Chapter 3 : "Second Chance"
As I slowly started to regain consciousness and open my eyes, I saw bushes all around me and heard water somewhere not too far.
When I opened my eyes fully and my blurry eyesight cleared, I began to be aware of my surroundings. I stood up, only to fall back to the hard forest ground.
"Uhh how did I ev- OUCH!" I let out a painful scream. My right leg hurted so horribly bad it felt like it was ripped to pieces by the teeth of a monster. I forced myself not to put much weight on the leg and tried to move forward to get to the small water stream. The flow of the water sounded like heaven to my ears. I hadn't noticed my thirst until now.
As I took a careful step forward, I immediately stumbled on my hurt leg with loud yelp.
"I'm never gonna make it" I told myself as I began to feel the small cries crawl themselves up to my mouth. Why was I so stupid? I should've looked where I was going!
I was too deep in hopeless thoughts and too busy trying to stay on my feet to notice movement in the green bushes next to me .
"Why are you crying little one? What happend?" Questioned a soft, surprised female voice to my right.
I immediately choked my sobs and slowly looked towards the source of the voice. I was once again terrified. Why was this happening to me?
To my great surprise, just a few meters away from me, I saw a big head of a bone-white adult Giganotosaurus female. Her face looked kind and her voice was calming. A part of me felt safe, the other was sure the large carnivore was going to rip me to pieces with her sharp teeth, and her strong jaws that could crush my skull would end me.
I desperately tried to move away from her, I was stumbling and tripping on my own legs. I was sure I would feel her teeth puncture my skin at any given moment.
"Don't be afraid young one. I'm not going to hurt you" She hummed as she stepped through the bushes towards me.
I got so scared. I knew I couldn't escape. I closed my eyes and tried to cover my head.
My muscles tensed as I felt warm breath blowing on my face, I knew I'd feel pain soon. Pain of being torn to pieces, but the pain never surfaced. Insted I felt a gentle push on my back as if she wanted me to stand up straight.
I slowly open my tear filled eyes.
"See, you're alright!" She reassured. I gathered my broken bravery to look at her in the eyes, her golden irises staring back at me. The sight some prey would see before passing.
"Now let me help you get to the stream" She added softly while she supported my right side so I could limp to the water and take a long sip that I desperately needed.
"Th-thank you" I stuttered, still horrified.
"It is nothing" The white giga replied with a kind smile on her face.
That passing moment, when I looked into her eyes, I saw motherly love and care. She really meant no harm which surprised me deeply. I showed many signs of weaknesses, I almost broke my leg and was defenceless, Crying in the middle of nowhere. Easy prey.
Why hadn't she killed me already?
"W-why a-are you doing this? Why are you helping me ? You could kill me with no trouble, because I'm defenceless" I asked scared and confused.
"Why would I? You did not choose to be helpless like pray does" She replied quite surprised of my question.
"Well ... you are bigger than me so most of predators would use that advantage over me and kill me" I said, still unsure of the female if she really just wanted to help me, or if she was just playing nice to strike in the least expected moment. But still something was off about that second option. Why would she wait to kill me?
After I took a drink to get rid of the tiring thrist, I thanked the white giga and simply laid down on the ground. Not sure how I was still breathing.
"Are you going to stay here right in the open?" She asked surprised.
"Yes. You already did more than you should've. I can take care of myself from now on thanks!"I answered trying not to show how scared and distrustful I was. Why was she still here? Was she going to kill me anyway?
"Well ... ok then ... Watch yourself next time" She replayed while her smile disappearing a bit as she turned away to walk into the trees she came from.
As time passed by, and the sun was starting to hide behind the tall trees, I grew tired. I closed my blue eyes and fell asleep right away.
I woke up to raindrops hitting my tough skin.
"Grrrrr just great" I growled annoyed.
I laid there, trying to go back to sleep. I was shivering in the cold rain.
My head jumped up and my eyes scanned my surrounding as I heard a bush rustle.
The noise grew louder, and I grew more and more frightened.
"Back off!" I yelled trying to scare off whatever was there.
"It's only me" answered a familiar kind voice.
"Why did you come back?" I asked confused.
"As it started to rain I thought you would be cold. And I see I was right." She replied while she walked closer and stood over me. Her big figure covered me from the rain.
"So... are you coming or not ?" She asked me, smiling that warm smile again.
