Jurassic Park Broken Lives
Chapter 38: To the North
Disclaimer: I do not own Jurassic Park
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Author Note: I would like to thank my Beta reader for pointing out that I broke the TOS and so I had to change the rating of this story to M. Updating has been slow because I have been busy with school, finals and unfortunately a slight loss of interest in writing fanfictions due to the fact I have my own novels I'm in the process of planning and writing. Hopefully I can update more during the summer and I will continue writing until this story is completed.
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Zenith stood frozen in place. His gaze fixed on the door. It was his mother. She had returned. After all this time she came back, he could not believe it. He was dumbstruck and when he tried to speak, he could not find the words. It came out as an inaudible whisper of a growl.
"Zenith please open this door, it's me."
Sophia looked at Zenith for a moment and then nudged him. He seemed to snap out of his daze and looked at Sophia. "Is that really her?"
Zenith nodded but did nothing more. He wanted to yell and shout in joy but could not. During all the time she had been gone, he had dreamed of seeing her again but now that she was here, it upset him. The pain he felt when she did not return burst from its corner of his mind and filled him with doubt about why she left him, her reasons for returning. Did she love him anymore? Was it that she saw him as an unfit child? Did she really return because of him? He chose not to speak as his mind was a flood of questions without answers.
Sophia looked into Zenith's eyes and saw the confusion he felt. She did no know what to do. What could she do? It was Zenith's mother and though she was a green, Sophia knew she might as well consider her family after what just happened between her and Zenith even if she were not with egg. At least for the time being she would put up with her, maybe she was unlike the other greens. It only seemed right to allow her into the room. Sophia slowly walked to the door and pressed open the latch. Before she could do anything, the door flew open and Sophia had to jump out of the way in order not to be hit by it. The raptor, she assumed was Zenith's mother ran straight to him and began nuzzling him. Zenith only stood still, his eyes moved only slightly too look upon her.
Zenith's mother stopped and looked at Sophia. Her keen eyes examined Sophia so deeply that she felt as if her very soul was being prodded with a sharpened stick. Sophia however did no look away and kept her eyes fixed on hers. She felt threatened by this raptor but could not figure out, why? It was a feeling deep down that she could not explain.
"You're injured Sophia," Tessa spoke at last.
"It will heal," Sophia replied plainly as she inspected Zenith's mother. "Why are you here?"
Tessa smiled and turned her attention back to Zenith. "I missed you so much my son."
"Why did you leave me?"
Tessa's head lowered. "You have to understand that I had to. If I didn't, they would have killed you or made you into a monster like the others have become."
"I don't understand." Zenith pulled away from his mother slightly. "Why didn't you tell me, why didn't you take me with you?"
"I knew you wouldn't understand. You were too young," Tessa exclaimed. "I though that if you didn't know, it would be better for you. I meant to come back but I never could escape them."
"I nearly died," Zenith said in such a tone, if Tessa could cry, she would. "Those creatures that bothered us all the time attacked me and I had to hide. Then I waited for you for a long time before I left to find something to eat. I almost didn't. I don't even know how to hunt."
"I'm so sorry my son," Tessa said and turned her head away in shame. Her eyes met with Sophia's again. "So Sophia is the one you like, really?" Sophia growled.
"Yes," replied Zenith, he said nothing more because of a glance from Sophia.
Tessa sighed and looked away. "We have to leave now, it's not safe here."
"And go where?" Sophia questioned in an almost testy tone.
"I know a place to the north that should protect us for a while I figure out something."
"Why do we have to leave?" Zenith asked. "I like it here."
"Others are coming to kill Silver Claw and Amanda," Tessa responded quickly. "If they find you, then they will kill you as well, same goes with anyone around them. Now that I'm with you, I cannot let that happen."
Sophia looked to the doorway where Silver Claw stood with his head resting against Amanda's shoulder and his eyes closed. His breathing was irregular and heavy. A small amount of white saliva dripped from his drooping tongue. He had an ill look about him.
"Let's get going," said Amanda as she placed her hand on Silver Claw's head and gently stroked his crest. "We should leave right now."
"But what about the Tyrannosaurus," Sophia said. "I would rather not be caught again."
