Here we have it, folks! The crowned jewel of the Field Day parts! The highlight! The thrill!
As promised, here is Field Day Pt. #3 all finished and ready to go. It was a bit of a challenge and I'm really excited to have it done, so if you would leave a review telling me what you thought, that would be super appreciated. :) It would be cool to see how you react to this.
Before I get started, I would like to acknowledge one of the guest reviews from chapter 20. I wish I could reply to all of you guys!
"Omg... this is one of my favorite Jurassic park fan fictions, next to 'it's not the raptor DNA'. I like how you portrayed Blue and Kilo, and how they don't completely trust each other. Great work though!:)"
The part that got me was when you compared Why So Blue to "Its not the Raptor DNA." You have no idea how flattered I am, to be put next to such an outstanding story. To even come CLOSE to that is an achievement in itself, which has made me very happy indeed. :) Thank you.
Alright. On with the story.
Thank you everyone. ENJOY!
"Jurassic World: Why So Blue?"
Chapter 21
"Field Day: Pt. #3"
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"Lesson Three: Compies and Spitters"
For some time the group walked on down the trail, quiet yet suspended in an air of thrill as the search for scents began. They made their way through dense thickets, open clearings, over streams, ridges, and small dips. All the while they maneuvered around territory borders, Kilo making sure to stop every fifty yards to scent mark trees and rocks.
As the alpha promised, Star led the group followed by her hunting advisor Blue. She walked along with her tail in the air and her nose to the ground. Ever so often she would come across the scent and give a curious chuff.
Blue?
The older female would then step forward and investigate the scent in question, answering whether or not it was of interest to them.
Stegosaurus scent a few days old. No.
They went a bit further and Star wagged her tail, teeth showing.
Blue?
Fresh Rodent scent. No.
Discarding the trail, Blue stepped onwards and Star whined in confusion. She swung her arms about and recalled the time she killed a rat and ate it, wondering why they couldn't do it again. Blue explained with a gentle breath.
Rodents were picking food, valueable only to lone raptors and youngsters that didnt eat much. One rodent would not feed their group, so they wouldn't waste their time hunting it.
Star grumbled but agreed to reason. She supposed it made sense...although she did like how rats tasted.
The little youngling was about to step forward, nose to the ground as Kilo and the others passed her, when she blinked and flared her nostrils. Her tail stuck straight out and her arms tucked up under her chest, while a tension overcame her and she tilted her head.
Wait...what was that smell? It wasn't rodent.
The group went on, but Star lingered and turned off the trail into a small cluster of ferns. She puffed little snorts as she analyzed scent particles, young brain entertained by foreign things that brought thoughts of curiosity.
In walking forward, Star had stumbled upon a peculiar but unexpectedly familiar scent. When she first breathed it in her mind was foggy, but then images and emotions of pleasure shot forth and all attention was fixed wholeheartedly.
She knew that smell, very faintly, but she knew it from experience. She had smelled the creature before...she had tasted it...but it wasnt something the hunters brought back to the den. It was a gift she recieved, and the smell of it made her heart race.
She had never seen the creature alive before. What if she could hunt it herself! What was it like!
Blue!
Jumping slightly at the sudden cry, Blue and Kilo both curled their lips and twisted their necks. Their eyes both gleamed with alert aggression, just in case Star had stumbled upon something threatening.
The youngling chittered. Come smell! Come smell!
Blue blinked. She cast a small look to her alpha, whom relaxed and flicked his tail as Mike and Curare jumped over to Star with curious excitement. They chittered and squealed, pushing their noses to the ground just as Star had done and expressing confusion.
Alright...what was the big deal about.
Huffing softly Kilo walked over to the ferns and gave Star a skeptical glance. She wagged her tail, and he bent down to investigate the trail she discovered. Blue came close behind and took the scent as well, but both raptors' reactions were of the opposite quality.
Kilo was unimpressed, snorting softly and standing back up. Blue on the other claw had frozen with her muzzle hovering above the dirt. Her eyes went big, her tail went straight out, and her nostrils flared. Very quickly she knew the scent Star picked up, and like Star it gave her a feeling of thrill...or at least...an awakening emotion of revenge and detestment.
Green vermin. The trail was very heavily used and if Blue wasn't mistaken, there were many others that led off into the trees. That clue only meant that they had found a travel route, used by a very large flock.
Blue looked to Star and clicked her teeth. The youngling hopped on her toes. Remember the Compies?
Blue chuffed. How could she forget? The green vermin were her nemesis...her undefeatable foe...her enemy.
Star cried. Could they hunt them! Please!
She seemed adamant, fueled by her hunger and memories, back when she first met Owen and received a compy from his hands. Those memories were good, reinforcing her ideas of a good meal.
However, Blue was torn. Half of her said yes a thousand times over, but half of her hesitated. As she had told Star with the rat, would hunting a green vermin be worth it?
No...no probably not.
Standing up, Blue chuffed softly and informed Star of her decision. She glanced to Kilo and the male nodded his head softly, giving approval before turning to go back onto the main trail.
