𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 》𝘽𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙨 ✓ [𝟐]

────── 𝟬𝟮

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼;
𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

-PROOFREAD-

The early morning sun beamed through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Vera glanced over at Rocky, the small female dinosaur curled up beside her, and felt a pang of determination. Today was the day they would find Ben – she could feel it.

"Rise and shine, Rocky," Vera said softly, gently nudging her companion. "We've got a big day ahead of us."

Rocky chirped sleepily, stretching her tiny legs before nuzzling against Vera's hand. The girl couldn't help but smile, despite the gravity of their situation. In this hostile world, even the smallest gestures of affection meant everything.

As they prepared for their search, Vera took small stock of their supplies. The backpack she'd scavenged from Main Street was filled with water bottles, some dried food, and the first aid kit they'd found. She hoped they wouldn't need it, but on this island, it was better to be prepared for anything.

"Alright, girl," Vera said, shouldering the backpack and gripping her makeshift spear. "Let's go find Ben."

They set out into the jungle, the humid air already clinging to Vera's skin. She consulted her crudely drawn map, trying to retrace their steps to where they'd last seen Ben. The memory of his fall still haunted her, the feeling of his hand slipping from hers replaying in her mind like a cruel loop.

"He's out there somewhere," Vera muttered, more to herself than to Rocky. "He has to be."

As they pushed deeper into the jungle, Vera kept her senses on high alert. Every snapping twig, every rustle of leaves could be a sign of Ben – or of something far more dangerous.

Hours passed, the sun climbing higher in the sky. Vera's hope began to waver as they searched area after area with no sign of Ben. She was about to suggest they take a break when Rocky suddenly perked up, her head swiveling towards a dense patch of ferns.

"What is it, girl?" Vera whispered, her grip tightening on the spear. "Did you hear something?"

Rocky let out a low, warning chirp, her body tensing. Vera's heart began to race as she strained her ears, trying to catch whatever had alerted her companion. For a moment, all she could hear was the ambient sounds of the jungle – and then she heard it. A soft, rhythmic sound, like something breathing.

"Ben?" Vera called out cautiously, taking a step towards the ferns. "Is that you?"

The response came not in words, but in a bone-chilling snarl that froze Vera in her tracks. From the ferns emerged not Ben, but a Velociraptor, its eyes locked onto Vera with predatory focus.

"Oh no," Vera breathed, her blood running cold. "Rocky, run!"

They took off through the jungle, the raptor's screeching pursuit spurring them on. Vera's heart pounded in her chest as she ducked under low-hanging branches and leaped over fallen logs, Rocky keeping pace beside her.