Warning!: Hinted rape.
I didn't feel like upping the rating to Mature (yet), so it's implied/hinted.
I was going to write this chapter about E and the Indoraptor and/or Ank, but it became about Blue and E's former pack.
As it stands, I own all these shitty animals characters except for Blue and the Indoraptor.
The main song I listened to whilst writing this chapter was Every Breath You Take by The Police (Cover by Chase Holfelder).
Blue was accustomed to being alone. All those years on the island without her sisters conditioned her to be more ruthless, more competitive, and more aggressive in order to survive. Because showing weakness was as good as being dead.
Aggression to mask weakness.
Aggression to mask fear.
Aggression sprung from desperation, and the will to survive.
Aggression sprung from defensiveness, and the will to protect.
From being alone for so long, Blue forgot how to socialize.
The grey and blue striped raptor forgot what it was like to be in a group to survive.
She forgot what it was like to be in a group that was no family.
That was not her sisters.
That was not her human alpha.
This raptor that she saw was different.
He smelled different.
He carried the scents of strangers.
He looked upon her with interest, and curiosity.
A fleeting moment of weakness in his observation.
It was enough for Blue to strike.
A moment was all she needed.
In all her desperation and loneliness, Blue forgot.
She forgot how to be what she once was.
She was no longer an animal that relied upon a pack.
She was an apex predator.
In the moment the green raptor took to study the female newcomer, was the exact same moment Blue used to shriek in rage, and leap upon her target, killing claws poised.
Bravo did not expect such aggression from a female outsider, and thus was not anticipating an attack. The green scaled male was knocked to the ground, feeling one of Blue's killing claw jab deep into his thigh. A shriek of pain was severed by Blue's jaws snapping his maw shut, her muscles straining and tensing as she worked on ripping her embedded claw from his damaged flesh.
The male raptor flailed and struggled, the legs unable to twist and properly get at his attacker. A rush of blood gushed from his nares and flooded his throat-Blue's jaws clamping down with such force, Bravo's sinuses were crushed. A spray of liquid sanguine spritzed from his damaged nostrils and spouted passed his scaled lips, his calls for aid distorted and hampered.
A sudden, forceful slash of Bravo's taloned hands to Blue's face was enough to make the female let go. The grey and blue striped raptor released a shriek in pain, golden eye and a side of her scaled head sporting deep lacerations, warm blood running from her wound. The clamping of powerful jaws upon one of her hands was enough to send Blue's cries of pain into a whole nother octave.
The female shrieked shrilly, and soon found herself twisting and turning against the green male's rising body.
As the male rose, the female fell, Blue now upon her back, powerful hind legs tensing and slashing to guard herself. It was a guard the male knew how to break-for Bravo made sure to position himself so Blue's legs could be pinned, and rendered hapless. Knowing how to break guard was useful, if one knew how. Successfully executing such breaks, however, was rather difficult for the male due to his already injured leg.
Though Blue was lacking muscle mass due to lack of food, she was still powerful, and not one to be pushed around.
The attempts to break her guard failed as her struggles and thrashing sent the larger male off balance-and it was an opportunity that Blue took to her advantage.
Her taloned toes gripped the rival male's leg's, and with a powerful twist of her hips and kick of her legs-Bravo was thrown off to the side in a shriek, and was flung to the ground. The grey and blue striped female used the inertia of her movement to roll onto her belly, and hoist herself to her clawed feet, golden eyes sharp and teeth bared in a shrill scream.
A hoarse, strained hiss ruptured from Bravo's throat, saliva spraying as he spat towards the female in warning. The green male struggled to rise with his injury, and extended his taloned claws and powerful legs from his side lying position. He was vulnerable.
And she knew it.
Years of being alone taught Blue many things.
It taught her how to be aggressive.
Independent.
Survival.
But in learning to rely upon herself, being alone, Blue forgot many things.
She forgot that the attack would not come from the front.
But from the side.
She would have killed him.
She would have pounced.
She would have cut open his underbelly with a single slice of her killing claw.
She would have fed upon his intestines while he was still alive.
But she didn't.
Because Blue was so focused upon the raptor in front of her, she did not notice the raptor coming from the side.
Blue would have rasped in start had the breath not been knocked out of her, the female roughly falling to the ground, scales bruising as they brushed against harsh gravel and sharp rock. A weight was upon her, and the sharp pain of a taloned foot was upon her scaled neck, pinning her down.
