HILDA AND THE JURASSIC FOREST
(A fan-fiction by Slogokonnor99)
Chapter 5: Bountiful land
Another morning rises in Trolberg's wilderness, and the mountains are shone by the rising sun. The water from the recent thunderstorms has now begun a journey downwards, passing through rocks and crevasses on the mountain's surface before finally joining together to form small creeks, slowly carrying water to the rivers of the land. The sole presence of flowing water now meant that the times of plenty had arrived in the forest, and for the local creatures as well as for the dinosaurs in the area, this marked the beginning of their breeding season.
On one open patch of forest, an annual breeding ground was beginning to form: small herds of Pachyrhinosaurus, mostly consisting of adults and young, were beginning to build small mounds while adding leaves from bushes as a soft bed; then, once sure their nests were coated enough, they started to lay eggs, with each female laying up to a dozen. It is unlikely that all of those will survive to adulthood, but with the minority having beaten the odds in the last year, there may be more hatchlings that will add more numbers to the herds.
The mega-herd, having laid their broods, starts to move back to the forest, with some individuals staying behind to guard the nests; a behavior like this is common on nesting colonies, and it's not so different here, for even in an "alien" environment like this, there's still egg thieves. The remaining Pachyrhinosaurus wonder around, checking on the nests to see if there's no intruders, but on one edge of the colony, a thief is already making its move: the blue-striped raptor that attacked Hilda back when her cabin was still intact slowly approached a nest. The animal is larger than its more accurate cousins, but even with such size, it's not risking to be discovered, and the raptor isn't the only one eager to eat eggs. Foxes and other small dinosaurs stalk in the shadows, each waiting for the guards to lower their attention, but the Pachyrhinosaurus aren't easily fooled.
A fox tries its luck and sneaks behind a nest undetected. Using its canine teeth, it cracks an egg as silently as it can and begins to eat the juicy yolk inside. Not long after, a Sinosauropteryx, a kind of small dinosaur, tries its luck, but in doing so, it alerts the fox, who, having eaten three eggs already, started to bark to avoid losing its prize pool. The commotion alerts one of the guarding Pachyrhinosaurus, and it quickly trots towards the noise, causing both thieves to run back into the forest, with the fox carrying an egg on its jaws. The Pachyrhinosaurus then checked the damaged nest, and it seemed that only a couple of eggs were cracked and eaten by the thieves. With the competition out of the way, the blue-striped raptor now had a chance, and as the ceratopsian moved away, it started to slowly approach the already-raided nest.
Once the eggs were in sight, the raptor grasped one with its arms, securing an extra prize, and then it began to crack the shell of another to eat it. Its time is limited, however, as at any moment, a Pachyrhinosaurus could spot it, so the raptor quickly ate the yolk of the already-broken egg and began to crack another. Suddenly, a female who had heard the crack spotted it, and as it charged at him, the raptor fled back to the forest, its extra reward still held firmly against its chest. The Pachyrhinosaurus then returned to check the damaged nest, and unfortunately for whoever had laid the clutch, only five eggs now remained.
This was only the beginning of the struggle for these animals, for the danger of thieves was still present even after sixty-five million years. But even with the complete loss of dozens of eggs, there will be enough hatchlings to take care of, and even then, only a few will survive their first year. The guarding Pachyrhinosaurus then continued its watch, waiting for those who were browsing on the leaves and ferns of the nearby patch of forest to return so it could leave to find food on its own.
It's not only the dinosaurs who are taking their time to start a new generation; all across the forest, the calls of newborn animals of all kinds can be heard anywhere you go. From small chirps from day-old sparrows and robins to the howls of fox cubs and wolves, even the native animals of the region, such as woffs or deerfox, were now having pups to care for. Flowers were also blooming, attracting their pollinators to them for a sweet reward and to reproduce with their help, and pollinators like bumblebees are now busy with such a bloom.
Not all animals were in a rush to breed, however; the blue-striped raptor that stole the egg from the Pachyrhinosaurus earlier still had to refuel its lost calories from the lean winter, like many of the large carnivorous dinosaurs that roam the area. The egg, although a mere snack, is one of many choices it now has now that prey is more abundant, but its size only allows it to catch things smaller or almost as fast as it. Nonetheless, it has many days to secure another easy meal or even make a kill of its own, so there's no rush… for now.
In the city, the rains also marked a special date on the city's calendar: the harvest festival. It is one of great historical importance, for it was a reminder of how the first settlers managed to survive after a season of famine thanks to a mysterious large bird bringing thunder and rain to the land. The streets of the cities were starting to get colorful as people placed decorations and banners outside their homes and workplaces; the Sparrow Scouts were building parade cars for the evening party; and even the local elementary school was assembling a small band to play that night.
Meanwhile, at Hilda's house, things were going rather slowly, as she and her mom were just waking up, and none of them seemed to notice that it was almost midday by now. Johanna went to the kitchen to cook breakfast for her and her daughter, preparing some cheese and ham grilled sandwiches. -Morning mom- Hilda said as she went into the kitchen to see her mom and laughed as she saw her having messy hair, -Morning, Hilda- she replied before she continued cooking -slept well?-, -I think I overslept this time- she replied and yawned -the city really feels a bit quieter than the forest, but I still miss it-, -Me too, Hilda- her mom replied before looking outside the window of the kitchen. -Huh, looks like today's going to be the harvest festival- she said, and Hilda quickly rushed to see outside the window.
-Oooo, are those for that festival?- she asked and pointed at a pair of carnival carts, -Yes, they indeed are- her mom replied -those carts will be driven around at night, during which the city will light up with fireworks and music-, -Sounds a bit uncomfortable if you're trying to sleep during all of that- Hilda said and laughed, -Well, almost no one will be trying to sleep today- her mom replied -this festival always brings everyone in Trolberg together, and I think you'll enjoy today's celebration too-. After that little talk, Johanna then served breakfast, and the two of them sat down to eat.
-Do you plan on going to the festival to explore later?- Hilda asked her mom, -Well, I do hope I can- she replied -I'm probably going to have to finish some work first, but I should be free to take you around in the evening-. Hilda smiled at the thought of her and her mom walking around in a colorful display, a joyful daughter-mom moment; -Hilda, would you mind running some groceries for me after breakfast?- her mom asked, interrupting her thoughts, -Sure, the store is nearby anyway. What's on the list?- Hilda asked, -We're out of eggs, so we need a box or two- she replied -we also need… a box of peppermint tea bags, a bar of soap because the one we have has shrunk a lot, and… I think we need some oranges too-, -Can I buy a bag of Jorts too?- Hilda asked, -Well, only if you bring a big bag for us two- she replied.
