A.N. Alright guys. Here it is, the third to last chapter of the story. Just got back from a long break and my brain is all charged up. Just a quick note, the reason why I'm saying it's third to last is because there is the next chapter and then the epilogue. Also, we don't own anything except the characters we created. Enjoy!
Soundtrack: Sunshine (Adagio in D Minor) by John Murphy/Mountain of Hope by Marc Gorrias
Chris turned the knob on his lamp, the light now illuminating his room. While it was filled with clothes (especially on the floor) and some basic necessities, it was nearly barren. The beddings remained on the mattress but there were three large backpacks (and one suitcase) right next to the door. The walls that used to have pictures of maps and some of his favorite posters were taken down with a few scant bits of tape left.
The reason for his room being near empty was due to the fact that the four months was nearly up. Nobody knew at what time when the Time Poles would synchronize with the present, but they knew it would happen any time now, assuming there aren't any unplanned delays whatsoever. And for that, everyone in the park started getting ready. After all, it was his idea to begin with.
Packing was a much needed break after what happened the day before. The war was over, but a lot of work needed to be done; work that not everyone was peachy keen with. Repairs were something they were tolerable with. Clearing the valley of the corpses...not so much. The task already brought up some uncomfortable feelings amongst the populace.
As soon as he pressed the record button on his phone, he did a quick brush of his hair with his fingers and heaved a sigh. On the screen, he was a mess. His red pajama shirt was all crumpled up after grabbing it from the floor. One part of his face had two bandaid strips because of the scratch he has on his cheek. His nose had a small scratch on the bridge too, no doubt also obtained from the battle.
Like the rest of his team, he too kept a video journal of his own.
"This is probably going to be my last entry," he tiredly started. "Given what's happened recently and the fact that our time here is almost up, assuming we were right about the four months being almost over, I don't feel like making any more entries. I think I speak for everyone when I say we're lucky to be alive."
The man took a breath and continued. "We drove the tyrannosaurs away, but we've suffered a lot of losses. The staff is still in one piece, but it's the Residents that suffered the most. Most of the casualties came from the large herds and the opposing team. The ones that lived in the park the longest miraculously made it though. I should be happy that we won...but we lost folks along the way; folks that if I knew them better, maybe we could have been friends."
"As for the staff, there's been talk of taking some time away from the park, a few even discussing leaving entirely. Can't really blame them. They've approached me and Veran about it but we told them they'll need to speak to Nigel when we get back. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them get some kind of PTSD. Poor Veran is worried about them spilling the beans about the park once they leave. While that is a valid worry, that's something we'll worry about when we get there. My guess is even if they did spill, no one would believe them. And I'm willing to bet Nigel and the organization the park is under will do something for compensation, that is assuming said organization is kept in the dark about the park. Honestly, it's only a matter of time before everything comes out in the open."
The man rubbed his tired, weary eyes. Knowing full well that the future was still unwritten, he had to admit he has the same concerns as most of the staff in the park. God, he was starting to act like his boss. He really got to know some of the Residents and he would not be pleased if that fear came true.
"But enough about that," he said, quickly changing the subject. He moved onto another thing he wanted to touch base with; something he wanted to get off his chest for a while now. "So the department heads and myself have decided to hold a ceremony tonight to honor the dead, both friend and foe alike. According to the boss, it's the least we can do to help ease the grief. She's leading the ceremony. I never really took her as a spiritual person. Then again, it's after arriving here that I really started to get to know her and the rest of my team."
"This 'Crew' that we're so aptly named now, I had my doubts. I did butt my head a few times, especially with Veran. She was a bossy bitch," he could not help but smirk a bit. "Daisy was a nervous wreck. Ellis was a clumsy wuss. And Veran-lite, after what's happened I guess she is part of the group; well she was pretty reserved about herself, kind of like me. Honestly, I feel like we're still going to have some problems moving forward."
"But I guess after getting to know them," Chris said in a more positive light, "and muscling through all the problems, they're really not a bad bunch. I guess you can say we all learned something from our stay here. Daisy got more confident. Ellis accepted his flaws. Veran-lite opened up to everyone and showed true loyalty. And Veran...well I guess is a combination of all of that. As for myself, I guess I did open up a bit. Despite our quirks, we do make a good team. Maybe we are cut out for the roles we're about to get. I guess in a way, we are friends now."
The man rubbed his eyes, satisfied he finally got that out of him. He still found it astonishing his team made it out in one piece, more or less bruised in some places. Sure they all had their flaws, but somehow, this place and time resolved that. They came to terms with them. They accepted each other. All their fears and stresses were smoothed out like a flat bed of ice, so to speak.
"Anyway, I'd better get going. Ceremony is about to start in a bit. I'll see you on the other side."
With a final wave and a smile, he hit the button on his phone, ending the recording. Pretty sure that it was his final one he would ever make there, he turned off his device and stored it away in one of his bags. His leader may give him hell if it were some other day and he did not have his phone active, but for tonight, he knew she wouldn't mind. He wanted some time to be away from technology. Especially with what was coming in a bit.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The aftermath of the war was gut-wrenching. Despite the fight being over, the air was thick with sorrow as everyone battled a new war of emotions. This was made particularly clear when the Residents, Alaskan natives, and humans worked together with repairing the damages...and cleaning the valley.
It was hard having to move all the corpses, friend and foe alike. Seeing your own friend or family dead before your eyes and having to burn them brought about uncomfortable feelings (burning the bodies seemed easier than burying them). Many of those that volunteered would retreat to the park to grieve after one encounter; they had to be replaced by others who were more than willing to get the job done. And it was also gut-wrenching to all when there were those who wanted to see the dead one last time to say their final goodbyes before they were taken away.
This was also an opportunity for Hazel to start with the Twins' and Rascal's punishment. They needed to help out with clearing the valley and they needed to pitch in regardless. It was best to start now. Then when they arrive home, they would have other chores to work with. Begrudgingly, they had to agree to it.
The other problem was the carnivores present. With the fight now over, they were wanting to replenish their strength. And with so many corpses littering the field, they viewed this as an opportunity, albeit disturbing to most. Having to burn the corpses would be a waste to those wanting to get their nourishment. After a brief yet hard debate with her team, Hazel decided to allow such an action, but under the condition they move the corpses out of the way so as to avoid having witnesses see them "devour their loved ones".
