Daylight, no source but is ever present. I shuffle my weight around, trying to get comfortable amongst the dense reeds. Mud sticks to my clothes, the chattering of flying insects filling my ears. The bugle of parasaurs sounds out, the ladle headed creatures I love the taste of graze in the shallow marsh, their colors matching the purple cattails and green water. Athena cackles next to me, her posture is hunched and impatient. I tap her on the snout, signaling her to stay quiet. Laying in the mud in front of me, my new pike rests with weight on the reeds and algae, it's shiny surface plastered over with black dye. Its heavy, so much that I can't throw it. But the blade on its front is wicked sharp, and it's weight sends the dagger point in deep. I've missed hunts like these, ever since Triton asked me to help his tribe prepare, ive been surrounded by forges and smithies, my hands still feel the sting of fresh spark powder. Two days of constant crafting, while Triton assembles his forces, strengthening our defenses. I was able to sneak away, just to be able to hunt again, to feel that joy of outsmarting your prey, and working with what feels like a lifelong friend to bring it down.
I tap Athena on the snout again, her black and red scales are firm to the touch. I make a motion with my hands, she cocks her head. We've done this maneuver before, she understands with remarkable contempt. She crawls away, dipping down the hill, to get to the other side. I keep my attention on the parasaurs, their attention is still on their feeding, massive redwood trees making up most of the background. After a few moments, I whistle, the parasaurs are alarmed by the high pitched noise.
They don't have much time to react, as a black and red raptor pounces out from the bushes, letting out a hissing cry. It tackles one, digging its large sickle shaped claws into the plant eater's side, biting into its neck. The other makes a run for it away from the predator, some reeds still stuck in its beak. I smile as it makes a beeline for me, unaware of the threat hiding. I grab my pike, before stabbing it into the parasaurs front chest, it runs into the blade. The butt end of the pike digs into the ground, forcing itself deeper. The parasaur lets out a cry, tripping when the pikes length turns longer than its foot. It flips over me, I duck down. It tumbled down the hillside, crushing bushes and small trees in its ungrateful plummet. Its dead before it slows down, finally grinding to a halt on a stuck out boulder. Athena finishes off the one stuck under its claws, its teeth become as red as the feathers on its head and tail.
She cackles, before returning back to me. I stroke her on the side of the jaw, getting blood on my hands.
"Just like old times, right?"
Athena cackles with joy, I give her the signal to enjoy her kill. The chatter of bugs went silent when I whistled, but they slowly come back, noises of life return to the marsh. I saunter down the hillside, making my way for the parasaur corpse, a pike still stuck in its chest. I plant my feet, pulling the metal spear out. I open my inventory, switching it for a metal hatchet. The tool is once again an improvement of the previous version, stronger and sharper than a random stone could ever get. I hack away, storing fresh meat and thick, scaly skin for processing later. The sounds of nature everywhere, I feel more peace out here, even if there is always the threat of something big and burly deciding to make you a quick snack. I wish for things to return to this, just Athena and I, against an island of beasts. But I know too much now, and I've found myself to be an important player in the big picture, as I'm the undisputed oldest survivor on this island when it come to time spent on these hostile lands.
There is a shrieking call from above, I jump into a combat mindset, before slackening again. I'll never get a break for more than a few minutes. A pteranodon, flapping to land itself in front of me. Athena spots the pterosaur coming down, she slinks down to stand next to me. The pteranodon comes to a landing, a familiar face sitting on is back. Triton looks at me with a worried expression.
"Everyone is out looking for you, why did you leave, again?" I cross my arms, a fly collecting corpse next to me. "If it's the third time, you already know why I left." Triton pets his pteranodon, gathering his words.
"Listen, I will never expect to know how you felt, being alone with only a dinosaur to keep you company for months." He watches me intently. "But we will be killed off without you, we need your help." I twirl around, Athena turns to leave, going back to her kill. "I'll be back before dark, is that good enough for you?" Triton hops off his flying dino, his new armor doesn't suit him. "Hear me out first, this is important." I grab my pike from my inventory, sticking its but end into the muddy dirt. I don't turn around, my voice is tense. "I'm listening." Triton makes a noise, as if he wants to retort my stubborn attitude, but cuts himself off.
"The enemy is on the move." I don't react, watching small birds fly by overhead. "Old news, if that all you came out here to do besides worry about me, then you can leave." Triton continues. "One of their messengers approached us a few hours ago, with a letter." I perk up, turning to face the man. Curiosity with a hint of worry fills my voice. "What did it say." Triton shakes his head. "We won't open it until everyone in the tribe is attending, including our top survivor." I think about it, before whistling Athena to return. "I'll be there shortly." "Good" Triton exclaims, hopping onto the back of his pteranodon. "Hurry, we need everything our tribe has to offer, I'm sorry, but until this crisis is adverted, I don't want you sneaking out of the tribe again." I mutter to myself. "Not like you can stop me." But Triton doesn't overhear it, the wind blasts into my face as the pteranodon takes off, flying away, back toward the base of the volcano.
Athena runs up to me, watching the flying reptile rise away into the blue sky. I stroke her head, before vaulting myself up on her back. I grab the reins, watching as large dragonflies overtake the parasaur carcasses. "Come on then." I yank on the reins, before giving Athena a slight kick in the side. Her powerful legs push off the ground, carrying the both of us back to our new and unconventional home.
The ground rumbles with every step my Rex takes, sending waves of forest critters scurrying deeper into the woods. The green and black tyrant growls, its spiked teeth scraping over the metal rod in its mouth. I sit comfortably atop its saddle, holding onto thick reins wrapped around a leather dock. Behind me, other subjugated monsters shuffle along, my underlings ride them, waiting patiently. My red clears the forest easily, knocking down obstructing trees with its large talons. My supervisor, riding a raptor runs up to match my behemoth's speed, I lean over the edge of my saddle to get a good view of the man far below. I clear my throat, before letting out a voice I worked on to sound commanding. "Have you sent our prey their notices?" The man tussles around with his raptor's reins, trying not to get crushed by the Rex. "Yes sir, four tribes in total, our first target is a rather small one on the east side of the redwood forest." "Good." I shout back. "Prepare the men, we attack at nightfall."