"A Quest Of Friends"

[tarion]

Falokar layed behind one of the many hilly type terrains keeping a watchful eye on the carts, they sorta just seemed to be loafing around, as if they were moving without a set destination. Now Falokar was by no means a navigator, or a herbavore, but, that didn't seem like travel activity to him. He then voiced his concerns to Commander Dirge.

"Hey Dirge,!" he wispered, as Dirge was right on his left flank, "I think somethings up, they're not moving like they're traveling, they're sorta just waiting around... are you sure they don't know we're here?" he asked a little concerned.

He waited to get an answer and looked back, it was then that he saw it, a young hadrosaur was with them, from the looks of things it was barely over the age limit of hatchling, and from the colors of it's skin pattern Falokar could easily judge that it was a female, (they tended to be more vibrantly colored)

"Dirge.. I... I don't like this, they have young ones with them, I'm not chickening out, but I'm not gonna harm a kid either, especially if it's a girl." he looked at Dirge, an honest look of determination and sencere worry in his eyes.

He sank back on the hill a little and looked at Dirge, "Listen we don't have to fight them, Just let me tail them and I can guarantee that I will get the artifact your after. After all part of learning ninjutsu is the ability of stealth" he was waiting for Dirge's reply when all at once he heard a cry come from the caravan, it was saurian, but then a human voice yelled out "Ambush! Everyone take deffense!"

"Great..." Falokar muttered under his breath, one of the cartpullers had caught wind of one of the dromeasaurs, he watched as the entire squadron began to emerge, and heard screams coming from the caravan.

"Well this plan couldn't have gone worse" he said to himself as he too jumped up and ran over the hill and straight for the caravan, seeing several pachysephalosaurus guards standing at the ready, Falokar grinned, those guards didn't know what they were up against, but they would soon find out.

Tag: Everyone involved

[tarion]

I.C The Ebulon Aviary

Tarion was frowning slightly, he really didn't like this plan, but apparently that was all they could do. Bentfeather had been quite ingenious though to suggest that they take the artifact and he take the research and reports so that the dromeasaurs would not have the two together. He was climbing aboard a Skybax named Sora, when he heard a shout somewhere off in the distance. That was his cue to go, for in fact they had planned to use the shout as a way to draw out those dromeasaurs that had been stalking them. Sora took off into the air with Tarion gripping onto her body closely,
"Calm down little one things will be ok." she said as they began to fly in the direction of Canyon City.

Tarion nodded, it wasn't the plan that was his problem anymore, now it was the fact that he was remembering how much he hated flying.

tag: Tarion, Sora, Any and All

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, en route from Ebulon
_

The pace they were making for Canyon City was exceptionally brisk. Perhaps the weeks of rest in Ebulon provided a wonderful spring in the pullers' steps. It was a bit of a sad moment to bid farewell to Ebulon, however their senses of duty compelled them to continue with their mission, even if there was a nagging voice in the back of their minds that begged them otherwise.

Redcrest sat in her father's car and, surprisingly, she was quiet as if forgetting how tedious and boring their travels in the past had been. Hazen had taken his guitar out to play a little music, simultaneously trying to keep the dry air from affecting the instrument's playability. He started with a nice little traveling tune to keep Redcrest happy, but it soon drifted into a romantic melody as he saw April, sitting astride Artemis, nearby. The two of them had kept to themselves since their sparring session, adding to the sense of tension between them (although it was of a different sort).

Hazen put away his guitar, amid protests from Redcrest, and went to join Seamus at the front of the cart. The older man commented, "You certainly have a new song in your heart and it shows through your music."

"Thank you," Hazen replied. "I think April and I have, well, reached an understanding."

Seamus nodded and chuckled slightly to himself. Polongo hooted softly as well, as if reading his Partner's thoughts.
_

April kept a vigilant eye on the horizon, knowing that the roving band of marauders were nearby. She heard Hazen's melody and blushed, something that did not escape Artemis' equally vigilant glance. "My daughter told me of your recent sparring session with Hazen," the hadrosaur said. "He has certainly made great strides."

"I know," April said back. "He has challenged himself in ways he never thought possible. He has learned much more than self-defense."

"What about you?" Artemis asked back. "Did you learn anything from training him?"

April was slightly caught off-guard by the question. "Well, yes," she said trying to deflect it, "we all learn from whatever actions we take."

"Well, what is it?"

April bit her lip. She didn't want to necessarily talk about it, but she couldn't withhold her feelings from Artemis for long. "I guess I learned that males aren't exactly all simpletons. That some do have decency and respect for me." She swallowed as she looked away.

"You have strong feelings for the Dolphinback, don't you?" Artemis observed. April reflexively scoffed at the comment, but silently conceded the point.
_

Polongo mused aloud, "Did I ever tell you how I met my mate, Seamus?"

Seamus, thinking on the same wavelength as the puller, said, "Well, I do recall meeting her at the same time as you, but you never told me your point of view."

Polongo chuckled a Lambeosaurine chuckle. Hazen turned to the male and raised an eyebrow. Polongo continued, "She was my first customer at my tea stand. She was at a crossroads in her life and did not know one vendor from another. She rattled off a list of ingredients for her favorite teas and I nervously assembled them in all in one mixture. Needless to say, the concoction couldn't have tasted too good." Both Seamus and Hazen laughed softly.

"But she came back to get a refund. I apologized and explained that I was still new in the tea business and begged her not to judge me too harshly. She sympathized with me because of both of our inexperience and from there, love blossomed." Polongo turned to Hazen. "Perhaps you found fertile soil of your own?"

Hazen smiled slightly. "One doesn't kiss and tell," he said. But he nodded. "I think I did, though. She's beautiful, very loyal, and . . . fascinating company."

"What are you telling us for?" asked Seamus, "April's the object of your desire."

Hazen chuckled. "I think that when we're safe, we'll both entertain the possibility of romance."

"Perhaps," said Seamus, "but time can also be an enemy. If you don't act soon, it may be too late in her eyes." Hazen nodded, pondering their advice. A few minutes later, he flagged April and Artemis over.
_

"I suppose he's everything my ideal husband should be like," April confessed after some prodding by Artemis. "He's not pushy, clearly affectionate, and genuinely cares about my well-being. I now know that he is a good soul."

"You know that he is attracted you," Artemis reminded her.

April sadly sighed. "My duty is to protect the caravan; I can't let my feelings risk their safety."

"April," Artemis said, "have you forgotten that my husband and daughter are here? And that I love them both with all of my heart? I certainly understand the concern you may have. After all, there is a danger in attachment, but one assignment will follow another. If you want a family of your own, you will need to be able to balance these things, not push one aside for another."

April swallowed upon hearing this. It was a bitter pill to swallow. Perhaps she was too cautious. She glanced up and saw Hazen flagging them over. "I think we need to have a chat," April noted as they moved closer. When they were within earshot, April asked, "Yes, Mr. Baker?"

Hazen sighed, quickly determining how to best state this. "April," he said, "I know it's no secret about how I feel about you. I just think that, since we've been around for so long, we might want to see if . . ."

"Hazen," April interrupted, "I know what you're asking for. And I've been thinking too that . . ." Artemis gave a loud bleat as something caught her eye. April turned to see where her Partner was looking and spied Saurians in the distance. Dromeosaurs. "It's an ambush!" she cried.

Hazen clamored back into the cart to get his staff so he could defend the caravan. The timing couldn't have been worse, but safety came first. Redcrest bleated, remembering the Allosaurs back in the Rainy Basin. Hazen put a hand out to calm her and, once she quieted down, he jumped out to face their oppressors.
_

TAG: Dirge, Bentfeather, Ajax, Falokar, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Hazen, April, Bentfeather, Falokar, Frik, Ajax, Dirge, Tarion, Tebo, Olu, Artemis, Polongo, Randy, Ripper, Peter, Snapper, Sludge, Vox, Hydra, Snarl, Slag, 76,… Ambush and capture at Red Rapid canyon!
_

OCC: This is going to be a loooong one!…_

As they broke camp the next morning, nothing seemed amiss as they set off once again; for it was almost like nothing amiss had happened as they all did their morning routines. Just like the day before, Randy and Polongo pulled their carts with renewed vigor, and Artemis and Olu carried their Partners like they weren’t carrying anything; and pretty soon the whole group began feeling a cheer that sent whistling and light singing through each passenger, and even Hazen was tempted to take out his guitar to play a tune. The stony road they went down was hot and dusty, but at least the scraggly trees they passed seemed to be growing thicker with every mile they traveled; and every now and then the sparse flecks of grasses and weeds were seen shooting up from the bases of many trees and rock outcroppings. The best thing about the terrain they were currently traveling into was the somewhat cooler breezes that were coming through the area from the southeast, and this told them more than anything else that they were at last leaving the accursed Great Desert.

“From the map, we should be coming to a crossroads in a few miles.”, Tebo Lewis said as he consulted the map commander Powell had given them. “From there we turn left, and we will be on the road that leads to Canyon City…”

“And from there we can be rid of that ghastly artifact!”, said sir Bentfeather on his shoulder. “After we turn it over to the commander there and they dispense with it the way the Council wants, this whole affair will be over and we can finally go home!”, he looked at his new Partner with a smile. “You know, I still have to finish teaching you the arts of being a librarian…”

“I’m just glad to be out of that desert!”, Randy cut in. “That sand was beginning to grind under my eyelids!…”

“We’ll be done with this soon enough, you old toad!”, Tebo chuckled. “Then it’s back to the docks with you!”

Randy chuckled at the prospect himself until he looked ahead in the distance. “Hey guys… What’s that ahead?…”

“I don’t know, my friend…”, Bentfeather squinted. “It looks like another cart.”

“Yes it is.”, lady Natasha said as she looked. “And there’s something wrong with it.”, another look. “It looks like they’re in trouble…”

The cart had a rounded roof, and was at one time painted bright colors; but years of use and neglect had faded the colors into muted remnants of what they once were. The cart was tilted slightly askew, and crossed the entire road on an angle. The Ovaraptor that drove it was wearing plain trader’s garb, and on the ground near his Pentaceratops puller. She looked old and withered, and favored her left forelimb; which was the one her driver was rubbing as she winced and moaned. As the little saurian heard the carts coming closer, he looked up and smiled with his eyes because his beak would not.

“Hale, friends!…”, he called. “The old girl twisted her ankle, I suspect…!’, he tended to it a second before continuing. “If you don’t mind the wait, it will be a few moments…”, he went back to his work.

“Stupid rock…!”, the old dinosaur complained at a rock that was a dozen yards behind her rear left foot, almost at the road’s shoulder.

“That’s too bad…”, Bentfeather said, then turned to lady Natasha. “Think they need help?”

“Maybe and maybe not; but this will cause a delay…”, she replied, then saw officer Ajax and Olu come from the rear of their convoy to their right. “Could you see if they need help?…”, he nodded and they began to approach the strange cart.

Just Ajax and Olu had gotten to within yards of them, the injured beast bellowed in pain as loudly as she could; and before the noise died down, many large blurs streaked in from all around them. They were Dromeosaurs, lightning fast and trained for speed and skill; and before anybody could react, officer Ajax was on the ground with one of them at his throat!

“What th…?”, Ajax exclaimed, but that was all he had time for as he tried to draw a weapon.

