Of Raptor and Man Chapter 8
Story by JasonVUK on SoFurry
Imported from SF2 with no description.
And here we are with the final chapter, other than the epilogue. Thank you all so much for your patience in regards to waiting for these chapters. Things have been hard for me for a long while now, but they’ve finally smoothed out. I hope you all enjoy.
The raptors had settled down behind Owen, he could hear their footsteps and they moved about, hear the light, rapid inhaling as they took in the scents of the tram’s interior. Looking at their barely visible reflections in the reinforced glass of the tram’s windshield he could see they’d calmed down compared to when they’d first entered, but there was a tension in the air that wouldn’t leave. They seemed to know as well as he that this was it. Whatever happened after they arrived would be the end. Owen silently prayed that it wouldn’t be their end. He needed to come up with a plan and it needed to be fast, the tram’s console displayed that they would be arriving at their destination within a few minutes and he knew that there would be an ambush waiting for them.
A painful grunt escaped his lips, his eyes closed tightly for just a moment, as the wound on his side still throbbed painfully, the gauze had stopped the bleeding for now but he’d need to disinfect it later on then try to take it easy lest it reopen. That was if he survived the encounter to come.
‘Think Owen.’ He looked around the tram, searching for an idea. He knew that these trams were built durable, but compared to the firepower the mercs had, the walls would be easily compromised. ‘Think man, come on!’ he grew frustrated with himself as his mind came up with nothing.
Suddenly his eyes landed on something big and red.
“Emergency stop.” Owen muttered to himself. ‘Wait!’ A simple plan quickly formulated in his head before he looked towards the raptors. “Girls!” he called to them in a loud authoritative voice. The girls turned to him immediately. Alpha was speaking, pack would listen. “Girls! HOLD!” He yelled before pressing the button, suddenly the emergency breaks kicked in, metal squealed against metal as the tram shuddered lightly. The raptors screeched and barked with shock and surprise, looking about for an explanation on what was going on. “GIRLS! HOLD!” Owen yelled louder. Blue turned to her sister and screeched at them loudly, getting them to stop moving. ‘That’s my girl Blue.’ Owen thought with pride.
Slowly the tram screeched to a stop and Owen pressed the release on the doors, with an electronic hiss the doors opened. The raptors turned to look at their exit then to Owen. “Go! Out!” He ordered.
Charlie was the first to move. She stepped towards the edge of the doors and looked down. She looked to Owen who nodded his head before speaking. “Go on girl, go on Charlie, out girl. Out.” He urged her on.
Charlie looked back out the door then hesitated before jumping out, landing a short distance down to the tracks. She barked several times once out to her sisters. Blue was the next to move, she looked down at her sister, likely making sure she was okay before turning to Delta and Echo and barked at them. Delta stepped forward as Blue moved out of her way. The teal green raptor paused momentarily before jumping out to join her sister. Blue barked to Echo who hissed in return but no less stepped forward then jumped out.
Blue however did not move to jump out, she turned to look to Owen and waited. It took a moment for Owen to realise what she was waiting for. She wanted him to jump out next.
“Not me girl, you go. Go!” he ordered.
Blue did not listen, she barked back defiantly. She wanted him to go next.
“No Blue! You go! GO!” Owen ordered louder.
Blue reared back then bellowed out a much louder bark. Owen just about felt a gust of breath from it. He grimaced a little. Blue was being stubborn. This wasn’t his plan.
Owen stepped closer to his beta; her eyes widened as he approached. Owen placed his hands gently onto her snout and started to stroke her, she closed her eyes contently and chittered softly as his hands started to explore her neck and body.
“Good girl Blue.” He whispered softly near her ear. “Good girl Blue.” He repeated as his hands roamed down her neck. The raptor chittered softly, a gentle exhale of pleasure escaping her mouth as Owen worked his fingers into her strong muscles, all the while easing her to the door.
Blue didn’t realise her tail started to poke out of the tram door, all she cared about was Owen’s hands softly caressing her body as he whispered sweetly into her ear.
“Good girl Blue, such a strong, beautiful girl.”
Blue mouth opened wider as Owen’s hand pressed against a sweet, sensitive spot.
Suddenly Blue’s foot touched the door frame. Realising quickly what was happening Blue’s eyes shot open and clawed hands went to either side of the door dram and held herself in place. Pushing herself forward she used her head to push Owen back. Who stumbled with a loud “OOF!”
