by S. M. Wilson
Lincoln was watching both Storm and Leif closely too – looking for a sign that the virus had affected them in any way. But both of them seemed fine. Maybe his fears were unjustified, and the virus really wouldn’t work – or at least would have no impact on humans.
Leif wasn’t quite so tense as he’d been. “How bad is Rune’s sister? And what about his brother, he’s sick too?” he asked.
Lincoln shook his head. “Storm said Cornelius wasn’t too bad, but Livia – the first layer of her skin has started to blister. It started on her torso but has spread up her neck. She’s nowhere near as bad as Arta though. If she was, Storm would have insisted she was hospitalized.”
Leif gave a nod. “And Arta?”
Lincoln let out a long, slow breath. “I’m only here for the plants. We didn’t get enough yesterday. We have to collect more. Blaine said to take the plants as late as possible so they have the best chance of still being alive when we reach Earthasia. I’m trying to keep him sweet. He seems interested in the viruses now. That’s the only reason I’m going along with this.”
“Arta’s that bad?”
Lincoln gave a sorry smile. His question-dodging hadn’t been lost on Leif. He just gave the briefest nod. “How is your family back in Norden?”
Leif’s jaw tightened. He automatically ran his hands up the outside of his arms. “It seems to be colder. We can’t keep the house warm at all. The coal doesn’t burn as well as before, and even when it does burn it just fills the house with smoke. My parents get thinner every day.” He sighed. “But no one has the blistering plague. We’re wondering if we should move. Ambulus City is warmer, apparently. Even though there’s nowhere to stay.” He stared at the horizon as they tramped forward. “I just wonder how much energy we waste trying to stay warm.”
Lincoln frowned. “When you say it’s colder, what do you mean?”
He knew Norden was cold anyway. It had much more snowfall than Ambulus City. But he didn’t know quite how much.
Leif shifted his backpack. “A few years ago we had snow five months out of twelve. This year there has been snow for seven months so far. When I got home after the Trials it was still snowing. When they dragged me out of my house for this trip, it was straight into a snowdrift.”
Lincoln looked around at the bright green landscape stretching before them. There were large hills in the background, covered with darker green, and a stretch of marshland off to the left. “Somehow I think this place has never seen snow,” he murmured.
Leif nodded. “I doubt it. But could you stand the heat? The moisture? Sometimes it seems so thick I can barely breathe.”
It was odd. Were they both actually contemplating living on Piloria at some point, despite everything they’d been through? But strange as it seemed, it didn’t stop Lincoln continuing. “Yeah, but somehow it doesn’t seem so bad near the beach, or the coastline.”
Leif shook his head. “But would you want to be there? That bay looked so tranquil – until it filled with tylosauruses. And what about the pterosaurs?”
“Or the megalodon. You’d never know when it was lurking.”
“At least it can’t walk on land.” Leif looked thoughtful. “I wonder if there are any creatures that can walk out of the sea?”
Lincoln swallowed slowly. He knew exactly what Leif was thinking. The deinosuchus lived in the lake but came onto the shore to attack. It was the creature that had killed Rune and played a part in Kronar’s death.
“We should change the map that Storm has. We should draw pictures of where all the dinosaurs are. Make it more relevant for anyone who might come here.”
Leif raised his eyebrows. “You’re assuming we’re getting out of here alive.”
Lincoln gave a determined nod. “I’m counting on it. I’m taking those plants home.” He shot a sideways glance at Leif. “And if I don’t get them home, I’m counting on one of you to do it for me.” He held up his fist.
Leif looked at it for the briefest of seconds, then held his up too and bumped it against Lincoln’s. “Count on it. We’ve got out of here once. We can do it again.”
Lincoln kept in his reply. He wasn’t forgiven. Leif would never really forgive his betrayal. But they’d reached some kind of truce and that was enough for him.
