Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Early Teachings Kano and Longtooth are leading Storm to the nearest watering hole. It’s a hot day and they family needs to stay hydrated. After they quench their thirst, Kano decides it’s time to teach his son how to do some hunting. They will start simple. “First, we will catch some fish,” Kano thinks to himself. While not expert fishers, tyrannosaurs are capable of catching them. Storm watches his father intently. Kano squats as low to the ground as he can. He remains absolutely still. Then, when the timing is just right, he lunges forward. His great jaws snap shut and a three foot long Coelacanth is brought up from the lake. These fish are migrating into local rivers and lakes from the ocean to spawn. They are here in plenty. Kano drops the fish in front of his mate who touches his nose and proceeds to eat the offering. Kano returns to Storms and repeats the process one more time. He catches another large Coelacanth and eats it himself. The message is clear, “You want lunch? Then you’ll have to catch it yourself.” As cruel as it may sound, Kano knows it’s the best way to teach Storm how to fend for himself. Storm walks to the edge of the lake and mimics his father with surprising accuracy. He spots a huge five footer and lunges. He grabs the fish by the dorsal fin. But it’s twice his size and easily escapes, but not without first smacking Storm across the face with it’s tail. The young tyrannosaur tries again. He zeroes in on a more suitably sized fish. Once again, he lunges forward. Missed. Storm is beginning to get frustrated. He looks to his father for encouragement. Kano touches noses with his son and continues to watch. With renewed vigor, Storm tries one more time. He sees it. A perfect sized specimen. Not too big and not too small. He launches forward and his jaws encircle the struggling fish. He drags it onto shore and looks at his father who gives the nod of approval. They continue to catch fish until they can eat no more. Storm has had his first lesson in hunting and how to survive. But there will be many more to come. The next part of Storm’s teachings is about learning how to ambush prey. His mother shows him the proper position. When she is sure he has it right, she allows him to try and actually catch something. As he assumes the position, Longtooth backs off so he has the room and solitude he requires. A small lizard eventually appears. Storm prepares for the attack. The lizard is completely unaware of Storm’s presence. The time comes and Storm pounces. He plants a foot on the lizard’s back and bites the back of it’s neck. The small reptile struggles a little, but soon lies still. Storm has successfully made his first ambush. Kano arrives and watches as young Storms begins to feed. He looks to Longtooth. Through the complex relationship between tyrannosaur parents, he is able to basically say, “He’s a fast learner.” Storm is a fast learner indeed. Tomorrow, he will join his parents on a hunt. Of course he won’t participate, he’s still only about three feet long. But he will learn a lot. Today is the day. The day Storm joins his parents on the hunt. They decided to choose large, but relatively easy to catch prey. The dinosaur of choice, Edmontosaurus. At forty feet long and over ten thousand pounds in weight, they are big, but harmless vegetarians. Storm climbs on top of a large boulder situated at the top of a hill. From here, he can see the whole herd. They are feeding in a large clearing surrounded by a thick line of trees. He watches as his father takes up a position on the far side. His mother is taking up an ambush position on the other side. The tactic is simple, but extremely effective. At the right moment, Longtooth roars at the top of her lungs and charges. The hadrosaurs begin to run for the trees. Longtooth zeros in on a limping animal. She chases it directly toward Kano. Storm watches as Kano leaps out of the forest and plows the dinosaur into the ground. He kills it with a quick bite to the back of the neck. Storm joins his parents for a feast. What he has just witnessed leaves a permanent impression on him. He will forever remember this strategy. Kano and Longtooth watch as Storm approaches the kill. The tyrannosaur family feasts as a flock of small pterosaurs begin to circle like vultures. Their presence alerts all the predators in the area that an animal has died. Soon, a predatory Nanotyrannus has arrived. This smaller cousin of Tyrannosaurus, this one is named Synca, is no match for a fully grown Tyrannosaurus, let alone two. At sixteen feet long and about a thousand pounds, he’s a fraction of their size. He is about to leave when he notices the baby tyrannosaur. Synca makes a mental note of this. He tries to remember every animal in the area. That way, he can easily know if one is friend or foe. Young Storm is a new addition and Synca will not soon forget him.