Hello people. :) Apologies for the late update, life got busy and writer's block decided I would be its chosen victim.
Before this chapter I would like to thank all those whom reviewed and gave their thoughts. Your words are major encouragement to my work and you have no idea how much I appreciate it.
And, with great happiness, I would like to mention a bit of stuff I began working on a while back for Why So Blue?.
On Deviant Art, under my usual username "WhenBooksFly101", I have begun posting digital fanart of my own creation for this fanfic. There isn't much right now, but the collection is growing and thus far I have a few appearance profiles for Ocs and Blue already out.
If you'd like to, take a look and let me know what you think! :3
Anyways. With all that info out of the way, we can continue on with the much anticipated chapter 16! I assure you, in the near future I may be adding somewhere from 40 to 50 more chapters jam packed with action and plot twists, so I hope you guys enjoy what I have to offer.
Thank you all again!
"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"
Chapter 16
"The Waterfall Pack"
~Kilo's POV~
The light of dawn was faint on the horizon; just a sliver as the sun began to rise and bask the eastern shores in its golden rays. The air was cool and droplets of moisture clung to the underside of leaves, but with the light nearing they would become stars fading in the heat. Just a few more hours of cool air remained before the heat and humidity would return for the day.
As the island brightened and the shadows of blue twilight were lost, animals began to wake, and with that came the 'songs'. A chorus of chirps, bugles, roars, and low whale-like cries rose up over the jungle and grew louder as the time passed. Great herds began to gather in the fields to graze, peaceful, yet with those herds came the great predators.
For them it was prime hunting time.
Through the grasses of a large field a black streamline body crept and drove through the green waves; one grey dead eye staring blankly ahead while its twin darted about in golden alertness. White teeth clicked softly together and tense muscles rippled beneath black scales, decorated by the scars of distant battles. Chunks of lip were torn away and gashes sunk deep into flesh with harsh grooves. The blind eye was the result of a well placed strike; three pale marks trailing just over the socket and just enough damage to take its vision away
A gentle snort sounded from behind, and with a twist of the head the hunter fixed his one eye on a figure creeping up along beside him. This one was a pale white and had eyes like roses, and while his appearance was not as battleworn, the years of his long lived experiences and struggles shone in his eyes.
Kilo was the young battle worn alpha, and Alden the elder albino; both great leaders in the pack hidden behind the waterfall.
Flicking his tail Kilo's nostrils quivered with the scent of nearby prey that he knew was bedded down just ahead. Soon they would be waking and moving off to begin their daily grazing routines. They had to intercept them while they were vulnerable.
Laying down in a group of 6 ahead was a herd of Edmontosaurus; big plant eating dinosaurs similar to that of the Parasauralophus yet lacking telltale crests of any kind. They were plenty big to feed the pack, even if the pack that was left wasn't as large as it had once been before.
Currently, the females were still sleeping down in the grass, but the group's bull was most certainly awake. Kilo could see him standing calmly a little in the shelter of the trees; gazing possessively out over his family as most herd or pack leaders do. Kilo knew the need for it but he also knew his pack needed fed. After the Utahraptor attack many of their best hunters were killed, and those who remained became nervous to leave the den for fear something else might come along.
Today it was only Kilo, Alden, and Lima. The pack elder Hook usually came with them, but he remained behind to keep watch over the others.
Where Lima was the alpha didn't know. She often took her own strategy whilst hunting and though sometimes it annoyed him greatly, she proved entirely capable of helping with the kill when it was her time to appear.
Talons wriggling through the grass, Kilo flicked his muzzle and crept further towards the herd in his sights. His head was tilted a bit to the side to allow proper vision and although he couldn't see him, he knew Alden kept close at his side before parting off to the right. An ambush attack was needed if they were to bring down their prey.
Slow as to not give away their position, the minutes passed on and eventually the Edmontosaurus herd was beginning to stir. The younger of them began to cry in drowsy play whilst the adult females rumbled and shifted about before standing.
The wind was with them and the grass provided a good cover, so the presence of the hunters was not yet known by smell or sight. All was going according to plan.
Feet with twitching death talons stepped foreword, and lungs pulled a heavy breath in preparation as muscles bound together. All was silent, the intensity was heavy, and Kilo's eyes became locked on a yearling calf roaming not too far away from where he sat. It wasn't quite as hefty as the adults but would prove less difficult.