Her head felt fuzzy. It was either the fruits she’d eaten this morning, or the lack of sleep from the night before. She’d buried her head in her blankets after her conversation with Reban, even though her brain had been wide awake.
By the time she finally fell asleep, the sky was already changing from dark blue to violet – a sign that the sun was on its way up.
The hatred was slowly but surely edging its way out of her. He hadn’t known she existed. He hadn’t known Dalia had a daughter. At least, that’s what he said.
As for Octavius – why hadn’t he told her he knew her mother? That he was her uncle. In a way, she guessed he had. He’d hinted at knowing Dalia Knux, but Storm had been much too nervous to ask him what he meant. Now she just wanted to go back to that office and sit down and have an actual conversation with him. Octavius Arange, the Captain Regent – and Storm’s great-uncle.
How well had he known her mother? How much time had he spent with her? What had she been like as a young woman? Was she anything like Storm? A few people had mentioned their physical similarities, but only Reban had mentioned her temperament. And maybe he was just saying that to try to win Storm around.
She watched as Blaine led the way ahead. Part of the terrain had been open. Part of the trek had been past a marsh. Last time around she was sure they’d found some boots there – remnants of other Finalists who’d vanished without a trace. Hadn’t someone on the other team said they’d been stuck in the marsh for a few days? Watching as creatures devoured their teammates.
It didn’t even bear thinking about.
Finally, Blaine turned and raised his finger to his lips. They all crouched down, crawling forward to a viewing point over the watering hole.
It was deserted. The water was murky-looking, as if it had recently been disturbed. The surrounding area was muddy. They could practically see the footprints. But there was no sign of any T-rexes.
They sat in silence for a while. Scanning the surrounding landscape, looking for any possible glimpse of the T-rexes. Listening to every tiny sound carried by the wind and, more importantly, catching any scent in the air. The T-rexes were vile. The smell when she had last encountered one had been overwhelming – the stench of rotting meat seemed to emanate from their very pores.
Leif flicked open the carrier, pulling out the bright-red vial. The virus for the T-rexes. Storm’s stomach somersaulted.
The T-rexes were terrifying. Part of her hated herself right now, but another part wouldn’t be sorry if this virus worked.
She leaned down and put her head in her hands for a second. In so many ways they were magnificent creatures. Stunning. But inhabiting the same continent as them?
Maybe she should start wearing black. Maybe she secretly had the mentality of a Stipulator. After all, her father was one, maybe they weren’t so dissimilar after all?
“Give me it,” said Blaine. “The coast is clear. I’ll do this one. I have a vested interest in not seeing another T-rex.”
Leif looked a little hesitant. “Are you sure?”
Blaine gave a slightly creepy smile. Vengeance. The word shot through her in an instant. She almost understood it.
Leif handed over the glass vial. “The top is tricky. I struggled to get it off last time,” he said. “I ended up just smashing it.”
Blaine was still smiling. “I think I’ll manage.”
He went to leave, but Jesa grabbed hold of his arm. He turned back. She was struggling to find the words. “Be careful,” she finally said, her voice shaking.
And, in the blink of an eye, Blaine shot over towards the watering hole.
It all happened so quickly. One moment they were watching Blaine. The next, they were watching something else ent
irely.
From over to the right, a few other people shot out of the trees, running as fast as they could. Storm’s heart missed a few beats. “It’s the other team!” She couldn’t help the surge of guilt that swept through her. She hadn’t even given them a second thought so far. But here they were. They must have visited the pterosaur site, and now reached the T-rex one. Froan and Tena, two of the other previous Finalists, were on that team.
There was a moment of confusion. The other team were all clad in dark green. It was obvious they didn’t recognize Blaine, nor him them. Two of them stopped sprinting, glancing behind them to their counterparts. Blaine turned back to their group. “More?” he shouted angrily.
Storm waved her hand. Gesturing Blaine on, but letting the other team see her too. At least then they would realize Blaine was actually with them.
