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The Land Before was much wider than Seaclaw remembered it. Without his family by his side he felt more helpless against the great expanse of endless hills and swamps between where beasts would roam, splashing their padded feet through the marshes as Sunscreech followed behind him, sensing the air changing as clouds slightly gathered above their heads.

"AHH, nyahnyah!"

[i]"Rain will come soon."[/i] He looked to the infant on his back. [i]"Even he senses it."[/i]

[i]"We can hide in the forest,"[/i] the boy pointed south, [i]"my uncles come from there, they're nice!"[/i]

[i]"Who?"[/i]

[i]"The bloodfeathers, my aunties mated with them an' now I have LOTSA cousins!"[/i]

[i]"Wha-...r-really?"[/i] Sunscreech blinked reeling back.

[i]"Heeheh, yah, they're SO NOISY it makes my head hurt."[/i]

[i]"They certainly would...alright, let us stay in the forest until the rain passes, but I would rather not meet the tribe wounded as I am."[/i]

Settling on the outskirts of the Bloodfeathers' territory, the travellers sat and waited for the storm to breach with a flooding of the plains, washing the land with a ferocious tide that surged over the hills and turned the Land Before into a lake. The dampness made Sunscreech hiss from his wounds turning thick, trying to keep his leg off the ground before Seaclaw came over with a vine and leaves.

[i]"What, what are you doing?"[/i]

[i]"I'm gonna heal your leg, can I?"[/i]

[i]"You...why?"[/i]

[i]"Cuz I need someone to carry the hatchling an' you can't if you die."[/i]

[i]"...huh."[/i] He stood up fully to stretch his leg with a gasp. [i]"So this is your father's kindness?"[/i]

[i]"You're helping me,"[/i] the boy went under to press the leaves on his bloodied leg, [i]"so now I help you!"[/i]

[i]"That simple is it?"[/i]

[i]"Yah!"[/i] He tied the vine round the leg forming a thick poultice. [i]"Okay, that good?"[/i]

[i]"Hmmm..."[/i] the elder took a brief walk in a circle, [i]"yes, that does feel better, thank you."[/i]

The child grinned with a beaming smile and ruby eyes glistening in the darkened forest. The drums of the storm picked up with thundering pelts, raindrops hardening to punch through the trees and batter their heads, the newborn grizzling at the water on his face and starting to cry with gasping shrieks. Seaclaw kept him distracted by waggling his fingers and pulling faces to keep the little one amused until the rain would stop sometime in the afternoon, hoofing over the steppes and avoiding the ponds that had formed in the valley whilst Seaclaw walked behind Sunscreech, hiding his face from the baby to pop up and surprise him.

[i]"Siiiilly haiiiiry!"[/i]

"KHEEHehehe, khahah, HAHA!"

[i]"Siiiilly HAIRY!"[/i]

"HEEHAHAHAHA!"

[i]"Are you done?"[/i] the feral snorted.

[i]"I'm keeping him happy!"[/i] the boy replied.

[i]"You are making him noisy, we will not find any food if he keeps shrieking his head off."[/i]

[i]"I'll get us something!"[/i] Seaclaw stood on a hill and scanned the environs. [i]"He needs food too, so just stay here an' keep him happy."[/i]

[i]"Do I have to?"[/i] Sunscreech snarled looking back at the infant.

[i]"Uhh, yah, don't be mean Shaderunner, I'll be back!"[/i]

Heading down between the hills he sniffed out the nearest prey, tracking down a small pack of young parasaurolophi who waded into the waters of a freshly-formed pool to taste the sweet watery grass. Their long tall heads trembled with their voices across the hills, as Seaclaw slipped under the water from the unseen edge, holding his breath and swimming towards the feet of one herbivore on the edge of the herd.

[i]"I'm telling you the grass here is better!"[/i]

[i]"Cloudhead shut up you always do this."[/i]

[i]"Yeah the grass is all the same here, it's wet and it's good."[/i]

[i]"But THIS grass is better and wetter,"[/i] said the one called Cloudhead chomping through the rushes, [i]"mmmm you all are missing out!"[/i]

[i]"You are such a shithead you know that."[/i]

[i]"Says the ones eating the shitgrass over there, mm-mmm!"[/i]

Unbeknownst to any of them a predator lurked in the waters, crawling on his belly flat and pulling the blade from his sheath. He watched the parasaur bend his head down for another bite of the reeds before he suddenly tasted steel in his gullet. Not that he ever knew what steel tasted like before, but it was marred by the also-metallic taste of blood that trickled in his throat as the sword opened his neck like a curtain of flesh and he collapsed forwards into the pond with less than a gurgle. None of the herd noticed until he was already out of the pool, dragged by Seaclaw who pulled the young corpse's neck with a heaving grunt to the shock and fright of the others who fled from the now-bloodied pool immediately.

[i]"I'm baaaaack!"[/i] He hoisted the dead beast forwards in front of Sunscreech. [i]"Let's eat!"[/i]

[i]"Well,"[/i] the feral swished his tail, [i]"I was expecting you to take longer."[/i]

[i]"You want the leg or the head?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm I'll have the leg."[/i]

They sat down to eat, tearing the flesh of the parasaurolophus with bloodied teeth as they filled their bellies quick, Seaclaw putting some of the meaty chunks in his satchel before trying to feed the bokoblin.

"NNGH!"

[i]"Come oooon you have to eat!"[/i]

"MMMHHH!" The infant tightened his piggy lips.

[i]"You need food, don't be silly!"[/i]

[i]"Is he not eating?"[/i] asked Sunscreech.

[i]"He has to!"[/i] Seaclaw took little bites. [i]"Come on look it's tasty, mmmm!"[/i]

[i]"Does he have teeth yet? He might be too young."[/i]

[i]"Uhhhh..."[/i] he waited for a moment seeing the gummy lips of the bokoblin, [i]"oh no he doesn't, but if he doesn't eat he might get sick, or die!"[/i]

[i]"Hmmm..."[/i] the raptor looked up to the sky as the wings of a pteranodon skimmed through the clouds, [i]"ahh, yes, if he is too young to bite, you should chew up his food and feed to him."[/i]

[i]"Whaaaat?"[/i]

[i]"The flyers feed their children that way."[/i]

[i]"OH! Yer right, father fed me like that too when I wuz born! But...nnngh-"[/i]

[i]"What?"[/i] Sunscreech looked back with a sniggering purr. [i]"Too much for you to care for this thing?"[/i]

[i]"N-no, no I just...nnnngh!"[/i]

Chewing on the meat quick as he could Seaclaw gnashed his teeth until the food was mush, closing his eyes and pushing his lips against the bokoblin's mouth and pushing the food into his gullet. The baby struggled at first, surprised and upset with fidgeting arms and tears to his eyes before eventually swallowing by an instinct and a fuller belly rewarded him.

[i]"Bleh!"[/i] The boy shook his head airing out his tongue. [i]"Okay, he ate it!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm, such an odd thing you are."[/i]

[i]"Well, you told me how to feed him, how'd you know that?!"[/i]

[i]"I just told you, the flyers."[/i] He tilted his head sharp. [i]"Pay attention you might learn something."[/i]

[i]"Yah well, you lost!"[/i] Seaclaw grinned with hands on hips. [i]"So you can learn something too!"[/i]

[i]"Hmph."[/i]

"R-rehhhh, ENNNH!"

[i]"Oh what now?"[/i] Sunscreech snorted feeling the newborn fidget.

"EHHH, E-EHHRRR!"

