Clean Slate

[o8jedi]

Hazen's dreams weren't exceptionally good that night. He dreamed about home and all that meant. His family looked at him from a distance. His friends waved goodbye. His girlfriend, who seemed to be within reach, was separated by some invisible partition. And she cried silently. Hazen couldn't help but lean against the partition and stare at her haunting eyes, himself on the verge of tears.

Suddenly, he heard a large noise. He sat up in complete shock. Adrenaline raced through his bloodstream. He turned to see Oxidia yawning. He took several deep breaths, trying to lower his heartrate again. "Holy . . ." he whispered. He looked at the others and saw Cassini trying to stifle a laugh.

~~~~~

Once Cassini got word of his damaged rickshaw, he ran out. "Oh, no!" he cried before shreiking in his native tongue. Hazen bit his lower lip, sorry that he had to hear of his misfortune. He tied up his bedroll and started carrying things out to Patel's cart. Once everything was loaded up again, Hazen awkwardly climbed back to the top for the ride. He called to the pair of dinosaurs, "It was a pleasure meeting the both of you!"

"The pleasure was all mine!" replied Cassini. "Breathe deep, Dolphinback! Seek Peace!" With that, Cassini and Digger resumed their journey.

[Thundertail]

~ Oxidia and Patel Lewis. Back on the Coastal Road. ~

With one last look back, Patel saw Cassini's rickshaw swerve out of sight, poorly repaired passenger canopy already flapping in the breeze he was creating. He chuckled slightly at his misfortune, even though it was rude to jeer the misfortunes of others. He hung his head a bit as he concentrated on the road ahead, making note of how the muddy path made the carts' wheels slide sideways every now and then.

The wobbly sensations did not unnerve his unexpected passenger one bit as he noticed Hazan casually hanging onto the cart's armrest beside him, appearing to enjoy the view and the ride. He did not seem full of music this morning like he had been the day before; which was probably because of the involuntary situation he suddenly found himself in. Patel just let him ride silent and musing like this, not speaking to him and gently guiding Oxidia where the path got too dangerous for anything less than two pairs of eyes to be on the lookout.

By midmorning the cart drifted out of the forest proper, rolling atop thin soil and rocky hardness of the seaside escarpment once again; and even though the sea could not be seen from this vantage point several miles inland, one could smell the salt tang in the air when the wind blew just right. After another mile the path converged with another path that led between crags in the escarpment, the way cleared of rubble both large and small and the pathway worn smooth by many centurys' worth of use; but the main path they were on steadilly climbed the upgrade to a pinnacle of the escarpment, growing wide enough to easilly acomodate travel in both directions.

At this stretch the sea could be seen in spurts as they passed rising knolls and yawning arroyos, and both Patel and Hazan gasped at its' wonder; Patel doing it more for his passenger's benefit than his own, for he had seen the same sight many times in the past! As Oxidia brayed her approval of what her saurian eyes were seeing, Patel looked at Hazan intently as his gaze scanned the horizon, presumably for a ship or something; and then he spoke what was most on his mind.

"So Hazan. What say you about things?", he asked. "I am sure that, as many questions that are answered for you, a hundred more pop into your head."

He paused and listened to his response, then nodded in eventual understanding; for though his comment indicated he was adjusting to things, his eyes and face told otherwise. Patel paused before making his next comment, for tact was needed in order to get a proper response.

"It may seem strange, the situation you are in. I can only guess at the turmoil your mind is going through.", Patel said eventually. "But what questions you may have, all will resolve themself in time...", he scanned the terrain. "I believe that the only way you are to adjust yourself to this place is to experience life as a Dinotopian; yet it has been reminded to me that you should also partake education.", he looked at him directly. "Perhaps it is wisest for you to do both. What say you to this?"

Patel listened to Hazan's reply, one of mixed enthusiasm and wonder of the unknown; and smiled knowingly as he bade Oxidia to continue pulling the cart, for she too wanted to hear his reply! She chortled a brief comment Patel wouldn't translate and continued thier journey. The rocky crags to thier left softened and slowly dissolved as many more miles passed, and soon the escarpment rounded off altogether in a large area; leaving a craggy morass that led all the way down to the surf. This did not last long as all too soon the escarpment rose to its' stately majesty once more, and with it so did the road.

By early afternoon the cart came within sight of the fishing village of Irenic, Patel's destination and turnaround point; and he pointed out the many docks and buildings that made up the bulk of the town. The town itself was situated along the softly sloping seaside cliff, many a switchback leading down to the shore. The main road sloped through the town; and even though the buildings, which were perched on pilons and posts and looking like they would collapse at any minute, were each level and comfortable on the inside.

"This is the town of Irenic.", Patel announced to hazan, making a sweeping gesture. "One of the main fishing villages on the Northern Coast..."

Oxidia slowly led the cart down the escarpment road, braking with her feet so the cart would not careen uncontrollably; and the one thing Patel noticed was the streets, usually bustling with people, saurians and traffic of various modes, were deserted of anybody to speak of!...

_____

[o8jedi]

The condition of the roads left him slightly uneasy. After all, being on the top of a cart that weighed the same as a semi-truck going through slippery roads was not a position that he wanted to be in on a regular basis. He tried to relax, but any shift in its direction other than "forward" made him instinctively brace himself.

Again, Hazen looked to the sea in one particular vista. The thoughts of last night's dream came over him and he sighed, remembering his girlfriend's eyes. They would surely haunt him for the forseeable future. Then, Patel spoke up. He jumped again, although not as dramatically as that morning, but he looked at the driver and he smiled, trying to reassure him that everything was alright. "Well, I think you're right there. It's just . . . a lot to take in, you know? I mean, I've only been here for a few days. I'm still very new here. It's just a huge case of culture shock, I guess." He looked back at the road ahead.

Patel replied and Hazen looked back at the driver. "Well . . . I guess if it will help acclimate me to this new life, I guess I'm all for it. I mean, talking dinosaurs and footprint-script? That's just the tip of the iceberg, isn't it?"

When Irenic came into view, Hazen was awestruck. The immense amount of work that went into constructing a city in this manner was a feat that rivaled any of the cultures he'd known about before. His jaw was continuously slack throughout the trek. After a few minutes, he began to notice the lack of population. Finally, he got up the courage to say, "Where is everybody?"

[Thundertail]

~ Patel Lewis and Oxidia. The town of Irenic. ~

