Escape Artist

A year to the day they had reunited in the barracks, Pelt and Ruby had collectively agreed on a plan. This plan was what they were going to do once they were outside. They both wanted to explore what they believed would be outside, such as huge fields and vineless forests. They dreamed of finding a beautiful place to make home. Ruby had already decided she wanted to be a mother when she was older.

After their reunion, they had to adjust to a completely different life. For an entire year, doors  leading outside had stayed open, letting any dinos with enough determination inside the dome. Into their home.

They both had to grow up quite fast- although they were both around 2 years old, they had been made into warriors and put into doing all kinds of duties.

Through sleepless nights together, they dreamed of a perfect life outside of the dome.

They just needed to find a way out first.

Luckily, they eventually found a stranger that could help them with that.

After the doors had opened, strange new dinosaurs had come to join their ranks and wreak havoc. It was strange- but cool to see all the different dinos swearing their loyalty to the queen. It was not fun however to see what kind of monsters the outside world seemed to be full of. At one point they had seen a huge towering dinosaur on two legs and terrifying teeth. It was something out of a tapestry they have seen- not in real life. But it was real life. It was right in front of them.

The 'war' with the outside world had been raging for a year now. Not long after dinos realised there were threats to be scared of, the Queen started to mass recruit any dino that would swear loyalty to her. Some of these dinos knew nothing about the history of the dome. Of course most dinos that were born here might not know much either, but they probably knew more than these newcomers.

Do they realise this thing is breaking apart? The walls are leaking and the plants are dying inside from the water. The water tasted bitter and soured their water sources. It was clear they needed to get out of there.

Although there was talk of the Queen planning on moving, Ruby had told Pelt she really didn't want to wait. I want to go out and see everything now!

Some of the newcomers even became friends with dinos that were born inside the dome. It was nice to see different species getting along.

The euos were practicing fighting large enemies in the yard when Pelt took a breather to the side. He noticed a specific group of outsiders were on guard duty not far away from him while everyone else was distracted tussling.

Pelt had seen this group all around the Queen's areas, apparently they were even friends with her. 

This group consisted of a large almost-iggy-shaped dinosaur with a long pointy head, a large beaked dinosaur with a sharp nose and crest, and the smallest oviraptor Ruby had ever seen.

Speaking of Ruby, she'd noticed Pelt and came to sat next to him.

Pelt nor Ruby had personally gone up to an outsider before.

"That's a small oviraptor, huh?" She had noticed him staring at them and was trying to prod him for this thoughts. Also to probably embarrass him in the process. Before he could speak however, the little ovi saw them and scampered up to them.

"Names?"

After the ovi spoke, the big beaked creature behind it looked a little apologetic. It was sitting down staring at Pelt from about a meter away from where he lay.

"Oh, Omelette, I don't know these dinos, I'm sorry." He looked to Pelt and Ruby like he had stepped on their toes."She doesn't mean to bother you, warriors."

"That's okay." Pelt stumbled over his words. Ruby realised he might've had the impression they can't communicate to Atlanteans. She tried not to laugh as she looked at him. "I'm just resting after some warmup training. I'm Pelt, and this is Ruby."

Ruby looked towards them and closed her eyes halfway, looking almost bored.

"Hey."

Both euos walked closer to them so they wouldn't be shouting across the courtyard,

"You guys are a little small for warriors, no?" The big beaked dino spoke again. He then immediately looked like he wanted to shrivel into the ground of where he sat after he said that.

"Dart!" The little ovi looked really happy to talk to them, seeing that they are nice.

Knowing that what Dart said could be taken as rude, she turned and flapped her wings in the green dino's face. "Dart!"

"Hey-" He was laughing as he pushed the ovi away from his face. "Stop. Okay! Sorry. I'm Dart. I'm a styracosaurus. This is Omelette. I'm sorry if I seemed rude at all. I don't think before I speak sometimes."

"-And I'm a parasaurolophorus!"

The large black pointy headed creature had managed to creep up and was standing right behind the oviraptor. Pelt slightly jumped into the air at the fright.

"Oh no, I'm sorry little guy. I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Thyme."

"Don't talk to him like that!" It was Ruby that spoke up. "He is not a little guy. We're warriors. So you will treat us like warriors." She puffed up, stood over Pelt and lifted her tail, trying to look large. Pelt tried to soothe Ruby.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's alright everyone! Please calm down." the styracosaurus had stood up and was looking around frantically, but was whispering. What was he scared of? Were they making a scene? Oops.

"Thyme, you need to stop sneaking up on us like that. You made me jump too."

Thyme looked apologetic to the euos, then seemed amused when Dart said that.

"Soooorry. It's nice to meet you, warriors! You both have beautiful names."

Ruby calmed down at this, and Pelt gently preened the scruffy feathers on her neck before she nudged him away to say I'm fine. She leaned into him. "Thank you, weird strangers. Um, sorry, but can I ask where you come from?"

Thyme looked like she was about to tell a story, but then Dart just blurted out, "Outside."

"We came a long way from outside. We've sworn our loyalty to the queen."

"...But you know a way out, right?"

Before, the group of strangers seemed hesitant, but with that statement the styracosaurus seemed to focus on them a lot more.

"Why? Do you want to leave?" Dart was still whispering. Pelt was wondering why- if everyone knows there are ways out, why are they being secretive about it?

"Be careful."

Thyme added to his warning, "It's very dangerous outside. It's honestly safer in here." She looked like she'd seen a ghost. Omelette even piped up.

"Very dangerous."

"What do you mean?" Pelt whispered back. Everyone had subconsciously put their heads together and started whispering.

Dart turned to Thyme, "Thyme, Omelette, I'm sorry but could you please go and stand guard across from us? I don't want to look like we're plotting. You know what the Queen is like. There are too many dinos here. We look suspicious."

Thyme looked a little disappointed, but did as she was told because the conversation was boring her. She knew the way out. She didn't care if these euos wanted to leave. Mantell had wandered into the courtyard anyway and so she quickly focused on talking to him instead. Omelette wandered off, presumably to check the perimeter.

Dart turned back to them. "I can help you both find a way out, if you want. You just need to tell me when you want to go."

Ruby seemed to have a new fire in her eyes. Pelt was looking at her, at each other. I don't know if I'm ready to leave our home yet. But I promised I would protect her. But we don't really know what's out there. They said it's dangerous…

If Ruby is going, I'm going.

"How about now?" Ruby had already said it before Pelt could say anything. He turned to her with a smile.

"Lets do it."