Back to the Beginning.

                Their time in Atlantis was interesting to say the absolute least. Apocrypha had been amazed at how much plant life there was down there, and how some of it even seemed to be hunting dinosaurs. It had unnerved Kallista, though Apocrypha figured that was mostly because it made it hard to the Trope to fly around. She could if she absolutely wanted to, but she then wouldn’t be able to see Frankie and Apocrypha.

                After spending a few days with the Euoplos, the three had opted to leave and get back with Lockjaw and Pokie. They needed to recover and rest, get some food in them. There had been very little for Apocrypha to eat in the dense forest, Kallista and Frankie had been having a hard enough time trying to hunt any small game they could find. Trying to feed all three of them was difficult.

                “I can’t believe I’m going to say this. But I’m happy to see these grungy ass tunnels again.” Frankie muttered as they reached the gate leading into Atlantis and stepped through, back out into the tunnel system that led to both islands.

                “I think I have to agree with him. I found moss growing in my feathers this morning.” Kallista said with a sigh, perched atop Apocrypha in her normal spot.

                The three didn’t say much as they walked, returning to the designated meet up place they had set for Pokie and Lockjaw. Frankie plopped down in the small clearing before sprawling out with a grown and laid in the grass. Kallista had quickly taken to the skies, flying off towards one of the nearby ponds to try and find some fish for Pokie. Apocrypha had started to gather the bigger banana leaves in the area and place them down. She didn’t remember the leaves being as big as they were, but then again she was sure the forest had grown even more in the few days they were gone.

                “They found you entertaining, didn’t they?” Lockjaw asked from behind Frankie, making the Utahraptor jump and quickly move to a sitting position.

                “I hurt my back from trying to impress them! But yeah, I guess they found me entertaining. They didn’t club us to death. Or break Apocrypha’s shins.” Frankie grumbled and watched as the Oviraptor made his way over and sat down beside Frankie. The pair of men watching as Apocrypha came back into the clearing with a branch of some sort that was covered in berries. Frankie had seen them in Atlantis, but their bright blue skins made him concerned over how edible they actually were.

                “Lockjaw, it’s good to see you. I was hoping you would be by. Is Pokie around, too?” Apocrypha asked, sitting down on the other side of the leaves where she’d put the branch of berries.

                Lockjaw smiled and bowed his head a bit in greeting to Apocrypha as he scooted closer and started to pick at the berries on offer. “She is. She figured you guys would be back soon, just wasn’t sure exactly when! We both knew you three would be okay, though.” Lockjaw replied as he popped a few berries into his mouth and closed his eyes as he chewed, enjoying the taste.

                “These never used to grow here. But I saw them down in Atlantis. Did you bring them up? How many plants did you all bring up here to plant? And why?” Apocrypha asked as she motioned towards the branch and tilted her head a bit as she turned her attention to Lockjaw.

                The oviraptor opened his eyes and looked at the Albertosaur, cocking his head to the side but didn’t speak quite yet. Instead his head quickly tilted up again as Kallista’s wingbeats could be heard and the group watched as she came down to drop the massive salmon she’d caught on top of the leaves before landing.

                “Yes. We brought these up. They’re a good source of food for those that like berries, and sturdy enough because they grow on trees that any disasters that befall this place won’t wipe them out. They ensure that even in the hardest of times, there will be food for those that can eat them.”

                Apocrypha and Kallista looked over quickly when they heard Pokie, the female Oviraptor carefully making her way through the dense foliage and to the group where she sat down and looked the fish over that had been dropped only moments ago. Her demeanor was different. She didn’t poke fun at Frankie, or come with her usual attitude that the group had come to know.

                She seemed serious. And that made them all remain silent as they listened.

                “I have been hesitant to speak at all on the subject because of you all being new. But we’ve interacted enough now that I am sure you can be trusted. Frankie, I don’t know. But as he is with you two, I will not worry. We were sent here as scouts. We were told about the various stages this would be implemented in. First we would come, plant what we could in the smartest places possible for the seeds we carried. We would meet with the locals and then send some down to Atlantis. Of course, others that we didn’t send ourselves would show up, adventurers that didn’t know us well or didn’t care for us. So then the Knights would be at the ready to guard the pathways.” Pokie explained, carefully picking a few berries from the branch. She only stopped talking so she could take a bite of the salmon and then quickly follow it up with the berries, which seemed to please her as her tail flicked happily.

                “Those who we were sent by, I do not want to speak of them. Not because they are good, nor are they bad. But because I respect you both enough that I want you to form your own opinions on them. The Euoplocephalus know you now. Hopefully you showed them that you can be trusted as well. Ask whoever you had spoken to about the waterfall tunnel. Have them lead you to it and go inside. I know you will find many more answers that you seek there.” Pokie finished, taking another bite of the fish but this time didn’t bother with the berry chaser as she looked up at Apocrypha and Kallista.

                Kallista listened, looking at Pokie and when she looked up at them Kallisa studied the Oviraptor for a moment before quickly turning her head to Apocrypha. She didn’t say a word, unsure what to say or how she should be feeling. Her gut feeling was bad. She didn’t like the idea of going into a cave, or how vague Pokie was being. Apocrypha gave a nod to Pokie and Lockjaw, the male Oviraptor no longer eating and was just watching Apocrypha and Kallista.

                “Is it safe in the tunnel?” Apocrypha asked.

                The reply they were given in return was not something that Kallista wanted to hear.

                Pokie laughed, a soft chuckle as she looked down at the salmon half eaten in her hands.

                “No place in Atlantis is ever truly safe.”