As Oxidia drove the cart down the inclined road to the dockside of Irenic, Patel continued to scan the buildings they passed for any signs of life. The tsunamis that struck the area were dangerous, and anybody with any sense would have long ago evacuated the small city. Still, there were those that thought the danger was not what the weathercasters feared, and would still be here; either hidden away in thier basements or still going about thier business. Patel knew the old, crabby harbormaster, and he wouldn't let a little swell like this stop him from staying in town. The hatchery on the cliffside also doubled as a hospital, and sometimes they would get a patient that could not be moved no matter what; and they would probably find people there as well.

Patel heard Hazan's voiced concern, the one in his own mind as well, and answered him. "The tsunamis, for seaside towns, are most dangerous.", said he. "Everyone has fled to safer ground... However, there may yet be heartier souls around. Some have endured stronger storms than this!"

Oxidia had at last reached the docks, long and sprawling boardwalk punctuated with eighteen long wharves; and all of them were devoid of ships save the small dinghy or catboat overturned on the dock. Each had crusts of salty seaweed or other marks from the recent storms, all smelling of sea flotsam and looking of disuse. The harbormaster's office was connected to a row of warehouses on pilons down the lane, and she pulled the cart to these while Patel clambered down to knock on his door. A moment was all it took to realise nobody was there, and Oxidia burbled a comment.

"I do not know where everyone is, friend.", Patel told her. "Perhaps it is best that we drop off the figurehead and be on our way...", she strangled out another comment.

"I'm sure we will be paid when the others return.", Patel reassured her as he loosened her harnesses. He returned to the cart. "I shall leave a note, and they will put our fee onto our account."

Back at the cart, Patel looked up at Hazan. "It would seem there is no one to help unload our cart. Care to help?", Patel nodded as he turned toward the nearest warehouse door.

The main door of the warehouse slid aside on its' sliders, and Patel poked his head inside. Even though the majority of the space was crammed with wooden crates that later inspection proved were all ampty, but the center loading area inside was bare save for wisps of hay scattered over the wooden planks. To his left he saw an inner door that led to the office proper, and to his right rows between stacks of empty boxes shrank in the dimness of the giant space. Looking around for a place to set the strong but fragile looking snakelike figurehead, he could find none; but discovered an array of sawhorses that he assembled quickly and exited the warehouse in likewise manner.

When he got outside he noticed that Oxidia had unfastened the figurehead, and was pulling it off the back of the cart. Hazan was inexpertly balancing it from where he stood, struggling with a portion of the four hgundred pound weight. Patal rushed over and gave them a hand, taking the weight in the middle and holding it there until Oxidia could take the majority of the weight. She grabbed the figurehead by the winglike protrusions and led the way inside. All three jockeyed the figurehead inside, and settled it down on the sawhorses; and did it rather noisily as they seated the thuing right so it wouldn't tip to the floor and cause damage.

Suddenly a mewling bellow sounded from somewhere in the warehouse, and crates began to topple many aisles down. The noise got louder as the thing that created the noise carelessly stumbled along, sending more crates to the floor. Suddenly, out of an aisle, rushed this small quadropedal creature, and Patel could not discern the type for its' speed. The creature brayed and stampeded, headed straight for the door; but Hazan was right in its' line of travel, and it bowlewd him to the floor!...

_____

[o8jedi]

Jeez! This thing is heavy! Hazen knew that he wanted to be the best help he could for his benefactors, but he should have known upon seeing the figurehead that he was getting himself in over his head. As soon as Oxidia unfastened it, Hazen began panting and heaving his breath and he felt his grip slipping. Were it not for the assistance of Patel, the resulting drop probably would have cost them thousands of . . . whatever the currency around here was called and Hazen his feet.

As soon as the firgurehead was properly seated on the sawhorses and the creaking had stopped, Hazen turned to see what the commotion was about. The rapidly-growing blur then collided with him, knocking Hazen to the ground. "Oof!" he yelled, having the wind knocked out of him. He tried his best to trip up whatever it was that knocked him over, but he didn't really get that good a grip. He rolled over and saw a stumbling sauropod, clearly a hatchling given its size. With a thump, the dinosaur fell to the ground. Hazen stood up and dusted himself off. "And where do you think you're going?" he asked after making sure he was all right.

[Thundertail]

~ Patel Lewis and Oxidia. The town of irenic. ~

'Oh!... It was a baby Bracheosaur!', Patel thought as its' gangly legs sprawled in all directions, bouncing both head and tail to the ground at the same time almost comically if it wasn't aparently painful. The hatchling looked just like any other Bracheosaur, except he seemed barely waist high on a human; a tyke barely six months old! The poor creature brayed and burbled in a most alarming manner, and Patel rushed to see if the little one was hurt. The hatchling craned his head around Patel's embrace, lifting itself up and trying to bolt for the door; but Oxidia was there with her tail, blocking the entrance to the warehouse with it and cooing soothingly at it.

Patel heard Hazan's gruntings as he fell and his questioning, and added his voice to the mix: "There, there, sweetie... Calm down...!", the hatchling would not! "We won't hurt you..."

A parade of burbling bawls, "...Lost!...", more burblings, "...Storm!...", Frightened jitterings. "... Scary!...", surprisingly, those words were in human English!

Oxidia, more adept at understanding the excited ramblings of saurians, listened intently at the Bracheosaur hatchling's babblings; and after a few moments of deciphering, told Patel the boys' story.

Patel immediately told Hazan. "The hatchling's name is Tebo, and he got lost from his mother during the evacuation.", Tebo finally let Patel hold him - he was shaking uncontrollably! "He was curious, and followed everyone around wondering why they all were moving about so quickly. Soon everyone up and left, leaving him all alone; and his mother was nowhere in sight!", the boy was calming down. "Soon he was all alone, then the tsunami struck; so he looked for a place to hide.", Patel smiled as Tebo looked up at him. "And was hiding in here all this time!... You had quite an adventure, didn't you?...", he cooed.

Oxidia rumbled a comment. "Yes, he must not have eaten for days!... You hungry?...", Tebo brayed. "I'll go get you some, then!...", he got up and looked at Patel. "Would you hold him until I get back?", he noticed Hazan's trepidation. "Don't worry!... Bracheosaurs are plant eaters!...", he rose from his crouch and walked to the cart...

_____

[o8jedi]

"Well, I know that it's herbivorous, it's just tha--" He was going to add, "I've never held a baby of any species before in my life," but without further warning, the dinosaur was plopped into his arms. The dinosaur had to have weighed nearly a hundred pounds and, combined with the thrashing movements of the neck and tail, the two of them quickly lost balance and Hazen fell into a sitting position with another "Oof," still holding onto the Brachiosaur. He readjusted his grip on the squirming, still-alarmed hatchling. "Hey," Hazen said, "steady, boy." He freed an arm and patted its side, near what would be best described as his shoulder. "It's alright. I'm not gonna hurt you."

