(Or, “How a Simple Mistake Became the Greatest Adventure of My Life”)
It all started on a Tuesday afternoon.
I was in the garage, working on some photos I’d taken of a suspicious-looking portal I’d stumbled upon in the woods. At first, I thought it was just a glitch with my camera. But after reviewing the pictures, I realized something was off. There was a strange shimmer in the air, like a ripple in time. I had no idea what it was, but I knew I had to investigate.
“Sam,” I called out to my sister, “check this out!”
She looked up from her sketchbook, uninterested. “What now, Max? Another one of your weird ‘time anomalies’?”
“Seriously,” I said, showing her the photos. “Look at this. This could be the discovery of a lifetime.”
Sam sighed. “You really need to get your head out of those pictures.” But when she saw the photos, her eyes widened. “Okay, that’s… definitely weird. You’re telling me you found some kind of… portal?”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling out the map where I’d marked the location. “I’m going there tomorrow. Wanna come?”
The Unexpected Journey
The next day, Sam reluctantly agreed to join me on my little expedition. We ventured deep into the woods, far beyond where we usually went. The portal, which I thought would just be an interesting anomaly, turned out to be more than I’d bargained for.
The air around us felt charged, like static electricity was building up. And then we saw it—the shimmer from the photos, shimmering in mid-air like some kind of glowing curtain. Without thinking, I stepped forward.
Before Sam could stop me, I was through.
The Age of Dinosaurs
One moment I was standing in the woods, the next I was surrounded by towering ferns and the deep, earthy scent of an ancient forest. The air was thick with humidity, and the sounds of strange creatures echoed in the distance.
And then I heard it—the unmistakable roar of a Tyrannosaurus Rex in the distance.
Sam’s voice was shaky as she stepped through the portal, finally following me. “Max, what is this place? This isn’t… this isn’t possible.”
I turned around, wide-eyed. “I think… I think we’ve gone back in time. We’re in the Cretaceous Period. This is real. We’re actually here, Sam. We’re in the time of dinosaurs.”
The Dinosaurs: Up Close and Personal
I had read about dinosaurs, studied them, seen movies, but nothing—nothing—could have prepared me for seeing them in real life.
The T-Rex
The first dinosaur we encountered was a T-Rex. We were hiding behind a massive tree, our hearts pounding as the T-Rex stomped through the forest. It was terrifying, its massive jaws snapping as it prowled the area. We stayed perfectly still, knowing that if we moved, we’d be its next meal.
The Triceratops
Later on, we encountered a herd of Triceratops. These massive herbivores weren’t as aggressive as the carnivores, but they were still a force to be reckoned with. We kept our distance, amazed at how such giant creatures could live in harmony.
The Pteranodon
And then, above us, we saw a Pteranodon soaring through the air. Its wingspan stretched across the sky like a living shadow, and we watched in awe as it swooped low to the water below to catch fish. It was a moment of pure wonder, one I’d never forget.
The Close Call
Our journey was filled with close calls, but none as terrifying as the time we stumbled across a pack of Velociraptors. We thought we were safe, but the raptors had spotted us. I don’t know how we got away, but somehow, we managed to outrun them and hide in a rocky crevice. My heart was still pounding hours later.
“I thought we were done for,” Sam said, breathless. “You can’t outrun raptors.”
“No kidding,” I said. “But I guess we got lucky.”
The Return
After what felt like days, we finally found the portal again, hidden behind a waterfall. We barely made it back before the portal closed behind us. I didn’t know if we’d ever find it again, and honestly, I didn’t want to risk it. As cool as it was to be surrounded by dinosaurs, the real world felt a lot safer.
When we got home, Sam said, “Okay, Max. You were right. That was insane. But never again.”
I laughed, exhausted and exhilarated. “You say that now, but you’ll miss it once I’m back in the woods again looking for the next portal.”
“Not a chance,” Sam replied. “I’ll be here, where it’s safe. And if you’re going back to dinosaur land, you’re going solo next time.”
Jake’s Thoughts
Jake raised an eyebrow when we told him the story. “So, you time-traveled to the Cretaceous, hung out with raptors, and saw a T-Rex? That’s wild, Max. I’d say you were just imagining things, but after everything else you’ve done, I’m almost convinced.”
“Yeah,” I said with a grin. “Just another day in the life of a time-traveling dinosaur photographer.”
Field Notes From Max
- Biggest Surprise: Realizing that time travel wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
- Coolest Discovery: The fact that dinosaurs didn’t just live in books or movies—they were real, and I was standing right in front of them.
- What’s Next: Who knows? I’m pretty sure the portal’s still out there, and I’m definitely not done with dinosaurs.
It was a journey I’ll never forget. Dinosaurs may have walked the Earth millions of years ago, but thanks to that mysterious portal, I got to witness their world firsthand. Will I go back? Absolutely. Just maybe next time I’ll bring better gear and a few more survival tips.🦖🌍✨
