Into the Unknown - Quest Lit

wInto the Unknown - Event Prompt

Cracking noises could be heard , followed by the large footsteps crushing against the loose rubble. Dripping of water splashed against the small pools that had formed within the abandoned place, A flash of deep purple scales crested a lit pathway into a large building filled with old abandoned aircrafts. Shifting into view, eye-like markings behind deep dark purple scales appeared. Oculus, a large Styracosaurus had made his way into the abandoned building taking in the old relics as he passed the large wings that hung above him. He had lumbered his way throughout the island coming across a tattered sign that read Zone A, curiously he followed down a road that led him to the old hanger. 

Oculus had never been near this area before even when he was younger , stories from other Dino’s had gotten around but most thought it was a myth. Soon his thoughts were pulled from him. As he felt an object bump into him, he narrowed his eyes as he caught his footing, Turning to see Salem smushed up into his rump. 

“Salem ! I told you to be careful” he grumbled. Before shaking the small nudge off from the smaller styracosaurus. The two had been traveling together for some time, and he begged oculus to bring him with him.

“ This place is so big! , have you seen it all?” Salem squealed and bright eyed, he took off running looking at all the objects and items within the hanger.

“ Salem don’t run too far ahead” oculus called out, soon losing sight of him, picking up his pace slightly. Ducking and moving around the overhanging objects so he didn’t get caught on the wires and mental. He stopped looking up to a large old plane that was littered with war holes. “ don’t you look beat up,” he mumbled under his breath. This place could be dangerous, he paused thinking. Before shaking out of the thought, where did Salem go?

Salem found himself in a darker part of the hanger , slowly trotting with his head held high. Being much smaller he could get into spots oculus couldn’t and lost track of where he was. He made his way into an area with a door that was cracked open. Slowly pushing it open with his horn, he soon found himself in an office type room. Filled with desks that had been worn down from over the years, scattered papers covered the floor. *Crunch* papers crushing under Salem's weight as he walked further into the room. Little did the young styracosaurus know he was being stalked by an unknown danger that bared teeth and claws. As he made his way deeper into the office space , something felt off….

Hiding in the shadows pale eyes could be faintly seen followed by a large scarred snout filled with rows of teeth. Ruth a large albertosaurus had been stalking Salem without him even realizing it. Her slitted pupils watched with every step the small styracosaurs made within the office. She lied in wait for the perfect moment to strike. Oculus continued on calling out to Salem, grumbling and shaking his head. This place was huge and Salem just had to run off, he followed the wet footprints he had left behind on the old papers that littered the ground. Turning down and coming into a long hallway that had many rooms amongst it, this was going to be a task trying to find Salem in this place.

Salem kept exploring oblivious to the lurking danger from the shadows. “ wow! Look at all these papers someone must have loved writing” he chuckled to himself. Soon a dreadful feeling came over him. Soon the room suddenly felt cold and unwelcoming, he shifted uncomfortably his pace soon coming to a slow stop. The shadowed areas in the room soon gave the feeling he was being watched by something or someone. “Who’s there…” he stuttered, backing up into a corner, hitting a sharp part of an old rotted desk.  Caught off guard he was frightened and made a run for it heading towards the door.

“OCULUS HELP ME!!” Salem yelled with his eyes shut sliding on the wet and dusty floors. Knocking into cardboard boxes that littered the hallway. Soon enough he slammed into a hard object coming to a halt, slowly opening his eyes to a large figure that bared teeth and pale eyes.

“ Well what do we have here?” Ruth a large albertosaurus towered over the young styracosaurus. Licking her lips, she was scarred from head to toe and seemed to have a short temper. Her pupils studied the prey in front of her. “ Lost , far from home it seems” she let out a giggle. As she moved her head closer to inspect Salem. This was food and she hadn’t eaten in a long time. Frozen in fear Salem gasped for words to come from his beak. He had never seen a carnivore like this on the island and it didn’t seem too friendly.

At the sound of Salem's screaming, Oculus was barreling through the twisted and many hallways. “ SALEM ANSWER ME!” he snorted and called out while running. Something was wrong and he needed to find him fast. Coming to a skidded halt and in view of Ruth and Salem, Oculus snorted “ hey who are you, I suggest you leave my friend alone”. His horn at the ready, eyes narrowed on the large Ruth. This was a new carnivore, nothing he had ever seen or fought. It was large and was armed.

Ruth turned and meant with Oculus’s eyes “ Oh a friend, the small one has a friend… something a lot bigger I can sink my teeth into!” she growled with a large grin, her pale eyes now focused on Oculus. The large Albertosaurus soon turned her attention, swinging her tail around making large strides towards him. Salem snapped out of his fearful state “ Run Oculus!” before hiding in a smaller space so Ruth couldn’t get him. Oculus felt the strength radiating from Ruth as she made her way towards him. He stood between them getting out or being eaten and he was ready to fight for it.

Oculus put his horn towards the ground snorting at the ready. Shaking his frill, letting out a bellowing roar. His yellow eyes narrowed. Ruth began to move into a short trot showing off her large teeth followed by a loud roar. “ This is where you die!” she snarled before sinking her teeth into Oculus’s frill , grabbing hold and shaking. Blood drenched his face as pain flooded his frill. Oculus pushed back, locking Ruth in and then throwing her off, causing her to skid as her claws dug into the ground to keep her balance. Oculus soon turned “ well come on then!” he yelled, waiting for her to follow. Keeping his distance he ran her out into the launch bay of the building, making sure she followed him. Soon stopping under the wing of the jet he had to duck under from. 

“ This is going to be fun, I haven’t eaten in a few days. You'll do just fine, But then I'll eat your little friend!” she chuckled , lowering her head letting out a snarl. Her pale eyes locked on her target. 

Oculus breathed heavily, the smell of blood filled his nose, he wasn’t going to die here, not now. Shaking off the pain. He pawed the ground taunting the large beast. Looking at the wire that Ruth was just about to step on “ Come on..” he whispered to himself. The large carnivore soon stepped forwards, her foot right on the wires. In a short burst she lunged at Oculus mouth wide open. Oculus countered her movement slamming into her chest area pushing back with all his might banking on not losing his footing. Feeling a large pain spike sink into his right shoulder, she had him and good letting out a painful snort. The two were locked in a death stance, neither one giving in.

Salem had followed the two into the launch bay where they had first come in, seeing Oculus tangled with the large carnivorous beast. His eyes landed on where Ruth was standing, stunned with fear he froze. “ I I.. have to help him” he mumbled. The roaring between the two became faint. “ Salem her foot!” Oculus yelled through grunts and snorts. Salem snapped out of his fearful stun hearing Oculus yell his name. He quickly scrambled to get into a position “ You leave him alone!” he yelled running head first into Ruth's foot. 

“ Why you little” Ruth snarled, letting go of Oculus’s shoulder turning her attention to the little sty, but before she could lunge her balance was lost as Oculus shoved her to the side. Causing her to slip and get tangled in the wires. A loud crash and from above all she saw was the wing of the plane coming down on her letting out a painful roar followed by seeing black.

Oculus pulled himself from the rubble looking back to see the large carnivore stuck in the wires and plane rubble. A sigh of relief left his chest , turning to Salem “ Lets get outta here”. Soon followed behind by Salem looking back at the now trapped Albertosaurus. This was no place for exploring but a graveyard for the unfortunate.