[i]"Is he hurting?!"[/i] Seaclaw stared at the little face twisting and heaving. [i]"Whut's he doing now?!"[/i]

[i]"I do not know I never raised one of these vermin before!"[/i]

[i]"He's not vermin he's a hatchling!"[/i]

"E-EHHHNNNRRREHHH!"

Loosening the vines Seaclaw quickly held the baby in his arms, trying to help shift whatever was troubling him as the newborn's throat became tight and his lungs struggled harder to breathe in a gasping fit. Thinking he was choking, he put the baby's head over his shoulder and patted his back firm before the bokoblin burped from his little snout.

"URRP!"

[i]"OH! Heehee, that better?"[/i] he pulled him back to look at his face.

"Heenah, f-faah, fah, mmmmm!"

The piglet tried to grab at his face as Seaclaw giggled from the small furry hands pulling at his cheeks, putting him back into his swaddle on Sunscreech's back with a firm bundling as the feral huffed walking on.

[i]"This is ridiculous,"[/i] he gasped under his breath, [i]"I should not be carrying around a warmblood on my back like some sort of disease!"[/i]

[i]"DON'T call him that!"[/i] Seaclaw raised his hand about to slap him. [i]"He doesn't know anything, s'not his fault he can't walk yet!"[/i]

[i]"No, it IS however your fault for forcing me into this."[/i]

[i]"YOU brought him to the beach where I found you, right out where anyone could see ya!"[/i]

[i]"I did not bring that runt here, I found him!"[/i]

[i]"No you didn't!"[/i]

[i]"Are you calling me a liar?!"[/i]

[i]"YES!"[/i]

[i]"Oh I am sick of this already."[/i]

With their smallest passenger the pace was slower than usual, the two raptors taking a path southwest towards the Greatbeast's Spine to keep close to the forests in case of a second flooding, the swamps of sunken valleys making them reroute their path for Sunscreech to avoid getting wetter than he needed, whilst Seaclaw braved the depths with surging strength as he dashed through the waters like a dolphin. The first day was long and somewhat tense between them, having to spend their night in a cave within the hills eating raw meat that again was caught by Seaclaw. The second day they reached the foot of the mountains, skirting under the Spine and heading closer towards the Mohberrin Village for another entire day, one raptor passing over hills and the other swimming through stagnant rivers.

[i]"How can you even swim?"[/i] the feral asked.

[i]"I learned!"[/i] Seaclaw hopped out of a pond kicking his feet. [i]"One of the hairless taught me, then he taught my father an' now we both can swim!"[/i]

[i]"Can anyone else in your family swim?"[/i]

[i]"No, cuz our bodies are different."[/i] He spread his arms. [i]"My brother an' sister an' mother, they can run faster than me an' got bigger claws, but father an' me can swim, climb trees, even make fire!"[/i]

[i]"Make fire hmm?"[/i]

[i]"Yah, you can burn meat on it an' it tastes REALLY good!"[/i]

[i]"Oh that is stupid,"[/i] the elder snapped at him, [i]"what a waste of food!"[/i]

[i]"Nooo it's good, I'll show you, I'll make a fire an' burn the meat for ya!"[/i]

[i]"Hmph, well we have to sleep soon regardless."[/i]

[i]"Yeaaah even he's getting sleepy."[/i]

The bokoblin yawned with a little rasp as they sheltered in the woods upon sunset's eve, a half-day's walk south of the village as night came with a blanketing azure draped across the sky. The sounds of buzzing beasts and whooping cries from the dark made Seaclaw nervous, but he was thankful that the newborn had gone to sleep deep enough to not share his fear of the thickening night. He sat in a small clearing putting stones in a circle, bundling up wood he set alight with flint as the flames crackled into life, burning thick with a radiant warmth that soothed him but unnerved Sunscreech.

[i]"Okay, food time."[/i] The boy put a flat stone over the fire and spread out the meat upon it. [i]"Should be ready soon."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm,"[/i] the feral sniffed, [i]"this still seems a waste."[/i]

[i]"No it's good I promise, it tastes really good!"[/i]

[i]"Well until then can you take the runt off my back?"[/i]

[i]"Okayyy."[/i]

Untying the vines to bundle back into his satchel, Seaclaw took the infant carefully to one side and covered his body in soft leaves to disguise him in the undergrowth. The tender glow of the fire lit up their faces, the deep crimson pupils of the boy staring across to Sunscreech's eye glimmered with flecks of hazel.

[i]"So, where you going after this?"[/i] Seaclaw asked.

[i]"Somewhere else,"[/i] said the elder curling up next to the flames, [i]"that is all you need to know."[/i]

[i]"I'm just trying to be nice, I didn't kill you did I?"[/i]

[i]"I just want to be done with this, I am sure you are sick of me already."[/i]

[i]"I don't wanna be away from home too long,"[/i] he rubbed his fingers, [i]"my family'll get worried."[/i]

[i]"Why would they worry?"[/i] he raised his brow. [i]"You can clearly take care of yourself."[/i]

[i]"Cuz I'm the smallest,"[/i] Seaclaw wiggled his toes, [i]"they always do, cuz I'm not strong, but I can still hunt with them cuz I got my longstone."[/i]

[i]"I have never seen a hunter with such a thing,"[/i] Sunscreech glowered at the hilted blade, [i]"that said it serves you well."[/i]

[i]"I been learning to use it fer cycles, my friends teach me to use it so I can protect my family."[/i]

[i]"Well you have proven that, so they should not worry about you because you are small, when you can feed yourself, even that runt over there you managed to feed."[/i]

[i]"Heeheh, thanks Shaderunner."[/i]

Once the food had been roasted thorough, he offered the first bites to Sunscreech as he sniffed cautious before gulping, tearing his teeth into the succulent parts with a growing chirr of content and widening eyes.

[i]"M-mmmm, MMMMH!"[/i]

[i]"Good right?!"[/i] Seaclaw chomped on his food.

[i]"This...this IS delicious...how?!"[/i]

[i]"Father said the fire, mmmph-gllrk, makes the meat juices come out more!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmm it does! This is...s-so good. Hah..."[/i] he swallowed all he could in a ravenous bliss, [i]"tell me, m-mmmph...what do you want to do when you are old?"[/i]

[i]"Huh?"[/i] he licked his fingers.

[i]"When you are an adult. What do you want to do?"[/i]

[i]"Um...I-i want to be with my family?"[/i]

[i]"Will you want one of your own?"[/i]

[i]"I have one of my own, I just said!"[/i]

[i]"Alright...different thing to ask, what do you want to do for the rest of your life?"[/i]

[i]"Hmmm."[/i] The boy chewed in contemplation. [i]"I want, to be with my family, an', make new friends an' the ones I have, I wanna play with them, an' protect them."[/i]

[i]"If something happened to your family, what would you do?"[/i]

[i]"I fight whoever hurt them! Just like when, me an' Rumble got taken by starbeasts an' my family came alllll the way out over the sea to save us!"[/i]

[i]"Over the sea?"[/i] Sunscreech looked up to the mountains beyond the trees. [i]"How?!"[/i]

[i]"I got friends who're fish, they helped carry my family to where I was!"[/i]

[i]"Friends...who are fish."[/i] He gently licked his lips tasting the meat. [i]"I see. Who is Rumble?"[/i]

[i]"Hmm?"[/i]

[i]"You mentioned your friend Rumble before, who was that?"[/i]

[i]"She...sh-she's not my friend."[/i] Seaclaw turned his head to the forest. [i]"I dunno whut happened to her."[/i]

[i]"What was she like?"[/i]

[i]"She...she was a hunter with lotsa stone on her face, an' a tail made of stone too that was really shiny."[/i]

[i]"Stone...tail?"[/i]

[i]"Yah, she..."[/i] he fumbled his claws, [i]"she said she'd be my friend, but she only really wanted my father, she really liked him but he already has my mother, so she got jealous an', a-an'...tried to kill her."[/i]

[i]"Because she was...in love with your father?"[/i] he cocked his head staring past the flames.

