Raptor Smash

(this is when I lived in Stony, but in this story, I am only 14. My hair is short, my teeth are straight, and my acne, CP, shunt, tube, and scars are all still long-gone!! Marc and his friends are back, but are now only normal humans)





I sat on my front step, strumming my Alembic Spoiler bass guitar, and dreaming of the hot summer days to come after today, as June 16th was our last day of school. I wore my navy blue capris, my plain blue muscle shirt, and my sandals, with Lucian’s medallion from ‘Underworld’ around my neck.

I decided to visit my friends at the school, so I stored my bass guitar, and walked down to the schoolyard. Everyone was outside for the end-of-school celebration, as my friends greeted me by the doors.

I really enjoyed the last day of school before summer, and soon went home to rest. About two hours later, I returned, only now the schoolyard was completely deserted; everyone having gone away for the summer.

Grinning, I went to play on the play structure, used the swings, and also explored. But I was walking toward the field, when I heard running footsteps behind me, then Marc's voice,

“You're dead, Charlie!” he shouted.

But before they reached me, I bolted, sprinting as fast as I could down the road. Glancing back, I saw Marc, Judas, Moloch, Curtis, and Dallas all gaining on me. For a few seconds, it seemed as though it was hopeless for me, and that I'd be beaten to within inches of my life by these five devils.

Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a large lizard leapt from the bushes at the roadside, tackling Dallas and biting into his neck, instantly killing him! It then slashed and gutted Curtis with the talons of its right foot!!!

It then turned on Marc, Judas, and Moloch, who stood frozen with shock!

Suddenly Marc sprang sideways toward me, his knee slamming into my chest, knocking the wind right out of me! I lay gasping and wheezing as Marc tried to choke me!

“Time to die, Charlie!” He growled.

But suddenly, there was a loud hiss, before the raptor pounced, throwing Marc off me!! I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the horrible screaming as the raptor proceeded to maul Marc, just seven feet from me!!

The raptor made short work of Marc, before I saw it turn, and walk slowly toward me!

Normally, I would have reacted quickly and defensively to such an encounter, but Marc had hit me good, and I started to feel weak.

The last thing I saw was the raptor's muzzle inches from my face!

'If it's gonna kill me, at least I'll already have passed out, and won't feel any pain.’ I thought.

I struggled to stay conscious, but couldn't, and felt the darkness take me.

About an hour later, I gradually regained consciousness to find myself in my bed at home, with a cool compress against my forehead beneath a white gauze bandage, and I wore only my black jeans now.

I looked up slowly as two figures approached, then I recognized my dad and Brandon. “You're lucky to be alive despite what Marc did, Charlie!” dad explained, as I nodded. “How are you feeling now?”

I smiled slightly. “A little better dad. Thanks.” I replied, as he smiled.

“Get some rest. You’ll feel better soon, Charlie.”

I nodded, before they both left. I soon went to sleep.

About three hours later, I woke up, feeling much better. Getting up, I had a fast warm shower, then got dressed again, and went downstairs for a snack, before going out to sit on the deck.

After a while, though, the summer heat started to get to me. I decided to grab some ice cream, so I went in, got my wallet, and headed out to go to the Dairy Bar.

There was a new blizzard out, called the ‘Jurassic Smash’. It had soft vanilla ice cream blended with hot fudge, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate chip cookie dough. I ordered a medium size, and went for a walk while eating my ice cream. Man, was this blizzard good!!

However, I had failed to notice a warning on the inside door of the restaurant, stating that the new Jurassic Smash blizzard could, in rare cases, cause unforeseen mutations such as sharper teeth and senses, longer finger- and toenails, and in very rare cases, cause a full mutation into a velociraptor!!


As I was walking down to the park, I suddenly heard a distant screeching sound, that was unmistakably that of a velociraptor!! Standing in surprise, I tried to comprehend the sound I’d just heard. I knew for a fact that I had heard that sound, and recognized it.

’But that’s impossible!’ I thought, shaking my head. ’They don’t exist, at least not after 85 million years!!’

But, as I would soon come to find, I was wrong. I was busy enjoying myself in the park at the quarry, exploring the cliffs and trails. Later, I was walking quietly down one of the trails, when I suddenly heard a low reptilian hiss behind me!!

Spinning, I saw nothing. I waited, but no animal appeared. Shaking my head, I turned, and continued walking. I was close to the top of Pikes Peak, when I heard another soft growl behind me, followed by something gently sniffing me!! Slowly turning, I cried out and staggered back, falling onto my back; my eyes wide as saucers as I beheld something that should not have existed, standing before me!!

