CHAPTER 333

Vulture's feet slapped the riverbank as she sprinted to catch up with the other dune buggies. It did not take long for her to get them back in her sights. The utahraptor wove along the mud and rock terrain, her huffing breath powering her along. She leapt on a boulder and sprang through the air. Splashing down in a puddle she continued on. The pteranodons above appeared to be keeping a respectful distance from her. They seemed to sense the danger she posed.

Vulture began to veer outward toward the right flank of the rearmost vehicle. She cut up into the surrounding bracken, and then a little further amongst a cluster of fern trees. Dodging between rocky ledges she scaled up to some higher ground. Her claws dug into the broad bases of tall metasequoias as she jogged back and forth amongst the trees. On the last thick sloping root she took a chunk of bark out with her talons as she leapt into the air.

Her timing was impeccable, as the rearmost dune buggy was just racing up the bank below her. Vulture braced her legs as she hurled toward it and then kicked her feet with a force that connected and drove straight through the small vehicle.

The dune buggy lost traction. Dirt flew out from its tire tread as its wheels spun helplessly over the chassis. Upside down and right side up it went, over and over, several times it went before splashing into the shallows of the river. There it sat, silent and unmoving as water gurgled around it.