[i]"That's what mother told me,"[/i] Seaclaw nodded, [i]"my brother too, he was there when she tried to, she didn't want to be my friend at all, she tricked me."[/i]

[i]"Is that why your mother taught you to be fierce?"[/i]

[i]"Yes. I wanna make friends but...Rumble wasn't my friend."[/i]

[i]"Your mother is wise to teach you that."[/i] Sunscreech purred shifting his weight. [i]"Kindness will not reward you out here."[/i]

[i]"That's not true."[/i] Seaclaw shook his head. [i]"When I was taken by the starbeasts, one of them helped me."[/i]

[i]"What?"[/i]

[i]"He was really hungry, his alpha didn't let him eat so I gave him some of my food, his...his name was Karziisss. And he was my friend."[/i]

[i]"Are all of your friends not...hunters?"[/i] the elder thumped his tail.

[i]"Mmmm...yah?"[/i] The boy scratched his neck. [i]"I got lotsa friends, the hairless, an' Stonetree, an' Highwave who's a greatfish, I was gonna see her today but then I met you."[/i]

[i]"Hm."[/i]

[i]"Do you have any friends Shaderunner?"[/i]

[i]"N-...one."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i]

[i]"He is..."[/i] he looked away, [i]"he looks after my children when I am sick."[/i]

[i]"Oh, you're a father?"[/i]

[i]"Yes."[/i]

[i]"Whut about your mate?"[/i]

[i]"She is gone...I...my children are all I have."[/i]

A shudder escaped him as his eye twitched in the flame, flickering sparks of ember drifting past his cheek as he felt something wrap his arms round his head causing his neck to stiffen.

[i]"I'm sorry."[/i] Seaclaw hugged him. [i]"Were you...were you taking that hatchling back as food for them?"[/i]

[i]"No,"[/i] he shifted away from him, [i]"I was...I just, found him, that is the truth."[/i]

[i]"Okay."[/i] Seaclaw released him. [i]"Do you want me to help you get food, for your family?"[/i]

[i]"Why would you want to help?"[/i]

[i]"Because they're your children, right? I don't want them to starve, I-i wouldn't want to starve either."[/i]

[i]"...why are you like this?"[/i]

Sunscreech turned his head to face him.

[i]"You threaten to kill me this morning, now you offer to feed my children."[/i]

[i]"Well..."[/i] Seaclaw rubbed his arm, [i]your children didn't do anything to me, h-how old are they?"[/i]

[i]"They were born six-and-two cycles before."[/i]

[i]"Oh, I was born twelve cycles before!"[/i]

[i]"So you are almost an adult yourself,"[/i] the old raptor bumped his chest, [i]"even if you are growing rather slowly."[/i]

[i]"Heehee, yah, my father took a loooong time to grow up big too. So...you want me to help get you food when we take the hatchling back?"[/i]

[i]"...alright,"[/i] said Sunscreech with a softened purr, [i]"if you want, you can help me hunt on the journey home, I know a place that is good for hunting."[/i]

[i]"Okay!"[/i]

With bellies full they went to sleep, the fire burning in its circle until the wood had crackled its last and was reduced to cinders by the next morning. The forest at night was a daunting place, thickened ferns and guarded trees that formed a wall of darkness around them to near-blot out the stars above in their thick canopy. The night sky faded as the moon drifted past, its light never reaching through to the raptors as they slept close to each other for warmth instinctive, the myriad of stars fading out one by one as the black cloak of night was soon banished by the dawn chorus of rodents shrieking and dragonflies roaming over their heads when the fingers of amber light crawled through the earth and reached their faces.

Waking themselves up with a stretch, they readied themselves for breakfast as Seaclaw sat with the infant and restarted the fire, whilst Sunscreech went hunting for more food coming back with two large shrews. The boy peeled their skins and roasted them up, letting Sunscreech have one whole beast whilst he took two-thirds of the other leaving the last third for the newborn mushed up to eat. The piglet was still cheerful, gladly smiling at Seaclaw's face as the child pulled all sorts of funny faces to put him in good spirits for the last leg of the journey, smothering the fire out with dirt before they headed north to the village. By the time it was almost noon, they saw the outskirts of a large barricade ringed with steel that gleamed in the sun, circling a marsh where huts had been built upon stilts and odd machines trundled away next to fields.

[i]"This is it!"[/i] Seaclaw cried. [i]"I'll take him back, and then we go hunting alright?"[/i]

[i]"Will you be alright?"[/i] he asked sniffing the air. [i]"It smells terrible."[/i]

[i]"It's okay, they know my father I'll just give him back."[/i]

Taking the newborn off Sunscreech's back, he blew one last silly face upon the baby who cackled with a snort before carrying him down towards the village entrance. The feral raptor sighed laying down out of sight, watching the boy make his way closer.

[i]"VERY good work."[/i]

The voice of Riptor dripped over his ear.

[i]"That went EXACTLY as I wanted it, brilliant work Sunscreech."[/i]

[i]"Hm."[/i] He sighed looking back to her. [i]"Where do I take him?"[/i]

[i]"The forest you both slept in,"[/i] she pointed south with her tail, [i]"bring him there, my scouts already took positions."[/i]

[i]"Why not have me take him to the cave?"[/i]

[i]"He is not an idiot, he will recognise the cave, Tesla is waiting to render him unconscious after which he will carry him back to where I'll be."[/i]

[i]"You are not coming with us?"[/i] he flicked his toeclaws.

[i]"No,"[/i] she shook her head, [i]"my presence was compromised here already, he might recognise me and run."[/i]

[i]"...I see."[/i] He licked his lips with a soft clench of his throat. [i]"Alright, I will bring him there."[/i]

[i]"Good."[/i] She patted his head with her clawed hand. [i]"I will see you soon Sunscreech. Thank you for your assistance."[/i]

She leapt down the hill and scurried towards the southeast, a blur of silver with blue trails behind as he turned his head back to the village.

Holding the infant tight, the young raptor took a deep breath and tried to catch the attention of the guards with a bark and a wave. Taking a short walk along the border of the village, he caught two moblins' eyes with a shout and lifted the bokoblin up as high as he comfortably could.

[i]"HEYYYYY! HEY, I HAVE YER HATCHLING!"[/i]

"//H-HEY, HEY!//" one guard shouted back in Hylian. "//That's uhhh, uhhh, whut you call him, one of them raptors?!//"

"//That...that ain't Oddclaw,//" the other moblin snorted scritching his head, "//looks a damn sight smaller.//"

"//Whut is he holding, looks like-...HEY!//"

"//THAT'S A KID, CALL THE CHIEF!//"

A short scrabble of commands soon followed as Seaclaw stood waiting, cradling the child who snuffled his red-furred piggy snout up at him.

[i]"It's okay, you're home now! ...hope you won't miss me."[/i]

"Ahhh, YAH!" The baby grabbed his snout as Seaclaw giggled.

[i]"Heehehe, yah, we both got big snouts huh?"[/i]

"//THERE, OVER THERE!//"

Four soldiers came out of the village, two bokoblins with sword and gun, one lizalfos with a trident and a very tall black moblin all of whom wore resplendent steel armour with shining weapons of piercing force as they walked careful towards the raptor. The moblin held a royal halberd, strolling out in front of his troop as Seaclaw bowed his head, getting on the ground to show submission whilst offering the newborn up before them as they kept at sword's length.

