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[i][u]Third Energy Anomaly Report - Subject-Zero Staffing Operations[/u][/i]

[i]10-10-2043[/i]

[i]Recorded by Maj-Gen Thomas Brightman[/i]

[i]Installing the reploids at the Meridian-5 base has proven immensely successful. After a five-month trial period, the synthetic crew have begun operations to monitor and keep check on all of its logistics. Their lack of requirements concerning food or oxygen make them a perfect staff for maintaining equipment on an extraterrestrial base, saving us plenty in resources whilst giving the reploids their own place for comfort and freedom in a way that still contributes to our mission. Their self-appointed leader is a former nurse known as Amy who has kept in regular contact through Dr. Dixon.[/i]

[i]Amy has also been a tremendous help concerning medical supplies, having a self-replicating inventory of chemicals she can concoct for beneficial reasons, something that Dr. Izquierda has become fascinated with and so quickly became a fellow consultant. Despite their background being mostly from industrial facilities, the reploids have learnt the basics of quantum physics with ease, plus their innate knowledge of machine repair increases efficiency for small problems they can fix on the fly.[/i]

"Other...raptors?" asked Jane.

[i]"A small group from afar,"[/i] explained Oddclaw sitting beside her, [i]"my brother told me they were searching for mates because they cannot breed with their own."[/i]

"Oh my, that's...rather unusual."

[i]"We thought so too, but he decided to be fair since they had travelled far and greatly respected our territory."[/i]

"Sooo what happened?" she sat up straightening her coat.

[i]"They were fortunate,"[/i] said Oddie swishing his tail, [i]"twelve of our tribe went to join them, I do not remember how many males or females there were but together it was twelve."[/i]

"Well I hope that goes all well for them, honestly I've learned so much from your people since we arrived concerning your family structures, your colony development and how you face problems."

[i]"What did you think we did before?"[/i]

"Weelllll," she rubbed her neck awkwardly, "hunted in packs, no family units, problem solving we had no estimate to handle, we only really learned what we could from the skeletons we found."

[i]"Hmmm..."[/i] he stared up to the sky as clouds whistled past, [i]"that is frightening to think of now that I have children."[/i]

"What is?"

[i]"Knowing one day my bones will lie within the dirt...many cycles after my children will be too."[/i]

"Oh Oddie come on," she wrapped an arm round his shoulders, "don't worry about the future, let us humans deal with that, whatever happens will be far far too long for you or your family to worry about, you only have to worry about your grandchildren when they come."

[i]"Haha you sound just like my mother,"[/i] he smirked at Jane, [i]"but you are right, I should not worry about that when my children are still young."[/i]

"When are they hunting by the way, I meant to ask."

[i]"The start of the next cycle, Moonclaw and I agreed...do you have family Jane?"[/i]

"What?" she asked blinking at him.

[i]"I never asked about your family, I wondered if-"[/i]

"I don't really have much to say about them," she rubbed her arm heavily.

[i]"Why not?"[/i]

"Just don't really have much to say."

[i]"Well, tell me about them, you must have a family-"[/i]

"Oddclaw, please."

Her scent became frought with fear as he pulled himself back with understanding. She bashfully smiled and said nothing more as he straightened himself with a sigh looking over the nests. The sound of less raptors than usual was noticeable to him but for Jane it was still as loud as ever with crooning snarls and rasping shrieks between families. Chanoch could be seen down at the beach with James as they played with the children, Seaclaw being held up on the lemming's shoulders whilst the lizardman was trying to balance Skyfang on top of his.

"Come on Seaclaw stand up straight!"

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

"WHUP, careful now!"

[i]"Yer dead, little brother!"[/i] shouted Skyfang staggering up above. [i]"Stonetree ATTACK!"[/i]

"Here I come!"

The lizard stomped forth with a dominating stance as James slightly cowered, tightening his grip on the young raptor's legs with Chanoch doing the same for his charge as Skyfang loomed forwards to try and bite at her brother playfully whilst Seaclaw giggled with little slaps of his hands at her face. A tug of war ensued between raptors and mounts, James trying to headbutt himself against Chanoch's thick chest whilst Seaclaw double-slapped his gnawing sister who raked her teeth on his arm very lightly as they rawred at each other. Their mounts grinned with a display of chest-puffing, like two peacocks fighting for a mate circling round in the sand ready to go as the other raptors watched them with amusement.

[i]"Whut are dey doing?!"[/i] cried one infant splashing in the paddles.

[i]"Some stupid hairless thing,"[/i] snorted Leafrunner, [i]"come on you need to get clean."[/i]

[i]"NO, AH HATE WATER!"[/i]

[i]"Oh don't DO this now child!"[/i]

[i]"NNREEEHHHH!"[/i]

[i]"AH HATE WATER TOO!"[/i] screamed another child.

[i]"NO DO NOT DARE!"[/i] shouted Deeptail ruffling his feathers at the youth. [i]"Just clean yourselves off and get out!"[/i]

[i]"AAAAGH!"[/i] his other-feathered brother was suddenly dunked into the water by four of their kids. [i]"BLUH, B-BRO HEEELP!"[/i]

[i]"STOP drowning your father!"[/i] ranted Sandrunner throwing the hatchlings off. [i]"Why can't all of you just beha-GAAAGH!"[/i]

Most of the other raptors ignored this conflagration as a flurry of waves came rushing down the riverfront to almost splash a few raptors on the beach as well as one other human in a rather thin green polo shirt and pale slacks with a sun hat over her eyes.

"Typical," she said, "every time I go down to the beach some little sod always thinks it's funny to salt my legs."

[i]"Yeeees,"[/i] murmured Eggfang snoozing beside her, [i]"I am just happy to not be caring for them."[/i]

"You don't feel guilty at all?"

[i]"Not when they have all of their parents and I have been taking care of my sisters since I was a child."[/i]

"Hmhmhmhm, always the big sister eh?"

[i]"This family requires two mothers, as I always say."[/i]

"I don't blame you." The woman tipped her hat up to reveal Anna's wrinkled face. "God this weather is like bloody Spain, I won't lie, lovely as it is to come to your village it's not for me."

[i]"Are you alright?"[/i] she asked lifting her head.

"Oh yes I'm fine, just not very good with the heat," she pulled out a flask of water and swigged down a dram, "mmmmph, this is why I stick to the library with air conditioning."

[i]"I would have thought not having hair would make you less hot."[/i]

"I'm Scottish dear, we burn very easily."

"Don't give me that!" cried Jane from nearby, "we didn't live THAT far apart back home it's much worse in London!"

"That's different dear!" she turned shouting back. "That's down to congestion not naked heat!"

[i]"I had a brother who despised the sun,"[/i] murmured Eggfang, [i]"do not tell Oddclaw, he hates us talking about him."[/i]

"Oh dear, bad blood?"

[i]"No, not his blood, just his mind poisoned with envy. I hate not being able to speak about him because he was banished."[/i]

"I won't ask why, don't worry, you can tell me about him if you like I won't tell Oddie."

[i]"Thank you."[/i] Eggfang purred with a gentle lick to her hand. [i]"I did not ask before, what do you do in your tribe?"[/i]

"I look after the books," said Ms. Kerkorian, "also I handle all the legal stuff, defending matters in court and on the textbooks."

[i]"Defending?!"[/i] She raised her head fully with surprise. [i]"You are a guard?!"[/i]

"Of the truth yes, not the physical sort, just one who fights with words."

[i]"Ahhh, I see, you are a Guardian of the Voice."[/i]

"Huh!" She leaned back with a smirk on her crackled lips. "I like that, I know you all have name equivalents for us, is that mine then?"

