The Saurian Shepherd
Before the age of mammals, he was the shepherd of a great variety of reptiles and amphibians roaming the land, sky and seas of Earth. He loved them all: the long-necked herbivores who twined around his ankles, the feisty 'rexes and raptors who nipped at his toes, and the graceful pterodons who'd perch on his shoulders, rather like the birds which would some day be attracted to one of his followers.
He was disappointed when Father said the saurians had to go; he had other plans for the world. Their deaths would be quick, and a few of them would even survive and evolve into other things, the shepherd was told, but he would've been happier keeping them all.
Epochs later, when his tormentors had hammered in the spikes and suspended him from the crosspieces, he thought wistfully that a meteor really wouldn't be such a bad way to go.