Blue's eyes opened wide, pupils dilating in sudden terror and flicking, attempting to see the second raptor that was upon her. The female attempted to twist and turn her body, muscles straining. She attempted to fight. She attempted to rise. Her fear carried her forward, ever onward, governed by the beating of her panicked heart.
Another male raptor was upon Blue, scales a rustic hue, a mix of earth and sanguine. His golden eyes met her own, his circular pupils shrinking and collapsing into small pin pricks. Blue could see her own reflection in his eyes. She could see her own fear.
And she could see the sadistic malice that gleamed within his own, reflecting her fear.
Bravo rose to his feet, breath hitching slightly from the pain within his leg. He now sported an injured limp. Shaking himself, Bravo then turned his gaze towards the strange female, and Rust-the pack alpha. The green male's attention was refocused to two other raptors approaching, chittering among themselves, wary and alert.
One was white.
The other was grey.
Winter and Storm.
Brother and sister, always together and never apart.
Winter warbled her head, a quiet chitter escaping her in confusion. Her brother cocked his head, curious about the new comer, yet dared not approach.
After all, the new female harmed one of their own, and Rust was currently dealing with her.
No one challenged Rust.
No one.
Bravo looked upon Blue, nares flaring and clawed fingers clenching and unclenching. He was curious of this female, but like the others, did not bother to approach.
Did not bother to challenge their alpha.
Because no one wanted to be the next target.
No one wanted to be the next E.
The play thing to the alpha.
Blue was terrified.
She was so used to being alone, she almost forgot what it meant to be with others of her kind.
She missed her sisters.
She was never scared with her sisters.
But being with a bunch of strangers?
That was scary.
And being the outsider of a pack?
Blue was not used to that.
She was not used to any of this.
Blue's golden eyes briefly flicked to the others-the others of her kind. A rasp escaped her. A desperate call, a pleading call.
Because she forgot how to call for help.
She was too scared to remember.
All three of the pack members looked upon her.
All three moved not.
Blue then felt male's weight shift upon her, and hold her down.
He began to mount her.
The grey and blue striped female's heart pounded frantically within her chest, chest heaving and breath quivering.
She then remembered through the fear.
She remembered how to call-plead-for help.
In a desperate, shrill, hoarse call, Blue cried out.
Cried out for help.
Cried out for aid.
Cried out for her sisters.
Help never came.
Aid never arrived.
Her sisters did not come, as much as she envisioned they would.
The three just turned away, and carried out their business.
Everything was a blur to Blue afterwards. The chittering and social calls of the pack blurred and merged into inaudible noises within her ears. Her mind was in a haze, and everything just didn't feel real.
As if she was not here, in this situation.
Surrounded by a pack of strangers that had no qualms with harming her.
The grey and blue striped female did not bother to rise from her position upon the ground, fearing it would draw attention from Rust.
The earthen red hued male was brutal in their forced copulation. Blue sported wounds from his teeth biting into her neck and clamping her jaws shut, attempting to make the female cease her pleas. She had scratches upon her shoulders and flanks. But the pain felt worse between her legs. As hard as Blue attempted to shift, and rise when she was sure the alpha male was not looking, she struggled. It felt like something was broken inside.
Blue was hurt, and she was scared.
And despite her terror, Blue decided to do nothing.
As much as she wanted to call for her sisters, they were not going to come.
She could call them as much as she wanted.
They would never come.
And the others would not help.
They would just turn away again.
For now, the pack seemed to accept the newcomer's presence, or at least tolerate her. Blue was quite lucky she was not killed.
All things considered, it could have been much worse.
There was then movement from the pack, a new surge of energy, beckoned by the call of Rust. The pack was leaving to hunt.
Storm and Winter answered their alpha's call, and began to follow the larger male, scampering off into the woods. Bravo did not leave. He could not-not with the injuries Blue gave him.
He would only be a hindrance.
Blue would not be the only one that would go without a meal for the time being.
The time the pack was gone seemed to drag on longer and longer. Blue did not bother to rise. She did not bother to look upon the green male whose forest scales were accented with gold. She did nothing, except tend to her wounds.
