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Eve laughed again, then reluctantly moved away so Momma could get up. She was glad that huge dinosaur felt comfortable enough to lie down and talk to them. And if the new people wanted to meet a nice dinosaur, then she was it. Not that the others weren't nice, but they weren't Momma.

Finally, Eve led the group away. The Stones had cameras out and were snapping away. Shane was still sore from the attack yesterday, but was watching about curiously. He had a lot of respect for Eve with what she could do. And Owen watched Eve. He had a thought about her being the most dangerous creature on this island. She could literally get the animals to turn on them if she so willed. They did seem to have a good start though, so perhaps this wouldn't be too bad. The issue was...she seemed to have blocked things out. She hadn't mentioned Lucy once, and they knew Lucy had died. She hadn't mentioned her parents. Nothing personal actually. And he knew they'd have to face that before Eve left. But for now, they would just go along with her and see what happened, record whatever they needed, then get the hell out of there before...yeah, before all hell broke loose.

Now they were walking along a forested path. Emma asked aloud, "What kind of dinosaurs go through here a lot?"

Eve jumped at the sound of a human voice in the quiet of the forest. She still wasn't used to that. But she did turn to answer, "All kinds. Big. Small."

Emma thought that was awfully abrupt. But then again, actually rather expected from an almost feral young woman who had been speaking from her head for so long. She tried again though, "Do you have different names for the dinosaurs than the real thing?"

Again, Eve looked at her surprised. Somehow, she liked this woman though. So, she thought about it before replying, "Well, the raptors call themselves long snouts. They like their new name of 'raptors' though. They call the Ankylosaurus clubtails, and I've taken to calling them that too. The Rex is a Roarer. They call them Rex now."

The older woman nodded, "So you've sort of exchanged some names for others. The raptors call some by your names, you call some by their names. Am I getting that right?"

Eve smiled, "Yes, that's pretty much it. I still haven't met all the dinosaurs, so I'm not sure what names they all have. But it doesn't matter."

Emma's husband, Kyle, now put a question to Eve, seeing as she was willing to talk now. He smiled in a friendly manner, and said, "So with this ability of yours...how does that work for hunting?"

Everyone paid close attention but did so in a way that Eve wouldn't feel threatened. Eve had a thoughtful look...it was the first time anyone had really asked about this ability... but tried to explain, "Well I can ignore them. I mean, imagine for a moment that you hear every animal, every bird going by. It would drive you mad. It nearly did me when I was a kid and no one believed me. Eventually I was quiet about it. I didn't want people to think I had schizophrenia. Actually I thought was hearing ghosts for a while. But that's not what you asked. I can tune out animals when I want to. So that means when I'm hunting, I can't hear them. That makes it so I don't have an unfair advantage." Eve was now a bit out of breath from all that talking. It was the most she had said for the last few months.

But Kyle had a warm smile for her in encouragement. She was getting used to them. That was good. Perhaps things would be okay.

They had traveled on a bit further when Eve stopped suddenly and turned her head to left. They waited to see if whatever she had heard was dangerous or not. Now everyone heard it. It was a tiny squalling sound. "What is that?" asked Shane warily. He didn't want to get gored again, with good reason.

Eve thought to them out of habit, It's a young one. But then she realized no one had heard her. So she repeated it aloud, quietly.

Owen was quick to ask, "A young what?" But Eve shrugged. She didn't know. But she was going to find out. She took the lead with Owen, and the others followed behind. Owen looked for tracks, and Eve called out silently. Between them both, they found a something trembling behind a bush.

Eve made a soft quarking noise of curiosity. The trembling stopped as the creature froze. Clearly not a Compy. She reached out again, Hello? We won't hurt you. Come on out.

She jumped back a bit as she got emotions projected at her. It was mostly fear mixed with a hint of curiosity. But the fear was more don't eat me and where's my mother. She knew that the baby must be small if it couldn't make proper sentences yet. Again, she told it, It's okay. I won't eat you. If you're lost, we can help you find your family.

