Hello peeps, sorry for the slightly delayed update. Thanksgiving had me tied up so not much got done. :3
Here is part one of chapter 12. Hopefully there is some cuteness, and I hope what I have in the next update will make you all happy...or upset...we shall see.
With the end of November behind us, I am proud to say that I have officially conquered the NanoWrimo challenge of writing 50k words in 30 days! It was awesome and I'm so happy due to this being the first year I have won.
So! Much thanks to all those that support this fanfic, and I hope you continue to give me your thoughts.
Also as a side note, I am happy to report that I will no longer be writing with a puny Kindle Fire. Thus far Why So Blue? has been written with such device, which was a great difficulty as far as me trying to fit my larger fingers onto the keys.
From now on I will be writing with my new laptop, which will result in faster updates and better writing! YAY!
Hope you enjoy! Books out!
"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"
Chapter 12
"Stowaway"
Step by step, through every shift of the ribs and flow of pain, Blue worked her way through the canyon. Even when her breaths came in short gasps in an attempt to avoid pressure on her side, the raptor continued on.
Through the pack meadow, out the hidden cave behind the waterfall, and through the ravine, her gait was slow. Blue had discovered that with her fractured ribs, her side bore faint coloring of bruising through the scales, and near to her spine were the faint marks left by the Utahraptor's talons pricking her flesh.
In truth of the situation, Blue actually came away quite clean, considering what otherwise happened to the wounded male. Without a pack, a broken leg of that severity would have meant a slow death of starvation and possibly infection.
But he was with his pack. With rest and care, he had a chance.
Snorting softly to herself Blue walked around a pile of rubble in the canyon path. Her golden eyes were to the ground and shone with a dissapointed gleam.
She had to admit, when she rushed to the aid of the pack, there was a sliver of hope that maybe they would give acceptance in return for her efforts.
It was half true really...the wounded male had stood up for her and the hatchling looked to her as if she were a hero. Blue atleast had the satisfaction of victory; knowing she helped save the pack where she could not save her sisters before. It gave back a sliver of confidence to boost the light in her otherwise dim hope.
Suddenly, as the raptor rounded what she assumed was the last bend in the canyon she heard a sputter of falling pebbles followed by loud footsteps that came to her ears in a heavy familiarity.
Boots on stone...then the scent of a human being.
Blinking Blue looked up, and snorted softly as her eyes rested upon a human, walking in a hurry through the canyon mouth nearly a hundred yards away. Worried eyes scanned about and jaw clenched with quiet mumbles.
It was Owen; no doubt seeking her out. Had he tracked her all this way?
He seemed tense; almost frantic as he began his trek into the canyon. His eyes were pools of worry and often strayed to the ground as if he were tracking a prey animal. In his hand gripped tightly was his rifle.
Feeling a flood of astonishement and hapiness Blue flicked her tail and let out a loud chatter of greeting past the sting in her chest. Down the path she strode in a quickened pace and warbled.
She couldnt describe the feeling of relief she felt, that she had Owen to return to at the end of the day. She still had him and that took away the pain of her loneliness until the only hurt that remained was physical.
Blue continued through the dimming shadows that grew with the approach of the evening. Once or twice she stumbled when a shifting rib and stab of pain distracted her from the task of walking. Her breaths also turned to rasping gasps, when she refused to breathe deep and put strain on her bones.
So, when she finally reached the end of the shadows, and now stood a few yards away from her Alpha, she was a mess. But of course, he had already heard her coming, and she wasn't surprised when she looked up to find his rifle pointed her way.
Through her breaths Blue warbled weakly, and she saw a flash of shock go through his sharp eyes a second before she heard his voice. So comforting to the ears it was like a soothing purr.
"Blue?"
Blue clicked her teeth, and slinked away from the shadows to finally step into the light of the disappearing sun. Her eyes gleamed with a relief mirrored in Owen's own gaze. Her sides shuddered in her breaths and her wounds became far more noticeable in proper light, which of course nothing like that would get by Owen.
He blinked at first, shocked, before his rifle was immediately strung over his shoulder and he jumped towards her.
"Are you alright? What happened?"
He was beside her in an instant and Blue shifted uneasily before chittering in assurance. She was fine...just a few scratches...
Blue tried her best to hide the pain even though it was plainly obvious in her eyes. She didn't want her Alpha to think she was vulnerable or that he was responsible for her wounds. But, from the mixed look of guilt and anger in his eyes, she could tell he already felt that.
When his eyes lifted, he spoke in a stiff tone.
"You cant keep running off like this, Blue!"
