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September 17th, 2015
10:23 am
Steve's POV
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I stood up on the catwalk that stretched over a section of the raptor paddock, watching as Charlie and Delta chased each other around the enclosure. Echo had disappeared into the forest about fifteen minutes ago, as she usually did. Blue had just been roaming around aimlessly for the time being, which all were common of each of the raptors. I chuckled.
Even though they were all grown up now, they all acted the same as they did when they were young. This would be my third summer working at the park with Owen, me now 18 and having graduated high school. I had been contemplating either going to college to study sound design or stay and work at the park. Ultimately, I decided to work at the park full time as a raptor trainer, which paid a decent amount of money. I was actually just as crucial as Owen was to training these raptors, especially since Blue and I have such a bond. I was more than happy to keep doing this, interacting with these raptors was something I enjoy.
I was keeping an eye on the raptors while Owen had to go attend some duties in another area of the park. Usually me and Owen would make conversation while we would watch them, but without him I was left bored. You can only watch raptors chase each other for so long. I began singing to myself out of boredom, singing a song from one of my favorite rock bands.
Something's getting in the way
Something's just about to break
I will try to find my place
In the diary of Jane
So, tell me
How it should be?
As I sang, Charlie and Delta had no reaction to me whatsoever. What did surprise me was that Blue had ceased her aimless wandering and trotted over to the part of the enclosure nearest me on the catwalk. She looked at up at me and squawked before happy chirps resonated from her. I smiled.
"Hey there Blue! Whatcha doing?" I asked with a smile, Blue squawking before beginning to walk away. I chuckled, deciding that she just wanted to say hi. I began singing the chorus of the song again, Blue immediately turning around and approaching me again. I raised my eyebrows in realization.
"Oh...you like my singing don't you?" I asked Blue, who made a bunch of happy chirps as she gazed at me expectantly. I laughed and began to sing the entirety of the song, singing right to the blue-striped raptor below me. She continued to make chirping noises, seeming to enjoy my singing. After I finished the song, Blue gave a final squawk before returning to her aimless roaming. I just stood still with shock, barely able to comprehend what just happened. I knew that Blue was very intelligent for a raptor, but to recognize and enjoy singing? It's not like she's a bird, even though she squawks like one. It was simply incredible.
As I was staring at Blue wandering around, I heard the engine of a vehicle grow near. I jogged across the catwalk to the walkway that ran on top of the outer walls of the paddock, eager to tell Owen my new discovery. When I made it to the front of the enclosure, I saw a white pickup truck pull up. Owen stepped out of the truck, shoving the keys into his jeans pocket.
"Uncle Owen! You need to see this!" I exclaimed with excitement, Owen rolling his eyes as he smiled.
"What? You're gonna make me climb up there?" He whines playfully, my turn to roll my eyes.
"Oh come on, you're the in shape one here. Get up here, I found out something cool." I persisted, Owen sighing.
"Okay, okay. Fine. I'll see what you found out." Owen climbed up top with me, the two of us walking to the spot I had been previously as I explained what happened.
"I was watching them from right here, Blue was all the way on the other end of the paddock near the wall. I got a little bored so I started singing to myself. When I started singing, Blue came over to me and started listening and chirping." I explained, Owen looking at me with a doubtful expression.
"Bullshit. You're fucking with me." Owen said with a knowing grin. I raised my hands up in a defensive manner.
"I swear! Watch." I said, noting where Blue was. I found her next to the tree line, walking along it like she had been walking along the wall. I began singing again, Blue's head immediately perking up and turning in our direction. She squawked and immediately trotted over to us again, chirping and tilting her head from side to side as she stared at me. I smiled and turned to Owen, all while continuing to sing. He looked at Blue with wide eyes before looking at me.
"I...I actually have no words for this. How in the hell did you train her to do that?" Owen asked me. I stopped singing, Blue immediately going back to whatever she was doing.
"I didn't train her to do that. It just...happened. I guess she likes my singing." I said, laughing. Owen still didn't seem convinced.
"There's no way she just did that on her own. You had to!" He said suspiciously, me shaking my head.
"I swear! How in the ever living hell could I train her when I'm only here when you are? This was the first time you left me here alone." I pointed out, Owen seeming to finally realize.
