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Days passed,Shadow and Talon did not return. With rumors flowing around base,Raven stepped up and we turned our attention towards locating our missing friends. We were all worried about what could have happened. They were assaulting a DK ammo convoy,so a myarid of things could have come to light. Their V-22 could have been shot down,they could have been killed by sniper fire,maybe even crushed if the bridge had collapsed due to a large explosion or simply shreded by DK fire.

Taro and Mnerloth were especially troubled,and I felt for them. Mnerloth was missing her Dad,and after losing all of his friends,suffering a betrayal,and losing his mate,Taro didn't need to lose his son,and Shadow's son,who was only two weeks old,didn't need to lose his father.

The search was long and grueling. There was a point where we went a full week without sleep,working a lead in Pakistan,which lead us to a ruined Firebase Charlie,and a few hatchling's surviving in the rubble,which we took with us,but not much else. My eyes ached for the grass and trees of Romeo,and the face of my mate. My entire body ached from the constant flying,combat and the weight of my equipment and my body itself. Me,plus all my gear,weighed 65,291 pounds. My thousand pound 105 Demolition's vest was usually very light,but it had begun to get extremely heavy as our search went on.

My friends were in even worse shape,Val had an eye infection from a tear gas grenade,his left eye was swollen shut. Rolland had a nasty case of trench foot,Trent even said he might even lose this infected front right paw. Vez had an infected bullet wound,Ator had begun to have problems walking,Sozenn was just getting too tired to keep going,the Anthro's were all sick with something and the humans were just exhausted. Were all sick of the MRE's,were sweaty and just over all in bad shape,far from ideal soldiers. Our V-22 touched down at Romeo,when the hatch came down,Nolan was waiting for us,and was appalled at what he saw when we steeped off the chopper.

"You all reek,he said holding his hand over his face and gagging,"go get cleaned up and then get some R&R."

"Yes sir,we replied.

"Leave you gear here,Nolan said as some Anthro's helped us out of our equipment,"it needs maintenance any way."

I was glad to be free of the black combat fatigues and 1,000 pound vest,it seemed to stick to my scales as they pulled it off. After this,we went down to the wash room were the humans thoroughly scrubbed us. The brushes against my scales,combined with the cool,soapy water removed the hot,sweaty tight feeling that I'd had for the past three weeks. I could hear my Feral friends purring contently as the humans scrubbed them clean. After we were all clean,we were sent to the vet for a post combat evaluation. After that was done,we were allowed to return to our barracks. When I walked in,I stirred my family from their rest.

"Dad,Ace said,your back."

I walked around to the back of my bed,and fell into it,my aching body screaming in relief. It felt like I weighed a million tons as I fell off my feet. The second my scales hit the bed,I relaxed.

"I am so tired,I moaned,three weeks,non stop."

I yawned as I placed my head on my mate's paws. Adelind then began to lick me,putting me into that half asleep state. I wanted to sleep,but I couldn't. Next to Sozenn and Taro,Shadow was my best friend,I coudn't help but worry about him. I whimpered from the pain that was coursing through my body. I wanted to sleep,so very badly,but I couldn't take my aching mind off my missing friend. Adelind continued to lick my face,each stroke of her silky tongue put me further and further under. Unable to fight any longer,I told Adelind i loved her,and let sleep take it's welcomed hold.

I woke up late that night,and was aching like crazy. Every mussel in my body,from my chest to my paws,screamed in agony. I stretched everything out as far as I could,legs,tail,neck,everything. I wriggled around a bit,wedged my head under Adelind's and then went back to sleep. I slept in very late the next morning,not waking up till around noon. The room was chilly,and I liked it,but I could also feel my aching body try and tense with it,right now,I just wanted to be as warm as I could get. So I balled up,lit my fire a bit higher and snuggled up to Adelind. The heat coming off her body helped to warm me up and drive away the ache.

"How you feeling,Adelind asked softly.

"I ache allover,I whimpered.

Adelind licked me across the snout,"Wanna get something to eat?"

"Yeah,I I replied as I started to try and stand. Adelind leaned against me to help. We walked down to the mess hall. Adelind and I were greeted by the rest of the team. They all looked very refreshed.

