Hilda and the Jurassic forest - Part one

by Slogokonnor99

The incidents of Lockwood manor have opened the doors to a misuse of genetic modification, and now, companies are beginning to clone dinosaurs in huge numbers. An organization was created to contain these loose dinosaurs worldwide, but when one of their bases is destroyed by "the local wildlife", the contained dinosaurs will now call a particular town in Scandinavia "Home".

4. Chapter 4: From mountains to the city

HILDA AND THE JURASSIC FOREST
(A fan-fiction by Slogokonnor99)

Chapter 4: From the mountains to the city

The next morning, before Hilda or her mom woke up, Alfur silently left for the window, where he was expecting Adeline to arrive on her sparrow. -I'm now starting to worry I woke up a bit late- Alfur said to himself as he walked from side to side. Suddenly, Alfur heard wing flapping, and soon after, Adeline arrived. -Sorry for being a bit late- Adeline apologized -my sparrow was a bit picky with its morning meal-, -It's OK, I kinda thought I was late anyway- Alfur replied.

Not wanting to lose more time, Alfur then hopped on the sparrow, and the two flew back to the headquarters. -Do all elves have to fly birds to get around here?- Alfur asked, -Well, not really- Adeline replied -but I find it more comfortable than riding a squirrel or a rabbit-. Alfur nervously laughed at her statement as the two once again were above the city. The rising sun at least, was a distracting factor for Alfur to focus on, instead of the hundreds or thousands of miles above ground, in elf terms, that is.

-So… I wanna know, what brought you to the city- Adeline asked, -Uh… sorry?- Alfur asked back, as he was still distracted by the view, -I asked, What brought you to the city?- Adeline repeated -was it a new chance in life? Better life quality? Or just to be close to a family member?-, -Ehh… actually it wasn't for any of those reasons- Alfur replied, -Oh, what was the reason then?- Adeline asked, -Well, it may have to do with a giant stepping on our town- Alfur replied with a nervous laugh, -Oh my! Is everyone back there okay or…?- Adeline asked, -Well… I'm not sure- Alfur replied -I left immediately on top of a smaller giant and arrived here-, -Well… That's one way to get to the big city, I guess- Adeline concluded.

After a few more minutes of flight, both Alfur and Adeline arrived at the main building from yesterday, and as Adeline landed the sparrow, all eyes were focused on them. -Is it normal for everyone to look at you?- Alfur asked nervously, -It usually happens when there's a new recruit- Adeline replied as she hopped off the sparrow's back, making Alfur more nervous -usually, new peeps don't last a day given how hard the first assignments are, but I think you'll persevere-, -Yeah, right…- Alfur replied, laughing nervously.

Alfur and Adeline entered the building and made their way to the registration office, where, after a few minutes, Alfur completed his registration. -I'm aware that you got appointed by our commander- the registration elf asked Alfur -is that right?-, -Y…yeah- Alfur nervously replied as laid down a pen, -That's a first; usually candidates just come and register for the insurance- the registration elf joked -hopefully you're different-. Alfur then left the registration room and moved to an office to the left in order to claim the rest of his stuff: A blue and red uniform, a bag with some folders inside, and an ID. -You're set to go, new recruit!- a worker stated as he gave Alfur his new equipment -just head to the office to the left on the second floor to receive an assignment-, Alfur nodded and then picked up his things to head out of the office, where Adeline once again is waiting for him.

-Well, now you're an official member of the organization- Adeline said -how does it feel-, -Well… it's… exciting?- Alfur nervously replied, -Good! It's nice to see that you're excited!- Adeline agreed -I assume the office elf also told you that there are assignments to be done as well, right?-, -Yeah, he said it was on the second floor to the left, I believe?- Alfur replied, -That's right- Adeline replied -well, I'll leave you to go check your tasks, and if you need help, you can ask anyone for information-, -Yeah… I'll do that- Alfur replied, -Well, see you later, Alfur- Adeline said before she left for her post next to the commander's office, leaving Alfur to head towards the second floor; -Man, what am I doing- he whispered to himself.

A few hours later, back at the house, Hilda woke up, with Twig by her side as always. She immediately changed clothes to start her day, and after doing that, she approached the cuckoo clock on the shelves to see how Alfur was doing, but she didn't get a response. -Hmm… Maybe Alfur is asleep- she said to herself before she heard the voice of her mom calling her for breakfast, -I'm coming, mom!- she replied out loud as she left the clock back on the shelf.

In the kitchen, her mom just finished making breakfast: oatmeal for her daughter and bacon and eggs for herself. Hilda soon arrived in the kitchen and sat down on the table to eat breakfast. -Did you sleep well?- Johanna asked as she began eating her fried egg, -Well, after seeing that the city may not be that bad… I kinda slept well- Hilda replied -the only issue I probably had was when I heard something landing in the roof-, -It was probably just a bird- her mom replied -the city still has its share of wildlife after all-.

As the two enjoyed their meal, the bell rang from the hall; Twig, being the one closest to the door, went near to smell who it was. -Ma'am- said someone from the door -is anyone home?-, Johanna went to open the door to see who it was, and it turned out to be the old man that had sold the flat to her. -Oh, good morning- she replied -is everything alright?-, -If I'm being honest, no- he replied -people woke up alarmed today after a large animal was seen perched on the roof of the building!-, -Excuse me?- Johanna asked in confusion -what do you mean by a large animal?-. The old man then took his phone out and showed her a picture of what had happened earlier. -Oh my god! What is that?- Johanna asked in a low tone, knowing that if she spoke louder, Hilda would pick interest; -The TDW said it's a large… pterodactyl or something like that- the old man replied -I don't exactly remember the name of it, but the important thing is that it flew away with no trouble-, -Well, I'm glad to hear that- Johanna replied.

Back at the table, Hilda finished her oatmeal and was about to head for her room when she heard the conversation and decided to eavesdrop. -I'm surprised neither you nor your daughter woke up to that noise- the old man stated, -Well… when you live in a cabin in the woods for almost all your parenthood years, wild noises are just too easy to ignore- Johanna joked -is there any chance it could even come back-, -Most certainly yes- the old man replied -those things always circle around the globe, and it's most likely something as big as that or even bigger could fly and perch on the roofs of Trolberg-, -A large creature that can perch on roofs?- Hilda asked to herself -it must be a big bird to cause such panic-.

