Scurrying through the undergrowth, under the mottled light that pierces the canopy of trees, a two-legged dinosaur uses its counter-shaded body to use to hide among the vegetation. A darker coloured back and lighter underbelly allows this animal’s silhouette to balance out, so it doesn’t stand out. This small and quite stealthy animal is Jakapil, a 1.5 m tall and partially armoured dinosaur.
Using its small size and colouration, the Jakapil has been very successful at hiding from larger predators. As for any smaller threats, Jakapil has been able to intimidate them with its osteoderm armour and small tail spikes. Staying in the undergrowth has an additional benefit too. Food is readily available, as Jakapil is surrounded by the plants it eats.
Stalking nearby, the much larger Kelenken moves through the undergrowth looking for small prey to snap up with its beak. This 3m tall ‘Terror Bird” is very out of place. Coming from a time dominated by mammals, when no dinosaurs exist aside from birds, this Miocene predator has managed to adapt well. By finding small mammals, lizards, and baby dinosaurs, Kelenken has been able to feed itself in this new time.
However, this bird is looking for more substantial prey. It has been following a strange small animal as it darts through the undergrowth. The Jakapil is very stealthy, but it is not quite enough to avoid the keen senses of a predator on the prowl.
The Kelenken has been moving ever closer, making barely a sound, but with its next step it rustles the ferns a little more than before. Freezing in place, the Jakapil looks around and sees a towering Kelenken staring right at it. Knowing the danger, the Jakapil darts away leading the Kelenken to chase. Being slightly faster, the Kelenken soon catches up to the Jakapil and uses its sharp beak to snap at the fleeing dinosaur, but it only scrapes off an osteoderm.
Knowing the chase is done, the Jakapil halts and swings its tail at the predator’s leg to try and defend itself. The Kelenken is too quick, though, and the tail swing misses. Changing its approach, the Kelenken kicks at the side of the Jakapil with its powerful legs. This strike catches the Jakapil off balance and it slips, falling on its back. Its soft belly is now exposed.
The Kelenken darts its head forward and clamps its beak closed on the neck of the small dinosaur, placing its foot on the belly to hold it down. With its neck cut open and its body pinned in place, the Jakapil slowly loses consciousness and fades into darkness. The now still dinosaur will provide a fine meal for the Kelenken.