"You feeling okay Tyro,Ator asked with concern in his voice,but smiling as always.

I smiled back,"Your smile is contagious brother,I replied,I ache a little,but I'm fine."

"We all do",Rolland said.

"I'm starved,for something REAL,Vez said,can we eat now?"

We all laughed at Vez's remark as we took our usual spots and waited for the chef to bring us our meat.

"Feel's good to lay down,Taro said,the past few weeks reminded me of the hell Rolland put me through in basic."

Rolland laughed,"Are you seriously going to hold a grudge for that?"

"Yes I am",Taro replied with a smile. Rolland smiled and shook his head.

"Ease up guys,I said,were all on the same side."

The cooks brought us our food and we all began to chew on it greedily. After eating MRE's for the past few weeks,the smokey,melt in your mouth deer tasted better than ever. Even the water in our bowls tasted amazing. Even after it was all gone,we were licking the plates,the bowls and even our snouts,trying to get every last sliver and drop into our stomachs. After we were done eating,we were called into the command tent.

"Raven,Nolan said,call off your search for Talon."

"Call of the search,I snarled,why?"

"We found them,Nolan calmly replied,there all unharmed,their on a V-22 on the way back here as we speak."

"As for you guys,Nolan said,"I've got a job for you."

"What's the mission,Ator asked.

"Search and desroy",Nolan said rolling out a map,"we have conformation of a secondary DK prodution faclity,Tyro,you and your team are being snet in along with Punisher 1-1 to remove it."

"I love that guy,Ator laughed,he blows stuff up real nice."

A smile crossed Nolan's face.

"Good to see you guys in high sprits,I like that,it's a qualty of a good soldier."

"When do we go,I asked.

"Nightfall,Nolan said,rest up,and be at your V-22 then."

We turned and left the command tent. I walked back to my room and fell into bed. The cold fabric hitting my scales helped my tense body to relax a bit. Adelind curled around me.

"So what did Nolan want,she asked nuzzling me.

"He's sending us in to destroy another DK production facility."

I looked my mate in her eyes,"When I get back I said,I'm going to hold you as close to me as I can."

"I'd like that",Adelind said running her paw down my chest.

Adelind lay a wing over me as I began to drift off.

"I love you,she said as I began to close my eyes.

"I love you too",I said as my voice began to trail off.

Adelind licked me as sleep took over. I was stirred hours later by Ator. He was standing in the door way,dressed from the beginning of his neck to the bottom of his paws and the tip of his tail in Raven's standard black combat fatigues. His black and sliver mini gun and Raven's Dragon Skin vest suited his style perfectly,Vanlith leaned against him,a smile covering her muzzle.

"Tyro,Ator said,it's time to go."

"Give me a minute to get myself together,i said yawning,I'll meet you all there."

Ator and Vanlith left as Adelind helped me into my gear. We then walked down to the V-22. The others were already there.

"Everyone ready",I asked.

"Let's nuke that rat hole and get home,Rolland said yawning,I'm dead."

"We all are",Taro said as we stepped into the chopper.

I found a place to lay as the V-22 began to spin up and lifted off. It was a three hour ride to the AO and there was nothing to do but rest,and I needed the rest,we all did.

"Feels weird with out Dad",Mnerloth said leaning against me,"I hope he's okay."

"I'm sure he's fine",Tess said.

They kept talking,but I tuned them out and fell asleep. I was roused not ten minutes later as we touched down. As we stepped out of the V-22,the cool air of the night desert hit my scales,I liked the feeling. A wide smile crossed Ator's muzzle and he rubbed his paws together.

"Eager to blow it up huh",Taro said smirking.

"Oh yeah,Ator said,DK ammo blows up real nice."

"Let's move then,I said,you all know the drill."

We sprinted towards the factory,coming to a stop a few hundred yards away form it. Mnerloth took her G3 from her back and began surveying the area.

"Very little activity",she said.

"Good,I said,drop them."

Three low thunks left Mnerloth's rifle. I watched as the guards fell into the sand without so much as a grunt.

I laughed,"Good girl,let's move."

We sprinted into the compound,taking refuge in the shadows between two small buildings.

"Talk to me Mnerloth,I said into my radio,"give us targets."

