Avian

The air was thick and warm today over the island, the sun sleepily creeping up over the horizon and spreading warm light over all those below. The world came alive with mornings light- nocturnal creatures hiding away, as the diurnal ones awoke from their slumber and rose to greet the dawn. Birdsong filled the air, the early spring air meaning that it was the time for courtship for their kind. Males of many species, practicing their songs, pairs building nests, eggs gently swaddled into carefully woven nests made of stick and feather and fiber. 

On the ground, underneath a mighty tree, Trico watched a pair of island finches flutter around a small nest. Tucked cozily into the branches of a tree, the utahraptor could just barely catch a glimpse of small eggs, carefully tucked into the surrounding feathers. The male and female finch sang a bright song before the male flew off, leaving the female to brood the eggs. Trico let out a low sigh, before continuing on his journey. It was the mating season.

Padding forward, Trico entered a meadow between the trees. Long grass swayed and danced with the breeze, and a pond of still, clear water sat in the background. Slowly, Trico approached the pool of water before peering at its surface. His reflection stared back at him- bright feathers, good health. He was everything any raptor could want in a mate- it was just the manner of finding one. Which was where the hard part came in. For weeks Trico had been traveling, but the ones members of his kind that he had seen were already paired or clearly not interested. And some of them… well, Trico had high standards. So what? Sue him! 

A low thrumming sound broke through the air, causing Trico to pause. That didn’t sound like another songbird, twittering and singing among the trees. The sounds were… deeper. Booming, carrying loudly through the air. The sound of another utahraptor… mating calls. 

Raising his head into the air, Trico let out a call of his own back. The forest around fell silent, calls quickly silenced as the animals around attempted to not attract his attention. However, he had no interest in them- his attention was on the call. It seemed to have sounded off from not too far away. However, as the seconds ticked by without a response, his heart sunk. 

Then the call returned, calling back out. Trico let out a joyful bark before taking off, now having a better idea of the direction he had to go. Frantically he ran throughout the forest, claws kicking up dirt as he twisted and turned in order to navigate the thick foliage.

Finally he burst into a small grove. Multiple young trees were scattered around, leaving a small clearing that was scattered with multiple rocks of varying shapes, sizes, and color.

A welcoming bark caught Tricos attention and he looked up to the very top of the rocks- where his breath caught. There, on top the highest rock, sat Monkle. The brown and white utahraptor covered in scattered patches much like Tricos own let out a loud bark, flaring his wings out in order to show off the white dots that trailed the edges of his wings.

Trico called back, curious, before circling around the rock in curiosity. He took in every detail of Monkle- his bright feathers, healthy plumage, and strong calls told Trico that this was a good potential mate- he had several qualities that would make him a very desired mate. But Trico needed to see more before he knew for use.

At some silent signal, Monkle began his dance. It started out slow, the utahraptor dipping his head down towards the ground in some kind of bow. Slowly his wings spread out to the side, flapping a few times in order to show off the healthy gleam on them. Suddenly he moved, bringing his head up as the male let out a loud, sharp cry.

Trico watched as the dance began in earnest- agile movements, head bobbing, wing flaps. Monkle dodged around on the rock, twirling and jumping in the limited space the top of the rocks provided. Occasionally he would stop to call out to Trico in a series of deep calls, proceeding once the white utahraptor made his approval clear.

Letting out a low purr Trico began to pace the rock again as Monkle kept up his dancing, before approaching the rock pillar again. With loud calls, he began his own song and dance, weaving around in the ground in fluid motions as he showed off his own, healthy plumage and crest. 

Slowly the two made their way closer and closer to each other. Monkle carefully jumped down the rocks, careful to not stumble and fall. All the while he kept up the courtship, releasing low sounds and song.

The two utahraptors circled each other on the ground, slowly getting closer and closer to each other with each second. Trico raised his head, letting out a loud bark while shaking out his feathers. Monkle lowered his head, letting out a low hum and flexing his claws.

They slowly met in the middle- both of them extending their heads slowly until their scaled snouts touched. They both sniffed, taking each other in before slowly raising their heads to the sky. Their movements were made in sync, a ritualized dance going back to ages before their kind was brought back by humans. 

The two met in the middle again, this time brushing their snouts together for longer before reassessing the dance- bows, flaring of wings, twirling. Song filled the air, much louder and deeper than birdsong but it served the same purpose.

Finally, after a long hour of dancing, the two met in the middle once more. Trico gazed at Monkle as their snouts met once again- but this time, they didn’t pull away. Together their song mingled, weaving together into the song of a mated duo. After all, it was the courting season for birds.