FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

[i]"Are you alright?"[/i] Oddclaw asked.

"Hmm?" Jane looked up to him. "Oh, s-sorry my mind wandered off."

[i]"You are worried about something,"[/i] Barren sniffed over her leg, [i]"I can tell from your scent."[/i]

"Hahaha, ahhhh nothing gets past you huh?"

She sat up in the raptor's nest, sighing with her hands clasped against her chin as she stared off to the northern lake. The sounds of cooing beasts and biting shrieks filled the air as she watched them play and wash themselves with a gentle smile.

"I wish I only had this to worry about."

[i]"What do you mean?"[/i] asked the old mother.

"All you have to worry about is feeding your family and not dying. I have to worry about that and then also keeping everyone sane with all their stupid little problems and worries that go too deep in their heads because everyone overthinks things, not like here. No one overthinks, they just DO something."

[i]"Oddclaw thinks too much,"[/i] she snuffled over his cheek teasing, "you are not alone there."

"Hmhmhm! But, still, all of us worrying to get back home and now this bloody weird non-anomaly came up."

[i]"What has happened now?"[/i] Oddie scooted closer.

"Well," she rubbed her neck, "four days ago we had our experiment, something apparently huge came through but we haven't found it, something enormous like the size of an island. We can't trace it anywhere, the numbers are completely wrong for the energy output and then James went missing."

[i]"James is gone?"[/i]

"He left a note to Chanoch," Jane sighed, "said something about having to defeat the great darkness by himself, no one knows where he is."

[i]"Which friend of yours is this?"[/i] Barren cocked her head.

[i]"Leafhair,"[/i] said her son.

[i]"Oh! The poor thing,"[/i] she scratched at her necklace, [i]"if he is lost in the wild then I hope he is clever, or fortunate."[/i]

[i]"I could ask the flyers if they have seen him, one of them must know."[/i]

"That would really help, thank you," Jane hugged the raptor as he patted back, "this has been a very odd month really."

[i]"Then you will be fine,"[/i] Barren nuzzled her waist, [i]"you have always dealt with the odd, this will not be different."[/i]

"Hahaha, I suppose that's true. How are you feeling Barren, enjoying your twilight years?"

[i]"Mmmmm it is alright, now I do not have to look after any children I can finally just rest all I want and only have to get up to eat and mark."[/i]

"Oh that sounds a good life," she rubbed her head, "I hope I get to do that when I retire from all this, which should frankly be soon now I'm in my fifties."

[i]"How long do the hairless live for?"[/i]

"Mmmmm, about seventy years on average."

[i]"A little less than us, I see...no wonder you are so stressed, having to do as much as you can in your life before the end."[/i]

"That's certainly one way to put it," Jane heaved with a shrug, "god after all this I'm just going to buy a house, somewhere in Plymouth probably or France, maybe Marseilles I hear it's quite lovely. But then I don't even know what my world will be like when I get back."

[i]"What do you mean?"[/i] asked Oddclaw. [i]"You can just come back to the next cycle."[/i]

"What, what do you mean?"

[i]"If you can travel to any day before or after this day, what stops you returning to the same day that you left, when you came to our home?"[/i]

Jane's eyes widened for a moment as she clapped her head. Then she became quiet with a soft nod and started laughing.

"God, right I forgot about that, bloody hell you're more up on this than me!"

[i]"I remembered what you said at our meeting,"[/i] he nodded smiling, [i]"did Sunblood enjoy visiting you?"[/i]

"Oh yes she did, she was very fascinated by our tech, I'm surprised how much she understood."

[i]"My sister's mates tell me how clever she is, that is why she is the alpha despite how young she is."[/i]

"I would love to have her back honestly, it was lovely to chat with her and I hope this conference goes a lot better once we managed to actually leave then come back."

[i]"I hope so too,"[/i] Oddclaw bowed.

"And with that, I should be getting back," she stood up brushing her knees, "let me know if the flyers find anything."

[i]"I will, farewell Jane."[/i]

[i]"Take care!"[/i] Barren barked watching her leave.

"See you later, keep safe!"

As the human headed back to the landing shore, the raptors slipped down into their nest and sighed basking in the sun. Barren cuddled closer to her son, the necklace of two small raptor claws tinkling off her sagging throat.

[i]"This is it."[/i] She looked up to him. [i]"This is the life I wanted."[/i]

[i]"I will have this life too,"[/i] said Oddclaw licking her face, [i]"when I am old like you, and my children have grown and have children of their own."[/i]

[i]"Beside your mate..."[/i] she stared towards the lake, [i]"be thankful to your mate...give her your heart every day."[/i]

[i]"Hmm?"[/i]

[i]"You...you are fortunate to have Moonclaw still with you. I am happy that...you did not suffer the same pain I did."[/i]

[i]"I know."[/i] He kissed her head. [i]"Thank you for all that you have done for me and my brothers and sisters."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhm...ohhhh...I do not hear that often."[/i] The old raptor purred up at him. [i]"I am proud of you Oddclaw. You are so like your fa-"[/i]

[i]"No."[/i] He stroked her cheek. [i]"I am like my mother. I may look like my father, but my heart came from you...and I thank you for doing everything you could for us."[/i]

A sweet little sound came from her as she licked across his face, almost shivering little sobs as he hugged his mother close and savoured the heat of the sun across their bodies in the nest he had been born and raised within. His family would return from their hunting, and they would eat and share stories, playing with each other in friendly tussles as the sun sank lower in the sky and the shadows stretched onwards from the trees. A brief discussion with Moonclaw in the night brought them plans for tomorrow, as night drifted on over their heads with twinkling stars cast over the canvas of the sky that they stared up towards in each other's embrace. The next day they went up bright an early towards the western plains, their three children side by side with them as they pranced and skipped through the tall rushes of grass that tickled at their sides.

[i]"Where are we going father?"[/i] asked Seaclaw.

[i]"It is a surprise,"[/i] he said to his son, [i]"I am taking you to see some friends of mine."[/i]

[i]"From another tribe?"[/i] asked Oddtooth cocking his head.

[i]"Indeed, and I do not want your grandmother knowing because she always worries."[/i]

[i]"Ooooh, naughty father!"[/i] Skyfang nipped his arm.

[i]"Naughty family,"[/i] Moonclaw nuzzled his face, [i]"what your grandmother does not know will not hurt her."[/i]

[i]"Why would she not want us doing this, OOOH are we going to the caves?!"[/i]

[i]"I hope not,"[/i] snorted Oddtooth, [i]"I want to keep my other eye thank you."[/i]

[i]"But you look lik a hunter!"[/i] she poked her snout at his scarred face. [i]"You should be thankful!"[/i]

[i]"Thankful for thith?"[/i] he scoffed pulling back. [i]"Now I have to work harder at being a good hunter."[/i]

[i]"Well not today,"[/i] said Oddclaw patting him, [i]"today we are going to have fun in the sky."[/i]

[i]"W-wait...the thky?"[/i]

He felt his sister's glee rising with a pounding of her feet, suddenly running around the group in a pealing screech as Seaclaw cackled and Moonclaw rolled her eyes.

[i]"AAAAAAAAAAH ARE WE SEEING THE FLYERS, ARE WE, ARE WE FATHER?!"[/i]

[i]"Well now you spoiled the surprise,"[/i] he chuckled shaking his head, [i]"but yes, we are."[/i]

[i]"EEEEEEEEEEEEEH!"[/i]

[i]"Can I jutht keep watch on the ground?"[/i] Oddtooth reared his head back.

