Dream of Bones

Benny’s camera whirred to life, the small lens blinking red as it broadcast their trek to millions of eager viewers. His voice came through crisp and confident, that casual bravado he wore like armor.

“Alright, boys,” he said, panning the body cam across the thick jungle growth, “we’re here. This is it. The island that everyone’s been talking about, the one that broke the world’s spirit thirty years ago. But we’re not here to talk about the politics, the fear, or the mistakes. Nah, we’re here for something bigger.”

Benny turned the camera toward his face, giving the audience that signature grin. “This is about masculinity. Real masculinity. And what that means is simple: protect, explore, and build. Those three pillars. It’s not about flexing or showing off your bank account. It’s about taking responsibility, testing your limits, and leaving something lasting behind.”

As Benny narrated, Jack pushed aside a thick branch, his jaw clenched in silent concentration. He wasn’t one for the cameras, but he knew Benny’s words were important. Their mission wasn’t just about capturing the T. rex—it was about showing people what it meant to be men in the purest sense.

Jack spoke up, his voice a steady counterpoint to Benny’s excitement. “This isn’t just a hunt. This is about stepping up to face something bigger than yourself. You don’t do that for views or ego. You do it because men protect what they care about. You can’t run from that responsibility.”

Rook, moving just ahead of them, added, “Explore too. Never stop pushing forward. Never stop learning. This place? It’s a test. The island, the beast—it’s testing us, and we’re gonna see how far we can push.”

Benny chuckled, panning the camera toward Rook. “And let me tell you, this man’s got more plans and contingencies than you’d believe. He’s already three steps ahead, just in case this big girl gets frisky.”

Rook shot him a glance, the corner of his mouth twitching in a faint smile. “Someone’s gotta keep you from getting eaten on live stream.”

The banter between Rook and Benny was a constant, sharp and quick. Benny’s flippant, devil-may-care persona often clashed with Rook’s meticulous planning, but it was built on a foundation of deep trust. They jabbed at each other because they knew, when it came down to it, they’d have each other’s backs in a heartbeat.

Kane, who was usually quieter than the others, spoke up. “Build. That’s the last piece. We’re not just taking this beast down for sport. We’re here to leave a mark, to show what it means to conquer something this massive, this dangerous. You don’t get anywhere in life if you don’t build something from the ground up.”

Benny swung the camera back around, capturing Kane’s profile against the dense foliage. “Exactly. We’re not just filming an adventure. We’re building a legacy. We’ve got a target, a mission, and it’s not just about bringing this thing down. It’s about showing you how to face what the world throws at you and make something out of it.”

Jack couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. This wasn’t just a hunt. It was a demonstration of everything they believed in. The world, the critics, they could talk all they wanted about toxic masculinity, about the dangers of their mission, but that wasn’t the point. They weren’t here to prove anything to those people. They were here to embody the philosophy they all shared, to live it out in the most extreme way possible.

“Masculinity isn’t just an idea,” Jack said quietly, more to the team than to the camera. “It’s a choice. Every day, you choose to protect what matters, to keep pushing your limits, and to build something that outlasts you. This island? That’s our proving ground.”

Benny swung the camera back toward him, his grin still in place, but there was a fierceness behind his eyes now. “So that’s why we’re here, boys. Not just for the glory. Not just for the views. We’re here to show you what real men do when they’re faced with something bigger than themselves.”

As if on cue, a distant, rumbling roar echoed through the jungle, shaking the ground beneath their feet. It was low, primal—raw power given voice.

Benny turned the camera toward the sound, his smile widening. “And it sounds like our girl’s just as eager as we are.”

Rook stepped up beside Jack, his eyes scanning the horizon. “She’s close. We stick to the plan.”

Jack nodded, his hand tightening around the grip of his weapon. “Yeah. Stick to the plan.”

“Don’t worry,” Benny said with a smirk, addressing both the team and his audience. “We’ve got this.”

But despite the banter, Jack could feel the weight of the moment settling over them. The island wasn’t a playground. The T. rex wasn’t just another trophy. This was their test, their chance to show what it meant to face down something ancient and deadly—and win.

And for that, they’d need more than brute strength. They’d need each other.

As they moved forward, the jungle thickening around them, Jack glanced at Rook, who was already strategizing their next steps, his mind always three moves ahead. And Benny, despite the cocky exterior, had his hands steady on the drone controls, always keeping their edge sharp.

