Take a , go for a drive or wait in line for a Stegosaurus ride

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𝕋ℍ𝔼 golden hues of the sun pierced through the canopy, casting dappled light over the enclosure. The air hummed with the faint chirp of crickets and the rustle of leaves in the warm evening breeze. Rosita crouched near the edge of the clearing, her fingers trailing through the dirt as she let the tension from the day slowly ebb away. The raptors had finally settled, their low growls and restless pacing replaced by the occasional rustle as they nestled in their favourite spots.

Except for Blue.

He emerged from the shadows, his form shifting as he stepped into the light. Gone was the sleek, scaled body of the alpha raptor; in its place stood a man, his skin scarred and weathered like an ancient map, a testament to battles fought and won. His sharp teeth glinted faintly as he smirked, claws tapping lazily against his thigh. The scars that crisscrossed his back caught the light, jagged and raw, like rivers etched into flesh.

"You've got guts, you know that?" he said, his voice rough but tinged with something softer.

Rosita glanced up, shielding her eyes against the sunlight. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."

Blue huffed a laugh, his sharp teeth flashing in a grin. "You're lucky I like you, otherwise I might've let Delta have a snack earlier. She's always complaining she doesn't get enough variety."

Rosita chuckled, leaning back on her hands. "Oh, please. Delta couldn't catch me if she tried. Besides, you wouldn't let her. I'm your favourite."

Blue tilted his head, pretending to consider. "Favourite? That's debatable. You do make things interesting, though."

Rosita gave him a mock glare. "Interesting? I stopped her from ripping the new guy's face off. I deserve more than 'interesting.'"

Blue walked closer, his steps almost predatory, but there was a playful light in his eyes. "Fair enough. You did stop her... but you also ruined my fun." Blue smiled smugly, crouching down in front of her. "I was this close of getting a meal."

Rosita rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You're awful."

"Awful?" Blue leaned in, his sharp features catching the golden light. "I'm a predator. It's in the job description."

She swatted his arm, and he flinched dramatically, clutching his chest. "Careful, Rosita. You'll bruise my delicate ego."

"Oh, please. With all those scars, I don't think your ego's the delicate thing here," she shot back, her gaze softening as it lingered on the web of marks across his skin. Blue stilled, his grin fading as he caught her expression. "They don't bother me," he said quietly, his voice losing its usual teasing edge. "Every mark tells a story. And trust me, I've got plenty of stories." Rosita nodded, her voice gentle. "I know. I've seen some of them play out. You've protected your pack, Blue. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

He studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze softer now. "You're part of the pack, you know. Whether you like it or not."

Rosita smiled, warmth blooming in her chest. "I think I'm okay with that."

Blue leaned back, letting out a long breath. "You've got guts, Rosita. And for what it's worth, I'm glad you're here. Even if you're a little bossy."

"Bossy?" Rosita raised an eyebrow. "Coming from the beta who growled at me for ten minutes because I took his lunch shift, that's rich." Blue snorted, the sound almost human. "Hey, I don't share food. It's a rule." They laughed, the sound carrying through the clearing like music. For a moment, the day's chaos felt far away, replaced by the warmth of companionship.

As the sun dipped lower, painting the enclosure in shades of orange and gold, Blue stretched out beside her, his claws lightly raking the dirt. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow, fearless one?"

Rosita leaned her head back, gazing at the fading sky. "Hopefully, nothing involving pigs or screaming new hires."

Blue grinned, his sharp teeth glinting. "Where's the fun in that?" He lay sprawled on the soft patch of grass beside Rosita, his claws lazily tracing lines in the dirt. The golden remnants of daylight flickered through the canopy, casting shadows that danced like playful spirits across his scarred skin. Rosita leaned back on her elbows, her boots crossed in front of her, the faint hum of insects filling the air around them.

"You know," Blue began, his voice light with amusement, "for someone who constantly dives into danger, you're surprisingly bad at making an escape plan."

Rosita turned her head to look at him, an eyebrow arched. "Excuse me? I had the perfect escape plan earlier. I dove under the gate, didn't I?"

Blue snorted, the sound more animalistic than human. "Yeah, after standing there like a shield for the new guy. Real subtle. I'm sure Delta was two seconds from deciding you looked like dinner."

"Please," Rosita scoffed, giving him a playful nudge with her boot. "Delta wouldn't dare. She knows I'd outsmart her."

