FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

[i][u]Third Energy Research - Subject Fifteen Preparation / Gravity Well Test[/u][/i]

[i]06-07-2045[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon[/i]

[i]Our first experiment can finally commence regarding our newly-made gravity well. Our tests can only go so far without actual anomalies to work from so we can only hope that our first test will either come close to fruition, or even manage to perfect the separation of both TEGs which is my greatest hope. The reploid crew of Meridian-5 have been immensely helpful with their innate technical knowledge, as a non-human crew they are also perfectly suited to the environment of space.[/i]

[i]My only fear now is what to become of those who have remained behind in prehistoria. Whilst the earthbound staff at our base all plan to return, the lunar reploid crew have explicitly stated their desire to remain by themselves, along with the Mohberrin Village far out west. Their presence in this time would cause unquestionable damage to the fossil record and I can only hope that my dear Haytham can deliver a solution involving the 'Noah's Ark' plan from the alternate timeline that Meridian-5 came from. I don't want to uproot them, but I also have a mission to complete in stabilising all anomalies that come to this place.[/i]

"Are we all ready?" asked Dixon.

"Raring to go boss," said a panda-bot giving a thumbs up, "gravity well's holding at Test-A standard."

"Neo-flux holding steady at seven," a turtle tapped away at the controls, "everything's steady."

"Alright good," she breathed a deep sigh fogging her helmet, "good, we're...good."

"Hold up."

Amy came from the side to hold her wrist, gripping tighter and tighter as Andrea calmed herself with steady breaths until the wolf let go.

"Hundred-seventeen over sixty, you're good."

"Then why do I feel like my heart's about to burst?"

"Stress is a neural factor, what you THINK you feel is different from what you actually feel in order to trick you to engage."

"Ahhhh...huh, right okay so um yeah!" She clapped her hands to steady herself. "Everyone take your places and get ready for the event, Alf keep on that flux and recalibrate it every two, Norman how's the inertia balancer?"

"A li'l wavy but should be fine," said a hawk-reploid tweaking dials.

"I don't want 'should be fine', I want it FINE, this is like a production and everyone's gotta remember their lines chop-chop!"

"What she meant is," Amy stepped forwards patting her shoulder, "this is very important and we have to band together so as to help Dr. Dixon's people get back home. So everyone needs to be on their max, that way if anything doesn't work well, we know that's just part of calibrating the system. Maximise performance, minimise errors to spot, now let's rev up!"

"[i]YES BOSS![/i]"

The reploids all fistpumped and braced themselves at their consoles, waiting for the anomaly to come as Andrea sat herself down with deep breaths. Amy walked round in a set path checking over all of her friends, the ones not manning the controls either guarding with weapons or in low-state sleep mode to gather their energies. The station hummed all around them and through their steel chasses, the scientist shaking in her seat with every second that clicked by on the clock-shaped reploid sitting in the corner with the face of an owl.

"Do you have to be so loud?" she turned to her.

"Listen this is what I was made to do," said the owl, "I don't get on your case for breeding microbes in your salival glands."

"Alright, fair, sorry...you've been really helpful by the way keeping us all in time."

"Atomic power baby," she tap-tapped her chest as the hands ticked on, "keeping time no matter where I am, even compensate for time zones!"

"Yeah we don't do zones here," said Dixon squeezing her gloved fingers, "just for the base, the landmass we're on is only big enough for maybe two timezones anyway."

"Which is fine by me cuz it makes my job easier!" the time-bot cricked her knuckles. "Good thing about space, get to show off literally the only thing I am capable of in the coolest way possible, nothing but atoms vibrating alllll inside me at nine million cy-"

"Please don't say 'vibrating all inside me'," said Amy putting up her hands, "that just sounds weird, we talked about this Laverne."

"That's just science in action boss!"

"[i]Testing testing vague nineties reference-[/i]"

"OH heyyyyyy!" The wolf slipped towards a communications console as the voice of Kevin came drifting through. "What's happening hombre?"

"[i]Just checkin' on you all, any aliens come through the vents?[/i]"

"Kevin for fuck's sake," Dixon snarled slapping her knee, "I'm already tense enough as it is!"

"[i]Hey you gotta be ready for anything![/i]"

"How are you then?" said Amy leaning over the console. "Anyone break a leg?"

"[i]Naaah we're all still talking about how awesome your band is but you don't wanna hear that-[/i]"

"Oh hell yeah I do, come on hit me up with them endorphins dog!"

"[i]I'd give you plenty of endorphins if you come to my lab.[/i]"

"Oh my god," Andrea cupped her suit helmet, "could you guys take this elsewhere please?"

"Fiiiine," Amy grinned and took the phone-like piece of the console off to carry with her, "mom doesn't like my new boyfriend."

"[i]Wow do I get to meet him too?[/i]" Kevin snarked.

"What you don't have a mirror?!" she walked out the room.

"[i]No I can't see my own reflection, also is it normal to start drinking the blood samples I'm asking for a friend.[/i]"

"Pfffft hahahahaha!"

The wolf-nurse left the room as the rest of the reploids kept monitoring the gate, time ticking on from Laverne who kept stationary in the corner tapping her wings together in time with the beat of the second hand. Andrea bit her lip as she tried to take a nap, the thermals of her suit always able to lull her to a gentle sleep as she laid herself out on the long seat in the hall. Two hours passed with nothing, giving her time to rest her eyes until she woke up with a heavy sigh to see a few of the reploids had changed over. The panda was now resting as an ostrich manned the primary controls, the hawk replaced by a cobra as they looked up towards Dixon with a salute.

"All still optimal ma'am," said the snake bowing his hood.

"Good good," she yawned and regretted it, "ugh, still nothing yet?"

"Nope, still nothing but stars and space dust."

"Mmmm good, love me that porous chondrite," the ostrich stretched his neck into a d-shape, "nothing like particles getting in my wings."

"You don't have feathers Mike."

"I still have joints, and pinions thank you, it's so much worse for me."

"Oh shut up dude we all got filters."

"Not on my wings!" he flapped them out annoyed. "Laverne's got my back on this right girl?!"

"I'm not your girl!" she shouted rocking her body in metronome. "Never was, never will be, Laverne only got time for herself!"

"Okay but YOU got problems with your wings right?"

"Nope, cuz I aerate them properly Mike!"

"Oh come ON!" he swung his thick arms. "I just want people to recognise this is a problem-"

"Yeah cuz you don't aerate them," the cobra shrugged.

"You don't even got wings you don't GET to tell me what to do-"

"Alright alriiiiight!" Amy clapped her hands sharp as she walked between them. "We're here to do our job, you wanna rant about your joints you can do that in your own time."

"I can't work in these-"

"Mike, enough." She put a finger to his beak. "This is your shift, you get breaks like everyone else and that gives you plenty time to aerate your wings, so use your time properly, alright?"

"Yes...boss."

"UHH WE GOT SIGNAL!"

A boar shouted from one console as they quickly rushed to their stations, focusing on the panels as an alert system blared throughout the base. Andrea stepped out in front towards the main screen that calculated variables across the board, showing a new section for the gravity well located in a separate room that shuddered to awakening, like an ancient god called upon by the stars.

"Neo-flux is rising!"

"Keep it down to seven," warned Dixon, "how's that parser going?"

"Fifty-seventy," said the turtle, "just keeping it ratio'd that's all I can do."

"God...if this works, if this fucking works-"

"Don't," Amy put a hand on her wrist, "let it happen, don't build yourself up, this is just a test right?"

"Yeah, right...test."

"[i]Portal's opening![/i]" said the comms unit as Dixon picked it up.

"Everything still normal?"

"[i]Yep, all still golden, how's things up there?[/i]"

"Gravity well's activated, lemme know if anything changes from the usual."

The portal cracked and burned from down the hall beyond the central control room, mirroring the one back on Earth with its cold deep azure that seethed with immense power to the eyes of the small reploid crew that watched from behind the safety glass that trembled in a soft resonance. Sparks crept over the walls with lightning arcs that tore through each other's streams, multiplying briefly into a dozen with each cross that licked the windows with searing flashes that as the reploids kept tracking its power.

"Particle diffraction holding."

"Kirk-Roentgen's peaking at three-oh-five!"

"Got a ninety on this one, something's coming!"

"Alright, HIT IT!"

They activated the well as the entire base shook with power, rumbling hard as their bodies shook and Dixon grabbed onto Amy when she felt the intensity surge through her feet that threw her off balance. She kept her eyes on the screen as numbers suddenly fluctuated, dipping below acceptable limits as her heart shook with fearful excitement.

"Is it, is it happening?!"

"[i]T.E. dropping to seventy![/i]" said the comms.

"UHHH, u-uhhh the neo-flux doubled!" cried the turtle ducking into his shell. "Wh-what happens now?!"

"Pull it down to ten!" shouted Dixon. "Gate team don't let it drop below sixty, it won't work!"

"[i]We're trying![/i]" the comms shouted. "[i]There's too much pull we can't, it's fading fast![/i]"

"JUST HOLD IT STEADY, WE NEED A STEADY NUMBER FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

A horrid scream echoed throughout the lunar base as the portal dwindled fast, fluctuating its tear with shocking twists of its form burning a deep hole in reality as it fought against the invisible pull of the gravity well on the other side of the base. The air felt magnetic as every reploid tightened their joints and Andrea felt a tingling through her teeth that made her wince and clutch her face. One side of the base tried to fight against the other as the air turned heavier, the reploids shivering as if fearing they would fall apart at any minute beneath the unnatural forces, worlds almost touching with the constant threat of cross-dimensional aberration to a subdermal pitch. Deeper than anything they had heard which sent a primal fear to Andrea's heart as Amy grabbed her to keep her from falling. Then it stopped. The soft beeping of consoles returned to their hearing as the universe rebalanced.

"H-holy...shit," Andrea gulped and steadied her feet, "h-how uh...how...wait, Earth team hello?!"