Blue barked at her alpha with angrily. Teasing and seducing her while trying to get her to leave the strange moving cage. She was not stupid!
“Blue calm down! I’m sorry! Calm down!” Owen called to the raptor, who continued to shove him with her head and bark at him angrily. He did however notice she didn’t use her claws, so she wasn’t hostile angry, which he was more than thankful for.
She shoved Owen back against the far side of the tram, just a few short steps, cornered him and continued to nudge him with her head out of frustration before listing her head and huffing through her nose with indignation then stared at him with a judging look.
‘Like an angry wife telling off her husband.’ A part of Owen’s brain made note.
‘Not the time.’ Said the rest of his brain.
Owen looked up, having put up his hands to block her light shoving.
She didn’t look happy.
“I’m sorry Blue.” He reached out only for her to lean back away from his hands, still glaring at him. “I really am sorry Blue.” He exhaled softly and stood up straight. “But you have to go first.”
Blue huffed and barked at him.
“I’ll be right behind you.” He spoke softly, trying to reach out to her again but once again she stepped back. “Blue please,” he stressed, “we don’t have time for this.”
Behind them the other raptors started barking, Echo being the loudest.
Blue turned her head and shrieked in reply before turning her attention back to Owen.
The blue-striped raptor huffed indignantly. Then her eyes softened she crooned softly to Owen.
“I’ll be right behind you.” He repeated with a soft and caring voice. He knew she wouldn’t understand, but hoped she’d get the message from his tone. He reached out once more, his hands finally coming in contact with her head and neck. “Go on Blue, go on.”
The raptor chittered softly enjoying his touch for a few more moments before stepping away from Owen, spun around and made her way to the tram’s door, pausing only briefly before exiting she turned her head towards Owen and barked at him once more then faced forward again and jumped out of the tram.
Owen walked back to the tram’s console, the girls’ barks could be heard from outside of the tram, likely beckoning him out. Pressing the door release once more the doors behind him hissed as they closed. The raptors screeched loudly out in alarm followed quickly by a violent metallic bang. Looking outside suddenly he saw the raptors jumping up and slamming themselves into the doors in a panic.
This wasn’t going to plan.
Thinking quickly Owen knew not to open the door lest the raptor get back in and make it harder to pull off his plan, he drew the Glock pistol aimed at the nearest window and fired several shots, eventually splintering the glass, holstering the pistol Owen took his rifle into his hands and slammed the stock into the splintered glass finally shattering it.
“Girls! It’s okay! Step back!” Owen called to them, getting their attention. Blue shrieked loudly and rushed to where he was. “Girls! Back! BACK!” he commanded loudly, but they would not listen too scared for their alpha.
It actually made Owen’s heart warm, but now was not the time.
He needed to put the rest of his plan into action before the girls tried jumping back in. He rushed back to the tram’s console and reengaged the machine, the tram humming as it started to move once more. The raptors outside shrieked loudly as the tram started to move slowly picking up speed.
‘Okay Owen here we go.’ He thought. Owen stepped back, facing the shattered window, made a silent prayer for his bandaged wound then rushed out of the window and dived through the opening he’d made and out of the tram, he landed not quite as gracefully as he’d have liked onto the ground, but he was down and thankfully he could feel his wound hadn’t started bleeding again but the sudden motion had jarred it, it ached terribly against his side now causing a harsh grimace and a low groan of pain from his throat.
The only warning Owen had after that was a loud raptor bark before he was tackled to the floor, causing the pain in his side to grow worse from the heavy weight on his back and raptors barking and shrieking loudly right in his ears.
“What the fuck were you doing?”
“Are you out of your fucking mind Owen?”
“You’re lucky I love you or you’d be a dead man!”
Owen could almost imagine what the raptors were shouting at him, but they had to get off him.
But they were out, the tram was still moving to its destination. They had a chance to conduct their own ambush now, as soon as the raptors would get off him.
Alpha was a strange creature, even for his own kind. Grey-Stripe “Echo” knew that much.
The strange self-moving cage was a strange Alpha-kind creation they all figured that much out, all they saw was alpha-kind creations, some seemed simple, some were beyond their understanding, but to have them all get into the moving cage just to get out later. She didn’t understand Alpha’s plan until after Blue-Stripe had let him up, he spoke to them in alpha-speak but they didn’t understand as usual, but they understood one word and then everything fell in to place: hunt.
