Jurassic Park Broken Lives
Chapter 45: Dodgson Escapes
Disclaimer: I do not own Jurassic Park
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Author note: By the looks of the poll there will be no lesbian relationship but there will be a sex scene between Amanda and Silver Claw. This scene may be offensive to some so when I do write it, I will put a warning in front of it and at the end so that those who wish to may skip over it. Sorry for taking so long to update.
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Kari stood as a statue, unmoving and fixed looking in a single direction. Her heart however was racing at a pace she did not know it could reach. Cassandra had made the biggest mistake any youngling could make. She called out like a hatchling for its mother when it was supposed to keep quiet.
There was only one thing Kari could do to protect Cassandra but first she had to reach Cassandra before the raptors. With a sudden leap, Kari shoved past the two raptors before her, nearly knocking them aside in her urgency to reach Cassandra. Even as she lost sight of the two raptors behind her, she could hear their quickening pace as they began to pursue her.
Branches and vines lashed Kari's snout while several thorny shrubs laid their barbs deep under her scales. The pain was excruciating but she could not stop, not now. The jungle began to thin and she could see the light where the trees grew farther apart. But then, a sound that horrified Kari came like a lancing talon. Cassandra screamed!
Kari broke through the jungle and saw a herrerasaurus sink its teeth into Cassandra's arm. "No," Kari roared so loudly that the herrerasaurus released Cassandra and looked at the threat that could possibly try to take its meal. With a second roar greater than the first, Kari sprang forth like a bolt of lightning and leapt at the dinosaur that dared to attack her child.
The herrerasaurus howled as Kari's claws sank deep into its flesh creating several long wounds that spilled hot, crimson blood over the ground and over Kari's body. With a near graceful motion, Kari sank her teeth into the neck of the beast and with one claw spilt open its belly and with the other cut the ligament that allowed its right leg to move. In an instant the herrerasaurus was on the ground. Its muscles twitched but it was still alive. Blood oozed out of its mouth and stained the ground as it made gurgling sounds while trying to call for help.
Kari stood over her crippled and dying victim and sank her jaws into the hole she made. Then with a heavy tug of her head she ripped out the beating heart of the dinosaur to ensure it died. She tossed back her head and swallowed the piece of flesh and then made a low, rumbling growl. She had conquered her foe!
The cloud of rage that had engulfed her mind faded but she felt the urge to eat all she could from her kill. She then remembered Cassandra and turned around. The girl sat wide eyed with her hand over the wound on her arm. Her body trembled from the shock of being bitten and of what she had just seen. Kari looked up and she could see her reflection in the mirror surface of the windows behind Cassandra.
Her brown body was crimson with blood and in all she looked like some crazed beast that was killing everything in her path, much like the disease that would occasionally take carnivores and prey alike. Grief filled Kari. She did it to save Cassandra but in the process scared her. That was something she never wanted to do.
The bushes rustled and out stepped the two raptors. Kari hissed and jumped onto the carcass of the herrerasaurus. She growled and barked at them repeatedly. "This kill is mine and the human is under my protection. If you wish to live then leave this place before I slay you too."
"Under your protection," the female stated with some confusion. "We wish to protect her from you." Kari growled menacingly. "By looks of it you have scared her more than we ever could have."
Kari's eyes softened upon hearing it from another and looked at Cassandra. Her face was pale and she was shaking. Kari lowered her and slowly started to move to Cassandra while keeping a weary eye on two raptors. She stood watching her for a moment and then touched her bloodied snout to Cassandra's chest. In an instant, Cassandra pulled Kari into an embrace such that Kari didn't dare try to pull free. She could see the tears rolling down her face and when Kari could no longer take it, her gaze turned back to the two raptors only to find they had disappeared…
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Amanda yawned lazily as she awoke. Her body was stiff and sore from being in the cage so long and she groaned in discomfort. She opened her eyes to see several pairs of legs inches from the bars of her prison. From the initial tone of their voices, they were not pleased about something. Amanda smiled but soon she was in fear for her life.
"That god damned beast killed Jim," a man roared. "We should kill its precious mate and hang her body from a tree to bleed." The man stomped his foot and then kicked the cage. "You sick animal fucking bitch!" He kicked the cage again and then Amanda heard the crackle of a shock stick. "I'm going to make you suffer!"
Amanda screamed as the electricity seared her shoulder. The man shocked her several more times and then spit at her but it only clung to the bars. He kicked the cage for a third time and just as he went to shock her again when suddenly a woman stepped in the way and stopped him.