Blue tilted his head, his sharp teeth flashing in a wide grin. "Outsmart Delta? Bold claim, Rosie. She's been perfecting her ambush tactics since the day she hatched."

Rosita leaned forward, narrowing her eyes at him. "First of all, it's Rosita, not Rosie. Second, I've been dealing with you and your pack long enough to know all your tricks. You're not as sneaky as you think."

Blue placed a hand over his chest in mock offense, his claws glinting in the fading light. "Not sneaky? I'm offended. I'm the definition of stealth. You just can't appreciate my brilliance."

Rosita laughed, the sound warm and unguarded. "Brilliance, huh? Is that what you call falling face-first into the watering hole last week?"

Blue groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You're never letting that go, are you?"

"Not a chance," she replied with a smirk. "It's not every day I see the great Blue, alpha of the raptors, looking like a drowned kitten." Blue rolled onto his side, propping his head up with his hand as he gave her a pointed look. "You're lucky I like you, Rosita. Otherwise, I'd have Delta dig up the muddiest spot in the enclosure and toss you in."

"Oh, please. You'd never do that," she teased, poking his arm. "You'd miss me too much."

Blue's expression softened, his grin fading into something gentler. "Yeah," he admitted after a moment, his voice quieter. "I probably would."

The sudden sincerity caught Rosita off guard, her teasing smile faltering. She sat up straighter, the warmth in his tone settling into her chest like a cozy fire. "You're such a sap," she said, though her voice was softer now, lacking its usual edge. Blue smirked, his sharp teeth glinting again. "Maybe. But don't tell the others. Gotta maintain my image, you know?" She chuckled, shaking her head. "Your secret's safe with me."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the kind that only came with knowing someone as deeply as they knew each other. The raptors in the distance rustled softly, their movements blending into the rhythm of the jungle.

"You really scared me today, you know," Blue said after a while, his voice quiet but steady. "Jumping in there like that. You're lucky they listened to you."

Rosita shrugged, glancing over at him. "I trust them. They're your pack. And you trust me, right?"

Blue met her gaze, his sharp eyes softening. "Always."

Her lips curved into a small, genuine smile. "Then there's nothing to worry about. We've got each other's backs."

"Even if I fall into another watering hole?" he teased, the moment of vulnerability easing into playful banter.

Rosita laughed, the sound bright and carefree. "Especially then. Someone's gotta pull you out." Blue grinned, leaning back on the grass with a sigh. "You're impossible, Rosita."

"And you wouldn't have me any other way," she shot back, stretching out beside him as the first stars began to peek through the canopy. As the evening deepened, their laughter and light-hearted jabs carried through the enclosure, a rare moment of peace between two kindred spirits.

The late afternoon sunbathed the world in a warm, golden glow, casting long shadows across the sprawling park. Rosita stood by the fence, watching the distant workers busying themselves around the enclosures. The hum of construction filled the air as she scrolled absently through her phone, the familiar sound of a ringtone interrupting her solitude. It was Owen.

"Hey," he said, his voice filled with an unspoken weight. "I just talked to Claire. She mentioned wanting us to come along to inspect something—new dinosaur or something like that. You in?"

Rosita hesitated for a moment, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She had a feeling this wasn't just about dinosaurs. But she couldn't ignore the slight tinge of curiosity, the same curiosity that had led her to this world of genetically resurrected creatures in the first place.

"Sure. I'll go." She pressed 'end' without much fanfare, the decision made.

The car ride there was quiet. An almost tangible awkwardness clung to the air. Owen sat beside her, his gaze occasionally flickering over to her with that familiar, warm intensity. And Claire, in the driver's seat, was too focused on the road to notice anything out of place. Rosita found herself staring out the window, her mind wandering to places it probably shouldn't.

Claire and Owen...

There was something unspoken between them. Rosita didn't need to be a mind reader to sense it. A tug, an invisible pull. They hadn't quite acknowledged it yet, but Rosita saw it. And she had no doubt that the two of them were still as tied to each other as they ever had been. But they were blind to it. All that history, all those feelings—still buried beneath layers of stubborn pride and time.

As they arrived at the site, the three of them stepped out of the vehicle and were immediately hit with the scent of fresh earth and steel. Workers were milling about, adding the final touches to a new wall being constructed, making the enclosure even taller than before. Rosita squinted toward the structure, watching as the builders maneuverer large sections of metal and stone into place.

