The T. Rex sensed his companion approaching long before he came into view. Lief grumbled sleepily, lifting his head as best he could despite the numerous chains crisscrossing his back and encircling his legs. Excitement and nervousness filled his heart in equal measure. Tonight was the night they'd decided to enact his escape from this cursed place they called a 'circus'. This place that'd paraded him, degraded him like a trophy. This place that'd consumed his life for nearly a year.

He'd dreamed of leaving it all behind since his capture on that fateful day, but now that his time was at hand, he felt anxiety like never before. Their caravan had stopped in the middle of the desert for the night. There was no better time to disappear into the wilderness. But what if he failed to break his bondage? They would certainly tighten security, dooming him to stay with them forever. Or worse... no, Lief didn't even want to consider that possibility.

The boy, his dear friend Tudor who now stood outside the truck containing his cage, had done everything possible to prepare him for this night, giving him food that would gradually bring his strength to its peak. But even then, what if it wasn't enough?

The dinosaur could only wait for the door to unlatch with baited breath.

-

Tudor had managed to sneak in, and using the good favour he'd gained from the circus owners, he'd also gotten them to move their prized showstopper to a quiet corner of the lot. The owners had gone to celebrate another sell out, wasting cash on alcohol, and there was only one guard a good distance away.

He entered and saw Lief was awake. He'd fed the T. Rex extra portions that morning, and had told the mighty dinosaur to rest. The chains and locks that bound him were incredibly strong; Tudor could not unlock them, but he hoped to give Lief a chance.

"Hey Lief, tonight is the night, do you feel ready for this?" The young man asked the powerful T. Rex.

-

"I wish I could simply say yes..." The dinosaur responded softly, his deep voice sounding surprisingly timid as his brow furrowed. "I'm worried about what could happen if we're discovered. To me, or you."

-

"Well, there is no time as any; the owners are away and drunk, and the guard is way the other side. It has got be now," Tudor coaxed firmly, ensuring the coast was still clear. "All I can say is prepare, and on my count of three you try to break out," 

-

Lief sighed, knowing he was right. He did his best to still his heart, taking deep, calming breaths. The boy had risked everything for his sake, and as hard as it was after months of humiliation, Lief needed to muster his bravery as well.

"If this... goes south... I want to thank you for your friendship. For everything you've done for me."

The majestic lizard shifted into position as he spoke, chain links rattling quietly as they were displaced. He looked his friend in the eyes, the one human who'd kept him sane. His anchor.

"I'm ready."

-

Tudor gave a respectful nod.

"I've got faith in you Lief. I'll start a count when you're prepared, and after three, you pull," Tudor said to the large T. Rex.

-

Lief nodded his large head back, tightening his muscles. A surge of determination had briefly pushed back the fear clouding his judgement, and he wasn't about to squander it.

"Count!"

-

"Okay Lief, 1...... 2..... 3.... pull!" Tudor called as the escape plan would begin.

-

The mighty T. Rex heaved upward with all his strength, broad three-toed feet and digitigrade legs pushing off the floor. Chains snapped taut and dug into the thick scales of his back, neck, and snout as he pulled, but the sturdy plates anchoring them to the floor held fast.

Lief grunted, pushing himself further. Steam billowed from his nostrils, and his whole body shook from the strain, yet still his bonds would not yield.

-

"You got this big guy, you can do it!" encouraged Tudor. He watched nervously as Lief began to try and break out. It was an impressive sight, but...

-

Lief snorted and growled, his lips pulling back to expose sharp teeth. The chains tightened harder against his back, digging in almost painfully, but the black metal showed no sign of fatigue. Their prisoner, on the other hand, was already wearing thin; a few beads of sweat stood out on his muzzle, and he was breathing more heavily by the second.

After a few minutes of trembling in place, the dinosaur slumped back to the floor, panting.

"I cannot... I'm sorry, little one..." he choked up. He turned his head, but was too late to hide the single tear that rolled down his cheek.

-

Tudor saw how hard it was for him, but he had to keep trying or else he wouldn't last here. The boy approached the big T. Rex.

"You can do it Lief. You're not only trying to break out of this prison, but the prison in your head. Your body can already do this," Tudor heartened him. "It's not just a test of your physical strength, but your mental strength. And I believe in both."

He smiled kindly. "While we've got time, get your composure and have another go. I'll count you off, Lief, you've got this," the young man said.

-

The dinosaur's eyes lifted again at the boy's kind words. He had expected disappointment, but of course, he should have known better after being close to him for so long. He purred as small hands began to stroke his muzzle, settling his aching heart.

Once again, he was right. He couldn't give up this easily. Even if it was truly futile, he couldn't let their time and efforts go to waste.

He would try all night if he had to. For the human's sake.

