My Name is Franklin

Commission from M.Brookes

Black stripes faded to white over the rough skin of the predator slowly sliding through the shadows of the forest towering around him. Pink eyes scanned the smaller creature scurrying away from him. His nostrils flared and then his breath puffed out in heavy clouds as the sun dipped lower and lower on the horizon. While he was always scanning for his next meal he was not desperate. He was full of recently scavenged stegosaurus. He could still taste the strings cut between his large incisors as he flicked his tongue at them in irritation. Despite the mild irritant he felt today was a good day. He wouldn’t go so far as to say great yet, but it was definitely making its way towards just that.

“Al! Al!” The voice calling out belonged to a much younger beast. Softer, without the deep vibrations that shook the ground yet.

Franklin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘And just like that the day has gone to hell.’ He thought bitterly before turning around slowly to glare at the smaller theropod. He bared his four inch long teeth at the younger beast crashing through the vegetation. He knew the torvosaurus, darker skinned than him closer to the color of the araucarioxylon foliage in Franklin’s forest than the shadow raked trunks. There were still stripes of darker color similar to larger theropod but even the smaller one’s eyes blended into his body, black and beady and reflecting the light like onyx caught in the branches of a moving araucarioxylon. With an uncanny ability to step on every nerve Franklin didn’t know he had.

“Gregory.” The deep rumble vibrated through Franklin’s body sending the creatures hiding too close scampering away in fear. “How many times do I need to remind you…I am an allosaurus but that is not my name. My name is-“

“Yeah yeah yeah, but who’s gonna be afraid of a Franklin?” The torvosaurus shifted from one foot to another, his tone showing his eye roll more than the brief flash of white on one side of his eye socket. His nostrils flaring to take in the coppery rotten stench curling from Franklin’s slightly parted maw. He was eager to get the stench in his own mouth, but not so eager he would get within range the larger creature’s jaws.

“You.” Franklin snapped his jaws with a sharp audible click at the juvenile theropod. Gregory’s tail slapped into a tree in his haste to get away from the threat. Franklin turned back towards the direction he had been lumbering. His steps crushing the debris beneath his claws. An iridescent wing brushed the corner of his mouth, he snapped his teeth down over the insect. He growled while his tongue flicked over the stenophlebia’s innards decorating his teeth. He changed his direction, not enjoying the taste even as a juvenile when insects and bugs were all he could catch on his own.

‘And unlike some I had the sense to leave larger predators alone.’ Franklin thought with a deep grumble when he heard the telltale crunching of leaves echoing his own steps.

“Now that’s just mean.” Gregory stayed back enough for nearly two more allosauruses Franklin’s size to be between them. “I just needed directions-“

“To my last meal.” Franklin grumbled coming to a stop by the stream. Scanning the area for potential threats, but more importantly potential prey. He lowered his jaws to the water, ignoring the scattering fish. Rivulets ran from between his teeth, dripping down his throat and washing away the red stains around his mouth. Franklin turned his head to stare at the smaller theropod who had enough sense to stay out of reach. Not that he couldn’t catch the slower carnivore if he wanted, but given the choice Franklin did not enjoy chasing down his prey.

“Well you did walk away.” Gregory ducked his head slowly leaning towards the stream, cautious in case the larger predator made any moves towards him. He knew, as a healthy specimen, if he ran chances were in his favor that Franklin would give up before he was caught, but he also knew if the chase continued Franklin would catch him. Gregory glanced around much like Franklin had done, knowing that while there were few predators around that could stand up to the adult allosaurus there were a few that could make a meal of a juvenile torvosaurus, and despite others’ claims Gregory did have a sense of self preservation. He just also had a large sense of hunger.

“Then you should ask yourself why I would do that.” Franklin growled as he resumed his walking, letting branches brush against him as he reached the edge of his territory to scent mark and warn away potential trespassers. He paused at key points, where the trees were thinnest usually, and easier to get through, to mark with stronger scents from his scat or urine. The sound of Gregory resuming his stalking told him the scents didn’t deter all the trespassers.

“I don’t see any injuries so it can’t be that bad.” The juvenile said confidently, still following the larger theropod.

Franklin rolled his head from side to side before sighing irritably. “Where the stream enters the pond. There was a flock of fruitadens.”

“I’m not afraid of those little toe jams.” the juvenile spun away from the allosaurus and began a steady mile eating pace away. “Thanks Al!”

“My name is Franklin!” Franklin snarled at the tail of the quickly retreating juvenile. He waited until he could no longer hear the thudding footsteps before stretching his jaws open in an amused grumbling yawn. “Of course whether you or that damned ceratodaurus lives matters very little. One less thorn in my side either way.”

He turned to continue on his way when a strange noise drew his attention. It vibrated the air but not with the same intensity of anyone he knew. He turned his head, attempting to find the source of the strange noise. He released a warning grumble but the noise continued. Then movement in the meadow caught his attention. Strange creatures, unlike any he had ever seen before, short and stout. He watched them move but detected no leg movements beneath them. He tipped his head curiously wondering how they could keep up with fleeing herds. He inhaled deeply and growled in distaste at the unfamiliar stench that burnt his nose. He shook his head and backed away.

“The one with the big red horn! The pompadour! Elvis!” A new noise Franklin couldn’t understand before he watched these new strange predators take out one of the parasaurolophuses.

During this time of year he stayed near this side of his territory. Hunting and scavenging on this side was better. But as he watched the strange new predators taking down his normal prey instinct demanded he be anywhere but here.