Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy, dissolving into countless golden specks that lent the forest a sense of tranquil mystery.
The Gallimimus felt the same way, mostly because it never knew exactly where a predator might lung out from.
Shasha...
The undergrowth shifted. At the sound of a faint footfall, the Gallimimus reacted instantly, bolting in the opposite direction. The shadows of the forest receded as the vista of the grasslands expanded in its vision, the mottled sunlight growing brighter with every stride.
Just reach that spot! Just reach that spot!
Its herd had migrated southeast because of the Ceratosaurus, only to encounter the Indominus rex. They had been nearly wiped out. Now, it was a wanderer. To survive, it could not, would not, give up!
Shasha... Crack.
The bushes surged. It burst through the thicket, heading straight for the open plains as intended. This was its paradise; here, it could unleash its maximum speed. No carnivorous dinosaur could challenge it in the open!
Except... wasn't that rustling in the bushes a bit too loud?
The sun hit the skin of its forebody, warming the creature through. But despite being on the grassland, the light didn't cover its entire body. It felt a sudden, piercing chill.
"Aunnng!"
It felt sharp teeth sink into the skin of its back. Its stride faltered. Then, a surge of agonizing pain and pressure crushed its throat. The Gallimimus pitched forward, crashing to the ground.
Ceratosaurus One pinned the body with one foot and leaned down, locking its jaws around the victim's throat. With a display of massive bite force, he held on until the life flickered out.
He stood up and scanned the perimeter, ensuring the area was secure.
Sunlight poured from a cerulean sky, reflecting unreservedly off the surface of the water. A breeze drifted by, sending delicate ripples across the lake like soft silk fluttering in the wind.
It was the Great Lake.
"Aunnng—"
A Brachiosaurus raised its head from the water, calling out to the sky. Perhaps it was echoing a greeting, or perhaps it feared the lord who had just returned to the Primeval Ecological Zone?
Ceratosaurus One picked up the Gallimimus and turned back toward the forest. The light in his eyes was quietly swallowed by the dense canopy, leaving only dappled shadows lingering between the leaves.
He took one last look back at the Great Lake and noticed a familiar figure. Carlo was about to lower his head at the water's edge when, as if sensing something, he looked up in the direction of Ceratosaurus One.
A flood of memories rushed back.
Ceratosaurus One quickly averted his gaze, wary of his look being misinterpreted as a provocation. Now, he and Ceratosaurus Two no longer needed to stalk prey at the Great Lake, nor did they need Carlo to share his kills.
The Primeval Ecological Zone had forged him into a capable, silent hunter.
He would survive just fine on his own.
Carlo watched the predator disappear into the jungle and gave a soft, huffing chortle. He looked down at his "collection," a Triceratops skull.
A little troublemaker was hiding inside.
"Roar…"
He let out a low rumble. Katyusha scrambled out from the skull, calling out to Carlo happily.
"Eeng!"
Prey was here.
Prey? What prey?
Carlo didn't quite catch what Katyusha meant and nudged for clarification.
"Eeng…"
The two-legged kind.
Two-legged... Humans? Oh, then it's fine.
Carlo had already noticed humans had been here; someone had lingered in a vehicle for a while before leaving. As for how Carlo knew so precisely... well, these humans had a scent so pungent they smelled like a Dryosaurus that hadn't bathed in a week.
It was a miracle the dinosaurs hadn't found them sooner.
"Aunnng-roar—"
In the distance, the trees shook and birds took flight. A faint roar echoed; humans carrying a strange scent were approaching the Great Lake.
"This was not in the plan!"
Kenji yelled as he ran, a move that, in a survival situation, was a great way to get a stitch in your side and get killed.
"This doesn't make sense! There aren't any waterways near the lab. Why is there a Baryonyx here?"
Even now, Darius was trying to analyze dinosaur behavior patterns, leaving Brooklynn beyond frustrated.
"Can you two just be quiet?!"
The three of them had set out for the lab to get new batteries. Fortunately, Sammy and Yasmina hadn't come along; the two had been bickering, so the trio suggested Sammy stay behind to look after Yasmina to help them patch things up.
