The Gang's all Here

                “Promise you won’t say anything weird. The Court doesn’t seem like the type that would enjoy talk of spirits and talking trees.” Kallista asked and gave a look up at Apocrypha.

                The Albertosaur smiled, amused at the look of actual concern on the Trope’s face, and gave a soft nod, “I promise. I’ll let you do the talking.”

                Frankie followed behind the two as they walked. The ‘sun’ of the Atlantean dome had started to set half an hour ago, causing the fake sky above them to light up in a multitude of colors. The city of Atlantis had come alive at that time as well. Oviraptors had started to run through the streets with torches, lighting up the bigger firepits and standing torches that gave the Iguanodon upper class light to continue their lives even in the dark. Others ran around, decorating the buildings with ribbons and various other decorations, all to get ready for the feast that was being held that night.

                “Apparently I can do no wrong because of how beautiful I am.” Frankie said and gave a toothy smirk, making Apocrypha chuckle but Kallista just glared back at him.

                “Frankie, please. We’re here for a reason. Just…don’t purposefully anger people.” Kallista asked as the group followed the larger pyres that had been set along the main road.

                “I don’t ever purposefully anger people. They just get angry and that’s not on me. That’s on them and however they choose to take what I say.”

                Kallista just sighed, looking back ahead as a massive stone clearing came into view. It was hard for Kallista and the others to remember that the ‘city’ they were in was more like an outpost compared to the actual cities above them on the isles. But the Iguanodons had done such incredible work restoring and cleaning the outpost of the humans. It gave Kallista and Apocrypha a better idea of what it must’ve been like when the humans had been alive. But the one perfectly cut and polished stone loading dock had long since been repurposed. Now a place that was beautifully decorated with plants that were well kept; random crafted fixtures that hung between the massive posts that were spread out along the edge of the clearing, and stone basins that held logs that lit the area and would keep the area well lit for most of the night. Off to the side of the clearing were tables that had been recovered from the human buildings and brought out, food now places all over them that the Iguanodons were enjoying whenever they were mingling in the center of the clearing.

                “Oooh yeah. This is my kind of place! Look at all of this!” Frankie said excitedly as his smile spread from ear to ear at the sight of the feast.

                Kallista’s feathers stood on end as she watched the Utahraptor go down the steps and went into the larger, cleared, area of the party to where the bigger players of the Court were talking and joking with each other. She wouldn’t stop him. As much as it stressed her to let him go unsupervised at an event like that, she knew he was in his element.

                Her eyes scanned the area, catching sight of several other species beyond the three native species. There were other raptors running around, Parasaurs chatting with Iguanodons, and…

                “Blight is here.” Kallista muttered and looked up at Apocrypha.

                “Indeed he is. I would be willing to guess that Relic is here, too. Look.” Apocrypha said, motioning carefully to the feasting tables. Kallista turned her head to see what it was that the Albertosaur was watching oh so carefully and immediately her feathers went flat against her body in concern.

                Sat near the back, but placed in the center row of all the tables, was the Pale One himself. The massive white quilled Acrocanthosaurus sat with an Oviraptor that held himself better than all the other Oviraptors they’d seen up to that point. His mannerisms made him out to be like one of the Iguanodons of the Court itself. His hands folded carefully in front of him, resting on the table. Not a single feather out of place. The Acro beside him, though blind and horrifically scarred, looked relaxed as he lay beside the table. The two speaking here and there to each other in low voices to make it nearly impossible to hear what they were saying unless someone was standing directly beside them.

                “What the fuck is he doing here?” Kallista hissed as she followed Apocrypha down the steps and into the sea of unfamiliar faces.

                “I am unsure. I feel nothing concerning him, or his kids. But I haven’t felt much since I’ve been down here. The plants don’t speak to me like they do on the islands above.” Apocrypha whispered back as she made her way over to where she’d spotted the brightly colored hide of their own adopted son.

                While his mothers had spotted potential danger among the crowd, Frankie had launched himself fully into a conversation with a few of the Court. They’d been quickly appeased with a deep bow, his nose nearly touching the ground as he held out his arms so they could behold his full glory before he stood up again and kept his head high and his body language relaxed.

                “Look at this topsider! He’s got manners.” One of the grouped up courtiers said with a mildly amused chuckle. His white and dark purple stripped crest settling back down to lay flat on his head after they had started to raise at the nerve of some random topsider butting into his conversation. The two female Iguanodons with him and held their heads high, narrowing their eyes at the brightly colored topsider even after he had bowed.

                “Oh, of course I do. One can’t just wander into such company without knowing some amount of social etiquette. You three seemed like the better ones to come and mingle with. You have great taste in company, I will admit.” Frankie said and smiled over at the male Iguanodon. Blackmist’s feathers poofed slightly, his stance becoming taller as he held his head up and looked incredibly pleased with what Frankie had said.

                “Don’t let him inflate your ego too much. These topsiders are nothing but trouble.” The gray and black female to Blackmist’s right warned.

                “Oh, I agree wholeheartedly with you. Most of us are. Me, though? I’m the last thing here that wants trouble. But! Forgive me. I’m not making a good impression or doing my own words justice by not even asking your names or introducing myself. I am Frankie. At your service.” He said and smiled, giving a smaller bow of his head to the three and folded his hands neatly in front of himself and stood straight.

                “You are forgiven. I’m Blackmist. The one that will doubt you forever beside me is Agnus. And the other that graces our presence tonight is Arabella. And, I will take this moment ladies, to once again thank you both for joining me here tonight.” Blackmist said and smiled as he pointed the pair out and lowered his head just enough to have it be lower than the girls’ to show his own respect.

                Arabella remained silent for a moment, her attention never once leaving Frankie. At least, until he felt someone, or someones, walking up behind him. Only then did her attention go from him to the two guests that stood behind him.

                “And who are they?” Arabella asked.