As the adults began to leave, Star blinked and became very quiet. Her tail drooped, her yellow eyes dimmed, and a shaky whine escaped her.
But...b-but she wanted to hunt a compy.
Kilo crooned, the sound accented by a stern tone. He glanced back and beckoned his niece forward, to which the other younglings obeyed and bounded up to his side.
Star remained in her place. She crouched onto her haunches and whimpered.
Alpha...please! Please!
Star. It wasn't the time to start-
PLEASE!
No.
PLEASE! She ate one before! It was good!
Kilo faltered from his retaliation and blinked. When did she eat a compy?
Star very softly wagged her tail but continued to whine, begging profusely. She had one with Blue, when she left the den by herself!
Kilo glanced a small look to Blue. He snorted softly as the omega ducked her head, a look of guilt crossing her eyes.
Oh...
Star mewled. Could they hunt it?
NO! Compies were worthless scavengers and far too small to feed their group, never mind the trouble they were to catch.
Intent with his orders, Kilo strode forward and stooped down to grab Star by the tail, lifting her into the air from between his teeth. Her jaws opened with shrill cries, like a toddler throwing an emotional tantrum over not getting what it wanted. She dangled back and forth struggling to get free.
Alpha please!
Hush.
Please!
Kilo growled. He stepped back onto the trail, imagining how Shadow would react if she saw what was transpiring. He didn't know if she would cackle in amusement at his failure to control the youngling, or scold him. All he knew was that Star was going to get a talking to from both him and her mother.
As he mused, the hatchling continued to whine with no sign of stopping.
But alphaaaaaaaa!
Kilo's eyes narrowed and Blue tilted her head. She watched him stiffen, body giving sign to extreme frustration, which made her flinch and take a step back. Her hearing was filled with Star's crying but suddenly the alpha hissed.
Alright, fine!
Movements harsh, Kilo bent down and plopped his niece onto the dirt. He bumped her with his nose almost hard enough to make her fall over, voice low and tinged with a growl.
Go! Go find the compy!
Star seemed confused, while Kilo snorted.
If she was so adamant to hunt the green scavengers, then he wouldn't put up with her wailing. If she wanted to hunt them, fine.
Blue could see that Kilo was ticked, but she remained quiet even when Star hunched over and whimpered softly out of shock. Kilo nudged her again, she grunted, then her eyes turned to the trail and she stood up. At first she was hesitant in walking forward, but soon realization came that she won the argument. Her head lifted and her tail arched with a happy chirp. Her gait as she strode into the trees was something Blue could only describe as being...proud...
Even though Star got her way, Blue didn't think angering Kilo in the process was a good idea. When she glanced to him he gave her a dark look, not directed specifically to her, but enough to make the omega shrivel up and duck her head.
The alpha grumbled to himself.
If his niece wouldn't listen to his orders, then she'd have to learn the hard way.
Blue supposed she agreed with him...although she hated the part of her that rejoiced in the hunt of the green vermin. Stay focused, Blue! This was serious business!
So, as Star pulled away into the trees, the omega tiptoed around Kilo as though she were walking on eggshells. She slipped into the ferns and called with a gentle voice. The youngling called back to her but did not stop.
Come on, Blue! The Compies were this way!
Blue grunted and ducked under a low hanging branch. She used her senses of hearing and smell to locate Star, while Kilo and the adolescents followed behind. He was still grumbling to himself and baring his teeth, adding in little snaps of his tail against passing brush.
Blue chuffed softly. Star better start listening...or else they were both going to get into trouble.
~...~
It was some time before Blue managed to catch up with Star, getting her to calm down long enough to put some sense behind her actions. At first the little raptor was charging off down the trail with no control. Her footsteps were loud and her moment to moment actions were far too confident.
Stalking required silence. Stalking required a discipline that the youngling hadn't learned yet, and Blue was sure to tell her this when they were reunited. Eventually Star listened enough that she didn't take off again, and Blue aided her in tracking.
The trail itself took them deeper into the Waterfall Pack's territory, through dark thickets and past sunny clearings. Kilo didn't seem thrilled with the abandonment of his scouting mission, but he kept his protests to a minimum at the back of the group. His eyes were always fixed on Blue and Star, watching and studying their interactions with each passing moment.
Suddenly, the alpha heard a sharp chirp and he saw Star jump about a foot in the air. She bared her teeth and snapped her tail in a moment of surprise, while Blue flinched and ducked into an aggressive stance.
A few yards ahead of them in the bushes, a tiny green figure gave off a series of alarmed shrieks. Blue only saw it for a split second before she lost visual, but even after that the scent came to her. Her eyes widened and her body tensed.
Green vermin. They found one.
But, as Blue stood there in a moment of consideration, Star began to wiggle. She made little whimpering sounds and stared off into the trees where the compy disappeared, trying to contain herself behind reason and obedience to Blue.
But unfortunately, excitement and thrill outweighed rationality.
Off like a flash, Star gave a shrill cry and gave chase to her prey. Blue and Kilo called after her in unison, but their stern cries fell on deaf ears, and they were forced to run ahead on the trail with the adolescents in tow.
