"A Quest Of Friends"

[Thundertail]

IC: Aboard the ferry barge, in the middle of Sapphire bay.

Greach ploughed through the water pulling the barge of carnivores and their captives, oblivious of what was going on aboard her; for he was having too much fun doing what he naturally did, and cared not about his passengers even though they were of the same caste. If the giant Liopleurodon were to be aware of what was going on, it might give him pause; for things were not going as expected for his passengers, indeed no! The barge rocked slightly for the waves as everyone aboard who was not busy with shipboard chores stood silenced at what had just been publicly divulged by their recent ally Falokar. At this Dirge stood in thought for a moment before grinning widely.

“You know, my boy, I was wondering why one such as you, who knows the skills you know, was here; right where ones like us might be hiding!”, Dirge said slowly. “I knew that the Dinotopian council were not idiots, and would perhaps send someone to investigate things - especially when other strange occurrences are going on elsewhere…”

He paced the deck to the bow and back. “You seem to have told the truth about yourself, and now I must confess a truth about me.”, Dirge walked up to Falokar. “I suspected all along that you were sent by them. I just wanted to see what kind of person you are: were you a true Dinotopian, or did your blood run true to your tribe.”, he turned away. “It would seem that the latter is true after all!”

“He is Dinotopian too.”, Bloodpetal said from the port lookout platform. “They value honesty and truth above all.”

“Maybe so, but he was honest to his nature.”, Dirge said, then turned to Falokar. “You are right that, for your betrayal and dishonesty to us, you should be put to death; but since you are willing to defect from your post at the D.C.M.A. and join us, our law will not be carried out at this time.”, he turned away, but had another thought. “Besides, we may need all the help we can get!”

“Are you going to trust him after all that?!…”, Petronas accused. “He is one of them!”

“Unless your intelligence betrays you, my fine friend,”, Dirge said sharply. “He is no longer one of them.”, then smiled at Falokar. “In fact, as he is of our saurian kin, one should say that he is in need of a… Clan Initiation.”

“Let me…!”, Kestria, then Sludge and finally Horacia, said moments apart.

“Now my brothers and sisters, you know that our initiations require that the subject know not when it will happen, what it will be nor who will administer it!…”, Dirge chuckled sidelong at Falokar. “Just a word of warning, my friend: When you least expect it, expect it!”, all the other Dromeosaurs chuckled meanly.

Their prisoners were also listening in on this whole exchange, and Ajax seemed to be having second thoughts about the lad; so angry with himself at blowing up at him that he worked the ropes tying his hands all the harder. If he was their only hope at rescue, then all hope was lost! The same sentiments were present on all the captive’s faces, each deep in thought of losing the hope of swift rescue; for their rescuer had gone over and switched sides, and it was all their fault! The only ones that felt little concern was the two Ceratopsians that accompanied them, for they were working for them anyway; and the non-Dromeosaurs among them. Bentfeather sighed in his cage and looked down at the bruised face of Tebo Lewis, who was languishing at the front wheel of the gypsy cart he was tied to; thinking it was an unfair situation to have the innocent boy be a part of all this. It had been many days since they were this near because of their captors, so Bentfeather sighed louder to get his attention.

“We’re doomed…”, Bentfeather whispered as Tebo’s head rose. “My son, I never meant to lead you in such trouble… Please forgive me!”

“It was not your fault… And besides, how could you have known?”, Tebo said softly. “In life, sometimes it’s best to go where the river takes you… But sometimes the river can lead you into some rapids!”

“A wise boy…”, Bentfeather would have touched him but for the distance between the cage and the boy’s tied form. “But what shall we do now?… For better or worse, sir Falokar was our only hope…”

“Not necessarily, my friend.”, Tebo said. “During the capture, I saw Postal Bird 76 escape… Knowing the loyalty of all Postal Birds, I’m sure he went for help right away.”, he smiled bravely. “Why, I’m sure by now there is a whole battalion of rescuers out looking for us right now!”

“You think so?…”, Bentfeather asked with a ray of hope, then sank. “Oh, but how will they find us?… We are in the middle of the ocean, on our way to an island that’s far outside the jurisdiction of any authority!…”

“Postal Birds are very resourceful and reliable.”, Tebo said. “Just have faith!…”

While this hushed conversation was going on, the other Dromeosaurs were regarding Falokar in a new light; a combination of both the beginnings of unconditional trust and reawakened mistrust, knowing not to attack him anyway for Dirge’s assessment of him. Finally Dirge noticed their direction and course and broke up the crew from their halted work, rousing them with a hand clap.

“And now that that is over, let’s all get back to work.”, he announced. “Everybody man your posts…”, he ran to the bow of the craft, talons clicking on the folded section of ramp cleated to the deck.

“Hey Falokar!…”, Kestria said as she came over. “Come back this way…”, she led him aft, to the twin tillers. “You take the starboard tiller, I’ll take the port…”, she took her position.

Falokar followed suit, but saw Snapper at the post; then saw Kestria announce to Sludge: “I will relieve you…”, and he quickly stepped aside, bowing. Falokar said the same to Snapper and he did as Sludge had done, leaving them to steer the craft. He looked over to her.

“This is real easy…”, she shouted. “Just follow the directions of the spotters up front!… They will point where the tiller should go.”, he fingered the thick wooden handle unsurely. “If they point port, push the tiller toward the sea; and if they point starboard, pull the tiller to the center of the ship.”, she continued instruction. “Sometimes steering is not necessary, so if they point straight down, push the tiller down and the blade will rise out of the water… Sometimes greater force in steering is needed, so if they point up, push the handle up and the blade will cut deeper in the water…”, she got ready herself, and smiled in determination. “Now grab on and keep your eyes open...!”

“Just don’t sink us!…”, Ripper yelled sarcastically to him as he was the port-side spotter. He then began to spot and point.

As all this was going on, Dirge peered out over the ocean in front of the ferry barge, then he made a shrill whistle that brought the behemoth puller Greach to the surface; Liopleurodon breaching and coming down with a miniature tidal wave. “MY FRIEND…! THE TIME HAS COME TO CHANGE COURSE…!”, he yelled, and without a reply Greach breached again and began pulling in a more northerly direction.

Without warning Falokar found himself in a wild race to control the craft as it turned to the northeast, Kestria laughing wildly as she watched him inexpertly handle the tiller like a drunken human hanging onto a light post!…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C The Barge, the Crew, and the new Recruit

Falokar kept to his hand and knees as Dirge began speaking, this was it, he was about to die, but at least he was dieing a free saurian... then the strangest of things happened, Dirge had only mentioned that he should be put to death, but then practically welcomed him into the clan with open arms! Falokar looked up slightly confused, was he actually going to be ok?

It was then that Dirge mentioned the initiation for which several dromeasaurs volunteered at once, one of them being Kestrail, this made Falokar blush slightly, if he wanted anyone to to anything to him he hoped it was her. But then Dirge announced that it would happen at random and to expect it when least expecting it.

The crew laughed and began to look at Falokar a little appreciativly, while others looked at him slightly curious and sort of cautiously. All at once Kestrial was calling him to work the starboard side tiller for the barge.

Falokar nodded, feeling he'd made the right choice after all. He rushed by the captives without even giving them a second glance and found Snapper already at the tiller he was supposed to be working, he looked over to Kestrial and saw how she had relieved Sludge from his post, Falokar nodded and followed suit. He sat on the bench and took ahold of the tiller, listening to Kestrial's instructions carfully. They hadn't gone more than a few nautical yards when suddenly the shout came "We're changing directions!"
At once Falokar began to wrestle with the tiller he was pulling, seeming to not have control of it, but then right as the tiller was yanking forward from him he wrapped his tail around the bench then planted his feet firmly on the deck and pulled as hard as he could, they gradually began to turn in the right direction, and Falokar looked to Kestrial grinning... "Heh.. piece of cake!" he shouted over the surging surf. She smiled back, comforting him, He'd almost lost control of the barge there for a minute.

For the first time in Falokar's life he felt truely invigorated, free, and actually content... this was the place he belonged, with these dromeasaurs, in this pack... things began to calm down and he took to leasurly directing the ships course according to the directions... a grin on his face, he wasn't sure what layed ahead, but felt fairly confident that he was more than capable of handling it now...

Tag: Everyone involved

[o8jedi]

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

Hazen looked at the feathered one as he kowtowed before Dirge. He would have been hard-pressed to say that he trusted Falokar at this point and now, he wouldn't have been blamed for feeling like he did. Still, he had shown so much courtesy to his party, despite their captured state, that he couldn't help but feel down that he swore allegiance to the enemy. Hazen hung his head. He may not have been the best judge of character, but given how he shouted at Ajax, he wondered if he was doing this out of spite or if he was sincere. The young Proarcheopteryx was a good kid; it's too bad that he now had to run with the wrong crowd.

The motion of the ocean wasn't too much of a concern for him. Having spent his life near large bodies of water, he had developed his sea legs a long time ago. He could tell that many of the others had not. Especially poor Redcrest, who was seated in the cart. The combination of the wave action and the rations that were given to her had made her face look even greener than it usually did. She moaned and complained about her stomach. Hazen sighed as he tried to find a container to keep her stomach contents in, should they want to see the light of day. "Keep your eyes on the horizon and move your body with the rest of the ship," he advised. She did her best but soon, she threw up in the cart. She then started crying about the mess she made.

Artemis, who trained to some extent to deal with motion sickness, leaned over to her daughter. "Don't worry, my child. No one's upset that you did that." Hazen rubbed Redcrest's crest, which was now showing a distinct bump, foreshadowing the shape of things to come. With the other hand, he wiped some of the sick off the cart. He could hear some snide comments from their captors regarding the incident, but he didn't pay them too much mind. He merely flicked the remnants onto the deck and wiped his hand on a piece of canvas nearby.

Hazen glanced over at April, who was in quiet conversation with Ajax, probably to discuss their plan of action from here on out. He had thought a great deal about how he found out that she was in love with him now. It didn't seem fair for it to happen under duress. Fortunately for Hazen, he was tied to same cart as Seamus. "Things just got darker, didn't they?" remarked the older man.

"It's always darkest before the dawn," Hazen said. "But something tells me he's still got a good heart. Young people tend to do rash things like that. I know I have."

Seamus nodded. "Very true."

Hazen looked at the older man. "Seamus, do you have any regrets?" Seamus looked at the younger man. "In case we don't make it?"

Seamus shook his head. "Nay. I've always had a cheery outlook on life. I'm fortunate to have lived this long; to see my Partner take a mate and have a child. I certainly didn't want their fate to be mine, but if it is to be, that's what it is."

Hazen sighed. "I wish I had a family of my own. I think I would have made a good father and a good husband."

"You do have a family," Seamus reminded him. "Redcrest and Polongo. Even me. Sort of a distant cousin, if you will." Hazen chuckled. "And you are a good man. If you do take a mate and raise children, you'll be fantastic."

Hazen scoffed slightly. "If I don't get eaten by carnivores or crushed by a despot first."

"You are still alive aren't you?" Seamus said. "Then there's a chance. After all, you said it yourself about that young Saurian."

Hazen sighed. "I suppose so."

"Furthermore, we are a man down," said the older man.

"Who are you talking abou--" Hazen stopped and Seamus smiled at the glint of recognition in his eye. How could he have been so stupid! There was one creature who was conspicuously absent from the group: 76. The smallest of beings would surely bring in the cavalry. All they had to do was survive. "Well," he said, "Let's just hope they don't get antsy. And that Sanders has a use for us when we arrive." He looked over at his two reasons to live -- Redcrest and April -- and vowed that all of them would make it out alive or he would be the first to go.
_

TAG: Falokar, Dirge, any and all!

[tarion]

I.C - En Route to the Outer Island

The day had started to grow long as the barge carrying the two packs of dromeasaurs, and their allies, along with their captives was still out at sea, somewhere around sun set two dromeasaurs that Falokar had not met before, came and releaved him and Kestrial of tiller duties... Falokar looked to Kestrial to show him what to do next, but she simply stood there for a bit and smiled at him, so shrugging he walked over to the port side of the barge and leaned against what railing they had to keep any goods from falling off.

Not long after Kestrail stood beside him a smile still on her face, "It's beautiful isn't it?" she asked giving a rather calm sigh.

Falokar nodded, "Sure... in a sort of mysterious and mystical way i suppose the ocean could be called beautiful, after all we who traverse the land know not the complete wonders and secrets of those that traverse the waters." After saying this he shot a glance at the large serpent like creature that was pulling them to the outer island.

Kestrial cleared her throat and Falokar looked to her showing her, that she had his full attention, "You know that was a pretty brave move you made back there, telling the truth like that... any other saurian would have been slain on sight for such a status of information, Dirge must have really taken a liking to you in order to spare you."

Falokar grinned, "Well with any luck, the former version of me, that was an agent will become a distant memory in a short amount of time, and the newer, freer me should start to take effect, mind you I'll still fight the way I was taught, because honestly that style of combat is nearly unbeatable..."

Kestrial nodded, "I began to notice that when me and you tussled the other day, you have some very fluid and agilitetic moves, you're really flexible too... was that part of your training as well?"
Falokar smiled, "Well yeah, all of it was, the flexibility comes from the fact that I warm up everyday to stay in top shape, i've gotten to the point that i can do a knife kick, or a cross knife kick without much strain..."

The confused look on Kestrial's face led Falokar to taking a stance near the center of the parge then pivoting his body so that his upper torso was at a 90 degree angle from his left leg and his right leg was at a 180 degree split (in other words his legs form a perfect vertical line) Falokar brought his body back to the ready stance then grinned, "If you were impressed by that this will really get your attention... Suht Sie-Yaaah" He performed a reverse heel round house kick then landed his left foot and took off with his right foot performing a rotating knife kick after bringing that foot down he re entered a particular stance then crouched down and lept sky ward performing a spinning heel kick, this was followed by two more in quick sucession. He landed then contorted his body a little to a balanced and calm pose, then rotated forward and performed a tornado kick ( basically the cross knife kick in mid air really fast but at a lesser angle than 180, more like 145 degrees for both legs). He landed once more then stopped and stood in the Tiger syle "ready pose" then bowed and looked over at Kestrial with a smile, "And those are only a few of the moves I know..."

Falokar's time performing the various martial art's moves had taken only a few minutes, but in that time nearly everyone on board had gained an understanding of how he fought, most of them had stopped in the middle of what they had been doing to watch, almost all of them, except the ones from Dirge's squadron were quite shocked and very impressed.

Dirge himself smiled, "Perhaps I was right in letting him live after all.."

However the captives that were capable of seeing Falokar grew slightly alarmed, a carnivoreiously tended dromeasaur with Martial arts skills that rivaled even the best of their guards... that would be a problem if they ever had to face him.

