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Welcome...to the Feeding

Chapter 12

Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat (Remix)

There're two.

Their scents are strong, and yet, distinctive from each other. They're something I've never smelled before. I can feel the blood coursing through their veins. Their snorts are loud. As I slide through the bushes, I do everything I can to keep my jaw closed—for more reason than the lure of breathing meat.

Echo shouldn't have attacked. I want to lash out at her, and the animal in my stomach snarls in encouragement. It tells me the fleshlings will be furious. Alpha will be angry.

It is a surprise the fleshlings have opened a new territory for us despite what just occurred. It's a surprise they're letting us hunt meat. They've never allowed this before. It might be a punishment.

Halting, my sister's pause behind. My nose twitches. The meat scent is not as strong. They seem to be further from where we are. My tail twitches as I change course, breaking into a sprint.

My sisters follow.

It's confusing. There's nothing we've been taught that teaches us how to act and respond to each other in this situation. The closest has been a similar game with Alpha before, and the reward was stick meat. This is much different, though. Something living exists in this new territory. Something we must hunt. Something that is now very close.

Lowering towards the ground, I slow my trot. Delta breaks right as Charlie and Echo bank left. In half a breath, they're lost in the bushes; the sounds of their talons disappear entirely.

Peering through the bush, my head tilts slightly to the left. The dark furry beasts are much larger than the white furries from the silver cave. My tongue runs across my lips without my permission. The strong sound of their hearts pumping blood causes the creature in my stomach to snarl.

My snout pokes through. One looks up at me, fear in its dark eyes. It doesn't move. However, I'm confused by what I see.

My sisters and I have color in our eyes; Alpha has color in his. This furry creature, though, already looks dead. Its eyes display its fear, but there's something already dead about it.

A shriek from the right catches my attention, and a green flash lunges into view. It takes down the furry looking at me. Blood fills my sense. I lick my lips with a soft growl. My feet stomp against the ground.

The other furry cries out but doesn't get the chance to move. A brown flash has slammed into it, pinning it down.

I trot into the clearing, pleased to see Delta and Echo have taken the lead. Charlie enters a bit slower and walks to the furry Delta has pinned down. She scents and approaches its head, eliciting a growl from Delta. Charlie bears her teeth with a hiss in response before snapping her jaws around the furry's neck and tugging its throat out. She then allows Delta to slit the furry's stomach and eat before she begins to tear away chunks of flesh. I find her behavior odd but don't question it.

Walking to Echo, her longer talon slits the stomach and she drops her head. Her teeth eagerly sink into the flesh, blood smearing her jaws and head. Echo pays no mind to the whimpers from the furry. I, on the other claw, look at its head.

Nothing will ever keep me from meat. It is the source of life. I cannot keep breathing without it. While I have had not-meat before and find it tasty, warm flesh is what I desire above all else. There is something about it that seems to give life.

In spite of this, I can feel the suffering of the big furry. My talon taps. These things are alive, just like us, but not. They look like living dead. I do not understand and approach the head. It deserves a better death. It is giving us its life, and I am grateful for the furry's sacrifice.

I understand Charlie's move now. Perhaps she feels the suffering as well. It takes nothing for my teeth to rip its throat out and causing its suffering to stop. The taste of warm blood has me snapping at Echo with a growl. She backs up with a hiss, startled.

With head buried in the inner belly, the flesh is hot in my mouth. My stomach roars in encouragement. Claws scratch against muscle and string as I slash under the bone cage. It's there I find my target. My teeth sink into the heart. A growl escapes my throat as I yank it from its creature.

Blood.

Meat.

Flesh.

Heat.

By the time the bones are picked clean, the animal in my stomach is silent.

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

Owen's never been to Winston's Steakhouse in his almost 18 months on Isla Nublar and isn't sure if he wants to be on the island at all. He was hoping for a ferry to the mainland—especially since that was basically promised. He was hoping for a pub to drink away the earlier events. Apparently, though, nothing was going to work out for him today.

This place was Claire's idea. She sits across from him now, still all prim and proper like a poodle. At least she's changed from those hideous skirt suits into a slinky dress. He's not entirely sure why she's dressed that way, but it's comforting to know she relaxes a tiny bit. A soft smile has replaced her normally serious face as she reads the menu.

Swallowing roughly, Owen can't pull his eyes from the prices. While he makes really good money, he still views fifty-six dollars for a filet mignon as expensive. It reminds him of the sixty-five-dollar T-Rex toy Blue wanted when she was a baby.

Claire pauses to look at her phone. "It must be a nice feeling to know that your assets are being fed."

Owen nods as he tries to decide which appetizer he wants. Normally, he would find something adventurous to eat, something filling. However, with how the rest of the day has been going, that's probably not something he should attempt—especially when a lot of money is on the line.

"Have you always wanted to train animals?"

He looks up at her. "No. I haven't dealt with animals in years. Didn't have much time for that in the Navy."

Okay, so part of that's a lie. Yes, he was busy, but he could have gotten an animal when he was with his ex. Probably a good thing he hadn't, all things considered. Not only had he become houseless and fiancée-less, but he would have lost the dog, too.

