Spino Wish

Night fell, bringing a silence that could only be broken by the sounds of nature. The night sky looked enchanting, scattered with glittering stars like beads adorning a noblewoman's gown.

The air was biting cold, carrying the distinctive scent of winter. The full moon cast its soft and calming light upon the earth, reflected on the vast expanse of snow.

I sat atop a cave, staring at the moon as its light caressed my face. "How beautiful..." In moments like this, her sweet smile appeared in my mind, reflected on the moon's surface.

"If only she were here, the atmosphere would be so much better," I murmured softly, my voice fading into the breeze.

"Wait... maybe the mood would actually be ruined because of her chatter." I chuckled softly, imagining Fenrir sitting beside me.

My shoulders felt stiff, and I pressed them with my left hand. "Is this because I slept too long this afternoon?"

"Ouch." I winced a little as my fingers accidentally pressed against my injured right shoulder.

Actually, my broken arm was nearly healed. I tried moving it slowly, clenching and unclenching my hand, raising and lowering my arm cautiously.

Even though it wasn't fully recovered yet, it felt nice to be able to use this limb again. "Better than before."

That night, the silence was deep. Yet for some reason, I had a bad feeling about it. A sudden chill brushed the back of my neck, and the hair on my body stood up as my thoughts wandered to what might happen.

"Let's hope nothing happens tonight—"

"Graaaah!"

Before I could even finish my sentence, my quiet night was shattered by a loud, terrifying roar, piercing through the calm of the serene night. The sound was deep, echoing, and filled the air.

I closed my eyes and took a tired breath, trying to hold back the irritation building within me. "Damn it, I didn't even get to finish my sentence."

The roar came from the north, the direction where the Spinosaurus had wandered off. Judging by the sound, it seemed far enough from where I was now.

"I should be safe here," I muttered, staring blankly toward the source of the sound.

Although I knew I'd be safe if I didn't leave this spot, my instincts rebelled. Something pushed me to approach the source of the sound. "What is this feeling? Why do I feel such a strong urge to go there?"

Usually, I would choose to avoid danger, but for some reason, my curiosity was uncontrollable. Such deep curiosity had only happened once before—when I first met Fenrir.

"I'm sure this isn't a good idea, but..." I muttered softly, my words trailing off, hesitation clinging to my throat as I tried to decide.

"Haaah~" I sighed heavily, forcing a faint smile. "Maybe just a little peek wouldn't hurt, right?"

"Henshin!"

Using a shapeshifter rune, I returned to my true form, an elegant black raven. I flapped my wings, slicing through the gusts of the biting winter wind. I flew through the dark night sky, enduring the numbing cold of the season.

"Graaaah!"

The roar echoed again, carried by the wind blowing in the opposite direction. I kept flapping my wings, getting closer to the source of the sound. The tension in the air grew stronger, and the metallic scent of blood began to invade my senses.

It seemed the Spinosaurus was fighting someone—or something else. Whatever it was, that wasn't my concern, was it?

Flying through the gaps between tree trunks, I finally arrived. The scene before my eyes was both extraordinary and terrifying, a battle unfolding on the snow-covered plains.

The Spinosaurus that had attacked me before stood proudly in the snowy field, facing off against three T-Rexes. Its massive, sturdy body was covered in wounds, with fresh blood streaming down its torn skin.

Despite this, the creature remained steadfast, standing firm on its massive legs, unmoved as it faced its fellow apex predators—the T-Rexes, the true kings of their habitat.

I landed on a tree at a safe distance, observing the fierce battle from afar.

Wait... what's that behind the Spino?

The corner of my eye caught sight of something unusual behind the Spinosaurus. It appeared to be protecting something from the T-Rexes, who kept trying to approach.

The Spinosaurus roared ferociously whenever a T-Rex attempted to look behind it, consistently positioning itself to shield whatever was behind it.

Curious, I flew around to get a better look at what it was hiding.

Is that...

My eyes widened as realization struck. A nest! The Spinosaurus was guarding its nest. Inside, several large eggs rested, covered with dry leaves from the surrounding area.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

After circling above, I returned to my perch and continued watching the deadly fight from a safe distance. The T-Rexes attacked one after another, their sharp teeth attempting to rip through Spino's flesh. The Spinosaurus countered with slashes from its claws and bursts of fiery breath, holding them off with sheer force.

Despite being outnumbered, the Spinosaurus stood its ground, refusing to abandon its nest. Roars echoed back and forth, creating waves of sound that shook the snowy landscape.

The Spino fought with incredible strength and determination, seemingly indifferent to pain or exhaustion. Its resolve to protect its offspring was nothing short of extraordinary.

I couldn't help but feel awe. Who would've thought a creature like this had such a strong instinct to protect its young?

Most lizards I knew buried their eggs and left them behind. This reminded me of crocodiles, who fiercely protected their young. Could they share a common ancestry?

But the wonder didn't last long. One of the T-Rexes managed to attack from behind, biting into the base of Spino's tail, causing blood to gush out.

The other two T-Rexes didn't waste the opportunity. One clamped its jaws around Spino's neck, while the other pinned its massive body down with its sharp claws.

I could see the Spino's movements slow, its body writhing weakly in the snow. Blood soaked its surroundings as the T-Rexes began tearing into its flesh.

Damn. Is it really going to lose?

Hovering in the air, I watched the scene with mixed feelings. There was admiration for the Spino's desperate struggle, but also the harsh reality that this world had no mercy for the defeated.

My gaze shifted to the nest behind the T-Rexes. The eggs were still intact. The victorious predators seemed too busy devouring the Spino to notice them.

As I descended lower, my eyes met the Spino's. Its breaths were shallow, and its gaze desperate.

What's with that look?

Its pleading expression stirred an unexpected pity in me—a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time while watching predators fight to the death.

Even though it had attacked me before, I couldn't shake the urge to help it.

Damn it. Why is it always me?

But I didn't think further. I had made up my mind—I would save the eggs.

I landed near the nest and shifted back into human form. Quickly, I spread out a large cloth made from my feathers and wrapped the eggs carefully. Then, I slipped away quietly.

Krak.

Unfortunately, my foot snapped a branch, the sound loud enough to alert the T-Rexes.

Their piercing gazes turned toward me, realizing my presence.

"Great," I muttered, pulling the bundle of eggs tightly to my back. I bolted without hesitation.

The ground trembled as the T-Rexes abandoned the Spino's corpse and began chasing me, their thunderous steps echoing behind me.

"Why are you chasing me?!" I yelled, but my shouts didn't stop them. If anything, it seemed to spur them on.

The ground shook violently, snow flying in all directions. I ran as fast as I could, determined not to become their next meal.

"Why is my life always like this?!" My voice echoed in the empty air, lost to the howling winter wind.