[i]"Noooo!"[/i] Seaclaw pulled on his neck. [i]"You hafta come to!"[/i]

[i]"Ugh."[/i]

[i]"Think of it as training,"[/i] said the mother booping him, [i]"strengthening your body in a new place, it is harder to breathe the higher you go up the mountain."[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm...alright then-"[/i]

[i]"THERE THEY ARE!"[/i]

Skyfang leapt towards the shadow of wings swooping over the plains, yelping and swatting her tail left and right as Oddclaw shouted to them with a wave. Two large pterosaurs came flapping to a stop, but then came the most enormous of them in the form of the great quetzalcoatlus, the Suneater whose wings sent them to darkness.

[i]"WOOOOOOOW!"[/i] Seaclaw shrieked. [i]"You're HUUUUUGE!"[/i]

[i]"Hahaha, your father said the same thing,"[/i] said Suneater.

[i]"I did not!"[/i] Oddie barked.

[i]"You said it with your eyes."[/i]

[i]"And I broke your wing!"[/i]

[i]"After I almost ate you."[/i]

[i]"Which you would have if not for me,"[/i] Moonclaw bumped her mate and nudged the pterosaur's stomach, [i]"how are you Suneater?"[/i]

[i]"Very good thank you, me and my friends have come to carry a family of swiftclaws to meet our prince."[/i]

[i]"But there are only three,"[/i] Oddtooth looked left and right, [i]"how can you carry all of uth?"[/i]

[i]"Well, some of you will be on my back."[/i]

He bent down his body as the children gasped with a mixture of fear and excitement.

[i]"Now I hear one of you would love to be in the sky more than anyone so that one I will carry in my claws-"[/i]

[i]"ME, ME!"[/i] Skyfang jumped forth. [i]"I WANNA FLY, CAN I FLY, PLEAAAASE?!"[/i]

[i]"HA HA HA, alright then!"[/i] he nuzzled her with his beak. [i]"Let me get your mother and father on first."[/i]

[i]"Oddtooth you fly on that one,"[/i] the father pointed to one pterosaur, [i]"Seaclaw you can ride on the other."[/i]

[i]"But what if we fall off?!"[/i] his older son yelped.

[i]"I have these,"[/i] he pulled out a length of vines from his satchel, [i]"I will tie you to the flyer so you cannot fall."[/i]

[i]"A-alright then."[/i]

[i]"I never been flying before!"[/i] Seaclaw bounced towards his pterosaur. [i]"Is it like swimming in the sea?!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmm no,"[/i] the flyer croaked twitching his head, [i]"when you swim you have to keep moving your body right, moving your limbs and such?"[/i]

[i]"Ah huh."[/i]

[i]"Well flying is different, you only have to flap your wings a few times and just let them carry you, imagine if sometimes when swimming you could just float over the water."[/i]

[i]"Oooooh!"[/i] Seaclaw leaned back and closed his eyes to imagine drifting on the breeze. [i]"That sounds nice, so you can just float in the sky forever?"[/i]

[i]"Well no,"[/i] the flyer shifted his wings, [i]"I still have to land just like you have to get back to land."[/i]

[i]"I wish I was a flyer,"[/i] said Skyfang looking up, [i]"I would never stop flying, I would be going FWOOSH and whaaaa and WHEEOO-WHOOO!"[/i]

She spun and twisted her head with a dizzying twirl in front of her family, almost like a ballerina as her father strapped Seaclaw in to one pterosaur, before moving to help Oddtooth onto the other and tying him down.

[i]"Not too heavy?"[/i] he asked the mount.

[i]"Nah I handled worse."[/i]

[i]"I-i am not fat!"[/i] Oddtooth whinged.

[i]"I never said that, just I never taken a swiftclaw on my back before."[/i]

[i]"Not my father even?"[/i]

[i]"No, but I am the strongest in my family."[/i]

[i]"And why I brought these two,"[/i] said Suneater clacking his beak, [i]"alright Oddclaw and Moonclaw hop on my back, and uhhh what do they call you dear?"[/i]

[i]"The Fang in the Sky!"[/i] she cried snapping her jaws with pride.

[i]"Well then Skyfang just wait until I am flying and I shally carry you underneath."[/i]

[i]"YES, YES, THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED!"[/i]

Her parents climbed onto his back as Oddclaw used the last of his ropes to tie them round and against the Suneater's back. Once they were secured he nodded to the great quetzalcoatlus who flapped himself up feeling the weight of his passengers, testing his wings as he croaked with a fearsome bellow and gently gripped Skyfang's back with his claws. Her excitement was palpable as she squeaked from being lifted, long fearsome talons wrapping round her whole body as the world dropped beneath her feet and the wind came whistling past her face. The higher she rose the more excited she turned as she wriggled in anticipation.

[i]"I-i, I'M FLYING, I'M FLYING!"[/i]

[i]"Skyfang be still!"[/i] Moonclaw cried back. [i]"If you squirm too much he will drop you!"[/i]

[i]"She is right,"[/i] Suneater echoed, [i]"think how we fly, with grace and strong wings still on the breeze."[/i]

She calmed herself down enough as he flapped higher into the sky, followed by the two pterosaurs behind with Seaclaw and Oddtooth holding on tight to their reins. The young anthro was brimming with joy as he watched the ground fade away, whilst his feral brother tightened every bone in his body with the spirited breeze whistling through his ears with a sharpness that made him wince. With every flap of their wings they surged higher, higher into the blue as they circled over the plains to catch the drift in their wings, spiralling upwards with a sudden speed that terrified all but one of the raptors who clutched tight with their teeth. Skyfang's scream of pure joy rang through their ears as the pterosaurs swooped towards the mountains, the shining Skylands a pillar of light above the world in radiant hues of gold and amber. Seaclaw felt his sister's glee infecting him as he raised his hands and squealed alongside her, crying out to the breeze with Oddtooth shuddering tight against his steed whilst their parents chuckled looking upwards to the searing heights of the caldera.

[i]"AAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!"[/i]

[i]"THIS IS THE BEST THING EVERRRRR!"[/i]

[i]"I HATE THITH! THITH ITH NOT WHERE HUNTERTH THOULD EVER BE!"[/i]

Higher and higher the pterosaurs swooped, the current in their wings as they flapped sharper with daring sweeps and half-turns that caused the Suneater's shadow to scour across the land in grand swathes of darkness, the herbivores gazing towards the eclipse as they saw the dreaded king of the skies crowing out his might as he giveth then taketh the light away if but for a moment. The raptors felt a taste of power watching the shadows stretch underneath, seeing the vast scale of his wings cover the length of the fields as the higher they went the greater his shadow became to that of a colossus, until they reached the very peak of the world where everything laid before them.

Far to the west was the Land Before with dampened spots of marshy black, long strips of sweet lime and darker jade forests with the long pale range of the Greatbeast's Spine towards the Deep Mountains at the farthest tip. To the east was the lonely isle in the centre of the wide circular bay, a cracked mountain to the north and their own forest home to the south, the air starting to chill over their scales and seep through their bones with a shudder.

