𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻;
𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱

(𝗴𝗶𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁)

The tension that had gripped the group for hours finally broke as Sammy and Vera stirred, their eyes fluttering open in the late afternoon light. A collective exhale seemed to sweep through the clearing, as if everyone had been holding their breath since the Scorpius rex's attack.

"Oh thank god," Brooklynn whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she squeezed Sammy's hand. The color was slowly returning to both girls' faces, replacing the sickly yellow pallor that had haunted their friends for so long.

Darius wiped discreetly at his eyes, trying to hide the tears of relief that had gathered there. Even Kenji, who usually masked his emotions with sarcasm, couldn't hide the trembling smile that crossed his face as Vera managed to push herself up on shaky arms.

Kenji hovered nearby, his hands twitching with the need to help but unsure if he should. When Vera swayed slightly, he was there in an instant, his steady arm supporting her back. "Easy," he murmured, his voice carrying a gentleness that made her lean instinctively into his touch. "The antidote's still working its way through your system."

The setting sun painted the jungle in warm hues, as if nature itself was celebrating their recovery. For the first time since the attack, the weight of fear lifted from the group, replaced by the pure joy of having their friends back. They were still on a dangerous island, still facing impossible odds, but in that moment, watching Sammy and Vera slowly regain their strength, everything felt possible again.

"Let's get to the boat while there's a break in the storm." Darius said.

"What about the Scorpios rex?" Brooklynn questioned.

"We have to risk it. We might not get another chance." He replied.

The group bustled around camp, gathering supplies in the fading daylight. Ben stood off to the side, watching Vera organize her backpack, her movements still careful from her recent injury. The weight of their earlier argument sat heavy in his chest, making the few feet between them feel like miles.

"Uh... Where's Ben?" Brooklynn's voice cut through the humid night air, her eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. Minutes had passed since anyone had last seen him.

The group made their way through the dense woods, the undergrowth crackling beneath their feet. Moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move with each breeze.

"Uh, need help?" Kenji spoke up, noticing Vera's increasingly labored breathing and unsteady gait.

"Yeah thanks." Vera replied sheepishly. She leaned against Kenji's side, grateful for the support as they wrapped their arms around each other. The warmth of his presence was oddly comforting in the oppressive jungle night.

"Bumpy ran off 'cause of Scorpius rex. Ben's probably going after her." Brooklynn stated, her pink hair gleaming in the moonlight as she turned to face the others. Fear and determination warred in her expression.

"Then I am going after him." Darius's voice rang with resolve, his shoulders squaring as he made the decision.

"Me too." Vera declared, though her voice wavered slightly with pain.

"Anyone else see the irony?" Yaz whispered, shooting a knowing look at the others.

"Fine, let's go. The sooner we get Ben, the sooner we get out of here." Brooklynn replied, adjusting her backpack with determined efficiency.

"We can't risk all of us. The Scorpius is still out there. I'm going alone." Darius's words hung heavy in the air, his face set with grim determination.

"Again? You don't always have to do everything alone." Brooklynn countered, frustration evident in her clenched fists.

"I'm going with him. I'm not letting you do solo." Vera restated, her jaw set stubbornly as she pulled away from Kenji's supportive grip.

"Vera, you're too injured." Kenji protested, concern etched across his features as he reached for her again.

"Ben is my best friend and I'm not leaving this island without him." She enforced, slipping out of his grasp. Her eyes flashed with determination despite the pain evident in her stance.

"Get to the boat. If Ben, Vera and I aren't there by sunrise, well, you know what that means. And you leave without us." Darius affirmed, his voice steady despite the weight of his words.

The group erupted into a cacophony of retorts, their voices overlapping in panic. "What? Dude! No way!"

"Shh!" Darius quipped, his finger shooting up to point across the clearing. "Over there."

As the group turned their heads toward his gesture, Darius and Vera seized their chance. They slipped away into the darkness, their footsteps muffled by years of fallen leaves.

The pair raced through the jungle, their breath coming in short gasps. The darkness seemed to press in around them, broken only by occasional shafts of moonlight. "Ben?" Vera called out, her voice echoing through the trees.

Suddenly Brooklynn's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, distorted by static. "Darius? Darius, do you co..." He yanked the device from his belt, switching it off and shoving it deep into his pocket.

"Ben? Ben? Ben? Ben!" Their voices echoed through the dark woods, desperation growing with each call.

"Where could he be?" Vera sighed, her injured leg finally forcing her to lean against a massive tree trunk. The rough bark dug into her shoulder as she caught her breath.

A series of thunderous footsteps approached, each impact sending tremors through the ground. Fear flooded their faces as they pressed themselves behind the tree, hearts pounding in their chests.

The tension broke as a Triceratops lumbered into view, its massive form blocking out what little moonlight filtered through the canopy. Relief washed over them as the giant herbivore settled down to sleep, its breathing deep and rhythmic. A peculiar detail caught their attention – a large quill protruding from its tail, gleaming dully in the darkness.

