"A Quest Of Friends"

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker, Brumalia, In the pub
_

Hazen's eyebrow raised when he heard "a way off Dinotopia." It was the first time he heard that string of words that wasn't preceded by, "There isn't." As he eavesdropped on the rest of that small conversation the Ovaraptor, Natasha, and Bentfeather was having, he maintained a straight face as he took in this information. Little Redcrest looked up at him as they waited for their meal and she noticed his intense concentration. "Hey," she called, "Whatchya doin'?"

Hazen snapped out of the gaze and looked at the young one. "Nothing," he assured her. "Just thinking about home."

Redcrest smiled as she imagined her home and toys and Hazen being there to play with her. Hazen returned the smile and rubbed her crest before glancing back at Bentfeather. Since he was the de facto official in the group, he would have to have a conversation regarding what he heard.

At the camp that evening, he got his chance. After the eveningmeal activities died down, Hazen approached Bentfeather, who was sitting nearby Tebo in some sort of amicable discussion. "Sir Bentfeather," Hazen said. "Can I have a word with you in private?" His instructor kindly agreed and they went away from the fire.

Once Bentfeather asked what was on Hazen's mind, he took a seat next to his mentor and began to speak. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation earlier today, about a way off the island. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this. I guess the main feeling is that I've been deceived." Hazen continued, talking more to himself than to Bentfeather. "No, not that; it's too harsh. After all, Patel may not have known about a way. I guess a better word is 'astonished.' But for all the wrong reasons."

He returned his focus to Bentfeather and resumed, barely recognizing that his voice was rising in volume and anger as he went. "You see, I don't see why any society should have a one-way door policy and I don't fully buy the whole 'it's too dangerous' idea. I don't doubt the Razor Reef being there, but seafaring, in and of itself, is dangerous. I don't see how if people want to go exploring, they should be denied that opportunity."

Hazen stood up and began pacing. "But what is most astonishing is that your government would want to cover it up! Now, to be fair, you aren't exactly a government official, but I'm sure a person of your stature would be privy to the confidences of those bigwigs. What possible end could it serve to destroy not only startling information, but your own history?!"

Hazen had now worked himself up to full-blown rage. He looked straight at the Microraptor's feathered face and said, "Ever since I came here, I heard that your society is so perfect and so peaceful and for a time I actually believed it as well. Turns out that it's just like every other self-serving, power-mad culture on the Earth. Maybe I should just go back to the Outside World, rather than live in this sham of a paradise! At least I had something to build on!"

Hazen's veins bulged from his forehead with this statement and he heard some rustling in the trees beside him. He thought little of it, dismissing it as some small woodland creature. He took some breaths to calm himself down before saying, "I didn't mean to get that angry." After he blew his nose and took a couple more breaths, he said, "I've been here for over a year. I feel very much at home. All I want to know is why? Just why?"
_

IC: Redcrest, at the camp

Redcrest had been listening to a few jokes that Seamus was telling. After she laughed at one about two Triceratops on a ferry, she suddenly got startled by a loud voice coming from the trees. It sounded like Hazen. "Mama, where's Hazen?" she asked.

Artemis, a bit concerned as well, replied, "He's talking to Sir Bentfeather right now, and whatever it is, he's very upset."

"I'll go cheer him up!" Redcrest said and before her mother could tell her that it's a private conversation, she scampered into the woods. As Redcrest neared the pair, she slowed down. Hazen was talking in an angry voice. What would he be so angry about? She then saw both their forms in the dim light and she tried to listen on what the conversation was.

Hazen then said, "Maybe I should just go back to the Outside World, rather than live in this sham of a paradise! At least I had something to build on!"

Redcrest quietly gasped to herself, hardly believing what she heard. Did her own Partner want to go back to his home and leave Dinotopia? Did he ever really like her to begin with? She felt the tears beginning to form and she ran back to the camp. When she reached the clearing, she threw herself into Artemis' arms and began to sob uncontrollably.

Artemis picked her up and went to the family tent. "I think she needs to go to bed now," she informed everyone else. As Artemis put her daughter to bed, she managed to calm Redcrest enough to learn what upset her so. And it didn't take too long for Artemis to inform April Manchester.
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Tarion, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company. The way through a difficult dilemma, and the way through Rocky Pass.

As late night came upon them, few in the camp could get any sleep. The stirrings and groans from the larger saurians combined with the worry of yet another trek on the road worried most passengers and professionals alike. Sir Bentfeather stretched in the hay within the back of the cart he had found himself in, noticing the sleeping form of Tebo next to him as he quietly flapped to the edge of the cart. He didn’t know why he had stirred, but something was not quite right in his mind tonight; and the campsite food was beginning to wear on his innards, so he figured the reason why was he had to relieve himself. When he found this wasn’t the reason, he figured some of his natural food would calm his digestion; so he scanned the forest beyond with his slightly infrared eyes for promising logs in the near blackness beyond the campfire light.

He then flew to a promising log and began to listen for slight rustlings under the bark. He concentrated for several minutes, shifting spots until he could hear what he was waiting for; then he’d quickly pry up the bark to expose the grub or centipede hiding underneath. He leapt from log to tree, doing the same until he had amassed almost a dozen insects; but his appetite had not subsided yet, and off he went in search for more. His travels took him near the campsite once more, and he continued to busy himself with the task; and that was why he hadn’t heard Hazen Baker until the lad made his loud announcement of his presence, startling the latest morsel from his grasp!

“Hazen, my boy!… You startled me!…”, Bentfeather then fell silent as he listened for a full twenty minutes to what was on the boy’s mind. “I see,… I see…”, he said sullenly after careful thought. “It’s true that I have been neglecting your apprenticeship of late, and I am sorry… But there was a lesson to learn from being among us these many months.”, he saw his confusion. “You were able to see how we conducted ourselves among each other. How we help each other and how we care for each other, how we would defend each other in time of need; and this proves beyond any doubt how much we love each other, and how much we love even the people we do not know and even the ones that hate us…”, Bentfeather paused to flap near Hazen. “This is our way.”

“I do not expect you to accept the fact that the council and the Archaeological guild has deemed to destroy the ruins Hphestus is going to, much less the necessity of the destruction of the temple complex on the Outer Island - even though the actual destruction was a natural phenomena…”, Bentfeather paused to smile. “There is an unspoken eleventh code of Dinotopia, and that is: ‘Nobody gets hurt’… This means we are compelled to keep everything safe so nobody gets hurt or killed. We value life so much that we would even destroy our historical landmarks to preserve it.”

Seeing the continued confusion on Hazen’s face, he sighed and continued. “Perhaps you can take a lesson from sir Randy… Remember at the bridge before we made it to Ebulon?”, Hazen nodded slightly. “With Randy’s sneeze, he performed a great service to Dinotopia… That bridge looked like it hadn’t seen repair for at least two hundred years; and when it fell, the danger of someone being killed by it’s collapse was eliminated!”, he smiled again. “Now, when and if that road is reopened for use, a new bridge can be erected in it’s place; but for now there is no danger of anyone being killed, for travelers going that way will be forced to go around the gorge.”

“The same goes for the ruins Hphestus is going to.”, Bentfeather continued. “He said the ruins are about ten thousand years old, and things change over time. What do you suppose the condition of the way the runes describe would be in?… Perhaps lost forever, perhaps crumbled beyond use, perhaps very dangerous and perhaps it was only a legend to begin with - that’s what it will probably be!… Now, what if someone got it into their heads to follow the way off the island?… The chances are they will be killed!”, Bentfeather softened his tone because he had been harsh just then. “We love people too much to let them get themselves killed; and that is why we must stop them, even by destroying those ruins so it’s secrets will not be used to harm those that would try it.”

“There were many ways off the island over the years, and most of them were fantasy while others were plausible.”, said Bentfeather. “If you have been doing your required reading before we took this journey, you would have been familiar with the tale called ‘The Hand of Dinotopia’. In it Will Dennison and a group of people discovered a way off the island by sea, following clues from the jungles of the Rainy Basin, the Great Desert and the Outer Island. It showed where a channel near a tiny island north of the Outer Island through the Razor Reef; but Will decided to stay here instead of going home.”, Bentfeather paused for breath. “A few years ago, an expedition went to the spot where the channel used to lie; and found that the Razor Reef grew over the channel, making it a solid ring around the island once more. It was decided that the marker on that tiny island - or the Hand - was to be destroyed so ones that followed would not be dashed on the reef.”, he looked at him sternly. “Are you saying it was wrong that we destroyed it?”

Even though Hazen shook his head no, he still looked skeptical. “Hazen lad, we are not trying to keep you here against your will. We are merely trying to protect you from danger.”, Bentfeather stroked his cheek. “I promise you, if we find a new - and safe - way off the island, you will be the first to know about it… I am sure you had a fantastic life in the Outside World.”, he stepped back. “But son, you have been away from that life for a year now. There is a prominent possibility that they have already taken you for dead!… And what will you say to them on where you have been? If you say you have been on an island with intelligent dinosaurs, they would no doubt think you are crazed!…”

Bentfeather turned and his eyes twinkled. “But think a moment… Would you not say that you do not have a fantastic life started right here, on Dinotopia? You have lots of friends here, you are able to do all sorts of things those on the outside could not dream of doing…, and Redcrest really loves you… And everyone can tell you love miss April!…”, he chuckled slightly. “All you have to ask yourself is which life is more precious to you - where you were or where you are…”

Bentfeather flapped to the log he was working on and prized out a grub. “Now son, please don’t fret about what is going on. I’m sure everything will be all right…”, he swallowed and continued. “At the meeting with the Archaeological guild in Treetown, you may voice your opinions and concerns. They might want you to voice your observations about what you saw at any rate…”, Bentfeather saw Hazen walk back to camp. “Have a wonderful sleep, son…”, he said to his retreating back. Presently Bentfeather had his fill and returned to the cart containing the sleeping form of Tebo, and before long he was asleep as well; sleeping so soundly he did not hear the commotion going on between April and Hazen across the campsite!
_

The morning came with it’s usual full splendor, and with it brought heat that roused them out of slumber; and made them feel in less than pristine spirits as they broke up camp for the day. After eating and deciding who was to lead for their trip today, it was decided that Hphestus and Rachael would do the honors while Randy being driven by lady Natasha and Tebo Lewis would ride side by side; and Peter and Polongo driven by Frak and Seamus with their passengers take the rear of the convoy while the guards would be flanking them.

The reasoning for this was the fact that their course was straight, and the path was wide enough for many saurian driven carts to travel side by side; but the ominous cliffs and the cleft in them made all in the convoy shudder, for everyone knew that the way through Rocky Pass was one of the most famous ways into the Rainy Basin, where dangerous carnivores lay in wait! The assurance that Hphestus gave them, one concerning that they would not be traveling far into the Basin - as well as the fact that there were few carnivores that claimed this area their territory; did little to quell their fears, all of them remembering their encounters with the beasts in the southern end so long ago!

“So mister Hphestus…”, Tebo asked the Ovaraptor offhandedly. “Pardon me for asking, but how did you lose your eye?…”

“Well lad, it’s a long story…”, he turned in his seat to say. “A T-Rex did it…”, his fake pride was evident with Natasha, but not the boy!

“How terrible!”, Tebo said.

“Yeah, it was a tough fight…”, Hphestus went on. “But I came out on top!… You should have seen the T-Rex!…”, Rachael began to chuckle.

“Oh, stop boasting!…”, Lady Natasha told him.

“You didn’t tangle with one of those…”, Randy accused Rachael softly.

“Naw!… He got that in a fight at a pub about twenty years ago.”, she told him in a low tone. “But don’t get us wrong… We’re pretty handy in a fight!…”, she paused to raise a forelimb and display one of her stumpy but very sharp thumb spikes, and Randy gulped.

“…So that’s why I know the area so well…”, Hphestus was saying. “Up ahead is Rocky Pass, a favorite of highway robbers and cut-throats.”, he smiled with his eyes at Ajax, April and their steeds, as his beak would not. “But of course, they MIGHT not attack if they see guards…”

“That is well.”, Ajax took it seriously. “Olu and I can take up to ten ruffians if they are on foot… I’m fairly sure officer Manchester is comparably skilled.”, she nodded.

“Say. Is it getting hotter around here, or is it just me?…”, 76 asked all of a sudden.

Everyone stared at the Postal Bird for his comment, but they all had to agree that the air was indeed getting drier; and the rocky terrain ahead of them had the habit of leeching moisture out of the air, and subsequently themselves. As the escarpments continued to grow, they were now hundreds of feet above their heads on either side; and the wide valley they made soon dwarfed their caravan, making all wish to request more of their water but none voicing the wish. As the miles wore on, it was decided that they should use more caution in their travel; for boulders and rocky debris kept on falling from both sides of the pass, heaving up dust and clogging their vision at the least amount of noise. As the walls crushed in on them and the path narrowed to where they had to travel single file, all grew silent as the fear of a landslide became more and more prominent in places; and after what seemed like forever, the high pass walls slowly began to recede from their wake.

It took more than two days to finally exit Rocky Pass, and when they finally did all of them exhaled with relief; and their nervous thoughts quickly began to escape them, filling them with waves of giddy relief. It got so that some took to singing songs, and Hazen actually played a few tunes for them as they traveled along; however they had to give Hphestus credit for his singing, even though he sang especially awfully - and of course, they politely asked him to stop singing after several similar stanzas!
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OCC: He sang this song, taken from ‘Journey To Chandra’ (Page 30.), by James Gurney:
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“Sail Away”

We’ll gather up our brethren,
We’ll cast away our burdens,
We’ll sail away
And make our home in Heaven…
_

“What?… You don’t like me singing?…”, Hphestus said. “Ah well! In a few days we will soon part company anyway…”

“Why?”, Randy asked, for he still wanted to know Rachael better!

“My destination lies on Mount Spiketail, thirty miles from here.”, Hphestus said. “But the road to the pass you need is at the next intersection a few miles up ahead.”

Hphestus pointed, but the intersection in question was still out of sight, miles away, beyond the hilly and twisty path they were on. Just as the road came out upon the Rainy Basin, it was swallowed by ever thickening jungle; and the humidity skyrocketed to unbearable levels, making even the heartiest pant or sweat profusely despite themselves. It was a good thing there were plenty of jungle streams in the general area, for their waterskins had mysteriously emptied many times before they made camp for the night. As the sun began to hide within the thick foliage of the canopy, and weird nocturnal noises began to voice themselves all around them; Hphestus deemed it prudent to stop and make camp for the night, displaying with flair the signpost that marked the crossroads where they would part company in the morning. After evening meal the group began to congregate and talk, making their farewell wishes known ahead of time to Hphestus and Rachael; Randy expressing his farewells to the latter with nuzzles and soft rumblings, and right after that Ajax, Olu Artemis and April were assigned to guard the night where carnivores were likely to prowl…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and April Manchester, after the chat
_

Hazen sidled back to camp, trying to take in what Bentfeather told him. As much as it answered a cultural question of his (namely how incredibly overprotective they were), it still left open a serious question: If a way out has existed in various forms for so long, what would compel such an adventurous and scholarly society to prefer isolation than to reach outside? The world is a vast and wondrous place and the cultural exchanges that could be made would result in impressive feats beyond his wildest dreams. Perhaps it was a sign of his generation that caused him to be so uneasy. He was used to such a globalized society that the idea of being isolated from everywhere else was hard to bear.

When he made it back to camp, he surveyed the grounds. Everyone had made their way into their tents and carts for the night. All, that is, except April and Artemis, who appeared to have taken up guard duty. As his footsteps drew nearer, they exchanged a few words before Artemis went off to scout the perimeter. April looked back at Hazen as he approached.

When he got close enough, Hazen said, "Hitting the beat, eh, Sergeant?" Expecting a little chuckle from April, he was surprised to find that her open palm across his face greeted him instead. It hurt. A lot. As he adjusted his glasses and rubbed his cheek, he said in an offhand manner, "Not sure what I did to deserve that."

"You know full well what you did," April said, obviously slighted. She pointed at Polongo's tent. "There's a hatchling in there whose heart was broken by what she heard her Partner say. She cried herself to sleep! What possessed you to admit that!" She gave Hazen an angry shove.

After staggering back, he gave an incredulous look. "Admit to what? The only person I've been talking to was Bentfeather."

April closed the gap. "She ran back to camp crying that you wanted to go back to the Outside World."

Hazen shook his head, wondering where she got that idea, then it occurred to him that Redcrest must have overheard some of his comments he made to Bentfeather. He distinctly remembered a few sarcastic remarks that could have fit the bill. He raised his hands defensively. "What I said was taken out of context."

"You hurt her, Hazen!" April countered. "You hurt her and, in doing so, you hurt me! Nothing can excuse that!"

"What'd hurt her is if I meant it!" Hazen retorted. "Which I don't."

"Who are you trying to convince here?" April said.

"Evidently, you!"

"Just . . . go to bed!" April said back, clearly having enough of this spat. She stomped away to begin her patrols in a huff, leaving Hazen to rub his face again in a vain effort to soothe the pain from her slap. If he had a mirror handy, he might have seen a hand-shaped red mark on his cheek.

He glanced back at the tent where Redcrest was and sighed to himself. By now, she was asleep, but it killed him to think that she had the wrong idea from an offhand remark he made. Reconciliation would have to wait until the morning.
_

Hazen didn't sleep well that night. Between Redcrest and April both being angry at him, he had plenty of fuel for his nightmares. As the heat rose, he finally went to get some breakfast looking like he felt. There were a few chuckles from the camp, which he blew off, but seeing Redcrest turn her back on him sent a pang of guilt through him. After eating his meal, he walked closer to Redcrest and Artemis. The mother snorted at his approach, which gave him pause, but he spoke up. "Redcrest, I'd like to talk with you about last night. Can I do that?"

"No!" she replied bluntly, keeping her back turned on him.

Hazen frowned. "I know you heard some things that you didn't like, but I want to explain them. It's the polite thing to do to listen to me."

"Go away!" she said. "You don't like me and I don't like you!"

Artemis gave a soft, chastising rumble to her daughter. Hazen said, "It's alright, we're just talking."

Artemis said, "I'm not certain about you, either."

Hazen sighed. "Look, last night, I got into a discussion with Bentfeather about ways off the island, specifically how Dinotopia destroys outdated artifacts relating to it. I didn't have any intentions of leaving. I was more offended by how it seemed to be a cover-up. During that discussion, I said some things I shouldn't have. And I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry."

Artemis' eyes darted around as she took this in. Surely she would corroborate this story with Bentfeather later today. Redcrest, on the other hand, wasn't so convinced. "I don't believe you," she said flatly.

"Redcrest, I'm being honest," Hazen said.

"But why did you say that?!" Redcrest said, finally turning to see him. She got up and ran over to him, kicking and hitting him as hard as she could. "Why, why, WHY?!"

The blows weren't strong enough to do lasting damage; in fact, the tantrum hurt more than any physical pain. Hazen grabbed her arms to try and settle her down. "I was angry," Hazen said. "That's no excuse, but I was angry. If I knew you were around and if I was thinking, I wouldn't have said those things. Even grown-ups make dumb mistakes, too. And as much as I want to take those things back, I can't. What's done is done. All I can do is ask for your forgiveness. I don't want you to be like the Saddest Ceratopsian, remember that story?" Redcrest nodded. Hazen held up his hand, like they did when they pledged Partnership together so long ago. "I love you, Redcrest, as if you were my own child. Please forgive me."

Redcrest looked at the hand and back at Hazen. She saw how sad this made him feel and this, in turn, made her feel sadder as well. He meant what he said right now. She put her hand against his and after they both smiled, Hazen hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry, Hazen," she said.

"I'm sorry, too," Hazen said back to her, quietly. He looked up and saw April, who had been regarding the scene all this time. She smiled and nodded, acknowledging that he did the right thing.
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentdeather and company. Parting ways with Hphestus and Rachael.

Though there was little peace from the nocturnal creatures and their noises that night, everyone woke in their own time surprisingly refreshed; and presently the morning meals were being prepared by both Seamus and Hphestus, rousing all from their post slumber grogginess. Their casual chatting soon turned to the events of the up and coming day, for they knew that they would immediately be parting company with their new friends and guides Hphestus and Rachael. They all tore down the camp and packed their carts in silence as they contemplated the words they were about to say, and visualized the good byes that were about to take place; for no one knew when they would see this one-eyed Ovaraptor and this feisty Iguanodon again; and no one knew when the actual good bye would commence until Hphestus mounted his cart and looked at the rest of the group.

“Well my friends. It has been swell traveling with you…”, said he. “May the road ahead transport you to your destinies…”

“We should meet again soon…”, lady Natasha reached up to shake his hand. “Never know when I could use your services again!”

“Well, if you do I left some contact information, and places where I’d most likely to be, in your satchel.”, Hphestus told her. “Oh, and also there is other things concerning your business there too!”

“You know, I completely forgot to look!…”, she stepped back, grasping her satchel.

“I hope the artifact site has sufficient security.”, Ajax shook his hand. “It would be terrible if anybody got hurt with the explosives…”

“Naw!… There will be nobody there but the Archaeologist team and us.”, Hphestus told him. “And we should be miles away before the blast!…”

“We’d better!”, Rachael said. “If he gets blown up, I’ll never speak to him again!…”, they all got a chuckle of that one..

“Happy trails, you two.”, Tebo said as he stepped up to shake the Ovaraptor‘s hand.

“Ditto.”, Frak echoed, bowing his domed cranium before offering a hand.

As everyone else began to say good bye to their guide, Randy had sidled up to Rachael and gave her a surprise nuzzle. “Well, see you around…”, he said softly.

“Maybe sooner than you know, sweetie!”, she replied. “Never know when I’ll be at Mosasaur Harbor, so watch it!…”, he had told her where he worked. After her impish tail slap, he left her cart for his.

“And you have fun, little one!”, Hphestus waved at Redcrest, then looked at Hazen. “And may you find happiness here, my Dolphinback friend…”, he saw him stammering. “I was always a light sleeper… And so what If I eavesdropped!”, he chuckled and then he flicked the reigns and was off.

Bentfeather and the rest stood there waving and calling good bye as they watched Hphestus and Rachael travel down the western road, only stopping as the cart crested the first rise in the forested path before quickly dipping down the other side. They stopped waving and looked at each other before getting the same idea of mounting their carts and heading for the northern spur of the path, road marked by a stone slab stating certain destinations down that road in various dialects of saurian as well as human tongues; and as they passed the sign, Redcrest pointed as she said some of the names of the towns along the way: ‘Skirlton, thirty strides. Deep Lake, forty five strides. Bent Root, fifty strides. Lacuna, sixty strides. Treetown, sixty five strides. Cornucopia, seventy strides.’, she recited. Artemis smiled as she saw her daughter learning all on her own, and Hazen gave her cheery congratulation as well; but her father simply noticed the educational progress as Polongo was trying to concentrate on the changing path in front of him.

Officer Ajax and Olu soon took the lead, their job to scout the way ahead; leaving officer Manchester and Artemis to stay close to Peter, their willing prisoner. Peter, on the other hand, was simply pulling the cart and his consignment of fruit; and just minding his business until he could be relieved of his burden, and after that he could get on with the job of traveling the road to his trial. Postal Bird 76 stood on the buckboard of the Triceratops’s cart, tisking to himself on the uncaring demeanor of the son of the leader of the Archaeological guild; and glancing at Frak who was driving the cart, his eyes divulging the same feelings about their puller as his own. As a few miles went by their wheels, they noticed the road’s grade was increasing; and it took a windy disposition as it weaved through the trees, they imagining the vistas they would see if the forest that surrounded them wasn’t obscuring it. Tiny streams passed their way here and there, each heading back the way they came; until on the third day the undulating land crested and the grade of the road took on a more downward track, and the beginnings of the streams they passed led them forward at long last.

