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[center][b][i]THE SCRIPTURES OF ODDCLAW[/i][/b][/center]

[center][b]Fifteen-and-One: Your Possible Pasts[/b][/center]

[center][i]"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."[/i][/center]

[center][i]Thomas Paine[/i][/center]

[b][i]The time is fast approaching.[/b][/i]

[b][i]"I know. I was a year off though, hope he's not mad at me."[/i][/b]

[b][i]He will have greater problems than that, I assure you.[/i][/b]

[b][i]"I've never done this sort of thing before, normally all my timekeeping schedule's in a straight line."[/i][/b]

[b][i]Nevertheless, you have the recording to guide you in the course of events.[/i][/b]

[b][i]"So that means anything else beyond this-"[/i][/b]

[b][i]Will be at your behest. Do what you believe is right. I trust you with this, as a soldier and a professional.[/i][/b]

[b][i]"You sure about this? I mean I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, this is a lot more complicated than I expected."[/i][/b]

[b][i]I am certain. Your family's future depends on it, I know you will not take it lightly. You are the only one who can close this cycle.[/i][/b]

[b][i]"Alright. I won't fail."[/i][/b]

[b][i]I know you won't. I have already seen you succeed, remember?[/i][/b]

[b][i]"Heh. Right. Just another job, nothing else. I'll need a codename though, something to set me in, you got one in mind?"[/i][/b]

[b][i]Yes. I suggest the name...Hanma.[/i][/b]

[b][i]"Hhha ha ha, seriously? That's something my nephew would say."[/i][/b]

[b][i]I thought it appropriate...does it not suit you?[/i][/b]

[b][i]"Nah, it's pretty good, it's...yeah, alright I'll see you soon big guy."[/i][/b]

[b][i]Hmhmhm, indeed. I shall see you again, friend...in a previous life.[/i][/b]

[i]"S-SAVE HIM!"[/i]

[i]"I AM TRYING!"[/i]

[i]"She won't stop chasing you...you will never escape."[/i]

[i]"ODDCLAW, ODDCLAW PLEASE S-STAY ALIVE, LOOK AT ME!"[/i]

[i]"ALL I WANTED WAS TO LIVE MY OWN LIFE!"[/i]

[i]"YOUR...H-HIGHNESS, STOP!"[/i]

[i]"Do you think they still believe you?"[/i]

[i]"I CAN MAKE THIS STOP, I CAN HELP YOU!"[/i]

[i]"Accept your fate...make me...part of you."[/i]

[i]"ODDCLAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWW!"[/i]

Her head twitched and shuddered before awaking, eyes blearing against the sun that came blinding from the cavern's entrance. She looked over her stone bed, finding no one else present.

[i]"...ugh."[/i]

Pushing herself up, her tail slinked behind her as she dragged her feet to the outside.

[i]"Good morning!"[/i]

She turned to Sulphide grinning from the trees before his face fell with a worried look.

[i]"Is...is something wrong?"[/i]

[i]"Nothing,"[/i] Riptor rolled her eyes, [i]"just another dream about him."[/i]

[i]"What? Again?!"[/i] He leapt down sniffing across her face. [i]"This is getting rather-"[/i]

[i]"Don't."[/i] She bared her teeth. [i]"Yes it is, and I cannot stop thinking about him. The things the newcomers said about him are just-...just-"[/i]

[i]"Exceptional?"[/i]

[i]"How can anything that resembles...THAT, even be considered a hunter?!"[/i]

[i]"So you agree with Sunscreech?"[/i] the green raptor asked. [i]"There is hardly anyone else who would fit his bitter comments."[/i]

[i]"I would say yes,"[/i] Riptor tapped her feet, [i]"except for the many more comments I received from others of his original tribe that praise this Oddclaw as one of their most intelligent."[/i]

[i]"Hmmmm...that is true, they have no reason to lie to us either...but I would rather not speak to Sunscreech about this."[/i]

[i]"Neither do I, he has enough on his mind and he needs to focus on his children."[/i]

They walked towards the shores of the island where ultraraptors were sawing down trees with razor tails and carefully-placed acids to rebuild the rafts they had lost, tying them with vines and teaching the native raptors to do the same. The sounds of rustic carpentry filled the island as logs thunked into place, the sands rustling against the sea whilst the slave-fish paddled about in their pool being tended to by feeders. Riptor looked up to where the mountains had once been, a jagged skyline of broken rocks that made the world feel much smaller beneath the raptor's feet. All around her she saw her own tribe mixing with the newcomers, the vivid chemical colours of ultraraptors clustered amongst the earthen browns and pale shades of the native raptors.

[i]"Now just pull it tight."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmhmm!"[/i]

[i]"And now you, move that end through her part."[/i]

[i]"Like this?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes! And now you tied a knot, the raft is ready."[/i]

[i]"Wonderful!"[/i] The natives chirruped. [i]"Your tribe are so clever, Oddclaw tried to teach us this before but we do not have his well...odd claws."[/i]

[i]"Well we have our own tactics,"[/i] shrugged one of the cyber-beasts, [i]"is there anything else you wanna know?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, how do you do that with your tails?"[/i]

[i]"You mean this?"[/i] One of the ultraraptors unlinked his tail to slink out like a chain whip. [i]"Just the way we were born, sadly can't teach you that but you got your claws and your teeth that's more than enough to figure stuff out!"[/i]

[i]"Heeheeheh,"[/i] the newcomers giggled purring down at the extended appendage, [i]"I know I said I wanted adventure and a new family, but since we came here it has been nothing BUT adventure!"[/i]

[i]"Weeeell it's not every day we have some mountain-devouring monster but Riptor can kill anything, that's why they call her the God-Slayer."[/i]

[i]"God...slay-yurr?"[/i] the natives muttered looking to each other. [i]"What is that?"[/i]

[i]"She can kill any living thing,"[/i] said the cyber-beast proudly puffing his chest.

[i]"Even a greatbeast?!"[/i]

[i]"EVERY great beast, I mean you saw that thing that tried to eat the mountain and she just slaughtered it!"[/i]

[i]"Oooooh...just like Oddscar!"[/i]

[i]"Who?"[/i] Riptor leaned in close as the natives bowed.

[i]"O-oh, alpha, good morning!"[/i]

[i]"No need for that, just call me Riptor."[/i]

[i]"U-um, but you are the alpha-"[/i]

[i]"In my pack we use our names, not titles. Just Riptor will do. Now who was this Oddscar?"[/i]

[i]"He was a hunter in our tribe,"[/i] said one of the natives rearing up, [i]"he killed a greatbeast and saved our tribe!"[/i]

[i]"Is this Oddscar related to...Oddclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, his father, he looks just like him!"[/i]

[i]"And where did this...Oddscar come from?"[/i]

[i]"From beyond the stars,"[/i] said the newcomer looking up to the morning sky, [i]"he came to us many cycles ago as a stranger, but then we were taken by a blinding light to our home again which is back across the sea from here."[/i]

[i]"A blinding light?"[/i] Riptor looked to Sulphide with a nod.

[i]"Then we were taken by the hairless...at least, that is what our elders told us."[/i]

[i]"Really?!"[/i] gasped Sulphide dipping his jaundiced snout. [i]"What happened to you then?!"[/i]

[i]"Oddscar freed us!"[/i] chirped the native with giddy feet. [i]"He fought the hairless that trapped us, led us out and killed the greatbeast that they had in their cave! Then he disappeared, like...like a star, says our elders."[/i]

[i]"A star?"[/i]

[i]"These hairless,"[/i] Riptor interrupted, [i]"are they the same ones that your tribe have met?"[/i]

[i]"Oh no, not at all they are a different tribe, they are very kind to us and Oddclaw is the Voice of the Tribe, he can speak to both them and us!"[/i]

[i]"They even made these stones to put round their necks,"[/i] one native angled his throat, [i]"stones that help them speak to us."[/i]

[i]"I...see...alright, thank you for answering my questions, how is the raft-making?"[/i]

[i]"Doing great!"[/i] said a blue ultraraptor. [i]"The newcomers are learning real well and have been a big help to us."[/i]

[i]"O-only because you are such a good teacher!"[/i] the native nuzzled him with a blush. [i]"Could you show me the vines again?"[/i]

[i]"Sure, let's check out another raft and see what we can do."[/i]

The small group headed off further down the shore as Riptor turned to Sulphide directly.

