EMPIRE OF THE CARNIVORES!

[thundertail]

EMPIRE OF THE CARNIVOIRES:
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By: Thundertail

(Based on the times and lives depicted after the 'Dinotopia' miniseries.)

Note: This fanfiction is a long one, made several years ago and posted on a few other Dinotopian message boards. I thought I would post it here as it had a perfect theme for the Rainy Basin Resort. It is what Television jargon would call a 're-run', but for those who haven't seen it, I hope would find quite entertaining! Enjoy!...

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Prologue:
"Refueling Mission"

When I got my orders the morning of the flight, it said nothing about what was to happen afterwards. In fact, nothing in all the annals of military history could prepare me for what I was about to experience!...

At roll call I stood at attention just like the rest of the pilots in my squadron, helmet in my hand and jumpsuit complete with fluid webbing designed to keep your blood in your head when you make those high-G turns. The sun glinted off my CO's sunglasses just like it was glinting off mine as he walked our line and scrutinized every one of us before he went off with his usual morning speech. I paid it little attention, just like the rest of the forty in my squadron. It was only supposed to be a routine refueling mission, just like we had done thousands of times before, right?

We were dismissed and went to preflight our planes, and my ground crew were already there; preparing my F-16 fighter since the first light of dawn. I scanned every inch of my machine myself, as all good pilots should do; and waited for them to roll the ladder in place. The tanker jet was rolling off the tarmack and turning for one of the taxiways on its' way to the far runway. I was only there to fly escort for it, me and three of my squadron mates. I ascended the ladder and placed my helmet in front of the cockipt faring in preparation of worming my way inside the way too cramped cockpit - if only I could shed three inches of height! Once I was in and the ground technician stepped up beside me and made sure all my wires and umbilical cords were secured correctly, I donned my helmet and he hooked the air supply in for me, receiving a tap on the helmet for luck. By this time my bird was nearly all warmed up, and I pulled the throttle to nearly takeoff intensity as the tech rolled the ladder away.

In less than fifteen minutes my turn to take off came; and it went as smoothly as the three hundred other takeoffs I had made with this very same aircraft. I received three G's as my wheels left the runway, and within seconds I was buzzing low over the base, waiting for clearance to get to my altitude. As all the rest of my flight lifted off the ground, I was told to gain altitude and get into formation. The commander of the refueling jet radioed me and my group, advising us to form up around the tanker. Our flight plan said we were to escort the tanker out over the Mediterranean sea and hook up with a squad of other fighters on a hush-hush mission, and thier protection was critical to the success of thier mission - what ever that was!

Shrugging, I tore off after the rest of my squad, many miles behind the now speeding tanker. Hours into the flight, my squadron finally came to within radar sight of our objective: seven aircraft not unlike our own, yet of a design I was only marginally briefed on. These were the new stealth fighters said to be reverse-engineered from extraterrestrial craft, but scuttlebut like that in the military was as common as bedbugs in your bunk! Still they looked like something from out of this world! As the tanker got into position and the strange fighters lined up behind it, the ones in our squadron flanked and tailed the formation.

The first one fueled up without a hitch, as did the second and third one; but the forth one seemed to have trouble lining up with the long, winged tube that flailed about in the tanker plane's backwash. Never let a cadet fly a multi-billion dollar plane, I always say! After the pilot's third attempt, he finally mated with the tube, and within two minutes flew off to form up with the rest of his squad. Now it was our turn to refuel since it was a long way back home. I was last to be refueled, so I ran shotgun around the tanker until it as my turn. My turn came and went without a hitch, and we all circled around for the return trip home.

That's when all hell broke loose!

Out of nowhere this storm popped up. There was no indication from the weather guys back at base, and the storm had a sudden intensity that staggered the imagination. We tried to outrun the storm, but it engulfed our planes one by one. The tanker plane was first becaues it was slower and less maneuverable. A fluke streak of lightning and the wing was on fire; and seconds later it exploded with the force of all the fuel it still had on board. As I silently mourned for the pilots and crew, I noticed that my wingman got struck, and spiraled down out of sight in the clouds surrounding us. There was a rumble below me and a muted flash from that quarter, and that told me the worst. Poor Cooper! The other two careened and spiraled around more lightning bolts, which fried thier electronics and sent them twirling into each other at supersonic velocity in a fireball that momentarilly blinded me.

Now I was all alone, blind and lost in a storm of unimaginable intensity; and I was hundreds of miles from my home base. My flying expertise allowed me to avoid destruction a few minutes longer, but the strange storm must have known it didn't do a complete job; so it intensifyed it's lightning and insane wind, looking for me, it seemed! I flew low, trying to get under the roiling malestrom above, but a surge in wind all around pushed the brunt of the storm toward me anyway. I jagged as another lightning bolt shot down seventy yards off my port wing, which made my foreward video sensor freak out for a second. My gyroscopes were doing a fandango as I dodged the worst of the tempest, getting shot at with blinding streaks like being a target in a shooting gallery. Pretty soon the sensors I could trust were telling me I was about a hundred feet off the deck. A soft landing in the Mediterranean sea would be a welcome relief right about now!

An errant lightning bolt caught my plane amidships, and danced all along the skin of the craft. As the comparatively weak bolt of electricity penetrated the hull and began to make the very air metallic tasting with ozone. Within seconds the energy was playing among my controls, making it dangerous to even touch them; but I had to keep in control no matter the agonizing pain! All of a sudden the clouds parted and I was in the clear; but what my unbelieving eyes saw was not the grey/green waters of the Med, but lush jungle all around me! I couldn't have flown all the way to central Africa on a full tank of avation fuel - not even with the strongest tailwind on earth!

These were the thoughts I was having as my emergency training took over. I strapped the ejection chair to myself and popped the canopy. The chair rocketed me seventy feet in the air as my plane streaked out ahead of me. It would crash land many miles further on, black box automatically sending its' signal until the strong batteries ran out. I was half unconcious at this time, but the impact of the chair's chutes opening snapped me to full alert. The jungle below defenitely looked like it belonged in Africa, but so far there was no sign of indiginous life. I had only seen animals like those in Africa only in zoos before!

The heavy chair fell through the canopy, not slowing until the chutes caught enough branches to stop the descent. I was thrashed hundreds of times by branches as they passed my face; and then the chair stopped in midair with a jerk. This was too much strain on the cables attatching the chute to the chair, and sent me and the chair tilting headfirst and upside down! The rest held, though; and I got to work extricating myself from this precarious perdicament...
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[thundertail]

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ONE:
"Survival"

The straps holding me to the ejection chair of my now downed F-17 fighter held me tight; but it was quite disorienting hanging upside down more than fifty feet up in a tree. I tried unclasping this webbing, but the buckles must have been damaged somehow. I took out a small knife and began cutting the fiberous fiberglass straps, but before I got halfway through this, the bands broke and I fell nearly headfirst to the leafy litter nearly fifty feet below. It was a good thing I was still wearing my flight helmet or I'd have cracked my skull open for sure! I got up on my feet, tested myself for serious injury and looked up at the massive chair above me, and the tangled mass that was the chutes further above that. All of a sudden the branches I crashed through broke all the way, sending the chair to clatter to the ground mere feet away from me. I dodged out of the way of the falling branches and scrambled to the chair to see if I could canibalize it somehow.

The chair was equipped to house a small supply of rations and other survival gear, and I went to the compartments under the seat cushion to retrieve them. There was no telling how long I'd have to wait to be rescued, and feared that before long I'd have to survive by living off the land, but my survival training would help me in that department! In less than ten minutes I had taken all I could carry, and packed the backpack with the stuff, which was also provided in one of the seat's compartments. Also included in the survival equipment was a standard issue colt 45 and a hundred rounds of ammo; so I loaded the gun and put it into the holster around my waist.

My first logical course of action was to locate my plane and try to get the radio working again so I could send a distress signal. My second course of action was to see if I could find civilization around here; but if this was central Africa like I feared, the only civilization to be found was that of the native people - two steps away from living in the stone age! So I decided to set out to find my plane first instead.

I had been flying predominantly south according to the last reliable compass heading, so I started walking in that direction through the thickly forested underbrush. The going was slow, and I was quickly becoming tired and thirsty from all this unused to exertion; but I pressed on despite my discomfort. The atmosphere was so humid that sweat was pouring off me in buckets; and I wondered if this jungle could be something like a rainforest or something. The air was alive with sounds of insects and the calls of many strange birds, but I saw neither hide nor hair of any form of life other than the dense foliage all around me. Some of the calls seemed to be far away, and occasionally a noise would occur mere yards away; but when I turned to locate the source, there was nothing there besides a disturbed leaf or branch.

After three more of these disturbing events, I decided to unholster my colt 45 and really keep my eyes open this time! They say that Africa is home to some of the world's most ferocious carnivores around, and I heard the larger plant eaters were no pushovers, either. It would be a disaster to be ambushed by one of them! As I scanned the trees for dangers, my ears became keen on the noises of the jungle; and wherever I heard a stray noise, I'd swing around pointing the gun in that direction. This was the way I traveled for the rest of the day, alert to anything that might try to attack me; and ever mindful to stay on a southerly course through the thick boles of trees.

As the sun began to set on my first day being stranded, I decided to make camp and get some shuteye. My plane wasn't going anywhere anyway! I found a relatively clear spot next to a stand of trees and took off my backpack; and I could have sworn I heard something chirruping in the distance. There was also the burbling of a stream not too far away; and a good thing too since the canteen provided with the survival gear was all but empty. I undid my bedroll and set it in the only relatively flat spot in the area, cleared an area where I'd make a small campfire to ward off any nocturnal threats and set out with my canteen and gun to where I heard the stream. The stream was really tiny, but I filled the canteen quickly and turned to go; but that's where I saw my first creature.

It was tiny, about knee high and resembling a turkey; but I thought there were no turkeys in Africa! It was a turkey in general shape only, for there were no feathers or wings; and it had a long, lizardlike tail and compact and strong muscular legs. It eyed me with its' green beady eyes and turned its' pointed beakless head to get a better look. It chirruped and hopped to another log, where it turned on a dime and hopped to the place where I first saw it. During this time I slowly aimed the gun on this impossibly quick creature; which seemed like some kind of lizard to me. In mid hop I fired, but missed. The creature looked startled as it quickly turned its' head to where the bullet struck the log it was on, and then to the source of the noise: me! Just as it turned to scurry away, my second shot hit it square in the chest, and it squawked as it flopped off the other side of the log.

I rushed over the log and saw the tiny creature, the small hole where the breastbone would be on a bird oozed blood. The creature was kind of heavy as I lifted it - perhaps twenty pounds where I would have guessed five or ten - and its' skin was leathery like a snake, yet very warm to the touch and not extremely dry. The odor the creature gave off was that of a snake, yet another ambviance was there - almost like a mammal or dog. As I turned it over I saw the talons on the feet were a deep brown while the talons on the front limbs were of a lighter brown. The body overall was tannish green with deeper vertical green stripes up and down its' back, ending in redder stripes down the tail. The most unusual feature of all that I found on it was the fact that it was wearing jewelry of sorts, or so it seemed!

There was a crudely worked gold or brass chain around its' neck, and as I reached to pull it up so I could see it better, I saw that it had a fob of sorts on it. This was made of the same material and worked into the shape of a taloned bird hand, I guessed; and the talons were holding a crudely cut crystal of amber color that seemed to throw back more light than it caught. I didn't know where this creature got this jewelry; but I supposed that creatures like these would be attracted by shiny objects like this just like birds are, and it decided to keep it. I decided to keep the false turkey as well, and slung the little creature over my shoulder as I grabbed my canteen and went back to camp.

As I tasted how the creature cooked, I stared out into the night with my colt 45 within easy reach. The nocturnal noises coming from the jungle unnerved me somewhat, but the makers of these noises stayed well away from the firelight. The little creature tasted a lot like alligator, I remembered from my survival training days in Florida, yet a bit different somehow. As I ate my fill, I decided that these little creatures would be a great suppliment to my food rations – and I could live here as long as it took to be rescued! I took my last bite for the evening and heard a sound remeniscent of what the creature made a few hours ago, only it was long and mournful, like it was grieving over the death of the creature I had killed. 'Just wait your turn, little one!', I thought as I slid into my bedroll. 'Your time might be next!'. I laid down and stared up into the dark canopy of leaves above me; and in what seemed like hours later, I slowly fell asleep.

That night I clutched the gun in my hands like a child would grasp a teddy bear...
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[thundertail]

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TWO:
"Titans!"

The dappled light filtering through the leaves above me was not what woke me the following morning, but rather the multitude of chittering coming from all around me! I scrambled awake and rose to see six of those little creatures all around my campsite, getting into my belongings and hopping madly every place. One was busy digging into my backpack and another was trying to burrow under my bedroll. Another was at the bones of the creature I ate last night, seemingly crying at the carnage. I picked up a stick and threw it at them, but they regrouped and redoubled thier insane hyjinx.

"Go on! Get outa here!", I yelled, but they just hissed and continued. I took out my colt 45 and shot it into the air; and that sent them scattering! "And stay out!", I yelled after the gunshot echo.

I halted myself from firing another shot for fear of atracting carnivores. The other reason was I just realized I would have to conserve my ammunition if I was to hunt for more game for any length of time! I recalled that this made three bullets were gone from my only supply of a hundred; and I wondered how long that could last. I spent a good hour retrieving the things the little lizards had scattered, packed my bedroll and doused the embers of the fire. That gunshot could have attracted other creatures, and ones of the less agreeable variety; so I decided to pack up and continue on my way without further delay. I took out my survival compass and started walking south like I did yesterday.

The relative coolness of the morning gave way to the sweltering humidity of noontime, and it seemed like I made little progress through the dense jungle. The terrain began to slope downward slightly, and soon gave way to mucky swamp. I tried to circle around most of it, but my flight boots sank deeper with every step south. The insects of this area were relentless as they hung around me in swarms, trying to get at the fresh supply of blood just below my skin. Hours later the mucky terrain started sloping upwards, and I began to see rocky outcroppings among the ever present forest ahead. It wasn't until many hours after that that I began to see the first signs of my plane.

It wasn't much to go on, I admit; but the sight of a freshly broken branch gave me new hope. I looked up near the area where I found it and saw a fresh break at the peak of a neighboring tree. I followed the angle of the cut and found more, larger pieces of freshly broken foliage; along with fresh breaks lower up in these trees. It was obvious to me I was on the right trail now! Less than an hour later the broken foliage was laying on the ground thick, and whole trees were splintered nearly down to the ground. I was coming into the tail end of the crash site now, and going was tough as I wound my way through the mangled forest.

I crouched low through a tangled knot of branches and stood up to get my bearings. Before I even saw any wreckage, I heard these tremendous crashes punctuated by the most godawful roars I had ever heard in my life! I ducked down low again and crawled another fifty yards and under the biggest fallen tree I had ever seen, and what met my eyes turned my blood to ice! There were three of them, thirty feet tall if they were a foot, bipedal and tossing pieces of my plane around like someone playing kick-the-can. Thier mean sneers told me they were looking for something edible in the wreckage, and thier low snarling told me they were agreeing that there wasn't anything there.

An arguement ensued with the two larger ones, and soon both squared off among the debris that was my former F-17 fighter. The smaller one just hung back, capering a little over the pair now locked in mortal combat. I hunkered down lower, trying not to be seen; and just as soon as the scuffle began, it ended, the loser's toothy snout a ruin of blood. A couple of snapping gestures from the loser and the trio continued thier search of my plane. I did not notice, but the wind had shifted through the trees, and the smaller of the group tested the air before looking right in my direction!

This huge monstrosity roared loudly and began to slowly stalk in my direction; and was presently followed by its' friends. Needless to say that I backed out of the underbrush and sprinted in the other direction as soon as I made it to clear ground! Before I broke into a full run I looked back and saw the three juggernauts of death bearing down on me at a full trot, which ate up the distance between us faster than I could make it. Instinct and adrenaline finally kicked in, and I sprinted through the forest faster than any athelete would. I ran willy nilly through the trees, of which my pursuers paid little heed: they would just crash through them as if they were blades of grass. I thought to use my colt 45 on them, but with thier great mass, it would take all the ammo I had left just to down one of them!

As the hundred yards head start dwindled down to mere feet, I reached a rill in the terrain, and scampered up a skinny path between two knolls of rock. I scrambled up a slope and found a crack in the rocks large enough to scamper through. I dove for it as the first ones' jaws chomped down on my wake, and slid into the crack, which was just wide enough for me to crawl through on my belly and allow room for my backpack. The frustrated roar of the beast behind me was deafening in the cramped space, but redoubled as its' friends came and joined in the chourus. I was so paralyzed with fear that I dared not move for the longest time!

The trio repeated thier roaring at the mouth of this tiny cave for the longest time, what seemed like hours was in reality only about ten minutes. My ears were ringing with the noise, but slowly ebbed as I realized they had stopped. Now I was laying there on my belly, thinking of what just went on. I could have sworn that I had seen those creatures before, but where? I searched my memories and came across a time when I went to the museum of natural history with my parents. They displayed creatures like these, only stuffed or in skeletal form. And the name of those things were:

"Tyranosaurs?!", my croaking voice echoed in the cramped crack. "What the hell is this all about?!"

If those creatures were Tyranosaurs, dinosaurs, then those little creatures must have been dinosaurs too. This was just too much! If they had dinosaurs here, then it would be a great boon to science, but I didn't know where HERE was! The last thing I knew, we were flying over the Mediterranean sea; and no place in that area could possibly support dinosaurs. It was either I was going crazy or he went through some kind of anamloy and ended up in the far past. Or..., oh! There was a shitload of explanations that could be right, but they all seemed too far fetched even to me!

"Either that, or I died and went to Jurassic Park!", I said to the walls as I tried to turn around and have a look outside.

It proved to be impossible to turn around in the narrow space, and quite a lot more impossible to inch my way up the slope to the entrance backward; so I decided to crawl further in and find a place where I could turn around. The shaft I was in went into the hillside quite a distance, and a dozen yards further my body slid out into a rather small space. The floor was uneven and wet, but I could at last curl around if I chose to. My mind was still on what I had just discovered, and I didn't want to go out and probably be eaten again from those five ton bohemoths. I just sat crouched there, thinking.

The light coming from the hole behind me was gradually fading, and I rummaged in my backpack for the standard flashlight in there. The small chamber might very well be where I would have to spend the night anyway, so I decided to set up camp. After that I looked around the small chamber, playing the flashlight beam all around to make sure there wasn't anything else in here as well, like a bear; but if creatures here would occupy a cave, they would be more of the dinosaur lineage.

"Dinosaurs!", I still couldn't get over it!

I played the light all over the small chamber, which was about as big as my quarters back at the airbase; and found little of interest. There was a narrow ledge about four feet off the ground to my left, which would serve as a good, dry place to set up my bedroll. There was no wood in the space, so making a fire was out of the question. The thing that worried me the most about the place was a small slit in the far corner of the cavern. I could just about squeeze through if I tried, and the flashlight showed that it went pretty far in. I was curious on where it went, but I was more tired than curious at the moment and decided to bed down for the night - if it was truely night outside. I grabbed some of my rations, washed it down with my canteen and slid into my bedroll. I turned off the flashlight and rolled over to grab my gun before I even thought of going to sleep.

I woke up at a time that I figured was morning, and I began to get my things ready for the day. Right in the middle of this I remembered where I was and what went on the past day and a half or so - and the implications made me shudder! Here I was, lost on a routine flying mission, I crash land in this place and I don't know exactly where I am. I only know that I'm in a place with real live dinosaurs living here - and they are all out to have me for breakfast! I decided to stay and check out the back of my cave before going out there and perhaps be eaten, so I finished packing my backpack, slid it on and ventured to the rear of the chamber, gun and flashlight in hand.

I squirmed my way through the crack for about five feet and it started opening out dramaticaly. I could now walk nearly normally down the ever sloping passageway, stooping under outcroppings and snaking my way around boulders. Soon I was in another chamber that was slightly bigger than the one I left, and found another passageway down under a skinny arch; of which I had to crawl through on hands and knees for about seventy yards. This tunnel seemed to spiral left and around under where I was, and I figured I was at least a hundred feet below the surface by now. The gallery that I came out into next had ancient paintings along its' walls. These were primative, like the paintings in neolithic caves; only the designs were definitely saurian in artwork. I passed a stylized Stegosaurus picture done in ochres and blues, being hunted by sticklike human shapes with spears. I next passed by a series of silhouette handprints, which were mostly saurian by thier three taloned fingers and the heart shapes of hooflike forepaws. There were genuine human handprints there too, but those were few. As I exited this gallery through another natural portal, I began to wonder just how old those paintings were.

Three hundred feet down this twisting tunnel and I found another large chamber, and this one looked like it saw occupation several thousand years ago. There were scorched areas on the floor that betrayed places for firepits, bones of eaten animals were everywhere in piles and tatters of undecipherable wooden implements were in places, signs that persons once slept here. Shards of pottery lay broken where they fell in the haste of some hurried exodus all along the path leading to another section of this cave complex. Gradually the floor of the cave leveled off and became really smooth, and so did the walls. Upon closer inspection I saw that they were carved by tools and other means, and that's when I noticed the iron fixtures set into the walls at even intervals, evidentally wall scones made to hold torches. I followed these scones along the passageways until I noticed there were paintings of a more modern form all along here. They resembled Egyptian cartuches and hyroglyphs, only done with stylyzed dinosaurs and framed with stylized dinosaur footprints, which adorned every block of this mysterious text. Just then it dawned on me that this could be a form of writing!

As I went along, the stylization of this writing became more and more standardized, changing into just the footprint text of an almost readable continuity. If I were an archaeologist, I'd be in heaven! The next chamber was extremely huge, but the space in this underground valley of stone was occupied with the ruins of hundreds of buildings. A whole civilization used to live down here; but I could not yet tell why it was abandoned. I turned left down an avenue and came to a closed iron door. It looked too solid to move by myself, but I tried it anyway. I gave the iron rings a great pull, and the twenty foot door swung open so quickly that it knocked me to the floor! My gun spilled from my hand as did the flashlight. The lens on the flashlight struck a wall and went out immediately.

I was now in the middle of a cave and in total darkness...
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[thundertail]

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THREE:
"Klamath, the armor of Othgar"

I groped around like a blind man by the doorway deep in the cave system below a land - where, I didn't know; and scared out of my socks at the potential danger that might be all around me. I was looking for the flashlight I had dropped and somehow had gone out, and I was also looking for my colt 45 which I had dropped in the same stupid accident! When I opened the iron door, I expected it to be heavy and rusted shut. It opened like it had been well oiled and perfectly balanced to open at a touch! I just yanked the stupid thing open, and it slammed me back with all the momentum of its' one ton weight! As I probed the floor on my hands and knees, I felt slight breezes coming from the direction of the passageways that brought me here, exiting the area I was in and going right through the doorway. I began to wonder if there was another way out of this cursed dark place as I sensed my eyes adjusting slightly to the inky darkness.

At first it seemed like next to nothing, but soon I could just make out gloomy shapes in the total dark. The floor of the place began to look like floor, the wall I was near began to take form and the arched doorway I had opened began to take on a dim greenish aura. This feeble light gave me almost enough insight to see the weak glint coming off the flashlight lens, so I scrabbled for it and finally retrieved it. The clear plastic shield in front of the lens was scratched but unbroken, but it seemed the bulb was broken - useless! I took a few shuffling steps ahead as I examined the flashlight, and my foot hit something small and hard. I reached down and there was my colt 45! I holstered the latter and stuck the former in my backpack, then I groped around until I found a wall, looking for a way out of this subterrainean maze.

As I searched around I noticed the greenish aura coming from the open doorway was slowly becoming brighter - or was that my eyes adjusting? As I peered inside I noticed tiny pinpricks of light coming from the far side of this chamber. As I watched they grew brighter and brighter, and pretty soon I could see shapes in this room silhouetted by this greenish sheen. My feet shuffled ahead, following my eyes, until I saw just over the threshold; and then my face clattered against something hard and metallic! Reaching for it clumsily, I found it to be made of thick iron mesh, like a birdcage of sorts; but with further tactile examination, I found that there was wooden objects within. Then I discovered this objects' true purpose: It was a braiser of some kind, made to be lit to provide light to the chamber! I got out my firestarting material, which was your simple Bic lighter - even though I knew how to start fires the old fashioned way using the flint and steel included in my survival gear - and sparked the tinder and wood inside alight.

As the light from the braiser slowly began to illuminate the space, I noticed the sheen coming off the walls and other ornaments in the room - was all this gold? As the flames rose higher, I saw that this was an ampetheatre of sorts, and the sunken area below held a massive dark shape at its' center. There were steps leading down both sides of the space, ending at a dias of sorts, and on that dias sat on an ornate throne, a figure of indiscriminate form. I took the right hand steps, which seemed not designed for humans, and ended up in front of the dias. From there I could get a good look at both forms in front of me as well as behind me. The huge form lying in the center of the ampetheatre was old and withered, desecated almost beyond recognition - almost because I recognized it right off! It was a Tyranosaurus Rex, laying there as if asleep, head turned to the figure on the throne, blank eyes looking at it as if in rapture, skin in tatters clinging to ribs and other body parts - a ghastly sight if ever I saw one. I was so taken aback at this sight that I didn't notice my feet slowly retreating, and I tripped onto the dias, sprawling on the floor!

I got up and inspected the figure on the throne at a small distance. It had the body of a man, but the head of a Tyranosaur; and it seemed armored somehow in black, scaly material. The eyes shone on either side of the head, green and foreboding; and they seemed to glow with a wavering intensity, like the rythim of someone breathing. My fascination of what I was seeing made my feet take a step onto the dias and stand three paces away from this ancient, kingly figure. All of a sudden the eyes started glowing at an almost blinding intensity, nearly masking out the light of the fire in the braiser. Then the eyes of the apparation began to throb and pulse, sending out rays that threatened to burn my retenas! This would have undone a lesser man, but what happened next nearly made me lose my mind!

"I am Klamath, armor to the guards of Othgar!", I heard in my head. "How dare you disturb my sanctorum!"

My feet moved without my consent and I stumbled off the dias, nearly crashing into the desicated Tyranosaur!

"Speak, I command!", the voice said. "Who be you and why have you come?!"

"I..., uh...!", I stammered as I crawled to my feet. "I... am colonel Decker... Charles Decker... Of the United States Air Force.", I cleared my throat and asked. "Where am I?"

"So, you be lost. And you just stumbled in here?", it spoke again, chuckling. "How long have you been in this place?"

"I was on a refueling mission over the Medeterranean sea.", I told it. "A storm came up, and destroyed my squadron. I ejected as my plane crashed, and I wandered around out there for two days until I found myself in here."

"So, you are new to this land? A Dolphinback!", the voice said amusedly. "So it seems that you have a lot to learn! The first thing you should know is this island is called 'Dinotopia'. A land where dinosaurs and humans live together."

"I found out about the dinosaurs, sir.", I told it. "Every one of them tried to eat me."

"This is beacuse this region is called 'The Rainy Basin', where the carnivores rule.", it told me. "It is a wonder you weren't eaten your first few hours!"

"Military training includes evading capture.", I hoped it had a sense of humor!

"Too true!", it chuckled. "You are a warrior, and yet I see you posess no weapons."

"I only have this:", I told it as I unholstered my colt 45. "It fires a lead pellet faster than the speed of sound.", I aimed it straight up and fired. The bullet hit the golden ceiling of the chamber and multiple riccochets were heard before the echoes died down.

"Impressive!", it sounded as such. "Are you skilled in the sword or bow?"

"Not much, I'm afraid." I told it. "I am pretty good with hand-to-hand combat, though."

"Excellent! The battles I could tell you of would leave you enthralled!", it boasted.

"If you don't mind me asking, but how did YOU come to this place?", I asked.

"Long ago, before your kind came to being, the sky became darkened. All life sought refuge underground.", it began the tale. "Othgar the great led the creatures into the World Beneath, where he had discovered a place of great power. We thrived there, and when the night became day again, we ventured forth to this island to rebuild our lives. Othgar proposed a way of great wisdom, but others sought a way like our ancesters. He made suits of armor containing great power to battle these upstarts; but an epic war ensued. Othgar was eventually defeated, and we suits of armor had been laid dormant for all time. I was unearthed many millennia later, and had many wearers. All wanted power and total control of Dinotopia, but each had been thwarted. I lay dormant every time, waiting for another wearer; and here I lay still, and still I wait."

"I see.", I said after thought. "From the look of the creature over there, your last wearer wore you about two hundred years ago."

"His name was David Quint.", it told me. "He had a group of followers that turned on him, and buried him here. Sharptooth yonder was his Partner. He was always my favorite Tyranosaur..."

"You speak like mister Quint is still with you.", I observed.

"With every wearer, I combine with thier minds; so in a way, he is still here, as is every one of my wearers.", it said. "He is here physically as well. Open my helmet and see, if you would. Press the round indent on my chest."

I did as was told, and the Tyranosaur helmet split down the middle, folded in on itself and retreated back behind the collar as if of its' own accord. What I saw in its' place was the skull of a human, sunken sockets staring at me accusingly. I saw neck vertabrae descending down, and I was sure the rest of the skeleton was contained inside. I instinctively took many paces back!

"Do not be alarmed, fine warrior! Tell me not that you would turn head upon death!", it said. "I place to you that you would remove David Quint's bones to prepare for my new wearer."

"I don't like this, but I will do as you say.", I said, not really relishing the proposed task. "But who would it be to wear you?", I asked.

"Why, you, of course!", it said. "Do not say you do not partake in fate!"

"Fate?", I said, looking for ways the armor came apart. "I find it prudent to find my own fate."

"But is it not true that sometimes fate finds you?", it chuckled as seams split open, apparently of thier own accord. "Please accept me as your guide of Dinotopia. Wear me well and I will serve you equally as well.", the armor split in half like the rind of a fruit, and out spilled the bones of poor David Quint.

"I really don't know about this.", I said, examining the inside of the suit. "The others would have surely sent out a rescue team by now. They could be here any time now..."

"Perhaps there is one fact you should seriousely consider.", Klamath, the armor of Othgar told me. "Consider how you got here, colonel Charles Decker. Did not the storm you passed through seem to try to ward you off? The storm, like everything on Dinotopia, is linked to everything else. It is the defense system that has kept Dinotopia a secret from the world since time began, and would drive off any who tries to enter. You entered by blind chance, but those who would rescue you will end up perishing. There is little way in and there is little way out. If I were you, I would accept your fate and forget about being rescued. I am afraid you will be here for the rest of your life!"

"But there MUST be some other way!", I accused. "If I made it here, I can leave!"

"Many have tried, but all have failed.", it said as I finished wiping the cobwebs and bits of mummified flesh from the interior of the suit.

"But with modern technology, it could be possible!", I reasoned. "My jet made it through."

"That may be true, but do you posess another jet?", it said with sarcasm. "You say the contrivance you came here in had crashed, and no longer functions, I'd wager!"

I fell silent and sat on the edge of the dias. The words the entity inside the armor stung to my soul. I could NEVER go back to the life I left behind? I was as good as imprisoned on an island in the middle of nowhere with creatures that had been dead everywhere else for over sixty five million years - and there was nothing I could do about it. This I couldn't believe, but as I sat there I began to see that this was true; and this was the only fate I was ever going to have. The entity was kind enough to remain silent this whole time. It knew I had to be alone to weigh everything it told me; and as I stared into the vacant eyes of the mummified Tyranosaur (His name was Sharptooth.), I began to realize that I was hungry. I slid my backpack off and rummaged through the contents for an energy bar. Chewing, I spied the human remains at my feet, and the suit of miraculous armor behind me; and came to the conclusion that would drastically change my life in this place.

"Klamath, armor of Othgar.", I told it. "I accept your offer, and choose to wear you. I reached the conclusion that, since I know next to nothing of this place, it would be best if I take all the help that I can get."

"Colonel Charles Decker, pilot of the Untied States Air Force.", the suit of strange armor said. "That is a wise and prudent decision in your case. I accept your ownership from this day to the day you die.", the helmet reformed over the now emptied suit, and the eyes of the Tyranosaur face glowed green, pulsing with the entity's every word. "Now come, accept the honor I bestow upon you!"

I saw the whole suit glow, not green like the eyes, but a pearly shimmer surrounding it like an aura. The whole suit began to split and seperate down the middle, legs folded out and arms doing the same until it seemed like I could just sit right into it. Lastly the helmet split open and folded back into the collar like it did before. I paused and took off my backpack and flight helmet, leaving the water-cooled jumpsuit on for cushioning. It seemed like my boots wouldn't fit when encased in the armored boots, so I took those off too. I stood in front of the throne, turned around and backed to a sitting position within the suit.

As one the leggings and arm guards scrolled back over my arms and legs, then the chestpiece did the same. Gauntlet sections slid out of the cuffs and formed over my fingers as the helmet enclosed my entire face. At first I was encased in total darkness, but soon a clear oval formed in front of my eyes like a windshield. The view was of the ampetheatre chamber, but everything stood out in the briskest of details. I lifted my right arm and flexed the fingers, doing this easily as I tried to look around. The helmet prevented me from doing so, but my view shifted left anyway. I tried to rise, but it took extra effort and leverage before the suit complied and I was standing again.

"Now you are one with the suit.", the voice said in my ears this time. "Use me wisely and I will not fail you."

"This is a marvel of engineering!", I said, flexing arms and legs. "Empty, you must weigh hundreds of pounds; yet I can move as easily as if I'm wearing nothing!"

"I can anticipate your body's movements, and move myself accordingly.", it said. "Notice the field of vision. Light is focused through my eyes, and I transfer it to your eyes."

"Just like television cameras!", I said. "You must have something like servomotors incorporated in you to help the joints move."

"I am not familiar with those things.", it said. "But there has to be some explanation that serves you."

"You also have a sense of humor, it seems!", I chuckled. "Also a complex computer processer to coordinate yourself and appear sentient."

"The armorers of Othgar made us in mysterious ways.", it said. "It may be so that those ways are possible. Now come! I will show you my domain..."

"I don't think I should leave my stuff here.", I said as I bent to grab my backpack - and was abruptly jerked back to a standing position!

"They will be safe here.", It told me. "Now come...!"

I didn't have time to complain as it quickly led me up the all-too-wide stairs to the entrance of the ampetheatre. At the doorway it paused, and I could see a vast vista of buildings and statuary. The building designs seemed to be a mixture of every building style in the ancient world, and the statues depicted ornate humans and fierce dinosaurs in either noble or heroic poses. All these artifacts were inside a huge chamber, spreading out for hundreds of yards and kept going for as far as I could see.

"This was my realm.", the voice told me. "Millennia ago, this city thrived. When the skies went dark, this was the capitol of the World Beneath. Behold Halcyon!"

"Such a large place!", I breathed. "And I suppose that this World Beneath was the refuge for life on this island?"

"The ones that traveled above betrayed the will of Othgar!", it said with scorn. "Here was a place of harmony and order!"

"Perhaps they wanted to expand.", I suggested. "You know, to see new things..."

"They betrayed Othgar!", it painfully echoed its' voice in my head. "They turned thier backs on the true way!"

"Everyone has the right to live as they want to.", I told it. "No one should feel compelled to dictate thier will on others."

"What do you know, flea?", it berated. "You Dolphinback: you fell from the sky, and now you tell ME these things?!", it threw me to the stone ground! "Perhaps I made a mistake in choosing you!", it would not let me up!

"You can keep me like this forever,", I told it, was the suit trying to crush me too? "But it will not change how things are! If you wish the will of Othgar to be obeyed, then perhaps it is possible to do it a different way!"

"How so?", it asked, finally releasing me and allowing me to stand. "Please elaborate."

"The ones out there has by now invented thier own forms of government.", I began. "All that needs to be done is to explore thier governments and find ways around thier laws to achieve the ends you wish."

"When David Quint was alive, he traveled the island far and wide. His ways were not the ways of those above, and had been considered a criminal.", the voice of Klamath told me. "During his escapades, I had learned a lot about thier laws of that time. The ones above live a highly traditional way of life, and thier government was that of democracy with one leader holding absolute sway."

