I'm back. Also, surf's up!
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After giving his heat exhausted team a chance to rest, Nigel gets ready to go back to the Miocene.
This time, though, he has a different set of targets to go after.
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On the other side of the portal, the world changes once again. This time, it is a flood plain with no forests at all, save a few near a large body of water.
Around the group, there are plants of all sorts, as well as numerous herbivores. Yet this is not what catches the groups attention the most.
The detail that captures the groups mind is merely one all have smelt before, but were not expecting to encounter here:
It's salt. More specifically, it's sea salt.
"Are we by the sea?" asks Michelle.
"We are," remarks Nigel. "This is modern day California. You see, the Miocene was when the Pinnipeds, that is, seals and sea lions, started to diversify, so I wanted to try and bring back some for the park."
"So we're looking for sea lions," remarked Alice. "well, let's get moving."
Before the group can move at all, though, they notice that one group of herbivores has approached them. They resemble hippos, but have tusks unlike any other creature in existence.
Nigel is quick to identify the beasts.
"They're Desmostylus. They might look like hippos, but these guys are from a different family entirely. These creatures were around in the Oligocene, and they'll live all the way to the end of the Miocene. I'd love to rescue, but I don't think we can. IT might alter the environment too much."
Just as he finishes his sentence, though, Nigel notices something. Behind the herd is a group cats. Not a pack, per say, but it appears that these cats have been drawn together by the smell of food.
"Those are Pseudaelurus. They're the ancestors of the saber-tooths and all of the cats we know of today. And I think that they are after this herd."
Now, Nigel has bigger problems than time. If the herd stampedes in panic, the group will be caught in the crossfire.
Seeing no option, Nigel quickly set up the portal.
The minute it activates, the cats burst out of hiding. Panicking, the herbivores stampede through the portal, with the cats following soon after.
"Well, that was unexpected."
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While Bob deals with the new arrivals, Susan is checking on some of the park's older residents.
Specifically, she's checking on the Edmontosaurus. The herd has been becoming restless, and Suzanne wants to see why.
When Suzanne arrives, two of the hadrosaurs are bellowing at eachother. They add to this with displays of the fleshy combs on their heads. The display is impressive, but its cler that neither is backing down.
Then, one of the dinosaurs charges. The other soon responds, and the Earth shakes as the giants collide. From there, the herbivores struggles to try and push each other over, neither willing to back down.
As the fight drags on, both animals grow tired, and the battle goes from a wrestling match to a fight to shove the other over. Several other hadrosaurs have come to watch the spectacle, cautious and at the same time curious about the battle of giants.
Eventually, one of the giant herbivores tires and is forced down. The victor trumpets into the air and turns toward the watching hadrosaurs. After a moment, two break off and approach him. Both, while still brightly colored, are significantly more plainly skinned than the victor.
"Now I get it. This is a mating battle. The two we saw fighting were males. It looks like the winner gets the most females. It's really something spectacular to see."
As the victorious male leaves with his mates, the loser slowly brings himself to his feet and sulks off. Unnoticed to the male, a female is following him.
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Meanwhile, back in Miocene California, the sun has started to set. On a beach not far from where they arrived, Nigel and crew are setting up camp. As the do so, they get to meet some late arrivals.
Nearby, a group of seal lions have taken up camp near the group. They are cautious of the newcomers, but haven't tried to evict them.
"What are these things?" asked Tai.
"They're Allodesmus, one of the earliest sea lions," answered Alice. "These guys are probably getting read to rest for the night."
"ok."
With the sun setting, the group gets ready to sleep.
Unfortunately, it also means they don't get a chance to see a large fin passing through the water.
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AN: Read and review. Also, more than just Desmostylus went through the portal.
This is Flameal15k, signing off.