"[i]Still here![/i]" cried the comms. "[i]Everyone alright?![/i]"

"Yeah, I uh...that, that was actually kind of scary, how about everyone here?"

"All good," the ostrich waved feebly.

"Felt my hood almost rip off," the cobra murmured clutching the panel.

"Yeaaaah that was not a great feeling," Amy grimaced, "maybe we oughta tone down the gravity well."

"Let's get the results first," Dixon stepped over to the comms, "lower than usual but, did the TEG still remain stable?"

"[i]Yep,[/i]" said the earthbound team, "[i]still the same as ever, still the same spatial resources, power was the same, but diffraction went down by thirty-two percent.[/i]"

"No time dilation?"

"[i]Nope. Sorry ma'am.[/i]"

"Huh...well, alright then, I mean it was just still a test, but we managed to weaken the diffraction without sacrificing power so we GOT something!"

"Is that good?" Amy asked leaning over.

"It's something different and I'm just glad we got it," she rubbed her hands together as ideas ran through her head, "I want a readout of all that the gravity well did, we compare it with the TEG, and we find a number ratio to work with. We got a concept, we got something good, if we JUST figure out that golden ratio we could have a chance to get on home."

"You heard her people!" Amy snapped her fingers. "Get that readout down to the last decimal, both gate and well, we got another 14 months to work with!"

"Yes boss!"

The reploids all saluted and started gathering data from their consoles whilst Andrea took a seat to steady her nerves. The wolf sat down beside her with a hand to her back gently patting.

"You alright there doc?"

"Y-yeah...just..." she hunched forwards looking at her feet, "trying not to get super-excited at something that almost took twenty years to get."

"You got this. We just have the data, now let's make it work, hopefully this is the only test we need."

"Yeah...yeah now just...god I hope the anomaly that came through won't be a problem."

"Or yanno at least as nice as us," Amy shrugged smiling, "and if not well we'll kick their asses! Actually considering the portal was weaker this time, like I dunno all the details but, would it not maybe send an anomaly through if it's got less power?"

"I don't...huh...no actually wait, you're right." Andrea thumbed her helmet. "If...nothing comes through then we might actually call this a success if we can manage to LIMIT the anomalies that we end up causing."

"Theeere ya go see, yer doing alright huh?!"

"Yeah, yeah you're right god just, I'm just thinking too long ahead when I can't even see what's gonna happen."

"None of us can in such a wild place like this. Which is why what you're doing is incredible for how much you managed."

"Heh..." Dixon smirked looking up at her, "this the pep talk function of your programming?"

"I mean yeah emotional support's what I do next to physical stuff and medicine but I really mean it."

"I know...thank you." She petted the wolf's metal knee. "I'm just so close to this, I know I can do it, I just need another year for a test."

"And we'll all be here for you." She rubbed shoulders with her. "I mean it's the least we can do for you giving us a new life."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

Taking a deep breath, Andrea calmed herself down and pushed herself up to walk back to the main control room as she started comparing notes from the test. She held herself back from burgeoning excitement for what felt like the first step towards the answer she had been searching for. All she needed now was another test.

[i]"HRRRAAAAH!"[/i]

Seaclaw cracked against his opponent's blade as wood scraped against wood.

[i]"Too strong,"[/i] murmured Stonevoice pushing down on him, [i]"do you still stand against me?"[/i]

[i]"N-nuh, UH!"[/i]

The boy slanted his sword and skirted fast round him, grazing the robot's leg with a cutting strike before aiming to slash at his back when the badnik turned and countered with a downwards cut forcing Seaclaw to block horizontal against his vertical slash, backing off the moment they clashed as the raptor spun himself in his momentum to make a devious slash across Stonevoice's chest. The mantis was surprised but put up his guard once more with his bark-bladed sword raised towards the boy. He put up his own training sword and waited for the attack, Stonevoice thrusting towards him as he dodged left and struck hard against the sword before cutting into the belly of his teacher. The mech swung out his foot in a half-strength kick, sweeping towards Seaclaw's face to knock him in the head and follow with a scraping slice of his sword that dragged the tip across the forest floor with leaves following in its wake. The raptor rolled fast beneath the slash and struck for the leg as Stonevoice fell on one knee in response to the harmless clack before the raptor went for a straight thrust to the chest. His mentor blocked hard with his blade and twisted fast, punching the boy with his elbow in a firm push to give him space as he stood back up.

[i]"Impressive,"[/i] he cricked his steel neck, [i]"but can you survive THIS?"[/i]

With a sudden rush Stonevoice slipped his foot behind him and vaulted forwards as Seaclaw froze for an instant. He stood his ground and tightened his feet to do the first thing his mind jolted into doing, rising upwards with a huge swing to crunch against the robot's blade in a hard crack of wood and quickly parry him with a sliding cut. But the badnik was wise to his counter and quickly zig-zagged his blade back against, knocking the boy's aim off and leaving him open for a cleave upon his head. Seaclaw followed his sword and pushed into a dive, rolling across the ground as Stonevoice followed with multi-slashes following after until the raptor rolled himself up with a sweeping cut to knock against his mentor's blade and step quickly to his left for a ruthless slice.

[i]"NRAAARH!"[/i]

Stonevoice blocked just in time when he made a backhand swing to stop Seaclaw's strike halfway, turning quick to face him whilst forcing the boy's weapon aside and almost overbalancing him. Straightening his tail he staggered back upright and struck fast upon the robot's hand to try and disarm him, but Stonevoice pulled back to let his sword take the hit and twisted his grip to riposte against the raptor's blade in a hard crack before pushing his foot straight into the boy's chest to knock him on his back. Seaclaw immediately rolled backwards in his momentum to get up on his feet, bending forwards into a fighting stance with one hand on the ground and his sword raised behind him. The forest shivered slightly around them in the breeze of a warm day, whistling past their ears as he tried not to tense his muscles and waited for his opponent to make his move. Stonevoice creaked slightly, the whirring of his actuator clicking to Seaclaw's ear as he made a frantic dash and went to a sliding tackle, keeping his sword above his head to cut straight down the belly of the badnik and through his abdomen, scraping over the metallic sheen as he slid between the legs and slashed up the robot's back causing him to stop in place. He dropped his sword with a clatter before turning his head to the boy.

[i]"Excellent. You have passed the first test."[/i]

[i]"Y-...yeah?!"[/i] Seaclaw gasped stepping back.

[i]"In the cycles I have taught you, you have learned to respect the longstone as if it were one of your claws."[/i]

[i]"Th-tha...thank you Stonevoice,"[/i] he bowed grinning, [i]"s-so uh, what, what now?"[/i]

[i]"Now you come with me."[/i]

The mantis walked through the forest as Seaclaw followed, gripping his wood sword firmly as rodents skittered past his feet and insects droned over his head between the leaves.

[i]"Do you...know whut the smallwings are saying, Stonevoice?"[/i]

[i]"I do,"[/i] he nodded his wide-rimmed head which shone like the sun, [i]"they have little to speak of, but they know what carries on the wind."[/i]

[i]"Like whut?"[/i]

[i]"Danger, food, skyfire from afar they can sense better than us."[/i]

[i]"Does uncah Barkclaw hear them too?"[/i]

[i]"No, but he understands them by watching them and where they move."[/i]

[i]"Ohhhh,"[/i] the boy rubbed his chin then tapped his shoulder with the wood blade, [i]"so, what didya mean when I passed the FIRST test?"[/i]

[i]"The longstone requires many cycles to learn, more than you have already."[/i]

[i]"H-how many cycles until I get as good as you?!"[/i]

[i]"Depends on how swiftly you learn,"[/i] said Stonevoice skating down a ditch, [i]"and if you continue to learn at this pace, you shall most certainly become a fierce hunter."[/i]

[i]"Just like mother an' father?!"[/i] he squeaked stumbling down the mud. [i]"S-so, WHUH, u-uhhhwhat didya wanna show me?"[/i]

[i]"Something I have made for you."[/i]

Stepping towards a dead tree amongst the twisted trunks of its living relatives Stonevoice fished around inside the central breach to pull out another wooden sword, one much more smooth than the one either of them had with a handle similar to that of Seaclaw's training blade. The robot pulled the handle in front of the boy to reveal the sword within, a sharp glimmering steel that shone briefly in the light between the leaves.

[i]"This is your longstone,"[/i] said the mantis handing it to him, [i]"this will be your claw, to fight and to kill. Promise me, that you will never use this to harm friends or family."[/i]

[i]"Woooooow,"[/i] the raptor gasped cradling it in his hands, [i]"is...th-this is mine?"[/i]

[i]"Yes. I made it just for you from the stone itself, it will give you great strength as a hunter and protector of the nest."[/i]

[i]"R-really?"[/i]

[i]"Try it. Feel its strength and tell me."[/i]

Fully unsheathing the blade from its scabbard the boy gasped at his reflection within, slightly warped making his snout look much bigger than the rest of his face as he carefully swept his sword out before him to test its weight. The same length as his wooden sword, the katana felt heavier but Seaclaw was still able to hold it with one hand aloft as he swung it down with a searing cut to feel its power. The raptor took a step forwards and made another cut, then two then three as he felt it sing with a soft whispering breeze that gently trickled down his fingers. Stonevoice watched his student, stepping back to give him full reign of the forest grove as the boy felt his judgment, thrusting, swiping, guarding and spinstriking for a finish with a clumsy mis-step that sent him forwards before he regained his balance.

[i]"How does it feel?"[/i] he asked the child.

[i]"I-it feels...s-strong!"[/i] He pulled back his foot and raised his sword before his face. [i]"Like it...it, um yah!"[/i]

[i]"Then you know you must respect it. Whatever that longstone can touch, shall be wounded deep."[/i]

[i]"Even kill it?"[/i] he looked to the mantis.

