Carlo's next target was that Ceratosaurus.
The creature was slightly smaller than a Carnotaurus, and since this was a safety zone, Carlo felt bold enough to observe it up close. Ceratosaurus One also noticed Carlo's approach; he stopped his pretense of drinking and turned his head to eye the newcomer.
Seeing the other turn, Carlo halted. Although he felt the predator wouldn't attack, he didn't want to get too close and trigger a stress response.
Ceratosaurus One was becoming increasingly bewildered. Why is this guy picking me as prey? Is he trying to test my strength? But we're at the watering hole!
Unsure of Carlo's intentions, Ceratosaurus One shifted his entire body to face him head-on. Carlo grew tense. Did I stress him out?
Mom and Dad weren't here to back him up, and he definitely didn't want a scrap. In his momentary panic, Carlo completely forgot the fact that his health pool was already higher, and he was more "tanky," than his parents.
Crap, crap, crap! If I get a scar, Mom is going to lecture me forever. I have to show I'm friendly. Right, friendly. How did Mom and Dad do that body language thing again?
Carlo kept his feet planted, leaned his body forward slowly, arched his tail, and began swaying his head gently from side to side before letting out a soft, melodic trill.
Ceratosaurus One was now utterly floored. Slowly, his confusion morphed into pure horror. A terrifying possibility struck him.
His behavior... is it possible... he's courting me?!
It all made sense now! He wasn't circling those herbivores to pick a meal; he was picking a bride! How did this guy end up falling for me?! Wait... courtship is usually initiated by males. This dinosaur has the hots for me, so that means...
He's a "bro-mancer"!
The more Ceratosaurus One thought about it, the more terrified he became, involuntarily taking a step back.
Meanwhile, hidden in the brush, Ceratosaurus Two watched the scene play out. Unlike her partner, she could tell the newcomer was simply trying to socialize. As a female, she immediately ruled out courtship, at least for a Ceratosaurus, showing up for a "blind date" without a gift was like a human getting married without a dowry; it just wasn't done.
Seeing Number One standing there like an idiot, Ceratosaurus Two stepped out from the shadows and approached. Why is he trying to socialize? Did he get separated from his pack? Or is he the last of his kind?
These were the thoughts of a "normal" dinosaur. Even apex predators can coexist in the same area as long as their food sources don't overlap. There might be friction, but it rarely becomes a fight to the death.
She weighed the pros and cons. If this stranger joined them, or if they could at least stay on friendly terms, their chances of survival would skyrocket. After all, they were about the same size (or so she thought), and there were common threats like the Carnotaurus nearby. Perhaps this guy's pack had been wiped out by the "bulls"?
Deciding to take the leap, Ceratosaurus Two nudged the still-guarding Number One aside and mimicked Carlo's earlier movements. Though her imitation was clumsy, she didn't even get her tail up, it served as a gesture of goodwill.
The baffled Number One: ??? Am I being "cucked" by a different species?
Carlo had been feeling awkward, wondering if he should just take a sip of water to break the tension. Then, a second one appeared and reciprocated his friendly gesture. This one was much smarter; she understood him immediately!
Carlo tossed his head back and let out a light, appreciative chuff. This gesture was universal among many large carnivores (though for some, like the Carnotaurus, it was more about flaunting strength).
Unsure if this was part of the "social protocol," and seeing Carlo staring at her, Number Two copied the head-toss and gave a soft chuff in return.
Carlo had just been sizing up the newcomer, but seeing her "praise" him, his satisfaction reached a new high. I really am the best! My charm transcends species!
Feeling a bit "blushy" from his own self-praise, Carlo turned and started drinking from the lake to hide his embarrassment (or as much as a dinosaur could).
Seeing that he didn't leave but instead exposed his back to them, a sign of trust, Ceratosaurus Two felt the deal was done. She turned to explain to the still-reeling Number One that the stranger was showing goodwill, and asked why he had been standing there like a statue.
When Number One explained his "courtship" theory, the calm look in Number Two's eyes turned to horror for the first time. Not because of Carlo, but because of Number One. In her experience, a dinosaur's "theories" usually reflected their own leanings.
She thought Carlo was friendly because she didn't want a fight. Number One thought he was being hit on, which meant...
Because she was "too smart" for her own good, her imagination ran wild, and she looked at the two males nearby... Eww.
No, stop. Now is not the time for those thoughts. She cursed her own intelligence and decided to save the existential crisis for later.
She wasn't sure if the "social hour" was over yet, so she nudged Number One to drink with her. The stranger had shown them trust; now it was their turn to reciprocate.
The three carnivores stood side-by-side, drinking peacefully from the lake. High above, a hidden camera recorded every second of the interaction.
However, this footage was not on the live stream.
What? You said 24/7 live stream? Oh, I am streaming... I'm just streaming yesterday's footage.
This was absolute gold! A "Special Feature"! It had to be for V—no, it had to be a "Pay-Per-View" exclusive! Who told you VIP got you everything? This footage was practically academic material!
A Ceratosaurus from the Jurassic period and a Giganotosaurus from the Late Cretaceous coexisting in harmony and even communicating? It was beyond belief.
It was a shame Alan Grant was off duty resting from the high-intensity work, otherwise, he'd definitely have another book in him. The staff were so excited they almost wanted to scream:
"Somebody get Dr. Grant!"
Eyes snapped open.
Grant found himself... in the jungle?! No... that wasn't right. He saw walls around him, and iron-grated entrances.
I'm inside... a paddock?
"Hey! Hey! Over here!"
A voice called out from above. Grant looked up. The figure was silhouetted against the sun, making it hard to see, but Grant recognized him instantly.
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