Up and over logs, following Star's excited hunting cries, Kilo and Blue led the charge together. They wove in and out of thickets, exchanging leads, and taking turns calling out. They couldn't catch up to her through the thick brush, and soon they lost sign of her all together.
Star! Get back here!
Breathing hard, Blue slid to a stop and Kilo slowed. Walking in circles he peered into the trees trying to catch sight of his niece, but a harsh hiss escaped him and he snapped his tail. The adolescents came to a stop to catch their breath, looking about with bewildered expressions on their faces.
She left them...how could she leave them?
Blue panted and grimaced at the air burning in her lungs. She had used a large amount of her stamina in a short burst of speed, but it wasn't enough. Did they go in the wrong direction? Where was Star?
Looking to Kilo, Blue chuffed. What were they going to do, alpha?
Kilo didn't answer. He was very still, head tilted to the side as he stared with one eye towards the south.
Alpha?
Blue stepped closer. The male glanced over at her and gurgled, asking her to be quiet before he went back to staring. He seemed to concentrate, and Blue began to do the same.
Very faintly, on the edge of their hearing, was a ruckus of chirps and rustling to the south. Blue almost mistook if for shaking leaves, but her eyes widened when a louder raptor cry reached her.
There!
Kilo arched his neck and the muscles in his legs bound. He led the way, keeping a slower pace than before, while Blue made sure the adolescents followed. Soon the trees thinned around them and grass grew taller, while the sun began to break through larger spaces in the canopy. The trails became wider and the compy scent strengthened.
Soon, the group came to the edge of what appeared to be a large clearing. At first they hesitated at the tree line and blinked in the sunlight, but from ahead they heard a clamor of chirps and chitters. Occasionally it was broken by shrieks and growls, and the patter of many small feet running over the grass.
Poking her head out of a bush, Curare went wide eyed and chirped. Look! It was Star!
Indeed, as Blue moved up to the edge of the brush and stared out, her and Kilo blinked. They gave each other surprised glances, purely out of shock for what they saw.
Never in her time on the island had Blue seen such a large flock of Compies.
The clearing was a large one, split down the middle by a stream. Near the center was a medium sized Guanacaste tree, half-sphere boughs appearing like a green umbrella that was struck into the ground. The grass was short, recently cropped down by a grazing herbivore that passed through.
Every single square foot of the clearing was full of Compies. The flock was massive, likely over a hundred animals in size. Everywhere Blue looked she saw one of the green vermin, squabbling amongst each other and running across the clearing. The noise was absolutely horrid.
Trying to ignore the shrieks and chitters buzzing around her ears, Blue caught a flux of movement in the center of the vermin mass. She heard raptor cries and saw a tiny grey tail zooming above the crowds.
Kilo called out. Star?
The tail stopped, then disappeared from sight and was replaced by a small grey head. Bright golden eyes widened at the sight of the group and a happy voice called.
Alpha! She found the Compies! Wasn't he proud?
Kilo's eye narrowed and a grumble escaped him. He shifted in place out of frustration, then gave a stern chitter back to his niece.
She was in big trouble for abandoning the group! He wasn't going to forget that!
Not answering, Star stared at her uncle with a blank expression. She watched him for a moment, but the second a Compy passed within a yard of her, the youngling's eyes flicked down and her teeth bared with playful expression. She gave rasping growls and crouched on her feet, then darted back into the masses with shrill cries.
Kilo blinked. Star? Star come here!
Still no answer, and Kilo's eye narrowed. Blue herself ducked her head down and tried to suppress a small chuff of amusement.
Star was more alike her uncle than he probably realized. The more confident and rebellious she became, the more Blue saw predecessors of Kilo's own actions.
There was a rustle, and Blue looked up to realize that Kilo had stepped out of the trees and into the clearing. He was grumbling to himself, before turning once in a circle and laying down in the shade of the canopy. Curare and Mike did the same, clustered around their alpha as they stared with nervous eyes towards the Compy flock.
Mike chittered weakly. Were the green scavengers dangerous?
Kilo glowered at the flock and snorted. Not particularly no...as long as they knew you weren't prey. Their bite was particularly painful, but they didn't dare attack a raptor unless said raptor was near death.
Very slightly, Kilo looked upon the masses of Compies and became curious. Why were so many gathered in one place? Had they found a nest?
If so, it was the biggest nest the male had ever seen in his life.
As Kilo grumbled and groaned, Blue slowly stepped out of the tree line and into the grass, watching the Compy flock and curling her lips at their ruckus. Their voices were shrill in her ears, agitating her patience and toleration.
Don't loose yourself, Blue. Keep it together. Alpha is watching.
Blue closed her eyes and tried to shut it all out. The shrieking, chittering, chirping, hissing, and pattering footsteps pounded on her skull like someone was poking her. It was pushing all of her buttons. How could she hold back with so many vermin just a few yards away?
Suddenly, Blue sensed footsteps racing closer before a sharp chitter called out. It was Star's voice, calling to her with bold happiness.
Blue!