As it turns out, there is a belief among the carnivores that devouring a corpse means "obtaining the prey's strength". Even in death, they contribute to the circle of life. With the predator renewed with the sustenance, they can hunt again and keep the balance in check. And so, their bones will return to the earth so they can continue the cycle. In human scientific terms, it does make sense.
For many of the carnivores, this was something that should be mundane. Food was food. There are also instances in nature where cannibalism occurs. While many creatures would never stoop to that level, there are carnivores that could jump on that opportunity. Heck, there are even fossil records of such disturbing events. But for the carnivores that were Park Residents, that was a different matter. They purposely avoided getting at those that lived in the Park, for obvious reasons. Much of the park's carnivores ate away at the enemies' bodies, but for the Rex Twins and Tundrous' family, they chose not to partake in the gruesome feast. As soon as they finished moving the bodies, they retired from the scene. Neither of them were able to catch prey that night. The events that happened recently weighed heavily on their minds.
The other matter the park needed to deal with was just as pressing; coping with the grief. The newly named Crew thought about that and came up with a solution. Well, to be exact, it was Hazel's idea. She suggested the park hold a memorial service to help with the loss. Since the Residents most likely did not have a form of funeral rites and they desperately needed something to ease the pain, it was a good way to cope. The park sent out that announcement as soon as it was decided. Following that were brief instructions on remaining quiet during the ceremony; more specifically, refraining from interrupting the event.
Many had gathered outside the park hub, the valley now more or less cleared of the dead. Despite the valley playing host to a gorey spectacle, no foreign predators came to grab at the spoils. The presence of the larger carnivores were enough to deter them, if there were any. The biting cold of the night bit at their bodies. The ground had the bones of the fallen as well as blood stains like dark paint splashes. The smell of burning flesh, and ash hung in the air, a reminder of the task the carnivores had done that day. The scent caused them to shudder at the thought. For Hazel, she hoped the ceremony would ease them.
The Crew were situated right in front of the semicircle audience. Each of them held a candle planted on a metal saucer. The rest of the staff members that volunteered did the same, the lights illuminating the mass. Their friends and partners gathered in front of them, awaiting the start of the service. Hazel volunteered to lead the service, seeing as she went through something similar in the past. That and she was the most prepared for it.
She took one furtive look at the group. Her mother and sister were at the very front, both of them holding each other close in a tight embrace. Families huddled close and cried quietly. Others just remained quiet or looked at the ground, trying to hide their grief. Some just stood there, looking uncomfortable at the new circumstance; either they were not used to this sort of thing or they just wanted to leave. Either way, it was time to get this done. Her own heart was as heavy as a stone too.
"Hello everyone," she began, getting their attention. She had to speak a little louder in a way to hear her. Being so far from the hub, she had no way to amplify her voice. "Thank you all for coming. I know this is a hard time right now. Given what's happened, life as we know it will never be the same. I also know that this will be new to most of you, but myself and my team felt that this was completely necessary."
"Everything in life has a meaning. This we all know. The aspect of life and death is no different. For us humans, we take that concept seriously. As such, we often take it into a spiritual sense. And so, we felt that holding a memorial service, a funeral for the dead, will help with the grief."
That last sentence caused some in the crowd to start crying. No longer could they hold back tears. Hazel too felt her eyes start to water. For their sake, she held back her tears and sorrow. She needed to be strong to carry this out.
"Tonight is a night of mourning and of remembrance. We are here to acknowledge a very terrible loss. The loss of many lives during an unforgiving war in an unforgiving landscape. Our battles are won. Right has overcome wrong. We drove out the enemy. We saved lives. Many live to see another day. But...our efforts came at a price. While many of us did indeed survive, countless more have perished these passed seasons. Too many unfulfilled lives are gone. This in turn, has caused much sorrow."
"The number of those dead...is insurmountable. We feel that mentioning it wouldn't matter. The number is...too high. We also feel that while so many have died, it would be unfair if we did not do something...to remember them by."
She took a brief pause to clear her throat and to allow those in the audience to process her words. "You see, back in our time, in the future, many humans have a belief. When we die, our spirits, our souls, our very beings, go somewhere else. Our bodies are left behind, our loved ones cannot see us or feel us, or even hear us. But they are still here. In our belief, the dead go to a place, another paradise where they can watch over us."
Hazel looked up at the sky. When she began to talk, many in the audience followed her direction. Above them was a clear night sky. So many stars twinkled in the dark tapestry without a care in the world. It was a beautiful night despite what happened earlier.
"Some believe they watch us from up above," the woman explained, creating murmurs of confusion. "But...they are also with us."
Looking back at them, she met the gazes of those who stopped looking up. "I know this sounds confusing, but please, bear with me. You see, when someone dies, they are not truly gone. They are still very much alive, in our hearts, and in our memories. As odd as that sounds, it is true in a way. If we remember them, then we can keep them alive. We can tell stories about them, to our friends, our family. And for that, death isn't the end. But...if we forget them, and we refuse to acknowledge them, then they truly are gone."
"Let us remember those that have passed," Hazel emphasized slowly. "Let's keep their spirits alive by telling their stories. When we think about them, let's not think of how they passed. Let's remember who they once were, in the happy and the sad times."
"They are still here, with us, even now. Yes, we can mourn them. We can miss them. There is nothing wrong with that," she shook her head, her face giving a soft reassurance. "But we should also be happy for them. Their light, their love, and their friendship have guided us to where we are now, who we are now. So it would be right if we celebrate their lives."
Hazel then brought her own candle up front to show off its warm glow. The tiny flame danced in the soft wind yet did not go out. The little light refused to back down to the elements, a tiny metaphor to a spirit undying.
"Right now, the staff members hold what we humans call candles. They are little bits of fire that have been tamed, both to give light and a little warmth. They are much like the bonfires we erected before to provide that same light and heat. But tonight, they take on a different meaning. Tonight, these candles will represent the light and love of our fallen. And they mirror the stars above, where our friends and family now watch us. As above where the twinkling lights are, so below where we mirror them."
With that said, the Residents there looked closely at the flames, each of the staff members having to cope with being surrounded by so many large bodies and eyes. Most of which had to instruct them to be careful so as to not accidentally blow them out.
