//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Welcome to the Great Valley // Story: It Came from the Mysterious Beyond // by Jongoji245 //------------------------------// Dapplewood explores his new environment, taking the splendor of the massive reptiles roaming around. He also was intrigued of the various phrases they use to describe themselves. The Longnecks feasted on the higher branches, the Swimmers dipped their heads in the water to grab some water reeds and, amusingly enough, the Spiketails ramming a tree twice their size. He soon came across two dome heads ramming against a tree. He looked at the water’s reflection and found that he was one as well. He approached them, but by the time he waves his hand, the two fled in fear. In confusion, he looked at himself again and found that unlike them, he also had a pair of horns on his snout. As he hasn’t eaten anything since breakfast, the question is now what to eat. He grabbed a “tree star” and placed it in his mouth. A strange sensation rubbed against his tongue, like that of toasted bread, following when he swallowed the leaf. He grabbed some more and stuffed them down his mouth before moving on. Avoiding being squished on by the larger natives, he came across a blossom tree. After smelling one of the buds closest to him, his mouth watered. If he had an idea on how a leaf would taste then maybe- “What do you think your doing?!” Dapplewood turned and was nose to nose with a Triceratops, or Three Horn in their calling. He appeared to be middle aged, but was no less dangerous. “Those tree sweats are for a special occasion, everyone is waiting to have one of those tree sweets!" - Topsy kept walking towards Dapplewood - "So I don’t want to see any of you dome heads knocking them off!” Dapplewood fell to the ground as more tremors were felt. He looked behind him, finding an elderly sauropod. "Now Mr. Threehorn," - Grandpa Longneck lowered his head down - "there aren't that many dome heads in the Valley." - He turns his head to Dapplewood - "Maybe you didn't know at the time, is that possible little one? Dapplewood shook his head rapidly. The Triceratops, frustrated at being rebuked again, stamped his foot. “Humph!” - Topsy continued to glare at him as he turned around - “And I thought Longnecks stick to each other.” Dapplewood and Grandpa Longneck watched as Topsy walked over the horizon. "You know little one," - Grandpa Longneck looked to the human - "why don't you play with my grandson? Last I saw him he was at the watering hole." Dapplewood followed the general direction given to him when he heard arguing. He poked his head through some bushes and found two mixed species herds of children arguing with each other. One group consisted of a juvenile Muttaburrasaurus, Hypsilophodon, and Nodosaurus. The individuals of the other group, were younger, but consisted of an Apatosaurus, Triceratops, Saurolophus, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, T. rex, and Oviraptor. "But Hyp, none of us get the first tree sweet on the tree, its decided by the grown-ups." Said Littlefoot. "Yeah, well we are going to be grown-ups soon then we'll get that first tree sweet," - Hyp looked to his friends - "right guys?" "Yeah!" Said the Nod. The two bullies turned to the third one. "Oh uh... Yeah!" Mutt finished. The triceratops, Cera, stepped forward "Well we will be much bigger and the bigger grown up always decide!" rebuked Cera. "Oh yeah?! Then we will make sure you never grow up!" Hyp The group of bullies began to march at the little dinosaurs when Dapplewood stepped in between them. "Well, what do you want?" Nod glared at the boy. Dapplewood stood silent but tall, much to Hyp's chagrin. "Oh, we have a hero. All right hatchling, play the hero." Hyp spoke jokingly as he flicked the dome head on the nose. As the bullies laughed, Dapplewood grabbed a stone, juggled a little, then smacked Hyp on the head. Mutt and Nod were shocked that their leader was hit so hard. Hyp looked at his reflection from a small pond, seeing a black eye. Hyp growled at the gang "You'll pay for that, Numbskull! Get him!" The children, sans Dapplewood, screamed before running away. Hyp, Mutt, and Nod were close behind. Petrie