Okay, next chapter is time skip and near the end of Isla Sorna Arc.
Hope you don't mind it. If you have suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Btw have you seen Hulk Vs Godzilla death battle? It was peak. Shame that the one I didn't expect won.
After watching it, I realize can't Bruce banner help hulk defeat Doomsday or Broly this time?
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After fishing, Matias and Claire returned to camp where Ace and Speckles were already awake, bouncing around with sleepy but eager eyes.
"Guess someone's finally up," Claire chuckled, crouching down to scratch their heads. Both little creatures leaned into her hands, tails flicking happily.
"While you two were asleep, I decided to name you—Jade and Sky," she announced proudly. The two only blinked at her, tilting their heads in confusion. Names meant little to them, but the moment their noses caught the scent of fish, their attention snapped to the pot Matias carried.
"Ah-ah, don't even think about it." Claire quickly intercepted them as they tried to snatch one.
"Here." She handed them each a fish instead, and the two immediately tore into their meals, tails wagging furiously. Claire laughed softly, feeling her chest warm at the simple joy in their antics.
With them distracted, she knelt beside the pot and began preparing to cook. Just as she reached to set it over the fire, Matias let out a low rumble that made her pause.
"What is it?" Claire turned, brow furrowed, only to see Matias staring at the fish. He made a series of gestures—one claw tracing across the fish, another miming a toss.
"…You want me to…throw it away?" Claire guessed.
Matias exhaled through his nose, almost like a sigh, and tried again. This time, he mimed peeling something off.
Claire squinted. "You're saying I should…scratch it? Pet it?" She reached down and ran her hand over the fish.
Matias blinked at her, then shook his head in visible disbelief.
Claire groaned. "Okay, okay—don't look at me like that. I'm trying!"
He huffed, leaned down, and using a single claw, scraped off a patch of scales from one fish. The movement was so precise for a beast of his size that Claire gaped.
"Ohhh. You mean I have to remove the scales and guts first."
Matias gave a curt nod, clearly satisfied she'd finally gotten it.
"Right. Should've guessed, huh?" Claire muttered sheepishly, beginning the messy work. "Honestly, who knew I'd need a dragon to teach me how to cook fish properly?"
Matias let out a sound that was halfway between a snort and a chuckle. Claire threw him a mock glare.
"Don't laugh at me! I'll get the hang of this."
The little ones, Jade and Sky, lifted their messy faces from their fish to chirp at her as though mocking her too. Claire shook her head with a helpless smile.
"Great. Now everyone's making fun of me."
Despite everything that had happened, deep down Claire was simply coping with her situation the only way she knew how—by forcing herself to stay positive. Dwelling on panic wouldn't help; at least, that's what she kept telling herself.
She rigged up a makeshift grill by propping a stick across the flames, skewering a few fish and setting them to roast. Smoke curled up into the air, the scent of charred skin making her stomach growl.
"By the way, where did you even find these pots?" she asked, glancing at Matias.
"Can you take me there later?"
The thought nagged at her: maybe, just maybe, there could be a communication device nearby—something she could use to send a signal. The chances were slim, of course. No power, no satellite connection, and her knowledge in that field wasn't exactly expert-level. Still, slim was better than none.
Matias answered with a low growl and a firm nod.
"Perfect. That's our next objective then," she said with forced cheer, staring into the dancing firelight. A few minutes later, she pulled the fish off the skewer and tried to peel the skin away.
"Ow—hot, hot, hot!" Claire yelped, nearly dropping it as the heat bit into her fingers. She blew on her hands furiously before trying again. Her stomach rumbled too loudly to quit, so she persisted, hissing and muttering under her breath until at last she managed to strip away enough to take a bite.
The fish was plain, slightly bitter from the burnt edges, but edible. She chewed, then frowned.
"…Hmmm. Not bad, but… wow. That's really bland."
Disappointment tugged at her face, but she quickly shook it off.
"Well, can't exactly run to the grocery store for salt and pepper, can I?" she muttered with a weak laugh.
"Survival cuisine, one-star rating."
She took another bite anyway. Bland or not, food was food.
After eating and taking some time to rest, Claire finally looked at Matias. "Alright… ready to take me to that abandoned facility?"
Matias gave a low nod, then extended his hand toward her in an unspoken offer to carry.
Claire tilted her head, half-teasing. "Can't I just ride on your back instead?"
He paused, actually considering it for a moment, before shaking his head firmly. With a few gestures, he made it clear—she'd slip off.
"Yeah… fair point," Claire sighed, though her grin lingered. "Would've been awesome though. Alright then—princess carry it is, like yesterday."
