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Unresolved Paths

One

"I have a recorded, private message from General Zaron to you, Commander."

Several minutes had passed since Keana's announcement. Minutes during which the terrorclaw listened and seemingly absorbed the contents of the message he had received. Around him on the Bridge, the rest of his crew prepared for the next jump into the Tachyon stream. Even when the terrorclaw had not raised an alert, Grell could sense the communication Darkthunder had received was far from a routine Patrol report.

The armorback had lived with his terrorclaw partner long enough - and as a soldier under Darkthunder's command before that - to be able to feel the carnivore's thoughts just by looking at him. Despite the calm look in his face, the terrorclaw was wrestling with numerous thoughts and possibly disjointed feelings. The armorback had noticed the sudden, quick rise of his partner's feathered crest. He could see Darkthunder thinking, pondering the contents of the sudden message the same way he studied the enemies before he would coordinate an attack.

Grell glanced at his controls to check the ship's position as the Tarrakhan proceeded to its calculated location for the next Tachyon jump. "Ship on course," he announced with his regular deep and calm voice. "All systems nominal."

"Acknowledged," Darkthunder said, breaking his silence. "Terminate jump procedures, Lieutenant Grell."

"Terminate, sir?" Grell said, feigning not to have noticed the terrorclaw's reactions. As much concern as he had for whatever was troubling his partner, he did not want to alert the rest of the Bridge's crew of whatever was amiss for their Commander. "Did I hear you right?"

"Yes. There has been a change in our immediate plans. Prepare the ship for a different set of coordinates."

Grell waved his hands over his entire navigational course. "The main systems are already engaged in our current course, Commander. I will have to shut them down and switch to the next inline backup. That will take some time."

"Proceed as you need to do, navigator. But please do as instructed."

Grell nodded, and switched his attention to his console as he began the necessary steps to carry out the terrorclaw's order. "Yes, sir. Executing jump cancellation procedures." Even as he proceeded to do as ordered, he could not help but notice how calm Darkthunder seemed. Normally, the Commander would start barking orders, his voice taking a higher pitch from his usual eagerness to get his orders followed.

The terrorclaw turned to address his crew. "All hands, prepare for system checks for new Tachyon jump destination."

As expected, all archosaurs on the Bridge turned to glance briefly at Darkthunder before resuming their tasks after acknowledging the order. Grell continued working with his console. His thick arms and hands glided effortlessly over the touch-sensitive controls with the usual grace and dexterity the armorback had demonstrated innumerable times during his time in the Tarrakhan. Eventually, the soft hum of the Tachyon engines subsided as the Tarrakhan decelerated, until the only movement left was of the ship drifting slowly through space, carried by its own inertia. "Powering down Tachyon systems to minimum and leaving them ready for new coordinates. Current bank of Tachyon computers are switching to stand by mode; next backup systems coming up online. "

The other archosaurs followed the navigator's calm voice, as each one announced the conditions of the systems under their watch. Apparently satisfied that everything was normal after acknowledging their messages, the terrorclaw turned to face Grell. Once again, Grell could notice that something was not right, even when the terrorclaw's expression was that of his usual calm and calculating self that always was in command of a Patrol ship.

Darkthunder touched one of his screens as he spoke. "I am sending some coordinates to your station, navigator. Prepare the ship for a jump towards that location. I am leaving all parameters of the Tachyon jump at your discretion, but make sure the Tarrakhan is on course as quickly as possible."

Something was definitely amiss, Grell thought. It was not for Darkthunder to let even an experienced navigator to decide how to approach a Tachyon jump. Acknowledging the order, Grell turned to do as requested. He quickly arched his head and neck back upon looking at the coordinates on his screen.

"Excuse me, Commander, but... are you sure these numbers are correct? I had never seen the likes of them before. I'm checking my navigational charts, but these coordinates do not correspond to anything that I have listed in here."

"There is a target there, I can assure you. Transfer the numbers into your course plotter, and apply the Patrol translation protocol I sent you with them. Store the result in one of your restricted navigational memory locations so that the Tarrakhan can return to that location after the task is complete."

"Yes, sir. But I still don't see how this is going to -" The armorback did not finish his observation. His console reacted as usual; all his instruments lighted up as the computers began to execute the calculations for the jump with their usual, infallible logic. "Well, I'll be a dumb hatchling. We have a Tachyon exit point! I guess we're really going somewhere."

"Commit the computers to full execution, Lieutenant. There will be no abort from this jump."

A female groundthumper, the ship's First Officer, turned to address Darkthunder. "Forgive my concerns, Commander, but this is highly unusual. What is our mission?"

"There is no mission, Lieutenant Namura. This is a very personal matter concerning only this ship's Commander. General Zaron has authorized it. Although I don't think the old deathjaw had much of a choice. I grant you permission to verify the matter personally if you have any concerns." Darkthunder turned to his console; his three-fingered hand glided smoothly over the smooth surface as he transferred some information to his First Officer's screen. The terrorclaw turned to face Grell again. "Proceed as instructed."

"Yes, sir," Grell said again, his hands once more working the navigational console as he steered the Tarrakhan into position for the jump.

The armorback was glad Darkthunder gave him full discretion on his navigational actions. He turned to look at Darkthunder. Even when the terrorclaw's eyes were fully open, he seemed like he was not staring at whatever lied directly ahead of his eyes. He had seen that stance before, when the carnivore switched part of his conscious mind into that of a primal trance. It made him somewhat oblivious to his surroundings, but at that moment, it was a luxury the terrorclaw could afford. Grell knew better than try to get him to snap out of it unless it was necessary.

Others had noticed the terrorclaw's trance in the Bridge. Grell sighed softly as the voice of a plateback sitting behind him reached his ear holes.

"Does it ever feel odd having to address your own partner as your superior?"

"Far from it, Maleek," Grell said as he stared at his console, adjusting his systems for the upcoming Tachyon jump. "Both he and I are fully aware that our personal lives are to be placed on hold when we are on duty. I only see this ship's Commander sitting up there on that chair."

"But aren't you glad that you and him are not at odds like before?"

"I guess you haven't been paying attention to all the critical things Darkthunder has said to me whenever I haven't piloted the ship right as he expected. Or the way he ordered me to carry out his instructions during the last ground operations." The armorback cursed softly as he turned to address an unexpected change in one of his navigational parameters. "And what's with this interest in our lives, anyway?"

Maleek shrugged. "Many in this ship expected one of you to be out of this ship after you became a mated pair. Little, intransigent carnivore. Big, brutish, and equally rude herbivore. Yet somehow, you two seem to work it out. I'll confess I was one of those that thought you two wouldn't last."

"Well, thank you for the compliment, you dumb plateback. But in case you still have doubts, we're still together. And our relationship stands stronger than the day I asked him to join me."

