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Quick N' Clever

In Aging ・ By critter_core

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Elkhorn stepped out of the facility, a bit lost, overwhelmed, and confused.

While on her quest of escaping the human facility, Elkhorn recalled finding snippets of her past. There were documents that of course, Elkhorn couldn't read. But there were a lot of things like photos and feathers and scales of dinosaurs that she had to believe were her parents. She learned of her parents, even if they weren't here now. Whether that was death or just missing, Elkhorn was not aware. All she did know, was that her parents were both Cryolophosauruses, that her mother was named Chirp, and her father was named Trout. Though Elkhorn suspected that her parents lived in the lab and just escaped before Elkhorn could hatch, even that was nothing more than a theory- and, well...

Now Elkhorn stood in the 'outside' that she had always wondered about. Now she could walk around, and explore, and be free from the dark facility. Though initially part of Elkhorn feared the outside, part of her was quickly forgetting that, as she broke into a sprint, running along the grass, breathing in the fresh air. stretching her legs as she wished. She still had so much energy, being a hatchling who was only now getting to see the world for what it was. There were flowers and creatures, weather and breezes. It was wonderful- She skidded to a stop.

Elkhorn's eyes scanned the trees. There was a very large lake that she felt she could see. She broke into a trot, intending on approaching the lake, as her throat began to feel dry. It was one of those things you didn't realize you needed, until you thought about it. And Elk really needed water. On the way, though, she felt herself getting distracted by all of the sights and smells and sorts. There were so many intriguing things. Beautiful plants, the nice sunny warmth, the smell of distant carrion, that had Elkhorn's mouth watering, just a little bit. There was so much- it was almost overwhelming.

Elk approached the lake's edge, about to lap at the water she brought her nose to, when suddenly, she blinked when she could have sworn she saw... Eyes? Elkhorn felt her heart start to thud, and something told her to back away. She cautiously did so, not daring to turn away fully, but eventually scampered off into the trees in fright. She watched where she had been standing before, as a new creature began to approach the lake's surface as she had. This dinosaur must have been some kind of herbivore. Their teeth were flat and dulled down... The dinosaur knelt down, and just as the little herbivore was about to drink, something lept up and snapped at it, dragging it down...

Elkhorn was silent, shivering, as it sunk in... That could have been her... But the more she thought about it, the more it sunk in, she realized... This was life or death. Elkhorn's eyes moved around, as she now noticed things she hadn't before. There were flying dinosaurs picking up tiny ones like they were nothing more than insects off of the ground. A heard of herbivores were getting chased by a big predator. All around Elkhorn, danger persisted. She was just waiting to be some dino's next meal.

There was a snap of a twig. Elkhorn jumped up in a panic and whirled around. There stood what looked like a Carnotaurus- it had to be. It was huge, likely an adult, with sharp teeth and claws. Elkhorn stood, shivering in terror for about two seconds, till they registered, suddenly breaking into a run. The Carnotaurus was quickly gaining. Elkhorn broke through the trees, now running on open grassland, alongside the lake. The Carnotaurus was big, but this area was open- wait...

A thought registered in Elkhorn's mind, as they glanced over to the right, back at the trees. The area was thick and hard to run through, but... If it was hard for Elkhorn, it'd definitely be difficult for the Carnotaurus. Elkhorn was still a hatchling, quick and small- Elkhorn lept to the right, just barely dodging a snap at the tail. Elkhorn took in a breath, before steering right, and the Carnotaurus followed as well. Elkhorn and the Carnotaurus ran through the trees, and Elkhorn tried her best to dodge and weave around the trees that sped by like blurs in the corner of her eyes.

Elkhorn risked a quick glance behind them, and their plan was working. There was more and more distance growing between prey and predator. Elkhorn sped up. She could hear the carnivore panting and slowing down behind her, and eventually, it stopped, standing still as Elkhorn continued to run. Elkhorn didn't stop. She didn't stop until that Carnotaurus was gone from her sight entirely.

Only then, did she finally stop. She flopped over, panting in relief. One upside to this whole fiasco, Elkhorn now knew how to flee from danger. She hadn't realized that being small could be a strength, but now it was obvious, that being big meant you were also slow, and you couldn't weave through trees. Elkhorn knew she'd have to grow up and she'd grow bigger, but that would be fine, since she'd also have sharper teeth. What she learned, was that she needed to play to her strengths.

Doing that was the only way she'd end up surviving...

Elkhorn took in a deep breath. She hadn't realized it, because apparently she needed to be thrown into danger to realize this, but... Now she knew she needed a proper plan. As she began to pace around the forest clearing she stood in, Elkhorn worked out things she needed to get done. She needed to get food, water, and shelter. Those were the basics. Being a carnivore already put her at a disadvantage, however, as she realized suddenly.

There probably weren't many dinosaurs willing to teach a carnivore how to survive. Carnivores ATE other dinosaurs... That meant Elkhorn was likely on their own-

That was okay. They had survived their first day. How hard could it be?

Quick N' Clever

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In Aging ・ By critter_core ・ Content Warning: A dino gets chomped :( (a few non-descriptive death)

Uhhhh

Just assume Elkhorn went by she/they here, cause I wasn't sure if I wanted them to go by she/her or the/them o v o'

Besides that, though, I think this turned out well!

(I also don't even know if this was worth putting a spoiler for, cause the dino deaths are very offhanded, like, they just happen and the story continues, but uh, if it was overkill adding a spoiler tag, someone let me know LOL)

Submitted By critter_core for An Accident
Submitted: 1 month ago ・ Last Updated: 1 month ago

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6083: Elkhorn

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#14706 for An Accident by critter_core

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[Quick N' Clever by critter_core (Literature) ・ **Content Warning:** A dino gets chomped :( (a few non-descriptive death)](https://www.primevalarpg.com/gallery/view/1871)

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