Dinosaur Horror Book Concept Chapter

Death at Dusk

Proof of concept Chapter

Harry followed the dirt path back to the cabin, dawdling calmly in the glow of the evening sun. The evening chorus of birds, soft orange glow, and cool breeze was very relaxing. As Harry walked, he became lost in thought. He always enjoyed the annual holidays his group took out to these woods, they were always a fun time, and at this time of year the prices are affordable. He only wished it was warmer, the cold evening breeze of early autumn was bitter. Harry didn't like the cold. The sun was fading behind the dense forest, the tall trees casting a blanket of darkness over the forest. Harry could still see well enough and decided to pick up his pace, he had no intention of being lost out here in the dark.

As Harry sped up he breathed heavily, he knew he had another 10 minutes of trekking to do before he'd reach the cabin and he began to regret not taking his car out here. After a few minutes of speed walking, he noticed a rustling in the forest to his left. He froze, but it wasn't so much the sound that startled him, but the realisation that followed. The forest had fallen silent. No birds, no animals, just the cold breeze flowing through the woods. Harry was unsettled, and continued walking, the overwhelming lack of ambience disturbed Harry so much, that his walking broke into a jog. Another rustle came from the same direction, and he sped up. He tried to calm himself down, this was a forest in England, the most dangerous thing out here were foxes, and they certainly were no threat to a person. This only made things worse, as Harry wonders what is following him.

The rustling got louder, and Harry decided to sprint as fast as he could down the path, gasping as he pushed himself to run faster than he ever thought he could run. Adrenaline pumping, he hears the rustling get closer and closer, and he closed his eyes in fear as the rustling closed in. Then it moved past him, and he slowed down. He stopped to take a knee and breath, he felt ridiculous, it was probably just a rabbit that happened to be running in the same direction he was. He stood back up and looked ahead, and the brief relief was replaced with Dread. Around thirty feet or so ahead of Harry was an animal, half hidden in the brush, staring unblinking at him. It stood on its hind legs, and stood 7 or so feet tall. It looked like a giant bird of prey, it had feathered ears like an owl behind the eyes, stood tall like demonic horns. Harry backed away slowly, the creature stepped forward slightly, now the entire body was unobstructed. It was covered in grey feathers with black spots, it's arms were like wings tipped with curved claws. The feet were scaly like a birds, but the middle toes each had a giant, curved claw, that looked like a pair of meethooks. The animals eyes were what unsettled him the most, they were almost entirely black, cold and unfeeling. Suddenly, the creature squated slightly, then launched its huge body high into the air, claws bared, jaws snarling hungrily. Harry turned to run, but the creature was significantly faster, and it came down on Harry, knocking him to the floor. He felt a searing pain in both sides of his body, and felt warm blood treacle down his body. The toe claws were embedded in Harry's waist. He then felt the hot breathe of the beast on his kneck. He struggled but the weight of the animal held him in place. Then he felt the animals teeth sink deep into the back of his neck, and pull away a massive, ragid chunk of flesh. Harry let out an agonising scream, blood pouring out of the flesh wound, the pain was unbearable. The creature tore into him, ripping into his body with rapacious intensity, as Harry's screams faded with the light of sunset.