Blossoms On An Island

Chapter 8

Isla Sorna --- The Bunker

Eric, Alan and Raina prepare to leave the abandoned vehicle. Eric packs essential and handy things, Alan helping along. Raina loads her backpack, quietly to herself.

"What are you thinking about?" Alan asks his fellow paleontologist.

Raina turns to him, "I'm just worried about the others."
"Especially Billy," Alan has a faint teasing smile. "Right?"

Raina just looks at him, saying nothing at all.

"I'm pretty sure you're not the only one. He must also be quite tense with your disappearance."

"Nah, I think he's more concerned about you," Raina jokes. Alan ruffles her hair, making Raina reminisce about Montana.

"Okay, looks like we are ready to go," Eric's voice brings Alan and Raina back to their current situation. Raina zips her pack closed, ready to go.

Eric opens the hatch, exiting first. Alan packs up last minute things as Raina goes second. She stretches her limbs after being crammed in the bunker for a long time. Alan sticks out his head, handing Raina his bag and Billy's camera bag, temporarily, so he can get out of the hideout. After he comes out, Alan takes the bags back from Raina.

"I can carry Billy's pack. It's no problem," Raina suggests.

"No, it's okay. Give it to me. I'll carry it." Alan states.

The trio leave the abandoned truck and head out towards the jungle.

**********

"Yeah, there's a boat. Right alongside the bank." Alan examines the coast through his binoculars. "Looks in good shape." He hands the binoculars to Raina so she can have a look.

"Rescue boat?" Eric asks in a hopeful voice.

"No, no." Raina passes the eyepiece to Eric, next.

"Just something left behind." Alan clarifies. "But it floats."

The trio turns back around and departs.

**********

"Know what this is?" Eric asks, showing the two paleontologists a talon.

"That's a raptor claw," Alan identifies it, taking the claw from Eric in order to examine it, "Used to have one. A fossil."

"Mine is new."

The trio walks through the jungle, aiming for the coast.

"How much of the island did you explore?" Raina questions Eric.

"I stayed pretty close to the compound. Figured if anyone came looking for me, that's where they'd start."

"We need to get to the coast." Alan says. "That was the plan."

"Are you sure? Closer you get to the water, the bigger things get."

"Well, if we can find our way down into the canyon, we could follow the river out to the coast."

After a beat, Alan continues, "After we find your parents. And your boyfriend." Alan addresses Raina as well. She just rolls her eyes at him.

"And then what?" Eric inquires.

"One step at a time." Alan says.

"Listen." Eric alerts them.

"What?" Raina asks.

They hear a ringing noise... as if a phone's ringing.

"That's my dad's satellite phone!" Eric exclaims, excitedly.