The dinosaur's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, the metallic tang growing stronger with each breath. He hesitated only a moment before descending the rocky outcrop, his claws scraping against stone as he moved with surprising agility for his size. The scent led him northeast, toward a shallow depression in the cracked earth where the wind seemed to gather.

As he approached, the ground beneath his feet changed texture—less dry dust, more compacted soil mixed with something unnatural. His claws unearthed small, twisted fragments of rusted metal, their edges sharp despite years of decay. They were unlike anything natural to this land. Squatting low, he sifted through the debris with careful fingers, revealing more fragments—some curved, some flat, all bearing the marks of deliberate shaping.

A sudden glint caught his eye. Buried deeper than the rest was a larger piece, nearly the size of his palm. He pried it loose, turning it over in his claws. Strange markings covered its surface, symbols etched by intelligent hands. His pulse quickened. This was no random debris. It was a relic. A message?

The wind howled around him as he stared at the artifact, his mind racing. Whoever had left this here was long gone, but the proof of their existence remained. And if they had been here once, perhaps others still existed somewhere beyond the wasteland. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, his tail twitching with restless energy.