After her mom finished the conversation with the old man, she closed the door and went to check on her. Hilda quickly noticed and faked coming back from the bathroom. -Oh, there you are- her mom said as Hilda approached her -you finished your meal quick-, -Yeah, I definitely was hungry- she replied -is it alright if I help you with the dishes?-, -I was going to ask you that regardless- her mom replied and giggled -I need to finish something from work on the computer-, -Well, don't worry mom!- Hilda stated -I'll be done with the dishes quick-.

With that said, Hilda began to wash while her mom went to work. Hilda quickly washed the dishes, as there's not that many, and once she finished, she went to her mom's side to ask if she could go out. -Well, you can explore if you want- she replied before giving Hilda some cents -but if you get lost, look for a red box with a phone inside and call me from there; I'll pick you up in no time-, -Ok mom!- Hilda stated before she went to put on a yellow scarf and red boots -is it alright if Twig comes with me?-, -Yeah, he can go too- she replied -but remember not to stray too far from the neighborhood-.

With that said, Hilda left the house with Twig on her toe, and out of the building she went. -Well, there's a new world for me to explore, Twig- she said to her deerfox -let's see what's around here on our own, shall we?-; with that said, Hilda headed in the same direction as yesterday to avoid getting lost as well as to see if she had missed something around, and it doesn't take long before she spots something, or rather someone familiar. -Hey!- she yells at two kids that are walking her way: Frida and David, -Oh hey!... Uh… what was your name again?- David asked as he and Frida caught up to Hilda, -My name is Hilda- she replied -I'm surprised I stumbled upon you two again, -Well, we were on our way to the library- Frida replied -I need to give back a book I borrowed for some homework-, -Is it alright if I can come too?- she then asked Frida, -Sure, why not- she replied, and so now the four begin their way to the library, all while something spots them from an alley.

Back at the organization building, Alfur was getting started on examining his assignments, some which contained names he'd never heard of before. -Herrerasaurus? Mononykus? Wenupteryx?- Alfur said to himself -are there even real names?-, -They pretty much are- said another elf as he examined his assignments -are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before-, -Oh… Uh… yeah!- Alfur replied -I'm Alfur, and you're…?-, -Name's Alvin- the elf replied -it's a pleasure to see a new recruit-, -Yeah…- Alfur replied nervously -are these actual names or…- Alfur added as he pointed at the documents, -Oh, they are- Alvin replied -the humans say the names out loud, and there are some elves in the library who also catalog information from human books as well-, -Really?- Alfur asked in surprise -I'm impressed; I though most information came from the field-.

-Oh it does- said Alvin before grabbing a file and putting it in front of Alfur -it's just that we get information from human sources as a backup in case we find something inaccurate in our findings-, -What's this one about?- Alfur asked as he picked up the file Alvin left in front of him, -Well, you need an assignment that has an easy name by the looks of it- Alvin replied -so why not start with this creature-, -Microtuban?- Alfur asked as he read the name, -Some elves from a mountain village need help getting some information about this creature- Alvin replied -I have seen those creatures before, and there hasn't been a fatal incident with those… yet-

Alfur double checked on the file to see if he was right, and indeed there were zero reports of casualties by this creature. -Ok, I'll start with this one- he replied -and… what creature are you going to get information about-, -I'm going after something called a Stegouros- Alvin replied -it's an herbivore, so it should be easy-. With that said, Alvin left the room, and Alfur was left to examine his file, and he then received another visit. -Have you chosen any assignment yet?- Adeline asked, startling Alfur, -Oh… Uh, yeah, I think I have one- he replied -what do I do now?-, -Well, just go to the office next door and ask for a sparrow- Adeline replied, putting Alfur nervous as he had never flown a sparrow before.

Still, Alfur obeyed Adeline and went to the office next to the one he was in and met another elf. -Your assignment, please!- the elf asked, and Alfur gave her the file, -Hmm… going to the mountains? As a new recruit? Bold- the elf replied with amazement -well, pick a saddle and go to the other side of the building, in the backyard, to pick a sparrow and head there. I trust you have your map at least-, -Oh, yes, I do indeed- Alfur replied with a hint of nervousness, -Well, good luck then, and don't forget: if the sparrow dives down on its own, it means there's a predator nearby- she replied -trust the bird!-.

Alfur then left the building and headed for the back of the building, where a set of elves were caring for some sparrows, and one elf noticed him approaching the flock. -Woah! Easy there, you're going to startle them!- he warned Alfur, -Oh, sorry- he replied nervously -I… I'm here for a sparrow to fly here-; he then showed the file to the sparrow carer, and he in turn gave him a saddle. -Feel free to choose your bird- he replied -benefit for a new guy-, Alfur then carefully wandered around the sparrows until one, curious at him, moved to peck the saddle. -I think that one likes you- the sparrow carer laughed out loud as Alfur tried to retrieve the saddle; in the end, he managed to do so, but now he faced the challenge of placing it on the bird.

-Need some help with that?- another elf asked Alfur as he was struggling with the saddle, -Yes please!- he replied as the sparrow jumped again and again, with Alfur clinging to its beak. The elf calmed the bird down and attached the saddle to the sparrow. -There, it should be ready now- the elf replied, and Alfur climbed on top of it, -You're set to go!- the sparrow carer stated, and without Alfur even doing anything, the bird took off, almost making Alfur fall off. -IT'S ALL FINE!- he yelled as the bird flew up and away with him on its back.

While Alfur's crazy flight began, Hilda and the rest soon arrived at the library, and Hilda's initial reaction was pure amazement. -Woah! I have heard about this place in the news, but I wasn't expecting the front to be this big!- Hilda stated, -Oh, this is just the entrance- Frida replied -wait until you see how it is inside-. With that said, Hilda and the rest entered the library, and Hilda's amazement doubled as she saw how big and varied the place was. -WOAH!…- Hilda yelled out loud, but David covered her mouth. -You got to keep quiet here- he advised -noise isn't a thing that's welcomed here, specially by the librarian-, -What's wrong with her?- Hilda asked silently.