"There's the main generators one either side of the compound,the fuel storage,on the east and west sides,the ammo storage's and the factory floor,you'll have to split of and hit them all at the same time."

'I'll take the north generator,I said,Ator,you handle the ammo storage,Vez,you take the south generator,Syralth and Tesselth,you handle the fuel tanks,humans,the factory floor."

We split off. I crept along the buildings,ducking from shadow to shadow,finally reaching the generator building. I slipped in. A single guard,with his back turned,blocked my advance. I lept up,placing my left paw on his back and my right on the back of his skull,slamming his head into the concrete floor with all of my weight,there was no suffering,he was dead instantly. I slipped into the generator room. Taking a block of C4 from my vest and placing it on the fuel system of the generator.

"Talk to me guys,I said arming the C4,what your OS?"

"Sozenn and I Iare coming on the ammo storage",Ator said.

"Were getting clear of the compound",Hudson called,"the factory floor is rigged."

"Placing my explosives on the fuel tanks now,Vez called back.

"Taro,I called,"what's your OS?"

There was no answer.

"Taro,I called again,"what's your OS?"

Again,there was no answer.

"Sozenn,I called as I slipped out of the generator building,"I've lost contact with Taro,can you pinpoint his vest's locator?"

"Gimme a second,Sozenn called.

"Okay,Sozenn called,"keep going for about another hundred feet,then hang a left,that's where the signal is,but I have nothing on Flir or NV."

"Understood",I called.

When I turned the corner,a long,slender object stuck in the ground immediately caught my eyes. As I neared it,fear set in. It was the barrel of a 20MM LLR. I could see another vest laying not ten feet from it. When I approached it,I could see that the vest was old and dirty,but there was no blood.

"Guys,I said,sound off."

"I'm here Tyro,Val called.

"Here",Vez called.

"Accounted for",Rolland called.

"Here",Hudson called.

"Present,Tess called.

"Unharmed",Syralth called.

"Here",Issac called.

"Uninjured,Logan and Trent called.

"I'm here Tyro",Ator called.

"Here",Mnerloth called.

"Guys",I said,"I fear we have been compromised,and that Taro has been captured."

There was no reply.

'Everyone meet at rally point Alpha." Rodger that,my friends replied.

"Tyro,a voice came over from behind me.

I spun around to see Taro,he was holding one paw off the ground and I could see blood dripping form it.

"huhh Taro,I said running to his side,"why didn't you answer?"

"My radio went dead,then I was blindsided."

"So whose",I asked motioning to the vest.

"I don't know",Taro said.

I quickly threw the vest onto my back and then I helped Taro to the rally point. As we ducked behind the sand bar,I slapped my vest to turn on my flash light. Taro's paw had a deep stab wound,it was obvious to me that whoever had attacked him had not wanted him to escape. "Hold still brother,I said breathing a soft flame onto the wound to close it.

"Argghh,Taro grunted as he gritted his teeth,I could see a few tears roll down his muzzle.

After had closed his wound,I took a bandage from my IFAK and warped it around his paw.

"There",i said,all done."

"That hurt Tyro",Taro said.

"That's how my Mom always fixed me when I got in fights",I said,"yeah it hurts,I know,but it works."

I began to hear the faint sounds of foot and paw steps.

"Star",Syralth yelled.

"Texas",Taro shouted back.

Our friends sprinted to us and slid in behind the sand bar,pulling off their masks. Taro and I pulled ours off too.

"What happened to you,Tess asked.

"I got stabbed",Taro said laughing a bit.

"Enough,"Ator said enthusiastically,"I wanna see this factory go up."

We turned our attention to the factory. The Anthros and Humans pulled their IPod's from their kits and started rolling.

"Blow it Ator,I said smiling.

With a smirk,Ator raised his gloved paw,and brought it down on his vest,detonating the explosives and sending the factory up in a cloud of red and black. Ator laughed as I placed a paw on his shoulder.

"Good job brother,now lets get Punisher 1-1 in here to finish the job."

"Punisher 1-1 is wheeled up in the overhead and ready for tasking."

"Punisher 1-1,this is Sargent Ator Kelorth requesting fire package at Target Delta Bravo,E332JH,how copy?"