"It would also not do them justice if we did not go further in honoring them," Hazel said, preserving the staff from the huge attention they were getting to little more than a few glances. "The department heads and myself have decided upon our return to our time, we will erect a memorial to honor them. To those who do not know what a memorial is, it is a physical symbol that represents a certain event dedicating an individual, or many individuals. The memorial will stand, a sentinel against time, so countless generations can learn of its story."
"No matter what happens from here on out, do not fear the unknown. We are all in this together. We are here for each other. Let us honor the dead, and rebuild what was lost. Tonight, we will mourn and remember the lost. Tomorrow, let's make them proud and live our lives to the fullest."
Finally, Hazel proceeded on the service with her own touch. Giving the candle over to Chris, who agreeably took it on his other hand, the woman reached into her pocket and pulled out the ocarina her family gave her last Christmas. The ocarina was already prepped for the cold so the pitch already sounded fine. That and Hazel took a few minutes to practice a song or two. She took off her gloves, stored them in her pockets, and began to play. She needed as much precision as she could to play properly.
The service needed music, so Hazel provided it. She played a couple of tunes on her ocarina that were somber and slow, most were songs the staff were familiar with. All of which were played by ear or memorized. Granted they were all improvised too.
The mysterious sound of the ocarina brought about a sense of calm to the mass. It was like the wind was singing to them. It did not bring death. It did not bring war. It brought peace and a sense of unity. The instrument was a mystery to the Residents. Save for those that were present in the cave during the snowstorm, the tiny singing stone was a marvel to them. But it was the songs that worked the magic.
For the staff members that knew the songs, especially the ones with lyrics, they sang along with the tune or hummed with it. The ocarina was among the most beautiful sounding instruments in the world, and yet not many know about it. It was a true shame it did not get a lot of notoriety, save for famous media sensations which gave it credit.
Hazel swayed with the music. Every emotion she bottled up inside since the beginning of their stay to now was poured into the notes. The melodies were heavily emphasized, all with crescendos, slow diminuendos, accents, everything that was needed in the songs. She gave them everything. It was the most emotional thing she had ever done in music, even more so than when she sang in that Christmas party.
As she played, she remembered each and every hardship they all went through. She remembered the faces of those that died in her life and in this place. She even remembered those now gone that tested her before and all the enemies she and her companions faced. This memorial was secretly for them too. They faced trials of their own and came from a world that was against them in every corner. Hazel prayed the songs would reach to where they are now. Perhaps they would give them more peace.
Of all the songs she played, it was her final one that she played most fervently; Into the West by Annie Lennox. In her mind, the lyrics played. And her heart leaped when some of the staff members that were familiar with the tune started to sing with her.
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
The night is falling
You have come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All Souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say
We have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West
By the time the last song ended, she quickly parted from the instrument. Her breaths were heavy and her hands were trembling. Hazel quickly stored her instrument away and brought her gloves out. But as she did, she started to cry. Streams of droplets fell from her eyes and she could do no more to contain her sorrow. The woman covered her face with her hands and tried to wipe them all away.
She felt a heavy hand fall on her shoulder. Looking over, she saw Chris give her a miniscule smile, the candles he carried were resting on the ground. The fact that he softened up for her was quite a surprise. Following him came a hug from Daisy, who also cried and hid her face in her leader's coat. Ellis joined in, bringing the group together and holding back tears of his own. Finally, the last to join was Hanna, who tore away from her mother to give comfort to her sister and her new friends. Quickly joining them were the rest of their extended friend circle, the last to join being Hazel's own mother, who followed her youngest child's example. For that moment, being surrounded by her friends and family, everything felt right again.
The service overall went for no more than an hour and a half. No more words were brought up from Hazel. When the crowd separated, there was talk among them about stories of those that passed. There were smiles, some laughs, and still some crying. There were some that stayed to stare at the stars, the park leader's words clinging close to their hearts. However, it seemed the service did the trick.
To show some respect to the aftermath of the memorial, Hazel and the rest of the leaders chose to stay a little longer until many of the crowd left for the night. The vets that were present when the fallen took their last breath also stayed to comfort the families and friends that were dear to them. Included with them was Oros' family, which Daisy approached to provide her condolences.
As soon as she was able (and after receiving gratitude and support from her friends), Hazel proceeded on to take care of a few matters. The first of which involved a certain trio of Alaskan dinosaurs. Hearing it from passerby earlier, they were rather unsure of what to do next now that things have been resolved here. Making her way through the crowd, and after asking some for their whereabouts, she found them situated in a far corner of the park. Conversing with them were the younglings Talin, Alden, Charon, and Tirech.
Hazel had heard that the Edmontosaurus youngling had been hanging with that group often. So it was no surprise he would be with them now. And since Ilana and Forrest were there too, it made things easier.
"Ah there you guys are. I've been looking for you. You guys doing okay?"
Her call got their attention. Taking in their appearances, they looked rather tired as they too had their time for grieving.
"Hello Miss Hazel," the Scottish accented elder greeted softly. "Yes, we are doing alright. Though, we are doing our best with getting through this situation. I have seen many deaths in my life, but never one like this."
"Yeah, we all stayed in the caves just to be safe. I'm glad it's all over and we survived, but I feel for everyone when they lost a lot," Forrest chimed in, both relieved and a little traumatized.
Talin piped up in an effort to cheer them up. "Hey, we're still here. We're still alive. Isn't that what matters?"
The nodosaur sighed and relented. "Yes, I suppose so."
"Well I sure am glad my daddy made it back," said Tirech in his usual nasally voice. "A little beaten up, but it seemed like he had fun. Well, except when we were losing; he had some trouble but muscled through and came back! Though I can't help but think the whole thing made him tired."
Charon rolled her eyes at the youngling's innocent idiocy. "You idiot, of course he's tired. And I'm pretty sure what he saw kind of traumatized him. Well, then again, this your dad Sarge. So who knows."
The normally shy Alden spoke up next, his timid nature softening the vocal Parasaurolophus. "Well, I'm glad my parents are okay. Dad got hurt bad, but I'm glad he's going to be healed."
"Don't worry kiddo," Hazel gazed at him softly, "your dad is going to be fine."
There was truth in those words. Aladar was going to be okay. While he was present at the ceremony, he had to be supported by his mate, Neera, due to his injuries and fatigue. His legs may have been spared but the wounds made moving a little difficult for him. His back had been nearly covered by bandages, with a few wrapped around his neck base. During the ceremony, Hazel would glance over at Aladar, just to see him crane his neck over Neera, both to comfort her and for physical support. It was going to take a few weeks for him to heal from all that.
