Alysanne I

The fire crackled and sputtered, throwing red-orange shadows all around the clearing. Dozens of great grey wolves prowled about, carefully avoiding the ring of firelight. Though Alysanne could not see them properly, she sensed their ominous presence. Their bloodthirsty eyes. Their hungry jaws. She shuddered and tried to ignore the beasts.

But try as she might, Alys could not avoid the massive white wolf crouched a few feet away. Winter, this one's called. Leader of the wolf pack, just as his master was the leader of the human one. Alys glanced at Otto Weiss, mainly to avoid his wolf's intense golden glare.

The man was tall and tan, his frame lean yet well-muscled. Otto's face was clean-shaven, but there was something wild and rugged about the way he looked. It's his eyes, Alys realized. Dark and grey, like a storm. . . those are dangerous eyes. Alysanne could feel the hostility radiating from her captor's spiteful glare. Otto's companions were not much better. Joseph, the large black man, loomed ominously in the background, never speaking. The dark giant was large enough to snap her neck with one hand. Even then, Alys preferred his silent scorn over Willam's open hatred. The old man kept glancing at her disdainfully, one wrinkled palm resting upon his pet's scaly head. I'm sorry, Alys wanted to say. She tried to catch his eye, but Willam always turned away whenever she looked at him. However, the old man's pet was more than eager to answer in his stead. The grey lizard growled and snarled whenever she glanced in his direction.

When did I make so many enemies? Alysanne stared around the camp despondently. It had never been her intention to harm the old man, only to use him as leverage against the others. Nor had she meant to lose her anger and attack Otto, but that could not be helped. The man had infuriated her with his impudent remarks and sharp words. Alys sighed. The arrival of the wolves had turned the tides in an instant. Now she found herself a prisoner once again. Alys shook her head to clear the memories away. Let the past stay in the past. Deal with the present and stay strong. If not for yourself, then for Lucy. . .

Otto cleared his throat impatiently. "I asked you a question. For your sakes, I hope you intend on answering it. I won't ask again."

Otto left the question unspoken, but it was on her mind nonetheless. Why did you attack us? Alysanne stared down at her hands, bound together by a length of sturdy twine. Remember what they did to Lucy. Remember what happened. . .

She glanced sideways at Daven, but there was no help to be found. The man seemed to be looking everywhere but at Otto. Alys sighed at her only friend. He was no good with words, and she could not depend on him to help her now. What she said in the next few minutes would decide both their fates. Her words would mean the difference between life and death. The right words. Alys took a deep breath and began.

"You wanted to know why we did it and you'll get your answers. But first hear me out and I'll tell you everything that happened to me after I washed up on this accursed island."

Alysanne recalled her very first day. The details had been scorched into her mind and they came back naturally. Alys launched into her tale as if she had recited it a hundred times before.

Her very first memory was waking up on a smoky beach, with flakes of ash billowing overhead. Great grey clouds blotted out the sun, cloaking the world in darkness. Storm-heaved waves churned against a craggy cliffside, sending up mighty plumes of saltwater with every crash.

Alysanne rolled onto her back, grateful that she had been deposited onto the soft white beach rather than the jagged cliffside. She groaned and sat up. Soggy strands of seaweed clung to her dishevelled blonde hair, and her entire body was coated with brine. She did her best to untangle the errant clumps of slimy weeds while taking in her surroundings. The coast seemed more battlefield than beachfront. Charred trees and piles of ash bordered the shore, the only remains of a mighty fire. A few stubborn strands of smoke still snaked their way into the heavens. Hundreds of animal tracks had been trampled into the sand, while bones and bodies had been littered haphazardly throughout.

What happened here? Alys stood up, swaying on her feet. She got her answer soon enough. A ragged herd of duck-billed lizards carefully picked their way along the shore. The beasts were wide-eyed and visibly distraught, snorting and bellowing as they trampled along the coast. Heavy black clouds of smoke stalked the lizards, creeping ominously across the sky behind them. They're fleeing from a fire, she realized. But not just the flames alone. . .

Alys saw signs of combat everywhere. Pools of dried blood and piles of bones were heaped all along the shore. There had been predators amongst the prey. Alysanne glanced around nervously, but she could not see any carnivores lurking nearby. That doesn't mean they're gone. In the end, she decided it was best to follow the large crested lizards. They seemed harmless enough, and if the group was attacked Alys figured the beasts would present meatier targets than herself.

She counted a dozen duck-billed lizards, both young and old. Some of them eyed Alys wearily as she joined their ranks, but otherwise ignored her. The beasts plodded forward indifferently, unfazed by her presence. Alys travelled with them for a few minutes before curiosity got the better of her. She strayed from the herd to inspect some of the corpses heaped beside the ocean. One of them looked strangely pale. Alys suddenly realized the body belonged to a man. She cautiously crept closer, ready to dart away at any moment.

The man was tall and skinny, with thick brown hair. Alys wouldn't have called him handsome, but he was not hard to look upon either. The castaway wore nothing but a simple loincloth. His skin was pale as milk, suggesting that he had not been in the sun for long. Alys was studying his scrawny frame when he suddenly coughed and sat up.

She immediately vaulted backward and grabbed the closest object she could find; a thick driftwood branch shaped like a cudgel. The man was blinking around in surprise, taking in his surroundings. Their eyes met. Alys immediately clubbed the man on the side of his head and darted away before he had time to react.

The man clutched his reddened cheek, his eyes white with fear. "Y-you hit me!"

"And I'll hit you again if you try anything," she scowled. "What are you doing here?"

The man suddenly seemed very confused. He began to take his surroundings in, as if he had just realized where he was. "I'm lost," he said, incredulous.

Alys rolled her eyes, but did not lower her guard. She was about to reply when a chorus of snarls pierced the air.

The duckbill herd reared up with snorts of alarm as three scarlet lizards sprang out from the jungle. The newcomers were much smaller than the duckbills, but more lean and muscular with rows of sharp teeth lining their deadly jaws. The predators had bright feathers adorning their heads, forearms, backs, and tails. The largest of the trio gave a sharp shriek, and its packmates veered off after the herd.

The duckbills immediately thundered down the beach, their huge hindquarters jostling as they fled from the predators. One of the oldest herbivores began lagging behind the others due to a limp. The three carnivores were quick to notice its weakness. With bloodthirsty snarls, the beasts descended upon the elderly duckbill and began harassing it from every side.

