Scene of the Crime

After spending pretty much my whole life in the Kela scrub, I decided it would be a good time to do a little bit of traveling. My collection has recently been lacking in new trophies, anyhow.

And so, I find myself traveling north, towards where the supposed “ocean” is said to be.

From what I’ve overheard from other dinosaurs passing by through my territory, the ocean is a large body of crystal clear water that goes as far as the eye can see, to the horizon and beyond. Obviously a legend meant to fool small hatchlings. I’m way too smart to fall for something so obviously made up like that.

I continue trekking through the scrub, and find a small dune to rest on. After walking all day, a nice rest from a good vantage point would be appreciated.

I start climbing the dune, hastily scrambling up as the sand beneath my feet falls down. While climbing up, I grab a dead branch for support. Hasting myself up, I reach the top of the dune.

I start sitting down before finally realizing what I'm seeing.

As far as I can see is a vast blueness. As far as I can see is water, starting out a beautiful and vibrant turquoise and then while going towards the horizon getting darker.

The ocean is real.

I sit up so quickly, I slip and start falling down the side of the dune. As I fall down, I bump into a bunch of rocks.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

After tumbling to the bottom, I raise my battered head. Well, I'm definetily closer to the ocean now.

After tending to my bruises for a minute or two, I get up and walk to the ocean. After all of this walking, I'm quite thirsty. I lower my head, and take a giant slurp of water.

I then spit it all out.

"Why's it taste like rocks!?!"

Back in my territory, there are some rocks that the herbivores lick. A salt lick, it's called. I've tried it before, and don't see the appeal.

Back to the main point, all of this water is undrinkable.

I curse under my breath for a quick second, then start walking south, back to my home. I don't see what the fuss is about the ocean. Nothing worthwhile here.

I notice a rock formation. A giant curve of stone that starts on land and ends in the sea.

Okay, maybe I see the appeal. Even if there's not drinkable water here, that view with the backdrop of the ocean is breathtaking. Besides, I guess I am here...

I start trekking towards the rock formation. It was a long walk here, what's a few more miles?

I start walking towards the rock formation at a leisurely pace, looking at the ocean along the way. While gazing at its beauty, a gust of winds picks up, blowing something into my face. I'm about to shake my head to get rid of it, before I notice what it is.

A feather, but not one I've seen before. It's long, wide, and black and red in color. In the scrub, I've seen my fair share of dinosaur feathers. Mostly ones from Utahraptors. But this is different. It's size and proportions are off. Not that noticeable to the untrained eye, but mine is quite trained. My collections of feathers is coming to use!

I regret not bringing my jars, but I couldn't risk bringing them. Yes, I could've brought them to collect a specimen like this, but they're very fragile and definitely would've shattered in that earlier tumble. Not being able to collect this feather is unpleasant, but shattered glass digging into my flesh is definitely even more so.

I watch sadly as I let the feather blow away. I'll have to come back later to get something like it.

I walk closer to the rock arch, biting a few red water bug things while doing so. Crabs, if my memory serves right. The ocean really is odd. How do they live here, with only salt water to drink? Even in my arid scrub there is cacti and sparse streams to get water from.

The sound of something cracking echoes through the air. Someone stepped on one of the weird looking rocks that line where the land touches the sea, and made their presence accidentally known.

I immediately start sprinting in the direction of the noise. If there's a predator like me about, I want to find them instead of them finding me.

Another feather blows into my face. It's very similar to the one that hit me earlier. Has to be the same creature.

I continue sprinting to where the sound came from, which is coincidentally in the same direction as the arch shaped stone formation. As I get closer it looks ever larger, but that's not my focus right now. The urge within me to hunt is in control.

For a split second, I see the creature. It looks to be a dinosaur, but not a species I've seen before. Like a Utahraptor, but with a longer neck and a beak like that of a Styracasaurus. And then there's the weird crest on its head, that looks like its made of bone or whatever claws are made of. It has feathers, and they're definetily where the ones that have been blowing into me have come from. Black, red, and white feathers adorn its arms and tail. Definetily for show and not for camoflage.

As soon as we make eye contact, it runs into the undergrowth of a forest nearby. I'm not used to hunting in forests, and I'm still to beat up from falling down the dune to start a prolonged hunt. I sigh, and start walking the last mile to the arch.

After less than half an hour, I reach the base of the arch. Its gargantuan, looking to be able to carry an entire herd of Parasauralophuses on it. It's beautiful, in a way. I've seen my fair share of geological formations, I live in a giant canyon, for crying out loud, but this is still awe inspiring.

I watch it in silence for what feels like eons, before noticing something. Near where I stand is a seed, and from it sprouts weird thorn-covered green tendrils. I jump away.

If it's anything like cacti spines, its best not to touch.

After calming down, I inspect it more closely. It looks like it was... Buried? It looks as if someone covered the seed in dirt, and then was uncovered by erosion.

Someone has planted this weird seed, and it's growing, The surrounding plants are being choked out, and then being used as the base for more growth. Creepy.

And right next to the seed lies a singular feather, black, white, and red. Just like the mystery dinosaur that was just here.

I've found a mystery, and one I intend to investigate. I might be staying here for a little while longer.