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Heading towards a large cluster of rocks in the centre of the nesting territorial grounds, Oddclaw was soon met by the largest raptors in the entire area who blocked the entrance, acting as guards and having the most exceptional muscles of any raptor in the tribe. Brimming with testosterone, they made certain to keep any state of dissidence amongst potential hunters at a minimum through sheer dominance.

"I am here to see Alpha."

"Our father has been expecting you. You may enter."

They slowly parted the way as he walked inside the makeshift cavern. The smell of pure dominance was apparent, a powerful musk that made him turn submissive with a forced humility. It was a scent that all his tribe understood as he saw the leader and his mate. He was a grizzled raptor, somewhat greying as his brown turned into faded remnants of scale but not old enough to be decrepit. His mate was several years younger which only made the contrast even more striking.

"Oddclaw. Son of Oddscar."

The visitor placed his body flat on the ground in total obedience, hands and legs splayed out with eyes facing downwards as his leader addressed him.

"I thank you for coming. Do you know why I called you here?"

"Is it perhaps...to do with your father, Alpha?"

"You are correct. He has demanded your presence, and I must ask you again to entertain his fantasies."

"I understand. May I see him?"

"You may, he is in his usual spot. I hope your family is well."

"We are, thank you Alpha. I hope your family is well too."

"You have seen my sons guarding the nest. Pride has filled the hearts of my mate and I deservedly. Go, see my father please."

"Yes Alpha."

He wandered through the back towards a small enclosure, a clearing surrounded by the rocks on all sides that elevated above the tribe in a small precipice. The wind was a perfect crossbreeze, warm enough to soothe the scales but cool enough to keep one well-ventilated.

"Ahhhh my dear hatchling. How wonderful to meet again."

"Hello, Eyeclaw. Are you well?"

The most ancient of raptors from the tribe grinned at him calmly, his right eye having been torn from its socket to leave a black hole as his remaining glazed orb peered at him. His body was emaciated, the age having dried his scales to almost resemble an autumn leaf coated in ash. Walking carefully from the precipice, he stroked his claws feebly upon Oddclaw's face.

"I am well...as can be in my last days. You have hunted well today I see, the smell of blood so fresh on you."

"It was an oddhead, lost from his tribe. A fool who wandered amongst the trees."

"Hmhmhahawell, one fool's mistake shall be our reward yes? Do you know why I called you?"

"You wish to...speak about my father?"

"Yes. I have never stopped chasing the stars that he created in the sky."

"Which ones did you find?"

"Come...I will show you."

He led the young raptor to the edge of the not-especially-high cliff, perhaps around 30 feet above the tribe as a gentle overhang but still dangerous enough to give warning to others. The trees around the nest however obscured it enough that unless one were flying above the woods they would not see them, as Eyeclaw laid himself down and tried to recall his dreams.

"I have seen your father fly across the night. I have heard his voice call to you."

"What did he say?"

"To be the hunter above all hunters. That every creature in this land, shall bow to you as their master."

"Why?"

"Hmm?"

"Why must they bow to me? I am not-"

"Because you are the son of a SAVIOUR, my Oddclaw! You are but the dream that your father left behind for us to relish, for us to become strong, you are a symbol of HOPE!"

"Of what?! We have nothing to fear, we have food, we have family, we are safe!"

"And that is all we want!" cried Eyeclaw. "It is not what we desire, but what we lost that we must remember my hatchling. We must never forget those that we lost when the hairless came, when we were taken from our home through the Star Wake."

"What was this star wake like?" asked Oddclaw tentatively.

"Fire and frozen...my scales tingled with fire and yet my mind was frozen with the dread of sleep. Your mother, and your half-siblings remember it too, at least those that survived."

"Alpha told me that...the hairless fed you strange water that blinded you. Is that true?"

The old raptor became wistful, gently turning his head towards the sinking sun as twilight grew across the land. A world ancient that Oddclaw could not help but be amazed by the awe of nature every time he viewed it.

"How many places can you see?"

"Hmm?"

"From here. How many places can you see?"

"I...I see the skylands, where those vermin live, all across the north."

"Yeeees?"

"The jaws of the earth, far along the west."

"Mmhmm."

"The roaring caves at the east, along with the sour wetlands that reach out towards the sea."

"And nothing else?"

"No."

"Look up."

Oddclaw did so, seeing the sky darken just enough that the faintest lights were coming through. Soft twinkling pieces of the universe beyond.

"The stars are always here for us to chase. I cannot be blind by anyone when I have stars with me...every night."

"They...they are beautiful. But...why do some, appear before others?"

"That is their strength. Their dreams my hatchling. Each star, across the world, is but every creature's dream. When we die, no matter what may become of us, our dreams shall remain. Promises too."

"But how do they become stars, Eyeclaw?"

"How does anything become anything? Why are we hunters? Why are the longnecks so great like mountains, why do some fish become stone whilst others swim? We cannot explain it, but we know it is true."

"Is my dream up there?"

"It is."

"Which...one is it?"

"Ohhh, it's not there yet. Dreams take a long time to realise Oddclaw, you were only born twenty-four cycles ago."

"Then...which one is my father's?"

"THAT one."

He pointed with his feeble claw at the brightest star, peerless in the dying light.

"That star is the one I followed for years, knowing...it was but the one that would save us. Your father came from the stars you know."

"Really?" said Oddclaw not believing.

"I could smell the stars on him, the night he wore like a cloak, so frightened and helpless like a hatchling just born even though he was but a hunter fully grown. His eyes were so innocent, much like yours when you were born. Such...beautiful eyes."

The old beast gently licked across Oddclaw's marked left cheek, crooning softly with almost paternal affection. The young raptor blushed simply, licking back in gratitude.

"I thank you for coming to see me. I know I must be a bother."

"No, not at all. You are my elder."

"Hmhmhm, so eager to please. That's your nature is it not? Always trying to please."

"I...I know I am different. And I know I am...weak."

"You are not weak! You are different, that is not the same as weak!"

"But, I-"

"Enough!"

A brazen squawk of defiance shut his thoughts as Eyeclaw burned his single gaze into him.

"You are a saviour's son, you have the blood of a HERO running through you. You shall forever be a symbol of what we can be, of greatness...of survival and determination."

"But what can I do to be a hero, I am but a hunter, all I do is provide food for my family."

