Chapter 11
Treacherous crossings
The sounds of thundering footprints in the distance made the ground shake as a massive herd of dinosaurs were migrating up north from their nesting grounds in the south, it was a grim journey the herd had to make every year back and forth either for nesting grounds north during the spring due to heavy monsoon rains, or to escape the cold winters of the north when time comes and to make it back to the feeding grounds in the south. Paris, now an adolescent parasaurolophus had now parted ways from her family and had joined the herd on its annual migration journey alongside several other species including edmontosaurus and other large hadrosaurs such as lambeosaurus or corythosaurus. These were the main frontlines of their massive group and lagging behind were lumbering ceratopsians such as pachyrhinosaurus and pentaceratops.
They had been trekking for many days and not only saw all kinds of sights along the way but endured all kinds off challenges too, they were lucky if they could come across water or scraps of greenery along the way as they passed through dry desert or desolate canyons for days and nights, with little opportunity to rest as they had to follow the sun in an effort to not lose the light. Any little morsels of food they could find Paris could often see herds fight one another violently over them too, even resulting in death or severe injury, so she was wise to keep out of others' way. The older veteran members of the herd were driven on by instinct and memory as the younger ones had to follow along behind. Having pressed on through the worst of weather be it cold winter blizzards, along with lack of water and food for most of the journey which easily weeded out the weaker animals being the injured, old, sick and young. Paris thankfully was strong and determined enough to push on past whatever challenge nature had thrown her way, though not without some moments of regret and trauma, having seen many of her fellow travellers collapse and die before her eyes from exhaustion, and how disheartening it was to be abandoned after that.
Those lagging behind were easily deserted, and as much as Paris wanted to do something to help them out, the fear of being left behind herself overrode such thoughts as she was forced to continue on without looking back, as those at the far back eventually collapsed and fell prey to the scavengers form the sky such as pteranodons or quetzalcoatlus. The good news was that they were nearing the end of their long arduous trek across the land and were nearing their home in the North, where they could then rest at ease and eat as much green food as they could want. However, as many of them already knew, they are now coming into dangerous territory as the deadliest challenge of all awaited them at the final stretch of their long journey, gauntlet of death awaited them as they neared the rushing river swelled up by the torrential rains ahead of them, and that wasn't the only obstacle that stood between them and sanctuary.
Farther off in the distance, above or behind some large hills that were in the herd's path leading to the rushing river, an ambush was being set as a gang of Albertosaurus stood up atop the hills, the leading members of the pack were able to both smell and see the approaching herd miles away. Narrowing his eyes, the largest of them grunted and roared, signalling to the others below the hill, who were either sleeping or snarling at one another over bones or leftovers, to get ready into position as the pack scattered taking cover on both sides of the path
For them, the migrating herds travelling through their domain is one of the most important times of the year, for most of the year they were forced to make do with whatever small or scarce prey they came upon in the barren land which they called home. However, this time of year many of the adult hunters knew full well that when the herds cross through their domain, they'd be able to feast for weeks and wouldn't need to eat for a long while till the next migration came along, if they blew this there wouldn't be another chance like this to come by again for a long time. Predator and prey, while on opposite sides both played the same game in life and death and the stage was soon set for a bloodbath.
As the rain poured down heavily upon the dry landscape, it easily washed out any scents in the area rendering the herd incapable of smelling their predators, and to make matters worse, with thunder and wind roaring through the skies it easily covered up the sounds of any footsteps too, to the albertosaurus pack they had home field advantage. The darkness would also make them less visible to their prey while offering no hindrance to them thanks to their superior predatory vision, if anything the storm was a most trusted ally to them and meaning death to the herd. The older members of the herd were at unease as they recalled having survived this part of the journey times before, and how unnerving it was when they couldn't sense their predators at all in the slightest.
Paris looked around uneasily as the herd came to a stop in an area with many large boulders around them, already sensing there was danger amidst as the dinosaurs around her began to grunt or growl restlessly. Climate change and volcanic eruptions had altered much of the landscape in the past few years making old paths different from before and forcing the herds to make long detours or backtrack, hindering their progress while their predators could adapt their hunting strategies. As the rains began to fall much heavier, a bolt of lighting struck across the sky followed by a thunderclap, that was the signal the albertosaurus were waiting for as they came out of hiding from all around the herd! From behind boulders they lunged out roaring fiercely as they took several dinosaurs by surprise, grabbing them by the next and pulling them down and crushing them! Others made mock charges to make the herd panic and scatter, to expose the weaker easier targets for the pack!
Thankfully the herd's outer layer would protect the many young in the middle, but not the old or weak that were lagging at the back of the herd as the albertosaurus soon made their move closing in on them! As Paris widened her eyes and looked around seeing chaos on all sides, dinosaurs being picked off one by one, others scattering in different directions while being pursued, while a handful being the ceratopsians held their ground and fought back defensively against the albertosaurus! The young parasaurolophus was so confused and distracted by everything around her, she only realised later as 1 large albertosaurus then made a dart right after her! In a panic she ran as fast as her 2 legs could carry her, as she broke away from the main herd and off the path in an effort to lose her pursuer! The Albertosaurus however was relentless and wouldn't give her up so easily, and to make things worse for Paris given how dark the night was she could hardly see where she was going as she drifted further from the main herd while the Albertosaurus had no such issues.