The thought of Aladar's (and Patchi and anyone else wounded now that she thought about it) treatment made her remember her reason for approaching them. Gathering her thoughts, she broadcasted her offer to the Alaskan trio.
"Ilana, Forrest, and Scar, I know you three have been through a lot. Especially since you lost your home previously. Given the situation that everyone went through, I want to extend an invitation to you."
The Edmontonia perked at the sudden mention. "An invitation, dearie?"
The human nodded. "Come live with us in Prehistoric Park."
The three of them looked at each other, astonished at such an offer. The children with them whispered excitedly, their faces beaming at the possibility of them coming along.
Taking this as a cue, Hazel continued on with her explanation. "There's plenty of space to go around there and enough food to support everyone. There, you won't have to worry about predators. You've seen Temporary Park, we all get along. And the rexes that helped us out are choosing to come along too; they all promised not to hunt anybody since we'll feed them. You can live in peace. But, I'm not forcing you. If you don't want to come, I understand."
"A new home?" Forrest barked inquisitively. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Beats having to run around and look for one."
"I wouldn't mind a change of scenery," the rustic elder mused. "As long as there's some moss for me to eat."
Hazel smiled. Of course there was moss at the park. You just needed to know where to look. With the answers coming from the two satisfying her, that only left little Scar. The poor youngster had no herd of his own and his family died with them. If these two were leaving, he would have no one. Judging by him being quiet and looking down on the ground as well as the contemplative look he was giving, he was at a crossroads now.
"Scar? What do you think?"
Before he could make a reply, his new friends came in to sway his decision.
"Come with us, Scar," Talin practically begged.
"Yeah! Our herd can help look after you," his brother joined in. "And by herd, I'm not just referring to our herd. Everyone is going to take care of you."
"Yeah come on! I still need to show you some new moves my dad taught me!" the little ceratopsian hopped from side to side as he took on a defensive stance.
Charon huffed in a Tsundere manner, but not as prominent as Scorpio. "You know, from the short time we spent together, you really did become part of the group. But it's up to you on what you want to do."
The hadrosaur eyed all of the younglings, then went on to the older denizens. They really were eager to leave this place. He had nowhere else to go. His own herd was decimated in that landslide. Plus, he did make a lot of new friends during his stay here. He would be the only one of his kind in that place, but it was better than having nobody else with him. Or, judging from the stories he heard about that place, maybe the park will help him.
His mind now made up, he gave Hazel his answer.
"Well, it's not like I have anywhere else to go. And, I would be pretty torn up without you guys. Alright, I'll go with you."
The children cheered, all of them huddling close to the larger ornithopod into a tight embrace. The adults there looked on with approval. A new home where they could go to escape this place was refreshing indeed.
Satisfied of their answer, Hazel bid them farewell for the night and proceeded to her next target. Or in this case, targets. For this one, she had a good feeling on where they would be. One of their members was crippled and was stationed at the other side of the park, where they designated the "infirmary zone" since the real infirmary was smashed by a tyrannosaur during the battle. Her suspicions were confirmed when she asked a staff member on their whereabouts.
As she made her way through the park, she came across the pack of Troodons that took shelter in the park. They were heading towards Rascal's enclosure to settle in for the night. Rascal had been regaling them of tales of his previous antics with the humans in Prehistoric Park, just minor pranks he pulled. Hazel worried that his mischievous influence would rub off on them but was soon abated when the female, Eira, gave him a short scolding about it. Despite being Patch's mate, she acted more like an older, more authoritative sibling in that moment. Sure, most of his pranks were harmless, but Rascal desperately needed some reins on his antics. They have a tendency to go too far.
Hazel approached them, asked them how they were doing (which they answered they were faring rather well since they were still in one piece), asked if Rascal was behaving well (much to Rascal's irritation and the response from the male alpha was the bright-colored predator was a work in progress), and then proceeded on to ask about living in the park. The smaller predators were amiable to such an aspect, especially since they already consider Rascal as one of them. However, she made them promise that if they do decide to come along, they must abide by the park's rules, including not raiding the food storage and treating everyone with respect. The whole pack immediately agreed to that, becoming the newest additions to the park's roster. Rascal was not too pleased about him getting a damper on his antics, but Hazel could tell he was secretly happy he would not be alone.
With that out of the way, Hazel departed from the meeting and arrived at her destination. There were several injured Residents there, all wrapped in bandages in several parts of their bodies or had their wounds showing due to recent ointment applications. Some of them were hooked up to IVs and other medical support technology. This group was rather large, and if it had just a few more members, it could have easily taken over the entire park perimeter.
Hazel approached a vet to ask for directions, but not before inquiring about the state of the patients. They were all stable, according to the female employee. Nobody has died so that was a good sign. When she parted from the vet, she made her way to the very back of the infirmary. There, she found who she was looking for.
Hazel knew Scowler put up quite a fight during the war. He did give his opponents a run for their money. He did get his fair share of injuries too as much of his body was wrapped up in bandages. But seeing that he was wearing a splint and hearing it was in a really bad shape was worrisome. Temporary Park was already in short supply on materials for bone surgeries. Unless he could be taken someplace where he could receive the proper medical treatment, he may never walk properly again. Prehistoric Park had all the needed supplies to repair his leg. They succeeded in helping Woodstock's son, Clearwater with his condition. They could do the same for him.
However, Scowler was not her only reason for being there. Around him were his family. Specifically, Patchi and Juniper and their children. All of them converged around the downed warrior as he did his best to get into a more comfortable sleeping position. Much like Aladar, Patchi was covered in several bandages as well, his mate always glancing at him to make sure he was standing.
"You guys doing okay?" she brought their attention to her.
"Yeah, but after what we all went through, it's going to take a while to bounce back from this. The wounds we'll recover from, but everything else...," Patchi replied downtrodden.
"I know. We all suffered losses."
"Thank you for holding that...ceremony," the alpha started. "Much of my herd was lost prior to this war and we didn't have anything like that to...well you know. We all needed it."
"You're welcome. It was the least we could do for everyone."
"Well, I'm just glad our family is still together," Juniper purred when she nudged her head slightly against his neck in affection.