It appeared to be a large grey-brown bird of some kind, standing on two digitigrade feet, each with three wickedly-curved black claws, and a small, sharp dewclaw!! It had a very long tail that started thick, but tapered along the length, coming to a point. The creature had a long neck with an elongated head, two small holes on either side that were its 'ears', and a long snout almost like a crocodile, with slitted snakelike nostrils, two bright amber-yellow reptilian eyes, and sharp, blade-like teeth, with a long thin, spikelike tongue!! Its forelimbs were of considerable size and musculature, but were definitely smaller than its feet, with two long fingers, each tipped with a lethal-looking claw, pointing forward, and a third digit like a thumb!!

For a few seconds, I just stared at the creature, who stared right back at me with its yellow reptilian eyes!!

'No...!!’ I was completely stunned, after adamantly reminding myself that any sane person, myself included, would know that dinosaurs were extinct now.

And yet, even as I blinked my eyes to clear them, as well as pinched myself to make sure I was awake, standing before me was one of the very creatures from the long-gone era of the dinosaurs!!!

Unknown to me, the raptor proved to be as smart as the velociraptors from 'Jurassic Park 3', which in any species, was virtually unheard of!!

It then stepped back, as we regarded one another. I could feel my heart racing, and sweat running down my forehead.

’Please, calm down, Charlie! I promise I won’t hurt you!’ I distinctly heard a young male voice, like my own but notably deeper, whisper in my mind, amid faint psychic static. The raptor looked me in the eyes, and a sudden wave of calm washed over me, slowing my breathing and heartbeat.


The raptor's eyes glowed faintly, as I suddenly saw it smile, but I wasn't afraid of its sharp teeth!! I then slowly reached out my right hand, and touched the raptor on the snout. It closed its eyes, before I heard a low growl, but it was oddly soft, and more like a purr, as if it was enjoying my touch on its warm, leathery skin!!

In that one instant, I felt a strange connection to this raptor; one that I can’t really explain, but this was the final reminder that the creature before me was indeed flesh-and-blood; a real, living, breathing velociraptor!!!

I got up, and looked around, finding we were alone. Suddenly noticing the darkened sky, I glanced to the west, finding it was almost sunset.

I had to get home, but knew to keep this entire incident a secret. Getting up, I left, as the raptor turned, and dashed off into the forest.

…

Arriving home, I went up to have a quick warm shower, then undressed except for my boxers, before crashing on my bed, and falling asleep almost instantly, feeling the cool night breezes from my open window. I watched as the moon rose, slightly past first quarter phase.

Something kept nagging me in the back of my mind; a strange notion that something had happened, that I had been unaware of, but I somehow felt that something had changed; what exactly, I didn't know, and the reason for that change, at the moment, eluded me.

But the revelation would be far more surprising.

I put the disturbing thought out of my mind, and went back to sleep.

'I honestly don't know if it is like that. Only time will tell now!’

The next morning, I got up, had a quick warm shower, then slipped on some boxers, shorts and a t-shirt.

After breakfast, I went out to go for a run. I was very active and found, much to my amazement, that my senses were heightened greatly, and my strength, stamina, speed, and reflexes were all now far stronger than a normal human's!!!

That gave me an idea to try parkour, which was something I'd always wanted to do, but had never been strong enough for it.

Amazingly, it seemed like the perfect exercise routine for me now that I was physically stronger and faster!

I continued enjoying myself throughout the week, exploring my now-enhanced human form, and also worked out as much as I could, which I really enjoyed.

The week passed quickly, and I was sitting at my bedroom desk reading a book, when I happened to notice the sunset. Checking the 'LunaSol' app on my iPhone, I found it was a full moon tonight!


I went for a long, warm shower, before slipping into my night attire. Coming out of the bathroom, I noticed the house was dark. Going into the office, I saw that both my dad's and Barb's vehicles were gone, but I instantly remembered they were working, so I was home alone. I went back into my room, but as soon as I stepped into the moonlight, strange warmth began coursing throughout my body from my feet upward!!

Suddenly I noticed piercing pains in my toenails and fingernails, before they all suddenly cracked and split open, falling off as long, sharp black claws sliced out to replace them!! Then there was a low grinding sound, followed by low cracking sounds, as I felt my feet begin to change, my heels rising slowly, which tore the seams of my night-pants completely from waist to ankle, making me fall onto all fours with a sharp gasp!