"Is that not what a hero is!? To keep our tribe safe, to keep your family safe and well-fed, everyone down there is a hero to this tribe. You are simply a hero of greater strength, more than you would realise."

"Is that why you call me here? To inspire me, or to make me something I am not?"

"Because......I am happy when you are here."

A tender whimper came from the elder's throat as he gently walked away.

"I can remember such things when I have you here with me...the stars they shine brighter when you are here...you inspire me. To think that your father, the greatest of us would leave us you, as a precious gift. Your very existence makes me not fear death, knowing that when I die, my son and his tribe will be happy. Because you are here."

"But...but, I am not Alpha, I am not your son, why-"

"Shhhhh...I know it is terrible of me to say, of course I love my son. He is a strong well-bred beast, he has fought through the fears that the hairless infected him with, but you...you are the one who shall open a new path."

"What...new path?"

"The path of light, sweet Oddclaw. Light...that shall ensure we shall never die lost within the darkness. That our tribe will endure, that our hatchlings will survive strong and capable, the hunters we are. You were born from a timid stranger and the lowest female, the least fertile of us, one who came from barren plains as but a ragged creature. You are my hopes...and dreams."

Something throbbed deep within Oddclaw's heart, hurting him from this strong emotion that he sensed from Eyeclaw's words. The ancient raptor always regarded him dearly, almost like a grandson beloved and he felt horribly guilty that perhaps Eyeclaw loved him more than his own actual son. He bowed with deep shame and gratitude, knowing these were words he had always repeated, but could never reward him with truth of his accomplishments. He would stare down at his claws wondering how much of Eyeclaw's words were truth, and how much was just his fantasy. He never believed what Eyeclaw told him, having had warnings from his mother that the old raptor was delusional. It was time for sleep, and soon he heard Eyeclaw start to snooze, curling up into a dried nest of grass and piled dirt in the cave as he headed back to his own nest. Alpha nodded to him with simple gratitude, not saying another word until returning back home. Barkclaw had returned back to the nest and was now settling in to sleep on his own, whilst Sandrunner and Leafrunner curled up like kittens in each other's claws. Eggfang cosied up against their mother Barren, whilst Sunscreech was on her other side. She smiled at her son, cooing gently to have him snuggle up as he nuzzled into her chest. Softly licking across his head, she nipped and breathed on him warmly with utmost love as he smiled at her in turn before falling asleep.

The next day, Oddclaw awoke bright and early with the rest of his family as most of the tribe went down to the lake to drink and wash themselves. Some ran about in the shallows happily splashing each other, but none of them went out too far knowing that none of them could swim. Not even Oddclaw who never learned as he drank up beside his mother and Barkclaw, before stepping into the water to bathe. Submerging himself briefly to let the waters flow across his head, he lifted himself back up with a small splash stroking every part of his thick young muscles, slithering his lean claws across the brawny arms and supple legs. His tail swished with lean droplets upon his pert rump as he carefully fingered at the foreskin of his cock, swirling the water around his glans to clear any dirt that nestled within. The other raptors did not have this problem with all their penises being internal, something he envied them for as he slid back the foreskin and washed his member fully with tender strokes. He resisted the urge to imagine some of the raptors around him bending over to let him breed their holes and stepped out from the lake with trickling drops off his arms, his pecs and his flaccid meat before rejoining his brother and Barren.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked them.

"Yes."

"Yes, did you?" asked Oddclaw.

"I did! Today I am taking you both with me on a hunt together."

"Oh, that would be wonderful! We have not hunted together in cycles!"

"Indeed, and I would love to see how you two have-"

"I have spotwings to watch."

Barkclaw's mumblings confused their mother as she cocked her head.

"...what?"

"Spotwings. There were three before."

"Barkclaw, spotwings are not going to feed a family."

"No, they are small."

"So why do you need to watch spotwings?"

"They are leaving in future. I must-"

"If they are leaving then what does it matter?"

"I have to scratch, the spotwings, they are not leaving today but in future-"

"I am taking you on a hunt, a great experience to explore the world and you want to sit on some rotting bark clawing at trees?!"

"RREEEAAAAAAARRRH!"

The mottled raptor went into a fit of rage, splashing violently at the water and stomping with frenzy much to the shock of every raptor around them. Barren stood both ashamed and offended as they waited for him to calm down, before Oddclaw gently nodded towards his mother and stepped forwards to add:

"Barkclaw, I already scratched down what spotwings were here today."

"Hmm?!"

"There were two spotwings today. And there will still be two when we get back from hunting."

"You...you scratched?!"

"NOT on your bark, on my own bark nearby, so when we get back you can add my scratch to yours."

"...oh. Thank you. Sorry."

"It is alright brother. Are you ready to come hunt with us?"

"Yes. Okay."

"Good! Then shall we go?"

"Yes indeed," replied their mother gladly, "thank you Oddclaw."

As Barren walked off with her two sons in tow, she gently licked across Oddclaw's head before they headed out into the wilderness. The forest was partly active today as they searched for their prey, quietly shifting into a small mutual formation of three with Barren out in front. Despite her age her skills were still sharp as they travelled towards the forest outskirts along the east, talking with her sons once they were clear and near the reach of their territory.

"I want to see how well you are hunting after Eggfang and Sunscreech's mentoring. I hope you have been learning!"

"I have mother, I would love to show you how I hunt. Are any of my brothers and sisters coming along?"

"Soon actually, Sunscreech and Eggfang are taking your sisters to better teach them after yesterday's disappointment."

"I am sorry. I feel responsible."

"I know you are not to blame," said Barren nuzzling him. "Your sisters are skilled at hunting, they just forget about the tribe and their duties."

"I worry that they enjoy the hunt for the wrong reasons."

"That is why I have Sunscreech and Eggfang to teach them. You and your brother shall be receiving a private lesson from me."

"Where will we meet our family?" asked Barkclaw.

"The Dry Mountain."

"I do not know that place."

"It is south of us," said Oddclaw, "good shelter when the wet comes."

"Crawlers do not like dry caves, but sunwings do."

"I know brother. The sunwings are not coming yet, did you make a nest for them?"

"No, they make their own nest, why would I do that?"

"Shh!"

Their mother shushed them as she spotted two creatures that wandered off from their pack. A young triceratops bouncing along up the hill towards the forest. In the distance they could see an older female triceratops running after her.

