Nobody laughs at my friends

“I’m telling you, I can see a face in the flower! How can you not see it?”

Three juvenile dinosaurs are huddled over a small patch of pansies. The flowers are glorious in their spring colours - bright yellows and whites and the classic purple with black spots and stripes. Just as you might gaze up at clouds looking for familiar shapes, the three had decided to look for shapes in the patterns on flower petals. 

The tallest and biggest of the three - a softly brown coloured Therizinosaurus named Hecate - gestures at a purple pansy that she is convinced has a smiling face on it. Her companions are two Parasaurolophus’ - a silver female named Balistidae (Balis for short), and a dark brown male named Resheph. The three have known each other for several yearly cycles now, ever since Hecate’s family group adopted the two orphans. They have thrived under the care of the largest herbivores on the Kiama Isles, and as a trio, they have had many an adventure (and misadventure) together.

“I can’t see it…” Balis replies in her laidback drawl. She always sounds like she is no hurry to say anything. 

“I think I can see it…if I squint…” Resheph adds, as if trying to support Hecate.

Hecate gives a partly frustrated huff, which trickles into a soft chuckle. It wasn’t important. Between the three of them, they had spotted many things in the flowers so it wasn’t a big deal if they couldn’t recognise one more thing. Before lifting her head back up to a more comfortable position, Hecate chomps some of the flowers, with Balis and Resheph finishing the rest. 

When they were younger, the size difference between them was notable but not overly so. But now, Hecate was starting to grow into the tall elegance of her species. She stood much higher than both Balis and Resheph, even when they stood bipedal. It was one of many seemingly small differences that were becoming more noticeable as they grew up together. If it ever seemed to bother the two smaller youngsters, they never let Hecate know, but also vice-versa.

The family group of Therizinosaurus has settled in a wide open meadow for this spring afternoon, a good place to forage and feast on fresh grass and flowers. With their obvious height advantage as well, they have a clear view of the whole meadow and can see any approaching threats. The adults are prepared and well equipped - with scythe-like claws on each hand - but the youngsters are not. Hecate, Resheph and Balis frolic and gambol through the long grass. Balis in particular is fond of rolling around in fragranced flowers or thick patches of things like clover and moss.

As the day draws on, the group come together and begin moving towards the mountains. They are several days away but they are the group’s destination. The guiding Theri knows these lands very well. Across those mountains is the summering grounds, a land plentfiul of water and roots and foliage to see them through the whole season. 

Just as they crest a hill, a beautiful yet haunting sound fills the air. It is a long, drawn out call, deep and resonant, carrying well on the still spring evening air. 

First, there is just the one, and then another, carefully timed not to overlap. And then a pair of calls almost at the same time. 

The Theri group stop for a moment, some of the adults inclining their heads to the sky as if that might be the source, whilst others scan the horizon. The guiding Theri continues towards the hillcrest, where she discovers the source of the song.

Spread before them at the base of the gently declining hill is a lush wetland, with a fresh water river and branching rivulets. From this distance they are not more than a multicolour mass of fuzzy blobs but sure enough, right there, enjoying the delicacies of the waterways is a large herd of Parasaurolophus. Hecate, Resheph and Balis join the rest of their group at the hillcrest, looking down at the scene.

They had encountered other dinosaurs many times, even other parasaurs, but this was quite breath-taking to see so many in one place.

The group descend the hill. The aim was to refresh themselves with water before nightfall and then retire for the night. Even with their impressive size, the sheer mass of Parasaurolophus was quite the intimidating sight. Hecate stays close to her mother, whilst Resheph and Balis stay close to their adopted mother. It is fair to say they are curious though…

None of the Parasaurolophus seem to baulk at the presence of the Theri group. Some of them utter polite greetings (through mouthfuls of water weeds), others just give them an acknowledging nod. Many of the parasaurs have waded right out into the deeper parts of the wetland but that is not where the Theri group will go. Instead they stay at the edges. They drink the fresh water and take the opportunity to groom themselves. 