"I wonder what they saw in you," she comments and watches the waiter approach.

Owen's brow furrows, and Claire orders some beetroot salad—whatever the hell that is—while he's trying to puzzle through what she meant. It isn't until after he orders fried calamari that he tries to speak. Only, he doesn't get a word in since she's playing with her phone again.

"So," she starts, looking up from the screen. "Is there a reason you're wearing board shorts?"

Sitting back, he gives a nod. "It's hot here."

Her lips purse and he sees questions in her eyes. She shakes her head and checks her phone again. "Hopefully they can have the food out here in the next ten minutes."

"Why?"

"Otherwise, we'll be off schedule."

He crosses his arms as the front legs of his chair come off the ground, and he balances on the back two. "What schedule?"

"Well, dinner will last an hour and a half which you'll pay for since you're a gentleman. From here, we'll go to Margaritaville for a drink. After you pay for us there, we'll have some time in which we can go back to my place and see where that will lead. Of course, depending on time, we might only have a few minutes to no more than an hour."

Owen can feel his jaw hanging like a broken nutcracker. He's grasping for words, but all he can wonder is if this is a date.

Did Claire really plan out a date? Did she really have an itinerary of what needs to be done and when? Did she really think this was a good idea after two of his employees were attacked earlier?

And if she thought something was going to happen at her place, did she really think he could accomplish it in minutes?

Well…

That explains her look over his board shorts.

He doesn't comment—can't comment—and he's stuck wishing there was something other than her choice of white wine in front of him. It can't be. She wouldn't be—couldn't be—that disassociated with others' emotions. This couldn't be a date. He's just jumping to conclusions in light of earlier.

"I need a shot of Tequila," he finally croaks out.

"Too many calories," she responds.

"What?! Who cares about calories?"

"I do since I'm on a diet."

It's then and there he decides to get some stuff off his chest. "Claire…"

"Yes, Owen."

"A few things," he says and takes a breath. "First, I could have sworn you said we were going to the mainland."

"Oh, I figured this place was easier to access and better suited."

While attempting to keep a straight face, his muscles are threatening mutiny. "What does that mean?"

"That we'll have more time for the other things planned."

"Riiiight…" Owen bites his tongue momentarily. "That leads me to my next question. Why is there an itinerary?"

Her eyes widen as if she thinks he's gone mad. "So, we don't get off track. We have to stick to the schedule."

"What schedule?"

She huffs. "Date night, of course."

And that's when his face mutinies against his better intentions. His brow lifts, nose scrunches, eyes widened, head tilts to the side. His jaw slacks, and he can't even begin to form words.

What in the hell just happened?

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

The sun disappears behind the surrounding rock. Soft chirps form as the sky turns black. Charlie has found herself attached to me. Her head darts back and forth as soft whimpers escape her.

"Why aren't they calling us?" she asks.

I don't know how to answer. It's been a while since I've seen the dark sky. The moon has always been something of beauty in my mind as are the little, white suns. With a deep breath, the night air relaxes my muscles. It will be nice to sleep under the moon.

Earlier, I ran the perimeter with Delta while Echo and Charlie explored within.

We discovered we are alone in a much wider area. The territory allows us to sprint and hide without fear of the fleshlings watching. For all the trouble they've caused lately, this is a nice treat.

Trotting to a large rock, I leap up and circle several times before laying down. This will be a good place to sleep tonight. It's so different from my cave, and with a stomach full of food, I can't imagine things could get any better. For the first time since the Hatchling Territory, I'm not worried. Perhaps I'll sleep without the not-real happenings.

"Are the fleshlings going to punish us?"

My head lifts as Charlie lands on the rock. She sits on her haunches with wide eyes on me.

"Is this to hurt us?"

I roll onto my back and stretch my talons toward the moon. "Char, relax. I do not think this is bad. We have a larger territory now."

"But we've never been left out during the moon here."

With a shake of my head, I flex my claws toward the moon. "You need to sleep. You're coming up with crazy ideas."

When Delta hops on the rock, I realize my resting spot is too large. She looks down at me. "She could be right."

"Look, listens-to-others'-growls-while-hiding, you two can go cower in the bushes while I sleep under the moon and little suns," I growl.

"You're not the least bit concerned?" questions Delta.

Snorting, I roll onto my side. "My stomach is full, I'm not trapped in a cave, I can run as fast as I'd like, and I refuse to let anything ruin that. Besides, if fleshlings enter the territory now, it's much easier to stalk and kill them."

Delta hesitates before circling and laying down next to me. "Then you can protect me."

My head perks up. "I didn't say you could sleep here. I said go hide in the bushes."

Her raised brow is a challenge and I snarl. If she thinks she's going to win this, she's wrong. Delta needs to take a closer look at Echo and see what happens to those who challenge me—

When Charlie's head flops against my stomach, I know I've lost the battle. It's only moments before Echo lands on the rock, circles and lays down next to me. Sighing, my eyes roll up to the moon.

I should have chosen a smaller rock.

"You know," Delta growls softly. "We wouldn't be half as worried—"

"You wouldn't be," I point out and watch a tiny bright sun fly across the sky.

