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Chapter Three: Gigantic Territorial Land Grab
"It's been over six months now and still no sign of rescue." Juniper complained loudly from her spot on the porch while she kept an eye April who was doing her daily lap around the yard.
Sim had deemed April's leg healthy enough for her to begin a form of physical therapy and had asked Juniper to oversee the sessions from time to time. April for her wasn't enjoying walking by herself as much as she had expected. Only a month of therapy sessions had passed and already her patience was wearing thin. The lap around the yard itself was one exercise that Sim had April doing and she had done it without a single complaint so far.
To help April out, Sim had managed to procure a pair of crutches for her to use when not doing therapy. He had also obtained another truck and spent many hours sitting inside it listening to it radio. Occasionally, Juniper or April or sometimes both would listen with him. More than once they would hear about Owen Grady trying to get permission from the Costa Rican government to lead a rescue party to Isla Nublar, but the travel ban still persisted. April highly suspected that Claire Dearing was the thing keeping him from going against the ban.
April finished her lap and took the crutches she had leaned against the stair railing.
She looked at Juniper "We just need to be patient and wait a little longer." She said as she prepared to mount the stairs.
"Yeah, but how much longer." Juniper asked, moving to help April.
"I wish I could tell you." April shook her sadly and glanced out over the lake, "I only hop it's soon."
Juniper nodded and sighed, "Me too."
They reached the top of the steps and entered the bungalow. April went to the couch and sat down while Juniper went to get them both some water.
"So, any idea when Sim will be back?" April asked as Juniper appeared with two glasses of water.
She shook her head "No idea." She handed April her glass of water and sat down, "but I hope it's soon."
A silence fell between them and they sat there occasionally taking a sip of water or looking around the bungalow. April glanced at the clock and remembered they still needed to find fresh batteries for it. She tore her gaze a way from the clock and instead looked at Juniper. The younger Grady was on her last intact set of clothes and looked positively exhausted.
"Junny?" April asked breaking the silence "You look tired. Why don't go get some sleep?"
Juniper looked around at April "No, it all right." She said, demonstrating the Grady stubbornness.
"If you're worried about me, I can always wake you up." April insisted.
Juniper still seemed apprehensive and replied in such manner "You're still recovering and- "
She never finished her sentence because April started hitting her with one of her crutches.
"What? You think because I'm still on crutches that I can't take care of myself?" She brought in the second crutch, "Still trying to be the big sister? Well, news flash, I can handle being by myself."
"That's not what I meant!" Juniper yelled while she attempted to block both crutches.
"Oh?" April said, sounding unconvinced, "Really. So, then what did you mean."
At that moment Sim walked through the door. He took one look and pinched the bridge of his nose with a heavy sigh. He hurried over to the squabbling pair and separated them, receiving a few hits from the flailing crutches.
"Fighting again I see." He said calmly with a touch of exasperation.
In the recent months the girls had started fighting and they had been increasing in frequency. Fortunately, however, they had not been increasing in intensity, "Look, I understand you two are tired of being here, but that doesn't mean you have to fight every moment you get!"
April exchanged a look with Juniper and looked back at Sim "Sorry, we'll try to do better." She promised, while Juniper nodded in agreement, "I'm just tired of therapy, that's all."
"Yes, but if you don't do therapy your leg won't strengthen properly." Sim reminded her patiently.
April nodded but didn't say anything and stood up to go use the restroom. As she entered the bedroom Sim spoke to Juniper
"I'm going to need a hand with tomorrow's outing, could you help me?"
The following day found April feeling very lonely indeed.
"The Costa Rican government is still strictly upholding the travel ban to Isla Nublar that they set up almost seven months ago but are currently deciding whether to not to send out a surveillance plane to scour the island for survivors. Former Raptor trainer, Owen Grady, says he is not entirely satisfied but respects the government's plan. The Costa Rican government has agreed to three days of surveillance before closing the case. The President of Costa Rica spoke on the matter saying if they are really people stranded on the island that the Costa Rican government will do all they can to help."
Juniper looked at Sim "Things seem to be looking up." She said brightly fro. The passenger side seat.
Sim nodded "Let's not get too excited though. They could decide to not send the plane." Sim responded "However, I think it would be prudent to be prepared in the event they send a plane." He slowed the truck, then stopped.
"Why'd we stop?" Juniper asked, looking around.
