Shadows and Hope: An Indoraptor Story ✓

The Lost and the Small

There are things that you need to focus on more than revenge.

Such as surviving.

I had arrived in a forested area which was alone really weird for me because I thought the world was dead. But if it was, then why are there so many humans here?

But I was getting hungry, and hunting while blood was dripping from my wounds wasn't precisely the best thing I could do, but I can't go aorund and wait for them to heal.

So stalking through the undergrowth is was I retorted.

However, I did find prey soon enough. The sweet scent of meat washed through my nostrils, and I sighed, crawling closer, but when I saw who was emitting that smell, I froze in my trek. In front of me on a sunlit clearing tumbles a young girl no more than 6. My instincts go in highwire, and I growl louder.,

Humans have done enough to me that I will never forgive them. So without much thought, I charged at the child, letting out a tremolos roar as I pinned her down, nearly knocking her head against a stone that stood there clear as day glittering under the sun. But she was lucky and didnt hit it. Instead, she only got shocked and started to scream and cry as my powerful jaws opened a crack, letting her see the darkness inside.

"pathic human scum" I hadn't shown mercy once when I killed that mafia leader, and I won't show mercy now either. this is just a child.

this is just a child...

But when I looked into her eyes, I saw something that startled me. Of course, I did see fear as all measly prey feel whenever they're comforted by a predator. But this was something else as well. Instead of fear, there was strength and bravery under it all, and I felt myself tilt my head to the side.e

Somehow I saw myself in this cub that had nothing to do with me. This insignificant little prick that I should've slain the moment I saw her.

But yet I didn't.

We stared into each other's eyes for another minute before I felt something strike my flank snapping me out of my review. I roared, turning toward the source of the pain, down the slope that led up to a house camera, a man running with a polished black gun in his hands.

He stopped short when he saw me turn to him. Still, one clawed over what I think was his daughter. "Father!" called another voice more mature than the little girl's. Soon more humans came, and I growled.

"ISABEL! OH GOD," the man roared, still pointing the gun at me. I smelled his fear before he could ever blink, and while there was a lot in me that screamed to attack him, I held back.

In silence and hatred, I backed off the girl, lashing my ebony tail. "wait!" called Isabel, the little girl, and she stood up, brushing the leaves off her tunic, then came over to me, scaring both her parents and sister.

I stared at her, unsure if I should follow my instincts to kill her or follow my heart.

In the end, it was my heart that won.

When she touched my rugged snout with her warm small hands, I froze the feeling of warmth rising through my challenging climbs. It felt like being handled by the sun.

I melted and leaned into her touch, an unconscious pur leaving my maw. Isabel giggled and stroked my skull, then turned to her parents. "Don't hurt it. He didnt mean o hurt me," she said. Her father scoffed, still holding the gun toward me.

I gave him a cold stare when I opened my ember eyes but continued to lean into the girl's hands.

"f-father," asked the older sister "Shall... shall I call the police?" Father sighed, then slowly lowered his gun. "No, let's take care of this ourselves. Isabel brings him in. We need to treat his wounds," he said. I shook as I tried to walk after the girl who beckoned me, but as soon as my claws coiled into the earth again, I felt the world shimmer for me titling out of existence, and darkness enveloped me again like it had done many times before.

I couldn't control it, and soon I slumped to the ground in a soundless thud.

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Couldn't kill one single morsel, could you, Ripper?

I jolted awake, started by my mind's voice. he chuckled darkly as I felt his claws tap my skull. Easy old friend, I won't hurt you more than you hurt yourself. But I am gravely disappointed that you let that insignificant girl touch you, and most of all, let yourself fall in front of them at their feet like some pet that dies from torture, he hissed.

I sighed. Of course, you have to berate everything I do. Will you ever stop? I asked. Only when you see it like I see, my mind replied.

But our mind conversation was cut off when the door creaked, and I whirled around, wincing at my wounds that gushed again with red blood. The person who came in wasn't Isabel. Instead, it was her sister. "oh! You're awake," she beamed at me, then crouched down.

I titled my head, still growling. While the little one had made me melt, I wouldn't rest her family yet, anyway.

"Here, I got you some food," the girl said and nudged a plate of something steaming toward me. I took one sniff before my instincts overpowered me, and I lashed out, snatching the steak and gulping it down in one bite.

The girl yelped and sat down in pure shock as I licked my chops, turning to her with red beady eyes. "I-I don't have anymore," she stuttered and slowly stood up as I watched her hurry over to the door, leaving me again in darkness as she closed it.

I huffed, feeling somewhat better than I did before.

Taking food from rats. Hmm, you've sunken low, my old friend.

I didn't answer him; instead, I looked around, taking in my surroundings. Tiled wood surrounded me, but I saw this shed was old and used.t there were a few glass jars here and there containing a liqueur; I'm sure it was the man in the household that drinks. I shook my head at the stench. Disgusting human flees, I thought.

Then I saw that it was a straightforward window slammed to eh wall above my head giving, pouring sunlight in.

But that was the only source of light it had here: no lamps, no candles, nothing.

I couldn't precisely think they would put me in some luxurious place for Irish animals, but...

You've grown soft, my mind snapped, and I could feel him roll his eyes. Wanting to get better than you could house. pft, you're just as stupid as those maggots.

I sighed and decided to let him ramble on. he had been my only friend for so long, and why should I get rid of him?

He had helped me somewhat in the past now he could help me too. But only if I listened to him.

Which for me would be easy hadn't I grown soft.

But one, after all, grows soft by age and time; does one not?

So why shouldn't I carry the same?

I'm afraid there was no answer to that.