Shephard Age-Up Quests

The sound of small pitter patter on the hard dirt of the forest echoed as the figure of a boxy-like head popped up from the pathway, his pink nose coated in some dirt as he shook it off before licking his jaws. It was a small Anteosaurus who went by the name of Shepherd , he was just a young Anteo who was learning the world around him as he had hatched a few days prior in the area and hadn’t wandered too far from where he had hatched from. The young pup sniffed the ground as he was on the hunt for food but also exploring the world around him, and little did he know there were much bigger things around him but being young came with being oblivious to the dangers around. As Shepherd sniffed the ground he came closer to the edge of the forest on the island moving around the vibrant plant life , letting out a sneeze as he sniffed the plants before seeing a large bug float through the air as he chased it trying to pounce it but missing. The large beetle landed as Shepherd followed behind trying to keep quiet to catch it as he leaned down to pounce on the beetle it fluttered up into the air before flying out of the forest’s tree line, soon chasing it as he skidded to a stop at the edge of the tree line as he watched the large beetle flutter off.

Shepherd stopped as he sniffed the edge looking out into the vast field that the beetle fluttered off too as he watched it land on a blade of grass, the young pup had never seen outside the forest and this was all new to him as he lifted his head before trotting out into the thick blade of grass from the field as he was a lot smaller it towering over him soon losing sight of the beetle he was chasing as he shook out his fur trying to make his way back but now being lost from the forest's edge. He was now lost as he pushed past the thick grass as he sniffed the air not being able to see above him due to being so small as he blindly walked around. He was now out in the harsh world and no longer near where he had hatched and was born into the world, and being lost was not a great start for Shepherd.

As he continued to walk his snout hit into a rough surface as he shook off his snout , it was a rocky area that seemed to have had the grass eaten around it. As he looked at the rock he sniffed the ground before spotting a dark figure that was slightly bigger than him but it seemed to be moving around. The curiosity of the young pup moved forwards as he eyed the figure , it soon turned around which seemed to be a young herbivore that was of a Styracosaurus that was not as happy to see Shepherd. Shepherd walked closer to the young Styracosaurus as it let out a snort pawing at the ground not happy at his advances towards it , his tail swaying as he tried to play with it as he had never seen a herbivore and this was his first time ever coming in contact with one. As Shepherd sniffed the ground and cuffed playfully at the herbivore who was snorting as throwing its head around as it was trying to hold Shepherd back and had no interest in playing with the young Anteo who wasn’t understanding the danger he was in with trying to play with the herbivore.

With a quick burst of speed the young sty known as Apothic charged forwards at Shepherd who thought it was a playful chase as they moved around the rock. The two letting out cuffs and snorts at one another as Shepherd jumped up on a rock looking at Apothic who was swaying his horn at him before backing up not happy with being chased by Shepherd, as he jumped down to chase Apothic again making the small herbivore turn around before letting out a cry which startled Shepherd as he stopped playing and looked around confused on what the cry was about.

“It doesn’t want to play..” he was about to mumbled to himself before hearing the sound of loud footsteps coming towards where the two were as he looked into the direction of the noise thinking it was more play mates but little did Shepherd know he was in great danger and that was not more playmates but a large styracosaurus who was not happy that the cries of his offspring were being heard. The burst of grass went flying into the air as a large figure came barreling into the area that they were in causing Shepherd’s eyes to widen. A large bull styracosaurus by the name of Oculus came to the aid of Apothic , his eyes locking in on the small predator as he let out a snort before running forwards slamming into the rock that Shepherd was on causing him to jump off to avoid the hard hit from Oculus as he began to chase Shepherd snorting and trying to hit the young pup who was now running for his life and was getting the harsh really of the harshness of the dinosaur world.

As Shepherd ran trying his best to dodge from the hits from Oculus who was hot on his tail trying to trample him, as grass flew from the harsh movements from the large bull who was getting closer and closer with each foot as it hit the ground. Soon skidding across the ground Shepherd had lost his footing as the heavy footsteps of Oculus caught up to him as the large bull leaned down snorting at Shepherd before speaking in a rough tone.

“I’ll let you go this time Mutt, Don’t come back here” Oculus said snorting as he looked down at Shepherd who was shaking roughly as he tried to make himself look small under the large bulls front legs, this was the first time the young Anteo had ever come close to a herbivore and it was not fun along with very dangerous. With one final snort Oculus shoved him back before turning around and nudging Apothic who was watching his dad , let Shepherd leave unharmed but with a few scratches and bumps. As Shepherd watched the two herbivores leave he stood up onto his paws as he shook out his fur letting out a wince looking at his leg which had a large cut that was dripping blood. This was a harsh lesson that not everything was nice in this world for Shepherd as he just learnt and being spared was often not frequent in this tough world between dinosaurs and the little one was just learning how tough it really could be, even if not being a carnivore. Herbivores were just as dangerous and could kill you, this was a lesson Shepherd would take to him as he continued into adulthood. As he limped away holding his back leg up heading back the way he went, coming out here to the safety of his forest, looking back once again from where the encounter with the styracosaurus only footprints left behind from the two. Coming to the treeline Shepherd looked forwards feeling the warmth of the familiar place , he was back home a little injured but he made it back to his safe place. Climbing to a pile of leaves Shepherd laid down sniffing them before fluffing out his fur followed by a sigh, it was a rough lesson to learn and he would never forget being attacked so harshly by a herbivore. Shepherd licked his wound as he replayed what happened in the field in his mind before shaking his head to rid the thought from his head.

“Well I won’t forget that, that thing was mean, I just wanted to play” he mumbled looking around at the large trees that surrounded him. This was his home and if learning a harsh lesson he wouldn’t forget led him back to it, it was maybe a good idea for him to stay here and well avoid herbivores.. He thought to himself as he sniffed the air before rubbing his snout with his paws, but for now it was rest is what he needed. Having a hurt leg was a good lesson to learn but having one forever wouldn’t help him in the long run if he wanted to survive. As he slowly closed his eyes to get some rest the thoughts of almost being trampled played in his mind faintly as he drifted off to sleep , he would keep this experience close to him and always remember to steer clear of the herbivores as much as he could and with a possible scar if it stuck around to remind him of the moment. But rest was taking over slowly closing his eyes as he soon fell asleep.