The streams led them to a signpost two days later, one that marked the outskirts of Skirlton; and when they finally arrived in the tiny town at the head of the first spit of boat navigable water, they realized the town was merely a village set around boat launches set into the sandbars. They crossed the bridge into the town proper and was assailed with persons trying to sell them provisions, water and guide services; all of which officer Ajax warded off with stern stares and brief showings of his weapons, even though his obvious uniform had little effect on them! They were just about to search for places to sleep for the night when all of a sudden a faint booming and the sound of collapse echoed through the passes they had just came through, and they all looked back with stares of dismay; and fearing that some catastrophe was happening, the people of Skirlton rushed out to see what was the matter…

_

IC: Hphestus and Rachael. Arrival at the ruins.

“I’m gonna miss that old toad…”, Rachael said dreamily as she pulled the cart along the western road in an extremely dangerous realm of the Rainy Basin.

“Well, you’ll see him all the sooner if you get a move on!…”, Hphestus groaned as he flicked the reigns, which would never do any good on a dinosaur who knew her own mind. “The Archaeologists are depending on us getting this stuff there!…”

“Well, I don’t want to upset the dynamite!”, she complained. “You know that, with one wrong move, we’ll find ourselves on the moon!”

“Very well then…”, Hphestus adjusted his eye patch. “Hurry up, but be careful!…”

“Don’t worry, you one-eyed pirate!… You’ll get your money!…”, her comment made her concentration waver, and a wheel bounced off a small log in the road. “Oooohh!… Is the load OK?…”

“Seems so…”, Hphestus glanced behind him. “Just watch it!… For Fate’s sake!…”

Indeed she did, and she took the winding road into yet another stretch of foothills; but the road they were on petered out into a mere animal trail, the only indication they were on the right path being the collection of wagon tracks along each side of the trail in the soft dirt. A sound to their left told of the territory of a large carnivore they were dangerously close to, and Rachael made as much haste as her form; which was fettered to their cart, could muster. Within the day their path led them well into ranges amid the foot of a stumpy mountain hidden within the jungle, telling them right away that they were on the right track; for Mount Spiketail was a well hidden place, and the temple within it had only been discovered by the chance of a convoy being lost here a mere several years ago. Soon rocky ridges began to make themselves known amid the density of the jungle, either natural formations or the remnants of walls the Archaeologists had surmised; but to Hphestus and Rachael, they knew that their destination would soon appear before their cart.

By nightfall bright dots of campfires could be picked out through the darkening canopy, and not long after that the carts of hundreds of pullers and their drivers could be seen; telling them they had arrived at last, and causing the obvious camp foreman to rush over and inspect the cart that had just shown up. The Stenoychosaur scowled at Hphestus, who scowled back as the saurian scrambled up onto his cart and began to paw through the cargo he carried; all this while a pair of humans roughly unstrapped Rachael and practically dragged her to where the other pullers were tethered in a knot. Neither appreciated being treated so, and they voiced their protests most profusely; but this simply gave them harder stares and even more profuse rebuttals, forcing them both to stand down after little further protest. Hphestus stormed after the foreman, who scurried around the camp to make sure all was as it should be; or to violently quell any fights that often broke out between the other drivers and work crews, and the Ovaraptor did not give up his chase until the Stenoychosaur retreated into his tent for the night, where he followed him in shamelessly.

“So I’m here. When do I get paid?…”, he said as the Stenoychosaur turned.

“You’ll get paid when the rest of us do… Now get!”, he snapped. “There’s a lot of work to do in the morning, so I suggest you get to your bedroll…”, he held the tent flap for him, readying a foot to kick him.

“I’m out!…”, Hphestus scrambled out.

He made it back to his wagon, which had been pulled next to many of the others, and saw that his cargo was already missing; so he grabbed has things and made it to the nearest of the campfires, which was occupied by several humans and saurians. Two were in a heated argument on their card game while the rest were in various stages of eating; but seeing there was little leftovers present, he went about mixing his own supplies for his Eveningmeal. Presently his bean and lentil combination was ready, and he began to nervously blow on his bowl; nervously eyeing his fire companions as they seemed to be thinking of getting seconds without asking, this while wondering how Rachael was faring. She was with several other saurians her size, not knowing whether to act friendly or fear for her life; she eyeing each in turn and receiving glares and lewd gruntings as the voices’ owners noticed the attention, and planned mayhem on any that might do anything more than grunt. All these beasts seemed like old, trail-hardened sorts, ready to pull all day or defend themselves violently; so she kept silent all during the night, munching her distasteful fodder as she wished for sleep in these less than savory conditions.

The morning came with the ruckus of everybody suddenly tending to things around camp, each group of pullers and drivers having their own things to do and their own way of doing them; and shouted at those that would get in their way, or shove violently those who would tell them how to do something different than their own routine. Both Rachael and Hphestus snapped awake amid this chaos as they saw every group prepare to leave the area, and had to squeeze through the busy crowds to locate each other; each giving and receiving hugs from each other as they were finally successful, then looking at each other as if trying to gauge the speed of their own preparations on the chaos going on all around them. They silently decided to prepare as if nobody was there as nobody was paying them no mind anyway, and wove their way to their cart to ready it for departure; but then the Stenoychosaur got atop a knoll of rock with an ancient megaphone in his hands and began to speak, first in the other direction in camp so nothing much could be heard and then turned in their direction so they could understand him.

“Ok, listen up!…”, said he. “The Archaeological Guild has said that the ruins beyond this bluff is to be demolished today at noon… Now I know you were wondering about all this fuss, so those who hasn’t seen it better look before it’s destroyed…”, he turned slightly. “Demolition crews, ready your things and gather at the staging area near the base of the ruins… Supply caravans, I want your drivers to meet the paymaster over by the stream over there… General workers, go at this time to the base of the ruins and prepare it for laying of charges… Riggers, plan and prepare the charges for implantation…”, he smiled evilly. “May the Fates bless this operation, and that no deaths occur…”, the hundreds of beings there slowly dispersed to where they were supposed to be.

“Wanna go see the ruins?…”, Rachael suggested.

“May as well go see what all the hubbub is about…”, Hphestus agreed.

They went down a well traveled path through the jungle until they came out onto a vast area cleared of trees and most other vegetation; many huge stones of hewn design sticking out of the loam in a partial semblance of order, which were tagged with the Archaeological Guild banner indicating they had already been studied and catalogued. Down a ways further in this cleared area they saw a huge stone wall or edifice that was several hundreds of yards long, about a hundred feet tall and at least twenty feet thick; it’s jagged top indicating where the fallen blocks they had passed were originally located, and as they got closer they saw the wall was literally covered with carvings, statuary and runes of every description and mode of manufacture. As they got closer they saw that there were sections written in languages they were able to understand if they knew the dialect while others were done in methods that totally eluded them, and niches within the wall must have held treasure or other such ancient relic; and as they traveled around the gigantic megalith they saw that the runes and pictographs continued along the thickness as well as the far side, and sported - or used to sport - even more types of writing and illustration. Hphestus and Rachael slowly browsed along the huge wall, amazed at all the mysterious literature they witnessed; until their interest was broken by the scurrying blur of a tiny dinosaur, and they got defensive as they knew they were still in the Rainy Basin!

“Say!… Watch it!…”, the Harpymimus squeaked. “Can’t a fellow work?… Say!… You’re not supposed to be here!…”, he sniffed. “You from the Archaeological Guild?…”

“Why no…”, Rachael told him after a brief greeting grunt.

“We’re kind of sightseeing.”, Hphestus told him.

“Well, you’re not supposed to be here!…”, said the little one. “The riggers will be through any time now!… Big blast!… VERY dangerous!…”

“We were just leaving…”, Rachael told him.

“Wanted to see why we were sent here is all…”, Hphestus added.

“Well, this is why!…”, the Harpymimus made a vast gesture with his tiny forelimbs. “Um, my name is Millis, assistant apprentice to sir Rivers!… You heard of him?…”

“No.”, Rachael answered for them both.

“Oh, he oversaw the excavation of this monolith!…”, Millis told them. “He left many weeks ago, and had the rest of us gather everything we used!… He’s in Treetown about now, going over all the data we collected!…”

“What IS this place exactly?”, Hphestus asked.

“Well, don’t tell anybody…”, Millis said confidentially. “But we think that this was Dinotopia’s first written library…”, he looked around. “It was written in every type of human writing at the time, and each account tells about the people that wrote it and their lives before and during their tenure here…”, Millis jerked at a sound coming from around the next niche. “In every account, they tell of a land bridge that led them here; and though many tell of how the bridge they came across was swallowed by the sea, many of those accounts either were not recorded or the eons wore that part away.”

“That’s both amazing and terrifying!”, Rachael said.

“Yeah, most accounts tell of how the dinosaurs here helped them after gaining their trust.”, Millis went on. “And eventually the accounts of these encounters were obscured, blending in with the regular lore of Dinotopia.”, he saw another dinosaur enter the area, a Miasaurus. “It’s a shame we got to blow it up!…”

“MILLIS!… There you are!”, said she. “The rigging boss says we got to go…”, she looked around. “You didn’t find any more of our gear, did you?…”

“Naw, Ethel…”, Millis said. “We seem to have everything…”, then he jerked around to suddenly introduce the two. “Yeah, I was just telling them what this place was…”

“Well, it’s going to be gone in an hour or so, so we got to get a move on!”, Ethel’s head jerked around at the sound of a loud foghorn. “Ooh!… That’s the final warning!”, she saw Millis turn around aimlessly. “Get on, you nit!…”, Millis scurried up her flank, and she was off almost before he was properly seated!

“We better scat too!…”, Rachael began to bolt, Hphestus nodding and following.

Even though the Ovaraptor was considerably smaller than the Iguanodon, he was much fleeter of foot; and matched her pace all the way back the way they came. They made it into the now mostly abandoned campsite to their cart, Hphestus rushing around to get Rachael hitched up; and without any orders at all, she turned the cart and went in the same direction the last cart was traveling. This was not the way they came into the area, but Hphestus figured they knew an emergency evacuation route; and followed hot on their wagon wheels. By the time they were less than a mile down range of the ruins, the Stenoychosaur rushed by sitting atop his Hadrosaur steed; both flying like the wind and he urging him even faster. The path turned and came out onto a promontory where they could see the jungle all around them, listening as the foghorn in the distance behind them let off three short blats; and a moment later a thunder crack sounded in the cloudless sky, followed by a concussion that swayed the whole jungle all around them! A sudden fifty mile an hour wind passed them and sent a lot of foliage falling from the trees all around them, and it was only then that the Stenoychosaur that halted his steed beside them took the chance to speak.

“Well, see you around!”, he said, and off his Hadrosaur sped…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, On the Road to Skirlton
_

Once again, Hazen was sitting next to Redcrest as they continued their journey down the long road to Treetown. As they approached a fork in the road, Redcrest began to read. This came as a complete surprise to Hazen as he wasn't used to those of preschool age (or the saurian equivalent in Redcrest's case) being this literate. When she finished reading, Hazen said, "That was a good job! More than that, it was incredible! Where on Earth did you learn the alphabet?"

"Mama taught me at Ebulon!" Redcrest said proudly. "I don't know all the sounds quite yet, though. And I don't know how big the numbers are."

Hazen smiled. "Still, that's more than I knew when I was your age." Redcrest beamed and readjusted her position in her seat. Reminiscing, Hazen said, "You've grown up a lot since I first met you at the hatchery."

"I have?" Redcrest asked. "I'm a big girl?"

"Definitely," Hazen said. "You must have grown 4 inches since we met. And that's not counting your crest." Redcrest rubbed the top of her head, feeling the shape and thinking about how it was flatter when she was little. Hazen continued, "But you're also a more polite young lady. I know you'll be a great person. I have no regrets about being your Partner."

Redcrest grinned a Saurian grin before she threw herself into Hazen's arms. "That means a lot," she said quietly. Hazen reciprocated the hug, assuring her that he wouldn't be going anywhere like she initially thought.

Hazen spent much of the days leading to Skirlton repairing the relationship he had with Redcrest. By the time they reached the outskirts of the town, Hazen felt certain that the relationship had been patched. Though she was more mature, Redcrest was still the very attached young Hadrosaur he met in Waterfall City.

The din of peddlers and people in Skirlton was both pleasant to hear after several days in the wilderness and annoying because of how quickly they descended on them. It was then silenced by a distant explosion. Hazen turned to where it came from, but couldn't quite discern how far it was. "Must have been the blasting," he observed to himself.
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

OCC: Sorry for the long delay in posting. RL crazy busy! To make up for lost time, here’s a real long post… Enjoy!
_

IC: Bentfeather and company. Leaving Skirlton and around Deep Lake.

Their night in Skirlton seemed like any other night in any other town they had visited during this trip, and they presently left their hotel rooms and met at the stables their pullers and carts were stored at in the morning. With little preamble to speak of, they hitched up their pullers, mounted their steeds and carts and presently were under way once more. Down the only main street they traveled, provision shop owners and hawkers setting up their shops as they passed them; and made it to one of several crossroads with signs in the area, deciding on the best way to go. Skirlton, being a town situated on the deepest negotiable waterway for boats that fed Deep Lake, was the perfect starting point for getting to the lake; for there were roads that skirted both sides of the lake. The one they required skirted the western side of the lake, and they needed to cross a stone bridge to get to it; and this one reminded them all of the one that traversed the dangerous gorge, but the only scary part of this bridge was the one Drach per cart toll the bridge attendant placed on them!

“A TOLL!…“, Randy balked at the end of the caravan line and stuck his tongue out at the human as they passed. “That’s highway robbery!…” he quickly pulled his cart past as soon as the tender noticed the comment.

Fortunately, that was the only real inconvenience as they traveled down the lakeside road, past small tree enshrouded inclines that hid views of the lake; and along the shore, which was equally sandy and rocky in certain areas. Many places were clear enough for small docks to be seen, and a lot of those were vacant while others had either boats moored to them or were used for more recreational purposes; of the latter a whole group of children and young dinosaurs had commandeered one of them for diving and swimming purposes, and Randy chuckled at a hatchling of his kind as he belly-whopped off the dock and sent a spray up like a cannonball hitting the water! The little Ankylosaur came up swimming like a turtle while several human and Hadrosaur children splashed the struggling creature, laughing and screeching all the while as all swimming children would do. This brought a mutual idea to many of the group, and being the youngest human, Tebo spoke first.

“It’s quite hot today…”, he said. “Would it put us too far behind schedule to stop for a swim?…”

“I don’t see why not…”, Bentfeather said, then looked at lady Natasha. “You think we could stop for a rest?…”

“A grand idea!”, she said as she looked at officer Ajax, who looked back at her exasperatedly. “I mean, after all the ordeals we have been through, don’t you think we should give ourselves a little reward?”

“Oh, very well…”, Ajax sighed after a moment. “We’re close enough to our destination anyway.”, he looked around and found a tiny meadow near the shore that was relatively deserted save for the cart the children‘s parents had brought them there with. “We’ll camp over there, then after that everyone may… indulge themselves…”

The caravan turned off the road opposite the lake in the clearing, stopping many yards away from the deserted cart; and officer Ajax noticed the back of that cart was designed to accommodate a small boat, though the boat’s design could not be deciphered from that configuration. Before their steeds were unhitched, it was decided prudent that their camp be set up first; and all pitched in to do that task, many pausing their work as they eyed the cool water beyond. At last the task was done and Polongo, Peter and Randy was unhitched; and Randy immediately bolted for the water amid chuckles from the rest of them!

“Last one in the water came from a rotten egg…!”, Randy sang as he trundled for the water.

Laughing, Tebo scooted around the secluded side of a cart and began to disrobe, leaving his glasses, loincloth and an under-tunic on for both modesty and vision; and April Manchester used the covered cart to disrobe from her uniform in privacy, leaving mere under-things. Artemis helped Redcrest to the water as Hazen disrobed akin to Tebo, but Officer Ajax decided to stay and guard for now. Lady Natasha and Frak both disrobed completely, their kind having no qualms to their nakedness; and Pater simply stood and stared at the fun activities beginning to commence, not daring to join in as he was technically a prisoner. Olu, seeing his trepidation, grabbed a spear and gently prodded him to the water; the Hadrosaur having completely disrobed from his saurian uniform, just as Artemis had done. Seamus had taken it on himself to make their late Midmeal, not wishing to partake in all that “Hatchling Hyjinx”, as he silently put it; but Bentfeather had flapped to Tebo’s shoulder as the lad crept barefoot across the road and down to the water, he wincing as sharp pebbles pierced his bare feet at every other step! Randy hit the water with the force of a juggernaut, sending a wake of spray far out into the lake; startling the children on the dock and in the water near by, but instead of scowling at the new intrusion, smiled in welcome of their new guests.

“Hiya, mister!…”, said the Ankylosaur hatchling as he paddled through Randy’s wake.

“Hi kid…”, Randy replied. “Are we disturbing you?”

“Naw!… We’re just waiting for our folks to get back…”, said the human kid on the dock.

“They are out clamming…”, said the female child next to him, wrinkling her nose at the thought of clams.

“Well, me and the rest of us will be here for a little while…”, Randy swam into deeper water. “See you around!…”

Tebo placed his glasses on a flat rock near the head of the dock, but not before looking out at the vastness of the lake before him. The opposite shore was a mere thin strip of green, laced with grayness and shrouded in light cloud, shore seeming to be a mile or two away to him. Boats of the sailing variety as well as the rowing or towing kind sparsely littered the surface of the water, each providing wakes that produced their own tides that reached their shore. The pristine glory of the lake seemed to have it’s effect on every one of them as they slowly relaxed and took in their surroundings, and even Peter relaxed as he gazed in wonder at the lake; his feet lapping in the cool water and a smile slowly growing on his face; but it was short lived as Olu quietly snuck up on him and tackled him into the water!

“Hey!… What the…?”, Peter sputtered as he struggled in the churning water, then seeing Olu get up and playfully splash him repeatedly. “What, are you nuts, pushing me?”, Olu would not stop! “Oh, a rough guy, eh?…”, Peter splashed back!

After Artemis made sure Redcrest would be fine in the water, she located Polongo further out in the water and swam toward him; leaving her to her own devices, which was to look into the shallow water near shore amid the rocks at the fish there. She would quietly wait to try to catch them, but the fish would dart away if her hands got too close; and she tried this for several minutes, unsuccessful every time, until Hazen finally caught up with her. He had been making attempts at matching his swimming skills with April until she swam out further than he dared and had to give up the chase.

Tebo had slid into the water, swimming close to the docks and trying to play water tag with the other children there; but he was a stranger to them, and he let them do their thing sullenly while he rejoined his group. Bentfeather had walked the shore until he found a small board, about surfboard size to his scale; which was probably leftover wood from a ship or a shipwreck that had washed ashore, and lay on it in the water. He floated and paddled to about in the small rollers, then tried to paddle where Tebo was and waved for his attention, and seeing him, Tebo swam close to him and pretended to swamp his plank; but stopped short as Bentfeather feigned to splash with his miniscule hands, then Bentfeather noticed Postal Bird 76 flutter to the shallows to where Redcrest had vacated a calm pool amid the rocks of fish. The bird landed with a splash and commenced to use the pool as a birdbath, fluttering and gasping as his beak filled; then he hopped out once sufficiently cleaned or cooled and joined Seamus over at the camp.

“You know, this little idea of yours is really turning the trick…”, Bentfeather said lazily to Tebo as he calmly floated on his board beside the lad. “It seems that everyone is loosening up…”, he chuckled at Peter’s playing in the near distance with Olu, so he pointed. “And I mean everyone!…”

“Oh!…”, Tebo replied. “I was just hot…”

“You were, you scamp!”, Bentfeather gave him a splash, then got daydreaming. “You know, this might be a perfect place to retire…”

“You can’t retire!”, Tebo balked. “Who will run the library?”

“Oh, somebody I train to take my place…”, Bentfeather told him, beating around the bush a little. “Someone who I trust with my life, and who is my good friend…”

“Well, he would never compare to you…”, said Tebo, still not getting it! “He would have no experience!”

“He has and he will…”, but that’s all Bentfeather could say on the matter as someone had darted into the water behind him, making him turn.

Officer Ajax had decided to go swimming after all as he took a diving leap out off the dock, and he was presently seen expertly breast-stroking by the group about a hundred and thirty yards from shore; and he swam from left to right, back up the lake the way they had come. For many moments his form was lost to view around a point in the land, but came back a while later rowing a rickety old boat; and Frak was in the boat with him, frantically bailing with a small bucket! Swimming along side, doggy style, was lady Natasha; and her look of concern for the pair told that yet another shipwreck on the lake was about to commence!

“She’s sinking!…”, Frak exclaimed. “I can’t keep ahead of it!”

“I’ll head for shore…”, Ajax paddled. “A fine choice in boats you have!…”

“If it was a cargo cart, I’d have picked a winner…”, Frak tried to stick his finger in the hole, but he would have had to stick his whole fist in the jagged tear in the wood!

“You’ll be sunk before you reach shore!”, lady Natasha shouted. “I’ll help… “She swum to the aft section and used her cranium to push from behind, paddling with her tail like crazy.

All of a sudden several objects were seen far out in the lake. Three were of familiar design, as one was a medium size schooner-like vessel and the other two looked like they were once lifeboats quite a bit longer than the one Ajax and Frak had found; and they all traveled like they were tethered, their navigators were so precise. These boats turned as one and began to approach the dock, and the children pointed at them then scampered back on shore to prepare to tend any ropes that might need to be handled.

“Our folks are coming back in…”, said the hatchling Ankylosaur to Randy from the dock. “We will be needing this beach for the ships…”

“OK kid… I’ll tell the others…”, Randy swam away to relay the news, and a few moments later they all began to gather on shore.

As the schooner folded up it’s sails, the larger saurians of Bentfeather’s group made it to shore; shaking off the water like a dog would, but the humans and smaller saurians had no way to dry off, so they stood there dripping wet and wishing for towels as they watched. The two smaller boats took the bow and stern of the schooner and maneuvered the larger craft parallel to the shore, then the rowers pushed the boat toward the dock; ever so slowly so the ninety foot vessel would not damage it, and two hands on the deck shot mooring lines to the waiting hands of the children. These youngsters were evidentially well trained as hands, for they expertly assisted pulling the schooner up to the dock and began to tie the lines; the Ankylosaur child holding the boat stable as the wide gangplank was lowered to the deck of the dock, and smiled at the hulking form of his father as he was the first off the ship.

“You’re early.”, the lad said.

“Aye, Jimmy…”, the father said as he thudded on the dock. “The Lake Patrol said there was a storm brewing.”, he glanced at the group of strangers on the shore. “They say we canna sail at night with that blow!…”

“Well, it spoilt our fun…”, Jimmy said.

“Hush!… Er, who are these?…”, he inquired.

“They came for a swim.”, Jimmy said.

“Ahoy!… Who be you, and where you fare?…”, the older Ankylosaur that was much bulkier than Randy, inquired.

“Hello sir… I am sir Bentfeather, of the Waterfall City library…”, The Microraptor flapped to the dock and landed on one of the pilings. He introduced each one in turn, and bowed when he was finished. “We were traveling to Treetown, but the water looked too good to pass up!”

“Aye, she’s a bonny lake, she is!…”, the squat creature chuckled. “Name’s capt’n Jakker, and I run the whole fleet. And this is the Lilly, ain‘t she a sweet ship?…”

“Oh yes!… A marvel!…”, Bentfeather said for them all, more out of courtesy than anything.

“Er, this is me first mate over on the skiff; an’ his name is Gore Rafferty.”, he looked around at the rest of the crew. “And all those are me crews… relatives of Gore and their Partners…”

“Charmed…”, Bentfeather said.

“What’re you standin’ round for?…”, Jakker suddenly yelled. “The clams won’t unload themselves, you know!…”, the crew scampered onto the Lilly. “They’re a fine crew, just needs motivation sometimes…”, he turned and smiled at Bentfeather.

“Um, should we leave the beach?…”, Bentfeather inquired of the large captain.

