The day had finally come…
The day I'd been waiting for for 10 years…
I had done what was previously impossible- I had recreated the genome of the famous, prehistoric dinosaur, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. I had ignored the critics, the conspirators, everyone that doubted me or said it was a bad idea- I proved them all wrong today.
Because sitting in front of me was the egg of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, created by my own hand.
Now all I have to do is let it-
BANG!
"Wha-" I looked down, feeling pain in my chest like nothing I'd ever felt, only to start falling towards the floor.
'Was I just shot?' I try to think through the pain, but it's impossible. The only thing I manage to do is turn as I fall, looking over as the world goes into slow motion so I can identify my assailant.
And I would recognize those cold, greedy eyes anywhere.
Jako Heroni, my old nemesis. High school best friend turned traitor when he tried to steal my research and sell it to the highest bidder in college. Smoking gun in hand, smiling like a psycho as he watched me fall to my death.
And then came the ground with a shattering thud that rattled my brain so hard to started smelling colors, only for everything to go black in an instant.
-
"Joseph…"
"My child, it is time for your trial… do not disappoint me, though I'm sure you won't…"
-
'Why is it so cramped?'
'I thought death would be more comfortable than this… though I was fully expecting hellfire, so I guess this isn't so terrible all things considered.'
'Do I still have a body? Or is my soul simply tangible? Where am I? What the fuck is going on???'
I begin to panic as the discomfort increases, and I try to open my eyes only to find more darkness. I begin to move my body sporadically, as much as I can despite the feeling of weakness that envelopes me. If I had to describe it, it would be like trying to learn how to walk again after being paraplegic- my muscles simply weren't responding the way I wanted.
Then after who knows how long I felt something catch- something on the front of my head caught on whatever was holding me, and I heard a crack.
'Finally! Some headway! Get me out of here!'
And so I began to work my way through whatever was holding me, the hard substance slowly giving way to bright, warm light as I made my way through what I was now figuring was an egg.
And after some struggle, I made it through to the other side, climbing out of the egg and flopping onto the dirt where it was situated. After panting for a few minutes, I began looking around, only to find I was in a forest, surrounded by trees taller than skyscrapers. All around me there were bugs and flora I had never seen before in all my years as a biologist(Though I'll admit I studied genetics more than species of flora).
The noises were incredible, the whoops and chirps from the various creatures of the forest surrounding me were so crisp and clear that I couldn't help but be fascinated. And not to mention the smells, it was like I could sense the world around me with just that!
But I couldn't bask for long, I had to get my bearings. And as soon as I began looking around, I noticed that I was no longer in the body of a human. Whatever I was, I had a strong tail, small arms, and forward facing eyes that could perceive what I assumed to be my nose/snout, which was rather feathery and scaly.
I wasn't certain yet, but I was beginning to think I've turned into a dinosaur.
That's when I heard it, the deep rumbling noise and soft footsteps approaching me from my left, and I looked over on instinct only to spot the most terrifying thing I've ever seen- a Tyrannosaurus Rex walking towards me, looking right at me, and making deep thrumming noises with its throat that shook my chest.
And something inside me instantly told me this was my mother.
'I'm a Tyrannasaur Juvinile… Oh the irony…'
My mother was rather impressive- I only came up to just above her ankle, so her size was quite intimidating. Her pattern was gorgeous, with scales of deep green as a base with speckles of black running along her side. She had deep amber colored eyes, and several scars running along her body, which spoke volumes about how experienced and well lived she was.
I tried to speak to her, but found I could only chirp like a bird. I tried to compliment her, but I'm afraid it only served to get her attention and nothing more. Apparently I was the first born of my mother's babies, as there were 3 other eggs yet to hatch inside the nest I had just crawled out from. I could tell they were close to hatching, so time would only tell.
-
After what felt like a few hours passed, I felt my father returning from his hunt- I somehow recognized his specific low rumble on pure instinct. My father is much scarier of a rex than mom, with pitch black scales and bright yellow eyes, I could tell he probably favors hunting at night or close to evening. Once he got close I spotted an abundance of scars, just like mother, and he also carried himself with an aura of confidence. An aura that only comes from surviving through life and death unscathed.
He brought back a young adult hadrosaur that he managed to kill, and I ate my fill.
-
I've come to begin calling my mother and father by names, as it feels weird to call them that, seeing as I had a great relationship with my human parents.
I named my mother Gaia and my father Ciaran.
It turns out, Tyranasaurs are indeed very attentive parents, just how we thought. Once I hatched my mother only left my side to get a drink, and even then my father stayed behind to keep watch over me, even grooming me when necessary- having a tyrannasaur's massive jaws literally right on top of me was outright terrifying, but a sick experience nonetheless.
