Reply To: The Land Before Time XV: The Friendly Sharptooth Flyer
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: LIVING WITH THE FLYERS
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Littlefoot walked next to Ptero, who was flying. Littlefoot thought that the kid seemed to have something troubling him. “Anything bothering you?” Littlefoot asked him.
Yeah, you’re still breathing. Ptero thought coldly. He hated Leaf Eaters. However, he had to admit that these ones didn’t appear to be too wicked. “Have you ever killed anyone?” Ptero asked. Littlefoot raised his eyebrows.
“Er, thrice.” said Littlefoot, thinking this a very odd question. “A Sharptooth was after us. He’d killed my Mom. We wanted him to stop following us and he was really set on getting us. We ended up knocking him into water and he drowned. I didn’t get any pleasure from his death.”
Ptero gasped. Littlefoot had lost his mother yet hadn’t wanted revenge. “But he took your mother. Surely you wanted revenge, didn’t you?” asked Ptero in befuddlement.
“I hated him, yes. I was really angry. Yes, he was a monster. However, I wasn’t going to let my hatred of him turn me into a monster too.” answered Littlefoot.
Ptero said nothing. If Littlefoot was telling the truth, than he was a better dinosaur than himself. Ptero wasn’t so sure anymore if Flatteeth were evil. After all, a Sharptooth had taken a family member from Littlefoot. Yet he seemed to have had no joy in his enemy’s death. Ptero knew that if he ever caught his father’s killers, not only would he kill them, he’d eat them alive and make them feel it.
“In addition, there was this pack of Sharpteeth after us and some Yellow Belly friends. We danced and caused the Sharpteeth to fall off a cliff. They would have eaten us if we hadn’t. Also, another Sharptooth named Red Claw was trying to kill us and we tripped him he and fell to his death.” continued Littlefoot. “Have you ever killed anyone?” asked Littlefoot, deciding to ask Ptero his own odd question.
No duh, I’m a Sharptooth! Ptero thought. “No, I haven’t.” Ptero lied.
Ptero came across Topps. “Who’s the new kid here?” Topps asked. Ptero was nervous at Topps’s gruff appearance.
“Dad, this is Ptero.” said Cera.
“That’s your dad?” said Ptero nervously. Cera nodded. Ptero gulped.
“Hello, I’m new here, don’t mind me.” said Ptero, trying to sound innocent. Topps eyed Ptero suspiciously.
“Weird looking Flyer.” commented Topps.
“Yeah, well, not everyone is pretty.” retorted Ptero quickly. Topps seemed to believe him to be a regular, albeit weird-looking, Flyer and said nothing more.
Ptero came across Grandpa and Grandma Longneck. “Who is your friend Littlefoot?” asked Grandma Longneck.
“His name is Ptero.” replied Littlefoot.
“I’m new here. Don’t mind me.” said Ptero to them, trying not to look suspicious.
“Where is your family Ptero?” inquired Grandpa Longneck.
“Lost them while flying.” Ptero lied.
“You poor dear! You can stay here as long as you’d like.” said Grandma Longneck gently.
“As long as I like? But I’m a stranger here!” gasped Ptero in shock.
“Everyone is welcome here.” said Littlefoot.
“Except Sharpteeth it seems.” said Ptero, who recalled what Leslie had said. The Leaf Eaters around all laughed at this.
“Of course Sharpteeth aren’t welcome around here. We’d get eaten.” Cera said.
Ptero wandered around the Great Valley for the rest of the day. There sure were many good items of green food to eat. And they all didn’t have a pulse. And Agatha wasn’t here to take them all away from him. Eventually, night fell. Ptero took off. “Where is he going, Petrie?” asked Mama Flyer.
“Me no sure, Mom.” replied Petrie. Phyra took off after Pero. She wondered where he was going. He returned to the tree he had rested in the night before.
“Oh, don’t go back into the Mysterious Beyond at night, dear. It’s dangerous out there for one as young as yourself.” Phyra called to him.
I know that. thought Ptero. “No, I am staying in this tree. It’s where I was last night.” Ptero replied to her.
“You can come with us for the night. Don’t stay out there all by yourself.” said Mama Flyer.
“But you don’t even know me. Why are you doing this?” Ptero asked incredulously.
“I always help a Flyer in need.” she replied.
Ptero came to Phyra’s nest. It seemed more welcoming than his own nest, perhaps because of the lack of discarded bones from his meals.
