Flight and Fury

Pterosaurs circled on the heated columns of air, ever watching the scene below with chatter and chirps. Steam rose from the bubbling hot springs below and twisted through the frosty air in wispy ribbons. These pools were a sanctuary for many animals who seeked warmth for wary bones and a cure against frozen limbs. This was a place of relaxation as carnivores and herbivores shared the space in a mutual truce.

Today, however, tranquility was in short supply, as Taima, a particularly ill-tempered anteosaurus, stomped into the area with all the grace of an avalanche. Her bulky, muscled frame seemed to cut a ridge into the peaceful scene itself as she approached, her broad snout scrunching as she sniffed the warm air. Taima was in no good mood, though no one could pinpoint why. Perhaps because she always was.

The first to face her ever-present ire was a rather unattentive parasaurolophus, soaking its long legs in one of the larger pools. It turned its head to glance at her, offering a low, friendly honk. Why should they worry? Plenty of dinos come here to relax after all, no one ever came here to cause drama.

Too bad Taima cared not for such unspoken rules and sentiments. Her lips curled back in a mixture of offense and amusement, exposing her thick teeth. She growled, the deep gurgle reflecting just the way she felt about the parasaur’s attempt at camaraderie.

Before the parasaur could react or even move an inch at the hostile reply, Taima lunged towards them and into the pool like a crazed grizzly bear, the splash sending water out the rocky edges. The poor herbivore bleated in alarm, scrambling out and skidding on the wet, slippery ground as the anteo snapped at the water where it had just been.

The surprised call caused heads to turn toward the menace that was the pale anteo, chatter emerging as worried voices whisper among themselves. Flyers up ahead echoed the alarm, some scattering, some circling closer to the perceived danger.

Taima was more than eager to drive onlookers away as well. Her wide jaws snapped shut with a wet clack at anyone who dared to enter her line of sight, heaving her mass from pool to pool if need be. Satisfied at her rightful claim to these springs, never mind that Taima had just arrived and wasn’t exactly known for her ownership of the area, she clambered into the steaming water and sprawled out like she was the lone queen of the heated baths.

For a moment, the valley quieted down as she appeared to rest. The other creatures tolerated to stay at the springs, mostly small dinosaurs and a negligible amount of frail elders not worth the effort, watched her warily from a distance. Taima sank deeper into the water, grumbling under her breath as the heat soothed her constantly tense muscles. Even as she laid down inactive she never unclenched her jaw.

Peace was never a lasting thing with the thunderous anteo around and the pools of the hot springs remained uncharacteristically deserted as she drove away any creature that disturbed her, each time accompanied by alarming calls of the pterosaurs.

The only thing filling the air with sound was the flock of flighted reptiles that swooped in from the mountains and cliffs above. Some perched on the rocks near the springs, dipping their long beaks into the warm water to drink.

Taima voiced her discontent in a low growl. Bah, flyers. Pesky little pests, noisy and bold. She prided her strength but she just didn’t seem quite fast enough to snap her jaws around those annoying oversized bats.

At times she still attempted it, as she barreled toward the winged reptiles with a thunderous roar. The flighted animals of course jumped and flapped away in time, the flock raising in a flurry of wings and half-panicked cries. Taima snorted, watching them retreat but they usually returned soon enough on the rocky edges of the pools or chirped right above her head.

The air above the hot springs was turned into a pattern of uncoordinated flyers dropping to the pools and rising back into the air, scared off by the particularly grumpy visitor. Squawking, chirping and shrill complaints are thrown into the scene, causing for a deafening soundscape above an area that was meant to resonate calmness. Above the hot springs amidst the swarming flyers, a dark tapejara and green tropeognathus circled on the rising columns of heat, watching the culprit below.

Blink, her yellow spots adding a splash of colour to her otherwise dull skin, tilted her head as she watched the commotion below. Her trope companion, Beamer, did the same but with concern etched on his face.

“Pfew- She almost got me! She’s acting like a rabid hyena down there,” Blink commented, her voice carrying a lilt of amusement as she watched the anteosaurus chase another unfortunate soul out of her perimeters.

“Worse,” Beamer corrected her, his voice hushed against the wind, cautious as if the quilled reptile below could hear them. “Meaner. Spikier. She’s run off everything that can’t fly and those who can, can’t even take a sip.”

The tapejara let out a sharp laugh. “Right! Look at her down there, thinking she’s queen of the springs. We should do something about her.”

Beamer turned his head towards his smaller companion in one sharp movement. “We? Y-you’re not thinking what I think you do?”

“Of course I am!” Blink said, her eyes spelling mischievous intent, as she made a slow descent while she spoke. “Watching this continue is no fun! If she keeps scaring everyone off, there’ll be no one left to chat with or watch. What if an actual fight breaks out and ruins the pools? What if she eats someone?”

Beamer wasn’t so sure but couldn’t argue. The mere thought of dinos getting hurt and the pools stained in red sent a shiver down his spine. No fun thought at all. No other choice left, his wings angled down to follow his friend towards danger. 

