"I won't let you die"
"I don't think that's how it works"
Natalie Parker and Zachary Mitchell were best friends. Upon first meeting them, you would think they hated each other with how much they argued. And they did hate each other at first but now...
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With Owen's driving, it didn't take long to arrive at the Raptor Research Arena. The sun had disappeared in the horizon but the stars in the sky were nonexistent, as if they too were hiding from the horrors happening on Isla Nublar.
The Jeep came to a harsh stop causing the seatbelt to dig into Natalie's neck. She groaned as she quickly unbuckled herself and rubbed her neck in discomfort. Owen was already out of the car, slamming the door with so much power she was surprised the glass hadn't shattered from the force. With a quick order for the three children to stay in the car, Claire followed Owen in a much less dramatic fashion.
A stout man with short greying hair and a thin goatee sauntered towards the muscular Velociraptor trainer as soon as he saw Owen approaching him. The man's lips were pulled into a self righteous grin. "The mother hen has finally arrived." the man hollered loud enough for Natalie, Zach and Grey to be able to hear from within the Jeep.
Zach and Gray took up the space between the front seats, leaving no room for Natalie to see what was happening. Only once both of the Mitchell brothers let out surprised winces that Natalie became more demanding in her attempts of getting a better look. With one shove, Natalie managed to push Zach far enough out of the way for her to squeeze her head through, knowing he was tall enough to look over her head just fine. That didn't mean he didn't grumble at her for shoving him.
Natalie was able to catch sight of the shorter man straightening up, his hand rubbing at his jaw as he now glared at Owen in pure rage. Owen was furious and began to speak to the shorter man, his voice too low for the three of them to hear. They could only assume the men were arguing about the Raptors.
"Let's move it out!" Hoskins yelled, waving an arm over his head to the troupes scattered around the paddocks. He spoke one last thing to Owen before walking away. Owen only spared a glance at Claire before the two adults split off. Owen walked towards a group of soldiers while Claire came back to the Jeep.
"What's happening? What's going on?" Gray asked in a frantic tone as Claire opened the doors to the back of the Jeep.
"Nothing," Claire shook her head but the three could tell something bad had unfolded. "Owen's just making a plan with some of the InGen team," she explained vaguely before she began to usher Natalie out of the Jeep. "Come on, Natalie, let's get you fixed up," she spoke as Natalie jumped out of the car. At the sight of the torn and bloodied shirt, Claire quickly added, "And maybe we'll find you a clean shirt as well,"
"What are we supposed to do?" Zach asked his aunt just as she was about to shut the door.
Claire raised a brow at the older brother, "You two are staying in this car. I can't have you wondering off again, okay?" she didn't wait for an answer as she shut the door and began to walk to one of the corrugated building. Natalie only gave Zach a shrug as she walked away with Claire, wincing at the sting the action caused.
Natalie was able to return to the two Mitchell brothers twenty minutes later, her torso bound tightly in bandages, a fresh Jurassic World polo replaced her torn vest and painkillers slowly working in her system. The thicker, cotton material provided her with a little warmth as the Isla Nublar sun no longer heated the island.
She found Zach and Gray leaning against the bars of the Raptor paddocks, staring in awe. Natalie gripped at the bars beside Zach, staring at the four harnessed dinosaurs with their mouths clamped shut with metal muzzles. The Raptors breath came out in loud huffs and every so often their lips pulled into a snarl, showing their razor sharp teeth beneath the leather-like skin.
The three watched silently as Owen stroked one of the Raptors through the muzzle, its snarls turning into low groans at the contact. At the sight of them, Natalie was suddenly overcome with the same feeling of wonder and amazement she had felt when they arrived at the park.For a moment she forgot about the dinosaur she had been running from for hours. Instead, as she stared at the four siblings, Natalie saw them for what they were. Innocent creatures blessed with a second chance at life.
"What's that man going to do with them?" Natalie asked quietly as her eyes connected with the dinosaur Owen was petting, intrigued by the blue scales which decorated its neck.
Zach shrugged, lost in the same wonder as Natalie. Neither of them realised the ghost-like touch of their hands next to each other, their skin barely touching. "They're gonna fight fire with fire," he replied. It was the only reason either of them could think of.
Natalie scoffed under breath, the hairs on the back of her neck standing as if the horrifying monster was looming over their heads once again. "More like fire with sparks," she spoke bitterly. Picturing the Raptors going against the Indominus Rex, despite outnumbering the monster, they had no chance of surviving against it. Natalie felt her stomach drop as she stared at these magnificent creatures, knowing they would not survive to see the morning.
Natalie's eyes flickered to the Mitchell brothers for a moment. She wasn't entirely sure they would either.
Before that thought could stir Natalie's thoughts into a panic, she felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulder. Zach pulled her into his side, mindful of the scratches down her back. Natalie sighed deeply as she felt her head fall limp against him, Zach's cheek pressing against her matted curls.
"You okay?" Zach asked softly into her hair. He was surprised Natalie hadn't fallen into her usually panic attacks, ranting about all the horrible things that could happen to them. Her silence worried him far greater. He felt her shrug weakly against him. Without a word, Zach pulled her tighter into his body, rubbing her arm gently in comfort. "You're fine. We're going to be fine,"
"Owen," Gray called out, not noticing the reassuring whispers passed between the older teens. "Are they safe?" he asked, nodding his head towards the raptors as Owen walked towards the them.
"No, they're not," Owen answered honestly, his face stern and tense from the stress of the day.
"What are their names?" Gray asked, staring at the raptors in wonder.
Owen's lips twitched into a smile, "Well, you got Charlie. There's Echo. Here is Delta. This one's called Blue." Owen pointed to each raptor as he introduced them before stopping at the blue-scaled dinosaur Natalie had been staring at just moments ago. "She's the beta."
"Who's the alpha?" Natalie spoke up from Zach's side.
