Maisie slept in the next morning. Or rather she woke up at a normal time and lay in bed for an hour, moping. She couldn't believe her luck. She had tried so hard to keep the velociraptors a secret from her family. Maisie had dealt with loneliness her entire life. First at Lockwood manor, and then at the secluded cabin. At first life in the cabin had been nice. It was just her and her parents. But then Maisie had discovered the raptors and complicated everything by keeping it a secret. No, the loneliness of having a great secret was nothing compared to the guilt she felt. Guilt for having lied, having betrayed everyone's trust. Sometimes she wished she'd never come across Blue and her eggs. But the feeling was fleeting. Deep down in her soul, she would always be glad she had found the raptor family. They were always there if she needed to rant. Maisie knew she could go to her parents or cousins if she needed something, but they would understand what she meant and would most liking judge her, even if they did not mean to. Blue and her babies were just animals. Intelligent, but nonetheless animals. They didn't understand Maisie's problems and they certainly didn't judge her. That was what made them so wonderful to be around. They understood physical contact. They were there for her as long as she gave them a good scratch. The velociraptors were the kind of friends Maisie had always longed for.
And now everything was ruined. Maisie would secretly admit to being relieved when Gray discovered her. The burden of keeping a secret from the ones she loved the most was much lighter when shared with someone else. No, Gray finding out was not a problem. It was Owen. Her dad knew. He knew where she'd been all summer. It made things worse that it wasn't just a normal raptor—no, it was Owen's raptor. Maisie had found Owen's best friend and not spoken a word to him about it. She had planned to tell both her parents eventually. But she had imagined herself doing it calmly, sitting down with them and explaining everything. But it had all gone wrong. Owen knew and he had surely told Claire. God, what would Claire say? She'd be pissed, that was for sure. And what would become of Blue and her family? They weren't ready to see everyone. What if they hurt someone? But everyone would like to see them. But they would attack. Blue had attacked Owen. Maisie shuddered to think what would happen if their nest was suddenly invaded by strangers. It wouldn't be good.
God. Maisie was so screwed.
Eventually, she drug herself out of bed and got dressed. She grudgingly made her way down the ladder from the loft to the kitchen. Owen, Claire, Zach, and Gray were all seated at the table, eating lunch. She awkwardly slid into a chair beside Gray. He glanced quickly at her. Owen was obviously making an effort to not look her way, which stung. Zach greeted her warmly. Maisie forced a smile back. She couldn't help noticing that he still looked rather wan. What was his problem anyway? she wondered,
"Good afternoon, Sweetheart,'' said Claire. "How did you sleep?''
"Fine,'' Maisie lied (it had become quite easy), stuffing some toast in her mouth so she wouldn't have to talk anymore. So Owen hadn't told Claire about the raptors. Well, that was something. Maybe now Maisie had a chance of explaining it the right way.
"Maisie?'' Owen looked directly. "Don't you have something you would like to tell your mother?''
Claire glanced at her with interest. "Oh?''
Maisie swallowed so hard the toast scraped her throat raw. She coughed slightly and took a long drink of water, desperately trying to think of how to explain this. She was not ready! She automatically glanced at Owen for help. But she quickly looked away. This was his fault. Anger bubbled inside her. But she couldn't back down now. She forced a smile. "Yeah, there's, uh, something I've been meaning to tell you. . . for a while.''
Claire waited patiently.
"You've probably been wondering what I've been doing in to forest these last couple months. I haven't been building a fort. I found something.'' She refused to look at Owen. "Do you remember Blue?''
Claire's eyes widened in alarm. Zach looked equally confused. But neither spoke.
"Do you remember Blue?'' Maisie repeated.
"Yes, Maisie, I remember Blue.'' Claire's voice was hushed.
Here goes nothing. "Well, she's here. In our forest. And I've been helping her.''
Claire just stared at her.
