Well, I finally did it! Updates are finally flowing in and the guilt for not being active is being remedied.

First, I would like to again apologize for my absence. I do not like pulling away from posting for so long, but unfortunately, life waits for no one. Due to some stressful times, I was not able to write comfortably.

Second, I would like to again thank my readers for reviewing and being so patient. Some of you asked about this chapter and some of you seemed sure that I had dropped off the face of the earth. This is understandable. lol

I have loved hearing everyone's praise for WSB, and love hearing your thoughts on the story's progression. I hope I continue to hear from you all and I hope you continue to enjoy the chapters I write out.

Once again it is November, national novel writing month, so I hope to write another 50k words as I did last year as a challenge. Thus far it is very motivating, as you can tell with this update.

Also, if some of you would notice, this chapter is labeled "Pt. #1". Yes, this does mean that a part #2 is on the way...I may or may not have had too much fun writing this one out and I felt a 20k word chapter was a little much.

Thus, it was split. You can expect to see the second part posted promptly.

Anyways. :) Thank you again, everyone. I hope you enjoy, and I can't wait to show you all my plans for WSB, which will be getting much more exciting in coming chapters.

Stay tuned.


"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"

Chapter 19

"Field Day - (Pt. #1)"


~Kilo's POV~

(2 Weeks after Blue's Hunt)


Life as a whole runs on change. From season to season, living creature to living creature, and place to place it can be even the smallest of events. But then, the smallest of events could have the biggest of impacts.

After Blue's first hunt, the dynamics of the Waterfall pack were changed dramatically. As time passed it was clear who stood on the omega's side and accepted her rise to becoming a true member of the ranks, while it was also obvious whom still detested her presence. This was mainly Lima, who's hatred had only grown after what happened between them. Her body was still fighting to heal wounds from their scuffle, while her pride was slowly mending after alpha Kilo's own part in it. She was angry he protected Blue over her. How was she more important?

The alpha male was as surprised and confused by it as the pack was. Everything he previously felt about the omega was changing the longer she stayed with them...which concerned him.

Wide awake that early morning, Kilo laid in his nest with legs tucked under and tail curled around. Surrounding him the den was a pit of darkness due to the sun not yet rising, but despite this, his mind was far too active to sleep. The debates and questions were too important.

Snorting to himself Kilo flicked his tail and shifted so that his legs spread out, while his flank braced against the lip of his twig and dried leaf bed. Once comfortable he focused again on the shadows, where his pupil dilated to focus and pick out the forms that were his pack. They were sleeping soundly with little breaths and occasional grunts. Sometimes he would catch movement, and a nest with its inhabitants would become clear to his sharp eye.

Closest to him was Shadow and her family, tucked together in their nest with the comfort of one another's presence. Victor was laid beside his mate with belly to back and one forelimb draped over her shoulders. He was careful of his healing leg as he held her close, while Shadow was content curling into a ball and making it her duty to keep their daughter Star even closer. Even though she was asleep, Kilo could hear the hatchling purr and chirp as she slept in her parents' comforting embrace. It made him purr gently, before turning and scanning over the others.

Beyond Shadow's nest were Tango, Mike, and Curare, sleeping in a tangled ball of limbs and tails with little grunts and purls; past them were Alden and Hook, who preferred a little distance and quiet so that they could sleep soundly; and then there was Lima, whom after the incident with Blue avoided the pack and moved her nest against the back wall for seclusion. Of course, she acted as though it were Kilo's fault she was separated when in fact it was her own choice, and no one was stopping her from coming back to sleep with the rest of them.

Kilo snorted with a little click of his teeth, but his eye carried on and shifted to the other side of the den to complete his inspection. Again it struggled to see in the dark, but upon facing the main entrance it picked up fragments of light from outside, bringing up his vision as a result and letting him see a figure huddled against the stone wall. At the sight of it he blinked, then tilted his head and tapped his claw on the nest floor. Gray and blue scales were dazzling to the eye, upon a muscled hide that once was dull and stretched over a bony frame.

The omega had changed a lot since she came to the pack. She was very nearly becoming a different raptor, in both appearance and confidence. Who was she, to be so strong, cunning, sociable, and brave? Why had he not seen this side of her before? Why had she been hiding it?

If she was so capable...why had she been a loner, and why did she come to them looking as though she were starving? Obviously, the female was skilled in battle and hunt, when she defeated the female Utahraptor, or when she took down prey.

Or when she battled Lima...

Puzzled by Blue's mysterious past Kilo flared his nostrils and studied the female where she lay. The flesh around his scarred eye twitched as did his lips, telling that he was in deep thought as he noted the way Blue was drawn up in a tight ball. Around her was a sad ring of loose twigs and branches that barely kept its form, as though an attempt at making a nest was failed and given up on. It was too small and collapsed when disturbed, which made Kilo gurgle in pity and amusement.

Blue may have been talented with her teeth and claws...but when involving simple tasks and survival knowledge of pack life, she was as educated as a newborn hatchling. Sometimes she was actually quite comical to watch in the moments she tried to learn something knew, but of course, Kilo didn't admit that to himself.

Strange and mysterious was this omega of his...

As the alpha male watched Blue and contemplated her existence, he was unaware of movement to the side of his nest. Twigs cracked and claws scraped softly on stone, then a gentle sigh lifted followed by a yawn. Silence came back, Kilo was still unaware, then a croon sounded and called to him. That made him jolt, but in turning he composed himself and snorted.

Shadow was awake and staring at him with gentle yellow eyes. She was sitting up in her nest, careful not to wake her family as she pulled herself from drowsiness and regarded her brother. Her change in position made her mate and child press closer against her flank, searching for the warmth of her presence like moths to light. It was crowding but the female did not deny their comfort, so kept very still as to not wake them further. Instead, she asked the questions with her eyes. Why was Kilo awake so early? What was he doing?

