My Dear lovely readers. Here comes the next chapter, I'm sorry that it took longer, but I had other assignments to do. Also I am grateful for all the lovely feedbacks I got. Really I even choreographed a little dance I do every time when I see a new review!
Now back to business, I have to express my gratitude to my friend Dustchu , who was so kind that beta read this chapter, he was really a huge help.
This chapter will be a kind of an interlude before I would tell you about the events of the movie. R&R
Chapter 4 - Never heard the birds singing before
My days followed the same ritual as always since I got here and I was quite content with it. I think everyone here was a bit obsessed in one way or another, and being separated from the rest of the world just pushed us into a new level of crazy. It was already well dark, and I went out for a small walk enjoying the nature and fresh air that surrounded me. I had a favourite spot close to a small pond, and I sat there relaxing on a rock. I didn't wanted to ruin my clothes by lying on the muddy ground.
"Can't sleep?" a voice behind me asked. From the deep silkiness I guessed it belonged to Ray. My suspicion was confirmed when I turned my head to look at the man leaning against a tree.
"What are you doing here? I've never seen you leave the control room. You even have your meals there!" I asked perplexed. It was odd to see him out of his comfort zone.
"Oh, I am not always there, but I usually wait till everyone retired to their dorms. I enjoy a little solitude now and then." he answered with a small chuckle.
"Really Ray, we are in fact living in an island several acres of size. One would think you don't have problems finding a quiet place."
"No, that's true. But the night calms me, I can actually hear my own thoughts. So what brings you here?" with that he walked slowly to the rock I was using as a bench and sat down beside me. "Hope I didn't disturb anything."
"No ... no. I think my reasons to be here are similar. But I must confess I spend too much time in my own head, it's good to get away from all the disturbing things that reside there. So I come here when I can't sleep and stargaze" I said and slightly leaned on my back facing the sky indicating what I meant. He followed my eyes and I could see the same calm expression appearing on his face as he looked up. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Back home in the city I could never see them because of all the lights. There is no night in New York ... and no rest. Guess I've never really appreciated things that are so far, so untouchable." his words sounded dreamy and remote.
"I always loved watching the stars, even learnt their names when I was little. If I wouldn't do what I do, I think I would be an astronomer."
"Really? But then Hammond should have invested in space crafts and alien breeding programs. Knowing the man I'm sure he would have find a way." he sighed "The opening is in a month, if we are lucky. In that case I will really lock myself in that damn room to avoid all those noisy tourists. However I first have to find a way to poison Nedry, that man is just as unbearable if not worse." At hearing Nedry's name I twitched involuntarily and my face went into a disgusted frown. He was one of those things that I didn't wanted to think of. It had been a few weeks ago, but some nights in my dreams I saw him getting closer and closer, and that time I was always alone. "Everything all right lass? You look like you just saw a ghost. I noticed that you don't come to visit me as much, is it because of him? Did something happen I should know about?" Ray asked, noticing my change in mood.
"No, I am just fed up with him. It has nothing to do with you of course, but now that you said, a poison wouldn't be such a bad idea. I think Gerry mentioned some lethal plants growing around here, I should check out next time" I let out a nervous laugh then jumped up from my seat. " But unfortunately I can't lock myself in the raptor's pen to avoid everyone I don't like. I'm exhausted so I think I will excuse myself for now and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, Robert promised some hunting lessons. Just in case. "
"All right, but if there is something wrong ... you know you can talk to me, just be careful Aurora. And good night."
I bid my farewell as well and slowly walked back. I could see Ray casting suspicious glances over me. I know if I did tell him, or Hammond they would probably get rid of Nedry, maybe they would be even happy to have a real excuse to send him away. But I didn't want to confess what happened between us. I had to admit I didn't entirely forgot what Nedry could have done, and even if I wanted to act as a real badass, that man scared the shit out of me. Maybe I was just exaggerating the whole thing. The memories of that day are so foggy, I remember pictures, but I'm not sure if those belong to that event or my dreams. "Uhhff" I shook my head angrily. I was acting like a damsel in distress and I was really disappointed at myself. All those weeks I spent in the wild watching dangerous animals, almost living with them, and I've never felt scared or alone. But now! I actually felt ashamed to have these emotions.
However it seemed Nedry had some sense after all, since he avoided me like plague. Even he didn't dare to try and mess with the raptors, not anymore at least. Also for this reason I developed some strange habits. I didn't head to the dorms like usual, instead I turned and walked slowly to the raptors. The next few days I had been sleeping in the observation room because it made me feel safe. Then later I slept there because I got used to it. Not every night, but occasionally when my overworked mind didn't let me rest or I was having bad dreams ... and it helped me. I picked up a blanket that was lying in one of the corners and carefully closed the door behind me, not wanting to wake up the raptors. It was crazy I knew but the more time I watched them the more I considered them friends. I ate my lunch there, watching them as they hunted their own meal. It should be gross but after a time the blood and the sound of flesh being ripped apart was just as natural as breathing. I placed the blanket close to the glass wall, and took off my coat so I could form a hasty pillow from it. I snuggled into the soft material and stared at the other side of the wall.
