“The T. Rexes look like giant chickens!” I shout into the receiver. “They’re covered in feathers—some even have color variations. They don’t communicate much, and yeah, they’ll bite if you get too close, but they’re nowhere near as vicious as we thought.”

I’ve been in this alternate dimension for a week. My team thought I was dead until today, when I finally located a functioning receiver. Now I’m giving Mike a rapid-fire update before it cuts out again.

“Velociraptors are covered in fur! And people ride them—like horses. They can jump ridiculously high. There are whole competitions built around them.”

I don’t give Mike time to respond. I don’t know how long I have, and every second counts.

“Triceratops don’t have fur or feathers. Instead, they’re covered in this shiny, scaly armor. And get this—they can talk. They’re brilliant. They don’t live like humans do, though. Most stay in barn-like sanctuaries and work with humans who have neurological issues. It’s... kind of beautiful.”

I pause just long enough to breathe, my mind racing.

“But the wildest species I’ve seen? I don’t even know what to call them. They walk and talk like humans. They have smooth green skin, long tails, round heads. They wear clothes. Full outfits. They go to jobs. They have lives, Mike!”

“That’s wild!” Mike finally cuts in.

“I haven’t even told you about the others. There’s an entire spectrum of intelligence, personalities, and traits. Every species feels like its own civilization. We got it all wrong.”

“You need to come home,” Mike says, his voice edged with relief. “Document everything. Share what you’ve found.”

“Oh, I’m not done here,” I say, smiling. “There’s one dino—his name’s Veeto. He offered to trade info: world for world. I learn everything about theirs, and he learns everything about ours.”

“You can’t do that,” Mike blurts. “You can’t share our dimension with them!”

He doesn’t get it. Not yet. But he will.

“You’re breaking up, Mike!” I say, though the signal’s perfectly clear.

Click.

I pocket the receiver and grin into the wind. I'm on my own now. But I don't feel alone.

All my life, I studied dinosaurs, clinging to dusty bones and speculation. I never imagined I’d walk among them. Never imagined we’d been so wrong.

And now, I’m the one whose going to rewrite everything.