You are in the deserts of Mongolia, 85 million years ago.
The midday sun beat down on the red sand dunes of the Iren Dabasu Basin, causing the horizon to shimmer. You tucked yourself behind a weathered outcrop of red sandstone, pulling your cloak tighter to escape the relentless heat.
Just then, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Emerging from a nearby acacia thicket, a massive, feathered form stepped into the clearing. Standing nearly 16 feet tall at the head, the Gigantoraptor was staggering in size—a "mouse the size of a cow". Its body was covered in a mix of soft, downy insulation and bright, colorful feathers that ruffled in the dry wind. Its head, toothless and ending in a sharp, keratinous beak, turned slowly, scanning the landscape for berries, eggs, or small animals.
You remained frozen. The creature was immense, towering over you, its two-ton frame supported by long, fast legs. It was not a mindless killer, but a majestic, terrifying omnivore.
The Gigantoraptor paused and snapped its head towards your hiding spot. A low, vibrating sound emanated from its throat, its eyes locked onto you...