"Oh...right." He said with defeat, debunking the possibility of this whole thing being a prank.
"Blue just keeps surprising us, doesn't she?" I asked, looking at Blue as she began squawking at Charlie and Delta.
"More like you and Blue both keep surprising me." Owen said, me looking at him with a cocked eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"You have a relationship with Blue that no one else has. It's nothing short of amazing. Since day one she's liked you, much more than the others." Owen told me, his words true. Blue had an apparent bond with me, that much was obvious.
"What do you think Blue considers me to her? I mean, you're the alpha, and she's the beta. What would that make me?" I asked him, genuinely confused.
"I don't know, Steve. She obviously doesn't treat you like she treats Echo, Delta, and Charlie. She must think you're another beta, since you help me like she does." Owen explained, which made sense in the terms of packs of animals. That, however, didn't explain the gentleness, concern, and overall protectiveness she felt towards me.
"But what about the reason she likes my singing? Or how she immediately comes up to me and nuzzles my hand? And how last time I was in there she even nuzzled my face? Dinosaurs don't do that type of thing with humans, no dinosaur that I've seen anyway." I pointed out to him, Owen thinking for a moment before smiling.
"You know what? I think I know what's going on here." Owen began, smirking at me. I motioned for him to continue, becoming impatient.
"Well? Are you going to tell me or what?" I asked, clearly curious.
"She displays signs of affection towards you, especially since she actually nuzzled your head last time. I think she might have the hots for you, kiddo." Owen laughed, my forehead creasing out of confusion.
"Hots for...Oh my god, she thinks I'm her mate." I finally realized. "B-But how did this happen? I mean, she couldn't of thought that when she was younger. Raptors wouldn't be thinking of possible mates that young in age." I pointed out, Owen shrugging.
"You did only come for a few months before leaving for school again. It wasn't a long enough time for her to forget you, but maybe it was enough for her to forget that you were there when she was a baby. Maybe then she saw you as a mate instead of a parental figure. I'm just guessing, I could be talking out of my ass." Owen further explained.
"All I know is that she is showing signs of intimacy." I stared at him before looking down at Blue in the paddock. Blue seemed to play fighting with Delta, which was a common thing for them. I suddenly laughed.
"What?" Owen asked me, and I just looked at him again.
"Funny that I got a raptor to fall in love with me before a human." I said jokingly, Owen letting out a hearty laugh.
"That might be absolutely hilarious, but the fact that you managed to get a dinosaur to love you is incredible. I don't think there's any other example of that anywhere." Owen smiled genuinely. I could definitely tell he meant what he was saying.
"It's a very rare thing to happen, I'm sure. It really shows just how special Blue is." I said, very much in awe at the blue-striped raptor.
"And how special you are too, Steve." Owen told me, which shocked me.
"Me? How am I special?" I asked, not seeing what he meant.
"Blue had to be attracted to you somehow. She isn't exactly nuzzling every human she sees. There's something about you that she likes." Owen pointed out, me about to counter with a statement that denied myself being special in any way when I realized that he was right.
"Yeah...you're right. I don't know what I have that other people don't, but she likes it." I said, accepting the fact that I might be more special that I perceive myself to be.
"Well, besides that blue hair you insist on keeping, I don't know either." Owen said, poking fun at my hair. I laughed and playfully shoved him.
"Do you have to make fun of my hair all the time? You'd do something crazy too if you were forced to have your hair a certain way most of the year." I said, referring to the strict dress code of the private high school I had attended previously.
"Sure, sure, I guess so. You know I just enjoy screwing around with you, right?" Owen asked me, and I chuckled and nodded.
"I know, Uncle Owen. You and pretty much everyone else." I said with a smile.
"Hey...Since we think Blue's in love with me, I want to try something…"
I stood near the entrance/exit of the enclosure next to Owen, who still seemed unsettled by my plan.
"Okay. Plan is that you distract Echo, Charlie, and Delta while Blue comes to me. If she really is in love with me like you said, she should let me nuzzle her back." I repeated what I had said before we stepped foot inside the paddock.
"Look, I don't think your parents would be too happy if you got your face chewed off." Owen said, clearly worried.
"Just trust me, okay?" I told him, Owen sighing.
