8D
Raptor
Chapter 31: Mate
Teeth.
So many teeth.
And darkness.
He can't see anything. No faces, just the white, pristine, razor sharp looking teeth. Rows and rows of teeth. They snap at him and he moves away, trying to evade them. And they snap again, following him. But he can't get away. He pivots and spins and tried to run. And he stumbles. He's falling and he can't get back up. He thinks maybe someone calls his name. Someone touches him. But again, there's just teeth and terror and he can't get away. He just can't.
Zach opened his eyes slowly. Really slowly. It was dark and he was disoriented. He couldn't remember anything. He had no clue where he was. What happened? Was he outside? Did he hit his head? He moved to sit up and there was a soft, low whistle beside him. He froze and turned, blinking in the fading light. Blue was beside him, less than a foot from him. He could reach out and touch her. She was just there, right beside him. No fence, just... there. She was just right there. Zach flinched away from her as it all came back to him. Delta and Echo at the van. Falling off and Echo chasing him. Then Blue. And the large, golden raptor... Owen. Owen was a... Owen had turned into a...
Zach's eyes widened and he let out a panicked gasp. He started hyperventilating. He clawed and scraped and kicked at the ground, trying to drag himself away from her. He needed to get away from her. He needed to run. He just needed to move! He flopped over on his stomach and tried to scramble away.
Blue took a step back, moving slowly, and lowered herself to the ground. She shook her head and let out a noise Zach thought he recognized. The one that Echo kept saying earlier, that Owen said meant Zach's name. Blue was saying his name.
Zach swallowed nervously and stilled. He was breathing deeply as he rolled back over. He looked up at the raptor. But she was just standing there, watching him. "Blue?" His voice shook with her name.
She bobbed her head and eased herself on the ground, laying down and tucking her tail over her legs. She moved slowly and delicately.
Zach watched her for a moment, still fighting to control his breathing and not have a panic attack. He was feeling light headed. He noticed the marks along her neck and tail and remembered the other raptor and Blue fighting. "You... okay?" He asked softly as he breathed in deeply, trying to stop himself from shaking.
Blue nodded her head again. She glanced down at her tail and snorted. Then she looked back up at Zach. She tilted her head to the side and nodded her nose towards him.
Zach lifted his hands off the ground as settled himself back into a sitting position. He tried hard not to shake as he rubbed them together for a moment. He let his hands drop in his lap and breathed out. "I uh... I'm okay, I think." He said softly.
Blue nodded her head again and blew out loudly.
"Trying not to freak out." He said softly and dropped his gaze to his lap. For more than one reason, he was trying not to freak out. Blue was obvious. Being so close to her... Even though she'd stepped back, he still thought he could reach out and touch her. But he wasn't going to test that theory. He still wanted to run. But being that close, if she really wanted to attack him, running wouldn't help. He breathed out again. For a moment, he worried that it was some sort of ruse to get him to do just that. She was bored and wanted him to run, so she could have something to chase. He swallowed nervously and bit his lip. If she was going to do that, he just wished she would do it already!
Blue hummed softly, the weird noise vibrating in her throat. It sounded like some weird form of purring or something for a moment.
Zach glanced at her for a moment before he looked down at the ground again. He took a deep breath. "Owen..." He said the name softly. "Owen is... a raptor?" He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head as tears were suddenly in his eyes. How? Just... how? Blue snorted and Zach opened his eyes and looked up to see her nodding. "Where is he?" He asked, his voice shaking a bit.
Blue straighten her neck and turned her head, as if pointing. She scented the air for a moment and snorted. Then she looked back at Zach and blinked.
Zach glanced back where she pointed for a moment. "He went after one of the others?" He asked, his voice still shaking. But he was suddenly shaking for more than just fear for himself. If Owen was out there... alone with potentially three normal raptors and a giant monster one... Zach closed his eyes again and lifted his hands to his face. He dipped his head and covered his eyes for a few minutes as he breathed in deeply.
