Back in the foggy coal swamp, a lizard-like creature, Hylonomus, which was covered in blue and yellow scales, watched Dan from a log. The young man brought his head to surface and gasped for air, coughing. Due to how fast and painful the fall was, he was left in a slight state of shock, and he was now covered, from head to toe, in mud. When Dan finally caught his breaths, he struggled to his feet, eyes closed, and yelled into the treetops, proving to them that he was a tough cookie. Afterwards, he opened his eyes and limped forward a few steps before saying, "Ow, ow," and reached for his left thigh. The Hylonomus shuffled uncomfortably on its log and took a step forward, opening its mouth in awe. Inside its mouth, it had small but sharp teeth. Dan reached for the branch of another log and hauled himself up onto its face. Once sitting down, he rested his left hand on his torn pant leg and bleeding thigh and wrapped his right arm around his neck, shivering. Dan checked his surroundings and gulped. Where was PPMC? He had no idea where he was. The area was so overgrown with plants and so foggy that Dan couldn't even tell where the hill he fell down was! He was lost. Peering around the ancient coal swamp, Dan shouted, "PPMC?!" and tried to stand but he couldn't. He was in too much pain. Through clenched teeth, Dan added with, "PPMC, where are you?!" He lowered his head and took deep breaths, trying to recover from three distinct things: One, the forward jump in time from the Precambrian Time, two, the Temnospondyli, and three, the fall. Also, he didn't like the coal swamp. In his opinion, it was even spookier than Rodinia! He was unaware that the Hylonomus that had been watching him was slowly creeping towards him with its mouth open, and its sharp teeth were showing. Finally, Dan was given no other choice. He had to call PPMC and have her come get him! Exhaling, he took his palm off his thigh and brought the PPMC Gauntlet to his face, pressing the call button, saying, "PPMC, please answer me." He winced and pressed the button again, "Please, PPMC. Please pick up." PPMC didn't answer. Dan was scared. He remembered that the PPMC Gauntlet was connected to PPMC herself and the time machine, and if by any chance PPMC or the time machine became damaged, the gauntlet would also be affected. Dan begged for PPMC to answer him. Finally, after what felt like forever, she did, but her voice was staticky. "Dan!" she shouted, "Dan, can you hear me?! Where are you?!"

"PPMC!" Dan said, relieved that she was still with him, "Thank goodness you picked up! I was beginning to get worried! Listen, I...AHHH!" He quickly pulled the gauntlet away from his face. Like what happened in the Precambrian Time, the PPMC Gauntlet began to spark! Hearing his cry, PPMC asked, "Dan?! Are you all right?!" Dan took a deep breath. He decided to make the message quick and easy. Pulling the sparking machine to his face again, he said, "PPMC, please help! I fell down a hill while the Temnospondyli was chasing me that was directly in front of the river, and landed in a coal swamp, but I injured my leg!"

"Injured your leg?!" PPMC asked. Her voice started to break, "Is it broken? Stay where you are, Dan the Man and don't move! I'll find you! I promise! For now, try your best to not put a lot of pressure on that leg. I'll take care of it when I find you. Dan? Dan?! Are you still with me?!" Her voice was beginning to fade. She was having trouble hearing Dan. Noticing that she was fading, Dan gasped and shouted, "PPMC?! No!" He closed his eyes and banged his gloved fist on the gauntlet's screen, "PPMC, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have waited so long to press the Precambrian button in the wormhole! I'm sorry I've been such a Compsognathus and chicken! This is all my fault! Please, PPMC, don't go!" Tears ran down his flushed cheeks, "Talk to me! What's wrong?! I want to help you! You're like my mother! I need you, and you need me!" The gauntlet shut off randomly, and Dan yelled in frustration and pain. Ripping off the sparking gauntlet, he chucked it into a cluster of overgrown ferns before it could shock him again. Then, he buried his face in his hands and stomped his right foot, shouting, "I FEEL LIKE A TRAITOR! I'M SO SORRY, PPMC! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! I JUST WANT TO GO HOME!! I DON'T BELONG HERE! I DON'T BELONG ANYWHERE!!" He said all of this in a choked voice. The Hylonomus noticed his distress and made a small sound. It didn't like to see another organism distressed. It tried to think of a way to cheer this unusual creature up. Then, it thought of it! Seeming to smile, the twenty centimeter long, lizard-like creature crept closer to Dan.

