Hey guys! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, school (ap biology) has been kicking my ass. I've been reminded of the fact that I'm musical theatre trash and I've been crying over Star Wars, but then I rewatched Jurassic Park (all of them) and I got my inspiration back. Thanks for sticking with and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
One of the things Blue loves about the pig-chasing exercise is the rush of running through the jungle, wind and foliage and small branches brushing against her, the scent of the underbrush and the soft earth easily giving way to her mighty talons. Her pack is behind her and the bond surrounds them, their communication impeccable and their tactics advanced for their age. The only thing that could make the chase better would be Owen riding along with them, his mind a steady anchor for the pack bond. She's long since made herself content with the knowledge that he'll be at the end of the chase, when the pig disappears into its hidey hole, and they'll have his full attention.
They know better than to actually attack the pig now, though there were several incidents in the past where they had not understood the purpose of the pig-chase and made a quick meal of the small animal. Blue had thought Owen would be proud of them and replace the pig with a more challenging target. He was proud, but he had to explain that the purpose of the pig-chase wasn't to catch the pig, but to follow it to the open area under the catwalk and follow some simple commands.
Simple commands, he had snorted, for simple-minded humans.
Sometimes, to make the chase a little more entertaining (and to drag it on a little longer), they'll play tricks on the pig, and Owen, immediately knowing what they're doing, showers the bond with amused warmth.
This time, the chase goes quickly. It's been awhile since Owen had slept in the paddock with them, and he'd promised that if they managed to get through this exercise without a hitch, he'd stay with them that night. Suffice to say, they were eager for a night of cuddles with their Alpha, to rub the scent of the pack on him and to hear the rumble of of his laugh up close. To once again surround him in their ranks.
It's not long before they slip into the bright, sun-lit area under the catwalk. Owen's voice calls them to a halt, and he gently reinforces the order through the bond. The pig pelts into its little safety hole and Owen whistles, the one that clearly means eyes on me and six pairs of eyes snap up to meet Owen's sharp, blue-green eyes. The sun shines brightly behind him, haloing his hair and making it shine a burning red. He's wearing his serious expression, but they can feel his joy and his pride and it has them chittering in excitement. He's rapidly clicking his clicker at them (but that's mostly just for show). They swiftly follow him at his command, keeping eye contact and following his every move.
To the outside observer it might seem that they're scrutinizing him, when actually, they're just happy to see their Alpha again.
Blue has to snap and snarl at her sisters to get them to tone their excitement down, and it takes Owen scolding her for Delta to calm down. He gives them some easy commands (stay, eyes on me, bark), simple things that any trained creature could do and Blue almost feels insulted. However, she knows Owen doesn't doubt her or sister's intelligence and that the harder puzzles are for later, outside the itinerary and away from prying eyes.
"Good girls", he says, pride in his tone when they finish the exercise.
He grabs a bucket hanging from the railing on the catwalk and the pack waves their tales in unison. That's the rat bucket. The first rat goes to Echo, in the back, who catches it quickly. She chirps, pleased with herself and relieved that she hadn't once again fallen on her face. The next two go to Roma and Venizia, who catch their snack with ease. Delta snatches her's from the air while Charlie plucks it delicately as it sales above her head.
Blue waits patiently for her share, golden eyes locked on Owen the entire time. When he finally faces her, there's a fond smile waiting at the edges of his lips. She can feel it through their bond and she shoots him the raptor equivalent of a grin. Mostly, it looks like she's baring her teeth at him, but he understands (and appreciates) the sentiment.
"This", he lightly shakes the rat corpse in his hand, "this is for you, Blue".
She catches it with ease and the full warmth of Owen's genuine smile slips into the bond. When he whistles and signals them to go, they scatter, knowing that the training exercise is over and that they are free for the day. Blue stays in the area beneath the catwalk, settling herself on the hard-packed dirt to bask in the sun.
