Epilogue

In a world where no human hand had ever molded the earth, no city had ever scarred the horizon, and no fire had been tamed, nature reigned supreme. The dawn had always belonged to the creatures—the giants of old, the small beasts of today, and those in between, bound by the same ancient laws of survival. This was a world that evolved in harmony, where predators and prey danced the delicate balance that had sustained life for millennia. But no humans had risen to twist that dance. The land was a mosaic of primal beauty—sweeping forests of colossal trees, long rivers that wound like veins through endless savannahs, mountains capped with snow older than time itself. Creatures from every era roamed, blending the past and present into a seamless now. Saber-toothed tigers prowled alongside modern wolves; gargantuan reptiles from the age of dinosaurs still thrived, kings and queens of an unbroken kingdom. Some creatures had changed, adapted to this untouched world, while others remained frozen in time, shadows of a lost age. Among these creatures was Dino, a raptor-like predator with wings folded tightly against her sides, capable of soaring high or stalking low to the ground. Her sleek gray body moved like liquid through the underbrush, her claws dipped in purple as though she had strode through the very essence of dusk. Six eyes blinked, taking in her surroundings with a clarity only time and evolution could bestow. She was not just part of this world; she embodied it—its wild, untamed spirit, both fierce and inquisitive, survivalist and inventor. Dino had heard stories, passed down through winds and roars, about a time when the world was meant for more than animals. It was said that a strange and frail species, unlike any predator or prey, was meant to rise, to control the creatures and the land. But the world had turned in another direction, the winds had shifted, and this species never came to be. Instead, the earth remained in the hands of the animals, and the world, once destined to be tamed, grew wilder with every passing era. Now, Dino stood at the edge of a ridge, gazing out over a landscape that stretched far beyond what her many eyes could see. Far below, massive herds of herbivores grazed, while in the skies above, ancient beasts wheeled and screamed in search of their next hunt. This was a land where the old survived and the new thrived, where every creature had its place under the endless sky. She flicked her tail, her sassy, sharp mind already plotting her next adventure. The world was vast, filled with secrets, and there was so much yet to discover. Dino may have been just one creature in this wild symphony, but she was determined to leave her mark. A new dawn was rising, and it belonged to the animals—to those who had always been and would always be. And so, the wilds of this world churned on, untamed and eternal. The dawn had broken, and with it, the promise of another day—another day in a world where the ancient and the present thrived together, a world untouched by the hands of man. This was their world. This was the Dawn of the wild. Dino stretched her wings wide, letting the early morning light filter through the purple membranes between each ridge. The sky above her was a clear, pale blue, promising a perfect day for flight. She’d spent too long in the familiar forests and valleys of her home, and something within her had stirred—an unshakable itch for adventure, for lands unknown and stories untold. Her main eyes, one on each side of her head, scanned the landscape with ease. The secondary eyes, the ones closer to her snout, remained closed as they often did, reserved for moments of heightened need. They would stay that way until she had something worth seeing up close. For now, her gaze fell to the path before her—leading not just beyond the ridge, but to the distant mountains, the roaring rivers, and the seas she had heard whispers of in old tales. Dino glanced at the small pouches slung around her neck, checking to make sure everything was in place. She’d packed light—just enough to last until she found new places to restock. A few colorful berries, some sharpened stones, and a length of vine that could come in handy. A sly grin spread across her snout as she flicked her frills, their membranes shimmering faintly in the morning light. She was ready. But where exactly to go first? She tilted her head, thinking. The mountain ranges to the west? The endless river that wound through the dense jungles? Or the great sea, whispered about in so many of the elder creatures’ stories? Her claws dug into the soft soil as her mind wandered. She had heard of the sea, a place where vast, mysterious creatures still lurked in the depths, and islands far off that no winged beast had yet claimed. She knew that the mountains held promise, but something about the sea—its mystery, its endless horizon—called to her more than anything. A land where the waters stretched farther than any land could, where islands waited to be discovered, and where she could truly test her wings, But first she needed to get there. Dino turned sharply, her wings folding neatly against her sides, and began to trek down the familiar paths. The ground beneath her claws was soft but resilient, making way for her heavy footsteps without breaking. The creatures of her home nodded to her as she passed. The elder triceratops, Greystone, let out a low rumble of farewell in their shared language. Dino dipped her head in acknowledgment. Even though he was old, Greystone had always understood her desire for more. He too had once been an adventurer, though his days of roaming had ended long ago. “You’ll make it across the seas, young one,” Greystone said, his voice slow and deep. “Just remember, not every beast out there is as friendly as we are.