I collapsed onto my side on the floor, moaning in pain and, looking down, I watched my feet and legs slowly rise and lengthen, watching them broaden slightly, as my claws became more pronounced, now closely resembling the digitigrade legs of a velociraptor!!!

Tentatively, I tried standing back up, surprised to find I was somehow well-balanced on my new legs, and walking, while at first awkward, soon became almost natural!! Then I felt a burning, prickling feeling all over as my human skin seemed to stretch, then began to thicken and darken, becoming a deep dark greyish-brown, which ripped the remains of my pants right off me, but the sudden cool breeze on my new skin was very refreshing!!

I only had a brief glimpse of the thick grey-brown raptor flesh rushing across my body, before squeezing my eyes shut, as I felt my face stretch, then heard soft, sickening cracking and oozing sounds as my face began to push outwards into a reptilian muzzle!!

I instinctively whined in pain; the sound remarkably raptor-like now! Then I felt a slight aching pain in my torso as my ribcage and internal organs grew, moved, and shifted, and I felt a gizzard slowly form in my chest!

My long raptor tongue darted out, as I inhaled, breathing deeply to keep calm.

A sudden tingly feeling shot all over my body, as my muscles swelled, and my nerves changed, making me fall onto my side on the floor, shivering!!

My ears shrank and melted into the sides of my head, vanishing completely, but my hearing was drastically sharpened, as were my other senses!! At the same time, my hair turned from dirty blond to jet-black, before slowly starting to lengthen into a thick mane that grew slowly down the middle of my lengthening neck, finally stopping just below the middle, looking almost like a rockstar mane!! I felt my spine lengthen slowly; the skin, muscle, nerve, and bone changing with it, forming my large meter-long raptor tail!!

My muscles bulged and grew slowly all across my body, writhing like live snakes under the skin, as my tail slowly formed!! I then rolled over onto all fours as I breathed heavily, hearing low raptor snarls, before slowly turning my head to look in the mirror, as I saw a horrible-looking half-human, half-raptor muzzle!!

Then I felt a burning feeling in my face as I squeezed my eyes shut; scales slowly creeping up my skin, and I was VERY careful not to scratch! Then it turned into tightness, before I slowly raised my head, moaning in pain, hearing it slowly deepen into a low, soft reptilian hiss!! I then tried to relax, letting the transformation finish, growling softly as I felt my jaw shift, my muzzle slowly continuing to lengthen, making me squeeze my eyes shut!! I growled in pain as my muzzle continued to grow, slowly, the soft cracking of bones reforming followed by soft oozing sounds of muscles stretching and growing!!

Just when I thought I couldn't take anymore, the change stopped, as I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the full moon shining directly down on me, and instinctively closed my eyes as I unleashed a low screech, but, surprisingly, nobody but the other raptor, who was somewhere outside, heard it!!

I then slowly lowered my head, opening my eyes, and, looking in the mirror across from my bed, saw a large, muscular grey-brown velociraptor with glowing, fiery orange-amber eyes, and a long black mane!! I closed my eyes, breathing slowly.

Suddenly I felt a strong surge of psychic static, as I blinked, then squeezed my eyes shut with a soft growl, feeling the memory of going to the Dairy Bar and getting their new treat, the “Jurassic Smash” blizzard.

Suddenly I felt something; a startling realization…

’No…!’

I swiftly ran out into the hall, clearing the entire 15 stair steps in a single, light bound, before landing in the front hall and hurrying into the kitchen.

Flipping back the garbage can lid, I saw the empty blizzard cup, and grabbed it, examining it.

Then I noticed a warning printed on the side of the cup near the bottom:

WARNING: Consumption of this product may cause dromeosaurid mutations.

After calming myself down, I slowly got up, and went back upstairs, going into  my dad's bedroom, and walked over to the full-length mirror on the closet door. Examining myself, I found that I was exactly like the velociraptors from 'Jurassic Park 3', but I was definitely anthropomorphic, whereas the other raptor, as I recalled, was a full dromeosaurus!!

I looked closely at my reflection, opening my mouth as I reached up to gently run a finger over my sharp teeth and fangs, before reaching up to feel my raptor muzzle, and also my new jet-black raptor mane, which kind of reminded me of a horse's! Looking down, I was very surprised to find I still wore my silver medallion, which had somehow managed to remain completely unaffected by the shift!!

I lifted one foot, gently flexing it while examining the deadly sickle claws.

