Jurassic Park: The Broken Lives Saga by Dinohunter55
Chapter 18: The Big Game Hunter
Amanda groaned and stretched as a gentle prodding stirred her from sleep. She opened her eyes to see Silver Claw's scaled snout against her cheek. He gave her a gentle lick when he noticed she was awake. She smiled. There was a time no so long ago that it would have scared her to see his predatory aspect so close to her but now she found it comforting.
"Morning," Amanda yawned and then gave him a playful lick back. She chuckled softly to herself at the absurdity of what she just did. It amazed her just how her life had changed in the past few months, for it was months now and not just weeks. She would have to think about just how long it had been later when she had the time.
She felt several eyes on her at that moment.
The pack was already awake but had not moved too far from where they settled during the night, save Loki who was perched higher looking down on the encampment. Sunayana was a little closer and both she and Sara stared at Amanda. Their expressions were unreadable however. They were probably judging her.
Amanda's heart quickened. She would have to deal with the humans soon. That idea brought a dreadful heaviness to her gut.
The faint dawn light lit the top of the mountain ridge to the east with a fiery glow. The sun was not yet high enough to illuminate the valley beyond and so the mountain cast a cool shadow over the world. The humans were not active yet. As expect, two of the men paced the perimeter with weapons. Clear trails marked the repeated paths through the waist high grass during the night. A large swath of grass lay flat around the camp and helicopter. The guns they carried looked closer to something out of the military than civilian. The fire still burned but was little more than glowing coals.
"They're starting to stir," Zathana said to Amanda. Zathana looked tired yet eager.
Amanda saw movement inside the tents. After a few minutes, the first man appeared. It was one of the workers from the night. He set about rekindling the dying fire and yelled in a language she did not know to the men patrolling. It looked like he was frustrated about the fire though. The men patrolling waved him off.
One of the white men emerged soon after, gun slung over his shoulder, definitely a large hunting rifle Amanda figured by the look. It was easier to see in the light of day. He walked to the bushes near the back of the camp for a minute. Soon after the whole camp was up and moving. The men sat around the fire and started making coffee and digging out food from a bag.
"I should probably head down now," Amanda said. She swallowed nervously.
"You don't have to do this Amanda," Sara said softly. "You do not know these humans. They are not part of your… our pack."
"I know," Amanda said but paused briefly as her mind dwelled on the last words. What did she mean by that? "But it's safer if I at least try to talk to them first. If any of you died, what kind of pack member would I be if I could have prevented it? I think this is a case of trust and necessity." Amanda gave a weak smile directed at Sara. "Trust that I can try to prevent unnecessary bloodshed."
"Be careful," Silver Claw said.
"I will," Amanda stroked his raised quills. The variety of outcomes from her appearing to a bunch of random men in the jungle played through her mind. She tried not to dwell on any of them for long. "If they take me captive, don't rush down immediately. They'll likely want to ask me questions. A strange girl randomly appearing on an island full of dinosaurs is not something they'll be expecting."
"If they try to hurt you," Silver Claw hissed.
"We will kill them all," Sara said.
Amanda was not sure if Sara directed that comment more to her or Silver Claw. Either way, Amanda felt a little less nervous. A pack of wrathful velociraptors was an excellent bodyguard. It eased most of her concerns but not all.
"I should go now before they finish eating," Amanda said.
"But that's when they will be most protective of their space," Zathana said. She actually looked a little concerned.
Amanda smiled a little. "Human's aren't as protective as velociraptors over their food, at least not against other humans. They might even offer me something to eat."
Zathana cocked her head. "Human packs are strange."
Amanda chuckled softly. "You have no idea."
With that, Amanda slipped away from the group. She picked her trail down carefully, sliding in spots as she descended the slope towards the camp. She paused briefly to relieve herself and remove a few uncomfortable leeches she gained from sleeping on the ground. It was probably best if she did not have a full bladder with how nervous she was. She might be there for a while but could always use the excuse to slip away if needed. How would they know anyway?
She approached the treeline. What would she say? Every branch and dry leaf threatened to give away her position. The men patrolling were not far now.