The omega cracked one eye open and saw the youngling prancing about just on the edge of the flock. Her tail was wagging frantically from side to side, and her teeth were showing in what some would describe as a grin.
Come on, Blue! Come chase with her! It was fun!
Blue blinked and Star tried harder to beg, while Kilo snorted from where he lay. There she was going again, begging until she got what she wanted. What good did chasing the Compies do?
Star snapped her jaws at a green vermin and Blue felt her body twitch. Her teeth squeezed together and her tail quivered.
Chase...chase...chase...chase!
Without her mind's consent, Blue felt her legs stride forward towards the flock. She heard Kilo make a surprised sound but she pressed onwards, breaking through the outer rim of tiny scavengers, parting them like a wave of water. They cackled at her and bared needle teeth, but when she approached their aggression died and they scampered away like rats underfoot.
Soon, Blue was standing near to where Star was playing, tilting her head as the youngling zoomed back and forth hot on the tail of an unfortunate Compy. Eventually she slid to a stop and looked up. Her eyes brightened and her tail wagged.
Blue!
Blue responded with a soft coo. For a long moment she kept her eyes on the grey raptor, watching her, as Compies began to close back in around them. The longer the omega remained still the more brave they became, and thus began to chitter with mischievous intentions. They bobbed their tiny heads and eyed her with a burning curiosity.
It was as though the Compy species had a vendetta against Blue. Some humans could have joked that word got around, about the easily angered female raptor whom gave fun by trying to catch them.
It was as though, truly, the Compies' existence was purely for torturing poor raptor souls. They loved it after all. Compies loved games and making raptors angry was the best game.
Suddenly and without warning, one of the vermin launched itself forward, straight behind Blue and towards her feet. She was oblivious to the attack, but a second later when sharp needle teeth imbedded into her lower leg, her eyes widened and she let loose a pained snarl.
The flock went into an uproar when Blue whirled and lashed out with her talons. She snarled again, but the pain was replaced by fury and her hatred took control.
Vile scaly rodents! How dare they!
Her only answer was a storm of chitters and bobbing heads. The Compies stood their ground and swung back and forth on their spindly legs, egging her on. Some hopped up and down, others spun in circles, to which Blue hissed and crouched low on her legs. One of them jumped forward and imitated her actions.
Alright, that's it!
Bursting forward, Star's excited cries behind her, Blue dove into the flock and snapped her teeth in an effort to grab one. They went shut with an empty click. The Compies jumped and ran away with nimble ease, just like the last time Blue tried to chase one of their kind.
But, stuck in her hate, Blue pressed on and continued to run through, lashing her tail and reaching in all directions with her claws. Star began to run around again, chirping and copying the older female by attempting to get her teeth around a Compy. She growled and dove, scattering them but tripping on a rock and tumbling into the dirt.
The vermin screamed and chittered like laughter. Blue snarled and spun with a sharp whip of her tail and exasperated breath.
Silence! For the love of all things, shut up!
She hated them. She hated their shrill voices, their little bobbing heads mocking her, and their ability to dodge her attacks. She hated them with every part of her soul and every part of her soul wanted to end their lives.
But despite the clearing being full of green vermin, Blue couldn't snag one in her teeth as it ran past. It frustrated her to the point of intense rage, giving blind strikes and frantic snaps.
Meanwhile, Kilo continued to sit with Curare and Mike at the tree line. The two adolescents shifted about and chittered softly in unease, while their alpha stared onto what was transpiring with bewilderment in his eyes. He watched Blue unleash her fury, unsure if he should be amused by her actions or annoyed.
Kilo didn't understand why Blue was so intent on killing the green scavengers. They had very little meat and were a chore to catch, not impossible, but she was making it seem that way. Their meat tasted bitter from the insects and carcass garbage that their diet mainly consisted of.
The male who was proper and organized in his choice of good prey, was confused by Blue's unorthodox strategies. The Compies weren't worth the trouble, yet she chased...rather comically to be honest.
So, laying on his belly Kilo watched Blue with an entertained expression and waited for her tantrum throwing to quiet down. He flicked his tail and curled his lips whenever a green scavenger stayed too close, to which it would cackle and dive back into the flock. They knew that he was too serious to move, thus didn't try to start a game with him.
Suddenly, Star veered close to where the trio raptors laid and let out a happy shriek. She jumped and bounded with lively action, beckoning Curare and Mike to join in on the fun and pick a Compy to chase.
It was so much fun! So many chase toys!
Kilo chuffed sharply and Mike copied the sound with an anxious tone. Amidst a little shudder, he watched the flock with wide eyes and a tense body, as though one would suddenly bare its fangs and lunge at him like a devil spawn. He stayed put next to alpha and shook his head passionately.
No. Too scary.
Star stared at him, but flicked her tail and ran in the opposite direction after her quarry, abandoning the grey and green spotted adolescent and her efforts to call him in. She quickly lost interest in that, only to squeal and bound again behind a Compy that dared to bump into her.
Racing at top speed, Star closed in towards her prey's tail and bared her fangs. She almost had it! One bite on its tail and she could hold it down! She was bigger than them and could do it. Just a little more!
