Allo Attack Part 4

The group from C'xoilas house made their way through the city, using only the back alleys and streets. They were twenty minutes from C'xoila house when they heard it. A low, gutteral moaning sound, coming from several blocks away. Cautiously, they followed the sound, and after a few moments reached a small square. In it lay an allosaur. He was unusually small for one of his kind, and his hide was rust-red with jade stripes down the neck, back, and tail.

C'xoila edged slowly away, then ran into the nearest building, followed closely behind by Atero. The creature was breathing heavily, and the group could then see that it's face and sides were covered in blood and slash marks. The Allo moaned again. It's voice weak, the allo said something which Sashaa translated: "Someone's here..." With evident pain, the allo opened one of its eyes. It was an icy, unnatural blue. "I can hear that someone's here," he spoke softly, painfully, "but I can't see them. I, I can't see anything. The allo was racked by coughing spasms, then spoke again, in a somewhat louder voice, "Hello? Is someone out there? I cannot see you, I-I think I'm blind." To himself he whispered, "Please, let it not be a fellow Allosaur."

Shasta and swift were flying. "Hey Swift, look down there, its an allo, but it doesn't look well. Fly low near it." So he and Swift flew low over the allo, when they did they heard him mention something about not being able to see "I don't like the looks of this, if he can't see, he can't be to dangerous. Go land by him."

Swift gave Shasta a look that meant "ARE YOU NUTS!?"

"Come on Swift, please!" Finally, Swift gave in, and they landed safe ways away from the allo.

"Hello? Is anybody there?" the allo called.

"Yes, Shasta replied, "I am Shasta Tirian, who are you?"

"I am Neckbreaker, the Allosaurus, could you help me?!" Neckbreaker pleaded.

"I'll try, Come on Swift, we have to get a Healer."

Alkazra cocked her head to the side. "Neckbreaker?"

The allo moaned in pain, then said, "I, I never really liked that name. That's the name Herak gave me. My p-parents named me Meecha."

Alkazra nodded, "Well, it's nice to meet you Meecha."

Suddenly, Alkazra realized something. Herak? That was the name of the Allosaur that had almost killed C'xoila. "He was right, there is an Allosaur trying to kill him...' whispered Alkazra.

Edging past the others surrounding the injured allosaur, Neef knelt beside him, and placed a hand on the edge of his jaw. "Relax, friend," she whispered, knowing her touch would convey this meaning. "I can help this little one," she whispered to C'xoila. "Some of my people were healers. They had the gift of being able to sense the pain of others. Sometimes I can feel it too, and take it into myself . . . and make it go away." Her words were softly spoken, as though to herself alone. As though, by speaking so, she could make it happen. Her breath came in shallow, quick bursts as she leaned over the injured creature, her fingers lightly brushing his wounds until she settled her hands on either side of his head. The respirations of the little allosaur came quickly as well, matching Neef's breath-for-breath. Leaning closer to her injured charge, the female Utahraptor lightly sniffed his bleeding wounds, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. The injured allosaurs body quaked and he discharged a gasp, as though Neef's deep inspiration had drawn the air from his lungs. Neef's hands began to tremble as her grip on the allosaur grew tighter. Her breaths, once soft moans that matched those of the injured creature, now contained the deep, gutteral quality of intensifying pain. The head of the allosaur, now firmly held in her hands, went limp as he relaxed into sleep, and Neef let out a moan that was nearly a roar. The female Utahraptor released the firmness of her hold on the little allosaur, gently settling his head onto the earth.

"What . . . just happened here?" C'xoila spoke incredulously.

"He will be fine, when he awakens," Neef whispered, her head bent over the sleeping allosaur. She rose to her feet, and slowly began opening her eyes, which had begun to well with tears. Staggering a bit, she reached for the steadying arm of C'xoila, and continued: "But I'm afraid I might not have fared so well." As her body began to slump, C'xoila caught her, holding her against his chest as a look of horror passed over his face. Before she lost consciousness, Neef quietly whispered, "I'm afraid I am no longer able to see. . . "

C'xoila gently set the raptor down on the grass. Both she and the allosaur were sleeping now, but only the allosaur would awake with the power of sight. Looking upon the allo's sleeping form, C'xoila shivered and backed away.