"Okay. Fine. I hope you know what you're doing." Owen said before calling for the raptors. Before we knew it, the four raptors emerged from the small forest within the enclosure. Owen didn't even need to separate the other three from Blue, since she immediately strayed away from them. Blue looked behind her and barked at Echo, Delta, and Charlie, most likely telling them to stay put. Blue then walked up to me, happy chirping coming from her. I smiled.
"Hey there girl. You doing alright?" I asked with a gentle voice, holding out my hand. I've gotten so far, going from a 16-year-old scared of baby dinosaurs to a 18-year-old voluntarily putting a hand out in front of a velociraptor without any fear at all. It was a drastic change, but a good one. Blue immediately nuzzled my hand as she usually did, her rough outer skin brushing up against my soft, pink flesh. My smile widened at the sight. Taking the initiative, I took a step closer to Blue. Her chirps ceased for a moment as she watched me, tilting her head with curiosity. I reached up placed my hand on the side of her head, gently rubbing it. To my surprise, she leaned into the touch, Blue letting out happy noises. I chuckled slightly, everything going to plan.
"You still alive, kiddo?" I heard Owen call out to me, keeping his eyes on the other three raptors.
"Yes, now shush." I responded, keeping my eyes on Blue. I kept rubbing the side of her face, the raptor enjoying my touch. Now that I could tell she was comfortable with me touching her, I was going to do the final step of my plan. I felt a small bit of anxiety begin to form, but I pushed it back down before it could become overwhelming. I lowered my head slightly and placed my forehead against the end of Blue's snout, closing my eyes. This could end very badly, since my head was literally right next to a raptor's mouth full of sharp teeth. However, I felt Blue move her head away from me. I was about to open my eyes and move my head when I felt her thick skin pressed against my forehead. I opened one of my eyes to see that she had lowered her own head and placed it against mine, just as I had. I felt a mix of happiness and relief when I saw this, closing my eyes and staying in that position for a few moments.
"Steve? Did you get the reaction you wanted?" I heard Owen ask. I opened my eyes and took a step away from Blue. I heard her let out a small whine, as if she didn't want me to leave her. I smiled and reached up to touch the side of her head again.
"Yeah! I did." I said, looking over at Owen. He was still making sure that Echo, Delta, and Charlie didn't rush to attack me. Once I knew I was safe, I looked back at Blue, her staring at me with her golden eyes.
"I guess you do love me, Blue. That's good to know. You can go back with your sisters now." I lowered my hand from her face and gestures towards the other three raptors. She turned and looked at them, letting out a bark. Blue then turned to me and gave me a quick nuzzle before going back over to her sisters.
"Alright Uncle Owen, we're good!" I called over to him. The two of us then proceeded to exit the paddock, Owen backing up slowly until he was through the threshold of the exit. After we made sure the enclosure was locked up tightly, we began conversing about what had happened.
"I wish Barry was here today, he could've recorded what happened." I laughed.
"What did happen, anyway? I was too busy making sure I didn't get chomped on." Owen asked with curiosity.
"Well, she nuzzled my hand and face like she did before, but then she let me rub the side of her face and seemed to like it. Then I placed my forehead against her snout, and then she moved her head and did the same with me!" I explained, my voice getting progressively louder the more excited I got.
"Holy shit...this is insane! I never thought a raptor could bond with a human like this. This proves even more than I ever wanted to prove to people." Owen seemed just as excited as I was, me smiling widely.
"It's extraordinary." I said.
"You don't think it's weird? A dinosaur being in love with you? I'm being serious now, no bullshit." Owen asked me, and I shook my head no.
"It's...something I didn't expect, but I think it's fucking awesome!" I said with a laugh, Owen chuckling and ruffling my blue hair.
"Of course you do. You were practically obsessed with dinosaurs when you were younger." Owen reminded me, which I nodded.
"Yeah. Why do you think I picked having a job here than go to college."
"'Cause you hate school?" Owen joked, me laughing.
"Well, maybe a small bit, but mostly because I still love dinosaurs." I told him.
"Now you have one that loves you." Owen said, patting me on the back.
"Yeah...I do." I smiled, feeling warm inside. It's crazy how a 6-foot tall, 16-foot-long velociraptor could make me feel like that, but it's even crazier how a 5 foot 10 human could make a velociraptor feel the same way.