To that Kilo flicked his tail and cast a sidelong glance to where Tango, Mike, and Curare slept. He lingered there, before looking back to Shadow and chuffing. His voice was tense and rode on an underlying tone of stress. His answer was simple: he was up and thinking, about alpha duties that needed planning and carrying out.

One duty, for example, was the annual "First Field Day". Shadow tilted her head to that and snorted.

The First Field Day was an event all raptors on Isla Sorna experienced with each new generation born to a pack. It was a day in which coming adolescents ventured out of the den, like a field trip, led by the pack's alpha raptor. The goal was to introduce them to the outside world, as well as strengthen their bond with the leader. The more they knew about the lands the better they would survive it, and the stronger the bond they had with the alpha, the stronger their loyalty would be in their adult years.

Of course, things hadn't gone all that close to the original routine that year. After the Utahraptor attack and the deaths in his pack, Kilo was forced to postpone the field day and focus his efforts on keeping the family from falling apart. Too many raptors were shaken and splitting them up for even one day could have damaged the stability of things. He worried about them and didn't want to leave their sides any longer than he had to hunt, and certainly didn't want to go out with the last few surviving of their younglings. Not after what happened to the others.

Of course, after time passed and the pack stabilized, things were changed. The Utahraptor attack took place in February. It was then March, and Kilo suspected it was time to make a move. The adolescents Mike and Curare were six months old and more than ready to make the outing. One day out in the field. That was it and they would be right back.

As Shadow realized what Kilo was planning, she looked to her side where Star was sleeping. She became very quiet in her thoughts, but when she looked up and crooned it caught Kilo's attention quickly enough.

Take Star along? What? No!

Surprised by his sudden refusal Shadow purred insistently. She attempted to reason with her brother but he flicked his tail and cut her off, then looked away and chuffed. She knew why Star couldn't go. At four months she was barely old enough, and they all knew what kind of a handful she could be at times.

Did Shadow not recall the night she ran away from the den, after the Utahraptor attack when she followed Blue into the forest? What trouble would she get into with two other younglings at her side, through the expanse of an entire day?

Shadow growled back to her brother in challenge. She flicked her tail, but when a tiny grumble sounded from the hatchling at her side the female forced herself to quiet. Star shifted from the disturbance, flipped onto her back with legs extended up, then grunted and continued her sleep. Once she was settled Shadow looked back to Kilo and tried to negotiate.

Star wanted to see more than the hidden meadow, that much had been clear for many months. She needed more space to move and something to get her young mind going, to see new things and understand that there was a very large and very dangerous world outside, to prepare her for the future. Why couldn't she go?

Kilo stared at his sister as though she were mad. Why couldn't she go? Star would be across the next hill and into the path of a Triceratops the first second he turned his back! She would find one of the boneheaded Pachycephalosaurus near the northern lines, or get stepped on by an Apatosaurus!

Shadow started her defense but Kilo snapped his teeth, not in a mean way, but using his alpha ranking against her. No, no he couldn't handle the three younglings all at once with Star in the mix. He loved her dearly but the little thing had a fire that couldn't always be controlled. At first, Shadow seemed to understand this and obey him, but tilting her head she dared to offer him a compromise.

Could she go if he took another raptor with him?

Kilo blinked but straightened and thought it over for a good minute. Take another raptor? Who would he take? Lima was out of the question with her impatience for the younglings, Tango was young and sister to Mike which would be a poor choice, and Hook would have everything far too strict...

Alden? The albino elder was very patient with the young ones and controlled them, to some extent. If he came along that might ease some of the stress. He was wise and knew the land better than many. Yes...that would be a good-

Shadow butted in with a sharp snort that interrupted the consideration and made the alpha go wide eyed.

Take the omega. What? The omega? Was she serious?

Shadow gave him a dark look and the male composed himself, holding back the shocked chitters much as they wanted to burst out. Surely there was a better choice than the omega. Wasn't Alden more suited?

His sister purred that time as if to encourage him. He knew the younglings loved Blue. She played with them every day and had their trust, but didn't let them get away with things like Alden did. Alden was too soft and didn't discipline when things got out of hand. Blue was loving yet knew when enough was enough.

Obviously, she and Kilo needed to work on a pack bond. It would only be smart to send her along because that was the point of the field day, to strengthen bonds and encourage trust. Was he to deny that of the poor thing?

Kilo tried to make a protest but Shadow's flashing teeth kept it at bay. She glared at him, scolding him because he knew better than to keep ignoring their newest member. Why did he not think she was worthy? What was wrong with her? What made him doubt her?

Kilo looked to the shadows in the direction of where Blue slept. His lips twitched in agitation but deep down, he knew his sister was right, just as he knew she was right the day she commanded that Blue go with them on the hunt. After what Blue did, it was obvious that Shadow was right.

There probably wouldn't be any way to talk her out of it anyways. When Shadow made up her mind, there was no way to make her think otherwise. Already the beta female had her muzzle turned up in victory and a confident gleam in her eyes, which stung at Kilo's pride as he ducked his head and gave a heaving sigh.

Fine...the omega could come with them.

A moment of silence hung over the den, as though the very world was shocked by the alpha's agreement. Not a single creature made a noise, until Shadow snorted and shifted in her nest. At first, Kilo didn't pay attention but when there was a sharp squawk from Star he turned to see that his sister had suddenly stood up. Such change in nest occupancy let her mate and daughter slide onto the floor, which of course woke the youngling with a start.

