Chapter 8: Secrets of the Afterlife
The Velociraptors and Aurora made it to the sanctuary of the south jungle. Ulyssa had lead the pack even deeper into the jungle until they reached the creek.
'We'll be safe here,' she chirps at Aurora and her pack. Scar and the other raptors disappear into the darkness, leaving Aurora, Ulyssa, and their packs.
The young woman's hands began to shake, mostly in pain and fear. The bullet wound in her shoulder was excruciating and she didn't know what to do.
Ulyssa walks up to her and sees the wound. 'Use the water,' she chirps, eyeing the creek.
"What good will that do?" Aurora asks.
'Just do it!' Ulyssa snarls at her, but Charlie snaps her jaws at the big raptor.
'You need to watch that attitude!' Echo screeches, both she and Delta still had ropes tied around their necks. Blue was still on the tent cover, too weak to move.
Aurora walks up to the creek, takes a handful of water, and washes the wound. Then, as if it were by magic, the pain subsides and Aurora felt the bullet exit out from her shoulder.
'How in the world is that possible?' Delta asks in a chirp.
Aurora didn't wait for an answer; she took her hoodie off and uses to soak the water from the creek. She came to Blue's side and squeezes the water out from a sleeve.
At that moment, the cuts on Blue's body began to close up and the bruises disappear. The beta raptor stands up on her two feet and shakes her head, getting her blood running.
Blue gently nudges her head against Aurora's body. "I'm fine Blue, are you?" the woman asks.
'I feel much better,' the beta raptor answers and Aurora hugs her neck. Aurora then lets Delta and Echo loose from the ropes.
'I think you've been eating too much, you gained some weight,' Delta chirps, but Blue growls at her.
"Is this water...I mean is it..." Aurora struggles to use the right words for it.
'You could say it is magical,' Moriko chirps.
'More than magical,' Silva adds, but then Ulyssa snarls at her pack members.
'Stop talking!' she screeches, but Aurora and her pack were already curious of the water's abilities. 'I suppose I might as well tell you,' Ulyssa chirps and begins to tell the story.
'You could say that this river is the Fountain of Youth, but it does other things besides keeping you healthy. It can heal wounds and take away any sorts of pain. The reason that you two didn't die was because the water's powers made you immortal,' Ulyssa explains to Aurora and her pack.
"I thought that in the afterlife, you are made immortal," Aurora said, but Ulyssa shakes her head.
'This afterlife is much different than what you hear in stories. You either stay here and live in peace or cease to exist. The humans you killed? They didn't drink the water because they were not immortal and they ceased to exist,' Ulyssa chirps and Aurora and her pack were astound by this.
'But where did the humans come from?' Blue asks.
'An afterlife that humans call Hell. Humans are an arrogant species, they think only of themselves. Those humans you've seen at the camp, they committed a horrific crime in their past lives. Murder, steal, all sorts of crimes, that's what prevents them from going to their peaceful afterlife, Heaven I believe it is called,' Ulyssa continues to explain.
'So, after they are killed a second time, they cease to exist?' Charlie chirps.
'I did say that, did I?' Ulyssa answers and continues, 'So, this river, the water, it has to be protected from anyone or anything that has a black heart.'
"Even the dinosaurs with black hearts?" Aurora asks the big raptor.
'Yes, but I've never heard of a dinosaur with a black heart,' Ulyssa answers, but Blue and her pack mates knew what kind of dinosaur that would have a black heart.
'But how did the humans get here? Plus one of the other raptors mentioned that it has happened before,' Delta chirps her question.
'The land covered by shadows, it is like a connection from Hell to here. The barrier is our only source of protection, but anything with eminence power or strength can penetrate it,' Silva answers.
'Before you came, many years ago the barrier was broken and the humans invaded this place. We killed all of them before they reached the river and the barrier closed up. Now, we're dealing with more than ever,' Shadow chirps.
'If the humans drink the water, there is no way to kill them and perhaps they'll be too strong to take down,' Moriko adds.
