Hello everyone! Finally, I have made it back for another chapter!
I apologize for taking this long to update with chapter 18, and am so thankful for all of my readers' patience. Life got busy as per usual and writer's block didn't help.
This chapter, has been written and rewritten about 5 times since my last update. Every version just wasn't satisfying to me, and I wanted the best for my readers, so I worked until I got just that.
Thus, the 9 thousand word monster below was born.
I hope you all like the hunt, and enjoy what happens. I also hope to hear what you all think of it as this chapter was a real struggle for me. :)
Thank you all, for being so amazing, kind, and patient!
"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"
Chapter 18
"Wannabe Hunter"
~Blue's POV~
Be cautious, her mind begged. Don't go spoiling things now that they were finally starting to look up. Don't step on any tails.
After the incident with Lima, which took her dangerously close to a wounded muzzle and an angered alpha Kilo, Blue kept her distance from the pack. Where they gathered near the mouth of the den, she remained some yards away and watched on with lips pressed tight. She didn't want to take the chance of crossing Lima's path again, or Hook's...or Kilo's.
Just any of those "Hope They Don't Notice Me" raptors in general.
The more she thought about it however, the more the omega was confused by something. Alpha Kilo, the one whom had always despised her most and wished her gone, had surprised her. When Blue crashed into him she had invaded his personal bubble, and had expected him to react accordingly to such an interference; snapping, growling, and shoving her away like a disease. But he didn't. He pulled away without so much as a disciplining nip and Blue was left in a stupor.
It was completely out of character for him to back down...yet reassuring in a tiny way.
Maybe the Kilo she saw that morning, gentle and forgiving, was more like the true Kilo. The Kilo Blue always saw from the beginning was an aggressive, short tempered, stubborn male with no sign of ever showing her otherwise. Could it be that -like Shadow- he was starting to loosen up on her? It was doubtful but Blue was a dreamer. If alpha started to trust her, that meant the rest of the pack would surely follow behind. If alpha trusted her, who wouldn't?
In that moment where Blue stood within the mouth of the cave, she let her eyes drift to the pack. They were gathered just ahead in the light of the sun, chittering softly as raptors bade farewell and good luck to those going on the hunt. Star was in the middle of it all, running back and forth with excited yelps and wags of her tail.
Blue exhaled softly and tilted her head in amusement.
First, the youngling would dart about her father Victor's legs. After that she rushed over to Alden, chittered, and licked at his face when he stooped down to see her. Hook was given similar treatment, followed by Tango. She was giving her own special goodbyes to each of the hunters and seemed thrilled about it, judging by the way her teeth shone and body moved.
It wasn't long before the goodbyes were finished, and Hook lifted his head with a loud chatter to get the group moving. The other hunters became alert, and Blue watched with wide eyes as they moved off together towards the watering hole and the alpha waiting there. Her heart leapt in a want, urging her that a hunt was to start and she was to be at the front leading the way. Old beta instincts that refused to die with the loss of her rank.
Suddenly, before Blue could let out a pent up whine, she became aware of something. From the corner of her vision she saw movement and realized that not all of the pack had left her. Her body stiffened and her lungs filled with a growl, as tan scales she knew were not Star's flashed in the sunlight.
Blue forgot about Lima. If there was anyone in the pack who would resent her to the last days, it would be her. She liked to keep grudges, spurring them alive whenever she felt like picking a fight. Standing not far away she had her neck arched and tail thrashing, growling as she watched Blue. Currently she wasn't moving forward, but every micro expression in her eyes said that she was seriously considering it. They were pools of yellow fire, fury gathered after what happened between her and the omega that morning.
Lima didn't like being told that she was wrong, especially not by her most precious alpha. Everything she ever did was to impress Kilo, and it absolutely fried her when he responded with aggression or annoyance.
It was Blue's fault that he scolded her. She was poisoning his mind with her innocent little gestures and wrestles with the infants. Didn't he see that she was weak? Didn't he see how useless she was to them?
Lima was sure Blue had been dropped on her head as a hatchling, so sure that she was positive her previous pack had cast her out for being retarded.
As the female gazed across to her nemesis in a seemingly endless staring battle, she came to a decision. There was only way to put some respect into the omega, and snuff out those absurd grandeurs of acceptance and a rank within the pack. She was a thorn in her side that needed to be dulled before it got too sharp. Alpha Kilo wasnt looking. He couldn't reach them in time to stop her from teaching Blue a lesson.
Snorting harshly, Lima bared her teeth and strode forward on long steps, causing Blue to flinch and curl her own lips. The omega stepped back a bit, but where was there to go? What was there for her to do, other than run until the female actually caught her?
Lima was larger, and had a volcano of aggression behind her attacks. Running would only make things worse; it would make her more angry.
But as Blue crouched over the ground and hissed at her offender, whom was now within lunging distance, a sound filled the air. It caught both of their attention for a fleeting moment, long enough to make Lima realize with a snarl that her chance was gone and she had to back down.
Beta Shadow was calling from the watering hole, not to her, but to Blue. The realization made her hiss with little curses, whereas Blue lifted her head and chirped with a heavy confusion. Was she indeed the one being called? For what reason would the beta request her presence? She was not aware of doing anything wrong, and could agree that her presence wasn't something many raptors sought out.
But Shadow called again from the nearby watering hole, more urgent, and Blue's hopeful doubts were dashed apart. Her head lowered like a toddler waiting to be scolded, and her eyes took on a very anxious gleam despite the earlier praise she received from Star's mother.
