Chapter 8
(^I am a Deinonychus^)
(+I am a Velociraptor+)
(*I am a Utahraptor*)
Sometime just before sunrise, the group was awakened by the rustling of leaves and bushes. Na'leea was the first to notice and alerted her pack. They quickly sprung to life to cover Nobby as she went out to investigate. No sooner did Na'leea poke her head into the foliage did it come back out with a claw mark. She let out a yelp of pain and reeled back as three velociraptors came out after her. Hearing this, Riojay bolted out of the den and was at her side, hissing at the raptors who attacked her.
^Foolish velociraptors,^ he growled, ^Attacking a deinonych with her pack nearby...don't you have anything to say?^ One of the velociraptors stepped up.
+Well well, if it isn't the missing chick of the R'sala,+ he said in their tongue, ^Thought I smelled humans nearby, so you'd better go back to them if you knew what was best for you...pet.^ The smaller raptors laughed, even though he said that in deinonychus, and snickered in their own language. Greatly insulted by this, Riojay lashed out at the cocky raptor, sinking his toe-claws into the side of him, slashing him apart. Death came quickly and the other two raptors came after Na'leea and Riojay, mouths agape and claws bared. They didn't know that eight more raptors were waiting for them and they attacked. The Shaburae that were with Na'leea left Nobby to aid their comrades. After hearing the shrieking and growling, Brock, Croco and Kaala busted out of the den.
"What's happening?!?" Croco asked, confused.
"Keep Kaala back...there's a fight going on!" Brock told him. Croco did as told and led a reluctant Kaala back to the den. She resisted to the point where Croco had to pick her up, but he understood her concern for Riojay and told her that Brock was taking care of the situation. Pretty soon, he came back to the den with an update.
"A group of velociraptors attacked our deinonychs...including Riojay," he told everyone. Kaala tried to rush out of the den, but Mira and Croco grabbed her, telling her that he was all right. Pretty soon, the fight was over and Riojay limped slowly back to the den with Na'leea and a much larger utahraptor. Croco looked up in awe at the large, reddish-colored raptor. It had a bluish-green feather crest going from its head all the way down its neck and the tip of its tail was missing, possibly from a fight. Na'leea introduced her to Riojay, as she helped run off the velociraptor pack. Then he introduced her to the family.
"This Minstelae," Riojay said as he looked at them. "Friendly Basin utahraptor. Over here is Brock, Mira, Kaala and Croco, who is human who came from sea." Kaala looked up in astonishment, as it was the first time she heard him say "Croco." But he still referred to him as the human who came from the sea.
"Breathe deep, seek peace Minstelae," they all said together.
"And hello to you too," she replied in human. "I'll be leading you to Waterfall City from this point on." Minstelae turned back to Na'leea.
*I'll be taking them from here,* she said.
*No problem,* Na'leea replied. Both were fluent in many of the languages spoken in the Basin, including tyrannosaur. *It feels good to know that there are utahs out there that will help deinonychs in trouble.*
*I heard the screaming and smelled velocis, and you know how much I dislike them. Except for Azonthus, of course.* They both laughed as Riojay approached Na'leea.
^We must be off now Na'leea,^ he told her. ^Thank you for your help. I don't think I could've taken on those velociraptors myself.^ They nuzzled each other and parted ways.
^Breathe deep, seek peace Riojay, child of the R'sala,^ she said and led her pack back to their home territory while everyone boarded the wagon, including Riojay, who walked beside them for most of the journey. Kaala noticed a lot of blood and a couple claw marks on her friend.
"What happened?!?" she asked, panicked. "Are you hurt bad Riojay?" Riojay nuzzled the little girl.
"Just a little, but most blood from enemy velociraptors. Got two of them myself," he said proudly. Kaala's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when Riojay said that. She was shocked that the one she called "friend" had killed two living things, even though she knew they were hostile.
"Riojay!" she gasped. "How could you?!?"
"They call me pet, but I come from Basin. When I attack, they attack me and Na'leea." Kaala finally understood why Riojay did what he did. But she was still in a state of disbelief as Nobby and Minstelae, or "Min" as she liked to be called, led them to the eastern edge of the great falls. Croco was awestrucken by the first sight of Waterfall City. The waterfalls and the architecture of the city was too much for him to take in at once.