flew to Dapplewood's side. "You teach those bullies good!" The flier complemented "Yeah," - Cera looked behind her - "a little too good!" Their smaller size made it easy to enter the thicker parts of the valley's jungles. Hyp, Mutt, and Nod stopped in their tracks. "Where'd he go, Hyp?" - Nod turned to his two-footer leader -"Huh, Hyp where'd he go?" Hyp looked around and found Dapplewood's tail just out of the bushes. He stamped his way to the fifth limb. "Alright, hatchling" - Hyp grabbed the tail - "now you'll know how this really hurts!" "Yeah!" Nod turned to Mutt, getting him out of his listlessness. "Yeah, dummy!" Hyp continued to tug and the tail when it pulled away from him. The actual owner, an adult Pachycephalosaurus, rose up from the thicket and growled at the trespassers. "Me first!" Hyp shoved his friends out of the way as he darted as fast as he could. Mutt and Nod followed soon after, the Dome Head charging at them. Meanwhile, the group of young dinosaurs came out of the thicket. "We haven't used rocks that way, no no no." "You must be new here, we don't often get some heads to hang with us. I'm Littlefoot, this is Cera," The triceratops raised her snout in the air with a prideful smile. "Ducky," "Oh yes yes yes." "Petrie," "Me brave flyer." "Spike" The stegosaurus merely nodded. "Chomper," "Hi!" "And Ruby." "Hello, my friend my friend hello." "Welcome to the great valley. What's your name?" Dapplewood, even in his new form, can't speak. "Uhm, aren't you going to tell us?" Asked Cera. Dapplewood wrote his name in the dirt. "Wow, that almost sounds like your name Little Foot." Said Ruby. "But why you no say your name?" Asked Petrie. Dapplewood tapped his throat before waving his finger. "You can't talk? Asked Littlefoot, to which Dapplewood nodded. "Well, that's something we haven't had in a long while?" Said Cera. Littlefoot gave her a glare. "Do not worry Dapplewood, Spike cannot talk either. Right Spike?" Said Ducky Spike made a sound of approval. Dapplewood smiled. "Littlefoot!" Yelled a voice. "Littlefoot, it's time to come home!" "Ducky! Spike!" "Cera, time for bed!" "Petrie," the group looked up and saw a blue Pteranodon "It's time to come home" "Bye bye." Petrie opened his wings before taking off - "Coming, Mama!" As the others began walking Littlefoot turned around "Well, see you tomorrow, Dapplewood?" The boy nodded as five of the little Dinosaur's made their journey back home. Chomper and Ruby looked at him. "What's wrong Dapplewood?" asked Chomper The boy continued to look around as the sun began to set. "I don't think he has a home Chomper." - Ruby's faced beamed -"Hey maybe live with us you can!" Dapplewood shrugged before following the two dinosaurs. Unknown to them, two Struthiomimus or egg stealers were watching from a bush. Confused, Strut asks, "And how would that Dome Head help get us in our plan, Oz?" "Because dear brother," Ozzy raised a finger "though he is a two footer, he is as dumb as that spike tail. While the rest of the valley accuses him, we will eat their nice juicy eggs!" "You mean I will eat my tree sweets." "Yes, Strut..." - Begrudged Ozzy as he wrapped his arm around his brother - "you will get your tree sweets. Just leave this to moi." Later that night, Chomper, Ruby, and Dapplewood slept on a cave floor. The valley's mountainous barrier prevented a breeze from blowing down, making a cavern living pretty comfy. Dapplewood was stirred by the sound of falling pebbles. He walked to the mouth of the cave with sleepy eyes when a pair of claws snatched him. Pulling him to a jungle, another pair of hands wrapped around him. "Keep quiet, you and you won't get hurt!" - Strut noticed Dapplewood and Ozzy gave him a "really?" Kind of look -"What?" "Listen, little Dome Head. We know you don't have a home. We can take you to your home. But you need to do us this one favor. Bring us a couple of eggs, non-poached-" "And those tree sweets!" Said Strut before being kicked in the stomach by Ozzy. "Yes... When you are done with that, take this tunnel and meet us on the other side." Dapplewood turned around, thought for a moment, then turned back. The two egg thieves were gone. He then returned to the cave and resumed sleep.