I felt the ground slightly shaking under me, and curiously I propped myself up using my elbow. I saw Big One approaching me, only stopping a few steps away from the glass. I watched him lying beside me, mimicking my own position. In the half lit room I could make out his long muscular form and some half-rotten flesh and blood stuck between his sharp teeth. He made a deep purring sound that I wasn't foolish to mistake for a cat like purr. It was threatening, and a shiver run through me, oddly calming and arousing at the same time. I wondered what he would do, if there wasn't any barrier between us. Would he attack me? It wasn't the first night spent like this, and I always awoke with a stiff neck, but I did wake up without nightmares. Maybe I was drawn to him because I knew he is the most dangerous one here, and so all other threats crawled in the shadows while he was watching me.
"Remind me again, why are we doing this?" I was standing in a glade dressed in khaki shorts, boots, and vest, holding a shotgun in my hands. Ridiculous, I felt like some action figure from those computer games my younger brother loved to play. Next to me Robert adjusted his hat importantly and said "To prepare you if one of your lovely dinos get out and try to strip the flesh from our bones."
"I see, I hope if that happens, they will start chewing on you first, you are ... fleshier" Robert shot an incredulous look at me, but said nothing further "So what are we hunting? Ducks?, Rabbits? Please tell me I don't have to kill cute bunnies" I pouted, more so to annoy him. There was a vein on his forehead that pulsed whenever he was irritated. I wondered how much that vein can grow, maybe if he is really angry it will grow so big his head will blow up.
"No, there is a Gallimimus population nearby, they are harmless shy creatures but they run fast when they sense danger. Gerry said they got infected with some parasites and he asked me to take out a few so he can examine them. Evidently we won't kill them, so stop worrying, we are using tranquilizer darts of course. But it will be a good practise."
We started off north, where the larger plants could be used as shelters. I felt heavy under the bags, full pockets and the thick muggy air, so I followed my guide with less anticipation. He made a 'small' speech before we headed off, so I would keep my mouth shut and won't bother him with unnecessary questions. About half an hour later he stopped without any indication to what or why, and knelt down on his knees behind a fallen tree. I did the same and looked at Robert expectantly, but he just gestured to me with his hand to stop staring at him and rather watch the front. I felt uncomfortable, it seemed like the minutes became hours, and I couldn't stay in one position for long. My knees hurt when I based myself on them, when I sat down my ass hurt, I felt like I was in a completely different world where wild greens and browns were twisting around me like a trap. I sighed.
"Damn it girl, stop squirming. Hasn't your father ever taken you hunting or fishing?" Robert murmured angrily under his nose.
"No, he rather showed me how to punch a man in the face properly. And I'm pretty sure fishing involves a large amount of beer." I answered him getting irritated.
He looked like I said something desecrating and sushed me with a finger. Really, does this man ever relax? I was almost happy with my sitting arrangement when I felt Robert tense beside me (even more so than before) and leaned forward slightly over the edge of the tree. I held my breath for a minute and waited. "What do you see?" I asked in a low voice. He glared at a certain location in the underbrush and motioned with his head to follow his movement. "I don't see anything there. What should I do?" I nagged him impatiently.
Robert let out a huffy sigh and shook his head. Then he turned towards me with an expression the professors tend to have when they are lecturing students "That won't work. Don't try to see it, it's faster than you can follow, close your eyes and try to feel it."
"You must be kidding, how would that help?" I questioned sarcastically, he had to be joking.
"Aurora. Just close your eyes. Now!" he ordered, emphasizing each word carefully. "And don't open them until you feel it, feel everything around you, the ground under your feet, which way the breezes are coming from, what smells they carry. Understand?"
He was staring at me expectantly, so I did as he said. Skeptic as I was, I took a deep breath and sat down in a meditative posture. First I didn't notice any difference, then ... I started to listen. At the beginning I just heard the wind playing on the leaves and birds singing and screaming. Next I could distinguish the different species, one of them with a higher voice chirping somewhere behind me, another one with a hoarse razor like cry. I could smell the wet soil under me, and Robert's musky jungle-like scent. Then a moment later I sensed something fumbling in the bushes. As fast as a blur I opened my eyes whipping around towards the uncharacteristic sound and I immediately saw it. A small part of the head of a dinosaur similarly built like the raptors but lack their predatory features. It was resting in the shadows of a grandious tree. I could see Robert nodding in satisfaction in my periphery vision.