Tebo was still shaking like a leaf. It bleated several times, which Hazen assumed were its calls for Patel. Hazen changed his pats into rubs, hoping that would help to relax the dinosaur. This was the first time that he really got a chance to feel a dinosaur's hide before. It was no more scaly or rough than that of your average snake or lizard. It wasn't too dry or too moist, but the bumpy texture quickly set it apart from other common reptiles. In a way, it was like skin. Really bumpy skin.

The hatchling seemed to respond favorably to the rubs as his squirms and kicks lessened in intensity and number. "There we go," he said quietly. "We're gonna make sure you're nice and fed and we'll get you back to Mommy and Daddy before you know it." The Brachiosaur craned its head around to get a better look at Hazen. Hazen smiled as his hand moved up its neck and to the head. "You're a cute little fella, aren't you?"

The nostrils on the top of its head flared a bit as Tebo took a breath. Hazen started to relax. Tebo brayed and started squirming again. "No!" Hazen protested, getting his grip again. "Nothing bad's gonna get you." He resumed his reassuring rubs and Tebo responded like before. "That's more like it." Hazen sighed. "So you're alone and scared, eh?" he said quietly, "I can relate, too." This seemed to do little to allay the dinosaur's still pent-up fears.

Hazen looked at the worry in the dinosaur's eyes. "You're doing this wrong," he mused to himself aloud. "He's just a baby," he said, "so treat him like one." Hazen ran through all his options. Food was going to be taken care of and there was no need for a diaper change. Tebo was too heavy to bounce in his arms. The only option left was a lullaby, which Hazen soon began to sing.

"Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?

"Dear Prudence, open up your eyes
Dear Prudence, see the sunny skies
The wind is low, the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence, won't you open up your eyes?"

Tebo blinked a few times, shedding some tears, which fell onto Hazen's lap in large, wet drops. Hazen continued rubbing him reassuringly. "It's gonna be okay, Tebo," he said after finishing his song. Carefully, he lessened his grip on him, but still going through the comforting motions. "There we go," Hazen said quietly. Either Tebo was too upset to notice or he was beginning to trust Hazen.

[Thundertail]

~ Patel Lewis and Oxidia. The warehouse at Irenic. ~

Patel climbed the side of the cart a few strides from the warehouse door, rummaging in back for one of thier sacks of food. The little one would probably not be off the primary food they feed hatchlings, but all they had left that might suffice was some of Oxidia's fodder and a handful of fruits that was well past the peak of ripeness. Hoping they could attain fresh provisions before they left, Patel grabbed the satchel and climbed back down from the cart.

He walked back over and paused half way back at the sight he was seeing. He saw a calming hatchling watching Hazan sing softly to him, Tebo smiling a saurian smile as he listened to the barely understood words. Smiling, Patel strolled into thier view, Oxidia being charmed by the song as well; and just stood there until Hazan was finished before speaking.

"It looks like you have made a friend, friend!", he said, chuckling as he put the sack down. "Left to fate, the both of you could become inseperable!", he began to root around the inside of the sack.

Little Tebo turned his attention from the human singing to him - which reminded him of his mother's Partner - to the fatter man and his sack; his nose saying that the sack held food. He was so hungry, and forgot when he last ate; for the dusty hay on the floor in the warehouse was yucky and dry... Still cautious, he sniffed near the bag; and saw what the man produced: yummy fruit! He did not wait for the man to hand it over, for he craned his neck over and swallowed it whole.

"You're a hungry one. Aren't you?...", Patel smiled at Tebo's eagerness. "Bet it's been days, hey?...", Tebo gurgled agreement.

After a minute, Oxidia made a comment and Patel responded. "Yes, I think we should find someone in charge... Hazan. Could you finish feeding him while we take a look around?", he listened to Oxidia's suggestion. "Yes, you look in the commisary areas and I'll go up to the hatchery...", he turned to Hazan as Oxidia padded out of sight. "We'll be back in a few minutes..."...

_____

[o8jedi]

Again, Patel and Oxidia left before Hazen had a chance to speak up. Hazen shook his head and turned back to Tebo. "I certainly hope not all Dinotopians are like this." He grabbed a fruit and smelled it before holding it before him. Tebo grabbed it and ate it easily. "Still," Hazen said, "It's not like I could be much help out there. I only arrived here a couple days ago."

Tebo warbled something in response, saying "-Back."

Hazen nodded, intuitively understanding the statement. "Yeah," he said, "I'm a Dolphinback." He grabbed a few more fruits and held them out. "You know, you remind me a lot of a dog I used to have back home," he said, "especially when he was young. Excitable, curious, and lovable in a quirky way." He chuckled as Tebo tried to lick a few juicy fruit bits that were dribbling out of his mouth. "Here, let me get that for you." He reached out to help clean things up a bit.

Tebo cooed what seemed to be a "Thank you." Tebo gave a smile to the human.

Hazen reciprocated it. "I'm Hazen, by the way," he said as he gave a freindly neck-rub. "And I hope you're not offended, but I always considered myself more of a Triceratops guy."

Tebo grumbled slightly before pushing forward suddenly, knocking Hazen over. "AACK!" Hazen replied. "I'm sorry! I like you, too!" Tebo's mouth opened as he laughed. Hazen chuckled as well as he grabbed more food to feed the young Brachiosaur.

[Thundertail]

~ Oxidia and Patel lewis. The town of Irenic. ~

Oxidia padded off down the road alongside the wharves, hearing attuned to any sound foriegn to the sussurus of the surf sloshing on the wharves' pilons. She was used to this place being abustle with all sorts of activities, thier noises filling the air; but today the place seemed like a ghost town, echoes of its' normal activities seeming to be still fresh in the air. The smells of the town's occupants were still in the air from a few days ago, but she was looking for occupants that were still there.

At each doorway she brayed a hello and listened, dejectedly walking away when no return sound was heard. Each place she visited along the adjoining street, which were shops like bakeries, netweavers, tackle shops, forgeries, laundries and many small warehouses with the homes of thier owners residing on the second floors of these places; but still she found no one. She thought that the owners would not mind if they borrowed some provisions from these people to allow them to make it to thier next destination.

Though the evacuation of the town was somewhat sudden and disorganized, the people had taken the time to tidy up things before they left, and Oxidia noticed little evidence of rush. Baskets and crates sat before some dwellings, but most had the air of being well used over time. Oxidia ducked down a sloping alleyway and made it up to the next level of the town, crossing the road where she and the cart had descended to the harborside. Looking in that diresction, she saw the ribbing and hull of the ship that was going to sport the figurehead they had just delivered, now being seen through a huge stone archway imbedded into the stone escarpment beyond; where the Irenic Shipyards lay.

Turning back to the task at hand, Oxidia brayed once more into a wheelright's shop and continued on down the lane...