"God bless you, Tudor," he said quietly, rising once more. Then came his voice again, with vigor, "I will not let you down. From three!"

-

Tudor smiled up at the big beast. "You can do it, I know you can," he said as he stepped back and the T. Rex rose again.

"3.... 2... 1.. Pull, Lief! Pull!"

-

Lief surged heavenward, straining his sore muscles. His eyes squeezed shut and his voice rose in pitch, emanating from far back in his throat. His claws dug into the truck bed, scratching its surface.

His body burned with pain and heat, causing Tudor's cheers to fade into white noise as his mind's eye caught ablaze. Images of his tormentors flashed among the phantasmal flames, pushing him onward. He couldn't go back to them. He wouldn't let them control him anymore!

With that thought, a new sound broke through his fervor, one unmistakable that gave him a pang of hope.

A creak.

-

Tudor looked on as the T. Rex heaved and pulled. He'd heard the creak, but the rest held him strongly.

"You got this big guy, keep going, you can do it!" Tudor encouraged as the battle continued for Lief.

-

He could do it. He knew he could. Lief bellowed resolutely, sweat trickling down his scaly frame from the sheer effort he exerted. He nearly felt as though he would burn up before a cool breeze blew in from the trailer's barred window, soothing his hide.

The chains' links ground against each other, several more creaking under the pressure but still maintaining their quality-forged shape. Those spanning the distance between the lizard's body and the floor vibrated in the air, growing more and more rigid.

Lief gasped and bowed his head, panting heavily. This was the most difficult thing he'd ever done in his life. His body felt ravaged, and he'd not made a dent in his restraints. And yet, somehow he felt no despair. Defiance continued to burn hotly in his soul, blocking out the pain of his overtaxed body.

"Not yet... Not yet!" He roared, throwing himself once more into the struggle. He would make his friend, and his family proud.

-

Tudor watched as Lief fought hard. This was extremely tough for the mighty T. Rex, but he still had time on his side as he fought hard.

He had to do it, he just had to.

"No giving up Lief, pull hard and strong! You got this, keep at it!" Tudor urged the dinosaur on.

-

Even through the clamor, the boy's words resonated with the dinosaur, elevating his strength to the point where he could no longer suppress his voice.

"Hrrrrrngh! Grrrrrrrnnnn!" His cries echoed off the metal walls of the small space. By now, every scale glistened with perspiration. His eyes shot open, and Tudor could see they gleamed red, though wether they were truly bloodshot, or it was a trick of the light, he could not tell. Those eyes fell on him, and for a moment he felt a wave of fear as his friend's animalistic nature briefly broke through his gentle demeanor.

"Tudor... RRRRRGH!! Don't stop! I need to... HRRRAAAAGH!! Hear your voice!"

-

Tudor felt taken aback, seeing this aggressive animalistic nature. But Lief's words reassured him, and he was determined to help anyway way he could.

"Come on Lief, you got this, keep going, you can do it, they will break for you!" Tudor uplifted the T. Rex as he battled.

"We've still got time, pull!" He shouted, not wanting Lief to ease up. If this animalistic aggression could fuel his strength and body, then so be it.

-

Lief's muscles felt like they were on fire, motivated to far exceed their normal limits. He desperately wanted to rest, but feared that he wouldn't move again if he stopped now. Through sheer willpower, he managed to stay on his feet, which now warped the floor beneath them from the continuous downward force they employed. Drops of moisture ran off his scales. His body shook. The chains shook. Both were pushed to 110% capacity.

"FRRRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!"

-

"That's it big guy, big heaves, you got this!" Tudor spurred the T. Rex on. Soon that sheer strength and determination began to pay of as Tudor heard the chains creaking loudly, weakening against the dinosaur's strength.

-

The beast was too lost in his trance to notice as he continued to roar and strain, digging deep inside himself and tapping into his ancestors' primal power. A loud ratcheting reverberated as the chains were stressed past their rated load limit. Several links stretched, and one of the anchor plates began to bend up off the floor with an ominous groan.

"HRRRAAAAAAAA!!"

They couldn't hold. *Pop! Pop!* Two chain links audibly burst, and Lief's body rose an inch off the ground.

-

Tudor observed the T. Rex's range of movement increase, but there were still many chains to go. "Keep at it Lief, keep digging deep, use that strength!" Tudor called, knowing the dinosaur could do it.

-

Moonlight glinted off Lief's exposed fangs as he cried out carnally, feeling his bonds loosen. He groaned and perspired heftily, heart pounding as every fiber of his being quivered with might.

"RRRRNNNNNN!!"

Metal squealed as one of the chain anchors ripped clean out of the floor. Several more links popped and bent apart against his hardened body, causing him to rise a few more inches, then a whole foot. His chains broke faster as they steadily lost the strength of their brethren.

