"A Quest Of Friends"

[o8jedi]

IC: April Manchester and Hazen Baker, Paddock, Ebulon
_

April had finished her Noonmeal before she began looking for her pupil. Fortunately, all she needed to do was listen for the sound of Redcrest's merriment, which was coming from the paddock area. When she came inside, she saw Hazen leaning against a post, covering his eyes and counting to himself. Clearly, he was in the middle of a game of "Hide and Seek."

"18...19...20! Ready or not here I come!" He spun around, looking for any trace of the young little Lambeosaur. Evidently, she had done a good job of hiding because Hazen didn't even so much as a childish giggle. "Wow," he said, "it looks like Redcrest has disappeared!" He began to look around the obvious spots; under tables, behind large objects like their carts, and under blankets. As he did this, he began to think of what clever hiding spots she may be in.

April approached him as he peeked under a large table. "Can I have a word with you, Hazen?" she asked.

Hazen looked up and saw the guard. "Sure," he said, "after I find out what happened to Redcrest. I'd be sad if she disappeared!" He heard a short, faint giggle coming from the pens and began to investigate.

"I meant in private," April elaborated.

Hazen turned to look at her, wondering what would be so important that it needed to be said in private. He didn't notice the small tuft of hay that rose behind him or the eyes that peeked out to see if he was nearby. "Could it wait?" Hazen asked as he turned back to the hay tuft, which had by now returned to its normal position.

"I suppose," April said, "but I'd prefer to talk sooner than later."

Hazen nodded. "I'll try and hurry up," he said. He stepped through the hay and as he rounded a corner, heard another giggle. He must have walked past Redcrest. He turned back and looked carefully at the hay on the ground. He saw a suspicious-looking pile and stuck his hand in. "Aha!" he cried.

Redcrest burst out of the hay, giggling. "You found me!" she said.

Hazen smiled and gave her a hug. "You did a very good job hiding," he said to her. He then knelt down and said, "April needs to talk to me for a moment. Think you can start your nap without me?" he asked. The hatchling nodded. "Good," he said. Redcrest went to her family's pen and curled up, getting ready to go to sleep.

Hazen turned to April. "Shall we?" he asked.

"If you'll follow me, please," she said as she moved down a corridor. Hazen complied. April continued, "I want to commend you on your training. You have made a great deal of progress since we first began."

"Thank you," Hazen replied, simultaneously nodding to a passing pilot.

"Furthermore, I know that you had the opportunity to take me down and I know that you knew it as well. While your skills are raw, you have a good sense of instinct and sometimes that is all you need. There is one thing that I need to ask, though." April stopped and turned to him.

"Ask away," Hazen replied, stopping and turning to face her as well.

April glanced to both sides, making sure she was alone. Hazen mimicked the motion as well, not entirely sure what she was looking at. She then said, "You had an opportunity to strike, yet you didn't. Why?"

As soon as she asked it, Hazen could tell this was a multi-layered question. One that she was certainly uncertain of asking about in the first place. He looked down, choosing his words carefully. "Just because I can does not mean that I should." He paused after that statement, trying to give April some time to digest it. "I would have preferred that I would have gotten hurt than you in case we come under attack, as you are the better fighter. Rest assured, though that in an actual combat situation, I wouldn't hesitate to follow through."

April nodded. She looked down and bit her lower lip. "Thank you," she said. "That will be all for now."

"Something wrong?" Hazen asked, wondering what was eating at her.

"Nothing," April said. "I just need to think."

Not wanting to press the issue, he nodded. "Just don't think too hard," he said. He turned and returned to his quarters to take a nap himself. April, on the other hand, stood in that corridor thinking about that man. In that last sparring session, she learned a great deal about Hazen's character just by the way he fought. With this new information, she had a clearer picture about him. She folded her arms across her chest, wrestling with her mind over what this would mean for her.
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Ajax, Tarion, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Petronas and their reinforcements with their captive, Falokar.

The team of elite Dromeosaur warriors bound the intruder, still oblivious of his name and purpose for spying on them; and carried him back to their camp, him squirming on their shoulders the whole way. Sludge was in charge of getting the gypsy cart ready for it’s new occupant, and a thick padlock was found within for the purpose after all weapons and anything else useful for escape was removed. Petronas winced at the newcomer as he was thrown off their shoulders and nearly bounced to the door of the cart, and all the rest were held back after a mere glimpse of the intruder. Ripper and Snapper shoved the Dromeosauroid to the door and up the steps while Dirge slammed the door and clicked the lock shut; and somehow the intruder had loosened the ropes enough to get his hands free, and he pounded on the walls and door with all his might from the complete blackness inside.

Without a word Dirge beckoned everyone to the front of the other cart, well away from their captive’s hearing. The look on everyone’s faces told volumes, from what they might do now to who might have sent him; but Dirge let them all silently draw their own conclusions before speaking at last.

“We seem to have an uninvited guest.”, he said softly. “This is just a mild inconvenience, I assure you…”

“I say let’s eat him!”, Sludge offered, and nearly all the troops nodded. “Fighting makes me hungry!”

“Silence!”, this was a whisper, but Dirge made it sound menacing. “Look, the yearling ain’t talking. He thinks we’re his enemy.”

“But aren’t we his enemy?”, Peter asked.

“The trick is, we got to make him think we’re his friends if we want any information out of him.”, Dirge said, all were confused.

“How do you suppose we do that?”, Petronas asked. “Surrender to him?”

“That ain’t natural!”, Vox commented.

“Never worry, I think I got a plan that will do the trick.”, Dirge smiled. “What’s for dinner?”, this he directed to the two humans.

“Beans…”, the older one said. “If they’re ready by now…”

“I hate beans…”, Ripper said.

“It’ll do.”, Dirge said. He got up and went to the cook-fire, scooping out a large wooden bowl; then walked to the back of the gypsy wagon. “Oh, boy… I just thought you might be hungry…”, he called, climbing the steps to the door. No response.

Dirge opened the hatch where the screened-in window was embedded in the door. “It’s only beans, but it’s filling…”, still no response, so he continued. “I’ll just open the door and slide it in, OK?…”

Dirge unlocked the door and opened it only wide enough to slide the bowl in, and saw saurian hands grasp the bowl and pull it in the rest of the way before Dirge re-locked the door. The lad had already undid the ropes! Good!… “Look,… I’m sorry I scratched you back there… It was the heat of the moment… You know how us carnivorous types are!…”, Still no response, but eating noises were heard. “Look, I’ll come back later…”, and as he began to leave he heard the lad say thank you through the cart’s wooden walls.

“That was step one…”, Dirge said softly as he got back to the group. “Now shortly, I’ll show you step two!”, he looked around at them standing there. “But for now, let’s get back down to business… Sludge, Snarl. Sentry duty. Ripper, Snapper and Slag. Weapon maintenance…”

“And the rest of us?…”, Petronas asked sarcastically, clearly sick of them ordering his group around!

“The rest of you can do domestic duties.”, Dirge said, shrugging. “I don’t care, just let me think…”

Off Dirge went to the tree line, but not far off from the Gypsy cart. The boy inside was certainly well trained, and must have strong ties to duty and honor; and most likely doing this for the sake of someone close to him, risking his very life to come here. As Dirge thought, he began to devise a plan that might sway the lad in his cause to switch over to his side after all. It was risky, and involved telling the boy a version of their real reason for being here, but Dirge thought it was worth the risk. Before confronting him, he went back to the others and told him his plan.

“So remember. No matter what I say and no matter how I say it, go along with it.”, Dirge told them softly after explaining. “He’s young, and no doubt will believe me if I sound honest enough… Now back to your duties, all of you…”

At the back of the gypsy wagon again, Dirge steeled himself for what he was about to say. He sat on the steps, took out a small knife and picked up a short thick stick. “Guess I am elected to guard you…”, he called as he began to whittle. Tiny sounds came from within.

“That was pretty smooth moves back there…”, Dirge said after a few moments. “You almost bested all of us!…”, The sounds shifted a bit, then stopped. He was getting the lad’s attention!

Dirge continued the one-sided conversation a moment later. “You must have had an expert trainer…”, shuffling. “I wouldn’t have minded meeting him…”

“He must have taught you duty and honor, right son?…”, Dirge looked at the door expectantly, then chuckled kindly. “May I ask your name, so I have something to call you…?”

Dirge was surprised that the lad said his name! “Falokar! What a noble name!…”, he smiled. “In my native tongue, it means ‘Sullen one’… My name is Dirge; and as it is everywhere else, it means ‘Solemn music’…”, Falokar made a light exclamation, and seemed ready to speak freely!

“Yes, Falokar, we also live by duty and honor.”, Dirge went on. “We are duty bound as guardians, and this tradition has been going on for hundreds of generations with my clan…”

At Falokar’s inquiry, Dirge told him. “On our island there is this terrible place, and within it is a cursed object hidden in a vault deep in a mountain.”, Dirge peeked in through the doors’ window. “We are sworn by the Ancients to guard its’ location, but there was a problem…”

“Archaeologists came and discovered it!”, Dirge spat like the profession was poison. “They disregarded our warnings, and stole it from our island!”

“We must find it or all of Dinotopia will fall under the object’s curse!” , said Dirge after Falokar’s comment. “In our group are learned persons who have studied such things. They say that with the object brings madness!…”

“The people who stole it only think of their science, and not the warnings of the Ancients!”, Dirge continued a moment later. “We are here to bring it back to where it belongs, and save all of Dinotopia of this madness.”, He saw the lad was truly compelled, and pressed further after Falokar asked why he was captured.

“You are a creature of honor, and so are we; and truly you can see the weight of our mission to keep Dinotopia safe…”, Dirge put on an earnest face. “We captured you because we thought you were with them, and were trying to stop us; but that can not be so if you want Dinotopia to be safe.”, he could sense the lad slump.

“I guess it is getting late, Falokar.”, Dirge realized. “I suppose we should all get some sleep.”, he returned to his whittling for a moment, then heard his request to be set free.

“I would, but my comrades are still a bit nervous of you.”, he chuckled. “Actually, the bed in there is more comfortable than where I’m to sleep tonight! You’d have a better sleep in there than any place else!…”, he noticed shifting sounds then silence. “Good night, Falokar…”, he said before taking sentry duty…
_

TAG: Hazen, Tarion, any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - The Enemy of My Enemy

The next morning Falokar woke to find himself in the cart, remembering the past nights events, he stirred slowly then came to, Dirge, the name came back to him and he gave a feeble grin, (so these men were Saurians of honor?) Some how Falokar was disbeleving of that, but really what choice did he have, he'd either have to try to win them over, or try to escape somehow, and escaping did seem the near impossible at the moment. Furthermore this Dirge guy whoever he was didn't sound too, to evil, more like he was just a millitiant leader who had a lot on his mind, the beans he had eaten really wern't that tasty but true enough they had been filling. Maybe he really could give these guys a shot after all.

Having freed his hands over the time that they had him captured Falokar set to freeing his legs, then once he was completly untied he simply sat there in a dimly lit cart, as the sun was still rising.

"Well I guess it couldn't hurt to get some exercise done before they try to interrogate me again today" he thought a little solomnly, with that he began with basic push ups and sit ups, and gradually moved into doing Zen-Ki, (advanced stress releaving motions of balance) then after about an hours time he felt himself ready for some real exercise, when an idea came to him.

Falokar knocked on the door softly, "Excuse me Mr. Dirge?" He waited for a reply, when none came he tried again, "Mr. Dirge, Could you let me out, I wanna get some exercise done, so that I stay in shape, which is hard to do in this cramped up cart!" he the braced to jump out, and to his surprise dirge actually opened the door,Dirge took ahold of his arm and led him to the center of the camp, where several of the other troops sat around either eating breakfast or sharpening some sort of weapon, the only ones that were not were the original owners of the cart, most of whome looked disinterested or angry about something. The saurian named Dirge came striding up to him, "Alright then Falokar, let's see these exercies of yours."

