He's only learning where he fits in the food chain

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𝕋ℍ𝔼 night sky blanketed the park in darkness, the only light coming from the dim glow of the equipment being set up around the raptor containment. Blue and her siblings prowled restlessly within their enclosure, their sharp eyes glinting in the faint light. Soldiers moved efficiently, fixing night-vision cameras onto the raptors' heads. Blue growled low in her throat, a warning that none of the men seemed to heed.

Hoskins strolled up to the containment fence, a smug grin plastered across his face. He stopped directly in front of Blue, ignoring the way her lips curled back to reveal razor-sharp teeth. "Hey, hey," he muttered, snapping his fingers right in front of her. "Right here."

Blue lunged slightly, his claws scraping against the metal bars as he snarled, the sound vibrating with fury. Hoskins merely chuckled, a condescending sound that made Barry, standing nearby, tense in frustration.

Barry shook his head, his voice dry as he commented, "He looks at what he wants. Usually what he wants to eat."

The humour drained from Hoskins' face as he glared at Blue, whose gaze didn't waver, her predatory instincts clear. The tense moment was interrupted by the sound of an approaching vehicle.

Rosita was already out of the car before it had fully stopped, her boots crunching against the gravel as she marched toward the containment with fire in her eyes. Owen and Claire followed close behind, Owen's expression dark and warning.

Hoskins smirked as they approached, his smug tone grating as he called out, "The mother hen has finally arrived."

Before Owen could get a word in—or throw the punch he was clearly preparing—Rosita beat him to it. Her fist connected with Hoskins' jaw in a satisfying crack that echoed through the night.

Hoskins stumbled, clutching his jaw as he glared at her. Rosita stepped closer, her voice laced with fury. "Get the fuck out of here and stay away from the raptors."

Hoskins straightened, his gaze darkening as he closed the distance between them. Before he could respond, Claire stepped forward, her voice sharp and accusatory. "Hoskins, you wanted this to happen, you son of a bitch!"

Rolling his eyes, Hoskins scoffed. "Oh, Jesus! How many more people have to die before this mission starts to make sense to you?"

Rosita's glare burned holes into him, her fists clenched tightly at her sides, ready to strike again. Barry stepped in, speaking firmly as he joined the group. "It's not a mission. It's a field test."

Ignoring Barry, Hoskins turned his attention to Owen, his voice full of manufactured authority. "This is an iNGen situation now."

Claire shook her head in disbelief, but Hoskins pressed on, his voice rising with urgency. "Okay, listen. At first light, cruise ships are going to show up here. Everyone's getting off this island. Tomorrow, you're going to see a news story about how you all saved lives. No, better yet—how your animals saved lives."

Rosita let out a bitter, angry laugh, the sound dripping with venom. She stepped forward, ready to swing at him again, but Barry grabbed her arm and shook his head. Rosita didn't back down, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "They're not just animals anymore. They have humanity. More humanity than you could ever hope to have in your whole damn body!"

Hoskins glared at her, his jaw tightening, but he turned away, shouting orders at the soldiers. "Let's move it out!"

Engines roared to life as vehicles prepared to move, the soldiers bustling to carry out Hoskins' orders. He turned back to Rosita and Owen, his tone final. "This is happening. With or without you."

Rosita stood still, her eyes blazing with pure hatred as she watched him walk away. Owen stepped closer to her, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.

𓆌

The dim light of the room flickered as Owen stood before a map of the park, his voice firm and commanding as soldiers gathered around. Rosita stood to his side, arms crossed but her gaze steady, a picture of calm determination. Barry lingered nearby, nodding as Owen spoke.

"We know she's in Sector Five," Owen began, his finger tracing the path on the map. "This is a game we call hide-and-seek. It's a scent drill. We've done it about a thousand times with these animals. When they get on target—and they will get on target—wait to engage."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Velociraptors are pack hunters. They like to herd their prey into a kill zone. That's when we take our shot. Get a clear shot, wait on my command, and give her everything you've got. We've got one good target, gentlemen. Do not shoot my Raptors. Please."

The room was silent except for the rustle of gear as the soldiers prepared to leave. With a final nod from Owen, they filed out, leaving the core team behind.