-

"That's it Lief, you got this big guy, heave and pull!" Tudor encouraged strongly, though it wasn't without concern. The biggest test would be his leg restraints; they were all reinforced, and it had taken mighty efforts to get this far.

-

When more than half were broken, Lief kneeled down and gave one last upward heave.

"GRRRAAAH!"

A metallic cacophony erupted as every remaining chain that held him down shattered, fragments glittering in the faint light before clattering to the floor.

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Lief stood of his own accord, his silhouette towering proudly over the boy.

Then his snout dipped to his level once more, blasts of hot air washing over him as he rasped, too tired to find words despite the momentary triumph.

-

"I knew you could do it Lief. There's only the big ones left, you can do it, I got faith," Tudor said, happy he'd done this well.

So far coast was still clear. It was the chains around his legs that would be the biggest test now.

-

The rex looked himself over in awe. He never thought he'd be strong enough to do this. He couldn't believe he'd come this far.

He turned back to his companion. It was all thanks to him.

"You have my gratitude, Tudor..." Lief huffed, nuzzling the boy affectionately. "But I believe this is taking years off my life," he added with a hoarse chuckle and cough.

-

Tudor gave him a affectionate pet and smiled. "I knew you could, just those big ones on your legs and you're free." Tudor quickly checked outside, giving Lief a few moments to rest before taking them on.

"We're still all clear," he told the T. Rex.

-

The rex nodded confidently, looking down at the thick shackles around his legs. He felt so good, he didn't even wait for Tudor's count. Lifting one paw from the ground, he began to tug at the restraint, leaning into it with his full weight.

But these chains were even tougher, serving as a failsafe to the former set. Lief pulled until the links were straight as a ray, but they refused to yield even slightly. And already exhausted from his previous struggle, he was having great trouble.

In the distance, the horizon began to glow a faint red.

-

"You can do it Lief! You've got to dig deep, you got this," the young man encouraged, not losing faith. Though the T. Rex looked exhausted and had sweat all over, he had to get out.

-

Lief noticed the truck's interior gain a pink shine, and looked out to see the sun already rising. They were out of time.

'No!' He thought to himself. 'Not yet. This isn't over yet!'

"GRRRRRR-RRRRGH!! Huff! UUUUNNNGH!! HRRRRRAAAARRRGH!!!"

Lief doubled, then quadrupled his efforts, struggling to take a step forward. His scales dampened once more from the effort, but he kept going, focusing on his friend with reddened eyes and glistening fangs.

-

"You can do it Lief, you got this! Come on, big efforts!" Tudor encouraged as sweat dripped off the T. Rex. With muscles enlarged and heat coming off him, indeed this must of been difficult for the dinosaur.

-

Lief pulled for everything he was worth, shuddering from the exertion, the tip of his snout inching forward as he strained harder and harder.

The manacle was indeed sturdy, but there was one point of failure; its cuff required a seam to be opened and closed around his ankle. And as the monster strained against it, that seam began to part, a micrometer at a time. The complex locking mechanisms within creaked as they struggled to bear the pressure and stay fastened.

"NNNNNGGHH! Hafff... I can feel it giving! HRRRRRRRR!!"

-

"Yes, you got this Lief, you can do it!" Tudor rallied, urging the T. Rex on. The chains were buckling, but it was still taking Herculean efforts to get this far, and the poor T. Rex was still sweating and hot from the strain.

-

"HRRRRR! NNNNNGH! GRAAAAAA!"

The rex made several more attempts to force the cuff open, but its two halves only seemed to part for a second at a time.'

He had an idea, though.

"Tudor, quick, find something to help me pry this open! Then, when I make this crack wider, wedge it in!"

-

"You got it!" Tudor rushed off outside, remembering something he'd seen that could help. He returned with a metal crowbar from a nearby storage cupboard that someone had left open.

"I got this to help, it should work Lief. We're still okay, but it's starting to get lighter out," the young man said to the sweating T. Rex.

-

"That's fine. Get ready, I'm going to pull." He gave another heave, parting the cuff even more as muscles bulged under his sweat-shined scales.

"UUURRRRFFF! Now!"

-

Tudor put the crowbar into the parting cuff, securing it well. "Ok, I'll give you a hand," Tudor affirmed, using his strength to help the T. Rex do this.

It was still going to be hard work, but they could do it.

Tudor heaved against the crowbar, trying to help Leif get free.

"Its..... tough!" the young man huffed.

-

"It's all right! Every... little... BIT... HELPS! GRRR!" The cuff creaked and groaned under the efforts of both companions, the gap in its face widening. The crowbar bent slightly as the chain links squealed under tension. "Stand off to the side, so I don't kick you when this thing gives!"

-

Tudor did as Lief instructed, the young man seeming determined to help the T. Rex get free. It was hard work, but if Lief kept going, so would he.