Falokar turned and bowed to Dirge in the martial arts style, and then began to do Shin-Lung Kung-Fu exerciese starting off with the very basics, which seemed to only interest Dirge in the manner of how he was fighting, but then Falokar began to enter more advanced combat styles and was steadily getting faster at them, that was when Dirge saw the potential, (Falokar could really make a valuable ally!) he watched on as Falokar went fluidly through five very distinct styles, then entered one that was separate from the five yet connected to them all at the same time! after about two hours of nothing but strict body training Falokar stopped to catch his breath, then walked over and found a few bricks that the camp had been using to hold up assorted weapons and or other items, he looked at Dirge, "Um... would you mind if I...?", Dirge simply nodded to him and continued to watch, only assuming the young saurian was going to sit down, to his surprise the proarcheopteryx took three of the bricks and stacked them, then began to attack them, he sweep kicked the frist and broke it horizontally, then put his fist through the middle one as it feel, then did some sort of hand chop to the top one as it fell, breaking it in half, Dirge stood shocked, he'd broken all three before they even touched the ground, his speed was on the parallel of their own, if not a little more, and his reflexes were even better than his speed! Not to mention he had just broken through three solid concreate bricks!

Falokar cleaned up the mess he'd created with the bricks and then walked back to Dirge not even winded, but a little sweaty, he smiled, "So let me get this straight, you and your squadron are guardians of some sort of ancient artifact right?" , Dirge nodded, "That's Correct", Falokar Continued, "And you say that a group of Archeologists stole it right?", Dirge nodded, "Yes, that's true." Falokar then sighed, "Well then You and You're men were deceaved, because as far as I know, no set of any scientists could make it past well trained guards without some form of help, they'd have to have a skilled theif with thim at the very least."
Dirge, looked at him a little surprised, "You think so huh?" he could see the saurian was truely thinking this over.

Falokar looked back to Dirge I'm not entirely sure what you guys are doing but if your artifact is really that important don't you think you should be hurrying to get it back?, Also do you even know where the people are that took it away?" he sighed and looked at Dirge, still trying to figure the Grown Dromeasaur out in his mind, (I feel like he may be telling the truth, but... it's just so hard for me to tell anything about him.) He looked down at the sand below his feet and squshed some between his toes (I suppose spending time with them will revieal their true colors after a while)

Dirge was on the verge of laughing, the kid was serious, of course he knew nothing of their real intentions and as long as things kept going as smoothly as they were now the kid would never have to know. The young dromeasaurain was possibly a valuable asset, but it was gonna take more than just some morning exercises to completly convince him that Falokar meant to help them, and could truely be of use. In the meantime Falokar had taken to meditating on the ground, and was now either really aware of everything around him, completly lost in thought, or both.

Tag: Falokar, Dirge, Petronas, Any and All

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76 conferring with his kin, and with particulars with Bentfeather’s mission.

“Actually, most of the postal Birds in the area have been relaying news about your exploits, sir 76...”, a different Postal Bird than last night was saying. “Among us, you are a hero!”

“All I’m doing is my duty to Dinotopia.”, 76 said as he saw another of his comrades take off, bound for Canyon City. “All Dinotopians are expected to do no less…”

But to face certain danger and possible death as you have done…!”, the bird continued. “It is a tale I shall tell my grandchildren!…”

“If I may ask, what information concerning the mission of sir Bentfeather are you relaying?”, 76 asked, for most of his trip consisted stowing away in the Postal Bird basket on sir Randy’s cart!

“Well, we generally relay news of your caravan’s progress…”, the bird told him. “As well as news of a historical nature of the cargo you carry. It is believed that the artifact was created by King Othgar millennia ago as vengeance for the loss of his kingdom. That wise people of the time seized it from him and hid it so no one would unearth the menace it can cause.”, the bird looked confidentially at his superior. “I hear the amulet contained within causes great pain to saurians…”

“Such a thing is dangerous indeed!”, 76 commented. “I hear Tebo Lewis, my traveling cohort, has discovered how to reveal the amulet; and it’s effects have already been felt around here, an ominous omen if you ask me!”

“Indeed…”, the bird said as another of his kind flew off in the direction of Waterfall City. “And if it were to get into the wrong hands, all on Dinotopia is lost!…”

Not that Postal Bird 76 was afraid of the screech that loomed over their heads, but the noise of the incoming Skybax startled him out of his conversation and away from the Postal Bird aerie with all due haste! Figuring the conversation was over anyway, he descended through the citadel of Ebulon in search of some of his other comrades to talk to…
_____

IC: Randy and the other pullers. Helping the staff at Ebulon.

Postal Bird 76 soon found himself down by the paddock area, where he saw Olu and Polongo using the implements there as they shoveled out their own paddocks; seeing Randy in his familiar stance hitched up to a much different and smaller cart. Flapping to a railing, he inquired where Wendy and Carol were.

“Oh, they’re off getting things from the deep storage…”, replied Randy as Olu topped off the cart. “We’re just pitching in, is all…”

“That’s right, sweetie!”, Wendy had come back, another cart full of fresh hay and fodder. “We kept on telling them not to worry, but they insisted.”

“So, what you doing down here?”, inquired Randy as Polongo began helping to unload her cart. “The other Postal Birds kick you out?..”, he chuckled.

“Awk, no…”, 76 said. “I have done my duty there, and had appraised them on our journey so far. They informed me that they have been relaying information between Canyon City and Waterfall City. All is going as planned so far.”

“That’s good.”, Randy snuck some fodder. “It’s a wonder nothing got screwed up.”

“That being done, I just was wondering what all of you have been up to.”, 76 said.

“Oh, we just been hanging around.”, Randy told him. “Getting a little boring, though.”

“It must have been, they wanting to help and all.”, Carol had come back, and was helping to unload the fodder cart. “But we don’t mind…!”, she rubbed Randy’s chin, and he smiled. “It’s a welcome change for us, especially if our help is as cute as these ones!…”, even Olu blushed at the praise!

“You know what the others are up to?”, asked 76.

“Oh, this and that.”, Randy said as he got back to helping. “I hear that they are coming along pretty good with that artifact, Hazen almost bested miss April in sparring in the gym and Bentfeather is worried about everything as usual.”

“Such a heavy burden for one so small…”, Commented Wendy.

“I agree, and will suggest he take a Holiday when this mission is over.”, Postal Bird 76 prepared to take off. “All of you have a wonderful day… Breathe deep!…”, and off he flew.

“Laters!…”, Randy bellowed after him…
_____

IC: Tebo, Elaina and Cirrus. Tebo conquers his Skybax fears.

Postal Bird 76 flew down the natural stone corridors after ascending the natural stairs and peering into each open chamber as he passed. The indigenous workers there were seen, Manix the Pachy was placing bed linens on beds in one dorm room, Ricky her mate was mopping out a commode room next to it and Simon was inventorying the contents of a linen closet down the hall. Around the bend he saw Tebo Lewis slowly pacing past the commander’s office and heading toward some equipment rooms that were near the gym area. 76 swooped down and landed on his shoulder; and Tebo, thinking it was Bentfeather making a visit, turned to see the unfamiliar face with the familiar size.

“Oh, it’s you…”, Tebo said as he continued walking.

“What’s wrong?”, 76 asked.

“Oh, nothing much.”, Tebo said, turning a corner and 76 in it for the ride. “It’s just that I feel so useless here… And I’m very unlucky of late.”, he turned his head to him. “Remember back in the desert, where I lost that Sunstone lantern?… And just this morning, when I opened the artifact?… I heard nearly every saurian felt the amulet’s effects!”

“You’re not unlucky, my friend.”, 76 told him. “You are just about the luckiest person on Dinotopia!… Why, you’re the Partner of perhaps the smartest dinosaur on the island! With him at your side, the opportunities for you are just about endless!…”

“Thanks for that, but what if he finds that Nicolai Sanders, his former Partner, is still alive?”, Tebo countered before shedding a tear. “If so, Bentfeather might want to go back to him; and then where would I be?…”

“Oh, I’m sure it won’t come to that!”, 76 tried to soothe. “If what rumor says is true, he wouldn’t want to go back to him.”, unheard by either until now, boot steps came from behind them and stopped abruptly.

“There you are, young sir!”, both turned at the commanding voice of Elaina Dennison, her tan uniform posed with hands on hips. “Officer Ajax has told me of your prowess at a sword, and I came by to see if you have other talents.”

“Well, I’m an apprentice librarian, and…”, Tebo was cut off.

“I was referring to talents you may have no idea you have…!”, she chuckled. “If you would follow me…?”, she saw Postal Bird 76 dismount the boy’s shoulder and winked. “You may attend as well, if you wish, 76...”

Elaina Dennison led them to the top floor of Ebulon, where the landing and takeoff deck was for the Skybax. There were also roosts there, where the Skybax rested from flight, slept and were taken care of; and because the morning and afternoon flights were already completed, both birds were there looking at all the activity going on concerning their care. Postal Bird 76 took roost at an empty lantern wall stanchion and observed the whole scene as it unfolded. Commander Powell’s steed, Fibril, was being slicked down by Otto; and Elaina’s Skyback, Cirrus, was awaiting the same procedure. The bird squawked softly in recognition of his rider as she went to his tack area and grabbed a towel and other grooming implements. Tebo had paused his approach well away from the giant flying creature as Cirrus eyed the boy with curiosity, not distain as the boy feared.

“My friend flew well this morning, and I perform this service as a reward…”, Elaina said as she stroked his beak affectionately. “Friends like this can prove a profound benefit in both lives, don’t you think…?”, she turned to see Tebo’s trepidation.

His fear confirmed what sir Bentfeather related to her. “You know, there is no need to fear my friend Cirrus…”, she released her steed and came over a step, Skybax chortling in confusion and concern. “He is noble and gentile. Rest assured he would never willingly harm you…”

“I understand. It’s just that…”, Tebo was hesitant to divulge the reason of his fear. “It’s just that I was… Knocked down by a Skybax as a child.”, he said this softly, embarrassed by the fact. “I was so scared!… And to this day I have the idea in the back of my mind they are… mean or menacing…”, he hung his head.

“It’s all right, but most flying creatures mean us no harm.”, Elaina tried to comfort. “Take 76 over there… You aren’t afraid of him, are you?”, he shook his head. “And certainly you’re not afraid of sir Bentfeather? Why, you‘re his partner, after all!”, another shake.

“But Skybax are so big…”, Tebo said softly.

“This is true, but they have agreed to be a service to all creatures on Dinotopia. They would never willingly harm us.”, Elaina crouched. “True they may accidentally knock us down if we get in the way,…”, she smiled. “But I’m sure the one who knocked you down did not mean it…”

“I know, but…”, Tebo objected weakly.

“I would like you to meet a friend of mine…”, she continued, reaching for his hand. “He is very gentile, and realizes your fear…”, Elaina smiled first at Tebo and then nodded at Cirrus; who blinked agreement and became completely still and silent. “Go ahead, he wants you to come near…”

Tebo allowed Elaina to draw him closer until he was just within reach of the huge beak, pausing at that point as Cirrus shifted slightly; and she gently led his hand to place fingers on the side of the tip. Cirrus’s breath caused slight ripples in his hair as he was drawn further in by Elaina, he now fully placing a palm on the Skybax’s beak. Shouts of fear and panic echoed through his brain, silent to all around him; but the huge flyer in front of him could sense this, and he cooed and chortled almost silently to try to lull away these fears. Tebo had squeezed his eyes shut all through this, and opened them just then to see the strange smiling eye looking back; and that was when he knew it was all right to draw a little closer, this time of his own tentative volition.