Kestrial called Falokar over and began talking with him as the two of them roamed a the length and bredth of barge lost in mild mannered conversation.

Tag: Everyone involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76 and Elaina Dennison at Canyon City, and their mission to the Outer Island.

Just like in all affairs concerning court protocol, the meetings on what was to be done about the abduction of sir Bentfeather and his company went on for days; and it must have been an urgent event indeed for them to agree to act in such a short time, for the news that trickled from the Outer island told of the grave situation there for all the legitimate persons there. Their plan was simple yet very dangerous, especially for 76 as he was to ultimately work alone; but that was not until after he helped send word to the ground and air forces already there to begin their advancements. He was not to go alone, for as it was far too distant for him to fly to the Outer island alone; Elaina Dennison and Cirrus volunteered to ferry him across, and onward to where their forces were amassed.

As all agreed that this course of action was the only logical one, Wisenbeak chortled in her own way to the volunteers, and Gorth translated. “And do you all agree that you can do this, Postal Bird 76 and pilot Elaina Dennison…?”, he asked on her behalf.

“Oh, yes indeed, I do!”, 76 said proudly. “I would do anything to rescue my friends.”

“You can count on me, your honor.”, Elaina saluted in the Skybax way.

“Then all will go as planned.”, Gorth translated. “Elaina, you show courage that matches your father, pilot Will Dennison; and may his legacy live on in you!”

Wisenbeak turned to the flyer that was a hundred times smaller than she. “And you, Postal Bird 76, have the perseverance of a hundred Skybax!”, then she turned to the court.

“If there is no other further comments or issues concerning this, I proclaim this court is adjourned…”, Gorth pounded a hoof instead of a gavel, and presently the court members rose and left.

The final meeting done, Elaina went to tend to the business of her steed, 76 went to say good bye to his cohorts at the canyon City Postal Bird aerie, who were gracious enough to allow him to roost there during his stay. By mid afternoon on the forth day since the capture of sir Bentfeather’s company, all was in readiness for them to leave; and 76 met Elaina at the Skybax training barracks just as Cirrus swooped onto the landing pad overlooking the giant Amu Canyon. The giant bird squawked in recognition of the much smaller flyer, just as Elaina arrived with her saddle and bags of supplies.

“All ready, my friends?…” she asked cheerily, then slung first the saddle over cirrus and next attached the saddle bags to the saddle. “Got your first-class accommodations right here!…”, she opened the flap of one of them.

“Thank you m’lady!”, 76 piped. “Let’s get sir Bentfeather…!”, and in he hopped.

She leapt on the back of Cirrus, and off he flew; gaining altitude with the aid of the canyon’s thermals, gained great height as the panorama below unfolded beautifully in Elaina’s eyes. This place was always her favorite place to fly, and a place containing all her favorite memories of the Skybax corps; but now they wheeled around and headed northeast, leaving Elaina with memories best saved for another day. Over the lip on the other side and through the air above Pteros they flew. They flew onward until there was little light left to see; over jungle, settlement and wasteland alike. Eventually the trio came in for a landing at the outpost fishing village of Ahimsa, where they roosted for the night at the Skybax weigh station there…
_


IC: On the ferry barge, nearing the Outer Island.

Greach pulled and pulled for the rest of the day as things went on like clockwork for all those aboard the ferry barge he was pulling, the sun sinking in the west behind them; and to the south remnants of the Perpetual Storm that surrounded Dinotopia boiled ominously, threatening their tiny craft if they got too close. As the hours passed and all aboard was getting used to the rise and fall of the sea, a small anomaly began to rise in the sea ahead of them; for they were better than half way across Sapphire Bay, and their destination was now in sight!

Dirge chuckled slightly at the fighting prowess Falokar was displaying for all to see, knowing he was merely trying to impress young Kestria, then he had everyone gather before speaking. “It is getting late…”, Dirge announced to all the crew. “We should weigh anchor and rest for the night…”

Presently all of his Dromeosaur kin rushed around the deck, for they knew what to do to secure the barge for the night; even though their other cohorts and Falokar did not, and certainly their captives had no clue of what was to be done. Slag called out and summoned Greach, who knew what to do as he slid the yoke off and left abruptly; for now was his time to hunt the anvil-headed sharks he had seen during the voyage! Two of the females pulled the yoke lines back on deck as Ripper and Snapper tossed two small anchors over the sides, eventually putting the gigantic ferry barge to a complete halt for the night.

“We have made great time on this voyage.”, Dirge said as the rest of the Dromeosaur crew settled in a knot, beginning to eat their rations of dried fish. “We should make landfall in Culebra by mid-morning.”

“Culebra is still under our control.”, Bloodpetal told them at his side. “It should be no problem to land there and travel the rest of the way by the traditional paths.”

“We are almost home!”, commented Slag.

“Indeed!… And soon we will be among our clans and families!”, Dirge told them. “But first we must complete our sacred duty and return that cursed artifact to it’s rightful place.”

“And if mister Sanders wants to… Um, study it in the mean time?…”, Petronas cut in.

“Then let his simian curiosity take him where it may!”, Dirge told him, getting into a more comfortable position on the deck. “Now we will no doubt have an eventful day tomorrow, so it is prudent we all take some rest.”, he grasped Bloodpetal’s hand and lay his head down, and many of the rest followed suit.

Many hours later, and with his belly sated with the three small eight foot long sharks he had ambushed, Greach rose to the surface of the sea right next to the ferry barge; which was nearly as long as he, and peered an oily eye onto the deck. He saw that there was no activity there as all his compatriots were drifting into slumber, and sidled next to the barge for some rest himself. Soon through the planking of the barge, subsonic rumblings of a sleeping Liopleurodon was felt more than heard all through the night, a sensation that eased Dirge into an even deeper slumber.

Dirge awoke the next morning, yawning widely as he heard the caterwauling of gulls, Rahonavus and other seagoing birds and small Pterosaurs wheeling over head; vying to catch their morning allotment of fish, diving into the water and scooping them on the fly. He smiled as he rolled to the side of the barge to see the massive sleeping form of Greach, whose yellow tinged oily eye opened at the Dromeosaur’s touch; and rumbled in infrasonic tones in recognition of his diminutive friend.

“Nearly time to go, my friend…”, Dirge said as he got up. “I will rouse my clan, and we’ll leave shortly…”, he listened to the rumbling sound, and laughed. “Very well,… be my guest!…”, Dirge hung onto the railing.

Dirge dove under the barge, and for the longest time nothing happened; then it was like the Perpetual Storm caught up with them at last! “AVAST…!“, bellowed Randy. “It’s a monsoon!…“, Vox tumbled into him. “Get up!…“, “Tend the lines!“, “Raise anchors!…“, “Grab HOLD…!“, nearly everyone was shouting all at once; and their captors could do nothing but groan or shriek at the tossing about. Waves crashed over the transoms and the barge pitched like a drunken man, and everything and everyone was dashed about in a mass of turmoil; carts skidded left and right, and the larger saurians rocked in their shackles, nearly being driven to their knees! As soon as the rocking began, shouts and thrashing as everyone instantly scrambled around and tried to steady themselves; all of which was to little avail. Just as abruptly as the churning sea began than it ended, Dirge finally standing and wailing in laughter; and Greach rising to the surface rumbling his own brand of humor!

“Oh mercy…!”, Dirge howled. “Man the lifeboat…!”, he laughed a long time before regaining his composure. “I’m so glad to see you’re all awake!… Some sailors my clan is,… not even knowing what to do in a storm!”, he looked into the mirthful eye of Greach. “I thought we’d wake you in an unusual way, but it is now time to prepare to shove off…”, at his stare the crew got to work.

The Dromeosaurs, humans and others began cleaning up the water, checking for loose ropes that held their provisions and captives; and many were involved in shoving the carts back into their places. Kestria and Falokar rushed around the deck, picking up anything that got loose; and she came rushing over with a fish she found that got washed there, parading it around by the tail before eating it in one bite. Falokar laughed at the silliness, and before long everything was set to get under way once again. As her final chore, she was putting away the buckets and mops used for swabbing; then noticed something strange about one of the buckets.

“This one has a clear bottom!”, she said as she looked through it. “Falokar. Would you like to see Posiedos?… We should be over it about now…”

Posiedos, the crown jewel of Dinotopia and made by king Othgar millennia ago; was sunk by a great cataclysm, sinking it to the bottom of Sapphire Bay. It’s ruins were still there, sitting like it did that fateful day so long ago; and as Kestria placed the bucket over the side, outlines of the ancient city could barely be seen through the crystal clear water three hundred feet below. As soon as Kestria located a ruined knot of buildings below, she gave the bucket to Falokar; who looked in wonder at the once fabulous city, he imagining how great that city might have once been. His awe and wonder was soon shattered as the crew placed the yoke back in the water for Greach to pull them; and the bucket nearly left his grasp at the sudden acceleration!…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

Falokar stood on the deck and tried to keep his feet firmly planted, thier sudden take off had given him something of a fright, he waited a few seconds then regained composure and began roaming the barge never straying to far away from kestria, and never letting her out of his sight, on occasion he would finish his tasks early and with skill, then ask Dirge or Bloodpetal for another assignment, this is how he ended up on the mast securing the mooring lines and watching the horizons for any sign of suspicious activities. He looked to his left and saw that the small spit of land they had seen last night was now growing much larger, and more mountanous he grinned, this would be his first trip to the outer island, the land of his ancestors... surely someone there would be able to recognize his what his original tribe was, after all tribe members tended to have similar qualities and feather colors... usually, and his feather colors were a near exact replica of his mothers. Falokar looked down onto the deck and saw Kestria watching the shore draw closer with excitment, he grinned she must live here, and it was probably exciting for her to be home again.

A thought then crossed Falokar's mind... he sincerely hoped that she was in fact single, cause if she wasn't that'd mean he might have to go toe to toe with her mate... and he wasn't sure if he could handle taking on a more dominant male that had experience in fighting dromeasaurian style... sure he could deffend himself but dromeasaurs usually fought to kill, and if he got into a display of dominance with an older or stronger male, he'd have to work hard to even get away with minor injuries. The thought made him frown a little and shake his head. Then again maybe everything would be fine... It didn't do him any good to worry about uncertain things, and complaining never helped, this was why he tried his best to keep a sunny and optimistic disposition. He shook the thoughts from his head and smiled, everything was going fine... and as long as he was by her side he was sure things would stay that way.
Tag: Everyone involved

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker, April Manchester, and company, the barge, en route to Culebra
_

Night had fallen. While there an immense cloud wall was in the distance, the stars were out in full force in the rest of the sky, contrasting the beauty and savageness of the heavens. The guards refused to get blankets from the carts to help keep their prisoners warm in the cool, sea air and they were forced to huddle together for warmth. At least as best as their bindings would allow. The temperature wouldn't induce hypothermia, but it was enough to keep everyone that much more uncomfortable. The gentle wave action had a calming effect. Especially on young Redcrest, who hadn't been rocked to sleep since she was still in the hatchery. If anyone was to have a good night's sleep tonight, she would be the one.

Amid these human sandwiches, Hazen Baker was a piece of bread. Gusts of wind would blow by him and startle him awake. He hated being cold; always has and always will. If there was some sort of brew on board, maybe a couple swigs would help desensitize him to the cold so he could sleep. Considering the treatment everyone has received from the Dromeosaurs, that was highly unlikely. He scanned the ship, spying the myriad of dinosaurs sleeping where they were, paying little mind to crisp air. One of the perks of being ectothermic, he supposed.

On the other side of the cart he was lashed to, he saw another pile of people. Ajax and April leaned against each other for support and warmth. He noticed April's head wasn't hung as far as Ajax's was. Perhaps she was still awake. "Hey," he whispered to her. "April." April turned her head. She was awake, if a bit groggy. "Couldn't sleep either?" he asked her.

April nodded her head. "I want to, but I just can't," she replied.

Hazen chuckled. "Yeah, I know how that feels." He yawned, emphasizing the point.

April smiled at the timing. She thought about their predicament and frowned. "I'm sorry, Hazen, that you had to get dragged this far into it."

Hazen nodded. "None of us wanted this, but we couldn't exactly foresee this happening either." He swallowed as he looked at April. Then he had an idea. "Come here," he said as he ducked his head under the edge of the cart. April raised an eyebrow and soon got the idea as he started shuffling under it and closer to her. As she did the same, the ropes tying them to their fellow prisoners got tighter and tighter until they could not go any further. Fortunately, they were in very close proximity.

April studied the face of the Dolphinback in this cloistered area and smiled. Hazen smiled back. If he had his hands free, he would have caressed her cheek or attempted an embrace. Finally, Hazen said, "April, I want you to know that I have a pretty good idea of how you feel about me now, especially after a few months of travel together. I know that the circumstances may have made things a bit complicated, but . . ."

"Oh, just shut up and kiss me!" April said as she leaned in carefully, so as not to hurt either of them. When their lips met, an electric thrill rushed down both of their spines. After the shock washed over Hazen, he closed his eyes and returned the kiss, savoring the moment because it could be their only kiss as a couple. Time seemed to stand still.

When at last they broke it, Hazen leaned his head next to her ear and whispered, "I love you, April, in every sense of the word."

April, whose mouth was as close to his ear as his to hers, whispered back, "Forgive my treatment of you in the past. Now I know that I love you, too."

Hazen turned his head. "All is forgiven," he whispered as he kissed her cheek tenderly. Their bindings limited their activities to just affectionate musings and brief kisses, but both were certain that they needed this closeness, if only to cope with the harsh reality of being held captive. Hazen carefully laid on the deck and invited April to do the same. The cart above them helped to block the wind, keeping the two sheltered and allowing their warmth together to be more effeciently shared. Both of them fell asleep quickly and soundly.

When morning came, both of them were startled awake. Seawater had washed across them and they both began to slide. They realized how dangerous their position was as the cart slid along with them. They kicked themselves free and barely escaped the cart's wheels without injury.

As the ship pitched back and forth, Hazen was pulled to the starboard railing by the weight of Seamus and Tebo only to see the cart heading right toward them. Redcrest screamed as she was still inside the cart. The rigging jolted the cart to a stop, but sent the young Hadrosaur flying over the edge, leaving her dangling uncomfortably by the rope that tied her there. "Hang on!" he yelled to her as the ship leveled off. He did his best to get to his feet to help her, but they slid back to the port side and he lost his footing.

As soon as it began, the tempest stopped and Dirge was laughing the whole time. Taking the opportunity to try and help his Partner, Hazen carefully stood up under Redcrest, allowing her to clamor back inside the cart. "You okay?" he asked her.

Redcrest sniffled and nodded. "I got scraped," she said, showing her knee.

