Rustle… Rustle…
This was the edge of the forest. Beyond lay a vast, exposed expanse, territory that offered Carlo no cover, putting him at a distinct disadvantage. He scanned the area ahead, tilting his head slightly as he began to sift through the surrounding scents.
The aroma of ripening crops flooded Carlo's nostrils, causing him to pause in surprise. He sharpened his focus, narrowing his eyes at the distant horizon.
Massive farmlands blocked their path. A patchwork of circular and rectangular plots, each bursting with different crops, formed a vibrant, living tapestry across the landscape. Through the fields, Carlo could just make out the shimmering line of a highway. For some reason, the flow of traffic was unusually sparse.
Beside the highway stood a speed trap. A police cruiser was parked on the shoulder, and an officer in uniform stood nearby sipping coffee. He watched the few passing vehicles, waiting for some "lucky" soul to help him hit his monthly quota.
Carlo considered his options for a moment before dropping into a long-absent state of Clumsy Stealth. He crept out of the forest with lightened steps, lowering his massive frame as much as possible, looming like a shifting ridge behind the low-lying crops.
Well... he wasn't exactly "hidden," but thanks to his stealth capabilities, he wouldn't be easily spotted unless someone was looking directly at him.
Giga Dad flanked Carlo's left, while the little ones followed closely behind their father, keeping pace just a step behind Carlo. All five Giganotosaurus pressed themselves low to the ground. Eschewing the direct path through the grain, they quietly skirted the edge of the fields, making their way toward the highway.
…
"...Residents are advised to stay alert. Following the breakout at Lockwood Estate in Montana last night, several dinosaurs are confirmed to be at large. Please remain indoors and secure all doors and windows. If you are currently outdoors, please—"
(Note: The location of Lockwood Estate is a headcanon setting; the films never explicitly stated its coordinates.)
The man in the driver's seat flicked the radio channel, only to find the news dominating every station. He shut it off abruptly, refusing to let the grim broadcast ruin the family road trip.
"Hey, don't worry about it. It's not like we haven't seen dinosaurs before. They're just big, slow, clumsy things. We're in a car; there's nothing to be afraid of."
The man spoke reassuringly to his wife in the passenger seat and his son in the back.
"Speaking of that, Dad, do you remember the Giganotosaurus we saw together? You even bought a postcard of it."
Remembering the trip, the boy bounced excitedly behind the driver's seat.
"Of course I remember. I heard that Giganotosaurus was moved to a new exhibit later on. But now... they're probably all dead..."
The man smiled. He had always been fond of that postcard featuring the Giganotosaurus father and its offspring; he still kept it to this day.
"Watch out!"
His wife suddenly grabbed his arm, jerking the steering wheel and forcing the car into a sideways skid.
In the next heartbeat, a colossal footprint slammed down onto the black asphalt. A massive shadow instantly engulfed the vehicle.
Carlo stood blocking the road. He scanned the surroundings, tasting the air to ensure no large-scale human recovery teams were in pursuit. Several dark shapes blurred past him – the rest of the pack, led by Giga Dad.
Carlo followed suit, leading his family toward the jagged peaks of the Cordillera mountain range.
"Hey! You can't park there!"
An American police officer, spotting the obstruction in the middle of the road like a potential bonus check, came jogging over.
"No, no, no, Officer, it wasn't my fault! A... a giant dinosaur just walked across the road! I had to stop!"
"A giant dinosaur? Ha! That's a new one."
"It's true! Officer, I'm not lying!"
"Shut it. You want the fine, or do you want to be detained?!"
…
Carlo led his family across the open plains, reaching the base of the distant peaks. He attempted to lift his right foot, testing his weight against the incline.
Rumble—
The sound of shifting scree echoed as Carlo's entire body slid downward, his hide scraping against the rock face.
It was a failure. The slope, nearly 70°, simply couldn't support a Giganotosaurus's weight. They would have to find another way.
"Roar…"
Don't go up the mountain.
Giga Dad let out a low rumble, breaking Carlo's train of thought.
"Roar?"
Don't go up? Why?
Carlo was confused. According to the memories in his head, a Giganotosaurus was supposed to dwell upon the mountain peaks.
"Roar…"
Cold...
Giga Dad's answer was brief, but it was enough to make Carlo change his mind. It was time to adjust their route. Following the riverbed, Carlo led the Giganotosaurus family onward.
…
Thwack— Thwack—
Owen Grady swung a wooden mallet, driving nails into a plank. He was attempting to build a small cabin entirely by hand.
Dark clouds crowded the sky. A gust of cold wind bit through Owen's uncharacteristic long-sleeved shirt, making him shiver involuntarily. Winter was coming, the first true challenge the dinosaurs would face in the human world.
Owen picked up the pace. If he didn't want the three of them cramped inside the RV all winter, he had to finish the cabin before the deep freeze set in.
"Aok!"
Suddenly, Blue's high-pitched cry rang out from the forest, calling for Delta.
"Aok!"
Delta, who had been resting near the unfinished cabin, scrambled to her feet. She let out a responding chirp and limped toward the depths of the jungle.
Owen paused, watching the scene. Hearing Delta's response, Blue poked her head out from the treeline, glancing between Delta and Owen.
"Hey, girl!"
Owen greeted her warmly. Blue opened her mouth to reply, but her voice was drowned out by a much louder, more resonant roar.
"Aunnng-roar!"
Just a mountain ridge away from Owen's cabin, a massive Yutyrannus lay sprawled on the ground. It looked lazy, almost motionless, hardly appearing to be the source of the fierce cry heard moments ago.
Thud. Thud.
The ground vibrated as another Yutyrannus approached. This one was slightly leaner than the first. In its jaws, it carried the carcass of a deer. It was a mystery how such a titan managed to hunt a white-tailed deer, but the meat was undeniably precious to them.
"Roar—"
Are you hungry?
"Roar…"
Not hungry.
The newcomer settled down beside the robust Yutyrannus. After a brief "conversation," it took the food and headed back into the forest, letting out a loud call to summon its other companions to share the meal.
They seemed to possess a complex social structure. The robust Yutyrannus wasn't the leader of this pack; the one who had hunted the deer was.
And between them... there seemed to be a bond of kinship.
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