Elaina smiled as she let go of his hand, and saw him take those several small steps; and winked at her Partner for his patience at this frightened creature’s fears. Tebo had drawn closer still, and was at this time just parallel to Cirrus’s eye; and with his other hand Tebo began touching the area near the underside of his neck, feeling the softness of the tiny hair-like iridescent proto-feathers there. Noticing the worrying of Cirrus’s eyes, she knew he reached a ticklish spot, and decided to pause the greeting for a moment.

“I came here to groom my steed.”, Elaina said, breaking Tebo out of his near trance. “If you would, you can help…”

“If he doesn’t mind…”, Tebo said, marveling without fear at the creature now looming at his side. “This was less terrifying than I thought!…”, he smiled up at his new acquaintance.

“He likes you too…”, Elaina said, smiling back. “However, he was getting ticklish!…”, she giggled softly and Cirrus cackled slightly.

“Oh, I was tickling you?… Sorry!”, Tebo smiled at Cirrus as Elaina handed him a soft wire slicker brush.

Tentatively at first, Tebo began using the brush on the neck and chest areas; receiving instructions from Elaina concerning the nature of the proto-feathers, that they only grew a certain way, and that one must brush in the direction they grew. She had gone around the back of Cirrus, grooming the tail area and lower back surfaces. Tebo began to notice as Cirrus melted under the attention that the creature was molting slightly, and he had to pause occasionally to remove the loosened feathers from the brush. As Cirrus appeared to be falling asleep with pleasure of the procedure, Elaina came around and stroked his beak; letting him know that grooming time was over, a fact that he crowed slightly at the news.

Not everything was over just yet, as before Tebo could step away from the Skybax; Cirrus grasped him lightly with his wings, and gave the boy a hug with them! Tebo returned it cautiously as he began to step away, smiling awkwardly at the creature‘s unexpected affection. Elaina smiled and quietly began to tell him of all the adventures and traveling they had been on throughout their years together; and Postal Bird 76 nodded with satisfaction for the boy conquering his fear of the Skybax before flapping off to other destinations in Ebulon.

He was sure that sir Bentfeather would definitely want to know about THIS event!…
_____

IC: Bentfeather, lady Natasha and Tarion. Cracking the mystery of the Tyrannosaur head.

Postal Bird 76 made a beeline for the Ebulon library, where he was sure sir Bentfeather was going to be; for his friend had a vested interest in the artifact they brought with them, and it would have a definite bearing on the whereabouts of his former Partner. He flapped from the upper levels toward the central levels and down natural stone corridors and through cave-like arched chambers and finally made it to a room lined with book shelves and study tables.

There were only three occupants of the library at the time: a female Pachy alternately putting tomes away and selecting ones from a list on the cart she was using named lady Natasha or Frik, a gangly young Parasolophus alternately referring to many notebooks and texts while examining that ghastly artifact named sir Tarion and a diminutive Microraptor studying other tomes and texts and a notebook not his own on an adjacent table by the name of sir Bentfeather. Postal Bird 76 flew a circle over their heads before coming in for a landing on the table next to the latter, startling the excitable creature out of his concentration.

“Awk!… Don’t do that!”, Bentfeather looked up clutching his chest. “You’d have likely given me a heart attack!…”

“Um, sorry…”, 76 said softly. “I hope I’m not disturbing anything…”

“Well, I don’t think you are.”, Bentfeather said, looking over at Tarion, who was oblivious of the disturbance. “The boy studies hard, but I think he should have had a breakthrough by now…”

“Deciphering takes time, I’m told…”, 76 said. “I just dropped in to tell you some wonderful news!”

“Just one second…”, said Bentfeather as lady Natasha wheeled over the cart, offering several tomes to the bird. “No, the runes are not in Ceratopsian script, and it’s not in any of their dialects…”, he looked some more. “And the same goes for Sorolophan and Raptorian, too…”

“Then what is it…?”, lady Natasha asked. “We went through just about every dialect known to Dinotopia!”, she grudgingly placed the tomes back on the cart.

“Maybe we should try the human dialects.”, Bentfeather suggested. “The ancient forms of the languages of people washed ashore millennia ago should have brought their languages with them, and written them down besides… Tarion, do you think that could be a possibility…?”, Tarion merely nodded as he was still engrossed in his pile of notes. Bentfeather nodded that she could continue looking, and she presently did.

“And now, my fine-feathered friend…”, Bentfeather straightened his crimson head plumage and smiled at 76. “What is this grand news that you have flown across Ebulon to tell me…?”

“Well sir, I have just been in the Skybax aerie, and you would never guess who was there…!”, 76 said to him. “Pilot Dennison had Tebo in there; and the lad actually groomed her steed!…”, he chuckled. “I think Tebo is getting over his fear of the Skybax!”

“That is just wonderful!”, Bentfeather said. “The lad told me that he has had that fear since he was a child, poor kid.”

“I just thought you might want to know…”, 76 told him.

“And how is the rest of my little traveling band?…”, the Microraptor asked.

“Well, our cart pullers are helping the staff with their duties, Mister Baker nearly bested officer Manchester in a sparring match, Seamus is getting cooking tips from Otto, so he says…”, 76 ran off all he knew. “My cohorts are relaying news of us between Waterfall City and Canyon City… And a close friend of mine might be working too hard.”, he smiled with his eyes because his beak would not. “Why don’t you all take a break for a while…?”

“No!… We can’t stop until we decipher this artifact!”, Bentfeather told him. “If we do not, the whole of Dinotopia could fall to ruin!… Tarion, how are you coming with the artifact? It’s been a few days, you know…”
_

TAG: Tarion, Hazen and his characters. Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - the ebulon library

Tarion shook his head, "Non of this makes sense, we know it's a machine, that it obviously seves a second purpose other than to encase the sunstones, and the sunstones themselves are not causing the frequencies, but to be honest these ruins are only part saurian, Bentfeather i think you had it right in suggesting other dialects, because from what i've seen, this artifact contains, ancient saurian, Greek, Roman, Latin, Myan, and even some egyptian! We may need a larger database to work with, in the mean time if we can find a way to slow down the sounds of the frequency we may be able to determine if that seves another purpose or not. Also we need to see if the five inset sunstones actually serve another purpose or not, in the mean time, the only four saurian terms i've been able to decipher are Power, Light, Speed and Sound" he looked frustrated but determined... he then snapped his fingers and went to a section of the library and came back holding several books, each one was a book over learning human languages, (which also contained their forms of writing) he smiled, there was greek, roman and latin, He'd have to search his archeology books for egyptian and myan but he was sure this lead to something!, with a renewed faith he set to translating and writing notes

Tag: Tarion, Bentfeather, Lady Natasha, and Postal Bird 76

[o8jedi]

OOC: I hope you don't mind that I take control of Elaina Denison for this post as I seek to develop April's character a bit more.

IC: April Manchester, Female Dormitories, Ebulon
_

April felt just like she looked. The reflection in the mirror emphasized her raggedy hair, slightly bloodshot eyes, and glazed-over expression. It was safe to say that she didn't sleep well last night. Something about that conversation with Hazen a couple days ago seemed to keep nagging at her mind and what bothered her the most was that she couldn't pin it down. Why does that man keep popping up in her thoughts? As she got dressed and groomed herself, she wrestled with that reality. Clearly, she needed a little chat to help sort things out. Hopefully, her Partner would help. Checking over her appearance one more time in the mirror, she went to get Morningmeal.
_

IC: April Manchester, Hazen Baker and company, Dining Hall, Ebulon
_

April went through Otto's buffet and searched for Artemis. To her surprise, most of the party wasn't sitting together. Redcrest was sitting with Hazen at another table and Polongo and Seamus weren't anywhere to be found. Either they already ate or they hadn't shown up yet. Still, Artemis was free to talk and this would be perfect.

"Breathe deep, my Partner," April said as she sat down.

"Seek peace," replied Artemis. "I can tell that you had a troubled night."

April smirked. "Indeed. As nice as Ebulon is, compared to our accommodations these past months, I must admit that I am . . . troubled."

Artemis paused after eating some feed. "About what?" she asked.

"It's that man," April replied, pointing her fork at Hazen. "Something he said to me a while ago is stuck in my mind and I can't discern why..."

Hazen glanced at his Partner's tray. Redcrest had a scoop of feed in her hands waved it around, trying her best to imitate the noises the Skybax made. "You shouldn't play with your food, Redcrest. It's not polite."

"Sorry," Redcrest said dejectedly. She promptly stuffed it all in her mouth and tried chewing.

"Not too much, either. I don't want you to choke." Redcrest swallowed it all in one gulp. "Then again," Hazen continued, "I'm not that familiar with Saurian anatomy."

After giggling a bit, Redcrest gave a slight moan. "My head hurts," she said.

"I told you not to take a big bite," Hazen countered.

"It's a different thing," she said. "I don't feel sick, it just hurts."

Hazen set his utensils down and began to look at her skull. "Did you bump it hard yesterday?" Redcrest shook her head. Hazen rubbed it carefully. When he brushed the bright red spot, she moaned a bit more. "I'm not a doctor," Hazen said, "but I think you're just growing."

"But how come it hurts?" she asked.

"Well," Hazen said, "you know the crest that Mama and Papa have? All grown-up Lambeosaurs have them, but the young don't. It's just a sign that you're growing up."

"How long will it take?" Redcrest asked.

"Many years," he said. "It'll be fully grown when you're ready to have a family of your own. I don't think the pain will last too long, but you'll have these little spurts. Then again, I don't have anything growing out of my head." He chuckled, which helped Redcrest feel a bit better about her headache.

"Can I go sit with Mama?" she asked after another bite. Hazen nodded and she took her feed with her back to her mother. Hazen went back to eating.

As the young dinosaur sat down at the new spot, April had finished explaining the conversation in question. Artemis hooted softly. "Perhaps you are beginning to reciprocate the feelings he feels for you."

"I am not!" protested April. "I admit that my opinion of him has been more friendly since we started this journey, but I'm not attracted to him! Certainly not in that way."

Artemis nodded. "I must admit, though, that he seems to have taken his feelings in stride despite how you've treated him."

"For the better," April said. "I'm sure we both know that such a relationship wouldn't work out. Both of us are under considerable stress from the situation." Artemis nodded as she spied the pilot Denison taking a seat next to Hazen. She glanced at April, who also saw what was transpiring, and the Saurian wondered how she would react.

It took Hazen by surprise that Elaina Denison would want to sit at his table, let alone adjacent to him. That surprise, more than anything, made her aware of his staring at her. "Yes?" she said, breaking the ice.

"I'm sorry," Hazen said. "I'm just a bit . . . nervous to be in your presence."

"Nervous?" Elaina asked.

"Well, you have quite an illustrious pedigree. I recognized who you were after seeing portraits of Arthur and Will Denison. It's only fitting that Will's descendant be in the Skybax Corps."

"It is true that flight is in my blood and I thank you for the compliment. However, try and relax; I am a human like you." She glanced at the stranger's expression. "You seem more than just awestruck, though."

Hazen chuckled. "Yeah," he confessed. "I have a deep admiration of daring pilots. Some of my favorite stories as a child involved fun-loving fliers engaged in dangerous missions against overwhelming odds. While there are certainly no enemies here, you and the Corps embody their spirit."

Elaina smiled, again flattered. "If you were so passionate about flight, why didn't you enlist?"

"Being a dolphinback, my studies were geared more to acclamation to my new home. Furthermore, I--" Hazen tapped his glasses. "-- wouldn't have made the cut." Elaina nodded, understanding.

The conversation continued and, from afar, both April and Artemis continued their observation. Unfortunately, they were too distant to hear any words that were spoken, but it was clear by their body language that they were being very amicable around each other. Artemis glanced at April, whose nostrils were flared and her jaw was clenched. "Something the matter?" asked the Saurian.