“You can stay with me, Ptero.” said Petrie.
Ptero knew that Petrie was a flyer creature like himself and so he felt the most understanding with Petrie. Like himself, Petrie didn’t appear to have a father either. Petrie did have an uncle though.
“He appears to be a pleasant fellow.” said Pterano, looking at Ptero.
“I promise I won’t be any trouble.” said Ptero.
“Oh, we’re glad to have you here.” said Mama Flyer.
Huh? I’m a Sharp Beak and you like me here? thought Ptero.
He went to bed, nestling in a corner away from the others, for he didn’t trust them. He was closest to Petrie, as he trusted him the most. He found it odd that he was staying in the nest of the enemy. And he was having doubts about the evilness of Leaf Eaters. Ptero had a moment of nostalgia where he thought of his father, when life had been good, before his mother’s heavy-handedness. The Flyer family sure was being kind to him, much like his father had been.
His father. If the Flatteeth knew what he had for family, they wouldn’t let him live through the night, he was certain. He needed to keep his guard up and not let anything slip. As Ptero fell asleep, it never occurred to him that he was, for the first time in a long while, living the life that his father had truly hoped he’d take.
He awoke the next morning. He opened his eyes and saw Petrie and his family. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” he yelled, afraid that Flatteeth had attacked him in his sleep. He soon realized where he was and felt foolish for looking like such an idiot.
“It’s ok dear. It’s ok.” Mama Flyer reassured him, patting him on the head. He pulled away. She stared at him. But it wasn’t with anger, it was with pity.
“Is something troubling you?” she asked him.
You touched me. Your evil Flattoothness touched me. thought Ptero. Finally, Ptero decided to mention some of the truth to them.
“I miss my Father. He died some cold times ago. I never really got over it.” he said.
“Oh, poor dear. Petrie lost his father too.” said Mama Flyer.
Ptero stared at Petrie. Though he hated Flatteeth with an everlasting vengeance, Petrie seemed to be a sweet kid and didn’t deserve to lose his dad at so young an age. For the first time in his life, he felt sorry for a Flattooth.
“Did you know your father well?” asked Mama Flyer.
“I kind of remember him. He had olive colored eyes and was nice. Nicer than my Mother.” said Ptero.
“Do you not get along with your mother?” asked Mama Flyer.
“We butt heads a lot. Petrie is lucky to have a mother like you.” said Ptero. And, strangely, he meant it. This Flyer family didn’t seem evil.
Mama Flyer said nothing. It seemed so sad that Ptero didn’t have a father and that he didn’t get along with his mother. She actually shed a tear, feeling sorry for the poor boy. Finally, she said “As much as you may argue with your mother, I’m sure she’s missing you by now. I can try and get you back to her.” she offered.
That’s not a good idea. Then again, what do I care if she gets you? You’re a Flattooth. Ptero thought.
“I went to go explore the world. She always kept me cooped up.” said Ptero.
“The Mysterious Beyond is a dangerous place. One as young as yourself shouldn’t wander it alone.” said Mama Flyer.
“I know that much. Five Sharpteeth in one night. Goodness!” said Ptero.
“Oh, you poor dear!” said Mama Flyer, feeling very sorry for him. “My brother and I can bring you back to your mother.” she said.
“I haven’t been allowed to go around since I was really small. Ever since Dad died.” said Ptero.
Oh, the poor dear. His mother has been overprotective of him after that. I can see why she’d do that, but I let Petrie wander around with Littlefoot, not that I always like what they get up to. thought Mama Flyer.
“I can see that your mother is overprotective.” mused Phyra.
You have no idea! thought Ptero.
“Thus, I can see that perhaps a few days here while you try and calm down over whatever upset you couldn’t hurt. I’ll just explain to your mother later what happened. I’m sure she’ll just be glad you’re all right.” said Mama Flyer.
“Er, can I go explore the Great Valley some more?” Ptero asked.
“Certainly.” replied Mama Flyer.
Ptero was free to go where he wanted. It sure was better than what his mother would let him do. He thought of his mother and how irked she’d be at him leaving. An idea crossed his mind, though he’d have to be careful to pull it off. This would help him prove he was worthy to lead the pack and hopefully get his mother to give him some slack. He planned to do what he’d waited many cold times to do: kill a Leaf Eater.
