The dinosaurs were following us as we prowled along the tree tops in the clearing in the ring of tall trees surrounding the shelter.

I got my first really proper look at Prattalike's handiwork. The dome over the shelter was bent and mangled. There were two new holes that were not there before. One was along the side at ground level. Not around the door, but that made sense, because the door was probably reinforced. The new ground level hole was wide and huge.

And one hole over the top.

Rock Lee tensed his muscles, preparing. It would be fine, except he ended up squishing me accidentally. I put out of my mind all the times in Naruto where Rock Lee gets beat up and try to focus on all the times he wins...

The barneys had caught up and were pooling underneath us.

Either James had excellent nerves of steel and was letting them get close to us on purpose.

Or he was stalling because he was afraid of making the leap. "Um...James...are you going to..."

He was frozen.

"Come on, you aren't afraid of anyone! Not Gaara, not Barney. Trust your training and go!" I said, still in a fireman's carry over his shoulder.

Then I didn't have time to think anymore, as Rock Lee leapt.

The herd of barneys chasing us huffed and chuffed after us.

We soared upward, and then we were hurtling downward. Somehow it was scarier now than before because the lack of foliage meant that if James did not land correctly, we would fall all the way to the ground below, or hit the side of the dome. The dome was comprised of hexagons with clear panels of glass letting in the light. I had a moment to wonder if all those Ninja moves worked better in the trees themselves, or if there was another reason it was so difficult.

We were hurtling, and it seemed to last an infinity and yet before I was ready, the dome came up to meet us and...

And then Rock landed, right on top of the metal of the frame, close to the new hole in the ceiling.

He did it. I didn't die! "YES! GOOD WORK!"

"I did it!" Rock said, triumphantly. "I did not drop you! Who is Gaara?" he asked.

Right. Because Rock Lee was a fictional character and this was a real person who was not based on that fictional character. My brain kinda got swept into the action and was kinda struggling to keep fiction and reality from mixing, mostly because I was iseikaied and nothing felt real. Was this shock? Was I in shock? Where was my blanket? Didn't you get a blanket if you were in shock?

"Celebrate later." I said, "Set me down. Um...carefully."

James did, and I carefully placed my slippered feet on the two branching paths of the frame.

Just like the jungle gym at the park. Don't think about it.

I scooted forward until I was facing the big hole on the top. This was the last thing I had to do.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I removed the last canister. It was more like a large thermos than the others had been, and as I unscrewed the lid I felt Rock hold his breath behind me.

Coward.

Of course, once I saw inside the canister, I considered that perhaps it may have been wise to be more cautious. Inside the canister, and almost vaguely glowing, I could see the coiling steam inside. If I wasn't sure before, I was sure now. This stuff they called 'steam' wasn't water vapor. Or not only water vapor. There was almost a charge to it, and I wondered if I had metal fillings, would there be some effect. It was mystical and magical.

So, in keeping with the theme, I elegantly and ever so gently, dutifully chucked the thermos into the shelter beneath me. The vapor began spilling out in a spiral down, like someone had drawn cgi in the air.

The Barneys followed it inside. If they were nervous of the enclosure before, they forgot their fear now. They...changed in the presence of steam. Their green spots glowed unnervingly and I swear I saw some tentacles and other unsightly nastiness.

Prattalike was fast behind us. There were roars and other sounds, and I reminded myself that I was iseikaied into a steam punk story, so I really needed to leave the stupid Jurassic World vibe and get back into the civilized places please.

Prattalike's herd was more numerous than ours, and they were coming quickly. I got to see Prattalike in action. I almost expected him to be somehow driving a dirtbike, but he disappointed me. He ran through the trees leaves like a true anime ninja, his barney herd following him on the ground, his speed keeping them from ascending to the trees.

When it was time from him to leap, he did without hesitation. I thought about poking at James again, but stopped myself because I couldn't jump 30 feet on a good day, let alone race through the top of trees while carrying a wayward redhead.

The Barneys under our feet were destroying the shelter. Not busting the window, no, it was worse than that. They tore through the stones. I remember wondering how the steam starved would tear up a metal train. Watching them destroy the stone structure, I was feeling very unsafe. It was like watching a worm come from an apple, except apples are something that a person can bite and chew. Sturdy strong rocks...

Prattalike drew my attention "Would you like to do the honors?" he asked, with more swagger than I thought necessary. I was going to say no, when he ignored me and tossed his final large canister toward me.

I had barely caught the large thermos. What if I fell down into that mess with those barneys? "I'm not a forrester. Shouldn't you do it in case I do it wrong?"

"You have one of the highest brit rating I've ever seen. Wait for my signal."

Well, Prattalike liked me. I hope he wasn't secretly evil.

I opened the final canister, and I noticed it was different than mine had been. There was a clear blue glow to it, and I felt my hair try to rise.

"Let me drop it now..."

"Wait." Prattalike said. "There are some stragglers. We have to get them all in here."

I wondered how Prattalike was going to seal all the barneys into the shelter after he made that big hole in the side.

"James, you grab her and go the moment she drops it." he said.

There were some cuffing sounds, and hopefully the last of the stragglers arrived.

"I probably will not make it back to the train. I will hold off the stragglers. James, you get into that next city and you do not leave until you get that sign."

"I can help you." he said. "I'm not afraid."

"I am afraid. Afraid for you. Afraid that you will slow me down. Afraid that you will be taken. And you know that there are places that you cannot follow me. It's impossible."

Well, hello hello. Juicy backstory...

There was a roar.

And the ground shook.

"We attracted a big one." Prattalike said.

Time for me to jump in there. "So...the dinosaurs were a trap. Somehow lured here by people trying to get the hidden son of some important person before he gets to safety in the walls of the city? Some kind of Forrester internal power struggle?"

Prattalike looked at me seriously. "Are you a silvertie?"

"Not at all. But my...er...guardian is Deputy Constable Hawthorn." Of course, by guardian I meant my arresting officer.

"He's in Special Yard." Prattalike said, wrinkle between his browse as he teased out a memory.

I nodded, feeling the passage of time pressing heavily. "Yes." We had to get back to the train.

Prattalike made a lonesome face. "James, that letter. He may be someone you can give it to."

James nodded.

The path was set.

The only thing left was how to keep the barneys here.

And hope that the train was still safe, and the people were not...well, zombies.