FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The first time he ever saw the sea was so far the greatest day of his life. He had always loved the water since he first felt it touch his toes but it always ended eventually. It had a shore, a circular ring of sand that to him meant something always had to end eventually, just as his head had to have a top and his tail had to have its tip. But now the sea had defied everything he had known with its ageless wonder and purest blue that somehow turned the sky above even bluer than he had seen. He walked forwards onto the sand, stepping off the grass and finding the ground much more fine and silted to feel ticklish on his feet than the shores of the lake did back home. He took a few steps, creeping then walking then stomping as he giggled with a little jig, kicking up sand all around him until he flumped straight onto his back and made angel patterns with his limbs.

[i]"I think he likes it,"[/i] said Moonclaw chuckling at him.

[i]"Seems so,"[/i] said Oddclaw, [i]"do you like the sand, Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"YAH, I-it feel funny daddy!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha!"[/i]

[i]"HEY!"[/i] A young feral raptor with green eyes leapt to his side and poked her snout at Seaclaw. [i]"Whutcha dooooing?!"[/i]

[i]"Ahm playin' in da-...uhhhhh-"[/i]

[i]"Sand,"[/i] reminded his father.

[i]"Y-yah, sand, you wanna?!"[/i]

[i]"YEAH!"[/i] shrieked the girl. [i]"ODDTOOOOOTH!"[/i]

[i]"Whut!?"[/i] Another raptor appeared with ash-grey snout and a pair of bucktoothed fangs. [i]"Whut happen?!"[/i]

[i]"Seaclaw's playin' in the sand!"[/i]

[i]"Eh? Why?"[/i]

[i]"Cuz it's FUN come on!"[/i]

The girl threw herself into the sand and started rolling about like a mad dog, cackling with her brother as they giggled and made a fine messy cloud around them. The grey raptor however simply rolled his eyes and flicked his tongue between his two fangs.

[i]"You're being thilly."[/i]

[i]"But it's fun!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw.

[i]"Oh go and play Oddtooth,"[/i] chided Moonclaw nudging him, [i]"this is not a day to hunt but to play, you are only young for so long."[/i]

[i]"But we're hunterth!"[/i] he scoffed. [i]"Why are we out here an' not huntin'?!"[/i]

[i]"So you can understand each other, as a family."[/i]

[i]"But, the thand ith too thoft."[/i] He crunched the grit beneath his feet. [i]"There'th nowhere to hide out here, i-it'th too open!"[/i]

[i]"Well, in order to hunt with your family, you must learn to BE with your family."[/i] She walked out with Oddclaw following. [i]"A hunter never hunts alone Oddtooth, and the reason you play with your siblings is so you all learn to hunt TOGETHER and therefore hunt better."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmmm, okayyyyy-BLUH-BLAH-KHHAA!"[/i]

He kicked some of the sand before his siblings jumped back up making a thick cloud that blustered his face.

[i]"Ah wanna go the sea!"[/i] cried the girl.

[i]"A-AHM COMIN' TOO SKYFIE!"[/i] shrieked Seaclaw.

[i]"Children wait!"[/i] Oddclaw raced after them. [i]"Do not go into the water the sea is very great and deep!"[/i]

Moonclaw went on after at a more leisurely pace with Oddtooth walking beside her still snorting the sand out of his reddened nostrils. The ocean lapped across the beach with gentle tongues of white, splashing playfully against the two children that ran towards the tide everytime it pulled away, before running back to shore when it came back in droves. Skyfang sometimes snapped at the water before she tasted the salt and pulled a sour face with shivering tongue whilst Seaclaw was more brave and actively charged into the brink to feel the brine slap his body hard with a deep cold rush.

Thankfully this did not deter him, simply pushing against the waters as if wrestling the waves themselves much to Oddclaw's surprise as he splashed and kicked and gargled cackling all the way to the point he wore the waters like a sleeved cloak to hit his back in full view of the family.

[i]"AHM DA ALPHA OF DA SEAAAA!"[/i]

[i]"HEEHEHEHEHAHAHA!"[/i] Skyfang cackled running around in a circle. [i]"YEAAAH KILL IT, KILL THE SEA SEACLAW!"[/i]

[i]"Seaclaw stay close to the beach,"[/i] warned his mother approaching, [i]"if you are not careful the sea will take you away!"[/i]

[i]"Ahm okayyyy!"[/i] the 4-year old splashed around in the soggy bank triumphantly. [i]"Ah fight da sea, ahm da BEST!"[/i]

[i]"You don' fight the thea,"[/i] huffed Oddtooth puffing his cheeks, [i]"it'th wahter, you juth hit it an' it go thplath."[/i]

[i]"SSSPLLLLAAAASH!"[/i] the boy whipped a hefty smack of water towards him. [i]"Ah KILLED it!"[/i]

[i]"EH-EHHHH, fatherrrrr!"[/i]

[i]"Seaclaw do not throw water at your brother,"[/i] said Oddie wading in, [i]"come on, come back to the sand."[/i]

[i]"AWWWW BUH!"[/i] he protested with a frumpy look. [i]"Ah wanna be da sea!"[/i]

[i]"You can play in the sea soon, but your brother and sister want to playfight with you, is that not fun?"[/i]

[i]"O-OH, YAH, YAH AH WAN' PWAY!"[/i]

The lad waddled out of the sea taking his father's hand as they walked across the beach, the feral siblings starting a chase when Skyfang nipped at Oddtooth's tail and encouraged him to race to the far end where the grass encroached upon the shore. The parents watched their children play as the anthro child staggered in a run to try and grab his siblings' tails whilst they circled around him like sharks before one nipped at the little boy's tail in turn to surprise him with a yelp. Soon as he turned himself round the other feral bit gently in passing as Seaclaw decided to just keep spinning round and round on the spot so that neither of them had the chance, grabbing his tail close to his chest before both Oddtooth and Skyfang went low and high to pounce on him with the softest playful bites.

[i]"Look how well they are learning,"[/i] said the mother.

[i]"Just like how my sisters played with me,"[/i] said the father, [i]"I was worried Seaclaw was going to be too frightened for this."[/i]

[i]"And then he ran at the sea to bite and claw at it."[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, yes...Jeremy called him right."[/i]

[i]"Surprising."[/i] She leaned over to him to lick across his chest. [i]"How is your swimming going?"[/i]

[i]"I try,"[/i] he murmured rubbing her grey-mottled scalp, [i]"Seaclaw is definitely more skilled than me."[/i]

[i]"Only because he is young, they learn faster."[/i]

[i]"True but...well, I am trying not to neglect Oddtooth and Skyfang."[/i]

[i]"Oh do not be silly, we give all our children the same attention, besides there are only three of them!"[/i]

[i]"Hmmm...you are right, mother managed on her own with only six of us."[/i]

Moonclaw almost corrected him but sunk her head back down and slipped into the sand with a gentle thud. They kept watching their children, Seaclaw slowly learning to keep his back protected whilst his siblings more in-tune with their instincts started trying to pull him down for a biting lunge. They were as gentle as they could be, soft nips and pulls of the teeth on the pudgy young flesh as the anthro child's hands batted his brother and sister with playful smacks that pushed them away, before Seaclaw jumped onto Oddtooth's back and started riding him like a horse.

[i]"H-HEY, GET OFF!"[/i]

[i]"YEAAAHAHAHAA!"[/i]

[i]"G-GET, OFF ME, TH-THKYFAAANG!"[/i]

[i]"HHEEHEEHAHAHAAAA, NOW YOU LOOK SILLY ODDTOOTH!"[/i]

Bucking wildly to try and throw his sibling off, Oddtooth at first was rather annoyed as he started running around in a circle to try and send his head spinning. But the more he ran with cackling glee in his ears the more excited Oddtooth became, both brothers grinning wide as Oddtooth charged towards the sea and stopped just short of the shoreline before turning in a hard screech of his claws digging into the sand to whip straight back towards their sister. Skyfang wiggled her tail excitably with licking lips as she gave a look to her feral brother who nodded in return.

Bending down his head into a full-on run, Seaclaw saw that something was up and panicked slightly when he saw his sister pounding the sand towards them before she leapt with a tremendous force, vaulting a good six feet with jaws wide open as the anthro jumped off of Oddtooth's back and rolled into the soft sand whilst his sister leapt onto his feral brother to end up as a balancing act.

[i]"H-HEY, not you too!"[/i]

[i]"CHASE 'IM DOWN AH WANNA BITE 'IM!"[/i]

[i]"Why you all tryin' to get on my back?!"[/i]

[i]"HYAAH, HYAAAH!"[/i]

Seaclaw started to run, seeing the two-raptor stack rush towards him with a more sluggish pace from the extra weight as the anthro tried to dodge the champing jaws with his stumbling run, serpentine motion as Oddtooth snapped with as much restraint as he could towards his soft-skinned brother. Thumping claws kicked up a cloud of sand causing Oddtooth to stop and stutter with a hard sneeze as Skyfang fell off in stagger, rolling onto the ground as her little brother took the chance to jump on top of her and start biting at her neck.

