DaPPA: Two Worlds, One Family

by Darksage95

Hazel, her sister Hanna, Chris, Daisy, and Ellis are now the park's newest mentors. Not long after their return from Temporary Park, they meet Daniel Rimbauer, a rookie eager to be part of their team. Smart, daring, athletic, and compassionate, he soon proves to be a critical asset. But all is not as it seems, for Daniel has his own agenda, one that may put the park in danger.

14. Treading on Burning Sands

A.N. Hey everybody! Darksage95 and Marc-Ello here with the next chapter in DaPPA TWoF. Now some big news, but we're pretty sure you saw something different with the opening when you opened the story. Well, MarinXenom created the cover of this book and it looks awesome! Thanks so much for the art! Come check out more of MarinXenom's art in Deviantart :).

As always, we don't own anything. Enjoy!

Soundtrack: Scorpion Desert by Derek and Brandon Fiechter

Daniel's hands trembled. Quickly and concisely, he worked on his task. Whatever he came up with, he worked to make it sound believable. If this didn't work, he and everyone else would be in trouble. No, the whole park was already in danger if he didn't do something.

After his return from the Eocene, the agent made a beeline for his room in the Barracks. It was already the twilight hours by the time he got back. The dark room illuminated when he switched on his computer. His anxiety skyrocketed when he found a reply from his boss, Director Rain. Sure enough, she was not pleased at all.

Daniel never failed the S.A.G.E.S., much less the director herself. The whole fiasco with Hazel and Chris was a whole misunderstanding. And now, he's paying the price. He needed to reply with an alibi, fast!

No matter how many times he reread the message, he could still imagine the director looming over him, glowering at her failed field agent.

Agent Rimbauer,

Thank you for sending me your report update. Upon reading your report, I can't help but voice my concerns on the matters you speak of. It would be best if I cut to the chase rather than talk about every single detail.

This talk of Nigel and Jacob with prehistoric creatures, time travel, and talking animals is very...odd. I didn't expect you to be fantastical in your observations. It's fair for me to say that I don't believe anything in this recent report of yours. Are you alright? Did something happen to cause you to write a false report?

We expected you to be quite honest in your observations as well as professional. This is not meeting our expectations. A major disappointment on your part. I expect an immediate reply as soon as you read this message. Honestly Agent Rimbauer, we expected more from you. You better have a good explanation for your previous report.

Regards,

Director Rain

Daniel fumbled on every response he put in. This needed to be resolved pronto. If Director Rain went forward with bringing more agents here, or worse, come here herself, the park would be exposed and it would certainly be the end. Risky as all of the jobs were, there was still so much he could learn from this place. He had grown to like it. He had started to build…connections here.

This park wasn't ready for a big reveal. Perhaps it never will be, but everyone here has honest intentions. And the Residents weren't so terrible, once they got to know them. The sanctuary's long term goal of becoming known to the outside world is a dream that won't come true immediately, but it was an honest one. Sure, it won't be like the Jurassic Park movies, but the people here know what they're doing.

If the S.A.G.E.S. come here, the park will shut down. The Residents that have made their home here would either be sent back to their own times, or in a more radical approach, be sent to a government facility to be studied for the rest of their lives. Nobody here wanted that, not even him. These creatures need to live out their lives freely, with a few set limitations. But the bonds people could build with them have potential to become something more. And then there was the staff here. They would be questioned and under close watch for the rest of their lives. None of them would be able to live like normal people.

Hazel…the woman he came to admire. She said this place was her home. Her friends and family were here. She found purpose here. Without the park, she would be heartbroken. This was her father's legacy; this was all she had left of him. With it gone, it will certainly tear her apart. And he would be its dark harbinger. Hazel would never want to speak to him again. That woman meant something to him. She turned him down after he revealed he liked her, but Flia's words rang in his ear. He still had a chance. If he plays his cards right, things will continue the way they were. He could keep on learning from her, traveling with her, and perhaps, just maybe…

Daniel finished his message. A lot of things were riding on the success of this reply. He looked over it one more time to make sure there weren't any mistakes.

Director Rain,

I apologize for the confusion in my last report. In truth, it was written out of anger and irritation from an employee I wanted to get back at. It was by the time I sent it I realized how unprofessional it was to vent at you.

I wasn't in the right mind when I wrote that message. Those mentions of time travel, dinosaurs, and Jacob Veran's and Nigel Marvin's involvement were me when I was in a drunken stupor. I was found in a daze in my room when one of the staff alerted me of my tardiness for the day. Only when I came to and the person left my quarters did I see the damage that had been wrought. I apologize for the inappropriateness on my part. It won't happen again.

The whole time-travel, prehistoric creatures in the present, and them talking are actually backdrops for a series the Park is working on. I apologize I neglected to mention that in the previous message. Again, I was not in the right mind. Please forgive me. I won't lie that the increase in funds with the park as well as their expansion are regarded as suspicious. However, I believe these actions are rather benign. It's just a regular sanctuary protecting endangered animals.

Regardless, I will continue my investigation if I find anything out of the ordinary. As mentioned before, I await your further orders. I will not lie when I say that I have been learning a lot from this place. It perhaps would not be a bad idea if I stay longer, if that is alright with you.

Sincerely,

Agent Rimbauer

He sent the message. Daniel waited for his boss' reply.

Over the next thirty minutes, he thought about the outcomes of what should happen if he succeeded or failed. The scenarios played over and over again in his head. Should he succeed, he would continue going undercover for the park. Things would go on as normal, albeit temporarily.

But should he fail, he would no doubt receive good merits from his organization, perhaps be promoted to a higher position. However, that would mean the loss of everyone's livelihoods in this valley. These people don't deserve this.

Though, that idea of him joining the Park permanently seemed appealing. Dangerous as the jobs were, they were just as exciting as the missions he would go on. And he certainly wouldn't say no to time travel, not to mention the bonus of speaking to the prehistoric denizens. This place has so much potential, he can't bear to see it be shut down.

A moment later, he got the notification. The bottom text box appeared, revealing a new message. It was from Director Rain. He felt his guts churn. He opened the message and read its contents.

Agent Rimbauer,

I appreciate the promptness in your response. You gallivanting around when you're supposed to be undercover is clearly a violation of your requirements out on the field. We expect you to be professional in everything you do, especially when it comes to your reports. Such a consequence would warrant an immediate return to headquarters to discuss your misconduct.

However, after a brief discussion with my associate, we will overlook this little episode of yours. You are one of our best and you've never failed us. This means we require your utmost honesty going forward. Please refrain from merriment of any kind unless it is related to your mission as well as avoid conflict with the employees there. You are supposed to be undercover, not getting involved with nonsense rabble.

You will not do this again. Never waste your time on personal vendettas. I await your next report. This time, make it less fantastical and more accurate. We at the S.A.G.E.S do not appreciate things that are false.

Regards,

Director Rain

Daniel sighed in relief. He relaxed on his chair, allowing it to spin away from the desk. She didn't believe him. Good. Keep it that way. The crisis has been averted. He did get a slap on the wrist, but at least the park was safe, for the moment.

The man narrowed his eyes, staring at the ceiling. They may be safe from investigation, but he was still subject to the mission. He can't keep sneaking under the Park's nose, gradually giving its secrets away. The Park will come out at its own pace. He thought about the idea of leaving the S.A.G.E.S to work here. He would leave his life of espionage behind for a quieter, yet still adventurous life. Nobody knew he was a secret agent for the Park's benefactor. Living here would be like a fresh start for him. This place was already growing on him.

Still…what would happen should everyone discover his secret? They'll ostracize him, no doubt. He would be the most wanted person in the whole park. If the Residents are told of his treachery, and get a full understanding of it, they'll go after him as if he were a common pest. And should they find out about him while he's still under the control of the S.A.G.E.S, that's an automatic death sentence. He would be an outcast on both sides.

And if he did leave the S.A.G.E.S, his training in espionage and perhaps working for a position in the FBI or an equivalent would be for nothing. Gone would be his dreams he long worked toward. He has Director Rain's favor. His pay is top notch for someone of his rank. To abandon that would mean leaving his goal of making it to the top.

Should he leave, or should he stay? Bury the past or move forward on a new path? What should he do?

Fatigue began to rule. Sauntering to his bed, he slid under the covers and allowed himself to fall under the night's spell.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lorrie stared at her screen, having already read the agent's reply for the third time. She brought her hands to her forehead, her fingers rubbing her temples. Sitting beside her at her desk was none other than Jason King. Like her, he too was confused by the reply.

"Well…this is indeed strange," he remarked. "Never thought he'd be the type to play pretend, much less get involved in childish fights."

