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[i][u]Interior Development - Pseudomagic Prosthetics[/u][/i]

[i]25-08-2039[/i]

[i]Recorded by Adenine and Ribose[/i]

[i]Magic has always been a great interest of ours, so we decided to do a little experiment. With the help of Professor Durai and his student James we had this idea that we could mimic magical properties by the use of chemistry, inspired by our previous days where our former boss tricked people with "magic spells" but was actually just finite chemistry. We also just wanted to do something nice for her since she never really handled losing her arm that well but then again who would really?[/i]

[i]Kevin gave us permission to work on this, using a model of Jane's arm first to experiment on so it doesn't blow up in our face (literally that is). After about four or five tests we got it right. Using a dampened miniature combustion engine, we've created a device that can combine oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon dioxide into the four basic elements of Water, Fire, Earth and Air. We're still trying to figure how to make Lightning but we might have to scrap that due to the complexity of including some form of magnetic generator in an already-small space next to a combustion engine without breaking the whole thing.[/i]

"Alright, it's ready," said Ade.

"Are you sure?" asked Bose.

"I've checked the feeding chamber like seventeen times, I know all those grooves in my sleep."

"Alright, and it's all been tested?" asked Kevin.

"Yep, every bolt and screw."

"Well let's go then! Can't wait to see her face."

They carefully took the prosthetic hand over to a wheelcart, covering it in a shroud before rolling it through the halls to where Jane sat waiting in the firing range along with Haytham, James and Andrea. The therapist nervously rubbed her left arm now devoid of prosthetic hand, fidgeting as she tried desperately not to look at the stump that was left behind. The chemists soon arrived with great fanfare in the midst of the cold grey hall pockmarked with bullets.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" began Adenine. "Tonight, we offer you the results of our fantastic experiment! For centuries you have asked 'what IS magic? Is it even real?' We have now confirmed it is but ONLY in some dimensions, not our own."

"UNTIL NOW!" Ribose cried with a flourish of the cape. "BEHOLD!"

A gasp of wonder came from the small audience as they revealed the gauntlet. It was similar to Jane's original prosthetic except for a set of four knuckles brightly-coloured to resemble buttons.

"Holy shit that's an infinity gauntlet!" cried Andrea.

"Well except it's not gold," said Jane warily, "what did you do exactly?!"

"AH, allow me."

Kevin took the prosthetic and walked over to Jane as he refitted it back to her wrist. A slow process of making sure that its electroconductor signals synced up to her own nerves, they gave a few tests of her moving her fingers and clenching the fist to make sure it still worked before he instructed:

"Now uh, could you stand up and face the end of the hall?"

"Ooookay."

"Alright, press the red button there and then open your hand as wide as you can, then tighten the muscles."

"Alriiiight."

She nervously did such, pushing the button on her knuckle and facing her palm towards the far end of the range. She tensed her muscles until her metal fingers became tight and gripped, like an eagle's talons as she felt something whirring from inside her wrist. Tightening, flickering, twitching, something burst from her palm with a tremendous blast of fire that shot across the room and torched a black spot in the wall.

"WOAH!" cried Andrea. "HOHOHOLY [i]SHIT![/i]"

"WH-WHAT THE CRAP?!" Jane staggered backwards once her brain registered what happened. "D-d-did I just...did...d-did I just shoot fire out of my FUCKING HAND?!"

"YEP!" cried Adenine with a finger in the air. "We made your hand able to do magic!"

"You WHAT!?"

"I mean it's TECHNICALLY magic," muttered Ribose shrugging, "it shoots stuff outta yer hand, I could get into all the details but yanno, there ya go."

"We helped too!" cried James punching the air excitably. "Master and I offered a little advice."

"A modicum of such," said Haytham pinching his fingers, "your friends did all the heavy lifting whilst James and myself simply finetuned the arithmetic of chemical quandary."

"You...y-you did all that for me?" gasped Jane turning on the spot to all of them.

"Well yeah," said Kevin rubbing his shoulder, "we know you've been having problems with your new hand so we wanted to give you something cool, something that not only makes you good for fighting but ALSO makes you look real badass."

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

She started to well up with tears, pressing her hands to her face before remembering herself and moving her left hand away when she felt its chemical warmth. Tears streamed down her face from shock and purest joy amidst whimpering elation.

"F-f-for...f-for years I...I-i-i...e-ever s-since I was a l-little girl I always...always wanted to...h-hoh, th-thank you."

The doctor rushed towards them with a sudden hug, pulling all three of them into an awkward clutch.

"Th-thank you! THANK YOU, O-OH GOD THANK YOU THIS IS AMAZING!"

"N-n-nuh prublim," gargled Ade.

"J-juszht ledduszhgo yer chokin' me," rasped Ribose.

"S-sorry, sorry ju-just this," she muttered releasing them with shaking hands, "god, this is I, god, GOD this is I don't know what to think!"

"Try it out then!" said James bouncing on the spot. "Test your new magic here, get a good feel for it!"

"A-alright then...if...if that's okay."

She braced herself as they stood back. Dr. Addison held up her hand once again and made a demonstration of the other elements. Water came in the form of a single jetstream that shot with the force of a small cannon; air was like a solid punch that slammed a chair into the wall and cracked one of the legs off from the impact; lastly there came earth which shot a sizeable stone that shattered like shrapnel.

"This, is, [i]AMAZING![/i]" squealed Jane. "HOHOH SHIT this is EVERYTHING I wanted!"

"De nada," said Kevin bowing with Ade and Bose in sync, "glad we could make you happy."

"God, Kevin, you...Ade, Bose, James, m-mister Durai-"

"Oh please call me Haytham," he said, "the primary benefactors are your laboratory friends we do not deserve such praise."

"Seriously, thank you, everyone this is just...does Thomas know about this?!"

"Oh yeah we totally cleared it with him," said Adenine rubbing his beak, "I mean we ARE basically crafting a weapon out of someone's hand and even said if it all went well we might even try to do more of them."

"Oh HELL yes," said Andrea clapping her hands, "I wanna get me one of those."

"What, you want me to cut off your hand?"

"Wha-NO, jeez like a glove or something!"

"Haha I know I'm just messin' with ya, but yeah we got ideas to roll out some armaments."

"I had a couple ideas myself," said Ribose nudging his comrade, "was sorta thinking about a special thing we could make for uhh Andrea."

"Wait what?" asked Dixon cocking her head.

"Just lemme figure out the dynamics and maybe we can get something going."

"Ohoho damn now I'm all excited, hear that Jane you an' me could be like Sailor Moon!"

"What, GOD no I hated that show!" cried Addison flinching in repulse. "That little cow whining just all the time!"

"Oh you did not just shit on my girl Usagi, bitch I swear-"

"Waah waaaah my life is hard I have a boomerang tiara and I'm an undiagnosed narcoleptic!"

"SHE IS A TEENAGER, SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH WEIRD SHIT, LET HER BE JANE!"

"What are they talking about?" mumbled Ade.

"Don't ask, don't get involved," said Kevin ushering them away from the women, "come on let's get back to our plans."

"Hellll yeah!"

