Chapter 8: Building a Safe Haven for Big Al
By the time Cody and Gwen returned to the research facility with Big Al, the sun had risen high in the sky, casting warm golden rays over the overgrown compound. The young Allosaurus, though still wary, followed them closely, occasionally letting out a low, tired rumble.
Gwen wiped the sweat from her brow, looking around the facility. "Alright, we brought him back… but where exactly are we going to keep him?"
Cody glanced at the surrounding area, thinking. "We can't keep him inside. He's still a wild animal, and we don't know how he'll react once he gets his strength back."
Gwen nodded. "So, what do we do?"
Cody's eyes landed on an old fenced-off section near the facility, partially hidden behind tall grass and debris. "There! If we reinforce the fence and fix up the structure, we could turn it into a temporary holding pen."
Gwen followed his gaze and saw what he meant. The area looked like it had once been used to house smaller creatures, possibly for observation or research. Though the fence was rusted and some parts were broken, with enough effort, it could work.
"Alright," she said. "Then let's get started."
Cody and Gwen immediately got to work. The first task was clearing away the overgrown plants and broken debris. Cody found an old toolbox inside the facility, filled with rusted but still usable tools, and they started reinforcing the metal fencing with spare parts.
They scavenged wooden planks and metal bars from other parts of the facility, using whatever they could find to strengthen the enclosure. Every so often, they glanced at Big Al, who had settled near the facility entrance, watching them with tired yet curious eyes.
"You think he knows we're trying to help him?" Gwen asked as she hammered a nail into a wooden support beam.
Cody glanced over at Big Al and smirked. "I think he's trying to decide if we're crazy or just really stubborn."
Gwen chuckled. "Maybe a bit of both."
After what felt like hours of work, the pen was finally ready. It wasn't perfect, but it was sturdy enough to keep Big Al safe while they treated his injuries.
Now came the tricky part—getting Big Al into the pen.
"Alright," Cody said, wiping his hands on his pants. "We just need to lead him in slowly. No sudden movements."
Gwen gave him a skeptical look. "Easier said than done."
Cody grabbed a bucket and quickly rummaged through some old supplies until he found what he was looking for—dried meat rations. "If he's anything like modern reptiles, he's probably hungry."
He tore off a piece and slowly approached Big Al, holding the food out in front of him. The young Allosaurus lifted his head, sniffing the air, but didn't move right away.
"Come on, buddy," Cody murmured, taking a slow step back toward the pen. "Let's get you somewhere safe."
Big Al hesitated, his eyes flicking between Cody and the food. Then, cautiously, he took a step forward.
Gwen held her breath as Cody kept guiding him, moving step by step toward the pen. When they finally reached the entrance, Big Al hesitated again, glancing around as if deciding whether to trust them.
Then, with a soft grunt, he stepped inside.
As soon as he was in, Gwen quickly secured the gate behind him. She let out a deep breath of relief. "I can't believe that actually worked."
Cody grinned. "Told you. A little patience goes a long way."
With Big Al safely inside the pen, Cody and Gwen began their next task—treating his wounds.
They returned to the research facility and started searching through the storage rooms. Eventually, they found what they needed: medical supplies, bandages, and a few bottles of antiseptic.
"Looks like the scientists had a pretty advanced setup," Cody remarked as he sorted through the supplies. "Some of this stuff was probably meant for bigger dinosaurs."
"Good," Gwen said, grabbing what she could carry. "Because Big Al's going to need it."
Back at the pen, Cody carefully approached Big Al, who watched him warily.
"Alright, buddy," Cody murmured, kneeling beside the injured dinosaur. "This is probably going to sting."
Gwen handed him a damp cloth, and Cody gently dabbed at the wounds, cleaning away the dried blood. Big Al flinched but didn't lash out.
"You're doing great," Gwen said, carefully applying some antiseptic.
Cody smiled. "See? We're not so bad, are we?"
Big Al let out a small grunt, almost like a sigh, and finally relaxed.
As the sun began to set, Cody and Gwen stepped back, satisfied with their work. Big Al was resting comfortably in his new enclosure, his wounds cleaned and bandaged.
Gwen leaned against the fence, watching the young dinosaur with a small smile. "We actually did it."
Cody stood beside her, their shoulders touching. "Yeah. And now… I guess we have a new friend."
They shared a glance before looking back at Big Al, who let out a soft rumble before closing his eyes.
For the first time since arriving on the island, they felt a sense of purpose—like maybe, just maybe, they weren't so alone after all.