As the tension settled, Rosita turned and made her way to Blue's enclosure. The hybrid stood still, his vibrant scales shimmering under the low light, his intelligent eyes locked on her. Slowly, Rosita approached, her movements deliberate and calm. She stood in front of him, her hand reaching out to rest gently on the side of his face.

"Easy, Blue. Easy," she whispered, her voice soft and soothing. Blue tilted his head slightly, his growl low and guttural but lacking the usual edge of hostility.

"Attaboy," Rosita murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she adjusted the camera strapped to his head. "You don't scare me. Not one bit."

Blue huffed softly, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that felt almost human. Rosita's voice softened even more as she traced a careful finger along the edge of his jaw. "I'm sorry they did this to you. To all of you. You didn't ask for any of this."

For a moment, the raptor's predatory demeanour melted away, replaced by something gentler. His eyes softened, and he let out a low, almost purring sound that made Rosita chuckle quietly.

Behind them, Gray's voice broke the moment. "Owen."

Owen turned, leaving Echo behind as he approached the gate where Gray and Zach stood. "Are they safe?" Gray asked, his small face full of worry.

Owen's response was blunt. "No, they're not."

Zach's eyes drifted to the raptors. "What are their names?"

Owen followed his gaze, nodding toward each raptor in turn. "Well, you've got Charlie. There's Echo, and over there's Delta. And this one that Rosita's busy soothing is Blue. He's the beta."

Gray tilted his head curiously. "Who's the alpha?"

A smug grin spread across Owen's face as he pointed at himself. "You're looking at him, kid."

Gray smiled, but Zach just rolled his eyes.

Rosita glanced over her shoulder with a sly grin. "He may be the alpha, but I'm their favourite."

Owen shot her an exasperated look but didn't argue.

Turning her attention back to Blue, Rosita leaned in closer, her hand still resting gently on his face. "Isn't that right, Blue?" she teased softly.

Blue let out a low chuff, his eyes bright with something that looked startlingly like affection. Then, in a surprising gesture, Rosita leaned in and kissed him gently on the cheek, right near the corner of his mouth.

Blue froze for a moment, blinking as if stunned by the unexpected act. Then his head tilted, and he let out a soft crooning sound, his gaze filled with unguarded adoration.

Owen, standing behind her, groaned. "Great. Now you've gone and spoiled him."

Rosita glanced back with a smirk. "Oh, please. He's been spoiled since the day he hatched."

Blue's tail thumped lightly against the floor, his eyes never leaving Rosita. For a moment, amidst the chaos of the mission, it felt like a fragile, fleeting moment of peace.

The night was heavy with tension as Claire hurriedly led her nephews to safety, her determined figure fading into the shadows. Near the containment area, the raptors stood behind the cage bars, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Owen held a slab of meat from the Indominus rex in one hand, the scent of their quarry thick and pungent in the air. With the other hand, he clicked his training device, the sharp sound slicing through the stillness and drawing the raptors' attention.

They snarled softly, nostrils flaring as they caught the scent. Nearby, Rosita adjusted her grip on her bike's handlebars, her jaw set in grim determination. Barry stood beside them, his eyes scanning the team. He gave them a curt nod, his expression serious.

Owen turned to the new recruit stationed by the release button. "Ready?"

The man nodded nervously, his finger hovering over the control. Owen glanced at Rosita, her knuckles white as she gripped the handles tightly, then gave a signal. The recruit took a breath, pushed the button, and the cage doors hissed open.

The raptors bolted into the jungle, their powerful strides kicking up dust and leaves.

"Freedom! I feel alive!" Charlie howled as he leaped over a fallen log.

"Shut up, Charlie," Echo snapped, narrowly dodging a tree trunk. "This is serious business!"

Blue ran in silence, his focus razor-sharp on the scent trail. Yet, in the corner of his mind, he replayed the kiss Rosita had given him earlier. He shook his head, growling softly to himself. Focus, he thought.

Rosita gunned her engine and surged forward, weaving through the jungle's narrow trails to keep pace with the raptors. They ran on either side of her, their lean forms blending seamlessly with the shadows of the trees.

Glancing at Blue, she caught him casting her a sidelong glance before he turned his attention back to the path ahead. She smirked. "Eyes on the mission, soldier," she muttered to herself, her voice laced with humour.