Olu instantly found one on his throat, and another came in to sweep his legs out from under him; braying loudly at the instant outrage and equally instant overturning. Both guards tried to get up, but they were continually tackled and brought back down; neither had time to draw a weapon, and soon those were stripped from them as well, but hand combat with these quick beasts was futile at best as they tried to hold their own.

“I’ll cover you!…“, April and Artemis saw the attack and swept in to help, but another pair of Dromeosaurs performed the same procedure on them; and soon both guards were in battle, fighting nilly-willy amid several of their quicker foes. “HAAA…! En-Garde…!”

At the same moment another one leapt up, swatted lady Natasha off the cart and punched Tebo to the ground; where the Ovaraptor came stalking him with a sword, pinning him against the wagon wheel with the point.

“I give!… I give!…”, Tebo squealed, arms up in surrender.

A Stenoychosaur came to Polongo’s cart and ripped Seamus to the ground, kicking him until he lay motionless in the dirt; and Frak came down to help, but he was shoved off the road into the ditch. One of the Dromeosaurs at that time leapt in the back of Polongo’s cart and pulled Hazen up before tossing him aside to scrabble for the retreating Redcrest; and Hazen beat on the beast until attention was placed on him once more, and he was shoved down beside Redcrest as the beast drew out a large knife.

“That right…!”, the Dromeosaur croaked meanly at Hazen. “Protect Woggy!…”

In the mean time, Polongo and Randy couldn’t do much as they were still hitched to the cart. Polongo brayed and bucked; swinging his tail in hopes of unbalancing one of his attackers; but was halted when two humans with crossbows came pointing them at his chest, so he complied protesting after a while.

“I’ll bat you into next week!…“, Randy was doing no better, even though he was swinging his club tail in great arcs; but two Dromeosaurs were on him in a flash, lashing his tail to his neck with ropes until all he could do was waggle it uselessly. “Raptors…”, Randy struggled gloomily.

The Pentaceratops came over to glare and grunt at Randy, followed by a smaller Triceratops who did the same and stayed there, glaring at him. “Ok now, be still and you won’t get hurt…”, he told him. The Pentaceratops went to Polongo to push him back to an awkward position.

During this time two other Dromeosaurs came running into the fray, one dressed in leather like the rest and the other in something akin to a robe. “Take out the Pachys!”, the leather-clad one said, and the other began to engage Frak and Lady Natasha; who were trying to hinder the rest. The robed one swung around gracefully an d deftly blocked their every move, dodging their head butts and charges while kicking and chopping at their other forms of defense. The leather clad one provided back-up for many of the scuffles going on, weaving his way from one fray to another while making sure his troops did not mortally hurt their opponents.

In the mean time Bentfeather had leapt back when Tebo was taken away, and hid in the cart’s sleeping compartment for a moment; but not long as the Stenoychosaur leapt up and began searching for him; finally grasping him around his tiny chest one handed as he struggled to be free. The Ovaraptor had scurried away, only to return with a large iron bird cage; and the Stenoychosaur stuffed him inside. As the lock clicked home, Bentfeather struggled and rattled the door to no avail.

“Release me, you ruffians!”, he wailed. “This is an OUTRAGE!!!”

Just then Postal Bird 76 saw his chance to escape the battle. He was hiding in the basket, peeking out now and then to see what was going on, and saw just then that no hoodlums were near by. In one stroke he opened the lid and leapt straight up, flapping for all he was worth!

“Get him!”, squawked the Ovaraptor, who saw. “He’s getting away!”

One Dromeosaur scrambled to the roof of the cart and leapt an extra ten feet, but by now 76 was so high up that all he got was a fist full of feathers! “Missed…”, he said as he landed next to the cart. Postal Bird 76 made great haste to get as much distance and altitude from that place!

“He’ll give us away…”, the Ovaraptor said.

“Never mind that.”, the Stenoychosaur said. “Everyone. Let’s tie up our captives and get out of here!”…
_____

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

Falokar ran forward at the at the caravan as the various saurians got into battle and in the first two seconds he found himself face to face with two pachysephalosaurs, they looked at each other for a moment then back at him. Falokar took a deffensive possition and was ready to fight.

The first of the two pachies charged Falokar but only felt air as he flipped over it's body and landed behind it then rolled to the left as the other attacked, they both stopped and looked at him slightly confused, he'd just dodged both of them, something that was hardly ever done.

Falokar gave a small grin and gave a "bring it on" motion with his hands. The two charged again but this time Falokar fought back, he dropped to the ground then slid under the first one and kicked it's legs apart so that she ended up falling to the ground as Falokar slung himself out from under her, then vaulted himself off her back and onto the other's neck he then slid down their back and lept off peforming a flip in the air and landing a good distance away,

"Heh, nice try you two, but you're fighting methods could use some improvements!" he said scoffing as the one on the ground got to her feet, she glared at him...

"How Dare you!" she said angrily and charged him again, Falokar simply moved to the right a little and tripped her with his tail, then laughed...
"You know, if you're caravan will simply give up the artifact we'll leave you alone"

the pachy tried to get back to her feet but Falokar kicked her on a specific nerve in the neck rendering her unconcious.

He frowned a little and sighed, "Sorry to have to do that but I can't let you try and keep me occupied."

Just then the second pachy was charging Falokar who simply turned and looked at him and was gone before the pachy had time to react, he then felt a strange rapping on his head.

Falokar stood on top of the pachysephalosaurs head tapping his foot, then he bent down and looked the pachy in the eyes, "Hey there" he said playfully, he then flipped off the pachy's head and landed near it's feet, where he sweep kicked him to the floor and then hit the same nerve in this pachy's neck as well.

Falokar dusted his hands off feeling very proud of himself when he turned to see a dromeasaur advancing on an middle aged man, and the hatchling he'd seen eariler he scowled and ran up to them.

The dromeasaur Snapper was about to slash his knife down at Hazen Baker and the young hadrosaur when Falokar stepped between them and caught him by the wrist,

"Snapper! We're here for the artifact not the passengers, leave them alone, or else you'll have to deal with me, and I don't think you wanna go one on one with me."

to his surprise Snapper backed off and went on to another target.

Falokar lept off the cart and found himself standing in the middle of complete chaos, a postal bird was trying to escape, a microraptor was being captured and put into an iron cage, and none of the members of the caravan seemed like trained theves or fighters, except a few guards he'd gone up against.

Falokar looked around, the postal bird had gotten away, and the dromeasaur that had gone after it was holding a hand full of feathers, and the man Falokar knew as Sir Pandora was holding the iron cage with the micro raptor in it and gloating at him.

Falokar frowned and crossed his arms... something just didn't seem quite right about all this, if these where the bad guys that gave Dirge and his men so much trouble, why were the so pacifistic and for that matter why were they traveling with a kid?

A shout from Dirge brought Falokar back to earth as he looked around for anything wrong

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and Redcrest, ambushed caravan
_

The sheer speed of their assailants caught Hazen by surprise. As soon as he blinked, they were all on top of him. The flurry of activity provided enough of a distraction that he didn't see the Dromeosaur knock him aside as he went to capture Redcrest. Her cries of fear chilled Hazen to the core. Grabbing his staff, he gave the Dromeosaur a hard crack on the side, causing him to stop his pursuit. "Don't worry, Redcrest," Hazen said to her, "I won't let them hurt you." The Dromeosaur snarled as he pulled out a knife and taunted at him. Hazen gritted his teeth and looked back at the raptor, trying his best to be intimidating, but failing in every sense. "If you even so much as bruise her, I'm going to give it back 100-fold."

The aggressor scoffed, "You?! You're outnumbered and you don't even have a blade. How can you hope to get revenge?"

Hazen gripped his staff tighter. "Your overconfidence is your weakness."

"Your faith in your friends is yours!" the marauder retorted. He raised his hand high when a robed creature came in and interjected. Reluctantly, the Dromeosaur left. Before Hazen could thank his savior, or at least prevent him from doing any more harm to the party, he left.

Hazen then turned to the cowering hadrosaur, putting his arms around her to comfort her. Hazen knew that the caravan had been overwhelmed by these Dromeosaurs. His peripheral vision clearly indicated it. There was no way any of them could get away without suffering major losses. He looked at Redcrest and said, "Listen, we're going to need to surrender."

"I'm scared, Hazen!" she said back.

"Me, too, but these beings aren't entirely without honor. We have to give up now and try to break free later." He hugged the dinosaur tightly. "I'm sorry it had to be like this," he said, beginning to cry as well.

Another Dromeosaur appeared. Hazen threw his staff at the Dromeosaur's feet. "We surrender. Just don't hurt her."

The raptor grinned a ferocious grin. "You are a sensible one, human. If the whelp means that much to you, I give you my word that no permanent harm will come to her." He began to laugh as Hazen raised his hands above his head. Redcrest did the same.
_

IC: April and Artemis
_

April took several swings with her staff, doing her best to keep the Dromeosaurs that were encircling her from getting too close. Those efforts proved to be futile however as one leaped from behind and knocked her on the ground. "No!" cried Artemis as she, too was knocked to the ground by the Dromeosaurs. April tried her best to break free from her captors, but there were too many of them. Her battle cries turned into hysterics. She began to fear that the end would be near. "We have no choice" Artemis cried. With a Saurian wail, she mourned for her inability to protect the artifact and the ones she loved. With a similar cry, April did the same.
_

TAG: Dirge, Falokar, any and all!

[tarion]

I.C the battle outside Ebulon

Falokar stood there watching as every memeber of the caravan went down one by one, he slowly began to grow angrier and angrier about it at this rate he'd have to reveal himself and his true misson before it was time..., this fight didn't seem like a fight at all, more like a massacre, he had to stop it before someone truely got hurt.

Falokar ran to the middle of the battle area and then shouted at the top of his lungs, "THAT'S ENOUGH! STOP ATTACKING THE PASSENGERS AND JUST GET THE STUPID ARTIFACT!" he looked around as several of the dromeasaurs just stared at him, their opponent equally as surprised.

Falokar went over to the back of one of the carts and pulled out some rope, "We're here for the artifact, not them, so just tie them up for now! Then we can get the artifact and leave."

He tossed the rope to the nearest dromeasaur and leered at the others.

Had this been any other situation Falokar probably would have gotten laughed at, but for some reason his sudden act of taking charge seemed a bit stunning, so much so that the only one that even dared to argue was Dirge.

Then Falokar heard it, a scream and the hiss of one of the other dromeasaurs... he turned to see Ripper going after another one of the passengers a woman and though she had already been beaten into submission he was still teasing her with knife. That was the last straw for Falokar, he ran over to ripper and lept into the air and performed a flying reverse heel kick, sending Ripper to the ground.

The dromeasaur got to his feet rather quickly as Falokar landed.
"What are you doing?!" Ripper asked him slightly shocked by the attack.

Falokar glared at him, "There was no call for what you were doing to her! Either knock it off or face me!"

The dromeasaur chuckled and patted Falokar on his head, "Don't worry, I was just making sure that they understood we're in charge now."

