The dinosaur rose from the shade, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled the faint scent carried by the wind. It was elusive, but undeniable—something damp, something alive. He turned his massive head toward the direction it came from, his powerful tail twitching with anticipation. The cracked earth crunched beneath his feet as he began to move, each step deliberate, each breath measured.

The scent grew stronger as he climbed a rocky incline, his claws digging into the stone for purchase. At the crest, his yellow eyes widened. Below, nestled between jagged cliffs, was a small oasis—a pool of murky water surrounded by stubborn reeds and a few stunted trees. It wasn’t much, but it was more than he’d seen in years.

He descended carefully, his muscles tense with caution. The water’s surface rippled as he approached, and he paused, scanning for danger. A lone bird, its feathers ragged, took flight from one of the trees, its cry piercing the silence. The dinosaur dipped his snout into the water, drinking deeply, the cool liquid a balm to his parched throat.

As he drank, something moved at the edge of his vision. A figure—another creature—stood watching him from the shadows of the reeds. Smaller than him, but unmistakably alive. His heart pounded. Was he truly alone anymore?