"I'm sorry I never told anyone,'' Maisie continued, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I was afraid that if I did, you would make me stop seeing her. And I had to keep seeing her. There was no one else for me to connect with. You and Owen were just not enough, and I don't mean for that to sound as harsh as it seems. I am extremely grateful for you both. You saved my life. But I'm twelve, and I need friends. There are no other children for miles. Even if we did have neighbors then I'm not even sure I would be able to make friends. I'm just not used to having friends. But that doesn't mean I'm not lonely. I—" Maisie suddenly stopped, partly because she knew she was just rambling now and partly because everyone was now staring at her. Owen's expression was impossible to read. Claire's mouth hung slightly open, her eyes narrowed.
The silence was crippling. It drew out for several minutes. No one wanted to be the first to break the tension. Finally, Maisie could handle it no longer. "Please someone say something!'' She begged.
A beat. Then,
"Just to be clear, we're talking about Blue, the beta velociraptor from Jurassic World?'' Zach seemed mildly interested, not at all surprised. Maisie had actually forgotten about her cousins' presence. She was now grateful to Zach for easing things up a little. But Owen was having nothing of it.
"The very one,'' he said dryly.
"Owen,'' Claire managed to gasp. "Did you. . . know. . . about this?''
Owen crossed his arms. "Your damn right I did.''
"How?''
"I followed them last night. It had gone on too long not knowing where they were going so often. It isn't safe out there, not anymore. They're lucky they weren't torn to shreds by some rabid carnivore,'' Owen glared deliberately at Maisie and Gray.
"Wait, Gray was with you?" Claire demanded.
"Uh. . ." Maisie was reluctant to snitch on her cousin.
"Yeah, I was with her.'' Gray's gaze was even with Claire's. "I'm sorry, aunty.''
"Gray, are you serious?'' Zach groaned. "What were you thinking? You know better! God, what's mom going to say?''
Gray shrugged. "I know. I'm screwed.''
"Yeah, you are,'' muttered Zach.
Maisie tried not to make eye-contact with Claire. She looked confused, hurt, but also curious. Mostly confused and hurt though. Guilt squirmed inside Maisie's stomach. Claire and Owen had made many sacrifices when they had taken her in two years ago. They loved her very much and trusted her. Maisie had betrayed them. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She refused to cry about this. It was her damn fault.
Owen stood up. "Let's go then.''
"Go where?'' Gray asked.
"We're taking Claire and Zach to see the raptors.''
Why? After everything they'd been through Maisie doubted either would be keen for more. This thought was confirmed by the nervous glance Claire and Zach exchanged. Owen beckoned them all outside. Claire, Zach, and Gray all went reluctantly to him. Maisie was the only one to remain seated.
"Come on, Maisie.'' Owen's voice was cold.
"I don't think I'll go.'' Maisie stared at the kitchen floor.
"Oh, yes, you will,'' persisted Owen. "You're going to lead the way.''
Maisie got up and left without another word. She had no choice. But she didn't understand why Owen was making her suffer for her mistakes. Maybe she deserved it, but Owen was not the kind of person that purposefully made people uncomfortable or embarrassed or. . . victimized. Maisie assumed it was nothing compared to what he must have felt when he discovered what she had done. The thought made Maisie feel wretched. She wished she could run from it all. She hadn't felt this trapped in a nightmare since her Grandpa had died and she had almost been killed by the Indoraptor. She had never meant for this to go as far as it had. But then again, she'd known the risk. This being as it was, Maisie had still not come to regret her decision. She just had to help Blue.
As she silently lead her family into the forest, the afternoon sun shining warm and bright, Maisie reflected on how she would never know whether or not things would have been easier if she had told Owen and Claire about Blue as soon as she had found her. Would Owen have the guts to run her off their land? Maisie suspected the government had warned Owen about bringing Blue onto his private property. If they hadn't then why had he never tried to locate her? The questions were making Maisie's head pound painfully. She shut her brain off, focusing it on the way the the raptors' nest.
