The Tyrant's Roar: Chapter 2

Time to meet the other crucial characters.

Chapter 2:  Courtship

The call rang through the forest loud and clear.  Tytus knew he was getting closer, and let out a similar roar, but deeper in tone.

It was the breeding season for Tyrannosaurus rex.  Of course, Tytus didn’t know that, but something instinctive told him it was time to seek out another of his own kind.

The environment around Tytus seemed to have an effect on him too.  The weather was warm, there was plenty of healthy green vegetation, and there was an abundance of prey.

For all of his fortunes, Tytus longed for some companionship.  His parents kicked him and three of his siblings out of the pack when he was only fourteen years old, and then they went their own ways three years later.  Soon after, he obtained this wonderful oasis all for himself, with its endless water and food supplies.

But no matter what he did, no matter how proficient a solitary hunter he was, he still missed the company of other T.rexes.

Finally, as a healthy and robust twenty year-old, he felt that he must seek out a mate.  For weeks, he left scent-trails and claw marks throughout his massive territory, and bellowed his best mating call frequently.  He even went so far as to use infrasound to attract her.

Finally, his prayers were answered; a female T.rex was calling out to him with the same longing he felt deep in his great heart.  And she didn’t sound too far away, only a few miles at the most.

As he exchanged roars with the unseen female, Tytus wondered what she would look like.  He had a vague idea of feminine beauty after seeing how his parents interacted.  He also began to notice it in his two sisters around the time that he split off from them and his brother.

Suddenly, Tytus got a tightening feeling around his heart, and felt his head and neck grow hot.  He was really nervous about meeting the producer of this beautiful voice.  What if she didn’t like him or if another male showed up and wooed her away?  Even worse, what if she didn’t like his courtship dance and attacked?

Tytus went over to a stream for some water to cool off.  As he peered down at his reflection, he saw that instead of the deep green that he had inherited from his father, a brilliant shade of red has enveloped his entire head and throat pouch.

The female called again, and Tytus quickly strode away from the stream.  Despite his nerves, he must not keep her waiting.

Finally Tytus reached the edge of the forest.  And he stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw.  A little ways down the hill, in the afternoon light, stood the most beautiful T.rex that Tytus has ever seen.

Poppaea’s chocolate brown hide was illuminated by the setting sun, and her beautiful skull and throat glowed orange.  Her teeth gleamed white as she opened her mouth to belt out another melodic roar.  But before she could, she noticed Tytus standing just outside the forest.  She was quite taken with the robust, fit young male before her.

She just stared as he seemed to gather himself and walked down the hill towards her.  They both had to get a good look at each other, according to the rules of sexual selection.  Each tyrannosaur had to in be in peak condition to be considered for breeding.

Tytus stopped a short distance away from Poppaea, just in case she changed her mind and thought of him as lunch.  He saw that Poppaea was a bit longer than he was, about a foot or so.  She was much more gracile, with long, lean legs and a healthy tail girth, but had wider hips.  And, she didn’t have any apparent injuries.  To him, she was perfection.

Poppaea was even more enamoured by the seven ton god in front of her.  She tried to focus on his solid build and rippling muscles, but her eyes kept being drawn to his red head and throat.  The red sheen was so bright and alluring, she was becoming intensely mesmerized.  No matter how Tytus moved his head, she had to keep her head square to his.

She suddenly realized what was going on.  He was bobbing his head, very slowly, but she saw that this was the first stage of courtship.

The realization in Poppaea’s eyes took Tytus by surprise.  He didn’t know that he was doing anything, but now Poppaea was looking at him as if she was expecting something.  He had no idea what to do, but he had to do something fast.  So he bobbed his head, intentionally this time.

When she mimicked his head bob, Tytus became quite intrigued.  So he bobbed again, and she copied him.  Now he understood that he initiated a courtship dance.

Soon both Tytus and Poppaea were head-bobbing with great exaggeration, and bellowing loudly in unison.  They bowed and wove, stomped and swerved.

After an hour of this, the pair of them decided to rest, as the initial courtship and associated emotions have taken a toll.  They sat out in the open, taking in the beautiful sunset and sweet smells of nature.  Tytus gently rubbed his snout against Poppaea’s, and put his head over hers as a sign of affection.  Poppaea purred softly, grateful for Tytus’ caress despite his great strength.

Tytus now had everything:  a large spacious territory, endless natural resources, and a mate.  Life was pretty good in his valley.