[i]"A-AAAAH, AAIIIGH!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNUM, NUM, ah gotcha sis, now yer DEAD!"[/i]

[i]"NOOOooooooooheeheehhahahahaa!"[/i]

He was harmless even if he had been trying to hurt her with his tiny teeth, nibbling down her throat as she laid on her back kicking and wriggling. Oddtooth stopped sneezing and pulled his brother off his sister by the tail before clamping his jaws on his head, the smallest child pushing his hands against his teeth and wrestling with his head as the smell of meaty breath huffed across his face. Eventually he managed to push him aside and leapt desperately onto Oddtooth's side to body-tackle him, before his sister recovered to throw him down and start purring a deep rumble through Seaclaw's chest.

[i]"KHHEEEHAHAHAHA, NOOOOO!"[/i]

[i]"Nnnnnummy nummy brother!"[/i]

[i]"NOOOHAHAHAHAAA!"[/i]

The vibrations of her chirruping throat tickled him powerfully, rendering him helpless as they all started panting from exertion creeping up on them before lying down together in the sand in a triskelion fashion. All three of them stared up towards the sky as clouds scuttled onwards effervescently.

[i]"Dis is da best place evah,"[/i] gasped Seaclaw.

[i]"You can't thay that,"[/i] said Oddtooth factually, [i]"you only been here an' where we live."[/i]

[i]"Well ah say it's da best place cuz it's fun, a-an' the sea is so BIG an-"[/i]

[i]"I like trees more!"[/i] said Skyfang butting in. [i]"I gets to cliiiimb, an' ruuuun all over the tree tops an' lookat you like yer reaaaally smallll!"[/i]

[i]"Heheh, maybe uncah Barkclaw'll thnap you up!"[/i] said Oddtooth kicking his sister playfully.

[i]"Noooo he's weiiiird!"[/i]

[i]"He's not weird!"[/i] Seaclaw sat up suddenly. [i]"He just, he, he don' like to talk a lots."[/i]

[i]"Yeah cuz he's weird!"[/i]

[i]"Ah like him!"[/i]

[i]"I like him too but he's still weird!"[/i]

[i]"W-WELL, YER WEIRD TOO!"[/i] he shouted with a bitter sting in his eye.

[i]"Come oooon don't fight,"[/i] Oddtooth rolled between them with a sharp snort, [i]"Familieth don't fight."[/i]

[i]"B-but, she's mean about uncah Barky!"[/i]

[i]"Nuh-uh, Thkyfang liketh him dontcha Thky?"[/i]

[i]"YAH!"[/i] she barked sitting up with gleaming eyes. [i]"He know all about the BEST trees!"[/i]

[i]"Y-yah he does!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw feeling his tears recede. [i]"Um, watcha wanna do now?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm I wanna go THAT way!"[/i] the sister pointed her snout at the farthest west end of the beach. [i]"Let's go there!"[/i]

[i]"OKAY!"[/i]

[i]"W-wait!"[/i] Oddtooth scrabbled to stand in front of them. [i]"We can't go without mother an' father!"[/i]

[i]"UUUUuuugh Oddtooth yer such a crawler!"[/i] Skyfang nipped his head. [i]"Come on let's go!"[/i]

[i]"Whut if there'th a big beatht!?"[/i]

[i]"Then we KILL IT, cuz we're hunters! Come on let's goooo!"[/i]

[i]"Go where?"[/i]

They turned their heads guiltily towards Oddclaw who crossed his arms accusingly at them with their mother behind him. Oddtooth clammed up whilst his sister tried to avoid eye contact but it was Seaclaw who cracked first.

[i]"W-w-we just wanna go down dat way daddy."[/i]

[i]"Without me?"[/i]

[i]"A-ah didn' want to!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm..."[/i] he patted their heads one by one, [i]"children I know you are excited to be out on a journey but you have to stay close to us, there are many great beasts out there and you are not ready to fight them yet."[/i]

[i]"I-i thaid that,"[/i] murmured Oddtooth.

[i]"W-we weren't gonna REALLY do it!"[/i] piped up Skyfang with a snarl to her brother.

[i]"That is good,"[/i] said Moonclaw with approving nod, [i]"now since we are all here let us journey together, like hunters do."[/i]

[i]"A hunter never huntth alone,"[/i] said Oddtooth with smiling buckteeth.

[i]"Eh-hunheh neevah hunth awone,"[/i] mimicked Skyfang snorting before her father's growl silenced her.

The family headed towards the west as one single unit, the lapping of the ocean waves giving them a zest for life as the tired but exuberant children hurried on a short distance from their parents who barked at them to stay close sharply. Oddtooth dutifully stuck near his mother, whilst Skyfang and Seaclaw alternated out in front as if leading the family together across the grand shoreline over the course of half an afternoon. By the time they reached the other end the children were exhausted, trudging their feet through the sand and onto the grassy embankment where the scrubland flourished, pointed grass stems scraping past their bodies as they collapsed onto the softer smooth green. The mother and father smiled at their efforts as they sat down beside them on the gentle slopes where the grass met the sea, forming strange plants below the waves that grew and flourished like kelp strands in a miniature forest. Seaclaw was fascinated, staring at the water and all the fish that wiggled about through the fronds like a maze of turquoise.

[i]"Seaclaw, come on!"[/i]

His father beckoned him over as they all curled up together to sleep, saving their energy to recuperate on the sunny banks as the radiant prehistoric sun soaked them in glorious rays of light.

[i]"Ah dun wanna sleeeep,"[/i] he whimpered.

[i]"You have to,"[/i] said Oddclaw pulling him close, [i]"hunters have to rest, if we run ourselves out then we become weak and easy to kill."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm...but, b-but ah wanna go to da seaaaa!"[/i]

[i]"The sea will still be there when you wake up, now come on."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmhhhh!"[/i]

He resisted at first, fussing about in a small fit but eventually his body caved and he slept off next to his father's chest. Oddclaw kissed his cheek as his feral children curled up in an ourobouros fashion with their mother.

[i]"How long we gonna sleep?"[/i] whined Skyfang.

[i]"Not too long,"[/i] said Moonclaw licking their faces, [i]"just enough to get your strength back."[/i]

[i]"But I'm strong now!"[/i]

[i]"If you sleep now, I will get you food when you wake up."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmmhhhh...ohhhhkayyyyy."[/i]

Her stomach won in the end as she relented in turn, the family sleeping against each other into a brief but sweet slumber. The warmth from each other's bodies kept them at peace, the sounds of the sea and the grass whistling in the wind setting a scene of tranquility that both parents had always dreamed of. So tranquil it was that their senses became dulled too easily to not notice Seaclaw rousing himself when he heard the sound of splashing water.

[i]"Whuh?"[/i]

Gently pulling himself free of his father's embrace, the little one waddled down towards the ocean where the kelp forest was now rousing with furious white foam teeming. He saw a crest of azure amidst the frenzy, something sputtering and gasping as what appeared to be a long-nosed fish was straining hard against something with increasing panic.

[i]"You okays?!"[/i] cried Seaclaw with a muted shout.

[i]"A-AAAH, I c-can't, g-go away!"[/i]

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

[i]"I-i'm fine, just don't, nNNNGH!"[/i]

[i]"U-um, wait, a-ah can help!"[/i]

[i]"NO, I DON'-GHHLK!"[/i]

Heading down to the shore Seaclaw quickly dove his head underneath the water to see that the fish had her tail trapped within the kelp-like grass and was struggling to extricate herself from its rigid roots. The raptor looked around the shore for anything, something that would catch his eye until a sharp stone gleamed in the sandy banks that he grabbed and raced back to the captive fish.

[i]"OKAY, ahm gonna get you out!"[/i]

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

[i]"J-just stop movin' okays?"[/i]

[i]"NO!"[/i]

[i]"But, if you don' ah can't get you out!"[/i]

[i]"Wh-why are you helping me?!"[/i]

[i]"Cuz ah want to. Ah don' want you to die."[/i]

The look in his deep red eyes confused the beast as she glared at him breathless, struggling less and less as she started to soften her stare and slipped underwater for Seaclaw to meet her beneath the waves. The boy held his breath with bleary-eyed efforts to find the grass that had tangled up the fish, taking the sharp rock to its roots and sawing through the plantstems one by one with the little strength he possessed. Twice he had to come up for air when his lungs screamed with burning, before sinking back down to cut through the last restraints as the fish-creature wrenched herself free.

