Sean looked over the footprints, expression one of disbelief and confusion. "So, you're sure that this was made by one of those...future predators?"

"Certain," replied Tristan. "Not like anything else walks this way."

The youngest members of the park's staff had gathered around the kill-sites, while several more experienced members were busy examining the carcasses so as to determine what had killed them. The wolves and short-faced bear had since been corralled back to their exhibits, but there were still other creatures to return home - including one of the Coelodonta that had wandered up the hill. Where it was remained a mystery, but the staff wanted to find it before an ill fate fell upon the horned mammal.

Leading the gathered group was Nigel, though he had seen better days. The injuries inflicted upon him by the future predators had not yet fully healed, and it would be some time before he could return to rescuing prehistoric beasts. Still, that didn't mean that he couldn't lead in some capacity.

Pouring plaster into some of the tracks, Elise had a look of puzzlement on her face - something Nigel easily noticed. "Something on you mind?"

"Yeah - why would this thing run up here, of all places? I mean, this predator doesn't seem like a desert creature, but Suzanne, Vera, and Marcus all separately autopsied carcasses and confirmed that they don't have enough fat to be tundra creatures. So why would it head up to a cold area?"

"I'm sorry, but if there's an answer to that question, it eludes me. Maybe this just happened to be where it didn't find anything that was trying to kill it?"

"Maybe...so, do you think we should track it?"

Nigel thought long and hard, before sighing. "Yes, I do. Something that provokes such a strong reaction from the park animals cannot be allowed to roam free."

"So, you gonna lead us in after it?" questioned Tristan, who was already loading a tranquilizer rifle - the park did always aim to bring back animals alive.

"Not this time, no. I still haven't got all my strength back from before these future creatures showed up."

"Then who will be in charge of this mission?"

"Well, since Bob isn't spry enough to climb through these mountains, Suzanne still has to handle caring for animals injured in the second mass breakout, and your father is busy working on other projects...I guess leadership falls to you, Tristan."

Instantly, Tristan felt his eyes widen - him, leading this mission? But he wasn't ready - he had no idea where he was going, he didn't know what lived in these island mountains, he hadn't even gotten that much leadership experience. Why should he lead?

"Oi, I can see what you're thinking. Calm down. You'll manage, I know you can. You've lead the team before."

"Yeah, but I knew what kind of creatures we'd meet. That's not the case here."

"Sometimes you have to take risks to find meaning in life. This is one of them."

Tristan opened his mouth once more to argue, only to feel a hand on each of his shoulders. Looking around, he found that they belonged to Sean and Michelle.

"Don't sweat it," spoke his brother. "You can do this - I know you can."

"So do I," affirmed Michelle.

Seeing the honesty in their expressions, Tristan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When those eyes opened, his face was plastered with determination.

"Alright. Let's do this."

At that remark, one of the security team assigned to this hunting party blew a whistle. Within seconds, a group of bloodhounds emerged from a van, already examining the tracks for a scent. All of them dispersed, though, when Terence walked onto the scene - owing to his surprisingly docile nature, the park had decided to see if he could be used as a tracking dinosaur. So far, it seemed the plan was a success.

As the team prepared to move out, Nigel put a hand on Tristan's shoulder. When the boy turned around, he was surprised to see Nigel holding a folder full of papers.

"Your dad told me that the native people of this island, the Cauhtl, asked that only the area around the park be put on the official maps, and that everything else be kept off the records. Told me only to open this folder if they gave me permission. Before you ask, they didn't...but your guide for this mission, Mancho? He said to take this along with you, because he's willing to offer permission if you need whatever's in here."

Surprised, Tristan stared at the folder for a moment before taking it and, carefully, stowing it away.

"Good luck, kid."

"Thanks."

With that, the team began their trek in earnest. Nigel smiled, happy that they were taking their first steps on their own.

Only when they disappeared from sight did his smile waver. Part of it was concern over what they would encounter, but another portion was something far more selfish: jealousy. Nigel, for all of his praise and respect toward the teens and children, envied how they were going on an adventure when he could not.

Truth be told, this was really a symptom of other problems Nigel had been dealing with from these past few years working on the park. Yes, he liked working with extinct animals, but the secrecy required had taken its toll - his second wife had left him (admittedly for other reasons than this secrecy) and he hadn't really been able to spend as much time as he wanted with his own children. More importantly, though, working with all of these extinct animals had made Nigel more concerned about the present - one day, he and Tiberius planned to return these creatures to the wild, but now he was worrying that there might not be much wild left for these creatures to live in. The wild places of the world were rapidly vanishing, and Nigel knew that the speed of their fading was only going to increase unless more people started doing something about it.

...Maybe he should talk to Tiberius about handing control of the park back over to him or his kids. Perhaps rather than focusing on saving the creatures that had already vanished, he should move his attention to saving the ones that were still here.

XXXXXXXXXX

As the trekked up the hill, the team was on the lookout for any signs that the rhino had been here - the dogs might eventually lead them to the herbivore, but their own actions helped speed this process up. And with a highly dangerous predator around, getting the rhino to safety was a top priority.

Before they got up too far, though, the team was caught off guard when two feathery forms darted down the hill, running right between their legs. A closer look revealed them to be two escaped dinosaurs - a Tawa and a Koparion. The group wondered if the two were trying to eat one another, until another form tumbled down in front of them...and this one was a familiar looking human.

"...Wait, is that Cassandra?" questioned a squinting Elise.

Tristan joined her in squinting at the fallen figure. "...Yeah, I think it is."

"Hey, what hell are you doing here?"

Everyone immediately turned their attention to Sean, who merely shrugged at their confusion.

Huffing and puffing, Cassandra raised herself from the snow. "Trying...to catch...those dinosaurs."

"Well, I suggest that you hurry down the hill - it's not safe up here!"

"Why is that?"

"We think one of the predators that followed you into our time might have survived and run up here."

"...Oh. Yeah, good reason to declare a place unsafe."

"I know. Now would you be a nice person and head back toward the rest of the park?"

"Um, actually, I'd prefer to travel with you guys."

Confusion covered Sean's face. "Why?"

"Beyond wanderlust...don't predators prefer to hunt animals that are on their own?"

"...Point taken. But please get in the center of the group - I don't want you fighting."

Cassandra glared at Sean. "Chauvinistic pig!"

"It's not sexism."

Oh, really? Then why does he want me to be protected?"

"Well," answered Elise, "did you consider putting on hiking clothing before climbing up this snowy hilltop?"

"...Point taken."

Finally able to turn his attention away from the conversation, Tristan looked up the hilltop...only recoil in pain as a bright light flashed in his eyes. Hand over his face, Tristan allowed his eyes to water for a moment, before looking back up again.

...Odd. Must have gotten the glare from the river flowing down the hill.

XXXXXX

Putting down his binoculars, the man turned his attention toward his native companions. "You find all the parts?" he inquired, his words tinged with a Moroccan accent.

His two companions nodded in the affirmative.

"Good. Let's get back to town - we've got visitors headed our way."

XXXXXXXXXX

AN: I admit that I haven't really been putting a lot of focus on Nigel, and that as is, he isn't really planned to have much more character development. Also, for the record, when somebody wondered how Nigel was going to work his charms to tame a future predator...I really considered having it disembowel him and leave him to die. But I thought that would be too cruel.

Anyway, Read, Review, and check out my Discord. Also edit this story's tv tropes page if you have time!

This is Flameal15k, signing off!