Search for the Emerald Sunstone Flowers: Part 6

Az had been in a semi-conscious state for a couple of minutes before she realized that she was not alone. She could hear the voices of her friends, but there were some that she didn't recognize. As Azonthus became fully aware of her surroundings, she noticed that a strange raptor was standing near her. She didn't know why, and knew that she shouldn't, but she felt threatened by this strange raptor. Then she knew what it was, the silver bracelet. It was just like the ones that the members of the Hunter tribe wore. They were Azonthus' clans sworn enemy. Az struggled to her feet and tried to escape the sprog. She helplessly banged against the walls and in her frenzy might have hurt herself further if it wasn't for the strange raptor quietly restraining Azonthus until what little of her strength she had was spent.

With Riptor restraining Az her strength was soon spent and soon she was calm enough to approach.

"What's wrong Az? Tell us please, you're scaring us here."

Azonthus glared and pointed at Riptor.

Riptor stared in shock at Az. "I have no clue of what you speak of, I only am what I am." As she spoke, she backed up to the wall of the Sprog, cowering under Az's glare. She knew someone would judge her. "This is why I stay deep within the Basin."

"Please tell us what is wrong between you. We can't help unless we know," pleaded Alkazra.

Az weakly spoke to Rip. "You are of the Hunter tribe. I know because of the bracelet you wear. The Hunters are my clans sworn enemy! Ever since your pack attacked my clan, I have sworn that I would avenge the death of my brother!"

There was a gasp all around as they all looked at each other. Tirana Ki thought, surely Az wouldn't do such a thing. Not here anyway.

Cyrrus had been listening to what was going on through the fog of semi consciousness. She blinked as she saw Az try to attack the new raptor. Propping herself up on one elbow, she slowly found her voice.

"Az, what are you doing? This is not the Dinotopian way! Vengeance is not the way. Please Az, don't do something you'll regret later!"

Riptor blinked at Az, "I am sorry, I have no clue of what you speak of. Well, I wouldn't, even if I was suppose to. This bracelet is all I have left of my pack. I was orphaned when I was just a hatchling and survived through other wandering packs that would take me in to help me regain strength and then go, though I did not follow. I never knew what became of my pack. All I know is that my parents were killed by a pack of Tyrannosaurs and I was the only one left of this massacre. I was lucky enough to escape and ran so fast, but I did not know where I ended up. If it was my pack that wronged you, I never knew. And thus, I never knew the name of my pack. I have very few memories of them, only faces I remember are my parents and that is even a blur." Riptor glanced to Cyrrus, kind of side stepping closer to her so if Az did attack, there was one who was willing to back her up that she knew of. At least, to stop this one.

C'xoila moved and put himself between the two raptors. He to was willing to back Riptor up, though he would do nothing to harm his friend, Azonthus.

Shada joined C'xoila. Even though she had recently met Azonthus and the mysterious raptor, she did not wish for any more conflict to arise between the two. She only remembered her past and what had led her to be rescued by Tirana Ki as a hatchling, and it was a grim past she wished she could forget.

"I am sorry to hear about your pack, but the fact is that my brother is still dead." Her voice cracking, Az continued, "They carried him away, and we never even had the chance to give him a decent memorial. The Rex's were quite mad when they found out that someone had died and they had not been offered the body. I will not attack you, but I am not sure I can trust you."

There was a collected sigh of relief as things seemed to calm down. At that moment, C'xoila realized something. "Guys," he said, "What we do with all Semi-Allos?"

Putting her guard down, Shada looked around and growled deep inside her throat. The others looked at each other, they had forgotten about the semi-Allos when the conflict between the two raptors had risen.

Riptor just stared at Az. "Why do I earn your distrust when I committed no crime?" Her eyes drifted to the other's concern of the Semi-Allos. "Do you plan to rid them of their lives? Or set them loose somewhere far away from the habitants of Dinotopia? And also, I am curious on something. How are they Semi-Allos?"

"My head says I should forgive you, but my heart will not allow that." Pointing to the scars on her face and covering her body, Az said "My scars are a constant reminder of that day. I got them trying to rescue my brother."