Some time later after the fight was over and the entire caravan had been taken to a new base camp for Dirge and his crew, Falokar slipped away from the camp site and stood out in the open watching as the sun set. Today's little fiasco had almost jepordized his entire mission, had anyone there recognized him his cover would have been blown completely. Falokar snorted and kicked the ground, those barbaric dromeasaurs were no better than he'd heard they were, and just how much of their lies did they expect him to believe? Playing the innocent kid was getting harder and harder to do, especially now that he was having to act more to keep up the appearance so that he could infiltrate Nicholai Sander's complex and put a stop to his madness. Hopefully by then he would have made contact with another of the members of his agency.

He swallowed and then headed back to the base camp, just as Dirge came walking up to him with a grin on his face.

Tag: Everyone involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Bentfeather and company with Petronas and company, at Red Rapid canyon.

Within moments the fighting had died down, and Petronas looked around to see that their band had been victorious! The pair of guards and their steeds were little match for Dirge’s Dromeosaur warriors, and the twin Pachys proved a small challenge for their new ally Falokar. All in all, the battle had gone on as Dirge had planned; and he could see by the lack of serious injury on all that fought, the pacificity of all Dinotopians prevailed in this case. Dirge’s personnel were just finishing up tying the more aggressive of their victims, and those that could stand were helped into a group by the rest of his people. Even those stupid humans he hired did well in the fight, and Vox and their pullers were no slouches too; so he smiled in a leering way as his gaze turned to his little prize in the cage, it’s occupant glaring at him as he noticed he was being looked at.

“Sir Petronas…”, Bentfeather growled. “I might have known you were behind all this!…”

“On the contrary, my dear Bentfeather! I am but a pawn in this little charade, just like everyone else here…”, Petronas sneered. “The one who sent us is behind all this, and you will see him soon enough, rest assured!”

“Who is he?”, Bentfeather snapped flatly.

“I can not say, not now…”, Petronas told him sweetly. “But let us just say that he is a long lost friend…!”

“Our captives are restrained…”, Sludge walked up to report after saying the same thing to Dirge. “They will give us little trouble from now on.”

“Excellent!”, Petronas put the cage down to take a look at both of Bentfeather’s carts. “Search these… That artifact must be in one of them!”

“Yes sir!”, gathering a group of Dromeosaurs and humans, they and Sludge began rummaging through both carts in groups of three.

“What have you done with Bentfeather!…”, Tebo yelled, and was pulled back by the still stunned lady Natasha.

“Rest assured all is well with him.”, Petronas grinned. “I wouldn’t hurt a feather on his head!…”, he chuckled.

“You better not!”, Tebo growled, and Petronas ignored him.

“Now then, my new friends…”, Petronas announced as he strolled past the group of captive humans and saurians. “I will say right now that you must forget your previous destination, for your itinerary has changed drastically. You will be going with us, and be our guests from now on.”

“You’re not letting us go…”, Ajax said it as a statement.

“Oh, we can’t, really.”, Petronas got eye to eye with him. “If we did, you all would go to the nearest city and tell the council!…”, he waggled a finger in his face warningly. “Don’t take us for fools!…”, he knealed next to the hatchling Sorolophan, and she hissed at him as he got near.

“Ahem,… At any length, please do not try to escape or do anything we do not like.”, Petronas pulled out a knife and pointed it at Redcrest, who backed away as much as she could. “The results would be very unpleasant to say the least!… My friends here are a bit jumpy, you see.”, the last part he whispered.

“Look, we will do anything you say, just don’t harm us…!”, lady Natasha pleaded, and Petronas put the knife away.

“Oh, we won’t. Not if you behave yourselves.”, Petronas suddenly got patronly with her. “You see, all we wanted was the artifact. All of you being here simply puts an unpleasant spin on the way we must act to get it.”, he took on a look of being forlorn. “Now with you here, we have to do things that tear at us heavily…”

“I bet…!”, Randy commented from the cart.

“As for you, my warty friend…”, Petronas got up and went to him. “You are going to pull your cart where and when we say, and do it just the way we say it!”, he turned to go and faced him again. “And it will be under our good graces whether or not you get fed with any regularity!… Got that?…”, Randy gulped and Petronas nodded satisfaction, going back to the rest of the captive group.

“Now then. All of you that can will walk, and those more injured will ride in the carts.”, Petronas continued. “I want no funny stuff, and I require your total co-operation or I can’t guarantee the actions of my cohorts…”, he was cut off.

“Sir Petronas. We have found the artifact!”, Ripper reported. “In this front cart…”

Petronas followed him over, others trying to crowd to see. “Let’s take a look…”, he got up and peered into the freshly opened crate, seeing the top of the artifact amid the straw packing material. “Excellent!… It still appears intact!…”

“We also found these…”, Snapper offered a smaller crate with scrolls, papers and notebooks.

“…And you were trying to study it, too…”, he rose and looked at Bentfeather in his cage near the front of the cart. “And did you have success deciphering it, old boy…?”

“I’ll never tell!…”, Bentfeather spat.

“It doesn’t matter, for our mutual friend will have no trouble in doing so.”, he placed the lid back on the artifact. “Now, let’s get ready to leave…”, he looked around. “That pesky Postal Bird will bring every saurian guard on the island down on us before the day is long!…”

As Olu and Artemis was escorted by the carts and tied to them, the rest who were least injured had the same thing happen to them. Falokar rushed around offering water to the more injured with a worried look in his eyes; apologizing silently for the rather rough treatment that was bestowed upon them, this not escaping the notice of Dirge and a few of the others as he did this. Some of the Dromeosaurs had found their small cache of weapons, and became busy noisily dividing them up between themselves. Petronas looked at this activity with growing impatience, for his concern that they might be stopped was a real concern; and he pulled Dirge over as he passed to voice it.

“We really should be going, you know.”, he whispered. “The authorities might be on us at any time!”

“I’m well aware of the danger, but let my brothers have their fun…”, Dirge then turned near a bush and drew the Stenoychosaur with him. “And I’ve noticed a thing with our friend Falokar.”

“Him?… The lad seems quite enthused of our cause.”, said Petronas.

“If you would, please keep an eye on him.”, Dirge told him. “I fear that he may change if allowed. He did well in battle, but his demeanor was less then enthusiastic.”

“I see…”, Petronas thought. “So, should we do anything?”

“No!… Just watch out with him.”, Dirge said. “He may turn on us!”

As everything was packed up and all the captives were slotted onto the carts, Vox, Hydra and Peter came from where they hid the Triceratops’s cart all hitched up and ready to go. The artifact, research materials and errant weapons were loaded onto the gypsy wagon and their other one while the extra supplies Bentfeather’s caravan was carrying was distributed between all four carts. The cage Bentfeather now occupied was hung next to the driver seat of the gypsy wagon and Petronas took this cart alone, Hydra not liking her change in drivers; and the rest of the abductors took various spots on all the other carts. Though there were a few protests from the captives, they all were corralled onto the carts they were made to board; and once all this was done all four carts began to roll out of the area The gypsy wagon was first, followed by Randy’s cart driven by Dirge, and then was Polongo’s cart driven by the two humans, and Peter’s cart took up the rear being driven by Vox; and all the rest of the Dromeosaur guards took flanking positions all around the convoy…
_

TAG: Hazen, any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - After the battle

Falokar stood around the base camp they had set up for the night actually patrolling for once. It wasn't that he was ordered to, but rather that he felt he had to in order to keep everything quiet and going smoothly. He walked by April at one point and stopped. "How is everyone?" he asked truely concerned, but keeping his voice down so as to not draw attention to him self.

April glared at him but nodded, "We'll be fine, no thanks to you and the others!"

Falokar gave a soft giggle and looked at her, "Well don't worry I'm sure help will come for you soon, just keep your head down and do as your told." after saying this Falokar reached into the inside of his gi and pulled out a small item and tossed it into her lap (i'm assuming they're tied up but thier hands are in front of them).

April looked down to see a fairly new patch in her lap, an official kind!, The patch said D.C.M.A : the Dinotopian Carnivore Monitoring Agency. April looked back up at Falokar with a look of surprise on her face, he was an agent, one of the good guys!.

"If you're one of the good guys why are you helping them?" she asked now confused.

Falokar put a finger to his lips to sign to be quieter and to keep what he'd just shared with her a secret. "I'm under cover and have to keep from being noticed, so for the time being I'm going to act like i'm in league with them, so as to throw them off. For now act like you utterly despise me." He looked up at the rest of the group, "That goes for the rest of you too, I'll try to help you later, but I have to infiltrate thier complex and stop what their doing, so I can't reveal myself until then!" He then handed April a flask full of water and two loaves of bread. "Here distribute this among yourselfs and keep your chin up. He winked at them, "After all it could be worse, I could actually be working with them." he laughed softly then got up and kept in front of them, "Now when I walk away I want you to frown or scowl at me as if I'm dirty and repulsive so as to not raise any suspicion." April nodded a frown now on her face.

Falokar turned and walked off looking rather like he was pissed off, he stopped by Bentfeather's cage and lightly tossed in a few small berries and nuts, then smiled at him and continued walking around the camp.

After about ten minutes he Walked up to Dirge and saluted him, "Dirge the north and west ends are secured, and the captives seem to be cooperating for now. So if you don't mind I'm going to turn in for the night and get as much rest as possible."

with that he walked off and went to a nearby rock to sleep.

tag: everyone involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76, escape back to Ebulon with his terrible news!

Postal Bird escaped the scene of the attack with all due haste, and nearly got captured himself in the process. He flew up for all he was worth, narrowly escaping the talons of that dreadful Dromeosaur; and grasped as much altitude he could, relying mostly on his terror and adrenaline as he made a beeline out of the area. His friends had been captured! What was he to do?! He circled around the area twice to observe the melee going on down below, and saw that his friends were being subdued in quick succession; inwardly crying for their fate. With little more he could do for them, he set off not knowing where to fly to gain help for his friends; his spirits lowering with every flap of his miniscule wings…

Suddenly a thought came to him, and his mind filled with great determination; for the last place they had gained help was Ebulon, and certainly the personnel there would know what to do! He wheeled around and headed due west, the opposite way they had come, and made out across the vast expanse of desert that girded the great stone edifice that was his self made destination. As land travel takes quite a bit more time than flying, it took less than half a day to come within sight of the giant stone head; and 76 did not stop when he entered through the right eye socket, but flew straight down through the complex and right into the office of commander Powell.

However, his landing did not turn out nearly as well as he planned! Postal Bird 76 landed on the desk, skidded on the paperwork commander Powell was working on and overturned his desk set. The inkwell clattered on the floor in a black mess, and it was then that commander Powell could react to the sudden intrusion.

“See here!… What’s this?…”, the human said, getting up with a start.

“Postal… Bird… 76...”, 76 gasped for breath. “Reporting… Emergency!…(pant) Convoy… Attacked…!”, he swooned and fell to the desk surface.

“What!?…”, Powel then saw the bird’s condition. “Take it easy!… There, there…”, he poured some water in his tea saucer. “Drink this and rest a bit…”

“No time!…”, 76 said after a splash. “The convoy was attacked!…”

“By who?”, Powell asked. “When?”

“By Dromeosaurs and others!…”, 76 slowly stood up unsurely. “This morning, by Red Rapid canyon.”

“This is terrible!”, said Powell. Another Postal Bird on a perch by the door flapped over to see his stricken comrade. “How many of them were they?”

“I do not know.”, said 76. “But they fought like professional soldiers. I have not seen fighting with such skill!”, he caught his breath. “The convoy never stood a chance!”

