didn't hear you walk up to me," explained Ducky, "I was just surprised. Yep, yep, yep."

Mama Swimmer chuckled at her daughter. Although Ducky no longer had speech-related issues like she had when she was younger, her old catchphrase wasn't going anywhere.

"You look as though you didn't sleep much last night, dear," said Mama Swimmer with the slightest bit of concern present in her voice, "Are you feeling okay?"

"What? Of course, I got some sleep last night, Mom," replied Ducky, "I was just thinking about stuff. I was. I was."

"Like what, dear?" asked Mama Swimmer.

Ducky sighed and looked back down towards her reflection in the river.

"Okay, Mom. I was thinking about Petrie again," she admitted.

"I thought so," said Mama Swimmer, sitting next to her eldest child, "As I understand it, twelve cold times it's been."

"Twelve cold times?" said Ducky dumbfoundedly.

"Twelve cold times since you and Petrie first started your relationship," Mama Swimmer pointed out.

"Oh, ... yeah. I didn't think about that. No, no, no. How silly of me," Ducky gasped in realization.

"At least I'm assuming that it'll soon have been twelve cold times," added Mama Swimmer, "I wasn't paying close attention to the stars the night you came home and informed me that you were in love with Petrie. I can remember, I had only just tucked your brothers and sisters to bed by the time you came home and told me."

"I could never forget that first week after we started our relationship," said Ducky, "Sometimes, looking back at those days makes me wish I was a kid again. Yep, yep, yep."

"I know, dear," giggled Mama Swimmer, "You've grown to be quite a beautiful Swimmer, Ducky, and everyone loves you for how selfless you are."

Ducky smiled at her mother’s compliment. She could recall the many times she would care for others much more than herself. It had earned her a reputation as one of the friendliest dinosaurs in the entire Great Valley.

"You're not alone in feeling that way, Ducky," added Mama Swimmer, "Even parents have a hard time watching their kids grow up because they feel that time passes by so quickly, because once the kids grow up, it makes the parents feel rather … old. It seems only yesterday when you were that beautiful little Swimmer who could fit in the palm of my hand."

"Oh, Mom!" said Ducky, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment, "As much as I miss being a kid, it sometimes embarrasses me when you remind me of that detail. It does. It does."

Mama Swimmer simply chuckled and nuzzled her daughter’s beak with her own.

"So, Ducky, … twelve cold times since you and Petrie first started blossoming your relationship. You should consider doing something special for him. After all, it was the two of you who broke the interspecies barrier all those cold times ago."

"I have been thinking about that, but all that I can think about is either some shiny stone or the two of us going to some very special place," said Ducky as she tried in vain to think of something that she and Petrie had NOT done over the past twelve cold times.

"That's the one thing that can be hard about interspecies relationships, dear," her mother explained, “There aren't that many places where both a Swimmer and a Flyer can hang out together."

"It's too bad I got too big to fit in that forest cave we would spend time in when we were little ones. It is. It is," sighed Ducky sadly as she remembered the first romantic hideout she and Petrie had shared right after they started their relationship, "I miss that place. I do. I do."

"I know, dear, but the Great Valley has plenty to offer," said Mama Swimmer with a knowing wink.

Ducky grinned softly before she gazed back at the river, and no sooner did she suddenly hear a sweet, somewhat squeakily voice that she knew all too well ...

"Hello, Ducky!"

The Swimmer perked up as a smile crept onto her face. She knew that voice anywhere.

"Petrie?"

Ducky looked to her left, and sure enough, on the big, grey rock next to the Swimmer nest stood none other than Petrie; the Flyer she loved so much over the past twelve cold times. Every time Petrie visited the Swimmer family, he would always land on that same grey rock and softly call the name of his beloved one, like knocking on the door to indicate that he was paying a visit. He had done this ever since they fell in love, and it was one of only a few things that hadn’t changed at all since then.