"I am not very learned in governments, but that sounds like a parliamentary sort.", I said. "Much like what they used to use in England. I would need a complete charter of thier laws and ways, but there might be some hope."

"What do you need?", it asked.

"First thing is for you to tell me everything you know about Dinotopia so I can get a feel for the place.", I told it. "And PLEASE! Do not try what you just did to me again!"...
_

[thundertail]

_

FOUR:
"One raindrop..."

As I soon found out, Klamath, the armor of Othgar was neither good nor evil. It merely wished to serve for the better purpose, and generally took on the basic will of its' wearer, and its' last wearer was not exactly the most upstanding sort. I am at least a little more noble than David Quint was, and that was the resaon why it finally agreed to carry out its' purpose my way. It gradually conceeded that people have the right to choose thier own way, and live thier own life. But to get the people to go back to the ways of Othgar would take a tremendous feat of political maneuvering, I told it! I taught Klamath this while Klamath taught me the ways of Dinotopia - or at least the way it remembered it! We toured everywhere in Halcyon for several days, always returning to the Ampetheatre at a time I perceived as night. The sights were quite overwhelming, and the artifacts left behind proved that the citizens here once had a very high level of technology. I found remnants of waterwheels and clockwork mechanisms, what looked like pieces to cameras or telescopes, parts to what seemed to be robotic contrivances and places where herbs and other medicines were stored and processed. Of course there were inns, pubs and other places where the citizens would congregate, but any food there had rotted away a long time ago. We visited homes by the score, from those of the super rich to those of the most utilitarian personnell; and all of these domiciles contained artifacts of the previous occupants.

Klamath told me about the codes of Dinotopia: 'One raindrop raises the sea', 'Eat to live, not live to eat', 'Weapons are enemies, even to thier owners.', and all the rest; of which I tried to make comparasons with sayings I had heard over the years, and this amused Klamath to no end! He told me (I should use 'he' here because I perceived him to be a masculine entity.) of how humans and dinosaurs form relations called Partnerships, friendships that go deeper than friendship; and I tried to compare all the great friendships I've had throughout life, but he said those would pale by comparason. He told me that the humans and dinosaurs had formed a symbiosis when it came to utilization of thier land and the raising of thier crops, they even thought as one; and he reminded me of how he said that everything on Dinotopia is linked with everything else. He said that both humans and dinosaurs are very proud of the work they do, and very adament about their way of life, which was one of absolute peace and contemplation; much like the edicts of a Hindu monk, I compared. He had heard of those, for some monks had made it to Dinotopia a long time ago; and he said I was right about that! I contemplated his last instruction while chewing my last energy bar one day and sighed as I saw there was no more.

"You know, I'm going to have to find food pretty soon.", I said off handedly. "This is my last piece!"

"Forgive me, Colonel Charles Decker!", Klamath said. "I had forgotten that corporial beings need sustanence in order to survive!"

"Well, my body might not have thought it was so great,", I began. "But at least you fed my mind!"

"Never the less, you must be famished!", he said. "I shall lead you to the surface if you wish."

"It would be good to know the way out. It certainly wouldn't be good to go out the way I came in. Those Tyranosaurs might still be around!", I said. "Let's go back to the Ampetheatre so I can get my gun and backpack."

"You would not need those!", he said. "You would do better with swords, spears and bows! I could train you on them, you know."

"I think it would be best to hunt using the things I'm already good on.", I told him. "Remember I said that I shot that little dinosaur?"

"Yes, and so unsporting of you!", he said as my legs walked across the main boulevard of Halcyon on the way to the Ampetheatre. "But so long as you were able to procure food..."

"Funny thing about that dinosaur.", I said. "It was wearing jewelry - and makeup too, I think!"

"Ah yes! The females of many species so adorn themselves.", he told me. "She must have been very wealthy indeed!"

"And the other one that seemed to mourn over her bones.", I continued. "I assume that was her husband or mate?"

"True, bonds of mating run very deep in some species.", he told me as we entered the Ampetheatre. "He must have been very sad indeed!"

"And to think: I was responsable for breaking up a family like that!", I chuckled, then as an afterthought: "Say Klamath, do you require sustanence?"

"I run on a power source called Sunstones.", he told me. "My inner workings are laced with them. Sunstones can last many thousands of years without needing to be replaced. Sunstones are crystals that give off light and other rays, and has many uses as power sources."

"The jewelry that the dinosaur was wearing had a crystal that glowed.", I told him as I grabbed my backpack. "I left it in here..., somewhere..."

I began looking until I found the crude brass chain. I pulled it out and held it aloft until the amulet was seen. The crystal glowed a soft amber, and I felt excitement coming from the suit. Of thier own accord, my arms raised and placed the amulet chain around my neck, then they took the crystal on its' mount and placed it onto a spot resembling a reptilian scale. The amber Sunstone glowed brighter until it was almost a blinding yellow/white.

"This is a Control Sunstone!", Klamath said triumphantly. "It is like a key that opens some hidden thing. If my memory serves me right, it could be the Control Sunstone that openes the Chamber of the Strutters!"

"Strutters?", I didn't know that term.

"Mechanical contrivances made to look and act like dinosaurs.", he told me. "They were used in that war I told you about. Othgar was made to disassemble them and destroy thier Power Sunstones. All he did was to take only a few apart, hide thier Power Sunstones and seal them up in a cavern deep inside the World Beneath. They were huge and very powerful. They nearly destroyed Dinotopia!"

"So these things are like Juggernauts.", I compared. "Or more than likely like army tanks!"

"Such were thier power, but they are powerless unless someone restores them.", he said. "This Control Sunstone might open the chamber where they are hidden."

"Then I think we should hide it somewhere.", I suggested.

"I know where.", he said. "Follow me."

Klamath moved me to his throne, then around the back of it. He faced me forward and grasped the back of the throne by the corners. My thumbs touched two fanglike projections on the corners, and the throne slid forward three feet. Below was a trap door, and under that was a ladder. Going down I saw a room as large as the main dias of the Ampetheatre, and it was just crammed full of ancient weaponry, and some not so ancient in manufacture. He went to a rack, and to a small metal chest on top of it. He lifted the lid and placed the necklace inside; then replaced the box where he found it.

"No one will find it in my personal armory!", he gloated. "Now let us be on our way! I am sure you must be hungry by now!", I had no choice in the matter as he climbed the ladder and slid the throne back to its' original position.

Through both our volitions, we picked up my backpack and gun and headed out of the Ampetheatre. We left the corpse of Sharptooth the Tyranosaur to guard it until our return. On the other side of Halcyon we opened another iron door and went through to the wide passageway on the other side. This led to a stairway large enough to allow the largest known dinosaur to ascend up them, so we did likewise. Hundreds of feet up we came to a skinny window, and I looked out onto the forested wonder beyond.

"The Rainy Basin!", Klamath said. "The most pristine place on Dinotopia!"

"It looks like the rainforests of South America.", I commented.

"It also contains the highest concentration of prey.", Klamath said. "You will be most successful here! Come along now."

He led me further around the stairway, and it came outside to a secluded courtyard with ruined walls and crumbled statuary. Through a cleft in the formation beyond we walked, and took the dirt path that lay beyond that. The path sloped down from the foothill area behind them, and it was swallowed up by the thick jungle ahead. Hearing the constant chatter of creatures of the forest, I unholstered my colt 45 and assumed a more cautious approach to my walking. Klamath sensed these things too, and silently had me redouble my stealthy movement. At a rustle many yards to my right, we both decided to crouch by a log. Several of these rather small bipedal dinosaurs were picking up nuts off the ground by a stand of trees, and Klamath told me through thought that these were Strutheomimus - and really good eating!

I only crept to one end of the log I was behind to get a clear shot at one of them, but that was enough to alert one of them to my presence; and soon all thier heads bobbed up, looking in every direction! Aiming at the last one to raise its' head, I fired; and the blood spraying from the neck told me I hit the creature's juggular. The noise of the shot was enough to make the rest scatter, but one seemed to linger on at the perifery of the tiny clearing just out of sight. I crept in and examined the kill, but for some reason sensed the hiding creature's remorse as I tried to figure out how to carve its' fallen friend. The creature showed itself slightly and chirruped sadly, and I looked up at it suddenly - the Tyranosaur head of the armor gave it a start.

"Don't look at me that way!", I told the almost mansize creature. "I am hungry!"

It chirruped scornfully, and I thought it was saying: "MURDERER!"

"You murder plants when you eat them!", Klamath told it back. The confused creature scurried off in fright, looking back at us as it went in search of its' other friends.

"Is that how they think of carnivores?", I asked Klamath. "Murderers?"

"Plant eaters consider all life precious.", he told me. "When one animal kills another animal, no matter if it is for food or otherwise, they consider it murder and a waste."

"Well, I won't waste this!", I said, then remembered I had lost my knife back in Halcyon a couple of days ago. "How am I going to cut this up?", I asked off handedly.

"Let me show you.", Klamath moved my left arm out, rotating the wrist. He made my fist clench with straight fingers, and my little and index fingers touched two scale-like studs on the gauntlet. Twin stillettos ten inches long sprung out of the forearm pieces, resembling the claws on Tyranosaur fingers. "I have all sorts of hidden defenses, but these could serve as butcher's implements."

"I guess so!", I exclaimed as I examined the deadly little knives that sprouted from my wrists. "They can also come in handy at hand-to-hand fighting!"

"Precisely!", Klamath said. "Now eat, before it goes bad! Do you eat raw meat?"

"I try not to. I like it cooked.", I said as I scanned the area for a spot to make a fire. "I also like vegetables and fruits, too."

"I see. Then I should show you the plants that are digestable to humans as well as those for dinosaurs pretty soon.", he said. "There are many plants here that are poisonous, and many plants that have medicinal properties. I should show you those as well."

"That would be good.", I told him as I cleared leaves from the clearing. "What I need now is help to build a fire."

Presently the fire was built, and the Strutheomimus was busilly roasting away as I sat on the log in the middle of the Rainy Basin. As I watched it cook, Klamath was telling me of the trees surrounding us. The ones I thought was pine was of an ancient conifer variety that large sauropods just love. The stick I was twirling in the fire was made of cycad, another all but extinct species of tree. The ferns and lichen growing around in clumps at the bases of the trees were easy enough to spot, for they grew nearly everywhere up to this day. There were sparser patches of weeds and low, scraggly bushes around too; and the suit told me that, while the weeds grew common flowers, the type of bush was used to cure mild arthritis. I listened on until I figured the Strutheomimus was cooked enough, then I dug in with animalistic gusto; and my extremely famished body thought the experience to be immensely refreshing!

That night I slept there, and in the morning we set out for another round of hunting, foraging and learning more about each others' worlds. We scoured the whole area for many square miles, but the small band of Strutheomimus was nowhere around. With the help of Klamath, I found tubers and red and blue berries growing by a rivulet; and also something even more foreboding. The tracks of a Tyranosaur was there in the mud, and Klamath told me that due to the posture of the print, and the ones all around, this one was on the trail of game. He said that it would lead us to the kill, and it wasn't that undignifyed to scavenge other kills - Tyranosaurs do it all the time, after all! My heart wasn't very much into the prospect of possibly meeting up with the maker of those prints, but I followed Klamath through the woods anyway - as if I had a choice!

More tracks were detected not too far off, and we ran after them with determination on Klamath's part, but with trepidation on my part. I didn't really want to confront a full grown Tyranosaur while it was feeding, but he assured me that the tracks were many hours old, and the creature had probably had its' fill already, and abandoned the kill. Soon a ridge of stone could just barely be made out along the ground beneath the leafy soil, which grew until the stones themselves were seen. It turned out to be a crumbled wall, and this led to some sort of temple; which seemingly was made after some Incan design. The tracks led around the left side of the overgrown complex, and what I saw there would certainly give even Klamath pause!

On the ground lay a half eaten Stegosaur, blood and entrails all over the small opening in the trees where it obviousely had its' last stand. A bloodied Tyranosaur was crouched over this beast, protecting it against two other Tyranosaurs of slightly larger stature. The sounds of the beasts as they yelled and postured at each other was deafening, and the stench of three full grown beasts in the heat of impending battle was enough to make me gag if the helmet wasn't in place and fairly sealed. One of the interlopers would make an advance on the carcass, and the defender would hiss and snap until the attacker backed off. First one would try, then the other; but this was going too slow for them, and they decided to go after the kill all at once!

As one leapt for the kill, the other rushed in and nearly tackled the first Tyranosaur off the kill. I had to brace myself as the impact of its' fall shuddered the ground; and that made me take refuge behind the nearest section of wall. The second Tyranosaur got one mouthfull before the defender leapt on him and gored his neck; but the third clamped down on the hind leg of the defender and nearly ripped it out of the socket. Limping and bleeding, the defender decided that two was just too much to handle, and slowly limped away.

It wasn't enough that the two victors had won the Stegosaur; for the least injured of the two ran after the loser, passing my position, and fell on this creature with bone rending ferocity. Within a moment the loser was dead almost at my feet, but the winner of the fight was too busy eating the loser for him to notice me! I decided to keep it that way and slithered back behind the wall until I could get away permanently. It was nearly three quarters of a mile later when I finally decided to stop for a rest, and I began berating Klamath for almost getting me killed through panting breaths...
_

[thundertail]

_

FIVE:
"The Rainy Basin."

As the days rolled by in the Rainy Basin, my skills at hunting grew to a point where I would be successful more often than not. The suit's knowledge of the ways of Dinotopia soon dwindled to a point where I knew his tales as well as he did. I began to know the patterns of travel my dinosaur prey would ply, and set traps of ambush and stealth on them - with rousing success! I began to follow the other carnivores in the jungle, and my growing skills in stealth made me nearly invisible to thier keener senses. Sometimes I could thwart thier stalking, and bag the animals they intended to catch; and I guess this angered them to no end! This was the jungle, after all - survival of the fittest, and all that!

Klamath would surrender control of the suit for days on end after he knew I could handle the suit's functions. I found out after my supply of bullets began to run low that the suit had a ray of sorts that knocks out animals - something not unlike a Taser, where an electromagnetic pulse shot out a tiny tube in my right gauntlet. I began to get adept at aiming and firing the device, where one would clench ones' fist over a palmsize stud at the wrist connection. Pretty soon I could down dinosaurs many times bigger than me, using those stillettos to sever the neck! I was not without compassion for the creatures in the Rainy Basin, hence I felt as much guilt for the ones I killed for food as the ones killed in self defense. I knew that most of these creatures had intellegence in one way or another, and they had the right to live too. That didn't defray from my own right to live, however; and any dinosaur who would trifle with me would meet with thier untimely end! The days grew to weeks, and my skills at survival became more than I could have ever hoped for!

One day while out not exactly hunting, I sensed a disturbance in the near by jungle. As I went to see, I began to hear of a battle between titans; and not long after that I could see the result. This was evidentally a fight over territory, and the gory scene in front of me was proof. The winner didn't even bother to eat the loser, for her throat was ripped open, and her entrails were strewn everywhere - and the winner was nowhere in sight! I looked the death scene over carefully; for even though it seemed to be a free meal, the killer could still show up at any time! As I started carving at an exposed leg muscle, I heard crashing through the trees, and knew that the winner was returning; so I stealthily retreated to a large stand of broken trees. The huge male Tyranosaur knew that something had been at his kill, and let out a tremendous bellow that sent flying creatures in the branches above into flight. I crouched deeper into the thicket, and that's when I heard scruffy mewling scant feet beside me!

I wheeled around, pointing the stunner gauntlet toward the noise; but all I saw was the littlest dinosaur of all! It was a Tyranosaur hatchling, no more than a week old and seeming no bigger than a poodle; and it studied the larger monstrosity sniffing at the other carcass from behind a smallish log. Every time the creature would take a bite, the little one would give out hushed whimpers, as if it felt the pain of the dead Tyranosaur. A few moments later it noticed me looking at it, and let off a low childlike growl. I just waved at it and made shushing gestures quietly, hoping it would understand; but the little one could see the more formidable creature not far off and stifle itself of its' own accord.

"The fallen Tyranosaur is the hatchling's mother.", Klamath said in my mind as I watched the carnage too. "You see how it grieves every time the male takes a bite?"

"The poor kid!", I thought back. "It won't last three days without her!"

"I know what to do, but I will need full control of the suit.", he told me silently. "I also ask for your total trust and cooperation."

"Lead on, McDuff!", I said in the same manner, then translated. "That means go ahead."

With inhuman speed the suit propelled me out from hiding, running straight toward the lumbering giant, who hadn't yet noticed me due to his hungerlust. Klamath roared Tyranosaurlike at it before producing the daggers and the stunner device - along with another drvice I didn't know he had. He leapt on the creature's downturned snout and shoved the knives deep into it. This got the creature's attention right off, and tried to dislodge this tiny juggernaut. Klamath hung onto the creature as it began roaring in extreme anger and bucking around, but the suit clung on as if by some miracle. The beast backed up and tried to slam us off, but Klamath scampered around to the neck area and clamped down around the beast with both legs - squeezing with superhuman strength. Within a few minutes the beast was slowing, scrabbling for us with his stumpy forelimbs and coughing for lack of air. At last Klamath let go and we both dropped to the ground.

Once the Tyranosaur saw the puny thing that dared attack him, he roared and tried to charge us! Klamath used the stunner this time, combined with the other device, and shot the creature multiple times. The force of the second device was like a gigantic fist that staggered the creature back with waves that rippled the air while the stunner's energies coursed all over the beast's hide. With that combination being fired on him multiple times, the beast rocked and staggered; recovering from each blast slower every time. Once the beast was too worn out to put up a fight, Klamath stood on the carcass of the fallen female and roared a warning in Tyranosaur, emphasizing it with a loud warning hiss. The Tyranosaur was going to let out a defying roar of its' own, but then a look of fright suddenly took its' place. The Tyranosaur quickly turned and beat a rather hasty retreat, still wobbling from the battle.

As soon as his footfalls echoed to nothingness, the helmet retreated and I could see with my own eyes the battleground - and hear the mewling of the hatchling as it approached his dead mother's snout. As my pantings from the assisted exertion waned a bit, I stood and slowly came near the little creature. He saw me, and began to growl menacingly, covering his mom's snout protectively. I crouched and began to extend a hand, but he snapped at it, eyes bleary with weeping. I circled around him until I was on the other side of mom's snout from him, then I began to gently stroke her muzzle, head bowed in sorrow that was almost nearly truely felt.

"Poor mom, huh?", I said in human, but the kid didn't understand. "It's hard to lose a parent.", I produced almost true tears for the kid. He just stared at this stranger who was sad about his mom and mewled questioningly.

"Let me try.", Klamath said in my head, then he spoke to the hatchling in Tyranosaur, translating so I coud hear: "Little one, I greave for your loss. It is sad to be all alone for one so young. If I may, could I take care of you? You would not survive very long without help."

It mewled in confusion, then snapped in frustration - the baby probably didn't understand Tyranosaur yet, either! The Tyranosaur chick presently went back to mother, whimpering and trying to nudge her awake.

"Here, let me try something.", I thought to the suit. I slowly yet purposefully reached toward the little one, and ever so gently placed a hand on his back. Seeing that the tyke didn't seem to mind this, I slowly stroked up and down his spine. The little one's only reaction to this was his drawing his teary eyes into slits, either in pleasure or annoyance, of this I couldn't tell. I drew my hand away just as slowly, and when the hatchling noticed this, drew his nose close to my fingers and let me touch there. Soon I was stroking his muzzle and gently rubbing under his little chin; and the chick looked like he was slowly forgetting about his lost mother and becoming used to this strange yet friendly creature before him. "This is working a lot better than I thought!", I thought to the suit.

"Excellent! I believe you have made yourself a Partner!", Klamath thought to me. "It is almost time to think of a name for him."

"Hmmm!", I smiled down to the tyke. He smiled back up, or was that just the way he normally looked? "Now what shall I call you?"

"Grrrrrrrapppp!", the little one exclaimed.

"No, don't help me! I'll get it!", I told him theatrically. "How about..., 'Rex'! How does that sound, Rex?"

"Gerrrrep!", the little one tried to imitate.

"You say it better than me!", I told him. Rex made a growling purr.

"REX?!", Klamath thought to me. "I thought you could be more original than that!"

"Hey! I'm not used to naming Tyranosaurs! Give me some slack!", I thought to the suit, which made it fall silent. Then I turned my attention to the Tyranosaur hatchling before me, who was wondering why I hesitated. "Now Rex, I guess you might be hungry. Am I right?"

"Yap!", Rex snapped, then opened wide expectantly.

"I guess so!", I said as I rose slowly. "I'll be right back!", I skirted around Rex's dead mother to the rear of the carcass. There I sliced a slab of meat from the base of her tail area, which was well out of sight of the hatchling. I came back and deposited the slice on the ground next to him. He sniffed it and mewled mournfully. "I know it's your mom, Rex.", I said. "But I think she would have wanted you do do this, given the circumstaces."

Rex did not seem to understand, and turned his nose up at the food no matter how many times I'd jiggle it. More than twenty minutes later his hunger eventually won out over his grief, and took a testing bite - immediately followed by many more! I watched proudly, almost as proud as his mother might have been, until he was done; and as he burped, he staggered toward me and stumbled right into my legs! I caught him and cradled him to the ground, where he presently lapsed into a torpered sleep! I looked down on this future terror and smiled. How cute this little one was!

"It takes a lot of effort to raise a hatchling - of any type.", Klamath informed me. "You will have to hunt like you've never hunted before."

"Yeah, you're right.", I thought back as I drew the chick near. "Say, what was that other weapon you used?"

"It is called 'cza-voon', a weapon that pushes.", he told me. "The stunning weapon is called 'cza-taka'. My creators have placed within me other kinds of weapons, and those are for defense. You saw of my superior speed and strength, as I was well capable of defeating the other Tyranosaur. I have a shield called 'cza-phah', which causes invisiblity. However, I preferr weapons of more conventional form, like swords, spears and bows."

"And to hunt to suffice both myself and Rex, I should get good on those.", I told him.

"Then let me teach you how.", Klamath said as he noticed my weariness. "But first we should find a safe place of slumber."

With that he gently lifted the still sleeping Rex and we crept deeper into the jungle.

As the days wore on, Klamath, Rex and I traveled far and wide across the Rainy Basin; and the game we caught sufficed all of us. Baby Tyranosaurs grow fast, and soon Rex stood knee high. His appetite grew along with his body, and I soon had him practice catching his own meals. We came across swampy areas, where clouds of giant dragonflies and other winged insects flourished; and I grew quite entertained at Rex's antics as he hopped up repeatedly to catch these buzzing creatures! Over all, I perceived that Rex truely thought I was his mother - or at least a close relative; for his affection for me seemed nearly equal to that he would have shown for his mother. He would look to me for approval at things he did, and seek praise for a successful kill - of course I would praise him for anything he would do, for I grew to love him just as strongly as he seemed to love me.

Days turned into weeks, and Rex quickly grew to my own height and a little bit more, and his strength grew in proportion. Soon he became far stronger than my unaided human form would be able to handle, but he knew we were friends and limited his play accordingly. We would rough house and tickle one another, rolling around in the forest litter and laughing at the fun - but his laughter sounded more like chuffing grunts than a human laugh! With the coaching and cautioning of Klamath in my ear, we had things rather well for ourselves; and I was quickly becoming happy with the prospect of staying on Dinotopia for the rest of my life!

Things for me could not have been any better!...
_____

SIX:
"Company."

I had figured that it had been close to four months since my jet crashed, but the time didn't seem to matter to me considering where I was.

I was free!

I couldn't care less if, by some miracle, I would be rescued from here; on the contrary, I dreaded the prospect! During this time we had made a semi-permanent campsite, located back at that ruined courtyard where Klamath led me out of Halcyon and the World Beneath; and we made our hunting territory in that general area, keeping the expeditions down to a few days at a stretch. There were well worn dirt roads all through the Rainy Basin, and no less than four crisscrossed this area. One time during a long expedition, something seemed amiss, so we went to take a look.

"You smell something, Rexy?", I asked the mansize creature beside me.

"Arrrgh..., vizz!", Rex grumbled, his way of saying to follow him, I guessed. His voice was growing deep and resonant.

The path we were following was still a way off from the dirt road, but at bent twigs and disturbed undergrowth, I knew Rex had caught the scent of an abandoned kill of some carnivore. He led me through the woods and directly onto the road, then he turned north and took off at a trot. This was much faster than I could run unaided, so I had Klamath put on the extra speed. Two miles down the road, in a trough between tall rills, the wheels of a cart of sorts was seen. As we got closer we saw the gory remains of a full grown Triceratops.

"Wonder what happened here.", I asked, and Rex made a tiny shrug with his tiny arms as he inspected the carcass. "Looks like a carnivore attack to me."

"This kill is only six hours old.", Klamath told me. "I sense a human form close by."

"I wonder if the creature who did this is still around.", I wondered aloud; but if there were, Rex would have been really agitated. "Well, either way, you get a free meal. Right Rexy?", the Tyranosaur grumbled agreement.

"Human presence twenty five strides southwest.", Klamath informed me. "Closing in slowly."

"Better eat up quick, boy.", I told Rex. "Company is coming.", Rex lifted his head, turned and sniffed the air. A low rumble was his response.

"No. I think you should go hide, Rex.", I suggested. "Let me handle this."

The human didn't really show himself to us, but rather stayed in the shadows of the forest. I knew he was aware of our presence, or at least mine, as Rex had retreated many hundreds of yards deeper into the woods; but I wasn't too sure of the nature of the person watching. I had to find some way to bring him out, but was at a loss. Klamath told me he had an idea, and I allowed him to use the suit fully. He activated another feature of himself, and walked right towards where he sensed the intruder. The intruder didn't know what to make of it as we suddenly appeared right next to him, so he turned and pummeled me mercilessly! The suit took over and took many moments to overpower and immobilize the human; and when the tussle was over I could see that this human was a woman!

She was very tall and lanky, extremely strong and dark of skin. Her wardrobe was that of some sort of Russian or Mongolian garb, which was tattered and torn almost to the point of uselessness. Her shortcropped hair accented the sheen of her huge, white teeth as she sneered at me, still trying to force her way out of the suit's vicelike restraining hold. I think it would have calmed her down more if Klamath hadn't left the helmet on, because I think the sight of the Tyranosaur mask was scaring her to death! I had him retract the helmet, and my fairly normal face made her flaring features cool down just a little bit.

"Please calm down, ma'am!", I said as I tried to smile. "I will not hurt you if you contain yourself."

"You are monster!", she spat. "Me think you devil!"

"I am only a man.", I told her. "What is your name?"

"No give name to monster!", She said as I released the pressure on her ribs.

"Is that your Triceratops back there?", I asked instead of replying to the comment.

"Trika friend.", she said. "Saw sawtooth, run away. She no make it?"

"I'm afraid not.", I said, getting off her completely now, and trusting she wouldn't do anything unpredictable. "Your cart's still pretty much intact, at any rate.", I reached into my backpack and handed her my canteen.

"Me follow path, but now lost.", she drank. "You lost?"

"I live here.", I said.

"No live here! Carnivores devour!", she looked frightened.

"This is part of my territory, my home.", I said. "I hunt here."

"Against law to hunt!", she looked at me sideways. "You lie! Against law to lie, too!"

"I am telling the truth!", I maintained. "I have a Partner, and he is a Tyranosaur. I can get him, if you don't believe me!"

"Tyranosaur dangerous! He eat you!", she said.

"I guess I will have to show you.", I said, then let out a wolf whistle.

Rex knew my whistle, no matter what tune I whistled, and came lumbering into view a few moments later. At the sight, the lady scrambled back, taking a defensive stance. I grabbed her wrist to prevent her from bolting, and she struggled and spat at the restraint. Rex stopped many yards away, reguarding this stranger with his eyes. He rumbled a sigh and lowered himself to a half crouch, taking the least threatening posture that he could.

"This is Rex, a good friend of mine.", I told her, smiling. I turned to my friend. "Rex, this is..., what's your name?"

"Let go!", she struggled, but the power of the suit was too much, so she calmed down a little and gave in. "Name Majinta.", she glared at the adolescent Tyranosaur. "Name in English mean Mayday... Sawtooth friend?"

"Yes! I found him and his dead mother a few months ago.", I said as Rex scooted closer so I could rub under his chin with my other hand. "I been taking care of him ever since, and we've become great friends, right boy?", Rex rumbled.

"Me and Trika best friends too.", Mayday said as I finally let her go. "Now she gone!", her head lowered slightly in sorrow, keeping one eye on Rex.

"Well, things have a way of working out.", I said lamely, and changed tactics as soon as I saw it didn't work. "Say, it seems to me you're lost. If you want, I could lead you out of the Rainy Basin so you can get back to your life."

"That fine.", Mayday said, sniffing. "First go back to cart?"

"Sure thing.", I said as she got up. "It's right over there.", Rex and I led the way as we scrambled through the woods, over the broken underbrush and at last out to the path.

As soon as Mayday saw the cart and her dead Partner, she ran to the sprawled Triceratops and broke down crying, hugging a side horn and stroking the frill. We watched this from a distance, myself actually feeling her pain as she wept. Rex just shuffled around behind the cart as I pulled my gaze away to look at the contents of the cart. There were baskets of fruit and grain - corn and wheat mostly - and several sacks containing the spadelike leaves of Jinka, a medicinal herb favored as a tea or taken whole to cure many ailments, Klamath silently informed me. Several small wooden crates contained jewelry and trinkets, metal parts and nails and such, jars of ointments and other cures and oils of various purposes. The rest of her cart contained gear for her and her Triceratops to use along the way: Cookstove, fodder and other food, bedroll and extra blankets and things to keep clean. A really small chest contained Dinotopian Drachs, thier form of currency - but not a lot of that. I looked up to see her staring at me, eyes glaring in anger at my snooping!

"You need? You take!", Mayday said. "It our way."

"Oh! No, nothing like that!", I stammered. "I just wanted to see what you were hauling, is all."

Rex chortled at my being caught.

"Take anyway.", she turned. "No deliver to Chandra now!"

"What are you going to do with it, then?", I asked. "I mean, this stuff is going to get stolen if it's left here."

"Nobody steal. Everyone honest.", Mayday said offhandedly. "Chandra need these things. It shame if not delivered."

"We'll take it to Chandra.", I offered. "Rex here can carry a lot - he's strong!", Rex didn't understand, so he huffed. "I'm strong too, despite my looks!"

"Good of you, but my problem.", Mayday began making a pack with all she could handle.

"Wait a minute, please!", I nearly shouted. "At least come to my camp and rest a bit. You must be tired after your ordeal!"

"Why? Not tired. Late!", she continued what she was doing. "Not need take to Chandra. I follow road. Get to a town sooner or later!"

"There's another reason! Please listen.", I nearly begged. "See, you are the first human I met since being here. I need information about Dinotopia. I learned about what happened hundreds of years ago, but that was then. I need to hear of newer news!"

"You want talk.", Mayday stated. "You lonely?"

"Yes.", I said, and Rex looked at me. I noticed this and continued: "I mean I have Rex here, but he isn't one for conversation, if you know what I mean!"

"Then what?", Mayday looked at me queerly. "You say you love me? You try seduce me?!"

"Not that, really!", what was this girl thinking? "It's just that I could use a little company. I would do nothing to dishonor you like that!"

"I know!", she chuckled. "I test your honor! You honorable person. Forgive for test."

"Don't mention it, I'm sure.", I said, thouroughly relieved. "My offers still stand, if you want to take me up on them!"

"Think so! Tired after all.", Mayday put her sack down. "But right: not good leave these things here."

"We'll take the whole cart back to my place!", I offered once more. "Rex, do you think you can pull the cart?", Rex looked at me in confusion; but I gently led him to the front of the cart.

Between the both of us, we pushed the carcass of Trika off the road and took the harnesses off her. Rex grumbled in confusion as I tried to strap the harnesses onto him - they were made for a Triceratops anyway, but I synched them up as best as I could. With Mayday's help, we slid the yokes of the cart into the redesigned harness. With much coaxing, Rex got the idea and tried to pull the cart, but it was too heavy for his rather small stature. We ended up helping him along, me pulling from the front and Mayday pushing from behind. At long last we made it to the point in the road where we were to turn into the jungle, and we slowly trundled along as we took the smoothest ways through the trees.

"By way.", Mayday panted. "What name?"

"Oh! Sorry, Mayday!", I stammered. "Me and my manners!... My name is Colonel Charles Decker."

"Nice know you, Colonel Charles Decker.", Mayday greeted.

"Ah,... Just Charles, if you want.", I said. I hesitated a moment to help Rex negotiate a root system. "This suit is very special. Know why?"

"Me know.", Mayday had to lift the rear of the cart slightly. "That armor of Othgar! I read about as apprentice."

"Ok then!", I said, and Klamath gave me a warning emotion. "From what I gather, there was many such suits of armor. This one calls himself Klamath, and the one who wore him last was named David Quint."

"Great grandmother in island Safety Patrol.", Mayday told me. "She look for David Quint all life. Never found, though."

"That was probably because Klamath took him into the World Beneath.", I divulged. "I found mister Quint's bones inside this suit in a chamber in the center of Halcyon."

"You know Halcyon?", she sounded fearful. "Halcyon lost city!... Lost for good reason!... There stronghold of Troodont warriors!"

"When I was there, the place was as dead as a crypt.", I told her. "There was nothing there to be afraid of."

"Halcyon is taboo.", Mayday said as we pulled the cart through increasingly familiar territory. "Stay away!"

"Too late! We're right at the doorstep.", I told her as we entered the crumbled courtyard that marked the area of my campsite. "See that knoll over there? beyond that is the entrance."

Rex trundled the cart the last few hundred feet, over where a titanic statue pedistal lay. It had a tree growing on it and vines; and thier roots cascaded over the stone, forming the natural framewwork I used to lash dinosaur skins to make a crude shelter. The blackened stone circle a few feet away betrayed the many campfires I had there, and the many kills I had cooked for me and my saurian ward. I unhitched Rex, sending him away in case he needed to do something; and then I turned to Mayday.

"Well, here it is.", I said, slowly twirling. "It's not much, but I call it home sometimes!"

"Place well protected.", she said. "No carnivore sneak up without you knowing!"

"It's wierd, but the Tyranosaurs don't like this place.", I told her. I hadn't seen any for miles around. "The only one who likes it here is Rex. By the way, how do you like him so far?"

"He innofensive. You train well.", Mayday got to work setting up some of her camping gear.

"That's not training, that's friendship.", I told her. "Far as I know, he's still as wild as can be."

"Then better watch out!", Mayday smiled as she rolled her bedroll onto the ground.

"I wouldn't sleep in the open like that, if I were you. It rains here at night.", I informed her. "They don't call it the Rainy Basin for nothing, you know!"

"Where sleep then?", she asked, halting her progress.

"Under the shelter, where else?", I told her, indicating my shelter, which was big enough for me, Rex and lots of supplies, which we dwindled down to next to nothing. "Don't worry, we won't snore!"

"Not snore bother me!", Mayday made a disgusted inspection of the saurian tarps I made it from. "Made of animal! It smell!"

"It don't smell bad!", I wrinkled my nose. "It don't smell good, either!... Anyway, it's waterproof!", I shrugged, and she laughed gutterally.

By about this time, Rex had returned. The Tyranosaur was smart, for he brought with him lots of ground litter to be placed inside the shelter for padding. "Garrl- huff!", he said when he ducked his head inside with it.

"Good boy!", I praised. "Now everyone should be nice and comfy!", he chuffed, bowing.

"You train him?", Mayday asked. She backed away slightly at Rex's approach.

"He likes to be helpful, what can I say!", I told her. "I think he wants to get to know you a little better, Mayday. Why don't you let him.?"

"He eat me, I know!", She edged away further.

"Hasn't eaten you yet!", I commented. "Besides, if you stay long enough, you'll be best friends sooner or later! Go ahead!"

