The footsteps were moving away. Redfern stuck his head out ever so slightly to ensure the predator was leaving. In the distance, Redfern could see the Rampardos already pursuing another prey. Good. Redfern was not about to become a piece of that predator’s dinner tonight. Redfern slowly stepped out of the place he had been hiding and began to journey through the large prehistoric jungle towards home.
He had been lost for two days now and he knew his mother was probably starting to worry. Redfern had been hoping she would be out looking for him, but so far the little Archen had yet to spot his mother. As his claws dug into the soft forest floor, worry began to fill Redfern. What if he never saw his mother again? She had always warned him about straying from the nest but this hadn’t been his fault! Tears began to well in Redfern’s eyes and he slowed his pace. He just wanted to go home! Redfern let out a loud wail as tears began to streak down his cheeks.
“M-Momma!” he yelled as he plopped down onto the ground. Redfern attempted to dry his eyes with his multicolored feathers but it was no use. He couldn’t stop crying! Redfern continued to wail until a familiar stomping grew louder. Redfern moved his wings to see the Rampardos returning, having heard his cries.
“There you are!” it yelled. Redfern yelped and began to scramble to get away, but it was no use. The Rampardos was much bigger and faster than Redfern. The little archen could not outrun the large beast. A large foot crashed down in front of Redfern, forcing the archen underneath the Rampardos. He trembled in fear when there was a loud screech. Redfern heard something hit the Rampardos and the predator stumbled back. It growled in anger at the attacker as it landed next to Redfern. Redfern looked up to see a large gray bird-like pokemon with sharp serrated teeth and pointing ears. It let out a roar and expanded its purple wings as its barbed tail stuck in the air. Redfern had seen these pokemon flying with Momma before! It was an Aerodactyl!
“Leave the child be! He is not your meal!” the aerodactyl challenged, stepping forward to put itself in between Redfern and the Rampardos. The Rampardos growled louder, looking as if it wanted to challenge the Aerodactyl, but thought better of it, instead turning and walking away. Redfern watched, waiting for the Rampardos to turn around, though it never did. Rather, the Aerodactyl turned to Redfern and smiled at the Archen. “Are you all right, young one?” it asked.
“Yes, thank you. I thought I was a goner for sure,” Redfern admitted.
“Well you can never be too careful. Why are you away from your nest? Archen don’t usually leave for another few weeks.” Redfern looked down at his feet and sniffled.
“I fell out of my nest and got carried away by some Bastiodon. I don’t know where I am now and-” Redfern started to sob again, causing the Aerodactyl to put his hand on the Archen.
“Hey, it’s okay, little one. I will help you. How about I take you back to the nesting grounds? We can look for your nest there?” Redfern looked up at the Aerodactyl, hope sparkling in his eyes.
“Really?” he asked, unable to contain his excitement at the statement. The Aerodactyl smiled and turned around.
“Of course, just climb onto my back.” Redfern used his tiny claws to scale the Aerodactyl’s back. The Aerodactyl flapped his large wings, sending the two into the air and out over the canopy of the jungle. Redfern gasped at the view, taken aback by the beauty of the world below. Now he knew why Momma always flew everywhere! It was amazing up here!
The two fossil pokemon soared through the air and approached a volcano. Right beside it, Redfern recognized the nesting grounds he had grown up in. He could not see his nest from this high up though. The Aerodactyl seemed to read Redfern’s mind and dove down gently, drawing closer to the nesting grounds. Redfern searched frantically for his Momma or his nest, but could spot neither. He was beginning to lose hope when a familiar voice called his name.
“Redfern!” The Archen turned his head towards the sound of his mother’s voice. An Archeops with shining green feathers flew towards them, tears dripping from her eyes at the sight of her son. The Aerodactyl landed, allowing Redfern to slide off his back and run to his mother.
“Momma!” Redfern cried as they embraced. Redfern’s mother held him close as she dried her eyes, then looked back at the Aerodactyl.
“Thank you so much for returning him. How can I ever repay you?”
“It was nothing,” the Aerodactyl replied with a wave of his wing. “I was merely helping someone in need. I see no reason to be paid for that. The sight your reunion was payment enough.”
“Well please, tell me your name then?” Redfern’s mother pressed, wanting to properly thank her son’s savior. The Aerodactyl smiled a little and bowed to the Archeops.
“Stoneclaw, at your service.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stoneclaw.” Stoneclaw looked down at Redfern and smiled at the young Archen. He pat the child’s head and winked.
“Any time. Just don’t go running off again any time soon, okay?”
“Yes sir!” Stoneclaw waved to the two before flapping his wings and ascending into the air once again. As the Aerodactyl disappeared into the bright blue sky, a new heroic spirit had instilled itself into Redfern. One day, he wanted to be just like Stoneclaw.
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