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The sun soon set over the Hunter's Nest. An air of solemnity crossed the trees as the raptors all circled around the accused Sunscreech. Sitting with guards on either side of him to prevent him trying to escape, his family watched on with a mixture of emotions all of which were negative. Fear, anger, shock and betrayal all stemmed from each other as Oddclaw and Barkclaw stood most prominent as the closest victims of his abuse. Standing above them upon the rock that jutted out into the sky was Alpha, the leader who now started to show his age amidst greying muzzle and tired eyes. But the raptor next to him was much more ancient, a solemn-looking beast with haggard face and one left eye staring upon the court of tribal justice as his thin scaled body showed his palloured ribs. He said nothing, despite a warm smile given to Oddclaw in joy for his return as their leader spoke.

"Sunscreech, son of Bloodleaf. You have attempted to murder one of your own family. In desperation of guilt to hide your actions, you sought to torture another of your family, violating the conduct of a true hunter."

He nodded towards Oddclaw who brought his brother forth. Quiet gasps of outrage filtered through the ranks at his brother's disfigurement, the many scratches that had gone deep into his flesh leaving a permanent set.

"To prolong the suffering of another creature, to not grant them a swift and merciful death in any circumstance, is inexcusable. But to harm your own family is only proof of your malice. Do you have anything to say in your defence?"

"I did what was necessary," he argued, "in order to strengthen my family. To sever the weak and so we become strong with my father's blood, without THEIRS tainting it."

The shame that burned from his scent came not from his actions, but by being discovered and shunned by those he loved as Alpha spoke with little comfort.

"Your actions, regardless of their reason, oppose everything that a hunter must become. The one who has birthed you shall decide whether you live or die. Those you have wronged will decide how much you should suffer. An eye for an eye, a death for a death."

They turned towards Barren who had been struggling with all this. Coming over the shock of her son's return only to find another of her sons was responsible for two of her children suffering, was sending her heart into a painful abyss. She shuddered as she stepped forwards, facing Sunscreech directly into his hazel-flecked eyes thinking where had it gone wrong with him.

"Was I not a good mother to you?" she gasped. "Did I not teach you to love? To honour family? Did I not teach you to not cause the suffering of others? I gave you life, and raised you when your father left...and this is how you repay me."

"I did it for us, mother,"_said Sunscreech. _"I did it for father, to make us great-"

" NOOO! YOU...you did this for yourSELF! You have broken me, you have wounded my heart by trying to kill my son, YOUR BROTHER, and torturing my other son! I never wanted this, I would NEVER have wanted this you h-horrible DISGRACE"

"I knew you would not want this but I knew what was best for you! You coddle those two like hatchlings when they should be hunting, fighting and killing instead of being-"

" SHUT UP!"

She struck him across the face with open jaws, scratching him with the tips of her fangs as he fell to the ground.

"H-how DARE YOU! How...d-dare you think that you know better than me or what my family wants?! You disgust me. You...y-your father would kill you for this."

"I beg to differ...mother."

"YOU did not know him as well as I did, he was a proud hunter, TOO PROUD! The stupid fool he was hunting a beast too great for him to fight, but even HE understood what a family should be! I cannot let you die. I will not let another of my children die, I was broken by the pain of thinking Oddclaw was dead, and I will not go through that again because of you."

Barren stepped back amongst her family who gathered round to comfort her, along with Moonclaw who gave commiserations.

"I have made my decision," she stated. "I...I will let him live. But I will let my sons act their vengeance upon him."

"It is done," said their leader. "Barkclaw, Oddclaw...sons of Oddscar, step forward."

The brothers stared upon their former sibling as three guards pinned him down to make certain he would not attack. Jaws clenched around his throat, whilst two more bodies of thick muscular scale almost crushed his chest.

"Your mother has demanded to spare his life," repeated Alpha. "But you are permitted to wound him before his banishment."

"We understand," said Oddclaw. "My brother has suffered worse so he shall choose."

"I see."

"How many marks was it brother?"

"Twenty, one, and- two," said Barkclaw grinding his teeth.

"Make it twenty-seven," added Odd. "Three-and-one more for each cycle I was gone."

"Yes. Twenty-seven that is good."

What followed was a long agonising count as Barkclaw raked his former brother's face, slicing his claws upon Sunscreech's right cheek as he refused to scream, searing hot pain welted with a bloody drip each time as Barkclaw dug deeper and deeper to make certain the marks would remain. The sound of cutting flesh could be heard by every male, female and hatchling present, a stillness across the earth as Barkclaw counted in his head imagining it was just a tree. A worthless rotting tree he was cracking through the bark of until he felt the skull. Sunscreech snarled with vicious teeth glinting, knowing he could not fight back beneath the strongest raptors of his tribe forcing him down.

"Twenty-seven. Done."