Bringing her attention away from Lima completely, Blue had no other choice but to obey the order and turn. She set her sights to the other end of the meadow, where the pack was gathered and she began to approach. In walking forward her steps were long and slow. In whining softly she questioned the worst case scenario.
After all the stress she caused the pack, had they decided to cast her out? Had Shadow's mind been swayed back to doubt as quickly as she had bent to acceptance?
When Blue came to a stop at the water's edge, some feet away from the pack, she was met with silent gazes. Some raptors turned with looks of curiosity, while others with dull looks of disinterest and slight annoyance. For a moment all Blue could do was stop and fight not to shrivel into a ball, as her eyes darted to every raptor in an effort to understand.
There was a chirp, and the female lifted her gaze to find Shadow emerging from the back of the group. Her black head was high and her red striped tail was arched like a flag, while in her eyes was a gleam of amusement and hidden confidence. She did not appear hostile. Her movements were welcoming and calm.
Blue gave a low gurgle as if questioning her for an explanation, to which Shadow responded with a purr of reassurance. Slowly she moved next to Blue, then turned and searched the pack with her eyes that now shifted into a gleam of frustration and determination. When she didn't find what she wanted, the beta hissed sharply and flicked her tail. The pack parted in swift reaction.
There, standing upon the sand of the water's edge was alpha Kilo. With hard eye fixed on the water and body tense, he was quiet and seemingly unaware of the female seeking him out. At first when he didn't move Shadow snorted. When that failed to get his attention she hissed loudly.
Well?
Kilo grunted softly and looked up. Immediately as his one eyed gaze came upon them, Blue felt trapped in it, like a prey animal staring its hunter in the face. Her tail wanted to curl up in submission and her head wanted to lower, but she held herself from shrinking back and expressing the nervousness she felt. Shadow chittered again, and Kilo responded with a sharp inhaling chuff that made Blue lift her head in surprise.
To humans, most raptor vocalizations were nothing more than incoherent noise. To raptors, each tone and tiny variation were like a language in themselves, complex and meaningful. They were smarter than many realized. They had more to say than many realized.
As if to convince himself Kilo chuffed again. The omega...would accompany them on the hunt. It was difficult to wrench out without growling but he did it softly, for Shadow's sake and his health.
At first, Blue blinked and tilted her head to the side with a confused sound. Her tail flicked and her talons wriggled with a slight shock. What? Was she hearing things right? When the alpha's expression remained tight, she inhaled and felt an excitement seep into her. It was slow for a moment, then rushed in all at once and sent her heart racing. They weren't playing around. They really meant it? Glancing to Shadow in an effort to confirm her hopes, Blue met the beta's gaze with a gleam. She tried to hide her excitement but the other female seemed to read her like an open book, nodding her head with an equally happy chirp.
Go on and get the hunt out. Immediately Kilo took that as his permission to leave, moving away from the two females whom just made his day more complicated. He had to play babysitter as well as hunt leader, but as much as he resented the task he wasn't going to challenge his sister. Shadow could have a mean bite if provoked and it seemed she had her heart set on the omega, like a mother takes to her hatchlings when they are first born.
As Kilo walked away Blue lingered at the watering hole's shore. By Shadow's side she hesitated in following, omega position bringing her doubt. She couldn't mess this up. Every fiber of Blue knew this would be a test on her strength and worthiness, challenging her to prove that she was a useful addition to the pack.
How long had it been since she hunted with other raptors? Months. Then again she had never gone on an actual pack hunt in the real world. Hunts in her old enclosure didn't count. Pigs in a cage weren't dinosaur prey in an open field.
Hunting Indominus Rexes with her sisters didn't count.
From behind beta Shadow crooned and nudged Blue, interrupting the dark and worrisome thoughts. Sensing her anxiety she spoke upon a gentle tone, encouraging with clicks of her teeth and a light in her eyes.
Blue, guardian of her child and omega of the pack. This was a chance to prove herself.
~...~
There was a small disturbance in the meadow, after it was announced to the other hunters that Blue would accompany them on the hunt. It began with Lima's hissing curses, was followed by stern reassurances from Shadow, and ended with Star's excited begging. She wanted to come! If Blue could go than she could go too, right?
As the youngling pranced about Blue's legs, Shadow only answered that question with a half amused snort, then urged her back towards the cave by nudging her. Star tried to move away and return to Blue, whining in disappointment, but again Shadow urged her back. She tried to dart away but the mother was swift and snatched her daughter's tail between her teeth.
Dangling upside down from Shadow's gentle hold, Star lifted her head and growled in a temper tantrum of a fit, thrashing about as the black and red beta walked back towards the den. She waved the hunters off with a flick of her tail and like that matters were settled. Kilo called the beginning of the hunt, and Victor turned to join his mate.
Star was too young and fragile to risk the dangers of a hunt, as were the adolescents Mike and Curare. Shadow knew this well after such dangers intruded the secret meadow and took the lives of her other offspring, so it made her feel better by staying home from the hunts and serving as the den guard with her wounded mate.
Watching the beta walk away, and hearing Star's protest fade within the den, Blue turned to the rest of the pack. They were now gathered towards the entrance of the secret meadow, where the roar of the outside waterfall carried over the stone walls and filled the air. Very faintly did a mist carry, collecting in little droplets on the scaly hides that waited in it.
They waited for the alpha's first order.
Lifting his scarred head, one eye falling on each of the hunters, Kilo lingered on Blue. Again she felt tiny under his gaze, but he only snorted when she looked to the ground and avoided eye contact as a sign of submission. His lips curled in vague annoyance, which he felt but did not express loudly.
