The encounter with the crocodile-like creatures had left them on edge, and the prospect of a long, restless night loomed over them.
Ethan leaned back, his axe resting next to him. "Well, this is cozy," he muttered, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"A campfire, good company, and the constant threat of being eaten by prehistoric crocodile-dogs. What more could we ask for?"
Sam sighed. "You're not helping."
Lily glanced toward the darkness. "We should take shifts. Two people on watch at all times. The rest of us need to try to get some sleep, but we can't afford to let our guard down."
They murmured their agreement, though no one looked particularly eager to sleep. The memory of the glowing green eyes and razor-sharp teeth was still fresh in their minds.
As Lily and Victor took up their positions at the edge of the camp, the others settled in, their weapons close at hand.
---
The first hour passed in relative silence, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of grass in the breeze.
But as the night deepened, the plains began to come alive with strange, unsettling noises.
A low growl echoed from somewhere in the darkness, followed by the distant screech of an unknown creature. The sounds seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint their source.
Ethan, who had been dozing peacefully, sat up with a start. "What was that?" he whispered, his hand instinctively reaching for his axe.
Victor, shook his head. "No idea. But it's not getting any closer."
Ethan frowned as he lay back down. Sleep, however, remained elusive.
It wasn't long before the noises grew louder, more insistent. A series of sharp clicks echoed from the tall grass, followed by the unmistakable sound of something moving just beyond the edge of the their camp.
Lily, her bow at the ready, exchanged a glance with Victor. "They're back," she whispered.
Victor nodded, his knife gleaming in the firelight. "Stay sharp. If they attack, we need to make it clear they're not welcome."
As if on cue, the first creature emerged from the shadows, its glowing green eyes fixed on the camp.
It moved with the same predatory grace as before, its sleek, iridescent scales shimmering in the firelight. More followed, their movements swift as they closed in.
Ethan and Sam were on their feet in an instant, their weapons at the ready. AJ's form rippled uneasily as he prepared.
Walter, his cane held like a weapon was now standing beside Lily, his eyes fixed on the approaching creatures.
"Here we go again," Ethan muttered, gripping his axe tightly. "Let's make this quick."
The lead creature lunged first, its movements a blur of speed and precision. Ethan took a swing, barely missing, causing the creature to back off. But it immediately began circling again, its companions closing in from the sides.
Sam jabbed with his spear, the tip grazing the second creature's flank. It let out a yelp but didn't retreat, its glowing eyes narrowing in malice.
Lily's bowstring twanged as she let an arrow fly, striking one of the creatures in the neck. It screeched in pain, retreating into the shadows, but the others pressed the attack.
AJ's form shifted, his gelatinous body expanding as he intercepted one of the creatures mid-lunge. He enveloped it momentarily, his mana vibrating as he attempted to shake it to death.
The creature thrashed violently, its claws slashing through AJ's form, but he held firm. "A little help would be nice." he said, his voice sounding strained.
Ethan seized the opportunity, bringing his axe down on the trapped creature with a powerful swing. The blade struck true, and the creature silently went limp
The others hesitated, their glowing eyes darting between the team and their fallen companion.
"That's right," Ethan growled, stepping forward. "You want some more?"
The remaining creatures hissed, their tails lashing in frustration, but they didn't press the attack. Instead, they retreated into the shadows, their glowing eyes once again disappearing into the darkness.
The team stood in silence for a moment, their breathing heavy and their hearts racing. The fire crackled softly, its light casting long shadows across the camp.
The body of the fallen creature lay at their feet, a grim reminder of the night's dangers.
"Well done," Ethan said, wiping his axe on the grass, "Hopefully we've scared them off."
Sam shook his head, his expression grim. "They'll probably come back. We need to stay vigilant."
Lily nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. "We've made it clear we're not easy prey, but that won't stop them from trying again. We should put out the fire, it might be what's attracting them."
Victor, his knife still in hand, glanced toward the moon. "Dawn can't come soon enough."
---
The camp was quiet, save for the soft snoring and the occasional rustle of grass in the breeze. Sam and Ethan sat on watch, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.
The crocodile attack had left them weary and on edge, and the strange noises of the plains only added to the tension.
Ethan crouched on the edge of camp, axe in hand. "You think they'll come back?" he asked, his voice low.
Sam shrugged. "Hard to say. It depends on how determined they are."
Ethan sighed. "Great. I guess we won't be getting much sleep then."
Before Sam could respond, a new sound cut through the silence. It was faint at first, a low, rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate through the ground.
