FSE

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[i]"Maurice?"[/i]

[i]The sun kissed his face.[/i]

[i]"Maurice."[/i]

[i]The swaying of the wheat that rustled against his ears.[/i]

[i]"It's almost time. Come home, please."[/i]

[i]Golden stalks towered above his head. The sun never left the horizon, trapped in deep amber, a blood-set orange that set the fields on fire. He felt himself speak, but words came there none as he walked forwards through the field of wheat. It was wild, unkempt, disorganised just as nature intended it to be, fragile ears that heard everything the wind told them, waiting to be shattered and to spread their seeds. He felt them stick to his face, his body strangely warm but he never looked down once. Why would he have to except to count his steps, of which he knew every one?[/i]

[i]There was a large tree in the centre of the field, set upon a hill by itself. A giant oak perhaps, he wasn't sure from the haze of morning heat that blurred its outline faintly. With each step he never came closer, despite how much it loomed beyond him in the distance. He felt someone by his side and that same female voice.[/i]

[i]"Are you cold?"[/i]

[i]He felt his throat say yes.[/i]

[i]"Come on...you're almost home."[/i]

[i]Her presence soothed his heart. He felt his feet become lighter, the world turn brighter and with each passing second the sun never went higher into the sky. She started running, and so too did he. There was a song in his heart that came through as the fields parted before them, stalks bending outwards with silent grace as the way to the old oak tree unveiled itself before them. Finally it was getting close. He could smell the ancient bark, so rich with the scents of someone he knew, someone he felt. Someone he understood. They never managed to reach the tree, but they ran everywhere they could, through every stalk of wheat that would bow to their will despite how small they were. He never looked back, and neither did she even when he did not turn to look at her. He never had to. She was always there for him. Since that storm, the night that brought her to him, and she never left his side.[/i]

[i]What storm?[/i]

[i]"Hmm?"[/i]

[i]What storm, he felt his voice say.[/i]

[i]"I didn't mention a storm, what storm do you mean?"[/i]

[i]The storm where we first met. The sky becomes darker and I can see her face before the fields, ragged, sodden, dishevelled and helpless. Alone like me, afraid like I used to be. She pulls her hair away from one cheek, looks up towards me, slightly shorter from the hill step, the sound of rain hissing across the fields, thunderous roars on the horizon lighting up our faces. You didn't even have to ask me, I knew from your face. I never complained, never forced your way, watched you leave the next day but you came back the next. Became part of us. Us? It wasn't just you and me?[/i]

[i]"You think Edward managed to keep himself away from the nuts this time?"[/i]

[i]I laugh, but I can't remember why. I just know it was funny.[/i]

[i]"Remember that time he shoved an acorn in his mouth and it got stuck for like two whole days?!"[/i]

[i]We laugh even harder. It was terrible but we did, a brief flash of a cheerisome face in our minds' eye. I remember friends (friends?) within stalks of wheat, several faces pass me between memories like ghosts from the present. The wind stopped. Was it but fate that she came to me?[/i]

[i]"It's quiet...too quiet."[/i]

[i]If that was fate, then so was this.[/i]

[i]"Run."[/i]

[i]A cruel fate.[/i]

[i]"Please...run."[/i]

[i]Fingers crept through the earth inside, small steel slivers that formed deep cracks before them. He gripped her hand tighter and ran not with joy but fear. The tree started to turn brighter, too bright. Burning. Fire flickered through the breeze like insects fleeing from the hive.[/i]

[i]"Maurice."[/i]

[i]The smell of oil. So thick, and black inside his nostrils.[/i]

[i]"Where...where is he?"[/i]

[i]It was liquid smoke. The ground become dark with strips of silver rending through. They ran. They felt the grinding teeth against their back as his throat screamed a silent voice. She tried to call to him as the sky became a wretched smog. The fields started to wilt, the earth tore itself open with a monstrous screech as he felt her warmth slip from his fingers. There would come a scream from his throat, one he was deaf to. He tried to turn, and then she was gone.[/i]

[i]"Stonevoice?"[/i]

He turned off his sleep mode and awoke. Dronin scanned his memory once again and after several minutes the result came back clean despite the unusual activity in his neural circuits.

[i]"Stonevoice?"[/i] Barkclaw repeated beside him. [i]"Are you alright?"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] said the badnik, [i]"I am well."[/i]

[i]"You were making odd noises in your sleep."[/i]

[i]"I had a dream again. The same one."[/i]

[i]"Oh."[/i] He stared at the robot blankly for a few seconds until something clicked. [i]"D-do you...want to talk about it?"[/i]

[i]"No, thank you."[/i] The robot pulled himself up with a clicking creak of his joints. [i]"Did you sleep well?"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] Barkclaw stood up with a stretch of his limbs, [i]"I had no dreams though. I do not dream often."[/i]

[i]"Is that odd?"[/i]

[i]"No. Is it?"[/i]

[i]"I would not know. What shall we do today?"[/i]

[i]"I, I want to go to the beach!"[/i] he cried with a nervous chirp. [i]"There are sunwings nesting there a-and I want to see them!"[/i]

[i]"Alright, when we are done for the day we shall tell your brother first, then we leave."[/i]

[i]"YES, yes I cannot wait!"[/i]

The morning was covered in clouds, not oppressive but enough to blot the sun for a few minutes at a time to cast shadows of grey over the length of the forest. Both Dronin and Barkclaw enjoyed living peacefully out at the edge of the forest territory as the first response of an early warning system, the sharpest eyes and ears of the Hunters' Nest working in sync to cover the eastern side. Dronin had pondered to himself on why Barkclaw had been given this side of the nest specifically to guard where so few enemies could even approach from. Nothing came as Barkclaw examined bugs both old and new, checking under logs and fingering into crevasses to feel them slip and slither down his claws with tickling little feet and slimy muscular bodies that sucked against his scales. He stared upon the creatures with constant fascination, eyes wide in rapture as he purred looming above them, his giant snout flaring its nostrils above their backs.

[i]"They are so small,"[/i] he muttered to no one.

[i]"Yes,"[/i] replied Dronin half-attentive, [i]"the air here makes them grow much faster however."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i]

[i]"Smallwings were much smaller back where I came from."[/i]

The robot pinched the fingers of his single arm to the speck of a millimetre exact. The raptor stared moving over towards him whilst trying not to move his claws too much to let the bugs remain latched on him.

[i]"Ooooooh! That is VERY small!"[/i]

[i]"Indeed."[/i]

[i]"What smallwings do you like?"[/i] he asked looking up at the mantis.