[i]"I would say so yes, Guardvoice."[/i]

"Hmhmhmhm, oh that is very good, I should have that printed on my badge when I get back."

[i]"If I had not already met your alpha,"[/i] she said scratching an itch on her neck, [i]"I would have thought you were the one who ruled your tribe."[/i]

"Not always does seniority matter dear," said Anna pulling her hat back down, "After all your leader is not the oldest amongst you yes?"

[i]"That is true...we have older hunters than him, but I feel his was a special reason. But...then again I never knew any other alpha besides the one before him."[/i]

"I am surprised to see how much rules you have in this place," she crossed her legs and pulled back from the water's edge.

[i]"Why is that?"[/i] Eggfang snorted pushing herself back in turn from the splashing confoundrum.

"Well just, having heard all the things Jane told me is one thing but actually seeing you all the first time really brings it home just how much different I expected your tribe to be. But I'm pleasantly surprised and I am very glad we have had the chance to meet."

[i]"I am happy too. Your tribe may be far different from anything we have known and you have been good friends to us."[/i]

"I must admit I thought those like your mother would still be nervous after what I heard happened to you all years ago."

[i]"We have long since understood that there are different tribes of hairless, just as there are different hunters. What matters is that your tribe are our friends."[/i]

"Hear hear." Anna gave a toast with her flask. "To long-lasting friendships over space and time."

[i]"For as long as the sun and the moon may rise for each day and night, until the stars themselves fade in their light."[/i]

"Goodness...getting me all a bit teary now," she chuckled wiping her eye.

[i]"Hmhmhmhm."[/i]

[i]"GAAAAAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

They turned their heads to see a cloud of dust upon the shore as Chanoch fell with Seaclaw on top of his face, Skyfang rolling herself off as the boy pounced on his sister and tried to pin her.

[i]"AH GOTCHA, AH GOTCHAAA!"[/i]

[i]"AIIIIE N-NO FAAAAIR!"[/i]

"You lost," murmured Chanoch lying on his back, "we lost, child, accept your defeat."

[i]"NO, N-NEVERRRR!"[/i]

She snapped at Seaclaw's head and threw him down with semi-gentle jaws before they went tussling across the sands, whilst the lizardman leaned up to lay on his side with a shake of his head disapproving at his charge's refusal to submit. Skyfang gnawed and gnashed at her brother who playfully growled back with whipping tails behind them and scratches building up on their faces before she finally conceded.

[i]"Pffffft, fiiiine you win."[/i]

[i]"YAAAAY!"[/i] Seaclaw cried raising his arms.

[i]"But only cuz I'm bored, I got other stuff to do!"[/i]

[i]"Oh-kayyyys, dat wuz fun!"[/i] He hugged her with a wiggle of his body.

[i]"Ugh, daaaaad he's doing it again!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahaha,"[/i] Oddclaw shook his head with a smirk, [i]"he just loves you like a brother should!"[/i]

[i]"Why can't he just LICK me like a normal brother instead of THIS?!"[/i] she gestured vaguely to his arms before she rolled him off. [i]"I'm gonna go clean, why dontcha go see Oddie if he's got something for you?"[/i]

[i]"Okays!"[/i] Seaclaw grinned and raced off towards the forest.

[i]"Seaclaw do not go too far,"[/i] his father said turning his head.

[i]"I won't daddy, just gonna see Uncle Barkclaw an' Oddie!"[/i]

[i]"Alright then."[/i]

The boy hurried off towards the vague direction of his brother and uncle's scents, sniffing the trees and dirt where a path had formed long since from the many times that Barkclaw had traipsed back and forth through this glade. The sounds of the woods creeped at his ears as his chubby little legs marched their way through between ferns that reached over his head, logs and fallen trees left to rot as he climbed over each trunk with a bracing jump off the edge, briefly imagining himself crossing a chasm of perilous pits as he balanced foolishly along the edge. He stopped only once to sniff the air and pointed towards one direction as he found his family five minutes later, sitting either side of an old tree stump as they peered within.

[i]"Hiiiii."[/i] Seaclaw waved at them despite the two not turning their heads. [i]"Watcha dooooing?"[/i]

[i]"Poithoncrawlerth,"[/i] said Oddtooth slathering on his front fangs, [i]"tho many in thith tree but why?"[/i]

[i]"I think poisonplants used to be here,"[/i] said Barkclaw leaning in with intensive sight, [i]"the roots must still be in the dirt so, the crawlers must be feasting on them."[/i]

[i]"Even the rootth? But why?!"[/i]

[i]"Roots have water, that is how plants eat and stay alive by drinking water from the dirt, but the poisonplants turn the water bad which the poisoncrawlers love."[/i]

[i]"Woooow,"[/i] Seaclaw leaned in to see a festering pile of black millipedes, [i]"how many are dere?!"[/i]

[i]"Fifty-seven-and-two,"[/i] said Barkclaw nodding, [i]"more than any I have seen in a day."[/i]

[i]"What do they do when they're done eating?"[/i] asked Oddtooth looking up at him.

[i]"They leave to find other poison roots. They must find food just like we hunt for it."[/i]

[i]"Like we THOULD be,"[/i] the young feral snorted and scratched the dirt, [i]"I thould be hunting already, why do I have to wait?!"[/i]

[i]"You will hunt soon!"[/i]

[i]"But I want to hunt NOW!"[/i]

[i]"I wanna hunt too!"[/i] squeaked Seaclaw bouncing on his feet.

[i]"Tho why do mother an' father not let uth?!"[/i]

[i]"O-odd...um,"[/i] their uncle shook his head, [i]"they know what is best, please trust your family."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmnnnngh...what other thmallwingth you found uncle?"[/i]

[i]"OH yes, I will show you, would you like to see them too Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Okays!"[/i]

They wandered over towards a large rock where a small nest of moths had planted themselves within the crevices, flicking their long tongues over the rock to taste the salt and feed upon its nutrients which Barkclaw explained thus. He also bade them to sit still and wait for a curious moth or three to come fluttering over to their faces and start licking the moisture off their eyes causing them to giggle and shake the smallwings off in their little fits of mirth.

[i]"H-hehee, heheheee d-dat tickles!"[/i]

[i]"HHhhahaha u-uncle I can't th-thtop!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhmhm,"[/i] the adult chirred keeping his head perfectly still, [i]"the smallwings love licking us."[/i]

[i]"Hhheheheeahahaa, th-thtop iiiit heehaha!"[/i]

Cackling as the moths fluttered round their heads tickling them with their feet, they soon left them be and headed back to Barkclaw's favourite spot for observing new species as he pointed out the trees that certain dragonflies loved to nest in. Most of this however became boring to Seaclaw as his mind wandered off with his body following into the woods when he picked up the scent of his father. An older scent, one that intrigued him as his small nostrils flared with curiosity that led him traipsing deeper through the forest. He knew where the territory ended, having been long-trained by his family and those around him to harness his latent senses and to never stray beyond the point of markage that had been left as a warning to outsiders.

[i]"Oooooh."[/i]

A small grove within a thick cluster of trees, warping around each other with symbiotic strength to form a tangling knot of roots. A crown of wood for the mountain king from which inside Seaclaw sensed his father's scent even stronger than usual.

[i]"Daaaddyyyy? Are you dere?"[/i]

He scrabbled through the twisting trunks, crawling underneath and pushing into the hollow centre where light peered in from above to reveal a claustrophobic prison of bark. The boy felt uncomfortable yet in awe at such a quiet place as he turned a full circle with his tail scraping its tip against the wood. Then he saw something sitting against the base.