A disturbance in the bond has her sitting before she even has a chance to relax and to her great annoyance, finds Vic Hoskins (pig-eyes, as she refers to him) cornering her Alpha.
...
Ever since Henry Wu had informed him of Grady's "talents" Hoskins had kept a sharp eye on him.
Hoskins thinks himself rather gifted. There was that wolf he'd managed to befriend, guiding it with whatever faint nudges he could give its blade-sharp mind, earning it's loyalty in the end. He's hard-pressed to admit that Masrani is a little stronger than him, but he'll give that the man's sway over animals is impressive. Hoskins doesn't understand why he doesn't use his power more often.
Grady on the other hand, is on a completely different level than he would ever dare to be. Beyond anything he thought possible. Hoskins remembers attempting to nudge one of the raptors like he did the wolf. If the wolf's mind was like a razor sharp blade on bare skin, the raptor's mind was a live, burning wire through an open wound. Thinking about it still leaves him reeling, it had completely changed his definition of pain and power and it left him with a startling realization that he had less control than he anticipated.
Grady, though, seems to slide into their ranks with such a practiced ease, like he's been doing it his whole life and Hoskins gets the suspicion that he has. He knows Provaire doesn't have the gift because for all that he interacts with the raptors, he doesn't have the same effortless grace with them that Grady has, the assurance that they won't turn on him in an instance. Hoskins has kept a close eye on Grady and his interactions with the park animals and has seen the way they're drawn to him, the way they gravitate to him.
If they can weaponize a group of men like Grady and send them into a battlefield with their own pack of raptors, well, Hoskins thinks, they would be unstoppable. Wu's told him, with close to patronizing clarity, that Grady would never be interested in leading a group of animals to battle, that the animals would definitely be opposed to the idea, and that finding someone else anywhere near the level of power Grady's got is next to impossible. Hoskins begs to differ. He thinks (knows) he can convince Grady (he's ex-navy after all, surely he'll be wanting to get back in action), and what do the animals know? He's convinced that if he gets Grady in on his plan, then his animals would have no other choice than to follow along. Hoskins is also sure that if he trains himself enough, he'll eventually be able to slip into a raptor's head, and if he can do it, any old moron with an inch of talent can do it.
The problem is that everytime he tries to even touch one of the raptors (and only the raptors, he doesn't feel ready for the Indomini quite yet), he is swatted away like a pesky insect or it feels like he just set himself on fire and he has to pull away before he can really do anything. They follow Grady's orders almost eagerly, going about each command fluidly and efficiently.
As soon as the exercise ends, he swoops in, cornering Grady on the catwalk, interrupting his conversation with Provaire in rapid-fire French. He doesn't wait for them to wrap up the conversation, but barges in and plants himself between them.
"That was some great work out there, Grady", he compliments, hoping to get on Grady's good side. Hoskins sets a hand on his shoulder and ignores how tense Grady suddenly seems.
"It's a good day", Grady retorts, tone polite but laced with steel. "We're not always so lucky." He doesn't sound hostile, but he's not gentle when he shakes Hoskins's hand off his shoulder.
Grady stalks off to another section of the catwalk, Provaire at his heels and Hoskins rushes after him, determined to make his point.
"Think of their potential on the field", he says. "Hundreds of boots taken off the field and replaced with a pack of these bad boys", he gesture in the direction of the blue-ish raptor sitting in the sun, "and we get twice as much done! People think robots are the future, but you can't get droids to go into caves or dig out bombs. You've proven that these animals can follow commands, they're loyal to you, they'd make excellent weapons!"
There's a moment of silence after his little speech and then Provaire bursts into laughter.
"Est-il serieux? Dites-moi, il est pas grave", Provaire chuckles, clapping Grady on the shoulder and walking off, shaking his head.
Grady snorts and responds with something Hoskins doesn't catch (though he doubts he'd understand it anyway). When he turns back to Hoskins, his face is serious again, a hint of ice in his blue-green eyes.
