One of a Kind

[Mama's Girl]

(Alright, like with the role play, to give my character concept, Harper, one of Petrie's sisters, any kind of adventure it has to be forced so for my first try at a story I was going to do...something else, but this idea is all I could find to run with, so I think I can pull it off )

I: Wrong Side of the Nest

For about the a millionth time, Petrie banged his head against the wall of his cave home.

"Petrie!" a young girl's voice exclaimed in surprised, one of his sisters, Harper, coming over and helping walk him away from the wall. "That can't be helping your sniffles" Harper went on.

She'd forgotten how antsy Petrie could be, her brother often being off on an adventure with his friends while she either played tag or something with the others or just amused herself around the nest helping her mom out.

"Here" Harper went on, helping Petrie, who didn't see to care about much at the moment, to sit against the other wall of the cave.

Here he finally let lose his frustrations and groaned, "Why me can't lay in nest again, it comfy".

"It's not fixed" Harper replied, and as her brother just stared at her, she sighed and explained more, "Mom was complaining our nest looks...shambly or something, so I'm going to fix it".

After saying this she walked over and pulled out one of the twigs of the nest that she felt stuck out a bit too much. Petrie watched her, just staring at the comfy spot in the middle of the nest where he wanted to be laying and not the floor.

He started crawling over, his sniffles making him not have much energy at all. He slowly started crawling over the side of the nest to get inside.

"Petrie no!" Harper rushed over and, plucking her brother up, set him to the side on the floor again, though to Petrie it felt like he was thrown.

Harper sighed as she looked at the branches Petrie had bent out of shape, "You ruined it!' she went back to straightening them up as Petrie sighed and rested his head back, staring out at the upside down landscape outside the cave. He wished his mama would hurry up and get back to the nest and save him from his psycho, in a nest fixing fit, sister.

His mother would let him lay in comfy nest, being sick and all! Petrie thought to himself with a slight frown.

For her part, Harper didn't mean to be hard to deal with, and hadn't meant to literally throw her brother out of the nest, she was just distracted with the thought of making it perfect for her mom.

Once she was done she smiled and her focus dropped from that so she could take in the rest of her surroundings. First thing she noticed was Petrie laying sprawled out on the floor.

Smiling she helped him sit up, "You should be in the nest not the floor if you're sick, Petrie" she told him helping him over to it. She got the oddest look from her brother as she said this...

Choosing to not point out that he'd only been on the floor because she'd thrown him there, Petrie instead went to the next thing he could think of. "You seen me snuggling stick?".

"Oh, yeah sure" Harper glanced about for it, frowning when she couldn't locate the stick her brother always used for comfort. "Well it was right..." Harper paused and her beak dropped. She stared at the nest.

"What?" Petrie asked.

"You're gonna hate me..." Harper began, "but...I think I put it in the nest...".

"What!" Petrie began to pry at bits of the nest to look, Harper immediately flying over to stop him, "No! Petrie, I just fixed that!". She struggled to push Petrie's hands away from tearing at the nest while he tried to push them back to looking for his snuggling stick again.

"you lost me snuggling stick!".

"I did not, you're probably sitting or laying on it, so...well...same difference".

"Not it not!".

(ooc: going with the name I've seen others use for Petrie's mom)

As Tory returned to her nest, she smiled with the thought that today atleast there shouldn't be any drama or problems like one got with a whole brood of flyer hatchlings most times. She'd only left two of her children alone at the nest so things there should be quiet except for Petrie having the sniffles.

"Ok kids I'm ba-" Tory paused at the scene in front of her.

"Petrie stop it!"

"Me stick!".

Tory sighed and brought a wing up to her head, "Ok..." she walked over, "what's going on?".

Two young voices answered at the same time, "Harper throw me on floor and put snuggling stick in nest!" Petrie's stuffed up voice said.

"Petrie's ruining all the work I did on the nest, and I did not!" she answered what she heard her brother say.

"Yes you do!".

"Ok" Tory interrupted the kids, "one at a time, now then Petrie, you're sick so go on and tell me first".

"That's not fair!" Harper immediately pointed out, crossing her wings.

"Harper" the slight almost in trouble tone in her mother's voice caused the girl to hush up.

"Well me gots snifflies but Harper wouldn't let me be in nest because she says she has to "clean it up", so she threw me on floor" Petrie said, "and then she put me snuggling stick in nest!".

"It was an accident!" Harper protested, "both of them!".

"Alright kids..." Tory started to try to interrupt. Petrie as frowning in that half mad way of his whenever his siblings had rubbed him wrong.

"Me gonna go find Guido!" he pushed past his sister and walked towards the cave exit. Harper had since learned that finding or being around Guido was like a sign of her brother being mad at them. Thing was most times he got mad at them it was for something that was his fault! Like this!

"Well maybe I'll go..." Harper broke off, she didn't have any close friends she could always find like Petrie's, "...find someone better than you!" she ended with, feeling it fell flat.

"That is enough!" Tory stopped Petrie's walking towards the exit of the cave, picking him up. "Petrie, you are not going anywhere sick, now I'm sure Harper didn't mean any of it and we can gently search for your stick in the nest, ok?" she asked both kids as she set Petrie down nest to Harper.

Brother and sister glanced to each other then away from each other annoyed, "Fine".

It was cooperation enough for the moment, "Great" Tory started the delicate task of searching the nest. By her expert knowledge of how she'd built this nest and all it didn't take all that long and she could even do it with minimal damage.

"There" she handed Petrie his stick, "now everything's fixed" she smiled.

Petrie hugged his stick "Hey..it got bent" he frowned, not really making a comment against his sister, really, but Harper still looked pretty insulted.

"Well I'm not nest put with snifflies so I'll see you later!" and before her mother could stop her she flew off away from the cave to maybe find her other siblings who were not so annoying or...something. Tory sighed, somehow it seemed like it was always something.

(Well, first chappie that just sets up and doesn't exactly give away the point of the story...yet, but this little sibling spat is useful later as you'll see )

[Pterano]

Poor Petrie... and well, poor Harper for not having much luck. XD I liked the end bit, how Petrie didn't directly comment about something she'd done, but it still felt insulting all the same. I'll see where this story goes, as it does seem like you're going to take it somewhere. It's alright if the first chapter doesn't have major revelations. It had enough of a hook though I'd say to keep me reading.