One of the carnivores leapt onto the duckbill's back and slashed its thick neck while another appeared by its flank, claws gleaming. The third followed close behind, snarling and snapping at the herbivore's exposed hindquarters. Miraculously, the duckbill still managed to escape. Bucking its head back, the great lizard dislodged the monster upon its back and the carnivore careened into the ground. The herbivore swung its huge tail and with a mighty crack, another lizard was sprawling in the sand. Seeing its packmates defeated and disoriented, the last predator withdrew from the chase with a frustrated growl. It regrouped with its companions, and the three beasts watched the herd escape.

Alys noticed how scrawny the predators were compared to their prey. It was hard to tell from a distance, but she estimated that the carnivores came up to her chest. Their limbs seemed prone to snap at any moment, and their jaws were not completely proportional to their bodies. That, along with their disorganized hunting tactics led Alys to suspect they were not yet fully grown. The predators appeared to be young juveniles, recently matured and fresh from their parents' nest. Perhaps this had been their very first hunt in the wild. Alysanne was studying the largest of the trio, when it suddenly snapped its head to look her in the eyes.

Alys stumbled away as the other lizards noticed her presence, glaring at her like a cornered meal. She hastily tugged the man to his feet and shoved him toward the jungle. "Run!"

Alys could not say what compelled her to save the man. She could have just as easily left him behind to die, while she escaped unscathed. Yet in the end, Alys found herself sprinting into the jungle, dragging him by the hand.

The trees and shrubs swallowed them up, turning the world into a dark green haze. Roots and saplings kept tangling themselves around her ankles, while serpentine vines ensnared her arms and waist. Alysanne ripped the vegetation away, cursing. From the corner of her eye, she noticed her new companion was not faring much better. The man was evidently still disoriented from his abrupt awakening. He was stumbling around like a drunkard, and seemed to trip on every rock in the rainforest.

A harsh cacophony of snarls echoed through the forest from somewhere behind them. The predators had entered the jungle. Alys risked a glance over her shoulder, but could not see the monsters. She was only a few hundred feet away from the beach, yet it might as well have been a few thousand for all she could see. The dense vegetation concealed most of the coast. . . and the lizards as well.

A sudden flash of movement caught her eye. Alys glanced to the left, just in time to see a crimson shadow dart from one tree to the next. She cursed and quickened her pace, but it was no use. The monster was rapidly gaining ground on her, and she only had a few seconds before it overtook her completely.

An ear-splitting screech pierced the air from her other side, followed by a lean red spectre. Alysanne barely swerved away from the second beast and it went flying past her, claws outstretched. The lizard slammed into a dense tangle of vines and went down thrashing, ensnared by the vegetation. The monster attempted to free itself from the vines, kicking and slashing, but suddenly Alys was past it and she could only hear its desperate snarls echoing from behind.

There was no time to savour the small victory. From the corner of her eyes, Alys noticed the first lizard rapidly approaching from the left. The beast snarled at her and vaulted a dozen feet into the air. She was helpless to do anything but watch as its shadow sailed overhead. . . only to miss her completely. The monster careened into the ground a few feet ahead of her, shaking its head from the impact. The young juvenile had clearly overshot but Alys was grateful that it had missed. She darted past the vicious reptile before it had time to recover.

Alysanne's disheveled hair flew wildly about her shoulders. Her arms and legs were scratched from the bushes, and she had cut her feet on some jagged rocks during the chase. Her head was pounding like a drum and she could taste vomit at the back of her throat. Sweat ran down her forehead, searing her eyes. Alys blinked furiously, struggling to stay conscious.

"This way!" a voice called from somewhere up ahead.

Alys spotted the man waving at her madly. When did he get so far ahead, she thought drowsily. She ran toward him, stumbling in her haste. He was standing between two massive boulders. The gap was barely large enough for a human to squeeze through, let alone their significantly larger assailants.

Alysanne was nearing the passage when pain flared up from the back of her shoulder. It felt as if she had been slashed by three white-hot knives. She whirled around and found herself face to face with the largest of the lizards. There was suddenly no time to think. Her hand was already moving before she had time to register the predator, her instincts taking over. Alys slammed her fist into the monster's face.

There was a mighty crack and wood splinters flew everywhere. Alys had completely forgotten about her driftwood cudgel. Too late now, she thought as the club shattered upon impact. Her attacker went reeling away, more startled than anything else. Alys took advantage of the beast's confusion and squeezed into the narrow crack.

"We won't be s-safe here," someone muttered.

Alys nodded but did not comprehend what the man was saying. She leaned against the stone, breathing heavily. She must have stayed in that position for a few minutes, but it felt as if she had only rested for a few seconds before her companion tugged at her arm timidly.

It took all her willpower to push herself off the stone ledge. Alys was still fighting to regain her breath when she heard a harsh cacophony of snarling and scraping. The click of claws on stone meant the beasts had vaulted above her shelter. The only thing separating her from the monsters was a small cluster of boulders, and Alys suspected that the obstacle would not deter them for long. The thought of the monsters shredding her apart was enough to get her up again. Alys took a deep breath and launched herself from the stone cranny.

She plunged deeper into the heart of the jungle, before her assailants even realized she was gone. A fleeting glance revealed that all three predators had regrouped by the stones. They were too preoccupied trying to get between the boulders to notice her absence. Alys exhaled in relief and followed her companion.

She had only been running for a minute when an enraged screech echoed through the jungle. A series of muffled thuds against the forest floor alerted her that the monsters were in pursuit. Alys was already exhausted again, despite her brief respite from the beasts. She was moments away from collapsing in defeat when she heard a voice from far ahead.

"Here! Up here! In the tree!"

Another woman's voice, Alys had time to think. No, not a woman. . . a girl. She was too distracted running for her life to be shocked by the revelation. By that point, her body was functioning on pure adrenaline. The man had already reached a great mossy tree and was pulling himself up toward the canopy. Alys threw herself at the trunk and followed him with all the strength she could muster.

She was a dozen feet above the ground when the three predators burst into the clearing. They sniffed and scratched around the trunk, turning over stones and shrubs. The alpha suddenly realized her location and snapped its head straight up. The beast crouched down low and glared at Alys with bloodthirsty eyes.

Without warning, the monster lunged into the air, claws outstretched. Alys lashed out with her foot and made contact with something rough and scaly. The lizard screeched in pain and went down thrashing. By then, the other predators had noticed her as well. They were preparing to attack when a heavy projectile took one full in the face.

The other lizard growled in alarm and scurried over to its injured packmate. The wounded beast snarled and shook its head before lurching to its feet. No sooner had it sprang up than another lump slammed into its eyes, accompanied by an ear-splitting shriek from what sounded like a monkey. The brown projectile burst apart and smeared the monster's eyes. Alys took the momentary distraction as an opportunity to escape.