By wish of his sister he would let the omega come.
So, arching his neck and taking the lead of the group, Kilo chuffed to the elders. They took place in formation behind him, followed by a signal that put Tango and Lima behind them. At first Blue assumed that she take the rear, behind Tango and her nemesis, but a short growl denied her assumptions and steps to said place. It was from Kilo at the head of the group, startling Blue with a sharp chuff and flash of bewildered eyes to the alpha.
Kilo stared at her, hesitated, then flicked his muzzle. He gestured to his side indicating that the omega's place was there with him, at the front of the group.
Lima hissed, Tango tilted her head, the elders shifted, and Blue blinked. With a shocked look she stared at Kilo and questioned his command with her gaze, receiving his determined look and growl in return. Each of them knew that place was usually for beta Shadow, second in command, but the reasons behind Blue's placement were far from rank of dominance. Lima of course was furious that such an unworthy raptor would walk in Shadow's place, but Kilo's decision was purely for safety.
He may have been letting Blue go with them...but that didn't mean he trusted her being in the rear, where their backs were turned and their vulnerabilities were high. She could attack easily, unless she was up where he could keep a good eye on her. He could knock her down within moments if she decided to strike.
Very aware of Kilo's distaste to her close presence, and very aware of Lima's gaze burning into the back of her skull, Blue walked up to the alpha with a cautious gaze and stride. Once she was there, being careful not to bump or brush him in any way, Kilo lifted his head in rugged approval and snorted. He took the first step which Blue mimicked. The rest of the group fell in behind and all went to the meadow's exit.
Blue was thankful really, that there was now some separation between her and her rival. She could hear Lima's angry voice echo off the stone walls they walked through, and heard the way her talons scuffed angrily on the ground. The thought of making her further aggravated was unsettling, but the thought of having Kilo close by to shield her from aggression was comforting.
Of course she had to be extra careful, to keep from upsetting the alpha himself.
Through the cave, daring into the rushing waters, and emerging down the ledge on the others side, the hunting party began their trek through the winding canyon. They walked swiftly and silently, covering ground and maneuvering through the maze of rock and stone far quicker than Blue expected. The walk was shorter than she remembered from her first time, but maybe that was because of Kilo.
Using faint scent marks familiar to him, Kilo was confident in his direction. He always made correct turns and he always kept a sharp eye on the path ahead, which in no time began to brighten and open up before them. The flat stone beneath their talons became soft grass, and the bleak shadows were chased away by clear morning sunlight.
The black ravine ended, and the prey valley was before them. It was bigger than Blue remembered it, with long fresh grass over rolling hills, a small sparkling river split down the middle, and a perimeter of dark green jungle trees. She remembered all these things from her previous visits and hunts, but to see it again made her remember something.
This place, the land of opportunity filled until ready to burst with healthy prey, was now her home. It was her pack's territory, all to them.
Feeling an excitement start within her Blue sucked in a deep breath. She could smell the prey, herds of them spread throughout the valley giving off scents that lured her inner hunter to the surface. She began to bounce on her toes, clicking her teeth and glancing about with a nervous burst of energy.
She could prove her worth to the back. She'd help them find the biggest, fattest prey out there. She'd help deliver the killing blow and show them all why she was beta in her old back. Alpha Kilo would be proud of the new addition. He'd let her in as an official member of the pack, out of the omega rank and into subordinate class.
Of course this was Blue's plan, a dream that -in any case- was wildly optimistic for her circumstances. It was her fantastic strategy and completely unknown to her, another plan was being formed in the mind beside her.
Trying to ignore Blue's bubbly actions, alpha Kilo snorted and gazed out across the field with a sharp eye. Even from their place he could catch the ocassional mass of a herd, coming out from the jungle to graze and forage as all the herbivores did. They were all waking up to continue their daily feeding routine, calling out in various trumpets and rumbles to one another.
Not far away, Kilo knew there to be a small grove of leaved trees. It was the common grazing grounds of a herd of Edmontosaurus, specifically the herd they fed from some time ago when they took down a yearling calf. If they could take down another young adult or adolescent-careful to avoid the much larger mature adults-, it would be good eating for the pack and easy enough prey to take down.
However, the alpha had a new hunter to keep in mind...a new addition that thus far did not prove successful in her hunts, lessening his confidence in her helping them.
Kilo would have to find an easy job for the omega.
The alpha snorted, then with an abrupt flick of his tail stepped onwards and into the grass at the opening of the black ravine. It was high from lack of grazing and reached up to his hip, so that when he slipped into the stalks all that could be seen was the tip of his arched tail. It was the same for the other raptors when they followed. He could hear them chittering and clicking softly, a consistent pattern developing so that even when visuals were cut off they could locate one another.
As the hunters ventured off into the fields, Blue kept close to alpha Kilo and tried not to bump into him. She watched his actions as they walked and noted the way his eye darted around with quick flashes. His head was low, but whenever a certain sound caught his interest he lifted it just enough to peer over the grass, locate the maker of the noise, and determine if it was of any interest to them. For what Blue could only assume was because of limited vision, he also made many double takes and cocked his head to an odd angle in order to see something.
Once or twice he hissed gently at her when she went up on his blind side and startled him. It made Blue question what it was like to have only one functioning eye...and how the black male had survived this long especially in alpha position.
Suddenly, Kilo lurched to a stop and Blue blinked as his tail swiped against her face, causing her to duck and veer around him before stopping as well. She looked to his face and saw that it was unmoving, one eye fixed ahead with the ridge of his forehead just above the grass to look at something.
This time something had truly caught his interest.