Teeth flashed, before muscle released like springs and his black form lunged low over the ground, like a race bell had been rung. He heard the escalated cries of the females and the frightened bawls of the younglings at his sudden appearance, but his mouth parted in a savage cry.
One thing was on his mind and that thing held top priority over fear and submission. His pack depended upon his success and as alpha he was going to give it to them.
The hunt had begun.
In that moment from the nearby grasses, a second form of pale white erupted forth and an equally fierce snarl rose. The yearling was scrambling and its eyes bulged, but they collided into it as one, and the impact nearly sent the prey down onto its side. Talons slashed through flesh causing pain but it managed to keep itself upright; bucking and spinning in frantic efforts to dislodge its attackers.
Unshaken Kilo stood upon the yearling's back and clamped his jaws around the back of it's head, immobilizing its neck movement. His feet pushed out like a cat using its back legs to rake against its shoulder. Flesh and blood was drawn from bone and energy oozed from wounds.
It was at this time Kilo would have tried aiming for the prey's throat for an easy kill, but a bugle sounded from behind, and his golden eye flashed up to see the herd bull.
The male was massive; head lifted into the air with a sharp cry of defense as its tail thrashed angrily and its body lumbered towards the battle. He did not have horns for bashing or stabbing, nor proper teeth to bite, but standing on his hind legs his front feet could prove quite capable of striking and injuring an unfortunate raptor.
Kilo grew anxious as the bull charged closer and their kill was yet to be made. Where was Lima with support?
There was a another long moment as battle continued, before a third cry sounded and a slender figure jumped out of the bushes to intercept the herd protector. At first the bull wasn't about to stop, until Lima bent down low and shrieked sharply in aggression. Her voice was like gravel and in Kilo's opinion a little brute like, but it did well to deter unwanted creatures.
Veering off somewhat the bull rumbled loudly, and Kilo began his kind's most known of easy kills. His feet reached around the prey's shoulder and struck down; in single strikes tearing apart the windpipe and releasing the river of lifeblood onto the ground beneath them.
Movement dulled, and eyes grew faint as the raptors felt muscles quiver beneath them. The prey sank to its knees, then with a final gurgle thrashed and collapsed to the ground.
Death and victory came one in the same for the hunters.
As Kilo and Alden stepped away from the kill, blood coating their jaws and feet, the bull brayed and reared up on its hind legs in distress. Lima lurched foreword a bit and snarled with a snap of her teeth, which made him shy away and rumble; glancing back to the trees where the rest of his females and younglings took shelter.
The yearling was dead and the body belonged to the carnivores now.
With one last low snort, the Edmontosaurus fell back to its four legs and turned slowly on its hindquarters; calling to his herd as the blood lust dimmed from his eyes. They answered back in earnest and once he joined with them, they moved further into the jungle shadows.
Watching them go, Kilo licked the blood from his lips and snorted softly; glancing over at Alden whom now stood beside him. His eyes shone with approval of the hunt's ease and he chittered softly to the alpha.
Alden was Kilo's most trusted of higher subordinates. While he was not Beta, his knowledge and experience of life was valuable to the pack, and he showed great care in their wellbeing just as much as any other. Kilo trusted him without a single doubt.
Hearing a second chitter the scarred alpha clicked his teeth and watched as his second pack member Lima approached. Pride was in her steps and her nose was high in the air, as was her tail.
Striding confidently up to the larger raptor she crooned softly and caused Kilo to chuff in vague annoyance. Her eyes sought his praise and she waited for a long moment expecting it; him telling her how well she had done in the hunt.
It was typical of her, and Kilo wasn't sure he was willing to give the female what she wanted. The scarred alpha's eyes squinted and he snorted in sharp rebuke to her, causing Lima's head to shoot upwards and snap her talons down into the ground with distressed shock. Her eyes were filled with horror and she made a chorus of low chatters as if stuttering.
Lima was proud, stubborn, and an incredibly aggressive raptor. She enjoyed the feeling of power and if Kilo could speak he would call her an "alpha's pet". Often she sought his approval of her actions and as it was now, he would most often disapprove.
No, she had not done well in the hunt. She was slow to react, and failed to keep with them and their strategy. One second more of a delay and the herd bull would have been on top of them; fighting and causing them to loose their meal...or worse, receive injury.
They couldn't risk injury right now...not with the pack weakened after the Utahraptor attack.