“You can watch, but please don’t get in the way.”, Jakker told him. “Maybe you could watch by the road…”

Bentfether’s group presently moved up to the road, leaving the beach clear for the crew to get busy; some landing the skiffs up on the beach while others came out of the small schooner with many large barrels, rolling them onto the dock and up the slope and across the road to their wagon in the meadow. Captain Jakker oversaw the whole thing, spouting orders and urging any slackers with threatening gestures with his club tail. Randy looked on all this and smiled, thinking of the times he was at Mosasaur harbor tending to his own harbor side duties; and the rest merely looked on with peaking interest, even Peter seemed to derive entertainment at all the humans and small saurians busy at their duties. As their interest slowly waned, many of them began to wander back to their campsite in the meadow; but at a strange sound that was emanating from the lake, they all turned and stared out to locate the source of the noise.

What they saw in the water directly behind the small fleet boggled their imaginations, for the group of four Plesiosaurs had breached the surface of the lake; their necks craning to and fro before having a look at the goings on at the dock! Two were of gargantuan size, about the size of a Bracheosaur; only their smaller heads looked like eels or snakes as they bobbed to and fro, one of which eyed Randy who smiled. The other two Plesiosaurs were about one third smaller, and juveniles by the way they failed to stay in formation; and they bobbed their necks in all sorts of directions, looking for something interesting in the usual scenery of the lake to no avail. At last the group of aquatic reptiles floated to within yards of shore beside the schooner as the sunlight began to fade, booming their greetings and warnings to captain Jakker; and Randy was amazed he could understand them, for their calls were akin to the barge pullers’ slang he heard at Mosasaur harbor! After announcing himself in kind, Randy began to relate to the Plesiosaurs who they were and where they were heading.

“You know what they are saying, boy?”, Bentfeather asked.

“Sure!… My buddies back home have the same language!”, said Randy. “Of course, it’s a slightly different dialect than I’m used to.”, he strained to listen as the swimmers began to boom another string of dialogue.

“What are they saying?”, asked Bentfeather.

“They say there’s a great storm visiting the lake tonight.”, Randy listened further. “They say that we should be well sheltered if we are to sleep here the night…”

“Then that tears it!”, captain Jakker cut in as he waddled by. “MEN!!!… Get the cargo to the storehouse!…”, then he winked. “But leave a bucket for our guests!…”

“A bucket of what, captain?”, Randy asked.

“Clams, me boy!”, he chuckled. “Ever had raw clam?…”, captain Jakker chuckled as he licked his chops, but Randy gulped in revulsion!

All of them watched as the sailors went into action, many taking loads of clams in heavy baskets up onto shore and loading them onto their cart; Jakker commanding them as they scrabbled by with their loads, and Hazen and Artemis alternately holding Redcrest back if she began to get in their way. Soon the routine of unloading the schooner became less and less interesting to them, so they all retired to their own campsite by ones and twos; then pretty soon their bucket of clams arrived, and Seamus got to work cleaning them. He had never really had any experience in cleaning seafood, and just left the meat on the shells; which a tip in passing to him by the captain indicated that it was the only way to eat them. With practiced timing, their cart was loaded with ease; and captain Jakker was tethered to it before the whole crew gathered by it, their children hovering near by beside their parents. Before the crew began leaving down a skinny path deeper into the forest beyond the clearing, captain Jakker had something to say to them.

“Is this all the shelter you got?…”, he looked at the tents designed for fair weather and their carts huddled together around them. “A word of advice: the storms that come off Deep Lake do not seem like much but they are…”, he looked at Bentfeather. “I suggest you shore up your tents and make some kind of shelter for your bigguns… The Lake Patrol told me that the storm won’t come until long after sunset, so I suggest you have your Eveningmeal quickly and tend to your tents.”

“Will do, captain Jakker.”, Bentfeather said for them all as he kind of saluted.

“Aye, aye!…”, Randy echoed.

“I always liked the nautical type!”, Jakker chuckled and turned his cart toward the trees.

“The food’s ready.”, Seamus announced, and presently they all gathered to receive it.

They all ate in silence, savoring the food that Seamus had originally cooked while sampling the clams as many had not had such a thing in their lives. Bentfeather thought they were very good, if not extremely slimy; and Redcrest spat her only one out, as it revolted her to extreme! Most of the others were a bit more brave about eating their clams, though most who did not like them merely ate one before returning to their original fare. As their meal ended, Tebo, Hazen and the two Pachys got to work inspecting and readjusting the tents, and Ajax and the two guard steeds pushed the carts closer together; finding extra tarpaulins and lashing them overhead as an extra awning for their pullers to seek shelter under. Before long the whole campsite was as weatherproof as they could make it, and efforts were taken to prepare to sleep for the night. Since they were in relatively safe environs and the fact that the weather would not allow a proper guarding of the camp, none was assigned; and they all soon scrabbled into their assigned tents or other accommodations and prepared to sleep for the night.

Two hours later, as they were just beginning to fall into a deep sleep, the rains came; and it pattered on their shelters lightly at first, causing the lighter sleepers to raise an eye. Soon rustlings in the trees near by told of wind gusts in the treetops, and this drove the light rain harder into their tents; and this caused the lighter sleepers to become nearly fully awake! One swirling gust hit their carts that surrounded them, rocking them on their wheels; and this sent sheets of rain down on their tents, which began to wake the heavier sleepers! Within minutes after that, the whole sky began to open up, and sheets of torrential rain began to assail them; pattering on the canvas like machine gun fire (Hazen thought.), and making the rain strikes outside in the newly formed mud seem like drum rolls.

It would have been easier to fall a back asleep amid this if the rain had kept a steady pace, for it’s susurrus would have been relaxing like hearing sea surf; but as the bands of monsoon intensity came and went, there was no rhythm in the storm that would allow any of them to sleep. Ajax got up and took a look outside, but could not see anything as the rain looked like being behind a waterfall from the other side of the tent flap. All of a sudden Randy’s braying woke everyone, but it was Ajax who responded first; getting completely soaked as he ran the twenty feet to where the tarp on Randy’s side had come undone, and sent gallons of rain water onto him!

“I’ll re-tie this…”, Ajax got to work.

“Man the lifeboats…!”, Randy said softly, still in a dream.

Ajax saw to the job quickly, but noticed the rest of the canvas had filled with water as well; potentially soaking the rest of his saurian friends; so he roused April, Frak and lady Natasha to help vent the water and rig the tarp so it would channel the water off it before it was completely inundated. They finished up with all necessary speed, complaining inwardly that they were soaked to the skin; but if they knew that this was not their only problem that night, they would have stayed awake all night long! Ajax, Frak and Natasha went back to their tents and tried to get back to sleep despite the pounding torrent; but not long after that, in other tents more mishaps began to happen. In the tent containing Hazen, Bentfeather, Tebo and Redcrest; the tarp material their tent was made of quickly became saturated, causing beads of condensation to form on the inside of the tent. The same was happening to the other tents too, but that wasn’t discovered until Redcrest woke and absently poked at the canvas near her face; and this caused an instant leak to drip right on her half sleeping face!

Redcrest bawled right into the ear of Hazen, sending him springing up to hit the canvas roof; and this sent many rivulets of water dripping down everywhere in the tent, and this ruckus woke the others in the tent! Tebo rolled over and sent Bentfeather sprawling into the puddle beside him, which woke him up enough to see their tent was swiftly flooding! This commotion began to wake the others in the other tents, and they made it worse as they realized that their tents were leaking as well! As the rain and wind continued to stream around their campsite, it was decided futile to stay dry or asleep tonight; and just stay huddled where they were as they waited for morning or a break in the storm, which ever event came first. They talked and planned with each other through the tent walls all through the night, some taking brief and uncomfortable naps, until the sound of the storm slowly began to ebb; but still the storm kept up until a mere hour before sunrise was to commence, and they were going to have a dragged-out day ahead of them as they were still exhausted when it became time to break up camp…
_

OCC: This long scene is based on my vacation trip to Lake Sebago, Maine. It’s a pretty accurate description, from the general description of the lake to the rainstorm - even the tolls we paid really happened! (I know, I added a bit of Loch Ness with the Plesiosaurs! LOL!) I had a good time in Maine, and I hope the band of friends have a nice little vacation at Deep Lake too!
_____

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

OOC: One good long post deserves another!

IC: Hazen Baker, Redcrest, April Manchester, and company, Deep Lake, A well-deserved break
_

As Hazen helped set up camp, Tebo's thoughts rang through his head. A dip would be an incredibly refreshing option at this point. Finally, Randy charged down toward the water. As he chuckled at the Ankylosaur's Dinotopian expression, he began to strip down to his loincloth, leaving his spectacles and personal effects near the tent he used for so long. Gingerly, he stepped to the docks and, once on the well-worn wood, began to sprint to the end. He let out a loud whoop as he leaped off the edge, tucking himself into a ball and splashing as much as his human body would allow. The cool water and the size of the body of water reminded him of Lake Michigan back home, a vacation spot that his family used to frequent for many a summer. He broke the surface and scanned the area for where the rest of his group was splashing.

He gave a few strokes before rolling onto his back, leisurely making his way to the Lambeosaurs. He was glad he did then. April had now stepped on the edge of the pier and was tying her hair to keep it out of the way. Her undergarments, while tied and maintained in a way that preserved her modesty, left Hazen gobsmacked by revealing her physical beauty, a fact he had not paid too much attention to in their time together. As she dove into the water with a simple leap, Hazen regained his composure and rolled back over, resuming his course. Redcrest was near the shore, trying to learn a new swimming stroke while Artemis supported her. Polongo, on the other hand, was in deeper water, allowing the water to sooth his muscles, sore from days of near-constant pulling. With a hoot from each of them, they acknowledged his presence.

"Don't mind me!" Hazen said, "just passing through." A soft chuckle from the adults brought a smile to Hazen's face. He stopped swimming and began to float. The swishes nearby told him that someone was approaching him. He looked and saw April, who seemed to be doing informal laps. "We're in water," Hazen joked, "there's no fire around here."

April stopped and began to tread. "This is how I choose to spend my swimming time," she pointed out. "I never really liked water games."

Hazen righted himself and treaded near her. "So which is it, no one to play with or annoying brothers and sisters?"

April shook her head at his joke, cracking a smile. "Older brothers," she confessed. "They spent years having fun at my expense."

"Well," Hazen said, "I guess I can sympathize." He wore a wry smile after stating this.

April knew something was up. "Why, you have a younger sister as well?"

"Is it that obvious?" The both of them laughed. Then, he reached out and tapped her. "You're it!" he called before swimming as far as his arms and legs could take him. The sounds of splashing behind him told him that she got the idea, bad childhood memories be cursed.

Her endurance soon proved to be the deciding factor in the game as they traded taps. As she swam further away from him into deeper water, Hazen stopped, panting. "You win!" he called. "I'm taking a break." He swam back to shore, sitting down in the shallows near Redcrest. He looked over at Artemis and said, "I'll take care of her. You go on." Artemis hooted a thank you before swimming over to her mate.

Hazen panted as he looked at Redcrest. She had her hands in the water, occasionally swiping them up out of the water, making splashes. She grunted to herself, frustrated. "What's going on?" he asked her.

"I want to catch a fishie!" she said as she splashed again.

Hazen smiled and said. "Come here, I'll show you how to catch one." She waded closer and he said, "Sit down," to which she complied. "The key here," he told her, "is patience. If you splash, you'll scare them. Fishing is all about waiting." He held his hands close together below the surface, keeping still to not only keep the surface still, but to keep the fish calm. Several small fish swam up and began to examine the hands. A few even took probing nibbles of his fingers. Hazen winced.

"They hurt?" Redcrest asked, a bit scared by the idea of the fishies eating her hands.

"Not really," Hazen said. "It's just surprising. Look." A fish swam in between the hands and he closed them shut, lifting it above the surface to keep a good grip as it thrashed about. "Gotcha!" Redcrest's eyes opened wider. The fish slipped out of his hands and landed with a plop in the water before swimming away. Hazen smiled. "And that's how you catch fish with your hands. Now you try." Hazen held Redcrest's wrists as she held her hands below the surface. After a few attempts, she caught a guppy of her own. After releasing it, she splashed around happily. "Good job!" Hazen congratulated her.

The two of them spent some more time splashing in the shallows before a trio of boats made their way to the shore. The children that were initially swimming soon began work mooring the ships to shore. This informally signaled the end of their swimming and they all returned to shore. Using his hands, Hazen wiped some of the excess water off his body. The sun would have to do the rest, unfortunately. After some pleasantries were exchanged, the group of friends made their way back to camp, where those who wore clothes got dressed again.

As Eveningmeal rolled around, a new delicacy was introduced to the menu: clams. In this instance, they were served on a half shell, not unlike oysters. The vast majority of people here were either herbivorous by nature or vegetarians and Hazen could see their apprehension. To be honest, he wasn't terribly fond of seafood to begin with, but since this was the first bit of meat he's had in a year, he took the initiative and held up a shell. "For the record," he said as a preface, "you don't have to eat them raw. I've heard of clams being steamed, fried, and made into chowders." He took a breath and slid the contents down into his mouth, chewing a couple times and swallowing. He paused as the powerful flavor assaulted his tastebuds. "It's really an acquired taste," he confessed as he went to sample some of Seamus' other works. This evidently didn't help everyone else's palates as he heard Redcrest nearly wretch as she tried the clam and a few groans as others sampled the fare. Clearly, it wasn't that much of a hit.

The rest of the evening was quiet as most were still relaxing after their day swimming and making sure their camp was weatherproofed. Just before going to bed, Redcrest ran up to Hazen. "I'm scared of the storm," she said, "can I spend the night with you?"

Hazen smiled. "I don't mind if Mama and Papa don't mind."

He glanced up at them and both parents conferred. Shortly afterword, Polongo replied, "She'll be warmer in your tent."

With that matter settled, the two of them climbed into the tent, getting situated for the night with the sounds of thunder off in the distance. Redcrest clung to Hazen's arm as he draped a blanket over the both of them. "It's alright," he said. "You'll be safe in here." He rubbed her side, calming the hatchling. In short order, thanks to an active day at the lake, they drifted to sleep with the soft sounds of rain aiding them.

But the rain became louder and louder, with the occasional thunderclap snapping them out of their dreams. If they were lucky, they would have gone back to sleep in short order, but Randy's sleepy cries were only the beginning of their rotten luck tonight. The commotion to re-tie the tarp outside caused Redcrest to moan crankily. "It's alright," Hazen replied, "go back to sleep." He then rolled over to get himself comfortable again.

As Hazen closed his eyes, Redcrest opened hers. In the dim night light, she saw little bitty drops of water on the side of the tent. Lazily, she reached over to wipe them off. As she did so, the shock caused large water droplets to form on the canvas and rain down on her. The sudden cold, wet feeling caused her to bray, further illustrating how unhappy she was that her sleep was interrupted. Surprised by the shock, Hazen sat up, causing even more indoor rain. Before Hazen could even realize what happened, Bentfeather informed them that their tent was flooding.

Redcrest's suprised brays turned into grouchy cries. This was officially the worst night she had ever had. She was cold, wet, and in the middle of a scary storm. Hazen did his best to calm her down with soothing sounds and gentle rubs and she now merely whimpered. Hazen looked at his tentmates, and said, "I'm sorry about this, you two." Despite reassurances that it wasn't his fault, he still felt somewhat guilty.

"I guess all we have to do is try and keep together for some semblence of warmth," came a voice from outside. Hazen was too tired to determine who said it, but he wholeheartedly agreed. He positioned Redcrest in the center of the pile next to Bentfeather while Tebo and himself surrounded them. Everyone took turns cooing and trying to calm the youngest one and Redcrest drifted into and out of sleep in irregular naps.

"Remind me to tell the Treetown Council to give us a day's recuperation when we get there," Hazen said as the night wore on. "Hopefully, they'll understand the rigors of travel on foot."

"I wouldn't mind that," April said, "but it is their decision." Hazen imagined that April felt a chastising glance from Ajax as she said that statement and he smirked.

When dawn broke, the rain finally stopped. Begrudgingly, Seamus went out to make some breakfast, but the firewood was too soaked to even make a fire. The cold breakfast wasn't very satisfying and Redcrest, cranky from the lack of sleep, had few qualms about voicing her opinions. "This stinks!" she said. "I wanna go home!"

"Redcrest," said Artemis, "I know you're tired, but it's no excuse for being rude."

"Hmph!" the hatchling said, crossing her arms.

"Look on the bright side," Hazen said with a yawn, "You can sleep when we're on the road." This gave her all the incentive she needed to help get the camp broken down. When they were finally on the way, Hazen sneezed. "Great," he mused. "Now I've got a cold coming..."
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company. The hospitality of Bent Root and the promise of Cornucopia.

Finally the storm that hovered above Deep Lake subsided, but not before ruining all the sleep sir Bentfeather and his friends could have had that night; for they were cold and soggy, and made preparing for the trip ahead all that much more miserable for them. The cold meal due to the lack of dry firewood made their spirits all the lower, but at least some conceded that the previous day was both fairly restful and fun; but as they packed up their wet camp and loaded it onto the various carts, one of them wondered where captain Jakker and his crew went off to as their ships were absent from the dock. Randy would certainly miss the kindred nautical spirits of their captain, and regretted not knowing his son a little better; and he figured they would all miss them and their crew, for their unexpected hospitality and generosity was a welcome relief considering what they had been through previously. With little preamble besides complaining about how wet everything was, and the fact that everyone was quite terse of the fact; the loading of the carts soon became completed, and they were all glad they were finally on the road again.

The caravan continued down the southwest road, alternately traveling along side Long Lake and meandering inland from time to time; until the road gradually became smoother and noticeably wider, their wagon wheels traveling smoother thanks to the expert road maintenance in these parts. The forest they were entering continued to get thicker, filled with oaks and ash and pines of many varieties; and the girth of these trees seemed to grow wider with each turn of their wagon wheels, causing the road itself to meander between the boles. The first sign that they were entering civilization was when they saw their first house, of mud and thatch and wattle yet designed with the elegance and grace of those seen in Nordic lands; and this was not the only one they saw of kind, for a while later whole clusters of such dwellings soon became known to them. Not long after that larger buildings of similar construction loomed into view, and the signs at a crossroads in the center of this hamlet read that they had finally arrived at Bent Root. It seemed that the place was deserted for the lack of persons that lived there, but as soon as a lone waif saw the caravan coming into town, she bolted for the largest thatch building and disappeared inside; returning seconds later with a lanky old man with a long pointy beard and an iridescent green and pink female Archaeopteryx on his shoulder.

Oh dear!… Guests!”, said she as he walked to the front cart. “Anna, see to some accommodations for these fine people…”, the waif ran off.

“Please excuse our lack of townspeople, my friends.”, said the skinny man. “It is harvest time in the forests, and there is only a hand-full of us here…”

“Welcome to Bent Root, one and all!…”, announced the Archaeopteryx. “I am Jadewing Shrillecho, mayor of Bent Root; and this is I disagreeistant Gordon Hades - and the little one was Anna…!”

Bentfeather swooped over to the head of Randy, who pulled the first cart in line. “I am sir Bentfeather, curator of the Waterfall City library…”, he bowed, slightly abashed at Jadewing‘s avian beauty. “And these fine beings are my traveling companions…”, he introduced each in accordance to the carts they were in and whom they rode, lastly Postal Bird 76. “We are on our way to Treetown for an important meeting with the Archaeological guild…”

“You’re the ones?…”, Gordon stated.

“Don’t be rude!”, Jadewing scolded softly, then flapped to Randy‘s head as well. “Please pardon him. He was washed ashore as an infant, and still hasn’t the knack of things Dinotopian… The truth is we had heard you were coming, and we were expecting you - albeit not so late…”

“Our journey did take a bit longer than expected…”, Bentfeather admitted, diverting his eyes from her to hide his unexpected infatuation. “But it’s good to see we’re nearing the end of it!…”

“You all must be exhausted from your long trip. Perhaps you would like to stay and rest…”, Jadewing offered, then whispered. “By the way, I am called ‘Jade’ to my friends!…”, Bentfeather would have blushed if he could!

“By the looks of them, they must have been in last night’s storm from the lake…”, Gordon said. “Perhaps it would be wise to refresh oneself, to get dry and warm…”

“Um, yes… I guess so.”, Bentfeather said.

“May I remind you that our meeting at Treetown may already be nigh?”, lady Natasha said.

“And also the fact of the pending trial of our prisoner?…”, added Ajax.

“I’m not making trouble, ain’t I?…”, Peter grumbled softly.

“Oh dear!…”, Jadewing exclaimed and flew back to Gordon.

“We have no facilities for prisoners.”, Gordon said.

“Oh please!… There’s no need to fret…”, Bentfeather said still perched on Randy’s head. “He has been the proper citizen the entire trip, and truly wishes to turn a new leaf…”

“Besides, he wouldn’t dare make trouble while I’m around!”, Randy boasted, and Bentfeather stomped on his head to hush him!

“Well!… In that case, all is well!…”, Jadewing announced at last, chortling cooingly. “You are all welcome here - even you…!”, for the last part she looked at Peter, winking.

“This way, if you please…”, Gordon turned and went down the street, toward a large cleared area near some warehouses of the same stylized design as the rest of the buildings in Bent Root, many other barn structures that were much taller than they were wide stood in the distance. Just then Anna came from around a corner and whispered something to him. “You may unhitch here, and follow us to the domiciles…”

“You have a very nice town here.”, Bentfeather was beaming like a school kid from behind them. “Rustic and cozy… Very unusual architecture…”

“We like it…”, Jadewing chirped. “right honey?…”, Anna nodded up at her from Gordon’s side.

“We house Bracheosaurs and other Sauropods here, and their Partners and families help with the harvest.”, Gordon Hades noticed their curious glances as they followed. “With this and the trade that comes from Cornucopia and environs, it was quite lucrative to have our town here.”

“It is a strategic location for trade.”, lady Natasha agreed at last. “I run a shipping company among my other talents, and I have sent many a caravan through these regions.”

“I am sure those endeavors were profitable…”, Gordon said. “And I am sure your caravans were treated very well.”

“Anna. Go see if Mrs. Fergusson has prepared the rooms.”, Jadewing instructed, and nodding, Anna scurried up through the door to a hotel that looked like a simple, rustic house near the edge of the center of town; and returned a mere moment later, nodding. “Shall we enter?”, Jadewing landed on the shoulder of officer Ajax while Bentfeather took his usual spot on Tebo’s.

“I will tend to the saurians…”, Gordon informed. “This way, if you would, my friends!…”, he led Randy, Polongo, Peter, Olu and Artemis down the street; who followed after giving the rest of their friends a glance good-bye.

Frak, lady Natasha, Hazen, April, Seamus and Redcrest followed Jadewing Shrillecho atop officer Ajax and sir Bentfeather atop Tebo into the hostel in disguise as a simple dwelling, turning to face a tiny desk in the corner of the first room to ring the hand-bell; and waited a mere moment before a Stenoychosaur in an apron and a polka-dot bandanna around her saurian head. She nodded at her mayor and put on her friendliest face as she spoke.

“Greetings one and all!… My, but there are a lot of you!…”, she looked down and turned a fresh page in her guest book. “I only thought there were a few… I will have to open up the rest of the second floor now!…”, she tisked and then looked up. “ I am Matilda, Mrs. Fergusson’s assistant… A most humble welcome to our abode!…”

“Charmed…”, Bentfeather replied, hopping down to sign the ledger.

“Matilda, these people are on their way to Treetown for an important meeting with the Archaeological guild.”, Jadewing informed her. “I hope they stay long enough to be greeted by the entire town when they return… You are staying longer, are you?…”

“Actually, we merely intended briefly refresh ourselves before being on our way.”, Bentfeather explained. “But we might be able to stay longer, if you desire it!…”

“Not if it might impede your business…”, Jadewing replied as a burly lady of dark complexion, apron on and wringing her hands with a towel, arrived at last.

“Matilda!… There are guests!”, she called her friend, who had scurried off. “Oh, hello, lady Mayor!… Are these the guests?”

