Swamp

The swamps and wetlands of the islands were a dangerous place, even to the prehistoric beasts that now wandered them and dominated the environment. The wetlands were a mix of wide open plains, tight forests, and water. Lots and lots of water. There was not a single dry spot in the whole biome, and no way to go without swimming or wading through questionable water. There was no reason for any smart dinosaur to go traveling through it.

So of course, Cosmos convinced Verdant to go through it. “You can't be serious.” The green cryolophosaurus deadpanned, staring at the mud filled environment ahead of them with a mix of fear and disgust. “We’ll never make it across! And it's disgusting.” He shivered, tail lashing angrily.

Cosmos rolled his eyes, the small carcass of a recently killed boar in his mouth which he had to drop in order to speak. “You’ll be fine. We’ve been through worse. This is the fastest way to the old human dens. Besides, I know a guide who can bring us through without much issue!”

Verdant eyed the boar carcass with suspicion. “Really? Are you sure it's safe? How do you know we won’t get eaten on sight?”

“Positive! That's why we brought this boar! She’ll spare our lives if we feed her!” Before Verdant could process the statement Cosmos threw back his head, letting out a long warbling call. What?

“Wait-” Verdant stepped back, suddenly concerned. However, the sound of a not so distant roar stopped him in his tracks. Something was moving through the water towards them. At first, Verdant thought it was one of those lizards that he had heard rumors of- crookodiles? Crocodiles? Alligators? However, as the green shape stumbled onto the shore near them dripping water everywhere, Verdant came face to face with something much bigger than an alligator. A large green carnotaurus loomed before him, covered in various swamp foliage and carrying the horrid smell of rotting vegetation and meat. The smell of carrion washed over Verdant as the creature opened its mouth, causing him to reel back.

“Swamp Lily!” Cosmo’s more chipper voice broke Verdant out of his daze as the larger carnivore turned to face his mate. Behind their back he gave his mate a wide eyed are you insane look, but the brown cryolophosaurus ignored him. Instead, Cosmos chose to nudge the carcass closer to Swamp Lily. “It's been a while! Brought some food, are you ready to repeat our deal?”

Without a word the carnotaurus tore a chunk off of the carcass before digging in, the disgusting sounds causing Verdant to turn and cringe away in disgust. Sure, they ate meat too, but Swamp Lily was eating like they had been starving and feared she would never get a fresh meal again.

Eventually, the carnotaurus rose, leaving not a single thing behind from her meal. She eyed Cosmos for a minute as if considering making him her next meal, but sighed instead. “Come.” Swamp Lily gurgled, voice dipping like it barely been used. Without another word she turned, vanishing into the reeds terrifyingly fast.

Cosmos grinned, turning to a horrified Verdant. “Well? After you!” 

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Cosmos somehow still kept that oh so happy attitude up as they started to travel. Swamp Lily stayed ahead of them at all times and far out of reach, clearly suspicious and wary of them being too close. Verdant felt the same. 

Swamp Lily was leading them through a fairly open area with long, reed-like grass reaching into the sky. The ground was still squishy and soft, and Verdant couldn't help but flinch every time he took a step. To make matters worse they often had to wade through water, the shallowest being no more than a puddle and the deepest up to their haunches. “Hey, don't worry!” Cosmos soothed, laying his tail over Verdant’s back. “It's not so bad!”

Verdant turned to him, teeth bared. “Yeah, well, you don't have feathers!” Only a few minutes in and his feathers already itched terribly, a mix of the humidity and the many bugs flying around making his scales crawl and feathers mat. Cosmos looked like he wanted to lean in for a nuzzle, but clearly thought better of it and turned away with his head held low. Verdant felt a little bad.

Verdant was so distracted, he didn’t notice Swamp Lily had stopped until he smacked right into her haunch with a yelp. She turned and gave him a low growl, before turning to stare at the ground in front of them again. It looked… wet.

“What's the holdup?” Cosmos craned his head to look past Swamp Lily curiously. “This didn’t happen last time!”

Swamp Lily snorted, sounding vaguely amused. “Last time… these were not around. Was more warm.” Dipping her head, she quickly raised her head up before stomping a foot down in a powerful stomp. Neither Cosmos or Verdant noticed anything out of the ordinary, but she nodded her head like some great secret had been revealed to her. “Sinkholes.” She answered the unanswered question. “Ground ahead is unstable. Will swallow us. Must go around.” Without another world she turned and stalked off in another direction.

Verdant froze. Sinkholes? Ground swallowing them? He sent a nervous glance Cosmos’s way, who gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. Swamp Lily has lived here her whole life. If anyone can get us there safely, she can.”

Verdants relief lasted up until he saw the way Swamp Lily was leading them now. A deep channel of murky dark water stretched in this direction, occasional islands of grass rising up. Terrified, the green cryolophosaurus dug his feet into the ground. Swamp Lily was already making her way into the water, the water past her chest. It was deep enough that the cryolophosaurus would have to swim. 

“We can do this.” Cosmos was there, leaning against Verdant. “I’ll help clean your feathers afterwards.” Verdant hesitantly touched their heads together, before stepping towards the water. Cosmos quickly pushed himself ahead, giving a soft smile before leading. Verdant took a moment to appreciate the kind, loving idiot he had for a mate before taking a deep breath and following.

The water was warm and murky and sticky, seeping into Verdants feathers and weighing him down. It only took a few steps before he was swimming, the feeling of plants brushing against his side creeping him out. Ahead of him, Verdant could see Cosmos swimming with his head high above water. Swamp Lily was already at the other side, which seemingly wasn’t nearly as far across as Verdant had feared. This wasn’t terrible- it seemed things would be fine!

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Verdant noticed a shifting movement from the water ahead of him. Something green and scaly was swimming through the water, nearly as big as a cryolophosaurus. And it was heading right for Cosmos. 

Poking his head out of the water, Verdant screamed in terror. “Cosmos! Swim!” The other cryolophosaurus gave him a puzzled look before spotting the huge lizard, letting out a yelp and starting to swim faster. He was approaching the shore fast, but it wasn't enough. The crocodile was almost upon him. Verdant attempted to push himself to go faster, but it wouldn’t be enough-

The sound of cracking bones and splashing water filled the air. Verdant gasped, only to stop once he noticed just what had happened. Cosmos was fine- but the crocodile was not. Lifted into the air, thrashing and hissing, it was unable to escape Swamp Lily’s jaws. With another loud snap, it went limp.

Verdant managed to finally make it to shore and stumble to Cosmos’s side, unharmed but shaken. The body of the crocodile fell to the ground with a thud, Verdant turning with wide eyes to Swamp Lily. “Food?"

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Swamp Lilly sighed to herself as they continued the long walk through her swamp. She didn't understand others- why didn't they want the crocodile? When she offered to share food with them they both looked tramatized! Cowards.

Occasionally, the carntosaurus would crane her head back to check on the other two. They both seemed shaken by the crocodile encounter, but thankfully the way Swamp Lily was leading them had nothing more than ankle high water. Swamp Lily rolled her eyes to herself. It wasnt that bad! Swamp Lily had grabbed the crocodile before it had even reached them, but nooo the green one was so worried about losing his mate. Swamp Lily huffed to herself. She swore to herself to never get a mate, if it made her this weak over someone.

Soon the pools of water started to get even more murky and nasty, stained with some kind of oily substance that nothing could live in. The human buildings were not far. Swamp Lily stopped, finally speaking. "This is where we part. This is the edge of my territory." After a moment of thinking she added "Dont come again." The green cryolophosaurus stared at her with wide eyes as she stomped away towards the thicker swamp, which she ignored. Other dinosaur are weird.