Ever so slowly, Rex crept toward this frail looking, half frightened to death human. He did not dare even breathe for fear of startling this bark colored female. He could see the water coming off her skin, and almost taste the coppery odor of fear on her - and he did not want to make things worse! His only goal was to make her less afraid of him; and he thought that his helpfullness of pulling her cart through the woods would prove his good intentions. He now realized that the act of kindness only made her more used to him being around - and the fact that he had taken a few mouthfuls of her Triceratops Partner didn't help matters either! Ever so slowly Mayday's rather skinny looking hand rose in front of her, and Rex's snout lowered down to meet it. There was a momentary pause as Mayday licked her lips, but then continued. A mere touch and she pulled away slightly, and then her hand made full contact with the rather warm, slightly leathery surface. Rex relaxed a bit, eyes blinking more of relief than pleasure; but this act lessened Mayday's trepidation somewhat, and she began to tenatively stroke Rex's boxy muzzle a bit.

"See? He likes you!", I said as I placed the iron grate I found in Halcyon over the fire I had started. "You hungry? It's nearly suppertime, you know."

"Never thought I be this close to Tyranosaur...", Mayday breathed as she backed away from Rex. As Rex began to purr, Mayday's eyes went wide! "He going to eat me!"

"What? That noise?", I had heard it too. "Naw, that's just purring! It means he's happy and he likes you. All carnivores purr when they're happy. Didn't you know this?"

"Sound like growling. Make nervous!", Mayday turned to me as Rex stopped purring. "What to eat?"

"Let's see..., I got fern and horsetails boiling.", I began to look at the cooking food. "I tossed together a nice Cycad salad. And I got some nice Strutheomimus steaks ready for broiling - hung to perfection! Yummy, yummy!", I found that if most dinosaur meat was hung to cure a while, it tasted better.

"You eat meat! That disgusting!", She spat.

"The way I see it, everyone has the right to choose what they eat.", I told her as I stirred the greens. "If you don't want any meat, I won't force you."

"I no even want see you eat it!", Mayday was exclaiming as Rex was sniffing around the still uncooked Strutheomimus. "Disgusting to even watch!"

"Suit yourself.", I said as I got busy spitting the Strutheomimus. "Rex, stop that!", he grabbed the piece I had intended to spit!

Mayday shook her head as she went to her cart and pulled out some of her own lardor. Just breads and pastas; bringing them over to ask if I would warm them. As soon as our meals were ready, she ate hers in silence many paces away by some crumbled stonework.

As we ate, Rex looked at me curiousely; so I shrugged and continued my meal for a moment. "Beats me!", I told the creature as he bent to his own meal.

"What do now?", Mayday asked as she went about cleaning up after her meal. "When you lead me to Chandra?"

"Well, since it's too late right now to travel,", I said as I put away the dinner dishes, crockery and iron utensils and items like that which I had found among the ruins of Halcyon away in thier niches along the dangling roots. Many items down there were too shattered to be of use, but there were still many things down there that were useful. "I assumed to turn in and start in the morning."

"Oh,", Mayday placed the last sack she was putting away into her cart and turned to me dejected. "Where I sleep, then?"

"In the shelter, with us, like I said.", I told her. Didn't she know?

"Me no sleep with Rex!", she warned. "I like, but still don't trust!"

"Oh, brother!", I shook my head, and Rex did too. Changing tack as I got up and walked near her cart. "Pardon me for prying, but I noticed your accent. Where in the world did your ancesters originate?"

"Me twenty one mothers Kenyan.", Mayday said. "Part of tribe out fishing when storm strike. All lost except her and stepbrother. They no know what to believe! Monsters on island, yet some friendly. They taken Waterfall City not long after. Learn all of Dinotopia, and soon realize this where they want to be. Many generations pass, and family earn credibility as citizens. Great grandmother join island Safety Patrol, father join fishing village on Crackshell Point and husband and I grow rice on Northern Plains. Trika and me switch to delivery when husband died last typhoon.", Mayday fell silent at these memories.

"I'm really sorry to hear of this.", I told her. We had, by then moved to a spot near the shelter, and Rex had lain down beside me with his rather massive head on my lap. "My story is about the same.", I said as I stroked under Rex's chin. "I am one mother American - is that how you measure lineage here?... Anyway, my father retired after the Korean War, and moved up into the Boston area. There he bacame a mailman, and was promoted to the Wellsley mail distribution facility there."

"Like Postal Bird?", Mayday asked.

"I guess, but he didn't fly. Rather, he drove a truck.", I continued. "When he died of a bad disease, my mother had to do something to run the household; so she went into the school system in my town. Not as a teacher; but she was a good cook, and she helped run the cafeteria to feed the students. I ended up graduating high school, and wanted to work my way through college to get a writing degree. That was not the case, so I decided to join the United States Air Force. I flew planes and jets, going on routine missions wherever there was a conflict. My last mission was to escort a refueling plane so they could refuel some other planes who were going on a secret mission over the Medeterainean sea. My plane crashed in the Rainy Basin, and I've been around here ever since."

"And you here all alone...", Mayday concluded. "No wonder you want me to stay!", by this time the sun was showing its' ruddy evening colors.

"Well, not if you didn't want to!", I defended. "It was just that, I haven't seen a human's face in so long..."

"I know. I do not blame you.", Mayday got up and went near the shelter. "I sleep in there?"

"Yup.", I said, getting up and disturbing Rex from his light doze at the same time. "It might get a bit crowded, though..."

"You sleep in there too, I see.", she looked at Rex. "What about Rex?"

"Him too.", I confirmed.

"I no sleep with carnivore!", she said as Rex shied away.

"Why? Don't you like him?", I defended. "Look, I know you're probably frightened of him. I don't blame you a bit. Carnivores are usually nasty creatures, and you probably have some misgivings about his kind. Please rest assured that Rex is NOT like his kind! I sleep around him all the time; and frankly, he's nice and cuddly - in a toothy way, that is!", I smiled, trying to break the animosity.

Mayday looked at the accused Tyranosaur a moment, who was trying to hide his face behind me, then to the shelter. "I try. Rex no bite and YOU no snore! Either happen and I kick both out! I clear?"

"Crystal clear, ma'am!", I said like a cadet, smiling as Rex shook his head affirmative.

Miffed but not undone, Rex simply curled up as close to the shelter entrance as he could. Mayday laid out her bedroll in a far corner, leaving me a tiny place in the center only just large enough to stretch myself out in. As everyone settled into thier comfort spots, one by one we said good night; then the whole shelter fell silent many moments later. Laying my own head back, I tried to convince myself that Mayday would get used to Rex as well as myself sooner or later; but so far it wasn't working out...
_

[thundertail]

_

SEVEN:
"Aclamation."

The next morning I woke to an empty shelter, Rex was out, probably hunting on his own; and Mayday was over by the cookstove warming up breakfast, I said hello to her and she returned it, but there was a look of determination in her brown eyes that told me something was different somehow; and I couldn't place my finger on it. More evidence came about when she started to repair the roof that I could not completely make waterproof; she actually thatched horsetails and ferns into the former weave and glued it together with fatty deposits left over from my broiling the dinosaur kills! She gave no indication of wanting to leave this morning, even though I reloaded her cart myself seeing she wasn't doing this herself. More evidence presented itself on the fact when she began to wash things around the camp! Rex returned a while after that, carrying a small Struthie in his jaws; and dropped it in front of the campfire before looking at Mayday, then to me questioningly, aparently asking why she was still here. I merely shrugged at the mansize carnivore and went back to what I was doing: sword practice.

later on in the day I confronted Mayday, asking her why she hadn't made a move in wanting to go home yet. She indicated in a roundabout way that she decided to stay a little while. She said it was the duty of every Dinotopian to help others, especially Dolphinbacks! She said this as she poked the young Ankylosaur we had caught during the afternoon hunt, which was roasting on a spit in the fire. As Rex sidled beside her in anticipation of being fed, she snaked her free hand over and absently stroked his side. Rex turned to look, and Mayday bowed and discontinued the gentile procedure. It looked to me like she was slowly trying to get along with the juvenile Tyranosaur as well! Many more days passed, and still she wouldn't leave, to my suprise but not to my dismay; for I was getting used to her dark, lanky form being around. The treat of having company around was slowly becoming normal, but the prospect of having a female visitor was giving me ideas that I wouldn't even admit to thinking!

Before a week was gone, she slowly took her belongings out of her cart a few pieces at a time. The first to stay in the slowly expanding shelter was her bedroll, taking a permanent spot near the side on a mat made of woven vines. Some of the next things were her clothes, many cases of her garments laid behind a privacy screen of woven reeds next to her pallet. She had made mats for us to sleep on as well, Even for Rex; for she informed me that her mother was a fine weaver, and had shown her the craft when she was a girl. The sacks of grains and other things she was going to trade in Chandra before her accident were paced inside as well; and she said we could use it up as part of our larder. The herbs and medicines could also be used, she said; for they had a limited shelf life anyway, and it was best if they were put to use before then. One day I saw her pulling apart her cart as Rex and I were coming back from hunting, so I rushed over and asked what she was doing. She said the wood the cart was made of could be used as supports for the growing shelter, and she wouldn't be needing it anyway. I berated her for doing this, saying that she could have used it when she left to pick up her life where she had left off; but she insisted it was all for the best. I eventually relented; but told her to leave the wheels and other cart hardware somewhere handy as we could use them to make another cart one day. That was the day I finally realized that she actually didn't want to leave, that she liked it here!

During this time Klamath spoke to me concerning my agreement with him, about one day reintroducing the teachings of Othgar; and the new way I was planning to help him achieve this goal. I suppose he was wondering why I was taking so long; but the truth be known, I was so busy tending to my life here that I hadn't given it much thought! I told him instead that I was waiting for opportunities to present themselves that I could use to get started with my plan. Klamath's wisdom saw that, number one: I hadn't been doing my best in this respect; and two: that an opportunity was right there in front of me in the form of Mayday. I asked him to explain why he thought Mayday would be a help, and he said that her skills and insight could be used to further help him gain power here. He said he saw the way the woman was slowly getting used to life in the Rainy Basin, taking a liking to Rex and be willing to cook meat - a thing she thought disgusting; and her skills in manuel labor, of which I was lacking, would also prove useful; and the fact that she was strong, smart and had a strong will of her own was a plus! He told me that a person with that kind of diverse thinking would easily handle this new way of living, and contribute greatly to it.

Of course, all this talk was done in my mind and in private; but my blank staring every now and then gave the others in this group the impression that I was becoming moody! Rex would sit by me with his great muzzle in my lap and almost seem to whimper in that tone of his that was almost below human hearing. Mayday saw this too, and tried to make me feel better with jokes and unusual stories she had heard. I tried to assure them both that everything was alright, and not to worry; but both knew something was wrong with me - even though everything couldn't be better. As the weeks went by, everything at camp remained its' usual self; and Mayday gradually became used to life in the Rainy Basin.

I noticed that Mayday was taking an interest in the armor one day as I removed it to be cleaned. Klamath told me that his former wearer rarely cleaned him, only if it became too muddy or soiled other ways were the times; and if he had a nose to smell, he told me, the stench would be unbearable! He appreciated the fact that I cleaned and oiled him at least once a week, and I told him that a good soldier has to take good care of his equipment lest it fail at a crucial time. Mayday saw the helmet, its' sinister saurian head and it's inert green eyes, and looked at it inside and out as I sat there with not much on but my tattered flightsuit and the undergarment with the water-cooled tubing woven into them; she looked at the black, grey and deepest green scales on the parts as I finished wiping them dry, fingering the parts before setting them down almost reverently. She said she admired old things, and this armor was the oldest thing she had ever seen. Klamath spent the rest of the day telling her about himself, along with the other ancient tales he knew.

This talk spurred more interests in her.

For one thing, she had been asking me about the World Beneath and Halcyon; all the legends Klamath had ever told me got her really excited! The next thing I knew she was spending a lot of time next to the entrance to Halcyon, and going into the forests near by to get materials for torches; which she placed just inside that entrance - and I also caught her a couple of times attempting to go inside to explore on her own! The pursuit of Dinotopian history was not only her only intrest, though. Her increasing interests in hunting and cooking the prey gave way to her actually tasting the meat as it cooked; but I told her that, since she was not used to eating meat on a regular basis, not to take too much at a time. She could get sick or something! She indicated that it was simply the way she was taught: to think eating meat offensive; but she was also aware of the human tendancy to be omniverous. Rex was overjoyed that she was finally eating meat, and helped out most profusely to obtain extra kills!

One day I figured I had been on Dinotopia about six months, but I had hardly been thinking about my former life at all for the longest time!...

_____

EIGHT:
"Confrontation."

Of course, life in the rainy basin can have its' more dangerous times as well.

One day we were doing our daily morning routine; getting ready for our morning hunt, when all of a sudden the jungle noises routinely heard all around us - so routine we hardly noticed them any more - stopped for no aparent reason. A slight breeze picked up, and from that breeze, Rex became quite agitated. I tried to ask him what was wrong, but he growled nervousely, sniffing the air and capering about the camp, looking everywhere around us.

"What wrong?", Mayday asked. She sensed something too, and clutched me as I too scanned the area around us.

"I don't know...", I said as I felt Klamath's presence.

"Several Tyranosaurs are near.", Klamath told me silently. "Watching just within the trees, every direction."

After I told Mayday this, she asked, terrifyed: "What we do?!", Rex hunkered near us, trying to defend us, growling. "What they want?"

"I don't know just yet!", I told them. "Just stay put and don't move!"

"I have an idea.", Klamath told me, then unfurled the masked helmet and spoke Tyranosaur loud enough for these hidden creatures to hear: "Noble hunters! Is there something we can do for you?"

A bellowing roar and the largest Tyranosaur I had ever seen emerged from the trees to our right and stopped dozens of yards away from us. Several others soon joined him, but stayed farther back, circling us and surrounding the camp. "I am Thundertail!", he wailed, only myself understanding for Klamath's translation and Rex for his being a natural Tyranosaur. "I am the great, great grandson of Stinktooth the great, leader of all Tyranosaurs! How dare you think that you can make your camp on our most holy ground?!"

Mayday looked at me, unconciousely grasping my arm. I looked at her and told her. Her eyes went wide. Then I spoke to the monster before us: "Great hunter, we are sorry; for we meant no harm. We did not realize this was holy ground. We did nothing to desecrate this spot, merely passing through anyway!"

"You lie!", he bellowed. "For many months we have witnessed you and your group here! You build this flimsey shelter, you hunt our game and you defile our water! Our law says that we have the right to kill you where you stand, but I see one with you is also Tyranosaur. How did this come about?"

"Sir, I was hunting alone one day when I came upon a dead Tyranosaur, and another eating her.", I began to tell them the story, not daring to exagerate the facts. When he was through, he put in: "So, I have trained him in all the skills of hunting that I know, and that along with his natural abilities, he is growing into a fine specimen."

"I see that.", Thundertail said, sniffing the cringing youngster. "He smells familiar somehow...", then he turned to me. "Human, was the one you defeated a male, and did you give him those scars on his snout?"

"I think so.", I told him.

"Before I killed him, he said that he killed a female that was tending my offspring.", Thundertail told me. "Which is why I killed him!", he smiled evilly. "This would mean that this one is my son! And you took care of him all these months. He doesn't seem too worse for wear, I see!"

"I took very good care of him, sir.", I reconfirmed.

"What's your name, boy?", he asked Rex, and Rex told him.

"Rex, eh?", Thundertail considered. "In the old language, that means King.", he turned to me. "That name claims a lot! And you gave him this name?"

"Forgive me! I did not have much imagination in naming him that day.", I replied, and the beast chuckled.

"Then Rex it is!", Thundertail said. "He is my son, and if he doesn't cross me, he will be a true king one day! Come!", he beconed Rex to come close, and the juvenile Tyranosaur got a nuzzle from the great beast. "I thought I lost you, boy!", this he whispered when they were close.

When I told Mayday what was happening, she gave a sigh of relief; and the five other Tyranosaurs relaxed somewhat as well. In the mean time, Rex was having a brief but silent reunion with his father; but disengaged for some reason.

"What about the humans?", Rex asked in Tyranosaur. "They are my friends!"

"For the crime of being on holy ground, the penalty is death.", Thundertail told him. "However, the ones that has taken care of my son all this time deserves special honors. They may live; and I invite them to our territory for a feast!"

"An honor we do not deserve, your highness!", I said, or was that Klamath? I told Mayday what transpired, and her eyes went wide!

"You sure this good thing?", Mayday whispered. "We may be served at feast!"

"Your female has something to say?", Thundertail noticed.

"She is simply still frightened.", I told him. "She is not my female - just a friend!"

"Sooner or later then, eh?", he chuckled. "At any rate, come with us! I am sure my clan will be overjoyed at my returned son!"

Thundertail turned to leave, and the others of his group turned to follow suit. Thundertail nodded for one of his group to stay behind. It turned out that Mayday and colonel Decker had no other choice but to follow, as the Tyranosaurs behind them gave them plenty of incentive to move along! The group moved silently for such massive creatures, but kept thier pace slow to accomodate the smaller legged humans. After a while Rex lagged behind and was soon abreast of me and Mayday. He looked like his whole world was turned upside down.

"What do I do?", Rex asked me, and Klamath translated.

"If he is truely your father, you should be with him.", I told him. "You must remember, I was only taking care of you; I never claimed to be a father or mother to you."

We went down a barely discernable path that only the Tyranosaurs knew, and suddenly came out on a small brook, which we all easilly jumped over.

"But you took care of me!", he whined softly. "I considered you my father! I loved you!"

"I loved you too - still do!", I rubbed his muzzle. "But I can't give you the kind of education that your true father could. You need to be with your own kind for a while. Get to know what it's truely like to be a Tyranosaur!"

He pulled away as his attention had to turn to the path ahead. It was becoming rocky, and we all had to watch our steps.

"I still love you too, but why push me away?", Rex looked where he was going, expecting an answer.

"I would never push you away just like that!", I told him. "This is like another lesson. A whole new part of your life. I want to be around to see it - I want to see you do well in it!"

"Will I?", Rex loked at me expectantly.

"You'll do great!", I encouraged. "Now go and see your father!"

Rex scurried ahead, nodding at these strange carnivores as he passed them. These were his clan brothers and sisters - the largest family anyone would ever see. As soon as he got to his newly discovered father's side, he looked up at him and smiled in a carniverous way.

"He be all right?", Mayday asked as we walked.

"He's just a little confused.", I replied. "He doesn't understand about what our relationship will be now that he has found his father. He thought that, now that he has a father, we wouldn't be friends any more."

"That not so! You still his friend!", Mayday stated. "Me still his friend too!"

As the group of Tyranosaurs continued to lead us through the jungles of the Rainy Basin, I noticed a few familiar features along the way. Through breaks in trees I noticed rills that were the hallmarks of roads, and watering holes I had used. Soon the peak of that Aztec-looking pyramid shone in the far distance, and I beagn to see the healed scars of trees that my jet had crashed through on its' final landing. The terrain sloped uphill for a piece, then downhill abruptly; and soon we were going through a fairly vast clearing, which was almost boomerang shaped as it sloped down to a river below. Near the elbow of the boomerang shape, a lone Tyranosaur stood, watching us as we got near. As soon as he saw our number, he let out a great roar, and it was echoed by at least a dozen more voices. Thundertail roared, and so did the others in this group; all except for Mayday, myself and Rex. The sentinel smelled the air as his leader approached, then bowed to let us all pass. He gave extra scrutiny to Mayday and me, but growled menacingly at Rex, who bowed as he passed his position.

Our precession walked down near the bank of the river, where most of the hunters drank. I got out my canteen, drank and offered some to Mayday. I looked around at the others we were in the midst of, and they seemed like they were feeling like they were home. They even began to take on a cheery disposition! Much grumbling and capering was seen by these dangerous carnivores until Thundertail saw this and roared to get thier attention. They all stopped fooling around and looked at him expectantly. Rex, for fear of something bad, had once again scurried to my side; and I looked at him with an equal look of dismay.

"MY CLAN!", Thundertail roared as many more joined the dozen or so that were now in the area. "Today our hunt has brought game of the most special kind! It is not carrion, like what we went out to find, but a long lost member of our clan! He is a son of mine that was thought lost these past six months, and he is so named 'REX'; for one day he will be king!", Thundertail smiled toothily and escorted Rex out front so all could see. Rex just stood there nervousely!

"Amazingly enough, a human found it in his heart to help ward off one that would have killed him; then take my son under his protection and raise him to the sturdy beast you see before you today!", Thundertail continued. "His name is unknown to us, but if he would divulge it now, it will go to a place of honor!", he motioned for me to step forward.

"Noble hunters.", I began as Klamath translated, raising the volume of his translation so all could hear. "My name is colonel Charles Decker, of the United States Air Force. Six months or so ago, my jet airplane crashed in the Rainy Basin somewhere south of here. I am what is known to you as a Dolphinback, if my information is correct. When I first got here, I did not know what to make of the dinosaurs I've seen - but a lot of them sure taste good!", hissing chuckles was my response. "A few days after I crashed, Hunters came and I ran; and I found myself in a subterranean passage. This led me to a place I later found out was the city of Halcyon. There I found the suit of armor you see me wearing today. It is called Klamath, the armor of Othgar. The entity within it has helped me all these months to survive here. This morning when your group entered my camp, I thought my time here was at an end; but the good deed I have done of raising Rex has stayed my fate!", I looked at Rex and smiled. "I thank you for the hospitality of letting us be with you, and your wisdom for not eating us!", even more chuckles.

"Well said!", Thundertail said, leaning into his rediscovered son. "But come, join us and meet the rest of my clan! The feast should soon commence!"

The great Tyranosaur led us back up the slope and into the other finger of the boomerang shaped clearing, where many Miasaurus lay dead; and several more of the massive creatures were there milling about, inspecting the kills. The upslope view of this section of the clearing showed the Incan pyramid in the nearer distance and a pinnacle shaped temple of some sort in the farther distance and off to the right slightly. Thundertail noticed my gaze and informed me that these were most holy places, and places they were honor bound to protect and guard; which was the reason for them escorting us away from the place where we had set up camp. He showed Mayday and myself a place to sit, and Rex sat with us out of habit; but Thundertail told him to sit next to him instead. As the rest came and joined those already there, Thundertail roared and got everyones' attention once more.

"Friends, today marks a joyous time for us.", he began. "Today my son we thought gone forever is returned to us; and the ones who returned them are amongst us now! This feast is in thier honor; so treat them as ones of the clan!", he lowered his twin clawed fingers and everyone dug in.

"I no eat raw meat!", Mayday whispered to me. "I no like cooked meat very much!"

"I'm not too crazy about it either.", I told her just as softly. "But if we don't, I think they'll be mad. Just eat a little, ok?"

"Fret not, humans.", Thundertail said, overhearing our whisperings. "We understand humans do not eat raw meat. Perhaps if there were a fire, you could cook it."

"I wasn't sure if I could suggest that.", I told him. "Thank you for the offer.", I got up and looked around for a place to make a fire and to locate some wood.

A subordinate Tyranosaur sidled up to Mayday as I left, sniffing and grunting. She was too afraid to move, but just nodded at the hulking beast and smiled. Rex turned and looked at this one, then his attention was turned to two other Tyranosaurs about his age that grunted greetings and offered him pieces of thier kill. I had, by this time, found a clear spot many yards away from the main group of feeders; and turned to find stones near by to use to line the campfire. Many pockets of saurian laughter and conversation roamed around the feeding area as they ate, oblivious of the fact that three strangers shared thier kills. As I returned with an armload of firewood to the proposed firepit, Thundertail pulled aside another Tyranosaur and quietly told her to go to our original campsite with food to feed the one they had left there, and then take his place for the night. As my fire grew to my height, I turned and looked at the group of Tyranosaurs. These were definitely not the murderous beings I was led to believe; for this was a family group, not a horde. I saw Rex listen to Thundertail raptly as he told of a tale he was telling, and knew that this would be the best thing for him. I was smiling as another Tyranosaur dragged a shank of Miasaurus meat my way, and grunted to get my attention. As it cooked it I continued to marvel at this group; all the while Klamath told me that this could be the opportunity I was waiting for concerning his plan - I had to agree. I brought the cooked meat over and handed Mayday some; and as we ate, Rex saw us and came over, so I gave him a piece as I affectionately stroked under his chin.

"So, how do you like your new family?", I asked him absently.

"They're nice and all.", Rex said as he looked me in the eye. "But I miss the old ways."

"You get used to it.", Mayday told him.

"That's right, son.", I said. "These are your true people, and Thundertail is your true father.", then I smiled. "I guess I can't call you son anymore, huh?"

"Guess not.", Rex said. "But we can still be friends, right?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way!", I hugged him, and Mayday stroked his cheek.

Thundertail saw this and smiled his toothy smile.

As the Miasaurus carcasses slowly turned to thier skeletal interiors, the clan began to disperse for the evening; retiring to thier nests, milling about near by or down at the watering place and just plain carousing with each other. I saw that this large family was content, that thier life to them was ideal for them. I smiled at many, and accepted nuzzles and playful shoving from the more animated of the group. Mayday found herself many times encountering some of thier hatchlings as they played by her feet. Rex wandered around, getting to know his clan brothers and sisters; finding a long lost aunt and several uncles who told him a few things about his mother. His father eventually called him aside, then me and Mayday as well; then he crouched down and reguarded us solemnly.

"You have certainly raised my son well, human.", Thundertail told me. "He is courteous and smart. My clan loves him like he was here all along."

"Decker said I should be good.", Rex told us, I translated for Mayday.

"I tried to teach him like he were my own son.", I said. "I wanted him to grow up right."

"I help!", Mayday said as I translated. "I like mother."

"And you both did a fine job!", Thundertail told us. "Were there any real problems with the lad?"

"No.", Mayday said.

"Well, there was one time he woke in the middle of the night with a nightmare.", I remembered. "He said he had a bad dream - he dreampt that he ate me!", I looked at Rex, and he looked like he remembered too, and smiled! "I calmed his nerves and asked him if I tasted good...!", Thundertail chuckled. "Well, he turned around and said that I was delicious!", I chuckled telling the rest! "Then he went and began tickling me like you would nibble at an itch with your teeth until I had to beg him to stop!"

"You woke me that night!", Mayday accused.

"An excelent tale!", Thundertail commented, still chuckling. "If that was as bad as it was, then he was a perfect child! My thoughts are these: would you both consider staying with us and further raise young Rex? I would appreciate the help."

"I don't know what we could possibly teach him that he can't learn here.", I told him, then looked at Mayday with her dismayed eyes and Rex's pleading eyes. I sighed and said: "Perhaps the best thing for him would be our continued friendship. I can't possibly turn my back on my Partner, can't I?"

"You are partners?", Thundertail asked. "That is a custom of the herbivores! Ours is the way of the family! Did you agree to this, son?"

"Father, colonel Decker raised me since I was a hatchling.", Rex said. "I love him deeply, and he loves me. If the term Partner means all that, then I agree fully to be his!"

"Then I agree as well, my son! Life is big enough to have a father as well as a Partner.", Thundertail leaned into him. "Now, what was that thing you did to this human?", he asked as he began to nibble his son's ribcage, sending Rex in a fit on the ground!

All of us got a chuckle then, more so Rex for his being tickled! When this play finally died down, Thundertail rolled back up and grasped his son; but the most suprising thing to me was when he grabbed me and Mayday up as well! We took turns rubbing the king of Tyranosaurs' muzzle, then he let us go with a look of sudden incredulousness.

"Please forgive me, humans!", he said. "My joy of finding my son was somehow infectious!"

"No need to worry, your highness!", I laughed as Mayday giggled throatliy. She was nervous a little! "Being overzealous in this case is quite natural! It sure beats the prospect of being eaten!"

"I must say that my ideas about humans was all wrong!", Thundertail said. "Your kind are a most agreeable people!"

Just then a lone Tyranosaur came sauntering into the area, sniffing this way and that until he spotted the Miasaurus carcasses. He made a beeline for them and immediately dug in at the nearest one with the most meat on it. A few moments later, when his immediate hunger was sated, he searched out and found his leader, who was with us.

"I have returned, my king.", he announced. "You invited these interlopers to our camp?"

"These friends have found my son, Grond.", Thundertail told him. "They are no interlopers, but friends. Well done on guarding thier camp. You may retire for the night if you wish."

"Yes, sir.", Grond said, but before he left, he asked: "Are these guests, or are they staying?"

"I asked if they would continue raising my son.", Thundertail told him. "They may stay permanently if they wish."

"Only clan members may stay with the clan.", Grond informed. "That is the law of the clan."

"True, but I will decide in the morning.", Thundertail told him. "Now away to your nest!"

"As you wish, my chief.", Grond said, bowed and paced away toward the treeline.

"Where would we sleep?", I asked him.

"Deathflower is guarding your camp tonight.", he replied. "You may use her nest for the night.", he roared, and a smaller female came over and bowed. "Waterkill, could you please lead the humans to Deathflower's nest?"

"Yes, your highness.", Waterkill bowed at us as we rose, and a short distance into the forest was a large, shallow depression in the ground litter. "Pleasant sleep.", she bowed once again and bid her leave.

"We no bring blankets.", Mayday observed. "We get cold."

"We'll just have to make do.", I told her as I entered the nest. "How are you doing for body warmth?"

"Got enough, I guess.", Mayday said as she stepped inside and lay down. "But only enough for me!"

"Party pooper!", I laughingly accused as I sat near her.

As the light of day slowly gave way to the stars overhead, the carnivores in thier camp slowly quieted down to only the sussurus of thier sleeping. Us humans had been asleep for a while before that, but it was fitful due to the sounds coming from the carnivores all around us. Mayday drifted off into a thrashing slumber; and soon I fell into a dreamless one myself. Rex's father had insisted he sleep with him during the night, but in the morning I found him nose to nose with me as I woke up in the morning...
_

[thundertail]

_

NINE:
"Clan initiation."

I had heard shuffling sounds during the small hours of the night, and thought nothing of it as I slept. Just another day at my camp. Rex snorted in his sleep, and I placed a hand on his muzzle. As I drew myself out of my slumber, I saw his face close to my face, so I rose slowly and looked around. This was DEFINITELY not my camp by the entrance to Halcyon! I looked around and saw the large depression among the trees we all were sleeping in, and remembered the confrontation with the clan of T-rexes we encountered yesterday. I wiped my eyes and shook the young Tyranosaur awake - his head rose with a jerk!

"Hey buddy. Time to get up!", I said softly so as to not wake Mayday. "What are you doing over here. Shouldn't you be with your pops?"

"What?", Rex yawned toothily. His eyes widened as he remembered yesterday too. "Oh, yeah! I guess you're right! Sorry about sneaking in here last night. I couldn't sleep!"

"I know. It's sometimes hard sleeping among strangers.", I told him. "I could hardly get to sleep last night myself. Missed the old place, and I missed you!", he nuzzled me.

"Where we?", Mayday rose just about then. "Oh! Me remember now!", she crouched to a standing position and stretched, then looked around fearfully. "What happened yesterday, that no dream?"

"Nope! We're right in the middle of a Tyranosaur clan all right!", I piped up, then turned to Rex. "Why don't you go see your pops. Ok?", Rex nodded and capered off.

We watched him go and I escorted Mayday out of the sleeping nest we were in. "You think they let us go?", Mayday asked suddenly.

"Well, we are honor bound to help with Rex, like I promised Thundertail last night.", I said. "I don't think they would take kindly to us just leaving like that!"

"They eat us - I know!", she shivered.

We both looked around and made our way to the edge of the clearing. Not many of the clan of Tyranosaurs were around this morning. Just a few females, juveniles and hatchlings; and they went around the area with thier own purposes and agendas. Several of the hatchlings scurried by in a group, and two stopped to mewl at us menacingly before scurrying away all the faster! A female came by and bowed as we crossed the clearing on the way to the river. All in all, this community of carnivores led a rather ordered life. Before we got there Mayday paused and halted my arm to get my attention.

"What about supplies at camp?", she asked.

"Perhaps we could ask to bring it here.", I told her. "It's ours, after all!"

As we drank from the river and I filed my canteen, three juvenile Tyranosaurs came bounding down the bank toward us, and one of them was Rex! His playmates capered around him, and he traded play nips and tail slaps with them. It took many moments for them to settle down, but once they did, Rex addressed us.

"Hi guys!", he began. "Want to meet my new friends? This one is named Pincushion and this one is called Thistlesnarl", he pointed to the young male, then young female in turn; then he addressed these two. "This human male raised me from a hatchling, and this female is my friend."

"Hi kids!", I said. "My name is colonel Decker. Nice to know the both of you!", I palmed both muzzles in turn.

"Hello.", Mayday said, kind of leary to touch them. "Me Mayday. Me like Rex's mother."

"Well, nice to know you two too!", Pincushion said. "Rex is ok by me!"

"Same here!", Thistlesnarl added. "Me and Pincushion are brother and sister."

"How nice!", I said as Rex wanted to say something.

"Uh, my father and the hunting party went out hunting this morning, so he told me to go play until they return.", Rex informed us. "They are going to stop by our old camp to get Deathflower; and also to get the rest of our stuff. They should be back before the sun is high."

"Thanks for the information, son..., I mean, friend!", I said. "I see your buddies want to play!", they were nipping at him playfully. "Go run along now!", the trio wandered off, yowling and trading headslaps.

"What relief!", Mayday said.

"I told you they were friendly!", I said.

"No. About supplies.", she corrected.

"Like I said: they're nice.", I chuckled.

Mayday and I turned and went upslope to join the rest of the Tyranosaur clan. They were seen tending to thier children and tidying up the sleeping nests; and things in this place could not be more at peace. Nobody saw or even smelled the large pack of Veloceraptors coming in from the north; for they knew enough to come from downwind of the large clan. They also knew enough to arrive when the hunting party was away, and not many adults were around tending to the children. They even knew enough to spread out in an encircling phalanx and come in from all sides! Only one adult Tyranosaur saw them, and let out a warning roar; but it was too late as the attack came seconds after that! Dozens of the swift predators swooped through the clearing and tried to pick off the hatchlings first, and they scurried for cover. The juveniles tried to fend them off, but they were too inexperienced to do more than harass the quicker dinosaurs as they passed. The females knew what to do, but thier numbers were too small to make a lot of difference. The only thing the Veloceraptors did not count on was the fact that there was humans in the clan - and one of them posessed the armor of Othgar!

"Mayday! Get to cover!" I said as Klamath's helmet formed around my face. "Time for battle, Klamath!", I said as the suit went into action.

The display in front of my face turned to views like the readouts on my jet cockpit as it tracked the four dozen veloceraptors within sight. The suit moved me many times faster than I normally could as the daggers emerged, the stunner and pusher came into play, an electric shield encased me and twin sabres sprung from behind me and Klamath caught them expertly. I ran like a banshee, swirling around these swift terrorrs; slashing and bashing every one of them within reach. The suit propelled me all over the clearing as the malestrom of carnivores fell one by one. In what seemed like an hour, but was only five minutes, most of the Veloceraptors lay dead under my hand while the survivors cowered in a knot near the center of the clearing. Only then did Klamath stand down, and the helmet folded in on itself. I stared at the survivors in front of me and scowled - they dared not even move!

"No kill! No kill!", a larger female Veloceraptor with a greyish tail squeaked. "We give up!", I was not suprised that I could understand thier speech.

"Rex! Everyone else!", I yelled. "They surrender. Keep them surrounded so they don't escape!"

As everyone complied, I circled the group, then singled out the female who addressed me. "Why did you attack us?", I asked her.

"We hunt for food.", she said. "We knew hunters strong, so we hunt weak."

"And what made you think you could succeed?", I asked. "You were outnumbered, even with these left behind!"

"Alpha male say so.", she said.

"He was wrong!", I yelled, and she cringed!

"He dead now anyway.", she bowed. "What you do with us?"

"I don't know yet.", I said. "I'm not the leader here.", I then addressed any ranking Tyranosaurs present. "What you suppose we should do with them?"

"Thundertail would have them all killed.", Waterkill said as she stepped up. "But he's not here. Maybe we should wait until the hunters return."

"As good an idea as any.", I told her, then turned to the female Veloceraptor. "What's your name?"

"Me Whitetail, Matriarch of pack.", Whitetail said. "You no kill us?"

"Not yet, I guess.", I said. "Look Whitetail. If the rest of you make no trouble, I'll try to save your lives when the rest return, ok?"