"It seems so, even after all you two have gone through. I'm sure our last missions were not easy for Darkthunder. I'm pleased it appears that everything has been resolved satisfactorily for everyone involved, though I can't shake the feeling there are some unresolved paths."

Grell nodded. "After what we lost... I think I needed him more than he needed me. As strong as he is, I think my presence has helped him."

"I think he was very grateful for that thing built in to you."

The armorback let the bony part of his tail drop to the floor with a thud. "Fuck off, Maleek. Darkthunder and I are married, and that's the extent of what anyone needs to know! I'm glad he made sure that nobody aboard this ship can hear what happens in our quarters anymore."

The plateback lifted both hands to apologize. "Sorry. I can't help if I have a bit of a dirty mind, although I don't float the same way you do. There's this lovely plateback nurse on Deck Seven that I want to ask out some day and have hatchlings with her. But what I'm trying to say is... you know Darkthunder better than anyone here in the Bridge. What could possibly be in his mind? And where could we possibly be headed right now?"

"Darned if I know. Something is really bothering him after he received that message. I have no idea what the contents may be, but I can feel it is somehow related to him as a terrorclaw." Grell turned to his console. "Well, this is odd. I don't have coordinates listed. The panel is off." He touched a few spots in his panel. "It won't come up. But the ship is moving, and -"

The armorback's words were cut off as his console began chirping rapidly. "Tachyon engines are fully operational. Inertia shields online. We are ready for the jump, Commander!"

The terrorclaw rose from his chair, fully alert. "Vi sekh mahr. Engage engines."

"Accelerating for jump," the armorback shouted as he engaged the Tachyon engines to their full power. "We are at ninety-eight... ninety-nine... one hundred! Tachyon portal opening... and... jump!"

The Tarrakhan shook for an instant, a normal consequence of leaving the universe the archosaurs lived in, and into the foreign space that made their fast travel possible. In a now familiar sight for the archosaurs, the navigational screen once again filled with multicolored strands as the ship's shields deflected the alien particles within the Tachyon stream.

"All harmonic oscillation dampers are fully engaged. Post jump calculations are complete. We are firmly inside a Tachyon stream."

"Acknowledged, Grell. Best possible speed to our destination." Darkthunder turned towards his First Officer. "Lieutenant Namura."

"Yes, sir?" the female groundthumper asked.

"The command seat is yours. I'm appointing you to the relief Commander position, effective immediately." The terrorclaw paused, apparently gauging the surprised looks from his entire crew as everyone turned in unison to stare at Darkthunder. "Until an official return to active duty is determined, you are completely in charge of this ship and crew."

Grell's eyes were wide open, his jaw partially open in disbelief. Darkthunder... is quitting the Patrol!?

Namura bowed and saluted, even when the shock was still clear in her face. "Yes, sir!"

The old snouthorn in the science station got up from his seat and walked to stand in direct view of Darkthunder.

"I'm sorry, sir," K'hamal asked, somewhat concerned. "But this is a very sudden and unexpected notification. Is there any trouble we could assist you with?"

"No, my good snouthorn. This is nothing that anyone in the Patrol or the rest of the Alliance can help me solve. I've just been asked to... step out of the Patrol for some time." His eyes locked on Grell, who still tried to make sense of the sudden events. "I will be in my quarters from this moment on. Carry on."

Everyone stared at the departing terrorclaw as he turned, then walked away from the Bridge with his usual calm and purposeful stride.

Keana watched as Darkthunder left the Bridge, and then turned immediately to look at the armorback. "Now what was all that about? Grell? Where in Maia's hallowed eggs are we headed?"

Grell shook his head, confused. For an instant, the entire navigational console failed to make any sense at all, as he wrestled with his own feelings. He tried to force them out of his mind as he began working the instruments. "Damned if I know. Those coordinates he gave me made no sense. Let me see if I can get some information on what our scheduled exit point is located." The armorback cursed in frustration. "Fuck! There's nothing! And I'm even locked out of some of my instruments! It's not only as if we were headed to some uncharted location, but the system is trying to keep it that way."

"Uncharted? What is there in Alliance territory that is uncharted?"

Namura brayed softly as she finally found the key in the message Darkthunder had received. "We're going to the terrorclaw homeworld."

* * *

Darkthunder stared at the colored streaks outside his room's window as the Tarrakhan traversed the Tachyon stream.

Like almost anyone in the Patrol, the strange lights always seemed to him bring comfort and awe, whenever one could forget about the mechanics and the reason for their existence. However, they had failed to do so on that particular moment. There was only one place in his mind right then. Only one thought as to what he was to do - to live as a terrorclaw.

Terrorclaw.

Somehow, the word filled him with dread. A preposterous situation, given that he had been born as one. He had held his head high, proud of his species, despite the resentful stares, the insults and the prejudices he had endured. He had taken on the challenges and obstacles place on his Path as he made his way among the other archosaurs. He earned respect and accolades from his peers, and rewarded with the command of a respected vessel. Better yet, he had earned the undying love of a strong, gentle archosaur.

Now... it was the end of everything. The existence he had come to know - and desire - would be no more.

Living among the archosaurs had initially been a shocking, brutal change. A different set of behaviors and speech only served to trip him from the beginning. An existence relying more on the technological advancements of a vast conglomerate of species, than in the primal instincts that terrorclaws held dear. Darkthunder had adapted to every aspect of it. He had come to embrace the archosaur existence. Perhaps, he even preferred a life inside a small, metallic and artificial world to the vast, warm expanses of his pack's territory.

Darkthunder stared at his faint reflection on the window. There, on his right shoulder - the only colored mark in his dark, unusual body that was not natural.

A tattoo. The mark of the Ssresh-Mahren.

Hunters of the river valley, in his terrorclaw language.

He still was one of them. Even when thousands of light-units away from his homeworld, he was still one of the pack.

And they wanted him back.

Temporarily, perhaps. He hoped so; General Zaron had said he was giving Darkthunder an undetermined stay from all Patrol duties. The deathjaw said nothing about discharging Darkthunder from the Patrol. Even the actual recording from his pack elders said nothing about the conditions for his return, only that they were recalling him for important matters related to the pack.

The terrorclaw tried to hold to the thought that he would return to life in the Patrol - even as he knew his return to the pack could well be permanent.

Darkthunder turned his head and neck slightly as the pneumatic hiss of the cabin door announced someone was entering the room. There was only one who could come in unannounced. Darkthunder was not even surprised to see Grell already naked. He most probably had shed his uniform outside, inside the privacy buffer he had ordered built after word reached him about his crew gathering outside whenever he and Grell sought to partake in the intimacy of their relationship.