Realizing this, Blue's eyes went wide and her head too lifted above the grass. The other raptors behind her chose to stay down, but her curiosity and eagerness made her risk a quick peek. She followed Kilo's gaze across the space of grass they stood within to a nearby tree line, a grove of tender leaved trees and brush just on the edge of the jungle. At first she saw nothing, then within the shadows and rustling foliage she caught the dim outline of a large dinosaur. With time and focus that outline filled out and she could see exactly what it was.
By scent, it was a young female Edmontosaurus. She appeared to be alone, herd either gone or out of sight as she feasted on the leaves of a tree with a soft look in her eyes. Back and forth her jaw chewed, uttering little grunts and rumbles to no one in particular.
A loner with no one to help guard her. She was the perfect candidate.
Licking her lips Blue heard Kilo chuff softly and call Alden to his side, followed by Hook and Tango. They slipped forward in silence and looked to him for direction and a plan of action. He was quick to assign jobs...but Blue wasn't sure she liked his pick of assignments.
Divided into two sections, the hunting party was sorted and four chasers were chosen. Alden, Hook, and Tango would all accompany Kilo on the offense and help him make the first strike. That left two raptors, Lima and Blue, whom stared at Kilo with wide eyes and wiggling bodies like children waiting to hear good news.
Kilo stared back at them with a blank look. For a long moment he looked into Blue's eyes and seemed to think on his decision, questioning it, until he shook his head and gave a blunt chuff. At the sound of it Blue reeled her head back in shock, while Lima's own head dropped and a disgusted look came to her features. Both females cast glances to each other as though it were the end of the world.
Blue and Lima were assigned as the distractions, bait being a better term in Blue's opinion. Kilo wanted a low key assignment for her first hunt and she got it.
For humans, the distraction hunt was a well known thing. Once thought to be the trademark of raptor attacks, it was simple to carry out yet effective in stalking prey. They had theorized it through the years...then unfortunately began to experience it first hand with the creation of Ingen's dinosaurs.
One or two raptors, -a distraction- would stand before the target in plain sight, just out of reach yet close enough to cause a bit of concern. They would direct all focus on the prey and bluff in their aggression to catch its attention, giving the appearance of a stalking, which the prey would view threatening and in turn focus completely on the visible hunters.
The true killers would be hiding out of sight in the bushes, positioned at the sides and back getting closer and closer. Once the prey became utterly unaware of anything other than the raptors at its front, they would strike with deadly force and surprise.
Humans said raptors preferred to slash out the kill's stomach. In truth, they struck anywhere and everywhere they could reach in order to deliver as much damage as possible; the stomach, throat, flank, head, or legs.
Make a quick clean kill if you can, tear them apart if you cant. Raptors were good at it...most of the time.
Still giving Lima sidelong glances, less than pleased with her partner, Blue slinked up to Kilo and caught his attention with a soft warble. He turned, she shied, then puffed out her chest and dared to question his pairing of her and Lima. From behind her she could hear the tan female also voice her disapproval, although her deep growl was a little less respectful to the alpha.
Again, Blue was locked beneath Kilo's gaze as he tilted his head and regarded her. The other hunters waited impatiently, while Blue hoped.
Surely he did not forget what happened that morning between her and Lima. She nearly lost her nose because of the tension between them, and he wanted them to work together? Did he somehow expect that was going to go over well?
Of course, Blue would not risk failure of a hunt by acting upon her rivalry...but she was not as confident in Lima's control. Even then the female was breathing deeply, flicking her tail in agitation and glancing to Blue with hate. This demeanor was immediately changed of course, when Kilo glanced her way and she brought on a pouting act. Sad little noises escaped her and her eyes got big, while her head bowed and her tail shook in a plead.
The alpha tilted his head and both females felt hope rise...only to have it stamped out when he then growled and turned to walk away. In shock Lima stepped forward and began to protest, but from the side came a low hiss and stomping footsteps, followed by brown scales with burgundy marks and faint scars that filled her vision. She leapt back with a gentle yelp, staring up at the elder Hook whom now stood before her. With his golden eyes he told her to watch herself, then cast the same look over to Blue with a sharp flick of his head.
Both females bowed their heads in submission and Hook arched his neck in approval. He enforced Kilo's orders when it was needed and this was one of those times. The alpha had no interest in dealing with Lima's whining that day, no more than he was wishing to babysit an omega during the hunt. They both had to stay out of his way and work the distraction.
Bending down again Hook eyed Lima and Blue individually. He again hissed, before hearing a raptor chirp at him from the nearby grass. That caught his attention and forced him to turn and follow the other hunters. He too disappeared from sight but his challenging order lingered.
Behave.
Left with nothing to do but accept what was given to her, Blue grumbled to herself and crouched onto her belly in the grass. She could hear the rest of the hunting party move away from them through the grass, their footsteps growing distant, until her focus was broken by a quiet shuffling just to the side of her. The omega turned and immediately found herself beneath a cold yellow gaze.
In the small moment that they were alone, Lima had moved closer and fixed her furious eyes upon Blue. Her lips curled with quiet hisses and her body language sent messages of threats, to which Blue lifted her head and dared to growl softly.
Lima had to be quiet lest they give their presence away too early.
But, Lima just snorted and showed her teeth in challenge, causing Blue to shift and hiss under her breath. Of course she hadn't expected much from the female as far as listening to reason went. It didn't matter what she said or did, Lima would disapprove of it and do the exact opposite just to rough her scales. With her, reasoning was cast to the wind and all that remained was the battle of "I'm better than you."
