Jurassic Park Broken Lives
Chapter 21: Silver Claw's Mistake
Disclaimer: I do not own Jurassic Park.
Author note: Sorry for the wait, I had trouble with this chapter. As always, I would like to hear any suggestions for further chapters, either in review or in personal messages.
The cries of the girl, his mate, his Amanda, echoed through the air. The sound cut through Silver Claw like a claw through his heart, the low continuous cry brought up memories of the times that she had been hurt in front of him, though it brought up one in particular, the fear he caused in her eyes.
Silver Claw whimpered. He was unsure of what to do, what could he do, he just attacked his mate, his love, his life. His teeth drew her blood, his claws cut her shirt, possibly her, and it was his fault. Even if she lived, how could she ever forgive him, how could he forgive himself?
"What's wrong?" Sophia questioned from the door. "Are you going to kill the human or shall I?"
"No," Silver Claw said, almost whimpering. "We will not harm any of them."
"Why, don't you want your revenge?" Sophia protested.
"I did and now it ended up with this," Silver Claw stepped aside and looked at Amanda. "I don't know how, but this is my mate, my Amanda." Silver Claw whimpered loudly and closed his eyes. "I thought she was dead Sophia, now she could be soon because of me."
Silver Claw breathed in, raspy and heavily. His chest pulsated with pain as the bones moved slightly. He roared with confusion and turned towards the jungle. He passed the two small vehicles and disappeared into the dense foliage.
"Silver Claw!" Sophia shouted but received only silence.
Sophia slowly released the door and looked down, turning her gaze to Amanda. So this is his mate, she thought sadly. Now I have no chance of being with Silver Claw as long as she is…alive. If I…killed her, I could be with Silver Claw…if he ever got over the fact, he attacked her. But then again if he found out, he may never forgive me.
The smell of blood was intoxicating and Sophia started to drool slightly. She was hungry and that rotting carcass did leave a foul taste in her mouth…
The door suddenly clicked and a small thud sounded. Sophia looked around her and then down toward her feet to see a small cylindrical object, labeled, but she could not understand it. A low hiss filled the air and Sophia suddenly became drowsy. She struggled to keep her balance but soon collapsed to the ground. The world became black….
Silver Claw raced through the jungle, his heart ached from stress. Even away from her, Amanda's cries echoed in his mind. In the distance, he could hear Sophia call for him but he did not answer.
How could he have done something like that to a human, let alone his mate? Why did he have to give into anger? It just inflicted pain on the one he held dear. Silver Claw whimpered as a disturbing thought ran through his head.
He was no better than Tyrannous.
Hatred has caused him to hurt the one he loved.
Silver Claw spit the blood from his mouth but the taste lingered on. He now despised its taste, what used to be a pleasant thing that got him exited, now only caused him pain with the added knowledge that he inflicted possibly lethal wounds on his mate.
How could he have run away from Amanda and left her as he did, if she was still alive, the humans could have helped her. He left his mate for dead, Silver Claw whimpered at the thought. Then there was Sophia, she want to be his mate and he left both of them together, and alone. An image of Amanda's pale body entered his mind. He roared out in pain, not just that he attacked her and left her, or that he never did say good-bye again, but that he failed to protect her from several things, worse of all, himself.
Suddenly, he felt himself drop, his body crashed into the ground. His chest pulsed with pain as he began to tumble down a steep slope. The world spun around him. He passed large boulders and slender trees, small sharp stones cut through his scales and dotted the ground with fresh specks blood. Ferns and branches lashed his face as he continued to fall down the slope. Then, slowly, he started to level off and finally, he came to an abrupt stop on something soft.
The world spun around him and he felt sick. His body burned and throbbed, his stomach felt like it was in knots and his breathing became labored. Silver Claw set his head against the ground, hoping the pain would end by itself or death would take him, both sounded good at that moment.
At least the ground brought some welcomed warmth to his body and reduced the pain he felt slightly, though nothing could ease his heart. Slowly, his senses came back and he was able to see clearly again. He lay at the bottom of a dried up sandy streambed. Large boulders lay strewn about in an unorganized manner, small pebbles dotted the area and several fallen trees created bridges along the steeply sloped sides of the area.