[i]"GUH! AAGH! ...um."[/i]

[i]"Ghlllrk?"[/i] Seaclaw swam back up to the surface to talk better. [i]"Now yer free!"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah...thanks."[/i] She followed after peeking her long beak and wide eyes through the water. [i]"You're not gonna eat me?"[/i]

[i]"Uh...noooo?"[/i]

[i]"Huh...I thought hunters like you ate fish."[/i]

[i]"Whut's a fish?"[/i]

[i]"Uh, I'm a fish?"[/i]

[i]"Oh! Ah don't eat fish."[/i]

[i]"Hah, alright!"[/i]

Swimming round in a circle to test her fins, the creature was an Acamptonectes, a grey stripeless form of icthyosaur with a long pointed dorsal fin coloured a striking blue on top of her portly round body.

[i]"I wuz worried my fins wouldn't work, thanks for the help."[/i]

[i]"Is okay! Ahm Seaclaw, who're you?"[/i]

[i]"I'm Highwave. Whut're you doing out here?"[/i]

[i]"Ahm with mah mummy an' mah daddy a-an' mah brudda an' sistah, dey all sleepin'."[/i]

[i]"Oh...th-there's more of you?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah but is okay, dey really nice too!"[/i]

[i]"W-well...I guess if you're nice to me then..."[/i] the young fish swam up closer towards Seaclaw as he kept himself afloat with a gentle paddle, [i]"I never seen a hunter swim before."[/i]

[i]"Ahm diff'rent!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw splashing about. [i]"Ah can swim bu' nunna mah family can swim, 'cept mah daddy!"[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i]

[i]"Yah! ...he's not very good b-bu' he tryin'!"[/i]

[i]"Well uh, that's good!"[/i]

[i]"UH, c-can you teach me to swim fastah?!"[/i] asked the child paddling forwards.

[i]"Uh..."[/i] Highwave circled round keeping a slow pace, [i]"I dunno if I can, why?"[/i]

[i]"Cuz ah lahk you, ah wanna swim lahk you do!"[/i]

[i]"Heh, well you don't got fins but I'll try. First watch me."[/i]

The itchyosaurid started swimming in front of Seaclaw to demonstrate her motions, swishing her large tail back and forth with the side fins pushing through the water as the raptor infant stared on fascinated by Highwave's anatomy.

[i]"Wooooow, dat's amazing!"[/i]

[i]"It's just swimming jeez,"[/i] snickered Highwave flicking her tail towards him with a teasing splash.

[i]"AIE, heeheehaha!"[/i] Seaclaw splashed her back.

[i]"Alright so, if you wanna swim like me you gotta make your body go straight and swish yer tail back and forth."[/i]

[i]"O-okays."[/i]

Moving his body forwards in full horizontal, the little raptor tried to focus more on his legs and tail to move them back and forth. At first it was a struggle, splashing slightly to keep himself up but Highwave moved underneath his body to prop him up as the boy tried moving serpentine with little success. It took him seven minutes before he admitted defeat with some exhaustion, paddling back to the shore.

[i]"Nnnngh, is so haaaaard!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, I told you!"[/i] said the fishbeast. [i]"You know the way you were swimming looks good already, maybe you oughta stick to that."[/i]

[i]"O-okays...ahm tired nows, ah hafta sleep."[/i]

[i]"Alright, I gotta get back to my pod anyway, see you around Seaclaw."[/i]

[i]"Bye Highwaaaave!"[/i]

[i]"Thanks again fer helpin' me!"[/i]

Skimming through the waves the acamptonectes returned to the great expanse as Seaclaw dragged himself back to where his family were sleeping. He hadn't realised however how wet he was until he nuzzled up against his father who woke up bleary-eyed to look over his damp scaly son.

[i]"Mmmhhh...Seaclaw, why are you wet?"[/i]

[i]"U-uhhhh...issa dream daddy, go back to sleeps."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmhhhhh-"[/i]

[i]"Sleeeepy daddyyyyyyy."[/i]

The child carefully stroked his father's head with his drier hand and scritched him in just the right place, making him purr and drift off back into a gentle slumber. With a sigh of relief Seaclaw curled up into his family with a new joy in his heart for making his first friend.

As they returned home beneath the rose tint of a late afternoon sky, Barkclaw welcomed the family from his usual spot alongside Dronin who sat peacefully inside his favourite tree. Oddclaw carried Seaclaw exhausted in his arms still sleeping as the mottled raptor

[i]"Hello brother!"[/i]

[i]"Hello!"[/i] Oddclaw leaned forwards to nuzzle-lick him. [i]"How are you?"[/i]

[i]"Good! I found new deathcrawlers, very different, they look like the sun in the water!"[/i]

[i]"Oh, amazing!"[/i]

[i]"I wanna thee!"[/i] chirped Oddtooth rushing forth. [i]"C-can I thee uncah Barkclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, let me show you!"[/i]

Skyfang sniggered at her brother's eagerness deciding instead to look inside the tree where Dronin sat, sniffing at his odd steel carapace and headbutting him.

[i]"Wakey-wakeyyyyy!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang do not do that!"[/i] barked Moonclaw pushing her away.

[i]"But we're not sleeping!"[/i]

[i]"Stonevoice is not a hunter, he needs his sleep."[/i]

[i]"Why's he here then?!"[/i]

[i]"Because he is your uncle's friend, just as the hairless are friends of your father."[/i]

This satisfied her enough to stop caring as the daughter headed off back to the family nest, father and mother following with their anthro son in arms. Eventually they met Barren chewing on some fresh meat in their nest that Moonclaw restrained the urge to sigh in grimace at.

[i]"Ahhhhh hello dears!"[/i]

[i]"Hi granma!"[/i] shouted Skyfang slurping her old purring face. [i]"Didya hunt today?!"[/i]

[i]"Indeed I did, did you hunt today?"[/i]

[i]"Uhhh, NOPE!"[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] Barren looked up towards the parents. [i]"I wonder why that is when you are clearly ready to-"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang why not show us your climbing?!"[/i] said Moonclaw nudging her to the tree nearby. [i]"Your grandmother would love to see how strong you are."[/i]

[i]"OKAY, W-watch me!"[/i]

She rushed off to the tree and started scrabbling up on it, using her powerful legs to jump at a shocking height and grab one of the branches with her teeth before swinging herself up onto the branch much to the family's approval. The branch creaked slightly under her claws that curled like a small finch's talons, giggling as she shuffled back and forth along its limb.

[i]"DIDYA SEE ME GRANMA!?"[/i]

[i]"I DID!"[/i] cried Barren. [i]"Very good child, show me again!"[/i]

The daughter leapt down into a rolling dodge to land safely, her legs springing with the force of recoil as she made another climbing leap with thick claws scrabbling the bark to gain purchase. She climbed in different ways, sometimes clamping her jaws on a woody knot and pushing herself up higher much to the mild amusement of her family as Barren turned to Oddclaw still carrying her grandson.

[i]"You realise they are three-and-one cycles old now."[/i]

[i]"I know mother,"[/i] he muttered sitting down with his wife.

[i]"I had you all hunting when you were THREE cycles old-"[/i]

[i]"Yeees I remember."[/i]

[i]"So why have you not taken them to hunt?"[/i] she leaned forwards with a prodding snout.

[i]"I do not feel they are ready yet,"[/i] he said shaking his head, [i]"Seaclaw is still trying to walk and if he is going to hunt then I want him to be running alongside his brother and sister."[/i]

[i]"Oh do not be silly, you hunted at three cycles old and you did perfectly well!"[/i]

[i]"Mother I had to ride on your back and watch everyone else hunt, it was not fun."[/i]

[i]"You were involved, you were watching and learning!"[/i] argued Barren pushing her snout harder at his chest. [i]"I just do not want your children to learn too late!"[/i]

[i]"And what is too late?"[/i] asked Moonclaw pushing her away from her husband. [i]"They have fangs and claws still even when they grow older, I do not want only two of my children hunting when one cannot do so."[/i]

[i]"That is not the point, the sooner they learn the better it will be!"[/i]

[i]"I disagree,"[/i] said Oddclaw waving a finger, [i]"It will be much better for them to hunt together for the first time, it will strengthen the bond between them."[/i]

[i]"They already have a bond!"[/i] the mother cried. [i]"Oddclaw please as your mother I am trying to help you raise your children-"[/i]

[i]"Then let US raise them,"[/i] said Moonclaw with a muted bark.

[i]"Oh come now Moonclaw, you certainly need advice more than any of us and anything to make things easier for you, you are not young, and I would have greatly appreciated advice on raising my young!"[/i]

[i]"I have had PLENTY of advice before you, 'mother'."[/i]

[i]"...Oddclaw?"[/i] The older female looked towards her son with a stinging eye. [i]"Are you going to let her speak like that to me?"[/i]

[i]"I do not 'let' her,"[/i] said Oddclaw with a fist in the dirt, [i]"she is my mate and she is free to make her own choice, as am I to raise our children. I want our children to hunt when they are ALL ready to hunt together, not as soon as some of them can."[/i]

[i]"B-but, but, no no that is not how this works Oddclaw you will ruin their hunting skills if you delay!"[/i]

[i]"If you had been on the sands and watched them playfight, you would know that is not true! When I was a child I hated the fact I could not hunt with my family when I was too young and weak."[/i]

[i]"Th-that was not your fault!"[/i] she whined with a stomping foot.