This was now a hunt.
No.
This has always been a hunt. Now they were stalking their prey, the moving cage was left to go on ahead by itself, the prey would perhaps think they were inside, was that Alpha’s plan? If so, that was clever. The cage was the bait to lure out their prey.
The pack moved quietly but quickly, following behind Alpha who held his loud-noise-maker in his hands, their way illuminated by the strange alpha-kind lights dotted around the cave.
From her position behind Blue-Stripe she could see Alpha. He glanced back briefly and caught her eye. She didn’t understand much of alpha-kind faces, but she recognised the look in his eye, a look she’d seen in her own sisters’, the eyes of a predator, narrowed, checking all corners for prey, but still that so-alien face she couldn’t begin to understand what he was feeling. However, his scent gave her the answers. There was fear emanating for him, anger. She could understand his scent, understand him. Hunting Alpha-Kind, dangerous Alpha-Kind was something unknown to the pack, but Alpha seemed to know how to deal with them. It made her wonder, had he hunted his own kind before, before they became pack?
Echo shook her head with frustration, she was getting distracted, the worst thing to be when on a hunt.
Suddenly the cave was filled with the echoes of Alpha-Kind noise-makers. Their prey may not have been too far. Up ahead Alpha paused with Blue-Stripe chirping inquisitively behind him. The pack paused behind their alpha awaiting their next move.
Grey-Stripe tilted her head trying to better observe Alpha from behind Blue-Stripe, he was looking further into the cave at something, before looking to the ground, his eyes narrowed into a glare. He didn’t move. She could detect a change in his scent; his fear dwindled, his anger swelled, frustration grew prominent in his scent.
He looked up staring across the cave. Alarmingly his gaze suddenly snapped towards the pack. All sisters became as still as statues with their eyes focussing on their alpha. His lethal gaze moved from one raptor to another, from Blue-Stripe, to her Grey-Stripe, to Green-Bump behind her and to their youngest Green-Black-Stripe. Then he called two of their names.
“Echo, Charlie!” He called in his alpha-speak.
Grey-Stripe and Green-Black-Stripe became alert to their Alpha’s commands.
He then raised his arm then pointed to the opposite side of the cave. “Go. Move!” he ordered.
For his mere tone of voice and the look in his eye, they did as was commanded by the strong male. The pair of raptors broke away from their sisters and dashed towards the opposite side of the cave. Grey-Stripe “Echo” looked back to Alpha awaiting anymore commands. He looked turned his focus to Green-Bump instead and ushered her closer.
“Delta, come!”
In new formation, the raptors awaited their next command. Eager to get the hunt underway. The sound of Alpha-kind noise makers continued to echo throughout the cave. Then alpha started to move quickly followed by Blue-Stripe and Green-Hump while she and Green-Black-Stripe followed from the opposite side.
This was dangerous. A terrifying hunt. Not unlike their hunt for the Mad-One, the Great-White-Death, but now their enemies were many, maybe too many. Bad alpha-kinds with loud-noise-makers and males of their kind but wrong. If they messed up there would be dire consequences. She, Grey-Stripe, was actually looking forward to this. The excitement, the rush, the thirst for the kill. It was addictive.
Alpha was on the move once more, rushing further into the cave and towards their prey followed closely by Blue-Stripe and Green-Bump. Grey-Stripe and Green-Black-Stripe followed quickly on their side of the cave. The sound of alpha-kind noise-makers grew louder and louder before going quiet. Up ahead was the moving cage, sat quietly, unmoving, Alpha rushed towards it rear while signalling she and her sister to go around. She knew the plan, a simple hunting technique, a simple ambush.
It was perfect.
Creator kin, they were wrong. They were smart, but they were wrong. He knew they had things to kill quickly to kill from afar, not like he and his kind. But he’s learned they couldn’t use them for long, not forever. So his plan was simple, throw his brothers at the Creator kin till they died. He should’ve felt wrong, he was Alpha, but many of his brother’s were wrong. Head’s too big, too small, teeth too big, not enough teeth, no arm, short tail, no tail, one leg, no legs. The latter three had been killed for meat. They were not good for breeding. Only a few of his brothers had, talent.
A talent like he had.
To blend in with surroundings, to hide from sight and nose from prey.
He kept those brothers close. They were good for breeding.
The rest were disposable.
Even his Beta who was wrong of mind. But he had his uses.
