The sun had only just begun to break through the thick lace of giant ferns when Dan felt a pleasant tickle in his chest—the anticipation of a great adventure. His scales, the color of young spring, glistened in the morning dew, and the yellow stripes along his neck looked like golden threads in the rays of light. He was only a year-old hatchling, but today the hopes of all the herds of the Ancestors' Valley rested upon him. Ahead, beyond the cozy thickets, loomed the Blue Mountains, their peaks hidden in cold white clouds. — Aren't we too small for such a trek? — Grap muttered, slowly chewing on a particularly soft piece of horsetail. He was always calm and a bit slow, but Dan knew: Grap’s strong back could be relied upon in any trouble. — Too small? We are the swiftest in the entire valley! — Lima spun around, her tail cutting the air with a characteristic whistle. She was a predator, but instead of large dinosaurs, she hunted the quick dragonflies that buzzed around like tiny helicopters. — Just think, Grap: real ice! It’s cold as the very breath of the mountains. If we bring it for the hatchling celebration, even the sternest predator leaders will bow their heads to us. Dan looked into the distance, where the mountains pierced the sky with sharp stone teeth. This was the first time herbivores and predators had acted together for a common goal. Although Dan's heart clenched slightly at the thought of the unknown cold, he straightened his strong legs and looked confidently at his friends. — It's time to go, — he said resolutely. — The road is long, and the ice won't find itself.

Den stepped resolutely onto the scorched earth of the Open Plain, and to his surprise, this shortest route turned out to be much more pleasant than the adult leaders had warned. Instead of dangerous predators, they encountered a deep, dried-up ravine that ran across the entire plain like a secret corridor created by nature itself. The high walls of the ravine, covered with golden feather grass, reliably hid the travelers from prying eyes, and the soft, warm sand underfoot made every step light and confident. — Look! — Den stopped, blinking his large brown eyes in surprise. — The mountains are already so close. We crossed the plain twice as fast as I expected! Lima took advantage of the stop, deftly leaping and catching a huge blue dragonfly mid-flight. She purred contentedly, pinning the prey with her paws. — It's all because we're a great team, — she said, chewing a tasty morsel. — Even the wind is blowing at our backs today, pushing us toward our goal. Maybe the mountains are waiting for us too? Grap, who usually feared open spaces, now felt like a real hero. He plucked a tuft of dry but exceptionally sweet-tasting grass growing at the very edge of the ravine. — The air here smells of freedom and... just a little bit of dust, — he remarked, squinting in the bright light. — But I like this pace. The main thing is not to hurry too much, so as not to miss the best views. When they finally emerged from the ravine, true giants rose before them. The majestic stone slopes of the Blue Mountains towered upward, and a light cold breath descending from the peaks made Den's scales shiver for a moment. The warm summer of the Valley of Ancestors was left behind — ahead lay the realm of stone and ice.

Dan resolutely led the group toward a steep slope where a narrow rocky path snaked upward. Although the climb seemed inaccessible, the little ones were incredibly lucky: the stone ledges turned out to be wide and flat, as if the mountain itself had set out giant stairs for the young travelers. Dan moved his strong paws confidently, feeling the sun pleasantly warm his scales despite the cool breeze playing with the yellow stripes on his neck. — Look how high we've already climbed! — Lima exclaimed, nimbly jumping over a small crevice. She paused at the edge of the cliff, watching a thick furry bumblebee fly slowly past. — The valley from here looks like a tiny green blanket. Grap, though breathing a bit harder than the others, moved with surprising confidence for his build. He found a perfect rhythm, placing his paws exactly where the stone was strongest. — The main thing is not to look down, but to look at your feet, — he remarked sensibly, stopping to taste the mountain moss, which turned out to be unexpectedly crunchy and delicious. — This path is much easier than it looked from below. The mountains seem to be helping us. Thanks to the well-chosen path and joint efforts, the friends overcame the most difficult part of the climb faster than expected. Dan felt his heart fill with pride for his squad. Ahead, around another turn of the rock, the air became even cleaner and smelled of something completely new — the first breath of a real winter, waiting for them somewhere among the white-capped peaks.

