Well, I do believe we need to see how our heroes are doing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The group is now in a very precarious situation. Ahead of them, the giant clawed mystery beast is staring at them, though whether it is in fear, anger or curiosity is impossible to tell, nor does it matter to the humans. Slowly, they back away, trying to avoid looking dangerous. Perhaps it will avoid them if they are not a threat.

Before they can get far, though, the world around them grows bright as a loud bang resonates through the air. Panicked by the sudden lightning strike, the younger members of the team try to bolt, only to trip on one another. While Nigel has been spared this fate, he can only look on in surprise.

Before the team can pull themselves back up, the mystery animal gives a low bellow, before turning around and moving deeper into the forest. It appears that the giant is not interested in eating them.

"Did it just leave?" asks Vera.

"I believe it did," answers Alice, "and I suppose we should follow it. I'm not sure whether or not we will find another one anytime soon."

With that, the group heads after the mystery creature. Above them, thunder rumbles as the sky grows darker still.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx

Back at the park, Suzanne and Bob are examining some of the parks more recent residents. In particular, they've decided to examine the park's fastest armored residents.

In a small pen on the park's grasslands, Bob and Suzanne are busy feeding the park's Pampatherium and Propraopus. The pampatheres and armadillos have wildly different diets, so it is easy for them to coexist.

"It's funny," remarks Bob," but these creatures aren't really that closely related. They split of around the Eocene, but they look so very similar. Act similar too."

Before Bob can continue with his thoughts, though, a load roar resounds through the air, panicking the armored mammals and sending them into a full retreat.

"Come back!" shouts Suzanne, chasing after them.

Bob, meanwhile, turns toward a nearby exhibit. Emerge from the brush is what appears to be a large spectacled bear. It's the park's male Arctotherium, which is among the closest relatives of the spectacled bear. The giant mammal stares at Bob for a moment, before digging into a palm nut in its exhibit. Bob can only laugh at the spectacle it caused.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back in Miocene Florida, the group is still on the trail of the giant mystery mammal. Now, the sky is as dark as night, while the downpour has turned into a vertical flood. At regular intervals, flashes of lightning illuminate the otherwise pitch black underbrush.

"So, what are we following?" asks Vera.

"It's a Thinobadistes," answers Nigel," the first North American Ground Sloth. You see, the great American Interchange started in the Miocene, and these are some of the first immigrants to arrive from South America. In time, Glyptodonts, terror birds, pampatheres, armadillos and even toxodonts will follow."

Just then, the group notices that the area around them is getting lighter. Looking toward the sloth, they find that the forest has thinned out, giving way to a river.

And surrounding that river is a massive variety of mammals.

Are the far side of the river, a group of horses quench their thirsts while several camels graze on nearby trees. Nearer to the groud, gomphotheres clean trees while peccaries root through the underbrush, hoping to find tasty roots or insects. Meanwhile, several rhinos lazily swim through the rapidly rising water, taking care to avoid the alligators they share the water with.

While everyone takes in the beautiful sight, the ground sloth approaches the stream and begins to drink. It is soon joined by others of its kind, as well as several sloths from different genera.

The group is stunned at their luck. It looks like they'll be able to finish this mission with one last big rescue.

"Well, this is just spectacular," remarks Alice.

"You're right," remarks Vera," it is... I suppose we should start getting the portal ready to rescue these creatures?"

"True," remarks Tai.

Before anyone can get moving though, they hear a sharp whistle coming from the left. Turning toward the sound, the find that Marcus has already set up the portal, on the left end of the river, at the narrowest part of said river.

"...That was fast," remarks Tristan.

"I'm so wet my shoes are filled with water. The sooner we leave, the better."

"...Ok."

"Any ideas on getting the animals through the portal?" asks Vera.

"Maybe if we're lucky, the lighting will spook them into running toward the portal?" offers Alice.

"I doubt it," remarks Lucas," the odds of that happening are extremely unlikely-"

Before Lucas could finish his thoughts, a lightning bolt strikes the forest on the far bank of the river, igniting the trees and sending the nearest animals into panic. A moment later, a second bolt smacks down very close to the group, scattering them and igniting several bushes, with similar results to the other side of the river.

"YOU WERE SAYING?" asks Alice.

"Quick, to the portal," remarks Nigel.

The team obliges and makes for the portal, while Marcus readies the machine.

Before he can start it up, though, a third lighting bolt strikes, this time ON THE PORTAL STICKS.

Marcus is sent flying through the air, before landing hard on the muddy yet firm ground.

"MARCUS!" yells the group.

While everyone else goes to check the groaning boy, Nigel examines the portal stick. The good news is that the durable machine is intact. The bad news is that it is offline for a moment and needs time to reboot. Time the group really doesn't have.

Nigel looks back and forth between the team, the advancing animals, and the rapidly spreading flames. If the portal doesn't start soon, they may all be in trouble.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

AN: Uh oh. Things are really not looking good for our heroes.

Anyways, this is the penultimate segment of this chapter. The one after this will finish the Great American Safari (yay), something I think everyone is relieved to hear.

Now, here is one thing I'd like to clear up:

1. It turns out Propraopus is actually a species of armadillo. Originally, I assumed it was a creature called a pampathere, a type of extinct animal that looked very much like an armadillo, but reached sizes similar to glyptodonts. Luckily, it turned out that Pampatherium itself also existed at the same time, so for all intents and purposes, both were rescued. Chapter 4 will be edited to account for this.

Just so you know, next chapter is the last episode that will feature a 'next time' ending, as I prefer to keep you guys guessing. Also, expect the next episode to use some REALLY obscure animals. And most of the ones after it, for that matter.

So, read, review, send me OCs and vote on the poll. This is Flameal15k, signing off.