The armorback stared at Darkthunder for a few heartbeats, seemingly trying to focus on something to say. His next words caught the terrorclaw completely off guard; his crest feathers shot upwards upon hearing the words.

"Ket nah'kk gatriak, t'kre'k'k?"

The words were clear, even if spoken slightly wrong. What is not good, my soul mate?

Darkthunder turned to look at his large partner with surprise. "When did you learn to speak terrorclaw?"

Grell smiled as he walked slowly towards the dark-skinned hunter. "Well, I haven't really learned it. At least, not enough to hold a meaningful conversation with you. I've only been learning it whenever possible. When things get rather slow in the Bridge during Tachyon jumps has usually been a good time."

"I have not heard anything from your console."

Grell tapped an empty spot next to his right ear hole. "I beam the lessons to my earpiece. But damned be the moment that you little carnivores refused to adopt standard archosaur speak. You meat eaters make it very difficult for my throat; I can't pronounce some of the sharpest and shrilling phonemes, as you surely just noticed."

Darkthunder snorted, feigning indifference even as he really appreciated the gesture. "You could have used the time for more far productive tasks. Maybe learn something from K'hamal. You probably could become a good substitute science officer, if there ever was a need for it."

"I was appointed as Navigator. I pilot this ship, and I fight when I have to. That is all the Patrol wants or needs from me. Besides, I figured that if I'm to know you better, I should learn your native language." The armorback forced a smile. "Maybe that way I can understand what you are screaming when I split your tailhole wide open when we mate. And it seems all the more fitting now, considering what our next destination is going to be."

The terrorclaw's crest rose again. "Why do you infer we are going to my home planet?"

Grell shrugged and smiled. "Intuition? Coordinates that make no sense, yet the Tarrakhan accepted, now locked from view from anyone? There are only a couple worlds I can recall whose locations are kept secret from anyone below Zaron's rank. And the fact that my Commander is quite upset about something, and temporarily rescinds his ship and rank to his First Officer, doesn't really point to any other conclusion."

Darkthunder sighed and turned to look out to the window again. He felt the strong hands of his lover holding him, before Grell lifted his snout gently.

"What is bothering you, Darkie?" Grell asked, somewhat concerned. "Aren't you pleased to visit your kind? Maybe also have one more hunt with them?"

Darkthunder sighed. "Can I lie?"

"You could, I guess. But given the circumstances and what you just said, lying would be obvious."

"It is... my pack. They are requesting my presence."

"What for?"

"They wouldn't say. Other than it is very important."

"What could be so important? We were still in the middle of a tour of duty. I'm surprised that Zaron didn't ask them to wait until -"

The terrorclaw growled softly. "There can be no waiting where the terrorclaws are concerned. Zaron gave me a leave from my duties. So I must follow."

"And he's letting you abandoning your duties to the Patrol? Just like that?"

"No, I'm still Commander of this ship. My leave of absence is... indefinite. That is all that you need to know. You will remain aboard the ship and help Lieutenant Namura until my eventual return."

The gentle hold from his huge lover disappeared as the armorback took two steps back, seemingly stunned by what Darkthunder said. "Wait... you are leaving me here?"

"You still have your duties to the Patrol."

Why can't I follow you there?"

"Other than the select traders that had been authorized to visit on approved occasions, no other archosaur is allowed in the terrorclaw world. Not even the Archosaur General or any of the Archons of the Species Circle can place a foot inside my planet without the right permits. It will only be a temporary stay until I resolve whatever affairs my pack needs from me."

Grell closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief. "No. Forgive me, Darkthunder. I don't think you are lying to me, but you are not giving me the complete picture, either!"

"Grell... I assure you, I am not leaving you out of my own choice! I just have no say in this matter."

"No, no. No! I'm sorry, but I refuse to accept this. You can't just up and leave me without an explanation!"

"The affairs of terrorclaws are our own. You archosaurs are not to be involved."

Grell lifted his hands in the air, shaking them violently as he turned to walk away from Darkthunder as anger seemingly began to grow in his mind. "There we go with that terrorclaw shit again! And you wonder why we archosaurs in the Alliance have a nasty disposition towards your kind. You keep perpetuating all the wrong perceptions everyone else has towards your species. Good Maia, you sound almost like Brakkus when we used to be together."

"Whatever. You archosaurs can form your own opinions. We terrorclaw owe you no explanations. My species made its nest, and we are quite pleased to lay in it."

The armorback let out a loud snort. "All right. If that's the way you want to keep it, then fine. Then don't complain if I ignore your warnings about me not to speak ill of your pack. Because I have some nice choice words about your little tribe right now."

The terrorclaw hissed slightly in anger. "Don't start, Grell. I have not felt anger towards you since that day, before the ambush. I am grateful for what you did, and I like you more for it. But that does not mean I will tolerate insults!"

"Well, guess what, my dear terrorclaw? Fuck you and your stinking pack of brainless primitives! And if you go back to them, I hope you all go fuck yourselves, you brainless feather duster!"

"What did you just call me!?" Darkthunder screeched. His mind raced back to his time at the Patrol Academy - back to the day when a female longcrest hurled that same insult at him, and he almost killed her, his mind clouded with rage.

Just like then, he felt the anger rising, consuming almost every part of his rational mind. And like then, he felt powerless to stop it. Darkthunder raised his right leg, ready to slash at the armorback. Just as sudden, the armorback grabbed the rising limb. Using the momentum from Darkthunder's attack, he sent the terrorclaw flying through the air. Darkthunder twirled in the air, trying to get his body under control, only to realized he was about to fall face down into the bed in his room. Before he could react, he heard Grell bellow as the armorback launched himself towards him.

Darkthunder screeched as the sudden, heavy pressure of his partner's weight kept him pinned down to the bed.

"Get the fuck off, Grell!" Darkthunder screamed as he tried furiously to get from under the armorback. "Let me go!"

"Not until you calm down and tell me what I want to know!"

"There's nothing you need to know, you worthless armorback!" Darkthunder shouted as he continued his struggles. For an instant, he was glad that he had ordered that privacy buffer built around his quarters. Nothing good could possibly come out of his crew hearing him scream insults towards his own partner. "Get the fuck off me, soldier! Oh, you are dead! You are so dead now, you s_ke'tek!!"_

"And so are you, ke'gitza!"

"Aaahhkk!! Is that why you learned my language, you idiot? So you can use profanities towards me?!?"

"No! But I'll be happy to call you what you are right now!"

Darkthunder continued screaming as he futilely tried to break free. "I'm going to bust you so low, you'll be saluting Academy recruits!"

"I thought you said you are on leave from the Patrol! Besides, this is only between you and me!"

"Then let me go!"

"Only if you manage to get from under me, you dumb carnivore!"

"You brainless armorback! I have told you everything you need to know!"