The parasaur herd continue to gorge on watery plants but slowly move across the wetlands. Some have left the water and are beginning to settle for the evening. Amongst them are young parasaurs, similar in size to Resheph and Balis. Of course they are curious. Seeing their interest, Hecate suggests they all go over. With reluctant permission from their respective mothers, the trio find the shallowest route over to the parasaur herd (Hecate still gets her legs and long crested tail wet).

Some adults regard them with a healthy suspicion but most only see three young dinosaurs who just want to say hello. All three of them mind their manners and make sure they introduce themselves. After passing a few adults, they find the youngsters. A LOT of youngsters. More than they had ever seen in one place before and definitely more than they were used to. The mixed-ages group - some were adolescents with hints of their adult markings, a majority were Resheph and Balis’ age, with some that had only hatched this spring - are all playing amongst themselves. Rough-housing, wrestling, chasing. They slowly begin to notice the newly arrived trio, especially Hecate.

“Woah,” a scruffy male says as he stops suddenly, leaving his pursuer to bump into him. “Check out the claws!”

With his exclamation, several of the other youngsters stop and stare at Hecate. And then they rush over.

All of a sudden Hecate is looking down at a see of excitable parasaur faces. 

“Have you killed anything with those?”

“How do you keep them sharp?”

“Wow you’re really tall.”

“Do you feel the rain first up there?”

“Do you get cold with your head in the sky?”

Hecate is overwhelmed by the barrage of attention. Resheph and Balis had just kind of grown up with her, they knew about her claws, her long neck, her height…she just took for granted that other dinosaurs would know these things too.

“Uhh…whu-whell…uhhhh” Hecate stammers, trying to find her voice and confidence to reply.

As she tries to formulate sentences, the same haunting song from earlier begins again, only this time it is several decibels louder. The adults slowly build their song, louder and more ornate. The parasaur children all join in as best as they can.

Except for Resheph and Balis. They look around at the others and wonder what they are doing.

Hecate doesn’t understand the process either, though the concept of singing is not new. Theris just sing in a different way…

And then it hit her - Resheph and Balis had never learned to sing, not the way parasaurs should.

Some of the other children begin to notice that Reshpeh and Balis are silent.

“Wait…why aren’t you singing?”

“Maybe they don’t know how…”

“Hahaha you can’t sing?”

“Everyone knows how to sing.”

The uncomfortable attention is now on Resheph and Balis, who physically squirm under the combined gaze of the other youngsters. They shrink back, closer and closer to Hecate. The singing from the adults grows louder again, temporarily drowning out the laughter and snorts. 

Hecate scrunkles her nose in anger. She wasn’t about to let her best friends be ridiculed. She musters a disapproving honk but it is lost to the sound of the adults. She takes a big breath, this time her honk is let loose just as the adults stop. Her angry, croaky honk fills the air. The young parasaurs stop immediately. Not because of the sound. But because of what Hecate is doing.

Without realising, she is flaring her arms. Her claws - not as impressive as the adults but deadly all the same - are extended in a threat display.

Now, she has the attention of the adult parasaurs.

Many of them just watch intently, willing to give some grace to the fact they are children and they will play-fight. But some adults rise to their feet and approach, wanting to clear their offspring from the altercation.

Hecate suddenly feels all the attention on her. Like being caught in a spotlight, the bright light and heat. 

She shrinks back and in to a submissive pose, her hands brought to her chest. She makes a quick turn and ushers Resheph and Balis to come with her. They keep up a quick pace and try to avoid eye contact with any of the youngsters and the adults along the way. They are lucky to make it back to their family group with only a few dismissive grumbles here and there.

All three remain quiet as they settle for the night, tactfully dodging the questions from their mothers. They curl up besides each other, with their mothers forming a protective barrier. 

Later that night, when the sky is clear and full of stars and the adults are snoozing, Hecate lets out a long sigh. She is having trouble sleeping, tormented by a knot in her stomach. Was it a short temper that made her do that? Should she just let them laugh at her best friends? Her brow furrows.

“Thank you Hecate.”

A little whisper in the night. It is Resheph.

“Yeah…thanks Hecate…for what you did…” Balis adds, also in hushed tones.

Hecate lifts her head slightly and looks between the two. A worry still gnaws at her, but it starts to lift knowing that her actions were justified. After the number of times they had been there for her, it feels good to be there for them.