Deep down, Blue's old beta side was getting fed up with the constant torment. It wanted to rise up in aggression and lash back, but just as she thought she might explode, her new omega side would snuff the aggression out entirely and she would back down. She wasn't brave like a beta anymore. All her omega instincts could say was "duck your head and roll with it."
It frustrated Blue to be so timid, but did she have a choice with the entire pack bearing down on her with dominance?
Disgruntled, Blue forced her eyes away from Lima -whom growled at the loss of her rival's attention- and gave in to her omega instincts. She rose up from the grass and took a few steps away, then turned her attention to the task she had to complete. The Edmontosaurus was still in the bushes, rustling the leaves as she tore a small branch from its base. She had yet to notice the hunters surrounding her but it was Blue's job to direct whom she noticed and when.
Make the pack proud.
Tail arching and teeth flashing, Blue released a chirp and shifted a bit on her feet so that her body rustled the grass. She stomped a foot, spun, then made a half hearted growl. Very quickly she became too loud to go unnoticed, and the prey lifted her head with wide eyes. Her chewing stopped with leaves and sticks poking out from around lips. Her body tensed, she chewed once or twice, then dropping the branch she lowered her head and shook it with a nervous threat.
Bait taken. Now Blue just had to keep her attention long enough for alpha to make his move.
Eyes fixed on the herbivore, hearing Lima come up beside her and make a low growl, Blue took a daring step forward. The prey tensed up and flicked her tail with a snap of her bill-like lips. They had to toy with her, make her worry, but not enough that she saw them as a true threat and ran.
At least Lima decided to help.
Backing off with a bob of her head Blue cackled and gave the target some space. While her eyes were fixed fully on the prey, her hearing was fixed upon the noises around her, trying to filter out bird calls and various other sounds in an effort to locate the hunters. When she heard nothing of importance she snorted, a look of impatience and hunger coming to her eyes as they dared to glance into the trees.
Wait. There she could see movement.
Just behind the Edmontosaurus, off in the cover of the foliage, Blue could just catch a blur of white within the shadow. At the sight of it she stood up on her toes and focused, soon realizing that the shape inching closer and closer was the elder Alden. He was harder to conceal with his white scales. No doubt the rest of the hunters were around him, their own darker colored scales hiding them from view.
Keep prey distracted. Any moment now they would attack and they needed a wide window in order to do so.
Snarling, kicking things up a notch, Blue lunged forward a few feet and slid to a sharp stop. Her teeth flashed and her talons raised, but her bluff was enough to make the Edmontosaurus jump back and rise up on her hind legs with a bellow. This put her more into the trees, closer to the hunters and with less room to maneuver her large body.
A silence fell, Blue and the prey staring off. For an eternal moment they waited for something to happen, and when it did, the silence was shattered.
Like a blur of shadow a black form lunged free of the brush. Over the ground it ran with swift speed and called out with a chilling cry, as white fangs flashed and death talons were raised and at the ready. A single golden eye fixed on the target, whom spun somewhat and bumped into the trees surrounding her. She was still on her hind legs, head brushing the branches above as a startled and terrified rumble escaped her parted lips.
Kilo, charging his victim with the other hunters following close behind, veered around a swiping tail and pushed himself from the ground with powerful legs. Through the air he lunged and led with his feet, so that when he collided with the prey's ribcage his talons sunk in. He gripped her back with his forelimbs and their claws while his teeth ripped and tore. The other raptors quickly followed his lead.
Blue found herself bouncing in one place with the excitement of it, watching and feeling the thrill of the hunt fill her.
As Alden raced about the Edmontosaurus, he bit and slashed at the muscle of her legs. She tried to spin and land on him with the weight of her front end, but from behind Hook snarled and jumped up to fasten himself to the rise of her back. Much like Kilo he dug his death talon into her flesh and bit anywhere that he could reach, while Tango raced by and snapped at her throat with upright leaps that fell just short.
The Edmontosaurus lifted up on her hind legs again, bellowing in pain and terror, before slamming back down and jarring the hunters on her back. They lurched, and she repeated the act with a growing desperation. She was moving too much for Tango to land a strike on her neck. Alden didn't have much of an opportunity to do it himself without risking being crushed between the prey and a tree.
Blue shifted onto one leg and clicked her teeth. Her body begged her to go and help. Wasn't there more to do than watch?
From her side, Lima gave an amused snort and arched her neck. Her golden eyes brightened with a look of selfish realization and her talons wiggled. She stepped forward, making sure to slap Blue upside the head with her tail and slink in front of her before heading towards the fight. She walked slow, exaggerating her steps just to rub it all in.
She was going to disobey alpha's orders and join the attack? She was a distraction! Not a chaser!
Blue growled sharply and glared at her rival with a sincere hatred. She cursed with frustrated hisses and paced a bit in the grass, watching her walk off thinking how unfair all of it was.
Suddenly, a thundering bellow sounded from ahead and both females shot their heads around with eyes of confusion and shock. They heard crashing, saw the trees rustle, then watched as the female Edmontosaurus burst forth into the grass. Her head was high and she stumbled on four legs a few feet, then lifted her upper half and began to run away in a bipedal gait.
No raptors were on her back. She was wounded, bleeding heavily, but nothing that would kill her within the next day or so.
What happened?
What they had missed, was the point in which the Edmontosaurus reached her true moment of panic. All at once her limbs had flailed in all directions, her tail thrashed, and her head swung around like a small wrecking ball. Tango and Alden were forced to back off to avoid getting struck. Soon after alpha Kilo and Hook had to detach themselves from the prey's back for the same reason.
