The devil you know...

                Little, clawed, hands dug into the rich and freshly plowed soil of one of the many Atlantean flower beds. They worked to sift through the dirt for grubs and root remains, placing anything of interest into a bag nearby. For the little Oviraptor that found herself perfecting what her parents had tilled, this was simply a game. A game to try and find as many bugs and roots as she could before more Oviraptors came in to seed the dirt and then have their Euoplo friends come stamp the dirt down.

                To everyone old enough to understand what was going on, it was an average workday in Atlantis.

                Ghast had hatched a handful of months ago, and had been placed in the care of a nanny while her parents had gone off to work for the Court and their courtiers. But whenever they had returned home, as soon as she had been old enough to speak, she would bombard them with multitudes of questions as soon as they would come pick her up.

                “Where did you go?”

                “Why were you there for so long?”

                “What sort of plants did you see today!”

                The questions were endless. Though, over time, they gradually started to become more plant focused as her parents told her all about what they did. Something about being royal gardeners, and they always saw many plants that came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. All manner of colors, as well, some that had never been seen before. They spoke of plant mutations and color patterns and how some plants were completely new while others were still being used and planted from years and years before.

                To the little green and black-marked Oviraptor, most of that went beyond her. The only thing she knew was that her parents had been having fun. And she wanted to be a part of that.

                It had taken only a few days of asking, pleading, with her parents before they had agreed to take her along with them to work. The eye rolls from some of the older Euoplos had gone unnoticed by Ghast when she had arrived that morning. They were there to do a job, not be distracted by Oviraptor hatchlings. The older Oviraptors, however, were far more patient and understanding with her. As she helped in the garden a few would come up and point things out to her.

                Ghast stayed close to her parents, as was their request to her before bringing her out, but that didn’t deter any of the other adults from coming over and instilling their own knowledge into her. By the time mid-day had come around, Ghast found herself completely worn out. Weeding the dirt was hard work, and her arms were hurting. And as she looked down at herself, she saw just how muddy she had become. Though, as she looked around it seemed that others were just as dirty as she was. The Euoplos probably had it the worst simply due to how low to the ground they already were, and what their task was.

                The lunch break lasted for half an hour. Everyone sat around and talked, Ghast’s mother fixed her food before dragging over the little sack of bugs and roots that Ghast had been collecting that morning. She dug around for a moment, carefully looking through the mud covered insects and plants before smiling and drew a larger grub out. The little Ovi tilted her head, watching as her mother stood and trotted over to a wash bucket and dunked the grub inside before coming back.

                “Look, little flower. This will be a fine treat.” Ghast’s mother said, her voice soft as she held down the grub for her little hatchling to see. At the sight of the pale wriggling creature, and the thought of eating it, Ghast couldn’t help but make a disgusted face. Her beaked face scrunching up as she looked up at her mother with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows that only caused her mother and father to laugh.

                “It will give you strength to get through the day. And you’ll grow up big and strong! Like any of those Euoplos over there.” Her father said, pointing over to one of the lounging Euoplos that had settled into the shade of a nearby tree with a handful of others. All at ease, relaxing, watching over the Oviraptors that were tasked with the gardens on that day.

                “It looks gross.” Ghast squeaked and frowned up at the pair.

                “It does, I won’t lie about that. But try it. It tastes like the nuts we brought home the other day. You remember them? The peanuts? Sort of like that. But turned into a paste. I promise, you’ll love it, dearest flower of mine.” Her mother said and smiled again, holding the grub out for Ghast to take.

                She did so, carefully holding the little creature, though the look of disgust was still plastered all over her face.

                “On the count of three?” Her father asked.

                Ghast nodded.

                “One.”

                “Two.”

                “Three!”

                Her mother and father alternated between counting down, but as soon as her father said ‘Three!’ Ghast had stuffed the grub into her mouth and quickly chewed.

                It was singlehandedly the most horrific and wonderful experience the little Oviraptor had suffered through. The grub had crunched wonderfully in her beak, at first. And then the insides happened. She wasn’t expecting the slime, how mushy it was as she frantically kept chewing. But the taste was just as her parents had promised, incredible! Little tears ran down her face as she kept chewing, not wanting to spit out the horrific snack but not wanting to swallow it either. Ghast couldn’t help but watch as her father laughed and her mother just smiled and shook her head a bit before patting her daughter on the head as she finally swallowed.

                “It takes some getting used to. But the taste was good, right?” She asked.

                “It tasted so good! But the texture was not good.” Ghast replied and quickly scooted over to snuggle up under her mother and hug close to her.

                “Most things in life are like that. Ugly things can be beautiful in their own way. While beauty can often hide rotten insides,” The older female said and smiled as she tapped a claw to her little hatchlings nose.

                They went back to work shortly after that, enjoying the sunlight and the company of each other. Ghast hadn’t been aware of just how relaxed everyone had been until later in the day. The laughter of Oviraptors, the amused guffaws of the Euoplos. It did nothing but make Ghast think that was what adults did when they left their hatchlings at the creches for the day. They just went out and had fun all day!

                Her experience with Iguanodons had been limited, and always from afar. Her parents hadn’t said much about them, and she had never asked. Ghast knew they were important, but had never bothered to find out how or why or where they fit in on the whole pecking order.

                Nor had she wondered where she fit in on the hierarchy.

                The air had suddenly changed, quicker than Ghast could even realize. The Oviraptors she’d spent the day with were no longer laughing as they worked. A hush had fallen over the group, save for one small hatchling who was still smiling and humming a song as she dug through the dirt.

