Jurassic Park: The Broken Lives Saga by Dinohunter55
Chapter 12: Territorial Clash
Amanda looked through the various crates and barrels of the airstrip. It was late morning. The tyrannosaurus rex had lurked nearby for the duration of the storm but gave up on finding them soon after dawn. At least, she hoped that was the case. She closed a box and sighed, returning to the building.
The low building had acted as a waiting area for flights to and from the island at one point. It had no power, though that was not a surprise, and the backup generator was broken beyond repair. The radio equipment was damaged anyway, the work of rats or other small creatures. Amanda found Silver Claw on the couch half-asleep and Ellie spun on a chair, eyes tracing the cracks in the roof.
"I didn't find anything useful," Amanda said. She sank into a chair beside the couch.
"I found Elvis," Ellie said. She stopped spinning. "And there's an outhouse a little ways past that door." She pointed to a second door at in the back corner of the building. "I wouldn't use it though, pretty rotten."
"Elvis?" Amanda chuckled.
Ellie reached over and pulled out a vinyl record. The record had warped and deformed the sleeve but his face was worn but recognizable on it. "I think someone was a fan." She pointed to an aging picture on the desk where a man and woman stood next to an Elvis impersonator in Hollywood.
Amanda smiled. She pulled the map from where it draped a small coffee table. The rain had soaked the map through her clothes but she managed to get it laid out without major damage. The paper felt crispy between her fingers.
The airstrip was near the center of the island and they could follow the road to nearly any building from it. To the north, she noted the location of the of the laboratory complex. It was large, nestled in a long river valley. It was certainly larger than the Observation Administration by a lot.
However, Ellie wanted to go to the harbor first. That lay northeast of the airstrip. A series of small mountain ridges and cliffs lay between the airstrip and harbor but the road circled past it on the way to the laboratory. There was also a large lake to the north. Many dinosaurs drank from its waters so predators would likely be lurking in the area.
Amanda leaned back and closed her eyes. They would not be going anywhere today however.
Tyrannous found the truck sitting on the bridge. He recognized it from the shed. They had got it working and used it. He no longer cared and passed it by. His mind turned to the redwoods. He would first scout out the velociraptors that stalked the long grass in the south. Perhaps he had taken shelter amongst them. If not, then he would follow the many valleys north.
Silver Claw watched the rain pour through the open door. It had rained for a week steady and besides a couple of compsognathus investigating the building he had not eaten in days. Amanda and Ellie were hungry too but they found some packaged snacks in a cabinet to tide them over. He tried one but spit out piece without finishing.
The urge to hunt filled him.
"Are you going out?" Amanda patted his side and then leaned against the doorframe. "It's chilly out there."
"I think I have to," Silver Claw said. "I need to eat."
"I would say wait for the rain to stop but…" she looked up to the sky, "I thought it would have ended a few days ago."
Silver Claw took a step out and looked towards both ends of the airstrip. It was clear of danger for the moment. His instincts took hold and drew him out further. "I'm going to hunt. I need to hunt."
Amanda rested her hand on his hip and let it drag along his tail as he walked out into the rain. "Don't worry about bringing us food. You make sure you eat what you need."
"I'll take some food if you find it," Ellie called from the other end of the building.
Silver Claw heard the door shut behind him and the muted talk of Amanda and Ellie. He darted across the airstrip and slipped into the jungle. He disliked leaving them alone. They could fall prey to most of the island's predators easily. Hunger and necessity urged him on however.
The trees grew tall with broad canopies but few branches close to the ground. Long vines hung from the high branches and a few reached the ground where they coiled like great snakes. The undergrowth was a mix of grasses and ferns where enough light broke through otherwise the ground was a broken patchwork of leaves, branches, and fresh puddles. The air smelled of rain and that muted all other scents. He would have to hunt by sight alone. That was fine. It was still around midday and the dark grey clouds let more than enough light through for him to see.
Silver Claw dared not wander too far from the airstrip lest he lose his sense of direction. This was new ground and he could easily get lost. He found the trail left by the bull tyrannosaurus rex traveling south along the road. He decided to go northeast of the airstrip soon after to avoid it. The jungle thickened slightly as it rose up towards the valley with the lake.
As one valley led into the other, Silver Claw caught the faint smell of blood on the air. He grew cautious and slowed his run until he moved silently through the undergrowth. He came upon a glade and ducked low.