Confident in his opinion Kilo stared at the tan female and watched her squirm under his one eyed gaze. He heard her grumble to herself and her eyes flashed with an anger he often saw cast upon other members of the pack, as she seemed to consider arguing with his word.
Puffing up his chest the alpha growled in scolding challenge, and Lima shot her eyes up with a short whine before bowing her head in submission. She did not growl or grumble, and it eased his tension.
It would be best for her if she didn't test him today. He wasn't in the mood to put up with her antics and it would get her into trouble if she thought otherwise.
Once Lima had backed off, Kilo shook his head and pivoted to face the kill laid in a heap amongst the grass. The taste and smell of blood was welcoming to his senses and his stomach did not hesitate to beg for food. He heeded that need, and placing a foot on the Edmontosaurus' flank he latched his teeth into the flesh and pulled back with a muffled tear.
The meat was satisfying and soothed his current stresses involved in alpha duties. Alden joined him after a moment to ensure the leader had his first take on the carcass; soon standing upon the kill to feast on what the back had to offer.
Disgruntled, Lima watched from a few yards away and flicked her tail back and forth. Her claws tucked up under her and tapped in tension against her underbelly, but she did not make a sound. Her stomach protested and the food was disappearing with every bite taken by the males.
Snorting, the female then stepped boldly next to Kilo and proceeded to begin her own feast. Despite his growl of warning and step over to keep his distance from her, Lima was unshaken and ignored his vocalizations of annoyance.
If he wasn't so preoccupied with the needs of the pack, Kilo would have challenged her there and set her straight. No...he had to eat his fill and take provisions back to the others. He couldn't deal with arrogant females right now.
~...~
As the hours passed, the full fresh kill was eaten to nothing more than a mangled pile of flesh picked apart by sharp teeth and claws. Between the three raptors much was eaten, but much was left, and much was wasted.
Survival depended upon eat all you can when you can. There were no leftovers or the confidence of finding another meal later on. Kilo knew by experience within very little time, the kill's scent would attract more predators, and he was not willing to fight off contenders for something he knew he couldn't finish in one day.
Now, with the hunt over and the journey back to the den in way, Kilo walked slowly down a stone path with head high and eye alert for danger. In his mouth hung a limp yet heavy chunk of mangled meat, while behind him walked Alden and Lima with equally sized portions of their own.
They were currently walking down a wide stone passage located within the eastern canyon; black walls reaching high on either side in winding maze like paths. The sun was beating down from its afternoon position in the sky, yet the surface of all the rock was damp and almost slick in some areas. Within cracks of the stone little trickles of water oozed softly and in the air was a faint mist that dampened if not erased any traces of scent.
The maze, and the mist, was why Kilo preferred this place for his pack's den. If no scent was available to track then intruding enemies could not follow them into the den. The maze was confusing and could turn someone around if entered, but Kilo knew the path well, as did Alden and Lima.
Taking a sharp turn, the raptors put more effort into their steps; watching the ground as from beneath them spurted a growing flow of water; starting as splitting trickles to a steady stream that swirled with froth giving sign to a recent agitation. Mist became heavy on the air and from ahead came the nearing sound like boulders tumbling down a cliff. Kilo followed this sound until a fork came in the passage.
One path, veered off to the left and the coast; rushing with a gurgling river destined for the sea. The other, turned back up to the right. Kilo took this path.
Slowly, as to not slip on the wet rocks, the alpha strode up along the river's edge and lifted his head with a calm gaze. Roaring like continuous thunder filled his ears and the water now flowed down his flank in streams. Past the noise he could hear the other raptors' footfalls, but he no longer risked a glance over his shoulder.
A slip into the river could mean loss of his meat, and a struggle to swim if not the struggle to live due to the swift current.
Ahead of them, his eye rested upon a great white form spilling over the lip of the canyon shelf above; a small waterfall tumbling over the stone to crash into a deep pool in the middle of the canyon passage. Nothing was beyond yet Kilo continued on until he stood just beside the pool.
Peering through the mist, the alpha found a ledge against the canyon wall and walked up on it; following it up higher and higher until he was beside the waterfall, then tucking in between it's flow and the wall. Everything went dark, and the raptors disappeared into a space behind the water.
Darkness covered them, and vision was limited, until a light appeared from ahead and Kilo shook the water from his back with a snort. They were home.
Exiting the cave they had entered, the hunters made their way across the pack meadow's first clearing and the pond nearby. They followed the worn path through the grove of trees, and finally came to the back stone wall. In the stone, Kilo saw a dark cave, and he lifted his head with a sharp chitter.