Hilda then quickly finished her breakfast and rushed to wash the dishes before going back to her mom, who was starting on her work. -Be careful outside, Hilda- her mom advised her as she put on her scarf and boots -there's a lot of people outside today, so don't get lost!-, -I'll do my best, mom!- Hilda replied and grabbed her mom's wallet. Once she got to the door, with Twig following behind as usual, she got out of the house and off the building. Immediately after doing so, a group of kids ran by, seemingly carrying a bag with pebbles, but Hilda didn't give the group much attention before the kids ran around the corner.
While on the move, Hilda tried to remember what her mom had asked her to get, while Twig still tried to catch a scent he had caught yesterday, but he still had no luck. -What is it, boy?- Hilda asked Twig as it tried to sniff the air, and once again, something quickly moved through an alley. Hilda tried to chase whatever it was out, but whatever it was, it had already disappeared. -How come something moved that quickly?- Hilda asked herself, but seeing how this question wasn't going anywhere for the moment, she resumed her trip to the store.
Across the streets, the cars for the parade were starting to be decorated; some were painted, others were just statues made from either rock or hay. Some sparrow scouts were also joining in the decorating part, and that included both Frida and David, who were trying to figure out a way to attach the head of a bird they made to the rest of the body. -You two really put effort on this- Hilda said, catching both off guard and making the head fall on David; -Oh, sorry!- Hilda quickly apologized and helped Frida take the head of the statue off David. -It's fine- David said once his head was free -also, most of the work was by Frida. I just brought in the materials-, -Oh don't discourage yourself like that!- Frida replied and patted David's shoulder -getting all that hay would've been harder if you didn't know where to get it-.
Twig, being curious, approached the bird statue and tried to sniff it, but Frida quickly pulled him away. -Don't do that!- she warned him, -Sorry, he's really curious- Hilda apologized for her deerfox's instincts, -It's ok, but the statue has to be in good condition for later- she replied -after all, it's supposed to be at the lead of the caravan-. Hilda then looked at the bird statue, and it resembled a little like a raven, -Is the bird supposed to be a sort of crow or raven?- she asked, -Indeed- Frida replied -the statue represents the mythical bird who saved the town from famine-, -and it has always flown over the city every year at this exact date- David added, -And… what happens if it doesn't show up?- Hilda asked, -Well… no one knows- Frida answered -there hasn't been a year where the bird didn't show up since that famine, and if there was one… I don't remember exactly-.
The sparrow scout leader soon called the scouts to follow her back to HQ since the cars were ready to roll; -Shoot! We have to place the head in the statue quickly before we head back!- Frida stated -David, give me a hand!-. David and Frida then tried to place the head in the statue, and with an extra hand from Hilda, the pair finally finished their decorations. -Well, that's done- Frida stated. The raven statue now finished -come on, David! We need to head back before we get in trouble again!-, -Right behind you!- David stated before turning to face Hilda -Bye, Hilda!-, -See you guys later!- she replied while Frida and David left. Hilda then moved on, heading for the supermarket her mom told her to go to, and after a couple more blocks, she finally reached her destination. -Alright, Twig- she said to her deerfox friend -let's get those errands done!-.
Away from the city commotion, further into the wilderness, the blue-striped raptor walked by a now shallow river, looking for a spot to drink. The middle of the day was now approaching, and it was best to cool down by quenching its thirst. Suddenly, as the raptor began to drink, something made the water ripple. The raptor slowly backed away, thinking it could be a large herbivore, but in fact, it wasn't a big animal but a large flock.
From the forest behind it, a flock of long-necked, feathered dinosaurs passed around it, crossing the shallow river and stopping at the other side. They seemed like ostriches with feathered arms, and they were almost twice as tall, a suitable description for these fleet-footed animals named Ornithomimus. The flock, once it crossed the shallow river, stopped to examine the other side before starting to show off to each other; it was a breeding ground, and unlike the Pachyrhinosaurus from earlier, these dinosaurs didn't seem to have paired yet.
The more crimson males soon began to shake their feathered arms and strut around the flock, intending on catching the eye of a partner; some females instantly responded, but they were not just examining the males but started to move along with them. One male, having caught the eye of a female, now began to display his feathers at her; she in turn moved closer to examine him, and after flailing her tail, she started to move away in a small chase.
The male followed at the same pace as the female, and that is exactly what the female wants, for unlike most herbivores, their test for a partner doesn't consist of brute strength but of endurance. The pair's rhythm soon began to pick up as the female began to trot faster and the male followed pace, but soon, other males began to follow the pair, intent on showing off and convincing the female; sensing how the competition began to increase, the female began to run, and all the males who were following her began to run after her. With the small flock of admirers now after her, the endurance test began as the female ran around the flock with her pretenders on her toes.
The raptor watched from afar before heading back to the forest as the contest drew on, and one by one, males were stopping in their tracks and giving up, only to follow other females; now, only two males still chased after the female, and with the competition limited, she started to run away from the flock, testing for how far the males would chase her. She ran as fast as she could, sprinting over a long distance as if a predator were after her, and eventually, one of the two males gave up; the female continued, however, as even with one male on her tail, she needed to determine if her chaser could keep up.
In the end, after some more chasing, the female began to finally slow down, and the first male that followed her soon joined her side; the two Ornithomimus, now exhausted, started to circle each other, the female now inspecting the victor and the male coordinating his moves with the female's. A new pair has now been formed, and if the male can keep up with the female during the next year's courtship, the bond between the two may strengthen. Other males were now forming pairs as well after chasing partners around the valley, and soon enough, most of them paired up, with the few remaining ones either uninterested this season or still too young to keep up.
The male and female Ornithomimus soon rejoined the flock after such a long race. Exhausted and vulnerable, it was best for them to stay with the flock in case of an attack, but for the moment, the new pair groomed each other as a sign of love. With most pairs formed up, now the task of building their nests and starting the new generation was underway, and if their clutch succeeds, the new pair would be parents of up to a dozen chicks; for now, though, the nest of pebbles is the priority, and so both began to select a place through the crowd before they started to find materials.