"Two of us," she snaps, "wouldn't be half as worried if the other hadn't nearly killed the fleshling today."

Oddly enough, it's not Echo who responds to Delta's issue. It's me, and my snarl sends Charlie leaping from the rock.

I'm up in an instant, glaring down at her. "We were all starving."

Delta rises, but I straighten up to keep my height over her. "She didn't have to attack the fleshling. This may be a punishment for that."

"I would have eaten him had I the chance," I snarl.

"We've been hungry for a while."

"And now we're not."

Delta snorts before leaping off the rock and trotting into the bushes.

Shaking my head, a sigh leaves my lips. Fighting with Delta is not something that happens often. It's something we try to avoid. In this case, it's a sad necessity. As many mistakes as Echo has made in the past, today's earlier attack is understandable…to an extent.

"Thank you."

My head swings round and I hiss. "What was that earlier?"

Echo's risen to her feet and she takes a slight step back. "W-What?"

The confusion in her soft growl is apparent, but the feelings of my fight with Delta are starting to rise. "The fleshling. Why did you attack?"

"He was meat. Meat was on the jaws. I was starving."

"But you attacked them without my permission."

Echo shakes her head and momentarily flashes her teeth as her tail swishes. "We didn't know meat was coming. He was there—"

"I knew," I growl. "That's why you always wait for my lead."

"But you attacked him with me," she growls softly.

"I told you to get back!"

Echo's face scrunches and she is clearly trying not to snarl. "The male I attacked is not kind. I did not think he mattered."

My building anger vanishes as my head tilts to the side. "What?"

With a clenched mouth, Echo looks away. She lowers to her haunches.

"Echo?"

"He's not kind," Charlie whimpers as she enters the clearing again. After a few breaths, she hops back onto the rock. "He's come with lightning sticks in the middle of the moon. When Delta killed the others for meat while Echo and you were away, she was really trying to kill him."

"Delta knows he's cruel?"

Charlie nods.

That's odd since she was angry with Echo. Perhaps she wanted to kill him herself. That would make sense. Regardless... "But Meat Bringer…"

Echo looks at me. "Who?"

"Meat Bringer. They were at the gate today. In the attack."

Charlie shakes her head. "I don't know who that is."

"They would bring meat at night for me to eat."

Echo shakes her head. "I've never received any."

"Blue… What's going on?" Charlie growls.

Several long breaths pass. Nothing makes sense. Are Meat Bringer and the male the same fleshling? It can't be. Meat Bringer smelled like the female at the gate. However, while my sisters have been plagued by the lightning stick, I've been receiving food. So, perhaps it has been the male and he's giving me meat. If that's the case, why? And does Alpha know?

｡.•°•.｡ɹǝƃunH｡.•°•.｡

A date.

A date!

A date!

How in the hell could she have thought that was a good idea?

As Owen downs another shot of Tequila, he sighs. The long day has been nothing but torture and mistake after mistake.

He now sits in a corner of the bar at Sunrio Tequila Bar and Mexican Restaurant. It's been famous at Jurassic World since it's open all day allowing you can get drunk and go dinosaur watching. Who thought this was a good idea and why is not quite a reasoning level Owen is at. If he has a few more shots, he might be able to understand.

A date, he groans inwardly. He should have seen it coming. He should have understood.

Owen rests his head down on the smooth, wooden bar. After the world's longest day, there has to be some sort of end. Something positive has to come around. A day can't suck this bad and not have a light at the end of the tunnel.

However, getting hit by the train that's most likely coming down the tunnel is not something he's eager to reach.

The bartender gives him another shot. "You look like you need it, amigo."

"More than you think," Owen responds.

Looking at the shot, he's grateful for this little joy-bringer. It will help him get to bed and maybe have a little fun before then.

He's about to down it when he hears the bartender talking to a man a few seats down. They're speaking in Spanish, and while Owen knows a decent amount of the language now, it's still too quick for him to catch everything.

From what he gathers, the man is telling a story of La Segua and a supposedly recent sighting.

Owen's heard La Segua a few times. The seductress is described as a beautiful, Snow White-looking woman seeking men who like to party and would take advantage of a "vulnerable" female. She'll wait for them to leave the bar before approaching and asking for a ride home because she's tired.

After she gets her ride, the story differs from person to person. Some say the unlucky man turns to her to discover she suddenly has the face of a horse and bloodshot eyes. Others say she strikes up a conversation, asks for a cigarette, and when they look at her, her face is a bloody and bony horse head with fire coming out of the eyes and yellow teeth. He's even heard once or twice that men have made it to a few bases, despite her protests before she reveals her horse head.

In some ways, he thinks it sounds like a Craigslist horror story.

Owen's still half listening as he downs the shot of Tequila, and it's not long after that the man finishes his tale and leaves.

With dawn a few hours off, Owen rises from the bar. He's suddenly overcome by the need to see Ben. The man was put in the park hospital earlier. His injuries looked extensive. He was in surgery at some point. Owen wonders if he's alive or not.

Staggering out of Sunrio, he stumbles down the path, running into a garbage can—which he apologizes to. The hospital is far from where he is, and it's going to be slow going.

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