Three Caballeros

As he got older, Burdock couldn't deny the fact that he was getting stronger. Each morning was still a struggle against the fatigue that plagued him but he was making progress. He could catch slower sources of food, he had learned to make his own nest, he sparred with his siblings and the faint dark lines of his dimorph were coming through. His mother told him it matched his grandfather's, which filled him with a strange sense of pride. He wasn't as energetic or fast or efficient as his siblings but he was the only one that perfectly mimicked the mark of grandfather Caine, that had to count for something right?

Each week he was able to spend longer and longer away from the nest and the watchful eyes of his mothers. His favourite source of food was decently nearby, a pond in the swampier parts of the forest that held populations of freshwater clams that he could crack open. It took a lot to fill his belly, but they were low energy and nutritious, not to mention plentiful in this pond he had discovered. It was no surprise to him that others had found this source of food, and he mostly retreated when someone else showed up, but there had been a few exceptions.

Byul had left his nest a long time ago, striking out from his float of siblings and keen to travel the length of the rivers across Isla Kela until every molecule of water had been explored. The swamps were fascinating, filled with thick plants and sludgy algae that impeded his swimming but still intrigued him nonetheless. Living fulltime in the river meant fish were never out of reach and he liked to herd them into the pond at the end of the stream to catch them easier. It was filled with clams too, though his jaws weren't equipped to crack them open. It was a popular spot and he had met a number of other dinosaurs feeding there, not least Alkonost and Burdock.

Alkonost had been born alone, staring at her own lavender fur with wonder and believing she had been born with some kind of power. As she grew, these rose-tinted glasses began to fade and she learned about how vast the variety of colours could be on these islands. At some point in her journey she had even seen dinosaurs bright pink in colour, making her own feathers seem a little less special. As a Therizinosaurus, the swamplands quickly became her signature stomping grounds. In a perfect storm of events, she had walked right up to the pond while Burdock and Byul were laying eyes on each other for the first time. The tension between the three diffused immediately, a one on one confrontation was far likelier than a three-way standoff, and anyone in their current position would know that a fight was pointless. Alkonost waved her claws awkwardly at the two others and settled at the edge of the pond to take a drink. The Carno couldn't wave back but he nodded at her, then at the Sucho before dunking his head underwater. The Theri watched in fascination as he brought his head back up with small clams in his teeth. He crunched them to shards and swallowed them, making a satisfied noise as he did.

"Oh, fun, I've never seen a Carno eat clams before," Byul noted, breaking the silence that had fallen.

"I'm a little slower than most Carnos," Burdock admitted, "The clams are pretty easy to find while I learn to hunt something bigger." Byul nodded, admiring the lateral thinking this spotted guy was showing.

"That's pretty clever, I love that you've been able to work around being a little slower," Alkonost praised. Burdock was a little taken aback, he hadn't been aware he had been doing anything extraordinary, in fact he had been embarrassed to admit to foraging clams to fill his belly. He was lost for words at the praise

"She's right, I'd probably go belly up if I couldn't catch fish, you're a smart guy," the young Sucho added, talking like he was far older than his size suggested. If Burdock had to guess, both of these other dinosaurs were around his age, or they were both juveniles at least, recognising the shedding feathers on the Theri and Sucho from his own juvenile siblings. Maybe that's why they were so impressed, they just hadn't seen a lot of the world yet.

"So, what are you two doing here?" he asked, awkwardly trying to push the conversation further.

"Eating! Lots of nice things grow around this pond," Alkonost answered goodnaturedly, "so, the same reason as you, I guess," she giggled. 

"Same," Byul chimed in, "I can trap fish in here pretty easy. And hey, looks like I found good company here too," he added smoothly. Both Alkonost and Burdock shrunk away like they were blushing, though both continued to laugh nervously. He observed them curiously, wondering if either of them had heard a compliment before. The thought made his chest pang and in that moment he resolved to make both of them his best friends. 

"I don't meet anyone around here very often," Alkonost admitted, "It's a little intimidating to walk up to other people when you're on your own."

"I get that," Byul nodded, "I'm on my own too and it makes every encounter a little dicey." Burdock didn't contribute, knowing his parents were both waiting for him back home and feeling like a fraud amongst these two solo brave adventurers.

"Carnos do packs don't they?" Alkonost asked suddenly, already sinking his plan of staying quiet.

"I- um- yes, I live with my parents' pack," he admitted. The Theri nodded.

"Makes sense, it must be nice to have someone watching your back," she said wistfully.

"Well- we could watch your back, i-if you want," Burdock managed to stammer out, much to Alkonost's surprise. Byul seized the chance.

"Yeah, we're pals now, right? We can keep an eye out for each other," he said kindly. 

"That would be nice," she said softly, almost to herself.

"Then we'll do it," Burdock said, his voice unusually strong.

"The three unlikeliest friends you ever did see," Byul grinned at them both.

Three unlikely friends they were, but every time they met up was filled with smiles and laughter. Byul always had a story to tell about whatever daring river rapids he had found recently, regaling the other twos with his swashbuckling adventures. Neither of them ever fully believed him but they enjoyed the entertainment nonetheless. He also offered a helping hand if either of them needed it, with Burdock taking him up on the offer whenever he was in the area. Their unconventional relationship, started completely by chance on that summer day in the swamp, would go on to last well into adulthood.