At first, silence was his answer as they walked up to the cave entrance, but then there was a sharp chirp followed by a chorus of cries and warbles. The alpha had returned and the scent of meat came with him.
The next moment, three tiny figures burst into the light and Kilo's head shot upwards to keep his meat out of reach of snapping jaws. Little tails thrashed about and chirps filled his ears as excited eyes stared up at the alpha in hunger.
Kilo put up with the commotion for a moment, then growing annoyed he snorted, and a quick growl set the frantic welcome party to a halt.
The pack's younglings Star, Mike, and Curare lined up in a row before the black male; wiggling with short chirps and purrs praising the hunt's success and the sight of meat. Star, the youngest of them, was bold enough to step towards the older raptor and open her jaws with a whimper. Her grey body quivered in excitement and her yellow eyes shone, but Kilo did not tell her to back off.
Instead, the male's gaze softened and his head tilted just so. The other young raptors shifted but they did not approach the alpha as Star did. They knew better.
Flicking his tail, Kilo looked down to the grey hatchling before him, before warbling softly and bobbing his head to her in greeting. The tiny female bounced a bit and chirped, which amused him and brought a short purr up his throat.
He did not tell her to back down, nor did he snap at her when she walked up to begin rubbing against the scales of his legs. Instead the male lowered his head till it was just out of reach of the youngling, then warbled and tilted his eye upon her.
His affinity with Star was stronger than that of the other younglings. If it was to be put into human terms it would have been a choosing of a "favorite child", but they did not hold it against him. No... Star wasn't his offspring, but as his niece she was most definitely earning of a family bond, and while she knew it gave her some perks, being a good youngling she knew better than to push it.
As Star walked back and forth against Kilo's legs, movement passed them and Kilo glanced upwards to see Alden and Lima enter into the den. Alden gave him a short nod, before becoming victim to a barrage of nagging cries and leaps brought on by the other two youngsters, whom hoped harassing him would prove more fruitful than their attempts on Kilo.
The elder lifted his head as Kilo had done, but he was easy on the younglings, and therefore did not reprimand them even when one made a leap upwards with snapping jaws for the meat.
Alright...that was enough.
Standing up to leave Star, Kilo let out a sharp growl through clamped teeth and strode foreword to spare his comrade. The younglings nearly jumped at his sudden appearance, but a single stern glare got them thinking and chittering in frantic apology. Alden gave him an amused chuff, and Kilo huffed. Gentle Alden always letting the young ones get away with things...
Following the elder inside, making sure Star was behind them, Kilo ducked into the darkness of the cave and blinked to adjust his eye. The air around him thrummed with happy chirps of delight, and he was then surrounded with his pack's presence. Immediately the function of concern and protectiveness overcame him.
Keeping his meat away from hungry jaws, Kilo approached each pack member and looked them over; examining them as if he might find a single scale that went out of place while he was gone. Tango was his first inspection.
The alpha circled, poked, and prodded with a gentle muzzle. Each of the raptors he approached he looked over like a king checking his treasure room after leaving it. Like treasures, his pack was to him.
Still holding the meat in his mouth Kilo moved from Tango to Hook, double checked the younglings, then...well...
His pack was smaller now...less treasures to protect and care for...
Snorting softly at this thought the alpha straightened, and a chorus of impatient cries caught his attention. The hatchlings now ran in circles around him and occasionally Star would jump in close to wiggle her tail and spin like a dog begging its master for a treat.
A sigh escaped Kilo. Alright then. He supposed he couldn't make them wait any longer.
With one last sharp snort, the male flicked his muzzle, and the meat in his jaws was sent flying through the air before landing sharply some distance away. It made an odd slapping sound and was soon joined by Kilo and Lima's portions, before falling victim to an attack.
Rushing like they were starving, Star and the other two hatchlings scrambled for the freed meal; pouncing and latching onto it with sharp growls and tearing teeth. Their tails rose into the air and Kilo chuffed in satisfaction when they quieted and made various purls and warbles stating what their filling stomachs could not.
It was easy to make the hatchlings happy. Throw food at them and they'd almost sing.
As Tango and Hook moved in for their own meal, Kilo licked the blood from his lips and heard footsteps from behind. A chitter called to him and a clicking could be heard, followed by faint whimpers or whines of pain.