Though I think Petrie would be more likely to say "You lose my snuggling stick!" rather than losted, although he DOES make up words as well. XD He generally uses "Me" to indicate "I" when he speaks, and usually will just say "my" if something belongs to him. Petrie is interesting though, because his speech is not always consistent. In the Stone of Cold Fire for example, in the very beginning, he uses "I" when he says "Oh, I say, gee, that sure be the worst!" when Cera asked him to repeat himself. I think that's one of the few instances of him using "I" though, as he always says "me" in place of it.

[vonboy]

Nice little opening, showing the antics between Petrie and one of his sisters. I'm waiting for some action though

Update it soon!

[Mama's Girl]

(Thanks for the reviews so far Well someone asked for action and here...well it's not full action, but we're getting there)

II: Don't Understand

Harper hadn't had much luck in finding anyone to complain to about the incident with Petrie, at least not anyone in her age bracket anyway. So somehow the kid found herself telling Tria all about it just to tell someone. Of course, Tria's first statement in finding out who she was hadn't helped Harper out. "Oh yes, one of Cera's little flyer friend, Petrie's sisters, right?".

"Yes, and Cera's little flyer friend Petrie does nothing but cause trouble!" she crossed her wings.

Tria smiled, "Ah one of those little daily sibling arguments, yes I'm learning about those while Topsy's oldest is with us and we're watching sweet little Dinah and Dana, oh but those two can argue" she shook her head.

Harper sighed, trying to remember to be polite while she was so upset and Miss Tria's talking about her own problems was kind of more annoying.

Tria laughed, "Well, just remember, boys take extra understanding from us girls at times" she winked and even gave the little hatchling a friendly nudge with her nose, chucking at her own joke that Harper didn't catch. "And, speaking of those two little imps I should go make sure they're staying out of trouble". Harper nodded as the adult threehorn walked off.

Left alone again, the hatchling just sighed again, staring off at the dinosaurs roaming about the Great Valley as she pondered. "I was just trying to help" she muttered to herself, "and I didn't mean to put his stupid snuggling stick in the nest" she sighed.

A slight rustling drew Harper's attention and she glanced over to see a bush that was shaking. The little flyer watched it until the shaking stopped enough for the head of a runner poked out, looking sort of like that hidden runner was suppose to, only a plainer brown and not so "mysterious". It was followed by another.

Harper tilted her head, looking at the two in curiosity as they seemed to notice her and instantly grin, before calming the look into a more normal one. "A flyer!" the one on left had whispered, before his companion jabbed him in the ribs to shut him up. He smiled as they both walked out.

"Um, well hey there little Miss" the runner nodded to her, something that surprised Harper.

"Um...hi" she said.

"My friend and I seem to be sort of lost, um would this be the Great Valley?" the first runner asked. Harper nodded. "Oh, good" the runner went on, "and would you happen to know where the sinking sands would be?".

His friend looked puzzled, "Why do we wanna know where the sinking sands are?" he asked. Giving an annoyed frown, the first runner turned to him, "If you'll wait I'll tell you when we get there!" he replied tightly.

Harper frowned, "W-why do you want to go to the sinking sands?" she asked.

The runners looked at eachother, "Um...reasearch" the first said, "you see, we're...well, sort of Finders Outers, as we call it ourselves" he chuckled a bit, "we figure out things no one else has thought to ask".

"Why?" Harper asked.

"Well to know the answers of course" the runner said.

"No" Harper shook her head, realizing these two had misunderstood he question, "Why did no one else ask...um, the things you find out?".

"Oh, don't know" the runner said, "that can be another question for the list" he smiled to her, "you know you're quite sharp, maybe you should think about joining up on the team there, helping us out?".

"No..." Harper glanced to the bright circle, "I think I should really be home by now" she stood to flap off

"Oh wait!" the first runner said, "you see, I was sort of hoping you could show us the sinking sands, since we're new and don't know the way and all" he smiled.

"Me?" Harper asked. It was an odd request.

"Yeah, since you can fly and all and...it would be easier" the second runner said and then smiled like he'd come up with something genius.

Harper thought a bit longer, "Well...all of us kids are sort of not suppose to go there alone..." she began.

The first runner laughed, "But you wouldn't be alone, you'd be with full fledged adults" he said, indicating him and his friend. Harper glanced between them.

"I...I don't think I...no thanks" she stood and as she looked like she might fly off, both runner's looked worried.

The second one suddenly sighed, "Oh well, Plan B" he said. Faster than Harper could take stock of, he whipped out a net of vines and swooped it over her, instantly trapping her.

"H-hey! What!" Harper twisted and wiggled, but couldn't get out, she just glanced between her two now captors.

"Get her to the others" the first whispered, "I'll make sure we're still in the clear and no one saw". With a nod the second runner, holding Harper's net, darted off back into the bushes and off across the landscape of the Valley with her. Harper wasn't liking the sound of any of this. Who were these "others" and where was she going?

~~~~

As Tria walked back over to her and her family's sleeping space, she frowned at the rather odd sight before her. The oldest of her step daughters, Dinah and Dana's mother, as described to Harper, now stood before Topsy looking upset and Cera stood beside her looking shocked. Both expressions Tria instantly didn't like.

"W-what's going on?" she walked up.

"It's the twins..." Dinah and Dana's mother said, the young adult threehorn looking beside herself, "They...they're gone!".

"Are you sure they're not just playing off some-" Topsy began, walking up to his oldest daughter again.

"Do you think I didn't check!" she snapped back at her father before frowning in worry again.

Topsy was silent, thinking over how resourceful he'd always taught all his kids to be, no, if the twins were lost it wasn't for lack of checking. "We'll call a meeting, have every inch of the Valley searched for either the twins or any indication of where they might have gone".

Most of his family followed as Old Threehorn walked over to inform the Longnecks and others. Cera stood there a bit and then darted over to find Littlefoot and the others, knowing that the five of them could get more progress going on this than their parents.

[Pterano]

Ahhh yes, I figured there was something suspicious with those runners, and it seems they're out kidnapping young ones. I take it since Harper is your main character, she'll be rising to the occasion in this story.

Makes me wonder exactly what this plot is that those runners have going on now.

[vonboy]

Yeah, I'm interested in what these fast runners are up to as well. Why do they want to know where the sinking sands are?

This wasn't a whole lot of action, but it had mystery in it, which can be just as good.

Keep it up

[Mama's Girl]

(I'm just in a writing mood here Oh, yeah just hang on, the plot's...well it's something and I won't say much more to give away anything but the sinking sands was just a ploy to get Harper away from adult supervision, no they don't need sinking sands, thankfully for the kids :/
Oh and Pterano I did catch what you said on Petrie's speech in the first chapter and yeah I know I re-read and need to major edit some parts since I found full contractions in some of Petrie's speech! I'll get to it but here's the next chapter I have ready and I'm afraid your questions might have to wait until the next chapter to be answered a bit )
 
III: Can't Be
 
"Guys, we got a problem!" Cera exclaimed as she burst over to where Littlefoot, Ducky and Spike were huddled about a rock where Petrie sat next to Guido, obviously having snuck out for a complaining session to his glider friend who was known to help with his sibling issues, as well as his other friends.
 
"Well Petrie, I'm sure..." Guido was cut off as everyone noticed Cera burst into the clearing. Littlefoot immediately noticed his friend's agitated state. "What is it Cera?" he asked, walking up.
 
"It's Dinah and Dana" Cera sighed, "They're gone again, only this time I wasn't watching them so I don't have any idea where they could be, but my sister seems pretty sure they didn't just wander off".
 
"The grown-ups are already having a meeting" she went on as Ducky, Spike, Petrie and Guido walked up, "but I figured...well we know what it's like waiting on them!" the young threehorn sighed.
 
Littlefoot remained quiet for a bit after hearing all this, just thinking as the others frowned in worry. "Oh, I do not like to think of those poor little kids lost, I don't, I don't" Ducky said with a frown.
 
"Where they go this time?" Petrie wondered.
 
"Come on" Littlefoot suddenly said, walking off back towards the rock circle the grown-ups always met at, "if we at least listen to some of what the grown-ups say it might help us know where to start looking for where they might have gone if it is just that".
 
"Hope it's just that" Guido breathed.
 
Cera was so impatient, and the glider's words didn't help, she would have rather headed off to start a search now, but Littlefoot's argument made sense, so with a sigh she followed the others as they all headed towards where the grown-ups were meeting.
 
