Bladefoot

by David Pratt

  Bladefoot

  by

  David Pratt

  Copyright © 2015 David Pratt

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored, in any form or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  www.publishnation.co.uk

  Alberta, Canada

  Sixty-five Million Years Ago

  Chapter 1

  Bladefoot pushed through the undergrowth. The forests of this world were always active during the day and the dead of night. Although he had grown up here he was fearful of this place, and was on high alert at all times. The sounds of cicadas, frogs, and birds filled Bladefoot’s ears, making it hard for him to pick out individual noises. His yellow eyes scanned everywhere, looking for signs of his family’s sworn enemies.

  Planet Earth was the name of the world where billions of life forms had come and gone throughout the ages. The life of an animal seemed insignificant, like a single star in the universe. However, some stories were the stuff of legends – like the time of the dinosaurs. These great beasts had first evolved 228 million years ago, and had conquered the world in a 150 million-year reign.

  But now that reign was coming to an end. This is a story within that story, where events would collide with devastating consequences. This is the story of Bladefoot, a one-year-old male Troodon.

  The Troodon was a member of the Troodont group of Theropod dinosaurs. Growing to six and a half feet long, Troodons were a bipedal species. Their most unique attribute was their long head, which contained the biggest brain for body size of any dinosaur. This made Bladefoot not only a deadly predator of small animals but an intelligent one too.

  Bladefoot’s hands were long and thin, with three clawed fingers that had the ability to grasp both objects and struggling prey. His legs were long, for sprinting at high speed – either to chase down prey or to outrun a hazard – which in the Late Cretaceous came in many shapes and forms. On each of his second toes were big sickle claws, similar to the Troodont’s close relatives, the raptors. Bladefoot’s large eyes gave him great night vision so he could hunt mammals – his favourite prey – at dusk or at night, when they were active the most. Bladefoot also had brown plumage covering most of his body to keep him warm on the cool nights – unlike his bird relatives, who had long ago evolved feathers for powered flight. Troodons lived in mated pairs for life and were fiercely territorial, each pair controlling their own hunting grounds and defending them from rival pairs.

  This was not Bladefoot’s territory: it belonged to his father Kane and his mother Terra. Bladefoot was one of the two surviving chicks of last year’s brood. Only he and his brother Preston had survived. The others had been picked off by rival predators or died of disease. He and Preston were the only two who would grow up and leave to find their own home range.

  Late Cretaceous Canada looked very different to what it would become in the twenty-first century. Far from being barren wasteland, the land was a mixture of forest, fern prairie (grass hasn’t evolved yet), swamps, rivers, and lakes. The semi-tropical jungle that Bladefoot walked through had its forest floor dominated by ferns and cycads, although a new group of plants –flowers – had been becoming more numerous, and were pushing out the older primitive plant groups. Flowering plants such as magnolias were so successful that they had developed a relationship with new types of insects. Ants, bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths (which pollinated and helped these new plants) spread from area to area. The trees of the Cretaceous forests consisted of cycads, tree ferns, palms, redwoods, conifers, ginkgos, and monkey puzzle trees.

  Bladefoot was familiar with Cutter, the young male of his rival’s territory. They had encountered each another during boundary disputes ever since they were chicks and Bladefoot knew that Cutter would be a strong rival in the future, once the time came for Bladefoot to strike out on his own and find a new territory.

  ‘I want to get away from Cutter’s territory as much as possible,’ he thought to himself, already showing enough initiative to survive to adulthood. Bladefoot hadn’t been sent out here on a hunting mission, although he would have loved to find some bugs to eat right now. Bladefoot was investigating the forest, following a warning that Cutter’s clan had been sighted in the area. He shuddered at the thought of finding them alone. They could very easily kill him, and then with Bladefoot out of the picture they could take this land from his parents and his brother.