-Well, people say I'm weird and a straight-up witch- the librarian stated, startling the group, -Oh, I see you've brought in the book you borrowed three days, two hours, and fifty minutes ago- the librarian added as Frida nervously gave her the book back -you're welcome to pick another book, but don't bring it back late, or else…-. With that said, the librarian moved away to work on organizing another pile of books, giving the group a space to breathe. -Now I get why you're afraid of her- Hilda whispered to David.

The group headed away from the entrance and into the library, exploring the shelves filled with a variety of books. -What book are you trying to find now?- Hilda asked David, -I need one about birds- he replied -it's mainly to find some information about migration patterns-, -David, the internet exists- Frida argued, -Yeah, I know- David replied -but hey, you like this place as much as I do-, -You're not wrong on that- Frida agreed before looking at a shelf with a book about marine ecosystems. -Need that one?- asked the librarian, startling Frida, -I assume that's a yes- she added before she picked the book and gave it to her, -You also need that book?- she asked as she looked at David, and he nervously nodded in reply.

The librarian then passed the book to David and then looked at Hilda and Twig, -Huh, you're new here?- she asked Hilda, as she had never seen her around before -you know you can't bring animals here, right?-, -Uh… yeah- she lied -sorry-, -I assume you want a book about the city?-, -Uh… yeah, I do need one- she replied nervously, and the librarian quickly passed her one about the history of Trolberg, -Just ask if you need anything else- the librarian stated before she left to keep on organizing, -And that's why I feel like the internet is a safer place to search through- Frida whispered to Hilda.

Eventually, the three sat down around a desk and started to read their books, silently pacing through the pages; Twig made himself comfortable on Hilda's lap while she read the history book, learning about other places in the city, celebrations, and myths her mom never told her about. -A rat that grants you secrets from others- she said in her head -well, that sounds terrifying-, Twig looked at the image of the supposed "rat" and slowly hid its face below the desk, a bit frightened, something Hilda noticed; -It's OK, boy- she whispered, calming Twig down before she scrolled over the page.

Meanwhile, Frida and David were also getting more information from their books, with David seeing how the migratory routes of barnacle geese were pathed out and Frida learning about the difference between cold and warm sea floor environments. -Coral grows in warm waters, and algae in cold- Frida said in her head -interesting-, -You found something about the kelp forest you were looking for?- David whispered to Frida, -Not yet- she replied -although from what I see, there are more of those in colder waters-, -You're really into marine life, aren't you?- Hilda asked Frida, -Well, I kind of am- she quietly replied -it was my grandpa that usually showed me about fish and other sea animals when I was a kid-, -And you?- Hilda asked David -are you interested in animals as well?-, -Well… I am- he replied -but I like birds mostly; there's just something about the way they gracefully move in the air that's inspiring-.

-And what about you, Hilda- Frida asked -what are your interests?-, -Well… I like nature- she replied -I also like adventuring and… I'd say cooking as well, although my mom is the one who enjoys it most-, -My dad likes cooking too- David replied -but he's more into stars and space-, -My parents are more into numbers- Frida stated -it's a bit boring, but hey, I can't complain when I'm sort of good with them-, -Are they accountants?- Hilda asked, -Well, my mom is- Frida replied -but my dad is a software designer-, -What about your mom?- David asked Hilda, -Well… My mom is a graphic designer- she replied, -So she likes designing and art?- David concluded, -I guess you can say that- Hilda replied -although she doesn't draw on paper anymore-, -That's technology for you- Frida stated -making life easier but also reshaping everything-.

On the air, Alfur's sparrow was making pirouette after pirouette, making Alfur cling onto the saddle for dear life. -A SQUIRREL WOULD'VE BEEN EASIER!- he yelled as the bird seemed to fly out of control, but the bird was simply having fun, something Alfur didn't seem to notice. The bird soon stopped and flew straight, giving Alfur a break and a chance to throw up. -I swear, if I get to see that commander, I'm going to have some words- he said out loud.

The view below was that of awe as things calmed down, with the towers of concrete from the city soon turning green from the trees of the valley. -Well, at least this is more relaxing- Alfur stated as he flew above the forest. Below, some commotion was already happening; Alfur tried to perch on a branch to see what was going on, but he wasn't fully able to steer it properly yet, so he only circled around to watch the drama from above.

On the ground, a bunch of feathered animals called Rinchenia were circling each other, a few trying to display themselves to some dull-colored individuals; it was clearly a mating ritual of some sort. Alfur, being a curious elf, decided to write down what was going on, and while he was doing so, the bird landed on a branch at last. -Well, thanks for stopping- Alfur said to his bird, who in turn chirped from joy.

One individual seemed eager to show off and tried to find a spot among the crowd, but given the best spots were already used by more vibrant males, its only chance was to either fight or show off on the edge of the flock. Eventually, the male tried his luck and challenged a much larger male, inflating a sort of pouch on his throat and erecting some head feathers to appear intimidating; the larger male replied by doing the same, and by circling around his challenger. A fight was about to begin.

-Well, this is certainly interesting- Alfur stated as he wrote down what he saw. The two males locked their sights on their weak spots, and as soon as they stopped circling each other, the large male lunged first, kicking its long legs towards his opponent; the young contender stepped back to avoid the attack and then tried to bite the neck of the rival. As the two fought, some females began to eagerly watch the confrontation, making the stakes higher. The large male then charged at the same time as the young one, clashing their chests against one another and using their feathered arms to scratch each other.

The two seemed equally matched, but then, as the large male charged, the young one stepped aside and charged the side of his opponent, knocking him to the ground. -Ouch, that's got to hurt- Alfur said as he saw the blow from afar; the large male was down but not defeated yet, as it quickly stood up and kept his guard. Once again, the two clashed forward, slashing at each other as well as trying to peck at each other's throats; the fight seemed like it was going to be long, but then, a decisive blow: the large male knocked the young one to the ground and, with a firm grip on one of his arms, it broke it, causing the young male to back down in pain. The fight was over.

