Greetings and Salutations everyone!!! This is PrimalApex, and I’d like to say thank you for reaching this far with me on my journey of writing Ultimus. Two and half years is a bit crazy for what it should have been. But I’m glad I’ve decided to dedicate my time to this project. Especially since it’ll be occurring for many more years to come.

So, since we’ve reached the end of Ultimus on Aquatic, where do we go from here? Well, I think I’m gonna continue within the Bosses category next (which, I will skip Moeder since I already did her before in Aquatics.), and this time starting Beyla.

Again, thank you for reading so far!!! And I hope you enjoy the rest of the story to come!!! Also, if you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in Achatina!!!

Don’t even think about hitting it. Just don’t. If you accidentally hit it, just swim away as fast as you can. I was out hunting for ammonites (I didn’t know what they did back then) on my basilosaurus. I saw one and hit it. I watched in horror as the whole ocean came swimming at me. I swam back to the surface, only to realise, a Tutsi was chasing me. It knocked me off my basilo and it tried to kill it. Luckily I had scuba gear. I got the gear on, whistled passive and put it to follow. The stupid tuso chased me around the whole map and now it is right next to my base. My basilo is stuck on the other side of the island. All because I hit an ammonite.

I saw one of these guys in the ocean floor while riding my ichthy and I was like "ya know I wanna see the ocean go mad and i attacked the ammonite..Then i swimmed to the surface with my ichthy and i see armies of mantas megalodons basilos cnidarias and even a leedsichythis wanted to kill me.I went to the surface and saw pteranodons and pelagornise's trying to kill me and my ichthy.After that the rage thing was over and everything wasn't angy and I was like "let's do that again with a basilosaurus!!!!!!"I mounted on my basilo and attacked the ammonite in the ocean floor went up to the surface and wow.Everything came to kill me and my basilo it was crazy!!! I even saw a mosa coming into the fight. Good thing my basilo was strong enough to kill them all.Soo many xp anyways that's all bye🤣

𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳

Ultimus Chapter Thirty-Four: Woes of the Living

Andrew and Erica finally made it to Delta Tower. It was a large building that was partially underground, overlooking the Sulphur Fields. He had been here a couple of times before with Reuben, but he had never done too much exploring since most of his time had been spent looking through Sanctuary and the Military Base. He knew it was pretty docile for the most part, as he had never really seemed to have come across any of the corrupted creatures up here. But the treks to it were extremely dangerous with the larger and more dangerous dinosaurs and corrupted creatures around the facility, making it not worth the risk for exploring and gathering gear.

It took a few minutes to find the others and where they had gone. But they did eventually find them at the top platform beneath the tower itself. Jonathan was setting up a small camp, while Paul was tending to Freya once again. Erica and Andrew saw that they had left Grace and Angrboda on the far side of the tower overlooking the Sulphur Fields and the dome in the far distance. So Andrew brought Knight Sky and Erica’s Saber to the same spot.

“Paul!! How is she doing?” Erica shouted as she ran over. Andrew followed wanting to hear what he had to say. He turned and looked relieved to see them, muttering something under his breath.

“Aren’t ya two a sight for sore eyes!! Yer half mad ta go out there and deal with them alone like that!” Paul said almost ignoring the question Erica asked as they both ran over.

“Paul, how is she doing?” Erica asked again as they reached him. Andrew looked at Freya who was lying on a leather sleeping bag with a pelt interior. She still had her armor on, though her fur coat was deeply damaged, to the point of being irreparable. Her flak leggings were deeply corroded. She had some sort of salve all over her face and hands. She lay on the bag with her eyes open, looking out of the corner of her eye as she held her hand on her stomach. She then lifted herself up, seething from the mouth as she did so, and looked at Erica.

“Jeg har det bra, Erica. Trenger bare litt hvile. Men jeg kommer meg på beina igjen for å hjelpe meg tilbake til basen.” Freya stated. Her eyes were still red from the acid burning her, but they were less so than earlier. Paul turned to face her and scowled.

“Freya, ya can’t be moving for a bit. Ya gotta lay back down and stay still. I don’t want ya smearing off the salve or causing those burns to get infected or bleed. Now please, lay back down.” Paul said firmly. She gave an irritated look. But Paul wasn’t backing down.

“Don’t make me force ya back down lass. I will use sedatives on ya. Now lie down and stay still.” He rebutted. She still gave him a look, but she obliged and lay back down on the bag. He looked back at Erica and Andrew. His face was less excited to them than it was moments before.

“She’s mostly covered in second-degree burns from what I can see, but guessing from how much cover she wore, and how soon she got outta there, she’s probably covered in minimal second-degree, or first-degree burns under the armor. But, she has deep burns on her hands and arms. She might have some trouble using them for a time as they heal. But they should fully heal with the treatment I have.” He said. He sighed deeply as he closed his eyes, and turned back to look at Freya for a moment. Before returning his attention to Andrew and Erica. “Parts of her face do have deep third-degree burns, and there is some scarring in her eyes. I’m… my data is inconclusive on whether they’ll ever properly heal from those burns without scarring occurring. But I’m most afraid of her organs inside. Even though ya got her out very swiftly Andrew. The time she spent in there breathing the toxic air could be fatal, even now. So I want to keep her under close watch until I know she’s not in that danger. I do think if Erica hadn’t given her her own medical brew. She probably wouldn’t be here at all.” Paul finished. Erica seemed deeply shocked and worried. Andrew was almost deaf to what was said next. He was beyond devastated by what he heard. He didn’t know what to say or how to respond. All he could do was walk away and think. And all he could think was that this was all his fault.

Andrew looked around at everything, taking in the damage that he caused. Both Jonathan’s and Sylas’s horses were missing. Phil and Sylas were-… Freya was burned almost to death, her Rex seemed to be mildly burnt too. Paul’s Ceratosaurus was pressed to exhaustion and Knight Sky and Erica’s Sabertooth were on edge. And that wasn’t mentioning how Erica, Jonathan, and Paul must have been doing; or what of their supplies they had squandered on killing all of those animals. Everything had gone horribly wrong on this adventure, and it was all of his fault. He just wanted to curl up in a ball, beg for forgiveness for what he had caused.

As he reached the tames, Andrew felt something grab his shoulder and yank him around. He got shoved into the wall of the building and gasped to see Jonathan tower over him as he held a buck knife in his one hand. His eyes were filled with anger and disgust.

“C'est quoi ce bordel, toi?! Espèce de fils de chèvre sans mère!!” Jonathan spat as he held the blade against Andrew’s throat. “Je vais t'éventrer comme le porc que tu es!! Tes dernières paroles?”

~

Paul was with Erica as they continued talking about Freya’s condition and how long it could take for her to heal. Andrew had left them alone a few minutes before. He hadn’t said it, but Paul and Erica had both agreed that a thanks was needed. If it weren’t for Andrew, Freya wouldn’t be alive, and they wouldn’t have made it without him either.

As for all of the medical questions. Paul’s thoughts were all over the place. He was shell-shocked at what all had happened. Much of what occurred was lost in what had happened back there. All he knew, was that they were safe for now. But they needed to figure out what to do next.

“So, what’s our next plan?” Paul asked. Erica looked over at him in shock.

“What?”

“What’s yer plan? This attempt at getting Element ta regather ourselves and build a more suitable army hasn’t worked. What’s yer thoughts on our next move? Are we bringing down the Ark?” Paul asked. Erica remained silent. She lost all expression on her face.

“We can’t…” Paul didn’t understand what she meant.

“What do ya mean we can’t? Of course w—” “Sylas is dead, he was our best and only shot at bringing the Ark down. It’s gonna be locked behind a system, and I needed his expertise to breach that system. No Sylas, no Ark, and no Ark. Means no saving Earth.” Erica explained. Paul's shoulders slumped at this. He was in complete shock at hearing this. He wished he had a chair to sit in and rest, or a cigar to ease his nerves and his stress. He didn’t think about that, that without Sylas, they had no chance at this.

“I told you this was a bad idea, Paul. I told you, and now, we lose. Humanity loses… because we had to play it ‘safe’, you had to listen to the devil of botany and his stupid plan of ‘getting stronger’ instead of just going to Mount Brecken and bringing it down, I hope you're happy. Cause now we’re stuck here, and we have no way to bring our allies and friends down.” Erica said softly, though her emotions were not as soft, she was furious, but most of all upset. Their whole mission was wrecked. He looked at Erica who still seemed shell-shocked about what she had realized. Then he looked at Freya on the sleeping bag, she was too out of it, and too far away from the conversation to hear what Erica had said. This news would be horrific for her, and the others to hear. And he didn’t want that type of guilt thrown onto Andrew one bit.

“Don’t tell the others, not yet.” Paul said. Erica looked at him as though he was crazy.

“Are you kidding? You thought I would tell them? And cause that type of despair or any violence? Yeah right…” Erica said. Paul closed his eyes in relief. This still wasn’t an easy thing to take in, but it would be easier if it was only two of them, and not everyone. There was a moment of silence as they both sat there.