'If it has to be this way, let me see what benefits there are! Let me live a better life!’ I calmed myself down a bit, before looking back up at the mirror, studying my reflection, reaching up to run a gentle hand over my muzzle.

Suddenly a light scent caught my attention, I followed it out of my room, going into the office, before sliding open one of the windows and climbing easily out onto the low roof.

I couldn't resist a sudden urge, so I raised my snout skyward to the moon and stars, and unleashed a loud, low raptor screech!! Leaping down from the roof edge, I sprinted in the direction of the quarry.

Soon arriving there, I began to search for the other raptor. I had gone for almost a half-hour, and was about to give up finding it, when I suddenly felt a gentle touch on my snout, I looked up to see the other raptor, looking down at me compassionately.

I blinked, averting my eyes, then hung my head in shame. I felt the other raptor send me a questioning emotion, before glancing up, looking him in the eyes.

Through my telepathy, I showed him the entire incident that had led to this moment, although to my surprise, he nodded in understanding, before showing me the same thing had happened to him as well, but thankfully, he and I were apparently the only two who’d had something like this happen to them.

The raptor then gave me a hug, as I cried, but the raptor hissed and purred to calm me.

After I cried all I could, I wiped away my tears with the backs of my hands, then I looked down at myself, then raised my hands, as the moonlight reflected off my silver-black razor claws, before clenching my right hand into a fist, and slowly flexing my bicep, noticing how strong I had now become, as I ran a gentle hand over it.

Suddenly a soft male baritone voice, edged with a purr, echoing in my mind amid faint psychic static, replied, ‘Please don't worry! I promise you, it WILL be better!’ I turned to the raptor, who smiled. 'What is your name?’ he asked, as I smiled again.

'I'm Charlie!’ I replied, as we shook claws.

'Pleased to meet you, Charlie! I'm Gabriel!’ I then looked down at the silver medallion around my neck, and reached up to gently rub it in my claws.

He then looked right at me, with a completely solemn expression. 'I hoped that one would never have to experience this, Charlie!’ he said in a worried voice.


I looked up at Gabriel. ‘I just didn’t know about the warning, Gabriel, but at least I’m not alone!’ I replied. He looked up at me and smiled, as I returned it.

‘But I just did not expect THIS to happen!! I'm scared, that's all!’

He reached up to gently lift my chin to look at him. 'I know, Charlie, and trust me, I will do all I can to help you!’ We then hugged each other.

'However, unlike you, Charlie, my circumstance is not the same, if you at first thought it to be!' he explained with a smile.

A few minutes later, I went over to a small glade, and proceeded to stamp down a flat spot on the grass, where I laid down, and curled up, not caring that this was new, or even the position I was in, which I found oddly comfortable! I heard Gabriel bedding down a short ways away; a thick grove of small bushes separating us.

Reaching down, I closed my right hand around the medallion, as I fell asleep. I had vivid dreams of wild velociraptors, of moonlit jungles, and of cool, clear jungle rivers, and also found I now had Peter Petrelli's precognitive dreaming ability, but mine focused on my new, adventurous life ahead.

I kept thinking of the absolutely incredible but odd coincidence that a trip to the Dairy Bar for some ice cream would have led to this.

Thankfully, though, it seemed as though I had been the only person to have been turned; as far as we knew, no one else had, since they had all heard of the warning about that particular blizzard.

But neither of us had to be a genius to figure out that, because of the risks with consuming a Jurassic Smash, the store had decided to discontinue marketing of that flavour, which thus prevented anyone else in the town from sharing my fate.

Multiple times, while dreaming of the future, my telepathy would kick in, enhancing the visions and sensations to the point of entwining with reality, the psychic static making me twitch and shudder slightly, hissing softly as I experienced each image's vividness and realism, similar to how Sylar did while he was dreaming of Nathan's life while asleep in the trailer at the very beginning of the Heroes episode 'Shadowboxing'.

Thankfully, I had no dreams whatsoever regarding people getting hurt, or of either me or Gabriel going wild and savage, and having to be tracked down and killed. Instead, my dreams were of my future, and were peaceful, of me just enjoying what I had become, and also enjoying life with my friend, but no one ever discovered us, letting my friend and I live freely and without fear of encountering anyone.

Amazingly, unlike Heroes, where much mystery surrounded this ability, I seemed to know all I needed to about my power, such as being able to activate my dreams at will, and also choosing what future I wanted to see, of everything that would happen in my future, and I always chose the good ones, because that was all I truly wanted. I woke a short while later, and got up, then suddenly heard distant footsteps, heading toward me!!

