Just a heads up, but if I get any delays, the last part of this chapter will be uploaded on the fifth of January. Oh, and if you guys keep asking for chapters, I WILL put this fic on ice - I have other things to do and other stories on other websites to work on.
That being said, let's get back to our heroes adventures in Prehistory.
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In Prehistoric Arizona, the team has finally found their target - the North American Glyptodont, Glyptotherium. Unfortunately for them, catching it is easier said than done.
Cautiously, the team follows the giant armadillo relative across the scrubland, hoping to find an opportunity to send it back to the park. This isn't as easy as it sounds, though - for the mammalian version of an ankylosaur, it is surprisingly fast, which, combined with the large amount of brush between the group and the glyptodont, makes it difficult for the team to keep up with the giant herbivore. Visibility is at a premium, and the denseness of the plants in the area means that trying to outflank the herbivore runs the risk of losing it entirely. The heat isn't helping either, and already, Tai and Violet are beginning to tire.
"Seriously, this thing has a giant shell exposed to the sun, is forced by said shell to waddle, even if it waddles really fast, and doesn't get a lot of sun protection from the plants overhead," complains Tai. "So, please, tell me WHY I'M GETTING TIRED FASTER THAN IT IS!"
"It's more used to this kind of exertion," offers Elise, though she too is showing signs of heat exhaustion. "Still, this is getting exhausting."
"Well, no one said this job would be easy," remarked Nigel. "That being said, this herbivore has to stop some time, and since it hasn't stopped to eat anything since we started chasing it, I don't think it will be too long before hunger forces it to rest."
"I hope you're right," moans Tai, "because I'm not sure I can keep this up for much longer."
That is a sentiment much of the group shares. All of them want the chase to end soon.
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Back at the park, the local runaway is still on the prowl, searching for a new home.
Beneath the blazing sun, the temnospondyl took a moment to rest within a shallow pool, taking some of the edge off of its overheating body. Nearby, several scaly belly draggers stared at it, perplexed by its presence but unwilling to attack. Oddly, they looked much like the slimy skinned creature they now shared the pool with: while they had larger legs than the temnospondyl, their body plans were remarkably similar to each other, down to their long, thin snouts, meant almost entirely for eating fish and ill suited for fighting. That was another reason the belly draggers had refused to attack the overgrown salamander - the risk of injury was too great.
Eventually, though, the amphibian was forced to leave. The water was getting steadily warmer under the merciless sun, and soon it became too hot for the temnospondyl to endure. Additionally, the water made it feel bloat3ed, form some odd reason, like many of the other pools did. Beyond all of that, though, the briny smell of the sea was still calling to the amphibian. A smell not unlike that of home. Salty, and with the hint of decaying fish, it called out to the amphibian, beckoning it to follow.
The overgrown salamander obliged to that call in a heartbeat. Forcing itself forward, it crawled through mud, dirt, ferns, and grass, covering itself in a layer of debris as it did so. Occasionally, it passed by giant beaked herbivores, grazing on the nearby plant matter, oblivious to the presence of the giant amphibian. It had a run in with a pair of brightly colored creatures with strange scales and sickle claws, feeding on the remains of what appeared to be a large traversodont, if the smell was any indication. Occasionally, it came upon a body of water, which the slimy skinned predator would quickly immerse itself in, taking the opportunity to cool down, then continue on with tis journey, determined to reach the source of the briny smell. Preferably without meeting any giant praetors on the way.
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Back in Prehistoric Arizona, the team is still on the trail of the glyptodont. Now, though, they've made an interesting discovery.
At last, and much to the team's relief, the car sized armadillo relative is finally slowing down, the heat and hunger finally seeming to take their toll on the beast. Unfortunately, its still has enough strength to climb up a small, forcing the team to follow it, with most of them making their displeasure to at the scene blatantly obvious. Despite their annoyance and exhaustion, though, the team is able to ascend to the hilltop, revealing an interesting, and beautiful, sight: a winding river, untouched by pollution. On its bank rests the giant shelled mammal, taking a break from its travels to quench its thirst.
With the animal stationary, the group quickly get to work setting up the portal and drawing up a plan to rescue the giant. They've barely set up the portal, though, when the beast begins to move once more, but in the most unlikely of way - it walks right into the water, before promptly beginning to swim downstream with unexpected grace. The team can only gawk at the strange sight before them.
"...It can swim?" remarked Sean, still somewhat stunned to see the giant armadillo relative swimming so gracefully away from them.
"...Well, glyptodont fossils are know to be in close proximity to capybaras," remarked Nigel, "and those are aquatic mammals, so there is some precedent for this."
"Yeah, but that might have cost us our only chance to rescue this giant herbivore," remarked an annoyed Tristan.
"Maybe not," replied Tai of all people, causing everyone to stare at him. As he was still standing atop the hill, he had a better look at the stream than the rest of the team. "There's a part of the stream not too far away that's too shallow for that overgrown armadillo to swim in, so if we can get to there in time, we might still be able to rescue it."
For the team, this is a much needed break. If they can reach the shallows in time, they can still rescue their giant shelled quarry.
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AN: Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!
