Primeval ficlet: Man vs. Permian | Connor, Abby, Bear Grylls | PG
Title: Man vs. Permian
Author: rustydog
Fandom: Primeval
Characters: Connor, Abby, Bear Grylls
Rating/warnings: PG for Bear Grylls being himself; no spoilers
Words: 700
Notes: Written for Day Fourteen of consci_fan_mo. Third in a little series:
Lions and Tigers and Bears
"Why did Cutter send him, again?"
Connor and Abby were squatting some distance from their companion, watching him attempt to start a fire by rolling a sharpened stick between his palms.
"He's supposed to teach us how to survive out here in case we're ever stuck. It's not a bad idea, really," Abby said.
"And why didn't Cutter come himself?"
"Because he doesn't think Bear Grylls has anything to teach him about the late Permian. You know this, Connor."
"Yeah, I just hoped hearing it from you would make me feel better. Think he's gonna get that fire started anytime soon?"
As if he had heard them, Grylls stood and dusted off his hands. "What we usually do at this point is borrow a lighter from the camera crew," he said, looking around hopefully.
"No camera crew, mate, you signed the Official Secrets Act, remember?" Connor said, managing not to roll his eyes.
"Ah, that's all right, we'll worry about the fire later. I'll just teach you how to snare one of those lizards for supper. They'll be a good source of protein!"
The lizards to which he referred, almost a dozen of Rex's relatives, had been gathering around them, sitting on rocks or swooping through the air curiously. Abby took a step toward Grylls and spoke fiercely.
"You try it, and you'll be carrying your arm back through the anomaly."
Connor smiled apologetically at Grylls. "We really like that species, sorry." Then his eyes focused on the distance beyond the man's shoulder, and he swore. "So, Mr. Grylls," he asked, "what's the survival tactic for a Scutosaurus stampede?"
Bear turned around to see what Connor was looking at. "With buffalo, you get behind a large rock or climb a tree."
"Bit bigger than buffalo, I'd say." Connor was trying to stay calm out of sheer curiosity for what the man would do. Abby, however, had already started to run.
"I think she's got the idea," Grylls said, "come on."
Abby had chosen a path downhill, toward a boggy area with some tall conifers. By the time Grylls and Connor had caught up to her, the herd was nearly upon them. Abby jumped to a branch and began to climb, and Connor followed her. Grylls, on the other hand, took a flying leap to the middle of the nearest pool. "The animals won't come through the water! We should be safe," he called.
"No, but-" Connor started to call back, but Abby stopped him with a look. What was the use now? She rolled her eyes, and he grinned.
When the danger had passed, Abby and Connor helped Grylls from the water, where his legs had become stuck - "See if the camera crew has a rope!" he had suggested. While he stood dripping, Abby looked around them and back at the water. "You're lucky that wasn't a tar pit," she teased.
"Oi, mate, you've got something on your neck." Connor pointed, and Grylls put a hand to his neck, pulling free a wriggling, leech-like arthropod.
"Oh, brilliant!" Grylls said, popping the creature into his mouth and swallowing. "Lots of minerals in that. Let's see if we can find enough for supper." He pulled the neck of his tee-shirt away from his body and peered down into it. "Perfect!" He began stripping off his shirt.
"Once you get wet, the only thing is to take off those clothes so you don't freeze," he instructed. "And with leeches, you have to check your whole body, so the best thing to do here is to have a friend or your camera crew help."
He continued removing clothing, and finally Connor yelped and turned around in embarrassment while Abby continued to watch, eyes wide.
"Mate, you're not getting it," Connor said over his shoulder without looking, "we're in the Permian. It's not that cold." When he got no response, he leaned toward Abby. "I am not going for a leech hunt on that man," he whispered. "And as for dinner..."
Without looking away from the show, Abby reached over and patted in the vicinity of Connor's shoulder. "It's okay," she said, grinning, "I can enjoy survival training for both of us!"
Author: rustydog
Fandom: Primeval
Characters: Connor, Abby, Bear Grylls
Rating/warnings: PG for Bear Grylls being himself; no spoilers
Words: 700
Notes: Written for Day Fourteen of consci_fan_mo. Third in a little series:
Lions and Tigers and Bears
"Why did Cutter send him, again?"
Connor and Abby were squatting some distance from their companion, watching him attempt to start a fire by rolling a sharpened stick between his palms.
"He's supposed to teach us how to survive out here in case we're ever stuck. It's not a bad idea, really," Abby said.
"And why didn't Cutter come himself?"
"Because he doesn't think Bear Grylls has anything to teach him about the late Permian. You know this, Connor."
"Yeah, I just hoped hearing it from you would make me feel better. Think he's gonna get that fire started anytime soon?"
As if he had heard them, Grylls stood and dusted off his hands. "What we usually do at this point is borrow a lighter from the camera crew," he said, looking around hopefully.
"No camera crew, mate, you signed the Official Secrets Act, remember?" Connor said, managing not to roll his eyes.
"Ah, that's all right, we'll worry about the fire later. I'll just teach you how to snare one of those lizards for supper. They'll be a good source of protein!"
The lizards to which he referred, almost a dozen of Rex's relatives, had been gathering around them, sitting on rocks or swooping through the air curiously. Abby took a step toward Grylls and spoke fiercely.
"You try it, and you'll be carrying your arm back through the anomaly."
Connor smiled apologetically at Grylls. "We really like that species, sorry." Then his eyes focused on the distance beyond the man's shoulder, and he swore. "So, Mr. Grylls," he asked, "what's the survival tactic for a Scutosaurus stampede?"
Bear turned around to see what Connor was looking at. "With buffalo, you get behind a large rock or climb a tree."
"Bit bigger than buffalo, I'd say." Connor was trying to stay calm out of sheer curiosity for what the man would do. Abby, however, had already started to run.
"I think she's got the idea," Grylls said, "come on."
Abby had chosen a path downhill, toward a boggy area with some tall conifers. By the time Grylls and Connor had caught up to her, the herd was nearly upon them. Abby jumped to a branch and began to climb, and Connor followed her. Grylls, on the other hand, took a flying leap to the middle of the nearest pool. "The animals won't come through the water! We should be safe," he called.
"No, but-" Connor started to call back, but Abby stopped him with a look. What was the use now? She rolled her eyes, and he grinned.
When the danger had passed, Abby and Connor helped Grylls from the water, where his legs had become stuck - "See if the camera crew has a rope!" he had suggested. While he stood dripping, Abby looked around them and back at the water. "You're lucky that wasn't a tar pit," she teased.
"Oi, mate, you've got something on your neck." Connor pointed, and Grylls put a hand to his neck, pulling free a wriggling, leech-like arthropod.
"Oh, brilliant!" Grylls said, popping the creature into his mouth and swallowing. "Lots of minerals in that. Let's see if we can find enough for supper." He pulled the neck of his tee-shirt away from his body and peered down into it. "Perfect!" He began stripping off his shirt.
"Once you get wet, the only thing is to take off those clothes so you don't freeze," he instructed. "And with leeches, you have to check your whole body, so the best thing to do here is to have a friend or your camera crew help."
He continued removing clothing, and finally Connor yelped and turned around in embarrassment while Abby continued to watch, eyes wide.
"Mate, you're not getting it," Connor said over his shoulder without looking, "we're in the Permian. It's not that cold." When he got no response, he leaned toward Abby. "I am not going for a leech hunt on that man," he whispered. "And as for dinner..."
Without looking away from the show, Abby reached over and patted in the vicinity of Connor's shoulder. "It's okay," she said, grinning, "I can enjoy survival training for both of us!"