Silver Claw staggered to his feet, his legs throbbed in protest but Silver Claw ignored the discomfort. His chest pulsated with pain and he felt that the broken bones had moved slightly during the fall or possibly, he had another broken rib.
Slowly, Silver Claw limped forward, following the streambed because his legs could not carry him up the hill, not after that fall. The jungle around him echoed with life, birds called from the treetops while in the distance, the low rumble of stegosaurs.
Several minutes passed as Silver Claw limped down the sandy streambed. As he rounded a rocky corner, he found himself looking the maw of a cave, the streambed lead into it. Silver Claw cautiously sniffed the air. When he could not smell anything that could be a threat, he slowly entered…
Sophia slowly awoke, her senses were cloudy and her vision blurred. Several voices sounded around her, those of humans, they seemed on edge and nervous.
They had better be nervous, Sophia thought as her sight slowly returned. She saw several thick bars only inches from her face. What is this? She thought angrily and tried to stand but hit something solid. Sophia looked up and around, she was in a cage, they put her in a cage! She roared and slammed against the wall but it would not give.
"The creatures awake," someone close by said.
Sophia looked to see a group of people approaching her. She snarled angrily and showed her teeth but the humans still approached her. She noticed one of them held the rifle pointed at her.
An adult female knelt by Sophia and sighed. "Hello," she said softly. "My name is Sarah."
"I don't care," Sophia snarled. "Let me out of this cage!"
Sarah paused for a moment. "I can't understand you but there is someone inside the trailer that can, you and your friend attacked her… She's the only reason that Eddie has not shot you."
Sophia snorted and turned her head. The door to the trailer opened and Sophia shifted her eyes to see Amanda step out, her face streaked with drying tears and neck bandaged. Sophia growled.
Amanda slowly walked over and sat down next to the cage. She pulled her knees up to her chest and looked at Sophia. After a minute, she spoke. "Hello," Amanda said softly in raptor. "My name is Amanda, what's yours."
"I know who you are," Sophia hissed. Pathetic, she thought.
"Oh," Amanda said. "Who told you about me?"
"Several of my kind," Sophia said. "Silver Claw for one."
"You met Silver Claw?" Amanda said excitedly. "Where is he, how is he?"
"He has two broken ribs and right now, I don't know where he is," Sophia growled.
Amanda's expression drastically changed and she started to cry, "How much pain is he in?"
"I don't know, but it seemed like a lot." Sophia replied, knowing it would only cause Amanda more grief.
"How do you know Silver Claw," Amanda asked through her crying.
"He is a member of my old pack," Sophia said.
"How, he said that his pack died." Amanda brushed away the tears.
"He thought I was but that proved to be wrong." Sophia said. Just like his choice of mates.
"Sophia?" Amanda questioned.
"Yes," she hissed, wondering how Amanda knew her name.
"You don't have to be angry with me," Amanda said. "You did attack me."
"I'm in a cage," Sophia hissed. "And I was not the one who attacked you or anyone." Yet.
"Who attacked me then?" Amanda said.
Before Sophia could answer, a blue stone landed by Amanda. Amanda looked to the stone and picked it up. She looked at the bushes.
It was the stone Silver Claw had given her as a gift, could it be that he was here and carried it with him. Amanda's heart raced with excitement, excitement of being with him, excitement that she could talk with him for the first time in over a week.
Amanda's lips trembled with anxiety. "Silver Claw, Silver Claw is that you?" Amanda questioned in raptor.
"No," a voice replied from the bushes. "It's Loki."
"Loki," Amanda questioned in English. "What are you doing here?"
"Could you tell that man with the gun to stop pointing it here?" Loki said. "I have to talk with you, it is important."
Amanda became nervous. "Eddie, don't shoot the raptor that is coming out of the bushes, he is an old friend of mine and won't attack you."
"What about the one we have locked up?" Eddie questioned.
"Keep her there for now, I don't really know her." Amanda said and added in raptor. "I'll get you out of there once they're inside the trailer, for their safety as well as yours."
Eddie lowered the gun slightly and Loki slowly entered the clearing. He slowly passed one of the vehicles. Ian held Kelly close while everyone else shifted uneasily and moved away from the cage. Loki limped slightly as he walked up to Amanda. He stopped a meter in front of her and set himself on the ground.