Dan peered cautiously into a deep, narrow crack between two giant boulders, trying to find the first traces of real ice. Such cold emanated from the depths that his nostrils immediately stuck together, and a light frost appeared on the golden stripes of his neck. He pushed his head deeper, squinting at the unusual sensation that was both frightening and fascinating. “Look!” he cried, his voice echoing loudly off the stone walls. “Something is sparkling there! It’s not stone, it’s... it!” Lima was instantly at his side, deftly balancing on the very edge of the crevice. She reached a slender paw deep inside and pulled out a small, transparent fragment. It burned her fingers with cold fire, but it was strikingly beautiful, like a frozen drop of clear sky. However, the joy was incomplete: the main mass of ice was hidden too deep beneath a pile of sharp stones, and it was impossible to get it out without special effort. “This is only the beginning,” Grap puffed, respectfully examining the find that was quickly melting on Lima's warm scales. “There’s not enough here for the whole festival, barely enough for one sip. But now we know for sure: the ice exists, and we are on the right path.” Dan nodded, feeling the tips of his fingers grow slightly numb from the unusual cold. The sun began to hide quickly behind a neighboring peak, painting the slopes in anxious pink colors. The air grew even sharper, and the friends realized that the mountains were not going to give up their treasures without a real trial.

Dan turned to Grap, whose massive figure seemed even larger in the thick twilight of the ravine. "Friend, we cannot get to the ice ourselves," he said softly, pointing to the blockage. "Only your strength can open this path." Grap nodded slowly, approached the crevice and, planting his paws firmly in the stony ground, tensed his mighty shoulders. It seemed as if the mountain itself held its breath. With a dull rumble, the largest boulder blocking the path moved aside as easily as if it were made of dry bark, not heavy basalt. Behind the stone, a small niche protected from the wind opened up, its walls shimmering in the last rays of the sun. There, in the shade, lay not just a handful of snow, but real layers of pure, transparent ice, resembling huge precious stones. A true wonder of nature, preserved here since the last great winter. — Whoa! — Lima jumped with delight, her eyes shining brighter than the stars above. — Grap, you are a real giant! There's enough ice here not only for the little ones, but to cool a whole lake! Grap grunted contentedly, wiping the dust from his nose. He looked tired, but very proud of himself. Dan stepped closer, feeling a pleasant freshness wafting from the ice. However, the joy faded slightly as he looked at the sky: darkness was quickly enveloping the mountains, and the frost was becoming sharper. Now that the treasure was before them, a new question arose: how to preserve it and themselves in this cold night?

Dan carefully inspected the cozy stone corner Grap had discovered for them. "We will stay here for the night," he decided prudently, pushing his friends deeper into the niche. "The walls will protect us from the biting wind, and the ice won't melt until morning. This is the most reliable place in the whole ridge." Although the stone underfoot was as cold as the winter bottom of a stream, the friends quickly found a way to warm up. Grap, like a large warm rock, lay down at the very entrance, blocking the path of the night draft. Dan and Lima nestled next to his sturdy side. The young explorer felt the pleasant warmth from his large friend gradually drive the shivers from his own scales. Lima, curled into a small ball, purred softly, and her long tail twitched from time to time as if she continued to hunt dragonflies in her sleep. Dan couldn't fall asleep for a long time, mesmerized by the large mountain stars that seemed very close. They sparkled on the facets of the found ice, turning the niche into a fairytale palace. Despite the cold, peace reigned in Dan's heart: they had found what they came for, and now the main thing was to preserve this treasure. He closed his eyes, inhaling the air, clear as crystal, and eventually fell into a deep, peaceful sleep under the protection of the ancient mountains.

The first rays of the sun had not yet touched the bottom of the deep gorge when Dan carefully stood up, trying not to wake his friends too early. However, the freshness of the mountain morning had already done its job — Lima and Grap stretched sweetly, feeling invigorated after a peaceful sleep. "Time to go," Dan said resolutely, pointing to the pink sky above the peaks. "We must begin the descent now, while the air still holds the night cold. This is our best chance to bring the ice whole to the Valley." Thanks to incredible luck and Dan's sharp eyesight, they found not just a path, but a real natural chute covered in small pebbles and shaded by high cliffs. This path led almost straight down, bypassing dangerous precipices and sun-scorched areas. The ice, which they had carefully wrapped in a thick layer of cold mountain moss, looked securely protected. — Look how fast we're moving! — Lima exclaimed enthusiastically, balancing on the stones. — It feels like we're not just walking, but flying toward adventure! Grap, though loaded with the largest pieces of the transparent treasure, moved with unprecedented ease. His strong paws found footing where it would be difficult for others to stand. The descent, which would usually take a whole day, turned into a pleasant stroll thanks to the morning coolness and the well-chosen path. Dan felt the wind blowing over his scales, and confidence grew in his heart: they would make it to the festival on time.