Jack knew it wasn’t just about taking down the T. rex. It was about the brotherhood they’d built, the trust they had in one another. That’s what made them strong.

“Let’s show them what we’re made of,” Jack said, his voice a low rumble.

The camp was quiet except for the sound of the jungle breathing—humid, alive, and always watching. The sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving the world bathed in shadow. The plan was to move at dawn, when the T. rex’s nocturnal hunting would be over and it would be returning to its den.

Jack Mason sat by the fire, his hands wrapped around a tin cup of lukewarm coffee, his mind already running through tomorrow’s task. The T. rex hunt—it was what they came for, what would make them legends, but they had to approach it smart. This wasn’t just about bagging a trophy; it was about survival, and showing the world how to conquer fear. And the island had plenty of that to offer.

Rook crouched over the map spread out on a makeshift table, marking paths and tracing their route. His face, lit by the faint glow of a flashlight, was locked in that familiar concentration. Across from him, Benny lounged against a fallen log, tinkering with one of the drones, his body cam still blinking softly. He looked relaxed, but Jack could tell from the tension in Benny’s hands that his mind was already on the hunt.

“Hey, Rook, you done playing connect-the-dots over there?” Benny called out, the smirk evident in his voice. “Or do you need me to hold your hand through this like last time?”

Rook didn’t even look up. “Please, Benny. The only thing I need from you is to stay out of my way tomorrow when things get real. You can scream into your little camera while we take care of the big stuff.”

“Sure, sure,” Benny said, grinning. “I’ll try not to cry too much when I watch you get eaten first.”

Jack smiled into his cup. The back-and-forth between those two was as constant as the jungle noise—sharp jabs, but always laced with respect. They had been through too much together to let it get under their skin. If anything, it was their way of keeping each other sharp.

Kane, sitting nearby with a whetstone in hand, looked up from sharpening his knife. “You two done yet? Some of us are trying to focus here.”

“You? Focused?” Benny shot back, not missing a beat. “I thought your plan was to punch the T. rex in the face and call it a day.”

Kane grinned. “Only if you piss it off first.”

“Alright, knock it off,” Jack said, though there was no real edge to his tone. He set his cup down and leaned over the table where Rook was finalizing their route. “What’s the call, Rook? Give us the breakdown.”

Rook straightened and tapped the map with his finger, his voice calm but authoritative. “We’re here, in the southeast quadrant. The T. rex nest is due north, but it’s moving around this area at night—patrolling, hunting. Tomorrow morning, it’ll head back to its den. We’re going to intercept it when it’s the most tired, just after sunrise.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Kane said with a shrug.

“It’s not,” Rook shot back. “The terrain’s rough. We’ll be moving through dense jungle, and that thing knows the area better than we do. We can’t rely on firepower alone. We need to keep our noise down and stick together. Benny, you’re scouting ahead with the drone. We need eyes on it before we make our move.”

“Don’t worry,” Benny said, snapping the drone’s casing shut. “I’ll find our dino. And if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even get a selfie.”

Rook ignored the jab. “Kane, you’re on heavy weapons, as always. We’re going to need distance, so keep that rifle close. Don’t engage unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Kane grunted in agreement. “I’ll drop it when you give the word.”

Jack leaned in closer, eyes narrowing. “And what about the traps?”

“Already in place,” Rook said, his voice like stone. “We’ve set up tripwires and motion sensors along its known path. If it gets too close, we’ll know. But the key is making sure we have control of the encounter. We take it by surprise, not the other way around.”

Jack nodded, his respect for Rook’s precision unspoken but understood. He knew how to lead, but Rook knew how to plan. They’d worked that way for years. “Good. This is why we’re here. We do this right, we’ll take it down clean, and we’ll get out in one piece.”

Benny rolled his eyes dramatically. “And maybe we’ll even get a nice shot for the fans. Come on, Jack, this is what they’re paying for. We’re not here just to hunt; we’re here to show them we can hunt.”

Rook snorted. “Yeah, because nothing screams ‘alpha predator’ like a live stream.”

“You laugh now, Rook,” Benny said, adjusting his camera, “but when you’re famous, you’ll be thanking me. Everyone loves the strong, silent type. Just wait till they see you bring down a T. rex.”

Rook paused, eyes narrowing in Benny’s direction. “Just keep your mouth shut when it’s time to work. Let me handle the planning, and you handle…whatever the hell it is you do.”

“Recon,” Benny replied with a smirk. “I handle recon. And, you know, making sure the world doesn’t forget about us when we’re knee-deep in raptor shit.”