Brave and cocky Star leaned forward to close her jaws on the vermin's tail. She gurgled out a snarl, but the Compy looked over its shoulder and went wide eyed. It saw that the little raptor was crossing lines of safety, and it saw that its life was in danger.
Very quickly the tables were turned. It was so fast that Star didn't see it coming, but truthfully she didn't expect such a small creature to betray its seemingly harmless image.
Whirling and opening its jaws, the Compy latched its needle teeth onto Star's nose around her nostril. The sudden white hot pain made her go wide eyed in shock, before sliding to a stop and thrashing her head with frantic shrieks.
Ow ow ow ow ow ow!
The Compy, pleased with its strike and dodging flailing arms, detached itself and sauntered off into the flock with a wave of its tail. Star could only shrink back and rub her nose with both arms to soothe the stinging discomfort.
From where he was, provided the perfect view in watching what happened, Kilo snorted. He arched his neck and nodded. See what happens when you play with things you shouldn't?
Star whimpered and sat back on her haunches. Still rubbing her nose she curled up and began crying, the sound weak gurgles behind a flash of instinctive fear. A little row of tooth marks began to bleed from her nostril and drip onto the ground, the flow heavy like all head wounds.
Startled by the scent and sight of Star's wound, Kilo blinked and immediately he felt guilt rush into him. In realizing the extent of her pain his idea of karma fled, and he regretted scolding her. Alpha instincts and affection took hold, making him lurch to his feet and stride towards his niece.
Oh, Star...
When the male reached her side, he purred softly in apology and stooped down to nuzzle her. The little one whimpered and tilted her head to display the wound.
Did he see it? Did he see the blood? It hurt, alpha! Make it better!
Kilo inspected the row of tooth marks and chittered. It wasn't life threatening in the least, but heeding to Star's distress he leaned forward and licked her, from snout tip to the back of her head in one long stroke. Such a thing both cleaned her wound and soothed her, bringing a purr through the whimpers and a breath that chased away pain.
Angry, Star cast a scornful look towards the Compy flock. They looked back at her and guffawed in amusement while bending up and down, making the youngling growl shakily in aggression.
Her uncle was the alpha! One protest and she would send him to kill them all!
Harsh threats from a youngling, but the Compies froze and bobbed their head with little chitters to one another, as though they were discussing their next mode of action.
Do they pester the alpha and younglings, or go back for the blue marked one?
Blue herself was panting, standing weakly at the center of the flock where she was trying desperately to catch her breath. Her eyes were closed, and she made gasping hisses. Her tail drooped and her claws wriggled.
But, opening her eyes, they found Kilo and Star ahead of her. At first when she saw them Blue was curious, but when she focused she saw the blood on Star and heard her whimpering. It made her flinch and whimper.
Star? She was hurt?
Guilt touched her, for being so preoccupied that she didn't notice Star's distress. Anger, fear, and defensive instinct followed.
Leave the Compies, her heart told her. Go to Star and make sure she was okay.
It was easy to listen that time, and Blue began walking forward across the clearing. She ignored the green vermin surrounding her best she could. They cackled but she stepped on, coming up to the clearing's one tree which separated her from the rest of the group.
As the female began to pass, her eyes strayed downwards in response to a burst of vermin activity near her feet. They were running about, bumping into her legs and hopping over the grass.
But they weren't focused on her. They were looking elsewhere, to the base of the tree.
Confused, Blue was about to cast off the observation when a cry filled her ears. It was shrill, like a dog screaming after being wounded, followed by sounds of something thrashing against the ground.
With a startled growl Blue turned her head. Her eyes were wide and her body tense, but what she saw made her step back and duck her head with a startled yelp.
At the base of the tree lay dozens of dead Compies, sprawled over the grass with wide eyes and gaping jaws. Many others were dying, thrashing about on the ground as screams erupted from their tiny lungs.
Blue chittered sharply and pulled away. What was wrong with them!
It was something from a nightmare, but as curiosity won over and she stepped forward, she began to notice more about the disturbing scene.
The green vermin weren't dead. They were alive, but still as though they were dead. Some of them were vomiting, while others simply fell where they stood and quivered in the dirt.
Blue was staring, when movement flashed from above and something fell to the ground. It was small and when Blue stooped down to sniff it she released a rushing snort. Again she blinked and her tail thrashed.
It was a piece of flesh, covered in an oily black substance. At first she stared at it, but her eyes lifted and she found herself a new puzzling sight.
About 8 feet in the air, strung over the tree's lowest branches, was a half eaten animal carcass. Blue could see ribs poking through mangled meat, and she could also see the honey colored hide typical of a Gallimimus. Spread over the carcass were splatters of the same odd black oil, which was dripping down amongst flesh bits and blood drops.
The black oil was familiar...yet Blue couldn't put her claw on it. A predator must have hidden its kill up in the tree, but it was behavior she had never seen before, obviously a trait from one of Sorna's creatures. The oily substance was the only thing that could be making the Compies act so strangely...but what was it?