"No! No, you have not! For the love of Maia's eggs and her sons, Darkthunder! What the fuck are you hiding? As your partner, I need to know!"

"There's nothing else, you stupid _karjra_addict!"

"I've been called worse!" the armorback shouted. "Keep struggling! You'll get tired before I do!"

"What the fuck did I see in you, you stupid armorback! I'll be pleased to leave you behind when I arrive at my planet! And I'll stay there forever, and out of your stinking karjra breath!"

The terrorclaw continued flailing his legs, unable to get his large sickle claws anywhere near Grell's skin, where they would be useful. In their current condition, Grell would certainly outlast him. Darkthunder could feel Grell's grip subside, even if his hold on the terrorclaw was still too strong for Darkthunder to break free. When he next spoke, the armorback's voice made clear that Grell's emotional state was far weaker.

"Please... Darkthunder," the armorback said, his voice now breaking up from emotional pain. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Please calm down! I only wanted to help you!"

It was Darkthunder's turn to feel sorrow. The terrorclaw ceased his struggling, lying completely still on the bed.

"Very well," he said, his voice sore and weak. "I'm listening."

The otherwise tough, mean armorback cried profusely as he lifted the exhausted terrorclaw from the bed before holding him in another tight lock. This time, however, was out of his deep love, and the sorrow for their quarrel.

"I'm so sorry," Grell said quietly and repeatedly as he nuzzled the terrorclaw's snout. "Oh, good Maia... I didn't mean to hurt you!"

Grabbing one of Grell's head spikes, Darkthunder gently turned the armorback's head to look into his eyes. Even more tears welled in the armorback's eyes before these also ran down the paths already left by the previous ones. Their eyes locked for several seconds before Darkthunder closed his and opened his jaws slightly. Soon after, he felt the warm breath of his partner before Grell's own lips met his, followed by a deep kiss.

Darkthunder returned the kiss with the same affection, the same intensity he did whenever both wanted the strong intimacy of a mating. He felt a warm hand move between his back, down to his tail, and then between his legs, finally stopping at the usual place. Darkthunder held onto the kiss as Grell's hand rubbed his balls and cock. The terrorclaw's reaction was both quick and expected, as his cock hardened, aroused at the gentle touch.

Finally breaking the kiss, they each looked at the other's eyes. No words were exchanged or needed. Grell tilted his head slightly to his left, unsure how to proceed. Darkthunder nodded slightly, letting the armorback know to continue where his actions had now taken them.

Grell released his hold on the terrorclaw, letting the carnivore glide gently away from the armorback and onto the bed. Darkthunder rolled to lie on his stomach before he lifted his tail up and to the side. Exposing his warm tailhole to the armorback, he slowly waved his tail, making the feathers at the end sway, inviting Grell to partake in the warm spot he now offered.

Three scant seconds had passed before Darkthunder heard the wet noises of Grell furiously lubricating what could only be the armorback's hard, erect penis. Soon after, he felt the large weight of the armorback again as Grell pinned him down on the bed again. This time, however, there was no anger - only the eagerness of an armorback already dominated by lust as his thick cock probed for the warm hole below, then finally finding the correct spot.

There was no pause. Grell said nothing other than a loud grunt as the tip of the armorback's massive cock touched the terrorclaw's opening, then immediately forced its way inside. Darkthunder followed with a loud screech as his sphincter opened wide, and then the walls of his rectum distended as Grell buried almost the entire length with one powerful push.

Grell lowed with pleasure, like all the other times before, as the terrorclaw's flesh held tightly around his cock.

"Deep and hard," Darkthunder muttered, shivering from the sensations that now began to dominate his mind. "And make it last."

Grell grunted in agreement, and slowly began to work his hips, moving his cock in and out of the terrorclaw's tight hole.

The armorback quickly picked up the pace. With each downward push, he forced the terrorclaw into the cushioned bed. Soon after, he was pushing hard and fast, making the terrorclaw screech louder with each thrust. Likewise, the armorback growled and bellowed his pleasure.

The intensity increased. Soon after, Darkthunder felt himself dominated completely, abused by the same intensity that Grell had used with the armorback's former lover, Brakkus. It was not something Darkthunder was born to experience. Many painful practice sessions had to come before it could come to this. Some had even been under the watchful eye of the ship's chief medical officer. Darkthunder had felt slightly guilty about involving the medic in his intimate life - from a medical perspective only, of course. Ty-Grich had been obviously flustered and embarrassed at the things he had to witness and give opinions on for his ship Commander to have a satisfying sex life. Although Darkthunder was sure the fleetfoot had gone to relieve himself of some of those feelings after each session.

Even when he could now withstand a rough mating with Grell, it still was not without some pain. It had been painful before, and this time it was not much different. A brutal, rough mating was something that Darkthunder very rarely allowed, but Grell deserved as much pleasure from this act as the armorback could get. Darkthunder growled and screeched with each savage thrust, fueling Grell's desire to continue their intense mating. Which the armorback seemed happy to oblige.

Several times Grell paused his thrusts; most certainly, just as he was getting close to his peak, to let some of the tension building up in his cock to subside before he resumed the savage thrusts into his smaller partner's body. Darkthunder's legs twitched with each push, each brutal movement of the massive cock into his rump. Pain mixed with intense pleasure, he felt the beginning of a primal trance forming in the back of his mind. He encouraged the trance, and the pleasure multiplied.

Eventually the armorback could not hold any longer. Thrusting deeper and faster into Darkthunder, he lowed for an instant before his voice turned into a large bellow. Darkthunder followed several heartbeats later, as his own cock shot his own terrorclaw seed into the bed and his own skin.

The terrorclaw grunted as Grell, panting and breathing heavily from his orgasm, finally collapsed from exhaustion. They remained joined for almost two minutes as the armorback gathered some strength to pull out. When he finally did, Darkthunder screeched one more time with delight as his bowels emptied from the thick meat, but not the thick armorback juice left inside him. Warm, strong arms wrapped around Darkthunder's spent body, holding him close to the armorback's pulsing chest as Grell lowed, relishing the lingering effects of their afterglow.

They remained in their embrace for some time, smelling their bodies, their sweat, semen, and the air packed with their pheromones.

"Apology... accepted." Darkthunder could barely form the words.

Grell smiled, his eyes still closed, as he nuzzled the terrorclaw. "Thanks."

Darkthunder twitched, relishing the feelings that still coursed through his spine and mind. "Do you really think... I would want to miss this?"

The armorback ran a hand over his partner, gently caressing Darkthunder's body. "I'm sure you don't want to. But why must you go?"

