"ROAR—"
By the Great Lake, a Ceratosaurus let out a fierce roar at a Triceratops resting nearby.
This was the offspring of Ceratosaurus One and Two. He was the most territorial of the brood, possessing a remarkably low tolerance for any other creatures encroaching on his space.
"Aunnng—"
The Triceratops bellowed back, refusing to yield. It had only come for a drink of water, was there no law and order left in this world? For a moment, the two dinosaurs became the center of attention at the lake's edge.
"ROAR—"
"AUNNNG!"
The shouting match escalated. The young Ceratosaurus prepared to lunge, intent on using more forceful means to drive his rival away.
"Hrr-ugh!"
At that exact moment, another low growl cut through the tension. Before the rebel could locate the source of the sound, a searing pain shot through his neck.
Ceratosaurus One had charged in, clamping his jaws firmly onto his wayward son's neck. With a surge of brute strength, he pinned the youngster down and shoved him aside. The sub-adult was no match for his father and was sent tumbling across the dirt.
"Roar—"
The youth let out a final, indignant cry before slinking away in disgrace.
Unlike Carlo's Giganotosaurus family, whose bonds were unnaturally deep due to his influence, the Ceratosaurs functioned like a standard prehistoric unit. Eventually, the parents would drive the children out of the territory, or the children would usurp the parents.
Ceratosaurus One watched his rebellious son retreat toward the nesting grounds, silently noting that he'd have to kick the boy out for good once he grew a bit larger. He then turned to the Triceratops, lowering his head and emitting a continuous, low vibrating thrum from his throat, a makeshift apology.
"Aunnng?"
The Triceratops's brain seemed to stall. It tilted its head, staring in confusion at Ceratosaurus One.
Splash...
Ignoring the herbivore's bewilderment, Ceratosaurus One walked to the water's edge and mimicked the motion of drinking, though he barely swallowed a drop.
The "drink" was a facade; his real focus was fear. Under the guise of drinking, he kept a constant eye on the far side of the Great Lake, watching Carlo's massive silhouette. Only when he saw the titan glance over for a moment and then return to his rest did the Ceratosaurus finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Their family really couldn't afford a personal visit from that neighbor.
…
That little Cerato is quite the rebel...
Carlo remained attuned to every stir of movement by the lake. Even after the sub-adult moved out of sight, he tracked him through scent.
Yeah... Ceratosaurus One is struggling. His parenting skills clearly aren't on my level... Wait, actually, Ceratosaurus Two is the smart one, right? She's probably the one raising them.
So mused a certain unnamed Giganotosaurus who had, strictly speaking, been "evicted" by the very brood he raised.
RUMBLE!
The distant volcano erupted with a violence far exceeding its previous tremors. Massive boulders trailed plumes of thick black smoke as they were spat from the crater. They traced imperfect arcs across the sky, leaving charred streaks against the clouds before raining down across Isla Nublar.
"Roar—kugk, kugk… "
Giga Mom was the first to react. She stood up, her roar slightly muffled by the soot, calling for the pack to take cover.
"Aow..."
At this critical moment, Kafka's "night owl" lifestyle proved to be a major liability. She dragged herself upright, head swaying groggily as she struggled to clear the fog of sleep.
"ROAR!"
Giga Mom nudged Kafka with her head, trying to jolt her awake. But Kafka, now as large as her mother, was thick-skinned and hardy; a few headbutts weren't enough to register as pain.
Whiz—
A massive projectile, dappled with glowing red magma, plummeted directly toward them. A black shadow swallowed them whole in an instant!
CRASH!
The boulder shattered. Acrid black smoke billowed outward, making Giga Mom and Kafka cough as the sudden heat washed over them. Through the haze, a mountain-like silhouette stood tall.
Sizzle... sizzle...
Carlo slowly straightened his back. He shook his massive frame, dislodging the stone shards embedded in his skin. Glowing liquid magma was caught between his scales, hissing as it scorched the surface. Thick vapor rose from his hide, yet he didn't flinch.
"ROAR—!"
Carlo reared up slightly, letting out a thunderous bellow at the sky, a challenge that rivaled the fury of the eruption. Then, he raised his left foot and slammed it down.
Ground Stomp.
The mountain seemed to sway in rhythm with the earth. Amidst a tremor that made every creature at the Great Lake tremble, the volcano momentarily subsided into a dull simmer.
Silence returned. Herbivores struggled to regain their footing, staring at the volcano in disbelief. They couldn't fathom that a natural disaster could be stared down so easily.
But Carlo didn't relax. He knew the volcano was at its breaking point. Red-black lava mixed with rock was already spilling over the rim, crawling down the slopes, igniting the jungle and drowning all life in its path. Magma might lack the fluidity of water, but given the steep terrain, it was already coating the mountainside.
Even the Great Lake, the sanctuary of all spirits, was no longer safe. The next eruption would likely be the end. Carlo could intercept falling rocks, but he couldn't shield every dinosaur from a river of fire.
It was time to retreat toward the coast.
"ROAR—"
Carlo gave a resounding call to the gathered dinosaurs. He didn't care if they "understood" him; when the time for the final exodus came, instinct would handle the rest.
Having done his part, Carlo leaned down to pick up his first trophy, the Triceratops skull. As he did, his eye caught the picture frame lying nearby. He froze for a moment, then quickly used his clawed toes to scoop out a small hollow and bury it.
After tamping down the soft earth, Carlo turned to look for the parents and the three…
Wait. Where were Katyusha and Karl?
"Roar... kugk, kugh…"
Giga Mom bellowed at the sky, calling for the two youngsters.
"Roar!"
A faint response echoed from the distant horizon. Without a second's hesitation, Giga Mom bolted in the direction of the two "toddlers," her silhouette mirroring the day years ago when she had charged into the forest fire.
"Hrr-ugh—"
The Triceratops skull fell from Carlo's mouth. Because of his immense size, he couldn't "launch" into a sprint as quickly as the mother; his acceleration was a slow, grinding process. However, his massive strides allowed him to close the gap and keep pace with her after only a few steps.
With his internal "biological radar," Carlo knew exactly where the two were, so he remained far calmer than Giga Mom. As he passed Giga Dad, he let out a short huff, signaling him to watch over Kafka.
"ROAR!"
But Kafka, finally stung awake by the acrid smoke, was terrified for her siblings. For once, she had no desire to "lay flat" and be lazy. She sprinted right after Carlo.
"Roar. Roar? ROAR!"
Giga Dad, having just acknowledged Carlo's command, saw Kafka bolt past him. He stood stunned for a heartbeat before charging after them, roaring in frustration.
None of these kids listen to me! They definitely didn't get that from my side of the family!
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