I sniffed hard, and was shocked upon catching Marc's scent, then turned slightly, snarling quietly while flexing my hands, my claws glistening in the moonlight! Gabriel did as well, keeping his senses on edge, ready to fight alongside me!

I then heard Marc's voice, close by. "I don't see anything. I don't think he's around here. He should be dead."

Grinning, I realized that Marc and his friends, somehow, had discovered what had happened to me, and also knew about Gabriel.

We both would never let Marc or his friends hurt my family or friends in any way, and I pondered the sudden possibility that the five of them had somehow discovered, and had been spying on, Gabriel. And now they were beginning to piece together what had happened with me!

Gabriel and I remained crouched low in the bushes, waiting; our shared anger like a volcano about to erupt!!

I slowly raised myself up from within the bushes. "Oh, I'm not dead, Marc!!" I snarled. I could smell his shock, with an underlying scent of fear, and grinned maliciously.

He turned to run, but I sprinted as swiftly as the wind, grabbing his arm, as he gasped upon seeing my thick grey, scaly skin, and my razor-sharp talons! Suddenly I wrenched his arm sideways, spinning him around, before kicking him in the back, sending him barrelling into a nearby tree, then I grabbed Judas's hand just as he reached for me, and looked him in the eye, watching as his menacing expression became one of petrified fear!!

I grinned, before pulling him toward me, and in one smooth move, tore back his collar, and sank my fangs into his neck, as he unleashed a bloodcurdling shriek of agony! I then leapt up, balancing on my tail, kicking him, as he flew nearly ten feet through the air, smashing into a thick, solid tree trunk, and collapsing to the ground, dead!!

Marc and his friend's screams reached as far as my house, alongside some of my friends!! They all stopped what they were doing, and came out, searching until they found each other on the road toward the school.

My dad, Brandon, and Barb also met with them.

"What was that?!" Brandon asked, as dad shook his head.

"I don't know!" he replied. Suddenly they all heard a distant screech, and followed it to the quarry forest. They soon found the glade, and stopped upon seeing Judas' dead body lying a ways away on the ground; a horrible bite wound in his neck!!

They all suddenly heard more commotion, before Moloch's yell reached their ears, followed by a strangled gurgle, and a loud thump.

They all raced into the glade just in time to see him get kicked up into the higher branches of one of the trees, breaking several branches, before letting him crash to the ground, unconscious!! For a few seconds, everyone just stood and stared in total silence, at their bodies scattered around the glade.

"Charlie…?" I heard my dad’s voice calling my name, but I turned, and ran, as he saw the bushes rustle. Running, my dad pulled them back, but saw nothing.

I knew that I couldn’t let my friends or family discover me or my friend, so I had to move quickly.

I met up with Gabriel, and together, we charged both Curtis and Dallas.

Suddenly I stopped; my long tail twitching as I sniffed, then my eyes narrowed!!

Pfffftttt! I gracefully leapt, twisting in midair, dodging a tranquilizer dart, which landed harmlessly in the trunk of a tree a few feet away from where I'd been standing just seconds before!!

Landing foot-first, I spun to see a young man in his early thirties, with short black hair partially hidden under a red cap with 'BioGen' imprinted in black letters on the front!

He wore black boots, brown shorts, and a light blue short-sleeved work shirt with a small silver 'BioGen' tag pinned on the right shirt pocket.

Seeing me, he grinned nastily, raising his dart-gun, but I was quick as lightning! Leaping with an enraged screech, I spun in midair, whacking the gun from his grip, before landing and spinning toward him, easily grabbing his left wrist as he swung a syringe full of amber fluid down toward me!!

I squeezed his wrist, enough to make him drop the syringe, then I had him by the throat, pinned up against the tree!!

I slowly brought my muzzle close to his face, baring my fangs and hissing, as the blood drained from his face!!

"Before I gut you, tell me just who the hell you are, and why are you trying to hurt me?" I snarled.

The man smiled cruelly. "I'm an old friend of Marc's!" the man replied calmly. "The name's Max Jaden, and I'm the creator and head of the company BioGen, created to track down and capture unusual specimens for study, and extermination!"

I glared at him, before lowering my head slightly, and narrowing my eyes, as Gabriel heard the psychic static, exactly how Matt did when he read Hiro's mind in the Heroes episode 'Five years gone'!!

