Things went very wrong, very quickly. Gladiare had pulled a bow and a quiver full of arrows out of thin air and started effortlessly shooting down Archaeopteryx's. I noted that it was similar in a way to the axe I'd used in my dreams. Bubbles of sapphire, blocks of aquamarine, and tear drop shapes of iolite wrapped in a ribbon of lapis lazuli made the handle of the bow and dissipated into steel. The arrows looked very similar, with the gemstones at the back and the rest made of steel.

But I bet you're curious as to how things went wrong? Well, Gladiare got so distracted that he turned his back to me. Therefore, he couldn't see what was behind me. And can you guess what it was? That's right! Massive Mama Archaeopteryx! I won't gore you with the details of how I knew she was in fact a she.

I was starting to recover, although I did have to vomit in the bush once or twice because that is kinda how migraine's work. But I cannot stress this enough, I wasn't recovered enough to fight a fucking dinosaur! I don't think anyone will ever be recovered enough to fight a dinosaur! Except maybe Gladiare. He seemed okay enough to fight dinosaurs, but I was starting to question his sanity if he was stupid enough to do so.

I got to my feet and dusted the dirt off my knees before the Archaeopteryx decided it didn't like me. Hey, wouldn't be the first girl to take a swing because they hated me. Honestly, if she were a human, I would have been less terrified, being that I had been used to fighting humans since year seven. But I can assure you she was in no way, shape, or form, a human.

A large black wing whipped over my head, and I stumbled from the force of the wind. So, turns out those giant Archaeopteryx's were actually babies, and this thing was a fully grown adult. It's stood above just about everything within two kilometres of it. Hell, it would probably be up there with the skyscrapers in the city.

Yeah, a thing that big, was flapping above us, and reached out with its talons to take me. Like, yoink, this tiny blonde girl is now a treat for my children.

Well, I was trapped, with literally no wiggle room in this angry mother's claw, waiting for snack time when I would be ripped to shreds and eaten. Would there be enough of my body still held together for me to come back to life? And if there was, would I have to dig myself out of dino doodoo?

I didn't want to find out, and I for some reason thought about starfish in that moment. Now, as long as some of the mouth tissue is attached, they'll just grow another leg. Well, I don't think a starfish would survive this.

"Hey!" I called out to Gladiare. "Mr Gladiare-Protector-Horse-Man! You think you could help me out a little!?"

Mama Archaeopteryx made a very strange sound of warning, baring its massive teeth. If it, was its normal size according to fossils, I was positive it would never be able to cause serious damage to me. But at this proportion, those things could easily rip my head off.

Gladiare seemed shocked by the sight of the Archaeopteryx, but quickly recovered and nocked and arrow. But in a brilliant moment of impatience and slight arrogance, I decided I could try and free myself. I had virtually no wiggle room, but that didn't mean I couldn't get to the switchblade in my shoe. I shook my leg around until it fell out and slid down the massive claw into my hand.

So, after this experience I learned that I don't always have the best plans, because I really only understood how to fight humans. Turns out you can't apply that logic to dinosaurs. Who would have guessed? Not my dumb ass, that's for sure!

I stabbed the palm of the Archaeopteryx, and it threw it's arm around a bit. However, that was just in time for Gladiare's arrow to slice past her talon and into my shoulder. I yelped out, but it had also been enough to get the Archaeopteryx to let me go. The ground wasn't actually that fair away, maybe a few metres. It was the landing on the bleeding shoulder that hurt.

I turned to Gladiare, knowing full well I could take some blame and glared. "Ow!"

Gladiare rolled his eyes. "At least it's still attached!"

Gladiare continued to shoot down the Jurassic creatures, and even brought down the mother. They all disintegrated into steel coloured dust, similarly to how the Knights of the Round Table had turned into self-luminous red dust.

The world looked completely different. I could suddenly see colours I'd never seen before, certain animals looked different, and just like in the Dreamscape, it rained particles. But these particles were the colour of steel, not self-luminous red – although I stand my ground that they looked pink at first.

"What the Hell," I started, "was that?"

"An Archaeopteryx," Gladiare explained. "Like I said, billions of years ago there was this big event that changed their biology."

"The meteor hitting?" I guessed.

Gladiare smiled grimly. "That incident caused many problems," Gladiare glanced at my forehead. "There were many repercussions."

I instinctively felt my forehead to find the gemstone from my dreams there. Weird, I thought. There was something dark in those blue eyes. Wait, had they always been blue?

"If you wish to see things like a human again you can," Gladiare said. "I often scare people."

I frowned, but much like leaving the Altar and fighting, adjusting my vision was instinctual. Gladiare looked as he always had, flowers looked as they always had, it no longer rained steel-coloured particles, and we were surrounded by crow corpses. As it turns out, I was right. Gladiare's eyes were as brown as ever now.

"If the creatures here are getting restless than they must know something is wrong," Gladiare sighed. "It's probably got something to do with him."

"Are you gonna tell me who this mystery man is?" I asked, doubting it.

He smiled grimly. "I fear I'm not suited to tell the story. I was all the way in Chile when it happened."

I went wide eyed. "But it happened during King Arthur's reign," I stated. "That would make you centuries old!"

Gladiare nodded. "I know, I know," he waved it off. "I imagine you were expecting someone older."

"Older!?" I exclaimed. "Who are you!?"

"My name is Kheiron," he explained. "And no, it is not spelt C-H-I-R-O-N. Stupid Romans decided to bastardise and it stuck."

"Wait, what?" I felt my jaw drop. "So, you're like the guy who mentored Hercules and Achilles?"