-Man, that poor creature- Alfur stated as the defeated male left the flock to tend to his broken arm; meanwhile, having won over his challenger, the large male began to show off to a female, and she seemed to accept his moves. Before the two could have a more developed act, however, Alfur ordered his bird to take off, and it swiftly did so, leaving the courting pair to do their thing.

A few miles later, Alfur and the bird soon reached the edge of the forest and flew over a large grassland. The environment here seemed much calmer than in the forest, for there didn't seem to be any activity at the moment, and for Alfur, that meant no more distractions between him and his destination. -We're almost there; I can feel it- he whispered to his bird. On the ground below, the grass began to be replaced by barren land and rocks, and soon enough, he arrived at the mountains beyond the valley.

As he reached his destination, he ordered his bird to start to descend in order to spot the village he was supposed to attend to, but the bird was rather hesitant to do so. -Come on now, we need to get down there- Alfur tried to convince the bird, but it still didn't want to land, -Ok… what if… down there there's food!- Alfur tried again -I think you would like a snack, wouldn't you?-; still the bird refused, and this was beginning to annoy Alfur-. -Are you really being annoying on purpose?- he yelled to his bird -we need to land!-. Alfur then tried to force the bird down, but it still refused to try and land. Alfur was about to rage when he spotted something down on the ground, almost camouflaged with the rocky environment, looking directly at them.

The bird chirped and remained in place, a sign to the predator that he'd been spotted, and so it stood up and left. -Well… I did not expect that- Alfur said as the hunter left the scene, and once it did, the bird landed at last, and not soon after, someone called for him from behind a tiny boulder. -Hey! You!- an elf stated as Alfur and his bird landed -you're from those elf scouts?-, -Uhh.. yeah- Alfur replied and the elf walked towards him, -Well, I can tell you're probably new- he added -next time you should trust the bird to avoid being eaten by a Dromaeosaurus-, -A what?- Alfur asks and the elf laughs, -Yeah, I can tell you're new- he replied and giggled -anyway, follow me! I'll show you the way to the village!-.

Alfur and his sparrow then follow the elf through the ragged terrain, jumping and climbing over tiny boulders that are the equivalent to mountains for the elves. -So… what's the situation with these… Microtuban?- Alfur asked as he followed the elf, -Well, it isn't that bad- he replied -they don't attack us, but the only issue we have is that sometimes, when they fly off in a large flock, the wind they cause can send light tents flying-, -I see- Alfur replies as he carefully descends from a boulder. Soon, after some more trekking, the elf and Alfur arrive at the village: a small, flat area covered in small fields and some houses.

-Welcome to Klippbyn!- the elf stated as he entered the town -you can leave your sparrow here on the field; it'll be comfortable while I guide you through town-, -Oh, thank you- Alfur replied thankful and let his sparrow feed on a small mount of seeds on a field; the elf then took Alfur around town and showed him what his community does. -We're mostly farmers of high altitude crops- he states as he and Alfur walk by some villagers harvesting some turnips -they're our main income-, -Really? And does the wildlife steal some of the food?- Alfur asked, -Not really, we're barely even noticed- the elf replied -oh also, call me Andrew. Sorry if I forgot to say my name at the start-, -Oh, it's OK- Alfur replied, continuing to wander through the village with Andrew.

The pair then arrived at the main building of the village, where the town's mayor was waiting for the organization's representative. -Ah, so the representative is here!- said the mayor, getting up from his chair to greet Alfur, -Yes, he's here to assess the Microtuban situation- Andrew replied, -Good to know- the mayor said, and then looked at Alfur -now, please come with me-. The mayor then took Alfur to a balcony, where a roosting colony of Microtuban could be spotted in the distance, -Those creatures are usually the sight to behold- the mayor said -they never caused problems, as we seemed to be out of their menu, but now, they've been causing rock slides every now and then-. The mayor then pointed at a destroyed part of the village, with boulders on top of destroyed houses and farmland. -I need you to find out why the Microtubans are getting alarmed and causing such damage to our village- the mayor then stated, -I'll do my best- Alfur replied.

A few hours have now passed, and Hilda and the rest have now left the library with some borrowed books and are now eating sandwiches next to a duck pond. -Do you guys ever leave the city?- Hilda asked as she gave a bite to her sandwich, -Well… we used to- David replied -but now that those dinosaurs have appeared, going out to the wilderness can be risky, -Yeah, everyone outside the city is trying to move here because of the dinosaurs- Frida added -with time, the city is probably going to be overcrowded, depending on how many people live outside the walls that is-.

While the group was eating, Twig approached the water's edge to try and grab a bread crumb that was close to the edge of the water, but then a weird-like animal approached him; the animal stretched its tiny arms and hissed at Twig, trying to get him away from the meal. Hilda then noticed the animal and quickly grabbed Twig and pulled him away, allowing the animal to secure its meal. -What is that?- Hilda asked in confusion, as it looked like a goose or heron with a long tail, -Well, it's a dinosaur-David replied -one of many that live in the city for some reason, but… the name is kinda hard to pronounce-, -Really?- Hilda asked back before she saw the animal take the bread crumb away and throwing it in the water again, -I think it was Hal… Halts… something along the lines of that- David replied.

The animal was a Halszkaraptor, a sort of long-necked, feathered dinosaur that hunts near the water, and judging by its attitude, it was clearly trying to lure fish. -I'm still confused at what its doing- Frida stated as the Halszkaraptor moved the bread crumb to another location, -I think it's trying to lure fish with it- David replied -I've seen herons do that in TV before, but…-, -But… what?- Hilda asked and David chuckled a bit, -Well, there's no fish in this pond- David replied and giggled a bit.

The Halszkaraptor didn't seem to notice there wasn't any prey, and to make matters worse, some ducks were closing in, trying to eat the bread. The creature then grabbed the crumb and moved to another location, but once again, the ducks followed. The Halszkaraptor then hissed at the ducks, trying to drive them away, and the ducks retreated for the moment. The dinosaur then grabbed the crumb again and placed it in the water, still trying to catch a fish and still unaware that it was a waste of time.

