-Chapter 3-
"Well that was close," Connor said amusedly as they lay in a heap among the pine needles, catching their breath.
Abby scoffed and pushed him off her leg as Danny struggled to his feet. "Right," he said, "We should head back to the Future anomaly before it closes on us as well."
Abby stood and helped Connor pull himself up. He had bumped his bad ankle in the fall, and used it as an excuse to put an arm around Abby's shoulders. He smiled to himself as her arm circled his waist supportively. "Any idea which direction that's in?" he asked Danny.
"It should be that way," Abby said, pointing.
Danny took another look around the clearing and nodded. "I think you're right."
They set off through the trees at a moderate pace, alert and wary of their primitive surroundings. Each of them silently wondered what they would do if the anomaly was closed when they reached it.
They hadn't been walking for long when a chirping sound from a nearby thatch of bushes caught Abby's attention.
"Shh," she said as she froze, squeezing Connor's side so he would stop with her. She pointed toward the bushes. "I heard something in there."
Danny motioned for them to stay where they were and stepped toward where the sound had come from. He cautiously approached the thicket, grabbing a short, broad stick off the ground. He raised it like a club and lifted a branch on the nearest bush to peer underneath.
There was a sudden rustling and a shrill chirp as a bird-like creature ran out between Danny's legs. He jumped and raised the makeshift club over his head, turning to see where the animal had gone. It was very fast, and quickly ran past the three humans to hide behind a tree.
"I think that was some sort of dromaeosaurid," Connor said, staring after the creature. "A raptor."
"Raptor?" Danny said, "That thing's no bigger than a chicken."
"Maybe it's a baby," Abby suggested.
Connor released her shoulders and moved quietly towards the creature's hiding place. "No, it's fully grown. Might be an Archaeopteryx, though the wings didn't look quite as developed and there weren't enough feathers." He knelt on the ground a few feet from the tree. "Abby, hand me some food." She took off her backpack and knelt beside Connor, passing him a packet of trail mix. He shook some peanuts and raisons into his hand, holding it out toward the creature.
A tiny, lizard-like nose peaked around the tree and quickly pulled back in. Connor leaned forward, reaching his cupped hand after the retreating nose. "C'mon, little fella," he coaxed.
"We really don't have time for this," Danny said impatiently.
Connor looked over his shoulder at the older man. "This could be an undiscovered species," he said, "If I can just get a better look at it…" While his head was turned, the little nose reappeared and sniffed at his hand. Sharp little teeth suddenly pierced the skin and Connor jumped back with a yelp. He grasped the side of his hand where blood was already oozing from the wound and scooted backward on the ground.
The raptor crept around the edge of the tree, sniffing toward Connor. The course feathers along its back and shoulders rose, its two sickle claws twitching above the ground. Abby grabbed Connor's arm and helped him to his feet as the creature advanced.
"Let's go," she said, but it was too late.
o0o
Becker was scanning the perimeter from the top floor of the secured building when he heard a small clatter on the deserted street below him. He quickly looked toward where the sound had come from, but saw nothing. Continuing to watch the street for movement, he quietly issued orders through his headset for the soldiers stationed directly below him to report. When there was no answer, he motioned for one of the other men to take his place and headed downstairs.
All the doors to the outside had been securely bolted and most of the rooms with windows had been blocked off, save a few that were being used for surveillance. Everything seemed to be in order until Becker reached the hallway that was under the room he'd been in. The hall was narrow, with closets on either side, and ended with a door leading to the side yard. The two men who had been stationed there were gone and the door was open, a trail of blood glistening in the pale light on the floor.
Becker raised his weapon and slowly approached the doorway. He put his shoulder to the frame and peered around both sides into the haze. There was no sign of his men or of what had taken them. Keeping one finger on the trigger, he reached his free hand around and felt for the door. When he had pulled it halfway closed, there was a sudden jerk from the other side and he let go to aim his gun as a huge, snarling Predator swung into view. It launched itself at Becker and he was thrown back into the hall, accompanied by a loud crack and bright flash as the gun fired.
He hit the floor hard and his rifle was pinned against his chest as the Predator landed heavily on top of him. Several of his men came running around the corner, alerted by the sound of the shot. Two of them pulled him out from under the motionless creature, which had been killed instantly by Becker's pointblank shot.
Another soldier ran past them to close and bolt the door, and a fourth searched the closets. They were empty.
"Looks like there was only one," the soldier said.
"It was a scout." Becker brushed off the medic that was trying to flash a light in his eyes and stood. "It was testing our defenses; seeing how difficult it would be to break our perimeter. There are probably others out there watching our every move. This is their territory and they'll defend it just like any animal. They'll be gathering somewhere now. And then they'll attack."
o0o
The bushes behind them rattled and a dozen more of the tiny raptors emerged, hissing and tasting the blood on the air.
Abby picked up Connor's walking stick and held it defensively in front of them. They slowly backed towards Danny, who was a few meters away in the direction of the Future anomaly. Suddenly the detector in Connor's pocket started beeping. "The anomaly! It's open. Danny-" He moved so Danny could get the detector out of his jacket since he was still clutching his wounded hand.
"It's not far," Danny said as he examined the detector. "'Bout two-thirds a kilometer that way." He nodded in the general direction they were headed.
The raptors had been advancing slowly, and used this momentary distraction to suddenly surge forward as a group, heading straight for Connor. When the lead dinosaur was two meters away, it jumped, arching through the air at five times its height with claws extended. Abby swung the walking stick and smacked the creature like a baseball.
"Run!" she shouted, and pushed Connor ahead of her. Even if he hadn't twisted his ankle, he still would not have been able to outrun the raptors. The animals were small, but Connor had no doubt they could do just as much damage as a 3 ½ meter Deinonychus if given the chance. "We can't outrun them!" he yelled in desperation.
The miniature theropods split off and surrounded their prey, biting at legs and jumping on backpacks as Abby and Danny swung wildly. Every now and then they weren't quick enough and felt surprisingly powerful jaws clamp down on a wrist or ankle.
They moved as fast as they could toward the anomaly, but hadn't made it far when Abby lost her balance and fell. The raptors were on her before Connor and Danny had time to react, screeching in anticipation of their meal.
"Abby!" Connor yelled as he ran toward her. Picking up the walking stick where she'd dropped it, he began swinging at the swarming creatures. Abby had rolled into a ball with her legs tucked under her and her head between her knees, ducking in cover as the raptors tore at her clothes, searching for a way in to the soft flesh.
Danny was soon at her side as well, brandishing his club. As he bent over to grab at a raptor that was trying to bite Abby's neck, another one leapt over her and straight toward his face. As he leaned back in alarm and threw up a defensive arm, there was a sudden deafening blast as the creature jerked violently midair and fell senselessly to the ground.
Danny looked over his shoulder and saw Becker running toward them, gun in hand, with a small troop of soldiers at his heels. "Everyone plug your ears!" He yelled, and pulled out a stun grenade. Danny obeyed as he jumped out of Becker's way, looking to make sure Connor and Abby had heard him too. Becker pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the swarm of raptors. The earth seemed to shake as it detonated, causing Danny's vision to blur and go black.