Hello all, Books here for another update!

Before i get started I would like to thank all of you, for your Reviews, Favs, and Follows. Never did I expect so many when I began this story, and it means more than you know.

Im hoping in the coming chapters my work will continue to satisfy, and I hope you continue to give me your feedback.

To answer some reviews...yes, I will soon be updating Return To Sangheilios. I've had alot on my plate recently, so I fixed my attention on only one fanfic for some time. I PROMISE IT WILL BE DONE!

So! I hope what comes next is satisfactory, and I look foreword to showing you all my plans in the very near future.

NOTE: The month of Nov., is the official National Novel Writing Month, and I have agreed to accept its challenge with my book "Why So Blue?".

My challenge, will be to write 50k words in 30 days, as a motivation for me to continue bringing updates!

Wish me luck! And know that chapters will now be coming out at least once a week!

BOOKS OUT!


"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"

Chapter 9

"What We Have Learned"


~Owen's POV~


It had been an interesting day. Less eventful in means of "run from hungry dinosaurs" than he had expected, but interesting.

Owen stood on the front porch of the house, in which he and Barry had agreed would serve a suitable 'camp' during their stay on the island. His arms were crossed and his jaw was set, as his eyes gazed blankly out into the dark forest ahead; beyond the perimeter fence.

The day's earlier search of the village had proved somewhat of a waste of time.

Any hope of finding fuel, repairing a vehicle, or getting power to the settlement, was a hope lost in the 22 years the island was left abandoned. Fuel was spoiled, vehicles were becoming one with the forest, and power...

Well...that was the interesting part.

Owen shifted and scratched his chin.

Him and Barry had taken a crack at the power system, just for the sake of it. They had flipped the breaker expecting nothing.

At the time of the island's evacuation, all power plants were supposedly shut down and left to fall apart, as many of the other buildings had. Power just wasn't an option...yet...when they flipped the switch in the breaker box...

Showered in sparks, was an understatement. What can you expect when a system of rotten circuits and wiring is flooded with electricity?

They had to be quick, when the resulting explosion set off a fire within the warehouse; burning off some of the plant life on the walls before they were able to smother it under an old canvas tarp.

So there was power on the island? How?

Owen was severely confused, as he stood on the porch that night and puzzled over the mystery.

You can't have power without the facilities or the staff to create it. It was like expecting a garden to grow vegetables without planting seeds.

Suddenly, interrupting his thoughts, a voice sounded from behind, "Still worrying over her?"

Owen blinked and returned to the present, then turned to lean against a creaky support beam. He found Barry standing in the house's open doorway holding an open bag. On the front he could make out the brand of a high end jerky; one that Barry appeared ready to begin eating.

But, uninterested in food at the moment, Owen sighed.

Her...as in Blue.

She had disappeared that morning after an incident with two Utahraptors at the perimeter fence. They were attempting to attack her when he found them, which didn't surprise him much because of similar hostility occurring between wolves and coyotes in the wild. Both were from the same class, but very rarely were they ever seen interacting with the other species on a friendly note.

So, he shot a few rounds from his rifle, which injured one of the raptors and forced them to flee back into the jungle. He made sure all was well with his raptor before returning to help Barry.

Too muddle minded, Owen hadn't noticed till that evening that Blue had left the village and had not yet returned.

Yes. He was worrying over her too.

Seeing the look in his eyes Barry huffed before finding a seat on the deck railway, "I keep telling you this, and I keep hoping you'll get it. Blue's a raptor; she'll be fine."

Grimacing Owen huffed and shook his head.

"If a lion raised in captivity was given the chance to be released into Africa, would it survive?"

Barry gave a sour look, and sighed, "Most likely, no. But Owen..."

Owen replied back in a bit of a tense tone, and his eyebrows furrowed, "Don't try to tell me its different because she's a dinosaur."

And it wasn't.

In the situation of a lion raised from birth in captivity, then released into the wild at adulthood; it would lack the skill and experience to hunt or defend itself, and animals of its own kind would resent it. It would die within weeks.

"I have every right to be worried about my raptor. She's smart, but a student can only know what has been taught by its teacher."

There was silence, and Barry chuckled weakly before grabbing a piece of jerky, "Don't try to get all wise on me, Owen..."