Was he wrong in the head? He himself, Alpha? Wrong? No. He was Alpha. He did no wrong. Could do no wrong. All he did was right. Good. Good for the pack. Good for their kin. So when he ordered his wrong brothers to charge ahead towards the creators he felt nothing as they died, their bodies piling atop one another like a growing mountain with their blood pooling up underneath them. It was good for the pack.
The smell of his brothers’ bodies, and the stink of their death excretions mixed with fire and smoke from Creator kin’s tools that usually followed their use stung his nose terrible, almost making him grimace, however beyond that he smelt something else, something new. Females. Four of them. Like his Beta had said, they were here, one already mated with Creator kin.
Madness.
Wrong.
He would put that to right.
Another roar from Creator kin’s tools and a cry of pain. He’d come to love that sound. Their kind made such wonderful sounds but that was his favourite, so he made any of their kin he’d come across make the sound as loud and as long as possible before they died. Sometimes a little too quick for his taste’s. But no mind.
He would wait for now, as Creator kin attacked and killed one another, then he would make his move.
Owen pushed himself up against the back of the tram, a potentially stupid move if it started moving but now wasn’t the time for that. He would hear the merc’s on the platform, the ringing of gunfire still rang in his ears.
“Did we get ‘em all?” Tom called out in question, as pain coursed through his veins.
“Looks like it. Stupid things just rushed us.” Craig replied.
“Let’s get on the tram and get out of here.” Alice ordered.
Now.
Owen moved out from around the tram, took aim through his Marlin’s scope, the sight landed on Tom’s torso, Owen couldn’t concentrate enough for a head shot, the wound on his side still ached terribly from when he jumped out of the tram and being tackled by Blue. Still Owen fired, sending the 45-calibre bullet tearing through the Tom’s stomach. The Australian cried out in agony and fell to the ground. Rifle cocked Owen turned his aim towards Alice, the merc leader had taken cover behind some seat during the dark-raptor attack. Owen fired once more but Alice was already moving out of the way, the shot still made contact as the woman cried out. Craig already got a zero on Owen, hefting the large revolver in his hands and fired the bullet impacting the tram close to Owen’s head, he swore he saw the bullet ricochet narrowly pass by his eyes, forcing Owen to duck behind cover.
To his right, he saw the tail end of Charlie rush pass the far side of the tram following Echo as the pincer trap commenced.
Unbeknownst to Owen, Craig signalled for Alice to get into the tram. Nodding in the affirmative she got up pistol drawn and firing towards Owen’s position as she rushed to the tram and her escape.
She didn’t hear the hissing over the sound of gunfire, she didn’t see the raptor on top of the tram as she stared down Owen’s position. She didn’t realise she’d fallen into a trap until the grey-striped raptor landed on top of her, her pistol made useless as it became trapped under their combined weight. She screamed out for only a second before teeth clamped down on her head.
Craig looked up in shock turning his revolver towards the grey-striped raptor when the rest of the trap finally sprung, Blue and Delta tackled the large man, Blue pinning him down her dew claw piercing into his shoulder as the pair made short work of him as a meal.
Once all was quiet Owen stepped out from around the tram with pistol drawn scanning the area. The mercs were down, they were dead at last. He should’ve felt relief, they were gone, it was done, but he felt nothing other than a sickening feeling in his stomach.
He realised Hoskins was, at least to a tiny degree, right. Raptors would’ve been excellent military assets. But still he stood by what he said, raptors would never be tamed and could easily turn on those they’re meant to fight with. The relationship he had with his girls, with Blue was entirely unique, and likely wouldn’t and couldn’t be replicated anywhere. What they had was a miracle of nature.
Owen stepped around the body of Alice, he noted that Echo and Charlie weren’t devouring Alice they were watching him, quietly, their eyes never leaving his. It unnerved him. He chanced a glance to Craig and saw Blue and Delta doing the same. Watching him. Were they, waiting?
Owen moved closer to Alice’s body with Echo and Charlie backing off. Anyone else would’ve been gagging and throwing up at what remained of the woman, but Owen was no such man. Kneeling beside the body, her dead lifeless eyes staring straight up to the ceiling, he started searching her. They had been here for a reason, and it seemed they were about to leave, so it stood to reason that they had what they came for. Owen took note that the others deferred to Alice, so the likelihood of her having “it” would be high.
