Reply To: PTSD
The walk back to the Great Valley was rather awkward and a bit painful; especially since Ariel’s feet were kicking Topsy’s sides.
“Ariel, you’re kicking me; could you please knock it off?” Topsy asked.
Soon enough, Ariel decided that she has gotten her energy back and got off of Topsy’s back.
“Are you mad at me? If I upset you, I’m sorry; I-”
“Don’t worry about it, I understand; and thanks for the ride, I think I can make it the rest of the way on foot,” Ariel assured him while petting his frill.
Topsy blushed while looking up at the swimmer.
“Ariel, you’re embarrassing me,” Topsy stated.
“Ah, come on; that’s what friends do from time to time,” Ariel claimed.
An uneasy chuckle escaped Topsy’s lips.
After about ten minutes, the five dinosaurs made it to the Thundering Falls. However, Topsy didn’t see Cera there; he assumed that she was mad at him, although, she was asleep when he left the valley.
“Do you think Cera hates me?” Topsy asked.
“What kind of stupid question is that? Of course she wouldn’t hate you; she’s probably just worried that you might have gotten seriously injured and a bit angry that you walked off,” Grandpa replied.
Topsy lowered his head.
“I better talk to her; I shouldn’t have walked out like that,” Topsy said.
“Hey, if I was too harsh with my yelling, I’m sorry; I was just worried about you, that’s all,” Kosh admitted.
Topsy nodded.
“I’m sorry, too; for making you guys worry about me, that is; I just needed some time to myself, that’s all,” Topsy explained.
The others nodded.
“You didn’t have to leave the valley to be alone; the Sheltering Grass is a good spot if you ever wanted some alone time,” Grandpa told him.
Topsy hung his head in shame.
“If only I thought of that before I go the stupid idea to go out in the Mysterious Beyond; but, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time; I’m pooped; maybe I’ll take a nap after I have a talk with Cera and apologize to her,” Topsy responded.
“You could use some shut eye; *sniff sniff* and a bath,” Ariel replied.
Topsy stuck his tongue out at Ariel in a playful manner before walking over to a watering hole. He decided that Ariel was right; and even Ariel decided to wash up since Topsy’s body odor rubbed off on her.
After a while, Cera seemed to be in a much better mood. She had a good talk with her dad and has forgiven him for worrying her. Now, she was playing with her friends like any normal child would.
“I am so glad that you and your dad worked things out,” Ducky commented.
“Me no liked seeing you sad; so, me agree with Ducky,” Petrie added.
Spike grumbled in agreement.
“We were worried about you for a while; but, we’re glad that you’re okay now,” Littlefoot said.
Even Hyp, Mutt and Nod expressed their happiness that Cera’s mood was back to normal.
“I got an idea; lets go for a swim,” Hyp suggested.
The other seven agree with Hyp and wandered over to a watering hole.
Meanwhile at Topsy’s nest, he was sleeping uneasily. Since his mind was still plagued by nightmares, he had a tendency to moan and talk and kick his hind legs in his sleep. His dream ended the same every time; Cera dies in the fire due to smoke inhalation and Topsy wakes up just before his dream self dies along with Cera. He woke up all of a sudden and grabbed his chest. Luckily for him, no one was around to hear him wake up from the nightmare.
“Thank goodness,” Topsy muttered before trying to get back to sleep.