"Yeah yeah, we're all still here," Scowler said dismissively in order to brush off the excess family affection. He then grimaced as he tried to move his leg, which was a futile attempt as it merely lifted off the ground just by a few inches before slumping back. "But my leg! I can't walk properly with my leg like this!"
"Easy, Uncle Scowler!" Taru, the alphas' only son, pleaded. "You'll make it worse!"
The grumpy uncle gave in and relaxed. As of now, until he gets the proper treatment, he is as helpless as a newborn hatchling. It was concerning, that was for sure, but it was also a humorous picture. The mighty and proud Scowler looked like a sour human patient really eager to get out of the hospital. He will be fine; Hazel had faith in modern technology. If the vets back home were able to fix Clearwater, they should be able to fix Scowler's.
"Thank you, for helping us," Hazel said, quickly changing the subject. "We couldn't have won this war if it weren't for you and your herd."
"Heh, likewise," Patchi nodded in appreciation. "And thank you for helping me with getting myself straight."
"Well, you helped me too. I was about to end up like you before, then you helped me."
"So are we even?"
The woman laughed, her outburst waking some of the patients nearby. "Ha! More than even."
Hazel brought her hand up and edged closer to Patchi until she touched his knob nose. The Pachyrhinosaurus had never had his face touched by human hands before. The feeling of soft fingers on his hide was a new sensation. Yet, it was the tiny strokes that felt quite nice to him. The two of them stared at each other, their eyes locked in silent gratitude. Hazel then brought her other hand up and gestured Juniper to come forth. The female alpha received the same treatment too.
Parting from the moment, Hazel took a step back and composed herself, her hands now back at her sides. "Anyway, now that this is all over, I wanted to talk to you about something we discussed before, back when we first met."
The family stared at her, awaiting whatever it was she had to say.
"Our offer still stands on you and your herd coming back with us to live in our home. There's plenty of space and resources for more than two herds. And as you've seen and heard, the predators live in relative peace with us. No one is forcing you to come, this is your choice. So, I just want to ask you all, would you like to come with us to live in the park?"
The family looked at each other, silently astounded that the topic had returned to them. The children whispered amongst themselves. They seemed excited by the proposal, however, the final decision fell on the adults. As for Scowler, if they do decide to come, he would receive the best treatment possible. If not, Hazel will have the vets here do their best to get him back on his feet. Whatever the case, it was up to them.
This herd had some things to consider and the answer may not come outright tonight. Aware of the circumstances, Hazel bade them goodnight and left them in their thoughts. She was not expecting an answer immediately, but she hoped a good night's sleep or another day would be enough for them.
She did not have to wait that long though. The following morning, when Hazel was on her way to get some breakfast, she got her answer.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Prehistoric Park...present day
It had been a long two years for Prehistoric Park. A lot of work had been done since the day most of their number left for the Mesozoic era. Much had changed. More amenities were added. Enclosures were expanded with more props and resources. In all hindsight, if it weren't for the enclosures, the Park looked more like a small village. The trees and vegetation had grown back (for the most part). While the trees in the areas that were mostly affected were still in the process of growing back to their natural glory, the lower-lying vegetation were already flourishing. The park expanding outside its normal borders also meant more vegetation the herds could have access to.
While the park had finished its renovation, there was an air of boredom in the staff. Many were already impatient on when the period would end. The newer recruits were so anxious they started demanding answers about the park; most of which were on verge of quitting. It took quite a lot of convincing from the department leaders (especially Nigel) to convince them to stay. However if nothing new comes up in the next few weeks, they were just going to leave. There were a few employees that did retire. They were more seasoned individuals and they got compensation upon their resignation upon the condition they stay quiet about the park. Not that they would reveal it as they were trusted people that worked with the park for a while. Their reasons for leaving were varied, ranging from early retirement to wanting to get a change of scenery.
For Nigel, getting his attention onto park duties served as a good distraction from his main worry; Temporary Park. Ever since that day two years ago, he had not gotten a single message from Hazel. He kept a strong face and believed things were alright on the other side, but the worry was still there. How were Hazel and the other Team Leads coping without their guidance? How were the Residents? Did they have enough resources? Did something go wrong?
One of his theories was their knowledge on the temporal disconnect was slightly off. His phone and Hazel's phone were of the same technology, therefore in a way, they relied on the Time Poles. It was like their cellular hotspot for communication across time. Since they were disconnected, they were unable to receive each other's messages (which are most likely still in temporal limbo). At least, that's what he believed.
The park leader hoped for the best. Hazel had her friends and her team there. All he could do was make sure things were ready by the time they got back. However, there were times when he really wanted to reactivate the Time Poles and go back in time, distortion be damned. Doing that however would also mean he would be lost in some random time period and it would take ages for him to find his way to Temporary Park. It was the father-figure in him that thought that, and as the days went on, he found it a lot harder to keep it at bay. His friends were there to support him, so at least he had them.
Nigel had been looking through some financial reports and possible rescue ideas atop the holding pens when the Time Poles came to life. The familiar whirring and the bright light made his heart stop. The papers he held fell on the ground, scattering like leaves. It had been so long since he saw a sight like this.
Almost immediately, he rushed down the nearest ladder and approached the temporal anomaly. He stood several feet away to allow whatever large creature was going to arrive. The staff members behind him scrambled up as well, dropping everything they were doing to witness what was about to come. The newer recruits stared in awe at the alien rift, many questions were exchanged. The seasoned employees there began to explain everything as a result.
The portal rippled. Nigel took a step back and expected a large creature to come forth. Instead, his eyes were met with a petite woman wearing a short-sleeved purple blouse with a white tank inside and denim shorts. Her shoes were her favorite sneakers.
A weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His pupil was still in one piece. And though he could not explain it, there was something different about her. She seemed more composed than before. Her eyes looked like they had seen much. A lot of things must have happened in the distant past.
"NIGEL!" she exclaimed as she ran up to him and hugged him tightly. The leader returned the gesture. The petite woman had a strong grasp on her, but it was something Nigel welcomed. He was not intent on letting her go...at least not for a while.
Nigel laughed and grinned, the happiest he had been after so long. "Hazel! You're here! You're alright."
"I missed you so much, Nigel," Hazel said, retreating back but still not letting him go. "I'm sorry I didn't send you any messages for a while, but we ran into some snags."
"I know, I know," he replied. "Unfortunately, it seems there was a communication problem due to the temporal disconnect. I'm not sure if any of my messages got to you."