"No," replied April, "Why?" April stood up and disposed of her dishes before heading off to parts unknown. Artemis found this action to be very telling indeed.

Redcrest looked up at her Mama. "Why is April mad?" she asked.

"I don't think she is," Artemis explained to her daughter. "Sometimes we do funny things when we're confused."
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Tarion, any and all.

[Thundertail]

IC: Life around Ebulon.

Seamus had followed Ricky around Ebulon after observing Otto in the kitchen, there hoping to discover some of his recopies; a thing the monster of a man kept a guarded secret. The man was not as gruff and formidable as his appearance suggested, and said they could have all the supplies they needed when they left Ebulon. He had told Ricky to go to the subterranean gardens to gather some fresh vegetables for Eveningmeal, and Seamus wanted to go too; and because it was boring for him, Frak decided to join them; so downward they descended deeper into the bowels of Ebulon than either newcomer thought possible to go.

The main stairwell only went to the paddock level, but behind the hay storage bins there was a sloping passage that led to some slick and dangerous natural steps indeed; and presently the sound of rushing water could be heard, and instead of the dim passages getting darker, they brightened up considerably. The lichen on the walls gave a greenish tinge to everything as they passed an underground rivulet, and it widened to a great chamber that seemed to be carved from eons of aquatic action. The light here was stark and nearly blindingly bright, caused by Sunstones imbedded in its’ ceiling; and on the floor of this chamber were rows and rows of growing things, and both Seamus and Frak looked at this garden in wonder.

“This is how we get our fresh food…”, Ricky smiled at their awe. “Of course, this makes us self-sustaining when only us regulars are here.”, he led them down a row of squash plants. “When the Skybax are in training, we need to receive regular caravans of goods.”

“Er,… How deep are we?”, Frak asked, afraid of a cave in.

“This cave system is three hundred and eighty feet below the desert.”, replied Ricky. “The thickness of the sand in this area is only eighty or so feet thick, and the rest is solid bedrock…”, he chuckled. “So never fear. We are quite safe!”, he looked around. “I see some of your supplies are already harvested.”

“Mushrooms…”, observed Seamus when he opened a sack. “Where do those grow?”

“In the adjacent tunnels.”, Randy pointed to the entrance to a darkened chamber at the far end of the chamber they were in. “Mushrooms do not need light… But the other vegetables do, and they will be harvested before you leave.”

“That’s good to know…”, Seamus said. “When do you suppose we ARE to go?…”

“I suspect when your friends are finished with their research.”, Ricky told them. “Now, if you two would give a hand…”, he picked up a wicker basket and started loading some potatoes.

Seamus and Frak found other baskets and began following suit, harvesting tomatoes and zucchini in that order at Ricky’s direction. Being small baskets, the chore was done in a matter of moments, and the group presently retraced their steps back up to the kitchen. At Otto’s direction, they placed the produce next to the stove or on a preparation bench as directed, then politely told to leave the kitchen, minus Ricky who stayed to help with the meal. having nothing else to do, both decided to go their separate ways: Seamus to the paddocks to chat with Polongo, and Frak to his quarters to wait for his mate, lady Natasha…
_____

IC: Intelligence of Nicolai Sanders’s activities, and orders from Waterfall City.

Postal Bird 76 and his cohorts had been coordinating things all morning, and all were busier than they had been in days; for the news and conclusions have been coming in since mid afternoon yesterday, and the news was grim indeed! Since everyone in Ebulon needed to know what was going on, they all flew in different directions to summon all personnel there; and so this news could be said all at once, they decided to summon them all to the library. As 76 located and told Hazen, Redcrest and Artemis, 165, 218, 93 and 362 scoured the rest of the complex and told both guests and staff to hurry there for a meeting.

76 flapped onto the table where Bentfeather was working, noticed that lady Natasha and Tarion was already there, bent to their work; and spoke to them. “We have been conferring with parties all over Dinotopia, and have news grave indeed.”

“What is it, dear boy?”, asked Bentfeather for them all.

“It is best if all are present before I tell.”, 76 told him. “My cohorts are summoning them as we speak…”

It took nearly twenty minutes, but all the rest of the inhabitants of Ebulon began showing up by ones and in groups. April Manchester was the first, staff in hand like she was going into battle; and presently Wendy, Otto and Simon came in too. Hazen with little Redcrest was next, followed by commander Powell and pilot Dennison; and soon after that Seamus, Manix, Frak and Ricky showed up. They all were led by their Postal Bird escorts, and even though Polongo and the rest showed up; Randy was absent because his girth was too large to fit through most of the passages. When Postal Bird 76 observed that all that could come was present, minus the aforementioned Randy and the Skybax flyers; he gathered his fellow Postal Birds onto the table and began speaking the news that hung so heavy on his and his cohorts’ hearts.

“Thank you all for attending.”, he began. “My brethren and I have been relaying news of the particulars of our mission, and have complied some grave news to tell you all…”, he flapped and cleared his throat. “I think it best if each of my cohorts relay their own news in their own words…”, 76 turned to the first bird that seemed ready, and nodded. “If you would?”

“Awk!… I have been in contact with peoples that inhabit the Outer Island.”, began Postal bird 93. “Whole armies of Dromeosaurs have taken over Culebra, and control the whole western coast of the island. They have captured all caravans, and have suspended all fruit export from the island.”, the bird coughed. “Many of the towns and outposts have been captured, and any news from those places have suddenly stopped.”

“Good gods!”, Bentfeather shouted.

“The only outposts not effected are the ones on the eastern and northern coasts of the island.”, 218 took over the dialogue. “Reports from Scutemus on the Jaggertooth coast reports that all overland trade has ceased, but no sign of attacks have become present. Canyon City reports they will stage an attack on a secluded peninsula a mile from there as soon as the flyers can be positioned there.”, she coughed. “Pionapsis at the gulf of Haraz also reports no Dromeosaur activity, and saurian guards plan to stage there by boat.”

“That sounds like a good strategy.”, commented officer Ajax. “It sounds like they are going to take back Culebra with the classic Pincer Maneuver…”

“There has been reports of unexplained disappearances near Red rapid canyon many miles from here.”, 362 began. “These are fruit pickers and foragers; and their people say that, when they search for them, all they find is the implements they brought with them… And sometimes spots of blood are found near them.”, he fluttered. “That area is nowhere near any known areas controlled by carnivores, and foul play is feared.”

“You mean we have murderers about?…”, Frak exclaimed. “This just gets more terrible by the minute!”

“Waterfall City has dispatched special people to investigate this phenomena.”, 165 said. “But unfortunately the agent they have sent has not reported back in many days.”, he looked at Tarion. “They have sent someone you may know, kind sir… Do you happen to know a person named sir Falokar?…”, Tarion nodded and made a comment.

“The Council suspects that a group of Dromeosaurs has infiltrated the mainland, and is in search of the artifact on Nicolai Sanders’ behalf.”, said 218. “This is added to the party that has been pursuing your group since you left Waterfall City…”, he crowed. “It is therefore the Council’s conclusion that they are going to take the mystery of the artifact seriously, and all proper measures will be taken to stop Nicolai Sanders at all costs.”

“A fact that we at Ebulon will assist in any was we can.”, commander Powell said. “So far all of you have seen our hospitality, and rest assured that any other form of assistance will be gladly provided.”

“The conclusion from the Council is that we must find out why this artifact is so important that all this fuss is going on.”, 76 said. “Therefore it is highly recommended that the artifact be deciphered with all due haste!”

“We are making some progress as we speak.”, Bentfeather told him. “However, we are running into some certain problems. For one thing, the glyphs are in a form that neither of us can decipher; and another thing is it is in a dialect unknown on Dinotopia, a most frustrating corundum to say the least!”

“I don’t think that’s acceptable…”, 76 said. “The council wants results, to be sure; but if we don’t know what we’re up against, I fear that all hope is lost…!”
_____

IC: Petronas, Dirge and their crew with Falokar at Red Rapid canyon. Their deceptions and his gradual trust.

The dawn came in Red Rapid canyon, and Dirge creaked as he rose from the foot of the steps at the back of Vox’s gypsy cart; groaning and mewling in discomfort as his bones reluctantly responded, then he yawned toothily and looked around. None of his troops were around the general area, but many of the rest of Petronas’s crew were already up preparing the fire for the morning’s meal. Inside the cart he could hear rustlings and light bumping; and that was when he remembered their captive held within. The lad, who fought well, and whom he was trying to find out why he was here, was evidentially an early riser like himself. No doubt he might have to relieve himself and other such chores, but since his true nature was not yet known; certain measures would no doubt have to be taken lest he escape and divulge their presence to authorities, or worse attack the whole caravan before doing the former!

What was equally without doubt was the fact that his troops would need to be present or at least on alert, before this stranger by the name of Falokar would be allowed a measure of freedom. Going around to the front of the carts, he found three of his kin asleep among the cart pullers and the remainder of the caravan; so he kicked his guards awake, telling them to be silent through gestures and began to rouse the rest. Once all was up, he gathered them together and began to speak quietly to them.

“Our guest’s name is Falokar.”, Dirge told them softly. “However, he has not divulged anything else.”, he turned to the wagon to listen, and found it fell silent. He continued in a much softer tone. “I have told him that the artifact was stolen from us, and you are helping us find it.”, he pointed at Petronas and his crew.

“I don’t understand.”, Petronas said just as softly. “Why did you tell them that?”

“I told him a story all carnivores share: The oath to protect the entrances to the World Beneath, and where dangerous items of the past are hidden.”, he turned to the rest. “And this fact I want you all to corroborate on.”

“You mean go along with?…”, Peter asked. “like tell him a story?”

“Exactly!”, Dirge chuckled. “I take back my comment last night!”, then he looked at the rest. “Petronas will be the Archaeologist, and Peter will be the scholar. You have confirmed by your study that the artifact was taken from the Outer Island by other Archaeologists, but it is very dangerous. The hieroglyphs in the temple told of great disaster, gloom and doom, if the artifact is not returned. Peter will say that there are tales saying such in the Waterfall City library. The rest of us are here to retrieve the artifact and return in to its’ rightful place… Got all that?”

“I do, but does the rest?”, asked Petronas, looking at Vox and the rest.

“I got it…”, Vox said. “But what will be our role in it?”

“You are the guide and supplier for the expedition, of course!”, Dirge said. “And the rest are helpers…”, he chuckled. “Now, Falokar is stirring as we speak, and will no doubt need to perform his business… All troops form strategic perimeter around the cart; and try to act as nonchalant and peaceful as possible…!”, this was said as a warning.

Dirge rose and went to the back of the cart, his other soldiers fanned out and milled aimlessly around the cart; and the others watched on as he worked the key in the lock on the door, lock coming off and he gently pushed the door in. Falokar was inside in what seemed to be a trance, slowly balancing and posing in strange contortions; but that didn’t last long as all of a sudden he leapt out of the cart and landed inches from Dirge! Dirge instinctively made a defensive stance, but saw the lad had continued his posing instead of attacking; and Dirge’s troops began to rush over, some brandishing weapons, until they saw the same thing and stood down as well.

“My, those are real fancy moves…!”, Dirge smiled at the still concentrating boy. “But if you would, please don’t do that again… Nearly scared the lot of us half to death!…”

Dirge turned and waved Falokar to follow. “We’ve been thinking that you might want to stretch your legs a bit…”, he turned to see he wasn’t being followed. “Please… This way, if you would…”, Falokar seemed to come out of his trance and nodded before complying. “Are you hungry?… Need to do anything?…”, no response as the lad walked at his side.

At a nod to his left, the rest of the troops milled back the way they had come, constantly keeping an eye on their captive. “Sorry for being so jumpy. It’s in our nature to be on high alert…”, Dirge told him as he led him to the campfire. “Well, I’m afraid it’s leftovers from last night, but…”, Dirge sat by the fire and the lad hesitated before doing likewise. “We try to make due the best we can…!”