Jack waved them both off, grinning despite himself. “Save it for the morning. We’ve got a T. rex to catch, and I’m gonna need you both focused.”

Dawn

The team moved through the jungle like shadows, each step placed with precision. Rook led the way, his eyes scanning the path ahead, every movement calculated. The traps were set, the drones hovering silently above, transmitting data back to Benny’s handheld screen.

Behind Rook, Jack kept the team focused, offering silent hand signals when they needed to slow down or reposition. Kane stayed close, rifle at the ready, his eyes sharp as he scanned for movement.

Benny, for all his wisecracking, was completely in his element. The drone flitted between trees like a ghost, transmitting footage of the terrain ahead. “Got movement,” he whispered into his mic, his voice losing the playful edge for the first time that day. “Big prints. Headed toward the nest.”

Rook paused, adjusting his pack. “Good. Keep eyes on it, but don’t get too close. We’ll hit the ridge just before it returns to its den. That’s where we make our move.”

The jungle was alive with noise—birds, insects, and the low hum of anticipation. Jack’s heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm. This was what they lived for—the danger, the thrill, and the chance to prove themselves. The island wasn’t just a place; it was a crucible, testing everything they stood for.

“Drone’s got eyes,” Bwnny whispered, his tone completely serious now. “It’s close. Three hundred yards out, moving slow.”

Rook crouched, raising a fist to stop them. He pulled out the thermal scanner and held it up. A massive heat signature lit up the screen, its shape unmistakable. “There she is.”

Jack felt the rush of adrenaline hit. They were close. So close.

“Alright,” Jack said quietly, his voice low and commanding. “This is it. Rook, guide us in. Kane, be ready with that rifle. Benny, keep your stream quiet, but capture everything. We take this down clean, or we don’t take it down at all.”

They moved forward, a tight-knit unit, each member relying on the other. The hunt was on, and the T. rex was theirs.

The jungle held its breath as they prepared to face the king of the island.

The T. rex was close—every inch of jungle pressed down around them like a predator’s lair, thick and claustrophobic. The only thing more intense than the atmosphere was the tension rippling between the team as they crouched low, each movement deliberate, controlled. No one spoke. They didn’t need to.

Rook’s hand went up in a silent signal, his eyes never leaving the thermal scanner. The massive heat signature loomed just beyond the treeline, its bulk an unmistakable threat. Jack crouched beside him, eyes scanning their surroundings. Kane knelt further back, one knee to the ground, rifle at the ready. Benny was still, which for him was rare—his focus locked on the drone’s screen.

“Closing in,” Benny whispered into his mic. “Two hundred yards. Big girl’s taking her time.”

Rook’s voice was barely audible. “We’re holding position until she’s past the ridge. Kane, you’ve got the shot if she moves too fast.”

Kane nodded, his hands steady on the rifle’s stock. “One shot. That’s all I need.”

Jack felt the familiar churn of adrenaline in his gut, the kind that made him feel alive, yet sharpened his instincts. They were so close now that he could feel the faint tremors of the ground under his boots. The T. rex, moving, breathing. Every second counted.

Then the sound came—branches snapping, low rumbling footfalls, the scrape of something massive pushing through the underbrush. They couldn’t see her yet, but they could feel her. It was like the jungle itself was shifting under the weight of the beast.

Benny’s voice crackled again, but this time, it was urgent. “She’s moving faster. Five seconds, and she’ll be right in front of us.”

Jack glanced at Rook. “We go?”

Rook gave a tight nod. “We go. Now.”

Without hesitation, Jack signaled the team forward. Rook slipped ahead, silent as a shadow, his eyes never leaving the thermal scanner. Benny was right behind him, his body cam blinking as he fed live footage to his followers. Kane brought up the rear, rifle raised, every muscle coiled for the moment they needed to strike.

And then they saw her.

She stepped out of the trees like a nightmare given form—thirty feet of muscle and scale, her massive head swinging back and forth as if she were already searching for prey. Her teeth gleamed in the early morning light, and her skin, mottled with scars and old wounds, spoke of a life spent dominating this island.

“Jesus,” Benny whispered, his voice betraying awe. “She’s a beauty.”

The T. rex paused, her nostrils flaring, head swiveling in their direction. Jack’s heart pounded in his chest—he knew they were upwind. She’d catch their scent soon, and when she did, they’d have seconds to act.

