Rumble...
The restless volcano of Isla Nublar emitted a low, heavy groan, a grim herald that the catastrophe was far from over.
Below, a long procession of herbivores and carnivores stretched across the terrain. Though minor frictions flared, an uncanny harmony prevailed. Their bodies were mapped with scars—scratched hides, charred scales from the firestorms, and the deep bruises of falling timber and jagged rock.
In this moment, a silent, mutual understanding had been reached: now was not the time for the hunt.
While Carlo remained behind, straining against the collapsing mountains to carve a path for the exodus, a new question arose—who was leading them now?
"Aunnng—"
A resonant cry broke the air. Like a battalion of living tanks, the Ankylosaurus herd surged forward, taking their place at the vanguard.
Leading them was the former Ankylosaurus 3, now known as Rebel.
He had become the patriarch of the herd, fulfilling the legacy his elder brother, the previous alpha, had envisioned for him. Though he had been away from the Primeval Ecological Zone for a long time, he had never forgotten a single leaf, stone, or stream of his home.
This was a map etched into the very bones of the Ankylosaurs.
…
"I know, I know. It's a miracle… a miracle of life."
Following the official release of the video The Undisputed Overlord by the Primeval Giganotosaurus Sector, the debate over dinosaur extinction had reached a fever pitch. Protests across America grew by the day, forcing the government to convene yet another special session.
Dr. Ian Malcolm sat among the delegates, his stance as unyielding as ever on the side of non-interference.
"I don't follow your logic, Dr. Malcolm," a high-ranking official from the pro-rescue faction began. "You speak of these creatures with such reverence, yet you remain the staunchest opponent of the rescue plan."
Malcolm turned to him, his gaze sharp and questioning. "With all due respect, sir, what is your true objective in 'saving' them?"
"Protection, of course," the official replied, his expression a mask of practiced virtue.
But with his military background, his words carried little weight of sincerity. Ever since the survivors of Camp Cretaceous, including Kenji's father, had returned to society and exposed the tragedy of DG-3273, the public had become painfully aware of the military's history of prehistoric exploitation.
"Fine. For the sake of argument, let's pretend that is your goal."
Malcolm didn't push the confrontation. Instead, he gestured toward the massive projector screen behind him. "Does this scene move none of you?"
An expression of pure incredulity crossed his face. "Do you not see it? These creatures are helping one another. Predator and prey, set aside in the face of extinction."
He moved to continue, but a colleague from his own side interrupted impatiently. "Doctor, please, simply state your thesis."
Malcolm didn't take offense. He paused, reordering his thoughts into a single, devastating sentence.
"They are better than us."
The room bristled. Malcolm leaned forward. "I can say with absolute certainty that compared to this Giganotosaurus, not one person, organization, or group in this room has the right to call themselves a 'beacon' of morality."
"And us? What are we doing? Manufacturing chaos, inciting wars, and climbing to power over the bodies of our own kind. Think about what happens if these dinosaurs leave that island. They will collapse local ecosystems. People in the suburbs will be under constant threat. Or do you simply plan to keep them in cages for the sake of an audience?"
…
For the first time in years, the Primeval Ecological Zone was pushed beyond its capacity.
Yet, there was no chaos. The dinosaurs gathered quietly around the Great Lake, some resting, others tending to the wounds of their companions. The line of arrivals was long, punctuated by the occasional call of a creature hoping to find a lost mate.
Thud!
The sudden, heavy vibration of a footfall brought the clearing to a standstill.
The assembly watched in silence as Carlo returned to his domain. He moved toward the lakeshore to rest alongside his parents and the three little ones. It was a tableau of prehistoric peace.
The Giganotosaurus family sat like royalty on the higher ground. Beside Carlo stood a lone tree, at its roots lay the bleached white skull of a Triceratops, a grim throne marking their territory as inviolable.
To their right, the Stegosaurus brother was busy drinking. Though other Stegosaurs had joined the migration, brother Stegosaurus remained a solitary soul, showing no interest in socializing with the newcomers.
Slightly further right was the territory once occupied by the young Parasaurolophus; now adults, they only visited the lake occasionally. Taking their place was the returned Ankylosaurus herd.
To the west of the lake, the Ceratosaurus couple had settled with their offspring. It was the perfect spot for rearing young, and the very place where they had first encountered Carlo when he was a hatchling.
Elsewhere, the Albertosaurus and Baryonyx had established temporary camps. The Albertosaurus bore fresh scars from a recent skirmish with a Carcharodontosaurus, giving it the rugged air of a battle-hardened veteran. The Baryonyx fared better, though it pointedly chose a spot as far away from brother Stegosaurus as possible.
Herbivores moved between them, licking wounds and offering comfort. This was the Great Lake, the sanctuary for all living things.
Suddenly, Carlo felt a shift in the air. He raised his head, peering into the forest across the water.
A massive silhouette flickered through the trees. It moved with a casual, wandering gait, as if it had simply heard the commotion and decided to drop by for a look. The creature stepped out of the treeline and stooped to drink, its head swiveling to survey the crowd.
It was a Scientificus Tyrannosaurus.
Carlo was stunned. He hadn't known another dinosaur like this existed on the island. How had he never seen it before?
Intrigued, Carlo began to circle the lake, intent on getting a closer look. However, the newcomer clearly wasn't interested in a face-to-face with a predator standing over 10 meters tall and 40 meters long. As Carlo moved one way, the stranger bolted the other.
The two circled the lake like a cosmic game of predator and prey, but Carlo found it impossible to close the distance.
"Kukk... kukk..."
The sound of his mother coughing broke his concentration.
"ROAR—"
Carlo let out a thunderous warning toward the figure across the lake, a command to stay in line.
He moved back to his mother's side. As the air quality worsened, her coughing grew more violent. Looking at her, Carlo felt a surge of the same primal anxiety he had felt as a hatchling, hiding behind her during a thunderstorm.
Even with his god-like strength, Carlo was powerless against this. His only hope now lay with the humans, and their ability to heal what he could not.
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