[Trade] Layered like an Onion

Blight wasn’t sure how far his adopted sire was getting with Alaric, or if the blinded Acro was even playing his cards yet to try and figure out where Ghast was. Whenever the cursed colored Acro passed by the pair, they were idly watching those around them and talking amongst each other. It was always something speciest. Once he heard Alaric speaking about how small and useless Albertosaur arms were. Another time Blight passed by to go tend to another Iguanodon he had heard Hunter talking smack about the intelligence of Parasaurs.

                On one hand it was amusing to Blight how the little things could bring people together. Such as the mutual hate of almost everything else that wasn’t one’s own species. On the other hand, Blight really wanted to find Ghast. He was growing impatient and the longer they were there the less it seemed like Hunter was even trying to get information out of Alaric.

                How much time had passed was beyond Blight. A few minutes dragged on and felt like hours as he was forced to go here and there to serve the ‘royals’ of Atlantis. He had never in his life thought he’d be waiting on a bunch of plant munchers, but here he was. But before Blight could lament his situation any further, he noticed the quills on the Pale One stand on end and his massive head turn from the Oviraptor beside him and ‘looked’ directly at something across the clearing. It made Blight stop in his tracks and look to see what had caught Hunter’s attention.

                Two Cryosaurs stood speaking with Blackmist, a short conversation but whatever had been said was enough to have shifted the feeling of the Iguanodon they spoke with. Had that been the reason that Hunter had looked, or was it because of WHO the two were that had made him look? Tobias and Ghostlight.

                Spooks.

                Spooks like Argent and Apocrypha.

                A rumble, deep and foreboding, followed by a few of the same pitched clicks was all Blight needed from the Pale One to go and approach the two Cryos. The call was enough to catch the attention of a few Iguanodons in the area, but they quickly rolled their eyes and went back to their conversing. Alaric, however, narrowed his eyes ever-so-subtly and turned his attention to Blight as the young gold and black Acro detracted from what his assigned task had been.

                Blight waited for Tobias and Ghostlight to finish their conversation with Blackmist before he approached. As he stepped up right behind the two, Ghostlight turned her head slightly as if to look back at him. It was the same look Hunter gave. Knowing exactly where to look as if her eyes still worked perfectly fine. The whispers he had heard about some odd Cryos made much more sense now. But all the reasons the Court gave as to why the Cryo’s unnerved them and were so strange, didn’t effect Blight at all.

                He lived with something for years that could see perfectly fine but didn’t have eyes. And he worked alongside a Parasaur that could just…read things from people. A Para that just knew things he had no reason to know. Tobias and Ghostlight were just dinosaurs to him. As normal to him as his not-sire and herbivore friend.

                And, in this case, possibly a way to find his adopted mother.

                Tobias had felt the heavy footsteps of something coming up behind him and Ghostlight as Blackmist had excused himself. The final pieces falling into place in a grand scheme that had started years ago. Even if he and Ghostlight had not been there to pass the message along, fate would’ve willed the message to Blackmist somehow. And as his mind had started to wander the possibilities of what was and what had been that led to this moment, it was the presence of Ghostlight that had quickly brought him back to the present. And that was reminding him that there was another that required assistance.

                The star specked Cryo turned his head to completely look behind him without turning around, looking up at the familiar face that was staring down at them.

                “Your father sounds concerned.” Ghostlight said.

                Tobias could see how the Acro behind them softened his stance a bit at the words. The young male got as much comfort from her words as he did. But where he knew that Ghostlight saw him for everything, for all that he had ever been no matter how much he had forgotten and that was what brought him comfort. He knew it was the help that he and Ghostlight offered that brought Blight comfort.

                “The Court is concerned about you two. Unnerved and on edge by two Cryosaurs. One that can see without sight and one that sees far more than he should be able to.” Blight replied, keenly aware of the amount of eyes on him at that moment. He would need to find somewhere private to ask them-

                “There is one we can ask about her for you.” Tobias said, cutting off the rapidly spiraling thoughts of the male. Ghostlight smiled gently and gave a nod, slow and careful. Whatever noises her lantern made were lost in the crowd of the feast, and would’ve fallen onto deaf ears of Blight anyway. Had his brother been there, the Carno most likely would’ve picked up on the creaking from a mile away and then gone after Ghostlight to see if he could use something to oil the handle to make it stop creaking and groaning.

                “And you would not owe us. You, nor your sire, nor your mother or brother.” Ghostlight said as she turned fully to face the cursed Acro.

                The silence of Blight spoke more words than anything he might’ve said in that moment. He looked between the two before giving a small nod.

                “Could you help her if she needs it? I saw you speaking with Blackmist.” Blight said, hoping that was all that needed to be said. If the pair had been speaking so directly with the Iguanodon, then they had sway. And a lot of it. More than he did, anyway.

