Secret Society

To prepare them for their future as the ruling class of Atlantis, the second hatchling Iguanodons grew out of their stubby limbs and downy feathers they were enrolled in lessons with various tutors. Usually it took place in the form of group lessons; one teacher with the entire year's batch of juveniles in one room to impart the same knowledge. Being a more... uncooperative sort, Teopixqui had his fair share of one-on-one sessions with the teachers, extra lessons late in the evening until he could recite the code of Atlantean conduct by heart. It still took him several minutes to recite the damn thing but he was getting better at remembering it and shaking the scowling glares of his elders. Today's lesson was his favourite kind, outside under the sun and within the confines of the gardens. He was able to spy into the farms, where the Ovis and Euoplos toiled to feed the entire court and he admired their strength and dedication. He found himself longing to be out there with them, to make a tangible difference instead of reciting ancient politics in an attempt to satisfy the expectations placed upon him.

Teo had noticed something off about the lesson today, and he couldn't figure it out until he realised he was the one being watched today. A feathered Iggy was making no secret of staring him down through the class, only diverting her eyes back to their teacher when she noticed the older Iggy had turned to face her. Teo wasn't a confrontational type, but he felt such a strange mix of intimidation and curiosity that he was compelled to speak to her after the class had adjourned. She made no move to escape, simply standing there and waiting for whatever he had to say. 

"Did I-" Teo started but his voice cracked, "Did- um, is there something on my face?" The royal Iggy tipped her head to the side and considered him for a minute before answering.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well... you were staring at something," Teo blustered, "Do we know each other? I'm sorry but I don't recognise you from anywhere but lessons."

"Name's Jasper," she responded shortly, "and you wouldn't know me, but I think we have a mutual acquaintance." Teo frowned, his curiosity truly piqued. Seeing his confusion, Jasper gestured towards the tree line where they could speak more privately. Teo glanced anxiously at the teacher but he was long gone. They were free to roam around as they pleased after class, but something about this made him feel like he was breaking a rule of some kind. Still, he followed Jasper into the shade of the trees, far from their noisy classmates.

"So, a mutual acquaintance?" he asked as Jasper checked for any eavesdroppers.

"Yeah. You remember a grey and black Ovi right? From when you were somewhere you weren't supposed to be?" Teo's stomach formed a cold, hard lump in his gut as a sudden flush sprang to his head, like he was suddenly under the effects of a vicious fever. He couldn't hide the trembling as it began and Jasper glanced down at him before making eye contact again. "Hey, relax, acquaintance, not enemy, understand?" Teo nodded but he felt too sick to speak. "They've got their own lessons to do but once he's out I'm gonna take you to meet Clemmons properly, I feel like all three of us are on the same page."

***

When the last of the paint pots were put away, the class of Oviraptors were finally dismissed by their stern teacher. Clemmons was drumming his claws anxiously on the table for most of the class and had caught the end of her vicious glare more than a few times for his fidgety demeanour. He couldn't help it, today was the day Jasper would finally make contact with the Iggy he had encountered as a hatchling. They had both been trying to spy on the High Council meeting when a kindly older Euoplo had interrupted them and steered them away before someone less merciful found them. The thought still sent a chill down his spine, if it hadn't been that Euoplo then he doubted he would still have his freedom. The Ovi peered out through every window in the building that he walked by, trying to catch a glimpse of the Iguanodon class being held outside. It seemed to have already dispersed and he couldn't see any sign of his large orange friend from this angle. He hurried, trying to not be left out if the two had already begun conversing. With a brisk run across the clearing, he drew the attention of the other Iggys and of Jasper, who scowled at him with the same ferocity as his teacher had. He slowed down and averted his gaze, embarrassed at his outburst of excitement. He made a point of walking far from them before entering the trees and circling back to where the two were talking. The fact they had yet to break reassured him that she had already made good headway into their proposal.

"You need to work on subtlety," Jasper remarked as she spotted him approaching through the dense underbrush. Clemmons huffed but didn't retort, more intent on making a good first impression.

"It's good to meet you formally," he greeted the brown Iggy, holding his claw out, "My name is Clemmons." The Iggy looked pleasantly surprised and eagerly took his hand in greeting, dwarfing the Ovi's claw in his massive paw.

"I'm Teopixqui," he said enthusiastically, "It's good to meet you too!" It was a mouthful of a name but Clemmons was nothing if not eloquent and he smiled warmly as his old acquaintance.

"Teopixqui, how wonderful to finally know your name. I imagine Jasper has informed you of our plans?" Teo looked confused and the Ovi repressed the urge to snap at the larger Iggy.

"I was gettin' to it," Jasper excused, "So Clem and you were both spying on the council, right?" Both males gestured at her in panicked motions, making her roll her eyes, "Yeah yeah, hush hush. But you're both on the same page as me, you think the council hides too much from us."

"I do," Teo admitted, "I keep thinking about it more and more, I thought it was a childish flight of fancy but... I can't help it."

"It has to be a maximum of ten individuals in that room," Clemmons said in a furious whisper, "Only ten of us know what threats might face the entirety of Atlantis!"

"How can we prepare for a fight if we're left in the dark?" Jasper asked, her anger apparent. 

"There aren't any Euoplos or Ovis on the council either," Teo pointed out, "That hardly seems fair."

"Well, we are the lesser species," Clemmons shrugged, missing the brief flash of horror that crossed Teo's face before he managed to cover it, "But I would still like to be informed so I can serve the Queen properly, I'm as loyal as those Iguanodons, I want the chance to prove myself and it seems it will never be offered to me."

"Unless we can pull him up with us," Jasper finished, looking Teo directly in the eye.

"If we can gain influence, we can have more of a say and then appoint Clemmons to something important," Teo pondered, "I could see it working, I remember in our history lessons we learned about the king whose most trusted advisor was an Oviraptor."

"Yes, King Grissom the Measured," Clemmons enthused, "There has been precedence!" Jasper raised her paw to stop him before he launched into a full recollection of the king's biography.

"Does this mean you're in?" she asked Teo, not wanting to take another step further if he wasn't willing to commit.

"I'm in," he agreed, eyes shining, "We can make Atlantis a better place for everyone, I know we can." Jasper nodded and held out her paw to him, making him give his in return.

"Do it, Clem," she ordered and Clemmons drew his dagger, dragging it across all three limbs and letting their blood mingle before Teo recoiled in shock.

"Ouch! What was that?" he demanded, cradling his arm close to his chest.

"Blood bond," Jasper shrugged, like it should've been common knowledge, "We can't betray each other now." Teo glanced nervously at Clemmons but found the Ovi looking back with the same grim determination on Jasper's face.

"R-right. Well, we should make some kind of plan, correct? When do we start?" the brown Iggy asked nervously.

"All in good time, we're playing the long game here," Clemmons admonished, feeling braver now they had been bonded by blood, "We'll meet again tomorrow, we're running out of time here." He was right, as the large bell that hung over the temple soon rang out it's four chimes, calling the juveniles back to their studies.

"I'll see you both here tomorrow," Teo confirmed, nervous but committed. He turned and fled back to the clearing, not stopping to wait for Jasper despite them sharing the same class.

"I don't think he's got the stomach for it," Jasper said plainly once he was gone.

"Maybe not, but he'll be useful nonetheless," Clemmons insisted, watching the brown Iggy settle next to the others. Their numbers had only grown by one, but the Oviraptor felt more faith in his plan than ever before.