"Come to think of it, I'm not quite sure if you got my messages at all."
"Bah, don't worry about that. You can tell me what happened later, after we're all situated."
"Hazel!"
The new voice made Hazel look to her right. Coming up to her in an eager rush was an ecstatic Suzanne, her hair longer and tied back in a short braid. Bits of white hair were showing in parts of her head. Like the rest of the employees present, she still wore her Prehistoric Park uniform. Hazel wasted no time and hugged her too.
"Suzie!" she cried out. Although that was a nickname her other friends called her, Hazel made an exception this time.
"I'm so happy you're back," the woman began to cry, her hand now stroking the girl's dark hair.
The younger leader sighed, a smile beaming on her face. "It's good to be home."
"Oi, can I get in this hug fest too? Can't forget me now, can you?"
Hazel rolled her eyes as she took upon the form of Bob. His hair had gotten a little whiter over the two years. However, when Hazel came to hug him, he was still pretty strong.
"Hey what about me!? Am I part of this group too? Seriously if you forget me, I'm going to make you regret it."
Looking over her shoulder, Hazel found Marcus looking a little peeved at them. His hair had grown a couple of inches and it looked like he needed a quick trim since he had a small mustache growing. He wore a dark blue polo this time yet still retained his tool belt and khakis. He seemed to be wearing some new sneakers as they were now black and orange.
The woman rolled her eyes and proceeded to hug him. "Of course I wouldn't forget you, you silly dope."
The man let out a quick laugh. "I'm guessing you guys had a fun time in Alaska?"
Hazel's face scrunched a bit at the mention of the word "fun". That was understatement. "Eh...let's just say I think I'd rather just stay in the park for a while. Rest, you know?"
Marcus shrugged, accepting that answer without much issue. "Point taken."
Something caught the woman's attention. She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. At the same time, Nigel felt a rumble in his pocket too. The two of them went bug-eyed when they looked at their screens on what appeared. Staring at each other for a moment, they let out a chuckle.
"Hey, I just got all of your messages," Hazel giggled.
Nigel let out a mirthful laugh. "Me too. That temporal separation did mess with our phone connection. It's going to take me a while to read all of these."
"Like a whole day!"
Suddenly, the portal shimmered again. This time, some more humans came up. Actually, it was the Crew themselves. The senior members came and met up with them, greeting them their own way. Suzanne hugged Daisy, Marcus ruffled his little brother's hair and then was taken into a tight hug, and Chris received a tight hand squeeze on his shoulder. This was not only a greeting; it was a form of congratulations for making it back.
Following behind the team leaders came more employees from the portal. Some walked to savor the feel of the 21st century landscape. Others just ran towards the gathered group of employees to greet them, all while giving their higher ups a wave and a greeting. The reunion was filled with excitement, relief, and exhaustion. Already, they were exchanging stories.
The portal shimmered again. Instead of more employees coming through, several fast-running dinosaurs broke through the temporal barrier, all of them being guided by a couple of employees on jeeps towards the outskirts of the park. Included in them were the Troodons (led by Rascal) and several Tyrannosaurs who were very eager to explore every nook and cranny of their new home.
"Wait, I don't recognize them," Nigel pointed out.
Hazel turned and gave him a smirk. "We made a few new friends while we were there. Oh and before I forget, the Rex Twins and Rascal are grounded."
"Grounded?" he inquired, now interested. "Why?"
"We'll explain later."
The reactions that followed with their arrival were expected. The rookies that worked in the present just watched in awe (or fainted as that happened to some) as more and more dinosaurs came through. Giant sauropods, Martha and Mikiya, Bruno's Tribe, heck even the Sabers were among them. The bugs were all being hauled away in special containers with built-in air filters, since they can't handle the atmosphere of the 21st century. The lemurs there were hitching a ride on the larger dinosaurs' backs. Those with wings flew over them all and flew around the valley, relishing in the warm African sun. While their appearance in the park was a welcoming sight, the employees who were not aware of the events that took place could not help but wonder at why some of the returning Residents had gauze on them.
Coming up with them to join with the Crew were their partners, or companions now, including Flia who landed right next to Hazel to stand with her. Even the little Protoceratops sisters were there as they ran circles around the whole group and nuzzled them all on their legs before retreating to Chris' side. They all received quick greetings.
Off to the side, the Crew and their mentors saw the reunion of the elephants with Martha and Mikiya. Mujaji came running up to her calf and quickly brought her close to her with her trunk, her child doing the same. The mammoth received several gentle strokes from her adopted sisters' trunks.
"Mama!" Mikiya nuzzled her mother against her chest affectionately.
"Mikiya! My Mikiya!" cried the overjoyed pachyderm.
"Don't worry, sister," the mammoth rumbled with a smile. "I kept her safe."
"Thank you, sister," the matriarch said, her trunk stroking the mammoth's face.
As the icing on the cake in the moment, the leading female elephant turned her attention back to her daughter. Everyone expected to give the little calf an earful for stowing away and making her mother worry for two years. Instead, they heard a rumble of laughter and then a phrase that sent them all laughing, except for Mikiya.
"Haha you are so grounded!" Mikiya grimaced and gulped.
With the staff members there to witness the amusing reunion, they were treated to yet another one. This time, it was from the Park's Smilodons. Said Sabers came running up to Suzanne, who embraced them all before kneeling down to the cubs. For those that had not seen the cubs for quite some time, they did grow significantly during their long stay. Suzanne, laughing, had a hard time keeping her balance as the children nearly knocked her over.
"I'm so happy to see you all again," she said, her hands still on the cubs' heads.
"Us too," Sabrina purred. "It's so good to be under the warm sun again as well."
"I take it things in prehistoric Alaska went well?"
The male saber grimaced a little, spiking curiosity in the vet. "Well we could get to the specifics about that and say we had a cra-"
A quick growl from Sabrina cut him off. Her eyes fell back on the vet, followed by an uplifting expression. "We'll explain about that later."
"Okay...and it seems like you both did well with looking after the cubs."
"I suppose you can say that...and then some," her gaze fell on her recently accepted children. "Children, do you both have something to say?"
The cubs nodded and backed away, their faces becoming serious.
"Ms. Suzanne?" Tai started. "We uh...we know the truth."
The woman raised her brows. Clearly a lot has happened while they were away.
