PER-I-LOUS,, jp-jw/hp

Chapter 6

Whilst John found the idea of Harry sleeping with the raptors adorable, he was also in full agreement with Ellie that the raptors needed to respect that Harry was a human.

Marcus had come up with the idea to gradually wean the raptors off their near complete dependency on Harry.

"When I'm working on a computer problem and I can't find the problem, I will reset or restart the system. I will then turn on one aspect of the system. I will monitor it and when I am happy with its performance I will turn on the next aspect. Eventually I will come across the aspect that is causing the problem.

"There is more to it of course, but we need to approach this systematically.

"Start with giving Harry a mattress. It will teach the raptors how humans sleep."

And so, Harry was given a sturdy mattress and for the first time in months, he slept soundly.

Too soundly.

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"Lazy."

"Not ill?"

"Hmmph, it breathes. It moves. Lazy."

"We hunt?"

"No. Not without it. Others not like us."

"White furry one will come."

"Humph. Too many white furry ones."

"One with danger breath."

"Ah... no. We will wake Lazy."

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Harry was deep in sleep. If he dreamt, he wouldn't remember it.

Unfortunately he was woken by a sharp pain in his left calf. "OW!" He sprung up and looked at his leg. A small hole was there, bleeding slightly.

He scowled at the unrepentant Scar as he pulled his wand out and healed it.

"See. Wound is gone. Lazy is awake."

"It is soft. We should be more careful."

"Lazy is strong. Lazy is smart. Lazy will be fine."

"Are you really calling me 'lazy'?"

The two raptors snapped their head to Harry in shock. He was glaring at Scar.

"It speaks?" Scar sounded very surprised.

"It always speaks. Now we understand." There was a shrug in Jelly's response.

"And now I understand." Harry retorted.

"Why now? Did it always understand us?" Scar asked her sister curiously.

"It is called 'Harry'. And it- I have only begun to understand you since you woke me up. Please don't stab me again Scar."

"Scar?"

"That is what I called you. Humans, creatures like me, use names for each other."

Scar nodded. "It sounds different when we speak."

"What is my name?" Jelly seemed excited.

"Jelly."

"Jelly? What is Jelly?" She frowned. "What is Scar?"