Gladiare rolled his eyes. "I forgot humans liked to change legends. No, I did not mentor any Achilles, there has never been a hero named Achilles. The Akhilleus – as it is actually called – is something entirely different. As for Herakles, I protected him. There is a difference between protecting and mentoring."

"So, what is an Akh — whatever you said?" I asked. "And what's the difference between a Protector and Mentor?"

"I don't have time or this," Gladiare sighed. "The Akhilleus are the most dangerous creatures any living thing has ever had the annoyance of facing. Ever since that legend about the heel got out, they'd been wearing protective shoes. As for Mentor's and Protector's, it's quite simple. A Protector makes sure monsters don't murder you, until you're ready to fight."

"Excuse me?" I narrowed my eyes. "You don't think I'm ready?"

"You've got an arrow in your shoulder," Gladiare deadpanned. "You were almost torn to shreds and eaten alive. I don't call that ready."

I glared daggers at him. "Maybe if people told me what was going on, I'd understand a little better."

Gladiare wasn't fazed or amused. "I suppose," he sighed. "Usually someone would have told you by now, but since it's not what Kassandra wants, I will not."

I groaned. "Who is this Kassandra bitch, and when can I kill her?"

"She's already dead," Gladiare shrugged. "Eaten alive. It happens sometimes."

"Well then how come she gets to determine when I find out what the fuck is going on!?" I exclaimed, enraged by the idea that this bitch could control whether or not I knew what I was.

"Because her twin brother, Helenos, is alive," Gladiare groaned. "Why do I always get the angry ones?"

"You haven't seen me angry!" I called, grip tightening on my switchblade. "Listen, Mr Centaur! I have the right to know what's going on!"

Gladiare looked almost as angry as I did. "I am not a centaur!" He crossed his arms and frowned, reminding me of a toddler. "Why do the Romans have to translate everything!? I am a Kentauros! There was no C in the alphabet when I was named!"

"Don't go changing the subject, Kheiron!" I spat. "I want to know what's going on! And you are going to tell me, or else you'll regret it!"

"What are you gonna do?" Gladiare asked, looking less angry. "Kill me? You can't even kill an Archaeopteryx; how do you think you're going to kill me?"

I crossed my arms and glared daggers at him. He was right. I didn't like it, but he was. If he could take down that many dinosaurs without even breaking a sweat, and I could barely escape a group of humans unharmed, how was I supposed to hurt him? It was frustrating.

Gladiare sighed. "Look, your face is covered in blood, the bell is about to go, Wilson is right over there with your bag, you have an arrow sticking out of your shoulder, and humans will ask questions."

I glanced back to see Zak walking over with two bags.

"I'll write a note for your next teacher, and you can go wash up in the bathroom," Gladiare said. "Assuming you've got an extra uniform in your bag?"

I nodded. Hey, a girl needs to be prepared for battle.

"Good," Gladiare nodded. "Maybe change into some sensible shorts as well, so that it doesn't look like you showed up to school in your underwear."

I rolled my eyes and he walked away. My shorts were visible; therefore, I hadn't actually violated the dress code. I say that's enough to warrant annoyance at being told off.

Zak appeared by my side and handed me my bag.

"Woah," he said, "someone, has been crying some serious tears."

I laughed slightly. "Stupid immortal migraines," I said. "Always cause problems."

"I can tell," Zak looked around. "What did the crows ever do to you?"

It then hit me that Zak was human. Him knowing didn't just put him in danger with the Clark Corporation, but also with whatever supernatural forces I got into throws with. I frowned at the thought of him having to face off with an Archaeopteryx. If I couldn't fight it, he stood no chance.

"They weren't crows," I stated. "Turns out, that meteor altered the DNA of dinosaurs, and now only immortal creatures can see them. That was an Archaeopteryx."

"An archaic-terrace?" Zak raised an eyebrow.

"Archaeopteryx."

"Archaic-terrace, that's what I said?"

"No," I shook my head. "Aa-kai-oh-teh-riks."

Zak knitted his eyebrows together and started trying to mouth it.

"Just – Giant bird-dinosaur," I sighed. "I originally thought it was a herbivore, but by the teeth, I'm thinking carnivore."

"You mean we've actually been living with dinosaurs this whole time!?" Zak looked way too excited. "That's awesome! What was it like?"

"Terrifying," I stated. "I almost died."

"You'd come back," Zak shrugged.

"I don't think you can come back after being eaten alive," I narrowed my eyes. "So, a little support would be nice."

"Okay, but like, dinosaurs," Zak said.

"Carnivorous dinosaurs," I said. "Ones that'll eat annoying Hispanic boys if they don't take them seriously."

Zak frowned. "That's uncalled for."

"So, if a t-rex picked you up right now, you wouldn't be dino food?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Like a t-rex would be able to pick me up," Zak waved my comment off. "Not with those tiny arms."

I glared. "What's wrong with being tiny?"

"You enslave us tall people because we can reach the top shelf," Zak proclaimed proudly.

"I'm still holding a switchblade."

"Right," Zak nodded. "How about we get you cleaned up?"

"Thank you," I said.

We found the nearest bathroom, and Zak didn't come inside, being that he was not a girl. My shoulder would heal tonight, so I wasn't too concerned by it. A bandage would be able to stop the bleeding for a while. I cleaned up my face, unfortunately having to remove my makeup, and changed my shirt. I didn't change out of the shorts because I didn't break any rules by wearing them. No teacher could yell at me.

I left and saw Zak standing there, looking at a crow corpse.

"Is this one of them?" He asked.

I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Probably."