I'm braving my Nameless-induced headache to finish editing this. UGH! NAMELESS! WHY YOU TRY KILL ME WITH YOUR VOICE?! Also, this chapter only involves dinos. And dinos talking to other dinos so... just using quotation marks.

Raptor
Drop Anchor
Chapter 25: Most Teeth

A few weeks earlier...

Alpha didn't hear. He was distracted as he pulled the door open and reached for her. She hadn't heard either. Not until the albino monster was looming above them. Why hadn't she heard? For just the briefest moment, she let her guard down. "Dad!" She screamed.

He turned too slowly. Ida struck him like lightning, moving faster than Charlie had seen her before. Owen didn't have time to react. Ida sunk her teeth into him and tore him away from the jeep, away from Charlie.

"Dad!" Charlie screamed again. She watched in horror as the monster whipped her head back and tossed him away, like he was nothing. Charlie scrambled out of the jeep, panic and fear gripping her. She ignored Ida completely, no longer seeing or hearing her. Only one thing was on her mind. "Alpha! Dad!" She stumbled as she ran to where he'd fallen.

Inside the building, Echo was halfway across the room, heading for the science lab. Blue was closer to her and Delta was still near the door. Buildings like this made the second oldest raptor nervous. She didn't like when she couldn't see the sky. The trailer was different, that was home. She didn't mind being in there. But Delta hated being in the big building. So she always lagged behind when inside. She'd wait until everyone was in and fall in behind. She followed Blue inside, but now she'd wait for Alpha and Charlie. Like a good girl.

Delta turned back to the door. She'd heard Charlie's scream. The door was about to close. She knew once it did, it would lock and the Mole man upstairs would have to unlock it. She darted forward without any real thought. She just knew the door had to stay open. She had to know why Charlie screamed. She lunged for the door, smacking her head right into it. She slid to the ground as pain radiated through her head. But her body had blocked the door, keeping it open.

Blue turned at the noise. "Delta!" She called out, running forward.

Delta closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head, the movement an immediate mistake. "Charlie." She rasped out. "Help Charlie."

Blue jumped over Delta and flew down the stairs.

Echo ran back over. She stared down at Delta, confused. "Delta okay?" She asked, rushing over.

Delta shook herself and stood up slowly. Echo stepped closer and touched her gently. Delta breathed out and nodded. The two ran out the door.

Blue didn't spare a second thought. She let out a growl and launched herself at Ida. She leapt clear over the jeep and sunk her teeth into Ida's arm. Ida barely flinched and whipped around, shaking Blue loose. Blue let out another growl and ran at her again. Delta joined in and lunged at her from the opposite side.

Ida spun around and snapped her much larger jaws at her. "Eggs!" She screeched. "Mine!"

"No!" Echo screamed from behind them, her voice carrying louder than any of them. She stood on the steps of the building, watching as Ida turned towards her. "MINE!"

Ida let out a tree shaking roar. None of the sisters flinched. None of them seemed to even hear her. Blue, Delta, and Echo circled Ida. Every time the larger dinosaur turned, one of them would dart in and snap at her tail, legs, belly, whatever they could get to. Ida grew angrier. She turned quicker and managed to grad the tip of Echo's tail. Echo dug her claws into the ground as Ida pulled her.

Blue jumped up on Ida's back and Delta darted up under her and grabbed her arm. But Ida was too big and too strong. She let go of Echo and bent and twisted forward enough to grab Delta. Delta let out a surprised, terrified squeal as she was ripped off the ground and flung through the air. She landed with a hard thud, the air knocked out of her.

Blue screamed again and rushed at Ida, Echo right behind her.

Charlie had found Owen. The raptor trainer was lying in the rubble of a broken bench, very close to the railing surrounding Moe's tank. "Dad!" She reached for him slowly. She grabbed his shirt between her teeth and gently pulled him free from the twisted wood and metal. He wasn't moving. She got him flat and rolled him over on his back. "Dad?" She whispered. She reached out gently and touched him with her nose. He was breathing, she was sure. At least she thought she was sure. It was just really shallow.