"A hatchling three-horn! And her sister it seems."

"That or a young mother," added Oddclaw.

"Let them enter the forest first. We kill the hatchling too soon and we will lose the chance at her sister."

"Their mistakes are our rewards yes?"

"Exactly. Barkclaw, hunt after the hatchling and kill her swiftly."

"Yes mother."

"Oddclaw...I want to see how you hunt, I will follow you."

"Alright," said he, "I think I know how to kill this one, can I suggest?"

"Gladly, now tell me your plan."

The mottled raptor chased after as Barren and Oddclaw waited for the older female to rush into the forest, tearing past trees as she cried out after her younger sibling. In her haste she did not realise she would be shadowed by mother and son as the sand-coloured raptor creeped through the thickest ferns realising she would stand out a lot more than anyone in her family. Oddclaw took his own route more comfortably, climbing up onto the trees as his strong-footed grip raced along the branches that were thickest to keep his weight. Every brush of leaves mimicked a winged beast flying off to confuse the triceratops as she lumbered and barged through trying to find her sibling.

"SUUUUUN! SUUUN COME ON WE HAVE TO LEAVE! We can't be here Sunleaf this place is dangerous! SUUUUUNLEAAAAAAF!"

She would not know that 100 yards away was her sister, chasing after dappled insects that glittered like gold as she smiled with such innocence. Her tiny feet kicked up like stumps trying to leap at the wily friend she made without knowing the threat that hunted her. Eyes of dull brown stalked her every move as she ran in a circle oblivious as Barkclaw waited for his chance. The older three-horn was stomping through the leaves with growing panic, the dark shadows turning greater between the slanted rays of light that became fewer and less friendly. Despite her formidable size, big enough to knock down some of the smaller trees and uproot them with her bulk, she would have little room to fight against any predator.

"S-SUNLEAF?!"

Her sister finally heard her name. She turned her head to call out, but before she could even speak the hunter striked. The last thing she saw were the jaws that crushed her throat, her eyes spasming with a gentle flicker and a silent scream. Oddclaw saw it from his position as he signalled towards his mother who slowly creeped round the bushes, circling the bigger beast before she leapt onto her back.

"A-AAAAIE!"

Bucking violently hard, she shook Barren off with frenzied panic, turning round hard with glinting horns that still proved dangerous enough to kill.

"G-G-GET BACK! DON'T YOU DARE COME ANY CLOSER!"

"All who wander near Hunter's Nest become prey. Did you forget, or are you lost?"

"I-I AM NOT LOST! I am here for one thing!"

"Now that's not very nice three-horn...calling your sister a thing."

Her eyes widened as the smell of fear rose intensely from the young female. Her legs quivered slightly as Barren smiled thinly with a long row of teeth.

"...wha...what have you done?"

"I have not done anything. Yet."

"N-n-n-no...no...n-n-not my s-s-sister, n-n-no, NOOOO!"

"You should not have come after her. Now you will feed my family...unless you can kill me."

"You...y-y-you...you will PAY FOR THIIIIIS!"

Brazen with screeching fury, the triceratops charged violently towards the mother raptor as she waited calmly, watching the tremendous beast pound her feet hard enough to make the stones and leaves hop from the soil around her until dodging at the last moment. Swooping underneath the horns that plunged deeply inside a tree, Barren leapt onto the three-horn's side with feet forwards, clawing and scraping at her flesh to try and carve open her waist, the female shrieking with pain as blood spilled out onto the raptor's chest hotly. Superficial, but enough to panic the prey as she swung round trying to smack her foe to the side with her large gait as Barren kicked off from her body to land on the dirt.

"WHERE IS MY SISTER?! WHERE IS SHEEEE?!"

"The same place where you shall go...little three-horn."

Frenzied with suicidal rage, she rammed towards her as Barren leapt onto a large rock nearby to jump onto the triceratops' back, lunging for the back of her neck to try and choke the life out of her or at the very least weaken her. But her muscles were strong and her flesh was thick behind her skull, enough to not even bleed that much despite her vicious teeth like steak-knives twisting in the skin. The three-horn swung her body round and reared upwards with a bray of anguish, as something swung at her face hard enough to crack and cause her to fall backwards with a stumbling off-balance.

She fell as Barren leapt off of her, the creature now on her back helpless for a brief second as she struggled to roll back onto her feet, but it was a second that mattered the most. She saw it in the trees, that blur that somehow swung its feet at her from a low overhanging branch and kicked her twice in the jaw now peering down upon her. Eyes of green with slitted dark pupils as the shadow came down upon her ruthlessly, his hands outstretched into clawed fists that punched like two shotgun blasts into her throat, crushing her larynx by the force of gravity. Her gasping cry was a hoarse scream that suffocated her in an instant, her eyes rolling back violently as she struggled to breathe her last breaths, but the raptor now on top of her made her final moments more brief. He tore into her neck, ripping the skin apart to crush her windpipe within his jaws and tear straight for the spinal column, rending apart her nerves in a furore of bloody sinew. Had he not done this, she would have had to endure the most unimaginable suffering of her existence for a long tormented three minutes, gasping as her brain would try to desperately restart her breathing. But she only had to suffer for at least 8 seconds as Oddclaw eviscerated her nervous system, much to his mother's pride.

"VERY good Oddclaw, that was WONDERFUL!"

"Th-...thank you. I knew you could make her rear up like that, I could not attack her from behind."

"So instead you make her turn over to attack the front, that was very clever of you. Barkclaw! BARKCLAW?!"

"Here."

Wandering out of the bush was her other son, carrying a dead four-legged hatchling in his jaws with three small lumps on her face. He dropped her briefly next to her sister as Barren positively bristled with joy.

"Ohh! My dearest youngest sons, you both have grown so much! Such wonderful hunters you have become, I am so proud of you!"

She hurriedly licked all over Oddclaw's face, gleefully tasting the blood from his face but when she tried to go over to Barkclaw, he hesitated with a flinching whimper that startled her.

"Wha-...what's wrong?"

"N-n-no...no, touching."

"Oh, well, I am still proud of you both. Now let us get as much meat as possible back home, Barkclaw you can carry your prey back and Oddclaw, help me with the rest of this."