                The sun was blotted out from the sky, the ground below her darkening as Ghast dug through the dirt. She stopped and quickly craned her head up, smiling up at the massive beast that stood over her. A massive beast that was not smiling. There was no warmth in the eyes that looked down at her, only a sort of cold calculation as they studied the hatchling.

                “I wasn’t aware the Court was permitting hatchlings to work on these gardens? Whose child is this.”

                Ghast found herself cowering, trying to stay as low to the ground as possible as she heard the barking commands of the Iguanodon above her. She was no longer smiling.

                “Mine, Mistress Pyre.”

                Ghast glanced over as her father made his way over. It was almost like looking at another person, the man that walked forward didn’t act like her father. Where he was normally happy and calm, now he was…emotionless. His hands folded carefully in front of himself as he kept his head high while he walked, long strides that spoke of confidence but also careful respect. As he stopped beside Ghast he bowed deeply to the black and gold marked Iguanodon, his snout almost touching the ground as he bowed his head.

                “I don’t remember saying it was ‘bring your daughter to work’ day. Did I?” Pyre asked, her cold gaze turning to stare down at the male Oviraptor.

                “No, ma’am. She had questions about what her mother and I do. She shows great promise when it comes to being taught some of our techniques. She is not a hinderance for the others to work around, either. If I may be so bold? You could ask her of anything she has in her bag there, and she will tell you all about it. She will be a remarkable servant to the Court later, and our Queen. I only ask that you see for yourself so she can continu-“

                “Has she learned anything about healing?”

                Ghast watched as her father simply fell silent as Pyre talked over him, cutting him off and asked about healing. She shook her head before her father could even reply, and watched as he closed his eyes and made an expression that she didn’t quite understand. Had she said something wrong?

                “Ah! An honest little thing. Well. I hope that there is something in that bag of hers that she can use to help with the punishment for insubordination. Little Oviraptor, here’s another lesson for you. Among the gardens of the Queen, it’s never better to ask for permission after doing something. You should always ask before you act.” Pyre said and smiled over at Ghast, though it felt empty. Menacing.

                Before she could nod or reply, the massive Iguanodon had turned as if about to leave before bringing a hand up and whipped back towards her father. She backhanded him with enough force that he was sent tumbling a few feet away. Suddenly, Ghast realized just how thankful she was that the massive spike of a thumb had been on the opposite side of the hand that hit her father but she still started to cry as she heard the whimper and gasps of pain from her father as he laid on the ground.

                “Sorry, Mistress. I’m sorry. I will be sure to ask before bringing her back. I understand how important these gardens are-“ Her father had quickly stammered as Pyre made her way over to stand over him. None of the other Oviraptors in the area did anything to help, all had their heads down and did their best to not make any sudden move to try and help their downed comrade. Even the Euoplos had turned away, acting as if they weren’t seeing what was going on.

                “No, she will come back tomorrow. And the day after that. And the following day. She apparently can work so young? You say she’ll grow to do incredible work? Alright, then start her training tomorrow. She will not get paid in anything except experience because of how young she is. She’ll be grateful for it. And you might need the help anyway. Your arm is looking a little…broken.” Pyre said, moving her hand to hover over his.

                Ghast looked towards her mother, eyes wide in fear and grief as she heard her father scream out in pain as Pyre pressed down. The sound of a bone snapping ringing like a dropped rock in any of the court buildings. She felt her heard almost break as she laid there, looking at her mother and sobbing the whole time. Her mother did what she could to remain straight faced as she looked back at Ghast. But the tears that silently crept down her face told Ghast everything she needed to know.

                ‘It’s okay,’ Her mother mouthed.

                “Anyone else planning on bringing their children to work? To try and turn the royal gardens into a fucking daycare?”

                No one replied to the harsh words yelled at them by the Iguanodon.

                “Get back to work then. You’ve got an hour left of your shift. Good job so far on the plot today, though. It’s coming along nicely.” Pyre barked before turning and made her way from the gardens, back towards another section of the city.

                As soon as the danger had passed, Ghast’s mother rushed over to her and picked her up and held her. The other Oviraptors in the area had run by them, going to tend to her father.

                “Is dad okay?” Ghast asked as her mother hugged her close, walking over to sit with the group of Euoplos from earlier. The three not speaking to her mother or her, but were sat and looking different directions as if to keep a lookout for any further Iguanodons.

                “Oh he will be just fine by tonight. Our friends are going to go and get him patched up. He’s just in a lot of pain right now. But that’s okay. Pain means you’re alive to feel it.” Her mother replied and sat her down, using her clawed hands to carefully wipe the tears from her face.

                “I don’t understand. Why? Why did she fight dad? Why did she hurt him? That’s not okay! He didn’t do anything!” Ghast asked and looked up at her mother, renewed tears streaming from her eyes again as she watched her mother lean down and kiss her tiny crest.

                “Adults do hurtful things to each other when they’re scared. These gardens mean a lot to the Iguanodon court. They are how we live survive out here in the jungle. If anything threatens them, it could be bad for everyone. She took what your father and I did as a potential threat to the wellbeing of the whole of Atlantis. But it’s okay, little flower. He’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”

                The softness of her mothers voice didn’t help Ghast. It made her think that there was more wrong than she even knew. It unsettled her.

                “We should leave.” Ghast sobbed.

                There was an amused snort from one of the Euoplos behind them that neither Oviraptor paid attention to.

                “Is safer here than outside of Atlantis.” Her mother replied, gently petting Ghast as she smiled down at her and showered her in more kisses.

                Though, as Ghast heard the pained yells from her father in the background as the other Oviraptors reset his arm, she couldn’t help but doubt what her mother said.

                Surely there were better places to live.