"But I had committed no crime. I am trying to tell you, I was not there. Neither were my parents. They too were killed, and I was not there. If it was my pack, I have not seem them since the years of my hatching. I have no pack, or family. I am a loner. I do not ask for your forgiveness since I had not wronged you."

"I can see that you are true in what you say. It is hard for me to trust one from a pack that made life so hard for mine. I will not tell you of the other things they had done, but I will try to have a more open mind. That is all I can do for now."

Still holding the rainbow sunstone, wondering why Bloodfang's semi-Allos were so afraid of it, Quickstride turned to Swiftclaw. "What can we do with these scoundrels?"

Swiftclaw thought a moment. "I think I know of a place. Somewhere where Bloodfang's pack can live without ever venturing into these parts again."

Cyrrus hobbled to her feet, grimacing as a sharp pain reminded her of there wound in her leg. "Lead the way, wise one. I will be glad to be rid of ones so thirsty for blood."

Alkazra said, "before we go anywhere Cyrrus, please let me dress that wound. I know you have been taking herbs for the pain but it needs to be cleaned. It will only take a minute and I have the necessary things here in my pack. Kara gave them to me."

After only a little complaining from Cyrrus, Kaz cleaned her wound for her.

"Before we do anything else, we have to get those flowers to Tree town." Lian said. Then she realized, "but wait, who's missing from the group?" Some of the flowers were also missing. They must have found a way out during the battle.

Cyrrus tried out her newly dressed leg. "Ah! Much better! I can walk almost like normal now! Thanks Kaz! Have you ever considered being a healer?"

Standing in the doorway was Peacegiver, holding the bag of medicine. "I just can't do it," he said. "I was going to bring the cure to that village the other Allo told us about. I was talking with him. I think you should to."

Swiftclaw walked up to Azonthus, followed by Quickstride. "Here, Drink this. It should make you feel stronger," Swiftclaw directed as Quickstride handed Az a bowl of some greenish liquid.

Az took a sip and almost spit it out. "Yuck! This is going to make me better? It tastes awful!" Az finished the disgusting concoction, with a look of absolute distaste on her face.

"I thought we added some fruit juice to make it taste a little better, It smelled like rotten meat earlier."

"Maybe that's why I don't like it. I like rotten meat."

C'xoila and his sibs, as well as everyone else stuck out their tongues. "Euw..."

"Rotten meat! Uugghh! Give me fruit and bugs any day!" Quickstride exclaimed.

Sever others look even more sickened.

"No offense C'xoila, but it's better than cat sandwiches!" Tamith said.

Some of the group start turning green.

"Maybe-" C'xoila quickly put a claw over Cyrrus' beak.

"We don't wanna know!"

Watching the conversation, Riptors face turned a pale green. Her stomach rumbled a little in her slight hunger, but all this talk just made her nauseous. Holding her stomach lightly, she tried to keep whatever she had last down.

"What should our next move be?" Alkazra asked. "We have to get the flowers to Tree town, find out about the sick raptor village that even Peacegiver seems concerned about AND get these semi-Allos to some place where they can't cause any more trouble! Should we split up? We know we can't all get out yet.

"I know that C'xoila will probably want to stay down here, he won't want to miss the chance to explore! I don't mind returning to the surface, in fact I can't wait to see Mirajai again."

"I should probably go back up with you. If you run into any trouble with carnosaurs, I will be able to help." Azonthus said.

After talking briefly with Story, Quickstride said, "Story and I will stay and help with the relocation of the semi-Allos. Besides, like C'xoila, I have a lot of exploring to do."

Tirana Ki shrugged at the question. "It doesn't matter where I go or what I do, I don't mind staying here or returning to the surface. I have nowhere to go anyways."

Shada looked sharply at her, then chirped. "Then again Shada wants to return to the surface, something about 'absence of food'". Shada gave them all the best raptor grin she could manage.

"Yous know me so well!" C'xoila exclaimed. "Me do want as'plore little more, but brothers, sisters have return surface."

Eager to help, Riptor piped up, "How can I help?" Almost waving a claw like an eager student is to learn.