"Look, Hoskins, these are animals, not machines. They have their own will and they're definitely not going to go storming off after someone just because I tell them to. They don't just blindly follow orders. They're wild and vicious and they'll just as soon bite off the arm of the one giving them commands. What I have with these raptors is a carefully sculpted relationship built on mutual respect." Grady's voice is calm and his eyes flicker to the raptor sitting in the sun.
Hoskins huffs, shaking his head.
"The future is with these animals, Grady", he insists, determined to make his point.
Grady doesn't speak, and a tense silence envelopes them. Grady doesn't look convinced at all, more like he'd rather be anywhere else. Hoskins is getting ready to push further when a shrill squeal splits through the air and security begins to panic because the training pig's escaped into the paddock. There's a small explosion of chaos and ACU is suddenly running around, hollering.
"Pig loose in the paddock!" someone shouts distantly.
The raptors emerge from the jungle to check out the commotion and Hoskins is so sure the pig's screwed he's actually surprised they don't immediately go after it. They watch the squealing pink animal run around with seeming disinterest and Hoskins chances a glance at Grady to see him making eye contact with the blue-ish raptor often at the head of the group.
There's a shout in another section of the catwalk and all eyes turn just in time to see some kid fly off the railing, the pig snagging onto his pole with more force than expected. The pig is recaptured, but the kid (some newbie probably) is now sitting in the middle of the raptor paddock with six territorial and very dangerous predators who are suddenly very aggressive quickly surrounding him. Before Hoskins can so much as call out for the ACU to get their asses on the catwalk and knock out the damn raptors, Grady's flying off the catwalk, down the platform and into the ready cage, Provaire's shout of warning falling on deaf ears.
Grady's inside the paddock, shouting at the ACU to not shoot his pack. Hoskins has his theories about just how strong Grady's sway over the raptors (and Indomini) is and he's about to see just how many of them he can confirm.
Grady approaches the pack slowly, face neutral, eyes burning. When he speaks to the raptors, his voice is soft, but it's also firm and commanding. His arms are spread out, palms out and open, his posture is surprisingly calm, not at all stiff or betraying even a hint of fear. The kid who had fallen in quickly scrambles into the ready cage, limping slightly but not seeming to care. Provaire is there, waiting, open concern contorting his dark features into a frown.
One of the raptors barks, quizzically, and Grady whistles sharply at it. He's slowly making his way towards the paddock exit, the pack trailing him.
"Close the gate, Barry", Grady says without turning away from the pack. Provaire makes a very pointed noise of disagreement.
"Do it, Barry", Grady grunts, though he still doesn't seem outwardly affected by the proximity of the pack.
Provaire reluctantly complies and the paddock gate begins its slow ascent. There's a strange little moment between Grady and the raptors before he lunges under the closing gate. He almost doesn't catch it, but he's sharper than most people give him credit for (he was in the military after all, being dull in the military got you killed). There's a split second where he knows he sees Grady nod, fractionally, at the blue-ish raptor and he thinks he sees the raptor nod back, just the tiniest bob of it's head.
Then Grady's ducking under the gate just as it slams close and three raptors are snapping at the place where he had previously been. Provaire snaps something in French and Grady laughs, patting him on the shoulder with a familiarity Hoskins failed to achieve earlier. Provaire gives him an incredulous scowl and stalks off. Grady turns to the newbie and quietly scolds him. Hoskins isn't paying attention to them though, he's watching as the raptors and Indomini silently retreat into the shadows of the Paddock.
Hoskins doesn't dare try to enter into their minds, but he knows, knows , that the three that had snapped after Grady didn't miss by accident.