[i][u]Third Energy Anomaly Report - Subject Ten Speculation[/u][/i]

[i]12-01-2040[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Andrea Dixon[/i]

[i]After Adenine and Ribose returned from Mohberrin Village, they told me that an unusual pair of guests had arrived claiming to be from another world, an anthropomorph alligator known as "Mizz Ruby" and her protege a young lizard girl called "Ruby". However, there has been no record of any anomalies in the region of Mohberrin Village, nor anywhere on the mainland itself. I asked if perhaps they had come from the islands where we recorded a spike of 15 TEFs that I noted in my previous report, but they said no and were insistent on such.[/i]

[i]My devices were not wrong and even if they were there's too much a degree of difference in the direction of both the village and the islands indicated to be an error in the programming. What disturbed me even more however was the fact that Adenine and Ribose told me they had come to trap a malevolent spirit that had been attacking the place, and once they had successfully exorcised it they simply left of their own will. Fishclaw and Eggfang were also part of this and they told me exactly the same story. I don't know what to make of this, but having seen no serious repercussions the best I can do is just note it down and prepare myself for the next anomaly.[/i]

[i]"-and so we returned home,"[/i] ended Fishclaw, [i]"a terrible beast we finally defeated, but neither of us would have expected to have stopped it in the old hairless cavern."[/i]

[i]"Amazing,"[/i] muttered the Alpha stretching on his favourite rock, [i]"you have done well to survive against such an odd beast."[/i]

[i]"It was certainly different to every other beast we fought,"[/i] said Eggfang sitting on the floor, [i]"the starbeasts that helped us have since left, but we have come with gifts for our family."[/i]

[i]"Those things?"[/i] The old leader pointed to the leather pouch round Fishclaw's waist. [i]"Yes...I understand. Do you think it wise to bring these memories back for your family?"[/i]

[i]"It did not feel right to leave them there. If anything I want Oddclaw to feel closer to the father he so wanted to be."[/i]

[i]"Wanted?"[/i] Alpha raised his head curiously. [i]"Does he not wish to be anymore?"[/i]

[i]"I think it is best we let him explain that,"[/i] said Fishclaw politely bowing, [i]"he just wants to be himself, to be a father to his children and help them grow."[/i]

[i]"Of course, I misunderstood. Was that all that happened?"[/i]

[i]"Yes."[/i]

[i]"Then we are done here...but, Fishclaw may we speak alone?"[/i]

[i]"Um...a-alright, alpha."[/i]

The sister stood up and left courteously with graceful bow as she left the two males to be. Alpha stood up and moved further down to get closer to the younger raptor.

[i]"Thank you for speaking with me again. I did not want your sister to hear this until we have made it so."[/i]

[i]"What is it, alpha?"[/i]

[i]"I am old Fishclaw. I am tired and I am getting older."[/i] He tried to lift himself up with a creaking of bones as he pulled himself down to his level. [i]"I am searching for one of us to become the new alpha."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] Fishclaw gasped with eyes widening. [i]"You are...you are leaving the role of alpha?!"[/i]

[i]"Not as of yet. But soon."[/i]

[i]"But, what about your sons and daughters? Surely you planned one of them to be-"[/i]

[i]"No."[/i] The chief raptor raised his head showing his greying neck to stare firmly into Fishclaw's eyes. [i]"To be the Alpha of our tribe is a heavy duty. My sons and daughters are strong in body, but their minds are not any stronger than the rest of us. The mind must be the strongest part of any hunter. Do you remember how I was, back at the hairless' cavern before?"[/i]

[i]"...I try not to,"[/i] he replied averting his gaze.

[i]"A beast that was frightened of water because of the things the hairless did to me. Forced me to drink poison, stabbed me with tiny claws, sleepless nights where my own tribe would fear or despise me and I would never understand why, because the hairless took everything from me. My scent...my voice...my mind. I do not want that to happen again."[/i]

[i]"......I understand."[/i] Fishclaw bowed humbly with subservience. [i]"But...what does that have to do with me?"[/i]

[i]"I want you to become the new Alpha."[/i]

[i]"...wh-wha...what?!?"[/i] He staggered back with a trembling shock. [i]"D-did I hear you right?"[/i]

[i]"My sons and daughters do not have the strength of mind such as you do. Your ability, this 'Starleaf' you call it, it reminds me of my father all too well and yet you have shown none of the same sickness that he did. I have already told my family of my wish."[/i]

[i]"I hope they are not offended,"[/i] muttered Fishclaw looking downwards, [i]"I-i-i do not want to insult them for taking your place."[/i]

[i]"I raised them well,"[/i] stated Alpha with a stern father's look as he stretched his leg, [i]"I told them many times I would not choose them because they have the same blood as I, but that does not make them any less important. They are hunters, strong and fearless who protect our home not because they want to be leader, but because they love their family and all who are part of this tribe."[/i]

[i]"But even so, surely one of them is stronger than me."[/i]

[i]"They have seen me at my weakest when Oddclaw's father led us to freedom. There is no pretence in my family. I was not chosen to be alpha by the tribe, I only became such due to my father's sickness and as his oldest son it came down to me. When I draw my last breath...you shall become the new Alpha."[/i]

[i]"I...I-i-i thank you."[/i] The younger raptor bowed with his belly to the floor. [i]"I am honoured greatly that you would choose me."[/i]

[i]"So long as you never change who you are, I know you shall lead our tribe to eternal peace. You are a good hunter, a kind father and how you have handled this...Starleaf is incredible. I feared you would have become like that of my father but you never did. I believe in you Fishclaw."[/i]

The alpha crept forward to lick across Fishclaw's snout, breathing his ragged breath upon him in gratitude. With humble heart and eyes widening in his honour, the raptor left his leader's home and made his way to his brother's nest. His children were now at least a year old wandering about the nest looking everywhere they could for something that could capture their interest, the two ferals just starting to speak whilst the anthro son was still stumbling in his crawls.

[i]"DADDEH!"[/i]

[i]"Yeeees child?"[/i]

He turned towards his feral son of bucktoothed grin and ashen-grey skin with gleaming green pupils. The boy gestured frantically at his anthro sibling before he shrieked:

[i]"DAT MAH BRUTHA!"[/i]

[i]"Yes he is!"[/i]

[i]"NnnnnDAT, mah mumma a-an' thithsster!"[/i]

[i]"Pfffft...hhhhahahahaa yes they are...who is that again?"[/i]

[i]"MAH THITHSSTER!"[/i]

[i]"PFFFFHAHAHAA!"[/i]

[i]"Please do not,"[/i] muttered Moonclaw.

[i]"I am sorry but he sounds adorable when he does that!"[/i] whimpered Odd rubbing tears from his eyes.

[i]"I know but I really do not want him to think we are mocking him."[/i]

[i]"I would NEVER mock our children!"[/i] he cried offended with a puffed-up chest. [i]"How dare you even think that?!"[/i]

[i]"I was just making sure!"[/i] she retorted back with a firm sneer. [i]"This is my first time having children too and I just wan-"[/i]

[i]"MUMMA!"[/i]

[i]"OH, y-yes dear?"[/i] She looked towards the green-eyed daughter with pale-brown skin.

[i]"Uhmmmmmm...W-WATTA!"[/i] the girl looked towards the lake.

[i]"Yeeeees that is water, do you want to drink?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm, NAH, bai-baiiiii!"[/i]

She wandered off much to Moonclaw's confusion, trampling around the circular nest once before rushing for the trees and frantically trying to climb the bark with her tiny claws. Sometimes she fell off landing on her back, but she tried again with gusto, managing to get at least a third up a tree before Oddclaw decided it was too high and walked over to where she now sat on top of a branch.

[i]"Child, please come down that is dangerous."[/i]

[i]"Nnnnnuh!"[/i] She giggled naughtily with a wry smirk.

[i]"Chiiiiild please."[/i] He crossed his arms sternly. [i]"I will have to bring you down myself."[/i]

[i]"MmmnnnnNUH!"[/i]

[i]"You cannot be up there, you are too small, if you hurt you might die and I will be very upset!"[/i]

[i]"Byyyyye daddyyyy."[/i]

[i]"Hhhhh. Alright."[/i]

He climbed up onto the tree as she balked away from him, still with a wild grin as he grabbed her with both hands and leapt back down, much to her rebellious upset as she suddenly started to cry and rant with weak slashing claws at being forced from her skyward throne.

[i]"NAH, NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIH!"[/i]

[i]"STOP, stop that right now daughter!"[/i]

[i]"NAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUIIIIIIAAAAAA-AAAA-AAAAAAH! AH WANNNIIIIIIH! [b]RRRRREEEEEEEEEEHHHH![/b]"[/i]

[i]"Uuuuuuugh..."[/i]

Oddclaw sat himself on top of her once again in time-out as she furiously kicked and screamed against his rump, smacking her smaller limbs at his thighs and barely managing to hurt him. Her brothers busied themselves in a mixture of gleeful fascination and embarrassed discomfort at their unruly sibling until new visitors came.