"If we don't leave soon," Tessa stated, "we won't be able to because the carcasses will attract it."
"Carcasses," Sophia questioned but received no answer.
"Then let's get going," Amanda said with more emphasis. She was worried about Silver Claw, it seemed that not eating had caught up with him and he was in pain, a lot of pain. His body was beginning to shake slightly and she did not like the look of the white saliva hanging from his maw. "We should leave now," Amanda started for the entrance with Silver Claw beside her though she helped him a bit so that he did not fall.
Sophia looked at Zenith and sighed, "Do you want to go?"
"I think we have to," Zenith replied with a saddened look. This building was his home and always had been. He did not want to leave it but he knew they had to. He sighed and looked at the ground.
Tessa nodded and headed out the door. She quickly passed Silver Claw and took the lead. Zenith and Sophia walked out of the room, following behind Silver Claw and Amanda. As they rounded the hall to the entrance, the smell of the carcasses rushed to meet them. Blood had pooled across most of the hall and was illuminated by beams of light striking it from the setting moon. It was a gruesome sight the five bodies, four of them ornitholestes and one the spinosaurus, all bleeding out over the floor. It looked as if it were from a horror movie.
There were no other creatures around as Tessa scanned the boarders of the forest for none dared come near. Not a bird, hint of movement, or rustle of trees disturbed the forest. It had an illusory look to it as if had been placed their out of a science fiction novel. The trees were silhouetted against the darkened sky and lit only by the fading moon. The grasses around the structure were silent and still like they were frozen by an icy chill.
"It's safe," Tessa stated and moved into the grass.
Amanda groaned. Her stomach was aching a little but it was nowhere near what Silver Claw felt and so she did not complain. She looked to the sky. It was well past midnight. The moon was sinking into the horizon and the sun would soon rise, its light was already creeping through the darkness. The stars were not as easily seen as they were most nights because a heavy fog was moving in off the ocean and its edge had already gripped the island with pale fingers, cold and moist. It would not be long before the island was fully engulfed in a heavy blanket of fog.
Amanda felt an odd feeling as if she were being watched and so looked around. She saw that Sophia had her eyes fixed on her, though it was hard to tell if she was angry or just watching. Sophia was talking with Zenith. The subject of the conversation was a mystery to Amanda as she quietly watched them talk back and forth but she doubted even Silver Claw or Tessa could hear what it was about. Amanda looked away and back towards the sky. It was not long however before it disappeared behind the dense canopy of the jungle's edge.
The jungle itself was filled with an uneasy quiet and though not a sound could be heard save the gentle crunch underfoot, the raptors became more alert to all around them, listening and watching for the slightest sign of danger. A small beetle crawling through the undergrowth could not escape notice. At times, Tessa turned her attention to the ground beneath her. Every now and again she would tap her killing claw against the ground while listening intently. She was searching for something.
"Amanda," Sophia said softly, almost so that she could not hear her.
Amanda looked back with a puzzled expression but kept moving so that Silver Claw would still have support. "Yes Sophia," she replied uneasily.
"I'm, I'm…" She trailed off and looked to Zenith with a frustrated expression. He only nudged her and pointed with his snout to Amanda. "I'm sorry for attacking you," Sophia quickly turned to Zenith, quietly whispering, "There are you happy now."
"Thank you, I forgive you for that." Amanda sighed. She felt almost as awkward as Sophia did at that moment. She could not think of something else to say, so did not. She slowly looked back to Tessa who continued to search the ground for something.
"Don't you feel better now," Zenith said. "It's not nice to stay angry with someone."
"I feel like a fool Zenith," Sophia hissed quietly. "You're lucky…" Sophia stopped at the sound of a solid click.
Tessa stopped and moved her foot around in a large area. She continued to click her claw against something. The others looked on, confused and unsure. Tessa stepped a few paces forward and clicked on the ground again then she began to move swiftly, clicking her claws as she went. She turned again a corner and stopped. Only her tail remained visible. When the others caught up, they found themselves facing a large concrete structure.