  A large dragonfly whizzed past his head, and Bladefoot was quick to spring up and snatch it in mid-air. Bladefoot was a natural hunter and survivor: every day just seemed like a battle for survival. If it wasn’t one threat it was another. One day, though, Bladefoot would lose. He hoped every day that it would be a quick death: an honourable death at the claws of a predator. Not just because he wouldn’t feel any pain, but because the nightmares he had about the different creatures would stop. They never ended, no matter how many times he tried to put them behind him. He never really felt happiness out in this savage land and doubted that he ever would.

  He pushed through the forest, nearly treading on a huge black slug feeding on rotting fruit on the forest floor. Surprisingly, he hadn’t seen any big predators today. Suddenly, a loud roar sounded through the undergrowth. Bladefoot ducked down into the foliage, hoping that he wasn’t being hunted. Then Bladefoot realised that there was no threat. If there was a predator in the area it wouldn’t be roaring, giving its position away. No, it was probably a territorial call. Bladefoot got back up and decided to make his way back to his family before nightfall. He wasn’t going to find Cutter’s clan now. He got back on to the game trail – the large pathways cleared away by herbivorous dinosaurs.

  The sun was lowering in the sky. Bladefoot used his arms to swat away the mosquitoes that buzzed around his head. More seemed to keep coming, no matter how many times he tried to repel them. Bugs were everywhere. He even had to stop as a swarm of ants crossed the game trail in front of him. He came to a clearing and deduced that a group of big dinosaurs had passed through here recently. On hearing a crashing sound coming behind him Bladefoot stopped suddenly. He dived into cover without any hesitation.

  ‘It could be predators,’ he thought. His alarm senses were ringing inside his mind. Whatever was moving through the undergrowth was something big, and Bladefoot tried to scan through his bush cover. Soon the animal came out into the clearing. It was an adult male Edmontonia. The Edmontonia was a large quadrupedal brown-coloured armoured dinosaur around twenty-three feet long. For defence it had an array of spikes and plates along the back, head, and tail. Four large spikes, which developed into sub-spines, jutted out from the sides. To defend itself it either crouched down or used its frontal spikes to ram into predators. There were hardly any predators that could take on an adult Edmontonia, and this species was very common. It fed on the shrubs, low browse, and ferns on the forest floor.

  It had nothing to fear from Bladefoot. Not even a Tyrannosaur could defeat this plant eater. Bladefoot watched the big animal. He concentrated on it so much that he ignored the biting insects piercing into his skin. But he couldn’t stay here for long. He had to get back to his family, as it would be dark soon. Dusk was a time for hunting, when the mammals would be coming out of their burrows and the rival predators would be asleep.

  Bladefoot had been wal
king through the forest for some time now. He knew that he was close to his family. He felt a bit disgruntled towards his father, who had sent him out alone in the forest. He could have had some support with him. What good was one Troodon against Cutter’s clan at full strength? But then he realised Kane’s real intentions. Bladefoot was a young male, after all. He would have to leave soon. The time would come when Kane would kick him out. Then he would have to survive in the world by himself for a few years. If he made it he would need to find a female and become accepted.

  Bladefoot shuddered at the journey ahead. Many young males were killed either due to inexperience – or just because of what befalls them due to pure fate – during their time in the wilds. Bladefoot hoped that he would find a young female he could team up with. Then his chances would improve. With a mate he could conquer a territory of his own and discourage rival males like Cutter in a contest of strength and status. But this would be no easy task.

  He forced those thoughts to the back of his mind as he came to a small lake. Two Edmontonia were grazing on the horsetails that grew around the lakeside. The Edmontonia paid Bladefoot no mind as he walked further past the lake. Close by, Bladefoot heard a bashing sound that he recognised easily. On turning his head he saw a herd of Stygimoloch grazing on ferns on the lake bank. It was a good-sized herd, with around a dozen females and three males. One sulked on the sidelines while the other two males were using their hardened skulls and impressive spikes to intimidate one another for the right to mate, true to their bonehead dinosaur instincts. The two males rammed each other on the flanks rather than with head-on attacks.