Darius began to approach the sleeping giant with careful, measured steps. "Easy," he whispered, reaching for the quill. His fingers had barely grasped it when the dinosaur's eyes snapped open. The massive creature lurched to its feet with surprising speed, charging toward them with lowered horns.

They dove in opposite directions as the Triceratops thundered past, crashing through the underbrush. Their feet carried them through the forest until they skidded to a halt at the edge of a cliff, loose stones clattering into the darkness below.

A collective sigh of relief escaped them as the sound of the Triceratops faded into the distance. Their moment of respite was short-lived as the ground beneath their feet began to crack and crumble.

Vera lost her footing first, her injured leg giving way as the edge collapsed. Her scream cut short as she caught Darius's hand, his other hand desperately gripping the cliff's remaining edge. His fingers began to slip, dirt and small rocks cascading around them – until another hand shot out of the darkness above.

Ben's familiar face appeared above them, his features strained with effort as he hauled them both to safety. They collapsed onto solid ground, chests heaving.

"What the heck are you doing?" He fussed, looking between his two friends with equal parts concern and irritation.

"We're here to save your life." Darius clarified between heavy breaths. He pushed himself to his feet, brushing dirt from his clothes.

"Ben, wait up. Ben, come on." He called as their friend immediately set off into the jungle again. Vera struggled to keep pace, falling a few steps behind as her injury slowed her progress.

"Okay, so, we'll meet the others at the boat. If we go now, we'll be there way before sunrise. Uh, Ben? Boat's back this way. Hello?" Darius's words seemed to bounce off Ben's back as he pushed deeper into the dark brush.

"Ben! Are you even listening? Ben, stop." Vera lunged forward, her hand catching his shoulder despite the pain that shot through her leg.

"Look, I know you're worried. Bumpy could be anywhere." Darius said, his voice softening with understanding.

"Exactly. She could be wherever the Scorpius Rex is. I need to find her before it does. If you wanna go to the boat, go. No one's stopping you." Ben's words came out sharp and cold as he shrugged off Vera's hand, disappearing once more into the darkness of the jungle.

"Bumpy? Bumpy?" Darius shouted.

"Shh! You want the Scorpios rex to hear you? Bumpy's close. You can tell by the..." Ben started.

"Drool. Yeah, got that." Darius shivered at tge boy holding the mucus.

"This is her favorite berry patch. It's where we first tried them together. Whenever she finishes here, she usually moves on to the patch near the waterfall."

"Okay. Let's go to the waterfall," Darius replied, before Ben quickly silenced him with a raised hand.

"Scorpius?" Darius whispered, tension evident in his voice.

Vera cocked her head, listening intently to the approaching footsteps. "No. Its steps aren't that heavy. I think it's..." she trailed off as two familiar shapes emerged from the dense foliage.

Ben's face lit up with pure joy. "Bumpy!" he cheered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Oh, wow, you're safe! You're safe!"

"Roca! There you are," Vera smiled, relief washing over her features.

Darius exhaled heavily, shoulders relaxing. "I guess yelling her name did work. Glad you're okay, girls. Phew! We were worried. Now, let's all get to the boat before..."

"I, uh... I'm not going with you," Ben interrupted, his voice suddenly heavy with determination.

"Uh, fine, stay mad. We don't have to walk together. I'll stay ten paces behind you. Cool? It doesn't matter how we get to the boat, just that we get there," Darius offered, trying to diffuse the tension.

Ben planted his feet firmly in the soil. "No. I'm not leaving the island," he declared, his jaw set.

"This again? Ben, Bumpy fits on the boat and Bumpy is with us now. Ergo, boat time for all of us. Let's go!" Darius gestured emphatically.

"It was never just about Bumpy. It's about me, too. I need to stay," Ben admitted, his voice softening.

Vera's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ben, that's crazy. You need to go home."

"This is my home!" Ben threw his arms wide, encompassing the jungle around them. "I'm happy here! I've got Bumpy. I've got grubs. I've got the thick jungle air. What more could I want?"

"A bathroom, for starters," Darius called out, rolling his eyes.

Ben's expression hardened with conviction. "I'm more me on this island than I've ever been. The best version of me. I've changed."

"You'll never make it," Darius countered, stepping closer.

"Why don't you trust me?"

"Because you're just a kid, Ben," Vera insisted, her voice sharp with frustration.

"Like that matters! Heck, Bumpy and I defeated..."

Darius threw his hands up in exasperation. "Oh my gosh! If you tell me one more time how you defeated Toro, I'm going to lose it!"

"Well, I hope you can find it because we did defeat Toro, so we can do anything," Ben shot back, a defiant smile playing at his lips.

The first hints of dawn were beginning to lighten the eastern sky. "This is ridiculous! I tried being patient, but we're out of time," Vera's voice rose with urgency.

"It's almost sunrise," Darius pointed to the lightening horizon.

"Darius, you're not listening," Ben pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

"No, you're not listening!" Vera shouted, her patience finally snapping.

Ben's face flushed with anger. "I'm sorry you're not happy with my decision, but it's not up to you. I like who I am here and I'm staying, and that's final!" He pushed past them roughly.