Dan kept his face buried in his hands for a long time, but then, he was forced to unbury his face when suddenly he heard an unusual cry that wasn't far from him. Gulping, he asked, "What's that?" and placed his hand over his bleeding thigh again, observing the area. After a bit, his large, brown eyes rolled down onto the log's face, and he gasped at what he saw. Sitting directly next to him and staring out at the coal swamp and forest, was the Hylonomus! It appeared to be at peace with itself. Dan froze at the sight of the first reptile, and his eyes widened. Very slowly, the Hylonomus turned its head and peered into the teen's flushed face. For a minute or two, in complete silence, the two beings stared at one another. The prehistoric crickets started to chirp. Then, Dan let out a piercing scream, and he fell off the log and back into the coal swamp, crying out in pain. The Hylonomus watched him. Quickly, young Dan closed his eyes, turned onto his side, and rested his head on his right arm, saying, "Ow, ow." He grabbed ahold of his thigh again. While he was lying there, the Hylonomus crept to the edge of the log, which was hovering over the coal swamp, and leaned in towards the mysterious being, quite curious. There was a gush of wind, and green leaves, blown off from the tips of the ancient trees, wafted down to the two creatures and seemed to circle them. When he recovered from his scare, Dan opened his eyes, and they landed on the Hylonomus. Recognizing it, he gasped and took his hand away from his leg, struggling to his knees. Once on them, he crawled to the creature and leaned in towards it saying, "No way," in a low whisper, "Hylonomus. It's a real Hylonomus! Cool!" The Hylonomus opened its mouth and showed him its sharp teeth. Dan added with, "You're exactly how I pictured you!" He reached his hands out to the creature, "It's okay, it's okay. I won't hurt you. I promise. You've just always been my second favorite prehistoric creature to learn about." He was telling the truth too. Dan loved the Hylonomus. He remembered when he first started studying prehistoric creatures, he spent an entire week or two just on the Hylonomus. Although Dan liked it a lot, the Hylonomus still sat as second favorite prehistoric creature on Dan's list. His favorite prehistoric creature was, well, just be patient.

The Hylonomus cautiously watched as Dan's hands slowly approached it, but it didn't move. It liked this mysterious being. It allowed him to pick it up in cupped hands, and smiling, Dan brought it to his face and said as his eyes sparkled, "Ha, you trust me! I can't believe it! I'm holding a real Hylonomus!" The Hylonomus scurried up his arm and onto his right shoulder. Dan peered at it, and the Hylonomus opened its mouth again. Then, it licked Dan's cheek, and his smile turned into a grin. He had made friends with a 312 million year old reptile! He had to get a sketch of it to show his dad, Professor Chenoa, and Professor Julian front in 17,019! Struggling to his feet, he grabbed hold of a tree trunk and plopped back down on the log. The Hylonomus watched as he reached for the strap of his one-strapped backpack and pulled it off, but he pulled it off with so much force that the Hylonomus lost its footing and fell from his shoulder! Gasping, Dan yelled, "Oh no!" and he threw his backpack down on the log. Quickly, he cupped his hands and caught the prehistoric creature. Sighing, he said, "Whew," and brought it to his face again, "Are you all right, little fella?" Seeming to understand him, the Hylonomus nodded. It shook like a dog and jumped onto the teen's nose which he gulped. However, the Hylonomus didn't bite him or anything. It just crawled up his face, over his dark blue goggles, and into his messy brown hair. Dan sighed with relief. Then he went straight to business. He opened his backpack and pulled out his muddy, 17,019, notebook and pen. Holding the pen up to his face, he pressed a small button on the side of it, and the pen's tip changed from a pen tip to a pencil tip. Once the pen/pencil was ready, Dan put it in between his teeth and next opened his notebook to the first page that wasn't stuck together. After he did that, he reached his right hand up to the Hylonomus and offered it his palm. He waited for a bit. Then he felt the creature crawl onto his open palm and smiled, closing his fingers around it. Lowering his hand, he dropped it off on his shoulder and took the pen/pencil out of his mouth. Dan placed the tip of his pencil on the page in his notebook and glanced back up to the Hylonomus. Then he focused in on the notebook and started to sketch it. Dan was a very skilled sketcher. Boy did this kid know how to draw! The Hylonomus allowed the young man to sketch it. It even posed for the picture. Dan chuckled. He was happy that he