Feast

Moonstone yawned widely, flicking her crested head around sleepily. She slowly padded after her mate, Solstice, the larger styracosaurus craning his head around in order to observe his surroundings with a critical gaze. They were padding past a human made pathway, long overgrown by various foliage that snagged at their feet as they walked. 

While normally the pair avoided this part of the island, the ghostly buildings spooking them into staying away, the pull of the harvest was too hard to ignore. Even from miles away the smell of the huge bounty of fresh, exotic plants was hard to ignore. Speeding up to her mate, Moonstone gently bumped her crest against his. He paused for a minute, eyes softening as he rubbed his horn against hers. They both were aware of the potential danger that awaited them, but the lure was too hard for them to ignore.

However, unknown to the both of them, their worries had already come true. Hidden in the dark foliage, dark eyes glared at them with hunger. Having traveled far from her natural home, Swamp Lily had come in search of food. However, unlike the herbivores in front of her, she had a completely different diet; other dinosaurs. Grinning, she made sure to stick to the shadows as the styracosaurus pair started to move again. She had found her targets- it was time to sit and wait (or in this case, follow). And once they let their guard down at the feast, she would spring- and secure her own feast.

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Soon, the abandoned human structure came into view. A collapsed gate would have blocked them off from entering the bounty lands usually, but after so many years and so many raids it had long collapsed. Behind it, was paradise. Plants rose far into the distance, long rows of corn and orchard trees in the distance. Moonstone whipped her head around, unsure of where to head too first in the plenty. Other herbivores could be spotted around the area, and many more were doubtlessly out of view. Solstice even spotted some members of his old herd, quickly skittering off in the other direction towards the ground crops.

Together the two picked through the vegetation. Squash, pumpkin, lettuce. Moonstone grabbed a mouthful of leaves, tugging until a carrot slid out of the ground in a spray of soil. She quickly crunched down on the savory treat, enjoying the flavor. Solstice sharpened his horn against a pumpkin, cutting into it and spilling the seeds across the soil. There was no need to avoid being wasteful in this season; there was more than enough for every herbivore on the island. It was the time of plenty for all.

Even the carnivores. Swamp Lily was not far away. She had carefully tracked the pair into the farm, being sure to keep out of sight at all times in order to avoid detection. Now she found herself hiding among the orchard trees, her green and brown pelt keeping her very well hidden among the trees. Patiently, she waited. The two ceratopsians were browsing, slowly getting further and further away from each other as they each went after their own preferred meals. Just as she had been waiting for. Approaching her hiding spot was the spotted male, the bright color on his head and crest intimidating her but not enough to have her give up. Any moment now…

Solstice walked into the orchard now, following the smell of fresh apples that made his mouth water. Coming across an apple on the ground, he nosed it, about to take a bite out of it when pain blossomed against his side. Staggering back, he whipped around with a bellow in time to smack the flat side of his horn against the leg of his attacker. Rumbling deep in his throat he stepped backwards, facing the green carnotaurus. Swamp Lily grinned at him with sharp teeth, noting the gash she had made in his side from her charge. Slowly they circled each other, staining the leaves below them with blood. Solstice firmly kept his horn pointed at her at all times- he could not allow her to get around to his back. Taking a deep breath, he let out a powerful roar before charging towards the much larger carnivore. This would not be here feast.

Not far away, Moonstone had been attempting to pull a radish out of the earth when her mates roar rang out. Quickly dropping it, she looked around in a panic. When had they separated? Thankfully, they had not gone far from each other. Charging into the orchard, Moonlight was enraged by the pained cries of her mate as Swamp Lily latched her teeth around his frill, stopping him from moving his head around enough to defend himself. Silently, she charged, smashing into the legs of the carnotaurus and taking her down with a yelp.

Together the two tumbled in a pile of limbs and teeth, until Swamp Lily managed to break away. She was covered in small bleeding scratches and she seemed dazed, but still the carnivore looks like she wanted to jump back into the fight. However, the appearance of a furious Solstice seemed to make the theropod reconsider her odds. With one last angry glance she turned tail, running off. 

Moonstone immediately turned to Solstice, running her beak across his wounds. They weren’t deep, but they would attract other predators. Gently he bumped his head against hers again, investigating her own wounds. Reassured, he began to lead his dazed mate deeper into the farmland. The thicker foliage would cover the scents, and ensure that, at the very least, their harvest would not be ruined.

The same could not be said for Swamp Lily. She retreated from the harvest quickly, narrowing her eyes. She would be back- after she recovered, at least. Carnivores would always feast in the end, after all…