Caught in the Cretaceous

Chapter 19: The First Centurion

The settled into a new normal in their new environment. They learned what was and wasn't good for them there. So far the landscape has given them little to wonder about their surroundings. Still, they go out on small scouting trips every other day. Partly to ward off boredom, partly to get a better understanding of their surroundings. 

Alex gathers his gear and laces his boots, preparing to go outside once again. Alex looks up when someone knocks on his doorway. Apollo leans against the doorway. "Heading out?" Alex nods in response. "You may want to reconsider." 

Alex looks at the medic, confused. "Why?" 

"Come take a look." Apollo doesn't give him a chance to respond before turning out the doorway and down the corridor. Still confused, Alex follows him. 

When they get to the main door of they ship they take a moment to look outside before exiting the ship. Outside there is a herd of creatures ambling by the ship. They are all four-legged, have tough scaly skin and a crest on the back of their heads to cover their necks. Their snouts are pointed into a beak-like mouth and their eyes are dark and beady. They don't move very fast. Their heads swing side to side as they walk, like how people keep their heads on a swivel to keep an eye out for danger. They are not necessarily big, but they aren't exactly small either. The larger ones are probably around two meters long and as tall as a large dog. 

Alex looks over the large herd in front of them. "How long have they been here?" 

Apollo shrugs. "Don't know. I wanted to check the weather. A little redundant here, but it's a force of habit I suppose. And when I came outside I saw this." They both take a single step outside and take a look around. "There's no knowing how long it'll take them to pass." 

They don't say anything for a long time. Just continue to watch the large herd move around the ship. They very clearly aren't going to be exploring outside today.

Meg walks past the open door and stops when she sees the two men just standing there. Changing direction, she goes to join them. "You haven't left yet?" They don't answer. "Are you two really so lazy you gave up as soon as you stepped outside?" Again, she is met with silence. Meg looks between the two of them. What are you staring at?" Meg finally steps outside with the others. "Oh," she says after finally seeing what they're looking at. 

None of them speak for a few moments. No one really knows what to say. But, never one to be comfortable with silence, Meg finds something to say. "So, I guess your plans are trampled." 

Apollo groans. "You did not just say that." 

Meg grins at him. "What's the matter Sunny? Not a fan of my word play?" 

The two begin to bicker. Alex tries his best to ignore them. He keeps his gaze on the crowd of animals in front of them. A sudden noise startles all of them. Animals and people alike. 

"What was that?!" The two bickering adults stop abruptly and turn towards the crowd of animals. 

"I don't know. But it clearly spooked them. And I'm sure your shouting didn't help." Alex hisses at them. The animals are suddenly skittish. They are bumping into each other and stomping their feet. They are starting to sprint. 

"They're panicking," Apollo comments, watching the chaos unfold. 

Meg sighs and tolls her eyes. "Yes, thank you for pointing out the obvious. Do you have any other brilliant insights for us? Maybe you know what made that noise. Or maybe you can tell us what those things are." 

Apollo gives her an annoyed look. "They're called protoceratops, not things. And as far as what made that noise, I would've thought you would know that. It came from the ship. Not another animals." He looks at her and crosses his arms. "Maybe our mechanic hasn't done as good of a job on the ship as she led us to believe."