[i]"Wooooow,"[/i] Seaclaw gasped, [i]"Whassat there!?"[/i]

[i]"That is the Death Nest,"[/i] Moonclaw barked, [i]"I was born there."[/i]

[i]"An' whut's that?!"[/i]

[i]"That is the Barren Plains where your grandmother came from, and that is the Birthlands right where the Firesea is."[/i]

[i]"I SEE OUR HOME!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked. [i]"THERE TO THE SOUTH!"[/i]

[i]"Very good!"[/i] Suneater squawked. [i]"Do you see the hairless' Shining Mountain?"[/i]

[i]"Uhhhhh...is it that way?!"[/i]

[i]"A little more northeast."[/i]

[i]"OH, I-I SEE IT, THERE!"[/i]

[i]"CAN WE THTOP PLEATHE?!"[/i] cried Oddtooth.

[i]"Oh relax,"[/i] said the other pterosaur flying him, [i]"if I wanted to drop you I would have done that already."[/i]

[i]"You are NOT helping!"[/i]

[i]"Neither are you whining on about it, now calm down and trust me, do you really think your father would trust me with his son's life if I could not keep you safe?"[/i]

[i]"Mmmmm...that ith true,"[/i] the raptor snorted rubbing his head against the neck, [i]"alright then, fly where you may."[/i]

[i]"I will fly you safe, do not fear."[/i]

With worries put to rest, Oddtooth settled down as they reached the point of the peak, the air thinning out as their breaths became sharp with harrowed lungs slowly adjusting to the weaker oxygen, their escorts rising as slow as they could to help them adjust before they would land within the home of the Flyers. Croaking sounds and flapping shrieks came from all around them as the raptors dismounted, Oddclaw going first to untie his family whilst Skyfang leapt out of Suneater's talons and barked at every flyer around her with a leap.

[i]"HIYA! HI, HOW ARE YOU?!"[/i]

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

[i]"HI, is this your home?!"[/i]

[i]"Well...yeah,"[/i] an adolescent flapped close to her with a white beak, [i]"you a swiftclaw?"[/i]

[i]"Yep, I'm Skyfang!"[/i] she jumped forwards with a playful swish. [i]"What's your name?!"[/i]

[i]"I'm Cloudbeak, heh, hope it's not too high for ya."[/i]

[i]"I LOVE IT, IT'S AMAZING, THIS IS THE HIGHEST I EVER BEEN!"[/i]

[i]"Wait, you...LIKE being this high?"[/i] he looked around to the sky.

[i]"YEAH, I-i went through the clouds, I thought they would taste like...water but they didn't!"[/i]

[i]"Hahahahaa, okay you're silly, I like you. Hey want me to show you around?"[/i]

[i]"YES!"[/i] Skyfang shrieked rubbing up to his side. [i]"Show me everything!"[/i]

As the young raptor was led off by Cloudbeak, the rest of her family were approached by the prince.

[i]"Welcome!"[/i] he flapped his wings of gold and blue. [i]"Oddclaw my friend!"[/i]

[i]"Stonesea!"[/i] The father walked forth as he embraced. [i]"How are you?!"[/i]

[i]"Wonderful thank you!"[/i] the prince wrapped his wings round him in turn. [i]"I am honoured you brought your family to my nest!"[/i]

[i]"You remember my mate of course, these are my sons Seaclaw and Oddtooth."[/i]

[i]"Hiiiii!"[/i] the young anthro waved.

[i]"My head feelth weird,"[/i] muttered Oddtooth shaking himself.

[i]"You will get used to the air,"[/i] Stonesea bowed, [i]"if you are having trouble, I have somewhere you can sit in peace."[/i]

[i]"Oh, thank you alpha Thtonethea,"[/i] the feral dipped his head low.

[i]"And that is Skyfang,"[/i] Moonclaw pointed her snout to her, [i]"you can tell what she loves the most."[/i]

[i]"I remember Oddclaw told me,"[/i] the prince chuckled with a clack, [i]"well you can look around all you like, just keep away from our nesting mothers."[/i]

[i]"You trutht uthh that much?"[/i] Oddtooth blinked licking his fang.

[i]"Of course, I know your father and mother well, are we not good friends?"[/i]

[i]"We are but, we are hunterth, are you not worried we would hunt you?"[/i]

[i]"Oddiiiie!"[/i] his brother slapped his neck. [i]"D-don't say that they're our friends!"[/i]

[i]"I am glad you are so cautious,"[/i] Stonesea tapped Oddtooth's head with his beak, [i]"and to answer you, if you dared hunt us, we only have to throw you off the mountain. And that would be a long while before you hit the ground."[/i]

[i]"Ah...good."[/i] The feral purred with humble nod. [i]"I am glad to hear."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhmhm...you have such an odd family,"[/i] the prince turned to the father, [i]"but please, enjoy yourselves, do not wander too far."[/i]

[i]"Not that we can,"[/i] Moonclaw looked round the caldera's steep cliffs above them, [i]"stay close children."[/i]

[i]"Tell that to Skyfang,"[/i] Oddclaw thumbed towards her leaping around the crater, [i]"maybe she was born a flyer without wings."[/i]

[i]"Unless I was bred by a flyer as well as you, I think not."[/i]

She nipped him on the cheek as she walked round the place with her two sons, Seaclaw wandering up to any pterosaur who greeted him with a smile and a wave as they flapped their wings back. Oddtooth took a moment to sit down and readjust his senses with Moonclaw joining him when she felt the lightheadedness sink in. Skyfang was having the greatest day continued when she leapt off the jutting rocks of the crater to kick her feet frantically in the air as if trying to push herself into flight, much to the cackling amusement of her new friend Cloudbeak.

[i]"Come on you can do it!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNGAH!"[/i]

[i]"Try again, do it do it!"[/i]

[i]"NNNNYAAAAH!"[/i] Another leap from the rock to thump on the ground. [i]"Any good?!"[/i]

[i]"Mmmm still the same!"[/i] the palebeak flapped. [i]"You said you could climb trees right?"[/i]

[i]"Yeah yeah, I can climb that even!"[/i] she gestured to the walls.

[i]"No you can't!"[/i]

[i]"Oh I can, you watch me!"[/i]

[i]"Fine, if you can get over that I'll give you a fish!"[/i]

[i]"DONE!"[/i]

Whilst this dangerous scheme was brewing Oddclaw went to the prince's quarters in the cave at the back of the crater, tall enough to let most flyers in except for Suneater who stood watching outside amongst the flocks swooping over the mountain with cries and shrieks against the thin cold winds.

[i]"I appreciate bringing your family,"[/i] said the prince perching on a rock, [i]"even though I know your reason for coming was not that."[/i]

[i]"I thought it would be good for them,"[/i] said the raptor sitting on a stone, [i]"my children need to see more of the world and Skyfang would never forgive me if I did not bring her."[/i]

[i]"Hmhmhahaha, I would say the same. So, how can I help?"[/i]

[i]"A friend of ours has gone missing,"[/i] Oddclaw said, [i]"he left the Shining Mountain some days before, a hairless warmblood except for the hair on his head which is like that of leaves."[/i]

[i]"Ahhh I see,"[/i] Stonesea picked at his feet, [i]"do you know where he went?"[/i]

[i]"No, but he could not have gone far, he must at least be in the Birthlands or the Barren Plains."[/i]

[i]"I will send scouts and ask if any have seen him. Speaking of the hairless, are they returning home soon?"[/i]

[i]"Not that I know of,"[/i] the raptor shook his head, [i]"you are thinking of our meeting yes?"[/i]

[i]"I have yet to tell my flock until we have settled the problem with fish."[/i]

[i]"You will know when they leave, we all will."[/i]

[i]"Will you miss them?"[/i]

Oddclaw looked down at his feet with a gentle sigh, rolling his tongue along his teeth as he turned his thoughts over in his head.

