*The action and fantasy will start a few chapters in. This is now the setup and a glimpse at Katie's strong personality and nerdy side/passion. Also, do people still get the crocodile hunter reference?*

I hated Florida. You would think that growing up in Texas made me immune to even volcanic conditions but you'd be wrong. Florida heat wasn't the same as Texas heat. It was humid, the air seemed heavy, and that did not mix well with my curly hair. As I tried to smooth the fuzzy flyaways a silver laced cloud overtook the sun, providing momentary relief from the harsh rays. Sadly, it wasn't enough to make sitting in the stationary jeep more tolerable (or my body any less sticky for that matter). There was a distinct peeling noise mixed in with the hum of insects as my bare shoulder pulled from leather as I shifted in my seat. "Gross", I muttered with a small grimace. I promptly went back to my task of the last quarter hour; to trying to swat the large vulture like Florida mosquitoes away from my pale flesh. Yup, this was pretty close to how I imagined Hell. I sighed, looking up at the trees and using a hand for an eye shield. No matter the.... Florida of it all.... this was all going to be worth it. 

A smile crept across my face while surveying my swampy surroundings. Sure it was hot, and yeah I was sweating like a sow.... but I was here. Finally, I was in Arcadia, home of some of the richest fossil veins in the country. Forget Hell! As a paleontology major this was my heaven, or so I thought.

"Katie! Call Mike and Amber! Tell them to hurry up!" A familiar deep voice called to me from the woods beyond. "Yes Sir Professor Rawlin" I replied reaching for my backpack to retrieve a silver smartphone. I punched in a string of numbers and began ringing Mikey. 

With Dr. Rawlin's order, my smile pushed to painful limits. He was one of the most influential paleontologists of the modern era, with a plethora of important discoveries. Rawlin's research on instances of marine reptile convergent evolution had revolutionized the field twenty odd years ago, and the man showed no signs of slowing down. The phone continued to dial and I once again lost myself in thought. If I sounded like a goofy fangirl it's because I was; Victor Rawlin was my personal hero. So the fact that I was a graduate student on what he was hailing as his most important expedition to date was a dream come true (even with the Florida setting). 

"Hey it's Mikey", the voicemail boomed in my ear, "I'm either digging up monsters or devouring pizza with my girlfriend, so leave me a message. I'll be sure to get back to you" Beep! "Hey dumbass", I chuckled, "it's your favorite cousin. Dr. V is about to have an aneurysm waiting for you, so you better get here soon. Text me back or I'm telling Amber that you kept a nightlight in your bathroom 'till you were fourteen." With that, I hung up. Mike was my cousin on my mom's side and we were very close. Born just three weeks apart he was basically my brother; not to mention my best friend. Pursuing paleontology had only brought us closer as children and I was delighted we were on this adventure together. We weren't digging up monsters exactly, but it was certainly a step up from playing with plastic dinosaurs in mom's backyard! 

 There was a rustling sound in the brush to my left and a scruffy man, clad in cargo shorts, emerged from the grass. "Hey, Dr. V" I waved, " I just called my bro, and he should be almost here." The older man nodded. "I keep forgetting you two are related," he remarked, pulling a sticker burr from his sock. HA! Take that failed applicants who think I only got in because of my cousin!

 Victor Rawlin was a tall man, around sixty years of age, with skin a moderate tan from all the sun he got fossil hunting in the desert. He had that cool uncle vibe, with his brown hair in a small braid and a salt and pepper beard that was always neatly trimmed. Also, it was worth noting that he dressed like the crocodile hunter (do people still understand this reference?), mostly khaki or Hawaiian shirts and cargo shorts. Not exactly the mainstream image of a hero, but to me, he was one.

 Seeing him on the news after he discovered a partial raptor skull in Utah had really stirred something in my ten-year-old self. Unsurprisingly Mike was equally as enthused. 

While other middle school students gossiped over who liked who, Mikey and I quizzed each other on animal taxonomy and the scientific inaccuracies of The Flintstones. I had taken Rawlin's intro to early vertebrates class sophomore year, but I hadn't thought I had caught his eye. Two and a half years later and three more of his classes I was given the opportunity to apply for one of his graduate positions. The rest, as they say, is history. When he had invited me along on this dig I had literally screamed in delight despite the fact I was in the middle of a Panera Bread eating lunch. Apparently, my paper on the evolutionary differences in bone structures found between marine and river dolphins had impressed him enough to offer up the coveted spot.

  You deserve it, you are better than any of them. I jolted, hearing the whisper in my mind. Why would I think that to my self? That's... I had never thought myself better than anyone. Where the hell did that come from? The crunch of gravel under tires broke my trance. 

"We're here!" Another jeep pulled up beside us and a bubbly, busty red hair beauty hopped out from the passenger side. I approached her enveloping her in a tight hug. "Amber, I can't believe you're late! That's so unlike you", I spoke with mock surprise and she swatted my arm. "Sorry we're late professor" Amber apologized to Dr. Rawlin. "But on the bright side" she continued, "we picked up Lin and Jordan!" Amber gestured to the two young men in the back seat and they waved back. "Then we are all here!" The professor gave a hearty laugh. 

"Jesus Christ!" I yipped. Dr. Rawlin had seemingly teleported to my side and spooked the daylights out of me. The man was unphased. "Now let us go meet the other professors at camp! We have something incredible to show you." He plopped a hat onto his head and bolted into the wilderness looking like a 1920's safari guide. The rest of the students looked around and Jordan shrugged, "follow the leader I guess." And so began my last twenty-four hours on Earth.

Hey there readers! So the science terms and all that are almost over so no need to fret! The next chapter begins the tension/adventure!