Amanda stood just out of sight. Her mind raced and her heart thundered. She licked her lips. Amanda stepped through the trees and called out. "Hi there!" a second later, she realized she did not call in English as the armed men spun towards her. A gun shot.
A yacht rolled in the surf as a group of humans set up tables and chairs on a long, sandy beach. There were many of them and some carried containers wafting the rich scent of food in the breeze. Three stood out among the others. A man in light colored clothing reclined in a chair with a tall glass in one hand and a seemingly fascinating paper in the other. He spoke with a woman in a peach dress and a large hat. Then there was the youngest of the group in a pale cream dress that moved carefree about the adults.
Tyrannous silently stalked the young female as she skipped merrily away from the group. He hid among the trees and foliage that marked the clear boundary between the coast and jungle. He was alone for the moment, having decided not to risk an introduction to the pack just yet. He grew bored of watching the pack of velociraptors in the tall grass and slipped away to investigate the redwoods again. He had not made it far when he spotted the yacht sitting in the bay.
He flexed his clawed fingers.
The girl continued down the beach. She passed beyond the relative safety of the group into a grey area of danger until she was finally beyond the reach of any help. She was in danger and did not know it. Humans were oblivious surprisingly frequently. Tyrannous could have killed her there but the other humans would see him. They might have weapons. He waited. He had time.
The girl wandered towards the treeline.
His lips peeled back to reveal a sinister line of fangs. He wondered if he could grab her without her ever making a sound. That was the best way, a kill so quick and silent that the rest of the herd never knows. He prepared himself. He did not need to do it. Honestly, he was bored. The risk of hunting in the pack's territory was minimal simply due to the fact they rarely left the long grass and as such, he was not starving.
Watching the constant posturing to establish and keep rank was tedious as well. The only interesting aspect was the intrigue around the out of place velociraptor in the pack. The one occasion she actually left the grass, Tyrannous stalked her and another female as they patrolled the territory. He learned her name and some of her past. It would certainly make for an interesting conversation should he run into Silver Claw again. The thought teased out a deep delight that surprised him.
The human stopped as a bush in front of her rustled.
Tyrannous drew back, wary.
A compsognathus leapt from the bushes. The girl spoke to it. Tyrannous did not understand what she was trying to do. Did she think that it could understand her? No, that reminded him too much of Amanda. This human lacked her qualities. He waited.
The girl fed the compsognathus, a mistake. She called back to her group and by the time she turned back the swarm was around her.
His sport spoiled, Tyrannous slipped away as the screaming started.
Amanda sipped from a tin cup, nearly spilling the water due to the trembling in her hands. She sat near the fire, surrounded by questioning eyes. Her own eyes steamed tears. She winced as the man beside her tied the knot on the cloth they used to wrap her arm.
"So what's a good lookin' Sheila like yourself doin' in a place like this?" Lance said. "I'd say you're a bit looney to come out of the jungle making a sound like that."
"Ain't nothin' but a scratch," Diego said and stepped back from Amanda's side. "It'll heal up in a few days I reckon, so long as she keeps it clean."
Amanda set the cup down and crossed her arms over he stomach to ease the trembling. She was glad of the empty bladder. "I-I s-s-saw your helicopter fly over."
"That was last night." Lance said with a strong Australian accent. He was a tall, well-muscled man with short dark hair peeking out from beneath a brown hat pinned on one side. Clean-shaven with fierce, scrutinizing brown eyes, he wore beige shorts a slightly darker color than his shirt and a brown leather vest. A large, single shot hunting rifle hung over his left shoulder and a belt of large caliber bullets sat about his waist.
"Have you been in this jungle all night girl?" asked Diego, doubting. He was a bronze-skinned man with a strong southern accent. His long black hair pulled back into a ponytail and exposed a smooth face and green eyes. He wore matching shirt and shorts, green the color of pale moss, and a sand colored vest with bulging pockets. His rifle rested beside him. It was slightly smaller than the one Lance carried but looked no less dangerous and could fire more rounds without reloading.
"I-I," Amanda glanced up at the overlook. The velociraptors were gone. "I found you just after midnight but everyone looked jumpy and I didn't want to get shot."