The alpha had recovered from its descent and now charged at the tree, its packmates close behind. The lizards vaulted onto the tree and scrambled for purchase against the branches and rough bark. They were bombarded by a volley of stones and feces the whole time. Both of the smaller monsters lost their footing and tumbled to the ground, but the alpha persisted relentlessly.

With the last of her remaining strength, Alys pulled herself onto a crude wooden platform. She rolled over in exhaustion, panting heavily. The world was a blur, but she vaguely noticed a handful of other occupants in the tree with her. She was suddenly jolted from her thoughts by a loud snarl and a sickled claw landing right next to her head. Alysanne didn't have any energy left to fight back. She sighed in defeat and stared at the monster calmly. The alpha snarled with glee and raised a talon to crush her head.

A sudden blur slammed into the monster's chest and sent it stumbling backward. One of the beast's talons found nothing but empty air. The lizard clawed helplessly at the platform, struggling to regain its position. A nimble figure darted over to the predator and slammed a makeshift spear into its flank. The monster gave one final screech of fury before plummeting to the ground dozens of feet below.

Alys eyed the figure warily as she gasped for breath. Her saviour turned around and glanced at her with a concerned expression. It took Alys a few seconds to realize her salvation came in the form of a tiny girl.

She can't be more than nine or ten. "You're just a child!" Alysanne blurted out.

The little girl ignored her remark and leaned down to inspect her more closely. "The raptors got your shoulder. I'll need to bandage it up."

Alys had forgotten about her wound but the pain suddenly came rushing back. She gritted her teeth as a fresh wave of agony lanced through her shoulder. Her head was pounding and it took her a few moments to comprehend what the child was saying. "Raptors? You mean those. . . things?"

The girl only blinked at her. "You're new, aren't you?"

Alys nodded slowly. The slight movement made black spots dance across her vision. "I washed up. . . a few hours. . . ago." Every word took considerable effort for her to enunciate.

"Just relax." The girl bent down and eased a soft clump of leaves under Alysanne's head.

A small furry beast scampered up the child's arm and perched upon her shoulder. It was a monkey, Alys realized. The girl smiled at the creature. "Patches, I need your help. Can you grab some moss for me?" She pointed at a branch far above the platform.

The monkey hooted in excitement, bobbing its head up and down. The girl smiled and extended her arm toward the tree. A silver blur launched itself onto the bark and began climbing up the trunk.

"It can understand you?" Alys was amazed.

"Of course he can. Patches is very smart." A handful of twigs rained down upon the girl's head. She giggled in amusement. "Well, sometimes he needs a little help. The moss, Patches. It's over there!"

A large clump of moss landed by her feet. The girl laughed and held her hands up to catch her pet. Patches was in her arms an instant later. The monkey hooted and clambered onto the child's head, clearly pleased with itself.

The girl scrutinized Alysanne's shoulder and made a disapproving sound. "The wound is deep. Luckily, I saved some of these."

She produced a handful of round berries, dark as pitch. They had a strange odour. A faint whiff almost made Alys faint. She recoiled in disgust as the child stuffed them into a bowl and began crushing them with a stone. A thick green juice erupted from the berries when they were squashed. The girl stirred the mixture absentmindedly, humming to herself as she worked. By the end, she held a bowl filled with a sickly green paste.

Alysanne was beginning to have second thoughts about her predicament when the girl came over with the bowl. Before Alys could protest, the child was smearing the paste all over her shoulder. She suppressed a scream as a burning sensation spread throughout her body. As suddenly as it came, it was gone and Alys was left completely numb. Her eyelids suddenly felt very heavy. Darkness was slowly oozing across her vision.

"What. . . did you. . ." she began.

"Narcotics. Don't worry, you'll feel better later. Sleep tight!"

The last thing Alys saw was the girl beaming down at her cheerfully. Then her world was engulfed in darkness.

When she awoke hours later, the pain from her shoulder was nothing but a dull memory. Alysanne lay on her side, breathing heavily. She groaned and sat up after a few moments. For an instant, she didn't know where she was. Suddenly, the events of the past few hours came crashing down on her.

"Oh good, you're awake."

Alys turned to look at the young girl, who beamed back at her with a warm expression. Patches was perched on the child's shoulder, playing with her dark hair. Alys noticed another person sitting across from the child. It was the man from the beach, she realized. Between the raptors and her wound, Alysanne had completely forgotten about him. The man gaped at her awkwardly, before sheepishly averting his gaze.

"Nice to see you again," Alys said in way of greeting.

The man's cheeks flushed red. "N-nice to see you too. Awake I mean. You were asleep. I saw you. Sleeping. . ."

Alys shifted uncomfortably. "Alright then."

Luckily, the girl was there to break the awkward silence. "How's your shoulder doing?"

"Almost as good as new," Alys replied, grateful for the child's interruption. She smiled and took a seat near the others. "So, what were you just talking about?"

"I was telling Daven about the Island. Now that you're awake, I can teach you as well! You both have a lot to learn," she giggled. "Oh! I still don't know your name."

"Alysanne. Call me Alys. What's your name?"

"Lucy," the girl replied.

Alys shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lucy. I owe you my life. Without your help, those beasts surely would have gotten me."

Lucy grinned back at her. "I'm just happy you're alright! Those nasty raptors are always causing trouble."

A vision of the monsters flashed through Alysanne's mind. She shivered and crawled to the edge of the platform, but the only signs of the reptiles were some tracks in the mud.

"They gave up and left a few hours ago," Lucy explained.

Alys exhaled in relief. "Will they come back?"

Lucy shook her head. "They're probably hunting something else by now. The raptors never stay in one place for long."

Alys glanced at the child curiously. "You sure know a lot about them."

"Yup! I learn from talking with other people. And I learn new things on my own everyday."

A creeping suspicion dawned on Alys. "How long have you been here?"

"At least a few months," the girl said to Alysanne's surprise.

They talked well into the night, discussing their experiences on the Island. After a few hours, Alys was able to piece together Lucy's story. She had woken up alone on the beach a few months ago. After a relatively peaceful first day of exploring the coast, she had encountered a troop of monkeys near the beach. The small mammals tolerated her presence, and Lucy spent a few days following them. By observing the resourceful creatures, she learned how to climb trees and forage for nuts and berries in the foliage. Lucy slept in the canopy by night and explored her surroundings by day.

The monkeys were gone a week later. Lucy had awoken during the night to the sounds of shrieks and snarls echoing through the canopy. She couldn't tell what was happening, but it appeared the monkeys were being attacked by something.

