[Trade] Beach Day!

Pumpkin was leading the charge, once again rushing forward and gaining some balance on his little legs. The juvenile had his head low, and his tail and back straight, just like how he would watch his mother run when chasing things. Emu, his more timid brother, was practically keeping his nose on his tail. Pumpkin could feel it brush against him every couple steps. They were allowed to explore on their own while their mother, Boba, hunted. As long as they didn't go far… 

Well, they went sort of far. Having passed a small forest and came out on a beach. The two happily chasing craps that where just barely smaller than them, and kicking up sand and running from the water. Giggling, screaming and letting out happy croaks and coos the whole time. Games of tag were interrupted by splashing in the small waves, or stopping for a moment to inspect something that had washed up on the beach. Curiosity getting the better of them. 

It wasn't till they found what appeared like a den, a bunch of old and oddly shaped, boards. Seaweed for a bed. Random trinkets here and there scattered about. Old branches and a shiny odd material that shimmered in the sun.. eh sorta shimmered. It was covered in odd stinky orangey red stuff. 

“Don't go in! It smells! And it doesn't smell like us!” — “Emu! Nobodies here! We're fine! Maybe we can use this tonight! – all I smell is ocean anyway!” pumpkin resured emu, his tail wagging softly as he turned looking at emu, who just.. gave him a worried expression. “Can we go back to the forest at least? To wait? We can hide! And not get sand in my feathers..” Emu pleaded, but pumpkin shook his head. “No! I'm having fun! Aren't you?” 

Emu thought for a moment, looking nervous, while he was having fun, he was worried they would be in trouble. They went way too far than they should have, and we'll, he didn't want to get yelled at by his mother. But before his little jaws could open, his eyes grew wide as he looked up, lowering his body and starting to shake. Unable to get even the smallest squeak out. “Hey? What's wrong? Are you really not having fun that much?” Pumpkin asked, stepping closer to his brother. Tilting his head. That wasn't till the soft rumble, no, harsh, violent sound came from behind him. 

Turning his head, a large male dinosaur stood over them, his body covered in feathers, his muzzle dried in his last meal, piercing eyes stared down at him. Teeth bared, and claws.. why where his arms so big!? And what oddly, large horns he had!? 

The large beast, the radiating Cryolophosaurus of hate, stepped forward, before lunging around his den and extending his arms. At first, snapping a warning, harshly putting a boundary between the juvenile’d and his home. Before instead deciding to turn this display of territory into a hunt. Again lunging down and snapping, this time barley missing the bald one by a hair. 

Pumpkin, let out cry if fear, turning to headbutt emu, pushing him backwards. “RUN” with the two now scrambling backwards they started to take off. Rushing for the forest now with emu, in the lead. Leaning over rocks and stones as pumpkin ran after him. The large adult chasing them, clumsy snapping his jaws at their tails. 

Quickly the two were able to make it into the bushes, ducking under a branch, and turning to scramble under a root. Looking for a small den, or a binding of roots, a hole, anywhere to hide! Thorn bushes maybe?? Emu went to leap over a twig, his talon catching it, pumpkin leaped and slammed into his siblings body, taking the both of them out. Rolling in the dirt, the two found themselves struggling to get back up. 

Before Emu or Pumpkin could stand, the large stone grey beats caught up, a nasty talon landing near them, as he loomed over the two, snarling and slowly lowering himself to get his muzzle on their level. Pumpkin, snorted, and stood up and with his tiny jaws, reached out and bit at the larger dinosaur. Who, for a moment, Stopped. Emu got up and ran. Pumpkin turned to follow, but the hunter was quicker, snapping out and grabbing the small juvenile in his teeth. The force and swiftness terrified the small Carnotaurus, who let out a terrified cry. 

The Cryolophosaurus flung the small hatchling into the air, before suddenly a flash of brown, and warm earth tones came into view, a loud pained shriek from the male could be heard as he hit the ground. Pumpkin landed on the ground with a thud, crying out in pain. Only for a gentle muzzle to nuzzle him up. “I'm here.. it's okay, stay behind me..” It was mam! Pumpkin was very happy to see her! Emu, let out a small whine from the bushes. Where pumpkin got up and limped over to hide. 

Boba, let out an angry croaks and snarl, throwing her head up, right, down and back up. Using her feathers and display to make her appear larger than she was, while the other slowly caught his breath and got up. Looking at the female and letting out a hiss, rushing forward. In which, Boba charged, slamming her head down into the other dinosaur, who just barely got his head out the way, taking the blow to the shoulder. Bracing himself, the strange male was able to reach out and grab at the female's feathers, reaching into the fluff, trying to find flesh and skin, to use his claws. But only resulted in getting himself bashed in the shoulder again before teeth found their way through his own feathers. 

After a couple moments of holding him still, the male thrashing and crying out, she finally let go. The Cryolophosaurus scrambled back to the beach to lick his wounds. Turning around, boba looked at her babies. Slowly stepping out, the little males rushed back once they knew they were safe. Into their mother's nuzzles and grooming. “mama! You beat him up!!” “IM SORRY MAMA WE WON'T DO IT AGAIN” 

Pumpkin looked at the two of them, digging. “Why didn't you stay where I asked..?” The question burned into the little carno’s eyes. Pumpkin looked down, while emu watched his brother. Before looking back to his mother. “I wanted to see a crab.. so pumpkin took me to the beach” he stated. Which got his brother's attention. “And you couldn't wait till I got back?” – “um.. I wanted to bring it back to you?” 

Boba only shook her head. “Come on, let's go rest. And eat dinner” she let out a sigh, and moved forward to lift up pumpkin, in her jaws. Before turning to walk carefully out of the woods. Emu following under her tail.