Just as Neef had promised, the allosaur awoke several minutes later. He stood up, somewhat dazed, and turned his head to one side. Seeing that his wounds were no longer, he joyfully cried out, "I'm healed!" He took a moment to think, then exclaimed, "And I can see to! This is great!" Though Meecha was happy, the others in the group looked at the ground, almost afraid to tell him about Neef. "Where is the one who healed me?" he asked, "I want to say thank you for making me better."

Alkazra approached the allo, putting a hand on his leg. The allo looked down and said in a quiet voice, "What? What is it?"

Alkazra sighed and said, "It's that when Neef wakes up, she won't be able to see you."

The allosaurs jaw dropped, which, considering the amount of teeth it holds, was somewhat frightening. In a strangled voice, Meecha said, "You, you mean to say that..."

Everyone nodded, but Alkazra spoke, "She took your blindness to cure you." The little allo moaned softly, and sat beside where the raptor lay. In a hollow voice he said, "Then I am indebted to her. I'll do whatever I can to make it up to her."

Continuing to speak in the soft voice that the atmosphere demanded, Alkazra said, "She wouldn't have done it if it wasn't what she wanted, healers have a powerful sense of compassion and selflessness towards others. She will be honored by the gratitude that you feel, though I am sure that she won't see it as necessary."

Looking around and remembering what had been said about Herak she bit her lip in thought.

The little allosaur shook his head regretfully. "No, I am indebted to her! She saved me, and what did she get in return? She's blind now. It should've been me. I, I'll make it up to her!" he stared down at the sleeping raptor. "I promise I'll make it up to you!"

Neef shifted her body on the grass where she lay. Those around her didn't understand. How could they? They didn't know they could not heal her, no matter what they tried, for her healing was outside their knowledge. The Raptors of the Kodoku clan could not be healed in the same manner as other raptors. To make Neef whole again, she must be returned by the one whom she had healed to her place of birth, to the place where her ancestors were killed, to where a clan of Tyrannosaurs (the Shitsukoi) lived, to the place where she swore that she would never return.

The blind raptor tried to rise, but Meecha put one hand on he shoulder and sat her down again. "No, you must not move. Not yet. You are still weak. I, my name is Meecha. You saved me, re-remember? For that I'm, I'm indebted to you"

As Neef drifted back to sleep, she murmured, "Then I know what you can do..."

It was night when Neef awoke, or so she assumed from the chirping crickets around her. Neef heard the sound of heavy breathing, and she also could tell that Meecha was still beside her. Her suspicions were proven true when he said, "Good. you're awake." he paused, the continued, "You said, you said that there was something I could do for you. Please tell me, what is it?"

Neef smiled. "It is possible for me to see again. But you have to do something for me."

The Allosaur was overjoyed. "How can I help, Neef? How?"

Neef smiled, and described the place she had to be taken. Though she obviously could not see it, the Allosaurs face turned a sickly shade of gray. He then started moaning.

The Allosaur continued to moan. Neef struggled to stand, putting a hand on the allosaurs side. "What is it? What's wrong?" asked Neef. The allosaurs eyes were tearing, though Neef could only hear his sobs.

"Of all the things you could have asked me to do for you, this is the thing I cannot!"

"W-what?" croaked Neef.

"I cannot take you!" sobbed Meecha. "The one thing you want, and I cannot do it! I, it is a place left un-trodden. That is where we send our dead, to the Tyrannosaurs. If I were to go, it would mean death for me, my family, and my whole clan. The Rexs would come, they would do much worse then the Allosaurs have done here. I want to take you, I, I want to make you well, but I cannot." The Allosaur could speak no more, he broke into tears.

Gently extending her hand toward his sobs, Neef cradled Meecha's tear-stained face.

"Oh, little one," she began, fighting her own tears, "well do I know the fear you feel. Come now, stop your tears."

"But . . . ,"the little allosaur began, dissolving once again into tears of guilt, because he could not help her, and tears borne of fear of the thing she needed from him, "you will be blind."

Neef rested her head upon his chest, over his beating heart.

"You are kind," she began softly. "I feel it in your heart. The magic would not have worked, had this not been so. Please cry no more, or I shall have to take your tears as well."

Meecha drew in a deep breath, squelching his tears. Then he began slowly to rock her, as a light breeze swept a mist from the waterfall. The mist brushed gently over the faces of the pair as they sat, the blind raptor cradled in the arms of the little Allosaurus. And the mist clung to their faces diluting their tears and with that, the pain they felt for each other.

And as Neef felt the allo's heart slow to a calm, even pace, she quietly offered these words of acceptance: "I thank you, my friend, for this wonderful gift. My people are, above all else, Dinotopian. We live by the Code. Among the highest honors which can be bestowed upon members of my clan, is the designation of being 'One With the Island'."