-Do other dinosaurs creep into the city as well?- Hilda asked, -Well, there are small ones like the ones I mentioned yesterday- Frida replied -but… besides those, there aren't really any big ones to worry about-, -Yeah, the walls really cover the city well- David added -if they protected us from Trolls, so they should protect us from the dinosaurs as well-, -Let's hope so- Hilda replied before she finished her sandwich -are there any other interesting parts of the city?-, -Well… what have you seem so far?- David asked back, -Well, my mom took me to a mall, a school, a sandwich store, and a lookout post- Hilda replied, -Hmm… would you like to see the pier?- Frida asked, -Are there dinosaurs around that place?- Hilda asked back with a hint of fear, -Not really- David replied -there are pterosaurs, but besides that… nothing dangerous really-, -Well, I guess going there should be safe then- Hilda concluded and smiled.

The group then stood up and made their way to the pier, leaving the Halszkaraptor to try and catch nothing. Twig took the lead on the walk as he tried to understand the new scents the city offered, while Hilda and her newfound friends chatted about their lives. -You survived a Troll attack?!- Frida asked in shock as Hilda narrated her experience, -Well, the Troll just wanted the bell off his nose- Hilda replied -it's just that… well… roars aren't really understandable-, -You really seem to be akin to how to handle yourself in the wild- David complemented her -you should join the Sparrow Scouts with those skills-, -Sparrow Scouts?- Hilda asked, -It's like a camping group that teaches kids and teens skills to survive in worst-case scenarios in the wild- Frida replied -David and I usually go there on the weekends-, -Yeah, and Frida really is into it- David added and laughs a bit -her badge collection is like HUUUUGE-.

-He's not wrong- Frida replied -if you ever go to my house and to my room, you'd see a panel showing off almost a hundred badges I earned-, -How can you even keep them organized?!- Hilda asked Frida, -Well… it wasn't easy given there's a lot of 'em- Frida replied -I almost lost a couple when I tried to move them to a new stand, but I managed to quickly find them-, -That's relieving- Hilda stated, -Yeah, Frida can be organized, but she also loses some things every now and then- David adds and giggles, -Says the boy who keeps forgetting his glasses back home- Frida replies back and makes David scratch the back of his neck, -Fair- he replied.

-Does he really wear glasses?- Hilda asked. -He does, but forgets to do so very often- Frida replied, -That and I also get bugs to land on my body every time- David adds, making Hilda giggle. -How does that even happen?- Hilda asked in confusion, -I have no idea- David replied -I feel like it's more a curse that a rare coincidence-.

After a couple more blocks and more chatting, the group finally arrived at the pier as the sun began to move from the middle of the sky; Hilda immediately spotted fishermen taking their catch to a small market next to the beach, as well as some gulls flying and landing around the place. -This place is pretty- Hilda spoke as she walked around the place, -It's usually busy at this time of the day- Frida stated -many fishermen return from a morning's catch and then leave again as the sun sets to catch some nocturnal fish-, -Sounds like a lot of effort- Hilda replied before something big swooped over them.

The fishermen looked alarmed as the flying animal landed, and once on the ground, it moved around the pier, looking for a chance to steal the fishermen's catch of the day. -What's that?- Hilda asked, -I think it's a Pteranodon- David replied -usually they'd be hunting away in the sea, but because some have found this place to have lots of food, sometimes they come here to steal-, -They're mostly a nuisance- Frida added -but these at least are normal; back when news spread of dinosaurs released onto the mainland, there were reports and saying that some could grab a person with their talons-.

Hilda heard this and shook a bit, with Twig getting close to comfort her and calm her down; meanwhile, the Pteranodon tried to wander around to snatch a fish, but the fishermen were quick to try and drive it off, using brooms and sticks to scare it away. Suddenly, one man tried to drive the attack home but left its post open; the Pteranodon dodged the attack and ran to snatch a fish before flying off to the beach to eat his stolen prize. -They're really cunning- Frida stated as the Pteranodon ate the fish whole, but soon other Pteranodons and other species began to gather around.

-Now there's some Ornithocheirus and Ikrandraco on the scene- David said out loud as the pterosaurs began to circle, trying to snatch a fish any time they could. With so many pterosaurs around, fights between them broke out. -They're on a frenzy now- Frida said while the pterosaurs fought for the stolen catches, forcing the fishermen to dump their waste to lure them away. Now, with the bounty being gifted to them, the pterosaurs quickly scrambled over the fish remains, but then, as the thieves began to have their fill, an even larger pterosaur landed: it was taller than any of the other pterosaurs, it had a long neck and bill, and it quickly bullied the competition away.

-That's a big one- Hilda stated as she nervously watched the scene unfold, -It's a big one indeed- David replied -and it's dangerous too-. The giant, once it secured the bounty for itself, began to feast on the waste while the rest of the pterosaurs either moved on or waited to see if the giant would leave anything to eat. -Does that thing have a name?- Hilda asked, -Quetzalcoatlus- Frida replied -David usually jokes about this one, but it is a creature you don't want to be next to-, -Yeah, one single strike from its beak can kill you- David added -there was one news report where one was seen swallowing a wolf whole-.

Twig heard this and hid behind Hilda, and she in turn tried to comfort her deerfox friend. -But… they don't fly around here often, right?- Hilda asked nervously, -Well… they can fly around the world with bare effort- David replied -so, I would expect some flying by or even perch on rooftops…-, -ROOFTOPS?!- Hilda asked in panic, -Y…Yes?- David asked nervously, -THAT'S WHAT LANDED ON THE ROOF OF MY HOUSE LAST NIGHT?!- Hilda asked out loud, shocking Frida and David, -That… was on your roof?!- Frida asked alarmed -how did you live?!-, -Well, I didn't saw it in person- Hilda replied -I heard it from the news, and a neighbor saw it from the ground-.

David and Frida let out a sigh of relief, as their new friend wasn't lost in a single night. -Well, if you see one, just run next time- Frida stated, -Or hide- David added -I doubt running will work with a giant animal like that- he added, and then pointed at the Quetzalcoatlus, who by this time had had its fill and began to move away, leaving few scraps to be fought for by the other pterosaurs. -And why does it not attack the fishermen?- Hilda asked, -Well, the thing is… even though that thing is more of a predator, it's actually scared of populated areas- David replied -it may roost on rooftops, but… if spooked, it'll leave quickly-.