I discovered that the reason nobody had ever heard of or seen this man, was because Marc had done such a painstaking job in keeping him safe.

"You filthy son of a jackal!" I hissed. I then threw Max effortlessly across the glade, to slam into another tree!! Then I suddenly heard Gabriel hiss, and spun to see Curtis lunge at him with Max's dart gun!

I snarled, and leapt, tackling him, before wrenching the gun from his grip, and firing a dart right into his butt!!

I leapt back, laughing hysterically as I watched Curtis jump up, dancing like a madman while grabbing his bottom, but soon, he began to get slower and more sluggish, before his pupils slowly dilated, and foam oozed from his mouth!

Suddenly he shook violently, then collapsed facedown on the ground, dead!!

"Good riddance!" I scoffed, but then heard a sound, and spun to see Dallas lunge at me with a knife! Snarling, I tackled him, almost effortlessly stunning him with a hard, fast headbutt, before spinning to leap up and double-kick Dallas, sending him flying back toward Gabriel, who in turn made short work of him!!

After slashing him up, Gabriel spun, grabbed the syringe, and spun back, stabbing Dallas in the neck, before pulling out the empty syringe, and stepping back, watching as Dallas convulsed violently; blood oozing from his nose, before he collapsed dead to the ground! My friend then put the syringe in Dallas's hand to make it appear he'd committed suicide by lethal injection as well as self-mutilation.

My friend and I then stood, defiantly facing Max. "Do you honestly think that you will take us both away to be your lab rats, Max?" Gabriel growled. He grinned maliciously.

"As I recall, Gabriel, you were, before you escaped, and ended up finding and saving Charlie from Marc and his friends, before they managed to kill him!"

He stepped forward, an evil glare twisting his raptor snout!!

"I did because I understood he was a good person! And you won't ever tear Charlie and I apart!!"

Max laughed. "So, Charlie did end up finding that concoction that ended up turning him into a raptor, after all!!"

I stepped forward. "Is that what you were expecting, Max, you scumbag?" I hissed. "To make me into another lab rat to manipulate at your own whims?"

He nodded, grinning slyly, before cackling like a madman! Suddenly I felt a strong surge of intense psychic static as I scanned Max's mind in a split-second, before looking up at him, and baring my fangs in rage; a sight which would have made other people turn and run, but not him!!

"So," I snarled. "you, Max, thought about creating a new serum in the form of that blizzard I consumed, believing you'd turn people into dromeosaurids in order to make them your lab rats, or possibly overtake humanity with a scourge?"

He only grinned maniacally in response. I snarled, raising my right hand; the deadly sickle claws gleaming in the light!!

Suddenly I felt a soft breeze, before glancing up, watching the full moon emerge again from over the horizon!

I glanced at him again. "I don't think so!!"

He suddenly whipped out another dart, this one a hand-thrown one, but before he could raise it, I leapt, tackling Max, and biting into his neck, as he screamed in agony!!

I then leapt back, watching as the man collapsed, crying and writhing in agony, before he too began to transform!!

Unlike me however, Max's change was much faster, and he was dark red in contrast to Gabriel and I being dull brownish-tan raptors; we were much closer to the 'Jurassic Park' raptors than he was!

"Welcome back to the lost world, lizard!" I hissed. Max, now a full velociraptor, jumped up, hissing and spitting. He was completely incapable of human speech, unlike Gabriel and I, and his primal instincts had swiftly dominated his mind, reducing him to a mindless, vicious monster!!

Hissing, he sprang at me, but I swiftly and easily leapt, balancing on my tail as I kicked him in the chest, sending him flying back into a tree!!

Max collapsed in a heap, growling in pain, before I was upon him, lifting him by the throat, and choke-slamming him into the exposed roots of the tree he'd crashed into!!

Max screeched in pain, before managing to swipe me across the snout! Reeling, I screeched in pain, but then both he and Gabriel stared in disbelief as the slash swiftly healed, leaving no trace, not even blood!!

"Bet you never knew about my cellular regeneration, did you, Max?"

I then sprang at him, as he tried tackling me, but I swiftly grabbed his tail in my jaws, and chomped down, hard!!

Max screeched in absolute agony, before my friend watched, stunned, as I spun, swinging the raptor around and around by his tail!! When I had built up a decent amount of speed, I suddenly dug my talons into the earth, and stopped, opening my jaws and releasing Max at the same time!!

Gabriel watched him fly nearly seven feet up, and slam into the trunk of an evergreen, before falling, flailing and crashing down through the branches, before falling and slamming into the ground on his back!!

