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Welcome...to Charlie

Chapter 9

I'll Be

Delta's claw is tapping against the ground as she peers out of the bush. Her breathing is quick, and her ribs are visible with each release of air. Her gaze is darting to each fleshling behind the shiny, clear rock. "I don't like this."

I'm seated on my haunches next to her. Through the rock, they are growling loudly, and they smell delicious. However, they are protected by lightning sticks. I'm just as frightened as Delta by this, but I can't afford to show it. She needs me.

"We'll be fine."

She stomps her feet. "There are too many of them. We can't fight them all."

Rising, I tilt my head as I look at her. "Are you afraid they're retaliating for all the fleshlings you've killed?"

The black lines in her eyes are slits providing all the confirmation needed. "What if I've gotten us all killed?"

Sighing, I shake my head. "Why do you kill them?"

"We keep receiving less and less meat. Haven't you noticed?"

I freeze. The truth is, I haven't. I always receive another piece of meat in the middle of the night. I assumed my sisters had as well. I swallow roughly. "No, I haven't. I'm still…recovering."

It isn't entirely a lie. Certain places on my body do still hurt, and I can't sleep. In the night all I see are things that have already happened. I don't understand. In addition, I'm worried about Alpha. It's foolish, but I am. He limps on three legs instead of walking on two.

Delta turns from me before shaking her head and disappearing into another section of the bush. I wonder if she knows I'm not telling the truth. She doesn't seem to sense feelings as well as I do, but maybe she's gotten better at it.

With a sigh, I peer out of the bush. Echo slams into the shiny, clear rock. She's been at it for a while now. The fleshlings behind the barrier point and bare their teeth. It's hard to tell whether they're asserting their dominance or not.

My chest tightens as she hits the rock again. Echo's been trying to get along with us, but she's confused about so many things. I don't blame her. Delta never attacked me in the Hatchling Territory, but if she had, would I have turned out like Echo?

A yawn leaves my lips as my body tells me I need sleep. How can I rest when all I see is what's past? How can I sleep when Delta is worried about an attack? Does it matter anymore?

Moving deeper into the bushes, I find a secluded spot, circle twice, and lay down. I tuck my tail under my chin as my eyes close. If this is where the fleshlings want us, and we end up dying for Delta's deaths, I am in no position to fight it. Fleshings always seem to win anyway.

Besides, Alpha is never going to enter my territory again. He will never run his soft flesh over my skin. His days of growling to me are done. I am alone in here.

My eyes fly open. There's nudging at my stomach. With a raised brow, I notice Charlie has settled next to me. Her head is on my stomach, and she's trying to press into me. I can feel her body shudder, feel her sadness.

My tail moves which sends her leaping to her talons with a squawk.

Panic floods those eyes of hers, the black circle shrinks. Looking down, she notices my tail has moved back to reveal my stomach. Charlie blinks and takes several breaths before nestling again, head on my stomach, body curled toward my snout. Trembles shake through her like leaves in the wind.

I place my tail over her.

Charlie is still slightly smaller than I, and as she lays there it's obvious she's significantly thinner. Her ribs are protruding through her skin. Just like Delta's… It's something I've been blind to. I haven't been the same since the attack.

No wonder Delta kills the foolish humans.

Charlie's head pops up, and she bites her tongue before looking at me.

"Is Alpha…pack?" she questions softly. "Or is he family?"

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

Owen sits on a bench in the back of the Viewing Paddock. He's staring at his girls as they struggle to deal with this new area. Echo keeps slamming herself into the window, screaming for him to let her out, while the other three hide in the brush.

No, wait.

Raptors don't speak English. And she isn't screeching.

The glass is reinforced, but all it takes is one flaw and Echo will burst through. All of these tourists would be in peril—screams, shouts, blood. It's not something he wants to happen, but as his chin reaches his chest, it's all he can see. Blood is everywhere. His girls are having a heyday and feasting until they're bursting at the seams.

Leaning back, Owen clutches the cane across his lap. At the moment, he's attempting to assess any possible situations that might arise like the one he imagines. Despite only being thirty-four, his body is exhausted and seemingly unable to mend.

But this is for his girls.

He needs to be here, so he fights through the pain with medication.

When people begin to tap on the glass, he's automatically snapping at them to stop. When they take pictures, he threatens to confiscate the cameras. His girls are already under enough stress as it is. They don't need to be even more terrified.