"Rodger that Ator,The pilot replied,"Punisher 1-1 is visual friendlies and tally on targets,weapons away,time to fall,ten seconds."

As it had before,the Warthog straffed the factory,leveling the area and finishing what we'd started.

"Effects confirmed,factory destroyed. Punisher 1-1 is bingo fuel,exiting to the East."

"Rodger that Punisher 1-1,I called,"thank's for the assist."

"Lets go home,I said as we sprinted for the waiting V-22. Once we were airborne,Hudson and the humans helped the ferals out of their gear and then we all lay down.

"When we get home,Vez said turning to Val,let's get something to eat."

"We have to get the kids from the hatchery first,Val said smiling.

Vez frowned,"Of course,she said,you think I would forget my children?"

Val frowned and put his head between his paws.

"Oh you big hatchling",Vez said licking him, "lighten up."

I smiled at the two of them."I wish I had a mate",Rolland said frowning.

"Join the breeding program,Ator said,you'll find a nice female fast,how I met Vanlith."

"You got lucky",Rolland complained,"I want somebody like Adelind,somebody I can die along side."

"Those are hard to find,I said smiling.

I placed my head between my paws and let sleep carry me off. I was stirred by the V-22 touching down hours later. I gathered up my equipment and stepped off the chopper,finding my entire family waiting for me.

"Dad",My kids shouted running to me.

I scoped them up wit a sweep of my large wings.

"What happened Dad,Tyson asked,"tell us!"

"I will,I said,but first,let's go get baths and then something to eat."

We went and got cleaned up and met the others at the mess hall. We sat in our usual corner spots and began eating. As always,we spoke in Draconian and the meal was full of conversation. After the meal was done,we returned to our barracks,said goodnight to each other and entered our rooms. Our room was chilled,and after being in the desert for the last three hours,and a cramped V-22 for three more,I welcomed it. Adelind and I laid with each other as the kids fell into their beds and began talking. Adelind and I tuned them out.

"When can we go back to the preserve",Adelind asked putting her back to my stomach,"I'm homesick."

I warped my forepaws around her and enfolded her in my wings.

"Soon,I said yawning,"very soon."

I pulled Adelind as close to me as I could. I loved the feeling of her scales against mine. Adelind wiggled around so we were now facing each other and placed her small paws on my chest.

"I love you",I said nuzzling her.

"I love you too,"Adelind said returning my nuzzle. We lay like this for a few minutes before giving in. Hours later,Syralth woke us.

"TYRO",he said,in a tone I'd never heard out of him before.

"What,I said leting go of Adelind and puting a paw on his sholuder,'calm down Syralth,what is the problem?"

"You need to come to the landing pad,right now!"

Syralth turned and bolted from the room.

"This can not be good,Adelind said was we ran for the landing pad.

When we got there,there was a heavily damaged V-22,how it managed to get back was a mystery to me. I could see Nina laying on her side with several medics gathered around her. Taro and Mnerloth were fighting to get through.

"Step aside",I ordered the humans.

The humans backed off and let us through to Nina. As I drew close,I could see that about ten rounds had ripped through her chest.

"NINA",I yelled running to her side.

"What happened",Taro asked.,"where's Shadow and Hunter?"

"Dead,Nina rasped,there both....dead."

Taro backed off and sat on his haunches as Mnerloth fell to her knees.

"No,Taro Whispered,Shadow and Hunter too? Of all the...."

Mnerloth had broke down into tears as Syralth and Tess held her close. I sat on my haunches and warped my tail around my fore paw. I'd never lost a member of my team before,I wasn't sure what to do.

"Take Nina to the infirmary",I ordered the humans.

"Taro and Mnerloth go back to the barracks."

The humans took Nina to the infimary and Tess and Syralth walked a griveing Taro and Menrloth back to their rooms. I sat there,staring into the harbor,looking at the lights of the many ships that sat there. After some time,I spoke.

"Let's go back to the room Adelind,i said quietly.

We walked back to our room without a word. When we got there,the kids were asleep again. I shut off the light and lay with Adelind,pulling her close.

"What are you going to do?",Adelind asked laying her head on my paws.

"I don't know",I said,"I just don't know."