Berry Scary

                “What kind of name is that? That’s a dumb ass name. Pokie?”

                “What mother names their child Frankie? What’s your full name, Franklin? I could see why you’d rather go by Frankie. Otherwise you sound like you’re no less than 500 years old.”

                Frankie gasped, drawing himself up and put a clawed hand over his chest as he looked at the gray and white Oviraptor female before him. She just smirked at the quick reaction, seeing how deep she had apparently cut his ego without even trying.

                “No! My name is just Frankie! You know what. You don’t get any of these berries. These berries? Squashed.” Frankie spat, pointing at Pokie before he rushed forward to the pile of random berries he’d gathered and set out like his mothers had told him to do. Prior to him rushing the pile, they had been neatly piled up with a few broke open to let the sweet smell stink the air up.

                As he made his way to the pile, Pokie had run over to try and beat him to the pile. The pair squabbling on top of the pile as Frankie tried to squish as many as he could while Pokie squawked in rage as she tried to stop him and save as many berries as she could.

                She flailed her arms at him, her feathers on her arms slapping his face and causing no damage aside from whatever she was currently doing to whatever was left of his already massive ego. She was thankful that for a Utahraptor, he was not actually a threat. As he slapped back at her, he was careful to not use his claws and was just smacking at her face and chest to try and get her to back up so he could continue his assault on the berries.

                Neither dinosaur heard the black and gold Tropeo land nearby and watch them. Kallista didn’t bother to move forward to stop the fighting, and instead just watched the pair slap and kick at each other. She took the time to glance over Pokie, seeing how different she looked from Paradise, the pair not related at all from what she could tell.

                Which meant that this was not a family of crazed herbologists, or whatever word Apocrypha wanted to use. How many Oviraptors were wandering the isles planting seeds? Kallista furrowed her brows, at the thought of seeds and quickly scanned the Ovi for any sign of seeds that she was carrying with her. She saw nothing on Pokie, but spotted a bag nearby that appeared to be full of small packets like what she’d seen Paradise with when they’d first seen him.

                “What is happening? Frankie.” Apocrypha asked, raising her eyebrows as the Albertosaurus trotted from around a large outcropping of multicolored rocks and made her way over to the Utah and Ovi raptors.

                Frankie stopped instantly and looked up at Apocrypha, Pokie doing the same thing but her eyes widened in fear at the sight of an Albertosaur running at them. She stopped fighting with Frankie and scrambled away quickly, stopping a safe distance away when she saw Apocrypha stop beside the horrifically colored Utahraptor and glanced him over, frowning slightly.

                “Look at the berries, Frankie. These should go to her. How many are left?” Apocrypha said, pointing down to the mutilated berries and crouched down to use her nose to carefully move all the berries around to see what was left that could still be useful to the Oviraptor.

                “Don’t pity her, mom! She came over here and was saying how my berry picking skills need work and apparently I suck at finding usable berries. How was I supposed to know! I’m a fucking raptor! I eat meat!”

                “Language.” Kallista snorted, trying her hardest to not laugh at the entire stupid situation.

                “Cleric can get away with whatever language she wants!” Frankie snorted but hung his head in defeat as Kallista snapped her beat at him aggressively.

                Apocrypha sighed, looking back up and over at Pokie and motioned down to the berries with a frown, “Are any of these useful to you? I told my son to gather berries for you and your species. We’ve run into one of your brethren a few times now. We figured the berries would be good food, and the seeds would be a nice gift so that you could plant them as well.” Apocrypha said to Pokie.

                The female watched Apocrypha carefully, still smirking at the interaction between Frankie and Kallista. The Albertosaur seemed nice enough, calm enough, while the stupid raptor got told off by a bird.

                “All berries are useful. Most of those I can’t eat. They’re poisonous, I’d rather not plant those. But I can pick out the good ones, use those. I don’t prefer berries, however. I enjoy fish and meat. Eggs are a good treat, too. But…yeah this is okay. Your son? You don’t act like family. You are far more calm, and more put together than he is.” Pokie said and laughed once in amusement.

                “Yeah. He’s been like that since he was small. I’m sorry for how he acted. We are here to help you and your kin, though. I’m Apocrypha. The Tropeognathus there is Kallista. We’ve met Paradise, do you know him?” Apocrypha asked and tilted her head a bit.

                “Oh yeah. I know him. He’s…a lot.” Pokie replied, making her way forward slowly and stopped before Apocrypha and glanced down at the berries before she started to carefully pick through all the stepped on and mashed ones to find the whole berries that were edible.

                “We’ve been trying to get information from him. But he won’t give us anything. What are you doing out here, planting all of these seeds? Would you be willing to sit and talk with Kallista and I at all? Can we help you with anything more than just gathering seeds?” Apocrypha asked as Frankie and Kallista made their way over after a moment, Kallista now hitching a ride on Frankie’s back.

                “Possibly. Give me a few days. I will go and speak with Paradise. If you say you’ve talked to him a few times, I want to verify this. See what he thinks of you. If he likes you guys, then alright. I’ll meet you back here in two days time. If I don’t show up…well. I guess you’ll need to do more around here to earn my trust.” Pokie said, picking up a few berries but looked up at Apocrypha then at Frankie when she saw him mocking her as she spoke. Kallista quickly unfurled a wing to clock him on the back of the head, making the Utah hiss in pain and rub his head.

                Pokie smirked but made her way back to her bag with the few berries that met her criteria and put them away.

                “This is fair. If you do not return, we will move on and try to find more of your brothers and sisters and help them. I give you my word that we’re only here to help, but actions speak louder than words. Please, Pokie, be safe on your journeys. There are a lot of people out there that are starting to hunt you all down. I fear for you.” Apocrypha said and frowned as Poke picked her bag up and put the strap over her head so it could hang over her shoulders.

                “I know. Thank you for the concern, Apocrypha. If you are as kind as you seem to be, I expect to see you here in a few days. Catch you guys around. Goodbye, Franklin.” Pokie said, bowing her head to Apocrypha and Kallista before finger gunning at Frankie and then turned and ran off.

                “Why is she calling you Franklin?” Apocrypha asked and looked at Frankie.

                Frankie just rolled his eyes.