"Hi, Petrie!" Ducky said happily, and she stood up and walked over to the rock Petrie was standing on.

It was then that the Swimmer noticed that the Flyer had his hands hidden behind his back. It seemed obvious to her that he was hiding something.

"How's my dearly beloved doing on this fine morning?" said Petrie with a smile on his beak.

Ducky chuckled at her boyfriend’s words and replied, "Not very eventful. Nope, nope, nope. How about you?"

"I'm doing swell," said Petrie, "My uncle Pterano had to deal with crawlers in his cave again last night, but Mom and I took care of them."

Ducky giggled, "Spike's been dealing with the same thing. He has. He has."

"Maybe the crawlers are cracking down this season," said Petrie, looking worried about something.

"Oh, Petrie!" laughed Ducky, "Crawlers are just crawlers!"

In recent cold times, Petrie had gained quite a big sense of humor compared to how it was when he was a kid, and Ducky found it to be so amusing.

"So, my love, what brings you here on this beautiful morning?" the Swimmer asked her boyfriend, "Oh, and what are you hiding behind your back?"

Petrie gulped as he tried to find the right words to say. This was something he had been wanting to do for a long time, but every time he thought about doing it, he got too nervous and backed out. Now, though, he was determined that it would not happen again and that this time he would do the one thing that would bring himself and Ducky closer together than ever before.

Taking a deep sigh, Petrie cleared his throat and began ...

"Let me start with this," he paused for a moment and opened his eyes to look into his girlfriend's sparkling blue eyes, "Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

Ducky chuckled at the question and replied, "Of course, you have, Petrie. So many times. Yep, yep, yep."

Petrie shyly grinned and continued, "Well, my mother told me that the night before last ... marked twelve cold times since the very night you and I first confessed our love for each other."

Ducky gasped as the realization hit her like a pile of rocks.

"You mean, ... that day already passed?" she said.

Petrie nodded sadly and looked away for a moment before he found the courage to speak again.

"I wanted to make up for that today," he said.

Ducky was surprised to hear that, and she crouched down and looked intently into the black pupils of the Flyer's eyes.

"How so, Petrie?" she asked him.

"Recently, I've been having so many sleep stories about you, and every morning I wake up feeling like I love you more than I had before," the Flyer said, "You remember when we were kids and I gave you a pink tree star?"

Ducky nodded as she thought of that memory she held dear to her heart.

"You remember what I said to you that day?" Petrie said with a smile, "My love and devotion for you is stronger than anything else, Ducky. I love you, Ducky, ... and I will always love you from the bottom of my heart, ... forever and ever, ... and perhaps I should add a 'yep, yep, yep' to that."

The two lovers laughed after Petrie said those last few words.

"Aw, Petrie. You can remember our days as children so well, just as well as I can," said Ducky.

Petrie smiled and continued ...

"Well, ... lately I've been feeling more than ever that my love for you could never be surpassed by anything on the earth. No matter what happens to us, even the many times we had to run from Sharpteeth when we were kids, ... and no matter how far away we are sometimes, ... each and every day I feel pure love for you that could never wither. I've said this many times and I'll say it again: I love you, Ducky, ... from the bottom of my heart, ... forever and ever."

Ducky's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Petrie's loving words, and by the time he finished, the tears came down to form small streams that ran down her cheeks.

"Aww, Petrie!" she cried, "You always know how to brighten my mornings even when they already are bright! Yep, yep, yep!"

Petrie peeked over Ducky’s shoulder and noticed that her mother was watching them with a smile on her face. The Flyer smiled back and looked to his left, and he found his own mother also smiling down on them. He thought it was quite amazing that Ducky had not noticed his mother's presence yet, but he was glad because he wanted to surprise the Swimmer as much as he could.

"Ducky, ... I have one very important question to ask you," said Petrie as he looked into Ducky's tearing eyes once more.