"//That's definitely Oddclaw's kid,//" muttered one bokoblin.

"//Wait a minute, that's, that's Bokair's kid!//" gasped the lizalfos. "//Remember he went missing like a week ago?!//"

"//How'd this little guy find him?!//"

"//Seaclaw, yes?//"

The boy looked up recognising his name as Mobenheim knelt towards him, gesturing to the newborn then tapping his chest.

"//Did you...find this child, to bring back to us?//"

[i]"Yah!"[/i] he nodded. [i]"He wuz lost...so, here."[/i]

He proffered the babe towards them as one bokoblin took him in his hands, sheathing his sword to carry the infant who squealed with delight at a familiar face to start touching his hoggish snout immediate.

"//Hey, he's alright, not a scratch on him!//"

"//I must thank you deeply, Seaclaw,//" said Mobenheim bowing as he stood up, //"you have done us a great service returning the lost child to us.//"

[i]"It's okay,"[/i] he bowed back still keeping on his knees, [i]"I'm just happy he's safe."[/i]

"//I cannot offer much in reward, but...//"

His thick-cloven hand took the boy's claws and gently lifted him with a firm shake.

"//Your family remain always good friends to Mohberrin Village. Should you ever need us, we shall be at your hand to protect.//"

[i]"Uh, o-okay, I...I don't know whut yer saying but, thank you?"[/i]

The little they understood came through in gratitude, the Hylians returning with their charge as Seaclaw waved them happily goodbye. The newborn struggled a wave back, confused as to why his friend was leaving but even happier he was back with his kind as Seaclaw strolled back south to where Sunscreech was waiting for him.

[i]"They took him back?"[/i] he asked.

[i]"Yep!"[/i] the young raptor clapped his hands. [i]"Little hatchling is back home and happy."[/i]

[i]"Well that is good. Now, you said you wanted to help me hunt?"[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm!"[/i]

[i]"The trees where we slept have good prey to find,"[/i] he turned his head to the southern forest.

[i]"Okay! Thank you again for helping me."[/i]

[i]"Hm. You did force me, no need to thank me."[/i]

[i]"Well,"[/i] Seaclaw twisted his foot in the grass, [i]"still feel I should."[/i]

[i]"You can thank me by hunting for me, now let us go."[/i]

Returning to the woods Seaclaw went into his hunting instincts, keeping low to the ground and creeping through the leaves with care to not step on twigs. He sniffed the surroundings for any beast that lurked past whilst Sunscreech slowly drifted out of his vision and eventually left him be to his own devices. Amongst the forest floor, Seaclaw had not noticed the old raptor abandoning him as he focused intent upon a shrew that skittered through the roots of an old tree, drawing his sword as silently as he could and waiting to thrust. He watched it sniff the air, flicking its tail one way then the other as the child hid himself against the tree. He was about to strike when it crouched forwards, dull senses with its head in the mud and a soft burbling from its snout. Then it froze. Then Seaclaw jumped just before the cracking burst of an electric tail whipped for his head and struck against the blade with a stinging burn down his arm.

[i]"DAMMIT!"[/i]

The boy heard someone shout as he skidded back on his feet, watching the spark of lightning shoot up behind a tree as a ghostly grey raptor came slinking out in full view.

[i]"You're pretty sharp for a hatchling."[/i]

Seaclaw tightened his grip with blade pointing towards him.

[i]"You realise that steel's a conductor right? You felt it when I hit your sword, that numbing jerk?"[/i]

Tesla snickered as his tail cracked with a sonic boom flattening the ferns around him.

[i]"Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you. Just gonna give you a tap that shuts your neural pathways off for a second and knock you out, it's totally safe."[/i]

He launched his tailtip with a sparking shot that hit inches from a rodent running through the dirt, zapping him out cold with a shriek as it crumpled at Seaclaw's feet.

[i]"See? He's not dead, go on check!"[/i]

The boy kept up his guard, stepping to the side saying nothing as he kept his sword unwavering on the silver raptor.

[i]"I wouldn't try fighting if I were you,"[/i] said Tesla circling him, [i]"I'm not alone for starters, we know a lot about you Seaclaw...you'll be a big help to us."[/i]

[i]"I don't know you,"[/i] he snarled through his teeth still moving to the side.

[i]"Ahhh so he DOES speak, and here I thought the shock had numbed your vocal cords or something!"[/i]

[i]"What do you want? I just came to hunt, if you live here I'll leave, I don't wanna fight."[/i]

[i]"Heh...cute."[/i] Tesla stopped as Seaclaw did. [i]"No I don't live here, I'm just out scouting for a little raptor who just so happens to be you."[/i]

[i]"Why?!"[/i]

[i]"Well now, you'll just have to ask my boss."[/i]

He felt the presence of three more behind him as the scouting party lurked from round the trees, shaded in red, turquoise and green.

[i]"You're outnumbered. Don't be stupid, just put that thing away and come along nicely. If you play real good and come with me, I won't have to give you a tap on the head."[/i]

[i]"I'm not going with you,"[/i] Seaclaw thrust his sword in defiance.

[i]"Sorry that's not one of the choices we have today, your only choice is to either walk, or be carried on my back, and it looks a lot like you wanna go for option two!"[/i]

[i]"I'm NOT going with you!"[/i]

[i]"Okay I thought you weren't a stupid kid, I JUST said-"[/i]

[b][i]CLUNG![/i][/b]

[i]"GA-AAAARGH!"[/i]

[i]"WH-WHAT THE SHIT!?"[/i]

A raptor fell on his side from the hard clang that punched his skull, sending them on alert before the second one fell to another metallic thud that rang sharp through the wood, then the third getting knocked to the side as Tesla saw something fly towards him. Striking with his tail at the hurtling object, he whacked it out the sky with white bolts rattling across its surface distracting him from the hard boot crunching into the top of his skull.

"LEEEETS-A [b]GO![/b]"

[i]"GHHHRRRRGH!"[/i]

Tesla crumpled into the dirt as something vaulted off his head, spinning through the air and catching the projectile before landing in front of Seaclaw.

"Don't worry li'l guy, I got yer back!"

[i]"Wh-whut?!"[/i]

Standing in front of him was a strange lean reptile of thick bulbous nose and wide white eyes with hazel pupils grinning at him, his back, head and arms a coal-black with his belly and crested hair a rich cyan hue somewhat brighter than his denim jeans in contrast to the green backpack on his back. Standing at a height of 5'10'', he grasped a strange-looking shield with four concentric curves like circles split in thirds, two on the outside top and bottom, and two on the inside left and right with a mushroom head square at its centre.

[i]"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!"[/i] snapped Tesla whipping his tail.

"You all look reaaaal big picking on a kid," the stranger swished his long dark tail with pale azure tip, "but that's kinda boring, too easy so I thought 'hey, you know what these thugs'll want, a REAL challenge."

[i]"Hey, don't!"[/i] Seaclaw tapped his hand. [i]"You'll get killed!"[/i]

"Hey-ey don't worry kid," he looked back with a thumbs up, "we got this, just watch that sword you might hurt someone."

[i]"KILL HIM!"[/i] the pale raptor shrieked. [i]"Don't hurt the kid, but kill the stranger!"[/i]

"THINK FAST!"