[i]"Two, different tribes of humans,"[/i] she snarled.

[i]"One of whom Oddclaw's father defeated,"[/i] said the yellow raptor.

[i]"How can this be? How can this beautiful world be possibly tainted by those degenerates?!"[/i]

[i]"I do not know. But isn't that rather strange, that an alien has come and integrated with a tribe, as well as freed them from slavery?"[/i]

[i]"And his son has made an alliance of peace with yet another group of humans. This family of his...his bloodline...it confounds me."[/i]

[i]"How so?"[/i] asked Sulphide as they walked to the shoreline.

[i]"A creature that is not human, yet walks like a human and wears our skin."[/i]

[i]"One that apparently converses with both."[/i]

[i]"What?"[/i] Riptor reeled back with a snap of her head. [i]"Both languages?!"[/i]

[i]"I spoke with some of the newcomers whilst you slept,"[/i] he sat himself down just shy of the sea tickling his feet, [i]"this Oddclaw can speak both the human tongue and our own."[/i]

[i]"H-how...hmph."[/i] She stood at the edge of the water. [i]"The more I ask about this creature, the more questions I find."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm, isn't that the way of the world, well, worlds, plural?"[/i]

[i]"Don't do that."[/i]

[i]"Do what?"[/i] he gazed up to her.

[i]"Be all mystical like some prophet."[/i]

[i]"I would do no such thing my godde-"[/i]

He stopped himself short upon seeing her look and swallowed his words.

[i]"The dreams I have disturb me most,"[/i] said Riptor. [i]"Every time I dream it is always the same vision."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] Sulphide asked towards the sea.

[i]"Voices call out for him...the pulling of desire, something deep and visceral I have never felt...something that hungers for blood. But in recent times...it is only this past week that I have a name for the creature that haunts my dreams."[/i]

[i]"This...Oddclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Yes. It makes no sense."[/i] She gave a deep sigh as her tail flicked with steel-bladed tip. [i]"I haven't felt this sense...this pulling sensation since we first escaped from Ultratech."[/i]

[i]"Then, what do you want to do?"[/i] Sulphide asked.

[i]"You know me well enough to answer that."[/i]

She looked at him directly as he gently tightened his claws.

[i]"You want...to go see him for yourself?"[/i]

[i]"Exactly. And I know you will want me to stay, you will want me to ignore him."[/i]

[i]"You know me too well as I know you."[/i]

[i]"And you know what I will do next."[/i] She turned herself round and made her way back to the forest. [i]"After we move everyone to Scar Island, I shall make my own journey back to Sunscreech's tribe."[/i]

[i]"A-and...you won't,"[/i] he stood up with a snarling whimper, [i]"you really won't reconsider this will you? Even if I do believe your dream to be almost...propheti-"[/i]

[i]"Stop."[/i] She barked at him. [i]"This is not a prophecy, and I am not your goddess. This is my subconscious desires searching for something, something I have sensed the past year and I must know what it is. Now I know something is wrong with this world."[/i]

[i]"I-i understand, but-"[/i]

[i]"If there are humans in this land and one of our own colluding with them, then it is my right, my duty to our kind to make certain that none shall dare imprison or abuse us again."[/i] She raked her claws across the screwbolt of her chest. [i]"That, is what my heart is telling me."[/i]

[i]"I...I understand."[/i] He sighed shaking his head. [i]"I just ask you to be careful."[/i]

[i]"You fear my death?"[/i]

[i]"Always. Without you I...I have nothing left."[/i]

[i]"Don't say that."[/i] She licked his cheek. [i]"You have our tribe, you would make a good leader."[/i]

[i]"I don't want to lead."[/i] Sulphide nuzzled her. [i]"I want to be beside you, forever."[/i]

She smiled and rubbed her head along his neck as they headed back to the cave whilst on the other side of the beach, four children paddled about in the shallows with two male raptors watching.

[i]"DADDY, DADDY LOOK!"[/i] A hatchling waddled up with a bunch of legs in its mouth. [i]"Ah found a thingy!"[/i]

[i]"That is a stonefish,"[/i] said Sunscreech, [i]"your teeth are too weak to bite through it."[/i]

[i]"But is miiiine!"[/i]

[i]"And it will hurt you if you do not put it down."[/i]

[i]"N-no it won't ah got it a-A-AIIIE!"[/i]

The crab pinched his cheek forcing the hatchling to drop it as it scuttled off back to the sea.

[i]"O-owwwwuh!"[/i]

[i]"I warned you child."[/i]

[i]"Nnnnnngh!"[/i]

[i]"Hhhhh come here let me clean you."[/i]

[i]"HEY!"[/i] Radium shouted. [i]"Stay close to the beach, both of you!"[/i]

[i]"But da watah's fuuuun!"[/i] shouted another hatchling.

[i]"You're not fish, you can't swim now come here!"[/i]

The jade-scaled raptor marched his way into the sea and grabbed both children back with firm teeth to their neck. Sunscreech sat on the beach licking his first child's wounds as he whimpered from the pinching bite, the fourth child sitting on her own on top of a rock snapping at bugs in the air.

[i]"Daddyyyy?"[/i] The hatchling bitten looked up at him. [i]"Why are sum fish stone an' some not?"[/i]

[i]"Creatures are born different,"[/i] said Sunscreech, [i]"some are stone, some are scale."[/i]

[i]"Uncah Radium's stone AN' scale!"[/i]

[i]"Yes he is, his tribe are different, but they are still hunters like you and I."[/i]

[i]"Exactly,"[/i] Radium stepped up with two hatchlings in tow, [i]"but what matters is we are all one family, who hunt together and live together."[/i]

[i]"Uncah Radium?!"[/i] a child nipped at his leg. [i]"Wh-when we gonna go huntin'?!"[/i]

[i]"When you are old enough, now come on let's move away from the water."[/i]

[i]"Awwww but ah lahk da watah!"[/i]

[i]"I know but it's dangerous so please come up here, I'll get you some food!"[/i]

[i]"Mmkaaaaay."[/i]

They shuffled themselves back onto dry sand with thick wet footprints left behind as they shook their tails clean. They crowded around Sunscreech clamouring for food as he scowled towards Radium before he lifted himself up and headed into the water to find a few crabs and crack them open with a wrench of his teeth, showing the sweet meat inside as the children eagerly ate up one each.

[i]"You're quite the fisher,"[/i] said Radium, [i]"you hunt them better than we do."[/i]

[i]"My brother taught me,"[/i] said Sunscreech sitting back, [i]"stonefish are easier to catch but he taught me the right way to break them open."[/i]

[i]"You'll have to teach me and your children sometime!"[/i] He tapped his snout against his cheek. [i]"How are you? You look better since you came out of the cave."[/i]

[i]"Do you not have your own family to pester?"[/i]

[i]"My mate's taken them hunting. I wanted to make sure you were alright."[/i]

[i]"Why?"[/i] Sunscreech snarled at him. [i]"Why do you even care?"[/i]

[i]"These children are my family too,"[/i] he shook his head, [i]"maybe not by blood but Methyl and I were close."[/i]

[i]"Apparently all of your tribe are too close,"[/i] Sunscreech muttered looking away.

[i]"Berate me all you want, I'm still helping you. No father or mother should raise their children alone."[/i]

[i]"My mother raised us alone and she did fine."[/i]

[i]"Then why are you here?"[/i]

Radium raised his brow before rearing back when Sunscreech suddenly snapped out at him.

