A light breeze drifted through the canopy, making the leaves rustle with a sound like nature's lullaby, deepening the stillness of the forest.
Nights in the Primeval Ecological Zone were mostly quiet and beautiful, save for the Dilophosaurus, the resident night owls. Tonight, however, certain dinosaurs were destined for a sleepless night.
Plop.
A pinecone fell onto the grass with a dull thud.
"Aunnng…"
The sound, like a sudden crack of a hunter's rifle, sent a ripple of agitation through the Triceratops herd below. Much like the Zhuchengceratops, they had formed a defensive circle, shielding their young within.
They knew a predator was out there, lurking in the impenetrable darkness where their eyes could not reach.
Drip... drop...
The heavens were not kind. The last sliver of moonlight was devoured by thick clouds, and a drizzling rain began to fall. It was a spring rain. But while such rain usually symbolized the hope of new life, tonight it sounded the death knell for the Triceratops.
Deprived of light and muffled by the rain, their few remaining sensory advantages vanished.
Swish… hiss…
Drip... drop...
Amidst the rhythmic patter of the rainfall came several discordant splashes. Perhaps it was water falling from the branches, or perhaps it was something else.
The clouds shifted, and a small rift tore open in the sky. Greedy moonlight squeezed through the gap, piercing the rain and the treeline.
Drip...
A raindrop fell, and for a fleeting second in the moon's glow, it reflected... yellow.
It was the pupil of a predator.
Rainwater slid from Ceratosaurus One's brow to his cheek, then down to his jaw, finally dripping from the edge of his mandible. He sat crouched on the ground, as motionless as a statue.
While a Ceratosaurus might not possess the superior night vision of a Dilophosaurus, it was enough for Ceratosaurus One to track the movements of the herd.
Not yet... not yet...
The rain was timely, but the moment wasn't perfect. They had been in a standoff for five hours. For Ceratosaurus One, this wasn't merely a battle for survival; it was an "unnecessary fight."
In the dinosaur kingdom, males often hunt formidable prey to demonstrate the strength of their genetics to potential mates. Thus, he had to complete this hunt alone. In a sense, this was a battle of duty, provided that Ceratosaurus Two actually took an interest in him.
Swish… hiss…
The rain continued unabated, relentlessly gnawing at the frayed nerves of the Triceratops herd. They would likely succumb to exhaustion faster than anticipated.
Ceratosaurus One looked up at the sky. Seeing that the clouds had no intention of receding, he made a bold decision. He rested his head gently on the ground and closed his eyes, preparing for a shallow nap.
…
The sound of the rain eventually grew sparse as a faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the horizon. Ceratosaurus One stood up, looking remarkably relaxed as he sauntered toward the herd.
The Triceratops didn't dare lower their guard, even though a night of high tension had left them utterly spent. They had no retreat left. The juveniles in the center were so exhausted they were on the verge of collapsing. If the herd chose to flee now, the young would be as helpless as the plush dinosaur toys sold in the park's gift shops.
Ceratosaurus One circled the defensive formation, occasionally snapping at the air to intimidate them. Their "shield wall" was sturdy, but it only took one individual leaving the line for panic to spread like wildfire.
In a herd this large, there are always a few unlucky souls with neither mates nor offspring. Ceratosaurus One stopped and locked eyes with one such Triceratops.
Fear was written plain across its face.
Is it this one?
Ceratosaurus One lunged with his jaws agape, aiming straight for the creature's flank. The Triceratops instinctively recoiled a few steps, then immediately lunged forward with a short trot, brandishing its massive horns to threaten the predator and close the gap in the line.
No, not that one.
Ceratosaurus One shifted his gaze to the next target.
"Aunnng—!"
Before he could even test the next one, the Triceratops let out a panicked cry and turned to bolt. Immediately, a second followed, then a third...
The defensive line disintegrated. The juveniles were left exposed; too exhausted to run, they were little more than stationary targets.
Yet Ceratosaurus One didn't target the young. The sudden rain had provided him with many advantages, and with his energy fully restored, he wanted a real challenge. He wanted to test himself.
Bypassing the juveniles, he singled out an older Triceratops lagging at the rear. The old bull had no choice; it turned to face the Ceratosaurus. As the younger ones scrambled past it, the silhouettes of its companions faded into the distance.
It was alone.
Ceratosaurus One was in no hurry. His condition was far superior to his prey's; finishing this was only a matter of time. The old Triceratops realized it was likely finished, but it prepared to make one last stand for its life.
Its focus was pinned on Ceratosaurus One. Suddenly, it noticed the predator lift its head to look behind the bull.
What's behind me?!
In the next instant, a tearing sensation of agonizing pain tore through its hind leg. A patch of hide had been ripped clean away. The bull tried to swing its body to drive off whatever was behind it, but it was too late.
Ceratosaurus One seized the opening and clamped his jaws onto the exposed neck. He pressed his weight into the Triceratops, using brute force to pin it to the earth. He might not have the bone-crushing bite force of a Tyrannosaurus rex, but strangling the life out of his prey was well within his capabilities.
Carlo, standing nearby, saw the Triceratops stop struggling. He raised his head and let out a loud roar as a gesture of congratulation.
He had come out to find his father. This morning, he realized "Dad" had gone out alone, and out of curiosity and concern, he had tracked the scent. He just happened to run into Ceratosaurus One and decided to lend a quick hand.
Ceratosaurus One let go and looked up at Carlo, feeling a bit bewildered.
Why is he here?Is he here to steal my kill? He couldn't be here for... courtship, right?!
Ceratosaurus One startled himself with the thought. After a moment's hesitation, he tore a chunk of meat from the Triceratops' forelimb and tossed it to Carlo.
Here's some meat. Just don't go catching feelings for me.
Carlo hadn't expected a bonus reward. He didn't stand on ceremony; he swallowed the meat, turned, and continued his search for his father.
Come to think of it, "Mom" had been acting strange this morning too, almost as if she were intentionally ignoring him. It felt off.
Ceratosaurus One watched Carlo leave, noting that the youngster seemed to have grown quite a bit. He was already significantly taller than himself.
Turning back to the Triceratops carcass, the Ceratosaurus suddenly realized a serious problem.
Dragging this thing back to the territory is going to be back-breaking work...
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