Author's Note
Yay, another update day!
I want to take a moment to thank all my Move Along fans who have decided to read this fic. You guys are amazing and thank you for understanding my hiatus. I hope you guys like this fic though.
This fic has some raptor/Liv bonding time! Oh, and it's been brought to my attention that I got Charlie and Delta mixed up. *sigh* I knew I probably did. In the previous chapter, I said Charlie is the dark green one and Delta is the light green one, when really it's reversed. I've decided to go back and correct it, though I don't think I really identify them by their colors anymore now that they have names. Oh well, whatever. I wanna fix it or else it'll bother me.
Now, go onward and enjoy!
Pack
It's a quiet morning on the island, at least, it is in the restricted area. Out in the park it's extremely busy, thousands of people all crammed together like a swarm of ants. If Liv were to look out on Main Street she wouldn't be able to see the ground at all. Park numbers always take a skyrocketing jump this time of year as summer approaches, schools start to let out for their three-month(ish) break, and families go on vacation. Jurassic World has always been a highly sought-after vacation destination despite ticket prices, ever since the park's revival at the hands of Masrani.
Liv tries to stay away from the park as much as possible when it's like this. Too many crowds. She hates being caught in the middle of all of that. It's too suffocating, all those bodies packed in together, pressing against her, breathing the same air. Just a few minutes in that throng feel like an eternity, like she'll never escape it.
On days like this, Liv likes to go out to her paradise, but she's sticking to the rules and waiting on Owen to take her there. He's in the Research Center, working on some progress reports to be sent off to InGen that he's been putting off for too long, but he said he shouldn't be too much longer so she's waiting at the paddock.
She's up on the catwalk, in a corner she's claimed as her own. There's a chair and even a footstool which she uses whenever Owen is training with the raptors. It allows her to watch without being in the way. Sometimes she drags homework up here too, though never manages to get very much of it done. Watching Owen teach the raptors to obey commands is fascinating, not to mention just watching the raptors themselves. There is a kind of beauty in the power they possess, and Owen slowly gaining their trust to where they listen to him, watching the progress they're making is mesmerizing.
Right now, there's not much to see. Her eyes skim over the mini jungle below trying to get a glimpse of a long snout, a swishing tail, or a gleaming talon. There will be no spotting them if they don't want to be found though. Velociraptors may not have camouflage but they might as well have considering their ability to melt into the jungle, seamlessly, soundlessly. If she was down there in the enclosure a raptor could be right next to her and she would never know it until it's too late. She will never see them unless they want her to.
A loud call echoes out in the paddock, a cross between a goose honking and a dog barking, followed by three others, and then the raptor squad breaks through the tree line to stand in the clearing, looking up at her.
She smiles. Looks like they want to be seen by her.
She stands from her chair to fold her arms on the railing and lean down to rest her chin atop them, staring at the raptors as they stare at her.
Blue is calm and collected with almost a regal air, taking to her role as beta well. Charlie is all barely-contained energy, wiggling on her feet and turning in circles as she looks up. Echo nips at her without actually biting, just a snap of teeth inches from Charlie's tail to show Echo's annoyance at her antics. Delta headbutts Echo roughly in the side and chitters shortly at her, like she's trying to tell Echo to cut it out. Echo bites at Delta too, crouching low to the ground like she's about to attack, but then Blue lets out a sharp caw and all three of the raptors stop. Blue snorts at them, shaking her head a little, and then resumes staring at Liv, the others looking back up as well.
Liv chuckles softly to herself. She's glad to see them like this, especially after what happened to Echo going up against Blue. Echo is fully healed by now. She healed faster than anticipated, with a little help from Liv, and she slipped right back into the pack, accepting that Blue is now the beta graciously enough. She has a permanent scar on her snout now and her jaw is slightly crooked, a constant reminder that Echo lost the right to be beta. There's no lingering anxiety in the pack over it though. They accepted the changes and moved on, going back to play-fighting like a couple of kittens or squabbling siblings. They almost seem like any other animal when they act like that. In a way, they are. It doesn't matter if they're millions of years old or not, an animal is an animal. They still have all the same basic needs, food, water, shelter. They want to hunt and they want to play.
Except dinosaurs, especially Velociraptors, seem to be so much...more...than that. Raptors are intelligent, more so than kittens or dogs or chimpanzees. They're more than just food, water, and shelter.
And for some reason, they're very interested in her.
This isn't the first time they've ever just stared at her, locked inside the paddock where they can't get to her. But they want to. She can tell by the way Blue chitters at her and the others chitter in emphasis of whatever Blue said. Liv can't tell what it is they really want though. She could probably ask Owen, but something tells her he won't have an answer either and then he'll probably tell her to keep her distance from them. They're extremely dangerous, she understands that, but she feels no fear from them. All humans have a "lizard brain" of sorts, that animal part of them that is still highly susceptible to basic instincts. It's what drives a mother to protect her children. It gives humans a natural fear of the dark, because anything could be lurking in there. It makes the hairs on the backs of necks stand on end when there is danger nearby.