[i]"With our longbarks, we playfight. But our longstones..."[/i]

Stonevoice pulled out his own blade of crooked edge towards him.

[i]"The longstones always kill. Remember that. Now stand before me and promise me this."[/i]

He motioned the boy over as Seaclaw stood in front of him.

[i]"Will you protect those you love, and hunt swiftly your prey?"[/i]

[i]"I-i...do,"[/i] he mumbled nodding.

[i]"Do you promise to never use this longstone against your family, your friends?"[/i]

[i]"I...I promise, yah."[/i]

[i]"Good."[/i] The mantis sheathed his own blade. [i]"We will train more but I want you instead to take your longstone with you on the hunt."[/i]

[i]"R-really?!"[/i] he cried stiffening his legs.

[i]"I believe you are ready, come, let us show your father your longstone too."[/i]

[i]"Y-YEAH, YEAH OKAY!"[/i]

He tried to sheathe his sword as the tip squibbed against the scabbard's hole, missing the slot twice before he slid it in as Stonevoice gave him a set of vines that could be attached to both leg and tail that connected to the holster, allowing the raptor ease of movement whilst keeping the sword close to him safely. He tested it out with a few runs in a circle round the grove before he was satisfied, heading off with Stonevoice towards the Dry Mountain that rose above their forest home. The young raptor had only climbed the small mountain a few times when he was more brave, scrabbling up the stones and digging his claws into the little pockmarked holds whilst the mantis hopped between ledges with his strong springing feet, the sun's reflection blinding off his solar rim before they neared the top within the space of forty minutes.

[i]"NNNGH, egh, f-fa...father?!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmhh?"[/i] He turned the barrel of his gun towards the voice.

[i]"F-father-AGH, nnngh...h-hiiii!"[/i]

[i]"OH, hello there son!"[/i]

Staring through the hollowed steel barrel that had once been part of his gun, the raptor smiled at his son with a blinking green eye through the tunnel of black as he carefully took the small feathered rod from his mouth and poked through the barrel with its tip. The long cleaning tool wormed through the pipe with rigorous attention, fluffing around the entire circumference to scrub out the black spots of powder and burn that had been left inside. Beside him was a cloth laid out with the frame of his sawn-off shotgun neatly on its side, along with his other laser-powered shotgun and several small tools for both cleaning and dismantling.

[i]"How're you father?"[/i] Seaclaw asked with constant grin.

[i]"Very good thank you,"[/i] said Oddie still prodding the barrel, [i]"I will be done with my fire soon if you want to play."[/i]

[i]"OH, but, I, I wanted to show you sumthin' now, i-if it's okay?"[/i]

[i]"Is it something you have here?"[/i]

[i]"YAH!"[/i]

[i]"Alright then."[/i] Oddclaw put down his barrel next to the sawn-off's base. [i]"Show me what it is."[/i]

Gripping his sword fast Seaclaw felt Stonevoice's hand cautioning him as he carefully pulled out his blade, the sun shining briefly upon it from between the clouds as his father gasped at the gleaming metal.

[i]"O-oh! That...that is quite a longstone!"[/i]

[i]"Stonevoice gave me it!"[/i] he proudly squeaked. [i]"Cuz I been learnin' to use it, a-an' he says I can go hunt with it!"[/i]

[i]"Really?!"[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm!"[/i]

[i]"I know he will use it well,"[/i] said the mantis nodding, [i]"he has trained hard through many days to use the longstone."[/i]

[i]"Well,"[/i] Oddclaw stroked his chin, [i]"I...are you certain?"[/i]

[i]"I am, are you certain Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Um,"[/i] the son bit his lip and straightened his knees, [i]"I'm...a li'l scared but, I-i can do it!"[/i]

[i]"Alright then,"[/i] said his father clasping hands, [i]"what matters is that you are safe, nothing else."[/i]

[i]"Okay father."[/i] He smiled sheathing his sword on the second try. [i]"Are we huntin' today?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes we are, when I am done cleaning this fire."[/i] He took up his gun barrel and cleaning tool again.

[i]"Can I...sit with you?"[/i]

[i]"Of course, I can show you how my fire works."[/i]

[i]"I must attend to Barkclaw,"[/i] Stonevoice took a bow and turned, [i]"I promised to help him on watching the sunwings."[/i]

[i]"Okay, g'bye Stonevoice, thank youuuu!"[/i]

The raptor child hugged his steel body as Stonevoice petted him before taking his leave, leaping down the mountainside as Seaclaw sat with his father who explained the parts of his weapon to him. In turn Seaclaw tried to explain the different moves he learned in his training, the cuts and sweeps that he demonstrated with one of the cleaning tools that he swished in the air like a rapier.

[i]"So, why you put your fire up here?"[/i] asked Seaclaw.

[i]"Because,"[/i] said Oddie wrapping his tools, [i]"James made my fire stronger, and now I no longer need stones for it which makes it dangerous."[/i]

[i]"Oooooh."[/i]

[i]"So to keep the trees safe from the fire I put it up here in the dry mountain."[/i]

[i]"Where do you think I should put my longstone?"[/i] asked Seaclaw as they started climbing down.

[i]"Well it is not fire so why not the tree where I had my fire before?"[/i]

[i]"Okay!"[/i]

Putting his laser rifle and cleaning kit into a small alcove within the mountain's cave, the raptor took up his shotgun with holster against his leg and set off with his son to meet with the rest of his family, hand in hand through the forest and past the nesting grounds to where Moonclaw was waiting with Oddtooth and Skyfang jumping around biting at each other's tails.

[i]"Heyyyyy li'l brother!"[/i] The sister leapt towards him with a peck at his skull. [i]"Thought you slept in!"[/i]

[i]"I was learning to use my longstone!"[/i] he barked proudly with hands on his hips.

[i]"It'th not a thtone,"[/i] said his brother rolling his eyes, [i]"it'th made of bark come on."[/i]

[i]"NUH-UH, this isn't!"[/i]

He almost swung out his sword in defiance but stepped back in a stumble when he took a deep breath, slowing his hand to pull it out gently much to Oddtooth's shock.

[i]"Whuh, what?!"[/i]

[i]"OOOOH SHINY!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked trying to bite it. [i]"Can I play?!"[/i]

[i]"NOO!"[/i] Seaclaw pulled it back. [i]"It's VERY dangerous it could kill you!"[/i]

[i]"Whuh, but it's just a long stone!"[/i]

[i]"It's NOT fer playfighting, it's fer hunting!"[/i]

[i]"Childreeeeen!"[/i] Moonclaw croaked calling them over. [i]"Come on the morning is almost gone!"[/i]

[i]"OKAYYY!"[/i]

They lined up in front of her, the ferals easily outmatching the anthro who was a foot-and-a-half shorter than either of his siblings. Oddclaw stood beside his mate with a gentle smooching lick as she began.

[i]"I have scouted a potential prey far from our home. A stonetail without its tribe, wandering with arrogance and fighting all that it sees so this shall be a perfect prey for us to hunt together."[/i]

[i]"OOOOH!"[/i] Skyfang hopped on her feet. [i]"Is it a BIG stonetail!?"[/i]

[i]"Enough to feed all of us for two days."[/i]

[i]"YESSSSSS, let's go kill it!"[/i]

[i]"WAIT wait wait!"[/i] Oddtooth tapped her head. [i]"Where ith it now, how far away, ith there any grath to hide in?"[/i]

[i]"Uuuuugh Oddie stop being BORING!"[/i]

[i]"I'd rather be boring than dead."[/i]

[i]"Calm down,"[/i] Oddclaw patted his son, [i]"you cannot plan everything before the hunt, you have to see the hunt first."[/i]

[i]"Mmmm, okay."[/i]

[i]"Now, this prey we are hunting is actually in The Land Before, so we must journey for two days whilst hunting smaller prey and eating what we can."[/i]

[i]"Don't you have food with you?"[/i] his daughter asked sniffing at his satchel.

[i]"Only if we are starved, this is to teach you how to hunt over long journeys where you may not always have food."[/i]

[i]"Usually hunters cannot carry food,"[/i] said Moonclaw swishing her tail, [i]"so what you must do, is to find food whilst hunting your prey, keep yourself fed, and to hide your presence. Now, follow me."[/i]

Heading out west onto the fields, the raptor family stepped into the long grass as Moonclaw picked up the scent of a nearby smaller beast. The clouds started to gather with the threat of rain, a cold breeze trickling down from above that draped upon their backs with a growing moisture that made Seaclaw shiver slightly. Oddclaw stepped out in front next to his mate who kept her snout in the grass, tracing the scent of her prey through the rushes.

[i]"Surprised you said nothing about his new stone,"[/i] he muttered.

[i]"No stranger than your fire,"[/i] she muttered, [i]"Stonevoice gave him it?"[/i]

[i]"Yes."[/i]

[i]"Good, we shall see how it helps him but remember what we said."[/i]

[i]"I know, we take it from him if it gets in the way."[/i] He crept lower as the scent became stronger, [i]"hopefully not, I do want him to be strong and you know our bodies are-"[/i]

[i]"No no no,"[/i] she nipped his head, [i]"you fight well enough, he shall learn to do the same."[/i]

[i]"I was too weak to kill when I was young as him, I would have wanted something like that."[/i]

[i]"Oh surely you hunted as a child!"[/i] she scoffed looking up at him.

[i]"Of course I hunted,"[/i] he puffed his snout, [i]"I just took cycles before I could kill with my own claws, so until he is old enough he will need the help."[/i]

[i]"Alright, you know his body better than I."[/i]

[i]"You know MY body better than I,"[/i] he nibbled the back of her neck.

[i]"Oh you know I do,"[/i] she giggled nipping back, [i]"after this hunt I will know it better."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhahaha...ahhh-"[/i]

[i]"N-nooooo!"[/i] Seaclaw whinged behind them.

[i]"I wanna bite it!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked.