~~~~
 
Even if the gang hadn't all known to wait quietly at the edge of the circle as the grown-ups talked, the tone of the conversation made them anyway.
 
"You're telling me there's kidnappers going about the Valley and your first act was to call a meeting getting us to leave our kids alone!" the dinosaur known as Mrs. Mia yelled so loud it made Topsy himself flinch.
 
"Now I didn't say to bring or not bring 'em" Topsy nonetheless was quick with a defensive answer, "Plus far as I hear the other kids are fine!".  
 
"W-well I'm not sure" a voice said. Petrie immediately glanced over as he saw it was his own mother. As she glanced aside in thought or something and scanned, she seemed to spot out Petrie with his friends and as the little hatchling worried he was in trouble for having snuck out, he was surprised at the emotion he saw in his mother's eyes, relief.
 
"Tory?" it was Ducky's mother who walked closer to prod along the flyer who had caused a hush in the talk as she'd said this. Coming back to the moment, Tory went on, "A few of the other flyers have said they'll keep an eye on what kids they can, like they do during these meetings" the dark blue flyer went on, "and I'm sure where all of my kids are...but for one".
 
Ducky glanced to Petrie, as if to say maybe he should tell his mother he was here, but the small flyer just shook his head, no his mother knew where he was...
 
"I haven't seen Harper all day, not since I foolishly let her fly off on her own" Tory's voice all but cracked as she went on. There were gasps and then a stunned silence.
 
"I...I saw her not a while ago" Tria informed, "before noticing the twins were gone. Not after that but...well I just wasn't checking before as we all rushed here". Tory nodded as the pink threehorn tried to excuse away why she might not have seen the little one to put her mother at ease. It hardly helped.
 
"Well...we'll add your Harper to the list to be looked for, and I pray your assumption is wrong" Topsy's grave voice went on. Ducky's mother instantly took up the flyer's hand and as Tory glanced over at her, Mrs. Swimmer and her locked eyes in an understanding so deep it further broke Tory's heart. Mrs. Swimmer didn't say a word, she knew they wouldn't help, she just stood there silently providing support.
 
Petrie noticed the rest of his friends were glancing to him as well but he didn't notice, just stared at his mother, at that look, that look that seemed somehow to just know. No. Harper was here in the Valley. His sister didn't go anywhere, none of them did! She...she couldn't be...
 
Every angry and annoyed word both Petrie and his sister had thrown about in their frustration seemed to replay to the hatchling's mind again. Now that he thought of it, he probably really had started it. Petrie glanced down, "Me...me not mean it Harper..." he whispered. He felt Ducky hug him.
 
"We're going to start up a search party to scout for the kids we know of and also take an account of the other young one's about to be sure, who..." Topsy didn't even finish asking for volunteers before a very good size group was got up.
 
Petrie glanced up and this time his frown was different. He watched the adults moving off for a bit, wiped at his stuffed up beak once more and then, without a word to any of his friends, turned and began to flap off.
 
"Petrie..." Guido had at first tried to call his friend back as he worried Petrie was flying off to be alone in his upset state yet as all five of the remaining young ones watched they suddenly realized Petrie was aiming high, aiming for...outside the Valley.
 
"Petrie no, come back!" Ducky jumped off Spike's back and began to run, "you are sick and you do not know where to go!". The others turned and began to run after where Petrie was going as well.
 
"I'll get him" Guido flew high to try and catch up to and stop Petrie from in the air since he was the only one who could possibly do it.

[Pterano]

Darn, you're right. No answers for me this time. Ah well, I must keep reading in that case.

Seems Petrie is determined to head off into the Mysterious Beyond. I liked Ducky's words at the end there. Sort of... foreboding in a way. I think the biggest thing I'm still thinking about though is why those fast runners are abducting children, but my answers will need to wait. XD

[Mama's Girl]

(Hmm, do these runners even need names? hehe, yeah probably eventually. Again thankies to those reviewing and here's where the tree sweets get spilled on what's running through these crazy runner's heads!)
 
IV: More Information
 
Despite there being holes in the net of vines, Harper still wasn't able to see much of where they went, just felt the air grow chillier as night fell and the light failed even more. She also just listened for anything that might give a clue and tried to tell herself it wasn't happening. She wasn't being drug who knew how many miles away from home to who knew where!
 
"Some kind of swimmer and we'd probably have it all up" the runners were talking again as the second one said this.
 
"Let's not stretch the group too much, only so many kids at a time" the other one said. Try as she might, Harper couldn't make this statement make sense. She just felt even more fear well up, what was going on?
 