[i]"That one,"[/i] he pointed at the slug wrapping a thick slimy trail round Barkclaw's wrist, [i]"they have a powerful single limb that pushes them along, they can also choose whether to be male or female which is an unusual trait to possess full control of."[/i]

[i]"Really?! I never knew that!"[/i]

[i]"Yes, I find it fascinating."[/i]

[i]"Hhohhhhh..."[/i]

The raptor sat himself down gently as he let the insects continue to travel over his body. Tiny limbs and thick goo crept across his skin, his senses in a constant state of awareness as he suddenly would turn his head like a periscope to focus on something far off before looking back to his beasties. Dronin sat with him, his sword magnetised to his hip as he watched the small collective of crawling critters scale all over the raptor's flesh, millipedes and slugs occasionally met by curious butterflies that landed on his snout mistaking him for wood. He rumbled sweetly with a strange peace as he closed his eyes and let them wander for all the while they were on duty. Dronin kept him fed by occasionally bringing him food from the family nest with permission. Soon it was time for their guarding duty to end and Barkclaw brushed the insects off his body to see his brother first.

All around them raptors tended to themselves, cleaning each other and eating their fresh kills, children yapping and running freely between nests to try and nip each other's tails with peals of laughter whilst mothers and fathers bantered about days from their youth and memorable hunts. At the outskirts near the forest Oddclaw was sitting in his new family's nest, facing his anthro son directly who sat on his bottom staring up at him whilst Moonclaw and their feral children watched on in amusement. Barkclaw sat waiting at the rim of the nest seeing his brother in the midst of something important, the robot beside him clicking his steel mandibles curiously.

[i]"Daaaaddy."[/i]

[i]"D-d-duh...d-dah...DEH!"[/i]

[i]"Yes, yes very good son!"[/i]

The father brought out a small nib of meat that his son rabidly ate up with tiny teeth. When he was done eating he pointed to Moonclaw.

[i]"Mmmmuuuuummyyy."[/i]

[i]"M-muh...mmmmMMM!"[/i]

[i]"Muuuuummy."[/i]

[i]"MUH...M-MUHNNEE!"[/i]

[i]"PfffftHA HA!"[/i] She cackled with a wide smirk. [i]"Silly thing."[/i]

[i]"Don' CALL HIM THAT mummyyyy!"[/i] screeched the feral son with lisping buckteeth. [i]"He try a-an' he really tryin'!"[/i]

[i]"Awww I am sorry Oddtooth,"[/i] she licked his head, [i]"you are right he is trying."[/i]

[i]"I'm boooored,"[/i] whined the daughter kicking her feet, [i]"ah wan' trees!"[/i]

[i]"You can climb on the rock if you like."[/i]

[i]"NUH, rocks not TREES!"[/i]

[i]"You are not climbing the tree until you are older."[/i]

[i]"AHM BIG NOW!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfaaaaang,"[/i] Moonclaw snarled a warning tone, [i]"do not make me bite you."[/i]

[i]"Mmmnnnnngh!"[/i]

She humphed in a hard squat forced to watch her baby brother struggle through his speech, tiny growls with muted warbles from his pudgy throat as he tried to rasp with the best diction he could muster. Oddclaw was patient, gently repeating words and stopping when the child became frustrated, but always giving him a little food when he managed to hit it right. Barkclaw tapped his foot in a desperate impatience which alerted him to turn his head.

[i]"Oh, hello brother how are you?!"[/i]

[i]"Good!"[/i] he barked quickly. [i]"U-um, Stonevoice and me, are going to the beach to, um, look at sunwings, just to let you know!"[/i]

[i]"That is good! Thank you for letting me know, I will see you later then."[/i]

[i]"Bye!"[/i]

The raptor turned and immediately raced off but Dronin stayed behind for a moment as he asked:

[i]"Oddclaw, may I ask one thing before I leave?"[/i]

[i]"Um...yes?"[/i]

[i]"Why is Barkclaw guarding the east of the nest? Would his sharp senses not be more useful to the west?"[/i]

[i]"I asked alpha to put him there, so he was close enough to home that I could help him, but far enough away that he had some freedom and was not stifled by mother."[/i]

[i]"Ahh. I see. You are a good brother."[/i]

[i]"STONEVOIIIICE HURRYYYYY!"[/i] shrieked Barkclaw from the woods.

[i]"Farewell Oddclaw, we shall see you at night."[/i]

The robot departed with a courteous bow as Oddie returned to his son, who had lodged one of his feet into his mouth and started sucking on one of the toes.

[i]"Child do not do that come on, daddy has to teach you how to speak."[/i]

[i]"Uhhhh?!"[/i]

He pulled the son's foot from his lips and waved the largest claw in front of him.

[i]"KH-lawwww? KH-lawwwwwww?"[/i]

[i]"UH, E-EEHH!"[/i]

[i]"Khhhhlllawwwww?"[/i]

[i]"Khhuuuuul...khhhhuuuuul!"[/i]

The toddler flopped onto his back almost dangling from Oddie's grip still on his foot, giggling with tiny wiggles of his fat belly as the father suddenly smooched his tummy and blew a thick raspberry on it.

[i]"KHEEEHAHAHAHAA!"[/i]

[i]"PPFFFRRRRT, silly claw, you are a SILLY claw you are!"[/i]

[i]"I am not calling him that!"[/i] cried Moonclaw behind him.

[i]"Why not it would be good!"[/i] he shouted back teasing.

[i]"He will never get respect as a hunter being called that!"[/i]

[i]"Well he IS a silly hatchling!"[/i]

[i]"AHM SILLY TOOO!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAAGH!"[/i]

Skyfang immedately jumped on her father's back to bite his neck, tugging at the looser skin as he made a mock cry of anguish and rolled onto his side.

[i]"NO, NOOOO DO NOT EAT ME!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNRRRAAAGH!"[/i]

[i]"MOONIE HELP I AM BEING EATEN ALIVE!"[/i]

[i]"Oddtooth will you help me?"[/i] said the mother winking at her son.

[i]"Y-yeah yeah!"[/i]

They both ran over to start biting Oddie playfully much to his distress, the entire family nibbling all over his chest and arms as he kicked up dust and screeched in a feigned surprise.

[i]"NOOOO, H-HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"[/i]

[i]"DADDY TASTY!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNUM NUM NUUUUM!"[/i]

[i]"No no, THIS part is mine children!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAAAGH!"[/i]

They eventually stopped after five minutes of biting frantic, leaving Oddclaw covered in tiny nips and teeth marks as they laughed with each other. Skyfang bounced on her father's stomach sending the wind out of his chest with a groan as he grabbed her and rolled to his side to nibble the back of her head, much to her screaming cackles of excitement as her tail flapped and wriggled like a worm before she laughed herself breathless. He pulled off once she was gasping, poking her tongue out cheekily at him as he poked his tongue out back at her in return.

[i]"Are your friends coming today?"[/i] asked Moonclaw to her mate.

[i]"OH, yes, I cannot wait to show our children to them, they have been growing so fast!"[/i]

[i]"Ahm ah FATHHHT daddy?!"[/i] squeaked Oddtooth through his buckteeth.

[i]"Oh yes, you are very fast, but when you grow up you will be faster!"[/i]

[i]"AHM FASTERRRR!"[/i] cried Skyfang jumping up beside her brother.