Glancing up, Owen spots Ben and Doe in a far corner. He didn't think both of them were on tourist duty. Maybe it's the half a Vicodin he took earlier, but he could swear the schedule didn't show them in the same place—although the schedule probably didn't have a giant red dog named Clifford on it, either.

Suspicions arise when Tanner approaches a few minutes later and the group huddles closer. Whatever the topic is, it seems serious by their lowered brows and darting glances.

Placing the cane end on the floor, Owen takes a deep breath before pushing himself to his feet. He painstakingly makes his way toward the three new survivors. It's already slow going, but luckily the place is so packed he's able to get close without them noticing.

"Why do you think someone's been feeding the raptors?" Owen hears Tanner say.

"I have a few friends in control," Ben replies. "They've seen it on the CCTV."

"And they suspect us?" Doe asks.

"Yes," Ben replies. With a glance across the crowd, he starts leading them toward an employee door in the back. "I suppose it's because this never happened prior to our arrival, thus, it's us they're looking into."

"Is it such a big deal that the raptors are fed?" questions Tanner with a sigh. "Honestly, we're dropping off like flies here. They clearly need more food."

"Should we suspect you, Tanner?" Doe asks, voice thick with accusation.

Tanner hisses and opens the door. "Don't you think I have better things to do at night?"

Doe rolls her eyes as she enters. The two men follow.

Owen waits several moments before he opens the door and limps into the darkened hallway. The door snaps shut behind him, and he listens for the voices that echo through the tunnel.

"—at's it to you?" Tanner's voice sounds.

"Oh, nothing," Doe responds with a sharp edge. "I was just wondering what gets in the way of you getting wasted."

Owen limps down the corridor. Peeking around an outcrop, he sees the three of them standing underneath a red emergency light.

"Well, you have the title of slut," Tanner responds. "How many has that been now? You're up to forty-five?"

"Guys!" Ben interrupts. "We have to have each other's backs. We can't keep arguing. I think they want us to turn on each other."

"Look," Tanner says to Ben. "You and I, we don't have an excuse other than drinking. We're in trouble. That whore has a list, though."

Doe huffs. "Grow up and get over the fact I won't sleep with you."

"I don't understand why; your legs are wide open for everyone else," Tanner snaps with a pointed look. "I wonder if you'd have an alibi, though, when they come to question us. I doubt any guy will remember your chubby face or fat thighs. Perhaps if you spread and they take a look at your—"

"You're fired," Owen says, cutting Tanner off. He hobbles toward them and looks at the man. "Pack your shit and get out."

"But, sir—"

"No but, sir. Get the fuck out."

"But she—"

"I don't care if she kicked you in the nuts; you do not talk about a woman in that manner. If you weren't my employee I'd have kicked your ass by now," Owen says and it's a lie. If he wasn't forced to limp around in pain, he'd have broken the man's jaw. If there's one thing he can't stand, it's when a man degrades a woman.

Owen takes a breath and looks at Ben. "Please see Tanner out."

Ben's eyes widen, and he looks to Doe for... something. She provides no comment or indication of what that something is. Swallowing roughly, Ben nods to Tanner. When the man begins walking, Ben follows.

Owen can feel his knees trembling. He's certain there's sweat dripping down his face, but nothing matters. He's feeling as if the world is crashing around him as it turns to hues of grey. There's a buzzing in his ears as if a million honey bees are swarming him.

Suddenly, water is before him, and the world is colorful and quiet again. He's seated on the ground, leaning against the wall. His body doesn't hurt at the moment, and he's grateful.

A person in front of him catches his eye. Owen's eyes slide up to see Doe in front of him. He's surprised because apart from muscular calves, which are hidden behind work boots, he doesn't understand the fat thigh comment Tanner made. Doe isn't a stick skinny girl, and she's got a little weight, but he considers that in the curvy range.

The fact she starts morphing into a giant blue tree monitor is an entirely different story.

"I won't tell anyone you passed out," the monitor's voice hisses softly, holding out the water bottle to him.

Owen accepts the water and looks up at her. He has to squint in order to realize Doe is a person and not a blue tree monitor. "It's all right. I'm alive"

Her brow quirks. "That line might work on Ms. Dearing, but any normal person can see you should be at home resting."