Maisie stopped at the edge of the clearing. She wasn't sure how she wanted this to go down. Gray came up beside her. He motioned for everyone to follow him. Grateful for the responsibility lift, Maisie followed him into the now-familiar clearing where the nest was.
The nest at the bottom of the tree was empty. The velociraptors were gone. Maisie saw everyone exchange uncomfortable looks. "Stay here,'' she told them quietly. To her surprise, they obeyed. No one said anything as she moved to the nest. She crouched beside it. Running her fingers over an imprint, Maisie decided the raptors had not been gone long. They were most likely hunting and would be back soon.
She straightened and turned to her family, but hesitated. Claire was staring at something behind Maisie with a terrified expression. Maisie turned to see a pair of large, luminescent eyes staring through the bushes. Despite her mother's fear, Maisie couldn't help smiling. "Hello there, Scarlett.''
The raptor stepped dramatically out into the clearing. It nuzzled Maisie's hand gently. Maisie could understand why Owen had gotten so attached to the creatures. They were really not aggressive as they looked. Yeah, right. Try telling that to the people they've killed, a voice whispered. But these raptors would never hurt me, Maisie thought. It was true. These velociraptors had not been raised to kill. They had been raised to survive, that was it. Plus, they had had human contact since they hatched. Much safer than the ones raised in the Parks, Maisie decided.
The bushes behind the nest rustled again. The other three raptors leapt suddenly out. Claire screeched and jumped on Owen. Zach took a step back. Gray, however, came up beside Maisie and started stroking Winky's head. "How you doing, girl?'' He murmured. She butted his hand affectionately.
"Come on,'' Maisie beckoned, suddenly glad Owen, Claire, and Zach were there. "They won't hurt you, I promise!"
"You sure about that?'' asked Claire warily.
"Yes! They're perfectly safe.''
"That's what they said last time,'' Zach muttered.
"Yeah, but this is different,'' Gray pointed out. "These dinosaurs are not being displayed as attractions. They're not part of an amusement park; they're free.''
"Which makes them a helluva a lot more dangerous,'' said Owen darkly. Claire clung to him even more tightly. Zach's eyes flitted around the clearing as if he was searching for the most accessible exit if shit went down.
"What Gray meant,'' said Maisie, "was that the only human contact up until now Blue's babies have had is from Gray and I. They have never known boundaries or regulations or captivity. As far as they know, humans have only ever wanted what's in their best interest. They don't know us as their victims. Just their friends.''
"Don't be afraid, Zach,'' encouraged Gray. "The raptors weren't even the ones attacking us at Jurassic World! It was the Indominous Rex, remember?''
"I try not to.''
"Why? In hindsight, it was kinda cool to be chased by dinosaurs in a truck with our estranged aunt's badass boyfriend.''
"Not when you promised your mom you would look after your little brother and you keep almost dying from increasingly traumatizing events.''
Gray was quiet. He had told Maisie about some of the things that had happened in Jurassic World. They honestly didn't sound any worse than what she had endured at Lockwood Manor. But Gray had also told her that the trauma had a different affect on Zach since he was older and remembered it all so much clearer and trying to keep his little brother alive. Maisie had to admit that her young mind had altered some of the events at Lockwood Manor to the point where she didn't remember some things clearly. She guessed the same thing had happened to Gray. But Zach had been considerably older. Some memories could never be forgotten, especially when a young teenager mind processes them. Sometimes children were less vulnerable than teens, Maisie sadly realized.
"Speaking of Blue,'' Claire's usually steady voice was shaking slightly, "where is she?''
"Guess she isn't back from the hunt or whatever they were doing out there,'' said Gray quickly, eager to get away from the previous conversation.
"Typical,'' muttered Owen. Maisie wished he would take a gentler approach to this situation.
"Here, let's introduce you to the fleet,'' said Gray.
Maisie scoffed. "'The fleet'?"
Gray's ears turned pink. "Fleet, squad, crew, whatever. The babies.''