Blue tilted her head as she watched him. She wanted to reach out and try to comfort him. He seemed in distress and she didn't know how to help him. But she did know moving wasn't a good idea. She knew that would only make it worse. So she waited.
Zach shook himself as he opened his eyes again. He finally got his breathing under control and thought maybe he wasn't about to have a panic attack. He still felt a little light headed but maybe he felt better. "Echo?" He asked. "She was the one who chased me."
Blue tilted her head again for a moment before shaking it.
Zach breathed out in relief. Though that was silly. Of the four, Echo seemed the least scary. Well... they were all scary. But she was definitely less threatening when she was watching a cartoon about a fish. "He left you here... to watch me?"
She nodded again.
"So..." Zach mused, glancing around. "We just wait here for him to come get us?"
She let out a snort and nodded her head. Then they heard a roar. It was somewhere far away but they both still turned towards the sound.
Zach scooted closer to Blue, moving for the first time. He didn't hesitate then, didn't think about it. "I don't like that plan." He whispered, shaking his head.
Blue snorted loudly and shook her head. Then she uncurled herself and stood up. She moved real slow, keeping her eyes on Zach the whole time. She didn't want to distress him anymore.
Zach watched her and nodded to himself. He placed his palm on the ground to try to steady himself. His legs were still shaking a bit as he tried to stand up. He stumbled a bit and Blue stepped forward. She bumped her head against him, trying to help. Zach flinched for a moment but Blue stayed put. Zach sucked in a breathed as she he leaned against her. He held it for a moment, trying to calm his near exploding heart. Then he breathed out slowly. He really hoped this wasn't some trick of hers, that she wasn't somehow still under the influence of Ida. "Uh... I guess I'll uh... follow you."
Blue snorted and nodded her head.
Zach smiled weakly at her. "You like... can... track him or whatever, right?" She nodded and stepped closer, bumping into him. Zach reached out and draped his arm across her back. It was oddly comforting. And crazy, he admitted silently to himself. However long ago it had been, she was trying to attack him. But he'd seen the respect and love the raptor had for Owen. She was clearly capable of near human compassion and thought. As long as the Indom-whatever wasn't around.
Blue started forward slowly.
Zach's head started spinning as he walked with her. He bit his lip as he looked down at the ground. He tried to concentrate on where he was putting his feet instead of what he'd seen. Because he'd seen Owen become a raptor. And fight Blue. To save him. Then he'd seen Owen become human again. And Zach had no clue how Owen was capable of doing something like that. The whole time... maybe the man's whole life. How was that even possible? Now all the man's warnings made sense. Owen proclaiming to be dangerous. And the man's fear of being found out and fired. And when Owen was drunk and rolling around in the dirt... was that what he wanted to show Zach?
"Damnit, Blue."
Zach lifted his gaze as Owen stepped out. His eyes widened, seeing Owen like that. Bare chest, dirty jeans, messy hair. But all Zach could see in his head was teeth and claws. He could hear the screams and screeches and he ducked his head. He flinched back, inadvertently hiding behind Blue. Like she was somehow less scary then Owen. In that moment, maybe she was.
Owen stopped where he was, still several feet from the pair. Pain flashed across his face as he watched Zach's fear. He quickly shifted his gaze to Blue and kept his eyes trained on her. "I told you to stay put and not touch him." He said.
Blue snorted and shook her head. She warbled something to Owen.
"Yeah, I can see." Owen rolled his eyes and shook his head. "But he shouldn't be moving. He mighta hurt something."
Blue snorted again, almost indignantly sounding. She lifted her head higher and stamped a foot on the ground. Then she opened her mouth and said something Zach couldn't understand.
"I don't care." Owen said, crossing his arms. "I'm in charge. I outrank him. How many times do I have to tell you guys that?" He shook his head. "You all get this idea in your heads and think it somehow changes..."
Blue snorted loudly and shook her head. She let out a growl.
"I don't care!" Owen snapped. "He's clearly not fine!"
