Second Try's the Charm?

“But why not seaweed?” Doog asked, his sand-colored head tilted in confusion. “It's so tasty, and I can get the best stuff!

Cama sighed in exasperation. “I didn't say that, I said—Haize, can you explain?” She glanced over at the sooty gray styracosaurus, who snorted in turn.

“Fine. Doog, listen.”

“Hmm?”

“She's not saying no seaweed, just none of those sea grapes this time.” That had been a bit of a disaster Haize had no desire to repeat, either. “Maybe some of that thick brown stuff?”

Doog, who had been looking mildly disappointed until then, suddenly brightened. “Oh! Kelp! I can get that.”

“Please do,” Cama interjected before another idea could distract the green-spotted styracosaurus. She had no idea what this 'kelp' was, but from the sound of that description there should be at least no mistaking it for something else. Which was the most important point here, in any case.

“Ah, we're here.”

'Here' turned out to be a small clearing in the woods that featured a grassy meadow. A large, weathered snag stood near the middle of it, providing a rather unmistakable landmark.

“So we're having Doog get this kelp of his, you know a good mountain valley for more fruits, and I'll see what I can find for sweet grasses and vegetables, right?”

Doog nodded with an enthusiastic “yep!” Haize also nodded, albeit only once and far more matter of factly.

“Doog's choice of seaweed aside, the variety seemed to go over well last time,” she remarked.

“Exactly,” Cama replied. “In any case, this is the place, meet back here in two days. Got it?”

“Of course,” Haize said laconically.

“No problem!” Doog answered, then promptly whipped his head to the side as he spotted a passing butterfly or bird or who knew what.

“... I'll check in and make sure he doesn't get sidetracked, I really don't want to do this again.”

“Thank you.”

This settled, the three styracosaurs then went their separate ways, spending the following day each doing their best to hold up their ends of the agreement. More or less, at least.

When the appointed time came, the trio reconvened at the meadow, along with their respective hauls. Cama arrived first, carefully hauling bundles of tender grasses and fresh tubers—the latter thoroughly cleaned to be free of dirt, of course—one load at a time. Haize arrived not long after, awkwardly hauling a container that looked to be scavenged from one of the ruined cities, filled with fruits and... water? At Cama's questioning look, Haize paused in her unloading of the fruits with a toss of her head.

“Cold water helps make them taste better longer. Well, any cold works, but water is easier to find.”

“Huh, I didn't know that...” Something new learned, apparently. Haize returned to fishing out the fruits, and had just about finished when a slightly fishy—and definitely salty—scent announced Doog's approach. The sandy and green styracosaurus was practically covered in strips of what looked like some sort of long brown vine. That were still dripping wet. As was Doog himself, for that matter.

Trundling into the clearing to a somewhat stunned silence, Doog found a clear spot of short grass and clover and simply leaned over. The strands of kelp slid slowly off his head and back, encouraged by the occasional small shake or nudge. It was quite the sight, almost like some bizarre form of shedding skin.

Then, when this was finished, Doog straightened up and proceeded to shake himself furiously, sending droplets of water spraying in all directions from his soaking wet feathery coat. And, naturally, hitting the other two styracosaurs in the process.

“Hey!”

“Doog!”

Doog froze mid-shake, looking sheepish. “Oh. Sorry.”

Now that all hosts and their contributions were present, however, it was short work getting things arranged for the meeting. The various foods were all arrayed finely, and a smaller pile of extra kelp was even set aside should Doog come down with another case of the munchies.

Fortunately, they didn't have very long to wait, as soon a pale beak poked through the undergrowth that ringed the clearing. It was soon followed by more of its owner, gray with dark gray stripes and edged with soft white. The oviraptor looked this way and that, peering around the clearing and quickly spotting the assembled styracosaurs and their offerings.

“Kerrel!” Cama called out. “You made it.”

“I did, I did,” the oviraptor said smartly as he strode over. “And what have we here...?”

“This is Doog, and that's Haize.” Each of the others made a polite greeting as Cama introduced them. “And as for the rest of this...”

Starting with the foods she'd brought, Cama began explaining each to Kerrel as he sampled them, then Doog and Haize did the same in turn. The striped oviraptor barraged them with questions, not just on the nature of the various offerings, but where they were found, how they were gathered, even details of what kind of plant they came from. He seemed to take particular interest in Haize's fruits, though even Doog was thoroughly interrogated about details of the kelp forests.

Eventually, the questions seemed to slow, and Haize decided to move things along a bit.

“So... What are you doing here, anyway?”

“The mission, of course!”

“Mission?” Cama asked, and Kerrel bobbed his head in a nod.

“Yes, very important, given directly to us. We're to plant the seeds, you know.”

“Know what?” Doog piped up, clearly puzzled. Cama quickly cut in before matters could be sidetracked.

“Who gave you the mission?”

Kerrel's reply came inbetween mouthfuls of food. “For the—mmph—of course! Say, this really is quite good. Perhaps I should show you how to grow more.”

Cama and Haize looked at each other, and Haize shook her head slightly. No, she hadn't quite caught that, either. Both of them glanced at Doog, but the sandy-feathered styracosaurus was occupied cheerfully eating from his own stash.

“Well, what more can you tell us about this mission of yours?”

“Hmm, well, we're scouts, and we've brought the seeds, so...” Kerrel's explanation was interrupted by a large, long yawn. “Ah, I ate so much, I think I might have to sleep it off...”

And, without even waiting for a response, the oviraptor stood, walked about until he found a sunny spot with some sufficiently soft grass, then proceeded to lay down and curl up right there. Haize and Cama were left speechless, the only sound being that of Doog chewing on more of his kelp.

“That... could have been worse, I guess?”

“Better than last time.”

“... Say, is there enough left for seconds?”