[i]"And neither is it my son's! I will take them to hunt next cycle, and that is my decision."[/i]

[i]"OUR decision,"[/i] said the grey raptor, [i]"and you are not going to change that, Barren."[/i]

[i]"Th-this is...HMPH!"[/i] The grandmother stood up insulted with shivering snarl. [i]"I expected better from you Oddclaw, I truly did. I understand that you and your son are different but I wanted to treat you all the same!"[/i]

[i]"I understand,"[/i] he said sitting up more fully to support his son, [i]"and I thank you for that because now I am doing the same thing. That is why I want to wait, so that Seaclaw, Oddtooth and Skyfang can all hunt for the first time at their best."[/i]

[i]"Hhhhhh...fine, if you so insist. I will see you tonight then...cannot believe that your sisters are actually taking my advice better than you!"[/i]

[i]"Well they need it more than we do,"[/i] tittered Moonclaw watching her leave, [i]"haaaah...should I find it funny how frustrated your mother gets?"[/i]

[i]"No,"[/i] muttered her mate, [i]"but I find it funny too so we are both terrible."[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, of course."[/i] She licked his face as he kissed her in turn whilst rocking their son in his arms, [i]"they all look so beautiful when they are sleeping."[/i]

[i]"They do."[/i]

[i]"The hairless are coming tomorrow yes?"[/i]

[i]"They are, they are bringing a new friend for me to meet, a starbeast I think."[/i]

[i]"Oh that is good, but I know you are more excited for Jeremy."[/i]

[i]"Wwwweeeeeellll I just-g-gah!"[/i] he gave a little blush as Moonclaw pecked him on the cheek.

[i]"Hmhmhahaha, you are so cute."[/i]

[i]"NNNYAAAH!"[/i]

Skyfang jumped down hard in a cloud of dust before her mother shushed her.

[i]"Your brother is sleeping!"[/i]

[i]"Yeaaah I know! Where's Oddtooth?!"[/i]

[i]"Still with uncle Barkclaw."[/i]

[i]"Uuuuugh I'll go get hiiiim."[/i]

[i]"Let him be,"[/i] said her father patting her head, [i]"did you have a good day at the sea?"[/i]

[i]"YEAH, yeah it wuz GREAT, it's BIG a-an' you can run like eeeeverywhere!"[/i]

[i]"You almost did if we had not stopped you."[/i] said Moonclaw nudging her over, [i]"little wanderer you are."[/i]

[i]"Heeheehee, I-i wuzn't gonna go THAT far!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm I would hope not, remember when we are hunting, the cycle after, that we must all hunt together so no wandering off."[/i]

[i]"Okayyyyyy."[/i]

She slumped down with a heavy snort of boredom, wired with excitement even as the setting sun came. Eventually she got bored enough to waddle off to where Oddtooth and Barkclaw were, the two staring very intently at the inside of a broken stump a little ways from the tribal nests. The young girl grinned widely with mischief as she slowly crept up on both of them, claws gently shuffing through the leaves as quietly as possible with a lick of her lips and a wiggling rump ready to strike. The moment she did however Barkclaw swatted her to the side with his tail knocking her harmlessly to the ground.

[i]"OWWWUH!"[/i]

[i]"SHHH!"[/i] Barkclaw hissed turning his head to her. [i]"We are watching them."[/i]

[i]"Ughhh whut, whut's even in there?!"[/i]

[i]"Deathcrawlerth,"[/i] muttered Oddtooth, [i]"they like to hide anywhere deep where the thun can't reach 'em."[/i]

The sounds of creeping bugs could be heard inside the stump, thick long yellow centipedes that scuttled around in the mulch as Skyfang sneered.

[i]"You can't even eat them why you watchin' them?!"[/i]

[i]"Becauthe they're fun to watch!"[/i]

[i]"Yes they are!"[/i] piped Barkclaw swishing his tail happily. [i]"There is a new one that looks like the sun does in the water, it smells awful."[/i]

[i]"It thmell like a...a...like fire in rottin' water!"[/i]

[i]"It does, you are right! I have found nine different deathcrawlers around here, there are more than there used to be!"[/i]

[i]"Why?"[/i] asked Oddtooth raising his head to him.

[i]"They are following their food,"[/i] said the uncle still watching the crawling beasts, [i]"they came after the stonewings came."[/i]

[i]"Stonewings?"[/i]

[i]"Smallwings, but their wings look like they are made of stone, they have only been here for one cycle, but they are lovely. Do you want to see them?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeth, c-can I uncah Barkclaw?"[/i]

With a quivering smile as his body shook with excitement, the raptor adult headed over towards one tree just on the other side of the stump. He growled subdermal asking them to be quiet before he slowly pushed his head inside a hole of the tree. He waited, breathing softly as something started to tickle across his snout, little tiny feet creeping across his nostrils as he tightened all the muscles of his face before pulling back out to show an incredible sight. Four silver-winged butterflies, or the equivalent of in this prehistoric realm as sharp-angled insects with two pointed wings on each with odd swirls resembling peblles, flickering calmly at the edge of his snout that both of the children gasped in wonder at.

[i]"Wwwooooooooah..."[/i] Oddtooth stepped forwards with Skyfang following, [i]"they look...they really do like they got thtonewingth."[/i]

[i]"They do,"[/i] whispered Barkclaw trying to not move his face, [i]"they are very soft like grass."[/i]

[i]"Can ya eat them!?"[/i] snapped Skyfang looking ready to pounce.

[i]"No."[/i] The uncle gritted his teeth with a deep tremble that frightened her. [i]"We do not eat smallwings or crawlers, they are my friends."[/i]

[i]"O-oh-kayyyyyy?!"[/i]

She backed off sensing his vehement aura before he gently slipped his snout back into the tree and let the butterflies flutter off back into their warren with a small huff of his nostrils. Oddtooth however was enraptured, sitting down to listen to Barkclaw further extrapolate on the different kinds of smallwings there were in the forest around them, as well as various plants he had discovered to be useful. Skyfang however was bored before he even opened his mouth to talk and trudged her way back towards her family nest where her parents were making lovey-eyes at each other.

Instead she wandered down towards her aunties' nest, curious to see her cousins of which she had some knowledge of, but not enough to name all of them certainly. The closer she came to the dual-nest the more frantic and harrowed the screeching came from within as she watched her three aunts desperately trying to speak amidst the clamouring squabble of infants squealing, biting and crying for all their attention.

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

[i]"N-NO, NOOOO THAT'S NOT YOUR FOOD, GIVE IT HERE!"[/i]

[i]"STOP, BITING HIM YOU LITTLE SHIT!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAAAAIIIIIIGH!"[/i]

[i]"I wanna sleeeeeep,"[/i] whimpered Sand getting bodytackled by two sons.

[i]"I'd rather be dead!"[/i] cried Leaf whipping her tail to throw a daughter off. [i]"Why is this so HARD?!"[/i]

[i]"Because it always is,"[/i] said Eggfang shaking her head knowingly, [i]"even when I was not the mother, raising you both was hard enough."[/i]

[i]"Sh-shut up Eggy you never had eggs!"[/i]

[i]"No but I was always the mother when mother had to hunt, so I know well enough how to look after hatchlings."[/i]

[i]"There WOULD be three-and-one of us,"[/i] muttered Sand snapping at one child to keep away from her meat, [i]"but they're off doing, I dunno, doing male stuff!"[/i]

[i]"Now now you had your time to hunt, you have to raise them too."[/i]

The twins sighed grievously almost to the point of tears to which Eggfang gleefully fed on their need for help with an inward grin.

[i]"Did mother not come by?"[/i] asked the elder sister. [i]"Surprised she is not here to meddle with her advice."[/i]

[i]"She waaaas,"[/i] sighed Leafrunner as a hatchling climbed on her head, [i]"but she said she was hungry and had to go hunt-"[/i]

[i]"Which is a SHIT lie,"[/i] snarled Sandrunner, [i]"cuz I saw her eating before she came over here, she just didn't wanna look stupid forgetting how many hatchlings we have!"[/i]

[i]"Well good thing you have me,"[/i] said Eggfang purring into one infant's belly who giggled, [i]"I had my patience tested many cycles before so I can handle your children."[/i]

[i]"Really? But...you really want to?"[/i]

[i]"Of course I do, they are family."[/i]

[i]"...th-thank you."[/i] Both twins welled up slightly before cuddling up towards their big bucktoothed sis.

[i]"Y-you're...you're the best sister we ever had!"[/i]

[i]"Y-YEAH, you really care about us!"[/i]

[i]"What do you mean of course I care about you two!"[/i] she cried feeling them nuzzle both sides of her.

