There is something missing from our world. The Amazing Creatures that time has elft behind. But what if we could bring them back? What if extinction didn't have to be forever? We're going on a safari with a difference as wildlife adventurer Nigel Marvin plunges into Prehistory to rescue creatures on the brink of extinction. He palns to bring them back to the safety of the present and give them a second chance. This time, Nigel and his team go back 270 million years to Prehistoric Texas, to rescue an animal that is very far from home. Welcome to the ultimate wildlife sanctuary. Welcome to Prehistoric Park.
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Prehistoric Park is turning out quite nicely. Already it is home to a dragonfly the size of an eagle, a pair of crested tyrannosaurs, and a herd of Moropus. But now, Nigel is aiming for a smaller prize.
In his den, Nigel is examining a photo. It depicts a lizard like animal, albeit with legs such that its spine slopes like a giraffe. Nearby are other photos, depicting similar yet larger creatures.
"I'm very interested in these creatures; they're called Dinocephalians and you could say they are the lost part of our past. Dinocephalians are the group of synapsids that existed in the middle Permian, which means that they came after Dimetrodon and the sphenacodonts died out, but before the rise of the gorgonopsids and dicynodons. As a result, they've mostly been forgotten by scientists. Now, the big famous ones are from Africa and Russia, but the one I'm looking at is from North America. He's called Eosyodon and I would love to have a few of them at Prehistoric Park.
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While Nigel makes preparations to rescue the strange synapsid, his newest recruits are busy getting introduced to some of the older residents.
Tristan and Alice are at the fence of one of the exhibits. Within is a primordial forest, with thick vegetation concealing what lies within. A cool breeze blows through, indicating this exhibit is close the park's tundra plains. How they exist on a tropical island is still beyond the staff.
Tristan is busy showing Alice how to use one of the carnivore feeding cranes.
"It's easy: you just insert the meat, lift this lever to raise the crane, twist the levers to move the crane, then lower the lever to get the meat put. Now you try."
Alice repeats Tristan's advice for a moment, then tries it out. The results are flawless. Before Alice can get time to bask in her victory, though, a loud hiss fills the air. Out of the trees emerges one of the park's Sinotyrannus. Attracted by the smell of blood, the predator digs into the flesh greedily, before running off with one piece of meat. Soon, the second arrives and eats its fill. It looks at the group for a moment, before it too retreats into the underbrush.
"Are they always this ravenous?" asks Alice.
"No, but they're cautious around new faces. When they get to know you better, they'll be less flighty and less aggressive."
Just then, Tristan gets a message on his phone. Taking a moment to examine it, his expression turns inot one of surprise.
"Looks like Nigel is ready for the next mission. Come on, lets go!"
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Nigel's newest adventure will require him to go back 270 million years to what is now Texas. Here, the seasonal forests and plains were a perfect habitat for this synapsid in a strange land. What else will they discover in this primordial land.
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On the other side of the portal, the group finds themselves in an open scrubland. Tough conifers dot the landscape, and to the east, there is a forest. On a few meters to the west is a large river, glistening in the light of mid-morning.
"So, we're looking for a lizard-mammal thing that was possibly our ancestor?" asks Michelle.
"Close enough," remarked Tai, who was crouched on a log overlooking the stream, watching for any fish. Even if he was relatively mature for his age, he was still a child. Any fish he saw were met with fish faces.
"Please try to focus on the mission," remarked Alice, annoyed with the youngest recruit's behavior.
"Someone's crabby."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are too."
The group stared for a moment, surprised at how quickly the conversation how descended into a petty argument.
Unfortunately, this meant that they failed to notice the strange shapes in the water rapidly approaching Tai...
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AN: Well, here's this chapter.
Some, here's some off the bat trivia (most trivia will be in the review section of the last segment of each chapter)
1. I wanted to show off Tristan teaching his friends how to care for the animals, but I also realized that it might detract a bit from the action, as I have him planned as a permaneant member of the away team. You'll see how I reconcile these ideas after this chapter is finished.
2. Dinocephalians are an amazing group, but usually aren't seen in fiction. Why? Well, it's simply because the lived in the Middle Permian, meaning they missed out on all of the good parts: they're too late in time to show with Dimetrodon as the first ruling synapsids, and are already extinct by the time of the great dying, which is where gorgonops and its kin got their fame. This is my way of honoring them.
It should be noted that, just because dinocephalians are not well known as a group does not mean they have well known individuals. Moschops, from Carnivores fame, is a dinocephalian.
3. I may burn through the next six episodes very fast, because I really want to get a certain episode out by Halloween. We'll see how that goes.
4. This is at Groudon65: yes, it's Mononykus and I will fix it. As for your episode idea, those creatures were already on the roster, but I've decided to incorporate the simultaneous rescue into that mission, so thanks.
Read, review, send me OCs and vote. This is Flameal15k, signing off!