Hazen smiled back and rubbed the back of her neck. "It could have been worse than a few boo-boos," he said. "I'll see if I can get them to have Mama make it better." As the guards came to re-corral their prisoners, Hazen put in a request to Snapper, but it was promptly ignored. He could only hope that they would have a better reception back on land.
_

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

[Thundertail]

IC: Aboard the barge and landing on the Outer Island.

The land mass to their right grew ever larger as the morning wore on, and everyone aboard could begin to tell the general shape of it from their closeness to it. The southern end was comprised of a tall peak, jungle enshrouded and impossible to land for the massive cliffs guarding it from the sea. The upper middle of the island was dominated by a huge, craggy peak that dwarfed the first lava dome; and only the general base of that volcanic mountain was hidden by jungle. The northern tip, of which they could scarcely see, was yet another sloping peak, totally obscured by the jungle that covered the entire island. During one of the epochs that had formed the island so long ago, lava spewed from a side channel at the edge of the sea; gradually cooling and eroding into the caldera that made the headwaters of the gulf of Tarabi, the port city of Culebra nestled within the crook of the caldera’s mouth.

The barge was pulled onward in a northerly direction by Greach, who never seemed to tire of this game; and the crew and captives aboard was by now getting quite used to a life at sea - even those that were more sensitive of the sea’s motions than others! They traveled up the coast of the Outer Island, noticing nothing amiss as they passed seaside homesteads and villages; but they were too far away to see any activity within them, and if they were they would see that many of them had seen recent desertion. The point that marked the beginnings of the gulf of Tarabi loomed into view as Greach steered a safe distance around it, and soon they came out onto the clear water of the bay itself; and in the distance within it they could just barely make out the wharves and docksides of Culebra in the distance, and the various buildings that perched their way up the caldera escarpment. Still, at this distance they could not make out activity on the docks or streets; but they noticed their whole fishing fleet and all of their cargo delivery boats were still in their slips, appearing to be empty of life.

Greach steered the barge into the bay, toward the cluster of buildings and docks less than five miles away; and Ripper and Snapper had all they can do to steer across the currents that denoted the harbor and the bay. The Liopleurodon gathered speed and sent large wakes to either side of the barge, barreling toward the docks way too fast for the likes of their captives - nor for many of the others, for that matter. Greach knew the importance of speed when it came to the cargo on the barge, and as he was a thousand yards away from imminent crash; began to swim the other way as the barge spun on it’s axis, swiftly slowing the craft until it was a hundred yards from the nearest wharf. As he spun the barge back around, Greach backed out of the harness and gently nosed it up against the stone landing with the smallest of bumps.

“A wonderful voyage, as usual!…”, commander Dirge waved at the giant beast, then turned to his crew. “Very well everyone, time to heave-to…!”

“Where is everyone…?”, Petronas wondered aloud, remembering Culebra as a bustling seaport community. Now, and even for the saurians about chained to their carts in the streets and carnivorous guards of every species milling about in pairs patrolling those streets, no other activity was detected.

“Oh, don’t worry…”, Dirge came up to him. “I’m sure not everybody got eaten just yet!…”, some of Dirge’s kin chuckled as they began their work.

The great ramp that was attached to the bow end of the barge was unfettered and raised from the deck, lifted up and came down on the stone pier with a thump, the barge mere inches lower than the pier itself. Others were unlashing the cart wheels from their cleats, and still more were unchaining the saurians from their padded shackles. Before this others were busy lashing the mooring lines to the barrel-like stanchions on the dock, and the few that were left hopped off and began a preliminary perimeter patrol of the dock before quickly coming back. They were followed by two other guards descended from different carnivore tribes, and they saluted as Dirge stepped out onto the docks of Culebra.

“At ease…”, said Dirge. “Is all in readiness?”

“Culebra remains secure, sir…”, said the Dilophosaur. “The road to the temple is free of threat.”

“Then we shall depart when we are ready.”, Dirge stated to him.

“Sir, the plan did not include the taking of prisoners…”, said the Veloceraptor, eyeing both the carts and the unexpected people just being unloaded.

“The situation forced me to change the plans…”, Dirge squinted at her. “But who are you to question my strategy!?”

“Sorry, sir… Forgive me, sir…”, said she, backing away.

“Don’t you have a town to guard?…”, he asked instead of accepting the apology.

“Yes sir!…”, both saluted and quickly returned to their duties down the lane.

While this brief exchange was going on, the Dromeosaurs and others of the crew unloaded the carts, and lined them up on the dock to inspect their cargo; and to make sure every captive with them were secured properly for the long trip to Nicolai Sanders’s stronghold deep in the jungles. Since they figured the captives were to be in good shape when presented to their leader, all smaller saurians and humans were loaded aboard all four carts; separated from one another so they would not cause too much trouble. Polongo and randy looked around at some of the other forlorn looking pullers in and around the area, giving them all worried looks of their own; and telling them all with their eyes of their shared plight, and Peter noticed this from his harnesses as well, gulping as this could have been his fate as well. Dirge turned around after scanning the area as well and smiled at his now complete and ready to go caravan.

“Um,… Dirge, sir.”, Peter called the Dromeosaur.

“Yes boy, what is it?…”, Dirge said as he came over.

“I don’t mean to be a bother, but since there seems to be a journey ahead…”, Peter gulped, feeling the Dirge’s prickly talons as he tried to unnerve him by touching, and succeeded! “Um,… and pulling a cart takes energy…”, another gulp. “I was going to ask if we were to be fed before we continue…”, another gulp.

“I see your concern, lad…”, Dirge smiled. “And it is true that one would need sustenance on such a journey…”, he patted the Triceratops yearling on the nose horn. “I think that’s a capitol idea at that!… We shall stay here for several hours, and we shall certainly rest and dine if you wish.”

He motioned some of his troops to find food for the pullers, helpers and captive ones alike; and even some of the female Dromeosaurs searched the carts and warehouses near the docks for the required food. Dirge had Falokar, Sludge, Ripper and Kestria guard the carts while the rest do this; and four spears were issued to each of the ones guarding, but Falokar was dismayed when he found his position in the guard order to be the opposite corner of the group than Kestria! He instead had the pleasure of eyeing Hydra as she sneered in a Ceratopsian way at him. Dirge saluted his troops as they went to their separate duties, and he turned to leave, mission to briefly locate and visit Senaloa, the female Allosaurus commander of the troops occupying Culebra.

The persons that cautiously began milling around the street were cowed by all the guards that walked amiong them, they either threatening them with stares, hisses or physically hitting them until they moved on away from the caravan spectacle they passed by. First in iones and then in groups, Dirge’s troops, both male and female, began to return; and they were carrying even more supplies and fodder for the pullers and large saurians in their group. As they were being fed, and the rest doing the same; Dirge returned nearly an hour later, and seeing that all was in readiness paced before his troops and the rest to make an announcement.

“We are well received here, and commander Senaloa wished that we stay longer, but I reminded her of our tight schedule and begged her leave…”, said Dirge, omitting the kind of conversation that might have taken place. “I have sent a runner ahead to announce our arrival, and had him have the way made clear for us.”

Seeing that none there had any questions so far, he continued. “To keep on that schedule, we should leave in the next few moments.”, he looked around. “Is everything in readiness?…”, all confirmed one way or another. “Very well then!…”, he clapped once. “Let us be off!…”, and with that he began to lead the way through the sea trade town of Culebra…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

I.C arriving in Culebra

Falokar stood on the deck watching as they approached the volcanically active island with the villages spotting the shoreline... not to long after they pulled into a harbor and began to go ashore, Sludge, Ripper, Kestria, and himself were left to guard the captives and the carts, Falokar took the back end of the carts and stood in a readied position with a spear in his hand.. he grind and jabbed the spear end into the ground and snapped the blade and about four inches of wood off then picked it up and had a make shift dagger, that he put through the back of his belt sash, the rod became a bo staff and he stood looking fairly menacing on his own...
no one even quesioned him.

A few times some curious dromeasurians such as a dilophosaur or such would approach the cart or try to look at the captives in which the other guards wood shoo them away or on one occasion Falokar smacked them with the end of his bo staff and told them to beat it before he beat them... (the dromeasaur had been making rounds around the cart and captives)

Kestria looked at Falokar and grinned a slightly toothy grin, Falokar smiled back but then stood in a ready and very majestic looking posture, his body errect and his tail close to the ground his feet only about 2.5 ft apart in distance and his stance looking something like a knights from a midieval fairytale. Dirge had been going around taking care of business, and at one point passed them Falokar gave a new and rather interesting/ cute salute, which was that he rotated his right leg a little, then put a fist to the middle of his chest with the thumb facing his sternum, doing so that there was a thump from both in syncronization. Dirge nodded to him and he gave a courtious bow. then walked to the very back of the carts and began rummaging through his gi, from the inside of his gi pants he pulled out a curved short sword that resembled something more out of a fantasy story than a form of craftsmanship it was curved in an "S shap and was thick at the base of the blade but then thin and winged out at the tip, it was bladed on both ends and the inner layer was a gradiated crimson and violet, with gold overlaying it and trimming the blade, the handle was made of hardened steele and was overlayed in aqua green lacing, the hilt was golden as well and had a Wasp Sting tip. (a 3 inch long blade tip that goes on the hilt) he flipped it a few times over his hands, making sure that those that could see it were seeing it then placed it in his sash on the other side. he then walked back to the other side of the cart and stood with a weary eye looking out over the area, awaiting the order to move out.

Tag:Any and All

[Thundertail]

IC: The caravan on the way to the Outer Island temple.

Dirge led the way through the seaside city of Culebra, taking some of the main lanes as these led to most of the major roads on the island. In the streets evidence of the townspeople’s oppression remained at a high pitch, for the way they would scurry away any time a carnivorous trooper would walk by told of their memory of the recent takeover; and these smaller but more formidable ones seemed to be in every street they passed by, and even Petronas and his group were becoming appalled at the cruel treatment that was still evident in their faces. The piteous looks their captives gave these residents as they passed, and in these looks they cemented their mutuality.

“Never mind them.,..”, Dirge saw their looks. “Up this way…”

On a main lane that headed south, up the rear escarpment along the cliff edge; Dirge followed this lane, and the rest of the convoy followed along with him. Fairly soon this road perched on the ledge leveled off and slowly began to slope down once again into a gully of thickening jungle and thinning structures. Their course was to head south, so he said along the way; and to meet up with the coastal road on the western beaches of the island, and after a while travel inland to Nicolai Sanders’s stronghold in the temple ruins within the southernmost mountains.

As the caravan began to get into their stride, all four carts fanned out single file; and both the male and female Dromeosaur troopers took posts along that line. Dirge soon took the lead with Ripper and Snapper close behind him; and along the rest of the convoy the rest fanned out in a loose spacing, many trailing out into the terrain on either side to scout for anything dangerous. Being a lesser guard, Kestria found herself guarding the rear; and Falokar, not being told where he was to guard, found himself guarding the rear of the convoy with her. Pretty soon the miles began to add up, and out of sheer boredom Kestria began making conversation.

“Yes, our island is pristine and wild.”, she started to say. “Our ways have changed little since we first knew civilization…”, she saw that Falokar was listening, but appeared to be concentrating on the terrain. “Our tribes began by fighting over territories, but then our groups began to learn to collectively survive in these wildernesses. Our traditions go back for eons, and are largely still practiced today….”

“My clan originated near here.”, she continued. “My traditional family territory is just three miles to the east of this coast… Oh, you’d just love my family! Mama makes nets that fish can not escape, and Pa never fails in the hunt… My brother is a bit dopey and slow, but both my sisters are very skilled in many things…”, She noticed his interest was mounting, but went on to ask him something.

“Falokar, what is your family like…?”, asked she suddenly. “Do you have friends?… How did you learn all the things I’ve seen you do?…”, she waited for him to respond, and listened as he described all these things.

Once he was done, she nodded and began again. “In my clan, it is not uncommon for parents to suggest mates for their children.”, said she. “Especially if the child is not bold enough to pursue the matter themselves… Such was the case of me…”, she saw his confusion, and told him a story.

“Not too long ago, a large carnivore harassed our clan, taking our kills and disrupting our camps.”, she began. “He was a loner and a rogue, all alone and the only one of his species we had ever seen. Instead of hunting him down, we sought him out and invited him to stay; for we saw he was a very powerful hunter and a potential asset to our clan, but he was an Afrovinator and not our kind.”, Afrovinators were extremely large cousins of the Veloceraptor, Falokar knew.

“Scratch was our guest, and now a friend, but he was not a true member of our clan.”, Kestria went on. “Our clan traditions state that if an outsider were to become a true member of our clan, they are to be mated to an existing clan member.”, she blushed. “Pa took it on himself to volunteer myself to be his mate, so he introduced us… I know what you may be thinking, but that consummation had not taken place yet; for it is also up to the persons involved as to whether we are to mate.”, she sensed his anger rise. “We are still dating, as humans put it; and now that this uprising is going on, I do not think it will happen until after the conclusion of it.”

“I like him, a little…”, Kestria went on, but her eyes betrayed something unsavory. “He’s nice when he wants to be, and he means well; but…”, she shed a tear. “The dumb brute does not know his own strength!… He tries to be gentile and tender, but with that cursed strength,… he hurts me sometimes!… I know he doesn’t mean it, but…”, she could not go on for the longest time.

After a few soothing words from Falokar, Kestria recanted. “No, you need not do anything… This is my problem.”, she saw that the caravan was slowing, and slowed her pace as well. “Just be careful around him,… And for fate’s sake, don’t let him know I told you any of that!”, at his questioning look, she explained. “Even with all your fighting skills, you are no match for him. I don’t want to see you get hurt!…”

As they both went to the front of the convoy to see why they stopped, they saw that it was a mere rest stop; at an apparent junction between two converging paths, one continuing along the beach and the other delving into the thickening jungle beyond. There was an extremely strange object at the crook of the converging path, gleaming white in the mid-morning sun; for the fully articulated Triceratops skeleton lashed together with vines and propped up with strategically placed sticks and logs was not a sight commonly seen on Dinotopia, though Hazen had seen many such specimens in museums back home.

“We camp here.”, Dirge told them all. “Our journey should end some time tomorrow morning.”, all got ready to set up camp for the day…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, Camp, Outer Island
_

With the announcement that they would reach Nicolai Sanders' stronghold by the morning, their chances of rescue dwindled significantly, further punctuated by the faces of the oppressed people at Culebra and the Triceratops skeleton. Clearly, this was upsetting to the native Dinotopians in Hazen's party. Redcrest was on the verge of tears seeing the sight. Seamus remarked, "Why would they do this to any being?"

Hazen spoke up. "Back home, we'd mount fossilized dinosaur skeletons as a physical representation of how they appeared. In this case, it is a warning. 'Abandon all hope all ye who enter here.'" In Hazen's eyes, they were surely on the threshold of Hell, but they had no Virgil to their Dante. Or did they?