The director exhaled. The sound of a wood cracking off in the fireplace echoed in the empty office. "Yes...it is odd. He was very detailed in that one report, and now he sent a message denying everything he mentioned. He was rather quick in his response."

The director's associate leaned back in his chair. Looking at him, she took on his exhausted state. The casual office attire of blue and gray and the uneven tie on him showed a man that worked for two days straight. He had been assisting her with another project matter that needed their attention.

"Maybe he went out drinking and wrote that report while drunk?" he guessed, making a haphazard snicker.

Director Rain scoffed. "Perhaps. Still, he has an impressive record on him. Daniel has never been unprofessional to the point that it interferes with his work. Not to mention he's got a record of never giving false reports or omitting the smallest of details," she deadpanned at her coworker. "Let's just hope he doesn't do this again."

She leaned back in her chair. Working away at her laptop, she brought out numerous files on her screen. Not looking at Jason King, she gave him her next order.

"Put Agent Mattock on a tentative standby. We may need him to jump in to aid our compromised field agent and to recover him. He may need to take over too if it comes to it."

The man stiffened and nodded. "Should we follow through with Operation: Double-Edged if we put Agent Mattock in the field?"

Operation: Double-Edged. That was the name they both agreed upon. It was related entirely to Agent Mattock. After their recent meeting with him, they both agreed they still had their doubts. Director Rain herself didn't like the character. To satiate their curiosity, they decided to delve further into his records…and to see if their doubts would be cleared. He was already a questionable character, but there was something else about him they needed to know about. She already planned a meeting with Human Resources to allow the agent to get in so easily. She had a few words to say to the contractors there. If they do find details of him that were despicable, the company was going to lose a few more employees.

The director briskly nodded. "Yes. If...or when... he is put out into the field."

She just hoped they didn't need to go through with putting him out there.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

His stomach rumbled. His feet ached. He had dizzy periods that frequently returned like incessant bugs. He had been running for miles in search of food. He did manage to find some prey, but with him not eating properly the last few days, he hadn't been able to get a decent catch. He had only been surviving on any small rodents or insects he could find. All while battling sleepless nights due to having weakness.

The dry savannah didn't really bring about any relief either. It was going through another drought. The sun bore down upon the land with its unrelenting rays. Water was already hard to find. That only pressed on his constitution even more.

It was hot, but it was always hot here. He was used to periods like this. It would have been considered normal if it weren't for the food situation the hunter was in now. He could just move on to another hunting ground and tried his luck there.

But no. He couldn't. He was getting weaker by the day. If he doesn't find anything to eat soon, he won't survive much longer.

Then, he stopped. Something was in the air. He lifted his head and sniffed. His eyes went wide. Blood and flesh. It was the unmistakable scent of a kill. The scents hit him like a boulder. His innards urged him on, his mind having dismissed any form of logic. His hunger drove him forward.

He passed by shrubs and trees adapted to the arid environment, all while gliding silently on the grassland. His three-toed feet were perfectly adapted to allow him to stalk his prey as well as move quietly. They also concealed one of his signature weapons; his gift of speed.

Finally, he reached the end of the trail. The scent was at its strongest. He followed it until he found the source; a large carcass of an herbivore.

And it was all his.

He scanned his surroundings, making sure there weren't any other predators in the area. In the past, he had trouble getting proper meals because of the other predators that managed to find the prey, most of the time beating him to it. Those stupid Sabers always chased him out. He would be lucky to get a bite or two in before being chased.

But not this time. After a quick scan of his surroundings, he found no other hunter present. The kill was all his. He smiled. He was going to eat properly and sleep well tonight.

Quickly, but cautiously, he approached the prey. He put a foot on the body, his talons digging into the flesh, drawing blood. He reared his head and struck the insides. His beak felt the meat and blood upon impact. The iron taste of the blood and meat touched his tongue. It was so good.

He ripped. He pulled. He swallowed. He savored every single bite. He felt his stomach filling. If he could get enough of his fill, perhaps he could try to get a good portion of it back to his little grotto. The leftovers could be saved for much later. He always saved portions of kills whenever he encountered a large kill, only with his bad luck in meals, he's been digging into his rations ravenously.

It had been so long since he had a decent meal. His plans squared out, he proceeded to get his strength back up.

For a good portion of his life, he was alone. His family had left to find better pastures for everyone. It has been three years. Or was it longer? He couldn't remember. He lost count a long time ago. They told him to stay as they would come back for him. And so he did.

Eventually, he lost patience and went to look for them. His family, his cousins, his friends, anybody to give him relief from his solitude. He hadn't seen them in ages.

He found no one. He spent nights mourning. He knew they were all gone. Grief had also done a number on him, contributing to the loss of his former strength. He barely had enough to go after large prey. One good hit from them would send him reeling for a long time. The only prey he managed to survive on were small rodents, lizards, and insects. He couldn't risk any injury.

The hunter grieved at the thought of being the last of his kind, but he still needed to keep up his constitution. He had to survive. He had to survive. Deep down, something told him he needed to keep going.

Still, he couldn't help but think of what could have happened to his family, his kin. The past Hunter's Bounties had been lonely, but he tried to make the best of them. He imagined his family was there with him, celebrating. He pretended they were all there, and they were happy.

Suddenly, he heard a roar. His head perked up. Up ahead, he saw a Saber running at him.

Damn his carelessness! Where did that come from!? He let his guard down and didn't think to keep an eye on his surroundings as he ate!

Thinking quickly, he yanked at a good piece of flesh and pulled. He ran off, just barely missing the claws of the Saber. Unfortunately, him still being weak, he had dropped his piece of flesh.

No! That was supposed to be the rest of his dinner!

He turned to get it, only he found the Saber already on it. With a few bites, the large cat gobbled it down before returning to the carcass.

The weakened predator made a mournful caw. Hiding behind a nearby tree, he observed the Saber eat the prey that he claimed as his. He could wait until the Saber had its fill, then he could go back and get more food. But considering this drought and how ravenous the feline looked, there was a big chance it won't leave the prey alone.

He wanted to slam his head against a rock. His luck had fallen again. He can't wait for it to leave. He needed the food now!

He could fight for the meal. He knew he probably wouldn't survive. Live or die, he didn't care. If he lived, he could at least live another day, but he would continue living out his life in solitude. If he died, he would at least be reunited with his family as he believed them to be dead.

He didn't care. Whatever outcome happens, he accepts it.

He took a step forward and contemplated his decision.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Espantos opened his eyes. He raised his head and looked around. He wasn't in a dry grassland. There wasn't a rotting carcass in front of him. There wasn't a Saber devouring it. He wasn't hiding behind a tree.

He was in his enclosure, in the middle of the dirt hole he called his hovel. Surrounding it were patches of tall, green grass and a few shrubs. It was spacious for him; he had enough room to run around in. Although in the past, he always found a way to escape his abode. Nowadays, he was allowed to leave without causing a ruckus. Nearby, in front of a wooden fence, was a wooden trunk and two troughs; one filled with water and the other soon to be filled with bits of meat.

He was in Prehistoric Park.

Espantos shook his head and looked up. Dawn had already broken. The humans were coming out soon. Already, he was hearing the stirring of the other Residents, ready to start the new day.

The Terror Bird yawned and thought of the dream. His mind had deviated back to his past again. He hasn't had one like that for a few months now. The pangs of sorrow hit him hard. He couldn't help but sadly crow at the suffering he went through.

However, he was living in his new home, thanks to the kindness of the human, Nigel Marven. He may be the only Terror Bird there, but he didn't care. His neighbors found his presence welcoming…most of them in their own way. A lot of them rather liked him. That's what kept him going. He had friends, especially his Super Awesome Best Friend Ellis and the Hazelnut.

Every day, he served as the park's Courier. He is currently working with Breezy and her friends on delivering the daily news. It would be on the usual things around the park; weather, birthdays, gossip, events, rescues, and the like. He was fine with doing it. But every day, whenever he saw the herds and their families, he was always reminded of his disposition; Espantos was the last of his kind. There was no way to sugarcoat it.

Espantos fought those feelings by staying perky, by being random. That was how he coped. No matter how annoying he was to everybody, that was his way of moving forward. He wanted to look on the bright side of things. He wanted to bring laughs to everyone. Sure, they would find him annoying at times, but others found him funny.

Daybreak. Time to meet with Breezy and her Guild. He practiced his smiles and his gestures. He made a few trots around his enclosure to get his legs going. He needed to be in top shape and look cheerful for today. Heck, he heard he and Ellis were going to do something cool soon, whatever it was. Espantos loved surprises. He would meet with his buddy after he carried out the news.