Back on Trolberg, Hilda and Twig had managed to find almost all the items on their list; now, all that was left to find were the last two items on the list: oranges and Jorts. While looking through the fruits and vegetables alley, however, the pair stumbled into something they'd never seen before: a group of people were standing in line while one woman placed her bag of fruits on a kind of metal plate. After a few seconds, she just pressed a button, grabbed a sticker, pasted it to her fruit bag, and left.
-What is that?- Hilda asked herself. Twig meanwhile, managed to sniff out the oranges and tried to push Hilda towards them. -Oh, thanks boy!- Hilda thanked Twig and scratched his chin; she then tried to pick up a bag and started to select some oranges to put inside it; once she placed some in the bag, she stood in line and awaited her turn. -How are you supposed to use it?- she asked out loud, -Oh, you simply place it and wait until the scale measures the price by weight- and old lady in front of her spoke -the price will be registered in a sticker and you then take it and paste it in the bag-, -Is that it?- Hilda asked, -Pretty much- she replied -I'm surprised a young girl like you didn't know how to use an electronic scale-.
After waiting in line for a bit, it was Hilda's turn to weigh the oranges; she immediately placed her bag on the scale and waited for it to calculate the price like the old lady told her it'd do, but even after a few minutes of waiting, nothing was happening. -I think I broke it- Hilda stated out loud, worryingly, -Oh, the scale is fine- the old lady replied -you just need to press that orange button in the bottom-. Following her instructions, Hilda pressed the button, and the sticker finally popped up. -Thanks!- Hilda replied to the old lady, and once she pasted the price sticker on the bag, she left to find the last item in the list, which Twig managed to sniff out easily.
-Hey, thanks for finding the Jorts, boy!- Hilda stated and scratched Twig's chin. She then grabbed the bag and placed it in a basket she had carried all along and made her way to the counter to pay, but where she expected a long line like her mom usually told her, there was barely anyone waiting in lines. With no time to lose, Hilda then headed for an empty counter, paid with her mom's money, and got everything in bags before starting to make her way home.
Back at the house, Johanna finally managed to get a break from work. Exhausted, she immediately went to the kitchen and got herself a glass of water, as it had been a long early afternoon. -Where is Hilda?- she asked to herself -she should be here by now-. She then decided to open the window to let in some air when she saw a car roll through the street, and she grew nervous once she saw the logo of the TDW on the door. -I'll look for her- she said to herself before grabbing a light coat and putting it on as she left the house and headed for the market, worried that if a TWD car was patrolling, there could be a dangerous dinosaur on the loose.
Johanna quickly left the front door of the building and walked in a hurry towards the supermarket, unaware that Hilda was already on her way back. She, on the other hand, spotted some commotion near a playground: the group of kids that passed earlier were doing something to a tree. Hilda went to investigate, but Twig, nervous by a strange aroma in the area, tried to push her back on track. -It's ok, boy- she reassured Twig -I'll just peek for a moment and then get back on track-; Hilda then went to see what was happening and noticed the kids were throwing pebbles at the trunk of the tree, scaring away some songbirds in the process, except for a raven who was trying to fight back.
-Hey! What are you guys doing?!- Hilda asked as the kids tried to hit the raven, -That bird tried to attack us when we were playing football earlier!- one of the kids replied before the raven swooped and took its hat off -HEY! GIVE IT BACK!-. The raven kept on flying in circles with the kid's hat on its beak, taunting the kids to throw more pebbles, until one lucky pebble hit him on his head, causing it to fly straight into a wall and down to the floor. -Finally!- the kid stated as he took his hat back, -Trevor, you killed it!- one of the kids scolded him, -Hey, it's not my fault your pebbled aced the shot!- he replied back. Hilda quickly went to check if the bird was ok, and for everyone's fortune, the raven was still alive… and then it talked.
-Oww… that hit me right in the head!- the raven whispered, causing shock to Hilda and Trevor, who approached her to check on the situation. -Did it just… talk?!- Trevor asked in fear and slowly backed up, -Uhh…- Hilda tried to reply, but she was as speechless as him. Twig, who had been watching from afar and guarding the shopping bags closed in, caused the kids to fall back as well. -Is that a deerfox?!- one of the kids asked alarmed, -Don't let it close to me!- another kid yelled in fear -it's bad luck!-. One of the kids tried to throw a pebble at him, but Trevor pushed the kid before he could throw the pebble at it, causing the shot to fall on a bush nearby.
Twig saw the pebble hit the bush, and it suddenly growled. Neither the kids nor Hilda heard it, but instinctively, Twig growled at the bush, smelling something in it. -Hey, calm down, Twig- Hilda stated as she went to soothe her deerfox friend, the raven still in her arms. -You befriended a bad omen?!- a kid asked in shock, -He's not a bad omen!- Hilda argued, unaware that something was emerging from the bush; Twig spotted it and tried to push Hilda, but while she did move, it was mainly to confront the kids. -Guys, cool it! The raven is down; everything is done, alright?- Trevor tried to calm everyone down, but the others lowly backed away from him, Hilda and Twig nervously.
-What? You too think he's a bad omen?- Hilda asked angrily as Trevor too backed up, but as soon as she picked up Twig, he pointed at her back. Hilda slowly turned around and saw why everyone was backing down: the pebble Trevor blocked had fallen right on top of a dinosaur that was hidden in the bush, angering it. -You better back down slowly- Trevor advised as he slowly backed up, not looking away from the predator. Hilda also backed up slowly, with Twig and the injured raven on her arms, while the predator hissed at them, as if it was trying to drive them away before attacking.
In pure instinct, the raven tried to struggle free from Hilda's grasp and tried to fly away, but being dizzy from the hit, it flopped on the ground, making itself vulnerable to the predator. In response to the sudden move, the carnivore attacked the raven, chasing it into the street. Hilda quickly went after it, trying to get the raven out of there, but in doing so, the creature doubled back and hissed at Hilda, arms splayed open as a threat display. Twig charged in defense, growling at the dinosaur, but worsening the situation. The raven then took the chance to hide in the shopping bag as Twig and the dinosaur now exchanged looks. Suddenly, a tranquilizer hit the back of the dinosaur, and it made it charge towards his back, where a man with a rifle stood.