Wide-eyed, Star struggled to get off of her back as her tail thrashed in fear of a suddenly disturbed sleep. She cried loudly for a few long moments, the sound echoing off the den walls on such a volume that the pack started to stir and groan. Their tails flicked, then their eyes opened and darted about in disorientated confusion. Kilo groaned in frustration but Shadow stepped out of her nest with a smug chuff and arch of her tail.

The sun was rising outside. Might as well get out early and add some good hours to the field day.

As the pack stretched and stood up from their nests, Kilo took a moment to glance over at Blue, who was uncurling out of her sleeping position and yawning sleepily. He watched how her forelimbs extended out in front of her like a waking cat, hind end lifted into the air and tail swishing about. Her talons snapped down, her teeth clicked shut, and her golden eyes shifted to the rest of the pack before standing up and shaking herself.

She seemed curious and ready to go, knowing that waking up so early only meant something special was going to happen. "Are we going on another hunt?" her eyes seemed to ask.

Kilo tilted his head. He liked how enthusiastic she was, wanting to be involved in as much as she could within the group either for work or play. She genuinely cared for them and their lifestyle...even though some of them hadn't returned it.

Give her more chances, he told himself. She might surprise everyone again.

Lurching up onto his feet Kilo took on a tall stance and looked across his family. Now coming close to him the elders were chuffing out questions, while the younglings were whining softly wondering why they had to wake so early, staggering about as though they would suddenly collapse and go back to sleep. In the back, Kilo could see that Blue was slinking closer. That meant everyone was present...aside from Lima of course. She was awake and glowering at them from the dark corner that was her nest, but Kilo chose to look away and puff out his chest. With a croon and bob of his head he began to explain why he -giving a short glance to Shadow- had asked that the pack wake so early.

The First Field Day was about to begin. That became clear and immediately all raptors in the den tensed. The elders chittered to one another in concern, Tango and Victor exchanged wary glances, and Lima snorted as though uninterested. Blue tilted her head and warbled, clearly confused and uneducated in pack traditions.

Kilo took a deep breath and reassured with a gentle croon before stepping forward into the group. He silenced the elders with a stern look and encouraged Victor with a chuff, then in looking up he locked eyes with the omega, whom he stopped just before and regarded.

Uneducated and inexperienced. He hoped it wasn't a mistake to let her come along.

As Blue looked up at him in confusion and worry, Kilo tilted his head and noticed how she ducked in submissive respect. He watched and contemplated, but upon hearing Shadow's low hiss he groaned and flicked his muzzle. Blue shied, but he quickly informed her that he wished for her to come along, to act as his assistant for the duration of the outing.

Did she accept?

Shocked by Kilo's offer, Blue's head shot up and a rushing snort escaped her. From behind Lima squawked in shock and the elders again exchanged quiet chitters, but she ignored their skepticism and kept her eyes on the alpha. She seemed to question him with her eyes, talons wriggling and chest extending with an underlying tone of pride.

Alpha wanted her to go with him? Her?

Kilo chuffed in slight amusement when the omega's tail twitched softly. She made sidelong glances to Shadow, her figure of reassurance, then to the younglings who had snuck to a corner nearby and fallen asleep in a big ball. Her talons then wriggled, making Kilo realize that she was more excited than she let on.

Suddenly, Blue looked up to her alpha and chirped loudly, her tail betraying composure and wagging frantically.

She would accept!


~Blue's POV~


Blue didn't know how she wanted to feel about the task she was put up to. The moment Kilo asked that she go with him, she was slammed with emotions of excitement, shock, confusion, anxiety, and pride. Much as she tried to hide the excitement her tail began to wag, breaking through composure and the want to appear professional.

Apparently, the "First Field Day" was a very important annual event, when the young of the pack were allowed outside the secret meadow. Accompanied by the pack's alpha they were to spend the entire day in the world outside their den, learning about it and developing a stronger trust bond with their leader.

From what Blue understood, a second adult raptor was not often taken on these trips. It was an important job...so why did Kilo pick her? If anything she thought he would have chosen Alden over her, an elder of higher rank...but he didn't. He went to her and he asked her to go with him.

Blue, flattered by the alpha's decision, took it upon herself to go wake the younglings as he pulled away and made a few preparations with the pack. As he bade farewells and assigned tasks to be completed while he was gone, she walked over to the dark corner where the young fell asleep. She stood over them, tilting her head in amusement to their sleepy grunts and breaths, coming from the tangled ball they wrapped themselves into. They were unaware of the day ahead of them. If they knew Blue was sure their energy level would have been sky high.

Chuffing softly the female ducked her head close to the younglings and found Star within the cluster. She purred, but when that wasn't enough to wake them she went closer and nudged them with her muzzle. This knocked them to the side, pulling apart from their ball with a chorus of shocked whines and disgruntled growls.

Why did they have to wake up so early?

Blue crooned to their sleepiness and assured that sleep could wait. Much more important things awaited them and if they didn't wake up, they'd miss the excitement.

Star lifted her head and placed dull eyes on Blue, having a difficult time understanding and believing that anything fun could happen so early in the morning. She remained laid down beside the others and seemed to have every intention to stay there. Her eyes began to lull closed, to which Blue snorted sternly and jolted all three hatchlings to attention. They seemed confused and upset until she purred.

Did they want to miss a day out in the field with her and alpha? Hunting and exploring?

Immediately, Star's eyes got wide and her sleepiness fled. She stared at the older raptor in shock as the other hatchlings chittered, then leaped to her feet and staggered a moment before crying out. Her voice was shrill and brought the adolescents to their feet with frantic calls. Get up! Get up! They were going to leave the den!