What followed was a blur of motion as Darius lunged forward, grabbing Ben's shoulder. Ben shrugged him off violently, but Darius persisted, resulting in both boys tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs and angry shouts.

"Guys stop!" Vera yelled, her voice cutting through their grunts of effort.

They wrestled in the dirt, Ben eventually gaining the upper position. "We blew up a gondola together! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Darius shouted from below.

"I blow stuff up all the time. You're not special!" Ben retorted, his voice thick with emotion.

"I'm trying to help you!" Darius's words came out strained.

"By controlling me?" Ben spat back.

Vera finally intervened, forcefully separating the two boys. "Enough! You guys are acting immature!"

"Oh really says you," Ben muttered, brushing dirt from his clothes.

Vera's patience had reached its limit. "You know what? I am so tired of you acting like this big bad guy. You are a kid!"

"If you're so tired then leave!"

"I'm not abandoning you again!" Darius's admission hung in the air, bringing both Ben and Vera up short, their expressions softening at the raw honesty in his voice.

The sudden bellowing of the two dinosaurs broke the tension. Ben turned to them, his voice gentler now. "Sorry you had to see that, Bumpers. Darius and I are... yeah, we're working through some stuff."

The dinosaurs turned and lumbered into the forest, their heavy footfalls creating a rhythm that the bewildered trio followed. As they emerged from the dense jungle, a breathtaking sight awaited them: a whole herd of Ankylosauruses spread across a natural clearing. They watched in silence as Bumpy and Rocky made their way toward their own kind, joining the herd with natural ease.

The crackle of static broke through the tense atmosphere. "Darius!" Brooklynn's voice cut through the walkie-talkie, urgent but broken.

"Brooklynn? Brooklynn?" Darius frantically pressed the talk button, shaking the device in frustration. "Ugh! Must have broken during the fight."

The air suddenly grew thick with tension as the Ankylosaurus herd moved with surprising synchronization, forming a living wall of armored bodies. Through the morning mist, the dreaded silhouette of the Scorpius Rex emerged. "Bumpy, watch out!" Ben's voice cracked with fear.

Darius grabbed Ben's arm, holding him back. "You can't help her. But they might be able to. Herds protect their young."

The scene unfolded like a prehistoric ballet – as the Scorpius Rex approached with predatory grace, the older Ankylosauruses shifted their massive bodies, creating an impenetrable barrier around Bumpy and Rocky. Their clubbed tails rose in unison, a deadly warning to the approaching threat. The Scorpius Rex launched itself forward, but the synchronized swing of multiple armored tails met its attack. It lashed out with its barbed tail, the weapons glancing harmlessly off the Ankylosauruses' natural armor. After several failed attempts, the predator retreated into the jungle, its frustrated shriek echoing through the trees.

Relief flooded through the group, tension draining from their bodies. Darius and Ben's high-five echoed in the clearing. Ben turned toward Vera, a celebratory smile dying on his lips as their eyes met, the awkwardness between them almost palpable.

Vera's brow furrowed in thought. "Wait, if Brooklynn just ran into the Scorpius Rex, and now it's all the way over here, it's gotta be the fastest dinosaur ever."

Ben's gaze lingered on Bumpy, his expression softening with understanding and resignation. "The herd can protect Bumpy in a way I can't," he admitted quietly. "She belongs with them. I have to let her go."

"You're being a good friend. You're doing what's best for her," Darius said, his voice gentle with empathy.

Ben's eyes hardened slightly. "So, why can't you do that for me? Staying here is what's best for me."

Vera slipped away from the boys' conversation, making her way toward the herd. Her fingers traced along Rocky's rough hide, finding comfort in the familiar texture. Her mind churned with conflicting emotions, each thought more painful than the last.

The betrayal of Ben's decision cut deep. Her supposed best friend choosing to abandon their friendship so easily. Her throat tightened as she remembered their shared moments, now tainted by the realization that perhaps they had meant more to her than to him. The weight of feeling foolish for investing so much in their friendship pressed heavily on her heart.

"Vera," Darius's voice cut through her thoughts like a knife. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah," she managed, her voice slightly thick with emotion. She wrapped her arms around Rocky's neck one final time, squeezing tight. "I'm gonna miss you Roca." The dinosaur's gentle bellow rumbled through her chest, a farewell that brought tears to her eyes.

The rising sun painted the jungle in shades of gold as the trio raced through the forest, their footsteps thundering against the packed earth. Hope turned to despair as they burst onto the dock, finding nothing but empty water before them. "We're too late," Darius's words fell heavily in the morning air.

A bone-chilling screech pierced the dawn, freezing them in place. The Scorpius Rex materialized from the dense foliage like a nightmare, its calculating gaze fixing upon them. As they backed away, their shoulders pressed against rough bark – trapped. The sound of branches snapping behind them heralded an even greater horror – a second Scorpius Rex emerging from the shadows.

Vera's voice came out barely above a whisper, terror evident in every syllable: "There's two of them.".

𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴！
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Sorry this chapter took so long school started again and I've been recovering from the flu and strep throat. I plan to post another chapter today to make up for lost time. Anyway thank you for all the love!

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©-CRETACEOUS , 2025