-Stay back, kids!- he advised them -you don't want to be in the way of an angered carnivore-. Hilda quickly picked up the shopping bag and Twig before moving back. The dinosaur was a bit dizzy as the effects from the tranquilizer were starting to take effect. Another person then fired a net to immobilize the animal, and it finally fell to the ground due to the effects of the dart. -Is the creature ok?- one woman asked the man in the rifle as he went to check on it, -It's sleeping- he replied -let's move it before it wakes up-. Him and the woman then brought a small cage for the animal to be put in, while the kids, and particularly Hilda, watched with curiosity.
-Are you going to… kill it?- Hilda asked, walking a bit close to the dinosaur, -No, we're just relocating it- the woman replied -it's TDW protocol-, -You're TDW personnel?- Hilda asked -I thought you'd be covered in police armor or perhaps in a hazmat suit-, -Clearly a misconception, kiddo- the man with the rifle replied before helping the woman move the sedated dinosaur into the cage -now, all of you go home, there's nothing to see here-. Trevor and the other kids started to move away to play again while Hilda picked up the shopping bag and left with Twig. -Well, at least this Masiakasaurus will be in a better place soon- said the man as he got inside the vehicle again, -What about the bird the girl had in her arms?- the woman asked -it looked hurt-, -If we find it, we'll see if it's fine or not- he replied before driving off.
After walking by another block, Hilda stumbled into her mom, seemingly worried. as she immediately hugged her. -Oh my god! Are you fine?! Why were you taking so long?!- her mom asked as she hugged Hilda, -Oh… uh… I met Frida and David on my way to the market- she replied -sorry for taking too long-, -Well, you're at least fine- her mom stated before letting her go -let me help you with the bag-. Johanna then picked up a bag and noticed it felt heavy, -How many oranges did you buy?- she asked playfully as she lifted the bag, -I think around eight- Hilda replied -I don't remember exactly- she added with a smile, and so she, Twig, and her mom walked back to the house together, unaware that they were carrying a stowaway.
As the afternoon now rolled around, the city began to be even more busy as the festival was only hours away; people were leaving their workplaces to get ready, shops closed early, and families were reuniting. And on the other side of the city, on the shores, another animal was leaving its commuting area to pair once again. The sandy shores on the northern part of the city were the stage for a mass gathering of not a dinosaur but… a bird. From out of the water, weird flightless birds began to clumsily walk on the shoreline. They had long legs with enormous webbed feet and a long neck with a sharp beak full of teeth, a surprising feature for a bird.
These birds are Hesperornis, and they seemed hesitant to move further away from the crash zone. The noises away from the beach made the birds nervous, but eventually, the animals began their waddling march up the beach. The birds, after a short walk, began to divide and reform the same pairs from last year; each male wooed their monogamous partner, mimicking their every move gently, and began to build their nests afterwards using pebbles and seaweed scattered across the beach. Not all the nesting pairs had much material to work with, as this year, people have been cleaning up the beaches from most of the usual "pebbles" they used, and so the pairs now began to steal from each other.
One male, having only some pebbles and a piece of seaweed on its nest, began to look for an unattended nest to steal a pebble from, but most pairs fiercely guarded their ground, biting any bird who went too close; so, in turn, one of the two left the nest and headed away from the colony in search of material, while its partner stood guard of the little material they had, fiercely guarding it like everyone else.
Given they were flightless, traveling was an arduous work, especially when the beach provided little to no material; the only other place they'd get something would be the sea, but getting wet also had its risks, for predators patrol these waters. The male, having found nothing so far, joined a small flock that was heading to the shallows and dove down in search of material. Below the water, algae, rocks, and even other materials were everywhere and available to pick, but securing them was tricky. Keeping a stone or a piece of algae was a challenge, for as soon as someone finds something, others immediately chase after the owner to steal what it had found; justles like this usually end with the material destroyed, torn by their toothed beaks, but pebbles at least were a much tougher material.
The male, having found some seaweed, quickly snatched it off the seafloor, but as soon as it began to swim up, a young female spotted his catch and began to chase it. Their powerful long legs, combined with their large webbed feet, propelled them underwater with ease, but the advantage of the juvenile is that it has more stamina and agility. The male tried to turn away, but the young female managed to catch up and snatch a piece off its beak. Once away from his chaser, it quickly began to swim back to the beach before other Hesperornis chased it after its materials, and it wasn't long before another squabble began, this time not after seaweed but after a plastic bag.
The male finally reached the shore, with the task of waddling back to his partner being the only thing left; it was, however, as tricky as not attracting the attention of others, especially those still on their nest, who would attempt to steal his materials as he passed by. The male has to move quickly amidst the bombardment of pecks, holding firm to his seaweed piece as others tried to drive it away from their nests, and in the end, it finally reached his partner; the two nuzzled their beaks before trying to fit the piece on their nest, now filled with some pebbles the female managed to steal from others.
The Hesperornis' nests soon began to be formed with pebbles, algae, and plastic found around, some of it stolen from others to the point that one single material would have made its way around the colony without anyone noticing. These birds, however, weren't the only ones collecting material for their nests; from above, a pterosaur flew around the colony, waiting for something, and as soon as it spotted a chance, it quickly dove down to snatch a small pebble from an unguarded nest. This pterosaur, a Wenupteryx, didn't make its nest on the ground but on a cliff some meters away from the beach; however, unlike the Hesperornis, all the competition it had were other males, for in their species, they were the ones that arrived first.
The male, having secured a pebble, flew back to his unfinished nest as quickly as it could, for, like in the case of the Hesperornis below, its nesting material was at risk of being stolen; however, the Wenupteryx have a different strategy: instead of breeding close to each other, their nests were scattered on different ledges across the cliff, and the only way to access another male's nest was to fly over it and steal a pebble. The male arrived back just as another male had landed, and it quickly pecked it away from his nest; the thief flew off, but not without a pebble in its jaws.
The owner placed the pebble it snatched where the missing one was, as well as rearranging the pebbles it had collected already; then, it waited for the arrival of his partner, guarding its tiny nest fiercely against any other males who wanted to steal from it. Only a few minutes later, after almost a couple of weeks since the males' arrival, the females finally arrived, swooping over the males as each tried to find their long-term partner. The males started to call, signaling to their mates "I'm here! Come down!", but while most started to descend, our male's songs were unanswered. His partner didn't seem to be among the flock.