Blue snorted softly and flicked her tail. How was she to ignore the pack's calls? How was she to remain behind and let them die?
She glanced back, and a hiss tore unexpectedly from her throat when she saw Owen reaching a hand for her ribcage.
It was merely out of a fright that he would touch her and cause pain, but a hurt look crossed his face, and Blue's aggression broke into a guilty whine. She didn't want to hurt him...or frighten him...
Owen gazed up at her, and she was reminded of a time before when he stood up for her and tried to protect her.
It was during the I-Rex's attack on the park; when the human male known as "Hoskins" threatened to take Blue and her sisters away from their Alpha. He locked them in their chutes, and fastened uncomfortable straps around their jowls for some reason Blue did not understand.
She was peering through a crack in the chute paneling, when she saw Owen pull up on a human vehicle and confront her captor. He was speaking with aggression, and Blue could still remember the satisfaction she felt when she saw and heard his fist swing into Hoskin's face; nearly throwing him onto his backside.
And now, her Alpha was knelt down beside her; dark eyes locked onto her wounds with that same look of anger and pain. His hand still hovered close to her flesh and Blue had to remind herself he would cause no harm intentionally.
He spoke, voice tightening as the moments passed, "A raptor did this..."
The gashes over her side were singular; unlike the usual three toed slashes you would expect from a Dilophosaurus or other similar carnivores. This meant that the attacker had one extending toe...a raptor trait...
Eyes once more glancing to Blue, Owen grunted and shifted to his feet with a deep huff. His eyes gleamed with a new light and Blue tilted her head slightly before clicking her teeth. This gained his attention, and shifting on her feet the raptor warbled.
They needed to leave the canyon soon...before the pack discovered them. If they were found within the scarred Alpha's territory he would surely not be pleased, and if Blue knew anything about his anger, she wanted to go back to the safety of the village before he had any chance of finding them.
For a fleeting moment her heart hurt, and her instincts requested the presence of the pack, but she growled to herself. They were not her pack; any thought otherwise was a ridiculous fault and needed to be cast out.
She had Owen...he was here with her and that was all she needed.
So, reaching foreword to nudge his shoulder, Blue chittered urgently. She took a stiff step towards the valley; gurgling in approval when his eyes followed her, and she saw a jumble of thoughts cross his face as well as his hands fall loose at his side.
Eventually, he sighed, "Don't ever scare me like that again, okay Blue?"
Blue crooned in reply and purred seeing a smile quiver on his lips. Owen then shifted and stepped her way, then came to her side and nodded, "Let's get home and clean you up."
He glanced back at the canyon, but he no longer appeared ready for battle. He instead followed her now without hesitation; grimacing silently when she lurched foreword in a weak gait.
It would take a long while for her to heal...as Blue was not looking foreword to. That span of time required rest and efficient amounts of food, which she was positive Owen would gladly provide as her hunting abilities would lower further than they previously hung. She was not worried in the least.
Owen could only watch her in agony however.
Ribs could take 3 to 6 weeks to heal, and at the moment time was not on his side. Claire could return the next day and at this moment trying to negotiate with her for more time was a battle waiting to be fought.
What was he to do? His raptor was wounded by another of her kind and it was possible he was going to leave in 24 hours. Almost every part of him wanted to stay here with her forever and make sure she was safe, but the rational side of him argued and reminded him that was not an option. Blue had to find a pack of her own...that was it.
Even though so far...it seemed the only candidates were inflicting nothing but harm onto her.
His mission was beginning to prove difficult...and knowing that hurt him...
...
She was thankful, that the first leg of their hike was relatively easy on her body; the walk through the valley least strenuous on her wounds, even if that difference was only little, and only bought her a little more relief.
Blue was tired, sore, and out of breath, by the time her and Owen reached the far tree line. All she wanted was a comfortable nest and a good nights sleep. Night had fallen and the moon provided a weak light through the canopy of the tree branches above them, whilst the nocturnal hunters and creatures began to stir.
Many times the Compies scurried about around them; in front on the path, to their side in the bushes, and behind them watching with beady glowing eyes reflecting the moonlight. Sometimes they would gather up into small flocks, and Blue would finally break down in an angry snarl that scattered their annoying shrieks and chatters into the distant shadow.
When Owen chuckled at these occurrences, the raptor would glower at him and snort to herself before shifting her attention on the path ahead. She stepped slow now; puffing in short quiet breaths against a constant thrumming pain.
Yes...a nice soft nest sounded wonderful right now...if only she could convince Owen to make her one when they got back.
Her smart raptor mind worked like gears and she was amused at a realization. If she played the cards right, she could have her Alpha wrapped around her claw heeding to her every need.
