Dinoval: Heroes of Legend

Chapter 1: Separation

The world is mute. The only sound is the subtle whoosh of gentle waves lapping some unseen shore. A gentle song echoes through the water, the fifth and final note drifts off beautifully.

My limp body is cradled in the bobbing of the current. I remain silent as I open my grey eyes, unwilling to spoil this dream world.

Sunlight dapples and plays across the ocean surface above me.

… Where am I? I wonder, watching the light dance. The last I remember was… I flashback.

I stand atop the roof of a huge building.

A vortex of green and blue light swirls behind me. A Spacial Rift.

My head is bowed and my eyes are closed. I cannot bear to face the humans that stand in front of me.

"But you can't go!" a boy cries, tears of anguish flowing from his eyes, "you just came here; you called this your home!"

"I know what I said," I sigh, "but you must understand. It is my destiny to roam the multiverse in search of the Soul Data of my species. I am the last F-ainian; no one else is capable of my quest. I am sorry I must leave, yet I have no choice."

A male human places a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. He smiles sadly. "I understand. But how will you know where this will take you?"

I turn and gaze into the Rift. "… I… I don't know. This is the first time this has happened. It calls me. I will go wherever I have to; even to deletion." I tilt my head to see the group for the final time. I drink in the picture and engrave it into my memory. Smirking with false bravery, I shout, "I'll come back to visit sometime!" and charge into the Rift before I can break down in grief.

Biting back sadness, I kick out with my legs and swish my tail, swimming for the surface. I might not ever be able to hold my word. My head breaks the surface and I gasp instinctively, a stupid move considering my body was adjusted to breathing water. I cough and gag for what feels like several minutes before I have regained enough control to shakily take in my surroundings.

The ocean continues expansively in all directions.

The morning sun glares blindingly off the water to the east and land is dimly visible on the northern horizon.

Strange birds unlike anything I have ever seen on Earth or F.M. spin on the ocean breeze. There seems to be two types; the smaller type vaguely resemble seagulls with disproportionally long wings and beak, while the larger type look like cartooned pelicans with larger bills than bodies. Both are white with light blue trimmings and golden yellow beaks. The members of each species look exactly the same with no exception. They make friendly "putt-putt!" birdcalls at each other.

I tread water as I watch them, fascinated. *They're like viruses, they're so uniform, right Jurassic?* I ask in thought-speak to the F-ainian who has journeyed with me since the beginning, even if he no longer has a body of his own.

Strangely, Jurassic is silent.

*… Jurassic?* I probe concernedly after a while.

Still silence.

"Jurassic this isn't time to joke around!" I exclaim out loud, worry growing to fear. I search the area rapidly, sending water splashing and breaking the ocean ambiance in the process, as if expecting to see him swimming towards me.

The seabirds squawk "purr-ur!" or "win-win!" in alarm and fly away.

No! We couldn't have been separated! I tell myself in angst, my search growing more frantic. Suddenly I stop and stare misbelieving at the water's surface. I… I cannot feel his Soul Data within me… he really is gone.

In my shock the ocean repeats to drag me under once more.

I am alone… stranded in an alien world… all alone… I feel something soft press up against my back. My torso is hugged by wide pink limbs and I am propelled up to the surface.

"Muuualll…!" a gentle echoic voice below me proclaims.

Surprised, I crane my neck to see my rescuer.

She is a beautiful huge pink fish, probably my height or longer from dorsal to anal fin. Her long fins are warped around me and her chest-sized body acts like a life vest. "Huuurrr…?" she seems to ask, her visible citrine eye blinking.

"Uh… thanks?" I reply unsurely.

"Muuu…" she responds and looks towards the coastline to the north.

She wants to take me there? I follow her gaze. …Even if she doesn't realize it, she has a point. Jurassic wouldn't want me to just sit around and cry. I nod determinedly to myself. He would want me to accept the truth and move on. "Thank you," I tell the fish while I turn onto my front, "let's go."

"Muuualll…" She seems to understand my words and begins to swim towards land using her tail and exposed pectoral fin.

Jurassic… I'm learning to be independent! If- no- when we meet again, I will make you proud! I cry in promise to the horizon, "hear that Jurassic?! We will meet again!"

The fish looks up at me in surprise at my sudden resolute outburst. "Muuualll…?"

"Putt-putt!" one of the more curious smaller seabirds calls. He flies closer and circles overhead, clearly amused at my spunk. "Putt-putt!"

Welcome, readers! You've read the beta prolog of "Dinoval: Heroes of Legend"! Please note: DHoL is intended to be a sequel to my original book, "Dinoval", but is designed to be completely readable and enjoyable as a stand-alone title. Also, in writing this, I am not abandoning the original "Dinoval"!

Review and follow! ;)

~Dinoval