Harper next caught another sound nearby, like that of frightened babbling. There was a "Oh hush up!" and then it stopped and the little flyer didn't want to think on how the runners might have got this cooperation. The torturously long walk of not knowing where they were going finally, finally ended as with an unexpected tilt Harper found herself flung out into the open once more.
 
She immediately, almost off a flyer's instincts on such, glanced to the sky first to get her bearings of where she was. The inky blackness above also told her of what she already knew, it was night. They were all in a depression or something of the land, with tall walls of rock about that Harper's gaze of the sky took in as well, almost like the Great Valley only smaller, seeming to be just a clearing with not much in it.
All this noticing only took a stunned moment or two and while she was thus distracted the runner carrying her net bent down and fastened vines about her wings before the thought of flight could enter her head.
 
"Just for a bit" his companion answered with a smile as Harper turned to them, "we'll only need you flying when we ask". That sounded more scary somehow. Harper continued her looking about at where they were and noticed next where the whimpering had probably come from as the other runner had emptied from his net two little threehorn twins. Those one's of Mr. Threehorn's oldest daughter who visited sometimes, Harper was able to recognize.
 
The two were only a bit bigger from when they had visited before being at least better at talking because the dark gray little boy immediately turned to the runners and yelled in his little kid voice, "You let us go now!". He only got a laugh from them at this.
 
"I'm afraid that's not going to happen" the first runner who had carried the twin's net said, "but don't worry, we didn't invite you kids here to hurt you".
 
"Invited my tail" a voice muttered and Harper and the twins turned to see an older spiketail kid, with full if short plates and a tail with enough spikes to defend somewhat. He glared at the runner's, "I've already felt a full day of you two's "learning" and if you think you're going to pull these kids into it too...".
 
"I'd hush that mouth of yours as we now have leverage" the first runner said, suddenly reaching over and hoisting Harper up around her neck. She stilled, eyes going wide in fear. The older spiketail kid looked stunned and then frowned.
 
"Now no angry words..." the runner drawled out, "We can find more kids and you wouldn't want the guilt of her injury on your head would ya?". As the spiketail kid glanced aside, the runner set Harper down and she immediately scrambled away. Dinah and Dana were still and quiet as well in fear now.
 
"Now let's not get off on the wrong foot" the second runner said, "after all you kids are mainly here because we need your opinions and help".
 
"Exactly" the first one smiled, "but you must be tired from the trip, so we'll go into all of it in the morning" he said, "Night and no going anywhere, like you could" he chuckled. The runner moved to pat the kids' heads in a parody of affection but they all jerked away with angry scowls, so he left it be.
 
As soon as they were gone, Harper turned to the older spiketail kid to see him walking up. "Cowards!" he called once it was safe and the runners wouldn't hear him and/or do anything to any of them over the insult. He then sighed, "Here, I don't know what I can do about the little one's, but let me cut those vines" he bent to try and snap the vines holding Harper's wings, but the runners had known what to choose apparently since no matter how he tried it he just couldn't.
 
"It's ok...I don't know if I could have left without the twins anyway" Harper said as the spiketail stepped back looking defeated, "W-where are we?".
 
The spiketail sighed, "I don't exactly know, oh name's Ridge by the way" he gave a small smile.
 
"I'm Harper" the flyer introduced.
 
"Dinah"
"Dana" the twins gave their name's too with smiles.
 
"Pleased ta meet ya" Ridge smiled before frowning again, "Anyway, I don't know where we are, they had me blindfolded and drug along as quick as they could carry me from my own nest. Imagine! Kid my age and with full spikes no less!" he showed his tail. Harper noticed they were more pin-prick sharp than full spikes but didn't say anything to be polite.
 
"Anyway" Ridge went on, "I've only been here a day myself full but it was enough for them to start with the 'lessons'" he sighed.
 
"What...what kind of lessons?" Harper asked. The twins were silent but looked very interested in the answer.
 
Ridge shook his head. "They...they're insane that's what!" he said, "did they feed you that line, about being 'finders outers'?" he asked. Harper nodded.
 
"We just gots grabbed" Dinah said.
 
"Yeah" Ridge sighed, "Probably didn't go through an elaborate story for you, well Crazy is what they should have told you they are! They want the impossible! They...they want to be the best, of everyone, every kind". As Harper and the twins looked just confused still, Ridge wasn't surprised.
 
"I...I don't get it" Harper said.
 
"Sane dinosaurs wouldn't!" Ridge said, "they...the lessons aren't for us, they're for them to learn stuff from us. Yesterday they...".
 
From around a corner where the runners were obviously staying not too far away so as to watch the kids, one of them peeked his head around the corner. "Hey now, let's stop all the chit-chat and get to sleep. Big day tomorrow". He disappeared again.
 
Ridge sneered, "Yeah like to see them do some of the..." he muttered. Looking to Harper and the twins again he sighed, "Well I guess you'll find out more of what I mean tomorrow but don't worry I'm still working on a plan of getting out of here. It can't be too hard" he finished, only sounding half convinced himself.
 
Harper held in her sigh at this statement and the situation she was now in. Ridge settled down and Dinah and Dana immediately moved over to nestle beside him. Harper walked over as well and found that leaned against Ridge was  probably the most comfortable way she was going to be able to lay or get to sleep with her wings still behind her as the runners had tied them.
 
As she lay there, she gazed up at the night sky from beyond the rock formations. If she imagined real hard she could maybe convince herself she was still in the Valley, huddling up with her siblings once more beside her mom, as safe and sound as a hatchling could get. But she wasn't. Instead she had no idea where she was except for outside the Great Valley, and she'd never been outside the Great Valley without her mom before. Never found her way there except with her mom and while in a huge herd.
 
Harper closed her eyes and blinked back tears. Even if she did figure out where she was...she couldn't get herself out of this. Petrie would be able to get himself out of something like this, he did it all the time actually with those friends of his. Harper couldn't.
 
Hearing the little hatchling beside him sniffle, Ridge frowned, "Hey...it's ok, we'll get out of this" he said.
 
"H-have you ever been alone before, Ridge?" Harper asked shakily.
 
There was a pause, then. "Only once, and only for a day, but I did manage to find my herd again, though mainly due to luck" he chuckled a bit. Harper had turned to look at him, and Ridge met her gaze seriously now, "but...I promise you Harper, I'll get you and the twins home" he smiled.
 
He could have been just bluffing, but...there was something in that look. Harper instantly believed him. She nodded with a small smile, then rolled back over to try and get some sleep.