"Darius? Are we just running aimlessly?!" Brooklyn asked. Her greatest fear was running without a destination; their stamina was no match for a dinosaur's.
"The Great Lake... huff... run to the Great Lake."
Darius sounded confident, which eased their panic slightly.
Sunlight broke through thin clouds, glittering brilliantly on the water. As the lake loomed larger in their sight, a fresh, moist breeze brushed against their faces. It was nature's gentlest touch.
Kenji pushed his long legs to the limit, but his vision was blurring. A guy who usually couldn't be bothered to clean his own room, his physical energy was rapidly hitting zero.
Thud!
"Kenji!" the two cried out in unison.
He collapsed barely fifteen meters from the shore. Darius and Brooklynn didn't abandon him, immediately doubling back to haul him up.
But the Baryonyx was already upon them. It only had to lower its head to end all three.
Thump.
A massive foot hit the ground. A shadow engulfed the trio, and the Baryonyx froze in its tracks.
Carlo didn't make a move. He simply stared the Baryonyx down, waiting for its next play. Perhaps not every dinosaur followed the rules of the Great Lake, especially the piscivores.
The predator's gaze shifted back to the three humans, seemingly unwilling to give up its meal.
"ROAR—!"
This time, Carlo wasn't being polite. He unleashed an ear-shattering, thunderous bellow. The three humans on the ground instinctively clutched their ears. The Baryonyx, unable to cover its own ears, stumbled unsteadily before hitting the dirt and promptly scrambling into a retreat.
Seeing the intruder take the hint, Carlo silenced his roar. He turned to leave, only to find the Brachiosaurus herd watching him warily. The wandering herbivores had raised their heads to observe the commotion. Even the Stegosaurus brother... wait, the Stegosaurus brother were still just drinking water.
As Carlo settled down slowly in the shade of a tree, the alert herbivores relaxed. Young Parasaurolophus emerged from their burrows to resume playing. Katyusha peeked her head out from the Triceratops skull, watching the scene.
"Phew... were we just saved by a dinosaur?"
Brooklynn let out a breath of relief. Kenji was still gasping, haunted by the close call. Darius... Darius looked like his soul had left his body, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Carlo.
It seemed that anyone who truly loved dinosaurs couldn't look away from Carlo.
"Darius?"
Brooklynn checked to see if he was still conscious, only to realize he was inching forward toward Carlo.
"Darius?! What are you doing?!" Kenji hissed, but the boy acted as if possessed, giving no response.
Carlo sat up and slowly turned his head to look at Darius. The boy seemed to snap out of it, quickly turning his head away to avoid eye contact.
Carlo didn't lie back down this time. He faced forward, watching the Parasaurolophus calves play.
Darius, seeing that the "protagonist" wasn't stopping him, grew bolder and tried to get a little closer for a better look.
Carlo turned his head again, staring the boy down in an attempt to ward off this "impertinent kid." Since the last time he was attacked by humans, his opinion of the species had plummeted.
Dr. Wu was the exception, mostly because Wu didn't let people attack him.
He had saved the three because they had entered the Great Lake, and Carlo permitted no creature to break the sanctuary's peace. The Great Lake held many of his fondest memories; it was a sacred land not to be violated.
As for why he wouldn't let Darius get close? Because the boy's scent was too strong. Pungent.
"Oh, sorry, sorry."
Darius backed away two steps quickly. As if hoping Carlo could understand him, he spoke:
"Thank you for saving us. My father... he loved you most when he was alive. We talked about your behavior so much. If he could have seen you with his own eyes, he would have been so happy."
Seeing that the human had no intention of further polluting his air, Carlo finally lay back down, watching the calves play.
Katyusha stepped out from behind the skull, curiously eyeing the Parasaurolophus younglings. She looked at Carlo, then at the hatchlings, seemingly lost in thought.
"Darius!" Brooklynn hissed.
Darius had noticed the strange domesticity of the scene and wanted to investigate further, but Kenji grabbed him. The two of them hoisted him up and began the trek back to the camp.
Carlo glanced in the direction they were leaving, mentally noting the location of their habitat.
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