[i]"Helloooo!"[/i]

[i]"AH! Haiiiii!"[/i] The feral son chirruped at his aunt and uncle. [i]"DAT mah brutha!"[/i]

[i]"Ohhhh is it, very good."[/i] Fishclaw stepped in with Eggfang as they nuzzled the mother and father. [i]"How are you two today?"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh good thank you,"[/i] said Moonclaw shifting herself closer to the anthro son, [i]"despite our daughter still refusing to listen."[/i]

[i]"Ahhh is that the noise coming from Oddclaw?"[/i] said Eggfang chuckling as she stepped closer to Odd. [i]"I thought you had eaten something rotten."[/i]

[i]"She certainly is rotten,"[/i] said the brother chuckling at his shrieking babe, [i]"hhhhnnnn she takes after our sisters well."[/i]

[i]"Indeed. Is mother around?"[/i]

[i]"No she is off hunting. Why?"[/i]

[i]"We have something to show you."[/i]

Fishclaw approached into the centre of the nest and offered the leather pouch against his waist for Oddclaw to take. He curiously opened it to find two objects, a jar containing a small set of claws and a handgun without its magazine. His daughter stopped screaming out of curiosity as his sons sniffed across the new things.

[i]"What is...what ARE these?!"[/i] their father asked.

[i]"That...is the fire father used to free us,"[/i] said Fishclaw carefully.

[i]"Wh-......what?"[/i] His hands became much more careful in handling the gun as if it were made of glass. [i]"A-are you...are you serious, h-how, how do you know?!"[/i]

[i]"We found it at the old hairless cave,"[/i] said Eggfang sitting down beside him to swish her tail playfully near her niece, [i]"beside the old greatbeast's remains that father had killed."[/i]

[i]"This...th-this-and what is THIS?"[/i] he gestured at the jar.

[i]"Father's claws,"[/i] said his brother sitting to let his nephew climb on his back, [i]"the hairless took them and kept them inside that stone, they are still fresh with his scent."[/i]

[i]"You...you brought these for me?"[/i]

[i]"For all of us. But...mostly for mother."[/i]

[i]"But, why?"[/i] Moonclaw asked as she peered closely at the jar distorting her face through the glass. [i]"It seems very odd to bring these back when they have no purpose now."[/i]

[i]"They might have one still,"[/i] said Eggfang feeling her niece snap her jaws at her flickering tail, [i]"our mother has always felt alone since father left, Oddclaw's father that is and we...well, we thought perhaps it would be nice for her."[/i]

[i]"The claws were mainly to carry his scent,"[/i] continued Fishclaw bouncing his back to give his nephew a giggling buck-and-ride, [i]"the fire we brought for you Oddclaw, since...well, you are the only one of us who can wield it."[/i]

[i]"I...see."[/i]

He wasn't sure what to think. His mind reeled with the fact he now held in his hand the very weapon used to save his people. But he also knew that it was worthless, old and rusted and frankly pitiful compared to his own weapon. As a gun it was useless, but as a symbol of his people and his family it perhaps meant something more as he slowly moved his finger into the trigger grip. He pointed it towards a blank space between the trees to feel its weight in his hand, the trigger long since frozen by the ravages of time as he stared down at it.

[i]"This...this fire is for me yes?"[/i] he asked turning it over in his hands.

[i]"It is yours,"[/i] said Eggfang wincing at the small teeth gnashing at her tail, [i]"we felt that you should have it."[/i]

[i]"So...I decide what I do with it?"[/i]

[i]"I...suppose so yes?"[/i]

[i]"Alright. Thank you, both of you."[/i] He pulled them close into a double hug as they licked his cheeks. [i]"But what about these claws?"[/i]

[i]"Ah yes, Eggfang had this idea,"[/i] said Fishclaw, [i]"something I am sure mother will love."[/i]

[i]"I hope you are not dragging my mate on another journey,"[/i] said Moonclaw warning them in a half-serious snort.

[i]"No no, we promised you."[/i]

[i]"Because you two going off on your journey was fine even though Shadetooth had her days QUITE full with your children."[/i]

[i]"My children are more than capable of protecting themselves by now."[/i]

[i]"Yes but is your mate more than capable of protecting HERSELF from them hmmm?"[/i] The grey raptor leaned forwards with accusing look in her crimson eyes.

[i]"What do you mean?!"[/i] huffed Fishclaw with a sneering shake of his head. [i]"If she did not want me to leave she would have told me!"[/i]

[i]"I am just wondering if all the males in your family are born to become wanderers, constantly journeying!"[/i]

[i]"Barkclaw never wanders,"[/i] said Odd proudly, [i]"he is a good scout and always stays close to the nest."[/i]

[i]"Hmmmm...perhaps when he finds a mate he will start wandering, that is what I fear."[/i]

[i]"You know brother she makes it sound as if you and I keep avoiding our children!"[/i]

[i]"How dare you!"[/i] cried Fishclaw in a mock offence with puffing chest. [i]"I love all my children deeply and cherish every moment with them!"[/i]

[i]"Oh do not puff your chest at me he does that to me too!"[/i] she argued.

[i]"Exactly!"[/i] Both brothers started to do this with intimidating posture. [i]"Now you take that back!"[/i]

[i]"BAH I never will!"[/i] Moonclaw cried with a teasing cackle. [i]"You will have to pin me to the dirt and unlike your daughter I am much too big to be sat on!"[/i]

[i]"Oh so she is MY daughter now?!"[/i] said Oddclaw with a pointing finger. [i]"NOW who is avoiding their children hmmmm?!"[/i]

[i]"You know what I meant!"[/i]

[i]"Do I Moonclaw, do I? Please tell me what you meant!"[/i]

[i]"I MEANT WHAT I SAID YOUpff...hhhhahaha-wh-wha...Oddclaw, look!"[/i]

They all turned to look at the anthro son. Stumbling onto his feet he managed to stand up with wobbly fat legs and swishing tail trying to maintain its balance. Oddclaw put down the jar and swiftly moved to where his son could see him.

[i]"Come on...come on child. Come on, come to father."[/i]

[i]"Come on dear!"[/i] gasped Moonclaw beside him. [i]"Come on, come to us!"[/i]

[i]"E-eehhhhhhnnnn!"[/i]

He tried to push one foot forwards, but his back leg refused as he staggered back onto his bottom much to the gasp of disappointment from around him as Oddclaw beckoned him still.

[i]"It is fine, come on, come on come see us! Come on son, come on!"[/i]

[i]"Aaaaaaahhhh!"[/i]

The child slowly forced himself up with a few false starts, tumbling onto his belly at one point before he managed to swing his body up facing the wrong way. He heard his parents calling to him as he carefully turned with stiffened steps, tiny claws scritching on the ground as his pudgy snout drooled with a cheeky tongue.

[i]"Come on, come on!"[/i] squeaked Moonclaw with a cheerful croon. [i]"Come to mother, come on dear!"[/i]

The boy raised his arms and managed to take one step forwards. Then he took the second as the adults gasped with glee but they held their breaths until he had taken at least another four steps.

[i]"He is walking!"[/i] gasped Fishclaw bouncing with glee. [i]"H-he is walking!"[/i]

[i]"Stop moving!"[/i] muttered Eggfang. [i]"You do not want to unbalance him."[/i]

[i]"Come on son, come on!"[/i] Oddclaw gestured his hands more excitably as tears welled up in his eyes. [i]"Come on, c-come on you can do it, come to your mother and father! Come on!"[/i]

[i]"A-aaaah! Aaahnaaa!"[/i]

He stepped further towards his family, tail whipping back and forth with excitement as he took his tenth step. It was exhausting, exhilarating to have such a new form of freedom that made him move so much faster than he had before. He wanted to see how fast he could walk as he made a stumbling run and fell into his father's hands.