[i]"Do NOT...speak ill, of my mother."[/i]

[i]"I would never, I'm sure she did her best but that means you of all would know how important it is to have children raised by a family."[/i]

[i]"I can handle them myself! I do not need you constantly watching over me like some filthy skyflesh!"[/i]

[i]"Alright alright!"[/i] Radium backed off with a roll of his eyes. [i]"Calm down, please."[/i]

[i]"Hmph."[/i] He laid onto his side with a slump. [i]"I just...I just want to sleep, and never wake up."[/i]

[i]"Don't say that. Don't be like her, please."[/i]

[i]"Are you ordering me?"[/i]

[i]"No, I'm pleading. I want your children to grow up, I want them to be proud of you as the father who loves them. Is that not the best thing in the world?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmhhh...I...I wish,"[/i] he gazed towards Radium leaning over him, [i]"I just wish mother told me more about this, at least prepare me for having children."[/i]

[i]"What did she tell you instead?"[/i] the green raptor asked.

[i]"All she ever did was lament about her mate, the one who was NOT my father, but my degenerate brother's. All because HIS father was the one to free us from the hairless...my father could have freed us."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm. Well, be a better father than either of them."[/i]

[i]"But HOW?!"[/i] He cried pushing himself up. [i]"I...I thought all I had to do was hunt and keep them safe, I-i cannot think of how to teach them, raise them-"[/i]

[i]"I'm sure you do."[/i] Radium nuzzled him softly. [i]"You're smart, you know how to do things, you managed to get all the way out here on your own, who says you can't teach a few kids to be good raptors?"[/i]

[i]"I...hhhhh...IF,"[/i] he stood back up onto his feet, [i]"if I require anything, NOT help, but someone to hear my ideas-"[/i]

[i]"I'll be here for you,"[/i] Radium nodded, [i]"for anything you want."[/i]

Beyond the broken mountains was the deep passage from whence Sunscreech had first came, the long underground tube that led to a craterous island separate where more prey inhabitated. The raptors had time to gather and collect, the tunnel well-worn with clawprints from the many who had travelled back and forth as well as the odd pit stop where they relieved themselves in small pits off to the side. There once had been a crevice from the ancient days of magma that since then the ultraraptors had widened and picked away at for ease of access, as easy as a two-day journey underground would take which was something that Sulphide admittedly had never done before coming to this world. Sometimes other raptors would pass him, bowing in respect with their food baskets filled and closed with basic lids to prevent the contents spilling out.

The only problem they had was having no water between the two islands to drink from, unable to carry such containers on top of their baskets, along with the times they were forced to sleep within total darkness as they filled up their supplies and harvested as much meat as they could. The crater island was a miniature paradise but it was still a chore to reach and harvest from before returning back the way, overall requiring a week of foraging before they had enough for everyone in their journey to Scar Island. The raptors headed out all at once in a flotilla, tying the rafts together to make sure they wouldn't separate over the sea as the enslaved icthyosaurs pulled them all at once, tethering ropes slightly parting the rafts so that each of them had their own weight. Three raptors fell overboard over the course of the journey, one of whom drowned but the other two managed to climb back on board with Sunscreech's branch to rein them back in. With only one stop along the way at the barren isle between, they reached Scar Island where the raptor Tesla had been busy establishing a future colony in preparation for their arrival. Once everyone had settled in and found their new nests, Riptor took a raft with three other raptors and headed east towards the mainland, keeping contact with Sulphide through her internal communicator over the course of her journey.

[i]"We have arrived,"[/i] she said as they landed upon a beach. [i]"The air smells different here somehow."[/i]

[i]"There's a volcanic region further north,"[/i] said one of her guards, [i]"we had to divert southwards to not encounter it."[/i]

[i]"Of course. Sulphide you read me?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, yes I'm here!"[/i] his voice chirped in his ear. [i]"Are you alright did you make it?!"[/i]

[i]"Calm down, I'm not your child."[/i]

[i]"Yes, sorry, sorry...how is it?"[/i]

[i]"We're some ways past the black mountain, near the red one instead that's south of us."[/i]

[i]"Alright, you're on the other side of the mountain away from the swamp where we met the crocodilians."[/i]

[i]"I see,"[/i] Riptor gazed across the new environs of a lush savannah plain, [i]"so this northern region you have not been to?"[/i]

[i]"I would say not,"[/i] said Sulphide, [i]"we only went east from the black mountain. What are you planning?"[/i]

[i]"I'm ghosting this,"[/i] she scanned the land with a steady breath, [i]"I'm here strictly to observe and only eat what I must."[/i]

[i]"Please keep me updated, I will handle the situation here."[/i]

[i]"Don't tell anyone where I went,"[/i] she warned looking off to the side, [i]"just say I am on a scouting expedition, I don't want the newcomers thinking we are interlopers."[/i]

[i]"Understood Riptor. Be safe, I will wish for you return."[/i]

The comms clicked off as she turned towards her guards at the raft.

[i]"Remain here and hunt only what is necessary, this is a scouting mission, we are not here to conquer this territory."[/i]

[i]"Yes Riptor,"[/i] the red raptors bowed, [i]"anything else you'd have us do?"[/i]

[i]"Keep the raft out of sight, there are some caves to the north below the volcanic ridge that might be safe, but use your judgment as you see fit. I will return in a month, until then remain hidden."[/i]

[i]"Yes Riptor."[/i]

She turned towards the Birthlands and made her way forth, using the Skylands as her compass with a sensory track of the land as her eyes parsed the shape of the continent, mountain silhouettes on the horizon that she headed southwards to whilst strafing through the veldt and swiftly keeping out of sight in the long grass away from the new creatures that she saw. Duck-billed hadrosaurs chewed on watery foliage, thick-headed styracosaurs bashed heads in the mating season desperate to prove dominance with crunching skulls, whilst herds of parasaurolophus bellowed out with the sounds funnelling through their long heads like a mighty horn across the lands.

Herbivores dotted the place from the plate-headed protoceratops to the armoured ankylosaurus, roaming the length and breadth of the enormous savannah which took two days alone for Riptor cross at her fullest speed and occasional hunt for food at the absolute minimum. Those she killed she swiftly took, devoured then buried the remains as far into the earth as she could to erase her presence.

Her first problem came at the lake of the Longnecks, the vast natural reservoir too wide to travel on foot with seawalls on either side resisting the crashing waves. Riptor decided to move towards the inner sea of the continent seeing a lone island in the centre of it, hunting for a slow-moving fish to drag to the shore and beach in waiting for a larger icthyosaur to come chomp on its bait before she lunged upon it.

[i]"A-AAAAGH, NO, N-NO GET OFF!"[/i]

[i]"QUIET, I'm not here to eat you!"[/i]

[i]"Wh-...what?!"[/i]

[i]"I need passage to the land south of us, take me there."[/i]

[i]"Wh-...are you SERIOUS, wh-why would I do that?!"[/i]

[i]"Because I'll kill you if you don't."[/i]

[i]"A-and what, wh-what would stop you from killing me if we get there?!"[/i]

[i]"I never kill unless I am threatened, or I'm hungry. You are not a threat, but if you don't take me there fast enough I get rather peckish...how fast are you then?"[/i]

[i]"U-u-uh...u-um-"[/i]

[i]"Alright, I'll just kill you now and use your body as bait for another faster fish-"[/i]

[i]"W-WAIT WAIT!"[/i] The greatfish flapped its tail in the waves. [i]"I-i will take you, but...promise you will not eat or kill me."[/i]

[i]"I promise. IF you get me there in a day."[/i]

[i]"Yes, definitely!"[/i]

[i]"And if you try to drown me, my teeth AND my tail will plunge through your body and you die with me."[/i]

[i]"A-alright, alright, p-please do not hurt me!"[/i]

Shifting her body to ride on his back with jaws firmly clenched above his eye, Riptor rode across the sea with eyes burning through the waters as the icthyosaur sped through the sea. The island passed them by as on her third day of venturing she soon landed on the southern shore, keeping her word to let the icthyosaur roam free as she crept up to the Hunters' Nest. Dusk was coming with a brief chill to her back, the sky darkening to a burning hue as she tapped her comms just below her earhole.

