The sound hit me first a low, rumbling murmur of hundreds of T-Rex voices, the scrape of massive claws on stone, and an undercurrent of nervous energy so thick I could almost taste it. As my sister Emberpaw and I finally broke through the last line of trees, the combat fighting ground spread out before us. It was nothing like the quiet, empty facility I had imagined.
The amphitheater was packed. Dozens of tyrannosaur families, representing the thirty great clans of the Flame Forest, filled the tiered stone benches that circled the huge arena.
It was a sea of red, crimson, and gold scales, all gleaming under the bright blue sun. This wasn't just a mere competition of whirling it was a day for parents to reunite with their children, for families to show off their bloodline reputations, or to be broken in front of the entire T-Rex civilization.
The pressure was immense. Every family's eyes were watching every other family, judging, comparing.
I watched the gathered families.
"So many tyrannosaurs gathered all at once," I muttered.
Sister Emberpaw, standing beside me, nudged me lightly.
"How's that little brother? Feeling nervous?" she teased.
I admitted it. I had been totally introverted in my previous life, so despite this new one, seeing so many T-Rexes all at once was overwhelming.
"Rider."
A voice came from behind.
It was my mother, Emberheart. And beside her, looking small and cute in comparison, was Pallet. Both of them wore worried expressions.
"Mother," I whispered. Months — it had been months — since I had left my sweet home life. Tears welled in my eyes as I saw the mother I cherished most. I ran into her embrace without thinking.
Her emotions overwhelmed me even more. She cried loudly, the sound of a great T-Rex mother, and held my smaller figure tightly in her warm embrace, her tongue licking my head in motherly affection.
"My little son, you've grown so big and strong now. Your mother can hardly lift you anymore," she said, laughing through her tears.
"Mother, don't lick me! We're embracing in front of everyone!" I protested. She gently set me down, pinching my cheek hard.
"Turning a year old already, and feeling ashamed because your mother licked you — naughty kid. First, tell me why you appeared late at the competition. You made mother wait so long looking for you."
Before I could catch my breath, another flustered face appeared. A female T-Rex rushed forward, and without warning, a tight tail slap landed on my abdomen.
"Where have you been all this time? All these weeks we were so worried! I tirelessly searched everywhere for you!" Her genuine concern was a warm balm on my frayed nerves.
I passed a gentle smile at her anxious eyes.
"Yes, Rider!" Ghostface's rough voice bellowed. He stood nearby with Pallet's beautiful and imposing sister, Roseblaze. But they weren't alone. Also present were Scarletface and my third brother, Instructor Ironhide.
"Where have you been all this time?" Ghostface demanded again, his tone leaving no room for excuses.
My brother Ironhide's face was a mask of cold, professional disappointment. His eyes met mine, but there was no family warmth there.
Scarletface, however, didn't bother to hide his feelings. He looked at me not with relief, but with pure, undisguised annoyance. He seemed genuinely disappointed that I was alive.
"Well, well," Scarletface sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look what the forest spat back out. We had almost given you up for dead. A pity." Maybe if not for my mother's presence, he would have landed me a harsh punishment.
Immediately, I had to come up with an excuse to get out of the situation.
"I, uh… I actually got lost in the forest," I stammered, avoiding their eyes and looking down at the stone floor. "At night. When I went for a pee."
A dead silence fell over our section of the crowd. It was so quiet I could hear the distant crackle of ceremonial flame torches. Then, a single snicker broke the tension, followed by a wave of outright laughter that rippled through the nearby families.
My other brothers, Blazefang and Infernotail, who were standing nearby, erupted in open mockery.
"He got lost going for a pee!" Blazefang howled with laughter, slapping his thigh. "His bladder is also defeated, like his color."
Ghostface just stared at me, completely baffled.
"Lost in the forest… because of a pee?" he repeated, his gruff mind clearly unable to process such a ridiculous explanation. "I… I don't know what to say to that."
Scarletface's lip curled in a contemptuous sneer.
"Lost while relieving himself? The Scorchclaw heir is even more pathetic than I imagined. Perhaps the forest should have kept you. It would have saved us all the trouble."
I felt a little frustrated using that kind of excuse, but it was the only thing I could come up with. I gulped hard, swallowing my anger and shame.
"Fine, Rider. Endure it for a great cause. Mere two nights of secret hunting have benefited me Five-Star Whirling and awakening my dragon milestone. So, enduring some laughter is worthwhile.
"They can laugh, mock, sneer, and taunt all they want. One day, I will sit on the great throne, ruling this Jurassic land, and their heads will roll on the ground."