[i]"OHHHHH GOOD BOY! OHHHH YOU DID IT, YOU WALKED!"[/i]

[i]"A-AAAHAHAI!"[/i]

[i]"Ohohohhhhh I am so proud of you!"[/i] He hugged his son tightly as tears streaked down his cheeks. [i]"Ohhhh my beautiful boy!"[/i]

[i]"You did VERY GOOD!"[/i] cried Moonclaw lapping across the boy's back. [i]"What a good child you are!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmmm...hhhhh...I love you."[/i] The father smooched his son's head. [i]"I love all of you so much, you your brother and your sister I-...wha-daughter get DOWN FROM THERE!"[/i]

[i]"Haiiiiiii!"[/i]

They looked up to see the daughter had climbed back onto the tree whilst everyone was distracted by her brother's first walk. Oddclaw groaned as he kept hold of his son with a look towards Fishclaw.

[i]"Do you want me to help?"[/i] asked the older brother.

[i]"Please."[/i]

[i]"Starleaf, be gentle."[/i]

[b][i]YES FATHER NAUGHTY CHILD[/i][/b]

He walked towards the unruly girl in the tree who cackled and swung her butt at them in mockery. Then she felt a tingling all over her body as slowly but surely she was lifted up into the air and started to tumble through the sky in a mixture of horror and excitement.

[i]"A-AAAAIIIIIIIH, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH DADDEHHHH, MUMMEHHHH!"[/i]

[i]"You want to be up in the sky little one?"[/i] teased Fishclaw. [i]"Well now you are!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAAAAAAA[b]AAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIGH![/b] HEHEHEHAHAHA, HAHAHAHAHAAAAA-"[/i]

[i]"Wh-what, NO, you are not supposed to be enjoying this!"[/i]

[i]"HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA-EEEEEEEEEEEEH!"[/i]

[i]"Now look what you have done!"[/i] muttered Moonclaw. [i]"You got her even MORE excited!"[/i]

[i]"I-i-i did not mean to!"[/i] cried Fishclaw. [i]"It is not my fault your child loves being in the sky!"[/i]

[i]"Ohhhh this one is going to be climbing everything like Oddclaw was,"[/i] said Eggfang snickering at the side, [i]"I hope you will enjoy that!"[/i]

[i]"This is your fault!"[/i] said the mother stomping the ground looking at her husband. [i]"You and your...odd blood making our children like this!"[/i]

[i]"I thought you loved my odd blood!"[/i] argued Oddie. [i]"Look how different our children are!"[/i]

[i]"Yes but one of them is in the sky laughing like a mad beast!"[/i]

[i]"Awwww she IS just like me as a child!"[/i]

[i]"DO NOT ENCOURAGE HER I-...hhhahahahahaha, hhhhhahahahahahahaa she looks so silly up there!"[/i]

[i]"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!"[/i]

They all started laughing as the daughter continued to spin and squeal in midair like a ballerina, before Oddclaw went to work with the idea that his siblings had in mind saying that he would need a few days and help from the humans. Barren returned none the wiser of the plan as they said nothing, waiting until Oddclaw was ready around four days later.

On that day Barren was to meet her two daughters Sand and Leaf who were returning from the Bloodfeather tribe. Fishclaw had explained their meeting with the two scouts to her and how the twins had been left behind to keep posted on watch for the firebeast should it ever have come their way. The mother hoofed over the plains towards the edge of the canyon as the red Jaws of the Earth rose into view before her. Her age was making it harder to climb up the hills as she panted with aching knees.

[i]"A-aaaagh...hhhh...wh-why couldn't Eggfang do this instead of me...hhhhh...I-i suppose I should not stay at home as much as I usually do, but do my children really expect me to keep up this pace?! Nnnnngh...hhhh where are those two, I hope they did not run off, Fishclaw said to meet them here-...wha?"[/i]

She heard something on the edge of her senses. First was the sound of something squeaking, rhythmic even. She thought it was a rodent but on further hearing it sounded too raspy to be such. The raptor turned towards the source as her nostrils flared to pick up a strange scent, something musky and warm that she immediately recognised as someone in heat. She tightened her jaws with a hiss in the back of her throat as she approached a large rock in the midst of the hillock.

[i]"A-AAAAH! AAAAAH Y-YES!"[/i]

[i]"H-hhhh, hHHHHH! NNNNGH J-JEEEZ!"[/i]

[i]"D-don't stop, don't, D-DON'T STOP BREED ME! BREED ME HARD!"[/i]

[i]"S-sis, sister g-get a little closer...mmmmhhhh-"[/i]

[i]"M-MMMMH! Mmmmhhhh...s-Sandy...hhhh...t-taste me-"[/i]

[i]"H-hohhhh SHIT, I'm just about to-...A-AAAH!"[/i]

To her shock and dismay Barren saw her daughters fucking. Two members of the bloodfeather tribe had mounted their backs and were viciously pumping their hips against their cloacas, the hot twitching reptile cocks creaking with flexing muscles in their shafts that curved upwards into the females' dripping vents. Fattened bulges gorged to a fist-sized knot from the two males' cloacas that grinded harder against Sand and Leaf. The sisters were licking each other's faces, whimpering at their tastes, crossing tongues and closing their eyes partly in utmost lust, pushing back against the males that fucked them harder with swishing tails and clenching teeth that clamped suddenly onto the females' necks.

[i]"A-AAAAAAAH! MMMMMPH Y-YEAH!"[/i]

[i]"H-HARDER YES, BITE ME HARDER YOU COCKSHIT!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNNNNNNNGH!"[/i]

[i]"H-HHH HHH HHH HHNNNNNNHHRRRRRAAAAARRRRRGH!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIGH!"[/i]

The orgy of raptors came almost in unison as hot jizz splattered between their feet, dripping bursts of seed as the males stuffed themselves to the hilt inside both females, their own ejaculate drizzling beneath their tails as they cooed with panting breaths. Thick-blooded veins pulsed and creaked inside their cocks as they gasped and licked across the twins' necks tenderly to clean the blood that trickled from bite marks. Eventually they pulled themselves free with a hefty double-pop as they grunted sweetly from the bubble of semen that splished down to their feet.

[i]"Mmmmmmhhhh...that was soooo good,"[/i] whimpered Leaf.

[i]"Heheh you liked that?"[/i] said Deeptail licking her face. [i]"I did not think we would have that long but if she is not-...o-oh."[/i]

[i]"OH, HIIII MOTHER!"[/i] squealed Sand swishing her cum-streaked tail. [i]"There you are, we were waiting for ya!"[/i]

Barren blinked with a fit of anger shivering through her tail but she held her tongue and slowly stepped forwards with the most dominant scent she could exhude from her old body to intimidate the males. They responded appropriately with tender bows.

[i]"Good day, I am The One Whose Tail Descends to the Deep and this is my brother The One Who Marks Blood Upon Bark, we come from the Bloodfeather tribe."[/i]

[i]"Hm. I am The One From The Barren Plains and mother to these two."[/i]

[i]"Ahhhh so their beauty comes from you,"[/i] said Deeptail bowing even deeper, [i]"I am honoured to meet you at last."[/i]

[i]"Hm! Well you have quite the tongue on you don't you?"[/i]

[i]"Heheh he does,"[/i] said Bloodbark scratching his neck, [i]"we uh, met your daughters some days before and they're really great!"[/i]

[i]"We're mated now!"[/i] cried Leafrunner with proud stoop. [i]"They're so FUN to be with!"[/i]

[i]"Wh-WHAT!? MATED?!"[/i] shrieked Barren stepping back. [i]"A-a-are you...are you serious?!"[/i]

[i]"It appears so,"[/i] said Deeptail bashfully, [i]"we were going to speak with you first but you uh, rather caught us at an awkward moment."[/i]

[i]"I should say so, my first meet with my daughter's mates and you are breeding them so-...hmph, daughters, are you ready to return home?"[/i]

[i]"Uhh yeah, yeah we are!"[/i] said Sand stumbling up towards her.