Darkthunder sighed. "A terrorclaw's duties lie first with his pack, then his species. For all purposes, my pack's authority supersedes anything the Patrol and the Alliance's have over me as a citizen of the Alliance. Terrorclaws are their own, independent group, even if we reside within Alliance territory and the Patrol protects our world by keeping it hidden. My kind requested that condition from the Alliance as a condition for the help terrorclaws gave during the days of the Alliance's Foundation. I don't know what that deed was, and honestly... I've never wanted to know."

"Given the nature of your species and the way how many feel towards terrorclaws, it won't surprise me if it's something you can proudly talk about."

The terrorclaw nodded. "I know it is hard to understand, but... when it comes to terrorclaws, the pack trumps everything. Even the Archosaur Patrol. When the pack called and requested my presence, Zaron had no choice but to grant their request."

"Fuck. You make it sound as if you're not capable of forming your own destiny, that your pack owns you. Are you their property or something?"

Darkthunder said nothing. He felt it was better for the words to come out of Grell's own mouth rather than him speaking them.

The armorback raised his head to look at Darkthunder. "Wait, that's really it? You mean, they can order you back, and keep you there... and you have no say whatsoever!?"

"You could say I'll always be an indefinite loan to the Alliance, subject to recall at any time."

"That's fucking insane! And now I have to give you up as well? Just like that? And why did you keep this a secret from me?"

Darkthunder said nothing. Lowering his snout, he turned away from his armorback partner. "Because I never thought... it would really happen. Just like you were happy to have found what you sought in me, so was I to have found you. And I was afraid that if you knew... you would not want me."

Grell let his head drop onto the bed with a loud sigh. He remained silent for the best part of a minute, as Darkthunder let him absorb the realities of their situation. "Why, Darkthunder? Why do you accept this?"

"Because I was born a terrorclaw. It is my nature."

"Fuck that! That is no nature for any archosaur! For all the savage hunter and excellent Patrol commander that you are, you certainly give up without a fight, like a little flying lizard caught in a carnivore's jaws."

Darkthunder rested his head on Grell's massive chest and closed his eyes. "I will try to reason with my pack elders. I will tell them how much the Patrol needs me."

Grell paused. "Well, you're damned wrong if you think that I'm accepting that as the only solution. I'm stopping this ship into normal space so you can get in contact with Zaron. And you better get your deathjaw boss to call all the necessary people as soon as possible, because you're not going to that planet without me."

"You can't set foot there!" Darkthunder said, frowning. "Didn't you hear what I said?"

"I heard. But damned if I listened. I fought hideous mammals and worthless traitors to earn the love of a caring archosaur like you. And if I have to fight your pack to keep my quarry, you bet I will. Because I am not just going to let some primitives take you without a fight of my own!"

Darkthunder let out a weak growl, again upset at hearing Grell speak ill of his pack. Even when he was not pleased with his current situation, the terrorclaw was still unwilling to tolerate hearing his pack getting insulted. "Don't start again, Grell."

The armorback moved away from Darkthunder, letting the smaller carnivore look at his half-erect cock. "Then how about we skip the fight and the tears, and you let me apologize again?"

Darkthunder smiled. "Just... make it slow this time. I'm not built to take it rough many times like Brakkus."

Darkthunder only growled as the armorback pulled the terrorclaw's tail up and to the side. The more painful - and far more pleasurable - feeling followed soon after.

* * *

"Good hunting, Commander," the voice of Namura said over the intercom as the shuttle left the bay and into the empty space outside the Tarrakhan.

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Darkthunder replied. "And plentiful pastures to you. I will have the Patrol contact the Tarrakhan whenever we are ready to return."

If you return, Grell said softly in his breath. Darkthunder said nothing; he was unwilling to let his First Officer in on the real details concerning his sudden leave.

Namura brayed softly. "And don't worry, Commander. I'll take good care of your ship."

"I don't doubt that you will. Darkthunder out."

Both archosaurs watched silently as their shuttle moved further away from the Tarrakhan and towards the planet below. Once some distance from the ship, the navigator turned the shuttle around to look as the Tarrakhan slowly broke orbit, then accelerated until it disappeared into the dark star field.

The deep voice of the armorback cut the silence inside the shuttle. "Feels odd to see the ship leave without me. And while I am in the middle of fucking nowhere."

The terrorclaw snorted. "In case you forgot, you insisted to come with me. So how about you just pilot the shuttle, Lieutenant?"

"Sure. And in case you forgot, you're not even supposed to be a Commander right now. So how about if you just call me by my name? Hmm?"

"Just do as I asked you, Grell," Darkthunder said with a loud sigh.

"Very well. I'm adjusting the shuttle's navigation controls to home on that frequency you gave me. Shouldn't be too hard. And..." A soft noise filled the cabin - repeating twice every two seconds, the beeping continued endlessly. "I bet that's it!"

The armorback turned his attention to the navigational controls ahead of him. These were much simpler than the ones in the Tarrakhan, but equally deserving of attention and importance. "Sit down and fasten your seat belts and air suits, because we're hitting the atmosphere already."

Darkthunder turned to look to lights and hot plasma forming outside the shuttle's windows. Unlike the relatively smooth flight of the Tarrakhan, the shuttle rocked and jerked in various directions as it encountered ever-thickening air and wind currents.

"Careful... this is not a dropship that you're piloting, Grell!"

"Relax! You can't find any pilot better than me. Namura is probably cursing your name right now because I convinced you to bring me along, and now she doesn't have my skills to take her where she's going."

Darkthunder trilled. "Don't make yourself sound more important than you are."

Grell sighed and shook his head slightly. He knew Darkthunder did not really mean it. "Good Maia. I hope this terrorclaw reunion of yours gets resolved quickly. I want my old grouchy Darkthunder back."

The buffeting subsided not long after as the ship finally crossed into the atmosphere, leaving Grell free to follow the signal of a beacon that identified the location for Darkthunder's pack. Still high above the clouds, he finally paid attention to the large, red star that was home to that planetary system.

"Shit, I hate those red things. Why did your species picked this planet is beyond me. Doesn't anyone worry that it's bound to go supernova one day?"

"The Alliance said it's still some time away from creating iron in its core. Probably has another six hundred thousand years left. Terrorclaws may be extinct by then. Or we may have moved someplace better."

"Unless those scientists lied, and it's going to happen any day now. Because what better way for the Alliance to get rid of some baggage than to let the universe do it? No dirty hands that way, and nobody would be the wiser."

The terrorclaw sighed and shook his head slightly. "Must you always be so negative, Grell?"

Grell assented. "It's what kept me alive for so long, and even after I made it to the Patrol." He gave a quick glance to the star, then turned the shuttle on the right direction. "Hopefully those brain heads are right. I'll be mighty pissed if it happens while we're here. There's no lotion powerful enough to keep us from being burned."

As the shuttle kept descending, Darkthunder could make out some of the features of the land. Mountain ranges. Some rivers. Far to the east, a large lake, seemingly familiar.