Tearing the largest chunks they could from the dead triceratops, they fed their bellies with the hatchling's remains before heading back to the nest with their spoils where Fishclaw's mate Shadetooth was waiting. She gladly accepted some of the food for her children, as well as promising to keep the rest of it safe whilst the family were still out. The three raptors headed up towards the small mountain of the forest, where they found themselves to be the only ones there.

"Oh...they must still be hunting."

"Do we wait?" asked Barkclaw.

"Well yes, we have to."

He sat down with an impatient huff as Oddclaw looked around curiously. He would occasionally look up towards the cragged entrance of the cave above them, the long jutting precipice making a perfect entry point. Barren rubbed her back against one of the trees, sighing with an itch that was constantly irritating her scales as Oddclaw walked over to help her with his opposable hands to massage her back.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah...mmmmmmhhh thank you son. Your claws are such a gift."

"I am glad they are."

"Hhhhoh...hoh...ohhh that, a little towards the tail...HAH! Aaaah, aah that's...mmmmm..."

"Mother?"

"Hmm?"

"I was...speaking to Eyeclaw before and he told me about my father again."

"Was it about the stars again?"

"Yes. I...I still do not believe he truly left for the stars the way he believes it."

"No?"

"The way Eyeclaw speaks, it is as if he is dying. I feel that is his way of accepting his death, but...my father did not die, did he?"

"No, he did not. He...somehow disappeared within a Star Wake that he formed by himself. That is the only way I can explain it."

"But...how?" he asked her. "How could he form the stars here, down amongst ourselves?"

"I wish I knew," she replied honestly. "Even today I cannot understand what happened, other than how he blessed me with four wonderful hatchlings."

"Sunscreech would beg to differ."

A muted sigh of frustration came as Barren shook her head.

"He hated your father so. It was not his fault what happened to his brothers."

"And yet he turns that hatred on me because I look like him."

"You look nothing like him!"

"How?! How am I different from him, everyone says I walk like him, I have the same eyes as him-"

"You do not have his markings! That and your cock is bigger than his."

"Wha-...really?! Is that true?!"

"Oh yes you certainly are. He was not impressive compared to other males, but the love and comfort he gave me surpassed what any male could give me."

"What about Sunscreech's father? Did you love him?"

"Of course I did. But he disappeared, and I spent less time with him than your father. I do not know why Oddscar left us, but at least he tried to tell me before he did, unlike Bloodleaf who never returned from a hunt."

"Did anyone from his hunt return?" asked Oddclaw politely.

"No," she replied, "he was with his father and brother. Either the hairless or the greatbeast must have killed them."

"What did my father tell you before he left?"

"I do not know what he said. He spoke in the language of the hairless, somehow. Something he had always been able to do, something that in our most passionate of mating or in his troubled sleep, he would cry out with odd noises I never understood. But I know from his eyes how he loved me. He could not remember me, after what the hairless had done to him...but he remembered something. Some part of him that still loved me...I want to believe that he did not want me to wait for him, knowing he had changed far too much to ever become my mate again, and after so long waiting I knew it was best to not think of him as ever returning. But he left you, and your brother and sisters."

Barren gave a long slow lick across her son's neck, sleekly dragging along from the shoulder to his eye straight across the odd amber discolouring as he blushed.

"Please do not think ill of Sunscreech. Be patient with him, prove you are different from your father."

"How do I do that?"

"With kindness. Understand his pain, he is still my son as well you are mine and I love you both."

"I know. I do not want to fight him."

"You do not have to. Let me tell you now, your father was not strong and he was different like you. He had very little skill when hunting, less than you when you first hunted but it did not matter what he could or could not do, because he was kind. And that is all I want my children to be Oddclaw, I do not care if they are strong or weak, I do not care if they are clever or naive...so long as they are kind and merciful."

A smile crossed his lips as he understood clearly, right before the sound of screeching joy came down along the eastern path.

"HEEEEEEEEEEY!"

The scent of four raptors grew near as their family joined them with proud and bloodied lips. Sandrunner, Leafrunner, Eggfang and Sunscreech all traipsed through with gentle nuzzles and licks to their mother as they gave the twin sisters gave their report.

"We found three oddheads!"

"They had TASTY shiny blood!"

"WE DRANK ALL OF IT!"

"AND THEN WE GOT SICK!"

"IT WAS FUN!"

"Not for us," murmured Sunscreech, "they were young and adventurous, too young to fight well."

"I ate one of their eyes, it was JUICY!"

"Waste not want not," replied Eggfang drolly. "How was your hunt?"

"Two three-horns," said Oddclaw, "also young, the hatchling was delicious."

"AWWW I WANTED A HATCHLING!" cried Sandrunner.

"You can find one in future."

"Mmmmmmm I have not eaten a hatchling in cycles."

"You can eat Oddclaw," said Sunscreech snarkily. "He is quite a big hatchling."

"I barely have any meat!" cried Oddclaw in mock defence. "You are the one with the great muscles, you actually have meat on your bones!"

"HAH, so you admit that you are weak?"

"I only have to outrun you since whoever my sister catches first is the one she eats."

"OOOH that's a great idea!" said the younger sister. "We should have a race! Whoever I catch first is the one I eat!"

"That would be fun! What do you say brother, you think you can win in a race against me?"

"I can outrun this entire FAMILY!" boasted Sunscreech. "That does sound fun though, it has been some time since I had a good race, alright then. Sand and Leaf will try to catch us, we race around the lake until one of us is caught!"

"Then let us go!"

They headed out of the forest towards the estuary, a good starting point being the place where the lake began and ended as a large somewhat oblong formation that ballooned out towards the west. In the opposite direction was the sea, a widening expanse of salt water that stretched beyond the horizon as Oddclaw and Sunscreech stood next to each other ready to race.

"Are you ready?" cried Barren. "Both of you go first, then I will send your sisters after you! ......GO!"

The males ran with frantic bursts of speed, Sunscreech stomping his larger clawed feet across the sandy shores whilst Oddclaw's lighter body pumped iron with a lurching posture, half-mimicking a feral pose as the smell of the sea tickled their nostrils from downwind. The two males grinned at each other confidently, eager to prove their best as the sisters were released forty seconds after they had started. The family started following after at a relaxed pace with Eggfang, Barkclaw and Barren traipsing after to see who would succeed. Sometimes they would spot another member of their tribe either foraging or drinking in the water, the sand kicking up behind their feet that resembled a feline's in its structure with arched heels and thick-soled toes. It was a wonderful day to race, the warmth of the sand and the gentle breeze that rippled through the hills painted a perfect view in both sight and smell. Sunscreech was keeping a good pace despite his larger body against Oddclaw's younger faster physique, the two seeming to match well as it started to become a race of endurance more than proper speed as the older brother taunted:

"You cannot even run properly, how do you expect to beat me?!"