"I like crew,'' Maisie said thoughtfully.
"Uh, yeah, sure.'' For some reason Gray was blushing brilliantly. It made Maisie slightly giddy that he might be flushing because she had approved an idea of his. She quickly dismissed the idea, ashamed. They were cousins. But were the really. . . ?
"This is Winky,'' she said a little loudly.
"Winky?'' Owen's brows shot up.
Maisie frowned. "You named one of your raptors Delta.''
Owen flinched slightly at the name of his lost friend, making Maisie feel guilty once more.
"Winky's short for Periwinkle,'' Gray added, easing the moment for the umpteenth time.
"Isn't that a shade of blue?" Zach asked.
Owen rolled his eyes. "Please tell me you didn't name them all after the different blues?''
"Fifty shades?" Gray cracked a mischievous smile.
Zach shuddered. "Ugh. That was a terrible movie.''
"You watched it?'' Claire demanded.
"No!" Said Zach too quickly. "At least not all of it. . .''
"He skipped the sex scenes.''
"Shut up, asshole.''
Gray snickered evilly. Owen rolled his eyes again and Claire eyed the boys with pursed lips. Zach didn't look as awkward as he should have. Maisie smiled to herself. This time she couldn't hide her admiration. Gray knew how to lighten the mood, that was for sure.
"And this is Adaela.'' Maisie continued on with the introductions. Owen took a particular interest in the aforementioned Adaela. Maisie overheard him murmur to Claire that she reminded him of a young Blue. A natural leader. The thought excited Maisie. Adaela was special to her too. The two of them had bonded the most quickly and tightly.
Everyone laughed when Maisie announced Scarlett's name. "What?'' She said. "She's a reddish-brown color! It seemed perfect!"
Owen just shook his head. "Mais, she's obviously black.''
"Whatever. This last one is Max.''
Owen jerked his head up. "Max?''
"Yeah. . ." Maise cast a puzzled glance at Claire, who wasn't much help.
"Max. . . So that'll be a nickname, right? Like with Winky for Periwinkle? Her name is Maxine? Maxella? Max. . . ette?''
"No,'' said Maisie, growing concerned. "It's just Max. It's a boy, Owen.''
Owen's eyebrows knit. "You're sure?''
"Positive.''
"But that's impossible,'' Claire cut in. "The Park only bred females.''
"Well, Max is a boy. Not sure how it happened, but that's what he is. Is that a problem?''
Her question was ignored.
"But there would have had to be a boy raptor at some point,'' Zach reasoned. "I mean, how else would Blue have been able to reproduce?''
"Maybe she mated some other dinosaur,'' suggested Gray. "Like a similar breed or something?''
"Bro, they're not dogs. It doesn't work like that.''
"How do you know?''
"Your brother's right,'' Owen told Gray. "The only way Blue would have been able to have these babies is if she somehow found a male velociraptor.''
"But there were none,'' said Claire, absentmindedly stroking Winky's head. "There never were any male dinosaurs. Jurassic World was kept strictly female.''
"What if they made the same mistake they did with the original Jurassic Park? With the frog DNA changing some of the females into males halfway through their lifecycle?"
"Wu wouldn't make the same mistake twice,'' Claire insisted. "I was there, behind the scenes. I saw it all happen. Or at least most of it. . . It was enough to know for sure that there were never any males. Trust me.''
Maisie would have, except she couldn't. There was absolutely no possible way there had never been a male raptor. Was there?
Owen rested his hand on Claire's arm. "Whatever the case, it doesn't matter now. What happened happened. Blue is a mother of four. And she's here on our land.''
"How long do you think she's been here?'' Zach asked.
"I've thought about it and I think she came here as soon she realized her predicament. She knew she needed somewhere safe. We were the obvious best option.''
"So you don't think it's a coincidence?'' wondered Gray.
"That seems a little far-fetched, doesn't it?''