“Yes, and finer ones you’ll never have, Mrs. Fergusson!…”, Jadewing told her, waving the rest to sign the guest book while Bentfeather stayed on the desk and looked on. “I am informed they will stay only briefly, and may not stay the night. ”She looked at their condition. “They need to refresh themselves and be on their way…”

“I see…”, the human said after scrutinizing them. “Well, there’s spare clothes in the closets of each room - provided they’ll fit, and right for your gender. I’ll get the staff busy laundering your dirty clothes and they should be ready in a few hours. Matilda will show you your rooms…”, Mrs. Fergusson looked toward each door of the room. “Matilda!… Where are you?…”

“Right here…”, the Stenoychosaur returned through a doorway already looked at, hefting a tall stack of folded towels. “I figured you might need these…”, she began doling them out to Bentfeather’s group when they were done signing in.

Back in the paddocks the rest of Bentfeather’s group was being given their stables and tended to as good as the handlers inside could muster. Each saurian got sponged down or brushed off as necessary, and provided with all the fodder and refreshment as they wished; each worker fussing over each of them like they were first-class customers, and none of them thinking they were particularly special for the treatment. As the rest of them signed in, toweled off and was led away; Jadewing held Bentfeather back from the group as they went upstairs with Matilda and Mrs. Fergusson, shushing him as they waited on the desk for the last to leave the room. With a feathered finger, Jadewing beckoned for him to follow; and they both flapped out of the hotel and into the bright, breezy air beyond. Postal Bird 76, deciding to hang back and see if Bent Root had a Postal aerie; saw them leave together, and decided to follow his friend instead!

Jadewing led Bentfeather out the door of the inn, flapping madly with her better designed wings; and he had a hard time keeping up, 76 having an even harder time with their moment’s head start. They flew up between the buildings, Bentfeather marveling at the architecture from the air looking much more regal than on the ground; and she led him in and out, through lanes and alleyways in a willy-nilly seeming course. Actually she was trying to lose their Postal Bird without Bentfeather falling behind; but eluding the better designed Dimorphodon was a more futile task than she had envisioned. She had to get Bentfeather alone to talk, but that was proving more impossible by the moment!

“Follow me close… Hurry!…”, she giggled as she dipped and twirled.

“I’m trying!…”, Bentfeather wanted to be alone with her too! “76!… Fly off!”

Postal Bird 76 did not fly off, but redoubled his effort; for these maneuvers reminded him of the time he had to elude the wild Dimorphodon, the one with romance on her mind! He barreled in to the quickly flying pair as they dodged through the buildings, sometimes taking daring maneuvers through objects like vendor’s kiosks and storefronts; twisting with every flap to try and shake him, and he was having the time of his life as he pursued them. Jadewing flew up to rooftop level and circled as Bentfeather panted to get to that altitude, then made a beeline toward one of the extra tall barns; one of which had both high loft windows open, and peeled down into one of the windows. Bentfeather followed, but was pulled aside as they entered to hide behind one of the upper rafters; and just then Postal Bird 76 flew past them and out the other window, assuming they had flown out the other side. After a brief look around to make sure the Postal Bird had indeed left, Jadewing smiled at Bentfeather before speaking.

“I hate crowds. Don’t you?…”, said she. “Um,… I bet you’re wondering why I had you fly with me…”

“The thought crossed my mind…”, said Bentfeather. “But it was glorious fun!”

“It was!…”, she cooed. “But that wasn’t the only reason.”, Jadewing took on a curious look. “And that reason is kind of hard to explain…”

“I think I know what you mean…”, Bentfeather looked thoughtful. “There is a feeling I have been having ever since I first saw you…”

“Same here…”, she then drew him deeper into the shadows. “You may not know this, but Archaeopterexes are all but nonexistent in these regions. They are rare on Dinotopia, and I am the only one in these parts.”

“You must be lonely, all by yourself like that.”, said Bentfeather. “And those Postal Birds make stuffy companions…”

“You know it!… They wouldn’t know what to do with friendship!”, she chuckled. “Probably mail it!”

“76 is no conversationalist, to be sure!…”, Bentfeather agreed, smiling.

“But see, the thing is…”, Jadewing said unsurely. “It has been so long since I have had any such relationship at all…”, she backed away and hung her head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything…”

“You know, it was true, what I said…”, Bentfeather knew all too well. “What I saw in you was beauty I hadn’t seen in and avian in a long time… It brought me back… It made me feel young…”, he pondered a moment, waiting for her eyes to meet his. “Was that the same you saw in me?…”, he said when she did.

“I haven’t had that feeling in a long time.”, she admitted at last. “It was wonderful!”

“And so is this…”, Bentfeather offered his feathered hands, and she took them, smiling. They nuzzled for only the briefest of moments before they backed up a pace. “Funny how one could be so with an old crow like me…”, and they both laughed softly.

“I am no spring chicken myself!”, she replied when they were done, and both decided to fly out of the loft of the barn they were in at the same time.

“Please allow me to tell you of my most recent adventure…”, Bentfeather said as he flew beside her. “Oh Jade, it will thrill you!…”, he began his tale as Jadewing Shrillecho alternately pointed out the points of interest in the town of Bent Root below them.

Giving up the chase as he left the barn, mostly due to he had lost Jadewing and Bentfeather by that time; Postal Bird 76 decided to pursue his previous task of locating this town’s Postal Bird aerie, so he swooped down to street level and soared through the lanes and avenues of Bent Root on the lookout for the standard shape of the aerie he was looking for. He passed by barns and silos, through stables and out back to the center of town; and then at the end of a short alleyway between the building Jadewing and Gordon Hades first came out of and the lane where most of the businesses in town stood, he saw the familiar shape and colors of the Bent Root Postal Bird aerie. He flapped to the small teller’s platform in front, but saw no one manning it; so he hopped inside to see if anyone was there, but there was no one that he could see. However, there was a strange sound coming from the nesting area deep inside and only accessible by Postal Birds; so he crept inside and held his wings on his hips at the sight, for one lone Postal Bird was there sound asleep!

“AHEM!!!…”, 76 announced loudly, causing the bird to wake from his perch and stumble to the bottom of the nest with a start!

“Please tell me your destination, your message and your name in that order…”, the bird said groggily as he got up and righted himself. “Oh, dear!…”, he did not like the scowling Dimorphodon before him!

“What is your name?”, 76 asked levelly but meanly.

“Postal Bird 1023, at your service…”, he saluted.

“Nice to know you…”, 76 scowled. “I am Postal Bird 76, Postmaster General of the Waterfall City Post office!”

“Oh, dear… I’m sorry!”, stammered the bird.

“I am currently on a mission with my important charges, who are going to Treetown.”, Stated 76. “At each town I pass through, I check the aeries in case there is a message for them.”, Postal Bird 76 told the still quivering bird on the perch. “Mind you, this is not an official inspection, per-se… BUT if it was, how would you think I would react when the person left in charge of an official Postal Bird aerie was literally ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH!!!?”

“It would not go well for that person…”, 1023 stammered. “Oh please forgive me… I’m sorry!…”, 76 thought a moment.

“Oh forget it… I wasn’t very good at reprimands anyway…”, 76 took a softer tone, smiling with his eyes. “You must have been very busy lately, being so tired you fell asleep like that…”, he took the bird’s shoulder with care to quell his fear. “Was that it, son?…”

“N-no, not really, sir…”, 1023 still stammered. “It’s just that we do not get many calls around here… But the book requires that someone man the aerie…”, he bowed low. “I hadn’t had a run in two days… I guess I was just bored…”

“So I take it there were no messages for my charges.”, said 76.

“No sir… Not a word…”, the younger one said.

“And that means there is neither good news nor bad…”, 76 thought, then brightened for a moment. “Very well then!… You may carry on… But keep your eyes peeled, ok?…”

“Yes sir!…”, saluted the extremely relieved Postal Bird 1023 to the back of his superior as he flapped out of the Bent Root Postal Bird aerie.

In the mean time the rest of Bentfeather’s group continued to get freshened up from last night’s deluge; undressing in their rooms and choosing garments provided in the rooms closets, before going down stairs to wait for their original garb to be laundered. As Tebo chose a toga much like the one he usually wore only bright yellow, April in her room chose a light green dress akin to those worn in the 1800’s complete with utilitarian bonnet; and Seamus chose basic traveling attire of tunic and vest and strong trousers, topping it all off with a sky blue top hat he had found in his closet. Lady Natasha and Frak simply emerged without clothes, but were freshly washed and dried and ready for a night on the town; but their stay would only be brief, they knew. Hazen had chosen a strange ensemble indeed from his closet, which contrasted awkwardly with Aprils choice in clothing. Officer Ajax came down last, sporting a pinstripe business suit akin to the ones worn in the 1930’s complete with bowler and spats. At a brief conference, it was decided they all go their separate ways to sightsee the town of Bent Root; and gather in front of the hotel when they were done, or when they got word that their clothing was sufficiently laundered.

In the paddocks in another part of Bent Root, their saurian pullers and steeds were receiving pretty much the same treatment; getting washed as necessary and being toweled down afterwards, attendants sprinkling each with sweet smelling oils or salves depending if odor or sores were made evident by them. Randy loved all the extra special treatment he was getting while Peter merely tolerated it, grunting at one of the smaller saurians as she encountered a place where he did not want to be touched; but with a grunt of his own, Olu quieted the Triceratops from his complaints. Artemis and Polongo assisted the assistants as they bathed Redcrest, each receiving likewise treatment as they joined in their daughter’s fun. As the attendants finished up with their charges, they returned all the dinosaurs’ acoutriments, polished armor pieces as well as the brass hardware of the harnesses; and refitted any quickly wiped off saurian garments to their original owners. As the stall doors opened, they mutually agreed to take a look around Bent Root and meet the rest in front of the hotel the others were staying at; which was suggested by Gordon Hades as he appeared a short time before the handlers were done. Seemingly right behind the assistant mayor, Hazen Baker showed up and collected Redcrest; saying he would accompany her around town.

Within two hours the group had seen all in Bent Root that was worth seeing, from the barns and warehouses to the vending avenues and other sights; and raggedly showed back up at the hotel. Randy had figured that, if one saw one town he saw them all; and was the first to be back in the area, looking this way and that for the rest of his group of comrades. As the day grew older the rest noticed that many of the townsfolk were returning to town; many of them arriving on Brachs or other gargantuan dinosaurs, and most of them were sporting hut-sized baskets of harvested foliage tethered to their backs. Their homes were not their destination, for first they had to unload their baskets and tally up their daily quota. As the rest returned to the area in front of the hotel, they each related what they saw; but few told of what one had said while apart from the rest. The last to show up was Bentfeather and Postal Bird 76, and the former was closely accompanied by Jadewing Shrillecho. As Gordon Hades showed up a few moments later, it was he who was prevented speaking first.

“Just a minute, my friends!”, Jadewing called just then. “Before you go, I wanted to know how you like my humble little town…”

“Well, I thought it was just fantastic!”, Tebo said, ignoring the low talk Bentfeather was saying in the background.

“And so, Jade… We ran and ran, but the lava was overtaking us…”, Bentfeather nearly whispered. “It was so close it nearly singed my tail feathers!…”

“That is very exciting, dear.”, she said and listened to the praises or neutral comments as they came.

“I have been informed that your clothing and accoutrements are thoroughly cleaned, and just returned from being dried.”, said Gordon. “They have been returned to your rooms, so if you would follow me…”, everyone began to comply, all except Bentfeather, Jadewing, 76 and Tebo.

“I see you found a friend…”, Tebo indicated softly to Bentfeather.

“Yes lad!…”, he turned to 76. “Before long there will be many messages going to this town!”

“I hope not!”, 76 replied. “The Postal Bird here is a slouch!”
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, A Grand Day Out at Bent Root
_

"You've got to be kidding me," Hazen said with a stuffed-up voice after he opened the armoire. The only set of clothes that he could find in there even close to his size was a Tudor period suit complete with neck ruffle, puffy knickerbockers, and cape. As much as he didn't want to look like the Second Coming of Shakespeare, he didn't have much of a choice as he began to strip out of his still-damp clothes to change; either become Henry VIII or catch pneumonia.

The hospitality in this town, like the rest of Dinotopia, was exceptional as usual. While he certainly understood them being busy as of late, he wondered if more people around would have allowed him to have more selections than just this ridiculous garb he was now donning. He looked at the mirror to see the English Renaissance staring back at him. With a harrumph, he left the room to rejoin the others.

And the sights he saw there allowed him to feel less self-conscious about his wardrobe choice. Between Tebo's toga and Ajax's zoot suit, he had plenty to laugh about. In fact, he didn't realize he was laughing until the others looked at his get-up and started laughing as well. Hazen saw Seamus and said, "Looks like your dignity is still intact!"

Seamus chuckled, "Perhaps, laddie, but think of the person who actually owns your costume."

"Hey, if he can rock pantaloons, he's okay by me," Hazen said. The others were unfamiliar with his phraseology and merely nodded approvingly.

Then, Hazen saw April. Even though her costume came out of the late Victorian era, he found the dress and hat very becoming of her. All she needed was a parasol to complete the ensemble. "Well, hello, Dolly," he said as he walked over to her.

The reference was lost on April and she had no qualms about sharing it. "Is Dolly someone you once knew?"

Hazen shook his head and said, "No, she is a character in a stage play, which is set in the time your dress is from."

"That could mean a lot of things, depending on what this Dolly was like," April commented.

"In this case, it's a good thing. She is a bit of a socialite. Everyone knows her and loves her." Hazen gave a smile to encourage her to take the compliment.

Her reciprocation satisfied him. "That was a roundabout way of saying you liked my dress," she commented.

"Let's not forget, my clothes are from Shakespeare's time. Verbosity in language is commonplace!" April chuckled, remembering how dense that period's English was in her Outside World Studies course.

As they meandered around the main lobby, Hazen said, "Why don't we go for a walk and take in this quaint corner of Dinotopia?"

April paused. "Just us?" she said as old and new apprehensions arose again.

"It doesn't have to be if you don't want it," he said. "In fact, I was wondering if Redcrest and her family would be interested in a tour as well."

April contemplated this for a moment. "Alright. I suppose that it would be something to pass the time."

"That's the spirit." They walked over to the paddocks and, as if on cue, the last of their bathing had been completed.

Redcrest greeted her mammalian friends and gave Hazen a hug. "Your clothes look funny, but I like Miss April's dress."

Hazen's mildly annoyed look sprang from the little one's brutal honesty. He dismissed it though and said, "April and I are going on a little walk around town. Want to come?" He looked at the two adult Lambeosaurs. "You two are also invited as well."

Polongo hooted, "Thank you for the offer, but Artemis and I never really got a chance to really reconnect since the day we began our journey." Artemis then gave a gentle nuzzle against her mate.

Hazen nodded, thinking he got the picture. "It's no problem," he said. "She will be in good hands." He led the young one out of the paddock and they began their tour.

Over the course of the next two hours, they learned more about Bent Root and its services to the rest of the island. Redcrest enjoyed seeing the many buildings, as opposed to what goes on inside them. As they wandered back to the hotel, the two adults reflected on the trip. Hazen simply enjoyed spending time with the two people he had enjoyed spending time with the most since he came to the island. Not only was it informative, it was fun. That, above all, made his heart sing.

April also had similar thoughts and that was still a foreign experience to her, given her past experiences with other men. Even despite how betrayed she felt by Hazen when they were in Sanders' clutches back on the Outer Island, she saw that, now they were free from danger and stress, how honest and genuine he was. Again, she was conflicted about how she felt about Hazen. However, she now had past experience with him to base her next actions on.

Once everyone regrouped, Gordon informed them that their clothes were cleaned, dried, and pressed. Hazen wasted no time in getting out of the costume so he could get a little more normalcy back in his life.
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company, to Cornucopia and the last stop before Treetown.

After everyone went up to don their original clothes and return the ones they borrowed; they congregated once again in front of the hotel, and as a group went to where their carts were parked near the warehouse district of Bent Root. As they began to board their carts newly replenished with supplies enough to get them to Treetown, the bulk of the citizens were noticed coming back to town; and the streets filled with Bracheosaurs and other large sauropods and other large dinosaur of every description, each carrying their loads of foliage to the barns and warehouses around town. Before they were about to set off on their next leg in their journey, the mayor of Bent Root and her assistant showed up one last time to see them off.

“Well!… I see you’re ready to get under way!…”, Jadewing Shrillecho said as she flapped to the cart Bentfeather was aboard. “May your journey be a pleasant one…”

“As you see, we have provisioned your carts.”, Gordon Hades informed. “Upon my inspection of your cargo, it would be wise to hurry before the fruit becomes too spoiled, and must be discarded…”

“Oh, you worry too much!”, Jadewing scolded. “I’m sure there is enough time for a proper farewell!”

“I am sorry…”, said he.

“The pending meeting deems we make haste.”, Ajax reminded.

“We’ll get there, don’t worry…”, Bentfeather told him, then turned to Jadewing. “I regret not being able to stay longer, Jade… But you know how it is: duty before personal things…”

“It will be all right.”, said she. “We have had a fine afternoon, and it will remain with me forever!”, she nuzzled.

“Same here…”, he returned, then backed away. “I think it is time to go…”, he sniffed.

With that Jadwing Shrillecho returned to the shoulder of Gordon Hades, and within a moment their convoy began to move; through the streets and stylized buildings of Bent Root, and amid the gigantic creatures that called this place home. Near the edge of town they continued onward down the northwestern road, many of the townspeople following and cheering until they were left at the verge of the environs controlled by Bent Root; but from there they were left alone to drive the carts to their destination, which was well marked for all to see. It was strange to see how thickly the trees overgrew the road, and yet the road itself was finely manicured; the result of frequent visits by the local road crews, and a tribute to the importance of this road for trade. Another indication that the road was well used was the increasing traffic going the other way, and the many more that came and went at the several crossroads and junctions they passed by.

The metropolis of Cornucopia was a mere few miles down this road, and it was well known for it’s opulence; for the road soon turned paved with gravel a mile away from their previous location, and quickly turned to stone pavers for the rest of their journey there. The forest they were in did not open up to allow them to view the city, for the forest suddenly became the great stone structures the small city was known for as if by some transmutation; and the quietness of the forest was suddenly drowned out by the babble of many voices, and the earthy smell was replaced by the well-lived smells of a city. Humans and saurians of all sorts, and dressed in every sort of garb to their taste; meandered about going about their business, and their voices told of their wares in voices both loud and many. On several occasions along the lane they were on, citizens tried to sell their wares to them, and many of those were most insistant indeed; and some even tried to purchase their cargo, an activity that officer Ajax warded off with his militaristic demeanor.

“That way…”, lady Natasha pointed, and the rest followed through the crowds.

Even though no one of official stature had greeted them thus far, lady Natasha knew the way through the streets; directing the convoy to go down several streets full of people until they came upon a lane predominantly populated by carts, their pullers and drivers. This activity was on a street that was lined from end to end with the fronts to shipping companies sporting many names both colorful and practical. Many such companies down, on the left side of the street; Natasha had the convoy stop at an open warehouse door, where a strange character emerged at their presence. It was a Therazinosaurus, and he introduced himself as Farraday with a strange burr in his voice before inquiring how their trip went to lady Natasha in a strange, conversational way; but before he had a chance to finish his awkward sounding greeting, this female Protoceratops came bounding from between his legs and began berating him for not being duly professional with their boss!

“You’re their boss?”, asked Tebo Lewis.

“Of course.”, Natasha told him. “I own many facilities all over Dinotopia. My main warehouse is in Waterfall City, and the Windy Gully shipping company here is mine as well.”

“And that is why I say we must get a move on!”, Glommer groused. “Hurry, let’s offload these carts!”

Glommer then began helping the rest to unload their carts, which was where their load of fruit was to be delivered to; and the rest of the shipping company’s crew rushed out to help, a four person human crew. One of them named Harim Mudge, a male of about Tebo’s uncles age and looks, was their leader; and was quickly followed by a female of about Tebo’s mothers age by the name of Wander Moore, led another pair of children slightly older than he by the names of Gregory and Helen Torrence, and they appeared to be twins. The whole group made quick work of he unloading, then set to work unhitching Peter, Randy and Polongo before leading them inside the paddock area for a brief rest and feeding. Lady Natasha led the way into the office area, a plain wooden door with windows set between two picture sized windows; and Harim Mudge scurried in to take his position behind a dispatcher’s desk and partition once the humans and saurians small enough to enter came in, straightening the paperwork on the desk in a hurry as he did so.

“The week’s dispatches are here…”, Harim stated to Natasha as she watched. “Expenditure books in the filing cabinet over there… You want to see the profit figures?…”

“No, that will be fine.”, Natasha said, Frak sneaking close to her. “We are just passing through, but it’s nice to see you’re so thorough.”

“We try our best…”, Harim said.

“We are not here for business exactly.”, Frak said. “We are escorting these fine people to Treetown, and what a better place to stop into but one’s own establishment?”

“Yes, sir.”, said Harim. “We have the finest stables this side of Deep Lake!”

“I try to keep it that way…”, said lady Natasha. “But now the fruit shipment… The buyers have been informed?…”

“Of course.”, Harim replied. “The bidding will begin tomorrow morning.”, he looked over some paperwork. “And the forest workers will be traveling home tomorrow…”

“Then we will join their convoy.”, stated Natasha. “The sauropods live in Treetown, after all!”

The conversation went on for several minutes more, arrangements being made and such; but then Frak noticed the rest becoming increasingly bored. “Why don’t I show you to the dorm?… There you can refresh yourselves.”,

Frak snaked his way around the rest in the room and opened the door for the rest to follow him out into the street. He led the way to another door in the side of the stone building next to the main barn doors, and this led into the stable area proper; where the rest of their group was receiving first class treatment, or so it seemed. He waved at them all while the rest mumbled greeting as they passed, and led the rest to a wide set of stairs; which veered 90 degrees at each landing until it ended in a wide corridor with two dorm areas opposite one another, each one looking like it could hold a dozen humans or smaller dinosaurs per room. Frak let them all inspect each dorm room and return to him before speaking once more.

“There should be plenty of bunks for each of you, and one dorm can be for the males while the other for females.”, said he. “If you like, you can get some of your things from the carts and choose your bunks now.”, he thought a moment. “Dinner will be at sundown - on lady Natasha and myself, of course!”, he chuckled as he left them.

“What do they do for excitement around here?”, Seamus wondered to himself.

“By the look of things, commerce; and not much more.”, Ajax said. “That means there will be plenty of shady characters around, so watch yourself!”

“I will see about their Postal system…”, Postal Bird 76 said from his shoulder and flapped down the stairway.

“And I suggest we see the sights.”, Bentfeather said on Tebo‘s shoulder. “I hear that Cornucopia is as sophisticated as Waterfall City and Sauropolis combined!”

“That was what the travel literature in the library said, but that information is over fifty years old!”, Tebo reminded.

“Things do change…”, Bentfeather conceded. “Well, let’s get our things…”, that said, they all went downstairs.

They passed by Randy, Polongo and Peter once again, and got further greetings; Randy complimenting the hospitality they were getting, and went out back where Gregory Torrence said their carts were being stored. They got their meager luggage that contained their personal items, Seamus grabbing his camp cook gear as he noticed a small cook stove in the dorms above; and Tebo suggested to Hazen to bring his guitar along as he noticed many minstrels and musicians playing in the streets along the way. After they picked out their bunks back in the loft and put their belongings there, they all went down into the streets; Randy, Polongo, Artemis, Olu and Redcrest meeting them there as well. As Olu and Artemis took flanking positions around Peter - yet discreetly so as to not attract attention - they set out to explore the city; splitting up into two groups and agreeing to meet back there by nightfall. The two twins escorted each group through the city, Gregory Torrence leading the group containing April, Seamus, Redcrest and Hazen in one direction while Helen Torrence led the group containing Bentfeather, Tebo, Polongo, Artemis, Randy and Peter in the other.