"I can still look at you in the eye Shaderunner, tell me that again when I lose sight of your face!"

"At least you do not have to look at your ugly face, unlike me!"

"Then stop running so you can stop looking!"

The wind rushing past their scales gave them such excitement, almost forgetting about their sisters soon starting to catch up as they made their way a good quarter-turn around the lake. The sound of the wind through the tall reeded grass of the scrubland soothed the entire family, even Barkclaw managing to find some peace within the constant frays of his mind as they plodded along in unison. They followed the two leaders almost unconditionally, the sisters taking their time to let the boys tire themselves out a bit more as they really more enjoyed the teasing rather than the actual capture.

"UH-OHHHH I think our brother's getting tiiiiiiired!"

"Which one?!"

"Pick one!"

"Mmmmm I want Oddie."

"Alright I'll pick Sunscreech! Which part should we eat first?!"

"The part that's the most male, obviously hmhmhmhmhmh!"

"YOU HEAR THAT BROTHERS?! IF WE CATCH YOU WE'RE GOING TO EAT YOUR COCKS!"

"DON'T TELL THEM THAT!"

"Why?!"

"It's SUPPOSED to be a secret!"

"...NEVER MIND WHAT I SAID, WE'RE NOT GOING TO EAT YOUR COCKS! Heehehehehahahahaha!"

The two males looked at each other with fearful uncertainty as the rather unsettling laughter from behind them bolstered some extra speed into their legs. Trampling ever faster, they soon reached the halfway point of the lake with the sisters ever closing in on them. The males sped up, the gleeful excitement rising in all of them as they occasionally saw other creatures on the plains. Stegosaurus, ankylosaurus, gallimimus sweeping across like a flock of birds along the grass keeping well away from the raptors' territory. A mutual respect as they passed one another, appreciating the joy of being alive and nothing else. But it was soon coming to an end for the brothers as they heard the nipping teeth of their sisters catching up, and Oddclaw decided to make a diplomatic choice. Seeing them chase towards Sunscreech, he threw himself back towards them and cried out with as much acting as he could muster.

"A-AAAH, AAAAAH!"

"WAAAAAH!"

He staggered oddly and collided into them, saving Sunscreech from their jaws as they began to pile on top of him, biting and growling as they pinched and nipped every part of him from his neck to his cock.

"N-NOOO, STOOOP!"

"YOU'RE THE FEAST TONIGHT BROTHER!"

"PLEASE, STO-OP, AAAAH MY COCK NOOO! BROTHER SAVE YOURSELF, IT IS TOO LATE FOR ME!"

Sunscreech simply laughed, cackling at the fate of his half-brother as he was mauled vigorously by the twin sisters, their eyes shining with excitement to gnosh away with countless little pockmarks dotting across their brother's skin. Their tails swished ruthlessly back and forth as Leafrunner held his neck, whilst Sandrunner bit at his thighs and foreskin, pulling at the loose skin curiously and making him yelp with whimpering. But Sunscreech was his saviour as he pushed them off much to their surprise as they tumbled onto the grass. Oddclaw stumbled back onto his feet with a nervous look at his half-hardness.

"Th-than-...thank you."

"No male should suffer that indignity," muttered Sunscreech, "thank you for sparing me it."

"What are brothers for, if not to distract sisters from constantly pestering you?"

"Hmhmhm...you handle them better than me."

"What, are you saying I handle females better than you?"

"WHA-NO! Just the stupid ones!"

"HAHAHA, that is still more females than you handled!"

"Oh yes, your sisters slavering all over your cock is sure to be the pride of our family, let me know when they birth your children without any eyes or limbs."

"I will Shaderunner, and if I do have any such freaks then I will call them Sunscreech, for it is an awful name to fit awful children."

"HAH, or call them skyflesh like the filthy wretches they are."

"Alright, Sunscreech and Skyflesh, filthy names for filthy children!"[/'i]

The charming wordplay made his brother smirk, giving a brief headbutt of playfulness to Oddclaw before their mother caught up with them.

"SO, who lost?!"

"Oddclaw did," said the older brother, "just as we always knew."

"Awwwww. You will have to try harder then!"

"It seems so!" replied the loser jubilantly. "Shall we head home then?"

"Yes, shall we go then-"

"I have to go."

Barkclaw started to walk in a different direction much to his mother's confusion.

"B-barkclaw...Barkclaw, home is that way-"

"We hunted today, it was fun. I have to go, sunwings might come."

"But...Barkclaw! Come back here this instant! BARKCLAW!"

But he did not listen. The rest of the family walked back to their nest as Oddclaw could sense his mother's frustration. Once they reached their home, he tried to speak on his brother's behalf.

"I am sorry about Barkclaw, but you know he has his routine."

"I know...but, I barely ever see him now. He must learn to be with family, we had such good fun today and he just LEAVES us to look at his stupid spotwings!"

"Um, sunwings actually-"

"What DIFFERENCE does it make?!

"You can still see him, if you-"

"If what, I move from my nest? Why do I, the mother, have to leave my nest to see my son?! Why can he not come here?!"

"He only comes here to sleep, you know he has his duty."

"Well, perhaps it is time to change that. From now on, you are not taking food to him, if he wants to be fed then he must come HERE and eat with us."

"Do not start this today, please!"

Oddclaw made a whimpering snarl, one of warning but also of remorse.

"I know my brother has his ways-"

"His ways do not work for him nor do they help us."

"He is a good scout!"

"He is ONLY a scout, why can he not be my son?!"

"HE IS YOUR SON!"

"...my sons are good enough to feast with their mother. Does he think I am not a good enough mother that he refuses to eat with me?"

"That is not what he thinks, I told you that."

"I have yet to see proof Oddclaw. Make him understand, give him some of the food and remind him how we earned it as a FAMILY."

"I will not force my brother to go against his will, you know how it hurts him!"

