I seem to have forgotten a scene in chapter 28. (I really should stop writing so far ahead so I don't mess up and confuse myself as much as I do.) So I edited in about 400 odd words into chapter 28, Temper. It's a little over halfway down, right after Owen and Zach leave his office. It's not REALLY important. But it's referenced in chapter 31. And I think it's cute.

ANYWAYS... to those who threatened me for 'killing' Charlie... just hang tight. 8D DON'T GIVE UP ON ME! GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE!

Raptor
Chapter 30: Silence

It was all quiet. All around him, it was eerily quiet. There was nothing. Just... nothing compared to a few moments ago, when everyone was panicking and bullets were flying. Owen took a deep breath and blinked away the tears. He needed to stay calm. He needed to concentrate and get out of there and he just needed to not fall apart. Not right then at least. He could fall apart later. Because... he just... he needed to... he... The raptor brushed against his mind and let out a whine, low and sorrowful. Just like that, mere seconds and his whole life was shattered. Everyone was dead. Charlie was dead. Barry was dead. The ACU and InGen teams. If any of them survived, then all his raptors were probably dead. But if they were still alive? What was he going to do now? He couldn't fight Ida and his three raptors by himself. He couldn't fight his girls period. And Ida... she was part raptor. None of this was her fault. Not really. If he could just get everyone off the island and get them all alone, maybe he'd have a chance. But...

He heard Barry scream. Owen jumped up and rushed forward without thinking. Barry was alive! That sparked a moment of hope in Owen's chest. If Barry was alive, maybe everything wasn't completely hopeless. He ran through the trees, weaving and following the voices. He could hear Blue before he could see her. She was digging and slashing away at a log. Owen spied his motorcycle close wondered for a second if Barry had been trying to get away on it. Owen hefted it up quickly and climbed on it. He started it and whistled loudly. Blue stopped and looked in his direction. "Blue!" He revved the engine loudly and waved at her. She opened her jaws and gave an angry screech. He waited for her to follow after before he took off.

Owen pressed on the gas and swerved through the trees. Blue was on his tail, gaining on him. But he wasn't going too fast. He didn't want to lose her. She growled loudly and snapped her jaws. And then suddenly, she stopped. Owen glanced back and hit the brake immediately. The bike swerved and Owen slipped off. He waved his arms. "Blue!" He was afraid she was going to double back to Barry. Owen would much rather have her chase him than Barry. Owen knew if push came to shove, he could take her. A roar in his head said yes, they could take her.

But Blue wasn't looking at him. She wasn't even paying attention to him. She turned to the side and tilted her head. Then she lifted her nose in the air. Scenting something, she took off to the left, through thick bushes.

"Shit..." Owen turned and reached for his motorcycle, intent on trying to follow her. He had no clue who she was after. If she'd heard Ida or one of her sisters or a person. Whoever or whatever it was, he needed to stop her. He needed to stop her now, before she got too far away. And then Owen stopped breathing.

"Help! Someone!"

Zach! That was Zach's voice. What the hell was he doing here? He was supposed to be far away! He promised he'd be far away and safe! Owen whipped around, the motorcycle completely forgotten. His eyes zeroed in on where Blue had vanished through the bushes and he leapt through after her. "Blue! Stop!" He called out as loud as he could.

Zach was on the ground, petrified, as Blue advanced on him. They were too far from him. Owen couldn't reach them in time. He didn't hesitate any longer. He had to get between Zach and Blue, before she got any closer. He had to get her attention. Owen growled loudly and let the raptor out. He didn't even have to think about. It just happened. He shifted quickly, the fastest he'd ever done it. He didn't even feel it. He simply leapt towards them and when his feet touched the ground, his claws scraped against the dirt. Mere seconds and it looked like his clothes exploded at the seams.

Owen didn't see Zach anymore, didn't see the kid's white face or hear him scream. Owen only saw Blue. And she made him see red. He rushed at her and let out a blood curdling scream. Before Blue could turn, Owen was on her. He grabbed her tail hard in his teeth, drawing blood. He yanked her back, sending them both flying back with the force. Anger radiated through him and he screamed, [MINE!]

Blue recovered first and jumped up. She was slimmer and a bit smaller. It made her more agile than him. She let out a hiss as she lashed out at him. Owen scrambled up and managed to evade her claws. Then she darted at him and snapped her jaws. Owen turned sharply, pivoting on his back legs. But Blue was faster, turning as well. She jumped at him, landing on his back. Owen stood up quickly on his back legs and threw all his weight back. They both tumbled to the ground and Blue leapt up first again. She tried to slash at him again and Owen thumped her feet with his tail. Blue stumbled for a moment and Owen moved in closer. He snapped at her neck, his teeth grazing her skin.