Its door was a rusty color but solid even with age. Small lights cast a dull light upon the jungle adjacent, though a few were broken and until. The walls of the building were solid and most likely reinforced with steel or another hard metal. The walls angled from the broad base until flattening at the top where broken rods, mesh fencing, and a few shatter spotlight were the only remnants of an old watch tower. Vines and other creeping plant life snaked up the sides and hid the structure from view for the most part. The building was built to hold back any dinosaur and even the strongest storm. There was no doubt in Amanda's mind that it could withstand even tornados without much more than some rattling even at its age and without maintenance.
"This is the place," Tessa said firmly and walked to the doorway. She stopped suddenly and looked at it. "This isn't right."
"What?"
"The door is locked, I remember leaving it unlocked. I can't get in unless this is unlocked, those bars go some ways into the wall and it's too hard a material for me to chew through." Tessa looked back to Zenith. "Did you play here and lock the door."
"No," Zenith replied. "I never played her because you told me not to wander this way unless you told me so."
"For this long, you have never come this way, not even once."
"No," Zenith said plainly.
"Humph," Tessa back away and looked to the higher parts of the structure and noticed a large metal plate propped open by a stick. She twisted her head in confusion and looked towards Amanda. "Have you ever been here?"
"No," Amanda replied and then noticed the way the stick was positioned, it was not there by chance. Someone had put it there to keep it open. "Someone was here."
Tessa hissed and moved beneath the opening before leaping onto the angled wall. She gripped the wall tightly and slowly crawled towards the open window. At last she reached it and upon looking into the hole, large enough to allow her passage, she hissed and moved swiftly out of sight, disappearing into the confines of the building.
From within the building, a loud thud sounded and someone screamed. It was distinctly male. Loud banging resonated from within the structure and Tessa made several loud and threatening hisses and roars, enough to send even the mightiest into hiding. Amanda knew she did not want to know what Tessa was going to do to the poor man and she should have told her not to harm whoever was in there. She moved off to the side of the building and leaned against the wall, she cupped her hands over her ears so that she could not hear it when he was killed.
Silver Claw stood on wobbly legs and meant to follow Amanda when the door opened with a loud bang. Silver Claw, Sophia and Zenith stood patiently but no one emerged. Tessa's roar came from within and a young man came running out the door with Tessa on his heels. It took only a moment for the man to realize the mistake he had made and tried to turn around and grab the door on his way back into the building but he was quickly cut off by Tessa. The man quickly backed into a corner, his face pale with fright.
Sophia grinned and moved closer towards the man. She showed her teeth and raised her claws. It was obvious that Tessa had only chosen to scare this human and had no intention of killing him. Sophia grinned. She might get her revenge on a human with out having to kill one after all. She snarled and hissed with a posture that showed she meant to harm him.
"You aren't going to kill him," Silver Claw question upon realizing why Amanda had moved out of sight.
Tessa's eyes remained on the man, "No, I would have done than when I woke him from his slumber. I figured Amanda may like to speak to this one, and anyways, I am not hungry right now."
Sophia hissed out of excitement. She had prey but knew she could not kill it, not as long as Amanda was traveling with them. She made a threatening leap forward and the man covered his face with his arms and began to cry. This made her want to kill him even more but she held back.
"Is it over yet?" Amanda asked Silver Claw. She could not hear the man anymore and so assumed it was over.
"He's alive," Silver Claw said and gestured for Amanda to come and see.
Amanda slowly walked over and peer around the corner. She did not see the man at first but when she did, her eyes widened. He had brown hair and hazel eyes. His face was a bit rough with the beginnings of a beard and a number of scratches on his left cheek mixed with a few pimples. He was of average height with a strong build and broad shoulders. Her heart nearly skipped a beat. She stepped into sight but the man did not seem to notice her.
"Tom...Tom!" Amanda rushed up to the man and flung her arms around him, embracing him tightly. She began to cry and hugged him even tighter.
"A-A-Amanda," The man stuttered. "You're… you're alive!"
"Yes," Amanda wept. "I thought you had died in the attack!"
A hiss from Sophia made Tom move in front of Amanda. "Look out for the monsters!"
Amanda tried to comfort him but he seemed to be planning an escape. "There not monster Tom, these are my friends."
Tom stopped, dumbstruck by what he had heard. He looked at Amanda as if she were crazy for a moment but then shook his head. "How can these beast be your friends, they can't even understand us."