From behind, Kilo called to Blue with a low chitter. Omega? What was wrong?
When she turned she saw him looking at her, head up and tail out. For a moment they met eyes and the alpha sensed her confusion, making him tense.
Blue?
She was about to chitter when another commotion caught her ears. It made her flinch. Her body went into defensive stance, reacting from Compy alarm calls originating from the opposite tree line, just beyond Kilo and the group. They burst up with a suddenness, forcing her to focus on the grass and see the green vermin scatter in all directions. Their heads were up and their tails flagged. A screaming soon spread to the rest of the flock, and they all went into a panic of rushing into the trees.
Danger, her mind voice told her. Danger!
In that moment, Blue made a sharp alarm call of her own and Kilo stiffened. The younglings all clustered at his feet and he curled his lips, while Blue scanned the trees for any sign of the danger she sensed.
Nothing, until she saw a dark form within the brush, and yellow eyes that fixated on alpha Kilo. He didn't see it. He wasn't looking in the right spot.
Alpha! Behind you!
Kilo snarled, but his movements were hindered by clingy younglings. They were trembling with fear underneath him but every amount of ushering couldn't move them. Blue watched with horror, when a head appeared from the forest shadows and into the sunlight. Immediately she recognized its double crest, and the bright colors upon its neck.
Why hadn't she guess it sooner! The oil! It was saliva!
In just a few rushing moments, the calm of the meadow was ended and the group was faced with an enemy, a large adult male Dilophosaurus. It all made sense. The Compies came to scavenge off the carcass, but when they ate the saliva coated meat, they succumbed to its poisoning effects and became paralyzed.
Body tense, Blue stared at the Venom-Spitter as it stepped out of the trees. Its gait was slow and cautious. Its eyes were glancing between the raptors, first on Kilo, to the younglings, then to Blue. When it saw Blue it froze and blinked, then growled out of aggression.
As far as the larger dinosaur -big compared to the Dilophosaurus specimens Blue had seen- was concerned, his kill was under threat of being stolen by raptors. He had spent hours on the hunt, and had gone through precautions of hiding the carcass up in the tree.
He would not be loosing his meal to raptors. That much was clear when he charged towards Blue and roared, the frill on his neck springing upwards and flushing a brilliant mix of orange and reds. The contrast was blinding in comparison with his dull green colored body.
Blue snarled and bent low on her legs. Her eyes were wide with fear, and her body was trembling with instincts to flee, but she couldn't. She couldn't flee and leave the others behind.
She had to make a plan, and fast. Kilo was calling to her and the younglings were crying. Star was up on her feet and shrieking for fear of Blue being in danger.
Suddenly, Kilo made a move. He launched himself forward and met the Spitter's path, colliding into his ribcage hard enough to send both of them to the ground. His snarl was urgent, calling Blue to his side as he fought to get to his feet before the enemy did.
Omega! Defensive assistance! Get to the younglings!
As directed, Blue's eyes shot to where the three young stood and saw that Mike and Star were pressed to the ground, staring with terror to their alpha and the Spitter whom thrashed and snarled angrily. Curare was standing before them, trembling but puffing her chest out best she could in a threatening stance.
Run Blue. Run as fast as you have ever run!
She darted ahead, over the grass and away from the carcass tree. Her legs pumped like pistons and her feet slammed into the ground, but she was forced to make a wide curve around the Dilophosaurus where he lay. He was sitting up, flare open and teeth bared. He tried chasing after her but Kilo closed his jaws around his tail, holding him back before dodging the retaliating spray of venom.
Blue dove, and she was standing above the younglings, boxing them in with her legs before she crouched and chittered. Kilo looked back at her, joining her before the Dilophosaurus could turn.
Now, everything was silent. The raptors were standing together, facing off with the Spitter who also froze and eyed them from a distance. He began hissing, frill quivering on his neck which told Blue he wasn't done yet.
Dilophosaurs were territorial animals, and extremely aggressive to go with it. If he knew that this was Kilo's territory, then his only intentions were to invade and live off of the prey valley.
Kilo stomped a foot and threw his head. His scent glands produced a powerful aroma, communicating power and aggression to the intruder.
"My territory! My pack! Intruder, leave or perish!"
The Spitter curled his lips with distaste, then snapped his tail and snarled. He began to pace back and forth, approaching slowly. His head bobbed up and down in a challenging manner, taunting Kilo's stature as territory owner.
Blue had never seen an interspecies dominance fight, she had never been brave enough to start one herself, but seeing Kilo stand strong was encouraging. She puffed her chest out and snarled with him, strengthening the threat.
But then, the Dilophosaurus began to move faster. He was nimble on his feet, hopping back and forth so that he was darting from one side of the group to the other. Kilo tried to keep up with it but he became disorientated, his blind eye becoming a disadvantage until his head was flicking about with frantic movements.
The Spitter gurgled and erected his frill. He dove in from the left, just a few yards from Kilo but into his blind spot. He bypassed Blue and the younglings, whom cried out in unison.
Alpha, look out!
