𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 》𝘽𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙨 ✓ [𝟐]

────── 𝟬𝟭

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲;
𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹

One Week Later

The first rays of dawn filtered through the cracks of Vera's makeshift shelter, casting a warm glow over her sleeping form. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open as consciousness slowly returned. Beside her, Rocky rolled over with a languid stretch, releasing a tiny yawn that made Vera smile despite her circumstances.

"Morning, Rocky," Vera murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. She sat up, wincing as her muscles protested the movement. The events of the previous day came rushing back, along with a gnawing hunger that reminded her of their precarious situation.

Reaching for her bag, Vera's hand grasped at empty air where their food supplies should have been. A sigh escaped her lips as the reality of their predicament sank in. "Guess we're all out of resources," she said, turning to her reptilian companion. "Looks like breakfast isn't on the menu today, buddy."

Vera pulled out a worn and creased map from her pocket, studying it intently. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she traced possible routes with her finger. After a moment, she looked up at Rocky with a spark of determination in her eyes.

"Well, we could head to Main Street and see what's left. What do you say, Rocky Road?" Vera's use of the playful nickname brought a small smile to her face, a brief moment of levity in their dire situation.

The dinosaur responded with an enthusiastic bellow, darting out of the shelter with unexpected energy. Vera couldn't help but chuckle at Rocky's eagerness. "Alright, alright, I'm coming," she called after him, grabbing her small bag and trusty spear before ducking out of the shelter.

The jungle was alive with morning activity as they set out. Birds called to each other from the treetops, and unseen creatures rustled in the underbrush. Vera kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, her grip on the spear never loosening.

As they walked, Vera filled the silence with chatter, partly to keep Rocky engaged and partly to calm her own nerves. "You know, Rocky, when we get back home, I'm going to treat you to the biggest bowl of leafy greens you've ever seen. How does that sound?"

Rocky chirped in response, causing Vera to laugh. "I'll take that as a yes. And maybe we can convince Mom to let you sleep in my room. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

After what felt like hours of trekking through the dense foliage, Vera paused to consult the map again. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, squinting at the faded lines and markers. "Looks like it's up ahead, Roca. Let's go," she said, using another of her affectionate nicknames for the dinosaur.

As they resumed their journey, a faint humming sound suddenly filled the air. It was barely perceptible at first, but grew steadily louder. Rocky pressed close to Vera's side, clearly unsettled by the noise.