[i]"W-well, just we...s-sometimes all we got are each other."[/i] Leafrunner looked to her twin with mirrored eyes of green and hazel. [i]"We always wanted to have our own...family, and we thought if there was two of us it'd be easier than what mother had to go through."[/i]

[i]"But we got SO MANY of them!"[/i] whimpered Sand gasping towards the sky as two infants nibbled her tail. [i]"Why did we have to have so many hatchliiiings?!"[/i]

[i]"You should be proud of that!"[/i] Eggfang said nuzzling her. [i]"You are preserving our tribe's future with such a great clutch, the alpha before was very proud of you two."[/i]

[i]"He...h-he was...wasn't he?"[/i]

[i]"YYYYAAAAAAH!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAAGH YOU LITTLE SHIT!"[/i]

[i]"KHEEHEHEAHAHA!"[/i]

The children assaulted them in a single wave of claws and teeth, bowling the three adults over who cackled at their eagerness to bite and nip.

[i]"Well look at that!"[/i] cried Eggfang. [i]"They learned to hunt together and dominate their prey!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAAAGH, S-STOP IIIIIT!"[/i]

[i]"Hhha ha ha ha, well I think you have nothing to fear in raising your children to be good hunters."[/i]

[i]"GUH!"[/i] Leafrunner shook her head clear of nibbling little runts. [i]"Y-yeah they uh, they really love to bite don't they?!"[/i]

[i]"Well to be fair so did you two when you were little, they are just doing their mothers proud."[/i]

[i]"Hahah, yeah I guess but uh...really, thanks for the help Eggy. You're the best."[/i]

They nuzzled together as Skyfang decided to waddle off into the centre of the tribe's grounds, passing between other families that barked and chittered amongst themselves before smelling a scent familiar to her on the other side of the Hunter's Nest near a large formation of rocks. The scent however led her towards a smaller nest beyond it where a red-backed raptor with silver eyes was speaking to some of the largest muscular raptors she had ever seen.

[i]"The herd moved on?"[/i] asked the red raptor.

[i]"Yes alpha,"[/i] said one of the guards, [i]"they travelled to the Skylands until the leaves grow back on the western grounds."[/i]

[i]"Hmmm. What about the oddheads?"[/i]

[i]"They moved to the northern sea, we can still hunt for them."[/i]

[i]"But not too much,"[/i] said the new alpha, [i]"we must let some of them live so they can breed, spread out the hunting parties towards the Jaws of the Earth."[/i]

[i]"What about the sea?"[/i] asked the other guard purring lowly. [i]"If we cannot find food elsewhere."[/i]

[i]"If that happens which is unlikely,"[/i] said their leader raising his head full, [i]"then my children and I shall do our best to hunt for fish. They are learning well so we shall be fine."[/i]

[i]"Good, then we shall prepare new hunts tonight, alpha."[/i]

The head raptor nodded as the guards turned back towards the large stone pile before Skyfang rushed straight up to him with a squeak.

[i]"HIIIII!"[/i]

[i]"OH, hello there Skyfang!"[/i] The alpha smiled with gleaming eyes of grey. [i]"Having a little wander?"[/i]

[i]"Mmhmm, Seaclaw's sleepin' an' Oddtooth's talkin' smelly crawlers with uncah Barky."[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, and you decided to wander up here because you were bored?"[/i]

[i]"N-n-...nooooo I like you uncah Fishclaw!"[/i]

He shook his head with a chuckle and a long lick across her scalp. The child noticed however that his nest was empty, cocking her head with a gentle yip.

[i]"Where's auntie Shadetooth?"[/i]

[i]"She is off hunting with your cousins,"[/i] said Fishclaw, [i]"I have to stay and be the Alpha."[/i]

[i]"Sound booooooring."[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, well I cannot say it is but I would like to be hunting some days rather than telling others WHERE to hunt."[/i]

[i]"Why dontcha go hunt then?!"[/i] chirped Skyfang with a little stomp. [i]"If I wuz Alpha I'd go huntin' everyday!"[/i]

[i]"Well that is up to you,"[/i] he said sitting down in his nest, [i]"but for me I have to do things differently, even when I would rather want to do something else."[/i]

[i]"Whyyyyy?"[/i]

[i]"Because when you are an adult, you have to do things you may not want to do, but you have to because they help others around you."[/i]

[i]"Why can't THEY do it then?"[/i] she asked sitting next to him.

[i]"Because not everyone can. As the Alpha I have to do many things, I have to keep watch on what prey to hunt so that we do not hunt TOO many of them or else we have no food."[/i]

[i]"Whuh?"[/i] She shook her head trying to wrap around this. [i]"Wh-whuddaya mean no food?"[/i]

[i]"The food we eat comes from other beasts. If we eat all of them, then there is no more food. But if we only seat SOME of the beasts, and let them grow up to make more beasts like how your father and mother made you and your siblings."[/i]

[i]"Ohhhhhh...okays!"[/i] the hatchling nodded with a twinkle as she jumped up beside him. [i]"C-can you throw me up in the sky again?!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang come now, you are old enough not to-"[/i]

[i]"Pleaaaaaaaaase uncah Fishclawwwww?! Yer the best fun uncah ever, I love you a-an' you're so clever an' strong, an'-"[/i]

[i]"Alright alright PLEASE just stop, you'll make me die of pride with a swollen head like that. Starleaf, are you wake?"[/i]

[b][i]YES FATHER[/i][/b]

[i]"You remember Skyfang yes?"[/i]

[b][i]NAUGHTY CHILD TASTING CLOUDS[/i][/b]

[i]"Would you mind giving her some fun like before?"[/i]

[b][i]CHILD'S JOY FILLS ME WITH HOPE[/i][/b]

Fishclaw stepped back to give some space before focusing his eyes on his niece as she stood in waiting, her tail flicking back and forth as she felt a strong tingling around her scales and a hard weightlessness consume her like an invisible bubble. Floating up towards the sky the little raptor started cackling as she spun round in a circle suspended above the nests, trying to kick herself forwards as the force of weakening gravity sent some stones hovering around her.

[i]"YEAAAAH, YEAAAAHHAHAHAHAAAA!"[/i]

[i]"Enjoying yourself?"[/i] asked Fishclaw with a piercing stare.

[i]"YEAH, H-HIGHER, HIGHER!"[/i]

He did as she asked, raising her higher as she started laughing even harder with a dizzying sensation, tumbling through the air as her uncle carefully levitated her in sharp drops and sudden lifts to excite her with a shriek. Starleaf's happiness flooded his being as he gently toyed with the forces of gravity, letting her walk across the air in hard steps as she ran around above the other raptors who stared in awe at her. She kicked a few stones here and there which went out of Fishclaw's reach, hurtling back to earth harmlessly before she herself was lowered back onto the solid dirt with a stumbling stagger.

[i]"WhohhhHOHHHH ahm dizzyyyyhehehehahaha!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha, did you have fun?"[/i] he asked leaning down to her.

[i]"Y-YEAH, I'm gonna g-go home now byyye uncah Fishclawwww!"[/i]

She licked him happily across his snout before racing back home, falling almost twice into other nests with snorting adults sneeing with disapproval at the errant child as their alpha sighed sitting back in his nest.

[b][i]FATHER TIRED?[/i][/b]

[i]"No no, just...I expected being an Alpha would be much more difficult."[/i]

[b][i]PEACEFUL HOME NEEDS NO WORK[/i][/b]

[i]"That is true, I suppose the Alpha before me had much worse problems than I hopefully have to deal with."[/i]

[b][i]IS FATHER HAPPY?[/i][/b]

[i]"Of course I am happy! I have a wonderful family, my brother and sisters have good families too and everyone is well-fed! I was not complaining please understand, I am just surprised there is less work than I expected."[/i]

[b][i]FATHER IS GOOD LEADER[/i][/b]

[i]"Now now do not say that yet Starleaf, I have only just been Alpha for one-and-a-half cycles, let us see how good I become against a true threat."[/i]

[b][i]YES FATHER I WILL PROTECT US[/i][/b]

The next day, a small ship landed upon the northeast beach as two humans and a lizardman stepped out through the forest. A raptor scout greeted them whilst keeping an eye on Chanoch with his unfamiliar scent as she led them through to the nesting grounds. A storm was petering on the horizon as the sounds of thunder could be heard off in the distance, a tense moistness that hung in the air above the swaying trees that gave a mild briskness.

"Now remember," said Jane to Chanoch, "do not make direct eye contact, do NOT show your teeth and keep your head bowed."

"Yes," he muttered nodding.

"We've managed quite a civil partnership with them the past few years but they are still feral animals and they have a whole other thing with body language."

"How did you befriend them?"

"Oddclaw," she smiled stepping through the ferns, "he's the entire reason we've managed to get this far with the locals."