[i]"Oh really? Maybe we should see for ourselves. Both of you run to that tree and THEN run back here."[/i]

[i]"YEAH YEAH!"[/i]

[i]"Ready?!"[/i] He waited for both of them to get in line with each other. [i]"GO!"[/i]

The two ran at breakneck speed, feral bodies shooting out of the gate across the nest as their parents and smaller brother cheered from the finish line. Skyfang pumped her legs into the dirt, tearing up the ground leaving larger claw grooves than Oddtooth was for his slender body giving him a beanpole look. He managed to keep up when they reached the tree, but Skyfang managed to kick up against the bark and push herself a little extra forwards to burst straight ahead of her brother and come skirting to a halt next to their father.

[i]"I WIN I WIN, AH MADE IT AHM FASTERRRR!"[/i]

[i]"HHhahahaha, well done daughter you ARE the fastest!"[/i] crowed Moonclaw from the side.

[i]"That was impressive!"[/i] added Oddie kneeling down to her. [i]"Where did you learn to do that kick on the tree?"[/i]

[i]"Iiii did it mahSELF!"[/i] said the child with the smuggest look a hatchling could pull.

[i]"Yer REAAALLY fathhht,"[/i] wheezed Oddtooth smiling, [i]"ah thou-...ah thought I wuth gonna win!"[/i]

[i]"Heeheehee! You wanna be fast too?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah!"[/i]

[i]"Ahll show ya, look at me okay?!"[/i]

Skyfang led him over towards the tree and demonstrated again her wallkick, jumping to twist halfway in midair with a surprising agility as she planted her claws sideways and pushed herself off whilst still twisting her body. Oddtooth tried, and failed when he hit the ground on his side.

[i]"OWWWWUH!"[/i]

[i]"Is okay, look at me okay?! Ah show you!"[/i]

She did it once again, and again he would fail. But on the third try he managed to just about do it to only land on his face, before the fifth try he successfully wobbled his way off the tree in a clumsy wallkick that had him stumbling forwards. The anthro child was confused by all this, stumbling in his own walks as he waddled towards Moonclaw and pulled at her arm with an open mouth.

[i]"A-aaah AH!"[/i]

[i]"Awww are you hungry?"[/i]

[i]"AH, UHH!"[/i]

[i]"Child, speak,"[/i] said Oddclaw tapping his shoulder, [i]"what do you say to mummy?"[/i]

[i]"UH...uhhhh...DADDEH!"[/i]

[i]"N-no, no I am daddy, THAT is mummy."[/i]

[i]"Dah-DEH!"[/i] He pointed at his mouth even harder almost demanding.

[i]"I think it is time to eat anyway,"[/i] said Moonclaw nuzzling her son's bulbous head, [i]"can you bring it please dear?"[/i]

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

The father walked over to where their food had been stored, essentially a stony mound that he had made himself to keep the meat safe from spoiling in the sun, which he also marked as his family's larder so others would not be tempted. It was a little ways in the forest, still within the reach of their territory but just far enough that his children wouldn't go sneaking off for extra bites. With one hefty carcass of still-bloody meat over one shoulder, he dropped it in the middle of the nest and they all ate up heartily with tearing chunks and bone-stripping teeth in the cloud-scuttled afternoon. The unnamed son was still struggling to chew some of the hardest parts, so occasionally Oddclaw would pull out the more tender meat to give to him as he ate up gladly with mumbled thanks and bashful red eyes gleaming like his bloodied lips.

The sound of a skyship could be heard humming from the east as Oddclaw went to meet his friends, the small egg-shaped Ducky landing on the beach just beyond the Hunters' Nest territory. Jane, Jeremy and James leapt off wearing their translatory collars with Holt instantly picking up Oddie in a bear hug that spun him round.

"AAAAAAAAAAH MOCHYN BACH!"

[i]"JEREMYYYY!"[/i]

The raptor covered his friend in smooches before the human kissed him deeply, tongues wrapping round each other hotly for a moment as they gasped in excitement before parting.

"Howsit goin' dab?"

[i]"Mmmm wonderful thank you, I cannot wait to show you my children!"[/i]

"Oh I'm excited, ah missed you ah did."

[i]"I missed you too. And how are you?!"[/i] he cried towards Jane.

"Ohh not bad, had a bit of a rough time up at the base I'll tell you all about it at the nest."

They walked with him back to the family nest where they were met by Moonclaw and the three children. The anthro son was bashful and hid behind his mother, peeking out from her tail whilst the two ferals eagerly jumped up at their feet.

[i]"HIIIII LEAFHAIR!"[/i]

"Hahahaha hello cuties!" James sat down happily as they started to sniff and bite his hair.

[i]"Yer thtill leafy!"[/i] chirruped Oddtooth.

"Yeeees I am still leafy, and you are still toothy!"

[i]"Heeheehaha!"[/i]

"Now is there not three of you? AH, hello little one!"

He spotted the shy toddler who peeked behind his mother. She gently pushed him forwards and he froze in the middle of the nest.

"Come on," said James beckoning, "it's alright little one come on, look your brother and sister like me."

[i]"He taste funny!"[/i] tittered Skyfang still biting his hair. [i]"Come on baby brutha!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah come on!"[/i] cried Oddtooth trotting towards him. [i]"You wanna pway wif Leafhair?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmnn!"[/i]

The boy resisted at first, flinching from his feral brother's playful nip to try and pull him forwards until Oddtooth stood in front of him and waved his tail in front of him. The toddler grabbed at his tip and they ended up walking together as Oddtooth marched him forth with a tender pull, making Jane and Jeremy chuckle at the display.

"Awhawwwww that's adorable!"

"Awww bless he's walkin' him lahk a dog," chortled Holt, "you got a name fer 'im yet?"

[i]"Not yet,"[/i] said Oddclaw smiling at the two boys marching in a circle, [i]"we still do not know what to call him."[/i]

"Well you better think of summat soon, can't have 'im all grown up as thuh lad with no name."

"Oooh very Sergio Leone," muttered Jane, "how are you all doing by the way?"

[i]"We are good thank you,"[/i] said Moonclaw nuzzling her arm.

"God your children have grown so much, look like perfect little raptors."

[i]"Hmhmhm, yes they are wonderful. How is your tribe doing?"[/i]

"Hooo, well we have had QUITE a troublesome few weeks."

[i]"What happened?"[/i] asked Oddie sitting up beside her.

"We've had another anomaly, as per usual but it was a frightening army of demons!"

[i]"What are those?"[/i]

"Horrifying beasts, some can fly, some can shoot lightning or fire but without needing guns like we would."

"Ah punched a werewolf right in thuh tits!" cried Holt cackling with fist into palm. "It were a gas, I've never woulda thought I would see thuh day it would happen!"

"Long story short, a demon was wounded and we took him back to heal him, but then the OTHER demons came and attacked us and said that he was being hunted!"

[i]"They were hunting their own?"[/i] muttered Moonclaw. [i]"Why?"[/i]

"He killed his leader, because his leader was abusing him. They decided to punish him for that.