"It looks like that's what we'll do then. From what I've gathered this is who will be going where, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! C'xoila and Quickstride want to stay down here to explore and help with the sick raptor village. Anyone else who wants to can stay but I suggest Riptor and Peacegiver, at least, remain with them. Tamith and Triforce have to stay down as we don't know of any way for Triforce to get out yet. They should be in charge of re-locating half of the flowers. I'll take the other flowers to Tree town after Swiftclaw tells us how to administer them. Azonthus if you could come with me, along with Tirana and Shada then we should be well enough protected. I am not sure what Story and Cyrrus want to do. Story's services would be appreciated wherever he decides to go, perhaps best for him to stay below as at least above we know what dangers we face. Cyrrus I think you should come up with us but it's up to you, I don't know how your leg is feeling?" Alkazra said .

A quizzical growl came from Story and Quickstride translated to Kaz who replied, "Sorry about that Story but there are so many to organize that I didn't realize that you had decided to stay down. C'xoila your brothers and sisters are free to go where they want as we have enough in either team now."

"They's gonn go up a surface." said C'xoila.

"BUT!" they whined.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of them for you," Az told C'xoila. "I just wish I still had my bow and arrows and cape. Did anyone bring them from when I fell through the roof?"

Kaz held up a broken bow and badly torn cape. "I picked up your cape and bow but I'm not sure they are much use anymore."

Riptor nodded, she would stay and help out the best she could whoever would need it.

"I am quite interested about the semi-allo village." Lian said. "I guess I'll stay underground."

C'xoila turned to Swiftclaw. "What ghosts do?"

Swiftclaw remembered the Deinonychus' offer to join the surface world. "Much as we would like to see Dinotopia again, we must remain here. I will show you proper use of the flowers before you go."

"Why must you stay?" asked Quickstride.

Swiftclaw looked saddened. "I will explain later," was all he said.

Cyrrus looked at the two groups that were taking shape. Standing in the middle she shook her head. "I don't know which group to join! I want to stay and help with the transplanting, but I truly miss the sun." She put her clawed hands to the sides of her head. "What should I do?"

Riptor looks to Cyrrus. "I am going to stay to help out, you could go to the surface. I am sure there is enough to help transplant."

"Cyrrus, I think you should come to the surface so that your leg can be looked at properly." Alkazra suggested.

Tamith looked through the remaining flowers on Triforce's saddlebag. "Since I love plants so much, I'll really enjoy transplanting these. Besides, I know Tri will come in handy in those semi-allos decide to cause trouble." Triforce snorted happily at the thought. Tamith smiled and scratched her under the chin.

"She is eager to see the sun again though. Hopefully soon after the transplant we'll find a way out. Even though exploring these caves also sounds interesting... Well, first thing's first.

C'xoila said, "Me gonn' stay, but brother, sisters got go back a surface."

"But!" his siblings all said at once.

Looking sternly at them, he said, "No, you guys got go back. Still not safe 'nuff."

"But we wanna help!" Kaylah whined.

"If you want help, look af'er Cyrrus. Wound in thigh still pretty bad. Moving closer, he whispered, "An look af'er 'Zonthus too. Is not tot'ly better. Still little tipsy." The four looked at Azonthus, who was holding her head as if she had a head-ache.

"All right." C'xoila's brother and sisters said sadly.

C'xoila smiled and said, "Is good." Leaning close again, he gave each a small package. "Is cat sandwich." he whispered, "You not let Story see. He BIG cat. Not like ones in san'wich."

"Thank you!" they whispered and slipped the food into their packs.

Story looked suspiciously in the Deinonychus' direction, but did nothing.

Quickstride searched around the room they were in for a moment, then reached down and pulled one of the semi-allos' arrows from where it had lodged in the dirt. "This looks usable," she said, presenting it to Azonthus. "There are more arrows around here from the battle. A lot of them are bent or broken, but a few seem to be all right."

"Hey, thanks!" Az said smiling. She found some nearby grass that was long enough to tie the arrows together.

Hugging those who were staying down good-bye, Kaz prepared to climb to the surface.

"You be careful now." Tamith warned and Kaz smiled back.

Azonthus and the others began to collect the usable arrows from the cavern floor while she began to climb.

"How is it?" Cyrrus asked. "I still think one of us saurians should have made the first climb."

"It's not so bad. It's quite difficult to find any large foot holds so it would have been worse for you, no matter how much stronger you are, or how high you can jump! I'll let the rope down in a minute."

Reaching the top she disappeared out of view.