Hurling his shield like a frisbee the stranger went after Tesla who whacked his lightning tail against the offending object, spinning like a coin in the air long enough to distract as the black reptile slammed his fist into the ultraraptor's snout. Jumping to grab his shield he blocked in time against the biting shriek, jaws clamping on the rim before he shoved the shield hard with a punch to the back of his teeth, causing Tesla to release with a numbing wince in his cheeks before the stranger turned on one boot with a hard turning kick from his other that slammed into Tesla's face. A red ultraraptor came snarling from the trees with a flying leap as the newcomer threw his shield, clonking hard into his stomach to suck the breath out of his lungs with a wheeze before landing with a stagger. The stranger rolled fast to pull out his shield from underneath, tripping the raptor with a stumble when he stood on it before the black reptile spun his body round in a whirling haymaker with metal clank against the cyberraptor's face.

Countering with a screech, the crimson beast spat out a burning acid that the stranger blocked, not even tainting the shield despite its corrosive strength as he threw it like a discus towards the charging Tesla unexpected. Skimming past the red raptor who looked shocked to be not targeted, he was too slow to avoid the flying scissor kick that cracked his jaw and grinded in his eye before the stranger landed to drive his elbow into the feral's face to send him crashing to the ground. Tesla had dodged the shield just in time and was charging his tail up for a vicious spark of crackling force, but suddenly the black-and-blue creature shot out his tongue that stretched an incredible distance, plapping its bulbous tip on the shield discarded before yanking it back straight to its owner, just in time for Tesla's tail to come crashing down upon his guard.

[i]"WHAT, G-GAAAH!"[/i]

Rebounding off the shield he tried to strike once again, the guard repelling his thunderous cracks each time with a dampened blow from the metals partly repelling his assault. The stranger waited for his chance when the ghostly raptor needed to charge longer, lunging with a hard uppercut that bonked his shield under Tesla's jaw before snapkicking his throat to make him cough with a barking wheeze.

[i]"KHHH! KH-HHHECHH, YOU LITTLE SHIT!"[/i]

"That all you got?!" the stranger thumbed his snout. "Or ya thirsty for more?!"

During this Seaclaw faced down the green and turquoise raptors, slinking towards him with venomous eyes and restrained claws of gleaming cybernetic blue. One went charging to make a sliding kick, swinging his steel tail to surprise the boy who struck with his blade in riposte as the other raptor swept round to his side and came lashing at his face which he blocked with another strike. He swerved left with a hard swipe of his sword when they tried to advance with twin tails that stabbed at his head like scorpions as the boy stood his ground. He dug his claws in the dirt as they tried to force him back, but the child struck back with parrying blows that pushed him down further as scrape after scrape of glancing steel sent sparks over the ground before they swung both tails in a single lash upon him and broke through his guard, clubbing him on the head before the turquoise raptor stomped his foot upon Seaclaw's chest.

[i]"Alright kid here's the deal, just come along quiet and I don't make your chest hurt everytime you breathe."[/i]

[i]"NNNNGH, y-you think I'm scared of you?!"[/i] he shouted back.

[i]"No, but you'll soon meet someone you will be-AAAGH!"[/i]

The moment the raptor leaned down to taunt him, Seaclaw spat in his eye before slicing up at the neck to make the beast panic, rolling to the side before the green raptor could come down on him with biting snaps at his arm until the boy got back on his feet and thrust hard towards the emerald beast, forcing him back before his turquoise friend chomped on his blade and tried to wrestle it from his grasp. Seaclaw gripped harder, slamming his fist repeatedly into the already-irritated eye of the raptor until forced to release with a snarling hiss and ducking just before the piercing stab of the boy's katana.

[i]"HEY-EY what the fuck, stop it!"[/i]

[i]"GET BACK, I'LL KILL YOU!"[/i]

[i]"HEY, GAH, you little FUCK stop that shit NOW!"[/i]

The boy almost stumbled from the green raptor slamming into his waist with a hard headbutt, catching himself on the back foot and springing forth with a scarring tear across the top of the ultraraptor's skull, carving a line against the steel bonce before pulling back into his guard to dodge the whipping strike of Turquoise's tail. He struck it once more in riposte, throwing his weight behind the slash to pounce forwards in a monstrous cleave that the feral dodged, but only just when a thick layer of flesh was peeled off his thigh by the passing blade.

[i]"A-AAAAARRGH, FUCKING BITCH!"[/i]

[i]"YOU ALRIGHT?!"[/i] cried his friend.

[i]"THAT LITTLE BASTARD CUT MY LEG OPEN!"[/i]

[i]"Shit,"[/i] the green raptor snarled turning to Seaclaw, [i]"alright, how many times do I gotta beat your head til you're out like a light?"[/i]

[i]"Why, are you scared?"[/i] the boy mocked licking his lips. [i]"You can't kill me can you?!"[/i]

[i]"Listen you little bitch, if I didn't have to bring you in I'd be wearing your skin on my tail, so be THANKFUL!"[/i]

He shot his tail like piercing lance to try and punch the sword out of Seaclaw's grip, almost managing to disarm the boy as he staggered nearly falling with the emerald beast pouncing when his back turned. The child however stopped on one foot and twisted the handle in his grip, facing the edge outwards to spin back and slash at the creature's face. The raptor shrieked with a crumpling fall when the sword caught his cheek, tearing a fine red gleam that made his eye water with a stinging burn. Seaclaw came after him with a vicious strike, but Turquoise caught his sword with his tail and whipped it back hard to force the child back, limping towards him with a brazen sneer as blood dripped from his leg.when he gnashed his teeth trying to grab Seaclaw's arm. Then he suddenly felt the crunch of a metal shield against his face throwing him down.

"Room for one more?!"

[i]"GUH, AGH!"[/i]

"I got this li'l guy!" the stranger winked at Seaclaw. "Go on, get outta here!"

[i]"Thank you!"[/i] Seaclaw waved grinning. [i]"Let's fight them together!"[/i]

[i]"SEACLAW!"[/i] Tesla snarled stumbling beside a tree. [i]"Seaclaw, just come with me and no one else gets hurt!"[/i]

[i]"Leave me alone and no one hurts YOU!"[/i]

"HEY, KID DON'T DO IT-AAGH!"

[i]"NOW YOU DIE YOU FREAK!"[/i]

The stranger was set upon by the green and turquoise raptors, launching without restraint as their ferocious teeth clamped on the shield before he bashed them back. Taking a deep breath he braced for one of them to try and leapkick his shield as he bounced them off in a hard shove before immediately swinging his arm to strike the other trying to come at him from the side. The red raptor from before also joined in the assault, kicking the back of his head to leave scars down his black scales with a shuddering gasp as he quickly stepped back to keep all three of them in view. Waiting for one to strike first, the raptor in crimson spat with a shocking plume of acid snot that the stranger blocked with his shield to hear sizzling chemical sour, trying to eat at the impervious metal as he saw the turquoise feral to lunge at him with a shriek. Then he was gone, in a bursting cloud that he snapped his jaws empty on looking around before seeing the foreign reptile rapidly kick his feet in the air to almost flutter like a bee.

[i]"Wh-what, it can FLY?!"[/i]

"COMING THROUGH!"

He tossed his shield down with a crunch into Red, himself following after with a slam of his boots upon Turquoise before Green tried to bite as he swerved and boxed him twice with two crossing jabs and a third uppercut to crack him back. Grabbing his shield he jumped off the turquoise skull and whalloped the emerald raptor with a flying spin kick, cracking the heel of his boot against his jaw before swinging round to crunch his shield on the turquoise face. The red raptor however managed to bite his arm in a rending grab, snarling with a tear as the stranger yelped and grabbed the raptor's throat in a hard backwards slam, crushing his head into the dirt and forcing him to release with a firm press of his arm on the neck.