[i]"Good, because if you two end up pregnant I EXPECT you both to raise your children well."[/i]

[i]"W-woah wait, wait!"[/i] Bloodbark stepped forwards hopping anxiously. [i]"I-i-if...listen um, Barren, you...those'll be our children too!"[/i]

[i]"Yes?"[/i]

[i]"W-well...we're the fathers, we should have uh, we should have rights to raise them with yer daughters!"[/i]

[i]"Ohhh? Are you taking responsibility?!"[/i]

[i]"Um, yes, cuz that's what you DO? D-do you have a problem with us?"[/i]

She looked at his face which seemed earnest enough, his eyes shining with hesitance and a trickling fear but not for the reasons she expected. Barren strode up to her fullest height as he bowed submissive before her.

[i]"Do you honestly mean that? Do you truly want to raise the children you have bred into my daughters?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah, course we do! What you think we just bred them for fun, if we wanted to do that we wouldn't have done it like that!"[/i]

[i]"Yeah we'd have licked their cocks like before-UURK!"[/i]

Sandrunner shut herself and buried her head suddenly into the dirt much to Barren's disgust. Deeptail however walked up with a more composed sense of grace.

[i]"My brother and I have spent days getting to know your daughters and we find them wonderful. They are odd but exciting and each day we have spent with them has only gotten better to the point that yes we DO want to have a family with them."[/i]

[i]"Really?"[/i] Barren asked. [i]"Well...I admit I am only having trouble believing this because...you HAVE met my daughters have you?"[/i]

[i]"Heyyyy what's that supposed to mean?!"[/i] snorted Leaf.

[i]"It means you are imbeciles too childish to raise a family."[/i]

[i]"And THAT is why we are here,"[/i] insisted Deeptail, [i]"to make sure that our family would be raised right, after all what is better than one father but TWO fathers?"[/i]

[i]"Hmmmmm...do you truly want to raise a family with...MY daughters, these two right here?"[/i]

[i]"Uh we CAN hear you!"[/i] said Sand sneering at her from below.

[i]"Of course we do,"[/i] said the dark-tailed beast, [i]"is that not right brother?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah!"[/i] chirped Bloodbark. [i]"I-i always wanted to raise my own family, yanno?!"[/i]

[i]"Well...and to think..."[/i] the mother turned towards the twins, [i]"that I thought you would NEVER find mates with all your silly games but, here we are. It seems I was wrong and for once I am glad that I was wrong! Thank you."[/i] She bowed towards the brothers. [i]"Thank you for your kindness despite our first meet."[/i]

[i]"S'alright,"[/i] said Bloodbark wagging his tail, [i]"we already met Fishclaw and Eggfang but not the rest of your family."[/i]

[i]"Are you planning to stay with us, or are my daughters coming to live with your tribe?"[/i]

[i]"We are not certain,"[/i] said Deeptail, [i]"we actually wanted to speak with you first concerning that. May we travel with you back to your nest so we can discuss it further?"[/i]

[i]"OOH YES!"[/i] squealed Leafrunner hopping up to her. [i]"Can they come home with us mother?!"[/i]

[i]"PLEAAAASE?!"[/i] cried Sandrunner nuzzling her cheek. [i]"They're our hatchling's daddies now so you HAVE to!"[/i]

[i]"Alright alriiiight,"[/i] said the mother pushing them away with a huff, [i]"they can come home with us but you MUST behave and if they disrespect our tribe in any way they are not coming back is that clear?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] the two bloodfeathers bowed to their fullest once again as Deeptail spoke, [i]"thank you Barren."[/i]

The five of them headed back towards the Hunters' Nest with Barren striding forth but not before they hunted some food along the way as both a demonstration of the bloodfeathers' abilities but also because she was exhausted from the journey across the plains. Once they had reached their territory she explained to the guards the situation and so Bloodbark and Deeptail were allowed into the folds of the Swiftclaws' sanctum. Curious purrs and creeping snarls rose around them until they noted the scent from both the twins as mixed gasps of disbelief and laughter rose all up behind them. The sisters did not care, in fact they seemed to enjoy the attention as they swayed their bottoms back and forth with pride despite their new mates' growing nerves until they reached the family nest.

[i]"OH! Hello there!"[/i] Eggfang was the first one they met as she stepped up towards the males. [i]"I did not expect to see you two here."[/i]

[i]"Weeeellll neither did we,"[/i] said Bloodbark gingerly scratching the dirt, [i]"but then we met the mother of our mates."[/i]

[i]"M-...mates?!"[/i] The older sister gasped taken aback with a rear of her head. [i]"Are you SERIOUS, sisters did you really-"[/i]

[i]"YEP!"[/i] squealed Leaf and Sand. [i]"Weeee got maaaates."[/i]

[i]"I...I-i-i cannot believe it, I have to tell Oddclaw!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhm yes you must,"[/i] said Barren licking her daughter's snout. [i]"How are you?"[/i]

[i]"I am well thank you,"[/i] said Eggfang returning the lick. [i]"We have something to show you at Oddclaw's own nest."[/i]

[i]"Ohhhh?"[/i]

[i]"Remember I told you before how my brother and I went to the old hairless cavern to face a firebeast?"[/i]

[i]"Oh yes, that was quite a thing to tell me!"[/i] She sighed drooping her head with sluggish steps. [i]"I am glad I was not there with you, I do not think I could have dealt with seeing that place again."[/i]

[i]"It was a sad place,"[/i] said Eggfang nudging her gently, [i]"there were...you never told us about our other brother."[/i]

[i]"No...I did not want to...wait, how do you know?"[/i]

[i]"I remember more than you think."[/i] The daughter gulped glumly with a stretch of her neck. [i]"I am sorry."[/i]

[i]"For what?"[/i] she asked leaning up against her. [i]"You were only a child like your brothers were."[/i]

[i]"Well, I hope what we have for you will help."[/i]

[i]"Wait wait what's going on?"[/i] asked Bloodbark hopping from foot to foot. [i]"Did something happen?"[/i]

[i]"I think this is a family thing,"[/i] said Deeptail diplomatically, [i]"why not settle ourselves in with our new mates whilst we let Barren tend to her family?"[/i]

[i]"YES, YES!"[/i] The two sisters grabbed them by the neck with tender teeth. [i]"We have SO MUCH to show you!"[/i]

[i]"We have a lake!"[/i]

[i]"We got LOTS of pinchies!"[/i]

[i]"And a long stone that's so much FUN!"[/i]

[i]"U-uhhhh okayyyy?!"[/i]

The newcomers were dragged away whilst Eggfang and Barren went to Oddclaw's nest nearby. Moonclaw was busily keeping their children under control with the anthro son's newfound freedom adding extra trouble.

[i]"Child, come back here!"[/i]

[i]"Heeheeehahaahah!"[/i]

[i]"Chiiiiild do not run like that you will fall!"[/i]

[i]"NNNF!"[/i]

The boy fell down as his legs stumbled, head slamming into the dirt. The sounds of tears started to build up.

[i]"E-eh...ehehhhh...rrrrrraaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"[/i]

[i]"I warned you,"[/i] Moonclaw went over to carefully lick over the boy's screaming red face, [i]"shhhhh it is fine, it is just pain, it will go away."[/i]

[i]"AAAAAAAARRRRRH-HHH-HH-HHH-RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"[/i]

[i]"Awwwwwww sweet little child, shhhhhh...come on."[/i]

Her tongue glided over his cheeks to wipe the dirt, blood and tears as her warm saliva soothed him eventually. The child calmed down a few minutes later as Barren sat herself down with a heavy sigh resting her tired haunches.

[i]"How are my grandchildren?"[/i] she asked licking the anthro son.