"Right, but if Blue purposely nested close to you than why did she attack you last night?''
"What?!'' Claire yelped.
Owen glared at Gray. "I thought we made a silent agreement to not talk about that?"
"What? No, when did we—?''
"We didn't, that's why it's silent. You know— Ugh, forget it.''
"Owen, did Blue really—?''
"Yes!" Owen snapped.
"She would've killed him if Maisie wouldn't have called her off,'' Gray explained.
Claire blanched.
"No, she wouldn't have,'' said Owen through gritted teeth.
"Gray, stop, now,'' muttered Zach.
"I don't think Blue realized it was him until after she pounced,'' said Maisie, "because she didn't kill him. She just let him go, as did she Gray.''
"But she never pounced on you, Maisie?'' Claire was obviously having a hard time digesting all this new information.
Maisie shook her head. "I don't know why. She barely knows me.''
Their conversation was cut short by Blue bursting through the bushes. Everyone jumped in surprise. Adaela, Winky, Scarlett, and Max ran over to her. She gave them each an affectionate rub before baring her teeth and growling at the humans.
"Blue.'' Owen approached her slowly with a hand extended. "Come on, girl. You know me.''
Blue narrowed her eyes, but stopped growling. She undoubtedly knew Owen. And then, just like that, Maisie understood. "She's mad at you, Owen.''
"You don't say.''
"Blue came onto our property not to find you, but for you to find her. She wanted everything to be natural, with you by her side every step of the way. Instead I found her.''
"In other words, you screwed everything up by not telling me you found my raptor,'' Owen spat bitterly.
"Yes, and I've told you how sorry I am!'' Maisie wasn't sure what else she could do.
Owen sighed and turned back to Blue. "No, Maisie, this isn't your fault. It's all mine. I'm the one who should be sorry. I never should have let her go. Not ever.'' He stepped closer to Blue, but she recoiled once again. Owen looked away dejectedly. "It'll take longer than this to regain her trust.''
Claire stepped up and lay her head on his shoulder. "It may take longer than you wish, but she will trust you again, don't worry. Right now, it's late and we better be getting home.''
Owen ran his hands through his sandy hair several times before nodding. He headed in the direction of the cabin without another word. Blue's eyes followed him. She blinked sadly an went back to her nest. Maisie felt like she had just witnessed the most depressing cutting of ties that ever took place. Claire started pursuing Owen towards the house, equally sober. Maisie had never seen her parents like this. They were usually so positive, especially around her. It filled Maisie with a deep sorrow. She couldn't conceal her tears any longer. Although she had escaped immediate punishment for her lies, Maisie had no room in her casket of emotions for relief. Her dad had just lost his best friend. And for that she wept.
She literally sat down and cried. She wasn't sure how long she was there, but when she finally lifted her head from her knees and dried her eyes with her sleeves, the sun was setting. The young raptors were curled in their nest (which they were already outgrowing), staring at her as if they could feel her pain. Blue had disappeared again.
Maisie was surprised to feel a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Zach smiling comfortingly down at her. "Are you ready to go home yet?'' He asked softly. Maisie nodded and he pulled her to her feet. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly around his thin waist. He rubbed her back. "It's going to be okay. Everything will turn out alright,'' Zach promised.
Maisie wiped her eyes again and took several deep breaths. She managed a grateful smile to her older cousin whom she had barely spoken to until now. She could understand why Gray was so attached to him. Speaking of Gray. . .
"Are we going now?'' Gray was standing a little ways off. He had waited for her. Both Zach and Gray had waited for her to stop crying and comfort her instead of going back to the cabin. Maisie hugged them both again. Finally, after a long, emotionally exhausting day, they headed home.
Whew. That was a long one and VERY hard to write! Hope everyone enjoyed and I didn't leave anything important out by mistake. /This is the last update before the Holidays, but I will try to do one more chapter before break ends. /I sincerely hope you and your family have a blessed, happy Holiday! Until next time, my lovelies.
