Without further ado ...

Chapter 9 - Epilogue

I landed on my knees loudly, and to my utter frustration there happened to be a large pond just under my feet. The muddy water got soaked into my jeans, my worn boots that had more tiny holes than a roll of cheddar cheese got filled up like a pool, but the worst was that a splash of the annoying liquid got into my eyes leaving me half blind. Angrily I tried to brush it out using my fingers which were just as dirty and muddy, so after all I ended up in a worse situation than before. Still in a crouching position I put my right hand to the ground, closed my eyes and took a deep breathe. Just as Robert taught me ... It didn't take a long time until I could feel it: the earth moving, a warning blow of the wind coming towards my direction, the leaves singing as they clashed into each other, and into the bodies of those following me. I knew they were close and that I couldn't remain there for too long. I forced my all-teary eyes open and mentally accepted my situation - the sun was burning my skin, my clothes were desperately ruined ... and a whole horde of Gallimimus was on my chase.

"Oh this was so not a good idea!" I evaluated my situation, however I still started running again, strengthening the grip of my fingers on the object that got all mama and papa dinosaurs mad at me ... a large yellow spotty egg. I left the meadow behind me and rushed right into the rain forest. I glanced back through my shoulder one last time then I hopped right behind a large tree. I laughed at myself inwardly, I must look ridiculous, like a herder with my own personal chicken flock.

Nonetheless it didn't take much time until I got to the designated area. Yes, that was it, trees with red barks surrounding a small clearing, dark grass, the perfect place. I stopped in my track and placed the egg in the middle of the clearing then turned away and took place behind a large trunk. I didn't wish to be caught up in the middle of what was about to happen next.

Just as I calculated some of the smaller dinosaurs found their ways to my spot, they wigged their tails as they balanced on the uneven ground, and when they noticed the eggs they cautiously stepped toward it. One of the bigger ones placed the egg carefully in her mouth, the exact same way as the Congo lions carried their pups between their large fangs. It was amazing! However just as they got ready to leave something moved behind the opposite bushes. I popped my head out of the large trunk and noticed the almond shaped amber eye unblinking behind the leaves.

The air immediately froze around us, none of us dared to move, the Gallimimus sniffed worriedly in the air like they still didn't believe what was coming after them. I turned away closing my eyes still hiding behind my trunk. Then it happened...

I heard the loud crash as the Raptor jumped on its prey, the painful yelp and shriek, a banging sound as something hit the ground, a watery splash that in my mind looked suspiciously like blood. Then just as quickly as it started, it was over.

I crawled out of my hiding place and examined the scene like a good old detective. Liara, my not so baby dino now was circling over the three dead Gallimimus bodies like a guard. Two of the younger Raptors were already chewing on them, red liquid dropping from between their teeth. After all this time I still couldn't get used to it fully, it was much more different than watching the hunting from behind the glass wall of the pens. The smell was foul and it didn't take too long until the blow flies found their way to their dinner as well. Then a warm scaly body brushed over my arm, and I looked up into the eyes of Big One. I smiled but then reminded myself to my promise and putting my hands on my hips I took a threatening stand.

"This was the very last time I played the bait! Do you get it?" I chastised him like a mother do with their children, but he only nagged my side with his head as a response to my outburst. Still puffing inside I took out my pocked knife and cut a good amount of the meat from one of the bodies. It was time for dinner ...

A few hours later I was sitting next to a campfire. The scene was serene, and I thanked Hammond again for the crazy amount of supplies he hoarded up in the facility storage. After the helicopter left with everyone thinking me dead, me and Big One went back to the main building. The T-Rex were gone and I spent the next few days going through every item left there, counting and listing all the foods and tools that I knew I would need. Fortunately according to my estimation I had a 2 year supply of matchboxes, and even after that making fire wouldn't be the biggest problem. Food was scarce though, apart from some canned foods we were always eating the freshly cooked meals of Alejandro /whom I couldn't find anywhere to my disappointment/. My other problem was clothing, which I seemed to ruin in record time and I feared soon I will need to learn to steam dresses from dinosaur skin. "At least fashion is not the most important thing here" I thought.

After a few weeks the whimsical weather calmed down and it started to be what I called the hottest summer of my life. I set up a camp ever since in the outside with the remaining raptors, and though from the old pack only Big One survived, the younger ones who were kept in a different pen also found their way out and soon joined us. Hunting together became a habit ever since, and I was fully accepted as one of them. Liara was growing up really quickly and proved to be one of the most sufficient hunters. Still, all the dinosaurs were very much afraid of fire, so they lied down several meters away from my camp ... except for Big One who seemed to be as invincible as ever. His annoyed growl however reminded me he wasn't the happiest of my settings either.

"I told you, I'm not going to eat that thing without cooking it!" I turned my head towards him then dropped the cut meat into a pen, holding it over the fire.

Night already fell upon us when I finished my meal, and a unique tranquility surrounded us. I climbed towards Big One, comfortably resting my head on his belly as he was lying next to me. Choosing to remain with the dinosaurs was questionable, but in my mind I never doubted that it was the right choice. My connection with them were stronger than ever, but what was more important than anything, that for the first time in my life ... I felt truly free. I faced the star-lit sky and asked rhetorically from my companion:

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

THE END

Well, that's it. The end. I can't believe I actually managed to finish it! I hope you all liked this last chapter and my story. I know it holds some potential for a spin off, but I am not sure if I would ever do such a thing ... maybe a one shot. I didn't really like the next two movies, the new one was fantastic though, so I might do something with that one, and I kind of have an idea already! However I am not promising anything, for now I wish to focus on other stories, and I already have some ideas about an Avatar Korra and some Harry Potter - Lotr fanfics.

Again huge thanks to all my faithful readers, and a special thanks to DONOVAN94 who was not only my beta for several chapters, but a good friend and inspiration (and really her Smaug fanfics are amazing so check those out too!)

Now from some of the reviews I noticed there are a few confusions. First in my story there are more raptors than just those three, if you remember back in one of the first chapters we had baby dinosaurs. So yeah there is that. Aurora became one of the pack, yes they are still dinosaurs communicating in their dinosaur way, Aurora is still human, even though she choose to seclude herself from humankind after experiencing the grief, judgement and pain they brought and somewhat looking for true freedom. So erm, Big One and Aurora ... I leave it to your imagination! :P

And I already see the question coming after this chapter, why is she cooking outside. Well you see after closing the park and Hammond fully abandoning it ... well you know there was noone to pay the bills for electricity. Also the hunting scene described here is in parallel with one of the first logs Aurora wrote during her time studyign the raptors.

That's all, please read and review!