~~~~~~~~~~

Patel Lewis took a more direct route to the Irenic hatchery, the landmark that denoted its' presence being the gleaming Sunstone in a roof alcove directly above it; which provided power for the facility and the town, and also provided a lighthouse of sorts for ships out on stormy seas. He ducked down alleyways between houses and climbed steep paths around warehouses and other buildings in this cramped settlement. He looked into every building he passed, and quickly leaving when he heard nobody was home.

"Hello!...", he shouted many times, receiving no reply before moving on. "Is anyone here?..."

At a bakery he stopped and grabbed some sort of pastery, figuring the owner wouldn't mind as he had had no breakfast; and sprinted off on his way as soon as he was done. At the topmost switchbacked road leading out of town the hatchery stood perched on pilons, the rear of the structure was buttressed up against the escarpment and was rumored it connected with cliffside caves beyond. Patel heard Oxidia's raying as the cliffs echoed her voice as the builkdings around him would allow; and added his voice once again to her shouts.

At last he came to within sight of the main entrance to the hatchery, wooden stairs leading twenty feet up to the arched doorway with a wide stone ramp along the side for larger saurian patrons. A small pushcart with freshly hatched eggshells sat along side the stair railing as he climbed them and pulled the bell before entering. The dimly lit space was warm and humid, just like all hatcheries he visited; vital for the proper development of eggs and rearing of hatchlings. The rows of eggboxes were all but deviod of eggs, only three were occupied; and shuffling sounds were coming from a room just beyond this one.

"Hello?", Patel said softly, for it was the rules to be as quiet as possible in hatcheries. "Is anybody here?", more shufflings, and a clatter was heard.

"Greetings, stranger.", came a human female voice, followed by the human female herself. "Please state the nature of the emergency..."...

_____

[o8jedi]

Several Weeks Earlier....

"Just rest easy, Sasha," said Emily in Saurian, "you did a fine job." A low rumbling was the reply from the large Triceratops in the delivery room. Emily gently rubbed the area between the two prominent horns. The dinosaur blinked a few times, relaxing.

Somolla, a Struthiomimus, walked around the mother, carrying the small clutch of three eggs. The saurian midwife held them up for Sasha to see. "In time," said Somolla, "your children will hatch from these." Sasha grumbled a soothing, pleasing sound and the corners of her mouth raised slightly. Then, Somolla transferred them to the incubation room for inspection and to allow them to gestate.

"Congratulations," said Emily with a smile.

Present Moment[/b]

The recent tsunami season had put more undue pressure on Emily and her staff than she had desired, not to mention the mothers and their eggs. At least the storm had calmed down and there was some modicum of peace. Still, there were those three Triceratops eggs that hadn't hatched yet. The fact that they were past due gave her some sense of concern, but every time she examined them through the backlight, the babies were still healthy and alive. They just weren't ready yet.

It was time to change the straw for those three eggs and she tried to collect some. Emily would periodically stop, thinking she heard someone enter. Then, the whispers proved otherwise. She walked out and saw a large fellow. She smiled and said, "Greetings, stranger. Please state the nature of the emergency."

~~~~~~

"Look," said Hazen, "That's all the food Patel gave me. I don't have any more!" Tebo was craning his neck around Hazen and giving several sniffs inside pockets and just Hazen in general. Hazen, having had enough, reached out and gently pushed the young Brachiosaur away. "You can cut it out now." The dinosaur refused to stop. "Tebo, please. I kinda have a thing about being sniffed by strangers."

After several minutes of this game, Tebo decided it was time for a different one. He scampered away a bit before stopping, turning around and wagging his tail. Hazen shook his head and smiled. "Jeez, you are just like my old dog." He took a few steps forward. "Alright," Hazen said, "Want to play a bit?" Tebo started scampering around with Hazen trying to keep up.

[Thundertail]

~ Patel Lewis and Oxidia. The town of Irenic, hatchery and environs. ~

"Hello ma'am. I am Patel Lewis, from the Polongo trading company out of Spiker.", said Patel to the elderly lady that came into the room. He should talk! He was not much younger than she!... "We have come to deliver the figurehead destined to be installed on the 'liopleurodon'. We braved the tsunamis and came here as scheduled.", he scratched his head. "Unfortunately, there is no one here to receive us..."

He listened to the woman's reply and had her pause. "If you would excuse me. I must summon my partner..."

He rushed to the doorway and scanned the town with his eyes from this commanding view. Parasolophus are pretty easy to spot at a distance, and he saw her two streets away on a lower level; still searching, mouth a line of determination. Patel pressed his fingers to his lips and made an earsplitting whistle that carried off the cliffside and walls, making Oxidia turn her crested head at the sound. When finally thier eyes met, Patel motioned for her to come; and she responded with a start, straight through an alley and came out on the street. She would be there within moments!...