Hazen had been keeping an eye on Falokar since they disembarked. He had spent most of his time trying to impress not only his superiors but the female, which Hazen unfortunately didn't catch during their travels. Kes something? The name wasn't important right now. What was is that he must make an appeal to Falokar's senses.

As Eveningmeal came to pass, Falokar was given the duty of providing food to the prisoners, who had been arranged as before. His scowl was worst to Ajax and April, who both slighted him before. When he reached Hazen, the human spoke. "At this point, I begin to wonder whether or not I should eat, since I am clearly condemned to a shall we say less-than-pleasant fate." He didn't wait for Falokar to speak before continuing. "At least you have a future. A prospective mate, belonging to a clan. All I've got, assuming I live, is enslavement. Fun."

Falokar retorted with a snide comeback. "Listen. You and I aren't so different. We're both outsiders, in a manner of speaking. I happen to be a Dolphinback. I've been here a little over a year. But we're both trying to establish a new life for ourselves in our surroundings." Falokar didn't think too much of it. "Think about it. We don't have a role formally established, we can't go back to our previous lives, we are even beginning to court potential mates. After all, I'm sure the females have spread around here my attraction to the female human."

Falokar paused a moment, taking this in. "Look, I don't mean to tell you what to do or anything, but you need to ask yourself, 'What's in it for me?' How can you guarantee that everything will be fine for you and your potential clan? I'm sure you'll do the right thing when the time comes." Falokar reaffirmed his loyalty to the clan, but Hazen took it in stride.

Nearby, April looked at him in stunned disbelief. "Why are you even talking to them?!" she demanded.

"I know what I'm doing," Hazen replied.

"No, you don't. You could give them ideas. Bad ideas."

"Listen, I know things sound bleak, but I've got a strong hunch about this."

"He's a traitor!" she shouted. "What possible good can come from this?"

"Trust me," Hazen said simply. April groaned her dissatisfaction and Hazen looked at his meager meal before beginning to eat.
_

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

[tarion]

I.C - Traveling through Culebra: Traditions and Truth

The Caravan had started its journey through the costal town of Culebra and Falokar, being the newest member of the group had yet to actually be initiated, so he was never given an actual assignment, but rather just remained on an ever vigilant guard duty. He had been taking up the rear of the caravan for their entire trip so far, and today had been no different. He was walking behind the last cart picking away under his paw claws with the spear head knife he'd made earlier, (while never taking his eyes off the terrain and caravan) when he began to hear foot steps next to him and noticed Kestria was walking next to him... he smiled at her and they walked in silence for a good distance. At one point they were going over a curving rise in the terrain that revealed a magnificant view of the town, it made Falokar smile. This was when Kestria started to talk to him.

Kestria sighed as if she was bored then looked over to Falokar,
“Yes, our island is pristine and wild.”, she started to say. “Our ways have changed little since we first knew civilization…”, Falokar nodded to show he was listening, but still keeping his eyes out for anything suspicious.
Kestria continued, as if simply wanting to make idol conversation.... “Our tribes began by fighting over territories, but then our groups began to learn to collectively survive in these wildernesses. Our traditions go back for eons, and are largely still practiced today….”

Falokar grinned and giggled a little, at the thought of dromeasaur traditons. He turned his attention to her to show he was listening a little more intently now...

“My clan originated near here.”, she continued. “My traditional family territory is just three miles to the east of this coast… Oh, you’d just love my family! Mama makes nets that fish can not escape, and Pa never fails in the hunt… My brother is a bit dopey and slow, but both my sisters are very skilled in many things…”,

Falokar laughed, "Sounds great to me, I'd like to meet them some time."

Kestria then asked him a pretty personal question, “Falokar, what is your family like…?”, she asked suddenly. “Do you have friends?… How did you learn all the things I’ve seen you do?…”

Falokar sighed, this was going to be along explanation.

"Well long before I was ever born, my mother came from this island, I'm not exactly sure which clan she was from but she always said she had been called the "Fatal Godess" around here, I never really got to know either of my parents to well, they both were killed by Allosaurs when I was very young and we were living in Sauropolis, the Dinotopian council put me up for adoption not to long after, and i was taken in by Fao Long, a master in martial arts...
By the time i was six i had become a master at the martial art combat style known as Shin Lung Kung Fu... a few guards in ebulon took notice of my skills and had me drafted into the D.C.M.A so that I could become a double agent for Dinotopia, playing the part of a carnivore, yet working for the Dinotopian council, so i was put through even more rigourous training, including the weight training i told you about the day we met.
I never really stayed in one place long enough to make any friends, as I was always on assignments, but I did somehow mannage to make it to Ebulon every summer and winter."

"I never had any siblings, In fact it was sorta lucky that I as even born, most of the saurian caretakers were afraid that my mom was going to end up being un able to give birth, but finally my egg was laid, and well here I am."

Kestria smiled a little, then as if to change the subject continued her story,
. “In my clan, it is not uncommon for parents to suggest mates for their children.”, said she. “Especially if the child is not bold enough to pursue the matter themselves… Such was the case of me…”

Falokar looked at her slightly confused, a feeling of fear starting to instill itself into him, he felt he knew where this was about to go.
“Not too long ago, a large carnivore harassed our clan, taking our kills and disrupting our camps.”, she began. “He was a loner and a rogue, all alone and the only one of his species we had ever seen. Instead of hunting him down, we sought him out and invited him to stay; for we saw he was a very powerful hunter and a potential asset to our clan, but he was an Afrovinator and not our kind.”,

Falokar frowned, -great competition- he looked away to hide the fact that he was worried...

“Scratch was our guest, and now a friend, but he was not a true member of our clan.”, Kestria went on. “Our clan traditions state that if an outsider were to become a true member of our clan, they are to be mated to an existing clan member.”, Falokar turned and looked at her in shock a blush crossing his snout, she blushed. “Pa took it on himself to volunteer myself to be his mate, so he introduced us… I know what you may be thinking, but that consummation had not taken place yet; for it is also up to the persons involved as to whether we are to mate.”, she sensed his anger rise, some of the feathers on Falokar's head had started to rise subconciously as he felt an entire range of emotions, first it was worry, then it was shock, then it was depression then it was anger, “We are still dating, as humans put it; and now that this uprising is going on, I do not think it will happen until after the conclusion of it.”

Falokar turned his head away, -Well there goes any chance I had of being with her- he thought fumeing....

Then Kestra continued, but her tone was different, as if she wanted to confess something to Falokar, “I like him, a little…”, It was then that Falokar saw something, almost like a look of pain, it was faint but her eyes showed it the most. “He’s nice when he wants to be, and he means well; but…”, she shed a tear. “The dumb brute does not know his own strength!… He tries to be gentile and tender, but with that cursed strength,… he hurts me sometimes!… I know he doesn’t mean it, but…”, she could not go on for the longest time.

Falokar's feathers rised from the back of his head to the base of his neck, -That's just... WRONG, if he hurts her why does she accept him?- Falokar snorted and looked away now severely ticked off and disappointed, he was losing the first female he'd ever really cared about to want to be with, and to an oversized overly strong brutish Alfovonator!, Falokar looked back at Kestria and notices she was crying, a feeing of sympathy and compassion quickly took over his anger.

He put a hand on her shoulder, "There there, Kestria, it... it'll be alright, I'm sure things'll get better..." -What the hell am I doing?! telling her it's ok not to try and accept me over someone that's more than likely going to kill her when he tries to mate with her?-
Falokar suddenly let go of his logical side and just spoke, "Well if you want I could try to talk to him, you know let him know that you're being hurt and that he should cool it down on the strength area..."

But to Falokar's surprise, Kestria turned on him, “No, you need not do anything… This is my problem.”

Falokar frowned, -If it's your problem, then it's my problem too , I can't just sit by and know that some larger male is hurting you, it'd go against every moral I have-

The caravan began to slow down and there was some conversation up front, but Falokar barely heard any of it, as he was still listening to Kestria "Just be careful around him,… And for fate’s sake, don’t let him know I told you any of that!”

Falokar nodded, but still looked rather upset about it all, . “Even with all your fighting skills, you are no match for him. I don’t want to see you get hurt!…”, Kestria said. Falokar nodded, -At least she still cares for me a little bit-

They went on to make camp for the night, and it began to become apparant to the rest of the pack that something was up with Falokar, he was brooding and kept his sentences short and to the point, not being his usual self at all... Even more peculiar was the fact that ever since he'd met Kestria he'd never been to far away from her, yet now he was avoiding her.

Falokar finished his work and then without even asking permission walked away from the camp out into the wilderness, he found an open area that had several reeds of bamboo around, and was fairly spacious.... he kicked the ground below him and snorted -Man this stinks, I fall in love with a female and she end's up being taken by a larger oversized muscle head, could this day get any worse?- as if to answer Falokar's thoughts it started raining... he scowled... "Nnnnggrrrrrhhhh , that does it!" he began fuming and pacing the area then slowly began to feel the urge to beat the tar out of something, his eyes stopped at the bamboo reeds, and he let himself go, he unleashed every ounce of anger he had and used evey single move he had in his arsinal, attacking with full force, even switching to weapon styles, the bamboo grove was becoming nothing more than a flatened out spot of land, as he leveled the area.... he didn't care that he was hurting himself more than anything else, he didn't care if the bambo scratched his body or cut his arms and legs or made him bleed, he was going all out, unleashing a rage he'd never had before....

It had grown dark and the bamboo grove was utterly destroyed, Falokar stood panting heavy in the rain... blood dripping off of him all over, suddenly his rage turned to sorrow and dispare on the same level of extremeness... Falokar dropped to his knees and began crying... he fell to his hands and let the tears flow mingling with the rain and blood.... he couldn't stop now, his body was soaked, but was not even close to feeling as bad as his heart and soul did now.... he remained there for some time down on all fours crying his eyes out... suddenly the rain stopped falling on him, Falokar opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder, standing over him was Dirge, Bloodpetal, and the last person he wanted to see right now, Kestria.... he frowned and got to his feet...
immediatly all three noticed his injuries and the fact that he had been crying...

Dirge spoke first, "A..are you alright Falokar?" Falokar looked at him, a look if dispare and pain still in his eyes, this was the first time he'd actually heard Drige being concerned...

Falokar nodded and wiped his tears away then began walking back to the camp. "I..I'll be fine... I just... needed some air" Falokar had made it back to the camp site when he fell to the ground out of shere exhaustion and bloodloss.

Tag:Everyone Involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76, Cirrus and Elaina Dennison. The day of the battle-cry.

Even before the sun rose in Ahimsa, Elaina Dennison was busy readying Cirrus for the long flight over to the Outer island; and gently lifted the still sleeping form of Postal Bird 76 out of his aerie, he stirring just a little bit as she slid him into her saddle bag. A warm sea breeze was all Cirrus was waiting for, and off he swooped as soon as one came up. After about ten minutes of flight, 76 poked his head out of the saddle bag; yawning as he looked down and spied the tiny island below, and looked at Elaina as she faced the wind.

“We are at the Island already?…”, 76 yelled into the wind.

“That is the island of Bima Kyun…”, Elaina yelled back. “We are circumnavigating Culebra’s line of sight… They would surely see us if we took a straight course…”

“I see…”, 76 said, looking down once again. “That island did seem too tiny to be our destination…”, Elaina laughed into the wind.

They were over the island and past it by the end of the hour, and before 76 knew it they were over open ocean again. Their northeasterly course turned into a pure easterly course, and then yet another island hove into view below them; and even though this island was somewhat bigger, Ko Veng island was still too small to be their destination either. It took a little more than an hour before they were over open water once again, and their course changed once again to a more southeasterly direction. It took over two hours before another landmass was seen on the horizon, and Postal Bird 76 knew that this was their destination; for it soon swelled to fill the horizon before them, only pristine beaches met their gaze, and the land folded into itself after a while to make the headwaters of Gulf Haraz.

Cirrus steered for this land formation, wheeling south as the bay opened out before him; and pretty soon their destination of Pionaspis was seen nestled by the crook of the short river that formulated the bay. The antlike structures along the beaches and into the forests were made unimportant for the throngs of creatures in knots between them, for the crimson uniforms and the hunter green uniforms of nearly every saurian guard Dinotopia possessed were there; making the whole area a sea of life. They were awaiting orders, orders that Elaina Dennison and Postal Bird 76 were carrying; and they would soon tell them, provided they would look up and see that a Skybax had a need to land in their midst!

As soon as the ranks below noticed their shadow and a couple of regiments marched aside, cirrus swooped to a landing and Elaina hopped down. She was just unleashing Postal Bird 76, who hopped out and onto her shoulder as the field commander of the saurian guards walked over; and he saluted as his sorolophan steed sauntered up in his wake. Elaina saluted back in a Skybax pilot way and was led out of the landing area and as close to the town center as his troops would allow. The whole area was dotted with thousands of riders and their steeds, along with any untrained Overlander and untrained volunteer the Council could muster; and even the few able-bodied persons of the town and any saurian that volunteered were there as well, whom would provide rear support and material transport once they moved out. All present were on the edge of nerves as this flyer might no doubt be the messenger they were waiting for.

“Pilot Dennison!”, the commander said. “I thought you were manning Ebulon these days…”

“Well, I was, commander Berry…”, Elaina said. “But news this postal Bird has delivered deemed that I take him to you personally.”

“What is it?”, commander berry asked.

“I think it is best if he tells all of you at once.”, Dennison said as 76 alighted atop her helmeted head.

“Attention all saurian guards of Dinotopia.”, 76 yelled as loud as he could, voice merely reaching about half way into the crowd. “I bear some terrible news concerning the caravan holding the ancient artifact.”, he saw them all become quiet. “The caravan has been captured by a group of elite warriors, presumably of the carnivorous dinosaur variety. All parties in the caravan has been captured, and are on their way presumably to the stronghold of Nicolai Sanders.”, gasps. “Great care is needed in their apprehension or those parties may be injured or killed by these assailants.”, he cleared his throat. “And I suppose the rest of the news can be given by pilot Elaina Dennison.”

“Troops.”, Elaina shouted. “It is the decree of the Dinotopian high council that the time is right to begin your conquest of the Outer Island. With the news of the capture of sir Bentfeather and his caravan, it is feared that an unknown threat to all of Dinotopia is inevitable. Therefore it must be stopped at all costs…”, she saw them all listening, and continued. “I will leave it up to commander Berry as to how this takeover is going to go, but Culebra must be retaken first as it is the major trading city of the Outer Island. May the power of the Prime Sunstone be with us…”

As cheers welled from everyone in Pionaspis and the immediate area, and as commander Berry gave a nod to his sergeants; whole platoons of guards and their steeds began to form phalanx blocks in regimented order. During this time, and as Cirrus was allowed a rest while all three ate their Morningmeal of rations; commander Berry came over once his presence was not needed with his troops, saluting before he approached the group.

