Ugh. It's that time of year again! School has officially started. And holy crap, I have a buttload of homework. Unfortunately, most of it is writing. I have approx three papers a week to turn in. So, naturally, I will be updating less often. Sorry. It will probably be once a month since I'm also working on a How to Train Your Dragon story. Yeet.
Anyhoo, thanks for reading! Please review and tell me how're you liking this story!
It was Blue.
Gray's first thought: Holy shit, she's alive!
Gray's second thought: Holy shit, I'm dead!
The velociraptor lunged at Gray. He dove out of the way, clearing her claws by only centimeters. He scrambled to his feet. His heart thudded in his chest like a gong. Blue circled him slowly. Gray risked a glance at Maisie. She was very pale, but remained calm. Don't move, she mouthed. Gray already knew not to. That would be asking for trouble.
Blue snapped at him again. This time she barely missed his fingers. She drew back, cocking her head. Gray knew she was playing with him. It was odd behavior. Why wasn't he dead yet? The way the beta raptor gazed at him was both puzzling and unsettling. It was almost like she remembered him form Jurassic World. But that was nearly five years ago. . . Surely Blue wouldn't have remembered him when they had barely seen each other anyway. But would she? Owen repeatedly declared how smart velociraptors were. Them having exceptional memories made sense. They couldn't be equivalent to a humans though. . .
Blue made a sudden movement forward. Startled, Gray stumbled backward and fell. Blue stepped onto his stomach before he could get up. He was pinned. Gray felt the raptor's claws puncture his shirt and prick his stomach. The knowledge that, if she wanted to, Blue could rip his gut out right then and there was terrifying. Stupid knowledge.
"Blue!'' Maisie called weakly. Gray couldn't see her, but knew the girl was close. The dinosaur payed her no heed. Blue narrowed her eyes and brought her snout closer to Gray's face. Gray struggled to keep his breathing even. He was not sure if Blue could detect his fear.
A claw extended towards him. Gray squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the brief agony before his gruesome death. But all he felt was a sharp pain in his left arm. He felt Blue slowly rake a claw down his arm. It was a painful, prickling sensation. The most uncomfortable part wasn't the burning pain though. It was the feeling and sound of his skin being tore slowly to shreds. Was this how Gray was going to die? Ripped apart, bit by bit, until he bled to death? Was Maisie just going to stand there and watch? Despite his pain and terror, Gray couldn't help being annoyed with her.
The weight on his stomach suddenly vanished. Gray took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. Blue had gotten off of him and was now standing expectantly beside him. Gray did not dare to move. Several moments passed before the raptor darted away. Gray sat up. His stomach churned and his arm throbbed painfully. Fighting back the urge to throw up, he glanced at his wound. It was a clean, narrow, cut, about three inches long. It was not bleeding profusely which Gray took as a good sign. It hurt, yeah, but it was neither deep nor dangerous.
"Hey, girl.''
Gray jerked his head back to the center of the clearing. Blue was standing by Maisie's side like she was her guardian angel or something. Maisie was stroking her neck gently as one would a pony, and crooning softly to her.
Enraged, Gray staggered to his feet. Blue's eyes flitted towards him. Then she turned tail and ran. A nearby bush rustled and four little beasts that looked like lizards on two legs dashed out and followed her. Gray's jaw dropped.
"She's got babies? Blue is a mother?"
"Yes,'' said Maisie timidly.
"And you knew this?''
"Yes.''
"How long?'' Gray asked angrily. He was in shock and in pain and really didn't feel like putting up with Maisie's dodges. "Is this why you have been sneaking off? To visit a monster and her little freaks?''
"Yes.'' Maisie's lower lip trembled.
"Why the hell would you do that?!'' Gray burst out.
"I-I never meant to find her. I just came across her, I guess. She was protecting her eggs and I recognized her from pictures and videos and. . . experience. Anyway, she wasn't aggressive towards me. She definitely recognized me! So I thought I would visit her and help her get uses to being with humans again and then take her and her babies to cabin.''
"And you never told Owen?''
"No. You won't tell him, will you?'' She looked suddenly desperate. "Oh, Gray, you can't!''
"Why not?'' He asked crossly. "He deserves to know.''
"I know, but. . . But Blue isn't ready to see humans yet! She was only aggressive towards you because of the babies. I was with her before they hatched; she trusts me. I can't bring her to the cabin yet. What if she attacks Claire or Zach?'' Maisie's brown eyes filled with tear.
"At least tell Owen,'' Gray pressed.
"But he'll be mad at me for not telling earlier!''
Gray sighed. He was feeling sick and light-headed. He just wanted to get back to the cabin.
"Say you won't tell!'' Maisie begged. "Promise!''
"Fine.'' Gray sighed again. "I won't tell Owen or anyone else.''
"Thank you, Gray.'' Maisie's eyes shone.
"Can we get back now?''
"Oh! Yes, sorry. Come on, let's go.''
Owen yawned loudly, stretching his arms. He was exhausted and ready for bed. It had been a long day. That morning he had guarded an inauguration. He had worked around the house all day. Now all Owen wanted to do was curl up next to Claire and fall fast asleep. Yes, that sounded nice.
He glanced towards the forest. Nearly two hours ago, he had sent Gray to spy on Maisie. Now, with the sun setting, he decided that had been a bad idea. Owen had not thought they would be this long. He also hadn't thought about what would happen if Maisie discovered Gray following her. She be pissed off with Owen.