"Kaz, you k up there?" asked C'xoila.

"I'm fine C'xoila. Cut my hands a little though. I just had to let my eyes adjust to the light and find something to tie the rope off to. Here it comes!"

The others watched as Cyrrus, Azonthus, Tirana, Shada, and C'xoila's siblings climbed out of the cavern.

The semi-allos were growing more restless where they were trapped.

"Well," Lian said, "It looks like there are three things that need to be done down here; do something about Bloodfang's tribe, rescue the village where the sickness is, and transplant the rest of the flowers."

Looking around Tamith said, "I'll take charge of the transplanting with Triforce. Who is going to help the village and who is going to help Swiftclaw with the semi-allos? Unless we are going to do them one after another rather than split up?"

After the small group heading for Tree Town climbed out of the cavern, Az told them that they needed to make a camp soon. Dusk was falling and the larger carnosaurs would be heading back to their homes, it was the smaller carnosaurs that Az was worried about.

As the group went about making camp, Az couldn't get Rip out of her mind. What if she's right?

If Rips tribe was in the right, what about mine? These thoughts plagued Az's mind for the rest of the night, so much so in fact, that Az dreamed of her brother.

The strong, adult raptor silently walked up to Az. He sat and watched her until she felt someone watching her. As Az slowly came to consciousness, she recognized the raptor. "Battle!" she gleefully cried out.

"You are the only one who has ever gotten away with calling me that, Windy." So saying Battleblood spoke to his sister late into the night.

Just before Battleblood left, he told Az to be careful with what she would find in the morning. He laid a new sturdy black bow and quiver of similar arrows with purple fletching next to her and then melted into the forest.

The morning sun and birds singing awoke Az. She rolled over and felt something hard under her back. Sitting up, she pulled a black bow out from under herself. Puzzled, she tried to remember where it came from. Then she remembered the dream....

Alkazra was already up and getting breakfast ready. "Az, are you alright? You seem a little distant and puzzled."

"Huh? Oh! Uh, I'm fine, why do you ask?" Azonthus was clearly trying to avoid the question.

C'xoila's siblings woke up to a bright, cheerful morning. The kind of morning that could make you forget where you were, the Rainy Basin. After consuming the cat sandwiches C'xoila had given them, Sashaa, Kaylah and Fer'dri decided to have a look around. Both they and C'xoila shared the same curious nature.

They were startled by what they saw. There were raptor prints everywhere. Fresh too, and coming from and leading away into the jungle. Upon these findings, the three young Deinonychus went around, waking everyone up.

"Oh, morning already?" Tirana Ki groaned as reply to her summons.

Cyrrus woke more easily. "What! What is it! What's happened!" she exclaimed.

Once everyone was awake, the frightened Deinonychus pointed out the tracks. Alkazra, who knew a little about tracking from her skybax training said, "Hamm...... One raptor came in from the forest. It looks like it stayed here for a while then left." They decided to follow the tracks, at least until they found out what had been at their camp while they slept. Figuring they had plenty of on-hand raptor protection, they made their way into the jungle.

Azonthus, however, hesitated a moment, a vague idea of what or who they might find lingering in her mind... Not wanting to be left behind, Azonthus ran off after her companions.

Cyrrus watched as Azonthus looked thoughtful for a minute. She walked up along side the raptor as she rejoined the group. "You look thoughtful, Az. Is something bothering you?"

The struthies eyes moved to the new black bow and arrows.

"That is a very well made bow, but I thought yours was made of brown wood."

Az said nothing.

"I think you are not telling us something, my friend. What is the matter?"

"Yes, my old bow was made of pine. It was strong and light, but not as much so as this one." In order to avoid telling Cyrrus about her "dream", Az ran up to Alkazra.

"Oh, by the way, Kaz, Tree Town in 4 days to the east." At Kaz's surprised look, Az reminded her, "I'm from the Basin, remember? I know anywhere I am here. I do want to see if he did leave these tracks though."

As they continued to follow the tracks Az wasn't surprised to see that they abruptly ended. One minute they were there, the next they were gone. "Very clever........." she muttered to herself.

Shivers went up the three Deinonychus's spines. "Oh, I really don't like the looks of this!" Sashaa said shakily.