Soon after, a wide valley appeared, surrounded by dense vegetation. From the north, two large rivers crossed it, meeting halfway in the valley before continuing southwest. Just south of the confluence and separated from the large river were three small lakes, like pools of clear water.

"There!" Darkthunder screeched, a high-pitched shout that did not mask his enthusiasm. "That's my territory!"

"For someone who would rather not have to do this, you sound quite excited."

"Yes, but... it's still an emotional sight for me. I left here... so many years ago. This is where my eggshell is."

Grell nodded. "Glad that you have a place you can remember fondly as a place of birth. Not everyone is that lucky." The armorback turned around the shuttle to get a clear view from his side. "I see it. And I can see where you get that tattoo in your shoulder."

"The pack's commune is southeast of the lakes, in a small clearing between the trees."

"Well, it's... a beautiful place. I'll give you that."

"Yes. Honestly, I've never thought I would miss it. But I do."

"How have you managed here? I mean, you're not natives to this place."

"We adapted. We hunt the native species that are large enough to sustain us, plus others that were placed here to help grow herds." He pointed to a blurry patch in the valley. "That's probably a large herd right there. Terrorclaws just moved in to become an additional predator. But unlike the native species, we think. We keep our own populations in check to avoid damaging the ecosystems."

The beacon's noise increased, leading Grell towards the landing site. Darkthunder's heartbeat accelerated as the ground grew closer with each passing second, and he could see everything in more detail. In one spot, a small herd of large herbivores graced peacefully. Nearby, five small figures seemingly stalked the group.

Part of his pack.

"I think I see a few terrorclaws down there," Grell said.

"They have noticed the shuttle!" Darkthunder said, his voice taking an angry shrill. "Turn away, Grell! You're going to spook their prey!"

The armorback snorted. "All right, all right. No need to get so testy about it. I'm sure they can manage."

The shuttle turned, revealing a clearing. Inside it, several very primitive structures - made of wood and all local materials - occupied the land. A larger one, better constructed than the rest, occupied almost the exact center of that community. As Grell circled looking for a place to land, terrorclaw after terrorclaw began pouring out of every structure, becoming a huge crowd looking at the sky.

"Oh, merciful Maia!" the armorback said, his voice tinged with slight fear. "That's way too fucking many terrorclaws! Fuck... maybe I should have left you come here alone. I don't function well among so many carnivores."

"You could just drop me," Darkthunder said with a mischievous smile.

"And go where!? This whole planet is full of terrorclaws!"

"Not to mention my pack is the only one that would be expecting a ship to arrive. All others would certainly kill you without asking."

"Then I guess my only other option would be to go into orbit and die a slow death as I run out of air." Grell snorted. "I hope your pack is merciful enough to grant me a quick death."

Following the beacon, Grell reached a smaller clearing some distance away from the big throng of carnivores.

"Go into that particular clearing," Darkthunder said. "That's where they want us to land."

"I see other spots, much bigger than that one. Why can't I just land there?"

"Those are for the trading ships that visit us."

"A spot is a spot," Grell said, noticing how Darkthunder was already referencing the pack as if the dark-skinned hunter had never left, and always had been one of them.

"You don't want to start by contradicting what the elders are asking us."

"Well, it makes for a rather difficult landing trying to get this shuttle to fit through all this vegetation. Couldn't someone clear some of it?"

"We leave the world as natural as possible."

"I hope they don't complain if I break quite a few branches on the way down."

Slowly and carefully, Grell took the shuttle down the last few paces. The armorback groaned and cursed under his breath as he kept hitting branch after branch, until eventually some of them broke, hitting the ground before the shuttle did. "Well, there's lumber for your campfires, at least."

Eventually the legs touched the ground, and the engines began to idle automatically. Grell pushed the buttons to turn them completely off. The armorback looked through the front window. He was relieved to see that that whole pack was not rushing towards their position, even when they had plenty of time to have done so already.

"Where are they? I thought they would come up to meet us."

"Only five or six will come, not long from now. It is not wise for the whole pack to turn into an easy target for any invader, would it?"

"I see your point." Grell turned to look at Darkthunder. The terrorclaw had already gotten off his seat and disposed of his space suit, and now stood completely naked inside the shuttle. "We're a bit eager for something."

"Far from it. Since you have no choice left but to stay on this planet now, you're better taking off your suit as well and put on a loincloth. Unless you plan to live inside this shuttle until we return."

"A loincloth? What for? Your kind never wears clothes. So how could they be wrong if I show what I have?"

"It's a territorial thing. Only adults born or accepted into the pack are to breed; any terrorclaw from a different pack has to cover their crotch when passing through other pack's territory. Otherwise, it would be construed as a challenge, that you want to rob a male or female. And you are not Ssresh-Mahren yet, so you need to cover yourself."

"Yet? What, you want me to become part of your little group? I lack the claws and teeth, if you haven't noticed."

"Yes, but maybe they could make you a respected visitor. It could help, if I am to return to the Patrol."

Darkthunder smiled as he looked at Grell. "And make it so that it wraps between your legs and doesn't show anything. And never take it off, unless the pack accepts you."

"Why can't I just wear my Patrol clothes?" the armorback said rather frustrated as he tried hard to conceal his massive balls and cock behind the cloth.

"You need to show as much of your body as possible, so they can see what a strong male you are. Other than what's in your crotch, of course."

"But what shall I do when I have to take a piss or a dump?"

"You go away from the pack. There are many places you can conceal yourself. But don't go too far, or stray away. Not all members of the pack live in the central community at the same time. Anyone outside defending our territory who still doesn't know about you will take you for an intruder and attack if they don't see another hunter with you."

Grell scoffed. His large, clubbed tail swayed lazily behind him. "Like I couldn't defend myself."

Darkthunder frowned at the same time he curled his lips slightly to bare his teeth. "You hurt or kill anyone, we both are in trouble. So put away that tough, angry armorback stance while we are here. You are not a hunter, so that means you can be prey."

"Fine, whatever you say." The armorback sat down on the pilot's chair. He pressed a button, and the exit door opened slowly. Hot, humid air immediately rushed inside. "Good Maia! This is worse than how you keep our room in the Tarrakhan! How can you live in here?"

"That's how we archosaurs evolved." Darkthunder could not help hurl a thin insult at the armorback. "The rest of you have gotten soft."

"I'll take civilization and its weaknesses any day, thank you very much. What I don't understand is why your species still has such an attachment to this primal existence. You were civilized for some time, like all the other archosaurs. You never see Zaron or anyone of his kind living like one of your species. Even Dherek, as dumb and ugly as I think hornskulls are, lives in the present."