Owen hated it when Maisie was pissed off with him. She was usually mild-tempered, but when, on the occasion, she did lose her temper with him. . . Well, it made Owen uncomfortable. He felt like Maisie still had not fully acknowledged him and Claire as her parents. For one, since she was a clone, she had never actually had parents. Owen and Claire were literally her first ones. For another, they provided everything for her. Maisie often showed her gratitude, but rarely any affection. When she did it was hugs for Claire and smiles for Owen. Owen loved her pretty smile, but a hug would be nice. She had hugged him once in Lockwood Manor. That was two years ago when Maisie was a small, frightened child. She had changed very much.
"Hey, babe.'' Claire came up to stand next to him. Owen bent down and kissed her cheek. She flashed him an amused smile. "Have you seen Maisie and Gray? I haven't seen them all afternoon. . .''
Owen shrugged his shoulders as indifferently as possible. "Yeah, I saw 'em around. Where'e Zach? He's not still working, is he?''
Claire shook her head. "No, I'm making him quit his job. He's sick. I think he has been for quite a while.
Owen nodded, but said nothing. It was good Zach wasn't working anymore. He never had needed to in the first place. He agreed with Claire that Zach had been under the weather for awhile. That kid was seriously messed up. Owen felt another prick of resentment towards Clare's sister.
"Have you heard anything from Karen?'' He tried to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"She texted me this morning. I told her things were fine.''
"Not that you lied or anything.''
Claire scowled at him. "I didn't. We're fine.''
"No thanks to her,'' Owen muttered.
Claire either didn't hear him or had chosen to ignore his last comment. The latter was more probable. Instead, she changed the topic completely. Unfortunately, it was extremely out of Owen's favor. "What were Maisie and Gray doing when you saw them last?''
Owen could not think of anything to say. He couldn't lie to his wife. But he didn't exactly fancy telling her the truth either.
"Owen?" She prompted.
"Maisie ran off into the forest again.''
"And Gray?''
"He followed her,'' said Owen, casually.
Claire's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Did she know?''
"I don't think so.''
Claire looked doubtful. "What was he doing? Did you talk to either of them or did you just watch?''
"I talked to Gray.'' Think casual, think casual.
"And. . .?''
Owen was quiet.
"Owen, what did you tell Gray?'' Claire groaned, exasperated by her husband's sketchiness.
"He wasn't doing anything and he looked bored and lonely, so I told him to follow Maisie to see where she keeps going,'' Owen answered truthfully.
Claire blinked at him. "You did what?''
"I—"
"What were you thinking, Owen?!'' She suddenly burst out. "Maisie is going to be furious! At both you and Gray! What the hell—?''
"I'm sorry, okay?'' Owen interrupted. "But I couldn't follow her and we need to know where she's been going these last couple weeks. It isn't safe, Claire. Dinosaurs, fricking dinosaurs are on the loose! You know—"
"Here they come.'' Claire started walking quickly towards the edge of the forest where the missing children were emerging. Owen followed.
Maisie and Gray were a sight to behold. They were both covered in mud and leaves. Maisie had two twigs sticking out of her hair which resembled small antlers. Gray's face was a dingy shade of green. The bottom half of his t-shirt was ripped off, the rags from it were wrapped tightly around his left forearm. Blood was seeping through.
"Oh my God, where the hell have you been?'' Claire threw her arms around them both. She held them just long enough for it to be awkward, then pulled back to look at them. Her expression turned sour. "Well? Where were you?''
Gray glanced at Maisie. She lifted her chin. "Working on the fort, of course. This time Gray came with me.''
This would have been a good story, except Owen had already told Claire that he had sent Gray to spy on Maisie.
Claire crossed her arms. "Oh, really? Because Owen said he sent Gray to find out where you were disappearing off to, Maisie.''
Maisie adopted a wounded expression. "But Gray said he just wanted to play. . ."
Gray shrugged. "I did want to play.''
Claire turned to Owen. He knew what she was asking. Could they be trusted to tell the truth? Owen wanted to believe they could. They were being exceptionally convincing, especially Maisie. And yet, Owen could not believe them. Something was up. Gray knew exactly what Maisie was doing. Why hadn't he said anything? Perhaps he was waiting to speak with Owen in private? That must have been it, Owen decided.
"What happened to your arm?'' Claire asked, noticing the bloody makeshift bandages.
"There was a sharp stick protruding from our fort,'' Gray explained. "I walked right into it.''
"Let me see.''
Gray carefully unwrapped the bandages from his wounded arm. A three inch long cut sliced his skin. Owen narrowed his eyes. A stick couldn't have done that, no matter how sharp. The cut was too narrow, too clean. Where had he seen that before. . .? The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. A velociraptor. But that was impossible. If Maisie and Gray had run into a raptor they would both be dead. Besides, Blue was the last of her kind. And it absolutely couldn't have been Blue. She could not be so close to Owen and not come to him. Sure, it had been awhile, but this was Blue they were talking about. She would never forget him. But even if she had, wouldn't she just have killed the two children? Owen shook his head. It made no sense. Maybe it was some other dinosaur. Why, oh why, wouldn't Maisie or Gray say anything? They knew they wouldn't be in trouble. Owen's head began to hurt. He saw from her expression that Clare hadn't put any of this together. At least for now, it would be better if Owen kept his revelations to himself. A stick. A sharp stick had cut Gray. That was how the story was told and that was what Owen was going to accept.
"Come on,'' he grunted. "Let's get that cleaned up before it gets infected.''
They four people began walking back towards the cabin. No one spoke. Claire and Gray pushed through the front door. Owen hung back. Maisie moved to go in, but Owen blocked the doorway with his arm. The girl glanced quizzically up at him.
"You've become a very good little liar,'' he said in a low voice.
Maisie pushed past him into the cabin.