Before the Ceremony

A light breeze drifted through the overgrown plaza where a trio of styracosaurs waited. White and gray stonework, remnants of paved footpaths and ornamented retaining walls, stood out starkly against the myriad greens of the jungle's growth. Light filtered down from over head, bright yet without real warmth. A small yet constant reminder of the strange, artificial world hidden under the blue waves.

When the first of the newcomers had arrived, they had piqued curiosity and interest, and the three styracosaurs had banded together to befriend and investigate. One thing had led to another and in the end, well, here they were, in an impossible realm deep beneath the sea. Surrounded by strange vegetation, under an artificial sky, and waiting to be honored with a royal audience.

Really, it was probably the waiting that was the most tedious part about this. While all of them had certainly admired the iguanodons' elaborate court and all its trappings and ceremony, it was still distinctly foreign to them. Why did things like timing matter? Couldn't they just say what needed to be said and be done with it? And so on. So now, as they waited and waited for this ceremony they were to be a part of, they found themselves growing restless and seeking ways to occupy their time and minds.

Doog, in some ways, had it easiest. While it had been made quite clear that napping would be out of the question, nobody had thought to say anything about eating. Even now, he was finding new and unusual plants he'd never seen, let alone tasted, before, and set about sampling them. Or at least the ones that weren't poisonous. Probably. Surely their hosts wouldn't leave them waiting without a word of warning if there were, at least.

Haize was, perhaps, the least interested in all of this. If she had her way, she'd simply do what she could to help, and then quietly head back to her usual stomping grounds and relative solitude in the mountains. Unfortunately, that wasn't precisely an option here, as even returning to the islands was a long trek through the often-perilous jungle, and through the underground tunnels beyond. That journey had been harrowing and tiring enough once, and even she was less than inclined to attempt the arduous journey back by herself. So instead, she merely took advantage of the moment, finding a comfortable spot in the plaza to wait and occupy herself with her thoughts undisturbed until the appointed time arrived.

Cama, if anything, was perhaps the most excited of the trio. Curious and wanting to learn more about the newcomers from the start, the adventure had been far more adventure than hardship, as far as she was concerned. And now all of her and the others' efforts were paying off, allowing a glimpse at a rare an special event. But that same specialness, however, also had her a little nervous and uncertain. She didn't want to somehow do something wrong and ruin it all, and the iguanodons and the others had such different customs, it was hard to be sure what they were thinking.

So Doog snacked, Haize conserved her strength, and Cama paced anxiously while they waited. Surely it was only a span measured in minutes, the lights in the ceiling that made up Atlantis's 'sky' not noticeably changing, at least. But it felt like so much longer, when left waiting idly with nothing to do for an unfamiliar but clearly important ceremony.

Still, though, they did wait. While it may have been largely curiosity that had drawn them to the first oviraptor scouts, the more the styracosaurs had learned the more they found themselves willingly enmeshed in the newcomers' struggles. This hidden paradise was doomed. Or at the very least in grave danger. The miraculous structures that kept the very sea itself at bay were starting to fail. First the leaks had been small, and more or less manageable. But then more had formed, and the earlier ones grown bigger. The lush jungles were increasingly being watered with brine and salt.

And as the outsiders had learned of this, they couldn't help but want to do something. If the great, underwater dome couldn't be prepared, if its failure was likely just a matter of time, then there was nothing to do but help its inhabitants find a new home before their original one was lost. Iguanodons, euoplocephalus, and oviraptors alike needed air and dry land to live, let alone thrive, after all, just like the islands' many other inhabitants.

Doog, of course, had needed no real convincing, given his intrinsically friendly disposition. Even if his attention was prone to wandering, and he might need an occasional nudge to get back on track, he was here for a reason and knew that reason well. Perhaps he might not have any insightful ideas to offer, but he could simply wait and let the others tell him what they needed.

Aloof as she was, Haize still wasn't so cruel as to wish anyone a watery grave. Well, not unless they'd done something to deserve it, perhaps, but as far as she was concerned that certainly wasn't the case here. Which meant that she couldn't simply stand back and let it happen, once she knew, and here she was. Of course, once all was said and done and the Atlanteans moved to a new home, she fully intended to go her own way, but right now, there was still work to be done.

While Cama had at least some caution along with her curiosity, it seemed clear to her that the newcomers didn't mean any real harm. And that, in any event, leaving them to fend for themselves was downright unthinkable. So along with indulging her curiosity, she fully intended to be of what help she could.

These thoughts and more ran through the trio's heads as they bided their time, until finally, finally the tedium was broken. A euoplocephalus announced that the court had assembled and was now awaiting their presence, gesturing down a path that was more grass and weeds than pavement stone. The moment they'd been waiting for had arrived; it was time to meet the Queen.