(A/N: I don't own Jurassic World... :(

Many thanks to the lovely people who reviewed! Your feedback makes my day... Like seriously. Anyway, I just want to clear this up (I was asked a question about this) Alan Grant is not Chantel's actually father but she does kinda see him as the dad she never had.

PS. Parks. And. Rec. 3

PPS. Thinking about making the rest of the story as Chantel's point of veiw... Ill do it for this chapter and then you can review and tell me what you think.

My hands clenched into fists as I inhaled sharply. "The... raptor paddock?" I asked, wondering if I had heard correctly. I blinked at the man in front of me, the man who was the sole cause of the breath that had hitched in my chest.

"Mhm. Let's go Mayes." Owen said briskly, standing up and striding out the door. Barry followed, shaking his head sympathetically.

Feeling extremely conflicted, I stepped out of the office and trailed after the two men. On one hand, getting to witness how the raptors naturally react was like my dream come true, but on the other hand, how they naturally react would probably be to eat me.

Very tricky business.

"Am I gonna be in there alone?" I asked Owen tentatively as the group descended the stairs.

Owen wheeled around, looking at me very seriously. "Of course. Problem?"

"Excuse m-"

"Relax, I'm kidding." Owen said with a bark of laughter as he resumed his pace. "No matter how certified you are, I won't let you in alone."

I released a somewhat shaky breath, managing to smile softly at his statement. Did he realize that by saying even that, my cheeks were set aflame?

I groaned inwardly. So much for a strictly business-related relationship.

Outside the paddock, Owen punched a few buttons and the metal bars groaned as they began inching upwards. "Ready?" he asked, an emotion that almost looked like excitement twinkling in his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow. "If I said no, would you let me not do this?"

Owen laughed. "Not a chance," he offered me a devilishly handsome smile that caused my heart to skip a few beats.

"Thought so." I said, ignoring my heartbeat's reaction, pursing my lips and following him inside the paddock filled with undergrowth and wood chips. Somehow, with Owen there, I felt oddly safe...

Casting one last look at Barry, who stood with his forearms resting against the bars, I attempted to brace myself for what was to come.

It turned out to be an impossible task.

At the sound of rustling in the bushes to my left, I whirled around so that I was facing the source of the noise: a velociraptor, fully capable of tearing me to shreds, stood before me, tapping her claw against the dusty ground.

From what I remembered from yesterday's encounter with the girls, her name was Delta.

"Stay very still; slow movements." Owen breathed through his teeth as he raised his arm. I nodded, though I knew he wasn't really paying attention to me; he was a little preoccupied.

Delta's amber eyes followed his actions intently, flicking to me every now and then. She raised her snout, sniffing the air as she took a few steps forward. Suddenly the leaves were parted to reveal three more raptors, who padded into the clearing, one after the other. They spread out so they formed a semi-circle around us, their pupils narrowing to slits.

The one named Blue snapped her jaws, taking another step towards us. Though curious, she seemed to be edgy and extremely wary.

Her piercing gaze found mine and she held it evenly, her tail swaying as she moved forward another few paces.

I was trembled, but I kept my eyes level, trying my hardest not show weakness: weakness the raptors would certainly take advantage of, given the chance.

"Blue. Stand down." Owen's calm voice came from my side. He carefully gripped my arm, pulling me back slightly. "Delta, I see you." He raised his calloused hand in warning.

I glanced at Owen; he had his eyes narrowed in concentration as he slowly guided us backwards. Suddenly, to my extreme surprise, I found our predicament almost ridiculous and I bit back a grim chuckle.

Now was definitely not the time to be laughing.

Not knowing what had come over me a few seconds ago, I returned my full attention toward the potentially murderous raptors, who, to my horror, were all looking directly at me.

I froze as Echo stepped forward, snapping her jaws at me. Her amber eyes looked curious and calculating as she stretched her head out toward me.

My breath caught in my chest and I swallowed. I found that I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she carefully padded forward, testing the waters.

Owen's grip on my arm tightened and he pulled me farther backward. I stumbled, but my eyes remained fixed on Echo. She had paused about a foot away from me, tilting her head, apparently deciding whether or not she should eat me.

To my utmost surprise and horror, I raised my hand, fingers quivering as I did so. This went against all my codes of safety, and of my profession. It was common knowledge that putting your hand out to a carnivorous animal that you didn't know at all, was not a good idea. Especially if that animal happened to be a fucking velociraptor.

Owen inhaled sharply from behind me and his fingers tightened around my arm. I would probably have bruises from that tomorrow... If I survived until tomorrow.

Out of my peripheral vision, I could see Barry, his hand hovering centimeters away from a big red button, while his jaw clenched and unclenched.

"You better know what you're doing Chantel," Owen breathed from my side. I didn't.

With a single swift movement, Echo closed the space between us, butting her head against my hand gently.