[vonboy]

I REALLY like this chapter! It's finally kind of explaining what's going on, and it's kind of confirming my suspicions from two chapters ago. I'll white it out, so people won't get spoiled if they don't want to.

IT"S TIME FOR ANOTHER INSANE HAIR-BRAINED THEORY TIME!!!

Now, when those two fast runners first came up, I instantly thought rainbowfaces. Those two just painted a picture to me in that previous chapter to being some kind of aliens, like the rainbowfaces from the stone of cold fire. This latest chapter kind of confirms that for me. It seems like these two want to learn as much as possible from a variety of dinosaurs, just like alien researchers would. Though, these guys are going about it in a very different way than the rainbowfaces. I REALLY think these two are aliens, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Anyway, this story is very exciting so far. Most "Villians" in LBT are just hungry sharpteeth. It is very rare for there to be actual villans in LBT, characters with actual motives and reasons for kidnapping or harming other characters.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter!

[Mama's Girl]

Hey, don't have another chapter yet, I don't write that fast LOL. Just wanted to say thankyou for the review and I love your insane hair-brained theories here and in other stories . I'm not telling you if you're correct yet, that would ruin the story but...you're thinking on the right lines...and...well anymore would be telling LOL

[vonboy]

LOL, whenever I say that, I'm not really trying to tell people to hurry up. I'm mostly just showing that I'm like the story, and I'm interested in reading what happens next. It's just to enforce that the writer is doing a good job.

[Pterano]

Interesting thought, vonboy, and it seems like it's being confirmed in a non direct manner by the fic's author. XD

Since I have nothing better to go on at the moment, I'll go with your guess. XD

Poor Harper. I like how you compared her to Petrie, and how she doesn't feel capable of escaping like he could, but then again, I'm sure she'll be meeting the challenge in this story, and crafting her own sort of adventure. Good OCs you have going on here. Ridge is pretty interesting, and seems a good partner for Harper in this upcoming misadventure.

[Mama's Girl]

(Well I didn't say he was "right" right just...well perhaps I should just stop saying Oh and I knew you didn't mean it as a rush vonboy

Well, after this chapter we catch back up with Harper and the others and then maybe some further info will be shed on the full mystery of this all)
 
V: Further Info and Help

"Petrie! Slow down!" Cera called as they all struggled to keep pace with the little flyer. While keeping up himself, Littlefoot glanced over to Cera to tell her how they both knew that wasn't going to be happening. Petrie had long since lead them over the wall and into the Mysterious Beyond. They still had no idea if he even had a single clue to go off or if they were just following him out in a blind chase. Probably the last one.

Guido now flew beside his flyer friend, but still Petrie kept on. "So..." the glider figured he'd voice the concern they all had, "is there a plan to us going this way? Or...".

"Cera's sleeping spot on side of Great Valley this side of Mysterious Beyond on to" Petrie said, still keeping his eyes forward, scanning as he flew, "if someone take twins and...me sister, they gots to go this way too". Guido was hit with two thoughts. First off how much sense that actually made and being sort of impressed with Petrie's logic, second was a wave of pity at the way the guilt ridden hatchling could barely mention his sister.

"Petrie...you couldn't have known" he said. The hatchling frowned, yet rather than answer he just scanned about once more.

Cera meanwhile was all eyes and ears. Petrie's plan of rushing out had been brash, but now that they were here on the quest, best find anything she could on where Dinah and Dana could be as well. Of course the threehorn knew there was a very good chance both sets of missing kids had nothing to do with each other, but it gave her hope to sort of think they did. It was a place to start where she had none.
 
As they all moved off along a flat, if semi-barren plain, a thumping suddenly interrupted them and the kids all paused. Petrie and Guido even flew down closer to their friends as they saw some bushes off to the right parting. Guido looked upset but before he could even begin to fearfully ask what it was, the bushes completed giving way and a herd of harmless spiketails came out.
 
Harmless but for one of them almost stepping on Guido. The glider screamed and ducked back behind Cera, much to the threehorn's annoyance a bit. The adult checked his progress, noticing the kids. "Ah, terribly sorry there" he said, "I didn't see you kids, 'fraid I'm a big preoccupied" he let out a sigh.
 
"Well that's no reason to go stepping on kids!" Cera shot out. Littlefoot sent her a look.
 
"Um, that's ok sir" he next told the spiketail before attempting to walk past. The adult and the rest of the herd watched as the kids passed them. Ducky tensed a bit at this attention too.
 
"H-hold on there" the adult called. The kids paused, but Ducky immediately jumped from Spike's back to stand in front of her brother a bit protectively, causing Littlefoot to suddenly understand her tension of before. They were in front of a spiketail herd again, and the last one had tried to effectively steal Spike, though with good intentions; the little swimmer feared that was what was drawing their attention this time too.
 
The spiketail proved this wrong though by going on, "You...you kids haven't by chance seen another young one? A spiketail, a bit older than you I would guess?".
 
"No sir we haven't" Littlefoot said as some of the others glanced to each other. More missing kids? Outside the Valley even?
 
"Ah" the spiketail sighed and glanced down. Some more of his herd moving forward, including a female who nuzzled him.
 
"Our son, Ridge, disappeared a few days ago overnight" the female explained, "and we've been searching ever since but...with no clues".
 
The male glanced over at them again, "You...you kids should get yourselves on home too. It's late and your parents are probably worried as well".
 
Ducky now felt just awful for suspecting these spiketails. She stepped forward, "We can not do that, oh no, we can not" she said, "we have lost people too, Cera's little niece and nephew and Petrie's sister" she indicate the threehorn and flyer.
 
Now it was the spiketail herd's turn to glance to each other with the bad feeling this news brought. The male frowned deeper, "Well I'm sorrier than you know to hear that" and he sounded it. "Please, allow us to provide escort while searching out our own clues, or lack thereof".
 
Littlefoot had just opened his mouth to speak, when Cera, tired of standing there for one, and now not liking the intrusion, interrupted, "Thanks but no thanks, we'll be fine" she said.
 
"Cera" Littlefoot glanced over at her. The threehorn stood her ground though and despite the fact that following Cera could lead to trouble, like the trip to the Great Valley in the first place; Ducky, Petrie and Spike noted the threehorn's determination and fell in line behind it.
 
"Um, yeah, we probably be fine" Petrie said.
 
