Author's Note: Hello, all. Yet again, I will now open with an apology for a long wait. Normally you would expect more updates from someone during their summer break, but such is not the case with me. I was extremely busy and when I wasn't, all I felt like doing was sitting around and doing nothing because I was so tired. I began this chapter in June and finished it last week when I went camping with my family.
Replies (Miss Pippin Baggins you have like, three replies on here so don't stop at the first one)
Agent Pigeon – Jenny, dear, you are an odd child. lol.
T.E.N. – I actually bought "Congo" at the beginning of the summer at a garage sale but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. … Armed and dangerous idiots… I like that. And I know the attack was pretty unrealistic… this story is getting crappier by the chapter.
R.K.Binx – Thanks for the review, dear!
Crazy4coco986 – I actually just got a myspace and will post an author's note about it at the end of the chapter. The code for yours didn't show up on your review, though, so just search for mine and request friendship, k? Okay.
Miss Pippin Baggins – Thanks so much! Ah, I have to give you a hug for that. –hugs-
Vamp-from-hell – Thank you, dear! I think I read that rewrite of the third movie but I can't remember… it's been a while. And I actually can't answer your question because it would give some things away… Oh dear.
Miss Pippin Baggins – AH! Another review from you! Cool stuff. I am posting the thirteenth chapter… now.
Sulkdodds – Yes I agree. Hooray for guns!
Miss Pippin Baggins – Man I feel spoiled. Four whole reviews? Cool stuff. And thanks for the "love your work." The first time I read your review I kind of wondered about the 'love you' bit, but the second time I don't even know if I noticed… But yes, thank you anywho.
ShootingStarlight – Thank you so much! We haven't talked in forever, have we?
I feel so spoiled, you guys! That's an awesome amount of reviews. Thank you!
What Happened Last?
I shook my head in amazement. We had been surprised by a pack of Raptors and every single one of us had lived to tell the tale.
'Next time,' I thought. 'We won't be so lucky next time.'
Chapter Thirteen – A Tent Gone Missing
My anger toward Audrey and Kevin had not yet diminished when we set up camp later that evening, nor had my desire and resolve to remain detached from everyone and everything. Bret, however, seemed to enjoy what I am sure everyone was referring to as my mentally-disturbed-and-yet-still-fascinating company. What was wrong with these people? No matter what I had said or done all day long, Bret seemed determined to remain in my presence. He was an odd kid. His attention was truly aggravating. I didn't know what to do with him. And as he and I shared a tent, there was no chance of escaping him.
"Hey, Eric, Audrey wants to know if you want anything to eat," Bret said, shoving past a bush to approach me.
"Um… yeah," I said, looking back at the tent I had just set up. "I still have some work to do, though, so I can take it here."
"You just don't want to have to talk with Audrey or Kevin," Bret grinned.
"We shouldn't really be talking," I responded quickly.
"We've been talking practically all day long," Bret chuckled. "Does standing still make a difference in how much we can converse? And you're avoiding the subject."
"No I'm not," I said defensively.
"Come have something to eat."
"There's food already?"
Yes, now come eat it."
"I'll take it here! I still have work to do!"
"You've set up all the tents we have. What more is there to do?"
"…Other things…"
"Eric, seriously, come on!"
I sighed and looked around. My temper was rising, but I knew that it wouldn't do any good to yell at Bret. I had already tried several times today, but to no effect. It was as though he was immune to my anger and wrath, if that was what you would call it.
"Fine," I finally said. "But I'm not talking to-"
"Whatever, dude," Bret replied, turning around and pushing past a bush as though he had never cared whether I ate in the first place.
Like I said before, Bret was one odd kid.
Dinner wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't exactly horrid. I'm not talking about the food, which was rubbery in texture and rancid in taste. I was referring to the stiff silence between Kevin, Audrey, and I. Now that I thought about it, our fights didn't seem as though they should generate this much hype. 'The two of them just don't have any back-bone,' I assured myself. If they ever wanted to crawl back, they were welcome to try, but it wouldn't do them much good. Not being on speaking terms with them aided me when it came to being indifferent.
After I obtained my evening meal from a stony-faced Audrey, I took a seat on the stump of a tree at a distance from everyone else. It would have been depressing and lonely had I not been so decided in my ways.
"What are you sitting way over here for?" Bret asked as he sat down beside me and stuck his fork into his food.
I chose not to answer him and instead concentrated on cutting my meat-like substance.
"Avoiding people is the first step towards madness," Bret said thickly as he attempted to chew his food.
"Where did you hear that?" I asked absentmindedly. I had just heard a sound off in the forest.
