Title: Taco and Mr. Herra
Rating: K
Genre: Friendship
Summary: The innocent story of a friendship between two little dinos.
Author's Comment: Something I wrote as a joke, in the style of a children's storybook. It was lots of fun and I hope you guys enjoy!
Taco was a Psittacosaurus that lived in the forest. She was a lonely dinosaur, for the other herbivores did not like Taco. They would tell Taco that if she wanted to fit in amongst the herd, she would have to progress up the social ladder and become a bigger, stronger dinosaur.
But Taco did not want to change. Taco liked herself just the way she was. Everyone would call her small and weak. They would say the only purpose she served was to be the food of a carnivore. But they were wrong, Taco would tell herself. For Taco had a friend that was a carnivore, but did not want to eat her.
His name was Mr. Herra. Now, Taco has never met Mr. Herra. Instead, Mr. Herra would talk to her through the forest. Taco was glad to have a friend who listened to her. Mr. Herra understood her, for he too was small and did not wish to change. It was easier, he told her, to make friends when he wasn't big and scary. It made Taco feel not so lonely anymore.
One day, as Taco was eating, she heard Mr. Herra's voice call to her.
"Come to me," he would say. It was all Taco could've hoped for, a chance to meet her only friend.
"I will, Mr. Herra," she tells him. "But I do not know where you are."
"Come to me," he repeats. "At the lake."
The lake was very close by, for Taco could not stray far from water. She moves eagerly, so happy to finally see Mr. Herra. But Mr. Herra's voice came from the other side of the lake.
"Mr. Herra, may you cross the lake?" She asks. "For I am a poor swimmer."
"Come to me," was the only response Mr. Herra gave her.
Taco was worried about swimming across but she will, for Mr. Herra.
"I will come to you, Mr. Herra." she says. "But I shall need some time to prepare. I must eat leaves and build strength for the crossing."
"Eat well."
And so, Taco ate and ate many leaves and come the next morning, she felt strong enough to cross.
"Are you there, Mr. Herra?" she would call from the shore.
"Yes," Mr. Herra says. "Come to me."
The lake was large, and she was a slow swimmer. She would tire and struggle to keep going, fighting to prove that she was not weak, that she would make it across the water. It was hard, but she did it for Mr. Herra.
As Taco drew closer to the shore, she can see a green Herrerasaurus laying in the sand.
"Mr. Herra!" she calls out with glee, the sight of her friend giving her the push she needed to pull herself out of the water.
Taco was very tired, but happy as she smiled to Mr. Herra.
"Come to me."
Taco came to him and laid down by him.
"It is nice to finally meet you, Mr. Herra."
But Mr. Herra says nothing.
"I love you, Mr. Herra. Can we be friends forever?"
But Mr. Herra still said nothing, standing up. Taco was confused, meeting his eyes. Suddenly, she became afraid of Mr. Herra.
"Mr. Herra, why are you looking at me like th-"
Mr. Herra bit Taco, his teeth in her throat. Taco struggled, but could not break free. For Taco was weak, small, and useless.
Taco falls, trying to stand only to feel Mr. Herra's foot pin her back down. Taco could not breathe, and she could not understand.
For Taco was stupid. Taco trusted, and Taco died.
The last thing she heard was Mr. Herra's once comforting voice finally speak to her again.
"Yummy little Taco."