"You sadistic bastard, leave her alone. She didn't do anything to you!" The female voice shouted in anger and disgust. Amanda watched as the prod was tossed aside and then she heard the loud snap of a heavy slap to the face.
Amanda watched as the man walked away first and then a few moments afterward, the woman. They soon disappeared into two separate tents and she saw that the prod had been left only a few feet from the cage. Amanda looked around carefully to see that the others had their attention elsewhere so that she might have a chance though she didn't know what she would do if confronted with a gun. With a single glance to Sophia, she reached out of the bars but found her fingers just a few inches short of their goal.
Suddenly, a foot came down on her hand and she winced. A hand reached down and picked up the prod and then with a swift motion it extended to its full length with an electric snap. Amanda feared she would receive another shock but it did not come. The man walked away and disappeared into one of the tents. A yelp came from within and then a heated argument irrupted.
"So close," Amanda whispered between jagged breaths as her heart continued to beat erratically. She whimpered and leaned against the bars closest to Sophia so that she could feel she was close to someone who actually cared for her well being. "I don't know how much longer I can take being hit with that thing," Amanda murmured quietly, almost to the point of being unable to be heard. "I hope the others are coming up with something."
"You're strong Amanda, stronger than even some raptors." Sophia turned her head to look Amanda in the eyes but couldn't meet them so her gaze turned down. "They've hit you with that thing more than they have me, how can humans be so cruel to their own kind? Even the Tyrannous isn't that cruel."
Amanda gasped as a gentle breeze assailed her burns and sent waves like needles through her body and to her mind. As quick as she could, Amanda cupped her hand over one of the wounds but even the lightest touch was too much. "Silver Claw will come for us for sure, just wait and see…" Amanda tried not to but tears began to role down her cheek and she started to cry softly. "He has to. He has to," Amanda whispered to herself.
"He already killed one of them, there isn't much more for him to take down. He would hunt them to the ends of the island and beyond so long as they had you." Sophia showed her teeth and was able to meet Amanda's gaze at last. "He will not stop until he has you safely in his arms. He will come and these people will wish they were never born."
Amanda reached out and placed her hand against Sophia's side as if to say she understood everything she was trying to do but no long felt like talking. Slowly, Amanda began to rub Sophia's side. Amanda soon felt the gentle breath of Sophia was over her hand and then a reassuring nuzzling.
"You really do understand each other don't you," Kathy said softly in noticeably upset tone. "You know I saw the one these guy's are calling your mate. He killed a dear friend of mine, Jim. I just want to know why? Why would he kill someone that had done nothing to him?" She sighed, "Maybe Dodgson is right, dinosaurs are mindless killing machines meant only to slaughter everything in their path. I guess that's why he destroyed the helicopter and nearly killed himself in the process. That stupid oil I guess was what caught fire, why did they have to spill it on the seats?"
"He nearly killed himself," Amanda said softly. "What happened? What were you doing?" Amanda received only a sorrowful look for the longest time but then Kathy placed her right hand against one of the bars.
"Jim and I were sleeping in the back of the helicopter and then when I woke, I heard a noise so I sat up. That thing was standing over Jim and then I screamed and then Jim woke. He backed away and fell off the platform and died." Kathy began to weep. "It then jumped on me and had its claws over me and I looked into his eyes and saw a merciless killing machine but then they seemed to glaze over and for a moment he did nothing. After that, it shook its head and went into the front of the helicopter and began to rip everything apart. I ran and shortly after the helicopter blew up."
"Oh my…," Amanda was filled with fear, fear that Silver Claw could be hurt and there probably wasn't any other around with him. Then there was that green that would surely try to kill him if it found him. "What happened after?"
"The others arrived and scared off this big creature and tried shooting your 'mate' and he ran off into the jungle. We haven't seen him since. We did look for him a little but couldn't find him. We heard barking but nothing else." Kathy sat on the ground and placed her elbows on her knees. "I still don't understand why he would attack us when we have the advantage."
"He's in love," Amanda said. "Every moment we are apart it almost feels like we are dying. We need each other. Have you ever felt true love, if you have then you know how much it hurt to be apart. Now imagine what it feels like to know the other is suffering and you can't do anything to stop it."
Kathy looked away and reached behind her back, she set a water bottle just inside the bars and said, "I thought you might be thirsty and I don't know but it could help if you pour it on your injuries." With that, she stood up and walked away.