Carrying out the news would normally get his mind off the bad memories, but he was eager to hear about what Ellis had planned for them. He hoped it was going to be fun.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hazel and Daniel approached the Socialization Fields. With it approaching mid-day, they knew the majority of the wandering Residents would be in this area. They had checked the Herd Grounds for any sign of the Valley Herd's alpha male and female, only to find them absent. It was Hazel's idea to have them check the Socialization Fields. They were probably there getting a bite to eat. If they weren't there, then they'd have to ask around for their whereabouts.

Sure enough, once they saw them meandering about the middle of the field, they pushed on to meet them.

The morning was a busy time for them. With Daniel's first couple rescues both being a success and the video feed now put together, with some approval and edit requests from both rescuers (the process was done privately with Marcus), the feed was ready for viewing. Just as soon as the show is ready to hit off. The Basilosaurus rescue feed was still in the editing process (with emphasized requests from the camera crew and Marcus to edit out their argument throughout the trip), but it was on its way for viewing.

This morning, they went through the preparations for the next rescue. Ellis had a rescue idea that was pre-approved by Nigel; Inostrancevia. They already went through the scene where they explained the plan. They were going to go back to the Late Permian during the titular extinction period. They would spend two days searching. If they came up fruitless, they would reconvene at the park for more planning. They already rushed to get the supplies ready for the trip. Now all they needed was Ellis, his partner Espantos, and their own partners; Flia and Aeros.

Hazel did better this time with being in front of the camera. Taking Chris' advice from the previous time, she put her foot forward and showed her best self. Sure enough, she was confident in her presentation and they had little to no mistakes.

In contrast to Hazel's past slip-ups, Daniel was quite talented in front of the camera. He was quite versed in his parts, even showing a lot of confidence with each word he said. He played each part out as if he rehearsed it for several days, and this was his first time looking through the script. Hazel asked what his secret was and he just told her "memorization and "improvisation" along with a hint of "your style". If she made a mistake, just improvise to make it your own creation. He also told her to "just be herself" since that was what the script asked for.

That only impressed Hazel even more. It was yet another thing she added to her list of things she liked about Daniel.

It had been a couple days since the events with Tethys and the trip to the Eocene. The woman had been keeping a close eye on Daniel, trying to make her own judgements about him. After that incident in the last rescue, she needed more convincing on Daniel as a person and whether he would make a good boyfriend. He already told her he liked her, but she needed more time.

She kept it cool, making it as if it never happened. She didn't want to make it awkward by bringing that up again. Still, everything he did and said made her insides flutter.

This new mission they are going to involve the Late Permian period during its mass extinction. If there's one thing that stood out to her besides the apparent presence of mammal-like reptiles, it was they were going to a gigantic desert. Hazel had experience with going to deserts; her very first solo trip to the past in the Late Cretaceous and her visit to Salt Plains in the Late Jurassic. Yes, they were hot. Yes, she had to contend with rationing. Nevertheless, she knew what to expect.

She made sure to pack the essentials; sunscreen, sunglasses, her hat, a thick sweater, socks, and stockings for the cold nights, a full box of protein bars, at least five water bottles (one of which was her filtered water bottle), her sleeping bag, and her purple tent, which she had not used in a long time. The tent would be secured on the outside of her bag via straps in a horizontal position, so it doesn't take up too much space. She was also bringing some emergency supplies, especially her dagger. She was already dressed for the trip; a bright blue V-neck athletic T-shirt, denim shorts, and her combat boots. Ellis and Daniel had their own list of supplies they needed to pack, so as far as she was concerned, she was ready.

Since they were going to a harsh environment, she, Ellis, and Daniel decided to just do the mission with GoPros recording the whole thing rather than have a cameraperson come with them. They didn't want them to suffer through the apparent hellscape. Ellis was also opposed to having his students come along as he felt they weren't ready yet. It was just going to be the six of them; three humans and their partners.

Now, Hazel and Daniel needed to find said partners.

"Aladar! Neera!" Hazel called out, getting their attention. She waved and they all came up to them.

"Good morning, Hazel!" Neera greeted them with a warm smile. She then turned to Daniel and respectfully nodded. "Daniel, nice to see you again."

He returned the gesture with a wave.

"Hey, how's it going?" said Aladar. "You two are about to head off on a rescue?"

"Yeah we are," the woman replied, but then frowned, "but we can't find Flia and Aeros. Have you seen them?"

The alpha male appeared despondent. "No, we haven't. We kind of thought they wanted some private time together."

His mate giggled. "We assumed that Aeros was finally making his move."

Both Neera and Aladar shared a laugh, with the humans before them feeling amused and uncomfortable at the same time. Not that they have anything against Flia and Aeros being together. The two of them silently agreed to their union, should it ever get there. Well, in Hazel's opinion, it was well on its way of becoming official. Last she heard, Flia was still making her judgments about the male Pteranodon, just like what Hazel was doing at the moment.

If they were having some private time together, that would explain their absence. But the least they could do was tell someone of their whereabouts. Plus, she and Daniel informed them of the upcoming rescue so it wasn't like they were going to catch them off guard.

"Well, if you guys haven't seen them," she started to assume, "then they never went to this area. We'll keep asking around."

"Alright, you do that," the fuschia Iguanodon said.

"So, what is this Permian time like?" asked Aladar. Word of their upcoming mission had gotten around quickly, thanks to the Park's Courier system. Hazel knew about Espantos' demeanor towards the mission. He kept yelling he was "going on a field trip" and "I am so excited" when he passed that around.

She was okay with Espantos as an individual. And his contribution to the defense efforts during the Temporary Park incident proved he can be reliable. It's just this is a real mission they're going on. She worried that the mission could go in a different direction with Espantos being...well, Espantos. Then again, Ellis was going to be there. She's not sure how he does it, but he knows how to read the Terror Bird. If he did go out of line, she hoped Ellis would reel him back in.

Daniel was the first to answer. "Well, it's not like this place. It's mostly desert."

Neera took on that same expression. Already, she showed her disapproval. Aladar comforted her with an affectionate nudge.

"Oh...great. A desert," she frowned at that.

The man raised a brow and eyed Hazel for an answer. "What's wrong?"

The Asian grimaced. Eyeing Daniel, she was surprised he had forgotten her explanation on their migration to him. However, she decided to enlighten him again. "Oh, they've had experience with migrating through deserts. None of it good," she turned her attention to them. "Don't worry, we'll be fine. We've got the Time Poles with us so if anything happens, we'll port back home."

"That's a relief," the alpha female said with relief.

"We're going to keep looking for Flia and Aeros. Then we'll head out afterwards."

Aladar acknowledged his friend's proclamation. "Alright you two. Stay safe. Remember to stay alert."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "I know, Aladar. This isn't the first rescue I've been on."

"Right, but Daniel here isn't as experienced as you."

Her eyes went wide. She looked over at Daniel and saw him wave at her, as if to say "I'm right here". Hazel gulped. Despite him completing his training, he's still learning the ropes in a way just by being paired with her. In fact, she was so used to going on missions with just her and Flia or her friends.

Wanting to move forward from the apparent embarrassment, she shook her head and waved. "Okay, okay...let's just go find our friends. We'll be back soon!"

"Good luck!" went Neera.

The two humans returned to their jeep and drove on back to the main hub of the park. As they did, the two of them conversed on the whereabouts of their partners. Daniel suggested if the two flyers really did need some alone time together, perhaps they should plan to have the rescue on another day. Hazel was hesitant on that since they already said in the show they would do the rescue today. Then Daniel said time wasn't imperative on camera. The audience wouldn't be aware of the time range considering the show wasn't released yet.

Hazel relented. He was right. If they needed to postpone the mission, they could do it. Still, she thought about giving Flia a talk about getting her worried and ditching them on a mission they said they would go on.

Since Daniel was the one driving, the woman figured she should ask anyone via radio. Taking the radio out of her pocket, she proceeded to call the first person she could think of; Bob.

"Hazel to Bob," she said and released the button.

"This is Bob. Go ahead," he replied.

"Have you seen Flia and Aeros? Daniel and I are having trouble finding them."

"I haven't seen them anywhere."

The next thing that came through the device made her stomach drop. The person to give the news was none other than Suzanne.

"This is Suzanne here. Hazel, they're in the infirmary."

Her eyes went wide. Daniel shot a look at her, clearly showing his worry too. "The infirmary? What for?"

"I'm afraid they both caught a bug. But don't worry, they-"

Hazel heard enough. She looked over at Daniel, her features clear with worry and urgency. "Step on it!"

"Okay okay, no need to be so pushy," he tried to calm her.

"I don't care! We need to get there now!"