Liv's hair isn't standing on end. Instead, she's just as curious of them as they appear to be of her.
Blue barks twice, looking up at her expectantly.
It's not that busy around the paddock right now. Most of the trainers are either in the Research Center doing reports like Owen, mucking out the stables that are carefully closed off against the raptors, or out getting this month's order of meat from the Food Storage Center near the main park. There's no one around the enclosure right now because they know no one is supposed to be working in the paddock until later.
"Alright, Blue," Liv says to the raptors, not very loud but hopefully enough for them to hear, "I'm coming."
Charlie yips happily as Liv steps away from the railing and goes down the catwalk stairs. She circles around to the cage and stops right outside the outer door. The raptors are there, right on the far side of the inner gate, the empty cage between them. They shuffle on their feet, snorting impatiently.
"Sorry, ladies," she says, wrapping her hands around the bars. "This is as far as I can go."
She doesn't know the key code in order to get into the cage, and even if she did Vic's punishment would be severe if she were caught. Delta and Charlie chitter at her softly, sounding almost questioning, and she just shakes her head. No, she can't go any further. And they actually seem to understand, all four of them lowering their heads a little forlornly.
A regretful smile pulls at her lips. She wishes she could be near them, too, even with the possible danger. Well, not really possible. It's certain that she would be in great danger if in close proximity to the raptors without significant height or steel bars between them and her.
A part of her doesn't care though. It's just drawn to them.
She looks back at the Research Center, wondering if Owen would let her into the cage and closer to the raptors if she asks, when something catches her eye. There's a bucket sitting on the ground by the cage door, the bucket full of dead rats Owen uses as treats for the raptors during training sessions. Liv picks up the heavy bucket, the foul smell of dead roadkill wafting up her nostrils and she wrinkles her nose in disgust. Delta barks at her and she looks up, seeing four pairs of eyes darting from her to the bucket and back again.
She shakes her head in amusement. "You girls are always hungry, I swear." She holds the bucket out from her by the handle, jiggling it a little, and they hone in on it. "So how about it? You want a little snack?"
They chitter their approval, Charlie practically hopping on her toes in excitement, as Liv climbs back up to the catwalk. Setting the bucket down at her feet, she picks out a rat with her bare hands, unfortunately not having any gloves but not wanting to deny them their treats just because it's kind of gross.
It's not like the rats are slimy or anything. They're clean.
Sort of.
She holds the rat up, the raptors standing at attention below her.
"Alright, ladies, one at a time," she calls down to them, trying to imitate how she's seen Owen do this, always confident and full of natural authority that brooks no argument. "Blue! You first!"
Blue lifts her head higher than the others and with careful aim Liv throws the rat to her. Gracefully, Blue's jaws snap it out of the air.
"Good girl. Charlie! You're next!"
When Liv throws the rat at Charlie the raptor moves almost faster than she can see, swallowing the snack down like she's practically inhaling it.
Liv laughs. "Jeez, Charlie, did you even taste it?" Charlie snorts at her and she laughs again. "Okay, Delta, you're up!"
When she tosses the rat to Delta, Echo reaches out to intercept but Delta bumps her away with her hip, making her miss and allowing Delta to grab her treat.
"Echo!" Liv admonishes, making sure her voice is loud, stern, and full of disapproval. The raptor looks up at her, growling slightly. "No, Echo, I won't be having any of that. You wait your turn. Actually, I'm not sure I should give you one now." She holds the rat away from the ledge, showing she's not going to throw it, and glares at Echo. The raptor still looks ready to argue, that growl still grinding around the back of her throat, until Blue lets out a raspy hiss. Echo then lowers her head and tail, like a dog who knows she's done something wrong. "Are you going to behave now?" She holds the rat out and Echo chirps softly, the sound barely reaching her. Liv smiles and then tosses her the rat, Echo eating it up happily. "You're lucky I'm so nice."
More like she doesn't know how to say "No" to these raptors.
Blue barks at her again and the four raptors crowd around closer together, bumping into each other, looking up.
Wanting more.
She hums thoughtfully to herself, not wanting to spoil them but, again, having a hard time actually saying "No" to them. But they're allowed treats when they do training, right? So she just needs to do something with them that would be considered training. All she has to use are the rats and voice commands that they may not actually listen to. They still barely listen to Owen, but they seem to be having a good day today and the promise of extra food is a strong motivator. That still leaves her with the question, what can she possibly do with only a bucket full of rats?