Just then Mayday came out of hiding and rushed to my side; then she backed off at the sight of the dozen surviving Veloceraptors in the area. Rex came up beside Waterkill, his two buddies close behind, and growled at these little horrors. The rest of the Tyranosaur adults that surrounded the attackers shuffled and grunted as they waited and guarded. I stood down a little too; but Klamath stood on high alert as his scanners detected any movement from the captured group. After almost two hours of this staring down, roaring was heard coming from the other end of the boomerang shaped clearing. The hunting party was returning! As the females in the encampment roared, so did thier counterparts that were returning; and when the hunting party saw what was going on, they dropped what they were carrying and rushed into the fray.

"What in the name of the council of reason is going on here?!!!", Thundertail roared as he neared the group. The rest of the hunting party panted and huffed behind him. All at once, it seemed, two of the females along with nearly all of the juveniles began talking at once, explaining thier versions of the incodent, babeling all at once. Thundertail roared loudly to stifle everyone! "Now, one at a time...! REX! What happened?!"

"Father. These Veloceraptors attacked our territory.", Rex said, glaring at the cringing group as he did. "We all gave battle; but this human and his suit turned the tide."

"Is this true?", Thundertail reguarded me as if in a new light. "The truth please!"

"It's true.", I said. "The armor of Othgar is a powerful weapon. I merely used it to keep peace around here."

"I see.", Thundertail stopped looking at me and turned to look at the pitiful group of Veloceraptors before him. "Now then. It seems you have infringed on MY territory! Ancient laws say I have the right to kill you right here and now. Do you have any words to say before we do?"

"NO KILL US!", the alpha female pleaded. "We follow leader, but leader dead! We no attack any more!"

"If I may, king Thundertail.", I cut in. "I think I have a way of settling this without any more bloodshed."

"What's the fun in that?", Thundertail asked, and most of the Tyranosaurs chuckled. "Very well. What do you have in mind?"

"I think these Veloceraptors could help us to hunt.", I suggested.

"How? Go on.", he said.

"Well sir. Veloceraptors are naturally stealthy and quick.", I began. "They can sneak up on prey very easily, and they are also very smart. I say that they could scout out herds of prey for us and corral them so we can slaughter the prey en'masse; if you know what I mean.", I looked at his concentrating face, then went on. "I say that - if everyone agrees - they could do this and we could let them live."

"That IS a thought at that!", Thundertail considered. "This has never been done before, you know.", He looked around at his clan and asked them. "What say you, my clan?"

"Our law says they must die!", Grond growled.

"Kicking thier tails was fun!", Pincushion added, but was hushed by Deathflower.

"We will do what you say, my king.", Deathflower said.

Several of the others agreed for thier death, but many more, including the young ones, agreed in the opposite - some still couldn't decide.

"Rex, my son. What do YOU think?", Thundertail asked.

"Well father. When I was a hatchling and mother was killed, I was worried how I would survive.", Rex said. "When colonel Decker came, defended me and took me in; I survived and actually thrived. He was a total stranger, and not my kind besides; but he came and helped me to live. Perhaps with the Veloceraptors helping the clan, it might be good for BOTH our kinds."

"A logical conclusion!" Thundertail turned a moment and saw the cringing tribe of little hunters before them. "I will agree and let you live if you agree to do what we say!", he told Whitetail. "Remember: to disagree means death!"

Whitetail the matriarch of the now reduced pack of Veloceraptors considered a moment, then turned to rasp to her group. Many moments passed as they all argued softly among themselves. I was the only one who understood Veloceraptor there (Though I still didn't know why. Perhaps it was for the aid of Klamath...), and told the Tyranosaurs that the males there were trying to figure out who was the Alpha male, therefore the decision could not be made. Pretty soon Thundertail lost his patience and roared for them to stop!

"Your decision?", it was not a question.

"We not decide yet.", Whitetail said. "Males disagree on who is Alpha. Only Alpha decide."

"If I may, my king...", I stepped in. "I will be thier Alpha male.", then I turned to the pack and spoke Veloceraptor. "Is there any male among you that thinks to challenge my claim?"

All seven males looked at each other, then cringed. Whitetail spoke next. "You killed old Alpha. You have that right. I will be your mate, and bear your eggs. But you must wait due to my being heavy with old Alpha's eggs."

"Thank you kindly, ma'am; but I think mating with you would be out of the question!", I said, taken aback. I heard Mayday and Rex snickering just out if eyesight! "I'm merely stepping in to prevent you being killed!", I turned to Thundertail. "On behalf of this pack, I accept the proposal. This pack will help this clan hunt in return for thier lives."

"Well said!", Thundertail said, addressing his clan. "The proposal is sound, and the agreement is sealed. Do not harm these Veloceraptors in our midst, and treat them as one of us!", he turned to me. "Now since you are thier Alpha, you must also help us hunt as they will."

"I understand, my king.", I said.

"Just wait a minute!", Grond spoke up. "We haven't yet decided whether or not he OR his female are one of us yet!"

"Grond, my dear stepbrother!", Thundertail turned to him and said. "Colonel Decker's quelling of this attack has proven his loyalty to this clan. His further willingness to stem further hostilities by joining this pack of Veloceraptors proves it as well! If this doesn't mean he has earned the right to be among us, I do not know what would!", Grond stood down.

In the mean time Rex had stood by my side while Mayday inspected the dozen Veloceraptors still huddled in a group. I crouched to the ground and accepted the clawed hand of Whitetail, holding it gently and smiling weakly. She did the same, only in a toothy way. I stood up as Thundertail called my name.

"Colonel decker! Your injenuity in solving this dilemma has proven your worthiness to this clan.", he began. "You and your female are now full members of my clan. However, clan members must have a clan name. I say that your new clan name will be 'Fly with a stinger' for your swiftness in battle, and your female will be called 'Protecting petal' for the way she helped hide our young ones. Nest areas will be provided for you and your female directly. Your new pack will also have sleeping areas near your nests. My clan, make it so."

While the hunting party returned to thier kills, Mayday went with them to see about our supplies. Rex went with me to see about our sleeping area and for those of our new Veloceraptor guests. Thundertail watched his clan work as they escorted these tiny carnivores to thier area, and I saw Deathflower saunter towards her sleeping nest. I nodded, then told her that was where we slept last night, and begged pardon for the scent that might still be there. She just nodded and commented that it would be an honorable scent! The juvenile Tyranosaurs went around and gathered up all the Veloceraptor corpses and added those to the kills the hunters were collecting by the area where they fed last night. By dusk everything was in order, and I surveyed the area we were to sleep. It was near the top of the rise, just within the treeline there; and a shallow gully of sorts where the pack of Veloceraptore would stay was in easy sight of many of the Tyranosaurs. I hunkered down among them and began to tell them what I thought was expected of them.

"Now, the way I see it,", I began as Whitetail scooted near me. "They would want you to scout out great herds of dinosaurs; but they might want to do the actual killing themselves. It's no need to tell you not to anger them! The reason why me and Mayday are still alive is because I hadn't angered them."

"Why exactly you here?", Whitetail wanted to know.

I told her and her reduced clan all about myself. I told them about my life before crashing my plane in the rainy Basin to the finding Rex to Mayday's appearance and gradually staying on. They heard of my hunting exploits and the training of Rex to the day we encountered Thundertail's clan. After I was done with that, I paused to reguard this ragtag group of half starved carnivores.

"So you see, I think it's wise for both our species that we try to make the Tyranosaurs happy.", I said. "But for now, I think you should start making your sleeping nests, and I will go see about getting you some food."

"That kind!", Whitetail said, lightly stroking my arm with her talons.

"What are Alpha males for?!", I smiled as I left the area.

The area set aside for me and Mayday was just at the edge of the clearing, close to where I had made the fire last night. Our supplies were piled here and out near the fire, and Mayday was at the sleeping area, busy at inventorying everything. I waved as I set my bedroll out and inspected a few items myself.

"How you holding out?", I asked her.

"Good as can.", Mayday said, looking at a few jars of medicine and tisking. "Look! They break."

"Well, Tyranosaurs aren't the most graceful creatures, you know.", I said, helping her right a few more things. "They probably didn't know what they were. They don't use medicines - or any of this other stuff, for that matter."

"They tell they take everything there, and destroy shelter.", Mayday said as she turned to set out her own bed. "Must make new one."

"We will in time, I guess.", I said offhandedly. "Right now we got to cope with living with them. So do the Veloceraptors!... Which reminds me. I promised I'd ask about food for them. Guess I should go do that."

"They put kills over there.", she pointed. "I be along soon.", she said as I went there.

I entered the boomerang shaped clearing, pausing to let the odd hatchling scurry by, and made it to where the Tyranosaurs were busy doling out the carcasses. Between what the hunting party caught and the casualties gathered from the Veloceraptor attackers, there were about forty dead dinosaurs lying around. The numbers of Strutheomimuses caught by the hunting party was about equal to those of the dead Veloceraptors; but everyone seemed to have thier own kill to eat. I nodded at Rex, who was near his father; and then addressed Thundertail in formal manner.

"My king, the Veloceraptors are hungry.", I told him. "May they share in the kills?"

"I suppose to have guests in our midst, one must feed them.", He told me. "You may take them all you can carry; but please join us when you are done."

"Yes, my lord.", I bowed, then selected two of the kills.

I walked to the loose pile and found a yearling Strut. She was fairly light and her neck was torn out, but she seemed plump enough. The next one I found was a rather large Veloceraptor with an olive tail with tiny red stripes on it. I lifted both with the aid of Klamath and slung them over my armored shoulders. I walked with my burdens to the edge of the clearing and walked deeper into the woods. The Veloceraptors saw me coming and hissed; but I didn't know if it were a welcoming sound or a threatening sound. They all jumped with a start when I tossed both carcasses from my shoulders and crouched to speak to them.

"They said I may take to you all I could carry.", I said. "These should hold you until the next meal."

"This one old Alpha!", Whitetail said as she recognized the dead Veloceraptor before her. "He not very smart!"

"But he was a ferocious fighter.", I said. "It took a lot to kill him."

"Strong and smart not same thing!", Whitetail hissed laughter as the rest of her kin dug in. Before she joined them, she sidled up to me and gave me a toothy nuzzle. "Thank you for saving our lives."

Smiling at her, I stroked her neck and left them to eat. I made my way to where the clan of Tyranosaurs were feeding and sat beside Rex as I reached for a raw chunk. The conversations and smalltalk during that meal went long into the night...
_

[thundertail]

_

TEN:
"Unification."

I woke from my dream slowly, but still the buzzing around my ear remained. I tried to sleepily swat it away, but it returned once more. As I drew myself further from sleep, I found out the noise was not of the insect origin, for a warm breeze caressed my neck; and a fetid stench reached my nose. I jerked my head up slightly and could identify the noise as the purring of some animal right next to me! I sat bolt upright, and Whitetail edjed away slightly - she was more suprised than I was of my reaction!

"Oh..., it's you..., sorry!", I yawned. "What are you doing here?"

"Thundertail say we scout for prey.", she rasped softly so she wouldn't wake Mayday near my side. "Rex woke us. Wait for you."

"I made that promise..., now I remember.", I said as I slowly rose. "Everyone ready?"

"Everyone's up but you, Fly with a stinger.", Rex said as he stepped around the area and looked at me. "Pops said I was to go with you. You know: practice, things like that..."

"Or maybe to keep an eye on us sneaky Veloceraptors!", I added.

"We no sneaky! We stealthy!", Whitetail said. "Let's go! I get rest of tribe...", she scurried off.

"What's going on?', Mayday said as she turned to us. "Why so early?", the rays of morning were just beginning to lighten the night.

"We got to scout the area for the next hunt.", Rex said to her. "Sorry for waking you. You can sleep some more if you want."

"No sleep! I go with you!", Mayday told him.

"But you can't run as fast as a Veloceraptor!", I told her. "I'm going to use Klamath because of the suit's speed."

"I can run almost as fast as one!", Rex said. "But you'll be too slow."

"I ride you, maybe.", Mayday said.

"How?", Rex asked. "I'm not sure I want you to try!"

"In outposts in towns, they have creatures named Overlanders.", she explained. "They are Corythosaur and Parasolophus. They two legged dinosaur we ride. Look just like Tyranosaur, and run just as fast."

"That's an idea!", I said. "That gives me an idea..., Rex, let's see if she can get on - just to try it, ok?"

"Well...,", Rex thought. "Ok, but I don't know if I could carry her. She looks pretty heavy!"

Rex stood still as Mayday tried to get on top of him. She raised a leg over his back, him groaning under the unused to weight; and hopped up with the assistence of his heel. Rex dipped and weaved under the weight, trying to maintain his balance. As he got his feet under him, he rocked as he tried to take a step. I could see the strain in his wincing face as his strength was tested to the maximum, and after a while, roared politely in Mayday's face for her to get down. As she jumped down, Rex looked at her sorrowfully, apologizing for being such a weakling!

"Nice try, buddy.", I consoled. "Just means you're still too young. I bet an adult could lift her easily!"

"I am the clan king's son!", Rex berated. "I must show them I'm strong!", Rex turned to Mayday. "Get on! You're not so heavy that I can't carry you!"

Mayday eventually did, and Rex took her weight with a saurian look of grim determination. It was a good thing he didn't want me to ride him! With my weight plus the weight of Klamath, that would have been well over five hundred pounds! He slowly walked out of the nest area with his burden as I followed, and by this time the small band of Veloceraptors had assembled in the clearing. Whitetail was having trouble keeping order in the group, perhaps because they were usually led by the Alpha male; and they were not used to being ordered around by a female. I went over to the group with a look of utter confidence and stared at the little monsters, staring them down until they lowered thier heads and voices in that order. Then I walked to Whaitetail's side and looked at her with a smile before returning my gaze to my charges.

"When I'm not around, I want you to obey Whitetail.", I told them in Veloceraptor. "Now, we're going to do some scouting this morning and report back here if we spot anything. Anyone know a good direction to start?"

"Ooh! I know!", Rex stepped to my right. "Dad said they were very successful down the Polongo river, about half way to the Deep Swamp to the west. He said it's only seven or eight miles that way.", he pointed west, downriver.

"Very well, if there are no objections, let's go.", I told them, and they prepared to leave.

"I have question.", said a subordinate male as he passed. "Why they make YOU Alpha? You no even Veloceraptor!"

"Because I'm stronger and smarter.", I told him, giving him a sneer. "Besides, if it were any different, you all would all be dead by now! Now scoot!", I motioned to kick him.

"Never mind Schaglon.", Whitetail whispered as she passed. "He think he better than everyone!", I smiled and got a move on myself.

Thundertail saw the group speed out of the clearing and go into the forest down that skinny path by the river. He hissed and summoned two of the clan over.
"Grond, Deathflower. Follow those ones.", Thundertail told them. "See that they honor thier side of our agreement."

"As you wish, my king.", Deathflower said for them both. They turned as one and lumbered down the path.

The trail we took skirted the river for about a mile, then went deeper into the jungle - so deep that the early morning light barely reached the forest floor. This skinny path dipped and swerved around trees and over rocks. It was merely an animal trail, after all! These small carnivores sure knew what they were doing beacuse I saw many of them pause for a second to test the air, then move on to do the same thing hundreds of yards further up the path. I passed many of the Veloceraptors as we went ahead of them, coming up on the lead one and nodding. This one was the one Whitetail mentioned, and he just gave me a noncommittal hiss and redoubled his pace. I fell back slightly and found myself beside Whitetail once more - she sneered and posed playfully, then concentrated on the path ahead. Was she flirting with me, I wondered? Rex, carrying Mayday on his back tried to keep up with us, but slowly lagged behind; so I slowed and got to his side. The poor beast was panting and wheezing, pumping his legs with extra exertion while balancing the rather lanky human female between his shoulders. Mayday had taken a squatting position over the Tyranosaur's spine, balancing herself with shins and feet as she bobbed and swayed to Rex's bounding rithym. I looked at this rather artistic mode of travel and marveled at both my two friends before I spoke.

"How are you two holding out?", I asked.

"Good.", came Mayday's bouncy voice.

"How... much...further?", Rex panted.

"I don't know.", I told them. "I'll go ask.", then I rushed ahead.

Down the path I ran, but I had lost sight of the Veloceraptor tribe while I had been talking to Rex and Mayday! I raced ahead and looked left and right through the dense trees and foliage, but I could spot nothing moving anywhere. There was a clearing just coming into view in the distance down the path; but before I could get near, Whitetail came out of hiding and dragged me behind some rocks and fallen logs. She shushed me and pulled me in further into hiding.

"Prey not far.", she told me in a hissing whisper. "We fan out down wind and hide."

"We must tell the Tyranosaurs!", I told her. "Where are the others?"

"Hiding.", she turned her head and I followed her gaze. One of them was skirting around the area, trying to get a clear view of the prey. "Small herd of Ankylosaurs with Struthies in clearing ahead. Struthies warn Ankylos if we get too close."

"Someone must warn the Tyranosaurs.", I said, then noticed Rex and Mayday getting close. I backed out of hiding and got back on the trail before they ran past. "Woah, there!", I waved them down and nearly whispered. "They have found prey, but we must be quiet!", I said softly. "We got to get word back to the clan!"

"We'll stay here.", Rex rumbled softly. "Go tell the clan!"

"I guess you're right.", I told them softly as Mayday dismounted and both ducked for cover. "Feet, don't fail me now!", I thought to Klamath, but he didn't understand the term! "Let's go tell the clan!", I told him.

The suit propelled me back down the path even faster than it propelled me to here, dodging rocks and other obstacles along the path. The shrubs and trees sped by in a blur, and my legs hardly protested at all as the suit did most of the work. I was running so fast I nearly ran into two Tyranosaurs that were running the other way! I slowed to a stop many yards in front of them, and they stopped as well; sniffing at me curiousely.

"We spotted game!", I told them in thier own language. "In the clearing many miles ahead!"

"Go warn the clan!", the male said, and I knew it was Grond.

"We wll go ahead.", the female told me, and I knew this one was Deathflower.

I waved to them as they let me past them, and continued running full tilt all the way to the edge of the boomerang shaped clearing. I continued on until I came to some more adults, and they gathered around me as soon as I stopped.

"We have found prey about eight miles from here!", I announced. "In a clearing there are many Ankylosaurs and even more Struthies! The others are keeping an eye on them and surrounding them."

"This is good news, Fly with a stinger!", Thundertail got among the crowd and stated. "What of Grond and Deathflower?"

"I met them along the path.", I said. "They said they would wait near the clearing."

"Then let's fly, my clan!", Thundertail sidled up to me. "I saw what Protecting petal did with Rex. Get on and I will carry you."

Not wanting to anger him, I complied. I crawled up his tail, ever careful of my footing so I wouldn't hurt his spine, and tried to seat myself between his shoulder blades. I placed my seat like I saw Mayday do with Rex: squatting to either side of his spine and straddling it with my shins and feet in contact with his back. As soon as I was all set, I tapped him on the back and he took off after the rest of the herd. Every clan member seemed to be with us, including all but three females and all the smaller hatchlings. Even Pincushion and Thistlesnarl trailed after the rest, wanting so bad to at last make thier first real kills. As the hunters lined up along the path, they were roaring in anticipation; but further on they grew silent with determination, and the only sounds they made were thier thundering footfalls. As the group neared the clearing in question they dispersed into the jungle, swallowed up by the thick undergrowth. Thundertail slowed to a stop and I slid off his back; then he nodded and got into hiding himself. Before I knew it Whitetail was at my side, sneering up at me in a Veloceraptor smile.

"Prey not move.", she hissed a whisper. "Ready for attack?"

"The clan's all here.", I whispered back in kind. "Let's wait for Thundertail's signal."

We did not have long to wait, for a second later a great carcophany began near the far end of the clearing, followed by footfalls large and small; and the caterwauling sounds of dozens of creatures in distress filled our ears! Whitetail hissed and scampered off toward the clearing, and I whooped and hurried off after her. As I entered the clearing proper I saw herds of Struthies being chased by herds of predators - a true mixture of larger and smaller creatures working as one. The veloceraptors would herd the Struthies into the waiting jaws of the Tyranosaurs, who would rend them on the fly and chase after more after slinging away thier former victim; or the other way around as it were in many cases! The smaller herd of Ankylosaurs thundered by, being chased by the Tyranosaurs and being steered by a couple of Veloceraptors in an ever tightening circle - where many more Tyranosaurs waited. Pincushion pounced on one of them while Thistlesnarl clung to the tail, and that one was dragged down never to get back up again.

My chance to make some kills came when the herd of Struthies were steered my way, and Klamath dispatched many as they passed by. I ran around doing some killing of my own, slashing and stunning many with his own glee that I actually felt. Even Mayday had her chance to make a kill as an Ankylosaur sped her way. She was in hiding when one stampeded by her. She brandished a hundred pound rock and hurled it at the creature's head. This stunned it enough for Grond to leap on it and rend it dead. Both whooped and smiled at thier first joint kill! After this brief five minute battle, things ebbed somewhat as many sated thier immediate hunger; and many went about to count the kills. Of the Ankylosaurs, three got away, leaving forteen carcasses scattered about the field. A dozen struthies got away, but three dozen of thier kind did not. This was a hunt whose success far outdistanced all of our imaginations! We went about congratulating each other on our hunting prowess - even Mayday was being hugged profusely by Grond! Thistlesnarl and Pincushion were capering for joy around thier shared kill, and all of the Veloceraptors leapt and capered about too, still excited about the event. Soon Thundertail sauntered up to me and put his two fingered forepaw on my shoulder, getting my attention from one of my own kills.

"Fly with a stinger, this hunt was the best in all my clan's history! Even my ancestor, Stinktooth the great would have been proud!", he announced. "And it is all because of your wisdom of letting these Veloceraptors join our clan! Without them, we would have had far fewer kills!"

"Tribe never see so many kills!", Whitetail came up and said. "It good both kinds together. We work well together - and it all because of 'Stinger'!", she reached and gave me a lick.

"Well, I knew both of your kind are great hunters in your own right.", I told them. "I figured that together, you would be greater than any individual kind. I'm glad it was successful; but I never thought it would be THIS successful!", I indicated all the kills.

Grond came by just then, Mayday close to him. "Fly with a stinger, at first I did not think your idea would work. Your ideas went against everything our kind believes in. Most of all I did not like YOU, making camp in our most holy place.", he stated. "But the evidence around me speaks for itself. Please forgive my negative aditude."

"Well Grond,", I said as I accepted his nuzzle. "I did not mean to interlope on sacred ground - nor destroy this clan's ideals.", I smiled at Mayday. "I just wanted everyone to live in peace and try to cooperate with each other."

"And I would say your wish has been fulfilled!", Thundertail chuckled.

"Excuse me everyone.", Deathflower came up and said. "How do you suppose we are going to drag all these kills back to the clansite? There are far more carcasses than our number!"

"Hmmm...,", Thundertail considered. "Since Fly with a stinger was so smart in thinking of this 'Partnership-Of-Carnivores', I think he should be the one to think of a solution to this little problem!"

"Maybe we could have some stand guard, and the rest drag what they can.", I said after a moments' thought. "Then they could come back and get the rest."

"Very good! I was thinking the same thing!", Thundertail said. "I was just testing you anyway!", he turned to Gond. "See, he DOES have the good of the clan at heart!", Gond nodded.

Without being told, the combined clan got to work. No one needed to be told who was going to drag the kills, nor who was to stay behind - they all did what they were supposed to do with an air of habitual cooperation. Mayday, Whitetail, two of her tribe, Thistlesnarl and Pincushion were asked to stay behind, and I joined the rest dragging what we could this trip. I had slung two Struthies over my shoulders while Grond dragged a small Ankylosaur at my side. Rex came by with three Struthies on his back and one in his mouth, nearly dropping that one because he also looked like he was smiling! The rest teamed up dragging the larger dinosaurs, or took on the smaller ones solo; and soon the precession of death slowly made its' way through the jungle at my own walking pace. By midmorning we entered the boomerang shaped clearing and deposited the first load of kills in our feeding area while those we left there came out, drooling over what we caught.

"We got more where that came from!", I told them, who were mostly hatchlings. "Dig in everyone!", I turned to go.

We all ran back to the other clearing, but there was something definitely wrong. Thundertail sniffed the air, and Klamath informed me that there were more predators around. When we peered into the clearing through the undergrowth, we saw that more Veloceraptors had congregated at our kills. The ones we left there were staring them down, growling and snapping. Mayday had grabbed a long, straight branch; and she was fending off two of them, brandishing it like a staff. Thistlesnarl snapped at three more while Pincushion was being harassed by his three. Our own Veloceraptors hissed and capered threateningly at the rest, and it looked like they were losing ground.

As if on cue, we all charged out into the field and took over! As the Tyranosaurs and the half dozen Veloceraptors with us began to encircle these interlopers, I peppered them with Klamath's stunners; and they went down dazed because I only gave them the smallest of blasts. Suprisingly enough, we didn't begin to dismember these intruders, but piled them in a circle in our midst. I grabbed one and shook it until it woke up.

"These are OUR kills!", I yelled at it, a male bearing similar markings as most of our male veloceraptors. "What are you doing srealing from us?!"

"Please! Don't kill us!", he pleaded. "We were starving! Let us go!"

"It would benefit you if you answer him.", Thundertail interjected, posing to swallow him whole.

"We lost many of our tribe days ago.", he went on. "They went hunting and never returned. Our chief was with them; and now we are leaderless!"

"Wait!", Whitetail stepped in. "Mosquito! Is that you?"

"What? Whitetail!", Mosquito. "It is you, my matriarch! We thought you were lost! Why are you with them?"

"We have treaty. They our friends.", Whitetail turned to Thundertail. "Please! No hurt them! They rest of my tribe!"

"But they dared steal from us!", Grond protested. "They deserve death!"

"Wait a second!", I stood, turning to Thundertail. "You have seen the benefits of a few Veloceraptors among us. The benefits might increase if there were more!"

"You mean let them go?", Rex asked.

"No. Maybe we could let them rejoin Whitetail and her pack.", I said. "By your permission, king Thundertail, of course."

"We have had an extremely successful hunt.", Thundertail considered. "And that was with the aid of Veloceraptors. Maybe we could have even better kills with these others added ot our clan. Whitetail, please explain everything to them, if you please!"

"Yes, my king.", said Whitetail. In thier own language, Whitetail explained the reason they were among the Tyranosaurs, and the deal they had made. They found it hard to believe that this Partnership could come about, but when she told them of this hunt and its' extreme success, they nodded and thought it was a very good thing indeed. She then invited them to join the Tyranosaurs, saying that this bounty could be thiers as well if they did. After a few moments of hissing debate from the group, who had been awake most of this time, they agreed to join for the most part. I listened in on this exchange and nodded in satisfaction!

"They agree to join!", Whitetail announced when they were done. She turned at thier squawking, then back. "But they hungry. May they eat?"

"First off, welcome to my clan, little hunters!", Thundertail said with a toothy grin. "Second, you may indulge all you want as we could not take the rest of these kills anyway!", he made a shooing gesture, and the new Veloceraptors cringed toward the nearest kill.

The new Veloceraptors swiftly begin feeding, Mosquito trying to dominate the kill, but the other's hunger overruling his wishes. Many moments later, and with all thier bellies full, they turned to Thundertail and cringed submissively. Seeing this, Thundertail turned and nodded at them. This was the silent signal, and Whitetail converged on them all of a sudden in a nuzzling hug to them all; and this was rapidly followed by the others of her tribe doing the same!

"My tribe! At last we are whole!", she told them.

"But where is the Alpha?", Mosquito asked, hoping.

"I took another Alpha.", she told him. "One that will consumate our alliance with the Tyranosaurs."

"Who?", he asked.

"Me!", I stepped foreward. "I took over as Alpha for your tribe, and I am a member of the Tyranosaur clan. This bond will strengthen both kinds!"

"But how?", Mosquito asked me. "You are not Veloceraptor and you are not Tyranosaur! You are human! How can this be?"

"This is my story:", I told them the whole story. "And since I took care of Rex, and he was Thundertail's son, he has made me a clan member in gratitude.", then I told him of how I saved the rest of his tribe. "So you see, without me being your Alpha, you would not have had a chance!"

"I see.", Mosquito said at last. "I see your wisdom, and will do as you say, my chief!", the others nodded as well.

"Excellent!", Thundertail said. "Now if you would, please follow us to our territory, my new friends!"

With this the newcomer Veloceraptors joined with thier comrades they thought were lost, and followed Thundertail out of the clearing. I was left with the rest of his clan, led by Grond, Deathflower and Rex, to help carry the rest of the kills. It was nearly noontime before we all congregated around the feeding area, getting acquainted and experiencing the happiness of reunion among the lightly feeding carnivores. An air of shared comeraderie was felt by everyone present as I got to know the dozen or so new Veloceraptors - thier names all derived from nature. It seemed that Mosquito assumed leasdership of the tribe that remained with him, so I made him my Beta male; and Whitetail approved of this beacuse he was her closest half cousin. Before long the whole tribe of Veloceraptors mobbed around me, treating me like one of them at last - and thier true leader besides!

Every now and again, many of the Tyranosaurs would visit the tribe of Veloceraptors and wish them the best, and luck to me with keeping them in line! All during this, Mayday, who barely left Grond's side since thier shared kill, walked to a dead Struthie near by and ate a leg raw. I noticed this behaviour and wondered why, with her Dinotopian philosophy and upbringing, would she do such a thing. I would have to ask her about this later - that was for sure! Before I got the chance that day, Rex came by and sat beside me near the tribe area, and he had a look of self satisfaction about him. I asked him how he felt and he said that he never felt so at home in his life! We lay around nearly all that day, and life went on in the area of the boomerang shaped clearing. Mothers tended thier young, juveniles played and adults of all three species shared stories of hunts and glorious deeds; but the most unusual tales were told by both myself and Mayday, for tales of the human condition were all but unknown to these carnivores - even Klamath got into the act as he had me relate his own tales through me!

As our fire was lit, the carnivores of the clan of Thundertail drew near; and he roared as he made his announcement: "My clan! May we all prospor in this new symbiosis of hope!", cheers like never before welled up among the carniverous crowd. "And we have the newest member of our clan to thank for it!", with this all the carnivores roared with my congratulations, which was heard for many miles around the Rainy Basin...

_

[thundertail]

_

ELEVEN:
"Company and contemplation."

As all the carnivores got used to life in this strange clan, weeks and months go by. The hunting was good and I gained more and more respect as they prospered. In gratitude they let me and Mayday build a shack of sorts out of logs and thatch, and with the help of all who wished to help, it began to take shape near our old sleeping area. With the help of the Tyranosaur's great strength, the logs used were severed in quick succession. Mayday had the help of the Veloceraptors and their dexterous forepaws, and the logs were lashed together and the roof thatched in rapid order.

The dinosaurs that helped us marveled at the dwelling they had helped make, and begged Thundertail permission to build some dwellings of thier own. He figured that shelters like this were useful to keep the rains off a body, and eventually let them! Pretty soon the forest near the boomerang shaped clearing began supporting many shacks of various sizes all around the area. I was jokingly to blame for these 'unnatural eyesores', and soon any advice on building further shelters was asked for from me!

The weeks and months passed, and our little community in the middle of the Rainy Basin throve and grew. The hunts were just as spectacular as the first communal hunt so long ago, and our dietary intake increased thanks to Mayday's introduction of agriculture and foraging. She had taught some of the females there which plants in the forest were good for humans to eat as well as those that might be palatable to carnivores. The garden she started by the river was small at best, and all that was grown there was grains and other cultivatable foodplants whose seeds were included in the supplies she was carrying in her cart the day I found her. Those crops grew well there when the river did not rise, but all it produced was enough for her and myself; and not many of the carnivores wished to eat from it anyway.

During this time Whitetail had lain her eggs; and she moved her nest into the shack at my suggestion. Didn't want the little nippers to get rained on! The two weeks necesary passed, and out of the nine she had lain, three had hatched out. The rest were given as gifts to aunts that took turns laying on them for whitetail - and I had one as a treat myself! I was present for the hatching; and just like bird chicks, these three imprinted on me as well as Whitetail. I was now, in essence, a daddy! As the 'father', I got the privelage of naming them. The little female I named 'Whitenose' for the pinkish splotch on her nose, which her mother told me would get tannish white as she got older. The first boy tried to rip Klamath's gauntlet off when I tried to pick him up, so I called him 'Ripper'. The other boy jumped up and nearly snapped my nose off when I got too near, so this one I called 'Snapper'. Both boys were identical except Snapper had thicker green stripes across his little back.

Life got pretty routine after that, and all of us wore the results of our prosperity well, let me tell you! The running joke in the clan was we would soon grow too fat to hunt if this kept up! Let me tell you, life there in the clan was surely the best time of my life!

That was until we had our first visitor.

We had a full twenty minute warning before the cart and driver showed up in the clearing thanks to our Veloceraptor scouts. An Ankylosaur was pulling, and a burly man clearly out of shape was tending the reigns. Being experts in stealth, we all hid among the trees and watched what these two were going to do. Thier cart stopped by the river, the human unhitched the Ankylosaur, who drank from the river greedily; and the man took three waterskins from the back of the cart and began to fill them at the water's edge.

I quietly sought out Thundertail and asked him softly what they were going to do. He told me to go out and confront these intruders. That my presence certainly wouldn't frighten them too much. He said they merely wanted to know what they were doing here - not to send them away in a wild panic! I agreed, and made my way out into the clearing so they could see I was coming.

"Good day, strangers!", I called, and they both turned to me with a jerk.

"Breathe deep, stranger!", the human called in a voice higher than his girth suggested. "Lovely day for a trek through the Rainy Basin, you think?"

"Seek peace, my friend.", I said in kind. "An even better day if one knew where he was. You seem lost."

"Aye, tis true!", he said as his Ankylosaur grunted. "But a good thing we found this river! No doubt it blongs to the Polongo."

"True, but it's a long way downstream!", I said. "I live over there beacuse it is nice and secluded.", I pointed behind me.

"Nay! You can't live here!", the man said. "This is the land of the Tyranosaurs! It's just too dangerous!"

"Tis true!", I said. "My shack is just over yonder! My crops are over there, by the river's edge!"

"Name's McGuire, and this is my Partner, Sinbo.", McGuire said. "And who be you?"

"My name is Stinger.", I told him. "Nice to meet you."

All of a sudden a T-Rex chick scurried out of the thicket she was hiding in and mewled at my feet. The man stared at the little one in horror, and his equally horrifyed Ankylosaur balked and nearly bolted! I picked her up and stroked under her chin before putting her back down on the grass.

"Go find mama!", I patted her head and said in Tyranosaur. I looked up at the stricken man and said: "The Tyranosaurs here are my friends. I am part of thier clan."

"What deviltry is this!", McGuire took steps back. "No human can live with Tyranosaurs! It is just not done!!"

"It is true!", I said as Mayday came out of hiding and walked to my side. "This is my friend, Mayday. She can tell you better than I can..."

"It true.", Mayday said. "Tyranosaur friend. No hurt us - help us!"

"This is uncanny, right Sinbo?", the Ankylosaur grunted. "How did this come about?"

We began to briefly tell our tales, and when we were done, both nodded in disbelief. "It is the first time a good encounter occurred with a Tyranosaur - ever!", McGuire said after a thought. "You are very lucky people to still be alive - much less than they continue to allow you to be!", he turned to Sinbo and said. "To have tamed those creatures!..."

"Oh, they are not tame by a long shot!", I said. "Let's just say they are..., agreeable! Since we have been among them, we have proven we can be beneficial to them; and I guess that is why they tolerate us, I guess!"

"A strange tale indeed!", McGuire said.

"Want meet them?", Mayday asked.

"Well I...", he stammered; but before he could finish, she had already called for Thundertail!

"It will be all right.", I tried to reassure them. "Please don't worry."

Thundertail soon came out of hiding, but stood well away from the Ankylosaur and human. Presently Rex stood at his side, and both crouched to the ground and bowed. McGuire was edging to his cart, ready to mount it and bolt while Sinbo wriggled back into his harness. Both quivered there, wide eyed! Thundertail roared softly in greeting, and Rex made a mewling roar of his own. I walked over to the pair, bowed to Thundertail like he was royalty - which he was to me; and stroked Rex under the chin.