"What about MY pain!? The pain in my heart knowing one of my own hatchlings does not want to be with me?!"

"He does not hate you! He is just different, he still loves you!"

"THEN MAKE HIM SHOW ME!"

The younger raptor growled and decided to leave, taking a slab of meat in his dexterous claws and tearing a piece of bark off a tree before heading off to his brother's usual place. Every once a while this argument would happen, and he was tired of it. Sick of being this ambassador between two family members knowing that he loved his mother, but she was frustrated for her own reasons. The pack continued all around him, watching him occasionally as mothers with their hatchlings nibbled and teared at tiny meaty chunks, the leader gazing before all with a tired look in his eyes from above the rocks.

It had been a chaotic time for his tribe before he had been born. He could see that in his leader but he had no time for such thoughts. Amidst his own thoughts where he constantly worried about being good enough to be a part of the tribe despite being born amongst them, his greatest concern was for his brother. The one raptor who was always isolated from the rest of the tribe and Oddclaw never understood why. Everyone was frustrated by him as a hatchling, but in time they realised he would not change and so decided to make use of his talents as a scout. But even scouts kept close to each other

His brother could be found by the constant scratching of wood, claws raking across various trees in his area, marking them with his scent and presence. His brother did not turn to greet him, but acknowledged his presence like usual.

"I brought you some food...in case you were hungry later."

"Thank you."

Barkclaw continued to rake at the bark with almost robotic patience, his eyes roving across the wood with a strange focus that Oddclaw could never comprehend as he planted his scratched bark on a tree nearby whilst placing the meat onto the stump.

"Did you see my scratchings for those two sunwings."

"No. Oh."

"...mother has asked if you could come eat with us, just this once."

"No, scratching, need to finish."

"I know, but she would appreciate it greatly if you took time out of your-"

"No, sunwings might come back."

"Alright. She does not understand it like I do, but give her time. She is...we had a great day together did we not? Did you enjoy hunting with her?"

"Yes. Hatchling was tasty."

"You hunted it so well, I was so proud of you! Mother too!"

"Not hard to kill hatchling. She was distracted, very easy, fat soft throat."

"So why did you have to leave right after we were done hunting and racing? Mother was upset."

"We were done playing. I had to go."

The scratching sounds changed slightly, making Oddclaw wonder as he tried to explain.

"It is just...mother is frustrated to think that all the males she knows keep leaving her."

"Hmm?"

"Our father, disappeared into the Star Wake. Her mate before that, gone, possibly dead. I know you are not her mate of course-"

"No."

"But she worries about you, she just wants to see you more often."

"I see her. Every night when I sleep."

"I know, but you barely talk to her and-"

His brother slammed his claws into the wood and hissed with frustration. Oddclaw stopped talking and allowed his brother to continue, despite shaking his head. A few minutes later of awkward silence, Barkclaw did not turn his head as he asked:

"Are you angry?"

"No. Mother is but I am just upset."

"Why?"

"Because I must act as the voice between you and her! She is a female without a mate who needs to be with her family, and you are...my brother."

"I am what?"

"My brother."

"...you were going to say something else."

"No, I was not!"

"You hesitated, you wanted to say something else other than brother."

"Barkclaw, please I-"

"REEEAAARGH!"

A furious screech of anger as he raked across what he had been working on, destroying his carefully-created lines within a second as he turned towards Oddclaw.

"Do you hate me?!"

"NO, never!"

"Does mother hate me!? Do you hate me because she hates me?!"

"M-Mother does not hate you! We all love you, I love you Barkclaw, but you're just so...DIFFICULT sometimes, you have to let us be close to you!"

"NO, no touching, do not touch me!"

"Barkclaw I am not going to touch you, you know that. But if you keep acting this way, how will you live for our tribe? How will you mate?"

"Do not want a mate. Do not want to touch. No touching."

"But...how can you have young, a family? How can you...Fishclaw has a family, he has a mate, did you not see how happy he has been?"

"No."

"How can you not SEE that?!"

"Cannot understand. Do not...want......leave me alone."

"...why are you so afraid?"

Barkclaw said nothing, continuing to scrape the bark.

"Why do you not let us be close to you? Are you afraid of us? Are you afraid someone will...hurt you? Please. If you are suffering I want to help."

"I am fine."

"You have been suffering all morning."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you keep scratching that tree wrong."

The sound of claws upon wood stopped. Barkclaw stepped back slightly to look at his work, a cluttered mess of scraping lines in various diagonal angles. Oddclaw demonstrated with a rotting log nearby.

"Normally, when you are at peace, you do this."

He scraped a perfect horizontal line.

"And when you are curious or need to learn more, you do this."

Another line dug into the wood, this time vertical.

"But when you are suffering, you do...that."

He pointed to the diagonal marks his brother made. Barkclaw took it all in carefully, gently walking over to the slab of meat upon the stump. He did not eat, staring at it with focused intent, snout tightening with words struggling to come out of his mouth. Oddclaw knew his brother had problems trying to voice his thoughts, and it was only when he was broken free of his self-inflicted routine that he would be truthful without focus. He waited until Barkclaw spoke.

"...it hurts."

"What?"

"Touching...hurts. Makes me...scared. They might hurt me."

"Might hurt you? Does...does anyone in the tribe hurt you?"

"No, not flesh. No one hurt me with claws, but nnn...nnnngh!"

Barkclaw gently pawed at his skull trying to indicate the source of pain.

"It hurts your mind?"

His brother nodded.

"So...if I touched you now...would it hurt you?"

Barkclaw shook his head halfway before trying to nod. He was conflicted, starting to claw softly at his head while whimpering. Oddclaw gently nudged the food towards him.

"Calm down and eat...let me help you brother."

"Help. Cannot help."

"I want to help you overcome your problems. I want you to be with us, to be with this family, I do not want you to suffer alone. I love you. You said you do not want a mate, because you think that we will hurt your mind...correct?"

"Yes."

"...do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me Barkclaw?"

It was a question Oddclaw had always asked his brother whenever he was conflicted or in pain. Every time that question was asked, Barkclaw always felt better afterwards, somehow. His brother was the only one who would ever approach him, the only one who could somehow pull him free from the screaming pit that constantly burned inside his head.

"...yes."

"Do you believe I would ever hurt you?"

"...you do not hurt me."