“This is the Market district…”, Helen told them. “In fact, nearly all of the city is the market district…”, she led them down an adjoining street. “As you can see, there are many eateries, hotels and spas around if you look for them; and most of us live on the floors above…”

“Are there any forms of entertainment here?…”, Bentfeather asked. “Plays?… Operas…? Concerts?…”

“Oh sure!”, said she as they passed what seemed to be an official building. “But the best form of entertainment is the minstrels on the streets!… There are also jugglers, mimes and parades on special days!…”

“Excuse me, miss…”, Tebo inquired. “But what was that building we just passed?”

“That was the library.”, Helen told him. “It’s not very entertaining in there… Just old books.”

“You sound like you do not like reading.”, observed Bentfeather.

“Who does?…”, Helen led them down another street.

“I suppose you do not know this, but I am sir Bentfeather; curator of the Waterfall City library.”, said the Microraptor. “I like to read…!”

“Me too.”, Tebo said. “I am his assistant.”

“You?… An assistant librarian?”, said she. “You’re so young!…”

“You see, I have to train them young.”, said Bentfeather. “If not they get old and grey before they know everything!”, he giggled, as Tebo stared at him!

Helen stared at him too before getting back to business. “There are many theatres here on this street… Too bad there are no shows scheduled this evening…”

“Are there any sporting events?”, asked Randy. “Mud wrestling?… Or how about sports of strength?…”

“In spring we have ‘Outing Day’, where several contests are performed.”, said she. “There is a sauropod tug-of-war, a Dromeosaur relay race and several booths where folks come for small games of skill and chance… You mean those?”

“Yup!”, Randy smiled. “I always liked to test the strength of the other dinosaurs!”

“Well there’s nothing like that this time of the year.”, said she as Randy frowned. “Now over here is one of the main streets where our Partners stay…”

Helen Torrence continued her tour through the city of Cornucopia, showing the sights she knew so well; yet giving the tour with a lack of enthusiasm any tour guide would frown upon, but her group gave her the benefit of the doubt as she had probably lived there all her life, and the scenes were boring to her. With many stops along the way to explain this or that feature of the town, like the unusual street lamps that the sauropod assisted lamp lighters were lighting and the unusual oval shapes of the bay windows in the upper floors of many buildings; and the jugglers and minstrels giving entertainment in the streets added to the flavor of the place, and the many smells of cooking foods made them all realize the hour was getting late, many wishing to eat there and then despite lady Natasha’s gracious invitation! As the light filtering through the trees surrounding town began to fade, Bentfeather, Randy, Peter, Tebo, Olu, Ajax and Artemis soon had seen all there was to see; and directed Helen to show them the way back to the front of the Windy Gully shipping company.

When they got there, they noticed that they were the first group to arrive; so they went to their spots up in the loft or down in the stables as to their kind to prepare for this evening’s dinner. Along the way they heard and saw the rest of the workers doing their best to attend to their guests; freshening up the stables and rushing upstairs to give fresh linens and things. Many hushed debates were going on with some of them: “Hurry and clean the hay”, said Glommer to Farraday. “I’m douing me best…” being his reply. “Washbasins all set…”, Wander Moore commented as she went by with towels. “That will be twelve for dinner…”, Harim Mudge asked Frak, who just walked in. “No, make space for the rest of you too.”, said he. “Not enough room!”, said Harim. “Well, we’re just going to have to eat out!…”, and off he went in search of lady Natasha.

Just then the rest of them arrived, Gregory Torrence leading the way; and they heard and saw the rest of the crew of the Windy Gully shipping company hear at work, so the two twins joined in with the work. April led the way up to the loft, and the rest of that group followed when they were ready. By ones and twos everyone began to congregate around the main door of the barn, waiting for the rest to show up; and when they did they wondered where their hosts had gone, for the two Pachys that owned the place were nowhere in sight. “They off to make feast!”, said Farraday, clicking his claws. “Good food, you see!”; and many moments later they showed up and made an announcement to everyone.

“We had planned to have dinner here with you tonight.”, said lady Natasha. “But what would the feast be if it didn’t include us all?…”

“We have been asking all over town for a place that can hold such a gathering as this.”, Frak continued. “We have called in a favor with our mutual friend, Pierre DeFauche; who owns a fine bistro near the northern part of town…”

“Oh, you’ll just love the Red Barn Grainery!”, lady Natasha cooed. “It’s the finest place in town, and one that serves both human and saurian palates!”

“And we see you are all ready…”, Frak looked at their charges, and then the shipping company crew. “Harim, I suggest you get the rest of your personnel ready… You’re all coming along too!…”

“We eat?”, asked Farraday.

“You shouldn’t…”, Glommer told him.

“Now, this is a special treat!”, lady Natasha told her. “You do good work, and it isn’t often we reward the help…”

“Now scoot!…”, Frak shooed. “Go get ready!.,..”, off they went, still not believing the good fortune.

It only took a hand full of moments for Harim, Gregory, Helen, Wander, Glommer and Farraday to return; and as a group they headed out the barn door and out into the street. They must have looked like the grand congregation, going down the streets like they did; for they received strange glances from the other townspeople that they walked by, and two saurian guards began to escort them from the rear. These two soon retreated as April Manchester showed them her guard insignia, and they proceeded down the street with little further fanfare; the girth of so many of them nearly taking up the whole width of the street, which was soon advised against by a crossing guard at the next intersection. As they passed the last building on the last street in the northern part of the city, a giant red structure stood out amid a wide avenue framing the presence of many carts and other contrivances. The Red Barn Grainery was just that: a red barn converted into a multi-level restaurant that could accommodate humans as well as saurians, complete with large tables out in the street and seats to accommodate many species of dinosaur. This was where they would be in each others company for the rest of the evening.

"I haven't been here since Frak last took me here!", Natasha said as she looked around at the solid wood beam rafters overhead. There was a light coating of hay on the cement floor for ambviance, and the oil lamp chandelliers resembling wagon wheels hanging on chained harness rigging from the ceilings gave a soft golden glow to the place. "Sure hasn't changed much!"

"It's a wonderful place.", Bentfeather looked around too. "I wonder why I never heard of it.", just then a pair of Strutheomimus children ran in front of them, making them pause. "Ooh! Careful, kids!", Bentfeather warned gently.

"I wonder, do we wait to be seated, or can we help ourselves?", Randy looked for someone in charge.

"It's busy in here tonight.", Ajax observed. "Maybe we should find ourselves an empty spot..., how about over there, under the loft?"

"Fine by me!", Randy smiled as he led them through the maze of tables.

"Looks like the menu hasn't changed much, either.", Natasha said as she lowered her menu after all were seated in chairs or resting couches. There were many types of pasta dishes, salads of every description, breads from all over Dinotopia, fruits both common and exotic, breakfast fare as well as deserts and every concoction of non-alcoholic drink imaginable.

Olu was still studying his menu, and grunted slightly. "Know what you want?", Ajax asked him.

"What do you usually get?", Tebo asked lady Natasha.

"I haven't had it in years, but they have a delicious curry and okra pasta with four types of side dishes.", she told him, then fingered another selection on the menu. “But they specialize in any kind of salad you can think of - all you can eat, too!”

"Both sounds great. Can I try both?", Randy licked his chops, and the rest laughed!

Just then an Ankylosaur waiter came over, decked out in a fine saurian tuxedo and jostling a huge tray with waterbowls and a picher in his mouth. He slid it on the table before speaking. "I welcome you to the Red barn Grainery, kind saurians and humans! My name is Phess, and I will be your waiter this evening. Sorry for the delay - busy, busy, you know!", he chuckled. "How may I serve you?… Are you ready to order?"

"Thank you Phess, I think we can order now, right everyone?", lady Natasha said.

As each nodded, they began to order one by one; and lady Natasha was first followed by Frak, followed by each one in turn in ragged order depending on their sureness of their order. Redcrest needed a little help, so Polongo helped her choose; and Hazen hadn’t had all the dishes currently on the menu, so Tebo beside him quietly told of their contents and palatability to humans. Fess nodded at each order taken, his seemingly perfect memory absorbing each dish as they were requested; and passed out the water bowls and glasses as he did so, using such practiced finesse that an Ankylosaur waiter could muster. When all were finished he nodded to all and waddled to the head of the two tables to speak once more.

"And to drink? We have a fine selection of juice drinks - name your fruit! For the more daring there are the local wines and other brews.", Phess told them.

"How about a watermelon punch?", Redcrest blurted.

"I'll see if the band can play it!", Phess chuckled. "Right away, little miss!… And the rest of you are having…?”, they all told him in turn.

"Excellent selections!!", Phess said and bowed his head. "Everything will be ready shortly. Have a wonderful evening!", he trundled off to place their order, cleaning up spills on the tables along the way.

They watched Fess the waiter disappear, then observed the goings on around them for a few moments; their attention drawn to clattering of dishes, seeing the source of the noise was the Strutheomimus girl dropping her plate of food at a table across the restaurant from them. Many of the wait staff sprung from the back rooms to help clean the mess; and an extremely skinny human in what appeared to be dressed in a Gondola boat driver’s attire walked out to observe the cleanup. Lady Natasha recognized this human, and tried to get his attention; and the man smiled as he noticed her and walked over with purpose.

Ah, Mademoiselle Natasha!”, said the man with an extremely bad French accent. “I see you are enjoying my fine establishment…”, he scanned each face. “And these are your charming charges?…”

“You always have fine hospitality here, Pierre. I couldn’t wait to show them it!”, lady Natasha nearly gushed. “Um, friends… This is Pierre DeFauche, owner of the Red Barn Granary.”, she introduced, then announced each one in the group to him. “We had just had our orders taken by what I assume was your finest waiter… Fess was his name?”

“Oui… He is our star waiter… Memory not to be matched!”, Pierre said. “He is also one of our hardest workers…”, he heard footsteps and backed up slightly to allow the Ankylosaur to serve.

"There you go, ma'ams and sirs.", Fess said as he deposited thier more ornate bowls and glasses. "Can I get you anything else?"

"No think you.", lady Natasha said. "We're fine, I think."

"Your dinner should be here in a minute.", Phess said as he backed away. "Enjoy!", he bowed slightly at his boss and left.

Redcrest was first to sample her drink. "Ooh! Real watermelon!", she commented, and all chuckled.

“Well, I will let you get back to your business…”, Pierre DeFauche said after his chuckle. “Adieu, one and all!…”, all of them mumbled their farewells or waved as their want.

Several moments after that, a Postal Bird entered the Red Barn Granary; flapping high above in the rafters, and looking like he had searched all over town to finally come here. There was no one at the Windy Gully shipping company when 76 returned from the Cornucopia Postal Bird aerie, and he asked many in the street where they had gone before one saurian guard said a large group was headed this way; so in he flew as he followed the lights in the darkened streets outside to this location. 76 still couldn’t discern all the occupants of this restaurant as his eyes hadn’t adjusted to the interior lighting from being out in the dark, but a familiar smell came wafting from one corner of the place; which was nearly obscured by all the smells of cooking food, and he zeroed in on that to land right on the table that Bentfeather was positioned at. 76 made another bad landing, and squished his foot in the dish of Oleo on the table’s center, cursing to himself as Tebo rushed to wipe off his foot with a linen napkin.

“There you all are!…”, 76 said. “(Thank you, boy…) Ahem… I have been to the Cornucopia Postal Bird aerie, and I have a message to sir Bentfeather and company.”, he ruffled his feathers. “It is from the Dinotopian Archaeological guild, currently stationed in Treetown.”

“What is it?”, lady Natasha asked.

“The guild commends you all for making it this far, and inquires if they are to expect you some time tomorrow.”, said 76. “They also say that many dignitaries from other towns that have interest in your account on the Outer Island will be there as well. They expect a detailed account, and would wish to interview everyone involved both privately and publicly.”

“Treetown is a short distance away.”, said Natasha. “I’m sure we will make it there before sundown tomorrow…”

“And please remember everyone…”, Bentfeather told them. “Give your accounts as concisely as possible. These people are a logical sort, and expect the same of others…”

"Here's your food, folks!", Fess trundled over with their first tray of food, then saw he was disturbing them! "Oh! Sorry! I can bring it later..."

"Uh, no. It's all right!", lady Natasha said as she suddenly saw him. “We were finished talking anyway…”, all fell silent.

Each got their orders with practiced precision as Fess deposited their plates and bowls at each setting; and the Ankylosaur smiled at them all when he was done. "Let's eat!", Randy blurted, which got them all to laughing again!

They began to eat as Phess retreated to his other customers, and not much was said for several minutes as they tasted and chewed. Everyone’s food was excellent and spicy, and thier salads had just the right amount of tang. Tebo inquired of 76 if he had eaten, then prepared a small saucer of his salad for him; and though he thanked the lad for the gesture, he complained that it had too much vinegar in it. They savored every morsel of fern and tomato, crunching happily and washing it down with their drinks. After they were two thirds done with thier meals, Phess returned to see if anything else was needed; and after confirming everything was all right, he retreated again. After they were totally done, they all pushed thier plates and bowls aside and stretched.

"That was fantastic!" Tebo said. "The best meal I think I ever had!"

"Mine was wonderful too!", Natasha agreed. "Thier food and thier service is just as good as I remember!", she smiled, but it was mostly directed at Frak.

"We should reccomend this place to the Archaeological guild members in Treetown.", Bentfeather suggested.

"Naw! Then the place will get too crowded!", Randy chuckled.

"I suppose you're right!", Bentfeather said. "It'll just have to be our little secret!", the rest giggled.

Fess returned with a sheaf of paper on a silver tray, which was their bill; and bowed as deep as his form would allow. "I'll be back for it in a minute!", he rushed off again.

Lady Natasha reached into her bag, and counted out enough for the bill, plus quite a lot more than the required percentage for Phess's tip. She smiled at them all as she placed the money on the tray. They all began to collect thier things and get up from thier seats, giving one other another some help as they rose to a standing position. A moment after they had left the Red Barn Grainery, Phess returned and collected the money; then noticed the extra that was entrusted to him.

“How about that!…”, he said to himself as he began bussing the tables. “A nice, big tip!…”…
_

TAG: One and all!

[Thundertail]

OCC: I can’t wait any longer! Everyone wants to get to Treetown already, so here we go!…
_

IC: Bentfeather and company. The discovery of Treetown.

In the morning on the next day, lady Natasha had them all roused early and fed a quick Morningmeal by her staff at the Windy Gully shipping company; none of them realizing why they were awakened so early, save for those whom suspected they may wish to depart from Cornucopia early to rendezvous with their appointment at Treetown. None of them suspected as their carts were filled with fodder piled high that their first stop was to be the Auction grounds near the center of town, where congregations of merchants stood and shouted; events already hotly under way as bulk loads of goods were trading hands by the ton, and cheers rang out as auctioneers concluded barking up their current lots for satisfactory fees. Bentfeather’s bleary eyed group did not know what to make of all this early morning excitement as lady Natasha’s fruit cargo was put on the block, and sold five minutes later for a gargantuan profit, she said; calmly walking up to the auctioneer in charge of it to collect the proceeds, then dividing it right then and there with the boss of the Windy Gully shipping company before Harim Mudge retreated back to his establishment.

With very little fanfare indeed, she climbed aboard Randy’s cart and had him lead the way out of the Auction grounds and the town center of Cornucopia; taking each street like she knew the way, which she did. Frak, driving the cart being pulled by Peter Triceratops, merely shrugged at the rest of them as they were guided through the streets; pausing every now and again to allow the crowds of persons who were getting to their shops to get by, and readying themselves for yet another busy day of commerce. None of them had to look to note that several sauropods were flanking their path, going the same way at their usual slow, lumbering pace; and many of these Bracheosaurs and attendants were sporting no baskets, and the rest had baskets that were empty. As the edge of town became nigh, the streets led to a small grassy field to the west of Cornucopia; and what met their gaze was a sight majestic and stately all at once. This field was literally filled with Bracheosaurs, Apatasaurs, Saltosaurs and other long-necked species all in rows as if they were in the military; necks swaying toward each other in greeting, and many heads turned to the direction of Bentfeather’s group as well. There were four smaller groups of carts among them being pulled by many species of medium sized four-footed dinosaur, equally decked out in fodder; and pretty soon Randy knew why they were loaded in such a way.

“Is this hay to feed them all?”, the Ankylosaur asked.

“Of course, my friend.”, lady Natasha told them all. “These creatures will most likely eat frequently along the way, and we are to provide the fodder.”

“When do we get under way?”, asked Ajax.

“Soon,…”, Natasha said. “Real soon!…”

“…So, here is how you feed a Brach:…”, Frak got their attention and instructed. “Just grab a sheaf of hay… Like this:…”, he leaned back and grabbed a double hand full, funneling it together to form a thick stalk. “Then hold it as high above your head as you can.”

“Why?”, asked Tebo.

“Brachs can’t bend their necks all the way to the ground.”, explained Frak. “…Then one will come by and snatch it from your hands!…”, he put the hay back. “They really appreciate a good feeding…”

Frak turned to see the front phalanx of Brachs begin to move west, followed by those behind them; and the rest slowly began to fijit as they waited their turn, and he decided to sit straight on the driver’s seat and wait for their turn to move out. Their turn came as the tails of the sauropods directly in front of them began to swish their whip-like tails and begin to move their feet, sending tremors through the ground and making Randy’s teeth chatter until he clenched his jaws; and they had to move quickly once these were far enough ahead lest they be trampled by the ones directly behind them, and all marveled at the precision this controlled stampede was being conducted! The front of the phalanx had by this time disappeared into the thick forest beyond, and it was nearly an hour before their part of the giant convoy could enter the woods as well; the sun’s dappling light was muted by every color leaf the green forest could offer, and making the trip seem gloomier than it should have been.

The road through the forest they were on was not a single lane one they were used to, for there seemed to be many paths through the trees, like an Interstate highway, Hazen thought; and the sauropods knew each path as they picked their way through the boles of trees, and their march seemed to fan out until it encompassed the entire forest on either side as far as the eye could see. Being new to this kind of convoy, Bentfeather’s group gasped as they looked to their left and right, for the forest seemed to be alive with saurian forms going one way through the thickening trees; heads and tails bending and dipping as they slowly snaked their way around and through any forest obstacle, and Tebo wondered just how many of them were there! In the field behind them, Ajax had counted at least eighty of the giant beasts as they waited their turn, but now as they moved like they did, it seemed like the number was more like well over a hundred sauropods. Presently the ones behind their carts, and the ones behind the other carts in the convoy, began to congregate and converge on the carts; for they knew it was another feeding time for them, and the sauropods boomed and jockeyed for first position behind and along side the carts.

Frak let go of Peter’s reigns and let him pull the cart unaided as he jumped up into the giant container of hay; expertly grasping sheaves of hay while his customers gingerly pulled it from his grasp. Seeing this, Tebo clambered up and did the same from his cart, and Seamus let Polongo do his thing as he scrambled to feed their giant companions as well. Olu grumbled with Ajax on his back as a Saltosaur jockeyed too close to him while Artemis stepped aside with April on her back to let a yearling Apatosaur get his fill. At Seamus’s request Hazen got up into the hay to help as well; and Redcrest had beaten him into the pile. They each took turns feeding the giant friends, Hazen holding on too tightly to the hay to almost being pulled off his feet by an overeager Apatasaur; and Redcrest giggled as a Brach seemed to wink at her as she deftly removed the fodder from her hands, and everyone else had similar experiences with the gentile giants. As they went on like this for a couple of miles, and the herd behind them thinned due to full bellies; Bentfeather’s group climbed back down from the hay, surprisingly exhausted from the fun labor. Seamus noticed the other cart drivers doing this, so he reached into sacks and baskets of their provisions and doled out food to everyone on board; tossing fruit to Ajax and April, and they began dispensing the food to everyone else in the group on the fly. Sated after a few moments of chewing, they all concentrated on the ersatz migration at hand; switching positions with the fodder convoy to their left.

A few hours later, it was time to feed the sauropods again; and they performed the task much smoother this time as the walking mountains began to line up in back of them, this time many bellowed their thank-you’s as they got their meals without even breaking stride. As morning turned into noontime, and then into afternoon; Bentfeather’s group slowly began to realize that the trunks of the trees they were passing were becoming increasingly fatter, and the way around many of them seemed to take longer for their giant companions to traverse. This was when they knew that their objective was not too far away, for it was said that Treetown was nestled within a giant grove of some of the island’s tallest and thickest trees; and as the paths they took became smoother, more well worn and sometimes ran straight through many of the thicker specimens, they began to look around for any signs of Treetown. All of a sudden they noticed that the ranks of sauropods accompanying them had thinned somewhat, they veering off to places as yet unknown to Bentfeather’s group; and even the other fodder convoys had mysteriously disappeared from view, and they all whistled in dismay as pretty there was not so much as a soul in sight!

One could not see the forest for the trees, but occasionally one could see a wooden structure leaning against this or that giant tree to the left or right; and by the size of the diminutive looking sauropods sometimes seen entering them, they knew they were tremendous lean-to barns that housed their former traveling companions. Occasionally a wooden rung ladder was seen snaking it’s way up the bole of a tree, or sometimes a stairway winding around a trunk and several wide wooden rampways leading up into the canopy a hundred feet above; but other than that, there was no sign of Treetown anywhere! At a large boulder, where two streams converged and meandered off into the forest; a tall obelisk stood, saying on each face and in three of the saurian dialects plus human English: ‘WELCOME TO TREETOWN’. They looked all about the forest, but they seemed to be truly alone.

“This is Treetown…?”, Randy asked with sarcasm.

“The sign said so…”, Bentfeather told him.

“But where IS it?”, asked Tebo.

“I hate to stop your wondering, everyone…”, Postal Bird 76 said. “But look up…”, he pointed with a feathered finger.

Up in the giant trees, just within the lower part of the canopy, the beginning of wooden structures could be seen all around them; the basements of the arboreal structures that made up the bulk of Treetown, and in many places humans and small saurians could be seen looking down on them among the support struts, smiling among themselves in an almost childlike way. One of these persons still unseen by them blew a large trumpet bleat, and all of a sudden the trees erupted in activity all around them. Hundreds of people and small saurians, rappelling down from ropes; lowered from the branches in an instant to fill the area with their presence of well-wishers; and the sauropods that were with them and the crews of the fodder convoys as well as the sauropods that were already there, lumbered out of the forest where they were hiding to greet them and welcome them to their home. Lastly an extremely skinny man with a dark complexion and a thin goatee slid down a rope to land in their midst, and he smiled for the success of his little surprise as he waited for his friend to flutter down and land on his shoulder; the ancient Dimorphodon with silvery head plumage flapped once and coughed as he landed, and it was only then did that man choose to speak.

“Welcome, fine travelers to exotic locations!…”, said the man as he adjusted his beanie-like hat and crimson vested outfit. “I am Gantor Delaney, administrator of Treetown; and this is my asistant Teton.”, he smiled at them all as he waited for some to dismount their carts before offering his hand to them all. “I must say we have been waiting for you for a long time!…”

“The trip was long and hard.”, Bentfeather spoke first. “We apologize for any delay we have caused you…”

“On the contrary, my fine friend, sir Bentfeather!…”, Gantor told him. “Around here we say that part of the pleasure of the destination is the trip to get there. I’m sure it was full of adventure, and you have made many friends along the way!…”

“True on both accounts!…”, Bentfeather agreed.

“Gantor, do you think you’re forgetting something?…”, Teton asked. “These people have been on a long trip, and it is poor etiquette to not offer refreshment!…”

“You are so right!…”, Gantor looked off to the left, and several townspeople scurried off. “Your accommodations will be ready shortly, and refreshments will be available when you are ready…”

Postal Bird 76 hopped to the rail of the cart he rode in and whispered to Ajax still mounted on Olu beside the cart. “I will see about the Postal Bird aerie now…”, and was about to flap off before he was halted by the presence of another of his kin who suddenly appeared next to him.

“Do I detect the presence of kinfolk?…”, Teton asked. “I have always wanted to meet the new Postmaster of the Waterfall City Post Office!…”

“You knew the old Postmaster?…”, 76 asked, trying to decipher the older one‘s purpose.