The time passed agonizingly slow, and Blue was eagerly awaiting their arrival at the village, when she heard the bushes rustle harshly; behind them on the trail they just covered. She at first cast it off as another of the green vermin, but something felt different about it this time...more cunning...silent...
Pausing a moment Blue growled softly and glanced over her shoulder into the night, expecting to see the eerie glowing eyes of her nemesis. She waited to hear its high pitched squawk, but after many moments it never came, and the silence drug on.
Odd...
Chuffing Blue flicked her tail and went back to walking; all the while half focusing her senses to the brush in hopes to again detect the peculiar activity.
Immediately after she stepped on, the bushes vibrated with movement and tiny footsteps met her ears.
They were being followed...by something small and far too stealthy to be one of the careless Compies.
Knowing this was unsettling, but the fact that it was a smaller creature eased Blue's caution. Owen had not yet noticed the disturbance and she imagined, looking over to see him squinting in an effort to see in the night, that he was not capable at this time.
The snap of a twig caused the raptor to flinch, and she chuffed. She was just oversensitive with her wounds; feeling vulnerable behind her pain. If something did come upon them she would be weak in any attempt at defense.
Blue snorted. She had to relax, and keep her sights on the path home. There was nothing to worry about as long as she did not sense a larger carnivore in their vicinity. The green vermin were taunting her, as usual.
For a long while she had to put up with the nagging feeling of being watched, and the occasional sign that still they were being followed. It was concerning when even as the Compies disappeared and left to go terrorize some other poor creature, the unknown stalker remained with them.
Was it truly a Compy? Blue's mind thought this and imagined some horrible unfamiliar creature with fangs and massive claws. Was it some monster of a creature she previously had not known existed? Only days before she just discovered that there were male dinosaurs, and giant raptors. At this point she wasn't sure what was possible.
Blue shook these thoughts, as her eyes lifted and she rejoiced in the sight of the human road ahead in the trees. The village was not far now. Once they got inside the perimeter fence and to the human house, they would be safe from whatever manner of beasts the jungle threw at them.
Turning, urging Owen faster with a chatter, Blue broke through the tree line and stepped out onto the human road. He followed; chuckling softly, "Hold your horses; we're almost there."
Horses? What were...oh never mind.
Blue snorted, and hurried foreword past old vehicles and up to where the village gate awaited them.
To her horror, from behind she heard the quickened taps of claws running upon the hard surface of the human road. It was still following them. It was running up behind them!
Spinning, grunting in pain, Blue ducked low and fixed sharp golden eyes to the darkness behind them; expecting to come face to face with their stalker. She was ready to lash out and do her best to protect...but...there was nothing.
An odd squawk shot from the shadows, before something dove back into the bushes with a rustle of leaves. Then all went quiet.
Perplexed, Blue lifted her head and felt her lip twitch. What was this thing?
She turned, and almost chirped in relief when she saw that Owen was now gazing with shock into the trees. He had heard the creature. That meant she wasn't going mad.
Turning to return to his side Blue chittered frantically; quizzing her Alpha in any hope that he knew what was following them. Surely he knew. He knew of the green vermin, and he knew of the Utahraptors. Alpha knew all.
But, Owen pursed his lips, and glanced down at her with a look of worry and confusion that struck her hard. He didn't know...
Frightened by the unknown, Blue decided in that one moment that the safest place was within the village house; now. She wanted in there, where it was quiet and warm, and she could rest without worrying over creatures slinking about in the night. Not of this kind anyways.
The raptor hissed softly, then bumping Owen's arm she promptly turned to head to the gate.
Oh the days, when she and her sisters were locked away safe in their enclosure; closed off from the jungles and the creatures hidden within them. At least her old island home didn't have tiny mysterious vermin skulking about.
Of course, It took them a moment when they arrived at the gate, and found that it had once again been closed. Blue had to force herself to be patient as Owen wrenched it to the side just enough for them to squeeze through. Then, nudging past him the raptor pushed through the space, before turning and keeping her wary eyes on the forest as Owen snorted and followed.
The gate was then closed, and Blue began to relax. They were home finally and able to rest.
Up the worn dirt path, through the weeds and skeletons of old human vehicles, the raptor and man walked towards their building and came to the front porch. Lights shone in the above windows and the front door was barred open by a chunk of wood. Barry was inside; Blue could smell him and hear him moving around.
Forgetting about the little stalker in the darkness, Blue paused at the base of the front deck and watched as Owen moved up ahead of her. Rifle stung again over his shoulder he called out and stepped up through the front door, "Barry? We're back!"
