The Updated Rourke Dinosaur Library- Diplodocus
The herd of Diplodocus had grown large. There had always been enough food for all. Each year the youngsters had stayed with the herd. Now things were different. Food had become scarce. Neither old or young Diplodocus had enough to eat. Some older members of the herd guarded the little food which was left. They rationed it out carefully. The creatures were allowed to feed early before the sun came up. Then they sought the meager shelter of the bare stems of one of the old trees. The Diplodocus had other problems. They had to protect their food from other plant-eaters like Brontosaurus and Brachiosaurus. Several older members of the herd were on duty guarding the plants when they were disturbed by a noise behind them. There were cracking branches and a general rumpus. The Diplodocus let out their customary warning call. The advance continued. Large shapes appeared in the undergrowth all around. Saurophaganax had appeared on all sides. The Diplodocus knew what this meant. They let forth cries for help as the intruders moved closer. The shrieks from the startled Diplodocus spread far and wide. Some herd members were sleeping; others resting. It was some time before the terrified cries reached all the members. The younger Diplodocus had never been summoned like this before. As they saw other members of the herd move they followed them. Soon dozens of old and young were coming from all directions. Unceasing cries for help still came thick and fast from somewhere among the mass of dying vegetation. The first arrivals saw strange and unfamiliar shapes in front of them. They stopped in their tracks. Most had never come across this situation before. They had watched single members of the herd being attacked. They had never seen so many large creatures. Panic cries came from the Diplodocus guarding the food supply. As other Diplodocus arrived at the scene of activity they too slowly came to a halt. The Saurophaganax remained immobile too. The herd of Diplodocus was not sure what the next move was. The cries ceased. Diplodocus and their enemies faced each other. The silence was intense. The quiet was broken somewhere in the distance as a Brachiosaurus called loudly to its mates. Then, without any kind of signal, the Saurophaganax advanced. They charged toward the Diplodocus guarding the trees. For a moment there was utter confusion. The old Diplodocus stood their ground, letting out cries of anguish. The rest of the herd seemed uncertain. Some stayed where they were; others backed away. The cries turned to terror as the Saurophaganax attacked. Sharp teeth and claws sank into the Diplodocus’ leathery skin. There was no hope. The old Diplodocus were no match for their attackers. Each of the onlookers realized this. A few stayed to watch. Most fled away into the withered vegetation, their long necks poking out from them. The herd split up. Some groups went one way; some another. Each continued on their slow lumbering way with hardly a backward glance. Normally the Diplodocus didn’t have to move far. Today was different. If they were going to survive they would have to go a long way away. Instinct told them that once the Saurophaganax had finished off the old Diplodocus they would look for other members of the herd sometime later. They plodded on their way. In their haste they scattered numbers of small mammals feeding on the ground. A group of younger Diplodocus stayed together. A young female stopped for breath. She had never been so far in her life. She called out. It was a call for help. Most of them didn’t seem to hear her call and continued on their way. However, one young male Diplodocus did stop. He turned around to gaze at the frightened creature. He moved toward her, glad to help one of his kind. They communicated, and the young male Diplodocus was soon aware of the female’s problems. As they rested the young dinosaur was ever on the alert for danger. After a while they moved forward slowly. Both were hungry. The Diplodocus searched until they found a few shriveled leaves. They shared them. The older of the two made sure that the younger one had food to eat. The male Diplodocus didn’t recognize the area. There were no landmarks that he knew. The juvenile Diplodocus sensed a note of alarm in the older male’s manner. She wasn’t sure what it meant. The two dinosaurs trudged slowly onward. The male paused now and then to try and get a bearing. He made continuous calls, listening anxiously for a reply. There was none. He had never been on his own before, and fear overcame him. In unfamiliar territory he was ever on the lookout for enemies. The earlier events were still vivid in his memory. With the sun high overhead it was very hot. The male Diplodocus signaled to his female companion that they must soon try and find shelter. They were hungry and thirsty, conscious of the hot sun beating down on their leathery skins. Suddenly from a short distance in front of them, the older Diplodocus saw a rock. He approached it with caution. A Nanosaurus scampered away into the undergrowth and startled him. He indicated to the female Diplodocus to stay where she was. He thoroughly surveyed the rock, but there was no sign of life. He turned to the female Diplodocus, urging her to come toward the overhanging ledge. With room for both to shelter they stood very still, glad of time to rest. Eventually the temperature dropped, and the two hungry creatures moved off. The male Diplodocus led the way. They searched every bush for food. They found a leaf here and there and even nibbled at the rough branches. The older Diplodocus sniffed the air. Suddenly, he caught the smell of conifers which drifted toward his nostrils. He headed eagerly in the direction of the scent, moving more quickly than he had done since escaping from the Saurophaganax. The female stayed close behind. The male’s pace quickened, the female finding it difficult to keep up. In front of them a whole plantation of lush vegetation came into view. Both creatures ate more than their fill and then wandered lazily to a nearby rock to rest. The male dinosaur was awakened by faint sounds. He recognized them. They were from his own kind. He woke his younger companion. Both creatures called back in unison. Soon the area was echoing with the sounds of many Diplodocus. After wandering far and wide they had all arrived in the same place. There was plenty of food for all in the area which the young dinosaurs had found first....
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