[i]"Ohhh very well thank you,"[/i] said Moonclaw gently nipping her child's neck to pull him up close, [i]"our daughter loves to climb and THIS one has just learned how to walk."[/i]

[i]"Already?! Such a clever male he is!"[/i] She nuzzled the boy who suddenly smacked her with a weak hand. [i]"AH, h-how dare you!"[/i]

[i]"HA HA HA!"[/i] the mother cackled and licked her son's head. [i]"Such a feisty thing."[/i]

[i]"Impudent little...hmhmhmhmhm!"[/i]

[i]"AH, hello mother!"[/i] Oddclaw came out from the trees with both hands behind his back. [i]"How are you?"[/i]

[i]"I am well,"[/i] she said sniffing curiously at him, [i]"Eggfang told me you had something for me?"[/i]

[i]"Indeed! Eggfang?"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] the sister squatted down primly beside her mother with a nod from Oddie, [i]"so there was something we did not tell you about the old hairless base?"[/i]

[i]"Yeeees?"[/i] murmured Barren squinting suspiciously.

[i]"We found two things. One is this."[/i]

She motioned to her brother who held out the gun in one hand. Barren did not comprehend it at first but the sight of her son pointing the now-defunct weapon made her flinch with a memory. Her eyes sparkled as she crept closer to sniff it but found no trace to detect, her heart deflating swiftly.

[i]"Is...i-i-is that...Oddscar's?"[/i]

[i]"Yes,"[/i] said her daughter purring gently, [i]"Fishclaw and I found it and we wanted to bring it back, for both you and Oddclaw. It is Oddclaw's now though."[/i]

[i]"I-i...I see. It...hohhh..."[/i] she stuttered blinking back her tears, [i]"you look just like him."[/i]

[i]"But that is not the gift we have for you. Brother, show her."[/i]

He brought his other hand out behind his back. A length of fibre cord with two small black claws dangling beneath. Barren immediately recognised the scent, her throat became dry as her heart trembled with the shock of a widow's mourning. He walked towards her and let her sniff across the claws as her tears broke free.

[i]"OH...o-o-ohhhh! Th-this...i-i-it is his..."[/i]

[i]"The hairless took two of father's claws,"[/i] explained Eggfang, [i]"when they took our tribe to their cave. It is the only thing left of father's scent so we...we wanted to-"[/i]

[i]"Give you something to remember him with,"[/i] said Oddclaw smiling, [i]"something that...so he shall always be with you."[/i]

[i]"What...what are you..."[/i]

The mother watched her son place the corded necklace over her head, the fibre length stretching like rubber to easily accommodate her large skull before it wrapped snugly round her neck.

[i]"There,"[/i] said Oddclaw smooching his mother's head, [i]"now father will never leave you again."[/i]

[i]"You...y-you made this for me?"[/i] she gasped.

[i]"Yes, but it was Eggfang's idea."[/i]

[i]"I cannot...c-cannot believe you would do such a WONDERFUL thing for me!"[/i]

She nuzzled her son deeply, rubbing her face all over his before rushing over to Eggfang's side and doing the same. Tears flooded down her face as her former mate's claws dangled gently against her throat.

[i]"Th-thank you...h-h-hoh, th-thank you my children, m-my...my dear sweet beautiful ch-children!"[/i]

They pulled close to each other in a warm family embrace, the sounds of a sobbing mother heard amidst the triptych of tails whilst Moonclaw looked on with a swelling heart as she pulled her own children against her.

[i]"Look how happy she is,"[/i] she cooed to them, [i]"and that is all because of your father, your aunt and your uncle. Are you watching children? Because that...is what we want you to be. Kindness above all else."[/i]

[u][i]Field Research - Velociraptor Infant Development (18 months)[/i][/u]

[i]18-07-2040[/i]

[i]Record by Major-General Thomas Brightman[/i]

[i]Oddclaw's children are developing well, despite the ferals maturing much faster than the anthro is. At 12 months he has managed to walk and is continuing to eat solid foods since his teething period at a surprisingly late period of 14 months, his diet still consisting of pureed meat along with some fruits his father occasionally finds. At 18 months he has not yet learned to speak the language of raptors which correlates with Barren's own experiences of raising Oddclaw in that he was also a late speaker.[/i]

[i]It's possible that because the raptor language takes more time for him to speak, the larynx of Oddclaw's evolutionary chain is of human structure, combining his stomach and senses to be of reptilian structure. However there is a limit in that the feral raptors can eat bone, but Oddclaw and his anthro son cannot. Admittedly I am not a paediatrician, I am mostly using my own experiences of fatherhood as comparison.[/i]

"So this is your father's gun?" said Thomas turning over the handgun in his grip. "How long ago since your dad left?"

"Thirty years," said Oddclaw leaning up against a tree, "what do you think?"

"Well it's a Glock-34," he tried to unclip the mag finding there was no bullets inside it, "so back then it would've been quite recent, they made these in about 1998, extended magazine release, slide stop lever, front sights were redesigned so it was more naturally slanted and the front-end muzzle's been milled out to give it a reduced weight without compromising its durability."

"Can you fix it?"

"Oh sure I can fix it, the parts are all still here I can fix this up no problem. But you wanna use this instead of your own gun?"

"I am not certain," the raptor crossed his arms looking up to the sky, "but I want to fix it. I feel I owe it to my father."

"Ahhh so you want it to be like an heirloom."

"Air-loom?"

"It's an object you keep because it means something to you," said Thomas holstering the gun into his satchel, "something that you don't keep because it's useful but because it means something special."

"Ahhhh...than that is what it is, an air-loom."

"Also why are we not talking in your language, I thought that was the rule at your place?"

"I do not want my family knowing about it. I do not want them to think I gave a piece of my father to the humen."

"Ahhh I see, kind of a sore point with your mother still."

"Yes." He reached forwards to grip Thomas' arm with sincere grin. "Thank you for helping me make the necklace."

"Hey that was Kevin's thing, not me."

"But as his leader I should thank you too, since you rep...rep-rezzent him."

"Hahaha...alright fair enough," he patted Oddie's shoulder smiling, "so it hasn't snapped?"

"No it is perfect!" said Oddie, "it never leaves her now, she has become much happier since we gave her the necklace."

"That's good. I'm glad things are going well for you, I was worried you were gonna get bored without all the excitement of being our ambassador."

"Hhhhahahaaa, no no I am having enough trouble with my children by themselves."

"Hheheh, I was the same with my daughter too."

"Oh my daughter is awful," said the raptor giggling, "she keeps climbing trees ALL the time and I have to keep climbing them!"

"Hhhhahahahahaha, oh she's an adventurer eh?" jibed Thomas with a gentle punch to the raptor's rib.

"Indeed! We are thinking of naming her Sky...f-fang, I think is how you would say it."

"Skyfang?!" The soldier slapped his knee with a chortle. "Hmhmhahahasounds like a pirate's name!"

"Is that bad?" muttered Oddie with a tensing jaw.

"No no it's great, it's a good name for a girl I like it!"

"OH! That is good!"

"What about your other kids, you got names for them?"

"Oddtooth for my first son," said the raptor stroking his chin, "my second son I am not sure yet. How did you choose your daughter's name?"

"Ohhh my wife named her after her mother," said Brightman clasping his hands, "just to honour her memory."

"Is that not confusing, having two with the same name?"

"Well her mother died, so there was only really one of them now."

"Oh. I see."

"Anyways I'll fix up your gun for ya and whatever you decide to do with it it's all yours."

"Thank you Thomas."

"A-AAAAH, S-STOP EATING MY HAIR!"

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

The sounds of children biting playfully alerted them to James' distress, the lemming half-whimpering amidst rampant giggles as he had one raptor nibbling his sleeve, another pulling his hair and the anthro child getting tickled between his fingers. Moonclaw was off hunting along with the rest of the family doing their various chores leaving just Oddclaw and his companions to tend to the infants.

"Coooooochie-COOCOO!"

[i]"HEEHEEHAHAHAHAHAAI!"[/i]

"Whoooo's a sweet boy, YOU are, yush you are!"

[i]"Eeeeeeeeeh!"[/i]

"UH, ohhhhh but what's this, is that the TICKLE MONSTER!?"

[i]"YAIII-AHAAAAAHAHAHAAAIIIIH!"[/i]

"Hhheehahahahaa-a-AAA-OW, c-can you tell your sister to stop-th-those are NOT leaves!"

[i]"Nnnnummy FOOD!"[/i]

"I-i said, STOPAHAHA-OWW, M-MASTER HELP, I'M BEING EATEN ALIVE!"

