"Ah, yes well... heheh." Norton chuckled a bit in a nervous manner. At least Devon was being honest. So both sides were true... but how could he really see his father? How complex was he after all? "You see... that's an interesting story. My father... thinks my mother smashed my egg. My mother got very sick one day." he explained, his face falling. "Before I was born. It... altered her... made her mad. She kept accusing my father of things he wasn't doing. Not being faithful, and things like that. They got out of hand one day... and she finally snapped. She was feverish, and told him that she was going to smash my egg and deprive him of the one thing he'd never have... a child. She flew off with me, and got separated from him in one of the many earthshakes that happened back then."
His face was long, and he wasn't smiling. In fact, it looked like he might cry. His face was drawn up tightly, and it was clear he was holding himself back. "My mother couldn't do it though... should couldn't bring herself to kill me before I'd been born. She recovered from her illness but... she was devastated over what she'd done to the flyer she loved so much. She raised me on her own, but she was always weak from that point on. She was too afraid to find him... but when I finally convinced her we should... his nest was empty. I later learned that he'd gone to help out his sister, my aunt, whose mate had just died... and that's why he was no longer there, though my mother of course assumed it was because she'd destroyed him over what she'd done." he did sniffle a bit here, but shook his head. "Actually... she died shortly after that... probably from a broken heart. She was never very strong to begin with, at least after her illness, but she told me that no matter what, I should find my father, as he'd look after me, and take me in."
"Hah." He went on. "It took me years... and I never gave up hope that he was alive somewhere... but... I never expected to run into him here. And to think we were traveling in the same herd... but never noticed each other." he shook his head. "That's why he doesn't know me. He thinks I'm dead." he said, giving off a mirthless laugh.
Below them, Littlefoot was heading out from the group with his handpicked entourage, and glad to be distancing himself from everyone. He felt as if he were on the verge of collapse, and that his nerves would give out any minute now. It would do him some good to just see how exactly Chomper went about doing this... provided he could stomach the idea. He looked over at Redback, wondering if he smelled any meat. He kept his jangled feelings in check for now, breathing in and out to try and steady himself.
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With the main group, Pterano held Petrie in his "cast", and continued walking on the ground. He preferred flying, but he wouldn't attempt that at this point. The Rainbow Faces were chatting quietly amongst themselves again, and leading the group toward an alcove in a small rock ridge that loomed up ahead of them. It was almost like a smaller version of the Great Valley, but different. Lush greenery was abundant in this small place, but that wasn't even the best visual lure of the location.
Nestled right in the center, a spring of the coldest water rose from a rocky shelf cut into the top of the ridge face, and it cascaded down off the ledge about ten feet into a pool below in a rather pleasant looking, albeit small, waterfall. It was a little spring created waterfall, all its own, and this place was most definitely secluded and out of the way. The walls that enclosed most of the alcove would protect them from prying eyes outside, and hardly anyone would know them to be in here.
"Here we are!" the male quipped. "We call this place Alcove Spring, for obvious reasons. Oof!" he was elbowed in the side by his companion, and he quickly revised his statement, as he realized they might not know the word spring. "Well... um... the water rises up from the ground on the top of that shelf, you see?" he asked, explaining it for them. "It's the coldest and purest water you could ever drink! It falls down the shelf in that little waterfall, and forms the pool there at the bottom. The green food is also quite scrumptious, so help yourselves." he said, moving to the side.
"And you should be safe in here. Aside from the opening, it's rather difficult to see inside... it's your own little safe haven. Can rest and recover, for whatever it's worth." she mumbled.
"Wow... well this place isn't bad!" Pterano breathed, and even Hyp had to admit that he was impressed. Grabbing a branch full of leaves, he began munching right away. Pterano set Petrie down, but waited to take his fill in case his nephew woke up. If he didn't, he'd help himself to a nice, fresh drink first.