Liv picks up the next rat, the raptors chittering excitedly below her, and looks out into the jungle with an inkling of an idea growing in the back of her mind. She can't just toss the rats to them, they really aren't learning much, except to respond to each of their names, but she needs something more than that. She looks at the rat in her hand and then out into the trees.
"Okay, ladies," she says, holding out the rat over the railing for them to clearly see. "You want the rat?" She pulls her arm back and then tosses the rat out into the jungle, plopping between the leaves like a stone thrown into water. "Go get it!"
Four raptors take off, their excitement suddenly reined in as they slip into the undergrowth without a sound. There's the slight rustle of leaves from where they disappeared and then nothing. Liv waits with baited breath. The enclosure isn't large but it isn't exactly small either. Will they be able to find their treat? How long will it take them?
A victorious screech resounds throughout the jungle, followed by yips and snarls. Looks like it didn't take them long. Less than ten minutes really. The pack races out of the trees to stand in the clearing again, Blue looking awfully pleased with herself, head held high with the others growling a little resentfully at her.
"Oh, so you're the one who found it, huh, Blue?" The beta chitters happily causing Echo to snap at her and then bark up at Liv, Charlie and Delta echoing the call. "So you all want another chance, huh? Okay, let's try this again."
Liv does it a couple more times, the final score being Blue four, Delta two, and Charlie and Echo with one each. They seem to really be enjoying it. They love the hunt, the search, the competition with each other. But when Liv reaches inside the bucket for the next rat she finds she only has four left. She frowns, wanting to continue their game, even though now it has to come to an end, and wanting to make sure they each get one more rat. Thinking on her feet, she holds out her hand in a tight fist like she's seen Owen do. "Okay, ladies, this way!"
She moves down the catwalk, the raptors miraculously following her, though it's probably more from wanting another rat than actually listening to her. She takes them right next to the cage gate and stops, making sure they're as far from the jungle as possible. She then holds up a rat with one hand. "Okay, Echo, this one is for you! Just for you, Echo!" Moving slowly, Liv walks back down the catwalk, eyes solely on Echo, trying to draw just her away from the others, but all four of them step forward as well. Liv holds out her other hand, palm out, motioning them to stop. "Blue! Charlie! Delta! No! You three stop right there!" She knows they understand simple commands such as this and they do listen, stopping like she tells them to though cocking their heads confusedly at her. "Blue, Delta, Charlie, you stay there. Echo! Come!" She moves a little further away, this time only Echo and Charlie moving. "Charlie! No! Stay!" Charlie stops, still looking confused, but when Liv moves again the other three stay put with Echo following her.
"Good girls," she praises. "Very good girls." When she's far enough away she yells out, "Go, Echo!" and tosses the rat out into the jungle. Echo shoots off, the other three raptors quickly moving to follow, but Liv holds both of her palms out to them again. "No! Stay!"
And they do.
Echo soon returns, quite satisfied with herself, and Liv does it three more times, so each of the other raptors get to chase after their rat alone without the chances of any of the others nabbing it first. And each time, the raptors listen to her, the three staying put as their fourth zips off into the jungle.
It's exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, having these ferocious animals listen to her commands, at least in this moment.
When the last rat is gone and Blue has returned, Liv tips the bucket over for them to see that it's empty. "Sorry, ladies, but you ate them all. All gone."
It only takes them a second to realize what the empty bucket means and Liv swears she can see the disappointment on their faces even though Velociraptors don't really have expressions. Their disappointment is short-lived, though, because then there is the chattering of monkeys in the trees that gets their attention. Charlie takes off after the noise first, eager for more food, and her sisters soon follow, Blue at the end of the train like her siblings are dragging her along but she's obligated to go just to make sure they don't get into any trouble.
Blue turns back at the last moment before entering the jungle, looking back at Liv. They stare at each other for long, drawn out seconds, something being communicated that Liv doesn't understand, and then the beta is gone.
Slow applause starts up behind her and she freezes, her mind instantly chanting don't let it be Vic, don't let it be Vic, don't let it be Vic….
She turns. It's Owen, on the catwalk two rows back from her, a big grin on his face. Tension leaks from her shoulders. If Vic saw the raptors listening to her…she doesn't really know what he'd do but it wouldn't be good, for her or them.
"I'm impressed," Owen says, coming over to join her. "You handled them really well."
Liv just shrugs, leaning against the railing on her forearms with her eyes on the jungle. "It wasn't anything, really. Not like what you do. They just wanted food and were willing to listen to me in order to get it. If anything, they were listening to their stomachs." Her eyes shift to his face quickly, suddenly worried. "You're not mad that I fed them a whole bucket of rats, are you?"
He chuckles. "No, I'm not mad, especially since you made them work for their snack. But you're selling yourself short, kid. They really were listening to you, not just their stomachs."
