𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲;
𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗮

-PROOFREAD-

The makeshift raft bobbed gently on the waves as the group set sail from the island's shore. Vera's heart felt heavy in her chest, torn between the promise of home and what she was leaving behind. The thought of seeing her mother again, of sinking into her own bed, made her chest ache with longing. But watching Rocky's figure grow smaller on the shoreline created a different kind of pain altogether.

From the edge of the rocky outcrop, Rocky and Bumpy's bellowing calls echoed across the water, their distinctive voices carrying over the waves.

"Goodbye, Bumpy," Ben's voice cracked with emotion as he waved. Beside him, Vera raised her own hand in a silent farewell, her eyes fixed on Rocky's silhouette. The two friends instinctively drew closer, sharing their grief in a side hug.

Kenji's voice cut through the somber moment, loud and defiant. "Goodbye forever, stupid Dino Island!" He shook his fist at the shoreline. "You tried to eat us? No way! Tried to stomp us? Think again!"

"Yeah!" Sammy joined in, her voice carrying the same rebellious energy. "You thought you could crush our spirits? Impossible!" Their combined hollering echoed across the water.

Ben cleared his throat. "To be fair, the island did crush my spirit." He paused for dramatic effect before deepening his voice. "But then I defeated Toro!" The sudden shift in his tone drew a genuine laugh from Vera.

Yasmina groaned. "Not again."

"Hey, Bumpy and Vera like when I tell it," Ben protested, but his words were cut short as a massive wave rocked the raft, sending them all scrambling for balance.

"Guys?" Brooklynn's voice held a note of panic. An even larger wave loomed on the horizon, a wall of water bearing down on them. "Everyone, secure the vines!" she ordered, her voice sharp with urgency.

"How?" Yasmina demanded, gripping the nearest vine.

"I don't know. Pull on them?" Brooklynn's confidence wavered.

"You said you had raft experience!" Yaz shot back.

"I said *some* raft experience!" Brooklynn defended herself. "Some!"

"Oh," Yaz deadpanned. "So only *some* of us will drown."

"The wind's strong. We can just power through," Brooklynn insisted, her words immediately undermined as their makeshift sail tore free, disappearing into the spray.

The wave struck before anyone could react. Their screams merged into one terrified chorus as the raft capsized, plunging them into the churning ocean. The current dragged them under, tumbling them like clothes in a washer before unceremoniously depositing them back on the very beach they'd tried to leave.

They dragged themselves from the surf, coughing and sputtering. Ben was the first to find his voice.

"Bumpy?" He called out, hope threading through his exhaustion. "Bumpy, we're back! Bumpy?"

"Rocky?" Vera joined in, wringing water from her hair. "Where are you, girl?" Their voices echoed across the empty beach until a familiar rustling in the nearby foliage caught their attention.

"Rocky?" Vera barely got the name out before two excited dinosaurs burst from the undergrowth, charging toward their human friends with unbridled joy.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Ben's warning dissolved into laughter as both he and Vera were knocked flat by their enthusiastic companions.

Vera wrapped her arms around Rocky's neck, giggling as the dinosaur nuzzled her. "I missed you too, Rocky Road."

"Circle up, everyone!" Darius's voice carried across the beach. "Camp meeting!"

Kenji sprawled dramatically on the slide, awkwardly scooting up backwards. "Another one?"

"I'll be right back," Ben assured Bumpy, joining the others with Vera close behind.

Darius stood at the center of their impromptu circle. "Okay, good news first - still no Compies around camp. Bad news... raft escape attempt number one was..."

"Wet."
"Bad?"
"Didn't work."

"It wasn't a total disaster," Darius insisted, ever the optimist.

Sammy raised an eyebrow. "We lost the raft and nearly drowned. How is that not a disaster ?"

"Well..." Darius grinned, "we didn't get eaten by dinosaurs?"

As the others debated their next move, Vera's thoughts drifted to Rocky. The failed escape attempt had only strengthened their bond, but it also highlighted the impossible choice ahead. She couldn't take Rocky home - that much was clear - but the thought of leaving her behind felt like trying to abandon a piece of her own heart.

"Yo, Jones!" Kenji's voice yanked her back to reality.

"What?"

"What's your take on this?"

Having missed the entire discussion, Vera fell back on her usual strategy. "Whatever Ben said."

"Thank you!" Darius beamed.

"Fine," Brooklynn conceded. "Since there are no other options, raft it is."