“Good work reporting to us.”, Powel said to 76, then turned to the other bird. “104, go alert everyone. Have pilot Dennison ready her steed and report to me.”

“Right away.”, the bird saluted and flapped off.

“And now for you, my friend.”, Powell lifted 76 and carried him out of his office headed for the Postal Bird aerie. “For such brave work, you should rest…”

“But I want to help!”, 76 protested weakly. “Those are my friends out there, and they’re in trouble!…”

“Then perhaps there might be something you can do.”, Powel told him as he placed him inside the aerie.

“Pilot Dennison reporting as ordered.”, Elaina saluted as he turned. “I hear there is some trouble about…”

“Plenty, if what Postal Bird 76 is true.”, Powell returned the salute. “He says that sir Bentfeather’s convoy was captured by Dromeosaurs that fought in a warrior-like way. I do not know if any of them were killed… Were they?”, this he addressed to 76.

“I do not think so.”, 76 told them. “I saw they were surrendering before I decided to come back here.”

“As well you did.”, Dennison said. “At least here there are folks that can do something about it!”, she turned to her commander. “Do you want me to go rescue them?”

“I don’t think that’s a wise move.”, Powell said. “The attackers could misread the attempt and put every one of their hostages to death!”, he thought a moment. “Perhaps this is the signal that the council should start the attack on the Outer Island!… I want you to fly to Canyon City and inform them of what happened.”

“Aye sir!”, Elaina saluted once again and turned to go to Cirrus.

“Wait!… What about me?”, Postal Bird got up from eating what the other birds offered him. “They’re my friends, and I want a part of the rescue!”

“Then why don’t you come along?”, Dennison smiled after looking at her agreeing commander. “It’s a long way to Canyon City and you’re probably still tired from the flight you must have had…”, she grasped the mail sack around her shoulder. “But you can hitch a ride!…”

“Ok then…”, Postal Bird said as he flapped to the bag that Elaina had opened for him. She then ran to Cirrus, who was offering his back so she could hop aboard; and once she was seated properly, he cried out and flapped off into the sky. “…It’s usually that I like to do the flying …M-Y-S-E-L-F…!!!” Postal Bird 76 yelled into the wind…


_

IC: Petronas and company with Bentfeather and company as prisoners. The march to the Outer Island.

The band of villains that had captured the caravan of friends drove their hostages mercilessly as they slowly traveled the scouted territory between Red Rapid canyon and the eastern coast. Their captives loathed the all-day marches, and their captor’s forgoing rest-bits during the day and scarcely setting up camps to gather what little sleep their quickened pace would allow. Not only was the strain evident on their captives, but the strain of the relentless pace was also present on the villains.

“Why do we have to go so fast?…”, Peter complained. “Last stop was for only an hour!”

“Oh, quit complaining, will you?”, Hydra told him. “At least they fed you, didn’t they?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t get enough time to taste it!”, Peter replied and she chuckled.

“So, tell me where we’re going again.”, Vox called over to Dirge controlling his cart. “I hate this not knowing business.”

“Well, it seems that you must dwell on your hate a little while longer, my friend.”, Dirge replied. “Besides, you’re supposed to answer to me, not the other way around… NOW TEND TO BUSINESS!”, Vox was beginning to know better than protest further!

“Our guests are beginning to lag behind.”, Snapper reported as he trotted up front. “It matters not how much we urge them.”

“You know we have to keep a quick pace.”, Dirge said. “If not the saurian guards will overtake us! They could catch us at any time, and we must be off the main island before they do.”

“But what are we to do?”, Snapper asked.

“Just do the best you can.”, Dirge told him, then resumed driving the cart..

As the hours rolled by, and as it grew too dark for any to see where they were going; the group decided to make camp for the night after all, making sure their ‘guests’ were made comfortable by retying the ropes of the ones who had loosened them during the trip. As the group of Dromeosaurs not currently guarding their captives made themselves more comfortable by playing games of bravery, like placing a hand on the ground and leaving it there while someone else stabs a knife repeatedly near it without flinching; the rest of Petronas’s group alternately tended their prisoners as well as themselves.

As soon as all were fed and made comfortable, some of the captive group were placed together as guarded arrangements were made for them to sleep. As chance would have it, officer Ajax was placed next to officer Manchester while the one guarding them went to the other side of the firelight, and both looked at each other knowingly as they stared innocently all around. As Ajax was in civilian garb and April was in guard uniform, the bad guys figured no trouble would come of it; or so both of them hoped.

“Did the one named Falokar tell you his true identity?…”, Ajax whispered.

April nodded and softly said he did. “Well, it would do you good not to believe it!”, he whispered back.

At April’s questioning look, Ajax explained softly. “These are ruffians from the Outer island. I know the cut of their uniforms.”, he looked around as April said she saw his credentials. “It would not be beneath them to place one in disguise, and concoct a story to throw us off guard - And that document was probably a forgery.”

April commented softly that he was not the same breed of Dromeosaur as the rest, and Ajax replied. “It is neither beneath them to hire mercenaries to aid their cause. Do we not enlist local help when our duties become too great?”, she nodded and became stony as another Dromeosaur passed by.

The ghastly creature looked at them for a moment, then his attention returned to his previous thought and moved on. “Please tell the others not to trust mister Falokar if you get the chance, and I will as well…”, he was cut off as Dirge stormed by and kicked his foot painfully.

“No talking, please!…”, he hissed. “…Much as I hate to break up a budding romance!…”, he stormed away, chuckling to himself.

As officer Ajax watched the goings on around camp, he saw the one that announced himself as Petronas talking animatedly to Bentfeather about how much power that would be his at the conclusion of things; Bentfeather yelling that his schemes would not bear fruit while shaking the cage wildly, others laughing at the futility of the Microraptor’s actions. Poor Tebo and Seamus were alternately being threatened and poked by Dromeosaur and human alike while Randy, Polongo and their saurian steeds were being equally treated.

The only ones of their captors that were not really participating in the meanness going on around camp were the young Triceratops named Peter and the supposed savior Falokar. Peter just looked on at the edge of the firelight munching his fodder, and Falokar sat by the edge of the fire looking around silently. All during his observation of the camp, officer Ajax was busy trying to loosen the ropes binding his hands behind his back; and he hoped the fates he could free himself before anybody noticed his efforts, or before they were re-tied again…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C -Canyon City (The Day of the Attack)

Tarion Dismounted his steed, Sora, and began running for the main office his shoulder bag swinging at his side, along the way he ran into Officer Ramerez.

Officer Ramerez examined the little parasaur asked him curiously, "What's the rush?"

Tarion shook his head and looked at Officer Ramerez, "I need to speak with the Council right Now!, I have the reports over the artifact containing information over what it does and what it is used for."

Officer Ramerez stared at Tarion for a second going over what he'd just been told by the young hadrosaur, "Very well, this way. Normally the Council would not want to be desturbed right now, however I believe your information takes priortiy over anything that they're doing right now." He said indicating a direction and leading Tarion down a series of hallways, along the way he asked a slightly relevant question.

"Are you Tarion, of the Archeological Guild from Waterfall city by any chance?"

Tarion nodded, "That's correct, Why? Have you heard of me before?"

Officer Ramerez nodded, "Well indeed your explorations and findings have not gone unoticed, however the reason I ask is because you currently have a visitor here, that actually arrived about twelve hours before you did, we're giving her quarters here for the time being."
Tarion nodded, "That's probably Asrial, I'll attend to meeting up with her after I talk with the concil, hopefully I can evoke a plan of action before the day is over."

With that Tarion was shown through a pair of doors and into the council chambers.

Tag Tarion, Asrial, Everyone involved

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, camp
_

Hazen stoically sat on the ground, looking at the ground before the fire. His bindings made it difficult to be comfortable and, therefore, to be rested for another long slog toward wherever they were heading. Furthermore, they were itchy. His wrists were tied behind his back and he wondered if they were slightly bleeding based on the discomfort he felt. Still, he preferred to keep a straight face to show his captors that they weren't getting to him.

Hazen glanced to his right and his left. Bound to him by a length of rope were Redcrest and Tebo respectively. Tebo appeared to be murmuring to himself about how he was going to enact his revenge on them for treating his mentor and Partner like they did. To be honest, he had similar thoughts as well. It was almost criminal that they bound her up and forced her to march as much as they did. Whenever she complained, they'd scare her by threatening to cut her with their knives or even eat her! Every time, Hazen rose to her defense and, every time, he was flogged for his disobedience. Now, seeing her lying on the side (due to her saurian anatomy) and whimpering, his heart nearly broke. He scooched closer to her to try and comfort her, but the rope that tied him to Tebo prevented him from getting within arm's reach of her . . . if his arms weren't tied behind him, that is.

He then whispered, "Redcrest, please don't cry. I'm here."

Redcrest awkwardly rolled over so she could see her Partner. Dirt and tears streaked the sides of her face and her eyes were bloodshot from the stress. "This isn't fun anymore," Redcrest said. "I wanna go home."

"I know you do," Hazen said, "and so do I." He swallowed and looked at the hatchling. "None of us wanted this to happen. How they can do this to children is . . . disgraceful."

"Quiet over there!" shouted one of the Dromeosaurs.

Hazen turned to the source and said, "I'm just trying to calm her down. It won't take long." He turned back to Redcrest. "You need to be brave like Mama and Papa. And they're worried, too, but it will get better, I promise you. I won't let them cut you or eat you."

"I said, 'Shut up!'" said the Dromeosaur as he backhanded Hazen across the face. Hazen recoiled as the guard dragged him away from the young hadrosaur, who bleated pleas to stop their hurting people. Hazen promised to cooperate and began to hum a tune, hoping that Redcrest would hear it and calm down.

Adjacent to Redcrest, April saw the scene unfold. Tears welled in her eyes as she saw this kind soul try and comfort the most fragile one of the party, only to be rebuked and beaten for his supposed insolence. She looked down and whimpered. "I should have done more," she whispered to herself. "I've failed in my duties to protect them."

Ajax commented that she shouldn't take this too harshly, which startled her. "I'm sorry, sir, but this is more than merely preventing capture. Artemis' daughter is on the verge of breaking. My Partner's daughter is being tried in ways that no being should undergo. This is about family. My family." April herself was beginning to shed tears of her own. "And Hazen . . . brave, noble Hazen. He's sacrificing his own body and mind for her sake. I can't believe that I looked down upon him like I did after we left Waterfall City. I'm afraid that he'll be the first to be executed." April closed her eyes and quietly wept. "I don't want him to go," she breathed. Again, Ajax addressed her concerns. It did little to keep her spirits up, but she calmed down enough to maintain a straight face.

It was clear that the days of marching and cruel treatment were beginning to take their toll on the prisoners. April chided herself silently for cracking like this. After all, she needed to be ready to assist in a break-out. She had the presence of mind to fight the bonds as much as she could when they were tying her up, allowing her some room to try and slip free, but she dared not try it. Especially if it meant one of the lives of the rest of her compatriots.
_

TAG: Tebo, Ajax, Bentfeather, Dirge, Falokar, any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76, Elaina Dennison and Cirrus. Arrival at Canyon City and deployment of the counterattack.

