I feel soo special! I keep on getting reviews! I want to thank you all, new
readers, and those who have stuck with the story from the beginning! Sorry
if I make you wait awhile. I get really bad cases of writer's block, not to
mention that for the last few days my PC hasn't been working. And, about
the chapter length: I know that they are really short, and that some of you
would like them to be longer, but it would seem kind of weird to have a
really long chapter after a bunch of short ones. I will try to make them a
little longer, and update more ofter, when time allows it. But, what the
heck! Here is another chapter!
Trapper: Ouch. Why did you hurt ME in the last chapter?
Because I can.
Trapper: Soooooo? -...-
Moonmist: Can we please get on with the story?
Raptorsong ch. 10
When I awoke, my head was throbbing. I opened my eyes, and saw the moon, shining down at me. It shone lightly, in its comforting way. I cocked my head so I could see around me. As I turned, I noticed something. Moonmist was gone! I looked about franticly for my mate, despite the pain that it was inflicting in my body. Suddenly, something caught my attention. It was a raptor, sittling on the hill top. All I could see was the silliouet against the moon, a black shadow against the white orb, but it was enough to tell me what it was. I stood up, wincing at the pain in my legs and on my back, and walked over to it. I sat down beside it, and looked into it's eyes. It was Moonmist. She was sad, frightened.
"What is wrong?" I asked her gently.
"I don't know. But something is." She replied. Her voice was little more than a whisper. Fear could be seen, pooling in her bright eyes. I rubbed my neck against hers, trying to comfort her in any way possible. I looked into her eyes, and she into mine.
"It...it was just something that I was told today. I don't know how to put it, but, it was frightening. I have never had to worry about things such as this, but, I feel that I can no longer hide my feelings. I can't hide the truth from you, Trapper. You are my mate, and I trust you. But, if I tell you this, then no other can hear of it. Promise me." She said; voice cracking.
"I swear it, on my place in this pack, that I shall tell none of tonight. Ever." I told her, and I meant every word. To swear on my place in the pack was a large thing to me. I was one on the beta raptors, but my ancestors had been some of the first raptors to walk this land. Therefore, even though I was not an alpha, I was of high importance, as I am a direct descendant from the first raptors on Isla Sorna. And those had swum from Isla Nublar before the humans* had destroyed it. I was not the leader because I was not as strong as Killer, because he was one of the newer genus of raptors created. He was not born from another raptor, nor was Cleo, or so I had heard, but I suspected that she had some pure raptor blood within her. I was soon shaken out of my thoughts, as Moonmist began.
"You see, my pack was from another place. We swam across the water, when I was just a chick. My mother had to carry me and my only remaining sister across. We had to leave the other island because it was no longer fit for raising raptors. The predators, the T-rex, had killed off nearly all of our food, and the water was now poisoned. There were many strange chemicals in it, and all who drank it, died. That is how my father died, as well as one of my brothers and sisters. I was born into a family with five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. One of my brothers was an adult by the time I was born, and had a mate of his own. Once my father died, the pack left, under the command of my mother." Moonmist said, the sadness in her eyes growing with every word.
"Then...then that means that your parents were the leaders of the last raptor pack on Isla Nublar..." I said, awestruck. My mate was the offspring of the leaders of one of the most powerful and respected groups of raptors alive!
"Yes," she replied, "So, we traveled across the water and landed her, where there was much food and safe water. But, there were also new predators to go along with it all. The spinosaur being one of them. We lost many of our pack to him and his large belly. Soon, we learned how to avoid him, and we did, at all costs. But, because we were new to this place, many of the dino species were more dangerous than they had been. It was only after a long while that we discovered what we could and couldn't eat. Yet, even with all these precautions, disease swept through our pack on black wings. Many fell sick and died, or were crippled and killed by the spino or a tyrannosaur. I was one of the few survivors. There were few chicks the next year, and then my mother died. I was forced to lead the pack, but couldn't. I was young, and did not now how to lead! Many of the others were my age, and they looked to me for leadership, something I could not give. It was two years ago when the last of them died. Because there were so few chicks, and because our pack had suffered so much, they just died. I am the last of that group.