A close-by neighbor's partner landed, and the two started to nuzzle as they renewed their bond; our male could only watch and keep on singing, hoping for his partner to answer his call, yet as the females flew by, none answered his song. Most females usually arrive on time, with a few delayed by either weather or the distance of their feeding grounds, and with the climate having changed lately, it is most likely his partner was still out in the sea… hopefully.
Other couples were already preparing themselves for the task of being parents, with the females giving a hand to the males to make the finishing touches to their nests, and as the nests were slowly being decorated with extra materials, most of the males flew off, their stomachs empty from guarding their materials until their partners arrived. Our male, however, still singed and waited for his partner, his hunger ignored by the urge to call her. It may take some days for her to arrive, but it must be soon, for if she doesn't, not only will their bond be broken, but he'll leave for the sea, as waiting for too long could make him starve.
At the house, Hilda and her mom finally arrived, and the latter placed the bags on the table before sitting on her table again as she went back to work. -Hey, Hilda, could you place what you can on the cupboards?- her mom asked her -I'll put what's left in its place later when I finish the last of my work-, -Sure!- Hilda replied before getting up the table and grabbing the bag, but when she opened it, she found the raven unconscious inside it, giving her a shock.
-Is everything ok?- her mom asked, worried, -I… I'm fine, mom!- Hilda replied nervously -I nearly dropped the eggs by accident!-, -Be careful, Hilda!- her mom replied back and continued her work while Hilda, with the raven on her arms, slowly passed by as silently as she could before dropping the bird in her room; then, she quickly headed to the table to resume her task.
In her room, the bird began to wake up, and still dizzy from the hit, it tried to walk around in a clumsy way, and while it moved, his movements caught the attention of someone else who had just arrived in the room. -What the…?!- Alfur asked in shock as he saw the raven -Hey, are you lost?-, -Huh?, Who's there?- the raven asked as he tried to stand up yet again, -Well… I'm here in the window- Alfur replied, but the raven couldn't see him. -Where?- the raven asked, -Oh, where's my modals- Alfur said before trying to climb down to where the bird is -if you could place your feet here to sign this, you'll be able to see me-. Confused, the bird tried to follow the voices, accidentally trampling Alfur in the process. -I.. think… you should just stay in place… for the moment- Alfur stated as he recovered from being trampled.
The raven then stood still, until he saw a tiny piece of paper heading his way. -Are you the paper?- he asked, -Yeah, just lift your feet for a second, please!- Alfur replied before trying to spray ink over his talons, -There, now place it in the paper- Alfur stated, and the raven placed its foot on it. With the paper signed, the raven finally managed to spot Alfur next to him. -So… first of all, hello, I'm alfur- Alfur said as the raven looked at him -second of all, how did you get here?-, -Oh.. uh… I don't remember- the raven replied, -Ok… Well, what about… your name?- Alfur asked, -Uh… I don't remember that either- he replied, making Alfur sigh, -Well… this is going to be a long talk- he stated.
Hilda, having finished her task, then came to the room with Twig, and the raven quickly jumped backwards, nearly trampling Alfur again. -You… I remember you!- he cried out -you're the girl who saved me from that creature!-, -Did you really do that?- Alfur asked -and… what creature attacked you this time?-, -Well… I did- Hilda replied before holding the raven again and placing it somewhere comfortable for it -but before saving him, he was attacking some kids for some unknown reason-, -Oh… that's because… uh…- the raven tried to speak, but he couldn't remember why he did that -I don't remember-, -He isn't really the best creature to talk to- Alfur joked. -Well, what do you remember?- Hilda asked, and the raven did his best to try to come up with something, -I… uh… I remember… a big man!- he replied -a big man with a long beard! And I was supposed to be on his shoulder!-, -Ok… that's… something useful?- Alfur replied -is there anything else you remember?-.
The raven was about to say something when Johanna came to her room, and she quickly jumped back when she saw the bird. -Hilda, why is there a bird in your room?!- she asked alarmed, -Mom, it's OK! I saved it from some kids earlier…- Hilda replied and then noticed she spoke out loud something she hadn't told her mom, -What do you mean by "earlier"? Did Frida and David hurt it?- her mom asked, confused, -No, no! They didn't- she replied -there were some kids throwing pebbles at a tree, and one accidentally hit it-, -Well, why didn't you take it to a veterinary…?- Johanna asked, and then realized she hadn't told Hilda how to get there yet -never mind, just… is the bird alright? Can it fly?-, -What's flying again?- the raven asked, causing Johanna to faint for a moment.
-Mom? Mom!- Hilda tried to wake her mom up while the raven looked at them confused. -Is she alright?- Alfur asked worryingly, and thankfully, Johanna slowly regained consciousness. -Did the bird just… talk?- she asked, still dizzy, -Well… it's a long story- she replied nervously; Hilda then helped her mom sit up before telling her what happened before she found her, although she omitted the part about her encounter with the Masiakasaurus, worried that she might scold her for breaking her rule. Her mom was still confused by her story, but she started to grow interested in the bird.
-You're telling me… this bird was annoying some kids on that playground, and then it got hit by a pebble… and talked?- her mom asked, still confused, -As far as I've seen, yeah- Hilda replied. Her mom then gently grabbed the raven and checked if it had any other injuries. -Well… he looks like he's got no broken bones- she stated, placing the raven down, -That means it can still fly, right?- Hilda asked, -I… think I can- the raven said before trying to climb to the window, but Johanna quickly grabbed him before he could leap off, -Maybe… It's best to try in an open area- she suggested nervously -like… in a park!-, -Didn't you say today would be too crowded because of the parade?- Hilda asked, -Well, I do know a few spots where usually there's no people around- her mom replied -and I know some shortcuts to reach those parts; what I hope is that they're not crowded by now-.
Hilda felt like her mom trying to help her was weird, as she usually wouldn't help her unless it was something important, but seeing how she too didn't know what to do with the bird as well, she agreed. -Mom, are you sure you're not going to miss anything important on your job?- Hilda asked as she carried the raven while her mom got ready to go out -aren't you still supposed to be working-, -Well, that is true- she replied -but I'm just getting everything ready as soon as my job is done for today. You keep an eye on the bird until I finish with my work for the day-.
