Currying Favour 2 [WAR OF THORNS]

Blackwell could never catch a break. 

Just when we thought his life had settled down, something had to stir it all up again. That something was a grotesque looking plant that was growing at the Grand Arch. There were whispers about dangerous plants popping up around the island, but Blackwell hadn’t believed it until now.

The next day, Blackwell had asked around about the odd plants he spotted at the Grand Arch. A few helpful parasaurs informed him that some new dinosaurs had arrived alongside the plants, and told him that he should seek them out to get to the bottom of this. Great, more running around.

Eventually, he had been able to track one down, bribing him with a leaf-full of berries. Much to Blackwell’s dismay, the oviraptor, Maol, didn’t reveal much. He claimed that their goal was not to be discussed, but that they were indeed the ones sowing new plants around the island. He wasn’t very sure about the ‘monstrous’ plant Blackwell had described, but that was all the information he was willing to give him.

And so, Blackwell was off again, searching for someone that could give him more concrete answers.

By some stroke of luck, Blackwell had managed to stumble across another oviraptor. In fact, he almost trampled the poor thing. It hurriedly ran out from some bushes and under his legs, squawking in surprise once it realized where it had ended up. Blackwell nearly stumbled trying to keep his feet still in an attempt not to squash the creature.

He was about to chastise it when yet another creature came barreling out of the bushes: a young utahraptor. It slammed into his leg, falling back on its behind and shaking its head from the impact. One glance up at Blackwell and his crown of horns had it scampering back off into the forest, suddenly uninterested in continuing its pursuit for the small oviraptor.

Blackwell turned his attention back to the dark-coloured creature between his legs, blinking down at it. It didn't look any older than a juvenile, and it was shaking like a leaf.

He huffed, “You alright?”

It’s like the oviraptor had forgotten about the large styracosaurus it had taken shelter under, squeaking in surprise again as its head whipped up to stare at him.

”U-um, yeah, I’m okay…” He murmured, looking a bit sheepish.

“Now what’s a little fella like you doing out here?” Blackwell questioned, carefully stepping over the oviraptor so he could look at him properly. “This forest ain’t no place to be meandering.”

It was like a switch had flipped in the small oviraptor as he jumped up to his feet, puffing out his feathered chest with pride. “I’m on a mission!” He exclaimed, looking very determined for someone who was about to become lunch not two minutes ago.

“So I hear,” Blackwell grumbled, rolling his eyes, “you gonna tell me what this mission is?”

“No can do, sir!” The oviraptor said proudly, “It’s a secret! So much so that the adults won’t even tell me what it is!”

Blackwell didn’t look very amused by that.

”What’s your name, kid?” He asked, becoming increasingly done with this whole interaction. Clearly he was going to get nowhere with this. 

“Bowie!” The oviraptor chirped, his tone bright and loud. 

”Bowie, huh? Are you even supposed to be out here all by your lonesome?” Blackwell interrogated, causing the oviraptor to deflate a bit.

”You… you’re not gonna tattle on me, are you?” Bowie pouted, and Blackwell had just about enough at that point. He hoped Maol was still snacking on the berries he had left him as he turned around to head back in that direction.

”H-huh? W-wait, sir, where are you going?” Bowie shouted after him, the sound of tiny little footsteps following in pursuit.

”Gonna go find someone who will keep yer ass outta trouble,” Blackwell snorted, slowing his pace just a touch so that his temporary companion could keep up with him. He didn’t usually go out of his way like this, but he couldn't just leave a kid out here by himself.

”What? I don’t need a babysitter, sir!” Bowie complained, but still followed after the styracosaurus nonetheless.

“Don’t care,” Blackwell droned, pushing through some underbrush, “yer too young to be wanderin’ around alone.”

He could hear Bowie huff and puff next to him, loudly ruffling his feathers, “I am not too young! I can take care of myself!-”

A loud gurgling noise cut the small oviraptor off, sounding an awful lot like the sound of someone’s stomach growling. Blackwell stopped in his tracks, slowly turning his head to squint at the now-frozen oviraptor.

“When was the last time you ate somethin’?” Blackwell questioned, already knowing the answer he would get.

Bowie was silent for a few more seconds before squeaking out: “I’m not hungry.”

Blackwell had to stop himself from groaning out loud, covering it up with another loud huff as he started moving again. “Good lord, kid. Do you have a single self-preserving bone in that tiny body of yours?”

”What does that mean?” Bowie squawked, nearly causing Blackwell to pop a blood vessel in frustration.

Needless to say, Blackwell was now concerned with finding Bowie something to eat. Considering he had probably picked every single berry bush he knew of earlier (damn you Maol), he’d have to find something else to satiate the kid’s hunger.

…

“So you don’t like leaves, grass, or roots…” Blackwell grumbled, still trudging along while trying to figure out what he could possibly feed this oviraptor. Clearly their diets did not line up.

“Nope!” Bowie chirped, seemingly oblivious to how picky he was. “Ohh, are there any nuts around here?”

“None that a pipsqueak like you could reach,” Blackwell mused, chuckling when Bowie let out an offended ‘Hey!’. 

Blackwell thought hard for another second; Bowie had told him that oviraptors ate just about anything, plants and meat (clearly this wasn’t true for Bowie, but Blackwell didn’t have the energy to argue), so there were many things to choose from. Though it would be a bit easier to track down a small rodent, Blackwell heavily doubted either of them had the hunting prowess to capture one.

There was only one other thing that came to mind, even though it pained Blackwell to even consider it.

“There is… a little meadow I know of, could have some flowers,” Blackwell grumbled, silently cursing at the way Bowie’s eyes lit up.

So off to the meadow they went. 

Lo and behold, the small patch of grass surrounded by dense underbrush and trees was in fact rampant with flowers, especially since spring was nearing its end. Bowie rushed in ahead of Blackwell, giggling and jumping through the grass. Blackwell couldn't help but huff in amusement, settling down near the outskirts as he watched Bowie frolic.

”You actually gonna eat anything, or are ya just gonna ruin it all?” Blackwell called out, stopping Bowie from jumping into another flower bush.

”Sorry!” He called back, straightening up before chowing down on the closest patch of flowers. He was definitely hungry, if the way he was trying to chew more than he could swallow was any indicator.

”Good?” Blackwell huffed, receiving an eager nod from Bowie.

“S’ soo goof!” Bowie exclaimed with his mouth full, quickly swallowing before glancing around a bit. “You know, this is missing some-“ he paused, spotting a small, dirt mound on the edge of the meadow, “TERMITES!”

Blackwell had never seen something move so fast. In what felt like a flash, Bowie was at that dirt mound, digging at it and picking out little termites. Blackwell gagged, staring at Bowie in disgust.

“What in the world is wrong with you?” Blackwell grunted, unable to continue watching Bowie chow down on bugs, “There are perfectly good flowers all around ya!”

“Termites are good too!” Bowie exclaimed, turning back to look at Blackwell, “You wanna try some?-”

“NO!”