Barry's voice crackled over the communicator. "They're slowing down."

Owen pressed his comm. "They've got something."

Everyone eased off their speed, the convoy slowing to a crawl. The raptors came to a halt, their heads low as they sniffed the air, their bodies tense. Owen, Rosita, and Barry dismounted, rifles ready, and moved forward cautiously. The soldiers followed, weapons trained on the dense foliage ahead.

Behind a fallen log, the team crouched. The thudding of colossal footsteps echoed through the trees, growing louder with each step. Charlie snarled as the Indominus rex emerged from the darkness, her massive form a pale ghost against the night.

The raptors stiffened, their growls deepening. The Indominus lowered her head, her sharp eyes gleaming as she let out a guttural sound. To everyone's shock, the raptors didn't attack. Instead, they stood still, heads tilting in response to the Indominus's low, guttural communication, her massive frame radiated dominance. Her piercing amber eyes scanned the raptors, calculating and sharp. She crouched low, her guttural growl reverberating through the clearing like a sinister drumbeat.

Blue snarled but didn't advance, his gaze locked with the Indominus. Delta and Echo flanked him, their bodies tense, while Charlie shifted uneasily, his tail flicking.

The Indominus's growl shifted into a series of sharp clicks and low rumbling tones, her voice a predator's symphony. The raptors' heads tilted in unison as they listened, their growls softening.

"Why do you follow them?" the Indominus questioned in a language only the raptors could understand. Her voice was commanding yet enticing, dripping with disdain for the humans. "They keep you caged. They feed you scraps. They control you."

Blue responded with a defiant snarl, his body coiled tight. "We are a pack. He is alpha."

The Indominus let out a rumbling chuckle, a sinister sound that echoed through the jungle. "Alpha?" she mocked, tilting her massive head. "You think that human is your alpha? He is weak. He cannot run with you. He cannot hunt with you. He is nothing but prey pretending to lead predators."

Charlie hesitated, glancing at Blue. "She's not wrong..." he muttered nervously.

"Silence, Charlie," Blue snapped, his sharp gaze never leaving the Indominus.

The Indominus took a step closer, her claws gouging the earth. "You belong to no one but yourselves. Look at them." She gestured with her massive head toward the humans crouched behind the log. "They hold you back. They use you as tools, as weapons. But with me..." Her voice softened, dangerously inviting. "With me, you will be free. No more cages. No more commands. Only power. Only the hunt."

Delta growled, her body wavering. "You would lead us?"

The Indominus straightened to her full height, her eyes gleaming. "I am like you. My blood is your blood. My instincts are your instincts. Together, we can be unstoppable. We can rule."

Blue growled low, his body trembling with suppressed rage. "You're a monster."

The Indominus roared, her voice shaking the trees. "And what do you think they see when they look at you?" She jabbed her massive claw toward the humans. "Do you think they see family? Pack? No! They see monsters! Just like me. The only difference is, I refuse to be their pet."

The raptors exchanged uneasy glances, their snarls fading into uneasy clicks. Blue looked back at Rosita, who was crouched behind the log with her rifle ready. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, he faltered.

"Enough talk," the Indominus snarled, her voice a command. "Choose now. Freedom or servitude?"

The raptors turned, facing the humans with a newfound ferocity. Blue hesitated, his gaze flicking between Rosita and the Indominus, his loyalty to his pack warring with something deeper.

"Blue..." Rosita whispered, her voice breaking the silence.

A soldier's panicked voice broke the silence. "Engage!"

Gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks reverberating through the jungle. The Indominus roared and bolted, her massive form crashing through the trees. The raptors split up, disappearing into the shadows as chaos erupted.

A soldier with a rocket launcher took aim, firing at the fleeing Indominus. The explosion threw her to the ground, but she quickly scrambled to her feet, roaring in fury before vanishing into the jungle.

Owen's voice cut through the commotion. "Watch your six. Raptors got a new alpha."

Rosita stood still, her weapon ready as distant growls echoed from the darkness. Her heart pounded, not from fear but from the growing weight of betrayal and the knowledge that they were no longer the hunters.

They were the hunted.

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By: SilverMist707