“I’m sorry lass. This is all my fault.” Paul said with a frail, genuine voice. “I was a fool for not prioritizing yer plan, and instead doing Jonathan’s, not only that. I talked Andrew ta taking us to his home ta give us his Element for our own gain, less so than his. If we’d gone and done with yer plan, we’d have the Ark down and have many more hands ta help us. Forgive me lass, I’m at fault for lettin’ everyone down and destroying our chances, but most of all. I’m the one at fault for losin’ our friend… and not Andrew for Sylas’s death.” Paul said. He looked at her, and she immediately picked up on what he was saying.

“Oh come on Paul, I’m not that quick to—” she said before pausing and thinking of what she was saying. “—He has no reason to have Sylas’s death blamed on him.” Erica stated.

“He doesn’t?” Paul said back. Taken aback by what she just said. Erica shook his head.

“No. None of us knew that would happen, Andrew especially wouldn’t know. He doesn’t have an implant, he can walk that path just fine, how was he supposed to know… It would all crash and burn in a split second.” Erica said. Paul looked at her.

“This ain’t sounding like yer normal self. Usually you blame exactly who’s fault it is.” Paul said. Erica looked back. Her eyes

“Watching something that gives you safety and comfort crumble in front of you is bad enough, Paul. Having needless blame thrown on top of that can push you over the edge, in more ways than one.” Erica answered back. “It wasn’t his fault, h@**! It wasn’t even your fault, you just wanted to keep us safe when we brought down the Ark.” Erica said with a large sigh. “I’m not doing okay with any of this, Paul, I’m beyond upset with Sylas being dead, and I’m devastated that Freya is in intensive care. But I shouldn’t shame or blame you for something you are already blaming/shaming yourself for.” Paul was genuinely surprised at what she was saying. She wasn’t one to apologize like this, ever.

“The only one I would put remote blame on is Jona-… where’s Jonathan?” Erica said standing up and looking around at the unbuilt camp. Paul’s eyes started searching for him too. He couldn’t see him in the camp area. He had given him orders to set up a few tents so they could rest before heading back to the main base camp the next day or so.

“He shouldn’t have gone off too far, why’re lookin’ for him, Erica?” Paul said.

“Because I got a bad feeling about what he’s doing! Where’s And- ah s%^&!!” She said as she started running toward where the tames were left. He looked and saw what Erica saw. Jonathan was beating the crap out of Andrew.

~

Andrew stared at Jonathan, feeling the cold metal blade touch his throat. He didn’t dare resist in case he was willing to commit to what he was threatening. Though he didn’t know why he cared, survival he guessed.

“Do you have anything to say you retarded imbecile!!” Jonathan hissed.

“I didn’t, didn’t mean to kill—” Andrew felt the butt of the knife handle hit him in the head.

“Shut up, I don’t care for your pity plea. You murdered Sylas, you killed his pet, you had nearly all of us killed, me in that equation!! For what? Fun, Pleasure, a Sadistic Fetish?” Jonathan spat as he dropped his knife. As Andrew started getting up, he got hit again, again, and again.

“You’re a monster!! A sick, cruel thing. You don’t deserve anything!! You don’t deserve the trust or respect of anyone here!!” Jonathan growled as he threw another punch.

“And what about that grave? You killed them too?” Jonathan whimpered. As he beat Andrew. He just knelt there. Andrew just let it happen, getting pummeled over and over. He understood the pain. And, feeling he deserved it.

“Did you lure them into a trap? Did they say something that got you angry? Did the idea just tickle your sick mind?” Jonathan said as he stopped hitting him. Andrew didn’t say anything, which Jonathan kicked him in the gut for. Andrew quickly felt Jonathan grab his scalp and stare into his eyes.

“Answer me you piece of s—” “I couldn’t save him!! I was a coward, I watched him save me, and die right in front of me. Is that what you want me to hear? That I was a coward. There you got it. I’m a coward. I couldn’t save my best friend because I was a coward. And I couldn’t save Sylas because I didn’t try hard enough. I wish I tried harder.” Andrew said in broken defeat. He could feel blood dripping down his chin. Jonathan gave a huff.

“Do you think I’ll believe that? The only part I believe is that you’re a coward. A pathetic coward, who doesn’t deserve the privileges you have.” Jonathan said.

“JONATHAN!!” A voice cried out. Andrew looked past Jonathan to see Erica shouting as she ran over. Jonathan gave a smug look as she was running over.

“Ah, look who else came over to give you a run for your—” Jonathan was saying before getting a right haymaker to the jaw from Erica. Making him fall to the ground.

“What are you doing?!?!” Erica shouted. Jonathan cussed as he held his jaw.

“What am I doing? What are you doing?! Why on green earth would you hit me!!” Jonathan howled. Erica looked at him with a stone-cold glare.

“I’m making sure you aren’t killing someone who helped save us.” Erica growled. Jonathan cackled

“SAVE US?!? HE KILLED SYLAS!!! AND NEARLY KILLED US ALL!!! AND YOU'RE GOING TO SIDE WITH HIM!!” He howled.

“He didn’t kill Sylas. The was… Sylas’s death was an accident.” Erica said.

“Is that what you're telling yourself? That it was an accident? That he had nothing to do with his death, or that grave in the ground wasn’t his actions?” Jonathan hissed. Andrew clenched his fists, he was right though. Which is what made it worse, that he was right to call him a murderer. And it just left him in a state of paralysis. He lived through both of them over and over again. Thinking of what he could have done to change the outcomes. As he sat there, he saw Erica getting angrier. She clenched her fist for a moment before opening it up again and walked closer to Jonathan.

~

“You know what, you’re right. I don’t think it was an accident. I blame YOU, Jonathan. You are the one who insisted that we should wait to bring the Ark down, you were the one who caused this mission to be necessary. You were the one who I blame for Sylas’s death. Not Paul, not Andrew. You, because I told you that this could end with somebody’s blood spilt. But you had to let your ambitions drive you. You just need to be ‘The One’ who describes these animals?! Well, I hope it was worth it. You not only killed Sylas, but you caused us to waste supplies, kill tames, and— pushed our timetable further behind than we should be.” Erica said as she shoved Jonathan. He gave a big sneer as she shoved him.

“Oh, please shut up!!” He shouted. “You and I both know he was the one who killed Sylas and was the one to blame for everything that happened.” Jonathan spat as he walked back up to Erica. She glared up at him as she clenched her fist.

“You still gonna side with the murderer? You stupid moron.” He said before spitting in her face. She sat there for a moment with the spit rolling down her face. She wiped it off with her hand while putting her tongue in her cheek.

“You know, I may not have as many degrees as you, but I do know a few more things than you, like this—” Erica said as she jabbed a closed fist into Jonathan’s nose. He grabbed his nose. Letting out a cry of anguish as his glasses fell from his face.

“You. You broke my nose!!” Jonathan wailed. He bent forward as he held his nose, Erica smirked at her achievement.

“You deserved it for months you insufferable French prick!”

In a split second everything went into pandemonium as Jonathan whipped his head back up hitting Erica in the lower jaw. She grabbed her jaw as she wailed but was interrupted when Jonathan tackled her to the ground.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” Jonathan growled as he started wailing on Erica. The dust flew bitterly as Erica was dazed on the ground. Jonathan continued to throw punches nonetheless. But everything felt slow as she felt each punch hit her. She looked over at Andrew, his battered and bruised face looking at the ground. He didn’t look at anything occurring, his expression dulled and his eyes glazed over as he sat there. His face expressed something she knew quite well. She refocused on the hits she had taken and let Jonathan’s victory live short. Erica quickly shoved her fingers into his broken nose. Jonathan started to yell as Erica shoved him off of her.

“Fighting dirty doesn’t suit you.” She said as she started getting off the ground and dusting herself off. Jonathan was kneeling on the ground as she steadied her stance and kneed him in the head.

“Well, I never picked you for an artist, what with how brutish you are. But here we are.” Jonathan groaned as he got back up and got back into a fighting stance. Erica scowled as she got into her stance.

Jonathan went for a one/two punch, but Erica quickly blocked both and countered it with a shove back. As Jonathan stumbled back, Erica led the assault further. She started doing several jabs as she continued to push Jonathan back in dodges. She did this until she seemingly slipped, lowering her guard as she continued to push him. He took this as an opportunity and threw a punch as he charged. However, Erica quickly raised her guard and blocked. She had set the trap, and he fell for it. She switched her stance and threw a left roundhouse kick to his ribs. As he groaned and backed up from her, she took two swings into his upper chest. And almost as soon as Jonathan got out of her grasp, he crumpled to the ground and started gasping for air.

“You should know your anatomy, Jonathan… so now you know what a good kick to the liver can do. I’m surprised you even stayed up for how long you did.” Erica retorted. Jonathan gasped with a hint of hostility. He raised his head for a moment looking for something. And soon started dragging himself in the direction of Andrew. Erica was confused about what Jonathan was up to. She watched for a moment before she realized what he was doing. Jonathan had been searching for a knife lying on the yellowish rusted Earth. He grasped it in his hand and got back to his feet. Erica didn’t seem bothered.

“Do you think that’s gonna give you an edge in another fight?” Erica heckled as she went back into her fighting stance.