"Oh aye," said Holt jumping over a log, "Oddie's thuh best lad, wi'out him we woulda still been stuck on that soddin' beach havin' to dodge all them bastard dinos!"

"Hmph." The knight rolled his eyes. "What if one attacks the base?"

"If they come out that far then we shoot 'em! That's our territory an' they should know that!"

"Obviously after warning them," said Jane raising her hands and patting her blinking collar, "thanks to our translator-collars which largely was down to Dronin assisting us but Oddclaw helped compile the verbal database."

"Dronin?" asked Chanoch.

"You'll meet him soon, he's one of the robots but he lives with the raptors."

"ODDIE!"

[i]"JEREMYYY!"[/i]

The first time Chanoch met the ambassador was when he leapt into Holt's arms and kissed him furiously deep, wrapping his claws round the soldier's waist as their tongues plunged into each other's mouths with a deep passion leaving them both almost breathless. Jane awkwardly turned herself away as the raptor sucked Jeremy's tongue with flaring nostrils and a thick grinding of their bodies to the point that Oddie's member was now thickening upwards to a hard fuller ten inches. Chanoch stared only for a few seconds before the smell of a dozen feral families struck him with a sharp sting of intense musk that he had last smelt upon farms in the homeland. It was an oddly soothing scent, one that caused his mind to drift briefly with a tender warmth amidst the crying shrieks and purrs of the Hunters' Nest.

"Mmmmhhhh fuck you missed me dab?" muttered Jeremy.

[i]"Yes,"[/i] whimpered Odd, [i]"I missed your taste and scent so much, how are you?"[/i]

"Ohhh ahm fuckin' buzzing, you know ahm always happy to see yer sexy-arse bod. But, first we 'ave a new friend to show ya though before we get to uhhh, ambassadorial duties."

[i]"O-oh yes, of course!"[/i]

He stepped back from Holt and walked over to Jane desperatey trying to keep her eyes on his face whilst Chanoch gave one look up and down before slightly bowing his head submissive towards the raptor a foot shorter than him.

"Oddclaw," she began, "this is...Chanoch, he's our newest recruit that came here last year."

[i]"Yes the other starbeast!"[/i] The raptor offered his hand to shake. [i]"I am Oddclaw, Voice of the Tribe, it is very good to meet you!"[/i]

"I am honoured to meet you, Oddclaw."

The knight shook his hand gently, staring at him slightly with a strange rememberance for the last time he had seen such a physique like the raptor's.

[i]"Are you settling in well with the hairless?"[/i]

"Yes," he nodded. "This is your world?"

[i]"It is, I was born here with the rest of my family."[/i]

"Jane said, you speak English?"

[i]"I do, yes."[/i]

Chanoch clicked off his collar-translator and cleared his throat before he spoke with halting tongue.

"I am...lyurning it, slohly."

"OH! That is good!" Oddclaw smiled with a chirr of surprise as he slipped into humanspeak. "I took years to learn it and that was thanks to Jane teaching me every day."

"Jane tea-chest me too. I am, ree-ding books to help me."

"Ohhh which ones?"

"Doctor Syoos."

"AHH! I love those!" he squealed with fists of glee. "Jane taught me with those books too, which one is your favourite?!"

"Uhhh...Hhhor-ton."

"REALLY?! That is my favourite too! Why is it your favourite?"

"I laike how...it speek of tiny...weak, pee-puhl thet speak to Horton, to save their home from sell-fish ones. It...I think of Elohim."

"E-eh...Elohim?"

"The one who...gives us life." Chanoch pointed at the sky as Oddie looked up understanding.

"Ohhhhh yes, like the SUN, yes I understand what you mean. We are all like the Whos and that sun is a much greater force that we are all at the mercy of."

"I-...yes," the soldier nodded diplomatic.

"Your English is very good!" said the raptor smiling. "Keep on reading and I know you will speak it better than me!"

"I love, to reed." He smiled back very slightly. "Do you hev, books heeer?"

"No, Anna would never let me take them out here...actually I do not think Anna has ever come out here."

"Do you...khum to theh bayss?"

"I will soon, when my children are old enough which should be next year!"

"Ah." Chanoch clicked his collar back on as his voice retranslated itself. "Thank you."

[i]"Not at all,"[/i] replied the raptor in feral tongue, [i]"I would like to speak more with you soon Chanoch, if you want to know more about my tribe."[/i]

"I would."

[i]"But, first I promised Jeremy-"[/i]

"Aw no no no dab don't do that," Holt patted Oddie's rump, "why not show us yer family first, get us all acquainted, don' wanna be rude in me snatchin' you off fer mahself."

[i]"OH, alright then but um...you should take your new friend to meet Fish-I-i mean Alpha first, that is our rule."[/i]

[i]"Or I come to you."[/i] Fishclaw strolled forth from between the nests accompanied by two guards. [i]"I could hear my brother screaming to be bred from the other side of the nests."[/i]

[i]"I-i was not screaming!"[/i] huffed Oddie. [i]"I was just happy to see my friends!"[/i]

[i]"Oh really, because whenever the hairless grab your vent you sound like our sisters do."[/i]

[i]"G-GUH, you-...if you were not the Alpha I would throw you to the ground for that!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha. Regardless, welcome to the Hunters' Nest."[/i]

The leader of the tribe turned to Chanoch and stood as upright as he could to his full height of 8'5'' above the 7-foot soldier.

[i]"I am the Alpha, you are the new starbeast right?"[/i]

"Yes," he replied lowering his eyes, "I am Chanoch, I am honoured to meet you sir."

[i]"Hmhmhmhm ohhhh I am not that special,"[/i] he said moving his body back down to a more moderate height equal to him, [i]"a friend of the hairless is always welcome here, you have the scent of a warrior too I see."[/i]

"Yes."

[i]"Well all I ask is that you respect our tribe and harm no hunter unless they try to kill you. Which should not happen but if there are any concerns you can always come to me and I shall deal with it."[/i]

"Thank you, sir." Chanoch bowed to his knee. "I will respect your land."

[i]"Good! I understand that the deep daystar was another starbeast coming?"[/i]

"Oh yes that!" Jane looked up to where he was looking to see the Reichell station still hovering just beyond the earth's atmosphere. "Yeeees that arrived just about last week, we're still handling stuff on that but don't worry there's nothing that will come down to interrupt your lives, we've met them and it's all sorted."

[i]"That is good,"[/i] said Fishclaw chirring with approval, [i]"we were all shocked to see a deep star, let alone one in the day and I must admit a few of our children were frightened by it."[/i]

"Sorry about that, we are trying our best to contain these things, but at least this one is all up there and not down here!"

[i]"True. Well, now I have met you I leave you in the care of my brother who I can smell the desperation of without even having to look-"[/i]

[i]"Wh-what are you saying?!"[/i] cried Oddclaw trying to hide his erection suddenly. [i]"I-i am simply greeting my friends!"[/i]

[i]"Oh I think you plan to do more than just greeting little brother, hmhahaha."[/i]

Blushing hard the anthro raptor bit his lip whilst Fishclaw walked back off into the throngs of raptordom as Oddclaw gently slipped his claws up towards Jeremy's fingers. Jane sighed and gently waved them off as Holt grabbed him by the ass with a hard clench and led him off towards the forest.

[i]"How are you Jeremy?"[/i] asked the raptor. [i]"You smell different today."[/i]

"Aw well ah wuz tryin' a new cologne," he joked, "yanno summat lahk Eau de Queer but that's not much different from the usual eh?"

[i]"Did something happen?"[/i]

"Naw wotcha mean?"

[i]"I can sense...tension from you."[/i]

"Ahm jus' excited to 'ave fun wit' you dab," said the soldier slapping Oddie's waist, "cummon let's not talk about work."

[i]"Alright,"[/i] he smiled wide with friendly teeth, [i]"but you know you can tell me anything that is troubling you."[/i]

"Course ah know that, yer the only one round 'ere that never judged me fer nowt."

[i]"Will you tell me after we mate?"[/i]

"Mmmmmm...IF you milk me dry enough," he slipped his finger down the raptor's snout and put an arm round his shoulders, "think you can do that Oddie?"

[i]"Depends on whether you want my throat or my vent,"[/i] smirked Oddie with a smooch to the human's cheek.

"If yer a good mochyn bach ahll do both!"

Whilst they went off into the woods for a special "therapy session", Jane Addison took Chanoch towards the lakeshore where some of the raptors were cleaning themselves downstream and drinking the rich waters upstream. The long view to the north showed a distant island in the bay of the continent, a large seawall separating fresh from salt with a small mountain peak creeping along the northwest to give a picturesque view of the prehistoric.

"How are you holding up?" she asked him rapping her fingers across her metal fist.

"Good," he shrugged, "this place is beautiful."

"It is isn't it, I love coming here, seeing wild untamed nature left untouched by our interference, or it would be if we hadn't come."