"This is the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life!" Croco said ecstatically, "It's like being in ancient Rome, only with dinosaurs in it! Minstelae led Nobby past a great bridge that looked like the neckbones of one of the great sauropods, which Nobby explained was for the brachiosaur caravans that went through the Basin on their way to Treetown and the northern settlements. They came up to a somewhat lighter bridge but could still easily support the weight of the entire group as well as Minstelae, who weighed in at a little over 1,300 pounds. As soon as they crossed over and set foot in Waterfall City, an old man and his Parasauropholus were waiting for them. He ignored Brock and Mira's greeting as he made his way directly over to Croco.
"Welcome to Waterfall City Croco Hallaway," he said. "They're waiting for you to sign the Registry." Croco turned to Mira.
"Where is this...registry that this gentleman is talking about?" he asked her.
"It's in the main library," the man said. He introduced himself as Lindon Robertson and his saurian companion as Swampfoot. Croco was in a state of complete awe. He had heard of an explorer by that name in one of his history classes.
"Lindon Robertson?!?" he gasped, "If I'm not mistaken, you were the captain of a legendary ship called the Albacore that got taken down in a storm!" He smiled.
"Correct, sonny!"
"But that was way back in 1813! How can you still be alive?" Lindon let out a hearty chuckle.
"Croco...you have a lot to learn about Dinotopia. Let's start by signing the Registry first." He turned to Brock. "Mind if me and Swampy accompany you to the library?" Brock didn't mind and invited Lindon onto the wagon, but he insisted that he ride Swampfoot there and they finally made their way down the broad street towards the library. Croco looked around at the many different species of dinosaurs there were and how they all lived in peace with their human counterparts, and he felt at ease. But even though he wanted to be Dinotopian, part of him still missed the world he came from...with all the electronic gadgets and gizmos and to him, a triceratops-towed wagon seemed primitive. Still, after three months of living without all the stuff he took for granted in the outside world, he felt he was ready to give them up and start over again in a lost world of harmony by signing the Registry at the library of the great Waterfall City.
(^I am a Deinonychus^)
(+I am a Velociraptor+)
(*I am a Utahraptor*)
Sometime just before sunrise, the group was awakened by the rustling of leaves and bushes. Na'leea was the first to notice and alerted her pack. They quickly sprung to life to cover Nobby as she went out to investigate. No sooner did Na'leea poke her head into the foliage did it come back out with a claw mark. She let out a yelp of pain and reeled back as three velociraptors came out after her. Hearing this, Riojay bolted out of the den and was at her side, hissing at the raptors who attacked her.
^Foolish velociraptors,^ he growled, ^Attacking a deinonych with her pack nearby...don't you have anything to say?^ One of the velociraptors stepped up.
+Well well, if it isn't the missing chick of the R'sala,+ he said in their tongue, ^Thought I smelled humans nearby, so you'd better go back to them if you knew what was best for you...pet.^ The smaller raptors laughed, even though he said that in deinonychus, and snickered in their own language. Greatly insulted by this, Riojay lashed out at the cocky raptor, sinking his toe-claws into the side of him, slashing him apart. Death came quickly and the other two raptors came after Na'leea and Riojay, mouths agape and claws bared. They didn't know that eight more raptors were waiting for them and they attacked. The Shaburae that were with Na'leea left Nobby to aid their comrades. After hearing the shrieking and growling, Brock, Croco and Kaala busted out of the den.
"What's happening?!?" Croco asked, confused.
"Keep Kaala back...there's a fight going on!" Brock told him. Croco did as told and led a reluctant Kaala back to the den. She resisted to the point where Croco had to pick her up, but he understood her concern for Riojay and told her that Brock was taking care of the situation. Pretty soon, he came back to the den with an update.
"A group of velociraptors attacked our deinonychs...including Riojay," he told everyone. Kaala tried to rush out of the den, but Mira and Croco grabbed her, telling her that he was all right. Pretty soon, the fight was over and Riojay limped slowly back to the den with Na'leea and a much larger utahraptor. Croco looked up in awe at the large, reddish-colored raptor. It had a bluish-green feather crest going from its head all the way down its neck and the tip of its tail was missing, possibly from a fight. Na'leea introduced her to Riojay, as she helped run off the velociraptor pack. Then he introduced her to the family.