Several blue and white velociraptors gorged themselves on a triceratops kill. The carcass was massive. They hissed and snarled at each other as they seemingly fought for the best position. There was an order to the feast despite the appearance and the highest ranks got the best spots and best parts. Things rarely devolved to actual fighting among his breed and most of the noise was just for show.
Silver Claw wanted to join them but knew the pack would turn on him as soon as they saw him. The post hunt savagery that consumed them meant that anything threatening them would face an instant and harsh reprisal. The rain and direction of the wind were in his favor but even so, Silver Claw backed off until he was a safe distance away. He watched them and waited.
The velociraptors filled their bellies, only then did they strip chunks from the kill to take home for the other members who did not join the hunt and the possible hatchlings waiting. A few of the velociraptors lingered in the area for a while. He could not hear them talking over the rain.
Silver Claw wanted desperately to join them. If he did not have the humans to protect, he would have gone out by now and risked an introduction.
One particular velociraptor caught his eye. It was larger than the rest and fit. He assumed it the alpha for a while before it deferred to another male with its body language. The last of the pack faded into the jungle and still Silver Claw waited. After a while, the scavengers crept in from the jungle to take their fill. He joined them, frightening most off, and quickly filled his own belly.
He was about to leave when he remember his own pack. Amanda and Ellie were waiting on him to return. Silver Claw cleaved off a chunk of thigh spared the attention of the pack and carried it back to the airstrip. The velociraptors would return to the kill later and possibly discover his scent. They might search the area.
Silver Claw decided that rain or not, they would leave come morning.
Amanda yawned but did not grumble about the early morning trek unlike Ellie who quietly muttered to herself. They had full bellies. But, the fact it was still pouring rain put a damper on the mood. Silver Claw had led them northeast of the airstrip and along a small ridge. He hushed them as they neared the place where the other pack made their kill.
He told Amanda about his plan once Ellie was asleep during the night knowing she would not like it. The road to the south seemed like a favorite of the tyrannosaurus rex and he wanted to avoid it more than the pack. That meant they could either travel back through the pass that led them to the airstrip, going in the opposite direction of the harbor, or pass close to the kill and into the valleys beyond. If they were fast, they could escape the notice of the pack. The rain helped but did not mean it was easier or guaranteed.
Amanda had the unfortunate task of telling Ellie come the predawn.
They met the road north of a shed that marked the main intersection of the island. Amanda knew that from studying the map. She did not know how far north of it they had gone however until they followed the road along the base of a tall mountain peak.
The distant howls of dinosaurs put them on edge.
"How long would they look for you if they caught your scent?" Amanda asked Silver Claw in a hushed tone. Ellie walked with her eyes down cast and paid them no attention.
"I don't know," Silver Claw said. "It depends on how close I was to their nest. They won't tolerate an unfamiliar velociraptor near their home."
Amanda sighed, her breath misting slightly on the air. She shivered a little. The rain soaked through everything and it would take a long time to dry it all again. She rather envied Silver Claw's scales in that regard. The rain beaded and rolled off him in small rivulets. She rubbed her hands together to warm them.
Amanda heard the gentle breaking of water on the shore. They were near the lake. The road left the confines of the jungle briefly along the base of a grassy hill atop which a lone tree stood sentinel over the tall waving stalks.
Silver Claw stopped and reared up, tilting his head from one side to the other.
"What do you hear?" Amanda asked him. Ellie walked into her and gasped.
"What is it?" Ellie said.
"I hear something up the road," Silver Claw said. "Stay here, I'm going to check it out."
Before Amanda could say anything, Silver Claw jogged ahead, leaving them alone.
Ellie found shelter under a broadleaved plant and Amanda joined her.
"How long do you think he'll be?" Ellie asked and then added. "I'm sick of this rain. I think I'm catching a cold." As if to emphasise this, she sucked in a thick rattling breath through her nose.
"I don't know," Amanda said. "I don't think he'll leave us for long though."
A few minutes passed by and Amanda decided to walk up the hill. She was already wet, what harm could it do to her. It was not very steep but tall enough she could not see over until near the top. A vast lake stretched out beyond. It was over a kilometer across with a shoreline ranging from rock to beach. Rolling whitecaps churned the waters as the wind drove the waves. It was beautiful and if she had not been soaked to the core already and cold, a swim may have tempted her.
Ellie came running up the hill from behind her. "Amanda!" Ellie was alarmed.