"I think we may have attracted some undesirable company." He replied as he carefully surveyed the surrounding jungle.
Juniper looked around as well, listening carefully. Except for the sound of insects, all was quiet. She glanced in the side view mirror but still saw nothing and she shivered. For some inexplicable reason the quiet was unnerving. The continued to sit there, watching and listening. Juniper was just beginning to feel slightly bored when Sim broke the silence.
"Guess it was a false alarm." He said, starting the vehicle, "I suppose I should explain. About a month ago I had a run in with the giganotosaurus and it has been after me ever since."
Juniper looked around in surprise "What happened and how did you get away?"
"Well, I was out running an errand and I had to go through the giganotosaurus' territory. I was about halfway back through when; I ran into the super predator."
"Oh, my!" Juniper gasped
"I quickly reversed the vehicle and turned around. I tore through the jungle like there was no tomorrow and eventually I found a cave just large enough for the car to fit but too small for the giganotosaurus. Now the problem was she was waiting for me to come out of the cave so, I pulled out my gun and tried shooting her it had no effect. When I saw it wasn't working I instead aimed for an eye. I didn't know if I had hit her eye or not because she ran off into the jungle. Nevertheless, I wasted no time in getting back to you and April." Sim recounted
"Wow. I- wow." Juniper said shocked
"Yeah, then about a week ago now she found me again. I confirmed that I had indeed hit her eye. That time around she followed me nearly to the bungalow, but was able to lose her a few miles out." He concluded his recounting.
"A giganotosaurus followed to with a few miles of our home?!" Juniper asked looking scared.
"Needless to say, yes, I did." Sim shook his head "I've seriously skewed that dinosaur's territory."
Juniper was suddenly frantic "What if it attacks the bungalow while we're gone?"
"I thought it a possibility so I left April with radio." He said, trying to sound reassuring but not succeeding, "Our radio is in the center console."
Juniper opened the console and held the radio close, ready to respond if necessary.
April, with her radio hooked to her belt slowly ambled around the yard. She had figured that she might as well get her daily lap out of the way. She had noticed that the lap seemed to get easier and easier with each passing day. It was a good sign; it meant her leg was getting stronger. She finished the lap and retrieved her crutches. She climbed the stairs and went back into the bungalow where she sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. She unclipped the radio and considered it for a moment.
Sim had seemed nervous giving it to her as if he expected that something bad was going to happen while he and Juniper were away. What was Sim not telling her and Juniper? Evidently it was something bad or he would have bothered with the radio. April decided that when Sim and Juniper returned, she was going to confront him about the situation. She would ask him why and ask what he was hiding.
She hooked the radio back on her belt and stoop up to get a glass of water. She filled the glass and set on the counter while she turned off the water. She was just reaching for the glass when the water rippled minutely. She paused, staring at the glass and again the water rippled. The next ripple was stronger and came much faster than its predecessor. The water rippled again and this time she heard footfalls distantly as the rippling became more frequent. She fumbled for the radio and switched it on.
"Um something big is outside the bungalow and I don't know if it friendly or not." She said in to the radio.
There was a moment a silence before Juniper's voice came out of the device. "Confirm if it is friendly or not and let us know."
"Okay." April said, creeping to the window.
Nothing was in sight but she could still hear the whatever it was walking around nearby. It seemed to be getting closer every few minutes or so. A shape moved within the jungle but April couldn't make out what it was. Then came the roar. Loud, scary and nearby it was similar to Rexy's but it was not Rexy. As dread started filling April, the dinosaur stepped out of the trees. It was as April feared a giganotosaurus. While similar to the tyrannosaurus rex, the super predator before her had a thinner but equally large head and slightly larger arms.
"Guys, it's a giganotosaurus." She said into the radio.
"April stay calm and what ever you please don't get eaten." Juniper said her voice almost breaking
Sim brought the car around and sped back the way they had come. He had feared this would happen and now was paying for his actions. Neither he or Juniper said anything as they tore through the jungle. Sim opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the radio. A roar came out of the device shortly followed by a scream and more roaring coupled with the sound of breaking glass.
"Sim, hurry!" Juniper all but shrieked
Sim spared a quick glance at Juniper before pushing the gas pedal down to the floor as more screams came out of radio accompanied by roars. Sim found a main road and pulled onto it. Driving on a marked road would be easier than plain jungle at high speeds.