Pain flashed across Blue's eyes and she paused. She stepped back and shook her head for a moment. Owen took advantage of her hesitation to lash out at her. She stumbled back again, suddenly looking confused. She lifted her head and blinked. Owen darted closer and turned sharply, whipping his tail at her legs. Blue fell to the ground and Owen jumped on her. [MINE!] He roared again.

Blue went limp as he stood over her. She blinked and shook her head. [Alpha?] She blinked again, staring up at him in confusion. But Owen didn't see it. All he could see was the enemy who went after his mate. He opened his large jaws and moved in closer. [Alpha!] She shrieked as she felt Owen's teeth on her neck. [Dad!] She whimpered and a note of terror ran through her, shaking her.

Owen stopped, her voice finally penetrating the red cloud in his head. His eyes widened and he struggled for a moment to regain control of himself. Delicately and slowly, he opened his jaws wide and released his hold on her. He lifted his head up and saw the blood that dotted her neck and back. He hadn't meant to be so rough. He just wanted her attention on him. He hadn't meant to attack her like that. He'd just lost control. Owen glanced down as he gingerly stepped over Blue, careful not to injure her more.

Blue's eye followed him as he moved. Once he was off of her, she took a deep breath and breathed out. She killed humans. She'd attacked alpha. She tried to attack his mate. She'd known they were mates, even if alpha wouldn't admit it. That meant family. And you didn't attack family. She deserved whatever punishment alpha gave her. Blue snorted and looked away from alpha. She closed her eyes and waited.

Owen bent down and nudged her side gently. [Up.] He whistled at her.

Blue pulled herself up slowly. She hung her head and wouldn't look at him.

Owen stepped around her, putting himself between her and Zach. [Mine.] He said loudly. [Mine.]

Blue glanced at him sideways and bobbed her head. [Family.]

[Blue.] Owen stepped closer to her. He reached out with his neck and touched hers. Then he draped his neck over her and hugged her against him a moment.

Blue pressed against him and nuzzled up against his side.

Owen let out a snort and nodded his head as he stepped away from her. That solved that problem. He turned around, looking for Zach for the first time since he'd gone after Blue. Zach had gone completely white and looked like he was going to pass out. [Zach!] Owen stepped forward and stopped when the boy flinched back. Oh shit. Right. He'd shifted. In front of Zach. Without any thought to what that would mean. Owen stopped and bent down, pressing himself to the ground. He shifted back to human and pulled his legs under him, trying to cover himself while he crouched. He lifted his arm and held his hand out, moving slowly. "Zach." He said the name softly.

Zach's eyes widened and he let out a gasp. And then promptly passed out, falling back on the ground.

"Well... shit." Owen looked back at Blue. She snorted and shook her head. Owen stood up and stepped closer to Zach. He knelt down over him and touched the kid's forehead. A little warm but he felt fine. Owen quickly checked him over, his hands moving gently. Zach looked fine. He was breathing fine. His heart was beating. A little fast, maybe. But Owen supposed that was to be expected. Owen breathed out and shook his head. There was a whine in his head and he felt the raptor's worry. He felt the raptor brush up against his subconscious and Owen reached out with his own, trying to soothe his other half. Because Zach was fine. Well... physically fine at least. Owen had no clue about the poor kid's mental state.

Blue inched closer, a bit hesitantly. When Owen didn't stop her, she stepped closer again and reached out towards him. She gently touched her nose against his arm and breathed in deeply. He leaned into her touch and she breathed out against him. [Broken?] She asked, moving closer to peer down at Zach.

Owen let out a sigh and shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Just sleeping, I think. Too scared."

[Alpha scary.] She said softly.

Owen smiled and leaned against her side. He threw his arms around her and hugged her. "Blue scary, too."

They heard a low warble. Both straightened up and looked. "Charlie!" [Charlie!] They both said at once. That was Charlie's voice, he was certain. Charlie was alive! A smile spread across his face as he turned to Blue. Charlie was alive! "You stay here." Owen said. "You guard Zach, okay? Don't move! I'm going to look for Charlie. If he wakes up... don't touch him or move and call for me."

Blue looked at Zach, a bit hesitantly.

"Blue. Look at me." Owen said as he stood up and detached himself from her.

Blue swung her head back towards him. She looked at the ground first before she looked up at him.

"It's okay." He said softly. "Everything's okay and I trust you. She's not gonna get you again, right?"

Blue snorted and shook her head. [Not again!] She said, a slight growl in her voice.

Owen smiled. "That's my girl. Now, I'll be back."

Blue bobbed her head and moved closer to Zach.

Owen backtracked as quick as he could, trying to ignore the bodies littered here and there. This wasn't his fault. And it wasn't his girl's fault either. This was Wu and Hoskins. Everything lead back to the two of them. Wu's fault for creating Ida herself and locking her up in that tiny, pathetic excuse of a paddock and isolating her. And Hoskins' fault for pushing the raptor plan so hard. Owen should have said no. But... he had no clue Ida could do that. He tried to keep focused on Charlie as he moved quickly through the brush. He stilled when he heard something to his left. He immediately ducked down and turned. And saw a pair of amber eyes.

