Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Under Nirvana - An ARK

Chapter 2: Creatures of Prehistory - Frilled Freaks

Story by Bria!

Find the last chapter in WYVERN and the next chapter in VOIDWYRM!

“You look like you know what you’re doing,” Nova said, crossing her arms defensively. Ruby lowered her hand.

“It’s a long story,” Ruby sighed, “It came naturally to me when I woke up. Weird, isn’t it?”

“How’d you make those?” Nova asked, pointing at her bow and clothes. The strange bird nodded its head in approval at Ruby’s experience. Ruby noticed the bird just then and her eyes sparkled

“OMG, that dodo’s so cute!” Ruby said in a baby voice, crouching down to pet the bird. The dodo bird quickly ducked behind Nova’s legs, trying to get away from Ruby’s prying hands.

“Uhm. How’d you make those?” Nova asked her question again.

“Oh, sorry about that. I couldn’t help myself,” Ruby apologized, “But I figured out how to make the clothes with the gem in my wrist.”

Nova raised her eyebrow.

“The what now?”

Ruby rubbed her right wrist.

“Huh. I guess you don’t have one. Maybe it’s only me…”

Ruby began walking toward Nova. The closer she got, the more Nova realized how tall Ruby was compared to her. She was at least five inches taller than Nova. Ruby’s posture was really straight, and it still smelled like she had perfume on her. Upon closer inspection of her, Nova got a feeling that she had met this woman before.

“Wait a minute… You’re–” Nova’s eyes widened in realization. She thought,

“She’s the greatest cook of this school! How could I forget?! She won all the annual cooking competitions back at Aqua High!”

“You’re Master Chef Ruby, the one who cooked five meals at the same time! I didn’t think I’d meet you here and now…”

Ruby blushed at Nova’s compliment. It was as if she didn’t expect to be recognized for her achievements.

“Yeah. That’s me, hee hee,” Ruby giggled, “It’s been so long since someone’s recognized me. Ever since I retired and all…”

Nova noticed the sadness in Ruby’s eyes.

“Hey. I get it. You’ve won all there was to win,” Nova said. Her eyes darted around. She leaned in, wrapping her arm around Ruby’s neck, “Hey. You don’t happen to know how to cook still?”

“I might be a bit rusty,” Ruby warned. “Anyway… you wanted to know about the gem?”

“Yeah. What are you talking about?”

The dodo bird leaned in carefully as Ruby showed her right wrist to Nova. She winced and gritted her teeth at the sight. There, an oval-shaped implant was embedded deep into Ruby’s bone and flesh. The implant had lines along it that glowed a tinge of red.

“What is that thing?” Nova asked, feeling dizzy.

“I’m not sure. When I woke up, I felt an itch on my wrist and it was there,” Ruby said. Ruby’s eyes darted to Nova’s right wrist. “Yep. Looks like you don’t have it.”

Nova carefully checked her right wrist, as if the implant would be there too, but it wasn’t. She ran her fingers along her wrist, and it felt coarse and grainy. There was nothing there, everything was as it should’ve been.

“I came to know things I didn’t know,” Ruby explained, “Like how to make clothes with the fibers of the bushes, and how to make a bow out of the scraps of wood along the shore. And I was able to make it with speed too.”

“Huh,” Nova muttered, “It’s almost like a power or ability.”

Just then, the dodo bird, which was aimlessly kicking its feet in the sand, froze up, staring past Ruby. Nova looked down.

“What is it?” Nova wondered. It was hard to see in the night, but for a second, Nova saw…

Nova quickly grabbed Ruby by the shoulders and threw her to the side.

“WATCH OUT!”

Ruby flew to the ground, and her glasses flew off, hitting the sand just a few steps away. The rattle of what sounded like a rattlesnake sounded, and a glob of green goop was sent flying at Nova! The goop hit Nova in the sleeve, and she let out a groan as the bile seemed to burn away at the cloth. It was then a strange creature that stood on its hind legs and had small arms jumped out of the bushes and in front of Nova, smashing Ruby’s glasses underneath its feet. It let out a shrill shriek, its frill expanding and rattling. Nova raised her fists, and the dodo bird glared, standing beside Nova.

THWACK! An arrow hit the dinosaur right on the neck. Upon contact, the beast collapsed to the ground, globs of bile pouring out of its mouth as it did, the frills on its head collapsing back into its head. Its eyes rolled up to the back of its head as blood stained the sand. Nova took a moment to breathe, clutching her left arm tight. There was a slight burn on the bicep, like acid.

“What was that thing?” Nova asked, slightly out of breath. Ruby squinted her eyes, clearly trying to make the creature out without her glasses.

“It’s a Dilophosaurus,” Ruby diagnosed, “It was a dinosaur that lived in the Jurassic era. That’s weird though. I don’t remember them being this small, nor them using venom. All the dinosaur factbooks say otherwise.”

“So, there’s dinosaurs here,” Nova said with a sigh, “Well that’s just fun."

The island didn’t seem dangerous at first, but Nova’s prediction was correct. This definitely wasn’t going to be easy.

“Thanks for helping me out there,” Ruby thanked Nova, “I’m sorry about your arm. We’ll find a way to get it treated soon. Let’s just find a safe place to stay.”

Nova looked around carefully, wondering if the Dilophosaurus would have friends on standby.

“I really hope there’s no T. rex,” Nova murmured. The dodo bird shook in fear. Ruby must have heard Nova because she nodded in agreement.

“Hopefully…”

Ruby’s eyes darted across the grass. She began picking up sticks and ripping up leaves from the bushes. Nova blinked her eyes in disbelief.

“What are you doing?” Nova asked.

“Making a weapon for you,” Ruby replied, “To defend yourself with. We should work together. Surviving alone wouldn’t be wise for either of us.”

Nova felt a bit stunned, especially considering she didn’t have one of those implants to back her up. She didn’t mind eating some of Ruby’s tasty food either if she could get the opportunity.

“Okay then. Let’s keep walking down the river. Maybe we’ll find something,” Nova replied. The dodo bird squawked in agreement. Nova looked down at the bird and pointed at it.

“Can we let the little guy come along?”

Ruby shrugged. “I don’t see why not. I never got your name by the way.”

“Nova. My name’s Nova.”

Ruby smiled. “That’s a pretty name, Nova.”

“Thank you!”

With that, the three of them walked off to the plateau, with danger around at every corner.