Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Separation Many more years have passed. Storm is now much larger, measuring about twenty-six feet long and he weighs over five thousand pounds. All of his feathers are gone. Storm has entered the period of time when all young tyrannosaurs experience extremely rapid growth. Despite his size, he still travels with Synca. Storm still has no home and is not yet big enough to take a new territory. Today is a hot, dry day. In fact, it’s been hot and dry for over two weeks now. The land is starting to suffer. Herbivores are becoming fewer in number and water is disappearing. Synca and Storm are currently searching for food. Despite the heat and their exhaustion, they must continue looking. The sun makes tracking the already elusive prey even more difficult. They eventually find food. But it is perhaps the worst kind possible. Triceratops. These elephant sized herbivores have short tempers and three foot horns. But Storm and Synca are desperate. The Triceratops is alone, which makes it a little easier to bring down. It’s feeding on some of the last plants around at the top of a tall hill. With no cover, Storm and Synca simply charge forward. The Triceratops is surprised to see a juvenile Tyrannosaurus and adult Nanotyrannus hunting together, but does not really care. All he knows is that he is being attacked. He charges straight at the two predators. Synca jumps out of the way and Storm sidesteps. Being the larger of the two, Storm is able to use his strength and slams into the flank of the bull Triceratops. The bull is enraged and charges Storm. Synca sees this and leaps into action. He slashes the bull’s back leg with his long teeth. The battle is starting to kick up a large cloud of dust. Visibility drops dramatically. Storm strikes wildly at the shadow that is the bull Triceratops. Synca, more experienced than Storm, knows it’s useless and backs off. He calls for Storm and then retreats. Storm does not hear the call though. Then, the Triceratops gores Storm’s right leg and pushes him down the hill. Storm goes rolling and tumbling down until he reaches the bottom. He is slipping in and out of consciousness. Eventually, the world goes black. When Storm finally wakes up, the world is spinning around him. He puts his head down and closes his eyes for a minute. He opens them and things are a little better. Thingss are still a little blury, but not too bad. He attempts to stand up, but a sharp pain comes from his right leg. He looks at it and sees the hideous wound from the Triceratops horn. He knows he can’t walk on it and he needs to conserve as much energy as possible. After a few minutes, Storm goes back to sleep. Two more days pass by. Storm once again wakes up. He stretches his injured leg. It’s sore and hurts a little, but he should be able to walk on it. He gets up and for the first time, realizes that Synca is nowhere in sight. Storm roars as loud as he can. But Synca does not respond. Storm roars again. Still no response. Storm decides that it’s best to get some food and water first. His body demands it. After a little walking, he finds a small pond. It was actually a decent sized lake, but the drought has taken it’s toll. He drinks his fill then moves on to find something to eat. It’s not long until he finds some food. A small Edmontosaurus lies dead where it collapsed of dehydration. The drought has claimed dozens of victims just like this hadrosaur. Storm begins to feed. While he is eating, he hears something. He looks up to see a small group of plant-eaters wandering by. He has never seen Pachycephalosaurus. The fifteen foot herbivores continue on their way. Then, it hits Storm. Pachycephalosaurus are not native to his home territory nor are they found in Synca’s. Storm is in a new territory. Now, he is truly separated.