Travel of Kings

Prologue

It was a nice, typical early winter. It was rather cloudy, like normally, and it was kinda snowing. Frostbite paid attention to a Leptictidium he found. This one had a predominately white pelt with some black spots. The small mammal turned to face him, and it immediately turned back and hopped away. Frostbite watched as it hurried into the dense conifer forest. 

He was suddenly spooked by one of his older sisters screaming and pouncing on him. Frostbite attempted to struggle free, but he knew he couldn't do it if he wanted to. He yelped in a weak attempt to get his father to help. It did seem to work, as their father, a large and somewhat scarred Yutyrannus, walked over to them. He seemed o have a look of frustration. 

"Frostbite And Vulpes, now is not the time for this. You know my brother got attacked by lateniventrix because he decided to do something like this, and he was lucky to have made it out" their father said. Neither tried arguing and followed their father back to their home. 

"So, Vulpes, were you bothering your brother again" their father asked. "He's weak. The best he can do is call for help" Vulpes responded. "Hey! You know I don't like others saying that, especially not when it's about their own family" their father said. "Sorry" she replied. 

They continued down a path. At one point, it lead into a masssive clearing. In it, a group of Edmontosaurus. They were all large animals, white, gray and black mottled skin. A few, likely males, had ocean blue necks. "Late to migrate I see" their father remarked. "Why do they migrate while we don't" Frostbite asked "Good question. I myself am not too sure, but I believe they eat certain plants more common where it's warm. We just eat meat, which is everywhere" their father said. "You're only saying it was a good question to make him feel better about himself" Vulpes muttered. "I can hear you. You know, you and the rest of you gotta be nicer to him. I was just like him, I was treated like and thought of like him. And look at me now, I'm your father" their father said. 

They heard a high pitched roar as they were in the middle of the clearing. "A... Megaraptor? Up here" their father asked, concerned. The roar caused some Edmontosaurus to panic and run. Frostbite saw that the Edmontosaurus were heading in their direction. He and his sister were picked up and their father began sprinting. They were now in the middle of a stampede. 

It felt long, and Frostbite saw an odd creature with a reddish brown coat, a golden display of feathers, and orange skin. It made sounds just like the high pitched roar. It snapped at one of the Edmontosauruses, causing it to accidentally stumble into Frostbite's father. Frostbite and his sister were accidentally released. Luckily, the Edmontosaurus herd was leaving the area. 

"Are you okay kids" their father asked. They both nodded. Something big leapt from a nearby cliff. The megaraptor. "Hey, you! Big guy, what's your name" he asked to their father. "The name's Pine. Stay away from my kids if you like your head" their father said. "Oh no, I don't wanna hurt them. I just wanted to know if you wanted to be in my army, as my brother's right hand man" the megaraptor said. "No, why would I ever" their father responded. "Simple. You keep your life" the megaraptor said. "I would fight till I'm merely bones attached together with what little muscle would be left if that meant protecting me and my kids" their father said. "Fine then, we'll see about that" the megaraptor said. He charged at their father, but was stopped just before he could dig his claw into him. "Quick to react I see. Perhaps some reinforcements would help me out" the megaraptor said as he gave a wide grin. 

Out of the bushes trotted an Austroraptor, of blue feathers, a green tint at the tips of his wings, tail fan and head feathers as well as a bright yellow underside. He Austroraptor hissed and leapt onto Frostbite's father. The raptor sank his talons into the side of the Yutyrannus. Frostbite's father threw the megaraptor to the side and tried to get the Austroraptor off. The megaraptor got back up and slammed himself into Frostbite's struggling father. Frostbite could hear the loud roar as their father fell to the ground. 

"Master wants, master gets. If he can't, the ground becomes red" the Austroraptor said. "Kids, go" Frostbite's father yelled to Frostbite and Vulpes. They couldn't move, as they were paralyzed with fear. The Megaraptor knelt down to the fallen Yutyrannus. "Remember my name in the afterlife. I am Cobra" the Megaraptor said. He then slashed violently at the neck of Frostbite's father, who was now deceased. He then turned his attention to the children. 

"Now, you two young ones, would you like to join me" Cobra asked. "Why should we" Frostbite asked. "Because, your father was weak. We're the strong ones here" Cobra said. "If we don't join, will you kill us too" Vulpes asked. "I won't have to. Look, it's winter. On your own, you'll certainly be eaten by troodonts or die from the cold and get scavenged by Dilongs. You need me now" Cobra said. Vulpes looked to Frostbite, then to Cobra and the Austroraptor reluctantly, and then walked over to the latter two. "Good choice, little one. How about you, other one. What's your choice" Cobra said. "I'll never accept you, even if I need you" Frostbite said. "Then so be it. The cold will take its toll on you while your sister enjoys some nice Edmontosaurus in the comfort of a warm cave" Cobra said. The Austroraptor picked up Vulpes. Cobra and the Austroraptor walked away, their figures fading away into the cold and now dark night sky. 

The wind was starting to pick up, and it was starting to snow. Frostbite turned away from them, and walked in the opposite direction, a tear shedding down his eye as he looked back at his father's fallen carcass.