HOW did they not use this set-up?
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Something about the tunnel- it's proximity perhaps- put Claire at more ease than she had been over the last few days. They moved along, single file down the dimly lit mouth of the main tunnel; Owen shielding them from behind as Kayla followed Ian's directions toward the control room. There were maps drilled at each turn and after the third right, it was literally at the end of their current path.
Closer, and yet no sooner to being home. Or her waking to find this an insane dream. Claire squeezed Maisie's hand as they moved forward. Ian was monologuing, intrigued by Owen's past training with raptors, while he and Kayla signaled to each other, clearing the way yard by yard.
"There's still Beta." Maisie mentioned. Claire straightened, nodding. "We'll get her."
"Who?" Alan had to ask.
"Beta." the three Gradys responded. Maisie smiled hopefully. "Blue's baby."
"Blue... the, ugh, ultra-smart raptor?" Ian tapped his fingers on some imaginary keyboard. "She, had a baby..."
Something echoed up ahead. Everyone stiffened and Claire steeled herself for another battle; with her body and her wits. The strength of both had been dwindling since her 'quick' exit from the plane.
"Back." Owen motioned with two fingers. With Maisie and the two doctors, Claire did so, until they hugged the damp wall. Owen arched his rifle around the corner, Kayla watching his six. The tunnels remained quiet, except for their quick, methodical steps. Their sights dimmed, leaving the rest in the half light.
"Nothing- nothing's down here." Maisie glanced side to side. "Right?"
Ian coughed. "Theoretically. But... should they, ugh, activate the implants."
Alan groaned. "The what?"
"They're, ugh, that is," Ian looked everywhere but Alan. "Like a homing beacon. Should something, um, you know, doesn't matter-"
"It actually does!" Alan forced a whisper.
Claire slapped both their shoulders. A definite moan came up through the dark this time. Claire kept Maisie close, watching the shadows off Owen and Kayla's weapons. She wished they'd come back this way.
"I'm never leaving again... I promise." Maisie's voice trembled. "I'll chop wood, make dinner; I will compost!"
"Can I get that in writing?" Claire bit her lip for control, wrapping an arm around her. Maisie paused. "We can't go back, can we."
Claire breathed out. "It couldn't be like that forever. But, you'll get answers, Maisie. And space, if you-"
Maisie pulled close, resting against Claire in a side hug. "I never wanted to do this without you. Just... wanted the chance."
Claire blinked off her emotion as Kayla motioned them forward. Their flashlights turned the corner to illuminate a staggering and unsure ankylosaurus.
"Just the one?" Alan asked nervously. "How is it down here?"
Owen pointed past it. "Might be a garage or holding bay that way."
"Then that's our best bet!" Ian cried, alerting the ankylosaurus. It approached, curious... and lost. Claire was sure they could all relate. Maisie moved farther in, watching it lumber against one wall.
"We can't leave yet." Owen announced, finding Claire in his peripheral. Kayla stiffened. "Grady-"
"It won't take long for me to track her down." Owen's stance relaxed. "Then I can meet you-"
"I'm not exactly for splitting up down here." Alan mentioned. Claire didn't fancy the idea either.
Kayla indicated past the ankylosaurus. "Where there's a garage, there's a plane. That's our way out."
"We don't know that." Claire reasoned. "The control room is a sure thing."
The ankylosaurus' movements became more agitated, as though reading the tension. Owen nodded Maisie back, his weapon steady. "I promised we'd get Beta home."
"A promise to whom?" Ian stretched his grammar out.
"Guys." Kayla stopped them, her beam focusing on the ankylosaurus' side. Claire craned her neck, but Owen and Kayla were already pulling back. "That's blood."
Their silence let their ears pick up on the skittering. Claws; lots of them... coming right for us!
"Next one over." Ian answered the unspoken question as they turned on their heels. Claire pushed Maisie ahead, Kayla and Owen firing behind her. Shrieks responded... then the skittering again. Her mind begged not to, but Claire looked up; only to fall flat as a scrawny animal pinned her across the chest. She felt claws reach into her shoulder and screamed. She reached up, felt a feathered neck and squeezed. It gave a choked cry but wouldn't release. "OWEN!"
"Move back, move back!" Owen yelled. Alan was pulling Maisie after Ian and other dinosaurs- bigger, lengthier then compies, and flying at short bursts- followed them. They needed to reach the exit! Claire rolled and sure enough, the leverage ripped the claws from her body. Whether the crazed state of survival, or a smaller body then she realized, Claire flung the dinosaur into the cement, skull-first. It squawked, spasmed, then lay still.
Tranqs began flying over her and Owen's arm was there, hoisting her up so they could run.
Always... running. Claire registered the pain in her shoulder but held her own until they were on the other side of the door.
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I was going for an archaeopteryx... another small, yet deadly dino. I always imagined them nesting in the shadows like bats.
