Crossing the Channel was relatively simple, at least in comparison to last time. This time we could all swim much faster, and we didn't even spend half the time crossing. We didn't even encounter a Mosasaur.
The return walk was relatively somber for me, but I tried not to think or act like anything was bothering me.
I think I managed to convince everyone, but I can't be too sure.
-
Once we arrived back home after the long 6 hour walk, we discovered that our nest area had been completely taken over by a pack of Dakoraptors, who I am now about a third the size of.
Luckily the pack decided not to run to their deaths, due to both my parent's practically chasing them off with their presence.
My first night sleeping at home without Trent had been rather restless.
-
Several weeks have passed since we returned, and not much has happened except some considerable growth on us three Babies' parts. I'd say we're all roughly 2.5-3 times larger than when we hatched. We have successfully entered the juvenile phase, and are no longer mere hatchlings. Interestingly we all look rather cool now with our new genetic features of longer, more powerful tails built for water movement and our lightly armored shells.
Our parents have been rather curious about the new features, and have tested their new features thoroughly, though they have yet to adapt to a more aquatic hunting style. Honestly, the new features haven't really been of note just yet. The aquatic features help with water movement a little, but not enough to make us water predators, and we never have chances to use the armor because nothing hunts us. Well, no one hunts the adults, but that doesn't apply to us juveniles. In fact, I have nearly been grabbed by a Dakoraptor thrice now, but their jaws have failed to get a hold on my skin all three times. It doesn't help that all three times my head was in the clouds and I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings, but that's not important.
-
Today I was playing around with my siblings when I spotted a massive beetle. It had small horns and an iridescent shell that looked rather tough. I thought about eating it, but it started eating my excrement, and I immediately destroyed the thought from my mind.
I'll have to look for an upgrade for my armor somewhere else, cause I am NOT eating that thing.
Later I also came across a giant dragonfly near the lake, and I tried to eat it but was evaded every time. Flying would be so cool, but I'll have to buy my time till I find one already dead. I also have no clue if eating the bug will even let me grow wings in the first place, so for now we wait.
-
The next day I find and eat a frog, and I discover three things.
Frogs are gross and delicious at the same time.Can absolutely be poisonous even when not colorful.Are really hard to fill up on.
The eating past full rule, I am discovering, is going to become extremely annoying.
-
After three days of relentlessly hunting and killing frogs, I finally managed to find frogs that aren't poisonous and are plentiful enough for me to save for later and eat in one go to fill up on. And so, I begin the process of eating the frogs while following the rules for my power.
My goal for frogs? The long tongue and strong legs. Being able to jump as a full grown rex would be super cool, and having a long tongue would allow me to capture dragonflies with ease.
…
Material reinforcement? Does that mean my muscles will be reinforced with iron, or will my bones? Probably my bones right? Because I would need stronger bones to support the muscle mass required for stronger legs. My body wouldn't reject the excess iron right? This ability is so confusing.
-
The next day my tongue was fully assimilated, and It was the strangest feeling. Basically everything about my mouth changed once I acquired the long sticky tongue. My front teeth tilted slightly forward to allow easier access for my tongue to escape, but they also slightly hook to still allow them to be useful. My jaw also lengthened to allow a larger tongue, and of course my tongue got longer and my saliva got stickier, but not to the same level as frogs, who have a non-newtonian fluid for saliva. My saliva is just thicker, like a clear milkshake that coats my mouth.
The tongue took quite a bit of practice to get a hang of and I cut myself on my teeth a few times, but luckily I healed quickly. Interestingly, My sibling didn't acquire the same traits that I did though, which I was curious about but it's not like I can ask them complicated questions like 'Hey why didn't you acquire the same long tongue and sticky saliva I did last night'.
Oh well, I'm sure I'll learn eventually.
Anyways, once I had mastered my new tongue, I decided to show off to my siblings and brought them to the lake to catch a few Dragonflies. It only took a few tries before I had devoured my first one, and boy was it gross. It was crunchy, which was an interesting texture, but it tasted way worse than the frogs did. Gotta say, I was not a fan, but I want wings so whatever.
-
After several hours of gathering as many dragonflies as I could, I managed to finally acquire the genes, but the results were not what I was expecting.
So I couldn't acquire any of the genes I wanted? That's frustrating. Does that mean the mutations have to be actually possible based on my current body, and anything that would require extreme changes can't be done? I guess that makes sense. Still annoying.