Finally it made a low howl/squeak sound. Then it moved, and both Eve and Owen backed away to give it room. It emerged, and Emma made a happy little gasp. It was a baby Stegosaurus. A very small baby stegosaurus. Clearly it was just out of the nest, and must have wandered in the wrong direction.

Eve howled to it, now that she knew the proper species, and it calmed down. She spoke to it silently and told the group aloud, "It's a little female. Poor thing got lost."

Shane came up hesitantly, his veterinarian instincts kicking in. "Is it hurt? Is it okay?"

Shrugging at him, Eve replied, "You can look at her, I guess. But I think she's fine. Just bewildered."

Now the vet took the opportunity to actually handle a dinosaur for the first time in his life. He didn't count Broke Fang jumping on him. Which still hurt, by the way, but Emma had been doing a good job keeping the wounds clean and preventing infection. Shane was very gentle with the small baby, touching her calmly. Eve watched him closely, ready to jump in and protect the baby if needed. But Shane really was good with her. The little one made a surprised noise as his fingers ran over her scales, but then decided she liked it after all. She nosed him curiously, then tried to snuggle in, as best as a baby dinosaur knew how. This drew smiles from everyone watching, and Shane gave a soft laugh of amazement. "She's okay. Not hurt at all. She's...beautiful." Again, he stroked her warm scales, tweaking the tiny little nubs that would become sails one day. She liked that, and squeak howled at him.

Eve gave a small smile. "Her family can't be that far. Let me scout around and see if I can find them." Nodding to Shane, she said, "I think you're the babysitter. You stay with her."

Owen laughed now and smirked at the vet. The little stegosaurus really had taken a shine to the veterinarian. But he told Eve, "I'll go with you. The others can stay here where it's safe. It is safe, isn't it?"

Shrugging, she looked at him. The message was clear. As safe as anywhere else. Owen sighed and looked at his team. They were cooing at the baby, but Kyle tipped him a nod. He'd watch everyone. Owen was satisfied with that, and turned to follow Eve.

They walked for a while, Eve calling out now and then mentally. No stegos this direction. They turned to another direction where Eve thought they might be. She knew of a certain plant that they liked to eat and thought they might be there at this time of day. It was near a riverbed where they would be able to drink as well.

Owen was the first to see something shivering the bushes. Eve wasn't paying attention because she was calling again and listening for only stego calls back. He poked Eve and pointed, "That isn't another baby, is it?"

Snapping her attention to where he was pointing, Eve focused. She shook her head and said, "No, that's only a Compy." She was about to dismiss it when she turned again, "Hold on. There's a lot more than one." Now she tilted her head and appeared to be snapping annoyedly at them. Owen watched carefully. One or two compys were harmless. But a whole group of them… well, he had heard stories. Were they about to get attacked? He noted Eve stepping in front of him as a Compy finally made its appearance. She was animated as she talked to it. Now another showed up. And another.

She growled at them to see if that would dissuade them, and told Owen, "Back away. Slowly."

Owen did not disobey and took a few steps back. That got the small dinosaurs' attention, but Eve was in the way. "What do they want?"

Not looking up from the leader in front of her, Eve told him quietly, "They won't attack me. But they do want to attack you. I'm not going to be able to hold them off much longer. When I say run, you run like hell. And get up a tree. Got it?"

Cursing under his breath, Owen braced himself to run. He turned his head slowly and tried to pick a tree. But he knew the closest ones would be poor choices. Either they were too easy and the compys would be up them too, or they were too hard to climb. Which meant he was screwed unless he found the right tree. While running. For his life. Well… that wouldn't be the first time.

Eve tried to distract the Compys but they were distracted by Owen. Eventually she knew they would ignore her. She'd always disliked the little things. Eve paused for the exact right time, then almost casually said aloud, "Run."