“Of course! What I told you is all true.”, Dirge told him after Falokar asked his question. “We are just here to get the artifact and bring it back to our home for safe-keeping.”, he looked at his troops as well as some of Petronas’s group drawing near, and nodded for them to just act natural. “We don’t really mean anybody any harm…”

“You see, sir…”, Petronas sat on a log across the campsite from them. “Their story bares validity… I have been to the Outer Island, and I have seen the runes in the temple there that depict a great disaster; and that artifact they seek is the key to it all.”

“I have seen a few tales in tomes in the Waterfall City library saying as much.”, Peter said from across the way. “These tales say the same things.”

“Those two are sir Pandora, and his apprentice, Paul.”, Dirge said. “We had them plead our case in Council…”

“They wouldn’t listen to us, I’m afraid.”, Petronas, alias Pandora, told him.

“It seems their brand of justice favors only those that put them in their positions of power!…”, Peter, alias Paul, said.

“Now my boy, we can’t tout another’s system of justice…”, Dirge scolded much softer than he had a mind to. “We carnivores have our laws and they have theirs.”

“Food’s ready…”, the older human called, ladle in his hand.

“So you see, Falokar…”, Dirge said softly. “We must know your position on this: are you here for the Council, or is there another reason why a well trained fighter is in these parts and at this time?… It is no mar on you, mind you. Just that we have our task to complete, and we need to know more about you in order for us to trust you further than we do…”, he smiled pleadingly.

Even though most of Petronas’s group seemed to go about their campsite duties, they listened on with the rest as Falokar digested this information. Sure he could see their position based on what he was being told, but his orders were clear to him. But instead of either saying he sympathized with them and would help them or his true mission to try and stop them, he took on an air of half-trust before forming the reply he hoped would not anger them to violence!…
_____

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

Coming Clean

I.C -Falokar with the traveling "Archeologist, scholar and guards of the outer island"

Falokar sighed and looked down figuring it best to come clean, "I was in the middle of my training in Treetown when I caught word of a group of carnivores attacking citizens and towns in this area, now before you jump to conclusions and take offense to that, I was honestly on my way to Ebulon, because that's where I grew up, and where my mentor lives, His name is Fao Long, and he taught me everything I know." Falokar stopped for a moment as if remenessing then continued, "I have to admit that when I first saw you and your caravan travelling I was almost certain that you were the attacking Carnivores, and when you attacked me, that seemed to confirm my fears, I was sure I would become dinner that night, but after hearing you explain everything so far, I'm not so sure anymore. Also I beg your forgiveness for the earlier rudenesses I commited I was unsure of you and your men and thought it best to keep quiet. But then again one might see it from my point of view, and understand that I felt i was in danger, and given how things were going I'm pretty sure I was" he laughed a little uneasily then looked off to the side and then back to the ground, "Anyways, I'm sorry for how I acted earlier, but given the situation one really can't be too careful right now..."

He gave a small smile at Dirge, who for the most part looked very serious.

Falokar swallowed unsurely then looked around, they seemed to be completely alone and in the middle of nowhere, though that wasn't what Falokar's nose and ears told him, he looked around at five particular spots where he was sure there where some of Dirge's men hiding behind dunes....

Tag:Dirge, Falokar, any and all

[Thundertail]

OCC: Please note that Red Rapid canyon is a CANYON, not a desert! Even though it is on the edge of the Great Desert, it has clusters of desert trees and scrub thanks to the underground rivulets that feed the canyon (Red Rapid canyon is part of the Amu canyon, and the Amu river is in it’s base; and only twenty or so miles from Canyon City.). There are more rocky crags there than sand as in a desert, and tropical and desert fruits can be found there; and thusly the foragers come there to find that food.

_____

IC: Dirge and company with their captor, Falokar at Red Rapid canyon.

“I see…”, Dirge said after digesting that information.

There was no real reason to fear Falokar at all, for it seemed this lad was not sent to dissuade them from taking the artifact. Nor had he any idea of their true plan, for he was just there to investigate the reason why the dinosaurs and people they ate had gone missing from their kin. His presence would certainly pose a snag in their plan, for he could no doubt divulge their presence to the authorities! Dirge thought it wise that he try to sway Falokar to their cause, or at least make it so he would support them if all else failed. At this point the decided to tell him the truth of their carnivorous nature, and he changed his tack once again.

“You are here because of the disappearances around here… Well, the truth is we are carnivores; and not many things of the plant nature are digestible to us.”, he took on a righteous and innocent look. “We merely hunted a few times to gain our sustenance, and for no other reason… You would not begrudge our getting food, would you?…”

“In our homeland, carnivores run free; and the others that live there accept the fact as a necessary danger to live among us.”, Dirge told him. “Eating meat is not a practice we are very proud of; but is a necessary evil we must do to live.”, he bowed his head. “If you are looking for the ones who did this, it was us… And we are sorry…”

As Falokar weighed this confession and was deciding what to tell Dirge, the older human came over with bowls; some filled with last night’s beans and some containing freshly heated gruel, and handed out which bowls all sitting around wanted. The younger human was over stirring the contents of the cauldron there, and Falokar’s look told he wanted to know who they were.

“Um,…”, Petronas, alias Pandora, spoke up. “They are my as sistants for the trip…”

“I am Frank…”, said the older human. “And this is my son, Dave…”

“My dad…!“, The younger one took the cue and rushed over to give the older one a fatherly hug; overdoing things way too much, and a thing the older human would certainly beat the tar out of him later for - but not right now! Petronas rolled his eyes, but the rest there chuckled about it as the younger one went back to his work.

“Sons should learn to mind their manners, eh…?”, Dirge chortled, then got serious. “I also follow my father’s wishes, as with the wishes of my ancestors. That is why we protect our land and the holy sites in it from trespassers. There are dangerous things in those places, and would spell disaster if they should fall into the wrong hands…”

“We have failed!…”, commented Sludge as he wandered by, on guard duty but acting like he was merely milling about. “Those that call themselves scientists have snuck in, and have stolen something they know nothing about!…”

“We MUST get it back!”, Snarl said as he too milled by, also on guard duty. “Thus is why we are searching for it…”

“We will, my claw-brothers…”, Dirge told them, eyes telling them to guard the perimeter of camp. “Once it is located, we will take it back home.”

“We are expert trackers.”, Snapper said as he took a bowl of beans. “We have found it to be somewhere close by, and this is the reason why we are in this place.”

“Now, if we only knew the exact location, we could take it away and no one would be the wiser. We would then depart and no one would be hurt save for the scientists wishing to study it…”, Dirge said finally, then looked at Falokar.

“We were wondering if you had any information, no matter how vague, on where this artifact might be; but since you say you are merely investigating the disappearances around here, I am dubious that you do…”, he saw that Falokar struggling with thoughts, and waited for him to say what was on his mind…

_____

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - Falokar Makes Choices


Falokar shook his head and bit his lip a little, "Well Dirge, it really isn't my place to judge others, especially one like myself, you say you're a carnivore, well as it happens so am I to a degree... I won't eat another saurian, but I do eat small mammals like mice, rats, and other rodents. I'm actually what one would call an Omnivore, I eat some meats, and some amount of vegitation, mainly trying to keep a steady diet of both.

As for you're situation with the council, I really can't help you with that, because I don't know anyone on the council in Waterfall City. However I may be able to help you out to some degree... see You said some scientists are taking the Artifact in this general direction correct?" He indicated the direct, direction to Ebulon, "Well before I left I remember that the City was in the middle of updateing their library, I didn't know why, however if the scientists are going there, that updated Library would provide them with help deciphering your artifact."

Falokar then looked down at his feet and then back up at Dirge, "I have my own reasons for going back to Ebulon, however, if getting that artifact back is really you're concern then I suggest we cut across this canyon and then change our direction to a more south westernly direction, from there we should find a main road to travel on that will lead us all the way there."

I.C - An Interesting Descovery...

Tarion had been working on the artifact for several days now without much progress... he had hoped to find something by now, yet something wasn't quite clicking, there were runes that definatly looked saurian, but wern't a form of saurian he was familair with, and the others didn't look saurian at all... he stared at the t-rex skull his arms crossed and just trying to think, (Who made this, why, and what purpouse could it serve?) Then something came to him... the day that they had heard the weird sound coming from it, only he and lady Natasha had been truely affected by it in the room, and yet Bentfeather had not, but why? He tried to find the answer hoping for something, the only thing that came to his mind is that they were of a different variety of saurain, He and Lady Natasha were herbivores, and Bentfeather, was an Omnivore, then it hit him, That was it right there! The Artifact must have been made by a saurian breed other than herbavores! Meaning Carnivores or Omnivores, and if that was the case, then that meant that the runes were saurain after all, Tarion was just trying to translate it the wrong way! He immediatly got to his feet and ran to the back of the library and came back with several books and tombs on Carnivore Saurian Dialects. "There, maybe this will help!" he thought outloud to himself as he began pouring over the book with renewed inspiration.

Tag: Tarion, Bentfeather, any and all

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and Tarion, solving the secret of the artifact.

It had been many days since Postal Bird 76’s grim news, and both he and Tarion had been hard at work trying to decipher the Tyrannosaur head artifact. Tarion barely slept as he poured over text after text, trying to unlock the mysterious runes; but Bentfeather was sensible about his study and took many breaks to refresh and ponder other things to break the monotony. He had just finished contemplating wind currents outside, on the head of the great colossus of Ebulon; clearing his mind from the latest bout of study without success, but he had been gone for many hours as his mind wandered out across the sand dunes.

Even lady Natasha had gone for a brief hiatus with his mate, and to consort with her Pachycephalosaur cohorts that worked at Ebulon; and even she was gone when Bentfeather arrived back in the library. He saw the young Sorolophan still bent over notes he was writing, comparing it to notes taken from other texts; and on the bench that contained the artifact were other notes and drawings derived from still more tomes. He flapped to the nearest sheet of paper next to the artifact and read to himself what was on it:

(In Tyrnnosaur)
Rune seven: “fuggah-evazz” (Avoid-[Accusation] wrath…)
Rune two: “vox-mauldoo” (City [of] great worth… power[?].)
Rune three: “peux-bohr” (The [holy] nobles forbid it.)
Rune fourteen: “essula-clerog” (Enter [?] then leave…)
Rune one: “royo-thak” (…old amulet [of], cursed.)
Rune six: “raakle-lechi-mauldoo-bohr” (If you uncover unusual [things] of much worth [danger], it is forbidden.)
Rune ten: “graap- tyrissa-lopffi-pilsar-evazz” (You can not hide from the carnivore’s injury[?].)
Rune eight: “schie-corarra-ragoth” (Everything will be [rendered] dead.)
Rune twelve: “pozz-letara-tikken-touka-wen-peux” (…To be revealed, knowledge from a [?] god.)
Rune sixteen: “viss-graap-tyrissa-epomb” (Look in the land of the tyrannosaurs.)

Bentfeather looked up from the note. “You have deciphered the runes?!… Just fantastic!”, he scanned the note again. “So, it was in Tyrannosaur all along!”, Tarion indicated he hadn’t finished deciphering all the runes.

“Mmm-hmm…”, Bentfeather pondered what was deciphered. “It seems to be indicating that amulet, and a great curse is put on it… look at all the terrible things it describes!”, he looked further. “And that a great god would return and unlock it’s secrets…”

“Perhaps the god that placed it there in the first place put it in the land of the carnivores…”, he offered after Tarion told him something else. “Do you think it means the Rainy Basin?”, Tarion didn’t think so.

