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“Arak!” A pterodactyl cawed.
“Ark!” The gigantic beast croaked again.
Devin moaned on his bed of leather and rolled over. “The more bigger the birds are the more louder the sound, so much for not waking by birds again.“ He looked at the people sleeping across the cave. Sybelia was sleeping soundly near Hiten, her hand underneath her pillow. Devin did not to wake her up. His eyes searchingly landed on Hiten. Hiten’s hand covered his wound holding it as if he were to stop the bleeding. But, thanks to Sybelia’s herbal ointment there was no inflammation near the wound, nor there were any infection. Hiten’s eyes twitched , but remained closed. Devin did not want to wake up Hiten either. Devin on his own to find the materials. Everyone depended on him.
Devin began to pack needed items needed for adventure, trying not to make enough noise to wake up anyone. He took the flashlight, the hand-made rope, the knife, and the bone from a dead dinosaur. Then he creped out, unnoticed.
Hiten was running, his heart was pounding so hard it nearly stopped. He was clutching his wounded shoulder, in his attempt to escape from the terrible beast it had started bleeding again. He kept running, panting, using exertion to run again. The beast lowered his head delivering the final blow…
He sat up gasping and clutching his wounded shoulder. His legs were numb. Trying to muster his sanity, he slowed his breathing so it wouldn’t wake up Sybelia. Wincing, he pulled his arm away from the now bleeding wound. Reaching for the basin of water near Sybelia, he cursed silently. While pulling with great exertion, his hand shook accidentally spilling a drop of water on Sybelia’s head. She woke, rubbing her eyes lightly. When she saw that he was bleeding again, she took the basin from his hands.
“Sir, you’re bleeding, you must lie back down again.” She looked at him imploringly. He laid back down obediently and allowed her to tend to his wound again. After she put more herbs on the wound, she announced. “Sir I will have to go gather more herbs for your wound. You stay here while I go.” Hiten grabbed her hand “You don’t need to do the work… leave it to me and…” He looked over her shoulder to find Devin, but did not see him. “Now where did that up-to-no-good boy go?” She pushed him down again with both her hands. “ Now sir, you must rest. I will go to gather the herbs.” She walked out of the cave gracefully.
He closed his eyes, grateful for his rest. He was tired already and he just had woken up. He sighed, then closed his hand over his weakened shoulder. His tense muscles relaxed, thinking of Sybelia he smiled. Then loud screams were heard from outside of the cave. Hiten jumped up still clutching his shoulder. Swearing under his breath, he ran outside, immediately recognizing the voices. “ I knew they can’t do anything without me.” he muttered. Half-running, half-limping, he dashed over to where the scream came from. The scene was unwonted. Devin was dangling down from the jaws of some unknown beast that did not even belong in the dinosaur period, and Sybelia was trying in vain to pull him down. The basket of herbs were scattered all over the ground.
Hiten jumped over to them. “Are you ok?” He cupped his face between his hands to make his voice audible over the scream of the beast and the grunts of pain coming from Devin. He looked at the strange creature. “What is it? Does it have any poison?” then his eyes wandered to Devin’s bleeding arm. Sybelia whirled around. “ Thank goodness your awake! No, they don‘t have poison, they’re called Gargons.” She turned around and began to tug Devin away from the Gargon. Hiten jumped over to the Gargon and tried to pry open the Gargon’s jaws. It’s tail whipped back and forth whipping Hiten on his face. It growled low in it’s throat and let go of Devin and it turned over to bite Hiten. Devin staggered back gasping. The Gargon bit Htien hard on his wounded shoulder. There was a crunch of breaking bones. From somewhere at the back of his mind he heard Sybelia screaming. Then the gigantic animal kicked Hiten hard on his chest, while raking it’s razor sharp claws over it. I can’t die like this Hiten thought heck the mission hasn’t even started yet here I am dying. He began to laugh in anguish. Suddenly, remembering the blade he took from the cave Hiten, hope coming back at him like cold water, stabbed the monster on it’s face. Roaring, the animal let go of Hiten. Hiten rolled weakly away from the massive claw. Trying to stand, Hiten fell back down again. Sybelia and Devin rushed to his side, pulling him up. Helpless they watched in horror as the Gargon advanced upon them.
To be continued again… |