All the monkeys were gone by the time the sun came up. A quick survey of the perimeter revealed claw marks all over the trees. Lucy concluded that they must have come from some arboreal predator that had attacked the mammals during the night. Fortunately, it appeared the entire troop had escaped into the jungle. . . at least that was her initial thought.

Lucy was examining the forest floor when some movement caught her eye. It was an injured monkey with a few ragged claw marks across its chest. When Lucy got closer, she noticed it was surprisingly small. The tiny creature couldn't have been more than a few months old. Pitying the beast, Lucy had taken it with her and nursed it back to health. During that time, the young monkey quickly imprinted on her. Even when it was fully recovered, the beast refused to leave her side. Lucy named it Patches due to its mangled coat, and the two had been inseparable ever since.

After befriending the young monkey, Lucy remained in the canopy for the rest of her time on the Island. She spent the days gathering resources, foraging for food, and improving her treehouse. Occasionally she would journey out to the beachfront or deeper into the jungle to meet with some friendly survivors at their camps. However, it had been a few weeks since her last round of visits and Lucy was unsure whether the other humans had moved or not. Many groups preferred to remain nomadic and live off the land, rather than establish a permanent camp.

Alys listened with fascination as the young girl educated her about the Island. She noticed Daven listening as well, though eventually the man got tired and found a corner to sleep in. All too soon, Alys found her own eyelids growing heavy and before long she was settling down for the night as well. Alys was taken by surprise when Lucy curled up against her. The young girl was asleep in a heartbeat. Alys enjoyed the comfort of having a warm body beside her. It helped her feel less lonely in the foreign world. She went to sleep that night with a smile on her face.

Alys woke to the sight of a heaving green sea. Jades and emeralds shifted and swayed above her head. A pleasant breeze sifted through her hair, while pale shafts of sunlight pierced through the canopy from above. Alys closed her eyes and remained perfectly still, carefully preserving the brief moment of peace. It didn't last long.

Patches catapulted onto her and began shrieking in her ear. Alys tried to swat the monkey away, but the beast was too nimble. She heard giggling from somewhere nearby. Groaning, Alys sat up and was greeted by the sight of Lucy. The young girl smiled at her cheerfully. "Finally awake, sleepyhead?"

Alys smiled back. "Unfortunately. What are you doing up so early?"

Lucy grinned. "The sun came up hours ago, silly. Besides, I always wake up this early. Don't worry your friend's not up either."

Alys glanced at Daven, who was snoring quietly in the corner. He was twitching occasionally, lost in some nightmare. Alys turned back to Lucy. "He's not my friend. . . I just met him on the beach. That's all."

"He said you saved him from the raptors. And he wouldn't leave your side while you were unconscious yesterday either."

Alys blushed. "Oh. . ."

"Let's go wake him up, Patches!"

Before Alys could stop them, the girl and monkey were shaking Daven from his sleep. He woke with a start and sat up. When he noticed the two figures looming above him, he instinctively flinched away and fell flat on his back. Even Alys couldn't help but smile at his sheepish expression.

Lucy was as cheerful as ever. "Now that you're both awake, we can eat. I already gathered food for everyone. Usually it's just me and Patches, but since you two showed up I had to grab a lot more."

The young girl shoved a wooden bowl into Alysanne's hands, grinning enthusiastically. It contained a diverse assortment of nuts, roots, and berries. Alys hadn't eaten since waking up yesterday. She wolfed the meal down and asked for a second helping when it was gone. The forest mixture tasted surprisingly good, although just about anything would have tasted fine to her.

When she and Daven were finished eating, Lucy cheerfully pushed them toward the edge of the platform. Alys was already used to living in the treehouse and was reluctant to leave its safety. "Where are we going?"

"I'm taking both of you to a small group nearby. The last time I visited, they told me they wanted more people around."

"Hang on, why can't we stay with you?"

"I just thought it would be better for you to meet them first. If you don't like them, you can always come back."

Alys nodded. "That sounds reasonable."

She was halfway down the tree when memories of the raptor attack flashed through her mind. "Wait, what about those beasts from yesterday?"

"We'll be fine," Lucy called down assuringly.

Alys was doubtful, but she trusted the child. She finished climbing down the tree and landed on the ground. Swiveling around apprehensively, she could not discern any immediate threats in the surroundings. Alys didn't lower her guard. She picked up a nearby club. Feeling the weight in her hands reassured her a bit, but not much. Alys remembered how her driftwood cudgel had shattered uselessly during the pursuit yesterday. She shuddered and turned toward Lucy as the child jumped to the forest floor.

The young girl led them through the jungle flawlessly. She seemed to know every rock and tree like the back of her hand. Lucy chattered about the other humans during the entire trip. "You'll like Albert. He taught me a lot about the plants and he helped me get better when I was sick once. . ."

They emerged near a river and followed it upstream. Alys spied dozens of strange beasts drinking from the water and frolicking about the shore. There were long-necked titans that towered as high as the tallest trees and three-horned lizards that snorted trampled plants underfoot.

"Those are triceratops. They might look all mean and spiky but they won't hurt you unless you get too close." Lucy craned her neck up to point at the titans. "Those are brontos. They're friendly as well, but you should stay far away. They might crush you without noticing."

Alys nodded and listened intently as the child described various other creatures near the river. She was amazed at how much the young girl knew.

They arrived at a clearing a few hours later. There was nothing but rubble left. Lucy frowned and tried calling out names, but nobody replied. Alys sifted through the ruins and uncovered various objects. A stone bowl. A stash of plants. A fire-hardened spear. And a human corpse.

The body was mostly rotten, but enough remained for Lucy to identify it when she came over. Tears welled up in her eyes. "That's Albert. He was always kind to me." She turned away from the corpse and trudged away silently.

Daven scrutinized the body carefully. He kicked away the dirt from on top. The debris cascaded away to reveal a handful of arrows lodged in the body. Daven gasped and backed away. "This w-wasn't the work of any b-beast."

Alys shook her head. "You're wrong, it was the worst beast of all. Man."

A few more minutes of sifting through the rubble revealed nothing useful. The other inhabitants had either fled or been captured by the raiders. When the entire camp had been searched, Alys decided it was time to leave. The journey home was much more somber than the one to the camp. Even Lucy hardly spoke and she was always full of things to say. Alys tried to initiate a few conversations with the girl, all of which ended as abruptly as they started. When they returned, Lucy seemed to come back to life a bit. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I didn't know they were all gone. . ."

"You couldn't have known," Alys assured her.

