Bloody Mary

Banana Split shivered to himself, shiving to himself occasionally and letting out frightened honks as he stepped on branches that cracked under his great weight. He was out here, in the spooky, misty woods, for a reason. Granted, not a good one. His herd had urged him on, daring him to go into the darkness. ‘Come on, Banana Split! Don’t you want to be known as brave? Do this for us!’ And like a fool, he had. And now he was lost deep in the muggy, boggy forest with no way out. Banana Split sighted to himself. “You really did it this time. ‘Go into the forest’ they said. ‘Find the red ghost’ they said. Man. I really hope there is no red ghost out here.”

The other members of the herd had been gossiping about sightings of a large, blood red ghost that wandered the woods. Some said it was the ghost of an old red hadrosaur that had wandered off from the herd one day into the woods years ago, never to be found. Some said she fell to carnivores, and some said she simply got lost and starved. Regardless, they all agreed on one thing- the paras ghost was still wandering to this day, ominously spooking anyone who came too close to her haunting grounds. And Banana Split furiously hoped he wouldnt become her first confirmed victim.

A snapping sound in the distance made the large hadrosaur pause, glancing down at his feet in confusion. Ok, it hadn’t been him this time... wait. Looking up in horror, Banana Split raised himself onto his back legs in order to get a better look. “Who- who's there?” He barked, kicking his legs out as a warning. “I’m warning you, back off!” 

A sinister cackle rang through the foggy night as several shapes melted out of the fog, coming to circle around Banana Split as he reeled back in horror. A large pack of five cryolophosaurus, as star covered as the night sky. Against a pair or trio, Banana Split would have been able to stand a chance, but there was no way he could against five. He had only one choice- running.

Bolting off into the fog, Banana Split panted and forced his legs to run even faster as he heard the sound of many running feet echo behind him. The sound of jaws snapping near his tail alerted him to a gaining threat, but a strong swipe sent them creening back. However, there were four more to take its place. 

Having to split his attention two ways meant that Banana Split was not able to keep running for long. Eventually, he crashed into a tree trunk that he had no way of avoiding, falling to the ground with a cry of pain that was drowned out by the cry of victory from the cryolophosaurus. Banana Split flinched, closing his eyes and bracing himself for the end.

A long, drawn out call gave him hope enough to open his eyes. Had one of this herd come for him? Around him the cryolophosaurus were frozen, fixed on something behind him. Turning his head, Banana Split felt a new wave of fear wash over him. Out of the fog, into the fire. 

Approaching them was the red ghost. Huge and oddly silent, the parasaur looked like fresh blood flowing from an open wound. Her crest was a deep red, with feet ending in a bright white that only made her appearance more chilling. 

The pack hissed and backed away nervously, aside from one female who was clearly more unwilling to give up a hunt. With a loud boom from their crest that send everyone in the clearing reeling the ghost surged forward, kicking out with their front legs at the stunned cryo who was send flying off. The rest of the pack quickly scattered, leaving Banana Split alone in the clearing with the ghost- who was now looking at him.

“H-hello?” Banana Split stuttered, attempting to heave himself onto his feet but failing and instead falling back into the dirt. “Th-thanks for helping me. Uh. Please don’t eat me?” He anxiously avoided eye contact as the ghost (not ghost? Who knows) strided closer, large dark eyes locked onto his injured leg. Was this the end… again?

However, instead of a kick to the head, Banana Split was met with a soft voice. “That looks quite bad.” The other herbivore spoke in a soft voice, nodding towards Banana Split’s leg. “Are you able to walk on it?” 

Banana Split stuttered for a moment. “Yes- I mean- what? Are you the ghost of the forest? Why did you help me?”

“Well, I’m certainly not a ghost.” The other snorted, gently poking Banana Split with a hoof before he got the gist and heaved himself onto his own. It hurt a bit, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. “I’m Mary. Welcome to my feeding grounds. Im afraid I don’t eat flesh, just plants.”

Banana Split couldn’t help but sigh in relief. “Well- that's good! By any chance, are you able to, ah, help lead me out of here? I'm a bit lost, and the fog does not help very much.” Banana Split nodded at the foliage around them, and the fog that was already creeping in on the small clearing they were in.

“Oh…” for some reason, Mary seemed disappointed. “I can, of course, but are you sure you can’t stay? Just for the night? It is dangerous to travel through the forest when it is this dark anyways, and I would love some company that doesn't try to bite me first thing.” 

Banana Split faltered for a moment, taking a look at Mary. She did seem pretty lonely, and she did save him from certain doom. And he was already tired… “I guess, just for the night. Probably not a good idea to walk back to the herd on an injured leg, is it?” 

Mary snorted. “Oh, it's a terrible idea. Now hurry, we need to get there before it gets any darker.” The pink para walked off, Banana Split quickly following. Oh boy. He had certainly found the ghost… and she was pretty. Oh no. He was doomed. Crap.