Lesson Well Learned [Spooky Encounter: Mary]

Rusted metal creaked beneath Kavik’s feet, her nails clicking along the flooring. She could hear the waves crashing against the back of the old ship, flooding some of the lower levels. Half of the ship was broken or missing completely, having crashed long before Kavik had even been born. It was a beautiful evening, the sun beginning to set and painting the sky a blend of reds, pinks, and oranges. It was a perfect evening for exploring and investigating the rumors she’d heard about the old shipwreck. There’d been something lurking aboard the ship and scaring any dinosaurs who seek to explore it. Rumors had been thrown back and forth of something special potentially being left on the ship, and the spooky dinosaur aboard it might have been protecting it.

Kavik thought the rumors were stupid, to be frank. It was probably just some young dinosaurs being stupid and making up stories to scare each other and other dinos. At least, that was Kavik’s opinion of the situation. Despite her beliefs in the rumors, she’d come to investigate anyway. If there was some sort of treasure on the ship, she wanted it for herself, who knows what it could be?

Kavik pushed past a broken door and entered a long hallway that smelled of mold. At least ten different doors were lining the hallway, probably leading to different rooms. At the end of the hallway, there was unsurprisingly another door, however, the frame seemed to be coated in a metallic gold paint and it was larger than most of the other doors. Bingo, Kavik thought to herself as she trotted forward confidently. Pushing her nose against the door, she listened to the door creak loudly as it opened. The room inside was large and dark, Kavik couldn’t see much at all but still, she pushed on. Entering the room, Kavik lifted her head high and scanned what little she could see in the darkness. In the corners of her vision, she swore she saw something move, but maybe she was just… seeing things that weren't there.

“You’re not supposed to be here.” A voice hissed abruptly from beside Kavik.

Kavik startled, spinning around toward the sound of the voice. There was a figure within the darkness, stepping closer until they were almost right in front of Kavik. Without thinking, Kavik swung her head forward, her nose horn connecting to a body and tearing through feathers and skin. She stumbled backward, stopping long enough to see what was in front of her.

A Parasaurolophus with a mix of red and pink feathers along its body, the deeper red lacing pattern paired with its white brindling gave it an intimidating appearance. The red-feathered Para honked in surprise, shaking herself off as she backed up and looked down at the scratch now on her chest. Standing up on her hind legs, the Para snorted at Kavik, seeming surprised by her boldness. “…My apologies, I had no intention to startle you.” The Parasaurolophus spoke, her voice becoming softer as she looked down at the brown Styracosaurus. With a soft huff, the Para began to explain herself. “My name is Mary. This shipwreck is my home, I had assumed you were a carnivore.”

“Mary, huh? And this… trash heap is your home?” Kavik scoffed, lifting her head high with a judgemental glare toward Mary. The Para may have been far bigger than her, but Kavik wasn’t one to be pushed around. She snorted and tossed her head, briefly stomping her foot as she considered the apology. Reluctantly, it was accepted. “You’re forgiven, I guess…”

Mary sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. Visitors were so rude nowadays, Mary thought to herself as she lowered her body onto all four legs, now face to face with the Styraco as she craned her neck downward. “There is no need to be so hostile, young one.”

“Hostile? Oh please, I’m being tolerable if anything!” Kavik barked, her tail flicking back and forth as she stared down the larger dinosaur. She wasn’t about to listen to some creep who lived in a shipwreck of all places, Kavik would never stoop so low. She shook her head, displaying her frill and nose horn threateningly. “Get lost ‘ya old hag, I’ve got things to do.”

“I have no interest in fighting, calm down,” Mary said, taking a step back with a small stomp of her front hooves. Mary was not one to seek a fight, but this was her home, and she’d defend it if she must. Already preparing herself for a scuffle, Mary lifted herself onto her hind legs, the metal creaking beneath her weight as she exhaled with a snort. “Please do not make this more complicated than it needs to be, child.”

Kavik wasn’t listening one bit, charging forward, swinging her horn several times, and aiming to hit Mary’s body. Her sharp horn tore through feathers and skin, causing shallow cuts to Mary’s lower chest. Mary kicked out her legs in response, pushing Kavik’s head away from her body and stomping down when she could. Mary did not want to injure the young Styracosaurus much, but she didn’t have much of a choice. The two herbivores exchanged blows repeatedly until Kavik backed off, shaking her head in frustration and displaying her frill repeatedly. She had a few cuts and scratches across her face and muzzle from Mary’s hooves, but she refused to back down. Not yet. She was determined to scare the Para off on her own.

Kavik used her smaller body to her advantage, moving around more quickly than the larger Parasaurolophus. Even in the large room, Mary had trouble maneuvering without bumping into things. Kavik targeted the red Para’s legs, swiping her horn and digging the sharp keratin into Mary’s skin. Mary let out a bellowing honk, disorienting Kavik as it echoed in the metal room. Kavik stumbled backward, shaking her head in confusion as she tried to regain her balance.

Mary charged quickly, lowering herself onto her hooves as she ran forward, craning her neck down and slamming into the Styraco with her crest. Kavik stumbled further, tripping over her feet and falling onto her side as Mary continued to shove her back. Mary reared up before stomping down on Kavik’s torso, her hooves creating cuts and no doubt at least fracturing the Styraco’s ribs.

Kavik yelped in pain, twisting to swing her horn at the Para’s face and scrambling to get back on her feet. She watched as Mary stepped back with a snort and a honk, the red Para stomping her hooves repeatedly. Kavik knew when she’d lost, though she wasn’t happy about it. Kavik grumbled and shook herself off, hissing in pain as she turned and left the room. With her pride wounded and the possibility of her ribs being fractured, Kavik retreated, making her way off the ship to return home.

Needless to say, Kavik would probably think twice before challenging a dinosaur far bigger than her again.