"See, they are as friendly as can be!", I said from where I was. "This one is Thundertail, king of all Tyranosaurs; and this is Rex, his son and my Partner.", I introduced each in turn.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm sure.", McGuire mumbled out of courtesy, but the fear in his voice was physical! "I am McGuire, and he is my Partner, Sinbo..."

"What do they want?", Thundertail grumbled softly.

"They are lost.", I rumbled back. "Just getting water. I think they want to be on thier way."

"Tell them if they wish, they may stay and eat.", Thundertail offered. "They are no doubt vegetarians, so you may offer them food from your crop."

"Thundertail welcomes you to his clansite, and invites you to sit for a meal if you wish.", I told McGuire and Sinbo; of which the human could understand naturally and the Ankylosaur could understand via Klamath's translating."I have plenty of crop for you to eat if you accept!"

"Well, it is Dinotopian custom to accept a gift when offered.", stated McGuire after heated discussion with his Partner. "Perhaps a meal and a rest, then may we be on our way?"

"Wonerful! I'll tell them!", I explained this to Thundertail, but heard Sinbo's rumbling and explained via Klamath: "Please do not be afraid! We are a relatively paeceful lot. You are perfectly safe here!"

This did nothing to dissuade thier trepidations, but they went along with it as Mayday and I led them near our campsite uphill from the river. By ones and twos, the other carnivores began to emerge, and Whitetail slithered out to rest at my side as I cut greens for Sinbo. I smiled at her, then introduced her to him; explaining that I was her Alpha male - a nestmate, for lack of another term. He just grunted and accepted his portion of fodder. Mayday got to work cooking the food, and during this time our two visitors gradually calmed down somewhat.

"This is just incredible!", McGuire said as he sat by Mayday and sampled her boiled tubers. "These beasts seem to live almost civilized!"

"They are very intellegent creatures.", I told him. "They see the benefits of the amenities Mayday and I have introduced. Why, some of the shelters you see around are thiers. They made them mostly by themselves!"

"And do they live by rules?", McGuire asked. "We have very strict rules where I come from."

"They live mainly by the rules of the hunt.", I said. "But in a community group such as this, they use rules fair to all. Just like rules for this area: They do not hunt here, but elsewhere in thier territory."

"And the Veloceraptors?", he asked. "How did they join the Tyranosaurs?"

"With my intervention and inspiration, I figured that they could help in the hunt.", I explained. "The Veloceraptors would scout prey and surround them using thier natural stealthy abilities, then they would assist the Tyranosaurs in the kill. This method is proving very successful, for they do not need to hunt all the time any more."

"And this is why we weren't eaten!", McGuire concluded. "You have led them into a more docile life! You should be commended - both of you!", Sinbo brayed agreement, finally getting used to the small female Veloceraptor serving him more greens.

"What do you discuss, Fly with a stinger?", Thundertail asked.

"They are amazed at your aparent civility.", I told him in tyranosaur. "Before, that amazement was for the fact they weren't eaten!"

"Quell thier fears, for there are times it is pleasant to entertain strangers!", Thundertail said and I translated.

"He said they sometimes enjoy entertaining guests.", I said in English and Ankylosaur.

"How many have they entertained?", McGuire asked.

"Not including us, just one.", I told him. "It's thier first time, actually; but as you say, it is unusual for them to be so sociable!"

"Well, I think they are doing a good job of it!", McGuire said, and Sinbo nodded agreement as well. "This deserves to be told, you know. Would they like us to tell others about this? I'm sure the high council at Waterfall City would like to hear of it!"

I asked this question for him to Thundertail, and he gave me the answer: "We live a secluded life here, and our privacy would be disturbed. If word got out, there would be more and more strangers about. They are sworn to protect the holy places, and these strangers could enter them and get hurt. I do not reccommend you tell them about us just yet.", I translated, then added. "Though it is my opinion that more visitors would be beneficial, I can not go against the word of my leader."

"He leads you?", McGuire couldn't believe it, and neither could Sinbo.

"Since I am physically weaker than he is, he is the leader.", I told him. "All I can do is merely give advice. Mayday helps with the offspring, the hunts and shows them many domestic skills."

"An amicable arrangement, if I do say.", McGuire commented. "But one could say that you would miss the company of your peers. If you wish, you may travel with us. There is a lot more to Dinotopia than the Rainy Basin."

"This is my home, and I am sure Mayday feels the same.", I said. "I do not think I could live any other way."

"It true.", Mayday told him, taking my hand. "Nowhere I feel more useful."

The female Veloceraptor that tended to Sinbo sidled up to him and gave him a toothy nuzzle as I conferred with Thundertail at his queery, and McGuire accepted another platter of squash and berries from Whitetail as Rex slowly chewed the latest carcass. I then took some meat of my own and passed some to Mayday, much to the dismay of our new guests. Once the meal was over and lighter conversation ebbed of its' own accord, many of the carnivores there got up and tended to things around the clansite. Seeing this, McGuire got up as well and led Sinbo away to thier cart, explaining that they should be going soon, thanking us profusely for the visit.

As proper goodbyes were said, the pair hitched up and turned thier cart around. They said that the contents of the cart needed to be delivered to Culebra very soon; but the fact remained that they were still lost. Thundertail offered his assistence by having an escort of Veloceraptors lead them to the nearest common road, and for safe protection to the border of our territory. Though both tried to assure us that this wasn't necesary, they eventually accepted the offer, saying it might be unwise to anger us! The whole clan wished them safe passage and swift completion of thier journey as they at last disapeared through the forest down the path that led them there, four of our clan skirting the path in thier wake.

So ended our first encounter with other Dinotopians. We had little doubt that it wouldn't be the last. This, of course, came many weeks later.

Not long after McGuire and Sinbo left our camp to thier destination, we were out on another hunt. We were very close to the Incan pyramid this time, and most of the prey that the Veloceraptors had cornered there had bolted. Everyone in the hunting party scattered off to pursue thier chosen kills; and the ones Rex, Mayday, myself, Whitetail and several of her tribe had scurried off toward the pyramid. As most of the struthies jigged left, Rex, Mayday and two of the Veloceraptors persued them to the leeward side of the pyramid.

The ones Whitetail, three of her group and I were chasing filed into an opening of the pyramid and disapeared down its' depths. We followed them, and soon nearly got lost down the dark corridors. The Veloceraptors had natural night vision, so seeing where they were going was not much of a problem; and me with Klamath's sophisitcated optics was able to see equally well. All of us split up and cornered our prey at a corridor intersection many hundreds of feet below the jungle surface. We dispatched our kills in very short order; and when we were done we looked around at where we were.

The walls around us were etched in hyroglyphs and other carvings, and many of these carviongs were guilt in solid gold! Reading these markings were a mystery to Whitetail and her group, but Klamath studied these marks and exclaimed - I read a feeling of suprised familiarity mixed with a happy feeling coming from the suit.

"What is it, Klamath?", I asked in my mind.

"These hyroglyphs tell a story.", he thought to me. "A story of one of the last great battles the armor of Ogthar - my fellow comrades - were in."

"What does it say?", I asked in my mind.

"It says that after a great battle, many of the machines of war was entombed.", Klamath told only me. "In a place where the 'backbone was forbidden'."

"That doesn't make sense!", I told him.

"Yes it does, if you see the logic!" Klamath said. "The two major mountain ranges on Dinotopia are the Forbidden mountains and the Backbone mountains. It means they were buried where these two ranges converge."

"And if I remember the map you showed me, this pyramid is where those two mountain ranges meet!", I concluded. "Exactly!"

"Are you going to get your kills or leave them to rot?", Whitetail asked as she came over. "What are you doing anyway?"

"I'm trying to read this writing.", I told her.

"That scratch?", she hissed. "We had better get this meat back to the clan. My babies must be hungry by now!"

"Coming!", I knew not to argue when it came to her offspring! Talk about being a henpecked husband!!

I picked up my Struthies and led the group out of the pyramid, aided by Klamath the whole way because he had automatically mapped our route. Once outside we regrouped up with the others and made our way back to the clansite. By now it was nearly noontime, and the usual celebration began as everyone began to feed.

"We must go back there, you know.", Klamath thought to me as I ate.

"Why?", I thought back.

"With my comrades helping us, I will be able to fulfill Othgar's wishes.", he told me.

"But what about what we're doing here?", I aasked. "I thought that if we guide these creatures into civilization, that would do the same job!"

"We could surely use the help.", Klamath was insistent! "Besides, I could always forcce you to!"

"Ok, Ok!", I thought. "Don't get testy! I'll see what I can do."

"What are you thinking, Fly with a stinger?", Thundertail turned to me and asked.

"When we were inside the pyramid over there, I was thinking it would be a good idea to find out just what we're guarding.", I told him. "There may be things in there that someone might want to take, and that would be tempting enough for them to come. They might get hurt!"

"I see now!", Thundertail laughed after absorbing what I said. "Humans are naturally curious, and you want to know what is inside! Perhaps if you go see, your curiosity will be quenched, and we'll have no more of this!"

"But no one may enter sacred ground!", Grond protested. "The hunting party broke tradition by going in there in the first place!"

"Yes, but he is right, Grond my clan brother.", Thundertail told him. "No one has been in these places since Stinktooth the great made that rule. We do not know what is there, nor what it is we're guarding! I say we should plan a trip there and let them explore and see what there is to see. Then they can tell us so we know the dangers."

Nothing else was said about it for the rest of the feast; and when it was done, it was my turn to feed Whitenose, Snapper and Ripper - this was done at Whitetail's insistence! Then Mayday and I got to work gathering the things we would need to explore the pyramid. We made torches, stored water and extra food in sacks as well as in my backpack. Next we asked for some volunteers from the Veloceraptors and Tyranosaurs to join us.

Rex wanted to come, of course; and so did many of the hunting party from the morning, saying they already knew much of the layout from thier chasing thier prey through the darkened passageways. Everything was all set as we waited for morning; and when it finally came, both us and the scouting party set out going seperate ways.

The trip to the foot of the pyramid was rather uneventful, save for us flushing out our breakfast of a small creche of Ankylosaur hatchlings; and when we got there, we set everything we would need on the ground and began to form a plan on how to proceed. It was decided that Mayday, Rex and myself would carry torches since our eyesight was not so good in the dark. Of the six Veloceraptors, only Whitetail and Mosquito took a torch since thier eyesight was a lot better than ours. We were to go in three groups: Mosquito would take two of his cousins, Whitetail would take two more and I would take Mayday and Rex with me; but we wouldn't split up unless the passageways demanded it.

I lit all of our torches and led the precession inside, and the first few dozen feet seemed familiar enough until we got to the point where we had gotten yesterday's kills. I found the spot where the section of hyroglyph inscriptions that had excited Klamath and read it once more. I showed it to the group and explained what I thought it meant, and followed the inscriptions farther into the structure. Shards of pottery and rusted implements of unknown purpose were scattered on the dusty floor of the passageways, and the illustrations on the walls changed styles many times. Around a corner we came to a short hallway with an arched portal down the far end of it.

The dimmest of all visible light is seen through the portal, as we went inside. The floor of the corridor beyond sloped downward and took sort of a spiraling course. The reliefs on the walls lining this tunnel seemed to be like a flowing narrative in pictures of nearly Greek or Roman in design. I had figured that we were about five hundred feet below the pyramid as the spiraling corridor ended at another portal. This portal was gilt in solid gold, it seemed, and the chamber that opened up beyond it was truely spacious and beautiful - I began to think that we had found another way into Halcyon, but I would soon be proven wrong!

The chamber was long, straight and tall; and windows stood out as black squares in our torchlight high overhead. All along this underground avenue stood columns of wood doors heavily reinforced with ironwork done in intricate saurian patterns, and at the center of each door was a large emblem with an indent at its' center. Every door they tried would not budge, even with everyone pitching in.

"This is no good.", I panted. "They're shut tight!"

"What we do?", Mayday asked. "Hallway is dead end!"

"Listen up!", I said as Klamath had a revelation and wanted me to translate. "Klamath says these doors will not open unless a key is used. The emblem on each is the key recepticle."

"But no see keyhole!", Mayday did not understand.

"They open with a special kind of Sunstone.", Klamath told them through me. "One that will fit special into this indent.", he had my finger point.

"Sunstones at Waterfall City depository!", Mayday said. "Sunstones for all! They protect!"

"Klamath is powered by Sunstones.", I said, then the suit took over. "I have one in my posession, in the lair where I was found. It was found by colonel Decker, and is hidden there for safekeeping."

"But we no go there!", Mayday said. "That many miles south!"

"We might have to make an expedition to Halcyon and another expedition to here if we're ever going to get these doors open.", I said, then after a pause: "Klamath says it's the only way."

"We must be giong.", Whitetail informed us. "Our torches will be out very soon."

"Ok, let's go then.", I said, reluctantly agreeing.

We left the area and eventually made our way out the way we came. Fortunately, Veloceraptors have a keen tracking sense, and our journey to the surface took less time than the journey inside. Once there, we squinted at the sun and made our way back to the clansite. There we were greeted with all the enthusiasm these carnivores were capable of, then we were regaled with questions of what we found.

"So, the chambers we found down there were locked.", I told them after answering thier questions. "If we are ever going to know what's behind those doors, we'll need a key. Now a few days after I arrived here, I hunted a dinosaur, and she had an amulet around her neck. When I found Klamath, he told me it was a key that belonged to something. He suspects that this key would open those doors."

"And where is this key amulet now?", Thundertail asked.

"Klamath had us put it away for safekeeping.", I told him. "It is back in his sanctuary. That's in Halcyon."

"Halcyon is where we first camped. Right, my Partner?", Rex asked.

"Yes.", I said. "We need to go there and get it."

"But what of the hunt?", Grond growled. "What about the sanctity of the place?"

"There are plenty of ones to help in the hunt, my cousin.", Thundertail told him. "Besides, if we do not let these humans satisfy thier curiosity, they will never settle down and get back to clan business!"

That, to them, meant that we could go; but it took many more days to organize that part of the expedition. One of the main reasons for the delay was the fact we had another visitor or two during this time! We were in the middle of packing to leave when we saw a shadow pass over our heads. Naturally, the whole clan scattered for the shelter of the trees; but Mayday was gathering tubers from the river's edge and didn't notice.

The screech of a Skybax startled her and she looked up. The creature landed many yards off, and the rider dismounted and saluted. Mayday was about to bolt for the forest, but the rider stayed her hand by yelling a greeting.

"Breathe deep, friend!", he said. "Need you help? The rainy Basin is no place for one alone as you are!"

"Not need help.", Mayday growled. "Who you?"

"Name's Scott. David Scott.", he said. "This is my steed, Freefall.", he squawked and preened a wing.

"You long way from Canyon City.", Mayday said as I slowly aproached. "Why you here?"

"I was on patrol when I saw your campfire.", Scott said. "It is dangerous here. There are Tyranosaurs around. I saw a few just before I landed."

"Hello, noble flyer!", I called, and both newcomers turned with a start. "Seek peace, my friends!"

"Hello sir.", Scott said. "Did you know you two camped in Tyranosaur territory?"

"We live here.", I told him. "We are friends with the Tyranosaurs."

He looked at me like I was crazy! "You sure you wouldn't want me to lead you to Treetown or something?", Scott looked at Freefall, and he crowed laughter. "You guys have been in the woods too long!"

"It looks like I have to show you!", I smirked, then called for Thundertail. "Please don't be alarmed! They are quite an agreeable folk, honest!"

Never the less, David Scott got into a defensive stance while Freefall nearly bolted into the air. The only thing that halted thier flight was when Mayday picked up a hatchling and cuddled it while I picked up Ripper and offered the human to pat him. A moment's hesitation and mister Scott calmed down somewhat. The Skybax was a little more agitated than his rider as several Veloceraptors edged near.

"See? Nice as can be!", I said as both newcomers stood down.

"This has never happened before!", Scott said. "Who are you, and why are they like this?"

"Ok, I guess I better start at the beginning.", I said. "This is Mayday, from Culebra; and I am colonel Charles Decker, from the United States Air Force. I am known around here as Stinger."

"Are you from the outside world?!", Scott asked, astounded. "How in the world did you get here?"

"My jet crashed in the Rainy Basin.", I told him. "I've been here for almost a year, right?", Mayday nodded.

"This is uncanny! the council at Waterfall City has GOT to know about this!", Scott said all at once. "I can lead you there, and you can get trained to be a Dinotopian. You'll get a life Partner and settle into a nice life!"

"I like it here.", I said simply. "I don't want to leave."

"You're not supposed to live in the Rainy Basin.", Scott said sternly. "It's against the rules."

"I live by the rules of this clan.", I told him. "This is my home, and these are my people."

"Still, the Waterfall City council should hear of this!", Scott told me. "If you want to live, come with me. If not, I wish you luck.", Skybax rider David Scott mounted Freefall and they took off out of sight...
_

[thundertail]

_

TWELVE:
"Exploration"

With the memory of the visit of the Skybax rider still fresh in our minds, we continued to prepare for our excursion to Halcyon. A worried Thundertail asked what the human meant by him saying that the high council would certainly hear of thier group. I told them that Mayday said that the high council was the main authority on Dinoptopia, and they had a say in everything. He didn't like this, but I told him that Mayday said that thier jurisdiction did not exactly include the Rainy Basin, as it was left for the carnivores. I was a little worried that we hadn't seen the last of the Skybax rider and his ilk!

With little more delay than that, Mayday, myself, Rex, Whitetail, three of her clan, Pincushion and Thistlesnarl set out for Halcyon. We had with us everything we needed for a subterranean journey: Torches, extra food and water and the like - and I also carried my Colt 45 for good measure along with the remaining thirty rounds of ammo. We headed south, and bagged us two Ankylosaurs along the way for lunch.

At the entrance to Halcyon, we lit our torches and entered the courtyard in front of the entrance. Down the spiraling steps we went, the Tyranosaurs with us fumbling with thier torches in thier miniscule forelimbs. At the bottom they all wanted to split up, but I told them to stick together; that it's a big city, and it was easy to get lost. I led them through the lanes and down the passageways, past many dwellings, where Mayday stopped to collect pieces of pottery, untensils made of iron, various trinkets and other useful things.

We reached the entrance to Klamath's ampetheatre and I lit the brasier just inside. The group marveled at the sloping, golden place; and they gasped in mild horror at the mummified corpse of Sharptooth, who still guarded Klamath's throne. Klamath, paused to stroke his putrefyed head and moved on to step onto the dias of his throne.

"This is my place.", he said to them all through me. "Long have I waited for one worthy to wear me, and through colonel Decker, I have found him. The amulet we seek is hidden here. Observe!"

Klamath stepped to his throne, and I had no chioce but to follow. The others stood at the base of the dias and watched us as we walked around the back of the throne. We clasped the two hornlike projections at the corners, and the whole throne slid forward over three feet. Our guests witnessed this event with much trepidation; but lost most of that as several of the Veloceraptors approached the hole that was now exposed. I halted them with a hand as I descended into the darkened chamber below by myself.

Klamath went to the iron box on the shelf inside and opened it. The chain with the amber amulet was still there on top; undisturbed after all this time. I saw that there were other objects inside this box: Jewls of priceless worth, Sunstones of various sizes and uses and small devices I could only guess the functions - though I'd have to ask Klamath about them later. He closed the box quickly and put it under his arm before ascending the ladder.

"I have what we came here for.", Klamath told me to tell them. "My armory has many weapons inside. If you wish you can have all you want."

"Weapons enemys, even to owners.", Mayday stated the Dinotopian rule.

"But in an area such as the Rainy Basin, it would be prudent to arm one's self!", I told her before Klamath could. "Please, indulge in Klamath's hospitality!"

"Me no like this, but ok.", she descendecd the ladder and came up many moments later with a staff of unusual design. "I good with sticks!"

"Ah! The staff of Thesa-Zule!", Klamath stated. "It shoots a beam of energy that can collapse a building, and made of indestructible elements. Allow me to show you how it works one day!"

"Thank you.", was Mayday's simple reply.

"Go on, my tribe!", I said to the Veloceraptors, seeing how they marveled at Mayday's new weapon. "You may pick your own weapons too if you wish!"

They scampered down the ladder and emerged after much rasping and grumbling from below with thier chosen weapons. Whitetail emerged with a sword of sorts - or rather, the hilt of one. It was the energy sword of Ax-Falnt, a blade that could cut through anything when activated. Mosquito took the spear of Ich-Saza, whose tip vibrated so it could skewer even stone. Many of the others found swords, tridents and bows of regular design, made for regular soldiers, or were commandiered by Klamath and the armor of Othgar as spoils of war. While they were below choosing thier weapons, Klamath went over to the body of Sharptooth and felt around the dead creature's neck. The rusted steel chain was still there, and the object Klamath had placed there well over two hundred years ago was under the hulking remains, so he pulled. Once freed, Klamath turned to Rex and spoke.

"Rex, son of Thundertail, descendant of Stinktooth the great; I present you with a gift as well.", Klamath told the juvenile Tyranosaur. "This is Thak-Allon, the protector of carnivores. This medallion was worn by my last Partner. Sharptooth wore it when we traveled outside the Rainy Basin. It has magical powers that allows the wearer to go anywhere on Dinotopia unfettered by the Sunstones' effects. It is yours. Use it well."

"What that do?", Mayday asked, and I paused while Klamath explained.

"Klamath says that it counteracts the Sunstones that ward off carnivores.", I said. "It creates a nullifying field around the wearer, and lets them go anywere they want. He says that the effects of the Sunstones gives Tyranosaurs a tremendous headache, and that's why they stay away from them!"

"Oh! Me always thought they stay away because of treaty!", Mayday said, giggling in her low, throaty way.

"For wild Tyranosaurs, treaties would not concern them.", Rex told her through me. "Fences and other means of deterrent would!"

Whitetail hissed at me, and I saw her torch sputtering - she was heading for the exit, the hilt of Ax-Falnt in her other hand. I saw it was time to go, and motioined for the others to follow her lead; of which they drew thier attention from thier new weapons and followed suit. I led the way out of the ampetheatre and into the streets of downtown Halcyon, thinking of how marvelous this place would be once restored, and we made it to the stairwell less than an hour later.

On the surface we got our bearings and headed back to the clansite many miles to the north; and on the way we paused to down a pair of Parasolopholus that converged on our trail. Lunch done, we continued onward with our booty until we made it to within sight of the boomerang shaped clearing. The roars of greeting we received were getting pretty routine by now, and we responded to them in kind as all meandered out to greet us properly. Many marveled at the deep brown box I carried while some wondered at the new weapons everyone carried, and many more gasped at the medallion that hung around Rex's neck.

"Fly with a stinger, what wonders did you bring from Halcyon?", Thundertail got through the crowd to ask. "What have we need of weapons?"

"My king, I bring the key needed to unlock the secrets of the pyramid chambers.", I told him. "Klamath, in his generosity, has given us gifts from his horde of weapons and treasures."

"He has given my son a gift as well.", Thundertail squinted at the sheen coming from the stones that adorned Rex's medallion. "He is generous indeed!"

"Klamath said it will allow me to travel outside the Rainy Basin without fear of pain.", Rex said. "It must be magical!"

"Thak-Allon protects carnivores from Sunstone exposure.", Klamath explained. "It uses many colored and frequencied Sunstones to counteract the effects of the white Sunstones."

"Staff magical too.", Mayday told him, hefting it.

"Sword is too!", Whitetail said, holding up the shaft so all can see.

"Some sword! It has no blade!", Thundertail chuckled.

"Ax-Falnt is a powerful weapon. Observe:", Klamath said as he made me take the device. Grasping it, I palmed a stud on the grip and a bluish beam shot out of it three feet long. I swung it around in a small figure eight pattern and it buzzed and whizzed, blurring through the air as it went. I shut it off and handed it back to Whitetail. "It can slice through anything!"

"My spear buzzes too!", Mosquito said.

"Ich-Saza can punch through any material.", Klamath hefted it and drove it into a rock by the river's edge. The rock melted in two before splitting in half! "On prey, it is invincible!"

"How you work staff?", Mayday wanted to know.

"Thesa-Zule fires an energy pulse, much like my stunner and my pusher combined. Observe:", Klamath took it, spun it in an arc and clasped the middle protrusion with both hands. The nonbladed end glowed at the tip a sick orange before it was aimed at a boulder across the river. A thin pencil of energy spat out the end, colllided with the boulder and fractured it into a thousand pieces! "I will train you all on the use of your weapons later."

"And now, before you finish telling your tale,", Thundertail cut in just then. "Would you all join us in today's feast? The hunt was most successful today!"

All cheered at the news, and most sauntered off to the area where the kills were dragged; but a few lingered by me and the rest of the explorers, namely Thundertail and most of the Veloceraptor clan. We went over as a group, commenting on the conventional weapons the others were displaying and them telling of how much better hunting will be with them. Rex was still showing off his medallion to Pincushion and Thistlesnarl, displaying how shiny the jewels were as the female juvenile was trying to coax it away from him. As I sat beside them, I politely informed the youngsters that only Rex may wear it, and it was my gift to him. They were so adamant they have it that I promised them a jewel from the metal box for each of them later!

While all this was going on, Mayday lit the fire, and many clan members commenced doling out the meat. Several Veloceraptors dragged branches for her to use on the fire, and she began to boil tubers - the only plants besides some fruits that Tyranosaurs could digest with minimal difficulty. As the clan ate, we all swapped our stories and heard many tales; and a lot of them I had heard lots of times already, but never seemed to tire of them! All too soon the feast died down like the sparks coming from the dying campfire, and most of the younger ones or ones who had to hunt early in the morning retired for the night. Only the heartiest of us decided to stay up; and I was the second to last to bed that night, but neither Klamath nor I could get to sleep...
_

[thundertail]

_

THIRTEEN:
"Zandra, the armor of Othgar."

Klamath wouldn't even let me take him off that night, he was so excited - and I couldn't blame him one bit! What ever lay beyond the doors under the pyramid must have seemed extremely special to him, and he knew it. I was excited as well, for he sparked my curiosity about the place, making my nighttime slumber escape me for most of the night! I lay there in the makeshift cabin, arm over my forehead and ignoring the rather uncomfortable sensations lying around with Klamath on my body as the hours passed. I finally did get some sleep, but it was ragged and I tossed all night.

Maybe that was why I heard the shuffling noises outside, which was punctuated by snufflings and scrapings that no creature in the clan would make at this hour! I slowly lifted my head to make out the dimness coming from the half closed doorway; and Klamath complied as he woke to the noises too. I quietly rose and crept to the door, ever mindful to Mayday sleeping next to me, Whitetail on her nest with Whitenose, Ripper and Snapper huddled against her in slumber and Rex who had crawled in the cabin after wishing his father good night; all of whom were still oblivious of my stirring. The half moon illuminated the forest and clearing beyond with an eerie sheen as I scanned the area with my eyes. Klamath's mask formed around my face and I saw the area with crystal clarity, but no sign of trouble presented itself. As soon as Klamath activated the infared feature of his vision I saw dim shapes move among the trees and into the gloomy clearing. These three creatures were a little bigger than me, yet substantially smaller than Tyranosaurs. Thier wierd heads sported twin frills, and thier forward-stooped gaits betrayed thier extra stealthy activities. They knew they were in a clan of Tyranosaurs, and dared not rouse anybody!

I crept out of the cabin, changing invisible, even though they would no doubt smell me, and crept nearer to them. They were at the leftovers of last nights' kills; and alternately feeding while keeping a lookout. These were Dilophosaurs, or so Klamath told me: nocturnal hunters, and not put off in the least on scavenging instead of hunting. I crept closer, using Klamath's speed and subtile maneuvering; and soon I was within many yards of the beasts as they rent the carcasses with extra wary caution. Invisible, I stood and took a bead on the closest Dilophosaur with my stunner; and when it raised its' head to look in my direction, I fired. It went down in a wet heap as the other two first looked, and then began to bolt; but two blasts more and they lay there beside thier fallen comrade.

"TO ARMS! TO ARMS!", I yelled at the top of Klamath's volume. "INTRUDERS ARE IN CAMP!"

This brought the first clan members in less than a moment, followed by all the rest over a span of three! The noise this disturbance made echoed all throughout the clearing as well as the camp; and soon Thundertail was in our midst. Rex spotted the three striped beasts, who were just coming to, and snarled at them - and they groggily snarled back! Whitetail held her babies back as many of the rest of her clan surrounded the Dilpohosaurs by filling any avenue of escape left by thier larger friends.

"What goes on here, Fly with a stinger?", Thundertail roared. "Who are these interlopers?"

"My king, I could not sleep; and then I heard noises in the clearing.", I explained. "I looked and found these three feeding off our kills. I stunned them and gave a distress call."

"I see! Excellent work!", Thundertail said as he eyed the three quivering carnivores, who were now almost fully aware they had been captured! "I also see that we need not hunt this morning! Our prey has delivered themselves to us!"

"Is that what you would do to us?", the larger male Dilophosaur spoke up just then. "I had heard that Tyranosaurs of this area were civilized!"

"Only partially so, but our tradition still stands:", Thundertail glared at him. "Death to intruders!"

"We were intruders, and yet you didn't kill us.", I said for myself, Mayday and our Veloceraptors.

"That was because you proved your worth many times over.", Thundertail told me, eyeing me to stand down. "These creatures dare to sneak in here and steal our hard-won kills!"

"Well, maybe they can show you thier worth as well.", I said.

"How so?", Thundertail asked, expecting an answer from either me or our captives.

"Klamath informs me that Dilophosaurs are night hunters.", I began. "They are stealthy and quick with an ambush. Perhaps as a service in repayment of letting them live, they could scout out kills for us at night and direct us to where they are in the morning."

"You would do this for your lives?", Thundertail asked these frilled creatures. "Speak!"

"Since you caught us red-clawed, we have no choice but to do as you say in exchange for our lives.", stated the male. "I speak for my pack on this."

"More strangers?", Grond hissed softly as he came into the group. "Say it's not true, clan brother!"

"We have let creatures not of our kind into our clan before; and the results proved better than could be imagined.", Thundertail told him. "With these creatures scouting the hunting grounds at night, it would give us an added edge on our hunting. Would this not be so, Fly with a stinger?"

"I believe so.", I told him.

"Should we really trust them?", Rex asked his father. "Their looks give me the creeps!"

"True, they are strange looking.", Thundertail told him. "But all creatures have thier worth, no matter what they look like!"

"I think they look very interesting!", Thistlesnarl commented, getting a growl from Deathflower.

"Well, anyway...", Thundertail broke in. "What are your names, if I may ask?"

"I am pack leader, Bross.", Bross stated as he got up and bowed. Then he turned to introduce the rest. "This is Chizpa, my mate; and this is Leeter, my second. The rest of my pack are elsewhere, hunting other prey; and they should be back at our camp by now."

"Well met - however the circumstances!", Thundertail approached him and bowed. "I'll see you are provided with quarters and food. If possible, the others in your clan should join you. We need to locate them soon!"

"Never fear, my king.", Bross said. "If we are detained, the others will come looking for us! They will track us down, and be here before a fortnight is past."

"Then your duty is to inform them of your new obligation when they get here!", Thundertail told him. "We will welcome them as well! Seems my clan is hospitable after all, eh?", Thundertail leaned into Bross at this and chuckled. "Welcome to the clan, carnivore brother!"

Thundertail led Bross away toward the kills as Rex and Grond led Chizpa and Leeter there as well. The whole clan watched them as they ate the scraps that still clung onto the carcasses - a little too closely for these generally solitary creatures' tastes! I sauntered by to say hello, along with Mayday and all the rest; and once both thier meals were completed and all the introductions were made, I got busy readying everything for the excursion back inside that Incan temple.

This was at the insistance of Klamath!

However, it took nearly a week to get everything and everyone ready for it. The main reason for this was the fact that the rest of Bross's pack had arrived three days later; and the whole clan took the time to introduce themselves to them and show them how things were done around here. The new Dilophosaurs were Striff, Leeter's mate, Goerlatch and his mate Rivien and Rellas, Bross and Chizpa's son. Within a few days all seven Dilophosaurs began to get used to thier new home - and thier new jobs. Then and only then did everyone else think it was prudent to go exploring the Incan pyramid!

As before, Rex wanted to come, and so did Mayday. Mosquito took four of his best tribemembers: Stinkweed, Treesap, Spiderweb and Rockslide. This was at Whitetail's insistance, of course; for she was getting respect as she led her tribe like a real male leader would. As a treat, we let Pincushion come along with us, mainly because his secret job given by Thundertail was to escort Leeter along with this expedition so the Dilophosaurs could get a feel for our other activities besides hunting as well.

We set out down the now familiar path once everyone was all set, and made it to the Incan pyramid by midmorning. We only paused for a short spell along the way to hunt a small bevy of Struthies that crossed our path; and left them at the foot of the pyramid for lunch once we reemerged. We lit torches and went in as a group, going slowly this time because Klamath informed me that the hyroglyphs on the walls along the way might hold other clues to this places' purpose; and the tales they told us along the way told of the struggles people and dionosaurs had in establishing the Dinotopia so long ago. Battles over territories were abundant, as well as struggles with the forces of nature and wild creatures. As I told the stories carved in the walls for them, my group reveled in awe of what they were hearing - they were learning pieces of thier history that not even the holy library at Waterfall City contained, or so Mayday told us!

We traveled along the passageways until we came to the area where the locked doors were. This hallway was as it was when we left the last time, with only one exception. Since I had been carrying that box I had gotten from Halcyon, and all the Sunstones and amulet and other treasures were inside, the recepticles on all the doors were glowing softly in response to the presence of these things, pulsing with thier own color hue. We set aside all the things we had been carrying and studied each door on our own for a while. I took out the amber amulet and tried it on a door to my right that was glowing green, and that door refused to open when I inserted the crystal into the recepticle. Pincushion saw what I was doing with it and decided to try his blue stone I had given him the same way. The door he was working on glowed red, and the stone would not work either! It seemed the doors were color coded in some way, so I tried the amber amulet on a door with an amber glow. It opened with an airtight hiss, and I peered inside. My torch illuminated rows and rows of slabs leaning against the walls, and on them were glyphs of a most primative script - almost like Sumerian Cuneaform writing. Klamath told me that this must be some kind of ancient library or storehouse for records!

Seeing this, Pincushion tried his blue stone on a blue-glowing door, and it opened for him as well. Leeter peered inside, unaided due to his natural night vision, and told us that this room contained strange parts and machinery; magical devices, he said. Seeing how successful we were so far, I took many more jewels and other devices out of the box and handed them out to the others. Soon a creature was at all the other unopened doors with a Sunstone of the color the door glowed; and I joined them with my amber key as soon as Klamath made note of a passage written about him in the chamber we were in. I paused at the other door glowing amber and nodded for everyone else to use thier keys all at once.

Whitetail's green Sunstone opened her chamber, and found it just loaded with really large Sunstones of various colors. These were carved into intricate shapes, and looked like they might fit into some kind of socket - like plug recepticles on machinery, I told her later as we explored that chamber. The magical devices in Pincushion and Leeter's chamber had devices and spare parts, things that looked like they were for repairing large machinery - a workshop, I surmized. The red door that Mayday opened contained weapons both archaic and modern; and a futuristic forge of sorts was seen inert in the corner - an armor's shop, no doubt. Spiderweb and Rockslide's green door revealed racks and racks of decaying scrolls, and on these scrolls were written Footprint language in a most ancient dialect - the least decayed scroll I examined told of the Troodonts that used to occupy Halcyon so long ago - they observed the ways of Othgar!

The other chambers of similar glowing color contained more of the same as the colored chambers previousely explored; but the most amazing thing was in the last amber chamber I had opened! It lay on a bier in the center of the room, golden etchings covered the walls; telling of the deeds of this ancient warrior. As soon as the amber amulet entered the room, the room seemed to glow a yellowish tinge. The eyes of the body on the bier began to glow; and from that I could see that it was not a body at all! Had it been standing, it would be taller than me; for this suit of armor was made for someone very tall indeed! As I stared at this yellow and tan creation laying there, Klamath sent me a string of emotions I never knew the suit of armor posessed: Absolute love and extreme passion! I was so overwhelmed at these sensations that I barely noticed the rest of the party entering the chamber as I ascended the steps that led to the laying figure's side.