“Truth is, I WAS the old Postmaster!…”, Teton noticed his surprise. “Well, a bird IS allowed to retire, you know!”, he coughed. “I used to be Postal Bird 3...”

“I am honored…”, 76 bowed.

“As am I…”, Teton bowed as well. “And now that the formalities are taken care of, would you like to see the rest of my town instead of simply our Postal establishments?…”, 76 dared not refuse as he flapped off behind the ancient Dimorphodon.

In the mean time, administrator Gantor Delaney was busy greeting and briefly chatting with each and every member of Bentfeather’s group of friends; and many of the townspeople wandered over to join in with the greeting, some clambering over Randy and Polongo to unhitch their harnesses. Randy stretched in relief before seeing the commotion going on over by Peter as the people were trying to unhitch the Triceratops, which was mostly being caused by Ajax, April, Olu and Artemis.

“Do not touch our prisoner!…”, Ajax warned as he held several back for a moment. “He is under our custody, and only we are allowed to tend him!…”, the guards then began unhitching Peter.

“Um,… I see you have had a bad time…”, Gantor guessed.

“He is a prisoner of ours, one of the villains involved with the issue on the Outer Island…”, Bentfeather explained. “But he has been a model citizen ever since he helped us escape…”

“I see.”, said Gantor. “And I suppose his guards have insights on just what happened there… And maybe those comments are pertinent to the business of the Archaeological guild.”, he then whistled. “Our guards are quite capable of guarding prisoners. We even have had inmates larger than this one!…”, he looked over at Peter.

“But we are sworn to guard him…”, Ajax protested.

“The Waterfall City council knew you would see it that way… And I think it’s commendable!”, Gantor waited for his guards to arrive, one carrying a scroll besides his spear. Gantor read: “By order of the high council of Waterfall City, you are ordered to relinquish your duty of guarding the prisoner by the name of Peter Triceratops, and turn him over to the Treetown guards for the duration of your stay in Treetown. Your duties will resume as soon as your stay is concluded… Signed, mayor Masteson, mayor of Waterfall City…”, he looked up.

“I stand corrected.”, Ajax stated as two bulky and strong looking human guards came near. “I relinquish this prisoner to your care…”, he saluted. “And please go easy on him. He has been giving his full co-operation the whole trip.”

“We won’t hurt him.”, guard one saluted in turn. “Let’s go, Peter…”, he said as two saurians in guard uniforms took the rear, making four guards in all; one of these placed a saurian hand on his rump to get him moving. They escorted Peter down a snaking path, and he was soon lost to the forest.

Once the task at hand was completed, Gantor smiled and continued. “We have the finest accommodations waiting for you…”, he pointed to the treetops. “And refreshments are waiting any time you are ready…”, he saw a Dromeosaur citizen and called her over. “Weesa will give you a tour of the city… Weesa?…”

“For those of you who are not used to an arboreal life, climbing among the trees can be an unnerving experience.”, said she in perfect English. “I will lead you the safer ways through to your abodes, and the larger of your group can stay in the barns on the ground…”

Weesa waved to the smaller of the group to follow her while the handlers that removed their harnesses took Randy and Polongo to a nearer lean-to barn, and Olu and Artemis was led by the guard with the scroll to the guard paddocks. And thus was how Bentfeather’s group was welcomed to Treetown…
_

OCC: Now let the fun begin!…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

OCC: WOAH! A triple post!
_

IC: Bentfeather and company. Acclimation at Treetown, many messages from busy Postal Birds and reunion of friends.

By nightfall many of sir Bentfeather’s friends had not yet gotten used to the rigors of living in Treetown; even though his avian structure made him feel right at home among the branches, poor Tebo seemed to be suffering terribly here. The boy didn’t seem to mind being indoors way up in the trees, and he did fine on the many balconies that festooned this tree-house of which this was only one of many on the tree; but trying to get him to venture around the other parts of this avian city was a constant battle in vertigo, and Bentfeather had heard that several of his other friends were suffering the same fate! The boy wheezed and panted if he had to climb too many ladders, and dared not go over the many catwalks and rope bridges that spider-webbed the entire city complex; and Gods forbid he climb any higher into the trees than was absolutely necessary, even though it was told that many of the city’s cultural spots were in the upper levels of many of the trees.

“Boy, you’ll get a nosebleed if you look down much longer!”, sir Bentfeather said from his wash basin on a valet, Tebo staring out and down through a window in utter horror! “Try to relax!… It’s the only way you’ll get used to things here!…”

“But we’re so high up!…”, said Tebo, turning. “What will we do if we fall?”

“Well, I can fly, so there’s no worry there…”, Bentfeather thought. “But as for you, I hear all the Brachs down below are good at catching falling persons!…”, he cackled, but the boy didn’t see the humor! “Oh, please… Try not to be so nervous… We’re safe here!…”

“You know, on this adventure I’ve been through all sorts of things…”, Tebo stepped away from the window. “I fought an evil mad man, and I learned not to be afraid of anything… Including the Skybax.”, he looked out the window again. “I never thought in a million years I would have vertigo…”, his Partner looked thoughtful a moment before speaking

“Son, I would like to try something with you, if you don’t mind.”, Bentfeather said as he toweled off and hopped on his shoulder. “Now please step to the door…”, Tebo complied and opened the door, one that led outside along a walkway. “Now take off your spectacles…”

“Then I won’t be able to see where I’m going!”, Tebo protested.

“I’ll tell you where to go… I will be your eyes!…”, he saw the lad’s concern. “I won’t let you make a bad step and fall… You trust me, don‘t you?…”

“Of course, but…”, Tebo began.

“Then TAKE OFF YOUR GLASSES!…”, Bentfeather ordered sternly, and the lad unsurely complied, as the Microraptor hopped to his head.

“Now, walk straight for two paces…”, Tebo closed his eyes.

“Turn left and walk for fifteen paces, then turn right…” here was a rope supported bridge paved with wooden planks to the adjoining tree. “Now walk fifty paces, or until I tell you to stop… And never mind the wobbly footing!…” , Bentfeather noticed his unsure foot placement.

“Here goes…”, Tebo stammered as he began his journey across.

Just as they began to travel across to the other tree to cure Tebo of his vertigo, a Postal Bird flapped into their quarters; and seeing there was no one there, flapped off in search of them. Over in a large tree complex across the grove from that tree to the southwest, lady Natasha and Frak were in their own conical bungalow laying out their wardrobes and toiletries as well as counting their profits they had made at Cornucopia. They were planning to see the sights for the rest of the early evening, and they heard there would be a play tonight in the Treetop Playhouse in the same tree grove as the town’s council chambers and meeting place in the center of the city; and they were alternately doing all that while discussing what they would wear.

“I think you would look ravishing id you paint your dome blue and your head spikes gold…”, Frak was telling his mate while handling a silvery robe he was thinking of wearing. “It would go charmingly with my selection!…”

“Always thinking of ways to improve my looks…”, lady Natasha said while counting Drachs. “If you make me too pretty, the other males will take me away!”, she teased.

“Well then, maybe that beggar’s clothing you used in Waterfall City that time… No one would approach you with THAT on…!”, Frak smiled as he noticed she was looking for something to throw at him, then decided to change the subject. “My love, what was the profit for that caravan of fruit?… You never told me…”

“If we made no other profit for any load delivered until Winterfest, we would still live comfortably until next planting time…”, she told him. “And I do think you would look better with the crimson cummerbund with that robe…”

“Such riches from just one shipment?… I wonder why.”, pondered he.

“My dear, since the disaster on the Outer Island, I fear there will be little fruit coming from those regions.”, lady Natasha explained getting into her yellow gown. “With their fruit scarce, it will be rare; and the less there is, the more one can ask for it.”

“You were always wiser in business than I…”, Frak said as she got up, nuzzling craniums as they walked to the door. “Gods!… What was that!…”, said he as a feathery streak buzzed past their faces.

The Postal Bird skidded onto their nest bed and recovered as he nearly spilled out on the other side; and at last perched on the rim near the pillows. “I have a message from the high council of Treetown and the Archeological guild, to Frik and Frak Pachycephalosaurus.”, the bird announced. “You are required to attend a meeting tomorrow with the Archaeological guild..”, the bird ruffled. “You are required to be on call all day, and be ready to go to the Treetown council chambers when summoned.”

“Thank you, Postal Bird…?”, lady Natasha said.

“1214, ma’am.”, squawked the bird. “Would you like to send a reply?…”

“Other than our confirmation of the court order, I don’t think so.”, she told him as he flew off through a window.

“So much for our plans…”, mumbled Frak.

“Are you kidding…?”, lady Natasha chuckled and dragged him out of their quarters…
_____

IC: Randy and the rest. How they got their invitations.

Down on the ground, in the same lean-to barn they observed the Brach worker going into their first moments in Treetown; Randy and Polongo had just finished with their feeding by the Brach’s Partner and family, and just got down to appreciating their host’s hospitality when some slight concerns in Randy’s mind struck up a conversation for all in the barn. Polongo’s mate had just come to collect Redcrest, their human friend Hazen tagging along as usual - they had become quite attached with each other of late, Randy thought before speaking - Artemis’s partner never leaving their side either; and cleared his throat before addressing the rest.

“Say, I been wondering…”, said Randy, and Polongo prompted him along. “What would our testaments concerning the outer island have anything to do with the outcome of their investigation?…”, he looked at Polongo. “We were just pullers, and didn’t really see anything important.”

“Maybe they are just being thorough.”, said the tall Brach who overheard the comment. “One raindrop raises the sea, and the thoughts of everyone will complete their report.”, he snaked his head down. “They will need everyone’s opinion to draw their conclusions.”

“But all us two did was pull the carts and that’s it.”, said Randy. “We do not know anything technical.”

“Perhaps you could describe the floors of the temple, the ones you had traveled down at very least.”, the Brach said. “One raindrop, and the tiniest bit of information, will raise the sea, and will further the understanding.”

“Where do you think the meeting will take place?”, Randy asked the creature.

“Perhaps in the Treetown council chambers, or one of the meeting halls.”, said he. “They are located in the Main Grove, and sit at the two hundred foot level.”

“We can’t climb trees!”, Randy balked. “What?… You think we got wings?!…”

“The Main Grove is the oldest and strongest stand of trees in Treetown.”, the Brach said. “There are ramp ways wide and strong enough to support many of your kind, and the hall is extra reinforced…”, the Brach boomed proudly. “My ancestors built that complex with the help of the humans, and I stake my kin’s honor that it will hold your weight!…”

“Relax buddy!”, Randy told him as a human came into the barn through the entrance to his attached house.

“Panero… That you making the ruckus?”, said he. “Um, you two… A Postal Bird is here with a message for you.”, he whistled, and a flyer came to land on a near by railing.

“Greetings. I am Postal Bird 997.”, the bird squawked. “I have a message to sir Randy Ankylosaur and sir Polongo Hadrosaur, from the high council of Treetown and the Archaeological guild.”, he coughed. “You are hereby instructed to attend a meeting with the Archaeological guild tomorrow. You must be ready to attend when summoned, and give answer to questions they will pose as you can.”

“I can’t climb trees.”, said Randy.

“I assume a guide will escort you to the council chambers…”, 997 said. “Is there any return message you would like to give?”, moments of silence followed. “I will tell them you have confirmed the message…”, and flew off.

“I hate trees…”, Randy groused as Polongo chuckled.

The saurian guard barracks was in an enclosed compound to the north of the main grove that made the center of Treetown, and the compliment of guards currently occupied the city swelled to nearly fifty saurian guards and their human counterparts; and many of those would either patrol the ground among the trees or scout for trouble high up in the trees, many of the lesser ranking officers tending the paddocks on the ground. In this very same area, the town decided to construct their Postal Bird aerie; and hundreds of them could be seen flying into and out of the complex, only to instantly ascend into the treetops on their myriad of messaging errands. Many of the birds took short cuts and went straight through where Olu and Artemis was quartered, startling them many times before they began to get used to it.

Olu and Artemis shared a large stable fit for general-grade officers, of which they were treated as such since they were guests; but both insisted to do their duty and tried to refuse the eloquent accommodations, even though commander Manix ordered them there, the grey Parasolophus chortling to them menacingly to stay there. His Partner, assistant commander Boojy; dark skinned with a shaven head and a tiny black tuft of hair braided down hid back, related to them the rules here: They were the guests and they were to accept the hospitality; and their guarding duties were suspended for the duration of their stay, like it or not! Thus was their dejected thoughts as officers April and Ajax came down from the treetop barracks to see their steeds, and both stood with deadpan looks on their faces at the dejected looks on their saurian faces.

“You two look like you just got court-marshaled…”, Ajax announced abruptly. “Why so glum?…”

Olu burblingly explained. “Well, we are guests here, after all.”, Ajax replied. “Just think of it as a furlough.”

“Do you suppose we are confined to our paddocks?”, Artemis said in Sorolophan.

“I think we are allowed to tour the place.”, April told her, who had collected Redcrest from Polongo with Hazen; but civilians were not allowed in the guard complex so he and his Partner was told to stay outside courtesy of one of the guards. “We are going to see the sights. Want to come along?”

“We might have to clear it with the C.O., I’ll go ask…”, Ajax was about to go, but commander Boojy sauntered into the paddock and halted all conversation as they all saluted him.

“There is no need to ask…”, said he, looking at April with more than a commanderly look. “You may sightsee any time you wish…”, he turned to go, but snapped back to face them. “Right after you receive the message the high council has for you, courtesy of this Postal Bird…”, just then one landed on his shoulder.

“Postal Bird 816, at your service…”, she bowed. “As per order of the high council of Treetown on behalf of the Archaeological guild, to officers Ajax, Manchester, Olu and Artemis, you are commanded to stay on call all day tomorrow to attend council concerning the events that occurred on the Outer Island regarding the temple complex and the artifact that was in your charge. You may be summoned at any time, and you will be required to attend at a moment’s notice. Do you understand and wish me to confirm the notice?…”, all nodded.

As Postal Bird 816 flew off, commander Boojy continued. “Please remember, any officers not on duty has a curfew at midnight; but anything other than that, have a satisfactory stay…”, and he sauntered back out.

After Olu, Ajax, Artemis and April digested the information they had just heard; they presently left the paddock area and went to the main gate of the guard barracks, and it was Redcrest that located everyone thanks to the scent of her mother. Once all greetings were made, the group eventually began to ascend into the lower parts of the arboreal city. Along the way April told Hazen in her own way about the impending meeting with the Archaeological guild, one that he himself may receive a Postal Bird with his own confirming information. The group looked around and saw the sights of Treetown until the sunlight began to fade from the leafy canopy of Treetown…
_

TAG: One and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker, Redcrest, and April Manchester, Cornucopia, a tour and a trip
_

"All right, this way!" called Gregory Torrence, leading the quartet off through the city. Everyone stayed together through the course of the tour, but Redcrest's excitement for seeing a new city similar, but not exactly, like her home in Waterfall City could barely be contained and her head darted around to take in the sights. To be sure she wouldn't run off, Hazen kept one of her hands in his. With his guitar in the other hand, he certainly looked awkward to many of the Cornucopians, who chuckled at his situation.

Seamus preferred to trail in the back of the group, having been through enough cities to recognize any establishment and district by its patrons. April, too, kept by herself, but paid attention to what Gregory had to offer in terms of trivia about the city he called home.

As the tour went on, they encountered a troupe of musicians, busking for the enjoyment of passersby and the occasional drach. The group stopped to hear their music. When they finished their tune, applause broke out. One of the minstrels looked at Hazen's guitar case and cried, "Ho, there! Would you care to join us?" Instantly, the assembled voiced their encouragement for Hazen.

Hazen looked at the instrument case and smiled. "Certainly," he said, "it's why I have it here." He withdrew his instrument and, after getting in tune with the rest of the ensemble, they decided on a tune to play. It was one whose lyrics were familiar to everyone in the ensemble. All, that is, except Hazen. When it came to his turn to sing a verse, he confessed that he didn't know it.

"You must be joking!" said the de facto band leader as everyone vamped.

"I'm serious," Hazen said. He looked around the audience. Redcrest was doing a little saurian jig, not too far removed from what she did back on the Outer Island. He then spied April, who seemed to be a bit impatient with the goings on; it was getting close to Eveningmeal after all. "Maybe Sergeant Manchester might help us?" he suggested with a wry smile.

April turned back, not expecting to be summoned in this fashion. Much like the crowd encouraged Hazen, they encouraged April to join in. "I don't know..." she said, bashfully.

"Come on!" Hazen said. "Let's hear you sing."

The cheers became louder and April began to sing the verse, although quietly. "Come on, you can do better than that!" said the ensemble leader.

Without warning, April let loose and sang in a beautiful alto voice. This caught Hazen particularly by surprise, as evidenced by his absence of playing. It took a nudge from one of the other minstrels to snap him from his stupor and return to the task at hand: creating music. When the song was over, the audience cheered before throwing several drachs in the band's direction and dispersing. Hazen packed up his instrument, thanking the band for allowing him to participate and the group resumed their tour.

Before they entered a restaurant, Hazen said to April, "That was beautiful back there. I didn't expect you to be able to sing like that."

"Well," April countered, "A Dinotopian always sings every day. One could say I have had a bit of practice."
_

The next morning, the group quietly packed up and left for their next destination: Treetown. After a stop at the auction block, they were on their way. The sight of tens of sauropods gave Hazen a thrill like no other. These were among, if not the, largest land animals that ever existed and there were more of them in this one location than he had ever seen. Their slow, graceful movements put Hazen at ease, despite their gargantuan size.

"Are they coming with us?" asked Redcrest, who was also awestruck by the sight.

"I think so," Hazen said back. "Judging by how they aren't carrying much, I'd say they're returning to their home. If I'm not mistaken, Treetown is famous for its sauropod community." The young Lambeosaur nodded at this information.

After a quick lesson on how to feed their long-necked companions, they were soon on their way. When they reached the woods, Hazen looked ahead to the myriad of paths that weaved through the many trees. He chuckled to himself. "This has got to be the world's slowest autobahn," he remarked.

"Autobahn?" asked April, whose curiosity about the Outside World was piqued by this unfamiliar reference. "That's German," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah," Hazen said. "It's a series of high-speed roads that automobiles use. The reason I say 'slowest' is because on actual autobahns, in certain stretches, there is no posted speed limit."

This appeared to catch April by surprise. "Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

Hazen went on to elaborate. "It can be, but most of the autobahns have recommend top speeds in force, usually around 80 miles per hour. In those areas I mentioned, though, people can drive up to 160 miles per hour. Besides, the roads are designed in a way to handle these speeds and keep people safe."

This revelation was completely mind-boggling. "I can't even fathom those speeds!" she said.

"It's faster than a human body falls at terminal velocity," Hazen pointed out.

April went pale. "I don't see how anyone can be safe on those roads," she said. She patted Artemis and the two of them went to check out the rest of the convoy.

Seamus, who had been overhearing the conversation, chuckled at Hazen as April and Artemis rode off. "You need to remember that we are a simple folk. Except for the Skybax Riders, none of us go any faster than any one can run."

"Good point," Hazen conceded. "I tend to forget things like that."

A low trumpet from the sauropods signaled something that Hazen couldn't quite decipher. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Feeding time," Seamus said succinctly. "Hop in the back and get to it."

Hazen did as he was told. Redcrest already had a large handful in a bundle and lifted it above her head. Hazen smiled as he grabbed his own. A large shadow passed across him as a Brachiosaur craned down and grabbed her handful. It bellowed a thank you as it lifted up to ingest the first bite of its meal.

An Apatosaur nudged Hazen to remind him to get back to work. "Sorry!" he said as he grabbed a large bundle and lifted it up. The Apatosaur then grasped onto Hazen's bundle and began to pull up. Mesmerized by the sight, Hazen nearly forgot to let go. "Hey, wait!" he shouted as he felt himself getting lifted up. He then had the presence of mind to let go and fell back into the bale of hay.

Seamus laughed at the Dolphinback. "Remember where you are, lad!" he called to Hazen as he went to assist in the feeding. "They are impressive, though. No doubts there."

Hazen stood up, trying to soothe his bruised ego. As he grabbed another bundle, he glanced at Redcrest. After she had fed the Brachiosaur another time, it moaned and gave her a wink. The corner of its mouth curled as its head lifted up. Redcrest beamed back at her new friend and grabbed another handful.

When the first round of feeding was over, Hazen and Redcrest returned to their spots with a plop. The work was both enjoyable and exhausting and they were both ready for a little break. Seamus scrambled to a bag of provisions and began tossing a few pieces of fruit their way. "Perhaps we should eat now!" he said. Hazen didn't argue with that, taking a bite.

The feedings after that went much smoother than the first round. As they went deeper in the forest, it grew darker and darker. The trees also grew larger and larger. When the size of the tree trunks grew to be as big around as grain silos at farms at home, he commented, "I never got a chance to see the giant Sequoia trees back home. If they're anything like these, I think I can live with that." The occasional building dotted the treescape and then Hazen saw the giant pillar, indicating that they had arrived.

"Not much to see," Hazen remarked.

"Maybe they live in the trees," Redcrest commented to her Partner. Then 76 told them to look up.

Hazen's jaw dropped when he saw the foundations of the buildings. "Yeah," he said, "I guess you can say that."

When the introductions were completed, Weesa led the humans and little Redcrest up a long staircase. When they finally reached "ground level," Hazen looked around. The houses had a distinct feel to them. He wanted to place the architecture as Bavarian or even Nordic, but he wasn't terribly familiar with the similarities and differences between them. Thatched sleeping pods hung beside verandas, which gave Hazen some pause, but far be it for him to pass judgement on how they lived.
_

Later that day, Hazen was back on good old terra firma, which he found slightly embarassing. It wasn't as if he didn't like or couldn't handle great heights for he had been to much higher locations back in the Outside World. Instead, it was the fact that a railing usually used for a back porch was the only thing that kept him from a fatal drop if no passing sauropods were there to save him. Redcrest didn't seem to have too much of an issue with it, but still, he cleverly suggested that they visit the sauropod barns and see what life is like there. It worked like a charm.

Finally, they arrived at the barn where Randy and Polongo were staying. Redcrest excitedly relayed her experiences to her father while Hazen confessed to Randy his apprehensions about being in the canopy for extended periods of time. "Why anyone would live up there is beyond me. You primates astound me, sometimes!" Randy told Hazen, to which Hazen chuckled.

"It's said that our ancestors came from the trees," he said, "it's just some are better suited for it than others."

Finally, April appeared, offering to show Hazen and Redcrest the barracks. "I'd be delighted," Hazen said while Redcrest showed her approval by scampering beside her mother's Partner. After bidding their adieus, they followed her to the barracks.

When they got there, two guards approached Sgt. Manchester's guests. "Halt!" one of the Corythosaurs said. "No civilians allowed."

"Only guards and their Partners are permitted beyond this point," said the other.

"My young Partner here is Artemis Lambeosaur's daughter," Hazen countered. "Surely, there must be an exception."

"It's alright," April said. "I'll tell Artemis that you two are here. Just be patient."

Hazen sighed. "Fine," he said as the guards permitted April to pass. "Now we wait." He sat down on a fallen log and hummed a tune to pass the time.

Several minutes later, Redcrest leaped off from the log and ran toward the guards. "Where are you going?" Hazen asked.

"Mama's here!" she called. Sure enough, Artemis, April, Ajax, and Olu strode toward the front gates. As Redcrest nuzzled her mother, Hazen greeted April's superiors. Soon, the group of friends began to explore Treetown on their own.

As they toured, April addressed Hazen and said, "I received word from the Archaeological Guild today that they will summon me tomorrow to discuss our experiences. They didn't specify a time, so they told me to be ready at a moment's notice."

"Okay," Hazen said, "but why are you telling me?"

"Because most of the others in our party also received a message of that nature," April replied. "I wasn't sure if you did or not. Now I know the answer."

Hazen nodded. "So I should expect one soon," he said. "Good to know."