Turning, the alpha's lips twitched in distress as Victor limped from the shadows; leg dragging somewhat as he almost stumbled through his stride. The bone shuddered and clicked at its break with each step, but the male stared ahead in determination and greeted the pack leader with a strangled chuff.
Kilo snorted back to him; scolding him for getting up from his resting to put so much strain on himself. The grey male simply warbled, but a growl from behind made him falter.
From the shadows strode his mate Shadow. Her jet black scales gleamed in the light of the cave's entrance and her red markings shone like running blood. Her sharp yellow eyes were fixed on Victor and she chittered to him in stern anger.
She was there to aid him...couldn't he have just waited for her to bring him some food?
Victor snorted softly, and Kilo watched the two exchange gentle nuzzles before the wounded male proceeded to lay down; movements careful as he groaned and stretched his injured leg out with pain in his eyes. Shadow nodded in satisfaction, before her attentions shifted to the pack alpha.
Shadow was Kilo's Beta; closest to him of the pack and role of second in command. If anyone was to care for the others then it would be her to give it. She was strong, and Kilo wasn't afraid to admit she was as good a hunter as he...maybe better.
He was proud to call her his beta, and proud to call her his sister.
Striding up to his younger sibling, talons clicking over the dark stone, Kilo greeted Shadow with a warm chitter. She returned it, and added in a purr of appreciation for his hunt while her eyes strayed over to the rest of the pack. Something changed in them for that moment, and Kilo saw a sadness tucked away in their depths; hidden carefully.
Shadow hadn't wanted to accompany him on the hunt that morning...not after her mate was injured and her younglings killed.
Kilo knew she was still, secretly, grieving over the loss of two of her hatchlings. As beta she wasn't one to show such vulnerabilities and pain to the others but he could see it burning in her eyes. Her gaze was locked ahead where Star was currently eating her fill of hunting spoils, and he realized in pain that she must have been yearning; yearning to see her other two children standing there alive and squabbling with the other younglings as they always did when there was food.
Stepping foreword, crooning, Kilo nudged his head beside Shadow's and nuzzled her for a moment of comfort and reassurance. She returned it with a purr, and they parted to meet eyes exchanging looks of weakness.
The pack was still weak...mourning over the deaths of those lost in the attack. Life went on for them but torn apart from family and loved ones, it was filled with ache.
Suddenly, as Kilo listened to the chatter rising up over the nearby meal, more footsteps reached his ears, and his eye tore away from Shadow in quick realization.
It was not just his pack present in the cave today...he forgot about her...
Looking up, lips curling in a gentle growl, Kilo found himself fixed under deep golden eyes, shining with uncertainty and caution. Grey scales shone in the dim cave light and streaks of blue rippled over flesh like a river. Slowly as if treading upon glass she crept from the nesting chamber and approached the pack.
The lone raptor; the female they had found wandering alone in the jungle not days before, hungry and searching for her next meal.
This raptor whom now resided within his den walls. Often in the night Kilo wondered why he had let such a thing happen, but then he would remember when they found her...when Star challenged him for the female's acceptance and demanded she come back to the den with them.
The hatchling had challenged him, and he gave in...now they were stuck with this...this...homeless stranger.
As Blue approached, Kilo brought himself to study her and examine her physical state; noticing the way her bones were visible in malnutrition and how her stride broke in stiffness of the muscles. Her scales were shaded with hidden bruising and her breaths were hastened with the pain of broken ribs.
She was still in great pain...and she came to a stop before the pack leaders in a air of silence.
A long moment passed, as Kilo and Blue stared at one another as if waiting for a move to be made. Kilo expected her to burst into challenge and Blue expected him to rip her throat out, but nothing happened.
Almost to Kilo's disappointment, this female had no interest in giving challenge...not yet at least. He didn't trust her for anything.
Snorting, tilting his head to Blue the alpha bared his teeth and caused her to bend low and gurgle. Her tail whipped back and forth and her claws wriggled anxiously, but she did not return his direct aggression. She was smart...he had to give her that.
Kilo continued to stare at Blue, thinking, when he caught a stern look from Shadow. The beta did not look amused with his aggressions to the newcomer and she made that clear in her golden gaze.
Surely she saw the dangers of welcoming in random raptors they find in the jungle. Surely she did not so quickly side with her.
Shadow tilted her head, then without another glance to the pack's guest, she chittered softly and moved off towards the meat. Squeezing into the group and purring to her daughter she tore a portion off into her mouth, before returning and lowering down beside her mate.