At this Owen couldn't help but crack a smile. However it soon faded and he looked back up to the darkening night sky, "It's true, Barry. She only knows as much as she was taught within the enclosure. If Blue can't find a pack for safety and opportunities to learn how to properly survive...I'm afraid all of our effort into saving her will have been for nothing."

Thinking of his raptor, the man remembered the previous night of sleeping with her in the back room. She had dragged him back there and pinned him down, despite his attempts at getting her to stop. It resulted in a long night of numb legs and discomfort of his position.

It ended, finally, in the early morning when Owen awoke to discover Blue had rolled off of him in her sleep. It was his chance; making sure to get out quiet and not wake her up.

Thinking of that made Owen smile softly, then sigh.

His raptor still depended on him...especially after the deaths of her sisters. It had been a long time since he had seen Blue break down and show him such a need for comfort in his presence. She was maybe a hatchling the last time she acted like that.

Her time alone on Nublar had changed her.

Owen just hoped that eventually she would find her place and adapt...without him.


~Blue's POV~


Hours, she spent in that valley. Hours spent hunting and with what to show for it? Exhaustion, deflated spirit, and an ever hungry pit in her gut.

The sun was lowering on the horizon; signaling the coming of the evening amidst a canvas of silky oranges and purples, as if paint had been cast over the clouds above. Glimpses of brightening stars had begun to appear in the sky, and nighttime creatures were beginning to stir within the jungle.

Blue kept her eyes fixed on the ground and she walked, with lips twitching ever so often into a frustrated growl.

She gave her all to bring down prey and satisfy her hunger. But after her failed attempt at snatching a Gallimimus and getting chased off by a Triceratops, all of her prey were put on edge.

The herds were alert and kept their watchful eyes on her from every angle; every opportunity she would have had before. The element of surprise was lost with the first hunt and without a pack...

Blue knew she wouldn't be able to get her food there. Not that day at least.

So she headed back for the village; head low and mood ever darkening as she grumbled and hissed over the misfortunes of the day. Alone, she did not have strength in her surprise attacks, nor were her chases ending with victory.

All Blue wanted was the occasional victory, and a meal to get her by.

In the days of the park, when she and her sisters were confined to the enclosure, food was always easy to come by.

Pigs, goats, and small cows used to come into their 'domain' through a tiny hatch in the metal wall; shoved through in a fit of squeals and cries by a human on the other side. Sometimes a Gallimimus was thrown into the mix in order to give them some variety.

But it never was a hunt, now that Blue thought back on it. It was never as if their prey could escape them.

The enclosure walls kept them running in circles; crying out as Blue and her sisters gave chase. Sometimes they let them escape, just to run after them again in a game of tag, and corner them seconds later to make the kill.

The kills were always inevitable; always a game more than anything. It was never survival that depended on every move and every mistake they made in the hunt.

That's what Blue was discovering since her time alone in the wild. Make a mistake, and you could pay for it dearly.

Out of the enclosure the prey had room to escape, and were often big enough to fight back. A lot of creatures fought back, as she knew well by now.

At that thought Blue snorted and stopped on her path. Her tail flicked in agitation and her stomach protested, as she lifted her gaze to a looming shape before her.

It was the village front gate; still standing tall, and closed, as she suspected.

Grumbling, it took her a moment to climb the fence links, before she dropped to the ground with a soft thunk and regained her stature.

Now...to find Owen and Barry, and make sure they didn't get into their own trouble while searching the village.

The raptor snorted and lifted her head; cocking it to one side and straining to detect any sounds coming from within the village.

Insects, the occasional bird, and the cry of a distance rodent reached her senses. But, just vaguely, she could hear voices. They weren't coming from the warehouse like she thought, but rather from the human dens.

They must have gone back for the night.

Glancing over her shoulder at the shadowed jungle Blue clicked her talons, then turned and slinked foreword through the grass. She was silent; golden eyes looking ahead as the house came to view. Light shone through the lower floor windows, and on the front deck, she could see two figures.

She could hear Barry speak amidst an odd sharp crackle, and as she snuck closer through the darkness she saw him sitting up on the deck rail; hand reaching into a bag that...

Blue's nostrils quivered, and she snorted softly when she detected an odd smell emanating from the bag. It smelled like meat...but...also something else...