Owen blinked once then was off and running. Eve, although she knew she wouldn't be touched, ran with him. She couldn't help it… the pack instinct was strong. And then the squeaking and chattering of the Compys behind spurred them both on. Owen's eyes darted around as he ran for his life. Finally, he spotted a likely tree. He flung himself on it, scampering up as fast as he could. The tree was slippery, and his hands and feet kept losing grip, but adrenaline spurred him up.

Eve was right behind him, concerned that the small dinos would have redirected aggression. She managed to scramble up to a sturdy branch with Owen, and they sat there, panting. Then they stared down at the very annoyed Compys, who soon realized the futility of climbing. Finally, they gave up.

Still gasping, Owen got out, "Thanks." Eve smiled at him and gave him a no problem hand movement. She laid her head again at the tree trunk. That had been close. She knew there was a reason she hated those tiny dinosaurs! Give her a Rex, any day. At least the one she had met seemed reasonable.

A tap on Eve's shoulder got her attention. Owen was staring at something in the clearing he could just see. Then he laughed. "Eve? Tell me that isn't what we're looking for," he said with a smile and pointing at some unmistakable sails.

She stared too, then laughed as she agreed, "Yeah, those are stegos alright!" She grinned and shrugged playfully as he replied, "So… all we had to do was climb a tree? Really?"

As soon as Eve deemed it safe, they scampered down the tree and into the clearing. The buck stegosaurus remembered Eve and threatened her with his tail, Two legger! Danger!

Oh for goodness' sake. I am a friend. I found something you might be looking for. Aren't you missing a baby?

The male was insistent, and Owen automatically drew Eve back. He didn't like the look in the buck's eyes and the way he quivered his spiked tail. But then a small female stepped forward. She had only one word, Baby?

Eying the male, Eve responded to the female, Yes! We found a very small spiketail. Is she yours?

She gave a mournful howl, Baby gone. Baby dead. She began to move away sadly when Eve impulsively ran to her, right under the startled male's nose. She wrapped her hands on the dinosaur's face, stroking her softly. No… she's not dead. I promise. We found her. She's safe. Come and get her.

"Eve…" Owen warned quietly. She looked up to see a very pissed off male stegosaurus. But then the female stepped in between them. She told him in no uncertain terms that she was going with Eve to find her baby. He argued that leaving the herd would be dangerous. Finally, Eve grinned to Owen, saying, "It seems girls can win here, even in dinosaurs. She's coming with us."

Willow, for that was the female's name, huffed one more time at him before turning to the humans. They understood: she was ready to be taken to her little one. So off they started for the group they had left behind.

After some time, they found them. Shane still had the baby on his lap, stroking her. The Stones had taken a gazillion pictures it seemed. Suddenly the baby perked up and squalled. She was answered by a howl. Even and Owen soon appeared with a large dinosaur behind them. Willow howled again, but this time it was obvious that she was ecstatically happy. And the little one felt the same. She scrambled off Shane's lap and ran as best she could to her mother. Emma took a few more pictures as the two sniffed, then nuzzled each other.

Willow gave a soft grunt in thanks, and the baby squeaked. Eve listened a moment then turned to Shane. "Willow says the baby hasn't been named yet. Would you like to have the honours?"

A grin split his face, and he was allowed to fondly pat the little one again. After thinking a moment, he said, "Fern. Her name is Fern."

Willow snorted in happy agreement and poked her baby...Fern. They again called to the group in unison before turning to go. Soon, the group could see neither Willow or Fern.

Eve sighed happily. Smiling at them, she said, "Well, I think we've had enough excitement for one day. Let's go back to the cave and eat something. I don't know about you, but I'm starving after all that."

They had a good laugh, and made their way back. It had been exhilarating helping a young dinosaur, even if it had been fraught with danger.

Momma saw them go by, and wondered at them. Broke Fang also wondered too. And they both had the same thought: perhaps Eve belonged with her own kind.