Chapter 7
(-I am a Tricertops-)
(^I am a Deinonychus^)
Nobby led the troupe out of the city and into the rolling grasslands just outside of Sauropolis, occasionally stopping to munch on some grass. They would follow the trail along the eastern bank of the Polongo until they got to a large bridge which could support the weight of Nobby and the cargo she was carrying. Croco noticed how she never looked down at the ground while she towed the wagon, and Mira explained to him how the dinosaurs took great pride in their strength.
"It would be considered an insult if a saurian looked down at the ground while doing heavy work," she told him. "And Nobby is one of the proudest saurians I've ever come across in my life." They continued on, telling stories and jokes until sundown, when they decided to set up camp. They found a nearby pond to gather water from, and Nobby was all too happy to lower her head and start drinking away. Mira and Kaala started hunting for wild herbs and spices while Brock lowered a line into the pond in the hope of catching a few fish. Croco and Riojay were laying in the grass looking up at the stars.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" he said to himself.
"Sure is," Riojay said in broken English. Croco sat up in total disbelief and amazement while Riojay scratched his neck with the claws on his short arms.
"You...speak English...Riojay?!?" he gasped.
"Only what Kaala teach me," was the answer he got. Croco wondered why he never spoke before and Riojay told him that he didn't want to startle him by speaking in human as he called it. The curious Croco wanted to know more.
"Where did you originally come from?" he asked Riojay.
"Rainy Basin," he told him. "Was little when Kaala find me. I was lost and she take me back to her den." Thaddeus had warned Croco about the wild deinonychus packs in the Basin, but if what Riojay said was true, then he was just stereotyping them as merciless monsters he thought. And in Croco's mind, that just wasn't right. He walked over to where Brock was, and he had caught a few good-sized fish. He sat down while Riojay laid down beside them.
"Did you guys really find Riojay in the Rainy Basin?" he asked him. Brock told him about how Kaala found him there when she was only six and how they became inseparable friends from that point on. Croco took some time to let the story sink in, then got up and walked back over to the campsite, where he laid his head down and went to sleep.
The next morning, everyone was up before the sun rose and were back on the trail to Waterfall City. The Rainy Basin was within a couple more hours of traveling when a wild triceratops herd approached them. Croco tensed up, thinking that they were going to attack, but Nobby reassured him that they were friendly and engaged the leader in a conversation.
-Going through the Basin?- the leader asked.
-Yes we are. By the way, I am Nobella,- Nobby responded.
-An honor to meet you. My name is Delinkops, but you can call me Link...everyone does. Anyway, you and your human companions are going to need an escort. Word is that a chasmosaur was attacked by a group of deinonychs the other day.-
-We have a deiny with us so if they do approach, he can talk to them and either ward them off or get them to help us. Thank you for your assistance anyway Link.-
-Very well. Breathe deep, seek peace Nobella.- The triceratops lumbered on and Nobby continued along the trail and into the jungle. They didn't get too far when the deinonychus pack Delinkops had warned them about circled the wagon, sending Nobby circling and the humans into a panicked frenzy. Riojay jumped from the wagon to address them.
^Who are you and what is your business?^ he demanded. The leader, a female, stopped to sniff him over. Then she called her packmates back from the wagon.
^I know you...you're from the R'sala clan,^ she said, ^You must've been the chick that disappeared and never returned.^
^You know?^
^Of course we do.^ she told him. ^We're from the Shaburae clan, a long time ally to your clan. And I am Na'leea, the Alpha female. So what do you want?^ Riojay thought about it, then addressed her.
^We want protection through the Basin. We're on our way to Waterfall City with a human that came from the sea and I'm seeing to that he doesn't get hurt. So what do you say Na'leea?" The wild deinonychus chirped and screeched at her pack, and they soon came to attention around Na'leea and Riojay.
^Hey, anything for a member of the R'sala,^ she said. Then Na'leea ordered the pack to take up positions around the wagon while Riojay had Nobby continue on. They continued along the Polongo with Na'leea and her pack as escorts until they got to a point where the trail split off. Brock pointed out to Croco that it was the path to Treetown where he would continue his training after his time in Waterfall City. It was getting dark so Riojay hopped out to ask Na'leea where they could rest. She led them on the road to Treetown about a half mile to a large, abandoned den site where a spinosaurus family once stayed. There, Brock and Croco set up the campsite in the den while Na'leea's packmates set themselves up around Nobby like a shield. Everyone except Nobby's guards fell asleep right away, but eventually they too drifted off to sleep.
