"Please let me go!"

Max paused in loading the SUV to glance at Riley. "It's safer here."

"So, you can go and face dangerous mutants on a weekly basis, but not me?" Riley ducked under Fiona's arms as the other teen packed the emergency camping supplies on the SUV's rack. "I need to get out and do something. That would do me more good than anything!"

Roger craned his neck around the back of the SUV. "We're trying to keep you away from Veloci, not hand you over to him."

Riley huffed. "He hasn't caught any of you in over a year. What makes you think that he's going to catch me?"

"She does have a point," Buzz pointed out from his perch on the top of the SUV.

Riley smiled at him, glad to finally have someone on her side.

"Take her along."

Riley turned toward Ms. Moynihan, surprised to hear that she was on her side. Hadn't she told her, not ten minutes ago, that she wasn't even supposed to go outside?
"I know that you don't like staying in the lighthouse," Ms. Moynihan said. "I believe that is why you keep having fits. Maybe if you went out and did something, it would help you settle down."

Riley nodded eagerly and turned to Max. While he didn't look happy, he nodded to Riley and Ms. Moynihan. Riley beamed and helped finish loading the SUV. The squad clambered into the SUV and, after one last warning to be careful from Ms. Moynihan, drove off.


"I can't wait to see what you come up with for this one," Riley commented, head cocked back.

Caruso, also staring at the sky, said, "Me, too."

No one else bothered to respond as they watched the trio of mutated bluebirds circle overhead.

"Anyone know where we can get a giant bag of birdseed?" Buzz asked.

Roger hummed. "And while we're at it, why don't we just call, 'here, birdy, birdy?'"

One of the bluebird-a-saurus' turned toward Roger's voice. It gave a raspy screech, making the other two pause and face the squad as well.

"Gee, thanks, Roger," Caruso muttered.

Max and Roger yelled, "Go dino!" and transformed. Faced by a T-Rex and Triceratops, the bluebird-a-saurus checked their dives with a screech and wheeled away.

"Buzz, don't let them get away!" Fiona yelled.

Buzz dropped his duffel bag of de-oozers and transformed, then flew quickly up to cut off the mutants. The mutants veered back down close to the trees and screeched at Buzz.

"Now would be a good time for chilling and spilling," Caruso said.

Riley narrowed her eyes at the bluebird-a-saurus'. They flew around the treetops, a good fifty feet above the squad's head. It was only a matter of time before they scattered.

"Hold this," Riley said, shoving her backpack into Caruso's hands.

"What are you doing?" Fiona asked critically.

"Bringing them down to our level."

Without any more explanation, Riley transformed and leaped onto the trunk of the nearest tree. She swiftly climbed to the top, and burst out of the branches.

The bluebird-a-saurus' screeched, but couldn't move fast enough. Riley landed on the back of the one closest to her. Though the mutant was as big as her, Riley's sudden weight was enough to send it plummeting to the ground. While the mutant was stunned, Caruso and Fiona de-oozed it.

There was a thud as Buzz took down a second mutant in a similar manner. It was quickly de-oozed as well, and the two harmless birds flew away.

Riley and Buzz gave each other toothy dino grins, then looked at the sky. Their grins vanished as they realized that the final mutant was gone!

"I guess it flew the coop," Buzz said.

"You did not just say that," Riley groaned.

"Split up, team!" Max ordered. "We'd better find the last one before-"

A deep thrumming cut Max off. Fiona and Caruso ducked under the trees as Veloci's helicopter came into view.

Max growled. "Roger and I will distract Veloci's goons. Buzz and Riley, get that last mutant, okay?"

Riley and Buzz nodded. Max stomped, signaling Fiona and Caruso to take off for the SUV, then he and Roger ran in the direction of the copter.

Buzz waited until the copter turned away, then he flew back out. Riley grabbed Buzz's duffel and ran below him.

It wasn't long before Buzz tracked down the last mutant, precariously nestled in a tree. The mutant screeched at Buzz as he circled, eventually allowing itself to get drawn out of the branches and into the air.