Zach rolled his eyes. Being talked about like he wasn't even there was started to piss him off. And he could only understand half of what was going on. "Well he's fine." Zach snapped, talking about himself in third person. Owen's eyes shot to him and Zach immediately looked down at the ground. He bit his lip and pressed himself against Blue again.
"Zach..." Owen said his name softly and held up his hands.
Zach got the feeling Owen was treating him like a frightened animal. Zach breathed out and looked back up at him. And Zach thought about it. Even if Owen was... this other thing... that Zach couldn't even fathom... let alone understand... he was still Owen. Maybe it had only been less than a week, but the connection was there. It was instant and strong and Zach had never felt anything like it. And he trusted Owen, he realized. He trusted Owen. And then before Zach could even process what he was doing, he was running forward. The movement caught Owen by almost as much surprise, judging by his expression. Zach jumped at him, locked his arms around Owen's larger frame and hugged against his bare chest tightly.
Owen let out a squeak as he stumbled back a second. And then a sigh heaved out of him and he laced his arms around Zach's waist. He lifted the kid up off the ground and buried his head against Zach's neck. It felt right. The knowledge that Zach was okay both calmed his soul and empowered his belief that he could do anything. Like taking on a giant, bloodthirsty dinosaur. He'd been fighting it for days. But he'd known since he first smelled the kid in the crowd. As absurd as it was, Zach was his soul mate. Owen had never believed in the idea of soul mates, in the one perfect person meant just for him, in fate or destiny or any of that shit.
But suddenly, Zach was his everything. Zach was his soul mate in every sense of the word. And Owen would die to protect him. He wouldn't even second guess it. He just would, unflinchingly. And it was scary and terrifying. And it was even more scary and terrifying how quickly his raptors attached themselves to Zach. But, he supposed, that just made it all the more perfect. Because it was just more proof that they were meant to be. Zach melted against him and Owen let out another sigh. He set Zach down gently but held onto the kid still. Then leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to Zach's.
Zach quickly pushed him away and detached himself. "Wait." He said, shaking his head and holding up his hands.
Owen stopped immediately and stepped back. He held up his hands and ducked his head a bit. "Sorry." He mumbled, rubbing at the back of his neck. He breathed out loudly and shook his head.
[Mate!] Blue laughed, striding over towards them. She snorted and thumped her tail against Owen's legs.
Owen looked sideways at the raptor and glared at her. "Shut up." He hissed between clenched teeth.
Zach glanced at Blue and she ducked her head, half behind Owen. He wondered what she had said. It wasn't the first time, but it was the first time he actually thought he was missing something. The first time he realized they were having a real conversation. Not just the crazy pet obsessed conversations. "You actually talk to them..." Zach said softly, not looking at Owen. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes." Owen answered, nodding his head. Blue peaked out and nodded her head as well.
Zach looked at her and breathed out. "They really talk back to you." He said.
Owen nodded again. "Yes."
Zach swallowed, his eyes still on Blue.
She stepped out from behind Owen and stretched her neck out towards Zach. She was still far enough she couldn't touch him. And she didn't move any closer.
Zach closed his eyes for a moment. "You... become... one..."
"Yes." Owen whispered.
Zach tore his eyes away from Blue and looked back at Owen. "How?"
Owen sighed and turned away from Zach slightly. "I don't know." He breathed out, shaking his head. "The doctor I took you to... Henry Wu... he kidnapped me, did some experiments, I guess. I don't know what he did to me. But I ended up... like this. I honestly don't think I want to know. It was... I blocked it out." Owen involuntarily flinched at the memory and closed his eyes. "I try not to think about it." He finished softly.
Blue blew out softly and stretched her neck out to touch his arm. [Alpha?]
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "I'm okay." He said, reaching out to touch her cheek.
Zach tilted his head, watching them. "You uh... you can... control yourself... control it?"