“King Othgar,… Sunstones of many hues,… Posiedos,… The treaty of Aurimon,… Strutter technology,… Rituals of the Outsiders and the Dolphinbacks,…“, He looked around at all the other notes, and the tomes accompanying them. “I see that you are trying to cross-reference to other legends…”, he scanned some other notes, reading aloud one pertinent tale:

(In Hadrosaurian, Ceratopsian and Sorolophan. A legend gleaned from many tales in and around Treetown.)
“In a land far to the east a great king made a fantastic city, one filled with great wonders and technological advancements. The king built the city for his wife, the love of his life; but she did not love him, for hers was the master of the sea. Jealous, he took her away and locked her in a deep place; never to be seen by anyone nor the love of her life again. The master of the sea was angered, and sent great floods and earthquakes to the city; destroying everything and everyone in the city, and sending the city to the bottom of the bay. Beaten, the king vowed revenge; and in his stronghold on an island outside the world, made a thing of great power, vowing to unleash it on the world. The people of the world heard of it, and wrested it from his grasp; then banished him to the deep and hid the object in a deep place on the island outside the world. The king vowed he would return and find the object and exact his revenge on the entire world, and this would only be a matter of time…”

After a time, Bentfeather looked up at Tarion and posed his conclusions. “So you think that king Othgar made a device that can destroy the island.”, he looked at the artifact. “And that this thing and the jewel within is a key to that device?”, Tarion formed his opinion, Bentfeather either nodding or posing as the facts clicked into place.

“And this ‘island outside the world’,… It could mean the Outer Island, you know.”, said Bentfeather. “My Partner, Nicolai Sanders went on an expedition to the Island to observe the primitive Dromeosaur tribes… It could be that he discovered this place where was hidden the device Othgar made!”

After Tarion’s comment on that fact, Bentfeather continued. “In one of his notebooks, his guide wrote that he had gotten lost in the jungles there.”, Bentfeather took a concerned look. “They say he was stung by a poisonous plant; which caused sickness, fever and madness…”, he shook his head. “For all I know, Nicolai might think he is king Othgar reincarnated…! Oh, this is terrible!…”

Bentfeather shed a tear as he poured over a random account in a tome at his feet, Tarion giving solace with words and concerned looks. After a while Bentfeather became stout and delved into the research in earnest, and soon both were engrossed into piecing details of their research together; and before Eveningmeal was served in the mess hall that night, they finally knew what, exactly, was going on in the Outer Island…
_

TAG: Tarion, Hazen or all the other characters, any and all!

[tarion]

Tarion, sat down to the first decent meal he'd had in a long time.

"Quite frankly I'm not sure what we can do about this Bentfeather, if the dromeasaurs have that kind of power, then what in all of Dinotopia could possibly stop them?" tarion asked while eating a penne pasta in creamy alfredo and garlic sauce with mushrooms and diced tomatoes.

He looked to Bentfeather hoping that the microraptor might have some plan or idea, even an inkling would be good, and if he didn't then maybe one of the guards or lady natasha might. He was only hoping that they just didn't give up...

"Then again we are near some of the skybax corp. perhaps they could be of assistance in a situation like this, but over all I feel this situation must be brought to the senate at Waterfall City. Perhaps they can devise a solution."

[o8jedi]

IC: April Manchester, Hazen Baker, and Redcrest, Gymnasium, Ebulon
_

Since the day she saw Hazen and the pilot Denison conversing over Morningmeal a few days ago, April has made every attempt to avoid Hazen Baker since seeing him would give her a rush of indignation. Unfortunately for her, she found no such luck as she entered the gym to fulfill today's training regimen for he was playing Tag with his Partner Redcrest on the main sparring mat. Apparently, he set the rules up so she wouldn't hide among the exercise machines. Hazen was clearly "it" and April wasn't entirely sure about how hard he was trying to tag Redcrest. However, Redcrest seemed be doing a good job of avoiding her pursuer. Perhaps, it was an exercise in self-defense for the young Hadrosaur; if she's in grave danger, run.

Several minutes later, Redcrest sidestepped Hazen as he made a lunge for her. Surprised and off-balance, he began stumbling toward a rack of staves. Sensing disaster, he intentionally fell, stopping just before crashing into it. Redcrest laughed out loud, seeing how silly her Partner was. Hazen sat up, chuckling to himself. "You're getting too good for me!" Hazen said to her.

"Try harder!" Redcrest encouraged. Hazen remained seated, panting. Redcrest walked up to Hazen and said, "But I wanna play more!"

When she was in range, Hazen shot out an arm and tagged her on the shoulder. "You're it!" he cried as he got up and darted away.

"No fair!" Redcrest protested as she began to chase him.

After a few dodges, he looked up and saw April. She still had the steely gaze he noticed from her lately, although it had softened a bit. Redcrest took advantage of the distraction and said, "You're it!" when she tagged him on the thigh.

Hazen looked back at the young dinosaur and smiled. Redcrest darted out of his reach. He looked back up and said, "Why don't you join us, April? It'll be a bit of a change."

Seeing the two play slightly eased her indignant feelings, but they were still there. "I'm here for training," she insisted. "If you want to join me, then you can."

"Come on," Hazen pleaded. "All work and no play makes April a dull girl." Redcrest giggled at how he was teasing April. April fought the urge to glare at the young one and instead smiled at her.

April stepped closer to the two. "All right, then, just for a few minutes, then I must get to my regimen," she said, while looking at Hazen the entire time. Again the steely gaze returned with all its intensity.

Hazen returned the look with one of puzzlement, as if asking what tiny thing he did to deserve this. "Well, in that case," he said as he tagged April. "You're it." Hazen backed away, keeping an eye on April, her glare become even colder and more steely. Something was on her mind and he was definitely the cause of it.

Whenever April was it, she seemed to focus her attention on Hazen. As a result, Redcrest seemed to spend the least amount of time being it, which pleased her to no end. A few minutes later, April announced that she was finished. "Okay," replied Redcrest, "I'm tired of this game, too."

Hazen smiled at the young one. "Why don't you rest a little and watch us spar?" The Hadrosaur scampered to the side to watch them.

April smirked as she tossed him a staff, as if hoping that he would volunteer for a sparring session. Hazen caught it and sized up her posture, her emotions, her very essence. If he kept his wits about him, he ought to do well. Finding his focus, he assumed a ready stance. In a flash, April began her strikes. After defending that flurry, Hazen backed off and said, "No quarter again. I wonder why you're mad at me." Redcrest heard the teasing and, like before, giggled. April responded with another flurry. Again, he defended himself, opting to move out of the way as much as he could. "Pity," he said, "I thought we were beyond this."

Quickly, April gave a feint and Hazen went for it. Before he could react, she hit his open side hard. No external wound would be visible, but he would be feeling it for a while. She then said, "If I'm angry right now, which I'm not, it's because you must have slighted me."

Hazen rubbed where he got hit and nodded. He clearly didn't buy her statement that she wasn't angry, but he knew he was getting somewhere. "Now, that begs the question what did I do?" He resumed his pose and mused aloud as he fought. "Now that I think about it, we haven't been interacting regularly lately. Sure, I see you for briefings, but that's about the extent of it. Probably a week or so ago was when we last got together." April jabbed him in the gut, nearly knocking the wind out of him. She followed it up with a hit on his shoulder, sending him to the floor. Hazen wheezed slightly. "It's not like I didn't want to talk to you or anything. All you had to do is ask."

"What is there to talk about?" April said as she stayed in an offensive position, despite the fact that Hazen wasn't ready yet. "Am I not interesting enough?"

Hazen again got in a stance. "Of course you are. What are you talking about?" This time, he made the attacking moves. "I'd like to do more than just spar and defend myself from your opinions of me."

"Then why aren't you taking the time to do so?!" April demanded as she easily countered one of his strikes and, again, hit him in the gut. Hazen fell to the ground, winded. Redcrest stood up, worried. April held her hand up to the hatchling. "He'll be alright. He just needs a break."

Hazen laid on the ground, looking up at the officer. "Now we're getting somewhere," he said breathlessly. He stood up and, once ready, again played defense. April began attacking. "You're not opposed to the idea of my thoroughly picking your mind. Why?"

April replied, "For better unity as your guardian." Hazen saw an opening. He tried to disarm her, but she held on with one hand before dodging his counterattack. Before she could retaliate herself, Hazen moved out of the way.

"I think it's something other than that," Hazen said as he readied himself. April again went on the offensive. "Methinks you're ready to open up to me," he continued, "but it's not just that. You want me to do so." Again, April made a strike. Hazen barely dodged it and danced out of her reach. "You want me to be, at the very least, one of your best friends. I can see that, I suppose. We have been around each other for a few months now. But that's not it, either." April and Hazen stood at the ready, sizing each other up. This was more than a sparring session at this point.

An exercise machine clanged nearby. April looked to see who was occupying it. Denison. Hazen glanced at the pilot as well before looking back at April. The expression she had for her was as steely, if not more so, as the one she sent at him. Then it clicked. Hazen and Elaina had a long conversation a few weeks ago. April must have been eavesdropping. "You're jealous."

April's head snapped back and the fires of Hell burned in her eyes. "Impossible," she growled as she took strong strides toward Hazen.

Hazen gripped his staff a bit tighter. "You are," he said as she made a powerful overhead strike, which he barely blocked. "You wished it was you I was talking to that day. You wished you were smiling, laughing, enjoying my company." April tried to jab, but Hazen sidestepped, grasping onto her staff and looking at her tense face. He said quietly, "I'd say you're falling in love with me."

Clearly, he touched a raw nerve. April shouted as she pulled the staff away from him. Much like the time he was beaten up by her, she had a passion and fire in her fighting that made her an extremely dangerous opponent. Hazen had improved so much since then. He wasn't the same, green person as back then. He may lose this fight, but he felt that he could at least last the full round. Blow after blow rained down toward him. Relaxed, Hazen blocked and dodged all he could, keeping her at a comfortable distance and waited for the right opening.

"I'm not in love with you," she said back in between strikes. "I can't be."

"Or do you mean you can't allow yourself to be?" Hazen retorted. "You probably don't want to risk your mission for personal feelings and you certainly don't want to be hurt again." He was getting at the heart of it. Her technique was becoming sloppier, more based on her emotional state than on a calm mind. "But you wouldn't be falling for me unless you knew I wasn't like the others. Which is it going to be, Miss Manchester? Let your prejudices rule or take a chance?"

With a shout, April swung her staff and Hazen saw his opportunity. She had overextended herself. With a quick movement, he hit her on her exposed back. The shock of being hit forced her to drop her staff and Hazen swept her legs from under her. She hit the mat with what seemed to be ground-shaking thump. Hazen kicked the staff away as he finished his move. Both humans panted hard from their workout. Redcrest was clapping at the performance both of them had done, but more so for Hazen who had just beaten April. She started to head down from the seating to talk to them both. Hazen stood up straighter and walked closer to April, who was staring at the ceiling, almost in disbelief of what happened.

Hazen walked closer and held out a hand. April looked at it as if it was some foreign object. "It's alright," Hazen said calmly. "I'm not going to hurt you. Besides, I think we're both done with this."

Hesitantly, April took his hand and he pulled her up. They stood within inches of each other. April swallowed. "How can I trust you about this?" she asked quietly.

"Promise not to slap me?" Hazen replied.

"Why would I sla--?" Hazen interrupted her sentence with a brief, gentle kiss on the lips. Reflexively, April raised her hand as if she was going to slap him, but held it there. She looked at Hazen and at Redcrest, who had just arrived to congratulate them. "I think I should go," April said.

Hazen nodded. "It's alright. Probably a lot to take in."

April gave a small smile at him before heading to the females' dressing room. Hazen sighed to himself. She didn't seem quite ready for a relationship yet, but he got the feeling that she knew that he had plenty to offer her. "You did a good job," Redcrest said to Hazen.