“We shall be ready to move out before noontime.”, he told her. “Perhaps it would be wise to prepare for phase two…”

“We were just going to do that, commander.”, Elaina told him. “My Skybax cohorts will head off any resistance coming from Sanders’s stronghold so you may retake Culebra unfettered.”

“Yes, and then I must do what I must…”, Postal Bird 76 said, not savoring what he was going to do. “Infiltrating that stronghold will not be an easy task!…”

“So that was the plan…”, Berry considered. “You must be a brave bird, and posses fighting skill unbecoming of your breed.”

“Oh, I assure you that I am a pure coward!…”, 76 protested. “The only reason I’m doing this is because my friends are surely in there… I must be losing my mind!…”

“You’ll do fine, my friend…!”, Elaina chuckled. “That is if you don’t get caught and they torture you for what you know…”, this she nearly whispered.

“Thanks a lot!…”, Postal Bird 76 groused and hid himself away in her saddle bag.

Presently Elaina Dennison mounted her steed, and Cirrus flapped up over the heads of the thousands of soldiers down below, circling the crowd until sufficient altitude was reached. Over the jungles below in a southeasterly direction they continued until the eastern coast of the Outer island was reached, and from there they followed the coastline south until they reached the vast seaside plain where the town of Scutemus was located on. In this lonely outpost a Skybax aerie was formed, solely for the fact of the relatively flat terrain and for the fact that this was the easternmost point of the realm of Dinotopia; and the plain below was absolutely filled with flying creatures, which were Cirrus’s kin.

It seemed that every Skybax that ever lived was down there, their riders milling about and tending to them; and quite a few were having squabbles with their neighbors, as most Skybax were apt to do as they were not exactly a tame species. But their riders strived to maintain a semblance of peace as they tended their every need, doing so for many days now as they were awaiting the Council’s edict to attack the stronghold. Their keen eyes told their riders that a shape was seen in the sky, and many of them hopped aside to let their brother find roost. Cirrus floated by over their heads and circled in to make a pinpoint landing in their midst. Elaina dismounted, released 76 and he rode with her through the throng toward the sets of buildings that made up the bulk of this roost, looking for a female cohort of hers; and the door to the office there opened as she was in the middle of knocking.

“Ah, pilot Dennison!”, commander Porsche Bondu, bespectacled yet leagues more beautiful then her, exclaimed. “I did not expect to see you here…. What brings you, sub-commander?”

“We have come with important news concerning our attack on Nicolai Sanders’s stronghold.”, Dennison saluted in the Skybax way. “This Postal Bird will explain…”, she waited for her return salute, which was.

“Go ahead, sweetie…”, Porsche encouraged. 76 told once again what had happened to sir Bentfeather’s caravan, and his narrow escape. He described the nature of the attackers, and what they looked like; and this was when he was interrupted. “Our scouts say that those are the very same persons who took Culebra, as well as nearly every city on the island…”

“If this is the case, then it is assured that they are with the same group as the ones currently in the employ of Nicolai Sanders.”, Elaina cut in. “Then it is especially imperative that we attack his stronghold.”

“Let’s not be so hasty…”, 76 said. “Please remember the safety of the caravan members… This is why I must perform my private assignment.”

“What is that?”, Porsche asked, and he told her. “My word!…”

“And it will be at that mission’s conclusion that your orders deem time to mount your attack.”, 76 told her.

“That would be good at that…”, Porsche Bondu said offhandedly. “The Skybax are beginning to get a bit peckish…!”
_


IC: The caravan on the Outer Island. Entering the stronghold.

After their overnight rest bit on the trail leading deep into the jungles of the Outer Island, and after everyone was gathered to do so; commander Dirge ordered the caravan to move out once again. Past the articulated Triceratops skeleton and disappearing into the ever dense jungle they began to travel. Bloodpetal, Dirge’s mate, began to tell more of their culture as they passed arroyo and marsh alike; saying that great artisans used to decorate the hunting trails with their bone sculptures, their inspirations peaked especially after a well-won kill. Other deeds of prowess were told by the other members of the clan. Ones of grandfathers who were bested by their deaf adversaries and ones of before they knew how to make nets out of vines, as well as the ones where Outsiders and native Dinotopians were encountered, needing to be shown their ways.

All in the convoy, both captive and guest alike, heard the legends of the Dromeosaurs on the Outer island; some of which were descended from the Knights Of The Unrivaled, and all seemed to gain a better understanding of their captors. One detail was there were better than a hundred clans on the island, and each would inter-mate with their neighbors; so even though they were of separate clans, they were all of one blood. As their civilization became more sophisticated, they would adopt the other non-Dromeosaur carnivores into these clans; promoting peace on the island between every carnivore there, and utilizing the skills these others had to improve their obtaining of food.

Thus was the entertainment for the remainder of the trip through the jungle, and at yet another articulated dinosaur skeleton - this one of an Ankylosaur much to Randy’s dismay - the jungle cleared out; widening the path until the way could clearly be seen, but what was seen only put everyone there to sudden fright! A great carved stone edifice took shape out of the hillside nestling within the terrain, full of large runes and reliefs of faces more grotesque than the next; but the most frightening of all was the entrance to the underground passage it framed, the giant maw of a stylized Tyrannosaur head, stone teeth ready to crunch any that would enter it’s jaws! It’s jaws were clearly large enough for the largest of their carts to pass through, with room to spare for the tallest of saurians; and Dirge commanded that the caravan keep going toward it.

All of a sudden, before they could get within a hundred yards of the terrifying entryway, the jungle to the left exploded; and the largest Giganotosaurus any of them had ever had a nightmare about, sprung out in their path and roared almost loud enough to shake the stonework behind him into a landslide! Naturally, the whole convoy stopped and the Dromeosaur troopers got into defensive stances, and their terrified captives thought that this was the end; but commander Dirge simply went up to the great beast and rubbed the giant creature’s nose.

“There, there, Grond…”, Dirge cooed. “These are not for you…”

“You mean he’s just the guard?!…”, Petronas gathered his wits enough to say.

“Why not!…”, said dirge. “Who, in their right mind, would enter this place with someone THIS size guarding it?…”

“Another shock like this and I’m going to have a heart attack…!”, Randy commented to Peter beside him, who nodded.

“Well, we better get inside.”, Dirge said as everyone stood down. “We have people waiting for us…”, he looked up at Grond. “Please be a good boy and move aside…?”

Grond the giant beast complied, but stayed in the cleared spot; and he eyed each cart as they passed by, looking like he was checking out a rolling buffet table. Every person on each cart that rolled by gulped and cringed at the huge monster, who rumbled and drooled just feet above their heads; and it was a good thing that Olu and Artemis were on the right side of the carts or they might have been eaten if they got too close. Through the flattened down lower teeth and into the great maw the convoy went, noticing the way ahead was only slightly dimmer than the mottled green light filtering through the jungle canopy, made so by the row of torches burning in sconces at twenty yard intervals along both sides of the stone passageway. For several hundred yards the brickwork cavern sloped down at an easy angle until it came out on a large arched room big enough to hold a hundred carts the same size as theirs, dozens of arched portals lining the walls of this huge round space radiating off to every point of the compass and going to places unknown to them. In the middle of this great space, where the majority of the floor space was taken up by supplies and knots of Dromeosaurs and others of every size; Dirge had them stop while both the Dromeosaurs under his command and the ones that were already there began to unload and unhitch their prisoners.

“All right, my esteemed guests…”, Dirge said when they were all in a group and separated from the carts. “As you can see, we have arrived.”

“I demand that we be let go!…”, Bentfeather squawked from the bars of his birdcage.

“And have you miss your long awaited reunion?…”, replied the Dromeosaur. “How rude of me!”

“I’ll take you there myself!”, Petronas said as he grabbed the cage.

“All right…”, Dirge addressed his troops. “Ripper, Snapper. Unload the artifact and bring it with us. Falokar and Kestria. Unload the weapons and bring them to the armory. And the rest of you. Unload the carts’ supplies and put them in stores… Put the carts with the other carts in storage.”

“What about the prisoners?…”, one of the others asked.

“Why, put them in the dungeon, of course!”, Dirge smiled as he lifted the satchel containing all the research material Bentfeather and Tarion had been working on concerning the artifact from Ebulon out of Randy‘s cart. “Let them stay there until we figure out what to do about them!…”

“Yeah!…”, one of the guards that were already there commented. “Maybe the cooks will get together and serve them up for a feast!”

“I’m glad to see that this facility has all the first-class amenities!…”, Petronas said as Dirge led him and the ones carrying the crated artifact through one of the portals in the wall…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[o8jedi]

IC: Hazen Baker and company, The convoy, Outside the stronghold
_

In the morning, Hazen and his fellow captives were loaded up in the carts again and they were pulled closer to the stronghold. Hazen didn't pay too much heed to the Ankylosaur skeleton as he was too engrossed in the tales of the carnivore society that had been built on this island. He found this culture to be as fascinating to him as Dinotopia was when he arrived, if not more so. Naturally, he didn't want to live in a society like this, but he certainly respected how they were able to unite so many diverse species into one cohesive, feudal whole. In his mind, he felt that if they merely shifted prey to non-humans and non-saurians, they could begin to bridge the differences of the two societies and achieve an understanding.

This behavior of his troubled the others significantly for his brash protectiveness for them had also all but disappeared, leaving him only occasionally asking them to lay off in their berating to little avail. Were it not for this sudden interest he was showing, they would have believed that he was merely losing hope. There were two people who were exceptionally troubled by this turn of events: Redcrest and April. While the young saurian was having a tough time reconciling how her best friend -- her Life Partner -- suddenly seemed to be more interested in them than he was with her and her family, April was trying to see how the man she had fallen in love with had reached this point.

Seamus spoke up at this point. "Do you need water?" he asked.

Hazen turned to the older cook and shook his head. "I feel fine. Why?"

"You seem odd," he said. "I think we're all in agreement about that." The others in the cart nodded their sentiments.

Hazen chuckled. "I know I'm not as vocal as I have been, I know, but I'm not going mad or anything. I'm just biding my time." He could tell by their gazes that they weren't exactly convinced. "Trust me."

"We're trying to," Seamus said cryptically.

"What's that supposed to--" Hazen didn't finish the sentence as he saw a giant Tyrannosaur skull in the distance, dotted with gargoyles and runes of such grotesque horror that no one would dare speak or do anything. As much as he wanted to say he admired the incredible work in even creating this stronghold, the very real sense that it would be here that his life could end gave him real pause. Seamus glanced at the others and saw the genuine fear in Hazen's eyes. For now, he seemed to be his old self.

When a Giganatosaurus burst out, every prisoner started screaming. Redcrest dove for Hazen, trying to hide herself from the large predator. Hazen ducked his head down, waiting for the fatal bite, but it never came. He looked up and saw Dirge rubbing the beast's nose, speaking softly. Hazen's heart beat erratically. "That was the scariest thing I'd ever seen in my life. It's a wonder I didn't soil myself," he said, not caring who heard him or not. Judging by a few chuckles from the other guards, they got great pleasure in seeing the mammal under that amount of stress, which only continued as they passed beside Grond, saliva dripping mere feet away from them.

While Hazen still clutched his chest, trying to get his heart back to a normal beat, he looked at the vast atrium that they were now entering. Before he could take it in, they were ushered into the dungeon and placed in cells. Since the doors were locked from the outside, their bindings had been loosed. Hazen rubbed his wrists. For the first time in more than he cared to remember, he had use of his arms, but they were too sore to be of too much good. Still, it felt better than it did several minutes ago.

From in a different cell from his, Redcrest began weeping. Hazen was separated from her so he couldn't exactly comfort her. "Stay strong, Redcrest," Hazen said, trying to encourage her. "It's not as bad as it seems."

"I don't wanna get eaten!" she said in between sobs.

"Nobody's going to eat you," Hazen said. "They won't eat you."

"Listen to yourself!" April interjected from an adjacent cell. "You sound so confident in their supposed decency that you forget that they're predators!"

Hazen responded, "April, I've always been told that predators are not evil by nature, just hungry. They can still be decent when they want to be."

April went to the side of the cell as if trying to confront Hazen personally. "That's just it, Hazen, they're hungry. Not only for us but for more territory, for power!"

Hazen went to his respective side as well. "They can be reasoned with, April. Maybe not with us negotiating, but someone can. Besides, how do we know that it isn't Sanders' doing that is causing them to be so aggressive?"

"If we are to survive, we can't chance putting our trust in them!" April shouted.

"Quiet in there!" shouted a guard. Both the humans ignored it.

"Who said I was trusting them?" Hazen said.

"You certainly act like you do!" April chastised him. "You have this look of respect on your face now, specially this morning when they were telling stories. It's almost as if you admire them!"

Hazen was taken aback by this. He tried to defend himself by saying, "You've got to admit that--"

"No, Hazen, stop," April interrupted. Her voice began to crack. "I don't know what happened to you. Your priorities seem to have changed. It's as if you don't care if you die."

"Of course, I care!" Hazen protested.

"I don't even know who you are anymore!" she said. "If you're so concerned about the Dromeosaurs, why don't you make like the feathered one and join them!" She turned away from the wall and went to a corner, saddened that the person she thought she loved wasn't who was there now.

Hazen had a sudden moment of clarity. What he feared when the females joined the group had come to pass: He was falling under the grips of Stockholm syndrome. He turned around and leaned against the wall, sliding down it before hugging his knees. It wasn't as if he wanted it to happen, it just did. No wonder Seamus looked at him oddly that morning. He couldn't help but wonder if the others felt the same way as Seamus and April did. He looked at his cellmates and snarled, "What are you looking at?" He then rested his head on his knees and quietly wept, ashamed that he allowed it to happen.

The guard that spoke up before now noticed the quiet. Satisfied that all was now well in the dungeon, he chuckled to himself.
_

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

[tarion]

I.C The Caravan

Falokar woke the next morning with his wounds bandaged and his gi folded neatly beside him... he blushed a little at the thought that someone had stripped him naked, then got to his feet and got dressed keeping the white bandages on as a reminder to himself of last nights events.... By the time Falokar had walked out of the cart he was apparently in, they group had but just arrived at the stronghold, and already Dirge was giving orders. The captives were being taken away, and Dirge was calling for him.

Falokar turned and reported to Dirge who nodded curtly then began giving him, his assignment. "Falokar, you and Kestria are to take the weapons to the Barraks"

Falokar grumbled something that sounded like he obviously didn't want to go, but gathered the weapons anyways and put them into a smaller cart that he could pull, then waited for Kestria to show him the way.

She took to standing by his side and immediatly asked him if he was ok, falokar simply snorted a little and shook his head, "We're wasting time, let's get moving already" Kestria looked at him slightly stunned, not but a day ago he had been acting so kind and caring, now he seemed cold and distant...