Daniel pressed the gas pedal and sped towards the main part of the park.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It wasn't long until they finally arrived at the infirmary. While it wasn't packed, there were a couple of Residents here and there. From what Hazel gathered after Daniel asked one of the vets, their reasons for being there were due to superficial injuries. However, that didn't do anything to abate the worry Hazel had for her best friend.

Spotting Suzanne, fully glad in medical garb, she ran up to her. The young woman panted as she high-tailed it from the jeep to the infirmary, as well as her trying to control her anxiety.

"Where are they?" was the first thing she said.

The head vet, while caught off guard by the approach, pointed her towards a set of medical curtains on wheels. Through the transparent material, she could see the two Pteranodons lying on mats and cushions. A couple of vets were around them as they cleaned them up with warm towels. The flyers were both breathing heavily and barely moved.

Hazel didn't like the sight. She already thought of the worst. How in the world did they catch this bug? Were they too close to a Resident that was already sick? Did they eat something they weren't supposed to eat?

"How are they feeling? Are they coughing? Is it cancer? What's the diagnosis?"

"Calm down Hazel," Suzanne eased the hyperactive, stressed adventurer. "They just have a case of food poisoning. Apparently, the crabs they ate weren't too good. They told us they found some dead crabs on the beach nearby and thought about treating themselves. Nothing medicine and rest can't handle. Aeros has mild symptoms but Flia definitely has a fever…and she has been puking. We've already administered their treatment."

The Asian stopped. Her worry abated a little, but still it remained. "Okay...food poisoning. Can we go see them?"

"Sure, just make sure to wear a mask and use our garbs. Just a precautionary measure."

"Ah food poisoning," Daniel shrugged. "It will get anybody, human or animal."

It didn't take them long to gear up into the recommended medical garb. Hazel never had to wear medical gear before. The blue gown, the face mask, the gloves, and the like made her feel like a real doctor. However, all that protection was a little too warm for her liking. She had a new respect for the vets working in the park, especially Daisy since she has to deal with this a lot.

They slowly approached their friends and took their places next to them. Hazel stroked Flia's beak. As she did, the pterosaur purred and opened one eye.

"Hey buddy. How are you holding up?" Hazel asked softly, a clear contrast to her demeanor when she arrived.

"Ew...I haven't felt this sick in a while...achoo!" Flia responded with a sneeze.

The woman jumped a little, just barely dodging the particulates that came her way. While she may have been spared by the projectiles, the medical curtain nearby wasn't so lucky. It was now decorated by a new "natural" spotty pattern. "Ooh...goodness me."

"I'm sorry Hazel," Flia groaned. She then made a grunt and bobbed her head a little. A cough came out, followed by two more. Hazel was about to take cover when Flia managed to stop. "I'm...not sure if I'll be able to join you today."

"It's okay, Flia. Shit happens. You just focus on getting better."

Aeros growled. "Maker damn it!" he sneezed loudly, thankfully it wasn't as terrible as Flia's. "And here I was ready to go on another rescue."

"Hey there's always next time," Daniel reassured. "Don't strain yourself."

"We'll delay the rescue until you guys get better," Hazel told them all.

The female Pteranodon slowly moved a wing. Pushing it under her body and then getting her other wing, she attempted to raise herself. She slipped a little, making her gasp. With the condition she was in, the best she could do was to keep herself barely off the ground, her eyes just meeting Hazel's in her crouched position.

"No. You two go on ahead," she said. "You have Ellis and Espantos coming with you. Although, we'd feel a little better if you had two more to come along."

The woman scrunched her lips as she contemplated the idea. It wasn't a bad thought. They could still go through with the rescue. The thing was, this would be Hazel's first time going on a mission without Flia. Well, then again, she did this sort of thing when she was still training under Nigel. The only other difference was she was going to be with a volunteer instead of Flia.

Her first thought went to Aladar and Neera. She could ask if they wanted to tag along. They both have been to desert environments. They do have experience. There were problems though; they were the leaders of their herd and one of them needed to stay home to keep an eye on things. Plus, she didn't want to press this on them as it may bring about uncomfortable memories of past migrations. The desert they all went through when they first met was bad. The Permian desert may be worse. No, she didn't want to put them through it.

As she contemplated, she thought of another idea. They needed to cover a lot of ground in a short span of time. They could use a jeep, but it does have its limitations, especially on speed. Ellis has Espantos as his form of transportation. What if she and Daniel had their own?

"Well, if that will help, then we'll see if we can get two more volunteers to join," Hazel said, having an idea in mind.

Flia sighed and smiled. "That makes me feel better."

"Now you focus on getting better. We'll see if we can find others to join us."

With the plan now in place, the two humans hugged their partners before departing the infirmary to let them rest. Daniel rushed up to Hazel as she made her way on foot towards the first destination she had in mind.

"So, what now? Any ideas on who is willing to come with us?"

"If what I read and seen in documentaries is true," she explained, "we're going to be traveling through vast desert wastelands. I've been through a desert before. It's going to be hot. We need folks that are experienced with traveling through deserts or are fast on their feet. Luckily, I know some that may lend a hand..."

She then smirked at the last thing she added.

"Or claw."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The very first enclosure they stopped at was the Ornithomimus Pond. If they need to have some speed on their side as well as lots of stamina, then look no further than some of the Park's fastest runners. Hazel approached Ornith, who was grooming herself next to one part of the fence. She greeted her in the usual way and then proceeded with her request.

The female leader of the runners was more than happy to oblige the humans. It just so turns out that while most of the Flock, her included, were not interested in going on a high-stakes mission, one of their own wouldn't be opposed to it.

"Your timing is certainly impeccable! Axel here has been itching to do another run. Although I'll need to wake him from his nap."

"Oh, it's not a problem, Ornith," said the polite Hazel. "If he's still asleep or he doesn't feel like it, we'll keep looking."

The female blue runner shook her head and waved a claw in a dismissive manner. "Nonsense! Axel won't keep his beak shut about wanting to go on a rescue. I'll have him meet you at the Holding Pens shortly. Unfortunately, it's like I said; the rest of my group probably won't be as agreeable after what happened recently."

"Yeah, I understand. Thanks Ornith. We'll look around for our second volunteer."

As the two of them departed, Daniel once again approached the optimistic Hazel.

"Well that was easy."

The woman frowned, unsure of whether the next one would go well. "Yeah but the next one won't be."

"What makes you say that?" he asked curiously.

"The next guy I'm thinking of isn't exactly the adventurous type, but he needs to get out more. If you know what I mean."

"Introverted much?" Daniel mused.

"You could say that."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"No no! Absolutely not!"

Their destination was not an enclosure, but a secluded area in the Herd Grounds. They had to ask around to find where their target was. They found him grazing on some ferns west of the Lemurs' Great Tree. Approaching him wasn't an issue. He was always uptight and haughty. The guy always cared about his well-being, and by extent, the herd's.

Hazel opened the topic with some small talk. He was doing well. The new greenery as well as his omnivorous diet and the new addition of the Socialization Fields kept him occupied throughout the days. Unlike before, he was now a little more amicable to the Park's carnivores, at least in his own way. He still kept his guard up though, judging from the constant looking behind and the fidgeting in his steps. At least he wasn't complaining about them anymore.

It was when Hazel introduced his invitation to the Permian rescue mission that he kicked off with the usual anxiety.

Altus paced in front of them, the debris crunching with each step he took. His brunch-bordering-lunch had been spoiled by the invitation to a dangerous mission. Clearly, he was very annoyed at the proposal. To Hazel, it was like she was trying to move a brick wall no matter how many times she tried to persuade him. Altus may have participated in the war for Temporary Park as he explained in his tirade, but he made it clear he didn't want to participate in any other adventurous shenanigans.

"Aw come on Altus! You don't want to go on an adventure?" Hazel pushed again.

"If it involves getting ripped to pieces or dying of thirst or starvation, then no!" He strongly denied this. "I just made a life here and quite frankly I'd like to enjoy every minute of it. I've had quite enough excitement for the foreseeable future."

"Hey come on, quit being pompous and live a little. It's good to experience some excitement," Daniel supported Hazel's persuasion, even though he had an edge to the topic. Hazel found it a little funny; he may have gone on a couple rescue missions, but he is still wondering as to why the Park goes through with it despite all the risks.

"No excitement for me, thank you very much! Now if you'll excuse me, some ferns are winking at me. Good day!"

The purple-backed Struthiomimus huffed and turned around. Attracted to a rather large bushel of ferns, he sauntered over to it. He plunged into the vegetation, his head buried in it, half due to savoring the taste and the other half trying to ignore the presence of the humans.

Daniel leaned over to her and whispered. "So much for that. Let's keep looking."

"Hold on a minute. I've got this."