Owen looked at Zach and paused for a moment. He wondered how exactly to explain it. And if he should even try. Zach looked terrified. And he should, of course. And Owen didn't want to make it worse. But, he guessed, lying wouldn't help anything right then. He looked away and shrugged. "Until recently... total control." He answered honestly.
Zach frowned and tilted his head. "Recently?"
Owen nodded and breathed out. "The moment you stepped on the island." He said softly. "Changed everything."
Zach dropped his gaze to the ground. "Me?" His voice was barely a whisper.
Owen sighed. "I can't explain it." And he couldn't! He couldn't explain everything over the last near week. He shrugged and shook his head as he looked back at Zach. "Something about you... some... primal inner instinct or something... I just can't..."
Blue stiffened and turned suddenly, interrupting the moment. She hadn't wanted to, because maybe if Alpha and Mate stopped being dumb, things could go back to being normal. She growled lowly, deep in her chest as she heard the far off roar.
Owen turned as well, a growl in his throat. "I hear her, Blue." He said.
[Go!] She warbled and snorted and shook her head. [Now!]
"Yeah, yeah." Owen nodded and turned back to Zach. "Look, I'd love to take you back to my trailer and talk and stuff... uh... talk, I mean." He repeated. "But I kinda got this monster dinosaur to deal with. And getting you and your brother off the island safely. And Barry and Claire and Zara every other single living person left."
Zach smiled slightly and took a step closer. "Very heroic." He said softly.
Owen breathed out and reached for Zach. When the kid didn't pull away, he bent forward and touched his forehead to Zach's gently. He sighed and closed his eyes.
Zach let out a sigh after a moment. "I don't want to go..." He said softly, a hint of a whine in his voice.
Owen smiled. "Sorry, sweetheart, but that's a no. Gotta get you off this island. Gotta make sure you're somewhere safe."
"But maybe I can..." Zach started.
"Help?" Owen finished with a laugh. "The only way you can help is by staying safe, off the island, so I can concentrate and not be worried about your safety."
"But..."
"No!" Owen said louder.
Blue moved closer and let out a chirp. [Cage Trip?] She suggested.
Owen smiled at her as he pulled away from Zach. He let out a laugh and shook his head. "That wouldn't be nice." He said.
Zach glanced between Owen and the raptor. "What?"
Owen smiled brightly as he looked back at Zach. "She's... just agreeing with me. And maybe threatening to throw you in a cage."
Zach looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't..."
Her lips curled in an almost smiling manner.
"She would." Owen said with a nod. "If it would somehow keep you safe."
[Bite Trip, too.] Blue said with a sneer.
Owen shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Well... threatening to injure Trip seems to defeat the whole purpose of protecting him, Blue." He snapped.
"Trip..." Zach said, looking back at Owen. "I've heard you say that before... with Echo... about the movie..." He looked at Blue. "Do you... is that..." He looked back at Owen. "Is that what they call me? Trip?"
Owen smiled and crossed his arms. "Maybe."
Zach's mouth dropped open and he looked at Blue. "I didn't trip! I was pushed!"
"It's cute." Owen said.
Zach shook his head and threw up his arms. "It's embarrassing!"
"It could be worse." Owen said with a shrug. "They have poor taste in nicknames."
Blue snorted and shook her head. She quite liked their names. She reached out and snapped at Owen's arm playfully.
Zach tilted his head. "Like what?"
"Like calling Barry Dirt. Don't tell him!" Owen added quickly. "I tried to explain that it's like... borderline racist. But Delta refused to change it. Because when they first met Barry, I scared him shitless and he fell on his ass in the dirt."
Zach smiled. A real, genuine smile since Owen disappeared from the tablet screen, when he was back in the van sitting beside Gray.
"Believe me." Owen insisted. "It's an affectionate name."
Zach rolled his eyes. "Why?"
"Why?" Owen repeated.
Zach nodded. "Yeah."
Owen sighed and looked at Blue.
The raptor nodded her head. [Tell him.] She said. [Hurry. Go.]
Owen shook his head quickly. "No." He said, fearing again he'd scare Zach off. But for a different reason.