After a brief search Owen found what he thought he was looking for, a pen drive. This had to be it. Right? Information. These mercs were after information, so many of them had been sent for this, all of them had died for this. Half of Owen wanted to know what was on it, the other half wanted to destroy it.
The tram beeped beside them gaining his and the girl’s attention. The shot up tram’s doors closed. Confused Owen looked towards the other end of the tram.
TOM!
That bastard was still alive and he was escaping. Owen stood up in an instant pistol drawn and fired several shots into the tram at Tom. The Australian ducked down, a painful cry coming from the man. Owen hadn’t killed him, Tom was escaping. He had to give it to him, the Australian was a durable bastard.
Echo and Delta hissed at the retreating tram.
“Girls!” Owen spoke loudly but calmly, turning their attention from the tram to him. “It’s okay.” He exhaled as he watched the tram pull out of the station.
He turned back around, seeing Blue watched him then met her gaze, he gave her a small tired smile.
“What do we do now Blue?” he asked jokingly, the blue striped raptor chittered softly and tilted her head.
After a moment of thought he came to his conclusion. It was time to go home.
He caught movement from the corner of his eyes, in his year of training the girls he’d become good at noticing details in his peripheral vision. Owen turned his head, pistol drawn and up.
Dark-Raptors. A handful of them. They didn’t look as malformed as the others, he recognised one from earlier, he had thought it to be their leader, it was bigger than the others but now there was a slightly bigger one at the front. Perhaps this was the Alpha. Even still this Alpha wasn’t as big as his girls, they lacked height, length, general build.
The girls came to his side instantly, claws flexed, teeth bared snarling and hissing lowly at the smaller creations. They were outnumbered. Five against eight.
Owen dared a look around the area ensuring they weren’t being prepared for their own pincer trap.
The Alpha stepped forward growling lowly and barked at them.
Blue retaliated with a furious screech.
They were communicating. Alpha boy over there said something Blue didn’t like.
“I’d listen to her buddy.” Owen said aloud, uncaring that no one could understand him.
Blue stalked forward in a threating manner, keeping her stance low. As if by instinct Owen followed her, pistol at the ready, sights zeroed on the Alpha. The rest of the pack followed behind.
The Alpha snarled and hissed in return, adopting the same mannerisms as Blue, claws flexed, teeth bared.
Blue however rose up, showing off her noticeable height and size difference by forcing the male to look up at her. She had to easily have had a full foot of height and about ten or so pounds of muscle on the male. A dominance display. She was bigger, heavier, stronger. She would win their brawl.
Owen and the pack were getting close to the Dark-Raptors, Owen didn’t like it. Owen couldn’t help but wonder, if he fired now would he set off a fight between them all, should he just let this play out? What should he do?
Then suddenly the Alpha stepped back, Blue took two quick steps forward making the Dark-Alpha step back further. The Dark-Alpha shrieked up at her, lunging towards her with his teeth, Owen tensed up finger squeezing the trigger, Blue lowered her head, out of the path of the Alpha’s jaws and snapped towards his throat. The Dark-Alpha backed off. A failed attempted at a threat.
The Dark-Alpha shrieked at her his head turning to Owen briefly and barked before looking back to Blue whom simply shrieked out once more, the sound reverberating around the room.
One dark-raptor from the side rushed to Blue, jaws open wide, with practised eased she stepped back out of the dark raptor’s way, her jaws clamped down on his neck and shoved him to the ground then with a simple turn and pull of her head snapped the dark-raptor’s neck with a sickening crack.
Blue glared to the Dark-Alpha as fresher blood stained her lips and teeth.
An insubordinate was dead, killed within a few brief seconds. The look on her face was clear, the rest would be next.
The Dark-Alpha shrieked at her before turning and rushing further into the complex with the remaining members of his pack following him.
Owen let out a long-held breath and closed his eyes. Now they could go home.
Around him the girls’ relaxed, their postures less tense, teeth covered. Blue looked to Owen. Owen grinned at her. “Great work girl.” He said softly making the blue-striped raptor chitter softly at his praise.
Well. That was it he supposed. Tom wouldn’t get far from his injuries, the rest of the mercs were dead, the Dark-Raptors had left them alone. Mission accomplished? Despite his exhaustion and his wound, it almost felt ; anticlimactic. But then he supposed that’s just how things worked out. It wasn’t a movie, it wasn’t a video game, there would be no “Final Boss Fight”. What would he have done anyway fought Alice hand to hand? They were both armed, and he felt like he could’ve taken her. Tom? Yeah maybe. Craig? Heck no, the guy was like six-foot-five and about three-hundred pounds of muscle. He would’ve thrown Owen around like a ragdoll.
