──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

Brooklyn and Owen stood protectively in front of Claire and Zach, Gray tight in Claire's grip as the three Raptors stood close by watching them. "That's how it is?" Owen asked with his eyes locked on his former Beta, he lowered the gun he held to the ground before holding out his hands. "Easy. Easy," Owen reached over to remove the camera strap from Blue's head, she watched him in curiosity while Echo and Charlie's headgear had already come off. Echo watched Brooklyn, a small whimper of sorrow leaving her throat as the two kept eye contact. "It's okay, Echo... I'm okay," Brooklyn assured the beautiful animal but she felt herself shaking, the presence of the creature that almost killed her made her uncomfortable and she felt bad for fearing her own companion.

The Indominus Rex came around the corner, a snarl leaving her lips as she analysed the humans and Raptors, her growl deepening at the sight of Brooklyn who tried not to cower under the beasts gaze. The Indominus roared an order at Blue but the Beta watched Owen before chirping back at her, she then chittered at Owen before roaring at the Hybrid. "Alpha's back," Brooklyn told Owen who smirked, the loyalty of the pack is never determined by power. Owen whistles and Blue races towards the Indominus, launching at the Hybrid only to be thrown aside. "Girls, hunt," Brooklyn called to Echo and Charlie, both Raptors reared up with growls and rushed towards the Hybrid.

Owen fired off shots at the Hybrid as Claire lead Zach, Gray and Brooklyn off to the side and into the space of a small stall. "24, 50..." Gray counted before looking up, "We need more." Brooklyn and Claire looked at the boy confused as Zach listened. "More what?" Claire asked her nephew. "Teeth. We need more teeth," Gray told her. Brooklyn's eyes lit up, she snatched a flare from Claire before jumping up. "Brooklyn!?" Claire called out. "I'll be back with more teeth!" Brooklyn replied, Zach moved to follow her but Gray grabbed his hand. "She'll be okay," Gray assured his big brother. "She's hurt!" Zach snapped back. "Zach, she's a Malcolm. Stubborn bastards who don't back down," Claire told Zach sternly, those words settled him a little but he wouldn't be calm until she was back in his arms.

Claire lifted the walkie to her mouth, "Lowery, are you still there?" She waited a moment before hearing his reply, "Hey, where are you?" Claire let out a breath, "I need you to open Paddock Nine for Brooklyn." Lowery's eyes bulged from his skull, he looked at the camera to see Brooklyn waving her hands. "Paddock Nine? Are you two insane?" Lowery asked making Claire scoff and roll her eyes. "Damn it, Lowery, be a man and do something for once in your life!" Claire snapped at the man who whimpered to himself. "Why do you have to make it personal?" Lowery questioned to himself before sighing, he pushed the button to open Paddock Nine where Brooklyn stood taking in a deep breath before focusing.

"Come on, Trixie. Someone is challenging your place," Brooklyn informed the Tyrannosaurus Rex causing a loud aggravated roar to split through the air followed by the vibration of steps towards her. Trixie appears from the shadows of her Paddock with a rumbling growl, Brooklyn lit the flare and began backing away from the Queen of the Prehistoric. The large beast followed behind her as she ran, her body burned but she wouldn't rest until she was safe ─ until everyone was safe. Meanwhile with Claire and the boys, Owen leaped in just as the Hybrid reached a claw in. She managed to snag onto Gray's fanny pack, Zach fumbles but manages to unhook it freeing Gray from the beasts hold.

Brooklyn spots the Indominus Rex and glares, her Raptor eyes shone and caught her attention. "Time to play, bitch!" Brooklyn sneered at the Hybrid before throwing the flare leading Trixie straight towards her challenger. Trixie smashes through a dinosaur skeleton, roaring at the Indominus before the two rush each other and begin snapping their jaws at one another in an attempt to overpower the other. The others peek over as Brooklyn hides behind a large amber sculpture, she peeks around and spots the fighting Dinosaurs stumbling towards them. "Run!" Brooklyn shouted and the four escaped the stall just as Trixie stumbled into it. They all rushed over to Brooklyn, Zach didn't hesitate to pull her into his embrace to ease his racing heart.