[i]"Woooow..."[/i]

A small wooden sword with its handle wrapped in leather lacquer, honed to feel exceptionally light with a sturdiness comparable to the bark itself around its resting place. Seaclaw picked it up with a tight grip, patting the "blade" against his other hand as he widened his grin with intrigue. His fingers crept with excitement as adventure raced through his veins, crawling back out of the tree and stepping out into a clearing with his new weapon. His mind started filling in the scene as monsters imaginary came from the bushes, rustling jaws full of teeth and glinting eyes as he charged with a striking cut, more of a slap in the face as he swiped and whirled with spinning strikes around him.

[i]"HYAH, HWAH, RAAAAYYYYAH!"[/i]

The child whipped his tail with a hunter's glee as he swung harder to the point of almost unbalancing himself, staggering on one foot before he twirled on his toes and spinkicked to balance himself, crying out with a thrusting plunge as he eviscerated the fiend that did not exist before he clumsily rolled to the side and staggered with a frantic kick to the face, following with a monstrous cleaving cut from above to split the opponent in half.

[i]"RRRRAAAAAARGH! YEAH, YER DEAD, AH SAVED DA NEST!"[/i]

[i]"Indeed."[/i]

[i]"WHU-A-AAH!"[/i] He stumbled falling back on his rump when he turned to see Stonevoice leaning against a tree. [i]"UM, h-h-hiiii?"[/i]

[i]"Hello Seaclaw, how are you?"[/i]

[i]"U-um, p-please don' tell daddy."[/i]

[i]"Tell him what?"[/i] the machine asked stepping forwards.

[i]"I-i...I wuz just playin', I found daddy's branch a-and I wanted to...I'm sorry!"[/i]

[i]"It is fine,"[/i] Stonevoice nodded patting the boy's head, [i]"your father does not use it anymore, I am sure he will not mind."[/i]

[i]"Whaaa?"[/i] He looked down at the wood sword. [i]"But, why don't he use it?"[/i]

[i]"He prefers his claws rather than this."[/i] He patted his own sword hilt. [i]"Your father is an impressive fighter, but he fights different to how I do."[/i]

[i]"Ooooooh! You wanna...uhm, y-you wanna play wif me?"[/i]

[i]"I shall do better than that."[/i]

He walked over to another tree and pulled out another blade of wood from within its crevice.

[i]"Would you like me to teach you to fight with this?"[/i]

[i]"OOOH, YEAH!"[/i] squealed Seaclaw raising his grip. [i]"Ah wanna playfight wif ya!"[/i]

[i]"Then let us begin. Stand like this."[/i]

The badnik put his legs into a classical stance, equidistant of each other to straighten himself as Seaclaw did the same after a few mis-steps.

[i]"Now, watch and do what I do."[/i]

He made one cleaving cut, waiting for Seaclaw to do the same as he followed with a horizontal sweep. The child however swung too far and nearly fell off his feet.

[i]"W-WHU-U-UH-UHH!"[/i]

[i]"Control yourself,"[/i] said Stonevoice, [i]"do not swing all the way, only as far as this."[/i]

The robot repeated this, showing the boy the length of his swing as Seaclaw kept trying to go too far and repeatedly overbalancing himself. Stonevoice was patient, keeping the same timbre in his voice as he made the same motion again and again until Seaclaw finally learned to control his strike, stopping at the edge of his vision. Once he had perfected this, Stonevoice then taught him the rest of the basic moves such as vertical cuts, diagonal slices and the thrusting jab over the course of the afternoon, sharpening the boy's skills as he chopped and hacked and slashed the air with frantic excitement, fantasising of fearsome foes that stood before him ready to die as he severed them into dozens of pieces before his arms became jelly.

[i]"NnnnnYAH!"[/i]

[i]"That is enough for today,"[/i] said Stonevoice patting his head, [i]"you are learning well."[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah?"[/i] gasped the youth. [i]"D-dat wuz fun, can we playfight again?!"[/i]

[i]"Tomorrow if you wish."[/i] The mantis took both their wooden blades and stowed them back into the tree. [i]"I will teach you to fight more and then we shall playfight each other."[/i]

[i]"YEAH, I-i wanna Stonevoice, can we huh?!"[/i]

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

[i]"Seaclaw?!"[/i]

[i]"UH!"[/i]

Staggering against the badnik's leg he turned to see Oddclaw and James staring at them curiously.

[i]"What are you doing here?"[/i]

[i]"Um, u-uh-"[/i]

[i]"I was teaching Seaclaw to fight,"[/i] said Stonevoice stepping up with a bow, [i]"forgive me."[/i]

[i]"Teaching him to fight? How?"[/i]

[i]"The branches."[/i] He stepped over to where he had stashed the swords and offered one before him. [i]"Seaclaw found them and I offered to teach him how to use them for fun."[/i]

[i]"Ah...is this true?"[/i]

[i]"U-uhh huh," the boy turned sheepish and rubbed his legs, "S-sorry daddy."

[i]"Sorry, for what? You are just playfighting are you not?"[/i]

[i]"Uh huh."[/i]

[i]"And I can trust you with Stonevoice so there is nothing wrong."[/i]

[i]"S-so, c-can ah keep playfightin' with him?"[/i]

[i]"Of course you can."[/i] The father grinned. [i]"But now you should return home before night comes, I will join you soon."[/i]

[i]"Okays daddy, thankyuuuu!"[/i]

He hugged Oddclaw tightly by the leg as the father kissed his head, letting him run off as Stonevoice put back the wooden sword and took his hand to lead him back through the forest, tiny clawed fingers wrapped round cold steel digits.

"You have a wonderful family," said James crossing his arms.

[i]"Thank you,"[/i] said Odd turning to him, [i]"have you ever thought of having a family?"[/i]

"U-uhm," the lemming scruffed his hair, "n-not...really no, I-i mean I only just started my relationship with Chanoch and that doesn't exactly offer the chance of children, I don't even know if he's considered it."

[i]"I was curious, you did not have a mate back home?"[/i]

"No. I never...no."

[i]"Forgive me, I did not mean-"[/i]

"No no it's fine it's early days yet SO, your um, your weapon?"

[i]"Yes,"[/i] Oddclaw stepped over towards the twisted tree, [i]"you wanted to strengthen my fire yes?"[/i]

"Precisely but, why did you put it so far from your home?"

[i]"I have children James, one of whom is VERY good at climbing trees."[/i]

"Ahhh. Yes."

Standing before the gnarled roots of the oaken throne, Oddclaw rotated himself towards one specific mundane tree cloistered amongst its grander relatives, climbing between the trunks and pulling out his sawn-off shotgun still pristine with the shining sun. Engravings of small beastly heads could be seen along the barrel as marks of distinction for the starbeasts he had slain.

[i]"I try to keep it clean,"[/i] he said, [i]"Thomas said it was important so it can still burn."[/i]

"Of course," said James, "you never use it in your hunts?"

[i]"None of the beasts I hunt are so dangerous that I need fire. Also it does not burn forever, I only use it whenever there are starbeasts."[/i]

"Well I am about to fix that," the lemming cracked his knuckles and wiggled his fingers, "could you place it on that stone?"

[i]"Alright."[/i]

He put his gun down carefully and stepped back as James swept his arms out with a deep breath, focusing upon the weapon and stretching his hands like a grand vizier as the forest became quiet. The raptor felt nervous as his body tightened from sensing an aura new to him, something beyond his basic senses and lurking deep from the subconscious. The lemming closed his eyes and spoke with a new language, something Oddclaw had never heard nor comprehend as James' fingers began glowing with light that dripped from his tips, turning to sparks of gold lightning that slipped through the air and wove themselves into the gun.