Ducky kept her gaze directly at Petrie's eyes and felt some strange feeling in her chest. The thought of him asking her a very important question during a moment like this felt somewhat overwhelming, but she kept her composure and managed a faint smile.

"What may that be, Petrie?" she asked nervously.

Petrie took a few deep breaths to prepare himself, and he gave Ducky another faint smile.

"I love you, Ducky, ... more than you could ever imagine," the Flyer said, "Every day we're together, I feel so nourished by your love, and in return my love for you is eternal. I will always love you, Ducky, ... now and forever, ... and I could never imagine living the rest of my life without you."

Ducky felt an extremely warm sensation in her heart as Petrie's words continuously melted her emotions and brightened the smile on her face.

"Well, ... here it goes," thought Petrie as he took another deep breath, "No turning back now. It's now or never."

Finally, the Flyer slowly brought his right wing out from behind his back, and Ducky could only gasp in astonishment once she took one glance at what was in Petrie's right hand ...

It was a sapphire blue shiny stone. Its shade was as blue as fresh water and the sky, and it sparkled delicately in the Bright Circle's light.

Neither Ducky nor her mother were prepared to hear the very next words that came out of Petrie's beak ...

"Ducky, my sweet Swimmer, ... will you marry me?"

Ducky held her breath for a moment and felt her heart skip a beat. Never could she expected to hear those words from the Flyer she loved more than anything. She stared at the sapphire, then at Petrie, and at the sapphire again while she struggled to regain her breathing stability.

Everyone remained silent for a moment. The only sound that could be heard was the gentle rushing of the river, and Ducky’s heavy breathing.
Soon, the teenage Swimmer calmed down enough to find her voice again.

"I ... had never been sure if our love would go that far," she panted, "Every morning, I would wonder if others would go crazy like they did after we first fell in love, ... but deep down, I know that my love for you is stronger than anything else I had ever felt. We may have so many friends that we care so deeply about, ... and we have great families that we love so much, ... but it couldn't compare to how much I love you, Petrie. You are so caring to me, just like I am for you, and our many childhood adventures only brought us closer together until I felt my heart choosing to be with you."

Petrie smiled as he kept the sapphire firmly in his hand. Inside, though, he was feeling dreadfully nervous, as his proposal hadn’t been answered yet.

"Twelve cold times later, my heart has always felt warm whenever we’re together, and now I think it'll feel warmer than ever before," continued Ducky, then she paused and let the next stream of tears fall from her eyes, and she looked directly into Petrie's nervous eyes again, "Yes."

Petrie's eyes were wide with hope as he heard the word, "Yes."

"Yes, Petrie, my funny Flyer," said Ducky with another pause, then, by surprise, she lifted her boyfriend off the rock and squeezed him in a hug in much the same way she would do when they were kids that were roughly the same size, "I will marry you, Petrie! Yep, yep, yep!"

Petrie nearly lost his breath as Ducky's hug squeezed him hard. It seemed that it was for good reason why they didn't do these hugs very often anymore once they reached their Time of Great Growing, and Ducky grew to be considerably larger than Petrie.

The Flyer felt his chest heaving with pure happiness once he heard those words come out of the Swimmer's mouth. He smiled and felt tears of joy pouring from his eyes. There was no reason to be nervous anymore. He had finally asked his beloved one to marry him, and she had accepted. Their love for each other had reached a new height, and not so long from now, they would become mates just as they had dreamed of being during their childhoods. In fact, they would become the first interspecies mates in the Great Valley’s history. It had been their own romantic relationship that had led to the ban on interspecies relationships in the valley being abolished after such a painful hearing that took place just nine days after they fell in love with each other (with the threat of banishment). Although interspecies relationships were no longer banned, nobody wanted to try marrying someone from another species, fearing it would lead to more chaos, but on this very day, Ducky and Petrie had broken that barrier, and now they were ready to live the rest of their lives together as one very happy couple.

"I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I kept getting nervous," Petrie admitted once Ducky set him back on his feet.

