Fourth Step
Never underestimate what a dinosaur can do.
-o-
Anyone who was actually sane would run for their lives once they saw that death glare from the Carnotaurus. Cera was different though, she told us to get off her and find a safe place to hide. I was about to ask her what was she planning, but with a battle stance like that, the words 'Are you insane?' came out instead. I swear it was by accident, and I know a Triceratops can stand its ground against powerful meat-eaters. But she was already wounded yesterday; can she really hold the other dinosaur off? All by herself?
I lead Tri to a grove nearby, and we were peeking from behind the tree trunk to see what was going on. It wasn't pretty that's to be sure. The plain was splashed with blood everywhere, and most of the herbivores were down with deep gashes on their belly and backs. They may have a better chance if it wasn't a surprise attack. And I can't help feel that it's my entire fault. Though at that time I couldn't think about that now, I was panicking about how Cera was going to stop a rampaging carnivore without dying. The mini Tricera was practically barking at the predator, but I told her to stay quiet, or her mom's bravery might go to waste because it will turn and attack us. But she didn't listen, and strangely her barks and growls grew louder and louder. Even the adult plant-eater heard it, and I saw it was trying to tell her to stay silent.
Unfortunately we were too late.
The Carnotaurus that was a few yards from Cera shifted to our direction, like it was sniffing for my scent. A thought crossed my mind, if it was specifically after me, then that meant the dinosaur wasn't after food at all. He didn't even bite the other herbivores further, he just wanted me. But why?
I didn't had the chance to think it further since the Triceratops smashed onto her opponent and while she was doing that she shouted to the both of us as she kept the enemy pinned down on the ground. 'Run!'
We quickly did what she said, and went deeper into the forest area. I didn't know what happened to Cera at all, but the sickening crunch of bone crushed my hopes into a million pieces before we were out of ear-shot.
Soon, we both stopped and took a break under one of the taller trees of the grove. I sat down on its roots and tried to catch my breath while Tri was staring blankly at the dark path we were just on. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her...she must have heard the sound too. And at this point maybe Cera's...
"No..! S-she can't be...come on Rex..! Believe in her. She'll be fine..." somehow I managed to convince myself to still have faith in the mother Triceratops. Patting Tri's head softly, I gestured for us to continue on going. It nodded, but I could have sworn I saw tears in her eyes.
I felt an hour pass by as we went further in...I had no idea where we were going or headed at all. Fortunately Tri was there all the way so I didn't feel as scared as I would usually be. The fact that I had company wasn't making me feel any better though...we were lost, and both of us knew we were starving...
I suddenly heard the gushing sound of a river nearby. I then had a driving instinct to go to it, like it was tempting me to walk forward. Both of us had no choice and started to walk in a single direction. Soon the forest gradually grew thinner until the sunlight finally shined on my eyes.
We arrived at the waterhole.
I saw all kinds of dinosaurs; some that I don't even recognize. Tri already went ahead and began drinking the water from the large stream that seemed to be a gathering place for all herbivores. I couldn't see a carnivore or any potential threat in sight. There was abundant vegetation of all kinds and sizes plus the river that formed pockets like small lakes where babies can safely walk on. Everything seemed...perfect. Too perfect for my taste. Maybe the other predators were somewhere else..?
I was surprised that the sky above me was colored in orange and red; there was some purple too. The sun has set as well and I even spotted the first star on the firmament...I just used a vocabulary word that I learned in English class. Weird.
Out of the blue I heard a low moan coming from a nearby cave. Strange that I never noticed it before, but I was wondering whether to approach it or not. Who knows what could be in there...but the constant groans suggest that the creature's injured...or hungry.
I decided to leave Tri for a moment and cautiously made my way there. The rock formation was on top of a small hill and it looked like a great natural resting place for any dinosaur. Yes, the entrance was quite big then.
I was shocked and stunned when I peeked inside.