The next moment Blue heard telltale cackling, followed by a cough and the sound of something wet making contact with scales. Her eyes went wide and she fought to keep up with what transpired, but when she turned her heart stopped.
Spinning, letting out an agonized wail of pain, Kilo lifted his forearms and rubbed frantically at his face. The entire left side was covered in black saliva, absorbing into his blind eye and into the soft flesh of his mouth.
Just like the Compies, Kilo's body went into fits of pain induced seizures. For a moment he remained standing and tried to work through it, but soon his body crumbled and he collapsed onto the dirt, thrashing about with sharp cries and snarls. Blue was lost, staring on with horror as the younglings began to cry.
The Dilophosaurus strode forward and hissed. His frill was down, but he stood over Kilo and arched his neck, confident of victory.
Puny raptor...thinking he could withstand his challenge.
He then stooped down, pinning Kilo by pressing one foot against his head, positioning his teeth for the killing blow. The alpha raptor struggled, but soon his body was growing clumsy, weak in its movements as his cries began to go quiet.
Just like the Compies, Kilo's mind was breaking beneath the pain, like a thousand knives driving into the backs of his eye. His body was fire, skin burning like it was touched by acid. His breaths were coming out in frail gasps, jaw gaped open and tongue lulling out as paralysis took over.
Blue focused on the Spitter. Her heart kick-started, racing against her chest with a sudden instinctive drive. Her brain echoed with orders.
Protect! Protect alpha! Protect younglings! Save alpha!
The female tensed, neck curling back, before she dove forward and towards the Dilophosaurus. She was silent in the charge, but the second she jumped up and collided with his back, she let out an unearthly shriek.
Back off from my alpha!
The Spitter was shocked, curling his head back with a pained roar. He was unfamiliar with how devoted raptors were; how much they would fight to keep each other safe. Blue's attack was against his plans. It caught him off guard and damaged his confidence.
Snarling, the female struck with her death talons down the enemy's back. He cried out and attempted to shake her off with rough movements, and he did, but upon falling she rushed to stand over Kilo and shield him. The younglings joined her, crowding around their alpha's body and staring up at the Spitter.
The Spitter stepped back and blinked. He hissed, but Blue hissed back and he lost his confidence further. Slowly, he snorted and began to turn away, slinking into the trees until he was out of sight and out of hearing distance. Blue waited, but apparently he wasn't willing to challenge a full sighted raptor. The snarl lingered in her throat and her lips quivered, but the blood lust faded from her eyes and her sneer lowered. Her body relaxed and her tail arched in pride of victory.
She did it...
With the quiet, Blue became aware of coughing sounds at her feet. The younglings were whimpering and stepping back. Their eyes were big and their nostrils flared as a foul smell filled the air. When something wet touched her foot Blue looked down, only to go wide eyed and jump back herself.
Kilo was splayed over the ground, shivering with jaws gaped open as his stomach heaved and shuddered. Foam spilled from his mouth and his eyes bulged, then clamped closed when he retched heavily and expelled a stream of vomit onto the dirt. Though he seemed to struggle his head would not move, and soon became trapped in the ever growing puddle that stunk of recent meals and stomach acid.
Blue wrinkled her nose and whimpered. Kilo choked out a similar noise. His eyes were wide, but the one he could still see out of was staring up at her. He could still see, as the Dilophosaur's venom only hit him on the left side around his dead eye.
Suddenly, the male whimpered again and Blue noticed another substance join his vomit on the ground. It gave a familiar scent, making her realize that Kilo had lost bladder control and wet the grass beneath him.
Star whined sadly and laid down. Was alpha okay? What was wrong with him?
Blue was lost. What could she do? What could she possibly find to help Kilo in his time of need? She had only witnessed Dilophosaurus venom in action once, when she watched an unfortunate prey animal fall victim back on Isla Nublar.
It was not inherently fatal, if the victim survived poor function of major organs and difficult breathing. In other scenarios the Dilophosaurus was the killer, tracking down its immobilized prey and snapping its neck.
Blue realized that the enemy could be back at any time to finish the job. She had to keep her guard up...but she couldn't leave Kilo where he was, bathing in his vomit and urine.
She had to move him...but something told her she shouldn't touch him yet, for fear of touching the Spitter venom herself. The ideal place would be underneath the clearing's single tree, some fifty yards away.
They were stuck for now...
Holding back an uncertain groan, Blue lowered onto her belly. The younglings crowded around her body and pressed close for comfort, all the while staring at their alpha.
Star whimpered. Was Kilo going to die?
Blue tensed. No...no alpha wasn't going to die. She would make sure of it.
How?
Blue looked down to the little female. She paused, but sighing she chuffed.
They just had to wait for the venom to wear off. That wouldn't be too long, right?
~...~
Rain. Of all things to come in this time, it had to be rain. Typical Costa Rican weather patterns, even in the dry season.
At first it started out a slight drizzle, but then it strengthened into a downpour, turning the ground to mud and standing water. All creatures took cover in the forest, all except for five raptors out in the open of a clearing.
