Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter eighteen of "Running From Here." This chapter features some Alan/Ellie. I want to make it clear that I will not tolerate anyone clamoring for me to return to writing my other fics. I will resume them when I want to. If I see a signed review demanding such a thing, you will be blocked. If it is a guest review, it will be removed. There are no ifs, ands, or buts over this. Stay tuned for chapter nineteen.
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Chapter 18: Getting Through
The group reached a less dense part of the rainforest in the early evening. Rexy and Mia moved through the rainforest at a steady pace. Jason and Billy held onto their necks firmly. So did Tim with Lex on her waist. She had her hands on John's back. Alan, Ellie, and Ian walked alongside Rexy, as did Tommy, Kim, Trini, and Zack with Mia. Alan looked up at the sky. He could see clouds had covered most of it. Ellie turned toward it.
"It seems we will have a mostly cloudy night tonight," Alan said softly.
"It sure does," Ellie agreed as they looked ahead. She formed a big frown on her face. "It is obvious we are not going to make it to the Visitor Center before dark."
"Lex, Tim, and I couldn't head there because it was too dark," Alan responded and cringed badly. "Rexy was on the prowl as well. Taking shelter in that tree kept us safe."
"It is still unbelievable how the Rangers managed to gain the trust of Rexy and Mia," Ellie whispered, her body shaking a bit. "They could've decided to kill them, but they didn't."
"I wonder what other powers their Power Coins possess," Alan said, his eyes expressing a bit of curiosity.
"Maybe we could ask them once this adventure is over," Ellie suggested while cupping her chin in her hand.
He raised his eyebrows. "That'd be a good idea."
She smiled. "Great."
Ian looked up at Rexy, who rumbled in a soft manner. He observed Jason petting the back of her head. She growled in much pleasure. He tried not to smile, but he couldn't help himself. Alan took Ellie's hand into his. He gave it a gentle squeeze.
"It seems Rexy is enjoying Jason's petting her a bit," Ian whispered, crossing his arms.
"I can't say I am surprised. She trusts him quite well," Alan said and suppressed a yawn.
Ellie glanced at the Tyrannosaurus's tail. "We still have to watch out for that tail. One hit would kill any of us, even if it was accidental."
"The Tyrannosaurus used to be posed as a tripod like most bipedal dinosaurs. It would stand erect with its tail dragging on the ground. Then it was discovered the dinosaurs would have suffered fractures in their hips from that. Their postures were changed to their current ones," Alan explained.
"Sauropods were once posed with their heads high in the air and their tails dragging on the ground. Then it was found they would have strained ligaments in their necks. They are now posed with their necks and tails parallel to the ground," Ian added.
"When it seems that we have learned everything we need to know about dinosaurs, we found out something new," Alan said amazement.
Ian chuckled to himself. "For sure."
Alan squeezed Ellie's hand a little tighter. "Let's not forget discovering new species. It seems we find several of them every year. There are likely thousands of dinosaur species."
Ian rubbed the back of his neck with both hands. Tommy, Kim, Trini, and Zack looked at Mia, who emitted a soft bellow. She shook her head before blinking three times. Tommy clasped his hands together, as did Kim with hers. They spotted a Pteranodon flying overhead.
"What a beautiful Pteranodon," Tommy whispered, warmth lining his voice.
"Tell me about it," Kim agreed. "I remember watching Pteranodons carry Valorians and Rulons on their backs with little effort in Dino-Riders. They do not weigh a whole lot."
"The factions must have made the equipment extra light yet strong enough for the critters to carry their warriors," Tommy suggested.
"The biggest pterosaur is Quetzalcoatlus. It was discovered in the seventies. It had a wingspan of forty feet and weighed five hundred pounds," Kim said in much amazement.
Tommy touched the top of his head. "The only way such a heavy animal could fly is having hollow bones. Strong legs for takeoff are also a must."
"Pterosaurs were well known for using cliffs and trees to make nests and rest," Kim pointed out matter-of-factly.
Trini curled her hand into a fist. "You wouldn't want to be skydiving or paragliding and have a pterosaur surprise you. It could see you as a threat and decide to attack."
"The dinosaurs we encountered could have decided to attack us, but they didn't. They were more interested in checking us out or eating their preferred food. In Rexy and Mia's case, Jason and Billy gained their trust," Zack explained.