[i]"I will, yes. But I do want them to see their friends, their families, their homes again."[/i]

[i]"Of course, I would too,"[/i] Stonesea said, [i]"but will you be alright is what I am asking?"[/i]

[i]"Yes, I will be,"[/i] the raptor smiled, [i]"thank you for asking Stonesea."[/i]

[i]"It will be quiet without them...they are a strange flock, you know we never see them hunt together for food."[/i]

[i]"They make their own food,"[/i] Oddclaw leaned forwards, [i]"they grow plants and also make plants that taste like meat inside their caves."[/i]

[i]"Oh come on!"[/i] the pterosaur scoffed with a flap. [i]"Plants cannot taste like meat, if they could then all of us would be eating plants!"[/i]

[i]"I know but they grow it!"[/i] the raptor shrugged snickering. [i]"I can bring some of it to give you!"[/i]

[i]"No thank you,"[/i] he shook his beak, [i]"I will settle for fish, fish are just fish."[/i]

[i]"Haha, alright then."[/i]

[i]"SPEAKING of, we have some fish here if your family would like!"[/i]

[i]"Thank you!"[/i] Oddclaw went to his knees in deeper bow. [i]"We would love to have some fish...though one of my sons might not, he has a friend who is a fish you see-"[/i]

[i]"Aaah yes, I understand, well it is his choice then-"[/i]

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

They jumped up and ran to the outside where a flock of beasts had gathered on the northern brink, clamouring squawks and shrieks as Oddclaw saw his family beneath.

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

[i]"S-SKYFANG FELL!"[/i]

[i]"WHAT?!"[/i]

Oddclaw scrabbled up the cliff with a struggling grip, whilst Stonesea flapped over the edge with Cloudbeak frantically flapping and crying:

[i]"I-i'm sorry, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T THINK SHE COULD DO IT!"[/i]

[i]"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER?!"[/i] shrieked Moonclaw.

[i]"She said sh-she could, she could climb up this, b-but I didn't think she could, I couldn't stop her until she was too high!"[/i]

[i]"SKYFIE, SKYFIIIIIE!"[/i]

[i]"SEACLAW GET BACK!"[/i] his mother pulled him close. [i]"ODDCLAW BE CAREFUL!"[/i]

Pushing himself up with a groan, the father crunched with his feet and swung his fingers deep into the cracks, trembling arms of thick brown muscle that forced his body upwards to the top.

[i]"DO NOT MOVE!"[/i]

[i]"JUST, S-STAY THERE OKAY?!"[/i]

[i]"NNNGH, S-SKYFANG!"[/i] Oddclaw pulled himself over the brink. [i]"SKYFANG ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"[/i]

[i]"OH HI FATHER!"[/i] She barked from the other side. [i]"I'M OKAY, DON'T WORRY!"[/i]

[i]"I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO WORRY, I AM YOUR FATHER!"[/i]

[i]"I'M NOT DEAD, JEEZ JUST RELAX!"[/i]

Standing on a small ledge Skyfang kept close to the wall as tight as she could against the whistling winds that sunk deep into her bones with teeth of chilling force, shivering with a soft purr as the clouds skittled past beneath her feet. Looking down Oddclaw saw the world beneath in a pastel of blue and green, a painting that yawned to eternity making Oddclaw tense every bone in his body. His daughter looked like a stone against the pale abyss, the urge to jump becoming a frightening force in his mind as Skyfang swayed on the ledge.

[i]"SKYFANG DO NOT MOVE!"[/i]

[i]"I'M TRYING!"[/i] she shouted. [i]"YOU THINK I WANT TO DIE?!"[/i]

[i]"I WOULD HOPE NOT!"[/i]

[i]"Can anyone get close?!"[/i] cried Stonesea circling above.

[i]"Trying!"[/i] shouted a flyer. [i]"Need to swerve right against the rock!"[/i]

[i]"Be careful you only have one chance! SKYFANG!"[/i]

[i]"YEAH?!"[/i] She looked up to the prince.

[i]"ONE OF US WILL COME DOWN FOR YOU, TRY TO EXPOSE YOUR BACK!"[/i]

[i]"OKAY!"[/i]

[i]"Oh please, please not like this,"[/i] Moonclaw whispered closing her eyes, [i]"do not lose my child, not like this."[/i]

Taking a slow cautious drift, one flyer was chosen to make a careful descent in trying to bank just sharp enough to skim the side of the mountain and try to grab at Skyfang. The pterosaur missed the first swipe, taking a second run as the raptor clutched tight against the stone cliff whilst the flyer tried once again. But then came the dreaded updraft, a shocking wind that ripped her wing upwards as she squawked with a flap in reflex causing the raptor to unbalance.

[i]"Wh-WHAA, AAAAAGH!"[/i]

[i]"SKYFANG NOOOO!"[/i]

The ledge started to crumble as her feet frantically clutched, skittering downwards as she tried to jump back up only to feel the last of her footing slip. The sky embraced her. Everything turned quiet as she watched her father's face, fading to the heavens when clouds parted underneath. Then something caught her in the misted white, a weightless feeling that kept her floating as she looked around in panic.

[i]"Wh-wha...am I dead?"[/i]

[i]"WH-WHAT?!"[/i]

[i]"S-SKYFANG?!"[/i]

Rising from the abyss of the clouds, the raptor hovered with her legs dangling underneath, her tail whipping left and right as she looked all around her, a strange blue orb trapping her inside its permeable surface. In the centre of this orb was a bizarre creature, one she could barely recognise as the pterosaurs kept circling above in shrieks of confusion.

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

[i]"I-i do not know, h-how is it flying without wings?!"[/i]

[i]"How is SHE flying without wings?!"[/i]

The raptor family watched with eyes widened in shock, struggling to comprehend the floating body that landed upon the crater as Oddclaw hurried down from the wall's edge to rejoin them. Hovering down upon the caldera, Skyfang the centre, landing on their feet as Skyfang stumbled away with a giggling cackle half-choked with fear.

[i]"H-HAH, HAH, AHAHAHA, AHAHAhahahaaaaaaa m-mommyyyy!"[/i]

[i]"Hoh, a-are you alright?!"[/i] Moonclaw nuzzled her daughter with constant licks. [i]"P-please tell me you are alright!"[/i]

[i]"Y-yeah, yeah I am...I am...hooooooOOOOoooh my everything is shaking!"[/i] she stumbled with giggling cackle.

[i]"NEVER do that again, NEVER, you promise me now!"[/i]

[i]"I-i won't, I won't, I'm sorry, s-sorry mother, I-"[/i]

[i]"It is fine. It is alright...you are alright."[/i]

[i]"Are you alright?"[/i] gasped Oddtooth rubbing against her.