"A..Alright, it's this way" she said indicating the direction, they began going through the temple, all the while Kestria tried to make conversation with Falokar, but got no where, he didn't seem to want to even be around her, much less talk to her, and from that point things only went from bad to worse.

Soon they arrived at the armory that they were supposed to be dropping off the weapons, Kestria seemed to be looking around, as Falokar simply waited for her to finish what she was doing... a loud thudding sound announced the arrival of the other person Falokar wished to see last...

Kestria smiled and cooed lightly scampering over to a large afrovinator, then started greeting him in what was unmistakably a loving and passionate manner.

Falokar looked away disgusted, -i didn't come all this way just to see the love birds- he began turning to walk away, if this was going to happen Kestria could walk back by herself, but then he felt a hand touch his, he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth,
"What is it Kestria?" he asked a little annoyed.

Kestria smiled at him, "I want you to meet Scratch"

Falokar frowned, -great lets rub some salt in my wounds too while we're at it...- however Falokar did his best to keep a calm and cool demeanor as he met Kestria's future mate...
Scratch was very tall in comparison to Falokar and made him feel very... insignificant, the afrovinator held out a clawed hand to try and shake his, Falokar took it rather unwillingly and gripped it as tight as he could, Scratch grinned a little, "And you are?"

Falokar looked like he had lockjaw and just nodded, "Are we done now? I got things to do."

Kestria looked at Falokar and Scratch hoping nothing would come of it, and luckily nothing did, Scratch let go of Falokar's hand and backed up, "So Kestria, what are you doing later?"

Kestria blushed a little and went over to talk to Scratch, Falkar snorted again and began pulling the cart back to the camp, he had barely gotten outside when he heard a scream sound, it was Kestria!

-Darn it all, I knew something like this was gonna happen!- Falokar dropped the cart and took off back for the barraks he rushed in and saw Scratch hugging Kestria tightly as she was squirming to get out of his grasp, seeming to gasp for air.

Falokar growled and got a running start, then jumped and performed a spinning kick at Scratch, who saw him coming just in time to move out of the way and grab Falokar by his foot, holding him upside down, "What's the big Idea shrimp?!"

Falokar glared at him, "Can't you see you're hurting her?!"

Scratch reared back to strike at Falokar but Kestria interviened trying to calm and sooth Scratch, who flicked his wrist and sent Falokar flying through one of the older and crumbeling walls.

Falokar dusted himself off and got to his feet, as Kestria began running over to him, "What were you thinking ?!" she asked sounding concerned and slightly scolding.

Falokar looked down and then away from Kestria, "I heard you scream, you looked like you were in pain, so I stepped in, I'm sorry if I interupted something, I'll let you two be alone if that's what you want."

Kestria stared at him as if wanting to say something to him, but Falokar got to his feet and began leaving before she got a chance to say anything, leaving her slightly confused. did he really feel that much for her, so much that he was willing to challange Scratch if he had to, in order to win her affections? She wanted to ask him, but now it seemed as if she'd never know the truth, because he seemed no longer interested in her.


Falokar was still crying when he arrived back at camp, his Bo staff in hand, nothing seemed to be going right for him, everything he tried seemed to make the situation go from bad to worse, and now he'd probably screwed up royally, he left Kestria alone with that behemoth of a saurian, and had given her the cold shoulder, he'd be lucky if she ever spoke to him again. Falokar stayed at the camp for the rest of the day not leaving his spot behind the transport cart, several dromeasaurs asked him if he was all right, but every time, he just simply shook his head and looked away. Feeling that even if he did manage to somehow get used to living here, he'd never fit in, or feel truely at home, having pushed away everything he had ever wanted or cared about.

It is unclear as to how long Falokar actually sat there and thought over what had happened, but it was dark when he heard footsteps approaching him, softly and slowly... but not as if they were sneaking up on him, but rather as if they were being cautious. Falokar looked up to see Kestria walking towards him alone, looking slightly sad and very concerned.

"Falokar?...." She started....

Falokar sat in place and took a deep breath, it was going to take every ounce of bravery and patience he had to listen to what she said next, he only hoped it wasn't "Good bye"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I.C Tarion and Sora

Sora flew at near top speeds following Cirrus, and Elana Dennison, along with their passanger postal bird 76, "We're almost caught up to them now" she cried over the wind, and Tarion nodded, "Good We'll trail them to the outer island then join with the main forces from there... After that may the gods help us all."

Sora nodded, it was indeed a good time to pray if in fact you had a god to pray too, because by way of comparison, they were about to start a crusaid into hell itself, and after that what happened was strictly a matter of chance and luck, if there was any luck to be had, on an island full of carnivores.


Tag:Any and All

[Thundertail]

IC: The saurian guards and the battle toward Culebra.

By the hundreds, phalanxes of saurian guards marched out of the coastal town of Pionaspis; dominating both roads that led around the coast as well as the inland roads that led to the north of Culebra, and all innocent animals and other life forms in the area knew to give them a wide berth. Weapons clattered and gleamed to the jerky pace of the Corythosaur and Sorolophan steeds as their pace increased or decreased with the rise and fall of the terrain.

At first no resistance met them as they traveled along the paths, but at certain small outposts the Dromeosaur guard had left small numbers to keep those in the villages under their sway; and the handful or more of them were little match to such large numbers of saurian guards, even though they fought with the ferocity of wild animals. Three of these towns were met in this manner by the division traveling the inland road, and two such battles were met by the division using the coastal road thus far; but the ones traveling that road had far longer to travel before joining up with their allies. They would both converge at Culebra, their two-pronged attack from both land and sea would cripple both their land defenses as well as their shore defenses.

By early afternoon the inland phalanx was in position above the escarpments that overlooked Culebra, and their scouts neutralized the Dromeosaur scouts that skulked through the jungles up there - all sixteen of them - and one that lived told that a barge carrying carts and prisoners had arrived and left that morning, before the Dromeosaur attempted to escape and received a crossbow bolt between his spine for his efforts! By mid afternoon the phalanx traveling the seaside road arrived at the headwaters of Culebra, dispatching several Dromeosaur and non-Dromeosaur scouts patrolling the sea’s edge; and now all that they were waiting for was the next morning’s light, where the signal to attack Culebra would take place…
_


IC: Bentfeather and the caravan, and the rather unsavory reunion.

Dirge, the commander of the Dromeosaurs and other species on the Outer Island, satchel in claw with Petronas, Ripper and Snapper in his wake; led them through the labyrinth of subterranean halls and passages to the chambers set aside for their true leader, Nicolai Sanders. Ripper and Snapper were carrying the large wooden crate that held the mysterious stone Tyrannosaur artifact their leader had been searching for ever since Frank Scratt secreted it away from him a little more than a year ago, and it was now safely back in their control; where hopefully Nicolai would put it in it’s rightful place like he promised.

The tiny creature grasped the bars of the cage he was in, which was held by Petronas; his surprise gift to his cohort and friend, and the ‘gift’ did not like being there at all! He squawked and groaned with the effort of trying to escape, not knowing whether to believe Petronas, or find out that it was just another trap! Finally at a large oaken door festooned with iron hardware, Dirge stopped and knocked loudly; listening for rustling movement on the other side, and standing there as the door was unlocked and creaked open for all to see. The chamber was decked out like no chamber back in Waterfall City, for this one contained shelves of books and many tables set up for the study of artifacts that were on them, and a large desk set for compiling the findings stood off to one side.

Bentfeather noticed the huge double iron doors beyond this research lab, and wondered where they led before he was put down behind Petronas; and the sound of a resonant voice all too familiar to the Microraptor sounded as soon as Nicolai recognized who was there.

“Ah! Sir Petronas!… Seeing as you are here, I take it your mission was a success…”, Nicolai Sanders said.

“Oh, yes it was,… and I…”, Petronas was cut off.

“Good… Let’s see the artifact.”, said the human as Ripper and Snapper pulled the crate forward, opened it and spread the packing material so the top of the head was seen. “Just wonderful!… Now my plan can be completed!”

“The ones possessing it had been trying to decipher it.”, Dirge said, offering the satchel. “Here are their notes.”

“That’s good too…”, Sanders thought aloud. “I can compare them to my own discoveries… Bring them into my lab, and place the artifact near the doors to the Snake Cathedral over there. I will be there shortly…”, he turned to return to his desk.

“Um, sir…”, Petronas said meekly. “I have another surprise for you.”, he turned and picked up the cage. “The ones studying the artifact included sir Bentfeather, of the Waterfall City library…”, Nicolai Sanders’s eyes lit up when he saw his Partner, filling with tears of joy a second later.

“Bentfeather…! Bentfeather my friend…!”, the man crooned, swooping over and stooping to lift the cage himself; Bentfeather noticing his grey goatee was a little greyer, but it was him never the less! “What are you doing in a cage, my friend?…”, he made motions to undo the latch.

“Oh, don’t do that!”, Petronas cautioned. “He might try to escape.”

“You put him there?… Shame on you!”, Nocolai opened the door. “He wouldn’t run away from his own Partner…!”, the human laughed as Bentfeather rushed out of the cage and hugged his neck.

“Oh my friend!… It’s been an age!…”, Bentfeather whispered close, noticing the reddish eyes and the sick smell still on his Partner, then pulled back slightly. “When I saw the letter concerning you, I thought you were dead…!”

“Merely a ruse to throw the Council off my discovery, my boy.”, Sanders told him, walking to his desk and placing the cage there with the Microraptor on his shoulder. “Can’t let the authorities know about things when they’re only half discovered, you know!”

Nicolai Sanders turned to see Dirge and Petronas still there. “You can leave us for the time being.”, their true leader told them as the Microraptor hopped to the desk. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“What would you have us do?”, Petronas asked.

“You could continue cataloguing the lesser artifacts.” Sanders told him. “Nobody continued that after you left, so you can pick up where you left off.”

“That’s all I ever get to do!…”, Petronas groused as he left.

“Commander Dirge, you can continue to lead the guards, I guess.”, Nicolai continued.

“Yes sir, but…”, Dirge saluted. “Sir Bentfeather came here with many others… What do you want us to do with them?”

“I don’t know yet. I need to think about that.”, Sanders thought a moment. “They are in the dungeon, right?”

“Of course.”, dirge said.

“Keep them there, I guess.”, the human told him. “Don’t torture them or hurt them severely, and keep them well fed and healthy. I might want to have a chat with some of them later.”

“Um,… Some of the rest of the guards were wondering if they were for a feast.”, dirge continued. “I told them to belay those thoughts…”

“That’s an idea too!…”, Nicolai smiled at him, outside of Bentfeather’s line of sight. “It depends on my mood when I think of it!… Dismissed!”, both saluted, and he turned to Bentfeather as soon as he heard the door close. “Now,… where were we?…”

The conversation between the two went on for hours, talking mostly about the time they spent apart. Bentfeather related that he had taken on apprentices, mentioning Tebo and Hazen and marking their merits; and boasting at the concerts he had seen in his absence, but omitting for now the facts of the circumstances that brought him here. During this time Nicolai placed the birdcage on a hook imbedded in a pillar near the entrance to the Iron-doored room, then sat at his desk as he related his own exploits; relating the relations his group had made with the carnivores on the island, face seeming cloudy as he struggled to go farther. All of a sudden he became silent, motioning to study the scrolls on his desk until Bentfeather prompted further.

“So, how did you discover this place?”, the Microraptor asked. “It was a true feat of Archaeological discovery to unearth it, I bet!…”

“There had been legends of temples all over the outer Island for generations.”, Sanders said absently. “It was inevitable that it be discovered sooner or later.”

“But YOU did it!”, Bentfeather prodded. “How?…”

“I had died, so to speak…”, his eyes seemed to grow redder. “Then when I came alive again, I was here.”, he held his head. “I was lost in the dark, then light shone all around me… It was then that I knew my true destiny…”

Bentfeather nodded. “I know that’s what it might have seemed like…”, he stroked the human’s heated cheek. “How I heard it was that you got stung by some strange plant, and nearly died of it’s poison…”, he wept slightly. “They said you nearly died of a high fever, but got well somehow… Soon they said you took to wandering the jungles, and one day came back saying you discovered an Archaeological site…”, he soothed. “There, there… But you’re not all right yet.”

“I soon became more than I ever knew I could be; and found power unimaginable.”, Nicolai sanders’ voice became far away. “As strange stone pieces came to me, I saw they fit together in certain ways; and the more the pieces fit, the more power I attained…”

“Nicolai, I think the reason why you believe so is you’re still sick…!”, Bentfeather stated, then pleaded. “Oh please come back home with us!… We can cure you of your disease!… Doctor Forschie has all these medicines, and…”

“Do you really think that the attaining of power is a disease?!…”, Nocolai Sanders snapped at him suddenly. “Well, I can tell you right now that it is not!…”

“The real Nicolai sanders would at least listen to reason…”, Bentfeather said sullenly. “I’m beginning to not know you anymore…”

“The person you see right now is one you know so well…”, Sanders told him. “He exists in history books all over the island!… Do you not know the great King Othgar when you see him…?”, he scoffed. “The person you once knew no longer exists, for I am Othgar reborn…!”

With that Bentfeather flapped to the iron birdcage, stepped inside and slammed the tiny door. “Then Nicolai sanders is truly dead…”, he turned his face to the wall, shaking uncontrollably.

A moment later he heard the tiny lock catch, as Sanders followed him over and locked him in! “Have it your way, my friend!”, he hissed. “I was going to offer you half the power I would attain, but I see you do not have the stomach for such things!”, he turned the cage so Bentfeather faced him. “For that you will suffer the same fate as your friends!… I know Grond would love an appetizer before the main course!…”

Nicolai Sanders stormed away, leaving the birdcage to spin on it’s hook until it settled down of it’s own accord, he returning to his desk to study the material that bent feather and Tarion had compiled about the artifact. Long before the cage stopped spinning, the hitching sobs of Bentfeather weeping was soon heard in the silence. He was not weeping for the certainty of his fate; for that was when he knew his lifelong partner was truly dead…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76, Cirrus and Elaina Dennison. 76 goes it alone.
_

OCC: This scene didn’t go the way you said either, Tarion…
_

As the saurian guards were mere moments away from starting their attack on Culebra on the western part of the Outer Island, one human and two flyers were getting ready to infiltrate territory of their enemy; and though neither the soldiers nor the flyers knew the affairs of the other, their missions would go on like clockwork to free all the people of the Outer Island. This time postal Bird 76 woke Elaina Dennison from her bedroll, and Cirrus noticed her stirring and began to limber up his wings; sending a breeze through the throngs of his kinfolk on the vast grass plain of the town of Scutemus, flooding the field with their sleepy squawking. She quickly got ready and placed the saddle on her steed, and 76 fluttered to the saddle bag while Cirrus spread his wings and took off.