That, was definitely not what I was expecting. Actually, I didn't know what I had been anticipating from that insanely huge gamble...

Suddenly aware of how loud my breathing was, I rubbed my thumb in small circles around her leathery skin, taking care not to make any sudden movements, as they would have been my last in this fragile situation. She seemed to appreciate it, to my immeasurable relief, and a purring sound began to rumble through her throat.

I glanced back at Owen who stood, speechless, apparently caught completely off guard.

The other raptors were standing stock still as they watched the exchange, unsure of how to respond to it.

Suddenly Blue lunged toward me snapping her jaws. It seemed she had finally decided she didn't want me there anymore.

I stumbled back, panic sweeping through my body as I fell to the ground. A pair of strong arms reached under me and pulled upward, getting me to my feet. I turned and dashed toward the closing gate, only a few steps behind Owen.

It all happened in slow motion. He ducked under the bars, sending wood chips flying, just before the gate thudded to a close.

Horror flooded my body and my most animalistic survival mode kicked in as I dodged to the side, racing in an arc around the raptors. A claw flashed out to the side catching me on my leg and tearing through fabric and skin. I ignored the searing pain and headed for the undergrowth; getting into a tree was my only hope.

As I fought my way through the bushes, I could hear the twigs snapping behind me and to the side of me: the raptors were easily keeping pace.

Pushing my legs to move faster, I used my momentum to leap to the first branch of a prehistoric tree. The raptors appeared into the clearing and screeched, racing at me.

I swung the rest of my body into the tree, just as the raptor's jaws snapped closed around the space I had just been.

I let out a gasp of air, only just realizing I had been holding it in. The raptors prowled around the tree their amber eyes trained on me, waiting for a chance to jump and grab hold of me.

I climbed higher, twigs scratching my face and legs but at this point I didn't really care. A trickle of ruby red blood inched down my leg and I positioned myself so that I was sitting relatively comfortably.

I twisted my leg to look at my calf; a deep four inch gash stretched across the side of my leg.

I winced, the adrenaline fading and the pain returning.

Glancing down, I let out a breath of relief: the raptors seemed to have gotten bored with me and stalked off. I couldn't, however, let my guard down as I knew they were fully capable of slinking around in the undergrowth, unseen and waiting.

I slumped against the trunk of the tree, closing my eyes.

What a great way to start off my new job.

Though I couldn't see the metal walkway through the tree branches, I knew it had to be relatively close by.

I could hear shouting in the distance, but I didn't want to reply and risk renewing the raptor's interest in me.

Standing up carefully, my hands gripping a branch above me, I glanced up. If I could get high enough, someone might see me, or even better, I might be able to reach the walkway.

Gingerly shifting so that I wasn't taking any weight on my injured leg, I wrapped an arm around a branch, pulling myself up.

I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut and repeating the actions: wrap, then pull.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, I reached as far as I could go without the branches bending under me.

My gaze scanned around the paddock. The walkway was about ten feet above me, completely out of reach.

"Shit." I muttered. This meant my only hope would be to try and get to the gate... which was basically suicide.

Looking up, I was surprised at how empty the metal structure above me was, though I could hear voices barking out orders from outside the walls.

Glancing back at the entrance, I could make out Barry's figure. His hand was still hovering over the gate controls, apparently waiting to see if I would try and break through.

Thank God for Barry.

I turned, scanning the paddock ground beneath me, waiting for some sign of movement.

Far off to my right, a tail flicked into view and there were a few playful screeches. I could just make out the figures of Echo, Delta, and Charlie, but Blue was nowhere to be seen.

I swallowed, climbing down a little farther. Still no sign of the beta raptor.

Reaching the lowest branch, I checked the surrounding area yet again. Nothing.

I inhaled sharply before leaping down, my injured leg buckling slightly, but I recovered and dashed off as fast as I could toward the gate.

Trying to ignore the searing pain, I broke out of the cover of trees and grimaced as I ran. Now was the hard part. It was either I make it or I get torn into ribbons.

Halfway there, ten yards left, seven yards, five yards-

From behind me I could hear a screech and the pounding of feet.

She was right on cue.

I heard myself yell at Barry to start closing the gate, but I don't remember opening my mouth. I could feel Blue closing in behind me, her hot breath on my neck as she snapped her jaws terrifyingly close to my shoulder.

Barry's eyes were wide as he shouted something that I couldn't make out, the gate nearly closed; everything felt hazy and dreamlike, as if I were moving in slow motion.

Reacting purely on instinct I ducked, wood chips flying in every direction as both Blue and I slid to a stop on either side of the bars.

Barry called hastily to someone and pulled me to my feet. Blackness lined the edge of my vision as I slumped against Barry. It gradually closed in as figures ran toward me, the inky darkness finally obscured my eyesight, and an odd floating feeling overtaking my body as I fell...