May 29, 2005 - 1:06 p.m.
Three Rangers sped along the perimeter of the ancient forest, each one astride a tall Deinocheirus runner. An hour before, the Rangers had been patrolling a pond just inside the forest edge where many types of dinosaurs gathered. It was one of the carnivore attack hotspots, and the Rangers had been given an assignment to monitor activity of the larger species. They had spotted a pair of allosaurs stalking a group of young styracosaurs, but the predators moved off when the adults showed up, stomping their feet and snorting angrily. One of the Rangers saw a pack of small dinosaurs flitting among a group of hadrosaurs across the pond, giving each a bite in passing. Two of the small theropods were crushed by the dinosaurs they attacked, but the others had continued on their way without pausing. This would have to be reported to the Trainers. This was irregular behavior, and only they would know how to handle it. Perhaps a report would be filed with the Council. If the smaller dinosaurs were diseased, their obsessive behavior could lead to a widespread infection across species. They would have to be captured and quarantined, something the Rangers were not equipped for. Their expedition was purely for observation, and they packed light out of necessity.
The Rangers headed south, back toward Mount Jennifer and the Colony. As their mounts picked up speed, the Rangers watched a group of large ceratopsians and iguanodons staring at them from the clearing. The iguanodons gave hoarse bellows and a single Triceratops charged. The tall dinosaurs the Rangers rode swerved away from the Triceratops, toward the treeline. Suddenly, the adjacent foliage seemed to explode as a Utahraptor burst forth and leapt high, taking one of the Rangers clean off the back of his Deinocheirus mount. With two huge toe claws embedded in his chest, the man was dead before he hit the ground. The other Rangers burst into sprints, narrowly avoiding three other large raptors that came charging out of the forest. For several minutes, the raptors kept pace with the long-legged ostrich dinosaurs, finally dropping back and screaming after the fleeing figures.
The Rangers each rode a swift Deinocheirus for precisely this reason. The Rangers were always on patrol, often spending weeks at a time in the Valley forests and open plains. These were wild places, and predators were common. The larger predators, like Tyrannosaurus and Allosaurus, were relatively easy to avoid unless encountered in the forest. But raptors were different. The smaller species like Deinonychus and Velociraptor usually hunted in larger groups and were highly aggressive, while the larger raptors hunted in smaller but more deadly groups. Both Utahraptor and Megaraptor were intelligent ambush hunters, using the forest edge to launch sprinting attacks. The only way to stay safe was to be faster. And only Deinocheirus was faster. No other dinosaur could run as fast.
The two Rangers could see the distant gleam of the Colony walls now. They were out of danger. Then they heard the high-pitched screams coming from the west, from within the forest. Their mounts continued with a constant, swift pace. From between the tree trunks flew a group of 5 small pterosaurs. The lead Ranger saw them first. They banked and wheeled, performing aerial acrobatics as they approached the riders. The first Rhamphorhynchus dove and banked sharply, flying just below the head of the Deinocheirus. Its protruding teeth scraped the neck of the dinosaur as it passed and spiraled into the air. A second pterosaur nipped at the arm of the second Deinocheirus, which smacked it aside as it ran. The attacks continued for only a few more seconds, then the pterosaurs were gone again, shrieking and swooping. The two runners slowed to a stop, and the Rangers dismounted to look at the wounds. They were superficial, even the one on the neck. The lead Ranger patted his mount, speaking softly. He stepped to the side to climb back on, but the Deinocheirus blocked his path with its head. The Ranger gave it a soft admonishment and stepped to the other side. Again the animal blocked him and gave a low, rumbling growl. The Ranger backed off and regarded his mount with surprise. These animals had been carefully trained and bred for a docile nature. These dinosaurs were naturally equipped with fearsome foreclaws, but lifelong training led the animals to keep their forearms tucked into the body to be nonthreatening and to increase running speed. Now, as the Ranger watched, the long forearms uncurled and hung down, the curving claws glinting in the rays of the setting sun. Behind the animal, the second Ranger was still examining a leg wound on his mount, oblivious to the fact that his mount was curling and uncurling its foreclaws. Suddenly, the dinosaur turned quickly and picked the Ranger up, the claws digging into his abdomen. The man’s screaming was silenced as the dinosaur brought its other arm up and sliced though his neck. The first Ranger backed away in horror, tripping over a small rock. His mount approached swiftly and passed over him, turning to face him. The other dinosaur, licking its claws clean, moved to the side. They watched the Ranger with curiosity, softly growling and squawking. The Ranger pulled out his emergency pistol, and checked it. Two bullets. He was a decent shot, and clicked off the safety as the two dinosaurs cocked their heads slightly. Then he saw the third Deinocheirus, coming over a rise from behind them at full speed. The Ranger backed toward the treeline, but stopped as he heard heavy breathing and smelled a sickly sweet odor. Turning slowly, he saw a Ceratosaurus standing in the shadows, calmly watching the whole thing. The Ranger swore he saw the animal grin before he turned the gun on himself…