Charlie had been too focused on Alpha to pay attention to the fight. But when she felt the thud on the ground close to her, she whipped around, a snarl on her lips. If Ida touched Alpha again... her eyes widened and she rushed over to her fallen sister. "Delta!"

Delta lifted her head. "Alpha?"

"Broke." Charlie answered.

Delta lifted her head higher, trying to see around Charlie. "Dead?"

Charlie glanced back. "Don't know." She said honestly.

Delta picked herself up slowly. "Ida die." She ground out between clenched teeth. "Now!"

Charlie breathed out. She turned to watch Blue and Echo still circling Ida. "Get Rexy!" She said suddenly.

Delta paused. "Rexy?"

Charlie nodded her head. "Delta fastest now. Get Rexy."

Delta glanced at Charlie and nodded her head. She turned and took off sprinting.

Charlie ambled back to Owen. She resumed trying to clear his wounds.

Delta ran, as fast as she could. Her feet practically flew over the ground. Rexy might be home. Delta hoped she was at home. The T-Rex had spent a lot of time at their trailer the last couple days. If she wasn't there, maybe she'd be somewhere close. "Rexy!" Delta called a she ran. "Rexy, Rexy!" She slowed suddenly and stopped. She could hear the footsteps and the trees parted. "Rexy!"

The larger dinosaur blinked and bent down closer. She tilted her head. Rexy had been on her way to the resort. She'd gone to the trailer and found it empty. She knew the next place to look would be where the normal human was.

"Ida!" Delta squealed loudly. "Ida attack control. Alpha broke! Rexy help!"

Rexy nodded her head and took off running. Delta turned quickly. She let out a snort and raced off to followed. Rexy couldn't just give her one moment to catch her breath? Delta immediately felt guilty over that thought. No. They needed Rexy's help now. And they needed to hurry. They slowed as they reached the central plaza.

"Blind." Delta said. "Ida broke eye." Rexy nodded her head and Delta slipped out in front of her. They crept closer silently and watched.

Blue and Echo still circled an angry Ida. They were faster, more agile. Echo was bleeding from marks on her tail and Blue had similar ones on her back and neck. But neither seemed unfazed as they darted around, under, and even over the larger predator. All the training sessions with Owen over the years, he'd given them an advantage. They didn't just think like animals. They thought like humans, like soldiers. They signaled to each other, using signs they'd picked up, things Ida didn't understand.

"Wait!" Delta hissed lowly to Rexy. Rexy bent down beside her, low to the ground. She shifted her head back and forth, keeping the fight in her line of sight. She wasn't exactly as hidden as the small raptor. In fact, she was very visible, the gift shop not even covering half of her.

But Ida was preoccupied, her attention on the small raptors. She didn't look over. She reared up suddenly and let out a loud roar. She was angled so that her blind side faced the hiding dinosaurs.

"Now!" Delta hissed. "Surprise!"

Rexy lunged forward. Blue let out a roar, keeping Ida's attention as Rexy slammed into her. The T-Rex threw the younger dinosaur to the ground and pinned her. Blue, Echo, and Delta ran forward, snapping at her exposed, vulnerable areas. Ida twisted in Rexy's hold and kicked with her legs. She caught Echo and the youngest raptor stumbled back.

They still weren't enough! Charlie watched from her spot guarding Owen. She breathed out and glanced around. She wanted to help! But she knew she couldn't fight. She could barely walk upright. But they needed help. They needed... Charlie's eyes widened and her attention snapped back to the fight. "Echo!" She yelled. "Echo!"

Echo turned towards her and darted over to her. "Dad?" Echo tried to push past her.

Charlie shook her head. "Moe.

Echo tilted her head. "Moe?"

"Get Moe!" Charlie insisted. "Ida not breathe water."

Echo's eyes widened. "Not Nemo!"

Charlie nodded her head.

"Dad?" Echo said, a touch softer.

"Broke. Fix later."

Echo nodded again and turned.

Charlie glanced back at Owen. She hoped she wasn't lying. She took a deep breath. "Here!" She called out, trying to get the wrestling dinosaurs' attention. "Over here!"

Echo ran to the edge of Moe's tank. "Moe!" She called out loudly. "Moe!"