“Why stand for this man?! A killer, a liar, and a traitor?! He doesn’t deserve it. All he deserves is death.” Jonathan spat.

“He didn’t kill Sylas, and I doubt he killed whoever is in that grave.”

“But how-” “Because I saw someone who was broken from the loss of someone they cared about up there at the towers, not a murderer— I now know I saw someone who felt guilt for something outside of their control when we left the grave. I saw someone filled with guilt and pain, not lust— or blood thirst.” Erica stated.

“Pah— How would you know-” “BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT FEELS LOSING THOSE YOU LOVED AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING!! NOT BEING ABLE TO SAVE THEM AND JUST HAVE TO WATCH!!!” Erica shouted. Jonathan paused at this for a moment, his face relaxing for a moment before going into a scowling smile.

“That’s where you're getting your base assumption that he’s a man who is the salt of the Earth? On your own, faulty, broken, emotional trauma? Please, you're a scientist, you should not let your own experiences stand between you and the facts. The fact is, he was left alone with Sylas, and Sylas is dead, OUR ALLY. The fact is, he didn’t tell us what happened to the person in that grave, they’re dead, and he confessed it was his doing. From what I see, he is nothing but a murderer, and a traitor. Not trustworthy enough to be alive.” Jonathan said as he held his knife to Andrew.

“I won’t let you touch him.”

“Then I’ll make sure you can’t stop me.”

~

For this whole time, Andrew had been in his own thoughts, lost in his guilt and failures. Not even noticing what was happening in front of him. But Andrew had snapped out of it when Erica shouted. And when he heard the last part of the conversation, Andrew wasn’t going to stand for what Jonathan had threatened Erica with.

He got up, bolting into a sprint and quickly flung himself into Jonathan, leading him to drop the knife as they hit the dirt. Jonathan seemed surprised, but that soon turned into him swinging his fist into Andrew’s gut and howling in pain. He gritted his teeth and elbowed Andrew in the head repeatedly. Andrew tried to hold on for a while, but he couldn’t take the repeated blows to the head and had to let go. Jonathan scrambled to his feet as Andrew was dazed and grabbed the knife he had dropped earlier while Andrew got to his feet.

“Don’t move…” Jonathan hissed as he held the blade towards Andrew as he walked up to him.

“Enjoy what you did, it will be your last—” Jonathan was about to finish before gunfire went off. Three shots went off in a row. Jonathan’s eyes widened as he checked his chest to see nothing.

“ENOUGH!!” Paul shouted. “WE JUST FACED THE GATES OF HELL, THIS IS NO TIME TA GO AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS LIKE RABID DOGS!!!” He continued.

“But he—” “Did nothin’ wrong, in fact, he saved us, several times out there. He’s a hero if anything.” Paul answered.

“No one is fully responsible for anyone’s death. We all carry that burden, we all made actions that led Sylas ta his death. We all made choices for self-gain, and now we’ve ta live with the consequences of those choices. And we cannot blame one man for all of those choices.” Paul continued. Jonathan scoffed at these words.

“So you're gonna let this man walk away? With zero consequences to what he-”

“Jonathan, stop.”

“No! You did this with Sylas when he would fall short of completing what he needed to do. Now you're going to do it to this murderer and just get away with being a murderer?”

“Jonathan—” “HE CONFESSED!!! This insignificant rat confessed to killing that man, Reuben. He murdered him, he murdered Sylas. What more do you need?! He should be hanged, or I can just slit his throat now.” Jonathan suggested. Andrew stayed silent and kept his eyes down to the ground as Jonathan spewed his lies. It didn’t matter to him. Because he believed them to be true.

“PAUL SAID ENOUGH!!!” Erica snapped.

“That poor man probably meant nothing to him…” Jonathan said with a sneer. Andrew looked up at Jonathan’s eyes with a burning fury… and snapped.

“he wasn’t a man…” he said with a trembling, uneasily soft voice. His hands shook as he clenched his fists. His wrist moved uncontrollably, and slowly his whole arm twitched as he held his anger and emotions in. Everything built up into this. Jonathan looked over at him with an arrogant and confused smug look.

“What was that?” He asked flamboyantly, before his face dropped into a cold stare at Andrew. Andrew knew he wasn’t hiding his anger. He knew he wasn’t hiding any of the emotions he was feeling anymore. And he couldn’t hold any of it back anymore.

“I said… he wasn’t human… I never said what he was, but if you must dehumanize me for his sake. You should know that Reuben was a dog, a four-legged, tail-wagging dog. He walked by my side for TWELVE YEARS. AND I LOVED HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING ON THIS DEAD PLANET!!!” Andrew said, screaming the last part in Jonathan’s face as tears ran down his eyes.

“And you're right, I did murder him, I brought him to this hellhole daily, to that military barracks. And in one moment we got stuck in there by those creatures. I got trapped trying to kill them, and he saved me when I was hiding and thinking I was going to die. And I watched him die right after that in front of my eyes to a Raptor.— so I had to bury my best friend LESS THAN A WEEK AGO... he was all I had left to those I cared about before, and now he’s gone.” Andrew said simmering. Jonathan just stood there frozen. Paul looked distraught at Andrew.

“Andrew… yo—” “I’m not done, and I’ll say when I am done. Because you, Jonathan, say I’m the bad guy who murdered your ally. When YOU CAN’T CALL SYLAS A FRIEND!!! I knew him for only a couple of days and HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO FELT LIKE A TRUE FRIEND AND I COULD OPEN UP WILLINGLY TO ABOUT RUEBEN!!! HE TOLD ME HIS OWN SECRETS!! All because he wanted to show he wanted to be a friend and I could trust me, yet all you say he was to you was an ‘ally’. Shows how much you care for anyone here. Now I’m done with you, and I’m done here.” Andrew said sneering. But for a moment, Jonathan stopped him, holding his knife blade out in front of Andrew.

“Hold it—” “No, I don’t think so.” Andrew spat as he grabbed the blade of the knife and yanked it out of Jonathan’s grasp.

“For the record. Think about how you want to threaten a person wearing Tek Armor. Cause a knife does jack to the armor.” Andrew said as he threw the knife into the ground and stormed away.

~

Andrew needed to cool off, and he needed to rest. His head ached, he was still very shaky and he felt like he was going to pass out from the heat and his emotions being frayed. He wished he had packed a tent with him to help cool down and have some privacy. But, he’d just have to find cover. He remembered from his last time out here that the entrance was in an underpass going through the ridge. He walked a distance away from where the others had set up and found the entrance. The old road going through the pass was mostly covered by the dust and earth. On the other side, he could see a strange device that he had recognized, having seen dozens of them in the city. But he had no idea what they did or were.

As Andrew got under the cover. He felt the small difference in heat as the blaring sun no longer cooked his head. But it was still way too hot. He wondered why for a brief moment before realizing that the Sulphur Fields were all around them still, and the temperature was always boiling here and he would never be able to cool down. Even with the armor trying to regulate his temp to a natural temperature. He was too angry about Jonathan and upset with everything that he had caused to calm down and keep his body temp cool.

He walked over to the wall opposite the entrance and immediately started switching off the armor and taking it off, exposing the ratty clothes he was wearing underneath in a dire attempt to cool down. Plus he needed to breathe, and his armor wasn’t helping any with that. He started taking off the deactivated gloves and boot rings and piling them up next to him, doing the same with the belt for his leggings, but as he took off his vest for his chest piece, he dragged his hand across his torso. Hitting a small spot that hurt, making him wince in pain. He paused taking it off the vest as he lifted his shirt to see what was going on. But all he saw was a small, black spot that looked like a scab. He thought a small rock got into his suit when he fell down the hillside back there, it would explain it, his whole face was scuffed and scabbed up by now. He touched it for a moment and it didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary. Then, he tried to pick it off, this was a force of habit he accidentally made a while ago, but it started hurting again making him groan and wince. It wasn’t ready.

For a small moment, the scab helped him forget his anger against Jonathan and everything else eating him alive. But only for a moment. He took off the vest and stacked it with the others as he sat against the wall looking at the entrance to Delta Tower. He just needed to be alone, alone to let his mind settle and let his emotions release, which didn’t take long. Tears started to run down his face and he started to cry quietly for the loss of another friend, and for the pain he had caused these people. He was nothing more than a living curse to all those around him.

~{Dwellings}~ chapter 2

The digging continued for what felt to Destiny like hours,

But he knew it was only going for a few minutes, then they heard slamming footsteps, and a Horrifying screech that traveled for miles,

a few more minutes passed before nova let out a long sigh,

"Nova we need to talk-"

But Nova cut him off "Destiny i don’t want to talk about it.." Destiny glared at her “it’s not about you or what you ‘Want’ to talk about Nova! Whatever you found in that cave is putting us both in danger.”

“Fine.. I found an artifact, a Real one.”

-BoXXy

If you like compys mysteries, go to the beta Nunatak trophy, you will find a place where I will share hints on the next chapter!- chicken nugget council

Dodo tales (s1 ep3) thank you for the support 😀 BTW I am -NOT- the same person as the guy making journey to the Aberration trench.