Sophia hissed upon hearing him call her a beast and stepped forward, lowering her snout to his head while it was turned. She snorted and her eyes met his fearful eyes. He shouted and backed away, forcing Amanda into the corner even more.
"Sophia back off!" Amanda demanded and just as quickly realized it sounded more like an order and how she reacted last time, "Please."
"Watch it," Sophia turned away and walked out of sight into the jungle. Zenith quickly followed.
Amanda turned her attention back to Tom and hugged him again. "A few others survived as well. They're off the island I think."
Tom's breathing was labored and his limbs were stiff with fear. He kept his eyes on the remaining two raptors. Tessa had turned her attention towards the area when Zenith had gone but Silver Claw's attention was on Tom.
Silver Claw cocked his head. What was it about this person that Amanda had so much feeling for. Was he someone from her boat, she did know him so most likely. He had missed hearing what they were speaking about because of something in the distance attracting his attention. Silver Claw felt somewhat threatened by the human for some reason. Ellie was not even received with this much joy. What was it about him that Amanda felt so happy to see him?
"That one's staring at me," Tom said uneasily, "I think he wants to eat me."
"No, he's just making sure you don't harm me," Amanda replied in a chuckle. "His name is Silver Claw incase you wanted to know."
"Nice Silver Claw," said Tom with a quiver in his voice. "Are you sure they can understand us?"
"Silver Claw could you come here please," Amanda asked. "This is Tom, he and Ellie are my best friends from back home."
Tom shook his head in fear. Silver Claw walked to them slowly and lowered his head. The smell that surrounded a carnivore washed over Tom with every breath and he had to cover his nose and mouth to keep from throwing up.
Amanda smiled and moved next to Silver Claw, she remained seated on the ground. She leaned her head against his and gently kissed him. "See, he's nice."
Tom's expression was that of disgust and confusion. "Did you really just kiss him?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Amanda placed her hand under Silver Claw's jaw, scratching it softly.
"He's an animal," Tom said and after a moment added, "Is he your pet or something?"
"No, nothing like that," Amanda sighed. "You won't believe me but… Silver Claw here is my mate."
"What?"
"My lover I guess I should say." Amanda felt awkward trying to explain herself. "Like husband and wife, I'm his mate and he is mine."
"That's disgusting," Tom shuddered. "I must be dreaming."
"This isn't a dream," Amanda said and pinched him in the arm quickly. "He was the first creature I found, I guess I should say he found me. We've been together since two days after the boat was attacked."
"By husband and wife, you don't mean that you two…" Tom trialed off, his face was that of disgust.
Amanda looked at him in confusion for a moment and then her eyes lit up in realization. "Oh god no," Amanda nearly shouted. "We never have done that! I know better than that Tom!"
Silver Claw was still confused and nudged Amanda.
"He asked if we had ever mated," Amanda replied and realized how she had said it as Tom backed as far as he could into the corner.
"What was that?" He asked in complete disbelief of how Amanda said it. It was not human.
"I was taught…" Amanda stopped herself realizing that she had said it in raptor and so started over but in English. "I was taught by Silver Claw here. He taught me how to speak his language and understand it. I speak fluently in velociraptor. You should have seen my dad's reaction when I yelled at him in raptor before I came back here."
"Your dad survived?" Tom said. "Who else did?"
"I only know about Ellie," Amanda sighed. "I never found out whom else."
"What is it doing," Tom's attention turned to Tessa. Tessa had walked towards the door and was pushed on different buttons a control panel.
"Tessa," Amanda questioned.
"When I was young I was very curious how humans used different devices," Tessa pressed several buttons before she got the result she wanted and the metal bars slid into the lock position. "It did not take long to figure out how things worked."
"Did she just lock the door?" Tom said in disbelief.
"Yeah, she watched how humans worked things when they were still on the island."
"I've gone insane," Tom muttered to himself.
"I feel like that sometimes," Amanda laughed.
