Crap

Hyperion bellowed one last time at the backs of the retreating cryolophosaurus trio, his loud call traveling for miles and causing a cloud of silence to fall over the bustling farmland. Irritably, he shook his head. Of course they had escaped. Cowards. He had been looking forward to taking three more possible threats out. A puff of hot air came from his nostrils. This farmland was for them- they were not allowed. At least they got the message.

A loud call split the air, catching Hyperions attention. He knew it was for him. Begrudgingly he started making his way back through the corn field- this time with much less haste. All kinds of flattened and damaged foliage remained from the frantic chase throughout the crops, but Hyperion could not find it in himself to care as he smashed a piece of corn with a heavy footstep. There was plenty to go around.

It wasn’t long before Hyperion made it to the source of the call- the small herd he had been charged with protecting during this trip to the harvest land. Mintee, an older green parasaur, was the one who had called for his return. Not far away was the final member of the small herd, Zephyr. The brown styracosaurus was feasting on strange long vegetables, the audible snapping as he took bites out of them traveling clearly in the crisp air. 

“There you are.” Mintee rose from where she had been laying on the ground in the shade of an apple tree, various apples sprouting large beaked bite marks around her legs. “I was wondering where you went off to. Did you happen to be the cause of those screeches I heard?” She shot Hyperion a knowing look. 

Hyperion snorted back, kicking one of the apples that had rolled to his feet with her approach. It splattered beneath his foot. “You know why I do this. Predators come here, looking to hunt us while we are distracted. We cannot allow them to catch us off guard. I will not allow them to. Besides. Im not hungry.” 

Mintee let out a huff of her own, but changed the subject- she knew there was no winning an argument. Good. “Have you given yourself a chance to relax?” She asked instead, tilting her crested head. “Browse for any interesting food? This is the one period we have all year to find most of these plants- and if you don’t start enjoying it, you're going to miss it.” 

Their discussion seemingly caught the attention of Zephyr, causing the younger styracosaurus to butt in. “You haven’t eaten anything here yet?” Zephyr send Hyperion a dismayed look, ignoring the dangerous huff he got in return.

“No.” Hyperion responded swiftly, turning his head to the side. “I must be on guard. I cannot allow myself to be distracted like you two can.”

Mintee rolled her eyes, but Zephyr stepped forward with a much more genuine response. “And you’ve already done that! We’ve been safe all day- you send that carno running earlier, and that pack of cryos just now! I could hear the screams from here! You deserve a break.” 

Hyperion looked at Zephyr, before sighing slightly. Truth being? He was hungry. He had barely eaten anything but a few nibbles at plants that were much less nutritious than the harvest around them.

“You want to keep your strength up, don't you?” Zephyr continued to press, Mintee looking on with a teasing look in her eyes that betrayed her otherwise stoic face. “So you can protect us?”

Hyperion finally gave up, tossing his horn into the air. “Fine! Fine.” He scowled. “I’ll take a break. But I'm not going to lower my guard.” 

“Of course not.” Mintee teased, before turning to Zephyr. “Why don’t you take us to those plants you found earlier that you liked… what were they?”

“Pumpkins!” Zephyr stomped his feet a few times in an excited manner. “They grow over here- come on!” The brown styracosaurus took off quickly, Hyperion following with a muttered swear. The fool was going to get himself killed running off so suddenly! Mintee trailed behind them, letting out a soft snort that Hyperion chose to ignore.

The pumpkin’s were not far, and Hyperion inspected them critically as Zephyr watched eagerly. The plants were large and orange, and when Hyperion poked his beak against one he found the shell was thick and hard. A great defense. Zephyr grabbed one from off a vine, using his horn to poke through the shell before pushing it over, spilling it in front of Hyperion. The scent that came from the pile of goo and seeds was… sweet. Uncertainly, he poked his beak into the pile. Once he got over the stickiness… it wasn't bad. Hyperion found himself finishing the pile with a few quick bites. 

“So… not hungry?” Mintee teased. Spitefully, Hyperion kicked the leftover goo onto her. This season could not be over soon enough.