[i]"Oh...well, killing one's alpha is a terrible thing."[/i]

[i]"But you say his alpha was torturing him?"[/i] asked Oddclaw leaning forwards. [i]"So he was protecting himself."[/i]

[i]"Then why not tell his tribe about it, why kill him and not banish him?!"[/i]

[i]"And why would his tribe believe him? If his alpha hurt him he was right to fight!"[/i]

"Well I did not expect to hear you say THAT," said his mate chuckling with eyes rolling, "and here I thought you were a good little hunter."

"Do you disagree?"

[i]"I think it is foolish to fight against one's alpha, they are the alpha for a reason, I think there would have been a better means."[/i]

"Well, regardless," said Jane butting in, "we did contest with them, and eventually we DID discover that his leader was in the wrong by the laws of the land and now this demon is part of us."

"His name is Chanoch," said James as Oddtooth finally led his brother to his arms, "he is just starting to settle in after the humans train him through their basic regimen."

"Yanno lahk whut we did with you," said Holt nudging Oddie, "with all thuh guns an' that."

[i]"I remember yes,"[/i] said the raptor. [i]"So he is staying with the hairless?"[/i]

"It seems so," replied the lemming tickling the anthro son who wiggled and squealed in his lap, "Chanoch has nowhere left to go, and no home to return to so why not stay here?"

"Thomas took a real shine to 'im," added Jeremy, "dunno why but he wuz on board with 'im thuh moment he stepped up through thuh doors."

"I have to wonder though, when you...when your base returns home at last what will you do with him? Would he manage in your realm?"

"We will cross that bridge when we come to it," said Dr. Addison clasping her hands, "it is entirely up to him on what he wants to do, but I will admit I do not like the idea of bringing him back with us."

"He'll look lahk a circus freak," said Holt, "mebbe we can just give 'im a nice house far away where no phone signals can reach 'im."

"That's not a bad idea, like witness protection!"

[i]"Oh, James can I show you something?"[/i]

"Yes of course!"

He carefully lifted the anthro son and handed him over to Jeremy, the soldier grasping him awkwardly as the toddler kicked about and patted his face with tiny claws.

"Aww well 'ello there wee dab!"

[i]"Hiiiiii!"[/i]

"Ahm yer daddy's boyfriend."

"Jeremy please," muttered Jane.

"Wot I am, aren't I wee dab?"

[i]"Daaaah-DEH, pwayyyyyy FOOD!"[/i]

"Hahahaha, cummon then lessee how good you can walk."

[i]"Ahhhh OH-KAY!"[/i]

Jeremy put the boy down onto his feet and walked to the other side of the nest, holding the toddler's pudgy hand and letting him lead the soldier in a small walk. Jane and Moonclaw watched with simpering smiles at the infant trying to explain things through his babbling, pointing at things for Jeremy to note on.

[i]"THaaaa-TUUREE!"[/i]

"Ohhhh very nice, lotsa good foliage on that."

[i]"Mmmmm...b-BIG, STUN!"[/i]

"That IS a very big stone aye."

[i]"Dah...ummmmmmmm...mmmmmm-BRUTHA!"[/i]

[i]"Hiiii bruthaaaa!"[/i] said Oddtooth dipping his head in response.

[i]"Hiiiiii! And uh...SISTA!"[/i]

[i]"Hiiiii!"[/i]

"Hellooooo!" waved Jeremy back. "Now uh whut else you hafta to show-"

[i]"EH-EHHHhhhhnnn!"[/i]

"Wait now whut's hap-...awwww no."

He looked down at the toddler who gave a sudden upset look, his tail twitching badly as he started doing a very uncomfortable dance.

"Alrigh' alrigh' hold on dab cummon let's get you sum privacy."

"You get time for yourself I hope?" asked Jane to Moonclaw during all of this.

[i]"Oh yes, some days I have Oddclaw look after them so I can hunt, some days he hunts and I look after them."[/i]

"That's good, very co-operative, do you ever swap days when you have something important you HAVE to do?"

[i]"Obviously,"[/i] she snorted back, [i]"what would be the point if we could not?"[/i]

"So when are they ready to hunt?" Jane asked leaning her chin on her hand.

[i]"Next cycle they shall be ready. I want to bring all of our children to hunt together, but we are teaching Oddtooth and Skyfang some of the basics, that way we only have to truly focus on the other son."[/i]

"Mmmm...wait, where is he anyway?" They both looked up, seeing Jeremy had disappeared. "Jeremy?! JEREMY?!"

Traipsing through the forests, Oddclaw led James towards a small grove entrenched between a thick cluster of trees that had warped round each other in some strange symbiotic growth, leaving a tangle of knots to form the roots.

"What a bizarre thing," gasped the lemming.

[i]"It is a very odd tree yes,"[/i] said the raptor, [i]"but that is not what I wanted to show you."[/i]

"No?"

He took him to another tree nearby, one that was unremarkable in every way except for a hole at the top of it. The raptor climbed with strapping muscles glistening in the briefest tints of sunlight through the canopy, tail swinging underneath him as his claws gripped the bark. Reaching inside the hole he pulled something out and slid himself back down with something hiding behind his back.

[i]"You have told me how important my father was to your tribe, yes?"[/i]

"Yes, of course!" cried James. "He is the very reason I exist, that all of my tribe still exist, nay my people!"

The raptor then presented a strange object to the lemming. A solid black handgun slightly rusted with age.

"What the...a-a firearm?"

[i]"Yes."[/i]

"Well...I mean, it is certainly a...s-sorry I am not sure what this is about, you already have a weapon, is this a new one?"

[i]"This...is my father's fire."[/i]

A stuttering shudder shook from James' throat before his mind could even recognise it. Eyes wide and brimming, his mouth becoming dry like the desert as he clasped a hand to his snout with shivering fingers. The softest whimper escaped him as a thousand voices screamed in his head with too many emotions to count.

"I-i-is...th-that...a-are you serious?"

[i]"Yes,"[/i] said Oddclaw, [i]"my brother and sister found it in an old hairless cave that my tribe were taken to before I was born. My father used this fire to free my tribe."[/i]

"H-h-hohhhh s-saviour's grace this is INCREDIBLE! I-i-i-i, I......I need to sit down-"

[i]"C-careful!"[/i]

The raptor grabbed him quickly with one arm when he started to faint, sitting James over on a large fallen tree as the lemming struggled to breathe, flapping his hands against his cheeks as he felt his body start to hyperventilate.

[i]"Are you alright?"[/i] asked Odd standing in front of him.

"I-i am fine yes, h-hhhhh...h-hoh...ohhh s-saviour preserve me this...this was not what I expected to see today." He hunched over with his face turning red against his palms. "I-i-i cannot comprehend this, th-that you have...a piece of your father's greatness, like actually with you!"

[i]"I have only had it for one-and-a-half-cycles. Fishclaw said that I should have it since I like my father can wield fire."[/i]

"Does it...still work?"

[i]"No,"[/i] said the raptor turning it over in his hand, [i]"I asked Thomas to make it safe, I do not need another fire."[/i]

"I see, well, of course that would make sense, th-this is wonderful! Hhhah, hahahthis, I...h-hoh saviour!" James started laughing as he reared his head to the trees. "Hahhahi am just...never in my life would I have dreamed to have bore witness to something of the great James Campbell that none of my tribe have known!"