The dark shadow in the tank was already near the top. Moe had felt the vibrations of Rexy's entrance and was on her way up to investigate. It had been rather quiet about her part of the island lately. And she rather liked it. Her favorite thing to do was lie at the bottom of her tank and sleep. She couldn't well do that when someone big was up top, shaking the ground.

Echo wiggled a bit in anticipation. She glanced over at Charlie. "Moe come!"

"Now!" Charlie called out.

Ida twisted again, trying harder to get loose.

Moe breached the surface. She blinked her eyes lazily and opened her enormous mouth in a yawn.

"Moe! Moe!" Echo bounced.

"Sleeeeeeep." The deep voice boomed, the water rippling from her movements.

"Help!" Echo said. "Ida!" Echo turned and looked back.

Rexy lifted Ida up and slammed her down again. But the old girl was getting tired. Keeping the younger dinosaur pinned was taking a lot out of her. She hadn't meant to, but her grip slacked just the tiniest bit. Ida felt it. She twisted hard, rolling on her back underneath the T-Rex. Sharp teeth cut into her as she did but she barely felt it as anger coursed through her. The weird, soft raptor had stolen her eggs. She let out a roar and kicked Rexy.

The T-Rex was thrown and she stumbled back, falling on the ground. Delta and Blue jumped at Ida. But she stood and turned sharply. She caught them both with her tail and sent them flying. She'd rip this whole place apart! She knew they were around here somewhere! Her eggs. She would get them back! No stupid puny raptors or old T-Rex was going to stop her.

"Mine!"

Ida turned towards the voice. Her eyes narrowed and she focused in on that one, on the fat, loud raptor. Her scent had been all over her nest. That one and the weird raptor. They'd stolen her eggs. She lowered her head slightly, a growl on her lips.

"Mine!" Echo taunted again. "Echo eggs!" She was standing right in front of the railing, pressed as close as she could get to it. "Ida dumb!"

Ida ignored the others around her. She only saw the bouncing raptor. And she was going to rip the annoying thing to pieces. She roared again and raced forward. But before she reached Echo, the raptor turned and climbed over the railing. She disappeared over the edge. Ida slid to a stop, frowning. She leaned over the railing, looking at the water below. She didn't see Echo. She didn't see anything. She let out a frustrated snort and lifted her gaze. She scanned the whole weird lake.

Ida didn't see the shadow rising to the surface again. Moe was slow most of the time. Because she was lazy. But when she needed to be, she was fast. She moved through the water smoothly and silently. She breached the surface, her momentum propelling her high enough to grab the surprised I-Rex around her neck. Moe clamped her jaws shut and as she fell back into the water, she dragged Ida down with her.

"Echo!" Charlie was the first to the railing. She leaned over . Blue, Delta, and Rexy followed and all four leaned over. There was no sign of Moe or Ida. The Mosasaurus had taken her deep. But they spied Echo. She was swimming near the edge.

"Ida no Nemo!" Echo said proudly. "But Echo can Nemo!"

Rexy turned to the side and lowered her tail over the side. Echo grabbed hold and was lifted out. Rexy lowered her to the ground and Echo started shaking herself.

Blue ran up to her and snapped at her. "Echo!"

Echo's eyes widened and she ducked down. "What?"

"Echo dumb!" Blue snarled.

Echo pouted a bit and breathed out as she pressed herself to the ground. "Echo Moe friend." She said softly, like that was a fact.

Delta peered into the water once again. "Ida really dead?" She mused more to herself. She watched but there still was no sign of movement.

Blue snorted loudly and nodded her head. She snapped her jaws at Echo again before turning to Charlie. "Alpha?" The four raptors and Rexy turned to the still unmoving human. Charlie had tried her best but his wounds were still bleeding. Blue bent down and nudged him gently. They had to get him somewhere safe. Somewhere where they could protect him, until he got better. They couldn't take him into the building. Despite Charlie's attachment to Mole, they couldn't talk to him without Alpha. And Blue doubted the excitable human could actually help. They couldn't take him back to the trailer. They couldn't all fit inside. Not without breaking something. And breaking was bad.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: Only a couple chapters left! 8D