"How's your neck Amanda?" Loki asked. His voice seemed a little raspy.
"It will heal." Amanda said and rubbed it softly. "Did you see who did this to me?"
Loki looked down. "Yes I did, that's what I have to talk to you about."
"Can you get me out of this damn cage," Sophia hissed in frustration and hit the bars again. "My legs are getting sore from this position."
Loki looked her in the eyes. "It serves you right for talking him into it Sophia."
"What are you talking about?" Amanda asked. "Where is Silver Claw?"
"You must understand this Amanda," Loki said softly. "Silver Claw thought that you were dead and for most of the time after the incident he sat in your nest, devastated that he lost you. He started having dreams, nightmare if you will, very uncommon for a raptor, of humans harming you and taking you away from him. He barely ate and his two broken ribs only added to his pain. One night he left the nests and turned south, where he was going, I know not."
Tears started to roll down Amanda's cheeks. "Where are you going with this, how did you get the stone he gave to me, is Silver Claw alright?"
"He took the stone with him when he left and I followed him in secret," Loki explained. "He kept getting more and more furious with humans and took it out on some prey, he hurt himself even more because of it and still he had rage building in him. Then we found Tyrannous and Sophia. I'll tell you about it later."
"Why are you avoiding my questions Loki," Amanda sobbed. "Where is Silver Claw?"
"Well, he…uh… Sophia, Silver Claw and I made it to the coast and spotted a boat. We followed it and wound up here. The entire trip we followed these vehicles, Silver Claw only got angrier, saying that humans only caused pain."
"He would never say that," Amanda sobbed. "Where is he Loki? Please, I want to see him."
Loki found it hard to continue without answering her but did. "We got here and the three males left so Silver Claw decided to wait for them. He was determined to revenge your supposed death Amanda. Sophia told us that they got back with two girls but Silver Claw only wanted to harm the males. So…Sophia and Silver Claw went up to the trailers and…"
"No!" Amanda shouted. "You're not suggesting what I think you are!"
"I am sorry Amanda but…" Loki said and lowered his head. "Silver Claw attacked you."
"No!" Amanda cried. "He couldn't have, he couldn't have!"
"I'm sorry Amanda," Loki said softly.
"Shut up!" Amanda screamed and ran into the trailer, slamming the door behind her.
"Amanda!" Sarah shouted and raced into the trailer.
Loki watched Sarah run by him and into the trailer. He felt bad that he had to tell her but someone had to. He sighed and looked at Sophia. "Well, now look what's happened Sophia. You're in a cage because you and Silver Claw had to attack someone just for revenge."
"Don't lecture me Loki," Sophia hissed. "Let me out."
"No, I will let the human let you out when they see fit." Loki replied. He whimpered slightly.
"What's with you?" Sophia asked.
"Nothing…" Loki replied.
"Are you hurt or what Loki?" She asked angrily.
"Just never mind," Loki said.
Slowly Loki stood up and turned to the group of humans. He slowly walked towards them, keeping his head low in hope that they would not see him as a threat. Eddie however raised the gun slightly. Ian held Kelly close though Nick remained somewhat calmer.
He found humans a very interesting creature, how they spoke to one another in different languages, how they had no claws or teeth that where any more than to eat with but they still could kill something many times larger with things they made, how they could build things far greater in size than they were. Even after the group of humans shot him in the tail, he still enjoyed watching them, though from a much safer distance.
Loki continued to approach and stopped only two meters in front of them. He tilted and angled his head as he examined the humans. After he was satisfied, he turned back to Sophia but he felt something touch his tail. He turned his head to see that Kelly, whose name he heard earlier while hiding in the brush, pull her hand away from his tail.
Loki turned to face her; he could smell the fear that she now had. Slowly he approached, ignoring the rifle aimed at him. Ian moved in front of Kelly but Loki lifted his head to look behind him. Ian started to sweat heavily with Loki's head only inches from his neck.
"Don't be scared," Loki said in an unthreatening growl.
Eddie placed his finger on the trigger. "Back up creature or I'll shoot."
Loki looked at him and lowered his head. He stepped back slightly and laid himself on the ground. Eddie seemed stunned that Loki listened to him but he lowered the gun slightly. Kelly looked out from around Ian.