Owen chuckled to himself dryly. He walked back to the merc’s bodies and relieved them of any equipment he could use; Glock magazines, spare ammo, Craig’s stainless-steel revolver, spare ammo and holster for the large sidearm.
Owen looked to the pack, the raptors keeping an eye on the passageway, ensuring no sudden ambush from Dark-Raptors. At that moment, Owen felt a great deal of his strength leave him, the adrenaline was leaving his body. He was tired, he was hungry, he needed the bathroom.
With a shake of his head, and a rub of his weary eyes Owen called to his girls. “Let’s go home.”
The tram finally came to its destination, the man inside limped out weakly, a cry of pain escaping from him as he fell to the ground and landed on his side, blood started to pool under him from his wounds.
His situation, in his own words, was fucking bollocks.
With tear in his eyes, pain wracking his body, the only thought going through his head was to escape. Escape. Escape. Escape!
The Australian pulled himself along with his good arm, dragging himself across the floor. He had to get out of here. He wanted to go home. After dragging himself only a few feet, Tom felt most of his reserve strength disappear. Behind him he heard the tram beginning to move. Being called back to the other station where Grady and his raptors were.
Tom had to escape. He couldn’t and wouldn’t let Owen or his raptors be the end of him.
In desperation Tom forced himself to his knees, the action alone forcing him to exert more effort than he ever had before.
Escape. Escape. Escape. Escape!
Grimacing as blood continued to pour from the wound Tom crawled across the floor on his hands and knees, smearing his own red life fluid over the white tiles. It would takes minutes for the tram to get there then minutes to get back here, he could make it! He had to!
He had to.
Get to the terminal room, contact command and send for a chopper, lie about having the data, negotiate a new deal, then wait out it’s arrival. Tell them about Grady and the raptors, tell them about all the shit going on, have them send a fucking army to get the fucking data. Flawless.
Tom slowly crawled his way to the nearest wall before stopping to catch his breath. His vision was blurring. His muscled ached like he’d just gone three rounds with in-his-prime Mike Tyson.
With herculean effort Tom used the wall to aid his climb to his feet. His eyes scrunched shut, his teeth grit so tightly together a part of him fear he might crack them, he pushed himself to his feet, his hands pressed against the bullet wound in his gut to try and stem the flow of blood.
Tom was lethargic as he dragged his feet one step at a time towards the control room using the wall to hold his weight and ease his strain. The Olympian task of moving across the main room was daunting, but he had to cross it, going around using the walls would add too much time to the dwindling counter of escape. Using what little stored strength he had he made his way from the wall to a piece of furniture, from there he would pause to catch his breath before plotting out his next move, blood all the while trickled down his right trouser leg, dripping onto the floor and into his boot.
He was as careful as a he could be, as meticulous as his mind could accomplish, stumbling almost falling towards different piece of furniture and furnishing, benches, oversized potted plants, a trash can. Whatever he could find. The tram wouldn’t be long. He had to keep going, must keep going.
Finally, he made it to the far wall. Clutching it and leaning all his weight against it, smearing the wall with his blood in the process, then took deep ragged breaths trying to get as much air flowing through his lungs as he could. So close to the control room now. He just had to keep going. Not far now.
His strength was dwindling. His vision was starting to blur. He was exhausted and his muscles ached to the point of numbing. His legs dragged like lead weights with every step getting heavier and heavier with each passing second. But he couldn’t stop now, not so close to freedom. He was so close.
What felt like hours but had in truth been just a few short minutes Tom reached the stairs to the command centre. The door was open. With caution he descended the stairs, leaning his body against left wall. With each step down at a measured pace progress was slow. He just had to be careful. Misplacing his right foot too far forward he missed the step. Putting his weight down his foot slipped from its mark, falling to the side several steps down, continuing to tumble down without hope of stopping. Landing with a solid thump onto the floor, unable to suppress a cry of agony, he wailed a chorus of agony echoing throughout the room and corridor above. He could feel himself losing consciousness, wounds pulling open, and blood burning as it once more escaped from the raptor gifted lacerations. The urge to close his eyes and drift away became incredibly strong. He had to fight it, to not lose consciousness now, not so close.