He circled the huge Slybax encampment and then headed roughly southwest, clearing trees and scanning the terrain below for air routes through the thick canopy. Soon rises in the territory told of the increasingly mountainous land below the trees, and before they got too close to the peak of the highest one; Cirrus found a clear spot as close as he dared to land for fear of detection, flapping to a stop near a barely discernable path. Elaina undid the saddle bag as Postal Bird 76 squirmed out, his miniature flight goggles glistening in the early morning sun. He looked around and then up to his recent human friend and smiled with his eyes because his beak would not.

“Well, this is it!”, the bird said.

“You remember your mission…”, Elaina asked.

“Of course.”, 76 began to undo his green and orange scarf. “Locate an entrance to Nicolai Sanders’s stronghold, locate where they are holding my friends, tell lady Natasha that the attack on the island has started and inform her to implement her escape if possible.”, he removed his tiny Postal bag. “And I will try to get out before I‘m discovered!”

“Excellent!”, Elaina said as she took his miniscule personal effects as he finally removed his goggles. “I’ll keep these safe for you…”

“Thank you.”, Postal Bird 76 reached and gave her a hug with his wings. You have been an indispensable help to me, and I appreciate it.”, he flapped to the beak of Cirrus and did the same. “And you too, my large cousin!… May the wind swiftly take you to your fortune…”, the Skybax chortled softly. “Bye, my friends!… Time to ‘mingle with the natives’!…”, and off into the jungle he flew.

Just as the Postal Bird in the disguise of simply another Dimnorphodon got out of their sight, Cirrus lifted off and headed back to Scutemus with Elaina Dennison riding along to help spearhead the impending attack; and 76 fluttered between the trees trying to navigate a course through the dense foliage. Reports said that there were still plenty of wild Dimorphodons on the Outer Island, either not hearing about civilized life or hearing it but choosing to live this way; and 76 thought it was beneath the dignity of civilized Dinotopians to live like that! Just give him his warm, comfortable roost and everything would be right in the world, he was thinking as he swooped too close to a tree trunk and had to swerve, landing on the wide branch of the tree beyond it.

“How do they expect me to find the place!”, 76 groused softly to himself. “Everything looks the same, and I don’t even know exactly what I’m looking for!…”, he hopped out on the limb for a better look. “The place probably doesn’t even have a proper street address!…”, he spotted some kind of clearing through the leaves and flapped over to investigate.

The clearing consisted of a row of broken down trees beginning at the peak of a ridge in the forest and ending a hundred yards aft of 76‘s position, the fresh leaves telling of how it was done not too long ago; and on closer inspection it showed that large footprints in the boggy ground beside them, prints that could only be made by T-rexes or their large cohorts! The Postal Bird trying to act like just a run of the mill wild Dimorphodon flapped in fright out of that area, and followed the ridge that the broken trees had indicated through the forest to some irregular boulders next to a small stream that bubbled between them; where he stopped to quench his thirst before continuing his adventure of search and rescue, he boasting to himself that he was the smallest rescuer in the world.

Soon another small path crossed his flight path as he scoured another ridge through the forest. This path had the ridge on it’s right, and followed it for at least a half a mile; and this was when he figured out that this wall was ruins to some strange structure, this hit when he found several sets of openings in the wall. Unfortunately no other evidence of any other structures were in the immediate area, so he skimmed the ground down the path until he came to a junction in the path; where he landed to stare down each way, confused on which way to go next. After a moment he decided to take to the trees as he had heard the growling of some unknown predator in the forest to his right, staring down panting until he was sure the sound was not repeated closer; his listening distracted him from looking, though, and a moment later something had landed on the branch beside him.

“Awk!…”, the female Dimorphodon squawked in her native language, moving her neck to inspect him from all directions. “You cute!…”

“Oh, hello…”, was 76’s startled reply, still scanning the terrain. He hopped up the branch, and she followed.

“Silly hop-hop…!”, the female said, trying to make cute eyes at him. “You like?…”

“Madame… Please!… I’m busy!”, 76 told her, nearly backing off the branch!

“I like!…”, she inched closer.

“Oh, go away!…”, he hopped away again. “I’m on a mission…”

“Me too…!”, she hopped the distance, he retreating with every step until he ran out of branch!

“Leave me alone!…”, 76 took off and fluttered through the leaves. She followed his flight path, squawking and giggling the whole way! ‘What did I get myself into…’, he thought as he dodged through the trees. ‘I’m out risking my own life, and then I get accosted by some wild floozy!’. 76 flew for all he was worth!

The chase lasted for hours, and 76 did not have a chance to get his bearings as he had to constantly dodge the female Dimorphodon hot on his tail feathers; and he dipped and rolled through the branches, trying to lose this animal with one thing on her sordid mind. The chase continued for miles, into territory unknown to either of them; but she did not mind so long as she find a mate, and this bird was the one she wanted for one! It seemed like she would never give up the chase, but not long after that 76 found he was no longer being chased; and as he looked ahead, he saw the reason for that all too well as he hid on the leeward side of a tree.

A wide path made it’s way on the ground beside his tree, made wide by the absence of other trees on either side; and what lay hundreds of yards ahead turned his blood to ice, for the grotesque portal was guarded by a monstrosity he had never seen except in book illustrations! The stone entryway was festooned with stone carvings of monsters and gargoyles too horrible to describe, and it framed the gigantic head of a Carnotaurus; which was large enough to swallow an entire cart, and probably would have if it was alive. The creature guarding it was a Carcaradontosaur, and only a tenth the size of the massive stone entry to some kind of temple; yet 76 was more frightened of the guardian than the doorway, for the guardian was alive and well while the latter was not!

The giant carnivore was not looking in his direction, nor at the doorway, for his attention was framed on the pair of smaller carnivore guards in leather armor sparring with each other on the path to cure their boredom; the large one grunting and rooting for his favorite, and the biggest spectator in history. Seeing their lack of attention, and figuring it was the only way into the temple; postal Bird 76 steeled himself to do something more dangerous than he would ever imagine.

“…‘Into the belly of the Beast I go‘…”, he said softly to himself, and flapped off his branch to the oblivious monsters beyond…
_


IC: Kestria after her rather awkward reunion with Scratch.
_

OCC: Tarion, this scene doesn’t go the way you said, either!…_

Kestria led Falokar out of the armory and on the way back to the carts to finish taking the weapons from the caravan carts, she with an acid look on her face and he with a sheepish scowl. No words were spoken as they rounded a corner and was out of Scratch’s line of sight and earshot, but when they were she swatted him lightly with her tail and stopped the cart rather abruptly!

“Fossilhead…!”, she hissed. “I told you to be careful around him, and you try to pick a fight…!”

At his weak explanation, she shook her head. “I told you I would handle this!…”, she looked down as he tried to move the cart further. “Look. I don’t want to see you hurt, so I think you shouldn’t be near him… Why don’t you go see Drindel, who dispatches tasks… He will give you another assignment, and help you find your quarters.”

He tried to protest, but she explained to him. “I need a chance to talk to Scratch. Maybe I can talk him out of our proposal…”, Falokar saw the logic in this and looked around like he was lost, and she saw it. “Go through the door down the hall, take the ramp way up to the next level and ask the ones in the guard post there where Drindel can be found. If you get lost, ask anyone…”

Then she smiled and gave him the briefest of nuzzles. “See you later…!”, she said as they parted…
_


IC: Kestria and Scratch, later that day.

Scratch walked beside his fiancé‘, red fishnet tunic replacing his usual leather armor guard uniform; and she had replaced her feathery armor for nothing save for a squat green cone-like hat with a flowing blue feather in it’s brim. They smiled as they walked past the odd guard or other saurian that was part of this army, but Kestria was doing this for the sake of the others; for inside she was seething at the task she had to do, for convincing Scratch to seek another mate would no doubt not be easy. They had their meal in one of the mess halls in the complex, and were now walking it off in the labyrinth of tunnels that made the bulk of the temple complex.

After the somewhat cheery conversation at mealtime, their walk was made in silence; giving each other an occasional glance as they walked past all the others in the place. After a while the population of saurians rushing past them dwindled to next to nothing as they were entering the lesser traveled areas of the temple complex, and Kestria decided to stop at a large crate and smaller crate lay near an intersection, evidentially a resting spot for guards when they were on duty there; and Scratch craned down to see what was the matter.

“Let’s rest a bit, ok?…”, Kestria suggested as she sat on the smaller crate.

“Sure… Boy, this place is sure deserted…”, Scratch commented and sat on the dusty floor. “I could walk the whole complex a dozen times over.”

“I bet you can!”…, Kestria saw the opportunity to start, no matter how small. “I bet you can do a lot of things.”

“Yup!… I’m the strongest one here!”, Scratch said. “Well, except maybe for the Allosaurs and other big ones…”

“You’re so much better than all us little ones.”, said Kestria. “You should have gone and made yourself commander!… I’m sure you could easily defeat commander Dirge!…”

“Yeah, but I don’t want to.”, Scratch told her. “He’s smart, and he helps me all the time.”

“You know, my sister was telling me the other day what a brave one you are.”, she changed tack. “She said it in a very strange way… You don’t suppose she might be jealous of me?…”

“What do you mean?”, scratch didn’t get it. “Jealous of you?… That’s crazy!”

“Well, she sees how brave and strong you are, and that you are seeing me.”, she spelled it out. “She thinks I’m not as good as her, being the youngest… And I guess that makes her wish you were seeing her instead of me.”

“Oh, well that’s still crazy!”, Scratch said. “Your sister can have any other one she wants.”

“She wants you, I guess…”, Kestria changed tack again. “You know, ever since I was a hatchling, she was always able to get what she wanted out of me. I really think she might do the same in this case.”

“Your father promised you to me.”, Scratch told her, pacing. “Isn’t against your clan tradition if something like that were to happen?…”

“Things change.”, Kestria told him. “Just like when we decided to bring non-Dromeosaurs into the clan. Before that it was against our traditions.”

“I see…”, Scratch said. “But you don’t need to worry… I won’t let her!”, he smiled.

“Yes, but then there is all those other unmated females around here that want you…”, Kestria really poured it on. “Some of them are so mad at me for seeing you that they threaten me!… They’re always teasing me and trying to pick fights!…”

“That’s just wrong!…”, Scratch told her.

“You know, sometimes I think it would be safer if I weren’t promised to you…”, she shed a theatrical tear. “I can’t take all that stuff…”

“Well don’t worry.”, Scratch tried to soothe. “I’ll straighten them all out!”

“No need to cause all that trouble…”, Kestria pretended weariness. “Look, is it ok if we call the rest of the night off?… I’m kind of feeling off…”

“Well,… Ok, I guess…”, Scratch said slowly. He was hoping to spend the rest of the evening nuzzling! “look, why don’t you go and get some rest… You might feel better later…”

“You’re kind…”, she got up with only slight help. “Well, see you later…”, she gave him a weak nuzzle and slowly paced back up the corridor…
_

TAG: Any and all!

[tarion]

OCC - Sorry, i should have waited on you thundertail

I.C Falokar sat at the back of the cart and looked at Kestria as she approached the camp, walking up to him.

"Falokar?..." she started off, Falokar smiled a little, "How'd it go Kestria?" Kestria heaved a heavy sigh and began the explination of her plan, and what she was hoping to achieve, this seemed to lighten Falokar's heart a little bit, but then he looked down at his feet and frowned.... "Yeah, that's a great plan and all, but what if he doesn't go for it? What if he tries to force you to be his?" the thought scared Falokar, not because he might have to end up going toe to toe with Scratch, but more for the safty of Kestria.

Kestria smiled grimly and nodded, "Well hopefully i can make him see reason, if not then I'm not sure what I'll do..."

Falokar frowned... "Oh I got my next set of assignments, I'm set in a post to guard the north east tower of this complex.... which ironically enough is not to far from the armory." he smiled, "So even if we don't get together, at least i can still keep an eye on you to, as for what happened today, you got me all wrong, I wasn't trying to pick a fight with scratch, I genuinly thought he was hurting you, after all you said yourself he doesn't know his own strength... and I'll try to be polite to him, but don't expect too much of me... if anything I may give a few short replies every now and then, and that's it, or help him if he requires assistance, but i'm not gonna go hunting or fishing with the guy."

Suddenly Falokar lit up as if he had just remembered something, "OH and check this out, due to my new post of guardian I got some new duds that i have to start wearing tomorrow..." Falokar got to his feet and went into the cart then came back out dawning white armor trimmed in gold, and looking rather slimming on him, it included a head piece with two golden spikes coming off the sides and a red gem in the middle... he grinned, "Apparently this was my mother's tribe outfit before she left, the blacksmiths refitted it to my form, and this..." he pulled out an rather unique and extravigant sword, "Was her blade. the Ethierieal Feather! (the blade itself is well heard of, not to mention the armor is high quality, and was only worn by ace hunters, or members of high ranks, in this case Falokar gets it because it is now his heirloom, and his skills are good enough that he is qualified for it - please not that the armor doesn't make him invincible or anything it just fits him well and looks majestic, thats about all it does, it protects him better than his gi did but it won't stop a full on attack from more powerful fighters, or a flury of arrows, the plates will, but the chainmail below it won't-)

Kestria gawked at Falokar for a moment, he looked very dashing in the armor, and infact a few female dromeasaurs that were walking by with nets full of fish stared at him as they passed, a few were even doubling back to look at him again.

Falokar sat back down and resheathed the sword, "I'm not trying to impress you, so get that out of your mind, but I do like how it looks and thought you might like to see it."

She giggled and nodded, "I don't exactly know why but the look suits you. Anyways I'm only asking you to let me handle Scratch, and in the mean time that you try to be nice to him."

Falokar nodded, "Sure thing, I'll do what i can...I only hope that things work out for the best"

_i know you may not be planning for it to go exactly this way thundertail but if anything at least let falokar keep the armor, it's a sign of his official transaction of taking up his heiritage_

Tag: everyone involved

[tarion]

I.C Nicholai Sander's Fortress

- Changes-

The night had grown long, and Kestria had turned in early, it was no wonder to Falokar as to why, she had certainly been busy as of late, and fatigue was probably now catching up to her.

Falokar himself had picked a spot away from the rest of the camp to bed for the night, but had yet to fall asleep, in fact he was more awake now than ever...