"If they are interested in a complete picture of our journey, it would be wise to interview everyone involved." Hazen silently agreed on this point.
_

When the sun was beginning to set, Artemis and Redcrest parted company with the human couple as the little one needed to be put to bed. Hazen and April continued to stroll around a promenade before stopping at a railing. The last traces of the sun was fading below the canopy in the distance. "I can safely say that I've never seen a sunset like this," Hazen commented.

"It is certainly awe-inspiring," April agreed. Hazen glanced down at April's hands. They were positioned on the railing in a relaxed manner. With all the apprehensiveness of a teenage boy, his hand drifted toward hers and he brushed the closest one. Feeling the touch, she looked down at the hands and then at Hazen. Without saying a word, she looked back at the sunset. Hazen took that as a positive sign and set his hand on hers.

The sky grew darker with every passing second and sunstone lamps and sconces were lit to provide illumination for any late-night pedestrians. April glanced around the city and saw several guards assuming the night watch. "The hour is drawing late," April said. "I want to be rested before tomorrow." She took a step toward the barracks.

Hazen then spoke up. "April, do you have a moment?"

April stopped and turned around. "Of course," she said. "What is it?"

Hazen sighed slightly, trying to choose his words. "I'm sure you remember when we were sailing to the Outer Island and the cold night." April's eyes flashed with recognition, but she allowed him to continue. "That night, you told me you loved me," he said, "I guess I can't help but wonder if it was honest or merely, well, the circumstances we were in." April took a step away. Hazen quickly grabbed her wrist, preventing her escape. "Please, be honest," he said.

April paused. It hardly ever occurred to her that she dodged the question nearly every time he posed it after gaining her trust. With a swallow, she spoke. "Hazen, you are, by far, the nicest man I have ever met. And I'm ashamed of how I treated you in the past because you didn't deserve any of it. And even after all that, you still wanted to court me. I was touched." She stepped closer to Hazen. "The situation may have caused me to act hastily and doubt my feelings. But they were -- and still are -- genuine."

Hazen smiled and embraced the guard. April gasped to herself, still somewhat uncomfortable with public displays of affection. Hazen admired her features in the soft light of the sunstones and moved forward to kiss her. April closed her eyes and allowed it to continue, cementing their now-budding romantic relationship. When they broke, Hazen whispered, "Spend some time with me tonight."

April sighed and said, "I can't."

Hazen broke the embrace. "I didn't mean it like that. I was just suggesting a nice walk in the moonlight."

"No, I understood what you meant," April said, "but there's a curfew for the guards. I have to be back at the barracks by midnight."

Hazen nodded and sighed. "I guess they run a tight ship here," he observed.

"I supposed it could be described that way," April replied, somewhat annoyed by it as well although not daring to question her orders.

Hazen took her hands. "I guess this is good night, then." He raised them to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"Have pleasant dreams, Hazen Baker," April said. She walked off, slipping from Hazen's grasp and heading back to her temporary quarters.

As Hazen saw her depart, a flapping noise came near him. "Ah! There you are," squawked a postal bird. "I have been looking all over Treetown for you!" It cleared its throat before continuing. "Postal Bird 1492 with a message for Hazen Baker: You are hereby ordered by the High Council of Treetown, on behalf of the Archaeological Guild to attend council to discuss--"

"To discuss my account of the events on the Outer Island," Hazen finished for the bird. "I may be summoned at any time, so I must be prepared."

The bird blinked a few times, not expecting that response. "I-I'll inform the council that you have recieved the message," said 1492 before it flapped away.

Having concluded his business with the postal bird, Hazen returned to his temporary quarters. He climbed into the thatched sleeping pod and pulled a blanket over him. His dreams that night were, indeed, pleasant for a great burden on his mind had been lifted.
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Tarion, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: The Postal Birds and their errands at Treetown, and Postal Bird 76’s tour of the city.

The treetops were alive with activity, and had been going on for many days now; people and dinosaurs flitting among the branches above or traipsing among the boles of the trees below; and many flying creatures flitted among the leafy canopy above, but only a scant few were wild or native citizens of the region. The vast army of Postal Bird flew from one dwelling to another, delivering messages and receiving messages to send; and all of this contributed to the apparent chaos that was going on around here, for a very special event was taking place here and all had to be ready to host it. The dignitaries and scientists quartered in the many dwellings both in the canopy as well as the paddocks and lean-to barns below were busy preparing their presentations, and their aides were arranging their master’s appearances in the many meetings that were about to take place; and their hosts were having an even more chaotic time trying to tend to the dignitaries every wish and whim. Even though Postal Bird 76 had no part in the delegation of his kin’s busy schedules, and was a high ranking official in his own right; he longed to be busy at this post, giving word to everyone here, whether they be friend or client. Unfortunately, there was no way he had the time for this; as the Partner of the leader of Treetown would not give him a moment to do so as he was busy receiving an involuntary tour of this vast arboreal city.

“So, that is all that is worthy to see around here…”, Teton, the co-leader of Treetown said as he landed on a railing near the quarters assigned to sir Bentfeather and his apprentice, Tebo Lewis. “And why did you want to come here?…”, the Dimorphodon asked as soon as 76 landed by his side.

“Sir Bentfeather has been a good friend of mine on this trip.”, 76 told him. “I was wondering how he was faring here so far…”

“I see no activity…”, Teton said as he peered into a window. “Perhaps they are taking a tour of the city on their own…”

“Let’s go inside.”, 76 said as he searched for an open window or door. “Perhaps they are just resting.”

Just then another postal Bird alighted next to 76, panting and fluttering in worry. “Excuse me, masters…”, she panted. “I am Postal Bird 973... I was to send a message to sir Bentfeather and company, guests assigned here… But when I went to deliver it, I could not find him anywhere!… His charge is missing too… I flew all over the city and they seem missing!…”

“Please relax, sister…”, Teton instructed. “Catch your breath!”

“Perhaps they have come back…”, she looked around. “They are here, aren’t they?…”

“It appears they have not returned.”, 76 told her. “I suppose you must wait, like all of us.”

“I hope it is soon.”, 973 said, calming down a bit. “Sunset is not far off, and it is difficult to fly in the dark!…”, both Dimorphodons nodded in agreement.

Just then a lanky human youth was seen coming along up a catwalk in the adjoining tree, glasses glinting in the waning sunlight as he turned to a rope bridge to the tree they were on; and it was only then that Postal Bird 76 recognized Tebo Lewis from the presence of his friend, Bentfeather perched on his shoulder. After excited greetings from the three birds and the briefest explanation of where they had been, 76 told Tebo and Bentfeather about his day touring the city; and listened in sympathy about Tebo’s unexpected virago and Bentfeather’s tentative idea for his cure, explaining their sightless trek through the trees. Once all those formalities were completed, postal Bird 793 cleared her throat and recited the message the Treetown council bade her to tell them; which was an approximate copy of the message the other Postal Birds were relating to their guests. As the sun drew down below the canopy of trees, they all filed inside the dwelling and their host inside began to prepare their Eveningmeals.

All during that day, the many delegates and other officials had received their invitations to the many meetings that were about to take place. A very special guest had arrived just before bent feather’s group arrived, and was too dignified to partake in the town’s greeting antics; for Almasaur Ankylosaur was second only to the mayor of Waterfall City in rank, and his demeanor was all business when he wasn’t being jovial. He graciously accepted his invitation from the Postal Bird and began to prepare for his appearance, leaving his grooming to the small army of human helpers to do the job. Not only was it the same way as he was going being the reason why Hood Protoceratops came along with his club-tailed friend, but the news of the ancient library that was discovered was the lure that brought him so far away from his home; for the ancients might have preserved some unique mathematical formulae that was unknown to him or Dinotopian mathematics, and his assistant Tilly Stenochysaur guaranteed him it would be a pleasant trip - though he didn’t think so! He accepted his invite with the usual gruff demeanor and the bird fluttered away the way she came.

The Treetown Archaeological guild had a lot of work to do to make their presentation both entertaining and informative, and Millis Harpymimus stayed up for two nights in a row to make sure the speech his boss, Rivers Protoceratops, was to make sounded perfect. Ethel Miasaurus helped him along with grammar and syntax, and even listened to him as he practiced each passage for verbal clarity. The others on the expedition went through every scrap of data that was on the great stone edifice, making sure each glyph was translated correctly; and any history those glyphs contained had to be gleaned of any reference as to how the people who wrote it came to Dinotopia. All in all, the work to put together such a presentation was enormous; but as the Postal Birds delivered their summonses, they hurriedly finished up what they were working on and prepared to do their part.

The Postal Bird assigned to Tarion to give him his message came and went, and so did the birds for the many other officials that would attend the meetings; for he was the first to arrive, but his meeting concerning the Outer Island artifact would not begin until the matter of the ancient library was resolved, but he chose to sit in on both when the time arrived. At nightfall a pair of creatures made it to Treetown, bidding for a paddock for their leader; but would not say who he was, for news of who this important person was could greatly effect all issues that were about to be discussed! So as his assistants, Whitemane Microraptor and Phineas Veloceraptor, haggled over the price of accommodations; Mondor Triceratops discreetly slipped into his paddock…
_____

IC: Peter Triceratops and his father, Mondor. Incarceration at Treetown.

Peter Triceratops had been led away from the group he had been traveling with these many weeks by Treetown’s guards, and gave them no trouble in the process like he did throughout the trip; him never wanting his inevitable sentencing to get any worse than it presently was, for he knew he was in very grave trouble as it was. They led him far to the west of the arboreal city in the trees, to a super strong-looking paddock with an even stronger looking lean-to barn against a thousand year old oak tree; and the guards told him that the whole detention complex was extra reinforced with iron fastenings, locks and the thickest and strongest timbers around. This, he figured, was to set him against trying to escape; but he simply was allowed to be led inside the ironclad paddock and shown by one of the saurian guards his ‘home’ for the duration of his stay. Since then he had been incarcerated here for nearly a day, and already he was feeling the pangs of loneliness; for even though he was the prisoner of officer Ajax and the other guards that were with them, at least he had their company all that time.

These guards treated him like a common criminal, and ignored any attempt of him striking a conversation; and the only time they interacted with him was during feeding time and when he had other needs that needed attending, and nothing more. All they did was stand at attention at the gate of the paddock, patrol inside the paddock, check out what he was doing every fifteen minutes and patrol around the entire perimeter of the complex. Peter Triceratops had no choice but to stand facing a corner of the barn and think about all the events in his life; a life that would certainly have a nasty end if his trial went awry, and he would have to suffer a terrible fate at the court’s direction. He shuddered to think of what his father would think when he saw him, even though the last message said he had his fathers total support; and the fact that he loved him no matter what happened. These thoughts, along with many of his childhood memories; welled through his mind, making him wish to, and finally succeed in weeping.

So deep was Peter in thought that he barely noticed the commotion going on outside the paddock, a thing that often went on as people from town came too close to the detention complex on their way to elsewhere: ‘Halt!… Who goes there?…’, and other such commands. This time the commotion grew in intensity, and the sudden shouting drowned out the trespasser’s protests and explanations; but it was a booming voice, much like what those of his own kind would bellow. No matter, for there were no doubt many Ceratopsians here in Treetown; so Peter just turned back to the wall in his stall and ignored the rest of the exchange, and that was the way sir Mondor found him a few moments later.

“Um,… hello, son…”, Mondor said softly after he was grudgingly let into the reinforced paddock and barn, guard standing near the doorway in case of trouble. “How are they treating you?…”

“Why did you come…?”, Peter asked, not turning to him. “Did you come to say ‘I told you so’?…”

“I came to see you, son…”, Mondor told him in a kind tone. “I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Well, now you see…”, said Peter, barely turning his head to his father. “And now you can go back.”

“Well, I also came to tell you something.”, said Mondor. “Something wonderful about your court case.”

“What is it?”, asked Peter.

“I talked to all the delegates, judges and ones that will be on the jury.”, said Mondor. “I did all I could to speak to them to try to be lenient in your case…”, he looked his son square in the eye. “I used all my influence, and put my reputation on the line to have everyone go easy on you.”, he smiled. “I even went to your quarters and found the library books you owe to the Waterfall City library… I returned them, apologized for you and paid all the fines!”

“I appreciate all those things you did for me.”, Peter lowered his head. “But all that still will not help me much…”, he hitched. “You don’t know all the facts…”

“What do you mean, son?”, Mondor asked.

“Besides the fact that I had a hoof in all the trouble that nearly was caused, the truth is it was ME that killed Frank Scratt.”, Peter’s voice broke. “I was the one who gored him, and the two humans with me dumped him into the cargo chutes.”, he turned away. “Along the way I killed another human - I forget his name, and I shoved him off a cliff because he was going to tell the authorities who we were…”, he began to sob. “I am a MURDERER…”, he fell into sobbing silence.

Mondor’s eyes blinked many times trying to assimilate this information. No one told him about all this!… His son? A murderer? How could this be?!… He knew something of the law, and the punishments for murder was severe indeed. Long ago they condoned execution of the guilty party, but that practice was abolished nearly two hundred years ago. For lesser acts of murder there was also dismemberment, a foot or hand; but in this case it could be one, or all three of his son’s horns. Of course, there was always banishment; set out into the Rainy Basin and told never to return, and where ones’ life expectancy was based on how long one could elude the hungry Tyrannosaurs. Mondor gave a shuddering gasp before speaking. “Oh, my son…”, he wept a little too.

“Time’s up.”, barked the saurian guard at the door. “You must leave now.”

“Um,… I will visit again soon, son…”, Mondor hitched. “I have other business in Treetown, and will be here a few days…”

“Doing what?”, Peter asked in a cracking tone.

“I also studied the artifact, and had a copy made of which you stole.”, Mondor reminded. “I know the exterior of it well, and have that information with me.”

“I couldn’t tell it was a fake…”, Peter said.

“You would have known in an instant if you had continued your studies…”, Mondor almost smiled.

“You must go now!…”, the guard insisted.

“I will see you soon… And I will do all I can to help with your case!…”, Mondor nuzzled him, which was returned. “I love you…”

“Me too, papa…”, Peter said as true tears began. “Bye, bye…”
_

TAG: Any and all!… Let’s post big!…

[tarion]

A Trivial Puzzle for one so Intellegent -

Tarion had arrived with Asrial in Treetown nearly a week ago, and while being there was definatly good for some rest and relaxation, something nagged at the back of Tarion's mind, something that dragged his mind back to the ruins near Ebulon.

Asrial had been taken to using her time in Treetown to learn parenting skills, which she felt she would need since she and Tarion were now a couple. For the past week she had been taking personal classes in Treetown's Hatchery hoping to learn valuable information for later in her life, and every night she would share what she had learned with Tarion, but for all of her explaining, it seemd that Tarion had other things on his mind besides their becoming mates. It was on the eve of the arrival of Bentfeather and his group that she finally adressed Tarion about it.

Asrial walked into a study that the Archeological Guild had been kind enough to lend Tarion for the time being as he went over his records of the past endevor, and re read his own notes, only to find him not reading his own work, but pouring over maps and geological scales, this immediatly told her something was up.

"Tarion... is something the matter?" Asrial asked, knowing full well there was. However it seemed Tarion was wanting to hide whatever problem was disturbing him, for he simply responded, "Oh.. Asrial, Hmm? Oh no it's nothing darling, I'm simply doing some research." When Asrial pressed the subject Tarion quickly tried to deffer the subject to something else.
"So, Asrial what did you learn today in Parenting?" he asked non chelantly only hoping his tactic would work, although why he thought it would is beyond any reason, for Asrial was sharp witted and keen on keeping to subjects.

"It went well, I'll tell you more later, now tell me Tarion, what's got you bothered?" she asked keeping her focus on the question at hand.

Tarion sighed, knowing there was no way around this topic, at least not this time. He set down his pencil and compas and looked Asrial directly in the eyes. "Asrial, I fear I may have made a grevious mistake in leaving Ebulon so early in my research, for I had not finished translating the runes I had found down there, my notes lead me to believe I would have found something Important, even world changing, but... as soon as I had encountered Bentfeather and his company and found the artifact T-Rex, which by the way was a total sham, synthetically made, with a mock version of it's mechanics, I lost sight of my real reason for being there." he sighed... "And now I fear that what I sought may be forever lost... I recieved news two days ago that there had been a cave in at the runes on the outskirts of Ebulon, near where I had been excivating, my hard work may have gone to waste now."

Asrial nodded, knowing that this news must definatly be weighing heaving on Tarion's heart, but that still didn't explain the maps, she inquired more from him...

Tarion heaved an even heavier sigh and gave a small nod, "I plan to return to the dig, it is commonly known to archeologists, that ancient cities often have several routes to take in and out of them, the cave in apparently only happened on one side of the city, if I'm lucky I may be able to get in another way, I only hope nothing has been destroyed beyond my ability to study."

Asrial sighed, she knew something like this was going to be the case, he could never leave well enough alone, at least not when he felt he was so close to making a descovery, as he had done several times before, and more often than not, he had been right on those occasions, but she felt this time may be different, and he may find that which he did not intend to.

Tarion and Asrial continued this conversation for some time, when at last Asrial was satisfied, and Tarion was rung out from the long Q and A, they nested down for the night, it was then that Tarion said something he had been neglecting to say for some time... "Asrial, dear, I feel I must appologize, I have spent so much attention on my research and ventures that I have left little to no attention for you, and for that I am sorry" he smiled and held her close to his body as he continued "I am honestly glad that you and I are to be joined in Courtship and Union, for after having grown up with you, I could see myself with no one else, I fear I do not say this nearly enough, but I love you Asrial, as the Sun loves the moon, and chases her through the sky, always seeking her affection."

Asrial sighed contently, that had to have been one of the most romantic things she had ever heard, and to think, he had just compared their love to the ancient legend of the sun and moon gods. Asrial rolled over in their bed and hugged her body against Tairon's wanting to feel his warmth and share his sentiment. They fell asleep that night feeling happier than they had for the past previous week.

The next day Tarion awoke to find himself alone in bed, or so he thought, until he heard a soft female voice talking to him, he opened one eye to see A postal bird on the bed where Asrial's head should have been...

The postal bird called his name again and Tarion woke with a start letting out a cry of shock then falling off the bed.
"Oww...geeze, don't you guys ever knock?!" he said getting up and rubbing his crest...
The postal bird giggled a little, "Sorry about that, I am postal bird 369 here with a message from the archeological guild."
Tarion waved a hand, "Go a head then..." he sat up and began to listen...
369 continued, "Mr. Tarion, we are pleased to inform you that Sir Bentfeather and his companions have returned from the outer island, they intend to hold a meeting discussing their journey, as you were a part of that journey your assistance in keeping the records of these events may be needed. Thank you, Mondor of the Archeological Guild" She smiled and looked Tarion over, "Is there a reply?" she asked kindly...

Tarion nodded, "Indeed there is, Please inform the guild that I shall be attending both meetings, and afterwords would like to hold a separate meeting with Sir Mondor, and Sir Bentfeather In private, if they are available, please infrom Sir Bentfeather that if his companion Tebo lewis wishes, he may come along as well, though this meeting is strictly for those who have a mastery of translating ancient runes, The topic of the meeting are the runes outside of Ebulon, Bentfeather should know them as that is where we first met, I intend to return there to continue my research over the fabled Mother Sunstone, I will need their cooperation to proceed, and Mondor's support for funding. I will be bringing my entire collective notes to this meeting so as to support my findings and argument. That is all" Tarion then paid the postal bird, who took off for another part of town.

After a quick bath Tarion went to the study he had been in for the past week and was gathering his notes when he heard the door close behind him, he turned to see Asrial standing there, the nature of her presences was enough to make Tarion blush, and the events that followed were of a more private sort.

Tag: Bentfeather, and company, Any and all.

[Thundertail]

IC: All delegates and guests hosted at Treetown. The beginning of many meetings.

The council chambers at Treetown was several hundred feet up in four of the largest trees in the forest; each having a circumference of at least sixty feet at the base, and soaring for nearly a thousand feet into the sky. The building residing within their branches was constructed so any large saurian had access through long, twisting rampways; and supported by super strong and thick timbers, which spanned and supported the hundred foot distance between the colossal tree trunks. The ramps spiraled around the largest trunk, an oak that sprawled out to engulf most of the spaces between the other three; provided most of the surface of which the ramp ways spiraled around, alternately crossing over to a sequoia by a vast bridge and spiraling to the other two colossal trees until they reached the lowest regions of the council chamber complex. Other ways up into the building’s interior were available to those smaller and more agile than their larger counterparts, and these were occupied by every sort of human and saurian aide and attendant imaginable; and messenger birds of every feather flitted in and out of every opening that could be seen, which told those on the ground that the long awaited meetings were about to commence. This awesome sight filled the senses of the group of friends as they came near the giant complex, each looking up in awe as they passed beneath the sprawling canopy above; their reason for arriving like they dir being they were all summoned at the same time, their Postal Birds waking each at such an early hour.

“Look at the size of this shack!…”, Randy, his borrowed brass helmet and form fitting shawl that covered his back while allowing his scutes to show through, and his club tail had been polished to gleaming, gasped.

“Hush!…”, Bentfeather said from Tebo’s shoulder, the lad’s crimson robe and fess accentuated Bentfeather’s light blue cape borrowed from the assistant mayor for this occasion. He looked at the others equally decked out in borrowed finery from their subsequent hosts.

“I will accompany Randy and Polongo up the ramps.”, officer Ajax told them aboard Olu, Artemis and April likewise dressed in crisp dress uniforms and brass armored pieces and helmets. “You should take the stairs yonder…”

“I think it is the best decorum that we arrive together.”, Bentfeather told him. “Thusly we all should use the ramps.”

Seeing no argument with the thought, they began their long climb up into the trees via the softly sloping ramps; their grade determined by the incline saurians could safely traverse the slopes, a tiring fact that Randy was grateful for! Their guide, Weesa Dromeosaur, went a little ahead of the group; and pointed out any incongruence’s in the wooden planks that made the floor of the ramp lest any saurian stumble, and cautioned the rest as some descending saurians were coming down from errands they knew not about. Their first turn around the bole of the adjoining tree brought sight of many humans using the ladders there to ascend to the next highest tier of ramps above, and eventually they rise to the level of the basement of the courthouse complex; timbers of a dozen foot thicknesses forming support in strut-like buttresses, and soon they were above even those as the grade of the ramp eventually smoothed out to a level plain.

This avenue in the trees was a full thirty feet wide, and they all marveled at the fact that the surface they were walking on was a mosaic of marble sheets and fresco images of arboreal scenes with dinosaurs and humans joining in doing many activities. Small abodes and alcoves with many trades going on inside lined the base of the mostly wooden building in the trees, and delegates and their aides were everywhere among the commoner folk tending them as they purchased morsels and other last minute items for themselves and their masters; but Weesa led them on toward the lesser chaotic areas of the complex, where they were met once again by the co-leader of Treetown, Teton Dimorphodon.

“Well, well!…”, he squawked as he landed on Weesa’s head. “I see you have arrived… And right on time!”, he waved them all onward before continuing. “The daily status meeting has just adjourned, and the meetings of the Archaeological guild is about to commence…”, they arrived at a pair of oval doors that seemed to bulge, like halves of an egg ready to hatch. “I am unaware of your involvement in all of this, so I had you scheduled to hear all they have to present in every matter they will discuss”

“Thank you, sir Teton.”, Bentfeather bowed aboard Tebo. “I am sure they will be delighted to have us.”

As Teton led the way on the head of Weesa, everyone in the group noticed how ornate the council chamber halls were; sloping wooden walls with pod-like stained glass windows letting in a kaleidoscope of light that rained down on an even more elaborately adorned marble floor, and rampways leading to balconies designed for saurian delegates and onlookers. Only the very center of this space was taken up by seating for humans and smaller saurians, and up at the far end stood a sweeping podium much like the one in the Waterfall City council chambers; only this one was accessed by a raised platform much like a stage, and this was lined with seating and tables for the delegates that were about to officiate these meetings. Around the periphery of the meeting hall saurian resting couches were placed for those who wished to rest while they witnessed the proceedings, and as the hall began to fill with lookers-on of every species; all of which were adorned with their finest raiment, so Bentfeather’s group followed suit and took their places where ushers were placing them. Randy, Polongo, Olu and Artemis was seated in resting couches in the periphery near Hazen , Tebo, Bentfeather, lady Natasha, Frak and Seamus while Redcrsst took seating between Hazen and her mother; and everyone waited in anticipation while the other onlookers were seated, the hushed murmuring grew louder as the room filled only to be silenced as a gavel fell repeatedly until silence reigned.