"We've been pre-booking tickets for months. The park needs a new attraction every few years to keep people interested," Claire said, leading the way toward the entrance. "Kind of like the space program. Corporate felt genetic modification would up the 'wow' factor."

Rosita followed, her boots crunching over gravel, as Owen and Claire bantered back and forth. The whole situation felt too formal, too rehearsed.

"They're dinosaurs," Owen responded with a raised eyebrow, voice laced with dry humour. "Wow enough."

Claire smiled at him, an all-too-familiar glint in her eye. "Not according to our focus groups. The Indominus rex makes us relevant again."

Rosita couldn't help it—she chuckled. Owen joined her, a laugh rumbling from his chest. "The Indominus rex?" he repeated.

Claire rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "We needed something scary and easy to pronounce. You should hear a four-year-old try to say 'Archaeornithomimus.'" She tossed a look over her shoulder, her posture straightening as she walked toward the door, leaving Owen and Rosita behind.

"You should hear you try to say it," Owen muttered to her.

With a playful grin, Rosita mimicked Owen's attempt to pronounce the ridiculous word, which only caused Owen to look at her in mock horror. "Don't," he said with a laugh. "You'll give your brain a burn-out."

She stuck out her tongue, eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'll take my chances," she teased, then followed Owen into the enclosure.

Inside, the space was expansive. The walls were high, windows stretching from the floor to the ceiling, offering a full view of the lush, recreated environment within. Trees and dense foliage filled the area, making it feel as though they'd stepped into another world entirely. "So, what's this thing made of?" Owen asked, peering at the large glass pane, his voice filled with curiosity as he glanced at the surroundings. Rosita stood with him, scanning the area, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever creature Claire had in mind. But it wasn't visible yet. "The base genome is a T. rex," Claire replied with a smirk, clearly proud of herself. "The rest is classified."

Rosita raised an eyebrow, her lips twisting in slight disbelief. "You made a new dinosaur, but you don't even know what it is?" Her tone was laced with humour, but there was a hint of genuine concern in her voice. "Does it have human genome like the raptors?" Claire's expression shifted just the slightest. "The lab delivers us finished assets, and we show them to the public. Also, I'm not sure—probably." She turned away, walking toward one of the workers who was munching on a sandwich. "Can we drop a steer, please?" Rosita gave Claire an incredulous glance before turning back to the enclosure. She watched as a crane lowered a large slab of meat into the pen. "And you feed it with that?" she asked, her voice sceptical.

Claire shook her head. "Is there a problem?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Rosita frowned, studying the enclosure once more. "Animals raised in isolation aren't always the most functional."

Claire's lips curled in a small smile. "You Raptors are born in captivity."

Owen and Rosita turned toward her, surprised by her bluntness. "With siblings," Owen replied first, his voice slow but firm. "They learn social skills. And I imprint on them when they're born. Rosita cares for them. There's trust."

Rosita added, a little more sharply, "The only positive relationship this animal has is with that crane. At least she knows that means food."

Claire raised an eyebrow at them. "So, she needs a friend. Should we schedule playdates? That sort of thing?"

Owen shook his head, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "Probably not a good idea."

Claire, undeterred, tapped on the glass and peered into the enclosure. "Where is it?" she asked, her voice softer now.

Rosita glanced around, her eyes narrowing. "Is it in the basement? Is there a downstairs? Maybe it's in a rec room?"

Claire, clearly annoyed, didn't even glance at her. She just kept walking toward the control panel, muttering under her breath, "It was just here. We were just here."

But as soon as she began scrolling through the data on her tablet, the monitors buzzed, flashing a warning: No signatures detected across all the cameras. Rosita froze, her gaze darting to the wall, where something caught her eye. "Owen," she called, her voice low, but urgent. Owen turned, following her line of sight. "Were those claw marks always there?" he asked, his voice tight with suspicion.

The three of them moved closer, the tension palpable. Claire leaned in, inspecting the wall with an unease creeping into her expression. "Do you think it...?" she started, but her voice faltered when she noticed the small implant mark on the creature's back. Her eyes widened. "Oh, God. It has an implant. I can track it from the control room."

Without another word, Claire turned on her heel and sprinted toward the exit. "I'm going to the control room. I'll track it from there."

Rosita stood still, watching her go, her chest tight with unspoken thoughts. Owen was already moving after her, and yet, for a moment, everything felt still. Like the calm before something they weren't ready to face.

Rosita glanced toward the distant enclosure, the claw marks still lingering in her mind.

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By: SilverMist707