Neef shifted her body, facing Meecha and taking his hands in hers.

"The element of the Code held in highest regard by my people, is 'Others first, self last'," she continued, her sightless eyes turned to where she felt his would be. "And while this does not necessitate self-sacrifice, it is considered a good thing among my people to loose a little something in the giving process."

"Oh, me 'tink me unnerstand," the little allosaur spoke. "Like, proof you do a good thing."

Neef nodded. "And the cure is there, when the time is right. It may happen, it may not. It is an honorable thing to accept the life I have been given, with grace and with dignity. And I thank you for that."

Neef couldn't see it, but as she leaned against his chest and once more felt the beat of his heart, she knew Meecha was smiling.

The little allosaur was indeed smiling. He wasn't sobbing, but a tear ran down his face. "If it was only me, I would go. You saved my life, it is only right that I should use my life to help you. But I am not worrying for myself, but for my family, my friends, my clan. If I entered there, they would unleash their anger not on me, but on my dear ones."

He dried the tear and said, "But if there is anything, anything else, I am here, your servant and friend."

Lightly tapping his chest with the fingers of her right hand, so as not to inadvertently scratch him, Neef slowly shook her head.

"No need to explain further, my friend," she spoke, turning her sightless eyes to his face. "I am, myself, of the basin. I know whereof you speak, all too well."

Rising to her feet, she accepted his shoulder for support. "The jungle twists the heart of this island," she continued. "Where elsewhere in Dinotopia we can live in peace, in accordance with the Code, in the jungles of the Rainy Basin the rules change, and life is different."

"And death . . . " Meecha gulped.

"Yes," Neef whispered, patting his hand as she took a hesitating step from his side. "The rules are different in the jungle. Survival of the self is often the only rule . . ."

"But outside the basin, is different," the little allosaur spoke, as he steered her from walking into a tree.

"Yes," the raptor agreed, lowering herself once again to the ground. "Here it is survival of all, or none . . . and so, my new friend, why would I consider for a moment jeopardizing one life, let alone the many lives about which you are concerned, simply for the restoration of my sight?"

"But . . ."

"No, my friend. It is beyond consideration. This is the way I am. I can live with it. I could not live with the death of another upon my conscience."

Meecha looked away, the sadness inside him welling again.

"It's okay, really," Neef whispered, her hand on his arm as he sat beside her. "I will be a better healer. Wait and see."

"But . . . how? How can being blind be better?" again Meecha's voice was choked with emotion.

"It will help me focus," Neef smiled turning her head upward, as if to count the stars. "Without sight, I will tune in, more easily, to the needs of others."

"Give more, take less . . .?" sighed Meecha.

Neef smiled and put an arm around his neck, drawing him to her. "You observe, listen, and learn well, my friend."

"But for me, Neef, you gave your sight for me," the little allo, spoke, fighting his tears.

"Oh, Meecha, don't you know? Haven't you felt it, in my heart and in the hearts of the others?"

"You mean," he began, speaking as clearly as he could so as to impress her with his understanding, "Survival of all, or none . . .?"

"Well, yes, that", she answered, and then added laughingly, while she teasingly tickled his side "and we all consider you one really big, worthwhile raindrop."

Click here for a picture The little allosaur blinked his eyes. No, he hadn't been asleep. His eyes were dry of tears now, and, staring into the star-filled sky, his vision was clear, as were his thoughts about his future.

Carefully, Meecha shifted the weight of the blind raptor who had fallen asleep, her head upon his shoulder. Ever-so-gently, he eased her head upon his lap, allowing the bark of the tree behind him to cut into his back. Neef's eyes were closed, her breathing slow and heavy.

Shifting his eyes once again to the stars above them, the little allosaur relaxed into a slow, rhythmic breathing matching that of the Utahraptor. So, it had begun. The commitment to her, the acceptance that his life would follow hers, wherever that may lead. For now they were breathing together.

He would stay with her. He would become her eyes. And he would observe, listen and learn from this kind healer, who had given so much and who asked for nothing, save the honor of being considered a true Dinotopian.

Meecha sighed, and realized at once Neef had sighed as well. He would ask her, in the morning when she awoke, for the honor of becoming her apprentice, and inform her that, like it or not, he would remain at her side and be her eyes.

