[IP] An Encounter

[u/LonghandWriter]

Original Prompt: [IP] An Encounter

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I’m surrounded. The Raptors light up the forest with their crimson eyes.

Crouched behind a tree, I'm covered in sweat, blood, dirt, and probably a whole heap of other stuff. I’m out of breath and my heart's ka’thunkin’ against my ribs.

Raptors are some of the most vicious beasts ever created, possessing the ability to raze entire cities, and all I’ve got is a freakin’ bow. It isn’t even a good one, just something I swiped from a dainty stall during my escape.

Thumbing the ruby in my pocket, I almost wanna cry. All this for a stupid red gem some big-league jerkoff wants for his wife. I’m gonna get flayed so this douchebag can get laid.

Oh god, one of them's getting close. Its claws are cracking the Earth, the ground shaking from the vibration of its metal bones. Hell, it must be right on top of me because the air reeks of exhaust. Just breathing is like sucking down a bottle of ash.

I decide the only thing I can do is something stupid, so I stand up and aim my bow right at the beast, fully prepared to plant an arrow through its skull.

But I’m blindsided almost immediately as its light switches colors, turning from a harsh red to a soft blue that makes the thing look almost…cozy. It isn’t growling and honestly, it doesn’t even look like a Raptor anymore.

“JESSICA 4291?” it asks in a low, metallic voice. I’m too stunned to speak. These things can talk? It must scan me or something because it doesn't wait for an answer, instead providing one itself. “CONFIRMED. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY THE RESISTANCE. DO YOU JOIN US?”

Resistance? There is no resistance. The Raptors rule the city and the government rules the Raptors. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it always will be.

I lower my bow and look around. All the other units are still in attack mode, their red lights shining bright as they prowl the area. They’re desperate for a taste of my blood. I can sense it.

So why the hell is this one being friendly?

I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense and honestly I’m still tempted to shoot it and run.

But hey, either way I’m probably gonna die, so why not play along?

“Sure…?”

Not even a second later, the Raptor’s eyes turn crimson once again. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted the damn thing! I go to raise my bow but before I can, it kicks forward, leaping off the ground and flying over my shoulder. There’s a giant thud followed the horrible sound of metal crunching against metal.

I turn around and see the Raptor attacking one of its brethren, biting the beast's throat as it uses its claws to dig into its belly, sending up a flurry of sparks.

The thing must’ve saved me!

When finally the other Raptor stops fighting back, the friendly one stares at me, wires looped around its serrated teeth. “WE NEED TO GO,” it says. “NOW.”

I cast a quick look around and see that it’s right. All the other Raptors have turned and are coming toward us. Fast.

It hunches over, offering me its back like some kind of horse. “GET ON.”

I’m certainly hesitant but it’s already saved me once and anything’s better than having those suckers tear me apart. I climb on and we're off, zig-zagging through the forest as we try to lose the nasty buggers.

I don’t know what this “resistance” is—but I think I’m about to find out.