Hilda took the raven back to her room, Twig and Alfur following behind, and decided to ask some questions to the bird to get more information about it. -So… You said that you remember that the only thing you remember is a man with a beard, right?- Hilda asked the raven, -I… think so?- he replied -I don't even remember if that's what I said earlier. Oh! Why am I forgetting more stuff now?!-, -I think that pebble really hit you hard- Hilda said out loud, making the raving panic. -Woah! Woah! Calm down!- Alfur told the raven -breathe!-.
The raven then slowly began to compose himself, sitting down and taking heavy breaths. -Ok, let's just start again. Do you remember anything else besides the man with a beard?- Hilda asked, and the raven tried to remember what he could. -I remember… a village… in the wilderness- he stated -I was… walking around… and then I stopped… next to a man with a beard!-. -You were next to someone? Now that is a clue!- Alfur said, also taking notes of what the raven was saying in case the bird forgets what he said, -I think so- he replied -was I by his right side or his left?-.
Hilda then had a quick thought and tried to look through the books she had for a book about Trolberg her mom gave her; she quickly scrolled through the pages and showed a picture of a statue to the raven. -Is this person who you meant by "a man with a beard"?- Hilda asked, -Maybe? I.. I don't even remember saying that- the raven replied nervously -did I even say that?, -This guy is killing me- Alfur stated sarcastically.
Suddenly, the clang of bells signaling the time startled the raven but also seemed to make him anxious; he started to panic again, walking from one side of the room to the other, as if he were worried. -I… I feel like those bells… they're important- he stated -I think I'm important!-, -Everyone feels that way- Alfur stated, receiving a smack from Twig's tail, -I… I have to go!- the raven stated, making his way to the window again -I must find the man! I need to get to him!. Hilda quickly went to stop him, but he quickly jumped off the window ledge, flapping its wings in an attempt to stay airborne, but unfortunately, given his memory loss, he had forgotten the essential skill of flying and, as such, fell on a garbage pile.
-I'm fine!- he stated, having fallen on some trash bags. -Wait there! We'll come for you!- Hilda yelled and went to grab her jacket in a hurry; Twig followed her too, with Alfur quickly jumping on top of his head. -Hilda! Where are you going?- her mom asked as Hilda ran through the living room, -The raven fell off the window!- she claimed before putting on her boots -I'll get him back-, -I'll come with you- she replied and stood up, grabbing her jacket on the way.
Meanwhile, the raven, not understanding what Hilda meant, started to walk away into the street, noticing a lot of people wearing bird costumes as well as cars with bird statues. -These look pretty- he said to himself before walking away into the crowd just before Hilda and her mom arrived at where he had fallen.
-He's not here!- Hilda stated, trying to look for him in the trash. Twig, however, caught a scent and started to track it down. -I think Twig found something- Johanna pointed out, alerting Hilda -come on!-. Hilda left the trash bags behind and followed her mom and Twig into the crowd. -Stick close to me- her mom said to her, to which Hilda nodded and grabbed her hand before the two continued to follow Twig.
-Look at the car go!- David stated as the car he and Frida helped decorate was starting to roll on the street, lining up before the parade started. -The yellow lights you found really make it stick up a bit more- Frida complemented -you're a genius for thinking about it-, -Hey, you're the one who said it needed to be "brighter"- David replied and giggled. The two of them kept on watching the preparations, unaware that the raven was coming their way.
-This is a lot of tall people- he said to himself before trying to walk between the two kids, -Hey!- David yelled at the bird, -Oh, sorry- the raven replied before he moved away into an alley, -No prob…- David replied, before realizing what happened -did that bird just… talk?-, -Oh, don't tell me you're having a Trevor moment?- Frida asked jokingly, -What?!- David asked, feeling offended -the bird did talk, I'm not being Trevor!-.
Just as Frida was about to laugh, Twig walked between them as well. -You're going to say he talks too?- Frida asked with a small, smug smile as Twig trotted by, -Sorry!- Hilda stated as she ran by, startling both; -Hilda?- Frida asked, -Oh, hi- she quickly replied before her mom caught up, -Where did Twig go?- she asked her, -Over there- David pointed at an alley before Hilda and Johanna ran towards it. -Why were they in such a hurry?- Frida asked, -I'm not sure- he replied -want to get some apple juice?-, -Sure- Frida replied -that's my favorite-.
Back with the raven, he started to get confused as to where to go, given that the alley he had walked to was connected to others, forming a maze. -Have I been here already?- he asked out loud before walking back into another dead end. -Hmmm… this one is different- he said before turning around and hearing steps coming is his direction. -Tilda? Is that you?- he asked as the steps sounded closer, only for what peaked over the corner not to even be a person.
The raven was confused at what was staring at him, as it didn't seem like the human it saw earlier. Slowly, the creature approached, provoking fear in the raven. It then suddenly pounced at it, but the raven dodged the initial attack and began to run out of the corner and into another one. This time, however, he had some boxes to climb through before the creature caught up, although it still bit off some of his rear feathers.
On the entry to the alley maze, Twig stood nervous, for he smelled the presence of something in there. -What's wrong, boy?- Hilda asked him as she caught up, and soon her mom caught up too. -What happened? Why did Twig stop moving?- she asked in concern, -I think it smelled something bad there- Hilda replied before a low echo resonated on the walls, concerning Johanna. -Follow me; I think I know an exit- Johanna replied, and Hilda and Twig soon followed.
Once back in the streets, the raven kept on walking in a random direction until he found himself blocked by a wall of people, all eager to see the parade from a giant television on the town square. -What kind of mirror is that?- the raven asked out loud, startling the crowd. Everyone immediately backed up or simply started to record the bird, with the videos being uploaded to social media instantly. -Wha… why are you all staring at me like that?- the raven asked nervously, some people claimed to stand back and give the bird space, while others were telling the bird words to repeat like if he was a parrot.
Hilda and her mom soon caught up, but when Hilda tried to rush to the bird's side, her mom stopped her. -Mom, we need to get the raven back!- she argued, -Trust me, Hilda. A stressed and cornered creature is the last thing you want to face against- Johanna replied, Hilda giving her an odd look. -When did you learned that?- Hilda asked her -have you watched documentaries without me lately?-.