Hazel cleared her throat and held her hands behind her. "Okay, if you don't want to join, that's your choice. However, I did hear that we are getting a new shipment of tropical fruits in a few days. A little birdie told me we're getting more than we bargained for."

Altus perked his head up. He quickly turned to the human, clearly interested. He swallowed the bits of ferns he had been chewing. "Fruits, you say?"

"Yup! If you join us in this mission, there will be a small wagon with your name on it waiting for you. There will be mangoes," she said in a rather placative manner.

"Mangoes?"

"Kiwis."

His jaw quivered. "Kiwis, you say?"

"Dragonfruit," Hazel said enthusiastically.

"Will there be those little brown fruits with the grainy yet sweet taste to them? Not the pears, but..."

Hazel cocked a brow. She knew what he was talking about, but she never thought he would be into those. She always thought they were a little too tart and dry for her taste. "Chicos?"

"Yes those!"

"Of course we'll have them!" She confirmed. She wasn't lying as she heard Bob offhandedly say they were on the list. She made it a point to try and save some for her mom when she returned from the US. She's always loved Chicos.

Altus gulped. He looked at the ferns, and then the humans, and back again. Twitching, he made his way to a nearby tree. He banged it head, making a dull knock, all while exclaiming the pain he was suffering. Both Hazel and Daniel couldn't help but wince as he kept at it.

"Ow! You! Drive! A! Hard! Bargain! Ow!"

His antics went on for the better of two minutes. Hazel had to resist the urge to giggle. Uptight as Altus was, she was finding this hilarious. Daniel, however, had to elbow her to get her to stop. He was right. It was rude. He even gave her a schooling glare to prove it. Clearing her throat quietly, she resumed her indifferent demeanor.

The Struthiomimus turned to give them an angry gaze, no doubt his head was still spinning from that bout.

"Fine! I'll go. But only because I want those rare fruits you speak of! You better keep your end of the deal!"

Hazel grinned. "That's the spirit! Don't worry, we've never gone back on our word around here. You should know that."

Altus scoffed. "Now you go on ahead," he told them while waving his hands in a "shooing" manner. "I need to walk off this new headache I made."

"That was entirely your fault, you know," the man pointed out.

Altus narrowed his eyes. "Keep talking like that and I just might change my mind."

Both the humans smirked and waved goodbye, knowing they will meet again later at the Holding Pens.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once they got to the Holding Pens, they saw the Time Poles were already set up. True to the plan, Ellis and Espantos were already there. The young engineer had his bag of supplies all set, with a few items strapped on Espantos' back. Unbeknownst to Hazel and Daniel, Ellis had been working on a saddle for himself whenever he rode on Espantos. He had help from some employees, he said. The sides were already lined with various pouches filled with supplies, as well as larger things that had to be strapped there individually. From the looks of things, Espantos wasn't bothered by the weight.

The saddle looked akin to a horse saddle, made of the same material too. The only difference was it was rounder and was made to fit the shape of a Terror Bird's back. The horn was large, which was made to fit two hands. The billet strap was already secured, making the saddle stay on the predator's back. The cantle, like any regular saddle, was raised, but made to accommodate a rounder back. It also had fenders, stirrups, and tread covers for Ellis to position his feet.

The duo were definitely ready for the mission.

Axel arrived not long after Hazel and Daniel arrived. According to him, he had to get a quick bite to eat so he would be fully prepared.

As they worked on getting ready, Ellis couldn't help but comment on Hazel's tactic on convincing Altus.

"You seriously pulled a 'Scooby Snax' on Altus?"

"Yeah, it was the first thing I thought of. It worked."

"How do you know there's another shipment of tropical fruits?" He inquired.

The woman shrugged. "Because I heard it from Bob last night. My mom is a fan of Chicos and they were part of the shipment. He asked me to pass it on to her when I have the chance. That and some saurian runners like Altus eat fruits so I knew he would find the new fruits irresistible."

"Alright we get it," Ellis cut her there. "Now where is that nervous wreck?"

Both Hazel and Daniel debated on who would take who as a mount. It took them a minute or so, but they agreed that Hazel would be on Axel while Daniel would take Altus. The man said he dealt with people that were like Altus before and thought he could work his magic to keep the Struthiomimus calm. Hazel didn't argue against that.

Not long after Axel's arrival, Altus arrived. Fully recovered from his headache, he waited patiently as the humans made their last minute checks on their supplies.

"Hey nice of you to join us! You're late," Axel deadpanned.

The haughty Struthiomimus growled. "I beg your pardon! I was instructed to meet you all here! I just needed to take a quick walk. Nobody mentioned a specific time."

"Yeah yeah, whatever. So, are we going or what?"

"Considering some of us have been to deserts or pseudo-desert environments, this shouldn't be anything new. I think we can handle it. Heck, we may get it done in less than 2 days," said Hazel.

After saying that, she and Daniel got their supplies together and went on to board their mounts. Hazel needed some help getting onto Axel due to the weight of her bag. She gasped when she felt strong hands grasp parts of her back and then her bag, pushing her up. Looking over, she was surprised to see Daniel below her. The woman felt her cheeks heat up. He went out of his way to help her get secured. The two of them smiled at each other and the man left to mount Altus. While she needed to focus on the mission at hand, she was glad he showed some courtesy to her, even if it was a small thing.

Hazel had never ridden an ornithomimid before and it certainly felt different. It took a bit for her and Axel to get used to the feel of each other. To the woman, riding on the back of a runner certainly did not feel like being on a horse. They were lankier for one and just being on something that went on two legs felt weird in of itself. She could literally feel his bones through his hide, but she could also feel his muscles. This was going to take some getting used to.

Daniel and Altus took a bit longer to get used to each other, mostly because Altus kept complaining and Daniel kept adjusting himself. Once they were ready, they signaled the other employees to get the portal running.

With the shimmering temporal gate now open, they sped off into the Permian, not knowing what they were going to come across.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been two days…

Two. Long. INSUFFERABLE. Days.

Hazel was confident that her team prepared enough for the Permian period. She probably should have done more, considering that the Permian's extinction event killed off nearly 90 percent of all life on Earth. She underestimated the conditions of the Late Permian by comparing it to the previous times she was in a prehistoric desert. The Salt Plains and the Late Cretaceous desert during her first trip were what she expected a desert to be; dry, hot, and barren. But they both had wind, rare as they may be at times. They were also easier to breathe in.

This desert wasn't a desert. It was hell on Earth! It was dry, it was hot, and there was absolutely no breeze present! The sun beat down on them, sapping their energy further. Hazel did her best to preserve the little water she had (even sharing some with Axel just to keep him hydrated), but with these conditions they were in, she was inclined to just gulp down her rations. Ellis checked the conditions of the Late Permian before their arrival and said the lowest it ever got was at 120 degrees. While unbearable, it was possible to live through that. If it got too hot, they would need to return to the Park to find a different time to arrive. There was a shared agreement that if it got higher than 120 degrees, they would need to leave immediately.

Hazel found the Late Jurassic Salt Plains and even the trek through the desert on her first adventure to be blessings. At least those times had breezes, even though they were rare or miniscule. Even the nighttime offered no reprieve. As with all deserts, nighttime temperatures always dipped into freezing levels, the Permian was no different. They all had tents to use, but it had gotten so freezing that everyone, including their prehistoric partners, had to squeeze into one cramped tent to help regulate their body temperature. Naturally, there was no rain this far into the Pangean desert, making the very air feel so dry. Even more disgusting was the very air they breathed in. It had a distinct taste of sulfur and felt heavy to fill their lungs with. Daniel did his research and according to recent studies, the late Permian was filled with methane producing bacteria that choked the air and further affected the deteriorating landscape. Ellis jokingly said it smelled like farts, and that did get a chuckle from Hazel and her group. But further and further along their journey, the sulfurous stench that clung to them just reminded Hazel of constantly being near a rotting carcass. Poor Hazel and even Altus puked at least twice on the way. It was a literal giant, open-air coffin.

Hazel always considered extinction events as some sort of grand mark upon the history of Earth that ended an era with a bang, but that couldn't be further from the truth with the Permian. Everything felt like it was struggling to cling onto what little life there was left in the land and failing to do even that.

"Heh… I guess that's why it's called 'The Great Dying'," Hazel mused under her breath. She brought her arm up and wiped off the sweat from her forehead.

"I didn't have anything against the Permian before, but now I do. This takes the Triassic's spot of my least favorite time period," she complained internally.

"Whatever you just said, I agree…" Ellis groaned.

"This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I agreed to go," Altus grumbled, his head dipped low again as he endured the heat.

The woman chuckled weakly. "Hey, we appreciate you coming with us."

