Great Valley. Among these, a mother in a diminished "longneck" (Apatosaurus) herd gives birth to a single baby, named Littlefoot. Years later, Littlefoot encounters Cera, a "three-horn" (Triceratops), until her father intervenes and tells her that three-horns don't play with longnecks, whereupon Littlefoot's mother describes other kinds of dinosaurs, who only associate with their own species. That night, as Littlefoot follows a "hopper" (Triadobatrachus), he encounters Cera again, and they play together briefly until a large "sharptooth" (Tyrannosaurus) attacks them. Littlefoot's mother comes to their rescue, fending off their attacker by bashing it with her large tail and long neck, but is mortally wounded in the process. The large predator, rather than consume Littlefoot’s mother, leaves the scene. His mother does not die instantly, drifting in and out of consciousness. Littlefoot won’t leave her side, so she gives her son some words of advice about finding the Great Valley before she dies: "Littlefoot, let your heart guide you. It whispers, so listen closely." An earthquake swallows up the sharptooth and divides Littlefoot, Cera, and other dinosaurs from their herds; several die in the process. Confused and in grief, Littlefoot meets an old dinosaur named Rooter (who is also narrating the story), who consoles him. He is then guided by his mother's voice telling him to follow the sun to the Great Valley and pass several landmarks, such as a rock formation that resembles a Longneck and the "Mountains that Burn" (volcanoes). Later, Littlefoot meets a "bigmouth" (Saurolophus) named Ducky and a "flyer" (Pteranodon) named Petrie, who accompany him on his journey. Cera, who is attempting to find her own kind, finds the unconscious sharptooth inside a ravine and inadvertently wakes him up. She escapes and bumps into Littlefoot, Ducky, and Petrie; she tells them that the sharptooth is alive and pursuing them, but Littlefoot does not believe her. As Cera describes her encounter, she accidentally flings Ducky in the direction of a lone hatching "spiketail" (Stegosaurus), whom Ducky names "Spike" and inducts into the group. Seeking the Great Valley, they discover a cluster of trees, which is abruptly depleted by a herd of longnecks. Searching for remaining growth, they discover a single leaf-bearing tree, and obtain food by stacking up atop each other and pulling it down. Cera remains aloof, but at nightfall, she and everyone else gravitate to Littlefoot's side for warmth and companionship. The next morning, they are