Come to think of it... why do the dinosaurs on the island seem to be getting more active?
After finishing his meal, Carlo didn't immediately return to the Great Lake. Instead, he patrolled the perimeter of the Primeval Ecological Zone's containment fences.
His olfactory radar had expanded well beyond the boundaries of the Zone, allowing him to perceive a much wider radius. Effectively, even without leaving his territory, he could sense the situation across more than half of Isla Nublar.
Did the humans release all the dinosaurs when they evacuated? Makes sense. Dr. Wu even brought the Parasaurolophus eggs to me; the other species capable of surviving on their own must have been let out long ago.
Isla Nublar truly belonged to the dinosaurs now.
In the beginning, some creatures might have been too frightened by the unfamiliar environment to leave their paddocks, but as time went on, more and more would inevitably step out of their cages.
After confirming that no carnivores were attempting to sneak into his domain, Carlo turned away from the fence, satisfied.
…
"This is so cool!"
Kenji and Sammy stood side-by-side at the summit railing, admiring the mountain scenery.
"Ahem..."
Yasmina cleared her throat, trying to drop a subtle hint that they shouldn't forget the mission, but the two were clearly oblivious. She rolled her eyes and took the lead.
"Sammy, you and Kenji cover the East Docks. Brooklynn and I will take the West. Let us know the second you spot something, okay?"
"Great plan!" Kenji didn't even look back, giving Yasmina a thumbs-up over his shoulder.
Sammy gave a quick affirmative and leaned over the railing, letting the mountain breeze wash over her. "You know, once you get past the 'danger lurking everywhere' part, this place is actually paradise."
Suddenly, the walkie-talkie on Sammy's belt hissed with static, followed by Darius's voice.
"Guys, Bumpy is acting weird. Ben and I are staying down here to look after her."
"Copy that. Stay safe," Sammy replied before getting back to scanning the shoreline with Kenji.
On the other side, Brooklynn and Yasmina had been searching for a while with zero results. Yasmina looked at Brooklynn, who shook her head to signal she'd seen nothing, then called out to the others:
"Nothing on the west side!"
Brooklynn stopped her observation and noticed something nearby: a pair of hang gliders. "Yaz, do you think we could use those?"
Yasmina looked over, surprised, but maintained her composure. "Better to have them and not need them."
The two approached, attempting to lift a glider, only to find it wouldn't budge. They looked down and said in unison:
"It's locked."
Brooklynn pulled a hairpin from her hair, a smug grin on her face. "Looks like it's up to me."
Lock-picking was a vital skill for any self-respecting "unboxing" adventurer. Yasmina knew Brooklynn was good at this, but the comment sparked a sudden, inexplicable competitive streak in her.
"Fine. Just in case, I'll go find a rock."
Meanwhile, Kenji, who had been scanning the coast, suddenly froze. "I found it! East Dock Three!"
He was about to claim his glory when he noticed Sammy standing stiffly beside him. "Sammy?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she frantically grabbed her radio and screamed to the boys below:
"Darius! There's something big coming your way!"
…
"Stay calm... stay calm... Darius, what are they saying?"
Darius scanned the treeline and decided to trust Bumpy's instincts. He turned to Ben. "Something's coming."
Before Ben could even process the words, Darius grabbed his arm and sprinted in the opposite direction of where Bumpy was facing. Seeing them run, Bumpy abandoned her post and followed close behind.
"Roar—"
A moment later, a Tyrannotitan crashed through the brush, letting out a territorial roar as it claimed the empty clearing where the trio had just been standing.
Even while running for his life, Darius glanced back to identify the predator.
"It's a Tyrannotitan! One of the most aggressive ones! We have to find a way to distract it!"
He fumbled for his radio to warn the girls on the mountain. "Don't take the gondola down! We've accidentally wandered into Tyrannotitan territory!"
…
Sammy and Kenji exchanged a look and sprinted toward Yasmina and Brooklynn.
"Guys, we need another way down… Yaz?"
Yasmina was kneeling on the ground. Brooklynn had joined her.
"These are dinosaur eggs..." Yasmina turned, her face pale with dread as she showed them the nest, before carefully placing the egg back.
"We have to go," Brooklynn said firmly. Eggs meant a mother was nearby; escape was the only logical move.
At that exact moment, a Dimorphodon landed nearby, screeching to call its flock.
"Go! Now!"
Brooklynn made a break for the gondolas, but Sammy blocked her path. "It's not safe down there either!"
The four of them stood paralyzed as more and more Dimorphodons began to circle overhead.
"We're going to be surrounded!" Kenji shouted, snapping them out of their daze.
"No choice, get on the gliders!"
Brooklynn rushed to unlock the second glider. "Yaz! Help me lift this!"
"Coming!"
Yasmina saw Sammy and Kenji swatting away the encroaching pterosaurs. She shouted to them, "You two take that glider! Go! Now!"
The pair didn't argue. While fending off the Dimorphodons landing on the frame, they hoisted the glider and sprinted toward the cliff's edge.
Click.
The lock on the second glider snapped open. Yasmina felt the weight lift as Brooklynn stepped beside her. Together, they gripped the bars and charged off the precipice.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" x2
…
A Utahraptor of an unnaturally large size looked up at the sky with a hint of confusion.
What the hell was that noise?
After watching the strange flying shapes for a moment, she lowered her head and returned to her hunt. She was fast and silent, her movements barely disturbing the fallen leaves.
Following a scent, she gradually approached the Primeval Ecological Zone, drawn by the concentrated aroma of herbivores.
What kind of dinosaurs are these?
In front of her, a group of massive, armored creatures came into view. She had never seen an Ankylosaurus before. The spikes on their backs and the heavy clubs on their tails were a bit intimidating, so she stayed hidden in the brush, watching warily.
What are those two doing?
She peered through the foliage just in time to see one Ankylosaurus climb onto the back of another, and then...
Thud.
It felt as if something inside her had shattered into a million pieces, or perhaps a very specific realization had awakened. She turned and fled the scene at top speed.