Characters: Connor, Abby, Danny Quinn, Nick, and Corporal Baumann
Spoilers: None
A/N: I own nothing of "Primeval" that belongs to Impossible Pictures and I make no money from this, clearly. This is a crossover between "Primeval" and "The Bunker" and no one will have needed to see "The Bunker" to understand this. And no, I didn't just write this on a whim.
Summary: After weaving through a labyrinth of anomalies to get back to the present, Connor, Nick, and Abby are thrown into WWII-Germany where they meet Danny's German doppleganger, who seems to know Connor. With night falling in the Pleistocene, it is a mad race across a mile and a half of woods with wolves on the team's trail.
III. Wolves
Fear leapt through Danny and he tried to cry out a warning to his team but found himself silenced by the majesty of the creature. What did it want from them? With the stag focused directly on him, Danny could feel its gaze piercing the very core of his soul. A tinge of panic shot through Danny's nerves but he did not move. Neither did the deer. It continued to stare at the man, unflinching in its cold serenity.
"Guys…" Danny started to call out softly. He tried to raise his voice but the moment the creature started to move Danny found himself speechless. Swallowing hard, Danny tried to back up but found that he could only take one shaky step. No one could hear him.
The deer advanced on Danny, its steps careful and calculated as though it had been pre-determined. Danny fought the invisible bounds that held him rooted to the spot. Again he tried to call for help but found his voice subdued. The deer was now only five feet from him. The megafauna suddenly turned its head sharply over its right shoulder, forcing Danny to follow its gaze.
To his horror, small shadows were moving rapidly between the trees. There was only one creature that still hunted in packs in this area, wolves. Forgetting the giant deer, Danny moved quickly back towards the group. It wasn't hard to locate them through Connor's constant chatter. For the moment, Connor's lack of noise discipline was a great asset to him. Sliding in step with them, Danny calmly ushered them closer to Nick.
The Scot looked curiously at Danny as the man kept looking across him from side to side. Smirking a little, Nick asked, "Forget to ask the deer if they wanted to come with you?"
"Wolves," Danny breathed firmly, his eyes immediately scanning the area behind him. Nothing seemed to be lurking there.
The humor left Nick's expression and he quickened his pace. "There is a clearing up here. From there it is only a mile until we reach the anomaly and that is if we take the most direct route."
"Well guv', I'd say that would be the best way to handle this." Danny glanced over his shoulder and saw Connor lift his head and greet him with a cheerful smile. So much Danny wanted to give him the reassuring smile that he had offered earlier, but things were rapidly changing and Danny couldn't raise any encouragement for the kid. Looking back to Nick, Danny saw that the woods had begun to clear and the field drew nearer. Danny inquired, "Would it doing any good if we ran?"
"Predators will chase things that run," Nick responded calmly, his own words finding a way to settle his anxious nerves. If it wasn't one concern it was another. The wolves had been lingering in his mind but the fear of losing the anomaly seemed more pressing at the time. Now, Nick wasn't sure if they could reach the anomaly without being eaten. "We'd do better to stand together as a group. We move as one, but we move quickly."
"You hear that, guys?" Danny inquired, looking back at Abby and Connor. He saw that Connor's face was growing paler by the moment. Immediately Danny glanced around the area. They were at the clearing now and not a creature was in sight.
"It's so quiet," Abby remarked under her breath. Connor resisted taking hold of her hand. As Danny would protect them both, Connor would watch over Abby.
Turning to the group, Nick directed them, "Here's what we're going to do, we have to take the most direct route to the anomaly that we can."
"Won't the wolves just lock onto our position that much faster?" Abby inquired.
"They might, but if we keep moving, we might be able to beat them to the anomaly. Once we get there, I'm going to go first to make sure that nothing is waiting for us on the other side."
"Why?" Connor inquired as Nick began to trot across the snow-covered field. "Wait, Cutter… what could be waiting on the other side?"
"Don't worry about that now," said Abby as she moved past Connor. "Just think about how nice it will be being someplace warmer than this! And do keep up will you!"
Connor struggled forward, his foot catching every so often in the snow. By his side was Danny, ready to quickly pick the youth up in case he went down. They were in the middle of the clearing now and still no sign of the wolves. But the unmistakable feeling of being watched sent a cold knot of fear into Danny's stomach. Looking to Connor, Danny gave him an encouraging pat on his back and told him, "It's not too far now Connor, you can do it."
The weakened young man nodded his head and smiled gratefully at Danny. They continued at this pace and constantly kept checking their surroundings. Out in the open, the fading light of the sun could clearly be seen behind the hills. But this provided little reassurance in an easy journey. When they reached the forest, Nick continued taking point, positioning Abby directly behind him. Connor stayed close to Abby. No longer was this just about something big and nasty wanting to eat them, it was something small and familiar that wanted to turn them into food.
Bringing up the rear, Danny made sure that nothing escaped his attention. Every piece of snow-covered bush was well-noted in Danny's mind as they trudged onwards. Along them the hill had turned steep to where a cliff formed. An incline that rose just above their heads jutted out closest to the team and it was from there that Danny heard the first snarl. He looked up in time to see a large canine leap from its post.
"Abby, look out!"
The wolf collided with Abby, knocking her into the snow. Nick spun around and faced the wolf as Connor pulled Abby to her feet. Danny quickly closed the gap and faced the woods behind him. The foliage was rustling and the panting of the pack was now audible. A rolling sigh escaped Danny's lips. "What now guv'nor?"
"The only thing we can," Nick replied, watching as the wolf struggled to its feet and limped off into the undergrowth. "We run."
Connor, holding Abby tightly to him, looked bewilderedly at Nick, exclaiming, "But I thought we established that running is a bad idea!"