-
After a few days of figuring out my body and living how a child should- playing with my parents and horsing around, which is fun now that my knees don't hurt all the time- I heard a cracking noise coming from two of the eggs in the nest, followed quickly by the final egg, and got excited to see Juvenile Tyrannosaurus in person.
I mean, sure I am one, but it's not like I can see myself in third person! The first one to break free after several minutes of struggle was a little smaller than me, maybe a few centimeters shorter. Her coloring was a mix of his parent's, taking the pitch black of Ciaran and adding the green of Gaia in a speckled stripe down the length of her body. Her eyes took after Ciaran, with a bright yellow coloring. I named her Diota.
The next to hatch ended up being the runt, smaller by quite a bit but not so bad that he'd seriously struggle in life. His coloring was a unique one, with a lighter grey base and a heavily dark green speckled upper torso. His eyes actually were a case of heterochroma, taking the left eye of Ciaran and the right of Gaia. I named him Trent.
The last to hatch actually ended up my same size, almost to the millimeter i'd say, but his coloring was the complete reverse of Stripe- Green base but pitch black stripe, but with a face speckled with a dark red color that I'm sure will get brighter during the mating season. Also, his eyes were taken from Gaia, with that bright Amber color. I named him Dionel.
As for my coloring, I checked in the stream the other day and I took a page out of Ciaran's book, pitch black scales but with a dark green face and orange, almost red eyes. Also, me and my siblings have lighter feathers that are the color of the flora around, so mostly green. The feathers themselves are actually mostly fluff, and accomplish almost nothing, but mine had already begun to take shape so I'm sure it wont be long now till they fully come in.
-
Several weeks have passed, and I have discovered several things about my dysfunctional family unit of prehistoric dinosaurs.
My parents are the hands-on training type- they will hunt for us when we really need food, but they will deliberately bring us on small game hunts to show us how to do it properly. None of us have been successful yet, but that's what training is for. T-rex's are absolutely best suited for ambush tactics- adults are very fast but only in short bursts, and are practically silent, so they tend to sneak up on prey and ambush them, grabbing hold with strong jaws and not letting go. My siblings play too damn much. It's all the damn time, and it's starting to get on my nerves. Since I was born first, and have actual intelligence as opposed to these newborns, I find it much easier to win in the small fights they instigate for fun. Also, T-rex's clearly aren't dumb, as opposed to popular belief. My siblings have actual strategy in their games, and coordination, and dare I say pack tactics?
Also, our Rumbles and chirps that we do are actually a whole communication system. For example, the rumbles that Gaia and Ciaran produced when I first met them are actually what they call themselves- just like dolphins! Maybe not as sophisticated, but it's certainly an advanced communication system.
-
Several weeks have passed, and I can't say that life as a T-rex is exciting- much of my time is spent playing with my siblings or eating or hiding. The four of us Juveniles are actually a decent size now, and I can tell my parents are getting more and more restless to patrol their territory properly…
-
Several hours later
-
I hiss at Dionel as he tries to tackle me, trying to maintain my supremacy as the pack leader, as the largest Juvenile. He's honestly kind of annoying, constantly trying to beat me and all. It's even more annoying because he doesn't know the meaning of restraint, I keep ending up with smaller injuries that just sting for a bit. I haven't really injured him too bad yet, but I think if he keeps it up I might have to just to establish dominance.
I refuse to be pushed around in this new life I was given, after all, I'm an Apex predator… Or an up and coming one at least. I spent my entire previous life letting others push me around just because I was a little different, and I refuse to let that happen again.
'Might makes right' in this forest, and I don't plan on being the weakest for much longer.
I turn my head suddenly after knocking Dionel to the ground after another annoying attack, having heard something suddenly in the bushes, and I notice something terrifying.
A pair of eyes looking right at me.
And without warning those eyes dart forward at electrifying speed, the teeth in its mouth sharp and deadly as it lets out a horrifying hiss. Everything slows down before my eyes- I can hear the thumps of Ciaran slow down as he tries to make it to me, but I can tell he won't make it in time.
I recognize my killer- a male Dakoraptor… My only way to survive is to dodge at the last possible second… but am I fast enough?
Turns out the answer is no.
Unable to properly maneuver my body in time, the Dakoraptor grabs hold of me, its Scythe-like claws ripping into my legs and upper torso. Luckily, the Dakoraptor must not have noticed Ciaran, and earned itself a crushed spine as punishment for its attempt at survival.
But the problem is my new fatal wounds.
I begin to feel weaker with the loss of blood, my leg spurting buckets all over the forest floor- a scent sure to attract predators… Shit, it was Dionel that let that Dakoraptor find us by drawing my blood isn't it?
Welp, nothing I can do now, guess I'm fucked.
'Huh?' What is that voice?' I think to myself as I begin to pass out from the bloodloss, my vision getting tunneled and blurry as my consciousness fades.
'Can't believe I got done in by a damn Dakoraptor… Guess the dino World is Brutal, Huh?'