The female brachiosaur lifted her neck up high and took a bite out of the treetops, sending a horde of animals on the run - some modern, such as a group of squirrel monkeys, others more prehistoric, such as a group of Triconolestes that had been hiding until nightfall. The myriad creatures scattered with great haste, trying to find a new shelter from predators, one that was far away from the giant herbivore.
Carmen watched this all with interest, carefully taking the opportunity to document each and every thing she saw. Most of it would likely be important in the future, but honestly, she would have documented it even if the information just left her coworkers with more confusion - she liked watching animals!
In particular, though, she was interested in the reptile that was now resting on the branch right in front of her.
The creature in many ways resembled a chameleon - similar leg design, body shape, and prehensile tail. Yet this creature was only distantly related to the color-changing squamates. In actuality, it was closer to birds and crocodiles than it was to lizards. This tiny predator was an Avicranium, a type of drepanosaur. The group had emerged following the Permo-Triassic Extinction Event, and had been one of the many forms the archosaurs had taken to exploit the sudden lack of competition. The group's reign had been short lived, though - the end Triassic Extinction had claimed many archosaur groups, and the drepanosaurs had been one of them. Now, all that remained beyond the specimens living in the park were footprints.
As for the one right before Carmen, though, it seemed to be confused - it spent a lot of time looking at her, occasionally backing up, only to advance again. Evidently, it was trying to see whether or not humans were a passive or active threat, or potentially an ally.
Well, time to given a final answer to that inquiry.
Moving slowly enough so as to not induce the reptile to panic, Carmen fished a mealworm out of a nearby tray - the park cultivated them as a form of Styrofoam recycling, as well as a food supply for certain residents. The sheer number of creatures that viewed them as food on the island also ensured that any groups in the wild wouldn't become pests. Putting that all aside for now, the observant keeper took the worm between her fingers and offered it to the climbing reptile. After a moment of visual and nasal inspection, it wolfed down the beetle-larva and swallowed it whole. Carmen just smiled in response - such was nature.
Sudden movement in the distance turned Carmen's attention toward a pond, where Elise was hard at work trying to coax a Brachychampsa out of the water. Seeing as the pond was the preferred gathering place for a small herd of hippo, this was more for the alligator's safety than for the plant eater's. Still, better safe than sorry.
Sighing, Carmen turned her attention back toward the little reptile before her. It looked like it wanted more snacks.
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AN: Well, here's another update for this story!
Much as I'd like, focusing on the away team is going to end up boring, so expect quite a few other staff members to show up in this story. I'll eventually port them over to the main story, but this will be their place to shine.
Our first focus character here, Carmen, is one of the park's reptile keepers. She's also one of the botany members, though compared to Pamela, she prefers to focus on trees, hence the treetop observation spot.
Anyway, Read and Review! This is Flameal15k, signing off!