The Ancient Watcher.

The tuatara stretched his limbs as the first golden rays of sunlight washed over his cold, scaly body. After a freezing night, he needed warmth to awaken his strength for the challenges ahead. Today, he would search for a mate—but that was no easy task. The land was vast, females were rare, and rival males would not back down without a fight.

He moved slowly at first, letting the heat seep into his bones. His spiny crest, running down the back of his neck, stood slightly raised—ready to bristle if another male challenged him. His keen eyes scanned the clearing ahead, watching for both threats and opportunities. Cats, dogs, and even birds of prey could turn him into a meal if he wasn’t careful.

Few creatures could match his ancient lineage. Unlike the lizards that scurried through the undergrowth, he was no mere reptile. He was a tuatara, a living relic from a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. And hidden beneath the scales of his forehead, a secret lay buried—his third eye, a mysterious organ that once helped his ancestors sense the world in ways long forgotten.

As he crept into the open, a sudden movement caught his attention. A rabbit. The small mammal froze, staring at him with wide eyes, then bolted into the undergrowth. The tuatara watched it go, unbothered. He was not a predator of rabbits. His kind preferred insects, worms, and the occasional bird egg.

Ahead, a rocky outcrop jutted from the earth, surrounded by sand and twisted roots. A branch extended from the side, nearly touching the rock below. And perched upon it, basking in the sunlight, was a female tuatara.

She was eating, her slow, deliberate movements elegant in their own way. The male stopped in his tracks, lowering himself instinctively, his eyes locked onto her. He watched as she paused, sensing his presence. For a moment, the forest was still.

Then, with regal grace, the female began to descend. She moved down the branch as if she were royalty stepping from a grand carriage, her claws gripping the bark with practiced ease.

The male remained motionless, his heart beating in slow, steady rhythms. He knew that now was the moment that would decide everything. Would she accept him? Or would another male arrive to challenge his right?

Only time would tell.