You are in the forests of China, Asia, 195 million years ago.

The air in the early Jurassic Yunnan basin was humid and smelled of ferns. You knelt behind a large conifer, as a 6-meter-long Lufengosaurus stepped into the clearing. It moved with a surprising grace, sometimes balancing on its robust hindlimbs, sometimes dropping to all fours to rake foliage with its large thumb claws.

Its body was slender, a stark contrast to the giants that would evolve millions of years later. It seemed to be browsing, its long neck reaching up for the tenderest leaves. Despite its sharp teeth—often mistaken for those of a carnivore—it tore into the greenery with ease.

Just as you took a mental note of its vibrant, blue skin, it paused, turning its head quickly, sharp eyes locking onto your direction. The creature didn't roar. Instead, it made a low, almost cooing sound, a jarringly gentle noise from such an ancient reptile.