"My girls need me," Owen objects, but his body refuses to move. Instead, he slides to the ground. The cement is cool against his flushed face.

Doe sits next to him. "You were attacked by a raptor, placed into a coma for a month, and haven't given yourself time to recover. Please explain to me how you are of any use to your girls in this condition?"

His gaze settles on her. She's right, and that sucks, but is she also talking about the pill he took? He knows he probably shouldn't have come into work having done that, but it's the only way he can make it through. He shakes his head. She wouldn't know that. Besides, he needs to recover and is really starting to imagine things.

Owen also realizes he doesn't know his staff very well. Maybe he should rectify that. Ben and Doe seem like very capable people.

Swallowing roughly, he rolls onto his side. "I might not seem like the best boss—"

"If you're going to try and make up for that now, please don't."

He barely manages a half smile as she calls him out. She begins to shift into the black and blue beast and he starts to speculate that maybe he's not just affected by the Vicodin. "Look, he shouldn't have spoken to you like that, plain and simple. If I was around—"

Doe holds up a claw. "Hold on. First, I'm thirty and if I can't deal with what some twenty-four-year-old says, then I probably need some amount of therapy. Besides, I called him out on his alcohol problem, so he was defending himself. Second, are you trying to make this about you? I'm the one who gets called names, and you're whining about how you're never around?"

Heat floods his cheeks. "Yeah…I didn't mean—"

There's a sharp ping, and the monitor pulls her phone from her...flesh? She props herself onto her haunches and reaches out for him. "Come on. You need to leave. Ben says Ms. Dearing has arrived. I'm certain you don't want her to see you like this."

"Can monitors walk on two feet?" he whispers with a raised brow.

A claw touches his face. "We need to get you home."

"Okay," he whispers with a nod.

Owen reaches out and takes her claw. She pulls him to his feet, and he uses her as a crutch. He knows it's awkward since the monitor is doing all the work, but his brain is so fuzzy now, he can't right himself—nor does he care to.

"I'm sorry…" he mutters, and he has a lot to be sorry for. Deaths, comments, mistakes… "I don't know what I'm doing…"

Doe stops and looks at him. Her eyes seem to come to a conclusion. "When people are under stress—duress—they are not themselves. Everyone knows you're concerned about your girls' well-being. So, go home, take an entire Vicodin, and sleep until you feel better. Don't come back while you're still this wasted. Recovery is never instantaneous. Look at Blue and Echo, they're modified to heal faster and they're still struggling. You're only human."

The monitor known as Doe sounds so logical, so sane. She reminds him of Ben. Clearly, they're close and probably like-minded. Maybe that's why Ben and Doe hang around each other.

Does Ben know she's a giant lizard? he wonders.

There's a nagging pit in his stomach. He doesn't know what it's from, but due to his inability to even walk right now, Owen bets that sleep will help it go away.

Suddenly, before his eyes, Barry appears. The man rushes to his side and grabs him.

"Come, Owen," he says. "Let's get you home."

Owen would like that. The dark fog is settling around him again.

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

Breath lodges in my throat, and sends my stomach into knots, which causes the animal in there to roar. I'm not sure if it's from a more intense pain or something completely different. I can't find growls, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to roar ever again.

Because it hurts. My body. My chest.

With the way my throat has constricted, it's as if Echo has wrapped her jaws around it and squeezes until I stop living.

The territory suddenly seems too small. It's caving in. There is no escape.

Charlie stands and prods me with her snout. Each poke sends pain through my limbs. I don't know what to do. I just want it to stop.

The leaves shake around me. Suddenly, Delta and Echo are looking down. The latter of the two has tucked her tail between her legs and crouches to the ground. Her eyes are wide, and her nose is flaring.

Delta, on the other claw, stares at me. Her brow is drawn together, while panic floods her eyes. She knows nothing of what I've been thinking lately. I don't growl about it. The fact Alpha abandoned me is not something they need to know. They need to understand we follow him anyway.

All eyes are on me. They expect me to answer.

But I can't. I can't. I can't!

They follow my lead, and I expect them to obey Alpha. That is law. The alpha is the lead. I don't know how I know this, but it seems to have been instilled in me since birth—much like communicating and hunting. These things were once reinforced by Alpha as he often growled to me and taught me how to ambush prey.

