We usually ran careful, fast, and vicious but today she was running carefree and excited.
I shivered slightly when we got out of the water, feeling strange wet
The sun rose above the craggy outline of the Rhishtia mountains just as we reached the lake.
It was small, maybe eighty-five feet across, and only about nine feet deep, but it was a great place to enjoy the last warm days before the migration.
We usually run carefully, fast, and vicious but today she was running carefree and excited.
It was a nice change. She waded in without hesitation and soon had to paddle to keep her head above the surface.
I glanced over at Loki, caught his eye, and then nodded towards the lake. We ran together, but apart. Our breathing was separated. We were not a focused, well-bred pack today; we were on vacation.
It felt strange.
Loki and I hit the water full-speed, sending us tumbling forward. I heard Lathe enter behind us just as Zya whipped her tail across the water to splash me.
I let out a peculiar laughing cry and splashed her back. We continued that way for a while, splashing and laughing.
Then the Carnotauruses arrived. Have you ever seen an enormous killing machine who is afraid of water?
Me neither.
They barreled in just as we had, sending waves rolling our way that near-drowned us. I heard Loki cough when he swallowed some water and I noticed the new look of concern Zya gave him. I caught her eye, smiling slightly, and she looked away in embarrassment.
The water barely came up the midsection of the Carnotauruses, but I was still surprised when they began lying down. It got pretty crowded after that.
“C’mon guys, lets head up to the rocks,” I clicked, already heading for shore.
I was the leader after all.
I shivered slightly when we got out of the water, feeling strangely wet.
A high keening call cut through the air.
Microraptors were feathered, flying creatures that were extremely challenging to hunt, but were one of the finest delicacies.
Then I remembered Lathe was the best pouncer and revised my plan, hopefully, for the last time.
It felt weird, stalking without my pack, but I looked over and saw them doing their job so I continued.
Luckily it had rained recently, so the dust wasn’t bad. I had to watch the mud though.
Zya and Lathe knew it too.
About ten minutes later, he was up.
The Micro squawked but didn’t take off just yet, it knew we hunted in packs.
Zya leaped out next, clicking her killing claws and pressing in on the Micro.
It spread its wings tentatively, a look of pure panic in the dull eyes.
This was what I never got about Herbivores, they always froze up when they could escape.
Make the kill.
I suppressed my shrieks, encouraging the pack to take the distraction and kill the Micro, because for the amount of pain that was inflicted on my back there was an equal amount of hunger ravaging through me.