-
The next day, after my genes finally assimilated, I discovered that all my siblings had acquired the same genes I did. Their armor had grown to cover most of their body instead of just their backs, but was much less dense then the armor on their backs. I also noticed my vision had become even more precise than before, as if the Tyrannasaur needed better eyesight. It already felt like I had telescopic vision, but now my eyes are just ridiculous. I can see ants like I'm looking at them through a microscope, while simultaneously being able to see everything around me with similar detail. Luckily my eyes work off focus, it's just much more pronounced than before, so I can consciously choose to 'zoom in'.
Also, I noticed my night vision vastly improved as well.
I am still curious why my siblings got these genes and not the frog ones though.
Does it work off of an acceptance system? If so, how did they know what the genes meant, or were? This is all so confusing, especially without an explanation like one would expect from a system, but I digress.
-
The next day my parents were leading us through the forest, and I once again had no clue where we were headed. We were headed to a different area than the island that we went to last time, so I figured it was gonna be another interesting area.
On the way to wherever we were going, I was attacked by a Dakoraptor… again. However, this time it wasn't a full adult! It looked to be a subadult, and while smaller than adults was still larger than me by a good margin.
The Raptor came out of the bushes with its claws up, hissing loudly as it dashed quickly towards me. I reacted quickly (even with my head in the clouds mere moments before) and turned my head down to deflect its claws off my armored back. Usually around this point my parents would step in to defend me, but I quickly realized they were purposefully watching the fight.
I was expected to win, so win I shall.
I was expecting the raptor to back off after a failed ambush, but apparently it wasn't scared of the consequences and decided I was worth the risk. It must've just been that hungry and desperate.
I roared as mighty a roar as I could muster, and it roared back in a much less intimidating manner before immediately charging and trying to stick its claws in my side. It had apparently learned not to go for my armor, but I wasn't that easy of an opponent and sidestepped to avoid it and bit down on its right hind leg, a fatal attack if I was a hundred kilos larger, but alas I am still rather small.
The bite resulted in a loud screech and a small limp, but nothing more. Now injured, It decided to go on the defensive and backed off a bit. I decided to capitalize on its injury and charged at its weak side, only to receive a slash from its clawed hand right across my side. The wound didn't end up being deep and the bleeding was minimal, but it was still a painful reminder that my armor was light.
I backed off slightly before using my brain and charging once again, but once I was in range I launched my tongue at its eyes, catching it off guard and allowing me to grip its offending arm in my strong jaws. I then pulled with all my might, and though I received a light slash across the back of my neck for it, I ripped the skin from its arm, rendering the limb useless.
It screeched with an ear-piercing sound, clearly in immense pain as I let the arm skin fall from my mouth. I made my best attempt at a smile, a creepy grin spreading across my jaws and successfully scaring the raptor. It quickly tried to flee, but with an injured leg it was much slower than normal. I ran after it and quickly caught up, grabbing its flailing tail in my jaws and causing it to screech once again before it spun clockwise and slashed at my face. I luckily let go of it, so the knife-like claws on its left arm barely missed my eye, but I still received a fairly deep cut over my snout.
By now it was panting, clearly freaking out and practically panicking as it launched itself at me in once last desperate attempt at a killing blow. I once again dodged its attack- a quick and sloppy bite at my neck- by dodging low and twisting my head so my jaws were at its throat and surged upwards. My teeth clamped around its jugular with as much power as I could muster and quickly severed it. I felt the blood flood my throat and reveled in my win. It tried to fight back, even managing a decent scrape along my side, but it was dead within seconds.
…
Once I had killed the Dakoraptor my family walked over to the enemy and growled in what I assume to be congratulations. I then went to eat the raptor and hoped to acquire more genes.
After eating all the organs and leaving the rest to my siblings, I was finally past full and managed to trigger the gene acquisition.
Interesting… so because I increased the size of my arms my potential bite force was reduced. It makes sense, since the reason Tyranasaurs had such insane bite force was because their arms were so small- the muscles that increase bite strength take up the space that long arms need, so with increased bite force comes smaller arms.
I was very proud of my first real fight, and was glad it was over. The meat wasn't very tasty, but boy was I satisfied with myself.
Also, over the next few hours I discovered that my hierarchy among my siblings was further solidified. Being the Alpha was nice.
-
The next morning, after sleeping in an unfamiliar campground, I discovered that one of my siblings didn't accept the new genes, but the other did. Diona accepted while Dionel declined the changes.
I'm interested to see how the two will diverge in their paths of evolution.