Dinosaur Secret
by Jasmine Wong Cheuk Lam 6G
This short story was written for the Hong Kong Young Writer’s Awards Competition. This year’s theme is about the Sinosauropteryx, a Chinese dinosaur from the Cretaceous period..
Heart pounding, Astra and Artemisia stared at the egg resting between them. It was roughly the size of a melon, its dirt-covered surface adorned with swirls of dark green and blue patterns that shimmered faintly under the light.
“Are you ready?” Astra whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Together, they carefully cradled the egg, their fingers shaking as they steadied its weight.
“One... two... three...” they counted, holding their breath. At first, nothing happened. The room was so silent it felt like the world itself was holding its breath. Just as they began to lose hope, a faint cracking sound broke through. A tiny fragment of the shell chipped away, and a damp, gasping beak pushed through. Astra and Artemisia froze, their wide eyes locked on the miracle before them. It was alive!
The creature chirped faintly, its tiny form a blend of earthy browns and oranges, its feathers damp and glistening under the light. Its curious, bright eyes flickered open and locked onto theirs, observing them intently.
“It... it can’t be a dinosaur,” Astra stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years.”
Artemisia reached out hesitantly, her hand trembling as she touched the creature’s warm, rough skin. It chirped again, louder this time, as if responding to her touch. Then it tilted its head, almost mimicking her movement.
“It’s looking at us,” Artemisia murmured in awe. “Like it’s studying us.”
The creature released a series of melodic trills, shifting its tiny claws closer. Astra and Artemisia exchanged stunned glances, their minds racing with questions. This wasn’t just a magical being—it was intelligent.
---
Back at Gran’s house, the smell of dried lavender lingered in the air, reminding the twins of how Gran used to hum old songs while brewing tea in her cozy kitchen. Now, the house felt eerily quiet without her.
The twins stood surrounded by bookshelves overflowing with dinosaur books, journals, sketches, and strange devices. The room hummed softly, a machine in the corner blinking with faint blue lights.
“She built this,” Astra murmured, running her fingers over the smooth metal surface of the device. “An incubator - to keep the egg alive.”
Though Gran had always been an enigma, this discovery was beyond anything they could imagine. “She wasn’t just our Gran,” Astra murmured, flipping through an old journal. “She was a paleontologist. A brilliant one.”
On the desk, Artemisia found a folder labeled “Project A”. Inside were yellowed documents, sketches, and photographs. “Astra, look at this,” she whispered, holding up a handwritten page. “She found the egg in a glacier!”
“What?” Astra leaned over, her eyes scanning the page. “Deep in northern China. She wrote that the ice preserved it for millions of years.”
“She wrote that the ice acted like a time capsule,” Artemisia said, her voice trembling with awe. “And that this egg might hold the key to understanding the connection between dinosaurs and modern birds.”
Astra’s heart raced as she screamed, “Gran… she brought it back to life!”
“Astra, look at this,” Artemisia called, holding up a checklist with a photo of a dinosaur egg identical to theirs. “Everything’s checked off except one thing: ‘Crack the egg (Sinosauropteryx).’”
“Sinosauropteryx,” Astra repeated thoughtfully. “It’s the first clearly feathered dinosaur ever discovered, found in China. They called it the ‘China Dragon Bird.’”
As she spoke, another realization hit her. “Gran... she must have found this egg herself. But why leave it to us?”
---
When the twins returned home, they named the tiny creature Marv and built a cozy habitat, filled with rocks, plants, warmth, and moist mud. Over time, Marv grew to become an inseparable part of their lives.
Marv wasn’t just intelligent—he was extraordinary. He chirped in response to their voices, followed their gestures, and even mimicked certain sounds. His bright eyes seemed to absorb everything around him, and he often tilted his head as if analyzing the world.
One day, Artemisia watched as Marv observed Astra writing at the desk. Moments later, he scratched a crude but deliberate line in the dirt with one tiny claw.
“He’s... trying to copy me,” Astra whispered, her eyes wide with amazement.
As the weeks passed, Marv’s abilities became even more astonishing. He learned to recognize their emotions, chirping softly when they were upset and puffing up his feathers when they laughed. He could open doors, retrieve objects, and even distinguish between the sisters’ voices.
“It’s like he’s one of us,” Artemisia said one evening, as Marv chirped along to a melody Astra hummed.
----
One day, their mother uncovered a parcel labeled “To Astra and Artemisia” while tidying Gran’s belongings. Inside was a videotape and a neatly folded note.
The sisters gasped. They carefully inserted the tape into an old video player they had found in Gran’s study. The screen flickered, and then Gran’s familiar face appeared, her eyes sparkling with warmth and excitement.
“Hi, sweeties,” Gran’s warm voice filled the room. “If you’re watching this, it means you’ve discovered my treasure. I always knew your curiosity would lead you here.”
Tears streaming down her face, the twins whispered, “Gran…” Even Marv chirped, his tone tinged with curiosity.
“This egg isn’t just a relic—it’s a key. A key to a world of questions and endless possibilities. I’ve spent my life searching for answers, and now, I’m passing that journey on to you. Protect it. Nurture it. And never stop wondering.”
Marv tilted his head, his bright eyes focused on the screen as if he understood every word.
“Gran knew we’d find it,” Astra whispered, her voice trembling. “She believed in us all along.”
Artemisia placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “And we’ll make sure her legacy lives on.”
They hugged Marv tightly, his warm feathers pressing against their faces. At that moment, they understood it wasn’t just about the dinosaur—it was about Gran’s legacy: the quiet determination to seek the truth, the joy of uncovering mysteries, and the unwavering courage to embrace the impossible.
Gran had given them more than an egg. She had given them the gift of endless curiosity—a legacy that would continue to guide them, even as Marv’s soft chirps echoed through their hearts.