Soon, the Quetzalcoatlus flew away, and the rest of the pterosaurs left as well after eating what was left. The fishermen could once again sell their catch in peace, and the group moved on, leaving the pier and heading back into the city again. -That… probably wasn't the best first impression of the pier you hoped for- Frida stated, breaking the silence after they had moved away from the coastline, -I don't think it was a bad first impression- Hilda replied -but those are definitely not the animals I was expecting to see-, -Well, you're probably going to see them frequently when fishermen have a good fishing day- David stated and giggled a bit -the city will have plenty of surprises-, -I'm sure of it- Hilda replied, looking at the cover of the book she had borrowed -and I really want to learn more about these creatures-.

Back on the mountains, Alfur mounted his sparrow once again and flew close to the colony of Microtuban, and the flock began to get a bit nervous. -They easily seem to be scared by anything close- Alfur noted down as he and his sparrow flew by, but it seemed that, even with how close he was, it seemed like a small bird wasn't a reason for the colony to panic. -Well, that's another theory down- Alfur said as he crossed another theory off his notebook. He then landed his bird close to the colony to keep observing and drank some water from a canteen he was carrying -this is really hard-.

Suddenly, a large shadow moved above the colony, and as it flew by, the Microtuban began to panic and take to the air, sending small boulders down a slope and crashing into the already damaged buildings. -Watch out! Boulders incoming!- a villager stated in panic as rocks were falling once again, crushing the already damaged buildings even more. -Ow, dangit!- the mayor stated from afar -we were making such good reparation progress-.

Alfur then looked up and saw the shadow circle the flock of Microtubans; it seemed like it was hunting them, and it wasn't alone, as a second shadow appeared in the sky. -I'm going to need a closer look- Alfur stated out loud, the adventuring spirit now getting a hold of him, and quickly mounted his sparrow again to fly next to the now panicked Microtuban. -Is he flying into the flock?!- Andrew asked from afar, -I'm not sure, but I think I now see why the first recruits are the dumbest- the mayor replied, only standing back and fearfully watching the scene unfold.

Once Alfur got close enough, he spotted the shadows circling around the flock, teasing it into breaking apart. -Are those… eagles?!- Alfur asked to himself as he saw the pair try to dive bomb towards the flock. The Microtubans dropped quickly when the birds of prey attempted to grab them with their talons, but the birds were trying to drive the flock into the mountain in an attempt to make them crash; it was clear that these hunters were still inexperienced with this new source of prey. -Well, looks like these eagles may be what's causing the Microtuban to cause rock slides- Alfur said and wrote down a conclusion before he flew back to the town; the mayor looked at him relieved to know he was fine, and the townsfolk soon surrounded him to see what his verdict was.

-I think I've cracked the case- Alfur spoke as he got down from his sparrow and took out his notes -the Microtuban are not disturbed by regular working noise or sparrows, but if there are aerial hunters like eagles, they will panic and take off, dropping boulders while doing so-, -And how can we drive off the eagles?- the mayor asked Alfur, but he was clueless, that was one question he hadn't even thought off; -Well… uh… I'm not sure if that's possible right now- Alfur replied instinctively -they could be nesting close by, or they're just trying to catch the Microtuban-, -So there's no way to be safe for now?- Andrew asked nervously, and Alfur simply shook his head, giving no hope for the villagers. -Well, I think the only action we can take is build a cover around town- the mayor suggested, but the villagers rejected the idea. -If we cover the town, there won't be sunlight for the crops- one villager argued, -If the cover is made of glass we could harm ourselves when it breaks!- another villager argued.

More pebbles were now starting to fall, making everyone rush into cover, but to the villagers' confusion, it wasn't the Microtubans that were causing it since the whole flock was on the air. Alfur's bird took to the air in fright of the rock slide and spotted the culprits: two small, dome-headed dinosaurs, and they seemed to be duking it out, their steps causing small rocks to fall on the village. -What are those up there?!- the mayor asked in panic, as neither he nor the other villagers have seen it before. The villagers then ran away to their houses in panic as the two dinosaurs descended to continue their fight, and one nearly trampled the mayor, but fortunately, Alfur moved him out of the way of the dueling lizards.

Their fight didn't seem like it was as aggressive as the Rinchenia in the forest, however, as the two weren't that aggressive to each other, but regardless of their aggression, their steps were crushing elves and ruining pastures; -How do we drive them off?!- the mayor asked Alfur in panic, but Alfur was as clueless as to what to do, and to make matters worse, the eagles were now pushing the flock against the rocky wall of the mountain, causing winds to pick up and lift elves like paper, as well as startling the dinosaurs. -Everyone, GET DOWN!- Andrew yelled as the Microtuban were flying low to the ground, and all the villagers did their best to try and hold on; even Alfur's bird was struggling, as it was now flying with the flock to avoid being hunted by the eagles.

The flock flew back into the air as quickly as they swooped over the town, bringing a window of relief for the villagers. -Well, that's one thing out of the way- Andrew stated silently as the flock moved back into the skies again, but the problems weren't over, as the dinosaurs were still around and playing after the danger had passed; little did they know however, that it hasn't, as minutes after the eagles soon stopped chasing the Microtuban, they started to swoop over in circles over the town. -Is that normal?- the mayor asked out loud, as most elves knew that whenever a bird of prey was doing that, it meant that it was watching over its target. -I… am not so sure- Alfur replied nervously, his bird now with him and shivering from fear as well.

Suddenly, one of the eagles started to dive down towards the villagers, causing everyone to panic. Alfur quickly mounted his sparrow and, with the mayor and Andrew on its back as well, quickly flew away. Little did they know, however, that the eagle was after a bigger target. The eagle then deployed its talons and grasped the head of one of the dinosaurs. The animal tried to get the eagle off its dome-shaped head, as the small spikes on the back of its skull were giving the eagle a place to take a grip, but the eagle held on, flapping its wings to balance itself, and dragging the dinosaur down the slope. The second eagle flew close by, as a heavy target like this dinosaur would be able to break the wing of an eagle; nonetheless, the eagle took off, with the dinosaur still held firm by its skull on its talons, and then, when it was away from the mountain wall, it let go.