~...~


It wasn't long after the hatchlings woke that the group went on their way, sent off by the pack's wishes for good luck and safety. Shadow was sure to embrace her daughter, licking her with little purrs even though the little one wiggled and cried out impatiently. Tango did the same for her brother Mike, then Curare, as the orphaned youngling had become somewhat of a little sister.

Goodbyes were difficult after what they all went through, but Blue and Kilo assured the pack that nothing bad would happen so long as they were on guard. This calmed them and soon the group was walking out the hidden meadow's waterfall entrance. From there they would navigate the dark ravine and to the valley beyond.

Carefully and slowly, Kilo guided Mike and Curare out of the waterfall and down the rock path beside it. He instructed them on the incline, to make sure they did not slip on the wet stone and fall into the water. Behind them Blue walked with Star hanging between her teeth, her small size making it easy for her to be carried, whereas Curare and Mike were too large. The moment they reached solid ground the three younglings gave a whooping cry and were released. They ran about excitedly and filled the black ravine with their calls, following the adults until the waterfall's roar fell with distance and the misty air thinned. Kilo led the way through the maze-like passages, while Blue lingered behind and made sure that everyone stayed close.

As Blue walked along the black path behind alpha Kilo, Star pulled up beside her and chittered. Her little head turned up and her feet stumbled on rocks, but her curiosity spilled through in a storm of questions that she had clearly been storing for the past few minutes.

What would they see out in the prey valley? Would they hunt for prey? Could she help? Could she help them hunt a big prey?

Kilo chuffed like a laugh as he paused to find a scent mark. Blue blinked, but bobbing her head she did her best to answer. They would see many things out in the valley. They would explore...but she wasn't sure that Star would help them hunt any large class prey. It was much too dangerous.

Star whimpered and dropped her head but Blue purred. Maybe they could give a hunting demonstration and find her a rodent to stalk, like the one she found in the human village. She remembered the human house they stayed in and the big rat they caught, right?

The youngling took a moment to think, recalling the time she snuck out of the den and found Blue in the abandoned village. She remembered the night she spent there with Blue, then the massive rat she hunted the next morning. To that, she showed her teeth and chirped happily. She remembered!

From ahead Kilo snorted, suddenly tense upon the mention of humans. In glancing back he looked to Blue with a hard golden eye, watching her until she paused on the path. His tail flicked in agitation, and his voice came in a stern growl. The human village was a forbidden place and they were not to mention it again. This order confused Blue, but she ducked her head nevertheless.

Yes, alpha.

After that not much was said between the two raptors, until they made one final turn in the ravine and found its end, opening up into a grassy field bathed in early morning light. The cool crisp breeze rustled through the trees nearby and tickled at Blue's scales, as she closed her eyes and breathed in the scents of what lay before her.

She loved coming out into the valley.

From around her and Kilo, the younglings gazed about in wonder and excitement. The massive valley surrounded by dense jungle made them chitter. Their heads whipped about to every noticed detail right down to the passing of an overhead bird. Between them, Blue could feel their excitement growing until Star was bounding about with happy squeals.

What were they going to do first?!

Kilo glanced at her, but turning towards the valley he remained quiet and seemed to think over what was to come next. His tail flicked ever so slightly, as he watched the distant blobs of herbivores moving amongst the rolling hills or the sparkling of distant waters from the river flowing through the valley's center.

The river...much was to be learned there about safety and survival laws.

Making his decision, Kilo looked to Blue and chuffed. He seemed to become relaxed once again, which in turn relaxed Blue whom arched her tail and strode forward. She called to the younglings and they flocked to her. Their cries of excitement and awe heightened, bursting forth as they went onwards and found things that interested them. Their big eyes looked on the world with their innocence, their tails wagged, and their questions rose up again like gunfire. Surprisingly Star was the one to lead Mike and Curare, whom followed cautiously behind and went off of her moment to moment reactions. If she was cautious they were cautious, if she was bold then they were bold.

Blue mused with a little click of her teeth. She was making up to be quite the little raptor...maybe someday a beta.

Starting at the edge of the valley, the party waded through the ever-lengthening grass and headed for the center. There they would find a small watering hole where the river widened and collected at its bend, providing a calm place for all creatures to gather and drink. Most were herbivores, but Kilo knew ways to walk amongst them without causing an uproar, which he would teach to the younglings to prepare them for later instances.

As they walked, Star began to grow more comfortable in the unfamiliar environment. She began to pull away from the adults into the grass, to investigate things that caught her eye or sparked her curiosity. Often Kilo had to call for her when she strayed too far. She would come running back with happy chirps and bounds in her steps, but the more she pulled away the more the adolescents wanted to go too.

It got to the point that Blue was making circles, keeping one eye on the troublemakers best she could in order not to lose them. She was constantly calling to them, which made Kilo snort and shake his head.

This was the very reason why he didn't want to have three younglings at once. It was too hard to keep them under control...especially with one like Star leading the way. Blue supposed she agreed with him, but it wasn't all that bad was it? Star hadn't gotten into trouble yet had she?

The omega chuffed softly in amusement. Alpha Kilo just needed to relax and learn to have fun!

Suddenly, Kilo stopped in the grass, so abruptly that Blue ran into his hip and stumbled. She blinked in confusion, but upon looking up she saw that the alpha was gazing off into the distance, eye wide and jaw clenched. It made her worry, so the female called the younglings in with a sharp cackle of warning. They came quickly enough, concerned by the alarm and huddling at her feet with eyes darting about. They made little whines but Blue silenced them with a calming purr.