Daniel made a sound that was a mix of a hiss and a sigh. "Well, this is why we are here. Rescuing creatures from extinction," he said, replying to Altus' complaint.

The young engineer made a "tch" sound. "Would help if we SAW any creatures. We've been running for two days and we haven't seen anything."

"How about we follow those guys?" Espantos suddenly said.

The Terror Bird's remark alerted the suffering caravan. Looking ahead, they saw round, distinct shapes that appeared to be moving slowly. Hazel blinked. Why would rocks be moving? That doesn't make any sense. That's it, this desert is eating away at her sanity.

"I think those are rocks..." Hazel sighed, her head colliding with Axel's neck. The Ornithomimus squawked at the sudden weight on his neck. "That's a mirage, Espantos. They're not real."

"No wait, he's right! That's a herd!" Ellis exclaimed. Looking over, Hazel could see the man was utilizing binoculars.

The Asian facepalmed. "You've got to be kidding me. I am going nuts."

"Oh good, some locals," Daniel exhaled with relief. "They should know the lay of the land around here. Do any of you know what we're looking at here?"

The woman adjusted her head to look back at the herd. Looking closely and after wiping her face of any dirt and sweat, she could now make out their features. They were stout, quadrupedal, and they seemed to be covered in a sort of armor. They were very clearly reptilian.

After her intellectual embarrassment in the Eocene rescue, Hazel sought to make sure she didn't come unprepared. Just a couple hours before bed, she would borrow the books around the Crew's Cabin (including her own) and study up on the creatures in the various time periods. She wanted to be ready for anything. Luckily, these creatures were in one of her books in her private study sessions.

"Scutosaurus. It's a giant armored reptile that isn't quite fast on its feet, but is able to survive in harsh environments like this place. These guys migrate a lot in their ever-constant quest for food and water. Don't worry, they're herbivores," she explained as best as she could as the heat bore down on her.

Ellis chuckled tiredly. "Hey, someone's been doing some studying."

Hazel straightened, her back aching with the sudden movement after crouching for a while. She smacked her cheeks to perk herself up before replying. "It's best to be prepared. Let's see if we can glean some helpful info from them."

With a bit more pep in their step, Hazel and her team made their way towards the herd. Once they got closer, she could clearly make out their characteristics. They were stout like a turtle, just minus the huge shell. Their hides were light brown, almost tan, just like the sand around them. They were covered in bony armor that seemed to be embedded in their skin. The armor that ran along the sides of their back had little scutes on them, hence their name. They had horns jutting out from the sides of their jaws. To her, they were like a cross between a turtle without a shell and a Placerias, a mammal-like reptile she had seen during her training with Nigel when they visited the Triassic Period.

Walking parallel with them, Hazel could clearly see they were just as miserable as they were, but they moved with a purpose. They kept their distance and in clear view of what they assumed was the herd leader, who eyed them with suspicion. He didn't do anything untoward to them yet, something they preferred stayed that way.

Before any of them could start a conversation, they heard one of them screech from behind. It was an older male, judging from the faded colors and worn armor he had. He stopped in his tracks, alert from something he heard. The time travelers looked around, trying to see what had the old male on high alert. They didn't need to wait for long as the aggressor showed itself.

Coming from behind a dune was a large carnivore. It was gray and had splotches of dull white on its body. The creature was about the size of a lion, with the same mannerisms to boot. However, it looked more canid than feline, even though that isn't the case. It didn't have fur, but Hazel knew it was a mammal-like reptile; this was another one of the creatures she studied about in her private sessions...and it was the one they were all after. Inostrancevia.

Spooked, the old male attempted to catch up to the herd. Unfortunately, the Gorgonopsid was able to clamp its jaws on the side of the Scutosaur. Blood dripped down from the new wound and the old male attempted to flee.

Both Axel and Altus were also startled by the hunter's ambush and ran towards the nearest pile of boulders to take cover, unwittingly taking their passengers with them. Espantos followed suit with a nervous Ellis, however, the Terror Bird was more interested than startled by the creature.

Altus, being the coward he was, whimpered and trembled behind the rocks. Axel, on the other hand, was more curious than him and peeked over one side of the boulder. The humans were the same; they climbed the rocks until their heads were over the formation. From there, they could clearly see the hunt take place.

When there was one Gorgonopsid, now there were more. From Hazel's count, there appeared to be seven or eight of them. Neither of the predators paid any mind to the herd as they tried to flee for their lives nor did they notice the time travelers in their hiding spot. They were more concentrated on the wounded Scutosaurus than anything else. The rest of the Inostrancevias pounced on it and subdued the now doomed male.

And just like that, the hunt ended. For the next several minutes, the bystanders stood there, waiting for the predators to have their fill. Once they all left, their appetites sated, they hurried over the dunes and out of the kill scene.

The hunt itself was not the thing that appalled the rescue team though. When the herd approached the downed Scutosaur, they merely paused mid-step at him to acknowledge his death before just moving on. Some of them looked jealous of having ended in a swift manner. To the Time Travelers, this only brought about shock and outrage.

"You've got to be kidding me. They're just passing it by? Their friend just died!" Daniel said, stunned by the sight.

Altus let out a cry of frustration. "I knew it! I knew it! It was only a matter of time before we'd get caught up in an ambush! Why couldn't this rescue be in a lush forest where there are lots of places to hide!?"

"Whoa, chill dude," Axel waved his claws in a placative manner at the high-strung Struthiomimus. "You knew this was coming. Danger and excitement go together on missions. Kind of comes with the package. Besides, at least you got a bit of exercise there."

The purple runner gasped. "I beg your pardon, Sir Axel. I am only here for the rare fruits I was promised! After that, no more adventures for me!"

Said Ornithomimus rolled his eyes. "Alright, whatever."

"Can we get back to the fact that this herd just left their friend there?" Daniel politely reminded him.

Hazel sighed. "As much as I hate this sight, it's something that can't be helped."

All eyes fell on her. She could feel the tension creep up her from the attention she was getting. This wouldn't be the first time the "Survival of the Fittest" trope came into play again. "I mean, think about it. They're living in 'The Great Dying'. They're in the middle of a mass extinction. Here, the world is against them more so than before. Each day is a struggle to survive. It's almost as if they know they're going to die soon and have become apathetic to everything around them. I mean, you saw them just now. Some of them wished for a way out of their numbered days. I know it's depressing, but in this literal day and age, it's just the way things are."

Altus shuddered. "Your unnerving testimony reminds me of the days before Aladar became leader of our herd. I hope you do realize that."

Hazel shrugged. "Yeah, I'm aware."

It was a depressing realization. This hunt and its aftermath served as a reminder that humans, and other creatures that were privileged, had it good compared to those that lived in the wild and in the distant past. Hazel never forgot the times she encountered this trope. However, after seeing the state of the Scutosaurus, she hoped the Park, or even Nigel, would be amicable towards housing some of them so they could regain their hope from their doomed existence.

Having already stayed there long enough, the small group set out to follow the Scutosaurus herd. As the natives of this land, the group knew that by following them, they would surely come across promising finds that would ease the trip, or even lead them back to the Inostrancevia pack. Sure enough, the herd did just that.

They arrived at their destination, an oasis. It was Axel, Espantos, and then Altus that picked up the smell of water. Ellis went on about wanting to take a dip in the water, however, upon arrival, he became downtrodden when he realized how sparse it was. The pond was large, but not as grand as the lake back at home. There were bits of greenery here and there, just enough to sustain a medium-sized herd. But other than that, it was nearly barren.

Hazel couldn't help but compare this oasis and the one from the salt plains. While the surrounding salt plains was inhospitable, it at least had lush oases and plenty of water. The water hole in the Permian was just a step away from being a shallow puddle, and the surrounding foliage was sparse, nothing more than dried husks of low lying shrubs that were more a collection of twigs than plants. The herbivores went about to either graze or slurp at what remaining water that was left. The runners were too happy to see the pond and went about to get their well-deserved drink. The humans, on the other hand, proceeded to take out their stored rations and gulp down the clear water they saved.

It was funny. Upon arriving in this oasis and consuming their rations, Hazel was reminded of her first adventure when the herd arrived at the dried lake. After her friends discovered there was water beneath the dirt, she went about getting her share of it. She was lucky she didn't get seriously sick from the encounter. Hazel had a mild stomach ache following the return from her adventure, but she recovered. Who could blame her? She was deathly thirsty. Suzanne did give her a lecture on being careful with water though. Hazel never forgot that torturous lecture.

Since then, she learned to be more wary of any source of water and to do what she can to prevent that sort of thing from happening again. That involved using the filtered water as much as possible or to stay with bottled water, hence why she packed a few.