“You’re going to get yourself eaten one day,” he muttered. He saw it when she almost was just now.

Bold as she was, Blink swooped low and let out a drawn out whistling shriek. It would've been just another noise drowned out by the cacophony of calls if her voice wasn’t like an arrow zipping through the air.

Taima’s brown eyes snapped upward, her thick brows furrowing as she spotted the shadow circling above her, approaching in contrast to the dozen straying away from her. Before she could get a clear look, Blink swooped close enough to snap her narrow beak just above her head. 

“Looks like someone’s not very good at sharing!” the tapejara teased as she darted away.

Taima roared, water splashing around her as she lunged upward in a poor attempt of a vertical leap. The tapejara was simply too quick, dodging out of reach and circling back for another pass and peck.

“What’s the matter?” Blink cackled in mockery, twisting in the air. “Am I bothering you? My bad!”

Taima hissed, her teeth grinding together as she swiped at the winged reptile with her thick claws, sending more water splashing as she missed once again.

Beamer, ever so cautious, let out a deep cry before diving toward the anteosaurus. Unlike the tapejara, he didn’t have a mind for taunts or acrobatics, but he still mirrored his friend and swooped low and snapped his powerful jaws at Taima’s broad back, impressively avoiding a beak-full of quills. His wide wings lifted him back into the air as he circled out of reach. He wasn’t too eager to get his wing caught in those terrifying claws or jaws.

Taima, furious as a hive of bees, let out a startled roar, spinning in the water to face the new attacker. Her breath burst out in clouds as they made her circle and dance. Her furious eyes darted between the two flyers, her rage bubbling like the hot springs around her.

“I’ll crush you both!” she roared, fed-up with this game, and surged out of the water onto the slippery rocks. She was someone of few words, her animalistic groans portraying her intent plenty, but the disrespect grinds her gears.

“You have to catch us first then!” Blink cackled, swooping low to nip at her face. “Come on, big girl, show us how tough you are!”

Taima lunged after her as fast as her muscles could move her mass, but compared to the aerodynamic tapejara she looked ever so sluggish. 

A few skittish flyers joined in as Taima was led away in her furious attempt to chase after the tapejara and get her jaws on that green tropeo, but most had too much respect from her bulk to send in attacks.

Whenever it appeared that the anteo lost interest in the chase even as Blink picked at her, Beamer swooped down and snapped at her tail or sides to keep her anger flaring, his teeth scraping and pinching her skin far more irritably.

The chase was rather straightforward, with Taima barreling straight through obstacles, even if it meant jumping in and out of pools or running other creatures over. She has her eyes merely on the attacking flyers, seeing red.

She didn’t even realise as the air got cleared from fog and the wet floors made way to rocky and snowed over slopes. She was snapping at the air in her pursuit of the two flyers. Her roars echoed through the valley, sending smaller creatures scurrying for cover.

The two pterosaurs were relentless, their teamwork impeccable although Beamer rathered to take the backstage in their mission. They never let Taima rest, forcing her to follow them further and further away from the springs.

Finally in her heated pursuit Taima had enough and she slowed down, her breath coming in heavy puffs that fogged the cold air. The flyers circled above her, their cries sharp and mocking. She glared up at them, her muscles quivering with fury. They can be so glad she couldn’t fly or they’d be nothing but stray feathers and broken bones by now.

“Maybe next time, don’t ruin everyone’s bath,” Beamer called down, his deep voice cutting through the air, finding the courage to make a comment himself. He had feared this would go wrong, but they managed to keep the chase going for longer than expected. And, in an exhilarating way, it was fun too.

With a final hiss, Taima turned and stomped off into the wilderness, muttering curses under her breath, officially ending the confrontation. The flighted pair watched her go before turning back toward the springs with cheers and chatter.

“Do you think she’ll come back?” Beamer asked, the possibility plaguing his mind. This time went well, but he wouldn’t want to repeat this.

“Probably,” Blink replied with a poor attempt at a mid-flight shrug. “But we’ll be ready for her. We’ll chase away anyone who disturbs the peace!.”

Beamer grumbled at the thought, but as the two flyers returned to the springs all seemed well. Other creatures were already venturing back, relieved that the terror of the hot springs had been driven away.

“We are a really good team,” he finally answered. He wasn’t too sure on his wings, taking it slow and low rather than going for stunts, but he admitted being airborne alone made evading attacks easy. “Let’s be the bodyguards of the springs! Y-yeah!”

“That’s the spirit!” the smaller reptile sqwawked. “Some almost joined us, I bet we can eventually swarm anyone who’s a menace!”

Past winters, peacekeepers weren’t needed at the spring, but there was no harm encouraging flighted animals to kick out anyone who disturbs the comfortable aura of the heated waters below. A job well done, the two could finally linger and enjoy the springs too, if they weren’t putting another menace into their place.

[1987 words according to google docs]