I waited, as Max proceeded to heal himself, then he slowly got back up. Crouching, he tensed his muscles, then sprang in a five-foot arc directly toward Gabriel and I!!

But, with lightning speed, I leapt again, pouncing on him and, with a quick snap of my jaws, skinned the back of Max's head, as he screamed in agony!

I growled again, before charging, and driving Max backward, before leaping up for another balancing kick, sending him slamming back into the tree again!!

He collapsed, hissing in agony, before I suddenly snarled, grabbed him by the neck, and spun to throw him across the glade into another tree, as he screeched again, but was cut short upon slamming into it, collapsing!! I stepped back, then suddenly noticed Gabriel was gone! I spun searching quickly, but couldn't see him.

Glancing up at the night sky, I started growling and hissing again, then unleashed a series of loud 'barks', exactly how velociraptors did to call to one another over long distances!!

I stopped after about five seconds, before sniffing hard, and listening, cocking my head to one side, ever wary. I spun just as Gabriel sprang out from a thick bush, tackling Max just as he was about to spring at me, having nearly succeeded in an ambush!!

They wrestled, biting and clawing each other, before Gabriel managed to shove Max off of him, as he spun toward me! I crouched, my eyes narrowing as I growled, then screeched softly, before we leapt at each other!!

My friend stood back, watching with a grin as Max and I duked it out, going for an all-out 'slash-and-gash fest'!!

Amazingly, every single cut I received healed instantly due to my natural accelerated regeneration, while any injury Max sustained took at least five to ten seconds!!

He fought madly, but I retaliated by smarts and cunning, and didn't rush in blindly, like Max had, proving just how smart a velociraptor I was!!

Max tried clawing at my chest, but I suddenly grabbed his forearms, before leaping up, and double-kicking him so hard, he flew back into the tree faster than any human eye could follow!!!

Max slowly got back up, then dashed toward me, but I smoothly grabbed his right forearm, spinning in one motion as I released him, then leapt up to double kick him, sending him barrelling muzzle-first into a tree-trunk, which completely stunned him!!

Giving no quarter, I dashed forward, grabbing his tail in my jaws, and swinging him around, releasing my grip; the momentum sending Max flying across the glade to slam into another tree, again!!

I waited, stepping back, but didn't take my eyes off of him.

Max recovered in seconds, before jerking up and whirling, hissing in blind rage, as he barrelled straight toward me! But at the last second before we collided, I lightly sprang off the ground, back-flipping over him!! Landing, I spun, grabbed his tranquilizer gun, and whirled back, easily firing the very last dart into his chest!!

Max the raptor flipped from the impact, slamming into the ground, writhing, flailing, and squealing as the poison rapidly flowed into his bloodstream, paralyzing his muscles, frying his nerves, and sending him into cardiac arrest!!

Soon the raptor gradually stopped his violent seizing, and instead trembled, whining in sheer agony, before blood suddenly spurted from his mouth, his reptilian eyes glazed over, then he gave one last twitch, and lay dead!!

I looked at the now-empty tranquilizer gun, before turning and throwing it into the bushes, as we heard the splash of the gun landing in a small pool, where it sank, never to be found again.

I then looked up to see Gabriel emerge from the bushes, as we smiled at each other, before my friend walked toward me.

"You did it, Charlie!!" he said with a smile, but I smiled.

"No, Gabriel!" I replied with a wink. "We did it!!"

Later, I went with my friend down to the quarry once again, and enjoyed my new form. I suddenly felt an intense itch on the back of my neck, and without really being aware of my actions, easily lifted my left foot to scratch behind my neck.

But as I finished, I gasped; shock registering on my face at what I'd just done!

'First my physical form changed, and now my mentality is turning!' I realized in horror!

Gabriel must have sensed my distress, and from my expression, knew what I was considering.

He walked up beside me, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder. 'Please don't worry, Charlie!' My friend assured me. 'The same thing happened with me, but I realized that since I knew no one had found a cure for this, that I could get used to being a raptor.' he gently turned my muzzle to look at him. 'And I will always be here, as a true friend, Charlie!' Gabriel smiled; a warm smile that seemed to ease my fear. He hugged me again, resting his head on mine. 'You can count on me to help you every step of the way!' I nodded, and thanked him, as he smiled, softly wiping away my tears.