~~~~~

Oxidia had no luck finding anybody, and she searched nearly the entire town! She was ready to give up, thinking she had better get back to the cart and to the two inexperienced creatures waiting there - hopefully waiting and not getting into trouble!... She turned to retrace her footprints when all of a sudden a familiar whistle met her earslits, one traders use to signal thier presence to others; and turned around to the source of the sound.

Patel was another road level up, standing in the doorway of a large building with a Sunstone burning atop it, looking like a tree lizard on a Sequoia; and he waved his arm frantically to gain her attention. He must have found some residents still here, she thought; and trotted down the street until she found a more direct route by way of an alley. Within moments she made it to the foot of the steps leading to him; and pantingly rumbled greeting.

"Oxidia. The hatchery is fully staffed.", Patel told her. "Go prepare the cart and bring it here."

She burbled concern. "Yes, go see if Hazan and Tebo are all right...", he turned to the lady behind him. "I totally forgot!... When we delivered the figurehead to the warehouse, we found a hatchling Brach in there. He must have been in there for days!"...

_____

[o8jedi]

Emily smiled at the charming man. "I'm not surprised," she said. "Most everyone left for Pooktook to ride out the tsunami season. The worst should be over by now and they should be heading back in a couple of days." She grabbed some of the straw and began to gently change the nests the eggs were in. "Only a few of us are still here to mind the hatchery. These three little ones demand our attention." She looked back at the gentleman and said, "If there is anything I can do to help you until the others arrive, just ask. I've got several beds and plenty of room at the table."

Patel politely excused himself and she heard a low grumble from the stables. "Oh, dear," she said. She quickly shuffled to the stables and said, "Nothing yet, I'm afraid." The Triceratops gave an angry bleat. "I know you're upset, but you can't rush these things. Just have a little patience. They'll be hatching soon enough. I can tell."

She jogged to the Sunstone tower around the same time that Patel's companion arrived. She caught enough of the conversation to understand what was going on. Then, she was told about the hatchling. "Oh, dear, that's a shame." She turned around, heading back inside. "I'd better prepare some food for the little one."

~~~~~

Hazen had Tebo backed into a corner. "Oh, I've got you this time!" he said to the Brachiosaur. He made a lunge and Tebo bolted out the side, but not before he got a solid pat on Tebo's tail. "Tag!" he shouted. Tebo slid to a halt on the straw. "You're It!" Hazen then started running the other way. Tebo got up his speed again and ran after the human.

Hazen glanced back at Tebo and saw he was gaining. No sooner had he turned his head back than he saw the giant hulk of the figurehead. "Whoa!" he said, trying to change direction. Tebo slammed into him. The both of them fell and slid towards one of the sawhorses. "Not good!" Hazen cried as he tried to brace himself for impact. Both he and Tebo skidded to a halt mere inches from the sawhorse. Hazen opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "That was too close," he said.

"It!" bleated Tebo as he got up and scampered away from the big, heavy thing.

Hazen looked back at the hatchling. "I think I'm funned out for now." He stood up and dusted himself off. He then felt Oxidia's footsteps through the ground. "Let's see what's going on." Hazen walked toward the entrance with Tebo not far behind. He peeked his head outside and said, "Anything new?" to the dinosaur.

[Thundertail]

~ Patel lewis and Oxidia. The hatchery at Irenic and environs. ~

Oxidia made good time getting back to the warehouse that thier cart was parked next to, mainly because the road was all downhill to the sea. The cart came into view first and then the warehouse; but no sign of either human or hatchling were present - and that sent her sense of danger into overdrive! She rushed down to the cart and looked around, and peered into the warehouse; where her eyes beheld a comical sight indeed! Both were on the floor precariousely close to the tottering figurehead, rolling around and trading pats and swats - they were playing!...

Oxidia made a chortling bray to announce herself, only intending the bray, but she was chuckling at the sight so bad she couldn't help it! She burbled that they had found some residents of the town at the hatchery and to follow her, but remembered that Hazan didn't understand a word of Sorolophan; and she had to resort to a series of pantiomimes that she hoped he'd understand. So many forelimb moves, grunts and pointings later, Hazan finally nodded and got up from the floor; trying to corral his new friend enough to have the hatchling folow them, and Tebo was having none of that! Hazan got an idea and picked up the bag of food, showing the hatchling a sample of what was inside before slinging it over his shoulder; and this baited the Bracheosaur enough to have him follow close behind, nipping playfully at the humans' trousers all the way.

Several moments later they made it to the front of the hatchery, both stopping several times along the was due to Tebo's lagging behind and subsequent coaxing they had to do to the tyke. Patel had been intermittently looking out in expectation of them and looking inside at the activity going on there. The workings of a hatchery always intrigued him so! As he turned around for the last time, Oxidia gave a braying greeting, Hazan doing likewise in a human way and Tebo just looking at him with curiosity. He trod down the stairs as Oxidia went around the side to where the rampway lay sprawled to ascend into the hatchery.

"Hello everyone...", Patel said. "The hatchery workers had to stay behind, but I don't think they'll mind putting us up for the night..."

Patel turned away as he saw Hazan climb the stairs, awkwardly being followed by the baby Bracheosaur. Oxidia came into his midst just then, and he gave her a cheesy grin in passing. All four presently entered the hatchery, and Hazan looked around in wonder at all the things going on in there; and pretty soon they were all being greeted by the personnel...

_____

[o8jedi]

Hazen saw Oxidia pointing at something. Hazen peeked outside and saw a building at the top of a hill, near some sort of lighthouse. "I guess we're going there," he mused. He turned around to his new little buddy. "Wanna go for a walk?" he asked. Tebo backed away a bit, suggesting that he wanted to stay. "Tebo, I promise that nothing bad's gonna happen. We're just heading to a safer place."

Tebo belted, "Stay!" and laid down, as if driving that point home. No sense in getting lost again.

Hazen sighed and looked at Oxidia, showing his frustration at the hatchling's stubbornness. He walked over to Patel's bag, which he had left behind before starting his search. As he grabbed it, he noticed a couple of fruits still inside. "You sure you don't want to come?" He said as he reached inside and pulled one out. "Suit yourself."

Tebo, not expecting there to be fruit, stood up and ran to Hazen, grabbing Hazen's pant legs with his teeth and tugging, begging for the fruit. Hazen held a bit out with his hand and Tebo took a large bite out of it. Hazen did his best to hang onto the rest and said, "You can have more as we walk on, okay?" Tebo nodded and the three of them started on their way to the house.

Periodically, they would wait for Tebo to catch up. Bless his heart, he was trying. As Hazen saw him try to keep up, he smiled understandingly. It's no wonder he got lost so easily. After a while, they made it up the hill. Hazen waved at Patel, greeting him after their long absence. As promised, Hazen gave the rest of the fruit to Tebo, who devoured it quickly. Hazen nodded when he heard Patel's report. "That's great to hear," he said, "especially since I'm running out of snacks for Tebo here." He walked up the stairs toward the entrance. Tebo followed him shortly.

When Hazen entered the hatchery, he was struck by the soft amber glow of the incubation room. It was warm and humid inside and he undid a few of the buttons in his shirt to make himself slightly more comfortable. He saw row upon row of nooks with the bottoms lined with straw. All of them were empty, save for three eggs slightly larger than ostrich eggs. He smiled as he squatted down, studying every detail of the eggs up close. He refrained from touching them, not wanting to harm the embryos inside.