The crowd seemingly didn't know about this, as the raven was beginning to get even more nervous, and to make matters worse, a police car rolled into the scene to try and disperse the crowd, making the raven run off again without looking and crash into a light post. -Is it alright?- one person asked as the crowd began to try and see what happened to the bird, with one police officer approaching the dizzy bird, -I… assure you… are faint- the raven spoke, alarming the officer and impressing the crowd.
The raven, dazed but still conscious, suddenly began running away again, heading towards another alley. -Mom, we're going to loose it!- Hilda claimed as it disappeared into the alley, but Johanna seemed calmed about this. -Follow me- she told her daughter -I think I know where that alley leads up to-. With that said, Hilda and Twig followed Johanna as she went around the block and into another alley, one that was short and quickly led to the other side of the block, and just as she predicted, the raven just popped into view, having left the alley it had gone into.
-Oh, hey Tilda- the raven saluted as Johanna grabbed him before he could flee, -Next time, just stay put- said Johanna, annoyed, -Oh, my worries, I was just trying to reach a sound- the raven replied, making Hilda and Johanna confused. -I… think you meant "apologies", not "worries"- Hilda replied, trying to hold her laugh, -Oh no… I'VE FORGOTTEN GRAMMAR!- the raven yelled in panic, flapping his wings to Johanna's face -I love grammar! I can't believe my horror!-. -Well… can you… try and… calm down… first?!- Johanna tried to argue as the raven's wings hit her face; the raven started to calm down, letting Johanna speak clearly. -Listen, it's ok to forget some things like grammar, especially if you're nervous- she clarified, -Oh, but you don't understand, I need my grammar to remember, for I am important!- the raven replied -I need to be somewhere, and my grammar is something someone is expecting!-.
This left Johanna confused, but Hilda explained to her what happened before the raven fell off the house. -Oh… he's been saying that since he spoke?- she asked her daughter, -Yeah, and I still don't understand what he means- Hilda replied. With the raven calmed down, Johanna started to walk her way to the park she wanted to go earlier, but a TDW patrol car suddenly stopped their tracks. -Uh… can we help you?- asked Johanna nervously as she held the raven in her arms, -Ma'am, we'd require you to give the bird to us- the guard stated, -Why?- Hilda asked, -This bird is injured as we saw earlier- the officer stated -we're just going to take it into the medical center-.
Hilda was confused; her first encounter with them had them use tranquilizer darts and a net gun, why is it now that they're not armed but have a different vehicle?. Her questioning, however, was cut short by another round of clanging bells, and once again, the raven panicked, except this time, sparks were coming out of its tiny wings, shocking Johanna. -Ow Ow OW!- she yelled in pain and let go of the raven, who in turn tried to escape. -Get the net gun!- one officer replied as the raven made its way across the street in a hurry. Hilda and Twig quickly tried to catch up to the raven first, but this time around, the raven was going much faster now that it had begun to fly again.
-His memory loss isn't such a problem now, isn't it?- Alfur stated as he tried to grab tightly to Twig's antler, -I'm not sure, but if those people want him, it must be because of something!- Hilda replied as she tried to follow the raven's path; soon enough, however, she lost sight of him, and Twig couldn't even smell his scent. -Hilda!- her mom yelled as she managed to catch up with her -where… did it… go?-, -I don't know- Hilda replied, worried -it started to fly away as soon as me and Twig tried to catch up to him-, -Well, at least we know he's doing alright- her mom replied.
The raven, now back in the sky, desperately tried to find the statue of the man he had tried to remember, but his sparkling display was attracting more attention than he expected. A small crowd now gathered where the raven was trying to soar, with David and Frida among the people in the group. -That's certainly not the thing you see every day- Frida stated, -It could be weirder anyway- David replied, but his words were soon manifested when a V-shaped flock of long-crested pterosaurs called Barbaridactylus flew by the raven's side. Panicked, the raven accidentally released sparks that startled the reptiles, but the raven couldn't control it, causing more sparks to fly out of his feathers.
Hilda and her mom soon caught up to the group as the raven was provoking the flock, but getting through the crowd wasn't going to be easy. To make things worse, the TDW arrived at the scene to try and disperse the aerial fighters, as the more sparks the raven produced, the more it panicked the pterosaurs.
-Everyone stand back!- a TWD guard stated as he tried to drive the pterosaurs away from the bird by shooting a flare into the air, but that only made the raven even more scared. Suddenly, the pterosaurs had enough, and a few individuals began to fly up, only to dive down and try to make the raven lose its balance. -Oh no no no no!- Hilda cried in panic -mom! We got to do something!-. Johanna, however, was stunned; this was one thing she never had to face back in the forest when she and Hilda lived there alone.
The bombarding pterosaurs were now causing the raven to emit stronger bolts of electricity, but this sent the pterosaurs into a frenzy. -Fire tranquilizers!- a TWD guard stated, and two other guards prepared their rifles, -Are they going to shoot the pterosaurs or the raven?- Frida asked as she and David watched the scene unfold, -I'm afraid it could be both- David said out loud -if they hit the raven or the reptiles they could fall into the ground hard!-. Hearing this, Hilda tried to make her way across the crowd, pulling her mom along.
The raven soon emitted huge lightning bolts, scaring away most of the pterosaurs, but at the worst time possible. One man fired a tranquilizer and hit him right on its chest, and to make matters worse, one pterosaur who didn't flee dove down one last time, and his momentum knocked the bird off balance, making it fall down into a river. Hilda and her mom just arrived as the bird splashed down, the bird now struggling to swim. -Stay back, Hilda- her mom stated, and jumped into the river. Hilda stood there nervously as her mom tried to find the bird in the murky water.
-HELP!- the raven stated as he tried to stay afloat. Johanna swam to his position, but the bird became desperate and tried to climb on top of her. -Hey! Calm down!- Johanna tried to talk to the raven as it tried to get above the water by climbing her head, -Help me! Please- the raven stated as it was still panicking, small sparks dangerously wanting to be released from his wings. -If the raven sends shocks into the water it could kill her!- Alfur stated in panic, and without thinking it twice, Hilda jumped into the river, leaving Twig and Alfur to watch what happens next.