                The question made Ghostlight’s expression soften slightly, her smile not as big as it had been. Ghast meant everything to her family, no wonder why Blight was there. And it now made perfect sense as to why Hunter had decided to come down from his mountain lair and ventured back through a place that she knew had to feel somewhat like the Alpha Labs.

                “Plea-“

                “If she needs it, of course.” Ghostlight replied, stopping Blight before he could even finish his plea for help. There were other things at play here, and they would have to proceed carefully if they did learn where the little green Oviraptor was. But that would be a bridge to cross as soon as they got to it. First they needed to speak with whoever Tobias had already picked out from the crowd around them.

                “I will leave you to it, then. Be quick.” Blight replied and gave a nod of his head before walking past the two and went back to working for the Courtiers around them. Ghostlight turned her head to follow the sound of his footsteps as he walked off before looking back to Tobias. Her other half already walking off and following something she couldn’t quite see herself. But she followed him without question, weaving through the crowd that surrounded them.

                There were certainly more people showing up as the feast went on. It was becoming harder to navigate without someone bumping into another. She could hear the Courtiers whispering about how clumsy the topsiders were that were there. And while she nor Tobias bumped into anyone as they wandered through the crowds, they were almost treated as if they had. The Iguanodons were starting to become more and more restless. More hostile, but for now it was still subtle. Still very passive-aggressive.

                “You know. I don’t believe for a moment you’re actually blind.”

                Tobias stopped at voice, Ghostlight doing the same, and looked over at the Iguanodon that was moseying over closer to them. He was on the younger side of things, but still a full grown adult that towered over the pair. It reminded Ghostlight of an adolescent raven. They were foolish and had vast potential for anything, but most chose destruction to some degree, until they could settle into their role in life. And this young male was still trying to figure out who he wanted to be.

                And that may have been exactly why her love had felt that Iguanodon out. The kid was young and impressionable, but also not old enough to be set in his ways and completely brainwashed by the Court.

                “See! You’re even looking directly at me. Topsiders, pah! You’re not that scary. I bet your eyesight is just horrific, but you can still see. Tell me, topsider, how many fingers am I holding up.” The male demanded, holding up a front hand to display his spiked thumb. An insult and a threat, to display the weapon that could so easily kill and not even be concerned about Ghostlight attempting to break it.

                “Just one.” Ghostlight replied. She had at least heard him shifting his weight around to hold up his hand and based on the snickers she heard ripple through the Courtiers around them, she assumed it had something to do with mocking her.

                “Aha! See! Lies and trickery. And you, monotone. I heard you know people. As in you KNOW them. Without having even met them. Come on, let’s hear it! What do you know of me? What’s my name?” The dark laced Iguanodon asked, his grin nearly went from ear to ear as he watched Tobias.

                Tobias watched the male. He was loud, but some of that appeared to be simply due to the fact that there were females his age around. The older Courtiers weren’t paying attention. They didn’t care for the antics of the young adults. Not with whatever was about to happen. The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating.

                Soon.

                “Kell. Son of Orion and Aster, the firstborn and strongest of all your siblings.” Tobias replied. Had the words come from anyone else, it might’ve sounded like a compliment. But Tobias was just stating facts, facts that he knew would bolster their rapport with the young male. While the Iguanodon was certainly the strongest of his siblings, it did not mean he was the strongest of the species. But Tobias would let Kell fill in the blanks with whatever he wanted.

                Ghostlight would help.

                “One that has more potential than most would like to admit. While your family and friends spend their time on Courtly affairs, you have always enjoyed the company of the guards. You sound like the type.” Ghostlight replied and cocked her head to the side.

                Kell had swelled with pride as Tobias said his name as well as his family. His head had gone up so he could look down his nose at the topsiders and his chest had been stuck out as he puffed himself up to look all the bigger and better with their accolades. And as Ghostlight brought up the Euoplo’s, the male put his foot down with a firmness that the pair of Cryo’s could feel reverberate through the ground.

                The Iguanodons were a proud group, and the older ones were sickeningly confident in themselves. But this one…Ghostlight never once doubted Tobias. But being led into an unknown and then seeing things unfold the way he saw them was beyond words. In a single instant Kell had gone from a slight annoyance that had to be played, unfortunately, to just a kid. A child that was proud of his parents and family and an Iguanodon that actually had some respect for species that he would outwardly consider ‘less’ than himself.

                At his core, he was a thing of beauty.

                Too bad it was just surrounded in as much thorned overgrowth as Atlantis itself.

                “I see why Blackmist bowed to you both, now. You’re amusing, and correct. The guards are fun. Dumber than a sack of deadbark but fun.” Kell said and laughed, giving a nod. Idly, Ghostlight wondered what exactly deadbark was, but that would be a question for another time.