"What?" Amanda turned and saw a dark shape slip from the jungle to the grass. It was a velociraptor. It was not alone. Two others darted from the jungle. "Get up the tree!"
Amanda shoved Ellie to climbing. She heard the snarling velociraptors closing. Ellie got a firm hold and started to clamber up the thick trunk. Amanda followed. She only got a few meters up when jaws snapped shut on her foot and pulled her down.
Amanda hit the ground hard and felt the wind leave her. She was dazed. A flurry of snarling voices surrounded her. "Help!" She cried in the velociraptor language. "Silver Claw!"
In the tree above, Ellie screamed.
Silver Claw watched the herd of noisy pachycephalosaurus jostle each other as they followed the road towards the harbor. Ellie was not going to like this. It was a large herd consisting of over two dozen members, most aggressive adults and sub adults. A few backed apart and slammed their thick domed skulls together. The sound made Silver Claw's teeth itch every time.
The valley going towards the harbor was too narrow to avoid the herd now. Perhaps they would continue north to the laboratory instead. However, that definitely fell under the pack's territory…
Ellie screamed.
Silver Claw turned and raced down the road. His heart pounded in his chest. He had been gone too long. He ran down the straight road until it curved and opened. He saw Ellie in the lower branches of the tree on the hill. She screamed again.
Three velociraptors were at the base of the tree. Where was Amanda? One of the velociraptors kept looking down and then spoke to the others. His heart sank and then rage filled him.
Silver Claw bolted up the hill. A male velociraptor turned its head and saw him. It opened its mouth to say something to him but realized too late that he was not one of its own. Silver Claw barreled into the velociraptor, teeth and claws lashing out. His attack pushed the velociraptor into another and the three tumbled to the feet of the third in a tangled mesh of claws and teeth.
In moments, the velociraptors untangled with fresh wounds bore by all. The three velociraptors of the pack, one male and two females, backed away from the stranger in their midst. Silver Claw took up position over Amanda and snarled savagely.
She was alive and whole.
"Silver Claw," Amanda cried.
"You will not touch her again!" Silver Claw snarled.
Two of the three velociraptors backed away. One female stayed still, a shallow gash across her chest wept pink in the rain. She fixed him with a firm glare and snarled her challenge. Silver Claw did not rise to the bait. If he attacked her then the others would circle around and get him from behind or attack Amanda.
Silver Claw braced himself over Amanda and held his ground. "Are you ok?" Silver Claw kept his eyes fixed on the other velociraptors.
"I just got the wind knocked out of me," Amanda said. She staggered to her feet.
"Can you climb the tree," Silver Claw asked. The pack started to circle him.
"Not fast enough," Amanda said. She placed a hand on his hip.
Amanda seemed to understand the situation. However, Ellie did not see it and kept calling for Amanda to climb. Silver Claw did not need to look to know the absolute grief and tears on Ellie's face. He had seen it before and wished he could do more to help.
The velociraptors stopped to either side with the lead female facing off with Silver Claw directly. The wounded male was to Silver Claw's left and the uninjured female to the right.
He felt a tremble in Amanda's hand. "I think you could outrun them if you left now. I could be a distraction."
"I'm not leaving you behind." Silver Claw said. His attention wavered between the three velociraptors.
"So you're the trespasser in our territory," the lead female hissed.
Silver Claw looked at her but kept a wary eye on the other two. "I was just passing through."
"You ate from our kill."
Silver Claw tensed. He should never have done it but his hungry mind made poor decisions. "I waited until your pack finished."
"Ah, you admit it." The female straightened a little.
Silver Claw turned and snarled at the uninjured female as she took a tentative step forward.
"Don't come any closer," Amanda said. Silver Claw heard the rasp of a knife as she drew it from her pocket.
The three velociraptors snarled.
"How does it know our language," the uninjured female hissed.
"I'm a quick learner," Amanda replied before Silver Claw could answer.
"I taught her it." Silver Claw fished for knowledge about the pack as a flurry of other thoughts filled his mind. These three were unknown to him but around his age. He recalled the name of his grandfather, "I want to speak to Jack."
The velociraptors hissed.
"How do you know that name Silver Claw?" The lead female took two steps forward. "Tell me now or I will kill you where you stand and your little human as well." The other velociraptors tensed, ready to pounce.
"He is my grandfather." Silver Claw said. That caught them off guard, especially the lead female. "You know my name, what is yours?"