The magic coiled round its steel and penetrated the chamber, both barrels radiant from within as a flaxen shimmer coated the gun and intensified its light with a singing hum that filled the forest. Oddclaw heard a sound from afar, one he had only heard in dreams. The fire that consumed the world and burned the sea to a withered husk, the rasping breaths from a dying god whose tears melted his skin. He heard a scream that was not his own, but one he had always known. Then it stopped.

"Right...that should do it." James looked up towards Oddclaw staring into space. "Oddclaw, are you alright?"

[i]"Cxulu...what?"[/i]

"Is something wrong?"

[i]"No...sorry I,"[/i] he shook his head clear, [i]"I-i thought I heard something."[/i]

"Hmmm...proximity to magic auras do tend to excite the untapped parts of the mind so forgive me, I should have warned you about that."

[i]"It is fine,"[/i] the raptor smiled waving it off, [i]"so what did you do with my fire?"[/i]

"Well, why not test it yourself?" he swept his hand towards the gun that now gleamed a brighter hue. "Pick something large and lifeless to shoot."

[i]"Are you sure? I told you my fire does not burn forever."[/i]

"That will change here and now. Please, trust me."

Oddclaw took up his gun and scanned the trees for a target appropriate, finding a ruined husk of a tree that had long since been struck by lightning to almost split in two. He carefully took aim steadying his feet, raising his arm and pressing his claw against the trigger. James held his breath crossing his fingers desperately.

[b][i]Cli-click, BHHHHRRM![/i][/b]

[i]"...wh-...what just...happened?"[/i]

The leaves had scattered from around Oddclaw's feet giving him a wide berth of an empty circle, the wind settling amongst the woods as the tree that had once stood before the raptor was now completely torn in half, giant embers crackling from the gaping hole that now burned through its severed remains. James smiled with a gasp of relief as Oddie turned to him.

"So, you remember when we first met, when your brother was kidnapped and I enchanted your weapon to have either a stronger flame or unlimited ammunition?"

[i]"Yeees?"[/i]

"I wanted to repay you for your gift to my people, when you gave your father's weapon to us. So for the past two years I have been devising a spell that combines BOTH and will last forever, not just a mere day."

[i]"You..."[/i] he looked back towards the crumbling tree. [i]"That...th-that was definitely stronger and yet I was not hurt by it!"[/i]

"Well I wanted to make certain that it would not harm you in its recoil hence my adding a feedback loop and well it's rather technical I won't bore you with details but, suffice to say, not only is your weapon now three times the stronger for it, but it also will never run out of ammunition."

[i]"I...h-hah, hahahaha, th-this is incredible!"[/i]

"Of course it does have a recharge period, not unlike your other weapon the one you use against machines so-"

[i]"Ahh, I see but this is..."[/i] he gazed upon his gun with a newfound respect, [i]"thank you James, I-i do not know what to say it will certainly help me!"[/i]

"I only hope you never have to use it," said the lemming rocking on his feet, "but I know in this world that is not avoidable from those like me traversing beyond the stars-"

[i]"N-no but I greatly appreciate it."[/i] He put his gun back into its hiding place and hugged James tightly. [i]"You are a good friend to be so considerate to my tribe."[/i]

"And you are a good friend to me for the very same," he hugged him back, "I love coming to your realm, I only wish you could come see mine."

[i]"It is fine. You are always welcome here."[/i]

"...um, o-oh OHHH!"

He shoved Oddclaw out of the way and hurriedly blasted a gush of water from his fists, smothering the flames that grew out of the burning tree with hot spittling sparks that threatened to ignite the forest until James snuffed them out fully.

"Hoo...s-sorry, I had to make sure-"

[i]"Hmhmhaha, it is fine, I will remember to check for fire after using my own to leave no trace."[/i]

"Yes that would be preferable...right, so um, shall we?!"

[i]"Yes."[/i]

The raptor offered his arm and led James back to his family nest. Night was falling fast as the forest turned to life with darkening steps and a new assembly of creatures scattering about the forest floor in the depths of darkness with Oddclaw following his snout to lead himself home. Soon he would have his own plans for a great undertaking within the forest over the next year.

[u][i]Field Research - Velociraptor Infant Development (5 years)[/i][/u]

[i]03-02-2044[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Jane Addison[/i]

[i]Today is the most important milestone for Oddclaw's children's development. Their first hunt where they will learn co-operative strategy and self-sufficiency through merciful killing tactics, ones that prioritise speed over brutality. Further compounding previous reports on raptor behaviour, children are taught to kill their prey in the fastest and least-painful manner possible, not only for the sake of efficiency for the little time one may have during a hunt, but also to discourage sadistic tendencies and encourage altruism by shifting the focus of the hunt to feed one's tribe, rather than feed oneself.[/i]

[i]Whilst his feral children Skyfang and Oddtooth will take more naturally to the hunt, Seaclaw will be the main focus of his father's teachings who will ensure that he use his body's natural affinities to the best of his own ability, rather than that of his feral siblings who must utilise different tactics more becoming of their physiology. As noted in the previous report, none of our group are allowed to engage or even observe their hunt, meaning that unfortunately the results shall have to come second-hand for the sake of their success.[/i]

[i]"Alright children,"[/i] said Moonclaw, [i]"are you all ready?"[/i]

[i]"YEAH!"[/i] three voices cried.

[i]"Finally,"[/i] muttered Oddtooth beneath, [i]"I've been ready to hunt for thycleth!"[/i]

[i]"And now we are all ready,"[/i] said Oddclaw taking them into the forest, [i]"today you shall learn how to hunt, learn how to provide food and protection for your family and also learn how to survive."[/i]

[i]"Right."[/i] The feral son nodded astute at a height of 4 feet. [i]"Tho what are we hunting father?"[/i]

[i]"Smalltooths,"[/i] he said, [i]"there is a small group of them I found lurking within the trees."[/i]

[i]"Which ones?!"[/i] Skyfang cried hopping forth slightly shorter than her brother. [i]"There's so MANY trees here!"[/i]

[i]"That is what you must learn, to find which trees they gather near and hunt, a dangerous prey who will fight back."[/i]

[i]"F-fight?"[/i] whimpered Seaclaw rubbing his arm dwarfed by everyone. [i]"A-are dey mean?"[/i]

[i]"They will fight to kill you,"[/i] his mother looked back to him with their eyes both reflecting ruby, [i]"you must kill them first, that is the way of the hunter."[/i]

[i]"U-u-uh, uh, d-do I haff to?"[/i]

[i]"Of courth you do!"[/i] Oddtooth bumped his snout against his shoulder. [i]"We're hunterth, we need to hunt fer food!"[/i]

[i]"B-but we got food at home."[/i]

[i]"And where doeth that food come from?"[/i]

[i]"...ohhh."[/i] The boy whimpered slightly before Skyfang nipped his neck.

[i]"What, are you afraid?!"[/i]

[i]"N-nooo! Well, maybe-"[/i]

[i]"Ya can't be afraid if yer a hunter Seaclaw, we're not afraid!"[/i]

[i]"B-but yer bigger den me,"[/i] he whined as they trudged off past him,.