"Great! So, where can we scavenge a sail that we haven't already looked?" Darius mused.

Kenji lounged back, staring at the sky. "Too bad we can't just go up to Lookout Point and hang glide to Costa Rica. That would be epic."

Darius perked up. "Wait, what's Lookout Point?"

"It's this spot up in the western mountains," Kenji explained casually. "They've got hang gliders and everything. Used to go there all the time."

"Hang gliders?" Darius's eyes lit up. "As in actual fabric designed specifically to catch wind?"

The group erupted in excited chatter and high-fives as the possibility sank in.

"Hey!" Kenji sat up straight, finally catching on. "We could use that as a sail!"

"Good idea, Kenji," Darius laughed.

Kenji swept his arm out with theatrical flair, "Welcome to Lookout Point!" He paused, glancing up at the towering cliff above them. "Well, to be fair, Lookout Point is up there, but you get the gist."

"So, how do we get up there?" Darius asked, shielding his eyes against the sun as he studied the steep ascent.

Kenji gestured toward the suspended cable car. "The sky gondola, usually." He shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "But with the power out, you'll have to go on foot. It shouldn't be too bad. Probs just a one-to-five-day trek."

Yasmina stretched her legs with confident ease. "That'll take me an hour."

Brooklynn's voice echoed from above, making them all look up. She was already at the control station, her fingers dancing across the panel."Great! I'll wait for you at the top." With a triumphant press of a button, the gondola system hummed to life, cables starting to move with a mechanical whir. "Ta-da!"

"Solar panels. Sky gondola. Last one there's the last one there!" Kenji whooped, already sprinting toward the loading platform.

"I call shotgun!" Sammy called out, chasing after him with her usual boundless energy.

Darius turned to Ben and Vera. "Guess it's just us three then."

Ben shifted his weight, not quite meeting their eyes. "Actually, you go ahead without me. I'm gonna stay behind with Bumpy."

Vera felt that familiar twist in her stomach as she studied his face. Something in his tone didn't sit right. "Ben?"

"Uh... are you sure?" Darius asked, concern evident in his voice.

"You two go ahead. I'm fine." Ben insisted, managing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Vera hesitated at the gondola entrance, looking back at Ben. There it was – that feeling that he was holding something back, that there were words hanging unspoken in the air between them. But the others were waiting, and they had a mission to complete. With a quiet sigh, she stepped into the gondola, unable to shake the feeling that she was missing something important.

The gondola swayed gently as it carried Vera up the mountainside, its quiet creaking the only sound besides the distant calls of dinosaurs. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching the island sprawl out beneath her. Somewhere down there, Rocky was probably searching for her, confused by another abandonment. The thought made her chest ache.

"I'm sorry, girl," she whispered against the glass, her breath creating a small fog patch. "I wish I could've explained."

The jungle canopy blurred as tears threatened to form. She'd known from the start she couldn't keep Rocky – a dinosaur couldn't exactly fit in her mom's house comfortably back home – but knowing that hadn't made it any easier. Rocky had trusted her, protected her, been there through every terrifying moment on this island. And now...

Vera wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve. At least she wasn't losing everyone. Despite everything, the island had given her real friends. Sammy's boundless optimism, Brooklynn's determined spirit, Yaz's quiet strength, Kenji's... well, Kenji-ness. Even Darius, who she'd initially written off as just another dinosaur nerd, had proven himself a true leader.

And then there was Ben.

Something in her chest tightened at the thought of him, the way it had been doing lately. She'd watched him transform from a scared, anxious kid into someone brave and confident. Someone who'd face down a Carnotaurus to protect his friends. But lately, something felt... off. Like he was holding something back, keeping part of himself locked away.

"Why does that bother me so much?" she muttered, pulling her knees up to her chest. It wasn't like Ben owed her his every thought. They were close friends, sure, but the idea of him not sharing something with her caused an inexplicable hollow feeling in her stomach.

She found herself thinking about his smile – the real one, not the nervous one he used to wear like armor. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about Bumpy, or when he managed something he never thought he could do. How he always seemed to know when she needed someone to listen about Rocky, or when she just needed quiet company.

But recently, those moments had grown fewer. He'd get this distant look sometimes, especially when they were alone, like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. And every time it happened, Vera felt... what? Hurt? Disappointed?

"This is stupid," she said to the empty gondola. "We're trying to escape an island full of dinosaurs. I shouldn't be obsessing over..." Over what? Why was she even thinking about this so much?