Flicking her tail she growled slightly. Meat was the one thing she had been trying to get that day...and that man had it all along. It made her bristle and curl her lips in agitation.

She stepped foreword; muzzle poking into the carpet of light from the windows, then parting to make a small warble of greeting.

Next to Barry leaning against the deck's support beam was Owen. Blue could see a look in his eyes...his thinking face...

But when Blue called to them, his eyes lifted, and gave a small sparkle as his lips turned upwards slightly.

"Hey Blue! Finally decide to come back home?"

Head and tail high Blue chirped softly, her bad mood lightening for a moment as she walked slowly up towards the house deck. She could sense the relief in his voice, which made her snort and puff out her chest with pride that he still worried for her.

Someone still cared for her atleast.

Owen and Barry followed her with their eyes; Owen sighing heavily, "You shouldn't try to go out without me knowing, Blue."

Barry reached into his bag with a chuckle and shake of his head, "You sound like a father scolding his child late for curfew."

Owen cast him a glance, and Blue just chuffed as she stepped up the deck stairs. Her talons clicked into the wood and her weight made the old boards groan, but walking foreword her eyes strayed to Barry.

Gazing at him she chirped an apology to Owen, not completely understanding what he spoke to her but hearing the worry in his voice. Her eyes remained locked on Barry...or rather...the bag in his hands.

Stronger now Blue could smell the meat inside; covered in an odd sharp aroma she could not identify. It made her nose wrinkle, and her claws wriggled curiously. She wondered what it tasted like, and her stomach churned.

Not noticing the raptor's gaze, Barry smiled and lifted a piece of jerky. Almost ready to bite into it, he looked up to see Blue standing there; nearly drooling as her eyes followed the meat in his hand.

She made a small chirping sound, and Barry went wide eyed, "Blue. No, this is mine."

He nodded sharply and pulled the bag to his chest, "Mine." Speaking with a slow tone as if trying to get a toddler to understand, "Mine!"

Owen huffed from behind, "Barry..."

His eyebrows were furrowing together, as he watched his raptor square up and tilt her head as she stared at Barry.

Barry had meat...she had to have meat...even if he challenged her for it. She could hear the slight possessive hostility in his voice.

Blue's eyes took on a mischievous hungry gleam, and Barry stood from the rail, "Blue, no. Owen, tell her to back off."

She crouched low and inched foreword with a small hiss, and she curled her lips to state her want of Barry's meat. She'd have it...he was just a human; he'd be no trouble for her.

Alpha spoke from behind, "You should know by now Barry. No one gets between Blue and her food; you saw that when the kid fell into their pen at the park."

Barry huffed, "But you saved him; got between them and their food."

Owen chuckled, "If I'd been in there a second more they would have had my head for it."

Blue snorted at this and clicked her talons. Closer she inched; chuffing softly and tensing. All she had to do was snatch it from his hands...she just had to be quick.

Owen huffed, "Barry just give her a piece. Obviously she's hungry." This time he sounded a little tense. Hungry...yes...yes she was hungry.

Before Barry could reply, Blue shot foreword and he gasped as her teeth locked over his bag. She went to jerk her head backwards, but his hands gripped tighter and she blinked when he jerked foreword with it.

She growled and Barry growled back, "I'm hungry too! She can go get her own food!"

He tugged back, and Blue squinted her eyes. So this was a challenge? He thought he could keep this meat from her?

Even as her teeth punctured the bag Blue could almost taste the meat in her mouth. She tugged back again, and added a sharp thrashing motion from her head, like a dog trying to tear apart a chew toy. This shook Barry up and he grunted, "Blue I swear!"

That was when she was aware of a loud disturbance; Owen, laughing behind them. He stood with his hand to his stomach and his teeth flashing, as his friend was very nearly thrown around at the end of his jerky bag.

Blue hissed between her teeth and glared up at the man, before shaking again. This time his hands lost a bit of their grip, and Blue saw her chance.

Rising up tall the raptor growled again; stretching her height to its max so that Barry had to raise his arms to keep his hold. This broke his braced stance, and Blue chuffed.