[i]"That does not matter,"[/i] said Oddclaw slowing down to walk beside him, [i]"the smalltooths are much smaller than you and they can kill any of us."[/i]

[i]"D-daaaad yer not helpin'!"[/i]

[i]"What I am saying is that it does not matter how great or small you are."[/i]

[i]"Your grandfather killed a greatbeast,"[/i] said Moonclaw leading the front, [i]"a powerful beast greater than the trees above us."[/i]

[i]"Wooooow really?!"[/i] squeaked Skyfang jumping in front of her. [i]"Like a REALLY tall-"[/i]

[i]"Very,"[/i] said her father cutting off, [i]"very tall."[/i]

[i]"Whut's the biggest beast you EVER killed?!"[/i]

[i]"The Deep Hunger,"[/i] said Moonclaw looking up at the trees, [i]"long-necked beast from the sea, its neck alone was as tall as a tree and the body was even greater."[/i]

[i]"Long-neckth?"[/i] Oddtooth snorted with a spit of his fangs. [i]"How can you get a long-neck?!"[/i]

[i]"The same way other beasts have wings or become fish, that is just how they are...your father fought even greater beasts however."[/i]

[i]"Like what?"[/i]

[i]"Stonebeasts,"[/i] noted Oddclaw taking Seaclaw's hand, [i]"stonebeasts as great as the mountain, fearsome heartless beasts."[/i]

[i]"L-like Stonetree daddy?"[/i] mewled Seaclaw holding his father tight.

[i]"Noooo much greater than him, Stonetree only wears the stone on his body, those beasts I fought were MADE of stone."[/i]

[i]"OOOH, ya mean like, S-stonevoice?!"[/i]

[i]"Yes exactly!"[/i]

They travelled deep into the forests towards the eastern end of the continent, a long trail of trees that almost covered the length of the shoreline south of them. The children for the most part stayed close to their parents, Skyfang occasionally wandering off to kickjump off a tree or try to get a better scouting position whilst Seaclaw held onto his father's hand and Oddtooth put his nose to the ground with deep sniffs.

[i]"Hmhmhmhm,"[/i] his mother chuckled at him, [i]"look at you already learning."[/i]

[i]"Uncle Barkclaw taught me,"[/i] he said focusing on the dirt, [i]"learning to find thmallwingth and crawlerth."[/i]

[i]"Yeah cuz yer weird!"[/i] simpered Skyfang from above him.

[i]"I'm being a hunter, YOU'RE jutht being a child!"[/i]

[i]"Quiet,"[/i] said Moonclaw with a low snarl, [i]"hunters do not argue when they are hunting, you must learn to be quiet before anything else."[/i]

[i]"Right,"[/i] whispered Oddtooth nodding, [i]"need to find their thhent, then we thhurround them an' lead them to thomewhere they can't ethcape from-G-GUH!"[/i]

Skyfang landed straight in front of him with a flurry of leaves causing him to stumble back.

[i]"Th-thkyfang thtop it!"[/i] he rasped suppressing his voice.

[i]"How you even gonna find 'em?!"[/i] she bent down with a cocky grin. [i]"You dunno whut smalltooths even smell like!"[/i]

[i]"Not if you keep pethtering me!"[/i]

[i]"Enouuugh,"[/i] warned Oddclaw tapping both their heads, [i]"we are a family, we hunt together, Skyfang stay on the ground for now, but if we need you to scout ahead from the trees I will tell you."[/i]

[i]"Yessssssah,"[/i] she tapped her feet frantically with joy, [i]"I'll be the BEST scout you ever seen!"[/i]

[i]"Not if you keep thouting like that,"[/i] snorted Oddtooth nipping her cheek, [i]"come on help me find their thhent."[/i]

[i]"Whut abou' me?"[/i] Seaclaw asked leaning out from behind his father.

[i]"Uhh you help too, don't jutht thtand there like a tree."[/i]

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

[i]"Please do not be harsh to your brother,"[/i] Moonclaw purred licking Oddtooth's cheek.

[i]"Th-thorry mother,"[/i] he sighed shaking his head, [i]"I jutht want to hunt."[/i]

[i]"I know dear, I know how eager you have been for your hunt but please remember it is not a race, you are not trying to be the best, you are only trying to protect and to feed your family."[/i]

[i]"I-i know! Father do you know where the thhent ith?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, follow me,"[/i] said Oddclaw.

They travelled deeper through the woods, the ground turning thicker under their claws and the path become uneven as the children stumbled in their search for the scent of smalltooths. Seaclaw suffered worst despite keeping a hold of his father's hand, muttering nervously under his breath as he looked around with shaking fingers and his ruby eyes glinting whenever the sun hit his face. His brother went ahead keeping his body low with ashen grey scales shimmering beneath the shade, eyes of stark green surveying the environment as his sister wove a devious path of random searches with her equally-verdant eyes zip-zapping every which way before slipping back beside her little brother, scales blending into the dirt brown together as they trekked for a good thirty minutes.

[i]"I'm booooored,"[/i] whinged the daughter.

[i]"Hunts can be long,"[/i] said her mother beside them.

[i]"But this is like, soooooo boring!"[/i]

[i]"You must learn patience, Skyfang. There will come days when you find nothing but you must keep searching for even a little food is better than none."[/i]

[i]"A-are we gonna find a lotta smalltoofs?"[/i] whimpered Seaclaw slowing his steps.

[i]"LOTS of 'em!"[/i] his sister grinned leaning close to his face. [i]"An' I'm gonna kill ALL of 'em!"[/i]

[i]"Now now,"[/i] Oddclaw patted her neck, [i]"we only kill enough to eat, there must still be enough of them left to breed, if we killed all of them we would have no food left."[/i]

[i]"Uh, yeah we would, we got like threehorns an' tallheads!"[/i]

[i]"And if we kill all of them?"[/i]

[i]"...uhhhhh-"[/i]

[i]"Exactly."[/i]

Oddclaw suddenly stopped and put his hand out before them. Something skittered past the rushes of a stream as he beckoned them close to the water's edge. Sensing their presence some animals had fled, but a few remained behind in the form of rodents drinking from the cool stream as Moonclaw crept forward with the gentlest steps, never breaking the grass underneath her feet as she tensed her body in waiting. The raptor tightened her legs and stiffened her tail as she braced herself to jump upon one particularly-close little rat unaware of how close it was to death.

[i]"YAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

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

The daughter had clambered up a tree behind her family and had been waiting from the top of a branch, sneaking to the edge before leaping into the stream and splashing all over both prey and predator. She ran after one of the mammals who scarpered too fast whilst the rest of the creatures scattered leaving a very confused excitable raptor spinning round to chase her tail.

[i]"Wh-where, where'd they go?!"[/i]

[i]"SKYFANG!"[/i] Moonclaw stomped towards her with a bite to her neck. [i]"WHY did you do that?!"[/i]

[i]"I-i was trying to catch 'em!"[/i] she shrieked.

[i]"You just chased all of them away, this is NOT how you hunt!"[/i]

[i]"UGH I just wanna catch somethiiiing!"[/i]

[i]"Then watch and LISTEN!"[/i]

[i]"O-OWWWUH!"[/i]

She felt her teeth sink in just past the skin, not enough to bleed but enough to hurt as she fidgeted crying out before Moonclaw let her free.

[i]"Now, I want ALL of you to behave and to NOT start jumping out biting everything you see like imbeciles."[/i]

[i]"I-i'm sorryyyy,"[/i] the daughter mewled.

[i]"If any of you do that again, then none of you shall eat, because if you cannot hunt properly, then you cannot have food, understand?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yes mother,"[/i] they all nodded shamefully.