Hilda swam to her mother's side and helped her grab the raven off her head. -Hey! Relax now!- she yelled at the raven as she held him in her hands, -I need to go! The man is waiting for me!- the raven yelled and started to glow with sparks of electricity; Hilda and her mom quickly tried to get out of the water, but the raven wasn't making it easy. Johanna quickly swam ashore and tried to look for something for her daughter to grab on, while Hilda tried her best to calm the raven down. Despite her efforts, the raven got off her hands and tried to fly, only to fall down into the murky waters again. -Stay there! I'm coming!- Hilda stated, but just as she grabbed the raven, something else got a hold of it: a Wels catfish emerged to the surface and grabbed the raven's feet with such force that it pulled both the raven and Hilda underwater.
-HILDA!- Johanna yelled as she saw the fish drag the two down and quickly got back into the river and dove down to find them. The murky waters weren't helping, and Johanna quickly lost sight of them. Suddenly, the water below her began to glow with lightning, and then an immense glow of bright thunderbolts shot from the water, blinding everyone nearby. From the river now flew a gigantic raven, one that seemed to rival the largest of planes, and on its back, Hilda and her mom hanged for dear life as the bird flew higher and higher. -OH! I FEEL ALIVE AGAIN!- it yelled out loud as it flew into the clouds -LOOK AT ME! ALL REJUVENATED!-. The huge raven made pirouettes in the air as it soared over the city, his presence signaling the citizens that the harvest festival could begin.
Eventually, the raven stopped showing off and flew in circles around the city, giving Hilda and Johanna some room to breathe. -What… just happened?!- Johanna asked, confused -you were… and you sounded sleepy… and-, -Oh! Yeah, I am a total mess when it comes to my shapeshifting- the raven replied -when I stay in that form for too long, I begin to lose my memories-, -So you weren't making the whole thing of "the statue" up?- Hilda asked, and the raven flew down towards the town center, where a statue of a big bearded man stood.
-Long ago, when this place was only a village, I was trying to find something that would impulse me back to my original form again. The land looked barren without rain, and I had stayed in my small form for far too long and was lost, and then he found me- the raven replied and looked at the statue -that man didn't have much time left, but he told me about how this land was once filled with wonders, and that made me sorry for its present state. And so, in his final breath, I tried with all might to grow again and cast a large storm, causing rain to fall down from the mountains and into the valley; and when the rains stopped, the land was fertile once again-.
-And that's why you are celebrated here!- Hilda concluded, -Well… yeah, but in reality, it is the old man who should be recognized, for without him, I would've remained amnesiac, this land wouldn't have become bountiful, and it would've stayed as a dry prairie- he replied -and I sometimes do get annoyed when people call me the "great raven"-, -But aren't you a raven?- Johanna asked, confused, -That's how you humans call me- he replied before flying up into the clouds again -I'm not a raven; I'm a THUNDERBIRD!-.
The raven then released massive lightning bolts across the clouds, making them ripple across them and make dazzling shapes in the sky, -Well… I guess we shouldn't use the term "raven" on you then- Hilda replied nervously, her hair and her mom's static from the presence of lightning, -Oh, you can, just… don't use it too often!- the raven stated and dove back down, soaring over the parade cars as they were lightened up with light bulbs and floating lamps. Hilda saw down and admired the large number of decorations glowing in shades of red, orange, and yellow, and yelled from joy as she and her mom flew over the parade. -Was that Hilda?- David asked as the raven flew over him and Frida, -You're definitely having a Trevor moment- Frida giggled in reply.
Soon, the raven changed back to his small form as he let Hilda and her mom back down. Twig, who had tried to follow the scent of the bird, finally caught up, exhausted from how much he had to run. -That was probably one of the craziest moments we've ever had, heh?- Johanna joked as Hilda grabbed Twig, -For you, it certainly was- the raven replied as it flew and landed in Johanna's head -and I have to thank you two for… uh, oh, dang it! I already forgot, but I owe you guys a lot!-, -It hasn't even been a minute, and you're already forgetting stuff again?- Hilda joked as she carried Twig in her arms, -I guess it's in my nature- the raven sighed.
Suddenly, fireworks began to light up the sky, and Johanna suddenly had an idea. She started to walk towards an alley and up some stairs; Hilda, Twig, and the raven followed behind, and soon they all saw where Johanna was going: a small wall. -Up you go!- Johanna said to her daughter as she helped Hilda climb up before helping Twig as well; the raven then let Alfur get up in his head before he flew next to Twig.
-This view looks pretty- Hilda said as she admired the fireworks show and the parade cars drive by, -This was the spot I used to see the parade when I was little- she stated, letting her daughter rest her head in her side -me and your grandmother used to go here every year as the rav… I mean, the thunderbird flew above the skies and lit up the clouds-. -I'm glad to have put on a show to you and your mum Ms… uh- the raven tried to thank Johanna, and she giggled. -You're probably going to have to leave soon, right?- Hilda asked the raven, -I sure will, I have a migration route to follow- he said -but I'll always fly by. If you ever hear erratic thunder, you know I'm right above you-.
The fireworks went on, and Johanna hugged Hilda as the two admired the view, relaxed after a long afternoon. Everyone in the city cheered on the event, with the school band playing music for everyone. It was a good ending for Hilda and her mom, but back on the shore, there was still someone waiting for his good ending. The male Wenupteryx had now waited all day for his partner to return, but it seemed like this year she was going to be late. The rain of fireworks shined over the waves and the sky, a dazzling display for all animals, dinosaurs, and beasts that were on the shore, the forest, even beyond.
Suddenly, amidst the colors of the fireworks, a familiar call was drowned in between the bangs; a shape was heading towards the male's nest. Was it a stranger? A predator? Or could that be…? It was her. The female, late and exhausted, finally popped into view, and while the colors shone in the sky, his partner tried to land on the rocky cliff. It was certainly a difficult task, as the flashing light and noise were disorientating, and if she missed the landing, she could hurt herself, but since she and her mate have been separated for so long, caution is no longer of such importance.
The female swooped down, and with what she could make out from the blinding flashes, she landed in the next; immediately, her partner warbled at her, and the two sang together, a sign that the two still shared their connection, even after such a long wait. Their beaks nuzzled, and soon the two stopped to gaze at each other. After a couple of weeks of waiting, the two "lovebirds" finally were reunited; their struggle to raise a family could now begin… tomorrow, as for now, the two continued to reconnect their bond as the fireworks shined above the city and across the sky.
Their stay in this wonderful land has only just begun.