Shady Canyon met the travelers with a saving coolness, as if the giant stone walls wanted to personally protect their precious cargo from the scorching sun. Dan resolutely guided his friends deep into the narrow gorge, where light barely touched the tops of the cliffs, leaving the floor in pleasant twilight. The air here was thick and damp, smelling of moss and ancient stone, creating ideal conditions for preserving the ice. Thanks to incredible luck and Dan's keen sense of smell, they came across the smooth bed of a dried-up stream, which served as a wonderful natural road, allowing the team to move much faster than they had hoped. — It's so fresh here! — Lima inhaled the air contentedly, her tail rhythmically tapping against the damp canyon wall. — You'd think we were still up there, near the clouds. My legs are just carrying me forward on their own! Grap, who was carrying the main portion of the moss-wrapped ice, strode confidently through the center of the streambed. His massive paws stepped softly on the wet sand, and the cold bundle on his back didn't seem to weigh him down at all. He even managed to notice rare species of mountain ferns growing in the crevices. — This is a true corridor of coolness, — he remarked, bypassing a large boulder. — Dan, your choice was perfect. If it continues like this, we'll reach the edge of the Valley before the sun reaches its zenith and starts to truly scorch. Dan smiled, feeling pride for his friends and their success fill his heart. The path through the canyon turned out to be not just safe, but a real gift from the mountains. Every step brought them closer to the goal, and the ice under the layer of moss remained as solid and cold as the moment they found it. Ahead, the exit from the canyon was already visible, beyond which lay the familiar thickets of the Valley of the Ancestors.

Dan was the first to run out of the shade of the Shady Canyon, squinting from the bright light of the Valley of Ancestors. He didn't slow down, feeling the warm air of the lowlands wrap around his scales like a soft blanket. “Faster, friends! We’re almost there!” he shouted, looking back at Grap and Lima. Thanks to their early departure and rapid descent, the sun had not yet reached its zenith, and the heat had not reached their precious cargo. They dashed past giant ferns, which now seemed even greener to Dan than before. Lima, like a small lightning bolt, cut through the tall grass, pointing out the shortest path to the large clearing where all the herds usually gathered. Grap, despite his heavy burden, ran with surprising grace, and the moss bundles on his back still radiated a saving cold. When they finally burst into the central clearing, there was a bustle of preparation for the festival all around. Adult dinosaurs froze in surprise, watching the three little ones who had returned from the Blue Mountains much earlier than anyone could have hoped. Dan felt his heart pounding with pride. They hadn't just completed the task — they had done it perfectly. Under the layer of moss, the ice was as hard and clear as it was at the summit. — We brought it! — Dan stopped before the main leader, breathing heavily but beaming with happiness. His yellow stripes on his neck glistened like real gold in the sun. — The breath of the mountains has arrived in the Valley!

Dan took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, and took a solemn step toward the great leaders. He nodded to Grap, and the latter obediently lowered himself onto his front paws, allowing Dan and Lima to unroll the protective layers of wet moss. As the last patch of green fell to the grass, a stunned silence fell over the clearing, broken only by the buzzing of dragonflies. The ice sparkled under the midday sun like a scattering of diamonds, though the warm valley air immediately began to take its toll—the transparent blocks became slick with moisture and started to melt slowly, sending small trickles down Grap's back. — Here it is, the cold of the Blue Mountains, — Dan spoke clearly, trying to keep his voice from trembling with excitement. — We brought it for the new hatchlings, so their first festival would be unforgettable. The oldest predator leader, whose scales were covered with the scars of many years, slowly tilted his massive head. He touched the cold surface with the tip of his nose and flinched at the unexpected sensation. Although the heat forced part of the ice to be moved immediately into the deep shade beneath the roots of an ancient oak to preserve it until evening, the deed was done. Dan saw the stern gazes of the adults soften. They hadn't just brought ice—they had brought proof that even the smallest inhabitants of the valley are capable of great deeds when they act together. Grap closed his eyes contentedly, enjoying the coolness still lingering on his skin, while Lima proudly puffed out her chest, feeling like a true heroine.