Flowers

The air in this part of the island was different. Something heavy, darker, it swirled and hung above one's head like a toxic cloud. Smog and poison from years and years ago still clung to every inch of the air, and puddles of polluted water sat still in the concrete ground. Even as the rest of the island was overcome by dangerous, coiling plants, the urban jungle stayed grey. Few plants were able to grow here, and the ones that did could barely survive as it was. As the rest of the island was overcome with dangerous foliage, many creatures sought shelter here from the tangling green.

However, that was not the reason for all. A large figure trodded through the broken down streets, large enough to be uncaring of the broken metal and glass that littered the ground. The smaller figure next to them was much less fortunate- the brown and white oviraptor had to dodge around the rubble, often having to take a wide path around what the blue tyrannosaurid could easily step over. Eyes watched from the shadows as the duo padded down the streets- more than one unfriendly gaze locked onto the small oviraptor, growls and snarls echoing down the stone. However, none dared step forward with the albertosaurus seemingly acting as a guard.

The duo stopped in front of a specific building. It was not on the main street, instead hidden down a side path Flurry could barely squeeze into- and even then, she left behind several strips of feathers. The building was small, run down. Small pots that might have once held plants had decayed, shards shattered across the ground and stained with the soil that they must have once held.

“Is this it?” Flurry’s voice rang out, strong and clear as she nudged at the building with her nose. The strong scent of plant came from inside the building, sticky and sweet and bitter. A snort escaped her as she shook her head.

“Maybe…” Snowshoe mused, the oviraptor running a claw down the broken doorway. It would be easy for something her size to slip in or out of this place. Snowshoe shook her head. She had once been part of the group sent out the seed the island, but an altercation with an angry carnivore had left her badly wounded. Flurry had saved her, but Snowshoe was left with gaping holes in her memory so bad she barely remembered her own past. Still. This place seemed familiar to her.

“Only one way to find out.” Flurry stepped forward first, lowering her head and pushing against the doorway. Brittle wood cracked easily under her might, although she had to crouch in order to force her way inside. Snowshoe darted beneath her feet, quick to dodge falling wood as they made their way inside. 

And what a place it was. The building might have been some kind of flower or plant shop, once upon a time. Pots lined the wall, most having fallen and smashed to the ground. Large bags of soil spilled across the ground, a sour odor seeping up from the ground. Withered, dead flowers were found in every corner of the shop. Some seemed to be just barely clinging to life, able to survive off of siphoned rain water and the soil. Snowshoe walked up to one, nudging it with her beak. It sagged sadly, a bitter smell filling her nose. The plants were surviving, sure, but they were not thriving. Snowshoe backed away sadly, shaking her feathers out. The poor state of the flowers was not her goal- they were here to find any connections to her past, and perhaps the other oviraptors. They had to find a way to stop what was going on- the island was hurting, the plants consuming far too much. Snowshoe knew that she had been part of the problem, before the attack- and she knew she had to fix it somehow.

Flurry strolled along the walls of the establishment, hissing as clay and soil crunched under her feet and stained them. It was not a great feeling. The smell of decaying plant matter filled her nose, making her dizzy. She had to focus. The island was depending on her. The shop may have been a cozy place, a long time ago. The flowers may have smelled sweet back then, and lightened up the shop. Maybe the walls had been painted colorful. Now, everything was dull. The only color was the dinosaur’s own blue hide. 

As Flurry shook her head, something caught her attention. At the back of the shop, a back room. The door had long since been broken down. Making her way over, Flurry nudged the collapsed door away. There were no windows in this room, everything cloaked in shadow and only lit by holes in the roof. Puddles of water gathered in the floor, but what caught Flurry’s attention were the shelves in the back. Small packets lined them, some scattered across the floor. “Snowshoe!”

The oviraptor made her way into the room, slowly making her way to the shelves. Curious, she grabbed one of the packets in her dexterous claws. Faded words she paid no mind. It was empty. Making her way to the shelf, she quickly grabbed an unopened package. The distorted image of a leafy plant was displayed. As it moved something rattled inside, making Snowshoe gasp. She knew that sound. Biting into the substance, the oviraptor allowed the small pellets to spill across her feet. “Seeds…” 

Flurry sniffed the ground, observing the seeds from a distance. “Do you think this is where the oviraptors are getting the seeds from?” 

Snowshoe thought for a moment, running her claws over them. “No.” She finally answered. “These are flower seeds for the most part. The things out there… they aren’t normal plants. I don't think we will find anything here.” Still. Ideas raced in her mind. As Flurry sighed and made her way out, Snowshoe followed. Maybe one day, she could return. Allow the flowers to grow, colorful and sweet. After she fixed this mess.