Amanda watched quietly as Kathy disappeared into the tent before she grabbed the water bottle. With an easy twist, she took of the lid and smelled it. It seemed like water so she took a long drink to quench her thirst had had built up since she had been captured. She did not however finish the bottle and instead reached across the gap between cages and allowed Sophia to finish it off.
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Silver Claw's head throbbed as his eyes opened sluggishly. His heart was pounding in his chest and he ached everywhere. With a heavy snort, he cleared the dust from his nostrils. Slowly, Silver Claw lifted his head and looked up out of the hole he was in. Through a small clearing in the trees he could see the sky, blue with a light tint of pink. It was not dusk yet but it would be soon.
The sound of multiple foot steps quickly caught his attention. In moments, the hole he had fallen into was surrounded by the small, green compsognathus. They bobbed their heads and made an eerie squeaking that chilled most animals because they knew what happed if too many were to bite. For now at least, Silver Claw was safe in the knowledge they would not jump down until they knew for sure how injured he was.
With an awkward movement, he got to his feet and leaned against the wall of the tunnel for support. He looked up again and saw that they had begun bobbing their heads faster, they knew he was weak. Silver Claw made a threatening growl which only seemed to entice them more. Then finally, one leapt down and sank its tiny teeth into his back. With a swift motion, Silver Claw slammed against the wall opposite and crushed the tiny creature. The others backed away slightly but continued bobbing their heads.
Silver Claw looked up and snarled at them. It had no effect on them. Suddenly, they scattered and Silver Claw could hear something coming and quickly. He couldn't fight off another carnivore, not now so he moved into the darkness and peered cautiously at the hole. Soon he heard a kind of panting and saw a creature smaller than he circling the hole. It was covered in fur and was wagging its tail. It barked once and sat down though its tale continued to wag. It was the creature he had seen Amanda with, a dog.
With a cock of his head, he stepped out of the shadows enough so that the creature could see him. Immediately, the animal yelped and whimpered before backing up and running off into the jungle. Silver Claw snorted and looked down. Amanda, he thought, where are you? A moment passed and he looked to the hole again. There was no way he would be able to leap back up, that meant that there was only one way to go and that was into the darkness.
Silver Claw turned and headed into the intimidating darkness. With a final look at the sky he started down the narrow passage. The ground was moist where there were no rocks and roots stuck out in many place. In some places, ancient leaves littered the ground and the occasional the sound of a beetle scurrying amongst them seemed to echo forever.
Minutes passed and Silver Claw could smell only the damp decay of the tunnel's floor. At least it seemed that there were no carnivores lurking in the shadows but he could not see anything and he was forced to rely on his sense of smell and hearing to navigate. And yet, he found himself hitting the tunnel wall. In the distance, a faint echo drew his attention, a constant drip, drip, drip.
The sound grew louder and louder until he rounded a sharp corner in the tunnel, scraping along a stone-like surface and found that he was staring into a large and near empty room. Faint flickering lights lit up enough of the room that he could see the far side but yet it was not enough to have let him know what was around the corner. With a cautious sniff of the air, Silver Claw entered the room. The air was stale, but some how less than even the tunnel. The ground he stepped onto was like stone but soon he found himself in an uncomfortable stance over a large metal grate that ran the length of the room. Beneath it, he could see a slight shimmering like water but by the smell, a foul rotting smell like a kill left in the sun for days, it would not be safe to drink even if he could reach it.
Silver Claw stepped off the grate and headed towards the door but then a sound came from behind it and through an opening in the upper region of the door he could see a brighter light, more than that of anything in the room he currently occupied. Cautiously, Silver Claw turned his head to one side and peered into the area beyond. To his surprise, the area behind the door was a staircase with a sign hanging from the roof that he recognized to be an "Exit" sign as Amanda had pointed out to him on several occasions. The he heard a sound that sent him into a panic, someone was coming, their voices were growing steadily louder and it would not be long before they were in view.
As quickly as he could, Silver Claw hobbled across the room and into the tunnel. As soon as he disappeared into the darkness, the door opened, flooding the room with light but not enough to light the tunnel. Two men stepped out, one tall and slim with a bright yellow shirt and blue jeans while the other was stout with a balding hear, green shorts and a red shirt. The tall man reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a cigarette, quickly lighting it.