Kamikazi knew from the look of it that the torn Skybax insigne had to be Pazu's. They were all hand-made, by the apprentices themselves while they were in training. Kamakazi recognized her stitching, which was more carefully done than that of the others. With the tattered piece of cloth held tight in his right wing-fingers, the great bird tried to get a feeling for where she might be. After all, were they not friends and partners? Did they not breathe together ? Taking a deep breath as he approached the edge of the waterfall, Kami attempted to get a sense for where she was. Closing his eyes, he began the slow, deep breathing which he knew from time and experience would eventually be a match for hers and might lead him to her side again. And then he felt it: a little tug, as though something clicked into place within his heart, and he knew he had reached her. Fingering the scrap of cloth in his fingers, the great bird whispered in his native tongue, "I found you . . . you are alive," and with those words released his feet from the ground and plummeted over the waterfall's edge until he caught the current of air which swept him upward to the sky. Soaring there, he felt the link to Pazu in his heart, and he began to see her in his mind. And although he now knew her to be in pain, he did not sense any fear. This seemed strange to the mighty Kamakazi, for the link, which connected him to his partner, was drawing him to a place known to be fraught with danger. Catching a thermal, which set him rising high above the clouds, Kamakazi relaxed into the solace of the sky. He wished he scoop it up, the peacefulness he found there, and carry it with him to the place where he sensed his partner to be. For his heart told Kamakazi that Pazu lay wounded in the Rainy Basin.

After a long moment of silence, Az spoke. "Well, I guess I will be the one to stay." She walked over to Kaylah and placed her clawed hand on the slightly larger carnosaurs shoulder, "Go help your brother. He is one of my best friends and I only regret that I will not be able to help him myself.

"But Boojinko dose need help and it is good that I can stay to help him." Turning, she spoke to all, "Run Fast, Seek Peace, my friends. Good luck."

Azonthus then vanished into the room where Boojinko was peacefully sleeping, unaware of what was happening in the city around him.

Maia had quietly observed the unselfish act of healing which Neef had performed on Meecha. This brought forth in her mind the unselfish acts of kindness which she and her partners -- her best friends -- Thistlebud and Mathaira often performed for one another. She wanted to help her new acquaintances but realized that there was nothing she could really do. Her place in this time of turmoil was with Thistlebud and Mathaira. Since the group had left C'xoila's before her friends could meet her there, Maia felt that it was up to her to find them, even if it meant searching Waterfall City alone. Not knowing where to begin, she decided to start at the Great Library, a focal point in the City. Quietly expressing her gratitude to her new friends for their help and expressing her desire that they might meet again, Maia unobtrusively slipped into the streets of Waterfall City, alone but determined to find her friends.

Mathaira and Thistlebud warily approached the Sky Galley, which had landed at the Great Library. As they drew nearer, Thistlebud's sharp eyesight detected a man aboard dressed as a Sky Galley Pilot. Relief washing over their features, they quickly made their way to the Sky Galley and greeted the pilot, who they learned was named Jantos. He introduced the others aboard the Galley: Kara, Ka'ranan and Aireon.

Upon learning that the pair were traveling hatchery workers, Jantos began rummaging in a large pouch aboard the galley, "It's got to be in here somewhere," he said. He brought forth a message scroll and handed it to Thistlebud. Jantos said, "A Dimorphodon travelin' through the Rainy Basin deliver this to me while my Sky Galley was down afta crashin in Treetown."

Thistlebud quickly scanned the contents and conferred with Mathaira, "We've got to find Maia and get to the Rainy Basin!"

As Mathaira and Thistlebud stood conferring near the Sky Galley under the shadows of the Great Library, Thistlebud's sharp eyesight again picked up what Mathaira's could not. A very familiar figure was approaching the Great Library. Maia!!! Thistlebud grabbed Mathaira's arm and pulled her along as the two rushed to greet their friend. Maia was practically knocked to the ground as her two much smaller friends enthusiastically embraced her.

After much animated conversation between the reunited friends, Mathaira and Thistlebud became serious. "We received a message scroll from Greyback," Thistlebud informed Maia.

"And we're needed in the Rainy Basin," finished Mathaira.

As bluebird flew around Waterfall City, she was looking out for allos, not where she was going. She soon realized...she was lost. She went into a small building on a side road...

Az sat watching Boojinko. She couldn't help but wander if he would get better; he was so badly injured.

She walked to the window. I hope my friends are OK. I'm also worried about C'xoila. Will he be Okay?