The other creatures ran off one by one, and he heard a voice say "those Raptors almost killed you, you're lucky to be alive" then he realized that his bird was gone. He immediately ask his savior if he had seen it. His answer was exactly what he hoped it wouldn't be. "As good as dead, they took it. Don't worry though, it was just a Dodo."

"A Dodo?"

"Yeah, it's total garbage, maybe it's better off dead"

"Are you gonna kill me?"

"Dude, you can't even take care of a Dodo, you're not exactly a threat. Follow me, I'll show you my house." He decided to come with him

On the way he asked "what's your name? Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"I'll tell my name after I get to know you.

And yes, there is something you can do for me......." he replied

Next episode will be in the section of the next dino in alphabetical order

The Terrible Demise Of Tortuga

Chapter three: Where we’re from…there’s no sun

-By SunnyFox57

(Originally released sometime in January, 2024. Now rewritten and reposted December 27th, 2025)

Aaron’s words linger like an offensive odor inside Aragorn’s head as he lay awake in bed that night. He hadn’t thought they’d be safe here, hadn’t expected it to be at all, and yet the sheer amount of rules and regulations from the mayors was a little bit staggering. This wasn’t just some city where people were simply wary, no they actually LOOKED for trouble. Pushed and prodded until someone reared their ugly head. And then they’d be punished.

And goodness knew that his family was definitely not..the most normal. It was only a matter of time before they were caught, right? What was he supposed to do? He had to protect them. Somehow and someway. Would it seem suspicious to just suddenly leave the town? Would his wife even agree to it? Somehow Arianna liked the town, she thought it would be some sort of..fresh start for them. A blank slate. Somehow he sincerely doubted that his would be so easy to clear. Blood could only be repaid by blood.

“J-Aragorn.” Arianna’s whispering voice beside him suddenly broke into his thoughts. He shifts his head to face his wife.

“Hm?” He hums.

“I can practically feel the wheels turning in your brain right now, hon. What’s wrong?” She rolls onto her side to face him, a slim hand reaching out to press against his cheek, brushing a dark lock of hair away from his eye. He considers his response for a second before responding. He doubted that lying and saying he was fine would persuade her to drop it, she knew him way to well for that. Honestly she probably already knew the answer to her own question.

“I’m worried.” He finally admits. She waits, hand still caressing his face, waiting for him to continue.

“What if..what if something happens? Like what happened before? I can’t lose you, or the kids. I shouldn’t feel like it..but I feel like I’m nothing, even to you, Arianna. Just a smidge of dirt. Worthless. What if fail you all and it’s all my fault? Everything so far, the entire reason we’re here..is because of me. What if he was right? What if..I’m just like…him?” He swallowed, choking a bit on the last words.

Arianna scooted closer to him. “Hey, hey, hey, okay, look, listen to me. You’re not like him, alright? You’re a good man. A wonderful loving husband and father. None of this is your fault, you hear me?”

Unbidden, a lone tear tracked its way down the side of his cheek. A momentary moment of weakness. What a coward he was. A worthless coward. You shouldn’t make promises you don’t keep.

“But..I could have done something. I could have tried. I could have fixed it—it is my fault, Arianna. All of it..”

Arianna moves forward again pressing her forehead against his, her warm breath brushing across his face as she does so. “No. None of this is your fault. You couldn’t have stopped it if you tried okay? They all chose their path and you tried to help. It’s not your fault that they didn’t choose to accept the truth. We’re moving on. A fresh start. Our new life, right? Sure, we may have to work to make some people trust us, but what’s life without difficulty? We’re going to be okay. We’re safe. Nothing’s gonna happen to us.”

Aragorn closes his eyes, in an attempt to keep any other unwelcome tears from escaping.

“You promise?” He asks, unable to stop the ridiculous childish cowardly question that escapes from his lips.

Arianna leans back and kisses his forehead gently, hand still resting against his face.

“I promise.”

~~

Not many people knew how to find the home of the most beloved of the peacekeepers, Paul, even in the small city of Tortuga. Well..”beloved” was a bit of a overstatement. None of the peacekeepers were really that likable much less beloved, but of all of them Paul was definitely the most tolerable.

For Aaron Buckleshoot however, finding the dear peacekeeper wasn’t that hard. He knew where the man’s house sat, nestled snugly close to the lighthouse, and he knew what exact hours of the day that the man would be there. After all, he’d been there many many times. They had a history of sorts, one that went way beyond this small city.

Finally he arrived at the tiny yellow bricked building, raising his hand and knocking loudly on the front door, not caring if any neighbors nearby hear it. “It’s me, Aaron!” He calls. It was a quiet part of town anyway, even when it wasn’t in the early hours of the morning like right now. Every brick house was painted a pale pastel yellow color, with the same crooked uneven steps in front of the wooden front doors. Every house had the same small “garden” that was really just a patch of dirt and plastic fake flowers. If it was anyone except Aaron or one of the inhabitants in any of the neighboring houses, finding Paul’s house among the rest would prove to be incredibly challenging.

After knocking, the inside of the house was silent for a few moments but then the sound of soft footsteps thumping toward the door could be heard if you strained your ears enough, and then the door inched open. Paul’s tired eyes peered out at him.

“Yes. I know it’s you. You’re the only person who comes around here, making such a racket. Especially in the wee hours of the morning.” The man complains, pushing the door open wider. “Well, whatever are you waiting for? Make yourself at home as you’ll do anyways whether I want it or not. Mi casa, tu casa. Or whatever that saying is.”

Aaron obliges, needing no further invitation to step inside. He walks past Paul into the living room. It looks the same as always. The grey overhead fan swishing through the non-air conditioned room. The furniture in the living room, like all the furniture in the other parts of the house, was..ancient. Or at least antique. The couches were a checkered lime green, the carpet a pale runny maroon color from being washed too often, and all hard surfaces like the table, cabinets and bookshelves were made of battered stained black wood. The familiar smell of pipe smoke lingers in the air. Instead of hanging on the walls as they usually did, all of the peacekeeper’s guns were broken into pieces and lined out on the table beside a blackened rag and a jar of some type of black liquid, which Aaron suspected was because his friend had been in the middle of cleaning them.

Paul walks in right behind Aaron after shutting the front door once again and engaging the deadbolt. His grey eyes travel briefly over the living room thoroughly for a moment, as if searching to see if Aaron had touched anything in the five seconds that the peacekeeper had his back turned. It was a habit that Aaron had picked up on after many times of entering new places with the man. It was instinctual, he guessed. The man was surveying the room, making sure he had every object and furniture mapped out, and every exit plotted. Just in case he had to make a quick escape.

They both take a seat, Paul in the couch and Aaron in the armchair.

“What, no tea or anything for your company?” Aaron asks teasingly. He knows that Paul didn’t like that specific type of drink at all. He “prefers his liquid bitter”, or at least that’s just what Paul says. Aaron always reckoned that it was some sort of past experience with the drink that made him despise it. After all, he’d seen plenty of different types of bitter teas before.

Paul gives Aaron a look, lips twitching slightly at the edges but he manages to maintain a look of disapproval at his friend. “If you want anything go make it yourself. I have a lot better things to do than serve old geezers like yourself who pop into my domicile at random times.” He says dully, jabbing one finger towards the kitchen. He picks up a part of a gun and begins running the rag across it to scrape any grime or grease off it.

Aaron chuckles and raises his hands in a mock show of exasperation. “Goodness, if I’d known how much of a “old geezer” I was I wouldn’t have gone and started tackling my senile old Sarco in a attempt to get it back in its cage after it somehow got away!”

Paul rolls his eyes at that, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. “Oh please, I’m sure it wasn’t that hard. I could have done that in a heartbeat, and we’re nearly the same age.”

Aaron snorts. “Sure. And what was it you said when we went fishing last week? ‘Oh, my back! My poor cramping back!’.”

Paul can’t hold back his amusement anymore and suddenly throws his head back at that, letting out a loud laugh, a harsh unused booming sound that always surprises Aaron no matter how many times he hears it.

“That was you, you buffoon!”

Aaron chuckles along with his friend.

“So it was, so it was.”

Eventually their laughter dies down after a few seconds and Paul wipes the tears of laughter from his eyes and leans forward, still cleaning the guns’ pieces.

“So, what brings you here today? Certainly it wasn’t just to talk about your aching back. You don’t need me to help catch one of your little escapees again, right? As a peacekeeper, I’ve been re-informed that that behavior is not “responsible” and to shoot any “dangerous” creatures on sight.” Paul asks, rolling his eyes a bit at the Mayors’ opinions on all of Aaron’s…”pets”.

Aaron snorts and shakes his head, running his hands through his hair repeatedly, fingers seemingly trying to organize his quickly greying locks. “No, no. Ive been keeping them under lock and key. Last thing I need is getting word that..one of them had been deceased.” His face darkened at the thought. “No, I came to talk about the..new family. You were there when they arrived, right?”

Paul has finished up cleaning the guns’ pieces and now was putting them all together slowly, glancing up at Aaron’s question, brow raising slightly. “Yes..yes I was..why do you ask?”

