The ridge path through the swamp was narrow and slippery. Helen was almost at the field below the redwood forest, when she slipped and fell into the swamp. Sinking slowly into thick, clammy mud, she grabbed clumps of grass, but their roots came out in her hands.

She dug her hands into the dirt on the ridge trail and pulled herself back onto the path.

Mouths open revealing rows of huge sharp teeth, screaming words that sounded like her name, raising brutal claws, the entire Tarclaver dinosaur machine herd thundered to a stop beside the swamp.