  Stygimoloch were very social animals, unlike the Edmontonia. They lived in small groups led by one large adult male. Although males were slightly larger both sexes were light blue in colour. The bonehead dinosaurs didn’t take kindly to Bladefoot’s presence, and started honking and bellowing at him to warn him away. Troodons sometimes hunted Stygimoloch young and raided their nests, but Bladefoot knew better than to confront a herd of them on his own. He wisely moved away from the herd as the males continued to display.

  Bladefoot continued on his path, making his way through the occasional cloud of midges that plagued all the animals out here. He had to be nearing his parents soon. All he had to do was make his way through another stretch of forest. On the forest edge Bladefoot spotted potential prey. There was a trio of grey-black mammals feeding on a dead Stygimoloch. They were known as Didelphodon, and were members of the marsupial family.

  Mammals had been living in the shadows for millions of years, but now they were becoming more numerous. At three feet long Didelphodon was among the largest, but on average mammals were very small. Didelphodons were omnivores, so the dead bonehead dinosaur was a real treat for the furballs. However, they soon scattered at the sight of Bladefoot. Troodons preyed on Didelphodons.

  Bladefoot continued towards the forest edge. He heard the noises of plant eaters coming from the other side of the lake. Bladefoot paused to pick up any movement. Sure enough, a large herd of Parasaurolophus came out of the forest for a drink at the lake. Parasaurolophus were thirty-three feet long, and although they were quadruped animals they could rear up on their hind legs to feed on any tall plants on the forest floor. The most unique feature of this member of the Hadrosaur (duck-billed dinosaur) family was the long backwards-pointing head crest, which was hollow on the inside and was used for making low-frequency sounds to communicate with herd members. They were a yellow-brown colour with a black stripe on their sides. They were at the bottom of the food chain, and were preyed upon by any large or sophisticated predators. That’s why they stayed in large groups: more eyes, ears, and noses. They edged nervously down to the water. The lakes and rivers were the home of giant crocodiles who lay in wait to snatch any herbivores from the water’s edge. Bladefoot had no time to observe these plant eaters, for it would be dark soon.

  Bladefoot was finally relieved to have the rest of his pack in sight. ‘Safety… hunting trips…’ he thought. His mind focused on food and rest, both of which he was in need of. Kane’s territory was situated between the fern prairies and the forest. The plains it overlooked were prime hunting grounds. If food became depleted in one habitat the Troodons could forage in the other. Bladefoot knew that he was from a strong pair. While he stayed here he had to assist with hunts and territorial patrols. Recently there had been three young males sighted on the fern prairies nearby, loitering. They would probably try to take Kane’s place soon. That was a downside to living here. It was always subject to enemy attack, but so far Kane had won.

  As Bladefoot approached his mother Terra charged him from beneath a tree that the pack was resting under. ‘State your name,’ Terra hissed and snarled, waving her claws and baring her serrated teeth. ‘Bladefoot. I’m your son,’ Bladefoot said.

  He bowed his head low and performed a submission dance to prove who he was. ‘I hunt for my family and defend this land,’ he declared. Eventually Terra backed down and stepped aside to let her son pass.

  ‘Bladefoot!’ His brother Preston came bounding up to him. Bladefoot was pleased to see his brother, but was tired and didn’t feel like play-fighting with Preston tonight. ‘Tell me about your adventure. Did you find Cutter’s clan? What dinosaurs did you see?’ Preston hopped around, yapping excitedly. The more Bladefoot tried to settle down the more Preston screeched. ‘If only you knew the reality of it, Preston,’ Bladefoot thought to himself.