[i]"Good. Now, since Skyfang chased off our food, we shall have her hunt ahead of us."[/i]

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

[i]"And if she does not hunt like a proper hunter should, then NONE of us will have any food."[/i]

[i]"WHA-NO!"[/i] Oddtooth stomped the dirt in front of his family. [i]"M-mother I can hunt, I'm BETTER than her!"[/i]

[i]"I know,"[/i] said Moonclaw raising her head, [i]"which is why your sister needs to learn more than you."[/i]

[i]"B-but...I don't wanna thtarve!"[/i]

[i]"And if Skyfang does well we will not,"[/i] said Oddclaw patting his head, [i]"we must learn to hunt together, and if you want us to hunt better, you must help your sister and brother to hunt as good as you."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmmm...u-uhhhh..."[/i] the feral scratched at the ground sheepishly in consideration, [i]"i-it would be better if we all hunted ath good ath each other."[/i]

[i]"Then help Skyfang hunt. Seaclaw, you learn too, go to your sister and find the scent of the smalltooths."[/i]

[i]"U-uhhh okay."[/i] The anthro child waddled forth to step beside Skyfang who was still miffed. [i]"You okays sis?"[/i]

[i]"Noooo, my neck hurts!"[/i]

[i]"I-i can make it better."[/i]

[i]"Wha?"[/i]

He went over to the stream and scooped up some of the cold dirt within the shallows before smearing it across her neck, soothing her wounds as she purred gently from the feel of his fingers.

[i]"Mmmmm...thaaaanks little brother."[/i]

[i]"Is okay,"[/i] he smiled rubbing the cool mud all over her scales, [i]"we go huntin' together."[/i]

[i]"But, aren't you frightened?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah, but I got my big sister an' brother wif me."[/i] He smiled widely as Skyfang licked his face.

[i]"Alrighty then, let's go hunt!"[/i]

[i]"Hopefully,"[/i] sighed Oddtooth following behind dutifully.

Skyfang took point as she sniffed the air, trudging past the stream and snorting the dirt a little too strongly to send her into coughing fits much to her parents' sniggering and her brother's groan of frustration. Seaclaw crept beside her sniffing more carefully, trying to uncover the trail as they parted ways slightly to separate all the smells from the beasts they already knew. Searching round the riverbank for ten minutes however turned up something as Seaclaw waved over to them.

[i]"A-ah, AH, a-ah found iiiit!"[/i]

[i]"HUH?!"[/i] Skyfang raced over immediately to start sniffing around. [i]"H-hey yeah, this smells new!"[/i]

[i]"Well well,"[/i] Oddclaw smirked crossing his arms, [i]"very good son, now follow the trail and lead the way!"[/i]

[i]"I-i'm coming too!"[/i] said Oddtooth racing after them.

[i]"Finally,"[/i] Moonclaw gave a deep breath, [i]"already I am exhausted dealing with them."[/i]

[i]"You can keep up with me well enough,"[/i] said her husband.

[i]"You are not small enough to ride my back and run like the wind!"[/i]

[i]"My sisters can run that fast and you keep up with them."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm...ahhh I am glad they have a family now."[/i]

[i]"Agreed,"[/i] Oddclaw watched his children fade into the forest, [i]"imagine how much worse it will be for them trying to teach them all to hunt."[/i]

[i]"Ohohoho noooo,"[/i] Moonclaw cringe-laughed, [i]"do you think two mothers and two fathers are enough even?!"[/i]

[i]"Absolutely not. At least they can rely on Eggfang, and mother-"[/i]

[i]"Oh your mother is NOT reliable."[/i] She started walking with him.

[i]"Well at least she will not pester us now that we are hunting."[/i]

[i]"Oh come on,"[/i] his wife rolled her head towards him, [i]"your mother will find something wrong and say 'oh that is so LITTLE food, are you SURE you are teaching them right why when Iiiii was teaching my children we brought back the ENTIRE corpse!'"

[i]"PFFFFhhahahahahaha!"[/i] he cackled stumbling as he tried to mute himself. [i]"Youhuhu sound JUST like her that is incredible!"[/i]

[i]"Well I have had to listen to her for cycles, maybe not as much as you but still more than enough."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhaha, you better hope she does not hear you."[/i]

[i]"Why, she loves the sound of her own voice!"[/i]

[i]"HAH, hahahahaaa...this is why I love you."[/i] He hugged her by the neck and smooched her cheek.

[i]"Not my body?"[/i] she mewled simpering with little nibbles on his face.

[i]"Oh that is the OTHER reason I love you, but your mind more than anything for how sharp it is."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm...we should probably catch up to them soon."[/i]

[i]"Yes yes, you go north I will head south."[/i]

[i]"See you soon."[/i]

She slurped his face and headed off to make a skirting path round the northeast whilst Oddie went the other way, keeping the scents of their children fresh as they slinked into stealth and hurried after at a safe distance. Less steathily however were Seaclaw, Skyfang and Oddtooth traipsing through the undergrowth as they kept on the trail of their first prey. The smallest one became nervous when he looked behind to find neither of his parents as he rubbed his claws nervously.

[i]"Mummyyyy? Daddyyyy?"[/i]

[i]"Shhh!"[/i] whispered Skyfang. [i]"You'll frighten off our food!"[/i]

[i]"B-but,"[/i] Seaclaw clutched himself, [i]"mummy an' daddy aren't dere."[/i]

[i]"I don't need 'em, I can hunt by myself!"[/i]

[i]"They're thtill following uth,"[/i] murmured Oddtooth in front, [i]"don't be tho thcared."[/i]

[i]"A-are you sure?"[/i] the youngest kept looking back.

[i]"They're obviouthly tethting uth, they wanna thee how good we are at huntin' without them!"[/i]

[i]"Why do YOU know all this?!"[/i] his sister challenged bumping his face.

[i]"Becauthe I learned all about hunting when YOU thpent all day climbing treeth like a, a-a-a warmblood!"[/i]

[i]"DON'T call me that you shithead!"[/i]

Oddtooth smirked when she tried to kick him, swerving himself round to slap her head with his tail.

[i]"H-HEY, no fair!"[/i]

[i]"You're too eathy, the way you fight the thmalltoothh'll kill ya anyway."[/i]

[i]"O-oddiiiie!"[/i] Seaclaw pushed him with a scowl. [i]"D-don't say dat, yer mean!"[/i]

[i]"I'm not mean!"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah you are, yer not bein' nice!"[/i]

[i]"Thkyfang needth to learn to hunt better, mother an' father thaid tho!"[/i]

[i]"Well I'M the alpha now!"[/i] boasted the female. [i]"I'M the one that's gotta sniff out our food an' YOU have to do what I say!"[/i]

[i]"UH, no I don't!"[/i]

[i]"YEAH, you do, cuz you always follow your alpha!"[/i]

[i]"You're NOT my alpha, you're jutht being put in front of a hunt!"[/i]

[i]"Cuz I'm the alpha of the HUNT, shithead!"[/i]

[i]"THTOP thhaying that!"[/i]

[i]"STOP FIGHTIN'!"[/i] Seaclaw pushed both of them hard as he could making them stagger in surprise at him. [i]"F-families don' fight, you said dat Oddtoof!"[/i]

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

[i]"YOU SAID, when we were at da beach, dat f-families don' fight so don't, fight! I don' like it."[/i]

The feral brother and sister looked to each other and back towards their sibling's tearful face. A moment to collect their thoughts as they sighed shaking their heads.

