Day 3 of Solitary Living
Carlo still wasn't used to sleeping alone. He kept waking up in the middle of the night feeling restless and anxious, so he shamelessly decided to go sleep next to the Parasaurolophus herd.
It is the third day since I laid my eggs. That massive giant who was eyeing them before actually came over and slept right next to me! He's not going to eat them, is he? No... this is the Great Lake. He wouldn't...
Day 7 of Solitary Living / Egg Incubation
Carlo woke up as usual, finished a meal of Diplodocus, and returned directly to the Great Lake.
The Parasaurolophus mother seemed to catch the scent of blood on him; she was trembling with fear. Only then did Carlo realize he had forgotten to wash the gore from his snout before returning. If he didn't clean up, he'd just keep terrifying her.
Day 14 of Solitary Living / Egg Incubation
Carlo noticed something strange.
Most of the nesting mothers in the herd had other members bringing them fresh leaves. But the mother next to him was different. She only received a tiny portion of food, usually whatever was left over after the others had their fill.
Is it the herd hierarchy? Is her social standing really that low?
Carlo didn't know for sure, but watching her grow thinner by the day made him feel uneasy. On a whim, he "borrowed" a cluster of leaves from a nearby tree and placed them in front of her, hoping she would eat.
The Parasaurolophus mother didn't actually like that specific type of leaf, but Carlo didn't know that. He was just happy to see her finally eat the food he brought. From then on, whenever the herd's feeding time arrived, he would bring her a fresh cluster from the canopy.
Day 16 of Solitary Living / Egg Incubation
The mother was away from the nest today, likely out foraging for herself. The low-hanging vegetation nearby had grown sparse, and since those leaves were reserved for the hatchlings, the adults had to trek further out to eat.
Honestly, I could have just grabbed the high-ground leaves for you.
Carlo sat alone in the Parasaurolophus nesting grounds, his tail thumping the earth rhythmically as he watched the eggs, waiting for the little ones to crack their shells. There isn't much in the way of entertainment in the dinosaur world, and before he knew it, Carlo had spent the entire afternoon just staring at those eggs.
The midday sun on Isla Nublar was brutal, leaving even Carlo feeling overheated and irritable. Suddenly, he had an idea. He rose slowly and left the nesting area.
When the mother returned, Carlo was gone. At first, she couldn't even find her own nest in the glare of the sun. Egg incubation requires a precise temperature; too hot and they cook, too cold and they die. She had no choice but to sit on the nest under the blistering heat.
About thirty minutes later, she began to feel ill, likely suffering from heatstroke. Her head swam.
Then, a shadow draped over her. A green "curtain" blocked the sun, allowing only soft, filtered light to reach her. The shadow wasn't huge, as it didn't cover her entire body, but it cut the glare significantly.
She turned and saw Carlo sitting beside her, holding a massive fan-shaped leaf in his maw. The giant leaf provided her with much-needed shade.
Perhaps her brain was still foggy from the heat, but the mother didn't feel afraid of his proximity. Instead, she lay down, exhausted. To give her better coverage, Carlo crept a little closer, enveloping her in his shadow.
As the heat faded and the horizon turned crimson, the mother woke up. She sat up and looked around, but Carlo was nowhere to be seen. There was only a single, large leaf left on the ground.
For some reason, she felt a strange sensation...
Was it... the feeling of being "preyed upon"?
Day 18 of Solitary Living / Egg Incubation
While eating, Carlo suddenly sensed a large group of creatures approaching the Great Lake. He rushed back in a hurry.
At that time, the Primeval Ecological Zone was reaching its carrying capacity, not for the carnivores, but for the herbivores. A group of Gallimimus had launched a raid on the Parasaurolophus to seize their nesting territory.
Though the Gallimimus were lean and couldn't overpower an adult Parasaurolophus in a fair fight, their goal wasn't victory. Their goal was the eggs.
In nature, most creatures prioritize their own survival even as mothers. The Gallimimus knew that if they harassed the nesting mothers enough, they could scare them off and easily destroy the defenseless eggs.
A few brave Parasaurolophus tried to intercept the raiders, but there were too many Gallimimus to protect every nest.
The mother curled up over her nest, feeling the constant, dull pain of the Gallimimus' pecks and shoves. She couldn't fight them off; she could only huddle there, hoping her kin would come to her aid.
Then, a heavy footfall echoed. Carlo approached slowly and sat down right next to the mother, causing every dinosaur in the area to freeze.
He would honor the rules; if the Gallimimus truly had the courage to drive her away in his presence, he wouldn't interfere too much. However...
Drip... drip...
Fresh blood ran down Carlo's lower jaw, splashing onto the grass. He had literally just finished a meal, and the thick scent of gore was enough to make any herbivore's instincts scream for retreat.
"Aunnng—!"
The first to cry out was a Parasaurolophus, who fled in sheer terror. This should have been the Gallimimus' chance, but... they couldn't even hold their ground.
As the herbivores scattered, the mother looked up, appearing incredibly weak. Was she going to run too?
To Carlo's surprise, she seemed to have run out of strength entirely. She simply slumped over, leaning against him. Carlo turned his head, confused.
Droplets of blood flicked onto the mother's skin. Lacking the energy to stand, she stayed there, leaning against Carlo, and fell into a deep sleep amidst the heavy scent of blood.
What a strange creature.
Day... whatever... of Solitary Living
The Parasaurolophus eggs finally hatched. The hatchlings spent their time happily frolicking around Carlo, completely robbing him of his peaceful afternoon naps.
Carlo sat up, shaking his head, and looked at the mother with a sense of helplessness.
You've certainly got a big heart, letting your kids play with me.
10 Days until the Indominus rex escape.
Carlo instinctively "borrowed" another cluster of leaves for the mother. It was usually the time the herd distributed food, and he had momentarily forgotten she no longer needed him to provide for her.
Whatever, I already picked them.
Carlo lay in his usual spot. A few of the hatchlings, seemingly influenced by him, flopped down in the empty space between him and their mother for a nap.
Sensing the movement, the mother lifted her head. She noticed the leaves on the ground and Carlo lying nearby. She simply laid her head back down, following his lead and settling in for a nap.
Actually, you know... those leaves you bring me have never been the kind I like. But I know that what you like most are creatures like me. So...
If you ever get hungry, you can eat me anytime.
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