[i]"It's NOT, nooo it'll kill you!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang enough!"[/i] Moonclaw snapped at her. [i]"His longstone is not for playfighting, now focus on the hunt!"[/i]

[i]"Nnnnngh!"[/i]

[i]"You'll get to thee it thoon,"[/i] Oddtooth walked past them, [i]"if Theaclaw knowth what to do with it."[/i]

[i]"I do!"[/i] said the smallest stomping his foot. [i]"Just watch, I-i'll kill that stonetail good!"[/i]

[i]"Seaclawww,"[/i] his father turned to him waving his finger, [i]"do not say that, we do not enjoy the hunt, we enjoy surviving it."[/i]

[i]"O-okay, sorry father."[/i]

[i]"Now come, you are hunters, so put your heads down and hunt."[/i]

They snuffled through the grass as they searched for something, picking up the scent as they started to separate through the long growth and each hunt their own target to sharpen their teeth. Their parents kept a watchful eye, seeing their tails swish through the reeds as the telltale sound of compsognathi could be heard chirruping briefly back and forth. Skyfang leapt over rocks and crushed her prey from above with tackling kicks whilst Oddtooth slinked low to the ground and circled like a snake to catch the smaller beasts. Seaclaw however was the most cautious, taking steps with a hand on his blade as he crept through the rushes towards his first prey of the week. The compy chittered on a small stone plinth, flicking its tail as it snapped at insects flitting past unaware of Seaclaw's presence. The child waited until he was at sword length and drew his blade slow as he could. Then he realised the sound of the wood scraping against steel as the creature turned with a yelp before he swung sharp for its neck, the little beast snarling as it leapt back out his reach and lunged forwards at his face. Seaclaw almost jumped away from it in fright but feeling his fingers on the sword grip he tightened his jaw and swung out his fist to crack across its face, sending it rolling along the grass before he came down upon its head with a wild chop. The compsognathus head rolled slightly from its neck, blood spurting from the wound as Seaclaw stepped back with a shaky hand and breathless pants as his mother stepped up out of the bush.

[i]"Huh! Well done son!"[/i]

[i]"Hhheh, heh, did I do okay?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes you did, you even ripped its head off that is wonderful!"[/i]

[i]"Yah!"[/i] He raised his sword up high with tender red dripping fresh. [i]"Looooongstooooone!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhahaha,"[/i] she stepped close to lick his head, [i]"alright, take your prey and come eat with us."[/i]

[i]"Yah-huh!"[/i]

Picking up the compy's carcass he headed off with Moonclaw as his siblings returned with their prizes and sat together tearing off strips of meat and green flesh to savour the juicy little organs within, the raptors popping them in their mouths like chewy sweets.

[i]"Children eat properly,"[/i] Moonclaw warned.

[i]"But it's FUN!"[/i] Seaclaw flicked a kidney in the air to chomp. [i]"Mmmm!"[/i]

[i]"Oddie catch!"[/i] Skyfang tossed a liver to her brother who snatched it in his jaws. [i]"YEAH, nice!"[/i]

[i]"That wath eathy,"[/i] he scoffed gulping back, [i]"throw it higher!"[/i]

[i]"NnnnYAH!"[/i]

She threw a kidney as high as she could as Oddtooth reeled back his head and almost grabbed it, before Seaclaw had thrust his sword and skewered it out of the air.

[i]"H-HEY!"[/i]

[i]"Heeheehahaha!"[/i]

[i]"Th-that ith MINE Theaclaw!"[/i]

[i]"I knoooow I'm just playing."[/i]

He pulled off the organ from his blade and threw it even higher for Oddtooth to catch successfully, the longtoothed raptor almost impaling it on his fangs before chewing it up with a lick of his lips.

[i]"Tho what'th the Land Before like?"[/i] he asked.

[i]"Well,"[/i] his father chewed on a compy's neck, [i]"there is a cave we go through past the Jaws of the Earth, then there are many trees where the Bloodfeathers' Nest is."[/i]

[i]"OH!"[/i] Skyfang jumped up. [i]"Issat where uncle Bloodsnout an' uncle Deeptail come from?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes it is, they are friends of ours so we do not hunt them!"[/i]

[i]"You got lotsa friends father,"[/i] Seaclaw munched on a miniature heart, [i]"do they know where the stonetail is?"[/i]

[i]"Oh no, that is our hunt, it knows not to go near the Bloodfeathers, it is not that arrogant."[/i]

[i]"But what if thome other beatht killth it before we do?"[/i] Oddtooth scritched his head.

[i]"Then we will find another beast,"[/i] said their mother stripping a compy's legs, [i]"there are always beasts to hunt, that is another lesson you must learn from this. Never think you are hunting just one beast."[/i]

[i]"We hunt ALL the beasts!"[/i] squeaked her daughter with hammering feet. [i]"I'm gonna eat its eyes all up for myself!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha,"[/i] Oddclaw shook his head, [i]"your aunts also love eyes as well."[/i]

[i]"Not me,"[/i] Seaclaw grimaced poking his tongue, [i]"they taste weird an' YUK, I don' like them!"[/i]

[i]"That's why I'm eatin' THESE!"[/i] Skyfang snatched the head of a compy and squished out the orbs from its head to chew up like gum. [i]"Mmmm!"[/i]

[i]"You can have mine too,"[/i] Oddtooth threw another head to her, [i]"I like the tongue better."[/i]

[i]"YEAH thanks Oddie!"[/i] She crushed the second head to gulp down two more eyes. [i]"Father why don't you burn our food like you did before?!"[/i]

[i]"You know your grandmother hates that,"[/i] said Oddclaw sucking his fingers clean.

[i]"Exactly,"[/i] Moonclaw grinned at him, [i]"so why not do it now?"[/i]

[i]"There is too much grass here, when we sleep in the cave I will make fire alright?"[/i]

[i]"YAAAY firefood!"[/i] the children chirped with a single bounce.

[i]"U-uhhh, I have to mark!"[/i] Seaclaw stood up with a twinge.

[i]"You can go yourself,"[/i] said the mother.

[i]"Um...b-but I like when father's with me-"[/i]

[i]"You are a hunter now Seaclaw, not a hatchling, you mark by yourself with what you have learned."[/i]

[i]"O-oh...okay."[/i]

Shuffling away with timid feet into the wilderness, the child bit his lip and quickly went to look for a nearby spot he could relieve himself at, preferably a large rock or tree for sake of privacy. Hurrying with one hand to his leaf-covered crotch, he found a boulder sitting in a small hole weathered by the ages as he lifted up his leafskirt and sighed emptying his bladder. He almost lowered his guard as he looked up at the sky, hearing the soft creep of something through the rushes and was almost finished before he realised another presence from behind the rock.

[i]"Wh-who's there?!"[/i]

[i]"...Seaclaw? Is that you?"[/i]

He sniffed the air upon hearing the familiar voice, smiling as he raced around the corner with a squeak.

[i]"H-hi, hiiii Rumble!"[/i]

[i]"AH, hello there!"[/i] Riptor smiled uncurling herself from the grass. [i]"Didn't expect to see you all the way out here."[/i]

[i]"I'm with mah family,"[/i] Seaclaw rocked on his heels, [i]"we're on a hunt!"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh well that's good!"[/i] She looked up over the grass towards the sea. [i]"Still a long way from home."[/i]

[i]"Yah, we're huntin' a stonetail waaaay out west, we're gonna kill it!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhahahaha, such a brave hunter you are, your siblings are with you too?"[/i]

[i]"Yah yah, my brother an' sister, but she keeps tryin' to make my longstone a-an' I keep tellin' her it's NOT fer playfightin'!"[/i]

[i]"Your...longstone?"[/i]

[i]"YAH!"[/i] He pulled out his sword once again with a grin. [i]"I killed two smallfangs with it, but a stonetail's gonna be BIG to fight!"[/i]

[i]"I...see,"[/i] she reared back slightly from the gleaming blade, [i]"not really something a raptor should use though is it?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmm but, my father's got stonefire an' HE hunts good!"[/i]

[i]"Did you make this yourself?"[/i]

[i]"Nuh-uh,"[/i] he sheathed it after two tries, [i]"my friend Stonevoice made it, he taught me to use it!"[/i]

[i]"Stonevoice?"[/i]

[i]"He's a stonebeast, he's my uncah Barkclaw's best friend an' he's really strong!"[/i]

[i]"A stonebeast?"[/i] Riptor looked up tapping her chin. [i]"Huhhh, alright then, what about your father's stonefire, is that his?"[/i]

[i]"Um, I-i think uncah Jeremy gave him it,"[/i] said Seaclaw rubbing his neck, [i]"he's a hairless, he's lotsa fun to playfight with, my sister likes him too!"[/i]

[i]"Hmmm...well you certainly have many different friends."[/i]

[i]"Yah, an' yer my friend too Rumble!"[/i]

He leapt forwards to hug her tight as she gasped, feeling his hands wrap round her neck as she chuckled nervous from his warm chest pressing against the cold bolted screw in her torso. She nuzzled his head and took a deep breath, smelling the scent of his father as her body trembled something fierce that made her pull back.

[i]"I, u-u-um-"[/i]

[i]"Yah?!"[/i] he released her.

[i]"I...s-sorry, this is not...something I'm used to."[/i]

[i]"Whutcha mean?"[/i]

[i]"No, never mind."[/i]

[i]"Heehee!"[/i] the boy beamed hopping backwards. [i]"Sooo whut you doing today?"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh just wandering as usual, finding someplace to live."[/i]

[i]"You couuuuld come live with us, in our tribe."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhahaha, still trying to convince me are you?"[/i] she rolled her neck.

[i]"Heeheeyah, cuz then you'd have all the friends!"[/i] he swung out his arms over his head.