Littlefoot sighed, he knew the others, Cera included, trusted him but there were times Cera's stubbornness got the others to believe in things the threehorn wasn't certain of herself and it was just frustrating. As the adults took in the shock of the kids refusal, talking amongst themselves, Littlefoot incited a similar talk amongst his friends.
 
"Cera, they're just trying to help, and what if it helps us find the twins and Harper quicker?" Littlefoot pointed out.
 
"We've never needed adult help before!" Cera shot back, "they'll just get in the way! We've got this!".

"Their son is gone too" Littlefoot argued, " At about the same time. Something bigger is going on here and if we both have clues that could help each other out".

"Have you seen how slow a spiketail herd moves! they won't be any help at all" Cera went on. Littlefoot sighed.

"Me just wanna get moving again" Petrie broke in, "wanna find...anything".

"And that's exactly what we're gonna do!" Cera went on, "Come on!" she started walking again. Petrie, feeling the same impatience as Cera due to his worry, quickly flapped up after the threehorn and Guido of course had to follow him. It was like watching the split during the trip to the Great Valley again, only...

Ducky and Spike didn't move at first. Spike glanced to his sister and Ducky looked down where Cera, Petrie and Guido were heading and then to Littlefoot. "We should not let them go off alone, we shouldn't, we shouldn't". She was saying they should follow, of course, but...she wasn't just turning and following Cera. She believed in him, in his "side", though Littlefoot hardly cared about that.

Not that he faulted Petrie or even Cera, they just wanted their family back now. Littlefoot turned back to the spiketail herd, "Our parents are looking for clues in the Great Valley too, maybe..." the longneck paused, he was essentially getting them told on for sneaking off, but it couldn't be helped.

Ridge's father filled in the gaps though and nodded, "I know our leader knows the way to the famous wall" he turned to the herd leader who nodded, "you all go on, tell them of what we know, I've got the kids whether they'll take my help or not". He turned back to Littlefoot, Ducky and Spike. The really little spiketail grinned and Ducky giggled.

"Come on" Ridge's father said, "let's catch up to the know it all threehorn".

[Mama's Girl]

(Well thanks for the reviews so far, of course, and so glad you could see what I meant to do, Pterano, in that I'm not insulting my own character saying Harper can't do anything, she just doesn't feel she can, but obviously part of the larger group that helped Petrie save Guido has more in her than she knows she does and part of this story is her finding that out

Well, the runners do more talking and I'm not sure if clues further into this are given outright but I am working at more being revealed as you will all see Oh, and in case you were wondering I'll explain why I have the twins older. I just figured in the time it took for Tricia's egg to be laid and hatched, not to mention any other time that might have passed between the movies, it's reasonable the twins went from like toddler 2ish to 3 or 4 equivalent and thus talking. Knew you probably didn't need that explained, but I did anyway. )

VI: First Day's Trials
 
The next morning, as Harper awoke and blinked up at the rising bright circle, the walls about and fact that the sky never changed no matter where you were threw her once more and it took her a few seconds to realize she wasn't at home. Far from it. She was resting against a spiketail kid she'd just met yesterday, Ridge, with the twins nearby.

"Morning!" the two runners returned and all four kids stood, frowning in their direction. Ridge frowned worst of all, probably because he knew what to expect from today where as the younger kids didn't.

"Oh, now, don't go looking at us like that, like we're monsters doing you kids harm" the second runner said. "Like we said, we just need you to show us a thing or two and we even went and gathered breakfast for you so you won't have to!". The runner emptied out his arms of treestars and his companion had even found some treesweets which he dropped down for the kids before releasing Harper's vine bonds to be in front so she could at least eat.

Harper felt her stomach rumble, but was still determined not to take up the offer, almost to spite these runners and their ill intent. The twins backed her up on this apparently.

"You 'spect us to eat those?" Dana said.

"Yeah, ya might'a pois'ned 'em" Dinah added.

"Fine, no sharptooth bites on us if you kids want to go through the day's activities without food" the other runner crossed his arms uncaring.

Ridge again knew more of what was coming than the others and sighed, "We...really should eat before...it all starts. We have no choice but to trust they wouldn't poison us just yet" he narrowed his eyes at the runners.

"Your faith is reassuring" the first one smiled.

Harper, Dinah and Dana still waited and watched as Ridge took up a treestar and ate, watching him chew and not die for a few moments before getting up the courage to follow suit. Dinah and Dana each cautiously ate at a treesweet. Reaching into the pile, Harper picked up a treestar for herself and just stared.

It had been hidden underneath all the others, but as she pulled out the first treestar her little hands found and held out the food as big as her with both hands, she could only stare at the bright, vivid red color of the thing. Figured. Oh it so figured! Apparently Uncle Pterano had gotten the story a bit wrong and you didn't even have to eat the things to get bad luck since she and the others already had piles of it!

As Harper stood there, staring at the treestar, frowning and just feeling more sick, an idea slowly hit her. If you asked her, deep down, whether or not she believed the stories of a tickly red treestar being bad luck she would have told you that she wasn't sure. Uncle Pterano made everything he said sound like he'd actually done it or knew of it, and she didn't think he'd just up and lie about something like this, but her mother was the one the little one trusted to ultimately tell her how the world worked. Her mother was the one she was going to be like when she grew up, strong, so tough when she had to be that even Mr. Threehorn had to listen to her, yet caring and smart.

Harper's clues for when Uncle Ptearno was "saying too much" or just "not saying it right" came when her mother got this look on her face, and the tale of a red treestar got that look a lot. So it could be true, or it could not be true. And if it was true...well, her mother would never do what Harper was now thinking of, but she was still young and they did all but deserve it.

The little hatchling smiled at the two runners, "You know what, you're right; we should be more grateful for you looking out for us and all". The others looked at Harper as she said this. She'd explain later. "Here" she handed up the red treestar, "you can have the first pick" she smiled, all innocent, and all the while, for once, wishing and hoping Uncle Pterano had been right about this and she could watch a bit of well deserved bad things hit these two.

They fell for it too. "Why thank you" the second runner took the treestar and the two broke and shared it.

~~

Nothing happened during the kids breakfast, but then Harper figured it would probably take a while. Her focus was put to other things very soon, anyway as they were all lead further out to an open part of the small clearing.

"Now then, yesterday, before finding you three as well, we got to see some of the young spiketail's tricks, how about today we start with threehorn stuff" the runner speaking smiled to the twins. He hauled Dana out first, the second one moving over to be close to the others so they could enforce their motivation both ways. Dinah's step out to try and halt her brother being taken was paused as the runner griped his neck lightly, reminding her of the threat.

