Let's get back to our heroes!

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The ferns continue to rustle, but the sound is getting louder. Whatever is hiding behind the bushes is getting closer, and fast.

Elise and Drew share a glance, then slowly begin walking toward the ferns. They're cautious to avoid making much noise, as any sound they make could send mystery animal heading for the hills.

Fortunately, the mystery animal seems to have not noticed, and has (apparently) moved closer to the team.

For a few tense moments, the team is unsure what to do. Then, a fern leaf disappears and is replaced by a green reptilian head, with yellow spots, which resembles a lizard's. It briefly examines the group, before turning back to eating. After a moment, four other heads join it.

Drew and Elise stare at the animals, clearly perplexed by the sight before them. They've heard of this animal, but it's name eludes them.

Turning toward the rest of the team, Elise voices her question:

"What is that animal?" she whispers.

After looking for a moment, it's Violet who answers.

"If I'd have to guess, it's a trilophosaur, since they looked a lot like lizards. And since Arizonasaurus was found in the Moenkopi formation, that means that this must be Anisodontosaurus," she whispers back.

"Okay, so, how big does it get?"

"Can't say, its only fossils are teeth. Though, going by what we know about Trilophosaurus, around eight feet."

"Okay, so we have an eight foot plant eating reptile. How do we catch it?" asks Drew.

"...How about with bait?" asks Aiden. "They've eaten a lot of the ferns, so maybe we can use some to bait them into the portal?"

"...That could work," responds Elise.

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While the away team readies to capture the trilophosaurs, back at the park, the youngest remaining recruits are busy working with some of the Miocene mammals.

At the edge of Titanosaur Treetops, Alice and Vera have hastily begun climbing up a tree, while below them, a horse-like creature stares at them, clearly looking angry.

Some of whom are not very friendly.

After finally reaching a set of branches where they can sit down, Vera and Alice take a moment to catch their breath. Below, the horse-like creature begins pacing around, apparently waiting for them to fall.

"Ugh, what is that thing?" asks Vera, clearly confused by the creature beneath them, not to mention very nervous.

"...I...don't know," answers Alice. "It resembles a paracerathere, but those are only native to Asia."

'And a lot bigger,' she thought.

All the while, the horse-like creature continues to stare at them, occasionally trying to knock the tree over. FOrtunatley for the girls, it's nowhere near strong enough to even make it shake.

Eventually, their salvation arrives: one of the titanosaurs approaches the tree to feed, sending the horse-like creature into retreat. It returns to a herd of similar creatures, most of which are browsing from a clump of shrubs. Once it has gone far enough away, Alice and Vera quickly descend from their tree, then exit the exhibit.

For now, the mammal has won this battle.

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While Alice and Vera decide to rest after their most recent task, Michelle, Lucas and Marcus are busy working with a different set of mammals.

Nearby a lake, Marcus is slowly approaching a hippolike creature, with a beat in hand, while more of them stare at him from within the lake.

With far more caution then their friends.

"So," began Michelle, "what are these things?"

"If I remember right, they're anthracotheres," answers Marcus.

"Are those hippos?" asks Michelle.

"No, but they are close relatives," replied Lucas.

"Okay... why is Marcus walking toward that one again?" questioned Michelle.

"It swiped his set of keys for the horticulture tools. I think it was attracted to their shininess" answered Lucas.

"Okay... wait, aren't hippos really aggressive?"

"Yes, they are, Michelle."

"Then shouldn't he be worried about it, you know, charging him?"

"What do you think the beat is for?"

"...they like beats?"

"They do."

While Lucas and Michelle continue their conversation, Marcus has finally approached the anthracothere. The creature is clearly uncomfortable at his presence, but it hasn't charged yet. The key-ring for the horticulture tools is hanging from its mouth, locked around its lower teeth.

Knowing that he will lose his chance if he doesn't act now, he throws the beat aside and waits for the hippo-like creature to react.

The anthracothere stares at Marcus for a moment, before turning its attention toward the beat. Soon, hunger wins out over caution and the beast goes over and devours the beat, dropping the keys in the process. Seizing his chance, Marcus seizes the keys and makes a break for Michelle and Lucas. The anthracothere bellows at him, but that is as far as it will go. Once it sees that Marcus is far enough away, it heads toward the lake containing its companions, eager to cool down in the face of the midday sun.

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Back in the past, the team is setting their plan in motion.

The team has decided to take Aiden's plan and expand on it: they've gather several ferns and begun setting up a pile by the portal. They've also begun setting up a funnel out of logs.

"Now, we've done this strategy before, but this is a very effective strategy: we've set up a funnel for the trilophosaurs, with the portal and bait at the narrow end," begins Nigel. " Now, they've almost eaten all of the ferns over where they are right now, so once they see out little pile of ferns, they'll head over to the bait pile to keep eating. Once they're close enough, will activate the portal."

Sure enough, the trilophosaurs have indeed devoured all of the ferns they were in the middle of, and are now searching for food. It doesn't take long for one to notice the pile behind the portal sticks. After letting out a grunt to inform its herd-mates of the food, it begins heading toward the pile, eager to sate its appetite. Soon, it is joined by others, eager to sate their growling stomachs.

When they are close enough, Nigel activates the portal. The first trilophosaur vanishes through the portal, spirited to the safety of the present. Unfortunately, the appearance of the portal spooks he rest of the lizard-like creatures, which begin to turn to run.

"Oh no," remarks Elise, who promptly runs toward the funnel, trying to get the animals to run toward the portal, or at least not away from it. "Don't run!"

Ironically, this only makes the trilophosaurs run faster... toward the portal. For while they might be surprised by the portal, their fear of the weird, green animal far outweighs their fear of the portal.

Soon, the last trilophosaur vanishes through the portal, which promptly seals itself shut.

All eyes turn toward Elise, who has become rather sheepish at being the center of attention.

"Well," begins Tristan, "I guess that was your first rescue. Nice job."

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AN: The horse creature was a last minute add in I wanted for the park. Assume a few made it into the park when the Bathornis charged the camels, because otherwise they would have been more anachronistic than they are already.

Also, I'm still taking guess as to who Elise is based on. Her name should be a hint.

Read and Review. This is Flameal15k, signing off.