"I know how you feel, Petrie," replied Ducky, "I was patiently waiting for this day to come, too, but I didn't know what to do. I'm happy that you don't have to worry anymore."

"Neither do you, my love," responded Petrie with a smile.

"I ... am stunned beyond words," came Mama Swimmer's voice accompanied by a gasp of surprise, "I never thought this day would come."

"The day that our loving children would bring their everlasting love to a whole new level," added Mama Flyer as she came down and landed next to her son.

Ducky was wide-eyed as she saw Petrie's mother come down. She had no idea she had been watching them until now.

"I'm ... just ... so surprised," the Swimmer stuttered.

"So was I, dear," her mother added as Petrie crouched down and pulled out a single line of green grass from the ground, "For twelve cold times, Ms. Flyer and I have had the pleasure of watching the two of you nourish your love for each other, ... and now, ... I'm just, ... I still can't find any words to say about it."

"Neither can I, to be honest, ... other than ... I feel so happy," chuckled Ducky.

Petrie chuckled along and twisted the line of grass before he tied two ends together around the center of the line so that it looked like a figure-eight. He then slid the sapphire into one of the gaps, leaving the other one empty.

"May this shiny stone, ... as blue as the sky I like to fly in, ... as blue as the water you love to swim in, be an engagement gift from me to you, my dear Ducky, ... a token symbolic of our faithful and sincere love ... and of the day we become mates."

"I happily accept, Petrie," smiled Ducky, and the Flyer promptly took Ducky's right hand and gently slid the shining, sparkling sapphire onto the third of the hand's four fingers, thus making their engagement official.

"Congratulations, you two," Mama Swimmer chuckled, "I'm sure you’ll both be very happy together."

"I think there's only one thing to do from here," added Mama Flyer, winking at her son, "Mrs. Swimmer, ... let's spread the word to their close friends."

"And their families," Mama Swimmer put in, "We've got quite a big event to plan!"

Ducky and Petrie blushed and giggled as their mothers gently hugged them, and within a moment, the two were off to another area of the Great Valley where they knew their kids' friends would meet up very often.

Alone at last, the two lovers smiled and brought their faces closer together before Ducky's bill made contact with Petrie's beak. In no time at all, the pair locked themselves in a passionate kiss that they had been waiting to share since the moment Ducky said "Yes," to Petrie's proposal. They gently nuzzled each other's mouths and silently moaned in pleasure as their kiss warmed their hearts and lured them to think only about each other. Now that they were engaged, and they were potentially just a short time away from their long-awaited marriage, they could already picture themselves living together in some beautiful place. This was like entering a new world that felt much more beautiful than the old one they had lived in ever since they first arrived in the Great Valley long ago. After spending twelve cold times loving and dating each other while going on a few more adventures and misadventures with Littlefoot and their other friends, they would, at long last, become family.

After nearly two whole minutes, the two broke off their kiss and smiled passionately at each other. Their hearts were beating rapidly in anticipation of the day they would become mates. They could feel it coming just a short time away.

"I feel like I can't wait for that special day to come, my love," said Petrie happily.

"Me neither, my love. Nope, nope, nope," replied Ducky.

"I wonder how many others will come? After all, it'll be the Great Valley's first interspecies marriage, and it makes us more special than ever before," said Petrie with a warm smile.

Ducky returned the smile and responded, "It sure does, Petrie. Yep, yep, yep."

"I love you, Ducky," said Petrie.

"I love you, too, Petrie," replied Ducky.

The two embraced each other in a tight hug, with Petrie wrapping his wings around Ducky's neck, while the Swimmer wrapped her arms around the Flyer's back. They nuzzled each other's cheeks lovingly as they hummed a quiet tune; a love song that they used to sing to each other as children. They still remembered the words to the tune, but most of the time they preferred to hum it nowadays.

This had become a morning that Ducky and Petrie would never forget, but a much more unforgettable day was right on the horizon ...