Jurassic journeys

chapter 1: a friendship between a carnivore and a Herbivore

Long ago, in the age of dinosaurs, a young stygimoloch named Stygi journeyed with her mother and pack. Her orange body and white legs stood out in the dense underbrush, but it was her stubborn, headstrong attitude that truly made her unique. Constantly on the move, the Stygimoloch pack roamed from place to place, seeking safety and water while avoiding predators like the cunning tiger stripe velociraptors or the terrifying Tyrannosaurus rex.

Despite her pack's cautious lifestyle, Stygi believed herself to be fearless. Her sharp mind and hard head—quite literally—were sources of pride, and her mother often chuckled at her boldness.

When the pack finally arrived at a waterhole, Stygi was the first to sprint forward, her claws kicking up dust as she reached the clean, shimmering waters. She lowered her head, quenching her thirst alongside the rest of her pack, the cool water refreshing after a long journey.

As Stygi raised her head, droplets glistening on her snout, something unusual caught her eye: a young tiger stripe velociraptor, its orange-yellow scales streaked with black, lurking near the edge of the waterhole. The raptor was Stygi's age and appeared to be observing a group of gallimimus in the distance. Behind her, a pair of larger velociraptors stood, their sharp eyes tracking the movements of the herd.

Hunting practice, Stygi guessed, her stomach tightening. If so, the poor gallimimus were in for a terrible fate.

Deciding to focus on something less grim, Stygi trotted over to a group of young herbivores her age. They welcomed her warmly. Among them were Trunk, a bulky young male stegosaurus; Skyla, a sharp-eyed and intelligent pteranodon; Maya, a kind-hearted maiasaura with beautiful striped scales; and Tri, a sturdy young triceratops.

"So, where do you all live?" Stygi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity—and a bit of envy. "Or do you wander like we do?"

The others exchanged glances before Skyla, the most talkative of the group, replied first. "I live far to the East, in a place called Fractured Creek. It's a mountain range, jagged and steep—perfect for pterosaurs like me! My family's very social, and I eat fish, so I like hanging out with herbivores. You all are just so... calm!"

Maya spoke next, her voice soft and warm. "My home is the Spring Jewel waterhole. It's beautiful there. My mom says I'll grow into a strong leader one day. I'm the youngest in my herd, but I've been practicing finding the best plants to eat!"

Tri grinned, his horns glinting in the sunlight. "I live in the Pine Talls forest. It's not the safest place, but my dad says my horns will make me a great defender one day. I've already protected my little sister from a predator once!"

Trunk, ever the gentle giant, shrugged his massive shoulders. "I live in a lush valley. It's peaceful, and we have strong tails and plates to scare off most predators. Not much bothers us there."

As Stygi listened, a pang of longing filled her chest. Each of her new friends had a home—a place they could call their own. Her pack, meanwhile, had no such luxury. They wandered, always on the move, never staying in one place long enough to grow attached.

When it was time to leave, Stygi waved goodbye to her friends and began walking back to her pack. She was halfway there when something barreled into her side, knocking her off her feet.

"Hey!" Stygi exclaimed, scrambling to her feet, her claws digging into the dirt. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to face her attacker—a young tiger stripe velociraptor, the same one she'd noticed earlier. Blood dripped from its claws and teeth, but instead of attacking, the raptor simply plopped down in front of her, tilting its head curiously.

"What do you want, predator?" Stygi demanded, lowering her head in a defensive stance.

The raptor blinked and grinned, her sharp teeth gleaming. "I'm Tricky!" she said cheerfully, her tone disarmingly casual. "Mom said to mingle, but there are so many herbivores around. She says I shouldn't socialize with prey, but you're cool-looking!"