Cirrus plied the airways over the vast landscape, the crack in the ground below actually the Amu Canyon; and the jagged landscape below dotted with dwellings perched precariously on the chasms like those contemplating suicide waiting for the right moment to jump. As altitude decreased and their course drew them closer, Elaina could see that Canyon City was alive with humans and smaller saurians going about their daily business; the familiar uniforms of her Skybax cohorts running about like mobile grains of sand, and the shadows of her saurian flyer friends soaring about on their daily patrols.

Cirrus wheeled around and headed for the Skybax training facility near the top of the precipices, where the only landing pads large enough to accommodate his gigantic size were located. With an earsplitting screech to clear the area and an extra swoop, Cirrus landed with a thud and stood wings apart to allow his Partner to dismount. Elaina hit the pad and stepped down somewhat to allow her giant friend to turn around, then grabbed her saddle bag before descending the steps to the deck; and it was only then that she opened the bag and let her tiny passenger out. Postal Bird 76 squinted at the unused to sunlight before hopping out and alighting on her shoulder.

“That was traveling first-class!…”, the bird said and turned. “Thanks for the lift, my friend!…”, Cirrus crowed in acknowledgement.

“Now my friend, we are to see the commander…”, Elaina told him as she carried him into a main facility. “We must hurry. I believe that after the news you are to deliver, time will be of the essence!”

Onward Elaina marched, going down the all too familiar corridors, ones she traveled as a cadet and at last a full pilot; and traversed the maze of corridors and passages to the office of master commander Bondu. Just inside the threshold, Elaina snapped to attention and saluted.

“Sub commander Elaina Dsennison reporting, sir.”, she said crisply.

“Breathe deep…”, Bondu stated as he noticed her, returning the salute.

“Fly high…!”, she returned as she released the salute with a snap.

“Report.”, Bondu stated, then squinted. “Weren’t you assigned to Ebulon?”

“Yes sir.”, Elaina said. “But with the news this Postal Bird carries, it was deemed that I transport him here personally.”

“And did commander Powell authorize this?”, Bondu accused.

“It was his orders, sir.”, Dennison told him.

“Very well then. What is this news?”, Bondu asked.

Postal Bird 76 hopped to his desk and bowed. “Your lordship…”, he hopped a bit closer. “The caravan headed by sir Bentfeather, whom I was assigned to accompany, has been captured by persons I did not recognize.”, he fluttered. “These persons were Dromeosaurs, armored and armed; and possessed fighting skills I did not believe possible. They were accompanied by a Stenoychosaur, a Dromeosaur of a different tribe, a Triceratops, a Pentaceratops, an Ovaraptor and two humans.”, he sneezed. “They fought so well that the ones skilled in fighting in sir Bentfeather’s group never stood a chance! They were all promptly subdued and captured, and I personally fear for their lives!”

“This IS terrible news indeed!”, Bondu said after digesting it a moment. “You did well to come here…”, he got up. “The Canyon City council should hear of this… If you would?”

Master commander Bondu led Elaina Dennison out of his chamber as soon as 76 landed on her shoulder and out into the Skybax training facility; through the labyrinth of corridors and barracks to the Cliffside streets beyond, along paths familiar to Elaina and into Canyon City proper. The streets, where no extremely large dinosaurs could go, were filled with throngs of citizens that made room for their commander and his underling following him; and he led her out across a wide rope bridge to the mesa-like arroyo that housed a giant domed structure enshrouded in crystal and glass on it’s plastered façade which sparkled in a kaleidoscope of colors when the sun shone down on it just right. The guards at the base of the steps recognized him - as well as Elaina Dennison, for she was nearly as famous as he - and bowed as they passed. He confidently took the stone steps many at a time; and Elaina did likewise, though her passenger flapped for balance with every jerky step.

Just inside the tall double doors, which were just closing as they passed, they paused at another set of doors; and the sounds of delegates still discussing their latest order of business wafted out, though actual words could not be made out due to the thickness of the doors. There they waited, but for only a span of moments as a messenger came rushing out, into the reception chamber and out the main doors beyond. That was Bondu’s opportunity to enter the council chamber proper, Elaina and 76 hot on his heels, where they were halted by dutiful court guards.

A tiny Troodont bailiff spied them and scurried over; inquiring of their business, and nodding as their purpose was whispered to him, scurrying off to inform another bailiff superior after escorting them to the viewing table before the great podium at the head of the chamber. This superior then got the attention of the Speaker’s assistant, a portly Protoceratops in a gold trimmed form-fitting tunic up on the main podium named Gorth; and this assistant got the attention of the council Speaker behind him, an extremely old Quetxylcoatilus or Skybax that was very close to being legally blind, dressed in a silver and iridescent form-fitting robe that nearly matched her once iridescent wings, and her name was Wizenbeak, the forth saurian of renown ever given the name in the annals of Dinotopian history. After the whispered announcement, the ancient Skybax cried out in a string of her own language, and the Protoceratops translated.

“Speak, master commander Bondu.”, he said.

“Your honor…”, Bondu bowed, and so did Elaina and Postal Bird 76. “It has come to my attention some terrible news, brought to my ears by this Postal Bird.”

After whispered translation, the Protoceratops spoke the reply. “What is this terrible news?… I would have the Postal Bird say it.”

“Your honor…”, Postal Bird 76 hopped to the table and bowed at her. “Esteemed council members…”, he bowed at all of them. “I am postal Bird 76, postmaster of Waterfall City. I have been recently assigned to accompany chief librarian, sir Bentfeather on an expedition.”, he saw no interest in the group around him. “One day ago, his caravan was attacked by persons I did not recognize…”, in this telling of the news, he drew it out and made it sound somewhat greater than it was, then finally ended his explanation many moments later. “Thank you, your honor…”, he bowed.

“Well, um… This is serious news indeed!…”, Gorth said as he turned to Wizenbeak, who appeared to be staring intently at the council members before her. “Don’t you agree, ma’am…?”, she crowed raspingly, and Gorth nodded.

“We of the council have been discussing the goings on about that artifact for weeks now, and every member and guest knows about it.”, Gorth continued. “Both the Skybax and the saurian guards have been mobilized to the Outer island, and are awaiting orders to move.”, there were nods and words of agreement throughout the chamber. “However, this news changes things immensely!”, Gorth looked at his Speaker, shocked because she had appeared to have fallen asleep! “Ma’am…?”

“I am pilot Elaina Dennison.”, she announced in the mean time. “May I speak…?”

“Oh, very well.”, said Gorth, thoroughly used to running the council chamber as Wizenbeak had often done this. “The chair recognizes pilot Elaina Dennison…”

“Have you heard what Postal Bird 76 has told you?”, she accused. “Sir Bentfeather and her cohorts are in grave danger!… We should send some troops to get them back!”

“Your concern is notable.”, Gorth said at last. “But the mayor of Waterfall City has chosen wisely the companions that Bentfeather has. His personal guards, Frik and Frak, are very resourceful; and have already been appraised on what to do if this situation came about.”, Gorth chortled. “They were to be taken to Nicolai Sanders’s stronghold and find a way from the inside to defeat his plans… Rest assured that all is as it should be…”

“I did not know…”, Elaina said. “I’m sorry.”

“However, as this news is what we were hoping for; it can be the signal for other plans.”, Gorth told her. “Let this be a sign that now is the time to deploy our troops and take back the Outer Island!”, cheers.

As the cheers died down, Postal Bird 76’s protests could now be heard. “Is there anything more I could do?… I would like to help save my friends…”

“Of course there is, if you would be so kind to volunteer…”, Gorth would have smiled, but his beak would not allow it. “We need someone there to coordinate our troops. To send messages to both groups so they can make a coordinated attack.”

“May I help?”, Elaina Dennison asked.

“Why, of course!”, Gorth chuckled. “You may carry Postal Bird 76 there personally, and lead the Skybax there on their attack!…”
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

It was the following day and the caravan was once again on the moveing with all post haste. Falokar was bringing up the rear of the caravan keeping an eye on the captives, if any started to stragle be hind he promptly walked walked up to them and tried to inspired them to catch up, because if they didn't they would probably get beaten by the dromeasaur guards. At one point Redcrest began to grow tired of walking, which Falokar caught onto while watching them and suggested that either Hazen carry her, or they put her on the back of the cart where she could rest, for as she was younger than the rest her endurance wasn't quite as good as the others.

His kind actions towards the captives had not escaped the watchful eyes of Dirge and Petronas, both of whome were now growning even more suspicious of him.

The main reason Falokar had been tagging behind the rest is so that he could have a chance to talk to the captives, however the chance never came as when he was about to say something, Dirge told him to switch out spots on the caravan, Falokar of course had to agree, because if he didn't he'd look suspicious.

And that was how Falokar ended up at the front of the Caravan leading the group.

Tag: Any and All, Dirge, Falokar, Petronas, Hazen Baker, Redcrest

[Thundertail]

IC: Petronas and his crew and the Dromeosaur warriors with Bentfeather’s captured group. Another ambush many days later at Farrago.

Dirge had said he knew the way to go, and none of his troops disbelieved him; for it was the way they had gone from the coast to where they had met up with Petronas’s group, and even they remembered the way.

Petronas however, always the skeptical one, was having his second doubts about the route they were now traveling; for the paths they were taking was nestled directly between the southernmost tip of the Amu canyon and the Great Desert, and ghastly dryness followed them every step of the way. In fact, Red Rapid canyon was an oasis compared to all this! Their only savior in this blistering heat was the discovery of narrow canyons and rills of rock in which to hide from the direct scorching sunlight and the abundance of cisterns where drinking water could be obtained if one rappelled down into them and dug deep enough for it once there. Oh, it was a terrible journey to say the least; and the journey was beginning to take it’s toll even on him!

At one rest stop in a secluded valley near the sea side town of Farago; Dirge took a break from joining in with his troops in making their guests less comfortable, and decided to have a little talk with them instead. The first ones he tried to talk with was that bratty female guard, but her look and silence told him he was going to get nowhere fast talking with her. Upon seeing the female Pachy raise her head to look at him, he turned and sat well out of arm’s reach to regard her more closely; and even though her look was one of utter contempt, he put on his best demeanor and spoke to her.

“Are you comfortable?… Want some water?…”, he began as he picked up a small stick and drew in the dirt in front of him. “You know, we really don’t mean you any harm. All we wanted was the artifact…”

“You have a funny way of showing it!”, lady Natasha spat. “Look, you have it now, so why don’t you let us go.”

“Oh, please!…”, Dirge said, then turned thoughtful. “You know, I’ve been wondering. What are you doing here, with these people, and carrying the artifact and all those weapons…”, he looked up from his thoughts and stared at her. “There are things going on here that just doesn’t add up!”

“What do you mean?”, Natasha asked. “I am but a mere trader, and I have a contract from certain parties to transport these people and what they carry to canyon City.”, lady Natasha knew not to divulge her true objective, so she went into her business mogul persona instead. “I was not told what the cargo was, or who would accompany me.”

“Your Ankylosaur does not seem to be of your company.”, Dirge prodded. “Who is he?”

“Sir Randy is a ferry puller at Mosasaur Harbor.”, Natasha said. “He was hired by those parties to help with the cargo.”

“That little brat with the glasses, who was with you?…”, asked Dirge. “And that other human, the feisty sprite?”

“Tebo Lewis is an apprentice librarian, evidentially one of sir Bentfeather’s students.”, Natasha said. “Hazen Baker is no doubt one too.”