[i]"M-my feet are still, did my feet fall off?!"[/i]

[i]"No, no you are fine, you are here and thafe but...who ITH that?"[/i]

[i]"THANK YOUUU!"[/i] Seaclaw waved to the stranger. [i]"Th-thank you fer saving my sisterrrr!"[/i]

The creature waved back with a soft smile and spoke in an odd tongue that none of them understood. The flyers all kept their distance, Stonesea included as he landed several feet away with Oddclaw approaching the alien. The newcomer, around 5'10'' dressed in a steel-blue armour that cupped round his neck like a lowered hood, resembled some sort of insect with mandibles alongside the chin of his rectangular head, topped by slick-backed frills and blue painted markings covering over his cheeks and eye sockets. He gave a gesture with his three-fingered hands and a click of his teeth, pointing his fingers like guns as Oddclaw smiled and returned the gesture with his own three claws that made the creature grin wider.

[i]"What's it doing?"[/i] asked Seaclaw.

[i]"I think it is greeting us,"[/i] said his father, [i]"the hairless do that as well, I wonder if..."[/i]

The raptor cleared his throat and gave a soft wave before speaking the human tongue.

"Hello? Do you understand me?"

"OH, hey you speak human?!" the cricket-face replied. "AWESOME, damn I'm so glad dad put me through all those classes, is your friend alright?!"

"Yes, thank you!" the raptor bowed with hand to his chest. "You just saved my daughter's life, I am very thankful!"

"Oh, wow hey yanno just, doing my job!" he rubbed his head with a bashful smile looking at the swarm of winged beasts. "Iiiis this the rest of yer family?"

"Hahaha, no, no this is their home, my family here are just visiting them."

[i]"Oddclaw,"[/i] Stonesea clacked towards him, [i]"what does it want, who is this?"[/i]

"I do not know yet," he replied, "but he is friendly."

"Sorry for barging in!" the stranger put up his hands calmly. "I'm not here to hurt anybody, just got sucked through a portal, happens almost never but yanno first time for everything!"

"Ahhh," Oddclaw nodded, "yes of course, do not worry I know what happened."

"Oh you do?! Like this happens often?"

"There are humen who know about this better than I do, I can take you to them and they will tell you everything."

"Woah, seriously?" The alien rubbed his neck. "Damn, so this some kinda experiment I got sucked into?"

"Yes, I'm sorry," the raptor approached offering his hand, "this happens more than you think, I am Oddclaw."

"Hey no prob long as no one's hurt, I'm Jarren," he shook the raptor's hand, "Jarren Drumarien, Citadel Security."

"Sita-dell, Sekyurit..." Oddclaw squinted before he gasped, "OH, sekyurit, you are a guard!"

"Yeah basically, well...no that's pretty much it yeah, so uhhh what planet is this?"

He waved a finger around the crater with a hundred eyes upon him.

"Cuz Iiii'm feeling like this isn't my usual beat."

"Plah-net...plah-net...uhhh," Oddclaw turned towards his family and snarled, [i]"do you remember what the hairless called this land?"[/i]

[i]"Why are you asking ME?"[/i] Moonclaw sneered.

[i]"Because I forgot, Moonie please do not make me look stupid."[/i]

[i]"Well if you cannot remember that is not my fault."[/i]

[i]"UM, I-i know I know!"[/i] Seaclaw waved his hand. [i]"It wuz...mmmm, e-earth, EARTH yeah!"[/i]

[i]"OH YES, thank you son!"[/i] He turned back to Jarren. "This plah-net is Earth, that is what the humen call it."

"Uhhh...really?" The alien looked up at the sky. "Cuz I've seen vids of Earth and it is not this blue let me tell you."

"Well, that is what they call it, we just call it our home."

"Right right, so uh, what nebula we at?"

Oddclaw looked back to his family, the three ferals all in different levels of perplexed whilst Seaclaw grinned walking up to them. The flyers kept their watch with clacking beaks of thickly-veiled warning with the quetzalcoatlus keeping guard at the back as Jarren noticed him at last.

"Thank the spirits these guys are friendly...they are friendly right?"

"Only if you do not hurt us," said Oddclaw putting a hand on his son.

[i]"Hiiii, I'm Seaclaw!"[/i] he grinned waving again.

"Hey kiddo!" the alien waved back. "This your son?"

"Yes," the father nodded.

[i]"You look like a BIG crawler!"[/i] squeaked the boy.

[i]"Seaclaw do not-..."[/i] he reeled back slightly with a grin, [i]"oh, hahaha he does, just like one of those!"[/i]

[i]"What if uncle Barkclaw saw him, then they'd be friends!"[/i]

[i]"Hmhaha, I think they would yes!"[/i]

"You better not be insulting me now," Jarren waved his finger with a not-so-serious grin, "disrespect of authority gives a five-hundred credit fine."

"No no no," Oddclaw waved his hand, "my son said you looked like an...inn-sekt, yes."

"A what? ...wait, is that like a cricket?"

"Um...n-no, I do not know what a kri-kett is."

"Haha alright, nah it's cool we're all starting from the beginning, so uh, you know where these humans are?"

"Yes I do, we can fly to them soon after my daughter has rested."

"No prob I can wait."

He sat himself down on a rock and rubbed his knees, taking a moment to relax whilst Oddclaw walked back to his family and hugged his daughter the first thing, her nuzzling whimpers soothing him as he kissed her cheek.

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

[i]"Y-yeah, I am."[/i]

[i]"Good, good, please never do that again."[/i]

[i]"I-i won't, I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"[/i]

[i]"Shhhhh..."[/i] he hugged her close and rocked her gently, [i]"it is fine now."[/i]

[i]"I-i'm sorry too."[/i] The pale-beaked pterosaur flapped closer to the family. [i]"I-i...I tried to-"[/i]

[i]"No it, it's alright,"[/i] Skyfang purred, [i]"I was being stupid, you tried to stop me."[/i]

[i]"Well...I-i thought it was amazing how you managed to climb that, I really didn't think anyone could-"[/i]

[i]"Father could,"[/i] Oddtooth gestured to him.

[i]"Yeah, that's where ya got it from!"[/i] he clacked prodding her with a snicker.

[i]"Heehee, yeah!"[/i] the daughter turned. [i]"I got this from YOU father!"[/i]

[i]"I have to agree,"[/i] Moonclaw snorted, [i]"No one else in our family climbs like you and her."[/i]

[i]"Wh-what are you blaming ME?!"[/i] gasped Odd clutching his chest.

[i]"Oh not blaming you, just saying what is true."[/i]

[i]"I climb trees too!"[/i] cried Seaclaw.

[i]"See and who did he come from?!"[/i]

[i]"Well, YOU!"[/i] snapped the father with mock insult. [i]"Both of us!"[/i]

[i]"And I never climbed anything, except for mountains."[/i]

[i]"THIS IS A MOUNTAIN, ALL OF THIS!"[/i]

[i]"HMHAHAHA!"[/i]

Setting themselves down with their spirits lifted, the raptors were soon offered fish by their gracious hosts as the flyers gulped their fill, the sounds of croaking burps and swallowing gurgles filling the crater a little louder than expected.

"Are you hungry?" Oddclaw turned to the creature. "Do you like fish?"

"Sorry," Jarren waved his hands, "can't eat anything on Earth, dextro-amino acids only."

"Dekstro...acids?!"

"Yeah uh, my diet's like, anything I eat on THIS planet I'll either die or get a real bad cramp."

"Oh," Oddclaw slumped, "I am sorry."

"Nah it's fine," the alien shrugged with a grin, "I got some snacks on me so I'm good for a day though-"

"If you need acids," the raptor clicked his fingers, "then the humen can make them for you, one of them is very good at making acids!"