[i]"You're right,"[/i] Oddtooth looked to his sister, [i]"we thouldn't fight, we're thuppothed to work together."[/i]

[i]"Right,"[/i] Skyfang nodded bleakly, [i]"s-sorry Oddie."[/i]

[i]"Thorry Thkyfie..."[/i] they both sniggered, [i]"we mutht look thilly huh?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah heh...you wanna hunt out front?"[/i]

[i]"Can I?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah! I'll be the scout, an' you can sniff them out!"[/i]

[i]"...yeah, alright yeah, we do that!"[/i] Oddtooth stepped forwards and picked up the scent. [i]"Right, Thkyfang you follow from the treeth, don't attack anything until I thay."[/i]

[i]"Right!"[/i]

[i]"Theaclaw you thtay with me, we find the thmalltoothh together."[/i]

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

The plan was now set, Skyfang clambering up the nearest tree with her long wicked claws and powerful legs crunching the bark whilst Oddtooth went on ahead to follow the trail with Seaclaw tagging behind him. The brother feral moved his tail towards him so as to let his little brother regain his balance, the lad stumbling from the uneven soil as he tightened his grip along the smooth pebbly scales. Their sister could be heard rushing amongst the leaves like a ninja, heading back and forth between branches that she balanced on precariously. Sometimes the trees shook sending down leaves upon their heads but for the most part she kept watch on the two from above, following Oddtooth's track as small winged beasts both insect and reptilian fluttered past in fright.

Seaclaw became more determined in his steps, the longer he walked the more confident he stood until he went in a marching pace, trying to lighten his feet and follow his brother's example in the art of hunting. Oddtooth heard the softening of his steps and in turn started to move slower, the young sleekit and the younger timorous beastie moving as one through the ferns until they heard something up ahead. Strange voices, three of them murmuring to themselves within a small clearing that was bordered by rocks as they stepped closer.

A pack of miniature raptors around 2 feet tall that stretched almost 6 feet in length, coloured green and yellow like the sun between the leaves as an almost perfect camouflage within the forests. A strange trio of compsognathids with surprisingly long jaws who in centuries beyond would be known as Huaxiagnathus Orientalis. Oddtooth twitched his tail to alert Seaclaw behind him, the boy keeping quiet as his brother looked towards the farthest right with a subtle angling of his head. He nodded fearfully, the older brother then looked towards Skyfang above him before he pointed his snout directly at one of them, jutting his head forwards as she understood bracing herself. Four minutes passed as the smaller creatures picked apart a young parasaurolophus that now laid dead in the clearing, covered in wounds from their rending teeth. One of them looked up and was suddenly assaulted by a flying tackle from the trees.

[i]"YAAAAAAAGH!"[/i]

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

The small beast rolled across the clearing kicking against Skyfang as Oddtooth leapt out and charged towards the second beast.

[i]"Who the SHIT ARE YOU?!"[/i]

[i]"We're hunterth, an' you're our FOOD!"[/i]

He slammed his head into one of them as the third beast grabbed his neck by the teeth and wrangled him hard to the dirt.

[i]"HAH, you?! You're just a hatchling!"[/i]

[i]"And hatchlings taste better than adults,"[/i] said the third compy licking her lips, [i]"like this hatchling here, got a nice tender skin."[/i]

[i]"I'm NOBODY'TH food!"[/i]

Oddtooth went for a flying shriek that his prey dodged swiftly, lunging for his throat with razor fangs as he quickly sidestepped with a tailwhip to his head knocking him aside. Skyfang was frantically gnawing upon her enemy as they locked fiercely in combat, claws scrabbling against each other's chests with rakish scars building up a crimson pattern between them. She tried biting for the neck, but the compsognathid swerved his neck back and forth as she punched her snout into the dirt twice before being kicked off by surprisingly strong legs from the creature half her size. Rolling quickly back up, she leapt towards a tree and back-kicked off of it to slash her foot across the compy's face scarring the whole of his left cheek as he flinched and snapped for her leg, tearing the skin up as she bled with a screech.

During the chaos of his two siblings fighting, Seaclaw stood timidly before the third Huaxiagnathus whose eyes gleamed with a growing hunger as she raced towards him. The boy screamed and tried to run, but he was immediately pinned on his belly by a hard foot that scraped his back with a painful tug of his skin as he fidgeted fearfully, grabbing a clump of dirt and throwing it behind him to slapshot the creature's eye. Snarling from surprise she backed off to shake the mud from her pupil, giving the child enough time to grab a stick and brandish it towards the Huaxia who gave a pitying chuckle.

[i]"Hmhmhahaha, are your claws even smaller than mine you need a branch to fight?"[/i]

[i]"I-i'm a h-hunter!"[/i] he winced scrunching up his face. [i]"M-my brother a-an' sister are here too!"[/i]

[i]"They're just going to be more food for us but YOU are a cute little treat!"[/i]

[i]"I'm NOT yer f-food!"[/i]

[i]"Not YET!"[/i]

She lunged towards him as he swiped at her face, scratching her barely with the sharp end of the branch as he quickly circled around her and whacked her head. The compsognathid grabbed his stick with her teeth as they went into a brief tug of war before she overpowered him, ripping the branch from his fingers as he stumbled forwards straight into her jaws. He grabbed at her neck desperately to throw her down to end up hanging underneath, the Huaxia wrestling her head away from Seaclaw to push him on his back and lunge for his neck.

[i]"N-NOOO!"[/i]

[i]"GUH-AAGH, you fat little SHIT!"[/i]

Grabbing a stone nearby he managed to crack her cheek with a huge swing knocking her to the side before he stood up shaking with a desperate frenzy. Briefly forgetting himself Seaclaw went in a blind rush as he screamed with a hearty slam of his stone fist that she dodged before snapping at his arm and raking her teeth on his limb. Tears started going from his eyes as anger built up, overpowering his fear briefly with savage clumsy haymakers whilst stumbling forwards to smash her cranium.

Oddtooth however was more tactical than his little brother, dodging and weaving his head from the snap-happy compy in front of him as he kicked up a dust spray to cloud his vision, charging through the dirt when the creature was sputtering to grab at his head and twist his neck hard in a vicious toss. The Huaxiagnathus screamed falling to the ground and tried to roll himself back up, but Oddtooth was on him immediately with one fatal crunch as his, jaws pierced through the throat before ripping his larynx out with a sudden blood-frenzy.

[i]"RRRRRRRAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

His eyes turned to piercing slits briefly as he chewed on the spongy flesh from the choking compy, his dying breaths rattling through the air that made him step back nervously licking his lips. Skyfang was having her own frantic battle with the other compsognathid, snarling as she made a running circle round her opponent to try and confuse him before he just swatted her eye with a hard lash of his tailtip to blind her causing her to yelp and stagger back. The compy took his chance and leapt for her head, but she suddenly headbutted him with a surprising force crushing his snout against the top of her skull and sending him stumbling back in turn as she went on a chomping rampage in front of herself, biting anything that came to touch as the Huaxiagnathus quickly dodged past her. She smelt his presence and with a quick snapping turn she grabbed at one of her front arms and cracked it violently out of joint, the smaller beast shuddering a hard scream as he tried to pull away before she threw him down with a bone-crunching snap and crushed his neck entirely within her jaws.

[i]"GO AWAAAAYYYYY!"[/i]

Seaclaw's scream came through as he stomped and swung his fist with the jagged rock in hand, trying to be fierce as the Huaxia before him stepped back unimpressed by his bravado. She waited for her chance, one swing too many that came a little too slow when the boy tired himself to become an easy target. With arms wide open he was set upon by the beast, her clawed feet kicking forwards to slam into his chest and pin him underneath, slathering jaws wide open to plunge at his little throat.