Alfur, the mayor, and Andrew watched in horror from the safety of Alfur's sparrow, as the dinosaur fell, and hit the ground with such force that it killed it instantly. The eagles then swooped down to see if their catch survived, and after a couple of minutes, they descended to eat their catch. -I… think we've seen enough for today- Andrew stated out loud, traumatized by what he had seen. The sparrow then landed back on the village, and the villagers slowly emerged from their hiding spots. -Is everything safe now?- one villager asked as the three got off the sparrow, -I think so- Alfur replied, looking around the now devastated village. -What was all of that?- the mayor asked dumbfoundedly, -I have no idea- Alfur replied, still in a state of shock -but I think we can still rebuild-, -Well, we must- the mayor replied -but how can we make sure those things never return?-, -I… I have no idea- Alfur replied -but… it's better to just… start rebuilding right now, I guess?-. -Alfur's right- Andrew backed him up -we must rebuild as much as we can before nightfall-, -Well said, fellow villager- the mayor added -now, let's get the houses back on their feet!-.

The villagers then quickly got to work, trying to quickly fix the destroyed houses with what spare material they could find. Alfur and his bird brought some materials from the forest, spotting a group of Telmatosaurus emerge from a cave along the way, while the rest of the villagers used stones and mud to build the walls and seal the gaps between them. Soon, with almost all the houses done, Alfur and his bird brought in some last materials as the sun began to set. -Well, at least the houses are kind of back on their feet- Andrew stated -I think we can work on fixing the fields tomorrow-, -It's good that at least all of you have a roof under which to sleep after all of this- Alfur added, patting Andrew's shoulder.

The Microtubans, after being airborne for some hours after the attack, proceeded to land below the town this time around, almost close together to keep warmth, as the night on the mountains would bring out cold and other predators. -Alright everyone, the sun's setting- the mayor warned everyone -pick up the last of the remaining crops before going to bed so they don't freeze overnight!-. With that said, the villagers picked up whatever vegetables they could salvage and headed into their homes, for tomorrow they had to send them to town to get money to sustain their families. -Well, I suppose this is goodbye for now- the mayor then stated to Alfur -I must write a report of our production tomorrow as well as about the incident of today for your leader-, -Oh, I almost forgot about that part!- Alfur stated as he followed the mayor back to his building; the mayor then wrote in the events of today's incident on a little note and gave it to Alfur, who in turn placed it on his file. -Also, have this as a plus- the mayor added, and he gave Alfur a couple of fine turnips -make sure to use them well to make soup!-, -I sure will!- Alfur replied.

With the day now almost over, Alfur mounted on his bird for the last time on the day, and once he secured in every note and paper he wrote on his file, he flew off back to Trolberg, guided by his sparrow. Below, the Telmatosaurus herd that Alfur had seen while recollecting materials was also moving away from the mountain, presumably to forage during the night or perhaps to look for a place to rest. These herbivores have had a long day inside a cave below the mountain, trying to find salt to supplement their diet, and now they need to fill their stomachs up after a long trek. -Looks like they had a long day too- Alfur wondered out loud as he saw the herd on the move. It had really been a long day for everyone, and surprisingly for an elf like him, the only thing on his mind now was to go to sleep.

In the city, Johanna's day had been busy as well, as she had to redesign a logo she had submitted a few weeks ago to meet the client's expectations, but after a couple of sketches and resends, her new logo finally got accepted. -Ugh, I sometimes wonder why I have such luck with clients like these- she said to herself as she drank some peppermint tea -I wonder where has Hilda been all day; hopefully she hasn't gone lost-. To her relief, Hilda and Twig soon arrived home after she said goodbye to Frida and David at the door. -Hi mom!- Hilda saluted as she hung her scarf and took off her boots -how's work-, -Oh, don't get me started- her mom replied and giggled a bit -you want some peppermint tea?-, -Yes please!- Hilda thanked before she sat down on the couch as her mom served her some tea -today I spent the day with the two kids we met yesterday-, -Really?- Johanna asked as she gave her daughter a cup of tea -were they nice?-, -Yeah, they were- she replied before taking a sip -they showed me around some other places in town, like the library and the pier-.

Johanna then sat down next to Hilda and relaxed after a long day's work, -I'm glad you're getting used to the city- she stated -I was a bit worried when I let you out on your own here, thinking you'd run in trouble-, -Well…- Hilda replied, and that word alone got her mom nervous -I did find some dinosaurs in the city-, -What?!- Johanna asked in panic -did you get attacked?! Please tell me your new friends didn't force you to get closer!-, -No, no, they didn't- Hilda replied and tried to calm her mom down -it was just a small creature near a pond, I think David said the name of it, but I can't remember it-, -Hilda, listen, you can't get close to those creatures, no matter how big or small they are- her mom stated -they're dangerous after all-, -But the one we found was trying to eat fish- Hilda argued -David told me that, since he's an expert on dinosaurs-.

Johanna then let out a sigh and ran her hand through Hilda's hair, -I know you trust your new friend- her mom stated -but still, don't try to get close to one again, promise?-, -I promise- Hilda replied, a bit reluctantly, -Good, now, what else did you find?- her mom asked -you said you went to the library too, right?-, -Oh yeah, I did- Hilda said before showing the book she borrowed to her mom -I found a book about some myths of the city; the librarian said I could borrow it for a week-, -Well that's nice- Johanna replied, taking a look at the cover of the book before giving it back to Hilda -what about the pier? Was the ocean view pretty for your first time seeing it?-, -Oh it was- her daughter replied -although it was a bit busy with fishermen taking their catch to the market, and some flying things like we saw yesterday were stealing fish-, -Oh my- her mom replied -you didn't get close, right?-, -Nope- Hilda replied back -specially since there was a tall flying thing, I think David called it Quetzal… something-.