Matias rumbled softly, almost like a chuckle, before scooping her up with surprising gentleness. His massive wings spread wide, stirring up dust as he lifted them into the sky.
Claire held her knife close, gripping it not for hunting but for reassurance. If they did find the facility intact, there was no telling what might be inside—or who. Still, hope flickered in her chest. Somewhere in those ruins, maybe there was still a way to call for help.
Together, they soared toward the looming silhouette of the abandoned structure.
They eventually arrived, and Matias landed gently, placing Claire down with careful hands.
"Wait for me here," Claire said firmly.
Matias nodded, his golden eyes following her for a moment before he settled back near the entrance, standing guard.
Claire took a breath, tightened her grip on her knife, and stepped inside. The air was heavy and stale, thick with dust that clung to her throat. Her footsteps echoed faintly in the empty halls, the silence pressing down on her.
She started her search—eyes sweeping over overturned desks, broken screens, and abandoned lockers. A rusted console caught her attention, but when she pressed the buttons, nothing responded. No power. Her heart sank.
"Come on… something, anything…" she muttered under her breath, moving deeper inside.
A storage room yielded a handful of supplies: a survival guide half-buried under a pile of papers, its pages yellowed but intact; a flare gun with a couple of rounds; and, tucked in a box, a set of combat knives that gleamed despite the dust. She even found two handguns with a few extra magazines—likely left behind in the rush of evacuation.
On a desk, folded neatly beneath a cracked glass frame, she spotted a map. Dusting it off, Claire unfolded it carefully—it was a map of the island, complete with marked zones, trails, and the outlines of old structures. Her pulse quickened with a flicker of hope.
But when she looked for communications stations, satellite relays, or anything resembling a signal tower, there was nothing. Only wilderness, mountains, rivers, and abandoned facilities scattered across the terrain. The map was valuable for survival… but not for going home.
Claire gritted her teeth, running a hand through her hair in frustration. She slammed one of the broken terminals with her palm, coughing as dust burst into the air. "Ugh—damn it! Why didn't they leave anything useful?!"
Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the desperation she was trying so hard to bury.
For a moment, she just stood there, staring at the useless husks of machines, her throat tight. Then she knelt, gathering the knives, the flare gun, the guidebook, the pistols, and the map into a pile. They weren't what she wanted—but they were what she had. Survival tools, not escape.
As she hauled the items back toward the entrance, Claire's expression hardened. No miracle device was going to send her home. Not yet. She'd just have to keep pushing forward.
Matias looked at her expectantly as she stepped out of the facility, arms full of salvaged gear. Claire sighed, forcing a shaky smile.
"Well… guess we're not calling for help. But at least I found us a few toys… and a map."
She held up the folded paper. "Might help us figure out what's out there."
Matias tilted his head, rumbling softly. Claire chuckled bitterly, setting the items down.
"Yeah… I know. Not what I hoped for either."
The two eventually made their way back to their makeshift camp. Claire sat down on a flat rock, brushing the dust off the folded map and flipping open the worn survival guide. She let out a long breath and looked up at Matias, who was watching her closely.
"I'll study the map," she told him, her tone steady but tinged with determination. She traced her fingers along the faded markings. "If I can figure out where we are, maybe we can find something useful in the other facilities. And… I'll read through this guide too. Might help us survive a little better until then."
Matias tilted his head, eyes narrowing in quiet thought.
Claire offered him a small smile, softer this time. "Thanks for bringing me back here… and for waiting while I searched. I'll be fine studying this. You should go—hunt, do what you need to. I'll be here when you get back."
Matias rumbled low in his chest, almost like an acknowledgment, before spreading his wings. With a powerful beat, he launched into the sky, the wind of his departure tugging Claire's hair and clothes. She watched him soar higher and higher until he became a dark silhouette against the fading light.
High above the treetops, Matias scanned the land with sharp eyes. His senses sharpened as he spotted movement below—a herd of Parasaurolophus weaving cautiously through the underbrush. He circled once, twice, before diving. The wind whistled past his ears as he plummeted, wings snapping open just before impact. His claws struck true, pinning one of the larger Parasaurolophus as the herd scattered in panic.
Matias ended the creature swiftly and carried it in his talons, lifting back into the sky with ease.
Meanwhile, Claire had spread the map across her lap, comparing the lines and markings to what little she remembered of the area around them.
"If this is where the facility was…" she murmured, tapping a finger against one spot,
"Thn maybe… this structure here is another one. Could be worth checking."
She flipped open the survival guide, reading through its sections on edible plants, shelter-building, and first aid. Though the words weighed heavy with grim practicality, they kept her focused, occupied, and—just a little—less afraid.
Glancing toward the horizon where Matias had flown, she whispered quietly.
"Just come back safe, Onyx."