Fortunately, she didn't have that issue when she went to the Late Jurassic. That water bottle she had that had the water from the Water Hole was saved as a last resort. She had her last bottled water saved before that one. Now, she hoped she wouldn't need to resort to it while they were in the Permian.

"So what's the plan?" asked the sated Daniel after capping his bottle.

Hazel took another swig of her drink and closed hers. She exhaled and replied. "Well, if there's something I learned from when Broken Jaw and his friends were rescued, it's that if we wait around a water hole long enough, other creatures will eventually arrive."

From her peripheral vision, she saw the distinct shapes of large, therapsid carnivores coming towards the oasis. Amused and alert at the same time, she pointed her thumb at the incoming group. "Oh, like now."

The Inostrancevia pack arrived, roaring and snarling down at the visitors below. The Scutosaurus herd scattered, giving them ample space. Altus ran from the pond, shrieking in terror and then cowering behind a group of shrubs. Axel followed suit, though not showing as much fear as his comrade. Espantos, for some reason, wasn't spooked at all. He just took several steps away from the pack and watched them. Hazel wasn't sure whether he was good at hiding his fear, or if he knew to give them space, or both. Then again, this was Espantos. Everything about him was a conundrum.

The Gorgonopsids were chipper than the gloomy herbivores present, thanks to their successful hunt. Hazel could only assume that Scutosaur was the first decent meal they had for a while.

Spotting the runner dinosaurs taking cover, Hazel went over to them to reassure the duo. Following her was the rest of the rescue team.

"Easy guys. We just need to keep our distance. Remember, they're here for water too. Neither of them are attacking the other herbivores at the moment, so I think we're safe. For now."

Altus huffed and raised his head above the vegetation. "For now, she says."

Glaring, the woman marched up to the dinosaur and gave him a smack on the back, alarming him.

"Hey, it's called a hunch," she replied with the same amount of sass. "Besides, from the looks of things, there seems to be a sort of code around this water hole, kind of like when I visited the Salt Plains in the Late Jurassic. Nobody is attacking each other while they're around it."

The group took her word on it. She had been in a similar situation before, so they assumed it should be the same here. All of them kept an eye on the predators in case they decided to pull a fast one on them. They were more interested in getting their fill of water or they were digging around for something else to eat after their hunt. Hazel could have sworn she saw small animals scurry around on the dirt and then escaping underground. And with the Inostrancevia chasing after them, she assumed they were trying to get them as small snacks.

They heard splashing at the pond. Looking over, they saw one Gorgonopsid lapping up some water. All of them gasped and took a step back when they saw something launch from the water's surface and grab at the predator's snout. The predator pulled back in surprise as well.

They all eyed Hazel, who turned red from being corrected on the spot.

"Well…maybe their code is a bit rougher than I thought?" she weakly chuckled.

Axel pouted. "Or it doesn't exist."

The woman sighed and rubbed her temples. Daniel just chuckled.

"Just keep your distance from the predators."

Their attention returned to the struggle at the pond. The amphibian, which was what Hazel deduced it to be, let go of the predator's snout and returned to the water, much like a crocodile would when it failed at an ambush. In fact, it acted much like a crocodile and was the size of a small one. Ellis was quick to deduce its identity; a Rhinesuchus.

Judging by its size, Hazel assumed it would normally go for smaller game since it was small itself, but with how scarce food was, it seemed desperate to get its jaws on anything that came across its abode. Altus continued to freak out about them literally drinking its home as well as how lucky they were they didn't get attacked. All it could do was watch as more and more of the small water hole got drained away from the parched denizens of the Permian. This wasteland was not a place for a water-bound amphibian.

It wasn't long before the predators left the oasis, after getting their fill of water and rest. They were most likely off to find some shade to relax in. Ellis whispered in Espantos' ear and then relayed his plans to the rest of the group. He was going to talk to said amphibian. No doubt he felt sympathy for the poor creature.

At the water's edge, he retrieved some steak strips from his pack and laid them right next to him. Espantos stood patiently beside him. He then tapped the water with his hand. His hand motions imitated the appearance of a creature taking a drink from the water, or just anything passing by and stepping on it. That had its desired effect as the Rhinesuchus leapt out to take a bite of his hand. Using quick thinking, he retrieved one of his side satchels and intercepted the bite. The creature pulled, trying to pull the bag and the human under. With it distracted, Espantos snagged the creature in its beak, now squirming from his grip. It was the size of a small crocodile, so a creature that size posed no issue to the Terror Bird.

As it was panicking, Ellis offered up the meager meat he had to get the small carnivore to calm down. It sniffed the meat strips before hesitantly taking them, still suspicious of Ellis' intentions. Now that it was secured, the rest of the team approached to listen in on Ellis' interrogation.

That was when Hazel got a good look at the amphibian. It looked kind of like a giant salamander, except it wasn't. The skin was a lighter brown, which made sense considering it lived in a desert environment. Its skin was bumpy and it had a rounded snout with sharp teeth. It was like a mix of an alligator with a giant salamander, just without the armor.

"Hey bud! Can we talk?" He asked the hungry creature.

The amphibian swallowed the last bit of meat. With a gulp and a burp, it watched the human warily. "Thanks for the meal, but I don't think I have much choice," he said, eyeing the huge avian that held him up in the air.

"Sorry for the strongarm tactics," the engineer apologized. "How about we make a deal? Some information, for better living conditions for you?"

"Better how?" he inquired.

"Well, considering your neighbors are drinking up your home," the human eyed the pond, the amphibian doing the same. Unlike before, there was even less water when they arrived. It now looked more like an oversized puddle with a bit of depth in it, "me and my friends can give you a new pond that will NOT have others drink from it and worry about drying out from this damn sun ever again. Plus, we'll feed you and you won't go hungry again."

"And in exchange for that?"

"Those Fang-Faces that you took a bite of, how many are in their pack? Do they have any places they like to hang out? Are they friendly to outsiders?"

The Rhinesuchus grumbled, its growl sounding guttural. "Well, Roark's gang usually runs a pack up to eight members, though there could be depending on how successful he is during his hunts. I've never seen where they hang since I'm usually water bound, but I heard they like to hang around some canyon formation to the west. As for how friendly, that depends on your definition of 'friendly'. You might have luck if they have a full belly, so you better try to appeal to their stomach before you try talking."

Ellis nodded, satisfied at that piece of information. "Thank you for your time. Uh, what's your name?"

"It's Loch."

"Loch…huh. Like Loch Ness. Interesting. Okay."

With that, Ellis went about setting up the portal to Prehistoric Park. The Time Poles were situated a few feet from the pond. Right after they were set up, he activated the Time Poles, opening the Time Portal.

Espantos let the amphibian down and the group directed him towards the portal. Ellis had gone on ahead to alert the team there to prepare a temporary holding unit for him while they figured out some temporary accommodations while his home was being constructed. The little amphibian was ushered through while Ellis returned to the group. After the portal closed behind them, the engineer explained the plans for the Rhinesuchus. He would for now stay in a large tub they would prepare for him and then he would be moved to Deinosuchus Dip where he would have his section separated for him. They would have to alert the crocodilians that live there on the plans, but with Irwin there, they're sure it will work out.

Once that was out of the way, Ellis and Espantos proceeded to recap the information regarding Roark and his pack. The name sounded intimidating to Hazel. He sounded like someone who has been hardened by the landscape. In order to appease Roark and his pack, they need an offering of sorts.

That was when Espantos turned his attention elsewhere. Following his direction, they saw a lone Scutosaurus that was a bit ways from the rest of the herd.

"Give me a few moments," he said before he left to approach the old male.

Like the other Scutosaur from before, this one was old and weathered. He had scars all around his body and he looked tired. The two of them struck up a conversation; them being out of earshot, neither one of them could make out what they were saying. There were nods and their mouths moved, so it was about their current situation. The hefty reptile gestured the Terror Bird towards the direction of some dunes several yards from the water hole. The Scutosaur made his way to it, with Espantos relaying the information to the others to follow.

On their way there, Hazel noticed Axel and Altus scrunching their snouts. The disgusted looks they were giving meant something was off in the air. Sure enough, she, Daniel and Ellis were able to smell it. It was something rotten, no it wasn't just rotten. It was something decaying. Hazel didn't know what was worse; the dry air mixed with methane, or whatever this scent was. She coughed and gagged. The adventurer wanted to cover her nose throughout the way, but she couldn't as she needed to breathe too. As much as she hated it, she had to brave the stench.