[i]"Sulphide, are you there?"[/i]

[i]"Yes!"[/i] he cried out. [i]"Are you alright?!"[/i]

[i]"Yeeees, just had a little trouble crossing a large lake full of long-necked beasts at the base of the red mountain."[/i]

[i]"Seriously?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes, lucky there's an inner sea that let me cross with the help of a slavefish."[/i]

[i]"Huh...this land is more complex than I first thought...have you found Oddclaw yet?"[/i]

[i]"Just reached his home,"[/i] she snuck down against a large rock on beach, [i]"I'm letting you know I'll be silent for some time whilst I observe him."[/i]

[i]"Alright then,"[/i] Sulphide sighed with relief, [i]"things are doing well here, the natives are adjusting to the new island and all the children are safe. I am also making bereavements for the three we lost."[/i]

[i]"Good. See, I told you you make a good leader."[/i]

[i]"D-don't say that you'll jinx it!"[/i] whimpered her comms.

[i]"Hahahaha,"[/i] she smirked wide enough that he felt it in her voice, [i]"alright, ghosting time I'll talk to you soon."[/i]

[i]"Be safe goddess!"[/i]

He clicked off before she could rebuke him, tutting with a roll of her eyes before heading up towards the great forest of the southern coast. Riptor took a path slowly round the edge of the shore and into the long grass someways west of the Hunters' Nest, sniffing out the trails of native raptors and carefully skirting past to avoid crossing their paths. Soon she found a closer spot upon the cliffs to the very south where few raptors had tread, camping out a small place for herself where she had a reasonable view of the nesting grounds as she sat down in waiting, focusing with a zoom feature in her lens to find her target. She found him within seconds thanks to the other unusual creature in the midst of the feral tribe, a fire-tailed dragon with splendid wings folded against its back.

[i]"Hey-ey don't do that, you'll burn yourself!"[/i]

[i]"HWAH!"[/i] A smaller raptor leapt over his tail twice. [i]"RrrrrrRAH!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang enough!"[/i] an old grey raptor yanked her by the neck. [i]"Fire is dangerous, it is not to play with!"[/i]

[i]"But motherrrr, he's our friend!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah but my tail's still dangerous,"[/i] said the charizard petting her head, [i]"come on I can do something else for ya instead."[/i]

[i]"CAN YOU CARRY ME!?"[/i] she cried. [i]"Like you carried father, up in the sky?!"[/i]

[i]"Uhhhhh...I-i dunno you should ask your pare-"[/i]

[i]"No,"[/i] Moonclaw shook her head, [i]"absolutely not, it is night, it is cold and you have to sleep."[/i]

[i]"AWWWWW!"[/i] the daughter stomped hard. [i]"You never let me do anything I want!"[/i]

[i]"Because all the things you want to do are foolish or reckless!"[/i]

[i]"Look,"[/i] Red put his hands up, [i]"I don't wanna cause a fight, so how about this. Tomorrow morning we can do a LITTLE flying, when it's nice and bright and warm, alright?"[/i]

[i]"YEAH, yeah we can, thank you Firewing!"[/i]

[i]"Preeetty sure that's not my name but hey why not?!"[/i]

[i]"Ah, there he is."[/i]

The mother looked over to the lakeside where came Oddclaw himself, slaking water off his tail with droplets spittling down his arms and extremities as he shook himself dry briefly with Red backing off quickly.

[i]"Ey-ey watch the splashback!"[/i]

[i]"Oh, sorry."[/i] Oddclaw muttered as he smooched his wife. [i]"I feel much better now."[/i]

[i]"I should hope so,"[/i] she replied licking his face, [i]"you looked terrible when you came back, have you been sleeping well since then?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, even though that...dream I still do not feel was a dream."[/i]

[i]"It happens,"[/i] Red shrugged, [i]"don't worry too much about it."[/i]

[i]"It was an entire CYCLE and a half of my life!"[/i]

[i]"Well it wasn't YOUR life come on, you'll be fine if you stop obsessing about it, it won't do you any good."[/i]

[i]"I have to agree with your friend,"[/i] said Moonclaw, [i]"dreams can be terrible but they are just that, only dreams."[/i]

[i]"I...I do not feel it was just a dream."[/i]

Oddclaw chewed his lip and sat himself in their nest besides Oddtooth and Seaclaw who were yawning themselves to sleep, too tired to follow their words but sensing their father's presence as they cuddled up closer to him.

[i]"You are leaving tomorrow yes?"[/i] Moonclaw asked the charizard.

[i]"Yeah we'll have to,"[/i] Red stretched his wings carefully, [i]"Angela's back at the base keeping tabs on the thieves, I just wanted to make sure Oddie was okay."[/i]

[i]"Thank you,"[/i] she bowed with a purr before slipping into the nest, [i]"you are welcome to stay, a hunter of thieves is always welcome with us."[/i]

[i]"Awww that's cool of you guys thanks."[/i] He sat himself down beside them. [i]"Well uh mind if I sleep here? It's nice and dry here and I'll keep my fire outta reach."[/i]

[i]"That is fine,"[/i] said Oddclaw hugging him by the neck, [i]"goodnight Red. Thank you again for the help."[/i]

[i]"No prob,"[/i] the charizard folded his wings round him in embrace, [i]"wish we didn't have to say goodbye so soon."[/i]

[i]"I know. But we are still friends, no matter how far we travel from each other."[/i]

[i]"Yeah? ...yeah. Yanno what, yeah, I'm glad we got to meet."[/i]

[i]"I am happy we met too. My friend."[/i]

The charizard smiled and curled himself up to sleep, whilst the raptor husband and wife nuzzled up against each other. Skyfang soon joined them despite her eyes being drawn to the alluring flame of Red's tail, but her mother snarled at her with a warning tone as she quickly shoved herself up against her family.

[i]"This nest is getting smaller every day,"[/i] said Moonclaw.

[i]"Yes,"[/i] murmured Odd licking her face, [i]"but that only makes it warmer if we are all closer together."[/i]

[i]"Awwww...such a sweet male you are."[/i] She nuzzled his chest with a gentle croon. [i]"I am surprised you did not want more."[/i]

[i]"Well neither did you."[/i]

[i]"No, but...I would have thought you would say something."[/i]

[i]"I only wanted a family."[/i] He wrapped his arm round her neck with gentle scritches. [i]"Whether we had three children or six or even just one, I would still be happy."[/i]

[i]"Are you sure?"[/i] She rolled halfway to stare up at him. [i]"I would not want you to just be satisfied rather than happy."[/i]

[i]"I know. But you and I have made the perfect family."[/i]

[i]"Perfect?"[/i] Moonclaw rumbled with a giggle from her sagging neck. [i]"Do you really think I was the best mate you could have found?"[/i]

[i]"Well, you stayed with me yes?"[/i] Oddclaw smiled down at her whilst cradling her head. [i]"You could have found someone better."[/i]

[i]"That is true...hmmm...seems you are right, this is perfect."[/i]

He kissed her lips as she flicked her tongue out to taste his. Oddclaw sighed and laid back with peace returning to his mind in the warmth of his family that huddled around him. Red slumbered peacefully with his tail flicking its flame softly amongst the raptors who fell asleep around him, the Hunters' Nest drifting with the exception of guards on night duty at the forests and the plains. None of them discovered Riptor for all the weeks that she watched them, keeping her eyes firmly pinned upon Oddclaw and all his friends that came to visit the next day. From the beach somewhere north there came a dominating lizard in steel armour accompanied by a small group of detestable humans that made the bile reach in the back of her throat. Two males and two females.

[i]"They're here,"[/i] said Riptor to her comms, [i]"Sulphide do you read me?"[/i]

No response. She kept her eyes pinned towards the humans as Oddclaw swiftly embraced a male with facial hair, whilst Red gave a fistbump to the female in black with purple hair. The child that resembled his father went straight to the lizardman who bent down to hug him, letting him climb onto his shoulders before he sat himself down in the dirt.

"How was your sleep big guy?" Angela asked.

[i]"Mmm."[/i] Red shrugged motioning to the humans.