Suddenly, faster than Barry could recover, she then spun on her hindquarters and flung the man at the end of the bag. Barry made a small cry, and released his hold to avoid tumbling over the side of the deck. He stumbled a few feet, then grabbed the rail and came to a jolting stop.

Victory.

Blue held the bag in her jaws with a face very nearly beaming. Her eyes shone and her tail waved back and forth with pride of her own superiority. Barry was no match for her; she was the stronger and more dominant.

Alpha's laughter only made her spirits lift higher.

Turning her attentions to the bag in her jaws, Blue snorted as Barry stood up and huffed angrily, "Blue!"

He was using his scolding voice, and Blue turned an uninterested eye his way. He had no authority over her. He was friend, but not Alpha...an Omega, if he was to be anything of pack rank.

Flicking her tail the raptor tilted her snout up and turned to stride a few feet away, before coming to a stop and dropping her bag.

It flopped onto the wood with a flat smack, and Blue churred, then leaned down to clamp her teeth onto the edge of the package. She then stepped on the opposite end with her foot, and pulled sharply.

The seal Barry had attempted to close peeled open and the plastic stretched, then snapped. It stuck in Blue's teeth but she spat it out quickly and set her sights on her meal.

It wasn't as tasty as she had hoped.

The meat was tougher, with no bloody juices or a raw tenderness. The humans had also added an odd mixture of gritty...things...that gave a bit of a kick to the meat when she bit into it.

Cooked meat and added spices weren't her favorite.

But, hunger driving her on she ignored Barry's angry gaze and continued to eat the strips; swallowing them down and giving a slight purr as her stomach felt its satisfaction.

There wasnt much, as she ate the last few bites and licked her lips with another soft purr. Barry crossed his arms, "Well I'm glad you liked it. I paid some good money for that jerky!"

She just grunted, and turned to face the two humans as her tongue darted out to lick the last taste of her snack.

Owen sighed and patted his friend on the back, "Tell you what. We get this all done with and get back to the states, I'll buy you all the jerky you could want."

Barry raised an eyebrow, "Yah. With your girlfriend's money?"

Owen's face distorted before he stepped foreword past Blue to enter the house, "I told you. I just borrowed some to buy our trip out here. Thats not so bad is it?"

Blue watched them argue back and forth a bit, but knew Alpha's strategy. He was calming Barry down and getting him off her back.

He was a good Alpha.

They entered the door, but pausing, Owen glanced over his shoulder at his raptor. The lantern behind illuminated half of his face and Blue could see the contemplation in his eyes.

He pursed his lips, then nodded, "Want to come in, Blue?"

She heard the tone of his offer in his voice, and she tilted her head.

He did not fight her, but rather, offered her to accompany them. Alpha didn't ask her to stay outside like he had tried to do the night before.

Not that she would have listened if he had done so this night.

Staring at her Alpha Blue made a small churr, and he nodded with a small encouraging smile. He wasnt rejecting her wishes to be close to him...

Stepping slowly foreword Blue made a pleased chuff, before entering the doorway past Owen and into the main room.

She slept well that night near her humans. Alpha didnt let her lay on him, like before, but he let her sleep next to the couch. It was close enough, and every time Barry would grumble she would reply with a soft grunt and growl.

Her dreams were sour with replays of her failed hunts of that day, but through this night she was free of nightmares.

The Indominus spared her for now.


~The next morning~


"You sure you want to go out by yourself?"

Feet shuffled over the wooden floor, followed by the click of a bullet sliding into a rifle chamber.

"I need to get a view of the land around us. Plus, I could use some time with Blue. The more I know she can handle out here, the better I'll feel about leaving her."

There was a pause, and Owen huffed, "Don't even try to say it. You saw how hungry she was last night."

Barry replied with a short sigh, "You dont think she's eating?"

"No, I dont."

As the voices wavered through the room and reached her hearing, Blue grumbled softly and slit one eye open with a small shift. Her vision was blurred with sleep, which she blinked away and looked up to see two human figures standing not far away.

Owen was pulling on a black leather vest; depositing a handful of ammunition into the pocket before stooping down and grabbing his rifle that leaned against the nearby wall.

Slinging it over his shoulder he nodded, and Blue opened both eyes with a curious warble before lifting her head.

Was Alpha going somewhere?