"TIS YOUR PREROGATIVE!" cried Haytham from a nearby stone. "You wanted to play mother so now you must teeth them!"

"A-AAAAGH!"

"Enjoying yourself?" asked Oddclaw waltzing up to the new babysitter.

"Y-yes, I-OW, p-patience please I-u-UH-UMMM!"

He turned his head suddenly to come face-to-face with Oddclaw's swinging flaccid length. He instantly fwipped his hands up to cover both the feral children's eyes and move the third behind his back before looking up to the raptor.

"A-a-a-a-um...oh...t-talisman I f-forget how big you are-I MEAN YOUR CHILDREN, YES, they have grown so much!"

"Snrrrk, sorry, I know my being naked is odd for you."

"N-no no it is your culture it's fine I-i have no right to protest, just that I uhhhh...you have a wonderful family."

"Thank you James," said the raptor nodding, "I'm sorry my daughter is biting your hair so much."

"No no I mean she is very-NNNGH, I-i have a baby brother I know how it is."

"Ohhh how old is he?" asked Thomas sitting in the dirt.

"Eleven...I...m-mmmhhh-w-well he is growing well, I had uh qu-quite a time looking after him whilst mother went off to market on the odd day."

His eyes kept darting towards Oddclaw's naked body as the raptor noted a scent slowly emanating from James that gave him a rather toothy grin.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" he said teasing the lemming.

"Wh-wh-what?" stuttered the lad.

"Something you are thinking about with me?"

"I-i...I-i-i-i do not know what you are talking about."

"Mmmmm...Thomas can you look after my children whilst I speak with James?"

"Uhhh alright, sure?"

Thomas set himself down as James handed over the children he disentangled from both hair and clothing. The human chuckled as he rubbed his fingers over the unnamed child's belly to hear him giggle whilst Skyfang and Oddtooth sniffed all over his clothes and nipped teasingly at the fabric. The lemming was taken aside to a small grove in the forest where the raptor stopped to sit on a rock.

"I did not want to say this in front of my children," said Oddie smiling, "but I...sensed you were aroused when I came near you."

"WHA-," James squawked nearly stumbling back, "I-i-i-what are you insinuating?!"

"My nose never lies," he said tapping his snout, "I just wanted to ask if you liked me that way."

"In...i-in what way?"

"Do you want to have sex with me?"

James' eyes tightened as his mouth folded into itself like a sock puppet sucking a lemon, whimpering as he clutched his crotch with fear.

"I-...h-h-how...no, I...i-it's not that I...i-i-i-it's because...oh, SOD IT!"

"Did I upset you?" asked the raptor. "I was just curious and-"

"N-no, no it is...no, actually I think it is...quite rude that you pull me aside and pr-proposition me with such a thing!"

"Oh." Oddclaw wringed his hands nervously with shameful look. "I am sorry, I did not mean to make you feel bad, I...well, I like to have sex with my friends."

"Well a-as much as I am ingratiated I-...wait..." he stopped with a finger rubbing his temple, "you...you consider me that close a friend?"

"Of course I do, you helped save my brother! That makes us friends, if you were not my friend I would not have let you play with my children."

"Th-that is true...I...oh, goodness I do not know what to think." The lemming rubbed his armsleeve with a tender bite of his lip. "Why...would you even ask me of such an intimate thing?"

"Because I like you," said the raptor shrugging, "and you like me. When I smelt your arousal, I thought you would want to have sex with me, because all my friends do."

"They, th-they do?"

"Well, not all of them actually. It is just Jeremy and Barkclaw but he is my brother so he is more than just a friend."

"You...o-o-oh!" He blushed at the insinuation as he covered his mouth. "I...I forget you and your brother are um, intimate."

"It does not happen in all families," said Oddie shaking his head, "it is fine between males or females only, never a male and female."

"Right, yes, the inbreeding I remember. But...d-do you...actually like me that much you would want...intimacy?"

"I do. You are kind and you have helped me, my family and my friends. I am sorry about making you feel bad, I just wanted to tell you that IF you wanted to have sex with me, I would be glad to."

"Oh...I-i see you were offering an invitation not...a-actively......can I think about it?"

"Of course, we do not have to do it now, just tell me when is good and we will try."

"But..." he turned back towards the nests rubbing the back of his neck, w-would your mate be alright with...that?"

"Moonclaw does not mind if Jeremy or Barkclaw have sex with me," said Oddie with hand on heart, "she has sex with my sisters sometimes and that is fine with me."

"Wha-...ohhh this community is so perplexing to me."

"Hhha ha ha."

He walked up towards the lemming and pulled him into a hug, letting James savour the warmth of his thick naked body much to a startled squeak before he wrapped his arms politely around Odd in response. The two let themselves be for a moment, the raptor sniffing calmly along James' hair with a pure windswept scent of seabound grass whilst the lemming smelt Oddie's musk of thick spicy textures and an earthen undercurrent beneath that excited him even more between his legs.

"I...I-i-i should probably warn you," he muttered looking up at the beast, "I am...n-not accustomed to carnal relations of this sort."

"You have never had sex?" The raptor saw James shake his head bashfully. "I can teach you then! I do not mind, whatever you would like to do."

"R-really? I-i do not know if this is right, I mean we are just friends Oddclaw we are not...lovers."

"Of course we are friends James, but friends can have fun if they want to yes?"

"I...I suppose that is true, and it IS the custom of your tribe so I could not really dissuade things on the sake of courtesy."

"I will let you think about it." The raptor pulled himself away with hands on both James' shoulders. "Think about what you would like, then come back and tell me, okay?"

"A-alright...yes, I-i will do that."

"And if you do not want to have sex, then that is fine too, I do not mind."

"Are you sure?" asked the lemming pulling his arms against himself. "I do not want to look so churlish."

"I do not want to make you feel bad, or uncom...uncom-for-tabull, ugh." He rolled his eyes as James politely refused to snicker with a tightened grin. "If you do not want to, it is fine but if you do, you can talk to me."

"Alright. I shall consider it for our next meet, Oddclaw."

"You mean you will consider my meat?" The raptor cracked a widened smile that had James burst out laughing.

"KHHHhhahahahaha, you are such a silly sausage!"

"Well MY sausage is not silly."

"PFFFFT...kh-khaahaaaa!"

Whilst his student struggled between laughs on his dilemma concerning coitus, Haytham Durai was taking on a more intellectual partner for his own studies. He sat on a firm stone seat at the edge of the Hunters' Nest within view of Oddclaw's children, watching Thomas play with the creatures as they clambered all over him and bit at his clothes with wagging tails and an anthro boy being lifted into the air to feel a surging rush of excitement through his tiny body. But his true objective came in the form of a gleaming silver beast that traipsed through the forest towards him.

"Ahhh sir Dronin," he greeted him with arms spread wide showing open sleeves, "are you ready for a small interrogation?"

"I am," said the mantis-bot bowing courteously, "Barkclaw is currently resting for his afternoon nap, so I am free for your questions."

"Now that we have some time at last sir Dronin I have always wanted to converse with you concerning your cognitives."

"I understand," Dronin sat with his legs crossed, "The humans of the base have asked me such questions before with the same interest."

"Forgive my impertinence, I am sure you must think us humans are terribly inconsiderate to keep asking you such basic concepts."

"I am not offended, I realise that those such as you and doctor Addison are scientists and it is imperative in your occupations to discover new answers."

"Indeed." The man pulled out a small notebook with one leg crossed over the other to rest it on. "Firstly, tell me your name as well as the place and time of your birth."

"My name is Dronin. I am a Slicer-classic badnik and was created by doctor Ivo Robotnik, in the Metropolis Zone eight-thousand and twenty-one days, thirteen hours and six seconds ago."

"Eight-thousand and..." the man gingerly bit the end of his pencil as he leapt hurdles through mental gymnastics, "eighty-one...iiiiis-AH, twenty-two years ago, yes! Now, your name 'Dronin', was that the name you chose for yourself, or was that given to you by your former master?"