"Thanks," Hazen said, "but April did a good job, too. I think we both learned a lot today."
_

TAG: Bentfeather, Tebo, Ajax, Tarion, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Petronas and the bad guys with Falokar, at Red Rapid canyon.

As two days passed on, the group of disguised bad guys entertained their unexpected guest with all the niceness as their ruse to him allowed; and slowly the lad grew more and more used to these carnivorous creatures on a mission of mercy, or so their stories were divulged to him. He listened to tales of Dirge’s clan on hunts and to Petronas and Peter as they related the basic points of Archaeology, this done under the ruse of their pseudonyms of Pandora and Paul. The rest of the group, under the guises of their fictitious names, told of many exploits they had undergone, many of them truly concocted in their imaginations, as it was so with the two humans who pretended to be father and son; but the tales of Hydra and Vox were of the more or less true variety, as this pair had evidentially participated in many daring deeds and quests for riches - if only in the vicarious way.

The Dromeosaur patrols came and went, and in the interims there were discussions of duty, honor, fighting prowess and bravery; and of those that dared not agree there was games of skills that they imbibed in if all diplomacy failed. Several times wrestling matches or sword fights broke out; all of which their commander Dirge allowed as it both honed their skills and entertained him to no end! Falokar watched on as days grew to nights, each of those spent in the back of the gypsy wagon; but after several times being locked in there, Dirge decided to allow the door to be unlocked from then on to prove their level of trust was improving. Such was so even among the rest, and time after time the lad was invited to take a hunt with them or give a hand in sentinel duty; few of which he actually wished to do, but went along more to keep an eye on them than to actually hunt or guard. Things like this were the case as another pair of days passed, and at a hastily put together Noonmeal of potage and Harpymimus meat; gentile banter ensued like it normally did.

“…That reminds me when my great grandfather was beaten in a hunting duel by a deaf Dromeosaur from the city…”, Snarl was saying in response to Sludge’s comments about how hard the Harpymimus was to catch. “The city dino used his other senses, which were honed to perfection; hid and stalked like a true hunter and took my grandfather’s sash as a trophy.”

“All saurians still hold their primitive instincts, no matter how civilized they carry on.”, Ripper said. “It only takes being in the wild before their civilization wears off.”

“Our new friend is civilized…”, Snapper said. “Yet he fought us like a true warrior.”

“Perhaps he might be up to a little contest…”, Dirge suggested. “A little exercise to work off this delicious lunch, perhaps…?”, Falokar stammered and tried to beg off.

“Oh please?…”, Sludge said. “It will be fun!…”

“Perhaps a harmless contest of ‘Tooth and claw’…?”, Dirge suggested, and all his troops nodded. “It is a simple game of wrestling and skill. The use of teeth or claws is not allowed, and the object of the contest is to knock your opponent off his feet.”, it sounded intriguing to him as he still tried to refuse.

“We can draw lots to see who will be your opponent.”, Dirge continued as he saw the lad thinking. “To make it more challenging we could make it the best out of three falls,… Or maybe best out of five falls…”

Maybe we should show him how it is done…”, Snapper said as he nodded to Ripper, who was his equal in all skills. “It is really easy… GO!”, just as Ripper got up and entered a clear area beside the campfire, Snapper lunged.

The two Dromeosaurs circled each other, hands clasped over their backs and hunched over to make a lower center of gravity; snapping snarls of accusation to warm their blood as they both sized each other up, keeping their eyes on their footing, surroundings and opponents in that order. All of a sudden Ripper lunged forward, meeting Snapper in a chest-to-chest pushing contest; and after several head buts disengaged from this, separating with several tail slaps apiece. Twice more they circled before Ripper leapt six feet in the air to land on the other side of Snapper, which caught him off guard for a tail swipe; and the Dromeosaur stumbled to the ground! Swinging tail and feet in opposite arcs, Snapper leapt to a standing position in an instant and hissed scornfully; then he made another charge. Ripper swiveled and avoided him easily, then they smacked heads once again as they passed by; squaring up for another run.

All during this the others clapped and hissed encouragement for one opponent or another, and Dirge was gladdened to see Falokar joining in on the excitement; but Peter, Hydra and Vox looked on with horror, trying to hide it from the young one. At a hissing gasp, Dirge looked to see Ripper now on the ground; and he cursed himself for missing the move that did that! Instead he saw them engage once again in a pushing contest, pushing and gyrating to unbalance the other until Snapper swung out of the assault and scissored Ripper’s legs apart with a twisted tail as he passed; sending his opponent sprawling in the stony dust. This infuriated Ripper, and he got up to chase Snapper around in a tight circle before lunging at his neck; sending both sprawling in the dust. As their contest was only for three falls, and neither could get the upper claw; Dirge made a yipping growl to halt the combatants where they lay.

“Enough!…”, he shouted. “I judge that this contest is a draw…”, then looked at Falokar. “Well friend, you have seen how it is done. Now would you like to try it?…”, Falokar nodded a bit, thinking of how he could use his own skills in this strange, ceremonial combat; and Dirge saw his thinking to be an affirmative sentiment. “And just so things go well, how would you like for ME to be your opponent?”…
_

TAG: Falokar, Tarion, Hazen, any and all!

[tarion]

Falokar ( A new Game?!)

Falokar took a deep breath, and then stood, a look of determination in his eyes, "Well, if you want me to that badly, I suppose I can give it a try." he said, against Petronas, and Peter's cries of protest. "Besides," added rotating his shoulders, "I could use the exercise..." with that he gave a mischevious grin and stepped out into the opening and waited for Drige to arrive as well.

Dirge too stepped into the center and before Falokar had anytime to think Dirge was upon him... quickly falokar dodged to the left by rolling then quickly got to his feet and came up around Dirge, as the dromeasaur was turning around.

Falokar lept skyward then flipped over Dirge's back and landed on his other side, Falokar followed this even by dropping down and sweep kicking Dirge, or rather he tried to sweep kick but got Dirge's foot with his tail instead, quickly Falokar wrapped his tail around Dirge's foot and yankeds as hard as he could.

There was a pause and then to Falokars surprise Dirge was yelling as he went down face first into the sand and dirt... a hush fell over the camp... Falokar had taken down Dirge in a matter of minutes, and was the first one to even do so!

Falokar turned around and walked over to Dirge, a smile on his face, "So... is that my point?" he asked jokingly, he then smiled at Dirge and offered a hand to help Dirge to his feet.

Falokar was thrown for a loop, when he was literally yanked forward and fall flat on his stomach, Dirge was laughing, "Well there's a lesson for you.. don't offer help unless it's wanted."

Falokar grinned, "So that's how you're going to play is it?"

Dirge grinned back and nodded, (there was no way that kid was going to take him by surprise like that again)

Falokar lunged forward , just as Dirge did, however as the two went forward, Falokar tucked and rolled under Dirge, then got to his feet and performed a back flip onto dirge's shoulders... he then wrapped his tail around Dirges' neck and leaned backwards, letting his body fall, this time they both went down, and before Falokar could move, Dirge had landed on him.

Falokar rustled around to get out from under Dirge who was making it hard on him by pushing his body down on the young proarcheopteryx.

This pattern continued for some time, until both were truely exhausted and had ended in a tie... they returned to their seats, as the camp around them cheered them on.

Tag: Dirge, Falokar, Any and All

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company at Ebulon. The final report and further orders.

The final conclusions were penned to the final report concerning the Tyrannosaur artifact, for all study that could be done to the object had been done; and even though the mysterious energies coming off the amulet within proved impossible to study for it’s danger to saurians, the legend of the artifact was plain to all who studied it.

“Well!…”, Bentfeather said as he put his pen down and rolled the scroll he was working on with a kick. “I’m glad THAT’S over!… I’m glad you made all those crucial conclusions or we’d never get through this.”

Tarion concluded that it was intended as a gift to the then queen of Chandara, a gift with an evil purpose; for once the artifact was opened, all the creatures that then served her would be the property of king Othgar. However that plan was thwarted by the then powers of the island, and his instrumentality was lost forever, or so it seemed. Over the eons rumors spread as to the nature of the artifact, along with speculation on where it might have been hidden; and as all efforts grew exhausted in the location of the artifact, the tale degenerated into rumors and fairy-tales. Many of these tales had migrated all over Dinotopia, and became instilled into the legends of the areas of greater population.

“And it was a good thing this was a ‘pet project’ of yours all along!”, Bentfaether flapped to Tarion’s side, who was working on another paper of his own. “Too bad you did not know until just recently!…”, he chuckled. Tarion had become interested in certain tales, and was drawn to this investigation as a result; though the young Archaeologist never knew until he began to decipher the artifact, and found out that this artifact and his self-imposed quest was one and the same.

“And the way time had spread the news all over Dinotopia…”, said Bentfeather solemnly, noting in his mind the many tales that grew from this artifact. It was all for the good as the evil trail the artifact took across Dinotopia; full of murder and deceit, things that seemed to the most superstitious among them as the object’s curse. “How tales grow taller with each telling, eh?…”, Tarion nodded absently.

“You better hurry with that so it can go out with the next Skybax courier…”, Bentfeather warned as Tarion rolled up his scroll. As the lad put the scroll in the letter pouch near the door, Bentfeather left the library with Tarion hot on his tail feathers. “I wonder what they’re serving in the mess hall…? I’m starved!…”

All awaited the Council’s recommendation on the next course of action concerning it, and any strategic plan once that course of action was devised from Canyon City. Alternately, Skybax pilot Dennison and Commander Powell would leave Ebulon carrying correspondence to and from Canyon City and Waterfall City, leaving one or the other in charge of Ebulon until the other returned. The Archaeological Guild found the research on the artifact intriguing while both the saurian guard sect and the Skybax corps found news of what the artifact could possibly be used for most disturbing indeed!

The nefarious plan that Nicolai Sanders had concocted with his fevered mind had to be stopped, but none of them knew exactly what that plan was; and a way had to be made to find out what it was. The correspondence coming through told of this plan, and none of the friends that took the artifact across Dinotopia liked what everyone was planning for them! By what was being voted upon in council, they were to take the artifact to Waterfall City and transport it to the Outer Island; then they were to find where mister Sanders’ stronghold was, then they had to help thwart him before he could unleash what ever he had discovered. This decision would put them all in mortal danger, and it was only fair that they ask each person so they could volunteer or not; for it was unfair to make any of them place their lives in danger for such a sketchy operation, which might fail despite all their best efforts!

Many days passed, mostly due to the time lag for delivering the correspondence, and finally the time came for the Council’s plans and decisions arrived at Ebulon; and commander Powell had the Postal Birds currently stationed there to summon everyone to his office, he carrying the grim news as he entered after everyone who could fit in there had arrived. It was so silent as he entered that one could hear the communal heartbeats of everyone in the room, if anyone was so attuned to it; and the silence was shattered as commander Powell sat in his swivel seat and it squeaked into position alarmingly; and after organizing the current parcel he carried in on his desk, he began to speak to them all.

“Well my friends…”, he began. “The Council’s decision concerning all of you has arrived, and their decision is as all have feared.”, he looked up at all of them, whom were hanging on his every word. “Those that wish to will escort the artifact to Canyon City, and from there it will be transported to the Outer Island by Skybax. The Council reasons that it would be best to use it as bait to find out what Nicolai Sanders is up to, and use it as a tool to bring down his power play.”

“How can it be used as that?”, Bentfeather asked. “Once he learns it is close by, he will stop at nothing to obtain it.”

“It is most likely that he has recruited all indigenous persons on the island.”, officer Ajax said. “With an army like that, he could overrun any force we send before him.”

“Perhaps we can do like we did at Waterfall City.”, Tebo Lewis said. “Create a false artifact and let him capture that.”

“No my friend.”, Bentfeather told him. “Nicolai may not be in his right mind, but he is not stupid!… He would recognize it as a fake the moment he sees it.”