She bucked around for a moment, squealing and rumbling with her fright, before catching enough awareness to spin and leap out of the grove. It was a sudden turn of events, but gathering himself Kilo had demanded they follow in pursuit and the pack was quick to charge out.
Now, the raptors were hopelessly behind the prey, their advantage to speed denied due to the sheer amount of space between them. The Edmontosaurus could only run 25 miles per hour to the raptor's 40, but between the exertion of the first strike and the struggle it gave little promise.
None of the hunters had enough stamina left over to catch up. At least...almost none of them...
Blue thrashed her tail and whined in distress, watching the prey pull away from her and the pack. Her head was high and her heartbeat was strong, yet inside her was an even harsher war of thoughts.
Disobey alpha, try to catch prey. Stay, risk loosing prey. She couldn't tell what was worse. What if she failed in the attack and just made the Edmontosaurus run farther and faster? They could always track the wounded dinosaur down and finish her later...
No! Her old instincts shouted out with wild confidence and hatred of giving up. Betas do not let prey escape them! They take them down first hand and spare the pack the struggle of an all day hunt. If she was to ever prove she was something more than an omega, then she had to act like something more...do things expected of a strong and worthy raptor.
Blue tensed up with those thoughts, but in her chest her heart began to race. Her every muscle tightened, forcing her legs to spread when she herself did not want them too. Her eyes fixed on the Edmontosaurus with a sharpness that intensified through the moment. Wasn't the whole point of her coming out on this hunt was to prove herself? Didn't the alpha want good strong raptors in his pack? Why couldn't she try to prove herself?
She could be a good strong raptor for alpha.
In that moment something changed within the female. You could call it a revelation in a time of need, a moment of belief in a creature ruled by submission and caution; you could call it pure animal instincts that couldn't hold back from the kill; and you could call it dormant habits of a high ranking raptor rising to the occasion. You could call it a good many things, but raptors weren't much into behavioral debates.
Blue was off into the long grass like a bullet fired out of the chamber. It happened so fast that a stupefied Lima whirled and snarled, demanding the omega drop out of the chase as her own yellow eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
It wasn't Blue's right to make the kill. She was not worthy! Lima made these threats with sharp roars and calls but Blue couldn't hear them above her own heartbeat. She was pushing herself harder and harder, sharp eyes and mind flashing over the path and plan.
Currently, -beginning from where she had stood to give the hunt's distraction- Blue was going at an angle to the Edmontosaurus' current path. By the rate and direction both were moving, they would eventually meet at a point and Blue would be given the chance of an attack. She had to plan which strike would dispatch the prey most quickly.
In that moment the Edmontosaurus turned her head to look back at Kilo and the other hunters still trying to give chase. With such a turn the muscles of her neck rolled and bulged, an attractive sight to one such as a predator on the hunt. The life vein was underneath that muscle, bubbling with blood that had to spill over the ground in order for victory to ensue.
There might as well have been a big bright target with blinking lights spelling "Slash Here".
As the space between hunter and prey closed, Blue ducked her head and sucked in rushed breaths. Her mouth was gaped open with shining teeth and her arms reached out before her with claws up, while her death talons sprung upon tension and clicked the ground with every anticipated stride. 30 yards turned to 20, 20 yards turned to 15, then that turned into leaping distance. At that point the Edmontosaurus became aware of the fifth raptor joining the hunt but by then it was too late.
Hearing the prey's cry of terror and seeing her attempt to turn away, Blue arched her back. Like springs had been set into her legs she launched herself from the ground and led with her talons. A shriek shot from her lungs and her eyes burned with want of blood.
Fast and hard. No mercy.
The collision was a harsh thing, a thud filling the air as two bodies met and Blue landed upon the Edmontosaurus' chest. Her talons slashed through its thick muscle, while teeth snapped for any purchase they could discover. For a moment she snarled and gave her attack, but with a cry of terror and pain the prey began her struggle for life. She had stopped, but in turning and spinning with a shake of her head she jarred Blue this way and that. She attempted to curl her head downward and bite the raptor with her bill-like lips, but Blue pressed close and snarled at her with a flash of bloody fangs. That gave way to more spinning and bucking. The prey was bleeding heavily from the front but hardly the amount of a punctured life vein.
Blue had yet to find it within the flesh of her neck.
Suddenly, holding on as the Edmontosaurus spun, Blue felt her grip fail. Her claws were torn free of their holds and her eyes went wide as her body began to teeter backwards. She frantically tried to recover, but the only thing she could see was the Edmontosaurus' neck extended above her.
If she fell, the prey would surely trample her beneath its feet. If she fell then they would only be in the same predicament and risk of hunt failure as before.
Using her quick thinking Blue pushed up with her feet whilst they still had leverage. Her jaws parted with a sharp cackle, then snapped with a loud noise around the Edmontosaurus' throat. Immediately her mouth was filled with blood while her ears were filled with the prey's scream, as she reared up on her hind legs and shook her head with a wild look in her eyes. Her skin was tearing from the raptor's teeth, taking more and more flesh away from her life vein's protection.
As the Edmontosaurus reared onto her hind legs, Blue's death talons pulled free of its chest. With such freedom her entire body dangled like a dog from its suspended chew toy, nothing but her teeth and jaw strength keeping her from the ground. With each swing of the prey's head she swung, and with each shake she gripped tighter onto the flesh in her mouth. She didn't dare let go no matter how much her body began to tire.