Riley dropped the de-oozers and picked up a chiller with her agile paws. "Now, Buzz!"

Buzz threw himself at the mutant, and the two tumbled down in a tangle of feathers and scaly skin. They hit the ground with Buzz on the bottom. The mutant squirmed to get free of Buzz's wings, so Riley wasted no time in chilling and spilling it.

The bluebird on Buzz shook itself, then flew away. Riley squawked in celebration, then turned to Buzz, who hadn't moved.

"Are you okay?"

"C-cold."

Riley's eyes widened. "Max, we got the last mutant, but Buzz got chilled."

"He'll shake it off in a minute," Roger said.

Before Riley could answer, her ears picked up the distant sound of motors. They were rapidly getting closer, and it took only a second to recognize the sound.

"Dad's goons!" Riley looked quickly around. "I'm going to have to lead them away from Buzz. I'll meet you at the SUV!"

"No, w-we hav-ve t-to stick t-together," Buzz protested through his shivers.

"You're in no condition to deal with anyone," Riley said, aware of the ATV's almost on top of them. "Once you're warmed up, head for the SUV."

Riley didn't wait for any more protests. She raced past Buzz. She heard Max roar, then he telepathically told Roger to help Riley. She rolled her eyes.

Two ATVs soon came into view. Riley ducked into the brush, then leaped out as they passed. She rammed into the closest one, toppling it into the second. The two men were knocked to the ground, but scrambled upright. Riley roared a challenge, then darted away. She grinned when she heard them resume chasing her.

Riley led the two ATVs into a wide circle, taking it easy until she heard Buzz call that he was okay and headed for the SUV. Max responded soon after to say that he had lost the copter and was headed that way as well.

"Riley?"

"No worries, Max. I'm just taking these guys for a jog. Feels good to stretch my legs."

"Riley," Max warned.

"Okay, okay. I'll ditch them and head your way."

"Good. Roger with you, too?"

"Um, no. I thought he turned around before getting here," Riley said.

Riley could feel worry in Max's voice as he said, "He wouldn't without you! Roger!"

"Ugh, Max?" Roger's voice responded, sounding thick and sluggish. "What happened? Where are- Veloci!"

"Oh, no, no!" Riley thought. "I'm coming, Roger!"

Riley spun into a turn. One of the ATV's tried to follow, but spun out of control into the second.

"Good old Crash," Riley thought with a chuckle.

Riley ran in the direction Max and Roger had gone. She spotted Veloci's copter hovering ahead, and felt a surge of fear. She burst out of the trees,then skidded to a halt.

Roger was in the middle of the clearing, struggling against a net pinning him to the ground. Several of Veloci's men surrounded him, but her father was nowhere in sight.

Max charged out of the trees from the opposite direction, roaring. A few of the masked men scattered, except for one that stood right in Max's path. Max neatly veered around him, and the man calmly turned to watch Max.

"Max!" Riley called, fearing a trap.

Max glanced at her, but didn't slow. He shoved Velocci's men out of the way, then turned to Roger.

Growling at Max's oblivion to the calm man -who still hadn't moved- Riley rushed into the clearing. She darted past her teammates to grind to a halt in front of the man. She shoved her muzzle into his face and growled.

"Hey, Riley," said the man in a very familiar voice.

Riley's head reared back, automatically roaring, "Rob?!"

While she couldn't see his face, his voice and scent were unmistakable as Rob. It was easy to picture the easy smile on the young man's face. He'd been there most of Riley's life, and had once been her only source of real comfort. He was friendly, helpful, and fearless.

Most importantly, he was her brother.

"Riley, what is it?" Max asked.

Riley spun. "Go! It's a trap!"

At that second, a dozen ATVs roared out of the trees. Max was pelted with thick tar before he could respond and Roger was trapped under another net.

Riley shrieked. Rob finally moved toward her, but she swiped her tail at him to force him back. One of the other men approached with a net gun, but Riley charged him and knocked him over. She rushed to Max struggling against the tar and snarled at anyone who got close.

Rob waved the others back and approached with his hands held out. "Easy, there, Riley."