She gave a soft chittering call, and Owen turned to see her lying there with a brightening of his eyes. She tilted her head curiously and he nodded, "Ready to go on a walkabout, Blue?"

He turned, and opened the house's front door before glancing back at Barry, "You'll be alright?"

His friend nodded, and Blue chuffed again before shifting to her feet and releasing a long yawn. Licking her lips she heard Owen call, "Blue eyes on me."

She hadn't understood him quite enough to know just what he was doing, but at that simple command her eyes snapped up and her body tensed. All attention was on him.

The human nodded and gestured with a wave of his hand outside. Blue could see the morning fog in the distance and hear the birds sing happily. The sun was rising.

She also saw her human smile warmly and chuckle, "Come on; let's get moving."

He then turned, and walked swiftly out onto the front deck before hitting the ground and continuing on towards the gate. Blue blinked at this, and a warble lifted before she felt a bubble of excitement.

Alpha was going out into the jungle with her?

Muscles binding the raptor flicked her tail, then without another hesitation leapt out the door after her Alpha. She jumped over the deck rails, and hit the ground before rocketing foreword to catch up.

He was at the gate when she got to him; straining and struggling to pull the sliding section over to allow their exit. Metal scraped on the concrete and Blue shifted with an excited impatient churr.

She could run with Alpha again, like she and her sisters had run with him while they hunted the Indominus. They could race through the trees...

But, as she lifted a talon to strike the ground in her happiness, Blue noticed something.

Owen had the gate open enough for them to squeeze through, and he reached up to grab his rifle before turning, "You ready, Blue?"

He did not have his metal vehicle, like he had when he ran with the raptors. It made him fast enough to keep up with them...otherwise...

Blue's excitement deflated slightly and she let out a deep huff. Otherwise the humans were particularly slow...

Owen turned to her, then nodded and stepped on towards the jungle, "Lets get this show on the road."


...


Slowly time passed, as Blue and Owen walked a perimeter around the village in a massive circle. Through thickets and over streams they went on; slowly but silently. Emphasis on slow for Blue.

Walking just behind the human, Blue's eyes drifted slowly from each side of the trail; keeping watch for danger amidst the occasional huff of boredom.

A raptor's mind was always running and always processing thoughts. They worked well with speed and intensity.

At this speed...shadowing a human as he slinks through the jungle at a walk and nothing more...

Blue grumbled softly to herself, but did not protest to Alpha. She knew better than to do that and she knew she should be thankful that he was even there with her.

Ever so often she would catch him checking on her; his eyes showing his comfort of the walk and his smile telling her he was probably enjoying this more than she thought.

So she kept quiet and followed, even when she felt the onset of hunger.

Hunger; such an annoying reminder when you are unable to satisfy it. Blue tried to hiss and ignore it, then push on, but her snack from the night before had worn off.

Eventually it made her senses heighten and she began to glance around not for danger, but for food. Surely somewhere on this island was a creature she could handle.

To her realization and glee however, Blue remembered that Alpha was with her. While she knew he was not fast, and not desirable for a hunting partner because of that, he had his gun.

Blue knew guns could cause wounds and pain, like the Utahraptor the day before. But she also knew they could kill despite their simple appearance.

One had killed Echo, after all.

Trying not to dwell on that memory Blue came to a stop on the trail. It took a moment for Owen to realize it but he eventually turned, and frowned, "Blue?"

She bobbed her head slightly and chirped to him.

Nearby, she knew was the valley; filled to the brim with prey. Alpha could help her hunt, and she could finally get a good meal.

When Owen raised an eyebrow but did not move, Blue chuffed stiffly and flicked her muzzle in the direction of the hunting grounds. He blinked at this, and she warbled insistently before turning to take a step.

He finally nodded, "Have something you want to show me?"

She chirped, and saw him smile before shrugging, "Alright. We can take a detour."

As he stepped after her, Blue made a pleased chuff before leading the way on a new trail. Her strides were long and she often had to correct them in order for Owen to keep up.

First she led him to the field in which the velociraptor pack had killed the Parasauralophus, passing the dissapearing bones of the carcass, then they came to the valley.

Breaking through the treeline with a final warble of excitement, Blue gazed out over the land with a look of confidence. Alpha was with her now, prey beware.