Bravo chose not to look upon the blue striped female, a clawed hand pawing at his snout, as if attempting to wipe the pain away. Droplets of blood lay upon the ground where he spit up the liquid, which ran from his nose and down his throat. At least for now the bleeding seemed to stop.
The green male's curiosity, however, got the better of him, his scaled neck craning and head swiveling towards the strange female. Bravo's head warbled, a quiet chitter of thought escaped the male. Though the female may have attacked and injured him so, he was still interested in Blue.
Where did she come from?
Where was her pack?
Why did she attack him?
The female that was so ruthless from before-now seemed broken. Fearful. Hopeless.
Like prey trapped in a predator's nest.
Bravo assumed that was how the new female felt. Alone, surrounded by strangers. Alone, not knowing who to trust.
Perhaps she was Rust's mate now? Or perhaps the alpha was just using the female? Breaking her spirit? Letting her know who was truly in charge? Bravo did not know. He just knew to never challenge Rust.
After all, it was not his place to go against the alpha. Not when other members of the pack could turn upon him as well.
Things could have gotten a lot uglier than they did with the blue striped female.
Very. Ugly.
Despite the wounds she gave him, Bravo did not hold any grudges towards the newcomer.
He was far too curious, after all, and the female was far too interesting.
Thus, the silence between the pair was broken by Bravo, the green male accented with golden scales producing a rasp to get Blue's attention-however nasally. The male's call was distorted due to his crushed nares, but even so, he decided it best to attempt to form a rapport with this new female.
Because a raptor couldn't have too many friends, right?
Bravo waited for a response, a quiet chitter escaping him from his position upon the ground.
Blue did not answer him.
She did not even look upon him.
Her golden eyes were adverted, posture wooden, as if she were fearful of the strange noise that was coming out of the green male, or fearing of an attack.
Bravo's killing claws twitched, and his head cocked to the right in thought. A second call in greeting escaped him, just as nasally and hoarse as before.
This time, Blue craned her neck, uninjured eye facing towards the forest hued male. Her pupils were dilated, her injured eye red and swollen from Bravo's claws. The bite marks upon her snout and jaw were vibrant against her dull scales. Her amber hued eyes flicked, looking upon Bravo, studying his posture for any sign of ill intent. Rather than looking tense and ready to fight, Bravo appeared lax and calm, chest heaving with even breath.
The green raptor's eyes lit up upon having Blue look in his direction. A glimmer of hope, perhaps? Upon getting the blue striped sister's attention, Bravo released a series of friendly clicks, tail swaying ever so gently against the ground.
Blue cocked her head, a confused, quiet chitter escaping her. A noise she had not made in quite a long time. She did not understand. Why was this male not attempting to harm her, after what she did to him? If he sought a new companion, why did he stand idol whilst she was forced to mate with the larger male?
Anger flared at the recollection, and Blue peeled her scaled lips back into a snarl, teeth bared in threat. But as soon as the anger appeared, it fled, and gave way to fear. Fear of what happened before would happen again. Blue then ceased the baring of her teeth, scaled lips pressing shut, a concerned rumble riveting from her throat. Her body began to shrink, limbs folding under her body.
She was not looking for a fight.
She did not want to be hurt again.
Bravo cocked his head to the left, a series of confused clicks trickling from his scaled maw. A claws hands idly pawed at his injured snout once more, pupils briefly dilating. A rasp escaped Bravo, and a chortle of questioning chitters escaped him. A noise of confusion. A noise of interest. A noise of concern.
Blue's golden eyes remained locked upon the green male's form, grey scaled head warbling in thought. Debating, questioning his intentions. Then, for the first time in a long time, Blue produced a noise that was not made in threat, or anger, or fear in the presence of a threat.
She answered Bravo's questioning chitter with a soft trill of her own, which ended with a pattern of clicks of the tongue.
For the first time in a long time, Blue produced a noise that was made for a companion, and a potential friend.
She forgot how good it felt to be able to communicate with another.
When the siblings and alpha finally returned, no food was brought to the injured pair.
There would be no mercy for those who could not provide for themselves.
Not with Rust around.
This was made evident by Bravo having caught a slow moving lizard as a meal, impaled upon his killing claw.
Rust stole the kill right off his pack member's claw, and devoured the small morsel for himself.
The health of the pack did not matter so long as Rust was fed.
They were all just his play things.