“And the little one?…”, he continued.

“Redcrest is the daughter of the other puller, Polongo.”, Natasha said. “She is an innocent, and should not be asked to take such treatment as this!”

“Relax. I will tell the others to take it easy on her…”, Dirge told her. “IF you tell me everything I want to know… Now, I know it is customary to bring along a little security on dangerous caravan trips, so the saurian guard and the female soldier are explainable. Now who is the other human and other saurian?”

“Mister Ajax is a wayfaring stranger, and asked if he could travel with us. We did not refuse him.”, Natasha told him. “Olu is from the Overlander sect, hired by mister Ajax to take him along.”

“And where was he going?”, asked Dirge.

“He did not tell us his destination.”, Natasha said. “Only that it lay along the same path as ours.”

“Now I see…”, Dirge said. “And you say you had no knowledge of the cargo you carry… Hard to believe you when you won‘t divulge who these ‘other parties‘ are…”

“It is the truth.”, Natasha protested innocently. “I do not know the ones who bade me to take them, for they used liaisons to conduct their business… I am innocent, so I ask that I be let go!…”

“Unfortunately, I still can not do that, my dear.”, Dirge got up. “But thank you for telling me these things!… I’m sure that such things would be most entertaining to tell to the rest of my kin!”, he went over to do so.

As the early evening drew on, the camp turned to the more utilitarian way of camp life; and as soon as guards were posted, their prisoners were arranged for sleep. As it became apparent that the campfires would need to be lit, the older human did so; and the rest of the campsite began to settle down. This was what the dimly glowing eyes in the crags ahead of them was waiting for, for she would show them who was the stealthiest ones on their island! Her armor was mere cloth, but the white and iridescent feathers it was adorned with gave her an avian look, and swift luck in the hunt; and all of her troops were similarly adorned - helmets just as finely made and woven with feathers.

She made a dim sound like the cicadas droning in the night, a signal for her troops to fan out and encircle the group; and ever so slowly she crept out onto the path just outside the firelight. A crack in the distance told of one of her troops making a mistake, and this was her signal to make her move… and scare the scales off those stupid males of theirs!

Bloodpetal leapt into the firelight, staff twirling above her head, screeching her fiercest and loudest; and this brought the exact reaction she wished, for the entire camp sprung into defensive action in comic turmoil! Two humans there leapt over their fire and spilled the cauldron, putting that out. Every Dromeosaur in camp reacted wildly, flailing in every direction, expecting attack at every quarter. Her troops leapt into the campsite and stripped each of their weapons, and then all activity suddenly stopped as fast as it began. Commander Dirge approached Bloodpetal, and instead of fighting her, scrabbled with her with his claws as she did the same; and when their claws met, drew each other in a purring nuzzle. Two of her six were doing the same with Slag and Sludge, their mates, and the rest simply regarded their other cohorts with cold stares.

Ripper and Snapper rushed into the fray from their duties of guarding the perimeter a moment later, and it was then that they all noticed their captives; who had wriggled together in a knot, trying to protect each other from yet another attack! Dirge released the embrace and walked over, laughing hysterically at their helpless state; and it was only then that they finally relaxed.

“Oh, my esteemed guests!…”, he chuckled. “By now you know that our compatriots have arrived!…”, he turned to Bloodpetal. “And a masterful move!… We barely knew you were here!”

“Males are so thick-headed!”, she chortled. “They would not know a Brach was around unless he stepped on them!”, she pinched him. “You had no clue we were here!… You remembered to post guards, did you?…”

“We detected nothing.”, Snapper said.

“He was always the slow one!”, another female Dromeosaur said from behind Snapper, running her taloned fingers under his jaw. “But so quick in other ways…!”, she cooed.

“Enough!…”, Dirge said. “Why are you here?”

“We came to locate you.”, Bloodpetal said. “We were wondering what was taking you so long.”

“As you know, it takes time to stalk prey.”, said Dirge. “I assume all is in readiness…”

“A barge large enough to carry all of these carts is moored in a cove near by.”, Bloodpetal told him. “The former crew was delicious!”

“You didn’t save us any?…”, Dirge inquired earnestly, or so she thought.

“You are the hunters, we are the fishers.”, Bloodpetal told him. “You are well able to hunt your own prey.”

“Who is this one?…”, purred another female Dromeosaur as she sidled up to Falokar. “He’s cute!…”

“Just an unexpected ally.”, Dirge explained. “He is a skilled warrior in the weaponless arts.”, Falokar inched away.

“Get away from me!…”, Bentfeather warned from inside his cage at the approach of Bloodpetal. “Help!… Help!…”

“You caught me a snack, I see!”, Bloodpetal went over and leered at the helpless Microraptor. “The feathers would be very pretty on my tunic…”

“You will do no such thing!”, Petronas protested, but fell silent at her carnivorous stare.

“Um,… Sir Petronas is right.”, Dirge rushed over and halted her. “Sir Bentfeather is to go with us, as a prize for Nicolai Sanders… Besides, Microraptors are too stringy!…”

“You’re right…”, Bloodpetal slouched. “The last time I ate one, I got indigestion.”

Such prattle went on for most of the evening between the Dromeosaurs, females insulting the males in one way or another, and the other way around was also true; even though both genders knew that this was mere camaraderie between close clan members. Within hours even the non-Dromeosaur members of Pretonas’s group were sharing equally in the insult giving as well as taking; and if they didn’t trust the Dromeosaurs before then, they were quickly beginning to see that they were regular creatures like everyone else. Soon the females began to sit and chat with various members of the group, and even gently examined the prisoners; which still cringed back at any of their approaches; but with their gentile ways and soothing coos and gestures, almost all of them slowly began to calm down and at least tolerate these new warriors.

The females were true to their word when they claimed to be fishers, and had brought along two medium sacks of fish, which were part of their rations; but even that much wasn’t enough for this large a group, and one of the females was heard animatedly arguing with the older human about how to cook their fish stew they were creating from scratch. More hours and more talk waxed and waned, and soon their meal was ready; and the females took turns carrying bowls of it to every person in camp. One young female Dromeosaur, the one that commented about Falokar earlier that evening; came carrying a bowl to him, and also one for herself. She sat down and offered it to him, and smiled when he took it; and never let her eyes stray from him with every mouthful she took, and many moments later gained enough courage to speak to him.

“You are different…”, she said. “What is your name?…”

After Falokar said his name, she nodded. “I am Kestrial… Nice knowing you, Falokar…”

“You better watch yourself with her, young one!…”, another female Dromeosaur conversing with her female kin across the fire from them, said. “Kestrial often catches what she hunts!…”, the rest near this female giggled hissingly.

Kestrial sneered across the fire at them for thier teasing, then returned to her meal in silence for a while. As her bowl drained to nothingness, she looked back at Falokar, who was looking at her for some reason; and all she could do was smile back in a toothy way…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, camp, en route to the Outer Island
_

Hazen knew they had returned to the desert for the stifling heat had again reared its ugly head. At least their captors knew better than to travel without shade, so it was at least bearable. Redcrest was quickly becoming tired, both from the heat and from exhaustion. Fortunately, the Dromeosaurs allowed her to rest on Polongo's cart, where she took a long nap. The spirits of his companions seemed to be just as drained as his Partner was, for they all were beginning to develop thousand-yard stares or, at least in Ajax and April's case, they were feigning it.

After the sun set, camp was made. Redcrest was awoken and they were tied together as they previously were. Occasionally, a guard would walk up to them, offering a berating comment at some person or another. Typically, they were met with cold stares in return, but this time, the guard approached Redcrest. "Did Woggy enjoy her naptime?" Redcrest whimpered slightly. "Too bad this nightmare's real." Redcrest turned her head away from the predator. He sneered and walked away, heading towards Hazen.

Hazen glared at the guard. "Where I come from, it's not only disgraceful that you terrorize a being not even a tenth of your age, but cowardly."

The guard approached Hazen and got close to his face, giving a feral growl as he did. Hazen concentrated to maintain his stoic gaze. "You try my patience," said the Dromeosaur. "Even if Dirge says that you need to be brought back unspoiled, I can make it look like a suicide."

Hazen smirked back. "I don't doubt it. I'm no threat, though," Hazen said. "I am merely a musician. What little self-defence I know clearly won't save me now as it did when you captured me . . . Snapper."

The Dromeosaur chuckled. "You're an observant one," he said back, "if you've heard my name from a distance."

Hazen smirked back. "Perhaps, but this isn't about me, it's about the young one."

Snapper began to mock him again, "Aww, you want me to stop picking on little Woggy?"

Hazen replied pointedly, "Yes. I do. That 'little Woggy' is like a daughter to me. Have you no one you care for like that? Or are you the perfect mercenary: no attachments to anyone or anything except the highest bidder?"

Snapper snarled back at him. "I do not talk about my private life with prisoners!"

Hazen smirked. "I take that as a yes."

Snapper raised a hand to strike him with his claws when a harsh shriek appeared out of nowhere. Considering how Snapper was just as startled as Hazen was, the Dolphinback's terror quickly became genuine. The campfires were doused as Snapper ran off. The sudden change in light left Hazen and the others in the dark. He screamed as he rolled around, fighting his bindings and the ropes that tied him to his compatriots. Based on how the ropes played, they were just as terrified as he was. They banded together, trying their best to keep the most vulnerable Redcrest in the center.

Then, they heard laughter. Hazen began to calm down slightly, even though it was unnerving that there were twice as many voices as before. His eyes had now adjusted and he saw more Dromeosaurs. Based on how they behaved with each other, he concluded that they were not only from the same community, but mates.

Again, they were pulled apart from each other and again the fires were lit. Hazen observed their captors from the distance, not able to make out what exactly they were saying. Based on the amounts of laughter and the occasional indignant faces, he figured that mutual berating somehow played into their culture. This began to cast them in a new light for Hazen. They were not some horrible group of people who were looking to fulfill some megalomaniacal dream, but a family unit, much like his traveling group had become. Hazen tried to remove that element from his mind lest he invite Stockholm syndrome to enter the picture.

Hours passed and Redcrest had fallen asleep. Everyone else were either still too uncomfortable or were rethinking their escape plans to do the same. Then the females began to approach them. Hazen readied himself for what abuse they were to heap upon them. The one that had been with Snapper before approached the sleeping hadrosaur and Hazen shifted closer to Redcrest, sending a signal that he was her guardian.

"That whelp is yours?! You must be the ugliest-looking Lambeosaur I've ever seen!" she joked. The other females laughed.

"She is a child," Hazen said. "Spare her from what you intend to do here." The others glanced at Hazen again, silently rebuking him for his defiance in the face of these unknown predators.

Dirge's mate spoke up. "If you must know, her youth has been taken into consideration. Whether or not we adopt it is our business." Their snide, feminine comments did not appear to be any worse than the males' were and soon everyone's guard began to be relaxed.

Once they all had their fun, Snapper's counterpart approached Hazen, examining him. "So you're the talkative one," she said, "and you're just like he said: Protective of your companions, insolent . . ." She put her snout next to Hazen's face and gave a few sniffs. Hazen did his best to remain still as she interrogated him chemically. ". . . and in love." Hazen's otherwise stoic gaze was betrayed by a dancing Adam's apple as he swallowed. "And with that amount of pheromones," she continued, "you must be in love with someone here."

