Guardian | Camp Cretaceous

Step One

Azriel took the map from Yasmina, his eyes locking onto the huge red 'X' over Main Street. A shadow passed over his face—his jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, lips thinning into a hard line. He looked murderous, but also sad...

"Give 'em hell, Azriel," Yasmina whispered.

Azriel sighed quietly before kissing her deeply, Yasmina clutching his shirt like she didn't want to let go. A moment later, he tossed the map aside and bolted into the trees. Brooklynn jumped to her feet, shouting after him, but Azriel's figure vanished into the jungle. Turning, Brooklynn stared questioningly at Yasmina, but the athlete didn't get to speak before there were heavy footsteps coming toward their position.

Yasmina yelped as she fell back, startled by Bumpy pushing through the foliage with a bellow. "Bumpy?" Ben hopped down from the dinosaur's back, landing awkwardly as he faced the athlete's stare.

Before Brooklynn could fully process it, Yaz threw her arms around Ben, hugging him tightly. Startled, Ben patted her back, his voice uncertain. "So... you're a hugger now?"

"Eh, still have mixed feelings about it, but..." Yasmina replied. "You're alive!"

Brooklynn walked toward them. "Yeah, yeah, we have been trying to tell you about it, but in more pressing news, D isn't taking the hunters to the watering hole." She handed Ben the map, which he quickly studied.

"What? Why would he take them straight to the T. rex?"

Kenji gasped, hitting his fist into his palm in true eureka fashion. "Home court advantage. Darius and Sammy know the terrain, and Tiff and Mitch don't. It'll be easier to lose them on Main Street than in the jungle."

Brooklynn bit her lip, her mind racing with how they could help their friends.

Kenji noticed and added, "Big problemo—we're not demigods like Azriel. There's no way we'll make it to Main Street before they do." Realisation hit her like a charging Sinocerotops, and Brooklynn lifted the map.

"Well, there is one obvious shortcut."

His eyes widened, and he shook his head rapidly. "Down there? You must be joking! Don't you remember last time? Not only is it super dark and creepy, but we nearly died!" He waved his hands for emphasis. "Nope. No go for Kenji."

-xXxXx-

Brooklynn smirked at the sound of Kenji's groaning, the roar of the engine echoing through the tunnels. Behind her, Yaz buried her face in the vlogger's shoulder, snickering. The bike jerked slightly, though it could've been for any number of reasons...

"Left! Right! Straight, straight! Left!" Kenji shouted directions, clinging onto the bike as best as he could without interfering with Brooklynn's steering. "Now right! And, uh, maybe take the turns a little less murdery? I'm too pretty to die!"

As they sped through the tunnel, a security gate loomed ahead. Brooklynn braked hard, the tires screeching as she dropped the kickstand swiftly, barely stopping before they crashed into the gate.

Whimpering and moaning, Kenji rolled off the bike and collapsed onto his back. Brooklynn frowned at him, shaking her head, but her attention quickly shifted to the sound of footsteps and Bumpy's familiar bellow. She turned as Ben approached the gate, hopping off the dinosaur's back. He tapped his primitive spear against the steel, prompting Bumpy to charge and swing her clubbed tail into it with an echoing clang. Not so much as a scratch. Bumpy looked heartbroken. Yelling furiously, Ben punched the gate, to no avail.

"Yeah, I don't think Wild Child and his Amazing Dino are gonna punch through that gate," Yasmina drawled, casually leaning against one of the pipes.

Brooklynn was surprised by how unconcerned Yasmina seemed—far less worried than she should've been. Az was out there, and no matter how skilled he was at... well, everything... Mitch and Tiff were hunters.