-Was it… tall?- her mom asked nervously, -Yeah…- Hilda replied, not liking where this was going -why?-, -Uh… nothing- her mom lied, but Hilda already knew why she asked. -Ok…- she replied -can we watch some TV before we go to sleep?-, -Sure- Johanna replied -I really need to take my mind off from work after today. Hilda then turned on the TV, and it immediately showed some footage of the eagle attack from the mountains, as the footage was captured by drone. -Incredible sighting today near the mountains, as a new sort of behavior was captured on camera for the first time- the news reporter stated -a pair of golden eagles have managed to kill an Alaskacephale by using the same technique the birds use when hunting ungulates like ibex or chamois. Researchers suspect that this kill may be a result of the absence of ungulates brought about by the appearance of these creatures, but more information is needed to make such conclusion-, -I think… we should change channel- Johanna stated in shock after seeing the news, and Hilda quickly changed channels to a cooking show as a result.

Meanwhile, back at the organization building, Alfur landed his sparrow back on the back of the building and quickly rushed to turn in his reports on the incident of today. -Hey, Alfur!- Adeline called him as he ran inside the building and up to the second floor -the reports are turned in in the office on the first floor to the left!-, -Oh, thanks!- Alfur said and quickly ran down the stairs and went to the office Adeline designated him to go to, and once he turned in his report, an elf quickly revised it and sent a note up a tube to a different office. -Looks like you survived your first day as a new recruit- the elf stated -that's a first-, -Yep- Alfur replied, -Well then, a team will be sent tomorrow to that location to assess the damage and help the villagers- the elf added -you're now dismissed for the day, recruit-.

With a sigh of relief, Alfur left the office just as the rest of the elves were finishing their reports for the day and leaving their posts. Adeline soon met him outside and offered him a lift back home. -So… first time luck for your first assignment?- she asked Alfur, -Oh… uh… yeah- he replied -the place was nice, and… those Microtubans weren't as dangerous as I thought-, -You got lucky to pick that as your first assignment- Adeline stated -others had a tough day, especially with those who went after creatures like Eoraptor or Mononykus-, -Those are aggressive?- Alfur asked nervously, -Well, as far as I remember, the Eoraptor is- Adeline replied -but I'm not sure about the Mononykus; I've never encountered one before-.

Soon, after flying over the city and witnessing the sun set, Adeline and Alfur arrived at Hilda's house, where Alfur got off the sparrow and picked up his stuff from a pocket on the sparrow's mount. -Well, see you tomorrow, Alfur!- Adeline said before she took off and headed home, -Bye, Adeline!- Alfur yelled as he saw her fly off, and he entered through the window back to the house. Once inside, he made his way back to the cuckoo clock up on the shelves and settled back in, exhausted after the long day. -Well, time to write in a daily report- he said to himself as he took off his uniform and hung it on a perch before sitting down and opening a notebook -I'm probably going to have nightmares after that eagle hunt-.

After a few more hours of watching TV, Hilda and her mom also decided to call it a day, as the two began to yawn more often. -Oh, I almost forgot!- Johanna said as she got up from the couch -I'm not sure how you're going to like this, but… I'm thinking about sending you to school starting next month, does that sound… good?-. Hilda was left with her mouth open as her mom said that, she usually had lessons at home by her mom but now, she was about to go to a new place to learn stuff. -I… I think I'll like it- she nervously replied and gave her mom a hug -but I'll certainly miss your lessons-. Her mom hugged her back with a warm embrace before kissing her forehead. -I know you will, but I'm sure you'll also learn some more stuff there too- her mom replied, giving her another kiss on her forehead -besides, maybe you can make more friends there too-.

Hilda then broke the hug and smiled at her mom, the idea of more friends giving her a bit more excitement. -Can I ask something else?- Hilda asked her mom, -Sure, what is it?- her mom asked, -When I was with those kids, Frida said that with my skills I'd be a good Sparrow Scout- Hilda replied -do you think… I should join?-, -The Sparrow Scouts?- her mom asked out loud -now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time-, -You've heard about the Scouts before?- Hilda asked, -Well, I was one when I was a young girl like you- her mom replied -I had almost all the badges before me and my group reached the limit age-, -And was it fun?- Hilda asked, -It sure was- her mom replied -and I'd be honestly honored if you were to join-, -Really?!- Hilda asked excitedly, -Yeah, I'm sure you'd be a good sparrow scout like your friend said- her mom replied, and Hilda gave her another hug.

-Thanks mom- Hilda said while she hugged her mom, -no problem, my little adventurer- her mom replied -now, this little adventurer needs to go to sleep so she can explore some more tomorrow-, -Ok, mom!- Hilda replied back and quickly went to her room to put on her pajamas; once done she quickly went back to the living room to kiss her mom goodnight, -Good night, mom!- said Hilda before going to her room with Twig and closing her door, -She's really one of a kind- Johanna said to herself before heading to her room and closing her door as well.

Hilda closed her window and then sat on the bed, but before she could lay down to sleep, she remembered about Alfur and quickly checked the cuckoo clock to see if he was back. -Hey, Alfur!- she whispered, startling him. -Hilda, don't scare me like that!- Alfur replied a bit angrily, -Sorry- Hilda apologized -where were you? I thought you overslept-, -Me?, OVERSLEEPING?!- Alfur replied in shock -I feel offended by that! No elf is ever late to anything!-, -Well… then… what happened?- Hilda asked, -It's… kind of a long story- Alfur replied -let's just say I had to go out and… find something earlier in the morning-, -Oh, I see- Hilda replied -well, I hope you managed to find whatever that was-, -I surely did!- Alfur said and let out a sigh -but it sure was a struggle!-, -Well, good night Alfur!- Hilda replied and left Alfur to finish his notes, and once done that, she covered herself with the blankets on the bed and finally fell asleep, with Twig sleeping by her side, as always.

Alfur soon finished writing and also got himself ready to go to sleep, and he had to make sure to also get up early, for tomorrow he had to go back to work. -Well, hopefully tomorrow isn't as crazy as today- Alfur said to himself as he programmed his alarm clock -I hope those villagers don't get cold either; those dinosaurs really are a pain in the bum-. Once his clock was programmed, Alfur then laid down on his bed and finally went to sleep. The house was now silent, and the streets too were finally quiet, with no giant pterosaurs landing on rooftops, but over the mountains, on Klippbyn, the villagers and the Microtuban were startled by something; the pterosaurs, alarmed, kept close to each other, but for the villagers, the resonating noise was an indicator of good times to come.

For it was the unmistakable noise… of thunder.