She'd ducked when he had, hiding in the tall vegetation. The tip of her tail poked out of the top and it wobbled back and forth a bit. It looked like a dog wagging its tail.

Owen rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Echo." She darted forward, bumping into him and rubbing against him. She dropped something she'd be carrying in her mouth and Owen looked down. It was a pair of pants. That he recognized. They were his pants. That she stole like a year ago. He looked up at her, a smile on his lips. "Echo, those are my pants." He said.

She tilted her head and blinked at him. Then she stuck out her tongue.

He let out a laugh and shook his head. "You are something else." He mused, bending down to pick them up. He slipped them on quickly. They were a bit dirty, but it was better than running around the jungle completely naked. "Don't supposed you have a shirt of mine hidden somewhere." Echo turned right away and Owen reached out to touch her tail. He grabbed it and stopped her from moving. "Wait, never mind. Later. You seen Charlie?"

She turned back to him and bobbed her head. [Charlie broken.]

"Show me." He said. "Hurry." She nodded and darted off. Owen tried to follow as fast as he could. She pulled up suddenly and he moved around her. "Charlie!"

[Alpha...] Charlie lifted her head slowly and blinked at him. She was hurt, that much was evident. Her tail was reduced to a blackened, bloodied mess. There was hardly any of it left. She tried to move when he came closer.

Owen could see the pain in her movements and he quickly bent down. "Don't. Stay still." He put his hands on her and gently ran them over her, trying to keep her still. She was alive. That was what mattered most. A little broken, as the raptors would say. But she was alive. Owen breathed out and placed his hands on the top of her head. "Charlie... I thought you..." There were tears in his eyes.

Somewhere in the distance, they heard a loud roar, reminding them that Ida was still out there. Echo stepped closer, bumping into him gently. She was shaking a bit as she rubbed up against his side.

Okay. Owen breathed out for a moment, thinking. Charlie was injured. He had to keep her safe. He had to find Delta and break Ida's hold on her, if she hadn't broken it herself already like the Echo had. He had to make sure Zach was okay, maybe convince the kid he'd been dreaming and hadn't seen Owen shape shift into a dinosaur. Then he had to get Zach back to Claire, Zara, and Gray. He had to get the four of them off the island safely. He had to find Barry again and Simon. He had to get everyone off the island safely. And then he had to hunt down and possibly kill a giant dinosaur.

Owen sighed, looking down at Charlie. Yeah. Easy. He had this all under control. Totally. He took a deep breath. "Echo." He turned to look at her. "I need you to do something important for me, okay?"

Echo tilted her head and blinked at him.

"Something really important, okay?" Owen said. "You need to be a big girl."

She bobbed her head. [Echo big!] She said, a bit of excitement creeping into her voice. She took a step back and wiggled a tiny bit.

Owen reached out and touched Echo's side. "I have to go find Delta and get all the humans off the island. Trip and Squirrel and everyone. But I can't leave Charlie alone." He said. "I need you to stay here and help her, okay? Guard her and keep her safe until I come back. If Ida gets too close, you have to lure her away because Charlie can't fight."

Charlie let out a whine. [I can...] She started.

"No!" Owen said loudly, interrupting her. He looked down at her and shook his head, placing his hand on her neck again. "I don't want you to move. You hear me? No moving! At all! You'll make it worse."

Echo bobbed her head. [Charlie broke. Echo stay. Alpha go.]

Owen looked back at Echo. He watched her for a moment and then nodded, hoping she understood. He looked down at Charlie and smiled. He ran his hand up and down her neck for a moment. "I'm so happy you're still alive." He said softly.

[Echo, too!] Echo said, nodding her head. [Echo happy!]

Owen looked at her and smiled. He reached out and touched her neck, running his hand along her as well. "Echo, you're in charge." He said. "I will be back as soon as I can, alright?"

Echo nodded her head. [Alpha go.]

Owen detached himself from both raptors and straightened up. He breathed out and took a step back. He hated the idea of leaving both of them. But he had to.

Echo moved closer to Charlie. She stood up straight, standing watch over her. Charlie breathed out and closed her eyes.

"As soon as I can, okay?" Owen said, stepping back. "I love you guys. Stay safe."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Author's Notes: This is shorter than intended. But the second scene I was gonna write, I haven't written yet. So instead of making you all wait daaaaays to find out what happened, I decided to put the scene in a later chapter. 8D SO THERE! SEE? Charlie and Zach are fiiiine. Well... mostly fine. Really. Who thought I'd actually kill one of them? Gesh!

So... can I come out from under my bed now?