[i]"Ohhh I don't know about that, I wouldn't want TOO many friends."[/i]

[i]"That's okay, you have me if you want!"[/i]

[i]"Yes...that I do."[/i] She licked at his face as he smiled. [i]"You should get back to your family, before they worry about you."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm, will I see you again?"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh you probably will,"[/i] Riptor smirked, [i]"I'm heading out west myself so I hope your hunt goes well."[/i]

[i]"Okay, g'bye Rumble!"[/i]

[i]"Goodbye Seaclaw."[/i]

Skipping back to his family, the boy raced off whilst Riptor watched on until his little figure faded. A soft sigh escaped her lips before she sat back down behind the boulder and stared out over the ocean that crept with the soft scents of cool salt.

[i]"Riptor?"[/i] the voice in her ear gently murmured.

[i]"Hmm?! Oh, Sulphide, hello there."[/i]

[i]"How are you faring out there?"[/i]

[i]"Good good. I've been keeping an eye on young Seaclaw."[/i]

[i]"Ahhh yes,"[/i] Sulphide chuckled, [i]"how is he doing?"[/i]

[i]"I've been speaking with him whenever he goes down to the shore,"[/i] she walked closer to the cliffs, [i]"for an entire year he's been making friends with this slavefish."[/i]

[i]"I remember you saying that yes, off on little adventures as children do?"[/i]

[i]"The fact he can swim is incredible,"[/i] Riptor shook her head, [i]"none of us can do that, not even me!"[/i]

[i]"So you truly believe this Oddclaw is...I don't know what's a good word for this-"[/i]

[i]"Evolved?"[/i]

[i]"I-i...really, you're saying that?"[/i]

[i]"Yes?"[/i] She turned to her side imagining his presence. [i]"Why, do you disagree?"[/i]

[i]"From what I saw,"[/i] he said drolling his tongue, [i]"he was certainly weaker than the other raptors-"[/i]

[i]"But what he lacks in strength he more than makes up for with agility and dexterity, have you not seen these natives their arms are tiny!"[/i]

[i]"I did notice the problems they had when we were teaching them to make rafts but-"[/i]

[i]"Exactly, which is why Oddclaw is fascinating in the things he can do that they can't, such as building things and climbing, I've seen him use fire like a human does and his son did the same!"[/i]

[i]"But that doesn't make him BETTER,"[/i] scoffed her subordinate, [i]"just because his arms are bigger than ours doesn't mean he's some perfect hunter, not like you are!

[i]"I'm sorry, what?!"[/i] She snapped round to the boulder. [i]"WHO suggested that I use Seaclaw's friendship to become part of the family and acquaint with Oddclaw?"[/i]

[i]"That was you!"[/i] Sulphide shouted. [i]"I swear I never said that, why would I suggest that!?"[/i]

[i]"Because you did, back a year ago when I first spoke to the child!"[/i]

[i]"And I keep telling you I never did! You know, maybe you've been out there too long, all these constant trips-"[/i]

[i]"Stop."[/i] Riptor snarled digging in her feet. [i]"Stop doing that, you can't call me a perfect hunter one minute and then worry over me the next, either you believe in me or you don't now which is it?"[/i]

[i]"I...I-i-i-"[/i]

[i]"I'm not insulted Sulphide, I just want to know the truth. Do you trust me enough in my strength?"[/i]

[i]"Of course, I-..."[/i] he sighed through the comms, [i]"I know that you are capable, I know you are the god-slayer but at the same time I have to worry about you because no one else will!"[/i]

[i]"What do you mean?"[/i] she cocked her head.

[i]"You are still flesh and bone, and...I-i worry that there may come a beast too great for you to fight alone and I want to be...the voice that pulls you back."[/i]

[i]"You want to be my conscience?"[/i] Riptor chuckled.

[i]"I-i guess that would be right, yes."[/i]

[i]"Awwww...that's very sweet of you, but I know my limits so don't fret."[/i]

[i]"Alright...I'll leave you to it then, will you return soon?"[/i]

[i]"In a week,"[/i] she nodded, [i]"I'll see you soon."[/i]

[i]"Be safe and well my goddess."[/i]

Sulphide's words carried a soft purr as Riptor sighed, sitting herself down against the boulder to watch the sea for a moment of peace. For the next two days she followed after Oddclaw's family, stalking through the rushes and following them up towards the cave beneath the Skylands where instead she opted for the more arduous path of leaping through the Jaws, the grand canyon that split the earth in half with its crimson pillars as guardians of the abyss. Her physical prowess was almost supernatural in how fast she vaulted her body like a spring across the chasms and landed fast with a whisper before leaping higher than any beast of this era could from her super-charged spring-heeled feet. The depths of darkness excited her when she looked down between jumps and landed against the side of a pillar with claws crunching through the sandstone. Scrabbling upwards in a vertical run she climbed to the top and leapt to the next one, then six more with acrobatic ease as her claws skimmed over the dusty rock before she reached the other side with ease and found herself just above the grand forest of the Bloodfeathers' territory.

Heading east along the edge of the canyon she kept track of Oddclaw's family by their scent, watching them from above as they tracked their hunt further west into the woods. Riptor hopped along the tallest trees, keeping herself downwind as Oddclaw led them on a skirting path away from the Yurgovuchia's nesting grounds before they followed the scent of an ankylosaurus into the mountain path, taking the long slope upwards into the Greatbeast's Spine that stretched across the entire southern reach of the Land Before. The pale teeth of the mountain range stretched up into the sky around them as the long hike started to wear on the children, their legs quivering with little whinging sounds as they tried to keep up with their parents. Moonclaw led up front finding droplets of blood that she lapped up and motioned with a hiss for them to keep quiet on their approach, the red zigzagging upwards even higher as the children struggled to breathe.

[i]"H-how...much-"[/i]

[i]"Shh!"[/i] Skyfang shushed her brother. [i]"Keep moving!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmnngh."[/i]

[i]"S'not THAT hard,"[/i] muttered Skyfang taking a deep breath.

[i]"You're up in trees like ALL day,"[/i] whimpered Seaclaw.

[i]"Yah an' you don't, but you gotta keep going so come on!"[/i]

[i]"I'm tiiiiired,"[/i] the smallest raptor mewled dragging feet.

[i]"Hunterth don't get tired,"[/i] said Oddtooth nudging him, [i]"don't think about it, think about food, think about uhhh thwimming in the water."[/i]

[i]"Oooooh yah-"[/i]

[i]"But quietly!"[/i]

Pushing his legs on Seaclaw nodded and swallowed thick whilst building a small conversation in his head to distract himself from his burning lungs. Moonclaw stopped suddenly at the entrance to a high mountain cave where the trail of blood went inside. The sounds of snarling gasps could be heard amongst the deep rumbling breaths of their prey that echoed through the single-room cavern before they saw the looming shape shift itself against the wall. A freshly-adult ankylosaurus, his large club-shaped tail resting behind his body which bled a small puddle from wounds underneath. The raptors spread themselves out to each side of the room whilst Moonclaw approached the beast, careful steps creaking the hard stone as she tightened her teeth and readied to leap upon his neck. The moment she jumped, his eye opened as he swung his clubtail hard just catching one of Moonclaw's legs as she stumbled fast.

[i]"GET OUT!"[/i] The creature roused himself with heavy gasp. [i]"You won't...kill me today SHITCLAW!"[/i]

[i]"That...remains to be seen,"[/i] Moonclaw gasped wincing with a limp, [i]"cleverer than you look, fat stone."[/i]

[i]"Better to be fat...than crushed into DUST!"[/i]

He lurched suddenly towards her as the old raptor strafed fast, pushing through the pain of her leg and watching the huge club of his tail come swinging for her head as she ducked underneath and lunged for the base of its tail to try and scrape through the softer skin. The ankylo roared with a deafening fury as he turned as fast as he could to try and throw her off, but then he caught sight of another raptor from the shadows that raced towards his head as he spun and kicked both his back legs out to scatter stones towards Oddtooth's face. The feral stopped short of the shards and backed off when the tail swung for his neck, backing off inches from its lethal whoosh whilst Moonclaw kept her teeth sunk deep into the base. Skyfang waited until the beast was close enough before she made a flying wallkick to land on his stubbled back, staggering over the plated hide to come bearing down on his head and rake her claws deep into the skull.

[i]"RRRAAAAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

[i]"YEAH, can't bite me can ya you SHIT?!"[/i]

[i]"GET, OFF!"[/i]

He stomped with fury causing a rumbling through the cave as he tried to kick off both raptors, managing to throw both mother then daughter off with scratches to his neck. The ankylosaur caught sight of the smallest raptor who readied his sword with shaking fingers, the beast seeing his panic and charging with wild-eyed fury as Seaclaw rolled to the side and slashed at one of the legs making it gasp and turn fast with an overhead swing of his tail. The boy quickly dodged but the tremors threw him off and made him stumble on his rear, falling back and quickly scrabbling backwards with sword in hand as the thick-plated creature turned to face him with snarling breath.

[i]"You...think you can kill me with a STICK?!"[/i]

[i]"U-u-UH, I...n-not...I'm not afraid of you y-you big MEAT!"[/i]

[i]"Hhhhmhmhm, ohhhh if I wasn't bleeding I would laugh, but your face twisted into the dirt will help!"[/i]

Thrusting forwards with his head the ankylo tried to frighten him, but Seaclaw tightened with a flinch and swung his sword out in a straight slice for the face to cut across the cheek. The beast was startled briefly as he reared his body up to crush the child before Seaclaw rolled and jumped when the monstrous feet came down hard with a crunching crack, thrusting into the other cheek to gouge open the skin as blood streaked down his jaw with roaring spittle down his chin. Strafing with a short leap he shoved the boy down and made slow stomping motions towards him, trying to crush Seaclaw with hard crushing feet as he rolled from side to side before thrusting his sword upwards, scarring just inches from the stonetail's eye as he staggered back to lift his body for a double slam. A flying kick slammed into the ankylo's bloodied cheek, knocking him aside almost off balance before he righted himself before Oddclaw's boxing stance.