Aurora and her pack were amazed by the story and the young woman says, "We'll help you protect it."
'That I will not allow. You're a human yourself and what if there is the possibility that you will turn on us,' Ulyssa chirps, but Blue snarls at the big raptor.
"Easy girl. Ulyssa, I'm not like them, I would never put my pack in-" 'Your pack?!' Ulyssa screeches, showing her teeth at Aurora. Blue stands in front of Ulyssa and screams back at her.
Suddenly, Ulyssa jumps on Blue and the two began to fight. "Stop it!" Aurora shouts, but the two raptors snap their jaws at each other.
Blue jumps at Ulyssa, biting down on her leg, but then the big raptor used her talon to cut deep into Blue's side. Aurora's screams as a sieging shot of pain coursed through her. Charlie, Delta, and Silva separated Blue and Ulyssa.
Blue notices Aurora and comes to her side. The woman revealed a deep gash in her side, much like Blue's injury. Aurora wades into the creek, her body consumed by the water's healing magic, and the wound closes up.
'How is that possible? Neither one touched you,' Charlie chirps and Aurora steps out of the water.
'I don't believe it. Somehow you two are connected,' Ulyssa chirps and Blue checks on her alpha. The beta raptor was limping due to the injury she received in the fight.
Aurora cupped some water in her hands and drizzles it over Blue's wound, it closed up. Aurora then gave the raptor a hug and Blue purrs.
'What do you mean that they are connected?' Delta asks in a chirp.
'In a spiritual sense. If one has loved another in their past life and they come here, they are what we call 'Inseparables'. They have bonded in both body and soul. Like what just happened, Blue got injured, but Aurora also received the injury,' Shadow explains and adds, 'Both of you will feel each other's pain and feelings.'
"So that explains the bruises," Aurora said, pulling up her shirt, but the bruises were gone. "Blue was beaten at the camp and I got bruises all over my arms and legs, much like Blue."
'So, you're like conjoined twins?' Charlie asks the two and Aurora nods.
'Unbelievable,' Ulyssa chirps, but it was of anger.
"Ulyssa, I know you hate humans, but you have to understand our feelings for each other," Aurora says to the big raptor, but Ulyssa snarls.
'Aurora may have been with us for a short time when we were alive, but she went to great lengths to protect us,' Blue chirps at her.
'Name me one time and I might take it all back,' Ulyssa demands at Aurora's pack.
'She stayed with Blue when she was poisoned,' Echo answers.
'She kept us calm during the show, despite that we hated doing it,' Delta adds.
'And she even took a bullet for us,' Charlie gave the last detail to Ulyssa. Ulyssa's pack was amazed by these notions and they chirp at their alpha to apologize to Aurora and Blue.
'Taking a bullet for Velociraptors, that is what I call pure love,' Moriko chirps, but her alpha was unmoved by this.
'If I see it, I'll believe it,' Ulyssa replies, her answer was followed by growls and snorts.
'Why are you being so selfish?' Blue asks the big raptor and the others were curious, too.
Ulyssa did not answer and instead, she leaves the group, without looking back. 'You have to forgive her, she was subjected to all sorts of abuse when we were alive,' Silva chirps at the group.
"We know," Aurora says, "I mean, I have heard stories about Jurassic Park from a friend and of the Velociraptors who were there."
Ulyssa's pack gave snorts as a reply. 'You should stay here for the night, it's not safe to go and expose yourself,' Shadow chirps to them.
Charlie, Delta, and Echo were relieved as they looked exhausted. Ulyssa's pack leads them to a clearing a bit further away from the creek. The three raptors curled up and went to sleep.
'We'll keep watch,' Moriko chirps to them.
Aurora and Blue also settle down on the ground, Blue's tail curled around Aurora, and placed a leg over her body. Aurora lays her head on the raptor's neck. The two fell asleep within moments.
From the author: Have I answered all the questions? There will be more answers later.
Anyway, I hope everyone is joying this! Please, please leave reviews!