With his scouts busy, Tesla now faced Seaclaw alone as he brandished his sword with daring glint and curling teeth. The ultraraptor cracked his tail like a burning whip, scorching the grass around him in blackened char as he stomped forth facing the boy.

[i]"Don't be difficult kid, I just wanna bring you back to meet all my friends."[/i]

[i]"You're NOT my friend, if you touch me I'll RIP YOUR HEART!"[/i]

[i]"HAH, hahahah, awwww that's cute."[/i]

He struck forth with a spearing thrust as Seaclaw jumped out of reach.

[i]"I gotta say I was expecting a much whimpier little brat, so at least today's not boring!"[/i]

[i]"I'm a hunter!"[/i] the boy cried. [i]"I may be little, but I can hunt as good as you!"[/i]

[i]"Maybe you can, but can you FIGHT as good as me?!"[/i]

His tail whipped fast above Seaclaw's head to force him to duck, leaving him open for a charging rush as the silver raptor slammed his head into the boy's skull, sending him rolling back to hit a tree with a hard thud as he winced staring up at Tesla's grin. The child leapt back up and pushed against the tree, waiting for the strike of Tesla's tail crackling with energy to come swiping for his head then his legs as he ducked then jumped, planting his claws on the bark and leaping off to somersault with spinning blade that Tesla blocked from touching his spine. Seaclaw shuddered from the bolt ringing through his sword, numbing his hands with as he landed behind the ultraraptor and immediately turned to stab at his leg. The cyber-beast cackled with a jump-and-strike, leaping above the blade and stretching out his tail that Seaclaw barely dodged feeling the electric burn scorch past his cheek, sparking beside his ear as he clapped the side of his head screaming with a panting shudder.

The trampling vibration of feet alerted him to jump, Tesla shoving his head forwards to try and knock him down as Seaclaw leapt to a large rock and jumped on the raptor's head in a crushing stomp.

[i]"A-AAAGH, F-FUCK!"[/i]

[i]"YA LIKE THAT?!"[/i] Seaclaw backflipped off ready to swing his sword down upon Tesla's neck.

[i]"STOP, THAT!"[/i] He blocked with his tail arcing upwards in a half-moon. [i]"First time someone stomps on my head, fine, my fault, SECOND time, you're just being a shit!"[/i]

Leaping against a tree he kicked up high and swung his body sideways to turn his tail into a vicious spiral that forked straight towards Seaclaw's body, the boy leaping back fast and strafing to avoid his strikes like bolts of lightning from above. One of them managed to his leg and paralyse it brief to send him falling, yelping as he rolled to put himself in a kneeling stance and hold his sword aloft in deference. Tesla landed with his tail thumping the earth, shockwaving a brief ring of electric force that crackled moments before Seaclaw rolled out of its reach and shimmered with a dome around the cyber-raptor.

Slapping his leg to try and rouse it awake, the child stumbled with a limp before making a vicious charge to surprise Tesla and slash for his eyes to have the raptor reel back briefly. It was just enough for Seaclaw to slash at his body, cutting along the flesh to make him snarl and drip a soft crimson stream down his front.

[i]"NNngh! Well...now I know why she's wanting you."[/i] Tesla stepped forth curling his tail above him. [i]"Kid like you, makes a dangerous enemy if you start breeding."[/i]

Before he had a chance to attack again, the whirling sound of a discus went past his head as Tesla ducked when it thunked into the tree behind him. Then came the lash of a long red tongue wrapping round his snout to clench it shut before suddenly pulling Tesla off his feet with a vicious yank forwards as the stranger's tongue reeled back and shot once more for the shield to snatch it back into his hand.

"COME ON!" He ran for Seaclaw to grab his hand. "We gotta go, go now!"

[i]"This way!"[/i]

The boy understood and ran with him, heading out of the forest leaving four raptors stunned with dizzying heads that soon went off after them. The snarling shriek of the feral cyberherd came rumbling behind as the stranger wrapped his arm round Seaclaw's waist and hoisted him on his back to sit in front of his pack.

"GET ON!"

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

"I'm faster it's alright!"

Shifting his body from an upright stance, the foreign reptile bent somewhat forwards to make his back more like a saddle, his bump of a shell in the centre of his back covered by his pack helping Seaclaw sit as he grabbed onto the stranger's neck whilst he bolted down the hill. Tesla came surging from behind as he shot lightning from his tail, thunder and fury at their heels that the stranger dodged as best he could with quick shuffles of his feet. It was a long furious run, a terrible chase over the veldt as the raptors expected the stranger to have slowed down by some point beneath the greying sky and the terse bending wind of the sloping hills. But he never slowed down even once, sometimes even managing to jump ahead with his grand leaps and hovering flutterkick despite having the weight of a child on his back. Then Seaclaw saw the village off in the distance and turned fast with a hard yank of the reptile's head.

"HE-HEY, what are you-"

[i]"THERE, GO THERE!"[/i] he jabbed his finger.

"Wait, that place?!"

[i]"Yeah, yeah go!"[/i]

"Alrighty, you're the boss!"

[i]"GET BACK HERE YOU SHITS!"[/i] screeched Tesla from behind. [i]"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME!"[/i]

The barrier of steel shone even without the sun upon it as Seaclaw kept pointing towards, screaming out as soon as he saw the guards at the entrance with hands waving above as they vaguely rattled their heads towards him, hearing a somewhat high-pitched sound that rang in their ears before it was close enough.

"//Hey uh you hear something?//"

"//Yeah, that's weird I thought I got all the water out this morning.//"

"//Maybe it's air pressure, same reason why you get tired some days.//"

"//Yeaaaaah maybe-wait...wait, hold up, what's that, hey-HEY!//"

[i]"HEYYYYYY!"[/i] Seaclaw screeched flapping his arms. [i]"HELP US, H-HELP, WE NEED HELP!"[/i]

"//SHIT, that kid is back!//"

"//U-u-uhhhh an' something's chasing him get Mobenheim out here! ALERT, ALERT, WE GOT INTRUDERS!//"

The alarm rang out in the village as the horn blew from the lookout, suited soldiers marching out with swords, spears and even rifles ready and pointing towards the approaching herd. Mobenheim stood forth with his halberd and pointed at the silver dots beyond Seaclaw and his mount.

"//RIFLERS!//" he shouted. "//TAKE AIIIIIM! FIRE!//"

A volley of lasers came thundering across the field, blasting into the raptors who staggered and strafed fast to dodge as best they could. Snarling to try and fire back with acid shots that went skimming over the sky to land like little comets, the soldiers of the village kept back out of range with covering fire until Seaclaw was rushed into the gates safely with his new friend in tow.

[i]"AGH, DAMMIT!"[/i] Tesla hissed.

[i]"They got long-range weapons?!"[/i] cried Turquoise.

[i]"Pull back, pull back! Fucking, Riptor will have my head for this."[/i]

The raptors headed back into the woods, soldiers holstering their guns and in turn retreating to the village once all was clear. The black-and-blue reptile who arrived with Seaclaw on his back gave a shouting wave to the fleeing ultrabeasts.

"SMELL YA LATERS IGNORAMUS!" he waved poking out his tongue. "COME ON BACK WHEN YA WANT SECONDS, I GOT YER DESSERT RIGHT HERE!"

With a fist pump to finish off he swept a hand over his hair and looked back to his passenger.

"That was real close, you alright li'l guy?"

[i]"Uhhh, thank you!"[/i] The boy leapt off with a grin. [i]"You saved me!"[/i]

"Is this your home?" the stranger pointed down at the marshy earth. "Your...home?"

[i]"Hmmm,"[/i] the raptor tapped his chin looking around the stilt-hut settlement.