[i]"What do you mean?"[/i]

"Well, we know only of him when he first arrived to our aid, we know nothing about his life previous. The only thing we know of is his life after, or at least what he has told us. The fact he even had a weapon before his scissors is just an enormous discovery!"

[i]"I see. That makes me very happy to hear."[/i]

"Really?"

[i]"Yes. Because I know this is the right thing to do."[/i]

He took both of James' hands and placed the gun into his palms before stepping back. He did not understand what Oddclaw's intention was, staring in silence at the cool black metal with its stains of bronze until a few seconds when it hit him with a start.

"WHA-...are you...a-a-are you-"

[i]"I think your tribe deserve it more than I do,"[/i] said the raptor crossing his arms in judgement.

"YOU-...y-y-you are...just giving it to me?!"

[i]"Yes James. It is yours."[/i]

"I-i...I-..."

Grasping the cold weapon in his hands he squeezed the barrel between his fingers with a whimpering stutter from his lips. Tears poured down his cheeks as he shook from head to toe sensing an almost spiritual aura that trembled throughout his being. He took a moment to calm himself, staring down upon the gun with a conflicted look.

"I...I-i cannot take this. No, no i-i-it would not be right."

[i]"Why not?"[/i] asked Oddclaw.

"Because, this, th-this is the very SYMBOL of freedom to your people, this was what James Campbell used to break the chains of your servitude!"

[i]"And I want you to have it."[/i]

"But...wh-why?!"

[i]"Because I want to be myself, not my father. Remember what I told you?"[/i]

"Ahhhh," James nodded, "yes I remember now but, still this is a vital relic I could not possibly take this."

[i]"I insist,"[/i] said the raptor placing his hands on James' wrists, [i]"It is a gift from me to you. I have no use for it, and my tribe do not want to keep things that we cannot use every day. Please, take it to your tribe, you will find better use for my father's fire than we will."[/i]

"I...I do not know what to say."

He carefully put the gun into his satchel before he stood up and hugged Oddie tightly. There was a warm relief as the raptor pulled him close as James sighed with a soft shudder of some last tears he had yet to squeeze out.

"Thank you Oddclaw. Truly, from the bottom of my heart and from all of my people I say thank you."

[i]"JEREMYYYYY!"[/i]

Jane's voice pierced through the forest as Oddclaw immediately ran to the source. James hurried after as they returned to the nest, seeing a small group of frantic beasts at the shores of the lake where Jeremy was carrying Oddclaw's son into the water.

"IT'S FINE PET DON' WORRY!"

[i]"WHAT IS HE DOING TO MY SON?!"[/i] screamed Moonclaw.

[i]"JEREMY GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"[/i]

"STOP FRETTIN' FER GOD'S SAKE, AHM JUS' CLEANIN' HIM UP!"

[i]"MY CHILDREN CANNOT SWIM YOU SHIT-HEADED IMBECILE!"[/i]

The soldier ignored her and began to wash the lad's rump, cleaning the dirt off and carefully placing him fully into the water. The infant started paddling frantically to keep himself afloat, gasping and treading water like a puppy as Oddclaw barged into the lake wading water up to his waist.

[i]"JEREMY! What are you DOING?!"[/i]

"Oh calm down dab ahm jus' givin' yer lad a li'l cleaning, had a wee accident-"

[i]"HE IS TOO YOUNG TO GO THIS DEEP!"[/i]

"Lissen ah went swimmin' all thuh time when ah wuz wee an' ah did perfectly fine!"

[i]"You are not-GIVE HIM TO ME!"[/i]

"Alrigh' alright!"

He gently pushed the toddler towards Oddclaw, letting him paddle desperately towards him as the father lunged to grab him by instinct. But as soon as he held him the boy started to fidget in his claws writhing and kicking to be put down.

[i]"What is wrong, did he hurt you?!"[/i]

"NO ah didn't fuck's sake Oddie!"

[i]"EH, EHHHH, NNNRHH!"[/i]

Looking back towards his wife and Jane, Oddclaw was uncertain what to do but he gave a look of trust towards Moonclaw as she sneered uncertain. The boy began to cry even more in frustration, wriggling his body more and more until the father put him back into the water, but kept his hands underneath the surface in case he dipped underwater. Much to everyone's surprise the boy started paddling back towards Holt who smiled and turned him round to swim back towards his daddy. Moonclaw was agasp, trotting back and forth whilst her feral children chirped and nattered all curious about this.

[i]"M-mummy, he in da water!"[/i]

[i]"I know, I know, Oddclaw what are you doing?!"[/i]

[i]"He...he is swimming,"[/i] gasped the husband.

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

[i]"Our...our son can swim."[/i]

[i]"H-how?! Hunters cannot swim, none of us can!"[/i]

"Because he has his father's body," said Jane nodding with relief. "He has the right body to learn to swim."

[i]"I cannot swim!"[/i] cried Oddclaw in defence.

"Well have you ever tried to?"

[i]"No, of course not!"[/i]

[i]"Humans can swim naturally, we have very good bodies for it and since your body type is much similar to ours you should be able to learn."[/i]

"Yeah cummon Oddie ahll teach ya!" said Holt patting his shoulder. "You really didn't think ah wuz gonna risk puttin' yer lad out there if ah didn't know did I?"

[i]"No!"[/i] he slapped Jeremy's hand away and pointed a fierce finger at him. [i]"You NEVER do anything with my son without asking us first!"[/i]

"But, Odd-"

[i]"NO! It is good my son can swim but you have no right to take him to water without asking us!"[/i]

"Alright, alright I am sorry." He put his hands up backing down. "Ah shoulda told ya, that were mah fault. And to make up fer it, ah would gladly teach you and yer son how to swim."

[i]"Hmmmm...IF I can swim."[/i]

[i]"You can, look you got thuh perfect body fer it!"[/i]

[i]"AH WAN' SWIM!"[/i] squealed Skyfang.

[i]"No you will NOT!"[/i] barked Moonclaw down at her. [i]"You already climb trees like a warmblood every day."[/i]

[i]"BUT AH WAN' SWIIIIIM!"[/i]

"Sorry pet you can't!" shouted Holt calmly. "Not got thuh right body fer it, but you're the best damn tree-climber I ever seen!"

[i]"Reaaaalllyyyy, ahm thuh best?"[/i]

"Oh you are, ah could NEVER climb a tree as good as you."

[i]"MMMM OH-KAYYY!"[/i]

The daughter seemed pleased by this stroking of her ego as she sat herself down to watch her baby brother paddle back and forth, the toddler giggling and becoming stronger with each length he swam from Jeremy to Oddclaw as his father smiled relieved at him. Tiny claws scraped through the water with panting exertion as his little tail flopped behind him in awkward kicks.

[i]"I cannot believe this,"[/i] muttered Moonclaw looking towards Oddtooth, [i]"one of my children keeps climbing trees and now the other wants to swim...you are the only who is not odd, my son."[/i]

[i]"N-nuhhhh ahm Oddtoooooth,"[/i] whined the boy.