[i]"AAAAAA[b]AAIIIIIIIGH![/b]"[/i]

The boy screeched with a deafening cy as he tried to turn and cover his head, her jaws piercing into his shoulder and ripping through the skin with blood trickling down his elbow. Clutching his head tighter he felt the Huaxia wrench and tear at his limb as he screamed harder, bawling with tears as he huddled into a foetal position. Blood started to thicken on the compsognathid's jaws as she pulled back to try and gnaw at other parts of his body, biting at his waist but he smacked her away in a fit of panic. It was when she grabbed his leg and pulled him hard that he left himself exposed for a killing strike.

[i]"[b]DAAAADDYYYYYYYYY![/b]"[/i]

[i]"GHU-[b]GHHRRAAAGHKKH![/b]"[/i]

From the darkness of the trees came a shadow as something grabbed the Huaxiagnathus and rolled through the dirt, her choking screams as she kicked frantically at her assailant now above her with one hand wrapped viciously round her throat. The other rose high with a shaking fist that crunched hard into her face.

[i]"AAAARRRRGH! F-FILTHY SHITCLAW!"[/i]

[i]"D-duh, d-daddy?"[/i]

Oddclaw rose up his fist once again to slam into the Huaxia's snout, before she clamped above his wrist and forced him to release with a raking tear as he pushed himself off and stepped back as she rolled back up.

[i]"Seaclaw, help me!"[/i] his father cried.

[i]"B-buh, d-daddy-"[/i]

[i]"WE ARE HUNTERS, WE FIGHT HER TOGETHER!"[/i]

[i]"I'LL RIP YOUR COCK OFF FIRST YOU FREAK!"[/i]

The compsognathid charged at Oddclaw as he backflipped hard onto a large stone behind him, jumping on top of her with a crushing stomp as she shrieked before he shouted to Seaclaw signalling the boy to charge at her. The father circled halfway round to keep her attention upon him, her rear now exposed to attack as Seaclaw grabbed for a sharp stone before stumble-running to gouge the back of her thigh. She rent out a scream of fury and whalloped him across the head with her tail, kicking him back with scars on his face as he yelped with a tearful sound before Oddclaw threw a rock at her skull.

[i]"ENOUGH!"[/i] she snarled back at him. [i]"Stop throwing rocks like a coward and FIGHT ME WITH YOUR CLAWS!"[/i]

[i]"Gladly."[/i]

He went into a boxing stance and waited for her to strike, the Huaxia leaping with open fangs for his throat as he dodged back with a turning fist across her snout, following with a snapkick to her jaw that dazed her slightly. She lunged for his leg but he countered with a brutal axe kick, raising his foot high to come crunching down the back of her skull to stun her even further. Shaking her head clear she managed to vault herself upwards and lock her jaws round the side of his waist before he immediately grabbed her body and drove his knee brutal to her stomach, twice, before throwing her off with surface-inch wounds above his kidney. He goaded her to come up fighting with a dusty kick, scattering dirt on her eyes as she roared with frenzy to leapstrike as high as she could for his throat. He smiled and strafed directly to her left eye and swung out his arm just below her jaws to slam into her neck. The beast threw herself hard onto her back with a wheezing cough before he went on his knees and went for a chokehold with one arm wrapped under the head and his other hand pressing the back of her neck.

[i]"GH-GHHRRRKH, HHHRRRKH!"[/i]

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

Unbeknownst to her the boy had been waiting through the subtle signals his father gave as Seaclaw hurried over with his sharp stone. The compsognathid frantically scrabbled and kicked to escape but everytime she struggled harder his father would tighten his grip to almost suffocate her.

[i]"QUICK, KILL HER NOW!"[/i]

[i]"U-UHH, UHHH-"[/i]

[i]"KILL HER, QUICK, IF SHE PULLS FREE SHE WILL KILL ME!"[/i]

[i]"D-da, d-dad I-i-i-"[/i]

[i]"HURRY, PLEASE!"[/i]

[i]"gH-GHRRRkhhh!"[/i] she heaved kicking harder.

[i]"SEACLAW! Please I-i cannot h-HOLD her anymore SHE'S ABOUT TO-!"[/i]

[i]"RRRRAAAAIIIIGH!"[/i]

[i]"[b]GHHHRRKH! GH-Ghhrrrrkkh...gh-ghhhkh...[/b]"[/i]

He plunged the pointed stone in without thinking, ripping through the trachea and severing her throat as quickly as he could with eyes closed and a tightening face. Blood spurted across his fingers as her choking gasps bubbled up in puffs of air with her eyes flickering in drastic gulps of her throat trying to swallow the red fluid. She finally slumped within Oddclaw's arms giving a restless sigh as her eye gazed flatly upon Seaclaw who opened his with shock. The child gripped his bloodied stone tightly as he stumbled back on his rear, gasping with shaking hands before clutching himself tightly. Oddclaw quickly went to his side and hugged him close.

[i]"You did it."[/i]

[i]"H-hhhh!"[/i]

[i]"Shhhh...no no, do not be upset, you did good."[/i]

[i]"B-but, b-b-but I h-hurt her-"[/i]

[i]"You protected me. She was going to kill me and you."[/i]

[i]"I-i...I-i-i...b-but I feel baaaad."[/i]

[i]"I know."[/i] He kissed his son softly as he cradled him. [i]"Does your heart feel sore?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah. I-i don' feel good."[/i]

[i]"But that is good."[/i] He lifted his head up to him. [i]"Killing is not fun, nor is it something that feels good."[/i]

[i]"S-so why do we do it?!"[/i] he whimpered blinking tears.

[i]"Because we have to survive. We have to eat, and the only food we can eat are those like her."[/i] He looked over to the Huaxiagnathus. [i]"She has to kill to survive too."[/i]

[i]"But..."[/i] he buried his head into his father's chest, [i]"I don' wanna die."[/i]

[i]"And that is why we kill."[/i] He stroked his head.

[i]"B-but I don' wanna kill."[/i]

[i]"I do not want to either. When I was young like you I also hated killing."[/i]

[i]"R-really?"[/i] Seaclaw looked up sniffling his tears.

[i]"Yes. But I knew I had to, because there are some things you must do, that you will hate, but will help others around you. Every day I hunt, I have to kill, just so you have food, and so you can be happy. Every day I kill, I do not enjoy it...but then..."[/i]

He stroked his finger across the boy's face.

[i]"I see my children smiling, and that makes me happy. I know it is worth it, just so I can see you smile. Do you understand, Seaclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah...I do, daddy."[/i]

They hugged each other dearly as Moonclaw looked on with her son and daughter beside her. Oddtooth sighed deeply looking at their first kills with a strange mixture of relief and sadness alongside his sister.

[i]"D-did we...were we good?"[/i]

[i]"You were wonderful,"[/i] his mother licked his face, [i]"now you are hunters."[/i]

[i]"I thought I'd feel happier,"[/i] mumbled Skyfang scratching her feet, [i]"it was really fun when we were hunting but...now they're dead."[/i]

[i]"Remember what we told you. A hunter who enjoys suffering is not a true hunter. That feeling in your heart, the sadness...is what makes us true hunters because we do not revel in suffering."[/i]

[i]"Right,"[/i] nodded Oddtooth, [i]"th-tho what do we do now?"[/i]

[i]"Now we eat."[/i] She walked over to one of the Huaxia. [i]"We eat as a family, feeding each other."[/i]

They all sat down together and started to feast upon the corpses, tearing the skin to reveal their prize of meat within as they savoured the warm blood and rich soaking organs as their sorrows lifted with the filling of their stomachs. The father and daughter settled next to mother and sons, whose teeth became crimson as the children felt something new in them. A sense of prideful awakening, a strange if not warm sense of maturity for eating what they had killed despite their lingering regrets. Their parents smiled, knowing exactly how they felt.