Shadows and Hope: An Indoraptor Story ✓

The Monsters

I stared into the menacing red eyes of my enemies, their irises matching my own. The biggest one, with a tusk as white as ice, growled and lumbered forward. "What are you doing here, copy?" he hissed. I blinked at him, then straightened my back when he flexed his claws.

"I-I am looking for Wu. Henry Wu," I stammered, trying to maintain my composure. The red-black creature blinked, and then lashed his tail. The other Indoraptor came over and dipped his head. "I'm Hope, and this is Shadow," he gestured a talon toward the towering Allosaurus.

"I'm Ripper," I asserted, trying to establish my presence. The biggest hybrid snorted dismissively, "We know," he hissed. "Wu talked about you all day long when he made us. I wonder we haven't dropped dead out of boredom!" His side was promptly prodded as Hope slapped his talon across, creating a small slash. "Behave!" he chided. Shadow growled, but ultimately dipped his head.

Hope turned back to me, a more amiable expression on his face. "Sorry about him. My brother isn't... well known for his social skills. We're also looking for Wu, if you're wondering. And if you've seen that carnage, well..." His voice trailed off, and I felt my stomach tighten with a sense of unease.

"I understand," I said slowly, then shook my head. "Can we focus on finding him?" Hope nodded in agreement and stood upright, clicking his claws together. "This way," he said and wandered off, with Shadow and me following closely behind. As we walked through the desolate city, I couldn't help but notice the increasing number of lifeless bodies scattered around — soldiers, humans, and even children. There were occasional dogs as well. It seemed as if they had turned the city into a graveyard, allowing no life to slip by unnoticed.

We walked on for what seemed like months until we finally reached a facility that appeared incredibly abandoned. However, we knew better.

"There," hissed Shadow, his forked tongue darting out between his fangs. "I know he's in there. Finally." Hope smiled and touched his friend's shoulder with his tail. Then he looked at me. "Come on, then. We have some blood to spill," he said, his eyes glowing eerily. I shook off the uneasy feeling and ambled after the two hybrids, the sun beating down on our scales. Despite the heat, we pressed on.

Shadow stopped in front of the gate and nodded to Hope, who beckoned me to follow him.

"We will slip inside and kill Wu, or at least make him pay. Shadow will play his part as a distraction. Come on now, it won't be long before they spot us as well," Hope urged, quickening our pace. Even though my wounds throbbed with pain, I pushed through. I hadn't been able to fully heal, and these perilous journey-induced scratches were not making it any better.

The darkness of the facility sent shivers down my spine, and my quills shook with anticipation. My claws clicked on the floor, echoing in the eerie stillness. There were almost no guards here at all, and those who remained were swiftly dispatched by Hope, their blood staining his already black hide. I also killed a few, the indifference to their blood creeping in.

Then, we came to a room where Hope abruptly stopped. He peered inside, his entire body shivering all the way to his tailtip, a visible display of his unease.

"What's wrong?" I whispered, but Hope shook his head, indicating he couldn't speak at the moment. We slithered on, slipping here and there to avoid getting caught. Then, finally, I heard the alarm blaring overhead. Wu had spotted Shadow.

Hope and I grinned at each other, a silent understanding passing between us, and we quickened our pace, our tails swishing in sync with our hammering hearts. Finally, I pushed open the door, and we swiftly dispatched the guards stationed around the room.

There, in all his glory, Wu sat with his back turned to us, oblivious to the demise of his guards. However, the woman accompanying him had noticed, and she stared wide-eyed as Hope approached her, while it was my duty to take care of Wu. My jaws salivated at the thought of sinking my teeth into his flesh, tearing the life out of him once and for all.

I crouched down, anticipating my killing blow, but then Wu stood, and I froze. The entire room seemed to freeze with me. "Marian, what did I say about not closing the door?" he asked, slowly turning around. A sinister grin crept across his lips as our eyes met, brown clashing with red.

I growled, regretting my hesitation. I shouldn't have hesitated; I should have gone for the kill. "Hello, Ripper," Wu said, his hand reaching for a black gun. "No!" Hope roared, launching himself at Marian, causing her to collide with Wu and weighing him down like deadweight. Hope landed at my side and nudged me urgently. "Come on, we have to work fast." And we did. We both lunged towards Wu, ready to execute the rip and tear, but then the world shook around us.

The walls burst open, and the deafening roars of battle filled the air. I stared in despair as Shadow battled another Ultimasaurus, their tusks clashing, claws lashing, and teeth biting.

Our battle was already lost before it had even begun.