Show, Dont Tell
The life of an acrocanthosaurus was a very lonely one. Even back before the event of Doomsday, where all acrocanthosaurus alive were trapped within one building, it was still not very friendly. (In fact, one could even call it the opposite of that: cannibalism was not uncommon.) And now that the massive predators were freed from the walls of the abandoned laboratory, it was even rarer for two strange acrocanthosaurus to bump into each other on their journey through the islands. While encounters tended to be much less vicious than the ones that happened within the human buildings, they were still usually far from friendly. Being the biggest creatures on the islands, acrocanthosaurus need huge amounts of food to survive. The existence of another member of their species ment less food for them, so most acrocanthosaurus brutally claimed and defended large territories.
However, lately the islands had been growing warmer and warmer- spring was around the corner, and an abundance of food was on the horizon. With access to more prey, acrocathosaurus tended to relax and let their guard down, with some even gathering into small groups to warily socialize and find a mate for the upcoming plenty.
That is where Grimlin found himself, hauling himself to his feet as loud roars met his ears. Grumbling slowly he stomped his way over to the source of the roars, emerging into a clearing where a large gathering of acrocanthosaurus was laying. In the middle of the lose circle was a pair of males, engaged in a brutal but surprisingly non lethal brawl. The two males growled and hissed at each other, smacking into each other and pushing with their hefty bulk in an attempt to topple the other to the ground and gain the attention of the others gathered.
With a loud thud one of the combatants lost his balance, pushed into the ground and sprawling into the mud as his feet gave out on him. With a roar the victor raised his head high, showing off to the crowd as they growled and hiss their approval. The deep sound shook the earth, surely scaring away any other creatures within a close radius.
Gremlin slunk into the far spread out crowd, eyeing the others as he took his place on the edge to keep an eye on the ongoings. Acrocanthosaurus pairings were rare, and courtship was even more so- hatchlings took years to raise, and while it was easier outside of the laboratory it was still incredibly dangerous. These courting displays gave those who wanted to have their own clutch a way to find a worthy mate who would pass down their traits to the offspring. However, the species was naturally picky- even with all the theropods gathered here, only a few would actually decide to pair up.
An angry hiss caught Gremlins attention, and he looked up to see a large female sternly nipping the snout of another acrocanthosaurus who tried to approach, causing them to back up with a low snort. The female had a low coat of feathers mottled with many markings, spots and patches all blending together to create a complex pattern. Her feathers were healthy, and her bulk boasted of her ability as a competent hunter. The female (Aluella) quickly strode to the center of the gathered carnivores, letting out a loud roar in an attempt to draw attention to herself. This was another part of the ritual that some chose to take part in- some suitors wanted to combat potential mates themselves, in order to test their skills on a more personal level.
The same acrocanthosaurus who had just been nipped stepped in the circle, raising his head to roar- only to be quickly headbutted as Aluella charge forward, throwing her full weight forward and sending them to the ground. The other quickly retreated, scrambling out of the circle as the female let out a low growl. Grimlin chuckled to himself. This one had spirit. Maybe it was time he threw himself into the ring…
Heaving himself back into the feet, Grimlin let out a low growl to announce his intentions as he bullied his way into the circle. Aluella snorted at him, but made no move to charge just yet as he stopped a short distance in front of her. Meeting her challenging gaze, Grimlin let out a low chuckle. Without another sound, the two charged.
Muscle and scale and feather met together in a brutal power clash, the two heaving their bodies against each other in an attempt to knock the other off balance. Tails worked desperately as the two each attempted to keep their balance while trying to stagger the other. Grimlin growled, heaving the other away from him with a powerful hip check. Aluella roared back in response as she was sent scooting back a few feet, almost immediately turning right back to charge head on at him. Hissing, Grimlin rose his torso into his air, planting his tail on the ground to help him balance as his stance shifted. Aluella rose up the meet him, the two locking their strong but powerful arms together as they wrestled.
Luckily for Grimlin, he had a natural advantage here. The spikes along his back made it harder for Aluella to get a grip on him, which is something he took full advantage of. Pushing forward with his arms and torso he managed to push her back, causing the female to stagger. Sensing weakness he gave one final full body push, and Aluella’s feet slipped. She hit the ground with a loud thud, almost taking Grimlin with her. Staggering, he let out a triumphant roar as he managed to keep his footing. Those watching in the crowd echoed him, the loud sound filling the air.
Aluella stirred, quickly pushing her way back onto her feet. If she was hurting from the fall, she didn’t show it. Grimlin stood still, head raised and waiting for her decision. After a quiet moment she let out a low gurgle, moving her head forward and nuzzling it against Grimlin in a rare tender moment and show of acceptance. Grimlin let out a low sound in return, returning the single moment of affection. Seems he beat the odds.