“Be that as it may…”, commander Powell interrupted. “The decision of the Council is final. The artifact will be taken to the Outer Island via Canyon City, and somehow it will be used as a bargaining chip to negotiate peace.”, he smiled a bit. “Now. Is there any volunteers here that will help transport the artifact to Canyon City?…”

“Well, I have been with it from the beginning.”, Bentfeather sighed. “I will go to see the conclusion…”, Tarion agreed as well, only in a more reluctant way.

“Where sir Bentfeather goes, so will I”, Tebo said volunteered.

“A stout boy…”, commented Bentfeather.

“My mate and I have been appointed to protect sir Bentfeather by the mayor personally.”, lady Natasha said, Frak nodding agreement. “We are the mayor’s personal body guards, and are under orders. We will also go.”

Olu and I must also do our duty, which is to protect the Dinotopian people.”, officer Ajax said. “It is our duty to protect sir Bentfeather and the mission he is on.”, April Manchester voiced a similar comment for herself and Artemis.

“You think Randy would go along with this?…”, asked Bentfeather, and Tebo nodded. “I knew the old boy wouldn’t pass up an adventure!…”

At length they all agreed one way or another to escort the artifact to canyon City, for all of them were eager to see the quest to it’s completion one way or another. Seamus said that Polongo would not mind going the rest of the way, only a few handfuls of miles; and began suggesting ways to reload their cart. Redcrest would be hard-pressed to be away from her mother and father, and would go along as well; and because everyone else was going, and for his self imposed task of caring for Redcrest; Hazen Baker wished to come along too, though it secretly went against every ounce of common sense he possessed!…
_

TAG: Hazen, Tarion, any and all!

[tarion]

I.C. - Tarion's room within the confinds of Ebulon

Not long after their meeting to determine the next step in the journey of artifact, Tarion had excused himself from the group and had gone to his room. He has yet to come back out or make himself available, in fact he's missed two meals so far.

Tarion paced the length of his quarters over, and over again... something just wasn't quite right about all this. Why in the name of all of Dinotopia would any saurian, create a device ment to cause harm to other saurians? Tarion went over the ideals in his mind, but something just wasn't adding up... the only way that the artifact would not affect the user would be if they were carnivorious in nature... Bentfeather was a good example of that, true enough his meat eating tendancies only went as far as being an insectavore, but that still counted. Secondly was the problem of the "Mother Sunstone" the one sunstone that could power the whole of Dinotopia for the rest of the eternal age.... it had been cut in to fragments and made to be part of such an atrocity as the artifact, his searching had been in vain!

Tarion tried to keep his emotions cool as he thought about it... perhaps, just maybe on a sliver of a chance there could be a way to repair the mother sunstone, if they could remove it from the artifact.

And finally the last bit of what was bothering him came to mind... He would be travelling to Canyon City soon, at around the same time that is soon to be betrothed would be arriving there.

He picked up the small picture he had of him and Asrial and smiled... She would of course be delighted to see him, as he would her, but then he'd have to tell her about what was going to happen next, and that would take some major courage to do.

He placed the picture back down and then went over to his bed and laid down, this was all to much for him at the moment... he'd have to rest and think it over. After all "Do one thing at a time" seventh code of Dinotopia.

Tag: Tarion, Bentfeather, Any and All

[Thundertail]

IC: Upon leaving Ebulon.

The only difference Tebo Lewis could see between getting ready to leave Ebulon and when they left Waterfall City was the ease that all the supplies they would need were now packed and loaded onto their carts, where in Waterfall City they had a much harder time procuring their supplies where here everything was provided and immediately available; and the assistance needed to actually do the work was right there, and they were ready to move out an hour or so after all of them wandered down to the paddock area to load their personal effects. This Randy agreed with Tebo on as he indicated that he had promised his father that he would keep an eye on him, and where ever Tebo went, Randy would be right there pulling his cart! Fairly soon Randy’s cart, along with the one being pulled by Polongo, were lined up at the paddock entrance of Ebulon; everyone aboard and all cargo, the top-secret kind as well as the utilitarian kind, were there. All that needed to be done now was to say good-bye to their hosts, and perform all the niceties befitting kind persons upon leaving one destination for another.

“Well, I guess this is it, my friends.”, Elana Dennison said as she shook lady Natasha’s hand. “Just remember to head due east after you round the edge of Ebulon.”, she told them all as she shook everyone’s hands that had hands. “From there take the northeast road and you will skirt the leeward side of the Forbidden mountains.”

“Oh, we will my friend!”, Bentfeather told her.

“Thanks for the map you had drawn up.”, Tebo said as he opened it. “With this, we should not get lost.”

“Just for the record…”, officer Ajax reminded. “Was there any hostile activity along that route?”

“All has been quiet for more than forty miles all around.”, Dennison said. “There hasn’t even been reports of missing saurians in the area… The agent they sent to investigate it must have handled the problem.”

“Who was it, if I may ask?”, asked Bentfeather.

“Nobody would say…”, Dennison looked unsure for a moment. “But anyway, it is best you not concern yourself with that matter. What you’re currently involved with is vexing enough for you to be worrying about that!”

“Well, it has been a wonderful time being your host these many weeks…”, commander Powell said. At last as he arrived. “I hope your mission goes well, and it reaches it’s conclusion with as little problem as possible.”

“You two, my friend!”, said Bentfeather as Otto opened the great doors to let in the burning air of the desert beyond.

Surprisingly, very few of them looked back as they exited the great stone face of Ebulon; lady Natasha, Frak and Randy doing so only; as they had met true friends there, the others having mixed sentiments about their visit though all of them would be missed there. As they rounded the stone monolith and headed east as the road they met up with an hour later, the going got immediately easier now that they were out of the sands of the desert proper.

Still the rocky scrub withering in the intense desert heat wore on them all as they were used to the relative stone coolness of the citadel, and those that could began sweating profusely despite the sandy desert breeze that was marginally cooler than the surrounding air. Day turned into night, and onward they went despite the darkening sky; for their pullers were well rested and begged to go just that much further, even though safety told them to stop and make camp for the night. Eventually they did so, and found a sheltered arroyo that was well protected by the winds to retire for the night…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C Leaving Ebulon

Tarion had just finished packing his shoulder bag, and expedition pack when a sharp knock came to his door. "Come in" he said destractedly as he searched for any last minute items to pack.

He turned to see Commander Powell enter his room and look at him, "Sir Tarion, your flight to Canyon City will be leaving in approximatly ten minutes, I suggest you get to the Aviary before then."

Tarion looked at him a little confused, "Why? Am I not traveling by airship?"

Commander Powell shook his head, "It was requested that you be there before the rest of the team the reason why was not explained, but was simply stated that you would know why."

Tarion frowned slightly, "So wait... does that mean I'm going by Skybax?"

Commander Powell nodded, "Indeed it does, be ready to go in five minutes time."

Tarion nodded, "Very Well, I shall be there soon." with that he continued packing his bags.

Tag: Tarion, Bentfeather, any and all

[Thundertail]

IC: Petronas, Dirge and company. The wait pays off!

As the many days wore on in their camp, Petronas was growing ever more impatient with everyone in the group; but it wasn’t due to any of them personally, it was because Bentfeather and his troop was taking an awfully long time at Ebulon. He knew they were there to hide from capture, and suspected he would try his hand at deciphering the artifact; but Bentfeather was a novice Archaeologist at best, and his expertise would produce an inaccurate account of it. Falokar had said that Ebulon was receiving many shipments of new books for their library, subjects including the various facets of Archaeology; but still Petronas doubted their success, just like he doubted their luck at turning Falokar to their cause even though the talented lad sure seemed to be siding with them. That behavior could only be a ruse, Petronas voiced to commander Dirge one night in seclusion; and the Dromeosaur agreed, saying it was the reason why he still was under constant surveillance.

All but Dirge of the troopers were out today, doing their various chores as their expertise allowed. Ripper and Snapper went to Ebulon to spy on the place from the rocky hills as was done every other day, Slag and Sludge went hunting and took Falokar along with them, Snarl was with Vox pulling guard duty around camp and the rest were hanging around camp doing domestic chores or what ever else they were apt to do. By the looks of everyone currently present, Petronas thought they looked just as bored as he was! He sighed and yawned widely, bringing the attention of Dirge to him.

“Shall I give you a pillow, your highness…?”, Dirge sneered as he walked by.

“When is this waiting going to end?…”, Petronas replied.

“You are not a hunter, so you do not understand our golden rule.”, Dirge said. “When stalking a victim, it is always best to lie in wait. A hunter often loses his prey if he is not patient.”

“Yes, patience is a virtue…”, Petronas paused as he suddenly spied Peter and Hydra deep into a horn-pushing contest, sending up dust to choke them both! “But waiting like this is taxing my virtue!…”

“Aw, you’ll get used to it!”, Dirge smiled. “Just look at the progress I’m having with young Falokar!…”

“I don’t trust him…”, was all that Petronas could say when twin Dromeosaur wails were heard from the other side of camp.

“We bring news…”, Snapper reported as everyone currently in camp gathered around them. “Activity at Ebulon!”

“A caravan has just left there.”, Ripper said. “It is headed east along the mountains.”

“Two carts.”, Snapper said. “One pulled by Ankylosaur, the other by Parasolophus.”

“Was sir Bentfeather with them?”, Petronas asked hopefully.

“We did not see.”, Ripper said. “We were too far away.”

“The carts and pullers match the ones that entered Ebulon.”, Snapper told them. “It can be assumed that they are one and the same, and identical passengers are present.”

“Well done, Ripper and Snapper.”, Dirge told them, then turned to those present. “Now we must formulate a plan to capture them!…”, he saw Vox and Snarl converging from their latest circuit of the camp. “Guards! Front and center!…”, then told them the news after they ran over.

Fairly soon they began to toss suggestions and opinions of plans they had in mind, each rejecting the other’s suggestions as soon as they were voiced. Commander Dirge let them all say what they wished to say while watching what was going on, and said nothing as he had already conjured up a plan of his own. After less than an hour, Slag and Sludge came back into the camp with Falokar taking up the rear; and all they had managed to catch was two Harpymimus and a multitude of minor scratches as their quarry led them through a small cactus forest. They dropped their kills near the fire, where the older human began preparing them, and stared guiltily at the rest in camp, who were staring at them accusingly.

“We’re sorry this is all we got…”, began Sludge, but was cut off by Dirge.

“That’s all well and good, but we have even better news!”, Dirge said. “The artifact is now on the move…”, he looked at Falokar. “It was in Ebulon all this time!… Who would have thought it!”

“Now we can return it to it’s rightful place!…”, Slag said.

“Unfortunately, the caravan that is carrying it contains a lot of people.”, Dirge told them all. “They will not take too kindly of us just going there and taking it.”

“They will fight back!”, Sludge spoke the obvious. “We must fight them!”

“This is true…”, Dirge began to nod. “And it might be necessary to physically hurt them, I’m afraid.”

“This is too bad…”, Petronas, alias Pandora, pondered. “I hate violence!”

“Falokar. I want to ask something of you, and I hope it does nothing to effect what you think of me…”, Dirge asked almost desperately. “If I were to ask you to help us take the artifact, would you do it, and would you do it the way I say it without question?…”, Falokar paused to think for many moments, then nodded unsurely.

“That’s excellent, my boy!”, Dirge beamed. “Now, in order to halt them enough to take the artifact, we need some kind of diversion…”, he looked at Vox and Hydra. “And I think I got a perfect one!… Here’s what we do…”…
_

TAG: Hazen, April, Bentfeather, Falokar, Frik, Ajax, Dirge, Tebo, Olu, Artemis, Polongo, Randy, Ripper, Peter, Snapper, Sludge, Vox, Hydra, Snarl, Slag, 76,… (In other words, “All hands on deck!” LOL!)