Dinosaur Writer's Challenge: Predator Keeper

Predator Keeper.

I walked past the paddocks, hearing the screeching of the animals. I sighed in annoyance. These animals were vicious, if they didn’t get their food daily, and alive, all hell (aka, them) would break loose. The leader let out a high pitched scream. I flinched at the sound. He hissed and growled at me. I made my way to the feeding platform, as the animal followed me with green, alien, intelligent eyes. I knew very well what he was capable of, and so did he. He watched me, deep, hissing breaths marking the beat of my footsteps. He was the alpha-male. I finally strapped the black cow into the crane’s harness. I looked up and saw that He was gone. The Alpha knew it was feeding time and was ready. Chills were spent down my spine as I searched for the animal. It was like He had vanished. I backed away as the mooing of the cow reached my ears. It was in position. Silence. Then, the breathing of the animal more and more rapid as it picked up speed. I heard the pole-vaulting leap of the beast and the shrill screech of its attack call. Then, silence again. I backed away. Damn, 6th month on the job and I’m still not used to it, I thought. Suddenly, there it was again. I could hear the feasting of the other pack members. The Alpha’s muzzle was blood-stained and shiny red. He pulled back his lips and revealed razor-sharp teeth with a growling hiss. I shivered and walked away from the Velociraptor paddock.

The next day it was time for the Spinosaurs’ feeding. It was fascinating how it hunted. I hefted a huge tuna, and dumped it over the fence, it landing in the stream with a big PLUP-SHHHH. It started to swim, not noticing the huge shadow it swam under. Suddenly the fish was slapped out of the water. A great silhouette rose from the water and caught the fish. It gorily threw it on shore and proceeded to rip it open. I saw the Carcharodontosaurus in the next enclosure over growl in frustration, wanting to challenge to the Spinosaurus. It clawed the air in irritation then wandered off. The magnificent sail of the Spinosaur flushed a content orange and it let out a high pitched roar, loud and fierce. Then she grabbed the meal, wandered off into the brush, only leaving the metallic fish smell behind.

I left for the next shift I had. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for visiting Jurassic World but now the park is closing. Please make your way to your hotel or the next boat to the mainland. Thanks again, for visiting a world where Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth.” Night had enclosed the island, the only light being the moon, its light shining through the     foliage above. I flipped on my flashlight and shined it on the paddock... when suddenly green eyes reflected the light back at me with a menacing growl. I jumped back with a yell. The eyes lifted up 20 feet in the air and the light reflected off the massive fangs, each up to 16 inches long. The muscular jaws worked, capable of biting through steel. The raptors were disturbing but this animal is terrifying. It is the most insatiable carnivore ever to rule the earth. The most powerful predator ever. It was the King. Tyrannosaurus rex. It rolled the huge head on the thick neck up to the sky and let out a deep, rumbling bellow that would put thunder to shame. I felt my hands tremble as I threw pressed the button and a bull emerged from the feeding area next to the Rex. It stared at me, pupil-less eye glinting, teeth anchors and gums showing under deep slashes on the jaws. Then, it slowly turned around, eyed the bull and roared again. The horned cow mooed in fear and tried to run. The Rex, surprisingly quick for its size spun around and lifted the animal in the air, bit it in half with ease, and swallowed it. I backed away in awe and terror. It growled, deep like an earthquake’s rumbling. Even after all this time, the thing still was scary as hell. I loved my job and it was amazing to see these animals, but there was something else about them. They were predators beyond compare. Movies did no justice, these things were beyond today, alien and ultimate. They were efficient, unbelievable, killing machines. Nothing could compare to how adapted and pinnacled these animals were. And at the top of them all was T. rex itself, our Rexy. What I didn’t know was that Rexy would be free soon. Tomorrow, he would break out, and no-one.... NO-ONE would believe the power of the animal before me. Everyone would be at the mercy of this beast. But this, I didn’t know. It roared one last time as loud as it could, teeth glinting white and blood stained red in the moonlight. With one last glint of reflective night-vision eyes, and the gleam of enormous fangs, ready to crush through bone or even metal easily, it walked back into the jungle. I shivered and left, the fear receding. I had grown use to the fear over time working here. It still was terrifying and disturbing though, but, that was my job.