[i]"Oh yes of course, none of my children can be like other hunters."[/i]

"You knew what you were getting into," said Jane nudging her, "come on, you must admit your children are unique, there won't be anyone like them."

[i]"That is true...hmmm...maybe I was a fool to think I would have a life like any other hunter with Oddclaw."[/i]

"Why WOULD you want a normal life?"

[i]"I...hmmm...I am not sure. Maybe I thought I HAD to...not so much want to."[/i]

"HEY, ah got a name for yer wee lad!" shouted Jeremy as he lifted the boy up like Simba. "Seaclaw! Thassa good name innit?!"

[i]"Seaclaw?!"[/i] murmured Oddie cocking his head.

"Yeah yanno, ah mean it's not thuh sea here but it sounds nice dontcha think? Oddclaw, Moonclaw, Seaclaw!"

[i]"Hmmmm...The One Who Claws The Sea...that...that is quite good. What do you think Moonclaw?"[/i]

[i]"I..."[/i] she looked to Jane as if asking for opinions and she demurred with a nod.

"I think it's a lovely name, I mean it IS unique, how many other raptors here have anything to do with the sea?"

"Or swim for that matter," butted in James, "it gives him quite a special moniker in this tribe yes?"

[i]"I suppose it would......yes."[/i]

The mother nodded happily as she went into the water up to her thighs to meet her son and husband.

[i]"Seaclaw. That is what you are."[/i]

The toddler swam to his mother soon as he could, splashing his chubby arms before grabbing at her neck to hug her. She purred sweetly and lifted him up to gently carry him back to shore as both Oddie and Holt followed after with arms wrapped round each other's shoulders.

"Sorry about that dab."

[i]"It is fine. Just never do that again."[/i]

"Alrighty...still gonna teach you 'ow to swim righ'?"

[i]"Of course, if my son can swim then I should too."[/i]

"That's thuh spirit! Mebbe you an' ah can get some late-night nude swimmin' in ehh?"

He felt the nudging tease from his friend and Oddclaw rolled his eyes with a smirking huff.

[i]"Can you think WITHOUT your cock for once?"[/i]

"Wot ahm jus' saying!"

[i]"Pfffthahahahahha!"[/i]

[i]"COME HERE!"[/i]

[i]"NYAAAAAH!"[/i]

[i]"NO! NO!"[/i]

[i]"[b]WREHHHHHHH![/b]"[/i]

[i]"UUUUGH STOP CRYING YOU SHIT I'M TRYING TO FEED YOU!"[/i]

[i]"Brother please,"[/i] said Deeptail sitting beside Bloodbark and the screaming babe, [i]"let me."[/i]

[i]"Uuuuugh."[/i]

He shuffled back as he let his brother deal with the unruly hatchling, leaving a piece of meat on the ground for her to inspect with a tender sniff before she pushed it away. Deeptail however flipped it with his front claws to make it look like it jumped, surprising the infant who yelped and sniffed more towards it. He flipped it again, teasing his child like one would with a small kitten as he bopped it back and forth between his claws until the hatchling leapt with a tiny shriek and tore into the meat chunk. She started eating at last, purring proudly as Bloodbark sighed.

[i]"Ohhhhh, jeez thank you I was trying for DAYS to get her to eat."[/i]

[i]"Days?"[/i] smirked Deeptail.

[i]"Well it felt like it!"[/i]

[i]"Hhhahahhaha...aaaaah...do you think this was a good idea?"[/i]

[i]"Ask me again when I've finally slept for once."[/i] He yawned to emphasise his point. [i]"Ugh, I thought we'd do more hunting."[/i]

[i]"We have to take turns, it is only fair."[/i] The black-tailed raptor shook his red-feathered body to keep himself awake. [i]"Nnnnngh I hope they come back soon."[/i]

[i]"If I fall asleep make sure our kids don't eat me alright?"[/i]

[i]"Hahaha, I will...did you ever think tha-"[/i]

[i]"No I stopped thinking because I have seen the sun rise TWICE this day and I can't even tell which of these kids are mine anymore!"[/i]

[i]"Well that one is."[/i] He pointed his snout towards a hatchling running around in a circle cackling. [i]"Runs just like you."[/i]

[i]"Whaddaya mean 'runs just like me'?!"[/i]

[i]"I mean that she runs like an idiot."[/i]

[i]"She's a CHILD!"[/i]

[i]"When I was a child I ran like an adult, that is no excuse."[/i]

[i]"You stick your tail into holes all the time what adult does that?!"[/i]

[i]"A clever adult,"[/i] said Deeptail with the smuggest look, [i]"one whose children will be much more clever than yours."[/i]

[i]"Yeah well I'm faster than you!"[/i] shrieked Bloodbark back with quivering feathers. [i]"What's all your cleverness gonna be when you can't catch SHIT?!"[/i]

[i]"The same cleverness that taught your child how to even eat just now."[/i]

[i]"She's not stupid she's fussy, that's totally different!"[/i]

The sound of shrieking little hatchlings filled the huge nest that Bloodbark and Deeptail now inhabited, an odd-looking nest that actually conjoined two nests situated between the shore and the forest's edge. The two yurgovuchias sat a few feet apart from each other in their separate nests, with four hatchlings in each that ran in circles, bit each other and ate up their food with constant screaming for attention. Some of them had feathery downs giving their bodies a rather plush-looking fluffiness compared to some of their siblings that had more traditional scales. The new fathers kept distracting their children best as they could with playful fights and teasing little bites on their cheeks. Deeptail would use his namesake to teach them how to attack, mimicking a twitching worm with his deadened appendage as they chomped and leapt upon it with wrangling snarls and pulling teeth.

Sometime around noon, there came Barren back from another hunt covered in muddy scratches with her twin daughters carrying chunks of a young protoceratops on their backs, strolling proudly through the sea of raptors screeching and calling their hellos to them.

[i]"We, are, the BEST!"[/i]

[i]"The best hun-TERS!"[/i]

[i]"No you are not you pushed that damn thing into the deep!"[/i] said the mother growling. [i]"I had to STRUGGLE down that slope just so I could eat!"[/i]

[i]"We killed it didn't we?!"[/i] argued Leaf with a roll of her neck.

[i]"Yeah mother sheesh!"[/i] backed up Sand with a snorting prod of her snout. [i]"If the prey's dead what does it matter how we killed it?!"[/i]

[i]"What MATTERS is I am exhausted!"[/i] cried Barren stomping her foot. [i]"I am covered in dirt, we barely managed to get food back up the slope and NEITHER of you followed what I said!"[/i]

[i]"You're too SLOW is why!"[/i]

[i]"Wh-WHAT did you just call me?!"[/i]

[i]"SHE SAID YOU WERE SLOW!"[/i] shouted Leafrunner. [i]"Is your hearing going too mother?!"[/i]

[i]"ENOUGH!"[/i] She lunged for her with a hard twist of the neck that threw her to the ground kicking and screaming. [i]"You NEVER SPEAK LIKE THAT TO ME!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAAAAAGH, AAAAAARRRRRRGH GET OFF MEEEEEE!"[/i]

[i]"NOT UNTIL YOU APOLOGISE!"[/i]

[i]"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIGH!"[/i]

[i]"OH, HIIII BLOODYYYY!"[/i]

Bloodbark chirruped at his mate's greeting as she hurried over to lick his cheek. The raptors nuzzled as he tickled her face with his feathered features.