Blue squinted against the falling water, body trembling under the pelting torrent which only grew heavier by the moment. She heard the younglings crying out through the dark. She saw the outlines of their forms shuffling about through mud at her feet, searching for relief of some kind, until she could bear their discomfort no longer.
She had to do something...
So, crouching against her hindquarters and just barely lifting her belly off the ground, Blue called out with a tender voice. She beckoned the young closer, to huddle beneath her away from the direct rain. The hope was to keep them warm with her own body heat, and immediately such an idea struck well with the little ones.
Star whimpered and crawled forward, curling up into a ball beneath Blue's stomach as the adolescents followed behind. All three of them squeezed into the free space until they were piled, and Blue reached her muzzle under to nudge them, scooting and pushing their bodies into the right position. Once that was done she lowered, letting the soft flesh of her stomach cover the young but not crush them. Star wiggled about with a few exhausted whines, then nuzzled her snout into the crook of Blue's thigh and let out a tense breath.
The young were stressed. Everything that transpired that day weighed heavily on their minds, between the Venom Spitter attack and the incapacitation of their alpha. They, inexperienced and fragile in state of mental strength, couldn't handle it as efficiently as an adult.
But then...even Blue's heart sank as her eyes turned to the limp mass that was Kilo.
Kilo, splayed out a few feet away from them, was staring off into the distance as the rain poured over him. She could see his lips quiver and press together in pain. His eyelids fluttered from raindrops and micro muscle spasma.
Blue knew he was cold and hurting. She was cold...very cold.
Cooing, still shivering in an attempt to up her core body temperature, Blue reached her neck out so that she was over the male's face. It shielded his eyes from the rain for a moment, but looking down she purred.
Alpha?
Kilo's eye fixed on her. His tongue and lips moved with a rasping breath, which Blue suspected to be a struggled gesture of acknowledgement. Her voice replied softly, pleading.
He had to let her help him. The pack needed him to survive the night and make it home, and the only way to do that was to let her help him.
After the rain had come and washed the venom from Kilo's scales, Blue tried many times to move his body to the safety of the trees. Each attempt failed when she was unable to lift his heavier body off the ground, meaning he was stuck and they were forced to brave the weather.
Kilo continued to stare up into Blue's eyes. His ribcage expanded with shallow breaths, and his nostrils flared ever so slightly. There was a long moment of silence, until he released a soft grunt and Blue saw a change in his gaze. The hard gleam melted into hesitant appreciation, showing that he was submitting and accepting her assistance.
Finally!
Pulling away, Blue flicked her tail and stood up out of the mud. Such an action disturbed the younglings and made them cry out, as their cover left them and moved closer to alpha Kilo.
Blue purred. She looked Kilo over and felt an amount of hesitation, flinching at the thought of being in such close contact with him.
She could do this…he wouldn't survive the night if she didn't.
So, the female began to lower onto her haunches beside her alpha. Very carefully and slowly she curled her tail around him, placed one forearm over his shoulders, then lay so that her upper body was spread across his back. He grunted softly and watched her, but despite his obvious tension he did not try to intervene.
Blue shifted a bit to get comfortable. She winced at how cold Kilo's body was beneath her, how shallow he breathed, and how softly his heartbeat thumped against her chest. He was much larger than her and more powerful, but in his state his muscles felt weak and limp.
Happy that she was at least providing some cover and body heat to Kilo, Blue turned and called to the younglings with a soft croon. They came running, prodding and pushing along the adults' bodies until they found places to curl up and get out of the direct rain.
Star, licking Kilo's shoulder out of concern and love, settled beneath Blue's belly and against his side. Curare hid in the crook where Blue's neck met her chest, and Mike pushed between the two.
Eventually, all went still and the group became one huddled ball. Gathered warmth from their bodies began to spread, giving heat to Kilo whom closed his eyes and pursed his lips together.
Blue, still shivering but at better ease with the state of the group, reached forward and let her muzzle hover just above her alpha's. Gently, almost waiting to see If he'd protest, she slipped her snout underneath his chin and guided his head around to his side. He gurgled, but looked up at her once she positioned him and pulled away.
Softly, eyes narrowed with exhaustion, the alpha purred.
Thank you.….omega….
Blue blinked. She hesitated, but a responding purr escaped her.
You're welcome.…alpha…
Kilo sighed weakly, then closed his eyes and settled into the uncomfortable realm that was sleep. He still twitched from time to time, but Blue could sense how quickly he slipped away.
For a moment, her heart froze and panicked that he had begun to die, until she continued to feel his pulse against her chest.
Relax.…...he was going to be okay….
So, body racked with shivers, Blue blinked through the rain and lowered her head until it rested on top of one of Kilo's forearms, propping her chin out of the mud and pressing the flesh of her neck against his own to provide more body contact. He stirred for a moment, but she purred half out of instinct and closed her eyes.
Restless sleep claimed her. It was thin and easily disturbed, made so by her defensive urges and worry that the Dilophosaurus would return.
Sleep was miserable, but Blue was content protecting her alpha and the pack young.
They were safe. She had done a good thing and kept them safe, which brought her pride that she hadn't felt in a long time.
She protected the pack. Her pack.