"Run!" Zenith shouted as he ran out of the jungle. Sophia was close behind him and they passed into the building as the tyrannosaurus burst through a cluster of trees. The others rushed into the building but neglected to close the door. The tyrannosaurus slammed against the entrance of the building with a solid thud. Several things within the building rattled but the structure gave no sign of giving out. The head of the rex thrust into the doorway and snapped wildly but the short snout could not reach anything save the floor mat which it chewed up into a shredded mess only to spat it out finding it not to be food. The maw opened and a terrifying roar rattled the building before the creature pulled away and disappeared out of sight but not out of earshot.
Tessa walked slowly to the door and looked out. "It's watching me." Tessa pressed a button on the door and the bars unlocked again. She began to pull the door shut when the rex charged again. The door however was closed enough that the force of the rex hitting it, slammed it shut and dented it slightly. Tessa quickly pressed the buttons until the door locked. The rex roared again as it continued to hit the building.
Tom looked around nervously. He was surrounded by four carnivores. He sought safety by Amanda but she had her arms around Silver Claw and he dared not go near him. Slowly, he passed by Silver Claw and headed for a corner he felt safer in but it seemed the recent rain had pooled into a muddy mess and so he shied away, heading towards his bed.
Amanda gently pressed Silver Claw's feathers flat and released him. She looked around and noticed that Tom was wondering towards the back of the room. Her stomach growled, reminding her that they had to find something to eat soon. Perhaps he had some food somewhere in the building. There was bound to be something, how else would he have lasted so long.
"Tom?" Amanda said softly. He stopped and looked at her but did not speak. "Do you have food around here?"
"Yes…" Tom said hesitantly. "I don't have much though, I'm down to my last few cans that I managed to get."
"Could I see them please?" Amanda said and walked towards him.
"Uh… you aren't going to feed it to those creatures, are you?"
"Silver Claw hasn't eaten in days, he needs something soon or he'll die." Several tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought of losing Silver Claw. "Please."
Tom sighed, "They're over there in that cupboard." He pointed to the far wall next to a stairway leading up to the second level of the building.
"Thank you," Amanda kissed him gently on the cheek. She smiled as he blushed and then she walked towards the cupboard.
"You don't know how hard it was to get those the last few days."
"Where'd you get them from?" Amanda asked curious to find out if there was another building nearby.
"A large building in the center of a field," Tom replied.
"When was the last time you were there?"
"Earlier today, I was nearly caught too." Tom sighed and sat down on the bed. He reached under the pillow and pulled out a strange looking plant. "I fell into this a while back, the fifth day here I think it was. It seems to cover up smells I use it every day to keep things away from me."
"I was in the building earlier today, actually for the past few days." Amanda said. "I can't believe you were there and not found."
"I ducked under a table covered by a sheet." Tom said. "Two creatures walked right past it. One I recognized from when I went there every few days for supplies, come to mention it now, it looked a lot like that one there." He pointed to Zenith.
"That's because it was him, he was the only one living there for quiet some time," Amanda opened the doors to the cupboard and sighted with relief. There were several rows of cans. Most of them appeared to be meats while a few were mixed vegetables. Amanda grabbed as many cans of the meats as she could and turned around. "Is there a can opener around here?"
"Yeah but do you have to take so many," Tom protested but a glance from the raptors silenced him and he pulled the can opener out of a drawer, giving quickly to Amanda. "I guess if it keeps them from eating me, they can have it."
"This is still good right?" Amanda asked.
"I should be, it expired some time ago but I've been eating it and I'm fine." Tom moved further away from the raptors. Even with Amanda's reassurance, he did not feel safe around them, especially the one who attacked him. How could she even feel safe? No matter how long of time had passed he could never be comfortable around them.
Amanda sat down in front of Silver Claw on the dirt floor of the structure. She began to open the can.
"Aren't you going to cook that first, I don't know if it's a good idea to leave it uncooked."
"Maybe you're right," Amanda sighed and stood up. "I don't want you getting worse. Where is the kitchen?"
"Upstairs," Tom said. "I don't think your friends could get up there though."
"Yeah, I don't think so either," Amanda replied noticing how the stairway circled around several times before disappearing into the floor above. "I'll be back in a little while Silver Claw." Amanda reassured him. She made her way to the stairs and began to make her way up with Tom not far behind. It seemed that he had not trusted her enough to believe the raptors were safe to be around.