"Oh! My beloved! At last I found you after all these millennia!", Klamath said through his own speakers, for I was still too overwhelmed at his emotions to speak. "My dearest Zandra! How I have longed to be with you again!"

"What going on?", Mayday asked, partially breaking us out of it.

"Klamath has found another suit of armor!", I said. "It seems he knows her!"

"Her?", Rex asked. "How do you know this?"

"Never mind. Just give me that box, and all your Sunstone jewels everyone!", I said. "Klamath has a plan.", I didn't know this until it was out of my mouth!

Everyone complied as I placed the amber amulet onto the slightly feminine chestplate where a slight recess was. The amber eyes of the mask, which was in the form of a Miasaurus, glowed softly as I heard a fiant voice in my head: 'What is going on?', it asked weakly. Klamath told the suit to be calm, and who he was; and soon the eyes pulsated as if the suit were breathing. Mayday opened the box, and I took out the largest white Sunstone in there; which was about the size and shape of a chicken egg, and the glow from this stone was blinding to everyone! The Dilophosaur, Veloceraptors and other Tyranosaur screamed and hid from the blinding light, mewling in pain. The only ones that didn't flinch at the light much was Mayday because she was human and Rex, who wore the amulet of carnivore protection.

"Zandra, can you hear me?", Klamath said. "Please answer me, my love!"

"I feel so weak...", came the voice from the suit lying there. "Klamath, is that you?"

"It is me, beloved!", Klamath said as he opened a panel below the amber amulet. "You are weak. Your Sunstones are nearly dead! This will help...", he placed the white Sunstone into the cavity after removing the graphite-like husk of the former Sunstone in there. "There, dear. Let this Sunstone re-energize you."

After many moments the glowing in her eyes stopped pulsating and glowed in increasing intensity. At last she spoke: "I am Zandra, armor of Othgar!", Zandra's voice echoed in the rather smallish chamber. "For eons I have waited to be summoned, and it was none other than my former mate that has awakened me! Oh Klamath! How I have wanted to be with you! But who are these other creatures, and who is it that currently wears you?"

"Ma'am,", I spoke. I told her who I was, and introduced her to all present. lastly, I told her why we were here, and why she had been awakened.

"You must have had some great purpose in mind, or else my services would not be needed!", Zandra told everyone. "It could not be out of simple curiosity!"

"No, ma'am.", I said. "Klamath wants to restore the ways of Othgar, and I guess he thinks the job would be done better with two suits of armor. That's what I think at least!"

"When I saw you there, it brought me back to the time when we were alive.", Klamath told her. "Our Ankylosaur herd was well favored by Othgar!"

"Indeed, my love!", Zandra chuckled. "So much so that he had our essences melded with these suits of armor!"

"It gave us all another chance to serve Him before our herd was destroyed.", Klamath replied somberly. "Curse the Comet!"

"Wait!", Mayday broke in. "You mean you originally Ankylosaur?"

"Yes, child.", Zandra told her. "But to survive, we had to go with Othgar and be embellished in his plan."

"As I needed so many months ago, Zandra needs a wearer.", Klamath said. "Mayday, do you wish to be her host?"

"Me don't know!", Mayday said. "Stinger suit scare me! This suit scare me more!"

"The glory to be had wearing me would outshine anything you could imagine!", Zandra told her. "You would be all but invincible!"

"Come on! Please?", I added. "This obviousely means a lot to Klamath, and Zandra would like you to too."

"Ohhh...", Mayday posed in thought. "Will it hurt?"

"I don't think so.", I told her. "It's a little disorienting at first..., but that wouldn't be much of a problem."

"Ok...", Mayday said after many moments of decision, drawing forward a little bit. "What I do?"

"Go up these steps and wait until Zandra opens up for you.", Klamath instructed as we both led her up to Zandra's prone form. The amber and tan armor split open down the middle and lay flat against the stone bier; and the helmet scrolled back, away and behind the neck of the armor. A nervous Mayday was instructed to slide up and lay into the armor as I led her into it and Klamath adjusted her arms and legs. "Now wait until she closes again...", the suit slowly complied as Mayday's widened eyes betrayed her extreme distress as those were hidden from view and the mask enclosed her face!

Zandra, the armor of Othgar began to glow a bright amber, which aproached a blinding white intensity. Everyone staggered back, including me; and then the armor dimmed to almost a normal hue. Zandra rose to a sitting position as Klamath rose and guided her to a standing position on the top step; then he guided her down to shakily stand on the floor of the chamber.

"My love, I thought I had died!", Zandra said as she drew Klamath - and myself along with Mayday - in an amourous embrace. "It is so good to see you!"

"I would wait until time itself ran out for this moment!", Klamath redoubled the embrace.

For some reason, Mayday's voice came through the emotion of the moment, and spoke to me: "Stinger..., I am so scared!", she said desperately. "What I do?!"

"Just relax.", I told her through my own emotion. "It has been a long time for them. Let them enjoy this reunion."

"But I feel... I feel her love, and I feel his!", Mayday said with a strange lilt. "It like I love you too, but I not sure..."

"Same here.", I told her. "You feel what the suit feels. That's the nature of the suit."

"But I not sure!", she said in desperation. "Is love I feel because of Zandra, or do I really feel love for you?"

"Do you like me?", I asked impishly. "I've liked you all along; ever since you showed up."

"Me too, I guess.", Mayday was calming down a bit. "I stay first because of duty to Dinotopia, but continue because you noble."

"Then what are you complaining for?!", I said and smiled, but she couldn't see because of Klamath's mask. "Just go with it, and we'll talk about it later, ok?"

"Yes,... This kind of nice anyway!", Mayday said, smiling, but I couldn't see due to Zandra's mask. "One thing for sure: it nice of them to share!", she redoubled the embrace, and I could actually feel it too. "You know, you no need be so noble. You could have been a little more forward. I would have liked that!"

"Always the last to know!", I said as I willed Klamath's mask open. Mayday requested that Zandra do the same; and when that was done, we gave eachother a kiss. "So, how do you like your new suit so far?", I said as we finished. Klamath and Zandra was finished too at this time, and they turned to the rest of the group, still holding hands.

"It seem strange, but it seem she made for me.", Mayday said. "We be good for each other."

"That is good to hear, Mayday.", Zandra said. "Because I will certainly try to serve you well."

"You look real special in there, Mayday.", Rex said, looking the armor over. "Now you look like Stinger!"

"And who is this strapping Theropod?", Zandra addressed Rex. "Such a stout dinosaur!", she seemed to giggle.

"Awww!", Rex shied away.

"And you have a Thak-Allon, too!", she said. "Who gave it to you?"

"Klamath, ma'am.", Rex said. "Yeah, when that big Sunstone showed up, I didn't feel a thing!"

"Sunstone hurt!", Treesap said.

"Give headache!", Rockslide said.

"I dive for cover!", Stinkweed said. "Too bright!"

"That nature of Sunstones.", Mayday said. "They make pain, so they protect others."

"Too bad there aren't more around.", I commented. "That way more than just Rexy is protected!"

"I know where more such amulets are hidden.", Zandra said. "I could lead you there if you wish. There is a passageway in this room that leads to a chamber that has many such devices."

"You know, we may need them.", I said, then Klamath took over. "They might be useful in negotiating with the other Dinotopians."

"What we got to lose?", Mayday put in.

"Very well,", Zandra said. "Klamath, my love; if you would..."

She led him to the foot of the dias while she went to the head of the stone pedistal. She indicated to him to press the flowerlike carvings at the corners; and all of a sudden the dias slid to the far side of the chamber. The steps descended into the floor and sunk to form a stone spiral staircase that descended into the depths of the floor as far as our torches could reach. Zandra stepped around the now widened opening while Klamath did the same. As one they turned to face Rex and all the rest.

"The chamber is hundreds of strides down.", Zandra told them. "There are many Sunstones there, so I suggest that you unprotected carnivores remain here until we get back."

"I always liked it when she takes charge!", Klamath said out of the blue. I couldn't help but laugh!

Everyone joined in for a moment, and then Rex led the way down the wide stone spiral. As soon as the steps made two full turns, the walls along the sides became emblazoned with brightly painted and gilt reliefs, which were more like pictures and paintings than the cartuches and hyroglyphs present in the rest of the Incan temple. They depicted scenes from life long ago: humans and dinosaurs first erecting the great stone monoliths and buildings of many cities. Then they changed into scenes of people and dinosaurs partaking in life together: play, war, other things of everyday life. The stairs descended for what I thought was about a tenth of a mile before stopping at an intersection of sorts - rather, like the intersection of a city block, where four huge stone structures stood out; and thier ground floors sported many a portal.

Here the way was lined with many glowing niches, and as we passed, with our Sunstone laced suits of armor; these niches seemed to glow with a brightening intensity, dimminng as we passed. Wall carvings and statuary were everywhere, and I thought this was yet another section of Halcyon; but how could this section of Halcyon be here, which was many miles north of the subterrainean city? We traveled down this avenue until the next block, then the underground road we were traveling down took a steep incline deeper into the earth.

"Where are we?", Rex asked as he looked around at all the strange sights.

"We are nearing the Strutter complex.", Zandra informed him. "Where the main technology of Dinotopia was invented."

"Also where we were created.", Klamath said. "I remember this place now! A great library of pre-Dinotoipan knowledge is near."

"Main library at Waterfall City should know of this!", Mayday said.

"But for now, let us continue.", Zandra told us all. "The Thak-Allon are near by."

"Yeah, and we shouldn't leave the others alone up there for too long.", I cut in. "They might get nervous!"

"There's so much stuff down here!", Rex said as we turned down another avenue. "My father has GOT to know about this!"

"We'll tell him, kid!", I said as Zandra stopped at a building with a heavy iron and oak door.

Pulling the iron ring there, the door slowly opened with an ear-splitting shriek. The darkness inside was stifling, but as we entered the Sunstones lining the ceiling went on and glowed to an almost white intensity. The stone benches and niches in the walls were piled high with bits of intricate machinery, what I took to be golden jewelry and gems of unimaginable worth. Some of those jewels were carved into shapes of geometric design or of dinosaurs and animals, and quite a lot of them glowed. At a niche in the far wall of this chamber lay a large obsidianlike box, much larger than the one obtained from the weapons cache under Klamath's throne in Halcyon; and Zandra went over to place her palm onto the top. The box sprung open in an instant, and multicolored glowing eminated from it. She reached in and removed an amulet on a golden chain; which was much the same design as the one around Rex's neck; and she hefted it up for all of us to see.

"These are the Thak-Allon.", she told us. "There are twenty pair in here. That should be enough for many of the carnivores to travel outside the Rainy Basin. Yonder lay many still needing completion, and thier construction are relatively simple. The instructions are recorded on the walls, along with instructions for many other devices."

"Right, but all we need is amulets.", Mayday said.

"Yeah, we can come back later for anything else we need.", I said. "King Thundertail is definitely going to want to know about this place!"

"Can we leave soon?", Rex asked. "I'm getting hungry!"

"Sure thing, son.", I told him. "Let's go everyone."

Zandra and Mayday led the way back out, and soon they climbed the stone stairs back up to her crypt. The four Veloceraptors, one Tyranosaur and one Dilophosaur were still there, exploring the other chambers and examining the pretty things inside there. Rex called them all together, and told them what was found. To them it was just more of what they found here, so they paid the tale little mind. Zandra called them up one by one and gave them each a Thak-Allon in the size and shape of thier forms: Smaller carnivores got the small ones while the larger ones got the bigger amulets. There were still many left over to bring back with them, so they all prepared themselves to leave.

Not much happened on the way out. Being the second time through the pyramid, nearly everyone knew the way out. As they traveled back to the clan, a lone bull Triceratops crossed thier paths. Naturally, they gave chase; and Zandra had the honors of downing him with her stunner weapon before everyone fell on him! Dinner over, they continued on thier way, and made it to the boomerang shaped clearing amid cheers of greeting!

It turned out that there was a lot of things the clan wanted to know - especially about the armor that Mayday now wore. The explorers of the Incan pyramid certainly had some tales to tell, and everyone listened well into the night...
_

[thundertail]

_

FOURTEEN:
"Kirkys!"

That night was a most memorable evening indeed!

Rex, Leeter, Stinkweed, Treesap, Rockslide, Dirtpile, Mayday and myself all sat down to a feast. It seemed that the rest of the Triceratops herd was brought down that day, for eight of them littered thier feeding area; and thier feast was disturbed many times by questions put to them about what they had discovered in the World Beneath.

"So you see...", I continued between bites. "We went in and found the rooms were full of scrolls, devices and all sorts of information about Dinotopia's past. I think that there must be part of a library down there!"

"So, Protecting Petal,", Grond asked Mayday at his side. "To what honors do you now wear the armor of Othgar?"

"Zandra needed wearer.", Mayday said simply. "I only female human available!"

"I will serve her well.", Zandra spoke for herself. "In my day, I was the Protector of Dinotopian secrets. My new function can be the protector of carnivore children!"

"Then you may gain pointers from Mayday!", Grond chuckled, giving Mayday a nuzzle. "She is well experienced!"

"And these amulets you have given us.", Thundertail said. "To what function will they serve?"

"They will provide protection from the Sunstones that protect towns and outposts all around Dinotopia.", Klamath told him. "You would be able to travel anywhere on the island with inpunity."

"Yes, and they could come in handy in other ways.", I put in.

"How so, Fly with a stinger?", Thundertail inquired.

"Well, since the high council would no doubt soon find out about us,", I began. "They would come in handy in negotiation with them. We could send envoys to thier council and petition for a treaty beneficial to us."

"But we already have a treaty!", Grond said.

"A treaty where you're stuck in the Rainy basin!", I said. "One where you are not free to go where you please and do what you want!"

"Our wants are to eat and to live out our lives; and nothing much more.", Thundertail told me. "These wants can be achieved just as well here as any place else. The treaty we already have with them suffices both parties, and has been in place for centuries. It is a tried and true method for keeping the peace, and what you suggest could very well disrupt that peace!"

"Father, we don't have to negotiate a new treaty if we don't want to.", Rex said, stepping in. "I think what Stinger means is we now have the ability to do so if we feel the need to negotiate a new treaty."

"Was this your meaning?", Thundertail asked me.

"Yes, your honor.", I said. "It was merely a suggestion to demonstrate the usefulness of the Thak-Allon. It was not meant to suggest we actually do it!"

"Then if that was your meaning, I will forgive the brashness if you forgive my brashness!", Thundertail said.

"Of course, my king!", I said.

"Besides, that might be a good idea for the future!", Thundertail said. "You never know when we would get sick of the current state of affairs!"

We all laughed and went back to our feast. Along with all the things told and the hearing of the glories of today's hunt, it seemed prudent for everyone to turn in for the night; especially me since it was my turn to lead the scouts in finding tomorrow's game. Soon Whitetail joined me, Klamath, Mayday and Zandra in our cabin; and we all soon fell asleep. Whitetail was frazzled enough for keeping track of her three children for the past few days; but she still couldn't sleep. Ripper had come down with a little cold, and her worriedness cancelled out any chance for sleep tonight. She soon left the cabin to take a walk around the clansite.

At this hour nobody was stirring, and nobody should have - especially her! But she trapsed around as if in a trance, looking this way and that; not knowing why she was up and doing this. Soon she heard rustling sounds coming from bushes near the river's edge, and she quietly crept over to investigate. The bushes rustled and the squeaking disappeared in a second. Behind her she heard rustling, and she turned; but the tiny blur was too fast for her advanced night vision to make out! More minute squeaks and several more of the little creatures scurried out of hiding and scampered off towards the remains of the Triceratops kills. As she ran to intercept them, many more rushed out and crisscrossed her path!

That was it! She finally let off with a Veloceraptor war cry, and sent nearly every carnivore in the area rousing from slumber and out to see what was the matter. The reason for the disturbance was evident even before Whitetail had a chance to explain, for everyone could see the hundreds of little dinosaurs infesting thier territory! I came out of my cabin, along with Mayday Klamath and Zandra as Thundertail and Rex came over to try and regain order. The little monsters would not stop scurrying around, so Klamath and Zandra began peppering the area with stunner blasts. The quick little carnivores fell one by one, and when enough of the beasts were subdued, one that seemed like the leader stepped out of hiding and walked right up to Thundertail!

"What's the big idea?!", he said in a miniature voice. "Here I am trying to get my clan some grub, and here you are blasting the daylights out of them! What gives?"

"You dare to ask me what I'm doing in MY territory?!", Thundertail roared in his face. The little creature was not impressed! "You are too little a creature to have such a big audacity!!"

"Look mack. We're hungry.", the little creature said. "You seem done with the Trikes, so let us have them."

"You want me to stun him?", I asked Thundertail, aiming the beam at him.

"Don't waste the energy.", he replied. "I'll kill the scrawny bugger myself!"

Just then another of the little creatures walked out, skinny arms in the air. A sleepy Tyranosaur chick staggered out into the area and bumped into the creature, and the creature gently lifted the baby and righted him. "There you go, big fella!", she said in a femenine voice. "Go see mama.", then she resumed her stance, walking toward the male talking with Thundertail. "Got us in trouble again, eh Harold?"

"Put a vine in it, Mildred!", Harold said. "They're light sleepers, what can I say?"

"Uh sirs,", began Mildred. "Please forgive my mate. He's a male, and you know how they are!"

"What are you doing here?", Thundertail said in a somewhat calmer tone.

"We're hungry.", Mildred said. "We usually scavenge for food. This bonehead thought it was going to be easy scavenging from you. We're sorry, ok?"

"There's still the tresspassing.", Grond reminded.

"But they're kind to our children.", Deathflower said.

"We got kids of our own, sweetie.", Mildred explained.

"They're kind of cute!", Thistlesnarl commented.

"Yeah, but what do we do with them?", I asked, standing down somewhat. By this time many of the little ones were coming to. They cringed when they saw they were captured.

"Well, if they could do something useful around here, maybe we could be more lenient with them.", Rex suggested. "That is if it's ok by you, dad."

"What can they do?", Thundertail asked the air. "Besides scavenging, that is."

"Glad you asked, kind saurian!", Harold piped up. "We are a pack of Skartopus Kirkus - Kirkys to you. We had an act, and a traveling show of sorts until the Dinotopian council banned such activities. We're very talented, and we used to be very famous; and could put on a show of sorts for your entertainment pleasure. If you spare our lives, we could entertain you with our group. We call ourselves 'The Kirky Circus'!"

"Now I heard of everything!", I said out loud.

"Me too!", Thundertail whispered back.

"Anything to spare thier lives...", Grond whispered too.

"Well, I think it's a swell idea!", Rex said with a toothy grin.

"Son, I was thinking of them being useful like what work they could do around here.", Thundertail told him. "Not that they should sing for thier supper!"

"We can do that too if you like.", Harold said. "If you let us stay we could..., oh I don't know. Clean up the place and stuff like that. I see you guys don't exactly keep the place tidy!"

"HAROLD!", Mildred warned. "Now don't go angering them further! It looks like they could each eat a dozen of us without a second thought!"

"Not to worry, ma'am.", Thundertail said, looking down on this pigeon sized creature. "He's right: we are a messy species!", then in a whisper right in her face: "Besides, you're so small it's not really worth the effort to catch you!...", then so all could hear: "Anyway, this clan always gives others a second chance. So let's see what you can do!"

"But first, my king.", I said. "Let's let them do what they came here for. They must be really hungry by now!"

"Oh yes!", Thundertail said suddenly. "By all means, go ahead. We will discuss other arrangements in the morning. You all can bed down for the night in the clearing, and we'll find better arrangements later."

"Gee chief!", Harold said. "You're all right for a Tyranosaur!", he went with the others in his group to the Triceratops kills.

There must have been more than a hundred of the little creatures!

As most of the clan dispersed for the rest of the night to continue what ever dreams they were in the middle of, I went with Whitetail to our cabin where little Ripper lay in his mother's nest while his brother and sister lay beside Mayday. I tried to sooth the older Veloceraptor's anxiety of her sick son, and volunteered that she sleep in my bedroll for the night. She preened at the offer, but decided to tend her son instead. I went to her nest and cuddled along side it until I was roused out of my slumber by Bross. We quietly left the cabin and went to the clearing, where the scouts and hunters stood, waiting for me.

I saw, off to one side of the clearing, many knots of sleeping Kirkys; and Grond joked that we needn't go hunting today, for there were plenty of kills here already, waiting to be killed! Thundertail quietly reminded him there was no hunting in the clansite, and they were guests of the clan. After this Bross informed us there were many Hadrosaur to the north, very close to the edge of the Rainy Basin, just west of the outpost of Prosperine. The veloceraptors told us that this was on the edge of thier old territory, and they knew the area well. Just at this time Harold and five of his Kirky cousins woke to our discussion and asked to join in. Since they would have to begin to pull thier weight sooner or later, Thundertail told them they could come and observe how our combined clans hunt.

At length Bross and two of his Dilophosaur cousins led us to the area in question as the sun had finally risen in the area. As advertized, the herd of Hadrosaur numbered in the many dozens! After a surrounding maneuver from every hunter persent, they all converged on the herd in the swampy area it was situated in. The carnage was tremendous as many fell under many carniverous claws; and when it was over, there were eighteen carcasses to be brought back to the rest of the clan. By the time the first load of carcasses were dragged to the camp, the hunting party was met with quite a sight indeed!

The clearing was full of small carts the size of children's wagons. All were decked out in festive array, and had a Gypsey-like feel to them. Many of the Kirkys were scurrying about, setting up tents and cookstoves and other miniature paraphanalia ascociated with a massive campsite. The chaos was total as the hunting party saw many of thier clan helping these little creatures, and not knowing what they were doing! They were being constantly berated for doing something wrong, like putting up a tentpole wrong or stepping on a tent under construction; and many other such mishaps. Rex was busy pulling a rather large cart into the clearing, and Thundertail stopped him with a roar!

"Rex my son!", Thundertail called. "What in the name of the council of reason is going on here?"

"Hi father!", Rex said as soon as he stopped helping the Kirkys. "Just helping them get settled in."

"Where did all this come from?", Thundertail said, looking at all this frenzied activity about him. "I thought it would only be them!"

"Hello sir.", Mildred said as she stopped in front of them with a jerk. "Hope you don't mind us getting our stuff! We had it hidden a mile to the west."

"I thought you Kirkys travel light.", Thundertail said.

"Not the 'Kirky Circus'!", Mildred told him. "We travel from place to place and perform for the people! We need all this stuff to put on shows!"

"Nobody told me any of this!", Thundertail was quite a bit miffed. "I guess it's all right. But don't set anything up there! Could you set up everything down by the river, in the southern end of the clearing? Most of my clan lives over here, you know."

"Right away, boss!", Mildred scampered off, yelling instructions in her tongue. Many of her kin groaned and began pulling up stakes once again.

"Say boss...", Harold said, smiling at his side. "I didn't tell her she could tell them to bring our stuff."

"You should have told us you didn't travel light!", Thundertail scolded. "But what's done is done. Here, let's finish bringing back the kills; and we'll discuss this later."

"Right, boss!", Harold saluted and put his effort in the carcass he was helping drag - which wasn't much considering his size!

By midmorning all the Hadrosaur carcasses were in the feeding area; and when the clan's hunger was sated, they all watched as these little creatures completed setting up thier camp. The caravan-type wagons were clustered off to one side in a line by the edge of the clearing, and small campfires were lit around many. Around these were dozens of small tents, which were about the size of a two man tent for creatures of my size; but I noticed that large families of the little creatures could live comfortably in each.

One large wagon stood off to one side, painted in bright colors and sporting advertisement of the circus in saurian footprint language; and inside this wagon Harold and Mildred had thier homes - they were the ringmaster and ringmistress, after all! Another, smaller wagon was wooden with a roof, and had 'gypsey' written all over it. Inside was this most ancient looking Kirky anyone ever saw, and her shawl and trinkets she was adorned with told that her profession was a fortune teller. I watched as the Kirkys began to unroll the largest tent they had and prepare to set it up in front of the rest of thier camp; it was about the size of a large army bivouack tent, but to the Kirkys, it was 'The Big Top'!

Many more of the Kirkys had other jobs around the circus besides being roustabouts. Some juggled while others worked the trapeese that was going to be set up in the big tent once it was up, clowns and acrobats galore to make the children and adults happy, two bands - I was told - both orchestral and stage band along with various soloists; and I heard they were going to put on a parade of sorts to kick everything off. Trunks of costumes and other paraphanalia littered the areas around the caravans and tents, waiting for use. Everywhere the Kirkys were setting things up and sneaking in a little practice of thier chosen circus act while the ones of our clan milled about or ran around getting into thier way, as were our children. To say that the carnivore clan was busy before they arrived would be a gross understatement!

Soon it was the Kirky's turn to feed, and they went over to the Hadrosaur carcasses in groups of no less than a dozen at a turn. The busiest ones, or those that could not traverse the distance from thier Liliputian camp to the feeding area, were being also served. Some of their group would carve out small gobbets of meat, place them on leaves and run them over to thier comrades. Many of our clan wanted to help out in this, and many Veloceraptors spent the next few hours as waitors as they milled in among thier much smaller cousins, tending to thier hunger. I volunteered to bring over Harold and Mildred's dinners - and that old looking gypsey dinosaur I saw in the next caravan - certainly SHE wouldn't be able to make it all that way! I ambled over with three leaves full of meat, weaving my way through the miling crowd of busy Kirkys at my feet. I made it to the large cart first and knocked with my index finger on the bedtray-sized door in back.

"Well, well!", Harold said in his mouselike voice that had a slight New York accent to it as he opened the door. "I heard there were humans in the clan - and they deliver takeout food too! Mildred! Come see who is visiting! The guy who nearly shot me!"

"Well, you were annoying Thundertail.", I said weakly.

"Just my style, boss!", Harold told me. "Are you coming, or what?!", he turned to yell.

"Keep a lid on it. I'm coming!", Mildred said as she came into view. "Ah! Mister Stinger! I heard all about you. To what do we owe this honor?"

"Just thought you might be hungry.", I said as I passed two of the meat-laden leaves to her.

"That we are!", Harold said. "We were just planning what we're going to do around here. It's a lot of hungry work to plan out a show!"

"How thoughtful!", Mildred said, smiling and nodding as she took the meat. "Such a sweet boy!"

"Well, around here we help each other.", I told them. "You're our guests, and we got to treat you proper!"

"Well, I'd ask you to step inside and stay a while, but you're just too big!", Harold said.

"I got to deliver this other food anyway.", I told him. "You know that fortune teller lady? I was thinking to give her this.", I presented the other leaf.

"Oh, Ursula's her name.", Mildred said, turning. "She'll really appreciate that!"

"Yeah, she's almost seventy; and she can't get about like she used to.", Harold told me. "She usually just stays in her wagon all day. They say she's a genuine psychic, but I haven't met her, really. Fortune tellers give me the creeps!"

"I'll tell her hello for you, then.", I said as I turned. "Bye now!"

I turned and left them to thier dinner, and walked down the narrow lane between other carts and tents that sported many of the Kirky's children running about and trying unsuccessfully to practice the stunts thier parents must do in thier acts. Past these, I saw the caravan wagon; and the door was open to reveal this really withered old specimen in a gold laced red tunic and miniature black fess on her head. She was dragging out a round table and trying to get it down on the ground, but it tipped and spilled down the steps into my waiting hands! I righted the slightly larger than dollhouse sized table and saw her looking at me with one glazed eye.

"Can you put it in front of the steps, lad?", she croaked hoarsely. "That thing gets heavier every year!", she disappeared back inside the wagon, and came out moments later with a green silk tablecloth. "Since everyone's so big, I got to see 'em outside the rig!", then she gave me a bewildered look. "What are you doin' here? Scat!"

"Uh, miss Ursula?", I said as I put the meat-laden leaf onto the table. "We thought you might be hungry."

"I am, but get the fool thing off'n the table!!!", Ursula yelled. "You could corrupt the spirits!"

"Sorry.", I said, removing it. "This is where you do your fortune telling, I assume..."

"That it is, sonny!", Ursula gave another queer look. "So, why are you here?"

"I told you I brought your dinner!", I repeated. I didn't know dinosaurs got Altzheimer's disease!

"No...! Not that!", Ursula said as I handed her the meal. "I mean why are you in this clan and not off in Treetown or some other place where humans like to be?"

"Well, my jet crashed about ten miles south of here about a year ago, and...", I began.

"You're a Dolphinback?!", she cut in. "Goodness! We haven't had one of those since the Scott boys showed up!", then gave me another queer look. "So, what were you saying?"

I repeated what I told her, then continued my tale up to the point of when I found Klamath.

"You have the armor of Othgar?!", she broke in. "Those things are bad luck!"

"It's been pretty good to me so far.", I said. than I made it up to the part where I found Rex, then past where I found Mayday; then I made it all the way to the point where we met up with Thundertail's clan, all without interruption until that point.

"So now you are a full clan member, and do your best for them.", Ursula concluded. "I sense in you a destiny that I can't quite place. If you would, could you please give me your hand?"

I complied, but Ursula scowled at my hand, which was encased in armor. Seeing this, I spoke to the suit: "Gauntlet please, Klamath."

"All right.", he said, and the metallic webbing retreated back into the foresleeve.

"It talks too? Amazing!", Ursula said as she grasped my hand and examined it from wrist to fingernail with her face just inches from it. Her clammy hands grew ice cold as she shifted grips and turned my hand over. "Good, long strong hands. You got a long life ahead of you...", she inspected further. "Your life will be unexpectedly rich..., OH! There's a lot of stuff here!", she backed away and let my hand go. "You say that you are Partners with Rex, right?"

I nodded.

"Rex is son of the clan leader.", she licked her lips. "Thundertail will soon be no more, and Rex will take his place. This means you will be second in command."

"I kind of figured things like that might happen.", I said to her. "But I don't want to be very powerful in this clan. I am no more important than the least among us!"

"Never the less, these things will happen.", Ursula said. "I sense you already insight changes in the clan. Though you go along with every edict the clan makes, you influence them by your suggestions.", she stared at me with her glazed over eye. "They already do things they would not naturally do - and it's all because of you!"

"I never made them do what I suggest!", I defended. "It was by the will of Thundertail that he agreed to do them in the first place!"

"You saved his son from certain death!", Ursula said softer this time. "If the situation was reversed, would you not want to do everything he said?"

"I guess so...", I said.

"With the will of this clan at your side and the strength of Klamath in your hand, you will become greater than you can possibly imagine - and in ways you could hardly dream of!", Ursula clutched the tabletop for emphasis. "Does your spirit have the fortitude to withstand such a position?"

"I don't know...", I said, staring at the darkening sky. "You're the fortune teller. You tell me!"

"Well, for this delicious meal, you deserve no less!", Ursula turned to the meat and gummed it down her throat. When she was done she spoke again. "My answer is yes! You will have the inner strength to be able to withstand anything your destiny gives you. But be warned: It will be a monumental trial!"

She turned to her cart, then back. "Now, be a dear and help me with this chair...", she slowly climbed the cart steps and dragged out a miniature thronelike chair of intricately carved wood. I went over, lifted it and placed it next to the table. "Have the chair face east - it's my best exposure!", she next came out with a glowing ball on a base. She set it down on the exact center of the tablecloth, which I never noticed until now had a pentagram of sorts on it.

"That crystal ball. It's a Sunstone, right?", I said, gazing into it.

"They don't make 'em like that anymore!", Ursula cackled as she stroked the ball. The glowing intensifyed at her touch and went nearly completely dim as her hand moved away. "Neat trick, huh?", she showed me a ring on her arthritic ring finger, which also glowed. "When two Sunstones are close, they draw on each other and glow brighter. Oldest trick on Dinotopia, hee hee!"

"My suit's made with Sunstones! Watch:", I passed my hands over the ball, and it glowed for me as well. "Ooh! I'm magical!!"

Ursula cackled, clearly enjoying the company as well as the mild entertainment; and I was also having a good time with this ancient dinosaur, despite her decrepid looks!

While I was visiting her, many things were going on around the camp. The Kirkys had decided to put on a little show that night to entertain thier hosts. A small band struck up to the accompany a band of tumbling and juggling colwns; and the whole carnivore camp laughed and capered with joy as they watched thier antics! One group of clowns formed a triangle tower with thier bodies. They all stuck out a hand at the end of the performance, but one of the clowns on the bottom tier stuck out his foot instead and unbalanced the entire tower! They all fell in a heap, then began to slap at the errant clown as they left the performance area in a hail of laughter and applaud!

While all this was going on, a female Veloceraptor was seen among the circus tents. She was desperately seeking someone, and following her nose through all the other strange smells now in camp. She tracked the scent to the main cart, then made a beeline for the gypsy cart and found me!

"Stinger! Come quick!", Whitetail shrieked, breaking me out of my laughter to look at her with concern. "It's Ripper! He's gotten much worse, and he now has a fever!"

"Oh God!", I said.

"Dearie, how long has he had this?", Ursula asked.

"About two days.", Whitetail told her. "He got sick to the stomach, then complained he was tired. I had him lay in the nest all day, and now he's burning up!"

"Sounds like some sort of flu.", Ursula said. "Well, don't worry, sweetie! I am clan healer - besides fortune teller! I've seen this hundreds of times before, and got just the thing to fix him up!", she disapeared inside her wagon. She came out wearing an extra shawl and carrying a large sack. "Got my instruments and medicine! let's go!"

Whitetail took off like a shot, and I ran after her. Ursula was lagging behind, so she gave off a shrill whistle. "Hey! Wait up!", she panted. "I'm not as young as you, you know!"

"Here, see if this helps.", I turned and went back to her. I crouched and offered her my hands. "Here, climb on. I'll take you there.", she got up and shakily nestled into both my hands.

"You'll take me there, but who'll take me back?", she complained.

"I'll do it. Now let's hurry!", I ran to catch up with Whitetail, but had to take it slow for all the creatures still milling about. Once in open ground I turned to my little passenger and said: "Hang on!", I said as I had Klamath put on some speed.

"Whee!", Ursula shrieked. "You are sure a speedy one!"

"It's the suit...", I said as I slowed for the trees ahead. I maneuvered to my cabin, entered with my passenger and saw Whitetail holding Ripper's head as the boy rocked in fever. "Poor kid. Look!"

"It's the flu virus, all right!", Ursula said as she got off me, slinging her bag on the floor beside the nest. "Was he always that light complexion?"

"No, he's usually a deeper green.", Whitetail informed as Ursula got out a makeshift stethescope.

Ursula tisked a few moments as she listened. "Got fluid in his lungs.", she moved the stethescope. "Heart's a little irregular.", she put the device away. "A Jinka and Beloma infusion will fix him right up! Can someone boil some water?"

"I'll do it.", Whitetail volunteered and left.

"Dad, me and Whitenose want to help too!", Snapper said for him and his sister, who nodded vigerousely.

"Why don't you two go see uncle Rex or auntie Mayday for a while.", I suggested."Better yet, why don't you two go outside and say hello to our new guests.", I suggested. "That will help out a lot!"

"Well..., ok.", Snapper said. "Is Ripper going to be ok?"

"He'll be fine!", Ursula told them as she gave them a look with her glassy eye, and thier mouths dropped! "Now shoo, like your papa said!"

"Yessm...", Whitenose said as both scurried off.

"Cute kids.", Ursula said as she measured out the correct amounts of Jinka and Beloma. "Now let's fix up the third cute kid!"

"M..., mama?", Ripper was waking up.

"It's me, son.", I said, getting near. "This nice lady is going to make you all better. Isn't she nice for doing that?"

"She look..., scary!", Ripper passed out.

"Got a sick boy there.", Ursula moaned. "Where's the hot water!"

"Here it is!", Whitetail said as she scampered in with a steaming jug.

Ursula got busy by getting a small gourd and placing the ground leaves into it. She then poured it halfway with water. Next she swirled it around until the ingredients were liquifyed and blew on it until it was cooler. She had me lift Ripper's head so he could swallow and poured some of the concoction into his little mouth. Ripper sputtered and thrashed a little; but eventually got two mouthfuls down. She had me lower the boy's head and tuck him in.