Az sighed, her gaze returning to the injured Boojinko, his respirations now slow and labored. She returned to his side. Gently, she cradled his head and added another pillow, propping him higher.

"There, my friend," she whispered. "Breathe deep..." her eyes began to well with tears as the words of the familiar phrase stuck in her throat.

"May we be of service?" a voice spoke, from the doorway.

Turning, Az saw a strange pair: a small male allosaur, wearing fresh scars of battle, and a tall female Utahraptor who gently held his arm. It was the raptor who had spoken.

"I am Neef. And I have the feeling that I may be of service," the raptor spoke, as the pair entered and approached the place where Boojinko lay.

"And I am Meecha," the little allo offered. "Neef will help 'im, she will."

The female Utahraptor knelt beside the injured Boojinko. Watching closely, Az looked into her eyes, which held the reflection of her injured friend. And it seemed that Neef was looking beyond him, but not through him: perhaps into him, Az thought, as she pondered the scene before her.

"He's not going to die, is he?" she asked, trying to determine Neef's plan.

"No, no," Meecha answered reassuringly. "Neef will make 'im okay. You'll see... we just let 'er be...she take care o' you frein'."

Azonthus sighed and focused on Neef's eyes, as her hand rested on that of the injured Boojinko.

Slowly, the female Utahraptor's respirations began to match those of the wounded Boojinko.

Az looked up at Meecha, her face a mask of concern. "What's going on?" she asked. "I have to know... will he be alright?"

"Neef figuring him out now," the little allo began. "She feelin' his pain, sortin' out what wrong with him. When she know his problem, she fix 'im. Not worry...like I say, you frien' in good hands."

Turning again to look at her friend, Azonthus noted that Neef's respirations not only matched Boojinko's, but the female Utahraptor also had the same raspy sound to her breathing.

"What's the matter..."she began, leaning toward the healer.

"It's okay," Neef whispered. "I have reached him in time."

Gently, Neef the Healer slid her body beside that of the smaller male Utahraptor. "Let me help you, little brother..." she whispered.

"One of his lungs his torn, and has collapsed," she continued, to Azonthus, her voice trailing off in a gurgle. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "His other lung is filling with fluid."

Az swallowed hard. "But you can save him, right?" she asked.

"I have linked myself to him," the healer assured. "I share his breathing. I take his pain. Take the fluid. The strength I have will sustain his depleted body."

Az looked at Meecha, who had positioned himself at the window. Then she returned her eyes to the healer, whose face had contorted with pain. "But you'll be okay, won't you?" she asked.

"Yes," Neef spoke, with great effort. "but it helps that we are of the same species."

Azonthus rose to her feet and joined Meecha at the window. "And how long...'til Boojinko is ok?" Her thoughts had returned to her other friends, who might be in jeopardy.

"Could be days," Neef began to cough, and spit some pink-tinged liquid from her mouth, "but I must rest now...must keep him still....."

"Can you protect them?" Az asked Meecha the allosaur.

Meecha stood, his mouth agape, and glanced at the sleeping Utahraptors. "Certainly..." he began, "I am her partner, and her protector..."

"Good!" Azonthus said, with a slap to the allo's shoulder. "Everything's under control here then, and I will go to find the others."

Though Az was happy that Boojinko would live, she was reluctant to leave. This strange healer was obviously helping her friend, but would the both be OK?

After asking Meecha again if they would be Ok and receiving a positive answer, she turned to leave. Just before she did, Az found the healer who was sleeping in a room above the hospital.

Once he had been informed of Neef and her assistant, the doctor went down stairs to see if he could help in any way. His medicine would help take some of the strain off of Neef's healing abilities by also helping Boojinko to get well.

Just before she left, Az took one last look at Boojinko and Neef. Was it jus her imagination or was Boojinko breathing a little easier?

She watched as Neefs breathing became synchronized with Boojinkos, only interrupted by the occasional cough by Neef as she cleared her lungs of the fluid that Boojinko was unable to.

"Breath Deep, Heal Fast, my friends," the raptor said before she exited the room.

On the street, Az decided to head for the Great Library. She knew that C'xoila had a job there. Besides, it was the only place she could find at the moment.

Tamith rapidly led the way around back alleys toward C'xoila's house. "Since we already tried the library, this is the next best thing, you all still with me back there?" she said looking behind her at her friends.

A gut-wrenching roar split the air as they came around the last turn. She froze when she saw a group of allos trying to break into C'xoila's house.

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