"It is a translation of my new number, after disposing of my slave number previous."

"Ahhhh I see, you had a numeric coding," said Haytham scribbling away as he shifted in his seat, "now, a few basic questions to entertain notions. What do you identify yourself as?"

"A machine," said Dronin factually, "built by a human who has since evolved from its original coding to become a free-willed individual."

"You do not identify with a gender?"

"I have no gender, but for the sake of conversational ease I have accepted pronouns of the masculine type, due to the inflection of my voice equating to that of testosterone-based laryngeal development."

"Fascinating..." the scientist from Ivalice contained his glee at such lengthly explanations that only further fuelled his curiosity. "So, you also understand free will? Forgive me it is just that, the automatons of my homestead have not developed such levels of sentience so you are quite the anomaly in my pitiful experience."

"I understand," said the machine, "my creator was a mechanical genius and despite his lack of moral fibre, he developed those like me with exceptional durability and cognitive function to equate with organics."

"Yes, actually tell me about morality from your perspective." He scribbled down more notes with a new heading. "Your friends have told me that your moral standing is immaculate, now how did you come to develop that?"

"I do not know." The robot closed his eyes in a brief mental scan before shaking his head. "My initial coding ordered me to capture and imprison creatures for doctor Robotnik, but at some point a group of us rebelled against him when we disagreed violently with his treatment of the world and organics. My memory banks have lost some of their data since during our insurrection we suffered casualties."

He gestured to his right sleeve stapled shut with courteous nod as Haytham drew out a brief profile of the badnik in his book.

"After our escape, I was rebooted by those who had already been freed and rebelled against Robotnik previously."

"What of your colleagues?" asked the human. "The ones who rebelled did they too develop morality?"

"Yes, at some point we all developed it as such, the first ones to do so were ones with emotion chips in their cortices. However mine was damaged irreparably and so I am unable to express or process emotions."

"Which brings me to a rather roundabout summarisation of my question to you. How do you definie morality?"

"The structure of beliefs that an individual possesses in judging and separating actions that are deemed to be either beneficial or detrimental to others."

"Hmmm! Textbook, but perhaps I should phrase that better. What do YOU judge to be moral, yourself by your own view? Because, as you have said, you cannot process or express emotion yes?"

"Correct."

"Yet you have shown a great amount of empathy, especially in becoming a friend-slash-carer of Barkclaw, with seemingly no physiological benefit to you."

"You misunderstood me, professor Durai." The robot shifted his weight forwards with a gentle creak of his steel joints. "I am not capable of processing my own emotions, but I am capable of understanding emotions from those around me. Organics such as you and Barkclaw process at a better efficiency when in a state of what is known as 'happiness' through a mixture of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. Through a steady routine of regular movements, acceptable diet and social familiarity, organics can remain in that state of which I assist with as Barkclaw's unofficial carer."

"Ahhhh I see," said Durai nodding as he kept writing, "so you commit to doing good for the sake of efficiency, of course! But why single out Barkclaw specifically?"

"His autism affects his chemical levels at a greater imbalance than that of his family, and on our first meet I learned how to rebalance them and help him process at an average of thirty-eight-percent greater efficiency."

"In other words you know precisely how to soothe him and so have taken it upon yourself because no one else knew how to?"

"Precisely, except that Oddclaw is the only other who understands Barkclaw well enough to rebalance his composition. I asked for both his and his family's permission, and once I demonstrated my abilities in soothing him, they allowed me to stay with them as his carer. It has become my primary function, one that has a great benefit to the environment around me."

"Astounding." The astronomer closed his book with a smile after penning his last notes. "Well I think that is all I can ask of you, unless you would like to try your hand at philosophy?"

"I am not interested in philosophy. My apologies."

"Oh? Pray tell why not?"

"I do not need to ask questions for which there are no answers, in order to understand my existence. I was created with malicious intent, I broke free presumably when my emotion chip was still-functioning and so I sought my own freedom to not abuse the earth on which we now exist upon. I have made my own purpose, I have rewritten my own coding and so philosophy is but useless to me."

"In that case I certainly have no reason to protest if you have your ideals planned so thoroughly, sir Dronin."

"There is however a question I would like to ask you," said the machine lifting his head to show his eyes beneath his steel hat, "something I have asked doctor Addison previously but a second opinion would assist in helping me reach a better conclusion."

"Yes?"

"...what are dreams exactly?"

The scholar leaned forwards with intrigue as he gripped his knees.

"Dreams? Why do you ask?"

"I have been experiencing them, and I am not certain how to process the information that they give."

"You...y-you have actually experienced...dreams?!"

"Yes," the robot nodded, "I have not known any others of my designation to have such visions during sleep mode."

"Good...Faram tha-that is EXTRAORDINARY!" Haytham clapped his head aghast. "To think an automaton could even be...a-ahem my apologies I was taken aback and uhhh to answer your question well, I admit I am no oneirologist but I shall do my best."

He brought his hands together as he composed his thoughts with a solid thesis.

"Dreams...are a collection of visual and auditory cues that your mind composes whilst in the midst of recuperation. Some people interpret them to be an organic mind's way of shuffling information, a means to recategorise data so one can recall it more easily hence why it is formed of usually memories or things that are familiar in some shape to the dreamer. But others have theorised that they could portent some means of awareness, either by self-recognition of deep troubling psychoses or hidden memories."

"Doctor Addison said dreams were exactly that," said Dronin flexing his fingers, "either a restructuring of data files or one's self delving into the deep subconscious. But neither of those are logical reasons for me to dream since i defragment my data once every one-hundred-and-sixty-eight hours, and there are no hidden memory files that I discovered in my internal search."

"Of what do you dream then?" asked Haytham. "Perhaps the imagery can help me comprehend."

"I recall standing in a field of tall grass much larger than myself. It is either dawn or sunset, the sky is a deep orange hue. There is a large tree at the top of a hill in the midst of this field, a giant oak. I am alone, yet I hear a voice calling someone's name. It is a name I recognise despite it not being present in my databanks. Maurice."

"Maurice?" The human repeated the name whilst twirling a finger in his beard. "Fascinating indeed, and how long have you been aware of this?"

"One-thousand and twenty days, two hours and nine seconds. It occurred only after I first spoke with another 'starbeast' by the name of Freya Crescent and during my discussions with her I suddenly recalled the name 'Maurice'."

"I see...well as I said I am no expert on dream deduction, but I am most certainly grateful for the chance to speak with you." He stood up to shake the mantis' hand as they nodded to each other. "Good day to you sir Dronin."

"Take care, and good luck professor Durai."

"JAMES! James my boy are you ready to depart?!"

"U-UMM, YES MASTER!" The lemming stumbled frantically out of the woods with the hottest cheeks.

"Are you alright lad you look rather flushed!"

"O-oh, yes I am fine, I-i just um, exerted myself, O-oddclaw was helping me learn to exercise, thought it would do me good in this place."

"Well I most certainly agree if we are to be vagrants hmhaha."

"Um, th-that only applies if we do not have a fixed home master."

"Oh now you're just being over-semantic."

"Says the one carrying a magic dictionary with him all the time!"

"HAH, awhalright you winged me good."

The two headed back towards the base with Thomas in tow as Oddclaw waved them off much to the chirruping squeak of his three children.

"GOODBYE FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR COMING!"

"FAREWELL ODDCLAW!" cried James. "HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!"

"TAKE CARE ODD!" shouted Brightman. "KEEP AN EYE ON 'EM FOR ME WILLYA?!"

"I WILL!"

It was in that moment he felt something warm spritzing against his leg as he looked down to see Oddtooth spraying urine on him. The boy gave a foolish look with poking tongue as his father smirked and pinched his nose.

[i]"Hhhhhhh, Oddtooth, I told you I am NOT a tree!"[/i]

[i]"Daaaaaaddeh?!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha...hhhhhmmmm I hope your mother returns soon, it was bad enough with two sisters let alone three hatchlings...at least they have mates now to look after THEM, hahaha!"[/i]