"There are more of them, they usually wander in packs, like antelopes. If we disturb them all of them will start running." he whisper quietly "I will try to get behind them then shoot one, hopefully they will all head to the clearing behind us, there you will have a clear shot. Take out one or two more!"
I nodded silently. I felt Robert sneaking away with the stealth of a hunter, but I didn't care. My eyes were still fixed on the Gallimimus in front of me, just under a few meters. I was alive like never before, and an excited shiver run through me. Was it what the raptors felt when they were hunting, the thrill of the hunt? Waiting for the preys patiently, feeling everything they felt…
I knew Robert must be almost at the other side of the area, so I carefully stepped back and searched for a spot where I could still see them and have a full view of the clearing as well. I aimed my gun and waited. Soon the loud bang of a shot echoed through the air, followed by a dozen of quick stampings of heavy feet, moving right in my direction. My blood was rushing with adrenalin, and if I was thinking clearly I would probably wondering how I hadn't gotten a heart attack right there. But not at this moment. My skin was my scent and my ears were my sight, every nerve inside me was hypersensitive and my body reacted towards every movement. Then I shot, the sound of it ringing in my head.
Minutes later I towered above three sleeping dinosaurs, Robert standing next to me. He looked rather proud. "Not bad. Not bad at all. For a moment I feared you would change your mind, and say that you didn't want to harm them."
"I didn't harm them though." I corrected him. I felt numb, as if I had just woken up from a deep sleep.
"Well, yeah. Let's go and take them to Gerry. Then I think we really deserve some beer for a job well done." he said and started packing. He parked the jeep not far away before we headed out, so we could carry the bodies more easily. I helped Robert put the guns and bags away in the back. He really looked gleeful, he even whistled quietly as we went to retrieve the car. I was amazed by this sudden change of behaviour, but in truth I felt quite happy too.
After my hunting lesson with Robert I started to respect the raptors even more. I wanted to communicate them, understand them. I couldn't really put it in words what I was actually feeling, but they opened a fascinating new world to me that I had never dreamed of. I started using my instinct more efficiently, becoming aware of my surroundings. And I really enjoyed taking long runs in the mornings refreshing my body before sitting down for many hours in the observation room. It was revival.
I also visited Liara as much as I could. She was still kept separated with three other younger raptors. I wanted to go inside and pet her but unfortunately the others didn't tolerate my presence. I was standing next to the fences holding a sack of raw meat in one of my hands and throw small bites into the pen. Liara caught most of them with a precise speed then let out a chirping voice showing me to give her more. I was deep in thoughts as I watched her playfully running around as two other were fighting for the food, wrestling on the ground. I was amazed how fast she was growing.
This day was however different. I sniffed in the air sensing something strange coming. Even the dinosaurs got more vigorous than usual. The weather was pleasant, almost boring with the constant hot sunshine, but from experience I knew that these are followed by the biggest storms.
Later that day I was spacing in my room anxiously when Robert knocked on my door. I answered him with a low grunt and a "What". Of course he didn't appropriate this.
"What has gotten into you, you are acting worse than the raptors." he said frowning.
"I don't know, I feel restless and annoyed. I could jump out of my skin." I confessed.
"Well, we have no time for this now. I've just got an important message that Hammond is coming back and he also invited Dr. Grant and Sattler. We have to prepare, their support is essential to get the final licenses for the Park."
I looked at Robert excitedly. I wanted to meet Dr. Grant since I read his book, and I knew that if he gives his blessing then we can open in a few weeks. "When will they arrive?"
"Tomorrow." He answered impatiently. Come we have to run a final check up, see everything is working as it should." With that he rushed out of my room, and I had nothing else to do just follow him. It seemed something was really coming.
Author's note: Some of you were asking about future chapters. I have already written the last part, so don't worry, story will not be abandoned, and I eventually try to update it every two weeks. Also if you have anything to note, or questions I will gladly answer, but I won't tell much about what will happen in the future chapters as I don't want to spoiler my own story. However it's funny how one of my inspiration to this story is Tarzan. So yeah, cute Disney movie got this thing out of me...
Now when I started to write this chapter I wasn't entirely sure about it, so I simply put my character in a situation then waited. It was strange how actually my character got out of my hand and took the lead. And even when I know what will happen in the end, it seems to me that the story is writing itself. So as I sat down to write this piece and I realised how Aurora is changing, adapting to the new situation, and slowly she is not just an observer, an observer of the raptors, but she is slowly becoming one of them. She picks some of their habits, learns new skills and acts more and more like them. Think of it like a Rite of passage to become a predator and be accepted by the herd.