The Arks: Over Heaven

Chapter 24: Carnotaurus Carnage

Part 1/3

“The plan is for four of you to go out in pairs to tame these creatures that I’m sure will aid us greatly,” Skyler explained while sitting down on a log, “Samuel, Ruby, Ben, and Gary are going to go out.”

Neddy raised his hand.

“Hey, what about me? I wanna go too,” Neddy volunteered.

“Yeah, let him come with us!” Ruby pleaded with Skyler. Skyler shook her head.

“No. Neddy is going to be tasked with something else. You are going to help scout out the surrounding area for us with Aurora. Where’s Aurora?”

“Aurora’s sick,” Ben interjected while tossing a rock up and down, “So she’s going to be sleeping in.”

“Psh. Okay, whatever. I would’ve wanted her to go with Neddy to help chart the area and navigate,” Skyler sneered, “But that’s fine. Neddy will just stay behind and help defend the camp from aggressive dinosaurs.”

“But why can’t Neddy come with us?” Ruby asked with anger in her voice.

“Because it doesn’t make sense for him to go with you,” Skyler replied while rolling her eyes, “Samuel and Ruby will go out to find a Carnotaurus or two. Horned, beasts with stubby arms and powerful pug-like jaws. If you travel into the jungle I’m sure you’ll find them easily.”

“What? But why do I have to go with Samuel?!” Ruby complained.

“Because, his smarts combined with your crossbow will allow you to knock out that Carnotaurus faster. The Carnotaurus are fast and dangerous, which is why I’m tasking you two for that creature. Besides, where Ben and Gary are going somewhere else.”

Skyler walked up to Ben and Gary.

“You two will be going to the swamp, where the Kaprosuchus lurks beneath the waters. A crocodilian-like creature, it might be able to ambush you very easily. But I know you two can easily domesticate it with your abilities.”

“The swamp? Isn’t that place really dangerous?” Samuel asked as he crossed his arms.

“Yes, but there’s a reason I’m putting you in pairs and there’s a reason I’m sending Ben and Gary only to the swamp,” Skyler shot back.

“It’ll be fine, Samuel, and Skyler is right. If we bring more people we can’t guarantee we don’t come out without casualties,” Ben added on. He clenched his fist, and vines began to grow out of his sleeve and ensnare his limb.

“Plant manipulation. It’s very useful in the swamp, where there’s algae and weird plants all over the place,” Ben replied, “That’s how I found you and your group so fast. I took the swamp. Don’t sweat it, Samuel, we can take it from here.”

“Well what are you all waiting for? Make a move on already!” Skyler barked. With that, the four took their leave to domesticate these prehistoric beasts.

~

“Ughh, it’s so hot here in the jungle!” Ruby groaned as they tread through thick foliage.

“Quit complaining. And stop talking, that’ll only make you thirstier,” Samuel glared, “Or you can take a berry break. You know those berries have a good amount of water in them.”

“I might as well,” Ruby grinned as she reached into her pouch.

While Ruby snacked on dozens of berries, Samuel leaned against a thick tree and couldn’t help but wonder about Skyler, and most importantly her implant attribute.

“We never told Skyler our implant abilities, yet somehow she knows about them already?” Samuel wondered as he peered into the sky. He could see a Pteranodon flying overhead, “It doesn’t make sense. But it’s the least of my worries. I still need to find Tiffany, and fast. I hope she isn’t dead.”

Samuel considered asking Aurora to help draw a map, that way Samuel would know which areas to scout out in hopes of finding this mystery lady, but considering what happened last night it didn’t seem very appropriate…

“I’ll leave her alone for now,” Samuel thought with guilt on his face, “I hope she doesn’t hate me too much for what happened. I’d hate losing an ally like her.”

“Alright, I’m done!” Ruby interrupted Samuel, “Let’s get a move on.”

“Okay.”

The two continued trekking into the jungle, until eventually Ruby gave Samuel a big grin.

“So. Wanna tell us why you did what you did last night?” Ruby giggled with a grin, “I didn’t know you were such a player. I thought you liked Aurora.”