Walking at the head of the group Kaz studied the tracks at her feet. There was definitely something strange about them, but it was one of those things that you just can't put into words. It was just, well... strange.

"We can't follow these tracks for long as we have to get back to Tree town. Then again, seeing as we don't know the track to get there, this is a good a shot as any."

The tracks veered to the west as they continued to follow them.

"Where did they go? This is definitely getting strange. I think that we should make our way to Tree town as soon as possible."

Shada plopped down on the ground. She growled and grumbled to herself. This was all weird and getting weirder by the minute. She barely knew the group she was traveling with, and had no clue to why exactly the were following the strange tracks. Well, she didn't like any of it, she just wanted to return to Tree town, also, she was feeling wary because her past experiences in the Rainy Basin hadn't been the best.

Noticing the tired look on Shadas face Kaz finally decided she had to make a decision. "We have to go back to Tree town. The whole reason we came up here was to save those who are ill there and we don't know if it has got any worse, which it could have done. If we stay here following these tracks we could be endangering more lives, as it is, it is still going to take a while to get back. Whatever anyone else decides I have to go."

The three siblings, their faces white, nodded their heads absently. The oldest said, "K-k-Kaz, I don't, I don't think we have to w-w-worry about following those tracks any more. They've s-stopped." The three Deinonychuses were shivering.

Changing the subject, Kaz asked Azonthus, "Az, do you know any s-safe place to stay t-tonight, I mean, y-you are from the Basin, r-r-right?"

Azonthus made to answer but the oldest of the Deinonychus siblings beat her to it. "Oh! We know a safe place! Our uncle lives not far from here! He wouldn't mind us dropping by!"

Kaz nodded her head and said, "I guess we could give your uncle a try."

"I don't think it's safe to split up farther," said Lian. "It might take longer, but we should do things together one at a time."

"Well, then, what should we do first?" asked Quickstride. A semi-allo from one of the sprogs snarled loudly. "We should do something with them first. That is, if you're sure they can't get out of this place you want to put them in," she added, turning to Swiftclaw.

"If the old legends are true, than I am certain," he replied.

Riptor watched quietly, jangling her bracelet in her nervousness. She was still unused to these Dinotopians, but she felt the friendly atmosphere about them. Taking a bit of a breath, she took some steps forward. "I wouldn't mind helping you to relocate the Semi-Allos. I just want to be of some kind of help to you all."

Approaching the ghost Gallie, C'xoila said, "Swiftclaw, me would like see place you speak of."

"Very well," said Swiftclaw. "If we are fortunate, the village will be along the way. We should start off now. Bring the sprogs."

C'xoila sent Sparks to look after moving the sprogs and their allosaur cargo, while Peacegiver and Swiftclaw talked to the little semi-allo to try and pinpoint more exactly where the village was. As it turned out, it lay directly in their path.

"Well," said Swiftclaw, assuming the lead, "we shall deliver the medicine to the village when we go by. It should take us the better part of a day to reach the place where we can release the Bloodfang tribe." He turned to Quickstride. "Bring the rainbow sunstone, we will need it."

"That reminds me," said Quickstride, "You never explained about it."

"I will along the way. Now come, we must get moving!"

After taking a detour around a large swampy area, the roof of the houses in the village came into view. But the closer they got the more apparent it was that something was wrong.

There were dozens of Semi-Allosaurs lying on the ground. Not dead, but they were gasping for breath and were covered in red splotches. The disease seemed to be striking everyone, women, men, and children.

Tamith's jaw dropped when she saw the sad display of sickness and death. She got of Triforce's back and got some of the flower.

"We have to help them soon... how does this plant work again?"

"The nectar of the flower must be added to a mixture of various herbs, which Quickstride and I gathered before." said Swiftclaw.

Upon hearing other ingredients were needed, Tamith, who'd been helping with the wounded when Swiftclaw had last given these instructions, worried that the Tree town party wouldn't be able to find some of the herbs in the Basin. But when Quickstride showed her the gathered herbs, Tamith realized the other ingredients were quite common in the Rainy Basin, and wouldn't be an issue. Swiftclaw then asked for a mixing bowl, which was produced from one of Triforce's saddlebags. Soon everyone had gotten to work preparing the antidote for the village.

[Top] [Back] [Next]