Following Tai was his twin sister, who expanded on the explanation. "We know you looked after us because of what happened to Mama. And, we want to say, thank you for taking care of us. Ms. Sabrina is our mama, but you're a mama to us too. And for that, you're part of our family."
Suzanne, stunned that the cubs know about their heritage and reasons for their upbringing, was brought to tears. She hugged them both tightly, as if they were her own children. To her, it was another weight lifted off her shoulders. No longer does she have to hide their true heritage from them. Now, they could all live with the truth.
"Thank you. I'm happy to be part of it."
Smiling that things with the Sabers were settled, both Hazel and Nigel found themselves looking back at the portal. While Residents and newcomers were still coming through (both tired and happy at the feel of their familiar stomping grounds), it was not long until they were all approached by Aladar and Neera. Aladar was still clad in many bandages and had a limp in his gait, something that got the more experienced staff members concerned.
"Aladar and Neera. I'm glad you're both alright," Nigel greeted them, his eyes still darting at the wounds Aladar sustained.
"Nigel...We never thought we'd see you all again," Aladar returned the greeting.
"What on earth happened? Why are you like this?" he asked, raising a hand at him.
Neera let out a weary chuckle. "It's a long story."
"Well one we are very eager to hear about."
The portal shimmered again. Their attention returning to it, they saw Baylene, Url, and Eema step through. Unharmed and full of energy (despite their old age), they approached the group and exchanged their greetings. The senior members were all assaulted by Url as he gave them all a tongue bath, much to the distaste of Marcus as he just took a shower.
It was who came up next that surprised them all, minus those who just arrived. Approaching them were two Pachyrhinosaurs and six Tyrannosaurs. Coming through the portal were more Pachyrhinosaurs, all of them taking in their new surroundings and being directed towards the park outskirts by the employees that came with them. Besides more of the Residents that came from this time, there were two other additions with them; an Edmontonia and a Parksosaurus. They too were taking everything in with stride.
The two ceratopsians consisted of a male and a female, with the male sporting more of an orange-brown hide and the female, besides having daintier horns, was pale-colored. Like Aladar, the male Pachyrhinosaur had several bandages and a limp. The four larger tyrannosaurs, Rexes as they were all informed by Chris, sported feathers and were quite colorful, just not to the extent of the Therizinosaurs. The smaller predators were introduced as Gorgosaurs, one of them having blue scales and the other being crimson and black.
"Hey, there you are. You made it," said Aladar.
"Wow, this warm air is going to take some getting used to," the female ceratopsian breathed in the fresh air. "But in a weird way, it does feel nice. I can see why you guys prefer this place over the frigid cold."
"It's alright, I suppose," the large, bull feathered rex shook his head and body, the feathers dancing with the quick movements. "But yes, it will take some getting used to."
"I kind of like this warm weather. It beats freezing my toes off," one of the younger rexes, who turned out to be male, piped up. His comment caused the group around them to chuckle.
Taking this as her cue, Hazel moved back so she faced the group of humans, specifically towards the staff members. "Everyone, this is Patchi and Juniper, the leaders of the Alaskan Pachyrhinosaurus herd. With them is the Alaskan rex family: Tundrous, Sitka, and their kids, Aurora and Borealis. The two Gorgosaurs are Azura and her aunt, Anaeth. They along with their herds have decided to come and live here with us. Guys, meet the staff members of Prehistoric Park."
"Nice to meet you all," Juniper greeted with a nod. Following suit was her mate, who did the same.
"What she said. Hazel said you'd be okay with us being here, but we kind of want to hear it from you."
Nigel laughed in reply at the warrior's comment. "Of course you can stay here. The more the merrier. I'm Nigel, the leader of the park."
The female Tyrannosaurus rex leaned down closer until her muzzle was his height. Nigel stood still, smelling the musk coming off of the feathered predator while the huntress took a few good whiffs of him. The smell of blood and flesh meant she had recently hunted. "Ah, so this is the human that mentored Hazel."
"Heh, we heard a bit about you," Patchi cocked his head in a knowing manner. "Hazel's a good kid. You raised her right."
The man approached the ceratopsian and gently placed a hand on the knob-nose. The dinosaur rumbled at the feel of fingers stroking him again. "Thank you. And I was not alone. We all raised her," he told him.
"Oh yeah, I want to mention too since I kind of forgot earlier," Hazel chimed in, interrupting the moment, "It's the Troodon pack that arrived. Rascal's a part of it now."
The confirmation of the arrival of the Troodons as well as the news of Rascal being part of it put the senior staff members on edge, especially Marcus. Such reactions caused the Crew to snicker a little.
Bob, now a little annoyed at the new development, raised his hands up before slapping them on his sides. "Oh wonderful, how many are we talking about? Ten? Twenty? I was hoping this time away would have taught him some manners. We already can't stand one of him and I don't think we can handle more."
"Relax Bob," Chris rolled his eyes in amusement, "believe it or not, he's learned a thing or two during our stay there."
The head keeper's eyes widened. "He what?"
"Oh yeah. Turns out that pack was the very thing he needed. They actually keep him on a leash, so to speak. They're being supervised while they explore their new home. I wouldn't worry about them."
"So those guys are really going to teach him some manners?" an equally skeptical Marcus asked.
"For the most part, but they're still mischievous so you may need to watch your back. Causing mischief may be a Troodon thing."
"Great…" Bob and Marcus said at the same time. That single phrase made the men there grimace, with only the girls looking on and giggling.
Their attention went back to the portal as they all saw two figures approach them. While the Residents that were coming through had already started to trickle down, there were still quite a lot of them. The ones that had just joined their little group were not Residents, but two humans. Beth and Hanna Veran were starting to take their coats off as the warmer climate was starting to make them sweat. Unlike Hazel, who decided to muscle through the cold weather despite herself freezing, they decided to keep their coats on until they went through. Nigel hugged them both as soon as they finished getting down to their warm weather outfits.
"Beth and Hanna, I'm so pleased to see you're okay."
Once he tore away, the younger Veran said something quick before doing an action that caused a few head's to turn.
"Ditto. Now if you'll excuse me…" the girl knelt down on the ground. "Oh YES! 21st century dirt! I missed you!" she exclaimed as she started kissing it, her lips now becoming dirty. Such action had resulted in laughs erupting around her.