The gondola creaked again, and she remembered last night at camp. How she'd ended up sitting next to Ben, and how hyperaware she'd been of every time their shoulders brushed. How she'd found herself watching his reactions to the funny parts instead of Darius' story itself. How her stomach had done that weird flip thing when he'd fallen asleep and his head had drooped onto her shoulder.

"Oh no," she whispered, the realization starting to form before she quickly shoved it away. This wasn't the time. They were in the middle of an escape attempt. She needed to focus on getting home, on seeing her mom again, on getting back to normal life. Not on analyzing why her heart kept doing gymnastics whenever Ben looked at her a certain way, or why she missed him even when he was just in the next room, or why—

The gondola shuddered to a stop at the upper station, jerking her out of her thoughts. Vera took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders as she stood. Whatever this confused tangle of feelings was, it would have to wait. Right now, they had a hang glider to find.

Still, as she stepped out onto the platform, she couldn't quite shake the warmth that had settled in her chest, or the way her thoughts kept drifting back to a certain former germaphobe with kind eyes and a brave heart.

Vera approached the railing, letting the breeze cool her flushed cheeks as she gazed at the sprawling jungle below. From this height, even the most dangerous parts of the island looked almost peaceful.

"Pretty cool, right?" Kenji grinned, nudging Sammy with his elbow.

Yasmina's sarcastic voice cut through the moment. "Hmm. Sure, we'll get the hang gliders. You three can just keep looking at things."

"Sounds good!" Kenji replied cheerfully, completely missing her tone.

Vera kept quiet, recognizing the tension between them. Whatever was going on there, she had enough of her own confused feelings to deal with.

"You know," Sammy sighed dreamily, "once you get past the whole 'imminent death lurking around every corner' thing, this place really is paradise."

The pair soon wandered off to explore more of the lookout, leaving Vera alone with her thoughts. That familiar ache returned to her chest, thoughts of Ben flooding back unbidden. The way he'd looked when he stayed behind, like he'd wanted to say something more...

She shook her head forcefully, trying to clear it. That's when she caught it – a glint of silver on the coastline, barely visible through the morning haze.

She hurried to a nearby tower viewer, adjusting it for a better look. The familiar outline of Mitch and Tiff's boat came into focus. "Guys, I found something!"

The others rushed over, taking turns at the viewer. "I think we just found our ticket home!" Sammy cheered.

Their celebration was cut short as Brooklynn and Yaz came charging up the steps. "We need to get out of here!" A Dimorphodon appeared at the top of the stairs, cutting off their escape route.

The trio spun around at the sound of wings overhead, just in time to see another Dimorphodon land on the scaffolding above them. It crept forward on its hind legs, head cocked at an unnatural angle as it studied them with predatory interest.

"Nice, creepy bird thing," Kenji said, his voice wavering as he raised his hands in what he probably thought was a calming gesture.

The creature reared up on its legs, unleashing a screech that felt like it could shatter glass. Vera clapped her hands over her ears, wincing at the piercing sound. "Why is it doing that?" Yaz shouted over the noise.

"It's calling for backup!" Vera's stomach dropped as she spotted dark shapes wheeling against the sky. Within seconds, the air was filled with the beating of wings as an entire flock of Dimorphodons descended, circling above them like a living tornado.

One dove straight for them, jaws snapping. They scattered, diving in different directions. The creature's teeth clicked shut on empty air where Sammy's head had been moments before. Without missing a beat, Sammy grabbed a nearby chair and swung it with all her might, catching the Dimorphodon square in the head. The creature crumpled, momentarily stunned.

"The gondola!" Vera shouted, spotting their escape route. "Run!"

They sprinted for the station, the sound of wings and screeches filling the air. The gondola seemed to move in slow motion as it approached the platform. "Come on, come on!" Kenji chanted, pounding the call button repeatedly as if that would make it move faster.

Finally, the doors slid open. They piled in just as the stunned Dimorphodon recovered, launching itself at them with renewed fury. Its head got caught between the closing doors, snapping and thrashing as it tried to force its way through.

Vera's heart pounded in her chest as she acted on instinct. She drew back her leg and kicked with every ounce of strength she had left. Her foot connected solidly with the creature's head, sending it tumbling backward onto the platform. The doors slid shut with a satisfying click.

