Aleene's Life

Chpt. 63 (Hope is a Game of True or False)

The penguin flinched as he felt Quill fall, but didn't dare leave the bag. He would never make it out of the cave if the raptor saw him. He felt the bag being taken off of Quill's back, and the bag was thrown on the other side of the room, and the penguin flinched as it landed, but refused to make a sound.

The raptor laughed as he looked down on the croc's fallen body.

He wasn't breathing. He was dead.

He grabbed a hand saw and walked over to Pluma. "Well Quiver, it's time to get back to business. I think I'll cut off your feet first. I don't want those claws to stab m-", the raptor stopped and coughed up blood. The saw dropped, and he fell to the floor.

Quill sneered as he pulled the combat scissors out of the raptor's back. "Maybe you should start double checking to see if your victims are dead. Just saying.", Quill chuckled. "Wha-how?", the bleeding raptor asked, pointing to the knife stuck in Quill's forehead.

Quill laughed as he twirled the scissors on one finger. "Wow, for a scientist type, you really don't do your research. I'm a crocodile. Like you said, our animal DNA gives us our appearance and some of our traits. Crocodiles and alligators are renowned for certain things. Now, we are pretty smart, but we have some of the thickest and strongest skulls of the animal kingdom. There is several recorded incidents of someone trying to shoot a croc or gator in the head and having the bullet bounce off. What makes you think a knife would do anything? I can barely feel it.", Quill said, flicking the knife away, making only a small trail of blood trail down his forehead.

"But I know you'll feel this.", Quill growled as he grabbed one of the raptor's clawed hands and used the combat scissors to slowly cut it off as the raptor struggled, screamed, and coughed up more blood. Quill pulled the raptor's face close to his and held his mouth shut. "You're going to take this lesson to the grave. Never. Mess. With a crocodile's. Clutch.", Quill used the combat scissors to cut through the raptor's neck before stabbing him in the brain with them, effectively killing him. Quill cut open his chest and through his ribs until he reached the raptor's core, where he cut through it with ease.

Quill stood up and looked at Pluma, who had passed out from the pain. He used his mouth to cut through the rope, and held the weak raptor in his arms. He sat down on the cave floor, and began to rock the raptor in his arms.

"Locked. In your room again.
It's dark and there's no place to hide
The fears now escaped your brain
They lurk around to hunt you down

But don't cry baby it's all okay
Tomorrow is another day...", Quill sang, rocking his nephew gently, happy to have him safe with him, but saddened that the raptor had successfully hurt him while he was present. And Quill had no idea what he did.

"We'll always be your friends
I don't know if you can still hear
This isn't yet the end
I'm here for you to wipe your tears

So don't cry baby it's all okay
Tomorrow is another day
Day...
Day...
Day...

Tomorrow is another... day.", Quill crooned as he sang, and finished the song. He wiped a few of his own tears and prepared to get up when he felt movement in his arms.

"D-Dad?", Pluma asked, and Quill smiled. "Hey Pluma. I'm here. The bad guy is dead. I killed him. He can't hurt you anymore, okay? You're safe now.", Quill assured, and Pluma smiled. "Thank you for saving me Uncle Quill. You're the best dad ever.", the little raptor choked out behind a cough, and Quill felt his forehead. "You're running a fever, Pluma. We need to get you home. Let's go.", Quill said, picking up his bag. "You okay in there little buddy?", Quill asked, and Pluma was about to answer before the penguin popped out of the bag. "Yes sir. I'm okay. I was really worried about you though.", he squeaked, and Pluma's eyes widened. "Who's that Uncle Quill?", he asked, and Quill chuckled. "I made a friend on the way here. He's too young to leave in the forest alone, but I was too busy tracking you down to help him get somewhere safe, so I took him along.", Quill explained, walking out of the cave and down the hill.

Pluma smiled at the little penguin. "Hi, I'm Pluma, what's your name?", he asked, and the penguin lowered his head. "I don't like my name. It only has bad memories on it.", the penguin explained, and Pluma frowned. "I'm sorry about that. But hey, do I know you from somewhere?", the raptor asked, and the penguin took a good look at Pluma before smiling. "Yeah! You're the lizard kid that everyone made fun of too! At the orphanage!", the penguin chirped, and Pluma gasped. "That's right! You're from the orphanage too! And I remember your name too, but I won't say it if you don't want me to. I know Uncle Quill and my mom both have names that have bad memories on them too.", Pluma said, and the penguin gasped. "Really?", he asked Quill, who smiled. "Yeah kiddo, I do.", he said, and then saw the sky begin to darken. "It's gonna rain!", the penguin exclaimed, and Quill grinned. "Well let's race it then!", he said, and began to run through the woods, at an amazing speed for him.

The kids laughed as Quill took off, trying to keep the rain from catching up as it poured down behind them.