Epocheia

[Sparrow]

Sparrow waves for them to come over to the left side or the bus. She and Steve look to the jungle. Quickly Sparrow points to the thickest part of the wall of plants. She tries to show to run as fast as possible at the same time. A low grumbling sound is heard from whatever is on the opposite side of the bus, causing Sparrow and Steve to freeze up. After several minutes Steve motions to get ready to run, Sparrow nods then looks to Vince and Ericken to be sure they’re ready.

[FoxTrott]

Vince nodded back at Sparrow when she was done explaining. His steely expression changed slightly for the worse at the grumble. Ericken got up, though drenched in mud, and shivered. The two nodded at the same time in response to Sparrow.

Ericken looked over at Vince. Vince looked back at him. They nodded, knowing what the other would have said: run.

[Sparrow]

Steve holds up his hand and begins a count down. Sparrow was in position to run by the third second. Steve paused on the last two seconds when the creature made a short wailing sound. After a few moments he counts down the last two. Steve and Sparrow bolt off towards the jungle. A ear piercing wail cracks the air. Sparrow peers back over her shoulder, has a horrified expression cross her face, then turns and runs faster.

[FoxTrott]

Vince and Ericken were automatically poised to run. Ericken would have started at the wail if Vince hadn't held him back. They both bolted after Sparrow and Steve, Ericken obviously the fastest. In his mind, he was repeating to himself, don't look back, don't look back.

Curiosity got the best of him, and he looked back.

[Sparrow]

A towering creature that resembles a tyrannosaurs rex with a frill adorning its head glares malevolently at Ericken. It repeats its roar and steps on and over the bus, crushing it like a tin can. It walks at a high speed from its gait and lowers its head flashing its frill. Sparrow and Steve make it to the jungle and weave through until they get to another flat.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken looked up at the prehistoric creature, and nearly wet his pants. He screamed and charged ahead, grabbing Vince's arm and dragging him along. Vince had to quicken his gait even more to avoid falling and being dragged through the mud. The two crashed into the jungle, and went a direction opposite Sparrow and Steve, just trying to get away from the behemoth.

[Sparrow]

Looking to Ericken and Vince the creature charges and crashes through several trees before crossing onto a flat, it follows along at a slower pace seeming to wait for them to get tired out.

[FoxTrott]

Eventually, the two came to a stop, leaning on a large tree and trying to regain their breath. Vince looked like he was about to pass out, while Ericken obviously wasn't pleased with the situation.

"We're lost," huffed Ericken, "Aren't we?"

"We're in the middle of... of a jungle, what do you think?" Vince growled back.

[Sparrow]

The creature watches them from a distance for a short while before heading for them at a sneaking pace. It seems to have a difficult time seeing them when they stand still. Further away a clucking sound is heard, causing the creature to look in its direction. It backs away a few from the sound.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken suddenly straightened up. "Wait. Did you hear that?"

"The gigantic thing crashing towards us? Yes, I did," Vince replied. He seemed to have caught his breath. He briefly considered taking off the respirator, just to be able to breathe easier.

"No, it was something else..." Ericken glanced around, trying to determine the origin of the strange noise. He shrugged, remembered there was a dinosaur chasing him, and snuck off into the jungle, Vince right behind.

[Sparrow]

The whooshing of leaves is clearly heard followed by loud clucking and a crash from behind. The creature shrieks before falling silent. Up ahead is a stream that grows stronger from the falling rain. Across the stream is an apparent path.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken stopped at the stream to wipe the rain off his goggles. Vince glared down at the water, then over at the path.

"What're you waiting for?" Ericken asked, already at the water's edge. He was rolling up his pant legs so they wouldn't get more wet than necessary. His legs were covered in scratches from running through the undergrowth.

"... Coming." Vince watched as Ericken waded through the stream, managing to not get swept away by the current. He took a deep breath, and waded after him. Vince slipped on the riverbottom, falling face-first into the murky water. He would have been swept away if Ericken hadn't grabbed his forearm and dragged him along. They managed to make it across the stream, though both were soaking wet.

[Sparrow]

The water causes a slight burning to open cuts, but the feeling quickly passes. The path ahead is clear, a few yards ahead is a large thorn bush, roughly 20ft across and 4ft high. On close inspection skeletons of small animals can be seen intertwined in the vines. The path continues along side the bush towards the right. The calls of peacocks sound every so often, one apparently is nesting in a tree above, as if keeping a lookout. The rain eases up and the light of a half moon shines through the cloud cover, shedding slightly more light then before. A rustling sound can be heard in the bush.

[FoxTrott]

Vince sat down once they reached the shore, breathing and sweating heavily. He really didn't like water. Ericken unrolled his pant legs, and winced. The water definitely didn't do anything good for his scratches, but that was to be expected.

"Err... We're walking around the bush," Ericken said, noting the remains inside of it. He glanced up at the sky, and sighed. At least it was lighter than before. He looked at the bush again, waiting to see what the rustling was.

[Sparrow]

The rustling sounds again. Deep in the bush it is clear to see one vine dragging over another. The thorns make a clacking sound as they strike each other. One vine snakes out of the bush towards the two. It slows its speed as it gets closer, then suddenly tries to wrap around one of them.