Amanda rushed into the trailer. Tears streaked her reddened face and her heart raced. She rushed into the front trailer and sat at the table, letting the stone slide to the wall. She set her head on the table and cried even louder.
How could Silver Claw do something like that? Why would he do it? Was Loki even telling her the truth? Why would he not tell her the truth? Then there is Sophia, does Silver Claw possibly feel something for her? Did Silver Claw even want to be her mate anymore?
The door clicked and somebody entered. Amanda slowly turned her head to see Sarah standing next to her. "Go away," sobbed Amanda. She turned her head so that she looked straight down and moved her wrists under her forehead.
"Amanda, what happened?" Sarah asked softly and slowly sat down on the other side of the table.
"Go away." Amanda continued to sob. "I don't want to take about it."
"Please Amanda," Sarah spoke softly. "I want to know if I can help you at all."
"You can't."
"Why, what happened between you and that raptor?"
"I wasn't between us but…he told me something that should never have happened."
Sarah gently placed her hand on Amanda's arm. "Please Amanda, I want to help."
Amanda slowly looked up. "Silver Claw has two broken ribs and he…." she trailed off and looked at the floor.
"I can fix that probably," Sarah said. "But that is not what's bothering you, is it?"
Amanda cried even louder. "He was the raptor that attacked me!"
"Oh my god," Sarah said in a low tone. "I'm sorry, truly I am."
Sarah slowly slid out of her seat and moved next to Amanda. She placed her left arm around Amanda's shoulder. Amanda turned and put her head on Sarah's shoulder.
"Why does this kind of stuff happen to me?" Amanda sobbed. "I don't even know if he still loves me."
"Why would he change his mind," Sarah said softly and rubbed Amanda's back gently.
"They female raptor out there was from his original pack," Amanda sobbed. "He though she died and then found me. He may have feeling for her still and he knows her better than me probably."
"But he chose to be your mate first, did he not?" Sarah said in a soft, almost motherly tone.
"Yes," Amanda replied. "But he was not old enough to have a mate before then."
"How long do raptors stay mates for?" Sarah asked.
"For life, I think it was." Amanda said and pulled back slightly so she could brush away the tears.
"He wanted to be with you for the rest of his life," Sarah said softly. "I think that he would still love you even after he found an old friend of his. By the way, what is that blue stone about."
Amanda sniffled. "Silver Claw gave it to me as a gift; he didn't know what it was but thought I would like it."
"That was nice of him," Sarah said. "Do you want to go find him?"
"Yes," Amanda replied. "I don't know where he is though."
"Maybe your friend out there could help you."
"Maybe…" Amanda brushed away her tears. "Thank you Sarah."
"Your welcome," Sarah said and slowly stood up. "I'll be outside, just come out when you're ready."
"Ok," Amanda said and picked up the stone. I hope she is right about Silver Claw, Amanda thought as she looked into the stone. I hope she is right. Amanda slowly stood up and looked at Sarah, "Let's go."
Amanda and Sarah walked to the second trailer and opened the door. They stepped out into the light and were stunned to see that Kelly was next to Loki, petting him. Loki seemed somewhat content in letting her do so and purred softly on occasion.
Amanda laughed slightly. "Found a friend did you Loki?"
Loki turned to see her. "Are you feeling any better?"
"I need your help. I need to find Silver Claw." Amanda said, pocketing the stone.
"I don't know where he went," Loki replied.
"You can smell his trail can't you?"
"Well… yes but…" Loki said.
"But what Loki," Amanda questioned.
Loki slowly nudged Kelly away and rolled to his side. He stretched out his left leg so that the inside was visible. Amanda gasped; a large, deep gash ran along the inside of his leg, it looked raw and infected.
"I can't go much further," Loki admitted. "I got this when a Carnotaurus ambushed us a few days ago, I've tried to rest but it only got worse and now I think it will be the end of me."
"How has he survived with that?" Sarah questioned. "A wound that size should have killed him."
"Velociraptors are slow bleeders," Amanda said, holding back another wave of tears. "It takes them a long time to bleed out, even with large wounds."
"Get him to come with me into the trailer. I'll see what I can do." Sarah said and turned around, entering the trailer again.
"Loki, Sarah may be able to help you," Amanda said in raptor, knowing that she had only one other choice to help her find Silver Claw. "Go with her."