[i]"How's my baaaabiiiiies?"[/i]

[i]"Still biting,"[/i] murmured Bloodbark rolling onto his side, [i]"can I sleep now?"[/i]

[i]"Noooo you have to eat!"[/i]

[i]"Just shove the meat in my mouth I'll deal with it."[/i]

[i]"Pffft!"[/i]

[i]"I see you have been hunting well,"[/i] said Deeptail once his wife was freed from mother's jaws.

[i]"We killed a bighead!"[/i] shrieked Leafrunner. [i]"We pushed him down the deep!"[/i]

[i]"Forcing ME to go down after him!"[/i] cried Barren sitting herself outside their nest. [i]"Ugh, how are you my new sons?"[/i]

[i]"Very well thank you! Our children are lively and still hungry for more food."[/i]

[i]"That is good, I was expecting them to start licking the dirt."[/i]

[i]"HEY!"[/i] shouted Sand. [i]"Don't insult my babies!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhm, well at least you care, that is good."[/i]

[i]"Of course I care, they're my babies!"[/i]

She pulled them together into one big ball and nuzzled them possessively amidst cooing growls and playful nips. Leafrunner sat with her children as they flocked to her like birds before they had their lunch, tearing apart the smaller chunks that their parents gave to them from the carcass of their fresh kill. Barren watched their faces turn red with bloody glee, her necklace of two black claws pressing against her neck warmly as she smiled at the mixed cluster of infants.

[i]"I never would have thought I would have...what are these called?"[/i] she stroked one fluffy child's head.

[i]"Feathers,"[/i] said Deeptail, [i]"they keep us warm."[/i]

[i]"Not that we'd really know,"[/i] said Bloodbark snorting, [i]"makes no difference to me whether our hatchlings got feathers or not."[/i]

[i]"Agreed, all of our children shall live the same."[/i]

[i]"Awwww Deepy,"[/i] Leafrunner slurped his face and nuzzled his chest, [i]"you're so cute when you speak like that."[/i]

[i]"Mmmm well one of us has to be clever."[/i]

[i]"Wh-WHAT!? You saying I'm not shithead?!"[/i]

[i]"Nooooo not at all dear, you are the feisty one!"[/i]

[i]"Damn right I am!"[/i]

Barren rolled her eyes and sniggered at this, licking one of the fluffy children that came close to her as the infant purred at her warm tongue. Amongst the ferns some distance away was a human crouching with the video function on her smartphone zooming in on the nest of mixed creatures.

"This is incredible," muttered Jane with her smartphone recording the nest, "crossbreeding between different theropods of which we had no means of properly understanding or even theorising with. The yurgovuchia and the velociraptor are closely related, but they are further apart in taxonomy than the utahraptor or achillobator. With permission from the tribe we are monitoring their progress along with Oddclaw's own family."

"RIGH', now flap yer arms a bit more dab!"

She gently moved the camera towards Oddclaw who was currently paddling in the waters with his son. Jeremy was in front of them demonstrating the gentle push of his arms to keep himself afloat with the father struggling more than his son did in getting a natural sense of movement.

"It's now been two weeks since we first discovered Oddclaw's anthro son could swim," continued Jane zooming in, "Oddclaw himself never learned to swim since it was not natural for raptors to do so due to their anatomy, but he's trying so he can spend time with his son more as well as encourage him to possess a new ability that none of his other siblings have."

[i]"UGHPLBHHFLL!"[/i]

"Use yer FEET Oddie," cried Jer, "come on kick it up a bit!"

[i]"ARGH, h-hhh, aaaagh!"[/i]

[i]"Dah-DEH, luukatmeh!"[/i] Seaclaw was circling around him like a teeny shark flawlessly. [i]"Luuk LUUK!"[/i]

[i]"GUH, aa-aaaah, GAH!"[/i]

[i]"Daaaahdeeeeee!"[/i]

[i]"HkhNNNGH, ha-haaaah, S-seaclaw!"[/i]

"Look whut yer son is doing come on Odd!" Jeremy encouraged him with also a circular paddle motion. "Push yerself forwards now follow me!"

The raptor managed to push himself upwards and forwards with treading water as he followed Holt's feet, splashing with a fierce and frantic abandon whilst moving very slowly through the water like a mississippi queen.

"Hmhmhmhm," Jane giggled from the reeds as her video shook with her, "hhhahaha sorry mm-mmhh, we have made considerable progress as friends of the family and therefore give us much more material to study them with. Seaclaw's development as a hybrid from birth shall give us an insight into what Oddclaw's development was like, though we will never have a complete picture without his father for comparison as an alien being.

"We know that he resembled Oddclaw with exception to noticeable scars hence the name 'Oddscar' he was given. Speaking with the older members of the tribe has given me little to work with beyond what we have already learned."

[i]"ATTENTION EVERYONE!"[/i] The roar of the elder's guard signalled every raptor to look towards the central nest. [i]"Alpha needs you. Come."[/i]

Oddclaw pulled himself up out of the water and carried his son, who protested at first but he promised him food for later as the raptors moved from their nests and gathered at the large cluster of stones that made the Alpha's nest. Jane moved herself carefully to get a good view and focused on the old raptor stepping out into the afternoon sun. His scales had aged with greying eyes and a faded snout that in the light revealed it had once been a different colour but it was hard to tell by this point. The tribe hushed their children as he spoke, which Jane did her best to translate on the video recording.

[i]"I have been your alpha for many cycles. Too many, more than I thought I would. [i]"The time has come, for me to leave and roam with the hunters of before on my last journey."[/i]

Murmuring gasps rippled through the tribe with shock and confusion as he waited for them to cease.

[i]"You all knew that this day would come, and in truth it should have come much sooner. But after the death of my father and our escape from the hairless cavern, I felt I had to prove myself for as long as I could from my moments of weakness when I failed to lead you. When I failed to...to be as strong as I should have been back when we were taken from our home before."[/i]

[i]"B-but, alpha!"[/i] cried a hunter from the midst. [i]"We never saw you as weak, none of us did! We knew it was not because of you but the cruelty of the hairless tribe from before!"[/i]

[i]"He is right!"[/i] shouted another. [i]"We always believed in you alpha, we always trusted your wisdom and patience!"[/i]

[i]"You taught us never to rush in,"[/i] said Oddclaw stepping forwards, [i]"to watch and learn, to judge not by appearance but by actions. You are a great alpha to us."[/i]

[i]"Thank you."[/i] The aged raptor bowed humbly. [i]"I am...I am happy to hear that I have served you well. But now my last journey is upon me and I must leave. But before I do, I must pass my strength to the one who shall become your new Alpha. Fishclaw, come forth."[/i]

[i]"F-fishclaw?!"[/i]

Rabid excitement flowed through the raptors like a wildfire as they watched Fishclaw approach. Oddclaw's family were most surprised of all with Barren agasp at her son walking to the alpha. Fishclaw bowed as the alpha pressed his snout to his head.

