The dinosaur drew in a deep breath, his massive chest expanding as he filled his lungs with the dry, scorched air. Then, with a force that shook the very rocks beneath his feet, he unleashed a thunderous roar. The sound tore through the silence, echoing across the barren landscape like a challenge to the emptiness itself.

For a moment, there was nothing. Only the fading reverberations of his cry and the rustle of wind over stone. His shoulders sagged slightly, the brief flicker of hope dimming. But then—a response. A distant, metallic screech, like the sound of gears grinding against one another. It was unmistakable. Something had answered.

His yellow eyes narrowed, his claws digging into the rock as he leaned forward, straining to see the source. The glimmer in the distance shifted, as if whatever had made the noise was moving. The metallic tang in the air grew stronger, carried by the wind. It was alien, unnatural in this dead world. But it was alive.

A shiver ran down his spine, his instincts warring between curiosity and caution. The sun was sinking fast now, painting the sky in hues of red and orange. If he was going to investigate, he would have to move quickly. The night in this wasteland was unforgiving, and he had no desire to face whatever lurked out there in the dark.