She opened her mouth and hissed at him. Then snapped her jaws, this time, in a less than playful manner.
Owen rolled his eyes as he reached out to bat her mouth away. "Bossy ass." He muttered under his breath. "Fine." He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the dark sky. He didn't want to look at Zach for a moment. "The moment you stepped on this island... you started something..." He breathed out softly. "You started affecting me. Just your presence. Blue noticed right away."
Blue nodded her head.
Zach stared at both of them blankly. "Yeah... so? You already told me that."
Owen smiled as he looked down at Zach. He didn't think the kid quite got what he was trying to say. "They're very pack oriented. They form strong, fast bonds with those they deem family."
"Well yeah." Zach said, nodding. "You're practically one of them. Literally, I guess."
Owen shook his head. "Not me. You! I'm talking about you!"
"Me?" Zach frowned and tilted his head.
"Yes!" Owen said loudly. "You're family! You and Gray. You're now family. Probably Claire too, right?" He glanced at Blue. "Claire and Zara are in, right?"
Blue snorted and narrowed her eyes. She wasn't happy about it, but she nodded her head.
Owen smiled and looked back at Zach. "You guys are family now. To them. And me."
"Family?" Zach repeated softly.
Owen nodded. "So we have to get you guys off the island so we can be all awesome and heroic and save the island. So we can get our home back and you can come visit again."
Zach's eyes widened. "I can come back?" He asked softly.
"Well... yeah." Owen said, nodding his head. "Duh!"
"You want me to come back?" Zach asked softly, his voice barely a whisper. His mind was reeling as everything sunk in. But he just needed to hear Owen say it.
Blue snorted and shook her head. She let out a low growl and stamped a foot on the ground, looking really annoyed.
Owen did exactly the same, but he looked more frustrated than annoyed. "Have you been listening to ANYTHING I've been saying Zach?!" He said a bit louder than he meant.
"Yeah but..." Zach bit his lip and looked at the ground. "You... want me to..."
"Yes." Owen tried to say as evenly and seriously as he could. It was really hard to do. He nodded his head once. "I do."
Zach looked back up at him and smiled again.
"Under three conditions." Owen added quickly.
Zach frowned. "What?"
Blue snorted loudly and shook her head. [Talk later. Go now!]
Owen glanced at her sideways and held up a finger at her. "Just another minute, okay?"
Blue shook her head and turned her back on him. She hung her head and grumbled something indistinguishable.
Owen smiled and looked back at Zach. "Okay. Three conditions. One, go home and break up with your little girlfriend. Nicely." He added.
Zach rolled his eyes. "Duh. Done." He honestly should have done it months ago, he knew.
Owen smiled again. "Two, you need to graduate high school."
Zach's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. "But that's like... a year away!" He whined.
"You need to graduate." Owen repeated. "You're still a kid. Come back an adult... when you can... uh..." His eyes flickered away for a moment. "Do adult things... like vote." He said with a smile.
Zach blushed and looked away. "What's three?" He asked.
Owen closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "You want to." He said and for a moment, he felt his chest tighten.
Zach looked up at him. "What?"
"You have to want to." Owen repeated softly.
"I want to." Zach said quickly, nodding his head vigorously. "I totally want to."
Owen smiled. The kid's enthusiasm warmed him, made him feel less nervous about it. Like a lot. He cleared his throat and glanced away. "You have to decide on your own." Owen said softly. "I don't want you to ever feel pressured by me." Because that was his greatest fear. He never wanted Zach to be afraid. That's what made him terrified to tell the kid. "For anything." He added.
"I don't." Zach said quickly. "I never did." He paused for a moment and looked away. "It was all me anyways." He mumbled.
Owen laughed softly. "Yeah, you definitely started it."
Zach looked at the ground sheepishly.
[GO!] Blue shouted.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: I'm seriously smiling like an idiot. I CAN'T STOP IT! HELP ME! MY FACE HURTS!