"Heheh right, took you a bit to get used to the smell?"

"Ohhh you get used to it," said Jeremy smooching Oddie, "glad to see yer back safe dab."

[i]"Yes,"[/i] the raptor sighed with his head against his shoulder, [i]"I have so much to tell you, I had this dream but it felt too much like-"[/i]

"Ey-ey now don't rush it Odd, you can tell me all about it when we're all sorted but FIRST!"

He stomped his way towards the feral daughter gleefully twitching her tail up at him as he cracked his knuckles.

"YOU and I have a score to settle mah wee pet!"

[i]"YEAH, yeah!"[/i] she cried hopping out the nest. [i]"You ready to playfight hairnose?!"[/i]

"Cummon then!"

[i]"YAH-HAAAAH!"[/i]

She leapt upon him as he grabbed her neck and wrestled her to the ground much to Jane and Thomas' embarrassed looks whilst the two other children watched the fight, cheering on their sister with little bounces as Seaclaw leaned forwards over Jarogniew's head.

"So everything is in order," said Thomas sitting down beside Odd, "officer Middleton just wanted to give her personal thanks before she left."

"Just cuz yanno," she shrugged leaning against Red who folded his wings, "didn't get much of a chance to say it when we were coming back here."

[i]"Thank you,"[/i] the raptor nodded, [i]"I am glad that I could help you."[/i]

"Oh trust me, you helped us MORE than enough." She winked at him before Moonclaw sniffed at her clothes. "Can I help you ma'am?"

[i]"You smell different from the other hairless,"[/i] she said with slitting eyes.

"Well I am from a different world."

[i]"Hmmm...well, I am glad my mate could help you."[/i]

"And I'm very sorry about pulling him away from your family time. You have a wonderful family."

[i]"Hm...thank you,"[/i] she nodded sitting back beside her mate, [i]"at least you apologised, I will accept that."[/i]

[i]"Moonclaw please,"[/i] murmured Odd.

[i]"Well I am not blaming you for what you must do."[/i]

"Aaaanyways," Jane slipped in between them and Angela, "we'd love to have you come up again with your family, make it a proper visit without any business duties."

[i]"My children certainly enjoyed it."[/i] Moonclaw bowed her head. [i]"Even if your means are unusual."[/i]

"Well if there's anything you'd like us to change for your next visit-"

[i]"OOH, m-maybe more chocolate!?"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw from above.

"That's up to your father sweetie, he makes the best chocolate."

[i]"F-father can you make chocolate when we go back to their mountain?!"[/i]

[i]"If you are a good son then yes,"[/i] Oddclaw nodded, [i]"but not too much, it is a special food to eat-"[/i]

"NnnnnRRRARGH!"

Holt suddenly landed beside him in a cloud of dust before the feral daughter leapt upon him. The soldier quickly rolled to the side and made a tackling leap to wrap her head with his arm and push her down face-first into the ground.

"Aaahahahaaaa ah gotcha now ya wee bugger!"

[i]"AAAIIGH, N-NO YA DON'T!"[/i]

"Sergeant Holt!" Thomas stomped his foot. "Could you not do this whilst we're on our visit?!"

"Ahm just, NNNGH!" Holt pulled Skyfang into a headlock. "Just playin' bah their rules cummon mate!"

[i]"A-AAAGH!"[/i] the raptor kicked and scrabbled her feet. [i]"N-NNAAAGH!"[/i]

"Hahahaaaa cummon wee pet, you can do better than tha-WOAH!"

She suddenly threw her body against him, rolling on top of the human and biting his neck with a firm but harmless clench as he put up his hands in defeat.

"AUUUGH ALRIGH' ALRIGH', YOU WIN, YOU WIN!"

[i]"YEAAAAAH!"[/i] She let go of him and slurped his face. [i]"That was fun! You playfight pretty good for a warmblood!"[/i]

"Ahll take that as a compliment, hmhaha."

"So uh yeah," Angela shrugged, "we got all we need and that tech Osborne stole is back at the base ready to come back with us."

"We gave it a little look," said Addison with hands in pockets, "shame we have to return it since it looks pretty solid stuff!"

[i]"That reminds me,"[/i] Moonclaw stood up with a stretch of her legs, [i]"how is the moon cave faring?"[/i]

"Oh doing marvellous, Andrea's got the reploids all set up there and she's talking about a gravity well that might help us get back home."

[i]"A...what?"[/i]

"James thought of it," said Chanoch proudly with Seaclaw on his shoulders, "it absorbs starlight that interferes with the portal."

[i]"The...starlight stops the cold fire?"[/i] Moonclaw scratched her chin looking up to the sky. [i]"I would never have thought that light could stop fire."[/i]

"Starlight is different, it has a power by itself up in the stars."

[i]"Yah!"[/i] Seaclaw drummed Chanoch's skullcap like a bongo. [i]"It makes us all warm when the sun's out, a-an' it makes the moon reaaaally shiny!"[/i]

"Hmhmhmhm, yes Seaclaw, it does."

[i]"Tho, are you leaving thoon?"[/i] asked Oddtooth leaning back.

"We don't know yet," said Thomas sitting beside him, "we're trying not to get too excited since we all miss our home."

[i]"Do you have family back home too?"[/i]

"Well...not many of us actually."

[i]"Why not?"[/i]

"Because a lot of us were chosen on this mission to not have any contacts back home. Most of us, but not all, don't really have anyone to go back to, or we're willing to isolate ourselves enough that homesickness won't be an issue."

[i]"That...that thoundth really thad."[/i] Oddtooth bumped his snout against him. [i]"Do you not mithh anyone?"[/i]

"That's not really related," he stood up and stretched his back, "anyways things are doing well, sorry about dragging your father away for a few days."

[i]"Oh it is fine,"[/i] said Oddclaw waving his hand, [i]"hopefully the next starbeasts will not be a problem for you."[/i]

"Hopefully not," said Jeremy, lying on his back, "even if we love havin' you up with us."

[i]"I-i wanna go back to yer shiny mountain!"[/i] Seaclaw bounced on Chanoch's shoulders. [i]"OH, um, St-stonetree, couldya teach me how to make things lahk the hairless have?"[/i]

"What things?" he asked looking up.

[i]"Um, the uh, things they put on themselves."[/i]

"Ahhh, clothes."

[i]"What?!"[/i] Moonclaw barked up at him with a snort. [i]"Why do you want those on your body?!"[/i]

[i]"Cuz they feel nice!"[/i] the boy cried leaning over. [i]"I wanna make mah own!"[/i]

"We could just give you some," suggested Jane nervously looking at his mother.

[i]"N-noooo I wanna make mah own, cuz, if it gets torn I can just make a new one!"[/i]

"...he has a point," Chanoch shrugged.

[i]"Hmmm,"[/i] Moonclaw tightened her lip as she sniffed Jane's coat, [i]"I do not know, I would not want these getting in the way of your hunting."[/i]

[i]"N-nuh they won't!"[/i] Seaclaw shook his head. [i]"Will they father?!"[/i]

[i]"Hmmmm,"[/i] Oddclaw nodded, [i]"I think we should let you try, and see how it goes. BUT, if those things get in the way of your hunting, you will have to lose them, alright Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"OKAY!"[/i]

The boy bounced giddy enough to vibrate Chanoch's neck before he clambered down and into his father's lap, looking expectantly up at him with a giggle of his sharp teeth.

[i]"Yeeeees my son?"[/i]

[i]"C-can I have a...storyyyy please?"[/i]

[i]"OOOH YEAH!"[/i] Skyfang joined in hopping beside him. [i]"I wanna story too, yer stories are fun!"[/i]

[i]"Alright, alriiiight."[/i] Oddclaw raised his hands in defeat as he stood up. [i]"But let me say goodbye to our friends first."[/i]

"Yeah actually before we go," Angela raised a finger when Red prodded her side, "can we have a little word with you Odd, in private?"

[i]"Of course."[/i]

Heading through the trees to cut towards the Dry Mountain, Riptor went after him by skirting along the cliffs and hopping between the rocks that stretched south of the entire nest. Red took his time moving through the undergrowth, carefully navigating his tail between the damp bark and logs before they were far enough away for him to speak comfortably.

