A/N: Hello, happy campers. I know it's been a while since I updated but I've been looking at my reviews and I realize that at least a few people really seem to like this fic so I decided to break down and dig out my notebooks and type some stuff up. Incidentally, I'll probably rewrite the first few chapters 'cause I was going off memory from my notebooks and I think the written one was better. Nothing majorly different, though. Soooo, enough of this, enjoy (P.S. Nope, I still don't own Dinotopia. James Gurney would pass out if he saw my pathetic attempts to draw something)!

Chapter 3

About midday, the "bus" came to a stop next to a pond so those who wanted to risk the rope ladder climb down could stretch and get something to drink. As Jade knew she would, Phoenix was the first to rise and climb down. "Your sister has a very charming personality," Connor said dryly to Jade.

Jade shrugged. "She's really not that bad."

"Could have fooled me."

"Yeah, well, you deserved some of it," she pointed out, feeling the need to stick up for her sister.

"No point in conspiring with one of you against the other is there?" Connor asked, climbing down the ladder.

"Nope," Jade drawled.

Phoenix pulled off the black t-shirt she'd worn, leaving the sports bra. She knelt down on a rock by the pond and stuck her head under the water, rinsing the salt from it. She whipped her head back, running her fingers through the red locks. "Hey!"

Phoenix looked over her shoulder at Connor. "Serves you right," she stated, standing and wringing her hair out. "Shouldn't have been standing behind me. Besides, these aren't the best pants I'm wearing if you want to ass-gaze."

He crossed his arms. "I think you give yourself too much credit."

"Likewise."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Please. You've been strutting around like you're top dog ever since you got off that thing. Plus the way you talk makes your overlarge ego all too noticeable," she said disdainfully. "And from what you've told us, it's obvious you've had that silver spoon jammed down your throat since the day you were born so I don't guess anyone's ever been totally straight with you or told you off for that matter."

"I dunno. You'd be surprised."

She rolled her eyes and tucked her t-shirt into her back pocket. The sun was hot here. "I doubt it," she said and headed back to the Brach.

They reached the gates of Waterfall City that evening. When they went through, the townspeople were pointing at Jade and Phoenix and talking excitedly. "What's up with them?" Phoenix asked.

"You're newcomers, they want to know what's going on in the outside world," Connor answered.

"You mean they're getting all hyped over us?" Jade asked. He nodded. "Rock on."

When they got to the station and climbed down, they were nearly swamped by the people. Connor took Jade's elbow and Jade grabbed her sister's hand; he led them to a sort of palace in the center of the town. They went over the drawbridge and through a few twists and turns in the giant building before emerging into a cavernous room. An equal number of humans and dinosaurs lined the walls in seats on the floor as well. At the head of the room, a large man in robes stood atop the prow of a ship, a jewel and gold bedecked Ankylosaurus to his left. "Ah, here you are!" the robed man said. "The Senate recognizes Connor O'Riley. Connor, what news do you have for us?"

"Lord Mayor, I'd like to introduce Jade and Phoenix," Connor said loudly to be heard by the whole of the room. "They're newcomers arriving only today."

Murmurs ran through the crowd and the mayor pounded a gavel. "Order! Newcomers, you say? This is something. Very well. We will adjourn to the Hall of Records so you can begin registration," he said to the girls.

People leaned over to watch them as Connor and the Mayor led them from the Senate room. At the hall of records, they met an elderly man with gray and white hair who was slightly stooped, presumably from years of labor. "Girls, may I introduce you to Liam O'Riley, keeper of the records and my advisor," the Mayor said. "Also young Connor's father."

"Young...?"Connor said a little indignantly. "Twenty-six is not young, I'm old enough to take your place, Lord Mayor."

The Mayor laughed but Phoenix caught the slightly strained note of it; she guessed that the Mayor did indeed mildly fear that. "If you do, it won't be fore a while yet," he said jovially. "Liam, this is Jade and Phoenix."

Phoenix found Liam much more likeable than his son; he reminded her of her own father. He showed them the ledger and had them sign then took them to fill out a page in an immense book. It asked for their birthday, height, hair color, eye color, distinguishing marks and so on. There was another part on their page that looked like it was for dinosaurs. "What's this for?" Phoenix asked.

"Your saurian lifemate," Liam answered. "You'll fill that out when you've chosen it."

"Right," Phoenix said skeptically.

Liam only smiled. "You've come at a good time. You can travel with Connor to Dolphin Bay Hatchery tomorrow and, hopefully, be given your habitat and lifemate."

"Does it have to be with him?" Phoenix blurted.

"He's on the only convoy to the hatchery, you're stuck with him no matter what," Liam said with a smile. "Strange, most young women love the chance to spend time with my son," Liam said to Phoenix before she followed the others out.

Phoenix rolled her eyes. "Yeah, he looks good but he can be a jerk."

The man chuckled. "Good girl, you see personality as much as appearance. But don't let his outward brashness fool you. He really is a good leader and a nice man. But he mostly uses the second quality for women."

Phoenix smiled to humor the old man; she recognized the description of a player. "It's been my experience that guys like that aren't for me."

"He could surprise you. Especially if he decides he likes you." Liam closed the book. "But I'm sure I know what you're thinking: it appears that relationships mean nothing to him, he gets as many as he can. You'd be wrong, dear. He only charms the ladies he likes, he's much like you it seems."

"What do you mean by that?" Phoenix asked archly.

"You both have an outgoing, outward nature. But like him, I sense an underlying...sweetness in you," he said.

"You just met me," she pointed out. "How would you know if I did or not?"

Liam smiled. "Let's just say I'm a good judge of character. Come, the others are too far, I'll lead you to your room."

They began walking down the corridor in the direction the others had gone. "So why is Connor coming with us? I'm not sure what you mean by habitat but I've seen toddlers with saurian lifemates, shouldn't he have one by now?" Phoenix asked.

"Everyone is different, it takes the Seer sometimes decades for her to decide a habitat and lifemate for a certain man or dinosaur. Connor's been going for fifteen years now and she's yet to have any idea where he belongs. He's upset about it but doesn't let it show."

"How do you know is then?" Phoenix asked.

Liam smiled. "I'm his father. And once, I was the Seer until I came to Waterfall City five years ago. Rosemary is my successor."

Phoenix nodded. "So what does a Seer do?"

"In all honesty, they're only a Seer one week out of the year. They're often of the land and spend time farming or working in the hatchery. They are mildly telepathic but when a person goes into a certain deep meditation to commune with a number of dinosaurs, they can read the person's destiny as easily as a book...but only for most people. Rosemary and myself have found it very difficult to read Connor though we know all sorts of dinosaurs have taken a liking to him."

"Do people ever just stop going?"

"Of course, all the time. But for Connor, it's a nice retreat from his duties. Elections are only two years away and he intends on running. He has most of the favor but he's struggling to maintain it. The two of us suspect that the Mayor's son may be trying to sabotage his chances."

"How old is the Mayor's son?" Phoenix asked.

"Five years Connor's minor," Liam answered darkly. "A bungler if there ever was one but he covers it well enough. And Connor, lacking a lifemate and habitat, is just those things short of being the picture perfect Dinotopian citizen. Unfortunately, most people count those in the highest regard."

"Politics. Blech," she said, grimacing.

Liam laughed as they reached a pair of double doors. "Here's your room. Someone will come for you in the morning."

She nodded and he left.

A/N: OK, I just realized that the names and relationship between Connor and Liam are the same as on the show Angel. I just thought I'd mention that it's actually coincidental. I'd change them but, to me, a name helps define a person's personality and I don't want to change it since it was an accident anyway. So...yeah, don't forget to review!