"If you says so," she mumbles, unconvinced.
"It's true." He leans against the railing next to her, looking out at the enclosure. A monkey shoots out from between some bushes, running for the cage gate, but Charlie catches up to it, snapping it up with her jaws before it gets even halfway across the clearing. Delta comes out of the jungle after, sniffing at the ground where the monkey met its fate in disappointment. Owen nods to them. "You see that? If they just wanted a snack there are all sorts of small animals that have ended up inside the enclosure, even with the danger of four predators. There are monkeys, birds, squirrels, and more, plenty of snacks for them if they want it. They didn't need you in order to fill their stomachs. They didn't have to listen to you, but they did." Blue and Echo come out to join their sisters and the raptor squad looks up, at Liv and at their alpha. "I've seen the way they watch you; the way they keep track of where you are when you're around. They've accepted you somehow, though I'm not sure where you fall in the pack exactly."
Liv turns to him incredulously. "You're saying they've accepted me as part of the pack?" Her hands flex on the railing nervously. "I thought they were just, I don't know, interested in me or something. Wondering who I am since I'm not a trainer like you or the others."
"I thought that too. Until today. If they were only interested, they never would have listened to you like that. They don't even really listen to any of the other trainers very much. The others help me take care of the pack but I'm the alpha. I'm the only one they'll take commands from because I'm head of the pack. I don't even think the raptors consider the others as part of the pack. But they listen to you." He shakes his head, eyes sparkling in bafflement. "The only explanation I can think of is that, to them, you're pack."
Liv opens her mouth, trying to think of a rebuttal, but nothing comes out. Her mouth snaps shut. There really is no reason for them to listen to her, especially if they weren't just doing it to get food, like Owen said. Velociraptors aren't docile or domesticated, not even these raptors. They do what they want, only listen to who they want, and everyone else is seen as lower than them, unimportant, or food. They listen to Owen because he is the alpha, above them.
So what does that make her?
"Where do you think I fall in the pack?" she asks, still trying to wrap her head around the idea that these animals have adopted her in a way. They want her.
It's a powerful feeling. Being wanted.
"I don't know, kid. You're definitely not an omega. That's bottom of the food chain in a pack. If you were an omega, they would sooner eat you than listen to you. You could be in the middle of the pack, of even ranking to them, but if that was the case I wouldn't think Blue would listen. The others, maybe, but not Blue. She's the beta and is ranked higher than the others. You could be another beta maybe? But I don't think Blue would tolerate there being another beta. You're not the alpha, obviously, so...," he shrugs, "yeah, I don't know. You're a mystery, Liv, but one they want to keep."
While Owen goes to retrieve his bike so he can take her to her paradise, Liv stands at the cage door again, the raptors watching her from the clearing. Slowly, she opens herself up to the world, allowing its life in all its beautiful array of colors to wash over her vision, the shift as easy as putting on a pair of glasses. There's so much green on the island, the soft hue almost swallowing everything else up, but she can pick out the pinpoints of brighter color. There's the dinosaurs out in the park. The visitors in all their masses, looking like a sea of red this far away instead of individual people. There's small animals out in the jungle. The workers and trainers of the park.
And then there's the pack.
The raptors' auras are such a vibrant orangish-red that it takes her breath away. It's so much brighter than any of the other dinosaurs', even the T-Rex.
And then there are the bonds.
There's their pack bond with each other, linking the raptors as sisters, family, even though they may not be technically related by blood since they were cooked up in a lab. The pack bond surpasses everything, even blood, because pack is stronger than blood ever will be. It even surpasses species. Charlie, Delta, and Echo have a strong connection to Blue since she is the beta, a stronger connection than what they have with each other, but each of the four raptors' connection to Owen is astounding. It pulses with energy and power and alpha, alpha, alpha, so far beyond anything Liv has ever seen before. And as the raptors grow and mature and learn with Owen, it will only get stronger.
But there is another bond, one she's never noticed before.
Liv looks down at her chest, tears stinging the back of her eyes. There's a cord of orangish-red light uncoiling out of her, branching off into four strands to connect her to each of the raptors. By the way the light pulses and shimmers she can tell it's part of the pack bond.
They really do consider her pack. Family. She still can't tell where she falls in the pack exactly but right now she doesn't care. She has a family, one that outshines the feeble bonds she has with her parents, those ones as thin as floss.
And she is too happy to be regretful about that.
Author's Note
Yep, Liv is part of the pack bond. I know some of you were hoping for that. It's part of the reason why they listen to her so well, but there's more to it than that. You'll just have to wait and see though.
Next chapter is one of my favorites. Some of you have been wanting hurt!Liv and protective!Owen. While Liv won't exactly be getting hurt, it's a close alternative.
Next chapter is on Friday!
Hope you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW, and see you all next time!