Lucy didn't seem to hear. "The closest camps were also abandoned the last time I checked. I don't know if the people moved or if they're gone too. . ."

"I'm sure they just relocated. We'll be able to find them," Alys declared.

Lucy shook her head. "You two can live with me."

"You've already done enough for us. We won't trouble you any further."

"But I want you and Daven to stay with me. Besides, it gets lonely at the treehouse and you can help me around the camp."

"Well. . . if you insist," Alys reluctantly complied. That seemed to cheer the girl up. Lucy beamed at her and Alys managed to smile back.

Alysanne fell into a pattern as the days flew by. She would wake up at the crack of dawn, break her fast with the others, journey into the forest to hunt and forage, return for lunch, gather resources for the following day, and finally rest at dawn. Alys spent her free time napping, playing with Patches, and talking with Lucy. Her days were gruelling but there were certain times when Alys got to relax and forget about her troubles. She especially enjoyed searching for marine life in tidepools with Lucy, or harvesting fresh coconuts with Patches' help. The beach was a soothing place and Alys visited it regularly.

The days blurred into weeks. Alys discovered more about herself all the time. It did not take long for her to realize she was an exceptional hunter. Alys didn't hit very hard, but she was fast. She could rapidly dish out damage while evading enemy attacks at the same time. Her speed allowed her to compete with many of the jungle's inhabitants. Alysanne's friends never lacked for meat when it came time to eat. Patches and Daven gorged themselves just fine but curiously, Lucy shunned meat all together; Alys noticed that she only ate fruits and vegetables. When asked, the girl explained it made her feel guilty to eat animals.

Alys sometimes forgot Lucy was still just a child. The girl was only ten, but she acted as mature as any adult. The only time Lucy behaved like a child was in the face of violence. Alysanne made sure to shield the girl from the horrors of the Island as best as she could. She found herself growing closer to Lucy every day. The child was funny, helpful, and wise beyond her years. Daven mostly stayed to himself, but he was always friendly enough and cooperative whenever something was asked of him. Alys found herself enjoying the company of her friends and her life on the Island. Everything was going well until it all changed one fateful morning.

Alys knew something was wrong when Lucy returned home without Patches. Her return was normally heralded by the monkey's hooting, but Patches was nowhere to be seen. Alys rushed to the forest floor after she noticed the mammal's ominous absence.

"Lucy what's wrong? Where's Patches?"

Alysanne was shocked to see how pale the child had grown. Lucy looked as if she had seen a ghost. Her eyes were red from crying and her dark hair was tangled in messy clumps. The child hobbled toward the treehouse, favouring her left leg. Lucy looked like she was on the verge of collapse. Alys rushed to catch the young girl and she began sobbing into her chest.

"What happened?" Alys asked in alarm.

That was when she noticed the blood. Her eyes followed the crimson trail snaking along the forest floor. . . and ended up at Lucy's ankle. Alys gasped in alarm. A long wooden shaft was lodged in the girl's calf. The rusty arrowhead poked out from the front of her leg. Alys winced simply from looking at the wound. She couldn't imagine the pain Lucy was in. The girl's sobbing had died down, but she was still trembling like a frightened animal. Alys tried her best to soothe the child.

"It's alright, everything will be fine. We just need to get you to safety."

Alys hoisted Lucy onto her back and the child wrapped her arms around her neck. Being careful not to jolt the fragile girl too much, Alys climbed to the top of the treehouse. She deposited Lucy onto the wooden platform and woke Daven with an urgent shout. He immediately rushed over to help when he saw the injured child. Alys rummaged through their supplies for medical herbs and together with Daven, she began treating Lucy's wounds.

Lucy managed to recite small fragments of her story while they worked. "There were three men in the forest. . ." she began. "They were doing. . . something to a triceratops. They had nets and. . . and spears."

Lucy took a moment to catch her breath. "They knocked it to the ground. . . and that's when they saw me."

Alys gently probed the girl's wound, only to elicit a gasp of pain. The arrow would remain in place for now. "One of them had a black beard. He said. . . he said they would take me. They were going to make me a. . . a 'gift' for their leader."

Alys felt sick to her stomach. She applied applied some healing herbs around Lucy's injury and urged the girl to continue. "I ran away as fast as I could. . . but they shot me and I fell. They would have caught me but. . . but Patches." Her voice cracked. "Patches stayed behind to hold them off. He saved me. . . but he's gone. . . gone forever."

Lucy began sobbing again. Alys tried her best to comfort the young girl. She suddenly remembered the narcotics and slipped a few into the child's mouth. Lucy suddenly clasped Alysanne's arm, her eyes white with fear. "Please Alys, I don't want to go. . . It hurts so much. . . I don't want to die."

It broke her heart to see the child in so much pain. Alys stroked Lucy's hair until she fell asleep and stayed by her side while she slept.

The child was gone a few hours later. A fever burned through her faster than Alys and Daven could remedy it. Lucy's wound became raw and inflamed. Before they knew it, her forehead had been scalding to the touch and sweat broke out all over her frail body. Lucy had been thrashing around restlessly one moment and completely still the next. Alys carried her body to the forest floor after all the warmth had finally seeped away. They buried Lucy beneath the tree she had called her home.

A tidal wave of rage was churning inside Alysanne after her friend had been laid to rest. She grabbed two spears from the treehouse, intent on drawing blood from the men who had murdered Lucy. Daven gaped at her in confusion when he saw the weapons."W-what are you doing?"

Alys shoved a spear into his hands. "I'm going after the bastards that killed Lucy. Come on."

"We can't f-fight them! You saw what they can do."

"That's why we have to fight them. Those monsters have to be stopped."

"We won't be able to win," Daven protested.

Alys glared him down. "Fine. If you won't help, I'll just go by myself. Not like it'll be any different." She left him stuttering by the treehouse.

The raiders were not hard to find. All Alys had to do was follow Lucy's trail of blood. Along the way, she discovered a gruesome sight. A monkey carcass was littered haphazardly in the mud. Something had cleaved poor Patches in two. Alys buried the loyal beast where she found him. She arrived at the clearing a few minutes later.

There were a handful of fallen trees and splintered trunks around the area, along with a large imprint in the floor. Leaves and branches had been trampled flat underneath some heavy object. Alys briefly examined the perimeter of the clearing and discovered a set of tracks that travelled southward. The prints were circular and sank deep into the spongy forest floor, implying that they had been created by some massive beast. These tracks are from the triceratops Lucy told me about. The hunters must have followed it, wherever it went.