Falokar looked up at the clear sky and smiled somehow the stars and moon seemed brighter tonight than they had in the days previous, a grin crossed his face as a thought came to him, he hadn't bathed in a while.... he carefully removed his new and rather shiny armor placing it all together next to where he would be resting, then streached out and began grooming himself, stopping withing the first minute and sticking out his tongue , a look of surprise on his face... he ran two fingers along his tongue and pulled off a mouthfull of feathers.... all of them rhe redish orange color of his body.... he looked down and noticed a white patch on his body, now he looked even more shocked, he turned to where his back was facing the camp and began rubbing his hands along his upper torso, and sure enough the red feathers began to come off underneath where new and pure white feathers.... he continued this process for some time until his entire front upper torso from his upper abdomen, to the top of his neck was completely white, also along his shoulders and nearly to his elbos.... he thought about it for a second then turned his back to a nearby tree and began rubbing his back against it sure enough feathers began to fall off... withing two more hours time Falokar had massed a medium sized pile of red feathers from his upper body, neck, and head, in fact his entire upper half was almost completly white now, with the exception of a strip of blood red long feathers going from his forhead to the base of his neck, and the two sets of long feathers coming off the back of his head. he smiled... so this was his new permenant color scheme, he liked the new look the white definatly suited him... he laid down and yawned he'd let the rest of his feathers molt off as they needed to. (as some of them were not ready yet)

Not long after falokar drifted off into sleep, his new white feathers glinting in the moonlight.

Tag:Everyone involved

[Thundertail]

IC: Postal Bird 76. Lost in the labyrinth, where he finds secrets in the temple.

Postal Bird 76 steeled himself on the branch he was on and dove into the fray of the gigantic predator and his two smaller cohorts, who were blocking his way to the entrance to the temple out on the middle of the jungle; for his friends were in there somewhere, and he had to do all he could to rescue them - even though such an action was unheard of from an upstanding Dinotopian like himself. He flapped down between the group, nearly getting snapped up by the Gigonatosaurus as the flea-like creature buzzed past his muzzle; nearly missing as 76 squawked in panic and made a beeline for the giant stone maw that was the entrance to the tunnel.

“What is it, Grond…?”, one of the smaller guards paused his sparring to say, getting knocked to the ground by the other for his lack of concentration.

“Aw,… He probably just got stung by a bee…!”, the other said, helping him up. “Now you attack ME!…”

Their talk went unheard by Bentfeather, for onward he flew down into the deep, dark shaft; and he stayed high up near the roof of the passageway so he would not be easily spotted, for many such saurians prowled the corridor, going to where they needed to go, he assumed. Hundreds of yards down this corridor, which was large enough to accommodate several carts abreast; he flew out into a cavernous space, with a high ceiling and floor space littered with hundreds of crates, barrels, carts and other things taken as booty. Swooping around in the domelike upper regions of the chamber, he eventually spotted the cart he had spent so many months in and around, the one that was pulled by that charming oaf Randy; and the other carts that were so familiar to him were in other places around the chamber, pullers, cargo and passengers missing or elsewhere. He looked into the formerly mentioned cart from a high perch and saw that the Postal Basket he used to travel in was also missing; taken to find other uses, he surmised with acid.

From his high perch near the crennial of a column, he saw the many hundreds of carnivorous saurian soldiers of every species milling about below; going to and fro on missions he dared not guess at, and one certain conclusion reached him before he had a chance to think it. It would be all but impossible to go about in this labyrinth of passageways and not go unnoticed for long, for there were just too many of them! He would have to find other ways through and hope his luck would bring him to his friends, but the dusty gloom up here offered no ideas, and the ultrasonic chatter coming from his bat neighbors were of no help either! But on the other hand, how could bats gat all the way in here when there was so much activity going on all around below?

He leapt off the crennial he was on for the squeaking chatter going on, and found another niche next to the sloping walls; and there he saw that all the other entrances to this chamber was highly populated as well, which meant he was thoroughly trapped! As he wondered what to do now, a slight breeze was being felt on the feathers on his back; and it wasn’t until just then did he notice it, so he turned and looked closely at the wall behind him. A deeper square of black in the dim wall was seen, barely a foot square and seeming to go on forever for the darkness; and the obvious engineering of the complex this size came to be known to him, for to have a place this big so far underground and away from any fresh air, it was only natural for the builders to design a ventilation system into the complex!

“These shafts must go to all points of the temple…!”, 76 whispered to himself, clearing the cobwebs from the entrance. “I hope I don’t get lost…”, he groused as he ducked inside.

Of course Postal Bird 76 could not fly in such a cramped space, so he walked and hopped along; listening for any sounds as his eyes were all but useless, and only seeing dim glows from fires reflecting off stone as he neared vents to rooms that had fires going in them. Cobwebs were extremely plentiful, and many times he nearly coughed and gagged on them as he went through the sticky masses while groping in the dark; and occasionally leathery shapes brushed by him as bats, disturbed at his presence, beat a hasty retreat from the stone ducts he was traversing. He felt like he was traveling the passages of Hades itself as the twists, turns shafts leading up or down or pitfalls into other rooms nearly ended his life many times; and pretty soon his worst fears gradually came to pass, for Postal Bird 76 was now hopelessly lost!

He groped around and dropped into a room filled with cooking utensils, lit by a blazing hearth and smelled like a charnel house; and he decided to escape into another shaft before he suddenly found himself on the menu! His next stop was in a dormitory of sorts, for a dozen nest beds were made for smaller saurians; but as he looked he saw that three of the nests were occupied by off-duty Dromeosaur guards drooling in their sleep, and decided to exit that area before they began to smell him! Lower and lower the air shafts took him, and he became ever doubtful that he would ever find his friends again - alive or dead; and there was another certainty dawning on him as he trudged on, for it was quite unlikely that he would ever leave this place alive again either!

For what seemed like days he trudged on in these dank air ducts with this on his mind, but suddenly heard voices in the extreme distance down the shaft; but it wasn’t in the voices or dialects of the Dromeosaurs he had heard, and another thing that told him it was something different was the fact that it seemed like it was singing! The low voice droned on in a death dirge commonly sung by persons condemned to death, and the dialect seemed to be of a large saurian; and on further concentration on this voice, Postal Bird 76 determined that the owner of that voice could be none other than his trailside friend, Randy! His hopes returned back to their old self as 76 rushed down the shaft to the source of that dear old voice…
_

IC: The attack on Culebra.

That very same morning, on the other side of the island, thousands of saurian guards stood in wait at two strategic spots perched above the seaside city of Culebra; all waiting for the signal to begin their attack. Their goal was to take back the town from the marauding hordes of Dromeosaurs and all other carnivorous dinosaurs on the Outer Island. To be fair, it was not necessarily their fault for them taking over the town as well as the island; but they were under the sway of the former chief librarian of Waterfall City, Nicolai Sanders, who no doubt coerced them in some way to do his bidding. Never the less, the city had to be taken back so peace could finally be restored; and even though they knew many would die on both sides today, it was necessary if not appalling to every upstanding Dinotopian there.

Just then Cirrus with his rider, Elaina Dennison came swooping over the horizon; circling in and landing in the midst of the phalanx that was guarding the Cliffside sector of the town, and instead of Elaina saying so personally allowed Cirrus to give off an earsplitting cry that echoed all throughout the town. Even though the people and saurians in town, whether they be captive or not had no idea the reason for the cry at the crack of dawn; the soldiers and the saurian guards knew all too well, and squads of them began silently filtering down into town. These would sneak up on and eliminate the odd Dromeosaur warrior as they passed, throttling them or slitting their throats and dragging them off to hidden niches near by; and only when enough of these were taken down enough to be missed, the rest began to realize that things were beginning to go horribly wrong!

From both the seaside part of town and the landward side of town, droves of saurian guards and their humans came storming down through the streets; and this was the start of the melee that continued on for most of the rest of the day, for the carnivores there were taken completely by surprise. The human guards dismounted their steeds in the middle of the fray on every street and engaged the enemy, their steeds doing the same as they literally rent the carnivores one by one most of the time; but some of the carnivores were more skilled than some of them, and they were the ones that held their own the longest. Soon the saurian guards, with support from the air by the Skybax who strafed many off their feet; began to gain ground in the chaos of battle, and fairly soon street after street was made secure.

“You take the north side…!”, came shouts from all over. “Watch yourself!…”, “Get a healer!…”, “Flank that group!… Take the alley!…”, military directions like this was shouted from every quarter, and the grunts and groans from the exertion and from their foes began to echo in the streets.

The indigenous citizens of Culebra saw the attack unfolding, and this heartened their hope to that of sudden joy; and many of the larger residents began to break their bonds and join in on the revolution. The Bracheosaurs were first, simply stepping their chains taught enough to snap; and then they ambled up and down lanes plowing over any large carnivores they met or simply stepping on the smaller ones that may stumble in the wake of their stampede. The same was going on with their Ceratopsian and Ankylosaurian counterparts, using their brute strength to pull themselves free; then charging their oppressors in bull-like fashion or clubbing an Allosaur into the dockside water as one extremely peeved Ankylosaur had done.

Such acts were going on all over town, and nearly all of those would become the subject of town lore for generations to come; but none of them were thinking of this, thinking instead of saving theirs and their neighbor’s lives as the heat of the battle wore on. The battle in the streets went on for many hours, but by mid afternoon those enemies who were not killed in the battle either surrendered or ran off into the dense jungles of the island.

“After them, everyone…!”, came shouts all up and down the streets.

“That’s not a good idea…”, was the consensus of the leaders, commanders and sergeants, which was told in their own way to the groups they were commanding. “We’d be more prone to ambush if we follow… Let them go, and we’ll deal with them later.”

“Let’s go back…”, their leaders told them.

The ones that had gone after the carnivorous hordes that had occupied Culebra, they noticed the town was silenced; as if everybody was struck deaf, and was paused to figure out just what happened. As they got back the town slowly came back to life as the rest of the citizens of Culebra came out of their homes or from where they were hiding. They came out into the streets as a free people for the first time in nearly a year; and great peals of cheers welled up and all around the city, nearly overwhelming their saviors with the deafening cacophony of their liberated celebration!

“All hail our liberators…!”, shouts of this kind were heard as music welled up and citizens of every species began dancing in the streets. As soon as order was regained somewhat, one of the reinstated leaders of the town shook commander Berry’s hand. “What can we ever do to repay you?…”, he said in a formal ceremony. “All except all the fruit you can eat as we haven’t gone foraging for months!…”

“Just go back to what you were doing, and let us handle the rest.”, Berry told him. “And now it’s time we get the scoundrel that started this…”, he left the ceremony to address the surviving troops.

Fairly soon the saurian soldiers and humans began to form up ranks, all under the direction of their immediate superiors; for these superiors knew that their task was barely half over, for now it was time to deal directly with the madman that started all of this. Before sundown the survivors of the battle had formed up, and great waves of soldiers began marching south; down the coastal road and into the jungles that hid the stronghold of Nicolai Sanders…
_

IC: Nicolai Sanders and Bentfeather. The assembly of doom.

Bentfeather had cried himself out long before his former Partner Nicolai Sanders finished studying the notes he and Tarion had compiled at Ebulon, and he watched the human work at his desk comparing those notes with his own. He watched forlornly in silence as the man worked, getting up and studying the artifact on the workbench across the chamber and with stone tablets with similar strange glyphs on them; and Nicolai smiled as one fact or another coalesced in his fevered mind, Bentfeather thought as he watched his every move.

At least Nicolai had taken a few breaks to feed him, Bentfeather thought gratefully; and hoped the reason for this was because of the last remnants of camaraderie between the two, but Nicolai told him sardonically that he would not be a gracious host if he didn’t treat his guests so! Even though his fare was mere crickets, spiders and any other insect present in the temple complex; that and the water he provided would no doubt sustain him, whether it be unsavory or not! Bentfeather paused his moody musings as he watched what Nicolai Sanders was doing next.

He was now at the artifact, studying the runes on the base; seeming to be able to understand what it said as if he was born to the language, then turned to Bentfeather. “Your notes only stated the obvious, my friend…”, he went to the iron double doors to the Snake Temple. “But it only told a portion… A portion that has no use for me!… Observe…!"

Nicolai swung the doors open, and Bentfeather saw a sight right out of ancient times. An altar festooned with gems connected with snakelike relief’s formed a semicircle at the back of the space, looking more like a control panel than an altar. This altar was guarded by twin giant coiled stone snakes larger than any Anaconda on Dinotopia, and a somewhat smaller headless snake statue rose up from the floor in the center of the crescent shaped room. Signs of recent assembly were present as picks and metal probes were strewn onto a small cart off to the side, and more pages of notes littered the rest of the cart.

“I deciphered every inscription in the complex, and it told me only one thing…”, Nicolai went on. “If I reconstruct the Snake Temple and make it work like it once did, then unimaginable power would be to he who does so.”, he walked back to the Tyrannosaur head artifact. “I knew that this was the key, as it was the only missing part.”, he picked it up and walked it to the headless statue.

“And now by the power of Othgar The Great, I command you to come to LIFE!!!”, this he shouted as he placed the artifact onto the neck of the headless snake.

He then pushed the two middle buttons on the artifact, and four stone clamps on the statue sprung up and grasped the artifact at it’s base, and the eyes of the snake carvings festooning the altar beyond began to glow green dimly. The jaws of the artifact yawned open as it’s emerald eyes glowed too, and Nicolai took the amulet within and placed it around his neck. The two giant snake sculptures framing the altar began to turn to each other as their eyes began to glow as well. All of a sudden their eyes met, and they produced green beams that intersected the one in the center; and this in turn caused a stone cap directly behind it in the altar to scroll down, revealing an indentation that exactly matched the shape of the amulet now glowing on Nicolai’s chest.

“And now is where my true power comes to pass…!”, Nicolai Sanders said as he walked past the snake statue and to the depression in the altar.

He took the amulet from around his neck, removed the chain and placed the amulet in the depression; then stepped back as the amulet twisted in place and sunk into the stonework until only the jewels shone. All around him the snake eyes glowed and pulsated, and soon the sound of sliding stones were heard from within it, making him step back even further, nearly out of the room!

“Please listen to reason!”, Bentfeather said as he backed closer. “Turn it off right now, and come home with us!…”

“Nonsense, my boy!”, Nicolai said cheerily. “It merely takes time to warm up!…”, he went back to his desk after closing the iron doors. “The runes said it would take about a day.”, and began reading another scroll.

As Bentfeather looked through the bars of his birdcage at his former Partner, his hopes for all of Dinotopia began to shrivel and disappear; and the noises in the room beyond the iron doors began to intensify as the machinery within started to churn and vibrate. The machinery, connected in other ways to other parts of the complex, began to turn and move of their own accord as well; but any noise or vibration to any occupied part of the complex going undetected due to the thickness of the stone. Life for the carnivorous soldiers within went on like usual, none aware of what their master had unleashed.

Somewhere high above, on the lip of the dormant caldera at the mountain peak; a flat capstone slid aside, revealing a deep chasm. Within it stood a large pinnacle with a rounded top, and this pinnacle began to slowly rise out of the chasm; knocking aside the errant trees that were in the way, and it would be quite a while before it surpassed the jungle foliage and be detectible from the air…
_

TAG: Any and all!