Blaine lifted the vial and smashed it off one of the rocks at the watering hole, the red liquid vanishing instantly. At the same time there was a blurring to the left.
“Oh no,” breathed Storm. “Raptors.”
Lincoln’s voice was right in her ear. “They’re too big to be raptors.”
Five creatures had appeared, streaking from the forest. Like raptors and T-rexes they were theropods, running on their strong back legs with their front legs raised in mid-air.
From the ridge of the hill, they all practically had a bird’s-eye-view. They were far enough away to be safe, but close enough to see everything unfold.
“What’s that on their heads?” asked Leif.
Storm screwed up her nose. The creatures had what looked like a pair of rounded crests on their skulls and some bunched skin around their necks. “I have no idea,” she breathed. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The creatures seemed naturally curious. They were looking first one way towards Blaine, then towards the other group.
“They’ll go for my dad!” Jesa’s voice was high-pitched. She jumped from her crouching position to her feet.
“What on earth are they doing at the T-rex watering hole? Are they crazy?” asked Lincoln.
“Just as crazy as us apparently,” said Leif as he pulled Jesa back down.
Blaine hadn’t moved. He’d stayed crouched down at the edge of the watering hole. The other group started to panic.
Reban’s voice was low. “Those are dilophosauruses. At least I think they are. Give it a minute.”
“How do you know that?” Storm didn’t even turn her head towards him. She couldn’t look away right now. She had to keep her eyes on Blaine and the others.
“I know someone who wrote a book about dinosaurs.”
Storm had a wave of understanding. The book in Octavius’s library.
Now she did flick her head around. “Magnus…Don?”
He nodded. “My uncle, unfortunately.”
Something burned inside her. Curiosity. She wanted to ask questions. But it was hardly the time. She looked back down.
Froan was running back towards the trees. But another dilophosaurus appeared from them. Where had it come from? It was slightly smaller than the others – around the same height as Froan – and it was obvious for a few seconds that Froan contemplated his chances against this unfamiliar dinosaur.
That’s when everything changed. The smaller dilophosaurus seemed to move into defence mode. It opened its mouth and let out a strange noise, the skin around its neck opening out like a bright red frill, and something shot from its mouth.
“Aargh!” Froan lifted his hands to his face. His scream was deep, and another noise filled the air.
He pulled his hands back from his face. Even from here, Storm could see that his skin was sliding, hissing from his face.
Storm was horrified. She turned to the others. “What is it? Acid?”
All the other creatures turned in the direction of the attack. Now Blaine moved. But instead of running up the hill towards them, he darted in the other direction. The direction of the caves they’d hidden in before, when they’d first met him.
“Where’s he going? And where’s the rest of that team?” asked Jesa, wide-eyed with shock. All but one of Froan’s teammates had vanished while the dilophosauruses were distracted.
“They must have scarpered. I think we should go too, but not down there,” said Reban quietly.
“I think you’re right,” said Leif. He grabbed Jesa’s elbow. “We can catch up with Blaine later.”
“What? No!” Her voice was louder than it should be. One of the dilophosauruses lifted its crested head, turning in their direction.
Froan’s remaining teammate below was hesitating near the trees – Tena Koll had been a Finalist with them and obviously had some loyalty to Froan. But the rest of the dilophosauruses were circling him now. He was holding his hands out in front of him, screaming for someone to help.
Tena hesitated just too long. Another dilophosaurus turned towards her, its bright-red neck frill on display as it opened its mouth and sprayed her with acid. She crumpled to the ground with a squeal, her hands over face. It was the second time Storm’s feet had been frozen to the ground.
She didn’t want to watch the attack but she couldn’t seem to move. The largest dilophosaurus took the first bite, snapping at Froan’s outstretched hand. He yelped and pulled it back. But it was too late. Simultaneously, the rest of them pounced.
Storm’s group were too far away to help. Even if she tried to throw her knives they would never reach the dilophosauruses. She glanced at Jesa – who looked far too shocked to pull out her crossbow. Running down to help would only give the attacking dinosaurs more prey.