From ahead, Blue heard heavy snorts and rumbles that lifted up from behind a small rise in the land. She recognized it to be calls of herbivores, possibly from a large herd or gathering. To it Kilo chuffed, then stepped boldly forward. They had arrived at the watering hole. There was nothing to fear but in order to keep it that way all of them had to follow his lead.

The alpha gave a sidelong glance to the younglings, who chittered frantically as if to say they would behave. They seemed frightened, suddenly not so sure of the world ahead, but Blue didn't blame them. The last time she was near the river she had failed a hunt and was charged by an angry bull Triceratops. It made her uneasy, but at the same time she was curious and excited as to how Kilo would go about things. She watched him carefully and noted his every move, learning from him just as much as the younglings at her feet.

They crested the hill, and Blue looked ahead with wide eyes and a shocked chitter. The younglings echoed this, and Kilo snorted. Before them was a low point in the valley, where the river gathered at its bend and created a large crystal clear pond, surrounded by sand and lush foliage. Scattered about were large boulders and rocks, on which birds roosted and chattered.

It was filled with more kind of dinosaurs than Blue had seen in her life. Those she was familiar with, Triceratops for example, were crowded around one edge of the pool with their snouts in the water. Parasaurolophus feasted on the green grass along the water flow, Gallamimus rummaged for submerged plants in the still shallows, and the big headed Pachycephalosaurus bleated in the nearby fields. In the distance, Blue could see massive Brontosaurs, the likes of creatures she never saw alive, but in rotting carcasses left over in Nublar's valleys from the Indominus rampage.

It was a beautiful and calm place. However, it was more like a ticking time bomb of death than something she was comfortable approaching. To that Kilo snorted.

Was omega frightened? She just needed to relax and learn to take risks!

The male turned to Blue, who looked back with wide eyes of sheepish worry. So he did hear her? To know this made her shift and duck her head in submission and apology, as though her saying such a thing to the alpha was a major crime. The male chuffed softly in response. It was not Blue's place to call him out and tell him to do something...but...

He would not reprimand her for so simple a thing as teasing, so long as it didn't become a common occurrence.

Seeing that Blue was concerned, Kilo made a small noise of reassurance. In some ways he apologized, for inside he was stewing over his own actions...wondering if what the omega said had its own truth. Shadow had been telling him something similar as of late...to loosen up not only on Blue but on his life as well. She knew that he was stressed just as he knew himself, but unlike him, she attempted to mend it.

A long silence hung over the group, broken by an impatient growl from Star, who was now standing between Blue's legs looking out over the watering hole. Her yellow eyes were bright and wide with wonder. Her body was stiff and she seemed nearly ready to burst until she began slapping Blue's ankles with her wagging tail.

Could they go now? Or were they going to stare forever?

Kilo and Blue purred at once, but Blue choked out and glanced to the alpha whom arched his neck and snorted. His tail raised and his nostrils flared before he clicked his teeth and began striding onward down the hill. He beckoned the group to follow close behind and listen, so that they may be ready for anything that might happen and anything he might do.

Field Day Training- Lesson One: Walk Amongst Giants - Kilo in lead, Blue in second, and the three younglings clustered around her feet.

The alpha's initial approach was graceful and had a sense of dignity. Blue's gait was hindered and clumsy, due to Curare and Mike nearly sitting on her feet with every stride they felt too unsure. She wanted to hiss at them but Kilo caught her attention and cut her short.

Do not make any sounds that may be considered aggressive. Keep expressions neutral, body relaxed, and eyes ahead. Under no circumstances, do you look into the prey's eyes until he said it was safe. To look too soon into a prey animal's eyes was to make them uneasy and feel as though they were of some interest to the hunters, meaning a protest was much more likely to develop.

After all, many a time raptors approached prey animals with no seeming interest, only for it to turn into a distraction hunt strategy. Their caution was justified.

By then all of the herbivores at the water knew the raptors were coming, and as expected they broke apart to grant them a wide berth up to the bank. The Gallamimus bobbed their heads and hunched low into run-ready positions, while the Parasaurolophus bugled softly and placed the bulk of their weight onto powerful back legs. The Triceratops herd, Blue's anxiety, lined up in front of their young calves in a defensive way. Their heads lowered and their shoulders squared in threats to charge, while their frills flushed a cautious red.

Blue whined softly and focused on the back of Kilo's head. The sounds of the three-horned beasts dared her to look their way, but she tried hard to obey Kilo's instructions much as fear wanted to betray it. Star tried to steal a glance herself but a big bull snorted and frightened her into looking ahead.

They came to the grass line, stepped out onto a fine gravel bank, then finally stopped at the water line. Kilo took this moment to make eye contact with Blue and notice how tense she had become.

Drink. He would keep watch. All would be fine so long as he was there, understand?

Blue blinked, but nodded gently and turned to crouch just before the water. The younglings moved out from under her and waded some ways into the shallows, then stooped down to take a few drinks. Star tried to flick her muzzle in the water to play, but Kilo chuffed and she went back to serious.

He had to make sure everyone was safe. This called for the upmost of silence.

Turning, standing between his group and the herbivores, Kilo bobbed his head and thrashed his tail with a challenging hiss. He dared to stare directly into their eyes, which made the prey respond with low rumbles and shifts on their legs, but they stepped back and Kilo continued his display of dominance and threats.

So long as he was near the water, he expected the herbivores to respect his group and the safety he wished for them. If that safety was to be threatened in any way? He would kill all of them. Understand? They were his responsibility and his treasures to protect!

The herbivores, still backing away, lowered their heads and stood down somewhat. The Triceratops lingered, but before long they too accepted that the raptors were there to stay and meant no harm for the time being.

Harm would only come if the alpha's group was disturbed, so they would not provoke it. A deal was made.