(-I am a Tricertops-)
(^I am a Deinonychus^)
Nobby led the troupe out of the city and into the rolling grasslands just outside of Sauropolis, occasionally stopping to munch on some grass. They would follow the trail along the eastern bank of the Polongo until they got to a large bridge which could support the weight of Nobby and the cargo she was carrying. Croco noticed how she never looked down at the ground while she towed the wagon, and Mira explained to him how the dinosaurs took great pride in their strength.
"It would be considered an insult if a saurian looked down at the ground while doing heavy work," she told him. "And Nobby is one of the proudest saurians I've ever come across in my life." They continued on, telling stories and jokes until sundown, when they decided to set up camp. They found a nearby pond to gather water from, and Nobby was all too happy to lower her head and start drinking away. Mira and Kaala started hunting for wild herbs and spices while Brock lowered a line into the pond in the hope of catching a few fish. Croco and Riojay were laying in the grass looking up at the stars.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" he said to himself.
"Sure is," Riojay said in broken English. Croco sat up in total disbelief and amazement while Riojay scratched his neck with the claws on his short arms.
"You...speak English...Riojay?!?" he gasped.
"Only what Kaala teach me," was the answer he got. Croco wondered why he never spoke before and Riojay told him that he didn't want to startle him by speaking in human as he called it. The curious Croco wanted to know more.
"Where did you originally come from?" he asked Riojay.
"Rainy Basin," he told him. "Was little when Kaala find me. I was lost and she take me back to her den." Thaddeus had warned Croco about the wild deinonychus packs in the Basin, but if what Riojay said was true, then he was just stereotyping them as merciless monsters he thought. And in Croco's mind, that just wasn't right. He walked over to where Brock was, and he had caught a few good-sized fish. He sat down while Riojay laid down beside them.
"Did you guys really find Riojay in the Rainy Basin?" he asked him. Brock told him about how Kaala found him there when she was only six and how they became inseparable friends from that point on. Croco took some time to let the story sink in, then got up and walked back over to the campsite, where he laid his head down and went to sleep.
The next morning, everyone was up before the sun rose and were back on the trail to Waterfall City. The Rainy Basin was within a couple more hours of traveling when a wild triceratops herd approached them. Croco tensed up, thinking that they were going to attack, but Nobby reassured him that they were friendly and engaged the leader in a conversation.
-Going through the Basin?- the leader asked.
-Yes we are. By the way, I am Nobella,- Nobby responded.
-An honor to meet you. My name is Delinkops, but you can call me Link...everyone does. Anyway, you and your human companions are going to need an escort. Word is that a chasmosaur was attacked by a group of deinonychs the other day.-
-We have a deiny with us so if they do approach, he can talk to them and either ward them off or get them to help us. Thank you for your assistance anyway Link.-
-Very well. Breathe deep, seek peace Nobella.- The triceratops lumbered on and Nobby continued along the trail and into the jungle. They didn't get too far when the deinonychus pack Delinkops had warned them about circled the wagon, sending Nobby circling and the humans into a panicked frenzy. Riojay jumped from the wagon to address them.
^Who are you and what is your business?^ he demanded. The leader, a female, stopped to sniff him over. Then she called her packmates back from the wagon.
^I know you...you're from the R'sala clan,^ she said, ^You must've been the chick that disappeared and never returned.^
^You know?^
^Of course we do.^ she told him. ^We're from the Shaburae clan, a long time ally to your clan. And I am Na'leea, the Alpha female. So what do you want?^ Riojay thought about it, then addressed her.
^We want protection through the Basin. We're on our way to Waterfall City with a human that came from the sea and I'm seeing to that he doesn't get hurt. So what do you say Na'leea?" The wild deinonychus chirped and screeched at her pack, and they soon came to attention around Na'leea and Riojay.
^Hey, anything for a member of the R'sala,^ she said. Then Na'leea ordered the pack to take up positions around the wagon while Riojay had Nobby continue on. They continued along the Polongo with Na'leea and her pack as escorts until they got to a point where the trail split off. Brock pointed out to Croco that it was the path to Treetown where he would continue his training after his time in Waterfall City. It was getting dark so Riojay hopped out to ask Na'leea where they could rest. She led them on the road to Treetown about a half mile to a large, abandoned den site where a spinosaurus family once stayed. There, Brock and Croco set up the campsite in the den while Na'leea's packmates set themselves up around Nobby like a shield. Everyone except Nobby's guards fell asleep right away, but eventually they too drifted off to sleep.