Temporal Adventures

Chapter 07: Protective

Chapter 07: Protective

Mike checked the position of the sun. "We need to get moving if we're going to gather any food before dark."

"There is still some left over food in our packs," Alison reminded. "Do we really have to go back out there?"

"If we could stay here until the device recharges, I would love it," Mike replied. "However, I don't know what kind of food is available in this primitive world. With all the potential hazards out there, it could take a long time to gather what we need. I don't want to run out of food before we have a fresh supply on hand."

Alison nodded her acceptance of his train of thought, but she touched a hand gently to his shoulder when he tried to leave.

"Why don't you stay here this time?" she suggested. "You've made the journey out there twice, and you need to rest."

Her voice dropped to a whisper only he could hear.

"We're going to need you, but you won't be any good to us if you collapse," she told him softly. The fingers of her hand resting on his shoulder curled tightly around the leather of his sleeveless shirt.

Her smile was forced for her children's benefit, but Mike could see the desperation in her eyes; she was terrified of this place, and the thought of being the sole person responsible for two kids if something should happen to Mike, pushed her to the edge of breaking.

"If you think it best," Mike agreed. "Be safe, dear."

Alison smiled genuinely before clutching his face in her hands. She planted a passionate kiss upon his lips, holding him tightly because she didn't know if this would be their last time together.

Mike's arms went around his wife in a strong embrace. He was fine risking his own life moving through a hostile jungle filled with flesh eating predators, but sending his wife out there didn't sit right with him. As head of the household, it was his job to provide for and protect his family. Sitting in a secluded cave while Alison ventured into dinosaur infested lands felt wrong in every possible way. Although he agreed with her reasoning, it didn't make it any easier to let her go.

"Sean, you're staying here too. Your father isn't the only one in need of rest," Alison said after parting with Mike. She looked toward her daughter. "Cassie, you're with me."

"Sure," Cassie answered, a decided lack of enthusiasm registering in her voice.

The two women climbed the makeshift ladder of vines and branches to enter the prehistoric jungle. The sun was hot, and the humidity had them perspiring in seconds. Alison and Cassie edged slowly forward, trying to avoid making any unnecessary noise.

After twenty minutes of careful searching, Cassie discovered something of interest.

"What's this?" she asked her mother.

Alison came to investigate what her daughter had found. A purple colored fruit hung from a low tree branch. Although the spherical fruit was violet, wherever the sunlight touched it directly, it shone coppery bronze.

"Don't touch it," Alison advised. "I've never heard of something like this. If it's extinct in our day, there's no telling what kind of toxins it might have. It could even be poisonous to touch."

Deciding caution was a better choice, they left the strange fruit behind and continued their quest.

A slight tremor under their feet caused them to stop instantly in their tracks. The reverberation came again and again. The intervals between vibrations grew shorter as they increased in intensity. They knew instinctively it came from the pounding impacts of a dinosaur's heavy steps. They also knew it was coming straight for them.