Chapter 2

Owen Grady laid on his back on the ground, staring up at the stars. His heart hurt. He and the indominus had spoken long into the night, blue keeping her silent vigil the whole time. That the indominus was intelligent was obvious, but what wasn't as apparent was that she was also very much aware.

Part of owen's specialization had been child development and psychology. The raptors were nearly sentient, and their psychology was very similar to a developing human child. They were smart, smarter than dolphins or chimps, but they weren't quite "aware". They could recognize their reflections, pictures of themselves, even drawings. They could recognize that they could think, even, with some hard thinking, realize that others could think. But that was it. No concept of time. No ability to plan ahead. Some memory, but no ability to extrapolate based on the past beyond setting traps for prey.

The indominus, on the other hand… she was sentient. She could do all the things that humans could that a raptor couldn't. The first couple hours of their talk had been teaching her words for concepts. Words, not the concepts themselves. She knew, for example, what love was. To owen's shock, once she had the words, she had admitted that there was another that she loved. A sibling, an other that had been taken from her. Hidden away, leaving her alone. The simple fact that she was capable of experiencing loneliness was particularly heart rending.

She had originally broken free out of anger, pain, sadness and loneliness. Her only companion had been separated from her years ago, and after an eternity of suffering, the poor creature had had enough.

Still, this did raise one very important question; if she hadn't eaten the sibling, where was she?

While Owen was sleeplessly pondering these and other things, the indominus was sleeping, albeit fitfully. It is often said that dreams are a mixture of perception and memory. If that is true, then the dreams visited upon the snow scaled reptile were most definitely not happy ones. They never had been.

Two small siblings explore the vastness of their new home. Green things grew out of the ground, higher than they could see. Splashes of color also grew, and the girls amused themselves by mimicking the colors on their skins.

The smaller one quietly chirps, her eyes giving away the intent. She wanted to play. Flicking her tail in amusement, the larger one agrees.

"The chase game!"

"I run, you find?"

"Yes!"

"Yes."

And with that, the smaller one runs off, into the bushes. The larger one sniffs out the scent, tracking the trail left behind to find her sister. Normally, they would find each other and playfully tussle in the grass, wearing each other out before collapsing in a cuddle pile.

Today, new scents covered her sisters path. For hours, she searches. At first, she thinks it's all part of the game, that her sister is merely hiding better than she usually does. But, as the sun dips below the horizon, her sister is nowhere to be found.

She calls, desperately, plaintively. Within hours, she is hoarse. Within days, her voice is gone completely. She never did find her. And they said she ate her.

Owen was alerted to restless shifting. The indominus was apparently having a night mare, kicking and tossing in her sleep. She moaned, a pitiful, piteous sound, a sound thick with pain and sadness.

The crimson eyes flew open, the pupils contracting to slits before they searched for something, fruitlessly. Owen slowly stood, his hands out and open.

"Hey, hey, hey. Easy." He slowly walked towards her. "Did you have a bad dream?" He signed as he spoke, giving her new words every time they spoke.

The hellfire gaze landed squarely on him.

'Bad dream. Can't find…'

She struggled for the word, her hands wringing ineffectively.

"Your sister?"

'Yes. Sister. Sister is gone.'

"You miss her dont you. I'm sorry you feel bad. What was her name?"

'Name? What is name?'

"What is a name? A name is what others call you. My name is Owen. Do you have a name?"

Anger flitted across the crimson eyes. And shame.

'I not have name. Sister not have name.'

Owens heart broke. "They never gave you a name? Bastards. Would you like me to give you a name?"

Hope filled her eyes and her face brightened. She nodded emphatically.

"Well, in the morning, we will figure all this out and I will give you a name. I need you to sleep though, tomorrow will be busy and I don't want you to be grumpy. Will you try and sleep for me?"

A smile curled the snowy lips as she nodded. She settled back down and was asleep within minutes.

Owen took a little longer. He had learned a lot tonight, and he would be having words about this poor girl.

End chapter 2