[i]"Are you alright?!"[/i] he cried out to his son.

[i]"Y-YAH!"[/i] he chirped raising his sword. [i]"B-be careful father!"[/i]

[i]"I'LL GRIND ALL YOUR BONES TO NOTHING, RRAAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

Charging fast the ankylosaur thrust his head against Oddclaw's chest, the raptor leaping back before rushing up to the face with two wild haymakers and a strong rising kick that stunned him briefly before Oddclaw went for his eye. The lumbering beast ducked fast and punched his head into the father's stomach, winding him before he spun his body round with whirring clubtail ready to crack his face. Oddclaw ducked into a combat roll and moved round his prey, keeping his line of sight away from the family as Moonclaw barked orders to the children for a triple attack.

[i]"COME ON THEN!"[/i] the father taunted with beckoning fingers. [i]"You call that a stonetail or is that softer than your cock?!"[/i]

[i]"YOU WON'T BE SOFT WHEN I CRUSH YOUR SKUUUULL!"[/i]

Bursting forwards into a power run the beast took up surprising speed as Oddclaw jumped over his head and ran over his back, sideflipping off to avoid the tail just close enough for the ankylo to still see him and turn his body round for another hammerswing of his club. Suddenly a sharp wounding pain pierced the back of his leg, gasping with cry as he felt Seaclaw's blade plunge deep before Oddtooth leapt upon his head and tore the back of his neck. He threw his head upwards like a wild stallion, swinging back towards the wall to try and crush the feral son who leapt off in time for his sister to come from the other side and wallkick straight into his eye, gouging deep with her claw to twist and rend into hot sclera running down his face. Blinded and deafened by his own anguish, the ankylosaur turned fast towards the closest creature and headbutted Moonclaw on the approach, knocking her down with a stagger as her eyes bleared briefly. Seeing his opponent dazed he smiled with grinding teeth and stormed ahead ready to make a crushing leap, until something came whistling from the side and carved his face deep.

[i]"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

Stumbling against the wall in shock he crushed his body against stone and crumbled down onto his knees. Blood kept pouring from his building wounds as his head became foggy with weakness, staring towards Seaclaw with crimson blade.

[i]"You...pathetic CRAWLER!"[/i]

His tail swung out just enough to reach him as Seaclaw blocked by instinct, parrying the stonetail with a glancing cut of the sword to deflect his force but still getting knocked down by the might of his swing. The lone beast gnashed its jaws of clear-cut teeth and went for a rending bite upon the boy's head, snapping sharp as he responded with a brazen strike that glanced off his head until Moonclaw leapt from the side to tear her feet into the side of his neck. He swung his head to try and throw her off but her grip was too much, claws shaped like sickles digging deep into the flesh and scrabbling violently to rip apart a full meaty crevasse of thick scarlet that soon was the last of his strength. With savage pieces of vermillion flying like ribbons from her feet, the stonetail collapsed against the wall and rolled lazy in his last breath. Moonclaw finished his suffrage by ripping through the larynx as his tongue flapped out loosely, eyes becoming glass as the raptors stood back to witness their hunt's success.

[i]"We...w-we did it,"[/i] Oddtooth sighed.

[i]"Everyone alright?"[/i] his mother asked.

[i]"Yeah!"[/i] Skyfang made a little jog. [i]"That was GREAT, we killed it SO GOOD!"[/i]

[i]"WHAT did we say about enjoying death?!"[/i]

[i]"I-i-i mean we did, uhh, good, like w-we hunted really good together, S-seaclaw was great!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah that wath really good!"[/i] Oddtooth smirked nudging him. [i]"That longthtone went right though hith leg like a fang!"[/i]

[i]"Heehee, I told ya!"[/i] he said grinning proudly holding his blade. [i]"Makes me a good hunter too!"[/i]

[i]"I am very proud of you all,"[/i] said Oddclaw hugging them together, [i]"you killed quite a beast, not many hunters as young as you could face a stonetail!"[/i]

[i]"We worked together,"[/i] Oddtooth sniffed raising his head, [i]"a hunter never huntth alone."[/i]

[i]"Uuuugh,"[/i] Skyfang pulled a face, [i]"could you not ruin this?"[/i]

[i]"What?!"[/i]

[i]"Alright alright let us enjoy our food,"[/i] Moonclaw pushed her snout between them, [i]"children which part would you like?"[/i]

[i]"OOOH, C-CAN WE HAVE FIREFOOD?!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw.

[i]"YEAH YEAH, FIREFOOD!"[/i] shouted Skyfang. [i]"Pleaaaase father?!"[/i]

[i]"Alriiiight,"[/i] Oddclaw put up his hands, [i]"you all did very good today, let me get some stone and bark."[/i]

[i]"YAAAAAY!"[/i]

[i]"This cave actually makes a good place to sleep,"[/i] Moonclaw nodded at her surroundings, [i]"we can rest here as well after our food."[/i]

[i]"I'm gonna get the meat!"[/i] Seaclaw rushed over to the corpse with his sword.

[i]"H-HEY,"[/i] Oddtooth rushed over, [i]"leave thome for uth!"[/i]

By the time the fire was ready, night had fallen as the mountain cave glowed with a tender paint of amber. The father had set up a basic grill with a long flat stone suspended over the fire where pieces of the ankylosaur were roasting neatly, the shadow of its corpse pressed up against the back wall, showing its bones exposed from the ribs that had been hollowed.

[i]"When is the food readyyyy?"[/i] whimpered Skyfang

[i]"I will tell you when,"[/i] said Oddclaw flipping the meat with a smaller stone, [i]"you wanted firefood it takes longer than just eating it."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmmmngh...tell us a story!"[/i]

[i]"YEAH YEAH A STORY!"[/i] Seaclaw thumped his tail. [i]"My tummy's gettin' growly!"[/i]

[i]"Alright alright,"[/i] he clapped his hands as the children sat in front of him. [i]"Once there was a lone hairless called Stonehunter. He travelled the land finding shiny stones that tribes many cycles before had left behind long after they died. These stones were special, for they carred the scents and scratches of their grandfathers and grandmothers, and Stonehunter wanted to find as many as he could so he could share with all the tribes."[/i]

[i]"Stone, hunter?"[/i] muttered Seaclaw.

[i]"Ithn't that juthht auntie Thand an' Leaf?"[/i] snorted Oddtooth.

[i]"PFFFT heeheehaha!"[/i]

[i]"One day,"[/i] their father continued, [i]"a female called Stone-Eyes came to him and spoke of the Sunbreath Stone, that was said to contain great power to any who could open it. But, there was another tribe known as the Bonebloods who were powerful, and had conquered many lands."[/i]

[i]"Bonebloods?"[/i] muttered Seaclaw cocking his head.

[i]"A group of hairless wrapped in the deep whose cruelty were feared throughout the lands. They planned to take the Sunbreath Stone for themselves, claiming that their blood was as pale as bone and would shine so great that they would kill all other tribes that were not as great as them."[/i]

[i]"Why they wanna do that?!"[/i] scoffed Skyfang. [i]"If you kill all the other tribes, then you uh, you got all that food left just rotting away!"[/i]

[i]"Oh they do not kill them for food,"[/i] said Oddclaw nodding sagely, [i]"they wanted to be the only tribe left in the land!"[/i]

[i]"Well that sounds horrible,"[/i] muttered Moonclaw, [i]"and stupid if they have no mates from outside their own tribe left to breed with."[/i]

[i]"And that is why Stonehunter needed to stop them. But the Bonebloods had chased Stone-Eyes and led them to Stonehunter in the cold deep mountains! But, Stonehunter had a fearsome vine he always kept with him, that could lash out with the strength of skyfire and strike them down!"[/i]

[i]"OOOOOH!"[/i]

[i]"AH, food is ready, let us eat!"[/i]

[i]"But, wh-what about Thtonehunter!?"[/i] Oddtooth flapped his teeny arms.

[i]"Paaaaatience,"[/i] Oddclaw pulled off the roasted beasts, [i]"I will tell you all after we have eaten, and remember say nothing about this to your grandmother."[/i]

[i]"Okayyyy!"[/i]

They each took a fried compy and feasted eagerly on the meat, cooked to a golden-brown as they savoured the juices that dripped down their lips. Moonclaw ate up her food in three bites, almost choking from how fast she snapped it up with a ravenous pant and a luscious lick of her snout.

[i]"Mmmmmhhhh...ohhh I missed how you burn the food."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhahaha,"[/i] Oddclaw smooched her face, [i]"another good reason for us to journey together yes?"[/i]

[i]"Oh absolutely, anything to get away from your mother."[/i]

[i]"Why don' you like grandma?"[/i] Skyfang asked.

[i]"Because I disagree with a lot of things she says. That does not mean you should, that is just me."[/i]

[i]"Oh, okay father can you tell us more story?!"[/i]

[i]"Yah pleaaase?"[/i] Seaclaw bounced his fists.

[i]"Alright alright,"[/i] Oddclaw finished cleaning out the compy's chest with tearing jaws, [i]"so, Stonehunter was in the cold mountains, the bonebloods tried to grab Stone-Eyes for what she knew but his vine struck out and grabbed their fire from their claws!"[/i]

[i]"OOOOOH!"[/i]

His shadow danced on the wall as he acted out the story with whipping strikes of imaginary strength, bringing the children into his world briefly between their numerous questions until they were too tired to keep listening. Riptor watched all of this from the cave mouth, sitting on her belly with rapt attention at Oddclaw's zestful tale, delighting the children with brutal descriptions of enemies being dismembered by a heroic creature of pragmatic skill. She snuck off once they went to bed and found herself a quiet secluded pit to curl up from prying eyes beneath the dark night sky where the river of stars twisted between the edge of the forest trees and the grand impervious mountain range.

In the early morning she saw Seaclaw once again, his small scaled body shining like sweetwater in the sunrise where shadows crossed between the trees below and the mountains above. A child amongst giants searching for a spot to relieve himself at as Riptor waited until he was done.