[i]"Sorry,"[/i] he started, [i]"just yanno, humans."[/i]

[i]"It is fine,"[/i] the raptor said, [i]"I will miss you Red. You are a good hunter and a better friend."[/i]

[i]"Pfft hahah, awww jeez,"[/i] the charizard blushed rubbing his neck, [i]"y-you got a way with words yanno that?"[/i]

"Definitely got a smooth tongue," Angela winked crossing her arms, "shall I pen you a date at the usual place?"

[i]"Sh-shut up, you tryna say somethin'?!"[/i]

"I just hope you don't keep Claude waiting, Arceus knows you'll have a lotta stuff to tell him."

[i]"Right...yeah."[/i]

The dragon-beast offered his hand at first, but Oddclaw spread his arms and brought him close for a hug as Red shivereed from the heat of his scaled body. The raptor's claws gently scritched beneath his wings causing them to twitch as Red whimpered with a sweet nuzzling against his neck.

[i]"Mmmmhhh...just like he hugged me."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm, what?"[/i]

[i]"N-nuh, nothing!"[/i] Red coughed and broke off. [i]"Thanks again for...being you, Oddie."[/i]

[i]"Thank you for being my friend, Red. You too Angela."[/i]

She offered a hug first as he quickly did the same, nuzzling her cheek and catching the scent of something strange before she pulled back with a smile.

"Don't ever change...okay Odd?"

[i]"Wh-what?"[/i]

"Just saying. The way you are, you're perfect."

[i]"Um...th-thank you."[/i]

"Welp!" she stretched her arms and made her way back. "Time to hit the ol' victory road back eh big guy?!"

[i]"Guess so Ange."[/i] Red followed her with Oddie leading up behind. [i]"Hope that's enough adventures fer us this time."[/i]

"I thought you loved adventures!"

[i]"Yeah well I'm gettin' old an' I just wanna be with Claude an' no-one else."[/i]

"Want me to get you something special to grab him?"

[i]"Naaah I got a perfect idea, I found this nice gem when we were hunting so, yanno, hope he likes."[/i]

"I think he'll love it. I know he will."

Watching the strangers leave, Riptor's head shook with astonishment at such peaceful camaraderie between the raptors and humans who came and went over the course of the month. The female spoke to Moonclaw about various mundane things, the male with facial hair sometimes went off into the woods with Oddclaw as they consorted privately, whilst the other male that she had identified as their leader, played with the children and kept them entertained with questions they asked about his home. Always they would come in a flying ship shaped like a silver egg, though sometimes they came in a much larger ship of sleek amethyst design that stretched its smooth wings beneath the sun, both of which she recorded with her visual unit within her retinas. One important day of note was when the anthro child sat with the armoured beast and his father, amongst a mixed gathering of stones, vines and leaves.

"Now, put this end through the circle."

[i]"Mmmmmhmm!"[/i]

"And now pull...these two bits."

[i]"Ahhh...yah!"[/i]

"Good!" Chanoch clapped lightly. "Now you have a necklace."

[i]"Wooow!"[/i] Seaclaw grinned at his new piece. [i]"F-father, look whut I made!"[/i]

[i]"That is wonderful!"[/i] Oddclaw smiled bending wood into a bowl-shape. [i]"Put it on let us see how you look!"[/i]

The boy slipped on his new necklace as the smooth flat stones gently clacked against his sternum. He looked down at his body with a kilt made of leaves covering his crotch, and a vine wrapping diagonally round his torso with a giddy bounce in his clawed feet.

[i]"Heehee, watcha think?!"[/i]

"You look very handsome," said Chanoch smiling, "like a brave young explorer."

[i]"YEAH!"[/i] he pumped his fists above his head. [i]"L-like my father!"[/i]

"Hmhmhahaha, yes just like your father!"

[i]"And now one last thing."[/i]

Oddclaw brought up a satchel made from wood with fur wrapped around it, resembling a coconut almost as he tied it to Seaclaw's kilt.

[i]"Now you have your own to carry things in!"[/i]

[i]"WOWWW, th-thanks father!"[/i] the boy hugged him tight. [i]"I can be just like you now!"[/i]

[i]"HAH, hahaha, oh now I would not want you to be like me, you should just be yourself!"[/i]

"He is right," the lizardman patted his back, "your father is a great hunter, but you can be even greater as yourself."

[i]"Really?"[/i] The boy gasped with crimson pupils wide.

[i]"Definitely,"[/i] said Oddclaw, [i]"now, is that all you need?"[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm!"[/i]

[i]"Now remember, if these get in the way of your hunting, we take them off."[/i]

[i]"Okay father, I'm gonna go playfight with Stonevoice now!"[/i]

[i]"Alright son, have a good day!"[/i]

The child raced off into the forest as Riptor followed along the southern cliffs, the boy leaping through trees and swinging between branches, clumsy but eager with his whole body thrusting forwards as he hopped over logs and scrabbled over rocks in a half-feral stance before pouncing to a fast roll through the dirt. Much to the ultraraptor's shock, his target was an even stranger beast who stood waiting in a clearing of the forest whilst she snuck up a large tree and watched from above.

[i]"H-HIIII STONEVOICE!"[/i]

[i]"Hello Seaclaw,"[/i] said a robot shaped like a praying mantis, [i]"how are you today?"[/i]

[i]"GREAT! Look whut I got on me!"[/i] The boy spun himself round showing all his finery. [i]"I made it myself, father made this thing though to carry stuff, whut ya think?!"[/i]

[i]"Very good,"[/i] said Stonevoice nodding, [i]"let us see if your vine can hold your sharpstone."[/i]

[i]"But it's...longbark, right?"[/i]

[i]"One day you shall have a sharpstone,"[/i] the slicer said pulling out a wooden sword from a tree trunk, [i]"but until then, you learn with this."[/i]

[i]"Okayyyy."[/i]

The boy took it in his hands as they started to train, the mantis-bot slicing with careful motions of his katana that Seaclaw mimicked as best he could. Riptor gently twitched a muscle in her eye to start recording their session as the boy carved through the air with his wooden blade, stronger and sharper than before in his movements as he followed Stonevoice's instructions.

[i]"Strengthen your foot. Push forwards at the top of your strike."[/i]

[i]"L-like THIS, HWAH!"[/i]

[i]"Yes, excellent. Now turn, move your sharpstone low and strike up like this!"[/i]

[i]"HYYYAH!"[/i]

[i]"Good! Now, again but faster."[/i]

[i]"S-stonevoice?"[/i] Seaclaw made the same turning motion with a low-cut sweep. [i]"How did you learn to do this?"[/i]

[i]"I taught myself, when I first started my new life. I had this sharpstone with me, so I decided to make it my means to protect, and defend others."[/i]

[i]"S-so, when I get a sharpstone too I can protect my family?"[/i]

[i]"Exactly. Now, watch me."[/i]

Stonevoice put his sword in a blocking stance as a leaf gently spiralled down towards him, softly flittering upon a breeze as the forest held its breath. The moment it touched his blade the mantis suddenly pulled his sword-wielding left hand back against his right shoulder and crouched slightly before making a perfect diagonal cut with the speed of a bullet. The child gasped at the silver trial it left behind that severed the leaf in two, sending both pieces fluttering to the floor.

[i]"W-WAAAH! Th-that wuz, WOW!"[/i]

[i]"Now you try."[/i] Stonevoice brought up a piece of flat bark. [i]"I will throw this at your sharpstone, when you feel it hit, do what I did."[/i]

[i]"O-okay!"[/i]

The boy tried his best, fumbling the first seven times with slapstick cuts and floppy sweeps that barely hit the bark or simply knocked the pieces down away from him. But he was patient, the slicer continued to throw wooden slats at him until he managed to block one and fast-counter with a furious slash that sent the piece flying off into the air and almost hit Riptor in the face hidden within the leaves.

