JURASSIC WORLD:TAINTED

Chapter 20

Owen had informed Claire about his planned trip and she had asked only one thing of him: take a cell phone and enough batteries with him. She trusted him not to get eaten, but accidents happened in other ways. Owen had yet to find a wild dinosaur in the restricted area and he doubted there were any larger ones. If at all, maybe compsognathi had made it there, but the pack hadn't run into anything other than birds and mammals or the occasional lizard.

It was one of his goals, though: go deep into the restricted area and map the species living there. Since Owen had been handed over responsibility for the former Jurassic Park area, he wanted to know. The pack was excited to scare up whatever was running round, especially tracking down their own kind.

Echo was carrying the tent equipment, which had her preen and bark at her pack how proud she was. It was clear over the pack bond, too.

Blue regarded her with a kind of amused tolerance, while Charlie and Delta wanted to sniff and tug at the saddle bags.

Owen whistled and they looked at him, almost chastised, but Charlie was too curious for her own good.

"Charlie!" he called and made a gesture for 'stop'. "Cut it out!"

She rumbled. Echo snapped at her, defending her precious cargo.

"Geez, girls," Owen muttered and shooed Charlie away from the saddle bags so he could add the last items he might need. "I feel like this is prom night and one of you is wearing the dress the other wanted."

While Blue didn't laugh, she was close to it. The raptor kind of laugh anyway. She bodily pushed Charlie away, reminding her with a bark of her place, and the other raptor trotted off, clearly miffed.

When he was done, Owen sent Echo off to wait near the gates. "Charlie," he called and gestured at her to come to him.

She did, head lowered a little, sniffing at his outstretched hand. She was still clearly displeased that she hadn't been chosen as the transporter.

"You and Delta are my scouts," he told her, projecting the idea at her and she perked up. "You two will check out the trail. That's why I want you without gear."

She whuffled, head held high as the importance of her job was made clear.

"You two make sure that everything's safe," he added.

Charlie yipped.

Owen smiled and patted her jaw, then got his backpack and rifle from the porch. A week or so of roughing it sounded rather appealing right now. He hadn't had time on his own with the pack for a while. There had been too much else going on, but now things were quieting down – until the report of the auditor came in.

Whatever it said, things would get more intense one way or the other. To perfect what had been critiqued or to work toward the opening of the park.

Owen checked his backpack for all his backcountry gear. Everything was there. From drybags to knives and tools, to firestarters and a camping kitchen. Echo was carrying the heavier things and some of his clothes. Owen had stowed the rest in his backpack.

"Okay. Everything's there. Let's get going."

He didn't lock the door. The crime rate on Isla Nublar was non-existent. And everyone was too afraid to get eaten by a raptor to even think about taking anything of Owen's without asking.

"Ready?" he called.

A chorus of yips and barks answered him.

And finally they were off.

x XX JW XX xx XX JW XX xx XX JW XX xx XX JW XX xx XX JW XX xx XX JW XX x

It was peaceful out here, on the other side of the island. Silent, aside from the calls of the animals around him and the far off rumble of the waves against the rocky shores. The knee-high grass swayed gently in the breeze. It was a warm day and Owen had opted to enjoy it as long as it lasted.