Suddenly, as the Edmontosaurus' breaths began to come out in harsh gasps, Blue's grip putting stress upon her windpipe, a noise rose from behind them. Sharp calls lifted on the air and figures darted from the corner of vision like shadows. Chirps and snarls greeted them, praise to Blue and malice to the prey.
Alpha Kilo and the hunters had arrived on scene.
Stepping with sides heaving and jaws parted in recovering breaths, the alpha came into view looking like he had just run a thousand miles. His jaws were parted a little with quiet pants and his head was low, but upon nearing the prey and Blue he forced his stance upright. He closed his jaws, tilted his head and sucked in one last breath, then chuffed with an air of surprise. His eye gleamed with a similar look.
How did the omega manage to accomplish this?
At his inquiring voice Blue curled her lips with a soft chitter. A sense of pride filled her, to the point that her tail quivered slightly like a dog trying to decide whether or not to wag.
Did she do good? Was alpha happy?
Kilo tilted his head and snorted. He looked the female up and down, covered in blood and dangling from the prey after she had singlehandedly brought it to a stop. He was confused, surprised...and slowly began to realize he was beginning to feel pride.
A small part of him still rose up, demanding that the omega was at fault for disobeying his assignments and wishes to keep her out of the hunt. It rose up but he reluctantly shoved it back down. The omega caught the prey...never in his life did Kilo think he would see the day when an omega of all ranks, took down an Edmontosaurus.
Kilo sucked in a breath, looked at Blue and the prey, then bobbed his head with a chitter of gruff praise. Her forced it through a low growl, to express that he wasn't pleased with her disobedience, but also appreciative to her efforts in the kill.
Blue blinked and went quite still as she stared down at the alpha. She hadn't expected him to give her much praise, but again, she was proved wrong by the male. Slowly her tail began to move, then it quivered and her lips again curled up in a happy chitter. She reacted like a happy dog...as though she wasn't currently occupied with such a dark task as killing. Kilo in turn blinked to her show of excitement, then steeled himself and began to regard the situation at hand.
The Edmontosaurus was teetering where she stood, breaths still ragged but life holding on. She was wounded, bleeding, but nothing that would kill her within the next few hours or so.
Blue didn't want to hang for the next two hours.
So, Kilo looked up at the female and chuffed. Around them the other raptors had taken position and formed a perimeter, just in case the prey should find the energy and courage to bolt. They were ready and all he needed Blue to do was hold on. She was quick to tighten her hold on the prey's throat.
Once sure that Blue was prepared, Kilo looked at the prey. His eye glanced over her trying to see a weakness in her stance as the other raptors inched ever closer. They chittered, and he flicked his tail with a signal of approval. At that Alden hissed and darted forward to latch his teeth onto the prey's hind ankle.
For a moment, the Edmontosaurus threw her head up and bellowed, but with the raptor latched onto her leg she stumbled a few feet forward only to come to a stop and sway. Once she was still Hook dove in to restrain her other hind ankle, while Tango attacked a front limb. Again the prey bellowed but that time she did not move.
It was Kilo's turn.
From her place in the air, Blue watched as the alpha bared his teeth and paced in the grass for a moment of anticipation. She saw his eye fix on the prey's shoulder and noticed the look in his gaze, showing his intentions even before he snarled and lunged up into a massive leap.
Blue tightened her hold on the throat and tensed as the large male collided with the prey's shoulder, leading with his feet but keeping his talons away as he landed and shoved off. His full weight and force was put into the already unstable creature, which caused her to rumble and sway a little.
Kilo pulled away as she began to stumble backwards, yet with her feet restrained she tripped upon her own feet.
Blue felt the jolt, just before she and the prey went falling down like a tree and hit the ground with a loud crash. Dust kicked up from beneath them and stung at her eyes, but she kept her jaws tight and braced against the short moment of pain from landing so hard. Her feet hurried to get underneath her, as the Edmontosaurus began to strike and roll around with wails of desperation.
Take the throat out. Break the life vein while she still had leverage.
Growling, hearing the other raptors come close once again Blue stood and pushed down against her jaws. Forcing them harder and further onto the prey's neck, she began to feel a pounding rush between her teeth. She felt every breath and heartbeat just beneath her fangs. All she had to do was break through.
Suddenly, Blue became aware of a presence beside her, as Tango and the others latched onto different flailing limbs to hold the prey down. She looked up best she could while biting, and only saw black scales in her vision as Kilo slipped his head in beside hers.
With a sharp snarl, both raptors bit down on the prey's throat and together they breached the windpipe. Blood soaked the ground and the cries of their victim broke with loss of the ability to breathe. Their tails thrashed, their teeth slashed, then the life vein burst with a suddenness.
The prey quivered and died within moments. Success. The hunt was finally over!
For a moment, Blue couldn't believe it as she continued to hold onto the body's neck, growling softly as Kilo pulled away and licked his lips. Her body was still tense and the blood was heavy on her tongue, but she glared at the flesh before her and curled her lips.
Softly, voice only slightly edgy, the alpha chittered to Blue. It broke her concentration just enough for her eyes to lift and realize the prey was no longer moving. Her growls cut short, her body dropped out of its tense state, and she released the neck with a sheepish croon and lick of her lips.
For a moment there was silence, then Kilo chuffed softly and bobbed his head to the omega. He gave her praise for her efforts, and she bowed her own head as a gesture of respect and thanks.
Meanwhile, she was bursting on the inside. She did it! She helped take down the prey!
Backing away from the kill to give Kilo his space and right to first eat, Blue shook out her scales and licked again at the blood over her face. She purred softly to herself and smiled with her eyes, the joy from her success strong.
It wasn't long before the other raptors moved closer to her.
