Dimension of Terror

Nui suddenly shouted in panic, “Kaihula, take the little ones! All of you follow her! I’ve got this!” Socrates, Poker, and Jacko spun around, their eyes locking onto a frightful image: an enormous reptilian flying creature targeting Shredder. The beast passed over the top of the water twice, then came swooping in low for the kill. Nui sped toward the surface, positioning himself directly under Shredder to avoid detection. Socrates, Poker, and Jacko instinctively followed his lead. The beast timed its kill perfectly and in an instant had Shredder clutched in the grip of its huge, razor sharp talons, plucking him from the water like an eagle snatching a trout from a lake. The creature immediately turned heavenward with wings spread wide and neck extended, gleefully screeching its victory. Its success was short lived: NuiMalu broke the surface at high speed with mouth wide open and, locking the beast’s neck in his powerful jaws, came crashing back hard into the water, slashing his head ferociously from side to side while diving straight for the bottom. Poker and Jacko responded by piercing the predator’s body through with their swords while Socrates joined in, targeting the top of the talons and biting down hard to get Shredder out of its grip. It took only a moment for the fight to end. The beast was dead, leaving a cut and bleeding Shredder lifelessly floating belly-up. Poker and Jacko once again swung into action, rolling Shredder over and positioning him tightly between them, moving him forward to get oxygen through his gills. Poker called out, “C’mon you toothy goofball, move! You can do it! Do not give up!” Detecting Shredder coming to he continued: “Are those bubbles? Are you doing bubbles? You must be breathing because where else would the bubbles be coming from? Makos sure do have a problem with the bubbles!” Shredder lazily opened his eyes and in a strained voice said, “Ah, shut up! No, I am not doing bubbles … you crazy swordfish!” Socrates and Jacko started laughing. Astonished, Nui backed away. He thought the others would have rejoiced at the mako’s demise. Instead, they risked their lives to save him and were now working together to revive him. Socrates looked at Nui with a smile and a shrug and said, “Hey, it’s called … teamwork.” Nui responded by saying, “Well, how about sharing a meal together? “ Motioning toward the pterodactyl he urged; “Eat all you can; your next opportunity could take awhile.” Socrates lip curled in defiance of the suggestion, he and his friends backing away from the repulsive carcass, rejecting even the thought actually eating it. Nui continued; “You may think that I am kidding, but we do not joke around much in this place. Food is food no matter what its source. I suggest you take advantage of it before the crocs smell it, and that will not take long.” He quickly began tearing the creature’s flesh apart, hastening them to eat their fill.