“I was simply wondering what you thought of them.” Aaron leans forward in the armchair casually.

Paul raises his eyebrows further. If his dark hair wasn’t shaved high on all sides of his head, a military cut that hardened his square face, then they probably would have disappeared into his almost inexistent hairline. “So, in another words…you want to know what the mayors think of them?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Paul shakes his head in exasperation. “Yes, but that’s what you meant. Also, for your information, they seemed very wary to ME, specifically the father. They certainly are… strange. Any sane person can see that. Just how strange are they, is the question.”

“And what did the mayors think?”

“They don’t like them. To be fair, they don’t like anyone, but these people…..they REALLY don’t like them. They were constantly pushing and trying to get under the people’s nerves the entire time.” He leans back in his chair. “In fact, I think it probably worked. I wouldn’t expect them to stay long and if they do…goodness knows what the mayors are planning to make them endure. I wouldn’t get too close to them either, just for your own safety. I know how attached you get to..things and people, but these people—“ Paul trails off, shaking his head as he sets another finished gun done.

Aaron shifts in his chair, eyeing the guns like he wants to help but knowing that Paul probably wouldn’t like it. “Well..I may or may not have already visited them..”

Paul didn’t look up from the new gun he was piecing together but he sighed once again in exasperation, as he often did when he was around Aaron. “Aaron..you-you know if something happens to them or even you, I can no longer help you. This is my job here. I cannot help those who are condemned by the mayors.”

“Not even for a old friend?”

A sharp look from Paul’s grey eyes is enough to answer his question. Aaron sighs.

“Yeah, yeah I know. Don’t worry, I was only informing them of some of…the mayors’ more important roles. Just the basics. I wasn’t “scheming” with them to overrun the city, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“That’s good. Just-just stay away from them, okay? We don’t know much about about them yet so we need to be wary. What is it we always say? Better safe than sorry…”

~~

“Stop moving, please. Sir. Sir, I’m almost done just stay still, okay?”

He flinches as the knife digs into his skin once more. Well, it wasn’t into his skin. It was digging into the edge of one of the many small black spikes sticking from his hands and chest. He lifts his right hand, biting down a little bit on a fingernail, to muffle any unholy sound that might threaten to escape. Another spike comes free with a wet snap, dropping into the waiting burlap sack with a soft clatter. The maid, who was the one doing the terrible task, continues murmuring under her breath as she works, comforting words, he thinks, though they blur together, muffled by the thick fog creeping through his head. Every time one of the spikes is removed, the ache lingers, the absence hurting just as much as the thing itself. Like always, he’s surprised at how little she was afraid to speak much less touch him. She was the only one.

The maid. Her name refuses to surface no matter how much he pushes for it in his mind. The pain has buried it somewhere deep. It happened constantly, taking facts that he should know and hiding them just out of reach.

Moonlight dances through the room from the open balcony door, invasively beaming down on his skin. It catches on the silhouettes of the spikes jutting from his arms and chest, making crooked shadows appear along the walls. Showing what was buried. underneath. The spikes are longer than they were last time. Thicker. Some of them have split his skin completely, forcing their way through red, inflamed flesh, black edges glistening faintly.

Originally they’d used tweezers to pull the thorny things out. He could vaguely remember the day that the thin metal bent uselessly, and the way the skin around the spikes pulled inward instead of giving, as if clutching at it because it wanted to keep them. They’d no choice but to switch to knives after that.

“Do they hurt?” The maid suddenly says, not even looking up at him as she does so, still focused on her massacring of the spikes inhibiting his skin. He knew that she didn’t expect him to answer. He didn’t have to. He was the master here. Plus, he barely spoke at all. Her asking him a question was simply an invitation to answer if he wanted to. He ran his tongue slowly over his teeth, trying to pull the answer from wherever it was hiding in his brain at the moment.

“Whenever they come in.” He rolls his head over to the side slightly as if to see her reaction to his next question. “Do they hurt you? To look at them?” He asks slowly, voice low and hoarse.

She finally glances up at him, her round innocent eyes searching his for a second briefly as she finishes up with his back. She walks round him and settles down on the stool in front of his chair, taking his left hand gently into her own, to begin working on the arm and aforementioned hand. “No. It doesn’t hurt me to look at you, maestro.” She says. Her native language slips in accidentally on the last word, through the cracks of her English. She digs the blade into the base of one of the spikes, making him tense slightly as it makes a sharp scratching noise. “You’re not disgusting to me. It does make me sad, though. Of everything you’ve had to endure. ”

The irritation crawls under his skin at her pointed answer, deeper than the spikes ever reach. They’ve had this conversation before. He’s certain of it. So he only let a small hum in response, letting them settle back into the stiff silence. He distracted himself from the constant jabs of pain by focusing on her face as she worked on cutting of the black thorny pieces of skin. Her face held a relatively calm expression despite the task she was working on, brows furrowed in quiet concentration above her blue eyes. Her blonde bangs stick slightly onto her forehead from sweat, the only sign at all that she might be feeling nervous.

He wasn’t sure if the spikes would ever stop coming back. Every time they were cut off, they grew back twice as long and sharp. It was more painful when they came in then when they were pulled out. Every time the black things poked up from his skin, his mind grew more foggy as the pain settled in, burying everything except for his gloomy thoughts.

The knife suddenly slips momentarily, cutting down on his finger at a angle. He flinches, teeth automatically finding his tongue. He bites down hard, until the bitter familiar taste of blood fills the entirety of his mouth. A flash. Falling. Water. Endless waves. But above all…blood. Blood everywhere.

On instinct he pushes back, gasping slightly as he tries to wipe away the memories, clenching his now injured hand into a tight fist, to avoid looking at the liquid. The maid is already scrambling to her feet, apologizing frantically but he doesn’t care anymore.

“Master, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry—“

The rest of her words fall on deaf ears, as the crushing feeling of fogginess begins filling his ears. The taste of blood and bile floods his mouth, practically choking him.

“Get out.” He finally manages to snap through clenched teeth, interrupting her apologies.

“But-“

“GET OUT!!!” He rises to his feet, sending his chair against the wall with a crash in his rising rage. “GET OUT!!!”

The maid wisely does as he says, letting the knife fall to the floor with a clang and rushing out the door. She gives him one last look before letting it shut behind her. He knows that look. She wasn’t afraid of him, no. Instead, pity laced her gaze, practically oozing out of her pores toward him like cold water. How dare she. How dare she pity him. How dare she pity a snarling disgusting piece of filth like him.

Unable to stop himself he snatches the now empty stool in a fit of rage and slams it into the wall. Over and over until it completely falls apart.

“You, stupid, stupid, stupid—“ The words dissolve into a hoarse, broken, unintelligible sound as he clamps his hands over his ears and begins to scream. And scream. Until his voice gives out completely.

When his temper finally calms down he staggers to the sink in the corner of the room and retches violently. A mixture of blood and a bit of vomit spills from his mouth, splattering against the porcelain. His hands shake violently as he grips the edges of the sink, vision swimming at the sight of it. If there was one thing he hated, it was the sight of blood. The irony wasn’t lost on him. There was just something about it now that filled his gut with the feeling that he was dying. All over again.

Eventually the heaving subsides and he straightens, hands still on the sink edges as he stares at himself in the mirror. He doesn’t know this face that looks back at him. Black sclera met against yellow irises. Moonlight illuminates the thin skin stretching taunt over the bones on his face, showing every crack and crevice on it. His nose was barely there, the thin strip that was supposed to divide his nostrils was completely inexistent and his lips had sunk in along with his skin, leaving every inch of his teeth and jaw line showing quite clearly. Dark bags of exhaustion hang underneath his sunken eyes. His once favorite feature, his dark colored hair, that he’d used to loved to style now was greying and hung unevenly around his face, butchered. But the most striking feature of all of them was the two giant curved crooked black horns growing out of his head. It was the face of a monster. A face that not even a mother would love. Certainly not his mother.

Usually he wore a mask, a black thing that covered his entire face except for his eyes, almost like a gas mask. It was more for other people’s benefit that his own. Nobody wanted to look at such a hideous creature. Nobody had seen his face in years, especially not this ghastly butchered one. Well, nobody alive anyways. Except for the maid of course. It’d been more of a accident actually, whenever she first caught sight of it. He’d been meditating, with the suffocating mask off and she’d walked in without knocking to deliver something and had accidentally caught sight of his face. She’d flinched and started apologizing frantically in Spanish. Not because of his face though, just from the fear of being reprimanded. She was the only one. His only friend. Wait, no, not his friend. That was ridiculous. She was a maid, and he was her master. He was nothing but a chore for her, a job. And she was nothing but a maid to him. This wasn’t some foolish fairy tale. There was no beauty here. Only rot.

He glances down at his hands again finally. The bleeding from the cut had finally stopped. It hadn’t been that much anyways. It was a small cut. He shouldn’t have yelled at her for such a small accident. The spike was still there though, sticking up at him stubbornly. Without a second thought he lifts it to his mouth, buries his teeth into the bottom edge of it and grips it between them his teeth. The texture is sharp, brittle and warm all at once. He grits his teeth and harshly yanks it out, spitting it into the sink. He returns to looking at his appearance in the mirror, one hand raising unconsciously to press against his bony face. He was wrong, it was his face. There was no difference between him and the reflection. There never was. It had been foretold long ago. He was nothing. Just a disgusting rotting corpse of a man.