The lead female turned to the others. "Go and fetch the pack. I will watch him."
Silver Claw saw the hesitation in the others but they did as commanded and took off in a sprint down the hill. Clearly, they trusted the lead female to hold her own against him. He was still thin from the hunger. The velociraptors disappeared into the jungle.
"Amanda, climb the tree now." Silver Claw said.
"Stay where you are Amanda," commanded the female velociraptor. "If she climbs the tree, I will make sure they both die."
Silver Claw snarled.
"Snarl all you want Silver Claw," the female said and visibly relaxed a little. "If you want to name the alpha male of our pack as kin then you can abide by the rules." She showed her teeth in a half smile and a promised threat. "You know enough to know which those rules are, right?"
Silver Claw tensed his jaw. There were rules for when two packs met or a lone velociraptor made a claim and he had accidentally invoked one of them by naming the rival pack's alpha as kin. If they ran now or attacked the female, his life was forfeit automatically and the pack would run him down no matter where he went. He shuttered.
Amanda felt it and rubbed his side. "What's wrong?" She had made no effort to climb the tree, even before the female spoke. Ellie sat on her branch resigned to witness whatever followed next.
"I invoked a claim of kinship with the alpha," Silver Claw said. "We can't leave now."
"It's true, right?" Amanda whispered.
Silver Claw nodded and turned his attention back to the female. She stood half a head taller than he did and had more muscle. She was the off white of the females in his breed with blue-black markings across her body. A line of small triangular markings followed her spine. She had intense yellow eyes that distantly reminded him of his mother.
"You know our names," Silver Claw tried again. "What is your name?"
The female cocked her head, looking the both of them over. "My name is Sunayana. Now be silent until the pack arrives to judge you on whether you speak the truth or not. Know that if you are lying, you and the humans will die."
Silver Claw remained silent and thankfully so did Amanda. Ellie called out a few questions but eventually fell silent. Silver Claw tried to remember all the rules he would need to observe with the alpha. They were not meeting as equals and he had the added danger of humans under his protection.
Sunayana perked up to the arrival first. Silver Claw caught glimpses of movement in the trees. The pack circled around the area to catch him if he tried to run. After a moment, he saw four velociraptors emerge from the jungle, two male and two female. They walked slowly up the hill.
Silver Claw saw a flash of anger on one female when she spotted Amanda. The others did not show their thoughts so easily.
Memory stirred and Silver Claw recognized the four velociraptors. The alpha male was Jack and his partner Sara. They were his grandparents on his mother's side. The other two were family as well. Fang and his partner Elise were the parents of Sara, Silver Claw's great grandparents. Presumably, they were second in rank to the alpha pair. The lower ranks circled in the jungle.
"Who is this who claims to be my kin?" Jack said, stepping forward from the group. He was tall with a dark red crest over his eyes. Dozens of quills stood erect on the back of his head.
"His name is…" Sunayana started.
"Sunayana," Jack stopped her. "He has a mouth and can speak for himself? Learn patience my daughter."
"I am Silver Claw," Silver Claw said and instinctively showed his throat in an act of submission. The rules were lost in the clutter of his mind. He acted on instinct.
Jack's eyes turned to Amanda as if just seeing her, "A human?"
"My name is Amanda," Amanda said. Silver Claw felt her shrink back a little. He hoped she did not lock eyes with Jack for too long.
"I did not know humans were capable of learning our language. She speaks it well," Jack looked up to where Ellie cowered.
"Her name is Ellie," Amanda quickly said. "She does not speak your language well enough to answer you properly."
"A shame," Jack returned his gaze to Silver Claw, Ellie seemingly now forgotten.
Sunayana backed off as Sara, Fang, and Elise took up positions around Silver Claw. If he had to fight, he would lose but at least his death would be quick.
"By what heritage do you claim my kinship?" Jack asked.
"I am Silver Claw," the rules resurfaced in his mind briefly. "I am the last surviving hatchling of Seth and Amber. It is by Amber, my mother, that I claim kinship with you and your mate. Through your mate, I also claim kinship to her parents Fang and Elise."
Sunayana snarled a little but a twitch by Jack silenced her.
Sara strode forward, standing tall and looking down on Silver Claw.
"Don't move Amanda," Silver Claw whispered. He felt her hand on his hip twitch.