With a grunt, Loki stood up and limped into the trailer. When his tail disappeared inside, Amanda closed the door and looked at Sophia. She seemed to be asleep.
Amanda slowly walked over to the cage and sat down. "Sophia," Amanda said softly.
One eye slowly opened. "What do you want human?"
"I need your help," Amanda replied.
Sophia snorted. "What do you need me for?"
"I need you to help me find Silver Claw." Amanda said. "I need to speak with him."
"I don't know where he is," Sophia said.
"I'll let you out of the cage," Amanda said.
Sophia's upper lip twitched slightly. "What do you wish to speak with him about?"
"It's personal."
Sophia sighed. "If you let me out of her, I'll help you find him."
"Thank you," Amanda said and reached for the pin holding the roof shut.
"What are you doing Amanda?" Eddie asked. "You aren't going to let that thing out, are you?"
"Yes, she said she'll help me find Silver Claw." Amanda said and pulled the pin. She pushed open the top and Sophia stood up.
"It feels good to be free." Sophia said and walked towards the area Silver Claw ran in. "Hurry up if you want to find him."
Amanda quickly followed Sophia past the group and into the jungle. They passed the large trees and ferns that surrounded the clearing. After several minutes, they reached a thinning area of jungle and Sophia stopped. She slowly turned her head to see Amanda and showed her teeth.
Amanda reached for her knives but it was too late, Sophia tackled Amanda and held her arms so she could not reach the knives. Sophia snarled and looked her straight in the eyes.
"What do you want Sophia," Amanda asked, struggling to free her arms.
"What do I want," Sophia repeated. "I don't know anymore, you have the only raptor I have had any feeling for, my old pack is gone, my new pack banished me because I sided with Silver Claw, and…I have no family left."
"Sophia, could you let me up so we could maybe talk about it then." Amanda said softly.
"Why should I do that," Sophia snapped. "You are just a human and possible prey to me."
"I lost most of my family as well," Amanda said.
"Most, but I lost all!" Sophia snarled. "My parents died in the attack and I am an only child."
"I thought all of my family died as well but when I was on the mainland…I found out that my father survived." Amanda said as several tears rolled down her cheeks. "I could have gone with him back home to my old life and forgotten about this island but I didn't. I came here to find Silver Claw so that we could be together again."
Sophia's expression softened. "You could have gone back to your old life but came back for Silver Claw?"
"Yes Sophia," Amanda said softly. She took in a deep breath before continuing. "Silver Claw is my mate and I love him, not even my father will make me leave him."
"Oh," Sophia sighed. "How do you know who I am anyway?"
"Silver Claw told me a lot about you," Amanda said. "Could you let me up please?"
"Really," Sophia said and looked away for a moment. She stepped off Amanda so that she could stand up. "What did he tell you?"
"He said that you were his best friend, how you were a kind, generous, and loyal." Amanda stood up and faced Sophia. "He told me that you were the only other raptor the same age as him in you pack. How I would like you, if I met you."
"He told you all that," Sophia smile slightly. "Did he tell you anything else?"
"Yes, but only the good things about you and the others in your pack," Amanda said.
"Silver Claw is always a loyal friend; he never would say anything bad about his friends." Sophia sighed and looked at her scar.
"Yeah," Amanda agreed. "If you don't mind, what happened to your back?"
"I got it in a fight for the beta position in the pack that banished me," Sophia sighed and looked back to Amanda. "Let's find him before he gets too far ahead of us."
"Ok," Amanda said and followed Sophia as she followed Silver Claw's faint scent trail.
Birds echoed around them as they walked through the jungle, in the distance, stegosaurs, probably the ones from earlier, moved through the foliage towards the south. The ground became hard and steep and Sophia stopped.
Sophia looked down the slope in front of them. "I don't think he walked down here," Sophia said softly. "Silver Claw fell."
Amanda slowly stepped down the slope, taking her time so that she did not fall. "Hurry Sophia, he might be hurt."
"I know," Sophia said and slowly stepped onto the sloping ground. Sophia turned her body sideways and continued down. Sophia suddenly stopped and sniffed the ground.
"What is it?" Amanda asked.
"Blood."