As they began to share their meal Kilo moved off a ways; laying down upon the smooth stone to groom himself of blood and gore. Licking his claws he snorted occasionally to himself, until a quiet shuffling sounded from behind and caught his attention. He turned, and found that Blue had moved closer to the pack. Her head was high and watched them with a cautious tilt as if any moment they would all gang up on her.
Kilo could also see her eyeing the meat with a visible hunger; claws wriggling in contemplation and tongue darting out to lick longingly at her chops.
It was hard to believe...Did this raptor not have a pack of her own? What misfortunes could have separated her from them and otherwise cursed him with her own presence?
The alpha didn't want her to stay...yet he would have to get used to her remaining there for now...for Star's sake.
Why that hatchling adored this pathetic pile of bones was beyond him.
~Blue's POV~
So good...so close...
The second it entered the cave, the meat was calling to her; heavy on the air with the scent of blood and life sustaining food. Oh how it teased her and stirred the hunger up from within her stomach like a nasty beast.
How long had it been since she had last ate? Three days?
Currently Blue stood within a dark cave. Her eyes shone in the light from the nearby entrance, yet it was not just the light that gave them their gleam of curiosity and anxiety.
Blue stepped cautiously from the entrance of the den's back nesting chamber; head low and tail out stiff as her golden eyes darted about amidst the ruckus the pack was currently kicking up.
The alpha Kilo had just returned with the others from a morning hunt. Before dawn Blue had seen them leave the cave and now they were back...successful...
Slinking across the stone floor Blue watched on as the younglings were given free reign of the hunt's spoils. They tore into it much in the same way her own stomach demanded. Ravenous.
The Waterfall Pack...that was what she began to call them. Hidden behind the water she wondered just how many years they lived in paradise and prospered on the meat from the nearby prey valley. How many years were they safe from territorial intruders and able to raise their little family in a peaceful environment without worry?
Blue would have been jealous of their safe haven and pack, if she didn't know what had happened within their cave's walls just three days before...if she didn't know of the lives lost...
The massacre brought on by the Utahraptors was still fresh on her mind.
Blue had heard the cries; screeches of terror and vicious snarls as the pack was cut down and younglings met their doom. She still smelled the blood and saw the bodies scattered across the cave floor as some were torn apart to be eaten and others left to rot.
Blue bore the bruises and broken bones, but in her mind she still saw the chaos much like she still remembered the wrath of the Indominus. She tasted the blood of the Utahraptor on her lips and felt its flesh beneath her talons.
If only she had acted in quicker time. If only she went to the hatchling's aid a moment sooner...before two of them found their end between the teeth of the enemy. Star would still have her siblings...the female Shadow would still have her young...
There were many things Blue wished were different, while she snuck around the cave as if her life depended upon her silence. Why did the pack not trust her, after she risked her life to protect their home and kin. Did they not see the way she looked to them; watching them and longing for their kind of pack bond?
Blue's breath hastened, from both the soreness of her ribs and the hunger in her gut. Worry hung tight.
Could she find true sanctuary within this place? Or would the pack simply deny her until it brought her doom? Would she have any more of a chance here than she did out alone in the jungle?
Blue had heard them chitter amongst themselves, and had seen the caution in their gazes whenever they looked her way. She was a stranger in their home and strangers had no reason to deserve one's worry or care.
At the most, they were frightened of her; put on edge by the loss they had just experienced. Trust must be earned, not expected from nothing. She had learned that well when keeping her relationship with Owen.
Slinking about over the ground Blue kept to the shadows as she watched on in contemplation. The sight of the meat strewn across the ground was tormenting her, yet she did not approach, much as she was urged to. From her place in the back she could see the younglings squabble and feast, while a few of the adults moved in for their own meat.
Maybe there would be a morsel or two left over...when she didn't have to compete for her portion from the others of the pack.
As Blue continued to sneak foreword, staring, she was unaware of a gaze that fell upon her. Burning it was like that of a golden flame; the owner of which made the female jump when she looked up to see him.
The alpha, Kilo.
Standing before her, glaring down with golden eye in a look Blue knew all too well, the male had himself positioned somewhat between her and the pack. Most protective of them, and most intimidating when it came down to it.
Bigger than her, Kilo's frame was strong with muscle and his hide a sharp ebony black; most catching to the eye even with the blemishes of his scars. So deeply set into the skin their jagged edges were pale with exposed flesh. Blue could almost feel the pain he had experienced receiving them.