Pleased, confident that he had gained some breathing room, Kilo flicked his tail and turned to join Blue at the water's edge. He crouched down so that his forearms braced against the gravel, leaned his head in beside hers, then lapped at the water with a calm face.

Blue could only glance over at the male and blink, amazed by his strategy and ways with the herbivores. She licked the water from her lips and chuffed.

How did he do that? Why did the prey animals bow to him, as though he was their alpha as well?

Kilo merely looked Blue's way and chuffed softly. He lifted his head, licked his lips, then nodded. He placed boundaries and promises to the prey. They knew he was not there to kill, therefore they would not try to kill. They would not start a fight when one was not needed.

A fight with two adult raptors would have only resulted in many deaths. The prey were not as smart as raptors...but they weren't stupid.

Blue blinked, but looked to the water and stared at it for a long moment. She called back into her memory in an effort to find something similar that applied, and she only found one such instance. The image was clear in her mind and the thought of it made sense.

After the battle with the Indominus Rex, Blue had shared an intense moment standing in the courtyard, faced off with the massive elder rex that she had aided in victory. For a long moment she was concerned for her life...but the rex spared her, choosing to walk away rather than provoke any further battles.

At the time Blue considered it luck...

As the omega sat in silence of thought, Kilo watched how her features twitched and twisted. He tilted his head, curious, then snorted and stood up after realizing he was staring. He turned to find that the younglings were now playing in the water, splashing about and running with little cries of joy.

He would let them stay and use up some energy for awhile. In the meantime, he would sunbathe and soak up some heat from the morning sun.

Walking just away from the water's edge, Kilo found a small outcrop of boulders. They were flat on top and arranged in multiple different heights which created a shelf cluster. The sun hit them easily, so once Kilo stepped up onto a rock his foot pads were warmed and a content sigh escaped him.

Yes...this would be good for his nerves.

Turning three times in a circle, the alpha snorted and lowered onto his belly. He stretched his legs out to the side of him and braced against his elbows, before looking out over where the younglings played as a watchful guardian. He watched them splash about in the water with little chirps and squeals of joy. He heard Star's cries of excitement, Mike's gentle chuffing of caution, then Curare's growls and hisses challenging a play fight.

Curare, standing knee deep in the shallows, faced Star head on and crouched into a mock battle position. She curled her lips in an awkward gurgle and the feathers on her head ruffled. Her lithe body bound up in tension and her vocals deepened as though to shout best she could.

Come on! Fight me!

Star noticed the display and cocked her head, then spun and crouched with a wag of her tail. She chittered happily and snapped her jaws to which Curare hissed in an annoyed way, like an older sibling upset that Star wasn't taking things seriously.

Skills of battle and challenge were built into a raptor's hard drive from a very young age. Like lion cubs they play fought and wrestled, which would refine into deadly strikes and moves for later years, to use when hunting and fighting enemies.

Star chirped and bounded forward to bump Curare with her muzzle. She squawked and shrieked and hopped about, while Curare stood straight and grumbled.

Come on Star...focus! Alpha is watching.

As though to prove her point, Curare nudged the younger raptor into looking towards the rocks Kilo laid upon. He, of course, chuffed in amusement when they wagged their tails and gave him small chirps asking him how good they were.

Kilo, nodding his head, assured them with a soft voice. They were behaving well. Good job younglings.

To that, they both showed their teeth and moved off with a new vigor in their play. Curare forgot about trying to impress and gave into a game of tag with the enthusiastic Star, which Mike joined after a moment of contemplation. They were soon bounding through the long grass trying to catch one another.

Kilo snorted softly and focused again on relaxing, laying his head between his forelegs and taking a deep breath. Yes...the younglings weren't doing too badly, certainly not as he feared.

Laying down for a long moment, closing his eyes to rest just on the brink of sleep, Kilo kept one ear trained on his charge. It wasn't until sharp chitters rose that he opened his eyes to lift his head and make a visual check.

Below the rock shelves Blue was laid down in the gravel, head arched gracefully and tail sliding across the ground in lazy movements. She had been there for some time as Kilo napped, and seemed to have been watching the younglings like a good guard. Her intelligent golden eyes gazed gently on the grasses and followed the little rustles of movement. Every time a hatchling was tagged in their game she purred in response to their rising storm of protest.

Biting's not fair! Star doesn't play fair!

Kilo tilted his head as Star burst from the grass and charged up to Blue. She chirped happily and slid to a clumsy stop which scattered pebbles in her wake, just before the adult female who cooed and reached forward. They met with little voices of greeting and the hatchling rubbed up against Blue's muzzle, which progressed to little licks and nips in a playful way.

Blue chuffed, then gently pressed Star onto her belly before nibbling at her shoulders with careful movements of her teeth. She purred and groomed her in a gesture of bonding and affection, something she had once done with her own sisters back on Nublar. Star seemed to like it and she turned her head up to nibble Blue's jaw in return.

Kilo, watching in silence, tilted his head and felt his lips twitch. Very faintly he was drawn to the bond Blue and Star shared, strengthening by the day into something one would call a love between sisters, or an aunt and niece.

Very faintly Kilo mused. Blue was good with the younglings, as Shadow was. She would make a good mother.

The alpha shook his head and looked away. But of course, pack omegas were not allowed to mate and have young. As weaker raptors it would be foolish to let them contribute to the future generation of strong genes.

A little voice reprimanded. But was Blue one of the weaker raptors?

Shaking his head, Kilo glanced back to Blue and Star when he heard his niece chitter playfully. He found that Blue had flipped her onto her back and was nibbling her stomach, tickling with little chuffs that urged a playfulness into their actions. For a moment the youngling wiggled and shrieked, but with a swift movement she rolled onto her feet and jumped about. She began to beg with little whines and licks.