With a deep exhale, the tall man said, "I hate this fucking job. This is not what I signed on for." He took another inhale of smoke and exhaled heavily. "I mean we're cooped up on this island and for what? Five people died when that thing escaped and we were barely able to catch it before it reached the surface. Imagine what would have happened if it had been able to lay its eggs?"
"Holy shit, I never thought of that. The damn military and its precious research project will be the death of us. I say we say fuck off to SynTech and get the hell off this island before another escape," said the stout man. He took out a flask and gulped its contents until it was empty and then tossed it onto the grate. A low hiss came from the darkness below. "What the hell, did another lizard get in there?"
"Doesn't it lead to the ocean?" The man took another puff of his cigarette.
"Yeah I think so," The stout man said and stepped over to the grate, "I don't see anything? Why did they make this so large in the first place?" A pair of eye lifted out of the water and the man backed away. "Fuck, I think it's a crocodile!"
"I think we should tell…" The man didn't get a chance to finish as the creature burst from the grate and impaled the closer of the two on large serrated teeth. A bloodied choke came from the man and then he disappeared into the water with a splash. In seconds, the creature burst from the water again and made for the tall man headed for the door. He couldn't close the door in time however and screamed as his ankle was ripped to pieces upon the first bite while the second bite ripped his foot off.
Silver Claw was nearly in shock at the sight, he had never seen such a creature nor did he want to again. Slowly, he began to back away as he watched the creature rip open the man spilling crimson blood across the cold floor. The creature turned enough for Silver Claw to see it as a whole. It was a burnt orange in color with a pale, almost white, underside. It stood on four long legs but yet its head resembled that of a large carnivorous dinosaur like the tyrannosaurus. Powerful muscles ripped under its skin all the way to the thick tail which was the length of its body.
Expecting to hit the wall at any moment, Silver Claw moved his tail from side to side in search of it but only found another passageway. Gun shots soon rang out and he watched as several armed men chased the beast back into the pipes and several even jumped in after it. Those who remained above the pipe continued shooting at the beast. A man cursed the creature as it dragged its first victim by the leg as it attempted to escape.
Silver Claw decided he had overstayed his welcome and turned down the new tunnel. Shots echoed even as he rounded a corner some ways away but he was thankful that it was not he that the men were after. Feeling safe enough, Silver Claw slowed his pace a little and became more aware of his surroundings. The ground was dirt but it was moist and he felt droplets of water roll down his side from time to time. He must be close to a water source Silver Claw thought. There were no leaves underfoot but he felt the tangled mess of roots above him and at times he ducked his head incase a large root had made its way this far underground.
A realization slowly crept into Silver Claw's mind, how deep was he underground? The old fears he had thought he had gotten over suddenly overwhelmed him. His muscles shook with fearful tremors. What if the ground collapsed? What if the tunnel flooded? What if something was waiting for him around the next corner? What if he got lost and never found a way out, would he starve to death? A whimper escaped him as these thoughts and more poured through his mind. But then like a shining beacon, he realized there was a faint light some ways away from him. It was natural and not human made.
Breaking the fearful paralysis, Silver Claw moved as quickly as he dared towards the light. Very soon he was beneath it and looked up. The hole was not very large but entangles by vines and roots. By Amanda's measurements of distance that she had vaguely explained to him, he was about a meter and a half from the surface and that was just to the top of the tunnel, another quarter of a meter above him. So close but yet so far, Silver Claw looked up with a depressed sigh.
A sound soon came that terrified him. Somewhere within the perpetual darkness came the sound of falling rocks and a separate splash. There was something else living in the tunnel and it seemed to be coming his way. Silver Claw's pace quickened and with this burst of adrenaline, he attempted to climb up but the soil gave way and he was unable to make it more than a few feet.
The normally stale air was suddenly filled with the smell of fresh blood, human blood. Silver Claw looked into the darkness and a pair of eyes, glowing in an evil red, stared back at him. They were the eyes of a predator. The familiar hiss drifted out of the darkness and Silver Claw put aside his fear and brought the thought of being with Amanda at the front of his mind. Then slowly, the creature immerged from the dark depths, a body in tow. The beast scraped the roof but yet was not as wide as the tunnel.
With a sudden leap forward, the creature rushed forward at Silver Claw and tried to pin him to the ground until its first meal was finished. Silver Claw however moved to the side and was nearly crushed in retaliation by the creature as it attempted to slam him against the wall. With the little strength he had left and a luck swing, Silver Claw caught the calf muscle of the creature's back leg and temporarily crippled it. Silver Claw saw his chance, the massive size of the creature presented the opportunity to reach the top and he took it.