She turned to show her teeth as Owen came up beside her. His eyes were wide and his jaw slack in awe.

In the light of the afternoon sun, the river that flowed through the valley sparkled brightly. Herds of hundreds of herbivores grazed and laid about; some of the younger ones frolicking while the herd matriarchs or bulls kept watch.

Owen spoke in a soft tone, "This is amazing..."

Yes, amazing. Now, onto hunting.

Blue snorted in a short puff of breath and turned to nudge her Alpha; nearly knocking him over as he blinked with wide eyes, "Blue!"

She chattered to him, but when his expression of confusement didnt change she turned to stare at the herbivores below their hillside. She stared, as if by some way Owen could see through her eyes.

Owen watched her for a moment; eyes darting between the raptor and the valley and hand reaching up to scratch his chin. He didnt seem about ready to understand anytime soon.

Fantastic...

Defeated, Blue groaned and let her tail droop as she gazed in frustration to the human. How she wished sometimes she could speak his language. So many problems could be solved...

Including her hunger...

But, in that moment as she stared at her Alpha, Blue felt her gut churn violently. It made her shift in discomfort and grumble, but then, there came a loud protest. Her stomach growled out angrily and rose to her hearing; which she suspected was loud enough even for Owen to hear.

He blinked in surprise, and Blue nearly cried out in victory. Finally, someone who cared enough knew she was in need and could do something about it. It was Alpha's job to give help when needed.

And Owen was a good Alpha, as he clenched his jaw and nodded, "Oh."

Oh, yes!

For a moment he pursed his lips and thought, then glanced to the valley and its hundreds of occupants. His hand gripped his rifle, and Blue tilted her head when he nodded, "Alright, let's go."

Leading the way with quiet footsteps Owen stepped towards the herds over the next small hillside, which Blue soon followed. With a short chirp and click of her teeth she couldn't help but show her thrill.

It didn't take them long to reach the outer edge of the valley; hiding behind the cover of a ticket of bushes and foliage. Blue was interested to see how this hunt would transpire, when Owen had his gun.

Bending low next to Owen, Blue curled her lips slightly and peered through the leaves at the herds in the distance. They remained more to the center of the valley than the day before, and the herd leaders seemed to be tense, even if they had not yet sensed her presence.

Tilting her head at this Blue snorted, and Owen shifted beside her.

"One shot; thats all I'm going to give you right now, Blue. If something happens later on I'm counting on these for my protection."

He nodded with a shake of his head as he lifted the rifle butt to his shoulder, "You should be doing this hunting thing yourself, if you've got any chance out here."

Blue saw him look through the scope, and warbled curiosly.

Odd...the humans look through that little round thing and it does what?

She glanced over the gun barrel and followed Owen's sights to a distance Gallimimus flock. They were maybe 200 hards away, maybe more.

Could human guns reach that far?

She waited a moment; expecting the thunder crash with a tense body and alert eyes that darted between the prey as if to predict which one the bullet would hit.

For moments of silent eternity she waited, until Alpha squeezed the trigger.

It was indeed like thunder, that made her jump with a sharp squawk and bared teeth with surprise. The herds erupted, and even from their bushes Owen and Blue could see them panic in a rumble of stampeding prey.

They fled to the opposite side of the valley; leaving the area carpeted in dust that hung in the air like a curtian.

Shaking her head at the ringing in her ears, Blue heard Owen make a small whistle sound.

"Well I think we got it, Blue."

He ejected a bullet from the rifle champer and placed it in his pocket before again peering rough the scope. It was as if it allowed the humans to see at greater distances.

Heart thumping in her chest Blue stood and flicked her tail as Owen smiled, "Yup. One down and for the count. Should be good eating, Blue...well...if I actually knew what dinosaurs tasted like."

She followed his gaze, and nearly cried out in a fit of surprise and excitement at the sight of a single downed Gallimimus laying in the grass where its flock once was.

Those human weapons were better than she thought.

The raptor warbled, and Owen nodded with a wave of his hand, "Go on and bonapetite; I'm going to keep watch up here."

Blue didnt tear her eyes from the prey as she flicked her tail and churred softly in thanks to her Alpha. Her feet were already stepping foreword and her mouth watered.

Food almost in her grasp with no hassle at all. This was great.