"No, do you remember what I said?"

"Six cycles before, that tree five steps away, six stonewings."

"Yes, yes that night, do you remember what I said?"

"...if you ever hurt me, you would leave."

"Yes. I promised that to you. If I ever hurt you, I would leave and never come back. I still mean that. ...I will not hurt you, I cannot hurt you, you are my brother."

"What do you want?"

"I want to...show you how good it feels to have a mate."

"Females don't like me."

"I did not mean a female. I meant...me."

Barkclaw looked at him for the first time that day. This was a good sign for Oddclaw, knowing he had his brother's full attention when he tried to comprehend this, even if Barkclaw barely ever made eye contact with him. He hated looking at others' eyes, always averting their gaze through some hidden shame. It turned every raptor against him, even his own mother with distrust for what reason could a hunter ever have to not look at their own tribe in the eye?

"...but...you are not female."

"I know. But I have an idea. I pretend to be a mate, so you can mate with me. If you like it, then I can show you the same."

"But...family is forbidden."

"Only between males and females. If there is a danger of breeding then it is forbidden to mate, but if it is two females or two males since they cannot breed on their own, then it is allowed in our tribe."

"...where does my cock go?"

"My vent of course, where else would it go? I warn you now, it will involve touching, but you can touch me first. You can touch me as long as you want, so long as I can touch you. Do not panic, do not fear, because I will not touch you unless you are ready. Would you like that? If anything happens, we can both stop and never do it again."

"...not now."

"No?"

"Tonight, I sleep here, you come."

"Do you want that?"

"...yes."

Oddclaw's look of relief was palpable, and he struggled not to hug his brother.

"Wonderful! I will make peace with mother so I can sleep over with you tonight."

"Yes."

"Good. Now eat up, you need to rest before you get back to work."

Barkclaw smiled weakly as he tried to ready himself for what he agreed to. He loved his brother, but he could never express himself rightly. But Oddclaw understood him, gave him patience, allowed him to do what he wanted and for that reason alone, Oddclaw had his trust. Night would come as Oddclaw explained some of the situation to his mother. A trust exercise that would allow Barkclaw to open up to the others, slowly, over time and hopefully bring him back to the family.

Barren accepted this, thinking any progress towards having her son back with them was good as she allowed Oddclaw to sleep with her brother, despite not truly knowing what they were up to. The anthro rationalised it in his mind.

I am the only one he trusts. So I am the only one who can be this close to him. I will be like a practice mate for him, someone he can understand without any dangers. I hope this works. I hope I can get him back to the nest with this.

The moon rose up high in the forest night, the tribe settling in to sleep other than the guards who would keep half-alert. They bade Oddclaw goodnight through their paths as he reached Barkclaw, his personal work on the trees having been finished for the day and he was free in his own schedule for whatever they had planned. Oddclaw made his approach obvious in order to not frighten him.

"I am here."

"Yes."

"...I will ask you again, are you sure you want to do this?"

"...yes. We said tonight."

"Alright. Now...you make the first move, alright? Come to me."

Barkclaw approached cautiously, sniffing the air to make sure all was clear. They were alone and far on the outskirts of their territory where Oddclaw stood perfectly still to allow his brother to come near.

"Now...you may touch me first. Touch me anywhere you wish. I do not mind where. I will not move."

With that invitation, Barkclaw gently began to sniff along his brother's body, the non-feral raptor standing tall with arms and legs perfectly straight. His cock remained half-flaccid between his legs and while without the testicles of mammals, it was not internal like a reptile's, swinging freely with foreskin in the breeze of the primordial night. There were dozens of cuts and scrapes along the scrotum, a few splits here and there that had managed to heal back as Barkclaw placed his claws on his brother's shoulders, sniffing closer.

The touch was tender and soft but almost uncertain, the feel of his brother's nostrils breathing against his naked chest soothed Oddclaw. He tried not to sigh with relief as he wanted to let his brother continue, before Barkclaw gently licked at his chest starting with the unusual nipples on his pectorals. Oddclaw moaned softly.

"Does it hurt?"

"No...that felt good. Please."

Barkclaw continued to lick at his brother's pecs, tasting the sweat and musk as he tongued at the nipples with a rising curiosity. His brother moaned and panted softly with bliss, the strange feeling making him shiver warmly at something he had never felt before.

"Why do you have these?" asked Barkclaw.

"I...hhhh...I-i do not know. Must be from father. Ohhh...don't stop Barkclaw please...keep going."

He nodded and continued, licking further and further along the chest before bending down to his brother's legs. Oddclaw tried not to twitch at his thighs, his abdomen throbbing slightly with deepening urges along with his cock. His brother noticed with every new languishing lick that his brother became more aroused as his scent became stronger, making Barkclaw's nostrils flare with interest as he went to it.

His tongue began to slather across his brother's penis, tasting the unusual texture and its slightly salty taste compared to the rest of his anthro body. Oddclaw moaned and whimpered with warmth, keeping his hands steady as he gazed down upon his brother slowly slurping at his meat. The way he was curious enough to lick every single inch from base to glans, even digging his tongue into the foreskin, made Oddclaw throb harder for him. The tongue slipped in with a surprising technique, curling into the flesh to taste a stronger musk as he swirled his tonguetip around the cockhead, his eyes half-closing as he heard his brother moan.

"A-ah...ohhh..."

"Am I, hurting you?"

"N-no, no this, this is wonderful...ohhh...I never knew you had such a skilled tongue, brother."

"I taste the inside of trees for...spotwings and...sunwings...mmmh...you taste salty."

"Ahhh...I do?"

"Yes."

"Do you...like how I taste?"

"...yes."

Barkclaw kept his eyes open as he made sure to taste every part of his brother's cock. When he was done, he stood up with his neutral gaze, eyes slightly gazing away from Oddclaw's with the constant faraway look he always had.

"We mate now."

"Wait."

"What?"

"...you have not licked everywhere."

Oddclaw smiled as calmly as he could, gently bringing his tongue out to imply where as Barkclaw understood, slowly walking closer as Oddclaw kept his arms pinned to his own sides to not scare him. He started to lick across his brother's face, hearing him whimper with bliss at the warm tongue stroking across the cheeks, over the snout, along the neck and even on Oddclaw's tongue.

