Here's the last post of 2016 (assuming that it isn't already 2017 where you are). ENJOY!
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(5 minutes prior to incident on other side of the portal)
Tristan and Michelle have decided to rescue the seals they saw on the beach.
Unlike what they'd expect, this is rather easy.
Before the group of seals is the time portal. Tristan and Michelle throw fish into it, and try to get the seals to follow. The smell proves to be irresistible to the hungry mammals, which begin crawling toward it, males, mothers and pups included.
Tristan and Michelle can only smile at the ease of their personal expedition, enjoying the minimal effort needed to rescue the seals.
Then, they hear a strange sound. It sounds like the clatter of hooves. And it is slowly getting louder. The sound of barking also registers on their ears.
Turning inland toward the source of the sound, the teens are surprised to see a herd of horses headed their way, along with a group of cretures resembling dogs.
"Those are... bear dogs, right?" asks a confused and worried Michelle.
"Yeah, they are. Cynelos, to be exact. The horses are Archaeohippus.... We should probably run."
The two teens prepare to bolt as predator and prey charge at them...
Only to come to a halt before the seals.
The angry sea carnivores have also noticed the charging animals, but rather than run, they turn and begin to bark at them
This stuns the horses, which rear up and come to a halt. Unfortunately for one of the horses, this gives the bear dogs the chance to pounce on it.
Before the killing blow can be struck, though, one of the seals grabs onto leg of a bear dog and pulls, dragging the helpless creatures away from its catch. The minor conflict escalates into a full-on battle between the two carnivoran groups, giving the horses a chance to escape.
Or rather, it would have in the seals had not surrounded them. With the females caring for pups, they are equally suspicious of the horses, which are now trapped...
Except for one route.
Michelle and Tristan notice that the path to the portal is relatively clear of seals, as many have already escaped into the present. Seizing the opportunity, they back out of the way and let fear do the rest.
To their surprise, however, the first land creatures to enter the portal are the bear dogs. They are colossally out numbered by the seals, and have decided to cut their losses and run. As they have also been encircled, they take the only escape route available. Soon, the horses follow, equally frightened by the seals. Finally, the last of the seals charge through, trying to evict their new rivals.
Tristan and Michelle can only stare at the spectacle, before turning to face each other.
"Think they'll be able to handle those new arrivals?" asks Tristan.
"...Probably," answers Michelle.
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Meanwhile, Nigel is finishing up with the rescue of the last of Dugongs.
Nigel watches as the last of his target group swims through the portal, before closing it up. He turns and smiles at the camera.
"Another successful rescue. Every creature we rescue is another one saved from extinction."
Then, Nigel heads back to the controls and gets the Mariner moving, dead set on finding the sword dolphins.
Due to both his focus on the water and the speed he is travelling at, he fails to notice the large shapes in the air above him.
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Back at the park, Violet is dealing with the some of the rescues from the Great American Safari.
Ones who are rather big eaters.
Violet is moving a wheelbarrow into an exhibit, which she quickly empties before retreating back through the gates.
A giant maw promptly crashes into the former contents of the wheelbarrow, ranging from vegetables like corn to fruits such as squash, pumpkins and apples, to mushrooms, and even a few choice pieces of meat and bone.
The maw soon reveals itself as that of an entelodont. The creature begins devouring a squash, while another of its kind starts ripping into a set of ribs. Soon, five of the terminator pigs are tearing into the pile of food. Violet watches with great fascination.
"These creatures are some of the strangest things to have ever lived," she remarks. "They act like pings, but their closest relatives are whales and hippos. They have the feet of an herbivore, yet they the teeth of an omnivore. And lastly, they have the eyes of a predator and the nose of a scavenger. It's been a real mystery how they lived. Or, at least, it WAS a mystery."
The great artiodactyls, however, care not what Alice thinks and are only interested in filling their bellies.
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While Violet deals with the hogs from hell, Tai is busy working with some of the more herbivorous residents of the park.
Tai is tying some rope around a post. Nearby, a Toxodon is lying on its side in the shade of a tree.
"Now, you see, cats aren't the only things that use scratching posts. Some animals use them to relieve itches, like these guys. We didn't know that they might use them, though, until we saw several trees that were missing their bark. I just hope these guys don't rub themselves raw, though."
The Toxodon takes this moment to look up at Tai for a moment, before promptly going back to resting.
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Back in the Miocene, Tristan and Michelle are getting ready to go back out into the sea, and are also preparing to dive.
The last part is easier said then done, though.
"Promise not to look?" asks Michelle.
"Yes, I promise," remarks Tristan, who promptly turns so that his back is facing Michelle and covers his eyes.
After looking for a moment, Michelle, promptly undresses and changes into a swimsuit, the puts on a wetsuit.
"Okay, you can look."
Tristan uncovers his eyes and turns around, before walking toward another wetsuit.
"Now it's your turn not to look."
Michelle sighs, then turns and covers her eyes as Tristan changes into the wetsuit.
Once he is finished, he and Michelle board up and head out to sea. Behind them, several fins emerge from the water and begin pursuit.
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AN: Yes, I just had two teens get nude and change into swim wear. Wetsuits are really uncomfortable if you aren't wearing swim clothes, okay?
Also, just so you know, the birds are Pelagornids. There aren't any giant predatory birds from this part of the Americas, at least that we know of.
The fins did not belong to Megalodon; they're too small.
So, read and review. Happy New Years!
This is Flameal15k, signing off.