Reply To: The Land Before Time XVII: The Threehorn Gathering
CHAPTER SIX: HIDDEN SECRETS
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“CERA!” came Topps’s voice.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” sobbed Cera.
“Tell you what?” asked her father, concerned.
“About Mom and my siblings? I thought Sharpteeth did it all of these cold times! I even held that against poor Chomper and Ptero!” she continued to sob.
The moonlight cast an eerie white glow on Topps. Cera saw that her father looked suddenly older in the glow of the Night Circle. “It’s all my fault. I won’t deny it.” said Topps, starting to cry.
“There wasn’t enough food. They told me to leave. But I wanted to stay. I wasn’t going to let them just hog it all when we could share. I wasn’t tough enough. I was afraid of what Chas, Banger, and Prong would think of me if I just left.” said her father.
“But you I thought you weren’t afraid of anything.” said Cera, totally shocked as if she’d just heard that Ozzy had given up eggs.
“There were many things that I’m afraid of. I just don’t show them because I’m tough.” said Topps.
“I’m tough, yet I can show my fears and worries.” said Tria. Topps and Cera said nothing.
Cera stood there, her mouth open, hesitant, but wanting to admit something she’d mostly kept in for a long time. Finally, after making many pained expressions, she said “I’m afraid of things too. I’d been afraid of Sky Fire for a long time. I’ve been terrified when Sharptooth attacked Littlefoot’s mother. I’d been so mean to Longnecks when I’d encountered them. She saved me though.” said Cera.
“It’s my fault Cera. I’ve done you wrong. You too Olivia.” said Topps, a lot of painful expressions on his face. It was a rare moment indeed when Topps had admitted that he’d done wrong and even more so that he and Cera would admit that they were afraid of things. Everyone was dead silent.
Tryus, who was also there, had his mouth open. “A Longneck saved you?” he said to Cera.
“Yes. She didn’t make it though.” said Cera.
“And Ignatius here saved me from Fast Biters and also a fire.” said Topps.
“I guess I’ve been wrong about Longnecks. Perhaps you were right about having the kinds together.” said Tryus.
The other grownups were there looking utterly dumbfounded. They looked at each other and silently agreed that it had to be a dinosaur world first for Topps and Cera to admit that they were afraid of things and for Topps and Tryus to admit that they were wrong, all in one night.
Cera looked at her father. There was a look of betrayal on her face. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened?” she asked.
“I didn’t want you to hate me. There wasn’t enough food. I asked them to share, and they said no. They were being stubborn. It wasn’t right. I told them I wasn’t going. They came forward to fight. I wasn’t going to back down, for I NEVER do, and so I charged back at them. We tussled and in the confusion, we hit rocks. They fell on your mother and your siblings.” said Topps, tears streaming down his face.
Littlefoot and his friends were there, feeling very sorry for Topps and his family. They didn’t know what to say. They didn’t feel that they should be there and turned to go.
“No, stay guys!” said Cera.
They stared at her. “I need you. I’m really hurting right now.” said Cera. She was no longer proud and haughty, as usual, but very scared and sad.
“What happened to the other Threehorns?” asked Littlefoot.
“I let them have it.” said Topps.
“I thought that Threehorns were so great. How could this have happened?” asked Cera, totally stunned. She no longer thought that Threehorns were as good as she’d always thought.
“And that Banger, Chas, Angus, and Prong. They could have helped out. But they did nothing. It’s all THEIR fault!” said Topps angrily.