It's a few weeks after the incident with the newbie and Owen is relieved that there aren't any more afterwards. Owen hopes he won't have to deal with something like that ever again, but knowing not all of the ACU are as competent as Hamada, he's sure it won't' be long before something else happens. He'd also been terribly unnerved by the lingering look Hoskins had given him after he'd saved the newbie from his still fairly young and territorial raptors. He knows they wouldn't have killed the kid, but he'd definitely be scarred for life, mentally and, if Owen hadn't interfered, physically.
Still, those thoughts don't darken his good mood. It's one of his solo training days with his girls in the Restricted Zone and while his girls weren't happy at having to be tranquilized, they forgave it as soon as they woke surrounded by trees, soft undergrowth and no fences. They'd been loopy for a bit and Owen had been careful to say away from sharp, clumsy, drug-addled claws.
They're more awake now and Owen doesn't have to fear that they'll accidentally stab him. He lets his pack roam around to get the tranqs completely out of their systems and gets to work on the cameras in this section of the Restricted Zone, as per Lowery's request.
He has his motorcycle resting against a tree, his equipment sitting at the side. He's got two radios on him now, one with his bag and one on his person and he's required to have his phone with him at all times. It was at Barry's insistence and Claire, remembering his accident some months earlier, had enforced it.
You break your radio, get a concussion and a few sprained limbs once and you're labeled for life, he thinks, rolling his eyes.
Good, rumbles Blue in his head, clearly thinking about how she and the rest of the pack had to drag his useless ass through the Restricted Zone (along with some boys who had thought it would be cool to try and get a peek at the original park's ruins).
Owen rolls his eyes harder (nearly gives himself a headache for his trouble) and huffs. Honestly. Even his own raptors are against him. Blue snorts, amused, and taps his hand with her nose before dashing deeper into the jungle. The rest of the pack follow her lead and Owen is left to take care of Lowrey's security cameras. It's quiet and oddly calming work, and though it has nothing on working with his raptor training, it's satisfying.
Twenty minutes into cleaning and rewiring the cameras to Lowrey's specific instructions, Owen realizes he isn't alone, physically. (Mentally he is never alone).
He casts out his mind, but he needn't have to as he immediately feels Venizia watching him closely through the trees. She's trying to make sure he doesn't see her, and normally that wouldn't be a problem, but a) Owen Grady is not even remotely close to normal and b) he's entirely too used to their antics to be surprised by them. Usually.
Owen figures Blue sent out her to watch him, considering how paranoid she gets especially since he's apparently prone to injury. He doesn't agree with that assessment, but Barry and Claire do and while it can get a bit… much, he's touched by their concern, unnecessary as it is.
He continues to work on the cameras and moves on to the next when he's done. It's a bit tedious, but he'll live. He's a little surprised when Venizia appears by his side, a little clumsier than he would've expected. She chuffs and lazily taps her nose against his shoulder. Owen is startled upon realizing just how big his girls have gotten (they're as tall as him now!), and furthermore is confused to find her mind a foggy, cluttered mess.
They must have given her too much of a dose, Owen thinks, gently stroking her snout. She croons at him, shakily grabbing at him with her large, hand-like paws and he winces as her claws drag against his skin. His careful attempts to untangle himself from the drugged Indominus prove fruitless as she resolutely refuses to let go.
Venizia, he prods gently, let go. It's clearly an order and to his relief, her grip on him loosens. He gracefully slips out of her grip, though he keeps a hand on her smooth skin.
Easy girl, he hums softly.
He moves on to the next camera, deciding to get back to the other one later, when Venizia isn't drunkenly chirping at it.
Owen doesn't get a chance to reach for his tools before there's suddenly massive white mass launching itself at him. He's terrified for a split-second and terribly confused. Has he lost the connection? No, there's waves of warmth emanating from his girl and she isn't trying to tear him limb from limb. Rather, she's holding him down, snuffling at his hair, puffs of hot air slipping from her jaws. Owen's never realized just how wide those jaws could stretch. Certainly wider than his raptors.