Darkthunder walked to stand at the exit. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, holding it before exhaling. He remained silent for a while, letting the memories flow into his mind, easing his worries. The terrorclaw grabbed a small communicator from a small drawer next to the exit, and attached it to his right ear hole as he turned to look back at Grell. "My kind chose to stick closer to our roots. There was a time when I would have considered you a worthy meal. Terrorclaws were dragged kicking and screaming into the Alliance. We helped the Alliance get what it wanted, and then we parted ways. I am not to second guess why my ancestors chose to go back."

"Good Maia, what a fucked up society. Are you sure you came from this place?"

Darkthunder snorted softly with disgust at his partner's thoughts. "They will be here soon. Now, remember - no matter what you see or may happen, do not step out! Stay in the shuttle until I tell you."

"As you wish."

Darkthunder stepped into the soft grass and soil, and the shuttle door closed behind him.

The terrorclaw stood there for a few seconds, letting the feel of the grass and dirt run through his toes. His big toe claws twitched as he trilled with delight. The air and the soil were just as he remembered them. The smells, the sounds of insects and other small creatures reached his ear holes; a natural serenade he had not heard for a long time. He made a mental note to have Grell make a recording of it to play both in his quarters and in the hunting grounds aboard the Tarrakhan. Almost immediately, he began to wonder if he actually did want to return to that ship, or to the archosaur society in general.

He took a few steps forward, where the red star's light would shine on him, taking in some of that soothing heat. Ahead, he saw five terrorclaws fast approaching towards his location, their bodies slightly tilted forward in the indication of a partial primal trance. Darkthunder tried to see if he could recognize any of them from their scent, but they were downwind from him. Three of the group - obviously the younger ones - quickly moved ahead of the welcoming pack as they picked up his scent.

Darkthunder waited until the three stopped just a few paces away and looked at him, both with curiosity and wariness. Hands forward and aiming towards the ground, he began the usual greeting in his terrorclaw language.

"I greet you with my claws down, Ssresh-Mahren! It is me -"

Suddenly, the one to Darkthunder's right lunged forward, jaws opened wide. The attack took Darkthunder completely by surprise, and the young one clamped his jaws firmly on his neck. A second one followed as Darkthunder tried to break free from the first attacker. The second one held onto Darkthunder's legs. Together, both terrorclaws quickly overpowered the older hunter, and Darkthunder found himself with his head pressed firmly against the moist ground.

"Foreigner!" the third youngster shouted._ "What are you doing in our territory?"_

"Wait! I am one of you!"_Darkthunder tried to explain as he felt the teeth from his first attacker digging into the soft flesh of his neck and throat. _"I am Darkthunder! I am of the Ssresh-Mahren!"

"Your name is not one of the pack!"

"My arm! Look at my arm!" Darkthunder tried to turn and show the symbol on his right shoulder. Far from obtaining the desired result, it only served to infuriate the ochre-skinned youngster.

"Why dare you have the pack's mark, intruder! You are dead now!"

"Darkthunder!" Grell's frantic voice came over the communicator. Darkthunder could hear the armorback frantically trying to open the compartment inside the shuttle that held all the Patrol regulation guns and rifles. Even if Grell could only new a few words of the terrorclaw language, he had picked enough through the communicator and from the attacker's actions to realize the danger Darkthunder was in. "Hold on! I'm coming to help you!"

"Stay in the ship, Grell! Don't come out!"

"No! No! I'm not letting one of those bastards kill you!"

"No! That's an order, soldier! I -- AAHHHK!" Darkthunder could not say more as the attacker tightened his bite.

"What words are you speaking, invader?! Who do you call!"

Darkthunder gasped, unable to breath from the jaws closing in on his throat. Unable to fight, he began to think it was definitely over for him.

A sudden, loud voice from another terrorclaw erupted among the chaos. "Stormclaw! Sharpscale! Smartwind! Release him!"

Just as suddenly, his attackers released the hold they had on him. Darkthunder gasped and coughed, as his throat was free again. Getting up, he continued coughing as he slowly got to his knees. He rubbed his throat to soothe the lingering pain, and felt a warm liquid, just as a metallic smell reached his nostrils. The attacker had drawn a small amount of blood from what appeared to be nothing more than a superficial injury. Still, the scent of blood could have incited his attackers to the final, fatal outcome.

The same hunter that had made all the threats turned to address the elder. "Riverpath! This intruder claims to be Ssresh-Mahren_! He even has the mark of the pack in his right arm! And offers himself for breeding!"_

The armorback's voice burst again through the communicator, still tense as Grell tried to force a laugh. "Maybe you should have also worn a loincloth, Darkthunder."

"Shut the fuck up, Grell," Darkthunder said softly as he turned off the microphone, rather miffed that his partner has been able to understand at least part of the exchange.

"He challenges the pack! We should kill him now!"

The same voice that had come with thunderous alarm, now spoke softly yet firm. "Hold your claws, hunter! He is not an intruder. Just a good terrorclaw that our pack has not had the pleasure to share hunting trails with in many years."

"Riverpath," Darkthunder said with relief as he recognized the old terrorclaw. _ "By the good eggs of our mighty pack... you are a good meal for an aching hunger."_

The older terrorclaw was much thinner than Darkthunder remember last seeing him, and obviously had lost some of the strength and speed of his youth. Nevertheless, he was still strong to carry authority. And certainly still strong enough to breed.

"I greet you with my claws down," Darkthunder said again as he again placed his hands together, fingers aimed at the ground. He was pleased the gesture drew a different outcome this time, although the three youngsters remained tense.

"Welcome back, brave Ssresh-Mahr_. It has been a long time. You certainly remember Sunstalker as well?"_

Darkthunder turned to look at the old female, who smiled as she greeted Darkthunder with the same claws down gesture.

"Welcome, Darkthunder."

"Yes," the dark terrorclaw said as he took in her scent. "You are Cloudsong's mate."

"Indeed, but I am mated to Beyondsight now. Cloudsong did not return from a hunt."

"Sorry to hear that. He was a good teacher. Many of what I learned I owe it to him."

The female nodded. Darkthunder could not help notice a sad look on her face as she stared at him, as if she wanted to say something.

The old male turned to circle Darkthunder, seemingly admiring the younger terrorclaw's body. "By the eggs of time, you sure have grown to become a strong hunter. And you've grown feathers, I see. And on your tail, too."

The observation seemed to change the attitude from the youngsters. The one named Stormclaw looked even more irritated, while the other two were now quite submissive. Apologetic, even.

_ "I recall you had some little stubs on your head, but never imagined they would grow to such a nice crest. That's quite a change from the youngling who left us many years ago,"Riverpath continued, observing Darkthunder's strong physique. _ "Your paths have been good and plentiful, I believe?"