[i]"Good morning!"[/i] She peeked out of her sleeping hole. [i]"Told you we'd see each other again."[/i]

[i]"Heehee,"[/i] Seaclaw waved and waddled over to her, [i]"how're you Rumble?!"[/i]

[i]"Great, I slept well, how about you?"[/i]

[i]"Great! Father told me stories an' made f-firefood!"[/i]

[i]"Fire food?"[/i] she hopped out of the old tree.

[i]"Yah, he puts food on a stick, over a fire an' then it gets all hot-!"[/i]

[i]"So you burn the food?"[/i]

[i]"Yah!"[/i] Seaclaw rubbed his tummy. [i]"It tastes sooooo GOOD, y-you should try it!"[/i]

[i]"I don't use fire, not for food anyway,"[/i] she turned her head with slitted eye.

[i]"I-i could make you some, if you had some food!"[/i]

[i]"Really? Won't that take a while, your parents would be worried."[/i]

[i]"Nah,"[/i] he shrugged, [i]"I had to mark so I got up reaaaaally early...soooo, you want me to make you firefood?"[/i]

[i]"Hmmmm..."[/i] she felt her stomach twitch and shook her head, [i]"alright, I'll hunt it, you burn it."[/i]

[i]"Yay!"[/i]

Putting together a small stone circle, Seaclaw started a fire with cracking flint scattering sparks over dry wood as Riptor returned with a small dead compsognathid. The child placed its body upon a flat stone and let it simmer, turning it over with a smaller flat stone carefully as Riptor watched curious from the scents.

[i]"Have you done this before Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Uhhh, a few,"[/i] he muttered looking up, [i]"my father taught me how to do it."[/i]

[i]"Do you burn your food often?"[/i]

[i]"Nah-uh, grandma hates when we do it, she says it's un-natural."[/i]

[i]"Hahaha, well..."[/i] she shrugged with smile, [i]"you have to admit no other raptor burns their food."[/i]

[i]"Yah but...no one else in mah tribe's got scales like my mother an' brother do, but nobody minds them."[/i]

[i]"Well they're born that way, but doing this?"[/i] she pointed at the spit. [i]"This is something you chose to do, not something you were born to."[/i]

[i]"Mmmm...but it's good, why wouldn't grandma like it?"[/i]

[i]"Maybe she's afraid of the fire."[/i]

[i]"Well, yah, it's dangerous,"[/i] Seaclaw nodded, [i]"but we all got claws that kill things an' they're dangerous too, but grandma says we can playfight with 'em."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm..."[/i] Riptor scratched her chin, [i]"I think the reason your grandmother doesn't like this fire is because she cannot control it. Your claws you can control, you can stop from ripping someone's throat out at the last moment, but fire you cannot."[/i]

[i]"Yah you can,"[/i] he said pointing at it, [i]"that's why I put the stones round it, so it can't get out."[/i]

[i]"But does your grandmother know that?"[/i]

[i]"Yah, father told her but she doesn't believe him!"[/i]

[i]"Well maybe she's just old and fretful."[/i]

[i]"My mother's old as she is but she's not afraid of fire."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i]

[i]"Food's ready!"[/i]

He grabbed the spit carefully and pulled the creature off it, taking a leg for himself with the rest of it he handed over to Riptor who started eating. The taste was surprising to her, stiffer in its muscle but the nutrients that poured out in thick juices were rhapsodic to her tongue as she shuddered at the rich taste.

[i]"MMMMPH! OH, delicious!"[/i]

[i]"Yah SEE, I told ya!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhahaha, alright alright you told me,"[/i] she nipped his head with meaty lips, [i]"mmmmph I'm tasting so much MORE out of this, not just the blood and sinew but also every other little thing inside the meat!"[/i]

[i]"Yahuh, it's the BEST!"[/i] he tore into the leg with a ripping shred. [i]"Mmmmph juicy!"[/i]

[i]"Hhha ha, juicy indeed it's like meaty water!"[/i]

[i]"YAH, meatwater!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, oh that sounds gross."[/i]

[i]"Heeheh, heeh, yah like just water FULL of meat floatin' eeeeverywhere!"[/i]

[i]"Well that's just fish isn't it?"[/i] she tore into the stomach and gulped it in half.

[i]"OH, yah yer right!"[/i] Seaclaw grinned chomping deep into the thigh. [i]"I don' eat fish though, my uncle does!"[/i]

[i]"Really, you don't eat fish at all?"[/i]

[i]"Nah-uh, one of my friends is a fish, so I don' feel right eatin' any. Stonefish are good tho, they're really MMM crunchy!"[/i]

[i]"Hhhah, I don't mind eating fish,"[/i] she tore out the lungs and snapped them down, [i]"mmmmh but I enjoys mammals the most."[/i]

[i]"Whussa mammul?"[/i]

[i]"Uh...warmbloods."[/i]

[i]"OH, yah!"[/i] Seaclaw turned the leg over to eat the other side. [i]"Mmmmhhh, I don' eat 'em much, I don't like the hair so mothrr always takes the hair off fer me."[/i]

[i]"Just rip the skin off and peel it back,"[/i] she shrugged, [i]"the hair you pull off to get into the meat, don't keep the hair on!"[/i]

[i]"I knoooow but, it's so haaard to pull iiit,"[/i] he tugged at the roasted flesh weakly, [i]"father doesn't like the hair either, but he's strong so he can like do it himself."[/i]

[i]"Well one day you'll be as strong as him."[/i]

[i]"You think so Rumble?"[/i]

[i]"I know so, Seaclaw."[/i] Riptor smiled licking his cheek. [i]"You're a strange raptor but...I think sometimes, we all need a little strangeness in our lives just to make us think. I'm glad we met."[/i]

[i]"I'm happy too!"[/i] He grinned up at her stripping the last meat off the bone. [i]"Yer kinda odd too, but a good-odd, like my father! I hope you'll be friends with us one day."[/i]

[i]"I hope so too...when I'm ready."[/i]

Seaclaw stood up to hug her, the raptor flinching slightly but not as much as she did before as he wrapped his arms around her neck and nuzzled her body. She chuckled curious with a soft nip at his head that made him squeeze tighter before he released. Seeing she was finished with her food he dumped a clod of dirt onto the fire to snuff it out and clapped his hands.

[i]"I hafta go now, will you be okay?"[/i]

[i]"I think I'll be fine,"[/i] she purred, [i]"be good to your family alright?"[/i]

[i]"Yah I will, you be safe too Rumble, g'bye!"[/i]

[i]"Goodbye."[/i]

The boy waved her off as he walked back to the cave his family slept in, surging with zest from his breakfast as Riptor sat herself down facing towards the ocean on the other side of the mountains. The cool clear breeze tasted sweeter from the higher range as she closed her eyes and found herself napping.

[i]"Sleeping well?"[/i] said the voice in her ear.

[i]"Mmmhh?!"[/i] She blinked with a snort. [i]"S-sulphide, is...yes, I did."[/i]

[i]"I'm glad to hear. How is your little friend?"[/i]

[i]"He is...doing well, he actually roasted food for me and it was...quite delicious."[/i]

[i]"Well that is wonderful, you seem to be getting along like you were his auntie."[/i]

[i]"...well."[/i] She looked up to her right. [i]"You turned around quickly to this plan."[/i]

[i]"I suppose I just had to realise that you were right, as always."[/i]

[i]"Don't do that,"[/i] she scoffed, [i]"what did I tell you about just following me blindly Sulphide, I don't want worshippers, I want a pack, we're not humans."[/i]

[i]"Of course of course, my apologies,"[/i] said the syrupy voice trickling through her ear, [i]"but you do have plans for this Oddclaw yes?"[/i]

[i]"Of course I do...I think after their hunting is done I will start making movements into their pack with Seaclaw's help, he'll introduce me, I'll acclimatise but first I need to clear with you a good excuse for being away from them, so I can still traverse back and forth."[/i]

[i]"It is rather difficult in this situation...have you considered moving some of ours closer, like on the continent you're on?"[/i]

[i]"I...hmm."[/i] She cocked her head looking up. [i]"You're awfully complacent today Sulphide, normally you'd never think to separate us more."[/i]

[i]"Well there are going to be many of us soon,"[/i] said his voice, [i]"as big as our new island home is, if we are to make plans to intersect with Oddclaw's pack then we should at least have a base of operations for you to work from for all the time you spend over there."[/i]

[i]"Unless this is just an excuse for you to remain at my side at all times."[/i]

[i]"Would that be a problem?"[/i]

[i]"...no,"[/i] she sighed shaking her head, [i]"of course not, but it does mean we have to allocate leaderships beyond us."[/i]

[i]"You can figure all that when you return, my leader."[/i]

[i]"Alright. Take care, I will speak with you again soon-"[/i]

[i]"Hello."[/i]

Riptor stiffened from a female voice that came behind as Sulphide's voice disappeared. Turning slowly she looked upon Moonclaw who stood at her full imposing height.

[i]"Can I help you?"[/i] she asked back.

[i]"Perhaps,"[/i] the old raptor stepped forwards, [i]"you are the one that my son was speaking to this morning yes?"[/i]

[i]"Ah! So you are Seaclaw's mother,"[/i] Riptor bowed courteous, [i]"I'm honoured to meet you, your son's told me many things about you."[/i]

[i]"Of course he has. So you know as his mother I have to worry about him."[/i]

[i]"Oho yes but don't worry,"[/i] Riptor shook her head, [i]"he's been very sweet to a lonely beast such as me, I'm just passing through."[/i]

[i]"Hmm."[/i]

She walked a full slow circle around the newcomer with dark crimson pupils gazing over every piece of metal within her body.

[i]"Seems journeys have changed from when I used to wander before."[/i]

[i]"Yes?"[/i] Riptor kept still.