"Right now, it's the only thing we've got left." Nick took hold of Abby's hand. "Everyone stay very close behind! Don't let them pick us off!"
With that, Nick hastened his steps. Once he was certain that Abby wasn't injured by the wolf's attack, Nick started to run. Abby easily kept up beside him but Nick would not let go of her hand. Sure Connor was a brave fellow but against a wolf, Nick wasn't sure that Connor could properly defend Abby. But if Connor was with Danny, Nick was certain that they would both make it through the anomaly. It was only Abby that Nick had moderate concerns about at the moment.
As the four ran through the forest they could hear the wolves crashing through the undergrowth. Now and again Connor caught a glimpse of fur but it would disappear as quickly as Connor had seen it. A small incline was beginning to appear in the forest and suddenly Nick's voice was heard shouting:
"It's just before that cliff! We're almost there!"
Danny ran alongside Connor, unwilling to leave his side. Adrenaline kept Connor moving, though Danny could see that soon even that energy would be spent. Connor was virtually on his last breath of life but Danny would be damned if he would leave Connor to die in this world! He would carry him through the anomaly if it had to come to that! Forget his pride! Danny wanted the kid to live!
"We've come so far Connor, we're almost--"
A large burly wolf grabbed hold of Danny's ankle and pulled him into the snow. Danny turned on his back and immediately started kicking at the wolf's jaws. A second wolf appeared at the man's head, its saliva greeting Danny with a sickening splash upon his face. Danny froze in his spot. The wolf snarled at him and lunged for his throat but a foot collided with its head.
"Get up Danny!" Connor shouted, grabbing his friend's arm.
Danny struggled to his feet, grimacing as he did so. "Connor, get out of here! The anomaly could be closing and those wolves are going to be back!"
"I'm not leaving you behind!" Connor exclaimed as he threw Danny's arm over his shoulder. He dragged his leader forward, continuing, "It's as you said Danny, we've come so far. We're not giving up! We're both getting there together! Come on!"
Unable to argue against this renewed sense of strength, Danny urged himself forward. His foot sent waves of hot pain through his leg but he paid it no mind. The wolves were back and gaining in number! And then at last the radiant light of the anomaly could be seen through the trees. Connor gave a weak laugh but even that was suddenly cut short when a wolf leapt up at him. The wolf pushed Connor over, sending Danny into a nearby bush. As Danny pulled himself free from the prickly mess he heard Connor scream.
A wolf had locked onto Connor's arm and was viciously biting into it. Connor was kicking madly at the creature but the larger wolf was not wanting to let go. Rage filled Danny and he jumped at the wolf, tackling it into the snow. He yelled at Connor, "Go! Get out of here! Get with the others!"
Connor shakily rose to his feet but the moment he took a step he suddenly collapsed. "Connor!" Danny yelled. He rushed over to Connor and grabbed him. The young man's eyes were barely open and blood covered the right side of his face. In near panic, Danny brushed Connor's cheeks, calling to him repeatedly, "Stay with me Connor! Connor! Come on, I need you to stay with me!"
"Danny, I--" Connor began to roll himself up against his good side. Pain shot through his arm from where the wolf had bitten him. Danny grabbed Connor by the jacket before moving his arm over his shoulder as Connor had earlier done with him.
"You're going to live Connor," Danny spoke firmly, staggering forward with the nearly unconscious youth. "I made a promise, and I am going to keep it Connor. You just hang on okay? Don't quit on me because I'm not quitting on you. Stay strong Connor, please, stay strong."
Connor could barely keep his eyes open. The forest around him seemed to blur into a vast darkness. Howls erupted from nearby. But what kept Connor conscious was the determination to not quit on Danny.
Reaching the anomaly, Nick looked back into the woods. Already the anomaly was beginning to pulse. There wasn't much time left. Looking at Abby, Nick said, "The wolves could have gone into the anomaly. You follow me but stay close behind."
Nodding briskly, Abby swallowed hard and looked behind her. Neither Danny or Connor could be seen in the darkness but the howls of the ravenous wolves filled the freezing night. "Connor!" Abby screamed. She strained her hearing to detect anything that would give her hope. Looking back at Nick, she pleaded, "We should wait for them."
"I'm not going to throw you or anyone else through there with that kind of threat possibly lurking on the other side! We may have found a safe house for the time, but you also know what's going on out there! So stay close behind!"
With that Nick disappeared in the anomaly. Knowing that she had no choice, Abby gave the forest one last wistful glance, shouting, "Connor! Danny! Quickly! It's closing!" Then she too disappeared into the anomaly.
Down only a little ways in the woods, Danny limped forward, speaking encouragingly to Connor, "We're almost there. Just a little further."
The flickering of the anomaly caught Danny's attention. It was beginning to throb like a headache. The wolves seemed to be everywhere. Racing up the slight incline, Danny pushed Connor forward. There was such precious time left! Suddenly amidst the pulsating light, Nick's figure appeared. He looked at Danny and Connor.
"On your own time! Now!" Nick shouted.
A large grey wolf appeared alongside the anomaly and with it, four others. Danny threw Connor at Nick. The startled Connor stared in bewilderment at Danny. The elder man gave a half-hearted smile before turning to the wolves. Connor struggled against Nick's hold, screaming in horror but Nick wasn't about to lose Connor as well and pulled him through the anomaly. But holding onto Connor was a struggle in itself and Nick found that he could no longer hold onto the squirming young adult.
Picking himself up from the grassy ground, Connor lunged at the anomaly but was forced back into the dirt by Nick. The anomaly heaved one last sigh before vanishing and the area fell into a cold abyss of darkness. Connor's wails filled the chilling air until at last his strength left him entirely and he became still on the cold ground.