Beth, recovered from the spectacle and forcing her daughter to compose herself, turned her attention to the park leader. "Nigel, I am so sorry for what happened before. It was...unbecoming of us. Any judgements we had about the park have been resolved. I will admit, I was skeptical about this place when we found it, but seeing through all the quirks, it's not so bad."
"I'm glad you see it that way. Speaking of which, about your being missing for two years," the mention of their absence in this time made them tense up. For Hazel, she kept an air of indifference as she listened in on the fate of her mother and sister.
"The senior members and myself had to pull a few strings with your institutions in regards to your absence. First, your house was looked after since we sent someone over to check up on it every now and then. Second, we had to tell them you both went on internships with me to study 'animal behaviors'. Our reasons were clear-cut, you wanted to 'expand your horizons'. Hanna, your school was welcome to that approach on the condition that you make up on your two years missing. As for Beth, well, let's just say your's was quite a case. They did accept your absence, due to me writing an extensive letter and me convincing them to give you administrative leave, but they only gave you a few months. I tried to talk them out of it, but I'm afraid they've already terminated you from their company. There was nothing I could do."
The news of their fate gave Hazel some mixed feelings. While she was glad that Hanna could still continue her education, albeit still making up for it, her mother did not have the same luxury. Now unemployed, she wondered about how her mother was going to bounce back from this. It was going to take a while for her to find a job of her caliber. She also had doubts that her former company would take her back after being missing for so long.
Surprisingly, her mother waved it off dismissively. "That's alright, Nigel. I'll accept that as my resignation."
Nigel's eyes went wide. "What? You're just going to let it go?"
She nodded. Hazel instinctually went to her mother to hug her. Her mother's hands fell on her two daughters and brought them close for a hug. "Yes. I figured I'd like to spend more time with my girls. And, if possible, if there are any open positions here in the park, I hope you don't mind if I take a look into them."
The revelation did take him aback, but the park leader immediately mused her idea with an answer that was pleasing to their ears. "Well it just so happens that our former communications manager had decided to retire a few weeks back. We were searching for someone to fill in that role. The job will require you to monitor and organize relations to and from the secret sanctuary. If you're interested-"
"Yes! Yes please!" the Veran mother jumped at the chance. "My major was in communications, so it's a good fit for me."
Nigel smiled, happy to hear of her interest. "If that's the case, let's talk more about it later in my office."
"Um, Nigel?" voiced Hanna with the same confidence as her mother. "For my school, I think I'd like to spend more time with my family too. Well, more like, still keep up with school but I want to be around them more. And I'm also thinking of working with the park too. I don't really feel like going to a public school, if you get my drift."
His brow went up, intrigued at the proposition. "Homeschool?"
"Something like that, yeah."
"Well, we'll need to work something out then. I'm sure there's someone here who can be your tutor, or your mother can do that if she is willing. We can also set you up with a job here, but it's going to be hard work."
Hanna replied with a giggle. "Nigel, after what we went through in Temporary Park, I think I can handle anything."
Satisfied with the answer, Nigel nodded and returned his attention to Hazel and her team. "Speaking of Temporary Park, what exactly happened back there?"
Suddenly, the moment was broken when an employee came charging through the crowd, which now consisted of the staff members that remained as some went to check up on the Residents. His expression was of extreme confusion and he had a hard time getting words out. He was pointing at all of the various Residents that were now in the park. The portal, which had just finished allowing the last Residents and the supply vehicles through, shrank into nothingness.
The young man was good looking, at least in Hazel's eyes. He had dark hair and tan skin plus a muscular physique. His features seemed strong and masculine yet his face had a soft approach to it, almost like an eloquent gentleman, with a suave accent to boot. His outfit was like everyone else, the Prehistoric Park uniform. The only difference was he wore a brown vest with several pockets. Oddly enough, the stammering he was doing and the confused reaction seemed amusing to Hazel...and kind of cute in a way.
"Holy...what the fuck?" he pointed at Aladar, then Kerato, Espantos, the Sabers, and the rest of the prehistoric denizens that were there. "Is that a...are they...uh that's a giant bird, wooly rhino...and those big things are...with the tails and the teeth and the-"
Nigel chuckled at the amusing sight. "Yes Daniel! Those are the Sabers, our Resident Elasmotherium and Terror Bird, and everyone else that's not them are dinosaurs."
Daniel, one of the newest members of the staff, blinked not once, not twice, but three times. He shook his head as if he did not hear it right. "Uh uh uh...you said...Residents?"
"Yes. They all live here. We had to move them to our Temporary Facility in Late Cretaceous Alaska while construction goes on here."
Once again, he stammered. Right now, he looked like he was some kind of confused lunatic. "Erm...time travel...dinosaurs...giant mammals...?"
It was at this point he was starting to look a little pale. Taking the initiative, Marcus approached up and placed his hands on his shoulders to keep him still. "Hey it's okay, dude. Just take deep breaths. Nice and slowly."
"It's impossible!"
"Yes but they're all here," Nigel once again confirmed.
Gently pushing Marcus out of the way, the man approached the park leader and pointed at him. "You...my...explain...oh…"
The stammering was one thing, but the man suddenly fainting face flat was something else. The people around him, Hazel included, either watched in silence or had a hard time containing their laughter. Daisy and Suzanne, both having training in human medical treatment, went to him and checked on his vitals. Thankfully, they announced he was normal.
Nigel returned his attention to the group and shrugged his shoulders while containing his amusement. "That went well."
With the reunions now complete and the unloading starting, the Crew were requested to meet in Nigel's office within the next hour. Having just arrived, they were given some time to recuperate a bit before they give their superiors the rundown of the events that occurred on the other side. No doubt they were about to be judged on their performance.
This brought about a sense of uneasiness. They were not exactly stellar while they were there. And neither of them knew how to explain the issue of the temporal distortion properly or how they would react to the war Temporary Park just had. Hazel informed them she would explain that to them. She just hoped that her explanations would cut it. Despite their flaws at running the park and with the problems that arose, they did succeed in getting everyone (mostly everyone) back home.
One thing was for certain; they were all nervous, Ellis especially. Hazel had to reassure him he was going to be okay, but that crestfallen expression he gave was not a good sign in her eyes. She made a note to approach him after the meeting. No doubt he was not feeling too great about his contribution to the anomaly.
After a hearty welcome-back meal in the newly renovated cafe, the Crew gathered their wits and made their way to Nigel's office for their grading.