I found running, leaping, and sprinting were all effortless, and very fun, and I also found my physique made parkour, one of my favourite fitness styles, absolutely exhilarating!! Gabriel quickly learned all the necessary moves and warm-up exercises I taught him, and in a surprisingly short time, he became just as good a traceur as I was!!

I sprinted playfully around, coming to the edge of the canyon-cliff, with my friend beside me, as I looked up at the full moon, smiled, then, alongside my friend, unleashed a long, heartfelt screech of joy into the night!!

I then sprang off the edge, executing a spectacular triple front flip, landing crouched easily on the ground in the canyon; Gabriel landing beside me seconds later!! I then slowly stood up as I spread my arms wide open, and looked up at the full moon, closing my eyes, as I savoured the cool night breezes. I then scampered across the canyon, and up the other road, scaling the gate with a light, easy leap, before both Gabriel and I headed toward the road by the store, and left the town of Stony Mountain behind forever.

I practiced some more parkour, and simply enjoyed my new form to the fullest; Gabriel helping me explore both the countryside and my new form!

I also went down to Oak Hammock Marsh to explore.

Later, while Gabriel and I were walking alone together in the wetlands, he told me about his life. He had been born a human, to human parents, but, in contrast to me being human and eventually being turned by a chemical, a single mutated gene in Gabriel's DNA was what gave him the power to transform at will into a velociraptor, thus letting me understand that unlike me, my friend's power was natural. He had learned to control the power from an early age, but his parents, upon learning of his power, were very frightened, and disowned him. He said that that one moment, as sad as it was, had been a major turning point in his life.

Gabriel learned to live on his own, and easily managed to thrive in the world, despite being alone. He'd tried a few times to find a home, or to make friends, but was constantly rejected out of fear and misunderstanding, which he admitted was nearly unbearable. But then, all these years later, he had found me, and through learning about me by his observations, he knew that I was indeed the best friend he could have ever made!

Throughout the next few years that Gabriel and I were together, we enjoyed our lives immensely, and just weeks after the final fight with Marc and his friends, my friend and I decided to venture to the Hawaiian Islands.

Throughout the next few years, both Gabriel and I enjoyed ourselves as much as possible, and I quickly embraced the freedom that came with being a velociraptor. I adopted my pendant form as my symbol, that I came to call the Shield, meaning it protected me from becoming insane and vicious, and from the aspects of normal velociraptors (mindlessness, brutality, and bloodlust), even getting it tattooed on my right shoulder. Surprisingly, the Shield was clearly visible even through my scales, which outlined it perfectly!!

So I have the silver Shield symbol pendant, and an identical tattoo, two permanent reminders of the extraordinary gift God had given me by using Gabriel to save my life!!

Both he and I went on to enjoy lifelong freedom and health, and lived the first exciting, adventurous year of our lives as raptors on the Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe, since, of all the eight islands, was the one that was uninhabited by humans due to strict laws by the Hawaiian government, and also due to its arid landscape, which was just what we needed. These factors, we knew, would make our living here much easier, since we both knew humanity would never believe the fact that dinosaurs had returned from extinction.

I reflected on the day that Gabriel had saved my life, and realized that God had indeed given me a totally unexpected new start, but I knew that I would cherish this new life as a raptor, alongside my friend, for many years!

After relaxing on the shore, I raced Gabriel down the shoreline, enjoying the cool ocean spray against my scales. I soon discovered, much to my amazement, that we were both surprisingly good swimmers, which was always refreshing after exerting ourselves from running, leaping, and other agile maneuvers. But thankfully, we both discovered that we each possessed a very strong metabolism, letting us go for as long as fifteen to twenty hours with just one rest!!

We absolutely loved the vast tropical island jungle, and found a wealth of game to freely hunt.

As I raced through the forests alongside my friend, I reflected on my life so far, and knew that I wouldn’t take my previous life back for anything, since being a velociraptor was beyond anything I could ever imagine!!

And since the island was free of any human influence or activity, my friend and I were free to live in peace for many long and adventurous years.

We soon found, much to our amazement, that there were natural velociraptors on the island, as in raptors that had existed as real, living, breathing, flesh-and-blood dinosaurs!!!

They all welcomed Gabriel and I warmly, and were astonished by the tale we told of the ‘Jurassic Smash’, alongside the fight with Max, and also his turning.

Nevertheless, they all helped us live full and exciting lives amongst them, and we all thrived on Kahoolawe, which we soon came to call 'Jurassic Island'.

And since no one ever set foot on the island, its secret remained forever safe, as did we, the world’s last living velociraptors!!



The End!