Men & Monsters

Quiet Night

Crickets chirped loudly as Rex, Swipe, and Thorn broke away from the forest in the midst of the cool summer night. The tyrannosaur's neck had the beginnings of scarlet-red, crusty scabs over his wounds. As Swipe darted ahead to chase after a lightning bug, Thorn stood still for a moment, looking up to the moonless sky in awe. To his utmost surprise, he realized that he had never gazed at the stars in such a mood before. He was suddenly fascinated by it all, by the seeming futility and smallness of his existence in the universe, and yet, how important he had become in the lives of these two dinosaurs.

"What do you think they are?" He asked. It managed to stop Rex in his tracks, despite his own deep desires to return to Rust. He turned to the ceratosaurus, and followed his gaze heavenward, his monstrous mouth gaping open in awe as well.

"I...have never wondered about it in my life to be honest. About as much as I've pondered the existence of trees, grass, or beasts."

"It inspires you, doesn't it?" Thorn asked softly, smirking softly to the young beast's youthful tone. "To find life's little mysteries, to enlighten yourself, and yet, remain attached to this world." Rex looked back down, blinking once as he pondered the other's words.

"You're not like most beasts, are you?"

"Simply one who has had too much time alone sir."

"Why's that?"

"I...don't care to think about it. Not anymore. Maybe someday I can relive it all, but not now."

"I understand." Rex replied after a long silence and polite nod. Thorn slowly made his way toward the tyrannosaurus, bowing his respects to the massive leader when he looked back up to him.

"Thank you sir for what you have done. We can ask no more of you."

"Roight! And you had a bloody good show back there!" Swipe added as he appeared at Thorn's side. Rex, with a smile and a relieved sigh, simply nodded to both of the dinosaurs.

"It's been an honor. I hope you two find yourselves at home here, and you're more than welcome to visit whenever you wish." Thorn bowed his respects to the T. Rex once more, to which the raptor almost immediately mimicked the gesture.

"Thank you sir. May you live longer than any of us." Rex simply dipped his head in thanks to Thorn's kind words when he turned and ventured back off toward the thicker wild grass below. He left Swipe to turn to Thorn almost immediately, as his long, stiff tail swayed back and forth with his widening grin.

"So, whaddya wanna do now? I meself could go for a meal."

"Aye lad, as could I. But this isn't over. Not after what we saw back there. The Eira, the thing that gang was after...why?"

"Ah, another adventure, eh?"

"If we must, then yes. Are you sayin' you're in then, lad?"

"Of course I am, mate! Could neva leave me best friend to go and have all the fun." Thorn could only smile at the raptor's enthusiasm. For once, it was nice to see someone on his side so willingly.

Finn stared into the fire that Eira had created to both warm them and cook their fish. At first the spinosaurus sprang into action and nearly kicked a pile of dirt onto the small embers, but once Eira calmed him with her gentle gestures and explained herself, he would only grow riveted. As one who had only known fire as a means of destruction, the dinosaur stared longingly into Eira's remarkable invention. It seemed as if he was pining for the wisdom she had in controlling the spark and embers. He didn't mind the extra light either, as the night in these woods could grow quite dark.

Never one to taste and savor his meals, instead swallowing them whole, Finn fell in love with Eira's cooked fish, as he even began to lick at the backs of his teeth and watched her nibble on her well-charred meal. At one point the Green Folk feared that he might gobble her up, but with a reassuring chuckle the spinosaur stated that he was a strict fish-eater.