CHAPTER FIVE: ANOTHER ATTACK
"You think the Phantom will strike again? It hasn't struck here in years," Balene said.
"I fear so," Aladar replied.
"Even if this Phantom can get in and out undetected, how are larger things like Carnataurs getting in?"
"No idea."
"Perhaps we should set guards around the Nesting Grounds to see if any carnivores come near. If the Phantom comes out to try and let any in, we can catch it."
"That's a good idea."
"Thanks. I have plenty of them."
"I know."
They set guards around the Nesting Grounds, hoping to catch the Phantom letting any predators in. For a full week, nothing happened. "Maybe Baylene's plan worked," Zini said.
"It seems so. That means we can resume our search for Ayala," Aladar said.
"But couldn't the Phantom come after you again?"
"Possibly, but at least it'll be heading away from the Nesting Grounds if it does."
"True."
"So when are you planning on leaving?" Pilo asked.
"Tomorrow."
"I think you should go before dawn. Maybe the Phantom will still be asleep."
"Not a bad idea."
When Aladar voiced Pilo's suggestion to his mate, she was hesitant. "Yes, the Phantom may be asleep, but then it may not be. If it's not, we could be walking into a trap that we won't see coming in the predawn light."
He bit his lip. "You're right," he said, "it's risky either way. What do you think we should do?"
"Well, er," she paused. "I think you're right. It's no riskier going in the predawn than in broad daylight. And I want to find her as soon as I can. She's like a second mother to me."
"I won't give up the search until we find her; I promise."
"I wish we knew how the Phantom is able to let the predators in without us knowing," Yar said.
"Maybe whatever it is is destroying the tunnels after making them," Eema said.
"Seems implausible," Zini remarked.
"I know. How would it get out?" Eema chuckled.
"Beats me."
"Well, goodnight, everyone," Aladar said.
That night, Eema woke up, feeling the need to drink water. "At least I don't have to walk far to get water here," she chuckled to herself.
She moved her head up from drinking as she thought she heard a noise near her, like something moving.
"Who's there?" she asked. Nobody replied. "No point in trying to sneak up on me, whatever you are."
After no further response, she decided to check on what it was that was making the noise. As she turned a corner, she saw the Phantom.
"What are you doing here?" she gasped. When two Carntaurs came into view a few seconds later, Eema gasped "You?! You're the Phantom!"
"Yes, yes, I am! But you'll never live to tell anybody!"
Eema selflessly decided to target the Phantom, rather than going for the Carntaurs. She figured that killing the Phantom would bring an end to the attacks on the Nesting Grounds, something worth dying for. If she had been younger, she might have succeeded. However, due to Eema's age and the Phantom's youth, she was able to run to safety in time.
The first Carnataur attacked Eema. The wounded dinosaur spun around and kicked the predator away. However, she couldn't fend off the second one, which leapt at her. Having mortally wounded her, the two predators left her for dead. They proceeded to attack several others in the Nesting Grounds, some of whom died.
Aladar and Neera saw one of them coming. It headed right toward them, ignoring others nearby who were running away from it. However, the Carnataur underestimated the two. They retreated from it, leading it up a steep hill overlooking a cliff. When it thought it had them cornered, the two charged at it, screaming. This caught the predator off guard enough for them to whack it off a cliff to its death. The other predator seemed to have disappeared as they headed back to the valley.
They soon found the dying Eema. "Who did this?" Neera asked.
"It was….." she began, but died before she could name the Phantom.