"That should do it for now.", Ursula told us. "Here's more of the mixture.", she handed us the sack. "When he wakes up again, give him more; then keep giving it to him every few hours until there's no more or he's well. If he needs more, come and get me.", she began to put on her shawl and gather her things. "Don't worry, folks! That stuff works every time!"

"How can we ever thank you?", Whitetail asked, nuzzling her.

"Don't forget to see the show, that's all!", Ursula said, then looked out the door. "Uh..., Stinger. If you would?..."

"Oh yeah!", I said as I crouched. "I promised to give her a ride home!", Ursula boarded me and I stepped out the door.

I trapsed around the trees in my sleeping area in near total twilight, ever mindful of the smaller dinosaurs that might still be present. I ran across the clearing slower and with more care in the ever increasing dark; Ursula, my passenger looking around from this unique height, taking it all in. I made it to the Kirky's encampment as my eyes adjusted to the sporadic campfires, many of them were occupied by them as they absently strummed a miniature guitar or picked at a miniature fiddle as thier fires died for the night. Many would wave at me or nod at Ursula if they noticed her, and we made it back to her caravan many moments later. I set her down and she began to ascend the steps into her abode while I began to turn and leave.

"You are good with hatchlings.", Ursula said out of the blue, turning to me as I turned. "Have you any back where you come from?"

"I have two.", I told her. "Both are pretty much grown up.", I returned and sat beside her small table. "Maggie is about twenty one, and out getting her doctorate in Psychology. Fred is eighteen, and he's going to be an engineer when he gets out of college."

"It is often lonesome when the chicks leave the nest.", Ursula sat on her chair. "I notice the other female human here. What is her name?"

"Mayday.", I blurted. "She is twenty-one mothers Kenyan, or so she tells me. Said her great grandmother used to be in the island safety patrol. Her Partner was killed by a carnivore, and she was all alone. I offered to take her to civilization, but somehow she wants to be with me."

"And what do you feel about this?", Ursula asked.

"Well, I like the kid and all...", I began. "It's just I'm too busy all the time to see anything about it."

"The suit she wears is my mate.", Klamath cut in. "Zandra and I were once Ankylosaurs in life."

"Then it is true that Othgar used to harness living creatures for his use!", Ursula stated triumphantly.

"We volunteered of our own free will!", Klamath shot back. "But as for me and her, we still love each other, all the way down the milennia."

"Then should it be so with the wearers?", Ursula asked me.

"I guess so.", I said. "I guess I should devote some time and talk with her about it."

"I could make you a potion...", Ursula offered.

"Don't you dare!", I said as I reached for the crystal ball. "Oh spirits past! What will be her answer?", I called the fates as I passed my hands over the orb, which glowed and ebbed.

"STOP THAT!!", Ursula patted my hands away. "You're going to spoil it for everyone else!"

"Ok, my friend!", I chuckled, leaning to give her a nuzzle. "Thanks for everything you done. Guess I'll see you in the morning.", I rose.

I walked back through the Kirky camp, then decided to check on Whitenose and Snapper. I had told them to go see Rex or Mayday; and he hoped they were behaving themselves! I went around the'big top' and walked across the extra dim clearing toward where the majority of the Tyranosaurs slept. I had Klamath turn on his night vision so I wouldn't trip on anything unexpected along the way. It was by this method that I first located the Tyranosaurs, and then Thundertail and Rex. They were quietly discussing something, and I didn't want to disturb them just yet.

"My son, the clan is getting too overcrowded these days.", Thundertail rumbled softly. "That is why I must give you part of the responbsability of overseeing the clan."

"Sir, I know that I would some day rule in your stead.", Rex rumbled in kind. "I am at your side nearly constantly so I may gain in your wisdom. I wish to rule like you would have me. I do not think I am quite ready to even assist leading the clan!"

"You have the ability in you already.", Thundertail told him. "You are a part of me, as you are my son. Therefore you can do this that I have bid you to do."

"I will do as you say, but I would lack the experience!", Rex told him.

"You will still have me to guide you if needed.", Thundertail nuzzled him. "You will have Gond, Fly with a stinger - and every clan member is eager to help too. You will have a lot of help, I promise!"

"Wait father! I smell something!", Rex tested the air. "It is Stinger, coming from the clearing!"

Having been found out, I stepped into thier midst. "Uh..., sorry for disturbing you two.", I shuffled. "I was wondering if you have seen Whitenose and Snapper."

"Here they are, Stinger.", Rex whispered, moving aside so I could see them both in his nest, sound asleep. "Mayday went to see Gond, so I brought them here."

"Thanks!", I said. "Say, I'd like to keep them away from Ripper for a while. Whatever he has might be catchy!", then I looked at Thundertail a moment. "Is it ok if they stay the night?"

"Of course, Fly with a stinger!", Thundertail whispered. "It is a joy to have hatchlings in the nest. We will take good care of them until you come for them!"

"Thank you, my king.", I bowed. "Whitetail is a nervous wreck! This will take some of the strain off so she can get some sleep."

"Then you can bid your leave so you can get some sleep yourself!", Thundertail said.

"Uh..., I overheard some of the things you were telling your son.", I said all of a sudden. "If need be, I will help him out in this."

"You do so much already.", Thundertail said. "You have a family and a sick hatchling to worry about at this time. If you think you are able, you may help; but it is not wise to overdo things!"

"I'll do my best, sir.", I told him. "Good night, everyone - and thanks!", I turned.

"Night, Stinger!", Rex called softly.

I made it back to my cabin many moments later and found Whitetail cradling Ripper's head. She looked up at me with a concerned but happier face. "He woke up, so I just gave him more medicine."

"That's good.", I said, removing him from her arms and tucking him into the nest. "Nothing much can be done about it at this hour anyway. May as well get some sleep ourselves.", I led her to her nest and gave her a nuzzle. "Worrying is hard work!"

"That's a fact!", she yawned. "I should sleep like a hatchling...; but what happens if he wakes up again?"

"He'll see us all asleep and go back to sleep himself!", I said slightly sarcastically. "Now go to sleep already! You need some too, you know!"

"You right. No sense in making ME sick!", Whitetail curled up on her hay; and instead of me getting into my bedroll, I sidled up next to her and slowly drifted off many moments later.

The early morning sunshine coming through the cabin's only window did not wake me up the next morning; rather, it was the tiny creature making noise right outside it! "Huzza!'... Huzza!'...", it said as it's little body rose above the windowframe, then dropped just as suddenly. The Kirky did it again, and again; whooping and spinning slightly. When the little creature didn't come down again, I got up to see what happened. Looking, I found the little critter up in the branches of the trees overhead, preparing to leap down again. The trampoline set up below right outside the window was draped with many of his peers; and a stack of three Kirkys stood balanced at the far end of it, waiting for him to make his move. The one up in the tree poised and leapt in a high dive, curling with a twist and straightening out as his feet landed on the springy trampoline. He bounced high, tucked and rolled; and landed with a flourish on the shoulders of the other stacked Kirkys. I almost joined in with the miniature cheering outside the window, but my concentration was broken by the weak mewling coming from the other side of the cabin.

"M..., mama?", came Ripper's weak voice.

"Dad's here sweetie.", I said as I turned and tended to him. "How you feeling?"

"I'm h... hungry...", he weakly lifted his head. "Thirsty too..."

"I'll fix you up.", I told him, feeling his little head. He seemed much cooler this morning. "Maybe more medicine, too."

"No!...", Ripper said and tried to rise to a crouch, but failed.

"Now yes, you got to!", I said as I grabbed a few scraps of left over meat. "That nice Kirky lady said so last night."

Whitetail rose from her crouch on her nest and stretched. "Unnn..., How is Ripper?", she peeked through one eye.

"Better, I think.", I said, placing tiny bits of meat in his mouth. He gagged on the first one and mouthed the rest. "The little guy's hungry."

"Better give him more medicine, too.", Whitetail took over feeding him. "Go boil water."

"Yup!", I piped. "He wants water, too.", I said as I left the cabin.

I went to the campfire near by and started it once more. As the tinder caught I went to the river to get water to boil; and noticed nearly all the Kirkys busily milling about at thier chores: cleaning up thier camps, policing twigs and other litter from the more traveled areas, tending to thier children and practicing thier acts. I set the water on the fire and waited for it to boil, still observing the activity all around the clansite. Many costumed Kirkys waltzed about, tumbled about or sauntered about as if drunk as music from many different instruments in many different styles eminated from many different areas of the clansite.

Soon a performer in baggy clown's attire marched by, juggling six clublike sticks; and she stopped to observe me boiling water. I smiled, picked up two small rocks and did a little juggling trick of my own that I learned in high school. I flicked each one in midair and juggled them one-handedly really fast. I looked away and pretended to yawn as I showed off. After a few moments of this I caught both in each hand and smiled as I placed them in front of my eyes. The Kirky smiled as I put the rocks down, gave a thumbs-up and continued her own juggling act as she walked away.

By this time the water was boiling, so I removed the pan from the fire, poured it into a large gourd and brought it back into the cabin. My son was sitting up in the nest with the aid of ramped up bedding as I entered. Whitetail had the medicine in another gourd, waiting for the hot water; so I poured it into the gourd and she swirled it around to liquify the ingredients. Ripper edged away and tried to fend off the medicine, but was too weak still to put up much of a fight! He ended up downing almost all of it before he was done, and Whitetail made him lay back down. I was just about ready to see to my duties for the day when there came a sharp rap on the door, followed by a thud that rattled the door in its' frame!

"Stinger! Come quick!", Thistlesnarl's face loomed at the door as I opened it. "Something has happened!"

"What is it?", I asked.

"It's Whitenose...!", Thistlesnarl ran off just then, leaving us both to wonder.

"I'll go see what it is.", I told Whitetail. "You tend to Ripper.", I bolted out the door and went in the general direction Thistlesnarl had gone.

It was easy to find out where the disturbance was located, for nearly every carnivore was converging on the spot. When I got past the 'big top', I saw Rex snarling at Pincushion, who was cowering on the ground. There were many musicians there, I saw from thier instruments; and they looked like they had suddenly stopped playing due to some horrible event. As I got nearer, hampered by the crowd, I saw Snapper bent over the prone form of Whitenose, who was writhing in obvious agony - her pitiful wails accentuating her every twitch. I pushed my way through and slid to a knealing position next to the fallen child.

"What happened!", I yelled at no one and everyone. "Oh my God! Whitenose!"

"Dad, we were dancing, and Pincushion stepped on Whitenose.", came Snapper's shocked reply. "Is she going to be all right?"

"I don't know...", I said as I had Klamath scan her.

"Crushed legs, hips and spine.", Klamath said in my mind. "Ruptured spleen, ruptured kidneys, punctured lungs. Internal bleeding in whole lower quadrant."

I wept.

"Boss, I saw the whole thing.", said a Kirky sporting a saxophone-like instrument which had a saurian style horn bell. "We wuz playin music an' the young ones were dancing. Both wasn't watching where they wuz goin and the little one got stepped on."

"Thank you... uh?", I whispered.

"Name's Vinny.", Vinny said, then turned to his band. "I guess the jam session's over, boys."

Just then Whitetail ran into the area. "WHITENOSE!!... No!", she tried to gently lift her head, but that caused the child to scream. "What happened?", she asked. I told her.

"Momma...? Papa...?", Whitenose opened her eyes to slits. "I hurt... Please make it go away...!"

"There child.", Whitetail cooed. "It will be all better in a minute..."

"Good...", Whitenose breathed, then sighed and went limp.

"NO!...", I mewled and bent to listen. I heard nothing.

"Whitetail ceases to function.", Klamath informed me.

We both wept.

Many moments later a tiny rickshaw rolled into the area with a Kirky pedaling like crazy. In it was Ursula and more of her medical equipment. She hopped out, had the other Kirky grab her instruments and went to the stricken child. She took her stethescope and played it on the childs body.

"Too young...", Ursula tisked. "Much too young!", she turned to me. "What happened?", and I told her too.

Thundertail thundered into the area and scanned the scene, but did nothing just yet.

"Such a bad blow.", Ursula told me, clasping my hand. "Take courage, my child."

Just then Mayday, riding Grond, stepped into the crowd.

"I'm so sorry for this, dear.", Ursula took Whitetail's hands. "There was nothing I could do.", she reluctantly let go, stowed her gear and climbed back aboard the rickshaw.

"Now, what in the name of reason happened here?", Thundertail took this as his cue. "Why is that little one dead?"

"Father, the musicians were playing music and we were dancing.", Rex told him. "All of a sudden PINCUSHION stepped on Whitenose!", he gave the accused a growling stare.

"It was an accident!", Pincushion defended, of which Rex snapped at him.

"It's true, boss!", Vinnie told him. "The kids just got a little carried away, is all. They didn't see each other."

"Never the less, hunting is not permitted in the clan camp.", Thundertail said as Grond nodded. "This includes accidental murder!"

"Whitetail, what is the punishment of your clan for such an act?", Grond asked.

"The accused must DIE!", she spat. "The eldest family member must do it."

"Similar punishment exists in Tyranosaur clans.", Thundertail admitted. "Fly with a stinger, it is your right to kill Pincushion in any manner you wish. You may begin now, if it pleases you."

With great anger and sorrow, I slowly rose from my slain daughter and stared at Pincushion, who cringed under that stare. The deep emotions burning inside me were like he had murdered my real daughter back home. The audacity and clumsiness he had used angered me to no end! It was an accident, I was certain; for Whitenose was one of Pincushion's best friends. He would never intentionally harm her; and yet she was there prone on the grass, lifeless while this big oaf lived! But was killing him what Whitenose would have wanted? They were only dancing and having fun like true friends do - he didn't intentionally crush her with his multi-ton weight. Accidents do happen, after all!

My anger deflated somewhat and I could see again. I noticed that I had moved to within a foot of Pincushion, who was cringed on the grass, fearfully awaiting what I might do. I also noticed that every eye in the clan was on me, watching my every move. The thing that unnerved me the most was the fact that I had unfurled Klamath's twin daggers, and they were mere inches from the creature's face!

"NO!!!...", I yelled. "I..., I can't kill you!", I stepped back and resheathed the daggers. "It was an accident... Killing you will not bring Whitenose back to life."

"Then what can be done?", Thundertail asked meekly.

"I demand restitution!", Whitenose yelled through her tears.

"True, he needs to be punished.", I said. "But isn't there another way besides killing him? He would learn nothing from this if he is dead!"

"Oh! I would do ANYTHING to make this up to you!", Pincushion moaned, relieved that his life would be spared. "Just name it!"

"My lord, there is one punishment of the clan.", Grond spoke up. "It is called 'the path of shame'."

"Of course!", Thundertail said. "It is one where the accused must become lowest in the clan. Where he must do anything everyone in the clan says - a virtual slave. His rights as clan member is suspended, and he can not leave the clan camp. Duration of the punishment is at the disgression of the offended party."

"Is that acceptible, Whitetail?", I asked her softly.

"Yes.", she replied after a moment of hissing debate with herself.

"Then what is the duration of 'the path of shame'?", Thundertail asked me.

"I would say two months should do it.", I said as I went to touch Pincushion's muzzle. "Think you can handle that long, son?", I went around and removed his amulet of protection, handing it off to Thundertail.

"Yes, sir!", Pincushion nodded. "And thanks for not killing me!"

As I went back in front of him, I made a fist and slugged Pincushion right in the muzzle as hard as my unaided arm could punch! It was merely enough force to tilt his head aside a bit; but he knew not to argue the point! "And next time watch where you're going!", I yelled and went to help Whitetail tend our dead daughter. Pincushion just slunk away to the trees.

"Uh..., boss?", a female Kirky named Lacey came to say. "I think we can help Pincushion to watch his step. My troop does the highwire act; and if there's one thing we're good at, it's watching where we're going!"

"That might be a good idea at that.", I said without enthusiasm. "But it's not my decision to make. You could go ask king Thundertail about it. Maybe he'll think it's a good idea too."

"Sure boss!", the Kirky spun to go. "And sorry about your loss."

"Don't mention it.", I said as Whitetail collected her dead daughter. I turned to Snapper and said: "Come on, son. let's go."

"No more play?", Snapper asked at my heels.

"Not today, I'm afraid.", I told him.

Mayday, seeing how Pincushion was being roughgly led away by Rex, folllowed by Thundertail and Grond; decided to go see me in this time of sorrow. By this time everyone decided the excitement was over, and they all began to disperse. She weaved her way through the thinning crowds and sought me out as I somberly trudged back to my cabin. Mayday had decided to take up residence with Gond, seeing as they liked each other enough these days to become Partners. as she caught up with me, she spun me around, breaking me out of my funk abruptly, and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Me sorry what happened.", she told me. "Whitenose too young to die like that."

"It's a shame, it's true.", I said woodenly. "But there is nothing that can be done."

"I mourn your loss.", Mayday redoubled her kiss. "We all be happier soon, ok?"

"Sure thing.", I said as I saw my retreating family. "I think I got some family business to attend to. If you'd excuse me?..."

"Of course. See you in a while.", Mayday turned as I waved.

I trotted to catch up, and made it there as Whitetail opened the door with her burden. Snapper slowly made it to his nest as his mother lay his deceased sister down in her own nest. A female Kirky was there by the name of Wen, and she looked up at the sight of the returning family. Wen got up, nodded and turned for the door; leaving the slumbering Ripper in his own nest, turning in dreams. Once she left, Whitetail turned to me and motioned for me and Snapper to come near Whitenose's nest, which was next to Ripper's nest. We all joined hands as Ripper woke up wondering what was going on.

"Hi, mama.", Ripper said. "Is Whitenose sleepy?"

"Ripper, Whitenose is dead.", Whitetail told him. "She was accidentally crushed by Pincushion."

"Oh! That's too bad!", he sniffed in the direction of the corpse. "Well, I guess I have to get used to not seeing her around!"

"I think Ripper might still be a little sick!", I said. "He doesn't seem to know how to mourn her sister!"

"No, Stinger.", Whitetail told me. "Ripper has made a proper statement. We Veloceraptors treat our deaths in a much different manner than humans."

"I see.", I said.

"See, a death in the family means less mouths to feed.", Whitetail told me. "This means hunting for food would be a little easier. This gives death a more joyous occasion, and grieving for the dead one only lasts a little while."

"That sounds like a very practical sentiment.", I said.

"It is even more practical for the procedure that goes along with it.", Whiteatil said. "Not only would there be less mouths to feed, the fallen family member also provides a meal for the family."

"You eat your dead?", I asked.

"Correct.", she said. "It is not out of barbarism, but out of dietary practicality. Food comes first, you know!"

"And I thought I had strange customs!", I said. "So, we are going to eat Whitenose, I presume."

"In a moment. We should say a few words on her behalf first.", Whitetail looked at me. "Is this done when one of your kind dies?"

"Yes, it is.", I told her. "But our tradition is that we bury our dead afterwards!"

"Such a waste..., but to each thier own!", Whitetail nodded. "You are the father. You may start the words."

"Ok.", I said as I cleared my throat. "Whitenose, my pretty saurian daughter; fate has taken you away long before you could shine. You were witty and wise, just like my human daughter; and you hardly ever got into trouble, more so you always vied for my praise. You would have been your clan matriarch had you lived just a little while longer!", my eyes got watery. "May you be borne toward paradise, my sweet angel!"

"My turn.", Whitetail said. "My daughter and image, you left us too soon. You would have hunted and provided for your clan and family. You would have borne many offspring and nurtured the next generation of our kind. Alas! The winds of change has changed your fate; and now you travel the path of our ancesters. Let the ancesters lead you to the abundant hunting grounds at the end of your trail!"

Snapper raised his hand, and was allowed to speak. "Whitenose, my sister. You were funny and great to play with! I will miss the games of hide and seek we used to play. I will miss your funny laugh and your inquisitiveness - and your personality that outshines the sun. May you find the place of good things, and mark the trail so I can follow!"

Ripper raised his head. "My best friend Whitenose. You were always understanding when I had a problem. Your wisdom when things went wrong was as if mama was there telling me. I will always remember your charm and your humor - and your pretty white snout! I will meet you on the other side."

"Very good, my family!", Whitetail said, smiling at us all. "Now her death will enrich us all!"

Whitetail took the nest that the body of Whitenose rested in and drew it near her. She began to disembowel her with her talons, and doled the meat out to all of us. I got the first piece, but guiltily mouthed it until it was gone. She gave Snapper a piece and fed Ripper some too; getting a piece for herself. As the body diminished, I suddenly didn't feel so hungry...
_

[thundertail]

_

FIFTEEN:
"Discovered."

It was about two weeks later that my sadness over Whitenose's death went away completely. It was time to get on with things once again, and I was more than ready to do so once my grief left me. Humans take death way too hard!

For my Veloceraptor family, they had seemed to forgotten the incodent completely; for life continued almost the day after the dreadful incodent. Whitetail led a couple of scouting expeditions, and my two boys began thier training as hunters at the instruction of Mosquito, and thier prowess in the art had obviousely not been brought out as yet, for they could not even catch a dragonfly!

After the incodent, the Kirky Circus decided to tone down the entertainment they had planned around here; holding performances only for special occasions - which seemed nearly every other hunt! Pincushion was making good with his Path Of Shame punishment; as I saw him many times hauling the heavy load or performing the menial service to one clan member or that. He made special effort to please me, and performed his services to me even when I didn't ask him. The Kirkys who performed the highwire act had been working with him to make him fleet of foot and careful in his movements. They first had him drag a fallen log out into the clearing, then they had him walk across it many times until he could do it with his eyes closed!

Just the other day, Whitetail pulled me aside and told me something serious concerning my agreement with her.

"Stinger, the time has nearly come.", she told me in private. "Pretty soon Ripper and Snapper will leave the nest. I predict no more than two months."

"That soon?", I said. "I thought Veloceraptor hatchlings stay for a year or more."

"No. It is when they amass the skills to hunt.", Whitetail told me. "They are just beginning to learn, and our kind learns these skills very quickly."

"I see.", I said. "And there is the matter of what happens after that."

"Yes. As you know, after they leave the nest, your obligation to me will be over.", Whitetail looked at me with dismay. "This also means that my obligation to you will be over as well. You would be free to find a mate, and so would I"

"And have you chosen a mate yet?", I said with a cockeyed sneer.

"I am not sure, but I think it will be Mosquito.", Whitetail said, then gave a toothy grin. "I can guess who your new mate will be!"

"Well, Mayday is the only human female here!", I beat her to the punch. "I like her a lot, and she likes me. I don't know whether there is love involved, but I haven't had the time to talk to her about this!"

"You need to go and start a new life.", Whitetail gave me a nuzzle. "And so do I."

"Say, do you think we could still be friends afterwards?", I asked hopefully.

"Most certainly so, my nestmate!", she cooed. "You are my favorite human, and always will be!"

"And what about the treaty with the Tyranosaurs?", I asked. "Do you think your clan will still be affiliated with them?"

"I will see what the new Alpha will say.", Whitetail told me. "But I am sure the answer will be that we stay. The success of our combined hunts is a thing my clan has never seen before! We share a bond with our larger cousins unequalled in all history. It would be foolish to walk away from all of this!"

"Yeah, and I think the rest of the clan would miss you all!", I told her. "Especially me!"

That same night, while we were both out guarding the camp, I told Mayday what was going on with me and Whitetail. We held hands as I talked about this, saying that it would soon not be too busy that we could at last have a talk about our friendship. We knew that, because of the past relationship Klamath had with Zandra, there was a strong romance that was about to bud between us; but we dared not voice this as it seemed inevitable to us. After all that was discussed, our conversation turned to the more mundane for the rest of our shift; where Striff and Riven Dilophosaurs took over until dawn.

Five hours later, as dawn shone its' feeble light through the jungle, A large cart trundled down the path, right towards the camp and seemingly out of control! Striff and Riven sprung out of hiding and ran to intercept the juggernaut bearing down on some near by Kirky tents; and finally intimidated the Monoclonius pulling the cart enough to stop. He reared and tried to turn the cart around, but couldn't!

"HELP!", he bellowed and reared, trying to flee these twin carniverous
monsters before him. "ARRRRBGH!!!", he gurgled, fell on his knees, slumped to the ground and moved no more. When no further movement was evident, the two guards leaned over the horned creature and tisked hissingly.

"This is no good!", Riven said to her fellow guard.

"Call the others!", Striff told her fellow guard. "And hurry!"

Her rasping bellows brought every head in camp up, and every body followed as soon as they saw the scene in front of them. Some of the Kirkys came first, jabbering to themselves over the cart and its' obviousely dead owner. Many of the Veloceraptors came by and sniffed the corpse, hoping for a meal while many of the closest Tyranosaurs were the next to arrive. I arrived with Whitetail and our sons while Rex came running after his father, and Mayday came on the heels of Grond. As soon as Thundertail could achieve a semblance of order, he growled the question on everyone's tongues.

"What happened?", Thundertail asked the two guards. "Why is there a dead Monoclonius in our camp?"

"Well sir,", Riven said. "This cart here was barreling into camp, and the Monoclonius wouldn't stop."

"We stopped him, sir.", Striff continued. "Then he got all het up all of a sudden and keeled over, dead!"

"Myocardial Infarction.", Klamath informed me.

"I think the beast had a heart attack.", I said. "I wouldn't know if it was from all the exertion of running rigged to the cart or the sight of the two guards!"

"Perhaps both!", Mayday said.

"Never the less, we must find out why he is here.", Thundertail told us.

"I'll search the cart.", I volunteered.

"Ok, but you be stinky!", Mayday giggled. "That a Copro cart! See emblem on side?", there was a blue shield with a gold crown at the center, I was baffled.

"You mean a manure wagon?", I said as I suddenly caught a whiff. "Oh! Just wonderful!"

"The Copro Guild is very noble profession.", Mayday said. "Copro important part of farming. It help fertilize the fields and make crop grow better."

"Say! I found a small satchel.", I said, hoisting it up from behind the seat, where it was wedged between a board. I opened it up, and the parchment inside was scrawled with saurian foorprint language set in a framework much like that of an order form. "What's all this?", there were many such forms in there.

"Bill of sale for shipment from Pteros to Poktuk...", Mayday said. "Shipment pickup Treetown to Felugia, that where he going.", she shuffled through the pages. "Cart bill of sale: He owner of cart with Partner. This one name Hazzer. His Partner name Shawn Branko, a human."

"Wait!", I said. "How fast would you say he was going?"

"Oh, very fast!", Striff informed.

"He was going so fast he nearly ran into some tents.", Riven said.

"Ok, so that means he was either running away from carnivores in a panic;", I concluded. "Or his Partner's hurt or something, and he was running for help!"

"You think that's the reason?", Thundertail asked, liking my deductive reasoning.

"Well, there's only one way to know for sure.", I said. "We should go and see. Wagon tracks should be easy to follow."

"Yes, and these wagon wheels are made of pine!", Rex said. "No pines grow around here, and the scent would really stand out to us hunters!"

"Brilliant, son!", Thundertail praised.

"That's the ticket!", I smiled. "Now, who wants to go?"

Just then Ursula's rickshaw trundled to the back of the crowd. She and her Kirky driver wove thier way through the crowd to the fallen Monoclonius with her instruments, and she began to examine the beast.

"Yup! dead as a doornail!", Ursula said after many moments of examination. "My, he's a big one! Old, too..., I'd say seventy or eighty."

"I think he died of a heart attack.", I informed her.

"Yeah, the older you get, the weaker your heart becomes.", Ursula patted the massive hide. "Oh well. So it shouldn't be a total loss, they make for fine eating!"

"Now wait a minute!", Thundertail broke in. "We can't eat him until we're sure of what happened, and why he's here! Fly with a stinger, assemble a search party and find this creature's human!"

"Right away, my king!", I said, then turned to some of the others. "Rex, want to come?"

"Sure thing, Stinger!", Rex barked.

"You can sniff for wagon tracks!", I chuckled. "Now, I think Grond should come, and Deathflower too. We need some Veloceraptor trackers. Mayday and Zandra should be there. This human might be injured, so would you like to come, Ursula?"

"I'm too old to be trapsing around the jungle!", she protested.

"I'll have someone carry you!", I offered. "Rex, would you carry aunty Ursula?"

"Of course, ma'am!", Rex said. "Climb up my tail!"

"Could I come?", Pincushion asked.

"NO!", Thundertail barked.

"Maybe he could guard the Monoclonius.", I suggested. "Make sure no one eats him until we're back - and don't eat any yourself!"

"Yes, sir.", Pincushion said, dejected.

Once all the volunteers were chosen, we all went and made preparations to search for the human, Shawn Branko. We rallied by the Copro Cart, well enough down wind, and saw the thin tracks it made as it disappeared back up the path it was pulled in on. The Veloceraptors went first for thier better sense of smell, fanning out along the trail. Me, running alongside Rex with Ursula and her bag high above, enjoying the view, followed by Grond with Mayday riding high above.

We rode roughly south for many miles until the tracks took a westerly direction. The cart had come from deeper into the Rainy Basin, following the road that would eventually lead to Waterfall City, the Hadro Swamp and points west. As the wagon tracks veered down the path that would skirt Deep Swamp, they vanished through rocky terrain; but true to Rex's word, the pine wheels gave off an odor that even I, with Klamath's olfactory sensors, could barely pick up!

At a ravine that the road skirted, the tracks appeared to slide over for a second, then right itself. I looked over and saw the slightly broken branches that betrayed the fact that something fell there. I could see no body or injured man there, but I worked on a hunch and descended into the ravine. Three of the Veloceraptors followed me, and confirmed that a human had indeed fallen here; and they presently scoured the area for his scent and the direction he had gone.

"HELLO!", I yelled as the rest of the group started picking safe routes down the ravine. SHAWN BRANKO! CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

"SHAWN BRANCO!", Mayday echoed. "WE MEAN NO HARM! WE RESCUE YOU!"

"Well fellas, know which way?", I asked the Veloceraptors.

"He travels southwest.", Fernfrond told us. "Fall has injured him. I smell blood."

"I no see it, but smell it.", Slimepool confirmed.

"Let's go, then.", I said as I shoved branches out of my way. "We may need your services soon, Ursula!"

"Don't worry, hon!", Ursula replied, still atop Rex. "I'm here - unless I fall off!"

We traveled a quarter of a mile into the dense growth, then suddenly I had drawn a conclusion: "Say guys. You don't suppose that this guy might be afraid of us? He might be trying to evade us."

"What mean?", Mayday asked.

"Tyranosaurs, Veloceraptors...CARNIVORES! You know what I mean?", I urged. "He definitely will be afraid of them, but might not be afraid if just me and Mayday continue on."

"And what about me if he's injured?", Ursula asked.

"I'll carry you, like before.", I said. "Just get on one of my shoulders so I can keep my hands free."

"What about tracking him?", Rex asked.

"Klamath and Zandra have tracking abilities.", I said simply. "You guys stay here. We'll be ok! If we yell for help, come running!"

Everyone staying nodded and turned to wait where the human fell into the ravine. Me, Mayday, Klamath, Zandra and Ursula turned and continued southwest; where there were many broken branches, as if the man were hurriedly evading our rescue efforts - or hiding from us carnivores. At a fast rushing stream, behind a stand of boulders many miles further, Klamath told me that the human had stopped. We crept up nearer, but didn't rush in to find him. We crouched and began calling again instead.

"Shawn Branko! We have come to rescue you!", I called. "Your Partner came into our camp, and we followed the cart tracks to you. Can you hear me?"

"Please come out!", Mayday called. "We no hurt you, we friends!"

"Who are you?", Branko called from where he was.

"I am called Stinger, and my friend is Mayday.", I called. "We have brought a healer. We can tell you're injured."

"How did you evade the carnivores?", Branko asked. "They're all over the place!"

"That would take a lot of explaining.", I admitted. "But if you would please come out, we can take a look at your injuries."

"You could be Outsiders!", Branko sighed then, and called out again. "Very well..."

Branko stepped out from behind the middle boulder, leaning on it with his hand as he traversed into the spaces in between. His almost orange hair dangled down from his head as he gasped in the pain of each wobbly step. His blue uniform with a thick gold stripe down each sleeve and pantleg swayed as he moved. From his hobbling gait and stiffness of his right leg, we knew he had injured it in his fall. He leaned into the nearest tree, keeping himself upright until he could make another step. That's when we came out of our crouch and approached him cautiousely. I had asked Klamath to retract the helmet, and indicated to Mayday that she do the same - this was so as to not frighten him any further, but Ursula balked slightly at being unseated from the top of Klamath's head! Mayday held him up as he took another step, wobbled and began to fall. She lay him down in the leafy undergrowth as I let Ursula down, and she grabbed her bag and began examining the human.

"Now relax, son.", I said. "You had a bad time."

"How is Hazzar?", Branko asked as he gasped at Ursula's proddings. "Is he all right?"

"That's a long story.", I told him, turning to Ursula. "How is he?"

"Well, as far as I can tell, there's nothing broken.", Ursula said as she continued. "But there may be some torn cartilage at the kneecap. He needs to be brought to where I can treat him proper."

"Should he move?", Mayday asked.

"We got to get him ready to travel.", Ursula said. "Stinger, be a dear and find some strong sticks and some vines. I'll wrap the wound up in the mean time.", she turned to her patient. "We'll have you fixed up in no time, sonny!"

"Are you a Compsagnathus?", Branko asked her.

"Oh no, dearie!", Ursula replied. "I'm what you call a Skartopus Kirkus. That is, a meat eating scavenger. I'm with the 'Kirky Circus' - ever hear of it? I'm thier healer and fortune teller!"

"You're a carnivore?!", Branko looked frightened.

"Yup! But you can't say you're scared of little old me, can you!", Ursula smiled.

"Guess not...", Branko lay his head back down, not from relief but from pain.

I returned a short time later with the asked for materials as Ursula told Mayday to hold the leg straight. I placed the sticks along the sides of the injured leg as per Ursula's instructions, and she helped me tie them in place with the vines I cut to length with Klamath's daggers. With the extra length of vine, she had me tie the whole leg to the sticks so it wouldn't move when we moved him. Once this was done, we lifted Branko to a standing position, causing him condsiderable pain. We began to drag him back the way we came, and slowed to a stop as we came within sight of the wall of the ravine.

"Branko, now it's time I explain how we evaded the carnivores.", I told him as we rested. "See, we didn't actually evade them. Mayday, Ursula and I actually live with a clan of Tyranosaurs. We're a combined clan; and there are a number of Veloceraptors, Dilophosaurs and Kirkys included in the Tyranosaur clan. We have a pact of agreement, and combine our efforts in order to survive."

"But how?", Branko asked. "Things like that aren't done on Dinotopia! It goes against the natural order of things!"

"Arrangement work good.", Mayday told him. "We all hunt, we all live in harmony. Nobody fight and nobody go hungry."

"We have been doing this for about a year now, and everything is going great.", I said.

"I would have to see this to believe it.", said Branko. "Now, what of Hazzar?"

"Um..., when he came into camp this morning, he was all in a panic.", I explained. "When our guards stopped him to ask what he was doing there, he fell down dead of a heart attack."

"He didn't suffer much.", Ursula put in.

"Hazzer? Dead?", Branko's eyes went watery. "NO!..."

"Courage, child.", Ursula tried to soothe. "He seemed pretty old anyway."

"I told him he shouldn't make this run!", Branko said loudly. "But would he listen to me? Not him! Now look what happened!"

"We told the others not to touch him until we get back.", I said. "Maybe there's some words you'd like to say when we get there..."

"I apreciate that.", Branko said. "Perhaps I should..."

"How we get him up slope?", Mayday asked suddenly as she began to get up.

"We might need help.", I said. "I'm going to call the rest of the search party now. Please don't be afraid of them, ok Branko?"

"I'll try.", Branko braced himself.

I whistled three times, and soon a pair of Veloceraptors came into view. They knew not to be too offensive, and crouched on the ground many yards away. Rex, Grond and the rest came up behind them, and did pretty much likewise until I motioned for the whole group to come closer. I turned to Branko and smiled.

"See? These carnivores won't hurt you.", I told him. "They are friendly. We all were sent by king Thundertail to find you. Let us take you back to our camp so we can fix you up properly. Then we'll see about getting you to an outpost so you can get on with your life."