~~~~~

Emily scooted quickly through the living section of the Hatchery. "How is the meal coming, Somolla?"

"It should be done in 20 minutes," said Emily's co-worker.

Emily nodded. "Good," she said. "I'm going to check on the eggs and greet our guests. Feel free to feed Sasha and meet me back here."

"Yes, ma'am," came the reply from the kitchen.

Emily quickly moved into the hatchery and was somewhat surprised to see the eggs being observed as they were. "Ahem," she said clearing her throat.

"I'm sorry," Hazen said quietly. "I've just never seen dinosaur eggs before."

"Oh," said Emily, "you need not apologize for that." Hazen smiled back at the kindly woman. Tebo, recognizing Emily trotted quickly to her and pressed his head against her waist tenderly. "So you're the lost one, Tebo!" she said. Tebo burbled something, "Yes, I missed you, too." She looked up at Patel and turned to see the Parasaurolophus. "Again," she said to the two travelers, "welcome. If you're looking for food, you can head to the housing area. A hot meal is waiting for you."

[Thundertail]

~ Irwin Hanson, Leopold. Elswhere in the hatchery. ~

Irwin hated this!... Being stuck in town while all his friends from school left to who knows where... It just wasn't fair! This he thought as he made up the two extra beds in the loft above the incubation room and the hatchling development area. What cut it the most was what he was told to do next: clean up the stable next to the one where that pushy threehorn female was staying! Sure he had to do all this being an apprentice hatchery worker. It's just that he'd rather be home playing with his ball - or better yet beachcombing for treasure!

He wasn't paying attention to what he was doing and accidentally short sheeted the bed, and promptly stripped the bed to start over. A fly buzzed around his ear and he swatted at it dejectedly, then flicked the sheet out to its' full potential; forgetting to take the pillow off first, making him start all over again!

"I hate this!...", Irwin wailed to himself. "I'll never be done!..."

"And why do you say that, lad?", said the saurian who just passed the doorway. "I'd shake a leg if you want to be finished by Eveningmeal..."

"Sometimes I wish I was never here...", Irwin Hanson told the Stenoychosaur. "Leopold, why do things have to be so hard?..."

"Aw, they get easier as time goes on!...", said Leopold. "Say, how far along are you in here?", he took steps inside.

"I can't seem to get the sheet on right...", said Irwin. "It acts like a big sail..."

"I'll give a hand and show you how it's done!...", Leopold grabbed an end and got into position. "One,... two,... three!...", he tossed his end, Irwin doing likewise. "Now tuck and fold the ends... There! A nice hospital corner... Now do the same on the other end... And you're done!"

Irwin inspected his handiwork, which was slightly less neat than Leopold's side, then spoke. "Wonders!... Is there anything you DON'T know?..."

"Not much, I'll admit;", the Stenoychosaur chuckled with mock modesty, helping complete making the bed. "But try telling anybody here...! ", he threw Irwin the pillow, who placed it at the head of the bed, then smiled. "Now, let's go see about that stable..."

Cupping the boy's yellowish head, Leopold led Irwin out of the room and down the back stairs; then down a short service corridor to the patient stables, where only one occupant was housed at this time. Sasha the Triceratops stood there lethargicaly, moaning longingly at nothing before noticing the pair and grunting a greeting. She had just lain her four eggs a fortnight ago, and was waiting for them to hatch; but her motherly instinct told her that she had to be near them. This was a thing the hatchery prevented her from doing, and this made her sad.

"Cheer up, missy!...", Leopold said brightly. "Your eggs should hatch any time now. Miss Emily will let you know when it's time..."

"Oh, cheer yourself up!...", Sasha turned away.