"Off, Venizia", he says firmly, though not unkindly. She whimpers, nuzzling into his neck and Owen sends a jolt through the bond, warning her off. She whuffles sadly, but she begins to obey, making sad chirping noises all the while. Owen shifts and it seems to surprise Venizia because she starts, bad, and Owen finds himself with razor sharp claws raking across his arm and part of his belly.
He gasps and pain radiates across his body and bleeds into the bond. Venizia flinches off of him, her mind suddenly very clear and he feels more than hears the five calls of fury from the rest of his pack. It doesn't take long for them to appear, Blue at the lead, everything about her posture screaming worried and furious. She's quick to push Venizia away and Charlie and Delta bark at her, circling her and keeping her away from Owen. Roma turns a sharp, if regretful eye on her sister before turning to Owen and chirping softly at him.
Can you stand? Blue asks, nudging at his uninjured arm.
Owen struggles to stand, using Blue and Roma as crutches (and somehow managing to avoid the spikes budding on Roma's back). Echo trots up to him, inspects his wounds and croons sadly. Owen feels her trying to comfort him through the bond and he gives her a grateful smile. He whistles at them, asking them to back down.
She hurt you! screeches Charlie, she harmed the Alpha, chitters Delta.
"It was an accident", Owen defends, "they gave her too big of a dose, it wasn't her fault." Owen feels Venizia's guilt and anguish as if it were his own (the anguish might actually be his, he should really deal with all the blood, oh Claire and Barry are going to love this- focus Grady!) and he amplifies it so that the rest of the pack can feel Venizia's remorse. Charlie and Delta relent, though they still cast suspicious glances at their pack-mate.
Owen grasps at the radio at his hip and, taking a deep breath, opens Barry's channel.
"Hey Barry, so there's been a bit of an incident..."
...
Barry and Claire are exactly about as amused as Owen thought they'd be.
Which is to say, not at all. In the slightest.
The wounds, thankfully, look worse than they are. Though they were long, they were rather shallow and his pack didn't get in trouble. Venizia had been given the wrong dosage in her tranq, as Owen had predicted and the rest of his girls has been on their best behavior. Owen still had to get stitches (that was pleasant, Barry was there and was witness to Owen Grady under anesthetic) and he'd been forced to take a few days off. Neither Owen nor his girls had been happy about it.
When he goes back, his girls receive him eagerly and he steps into the paddock (devoid of curious eyes). They're terribly gentle with him, curling around him in a protective circle and nuzzling at him, cooing quietly.
He notices Venizia stays at the fringes, body lowered and trying to look smaller than him, despite being the same height and with almost twice his mass. Owen makes sure his presence is calming, confident, but also kind. He gives his girls each a gentle pat on their necks and noses, then makes his way over to Venizia. She shrinks a bit more, apprehensive.
"It's alright, it wasn't your fault", he chuffs in a familiar tone. The bond is all warmth, no hurt cooling it.
He strokes her flank and ever so carefully she wraps herself around him, with the gentleness one would use to cradle a flower. Owen knows he's no flower, but Venizia is scared of hurting him and he can feel the rest of the pack watching them closely.
He knows the pack will be a little more protective than usual and he's aware that Venizia will probably treat him like he's made of glass, but it'll get better. His arm only slightly tingles when he pulls at the stitches and it doesn't hurt his stomach to laugh. He knows he'll heal faster than most.
Owen continues to stroke Venizia with gentle hands and begins to hum. Venizia had always been particularly fond of instrumental classical pieces. Having been practically raised by his grandmother, Owen has been exposed to a wide variety of music and most of it stuck with him.
He hums Venizia's favorite piece, Für Elise vibrating in his throat and calming the six members of his pack. For now, he is calm, warm, and safe, and so are his girls.
Chapter title:
Ten Duel Commandments from the Hamilton soundtrack (bc I'm musical theatre trash)
Feel free to come scream at me on my tumblr alcors-floating-hat
Reviews are always appreciated!