The sound of a knock on the door, interrupts his thoughts. He doesn’t answer aloud however, which is an answer in and of itself to speak.

“Sir, your ship is ready now to leave port.” The person on the other side says. When his master doesn’t respond, the sound of the person’s soft footsteps pattering off sounds and he turns back to the mirror once more, breathing a sigh of relief at the scout’s words.

His ship was ready. It was almost time. Hopefully his time here on this gloomy earth wouldn’t be for too much longer. Anwir had told them that she had finally found the right one. All they needed was two more. Just two more and he could be at peace. All the pain of past and present would we wiped away in a short while. And he would be free to finally go back to where he belonged. Hopefully. Unbidden, a shaky smile stretches across his thin face, and he begins to chuckle. His shoulders slowly began shaking, and black inky tears leak steadily down the crevices of his face as he laughs. Or cries. To any person hearing it, they wouldn’t know the difference. So he throws his head back and allows the hysterical sounds to flow out of his mouth, letting the inky tears fill his eyes and flow to the floor, until the world turns completely black.

~~

Author’s note:

Sorry, this chapter is a bit boring. A lot of needed dialogue plus needed filler.

Also, happy late Christmas everyone, and I hope you all have a merry New Year!

Sorry, have not posted in a while. I will post every monday (if possible). There has been a lot going on so I was so happy to come back and see that compys mysteries was getting some good feedback.

-chicken nugget council

The beast wars p3

So Jerry just came down with an egg in his paws it was to dark to figure out what was in it “what do you want Jerry” said jack with a fake annoyed voice “John wanted to give this to yah jack” said Jerry “try befriending a titanoboa perhaps” “I’ll think about it” said jack “might be some good eats” said berry and right after berry said that he was immediately drenched in water like he just got attacked by an angry garden hose then Eldon came in and said “we are not resorting to eggs anytime soon! these aranios are keeping us well fead” wiping his mouth with his paw “well I’ll leave you to it” said Jerry walking away from the egg he left with them, and right as Jerry left, jack started squealing like that one fan girl when she meats her hero for the first time

P4 coming soon in angler

The Island- chapter IV

Four large, plump dodos waddled around in a clearing of trees near a beach, cooing and going about usual dodo business. The weather was pleasant, and the beach was full of life. Seabirds dove into the clear blue water to catch fish, and dinosaurs lumbered about in the sand. All was calm. Until a spear came flying out of the brush and struck a dodo in the head, killing it instantly. By the time the dodos looked up to see what happened, another spear came wizzing out of the overgrowth and impaled another dodo through the chest. Realizing they were under attack, the dodos waddled away as fast as they could, which wasn’t very fast. As Marcel stood up from the bushes, he didn’t pursue the birds. Two dodos were plenty.

It was Marcel’s fourth day on the mysterious island, and he wasn’t doing half bad. He spent the third day making spears and clothing, a shirt out of fiber and cloth wrappings for his hands with strips of hide, to protect from blisters and splinters. He also made a stone hatchet, a pouch to carry food in, a hide jug to carry water, a belt with pouches, and a necklace adorned with the teeth from the dilo he killed the day before. He spent all night making these accessories. “Now I look like a real survivor,” he thought. He skinned and cleaned the two dodo birds, and skewered them over the fire. As the meat sizzled, Marcel looked over at his small teepee. “I’d say it’s about time for a new shelter,” he said out loud.

He quickly set to work, gathering large branches and tying them together with rope he fashioned from fiber and hide. One he had a solid foundation, he did the same for the walls, eating the dodo flesh as he worked. He was about to prop his second wall up on the floor and tie it together, when he hits chirping behind him. Recalling his last experience with small deadly predators, he grabbed his spear and turned around rapidly. He saw a very small theropod looking up at him. It was a pale gray creature, with pinkish feathers on its head. Marcel somehow recognized it as a compsognathus, a small predator.he half expected it to pounce on his neck and bite him, but it didn’t. It looked up at him with large, black eyes, chirping and watching him work. He stared at it for a few more seconds, and when he was sure it wasn’t going to attack him, he set back to work…

He tried to ignore the creature, as he repeated the process of lashing walls together and then to the foundation. The compsognathus followed him as he worked, curious as to what Marcel was doing. It was around 5:00pm when he finished his wood hut, and he was proud. It was small, but better than his teepee. He fashioned a door out of wood planks carved from a fallen tree, and, by 8:00pm, had made a sleeping bag from the dodo hide of the birds he killed earlier, and fiber. The compy stayed with him all the while, and as it watched Marcel, he had an idea. Reaching into his food pouch, he pulled out a piece of leftover dilo meat, and slowly walked over to the compy, reaching his hand out. The compy sniffed his hand, and took the piece of meat from Marcel. He fed the compy another piece, and it ate the meat. After the third piece of meat, the compy chirped and hopped up onto marcels shoulder. He had domesticated it. Marcel was pleased. “I now have a friend,” he thought as the compy nuzzled its head into the crook of his neck. He decided to call the compy Magnus. He fed Magnus some more meat, and was about to head into his new cabin to tuck in for the night, when he heard shrieking coming from behind him. Three large dilophosaurs were standing by his campfire, staring at him and Magnus, who was on his shoulder. Marcel stared back, and reached behind him to grab a spear leaning against his house, and grabbed his hatchet off his belt, and prepared to fight…

It’s finally here!! I’m sorry for the looong wait, I’ve been really busy lately and didn’t have the time to write chapter IV. My apologies. But yeah, thank you all for reading!

You can find chapter III in amargosaurus and chapter V will be in Andrewsarchus.

