Ivory padded softly through the dense forest, her senses alert as she navigated the unfamiliar terrain. The trees were taller here, the underbrush thicker, and the air was saturated with unfamiliar scents. She had wandered far from her usual paddock, further than she ever had before. Typically, she kept close to the familiar surroundings of her enclosure, where the scents of the other dinosaurs were constant and reassuring. But today, curiosity had drawn her beyond the boundaries of what she knew, her instincts urging her to explore.

Her keen senses flared as she picked up a new smell—one that was distinctly human, but not familiar. She stopped in her tracks, the hairs on her neck standing on end. It wasn't Owen. She could tell right away that this wasn't someone she recognized, and a wave of unease washed over her.

Two young males emerged from the thicket, looking around nervously. Ivory's sharp eyes caught the flicker of uncertainty in their movements. Their scent was heavy with fear, their anxiety almost palpable in the cool air. They hadn't expected to encounter her—or any creature like her.

Ivory took a cautious step forward, her stance low and alert. The taller of the two, a boy with dark brown hair, seemed to freeze when he saw her, a shiver running through his body. The smaller one, clinging to his brother like an eel, looked equally terrified. Ivory's lips curled slightly, sensing their distress.

She hissed softly, her tail flicking with a warning. "Take it easy," she said, her voice calm but firm, hoping to reassure them. They yelped in surprise and quickly stumbled backward, eyes wide with fear. The taller boy reached for something at his side, pulling out a shock prod—the very same kind the rangers used on her and the other dinosaurs when they needed to control them.

Ivory's ears flicked back, irritation bubbling within her, but she didn't move to attack. Instead, she took a breath, the sharpness in her voice fading as she spoke again, her tone softening. "Oi, I said calm down. I can understand your tongue now, can't I? Just don't worry—I'll lead you back to the main part of the park." She raised her paw slowly, a gesture of non-threat. "I promise."

The younger boy blinked, still unsure, and his voice quivered when he spoke. "How do you know human?" His words hung in the air, as if trying to make sense of the impossible.

Ivory tilted her head slightly, her expression warm despite the circumstances. "My alpha taught me," she replied, her tone almost gentle. She lowered her head, placing a claw over her chest in a gesture of respect. "Now, what's your names?"

The taller boy—Zach, as he introduced himself—seemed to regain some of his composure, though his nerves were still evident. He stood a little taller, his shoulders a bit less hunched. "I'm Zach," he said, his voice less shaky than before.

The smaller boy, still clinging to Zach's side, swallowed nervously before managing to speak. "I'm Gray."

Ivory smiled warmly, her posture relaxing even more as she nodded. "Nice to meet you, Zach, Gray," she said, her voice soothing. "I'm Ivory. Now, come along. The Indominus will probably catch my scent soon enough." Her tail flicked with purpose, and she gave a small, welcoming nod of her head. "Come along."

Without waiting for another moment, Ivory began to lead the way, her sharp claws clicking softly on the gravel path as she moved with a quiet urgency. Zach and Gray exchanged a quick look before falling in line behind her, the weight of their fear still lingering in their eyes but replaced with a newfound sense of trust. Ivory moved with confident grace, her keen senses scanning the surroundings, always aware of the dangers lurking nearby.

As the three of them made their way down the path, Ivory couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility. She wasn't sure why these two boys were here or how they had ended up so far from the park's main area, but she knew one thing for certain—she couldn't leave them to face whatever was coming alone. She glanced back over her shoulder at the young humans, her expression softening.

The woods felt more dangerous now, the sense of something lurking in the shadows pressing against her. But Ivory knew she was capable. She had the skills, the instincts, and the will to keep these two safe, even if they didn't understand what they were up against. The Indominus rex was still out there, and she was certain it wouldn't be long before it caught wind of her scent.

"Stay close," she murmured as they continued their journey, the cool night air thick with tension. Ivory wasn't just leading them to safety—she was fighting to make sure that they, like her, got a chance to survive another day.

SCENEBREAK

As they moved through the bustling crowds, the noise of excited visitors, children laughing, and the distant hum of mechanical attractions surrounded them, Ivory felt a strange sense of discomfort. The scent of fear was thick in the air, a sharp contrast to the usual blend of smells she was accustomed to. It made her bristle, her claws tapping quietly against the ground as she remained hidden from sight, her camouflage activated. The humans around her, oblivious to her presence, continued their usual activities, none the wiser to the dangerous raptor slipping through their midst.

She had told Zach and Gray that she would remain invisible so the other humans wouldn't see her and panic. She knew that a raptor, even with her cleverness and understanding of human speech, would still incite chaos if spotted. The last thing she wanted was for a stampede of panicked visitors to make the situation even worse.

Despite her invisibility, she allowed Gray to hold onto her tail. His grip was gentle but firm, and Ivory could feel his nervousness radiating through him. She slowed her pace to ensure he wouldn't lose her among the swirling mass of visitors. The crowd parted briefly, giving Ivory a chance to duck beneath a couple who were hugging each other tightly, clearly in relief after reuniting. She could feel the tension in the air, everyone on edge, and the anxiety only seemed to grow as the sound of the Indominus rex's roars echoed in the distance, muffled but still terrifying.

"So, where's your guardian?" Ivory asked over her shoulder, her voice calm despite the chaos surrounding them. She had a sense that the boys had been abandoned or lost, and curiosity tugged at her as she gently swished her tail, guiding them along.

Zach sighed, and for a moment, Ivory felt a wave of sympathy wash over her. She had seen many young creatures—humans and dinosaurs alike—lost and alone before, struggling to find their way. "Aunt Claire was supposed to take care of us, but she sent her assistant after us instead," Zach explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "Her name's Zara, and she's a tall woman with black hair." His eyes flicked around nervously, scanning the crowd for any sign of the assistant, though it was clear that he didn't expect to find her anytime soon. "She's gone though, and I don't think she'd catch up to us."

Ivory slowed her pace, trying to make sense of what she had heard. An assistant—Zara—was supposed to be taking care of them? But now she was gone, lost in the chaos of the park. She could tell from Zach's tone that he didn't expect much help from her. It wasn't hard to imagine why; in a park teeming with dinosaurs, security and safety were often just as unpredictable as the creatures roaming the grounds.

She glanced back at the boys, her invisible form still only partially perceptible to them as they moved along. "I think you're right," she said softly. "The place is... a bit of a mess right now." She flicked her tail in the direction of the distant sounds of roaring and chaos that came from further inside the park. The smell of fear and panic was everywhere now, and the closer they got to the heart of the park, the more Ivory could sense the shift in the air—something big was coming.

"Just keep close to me," she added in a more serious tone. "We're not out of danger yet. Stick to the shadows, and I'll get you to safety. The Indominus rex will be following my scent soon enough."

Zach and Gray both nodded, their faces a mixture of relief and lingering fear, but at least for now, they weren't entirely alone. Ivory's sharp eyes scanned the crowd again, alert for any signs of danger, and she began to move faster, weaving between the visitors as she headed toward a safer area of the park.

As she did, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was spiraling out of control. The park was no longer a place of wonder—it was a battleground, and the stakes had never been higher. She just hoped she could get these two to safety before everything went to hell.