"Um,... shall we?", Leopold steered Irwin to the next stable over, tisking at all the stale hay in there.

"You know, with that tsunami, there'll be a lot of damage in town.", Irwin said as he grabbed a pair of pitchforks. "A lot of people may have gotten hurt, I bet...", he scooped his first load. "The hatchery will be overrun!..."

"You and your imagination!...", Leopold scoffed. "Put some elbow grease in it!...", he shoveled as well, placing loads into the pushcart near by.

Many minutes into this chore, Somalla the Strutheomimus came down to the paddock area. The pushcart she was using was filled with steaming vegetables, cold ferns and breads in a large, cauldronlike bowl. Two buckets were placed on the carts' lower shelf, containing the amber color and minty smell of cold Jinka tea. She had prepared the drink with a mild pain reliever and an even milder sedative mixture made to keep her patient calm. Somalla knew that Triceratops mothers could be bad patients nearly every time! She busied herself feeding Sasha, trying real hard to ignore Leopold this time.

"Good evening, Somalla.", Leopold said, winking. "No storms tonight..."

"You two better hurry.", Somalla finally rose to say. "Any longer and you will miss Eveningmeal.", she returned to her work and quickly left when she was done...

~~~~~~~~~~

~ Patel Lewis and Oxidia. Main areas of the hatchery. ~

Oxidia observed everything going on in the incubation room from her considerable height, which nearly grazed the rafters high above. The space had to have high ceilings for all the larger saurian patrons that normally visited. What was mostly going on right now was Hazan looking in wonder at all the eggs currently in thier nest boxes, examining each one and marveling at thier colors or thier size. She had noticed back at the cart that he was finally getting used to being around dinosaurs, the way he played with little Tebo that way. Oxidia figured that it wouldn't be too long before Hazan finally fit in around here!

"If I remember hatcheries correctly, there are certain rules of conduct.", Patel said to hazan, who was absorbed in his examinations. He suddenly turned to Emily Freedom. "Please correct me if I'm not mistaken...", she nodded for him to continue.

"First off, one is not to talk too loudly; for this disturbs the hatchlings and hatchlings-to-be.", Patel continued. "One must walk softly and surely so as to not disturb the eggs... When something unusual happens that requires a hatchery workers' assistence, one must step aside and not get in the way..."

Patel spent many moments rattling off the rules that he remembered, then waited for the assistant hatchery leader to say the rest. Hazan turned from what he was doing and spoke the profound thing that was on his mind; and this made everyone who heard smile...

_____

[o8jedi]

Emily smiled at Patel. "You did a fine job, Mr. Lewis." She turned to the Dolphinback. "Only authorized personnel are to handle the eggs before they are hatched. If you hear any cracking noises, get one of us . . ." She saw the man turn and look at her with an odd expression and she could tell she was losing him. "The rules are fairly simple to understand," she said. "We just ask that you take enough care to allow these darlings to rest and grow strong. And if there's something you think you shouldn't do, then you probably shouldn't do it."

Hazen chuckled softly at those last statements. He stared intently at one of the three eggs before him. "What species are these?" he asked.

"Triceratops," said Emily. "They're due to hatch any moment now."

Hazen smiled. He turned to everyone else and said, "I always liked Triceratops." He looked back at the eggs and said softly, "Hello, there."

Emily smiled in return. She walked up to Hazen and took his shoulder. "I think it's time for eveningmeal. If you'll come this way," she said. Hazen reluctantly allowed her to lead him. He kept an eye on the eggs. For an instant, he thought he saw one move ever so slightly. Then again, he himself was moving. It might have just been a trick of the light.

A short walk later took them to a large dining room with a large table. Hazen stood next to Patel, waiting for a cue for everyone to be seated. A Struthiomimus brought in several steaming pots from the kitchen. Emily stood at the head of the table and pointed at the attendant. "I would like you to meet Somolla, one of our nursing assistants." Somalla bobbed her head before going back inside. Emily then pointed out the Troodon and the human boy, who bowed when their names were called. "And these are Leopold, our caretaker, and Irwin Hanson, one of our apprentices." Hazen bowed in kind.

Emily then took her seat and they began to pass around the bowls of food. Again, Hazen was slightly disappointed not getting a good meat option. "I don't mean to sound rude," he said to the others, "but is everyone here who can eat meat a vegetarian?"

[Thundertail]

~ Patel and company, all hatchery workers. The Irenic hatchery. ~

Irwin Hanson and Leopold quickly finished the stable, left the cart they used for the hay refuse outside and rushed around through service corridors to the dining room. They were chuckling and carrying on until they entered and saw that they had guests, then put on thier best company faces as they sat opposite one another. Looking at thier hands to make sure they were clean enough, for miss Emily Freedom frowned on lack of cleanliness, they waited to be served for a few moments.

The new faces consisted of a portly human of mid to late maturity, a skinnier human looking in wonder at all things going on and a full grown Parasolophus chortling away like they usually do. All three smelled of the unwashed trail and thier own distinct odors, but Leopold knew it was rude to point this out to them. Irwin tried to smile and make nice gestures to them all, but he was jostled by something at his elbow.

"Tebo? What are you doing here?", the boy asked. "Shouldn't you be with your mama?"

"Storm! ...", the hatchling brayed hopelessly. "Lost! ..., Hide! ...", then made a smiling gesture. "Nice... people... Find...!", the tyke looked at Patel, Hazan and Oxidia and smiled.

"Oh,... Well, you shouldn't get so distracted next time...", Irwin rumpled his neck. "Now off with you..."

Fairly soon Somala came in, making many trips carrying in plates and bowls of steaming fare while Irwin and Leopold greeted the newcomers with thier eyes. They began to silently pass the courses around, filing thier portions onto thier plates before them. The food consisted of seaweed pasta with an Alfredo sauce, a horsetail and fern medely with Bocca berry sauce, several forms of bread, other raw and cooked vegetables - some of which Hazan recognized - and sliced fruits in thier own candied juices for dessert. Before anybody could sample any of thier meal, Hazan made a comment on why there was no meat; and this brought every eye upon him!

"Hazan...!", Patel warned softly. "There are reasons why we do not eat meat!..."