Stars of hope: Spirits Of The Stars

Chapter 2: A hope of light

The spirits came closer and closer their paws came closer with a red energy surrounding the spirits paws. Before they could reach Cloud and Jungle, Cloud noticed a hole she looked at Jungle and she leaped for the hole and everything went black…

~~~

A wolf like creature stepped out side and yawned as its black fur and reddish eyes shone in the bit of sunlight. They smiled as they sat outside of their den and a cat like creature and snake like creature had came at them. They were awake but saw the two out cold and sighed dragging the two into their den. They waited but when they finally woke up they got up and sat right infront of the two, “Now why are you here on my property?” They asked their voice was a female she stared at the two that had bumped into her she growled a bit before the cat said, “im so sorry!” The cat like creature had said dipping their head in a sorry. The wolf like creature sighed, “you’re forgiven but why.. were you two running away?” She says sitting down putting her black tail with a red pattern on it on her paws she stared at the two. The cat like creature sighed, “well… the dark spirits and we should introduce ourselves im cloud.. and this is jungle” cloud says with a small smile. The wolf like creature sat there, “I will reveal my name later…” she said with a small smile, “as to I will be getting my name soon its the way of my kind one moonlight till I get my name from my spirit ancestors…” She says with a smile as the moon rose she got up and walked away…

-selveevee

I'm bored so I guess I'm posting two chapters today.

-Anonymos-

Chapter 4

Eventually we arrived at a small stone hut where there were many strange creatures standing guard. One of the creatures stepped forward with a low growl.

“It's okay Night, she’s with me,” Pathro soothed

The dog-like beast eyed me for a minute before grunting and stepping out of the way. Pathro nudged Duck with his heel, telling the Parasaur to continue. Duck paused as if thinking about it before continuing towards the house. It was magnificent. Much better than the tree I was living in. Inside there were couches and tables and rugs and all sorts of things you would naturally find in a home.

“Wow,” I said, astroc.

“It's nothing much,” Pathro shrugged, putting the frustrated Dodo on the floor. Chicken glared at him before stomping towards one of the rugs. She looked at it for a moment and poked it with her feet before deciding it was safe and sitting down.

“Chicken obviously thinks it ok,” I laughed

“I thought you said she wasn’t very smart,” Pathro said before he too started laughing.

We talked for a while longer, sitting on the couch and drinking coffee was my new favorite thing.

“Come on, I want to show you something,” He smiled and took my hand.

I set my cup down, “Where are we going?” I asked

“Somewhere special,” He replied.

Once outside we took a left and headed towards more of those dog things.

“Pick one,” Pathro smiled.

I looked them all over and decided that I liked the one with a tan border collie skin. (In my story there are dog skins, so shut up lol).

“Sand?” Pathro asked

“Yup,” I smiled and walked up to the dog, very slowly.

“Alright. Sand she is your new owner,” Pathro ordered

Sand wagged her tail and licked my hands

“Good girl Sand!” I patted the dog’s head and pulled myself onto her back.

“Night!” Pathro called. The black dog, who looked like a German Shepherd, from before trotted up, eyeing me suspiciously. Pathro climbed onto his back.

“Follow me then,” Pathro siad. He tapped Night's flank to which the dog responded with a growl before sprinting into the woods.

“Follow ‘em!” I told Sand. She barked and launched into a sprint, taking the exact path Night took. We caught up to them in no time and were now running side by side.

“Good girl Sand,” I whispered, patting her neck.

(20 Minutes Later…)

Pathro eased Night to a slow stop. Sand, not noticing, slammed right into Night, knocking him over and sending Pathro flying.

Pathro hit a tree with a thud. I ran to his side.

“Are you okay?!” I helped him stand, trying my hardest to not laugh.

“I'm fine,” He smiled.

“What do you think?” Pathro asked, gesturing towards huge ruins. The stone was weathered and cracked but had a very… Comforting feeling. It sat nestled in a blanket of vines and branches making it look even cooler and spookier.

“Wow,” I looked at the ruins in amazement. How could something like this still be standing?

“This is Torren’s Temple,” Pathro said. He began walking towards the ruins. I wasn’t paying attention and almost ran into him.

“It's amazing.”

“Follow me, I want to show you the inside,” Pathro took my hand and led me deeper into the ruins.

“Why is it called Torren’s Temple? Who’s Torren?” I asked, looking over the ancient writing that was carved into the stone.

“Torren was the first ever dinosaur to be here. He built these ruins,” Pathro explained

“But he was a dinosaur?” I chuckled

“Yeah, probably the smartest dinosaur ever,” Pathro smiled

“Is he still here?” I glanced around, searching for any signs of life.

“Yup,” Pathro relied quickly

“Really?” I gasped. I was scared. If a dinosaur was smart enough to build these ruins, i'm sure it was smart enough to hunt and kill intruders

“Don’t worry, I know Torren.”

We walked in silence down the long, stone hallway. Torches stood on the walls, creating just enough light to see by. Eventually we reached a wide room. In this room there were strange winged cat-like creatures standing guard at the base of what looked like a throne.

“What are those?” I asked

“Griffins,” Pathro whispered

Griffins? Does he mean the large meat eating creature from Greek mythology?!?!

“Maybe we should go,” I said tugging on his arm

“They know me,” Pathro replied

“But-” I was cut short by an agrny sounding growl.

“Who dare enter my Temple?” A booming voice asked

“Pathro,” Pathro said casually

“Pathro? Who is with you?” The voice hissed.

“Lexi,” Pathro answered

The torches flared, creating a very bright light. What I saw sitting atop that throne will haunt me forever

So I was at the bottom of the ocean looking for a mosa saw one thought I could get prime meat but NOPE bit it on my icthy and a group of eels came I escaped luckily got a black pearl though SCORE!!!! 1 like= one oxygen for me to survive

Journey Through All Creaturea: Chapter 3: Underwater Disaster

Chapters go through the Island creatures in alphabetical order. First chapter in Achatina and has a prologue. Last chapter in Allosaurus, next chapter in Ankylosaurus.

Sodden woke up that afternoon after the Allosaurus thing. He had a bandage on his back and a bruise on his wrist. As he stretched and walked towards the door, he covered his face with his hand and muttered, “What happened earlier? Let’s just get the underwater dudes over with.” He walked out the door, ate a few pieces of meat, and got some raw prime meat he got from the Allo and ran to the ocean. He needed a dolphin to do this. He found one and it swam to him. It chittered as it swam around Soddon. “Hey, buddy. You’re gonna help me in a lotta ways.” Sodden said. He held out the meat and the dolphin ate it up. Sodden gave him another piece until a message showed up on his implant: “You tamed an Itchthyosaurus!” The dolphin was his. Soddon yelled in happiness and ran to get resources for the saddle. He got the saddle made and put it on his new dolphin. Then he got on, but then got off. “Wait. I am going very deep. Might be a good idea to make some beds, just in case.” Soddon said. He decided to hunt some dodos to get hide and harvest bushes for fiber. He put down three sleeping bags next to the dock just next to the base. Soddon got on his dolphin and took a deep breath then swam down as fast as possible. After almost a minute he saw a small snail like creature and also a anglerfish. He immediately lodged a spear into the ammonite’s mouth as it released a green mist. The mist wrapped around Soddon as he took the ammonite to the surface. He reached the top, gasping for air and taking deep breaths. He looked under the water and saw a angler coming for him. He whistled for his dolphin to attack the angler and it grabbed it. Then suddenly, there was a hole in the angler’s mouth and it started sinking down to the bottom of the water. Soddon took a breath, exhausted. He decided to go back to his base to rest. But when his base came into sight, he saw someone there. They were holding something while wearing a black robe with a mask on their face. Then Soddon noticed his raptor in the person’s hands. Soddon yelled in anger and immediately swam to his base. He ran towards the person and held a ascendant bow at him. The robed person turned and saw Soddon. He held his hands out, and said, “Whoa! I’m not doing anything. I’m just returning your raptor.” He said. Soddon tilted his head in confusion because he heard a voice that didn’t sound like a man. “Uh… thanks… who are you and what is going on!!!???” Sodden screamed. Then the masked guy jumped at him and covered his mouth. “Dude, not so loud! I’m not even supposed to bring back your raptor! I would like to explain everything but I can’t. It’s not the right time. I’ll explain what’s going on, why we’re on you, just not right now!” The masked guy yelled. Soddon nodded and then got up and brushed off his clothes. “My name’s Serenity. I’m the only girl on the C tribe. That’s the name of our tribe. A lot of things are happening and I will explain everything but I can’t. But… I’ll return, okay?” The masked guy said. “Ok. C tribe… think that’s the Assassin tribe. They forced you into joining them, right? And you could not leave. No freedom.” Soddon said. “Yeah. We can talk later. I need to leave.” Serenity said. “Yeah. My names Soddon. And… good seeing you.” Sodden said. Serenity nodded and she vanished into the forest. Soddon walked into his base and fell on his bed. He ate some food, thinking about what he could do for who he just met.

Chapter 4 this weekend!

-RelatingHen8906

Moon Tales

Season 1 - Episode 4

“A what”

“An obelisk there’s three of them” John explained “i dont know what they do but theyre important”

“They are” Blake said “you can transfer creatures from other worlds and travel there as well i come from a large world with many islands thats where Crystal comes from although the Sand Clan has many other creatures that are even stronger”

Andromeda wasnt too sure how she felt about the idea of even more dangerous things than a dragon but she kept quiet. She wondered how powerful the other groups on this place could be if Sand Clan was considered weak.

They got to the red obelisk and they saw a large building made of stone underneath the obelisk there were a bunch of guards standing at the entrance they were all riding strange looking tiger things with huge claws.

“Sabertooths those look cool” John blurted Andromeda looked at John again. Even though John said he had woken up a few days ago he still seemed to know a lot about the place which made Andromeda suspicious. She thought he could be lying but then realized he wasnt bright enough to lie

“They are very cool they were mutated to have sharper teeth and claws” Blake commented “very lucky and they’re our strongest land tames at the moment”

The two guards spotted Blake and saluted him, and then afterward got out of the way. Blake landed Crystal on the ground and the three got off. The three walked into the doors of the building but nobody seemed to question Andromeda or John

“Why arent they asking about us we are enemies on their territory” Andromeda thought “maybe theyre just not very bright, or maybe the writer just got lazy and didnt want to write the interactions”

The three walked inside and they saw a strange looking podium in the middle, and a terminal there were a bunch of flags with sand and whatever and a bunch of smithies and forges Andromeda also noticed a futuristic looking vertical pod in the corner that seemed out of place compared to the rest of the primitive landscape