She collapsed against the gondola wall, breathing heavily. Through the glass, she watched as Brooklynn and Yaz made their desperate escape. The hang glider caught the wind perfectly, carrying them away from the platform. The flock of Dimorphodons pursued them, but the girls were ready. They weaved through the air like professional pilots, ducking and diving until they'd lost most of their pursuers.

For a moment, Vera thought they were in the clear. Then she saw it – another Dimorphodon diving from above, its claws extended. Before anyone could shout a warning, it tore through the glider's fabric like tissue paper. The glider immediately lost lift, spiraling toward the ground with Brooklynn and Yaz holding on for dear life.

The gondola couldn't reach the bottom fast enough. As soon as the doors opened, they sprinted toward where their friends had landed. Relief flooded through Vera when she spotted them both standing, shaken but alive.

Kenji and Sammy burst into celebration. "Oh, I love it when we're all alive!" Sammy exclaimed, running to embrace Ben and Darius, who had rushed to meet them.

"Yeah! Take that, Dino Island!" Kenji whooped, punching the air triumphantly.

Vera stood awkwardly to the side until Ben approached her, giving her a gentle nudge. Her cheeks flushed immediately, and she turned away, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Yeah, it's a little torn, but we can fix it," Darius smiled, examining the damaged hang glider. "And it's going to make a perfect sail for our next boat."

"Boat! Boat!" Sammy yelled, shaking Kenji excitedly.

"Uh... what are we talking about?" Darius asked, confusion evident on his face.

"We saw Tiff and Mitch's boat!" Kenji explained, practically bouncing with excitement.

"It's on some rocks not far offshore. We can totally get to it!" Sammy added.

As they began their journey toward the boat, Vera tried to hide her limp, missing Rocky's steady presence more than ever. Each step sent a dull ache through her ankle.

"Need a ride?" Ben's voice was soft beside her. "There's room for two." He patted Bumpy's back, offering that gentle smile that always made her stomach do backflips.

"No, I'm—" Before she could finish her protest, Ben had already helped her up. His hands were surprisingly steady as he lifted her, and she instinctively grabbed his waist to balance herself. The familiar warmth crept up her neck, and she was grateful he couldn't see her face.

They rode in comfortable silence for a moment before Ben spoke. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice barely audible over Bumpy's footsteps. "For being weird today. For pushing you away. You're my best friend, Vera, and I shouldn't treat you like that."

"It's okay," she replied, trying to ignore how aware she was of her arms around his waist.

"No, it's not." His voice was firmer now. "The truth is... I'm scared. Watching you with Rocky, seeing how close you've gotten – it reminded me of what's coming. Leaving Bumpy behind..." His voice caught. "She saved me, V. She made me brave. And I don't just mean with the dinosaurs. She helped me find who I really am. The thought of walking away from that..."

Vera tightened her hold slightly, offering silent support. "I understand. Every time I think about Rocky being alone, my chest feels like it's being crushed. Will she think I abandoned her? Will she forget me? But Ben..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "You're the bravest person I know, and I'm not just saying that. You've faced everything this island has thrown at us, and you've grown so much. Whatever happens with Bumpy, you'll find a way through it. You always do."

"How do you do that?" He turned his head slightly, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

"Do what?"

"Know exactly what to say. It's like you can see right through me sometimes." There was something in his tone she couldn't quite read, making her heart skip.

"Maybe I just pay attention," she said softly, immediately regretting how intimate the words sounded.

"Thanks, V." He turned back, giving her that real smile, the one that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

They were approaching the boat now, and Vera quickly slid down, needing space to collect herself. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.

"What's up with you?" Brooklynn asked as Vera joined the group.

"Nothing," she replied quickly, retreating to another area. She pressed her cool hands to her warm cheeks, trying to calm her racing heart. Why did a simple conversation with Ben leave her feeling so... everything?

She stole a glance at him as he walked with Bumpy, watching the way he moved with such confidence now, so different from the scared boy she'd first met. The flutter in her stomach returned, and she quickly looked away. Whatever this feeling was, she wasn't ready to name it. Not yet.

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𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴！
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Merry Christmas! The first chapter is up and I'm beyond excited. This is getting juicy! The slow burn is heating up now and I'm hyped. This chapter was mainly focused on Vera's point of view but we will get Ben's soon. This season and forward will be so jam packed you guys will wish I slowed down. Also my gifs are back! I will be going in an making them for the chapters in Viability. Anyway thank you for the support! Love you all!

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©-CRETACEOUS , 2024