The jungle was quiet again, unnervingly so. The distant chirping of insects had faded, replaced by a stillness that pressed against his ears. He stood by the stream, his body tense, his eyes fixed on the shadowy spot across the water.
Nothing moved.
His breath remained steady, his heart calm despite the unease creeping into his thoughts. If something was there, it wasn't making its presence known—not yet. He took a cautious step back, the cool stream water lapping at his heel, and considered his options.
Stay and investigate? Or leave before the unknown revealed itself?
Survival instinct took over. Turning from the stream, he continued his path, letting the rustling grass beneath his feet drown out the unease in his mind. The trees grew thicker, their twisted roots rising like veins above the ground. Shafts of golden light pierced through the canopy, casting the jungle in a surreal glow.
Yet, even in the beauty, there was a heaviness. A subtle pressure that weighed on his every step, as if the jungle itself was watching him.
The rustling returned.
This time, it was closer—too close to dismiss. He halted, his head snapping to the side where the sound came from. Dense foliage shifted just a few paces away, the movement deliberate and slow.
His pulse quickened, though his body betrayed no panic. It wasn't fear—no, it was something else. A readiness.
The bushes parted slightly, revealing the glint of amber eyes. They were large and unblinking, locked onto him with predatory focus. His jaw tightened as the creature stepped forward, revealing itself.
A dinosaur.
It wasn't large—not like the ones he'd later see—but it was sleek and muscular, its frame built for speed. Its long, curved claws glinted in the filtered sunlight, and its scaled skin rippled with each movement. It looked at him with a cold intelligence, its nostrils flaring as it caught his scent.
He didn't move.
The dinosaur tilted its head, studying him. It took a step closer, its claws clicking against the roots of a tree. Its movements were calculated, each step measured as if testing his reaction.
Still, he didn't move.
The creature let out a low growl, the sound reverberating through the jungle. It crouched slightly, its muscles tensing, and he knew what was coming.
It lunged.
But so did he.
His body reacted on its own, moving faster than he thought possible. He sidestepped the creature's charge with fluid precision, his feet finding steady purchase on the uneven ground. The dinosaur skidded to a halt, whipping around with a snarl.
Adrenaline coursed through him, but it wasn't chaotic. His mind was clear, his movements deliberate. The predator lunged again, and again he dodged, this time grabbing a broken branch from the ground as he moved.
The creature growled, circling him now, its sharp claws digging into the earth. It was probing, testing his defenses.
He tightened his grip on the branch, feeling the rough bark bite into his palm. If the creature attacked again, he would be ready.
But then, something unexpected happened.
A distant roar echoed through the jungle, deep and resonant. The predator froze, its head snapping toward the sound. Its amber eyes widened, and for the first time, he saw something he hadn't expected—fear.
Without hesitation, the creature turned and bolted into the underbrush, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
He remained still, his breathing steady, his grip on the branch unyielding. Whatever had scared the predator was still out there, somewhere deeper in the jungle.
And it was bigger.
He exhaled slowly, his calm returning. Tossing the branch aside, he turned and continued walking, his senses heightened now. The jungle grew quieter the deeper he went, the shadows lengthening as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
His stomach growled again, the hunger more insistent now. He glanced around, his thoughts drifting to the dinosaur that had fled. It had been a predator, sure—but what did herbivores taste like?
He smirked faintly at the thought and pressed on, his steps purposeful.
The jungle wasn't finished with him yet.