"//Seaclaw, who were they?//"

Mobenheim stomped forwards with a tender bow looking to the newcomer.

"Hi!" the shield-carrier waved. "Is this your son? Or a friend?"

"//Hmm...the language of the humans, I should ask Adenine. Wait here.//"

He put up his hands motioning them to stay before lumbering off towards one of the huts. But Seaclaw became frantic and looked around him with a start.

[i]"Wh-where, where's Shaderunner?!"[/i]

"Hey-ey kid calm down what's up?"

[i]"Did, did you see him, he's got one eye and, and, OH NO what if they got him?!"[/i]

"Hey, hey!" He put his hands on the boy with disarming grin. "It's okay, they're not coming back, we're safe here. These guys seem to like us."

[i]"N-NO!"[/i] He threw his hands off. [i]"Shaderunner might need help, what if they catch him?!"[/i]

"Wait, what did you leave something behind?"

"You guys alright?!"

A hooded figure dressed in red and white approached them as Seaclaw raced up to grab his sleeve.

[i]"Hey hey, hey!"[/i]

"Oh hey there Seaclaw!" he patted the boy's head. "What's wrong?"

[i]"Sh-shaderunner, you gotta go look for him!"[/i]

"Uhhh, hold up I gotta click this on."

He lifted his neck to reveal a collar that he clicked on, crystals shimmering to life around the rim as he bent down to the boy.

"Alright, now what's happened?"

[i]"Um, I was, with another hunter, Shaderunner, we were out hunting an-"[/i]

"Wait your dad's not with you?"

[i]"NO, I, I-i was, I found a hatchling from this tribe who wuz lost an' I brought him back, but there was another hunter with me, an' then these OTHER hunters with stonetails tried to fight me, an' I dunno where Shaderunner is!"[/i]

"Hey can you understand him?" the stranger wagged his fingers. "Also hi, I'm Jacob!"

"OH yeah uhm sorry," the alchemist swept his cloak, "you must be a newcomer huh?"

"That obvious?" he shrugged with a smirk. "I found this kid getting attacked by these weird-looking rexes, they had metal tails and shot lightning it was crazy!"

"Yeah that's what he's telling me too, said a friend of his has gone missing out there too?"

"Huh...I didn't see anyone else but him getting set on by those guys, sorry."

"Well, if you wanna talk to him take this." He handed Jacob a spare collar. "Translators we made, they'll help you understand him."

"Woah, you for real?!" He took it and quickly clamped it on his neck. "This thing on?"

"Just flip that thing there."

He flicked the switch as the crystals glowed, turning towards Seaclaw and giving a wave.

"Yo there, you understand me?"

[i]"OH, yah!"[/i] the boy nodded.

"Oh cool it does work, wow this is some magic! Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk much."

[i]"It's okay! Thank you for saving me!"[/i]

"No prob kid, what's your name?"

[i]"I'm Seaclaw!"[/i] He offered his hand that Jacob shook.

"Nice to meetcha, I'm Jacob, Jacob MacGregor."

[i]"Are you a starbeast?"[/i]

"Heh, naaah I'm a yoshi." He stepped back rocking on his boots. "Never seen one before?"

[i]"Nah!"[/i]

"Hey uh Seaclaw?" Adenine stepped to his side. "Why are you all the way out there without your family?"

[i]"I TOLD you I was getting a hatchling back here with Shaderunner!"[/i]

"So...your family don't know you're here?"

"Uh...n-no." The boy scuffed his feet with a shameful look.

"Hey it's fine," he patted his head, "what's important is you're safe, I'll call us a ducky and fly you home. Also take you as well uhhh Jacob was it?"

"Oh, yeah?" The yoshi rubbed his neck. "Actually I was kinda hoping you could tell me where I was."

"Well you're in Mohberrin Village, so welcome."

"Soooo that's like what, near Rogueport oooor Dinosaur Land?"

"I mean it's a land OF dinosaurs so-"

"But...that can't be right." Jacob looked up to the mountains. "There's no hills with eyes on 'em or anything."

"...okay well!" the cloaked hood clapped his sleeves. "I'm Adenine by the way, I think you'll wanna talk to the guys at the base."

"Oh there's a base, cool!" he tapped his shield. "What about a port, maybe a dock, someplace with boats or a plane?"

"We got an airship, don't worry we'll all figure this out soon, right now we need to get Seaclaw home."

"Gotcha."

Sending the call, Adenine summoned a Ducky to the village with the chieftain's permission. Two hours passed during which Seaclaw and Jacob were given food, the boy showered with gratitude for his help in rescuing the child that he was soon reunited with as he pulled silly faces and babbled to him happily. Once the ship had landed, the yoshi and raptor were taken off back towards the southeast and onto the outskirts of the Hunters' Nest where Oddclaw was waiting, looking very panicked beside Moonclaw, Skyfang and Oddtooth who all rushed immediately to the child.

[i]"SEACLAW, SEACLAW!"[/i]

[i]"HIIII-OOF!"[/i]

[i]"OHHH, OH I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE SAFE, AAAAH!"[/i]

The father crushed him in a hug and dappled his face with kisses as the other raptors nuzzled him.

[i]"Are you alright?!"[/i]

[i]"Where did you go?!"[/i]

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

[i]"W-well, I..."[/i] the youth stepped back with a gulp, [i]"I-i found a hatchling that wuz lost, an' this hunter wuz trying to kill him."[/i]

[i]"A hatchling?"[/i] gasped his mother.

[i]"Y-yeah, he couldn't even walk, so I told the hunter to stop an' he fought me! But I fought him back, an' he lost an' I told him he had to help me take the hatchling back or I kill him!"[/i]

[i]"You WHAT?!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked. [i]"WOW, really?!"[/i]

[i]"YAH!"[/i] the boy grinned with a sudden pride. [i]"So he came with me to the Land Before, we hunted, an' slept, an' I got the hatchling back! But then the hunter wuz gone, an' there were these OTHER hunters who had stonetails that tried to fight me!"[/i]

[i]"Stone...tails?"[/i] Moonclaw sneered with a sudden hiss.

[i]"But then he saved me,"[/i] Seaclaw pointed at the yoshi who waved, [i]"he beat them up an' we got out an' now I'm here."[/i]

[i]"Well...that is,"[/i] Oddclaw gasped clutching Seaclaw's shoulders, [i]"I am glad you are safe, but you must NEVER go off on your own again."[/i]

[i]"Wha?"[/i]

[i]"Do you have any idea how worried we were?! Highwave told Oddtooth she had not seen you all day, why would you run off like that?!"[/i]

[i]"Wha-YOU do it!"[/i] He stomped his foot outraged. [i]"You always run off on yer own to help yer friends!"[/i]

[i]"Th-that, I do not run off on my own!"[/i]

[i]"Mother told me you did, before I wuz born, so why can YOU do it an' not me?!"[/i]

[i]"I-i...Seaclaw, that is diff-...a-ah-"[/i]

[i]"He ith right."[/i] Oddtooth looked back to him. [i]"Why ith it bad for him to do it and not you?"[/i]

[i]"I am an adult!"[/i]

[i]"He can hunt for himself!"[/i] Skyfang barked. [i]"He's a good hunter!"[/i]

[i]"That is NOT the point do not argue-"[/i]

[i]"Oddclaw."[/i] His mate's snarling tone dipped in his ear. [i]"This is what I warned you about. Do not fight it."[/i]

The father sighed with a hard clasp of his face, groaning with regrets as Moonclaw felt a small victory of relief when her husband composed his words.

