The Fight To Survive: A World Away- Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Hunting

A few years have passed and Brush and Star need to learn how to hunt if they are to survive. So Bruiser and Mag decide to take them on a hunting trip. The siblings are plenty old enough and the sooner they start learning, the better. Bruiser and Mag have an idea as to what they want to hunt. As the brothers join their parents at the top of a dune, they look down to see a herd of Protoceratops making their way to a small watering hole. Mag stays with Star and Brush while Bruiser goes to show the brothers how to take out a Protoceratops.

Bruiser knows Protoceratops are pretty easy prey, but they do have powerful beaks and Bruiser does not really want to end up with a broken toe. He approaches the small ceratopsians from behind, using their blind-spot against them. The Protoceratops feel that’s something’s behind them, but it’s too late. The open jaws of Bruiser come crashing down on the back of one of them. The others run for safety. Bruiser signals Mag to bring down the young. Star was paying close attention to it all. Brush was at first, then he got bored. As the family feeds, a male Alectrosaurus named Vega passes by. He looks at the family. He watches for a second as Star practices pouncing on the Protoceratops. Star looks at Vega. The Alectrosaurus gives a nod of approval, then walks off.

A few days later, the family is hungry again. Bruiser and Mag know this will be a good time to teach Star and Brush how to hunt. They lead them to a small patch of vegetation. There is no watering hole here. These plants are nourished by an underground spring. Bruiser and Mag wait while the brothers watch from the bushes. Pretty soon, a herd of Saurolophus show up. The elephant sized hadrosaurs slowly make their way past the vegetation. They have no intention of eating right now, but the Tarbosaurus’ do. With lightning fast reflexes, Bruiser and Mag leap out from cover and attack. All the hadrosaurs escape, all but one. Bruiser has latched on to it’s back and is holding it in place. Then Mag walks over and with a quick, bone crushing bite, breaks it’s neck. The dinosaur falls limply to the ground. Star and Brush come up to the carcass and tentatively sniff it. After about two minutes, they begin to eat. Or they try to anyway. Star and Brush are having a hard time ripping the tough hide open. Bruiser plants his foot on the side of the hadrosaur and rakes his claws down. The stomach opens up, spilling its contents on to the hot sand. The siblings begin to feast on the steaming carcass as their parents keep a look out. After they are sure no other predators will be coming, they too begin to feed.

If Star and Brush are to survive, they will also need to learn how to track prey. That’s hard to do in the desert since the oppressive sun destroys nearly all scent. Bruiser and Mag know a flock of Gigantoraptors had recently passed near their territory. There’s still enough scent for them to track. The parents already know which way the dinosaurs went. They decide to let Star and Brush lead the way to see if they can find the Gigantoraptors. Star immediately puts his nose to the ground and starts sniffing. Brush on the other hand, scans the horizon for any sign of the dinosaurs before smelling the trail. After a few minutes, the brothers get an idea of which way to go and set off. Bruiser and Mag watch their sons track the Gigantoraptors quickly and efficiently. They do lose the trail once and a while, but eventually find it again. After about walking four miles and over three hours, the siblings finally find the Gigantoraptors. Star and Brush are thirsty and tired. Bruiser charges the flock of dinosaurs congregated around a water hole and they scatter. Star and Brush can now quench their thirst.

That evening, the brothers go to bed early. They are very tired and ready to sleep. They curl up next to Mag while Bruiser watches over his family.

In the distance, the wind is picking up. Sand is flying in all directions. This will be one of the largest sandstorms ever to sweep across Mongolia and it’s heading for the Tarbosaurus family. A small lizard scrambles for cover. But before it reaches it’s burrow, a massive foot comes down on it. The sandstorm is not the only killer heading their way.