There on the soil was the same Carnotaurus that has been trying to get me ever since I got here. Its eyes were closed and seemed to be wailing in pain. I began to scan his body to see where the wound was...I found it. It was on its leg. To the looks of things, it was a bite mark. What confused me was the teeth belonged to something big and had large canines..."Another predator?" I muttered.
To my mistake, the carnivore looked up and saw me. I cringed in fear, but all it did was to stare at me...or glare, I wasn't sure. The dinosaur actually sighed, and laid his head on the firm ground again.
"You're...you're not going to eat me?" I murmured. I have no idea why I tried speaking to it, yet I could talk to Cera...right?
'Not hungry.' it replied. The voice sounded like a male that just hit puberty or something.
"Then why were you trying to eat me then?" I continued to question.
'I never wanted to eat you. Besides, you're not worth it. Too small.' for some reason I felt slightly annoyed. "So...why did you..?"
The Carnotaurus turned his head and avoided my gaze as if he was thinking the same question. 'I...I don't know. I feel something strange whenever I see you...but, I don't understand it at all.'
"You thought I...could answer your problem?" he nodded. "Y-you attacked the herbivores just to get an answer? What's wrong with you?" I suddenly began to shout in anger.
'I admit that I may have gone overboard awhile ago...but do not fret, the injuries I sustained on them can be healed...unless...' the dinosaur stopped.
"Unless...unless what?" I turned my attention to the wound on his leg. "Did it have to do with anything about the bite mark on you?"
He hesitated before responding. 'I didn't expect it at all...that another dinosaur would come in and feast on the others.'
I stood there motionless.
'It was a T-Rex of all predators...he caught me off guard and attacked me so that he could get rid of the competition. That bite was powerful too...it broke my leg so bad that maybe my bones are in pieces...' I then remembered the time when we were escaping and heard bones cracking. Could it be what Tri and I heard was-?
'I'm not sure what happened afterward...but when the commotion was all over, I was shocked over the devastation that single T-Rex did. Blood was splattered everywhere, bodies laid on the ground never to move again...and so on.' the Carnotaurus told it with a sad tone. I guess not all carnivores are this gruesome.
"What happened to the Triceratops that was there with you?" I was scared of what he was going to say next, but it was now or never. I had to know if Cera was okay...or dead.
'She might have escaped him...' he started. 'But honestly I don't know. Sorry.'
"It's fine...at least there's a possibility that she's fine." I replied. We were silent again for some time in that cave. I felt weird talking to a meat-eater like this...
'You are not a dinosaur right?' the Carnotaurus suddenly asked.
"Yeah, I'm...uhm, a mammal."
'That explains your size.' I made a small grunt. 'I have never spent this long with a mammal before.' now that sent chills down my spine.
"Don't you have any friends or family?"
'We're predators, we act independently.'
"Oh...right." again, stillness. "Mind if I call you Ace for the time being?"
'Ace..?'
"Uh huh...that's the name of a...friend of mine."
'Friend...what is that?'
"You don't know what a friend is?" I asked incredulously. I was answered with a simple stare from him. "A friend is like someone you can count on no matter what. They stay with you, talk with you. Have fun, and watch your back if something happens. When you're sad they can be the ones to comfort you. In great times they are the ones that are with you and celebrating with you at the same time. To not have friends is something against humans. I don't think people can survive without at least having someone to be with."
'Human...' he muttered. 'That is what you are called?'
"Well...no. We have names...mine's Rex."
'T-Rex?'
"No..." this felt like déjà-vu. "It's just what many call me."
'I see...' the Carnotaurus' voice trailed off.
"Ace?"
'Yes?' I smiled when he responded to the name I gave him.
"You're still not going to eat me right?"
'...nah. You're worth too much to be eaten.'
A/N : I love the last line...X3
Sorry that it took so long to get here! And well, I hope you weren't disappointed with the chapter either. I kept on getting stuck in the dialogues...but anyway, please review!