Rook was already moving, sliding behind a fallen log, scanning for an angle. “Kane, you’ve got the shot on her leg. Aim for the knee joint. We slow her down first.”

Kane nodded, the barrel of his rifle trained on the massive creature. “On your word.”

The T. rex let out a low, guttural growl, her tail swishing through the underbrush. She hadn’t seen them yet, but her instincts were kicking in. Her head snapped toward a rustle in the trees—something small and harmless, but enough to set her on edge.

“Now,” Rook said, his voice like steel. “Take the shot.”

The crack of the rifle split the air. The bullet hit the T. rex’s leg with a sickening thud, embedding deep into her flesh. The reaction was immediate. She let out a roar that echoed through the trees, her massive body twisting in pain. But she wasn’t down. Not by a long shot.

“Move!” Jack barked, pulling Benny back as the T. rex turned her furious gaze toward the team. Her eyes locked on them, nostrils flaring, and then she charged.

The ground trembled under her weight as she barreled forward, each step like a cannon shot. Jack felt the raw, primal fear surge through him, but he pushed it down. No time for panic. Only action.

Rook was already on his feet, moving fast. “Kane, again! Aim for the other leg!”

Kane fired, but the T. rex was too quick. The shot grazed her shoulder, doing nothing to slow her momentum. She was closing the gap fast, too fast. Jack could see the fury in her eyes—pure, unfiltered rage.

“Fall back!” Jack yelled, grabbing Benny by the arm and yanking him toward cover.

Rook was moving too, his mind already working two steps ahead. “Benny, get the drones in the air! We need eyes on her flanks!”

Benny, despite the situation, grinned. “You want the full show, huh?”

He launched two drones into the sky, their rotors whirring as they zipped around the T. rex’s head. The beast roared again, snapping at the buzzing intruders, distracted for just a moment.

Rook took the chance, sprinting toward a higher ridge where the team had rigged a trap—a series of weighted nets hidden in the trees. If they could get the T. rex under it, they might have a shot at bringing her down

“Jack, lead her this way!” Rook shouted from above, waving his arm.

Jack didn’t need to be told twice. “Kane, give her something to chase!”

Kane grinned that wolfish grin of his, pulling out a flash grenade. “Here, lizard-lizard-lizard.” He tossed the grenade at the T. rex’s feet. It detonated with a sharp pop, bright light exploding in the beast’s face.

Blinded and enraged, the T. rex charged harder, right toward Jack and Benny.

“Run!” Jack shouted, sprinting toward the ridge with Benny close behind.

The T. rex thundered after them, her massive jaws snapping just inches behind. Benny’s camera was still recording, capturing every terrifying second.

“Is it just me, or does she seem pissed?” Benny called out, his voice tight with adrenaline.

“Just keep moving!” Jack yelled back, his lungs burning with the effort.

They reached the ridge just as the T. rex barreled forward, her massive bulk crashing through the trees. Jack dove behind the safety of a boulder as Rook gave the signal.

The net dropped.

For a second, Jack thought they had her. The heavy net fell over the T. rex’s head and shoulders, tangling her up. She roared in fury, thrashing against the restraint.

“Hit her legs!” Rook shouted, grabbing a rifle from the ground.

Kane didn’t hesitate. He fired off two more rounds, one embedding deep into the T. rex’s injured knee. The beast stumbled, her balance faltering.

This was it.

Jack raised his own rifle, sighting down the barrel. “Now!”

All three of them fired at once. The bullets hit their mark, piercing through muscle and bone. The T. rex let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing, her massive body hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.

Silence.

The jungle seemed to hold its breath as the dust settled. The T. rex lay still, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.

Jack stood slowly, his heart still racing, and walked toward the fallen beast. His hands trembled as he approached her massive head.

“She’s down,” he breathed, the weight of what they’d just accomplished settling in.

Benny let out a shaky laugh, flipping his camera toward the fallen creature. “Now that’s what I call a trophy.”

Kane slung his rifle over his shoulder, wiping sweat from his brow. “Damn good work.”

Rook, ever the pragmatist, lowered his weapon and checked the traps for damage. “Let’s just hope she stays down.”

Jack looked at his team—Rook, Kane, and Benny—and felt a surge of pride. This was more than a hunt. They had survived this together, each bringing something vital to the table.

“Team effort,” Jack said, offering Rook a nod.

Rook grinned, something rare and earned. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Benny strolled up, still catching his breath, his face split with that cocky grin. “So…we going for the next one, or what?”