"You see, kind sir. We believe all living things have an intellegence, no matter how small.", Leopold told him. "We value life above all else, and it is a crime to waste it just for the sake of our own selfish hungers."

"We have chosen not to eat meat for that reason and more.", Patel said. "I'm sure you wouldn't like it if someone ate you!"

"Eating meat is yucky!", Irwin added.

"It is true that we catch fish in this village.", Leopold said. "But we catch them for caravans traveling through the Rainy Basin, where the Tyranosaur live."

"Tyranosaurs do not live by the codes of Dinotopia.", Patel added. "They preferr to live as thier ancient ancesters do. By hunting and living wild. The Rainy Basin is thier territory, and only foolish people travel there without fish as tribute!"

"They would rather eat fish than other prey.", Leopold said. "But thier territory is too far away from the sea."

Appetites thouroughly ruined by the previous conversation, everyone tried to eat Eveningmeal in silence. half way through, other conversation came up as thier appetites were sated and the air of the moment changed...

_____

[o8jedi]

Hazen bit his lip as the Dinotopians chastised him regarding his comment on the lack of carnivorism around him. "Again, I'm sorry I offended you all," he said. "There are things I'm still getting used to around here." The angry tenor he inadvertently sown around here led him to keep his gaze on his plate for most of the rest of the meal. He had to admit, though, there were plenty of interesting flavors he had never experienced before, namely the salad dressing. It had to have been made from a fruit completely foreign to him.

Emily, still eating her meal, glanced at the young human and saw his distraught expression. She swallowed and then spoke up. "So, tell me, young man, what lead you to come to Dinotopia?"

Hazen looked at the matriarch as she asked that question. "Well," Hazen began, "I was traveling to a country called New Zealand when the airplane . . ." He glanced at Patel, remembering his unfamiliarity with modern modes of travel, "the flying machine I was traveling in crashed. I got separated from the other survivors and I was taken here by the dolphins."

Emily replied, "My word, what a harrowing adventure. What business did you have in 'New Zee-land?'"

"Employment," Hazen said simply. "I work in cinema; I'm an editor." Hazen was met with confused looks. "Sorry," he said again, "Cinema is a storytelling medium requiring many people of many talents. In a nutshell, we tell our stories by showing pictures at such a fast rate that it gives the illusion of movement."

Emily, naturally, found this hard to believe. "Moving pictures?"

"Yes," he said. "Now, my task as an editor is to select which pictures should be placed in what order to best tell the story."

[Thundertail]

~ Eveningmeal, at the hatchery of Irenic. ~

Patel Lewis knew from the start that they expressed thier disdain for Hazan's views on eating meat a bit too hard. After all, it was one of the credos they held most dear; and it wasn't Hazan's fault that his society had such barbaric practices. Instead, Patel silently concentrated on this exquisite meal he was enjoying right now. It was a meal he hadn't had the like of for many a day, and certainly one he couldn't recreate by himself - especially when he was out on the road like he was for most of the time! He took another forkfull of the Alfredo into his mouth and savored it slowly for many moments.

Oxidia really enjoyed her meal, chewing delightedly at the unique flavors and textures; occasionally looking around at the folks that she was sharing the table with. The Stenoychosaur seemed well educated and witty, knowing all too well both his place in the hatchery and having a hint of better things. The human boy was eager and inquisitive, or so she thought; but seemed to secretly wish other things as well. The Strutheomimus was dutiful and well learned, a worker who took great pride in her labor. The older human female seemed wise and knew everything having to do with running the hatchery, a finer leader could not have been conceived. What was entertaining for them all was the newcomer human, for Hazan came from a world every Dinotopian only dreamed of; and he was living up to everyones' expectations with the views he had expressed as well as the story he was now telling. Oxidia hitched and burped, causing a painful gas bubble to unleash itself. Maybe going to bed early would straighten out the indigestion that was beginning to manifest itself inside her.

Leopold had eaten his fill after only a few moments, and sat staring at each before him; nodding at each as they eventually finished thier meals. He smugly watched as miss Freedom inquired further at this newcomer's exploits, and when he found he was a dolphinback, his interest was spurred a hundredfold! Oh, the things this human could tell him! What advances his kind must have achieved, and what wonders had his eyes seen? Leopold listened on, but when he found out Hazan was a mere commoner, dealing with something called 'motion pictures'; well, this was quite a catch of fish! Leopold had seen and operated the stereoptical equipment at the Museum of Mechanical Antiquities in Waterfall City; so how could this be any different? He resolved to listen to him carry on, an activity that might prove to provide an amusing evening.

Irwin Hanson tooled with his food dejectedly, for he didn't like half the stuff on his plate. Grownups never knew what kids like to eat, but he made great efforts in mouthing and swallowing all he could. The grownups were right about eating meat, and Irwin was glad he voiced his thoughts on it - how dare the skinny man say such things? Within moments Irwin needn't have worried about emptying his plate, for he noticed most of the rest had left scraps; and pushed his plate aside almost instantly. The skinny man was teling everyone about what he does and about moving pictures; but he didn't know too much about that. This didn't stop him from speaking out again!

"Moving pictures?... Wow!...", Irwin blurted. "I've seen pictures, but the only time they move is when someone takes them from one wall and puts them on another!..."

Needless to say that this comment sent everyone at the table into peals of laughter! After many moments the joviality died down enough for someone to say something; and the first one to do so was Leopold!

"Irwin, you scamp!...", he chuckled. "For that, why don't you start clearing off the table!..."

Just getting his own wit, Irwin laughingly complied; taking his own things off to the kitchen. Many moments later the lad returned; but instead of continuing, the look on his freckled face told of something serious happening!

"Um,... miss Freedom. I think there is something wrong with one of the eggs...", he turned his head to the incubation chamber at a cracking sound, and looked back. "Better make that two..."

At a mutual cue, every adult still sitting at the table rose as one...

_____