"Yes."

"I know things were rather stressful up on the station, Andrea told me everything that went down and I just wanted to make sure if you were alright."

"I am fine, thank you Jane."

"Okay doke, just remember you can ask me about anything, it's my job to listen. By the way, how's James doing?"

The slight twitch in his face told her everything despite his restraint.

"Just, since you both seem to be such good friends I was wondering how he was, we never got a chance to speak after everything."

"He is fine," said Chanoch nodding once.

"He hasn't said anything to you has he, about him or anything in general?"

"No."

"Not even about you?" She watched him look away for a second. "Sorry I know I sound like I'm teasing but I just don't want any emotions all pent-up and overflowing before it's too late, you understand that right?"

"Yes. Hm." They stopped as Chanoch rubbed his chin. "I would like some help."

"Yes?"

"I...mmmnnngh..." he tapped his foot with a roll of his tongue across his lips. "I want to court James."

"You...court?" Jane squinted slightly.

"Yes. Romance him."

"...OH!" She clapped her hands with an open mouth. "O-o-oh, I uh see wow um tha-...well I was NOT expecting that but alright let's think, sit yourself down."

She sat herself first on a large stone and patted beside her to invite him over as he did the same.

"Firstly, does James know about your feelings for him?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"And does he...have those feelings for you?"

"He is not sure. He wants to still be friends."

"Well that's good!" she patted him on the shoulder. "You've set your boundaries that's good, now, big question here. Why do you want to court him, specifically?"

"I...I want to..." the hulking reptile rubbed his arm with a dry gulp, "I want to show him...how much I care about him."

"That's good, alright well...normally, in my world we would have a date."

"A date?"

"Have you never had one?"

"No, what is that?"

"...um," Jane tapped a finger to her lips, "have you ever been in a relationship before?"

"Once," he looked down at his large clawed feet, "When I was nine."

"Oh...wow so you are quite out of practice then hahaha."

"Yes."

"Alright then well, back to what I was saying, a date is when two people in a relationship go out and do something together. It can be anything as long as both of you are together like, eating a nice dinner at a restaurant, going to the movies-"

"I do not like movies."

"Oh no I know that was just an example," she waved her hand dismissive, "so tell me what do you BOTH like doing, is there something you both enjoy?"

"We like reading." He tapped his large toes one after the other. "I like when he reads to me."

"Well there you go, you can both go to the library!"

"No, I want to do more, something special."

"Hmmmmm......actually, you know what?" Jane stood up with a knowing nod. "I think I've got an idea that'll help you once we get back to base."

"Yes?"

"Let me sort things out and by the time James gets back we'll have something ready to make him feel special."

"Alright. Thank you." The soldier stood up in turn and shook Jane's hand before they walked further along the shore. "Have you ever...romanced?"

"Uhhh a few times," she said watching raptors shake themselves clean from the water, "nothing special just the odd boyfriend and such in college."

"Did your family like him?"

"Well, that wasn't a problem because I don't have a family anymore."

"...forgive me." He bowed shamefully towards her. "I did not know-"

"Oh no, no it's fiiiine don't worry about it," she grabbed his hand with a squeeze, "my whole thing is so different from yours and yes I do know about what happened with you, we're not going to make comparisons."

"I understand, but I still feel-"

"No no, no, let's not do that, you lost your family in a war, my family lost custody of me, that's totally different."

"Custody?"

"Whatever the case, there's no reason to not try having a relationship so let's see how it goes!"

"Yes."

He smiled awkwardly feeling a strange tension in his heart as they looped round back to where he had first met Oddclaw at the edge of the nests. Jane led him towards one particular nest as an old ashen raptor with red eyes leered up at them along with two feral infants and one anthro child.

[i]"OH, hello Jane how are you?!"[/i]

"I'm good thanks! I hope I'm not bothering, we're just waiting for uh...Oddie and Jeremy to finish up-"

[i]"Of course you are,"[/i] she huffed with derisive smile as her children rushed towards the newcomer, [i]"and who is this?"[/i]

"This is Chanoch, another new member of our base."

[i]"MOMMY, ISSA WALKIN' TREE!"[/i]

[i]"Seaclaw do not be rude!"[/i]

[i]"Woooooow,"[/i] Skyfang sniffed along the soldier's legs, [i]"you smell weird!"[/i]

[i]"An' made of thtone."[/i] Oddtooth tapped the armoured plating. [i]"Are you a thtonebeatht like Dronin?"[/i]

"No," said Chanoch, "I am a soldier."

[i]"Yer lahk, a BIIIIG treeee!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw. [i]"Can ah climb you?!"[/i]

"...yes."

He knelt down and offered his arms with permission from Moonclaw sensing his submissive scent, letting the boy sit on his shoulder and carefully lifted him up with tiny clawed feet dangling against his pec.

[i]"Hiiiii!"[/i] he waved down at his siblings. [i]"Ahm da top of a treee-eeeee!"[/i]

[i]"Pffft I been up trees higher than that!"[/i] snorted Skyfang.

[i]"Why you wanna go up treeth all the time?"[/i] argued Oddtooth with a shake of his tail.

[i]"Cuz it's fun an' I get to see EEEEEverything!"[/i]

[i]"Hunterth hunt on the GROUND Thkyfang, we're not flyerth!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah well YOUUU look at smallwings all day with uncah Barkclaw, m-maybe you'll turn into a smallwing too!"[/i]

[i]"Huh?! No I won't!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah you will, then you'll never be on the ground again!"[/i]

[i]"AHM A TREE NOWWW!"[/i] Seaclaw boasted from the soldier's perch. [i]"Ah see mommy HI MOMMYYY!"[/i]

[i]"Hellooooo dear,"[/i] she crooned chuckling.

"I'm sorry about this," muttered Jane to Chanoch.

"It is fine," he smirked straightening his shoulders, "my sister did this too."

"Seriously?!"

"Yes. I was the tallest man in Gdansk."

[i]"AH CAN SEE FOREEEEVAAAAH HEHEEHEHAHAHA!"[/i]

[i]"So what is new in your tribe?"[/i] asked Moonclaw stretching to lay down on her side.

"Ohhh well we were just explaining to Fishclaw-"

[i]"Alpha, you mean."[/i]

"Yes, sorry, your leader I was just telling about that big black thing in the sky."

[i]"Ahhh the deepstar!"[/i] She looked up towards said deepstar. [i]"What IS that, it is no star nor moon I have ever seen."[/i]

"Wellll it is basically another base," Jane rubbed her neck awkwardly, "another group of creatures that we pulled here by accident."

[i]"Another shining mountain, really, one was not enough for you?"[/i]

"It's not OURS just, well...anyways, we made some negotiations and now they're helping us improve our base."

[i]"Well that is good. Did the greatmoon bring that here like it did the other starbeasts?"[/i]

"Yes exactly, like Chanoch here." She gestured towards the lizardman marching firm steps with Seaclaw giggling on his head. "He arrived the year before, everything was all-go that's why we couldn't come during that."

[i]"I do not mind,"[/i] purred Moonclaw shuffling close to her, [i]"Oddclaw worries of course, being the Voice of the Tribe and such, he was waiting beside that stone of his waiting for you."[/i]

"Awwww...I'm sorry about that."

[i]"Oh it is fine, in fact, may I tell you something?"[/i]

"Of course." Jane scooted towards the raptor.

[i]"I am actually happy that he is not running off to your tribe every cycle. Not that I mind you and your tribe coming to our nest, but I worry about him running off on some adventure."[/i]

"Oh no no I would not let him," she swept her hand in dismissal, "until your children are old enough we all agreed-"

[i]"I know and I appreciate that Jane."[/i] She licked the human's hand. [i]"I know you are not foolish, you were the one who taught him your ways and you were the one also to form a peaceful alliance with the Hunters' Nest alongside him. I am not his mother."[/i]

"Now I wasn't going to say-"

[i]"I know, but I will. She can never trust your tribe fully, but I can because if Oddclaw trusts you then that is good enough for me."[/i]

"Thank you." Jane smiled with closed lips and a humble bow. "I really appreciate that Moonclaw, also let's not forget it was YOU that first gave us the fact that the moon and the anomalies were both connected!"

[i]"Really?"[/i] Moonclaw gave a cocky smile, rumbling in her sagged throat. [i]"And my children call me sillyyy-uhhhh, Skyfang?!"[/i]

[i]"Whaaaaat?!"[/i] the child stopped biting the back of Chanoch's armoured knee.

[i]"Stop biting our guest you will ruin your teeth!"[/i]

[i]"But he taste salty mummy, he's tasty!"[/i]

[i]"If you bite him again you will not have any food from our hunt!"[/i]

[i]"I don' care, I'll eat HIM!"[/i]

[i]"YOU WILL NOT YOU CANNOT EAT STONE!"[/i]

[i]"Not yet I don', MLEHHHH!"[/i]

[i]"RIGHT, that is it!"[/i]

She lumbered from her spot and went half-chasing her daughter round Chanoch who stood still as a tree, rasping screams and chittering cackles whilst Jane watched on with a smirking restraint, Oddtooth shuffled round in awkward shame and Seaclaw kept on laughing with clapping hands above his head.

