Far Future AU Interlude

"I hope you know what you're doing. We could end up in so much trouble!"

"Stop worrying. We'll be fine."

"Are we nearly there?"

"Yeah. It's just up ahead. Geez, you sound like a little kid. 'Are we there yet?'"

"Shut up."

"If you're too scared, you can always turn back."

"You said it would be safe."

"I said we'd be okay."

"Great. Now you tell me."

"Shh."

"What?"

"They're just beyond these rocks. The cavern opens out here."

"Maybe we should go. I don't think my folks would like to find out that we're sneaking around in here."

"Do what you want. I'm staying."

"Oh, no. If something happens, I think I'd rather die than have to tell your folks you were eaten by a dinosaur."

"Didn't you pay attention in history class? They're not dinosaurs. I mean, he's kind of like one, but the other one's a bug."

"It's so dark in there."

"I think the Guard must have turned off the overhead lights."

"Why?"

"I don't know, maybe 'cause they don't like them or need to sleep or something."

"What's that great big lump back there? I thought they leveled all the floors in here."

"I'm not sure. Oh my god."

"What?"

"Shh. I think it's moving."

"We are going to die, aren't we?"

"No. Just stay still."

"Okay. Now what?"

"I'm going to try to get closer."

"Are you crazy?!"

"Look, we'll probably never have a chance like this again. C'mon, live a little."

"It'll be very little if they catch us."

"Just stay low and move slowly. See, that 'lump' is still moving, up and down. Maybe that's its breathing. Y'know, I think it is asleep. Wow, it smells like rotten fish even over here."

"What's that on top of it? Looks like a blanket or something."

"Whoa. It's the butterfly. Those are its wings."

"Why would it be sitting on the other one?"

"Maybe it's like a bird sitting on a buffalo, like in Africa?"

"So it's eating stuff off it, like parasites?"

"Gross. Probably not. I think it eats flower nectar."

"Not too many flowers that big."

"Actually, they have some in the history garden. I saw them when my family was on vacation."

"You're going to major in history, aren't you?"

"Maybe."

"Ookay, the bug just moved. What are those shiny things?"

"God. I think those are its eyes."

"It's looking right at us."

"It's not acting like it's going to attack. They're kind of pretty, aren't they?"

"I guess so, if you're into bugs."

"It's sort of hard to tell in the dark, but we're not really as close to them as you'd think."

"Meaning what?"

"They are really really big. Like skyscrapers."

CHIRP

"Aaand one of your skyscrapers is now sitting up."

"Let's get out of here!"

"Finally, some signs of intelligence!"

"Young humans come look again, Moth?"

"Yes, Flying Lizard. I greeted them. They fled."

"Hah! They smart."

"They seek knowing, friend. Someday, they may find wisdom."