"This Minstelae," Riojay said as he looked at them. "Friendly Basin utahraptor. Over here is Brock, Mira, Kaala and Croco, who is human who came from sea." Kaala looked up in astonishment, as it was the first time she heard him say "Croco." But he still referred to him as the human who came from the sea.
"Breathe deep, seek peace Minstelae," they all said together.
"And hello to you too," she replied in human. "I'll be leading you to Waterfall City from this point on." Minstelae turned back to Na'leea.
*I'll be taking them from here,* she said.
*No problem,* Na'leea replied. Both were fluent in many of the languages spoken in the Basin, including tyrannosaur. *It feels good to know that there are utahs out there that will help deinonychs in trouble.*
*I heard the screaming and smelled velocis, and you know how much I dislike them. Except for Azonthus, of course.* They both laughed as Riojay approached Na'leea.
^We must be off now Na'leea,^ he told her. ^Thank you for your help. I don't think I could've taken on those velociraptors myself.^ They nuzzled each other and parted ways.
^Breathe deep, seek peace Riojay, child of the R'sala,^ she said and led her pack back to their home territory while everyone boarded the wagon, including Riojay, who walked beside them for most of the journey. Kaala noticed a lot of blood and a couple claw marks on her friend.
"What happened?!?" she asked, panicked. "Are you hurt bad Riojay?" Riojay nuzzled the little girl.
"Just a little, but most blood from enemy velociraptors. Got two of them myself," he said proudly. Kaala's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when Riojay said that. She was shocked that the one she called "friend" had killed two living things, even though she knew they were hostile.
"Riojay!" she gasped. "How could you?!?"
"They call me pet, but I come from Basin. When I attack, they attack me and Na'leea." Kaala finally understood why Riojay did what he did. But she was still in a state of disbelief as Nobby and Minstelae, or "Min" as she liked to be called, led them to the eastern edge of the great falls. Croco was awestrucken by the first sight of Waterfall City. The waterfalls and the architecture of the city was too much for him to take in at once.
"This is the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life!" Croco said ecstatically, "It's like being in ancient Rome, only with dinosaurs in it! Minstelae led Nobby past a great bridge that looked like the neckbones of one of the great sauropods, which Nobby explained was for the brachiosaur caravans that went through the Basin on their way to Treetown and the northern settlements. They came up to a somewhat lighter bridge but could still easily support the weight of the entire group as well as Minstelae, who weighed in at a little over 1,300 pounds. As soon as they crossed over and set foot in Waterfall City, an old man and his Parasauropholus were waiting for them. He ignored Brock and Mira's greeting as he made his way directly over to Croco.
"Welcome to Waterfall City Croco Hallaway," he said. "They're waiting for you to sign the Registry." Croco turned to Mira.
"Where is this...registry that this gentleman is talking about?" he asked her.
"It's in the main library," the man said. He introduced himself as Lindon Robertson and his saurian companion as Swampfoot. Croco was in a state of complete awe. He had heard of an explorer by that name in one of his history classes.
"Lindon Robertson?!?" he gasped, "If I'm not mistaken, you were the captain of a legendary ship called the Albacore that got taken down in a storm!" He smiled.
"Correct, sonny!"
"But that was way back in 1813! How can you still be alive?" Lindon let out a hearty chuckle.
"Croco...you have a lot to learn about Dinotopia. Let's start by signing the Registry first." He turned to Brock. "Mind if me and Swampy accompany you to the library?" Brock didn't mind and invited Lindon onto the wagon, but he insisted that he ride Swampfoot there and they finally made their way down the broad street towards the library. Croco looked around at the many different species of dinosaurs there were and how they all lived in peace with their human counterparts, and he felt at ease. But even though he wanted to be Dinotopian, part of him still missed the world he came from...with all the electronic gadgets and gizmos and to him, a triceratops-towed wagon seemed primitive. Still, after three months of living without all the stuff he took for granted in the outside world, he felt he was ready to give them up and start over again in a lost world of harmony by signing the Registry at the library of the great Waterfall City.