I introduced everyone in the search party in turn; but Branko was extremely reluctant to have them get too near. His blue tophat with a gold crown painted on it was given back by Slimepool. The Veloceraptor said he found it in the bushes along the ravine wall. Branko took the hat and placed it on his head as everyone prepared to take him back to camp.

The journey up the ravine wall was grueling for the Copro cart driver, and everyone took turns pulling him or pushing him up it. Once there it was relatively easy to retrace our steps through the thick jungle and onto some familiar paths. By the end of the morning, the search party and the party we had been searching for entered the boomerang shaped clearing that marked the camp of clan Thundertail; and everyone near cried thier greetings for thier wayward comrades and thier still reluctant objective.

"This is where we live.", I informed Shawn Branko as we entered the clearing. "It's not much, but we call it home!"

"These creatures seem to live almost civilized!", Branko looked around at the controlled chaos present, and all of the intimidating carnivores participating in it. "Things like this is just not done!"

"I guess around here, it is!", I laughed as we deposited Branko next to the unlit campfire we used to cook some of our food, which was near my cabin. "Now, let's get your injury taken care of. Ursula?"

"I think what he needs right now is rest.", ursula told us. "Of course, food and water is also important!"

"I get water.", Mayday volunteered and left the area.

"Stinger, be a dear and see about some food.", Ursula said as she tended to Branko's knee.

"I do not eat meat.", Branko said.

"Not to worry! We have a garden down by the river.", Ursula told him. "Mayday and Stinger enjoy an omniverous diet, actually. Some of us Kirkys eat a little vegetables sometimes too!"

Not very impressed, Branko looked around the area, seeing all the dangerous creatures; and suprised that none of them attacked him yet. A band of hatchling Tyranosaurs scurried by, being chased by a pack of hatchling Veloceraptors, who was being chased by many adult Kirkys, trying to keep them out of trouble. Looking over, he saw many Tyranosaurs go by, dragging in a carcass while many other Kirkys milled about, juggling or tumbling as was thier circus want. Mayday had come by and left a waterskin for him. I arrived a few moments later with a bowl of boiled vegetables and a few fruit wedges. I had boiled the food in meat drippings, and hoped he wouldn't notice!

"There you go!", I said as I crouched at his side. "What do you think so far?"

"Amazing! That's all I can say!", he balked slightly because the food was still too hot. "And you did this all by yourself?"

"Well, it wasn't my idea to have them give up thier wild ways.", I told him. "That was thier king's doing. I made a few suggestions, though..."

"And this king: Thundertail, right?", Branko asked. "He's a rational creature?"

"I guess you could call him agreeable.", I said. "He's the direct decendant of Stinktooth the great, you know."

"I heard he was extremely benevolent, for a Tyranosaur.", he said. "The great Aurthur Dennison befriended him, so the story is told."

"I guess it must run in the family!", I chuckled. "I think the reason why he has spared me is because I rescued his son, and raised him from a hatchling..."

"Nonsense!", Thundertail roared from behind. "I spared your life because humans give me indigestion!", he roared a chuckle. "Just kidding!...My name is king Thundertail, leader of this clan. I trust you are feeling well after your ordeal, and I would like to hear about it later if you don't mind!", Thundertail extended his dual clawed hand, but Branko didn't dare to take it.

"Charmed, I'm sure.", Branko said instead. "I was wondering, may I see Hazzar now?"

"Oh yes! The Monoclonius.", Thundertail said. "Poor chap. We had him moved. In the way, and all that!... But shouldn't you recover a little first?"

"He's as good as I can make him for the moment.", Ursula said, getting up. "But if he wishes to see his partner so badly, We could rig up a crutch or something."

"I'll manage.", Branko said. "Oh, and thank you for your hospitality so far."

"Don't think of it!", Thundertail told him. "You're the most excitement we've had since the Kirkys moved in!", another chuckle. "Fly with a stinger, could you arrange in making a crutch for this fine gentileman?"

"Right away, my king.", I said and went to do as asked.

In the mean time, Branko finished his meal after taking off his hat and shifting to a more comfortable position; but there wasn't many of those options open to him due to his condition. By this time the hunting party came back with thier booty, and many of the clan members went over to help. Fortunately for him, the feeding area was somewhat out of his line of view; so he wouldn't get to see too much of the carnage he feared he'd witness. Word had gotten out of the hunting party's success, and many of the carnivores large and small began to make thier way to the area. Suprisingly enough to him, there was very little of the noisy gusto he had heard carnivores usually make while eating coming from that area; for these were somewhat civilized carnivores, it would seem. I had just came back from the near by forest with a longish pole of strong cycad wood, and was fashioning it into a crutch shape when I came up to the injured copro driver and sat down.

"Almost finished with your crutch.", I told him as I saw him looking toward the feeding area. "How was the chow?"

"Not bad.", he replied. "It's amazing what's going on here. Never in the history of Dinotopia has carnivores organized themselves in this manner. The high council at Waterfall City should know of this!"

"Well, a few months ago a Skybax rider flew into the area for a visit.", I told him. "He thought we were lost, and asked if we needed help. I told him what you now know, and he said the same thing: that the High Council should know. The guy's name was David Scott, and I think his Skybax was Freefall, or something."

"Yes! The newcomers!", Branko said. "I heard of them. He was the quickest out of cadet school, and quickly rose in the ranks to assistant commander of the Skybax squadrons."

"You know, I'm a newcomer - a Dolphinback, if the term is correct.", I told him. "My jet plane crashed in the Rainy Basin almost a year ago."

"We don't use that term any more...", Branko looked at me as if it were the first time. "But how did you assimilate to the ways of Dinotopia so fast? The Scotts have been here for almost two years now, and they still haven't fully gotten used to things."

"Let's just say that I'm a quick learner.", I told him, smiling. "No, actually, I had a little help...", I began to tell him of Klamath and what he taught me, about Mayday and what she taught me - as well as all the others who showed me what life here was like. He nodded as he digested every aspect of my story. "So you see, since there's almost no chance for me to be rescued from here, I figure to make the best of things."

"A sound course of action.", Branko told me. "And now there is my own course of action. If you would help me up, I would like to see my Partner, Hazzar now."

"Of course.", I said as I got up and stood him up with much pain. "Now, I think he's over there..."

I got the crutch under his arm and half carried him toward where they had moved Hazzar. Pincushion was still there, guarding him; and roared defiantly as we aproached.

"Halt! Who goes there?!", he bellowed.

"Pincushion, this is Shawn Branko. He was Hazzar's partner.", I introduced. "Shawn, this is Pincushion, hunter in training.", I turned to the beast and said. "Good job guarding, son. You can go now, I guess."

"Sure thing, Stinger.", Pincushion said. "Uh sir, sorry about your Partner.", Pincushion bowed and left the area.

"Polite, isn't he?", I said for conversation. "I guess I should leave you alone with him. I'll be over there if you need me." I indicated a small tent dozens of yards away, where many Kirkys were practicing thier juggling act.

Branko climbed down the crutch to crouch at his partner's head as I sat by the Kirky's fire and watched them practice, I wasn't too far away, so I could hear bits and pieces of what was going on between them. As I watched the performance before me and heard the conversation behind me, the jugglers would occasionally send some of the things they were juggling with my way; and I would catch and flip them back to whomever I chose, and that one would juggle it without skipping a beat. In the mean time, my ears picked up a far more somber conversation that made my entertainment that much less enjoyable.

"Oh..., Hazzar!", Branko wept, clinging onto the nose horn. "You were always there for me!", he snuggled. "And in your hour of need I was nowhere to be found!"

Branko rose and stroked under a leathery eye. "I remember you taking care of me when I was a child...", another tear rose. "Remember the mudhole?! All the fun we had in my youth, all of which you shared! I remember we even tried to be entered into the Dinotopia Olympics, remember that? There wasn't an event specifically for your kind, so we were disqualifyed."

He scooted back to the crutch. "I'm sorry I couldn't have you buried in your family plot, my friend. But I know a way to have your death benefit someone. You don't mind having these friendly carnivores eat you, do you?", Branko wiped his face and struggled to his feet with the aid of the crutch and his former Partner's horn. Bracing himself mentally as well, he called: "Uh...! Stinger?", he called out.

"All set?", I asked as I walked back over and half carried him toward the unused campfire.

"I guess so.", He said as we sort of walked. "I'm sure going to miss him..."

"I sympathize with you.", I told him as we passed the campfire. "I'd be the same way if Rex passed away."

"He's your Partner?", then Branko noticed we weren't going to the campfire. "Where are we going?"

"It rains at night here. Thought you might need some shelter.", I said, then answered his other question. "Yeah, he is. But he's also the leader's son, and he likes to be near his pop."

I took him deeper into the trees, careful of the uneven ground between the tree roots. A little further in he saw my makeshift cabin; and noticed the dim glow coming from the door I had just opened. My Veloceraptor family was inside, just bedding down for the night; and he looked at them with mild alarm.

"Shawn Branko, I would like for you to meet my family.", I told him.

"You also live with Veloceraptors?", was his reply.

"Yes. I have a contract with Whitetail, the matriarch of her tribe.", I said to him. "I'm her Nestmate. See, when they first got here, they attacked us. I killed the alpha male, and they were leaderless; so, instead of killing her and her family, I took her as my mate, and opted to help her raise her children."

"And your Partnership with Rex?", Branko asked, a little confused.

"This relationship doesn't interfere with that.", I said. "With my doing this with the Veloceraptors, it bonds both clans together and lets them live in harmony. I am the link between these two clans."

"Do Veloceraptors mate for life?", Branko said as I sat him down on my pallet.

"They do, but with this agreement, It ends when her children leave the nest.", I said, unrolling my old bedroll. Whitetail had gotten up from her nest and came to me for a nuzzle. "This is Whitetail. Over there are Ripper and Snapper, both boys. Whitetail, this is Shawn Branko, owner of that copro cart out there."

"Hello, ma'am.", Branko said.

"Hello human.", she said. "I trust you are well. I am sorry about your loss."

"Thank you for your concern.", he said and turned to me. "Speaking of my Partner, I have decided to donate his body to the carnivores here. It is the way of all Dinotopians to help others; and even in death, Hazzar would have wanted to help you folks after all you've done for me."

"Well! That's a wonderful sentiment!", I said as I lay down. "I'm sure everyone will apreciate it. Good night, Shawn - and everyone else."

"Good night.", Sean Branko said as I blew out the lantern.

I woke early the next morning, but not because it was my turn to help out in the morning hunt. It was because of Sean Branko's screaming all of a sudden! I sprung to a sitting position and looked his way and saw the reason for this rude awakening. Ripper and Snapper had gotten it onto thier heads to wake up thier father; but mistakenly woke mister Branko instead! His leariness of carnivores and his obviousely forgetting where he was caused him to shriek uncontrollably at these junior monsters that were pouncing on him!

"BOYS! KNOCK IT OFF!", I yelled at them, and they eventually stopped, hanging thier heads. "That's not nice, waking our guest like that!" I turned to him. "Sorry about that! Did they hurt you?"

"No!", Branko panted. "I was dreaming I was being chased through the forest by Tyranosaurs.", he turned to the boys. "And all of a sudden they were bouncing on me - I thought the Tyranosaurs got me!!"

"Oof!", I rubbed my face in sympathy. "Yeah, they probably thought they were waking ME up. I usually sleep there.", I told him. "Shame on you!", they cringed. "What do you have to say for yourselves?!"

"Sorry...", they droned in unison.

"Now, don't you two have training or something to do today?", I asked, knowing thier schedule.

"Yes, sir.", they both said.

"So why aren't you getting ready for it?", I asked.

"We were waiting for everyone to get up!", Ripper said and Snapper nodded.

"We couldn't wait any longer, so we were waking everyone up!", Snapper said and Ripper nodded.

"And I think you succeeded!", I said.

"Nuh, aah! Mom's not up yet.", Ripper said.

"Yes I was!", Whitetail said in the same manner, turning over in her nest. "Who can sleep with all this racket?!"

"Like I said, you succeeded!", I said triumphantly. "Now. off to training!... Go ahead, scoot!", Snapper and Ripper bolted out the door.

Both Whitetail and I shrugged and prepared to get up. I gave her a nuzzle and walked over to where Branko was laying.

"How you feeling?", I asked. "Besides being pounced on, that is!"

"Not too bad, considering!", he said with a smile. "The leg feels a bit better. I think I can bend it, but it does feel swolen."

"I'll have Ursula take a look at it in a little while.", I said. "Want breakfast?"

"I'm pretty hungry at that...", Branko stretched.

"Be right back!", I said as I left the cabin. Whitetail stayed behind to tidy up, Branko giving her mistrusting stares like usual.

The first thing I did when I left was to see about Hazzar, and to tell Pincushion, who had been ordered to guard his body again, that Branko decided to donate it to the clan. He was overjoyed at the prospect because the Kirkys had wanted to start training him to watch where he was going! I next located Thundertail and Rex and told him of Branko's donation, bowing to the former and giving the latter a nuzzle.

They both seemed overjoyed at the prospect; mainly because the hunting was getting a little lean lately, but also because the meat would be extra tasty since he had been sitting around for a while to cure! I parted company with them since they had the business of organizing the hunting party and went toward the Kirky camp. I saw all the hundreds of industrious little creatures busy sprucing up the place and venturing out to the rest of the other carnivore areas to do the same or any other services they could perform. I wove my way through the tents, carts and miniscule pedestrians until I made it to the wagon of Ursula the fortune teller. I knocked on the side, making the wagon bounce on its' wheels and waited a few seconds until she bounded out into the morning sunshine.

"Why don't you tip the cart over while you're at it!", she scolded until her eyes could focus on me. "Oh, Stinger dear! What brings you here - and so early?"

"It's mister Branko.", I said, but she spoke before I had a chance to continue.

"He's bad?", she worried. "Oh, dear! I guess I better get over there right away! Theodore! My rickshaw!"

"Oh, it's not that!", I chuckled. "He's feeling much better now that he's rested. He thinks he can move his knee, and believes it is merely bruised."

"That so? He's a healer now?", Ursula got her bag. "He's not well until I tell him he's well!... THEODORE!! You take slow medicine today?!"

"Coming!", a tiny voice was heard two tents over.

"Just thought I'd let you know...", I said as Theodore pulled the rickshaw over and Ursula got in. "He's in my cabin!", I yelled at thier backs.

Shrugging, I went into the clearing, by the western path, and asked a Kirky there if she saw any Veloceraptor trainees about. Barb said that the group went into the jungle, down the path; so I thanked her and headed in that direction. It was a good thing thier trainer, Mosquito, wouldn't dare take them to the other side of the river just yet; for that was the territory of the Mosasaurs. We had a truce of sorts with them, even though they weren't exactly the sociable sort: We stay on our side of the river and they stay on the other, in thier marsh. There was one sweet old Mosasaur there. Soo was her name (Heavy on the 'Ssss' sound!), and she was so old she didn't have teeth - but her bite strength was right up there! One day a Tyranosaur chick was playing on some rocks by the water's edge and fell in. Soo rose up and nudged the little one into shallower water, where she scrambled to safety. We sometimes helped the poor old beast by throwing our leavings in the water so she could eat too. My mind was too preoccupied with this remeniscing as I walked down the path that I didn't notice the twin miniature juggernauts that had just tackled me!

"Gotcha!", Ripper snarled in my ear.

"Mmm! Prey!", Snapper snapped in the other one.

"Oooh! Help! You got me!", I said as I toppled to the ground. The force of thier attack was merely enough to stagger me, but I fell as if it were a real attack. I rolled on my back and started a tickle attack of my own!

"Boys! Stop that!", Mosquito came out of hiding, witnessing the spectacle. "You're supposed to be practicing stalking, not attacking!"

"Aw!", Snapper said as he rolled off me.

"We were just having fun...", Ripper groaned, doing the same.

"Hunting is serious work, and you must go about it with a serious aditude!", Mosquito told them. "Now, back to the bushes, the both of you!"

"Yes sir...", Ripper said as both slowly paced down the path. They turned and leapt into the undergrowth and disapeared from view.

"Sorry about that.", Mosquito said, helping me up. "Did they hurt you?"

"Naw!", I said. "We wrestle like that all the time! How they doing?"

"They learn fast, but they lack discipline - like you saw.", Mosquito told me. "So, how is that new human doing?"

"Better.", I said. "He thinks he's almost all healed, but Ursula wants to be the judge of that."

"That she would!", Mosquito told me. "I sat in a thornbush the other day, and look what she did!", he showed me the base of his tail, which was wrapped up like a mummy!

"Yeah, she's demanding when it comes to that.", I said as another one of Mosquito's trainees came out of the underbrush. She was carrying a Kirky, whooping for joy.

"Looky what I caught!", Dungbeetle said. "Caught 'em sneaking around, I did!"

"Put me down, missy!", the little one squeaked. This one I remembered was named Jerry.

"Dungbeetle! Do as the nice Kirky says!", Mosquito said, and Dungbeetle complied.

"Sorry about that.", Mosquito apologized.

"Don't mention it.", Jerry said. "Say Stinger! I been looking for you. The boss wants you to go to the eating area right away. Not my boss, your boss!"

"Oh..., Thundertail?", I asked. "Yeah, sure.", I quickly walked back up the path toward the Tyranosaur camp.

Both saurians shrugged and went back to thier busuness and I came out by the Kirky camp. I wove my way around the tents and miniature pedestrian traffic until the clearing proper was seen, then I made it up the rise and into the feeding area. Who I saw there, alone and unafraid among all the carnivores, was Shawn Branko!

"Fly with a stinger, come over, if you please!", Thundertail said as soon as he noticed me. "Mister Branko here has donated the body of his beloved Partner to us for today's feast. Wasn't that generous of him?"

"Yes, it was!", I said as I sat down next to Rex, who grasped my shoulder as I sat with his small, dual clawed hand. "That was really Dinotopian of you Shawn!"

"Yes, and this act also makes him an honorary clan member.", Thundertail said so all could hear. "Those who provide us with food deserves no less. He is welcome here for as long as he likes, and be welcome if he should find himself in these parts again!"

"Please, you shouldn't.", Branko said for himself. "It was simply the fact that I wouldn't be able to transport Hazzar all the way back home; and the fact that he would not have been too presentable, even if I could - if you know what I mean!"

As the chuckles for that comment died down, Whitetail came over with Shawn's food and sat down beside him with hers. The smalltalk commenced as the food was served to the rest of the clan in that group; and I absently stroked Rex's side as he did the same with my shoulder. We had been so busy of late we barely got the chance to see each other. Partners form a bond over time, and it seemed we really missed each other!

Once the meal ended we all sat there and whiled away most of the afternoon, talking about things that were mostly clan business. I had commented that we were becoming more civilized every day; and Thundertail, not knowing what being civilized meant, asked me how the society I lived in in the outside world worked. I told him of the few governments I knew of that I understood and how they ran - my opinion, of course, I maintained! He was intrigued at how a democracy worked, how each person had a say in the way things were run; and he actually undrestood how a kingdom worked since the clan was run in much the same manner. Sean Branko broke in and told what he knew about how the Dinotopian council worked, which was almost like the parlaimentary setup found in Great Britain of old times, I told them. Once I knew this, I began to form a plan on how to deal with them if the situation called for it!

The conversations turned from this and the inevitable suggestions to create our own form of government to those of planning the events of the next few days. Ursula had conceeded that Branko's leg was much better than she had first diagnosed, and he would be walking unaided pretty soon - perhaps in as little as a few days. Of course he was more than welcome to stay for at least that long!

The Kirky Circus put on a show of sorts for us around our fire that night; a juggling act with a dozen performers in a mixture of clown outfits and gypsy-like affairs throwing a myriad of objects to the tunes played by thier small band, led by Vinny. Included in thier juggling arsonal were several knives; and when a performer would receive one of them during the performance, they would scream! It proved for one fine evening of entertainment!

That day ended and so did the next. Mister Branko steadily got better, was able to get up on his own and to walk by himself with the aid of the crutch. He would tell us tales of his life, and the reigons he had traveled through; and times he was in mortal danger! He told of a time when he was accosted by land pirates and Outsiders - humans who did not adhere to the Dinotopian ethics, who took what they wanted from anyone, and fates help you if you resisted! He said the leader of that group was the infamous Torres LeSage, long time descendant of a pirate that ended up here hundreds of years ago - or so she claimed. She was sly and cunning, and not apt to take quarter with anyone - especially the authorities!

Sounded like a sweet girl to me!

The day soon came when Branko was deemed well enough to travel; and though he became quite attatched to everyone here, he felt it his duty to return to his former life real soon. Since Treetown was so far away and the way through the Rainy Basin was still frought with dangers of unknown carnivores, Thundertail insisted he have his own escort to take him the majority of the way. He picked himself, Grond, Rex and Pincushion; along with Mayday and myself so I could get an idea of the other places of Dinotopia.

"Pincushion, you will let mister Branko ride you.", Thundertail told him. "Guard him well and your Path of Shame might be shortened."

"Yes sir.", Pincushion dared not refuse.

"Since Grond and Mayday are so attatched to each other, they may ride together.", he continued. "Fly with a stinger, you may ride with me."

"But I do not deserve the honor!", I protested.

"On the contrary!", Thundertail said. "With the weight of your armor, Rex would not be able to carry you!"

"But I'm strong enough!", Rex protested.

"Do not refuse the wishes of your father!", he shouted. "Besides, I would need a riderless one for speed in case we are attacked!"

We all readied ourselves, mounting the Tyranosaur that was chosen for us and as a group left the campsite of clan Thundertail. We traveled north, along the trails that led toward Treetown and the Backbone Bridge, now rotted beyond repair and unsafe to use. We would have to travel a little to the west after we rounded the last foothills of the Forbidden mountains. We went through the meadow us and the Veloceraptors had shared our first joint kill in, beyond it and into the territories the Veloceraptors had once occupied - now expanded to become ours as well.

We traveled ever north, into lands neither of us had before seen. This was the territory of unknown carnivores, and Thundertail had Rex keep an extra vigilent guard of our group - we all grew more nervous with every step our steeds took. The jungle sounds, so prominent in our wake, all of a sudden became hushed; and this sign instinctively made us all more wary. We only traveled a half mile more to find out the reason why.

"HALT!", a wild eyed Tyranosaur barreled out of a side path and roared. "Go no further or be destroyed!"

"Do not hinder us!", Thundertail roared back. "We are on a mission of peace!"

"Go no further!", he repeated. "My nesting grounds are ahead!"

"We do not wish to disturb your nest, fine saurian.", Thundertail told him. "I am king Thundertail, of clan Thundertail; and I am delivering this human...", he indicated Branko on Pincushion's back. "To his destination at Treetown.", then took a calmer tone. "What be your name, kind sir?"

"I am Snaptail. My mate has lain her eggs near by, and wishes privacy.", Snaptail said. "I have heard of clan Thundertail. They say they are the ones who take in strangers - and humans!"

"That we do!", Thundertail chuckled. "We find simbyoses like that beneficial to all. We find that hunters of different species can combine thier talents and increase thier chances of success."

"My clan thinks this practice is unnatural and an abomination!", Snaptail said. "But as my mate is secluded with birth, we are too few in number to Argue! You may pass with your precession; but please veer to the east for the next three miles.", he bowed. "Beware, friends; for the Sunstones are most powerful today."

"We will comply, noble hunter.", Thundertail continued down the path we were on, the rest of us following. Rex took up the rear behind Pincushion while Branko smiled at the unknown carnivore watching them pass.

"Good luck with your eggs!", Branko waved at the retreating monster.

We traveled past Snaptail's territory and upward into the foothills of the Backbone Mountains. The going was getting tough as there were more skinny ravines and rushing streams to ford. At one extra wide and strong river the group stopped. It looked deep, and there seemed to be no place to cross.

"Now what?", Grond complained.

"We go on.", Thundertail told him. "Perhaps there's an easier way downstream."

"I have an idea, my king!", Pincushion said, rushing up to tell him. "We can make a bridge and walk across!"

"How?", Thundertail asked.

"See those trees?", Pincushion indicated with his snout. "Push one or two over and we can walk across!", he went and pushed a small one down with his snout, much to Branko's dismay; but it didn't land across the river. It was too skinny to support a Tyranosaur's weight anyway.

"Good idea, son!", Thundertail marveled at his injenuity. "Grond, Rex, help us push over that large one!"

As thier passengers dismounted, all four Tyranosaurs got to work on the largest tree in the group. It was clearly thirty feet around, and easily strong enough to support at least one adult Tyranosaur at a time. Using thier combined strength and some coaching by me on which direction to push it, the tree fell across the river with a resounding splash; landing where many small boulders forded it, but making the log a little unstable when Thundertail tested it for strength. We all remounted our rides and prepared to cross.

"Careful everyone.", Thundertail instructed.

"Naw! This looks easy!", Pincushion stepped to the log and hopped on.

"Woah! Watch it son!", Branko balked as his steed rocked on the log.

Pincushion deftly crossed the log in a moment, then pirouetted on one foot and came back. "This is just like I practiced! It's easy!"

Thundertail stepped onto the log as Pincushion went back across and got off. The log wobbled under his foot, and he made great effort to steady it.

"Clench your toes into the wood!", Pincushion called from the other side. "Let your ankles pivot, and let your sense of balance compensate for the wobble!"

With slow and determined effort, Thundertail got to the other side, much to my relief. "Come on everyone!", he called, then to Pincushion. "Well done, son."

"Show-off!", I lightly scolded in passing.

Grond was next across. His slow, sure steps were punctuated by the look of grim determination on his face. Mayday gasped at a slight misstep; but both made it across two minutes later. Rex hopped up onto the log, and tried to match Pincushion's finesse stepping across. A foot slipped off the side and sent him spraddling the log. I gasped in sympathetic pain myself! He pushed up with his front limbs, wheezing with the effort and the loss of wind; and slowly got his feet under him. Rex redoubled his caution for the rest of the trip across the log.

"You hurt, son?", Thundertail asked, concerned.

"I don't think so.", Rex wheezed.

"I'll have Ursula look at when we get back, just in case.", Thundertail told him.

We all gathered on the other side, at a bend of the river, and got our bearings. Once we decided we were going in the right direction, we headed north again and excecuted the slight upslope that was before us. After a half hour of marching upslope, Pincushion slowed to a stop and shook his head violently.

"What's wrong?", Branko asked him. "Uh, sirs! I think something is wrong with Pincushion!"

"What is it, son?", Thundertail asked as soon as he got near.

"I don't know...", Pincushion was gasping. "There's a buzzing in my head... Like bees... Growing louder... HURTS!..."

"Must be all this exertion.", I suggested.

"Wait! Where are we exactly?", Branko asked.

"Just over foothills of Backbone Mountains.", Mayday guessed.

"I see! We are coming out of the Rainy Basin, and getting into range of the Sunstones.", Branko said. "They ward off all carnivores."

"Of course!", I said. "The amulets I gave you will prevent any discomfort to you; but we took Pincushion's away from him, remember? He will feel the Sunstone's full effect if he goes any further."

"This is bad!", Thundertail said. "Pincushion. Wait by the log bridge we made and guard it. Mister Branko. You will ride Rex for the rest of the way."

"You needn't bother, sirs!", Branko said. "I could walk the rest of the way."

"We are in territory I have never seen before.", Thundertail told him. "There may be unknown dangers."

"I never been here before either.", I added.

"Very well then.", Branko said, then turned to Pincushion. "Thank you for your help little hunter.", he stroked his muzzle. "Good bye, my friend; and have a good life."

"Bye, mister Branko.", Pincushion gave him a nuzzle. "It was fun having you - but not for dinner!", Branko chuckled as he turned to Rex and Pincushion turned down the path they came in on.

"Here sir.", Rex offered. "Climb up my back!"

Branko complied and they were soon continuing along the ever widening path, closer to thier goal of Treetown. As they climbed down from the foothills on the other side of the Backbone Mountains, they noticed thier amulets of protection glowing; softly at first, and with ever increasing intensity. At a promentory near a curve in the path, a view came upon them that gave them all pause. In the distance lay a shining white city of brick and marble, wood and stone. This was not Treetown, like where we wished to go; but was in fact Bent Root, formerly a major trading outpost along the banks of Deep Lake, but now it was merely a shanty town, still steeped in the traditions of thier ancesters.

Treetown looked nothing like this town, Branko said; for every building in Treetown was built up in the trees with only barns for thier Brach population stood on the ground - and every building was made of wood. Branko said that he could get transportation to Treetown from there as it was only a few miles further to the north. That was agreeable to all, so they pressed on. As the path delved back into the forest for a spell, it came out upon a clearing twice the size of the one used by thier clan which was roughly square in shape.

At the crest of this plain a crossroads was encountered, and the group paused in decision on which way to go. While they were deciding this, a cart being pulled by a Triceratops emerged from the far end of the clearing from the west, followed by two Brachs decked out in armor with massive saddles on thier backs and flanked by a quartet of saurian guards. The Triceratops bellowed a distress call at the sight of our group, and thier group immediately stopped. One of the saurian guards consulted the Triceratops, and all four guards immediately rushed to our position to confront us!

"Proceed no further, carnivore scum!", the first guard yelled, hefting his staff as the others did the same. "Return to where you came!"

"We mean you no harm!", Thundertail roared back, but the guards did not understand Tyranosaur. They instead got into more defensable stances!

"Let me tell them, my king.", I whispered, then addressed the guards. "We mean you no harm! We are here on a mission of kindness."

"State your mission, human that rides Tyranosaurs!", the first guard ordered.

"A copro cart entered our territory, and we found the driver lost in the forest and injured.", I began. "We treated his wounds, and now return him to his home."

"Who is this copro cart driver?", the guard asked.

"I am! My name is Shawn Branko", Shawn Branko said, getting down from Rex and adjusting his bag. "My Partner and I was lost in the Rainy Basin. We had an accident, and I was injured. Hazzar went to get help, and brought these kind beings to rescue me."

"Where is your Partner?", the guard asked. "Where is your cart?"

"He died.", Branko told him. "He was too old, and his heart failed him. I was ilequipped to recover the cart, so it now resides at these creatures' camp."

"What became of your Partner?", the first guard asked.

"We ate him.", I told him. "We are carnivores, after all!"

"Humans who eat meat are abominations!", a second guard said. "But this human wears the uniform of the copro guild."

"I say we escort them to Bent Root and let them decide thier fate!", the third guard said.

"I say we run off the Tyranosaurs and send the humans to Bent Root under guard!", said the fourth.

"I am in command of this convoy!", the first said. "I say we take the copro driver and send the rest away."

"I say that you better make up your minds quick!", the Triceratops told them. "It is getting late, and they might be getting hungry!"

"Sirs! Please!", Branko shouted. "All I wish is to gain transportation to Treetown at Bent Root. I do not think it is necesary to harass my friends!"

"We meant no harm.", I added as I remounted Thundertail. "All we wished to do is to get mister Branko back where he belongs. And now that this deed is done, I think we should be on our way."

"But what will the authorities at Bent Root have to say?", the third guard asked.

"Breathe deep, seek peace.", I quoted thier saying. "This we have done, and nothing further should be said. The Triceratops is right, though. It is getting late; and I do not know about my comrades, but I am indeed getting hungry!" I looked over and saw all but Thundertail agreeing with my last comment. "So we bid you a fond adeau, and wish you a fruitful life.", Thundertail turned and headed back down the path we had come, the rest following suit.

"Good bye, everyone!", Shawn Branko called as he aproached the cart and threw his bag inside. "Good fortune to you all!"

Our group eventually returned to where Thundertail told Pincushion to wait. Along the way he commented on how they were treated by those guards. Did the other Dinotopians really think that all we were was murdurous monsters? Did thier mistrust of us spur so much hatred that they would actually engage us on sight? He could not vouch for every carnivore in the Rainy Basin, but he knew that clan Thundertail was as peaceful as could be! During his ranting, I assured him that some of them didn't feel that way about us; and we could take more decisive measures to dissuade thier trepidations about us. Thundertail asked me to elaborate, so I gave him a few small suggestions to consider. Within the hour we made it back to the river we forded with the log, and found a pleasant suprise waiting for us when we met up with Pincushion.

"Hello, fellow clan members!", Pincushion announced with a toothy smile on his saurian face. "I waited like you told me. I was so quiet that this Ankylosaur didn't see me coming!"

"Well done Pincushion!", Grond complimented. "It usually takes two or more to handle one of these!"

The corpse in front of us was indeed an Ankylosaur. It suffered a gored neck, and the tail was wedged between two trees. It had put up a fight, but not for long, it would seem.

"Yeah, as soon as this guy saw me, it swung its' tail around.", Pincushion explained. "I dodged it until he got it stuck - then I struck!"

"Well, how ever you done it, well done!", Thundertail said.

"We were getting hungry at that!", Rex put in.
_

(Continued)

[thundertail]

_

FIFTEEN:
"Discovered."
(Continued)

We briefly ate with carniverous gusto, and then dragged the remains into the forest as the killing ground was a common path. Crossing the river was slightly less a feat of acrobatics as we had done it before; and then we began the long march back the way we had come. Night had set by the time we had gotten back to our expanded territory; and we bedded down for the night two miles short of the clearing where the Tyranosaurs and Veloceraptors had thier first joint hunt. In the morning we continued on, and joined up with one of our hunting parties, who were still out hunting in the area. Waterkill led this group, and they were only replentishing our larder; so the herd of Parasrolophus we stalked was small in number, and we only brought down a few.

By midmorning our group plus the hunting party entered the camp with our kills; and even though it looked like any other day around there, some things were definitely different. For one thing, the 'Big Top' was taken down; and Thundertail, fearing the Kirkys were preparing to leave, went over to Harold and Mildred, who were directing the disassembly, to beg them to stay. They were the most colorful characters his clan had ever seen, and it would be a shame if they parted company!

"Heck no, boss!", Harold said as he let go a rope. "We ain't leaving - unless you want us to!", Harold told him. "We were just makin' more room. It seemed it's getting a bit crowded around here, so we thought on taking this thing down. You guys like small shows anyway!"

"That's a relief!", Thundertail told him. "If you left, you'd be missed!"

"Ah! My fans!", Harold sang as he hefted another rope.

The other strange thing was the fact that Shawn Branko's copro cart was missing from where we left it. I asked around since I felt it my responsability for it's well being, and found that the Kirkys had taken that too! I found it parked next to thier miniscule carts, the ones used to haul thier circus paraphanalia and thier maintainence carts. Dozens of the little carnivores were pouring all over it, measuring it and generally trying to repair it, or so it seemed to me.

"There it is!", I said, and a Kirky pulled his nose out of the plans he was drawing up on a piece of parchment.

"Huh?" he said, stylus raised. "Oh! The copro cart. Yeah, it was an eyesore over there in the middle of things. We're trying to figure a way to use it around here. The dang thing's designed for four-foots, not Tyranos!"

"I guess that's a useful idea.", I said noncommittally as I noticed another Kirky repaint the crown crest on the side - real gold paint, and deatiled to look almost like a real crown. "I was wondering where it went. Mister Branko might want us to take good care of it."

"Well, don't worry about that! We got plans for it.", he squeaked. "Uh, name's Gavin, by the way. Have we met?"

"I'm not sure.", I said. "You Kirkys look the same to me. You all got slightly different voices, though.", his had a slightly Austrailian accent.

"Anyway, see these yokes? I got to design them so they'll fit Tyranos - us Kirkys are too small!", Gavin said. "I got the others paintin' her up and fixing the squeaks. The main problem is we got to take apart the yokes and design new ones that slope up to a Tyrano's shoulders if it's going to work. Got more boys out scoutin' for the right trees so we can carve some up."

"I see...", I said as I inspected the cart. I noticed something strange. "What's the idea of this plaque back here?", it was in the form of a mudguard hung at the back end of the cart proper. It dangled down to within inches of the ground, and there was saurian writing on it.

"It gets muddy around here! No need to kick it up into anyone's eye, you know!", Gavin said. "Now that saying. It tells of how life goes, if you take my meaning!"

" 'Copro Happens!'.", I read and chuckled. "Funny and profound at the same time! A perfect place for a perfect sentiment!", I chuckled some more.

"Glad you like it, lad!", Gavin chuckled too. "Now if only the boss will like it..."

"I'm sure he will!", I told him. "He'll just think it typical for your bunch!"

Those Kirkys crack me up!...
_