Sara looked down on Silver Claw for a while and then bent to him. She sniffed his head and then chest, pushing him around a little as she did so before stepping back. He let it happen without protest.
"You stink of human," Sara said. Her voice was surprisingly gentle however. She was shorter than Jack was by only a little. Her markings clustered around her head and hips. A black triangle tipped her snout. "But, I remember your scent from the day your clutch hatched. My daughter was so happy. And, I remember when you left us, alone of your clutch, by your father's side after her death." She bent and nuzzled Silver Claw affectionately. "It is good to see you again little one though you travel with strange company."
Silver Claw nuzzled her back. Hope swelled in his heart.
Sara returned to Jack's side. Fang and then Elise approached and sniffed him. They confirmed his identity but said no more and showed no affection. Elise snarled at Amanda but to her credit, she did not flinch.
"It has been a long time Silver Claw," Jack said. He stepped forward but did not sniff him like the others. "I was sorry to hear of your father's fate from Scar. We offered to take you in but he refused as the journey between our packs had become too dangerous with those carnotaurus. I have not heard from him since then."
Scar was the alpha male of Silver Claw's pack and Sophia's father. It did not surprise him that he would travel between the packs to talk with Jack. Scar and Jack were among the first born of all velociraptors on the island. Silver Claw's father also counted among that number. The offer surprised him however and he wondered at how different his life would have been if they had taken him.
"What has happened to your pack, little one?" Sara stepped forward and joined Jack.
"They're dead," Silver Claw lowered his eyes. "The spinosaurus discovered the nest and killed them all. Sophia and I were away when the attack happened. I am now all that is left. That was a few months ago."
A low threatening growl escaped Jack. Silver Claw flinched despite not being the target. He felt Amanda's hand squeeze his side a little. There was a long silence as Jack considered the information.
Sara broke the silence. "Step away from the human little one."
Silver Claw looked at her and then at Amanda. He hesitated.
"I will not ask you again." Sara said.
Silver Claw backed away but tensed his muscles to pounce if needed. His heart pounded and his breaths quickened. Jack moved to speak with Fang and Elise away from Silver Claw.
Sara walked up to Amanda. Amanda trembled under the weighty gaze upon her. Where Sara had affection and love for Silver Claw, she held sterner feelings for humans. She sniffed Amanda, knocking her head to one side and then another with less care than she showed Silver Claw. Eventually, she backed away.
"Why do you travel with Silver Claw?" Sara lowered her head to look directly in Amanda's eyes.
Silver Claw saw the flash of fear wash over Amanda but she stood her ground though trembling. He knew better than to answer for her but worried deeply.
"We're part of the same pack," Amanda said after a nervously long pause. "He's saved my life and I his life."
Sara gave Silver Claw a glance. He nodded his confirmation. Her eyes returned to Amanda.
"What brought you together?"
Amanda swallowed. "We lost everything to the spinosaurus. That is what brought us together."
Sara growled low, "Careful with the tone human."
"I'm sorry." Amanda said and mirrored Silver Claw's motions by showing her throat.
Sara eyed Silver Claw and he lowered his head apologetically.
"When will you be leaving this island?" Sara backed up and looked down at Amanda.
Amanda shook visibly. "I'm staying here, with my pack. Ellie will go when we are able to send her home but I will stay. Silver Claw is all I have left."
Sara said nothing and moved to Jack.
Silver Claw nearly knocked Amanda down as he moved to protect her again. He nuzzled her gently and then turned as Jack approached him. Silver Claw saw that the rest of the pack emerged from the jungle and was moving to circle the tree at some unnoticed sign.
Jack waited until the pack was close enough to hear him. "This is Silver Claw. His is the son of my first daughter. He is my family. Most of you do not know him. His father was one of the first-born and the original alpha of this pack before it split into two. Silver Claw travels in the company of two humans, Amanda and Ellie. It is unfortunate that he takes after his father in this regard."
A quiet murmuring went through the pack as most looked at Amanda rather than Silver Claw.
The last statement caught Silver Claw off guard. He wanted to know what Jack meant by that.
"I offer Silver Claw a choice." Jack continued. "He may join our pack and be counted as one of our own. However, he must leave behind the humans that he protects. Their fate is not our concern but they will be left alive to live or die on their own, unmolested by our pack as long as they remain away from our nest."
Scornful hisses erupted from the pack.
Jack silenced them with a twitch of his tail. "What will it be, Silver Claw?"