"My high school counselor," Bret answered. He swallowed his food and began to cough.
I looked over at him. He had a young face. "How old are you?" I questioned.
Bret hit his chest with a clenched fist and coughed a couple more times before choking out an answer. "Nineteen."
"Why would someone so young volunteer for something like this?" I asked him, setting my fork down and looking sternly at him.
"Dude, you're not my ruddy dad," Bret laughed, but said no more.
"You're avoiding my question," I snapped.
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Hello, boys." It was Rebecca. "You aren't bothering my brother, are you Eric?" she asked.
"No, he's not," Bret said before I could reply. 'More like he's bothering me,' I thought.
"Good," Rebecca said.
"How are you holding up?" Bret asked his older sister, placing a dirty hand on her shoulder.
"What, are you worried?" she teased. Bret shrugged. "Why should you be the one to worry when I'm so much older than you? Shouldn't I be the one to worry about my nineteen year old brother instead of him worrying about his much older and more sophisticated sister?"
"All the more reason to worry," Bret replied solemnly. "I'm not so sure your joints can take it. You may drop dead any second!"
"Out of exhaustion?" Rebecca asked, an eyebrow raised.
"No, of course not. Out of old age."
The two siblings stared at each other for a few seconds before they could stand it no more and burst out laughing. "You're such an idiot!" Rebecca said, slapping her brother on the back.
"Shut-up!" I hissed. There had just been a very loud series of booms issuing from the forest. Then, as the laughter died away, a very loud roar ripped through the air. My eardrums pounded and a convulsive shiver ran up and down my spine. "Stay still," I shouted to everyone in the camp. "It's a Tyrannosaurus!"
Everyone froze. The footsteps of the dinosaur had halted somewhere behind me.
"You're bloody right it is," Knight sneered, his food halfway to his mouth. Audrey shushed him.
I felt a warm waft of air hit the back of my neck. Moist air that smelled strongly of decaying, dead flesh. The dinosaur was sniffing us out. As long as we were all intelligent enough to remain in one position…
A loud ripping noise rent the air, followed by a series of very loud chewing sounds, and then by the retreating footsteps of our unwelcome guest. Everyone began to breathe again.
"What the hell?" Kevin exclaimed, clutching his chest.
"Language, kind sir," Audrey said, giving her friend a small smile. He then attempted to look quite sternly at her, but didn't succeed too well.
I no longer felt like eating my meal. I set my plate aside and stood to return to the tents. I had to think… to get away. To my annoyance, Bret scampered after me. "Where are you going?" he questioned as he reached my side.
"Stop talking!" I hissed. "When on the forest floor of this island you-"
"-you keep your mouth shut, yeah, I know," Bret rolled his eyes. "Dude, get a grip, okay? I'm gonna keep talking to you no matter what you do."
"You're going to get us both killed," I returned, my frustration growing. I just wanted to be alone. Was this so much to ask?
"At least we'll have company when the Raptors are eating or intestines." Bret then made a very pathetic impression of a Velociraptor, rejoicing over its new meal. Had I been in a better mood, it certainly would have made me laugh.
"Are you so eager to be another animal's dinner?" I asked, stopping in the path and hiding any slight amusement while attempting to look furious.
"Not really," he shrugged. "But you might as well look at the bright side of things."
I groaned. "I'm in the presence of an optimist."
"And I," Bret said as we began to walk again, "am in the presence of a pessimist."
We had then reached our tents and all conversation ceased. Only two out of our three tents remained. Kevin and Knight's had been ripped from the earth, steaks and all. The contents lay scattered about the forest floor, one box having been flattened and left to breathe in the large Tyrannosaurus print on the edge of the clearing. "I guess those two will be star-gazing tonight," Bret said. He paused, then laughed heartily at his own joke.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading my new chapter, guys. It means a lot to me. You know what would mean more? A review! Or four, as Miss Pippin Baggins was so awesome as to give me. Lol. Oh, and T.E.N. gave me two… can't leave you out of the loop, now can we?
Anyways, as an extra note, I now have a myspace. Search for my e-mail (as I'm not going to give you my last name… sorry) to find me. Fanfiction doesn't exactly let you put links up. Oh, and it would be helpful if you would send me a message along with any friend requests, telling me that you read my story. Otherwise I'll probably think some random person decided to add me…
Also, opinions. Should I or should I not make a yahoo group (or something of the like) for the 'Return to Jurassic' series? I could add all sorts of cool stuff and we could talk about it and… yes. Would any of you be interested?
Until next time…
Jamie out.