"Lets go for it!" Tudor shouted, giving a big effort to help his friend against the formidable restraints. "Hrmmph!" He grunted. They would not let Lief go without a fierce fight.

-

Lief looked at the sun now peaking over the horizon, anxiety swelling into panic. Rather than forcing it back down, the dinosaur leveraged it, channeling the emotion into his ragged muscles.

"HRRRFFFF! Come OOOONNNN!!"

Slowly, the rex's ankle became visible through the crack, Tudor lodging his crowbar in more securely every time it widened. The metal audibly whined. Almost... almost...

"RRRRAAAAAAA!!!"

*CRACK-kalang!* Lief fell forward as his foot was freed, quickly moving it to catch himself. Elation filled his heart at the motion. Freedom was so close. There was just one cuff left. One final band of metal between him and his new life.

-

"Great work, big guy! Last one, all your strength now. Show me how strong you really are!" Tudor emboldened Lief. One final time, one more big effort from the T. Rex was needed. He was almost there.

-

Lief smiled at the encouragement. "I can almost taste it..." he whispered. He waited for the boy to take his position once more, then dug in with his footclaws and pulled with every last scrap of strength he could muster.

But something was different. The lizard couldn't feel any give this time. He looked back to see that this cuff's seam held much tougher than the previous one's.

Tudor wouldn't be able to help this time.

-

Tudor looked, and he was unable to provide support.

"Sorry big guy, there is no way for me to help you. This is all on you," he said.

Lief looked tired, muscles enlarged and sore, scales dripping water onto the floor, and huffing heavily. But he still had faith in the T. Rex to pull this off and escape.

-

It was now or never. Lief sighed, taking one last solemn look at his friend. "Thank you again for everything you've done to get me this far, young one. If I don't make it, I want you to know I care for you very deeply."

He glanced out the window, then at the door. "Are you sure you want to stay by my side? There's still time for you to make it back to your bed and pretend you knew nothing of this."

-

"I'm staying with you ‘till the end Lief. We'll get you free, and then we can get out of here," Tudor swore. Lief saw Tudor would not leave him. He was there to encourage his friend and escape with him. 
"On you, big guy," Tudor said, noticing the time. They did not have long. 
-

The dinosaur closed his eyes and nodded, almost tearing up again at his companion's loyalty. He swallowed and said, "I appreciate you, human."

Lief took his stance once more, letting all of his positive and negative emotions blend into one climactic surge of energy.

Then he heaved.

"RRRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!"

-

"That's it, big efforts Lief! We've got to get moving!" Tudor yelled as the dinosaur heaved with his remaining strength. With the sun coming up, time was now against them.

-

A few voices could be heard outside, seemingly drawn to the commotion from inside the trailer.

"HRRRRRFFF!! Tudor, climb on my back! Hurry! GRRRRRRNNNN!!"

-

Tudor quickly went around and climbed onto Lief's back. It was a little hard as he had been sweating profusely. But Tudor was now secure.

"I'm on! Come on big guy, big effort! Heave!"

-

The voices were getting closer now. The urgency they incited caused beastly fury to overtake Lief once more, and his claws tore at the truck bed as he strained forward harder and harder.

"HHHRRRRRGGH!! RRRRRNNNGGGHHH!! RRRRAAAAAAGH!!"

There was no sound from the chain at first, but as the dinosaur pushed himself further and further, a telltale creaking sounded out. A tiny flaw in one of the thick iron links had begun to stretch apart.

-

"Thats it Lief, heave ho, pull!" Tudor hollered, as they did not have long. The chains creaked and groaned, but Lief was getting hot and sweating again.

-

"GRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHH!!!"

They were right outside the door now, no doubt readying tranquilizers. Lief exploded, pulling out all the stops as he strained forward like a tidal wave. The shackle squealed and whined, two of its four bolts pulling out of the floor as its weak link further deformed.

One had to give first.

-

"Come on Lief! Last big effort, and pull!" Tudor bawled as he saw the chains were nearly there.

-

Lief took one last look at over his shoulder, at his friend clinging to him. That sight and his words finally gave him the last bit of strength needed. His eyes turned completely crimson as his muscles rippled under his glimmering scales, and he lunged forward just as the doors flew open.

"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

*SNAP!* The chain ripped in half, and Lief soared over the heads of the bewildered circus staff as the tension released. He landed behind them, dashing full tilt towards the cliffs. Pure instinct guided him as he weaved left and right, dodging the darts that wizzed into the sand around him, and adrenaline pushed his tired body on until everything became a blur for both the dinosaur and boy.

***

Eventually they found a cave, unable to recall the hours leading up to their arrival, and Lief finally collapsed in a heap on the stone floor, utterly winded.