Those suns are long gone, but still appear every time I try to sleep. I can't rest. I'm forced to remember, and nothing makes it better. He's left me since we arrived in this new territory. No amount of meat sticks through cold jaws will help that. His rhythmic growls seem so harsh, while he is so far away.

I need to make this stop. I need this to go away. During my life, I've always known touchable things. The flying meat, the fleshlings, my sisters—they are all things I can touch. What is attacking me from within, I can't stop. I can't get to. It seems to be ripping apart my flesh while my skin stays intact.

"I know what hurt feels like," Charlie's soft voice breaks through the silence.

A hiss manages to break through the jaws around my throat. Charlie hasn't seen eight full moons, yet she believes she knows hurt. She cannot understand. She doesn't know what it's like to have your Alpha abandon you. She doesn't know what it's like to lose the pack member you care most about.

Her talons scratch the dirt and she takes a deep breath. "I had a sister… Her name was Fox. She was strong and brave and wise. Everything…everything I'm not."

Echo settles onto her haunches. She seems stiff like a rock. Delta's mouth opens slightly, her tongue can be seen through her parted teeth. They're both curious, as am I.

Charlie never talks about her Hatchling Territory suns.

"Fox was able to pick up on what Daddy taught us, but I always struggled. I didn't understand things the way she did, and she growled me so." It seems as if Charlie has meat stuck in her throat as she tries to swallow. "She growled me that I would never be what Daddy wanted and she would protect me. She promised to always be there for me because I was not what I was meant to be."

Rising from the ground, I settle onto my haunches.

"One day Fox asks me what we are. I didn't understand her at the time. I wasn't sure what she was asking. We were alive." Charlie shakes her head. A soft whimper escapes her throat. "She meant we're not fleshlings, we're not flying meat, we're not white fuzzy meat. So, what are we? What is our purpose? Where do we fit?" Her arms gently rise as it's apparent she still doesn't know. "I couldn't answer her, and Alpha provided no comfort.

"She was sad and confused after that. She changed. When Daddy came in, Fox no longer cared what he wanted. She curled up in a corner and wouldn't respond."

Charlie's tail curls around her. "One day, I found her sleeping…except when I growled to her, she didn't answer. When I touched her, she was cold."

Her breaths come in short pants. She has trouble swallowing again. "Fox, she gave up, because she didn't know where she fit in. She…she gave up, because I wasn't enough. I wasn't worth it."

Silence answers Charlie's story, and she's trying not to gasp for breath. She doesn't whimper or cry. Instead trembles from the top of her head to the tip of her tail rattle her body. Her bright green markings fade to grey.

Delta doesn't move, possibly because she's too overwhelmed. Her eyes are large and round. Her skin darkens. I can feel the panic coming from her.

It's Echo who moves and settles next to me. Her gaze darts between us before her eyes settle on me. Her voice is tough to hear. "What are we?"

All attention shifts to me, and I can't help that my talon starts tapping against the dirt. Swallowing roughly, I'm not sure how to answer. It's apparent by the way Echo questioned that she's asked herself this before.

I look at Delta who's normally so wise and understands things better than the rest of us. She's the one who knows what Kind Hand and Alpha growl to us. She's the one who gives advice. And if she was more aggressive, it would be she who was the beta, not I.

However, my hatch mate seems to be looking at me for answers. She makes it clear by her lack of growl that she isn't sure either.

A slow breath leaves my nose. I can sit here until they call us for meat and sleep wondering all these things, not growling anything, but they'll still be staring at me, waiting for an answer.

An answer I don't have.

My gaze passes over all of them. I think of everything we've been through. Everything I've heard. Everything I've ever dealt with. The question still remains.

What are we?

Suddenly, like the shutting of our cave, I'm struck by what we are. The answer seems so simple. It's always been there, staring me in the eyes like Alpha. It was something I once attributed to just Alpha and me. As I grew, though, Delta became included.

I've been selfish and blinded about it because I wasn't willing to see that Echo and Charlie are part of it, too. And even though Alpha seems like he's so far away, he's right there with us, leading us. Maybe that's the way alphas are supposed to be.

Standing straight, I look at Charlie. Her gaze meets mine. "We are a pack. And that means we're family. All of us." I look at Echo before turning back to Charlie. "Even Alpha."

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