He just needed an excuse.
The next day the pack went out to hunt, Bravo left as well. Despite his injury, the male needed to ensure he ate, lest he became weaker.
The green male produced a trill for Blue to come, to follow, to join in the hunt.
She did not move.
Bravo waited as the pack moved on beyond the nesting site, and produced another call to beckon the female to join.
Once more, Blue did not get up. The blue striped sister did not feel as if she were a part of the pack.
She did not feel comfortable, nor safe. Not with the alpha nearby.
Bravo waited, until he decided he could not wait no more. The green raptor with golden accents left to join the hunt, leaving Blue alone once more.
Blue found that as much as she missed being apart of the pack, she missed being alone.
At least in being alone, it meant she was safe from being hurt.
Being in a pack so different made Blue miss her sisters.
The pack returned later in the day, returning with the spoils of raiding the nest of prey. The eggs were large, and were sure to be a hearty meal. If Blue had to guess, they were from one of the larger prey beasts with frills and horns.
Each raptor came with two eggs-one held within the jaws, the other held within the claws. And each guarded their prizes with greed.
Winter and Storm trotted off, and settled down near the base of a tree with soft bedding to feed. The brother and sister began to crack open an egg each, and began to feed, egg yolk and fluid coating their maws.
Bravo pattered off, and settled down closest to Blue, briefly looking upon the last surviving sister, before beginning to crack open his meal.
All of the pack members made a conscious effort to avoid a gorging Rust, who was feasting upon the eggs with the ferocity of a starving animal. The pack ate swiftly-trying to devour faster than their alpha.
They were not fast enough.
Rust was upon Winter faster than the female could react, the white raptor shrieking in panic and being thrown to the ground. Storm released an enraged scream at his sister being attacked, though dared not move to avenge this assault.
After all, Rust was not interested in his sister. He was interested in stealing Winter's uneaten egg-which the alpha was swift to scoop up in his jaws, and crack.
Winter shook herself as she recovered, and spat with an angry hiss, though did not try to take back her food.
The risk was not worth it.
Bravo watched the display, a noise of concern escaping him. But it did not stop the forest hued raptor from rolling his second egg towards Blue with his snout.
It was an opportunity that could not be wasted.
Not while Rust's attention was focused elsewhere.
Blue looked upon the large egg that rolled up against her arm, golden eyes flicking to Bravo, then to the alpha and the unhappy siblings, then to Bravo again.
Blue produced a noise of appreciation, before giving into her hunger.
Hunger was a primal thing.
A primal need to survive.
And like always, E was driven apart from her armored packmate to hunt once more.
E was more wary now, for she knew the larger raptor creature was nearby, hunting, stalking. Though he did not harm her before, she was rather cautious as to what a second encounter would bring. But, at the same time, E felt as if she desired another encounter. Another encounter with one of her kind, but not.
It was a bit like Ank.
E liked Ank.
Ank tolerated her, and they tried to communicate.
Tried, being the keyword.
Still, it was something, and E was quite grateful for that something.
Unlike other times when E would go out and wander, and try to hunt-things were different.
Ank was waddling behind, not too far, but not too close.
Either her armored friend grew to like her company, or both were simply drawn in by the same curiosity that their senses led them to-a most tantalizing, yet strange scent. E was unsure what it was, but she hoped it was food.
E found what was the source of the strange scent, but it was something she never saw before.
It was a campsite.
And it was occupied.
I wanted to develop Blue a bit, and show a wee bit more parallels.
I set the last section of this chapter up for next chapter, since I did plan for E to encounter humans, and for the raptor characters to eventually be hunted down because they're a dangerous and invasive species (but more so dangerous). As much as humans can certainly be a threat, I want to eventually portray that gut instinct that mammals are prey, so the tables can easily be turned.
And having a cat and mouse kind of thing between E, the Indoraptor and a few hunters seems fun to write. :D
Though I do think in time E and/or the Indoraptor would meet E's former pack (with Blue). Because drama. I'm never sure what genre to tag by damn stories. I feel like they have a mix of genres. Same thing goes with character tags. D:
Sorry not sorry for what I did to Blue for the sake of drama and character development.
Regardless, thank you for reading and stay safe!
And hopefully a chapter just dedicated to Ank the Tank in the future because I'll need a few entertaining/non serious chapters!