There was a pause, before Barry's voice rose.
"About time. I thought you were eaten."
Blue chittered with Owen's laugh, and looked down to reach up carefully and slowly to the deck's first step. She hissed slightly in pain...but never got further than that, for from the darkness she heard something collide with the chain linking of the perimeter fence; rattling sharply with the scuffle of something pushing over the dirt.
Blue's body froze, and her head shot upwards with a sharp snort. That thing was still following them. Had it fit underneath the fence?
The only thing the raptor knew next was that there were tiny footsteps approaching. Her lips curled and she dropped down off the house deck.
At this point, with nowhere else to go, Blue was forced to confront the nuisance whom insisted on scaring her out of her scales.
Yes...she had to admit she was scared. Her flesh tingled and her golden eyes darted about in a frantic effort to catch a glimpse of her offender.
She did, when another pair of yellow eyes came to view at the edge of the light cast upon the ground by the nearby window. They were low to the ground, and were fixed on Blue with an intense gaze.
The raptor flinched in reaction, then bent low despite her ribs and hissed harshly as if to dare the creature to attack. This earned a sharp jerk from the hidden creature, before teeth flashed and a small noise rose. Blue expected a noise of aggression...but what came of the creature was a high pitched whine of confusion and fear. With it...a shocking scent.
Slowly, whining, from the shadows a tiny figure stepped. A tiny grey muzzle poked into the light followed by wriggling claws and a fragile grey body with concerned eyes looking up. Blue blinked, then felt a flood and embarrassment and confusion.
A tiny raptor stood before her; the grey hatchling from the canyon pack.
At the sight of her Blue went still and flicked her tail; realizing that moments before she thought this...'stalker'... was something to fear and avoid. It caused her to chitter softly, and the hatchling lifted its head with a responding chirp.
She certainly looked pleased with herself, as she gazed up at Blue with an awestruck gleam in her eyes and her body shifting with a hidden excitement. Had she snuck out and followed them all this way? Surely her pack wouldn't have missed her being absent...
Oh no...no this was bad!
Eyes widening Blue snorted and shifted. The youngling couldn't be here. The pack would surely come after her, and if they found her in the village...
No, that would be the end of everything! They would kill Blue and the humans if they found them with their hatchling.
Clicking her teeth in a burst of panic Blue stepped foreword and growled sternly. Her head lowered, and hesitantly, she nudged her snout into the grey raptor's body and pushed her back a bit towards the perimeter.
The hatchling whimpered in confusion and stumbled back before resisting with talons digging into the dirt. But she had to leave; that was it, and Blue kept nudging her whilst growling ever so lightly.
She looked up for a moment to the young one, and in that moment she saw a change in her eyes. In her nervousness she had failed to see it before, but now it was clear before her, and it caused Blue to freeze.
The hatchling couldn't go out there...it wasn't safe. If she ventured out into the jungle alone at night she wouldn't last an hour before becoming some larger creature's meal.
Blue forgot, that even though she was a raptor, she was just a baby, and her instincts insisted that such things as 'babies' were unable to properly fend for themselves in a dangerous situation. She'd be sending her to her death, and that put her previous thoughts all on hold.
Slowly standing up, Blue snorted and stared down at her new problem with conflict.
Keep the hatchling in the village, and she'd risk both her human's lives and her own. But, send the hatchling out into the jungle...she'd risk her finding her death...and if the pack discovered she was responsible...
Blue shuddered and flicked her tail as the hatchling chirped softly and stepped towards her. Her eyes were wide with admiration and in her throat rose a raspy purr.
Gazing down at this tiny package the adult raptor blinked, and found herself in awe of the little one's physique and innocence.
She couldn't send her out there...no...obviously the hatchling was fully inclined that she was her hero, and insisted upon staring at her; idolizing her with proud churrs and happy chatters.
Feeling a sense of pride Blue shoved it down with a shake of her head.
The hatchling would have to stay there with them until morning...when that time came Blue could figure out what to do with her then.
As if cued by that confirming thought, Blue felt something rub up against her leg, and she blinked before looking down in shock. The hatchling had snuck closer, and hadbegun to slide across the scale's of her calf; purring endlessly as her tail curled around and her head rubbed in adoring strokes.
Blue sucked in a breath at the scene and felt a surge of affection. But, she reminded herself she must remain strict if she was to cure this youngling of her unhealthy obsession.
She stepped to the side and away, which caused her fan to whine and click her teeth.
As quickly as she had taken to rubbing on her however, the tiny raptor's short attention span drifted to her surroundings, and for the first time since she entered the village she actually noticed the buildings and the odd human vehicles.
