Reply To: The Land Before Time XV: The Friendly Sharptooth Flyer
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: GAMES WITH FRIENDS
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Petrie was with Ptero, Littlefoot, Spike, and Pip, Ducky, Cera, and Ducky’s aunt. “Now kids, what game are you going to play today? I can recall that when I was your age, we used to…” said Ducky’s aunt, beginning her usual ramble down memory lane.
“How about we play Sharptooth attack?” suggested Petrie’s brother Pip.
“Ah yes, loved that one as a kid. We used to play many versions of that. My favorite one was Swimming Sharptooth attack. I was the best one, of course, though my brother, your father Ducky, still won’t admit it. Indeed, I was great at many things. I played Stop the Seed, Trapped in the Sinking Sands, Take the Tree Star….” she rambled. The others were bored with her and fell asleep from her mundane yacking, but Ptero listened, as he knew nothing about Flattooth culture. Eventually, she finished yapping. The others woke up. Leslie hadn’t even known that they had been asleep.
“How about Ptero be Sharptooth?” suggested Petrie, who knew that, as a real Sharptooth, Ptero would be great. Littlefoot and the others had had the good sense never to ask Chomper to play that game, but the others weren’t to know about Ptero, as Petrie had promised not to tell anybody.
“Ptero is a great Flyer.” remarked Pip.
I’m not sure how this game goes, but I bet I’m going to be great at it. Ptero thought smugly. “I don’t know how this game goes.” Ptero said.
“What you need to do Ptero is to try and bring us to the ground. You can just trip some like Littlefoot and Cera. That’s what Ducky and Petrie do. It would be just like if you were a Sharptooth trying to get us.” Pip said. Interesting that Flatteeth pretend to be us as part of their games. Ptero thought.
“Do I get to eat anyone if I win?” asked Ptero. The group laughed hard.
“Good one Ptero!” laughed Cera, who liked his sense of humor.
“I think I got this.” said Ptero. He took to the air. He went flying after Cera first.
“You can’t get me!” laughed Cera. Ptero dove right at her. She tried to move aside, but he changed course to follow her. She moved again, but this time, he was ready. He wasn’t going to be made a fool of like when he had, for which he now felt glad he had, missed Ducky a while back. He guessed her movements and grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. “Wow, you are strong!” Cera remarked.
The group gasped. Not even Littlefoot could get her down so easily when playing Sharptooth attack.
“Beginner’s luck.” grumbled Cera.
“No, I think I have a knack for this.” said Ptero smugly.
“Try it again.” grumbled Cera.
Ptero did. She ran again. He flew after her. This time, she ran underneath the Roaring Falls. Ptero flew right through the deluge, tackled her, and got her down. “Not bad, eh?” he said.
“Beginner’s…” grumbled Cera.
“Sure!” said Ptero even more smugly. The others laughed.
Cera, who didn’t like being beaten, went “Hmmmmph!”, thumbing her nose in the air.
“What’s her problem?” asked Ptero.
“You hurt her brag bone.” replied Pip.
Ptero played with all of the others, beating them all.
“Wow, it’s good that you’re not a real Sharptooth. We’d all be dead meat if you were.” remarked Littlefoot.
Oh the irony! thought Ptero. “Yeah, that would, er, be bad.” said Ptero nervously, finally heading off to bed with the others.
“How’d you learn to fly so well?” asked Littlefoot.
“My Mother. Trains me like crazy. Wants me to be the best Flyer out there.” replied Ptero.
“I think she’s succeeded.” remarked Cera.
“She doesn’t think so.” grumbled Ptero.
“She’s nuts.” said Cera.
Petrie, Ptero, and Pip came to Petrie’s nest. “So, how was your day?” asked Mama Flyer.
“Ptero is the best at Sharptooth attack. He even got Cera on the first try.” said Pip.
“I must say, you’ve got some talent Ptero.” said Pterano.
“Well, goodnight.” said Ptero, snuggling against his wings and falling asleep.