[i]"Y-YEAH, YEAAAH I DID IT, DIDYA SEE IT STONEVOICE?!"[/i]

[i]"I did!"[/i] The mantis nodded. [i]"Incredible, you are learning faster than I expected Seaclaw!"[/i]

[i]"Th-thank youuu,"[/i] he bowed towards him with a huge grin, [i]"w-wanna playfight now?!"[/i]

[i]"If you are not tired then yes,"[/i] said Stonevoice putting away his blade, [i]"the more time we spend learning, the stronger you shall become."[/i]

[i]"A-an' then I get a sharpstone like yers?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes. But remember this,"[/i] he brought out a second wooden blade, [i]"you must respect it, do not use it selfishly, nor use it for playing. It has the power to kill. Even though you are now holding bark, imagine it is a sharpstone itself and with it you could kill me at any time."[/i]

[i]"Um...r-right."[/i]

[i]"Just as your father taught you to playfight and restrain yourself with your family, you must also learn restraint with the sharpstone."[/i]

[i]"Right, okay!"[/i]

[i]"Now, fight me Seaclaw."[/i]

The boy came for him with a steady swipe, cutting once to test his opponent as Stonevoice backed off and countered with a vertical slash upwards to send him back staggering with a clack of wood. Riptor watched their entire match, fascinated by the boy's progress as with each strike he made he became more confident, his muscles taut beneath the green-dappled shade as he blocked against his teacher's strikes, fumbling a few times and getting whacked in the head but always stiffening his lip and coming back with a thrusting jab or a sweep to the leg. Then came the day that Oddclaw went to hunt with his children on the plans with Riptor shadowing them, the two feral youths rushing out into the long grass whilst the anthro sat on his father's shoulders.

[i]"Skyfang, Oddtooth do not run off, stay close to me!"[/i]

[i]"Yah don' run off!"[/i] shouted Seaclaw.

[i]"Hmhmhmhm, alright Seaclaw time to get down and join them."[/i]

[i]"Awww b-but, I can see EVERYTHING up here!"[/i]

[i]"I know but we have to hide from our prey, so come on, down you get."[/i]

The boy clambered off with a leap into the grass as Moonclaw joined alongside his father. The two nodded and started sneaking into the growth, murmuring to each other with subdermal growls and their heads lowered beneath the rushes.

[i]"They are getting better,"[/i] said the female.

[i]"Not as loud as they were before,"[/i] said the male, [i]"Seaclaw is getting too comfortable on the heads of beasts."[/i]

[i]"He just wants to feel as tall as we are."[/i]

[i]"Could sit on your head for once."[/i]

[i]"Ohhh?"[/i] Moonclaw she lifted herself fully to 7 feet. [i]"You think he can stand this tall?"[/i]

[i]"He might,"[/i] Oddclaw shrugged, [i]"he certainly loves to climb as much as his sister does."[/i]

[i]"Did they get that from you? Because that is certainly not me."[/i]

[i]"W-well, I do not ENJOY climbing but I do it often because...well,"[/i] he gestured to himself as she chuckled.

[i]"Then I am blaming you."[/i]

[i]"What, that is not fair!"[/i]

[i]"Maybe you should stop climbing around like a warmblood all day hmmmm?!"[/i]

[i]"OH, you whine all you want, but you love my claws when your back is all sore!"[/i]

[i]"Well then keep your claws on me and not on the trees!"[/i]

They burst into cackling before suddenly remembering themselves and snuck low into the grass, chasing on towards where their children were busy finding the scent of their next prey. A young parasaurolophus who got too adventurous and had struck out on her own, much to the bemusement of the three junior predators circled her unbeknownst as their parents watched with a growing pride, whilst Riptor watched from even further afield with a curious smirk.

[i]"I dunno what they're talking about,"[/i] ranted their prey, [i]"I could have my own herd, dad's just a stupid old fart I can BE my own alpha! I'll show him, I'm gonna come back with a mate, and have him slap his cock RIGHT across his face, YEAH! Yeah that'll teach him for saying 'ohhhh you're too young to be an alpha, you should just settle with that nice male Leafeyes, pfft! More like Leafcock, if I'm gonna be mated I'd rather FEEL it in me for once-"[/i]

[i]"YAAAAAH!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAIIIIIGH!"[/i]

All three of the raptor children leapt out in full tri-pincer attack, Oddtooth coming from the front with Seaclaw and Skyfang from the sides in a hard crush. The parasaur shrieked and managed to kick Oddtooth away, but Skyfang sent her down hard to the side with a full charge as Seaclaw leapt on his prey's neck and frantically stabbed into her throat with a sharp stone in his hand. He wasn't able to hit deep enough, shredding some of the skin but not the muscle as the parasaurolophus threw him off with a hard toss of her body before Oddtooth came down after with a crunching bite. Her cries were silenced as her legs kicked feebly with blood dripping down his long buck-teeth.

[i]"WONDERFUL!"[/i] cried Moonclaw. [i]"Wonderful, I am SO PROUD of you children!"[/i]

[i]"D-did I do good?!"[/i] Skyfang shouted jumping on top of the body. [i]"I-i pushed her down, didya see it?!"[/i]

[i]"Yeeees we saw everything,"[/i] said her father hugging them all individually, [i]"you are the best children I could ever ask for, all of you did perfect!"[/i]

[i]"I-i couldn't,"[/i] Seaclaw whimpered with a nervous look.

[i]"You were great!"[/i] Oddtooth licked his face. [i]"You kept her down until I wath ready to kill!"[/i]

[i]"I-i, but, I coulda killed her but my claws, w-were too, little I couldn't-"[/i]

[i]"We hunt together children,"[/i] said the mother nuzzling him, [i]"it is not about YOU hunting, but US as a family, and you are always helping us."[/i]

[i]"Um...o-okay."[/i]

He smiled with little teeth as they sat down together to eat their fresh feast, the ferals ripping into the stomach whilst the anthros dove in with hands to pull the sweetest succulent meats. Riptor kept watching with a soft lick of her lips, fighting the urge of hunger from the smell of their kill as she crept back down behind her rock.

[i]"Sulphide, do you read me?"[/i]

[i]"Yes!?"[/i] he cried from the comms. [i]"How is everything?!"[/i]

[i]"Good. I just watched Oddclaw hunting with his family."[/i]

[i]"Ohhhh? How did it go?"[/i]

[i]"His children are exceptional. Watch my recording."[/i]

She transmitted a recording from within her retina. Sulphide received it in a matter of minutes as he in turn watched the hunt begin and the three children work together to kill their prey.

[i]"Wow...that's incredible! Even the little runt is pulling his weight! Are you coming home soon?"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] she said looking back to the family, [i]"I have everything I need to know about him."[/i]

[i]"And what's the verdict?"[/i]

[i]"Oddclaw is far more a raptor than anything else, despite his unusual body and his...associates, he is most certainly one of us by his actions alone and his family."[/i]

[i]"So what do we tell Sunscreech?"[/i] her subordinate asked.

[i]"Nothing,"[/i] she shook her head. [i]"He's not part of this family anymore, remember?"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhah, of course, that checks out."[/i]

[i]"I will need the raft to pick me up at the southern shore near the black mountain, much too troublesome to traverse back north."[/i]

[i]"Of course Riptor. Hope to see you soon!"[/i]

She returned as promised at the end of the month through the western region, skirting around the swamp and taking note of the village where a strange mixture of naturally-conscious technology and traditional native huts meshed together in harmony amongst pig-goblins and giant iguanas. The journey back to Scar Island left her with many thoughts, most of which centred around Oddclaw himself and his disturbing appearance. Stepping off the beach she gazed upon the new home of the ultraraptors and picked up the scent of their closest colony, the wide plains with the smell of the sea giving a rich life to her tribe who had gladly set down their new nests more apart than on their previous island, savouring the rich freedom whilst in turn befriending the black raptors already living within the caves of the central mountain.

[i]"So all of you came from across the sea?"[/i] asked one of them.