Then came the steady, heavy thud of footsteps, each one vibrating through the earth beneath them.
Sam froze, his grip tightening on his spear. "Do you hear that?"
"Yeah, and I don't like it one bit."
The sound grew louder, closer. The footsteps were slow and deliberate, accompanied by the occasional sniffing sound, as if whatever was out there was following a scent.
Sam's eyes widened as the realization hit him. "The blood. It's following the scent of the crocodile blood."
Ethan cursed under his breath. "Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
Despite AJ's best efforts in consuming the crocodile quickly the scent of blood still lingered around them and it had clearly travelled beyond the camp too.
Sam stood quickly, his voice urgent but low. "Wake the others. Now."
Ethan didn't need to be told twice. He shook the others awake as quietly as he could. "We've got company," he whispered. "Big company."
The others stirred, their movements sluggish as they grabbed their weapons and supplies. Victor's eyes narrowed as he scanned the darkness. "What is it?"
Sam shook his head. "Don't know yet. It's big, and it's coming this way. We need to move. Now."
The footsteps were closer now, the growling more pronounced. The creature was still hidden in the shadows, but it wouldn't be for much longer.
AJ's form rippled uneasily as he extended his senses. "It's massive," he communicated, his voice tinged with urgency. "Almost as... big as the... mammoth... we can't... fight it... not here... not now."
Lily slung her bow over her shoulder, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. "Which way do we go?"
Sam pointed down stream of the river. "The triceratops herd moved that way earlier. If we can get to them, we might be able to lose it or at worst use the herd as a distraction."
Victor nodded, his expression grim. "Let's move."
They gathered their supplies, their movements rushed. As they slipped into the tall grass, the creature was almost upon them, its breathing so heavy they swore they could feel it run down their necks.
They moved as quickly as they dared, their footsteps light and their senses on high alert. The tall grass provided some cover, but it also made it impossible to see any details of what was ahead. The river glinted in the distance, its surface reflecting the faint light of the moon.
Behind them, the creature let out a deep, rumbling roar. It had found the camp, and it wasn't happy.
The creature's frustration was evident, it was hoping to find an easy meal but there was nothing left for it to find.
"Keep moving," Sam whispered, his voice tense. "Don't stop for anything."
Under Sam's guidance they moved towards the water's edge. "Stay close to the bank, be ready to move into the water if we have to."
The others grunted in acknowledgement, their faces pale but determined. They moved swiftly along the riverbank, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth.
The moonlight cast an eerie glow over the plains, illuminating their path but also revealing the vast, open expanse that offered little cover.
Behind them, the deep, rumbling growls of the large creature grew louder, having torn up the camp it seemed to have caught a whiff of the team.
Ethan's grip tightened around his axe as he glanced over his shoulder. "You think that thing can swim?"
"I don't know," Sam replied, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. "And I don't want to find out."
Lily moved with quiet precision, she focused on the mana signatures around them but she still struggled to make out anything.
AJ's gelatinous form rippled as he moved. "It's following... our trail," his voice conveying his worry. "It's quicker... than us... we need to... speed up."
The team pressed on, their breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. The river curved ahead, its waters glinting in the moonlight.
The sound of the creature's pursuit grew louder, the tension in the air thickening. Every rustle of grass, every distant growl, made their hearts jump.
As they rounded the bend in the river, Sam finally saw it. "There," he spoke quietly as he pointed ahead. "The herd."
In the distance, the massive forms of the triceratops herd lying down peacefully, their silhouettes barely visible in the moonlit plains.
"Alright," Victor said. "We'll use them as cover. Stay close together, and don't make any sound. If that creature keeps coming for us we'll wake the herd up and then find cover."
No one spoke up, tacitly agreeing. They moved cautiously toward the herd, their footsteps light and their senses on high alert. The triceratops seemed undisturbed by their presence so far.
As they reached the edge of the herd, the creature's growls sounded out from just behind them. The creature was really close now.
They moved quickly, hoping the creature would notice the herd and decide to give up. As it approached they could vaguely make out its silhouette when they turned to look.
It was large, its hulking form resembling a bear but larger and more menacing.
As they moved by the herd of triceratops, it paused, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. The scent of blood still lingered, but the presence of the triceratops seemed to dissuade it from following.
The largest of the triceratops, a massive male with curved horns and a thick frill, lifted its head, waking from its slumber.
It looked around quickly noticing the bear-like creature, it let out a deep, resonant bellow. The rest of the herd was woken up, they all quickly came to their senses and turned towards the beast.