Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is not mine. Ian Malcolm is not mine. The dinosaurs are not mine.

Chapter Eight

Legolas sprang up as he saw Gandalf and Aragorn approaching. "What happened?"

"We were attacked," Gandalf answered flatly, helping Aragorn sit down. "Ian?"

"Dilophosaur," Ian nodded, wiping some of the goo from the Ranger's face. "Have to admit, I don't really know much about them; I've never run into one before. How do you feel?"

"Other than not being able to see? I don't know. One moment I feel all right, but the next . . ."

"Uh-huh."

"Is there anything you can do?" Gandalf asked.

"No," Ian answered honestly. "I'm no doctor, and even if I was, I wouldn't have what I need, not here."

"Legolas?"

"I don't know anything about the poison; I don't dare try."

Suddenly, Aragorn found himself gasping for breath. He clutched his chest, trying to scream for help, but all that came out were dry, raspy sounds.

At once, there came a voice, very close to him, one the Ranger barely recognized as Boromir's. "No, don't struggle! Breath easily! Deep breaths. Breathe in. Out. There."

Aragorn could smell pipe-smoke, with a peculiar scent mixed in. He took one deep breath, then another, and, eventually, he found he was getting more air. He tried hard to relax, to let go. Finally, he was breathing normally.

"It works," Boromir smiled, his voice a mixture of surprise and relief.

"What did you do?" Ian asked, genuinely impressed.

Legolas smelled the smoke coming from Boromir's pipe. "Athelas."

Boromir nodded. "Kingsfoil, Faramir called it. He gave it to me before I left Minas Tirith."

Aragorn smiled, still coughing a little. "Remind me to thank your brother. And thank you, for remembering it."

"Least I could do."

"Will the dinosaurs smell the smoke?" Gandalf asked.

Ian nodded. "Yes, but I'm not sure what their reaction will be. It may attract some of them; it may scare others."

"Wonderful." Gandalf looked around at the group. Pippin and Aragorn were hurt, Valar knew how badly. The others were obviously discouraged by this. Whatever their chances had been, they were getting steadily worse.

Frodo looked up at the Wizard. "What should we do, Gandalf?"

"I think we should start going. The sooner we can get off this island, and the sooner we get back to Imladris, the sooner Aragorn and Pippin will get help, and the better their chances."

Ian nodded. "I have to agree with you this time. The poison eventually causes paralysis. I'd love to get you back where you belong before that kicks in."

"How long?" Aragorn asked.

"I'm not entirely sure."

"But you have a guess."

Ian sighed. "The tour guide said a matter of minutes." He couldn't look up to see the others' reaction; he already knew the looks on their faces. "We should get moving."

Boromir nodded and scooped up Pippin. Legolas and Ian helped Aragorn to his feet. Gandalf watched, pleased at how well they were working together, even if that was the only thing that was going right. He went over and took Ian's place beside Aragorn. "You know where to go; you should lead, Ian."

Ian looked around, and no one objected. From Boromir's arms, Pippin smiled at him. He smiled back. "All right, let's go."

They moved slowly. Aragorn was clearly becoming frustrated. The blindness wasn't all that terrible, but his legs were beginning to give way underneath him. More and more, he found himself relying on Gandalf and Legolas for support.

Ian was careful not to go to fast. Still, he was all too aware of the noise they were making. Something would hear them.

Suddenly, Legolas stopped. "Ian," he whispered. "We're being watched."

Ian nodded slowly. "Raptors."

"As if things weren't bad enough," Gandalf mumbled.

"Do you see that tree up ahead?" Ian asked. It was a huge tree, with branches low enough to reach for climbing.

"Yes, but we'll never make it there."

"Not without a diversion," Legolas added.

"Exactly," Ian smiled. "Boromir, Legolas, I need your help. When I give the signal, split off from the group. Circle around a longer way to the tree. Hopefully, by then, the rest of you will have reached it. Good?"

Boromir set Pippin down. "Whenever you're ready."

"Okay . . ." He eyed the trees. "Now!"

They all took off. Ian ran left. Boromir ran right. Legolas ran almost straight back, knowing he would have to make a longer loop than the others.

The rest of the Fellowship ran for the tree. Only two raptors followed them. Gandalf whirled around to face them with his staff, whacking first one, then the other. He had to hit them several times before they backed off, but finally they did.

Frodo scrambled up the tree, followed closely by Merry. Gandalf helped the other two Hobbits up, and then Aragorn. Then he climbed up himself. The raptors snapped at the branch, but they soon climbed out of reach.

Now all they could do was wait.

Boromir was the first to appear out of the trees, defending himself with a stick against two raptors. Gandalf smiled; there had been three chasing him.

Boromir dropped the stick and jumped, and his hands caught the branch. One of the raptors leapt up, clawing his leg, but a sharp kick sent it to the ground again. Blood poured from the wound as the others helped him up.

The four raptors formed a circle around the tree. Boromir realized as he looked down: The others would have an even harder time. He was oblivious to the pain as Gandalf bandaged his leg. His only thoughts were with the other two.

Legolas came running up to find the tree surrounded by raptors, but close to the trunk. With two or three more raptors close behind him -- he hadn't turned to see exactly how many, but he could hear their breath -- he leapt for a far-out branch, and swung himself up with ease. Without even stopping to catch his breath, he climbed in nimbly to where the others were.

He quickly took in the situation. The four Hobbits were huddled close to the trunk. Gimli looked like he wanted to jump down and start fighting. Boromir was still catching his breath. Aragorn was wishing he knew what was happening. And Gandalf was watching the trees and bushes intently for any sign of Ian.

But there was nothing, only the sound of the raptors below.

Muahahahahahahahaha. Cliffhanger!

SirNotAppearingInThisFilm -- Yeah, Gandalf's a little cranky. I was a little cranky with my sister when I wrote some of this, so it kinda rubbed off. :)

Zammy -- Well, the raptors are here. And the T-Rex will be coming sooner or later. :)

Kelsey Estel -- Yes, you've definitely helped. If all my chapters had been as short as the first ones, this would be taking me forever to finish! (might've been able to update a little more often, though.) :)

xWhit3StaRx -- :) Wow, this took me forever to update. At least the chapter's longer. :) I now actually have some idea of how I want this to end, so it should be easier from here, right:)