"Aw nice, that'd be great! You have any idea how long I'll be here for?"

"I do not know, but it should not be longer than a week."

"Well as long as they got some dextros I'll be good."

[i]"Does he want food?"[/i] asked Moonclaw.

[i]"He cannot eat it,"[/i] he replied, [i]"I will find him food when I take him to the hairless."[/i]

[i]"Ahhh...oh."[/i]

[i]"I know, I am sorry but I have to-"[/i]

[i]"No I understand,"[/i] she sighed stripping her fish, [i]"but, could you at least return with us before you do?"[/i]

[i]"Of course,"[/i] he kissed her cheek, [i]"now let us eat."[/i]

[i]"ALL DONE!"[/i] Seaclaw patted his belly and a fish's skeleton.

[i]"Wha-OH! Seaclaw I thought you did not like fish!"[/i]

[i]"I do now, Highwave said it was okay cuz she eats smaller fish!"[/i]

[i]"You can eat what you want,"[/i] Oddtooth snorted impaling a fish head with his fang, [i]"Highwave thould not care what you eat unlethh you are eating her."[/i]

[i]"I-i knoooow but...b-but,"[/i] the boy fidgeted wringing his hands, [i]"I-i like her, I wanted to be nice."[/i]

[i]"Awwww,"[/i] Skyfang licked his head, [i]"you are nice, you're the best little brother, right Oddie?"[/i]

[i]"Yeth,"[/i] Oddtooth nuzzled him, [i]"maybe you are too kind, but...I would not want either of you to change who you are."[/i]

He looked towards Skyfang as she purred happily, finishing off their food amidst shredding flesh and crunching bone to twist out the meat and savour the oily blood. Skyfang still played with Cloudbeak as he showed her some aerial moves, twirling above her head with gasping wonder whilst she kept safely inside the caldera leaping onto rocks. The family relaxed for a while longer, Oddtooth conversing with the hunting scouts whilst Seaclaw babbled on about his travels on the sea which excited the young flyers yet to leave their home.

As the sun started its descent towards the east they soon returned home, flying up onto the backs of Suneater and two other pterosaurs as they glided straight back to the Hunter's Nest, before Oddclaw returned back to the Skylands after kissing them goodnight just in case he would take longer. Jarren waited for him at the mountain's peak, keeping calm under the watchful eyes of the teeming flock of pterosaurs who hissed with a mild warning to keep his distance as they spotted the great quetzalcoatlus making his landing.

"Yo!" the alien waved at his return. "How's the family?"

"They are good thank you!" said Oddclaw sitting on the Suneater's back. "Follow us, we will take you."

"Wait, follow? I'm not getting on?"

"You can fly yes?"

"Oh! No, no that wasn't flying, that was uh biotics." He shimmered a soft blue around himself to float towards him. "Just making myself a little mass effect field with some bio-amps, I can't do this for like a whole journey, just in short bursts."

"Ahhh it is a sy-ense thing, alright climb on."

"Right behind ya!"

Hovering upon the great winged beast to sit behind the raptor, Oddclaw tied him with vines to Suneater's body before they took off over the northeast, the wind in his grand wings as he took a short dip down through the cloud barrier with Jarren holding on tight to see the world unveil before him. A crescent landmass of a giant lake, grand plains with a volcanic frontier and a vast desert that led towards a lonely dark mountain.

"Wow this is some place!" the alien cried. "There's a lotta creatures here huh?!"

"Oh there are many!" Oddclaw said. "The longnecks live in that lake, they are the biggest beasts in this land, and there are the Birthlands where all the plant-eaters live!"

"What about the desert?" he pointed that ways. "What's over there?"

"Deathtails and egg thieves, horrible beasts."

"I'm noticing not a lot of uhhh settlements," Jarren leaned slightly over the air.

"I do not un-derstand," the raptor looked back, "a set-tulmint?"

"Yeah like, towns, cities, places where people live."

"My tribe live in a forest, the flyers live on the mountain and the humen live in their base."

"Ohhhhh right, gotcha," he gave a sheepish grin, "my bad, I never been in a world like this...still not sure I really am, if this is supposed to be Earth."

"The humen will tell you everything, they can tell you better than I could."

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

"HUH?!"

A pillar of light came shrieking from the desert, hot blinding neon green that startled Suneater brief enough to catch all three of them off-guard.

[i]"What was THAT?!"[/i] cried the flyer.

"Was that a laser blast?!" Jarren gasped.

"It...yes!" Oddclaw turned to him. "That was, that had to be! One of the humen must be there!"

"Oh that's not good, humans don't like deserts, maybe we oughta check!"

[i]"Suneater!"[/i] the raptor pointed to the sands. [i]"Take us there, one of the hairless might be in danger!"[/i]

[i]"Alright!"[/i]

The flyer took a sweeping curve towards the Barren Plains as another laser shot off in the sky, honing towards two small dots in the midst of the open dunes yet not far from the southern shore towards the sea. Against the arid breeze the sand ripped against their faces with a biting heat as they narrowed their eyes upon a smaller form squared against an enormous monstrosity.

"What the...what is that?" gasped Jarren.

"I...I do not know," muttered Oddclaw, "that is...that beast is not from here."

Flying down low to drop his passengers a few dunes away, the quetzalcoatlus took a swift turn back to the sky as they stood on the beach of the desert, taking a small trek to scout the battle at hand before ducking beneath the dunes. One was vaguely human in thick olive-drab armour, a long reinforced wooden bat with diamond-shaped blade wedged to its end on the back, whilst holding a rifle that resembled a hacksaw with missing blade with long-top barrel and a handle with circuits wired into it. The other opponent was a horrific beast that towered over the sand, a vile homunculus of flesh and machine with thick steel claws, a giant left hand and three-clawed pincer on its right limb, muscular torsions through its knees and beneath the wide steel chest. But what disturbed them the most was the creature's head, a mangled labyrinth of wires and cables from which its head protruded without a neck from its body. A head that resembled that of Jarren.

"Oh...s-spirits," he gasped.

"Do you...know that thing?" Oddclaw looked to him.

"Th-that...that's a Brute, an old relic of the Reaper Wars. I-i never thought I'd see one but jeez it's...that is the ugliest punk I've ever seen."

"[i]RRRAAAAAAAARRRGH![/i]"

The human charged as if about to swing their rifle against the creature's face, despite the fact it towered over at 12 feet nearly twice the height of them as the soldier ducked beneath the crushing swing of its pincer to fire directly under its chin. The creature shrieked and countered with a sudden kick, knocking the human back into the dirt before they rolled fast and fired once more with a piercing laser shot. The monster took the hit slightly reeling as it stomped upon the human, crushing their armoured chest hard with wicked talons as they kept blasting at the creature's face with enough shots to force it back in a stagger, pushing themselves up to back off and untwist a small capsule from underneath the rifle that they tossed into the sand and replaced with another from their armoured pockets. The monstrous fiend came lurching forwards with its pincer before suddenly something struck, crashing into its face from the side with a searing blue kick.

"HEY FAT BOY, OVER HERE!"

The creature snorted with a metallic shriek as it turned to Jarren landing beside it as he pulled out a sleek simple handgun.