At first, when Tango moved closer and began to chitter with hesitant friendliness, Blue went wide eyed and lifted her head. The interaction was a thing she wasn't used to, thus she became nervous and wriggled her claws with a little warble. Tango responded with a small noise to reassure that her intentions were only true.
Good job omega. To realize Tango was telling her that made Blue arch her neck and hold back a proud churr.
Soon, Alden and Hook had passed by to give their own thanks, nodding their heads with a calm demeanor as they moved on to the kill for eating. Alden lingered for a moment to look Blue over, inspecting her, while Hook just snorted and grumbled to himself as if he were proved wrong by doubting her.
It was all praise and calm appreciation, until Lima appeared from the nearby grass.
Stepping out into the open, the tan and gold female had a face of pure disgust, fixated onto Blue with unmoving hatred. Her talons were up and her lips were curling and quivering. At the sight of her Blue curled her own lips and snapped her tail with a little note of aggression.
The omega took the prey down? How dare she! How dare she disobey the alpha and cut her off! She was to help the alpha! It was her job to help make the kill! She was the superior rank!
Lima thought this, as she slinked closer to the omega and uttered a sharp hiss. Her eyes burned and sought blood, brave whilst the alpha and elders were distracted by food. Blue hissed back and that only teased at her ragged patience, worn thin by Blue's outlandish feats and successes.
She'd kill her. She'd tear that throat and watch her bleed out, if it meant ridding the pack of her vile intrusion!
Snarling, spreading her jaws with a furious gleam in her eyes, Lima strode towards Blue in a sudden burst of fury. Her tail thrashed and her lips curled with challenging displays of her teeth, while her claws reached out in front of her.
Tango backed away with a submissive whine and bow of her head, but Blue stood her ground. She glared at her rival and thrashed her own tail, before feeling a spike of courage and snarling back.
Why that little urchin! She dare challenge her, after a bit of good luck with the prey?!
In that moment, Lima became a snarling mess of claws and fangs that lunged through the air and landed upon Blue. The two females met with a thud and Tango jumped back, as talons scraped across flesh and teeth bit into shoulders and necks. They kicked up dust in their wake, the occasional flash of blood rising when scales were broken.
Tango lifted her head and yelped in a shrill call, pleading for help as she spun and watched the fight roll over and over again through the grass.
As far as Blue knew, she was in a fight for her life. She felt pain where Lima bit at her and scratched her with her claws, amongst a rage that boiled from her beta instincts and made her fight back. She dealt in strikes and slashes, while Lima's own attacks were uncoordinated and frantic.
That didn't mean she was missing.
Suddenly, as Lima locked her jaws around the back of Blue's head, a shadow passed over them. A raging snarl broke their own racket and a black head dove in to latch its teeth around Lima's neck. It caused her to go wide eyed and wail angrily, lashing behind her, until she saw whom grabbed her and her actions melted behind a dark realization.
Still snarling, Kilo lifted Lima off of Blue and flicked his neck. The movement forced her to stumble some yards away, where she spun and began to hiss to express her fury. She hunched low, gashes and bite marks scattered over her body which only fueled her anger more.
Every time she tried to step forward, Kilo drove her back with a threat to take her then and there.
As the fight was broken up, Blue laid out upon the grass and growled behind grunts of discomfort. Sucking in deep breaths she blinked through the dust and sensed something standing over her. She heard a challenging snarl and knew that Lima now kept her distance, yet when she looked up she went wide eyed with disbelief.
Alpha Kilo stood over her, legs on either side of her body as he hunched low and snarled viciously. His one eye was burning and his body was rolling with aggression, which cast its own slice of fear into Blue.
She felt fear at the sight of him...but shock and relief as well. He was protecting her.
As the remains of the fight's tension dwindled, Kilo's voice dropped in tone and eventually he stood up. Lima was quiet and stood on one leg as the other was held up in pain, but she no longer looked to Blue. Whenever she did the alpha would scold her with a flash of his teeth.
Sure that the female was done, Kilo stepped away from Blue and turned to look down at her. His expression of fury lessened to that of concern, hesitant but true in his eye as he chuffed sharply.
The omega was wounded by scratches and marks to her scales, mostly down her sides and neck but nothing much more than a little blood. He could tell by the way she grunted and pulled herself up she was in pain, but he could also tell by the way her shoulders rolled and her eyes burned, she still had her hackles up.
So...the omega had more dominance in her than he realized. She had more bite.
Snorting, realizing he was staring, Kilo lifted his head and looked away before he met Blue's gaze. Nearby he could see Tango and the elders, whom shifted nervously on their feet and looked between the females that had just set to tearing each other apart.
The alpha hissed, making all eyes lower to the ground before he turned and strode back to the kill with a snap of his tail. All eyes avoided Lima, but slowly began to drift to Blue whom was then getting to her feet.
Grunting, pain in her body but dulled by the shock, Blue looked after alpha Kilo as he began to eat from the kill. She watched him hiss and grumble to himself with each tear of flesh and crunch of bone, a feeling of mixed pride and confusion filling her.
Suddenly, a chitter came to her ears and Blue turned to realize that Tango now stood before her. The young female had her head up and eyes wide, while her voice lifted with a croon of worry.
Was omega Blue alright?
Blue hesitated, again glancing to alpha Kilo as her heartbeat dropped out of her skull and her breaths calmed. Yes...she supposed she was alright.
Tango snorted softly. She was lucky, to tell the truth. No one came out of a fight that easy with Lima.
She would have been dead if alpha Kilo hadn't stepped in.