Tena was on the ground. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t see anything. She had to be listening in horror as Froan’s blood-curdling screams filled the air along with the sound of ripping flesh.
One of the dilophosauruses was still looking towards them on the hill.
Reban grabbed Storm roughly. “Move!” he yelled, taking her hand and yanking her in the direction that Lincoln, Jesa and Leif were already running in. He ran much quicker than she expected – her feet could barely keep pace with him, her arm nearly pulled from its socket.
She couldn’t breathe as she ran. Her eyes were still seeing the horror that had just unfolded in front of her.
The others were a good way in front, heading towards a thick patch of jungle.
As soon as she hit the jungle she dropped her hand from Reban’s. As she rushed through the dark-green leaves, the jungle seemed to envelop them, hide them from any pursuers. The only trouble was that it also hid Leif, Jesa and Lincoln from them.
Storm kept pushing forward, slapping the thick leaves away from her face. The foliage was dense. The bright sunlight barely managed to filter through the canopy above. After a few minutes, Reban stopped and tugged at her arm. “Stop,” he murmured.
She kept trying to push on, but he got more insistent. “Stop!”
Her footsteps halted. “What?”
He put his fingers to his lips. “Listen.”
She stopped instantly. Had he heard something? Were the dilophosauruses coming after them?
Reban crouched down on the jungle floor and gestured for her to do the same. Sweat was running down the side of his face, she could feel the heat emanating from him. Every breath was laboured, hers as well as his, as they listened closely for any jungle sounds.
At first it was the rustle of the bushes, the crack of the twigs, then there was a murmur. Reban tilted his head to the right. “This way,” he mouthed.
He moved forward, still crouching, watching where he placed his feet. But it was impossible to move silently through the jungle. After a few seconds, the murmur got louder – it was voices.
Storm’s face broke into a smile of relief. They pushed their way through, but as the foliage was thick, Storm missed what Lincoln was doing and fell straight over him, tumbling to the ground.
Almost instantly the smell overwhelmed her. She coughed and spluttered. “Wow.”
Lin
coln’s bright green eyes met hers. His hands were covered in dirt as he scrabbled on the forest floor.
Storm shook some twigs from her hair. “What are you doing?”
He frowned at her. “What do you think I’m doing? Can’t you smell it? It’s more of these plants. I’m digging up a few to put in the backpacks.” He nodded his head to the left. “Leif’s grabbing some of the yellow vines over there.” Leif was scrabbling to her left, frantically yanking some of the vines and stuffing them into his backpack.
Even after what they’d just witnessed Lincoln never seemed to lose his focus – never seemed to forget what his priority was.
Storm looked up at the yellow vines wrapped around the nearby tree trunks. “Isn’t it weird,” she asked, “that these two plants seem to grow near each other?”
“Luck,” said Lincoln. “That’s what I call it. First bit of luck we’ve had around here.” He lifted a plant from the ground, cradling its roots as he put it into the backpack.
There was a loud crack behind them. Reban turned around, his eyes wide. There was a strange snort.
A few seconds later a small duckbill crashed between them all.
“Move!” yelled Lincoln instantly, as he picked up the backpack and started chasing after the creature.
Storm was on his heels in an instant. There was only one reason the duckbill would be running like that. It was being chased.
Jesa and Leif were to her right, Lincoln straight ahead and Reban practically on her shoulder. The thuds behind told her all she needed to know. The dilophosauruses they thought they’d lost were in the jungle with them.
Did they track by sight? By smell? She had no idea. Nor had she any clue how fast they could run.
Leif gave a shout as Jesa followed. “This way,” he called, banking sharply further to the right. There was no time to think, no time to argue. Lincoln kept pace with him. The leaves slapped into Storm’s face, twigs and branches scratching her arms and legs, tearing at her clothes as she forced her way through.