They arrived at the dunes, just as they were instructed. The smell was at its strongest, and it was not hard to see why. Hazel gasped when her eyes beheld what lay beyond them. There were bodies everywhere. All of them were Scutosaurs. They were dried husks of their former selves, all of them baking under the sun. Several flies swarmed around them as the carcasses decomposed. A lot of them were already bone with bits of flesh on them. It was a mass graveyard.

That wasn't the only thing that was off-putting about it. A few of the bodies moved. Upon closer inspection, those bodies happened to be alive. Those Scutosaurs were weak, taking their last breaths.

To Hazel, and perhaps to the rest of the team, she found this to be horrifying and sad.

Ellis made a long whistle. "Talk about a packed graveyard."

"It's almost as if these Scutosaurus come here to die. When they know their time has come, they make their trek here. I can only imagine what goes on in their minds as they lay dying, surrounded by their kin," Daniel replied, his reaction a mix of sympathy and being unnerved.

Hazel nodded in agreement, also disturbed by the sight. "I agree. But it's also any scavenger's paradise. In any case, we can find the bait we need here. I suggest we split up and-"

Suddenly, they saw Espantos rear his head back and strike the Scutosaurus at the base of his neck with a crack. The old reptile let out a squeal before collapsing on the sand. Blood squirted from the wound, drenching the desert ground in red. Some bits of it flew in their direction. The rescue team yelped and took a few steps back. The majority of them grimaced in disgust.

"Espantos! What the Great Being's arse was that for!?" Axel retorted angrily.

"And right in front of us! So rude!" Altus proclaimed his equal disapproval. When he took a breath, he screamed when he saw what was in front of him. A bit of the reptile's blood drenched his snout. "Bleugh! It's on my snout! I can't breathe!" The Struthiomimus cried and ran around in circles, literally scratching his snout and dragging his face on the sand in an effort to get it off.

Espantos was a conundrum, that was a given. Hazel knew him ever since she arrived at the Park. But him killing an innocent and not having a care afterwards? That was cold blooded murderer! She was appalled and horrified!

"Really Espantos? Why'd you do that!?" she ranted at him, the Terror Bird staring resolutely. "He didn't do anything wrong!"

The avian shrugged and lifted his two miniscule wings. "I was just helping the old man. He asked for it," he responded indifferently.

The Scutosaurus made a labored gasp. When he did, even more blood spurt from his blood wound.

"Holy shit! He needs help!" Hazel yelled.

She rushed over to him, only to be stopped by the old reptile.

"No child. I don't want help," he spoke in between gasps. "I…wanted this. My clan…is dead. My world…is dead. I've suffered…for too long. I need this…to escape. I've gone on long…enough…"

Hazel shook her head, not taking that for an answer. "Don't say that. We can help you. We can take you to our home. Where we're from, it's better than this. Lots of green and water as far as the eye can see. The sun doesn't bear down, bringing unrelenting heat, only comforting warmth. You can live out the rest of your days there."

"That's…mighty nice of you, child. It does sound…like a paradise. But…I'm going to have to decline. I'm…making my way to my own paradise. It's the shortest…way," he took another labored breath. "How…can anything survive…all this?"

He then lifted his head to see the silent Espantos look back at him. "Tall One…give me the mercy…I deserve…I wish to leave now."

Espantos nodded. Using his large beak, the Phorusrhacos nudged Hazel away. The woman yelped as she lost her balance. She was preserved when she landed in someone's arms. One quick look and she saw it was Daniel. While she felt herself heat up from being close to him, her mind was more focused on the act Espantos proceeded to do.

He reared his head back and stuck his skill, shattering it and killing the Scutosaur. The kill was quick, but gruesome. The Scutosaur fell back, lifeless.

"ESPANTOS! WHY!? YOU KILLED HIM!" Hazel screamed. As she did, she felt Daniel's strong arms hold her tightly, almost as if restraining her from breaking away. At the same time, Daniel held her still, almost as if he were trying to comfort her. Considering the act she saw, she didn't argue against him doing that.

Espantos straightened, narrowing his eyes. The face he gave her was not the carefree predator she knew for years. The expression he gave was that of someone who suffered for a long time, much like the other Scutosaurs they saw earlier. She couldn't explain it, but he also looked sad, despite the hard exterior he now showed in this moment. This only unnerved Hazel as she had never seen him look at her like that before.

"Quiet down, Hazelnut," he said, talking to her in a way she never heard him say. There were hints of pain in his voice as he spoke. "I did what he asked me to do. There's something about me that you or anybody here doesn't know about. Before I came to live with everybody at home, I was in the same place he was in. I would have nearly wanted the same if Nigel Marven never found me then. What I did here was an act of kindness."

"I…I'm sorry," replied the shocked Hazel. "I didn't know…"

Espantos didn't reply, but he acknowledged her with a nod. He marched off, leaving the stunned team to contemplate his explanation. Using a foot, he pointed a talon to the corpse in a downward motion, almost as if silently telling them something. They took it as a signal to use this corpse to prepare the bait. The Terror Bird trudged off several feet away, wanting some space from the scene. It was at that moment Daniel released his hold on Hazel, allowing her to take a few steps towards that direction. Following her was none other than Ellis.

While everyone was surprised by what just happened, Ellis was the only one who was calm about it. In fact, he didn't seem shocked by this side of Espantos. This got Hazel wondering whether he knew about this.

"Ellis, I never knew Espantos had this side to him. Did you know about this?"

Ellis sighed. His reaction was that of sympathy. He stared at the back of Espantos as he went on with his explanation. "Yeah, I did. He doesn't really show this side of him to just anybody. He's talked to me about it though, me being his friend and partner. Espantos always thought of where he came from. Even though he's cheerful now, he was the last of his kind before Nigel found him. And nearly starving to death scared him to that fact. That's why he is the way he is. He's trying to bury that past and live his best life."

Hazel gasped. She wanted to cry at that moment. She had no idea how complex the Terror Bird was. And this whole mission must have brought about some painful memories. As he stared out at the other corpses, one could only guess what he was thinking of now. Hazel never considered how the older Residents of the Park had to cope with the trauma of being rescued from their time periods. Even with the ability to talk to them, she never considered the mental wellbeing of the Residents, something that she now vowed to rectify in the future.

The humans proceeded on to prepare the bait. The two dinosaur runners stayed well out of the way of the preparation, instead choosing to lie down and rest for the time being. As the humans prepared the flesh offering, they each took glances at Espantos, who stared silently at all the corpses.

Tearing into the fresh corpse disturbed Hazel, but she wished she could go up to Espantos and hug him. She felt he needed it right now.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Espantos stared at the graveyard. His eyes darted from the Scutosaurs lying down, waiting for death to take them, to the bodies that decomposed. The smell of death was in the air. Being a hunter and a scavenger, Espantos knew this scent all too well. This was a vast desert where everything was dying. Ellis called this a packed graveyard. Espantos would agree, but he would rather call this whole desert a graveyard.

The words of the old Scutosaur rang in his ears. When he approached the old male, he did so just to get directions towards a good source of prey. Espantos introduced himself and asked for the old one's name; the reptile replied his name didn't matter. The Terror Bird then explained the tip from the amphibian named Loch; he and his friends needed some meat to appease the local giant-toothed pack. The thing was, neither of them wanted to expend too much energy hunting, for obvious reasons.

"I can show you a good place to get meat," he told Espantos, "but you need to do something for me in return."

"What's that?" asked the Phorusrhacos.

"Kill me."

"Why would I do that? You've done nothing wrong to me, old man."

He shook his head. "No. Many of my kind are slowly dying in this place. My whole clan is already dead. I tagged along with that herd for protection and decent sustenance. But you've seen this land; it's dying. We're all dying. I miss my family, and I wish to join them. I've waited for death for too long."

"I…Are you sure?" Espantos inquired again.

He nodded. "Yes. I am ready. Taking a good look at you, I can see you can grant my request."

"My friends here can help you," he tried to persuade him not to go through with this.

"No," he shook his head again. "I want to see my family again. Please, grant this old man an act of kindness and I will do you and your friends one in return."

The predator took a deep breath. He stared at the Scutosaurus for a long moment. Memories of his past rang in his mind. He spent too long in solitude, waiting for a family that would never return. He was on the brink of death, only surviving on the meager prey he could find. So many nights of sleepless bouts and mourning tortured him further. Had it not been for Nigel Marven finding him and bringing him to his time, he would have perished.

He saw himself in that old male. He was in that same position. The only thing was he didn't ask anyone to off him. Espantos felt sympathy for the Scutosaur. His family was gone, and he wanted nothing more than to be with them again.

He granted his wish.

The Terror Bird made a quiet, mournful caw. Closing his eyes, he let the tears he held back fall down.

"Goodbye…old man. Rest in peace."