Hazen glanced at the others. This was not news, but somehow he didn't like where this could be going. The Dromeosaur saw the only human female in the party and approached her. "I could prefer males, you know."

The female turned and smirked. "Now I know it's her. Still, I wonder what she has to say..." Again, the female began sniffing the air, only this time, she was near April. Once she finished, a devilish, toothy smile came across her face. She looked back at Hazen before leaving.

The look implied to him that she was able to detect April's pheromones and that they were intended for him. Hazen glanced at April, who was too far away for him to communicate with quietly. Silently, though, he asked her Is her assessment accurate?

April blinked a few times. Though her expression remained unchanged, she answered his question with her eyes. I'm so sorry it was like this, Hazen.

Slightly, Hazen's eyebrows raised. You do?

April bowed her head before returning it to center. Hazen soon did the same. He closed his eyes and shed a few tears. He couldn't quite figure out which was the source of them: The fact that April, at long last, finally saw him as a good person and that she loved him or that he found out while they were imprisoned and that they might never make anything of their now mutual feelings.
_

TAG: Dirge, Falokar, Bentfeather, any and all.

[tarion]

I.C - The encampment on the way to the Outer Island

Falokar had taken to sleeping on a nearby raised edge so as to over look the camp. A sudden shifting to his left and right made him freeze in place and look around cautiously... in the dark his eyes could make out a few figures, the sillouettes resembled dromeasaurs, but some how... leaner, he grinned... females, and they were going right past him with out noticing him. Good thing he'd decided to sleep up wind. suddenly one lept into the camp near the fire, judging by her appearance she was the alpha female, Falokar had to smile at that, she wasn't bad looking either, she let out a screech that woke the entire camp and suddenly everybody was scrambling to their feet and running around, "Uh oh this could be trouble!" Falokar said starting to get to his feet, but then there came laughing and ritual greetings usually found in mates. Falokar sighed and looked around everything was going to be fine. "Might as well make myself known" he said to hims self backing up a little then taking a running leap off the plateau and somersaulting in the air performing a half turn and back flip in mid air over the entire camp, landing behind the now grouped mass of dromeasaurs. (No one even saw that! Lame...) Falokar thought to himself as he walked up to the group, a few females stared at him in curiosity and others in intrest, possibly because of his Kung Fu Gi, or so he thought, for he didn't know the real reason that they were there. He walked to the front of the group while Commander Dirge was talking to the leader of the female pack Bloodpetal. Falokar grinned she was even more extravigant looking up close, no wonder Dirge was with her. She suddenly noticed him and indicated his being there she looked at him as if mildly entertained. It was then that another female Dromeasaur moved next to him and asked Dirge about him, "Who's this one? He's cute..."

Falokar moved away from her cautiously hoping that cute wasn't female dromeasaurian for "looks tasty" but she seemed genuinly interested in him. Falokar relaxed with a heavy sigh as Dirge said, "He's an unexpected ally that's skilled in the weaponless arts" Falokar was about to correct him,but felt it better to hold his toung in this case.

Things had begun to go back to normal around the camp as the females began to pair up with specific males and all of them were passing out fish... the one that had been asking about Falokar earlier walked up to him offering him a Red Snapper, Falokar looked at her curiously at first, but judged it best to accept any act of kindness from something that could probably kill him with looks, if not at least try to with skill. He took the fish and began eating it quietly. There was silence for some time then out of no where she spoke to him, "You're different... What's your name?"

Falokar looked at her in shock, her voice was .... beautiful, and now that he was actually looking at her he could tell she was at least as old as he was..., he brought himself back away from his thoughts enought to answer her, "It's Falokar...what's yours?"

She smiled at him, "I am Kestrial… Nice knowing you, Falokar…”
Suddenly one of the other female dromeasaurs looked over at them and said, “You better watch yourself with her, young one!…”, another female Dromeosaur conversing with her female kin across the fire from them, said. “Kestrial often catches what she hunts!…”, the rest near this female giggled hissingly.

Falokar frowned a little, "Well then I'd say she'll have a time doing so with me, if anything I'm probably one of the more skilled ones here... and no matter how fast or skilled Kestrail is, she'd have to work hard to pin me that's for sure." He said smiling at Kestrial as he did. She raised an eyebrow at him, "Is that a challange?" she asked interestedly

Falokar grinned, "Maybe... why? Don't think I can back up what I say?"

Kestrial grinned to the other females, "Well there's one way we could find out..." with out another word she launched herself at Falokar who ducked as she went flying over him, he grinned, "Well that's strike one, care to try again?"

Kestrial smiled, she liked him, he was fun. She wheeled around and came back at Falokar who jumped up and performed a rotating flip over her head and landed behind her, "That's strike two, at this rate you're gonna make this too easy for me..." Falokar laughed sincerely for the first time, which Dirge and some of the others noticed immediatly as being different from his usual laugh, which was normally short and sort of low toned, this was more child pitched and actually longer winded.

Kestrial's smile changed into a mischevious grin as she came at him again but this time jumped in the air as he did, throwing her body against his and forcing him to the ground pinning him with her feet... Falokar looked at her with a bit of a grin, "Well it's not the first time i've been taken to the ground by a girl, and it probalby won't be the last." some of the other dromeasaurs snickered at his slightly dirty joke.

Kestrial smiled at him. "Are you always this easy to predict?"

Falokar shook his head, "Nah, I was just being nice to you... "

Kestrail raised what equivilated to a saurian eyebrow, "Really? so you're saying that you have better moves than those that you can do?"

Falokar nodded, "Certainly, those were acrobactics, not even really trying to avoid you, if I had been, I'd have leapt onto the pleatue over there, " he said indicating the pleatue he'd been sleeping on previously...

Kestrial looked at Falokar a bit surprised, that was quite a distance to jump, and pretty high too...

Falokar grinned and as if to explain to her said, "I trained in tree town with body weights to strengthen my whole body, so naturally now that i don't use them my body feels lighter so I can move faster, fight stronger, and jump higher than other saurians my age that havn't gone through that sort of training.

He grinned, "Now about this perdicament i'm in..." he spread his legs out and begin lifting up his lower half then wrapped his tail around Kestrial's upper torso and flung himself out from under her, and onto her back then lept off of her lightly as she was turning around, a look of utter shock on her face, "Not only was that extremely smooth and fluid in moiton, but you're really light too!" Falokar grinned as he landed crouching.... "Nothing too it really..."

Some of the female dromeasaurs had taken to watching Falokar and were studying how he moved and acted...

Falokar walked over to Kestrial and grinned, "Now that was an avoidance technique, which I taught myself."

Kestrail looked Falokar over, He seemed to almost be the same breed as them, but was slightly different, "What exactly are you?" she asked him curiously

Falokar looked at his feet for a second then looked back up, "Well not many people could have recognized that sort of difference, in fact you're the first, but I'm actually a half breed, My mother was a Velociraptor, and my Father was a proacheopteryx. I'm not sure, but one or more of your pack may or may not know my mother, her common name was Alia, but her pack name was "The Fatal Godess" due to the fact that her feathers were an uncommon tint of white, and she was an ace hunter, she came from this region long ago..."

Kestrial shook her head unknowingly, "The name doesn't ring any immediate bells ,but maybe one of the elder's would know of her." Kestrial snuggled up close to Falokar and rubbed on his feathered chest, "you know you really are cute..."

Falokar blushed a little as the other dromeasaurs snikered and chortled at them.

Falokar grinned mischeviously and looked Kestrial in the eyes, (they wanna see some one act courtly huh? They're gonna love this then) , "Maybe so Kestrial, but even the godess Sol pales in comparison to your beauty..." with that he moved around behind kestrial and hugged her resting a head on her shoulder, he then sniffed her and smiled, "You know I love the smell of surging hormones after a moment of excitment...." now it was Kestrial's turn to blush, Falokar was a real charmer, and he wasn't holding any stops. She turned to him, "Y...You mean that?"

Falokar grinned and nodded, "Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it."

The other females looked on in surprise, Falokar had just turned the tables, Kestrial had been after him before, but now it seemed like he was coming onto her just as much.

Somewhere along the way of Falokar's actions he began to actually mean what he was saying.... and it didn't bother him in the slightest, he liked her, and possibly felt even more than that, it was too soon to tell for him but he certainly wouldn't mind her company. He rubbed his head against hers and licked her on the for head, showing intrest in her, she looked at him a little surprised.

Kestrail had only thought Falokar had been playing around before, but when he'd started talking the way he had, and now was acting like he did, she wasn't so sure he wasn't being serious now, she blushed and rubbed against him back.

Tag Dirge, Petronas, Bentfeather, Hazen, April, Falokar, Kestrail, Bloodpetal, Any and all, Everyone involved

[tarion]

I.C - Canyon City (After the meeting with the council and hearing 76's Anouncment about the attack)

Tarion was heading to the living quarters, his shoulder bag swinging lightly at his side, it'd been too long since he'd last seen her. How much would that change things? Would she still want to be with him after he told her all that was going to happen?

He was getting to the left hand side of the canyon and happened to look at the balcony a grin on her face, somehow he knew she'd be out here.

Tarion slowly walked up behind a young female parasaurolophus,

"Hey Asrial, how was your flight?" he asked grinning.

Asrial turned around and gasped, " TARION! When'd you get here?" she cried out running to him and hugging him.

Tarion grinned and hugged her back, "I got here about an hour ago, I would have come to see you sooner, but the Council dragged on with their decisions and then we got news about the caravan, which I need to talk to you about..."

Asrial looked Tarion over and frowned a little, "Why Tarion, what's wrong?" a look of concern on her face.

Tarion shook his head, "Postal bird 76 arrived not to long ago and informed the council that the caravan that I had been part of was attacked by a pack of dromeasaurs, he never said what type, but given the region I can guess real easy."

Asrial shook her head, "Ok I can see why you're concerned, but what does it have to do with you?"

Tarion nodded, "Well, I have to go with the team that's going to the Outter Island, because I may be needed to translate runes, and or, help stop Nicholai Sanders plans. I'm sorry to say That I just got here and have to leave again, but if all goes well, I won't have to travel again."

Asrial nodded, "I understand hon, Go do what you need to, just please come back in one piece, and take care, if you're going to the Outter Island there's going to be alot of Carnivores there..."

Tarion shivered a little, "I know, that's why I'm going with a team, and if we're lucky a friend of mine may be there to help us."

Asrial raised a saurian eyebrow, "And who is this "Friend of yours?"

Tarion smiled, "Falokar, he's an aprentice for the Dinotopian Carnivore Monitoring Agency, last I heard he was watching the dromeasaur clans in that area, perhaps he will be there."

Asrial nodded, "Oh, I see... Well, " she kissed his cheek, "I wish you luck Tarion, I'll be waiting for you here when you come back."

Tarion nodded, "Count on it, I'm sure we won't be leaveing for a few days, because we'll need to amass a team, and also we'll have to wait until they actually arrive on the Outter Island, skybax patrols will be keeping us updated."

Tag: Tarion, Asrial, Postal bird 76, any and all

[Thundertail]

IC: Petronas and his crew with Dirge and his troops with Bentfeather’s group as captives. On casting off at Farrago.