"Most plentiful, my good elder. Hard, but good paths indeed." Darkthunder tried to fight a slight feeling of inadequacy. Not only it had been since he spoke his native language in earnest with anyone, but the idioms of the terrorclaws now felt alien to him.

Stormclaw growled. "Teacher, who really is this terrorclaw? His smell is not of the pack."

"Have you been sniffing those mushrooms again, Stormclaw? Don't you recognize the smell of one of your own blood?"

Darkthunder's feathered crest rose at the revelation. "Brother? I have another brother?"

"Two brothers and one sister. From a clutch laid long after you and Starhunter were born."

The terrorclaw cast a quick glance at the elder before he then turned to look at Darkthunder again, his eyes still narrow with anger. "Wait... what? How can we be brothers? His skin is black with strange marks! None of us among the pack has anything that resembles that! And I certainly do not come close to his looks!"

"Darkthunder was born different. Even your parents were very surprised when he hatched. But they felt he was special, and loved and raised him as they would any hatchling. You were just a nameless hatchling when Darkthunder here left for the stars, after his brother Starhunter did. Certainly your parents talked about them at least once."

"They spoke those names before, but they never mentioned what he looked like." Stormclaw spat the words, as if still disgusted._ "Nothing that looked like a stupid bird."_

Darkthunder rubbed his throat, still aching from the strength at which the other terrorclaw's teeth had held him, trying not to let the insults get to him. "I remember now. After Starhunter left, my parents decided to breed again. I left before the eggs hatched. Good Hunter, has it been that long already?"

"Indeed it has," Riverpath said as he smiled. "You don't remember me looking like this, do you?"

"Yes, I guess it has been some time, if I... stars..." Darkthunder paused, struggling to come up with the right words, only to realize there were none. Concepts so familiar to his life in the Archosaur Patrol had no equivalent in his old terrorclaw language. "Forgive me. I learned many words I cannot speak in terrorclaw."

Stormclaw hissed, anger still etched on his face. "Why are you here?"

"I was called. The pack needs me."

"Why would you need to return? We have managed quite well without you!"

"Well... I just -" Darkthunder began to say before Riverpath interrupted him.

"Enough of this!" The older terrorclaw turned angrily towards Stormclaw. "Darkthunder is Ssresh-Mahr, and this territory is his as much as any one of us! And if you cannot treat him like the blood relative that he is, you will treat him like one of the pack!"

The terrorclaw snorted softly in disgust. "Yes, Riverpath."

_ Darkthunder bobbed his head slightly, as a gesture of friendship to the young terrorclaw. _"It's good to see you, Stormclaw. I guess we -"

"Save your words, hunter. I have nothing to say to you now."

Riverpath pointed at the three young hunters in succession. "All of you, back to the pack! Tell everyone that Darkthunder has returned."

The three young terrorclaws turned and began racing back towards the commune. Darkthunder and the two older terrorclaws turned to look as the youngsters made their ways into the trees.

"At least he managed to call you hunter once," Riverpath said with a sigh. "That is a start."

"What is his problem? I would had been pleased to find out I have an older brother."

"I'm afraid he had plans. And your arrival has ruined them. Rather than kin, he sees you now as competition."

"For what? I am here because the pack called me. That my presence was needed. Why is that?"

Riverpath's face turned somber as he paused. "It's about your lineage. You are the eldest now."

"The eldest? But how -?" Darkthunder warbled as he suddenly realized the meaning of the elder's words. Instinctively, he turned to look desperately towards some trees, in the direction where the pack's communal area would reside. "Oh... no. What happened!?"

"Your father was wounded in a hunt, twenty-three days ago. One of the armored creatures pierced his stomach with a head horn when it tried to butt him away with its head. We other hungers brought him to the commune quickly. We wanted him to live to see your return, but his death followed soon after, perhaps before the message even reached you. Do not feel sorrow for his death, for he went the way any of us would be pleased to follow."

Darkthunder wailed softly. The time passed since his father's death meant the corpse had already been disposed for, according to terrorclaw tradition. He was still absorbing the impact of the news when he suddenly realized there was more to come.

"But your words... they can only mean that... my mother -"

"Sadly, your mother's passing had preceded your father's by many seasons. She was struck by the sickness in her blood. Finally, she left the pack one night. We found her body two days later, already feeding the smaller hunters of the forest."

There was no word for it in the terrorclaw language, but Darkthunder knew what Riverpath meant. Cancer was treatable in the archosaur society, but fatal among terrorclaws, who had shunned almost all forms of technology. Only the communicator in the pack's area was the sole technological device, used only when terrorclaws had a request for the rest of the Archosaur Alliance.

"But there was so much I wanted to speak to them! Everything I have done, what I have seen, among the stars."

"I'm sorry, Darkthunder. It is life for us terrorclaws, after all." The elder male waved in the direction of the commune. "But even if they are gone, you still have your pack. Come on. We have plenty of food and drink for you. You can share your stories with the other hunters tonight."

"Riverpath! Wait!"

The two elders stopped and turned, staring at Darkthunder with curious eyes.

"There's something... I need to talk about first." Darkthunder paused, looking for the words to voice what he needed to say. "I ask for permission to bring a visitor to the pack."

"A visitor? This is our own planet. Those packs you lived with, they don't allow visitors."

"My... pack leaders, with the other saurians... They respect me there, and they allowed it. They said it would be good for this visitor to learn more about our pack. This visitor... is my partner. A mate."

"How can that be? There should be no terrorclaws outside, other than your brother Starhunter. He would be the eldest, as he hatched almost half a day before you did. But the Alliance would not provide us with any information. They simply said they could not locate him."

"That... is a different story," Darkthunder said, not willing to go any further._ "But you are right. My partner... he's not a terrorclaw."_

"He? A male!? Are you... a two spirits?"

Darkthunder nodded. Even if a hunter preferred someone of their own sex - a hunter of "two spirits, as they called it - the act was not an offense among terrorclaws. Darkthunder could not help but feel that somehow he was letting both elders down.

"Well... that complicates our problem a bit," Sunstalker said. "But, if you found another type of hunter that can help the pack, I guess he could take a place as a second, non-breeding partner for you to mount whenever you have a need to -" _ The pack elder paused as he noticed Darkthunder's face. _"There is still more to this?"

"Grell," Darkthunder said as he activated the small communicator in his right ear. "You can come out of the ship now."

The door to the shuttle opened again. The two mature terrorclaws gasped at the sight of the towering armorback as Grell exited the shuttle and calmly approached the terrorclaws.

"Riverpath. Sunstalker. This is... Grell_. My partner."_

"I greet you with my claws down," the herbivore said, as best as he could pronounce the words in the terrorclaw language.

Riverpath stared at the tall armorback for several heartbeats before he turned to look at Darkthunder, concerned.

"Well... now this really complicates things."

CONTINUED