Big Teeth (An aftermath of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom fanfiction)

Chapter 6

The drought had taken a firm hold over the plains, and no creature could escape its grip. The stream in my cave had disappeared, and the lake was nearly gone too. Ripper and I had been travelling further and further to find enough water to quench our thirst. Prey could be easily found dead, but it was always rotten and gross, only fit for the crows and compys. We had figured that out the hard way, after eating a deceased gallimimus. We both didn't have a good night's sleep after that.
In the end, it was Ripper who came up with the idea. We had just got back from travelling to the closest river, which had taken us nearly half a day to find. We were exhausted and hungry, but there was no food to satisfy our bellies. As we sank down onto the cool, stone floor, Ripper began to count his ribs.
"That's 6 that are visible now. What about you?" He asked.
"I don't count mine. It makes me hungrier." I grumbled. He shrugged, and proceeded to clean out the dry mud caked between his claws.
"You know," he began, hooking a claw into a lump of mud and launching it across the cave, "we look like starved vagrants. But do you know who doesn't?"
"Indulge me." I said, rolling my eyes.
"Humans." He spat. I lifted my head. He did have a point.
"They always look fat and well fed, and you never catch them moping about and complaining of thirst," he continued.
"Yeah, well, you can thank their food houses for that. Always got what they need. Lazy slugs," I growled, shifting round to a comfier position. I was preparing to sleep, when Ripper spoke up again.
"Food houses?"
"Yeah. A collection of all different foods. There's water their too. I tried following Owen into one when I first got free, once. They went nuts in there."
"That's because they saw you,"
"Well, duh, obviously,"
"Have you been in one since?" He questioned. I turned to him. A wicked gleam in his eye told me he was having the beginnings of an idea. And idea which I already didn't like the feel of.
"I haven't, and we shouldn't. That brush with the cattle-farmer was close enough. These food houses are always crawling with humans." I warned, hoping to put him off.
"What about at night?" He suggested. I contemplated it. One the one claw, it sounded like a good idea. No humans would be there, and we could eat and drink our fill, as well as being able to take more back to the cave. But on the other claw, the doors would be closed, and we wouldn't be able to get in easily. And, the humans would probably see that we ransacked it, and come looking for us. Attention that we really didn't need right now. It was dangerous, and although the food was good, it wasn't good enough to put our lives in danger for. And, Owen wouldn't like it. I can almost see his disappointed gaze locking with mine. I shook myself, and focused back on Ripper.
"No can do. You'd have to break in, and that would leave way to much evidence. They would see you, they have little cameras. They would follow us back to here, kill us, and take the food back." I said, trying to sound horrified. Ripper really was only thinking of his belly, and forgetting the danger that always came with humans.
"Nonsense. Humans would never put in that much effort. You could easy get in and out, and even if they saw us on their 'cameras', we would be long gone before they realised we had been there. The cameras are only focused on the building. Once we are out of their range, they will never know where we went." He explained, his eyes lighting up. I frowned. It sounded solid, but there was no way it would work. It just wouldn't. I could feel it.
"Rubbish. You'd be dead before you could get so much as a lick of food." I hissed. Ripper scowled.
"Mark my words, Raptor. I will get us a meal from those food houses, even if I have to give my claws for it!" He snarled. "In fact, I'm going to go out right now and scout for a possible target. Feel free to stay here, while I do all the work." And with that, he stalked out the den into the bright sunlight, choosing a path that will inevitably lead to his demise. I didn't follow. I know we were supposed to be a pack, but I wasn't stupid. Going to the place of human food was suicide. I angrily turned around and began preening myself. I could at least look presentable at his funeral.
     A few hours later, when the sun was showing the first signs of setting, I heard a rustling in the bushes outside the cave. Suddenly, Ripper loomed into the entrance, with a package of something delicious-smelling grasped between his jaws. I nearly drooled at the heavenly scent. He gently laid the parcel down, before turning to me, with an eyebrow raised.
"Not sure what you think Blue, but I feel pretty alive for someone who, you thought, was gonna die." He smirked. I didn't even bother replying to him. I began towards the food, before Ripper stuck his tail in my way.
"Hey! I got it, and you didn't even help. None of this is for you!" He snarled, eyes narrowed in anger. I promptly stopped and stared. I thought we were a pack? He looked serious. My tail drooped, and I was about to turn back around, before Ripper did that infuriating eyebrow-waggle.
"I'm joking. Let's tuck in!" He said, and before I could even get a word out, the shiny wrapper was ripped open, and food spilled out. My mouth watered. Not even waiting for Ripper to take the first bite, I dived in. We made quick work of the meal, chomping through it like machines. Sometimes, we picked up the same bit of food, before ripping it in half and swallowing. All to quickly, the food was gone. My last item was a half-eaten sausage roll, which I ate in two bites and a lick. Delicious. For once in the dry season, our bellies were comfortably full. We buried the shiny-black wrapper that the food had come in, and settled down to relax.
"Where did the food come from?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh, I stole it from one of their bins. Don't worry," he added, after seeing my horrified gaze, "no one saw me. It was a quick in-and-out."
"That tasted pretty good for rubbish," I confessed, licking my lips.
"Tell me about it. Humans do the most ridiculous things. Imaging throwing away all that!"
"Mhm. Did you see a food-house?"
"Yes, but there were too many humans. I'm going to try tomorrow night, and see if I can get in. I've spotted several weak points." Ripper told me, nibbling his claws. I still couldn't shift the deep feeling of anxiety that had settled in my belly when he mentioned stealing from there. I knew it was a bad idea. Maybe a good meal and a pleasant sleep will help Ripper realise it too. We settled down for the night, and soon the cave was filled with snores and huffs, the telltale signs of good sleeping.