• The rain had not stopped for three days.*

Deep within the Emerald Expanse, an entire Amazon hunting company stood frozen among the trees, spears lowered but ready. Broken trunks and enormous three-toed footprints surrounded them.

The beast was close.

Very close.

Then the forest exploded.

A colossal Tyrannosaurus rex burst from the undergrowth, nearly 25 feet tall at the head and over 56 feet long. Feathers of dark brown and black covered its massive body, water streaming from its jaws as it roared. One warrior was thrown aside by the force alone.

Panic spread instantly.

“Fall back!” shouted Captain Selene.

But a single voice silenced the chaos.

“Hold.”

The warriors parted.

Queen Valdris, ruler of the Amazons, stepped forward alone.

The T. rex lowered its skull, golden eyes fixed upon the giant woman standing before it. Every instinct screamed that she should run.

She didn’t.

The Queen planted her spear into the mud and met the predator’s gaze.

For several tense seconds, neither moved.

The tyrant king snarled, displaying rows of bone-crushing teeth.

Valdris answered with a snarl of her own.

The surrounding Amazons stared in disbelief.

Their Queen was challenging the apex predator. “You will be great Mount, oh ancient one.” She declared

The T. rex lunged.

In a blur, Valdris sidestepped, striking the side of its snout with the shaft of her spear—not to injure, but to establish dominance. The beast spun, roaring in outrage.

Again and again it charged.

Again and again she stood her ground.

Hours passed.

By dusk, both warrior and predator were exhausted.

The great rex stood silently before her, sides heaving.

Slowly, cautiously, Queen Valdris extended a hand with her gemstone. It glowed

The predator stared at it.

Then, with a low rumbling growl, the Tyrannosaurus lowered its head.

The Amazon warriors erupted into stunned cheers.

From that day onward, songs would be sung across the kingdoms: