The sounds of waves crashing against the shore echoed across the island, mingling with the cries of seabirds circling overhead. Among them came strange, comical calls—the unmistakable sounds of dodo-like creatures waddling about the beach.
Crouched low in his newly crafted hide armor, Ryoushi steadied his breathing. His hands were firm as he nocked a bolt into the groove of his crossbow. Ahead, some twenty meters away, an Iguanodon lowered its head, crunching on the strange berries from the shrubs.
Behind Ryoushi stood a wooden ramp structure he had carefully constructed, its sloped face angled toward him like a trap waiting to be sprung.
Exhaling slowly, Ryoushi pulled the trigger. The crossbow twanged, the bolt slicing through the humid air. It struck true, embedding itself into the Iguanodon's side with a meaty thump.
The dinosaur froze. Its horse-like snort rumbled low and angry as its head whipped toward Ryoushi. Its eyes, dark and sharp, locked onto him with raw fury. That was exactly what he wanted.
"Got your attention," Ryoushi muttered, already springing to his feet. Slinging the crossbow onto his back, he sprinted for the ramp as the Iguanodon thundered forward, closing the distance with frightening speed.
Boots pounding against the sand, Ryoushi scrambled up the ramp just as the beast barreled after him, its powerful strides shaking the structure. At the halfway point, Ryoushi vaulted from the side, landing hard on the wooden flooring below.
He didn't stop—he dashed forward, the sound of cracking timber behind him signaling the Iguanodon had leapt down as well.
The beast was faster than he expected. Hot, foul breath washed over his back, and the clatter of its teeth snapping shut sounded dangerously close.
At the last possible moment, Ryoushi dived through a narrow gap in the wooden barricade he had set at the structure's border.
Rolling to his feet, he spun around just in time to see the Iguanodon slam into the wall. It thrashed, but the opening was too small for its bulk. Trapped, it could only roar and glare as Ryoushi stood a safe distance away.
A long breath escaped his lips. Sweat clung to his brow, but a smile tugged at his face. "Finally… after days of searching," he murmured. The Iguanodon bucked inside the trap, furious and helpless.
This was what he needed.
His first tame had been a dodo—good for eggs, but useless for survival beyond that. He had dreamed of soaring the skies on a pteranodon, but he still lacked the chitin for its saddle.
He had managed to tame a parasaur, but it hadn't lasted long; a pack of poison-spitting dilophosaurs killed it while he was away. The poor thing hadn't even known how to fight back, despite being many times larger than the dilos.
But this one—this was different. Even though it was herbivorous, it had the aggression to fight back against even a T-Rex when attacked. Its strikes were powerful, solid, the kind that could turn the tide of a fight. With an iguanodon in his tribe, he could finally stop tiptoeing around every threat on the island.
On top of that, an iguanodon could gather berries, thatch, even wood. Survival would finally start to feel simpler.
Well… at least until he ran into a pack of raptors.
Drawing his crossbow once more, Ryoushi switched out his regular bolts for the Green-fletched narcotic arrows he had crafted. The sharp tips glistened faintly with a coating that promised unconsciousness rather than death.
"Let's start the taming process," he said under his breath, leveling the weapon at the raging dinosaur.
The real challenge was only just beginning.
Ryoushi steadied his aim and released the first of his narcotic arrows. The shaft cut through the air, striking the Iguanodon's flank with a dull thud.
The creature let out a furious bellow, rearing back as the venomous coating seeped into its system. But this was no low-level beast. It would take more than a single arrow to bring it down.
The Iguanodon roared and lashed out, clawing furiously at the wooden barricade. Each strike sent splinters flying. Ryoushi grimaced—wood wouldn't hold for long. If it broke free now, all his effort would be wasted.
"Not today," he muttered, dashing to the opposite side of the trap. He loosed another arrow through a gap in the barricade.
The bolt sank deep into the creature's hide, drawing its attention instantly. Snorting angrily, it spun and slammed against the barrier in front of him, teeth scraping the wood, rattling the frame.
Ryoushi darted back again, circling, keeping its focus shifting. The tactic was simple but necessary: force the beast to spread its rage around the trap rather than batter one side until it collapsed. Another arrow. Then another.
One after the other sank into its flesh, the shafts jutting from its body until the Iguanodon resembled some strange, monstrous porcupine.
Still, it didn't fall. Its movements slowed, breath heavy and ragged, but it fought on, determined not to yield. Sweat trickled down Ryoushi's forehead as he kept up the rhythm: fire, dodge, circle, fire again.
Finally, the creature's legs buckled. With a great heaving snort, it collapsed onto the wooden platform. The impact shook the ground, a final groan escaping before its head dropped heavily to the side. Unconscious.
Ryoushi lowered his crossbow, chest rising and falling with exhaustion. Relief washed through him.
"Got you," he whispered.
He wasted no time. The injuries wouldn't matter—the dinosaurs of this island possessed a powerful natural healing factor. But unconsciousness was temporary, and if its torpor ran out too soon, it would wake and all would be lost.
Ryoushi repaired the damaged barricades around the creature, reinforcing the trap. Then he crouched by its massive side, slipping prepared kibbles into its inventory. He added the narcotic balms he had crafted earlier, forcing the beast to consume them to raise its torpor.
A faint interface shimmered in his vision—its torpor bar was sliding downward, but slowly now, controlled. Its taming meter remained at 0%, yet the hunger meter was dropping.
"Good… won't be long," Ryoushi murmured, eyes flicking between the stats. He brushed his hand across the beast's rough hide. Already, the hardest part was over.
Now came the wait—the patience of a hunter as the island decided whether this mighty Iguanodon would truly become his ally.
***
Please throw some powerstones and comments if you like this chapter.