He tried to move, to crawl towards the computers, to reach out with one arm and pull himself towards them but his arm wouldn’t respond. He was in agony, knowing he hadn’t broken his neck, his body was responding.
With grim resolve he placed his left hand against the floor and pushed up, a body that felt three times its actual weight. He pulled up and bent his knees to assist the push up from the floor, right arm dangled; his shoulder dislocated. Cursing the situation loudly Tom made the crawl towards the computer. He was nearly there at last.
Suddenly through the beating of his heart in his own ears he heard a different noise, almost too quiet to hear, light feet against the floor. He turned towards the noise, coming face to face with a tiny noodle-thin dinosaur.
The little creature tilted its head from side to side, examining him.
“Fffffffuck offff.” Tom growled out through clenched teeth.
The little one smacked his mouth together then turned around emitting a tiny little squawk that made Tom think of a mouse. Maybe he’d keep the thing and call it Jerry.
Suddenly it looked back at him and behind it, jumping onto the computer terminal and walking around the console came more of them, around seven or eight, no ten … a lot of them.
Tom’s eyes opened wide in panic and his struggle to move faster intensified, just as suddenly the little things descended upon him.
Owen finally got off the tram with the girls following quickly behind. Inside the tram he’d found a blood trail moving from the door to the controls, Tom’s blood, and now out here he’d another puddle of it. Tom was bleeding bad. Good.
“Be careful girls.” He muttered tensely as scanned the area.
The girls sniffed at the air; they knew something. Three of them rushed off leaving Charlie behind who squawked at Owen then huffed through her nose then followed her sisters.
“Girls!” he called after them. Suddenly, he heard a familiar cry then rushed after them. He found the girls standing defensively in the command centre corridor, hissing and snarling at something unseen.
Owen raised his rifle in alarm, he heard painfilled cries and shouts of anger followed by heavy thuds coming from the stairway.
Seconds past by slowly, the cries grew louder, angrier. Tom burst through the doorway, his arms covered in blood, his exposed wounds dripping, he thrashed around like an animal his right arm swinging loosely while screaming like a banshee as he grasped at something behind his head. With a monstrous cry he succeeded in whatever he was doing, pulling his arms back around Owen saw a Compy in Toms grasp, hair and meat clutched in its teeth. With a squeeze his crushed the little creature’s rip, gripped its head and twisted before dropping its corpse to the floor.
Then he seemed to take notice of Owen and the raptors, he turned towards them, revealing two more of the little dinosaurs one clinging to his right arm biting at his shoulder and another biting at his cheek. Blood poured down Tom’s neck from his visibly vacant missing ear.
Tom yelled at them ferally like a cornered animal before turning his attention back to the Compies.
“He’s lost it.” Owen looked the man over, body dripping blood all over the floor, the savage and feral look in his eyes, adrenaline and rage likely the only thing keeping the man on his feet.
Using his one good arm, Tom tried to grasp or swat the creatures away from him. One bit down hard on his cheek giving him a second to grab it, the little creature bit down; not willing to give up its meal as Tom started to pull. Failing at first the deranged man yanked the creature away tearing off a piece of his skin in the process then threw it at the closest wall with a monstrous cry.
The Compy hit the wall with a sickening crack.
Owen looked at the girls, they didn’t charge, didn’t attack, they were unsure of the situation playing out before them, Owen would’ve sworn Delta even looked confused.
Tom looked to them once more, grunting, growling and breathing heavily before abruptly turning towards the stairs, on increasingly unsteady feet me limped as fast as his legs would carry him towards them while leaving a blood trail in his wake. The girls kept pace with their prey, Owen tried to move past his girls, to taking point and try and shield them from Tom, but Blue would snap and ark at him, they were protecting him from the Australian lunatic.
“Fuuucck you! Fuck this! Fucking, fuck, fuck! I get! Out! I’ll get … out. Out! Get out!” Tom shouts as he reaches the stairs, stumbling over them after a few steps eliciting a cry of pain and frustration.
Owen and the raptors pause, watching as Tom climbs the steps haphazardly, pulling himself up, trying to use the handrail to pull himself up, almost succeeding only to collapse on the steps again.
More obscene cries and curses come from the man as he ascended the stairs.
“Girls, hold.” Owen ordered as he and the raptors finally came to the stairs.