"It was then, that I decided to give up who I was, and find a mate. A strong, young male, who was healthy and could, along with my help, raise some chicks. I left my identity behind me, and became a wanderer. You know then how we first met, and how I came that night. But, the mating season is far over, and we will not have chicks! I fear that I may be the last of my bloodline, the last of my kind. That after I leave this world, my pack will be all but forgotten, only shadowy figures in the realm of tales. Naught but a story to tell young chicks on dark nights when they can't sleep. I don't want it to be like that, Trapper. I want to be happy, but I am so often unable to feel so. But, you, you are always there to make me smile, because you want that." She finished. I looked down at her, so sad and frightened. I gave her the best smile I could, and she brightened up. I came to the conclusion that I looked quite absurd, but she was smiling, so I didn't stop.
"Come on, lets get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." I told her, standing. I must have forgotten about how much I hurt, because I gasped in surprise and pain as I stood up. She gave me some support, and we walked back to our nest of dead leaves and grass. I lay down, and she lay down beside me. Soon, we were both happily wandering about in the world of dreams.
When morning came, I was woken up by another raptor's scaly nose nudging me. I looked up to see Cyrn, one of the younger males in the pack looking at me. He was a nice young male, and one of the few who looked up to me.
"We leave soon." He said, then trotted off, to go and try to win over one of the younger females, as he did every morning. He was still with out a mate, and looking desperately for one. Luckily, one of the younger females seemed to have an eye on him, so things would work out.
I turned to Moonmist and nudged her slightly, waking her up. She stood, and we went over to the others, ready to find out what awaited us today. Soon, Cleo arrived, and following as always, Killer. They gave strict orders to us all, and we prepared to go after to one-foots yet again. We set off through the forest, hot on their trail.
* The raptor's have never seen a human, but they have heard the stories of how the first island was destroyed (in the book, for those who have read it). Therefore, they don't know that Grant and the Kirby's are humans.*
Well, that's it for now. Another update soon, I hope. Will they find the humans? Will Trapper and Moonmist live happily ever after? Find out...
Raptorsong ch. 10
When I awoke, my head was throbbing. I opened my eyes, and saw the moon, shining down at me. It shone lightly, in its comforting way. I cocked my head so I could see around me. As I turned, I noticed something. Moonmist was gone! I looked about franticly for my mate, despite the pain that it was inflicting in my body. Suddenly, something caught my attention. It was a raptor, sittling on the hill top. All I could see was the silliouet against the moon, a black shadow against the white orb, but it was enough to tell me what it was. I stood up, wincing at the pain in my legs and on my back, and walked over to it. I sat down beside it, and looked into it's eyes. It was Moonmist. She was sad, frightened.
"What is wrong?" I asked her gently.
"I don't know. But something is." She replied. Her voice was little more than a whisper. Fear could be seen, pooling in her bright eyes. I rubbed my neck against hers, trying to comfort her in any way possible. I looked into her eyes, and she into mine.
"It...it was just something that I was told today. I don't know how to put it, but, it was frightening. I have never had to worry about things such as this, but, I feel that I can no longer hide my feelings. I can't hide the truth from you, Trapper. You are my mate, and I trust you. But, if I tell you this, then no other can hear of it. Promise me." She said; voice cracking.
"I swear it, on my place in this pack, that I shall tell none of tonight. Ever." I told her, and I meant every word. To swear on my place in the pack was a large thing to me. I was one on the beta raptors, but my ancestors had been some of the first raptors to walk this land. Therefore, even though I was not an alpha, I was of high importance, as I am a direct descendant from the first raptors on Isla Sorna. And those had swum from Isla Nublar before the humans* had destroyed it. I was not the leader because I was not as strong as Killer, because he was one of the newer genus of raptors created. He was not born from another raptor, nor was Cleo, or so I had heard, but I suspected that she had some pure raptor blood within her. I was soon shaken out of my thoughts, as Moonmist began.
