Judging Intent

"Just double checking… you're positive this'll work, aren't you?" Slate asks the feathered, green oviraptor leading the impromptu pack of theropods, making sure not to drop the coconut shell filled with edible insects as he carefully makes his way through the unusually dense undergrowth; strange plants are everywhere, so one can never be too careful. Each of the three dinosaurs carries a similar care package, intended as gifts for the Atlantean oviraptors; a way to prove they mean no harm.

"Yes, I'm sure," Pomegranate reiterates, sounding rather fed up. "Like I've told you at least twice now, most of the oviraptors who've strayed from Atlantis are scouts. Y'know, dinosaurs whose literal job descriptions include 'trying to figure out where everything is in an unfamiliar place.' Naturally, that includes food sources, so gifts of food tend to be very appreciated. Got it?"
"Got it…" The grey cryolophosaurus mutters, dipping his head with embarrassment.

"Slate, stop asking him the same questions over and over again," Moss hisses softly at him. "He knows what he's talking about. And besides, he's not gonna change his answer the third time round…"
"Sorry…" Slate whispers back, briefly debating if he should raise his concerns, before deciding to just go for it. "I just… Think it's a bit odd that he won't tell us anything about why he and the other oviraptors are planting their seeds. Is giving them food about it really a good idea?"
"I mean…" Moss trails off mid-sentence, seemingly unsure of how to answer that. "I think he means well? He could've just left me to struggle with the heatseeker vines, but… He didn't. That has to count for something."

"You two, quit dawdling!" Pomegranate calls over his shoulder to the larger theropods. "I've found someone!"
"Oh- Coming!!" Moss calls back, promptly breaking into a jog to catch up to the oviraptor; apparently, he'd created quite the gap between himself and the cryolophosauruses while the two of them had been chatting.
Narrowing his eyes, Slate picks up his pace to wordlessly catch up with the others. Sure, Pomegranate has done more good than harm to them specifically, but that doesn't mean he can't have his own agenda… Plus, he can be a real cranky little thing at the best of times.

It doesn't take long for Slate to spot the dinosaur that Pomegranate had found, once he manages to catch up with him and Moss. A crested grey oviraptor with crimson flowers painted onto his chest and shoulders stands on top of a tree stump, his feathered tail lashing behind him as he glares at the larger theropods.
"Hey, Pomegranate," he asks in an obviously fake pleasant tone. "Would you be so kind as to explain what's going on here?"
"Sagittarius, great to see you!" Pomegranate greets his peer with a bubbly tone, but he raises his wing-like arms defensively. "We have a few things we'd like to share with-"

"Oh, for the love of-" Sagittarius squawks with his feathers bristling, exasperated at his fellow scout's apparent naivety. "Pomegranate, who are these dinosaurs?? And why are they here?"
Pomegranate opens his beak to explain the situation to Sagittarius, but Moss speaks up before he gets the chance.
"We're sorry, we didn't mean to startle you," she says, bowing her head apologetically. "We heard about all the newcomers, and we just… Wanted to reach out. Offer an olive branch, so to speak."

"I thought I told you I'd do the talking," Pomegranate hisses under his breath to the feathered cryolophosaurus, something that doesn't escape Sagittarius' attention.
"No, no, I'd like to hear it from them," the crested oviraptor cuts in, and Slate can't tell if his wariness is giving way for legitimate curiosity or not. "Easier to judge their intent that way, don't you think?"
Definitely still wary. Pomegranate reluctantly nods his acknowledgement, and takes a small step back.
"…Well, you heard him," He mutters through a gritted beak. "Tell Sagittarius why you're here."

"Uh…" Moss falters after having been put on the spot. "Well… I'm Moss, and this is Slate…"
She flicks her tail in his general direction as she says his name, and he gives a quick bow of his head to confirm her introduction.
"Like Moss said, we mean no harm," Slate takes over, cautiously taking a few steps forward, more concerned with not further alarming the grey oviraptor than any potential threat Sagittarius may pose. The orange eyed theropod chooses his words carefully, not wanting to risk making the scout suspicious of his intent. "We heard there were new faces around the islands, and we just wanted to properly introduce ourselves."

"Uh huh," Sagittarius says, seemingly not convinced in the slightest. "That would explain why you're here, but what are you all carrying?"
"Food!" Moss perks up, glad to have a question that's easier to answer. She sets her coconut shell on the ground as an offering to the oviraptor, biting back a frustrated growl as a berry falls out of it. "Pomegranate said you guys can always use a helping hand with food, so we figured it'd be hard to go wrong with bringing some."
"Huh…?" Sagittarius looks at the three coconut shells, before narrowing his eyes at the green oviraptor. "What, have you been telling everyone we're all going hungry or something?"

"No, I told them the truth," Pomegranate glares up at his fellow scout, making a point of putting his shell full of small fish at the base of his sentry stump, but he makes sure to keep his voice level. "That it can be bloody difficult to know where and how to find food in a place you aren't yet familiar with. Unless you disagree with that statement?"
Sagittarius doesn't answer for a few seconds, simply staring at Pomegranate.
"…Well, no," He finally answers with a sigh. "I just assumed… Never mind. Thank you for the gesture, it is greatly appreciated."

Slate tilts his head. What had Sagittarius assumed Pomegranate had told them? And why can't he mention it now?
"So… Do you accept our gifts?" Moss asks hopefully; if she caught onto the fact that something's being left unsaid, she makes no effort to probe deeper. Probably for the best.
"I do," Sagittarius concedes, looking over the shells of food. "But… I can't carry all of those by myself. There's more scouts in the area. I could bring you to meet them, if you're willing to share with a few more of us?"