Mary Misteries
The misty forest was silent. It was absent of most prehistoric life- the foliage was too large for the tall ones to see where they were going, and too dense for the smaller creatures to run around. And that's why Kaede chose to shelter there- pushing his way between the dark trees, carefully settled onto all four legs to avoid the branches waving around in the air. He didn’t have much time to doubt his choice- the growls and howls of hungry carnivores had chased him all the way here. They faded into the mist as the herbivore traveled inwards- all sound swallowed by the fog, only the soft crunch of dirt under his hooves reassuring him that he was still real.
A barking sound in the distance caught his attention, with frightened chirps and calls that cut through the fog. Before he even realized it, Kaede was running. The shadows of trees emerged and faded through the fog as he ran, but he wasn’t scared. The fog still hid most sounds from him- which was why he almost missed the sound of running feet, pausing just in time as a frightened oviraptor chick emerged from the mist, dashing to take shelter behind Kaede without any hesitation.
The parasaur had no time to ponder why- it soon became obvious. Three dogs ran from the trees, growling and sniffing the air noisily. It was clear by the way the chick shivered that this was no play- but a desperate run for survival. One of the dogs finally noticed the cowering chick, slowly approaching as if hoping Kaede would take no notice. But he did- the parasaur could not leave a chick alone against three huge hounds.
Kaede let out a loud trumpet that cut through the fog, rearing up on his back legs and kicking out at the air. The chick squeaked, but the aggressive motion was quick to send the dogs scattering with panicked whimpers and yelps. Threat gone, the yellow herbivore turned his head downwards. “Hello little one.” He murmured. The chick blinked up at him with confused purple eyes. Its feathers were a grey that faded in intensity, going from a dark charcoal to an almost blue tone. Purple and green streaks ran down its neck, and dark dots covered its body. “Where is your mother?”
The sound of nearby echoing footsteps and an approaching shadow in the mist made Kaede tense- but the hatchling perked up at the sound, letting out a cheerful chirp and approaching the shape. As the figure finally came close enough to make out its shape and color, Kaede felt his breath catch. Standing there was a huge female of his species, feathers mild and messy and shiny with dew. Dark red and bright pink feathers created a pattern that was similar to blood seeping across water during the sunset, and white hooves were oddly dainty compared to the rest. As the female lowered her head, Kaede watched in silence as she gently bumped her head against his tiny one, crooning what he knew was a sound of comfort and love from mothers to their hatchlings. Dark eyes finally met his own, and his breath staggered. Her gaze was oddly gentle, lacking any of the suspicion or anger he had been expecting- after all, Kaede had intruded.
But instead of raising her voice or jumping to question him, the female parasaur slowly approached. Each step left a misty trail behind, and Kaede had to stop himself from reeling back in shock as she came so close their beaks almost brushed. For a long moment it was still- the only motion, the soft sweep of fog and the feelings of each other's breaths.
It seemed Kaede finally passed some sort of test, and the massive parasaur bowed her head. “You must have saved my son. Thank you.” Her voice was flat but calm- lacking emotion, but not out of malice. “You must be lost. Not many dare visit my forest. What brings you here?”
Kaede almost jumped as he felt a brush against his hooves- but it was just the chick, winding against him in what may have been approval. “U-uh. I didn’t know this was your forest.” He cleared his throat. “I was traveling when I came across the scent of carnivores. They noticed me first, so I ducked into here to hide my trail. The fog seems to do its job well- it’s like a whole different world in here.”
The parasaur smiled faintly. “Yes. This forest is our little sanctuary. During the day it is more common to see other dinosaurs as the sun burns away the mist. But when the moon rises, they hide away- and we emerge. None stay long, anyways- the forest unnerves most. The bones tell stories- stories that most cannot bare to face.” After a moment, she focused back on the yellow male. “But that does not explain why you saved Rock Dove.”
Bones? Kaede decided he would probably be better off not asking. “He needed help.” He hummed. “I was not going to sit back while he suffered when I was there. Besides, I didn’t do much- he came up to me. I just allowed him to stay close.”
“Still. It is more than many others would have done.” The red parasaur mused. Her attention wandered again, but a chirp from Rock Dove called her back. “Ah. Yes. I owe you my deepest gratitudes. Would you like to join us for dinner?”
Dinner? At this hour? Then again, Kaede supposed that made sense- and he was quite hungry. “I would be pleased.” He smiled, thrilled to see the others' masks break a bit as she smiled back. “Names Kaede- may I know yours?”
At first Kaede thought he had overstepped- names were personal to many. “Mary.” The answer finally came, and it was with a soft tone he hadn’t expected. “Call me Mary.” Mary smiled at him again, before turning- her son following after her, chirping. “Come.” And Kaede did not hesitate to follow.