[i]"Because normally they do not take a cycle to wander around the same lands before moving on."[/i]

[i]"Well it's not the destination but the journey right?"[/i]

[i]"I disagree, the entirety of a journey, is the destination. So I have to ask, why would a stranger stay so close to my tribe and only ever speak with my son?"[/i]

[i]"Did you not hear me speak with someone else?"[/i]

[i]"And where are they now?"[/i] Moonclaw stopped in front of her. [i]"A hunter that speaks to themselves is not a hunter I would trust."[/i]

[i]"Your son trusts me,"[/i] she leaned forwards, [i]"or do you doubt him too?"[/i]

[i]"My son is young and naive, do NOT use him against me."[/i]

[i]"I'm sorry but,"[/i] Riptor cleared her throat and stretched, [i]"your son has given me such kindness and yet here you are being rather rude."[/i]

[i]"Because he does not know what creatures can do,"[/i] the grey beast snarled with a twitch in her cheek, [i]"you are from the tribe beyond the deep mountain yes?"[/i]

[i]"Why yes I am so-"[/i]

[i]"Then may I ask why did you leave?"[/i]

[i]"Well that is my business not yours-"[/i]

[i]"Were you banished or did you choose to leave?"[/i]

[i]"I don't think you have-"[/i]

[i]"And who were you speaking with if no one is there?"[/i]

[i]"Moonclaw please you are hardly-NNNGH!"[/i]

She shoved Riptor back with a hard thrust of her head against her chest, knocking her down briefly in surprise as Moonclaw leaned over her with full razor teeth.

[i]"You say you journey but you never leave, you say you have no friends but you speak to someone that is not there, and you somehow know what to call me."[/i]

[i]"Your son told me, obviously."[/i]

[i]"And why would he tell you that? What reason would you have to even ask?"[/i]

[i]"It's called conversation, you should try it some time, maybe you'd have more children if you did-H-HNNnngh!"[/i]

The mother stomped her foot upon Riptor's crotch, raking her claws dangerously close towards her cloaca.

[i]"I have more children than you ever will, if you speak to me like that again you little shit."[/i]

[i]"Hmph, jealous?"[/i] Riptor forced a grin. [i]"You shouldn't be, three eggs is a fine accomplishment for your age, even one is astonishing."[/i]

[i]"How DARE you-WHUH!"[/i]

She staggered as Riptor swished her long tail between her legs and threw her foot aside to make her fall. The ultraraptor stood up and cricked her neck as Moonclaw snorted leaping back on her feet.

[i]"Not often anyone can get me on my back,"[/i] said Riptor, [i]"I can see why Oddclaw took you for a mate."[/i]

[i]"Then know this,"[/i] Moonclaw scraped her foot along the dirt, [i]"if you ever come near my family again, I will kill you. I will make certain none of your remains are ever found unless you leave this land."[/i]

[i]"Awwww but what about your son?"[/i] she simpered with mocking lip.

[i]"Friends come and go every day. He will understand if you leave without saying goodbye, which will happen either way when I tell my mate also what you have been doin-"[/i]

[i]"What?!"[/i] Riptor bared her fangs before realising her mistake.

[i]"Oh...that changed your look."[/i] Moonclaw smiled with a chuckle down her throat. [i]"Now why would you care if my mate knows about you?"[/i]

[i]"Nothing, obviously but fine, fine I will not speak to your son ever again-"[/i]

[i]"AND my family, that means all of them-"[/i]

[i]"In return you say nothing about this,"[/i] Riptor stomped her foot, [i]"I leave, you keep quiet-"[/i]

[i]"Shut, UP!"[/i] Moonclaw barked. [i]"I will tell my mate whatever I wish to tell him and there is NOTHING you can do except either leave or DIE like the childless mongrel you are!"[/i]

[i]"MONGREL?!"[/i]

Her head shook with venomous bile welling in her stomach as Moonclaw looked up behind her.

[i]"I...am far purer than you ever could hope to be, the only reason YOU even have children is because Oddclaw managed to reach that far back inside your dust-ridden CUNT for the last three eggs you'll ever make in your life!"[/i]

[i]"What is that?"[/i] she whispered.

[i]"Oh don't even start with that trick on me you stupid old bitch, that might work on your grandson Seaclaw but not ME!"[/i]

[i]"No, no no no no, NO!"[/i]

[i]"What, what are you-"[/i]

She felt the rumbling before she turned. Moonclaw ran and Riptor stood before the awakening tear that cracked and shuddered above the sea. She had seen this twice before, but now instead of shock she found curiosity beckoning her towards it as she stepped to the edge of the cliff. The pull of the tear felt magnetic, her body vibrating deep within her steel structures that she felt almost as if it would tear her in pieces as she tried to step back. The waters of the ocean rose up into a spiral, twisting to a moebius strip as her eyes widened.

Moonclaw never looked back, hurrying down the slope of the hill as she felt her heart thumping ruthless against her chest, a prisoner in its cage screaming as she staggered and gasped towards her mate.

[i]"D-DANGER, DANGER!"[/i]

[i]"WH-what what happened?!"[/i] Oddclaw rushed up to her.

[i]"CHILDREN, WH-WHERE ARE THEY?!"[/i]

[i]"In the cave, what is ha-"[/i]

BHHHRRNNNNN!

The shockwave flattened trees and threw them both down against each other, bursting with volcanic force as the sounds of screeching beasts all reverberated at once with confusion and fright throughout the continent. Both of them ran towards the cave where they saw Seaclaw stumbling out into his father's arms.

[i]"WH-WHUT'S, WHUT'S GOING ON?!"[/i]

[i]"STAY WITH YOUR MOTHER I WILL RETURN!"[/i] He quickly stepped into the cave as Moonclaw pulled her son close.

[i]"M-MUH, MUMMYYY!"[/i]

[i]"DO NOT LEAVE MY SIDE WHATEVER HAPPENS, ODDCLAW HURRY!"[/i]

Staggering through the single cavern he grabbed the walls as he saw the fearful shapes of his feral son and daughter.

[i]"WH-WHAT'TH GOING ON?!"[/i]

[i]"M-MY EARS HURT, A-AAAAOOOWWW!"[/i]

[i]"THIS WAY,"[/i] Oddclaw shouted, [i]"DO NOT RUN, WALK SLOWLY AND KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!"[/i]

The family stuck tight against the ground as the stones trembled around their feet, feeling a presence loom above with deep monstrous drone that burned their ears as Seaclaw clutched his head shivering as the noise grew louder. Then came the earth-shattering crunch of something heavy colliding with the mountain, a force so volatile that it shook the Greatbeast's Spine through half its range and threw the raptors hard to the ground before tearing cracks filled the earth around them. Moonclaw staggered towards the cave with Seaclaw clinging to her tight as she shrieked towards her mate, trying to guide him through the blurring vision of the world falling apart from around them until she felt one of her feet slip through. She was too slow to jump, a hole filling out from underneath the mouth of the cave that suddenly swallowed her and Seaclaw into the depths, plummeting down a slope as Oddclaw bolted suddenly.

[i]"MOONCLAWWWWW!"[/i]

He briefly saw her just before the darkness swallowed them. His shock was delayed only when he heard his children cry from behind as they felt the crumbling of stone.

[i]"F-FA, F-FATHER, FATHER HEEELP!"[/i]

[i]"I-I CAN'T THEE, I CAN'T-A-AAAAAAGH!"[/i]

Stumbling back he made a lunging run to grab whatever he could of them before they fell, but in turn he realised too late the crackling ripples that hurried to meet him as the ridge widened throughout the cave which split in half through its middle. Skyfang fell first, then her brother when she tried to grab his tail to which their father just managed to wrap his hands around his head in a desperate rush to pull them up as their combined weight weakened the floor beneath his legs and sent him falling to the abyss. Throughout all of this Riptor had braced herself against the shortest squat stones and wedged her body between to resist the tremors that tore through the mountain range as peaks toppled to fall down to the plains sending clouds of dust that covered the ridge. Once the shudders had stopped, she looked over the edge of the cliif and blinked at something that had fallen beneath. Deep under the sea was a shadow, a grand monstrous thing that nestled against the base of the mountain that she tried to discern before walking over to where the cave once stood and clenching her chest.

[i]"...shit."[/i]

Two giant holes had fallen into separate slopes, one heading south and the other due west amongst the remnants of the cave that had half-collapsed on itself. She sniffed out the scent for who had fallen where, realising Moonclaw and Seaclaw had gone down the hole leading south.

[i]"Ohhhh...what...no. No this...this is just...GUH!"[/i]

She stomped with a sudden snarl and screeched her frustration to the sky whilst the dust settled round her feet.

[i]"What was that THING and why did it...why did it come NOW, what are these freak portals like that bloated fat SHIT that ate my island up!? The humans must be doing this...something, whatever theyr'e doing I know they're causing this, but they jus-...they...they do not plan these surely, they didn't know this was where Oddclaw was going to be, were they?"[/i]

Peering over the hole Riptor shook her head as ideas churned within. The scent of Moonclaw reminded her as she peered to the other hole where Oddclaw's scent had gone in.

[i]"If she tells Oddclaw about me...then...my plan would go to ruin,"[/i] she started pacing between the holes, [i]"I can't get close to him if she calls me some deranged loner, he would listen to anything she says! I have to convince her...stupid old bitch, I have to do something to change her mind, if I can just get in good favour with her then maybe I have a chance. Yes. Yes this is the best chance I have before they find each other, if I wait now I'll never get a chance to speak to him before she does!"[/i]

She stepped towards the hole and put out one foot over the edge.

[i]"...what, am I doing?"[/i]

Despite asking this, she leapt into the chasm and went skidding down the slope that had formed within the earthquake. Her mind raced with trepidation as she bared her teeth and slid through the stone pebbles underfoot into the depths of the mountain. Her chest tightened with a new pain almost twisting to her heart.