Robbie the Raptor

Boom, boom, boom! The forest shuddered and the creatures that lived there knew why. They scattered in their hundreds, making way for the fearsome dinosaurs that stopped for nobody; trampling everything in their path.

    Proudly through the forest the gigantic creatures marched, their heads towering far above the trees. Though the Tyrannosaurus Rex was feared, numerous creatures flanked them, attempting to keep pace, for they knew what day this was.

    Monkeys, birds, alligators, and other species of dinosaurs followed excitedly, as they progressed towards the football stadium. The monkeys pointed and giggled at the puny little raptor that trailed the huge dinosaurs.

    Robbie the raptor puffed and panted, and with his high-pitched voice, he shouted, "Wait for me."

    Two of the dinosaurs looked back at Robbie and growled. "For the final time, little one, go away. You’re not a Tyrannosaurus Rex ."

    "But, I am," squeaked Robbie, who attempted to run up the tail of Brutus, the king of the dinosaurs.
    Brutus swatted him away like a fly.

    The thirteen towering dinosaurs entered the stadium, amid a crescendo of noise from the creatures of the forest, who whistled, chattered, and howled loudly. Brutus hissed at Robbie and ordered him to sit on the substitutes bench, alongside Tordo and Gorgon.

    A noise similar to thunder erupted when the ugly, woolly mammoths emerged from the tunnel, juggling footballs between them. The animals booed the mammoths as their curly tusks punctured the footballs. Flying reptiles known as Ptesaurs hovered above the stadium. Several of them soared inches above the mammoths and teased them with their loud squawks.

    The football match between the Tyrannosaurus Rex team and the mammoths was an annual event, which always ended in victory for the hairy-horned creatures. Ally the alligator, who acted as referee, marched towards the centre circle and ordered the team captains to approach. Brutus called heads and Ally tossed the coin.

    Tusky, the mammoth captain growled loudly as Ally confirmed it was heads.

    "Now, Brutus and Tusky," said Ally. "Today I want a clean game. No biting your opponent or goring them with your tusks. Do I make myself clear?”

    Brutus nodded, baring his sharp teeth. Tusky pressed his leathery head against his opponent and grunted. The teams lined up and Robbie sat sadly on the bench, knowing he would not be chosen to take part in the match.

    Brutus kicked off and Tusky immediately charged into him, his tusk winding the dinosaur. Brutus crashed to the ground and the crowd screamed angrily at the grinning Tusky. The mammoths had the ball and closed in on their opponent's goal, knocking aside the dinosaurs with ease. Tusky passed the ball to their star player, Casper, who thumped the ball with his right hoof. It went beneath the legs of the goalkeeper and the net bulged.

    The watching animals booed and jeered loudly as the mammoths celebrated. The injured Brutus was dragged from the pitch and Robbie sprinted up and down the touchline, hoping to be picked. He protested as the dinosaur manager, Baldor ignored him and sent on Tordor instead. Within seconds, Tordor lay injured on the ground, and Casper scored another goal.

    Robbie again bounded up and down the touchline, his long tail swishing merrily. The dinosaur manager now sent on Gorgon, but he was sandwiched between two mammoths, before he collapsed to the ground.

    Baldor ran towards Ally the alligator referee and complained. "Book him, ref! Why didn't you book him?"

    “I saw nothing wrong,” growled Ally. "Are you sending on another substitute, or playing with ten men?”

    "I have no more substitutes,” moaned Baldor, ignoring Robbie as he jumped up and down on the spot, trying to attract his attention.

    "I can play! Please pick me,” begged Robbie.

    Baldor stooped down and faced the tiny raptor. "You? You're not even a Tyrannosaurus Rex.”

    "I am too. Listen to my growl.”

    The crowd erupted in laughter when Robbie squeaked.

    "Okay,” sighed Baldor. "What have I to lose? Play up front with Chuddy.”

    The mammoths laughed loudly as the tiny substitute sprinted onto the pitch. Within minutes, Robbie received the ball. He dribbled between the legs of the mammoths, who were too slow to stop him. Robbie skipped past the last line of defence and faced the goalkeeper. He scampered through his legs and kicked the ball into the empty net.

    The crowd cheered loudly for their new hero, and the half time whistle went.

    "You were lucky, little one,” said Brutus, who nursed his injured leg.

    "Yes,” echoed Tordor. "Those mammoths will pound you into the dust.”

    The second half kicked off and Tusky followed Robbie all over the pitch, attempting to injure him, but the raptor was too nippy. He again received the ball, and once more set off on a dribble, expertly manoeuvring between the legs of his clumsy opponents. The goalkeeper growled and galloped towards Robbie, who dribbled around the angry mammoth and tapped the ball into the empty net.

    The crowd screamed their approval as the mammoths argued between themselves. On the bench, Brutus and Tordor were speechless, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

    The final minute approached and the score stood at 2-2. The Tyrannosaurus Rex team won a corner, and Robbie ran into the penalty box. The ball soared high above his head, but he ran up the tail of Chuddy, until he was on his shoulder. He catapulted himself through the air and headed the ball goal bound. The ball hit the back of the net and Robbie screamed to the goalkeeper, "Pick that one out, hairy!”

.Ally blew the whistle for full time and the animals ran onto the pitch, screaming Robbie's name. He was carried around the stadium, a new hero of the dinosaurs. Never again did anyone tell him he was not a Tyrannosaurus Rex!