Before taking off, the raptor turned and Alpha looked up to meet her warm golden gaze. A smile touched his lips and she crooned gently again in appreciation.

Owen chuckled, and gestured with a nod of his head to the kill site, "okay, Blue; you're welcome. Now go get that thing before somebody else does."

Turning away from him in that moment, Blue was down within minutes. Like Alpha said, he remained behind, whilst she rocketed down the hillside, through the grass, and to the kill.

Mind no longer on the human, but on her meat, she slid to a stop before the body and licked her lips.

A good shot, Alpha had placed the bullet just above the section located near the Gallimimus's heart. It had blown out one shoulder, but the kill was neat and quick.

It lay sort of awkward on the grass; legs splayed out and head curled up towards it's back. Blue didnt know if this was from the sheer impact of the bullet, or the fleeing feet of its flock trampeling it as they ran.

Shrugging this off Blue licked her chops, before stepping foreword next to the carcass, unable to wait for much longer.

Her foot raised to press against its side and her talon lowered to pierce the hide, resulting in an oozing of blood. She stooped low, and latched her teeth over the flesh to snap her head back and tear the hide with a low ripping sound.

It tasted so good; warm blood oozing over her tongue and fresh meat welcoming her restless stomach. A purr escaped her, but her tail just whipped back and forth as she dug into her meal.

She felt like she could eat it all, right down to the bone.

It wasn't far from the truth.

Movements jerked with a supressed frantic urge, Blue tried to savor the comfort of the meal, until she had eaten nearly all it had to offer.

Her stomach was quiet and full for once in months...almost too full...but she couldnt let a single portion go to waste, or risk it being her last meal in the next few days.

Blue lifted her head and churred happily, before wriggling her claws and licking all the blood that remained on her muzzle.

A quick grooming also cleaned her feet, and hide where her meal had strayed and made a mess of her scales.

She felt an overwhelming contentment. Finally, a kill to satisfy her hunger.

Eyes lifting to the valley beyond Blue caught sight of the nearby river, and she stepped foreword towards its shore with a slow gait. The mud on the edge of the water was deep and caked to her feet; stirred up by the herbivores that walked through.

Ignoring the sloppiness the raptor snorted, and leaned down to dip her muzzle in the water and drink her fill.

Breath easing in and out her eyes continued to study her surroundings; darting from the distant herds that insisted on cowering in a corner, to the mess of footprints on her either side.

Inspecting each distinctive print Blue wondered why the herbivores had not yet returned to the center of the valley. She was no longer a threat on a full stomach. They had chased her off before.

But, her thoughts were interrupted as her eyes fixed on a group of footprints beside her.

Two toes...two sets...much larger than her own.

Utahraptor prints.

Rearing her head back Blue snorted and curled her lips in distate. She remembered her Utahraptor "friends" from the day before and finding such evidence was no way a reassuring thing.

The tracks were fresh; probably from that morning before she and Alpha arrived.

Leaning down over the prints in the mud Blue could make out a fault in one of the sets. A break...as if one of the raptors was wounded and favoring one leg.

She snorted past a growl in her throat. These were the two she had seen the day before...she could smell them, and could sense a trail leading upriver. Eventually it broke off of the shore, and headed for the nearby ridges and cliffs that walled off the valley from the coast.

Blue was going to snort in approval that they had left the area, but something tickled against her mind; causing a burst of curiosity a moment before she detected the scent of death and blood.

The Utahraptors were making a kill.

Realizing this Blue hissed and flicked her tail as she felt a niggling instinct of danger. The Utahraptors were far larger and stronger than her if they crossed paths, and without a fence between them there would be nothing to stop them from trying to kill her.

They may have been preoccupied with a kill, but it would be wise to leave the area.

Blue snorted. She had to go warn Alpha.

She turned on legs that became somewhat stiff, and clicked her teeth with a sharp snap.

Something wasnt right...something that seemed to whisper in her mind and cause her heart to pick up speed. Down in her bones she felt a dread rise.

What exactly were the Utahraptor's killing, she wondered.


The mystery has begun!

Just wanted to pop in, and say that because I didnt quite fit all that I wanted into a single update, there will be another update posted within the next day or so. Keep a sharp eye out!