Can Blue come play? Come play! Come chase me!

Blue purred, hesitant, but even Kilo could see the tension bind through her muscles and the gleam of mischief in her eyes. He watched her contemplate, then chuff and lurch onto her feet. Star gave a whooping cry and spun around.

Yes! Blue would play!

For a moment, Blue stretched out her legs and the two adolescents peeked out of the grass in curiosity. They stared at the adult female with unmoving gazes but began to bounce when she strode towards their hiding place. Her steps quickened and she chittered happily.

Run and hide little ones!

Kilo tilted his head and Blue disappeared into the grass. He listened to her chitter and rustle about, as the two adolescents ran from her and began a game of stalk and tag. He approved of it with a little snort. Stalk and tag was a good training game, which developed the youngling's hunting skills and instincts for later years.

Suddenly, Kilo heard rocks skittering about before a small figure climbed up onto the rock shelf beside him. In turning he found that Star was standing there, up on her toes and showing her teeth in a happy chitter.

Hello, alpha!

Kilo blinked and purred gently. What did Star want? Why didn't she go and play with the others?

Star chirped innocently, then strode forward and nuzzled her uncle. She rubbed on his chest with her body, climbed up onto his back, then hopped around as though asking him to get up. She chittered in his ear and nipped at his scales in harmless play.

Come play with us, she seemed to beg with her yellow eyes. To that Kilo snorted and shook his head in a gentle refusal, preferring to stay where he was rather than indulge in youngling play. He would be content watching and making sure they were all safe.

Star groaned and laid down across her uncle's shoulders. For a moment she was quiet, but realizing that Kilo was saying nothing else she made an exaggerated grumble and rolled onto her back with legs sticking up in the air.

BUT ALPHA!

Kilo chuffed heavily and reached back to nibble her, making her wiggle and chirp loudly. Alphas did not play. Alphas had more important duties such as keeping guard to make sure they were all safe from danger. Didn't she have enough playmates with Blue in the mix?

Star whined sadly and slid down onto the boulder with a droop in her tail. Her eyes were big and her hunched pouting gait was exaggerated like a puppy or child whines to get what it wants.

It had been forever since she last played with Kilo. Why was he no fun anymore?

To that Kilo snorted and tilted his head. No fun? He was still fun...he-

The alpha paused and looked down. He got to thinking and his heart sunk a little bit, realizing that it had actually been some time since he relaxed and took part in good fun. When was the last time he ran with the younglings or worked with them on stalking and chasing?

Star hopped down from the boulder shelf and Kilo flicked his tail. Without a word he lurched up onto his feet and shook out his scales, then strode to the edge of his perch and jumped down onto the ground. He landed with a thump next to Star, whom jumped in surprise and chirped in a sudden bust of glee before running a circle around him.

Kilo chuffed sternly. Hush child. Hold yourself together and go hide, so that he could find her. To that Star chittered and dove into the grass with a wiggle of her tail. In the next moment she was gone, the only sound being the rustling of the grass or a distant shriek when a youngling was caught in hiding.

Kilo rolled his shoulders and stretched one leg. His eye took on a very focused gleam and his lips twitched in anticipation as he crouched and inched into the shadows and shield of plant life.

Well...here goes...


~...~


Blue slipped through the grass in silence, alert golden eyes flashing about in efforts to see sign of her prey. Her body was crouched down and her steps were slow, silent, and cautious.

Stalk, but avoid being stalked and found. There were three younglings to worry about and Blue found that they were rather difficult to keep track of in the grass, due to their small size making visuals and detection of footsteps little to none.

A rustle to her left and Blue pressed her belly to the ground without a sound. She looked to the disturbance and studied every detail in her vision until nothing caught her eye and she decided it was clear to move on.

Where were those trouble makers?

For some time Blue wandered through the grass and searched for her little raptor targets. She smelled them and heard them on occasion, but they always slipped past her and kept out of sight. They were better at hiding than she remembered...playing with them in the hidden meadow must have paid off.

Suddenly, as Blue went down a small dip in the earth, she sensed a presence ahead of her. At first she cast it off as a bird or some other insignificant creature, but she got a whiff of raptor scent and heard a talon gently scuffing across the ground. Immediately her body went rigid and her eyes fixed on the grass.

Aha! Got Ya!

Blue's claws dug into the dirt and her hips wiggled in preparation. Her tail straightened for balance, her thighs flexed, and her ankles bent in prime spring action. She counted off in her head, sensed the raptor draw closer, and called for her reflexes.

Pounce on the prey! Pin it and tag!

Lunging upwards out of the grass, airborne and screeching in play, Blue came down and felt her forearms land on a hard shoulder. Her entire body force landed upon a raptor far larger than she anticipated. Taut muscles rolled in sharp movements and it took a moment for them both to go down, but once they did Blue lay awkwardly on top and blinked at the shrill snarl of shock in her ears.

What kind of savage creature did she stumble on?

Rearing her head back, eyes bulging in horror, Blue found herself looking into a sharp golden eye that sparked and gazed upon her with a rage. She saw jet black scales beneath her and felt the muscles roll in swift movements that jarred her and got her thinking. The realization hit hard, frightening her so much that she stumbled backward and crouched in a flood of submission.

She had pounced on Alpha Kilo...a participant in the game she was unaware of. She had caught him off guard and to have an omega suddenly maul him was understandably a great surprise, which in turn made him very angry. All Blue could do was duck her head and yelp continuously as though she were shouting I'm sorry a thousand times over.