The wound in her right arm burned with the alcohol Diego had used to clean it. The wound itself pulsed with pain. It was not life threatening but would likely scar. She gave a deep, shuddering breath as she desperately tried to calm her nerves.
"What's your name girl?" asked Lance. He and Diego had given their names upon rushing over to her where she stood frozen and pale after feeling the bullet's bite.
"A-Amanda," Amanda muttered.
Beyond the group, the grasses rustled ever so slightly. While the men mainly focused on her, most of them held their guns close, glancing around nervously from time to time.
"I'm alright," Amanda said in a clear louder tone than her previous words. She caught Silver Claw's eyes for a split second as his head rose and gave a slight shake of her head. He disappeared and she hoped the pack would not attack. At this point, they might get the jump on the men and likely kill them without much risk but she did not want to be at the center or cause of that bloodbath.
"Amanda?" Lance said. He looked at Diego. "What'd you say that sheila's name was from the radio?"
"Amanda Glendale," Diego said. "Are you the girl that from that radio transmission a few days back?"
Amanda paled slightly. "Yes, I am."
"Which monster attacked your boat?" Diego asked. His eyes held her fixed with the intensity.
"It was a large one, with a big f-fin on its back." Amanda replied. She did not think he would believe her anyway, so told the truth and did not want to show her knowledge of the island's animals just yet just in case they did believe her. "Y-Y-You heard my broadcast? I-I said to stay away."
"Ah, one of those damned spinosaurus. Of course those things, of everything, did survive." Diego sighed. "So its spine did grow and it wasn't just a malformed suchomimus or baryonyx like the Lab Coats initially thought." He looked at Lance. "You know, they refused to put it on the official list until they confirmed it. Didn't get a chance 'fore the storm hit."
"H-How do you know that?" Amanda said as a chill ran through her body.
Diego leaned over. "Once upon a time, I worked on this damned island as one of the rangers." He pointed an accusatory finger at her. "And you ain't survived this long without learning a thing or two about these dinosaurs. So quit playing coy with me girl."
"You worked here." Amanda swallowed nervously. She did not like where things were going.
"I did. Thought all the dinosaurs were wiped out when the hurricane hit and they were left to die under the contingency plan." Diego leaned back when she recognized the unease in her eyes. "Your little transmission confirmed that they were still here. Though I did hear rumors from the people I used to work with that somethin' survived on these islands."
"Are other's coming?" Amanda paled. "Did my transmission convince others to come?"
"Nah, I reckon most folk thought it was a joke if they heard it at all. This island chain is supposedly bad luck to the locals so they avoid it anyway. Disappearing fisherman and all that sort of thing," Diego said. "Plus, it wasn't a strong transmission. I just happen to have one of the better radios from my time on this island, call it a souvenir."
Amanda sighed as relief filled her.
"What's this spinosaurus?" Lance said. "You didn't mention it when you talked about this place."
"A bad tempered son-of-a-bitch is what it was. And damn good swimmers," Diego said. "We had a hell of a time keeping them behind a fence. They always made their way to the harbor for some reason when they escaped. I was glad when the two of them was shipped north to the medical facility on Isla Muerta. One of the Lab Coats was worried it might have a tumor or some form of rabies. He was an idiot but made them their problem to contain and not ours."
"Can they carry rabies?" Lance asked.
"Nah, it ain't somethin' you got to worry about with dinosaurs. They was just mean bastards," Diego said. "I'd be more worried about gettin' eaten by one of the other big ones than catchin' something from them, some of the small ones too will take a chunk out of you." He laughed.
A murmur ran through the other men gathered. Amanda did not understand the language. She wondered if Silver Claw could.
"What are you doing on this island?" Amanda asked.
"I'm here to do some huntin'," Lance said. "Diego here is a bloody good mate of mine from years back. I heard the tail end of that transmission of yours and after a few cold ones, Diego is a lightweight, he spilled the beans about this place. I figured that I might as well have a look before I shoot through to hunt some critters in the Amazon." Lance leaned in now. "I can't help but notice that you're more interested in asking us questions than answering ours. You don't seem to exhibit the manners of the kind of frightened person I'd expect in this situation."
Amanda stiffened a little.
"So how have you survived on an island full of dinosaurs," Lance said.
