Chapter 19: Something To Fight For
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Josiah's POV-
I continued on back to the village and to the church while grumbling to myself as I walked through the jungle from the raptor nest. I passed by a couple of sentries on my way out, but paid no attention to them.
It was obvious that they had been put there to watch for any enemy black stripes that may attack.
As I walked through the jungle, my mind was on one thing; This was no business of mine.
I couldn't believe what Phaganax wanted me to do. Just so he can use me in a territorial dispute over a piece of dirt? I had no doubt that Tholestes and the pack would be alright without me. They were raptors, weren't they? They could handle it.
Am I making a mistake by ignoring it? I don't know. What I did know was that I had to find someway to get through the last week without getting killed on this island.
I made it back to the church, got inside and barricaded the door, and went upstairs to the second floor to my office room. I needed some time to think to myself.
I sat and thought about a lot of what or what may not happen if I got involved with the raptor's war.
On one hand, my rifle and spear could come in use of dealing with any black stripe raptor I might encounter in battle.
On the other hand, I could end up being torn apart within second once the battle began.
My fight back with Nil was only a win because I had stabbed the raptor in the eye with my knife, but had not killed him.
If I had killed him I would have thought differently about the way things worked here on the island of Sorna.
I tried to get some sleep but it was tough. My mind was racing in different directions. And the middle of the day sunshine was not helping things to pass the time. So I got up and paced some more in the office.
Right now I'm so confused, its hard to think straight. But I was able to pull my mind together on what would be the outcome of the battle if I helped.
The black stripes were many but they were weak and starving. The forest pack were a strong group of fifteen or sixteen raptors in all. And they were fit for battle.
If I joined Tholestes' pack in defending their home, then there was nothing wrong with that. I wouldn't be in the heat of battle or charge in to fight alongside them. I guess that made sense.
On the one hand, I still could get killed. Defending the pack's territory was going to be tricky if a black stripe got through the ranks of sentries and attacked me while my guard was down. But I was convinced that my rifle and knife would be more then officiant enough to stop it.
Plus Darger would join the fight alongside his pack as well. And if his pack succeeded in taking over Phaganax's territory, then it would only be a matter of time before Darger himself would come to the church to kill me next.
I hadn't really thought of that.
And I really couldn't stay here in the church and wait for the last week to end just like that.
I had to make a decision. Do I get involved? I didn't know if I would survive this, but one thing was for sure; I was nobody's prey.
In the back of my mind, I knew I was prey.
The carnivorous dinosaurs in the past had always tried to eat me. And it was always because I had sometimes let my guard down or didn't pay attention to my surroundings.
Well, it was time to stop being a target and start being prey that fights back.
Like it or not, it was time to stop being an observer camera.
I got dressed in faded green shorts with a dull green tank-top. I kept on my hiking boots but adjusted my socks so they weren't too high on my ankles.
I went downstairs to the kitchen and prepared for what I needed.
I checked my bullets for my rifle and found that there were plenty for me to use. My knife lay on the counter as well and I put it back in it's sheath and then attached it to the strap around my ankle.
I put on a pair of Mechanix Wear M-Pact Fingerless Gloves and made sure they were on good and tight. These types of gloves had good dexterity with critical impact resistance for jobs big and small.
This job was not going to be small at all.
I made sure I had my rifle by my side on the strap 'round my shoulder. It was loaded. And so were my gas grenades along with it. They would be used later in case I needed them.
I went outside and closed the door behind me. I didn't know when I would be back to the church. But I somehow knew I would be back.
I just had to believe.
I pocketed my translator device in the fanny pack I had around my waist and zipped it shut.
I made my way through the jungle, heading back in the direction of the raptor nest.
Halfway through the jungle, I'm thinking that what I'm about to do could get me killed. Involving myself in a raptor fight would come with a big risk.
Not only that but I knew that many animal experts would probably lecture and scold me for interfering with the wildlife. The footage I had taken over the past eight weeks was proof of that. People would say that a raptor pack territory battle was a natural situation.
Well, it wasn't to me.
Tholestes and his pack were not from the natural world of the 21st century. They came from an age were dinosaurs ruled the earth. They were brought back to life by humans, of course. But they did not have the same rules or regulations as the animals of this century did. Therefore, I could interfere as much as I wanted. And who here on the island was there to stop me? No one around here on this island but myself. This was my decision.
I just hoped it was the right one.
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I had made it back to the raptor nest and located Phaganax at his and Kara's nest. He stood up as he saw me coming as I put on my translator device.
"Change your mind, did you?" He said with a slight hiss. "I thought you didn't want to get involved."
"I changed my mind, Phaganax," I said. "your pack is going to need all the help you can get. I hope it's not too late."
"It's not," Said Phaganax. "but I'm glad your here to help."
I approached him and faced the older alpha male raptor, my own face steady and firm.
"But if I do this, help you defend your pack's home from Darger and the other black stripes, I do it as a human." I said. I could feel my heart thumping a little because I couldn't believe I was doing this.
Now Phaganax is looking at me good, eyes narrowed down a little. "Why as a human, even though you are?"
"I will not fight as a raptor with my bare hands or teeth like you and your kind. I'm not strong enough for that. My rifle and knife are my weapons. They are what I'll use."
Phaganax nodded his head. "I understand. You humans have your way of defending yourselves, and we raptors have ours."
I nodded. "Now, where would you like me to be positioned, Phaganax?"
Phaganax turned and pointed toward the cliffs that were situated far away from the nesting site. Looking closely, I saw that there were a series of cave-like entrances in the cliffs. From far away they didn't look like much. The forest around that area was less dense there then here at the nest.
"Those caves," Said Phaganax. "are where Kara and the other younger raptors are now, along with some of the eggs that were saved, which include ours. I want you there with her to add for more protection, understood?"
I nodded. "I understand." I turned, adjusted my rifle, and headed in the direction of the cliffs.
As I walked I felt like I was in way over my head again. But I had to do this. It was the right thing. Tholestes and this pack were my friends. And that was something to fight for. It was worth fighting for.
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