Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Arks: Over Heaven

Chapter 13a: Raptor Rematch

Original Post Date: Jan 23, 2024

Note: Story starts in Wyvern, Aerial ABC backwards filter and has a Prologue. Last chapter in Quetzal, next chapter in Phoenix.

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Aurora and Samuel continued to follow the little dodo bird into the expansive forest. Aurora looked up at the stars so they could chart their location, and Samuel was gently rubbing his thumb across the implant he had stolen from Lil Jack. It was a dull gray, but he could still feel something coming from the gem.

“So, Samuel,” Aurora suddenly said, “You never really told me about yourself. Like what type of things you like.”

“Why are you asking me this now?” Samuel asked with narrowed eyes.

“Because, it’s good that we know each other a little bit better. That way we can work together and survive,” Aurora reasoned. Samuel pocketed the implant and sighed.

“But I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to escape,” Samuel thought. Aurora let out a “Hmph!”.

“Fine. I’ll go first. I’d always wanted to run my own business,” Aurora said, “And, my favorite things are roses, chocolate ice cream, and cats. I love cats.”

“Chocolate ice cream?” Samuel said with a hint of disgust.

“Yes, it’s the best ice cream flavor ever! Why? What’s with that look on your face?”

“Nothing nothing,” Samuel replied.

“It better be nothing,” Aurora scoffed, “My taste is perfect.”

“Pfft.”

“What did you just say?!”

“NOTHING.”

Just then, Aurora stopped in her tracks, her eyes still pinned to the night sky.

“A green beam of light just appeared in the sky,” Aurora announced. Samuel and Star looked up at the night sky, and Samuel’s eyes widened.

“What could that mean? Should we stay away or investigate?” Samuel asked. Aurora took a spear strapped to her back and slammed it into the soft earth.

“Let’s give it a shot. Low risk, low reward. Better now than never,” Aurora deduced. Samuel sighed and unhooked his hatchet.

“Fine. Let’s check it out. Star, let’s go to the light,” Samuel ordered his dodo bird. Star nodded and started to follow Samuel. Samuel walked with Aurora toward the green light…

Until they heard the cry of a raptor.

“Rats,” Aurora whispered, “We might have trouble.”

“We can’t outrun it,” Samuel remembered Neddy’s fact that raptors could outrun humans easily, “Our only chance is to fight it.”

“But how? They’re going to eat us right up like pudding,” Aurora said with a shaky breath, “I don’t want to die.”

“None of us will die.”

There was a moment of silence, as Aurora fought to keep her breath.

“Samuel? I’m… scared.”

“Just listen to what I have to say. We will survive,” Samuel reassured her, “Have your back against mine, that way none of us can be attacked from the back.”

Aurora pressed her back against Samuel’s, and Samuel could feel her heartbeat against his.

“You need to be as calm as can be. Adrenaline can only get you so far. Take a deep breath in with your mouth, and a deep breath out your nostrils.”

Aurora did just that, and Samuel could feel Aurora’s heartbeat steady. Then, Star began to glow, and the gentle lights that came from her chest carried to Samuel and Aurora’s minds.

“My mind feels clear all of the sudden,” Aurora gasped.

“It’s because you’re staying calm,” Samuel told her. He looked down at the glowing Star, who scowled at Samuel.

“Liar,” Star seemed to be saying. Samuel rolled his eyes and looked back at the night of the forest. The cries of the raptors were coming closer, and Samuel was able to count three different pitched raptor sounds.

“There are three raptors,” Samuel murmured, “We can take them on with ease. Just remember to aim for the head.”

“O-Okay,” Aurora stuttered.

A bush rustled a few meters in front of Aurora, and Aurora winced.

“Prepare yourself,” Samuel warned.

The night was silent for a second, and at first there didn’t seem to be any danger. But with a sudden pounce, a raptor sprinted out of the bush in front of Aurora and dashed at her!

Aurora let out a battle cry and as soon as the raptor came into range, she made a jab and aimed at the raptor’s head. SPLISH! The spear made contact and the raptor’s jaw unhinged. Blood spilled out onto the ground, and Aurora pulled the spear out, making the raptor collapse to the ground. Two more raptors appeared from the foliage, one in front of Samuel and the other to their side. Samuel dealt a devastating blow to one of the raptor’s heads, clonking it so hard its head swung back like a spring. With a few more whacks the raptor went down.

The final raptor seemed to be smarter than its companions, because with a leap it landed atop Samuel. Samuel let out a gasp, as he felt the raptor’s claws pierce into his skin. The raptor swung its arms at Samuel’s face, scratching his cheek so hard it began to bleed.

“No!” Aurora screamed. She dug her spear into the raptor’s leg, and it let out a cry of pain as it fell off of Samuel. Aurora raised her spear into the air, and with a breath of air impaled the beast’s skull.

For a moment, all the two could hear were each other’s breaths. Samuel’s heart was racing, but even then it was starting to fade away. Samuel sat up, putting his hand to his cheek and feeling the blood trickle down.

“Well that hurts,” Samuel groaned, as he felt the stinging sensation reverberate around the wound. Aurora ignored Samuel, and walked up to the raptor Samuel had subdued. Aurora crouched down and listened to the raptor.

“This one’s still alive,” Aurora realized, taking his spear and preparing to kill the beast.

But before Aurora could, the soft crunch of leaves echoed and quickened throughout the forest. Aurora spun around to see a boy come skidding into the scene, waving his arms around in panic.

“W-WAIT! Don’t kill the raptor!” the boy shouted with a gasp. Aurora immediately aimed her spear at his head and Samuel crawled back a little.

“Who the heck are you supposed to be?” Aurora asked with a scrunched look on her eyebrows. The boy looked at Aurora, and upon the sight of the spear raised his arms up and let out a squeal of fear.

“Y-ya seriously don’t recognize me, valedictorian?” the boy sighed, “I can’t believe it. I thought I’d be less forgettable…”

“Well spit out your name! And what are your intentions running in here like that? And what do you mean we shouldn’t kill this beast? It’s a mindless machine out to eat us!” Aurora spat. The boy took a deep breath in and out, and for a split second the panicking look on his face vanished, but returned.

“It’s me, the one who bested you in a tennis match, at the beginning of the school year…” the boy reminded her, “It’s me… THE MAGNIFICENT BEN!”