When he felt this, Oddclaw opened his mouth slowly to bring Barkclaw in and suckle on his tongue. At first Barcklaw was confused, but with every new suckle of his brother's tongue, his eyes became heavier and more lost in the confused haze of his rising lust. Their tongues danced slowly upon each other, awkward and clumsy, neither of them used to this motion as they closed their eyes and suckled harder with each new taste smacking against the inside of their cheeks. It was the warmest sensation they had ever felt, but eventually Barkclaw pulled away with eyes uncertai as they panted gently.

"How...was that?" asked Oddclaw.

"I...do not know. It...was strange but...warm."

"The love of a mate is exactly that. It is a wonderful feeling with time."

"Is...is it?"

"Yes. Now come..."

Oddclaw gently moved away and slowly placed himself against a giant log, bending over to lift his tail fully. His separate puckered anus winked with a teasing invite as he gazed towards Barkclaw with amorous eyes.

"Mate with me brother."

Barkclaw was uncertain, his eyes roving all over at trying to comprehend what he was feeling. But he looked down on himself, noticing his own cock was out fully at a fine reptilian 15 inches sprouting fully from his cloaca, a bending shaft that had a bulbous base set against his body. He slowly came up behind, aligning his body with his brother's strange anatomy but the placement of a hole was similar enough for him to understand. He clambered on top of Oddclaw, claws trying to gain a firm purchase on the log as the non-feral was pleased to see his brother handle touching him better, even though his brother's body was a good two feet larger than him.

"Nnngh...there...now, slide your cock inside me. You've seen how it happens to females, right?"

"Yes."

"Alright, now push it in slowly. Do not push all of it in, it is too big for me."

"Okay."

Barkclaw was nervous. Moreso than usual as he positioned himself steadily before he thrusted, stabbing against Oddclaw's underside. It scraped up underneath the tail, so he tried once again, thrusting a few more times before he found the anus and readily plunged in by at least four inches. Oddclaw stifled stifled a shriek of surprise at his brother's strength.

"Did it hurt?!"

"N-no no! It's...it is fine...it...it does not hurt."

"Does it?"

"No...please...just...take it slowly."

He did not want his brother to feel shameful, he wanted this experience to be good for him with no problems whatsoever. Slowly Barkclaw pushed, shifting his position more as his felt his brother's ass start to slowly accept him, widening the tunnel to take in the invading cock as he managed to thrust slowly. The first few thrusts were just to get a feel of the rhythm, making Barkclaw have to readjust his hip alignment now and again but eventually he found his pace. Feeling the anal walls smoothly coat themselves with pre, Oddclaw moaned at each small thrust his brother made, whimpering with fits of bliss as he bit his teeth to push through the flinching pinpricks of pain as the feral cock pushed deeper and deeper inside of him. His brother's weight bore down on him, but that made him love it more, feeling a natural submissiveness rise in the very act of mating as he made certain that Barkclaw knew his joy.

"AH! A-ah! Barkclaw! Oh that feels wonderful!"

"It...does not hurt?"

"N-no...ohhh...how do you feel?"

"F-feels...good. Warm! So warm!"

"Y-yes...a-aaaaah...breed me. Ohhhh breed me brother..."

The rising heat inside his cock encouraged Barkclaw to fuck harder, growling with a drooling bliss that he had never felt before saliva dripped slightly onto Oddclaw's head as he moaned with him. Soon he could feel his brother hit the very reach of his anal tunnel at a hefty 9 inches of depth, whimpering as they realised. The larger brother patiently slid himself out, and then straight back in again, turning more brave with each thrusting pump as he started to increase the pace, burying his swollen cock inside his brother as he begged for more, their hips slapping against each other. Barkclaw felt an instinct start to take over as he bit down firmly on his brother's neck.

Oddclaw whimpered even more, loving the feeling of being taken this way, feeling his sibling's bestial grunts synchronise with a powerful short series of deep solid thrusts. He could feel his brother start acting like a true raptor.

"AH! AAAH! BARKCLAW! YES! FILL ME! FILL ME WITH YOUR SEED BROTHER!"

He knew he would not last long, and soon Barkclaw took his jaws off his brother's neck to shriek with an unprecedented cry of lust echoing into the night as he came hotly inside Oddclaw's hole. A thickening spurt of raptor cum plunged deeply into his body, pooling hotly within him as a thickening glurt of seed inside his belly as Barkclaw twitched in his final thrusts. He could even feel some of the semen gently drool down his rear, almost overfilling him.

In that same moment Oddclaw came with him, a longful screech of joy as his cum sprayed onto the bark, his anal walls tightening hard on his brother's cock to squeeze him dry of every last drop. Barkclaw soon dismounted as soon as he felt the feeling pass, a welcoming relief and exhaustion hitting him at the same time as he recovered his breath. Oddclaw did the same, leaning against the log until he felt his legs stabilise once more to look back and see Barkclaw's dripping meat. He blushed at how much bigger he was than him, the fact he was the smallest in every way of the tribe did not bother him in this instant.

"Hhh...hhhh...did you enjoy your...first mating, brother?"

"Hhhhh...nnnngh...yes. It was...warm, and...strong. Good strong."

"It was...aaaah...ohhh Barkclaw."

"Can I taste you again?"

"What?"

Barkclaw gently walked over to his brother, leaning over towards his face and kissing deeply once again. For a feral raptor this was odd, but he merely licked around Oddclaw's snout and waited for his tongue to slide in as his anthro brother doing so willingly. A deep kiss that surged through their minds as they felt something new. Or rather, something that would grow anew from their hearts.

As they tasted each other's tongues with a growing warmth, Oddclaw waited until his brother stopped, tongues sliding away from each other with thick webs of saliva between them before he would speak.

"I love you Barkclaw. You may be my brother...but I love you more than I will ever love any female."

"Even if we mate, and cannot have eggs?"

"Hhhahaha, we do not need to raise eggs together, this is just ourselves! I will find a female for hatchlings and maybe one day, you might too."

"...I do not know."

"That does not matter now. Until you find someone...I will be your mate."

Oddclaw made a small lick to his brother's snout, and he licked back in turn before they slept together, nestling closely but never touching beneath the high-rising moon of a prehistoric world. Oddclaw had never been happier than this. He had finally shown his brother a new warmth that one day he could fully experience. Perhaps in future, Barkclaw would feel it in another way.