Mesozoic Park 2 (Part 8)
#9 of Mesozoic Park 2
The team member that was bitten, crawled into his tent and fell asleep very soon. After a bit of nervous discussion, another night watch was chosen and over dressed to keep him save and soon the team settled down and started going to bed.
The night watch switched out a few times without a problem. Soon after the third watch took over, he heard something moving through the trees, but he remained seated, far too tired to get up.
In the trees, a small dinosaur sniffed around, finding the remains of the Microraptor and curiously chewing a few bones to see if they where worth the effort for the marrow. The wind shifted and the scent of a different animals blood was in the air and the dinosaur followed towards it, soon walking into camp and curiously looking around. It's eyes soon fell on the night watch, who at this point was all but asleep.
He saw the dinosaur, it was small, with a little crest on its head and sandy colored feathers. his eyes fell shut and when he opened them again, the dinosaur was right next to him, looking him over curiously. This woke him up, he almost jumped as he slowly reached back for his revolver. The dinosaur flinched back and the man relaxed a little, letting out a sigh, but before he could even take a breath back in, it had a hold of his throat, its sharp beak breaking the skin as two teeth punctured his throat. The very wing like hands came up as the dinosaur pushed him from his chair onto his back on the ground.
He tried to scream out, but he was finding himself unable to, he had no air and was growing light headed, he fumbled for his revolver, but found nothing as his other hand reached for the long neck of the dinosaur, only to have his forearm slashed.
Everything went dark and he felt a pull on his arm, it was strong, like it was trying to free him from the jaws of the beast but soon realized it was another beak and they where working together to drag him through the forest.
Morning came and the team searched for the lost member, quickly finding the blood trail and following it to the mans remains. they buried what was left in a shallow grave and held a little service for him.
***
"You see, this is exactly what happens on this island" Jake told announced to the team but focused on Matt "Nothing but death and suffering, especially for those who dare come unprepared"
Jayden stood with her head hung "It's all my fault" she stated "If I never had the idea to come here no one would have gotten hurt"
Jake looked at her and explained "Jayden, it was only a matter of time before someone came here, and if I was my younger self I would have been 100% on board with you, but knowing what I know now, I would only ever come to try and change the mind of my family, Matt in this case"
Jake looked at all the team members and he remembered, but for once it was not a bad memory, rather, he remembered the joy and excitement he felt when he first set foot on this island and he smiled a little "But that said, I can't force anyone to leave, so I suggest we put it to a vote... All of those who would like to leave, raise your hand" Only Jayden raised her hand and Jake smiled once again "And those who would like to continue now" The entire team raised their hands, even the man who was bitten, who was only just able to stay awake. Jake snapped his fingers, getting Jayden's attention before raising his own hand and her face lit up.
"excuse me" Gena whispered to Jake "Jake, what are you thinking, why are you supporting this all of a sudden!?"
Jake sighed "She reminds me of a young version of myself and I can't stand to crush my own dreams any longer"
Gena almost chuckled "she is a lot like you"
Jake turned back to the team "I know I said we should stay here tonight, but its not safe, lets get moving"
***
The team grew excited as they neared the center of the island, they knew they where going to find something big and soon, the lead vehicle stopped and shut off its engine as did the others before the team pushed through the last of the trees on foot, and thats when it came into view, Mesozoic park.
By now it was crumbled, the cement, metal and wood was crushed, twisted and broken from the flood, leaving some buildings more recognizable than others, and some nothing but cement chunks that have become man made rocks.
Jake and Gena took each others hands and silently walked through the park, taking in the memories.
The team broke up and searched the area for any signs of dinosaur activity, finding a few old nests from years past in the remains of buildings before deciding the park was safe enough to make their camp.
Jake and Gena had explored the entire remnants of the park, Jake talked about building each fence and the dinosaurs they held. Soon the pair started their return to the team, stopping just outside of the camp to spend a little time together.
"Gena" Jake said "After what happened here, I never thought I'd be able to see it as I did when I opened the park... Its just like when we started the park, maybe even better now that it belongs to nature... But hey, off limits nature reserves don't make money"
Gena giggled "I always felt this way for it, plus a little fearful respect"
A subtle vibration took them by surprise. They thought it was the concrete slab they sat on shifting, but as they stepped on solid ground it continued and they returned to camp.
The team obviously noticed it too and they started to ready their weapons as they watched the trees as someone climbed to the top of a building, trying to get a good view.
"What do you think it is?" Gena asked.
Jake shook his head "no idea"
Suddenly, the team member called out from atop the building "don't worry about it guys, its safe"
A loud honking sound came through the trees as a large dinosaur pushed through, the head crest made it very apparent that it was a Parasaurolophus. It walked into the opening farther and honked again, not minding the team, this call signaled the rest of the heard to come in, and in single file, a heard of Parasaurolophus and Edmontosaurus piled in, and behind them, a few Triceratops and Einiosaurus took up the rear of the heard. But there was one last animal moving, and it was the one causing most of the shaking.
Jayden looked up as the massive, long necked dinosaur pushed through the trees and looked down at the smaller dinosaurs and the team before carefully pushing past to the tall trees and begun feeding. Jayden took her camera and started taking pictures of everything, the whole heard, pictures singling out each species and remembering the little kangaroo on the docks, she took lots of the Brachiosaurus.
Jake looked at Gena "they hardly even notice us" they started to approach the heard "could they be the ones we made?"
Gena looked them over, trying to see if she could recognize them "I mean, its possible, but..." she cut herself off as she noticed something "they are covered in scars!"