Shadows and Hope: An Indoraptor Story ✓

Unleashed Fury

I went on without forgetting my hunger. I had no idea of the dangers that had warned of my ascension, nor would I have believed that they had anything to do with me if I had not seen what men would do to destroy me once and for all.

How long do you want to go on? My mind asked the only thing that accompanied me on this journey. I sighed, as far as I could go to find Wu. My mind snorted, this man is already gone, and you are not even on his trail. Turn west, then maybe you can find him.

I sighed and blocked his voice out for the rest of the trip. Soon enough, I came across a water hole and smiled, trotting over despite my wounds, thirst overwhelming me. When the cool liquid touched my throat, I breathed through my nostrils, relieved to get the taste of blood out of my maw finally.

When I had quenched my thirst for long enough, I stood up and surveyed my surroundings, hoping to find some prey, but I found none. Then, suddenly, I heard the rustle of leaves and whirled around, tail skyward and quills bristling. "Grr... I will not die yet! Come out and face me, you coward!" I roared into the darkness, but the bushes didn't answer. Nothing did. All I saw was a gleaming eye of fury peering at me through the thick bushes.

I growled and coiled my claws into the soil underneath me, determined not to die just yet, not after I had woken up again. The thing that threatened me came out with a jolt, slavering jaws opened to show off long teeth longer than my own and a shaggy brown pelt with black splotches. I frowned but jumped back as the beast snapped at my talons. I wouldn't let it tear me to pieces just yet. So like any other dinosaur that wants to protect its life, I charged. My wounds protested, but I ignored them and scored many deep, flesh wounds on my attacker. He whimpered and yowled as my claws made contact with his supple pelt, but I wouldn't stop. He unleashed the beast, and now he must deal with it.

The beast, now recognized as a dog creature, howled as I snapped my jaws around its ankle and buried my fangs deep. I wouldn't let go. But it seemed like I had signed up for a ride to hell. The dog turned around, twisting in furious circles, hoping to dislodge me or stun me enough that it could return the favor. But I sat on tight, even when my body slammed against the dry, hard ground, even when my tail slashed a tree stripped of its leaves clean off. I hung on through it all, closing my scarlet eyes.

The beast finally stopped and tried to shake me off its ankle, but I held on, even when it slammed its foot against rocks and tree trunks, trying to injure me. The pain was excruciating, but I refused to let go. The dog growled and snarled, but I dug my fangs deeper and held on even tighter. Finally, it collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, and I released my grip, breathing heavily.

I looked at the dog, my wounds pulsing with pain. It was covered in sweat and panting heavily. I knew I wouldn't give up easily, but I was ready to take on anything to survive.

I snorted out droplets of blood and shook my head to clear my vision, but it wouldn't work.

 I soon found myself stumbling around, trying to get the feeling of dizziness out of my head. But it only made things worse. My vision started to blur, and I couldn't make out anything. Ultimately, I tripped and slammed my head hard on the ground. Everything became black.

 - ❇ -

I awoke to a world of pain and warmth.

It was a feeling I was both accustomed to and unaccustomed to. The pain was due to my life as a science experiment, but I wasn't used to warmth because all my life, all that I remembered, I was surrounded by coldness. The claws of death were upon me every moment in that mansion, but out here, I am free, away from his claws.

Or so I thought.

I realized that the creature lying next to me was in agony, its whimpers piercing through the silence of the surroundings. Its breaths were hot against the dry ground, causing the earth to vibrate as it convulsed in pain, blood trailing out of its body like a snakelike tail. I shifted my gaze towards it and saw its eyes tightly shut, its jaws trembling under the pressure of the excruciating pain that had taken hold of its ankle.

As a strange feeling of pity ripped through me, I couldn't help but wonder what I had become. How could I feel sympathy for the prey I was hunting moments ago? My mind snarled, but I quickly blocked out those thoughts. This was a matter for my heart, not for him to taint and change. With a heavy sigh, I stood up despite my wounds still bleeding profusely. I limped over to the dog and nudged him gently, but his whimpers did not cease. His eyes opened and locked with mine as I spoke to him, unsure if he could understand me. "I will help you," I said, hoping he would understand my intent. Although he may not have understood my words, he clearly understood my actions as he let me help him onto his paws. However, his paws shook when he pressed his weight down on his injured ankle. I walked over to the wound and examined it. Although it wasn't very bloody, fatal things were going on. Maggots had begun to creep into the damage, and I nearly lost my stomach at the sight. I shook my head, knowing I had to help him despite the revolting presence before me.

Then, with heavy patience, I walked over to the nearby pond and gulped some water into my mouth, holding it there and hurrying back as fast as I could to rinse the wound that was pulsating now as the larvae started to get closer to the bone. I spat the water onto them, making them squeal and lose their grip. Now that they were gone, I crushed them under my talons and rinsed the wound as much as possible.

Finally, I was finished, and I walked back to the face of the big dog. "I have cleaned your wound, but I don't know what more I can do. There are no leaves around here to bind it,"' I said. The dog just smiled and whimpered, "It's okay."' I blinked in surprise that I could understand this creature.

"Uh," I clicked, and the dog chuckled. "Looks like we understand each other pretty well, Raptor. I am--" his words were cut off by a sudden sharp pain that sliced through him. I began to panic. I couldn't lose a new friend so soon.

"No, no, calm down!" I begged as the dog shook his head and sank onto his stomach. "No, Raptor, this is the way of life. I... I am bleeding too much, and even though you cleaned my wound, there are more than you gave me. I am old anyway; I have nothing more to give to my pack. Go now; you should not be here when the vultures come," he said, closing his eyes.

Grief gripped me like claws that wanted to tear me apart. I lowered my head, my snout against the dog's shoulder. I felt the last breath leave him before everything was completely still. The tears came before I could stop them. I didn't care about the vultures; I wanted to stay with the dog as long as possible. You're stupid, Ripper, my brain growled. Don't you think those birds will try to kill you even if you're alive? Our descendants are more violent or ruthless than we ever were. You won't survive out here in the sun. Get under some shade and head west.

I shook my head and followed my brain's words. I had nothing better to do. I walked towards the leafless forest heading west. I found no shade under the bare branches, but I found safety from the vultures circling above. Not that I cared about my life anymore.

I lay under a big birch tree without its green leaves and curled up in grief. But before I could dwell on what I had done today, sleep came faster than I thought, and I was no longer in the realm of the warm and the dead.