Kilo, rolling up onto his feet, whirled on her and bowed low with a sharp snarl and flash of his teeth. His tail thrashed in agitation and his talons snapped low into the dirt. The very sight of him made Blue shudder and in her mind she heard instincts cry out.

RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! For once her body complied and she turned in a 360, then shot off with the fuming male hot on her tail. She heard him breathing and felt it on her scales, which fueled her to run and make sharp turns in the grass. He followed suit and her mind began to panic. Where was she to go? What was she to do to recover from this?

As far as Blue was concerned, alpha was going to kill her. What a way to go...to be doing something so innocent as playing and end up mauled to death by an angry raptor. She thought for sure it was going to be the Triceratops.

Suddenly, Blue sensed movement on her right and glanced over her shoulder. She saw Kilo kick up an extra amount of speed and saw that he was making a move for her flank. In response she yelped and jumped just as he dove, managing to clear his head and dodge a harsh nip.

Kilo, stumbling a bit and shocked by the evasive maneuver, went off again and snorted in his anger which dimmed by the moment. He dove again, she jumped to the left, and he grunted in a frustration. Again, and Blue heard the alpha give a sharp grunt of surprise amidst sharp breaths. She was amazed she had yet to be caught and Kilo himself was amazed she had continued to get past him. The more he veered the more she jumped and leaped away with agility that caught him off guard.

Slowly, intentions of murder shifted into a goal of chase. Catch the omega...outsmart her! He could do better than this!

Again Blue glanced over her shoulder and saw that Kilo was closing in on her. With her eyes wide and her heart in her throat she glanced about in an effort to find escape, but she saw nothing aside from the grass. She turned sharply, but that time Kilo turned sharper and he met her path of direction with a sharp cry.

They crashed together like freight trains. The collision shook Blue's brain inside her skull and very quickly she was turned over into the dirt, rolling until she caught her feet underneath her and stood up. Kilo shoved off, backed up a bit, then faced her and clicked his teeth as she blinked the dust from her eyes and got down into defensive position.

When Blue looked across to her alpha, she blinked and her body loosened in a sudden moment of shock. Her heart seemed to stop. Her head tilted.

Crouched, tail straight up in the air, Kilo had his eye fixed on her with relentless focus. His chest rose and fell in harsh breaths but while he appeared winded, his body language showed a willingness to go even further. In his gaze there was no longer a lust of blood...but a brightness that startled Blue and made her reel back in caution.

What was alpha doing?

Tentatively, Blue shifted on her feet and Kilo shook his tail in an awkward wag -if you would call it that. He chuffed sharply in gruff excitement and his eye shifted in sync, while his body tensed as though it were ready to take off again.

Like some weird anomaly, Kilo resembled a big dog whom just broke into playing for the first time in its life. At first Blue refused to believe it but then her chest swelled with wonder and her tail flicked.

Alpha Kilo was playing! With her!

Again Blue ducked her head and shifted on her feet, but in her movement there was a sharper bounce which expressed hesitant playfulness. Kilo complied with an alert flinch and widening of his eyes. She mewled in delight, ducked further, then leapt to the side in an experimental dash. It thrilled her to see that Kilo lunged with her and cut her off from running forward.

This was fun...

Back and forth, bounding like puppies, Blue and Kilo played a game of mirrored movements. If she went left he went left, if she went right he went right. Every time they did so he crept closer and wiggled his hips in a preparation to jump that Blue didn't see.

A spark came over the alpha's eyes, and with a sudden hiss he lunged and pounced upon Blue so that they tumbled over in a ball of limbs and tails. Dust flew up in their wake and Blue yelped sharply.

Laying down with Kilo's weight atop her, Blue looked up and was surprised to see the male staring straight at her. One foot was on her stomach pinning her down, while his parted jaws hovered just above her throat in a threat of going in and biting.

Such threats could mean two things...one of mock play like younglings did to train hunting skills, another an act of dominance alpha's expressed onto lower rank raptors. Both were expressions of superiority and Blue couldn't tell which one Kilo was directing, but she breathed heavily in exertion and clicked her teeth before turning her head to the side. She exposed the soft flesh of her throat in a sign of submission and surrender, telling Kilo that he won and she was backing down.

Blue to that day, had never surrendered in a game of play. When she used to play with her sisters, she was always the winner and they always backed down to her reigning victory. Kilo was the first to ever beat her, but it was thrilling rather than a disappointment of her skills.

A moment of silence passed, and Kilo began to gather his wits after adrenaline left his veins. He blinked a few times and focused on Blue's throat, realized the position they were in, and pulled away with a sudden snort of shock. His eyes were wide, his body tense, and his heart racing in his throat from running for so long and with such enthusiasm.

Blue, no longer pinned to the ground, sat up and stared at her alpha with a hint of happiness. Her teeth showed as though she were smiling and her tail arched in a graceful curve.

Alpha played with her. To achieve such a thing made her feel both relief and curiosity...relief that he had relaxed enough to interact with her in such a way, and curiosity to his sudden expression of mischief and happiness.

She was starting to think he wasn't capable of such things, but he proved her wrong.

Meanwhile, Kilo lifted his head and composed himself with a soft snort. He steadied his breathing and forced his body to relax, while his eyes avoided Blue's happy gaze and his tail arched in a show of dominance.

A little voice celebrated the excitement and fun he experienced. With it was a voice that scolded him for showing such behavior, to an omega no less.

As the two raptors remained in silence, little voices drew close and three tiny raptors leaped between them with chitters and sharp cries. Star raced around Kilo firing off happy sounds while Curare and Mike drew close to Blue and showered her with admiration.

Star called out in a statement Blue wanted to claim, but couldn't voice for fear of annoying Kilo.

That was amazing!