[i]"Another shining mountain?!"[/i]

"Yep," said Holt sitting beside Oddie, "on thuh moon of all places."

[i]"But...h-how?!"[/i]

"So uh...turns out thuh reason I ended up here, wuz because that our base, well Tom's really, they crossed streams with another base from a DIFFERENT place. That other base, thuh one on thuh moon were trying to bring me through cuz they uh...they wanted mah help with summat to fix a problem they 'ad."

[i]"But why you?"[/i] asked the raptor looking at him.

"Cuz apparently ah wuz fated to die."

They sat in silence post-coitus, the raptor shifting his bruising rump on the thick log whilst Jeremy had pulled his pants back up and felt his dwindling lust become replaced by a hollow void that he knew would come. Oddclaw rubbed his neck trying to parse his words.

[i]"How can someone say you were meant to die, I do not understand."[/i]

"Ahm from thuh past, you know that, an' thuh humans up at thuh base, they knew ah never lived past 1945, so they took me out cuz no one would miss me, no ripples or effects would 'appen."

[i]"Th-that is terrible of course someone would miss you!"[/i]

"Apparently thuh world didn't. Not mine at least."

[i]"I...I am sorry Jeremy. But, wait, if THEY wanted you here, that must mean you were important!"[/i]

"Noooo it doesn't work that way," said the human rubbing his fingers, "they brought me in BECAUSE no one would miss me, ah weren't even a blip on thuh face of history...an' now because of me an' all this cross-streaming shite, they're all stuck 'ere with me-"

[i]"I would miss you."[/i] Oddclaw pressed his head against Jer's shoulder. [i]"You are my best friend."[/i]

"Not yer brother surely?"

[i]"No he is my brother, that is different, we are closer than friends. But you are my best of friends, and now I cannot imagine life without you."[/i]

"You...you mean that Odd?"

[i]"I do."[/i] They looked to each other before he gave Holt a sweet kiss on the lips. [i]"I love you Jeremy. I may not understand fully why the hairless are here like you, but I am glad you are here."[/i]

"Ah know dab...just..." he put his head in his hands with a deep sigh, "you know whut it feels lahk to be wanted by nobody, then all of a sudden two people fight over you an' put you in sum other place where you can't ever go back from? S'like a bleedin' divorce then all of a sudden you end up in custody. Hah...funny that, dad always said ah wuz just a big kid an' now ahm thuh biggest twat of thuh century."

He started laughing, but Oddie felt no warmth in his words as Holt's shoulders shook to himself. A tender breath shuddered from his lips as he clenched his fingers harder as the raptor watched his cheeks turn red with droplets. He hugged him tightly without a word, wrapping his arms round his sides and nuzzling his tear-stained cheek, soft dragging licks that started to calm the soldier down as he swallowed back half his sorrows to sit back up again.

"Hoooo...thanks Oddie." He pulled him in close for a smooch. "That an' yer arse wuz all ah needed to get through this."

[i]"Hahaha, it is fine Jeremy, I am always here for you. My vent especially is always here for you."[/i]

"Ohhhh ah don't doubt that mochyn bach."

[i]"A-AAAAH!"[/i] the tight pinch of his sore rump made him stiff in every place. [i]"W-we should get back."[/i]

"Righ' right."

After taking a moment to catch their breath, both of them wandered back through the forest with Oddie gaining a small limp from his wounded rump with Jeremy trying to straighten out his scruffier clothes and wipe the tears remaining from his eyes.

[i]"DADDYYYYYY!"[/i]

Jarogniew had to stop himself flinching from the ear-splitting shriek that the child made on seeing his father return from the woods, the young Seaclaw trying to reach out whilst grabbing onto Chanoch's face who stood rigid imposing.

[i]"HIIII UNCAH JEREMYYYY!"[/i]

"OHOHO hey there li'l dab!" cried Jer. "Ah see you got yerself a nice wee perch!"

[i]"Issa TREE uncah Jeremy!"[/i]

"HAH, hahahaha, ohhh ah see so you wanna to be a pirate now ehh?!"

"Hmm?" Chanoch turned with Seaclaw still grabbing onto him.

"You look lahk bluddy Long John Silver there with that wee rascal on yer shoulder!"

"Who is Lonjon Silver?"

[i]"DADDY LOOK, AHM A TREE NOW!"[/i]

[i]"Now how can you be a tree?!"[/i] scoffed Oddie with arms on his hips. [i]"You are not LEAFclaw now are you?!"[/i]

[i]"UH, uhm...ahm a SEA tree!"[/i]

[i]"There is no such thing!"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah dey do, ah seen 'em, dey grow undah da watah!"[/i]

[i]"What, no they do not!"[/i]

"They do," said Chanoch raising a finger, "they are called kelp."

[i]"SEEE da big tree says so ah TOLD YOU daddy!"[/i]

[i]"Oh do not encourage him!"[/i] barked Oddclaw throwing his hands up.

"But he is right," said the "tree".

[i]"You are not even-WHO ARE YOU?!"[/i]

"I am Chanoch, we met before."

[i]"He's mah FAAAV'RIT tree!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw patting the soldier's head. [i]"Can he stay daddy, can he?!"[/i]

[i]"I am sorry Seaclaw but no,"[/i] said the father, [i]"he is our friend but he has to leave for important things."[/i]

[i]"But-...nnnoooooo ah wan' hiiiiiim!"[/i]

Oddclaw tried to approach but Seaclaw immediately tightened against Chanoch's head in a fierce hug as he started whimpering. The knight felt more uncomfortable as he kept rigid in watching Oddie grab and pull his son as carefully as he could, but the child started getting ready to bawl with a face as red as his eyes much to his father's frustration and the growing discomfort of everyone else around them.

[i]"Seaclawwww, come on."[/i]

[i]"NnnnnNNNNNNHHHH!"[/i]

[i]"Son, please do not do this."[/i]

[i]"NUUUUUAAAIIIH!"[/i]

"Ey-ey-ey calm down dab," Holt gently stepped forwards with hands up, "now that tree of ours is very important to us, he keeps us in thuh shade, without 'im we'd burn up on thuh beach, ain' that righ' Chanoch?"

[i]"R-...r-r-really?!"[/i] the boy sniffled hard.

"Yes." Chanoch nodded slowly. "They live on a beach. There are no trees with the ocean near."

[i]"Whaaaaa? B-but, but why you got no trees, wh-whut abou' sea-trees?!"[/i]

"Trees cannot grow in sand, and the trees in water do not grow enough to protect them. I protect your father's friends from the sun."

[i]"Oh...I-i...b-but, you can grow more trees!"[/i]

"You have so many trees here and they have none. Do you think that is fair, child?"

[i]"N-...n-nnnoooo?"[/i]

"Then I must go, so I protect your father's friends." He slowly put Seaclaw down whilst kneeling with a gentle pat of the head. "You will find your own tree, one better than me."

[i]"B-but, but ah wan' YOUUuuuuu!"[/i] squeaked the boy with bleary tears.

"I will return soon." Chanoch smiled. "We are friends now."

[i]"You...y-you wan'...be mah friend?"[/i]

"Yes."

[i]"...o-okays."[/i] He was clearly upset still with a tempering regret in his heart. [i]"A-ah wan' daddy's friends to be okay, s-so...you promise to come back!?"[/i]

"I promise. What is your name?"

[i]"S-seaclaw."[/i]

"When I come back, I will bring a gift Seaclaw. Then we become better friends."

"O-oh! O-okays, yeah, ah wanna friend too!"

Cheering up with drying eyes the little raptor hugged Chanoch as he hugged him back. Jeremy snuck up beside the father and muttered to him:

"Thanks fer thuh talk dab."

[i]"It is fine,"[/i] whispered Oddie, [i]"remember I am always here for you."[/i]

With a last hug the humans left them be with Oddclaw waving farewell with the rest of the family barking too as Chanoch smiled at young Seaclaw out in front. The boy waved after him like his father did brushing a tear from his eye but trying to smile through.

"That were good patter you put up there," said Holt alongside him, "kids're a bluddy mystery to me."

"Oh I dunno," said Jane, "you seem to understand them pretty well being as childish as you get."

"OI, fuck'sat s'posed to mean ya ruddy cow?!"

"Hmhmhahaha!"

Climbing back onboard the Ducky they watched the raptor tribe fade off into the jungle below turning smaller as they flew upwards. Chanoch began to ponder on what gift a tree would give, whilst Seaclaw hardly slept for having made two friends in the span of two days that he felt it would not possibly get any better in the life he had lived so far in this wild untamed land.