"And of course unless we want your sister and the others injured, we'll do as I say" he reminded Dana. So Harper, Dinah and Ridge could only watch as the runner walked over with Dana half following to a big rock.

"Now, first off, of course taking into account your young age, as we did with the spiketail yesterday, let's see if we can't get some feel of a threehorn's strength".

"He...he's not gonna..." Harper gasped and glanced over to Ridge who just shut his eyes, answering the question enough for the young flyer.

"A rock just a bit that way has the scratch marks from them figuring out stuff about how hard I could hit with my tail" Ridge nonetheless told the two girls.

Dinah frowned, "But that rock's big, it'll hurt his head!".

"Quiet you three" the runner watching them shushed.

"Now, let's give it a good running start, shall we, so we can get the best information" the runner grinned. As she watched, Harper thought on how this could be worse actually, Dana would after all only have to hit the rock as hard as he dared. The little threehorn seemed to still be trying to think up a way out of this, but there wasn't any and so he steadies his footing and then ran, striking the rock and not seeming to dazed by it. The other kids sighed as he seemed ok. The runner bent to look, and Harper soon saw how this could get ugly.

"I'm afraid we're going to need a bit better than that" the runner criticized.

"But he'd just a kid, that's as hard as he ca-" Harper began, but was cut off as she was hauled up again by the second runner.

"Silence" he didn't exactly growl it out but the threat was there and he soon set her back down, yet still hovered like a sharptooth waiting to spring. With such a present retaliation system hovered over his sister and the others Dana had no choice but to comply. The others winced as the kid was forced to push himself.

Tears sprang to poor little Dinah's eyes and Harper wished she could do something for the girl, or do something to stop all this. Ridge was pretty powerless as well, and it seemed to really bother him as the oldest of them, but he was granted enough moving room from the ever present runner threat to wrap his tail about the little threehorn and try to provide some level of comfort.

"Well, not bad info on the male" the runner with Dana examined the rock, "let's compare beside the female shall we?". Harper could see that Dana probably would have gone for the runner then if he weren't exhausted and already sporting cuts about his bare frill and little nosehorn from the over extent.

[LBTDiclonius]

Sorry for not reviewing sooner, but, better late then never, I suppose. -_-

Okay, so, I guess it's up to me to spoil the party and be your little nitpicker for grammer and spelling and all that jazz. Let's get started, shall we?

The next morning, as Harper awoke and blinked up at the rising bright circle, the walls about and fact that the sky never changed no matter where you were threw her once more and it took her a few seconds to realize she wasn't at home.

*To me, this just did not make sense. For one thing, you've got, "the walls about" and it really doesn't make sense to the reader what you're trying to talk about. Instead, how does this sound, "the walls about her." That provides a clear picture as to what you're trying to say and, if you want to be real nitty-gritty with this, you could put, "the walls around her." Oh gosh, here we go...

* Maybe, "and the fact" would help a little bit? All you've got is, "and fact" which doesn't make sense.

"Like we said, we just need you to show us a thing or two and we even went and gathered breakfast for you so you won't have to!".

* After someone says something, that's just it. You don't need to put a period right after that.

Ridge * again * knew more of what was coming than the others and sighed, "We...really should eat before...it all starts. We have no choice but to trust they wouldn't poison us just yet" he narrowed his eyes at the runners.

* That should be a capital because Ridge isn't saying something, he's DOING something.

* The purple spots should both have comma's right after them because they're not really part of the sentence and the green spot should be capitalized. Ridge isn't saying something, he's DOING something, therefore, it should be capitalized.

"And of course unless we want your sister and the others injured, we'll do as I say"

* You'll perhaps? Unless he's speaking in a manner you would to a very young child, I don't think that's correct.

*You?

Dinah frowned, "But that rock's big, it'll hurt his head!".

* I've already mentioned this before. You don't need a period at the end of when someone speaks.

Dana would * after all * only have to hit the rock as hard as he dare

* These should be comma's because it's not really part of a sentence, as I mentioned before.

"But he'd just a kid, that's as hard as he ca-" Harper began, but was cut off as she was hauled up again by the second runner.

* That should be an "s" because she's saying, "he IS just a kid."

Okay, that's all the grammer and spelling I caught.

Overall, it's not a bad story and it's actually pretty interesting. I hope you continue on with this because things are just about to get interesting...

[vonboy]

Pretty good chapter. I'm staying with my first guess, as it still seems the fast runners are acting like I think they would.

I Am kind of interested in WHY they want to know this stuff. Is there something their planning I wonder?

Can't wait for the next chapter!

[Pterano]

So let's see... yes I knew what you were doing with Harper. I rather liked it, starting all uncertain and scared.

These tests are rather mysterious I must admit. Well OK... the first test is. Maybe it'll start falling into place as the story continues. You do a good job at keeping it intriguing though. And I still like Ridge I think, good character.

These "rainbow faces" are certainly a bit on the heavy handed side though. Really need this information for some reason or other.

And Pterano made a cameo appearance (even if it was only in Harper's thoughts)!

[Mama's Girl]

Just giving the long author note before the story to say, again, thanks for the continued reviews, even the grammar fix LBTDiclonious. Yes, grammer's never been my strong point in writing, it's what brought my english papers down.

The only correction I can defend, is that yes,

"And of course unless we want your sister and the others injured, we'll do as I say"

is intentionally that way, like the runner is talking to a very young child. He's sort of using it to demean Dana/be obnoxious

I'll try to not go too fast for you readers and give you a review chance too, and yes obviously these runners are very driven...and...that's all I can say...

[Mama's Girl]

(Well, something tells me Pterano will like this chapter )

VII: Unexpected Hope

It wasn't often that a group of groundwalkers could capture this one flyer's full attention. Even rarer so for said attention to be captured for five bright circle cycles straight! Apparently he had had the fortune (whether good or bad he wasn't sure) to run into this herd after a major occurrence in their ranks. Yet, again, it had been Pterano's own worries that immediately drew his wondering enough to flap down to investigate.

It was just so strange that he had been intrigued right after hearing the runners down below yelling. Yelling the flat-tooth language for one, from a species not known to speak much but which it was supposed spoke sharptooth if anything. There wasn't anything to back this thought up, it just came from them being so unknown.