Thankfully as she came into an area littered with many large rocks she was able to squeeze in through a tight gap just big enough for her to squeeze through while the albertosaurus was kept at bay! He grunted and snarled with anger as he was forced to take a detour around the boulders instead. Meanwhile Paris managed to find a small spot to catch her breath, the rocks having bought her a little time. As she looked around frantically she realised how far off the trail she had gotten and she began to panic as fear began to override much of her senses and instincts. She felt as though her hopes were lost….till the rumbling of the ground underneath caught her attention, looking ahead she could see several dinosaurs from the herd running ahead of her, only visible through a gap of a hill that separated her from the rest of them. Paris realised if she was to have any chance of survival she had to reunite with them, and fast as she looked behind and widened her eyes to find the albertosaurus had managed to catch up to her, as she saw him perched above an overhang and roar out at her before leaping down to the ground!
Driven by her own survival instincts she raced as fast as she could with her predator in hot pursuits once more! Tried as she might, her legs soon began to give out from exhaustion as she began to slow down! She cried out for help as the large predator was right on top of her, baring his fangs as he prepared to snap her up in his jaws! Thankfully in the nick of time a branch on a dead tree perched above the hills where they ran, soon cracked and gave way before smacking right on the head of the albertosaurus, causing him to stumble and crash to the ground! Another lucky break, Paris stopped at nothing to capitalise on it as she managed to reach the gap in the rocks, and mustering all the strength she had she squeezed through the crevice, ignoring the sharp jagged edges or tight space before finally managing to make it to the other side and rejoin the safety of the herd! The herd soon came face to face with their greatest danger of all, the heavy rains had turned the river into a deadly flash flood with debris floating on the surface which included many logs being carried downstream, and with such violent currents it would be easy for any dinosaur to drown after wasting energy fighting such currents!
Paris too was hesitant to jump in as she stood at the water's edge with a few of the other leading herd members, but hearing a loud snarl behind them, the albertosaurus from before had recuperated from his fall and was now making a beeline towards them with only one thing on his mind, kill! With the floods ahead of them and predators behind needless to say the herd was caught between a rock and a hard place! Eventually after being pressured long enough and seeing sanctuary on the other side of the river, the first dinosaurs began to dive into the river, swimming as hard as they could while fighting against the currents and resisting their pull! One by one Paris watched on as her herd mates made the leap of fate and she could see how strongly they fought on through the dangers of the river, but she herself remained frozen by fear as some of the dinosaurs soon had their strength give out after exhaustion from escaping the albertosaurus, some eventually drowned unable to stay afloat enough, others were unconscious by incoming debris as it smashed at their heads….worse….some were actually dragged underwater by deinosuchus that were lurking deep beneath the murky depths! Some that did make it to the other side often found it hard to get up the banks give they were so steep and slippery, many ended up falling in while others decided to use those in front as stepping stones as they forced their way over them, even if it meant drowning them in the process, now it was every dinosaur for themselves….
It wasn't long till the hadrosaurs made it across and now was the ceratopsian's turn to dive in, but Paris still hadn't made the jump yet as she felt herself held in place by fear! Eventually, as the albertosaurus closed in, she mustered all her courage and leapt in together with the remaining dinosaurs! As she did that, the albertosaurus stopped in his tracks in time before reaching the edge, seeing the bank was unstable from the many dinosaurs pressing at it earlier. Still hunger was driving his instincts as he could see his prey escaping right before his every eyes, and all that stood between him was the raging river….and the rulers of the watery world beneath….It was then the Albertosaurus decided wisely that it wasn't worth the risk, even he it was capable of swimming to an extent no way would he be able to handle a rushing river which could also hide deinosuchus deep blow its' depths. With reluctancy and an angered snarl, he was forced to abandon its pursuit of Paris and rejoin its pack mates in the hopes of having some scraps from whatever kills they were able to make so far.
Meanwhile, Paris fought long and hard to keep her place in the middle of the herd's last line, and with fierce determination she fought hard to keep her head above the water as she could feel the scales of a deinosuchus brush underneath her feet as it circled around the last remaining stragglers before charging up to the surface! Paris was pushed aside by an impatient pachyrhinosaurus, but that shove was her saving grace as the poor dinosaur found itself grabbed and dragged under by the massive crocodile! It started Paris for a moment but she soon pressed on knowing there was no going back now as she continued fighting hard against the torrents with the rest of the herd! Eventually, at last she reached the other side, managing to find a slope able to hold her smaller size as she climbed up and rushed as fast as she could to rejoin the hadrosaurs at the front. Finally she could rest at ease, with the worse was finally behind her, once again Paris could take a breather having beaten the odds as she would soon begin another chapter of her life up north with the herd…..before it would be time to move back south again in the many months to come.
The herd has managed to reach their destination with Paris included in the lucky and fortunate, I used references to March of the Dinosaurs as well as Planet Dinosaur for this scene too.
Reply to reviews
tsukikami02
Glad you like it and it's assumed hadrosaurs with crests could make unique sounds too.
Thanks for letting me take the time also.
Drew Luczyński
I think humpback whales do that too with singing and teaching their young.