What sleeps in the deep

Ch 23: The Old World

"Wow...This looks too good to be true."

Doc interrupted the silent awe that everyone in, as they all huddled together admiring the rich forestation and colorful animals that once were deemed extinct. All plant life had some familiarity but looked different. 

As the group further ventured out into the forest they would see colorful birds that would rustle and flutter above the tree line. The curious team seeing this all felt overwhelmed. The birds they once saw recreated in the museums were now alive and a lot more vivid than the dead, dull, and dusty recreations in the museums. 

They continued walking further through the shrubs and greenery. Then as they reached a clearing they saw a mountain slope filled with different kind of smaller birds. As a colony they all filled the air with plenty of noise and the colors they displayed was beautiful. As they all watched the birds sing to their content, Nick hanging out in the back of the group, noticed some rustling and noise amongst the shrubs getting closer to them. Seeing this he pulls out his knife and begins to slowly approach the movement in one of the bigger shrubs. It shouldn't be too big if it's hiding behind these bushes. When Nick finally got close to the bush a small Ornithomimidae [like a mini raptor] jumps out and scurries around making it's mini screeches. 

After seeing the small creature, Nick puts the knife away and gets closer to the animal. This little guy is so cute. Nick then tries to grab the creature's tail and as he plays with it the animal tries to bite his hand. Maybe he's hungry. From his pocket he pulls out a stick of jerky and tears a small piece for the animal. R.J realizes that Nick is no longer next to him and looks around to find Nick. Then he see Nick further away from the group hunched over a bush. Now confused he gets closer to investigate, Nick was now luring the little raptor closer to him with the jerky. 

"Dude! What the hell is that?"

"SHHH.. I'm about to have a new pet."

"I don't know Nick. I don't think it's a good idea. Like what if something bigger comes looking for us because of that little guy."

"How do you know its a baby. What if it's just a mini raptor like in Jurassic Park."

"Those guys were GREEN. This guy is orange. Did you forget what happened to the people that messed around with those little guys. LAND PIRANA."

"R.J do you see anymore of these guys. Okay I've been waving this jerky for a minute now. Why did nothing else pop up?"

Then as the Ornithomimidae started following him there was another rustle in the bushes. Wide eyed now both looked to see what it was and another mini Ornithomimidae jumps out. Now there were two 'mini raptors' chasing the jerky. 

"Nick, this is starting to look like the movie."

"It's cool. We still have control over the situation-"

SCREEECHHH

Now with the color drained from their face both jerked their heads in direction of the loud angry screech. Then as the screech continued the rustling in the bushes were bigger and louder. All now heading into their direction. 

"I TOLD YOU THESE WERE BABIES" R.J screamed

The others were now starting to walk away to look for the two guys that got separated from the group. As this happened, both started running with all their might back to the group and with great panic started alarming the others that something was coming. 

Stella notices that Nick and R.J are frantically running in their direction waving at them as if they tried to tell them something. 

"Hey guys Nick and R.J are back....Umm, they're running back here?" 

As they got closer both scream, "RUN"

The Screeches from the mother Ornithomimidaes were deeper and louder. With that clarifying the danger no one hesitated to run. As Doc was running he started to feel his pockets and realize that all of their provisions were left behind the main entrance of the Eden. 

"Guys! Did we bring anything to fight this thing?!"

"CRAP. All of it is back there!" Nicky sobbed

Damn. Now Doc started picking up pace trying to figure out a way to get everyone out- alive. He started noticing Nicky and Stella falling behind. So he gets behind them and pushes them to move faster ahead. The floor begins to clear up and so does dense forest. Above the girls head he sees some large wings move around the top. With his consistent pace  he gets close to a branch and yanks it off the tree. Then he stands his ground and begins to bang on the tree trunks where he saw move before. He continued hitting the tree making noise but he saw the orange large female Ornithomimidaes hopping out from the greenery ready to face Doc. With the height of 8 feet and brightly colored skin this creature snarled and started to advance closer. Doc began making noise as he hit the trees. Suddenly what looked like large clusters of leaves begin to take life and start to fly away. Then the screeching in the sky began to sound closer to the ground. Doc seeing the massive shadow from the animal's wingspan get closer to the ground he jumped and threw himself out of the way. Suddenly, the female Ornithomimidaes was focus in fighting the Pterosaurs. Seeing the distraction Doc took flight to catch up with everyone else. 

Now in the tall green grasslands that he suddenly ran into he couldn't find where everyone else disappeared too. The change in scenery was so suddenly Doc felt perplexed and overwhelmed. As he continued pace he stopped in his track to hear whispering from a few feet to his right. He quietly follows the voices and then grabbed onto Kilo. As Kilo was about to scream Doc muffles him and assures him to calm down. Then after Kilo's tussle everyone runs to him just to find him with Doc. 

"DOC!" both Stella and Nicky exclaimed; as they ran up to hug him. 

"I'm still alive guys. And I'm pretty sure those flying things scared off the angry orange thing." 

"We saw what you did. Once that bird swooped down in your direction we thought you was gone. It happened so fast." Nicky tearfully explained.

"Guys, I think we should go back. If we gotta face all these things in the entrance of this relic. I don't wanna picture what the rest of this place is like."

"Umm, Hello? Did you forget we got some angry-suraus trying to kill us back there?" Nick complained. 

"Shut the hell up man. That was your fault. That thing wouldn't have noticed us if you weren't trying to kidnap it's baby." 

Nick quickly glared at R.J for his statement. Suddenly all eyes were on Nick. Doc seeing this he gets up, "Okay new rule! Everybody touches NOTHING and everybody takes NOTHING from this weird ass place. If this happens again, I will have no problems leaving you behind as bait." 

Everyone continues to walk straight from the grasslands and realizes that the floor is becoming more soggy and muddy. 

Stella stops walking, "Guys what are we walking into?"

This made everyone hesitant to take another step. So as a counter solution Doc picks up R.J [who weighed the lightest] and makes him stand on his shoulder. After looking around R.J points them the direction to dry land so the crew can avoid the marsh. 

As everyone now in higher spirit get ready to make their turn they realize they were slowly getting trapped in the mud. So now they each had to pull out one leg at a time to walk out of the muddy ground. 

With new frustration Nicky mumbled loudly, "This couldn't get any worse."  

As she pulled out her leg she falls face flat on the floor covered in thick mud. Then R.J turns and laughs at her but did not pay attention to his next step now also landing on his face with a mouth full of mud. 

Everyone now seeing R.J gag and vomit out the mud, everyone lost control and laughed including Nicky who was already on the verge of tears.