finally found something that didn't try to incinerate or eat him back. After sketching a very impressive picture of the Hylonomus, Dan turned the page and next starting drawing a sketch of the coal swamp. While he was sketching, the Hylonomus eyed his pen and made a small sound, opening its mouth. It let Dan draw for about ten more minutes. Then, it leaped from his shoulder and grabbed the pen, snatching it out of his hand. Dan yelled, "Hey!" and he reached for the lizard-like creature but missed. The Hylonomus landed on the bed of the coal forest and called for him to follow it. Growling, Dan shoved his notebook in his backpack and put the strap over his head. Then he leaned down and reached for the prehistoric reptile, saying, "Come on, nice little poochy." He gestured for the Hylonomus to bring back his pen, adding with, "Give Danny the pen now." The Hylonomus refused to give up the pen. Turning around, it scurried across the bed of the forest and towards another cluster of overgrown ferns. It was a fast little creature (fact). Clenching his fist, Dan narrowed his eyebrows to an angry position and grunted. He had to retrieve the pen! Without it, he wouldn't be able to sketch evidence for Professor Chenoa and Professor Julian! Dan made up his mind. He knew he would be disobeying PPMC, but he had to get his pen back! Closing his eyes, he said, "I'm sorry, PPMC." Then he opened them and focused on the Hylonomus which it was waiting for him. Dan rested his palm on the face of the log and started to push himself up, but almost immediately, he yelled in pain and fell onto the bed of the coal forest. He was still having trouble walking, but Dan didn't let his injured leg slow him down. Struggling to his knees, he said as sweat ran down his temples, "Just watch me, Hylonomus, I'm gonna get that pen back! I believe I can do it!" He bravely stood up and clenched his fist, yelling in desperation. Then he limped after the Hylonomus, and it nodded, starting to scurry towards the overgrown ferns again. Dan followed it and tried his best not to fall down again, but it was difficult. After a bit, exhausted, he stopped and rested his hand on a tree trunk. Turning to him, the Hylonomus dropped the pen/pencil and blew Dan a raspberry. Then it picked up its prize again and scurried along. Dan didn't appreciate that it had blown him a raspberry. Pushing off of the tree trunk, he half trotted towards the reptile and dove for it but once again missed. Frustrated, he punched the ground and crawled forward, soon standing up. The Hylonomus was the first one to reach the cluster of overgrown ferns. It nodded at Dan and then the ferns. Then it turned and leaped into the cluster. Dan shouted, "Hey!" and after a bit, he too reached the cluster, but he was nervous to go through it. What if the Hylonomus had led him right into a trap? What if, behind the ferns, there was nothing but another steep hill he would fall down? Dan took a step back and heard the Hylonomus calling for him. He groaned and made up his mind. He understood the risks, but he had to try! Taking a deep breath, Dan limped forward and grabbed ahold of the ferns, pulling them apart. Then he stepped inside and disappeared into the coal forest, unaware that he had left the PPMC Gauntlet behind. Dan cautiously followed the trail of ferns and waited for his foot to slip again, but it didn't. Maybe the Hylonomus hadn't led him into a trap? Dan followed the ferns, but after a bit, he lost the Hylonomus and his way. Stopping, he checked his surroundings and said, "I think I'm lost." There was a lump in his throat. Dan didn't want to be left alone in the overgrown forest. He shouted for the Hylonomus, but it didn't answer him. Dan tried again. Nothing replied. Frustrated, the teen clenched his fists and said, "Argh, this bites!" With that, he plopped down onto the bed of the forest and rested his cheek on his knees. He knew it. He was going to be trapped in a Carboniferous coal forest for the rest of his life. Dan was just about to give up hope when suddenly, over a gush of wind, he heard the cry of the Hylonomus, and he peered down to the ground, gasping when he saw that it was sitting directly in front of him with the pen/pencil still tight in its mouth! With tears flickering in his eyes, Dan said, "It's you," and the Hylonomus nodded. It approached his knee and dropped the pen. As Dan was picking it up and thanking it, it hopped onto his arm and crawled up it and back into his hair. Once in his hair, it opened its mouth, and its sharp teeth grabbed ahold of one of his tufts. The Hylonomus started to pull Dan's tuft forward, and the young man asked, "What is it?" The Hylonomus continued to pull. Dan knew it was trying to lead him somewhere. Therefore, he attempted to stand up, but halfway up, he fell to his right