“This meeting shall come to order…”, shouted Gantor Delaney, Teton perched on the podium by his side. As the room quieted for normal speaking, he lowered his volume and spoke normally. “We are gathered here today to discuss the finds discovered by agents of the Archaeological guild, and to speak of the disaster on the Outer Island.”

“All of you here has a certain involvement in all of these events.”, Teton continued. “And the rest have a vested interest in the results of these events.”

Gantor struck the gavel once. “To begin, I would like to introduce the members of the Archaeological guild…”, he recited each name on his roster, and each rose and bowed as their names were called before taking their seats once more.

The first was the leader of the Archaeological guild, sir Mondor Triceratops; and his assistants, Whitemane Microraptor, Angee Parasolophus and Phineas Veloceraptor were called next. Rivers Protoceratops was next, followed by his assistants Millis Harpymimus and Ethel Miasaurus; and then all of their workers and helpers. It was a surprise to hear that the head of the Waterfall City Natural Geometry guild, sir Hood Protoceratops was there as well as his assistant Tilly Stenoychosaur; but their insights in discerning the mathematical aspects that was discovered in the ancient library could be revealing indeed! Next he introduced sir Bentfeather’s group one by one, and each rose and bowed to the podium before taking their places; but Redcrest displayed her nervousness by hiding behind Hazen’s legs, and Randy was no better with his stammering!

“And now I would like to introduce a representative from the Waterfall City high council, sir Almasaur Ankylosaur!”, announced Gantor Delaney proudly. “He will report these proceedings to their council… Have you any words, lord delegate?…”

“I am only here as a presence for the high council.”, said Almasaur. “My being here should in no way effect proceedings… You may proceed as you see fit!…”, Almasaur smiled as he bowed, then took his resting couch on the stage.

“Well then!… I guess that means we can continue!”, Gantor’s remark brought chuckles. “Let this meeting commence!…”, his gavel fell.

Sir Rivers rose and spoke. “Our first subject for discussion is the recent discovery of what appears to be some form of library in the middle of the Rainy Basin.”, said he. “My agents have done a thorough study of the site, copying down everything that was written there; and it was decided, for the sake of safety, to have it demolished.”, he looked to his cohorts. “If you would, please give a full account of it’s discovery; and a detailed description of what the ruins contained.”

Millis scampered to the table and spoke. “The library ruins had been discovered when a group of travelers traveling through the Rainy Basin hid from a band of carnivores at mount Spiketail.”, said he as Ethel produced a map of the region. “After it was reported, a team was sent to survey the area and confirm it’s existence. We then took pains to map out the extent of the ruins.”, a detailed drawing of the layout of the complex was produced for all to see. “And thus began the year-long process of deciphering the runes carved there, and forming theories on why the complex was there instead of a more prominent place, and why it was suddenly abandoned.”

“And what was the conclusion to that?”, asked Rivers.

“It seemed that the makers of that place thought the island was a wild place, and sought to record their existence before bad tidings fell.”, said Millis. “It was a time capsule, of sorts. They wished their existence to be remembered.”

“Thusly they took records of all they knew.”, Ethel told them. “And made a record of how they got to Dinotopia so those that followed would be able to escape.”, she tisked. “The poor humans were terrified of us!”

“That is an astute observation, but please wait for permission to state it next time.”, Rivers told her privately, then turned to the audience. “Even so, their fears were quickly averted; as many of them were the descendants of the many humans alive today!… They adapted to our presence, and we all became a symbiotic society.”

“It often takes time for a newcomer to adjust to all this, which must seem strange to them.”, stated Mondor. “Please continue.”

Millis continued on with their presentation, Ethel assisting and presenting documentation as his speech alluded to it; and everyone in the chamber was enthralled with the data that was collected, for nothing short of the library of Alexandria was there so much information recorded in one place. In each culture represented, there was scientific and artistic marvels from all over the ancient world recorded there; and the history depicted within the runes was like no other rendition ever heard, even though hints of such history had been handed down by word of mouth by all of their Dinotopian predecessors. There was mention of clay batteries and what sounded like incandescent light bulbs and other electrical devices, and ancient machinery that could predict celestial phases and help navigate vast distances; along with ancient types of robotic contrivances, and other devices which could be used in peace time as well as war. Of their previous history before they arrived here, they had mapped well their route to the island; and they made special notes of tides as well as soundings of the various places in which they landed on the island. Though it was mentioned that an unofficial copy of these places would be kept, and Explorers would be dispatched to see if their validity held true or not; the official accounts of these facts would be omitted, and would be stricken from court records at the end of the meeting.

“That was a fine account…”, sir Mondor said. “And now it would be prudent to take questioning at this time… Is the Archaeological guild prepared?…”

“Of course, your eminence!”, Millis nodded, turning to the congregation. “I will answer to the first that raises a limb…”

Hands and forefeet rose, and Millis chose at random; and the first he pointed to was Hazen Baker, who voiced his concerns in an adamant tome. He was answered as concisely as possible, and Millis chose two more to answer their questions. Next Tarion’s hand rose, and he chose his words carefully as he said what was on his mind. After several more questions, it was decided to carry on with the presentations; and it continued on for most of the day, which was split up by a brief recess as another speaker was escorted into the court by saurian guards…
_

TAG: Any in the court!

[tarion]

A voice of meeting

Tarion left the tree office he had been using feeling rather energetic and quite active over all, Asrial soon tailed behind him as the two of them made their way to the Grand Council Chambers of Treetown, Tarion had been here once before, but that occasion had been much different, and he had been much younger.

Tarion took Asrial's hand as they walked up the main entrance stairs taking only a moment to look at the collosus of a tree that housed the chamber, the large doors shaped much like an egg split down the middle. Along the way in they were greeted by Teton Dimorphodon, who adressed Tarion as a member of the Archeological society of Waterfall City, and Asrial as being a guest at the hearings.

"Sir Tarion, we were unsure of what you wished to adress at this meeting so we simply allowed for you to have a seat and of course had one saved for Asrial, we assume you will be bringing your items of discussion?"

Tarion nodded, "That is correct, I have a few issues I wish to address, also Thank you for the office Teton, it has been most useful this past week."

Teton gave a curt nod and something of a smile, "Glad to have helped. Now come on, hurry in, we'll be starting any minute, Sir Bentfeather and his colleagues are already inside!"

Tarion nodded, "Very well....come along Asrial, we don't want to make them wait." He took Asrial by the hand and lead her inside where they soon found their chairs near the middle of the council audiance chamber. Along the way in Tarion and Asrial both took the time to enjoy the rather elaborate designs of archetecture.

A man by the name of Gantor Delaney rose and shouted, "This meeting shall now come to Order!" He waited for the room to quiet down before continueing then lowered the volume of his voice and continued "We are gathered here today to discuss the finds discovered by agents of the Archaeological guild, and to speak of the disaster on the Outer Island.”

Tarion nodded his agreement, he was sure they were all going to have to say something about the events that carried on these past few weeks to nearly a month.

As introductions were made Tarion couldn't help but chuckle at some of the names that were stated, most of whome he knew personally, Mondor was only one of the many he knew in the room. At last the time came to introduce the party involved in the events, Naturally Bentfeather gave quite the elegant introduction, some of the others falterd a little ,but didn't do bad, and poor Redcrest must have been horrified to be in a place filled with so many adults, Tarion sighed as it the circle came to him, He rose and cleared his throat, "I am Tarion Farthane, Honorary member of the Waterfall City Archeological Society First Class." there were some murmmers around the council chambers as some of the guild seemed surprised to see Tarion there, and others still were surprised to see someone so young, ranked so high already in the society. Tarion recieved a small amount of applause from a section of the council before sitting back down. Finally Almasaur was introduced and then the meeting began to take place.

Tarion leaned forward and began taking note of some of the more important details he was hearing, such as the ancient library, as well as some of the other events. Then for the next hour he found himself only sitting and listening.... At last the meeting seemed to be drawing to a close, and Mondor brought forth the chance to ask questions, Tarion practically lept at the oportunity to speak his mind, and speak he did.

Tarion stood and looked around, "Delegates of the guild, members and fellow colleagues, I would like to take this moment to address a certain bit of information that I feel has yet been untouched accounting to the events prior to what happened on the Outer Island, I believe some of you here are familiar with an agency called the D.C.M.A or Dinotopian Carnivore Monitoring Agency, It so happens a friend of mine and a former agent of that agency now resides on the outer Island, a one mr. Falokar, after the events of the Outer Island and on my way back to the mainland, I recieved word that Falokar has become leader of a tribe on the island and intends to come here on a peace making well wishing journey. Also, to my fellow archeological society and guild members, I wish to bring up something, of which I find important, As you well know for some time I have been searching for a fabled artifact known as the "Mother Sunstone..." some murmmers broke out and Gantor had to quiet the room, "During my research in Ebulon, before the arrival of Sir Bentfeather and his company I was on the verge of finding pertinant information that may involve the whereabouts of this legendary sunstone, with your permission and a slight amount of funding, I wish to continue my excavation, and documentaiton of the runes outside of Ebulon, and a continuing search for the Mother sunstone."

Tarion let out his breath slowly as he feared for the worst to befall his request.
Mondor shuffled and then looked Tarion over from across the room, he huffed a little then spoke, "Sir Tarion, do you have any proof of which you speak, for we will not fund a void expedition."

Tarion nodded, "Yes lord Mondor, I Shall present it if you wish at a later time, along with all my other findings and research, as well as my collective notes from the events in ebulon and part of the events on the outer island."

Mondor nodded curtly, "Very well, We shall see to it that your wishes and concerns be adressed in another meeting, please be seated."

Tarion nodded then took a seat and leaned forward again now over going the notes he had taken making sure that when the time came, he would have his valid argument prepared.

Tag: Any and all.

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company. The meeting at Treetown has begun!

Many more of the people present gave their question on what was discovered at the ruins of the ancient library found at Mount Spiketail in the middle of the Rainy Basin; but none were so poignant than the one Hazen Baker had asked, but he was a mere Dolphinback and knew nothing about Dinotopian morals as of yet. His question was answered in many ways and by many of the scientists and scholars there, and they all basically told him what Bentfeather had told him on the way here; that all life was precious no matter what the person’s proclivity was, and it was their duty to see them safe both in the present as well as the future. Many examples of such events were mentioned, like why the World Beneath was off limits and why the carnivores guarded the dangerous entrances to the place, and even why the lower parts of the Amu canyon was off limits, and any who flew down there would be arrested and shamed. He was told that they were merely looking after the well-being of the people on the island, and such dangerous places were considered too dangerous to let any pass; and such was the case of any ancient ways off the island, where the ways could be too dangerous to pass through, and was considered a suicide mission at best. Listening to all this, Hazen sat back down with a huff.

Tarion’s concern was not of the ancient library, for his own personal agenda included finding the Mother Sunstone; notes of which Bentfeather had scanned through during their visit to Ebulon. So this was why he reluctantly decided to accompany them, and more so why his efforts wasn’t entirely on the Tyrannosaur head artifact, like it should have! Bentfeather was sure that this and the fact that his obvious fiancé was sitting there told of his commitments to his personal life; but when one has an assignment to fulfill, one should put a full effort in it! Bentfeather shook his head as sir Mondor rejected talking about the Mother Sunstone, and had the court focus on the issues currently at hand; and figured it served the young one right, having his pet project shelved to a later date!

“Now, shall we continue?…”, sir Mondor asked the court. “Are there any other questions pertinent to the current subject?…”

“Uh, sir!…”, sir Hood raised a forelimb. “Were there any runes concerning the extent of their mathematical developments?…”

“Oh yes, there were plenty!”, Millis took over as Ethel looked for the proper documents. “Especially in the more advanced cultures that migrated here!…”, he pulled out a piece of parchment. “From the drawings of certain building types found there - some of which are still being put into practice today - I would say that their math skills were pretty advanced for ones so primitive.”

“How so?”, asked Hood.

“Well some show talents toward basic linear geometry… Squares, triangles, circles, arches, spheres, pyramids and tetrahedral forms.”, Millis told them all. “Along with a pretty extensive array of theorems to decipher such forms… Of course, the primitive cultures merely had basic mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and such…”

“Primitive compared to Natural Geometry…”, Hood commented. “But still, it would prove entertaining to see how they came up with these things… And to prove them wrong!”, Tilly, his secretary giggled softly.

What went on next was the facilitation of the deposition of the discovery, and the assigning of the Explorers to confirm or disprove the ways off the island depicted by the ancient library. More so, the official account of the ancient library would be abridged to exclude the ways off the island. As no other pertinent points or questions arose on the subject of the Rainy Basin library, sir Mondor looked at the leader of Treetown up in his podium; who was looking on and listening intently at the discoveries being revealed in his court. Teton also noticed Mondor’s gaze, and poked his Partner into action. He rapped his gavel several times to gain the court’s attention, then waited for Mondor to speak; but when the Triceratops would not speak, he saw it was up to him to facilitate the next phase of the meeting.

“And now, if there is no further concerns in this matter, let us discuss the other matter of discussion of this session.”, Gantor Delaney said officially. “Is there any suggestions on where to begin?”

“I say we discuss just the technical aspects of the affair, and omit the other nuances.”, Rivers said. “The artifact and temple complex would have been a great find if it survived, and we must know it’s true function.”

“Um sir…”, Millis interrupted. “We have almost no data at all concerning this matter.”, he looked around. “Only vicarious notes and observations… Would it not be prudent to gather the testimonies of all involved, and postulate a conclusion from there?…”

“A plausible suggestion!”, the Triceratops said. “You show great talent, apprentice Millis.”, Millis nodded, honored, as sir Mondor looked at Rivers. “Do you agree that this is the most logical procedure?…”

“Agreed…”, Rivers could not disagree with his superior!

“Very well then.”, Mondor said. “Then it is time to bring in the last and newest member of your group, sir Bentfeather…”, he then turned to the court guards near the doorway. “Summon the saurian guards at the prison facility, and have them bring my son, Peter, to the courtroom…”, the guards bowed and left.

“Oh yes!…”, Bentfeather squawked. “He should have extra insight in all this!”

“Indeed.”, Mondor said sadly. “And now, sir Bentfeather. Would you come up and give your account of your journey?…”

“Delighted, your eminence!”, Bentfeather said as he hopped aboard the shoulder of Tebo Lewis. “(Don’t be nervous, boy!… Just walk with purpose…)”, he coached the lad softly as Tebo walked. “Um sir. Would it be wise to first tell the circumstances leading up to our stay at the temple complex, or would you rather I cut to the chase, as it were?…”, this he asked when they had arrived.

“Just give your account as you see fit.”, said Mondor. “However, it would be best if you give as many details as possible.”

“Yes, sir…”, Bentfeather cleared his throat. “Well, it all started when a strange package came to my office…”, Bentfeather then described the arrival of the journal of his former Partner, and the strange circumstances that sprouted up afterwards, about the intrigue and murder that gave clues that this was no ordinary mystery. He described the suspected danger and clandestine actions by mysterious persons, and how this spurred action by the council; and the reason why they had to flee Waterfall City, taking everyone remotely involved with them for protection.

At this point Mondor interrupted him. “And during that time an artifact came into my possession…”, he said. “My son was really interested in it, but due to his sneaky actions around it; I had the artifact copied, the original secreted away…”, he looked to see if Peter had arrived yet, and saw he hadn’t. “When I let him examine it, he had it stolen; but he nor his cohorts realized it was a copy.”

“And we all snuck away undetected.”, Bentfeather added. “We had possession of the real artifact all along!”

“Yes, but Peter’s cohorts detected the forgery not long afterward, and began to track you down.”, Mondor said. “Which was why we had the council send as much help for you as we could… You had two saurian guard teams with you, as well as the mayor’s personal guards…”

“But none of this tells me of the artifact’s instrumentality!”, Objected Hood.

“I have studied the artifact personally, and have made notes on my findings… Sir Bentfeather‘s and sir Trarion‘s notes compiled at Ebulon are there as well”, Mondor told him. “You have these copies in front of you, to study at your leisure.”, the Triceratops huffed. “Now you may continue, sir Bentfeather… You may omit details of your flight if you wish…”

“Very well.”, Bentfeather said. “So long story short, we kept one step ahead of those pursuing us, throwing them off our trail several times by ruse and other tactics; thanks to the tactical abilities of officer Ajax and lady Natasha and company, until we reached the Skybax stronghold of Ebulon.”

“There we sent you an agent of the Archaeological guild to help study the artifact further.”, Mondor told him. “Sir Tarion has submitted his findings on it, and your report on the artifact is here as well… Sir Tarion, do you have any further insights on the Tyrannosaur artifact you have studied at Ebulon?…”
_

TAG: Tarion, o8jedi, anyone care to jump in?…

[tarion]

-Resonace and responses-

Tarion stood and faced the council once again called to supply an answer. He heaved a heavy sigh and nodded, "Sir Mondor, Sir Bentfeather, and everyone else here, I had reason to believe that the device that Sir Bentfeather and Myself studied in Ebulon was no more than a mere fake, a synthetic copy ment to confuse or throw off those that would seek the real artifact. I sat this in light of three forms of evidence I have found, the first being that although the artifact was heavy, it wasn't heavy enough, the artifact was composed nearly entirly of gemstones and sunstones both of which contain a measurable mass more than that of the fake. Secondly from records of the events on the Outer Island I am lead to believe that the artifact was shattered in the midst of combat, I submit to you now the fact that no mere blade or show of force could simply break a sunstone or gemstone. And finally while inspecting the artifact at ebulon although it was not as apparent at the time, upon further inspection during my private research I descovered that the artifact contained seamlines of shaudy construction work, a tell tale sign that it is a faux representation, for if it were the real artifact the craftsmanship would have been much more elaborate and well done."

Tarion looked around at specific people, his claim was in fact a bold one, but seemed to be one that could be a valad argument. After a brief pause Tarion continued, " Also as I am sure anyone can say after having examined either the fake or real artifact itself the markings are indeed saurian, but are of a different dialect, the markings were a crude cuniaform of carnivore hand writing from a time long before modern saurian footprint writing had come to exist, this allows me to conclude that prior to their move to the Outer continent, there may have very well been civilized and cultural carnivores, beyond our recent out reaches to attempt to become civilized with them." Tarion then bowed and sat back down crossing his arms feeling slightly uneasy, he was unsure how things would play out from here. Asrial looked to him and smiled patting his arm, "You did well Tarion" she smiled and continued to watch the meeting.

Tarion sighed and looked down... "I just hope I'm right..." for once he looked unsure of himself.... skeptical and doubting as if something wasn't adding up, a missing piece to a jigsaw puzzle that would only make matters that much more confusing....

Tag: Everyone involved

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker, Treetown Council Chambers, A Formal Protest
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When the opportunity was given to speak about the destruction of the ancient library, Hazen lept at the opportunity to speak in the defense of archaeological preservation. The rest of the group looked at the Dolphinback as he stood up. Redcrest, not particularly certain about what was going on, stood up and stood beside her Partner, wanting to feel important in this gathering of boring grown-ups.

Hazen cleared his throat. "Thank you, first of all, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this issue," he said. "For the interests of the record and for the benefit of the panel, I am Hazen Baker. I am a Dolphinback living in Waterfall City and a student assigned to Sir Bentfeather. I have learned a great deal about Dinotopian life since I came here, however I must protest in the strongest terms your policy of destroying these ruins." Some members of the panel glanced at each other, exchanging silent conversations as the Dolphinback continued.

"Firstly, I find it hard to believe that research can be thoroughly completed in a year's time. The Egyptian pyramids at Giza back in the Outside World have been common knowledge for years and they are still discovering new facts about the people who built them. Think of it! The most studied, most well-known ancient artifacts of human achievement and there are things we're still discovering. There's more to archaeology than just these great figures and monuments. Surely a year does not do it justice."

Redcrest looked up at her Partner, not knowing what he was talking about. Hazen continued, "I can already name of information that has been lost: The way off the island." The mention of that sentence touched the nerves of those present, especially Redcrest and April. "I want to be absolutely clear: I have no intention of leaving. While I have lost a life on the Outside that had a great deal of promise, I have gained much more here. I have begun to court one of the most beautiful and fascinating women I have ever met and my young Partner has shown me the joys of working with young. I would never go back if it meant leaving them behind." Hearing those words brought smiles to April and Redcrest.

"But I am digressing," Hazen said. "I find it troubling that the existence of a way off, regardless of it is still feasible currently, is valuable information. I had heard that the reason for these actions is that you wish no one to be hurt. It is certainly noble to preserve the well-being of all who are here, but in reality this is not possible. Life itself is fraught with risk, which sometimes results in injury and loss of life. To remove that risk, however, stunts one's personal growth and neuters their character. Of course, I'm not advocating letting your children play in a Mosasaur-infested pond. But exploration and discovery is uncertain. If one wants to explore the Outside World or to discover a means to contact it, knowing full well of the risk involved, who are we to deny them?"

Bored, Redcrest tugged on Hazen's pant leg to get him to hurry up. Hazen glanced down at her and decided to finish his appeal. His brow furrowed and his tone grew more harsh. "But the biggest offense of all is how condescending this is to the general public. To willfully withhold key information in a historical find? I can think of no greater offense to academia." Hazen searched his mind for any other statements and finally conceded, "I have nothing further to say right now." A few rumbles bellowed through the Archaeological Guild before Mondor spoke.

"The Guild is... appreciative of your opinion regarding our policy to destroy ancient markers off the island. However we need to remind you that along with the powers we have been delegated, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of all Dinotopians. We do not take this burden lightly, for we too understand the fine balance between academic research and protecting the lives of others. That is why we have taken every action to document--"

Hazen was familiar enough with political non-answers that he could smell it coming a mile away. "Again, why only a year?"

"EVERY ACTION!!!" Mondor boomed. "... to document each find."

The Ankylosaur lifted himself from his resting couch to lend more force to this rebuttal. "Are you familiar with the World Beneath, Dolphinback?" Almasaur asked.

"Yes," Hazen replied stoically.

"Then you know of the carnivores that protect its entrances?"

"Yes."

"And you know that it is sacred to all of us here and we have not violated its borders since?"

Hazen shook his head. "I don't see how--"

"Then you would surely realize that it has become a dangerous place over millennia of neglect and disrepair? Sacredness aside, one would surely die should there be a cave-in or some other misfortune."

Hazen shook his head. "I wonder if I would be more effective if I shouted into the wind."

Mondor pounded his foot. "That will be enough!" he reminded the Dolphinback.

Rivers then took up the mantle. "It is also for that reason that the deepest recesses of the Amu Canyon are forbidden. It is 145 necks deep; how can aid be rendered if tragedy were to strike?" The other panelists grunted their agreement.

Millis said, "In any case, as the pertinent information referenced has been removed from the record, I move that this exchange be removed as well."

"Without objection, it is so ordered," said Mondor.

"I object!" Hazen challenged, which fell on deaf ears.

"Again, thank you for your time," said Mondor.

"Never mind that it was a total waste," Hazen muttered under his breath. He sat back in his seat grousing to himself the whole time.

The young Hadrosaur tugged on his pant leg and said, "How come you are mad?"

Hazen sighed and looked at the little one. "You know how you want grown-ups to do something and they don't pay attention to you because you're little? That kinda happened to me." Redcrest hugged Hazen, trying to cheer him up. "Promise me one thing," Hazen said to her.

"What?" she asked back.

"That you never lose either your curiosity for the world or your amazement at how awesome it is." Hazen leaned back in his chair and listened to the debate going on between the others, zoning out several times considering how unqualified he was.
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TAG: Any and all!