Amanda hurried now; she did not care about her own safety but Silver Claw's. She emerged at the bottom of the slope, only to find a large dip in the sand in the shape of a raptor, with several red spots. Footsteps leading away from the spot calmed Amanda slightly with the knowledge that he was alive. Suddenly, a loud snap sounded and Amanda turned to see Sophia crash into the sand.
"Are you alright?" Amanda asked Sophia.
"Yes," Sophia groaned and slowly stood up. She saw the trail of footsteps, "This will make it easy to find him."
"Yeah," Amanda sighed. She slowly followed the prints along the streambed.
Sophia shook her body to cleanse her scales of sand. When she was clean, she followed Amanda. As they walked, both remained silent.
Amanda and Sophia passed large boulders and broken branches as they looked for Silver Claw along the streambed. The occasional fallen log created a bridge overhead. The banks of the streambed grew increasingly steep until they turned into walls of rock.
They rounded a corner and found themselves at the mouth of a cave. The dimly lit interior bellowed waves of musty air outward. The footprints continued onward into the cave.
"Should we call him," Amanda asked, "and see if he comes out."
"No," Sophia stated as she sniffed the air. "He will probably run."
"Yeah I guess so," Amanda sighed.
"He defiantly went in her, not too long ago either." Sophia said. "He should not be more than a quick run ahead of us."
"I can't run as fast as you," Amanda said.
"I know," Sophia said and grinned. "Those scrawny legs could not carry too fast."
Amanda frowned and walked forward. Sophia looked along the edge of the cave entrance and slowly followed Amanda. As they rounded a small bend in the cave, a large creature stepped in front of the cave and let out a low growl.
"I wonder how far this cave goes?" Amanda said as she looked around.
Sophia remained silent except for the occasional sniff of the air. As they continued deeper into the cave, small holes in the ceiling allowed beams of light to pour through, illuminating the ground in spots and providing Amanda with enough light to see her way around. The ground became ragged and hard underfoot where small stones replaced the sand. Before long, the smell of decaying flesh began to fill the air.
Amanda tried to wave the smell away from her face but soon gave up. "Where is that coming from?"
"Up ahead more," Sophia said and licked her lips. "I may just have to stop for a bite."
Amanda sighed. "Where can he be Sophia?"
"He is not much further ahead, his scent is getting stronger." Sophia said. "Maybe he went to sleep. I know that is how I cope with stress."
"Maybe, then he won't…" Amanda started but Sophia interrupted.
"Shhh, I hear something up ahead, hide against the wall until I figure out what it is." Sophia whispered.
Amanda nodded and quietly moved to the wall but continued to follow Sophia, keeping her hands on the knives just incase. Suddenly Sophia stopped, pressing Amanda against the wall with her tail. Amanda struggled but Sophia glanced back at her quickly, shaking her head.
"Silver Claw," Sophia said. "I've been looking all over for you."
Around a small corner, Silver Claw stood over a fresh carcass, only a day old. Above it, an opening to the surface, littered with ferns. He snapped his head up and looked at Sophia, blood dripped from his jaws. "Sophia…" he spoke quietly then in a lower tone. "What happened to Amanda?"
"She's alive," Sophia replied. "The humans were able to help her; you didn't do anything serious, only a few minor wounds."
"So she is alright then?" Silver Claw asked.
Amanda opened her mouth to speak but Sophia only moved her tail in front of it. "Yes she is Silver Claw and I think she wants to see you."
"How could she want to see me, I attacked her, I could have kill her." Silver Claw sighed. "I am no better than Tyrannous."
Tears rolled down Amanda eyes when she heard that. She shoved Sophia's tail and ran to Silver Claw, throwing her arms around his neck. "Do not ever say that!"
"A…Amanda?" Silver Claw stuttered.
"Yes my mate," she said softly. "I do not want you to say that ever again, you are better than him!"
Suddenly rocks crumbled behind Sophia and a low hiss echoed through the cave. Sophia turned and sniffed the air. She slowly backed towards Silver Claw and Amanda, her eyes widened.
As she did, a large triangular head moved into view. A short blunt horn sat at the tip of the blood red head, its short muscular arms clawed at the air, its bulk, a dark green with black stripes, shook with each step. Its thick back legs bent heavily so that the animal's back did not scrape the roof. It was a ceratosaurus.
"Run," Amanda said.