knee and grabbed his bleeding thigh again. Taking deep breaths, Dan focused forward, and he gasped when he saw that the trail of ferns was ending, and bright sunlight was scanning the forest's bed. The Hylonomus tugged his tuft forward again, and the young man said, "Okay, okay!" He struggled, but eventually, he managed to stand. Once standing, he followed the direction in which the Hylonomus was pulling him to. It was pulling him towards the end of the ferns. Dan pushed his way through the ferns, and the closer he came to the end of the line, the more excited he grew, although he had no idea why. By the time he was standing right at the end of the line, the Hylonomus let go of his hair and crawled onto Dan's back, nudging him forward. Then it crawled back up onto his shoulder, and Dan glanced at it. The sun's rays scanned them like a lighthouse, and at the same time, the two beings nodded at one another. Then, Dan reached forward and grabbed ahold of the last two ferns. He pulled them aside, and bright light blinded him. Stepping through the ferns, the young man opened his eyes, and he gasped at what he saw, saying, "Whoa!" The Hylonomus seemed to smile. It had led Dan right to a huge but beautiful coal swamp! Unlike the last coal swamp, this one wasn't foggy, the trees were a lot healthier, and looking up, you could actually see huge patches of the sky visible! Green leaves floated on the surface of the swamp, and Dan could feel and smell an ocean breeze! Awesome! He was near the ocean! Since this coal swamp was much more exposed than the last one, patches of sunlight were everywhere. Dan was blown away. Could a coal swamp really be this beautiful? With his mouth gaping open, Dan peered at the Hylonomus on his shoulder and asked it, "Is this where you live?" The Hylonomus nodded, and Dan watched as it crawled down his tummy and jumped onto a log in which half of it was in the swamp, and the other half was on the forest's bed. Once it landed, it focused ahead on some more trees and opened its mouth, calling out. Bewildered, Dan asked it, "Uh, what are you doing?" and he sank to his knees behind it. Each time the Hylonomus focused on a certain tree, it cried out. Dan had no idea what it was doing. He didn't speak Hylonomus. However, after a bit, he gasped when suddenly, crawling up onto the log and joining his new friend, were five more Hylonomus! Two of them tackled Dan's Hylonomus, and they wrestled, crying out happily to one another. That was, until another one came in and grabbed each Hylonomus by the tails, dragging them away from Dan's friend. It cried out angrily to them, and was unaware that behind it, another Hylonomus was approaching it with a mouthful of water. It sprayed the angry Hylonomus, and it jumped, falling into the swamp. Swimming to surface, it crawled back onto the log and whacked the Hylonomus that sprayed it with its tail. Dan laughed and said, "This is amazing! It's a whole family of Hylonomus!" His friend called to its family members and turned to Dan, them as well. The young man waved and said, "Hi," in a shy voice. The family members cried out to him, so Dan guessed they were saying,

"Hi," back. Leaning to his friend, he said,

"You have a wonderful family, little Hylonomus. Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here." Picking it up, he brought it to its face and noticed that it was blushing at him. Dan smiled. Was his friend a female Hylonomus? He guessed it was. Before long, she licked his cheek again, and Dan put her down so she could play with her brothers and sisters. While she was playing, he pulled out his notebook again and sketched them. Afterwards, he put up his notebook and watched them some more, but the thing was, the more he watched the family of prehistoric reptiles, the more he was reminded of his own family front in 17,019. He didn't realize how much he missed them. Dan sighed and lowered his head. He decided to leave them be and go exploring. Standing up, he limped through the coal swamp, away from the family of Hylonomus, and tried to find a log he could rest on. His friend noticed him leaving and called out to him, but Dan didn't hear her. He limped on but didn't stay on his feet for long. He swayed and fell onto the bank of the swamp, reaching for his leg. His friend Hylonomus took a step closer to the edge of the log. Then she twisted her head and peered back in the direction of the cluster of overgrown ferns, seeming to gasp. She called to her family members, and they listened to her carefully. Then, they together watched as Dan's friend scurried over to the edge of the log and jumped, landing on the bed of the coal forest. Once stable on her feet, she hurried forward and jumped into the cluster of overgrown ferns, leaving her family and seventeen year old Daniel Matton behind.