𝗩𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 》𝙗𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙨 [𝟐]

────── 𝟬𝟯

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲;
𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆

Vera awoke to the gentle symphony of the wilderness—birdsong intertwined with the rustling of leaves in the morning breeze. Sunlight filtered through the lush canopy, dappling the forest floor with golden patches. As her senses sharpened, she became acutely aware of the warmth pressed against her chest: Ben's sleeping form, their limbs entangled in a cocoon of comfort. A soft blush crept across her cheeks as she carefully extricated herself from his embrace.

Grabbing her well-worn journal and a crinkled map, Vera padded quietly toward the nearby river. She made sure to keep their makeshift shelter within sight, not wanting to worry Ben should he wake. Settling on a sun-warmed rock by the water's edge, she began to chronicle the whirlwind of experiences from the past few days. Her fingers flew across the pages, sketching intricate reptilian forms and jotting down observations on their behavior and habitats.

"Looks like you're up early," a drowsy voice cut through the tranquil morning air. Ben approached, his hair tousled from sleep, rubbing his eyes.

Vera looked up, a mixture of guilt and fondness crossing her features. "Sorry if I disturbed you. I'm usually a late riser, but this island... well, let's just say it keeps you on your toes."

Ben chuckled, lowering himself onto a nearby log. "Tell me about it. After that monorail disaster and coming face-to-face with all those dinos, I couldn't sleep properly for weeks. Bumpy didn't exactly help with her nocturnal wanderings either."

"Wait, you've seen Bumpy?" Vera's eyes widened with excitement. "Where is she now?"

Ben's expression clouded. "We... had a bit of a falling out. She took off into the jungle."

Noticing his crestfallen look, Vera reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "Hey, Bumpy's tough. I'm sure she's okay out there."

"Yeah, you're right," Ben nodded, a small smile returning. "And Rocky's no pushover either. Who knows? Maybe they've formed their own little dino squad by now."

Vera grinned, then gestured to her journal. "Want to see what I've been working on? I've been documenting everything since we arrived—new behaviors, interspecies interactions, the works."

"Hit me with some dino facts, Jones," Ben teased, leaning in closer.

"Okay, get this," Vera's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she flipped through the pages. "See these Stegosaurus sketches? I've observed them using trees as back scratchers to help shed their old plates. And over here," she pointed to another detailed drawing, "I've noted how the Triceratops use their frills not just for defense, but as a form of non-verbal communication within their herds."

Ben listened, captivated by Vera's passion and the wealth of information she'd gathered. "These are really cool Vera. You should totally publish those when we get off this island."