Amanda reached the top and looked around excitedly. The area was almost completely open with the kitchen at the far end, two large tables at the center and a computer off to the left side of the room with a flickering screen. Dust coated much of the room and it was not hard to tell where Tom had been. Small barred windows encircled the room to allow the morning light in.
"Wow, it's nice up here."
"I know, I stay up here some times when it gets too hot downstairs," Tom looked down the stairs to see Sophia staring up at him so he quickly passed Amanda making his way to the stove. "The downstairs is unfinished and they did not use this place much so everything is mostly unused. Did you notice the fence around the area, or at least what's left of it?"
"No," Amanda set the cans on the counter and continued opening the one she started. "Are there pots?"
"Yeah," Tom ducked down and opened a cupboard. He pulled out a large frying pan and placed it on the stove. He turned on the stove and picked up a barbeque starter beside it. "I can't believe things still work around here, the only thing I can't work is that computer and that's because it needs a password to get on." With a click of the trigger, the gas ignited and the fire began to heat the pan.
"I know one that might work." Amanda replied and tipped the can, letting the food slide out and onto the pan. She spread it out with her fingers. "It's been so long since I needed a computer though."
"If you don't mind, would you tell me what happened to you?"
"I guess but it's a long, long story." Amanda said and moved to the table. "How about after, you tell me how you survived this entire time alone."
"Sure," Tom sighed and sat down in a chair next to her. "I don't think I'll ever forget that night, not in a thousand years could I."
"I know, so many of our friends and my family died," Amanda sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I don't know if you want me to start with what happened on the boat do you?"
"I was below deck at the time so I only saw that monster after we were sinking. I didn't see you in any of the three rafts that managed to get away. How did you know others survived?"
"I was on the mainland for a bit but came back," Amanda sighed. "My dad must think I'm crazy. I shouted at him in raptor and ran away. I managed to get onto a boat and then back here."
"You were off the island but came back?" Tom stated in disbelief. "Why would you come back to this hellhole?"
"Silver Claw," Amanda smiled. "I love him more than life itself. Sort of like how I felt for you before the incident that forced us apart." Amanda chucked slightly and continued. "We were as close as friends could be without actually being lovers." Amanda sighed. "Anyways, Silver Claw asked me to be his mate and I couldn't refuse him."
"That much eh," Tom leaned back in his chair. "He must really be something special then. I know we had our fight and things didn't get as far as we had hoped back then but I must tell you that I am sorry."
"I know you are Tom," Amanda looked at the stairway. "We remained friends and that's good enough. There's no need to apologize anymore what happen was so long ago, I've nearly forgotten what it was about."
Tom froze, listening all of a sudden to something in the distance. "Do you hear that?"
"I'm not sure, what is it you hear?"
"A motor, it sounds like a helicopter." Tom jumped up, tipping the chair over. "My god I'm going to get rescued."
"It might not even stop here," Amanda said almost tearing. The emotions of the night she was nearly raped by the man rushed back to her and she felt like she was being starved of air. "I hope they don't."
"What!" Tom shouted. "I want to go home."
"I want you to but I don't want it to be with certain people." Amanda wiped the tears from her face. "If it's InGen, don't get them to stop here, don't attract them to us."
Tom grunted and ran to a window. He looked out and was nearly jumping up and down in excitement. The helicopter was flying low, almost to the point of skimming the tree tops. It passed overhead and seemed to be heading in the direction of the building. The low beat of the blades continued for some time and seemed to go no further then silence.
"I think they landed!" Tom shouted with joy. Something hard impacted the side of the building and Tom jumped back. It was the tyrannosaurus. Its great eye peered into the window, watching. It growled and moved off into the jungle.
"Landed or not, I don't think we'll be going anywhere with that thing hanging around us." Amanda said and looked to the food. It seemed to be just about done. She walked over and began poking at it to see if it were ready. She looked back at Tom. He had sunk to the floor and was hiding it well but she knew he was crying at least on the inside. He had his family and friends back home, they must think he's dead by now. Amanda sighed. She knew she had to help him get off the island and back to his old life. She had to.
"Alright Tom, I'll help you."
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