Silver Claw leapt onto the back of the creature, digging his claws in for support and then grasped at what he could of the roots and vines to pull him up. He managed just in time as the beast recovered and since it could not simply turn around, began to back up. Silver Claw shoved his head through the growths at the top of the hole and could see nothing but brush. Anything was safer than what awaited him below so after digging his claws into the roots shoved his way out but not soon enough. As clamored out of the hole, a sharp pain erupted from the tip of his tail and he shrieked in pain and then with a high pitched growl kicked at the source. The beast howled as Silver Claw's only killing claw raked across its face and cut open one eye.
With a sudden twist, Silver Claw was on his feet and snapping at the unprotected flesh of the beast, tearing and eating large chunks as the creature attempted to retreat into the dark. At last it was able to break the roots holding it and sank into the darkness leaving only a bloodied trail as evidence of its arrival. With a final defiant hiss from the safety of the cave, the creature retreated to nurse its wounds and eat what was left of its meal.
A low rumbling triumphant growl came from Silver Claw and he slowly turned away from the hole. Blood dripped from his jaws and he was a little less hungry. A quick glance at his tail was all he needed to know that it was not life threatening unless it became infected. Several holes marked where the creature's long teeth had punctured his flesh but it had not the chance to fully drag its teeth back and cause greater damage.
The forest was quiet and still. Neither bird nor insect stirred while in Silver Claw's presence. The wind even seemed to be afraid of him as it did not move a single leaf in the still trees. The ground however crunched underfoot as he moved through the undergrowth. The scents were not as familiar as he wished they would be but soon he knew where he was, south of the human camp he so despised and wished that he could slay them all for coming between he and his mate, his love.
As Silver Claw headed in the direction of the camp a familiar scent crossed his path and he began to salivate. Parasaurolophus, a common prey item of his old pack. The smell was too inviting and he had to check it out. Within minutes, his gaze fell upon a herd of a dozen of the massive animals. Each measured almost ten meters long from head to tail and each was foraging noisily with loud bellows between stripping branches. If only he had a pack to attack them with. A single creature would last several days. If only…Silver Claw had a sudden realization, if he were to attack the creatures they would stampede. The only thing standing between him and Amanda were the humans and that fence, the probably wouldn't realize the fence was there until it was too late and they had plowed through it. That was it, but he had to act fast, the boost of adrenaline was fading and his fatigue was growing.
As he had done before on many occasions, Silver Claw circled the herd quietly the only difference was that no pack awaited the frightened animals. When he felt his position was perfect, Silver Claw leap from the brush and roared as loud as he could. The parasaurolophus honked and bellowed in fear of the predator and thundered in the other direction. Silver Claw gave chase, he had to make sure they would go the direction he wanted and not stray. Within moments, the first hit the fence in a painful cry but kept going. Another moment and the first had reached and gone through the other side but did not stop. A few gunshots rang out but soon panicked calls came from the men and women within the camp. It was not the herd that was the source of panic however and Silver Claw soon realized that a herrerasaurus had been waiting outside the fence for a chance to get inside, a chance given to it by Silver Claw.
As Silver Claw stepped past the mangled fence and into the camp, he saw a larger man in screaming agony as the herrerasaurus ripped at his stomach while the others shot at the beast. Silver Claw's attention was on the three undefended cages however and their frightened occupants. As fast as he could on his stiffening legs, Silver Claw made his way to the cages and looked at Amanda sorrowfully. She looked as if she had taken a beating in a fight and lost. That didn't matter now, she was alive and that's all that matter to him.
Silver Claw released the latch on Amanda's cage first but before he could reach Sophia's cage, Amanda's arms were around him and he felt her gentle but passionate kiss upon his snout. And then, he heard her crying. There wasn't time though. It would not be long before the humans realized what was going on. Without words, he directed Amanda onto his back and then opened Sophia's cage. Sophia licked him on the cheek as a thank you and soon they were headed to the fence. Sophia however released the latch on the remaining cage before racing to catch Silver Claw.
A single glance was all Silver Claw spared as he entered the jungle. But in the glance, he saw the man responsible for it all escaping while the others continued to fight off the creature. His revenge would have to wait however and he continued into the jungle. He had made it no further than a hundred meters away from the camp when fatigue overwhelmed him and his eyes rolled up mid step. His felt as if he were upon a soft cushion as his body felt to the ground, darkness consumed him…