"YEAH I SEE YOU, C-SEC, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR ASSAULT! I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ONE CHANCE, TO GET ON THE GROUND, OR-[i]WOAH![/i]"

The beast responded with a violent swing of its pincer, followed by a brazen punch of its other hand that Jarren dodgerolled underneath before firing at its head.

"ALRIGHT, ASSAULTING AN OFFICER, THAT'S JUST MAKING IT WORSE!"

A vile shriek came from the abomination when a bursting crack pierced through its spine, shattering flames that ripped from Oddclaw's shotgun as the loathsome fiend swung its giant pincer towards him. The raptor roared back with slitted eyes goading the beast to charge, huge thundering steps that punched the sand wide in small plumes behind it as it came crushing down upon Oddclaw's head before the raptor rolled out of its path.

"You alright?!" Jarren cried over to the human. "S'alright, I'm an officer, we take this down together yeah!?"

The human nodded giving a thumbs up, their helmet resembling a gas mask of lumpen shape with a mouth filter set in a cold grimace. They took aim towards the monster and fired upon its exposed back, stomping and crushing both of its fists towards the raptor who strafed between the pounding snarling thuds that formed craters in the sand. Bullets and lasers rippled through its back as the brute turned with a backfist swing, both shooters dodging under as Jarren's body glowed a deep purple-blue before he shot forwards straight into the creature's face, slamming his elbow with the force of a train to send it staggering as he backflipped off its head and came crushing down with a sudden gravity.

The monster bowed its head with a gasping snort, the human seeing their chance and running forwards to clip their rifle to the chest and pull out the fierce bladed bat from their back. Taking a wild swing low to the ground, the diamond-shaped blade cracked into the monster's face with a ripping gouge that made it roar with fury before it slammed its fists to throw its body back onto its feet as Jarren leapt off its back to keep away. But the human stood their ground and took another vicious swing, arcing high to slash at its mandibled chin as its hollow eyes sunk with instinctual rage when it slammed a fist into the human's face, sending them rolling to hit against the dunes before the fiend came charging like a gorilla with crunching fists and feet. Oddclaw and Jarren ran alongside to shoot at its face and legs to discourage it, but it bore through the fire and bullets to swing its pincer hard upwards to send the human flying. Spinning through the air they pulled out their rifle to fire downwards at the creature's face, blinding it in one eye before they came spinning down straight to its vile pincers outstretched. A blasting burst of great fire charred its face to send it off-kilter whilst Jarren grabbed the human in a surging trace of blue, zipping through the air with a biotic burst that briefly shielded them both when the vile brute slammed its fist against them, claws bouncing off of the sphere as Jarren landed the human safe before making a sudden whip of pure energy that lashed from his hand to strike the abomination.

"COME ON, YOU WANT MORE?! YOU WANT THIS, YOU'LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH ME FIRST-HEY-EY WAIT!"

The human shoved past him with rifle at the ready, firing off their shots in piercing blasts that ripped into the monster's neck as it snarled and tried to kick them away. The moment its foot came up they pulled out the bat to strike at the back of the knee and twist into the joints, ripping out a cable or two with the jagged diamond-point as the creature lurched slightly with a limp. Jarren took his chance to turn his whip into a beam that wrapped around the creature's neck, pulling him hard with a yell as it tumbled to the sands on its side for all three of them to come down upon it. Oddclaw shotgunned its back ripping through the weakest point of armour, Jarren made a crushing charge against its front, and the human unnamed came hammering down with their bat into the monstrous face before the homunculus slammed its fist into an incoming Jarren, knocking him out of his charge to fly crumpling through the sand and grab the human's bat with a fierce wrenching pull to knock them back just as far.

"GA-AAAAGH!"

"NNNNNRGH!"

Rolling back up it came towards the raptor, waiting for his gun to recharge its energy as the colossus loomed above him. One swipe came as he dodged underneath before the pincers shot forwards with jagged claws scraping near his shoulder. He jumped in fast to maul at the fleshy leg, ripping the muscle with his teeth and claws before it kicked him away as he rolled fast behind it. But the brute slammed one of its feet backwards in a horse kick, scarring his chest as he rolled with a gasping wheeze before the sound of thundering hooves shook the earth from the malignant creature's advance. Before he came down with a brutal crush of its claws, something struck with a deep-throated roar against its pincered limb, the sound of wood and steel cracking sharp as Oddclaw watched the armoured human stand between them just before its other hand swiped across the warrior's skull. The helmet went flying in a crunch, claws hooking near the neck to rip it from the head.

"...muther...MUTHER [i]FUCKERRR, YER FUCKING [b]DEAD![/b]"

The human launched with a sudden rage upon the giant beast, hooking the blade of their bat against the creature's throat and pushing upwards to swing round behind its head before pulling out a small switchblade from their pocket. A dark-skinned human female now rode upon the monstrous back, jabbing and twisting her smaller knife as deep as she could inside its throat as a guttural roar escaped it.

"Woah," Jarren stumbled back up keeping his gun trained on the beast, "that...they weren't kidding about human blood rage."

"[b][i]RAAAAARRRRRGH![/i][/b]"

Shocked and tensing with blind fury, the monster stumbled violently trying to grab at the human on its back, her body shifting around and ducking underneath the wretched claws before she plunged into its eye, stabbing through the pale light of its hollow gleam to wrench its head back and roar with a pull of the bladed bat at its throat as if trying to rip its entire face off. One of its claws came reaching for her head, but Jarren stopped it short with a punching charge that cracked it sharply backwards in a shrieking hiss from dislocating its arm whilst Oddclaw kept his gun in check, waiting until the human was clear before he could shoot for its open back, a horrifying mess of Frankenstein red and silver and blue where veins mixed with cables.

The neck started to break as she twisted hard to try and snap it entirely, but the beast refused to submit in still trying to swipe at her face with its still-usable hand. Finally it had enough, swinging its entire body downwards into a hard crush to throw the human forwards completely into a stumbling roll before it suddenly bolted, pounding the desert with staggering limp and dragging its pincer behind towards the sea. The human raced after without thinking, watching its colossal bulk surge into the waters and submerge completely with a thick crashing wave, swallowed by the white and blue as its shadow faded into the depths.

"Hey-ey, what?!" Jarren panted in a brisk run. "What...why'd it just drown itself like that, what the?!"

"It cannot swim," Oddclaw murmured, "why did it...can it breathe under the water?"

"I dunno, Brutes are a mystery, a monster just smashing krogan and turian parts together that the Reapers made to screw with us."

"Ah. Are you alright?"

They turned to the human who had walked over to her helmet in the sand.

"Mutherfucker."

She picked up the flat crumpled face.

"Already ugly enough without this broke-ass helmet."

Standing around 6'3'' in a robust set of drab olive armour, the words "[b]REMEMBER JAMESTOWN[/b]" was painted on the human's back as she turned with a thick stomp of her boots smashing the sand apart in deep little pockets. Her eyes were like daggers covered in rust, a piercing gaze from her dark skin beneath short black hair pulled harshly into a set of corn rows, twisting to a topknot at the back of her head. Oddclaw holstered his shotgun and raised his hand with Jarren doing the same.

"Are you alright?!" he repeated.

"I'll live," she rolled the helmet in her hands, "thanks fer the help, you the locals round here?!"

"I'm not but he is," Jarren walked forwards to offer his hand, "Jarren Drumarien, C-Sec."

"Watterson." She shook his in turn. "Brotherhood. You know whut that thing was?"