It's at that moment that Brooklyn spotted Charlie's cooked corpse, she whimpered to herself before turning in time to see that the Indominus had Trixie pinned down. "No!" Brooklyn rushed out stupidly, her brain delayed from exhaustion. Owen attempted to reach for her but he could only grab Zach, stopping the boy from following her. "You want me bitch?!" Brooklyn called out as she picked up a stray gun, firing shot after shot at the Indominus that turned to her, roaring. As the Hybrid reached out to snap her jaws around the exhausted human, Echo appeared shoving Brooklyn aside and getting snatched up instead. "NO!" Brooklyn cried out as she watched the Indominus crunch down on Echo killing her instantly. Blue's roar caught their attention, the last Raptor pounced at the Hybrid as Trixie stood up hearing the humans cry.

Trixie snaps her jaw around the Hybrid's neck as Blue nipped into wherever she could get, the Hybrid roaring out as they all stumbled closer to Molly's Lagoon. Trixie gets the upper hand as Blue leaps to the ground, the Tyrannosaurus tosses the Indominus near the Lagoon like a ragdoll, the Hybrid roars but Molly rises from the waters below and latches her jaws around the Hybrid. Brooklyn smiled tiredly as she watches Molly drag the abomination into the depths for her meal, the sight allowed Brooklyn to drop to her knees. Trixie and Blue shared a nod of a respect, both glanced at Brooklyn who immediately communicated to both, "Thank you!" Trixie lowered her head before she turned and walked away, exhausted from her fight.

Owen finally let go of Zach, the young man bolted over to Brooklyn and dropped down next her, ignoring the pain in his knees as he held her close. "Don't do something like that again! What were you thinking!? I thought..." Zach's voice cracked as tears finally flowed from his eyes, "...I thought I was gonna lose you." Brooklyn's tired arms wrapped around him, she rested one hand on his back while the other held the back of his head. "I'm stupid, I know... But I had to do something," Brooklyn replied, she knew no reason would excuse her stupidity but she was alive; that was what mattered, and so were they. Owen turned his attention to Blue who stood awaiting orders but Owen shakes his head, Blue was the Alpha now and she understood that as she chirped before rushing off alone.

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

"Okay, Echo... this is why you do not challenge the Beta," Brooklyn scolded the Raptor that rested at the bars, the girl was tending to the now disfigured jaw and scar that Blue left on Echo. The Raptor cooed at the girl but she wouldn't give in, "Nice try, Elvis. But you messed up. Now be careful and let it heal." Brooklyn stepped back allowing Echo to join her sisters, Delta immediately taunted the girl and the two began snapping at each other. "She gonna be okay?" Barry asked Brooklyn who was cleaning up her hands. "Yeah, she's gonna be fine," Brooklyn told Barry with a smile. The two walked away spotting Owen who yawned, "Drinks?" Barry nodded while Brooklyn rolled her eyes fondly at the two.

"So did you end up accepting that date from... what was his name? David? Dale? Duncan?" Owen asked Brooklyn as they drove back to Owen's place. "His name was Davis and no... he didn't seem too interested in me but moreso in my fame and name," Brooklyn replied with a frown on her face. "You're only sixteen, Brookie. You'll find someone," Barry called from the back, a reassuring smile on his face. "Thanks, B. But I'm not really thinking about dating. Got these Raptors to worry about. Especially with Hoskins hanging around," Brooklyn replied, her voice turning to disdain at the mention of the man. "With the way you're going, you'll be that crazy cat lady but with Raptors instead," Owen teased making Brooklyn laugh. "That just might happen after all," Brooklyn replied with a bright smile on her unblemished face.

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

──────────❝ 🦕 ❞──────────

Rosemary Speaks. . .

Apologies for this being a short chapter but I just wanted the battle in this one. . . Added the flashback 'cause I felt like it lmao

I also realised that I wrote Charlie being alive rather than Delta but it was too late to correct it so I just rolled with it.
RIP, our Raptors.

Thoughts, Suggestions or Questions

See you in the next chapter!