"I hid in the buildings for the most part," Amanda said. "Some have power if you can get it to turn on and I had my friend to help me."
"Geothermal from the volcanos, most of the structures used it." Diego said to Lance. "You ever run into the raptors?"
"Often," Amanda said and then stiffened suddenly. She should not have said that.
Diego raised an eyebrow. "I think you're tellin' tale tales, girl. I've seen those raptors and what they can do to a man. You don't run into 'em often and live to talk about it."
"I had help," Amanda said. She saw the rustles in the grass again. Her mind whirled and she decided to do something a little crazy. "I can also-" Amanda switched languages. "I'm fine Silver Claw. It was an accident. They did not mean to shoot me. Do not risk yourself. I'm ok. I'll get away from them as soon as I can."
The rustling stopped a moment, and then very slowly, it moved away towards the jungle. Amanda saw then the other rustles from the other velociraptors. They were close enough to kill the men easily. She was going to have a hard time explaining herself to Sara when she got away. It put a heavy unease into her gut, making the current situation all the worse. She did not know if she would ever fit in with the pack if she made decisions like this.
Lance looked at her quizzically while the others backed away.
"I've seen that trick before," Diego said. "One of the Lab Coats got all chummy with one of the raptors. She still ended up with her back ripped out during the storm. Doesn't explain how it helps you survive."
"It sometimes confuses them, buys me time to get away." Amanda said. "I had help."
"Your friend?" Diego said. His tone softened a little.
"Yeah," Amanda said. "Two raptors," she decided that shortening velociraptor was more convenient in English, "chased her right to the spinosaurus though a few days before I used the radio." She started tearing up, "I just fixed the radio that morning but didn't get her in time to use it before…"
"Shit luck that," Diego said. He clasped Amanda's shoulder. She flinched.
"You should leave before you die too," Amanda said. She looked up at the men with fresh tears wetting her cheeks. Most of the men looked unsettled.
"We'll take you home when we leave," Lance said. "You can stay in my tent for the time being, I'll room with Diego."
"I'm not going," Amanda whispered.
"What was that?" Lance said.
"I'm not going with you," Amanda said. "This place is my home now. The spinosaurus killed my family. I don't have anything to go back to now."
"Don't be silly girl," Lance said. "You're just traumatized by what you've gone through. We'll get you the help you need."
"No," Amanda said. She stood up, shaking Diego's hand off her shoulder. The tears stopped. "You need to leave this place now." He legs trembled but she was unsure whether it came from the shock from being shot or the nervousness that filled her now. Either way, a chill settled into her body.
"That's not going to happen today," the other white man said from behind Lance. "There's a storm passing between us and the mainland. I'm not flying through that." He was an older man with greying hair, weathered features, and the blue-eyed gaze of someone who had seen something unshakable.
"If Doug says he ain't flying through somethin' then we ain't flying." Diego said.
"At least leave to one of the islands without dinosaurs," Amanda pleaded. "I'm sure your helicopter attracted some predators."
"Maybe," Lance said. "But if something real dangerous comes, well then…" He tapped the pouch clipped to his belt. "Let's just say I have something extra special for it."
"What-" Amanda was cut off by the squawking of a pteranodon overhead.
"We should be off soon," Lance said as he eyed the flying creature. "Enough distractions for now, we'll figure things out tonight around the fire. Pack a cut lunch and then Diego and I will be off for the big lake."
"I'm coming with you!" Amanda said immediately. The big lake was one of the favoured spots of the velociraptor pack and close to the nest. She could not let them go anywhere near it.
"Like hell you are," Diego said. "You stay here and rest up."
"I'm going with you," Amanda said. "Or I'm leaving."
"You ought to stay here," Doug said. "It's safer here and they're skilled hunters."
"I know how to survive," Amanda said but she felt the weight of the lie as soon as it left her lips. "I've been here for a few months."
"When did your boat get attacked?" Diego said as he picked up his rifle from the ground.
"June, just before my eighteenth birthday," Amanda said. She was getting frustrated and frightened. She snarled a curse in velociraptor. That got her a few concerned looks from the men.
"Amanda," Diego said and looked her in the eyes. "It's Christmas."