She chittered to one another, Blue looked back to Owen who had yet to take his eyes from Tom. The raptors made their move, climbing the stairs at a faster pace, eyes laser focussed on their prey. Owen kept pace as best he could, he didn’t like this, Tom was still armed.
When Tom finally reaches the top of the stairs he all but throws himself out the door. The pack are soon to follow.
Owen looked to Tom as he makes his way to the abandoned jeep, left behind by the first squad of mercs. Tom seems to sense he’s being watched, he draws his pistol and turns to them.
“FUCK OFF!” He yells. “IT’S MINE!! FUCK OFF!” He doesn’t fire. The girls keep their distance, knowing the danger Tom holds in his hand.
Owen keeps his own weapon on Tom, if he misses it’s game over and his girls could be caught in the crossfire, that wasn’t something he would allow.
Tom laughed with delirium as he stumbled backwards towards the jeep.
Suddenly the ground shakes with a violent thud. All parties paused. A second ground shaking thud. The raptors turned their heads towards the woods. A familiar terrifying roar erupted from the trees moment before the head of the Allosaurus erupted from the tree line, eyes pinned to them.
“MARTHA!” Tom shouted in panic and rushed to the jeep as fast as his unsteady legs could carry him.
The Allosaurus could smell his blood, smell injured prey and stormed towards them. Thick powerful legs propelling the large predator forward.
Tom stumbled in his stride and fell to the floor, tears of terror poured from his eyes as he crawled as fast as he could. Martha’s footsteps growing louder and louder.
Owen and the girls stepped back into the doorway and watched on from relative safety.
“NO! NO! NO! NO!” Tom cried on and on as he realised all his hope was lost. He was too far from the jeep as the beast stepped past the road, slowing now as she walked around the jeep, eyes settling on her prey. “FUCK YOU MAR…” Tom cried out attempting to raise his pistol at the Allosaurus as her head came down with wide open jaws snapping shut around her prey.
The Allosaurus rose, bring her head back up then threw Tom back down to the ground with a sickening wet crunch of his bones.
Owen didn’t know if Tom were still alive, nor he found did he really care.
Martha stepped forward and snapped her jaw around her prey once more, bringing her head back up and biting down several times, chewing her prey briefly before swallowing. Tom was little more than a slight bulge going down her throat.
Once gone the Allosaurus’ gaze fell upon Owen. A deep rumble came from her throat, she barely came one step closer before her head snapped towards something unseen. The Allosaurus bellowed a mighty roar which was just dwarfed by another familiar, though equally terrifying roar.
The T-Rex.
Martha stepped back, getting into a fighting stance as the Rex rushed into the scene roaring loudly and angrily at the rival apex predator for entering her domain.
‘I don’t want to be a part of this.’ Owen thought as he watched the two titanic reptiles start to circle one another.
Martha, the younger and more energetic, rushed forward, jaws wide to take a firm bite out of the much older Rex. Though the old beast had proven her place time and time again, lowering her head under the Allosaurus’ attack then slammed the top of her head under the Allosaurus’ jaw, snapping it closed and making Martha step back. The Rex moved in close, keeping her head low and shover the Allosaurus with her vast strength and weight advantage eventually sending the younger Martha to the floor.
The Rex steps back and roars at the young Allosaurus, who whines in response submissively. The Rex huffs through her nose and takes another step back allowing the younger to rise. The Rex growls. Martha whines submissively once more and trudges off back to the woods having been bested and humiliated.
‘Get in Owen before the Rex realises you’re there.’ He thought to himself.
Owen re-entered the building properly and found the girls waiting for him down the stairs.
“Where were you girls when the big dinosaurs came around, huh?” He joked and laughed quietly.
The raptors chittered and squawked happily at seeing him.
“We’ll leave soon girls, as soon as the coast is clear, we’ll head home.” He promised as he started petting and stroking his raptors, who growled softly at the attention. Blue ran her tongue over her mate’s face and nuzzled against his chest affectionately. “I got you Blue, I got you. I love you too.” Owen chuckled to himself not able to hold back the tired yet beaming smile on his face.
Their ordeal was finally over.
Jason's Notes:
I would just like to apologise for how late this one is, is was supposed to be done for Christmas but so many things got in the way. Honestly I’m really sorry for how long this whole story took. Many times I couldn’t find the urge to write, I couldn’t find the willingness nor the inspiration to do so, but I thank you for sticking with me through to the end.
Just the epilogue to go and if you want, say so in the comments, some steamy Alpha-Beta action!