Prologue: The Morrison Formation

It was a rather beautiful spring evening in Colorado as a group of 16 college students and 4 supervisors returned to their campsite around 100 miles west of Denver. Leading the group was none other than renowned paleontologist Professor Steven Styx, a fair skinned 49 year old slim man with mostly gray hair. Steven had done many things to further human understanding of the Earth's past, however he mostly appreciated, in his own words, "The fascinating aura of Stegosauridae,".

The group settled around a table in the center of the campsite and placed their finds, along with the appropriate sketches, and map locations on the table. Four students in particular were having a heated discussion on whether they had found an Allosaurus tooth, or a Ceratosaurus tooth. Multiple discussions between groups of four continued until the sun was below the horizon. Everyone enjoyed a small dinner consisting of a bottle of water (with an optional flavoring packet), A whole wheat sub, an apple, and a granola bar.

Steven Styx himself, having already finished his meal which he considered "mediocre at best," and already having packed up his supplies, entered his private tent. After zipping up the entrance to the tent, Steven turned on his headlamp, and picked up his copy of Historical Geology: Second Edition. Even though this book was outdated, due to being written in the 1960's, it was nevertheless a great insight into the paleontological (and by extent, geological) meta at the time.

Steven checked his phone and his battery pack. 7:46 PM, Wednesday April 10th, 100% battery on the phone and on the battery pack. Steven read for thirty more minutes before deciding to hit the hay. And as such, he put Historical Geology: Second Edition to the side, turned off his headlamp, and went to sleep.

Little did he know, the next day would be the worst day of his life.

Author's Note

Yes, Historical Geology: Second Edition is a real book, and yes I do in fact, own it.