Alys followed the trail through countless miles of jungle. She would occasionally notice subtle hints of humanity such as shreds of clothing caught on branches, or shallow footprints in the mud. There's three sets of footprints. It seems like these men are escorting the triceratops. Have they tamed it like how Lucy tamed her monkey?

Alys was beginning to doubt herself. She might be able to kill all three men if she took them by surprise. But if they had a triceratops on their side, she would stand no chance. Maybe if I pick them off one by one and escape before the beast notices. . .

The jungle ended so abruptly that Alys almost tumbled to her demise. Trees suddenly parted ahead to reveal rolling green hills as far as the eye could see. Alys found herself standing at the top of one such mound. She used her elevation to scan the landscape. A great grey river snaked its way between the hillsides and abruptly plummeted off a cliff. A handful of windblown trees were dotted around the gentle knolls. Alys barely noticed any of the other features. Her attention was focused on a single prominent location. Dominating the center of the rugged terrain was a fortified human encampment.

The perimeter was marked by a shallow moat lined with spikes. A wooden palisade had been erected behind the trench, while crude thatch towers overlooked every corner. Half a dozen tents formed a neat line beside the far wall. There was a wooden stables that held an assortment of creatures; a trio of equus, an iguanodon, and two triceratops. The entire compound gave the impression that it had been established fairly recently, most likely by a significantly larger group. Alys suspected that this was only an outpost for a massive tribe seeking to expand its territory. She studied every structure within the base with vivid fascination. However, what caught Alysanne's attention was a trio of cages beside the eastern wall.

One of the cages was empty, but the other two still contained their respective occupants. Alys recognized a pair of familiar red shapes. The raptors from her first day on the island. They had somehow gotten captured by this group and were now being held in captivity. Both monsters had been muzzled and chained to their cages by heavy metal links. The cramped setup restricted their movement to a few feet in any direction. Despite their earlier attempt to kill her, Alys found herself pitying the beasts.

The alpha raptor noticed her and lashed its tail in agitation, snarling through its muzzle the whole time. The second raptor was slumped on the ground but lifted its head when it caught scent of her. It gave a piteous whine and collapsed back onto the floor in resignation. Alys was so concentrated on the caged monsters that she almost missed their sibling.

The third raptor was outside circling the human compound. At first, Alys thought it had escaped from its cage and was trying to free its siblings. Then she realized the truth. The raptor was patrolling the perimeter of the base like a trained guard dog. Somehow, the humans had managed to tame the monster and bend it to their will.

The idea that any group could subjugate a feral monster into submission terrified Alys more than she could say. Perhaps the only thing that frightened her more was the group of slaves chained outside the camp. Roughly a score of ragged captives were toiling in the fields beside the base. The group mainly consisted of men but there were a handful of women and children too. The prisoners were all chained to each other by metal collars around their ankles.

Alys suddenly had doubts about her plan to attack the compound. This tribe clearly had experience enslaving others to their will, beasts and humans alike. Furthermore, it was clear that they had vast numbers on their side. If the amount of tents was any indication, there could be dozens of soldiers living in the base. A single mistake would bring their wrath upon her. Alys reviewed her options and decided it would be better to withdraw from her ludicrous scheme.

In the end however, fate had other plans for her. The domesticated raptor spotted Alys and let loose a primal screech before charging at her. Alys cursed and made a beeline for the woods. Unfortunately the beast's cry had attracted more attention from guards in the compound. A horn was sounded and a surge of angry voices clamoured to a crescendo.

"Over there!" a voice shouted. "By the jungle!"

"I want her taken alive!" a second voice bellowed.

Alysanne was within steps of the jungle when she suddenly found a crimson shadow blocking her path. The raptor lunged at Alys but she managed to twist away at the last instant. She swung her spear and caught the monster on the side of its head. The beast stumbled away, snarling. Alys glimpsed more assailants pouring out from the eastern gate. Some of them were mounted on horseback. Without thinking, she whirled around and sprinted in the opposite direction.

The raptor quickly recovered from the blow and reoriented itself. Without a moment's hesitation, the monster plunged into the jungle to prevent Alys from escaping. It stalked her from the shadows, slipping through the dense foliage and keeping pace with her. Alys cursed under her breath. She would need to find a different means of escape. All the while, she could hear the sound of hoofbeats pounding closer and closer.

In the blink of an eye, Alysanne found herself lying face-down on the dirt. Her legs gave out from under her as if some unseen force had yanked her back. Panic seized her heart as she realized her legs were bound together by some net-like contraption.

Alys spat out a mouthful of dirt and attempted to rise but found herself immobilized on the ground. She managed to roll onto her back and noticed a bola tangled around her ankles. Alys tried to kick the cable off but discovered that it was stuck fast.

Her futile attempts to free herself were interrupted by the arrival of her assailants. Three massive Equus pulled to a halt beside her, kicking up a cloud of dust in the process. Alys shielded her eyes. When the debris had finally cleared, she risked a glance at her attackers.

Two lean muscular men sat astride enormous warhorses on either side of her. One was completely bald and had a squarish face while the other sported a disheveled mop of rusty orange hair. The figure that caught Alysanne's attention was seated between the others. Built like a mountain and armored in heavy steel, the man made an impressive sight. His most defining feature was a fierce black beard, just as wild and unruly as his mount's. His coal-black stallion was much larger and more imposing than its brethren. The beast was laden with muscle and flaunted a magnificent obsidian mane.

The orange haired man urged his mount forward to get a closer look at her. "Isn't this the bitch from earlier?"

"T'other was a girl." The bald man had another bola gripped in his hands. "This one's a woman grown."

"She's pretty too." The scrawny man rubbed his hands together with a wicked grin.

Alys had regained enough of her wits to realize what was going on. She would not let herself become one of their slaves. Alys scowled at the orange haired scoundrel. "Keep your filthy paws off me."

"A feisty one," he cackled.

"You will do as she says," a deep voice thundered. The black stallion trotted toward Alys. She glanced up at the bearded man and noticed a bloody crater on his cheek for the first time. Patches' work, no doubt.

"Aye, Keith. As you command." The orange haired rogue backed his steed away.

Keith rested a hand on the crimson raptor's head as it scampered beside his warhorse. The overgrown lizard fixed its beady yellow glare on Alys and hissed. To make matters worse, she noticed four more spearmen approaching on foot. Keith wheeled his mount around to face them. "Bring the whore to my tent."

At that moment, the party was interrupted by a large commotion from the compound. Without any warning, two blood red raptors erupted onto the crest of the hill. Everyone instinctively flinched away. One of the equus was so startled that it reared up and threw its rider off. Both raptors were completely unmuzzled and unchained. The two predators had somehow escaped from their cages.