The colors varied as well, Pterano had noted, from brown to greens to even vivid purples. Still not quite as colorful as rainbow faces, but the female leader of the herd, in her soft blues and greens, was probably counted quiet beautiful among her species.

She had a kind, soft smile too, which probably was what drew people in more so than any beauty of hers. Pterano had found himself quite taken aback and feeling the outsider when that soft, inquisitive gaze had fallen on the flyer investigating the herd.

He had stutteringly tried, in a way that wouldn't offend, to explain that he was just curious about them and their...differences. She hadn't taken offense, thankfully. Neither her or her mate, who was a more orange and brown color and gave off that feeling of being what Pterano had tried to be and failed at, a good leader, kind, wise and fair. His first words, which opened the door for him to the herd, being "You are welcome, flyer, and we shall be happy to answer any and all of your questions provided you let us see to your needs while you stay with us". How could he have refused. Even if he'd wanted, the whole herd was watching him and would probably have retaliated an insult to the leader's hospitality.

Pterano had enjoyed himself though and the runners didn't make him feel to stupid with the questions he asked, which was good, even on the path to becoming better in the middle of an exile, Pterano hated any risk of his ego bruising.

He'd only just this morning, watching the bright circle rise a fifth time from a cliff above the runner herd, noted that what he thought he'd imagined before he probably hadn't. The head female's kind gaze had been softened more by what could only be pinned down as sadness. He flapped down to inquire. She immediately noticed him, giving an almost covering smile, "Ah, more you wish to know good flyer?" she asked.

"Yes, though, perhaps more along a line I should have inquired on before" Pterano got out hesitantly, glancing up at the runner in a different form of intrigue. She seemed to avoid this look.

"Madame..." she flinched at that tell tale "prying" form in his address. "Is something wrong?".

She gave a small, covering, laugh, "No...I..." turning to the flyer's look she realized she wasn't going to get out of this. Sighing she raised her head in that regal form she just seemed to posses naturally and began with her own question. "Do you, or have you, ever had children, my good flyer?" she asked.

Pterano looked as stunned as could be expected by the question, "well...er...no. None of my own. I...am afraid my...self centered thoughts of before never quite allowed for taking a mate". A wistful, sad look came to Pterano's features. "I...would help watch my sister's kids but...even then, I'm afraid I thought more of myself and the admiration I could pull from them with stories than I ever thought properly on what they might need".

Seeing that she might have caused unwanted thoughts, the runner reached out a hand and brought the flyer back to the present by laying it on his arm, "A common mistake I know relatives to be guilty of" she gave another soft smile, before frowning, "I...only asked to see if maybe you might be able to grasp what it would be like to have a son...run away...because...well he never exactly told us why just..." she sighed.

Pterano frowned, "Well I am sorry to hear of any young one being lost, and if I may be of any help in bringing the wayward scamp home" he tried for a cheering up smile.

The female runner, matriarch of the herd, smiled back just a bit, "I'm afraid that wouldn't work. It's my two sons actually, Veck and Lars. They were to rule the herd together and...they're not children anymore, more like young adults fully capable of making their own decisions, though they seem hardly mature enough to make the right ones".

"Ah, well that does complicate matters" Pterano said with that same smile to try and lighten the mood, while he pondered on how well he knew of such a description as old enough to have maturity, just not having it yet.

The matriarch turned to him once more and found so much openness in that look that she went on. "Last I or my mate saw of them, they were both talking to our advisor and then, after that, they were just gone" she sighed.

Her mouth opened to go on, when she was interrupted by said advisor running up, "A lone spiketail just passing by in the company of a varying group of young ones wishes to speak with you" he said.

Both Pterano and the runner herd's matriarch frowned in curiosity. "Um, if you...wish me to simply stay here..." Pterano began.

The matriarch smiled, "You've more than earned the right to at least be witness to such herd business, come along" she offered and then began to walk. Pterano flew after. They came up to where her mate stood, already facing this lone spiketail, Ridge's father, with the whole group of young one's, Littlefoot, Spike, Ducky and even Cera, Guido and Petrie (who's sniffles were now thankfully fully gone) that he'd succeeded in catching up to the day before.

"Sorry to intrude and take up your time" Ridge's father began, "but we were passing through and were just curious if you've seen...".

"Petrie..." Pterano of course recognized all the kids as he landed, but his nephew being with this spiketail to just randomly find the herd being his chief shock of the day.

Petrie looked beyond stunned as well as everyone paused. The runner herd's leaders and Ridge's father paused in confusion and the others of the kids taking in the same shock as Petrie.

Cera rolled her eyes at the irony probably, but didn't say what was going through her head. Petrie stood there on the threehorn's back, stock still for a moment or so longer before everything, the guilt he still felt over the sibling spat with Harper, the worry and fear over her compiled with his normal ones, and now the shock melting to joy at seeing Pterano again, broke.

"Uncle!" Petrie threw all of his previous emotions into his joy at seeing Pterano again and launched over into the older flyer's embrace.

The runner's matriarch was the first to break the odd pause for the others by giving a small smile, "One of your sister's hatchlings that you mentioned?" she said. Pterano didn't hear or answer but for those who didn't know how the two were related it was explanation enough if they'd needed one.

"Well, it seems to be a small section of the Beyond" the patriarch of the runners said (it wasn't so much called Mysterious by those who lived there), "why don't you all come rest and then you can get to asking me what you were about to".

Ridge's father nodded and, along with the others, moved off further into the clearing where the runners were at the moment. Pterano would catch up, but first his attention was drawn to his nephew still hugging him, but now, he noticed, seeming to shake a bit.

"Petrie?" he sat the child back a bit and frowned at the distress clearly written all over the young flyer's face. Pterano gave a small smile which he meant to be reassuring, "Nevermind what you kids are doing out here, whatever is the matter?".

Petrie opened his beak, tried to come up with some way to communicate all that was running through his little head, gave up, and just hugged Pterano again.

Pterano sighed, not pressing him, and just wrapping his wing around his nephew once more, "Well I'm sure whatever it is, it can't be that bad". Oh if only he knew! Petrie thought. Falling asleep was the last thing he wanted to do right now, but they had all been pushing themselves so hard for about two days now to find any sign of Ridge, Harper or the twins that as the little flyer allowed himself to relax in Pterano's embrace he was soon out. Similarly Ridge's father and the other children soon found themselves drifting off as they reclined on the grass. The runners looked surprised but then the matriarch shooed them all away from the spot to allow their guests the rest they so clearly needed. Whatever they'd had to ask could wait.