                “What are you doing anyway, topsiders? Wandering around looking so lost when apparently you got here all on your own. And then I see you talking to one of those Acrocanthosaurus things that you all brought down here. And not only that, but one that has been marked as cursed. It’s bad luck to speak with such creatures, you know. He’s completely covered, or almost anyway. That much of his soul is just gone. Sacrificed as a hatchling for power.” Kell asked, circling the pair of Cryos slowly with his held still held high.

                “He has lost a friend down here. Otherwise he wouldn’t be down here. Though, with your knowledge of the Knights of Atlantis, perhaps you could also assist us in locating her? She is an Oviraptor, but does not hold allegiance to your queen. She does not bare the marks of any scouting party. While not curse marked herself, she has a dark marking that may have some symbolism in your culture? Her hide is green, but the black that marks her hide covers her neck and arms and fades, like smoke.” Ghostlight asked, making Kell giddy with mirth.

                “I cannot wait to tell everyone that I knew you were not blind. I’ve seen this Oviraptor traitor you speak of. But first, you do something for me. That curse marked Acro you were speaking with? He’s been playing guard for the upper Court tonight, running off topsiders that get too excited. But I want to see his little arms actually /do/ something. Go fetch him, and have him bring me some food. Ensure nothing spills from the plate.” Kell replied, making the few other Iguanodons around him erupt in laughter.

                Ghostlight sighed inwardly. Yeah. Way deep down in him there was a good creature. Near the bottom of the abyss. Perhaps one day the young Courtier would soften, but today was not that day. Today the male wanted nothing but petty and cruel jokes at the expense of others.

                A raven indeed.

                “Of course.” Tobias replied, bowing his head. Not as deeply as he had to Blackmist, but enough to be polite. Ghostly didn’t bow, she only dipped her head before following after Tobias back towards Blight. It was now no wonder so few of the Court bothered Blight if they all thought he could taint them with his curse.

                The Acro had gone back to patrolling the outer edges of the feast, his pace slowing when he spotted the two mates coming towards him.

                “Anything?” He asked, eyes widening in surprise with how quickly the pair had worked.

                “Favors are owed for the smallest amount of information around here. We were informed to get you and have you bring food to an Iguanodon. That one, there. Kell.” Tobias replied, turning his head slightly to look over at Kell. Blight stopped and looked over, spying the spiked Iguanodon and gave a low rumble of annoyance.

                Neither Ghostlight nor Tobias told the Acro anything about not spilling food. They knew he had enough mobility in his hands and arms to actually bring food without any major incidents. Had the task been given to Relic, that would’ve been an actual issue.

                “Let’s get going then. Something is about to happen. The Pale one is doing nothing to help the situation.” Blight muttered and turned, making his way towards the tables of food. Ghostlight watched him go, tail wavering slightly at the words Blight spoke. The man was becoming frustrated. He was much like his father in that regard. Frustration led to rage but it was all due to misunderstanding. Hunter was not being idle, was not enjoying the feast as much as he might be faking. But Ghostlight knew that Blight wanted actual movement, he wanted violence and confrontation. The Pale One was playing the game of Atlantis exactly as he should be. Blight didn’t understand that the best form of action here, was inaction.

                Tobias and Ghostlight walked after the Acro, watching as he skillfully flicked a few berries onto a banana leaf followed by some flowers and leaves. The pair could have gone off, seen to others that were there at the feast. There was much more to be doing and seeing than following Blight around while he prepped food. He was just one thread among many that had wound up there at the feast.

                But the two waited patiently.

                They were exactly where they needed to be for now. Tobias could feel it.

                As soon as the Acro had gathered up a nice assortment of food, he knelt down slightly, sliding the leaf off the table and into one hand until he could stand and get his other under. He cupped the leaf carefully under him, fingers splayed to ensure nothing spilled over the edges as he made his way through the crowd of Courtiers and towards the only one that actually mattered to him.

                Kell raised a spiked brow as he observed just how carefully the Acro was moving and holding the food. Not a berry dropped or a leaf out of place as Blight, Ghostlight, and Tobias stopped in front of him and his friends. One of the girls whistled, an Oviraptor quickly scrambling over to them and took the plated food from Blight. He brought it over to the girls while Kell looked the three over, smirking as he did so.

                “I expected more difficulty. But alright. I’ll hold to my word. These two said you were looking for your friend? A little Oviraptor with some funny black marks and no Scouting Colors? I know the one you speak of. Come, follow me.” Kell said and simply turned without another word, his tailtip flicking Blight across the nose as he headed out of the feast. The Acro considering how wonderful it would be whenever he had the opportunity to actually sink his teeth into that tail as he walked after Kell.

                Tobias watched the pair leave, feeling Ghostlight gently put her nose against his side and sighed. A moment of comfort between the pair before Tobias was being called again. And as he started back into the thick of the feast, Ghostlight remained right beside him. It wouldn’t be long now.

                She was coming.