You are in the coastal forests of Mongolia, Asia, 70 million years ago.

The forest goes silent, a sure sign that the apex predators are not the ones in charge here. Then, a branch snaps—loudly. Through the dense foliage, a feather-covered form emerges, towering over you. It is not moving fast, but it is moving with purpose. The creature stops, raising a massive, feathered head and peers over towards you.

Your feet are rooted to the mud. You are staring at a creature that looks like a nightmare-goose from a forgotten time. It’s easily as high as the canopy. The feathers on its body are dark, oily, and sway in the breeze. But it's the hands that send a chill down your spine. They are reaching out, slow and deliberate, slicing through the air with the sound of a scythe through wheat. You can see the sheer, deadly polished edge of the claws. Using its immense claws, it shreds a towering horsetail tree to reach the tender shoots at the top. This is a herbivore, yet it holds a weapon larger than any carnivore’s teeth.

Just as you back away slowly to keep a good distance, you accidentally stepped on a twig. A sudden snap of the twig under your foot drew the attention of the Therizinosaurus, causing it to stop its feeding. It stands upright, intimidating with its sheer height, and emits a deep, guttural hiss.