She seemed particularly interested in the house near to them and the light falling from its glass windows; tilting her head to one side and gurgling curiously. Blue snorted in amusement, but the hatchling was not preoccupied for long, and what followed soon after disturbed Blue greatly.
Turning, it squawked softly and stood before her; head up and jaws parting in pleading cries that began soft, before growing in intensity until she was chirping and wining constantly. At the sound of it Blue chittered in concern, and bent low to purr in a rising desperate attempt to ask the young one what was ailing her.
But the little one opened her jaws wider, and her cries grew louder until they fell onto Blue's ears with a deep frustrating annoyance.
What was wrong with her? Was she frightened? Hurt?
Blue wasn't any more familiar with the care or habits of a youngling than she was familiar with the island. A confusion and anxiety filled her; worrying her that her admirer was injured or ill. But a quick lookover revealed that this was not the cause.
The hatchling whined in need, and opened her jaws again with a wag of her tail.
The little thing was asking her for food...that realization hit Blue with a widening of eyes and gentle snort, before she wriggled her claws. Well why did she expect her to have food? She wasn't currently fit for hunting, and never before was she ever required to 'feed' another creature.
Her sisters always caught their own food when they were younger...why couldn't this youngling?
Frustration rising Blue gazed down at the grey hatchling and scolded her with a deep rumble for demanding so harshly. This made the little one whimper and back off with a look of guilt that made Blue regret her sternness.
She and her sisters were fed by Owen when they were younger...live rats set loose into their cage or cuts of beef...
Her instincts scolded herself in that moment. Shame on her for expecting such a vulnerable and helpless little creature to provide for herself with no experience or strengths of any kind.
It made Blue look around with a twitch of her lips. What could she find? If she could not hunt what was she to do for her new 'charge'?
Owen...
Remembering her Alpha, and the care he gave her as a youngling, Blue turned to look back to the house's front deck and the light spilling through from its still open doorway. She could sense Owen and Barry's voices at the edge of her hearing, and she snorted.
Looking back to the hatchling she crooned in reassurance and nodded for her to follow. The little one chirped, and when Blue shifted on her legs she came willingly.
Over to the steps she walked; grimacing from the state of her body yet purring ever so often to keep the hatchling close at her side.
They went up the stairs, and towards the door before poking their heads past the frame and into the main room.
The hatchling was frightened by what she saw, and Blue glanced downwards when she proceeded to hide behind her leg. She gurgled gently just before a human voice rose from ahead.
"Hey Blue. Come on in and we can take a look at ya."
It was Owen; stepping foreword towards his raptor with a strong smile and wave of his hand as he sat on the couch at one end of the room. Barry stood not far off and was currently setting multiple off glowing objects in key places of the room so that their light fully illuminated the place.
From within Blue could see a flickering flame, and she tilted her head.
Propane lanterns. She could smell the gas even from within their tiny containers, which caused her to snort softly before she turned to chitter to Owen.
He had not noticed the youngling yet...
When Blue moved away, the tiny raptor whined sharply and went wide eyed as it shot a glance to the odd pale skinned creatures before leaping again to her protector's side and taking cover behind her leg. This caused Blue to chuff, and she turned to kneel down and gently grab the youngling by her tail.
The hatchling now hanging upside down from in the grasp of her careful teeth, squirming in fear, Blue turned and stepped up to Owen with hopeful eyes.
He was Alpha, he had to accept the little one's presence and help her.
It was his duty...he had to...if they were to survive the canyon pack's wrath.
Owen was holding an odd metal jar, which he unscrewed the lid without looking up and nodded, "You'll have to hold still for this, Blue. It might hurt but I promise it'll help."
She smelled an odd scent waft from the container, and her nostrils wrinkled, before the raptor snorted urgently and held the hatchling out to her human as if to hand her off to him.
Owen looked up finally, and Blue swore his eyes about fell from his skull when they widened at the sight of the little raptor. A gasp escaped him and the metal container fell into his lap, as the hatchling in turn whined loudly and tried to escape Blue's hold.
Blue growled softly, and her charge swung a little before going still. Her golden eyes were full of uncertainty and she stared at Owen as if he were some giant monster.
Owen stared back at her as though he had seen a Tyrannosaur.
Eventually, he spoke, "Barry...come look at this."
His voice was full of surprise and awe, and Blue was relieved to see his expression relax into one of equal curiosity.
Barry looked up from where he was, and blinked in shock of what she was currently carrying.
The hatchling whimpered, and Blue snorted to her Alpha before again holding her out to him in dismay.
He was Alpha. Do something!