His appearance wasn't really bizarre. Being what she assumed was around her own age, she almost expected a raptor of cleaner appearance, but then what did she know of life outside the safety of enclosures?
Although it pained her beta side to do so, Blue heeded the alpha's challenging stature with a bow of her head and submissive gurgle. At this point she knew defying him would mean the end of her. He had her in his sights and was constantly judging her to determine if she was a threat to his family.
One wrong move could set her fate for the worse.
Blue's claws wriggled and her tail thrashed, as a painfully silent moment dragged on and the two raptors found each other trapped beneath their own gazes. They expected flashing teeth, challenges, snarls...yet it never came.
Instead the moment was interrupted, and Blue blinked when the sound of a stern growl reached her ears.
A second raptor stood beside Kilo; the female Owen had chosen to name Shadow.
Like him her ebony scales gleamed in the near sunlight and her eyes shone with that same gleam of determination.
Too alike...too much like the feat of a reflection, aside from the female's blood red markings down her back.
It was confirmed the moment Blue saw Kilo exchange gentle glances with her. She knew the gaze and realizing it brought forth a sharp snort.
Shadow was Kilo's sister...yet Shadow was also Star's mother. That meant...that dear little Star was related to...this?
Well...it all made a bit more sense now...
Allowing Shadow to pull away and get food for her wounded mate splayed out nearby, Blue cast the alpha a wary glance. Her mind had begin to play with the idea of returning to the darkness; to the safety of the back chamber where no one would notice her and no one would care.
That sounded nice...alone and away from their gazes. She would wait for the meal to be finished then attempt to find herself some scraps.
But again, Blue's thoughts were interrupted by a voice. This time it was shrill and tense with excitement, yet it struck up a familiarity. Just enough it grabbed her attention and forced her head to turn with a confused gaze.
What she saw gave a flicker of surprise and amusement to her heart.
Across the cave was the meat; kept into one general area as a large bloody pile in which the pack was currently feeding themselves. At first nothing looked out of place...until Blue saw a tiny grey hatchling standing upon the mound. Jaws opened in happy greeting and body wiggled about with excitement. Yellow eyes spoke of an affection only one raptor on this island would show to her.
Star.
Blue lifted her head to the young one, yet her heart shriveled and a deep conflict rose fierce into her mind.
Was it safe?
All that earlier morning, Star had been denied interaction with the pack's guest; blocked by both her mother and the alpha...or...her uncle...as Blue had just recently discovered.
Star must have seen the opening; figured it was as good a time as any to beckon her 'guardian' closer. She was happy to call for Blue's presence and quite quickly it became a conflict in the older raptor's mind.
Meat was there; what her body craved in order to function and her mouth begged to taste. Star offered her the comforting acceptance no one else would now give to her.
Did she dare step amongst the pack? Did she dare risk intruding upon their space for a morsel to eat, or simply the company of her young friend?
Star whined for her, and she sucked in a deep breath. Blue didn't like feeling afraid...helpless. It put a sick hole in her chest. Yet...she begged herself to risk it.
In this situation Owen would have given her a word of support; urged her over to the meat much like he had urged her out of the bush to meat them the day before. His green eyes would shine with confidence and his voice would be soft with that tone telling her he would always be there to help her when she needed it.
He always helped her...but now...alpha wasn't here to help. He wasn't here to guide her when she felt unsure.
Alpha Owen was gone and she was unsure now if he would ever come back. Were his words and promises true? If she failed within this pack would he return to save her, or would Kilo cut her down the first chance when she proved herself unworthy?
Blue wanted her alpha; her human whom spoke with kindness and care, and was always there for her up till now.
So many worries and doubts...yet...Blue knew something in the back of her mind.
Right now, alpha Owen wasn't coming back anytime soon, if at all. She had to figure life out on her own and to do that she had to work with what she had; whether that be a safe village with her humans, or an unwelcoming cave filled with raptors whom would much rather cast her out.
If Blue knew anything about life, then it was like being trapped within a bush of thorns. Move the wrong way, and you'd get hurt.
Sucking in a breath the raptor tilted her head. A foot inched foreword, followed by another. Hesitance made her falter but she drove herself on.
Life was hard again, like it was before...but like before Blue would have to learn to adapt.
She just wished she didn't feel like the Waterfall Pack was her thorn bush.