[i]"Yeah pretty much,"[/i] said Tesla swishing his silver tail, [i]"we're just trying to find a good life, yanno, have families, eke out a little place for ourselves."[/i]

[i]"We were quite nervous at first of your arrival, especially after your skyfiretail."[/i]

[i]"Sorry about that,"[/i] he shrugged with a cocky grin, [i]"gotta keep my tribe safe yanno."[/i]

[i]"It is odd to see so many different hunters,"[/i] noted one cave-raptor looking towards the sea of nests, [i]"but our home is great enough to have all of you, so long as you respect it."[/i]

[i]"No problem, glad to be here!"[/i]

They bowed and circled each other in a small mutual dance of respect, whilst Riptor headed over to Sulphide down at the shore where the rafts still remained, with raptors putting rocks in a circle to form a new pen for the slavefish.

[i]"Theeeere we are,"[/i] Sulphide grinned with a bark to them, [i]"now you all have a nice big home to swim around in."[/i]

[i]"OH, th-thank you!"[/i] cried one of the fish. [i]"This place is much wider than our last home was!"[/i]

[i]"I am glad you like my dear slaves, you have been such wonderful allies to us that I feel we should reward you soon."[/i]

[i]"R-really?! With what?!"[/i]

[i]"Now now that would be telling,"[/i] he waved his claw with a smirk, [i]"but don't worry, you'll be well-rewarded I assure you for all you've done to help us."[/i]

The icthyosaurs splashed about giddy with excitement in their new tide pool as Sulphide turned towards his leader with a gasp of sheer joy.

[i]"A-AAAH, you returned!"[/i] He suddenly lapped all over her face as she purred. [i]"H-how was your expedition?!"[/i]

[i]"VERY interesting,"[/i] she muttered, [i]"you already know about Oddclaw but I found out some other things that'll be of interest."[/i]

[i]"Such as?"[/i] they walked on amongst the nests.

[i]"The friends that Oddclaw has. I wish to observe them in my next journey at their base."[/i]

[i]"What?!"[/i] He stopped but she kept on walking. [i]"A-a-are you-...R-riptor I don't think-"[/i]

[i]"Yes?"[/i] She raised her eye back at him.

[i]"I do not think it's a good idea to get too close to them."[/i]

[i]"I don't want surprises. Those creatures are here spoiling this beautiful land by their presence and I must know their intentions."[/i]

[i]"Y-yes...but, the newcomers said that they have been negotiating with them for years and nothing untowards has happened!"[/i]

[i]"That's how they work,"[/i] Riptor snarled with creeping lip, [i]"those degenerates are crafty with exceptional patience for their arrogance."[/i]

[i]"But...I thought,"[/i] Sulphide shuffled up towards her side with a gentle lean of his body against, [i]"I thought we wanted to be free, to be away from them."[/i]

[i]"I know."[/i] She licked across his head. [i]"But I cannot rest when I know they live in this world, if they choose to venture out here, then I don't want any surprises for what capabilities they possess."[/i]

[i]"I understand. Just please don't get captured."[/i]

[i]"I'd rather die than let them touch me."[/i]

[i]"I know. That's why I'm afraid."[/i]

They moved towards the forest at the edge of the sea, finding themselves a place to install as a central throne to their group. Down at the seaside was Sunscreech and Radium helping to move the rocks and better build a dock for the rafts, pushing boulders down from the slopes above and rolling them into place with his hatchlings in tow.

[i]"Alright just over here."[/i]

[i]"NNNNGH!"[/i]

[i]"Aaaaaand STOP! Alright, good work this'll do."[/i]

[i]"Do we not have vines to keep them in?"[/i] Sunscreech asked heaving with a stretch.

[i]"We do but vines break,"[/i] said Radium, [i]"rocks make a good anchor for both slaves and rafts."[/i]

[i]"I suppose-"[/i]

[i]"Daddy look!"[/i] His hatchlings waddled up with stones in their teeth. [i]"We helping!"[/i]

[i]"Those are too sma-...hhhh no, no just put them there next to my other stone."[/i]

[i]"OKAY!"[/i]

They dropped their pebbles between the larger stones and raced off down the beach to gather more, before returning with another set of of stones and looking up at Sunscreech with expectant glee. He smirked and licked each of their heads.

[i]"Well done children. You are doing well."[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah daddy?! We ge' more stones?!"[/i]

[i]"A few more yes then we can stop for the day, but do not go in the water alright?"[/i]

[i]"OKAYYY!"[/i]

They hurried further down the beach, picking up stones and dropping them dissatisfied as they searched for the best that they could.

[i]"You have good kids you know that?"[/i] said the ultraraptor.

[i]"Of course I do, they are MY children,"[/i] said the native.

[i]"Yeah but not everyone has such good-natured kids, they've been coping well since...you know-"[/i]

[i]"Yes. I...I must admit they are much braver than I thought."[/i]

[i]"They want to be, for their father."[/i] Radium patted his neck. [i]"Even if you don't need them to be, they want to, because they know their father needs it."[/i]

[i]"What are you saying?"[/i]

[i]"I'm saying that families stick together and your kids realise that, much earlier than other hatchlings would. They felt your sorrows and they want to support you."[/i]

[i]"Do you...really think that is what they are trying to do?"[/i] Sunscreech asked looking up to him.

[i]"I'm certain."[/i] The cyber-raptor bumped his snout. [i]"Shows how good a father you are yeah?"[/i]

[i]"Hm...they had to learn from someone yes."[/i]

[i]"D-DADDY, DADDYYY!"[/i]

[i]"Ughhh, what?!"[/i] he looked up to see three of his children running with fright.

[i]"S-SIS, SIS, IN DA WATAH!"[/i]

[i]"WHAT?!"[/i]

[i]"SHE WANNA GET S-STONE, BUT WATAH CAME A-A-AN', AN'!

[i]"STAY HERE, DO NOT MOVE!"[/i]

Both adults ran down the beach and soon found the hatchling spluttering just at the edge of the shore's depth. The child screeched and panted struggling to keep her head above the water as Radium called out to the nearest raft.

[i]"GET THAT IN THE WATER NOW, SHE'S DROWNING!"[/i]

[i]"D-DA, D-DADDYYYYYY!"[/i]

[i]"KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, WE'RE COMING-W-WAIT, WAIT SUNSCREECH NOOO!"[/i]

The father waded straight in, pushing against the tide as fast as he could towards the gasping shrieks of his daughter, Radium trying to stop him before quickly heading to the raft that two other raptors pushed out towards her. Sunscreech held his breath and went under the water, waves sloshing over his head as his claws dug into the sandy bank with eyes blearing towards the struggling froth of white foam and tiny claws before she started to sink. Sunscreech quickly pushed himself underneath, keeping her on his back as she instinctively bit onto his neck when he turned back towards the shore and pushed harder against the sea, feeling his lungs gasp as he tightened his jaw and clenched his nostrils trying to run as swiftly as he could back out of the sea. Radium pulled him up soon as he came close, moving the child onto the beach and quickly pushing down on her chest to force the water out with a shivering cough.

[i]"KHH KHHHRH, khhh...d-d-daddy...daddy I'm so-"[/i]

She felt his tongue lapping across her face frantically, shuddering tears from his throat as Sunscreech nuzzled her body.

[i]"A-are you alright?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah...I'm okay-"[/i]

[i]"DO NOT EVER DO THAT AGAIN!"[/i] He shrieked at her face as she shivered with fright. [i]"D-do you know h-how much we SUFFERED when we lost your mother, do you want to put me and your siblings through that again!?!"[/i]

[i]"I-i'm sorry! I'M SORRY DADDY!"[/i]

[i]"I do not want to lose you. Please."[/i] Sunscreech laid down beside his daughter and curled his body tight to her. [i]"P-please, never do that again, you stay beside me, all of you, never...leave me again."[/i]

[i]"O-okay...I-i won't daddy."[/i]

The other children surrounded him as the father started to break with tears down his face. Radium watched after pushing the raft back into its dock, smiling with relief as Sunscreech cradled his children together with him as they huddled round his body to share in the warmth of his joy.