Project Orpheus: A Tale of Blood and Feathers

Chapter 34: The Last

"We just ran into #421. It killed Myrtle and Chester. We had to put it down." Came Derek's voice over the radio.

Orenda frowned. There was a lot of good going on, and a lot of bad. She wanted to take time to process all this. She didn't like dying - anybody dying. But 421 probably needed to die, and Chester...

Well as said as it was for someone to die, the world was probably better without him. It was a thought she wasn't happy to think, but it was true regardless. At times like this, it was best to think of the good things.

"You killed #421?" Noh's said, her frustration clear through the distortion of the radio. "Damn it."

"Hey! It just head butted Myrtle to death! What were we supposed to do!?"

Noh sighed, "Yeah, yeah, I know. I know...I'm just sad. Better him than any more of you though. Good job taking him out."

Orenda nodded, "yeah, sorry you had to do that. And see that. But good on you for pulling through."

Anise tilted her head.

"Hey, um. That's, uh, Kitta over there."

"Wait what." Maddox stammered.

The car slowed down and sure enough, Kitta was there, flapping her head crest and letting out calls as she saw them. She looked none the worse for wear, all things considered. In fact, she seemed happy.

"So, what do we have to worry about with her?" Anise asked.

Orenda put her hands together. "She's just big. She knows her own strength, though."

"That...sounds impressive, for an animal."

"It is. She's surprisingly smart."

Kitta tilted her own head at the sounds of the engine and then began thrusting her head back and forth, while making a chirping sound, her yellow eyes bright with what Anise could only assume was joy.

"She wants to play," Orenda said, "that's how she says that."

"Oh that's adorable." Anise said. "Can...can I?"

Orenda smiled, "Go ahead. It'll be a good distraction while we tranq her."

Anise nodded, not entirely sure why that might be necessary if she was as docile as Orenda claimed, but it didn't matter. Anise got out of the truck and brushed herself off a bit, approaching the long, weirdly clawed creature.

"Do what she's doing." Orenda said.

Anise nodded and squatted down, thrusting her head back and forth just as Kitta did. She made as similar a chirping noise as she could.

As soon as she did, Kitta leaned back like she was surprised. She started doing it again, this time stomping her legs up and down. Anise did the same, and Kitta let out another happy chirp. Anise then took a step to the left and Kitta took a step to the right. The two of them started to circle each other, copying each other's movements. Anise leaped backward, and Kitta leaped forward.

"Hey, Orenda. I think I have an idea."

"Oh?" Orenda asked.

"What if we played...all the way to her enclosure?"

Orenda snapped. "That's perfect! If you think you can keep it up the whole time."

"Damn straight I can!" She said.

And the two of them played, copying each other's movements until they made it all the way to her enclosure. At one point the two of them were even running. Anise was surprised that Kitta was keeping pace with her - not because she was so fast, but that Kitta knew to slow herself down to not trample her. It was impressive!

Kitta eagerly went back into her enclosure once there, and as soon as the gate closed, Anise flopped down to her bottom

"Holy shit...we did it." She said. "I can't believe...how long was that?"

"15 minutes." Orenda said.

"It felt like an hour of strenuous physical activity."

"Kitta can run 30 miles an hour. She has a lot of energy. I'm honestly impressed."

Anise spread her arms out and leaned back into the grass. Grass. It had been a very long time since she had felt grass. There wasn't a lot of it on the steppe. She involuntarily giggled.

She felt something grab her hand. It was nice

"C'mon, get up. We have to go." It was Orenda's voice.

Yes, that made sense. The hand that had grabbed hers was gentle in its touch but felt rough, like it had spent a lifetime working. Like hers.

"What next?" Anise asked.

"The other members of the DNU got the rest of the dinosaurs rounded up. Noh's gonna take us home."

"Fair," she said. "But do I really have to get up?"

"Yes, c'mon."

Orenda pulled her up and Anise playfully waved her hand at her companion, but acquiesced. They got the car and drove off, Anise finally able to catch her breath.