"No but he's definitely not coming to my family reunion I can tell you haha."

"...righ'." She walked past towards the raptor.

"I am Oddclaw," said he bowing, "did you just come here too?"

"Yeah..." the human stared at him with a slow squint and a flicker in her brain.

"Is something wrong?"

"Naw...nuthin'." She looked back up at the sky. "Whut state is this, Nevada or sum shit?"

"This is my home," the raptor nodded, "you came here through a portal yes?"

"Yeah, sure did."

"There are humen here you can speak to, their base is to the east."

"Cool, whut faction are they?"

"Fack-shun?"

"Yeah," she crossed her arms, "we talkin' Brotherhood, Enclave or whut?"

"I...I do not un-derstand," he shook his head.

"Lemme try," Jarren bent forwards between them and turned to the human, "hi, Jarren, we met like sixteen seconds back, are you a mercenary or-"

"I'm a senior knight," she said without turning her head, "which faction this base with?"

"A knight?!" Oddclaw gasped. "Oh, yes they have a knight too at the base!"

"Oh so they Brotherhood? Cool, makes things easier."

She started walking east before the two males leapt in front.

"We can fly you there," Jarren started, "Oddclaw here's the local guy and he has this uh BIG flying thing-"

"That true?" she kept walking.

"Yes," said Oddclaw walking backwards, "I have a flyer, it will be much faster."

"How much faster?"

"Three days to walk, but with a flyer we are there before night."

The newcomer stopped, then gave a single nod.

"Alrigh', take me there."

"Good."

The raptor walked a little ways south and shouted up towards a black dot in the sky with hands waving forth, whilst the turian sauntered in front of Watterson with a growing grin.

"Soooo uh seems like you an' me got stuck in the same box."

"Whut?" she snorted.

"I mean like a temporal box, it...it's a..." he gestured vaguely a square in his hands, "i-it's a science joke."

"Mmhmm," she sat on a rock and shifted her back, "you said you were security?"

"Yes ma'am," he saluted, "patrolling the Citadel just like my dad."

"Where this citadel at?"

"It's uh, the...oh, gosh I forget what the humans call it ummm," he clasped his face with mandibles tensing, "was it the circus nebula, sir tent, something, aaagh."

"Serpent Nebula?"

"YES, that was it!"

"Whut like, from space?" she raised her brow. "Like, an alien from space, you legit an extraterrestrial?"

"Well I mean...yeah," he spread his arms with a smirk, "aren't we all from space?"

"I'm not, I'm from Earth."

"Yeah but Earth is IN space, it's like floating-"

"Never been up in space," she tossed the helmet between her hands.

"Really, never?!"

"Nope."

"Well that's got to change you'd love it! Seriously there's all kinds of stuff out there you can see-"

"Seen enough rocks in my life thanks," she slammed the helmet in the sand, "deader than fuckin' Indiana."

"Well I come from the Citadel and let me tell you," Jarren rubbed his hands, "the only thing dead in that place is your wallet after a night in Purgatory, haha!"

"So that Blood-Beast, you know whut it is?"

"The...what?"

"Blood-beast," she pointed back to the sea, "big-ass fucker with a face like yers."

"OH right yes the Brute is what I call it, well, no not intimately, I know OF it."

"Good enough, whut you got?"

"Well..." Jarren sighed kicking a stone, "it's some kind of experiment made from turian and krogan corpses, mashed together into a monster by the Reapers."

"Gotcha, experiment, any weaknesses?"

"I mean its back was pretty exposed and you were doing great with its head."

"Coulda done better if I ripped it off," said Watterson grinding her heel.

"Hey you held your own pretty well, I've never seen a human in blood-rage before."

"In whut?"

"When you jumped on its chest and like climbed onto it and just RIPPED and TORE and, I mean damn, I've heard stories about humans like that but never thought they'd look so scary."

"Scary?" She smiled for the first time. "You think I'm scary?"

"I mean when you were ripping that Brute's head, yeah!"

"Hah...means I'm doin' sumthin' right if an alien's scared of me."

"Turian, if you want to be accurate." He patted his chest and rocked his heels. "That, that's my species."

"Never met a turian before," she shrugged, "that thing come from your planet or whut?"

"I don't know where it could have come from...but I do remember there was some sort of research lab in the Citadel, actually a few years ago there was an incident that-"

"Alright!" The raptor came trotting back. "He is coming now, let us go."

"Got it." She stood up cricking her neck.

"But three on his back is too heavy, one of us he will have to carry in his claws."

"Not gonna be me."

"Yeah I kinda don't like that idea either," Jarren grinned.

"You can fly can't you?"

"Yeah but not for like THAT distance to the base, trust me biotics are exhausting if you keep them up too long."

The raptor sighed as both Watterson and Drumarien went onto the Suneater's back, the human looking up at the great king of the sky with a suspicious squint before she clambered on with a bulk that made him hiss. Flapping off he took Oddclaw in his talons after his passengers were strapped in before making a beeline towards the T.E.A.R. base far on the eastern stretch of sandy shores at the tip of the continent. Landing a small ways from the fence-fortified base, the shining tower of comms arrays glinted above them as Oddclaw slipped off Suneater's claws and waved him off.

[i]"Thank you again!"[/i]

[i]"Always glad to help! Stay safe!"[/i]

The great pterosaur flew back to the west after his passengers leapt off, Jarren almost staggering from when Watterson bombed on the sand with her colossal boots in their approach to the base.

"Oddclaw," the guards saluted, "wow, new people already?"

"Yes," he nodded, "sorry I did not radio you, can you bring Chanoch?"

"Uhh, why?"

"This one said she was a knight," he cocked his head to Watterson.

"Ehh? Alright, sure."

The guard walked into the base as they waited at the gate, arriving once more with a 7-foot lizardman in shining steel with sword and rifle upon his person and a thick tail dragging behind.

"S-spirits," gasped Drumarien, "wow there's a lot of tall people in this place."

"Hello Chanoch!" Oddclaw waved then turned to the visitors. "This is Watterson, she is a knight."

"Mmm?" The lizardman turned his head at the human in olive green. "You are?"

"Sir." She saluted as soon as he looked. "Senior Knight Diana Watterson, Brotherhood of Steel Chicago."

"Ah." He returned the salute. "Captain Chanoch Lieb Jarogniew, T.E.A.R. Base, at ease."

"Sir." She relaxed with legs akimbo. "This ain't a Brotherhood base sir?"

"No"

"Well, I got a report to make, and you're the only base round here captain, may I?"

"I will take you to the major-general, if you wish to make a report."

"Thank you sir."

"And who are you?" he pointed to the turian.

"Jarren Drumarien, Citadel Security," he gave a salute in turn, "not here to make a report but if there's a commanding officer I'll be happy to oblige."

"Good, follow me."

He led them into the base, opening the door as the turian and the human walked past before Chanoch put a hand on Oddclaw's shoulder.

"I must ask you something."

"Oh, yes?"

"Have you seen James."

"No," he shook his head, "Jane told me he has gone missing, I have told the flyers to keep watch for him and to let me know if they find him."

"Thank you." The lizardman sighed and hugged him close. "I am worried."

"I know, I am sure he is fine, the flyers see everything they will find him soon."

"Good."

They walked in together, Chanoch wringing his fingers with shortened breaths before he walked ahead of the small group to take them to his commander.