((Reversing the order a tad here, just to make it flow better. Oooh, got some good drama in this post.
))
Grandpa Longneck nodded at Cyrix's words. The rainbow face never really ceased to amaze him. He was a fount of good information, and often times acted stronger in difficult situations than even Grandpa Longneck could conjure up. "He's right, you know. It's better to focus on what you do have... and keep going. I know it might not be comforting, but it's really all you can do. I only hope you understand." he said.
He looked over at Cyrix with a tired expression. "Cyrix... I wanted to ask what you thought about my idea. You are one of the ones I was considering to fill the soon to be two vacancies after all, but what are
your thoughts on Pterano?" he asked. "I know he's not necessarily the most popular in the Great Valley, after all."
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Pterano's features became disturbed as he heard about Tricia falling into some fast water. A knot tightened in his throat. Just WHAT was old Threehorn even DOING? How could he lose track of his daughter like that? One so young should have been watched... right? Or had the display of the flyers been holding his attention? Either way, Pterano found it ironic that Topsy hadn't been doing his job. He went on and on about how bad and neglectful Pterano was, but then, his own daughter ends up falling in fast water! It sounded like had it not been for his nieces and nephews and their new friend, Cera wouldn't have a little sister at the moment.
He found it a rather delightful tale all the same, as it all worked out well in the end. "Sleep flying?" he chuckled, unable to help himself. "Hah! I... used to do that... according to my mother... your grandmother." he confessed to Harper, breaking out in a wide smile. "Hah! I couldn't very well imagine it now... such an unusual thing after all. There is one thing I was wondering about though. Just how in all the Great Valley did old Threehorn manage to lose track of..." but he was cut off by the charging Cera, and gave out a small "oof!" as she poked her still blunt horn into his stomach.
She was looking right at him now, and demanding to know why. What had he said? And why... hadn't he... saved them? The latter question was truly his bane, as he hated having to face it. This outburst even caused a pause from the Rainbow Faces, who had all been talking amongst each other in hushed tones. They turned to stare at the spectacle.
Pterano could feel himself getting hot and uneasy. "Um... well..." he locked eyes with her, unable to break it, much to his consternation. "I... told them that the adults' way of arguing blindly amongst themselves was getting us nowhere. I could fly up high... I could see everything for miles." he stated. "I told them that they should follow me... I was an excellent flyer, and I would lead them to a paradise. The others simply were wearing everyone out with their constant bickering and endless discussion. It was taking us much longer to travel, you see." he waved a hand out to the side to emphasize his point. "I felt like we could reach a secure location much faster if one of us was in charge... that one being me." he explained.
"It was just a sort of competition we had... a friendly one. You see, the adults who listened to me made a bet with the ones who hadn't. A completely harmless, friendly bet. Your mother even challenged your father to it. They bet that I would get them to a green spot first... before the others could find one, and we each agreed to head in separate directions, despite the misgivings of some... including your father and Littlefoot's grandparents." he said, finally managing to close his eyes and take a deep breath before he went on. "Your mother said not to worry... if they found a green spot first, I would fly back and look for the others to tell them. It was all part of the plan. That way... everyone would be happy. The others would be able to join us in paradise, and I..." he trembled a little here, shaking as if he were very cold. "I would be viewed as the rightful leader for what I'd done."
As he finished explaining that bit, he knew he now had to face the next part. "Look... when we got to that green place... there was a rockslide! There was no way for them to get out! It was very sheltered... like this place see." he gestured to the alcove they were in. "But like this place, there was only one way in, and one way out. They were trapped and... there were sharpteeth! I'm only one flyer! What... what could I have done?" he asked, hanging his head him shame. "I... I wasn't sure what to do. I was terrified for my life! But not only that... I realized that everything... EVERYTHING was falling apart! All of my hopes... my dreams... all of it. It was like some terrible nightmare that I was unable to wake up from. I did the only thing a fear crazed flyer would have done... I flew off."
"What's that?" Hyp spoke up now, smirking. "You did WHAT you old flyer?"
"I... I FLEW OFF!" he yelled, an angry look crossing his face now. "I left them behind to get eaten!" he said, face ragged, cross, and slightly upset, as tears could be seen welling up in his eyes. "I was a coward!" he cried, spreading his wings now and flapping them fiercely as he took to the air above them, glaring down at Cera. "I AM a coward! I was irresponsible and they all died! And speaking of which..." his emotional tempest he was experiencing was blinding him. His rage, anguish, sorrow, depression, and anxiety over it all was boiling forth, like a smoking mountain ready to blow. "What was YOUR father doing when your sister fell into the fast water on my family's Day of the Flyers?" he demanded. "Your father goes on and on about how dirty and despicable I am, yet why did his own daughter nearly drown!?" he spat out. It was a tactic only someone like Hyp would choose to make use of, but Pterano's turmoil was too much, and he had lashed out.
It was then that the rest of the gang arrived...
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The trip back hadn't been very eventful, and Littlefoot had even decided to trot a bit, picking up his speed to give Cutter a good time. "Woohoo! Is this fast enough for you?" he asked, laughing as they neared the entrance to the alcove. The sight that greeted them though was rather bizarre.
Pterano was in the air, hovering over Harper, Ridge, and Cera, and glaring down at the threehorn as he angrily spat out those final words of his. Littlefoot skidded to a halt, and stared.
"Dad!?" Norton asked in a worried voice as he landed, suddenly realizing just WHAT he had said. He froze, as Pterano's head jerked over in his direction.
"What did you say?" Pterano snapped, apparently not understanding. The dark look in his eyes terrified Norton, and he simply shook his head in fright.
"I... nothing, sir." he said, averting his eyes.
Pterano's wrathful look started to melt as he saw the rest of the children arriving, and he softened considerably as he realized what he'd just done...