"Go where ?" I questioned, tense. Even after all she had done for me I still couldn't fully trust her.
"With me to my dry spot, to the den" She answered shortly and simply.
I was still confused by it and at the same time, even if I knew the risk, I wanted to be able to sleep and have a nice dry place to stay.
"So?" Female asked with gentle voice that sounded trustworthy.
"W-well ... I-I could use some dry spot to sleep." I replied still shivering from the cold.
"Ok let's go then!" She said as she tried to help me stand up.
"It's not that far away. Trust me, you will like it!" The white giga added shortly after.
As we walk through the bushes I started to trust her more and more with each step I took and each time she supported me to not fall over.
"So yeah ... " I said trying to speak up fighting my fear.
"I know we just met, but ... I want you to know I'm very thankful for what you did for me, even if you did not have to" I added after a pause.
"It's fine! I was glad to help!" She replied.
"I-I'm Xander by the way. Skylen Xander."
"Nice to meet you Xander! I'm Enna"
"Nice to meet you as well"
After a while of walking, we arrived at a glorious waterfall.
"W-wow" Was all I could say of the breathtaking view. The place looked beatiful even when the rain was pouring.
"Welcome to our den Xander" Said Enna.
"Wait what ?! Our den?! You mean there are more gigas in there ?!" I asked as I nearly collapsed from fear.
"I-I'm not going in" I stated as Enna just stood next to me patiently.
"Well if you want to stay out here in rain, then stay" Enna said as she pulled back letting me lay down.
As I was trying to understand the actual reason she brought me there, a thought came to my mind. She wanted to feed me to her pack. But then why would she offer me so much time and chances to escape? She could've just killed me and brought my dead body to the den.
As I was processing the situation, Enna stood by my side without budgind.
She then tried to comfort me by nuzzling my side and saying.
"If you are afraid just stay close to me, and no one will hurt you"
I looked up and I still saw that motherly love and care in her eyes. Just that made me trust her. I will be fine.
"I will come with you..." I said after short while.
"Come on then, before the rain makes you sick" Hummed Enna while helping me stand up.
As we got inside the cave, which looked way bigger than I suspected, I saw two adults . One of them was an older giga, light brown in color with blue stripes across her face and back.
And the younger adult was gray, with black marks travelling through her face and back and her stomach was dark black.
We got noticed by two adolescents, that came running toward us.
I tried my best to hide behind Enna.
"Mom where have you been?" Asked the bigger adolescent male.
He was mostly white, but his head was fully black just as his back and tail. He also had a blue crest and stripes going across his tail.
"I was ... taking a walk" replied Enna after looking at me trying my best to stay hidden.
"Why are you even awake Maugrim?! Its dark outside already" She added shortly after with a strict tone.
"Well Roody and I woke up after we heard thunder and we saw you were gone" Maugrim mumbled.
I noticed the second adolescent who was mostly light brown but his head was black. He too, had black stripes going across his back, and white stripes across his face and tail.
"Alright. Take your brother and go to sleep" Enna replied
Yes mom."
Maugrim and his brother then walked back to the back of the cave. I could hear faint snoring coming from the back.
I was relieved the adolescents left. I moved back to Enna's side. I shouldn't have. I heard a menacing growl from my left.
"Who is that stranger, mother?" . Growled the young adult female that I saw when I entered the nest. The gray giga walked closer staring at me.
"It's Skylen Xander. I found him up the stream a few hours ago. He will stay with us atleast for a night. You both can talk tomorrow Orchid. Now go to sleep." Answered Enna, with no hesitation. The white adult gave no space for any disagreement from the younger.
"Well fine. I was just thinking about the safety of the nest. That is ours." Mumbled Orchid clearly annoyed by my precense there. The female turned around and walked away, still side-eyeing me.
"Don't worry Sky, she's nothing to be afraid of" Enna comforted as I pressed closer to her side.
"Come on. My kids won't harm you." The white female reassured.
I laid down beside her. Her warmth was very comforting, the warmth reminded me of my own mother.
Around us were many sleeping dinosaurs. I saw three new adolescents. They looked to be older than Maugrim but younger than Orchid.
I could not make out how they looked like, because of the dense darkness in the den. Only the flashes of lightning gave me an idea of how the cave looked. I was sure no allosaur
After a while of looking around, scared for my life, I fell asleep.