The alpha raptor scanned the crowd before locking eyes with its former packmate, now domesticated. The tamed beast hesitantly retreated under the sheer intensity of its superior's glare. The alpha spread its crest feathers and snarled at the smaller beast, low and menacing. The domesticated raptor meekly snarled back. Before anyone could so much as blink, the alpha lunged for its underlying and rammed against it with the force of a landslide. The tamed raptor backed away and shook its head. Something seemed to change about its demeanour. The beast's pupils widened and it suddenly seemed to know where it was, as if coming out of a trance. It immediately scampered to the alpha's side and snarled at its former human masters.

While the entire exchange was taking place, two of the spearmen tried to circle behind the wild raptors. One man brandished a net and was about to throw it when a red blur knocked him to the ground. Pinned in place, he was completely helpless as the raptor locked its jaws around his neck and tore into the soft flesh with a spray of blood. The soldier's mangled scream echoed across the hill.

By that point, the other men had recovered from their initial shock of seeing the monsters loose. Weapons were brandished and orders were bellowed. But the raptors were already gone by the time the humans had organized themselves. Without a backward glance, the alpha darted into the jungle with its newly liberated packmates close behind. Alys watched the three red spectres disappear into the foliage.

Keith immediately rounded on his men. "What are you waiting for? Don't let them escape!"

The two other riders galloped into the jungle on their steeds, with the three spearmen following on foot. Keith briefly scowled at Alys but made up his mind. He spurred his mount into the forest, leaving her alone on the hill. She sighed in relief, but she was still in danger. The bola would prevent Alys from fleeing while her enemies were gone. Keith and his men could return for her at any moment and she needed to escape quickly.

Alysanne gripped the bola with both hands and attempted to pry it loose but found it firmly entwined around her legs. The only way to free herself was to untangle the mess, but that would take too long. Time was of the essence. Alys scanned her surroundings for anything that might be useful. Her heart skipped a beat when she glimpsed something bright and shiny. It was a steel knife holstered on the dead man's hip.

Slowly but surely, Alys dragged herself over to the human carcass. It took a few minutes of trial and error, but she finally ended up beside the body. She had just positioned herself beside the dead man's belt when she felt as if someone was watching her. Out of the corner of her eye, Alysanne noticed someone looming over her.

"N-need some help?" a familiar voice asked.

Alys couldn't believe her eyes. Daven had returned for her! She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude as he cut her free from the ropes. Daven helped Alys to her feet and she pulled him into an embrace. "I can't believe you came back for me!"

"I couldn't just leave you alone."

"You set the raptors free, didn't you?"

Daven shifted around uncomfortably. "I needed a distraction."

Alys kissed him on the cheek, much to his surprise. "You brave fool. I can't thank you enough."

They were both red-cheeked and breathless with joy by the time they pulled apart from the embrace. However, their elation was short-lived. Alys and Daven were alerted to the return of a rider by the sound of hoofbeats.

Keith pulled his stallion to a halt on the hill crest. He glowered down at them and unsheathed a steel axe from his back. Without time to think, Alys and Daven sprinted away from the rider. The drum of hoofbeats against the ground followed them as they fled.

Alys faltered after reaching the edge of the hill. She was knee-deep in a river that threatened to pull her downstream. . . and to her death. Before her was a sheer drop that ended dozens of feet below. If the drop didn't kill her, the animals congregated around the water below surely would. But there was no other choice. Behind them, Keith was drawing closer with every second. Getting captured by him would result in a fate worse than death.

Alys made up her mind in that instant. Pulling Daven by the hand, she took a running start toward the edge. Her feet were pounding against mud one second and thin air the next. Time seemed to slow for a small eternity. She heard the whicker of Keith's warhorse as it struggled to stop before plummeting off the cliff. She heard the roar of water as it cascaded down below. She saw the jagged tips of boulders at the waterfall's mouth, and the fauna scattered around the riverbank. Every detail of that instant was engraved into her mind like a painting. Then time sped up again and the water was rushing to meet her.

Alys slammed into something so hard that the breath was knocked out of her lungs. She was underwater a moment later, and sinking to the murky bottom. She distantly realized that Daven was nowhere in sight. A stream of bubbles erupted from her mouth as she tried to call for him. Then everything went black.

It was the otter that woke her, hours later on some muddy riverbank. Alys swatted the curious creature away and blinked at her surroundings wearily. She was half submerged in a churning grey river. The waters were lined by tall pine trees and large boulders on either side. Alys immediately recognized that the climate was entirely different from her former tropical home. The temperature here was colder, though not freezing. For that Alys was thankful, drenched as she was.

Alysanne's first priority was tending to herself. Ignoring the inquisitive otter scampering around her in circles, she began taking inventory of herself. Alys owned nothing save for the soggy clothes on her back. They would do little to protect her from wild beasts, but at least they would offer some protection from the elements. First however, she would need to dry them off; damp clothes were prone to do more harm than good. Alys stripped down to her underclothes and spread her shirt and pants on a warm rock. With that taken care of, she inspected her own body and discovered that it was in good condition. She was bruised in a few areas and sported a few tiny cuts but was otherwise unharmed. That was fortunate, especially considering the events of the past few hours. . .

Everything rushed back to Alys so suddenly that she found herself kneeling. Daven, she thought. Where is he? Some movement caught her eye. It was the otter. The beast was scurrying back and forth, as if it were trying to communicate with her. Alys regarded it warily. "I don't suppose you've seen my friend?"

The otter stood up on its hind legs and stared into her eyes. Then just as suddenly, it turned tail and scampered down the riverbank. Alys instinctively followed it. After a few minutes, the beast stopped by a cluster of boulders. Alysanne gasped when she saw Daven face-down in the mud. She immediately ran over and flipped him onto his back. Holding her hand to his chest, she felt for a pulse and found one. She was overjoyed when his eyes flared open a moment later.

Unfortunately, Daven hadn't managed to hold onto anything either. Between the two of them, they possessed nothing more than the clothes on their backs. But that didn't matter. They had each other.

They spent the rest of the day organizing themselves. Alys discovered a small cave for them to shelter in temporarily and they started a fire to dry their clothes. Daven gathered roots and shrubs for them to dine on. For some reason, the otter kept following them around. Daven started feeding the mammal scraps from his own plate and from that moment on, he was rarely seen without the otter by his side. The beast even proved its worth by catching fish in the river for them to dine on. When it was clear that the otter meant to stay with them permanently, Daven suggested to name it 'Patches' in honour of Lucy's late pet. Alys readily agreed to his idea.

