Stranger worlds than these

It had been a long journey tracking the mysterious plant life that had grown from the rainbow lakes - one of the first sightings of this strange flora - but no discovery was made without some discomfort

To a saurian of the dark lands of the black labyrinth it was mere pittance, for every day in that strange place was a potential trial for those that dwelled therein and a death trap for outsiders more than not

It was almost something of irony how their lands were looked upon with fear and hushed rumours, full of strange and hostile shapes - that now a new contender for such a place had been slowly revealed, but where the home of the black landers was born of near unearthly structures, this place now that Vornskr crept through was a world of wild growth - dangerous ones at that

Already a few slight gashes marked his back where a lucky vine had scored a chance hit upon the dark Cryo before the Labyrinthian had ducked and weaved away from the vines path, but the vine had only gotten lucky once.

He had been sent for his swift and stealthy nature after all - no plant try as they might could catch him in the end, not even the hungry mouths of the titanic flytraps that guarded the outer layer of this ravenous jungle and its secrets.

Vornskr slunk through the shadows of the overarching ferns and twisting trees above him, luminous crimson eyes flickering this way and that as he crept ever onward within the tunnels coated in the colourful elaborate flora

The plants here were strange enough they might be considered homey to his fellows, if a little more natural than what lay within their own domain of the strange and unnatural - he would speak of it to them upon his return, mayhaps they would seek them out for their properties - he didn’t have to wonder given the colourful nature if many a plant here would be good for those vested in poisons…

Eyes flickered to the right, a strange and bulbous plant that smelled sickly sweet loomed quietly, the shadow of a much smaller saurian caught in its belly - whilst in its shadow rested strange flowering plants had strands spread wide like that of a floral spider-like creature.

A glance to the left where several colourful strands excreting dew like drops furled and unfurled as they caught the unwary flies - or perhaps something bigger if a poor fool was so drawn in by sweet nectar as to become a hungry plant’s food.

The ferns here grew large and unruly but we’re at least not a potential hazard - as were the gigantic aloe plants he’d spied along the way, an absurd size compared to the much smaller variety above ground.

It was the various trees that were some of the strangest - one with leaves of white shot through with veins that glowed an almost ethereal yellow like veins of gold - another had berries of a luminous bloody red like glinting eyes hidden in the deep shadows of the jungle he now traversed

It was a strange world of twisted fairy tale flora - a sister of stark flowering beauty to the gothic horror of his own homelands

Two houses alike in otherness, yet set apart in expression - the thought was an amusing one,

Perhaps whoever lay at the heart of this manner would be open to trade where the other uplanders were not for their fear of the labyrinthine lands - it would be something to consider, the plant growth invasion however was not a promising sign,

Still it had little effect on their lands and in truth, he and his kindred had little care for the affairs of those outside of the Labyrinth and it’s cursed lands - only curiosity for the strange happenings had brought them out at all - so perhaps, that was not a dealbreaker, whatever the truth that awaited.

Quietly he treaded further on, a dark slinking shape amidst the explosion of colours and greenery, all at once unlike and yet perfectly camouflaged within the dark shadows beneath the trees within.

Vornskr had caught quick glances between the thick brush of what looked like glass - beyond which the deep waters of the ocean lay - so it would seem he had made his way from above and beneath the sky to below and under the sea.

A strange place indeed - another of the humans structures long left behind, like the labs before.

Vornskr snorted softly, side stepping a patch of pink flowers that unfurled on their stalks seeking out his presence, almost tasting the air like snakes - perhaps they were attracted to movement? Or heat? - whichever it was, he gave them a wide berth.

He was under no delusion however, that he was alone in exploring the sudden flora outbreak - no doubt there would be others that followed a similar path to find themselves here like he did and distant footsteps proved him right.

Shifting back on his haunches, Vornskr angles himself upwards in a sudden leap, latching onto a giant of a tree and scaling upwards as the footsteps near - quietly he rests upon a sturdy enough branching trunk, angling to watch below as another form comes into view.

A golden hued Albertosaurus emerges from the trees, trailing snagging and broken vines - the forest had clearly sought to stop this one but failed in the attempt given the sheer damage done, no doubt that was one nest of vines that was likely left decimated from this one’s fury.

Vornskr tilts his head watching as the Albertosaurus pauses to sniff the air, a rattling growl sounding from her throat before she relaxes and tears away the vines still clinging to her - a hide too tough for the small tendrils to have pierced though gashes and small lacerations litter her hide, no doubt from the main nest itself.

She hasn’t spotted him, the flora here too thick with too many scents and cloying sweetness to ever pick out a singular creature amid the cacophony of chaotic scents - even a scent as distinct as his and his kindred’s are is lost among them.

He stays still and silent while the Albertosaurus sorts herself out - she won’t linger long, already she shifts on her feet to move off again and Vornskr is not here to fight outsiders if he does not need to, this is a mission of investigation and seeking a pointless fight is not like him,

For this journey, he is to be no more than a shadow in the corner.

He watches on finally as the Albertosaurus slowly lumbers off and away, footsteps receding into the distance until nothing but the ambient noise of  plant life fills the space interspersed with the muffled yet still there notes of the underwater soundscape beyond the glass panes.

His feet land silently upon the ground as he leaps down from above, craning his head to inspect the path the Albertosaurus took through the brush - perhaps, to follow in the larger beasts footsteps would be an ideal path - she can be the one to encounter threats and he can merely slink behind in the wake of her warpath

He would be no more than the shadow she casts

He smiles.