"Animal telepathy is very interesting," Billy admitted while taking hold of Mia's frill. "I was able to see into Mia's mind. I could tell she didn't want to attack us deep down."
Kim rubbed the back of her neck with both hands. "In X-Men, Jean Grey could use her telepathy to communicate with animals. She was actually powerful enough to get them to obey her. However, she never used them to attack people maliciously. She used them to protect herself and her teammates."
"Professor Xavier didn't have the ability to use his telepathy for animal communication. I bet he wished he did," Tommy commented while cupping his chin in his hand.
Zack exhaled. "I would say so."
Rexy and Mia picked up their pace a tiny bit. Jason, John, Lex, and Tim held on a little tighter to the former. So did Billy to the latter. John shifted his attention toward the sky.
"It is obvious we are not going to make to the Visitor Center before dark," John mumbled disappointingly.
"That stinks, Grandpa," Tim mumbled with a frown.
"Who knows what kind of damage those monsters are doing in Angel Grove at this moment?" Lex asked uncertainly.
"I do not want to think about that, Lex," Jason admitted and swallowed hard. He moved his hands up and down Rexy's neck. "I just want to think about getting a little further before night falls."
"I don't blame you, young man," John said and picked up his cane. He tapped it against the Tyrannosaurus's side. "We probably have a little over an hour of daylight left."
"Thank God for summers," Jason whispered in much relief. "Long days allow us to get further along in journeys such as this one."
"Indeed, they do," John said with a soft chuckle.
"The longest day of the year occurs on the first day of summer. The shortest day of the year occurs on the first day of winter," Tim pointed out and formed a cheeky smile on his face.
"Daylight savings time begins in March. It ends in November," Lex added and made a funny noise. "I hate losing an hour of sleep with the former. I like gaining an hour of sleep with the latter."
"Everyone feels the same way, Lex," John commented. "The elderly need to sleep longer than younger people do. We get tired more easily."
"I have heard you snore, Grandpa. You are quite loud!" Lex blurted out annoyingly.
"So do you and Tim, Lex," John said and snickered under his breath. "Of course, you are not as loud as I am."
"It makes me wonder if Rexy has ever snored," Jason said with a bit of curiosity.
"She actually has," John admitted. "There was one time I drove by her enclosure in a jeep. I heard a strange sound. I thought it was a rumble of thunder. Then I realized it was Rexy snoring. She was likely not laying far from the fence."
"Wow," Jason whispered in amazement. "Just wow."
Rexy rumbled in annoyance and looked toward the trees. She could see two spider monkeys swinging from one tree branch to the next. Jason touched her neck, causing her to glance up at him.
"I guess you didn't like hearing about your snoring, did you?" Jason asked.
"No, I didn't," Rexy admitted and shook her head. "I wish John would not talk about such a thing."
"I do not blame you," Jason said, petting her neck. "The story he shared was interesting, though."
"It might be to you, but it isn't to me," Rexy growled and flared her nostrils.
He nodded. "Fair point."
"I will say I do not like that we will not make it to the Visitor Center before dark," Rexy pointed out.
"It sucks, but it is what it is," Jason commented gently.
She snorted. "Yes."
Rexy moved a little further ahead while raising her head somewhat. Alan, Ellie, and Ian picked up their pace. They managed to catch up to her. They slowed down before clearing their throats. Mia emitted a very soft bellow. She blinked three times.
"It is obvious Rexy wants to get as far as possible before it gets dark," Mia whispered.
"You are telling me," Billy said and groaned to himself. "I hate we are not going to make it to the Visitor Center before dark."
"It sucks, but we can't change when darkness will fall," Mia pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Thank God for summers. I love seeing it get dark after eight o'clock in the evening. The best thing about sunsets in California is watching them on the beach. They are breathtakingly beautiful," Billy said in much warmth.
"I have watched a few sunsets from the beach on this island. They were all incredibly beautiful," Mia said, snorting.
"The sun looks like it is sinking beneath the water, but it isn't," Billy commented, the tightness of his grip on her frill increasing somewhat. "It is sinking below the horizon that seems to go on forever."
"I heard there was a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow from the Jurassic Park staff. The only problem is rainbows are usually far up in the sky," Mia murmured.
"That they are," Billy agreed.
"I hope to see a rainbow in the near future," Mia responded and looked upward.
"Me too, Mia," Billy said and patted her neck. She began to go a little faster, as did Tommy, Kim, Zack, and Trini.