"He knows your name?" Max asked.

Roger briefly ceased struggling to roll his eyes. "Are you forgetting who you're talking to? I'd be surprised if he didn't know her."

"Just hush! Whatever I say or do, don't communicate in any other way than telepathically," Riley said shortly, then roared audibly, "Get back!"

"Riley, just calm down. No one has to get hurt," Rob said in a soothing tone. "Come with me."

Riley snarled to hide her unease. She had always trusted Rob and done as he urged. But now he stood for something that was the opposite of what she believed. He wanted to imprison her friends!

"We're going," Riley roared fiercely. "Don't try to stop us, or you'll be the ones who get hurt."

"Aw, Riley," Rob said. "You know you wouldn't hurt us."

"What the- Riley, does he understand you?" Max asked.

"That's impossible! Not even Ms. Moynihan understands dino unless she's in dino mode," Roger argued.

By then, neither of Riley's teammates were struggling, instead staring at Riley in confusion. Riley shook her head, both in frustration and the knowledge that she was going to have some explaining to do once it was all over.

"Rob, I know that I used to listen to everything you said without arguing, but I can't this time! Father only wants to hurt my new friends, and I can't let him," Riley growled.

"He only wants to study them," Rob said.

Riley shook her head. "I can't believe that anymore. I've seen what Father is doing from the other side. He's endangering innocent people by mutating animals and plants. My friends are helping the people from the danger he puts them in."

"It's not like that," Rob said. "Mr. Veloci only hid things from you because he wanted to keep you safe. Come on back to the lab with me, and we'll explain everything."

"I can't! It's all a lie, Rob! Come with me, and I'll show you the truth!"

"Riley, you can't take him to the lighthouse," Max protested. "He'd lead Veloci right to us!"

"We could find some other way to show him," Riley told Max. "I'm not going to put the team in danger."

Rob glanced at all of Veloci's men waiting. "I can't come with you, Riley. Not without Mr. Veloci. I'm here to bring you home."

Riley touched the scars on her muzzle, fierce determination filling her. She snarled, "I'm never going back."

One of the other men stepped closer with a tar gun, but Rob waved him back.

"Don't worry," Rob said to him. "Riley would never hurt us."

Riley growled at the statement. Rob was right. While their armor was able to protect them from her fangs and strength, Riley couldn't bring herself to do anything that could even possibly hurt Veloci's men. When it came down to it, they were like family to her.

And Rob knew that. All he had to do was wait her out. For all she knew, her father was on his way, and it was very hard for her to say no to him!

She needed a way out, and fast.

"Come on," Rob invited, holding a hand out to her. "Everything is fine, you'll see."

Riley snapped at Rob's hand, making him jerk it back despite his calm words. Riley shook her head, frustrated and flustered. She forced back her indecision when she noticed a buzzing in her head that always came before she lost control.

Wait. Control.

Riley's eyes narrowed. "Roger, can you get free?"

"Probably, but there's too many of Veloci's men to get past."

"I'll clear them out. Once you're free, get Max free, then you both need to run."

"What are you planning?" Max asked, sounding slightly nervous.

"Something crazy." Riley took a deep breath, then roared to her teammates and Rob, "I'm giving you to the count of five to get out of here!"

"Riley…." Rob said, raising his hands.

"One." Riley narrowed her eyes. "There's nothing more dangerous than an angry raptor."

Rob's eyes widened. "Don't!"

"Two."

Rob spun around and yelled, "Everyone, clear out! Code five!"

Anyone on foot bolted for a spot on an ATV. The drivers spun the ATVs around and gunned the engines, racing to escape Riley's coming fury. Rob didn't move as the group vanished into the trees.

"Three."

Riley focused on her suppressed frustration, allowing it to fester into anger.

"Four."

A snap and crashing came from Roger as he burst free. He quickly went to work on Max, worriedly eyeing Riley.

"Get outta here, Rob," Riley warned.

"I'm not budging."

"Fine."

Riley closed her eyes and let her fury rise as, for the first time in her life, she chose to go full feral.

"Five."