The next few days were much the same as the first. Alys and Daven, along with their new friend, got into a routine of foraging, fishing, and feeding. Alysanne eventually crafted a pair of spears and a dagger using some bones and branches. Using their new weapons, Alys and Daven slowly journeyed north with the intention of putting more distance between Keith and themselves. Alys and Daven took comfort in each other's company during the night and near the end, they found themselves closer than ever.

After a week of travelling, they were thrust into the possibility of human contact once more. It was during the evening that Alys spotted smoke rising from a campfire somewhere to their left. When she showed Daven, the two of them stopped to discuss the sighting amongst themselves. In the end, they decided it would be best to scout the encampment for other humans. Alys knew that she and Daven could not hope to survive long in the wilderness alone. They needed allies, or at the very least a permanent shelter. The human camp offered just that.

The fire made it easy for Alys to distinguish the human residents while not revealing herself. The camp was shared by three men and what looked like a juvenile carnotaurus. Alysanne's encounter with Keith still sent her hairs standing on end. She had almost been enslaved and used for the pleasure of those filthy scoundrels. All men are monsters. Remember what they did to Lucy. Remember what they tried to do to you. Alys didn't want to take any chances with this new group. She would meet with them, but on her terms.

Scanning the camp, Alys realized she could take them by surprise. One of the men looked much older than the others. He would not offer any resistance if it came to a fight. The carno hatchling would be a problem. . . but she could deter the beast from attacking if she took one of the others as a hostage. Meanwhile, Daven and Patches would back her up from the shadows while giving off the illusion of being a much larger group. Alys grinned at her own genius. Once she put herself in a position of power, the other men would be much more inclined to negotiate.

Alys beckoned Daven and Patches to her side and explained her plan. With a grim nod, Daven crept into position with his spear in hand. Patches took a cue from his owner and scampered into the bushes. When the others were ready, Alys produced her bone dagger and strode into the firelight.

"You know the rest," Alysanne finished. She looked at each of her three captors in turn. "I won't deny what happened earlier tonight. I tried to take your home by force. I used Willam as a hostage to keep everyone else in line. But everything I did was necessary to protect my friends and myself. Now that you've heard me out, make whatever choice you want."

Alys leaned back and waited for the judgement that would decide her fate. She felt strangely detached from the whole situation, as if everything were happening to a different woman and not her. I did everything I could, she told herself. Now my life is in their hands.

Willam surprised everyone else by speaking up first. "I trust her."

Even Alys was shocked. But not as much as Joseph, who immediately turned on his companion. "This woman held a knife to your throat! She almost killed you!"

"But she didn't," the old man replied calmly. "I would have done the same if I had been in her position, and experienced the things she's been through."

Joseph was unconvinced. "She could be lying for all we know. Using this story to gain our sympathy."

Otto remained completely silent while his friends were debating. Without a word, the man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Almost instantly, Winter perked up by his master's side. The huge white wolf bounded up to Alys. She was alarmed to discover that the beast had to crouch down in order to maintain eye contact with her. Alys tried to steady her pulse as the massive predator peered into her soul. Winter's large golden eyes seemed to contain Otto's shadow within them. After a small eternity, the direwolf backed away and curled up by his master's feet.

Otto's eyes flared open. "She's telling the truth. Set them free."

Alys rubbed her wrists after the tethers had been cut loose. She was still not sure what to make of her situation. Somehow, miraculously, she had been released from captivity without a second thought. Alys had been sure they would have kept her enslaved, just as Keith had intended to do. There are still some good men in the world after all, she remarked to herself.

Otto cleared his throat to get her attention. "Seeing how you two have nowhere else to go, you're welcome to stay with us. The cabin might be a bit too small for everybody, but you should be able to fit if Argentum sleeps outside tonight."

Alys glanced around the campsite. A few of the wolves stirred when her eyes swept over them. She shuddered and turned back to Otto. "Thank you for the hospitality. Daven and I would be grateful to sleep in a real shelter tonight."

"Say nothing of it. Just don't cause any trouble and we'll get along fine." Otto gave her a polite smile and turned away.

Alys and Daven were following Otto to the cabin when she was approached by Willam. Alys let the others continue ahead. She stopped and turned to the old man.

"I'm so sorry about earlier," she began.

"No harm was done," Willam chuckled. "Just don't make a habit of introducing yourself to others at knifepoint."

Alys felt heat flushing into her cheeks. "I can't thank you enough. . . but if I may ask, why did you stand up for me earlier?"

The old man smiled. "We can't let ourselves be divided by fear and mistrust. Besides, I'm quick to forgive. My pet. . . not so much. Just give Argentum some space."

The beast in question stalked out from the shadows and growled at her before shambling toward the cabin. Alys gulped and nodded at Willam's advice.

Willam produced something from his belt. "One more thing. I believe this is yours."

It was her bone dagger. Alys accepted the blade hesitantly. She was astounded at how trusting this man was. After all, she had held the very same dagger to his throat only a few hours earlier. "Thank you for everything," Alys finally managed.

Willam only smiled and escorted her to the cabin. Once again, Alys found herself remarking at the kindness of Otto and his group. These men truly aren't like the others. Oh Lucy, if only you were here. . . Perhaps there is hope for this world after all, she thought to herself for the first time.

Author's Note: Sorry this one was late.

The Dweeb 4252, thanks for the support!

Changeling Man, you were absolutely right!

Girlbook, thanks for the continued support. I believe this chapter answered your question ;)

King Endercreeper, thank you very much! I look forward to hearing from you again :)

Blueberrium, thanks for your support! Betrayal? *sniffs* Eh, maybe. We'll have to see :D

Dippycauloss, thanks and don't worry Patches is safe :) Patches II at least. . . Poor Patches I

haydenunstopable, sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not accepting any OCs. I might however recycle a few of your ideas into the story if it's convenient for me.

Jack906, thanks! I hope you enjoyed!

enterelysium, don't worry, we won't see any cliffhangers for a while!

DefendIce, I can confirm that no firearms will show up. As for our characters, I'd estimate our main cast to be in their 30s-40s. The rookies 15-25ish. Please keep in mind these mechanics aren't actually in the story.

Antonatron, thanks it means a lot to know you appreciate my work!

joshben4c, you got your wish!

Thanks for taking the time to check out my first fanfiction, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will try my best to upload as regularly as possible. Feel free to comment, ask question or criticize my story, review is always welcome. And if you like what you saw, make sure to check out the other ARK: Survival Evolved fanfictions out there. Have a great rest of your day or night.

-DaRumpyBurr