[i]"You...are the alpha now. From this day beyond, you shall lead this tribe of hunters."[/i]

[i]"Thank you alpha,"[/i] said the younger raptor standing up, [i]"I am grateful for this honour."[/i]

[i]"Through great strife and suffering,"[/i] proclaimed the former alpha, [i]"Fishclaw has proven himself to be the greatest hunter of our tribe. Not only is his skill so great at catching the most elusive prey, but when he was taken by a fearsome starbeast and dreams threatened his mind to the brink of madness, he stood firm against and took that power to become even greater than any beast could! His loyalty to family, his unflinching bravery and his kind-hearted mercy combined with his exceptional strength of mind make him but a perfect choice for me. My family agree with this too, as I have told them of this decision a cycle before. Now I leave with my most beloved, not as your alpha...but as Bloodsnout."[/i]

He walked through the raptors followed by his mate, younger than him but still advanced in her years along with their closest sons and daughters moving together as a pack to the end. His former subjects bowed with crooning whimpers and small tearful fits of the coming mourn until he reached the forest's periphery to give his last words.

[i]"Farewell hunters. I loved all of you to the very end."[/i]

Some of the raptors stuttered back choking sobs as they watched the ancient beast fade into the forest. There was a moment of silence for his passing, whenever it would come on this last day of his life as Jeremy had slipped carefully away to the banks of the lake and watched from the shadows of the trees. Fishclaw felt every beast's eyes on him, both raptor and human as he steeled himself.

[b][i]FATHER IS QUIET THEY FEAR THE SILENCE[/i][/b]

[i]I know,[/i] he thought to himself and Starleaf, [i]but what do I tell them? How do I begin as the new alpha?[/i]

[b][i]SPEAK YOUR HEART YOUR BLOOD IS PURE[/i][/b]

He understood nodding patiently as he took one step forwards to them.

[i]"I am The Claws That Hunt For Fish. I never dreamed that I would become Alpha, nor did I want to be. I was happy with my family, hunting, eating, playing like any of you do. A cycle before, our alpha spoke to me on how he had chosen me. I was shocked, surely one of his own family would have made a better choice, but he insisted I would be. I stand here before you and I still do not believe it."[/i]

The silver-eyed raptor shivered with a clearing of his throat, red-carpeted back glistening in the sun.

[i]"I do not know what it takes to be Alpha. I do not even know how our alpha became such for since the day I was born I have always known him to be Alpha. Now I am lost, like a child without his father or mother. I know how that feels, and I know how all of you feel for having lost him. But he chose me. So I will do my best to respect his wishes and to keep our tribe strong through the very strengths that he spoke of in me. Loyalty. Bravery. Mercy."[/i]

He looked towards his family as he spoke this, seeing his mother well up with prideful tears and a smile of joy from all his siblings.

[i]"I will do my best to continue our alpha's wants for the Hunters' Nest. I cannot become him, no one can, but I will not change who we are just because I am different. I am still Fishclaw, and I will provide for my family like I always have. But now, you are all my family. I will provide for all of you, I will protect you, guide you as best I can. I will fight those who dare to attack us until my last breath, I will keep your children safe and I will keep your bellies full. That is what I promise, and to prove this I shall give my first command to the family of Bloodsnout."[/i]

The new leader turned to the remaining family of the former elder standing behind him.

[i]"Your home shall remain your home. I have no need for our alpha's nest."[/i]

[i]"R-really?!"[/i] gasped one of the raptor guards. [i]"But, Alpha this...this is the alpha's nest, our father made it so."[/i]

[i]"But it is not MY nest, my nest is the one that my family was born in, where I raised them with my wondrous mate and I shall continue to raise them in. The alpha before me made his nest for his family and just as I would never take food from another family, I will not take your home from you. It is yours for as long as you wish."[/i]

[i]"Tha-...thank you, Alpha."[/i]

[i]"To the rest of our tribe,"[/i] said Fishclaw turning back to the group, [i]"live your life the way you always have. Feed your children, play with your mates, fight to protect our home and hunt not with cruelty but with mercy. The only thing that shall change in the Hunters' Nest, is our families as they grow old and breed new children, build their own nests or use the ones before, but that is all we shall change and all we shall ever be. A tribe of peace and life that shall never end through each new cycle that a clutch shall be laid for as long as the sun, moon and stars remain in the sky. Thank you."[/i]

He bowed to the sound of an uproarious cry of bliss. Some raptors still mourned for the former alpha, but others were so swept by his speech that they clamoured with hope and purest joy that he felt smothering like a warm blanket. He walked to his family, first to his mate Shadetooth and his just-matured children all squealing with excitement and licking jubilation, then to his mother and siblings as Barren sobbed with the greatest pride until her heart almost burst. Jane and Holt watched from the reeds as she kept recording.

"Incredible," she muttered, "an astonishing first-hand look at the passing of leadership AND a funereal rite."

"It's a hell of a party," murmured Holt, "never thought this could even happen, or that Oddie's brother would be up fer it."

"I can't believe we're so lucky to see this...I mean, obviously I feel sad for the old alpha leaving he was a firm but good-headed leader."

"Treated us righ' despite thuh fact we're humans, an' he bluddy well remembers wot thuh last ones were lahk."

"It's just like he said. Mercy. I'm beginning to understand that these raptors have a lot more consideration into morality than I ever expected."

"It's weird," said the soldier crossing his hands beneath his chin, "they're all savage animals that eat an' kill whoever they lahk but they know 'ow to make friends, make distinctions between them an' foes."

"We were once like that too," said Jane shifting herself forwards slightly to keep her phone up, "Took us about ten million years for some of us to split off from apes and we still made tribes just like them. The only difference is we had thumbs to make stuff with."

"You think if thuh raptors had thumbs they woulda turned out lahk us?"

"Look at Oddie." She pointed to the anthro hugging his brother with one hand whilst holding his son in the other. "He learned plenty of things by himself, and his morality was firmly in place before he even met us."

"True...he's a good dab. His kids'll be thuh same."

They watched in silence as the lakeshore rang with the sounds of joy from crowing beasts. Deep in the forests Bloodsnout could hear them as he smiled with peaceful expression. It was the last sound he heard before his body gave the last ounce of his strength, and he fell to the ground just beneath the shadows of the Dry Mountain. His family sat with him until his heart stopped beating, before giving their last nuzzling lick to him each at a time and returned to the nest with fitful sobs and tender words to their mother widowed. His last thoughts however were with his father as one eye of his stared eternal to the sky, unblinking as if searching for him. Someplace beyond the stars he would find him again, not as the mad elder he had once been, but as the kindly father that taught him how to be.

[i]Father...I missed you.[/i]