Stowing Seeds

Months had passed since the trials of thorns, and Snowshoe, Larry, and Latte had grown. No longer bumbling juveniles, they were quickly growing into their adult plumage and learning to take on more and more responsibilities. Ever since they had passed the trial with flying colors they had been fast tracked through the scout course, taught what kind of plants were needed on the surface and how to plant and care for them, told them how to avoid detection from the larger creatures they now knew roamed on the surface, and made them swore to never give away Atlantis should they be caught.

And today was the day- their first mission onto the surface. Larry and Latte whispered between themselves animatedly as they sorted over the seeds they had been given, shuffling them into the leafy bags they had been given, small enough to hide within their claws and beaks and large enough to safely hold the precious seeds they had been given. “So, these ones are vines.” Larry instructed Latte, shaking one of the bags gently at him. “We need to plant them somewhere with lots of water, but they grow remarkably quickly- within a week they should be the dominant plant in the area.” 

Latte clacked his beak. “That's fast! Eh… what use do they have again? I wasn’t quite paying attention.” He scratched at his feathers as Larry sighed, turning to lecture his friend (again) on the importance of paying attention in their studies, and how the fate of Atlantis depended on them. 

Snowshoe stood aside from the other two, staring out into the tunnel with a blank look on her face. They had been escorted here by two guards earlier, who had been quick to depart; leaving them standing at the ‘portal’ that would lead them to the surface. The metal tunnel into darkness bared into her soul, leaving Snowshoe frozen. While she had once had as much excitement and passion for the mission as Latte and Larry did, that had all changed the day her mother had been announced dead- vanishing from her mission on the surface, never to return to her and her father. Already a monument had been made for those lost, their names engraved onto the rocky surface and proclaimed as heroes. But that didn’t get rid of the pain of Snowshoes mother not being there- the hurt of the way her father had barely spoken to her since she refused to back down from the mission. It was not anger in his eyes, but weary acceptance; acceptance that he was to lose another member of his family. Even now the doubt stuck with her, but the young oviraptor pushed it aside- while the job was risky, it was needed should they wish to save Atlantis. Their families needed them- their queen needed them.

“Snowshoe?” The named oviraptor jolted out of her daze, shaking her head and meeting the concerned gaze of Latte. “Are you alright?” The cream oviraptor had apparently been calling her name for several moments now, but it only just sunk in. Larry finished sweeping the seeds into the bag, but Snowshoe could tell by now he was equally as concerned. 

“Ah. Yes. I’m fine.” Snowshoe shook herself off, waving one feathered claw in the air like she could wave away their worries. “I have my seeds, oh look at the time, we better get going.” Quickly she darted forward into the tunnel, Latte and Larry barely hesitating before following her. The three walked side by side through the metal halls, their feet making soft tapping sounds against the metal. Larry looked like he was going to be sick- Snowshoe couldn't help but feel a bit queasy herself, as the way the deep, dark depths of the ocean pressed on the glass walls was nauseating. Her mind kept flashing back to stories of how the dome cracked and flooded- if the same thing happened here, there would be no escape. However, she shook those thoughts from her head- others had made it through and back fine, and they would too. (Snowshoe ignored the little voice in her head that pointed many others had not, like-)

“There!” Latte gasped, pointing ahead. The gloom of the tunnel was growing lighter- sunlight, the first of it not filtered through the ocean the oviraptors had ever got to experience. Larry and Latte quickly sped up, desire to reach the surface clear in their motions. Snowshoe barely hesitated in running after them; they stuck together, after all.

The sight that greeted them once they finally made their way outside was of blue- not the staticy, fizzling blue of a broken sky, but the real, true blue tinted by the yellow of the sun. The three adolescents stared in silent amazement for a long moment. Birdsong flirted through the air and trees were everywhere.

“Is it just me… or are those trees kind of boring?” It was Latte who broke the silence, staring at the trees around them with squinted eyes. “They’re kind of small… and where are all the vines? Carnivorous plants?”

Larry coughed. “They don't have any of those. That's why we’re on this mission. The plants up here are so dreadfully boring and useless compared to what we have down in Atlantis. Really, it's a win-win. We get a new home, they get new plants.” He continued to chat as they began to venture further into the strange new world before them.

Snowshoe couldn't help but smile as they passed by a small patch of wildflowers. “Things aren't so bad up here.” She gently cradled a bright yellow flower in her claws. Flowers were rare in Atlantis- harmless ones, at least. Most had some downside that meant she was never allowed to approach them less she be no more. But this flower was harmless, soft. For a moment she could forget everything- for a moment it was peaceful.

It was shattered by the scoff Larry made as he moved over to inspect the small flower. “Eh. Just a common wildflower. Useless. Not even good food! Our plants are much better.” 

Snowshoe’s feathers dropped a bit, but Latte was quick to swoop in. “It’s so pretty!” She smiled. “Maybe they’ll give us some flowers to plant next time- then we can spread the beauty of Atlantis up to the surface!” 

“Yea!” Snowshoe shook off the doom and gloom and clinging dread. “Yes. Let's continue. We have a job to do.” Larry and Latte chirped and agreed as she moved out of the clearing, leaving the small flower patch behind without a second thought. This world was new and exciting, but it wasn't Atlantis- and that meant it could be better. And now it was their job to stow the seeds that would save their kingdom… no matter the cost. No matter what the cost would be.