"We're nearly there!" Sim said loudly to the panicking girl beside him.
Juniper nodded then from the radio there came a last scream and roar then silence.
"No, no no no!" Juniper screamed "April! April!" she shook the radio, "Please April respond!" she was the verge of tears, "April, please!"
But all that followed was silence. The silence persisted until they arrived at the bungalow or rather what remained of it. Juniper didn't wait for the vehicle to stop before she jumped out, stumbled slightly on the landing, and ran to wreckage not caring if anything was around. She began searching through the rubble, looking for any indication of her sister's welfare. Sim hurried out of the vehicle and set to work at a different area of rubble. After a few minutes of digging, he stopped and called Juniper over. Juniper ran to side and stopped short. Sim had uncovered a large patch of what looked like blood.
"No, no, no." she sank to her knees even as tears streamed down her cheeks, No, No! NOOOO!"
"Juniper-" Sim began but her wailing was much to loud for him to speak to her.
Sim suddenly realized that Juniper's wails could attract more trouble so he reached out and pulled into what he hoped as a comforting embrace. Juniper buried her face into his shoulder which heavily muffled her crying.
"We don't know that she's dead, okay?" He said, reassuringly, "Let's make absolutely sure before we mourn her."
Juniper continued crying, but managed a nod before composing herself. Sim looked again at the bloody patch of ground and noticed a trail of blood leading from the patch a few yards before vanishing. Sim let go of Juniper to get a better look and discovered that the trail ended right where something had been parked.
"Sim!" he turned to see Juniper walking toward him with something in her hand.
When she reached him he saw it was the radio which seemed to be broken.
"I found a blood trail and it would appear she got on one of the ATVs." He informed Juniper, "And fled that way." He pointed straight in front of him, "Juniper find some bags. We're going to need food and medical supplies."
Juniper nodded and set to work while Sim took in the destruction fully for the first time. Only a single wall stood of the bungalow and half of the supply shed had been knocked down as well. The second ATV was on its side the front axle bent and the handle bars lying ten feet away. Sim walk by the over turned couch and made his way to the remaining half of the supply shed. After a few minutes of careful unburying Sim was please to see that the 'Compy Jerky' bin was still intact. He slowly removed it and took it to the van.
He returned to the shed and was able salvage two five-gallon plastic barrels of water which he also placed in the van. Juniper returned with two backpacks full of medical supplies that she had managed to salvage.
"Good." He said, nodding approvingly, "Now let's go find your sister."
Juniper quickly loaded the backpacks into the car and sped to the passenger seat while Sim closed the van. Sim jumped in and started the car. He pulled away from the remains of the bungalow and drove into the trees in direction he knew April to have gone.
It was slow work. They had to stop every few minutes so they could ensure they were on the right track. Night fell and they still hadn't located April. She seemed to have gone farther into the jungle when fleeing than either of them had anticipated. Juniper wanted to keep searching but Sim over ruled her.
"We're going to need all the energy we can get if we're going to find her." He told her.
Juniper frowned but conceded and reclined her chair and was soon asleep. Sim watched her for a moment before locking the car doors and reclining his chair. He really hoped April was okay and that they would be able to find her. She must be scared he thought, all alone in a dangerous jungle and these thoughts guided him to sleep.
The next dawned bright and clear. Juniper and Sim wasted no time in continuing their hunt which took them several more miles, after several hours, before they found the ATV. The small motorized vehicle was a mangled ruin and appeared to have it a tree. After looking over the ATV and the tree it hit, Sim could see that April had either jumped off or simply fallen off. Juniper found more blood on the ATV and about thirty yards back Sim found a second trail that stopped after about ten feet in another patch of blood.
"She was here, probably unconscious for a while before she woke and, judging by the lack any blood trail beyond this point she bandaged herself up with something." Sim said as his eyes roved around the surrounding area, "From here on out we must leave the security we call fact and enter the insecure realm of guessing."
Juniper stared at him "What was that?" she asked.
"I took two philosophy classes in college." Sim explained, "Whenever I say something deep or philosophical, it's because of that."
"So, which way did she go?" Juniper asked.
Sim pointed, "That way the grass has there has been disturbed recently."
Juniper followed Sim deeper into the trees and silently prayed "Please, let April be okay and please, let me see her again.