  Bladefoot had barely rested his head on the ground when Kane stood up. ‘It’s time to go hunting,’ he signalled. ‘Oh, I was just getting comfortable,’ Bladefoot groaned. Terra and Preston were already at Kane’s side when Bladefoot caught up with them. The sun had set and now the moon rose in the night skies. It was a clear night: perfect hunting conditions for the night vision of the Troodon. The pack split up to cover more ground. Kane and Terra went one way while Bladefoot and Preston went the other. ‘We’re going on a hunt!’ Preston was excited.

  Bladefoot and Preston had been firm friends ever since they had been hatchlings. They had learned how to hunt and survive together. When their other siblings had been alive they’d worked in coalition to defeat any chicks that rose against them. However, one day Bladefoot and Preston would not see each other as brothers but as competitors. ‘Listen. When I’m ordered to leave, you’re not coming with me,’ Bladefoot hissed, reminding his brother that his ties to his family were coming to an end. Preston sunk his head low, being submissive but giving out a loud hiss to display that he was not happy about being pushed around by his brother.

  Bladefoot was not interested in taking a territory together with Preston. Bladefoot wanted only a female Troodon for company from now on. Bladefoot was glad that his father wasn’t with them. Kane viewed his son as future competition, and had attacked him more and more recently. Once Bladefoot had gone Preston would be driven out the same way.

  Suddenly the pair stopped. They had sighted an opossum up ahead. The opossum hadn’t seen or heard the Troodons coming, and by the time it detected them it was too late. Bladefoot pounced, grabbing the opossum in his jaws and shaking it to death. Bladefoot swallowed down the unfortunate mammal down while Preston chased after some shrew-like mammals. Preston snapped one up before it reached its burrow. Among the crickets and frogs Bladefoot could hear the screeches of mammals, and he knew that his parents had also been successful tonight. As the rest of the pack hunted Bladefoot spent less and less time foraging with his family. His instincts were telling him to leave and to find a homeland of his own. But, while he could, he was happy to wear out his parents’ shrinking generosity. His father had taught him well: always exploit any opportunity.

  The calls of frogs had drawn the Troodons to the edge of the forest at the northern part of their territory. The territory edge was defined by a shallow river that ran through the forest into the fern prairies. While hunting frogs along the riverbank Kane’s pack heard a screech. Cutter’s clan had arrived. ‘Cutter! Drive out Cutter and his
scum clan,’ Bladefoot screeched. Bladefoot’s instincts reflected those of the pack.

  Kane’s group turned to face Cutter, his father Hadrian, and his mother Blood-tooth. Bladefoot was still expected to back up his father, and the two were at the front of the dispute. Terra and Preston hung back to ensure that the pack was not outflanked. For now Cutter’s clan stayed on the opposite side of the bank, shrieking, hissing, and snarling at their rivals. All the Troodons snapped their jaws at each other and waved their hand claws as signs of aggression. This was all mainly for show. Only very rarely did border disputes turn violent, as the risk of personal injury was too great. But Bladefoot reacted, nonetheless. ‘Get away, Cutter, you scum!’ He displayed at his long-time rival.

  ‘Bladefoot, you and I have unfinished business … personal business …’ Cutter taunted from the other side of the river. Cutter had a permanent scar on the right side of his face from a fight with another Troodon. ‘If I get my claws into you …’ Bladefoot could very easily kill Cutter right in front of his parents right now. In fact he contemplated driving them out with the help of his family and taking this land for himself. For all their noise Cutter’s pack realised that they were outnumbered, and they turned and fled into their section of the forest.

  ‘Get out of here … Get out of here,’ Kane’s pack chanted after them. Cutter turned back and screeched a personal threat to Bladefoot. ‘This isn’t over, Bladefoot. This isn’t over.’ Then even Cutter scampered away, his pride dented. Kane’s group then turned and walked away. Bladefoot received no thanks for helping his family. But then Bladefoot wouldn’t always be here. Bladefoot wondered whether Hadrian would take over this land once Bladefoot and Preston were gone. Maybe Cutter would try and displace Kane, and mate with Terra.