[i]"You...you are right. It is not for me to tell you not to run off on your own when...I have done so too. I am sorry Seaclaw. But."[/i]

He grabbed the boy's arms with a deadly look.

[i]"From now on, ANY of us, if we are to go somewhere, hunting or not, we must tell our family where we go, and I mean FAMILY. Understand?"[/i]

[i]"Okay, father."[/i]

[i]"A hunter never hunts alone!"[/i] Skyfang snickered nudging Oddtooth.

[i]"Ugh it thound terrible when you thay it,"[/i] he snorted.

[i]"HEY, you said it every day when we were younger!"[/i]

[i]"But he is right,"[/i] said the mother licking her sons, [i]"and that is something ALL of us must learn, is that not right dear?"[/i]

[i]"Yes."[/i] Oddclaw nodded. [i]"From now on, no one hunts alone, family must stay together."[/i]

[i]"Is that a promise?"[/i] Moonclaw tightened her teeth.

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

He hugged her tight then all three of his children, taking a moment sharing breaths before he walked over to the yoshi who propped his shield on the ground and leaned sideways against it.

"Sup? Your kid alright?"

"Yes, thank you," Oddclaw sighed.

"OH hey you speak my language?"

"I...believe so yes, I am Oddclaw, thank you for protecting my son."

"No prob, I'm Jacob MacGregor," he offered his hand that he shook, "I heard there was like a base nearby?"

"Ah it is not here, that is over the ocean," he pointed north, "this is my home where my tribe live."

"Oh so this IS Dinosaur Land, neat!" Jacob kicked up his shield and walked forwards with the family ahead. "Yanno I'm part-rex too!"

"Par-trecks?" Oddclaw squinted.

"Yeah like on my dad's side, mom's a yoshi course but my dad came from here."

"Wait...he did?"

"I mean...this IS Dinosaur Land right, I'm just assuming cuz you look a lot like-"

[i]"ODDIE ODDIE!"[/i]

Two raptor twins pounced up towards him with a stamping squeak.

[i]"ONE OF OUR KIDS IS IN THE WATER!"[/i]

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

[i]"H-HURRY SHE'S DROWNING!"[/i]

"I have to go!" Oddclaw shook Jacob's hand again. "Go to the ship, they will take you to the base, talk to you soon!"

"Uhhh okay! LATER!"

Rushing off down towards the shore the three raptors headed into the distance, the sounds of snarling shrieking beasts ringing through the plains as Jacob scratched his bulbous nose with a sniff through the air.

"This place is...definitely not what I expected. I mean, not even got huts like they do on the Yoshi Isle...well, maybe that ship can take me back home."

He walked back onto the Ducky and sat himself down on the seat where the pilot looked back.

"Taking you up to the base, that okay with you?"

"Uhh yeah but," he raised a finger, "can you fly me after to Toad Town?"

"Toad...town?"

"Yeah it's like, in the Mushroom Kingdom, yanno where that is?"

"Uhhh...sorry kid," the pilot shrugged, "think you're a long long way from home."

"Oh that's not good." He looked out the window. "How far away am I?"

"We'll find out, hang on tight."

The Ducky shuddered off towards the northern horizon, skirting over the grand inner sea of the large crescent continent where Jacob saw the ocean, a small island in centre and the rising Skylands with a familiar glint of recognition. He saw the great sweeping plains of the northwest, trapped between a firey lake and a barren desert where beyond was a black mountain and a cluster of tropical trees that separated it from a long skirting beach where a silver tower stood. They landed on the beach as Jacob stared upon the large fence around the base, two human guards standing to attention as the yoshi was met by a man with steel legs and his assistant in robes of brown and blue.

"Holaaaa," Kevin grinned, "welcome to the T.E.A.R. base, I'm Kevin and this is Ribose."

"Hey there," he waved his sleeve, "Ade told us about you, come on in."

"Thanks!" The newcomer walked in behind them. "So, are you guys part of the Mushroom Kingdom or-"

"Uhhh, no?" Kevin grimaced. "We're from Earth, which is what this place is technically."

"Ahhh huh, so...how far away is that?"

"Far away enough we never heard of the Mushroom Kingdom," said Ribose trying not smirk from his hood, "like a long LONG way away."

"Okay hold up am I even in the same WORLD or what?"

They kept walking with a sudden silence. Jacob turned more nervous as he wandered through halls where robots sauntered past him and humans aplenty filled the rooms where they slept, they ate and they watched TV.

"Hello there!" a lady with a metal hand greeted him. "My name's Dr. Jane Addison and it seems you're our new visitor."

"Guess so, hi I'm Jacob." He shook her hand.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions for us."

"Well, mainly one. Do you guys know where the Mushroom Kingdom is? Maybe Toad Town?"

"Nope, sorry. Why don't you come in and I'll explain."

She opened the door to her office where a couch was ready, Kevin sitting down with Ribose as Jane went to her desk looking up at the sketch-colour map hanging on her wall with a saddened sigh.

"So...firstly, I need to ask, how did you end up here?"

"Well, I'm not sure," Jacob leaned back putting down his shield, "I was walking back home with my dad and uncles, we had a day out on the go-karts cuz it was fun and yanno, mom was away on business and my dad gets kinda lonely so my uncles were like 'hey let's go out and have a time' so, we were walking and...something sucked us up into the sky like a portal."

"A portal?" Kevin muttered.

"Yeah, and it just...landed me down inside of this mountain, like a small cave inside this HUGE mountain where all these birds were flying above with long beaks."

"Was it a sorta yellow-orangey mountain?" asked Ribose brushing his beak.

"Yeah!"

"So you popped up around the Skylands," Jane confirmed tapping her fingers, "you said you came from inside it?"

"Yeah in this crack that was like way up high," Jacob reached his hand up, "it was scary! Had to climb all the way down, then I saw that little kid, Seaclaw and I sorta waited until he was alone to ask him something cuz I wasn't sure about the guy he was with."

"I see. Anything else?"

"Well there's this book." He pulled off his backpack and reached inside to pull out a tattered burnt volume. "When I arrived this was the only thing next to me, it sorta burned out fast when I-"

"Fell out of it?"

"...yeah, actually that...yeah!"

"Oh god." She cupped her face. "Can...can I see that book please?"

He handed it over as she scanned through the few pages left, burnt to charred cinders with flakes curling on the edge of the paper as she shook her head.

"That explains it then," she looked over to Kevin, "this is James' handwriting."

"Wait, what?" Jacob looked between them.

"Tell Andrea and hand her this," Jane gave the book to Izquierda, "and maybe, if you can, try to pull some information out of it?"

"Well I never done book restoration," said the chemist rubbing its front, "but I'll do my best, maybe I can get impressions."

"Thanks."

Sending him out the door with Ribose in tow, Jane watched Kevin for a moment before turning back towards the yoshi with a firm clasp of her fingers tented.

"What's going on?" Jacob asked. "Was, was that book something bad, and why were you talking abou-"

"Jacob, yes?" Dr. Addison straightened herself with a firm face. "There's a lot I have to explain to you, I'm just going to tell you everything you need."

"Um...is this, like some sort of secret place I'm not supposed to know?"

"Well, technically yes."

"But I DO get to go home right?"

"That depends on what we can do, but we'll try our absolute best."

"What do you mean?" Jacob smirked nervously. "Like, you just, you're on an island, there's a large ocean, I can't be that far away there's rexes here just like in Dinosaur Land!"

"Rexes?"

"Yeah, yanno like my dad, that Oddclaw and his son he looks like-"

"Wait, wait." She sighed with a shake of her head. "Let me just tell you...where exactly you ended up in."