Rays of sun glittered down from the foliage above, dappling the male's spotted hide with freckles of light. The giganotosaurus crept across the leaf-strewn ground, the gentle crush of dried limbs beneath his thick padded feet nearly inaudible as he focused his weight carefully.

The parasaurolophus herd grazed ahead of him, trumpeting to each other as they discussed the greenest patch of grass and the ripest of berries. The male giga's eyes were glued to the one straggler, the gray para with the golden crest. It was clearly well fed, as his skin sagged from his bones with all its weight, and his walk was more of a hobble than anything.

The parasaurolophus absentmindedly crept towards the trees, paying no mind to its surroundings and only caring to graze. The giga slowed his pace and remained crouched, his muscles stiff and ready to pounce from where he stood. One of the females in the herd turned her head to the straggler, and spoke loudly in request for the male to return.

The giganotosaurus stiffened as the golden-crested para turned its head and spoke back, but relaxed as his prey returned to grazing, creeping ever closer to the tree line where he resided. He stood, stock still, as the para finally reached the correct distance for an ambush.

Without a moment to waste, the giganotosaurus charged soundlessly from the trees. The only noise that gave away his presence was the pounding of his feet and the ground crushing beneath him. The parasaurolophus rose to its rear legs, whipping its head around to meet its fate. It trumpeted in a panic and turned to flee, but he was too slow to escape.

The giga bore down on the para and gained on him quickly, snapping his jaws at its side and ripping out chunks of flesh. He swallowed what he teared and the para's screams rang in his ears as he continued with his attack. The rest of the herd cried out with fear and terror, and out of the corner of his eyes he saw how they all fled in unison.

The giga picked up speed and approached the para's bleeding side. He rammed into it, causing it to stagger. Using this to his advantage, the giga snapped his jaws and shoved the para to the ground. With a leg, he pinned the struggling creature, and rose over it with a victorious roar.

He lowered his head, and delivered the killing blow.

A tiny little trumpet startled the giga just as he worked to take a bite of his meal. The massive predator turned his head, surprise flickering through him as he spotted the female from before guiding two young parasaurs. The female's eyes were glittering with sadness, and her two children wouldn't stop speaking to her with soft calls. The giga met his gaze to the female para's, and the herbivore froze. The giga watched as warily, the little family proceeded across the moor in hopes to reach their herd, before returning to his food and continuing to eat the father.

~*~
Written on February 27th, 2019.