After the evening of carousing with the rest of Dirge’s troops, Petronas and his crew decided to turn in for the night; for with the extra guards now about, the chances of any of their captives escaping was all but impossible. Petronas looked around at the now semi-slumbering camp, then over to Bentfeather in his cage twisting in uncomfortable sleep on the wooden floor of it; then heard Peter near the other cart gently muttering to that warty fool Randy, not really getting any response besides snoring. The captives tried to get some sleep as well, but their bindings and their semi-sitting positions gave none of them any comfort all during the night; but their driven state these past few days bade them to get what ever rest they could.

Dirge could see, through the banter wafting through camp; that with the introduction of his female counterparts to all the others present, everyone was taking a more relaxed tone. Even Falokar was warming up to the females, and this was good; but with his evident interest in Kestria, the lad might soon see some trouble. Dirge knew that Slash was currently courting her on the Outer Island; and the Afrovinator, though not too bright, was at least three times stronger and larger than even he, and poor Falokar would never stand a chance if they were to meet! He chuckled silently at the thought as he rolled over and grasped Bloodpetal’s clawed hand, who was already asleep.

In the morning the last shift of guards returned - the co-ed team of Sludge and Maripotome, who hated each other’s guts, it seemed - and gave their report of the lack of anything wrong before vying to catch a nap apart from each other while the rest broke up camp for the morning. Within an hour all was in readiness, and the prisoners were corralled to their assigned carts or tied to them so they would walk along side. As soon as all this was done the Dromeosaurs assigned to take the point set out, and within a moment the whole caravan slowly got moving; the rear guards waiting for them to be well out of sight until they moved out as well. They were so close to the sea less then an hour later that every member of the convoy could smell the salt air, even the humans for their less than adequate sense of smell. As the rills and crags finally thinned out enough to see a distance, they soon found themselves coming out on a skinny meadow that shrouded a giant escarpment of cliffs that ran the length of the beach in this area; and the female Dromeosaurs led the way to a well used road that skirted within feet of the drop to the sea.

Before long the road dipped over the edge, twisting and turning around many switchbacks; and the group paused to look at the settlement in a rocky cove in the far distance. It was the fishing village of Farrago, a major sea port in this secluded area of Sapphire Bay; and the buildings the town was comprised of wove their way down the gently sloping seaside cliffs, right down to the water’s edge where wharves and docks peppered with sailing craft of every kind were moored. The only thing wrong with this scene was the obvious lack of activity going on in the town; as if all the people knew there were carnivores around, and were hiding until the danger was over. In actuality, most of the people were out to sea fishing and trading; and the only people there were the wives and families of the sailors that were currently absent. Peter, who was pulling the first cart in line, began to make the turn for the next series of switchbacks when one of the females halted him with a hiss and an upraised hand.

“No go that way… This way!…”, she pointed at a spot in the turn where the path went straight, in the opposite direction as the town. “Follow me… Barge is this way…”

“Ok, ok… Don’t be so pointy!”, Peter complained and followed.

Soon the whole caravan was following this new path, which led over the saddle of a long isthmus and down through more knoll encrusted switchbacks that led down to an almost barren stretch of beach. This beach was not totally devoid of habitation, for a small dilapidated warehouse-like structure stood at the head of a long and wide wooden wharf. This place was not totally deserted either, for as soon as the caravan was sighted, three more female Dromeosaurs came out of the warehouse, or from the superstructure-less ship in the water they were working on, and up the wharf to greet the strangers and kin that had just arrived.

“Greetings, my brothers and sisters!”, said one with the longest head plumage springing out of her helmet. “The hunt is now over, and the celebration can begin!…”

“Greetings, my blood sister Agea…!”, Dirge called as he ran to her. “But the celebration can not begin until we enter our home…”, he looked up and down the spit of beach. “Is the barge ready?”

“We have checked every seam and length of rope.”, said Agea. “We will make it home with no problems.”, then she smiled.

The craft was a ferry barge, but far larger then Randy had ever seen. It ha a beam of at least sixty feet, and a length of over one hundred and fifty feet; and definitely a barge designed for ocean-going voyages, not the much smaller ones that were made for mere harbor travel. There were wide gates at both ends for loading and offloading carts, and could hold up to eight large carts and their saurian pullers; and there were white lines painted on the deck, made for lining up these carts to balance the buoyancy toward the center of the craft. Randy reasoned that it was necessary to do so as the sea was far more rough than a harbor, but didn’t comment on this just yet as he was led toward it. The fore section had two large iron rings on cleats that thick lengths of ropes were attached to, and that was connected to a huge leather ring, where the puller of the craft was usually tethered. Above these rings was two platforms on the port and starboard corners for the lookouts, whose job was to sight errant swells, and direct the ones manning the twin rudders on the aft port and starboard transom which way to steer the craft through them. There were small pilothouses next to these rudders, which were designed along the lines of those on ancient Greek ships, for the crew to rest.

“It seems a very sturdy vessel…”, said Randy just then, and one of the females motioned to swat him with her hand.

“Sir Randy pulls a ferry at Mosasaur harbor.”, Bentfeather informed, which halted her action. “He knows his ships.”

“I’m glad it meets your approval.”, the female said sarcastically instead. “Now silence!… AND GET ABOARD!”

“Please Hoaracia!…”, said Agea, then turned to Dirge. “An old friend of yours wishes to help… In the water.”, said Agea, pointing.

“You can not mean…!”, Dirge then sprinted down the wharf, into the barge and peered over the edge. Almost instantly a black and grey mountain of flesh rose from the waves, floating up until a huge oily eye spied the far smaller creature on the barge; and the Liopleurodon rumbled in subsonic recognition of the creature. “Greach, my sea-brother!… You are welcome to my eyes!”, Greach’s reply could only be felt through his feet as Dirge rubbed just behind that eye.

“You mean we’re to be pulled by THAT?!”, Peter balked.

“Oh, he won’t hurt you…”, Petronas whispered to him. “Unless you fall overboard!…”, Peter gulped.

“So all is in readiness.”, Dirge stated after quickly coming back on shore, conversing with all the other Dromeosaurs present before continuing. “Let’s all get aboard and embark, before the Dinotopian guards catch up with us…”

With that the troops under commander Dirge rushed off in every direction of the area, seeming to know what jobs needed to be done to get their voyage under way. A small group went to the structure on the beach and came back with crates, barrels and sacks of provisions; placing them on the deck of the barge where other Dromeosaurs would lash them down on the railings, and the group would go back for another load, and their task ended many such trips later. In the mean time, the pullers of the carts were led onto the ramp of the barge and into their allotted slots, pulling their burdensome carts behind them. Polongo as well as Peter balked as the Dromeosaurs began placing padded iron shackles onto their legs and chaining them to the deck, just as the same procedure was being performed on their carts; but Hydra was evidentially used to this procedure and let it happen, and Randy noticed the latter pair’s trepidation and explained.

“Stop fidgeting!… It’s for your own good!”, he bawled at them. “They are chaining us down so we don’t get flung all over the ship, or get knocked overboard!… None of you can swim very well, can you?…”, they all shook their heads. “Now just let it happen, or we’ll never get through this…”

All through the goings on aboard the barge, Falokar noticed how these Dromeosaurs worked not only as a well trained unit, but they actually worked as a family; each doing what was expected of them without much quarrel, and co-operated unconditionally and with earnest desires to help one another. He saw the professionalism in their work, proving they were true sailors; and knew exactly what needed to be done to operate a ship of this configuration, and with this he could do nothing more than to pitch in any way he could by lashing down things and intercepting the odd object that was rolling around. By noontime, everything was ready and the time came to cast off the mooring lines; and the ramp was hauled up and secured to the deck, and the massive ferry barge slowly drifted away from the end of the dock.

Two experienced Dromeosaurs grabbed the twin tillers and stroked them in a figure-eight pattern to propel the craft into slightly deeper water; deep enough for the next step in getting to the Outer Island, and the giant leather yoke was thrown out in the water by two others as the rest braced themselves for what came next. Greach the Liopleurodon breached and dove near the barge, coming up with the yoke around his neck; then he swam away as the lines attached to the barge suddenly became taut, and the barge nearly instantly got up to speed with a jerk as the giant creature pulled in an easterly direction. Just then the two Dromeosaurs manning the tillers leaned on them with all their might as the breakwater came into view; and they steered hard over and around the largest swells, maneuvering so the unpredictable waves would not capsize the craft!

“I’m getting seasick!…”, Peter warned as he was rocked back and forth in his shackles.

“Me too…!”, Vox said as he clung to his leg. Those that could stand it simply braced themselves while those that could not shared the same such sentiments!

For what seemed like hours, but was really only half the time; the rogue waves of the breakwater passed by, and the sea became as calm as it usually gets. Pretty soon the crew got up and battened down everything that broke loose and prepared for their Noonmeal, cold rations as there was no way to have a fire aboard ship. Once all was fed and things settled down further, the Dromeosaurs manning the tillers stood down, and two others took their place; just standing by them until the need to steer became apparent. Greach knew the way to the Outer Island, and would pull them in that direction regardless; for the only reason the tillers were there was to keep the barge stable if rogue waves should be encountered. The giant barge, made tiny for the stretch of ocean they were in; plied on as the afternoon sun passed over their heads…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C. - The Barge on the way to the Outer Island

Falokar stood at the head of the barge and looked out over the horizon, several thoughts racing through his mind, did he really have feelings for Kestrial? Was his stand views against the carnivores really right? Several things were starting to confuse Falokar, and it could only be a matter of time before he would be forced to make a choice, little did he know it was going to be within the next few minutes.

Falokar began heading back to the other side of the barge and stopped by the captives, "Hey, are all of you alright?" he asked sincerely.

Ajax stared him down, "Get lost you loathsome piece of trash! Once our aid arrives you're going down with the rest of these barbarians!"

Falokar looked like he'd been slapped in the face and punched in the stomach, "H...How dare you?! Of all the people here Ajax I would have expected you to realize those credentials were real," (Falokar began to lose control of his emotions and let his anger get the better of him), "So, I'm a piece of loathsome trash am i? If that's how you see your allies then I may as well actually join the pack, at least they care for and watch over one another." with that he stormed over to where Dirge and Bloodpetal were, he swallowed hard then looked at Dirge, "Dirge I need to speak with you about something rather important..."

Dirge looked down at him a grin on his face, "Sure, what is it Falokar?"

Falokar frowned a little, "I'm afraid I havn't been completely honest with you and your kin..." he began undoing his gi, revealing a sky blue jumpsuit underneath it, he took of the gi shirt and pants to reveal his D.C.M.A suit, "You see, I was originally an Agent of the D.C.M.A, and I disagreeignment was to track you down and stop nicholai sanders, however, after spending time with you I've arrived at a conclusion, I'd rather really be a part of this pack than a sham wanna be, and if that means I have to take some sort of test or go through anything to prove it, I'm more than willing." With that Falokar ripped the D.C.M.A patch off his jacket and threw it on the deck, "My first act is that I quit the D.C.M.A, and now, those punks down there are without any immediate support, If you wish to kill me for my former occupation I will understand completely, but know that if you do, you're simply killing Falokar, not a member of the Agency." Falokar lowered his head, slightly ashamed of himself awaiting any punishment that was going to happen, "Do with me what you will, I surrender." he dropped to his hands and knees keeping his gaze down.

Tag: Dirge, Ajax, Falokar, Kestrial, Bloodpetal, Any and All