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Dino said with a smirk, her sharp teeth showing. “But I think I can handle myself.” The wind picked up, ruffling the tufts of feathers on her head as she continued on. The mountains rose like dark silhouettes in the distance, but her eyes stayed focused on the horizon beyond them. She could practically hear the crashing waves already. Her journey took her through the thick jungle at the base of the mountains, the trees towering over her as she moved with practiced ease through the undergrowth. Birds above chirped in languages she recognized, some of them warning others to stay out of her way, while others were simply gossiping about their lives. One of the smaller mammals, a long-tailed creature with bright fur, scampered across her path. “Where’re you headed, Dino?” it asked, its eyes wide with curiosity. “To the sea,” Dino replied with a grin, not slowing her pace. “The sea? Oooooh, that’s far! You’ll have to cross the big river first. And the cliffs! Don’t forget about the cliffs!” “I won’t,” Dino said stiff, her frills twitching slightly. She’d been warned about the cliffs before. It was said that many adventurers had tried to climb them and failed. But Dino was confident—her wings could carry her wherever she needed to go. As she pushed further through the dense jungle, the sound of rushing water grew louder. The great river was just beyond the trees now, its waters dark and swift. It would be her first real challenge, but not one she was worried about. She’d flown over rivers before, though none as wide as this. Stepping to the river’s edge, she paused to take in the view. The water surged forward, winding through the jungle and carving its path as it pleased. It was a reminder that nothing in this world was ever truly tamed. With a flap of her wings, Dino rose into the air, the wind catching her membranes perfectly. She soared above the rushing water, feeling the thrill of flight as she crossed the first of many obstacles on her journey. The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks lost in the clouds. Beyond them lay the sea, the next chapter of her adventure—and whatever mysteries it held. For now, Dino allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of the wind under her wings, the world below her a blur of green and blue. She was ready for whatever came next, confident that her journey was just beginning. And the horizon? It was waiting. The wind rushed past Dino as she soared over the river, her wings carrying her effortlessly to the other side. The distant mountains still beckoned, but a small voice squeaked from behind her, pulling her attention away from the horizon. "Dino! Wait!" She skidded to a halt on the opposite riverbank, her claws digging into the soft earth. For a moment, she glanced around, her mind trying to place the familiar sound. Then, from the thick underbrush, a small figure darted out, scampering toward her on quick paws. A ferret, his green eyes gleaming, fur a mixture of tan and greenish-brown, with a blue bandanna with a paw print on it fluttering around his neck. Dino blinked, her main eyes narrowing as she saw the small Ferret. “Scout!” she exclaimed, feeling a rush of relief. How could she have forgotten? He had been her friend for as long as she could remember, always darting in and out of her life like a little shadow, never far behind. His small, lithe form made him a master of climbing and sneaking about, and there was no adventure she could recall that hadn’t included him at her side. Scout didn’t slow down as he raced toward her. Instead, he took a running leap, scampering up a nearby tree trunk with ease before launching himself onto a branch. He jumped from one branch to the next with the practiced skill of someone who had been doing it his entire life. “No way you're leaving without me!” Scout called from above, his voice full of energy. “I saw you flying off, and I just knew you were heading out on an adventure! There’s no way I’m letting my best friend go without me.” Dino couldn’t help but scoff, though her frills twitched with amusement. “Of course you wouldn’t,” she muttered, watching as he nimbly hopped to a branch on her side of the river. “Come on, you need me,” Scout continued as he skittered down the tree, landing softly in front of her. His eyes sparkled with excitement, the tan fur of his underbelly practically glowing in the morning light. He looked up at her expectantly. Dino rolled her eyes but smiled. She reached down, unlatching one of her pouches, shifting the contents—a few berries, some vines—into another pouch. “Alright, hop in.” Without missing a beat, Scout leaped into the open pouch, nestling himself into the small space with ease. Dino left the pouch slightly open, allowing his head to poke through. He wiggled his nose, eyes wide with excitement as he looked around. “Comfy?” Dino asked with a smirk. “Perfect!” Scout replied, settling in. “Let’s get going! We’ve got mountains to climb, rivers to cross, and I’ve heard there’s something strange happening in the cliffs.” “Strange?” Dino echoed as she lifted into the air once more, the wind catching her wings. Scout, ever nimble, braced himself inside the pouch, his head poking out as they gained height. “Yeah! Rumor has it the cliffs are home to creatures no one’s seen in ages,” Scout said, his voice barely audible over the wind. “I’ve heard stories from some of the birds. They say the air gets weird up there. They even called it haunted.” Dino scoffed, though curiosity pricked at her. Haunted cliffs? In this world, anything was possible. And strange creatures were definitely something she was interested in discovering. “We’ll see about that,” she replied, her eyes on the looming cliffs ahead. They’d be there soon enough, but the journey wasn’t without its challenges.