"You see, my pack was from another place. We swam across the water, when I was just a chick. My mother had to carry me and my only remaining sister across. We had to leave the other island because it was no longer fit for raising raptors. The predators, the T-rex, had killed off nearly all of our food, and the water was now poisoned. There were many strange chemicals in it, and all who drank it, died. That is how my father died, as well as one of my brothers and sisters. I was born into a family with five siblings, two brothers and three sisters. One of my brothers was an adult by the time I was born, and had a mate of his own. Once my father died, the pack left, under the command of my mother." Moonmist said, the sadness in her eyes growing with every word.
"Then...then that means that your parents were the leaders of the last raptor pack on Isla Nublar..." I said, awestruck. My mate was the offspring of the leaders of one of the most powerful and respected groups of raptors alive!
"Yes," she replied, "So, we traveled across the water and landed her, where there was much food and safe water. But, there were also new predators to go along with it all. The spinosaur being one of them. We lost many of our pack to him and his large belly. Soon, we learned how to avoid him, and we did, at all costs. But, because we were new to this place, many of the dino species were more dangerous than they had been. It was only after a long while that we discovered what we could and couldn't eat. Yet, even with all these precautions, disease swept through our pack on black wings. Many fell sick and died, or were crippled and killed by the spino or a tyrannosaur. I was one of the few survivors. There were few chicks the next year, and then my mother died. I was forced to lead the pack, but couldn't. I was young, and did not now how to lead! Many of the others were my age, and they looked to me for leadership, something I could not give. It was two years ago when the last of them died. Because there were so few chicks, and because our pack had suffered so much, they just died. I am the last of that group.
"It was then, that I decided to give up who I was, and find a mate. A strong, young male, who was healthy and could, along with my help, raise some chicks. I left my identity behind me, and became a wanderer. You know then how we first met, and how I came that night. But, the mating season is far over, and we will not have chicks! I fear that I may be the last of my bloodline, the last of my kind. That after I leave this world, my pack will be all but forgotten, only shadowy figures in the realm of tales. Naught but a story to tell young chicks on dark nights when they can't sleep. I don't want it to be like that, Trapper. I want to be happy, but I am so often unable to feel so. But, you, you are always there to make me smile, because you want that." She finished. I looked down at her, so sad and frightened. I gave her the best smile I could, and she brightened up. I came to the conclusion that I looked quite absurd, but she was smiling, so I didn't stop.
"Come on, lets get some sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." I told her, standing. I must have forgotten about how much I hurt, because I gasped in surprise and pain as I stood up. She gave me some support, and we walked back to our nest of dead leaves and grass. I lay down, and she lay down beside me. Soon, we were both happily wandering about in the world of dreams.
When morning came, I was woken up by another raptor's scaly nose nudging me. I looked up to see Cyrn, one of the younger males in the pack looking at me. He was a nice young male, and one of the few who looked up to me.
"We leave soon." He said, then trotted off, to go and try to win over one of the younger females, as he did every morning. He was still with out a mate, and looking desperately for one. Luckily, one of the younger females seemed to have an eye on him, so things would work out.
I turned to Moonmist and nudged her slightly, waking her up. She stood, and we went over to the others, ready to find out what awaited us today. Soon, Cleo arrived, and following as always, Killer. They gave strict orders to us all, and we prepared to go after to one-foots yet again. We set off through the forest, hot on their trail.
* The raptor's have never seen a human, but they have heard the stories of how the first island was destroyed (in the book, for those who have read it). Therefore, they don't know that Grant and the Kirby's are humans.*
Well, that's it for now. Another update soon, I hope. Will they find the humans? Will Trapper and Moonmist live happily ever after? Find out...