Morning Light

The Struggle

The chirps of tree frogs echo though the trees, while the sun slowly sets a small female Austro raptor shivers from the impending cold seeping in through the forest. Large beasts roars echo at the edge of her sanctuary. Dense foliage keeps most of her demons at bay but others still linger. Before long she has huddled her self into a moss covered tiny nest, simply hidden within a log resting on a tree with a large hole in it, its  all she needs to ease her nerves. The last of the suns dying light fades through the trees and the darkness of night weaves its way through the forest cuddling its inhabitants. Her poor day of fishing is reminded with her stomach pains, to live one day in this world is a eternity. Her breath becomes slow and melodic as her eyes close just seeing  the faint sight of a glowing moon.

A slight echo of a snapping branch is enough to snap her heart into action, no other noise fallows it, but she has lived her life afraid and its paid off for her before. For a moment all that can be heard is the hushed sound of her heart beat but slowly a echoing thumping sound echoes outside not far off. As if she was physically thrown her body throws her out of her nest and on top of her tree grasping for any hold that her talons could grasp. A low rumble is her last warning as a beast crashes through the undergrowth directly for her. Instincts kick into overdrive along with adrenalin and with a sudden strength that has not taken over in a long time the talons take hold and she leaps up and off of her home running anywhere that is not here. 

The sounds of plants being pushed aside at a alarming speed catches up, she elegantly traverses the many leafs and vines in her way, but same can be said for her pursuer that seems to effortlessly tear through the underbrush as if it was an arrow heading for a bulls eye. A glance back at her new demon stands out against the glowing moon as horns almost shine back along with deep red eyes seem to grasp at her very soul, the snorts of it seem to get closer and closer as her legs ache from the burning in them. Her breath slowly becoming a chore to keep up with does not quit though. A massive Grave yard of old trees suddenly surround her  a dangerous blessing for her, her small frame easily maneuvers around the dead wood as if she was a ballerina on stage. A Horrid roar echo's behind her and seems to go through her like a bullet.  A glance is all it takes for her to see her attacker is at a crawl at this point tripping on the wood and struggling to keep up. For a short moment predator and prey lock eyes, in that moment the look of 2 beings in this world simply struggling to survive echoes through their eyes, a look of dread seems to flow from their eyes. One simply trying to live yet another day and another of a starving animal seeing one of its few last chances to live slipping away. After a miniscule  moment of her small feathered body catching a much needed rest she continues her way through the jungle leaving the creature to its own problem. The soul crushing sound of the carnotaurus screaming at its failure echoes through the now silent jungle.

Her hushed foot steps seem to echo as she desperately tries to figure out where she is, small scents catch her attention one being water not far off. Heat pours from her mouth and nostrils creating a mist in the cold night air. Slowly the insects and frogs begin to bring the forest back to life singing their songs and desires to all who will listen. She huddles under a large fern easing her muscles and heart, hunger is all but forgotten at this point as the bright moon seems to be simply running away taking its stars with it and the darkness embrace seems to evaporate slowly to the rising sun and the new rainbow of colors flooding in to replace it. After she has caught her breath the sudden need for water hits her,  a dry tongue searches for any saliva left but to no avail. Her feathers seem to glisten as she walks through the forest to the water picking up the morning dew from the leaves, it causes her feathers to shine like diamonds in the early morning light. When she comes to the edge of the tree line she looks out to see very few animals some maiasaur drinking from the water and a large sauropod chewing away oblivious to the life around it. She eases her way out from the tree line silent as a mouse just barely making a sound as to not catch another animals attention.

A small trot to the water feels like a long time with not much cover around other than some bushes its a gamble but water is outweighing fear. The cool crisp water hits her mouth and eases her senses enough to enjoy a moment, the cooling sensation covers her body within a few gulps. After a few more drinks her growl emerges from beneath her but from her own body pleading for food. She sets up on  her favorite rock and glances up and the bright morning lights around and savers it for every day could be the last day she gets to see it. A small cry from the forest catches her attention for only a moment but quickly continues her hunt for any oblivious fish. Before long she has caught a small fish to ease her stomach pains having accomplished a little kill she preens her feathers only to hear a familiar growl. Her head snaps up to see her recent attacker walking down to the water with a half eaten corpse in his mouth, he drinks and only glances at her for a moment the look of a starved demon is replaced by a relived animal knowing its life is not just a dream or a wish, before continuing tearing apart his food. The morning light is not a given it is a pleasure to have for every day might be your last our austro simply goes about her daily routine of finding food, and  surviving just like any day though only hoping this light won't be her last one.