Lily is frightened. The forest seems really dark and scary when she's all alone. Normally, it would be an inviting area, full of places to explore and things to eat, but her mother told her not wander off or graze in case there was pesticide on the lawn. Of course, there wouldn't be poisonous grass on Isla Nublar, since it was supposed to be a safe and friendly ecosystem. That wouldn't stop her mother from worrying, however. She worries a lot. She worries because she loves Lily.
Giving a light sniffle, Lily wipes her nose. Her poor mother is stuck with an ugly baby, a baby who can't even make it through one day of kindergarten. Perhaps she didn't know that Lily was ugly. Thinking back to all of the love she'd received, Lily can't pinpoint a single moment when their bond has been questioned. But maybe her mother is just good at pretending.
"I'm ugly. Nobody likes me. I'm ugly. Nobody likes me. I'm ugly. Nobody likes me."
Lily chants this statement over and over. Perhaps she is trying to make herself believe that it is true. It's hard, though, because she is picturing her parents smiling down at her in adoration. Their faces show not a hint of irony, not the slightest glimmer of doubt. As she thinks about them, Lily starts crying. She doesn't know why, exactly, but she feels like the world is crumbling around her. She just wants to be back on the ranch with her mother and father, playing out in the sun, or perhaps curled up by the fireplace. She wants to hear her father singing her a lullaby and feel the warm hugs of her mother. She wants to be in their arms forever and ever and never have to go back to kindergarten. If she were to find her way home, she'd run over to her parents as fast as she could, sobbing with relief. She would bury her face in her mother's shoulder while her father stroked her frill, and they'd both let her know that everything was going to be alright.
Shhh . . . It's okay. Let it out. It's okay to cry . . .
She could almost hear her father, and soon, she heard her mother, too.
Don't worry, sweetheart. You don't have to go back. We won't make you.
But they're not really there. Her parents are far away, in another world even, and they won't be back for a very long time.
Lily's lip quivers, and she loses the strength to stand. She falls to her knees, then lies on her belly, placing her front feet over her eyes as she sobs. She's making so much noise that she doesn't hear a gentle hiss coming from the grass. It's only when she sees a flash of yellow through her fingers that she realizes she's in danger. She gasps as a snake appears from out of nowhere, hovering in a threatening pose. Its tongue flits out of its mouth, moving up and down before slipping back in. Above its cruel, blue eyes are ridges that look something like eyelashes. It's a terrifying sight.
Lily whimpers and backs up, but the snake follows. It's still moving its head in a slow, calculated dance. It's only a matter of time before it strikes.
"RAAAAAAAAAH!"
Suddenly, a raptor springs from the bushes and grabs the snake in his teeth. He flings it to the side before it can strike him. Lily lets out a sigh of relief as it slithers out of sight. Her rescuer lifts his chin proudly and makes a satisfied chirp-purr sound. When he turns to Lily, his smile is confident and a little egotistical.
"Ha! I saved your life! You owe me a life-debt!"
Lily frowns.
"You didn't save me!" she barks indignantly, "I had everything under control!"
"You weren't in control . . ."
"I was!"
Lily and the raptor stand face to face, glaring at each other, but his expression softens when he recognizes her.
"You're Lily . . ."
"Yeah, so?"
"I'm Liam."
"I know."
He cocks his head.
"I thought you were supposed to be in school."
"You too."
Liam shakes his head.
"Raptors don't belong in school. My mother doesn't understand. She's not a real raptor."
Lily blinks in surprise. Does having wings make her a not-twoleg-raptor?
"She isn't a raptor? . . ."
"No. My parents aren't raptors," Liam says with a hint of shame.
Lily rubs her chin.
"How does that work?"
"It makes more sense than you!"
Lily shrinks back in surprise. Seeing that he's gone too far, Liam sighs.
"I'm sorry. You're perfectly fine. You at least look like your parents. I don't look anything like mine . . . most of the time."
Lily perks up.
"I look like my parents?"
"Yeah . . ." Liam says cautiously.
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
Liam snuffs.
"What kind of a question is that?"
"Am I pretty?" Lily repeats.
"Pretty annoying . . ."
Lily pulls off her backpack.
"Can I show you something?"
Liam nods. Lily holds up her plastic stegoceratops. Liam takes it from her hands gently and turns it over in his claws. He pushes down on the tail, and its neck extends. Nodding lightly, he hands it back to Lily.
"Cool."
Lily grins.
"You like it?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I-"
He goes rigid as Lily hugs him. He's completely and utterly stunned. Lily backs up and smiles shyly. Liam blinks, and a translucent eyelid wipes his eyes. Lily holds her hands in front of her, shifting her shoulders coyly. After a moment, Liam coughs.
"I guess I'll bring you back to school. They'll be missing you."
"What about you?"
He shrugs.
"I guess I can go back too . . . for your sake. C'mon."
As he struts away casually, Lily can't help but give a tight-lipped smile to herself.