Blake turned around and bowed to the two

“Well it was nice meeting you, i suppose i’ll see you again soon, good luck with the leader of Sand Clan but i think he’ll let you join” Blake told them John bowed back in respect

“Thank you for taking us in”

Blake left the room and as the two stood at the podium John began to talk

“So what did you do before you landed on this island?”

“This is an island??”

“yeah you didnt know it was kinda obvious”

“i mean not really” Andromeda said confused “but anyway i didnt actually do much i was just a barista at a coffee shop”

“that sounds like a nice job” John replied “i wish i could have a basic job like that but my parents wanted me to become a doctor”

John looked sad and Andromeda felt a little bad for him before Andromeda could speak they heard footsteps and they looked to see a man wearing flak armor enter the room he had a raptor skull on his shoulder and he looked really mean

“well hello there you must be the new recruits Blake told me about” the leader of the Sand Clan said “my name is Steve and i am leader of the Sand Clan. but you can also call me the Sand Master”

“What a cheap reference” Andromeda thought as the episode ended abruptly

hello this is Moon Tales Girl i hope you enjoyed the fourth episode of the first season of Moon Tales the next episode will be in the next section aka andrewsarchus

ps if you havent go read this story called Overseer made by someone named Sand Master its a very cool story and i like it a lot and i think you will too this is where i got the name from

Why is this tagged early game… Makes no sense.

Chapter one: Ohio

Connor lives in Michigan. The edge of Michigan… just thought I’d point that out.

Connor walked through his house, gathering items, he would need for the trip. Connor grabbed a large backpack and packed the stuff inside. He then walked into his bedroom and grabbed ammo and a gun holster. He walked to the front door of the house and stepped into his car. He drove for hours. Occasionally stopping to refill his car fuel. Finally he passed a sign reporting that he was ‘Now leaving Michigan’. He pulled over at a metal gate. Multiple warning signs were plastered all over the gate. He hopped out of the truck and walked up to the gate. He typed in a code in the keypad. He then walked back to his truck as the gates swung open. Behind the gate was a vast lifeless desert. One highway lead through the desert. Connor drove into the desert, and was immediately hit with a heat wave. He quickly turned the car’s AC to its coldest. He drove through the desert for a while. He entered a large run down city. A small beeping sound occurred. Connor looked around for the source. Finally he spotted a red dot flashing on the front of his car. Connor’s eyes widened, as his car was blown sky high.

Next in Andrewsarchus!

Yours Truly,

MrGhostGamer

The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 34: Sunset

Original Post Date: Mar 12, 2024

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

~

“I’m really sorry,” Skyler apologized to Rick for like the hundredth time.

By now Skyler had finally seemed to realize the weight of her actions and had maken up for it with a hundred apologizes to Rick.

“Really, it’s okay,” Rick reassured her, “It was a moment of tension. There’s no way you could’ve done anything to stop it.”

Samuel was leaning against the weird metal beam in the middle of the metal platform.

“I have to capitalize on this,” Samuel thought. Then he spoke up.

“Skyler,” Samuel said, “From what we’ve seen, I think it’s safe to say this obelisk is not here to empower us, but to endanger us. Clearly that was the case with the grenade.”

“Mmm, he’s not wrong,” Neddy commented, “You think that came from the obelisk?”

“Yes. I am sure it did,” Samuel replied, “Just remember that even if the obelisks could give its power to us, it may not have a reason to. There’s good reason to believe that this place was designed.”

“Designed?” Paige asked with a raised eyebrow. A bead of sweat dripped from Rick’s face.

“What… Do you mean by that?” Rick asked.

“Well just look at the implants in our wrists,” Samuel said, putting emphasis on our, “Where could they have come from? And I’m sure you’ve all received that message, the one before the obelisks rose from the soil. The one that claims strength comes from the death of others.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

“So, why not the obelisk go against us? Why give us its power?” Samuel asked, “I still believe your book is trustworthy, Skyler, don’t worry. It’s just that gaining its power may not be so easy. That’s why we NEED to find Tiffany, and find the original book. Maybe they’re connected in some way.”

“I agree with him,” Aurora interjected, “We just need more information about these obelisks, you know? I am totally onboard with the idea. We need to find Tiffany.”

Skyler sighed for a moment, thinking about what to say next, before nodding yes.

“Okay. We’ll go find her.”

Samuel smiled.

“Great. I’m glad we reached a compromise,” Samuel added on. He turned to the others, “What about the rest of you?”

“Of course,” Neddy answered.

“Sounds like a good plan, I guess,” Ruby said.

“Sure.”

Everyone had decided to go with Samuel’s plan.

“Wait, hold on,” Rick said, “Sunny hasn’t come back yet and it’s been a while.”

“Uh oh,” Skyler said, her face turning dark, “That’s- not good.”

“Should we go find her?” Paige asked.

“Of course!” Samuel replied, “We need to, we can’t leave anyone behind. Let’s split up into pairs and spread out. And by an hour past nightfall we shall come back here and regroup next to the entrance of the obelisk.”

“Pairs?” Aurora asked, her head jolting to Samuel, “Samuel-”

“I’ll be going with Rick, if that’s fine with him,” Samuel said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Rick jolted up, and took a glance at Skyler. He turned to Samuel and nodded.

“Yeah, not a problem.”

“Of course I’ll be going with Ruby,” Neddy said.

“Girl, I think you’re lacking a partner,” Paige said with a sly smile, “Why don’t we pair up?”

“And what about me? Should I just-” Skyler was interrupted by Samuel.

“Skyler, I believe you should stay behind and recollect your thoughts. You look like a mess.”

“But I-”

“Listen to the man, Skyler,” Paige sneered, “We don’t want another accident happening.”

Skyler looked solemn, but ultimately agreed.

“Okay. I’ll see you guys soon.”

Everyone walked off in their groups to find Sunny.

Samuel was walking by Rick’s right, who had put his book away and was merely taking in the sunset. He had his hands in his pockets and was whistling a sort of tune.

“So, where should we look? By the rivers?” Rick finally asked.

“Hmm, I’m thinking we follow the dinosaur’s path. We’re bound to find her that way,” Samuel suggested.

“I like that plan. Let’s go.”

The two walk off, the mood serene and the environment quiet. Somehow on this island filled with bloodthirsty dinosaurs, it all felt like heaven. Over heaven, even.

“So. I know this is a weird question to ask but-” Rick questioned, “You never look worried. Like. Never. It’s like you know what you’re doing here. In a way.”

“I know what I’m doing?” Samuel chuckled, “Trust me, I don’t.”

“Well it seems plausible. There’s books out there.”

“I don’t read.”

“Really? You seem like the type of person to read.”

Again, it was quiet. Rick looked off into the forest and saw a family of Triceratops wandering. He sighed at the thought.

“I’m worried. For my family. How would they- how would they feel? Now that I’m missing? I really hope they don’t do anything crazy. But I’m more worried about my older brother,” Rick said, “Calem is- he doesn’t deserve to go through that.”

“I understand that feeling. You worry about the people back home, right?” Samuel said. Rick nodded.

“Well you don’t have to worry, Rick,” Samuel said. He pondered on whether he should tell him his plan. His plan to escape the island.

He decided against it.

“They’re going to get us out of here soon. I know they will. The police will notice that all of us went missing, and send a search party out to find us.”

Rick smiled.

“Thanks. I shouldn’t worry, you’re right. That’ll just get in the way of things and- worrying is for my family.”

Rick turned to Samuel.

“What about you? You worry about your family?”

Samuel shrugged.

“Not really. My mom- my mom is nice. But she had always been busy with work. Ever since I was a little kid. And my dad…”

Samuel paused, looking off into the distance with clenched fists.

“He’s… gone.”

“I’m sorry…” Rick softly said.

“Not in that way. But you know what I mean,” Samuel replied.

“Any siblings? Or are you an only child?”

Samuel paused again.

“Only child,” he dryly replied.

The conversation halted once more. Rick sensed Samuel’s unease and decided to change the topic.

“I know what you’re thinking about Skyler’s little story prophecy. I don’t believe in it either. I think Tales of Evolution and Survival is the true story we should be looking for. Not The Obelisk,” Rick said. He looked off, “I know you know. That I know about that book. I’ve read it before. And I’ve memorized every single word.”

Samuel looked at Rick with wide eyes.

“You have?”

“Well, not exactly,” Rick replied, “I’ve only read the first half of the book. With my implant power.”

Rick pointed at the implant, which glowed a little.

“But, it seems legitimate. And you know what? Maybe Skyler is right about one thing.”

“And what would it be?”

“That there is a destined hero. And that hero is you. The main character of that book had a pet dodo who stuck with him since the beginning, and the two of them along with his friends managed to defeat the one controlling it all and find a way out. YOU are the key to us getting out of here. Nothing else is,” Rick said with a smile.

“Huh,” Samuel replied as the sun began to dip down the horizon.

~

“Soooo,” Paige said with a devilish grin, “I see that look on your face, that tone in your voice. You like Samuel, don’t you little valedictorian?”

“How’d you-”

“Shhh, it’s okay, I won’t judge,” Paige reassured her. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms, grinning like a maniac, “Ah, moving on since Bori?”

“Bori- Borealis is… he’s passed on already,” Aurora replied with a frown. She glanced at the heart locket slung around her neck. She grasped it softly and ripped it away, putting it in her pocket, “He would want me to move on.”

Paige smirks, looking Aurora up and down before looking away.

“You know maybe you aren’t such a brat. All girls fall in love eventually.”

“What do you even mean by that?”

“Well, not just girls, boys too,” Paige replied, “I thought you were a weirdo who wouldn’t like anyone after Borealis. Basically, all of us fall in love. Whether we like it or not. And we can’t do anything about it.”

“That’s it?” Aurora said, “I thought it’s deeper than that.”

“It is deep,” Paige replied, “We as humans survive because of love. Without it we aren’t anything. That’s why.”

“So do YOU love anyone?” Aurora teased. Paige smirked.

“Very funny. No. I do not. Not now. But I know I will,” Paige said, “Who knows how long it takes. Maybe in a few days. Maybe weeks. Years. Decades. End of my life. That’s our fate. So I’ll embrace it with open arms.”

Just then, they heard a snap.

“Oh, hey, looking for me?” a familiar voice asked. They looked to the right to see Sunny leaning her back against a tree, her orange hair flowing softly down her chest.

“Sunny! What are you doing just sitting here? Are you hurt?” Paige asked with a glare.

“No, not hurt,” Sunny replied, “Just wanted to appreciate the sunset.”

She pointed at it, and the two girls looked at it in awe. It exploded in a vibrant cast of red and orange and yellow. It was so beautiful.

“Well, it is pretty nice,” Aurora said as the sun dipped below the horizon.