Barkclaw stood up, satisfied with his exact vengeance. Oddclaw took his turn next as he had long decided what to do with him.

"When I made my journey home," he said, "I wanted to kill you. But I also knew that I would struggle to bring myself to hurt someone of my own family. I wanted to throw you into the sea just as you did to me, but I will not disrespect my mother unlike you. I am forced to let you live, but I will make certain you will never forget what you did."

"And what can YOU do?" snarled Sunscreech. "What harm can you possibly do to me, you weak hatchling?"

"Do you see my arms brother?"

He showed his thick strapping arms, brawny with muscle from the years of training inside the humans' base. Sunscreech had not noticed until now they were much stronger than last they met as Oddclaw cracked his knuckles with eyes growing in laced fury.

"Do you see how great they are, compared to your small weak limbs?"

"Wh-what?"

"I have learned something about you. Those who constantly claim to be strong only prove just how weak they truly are."

Without warning he grabbed Sunscreech's arms and slowly twisted them outwards. Stretching the length of their reach until the feral winced, he suddenly snapped them like twigs causing him to shriek with howling pain as the flesh began to sever inside his muscles. Oddclaw slammed one fist down onto his elbow, cracking it violently before doing the same to the other and leave both limbs fully broken from their joints.

"A-A-AAAAAGH, AAAAAAAAARGH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

Barren turned away with shuddering sickness at her son's revenge. She knew he had every right, but she only wished that it had not come to this. Sunscreech had made his bed and so must lie in it. Oddclaw did not twist the arms completely off, not wanting his brother to bleed to death but instead he snapped the limbs sharp enough to reveal the jagged white bone poking out in a ruthless KRAKK. Stifling his tears with bitter rage from his scarred cheek, the brother disgraced kicked and struggled beneath the guards who kept hold of him as one felt his throat vibrate with murderous upset.

"A-A-A-A-AAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! HHHHHHH! NNNNNNNRRRAAAAAAAGH! IS THAT IT?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED DEGENERATE, TO BREAK ME?!"

"No," stated Oddclaw coldly. "I do not enjoy this, unlike you. I do not want to enjoy this."

"You LIAR! You enjoy this, you WANT to make me suffer!"

"I will not enjoy your suffering, you broke this family apart and I will hold no pity for you. I wanted to kill you only to take you away from my family before you hurt anyone else again but I can kill you without making you suffer, if only to prove that I am better than you. THAT is why we are hunters, we kill but we do NOT torture our prey!"

"Ohhh I weep for you hatchling, to think that you are so naive, how I WISH I could weep for your pitiful heart."

"Then I will make you weep."

"What?!"

"If you refuse to weep for your family...I...will make. You."

He knelt to grip Sunscreech's head and keep him steady. His other hand reached towards his eye as he realised what he was doing before spasming with fright-filled anger. Desperate to kick him away, his efforts were futile as Oddclaw's fingers reached closer to his right socket.

"G-GET, GET AWAY, GET OFF ME, GET OFF OF MEEE! N-NO, NOOOO YOU, M-M-MOTHER! MOTHER STOP HIM, MOTHER PLEEEASE!"

"Look at the sun. LOOK AT IT! Mother always told you never to look at it, did she? Do you know why?"

"A-AAAAGH AAAAAAA AAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAARRRRRGH! MOOOOOOTHERRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

Screeching with a blood-curdling sound that sent creatures from the trees to scatter in the dusk, Sunscreech felt his brother's claws scoop into his eye socket slowly, squishing with the most intimate small agonies that tore inside his brain. Oddclaw took his time, steadying fingers to make sure he prolonged the agony for this moment. He gripped the eye, twisted it nice and slow out of its nerves which began to snap one by one, bleeding out a vitreous humour that began to drip like tears down his face. He made certain his brother could see with his left remaining eye what happened, showing the thick bulbous sclera with twitching frayed nerves before he crushed it like a bug, squishing to drip out between his fingers as he knelt down once more to speak with harsh words.

"Now you cry for us, selfish beast. I want you to remember, every moment that you cry, every moment that you mourn, REMEMBER this. Remember what brought you to this, when you tried to kill me and made my brother SUFFER for your arrogance, I want you to cry every time you think of us. Now, we are done."

He stood up and clapped his hands in passing each other to clean the gooey water from his claws before returning to his family. Alpha nodded at this as the guards pulled him up before he proclaimed:

"Sunscreech, son of Bloodleaf. You are banished from this tribe for all of your waking life. You are banished from this home, you are banished from your family and should you ever return, then we shall kill you. We will feast on your remains and your bones shall be buried within the sea. Just as you had tried to bury your brother. Now go. Leave us, and never return."

The strongest of the raptor guards pulled him out towards the edge of the nesting grounds, sending him off towards the west. He staggered with broken arms and a mutilated face that could only half-see where he was going, stumbling with blood gently weeping from his cheek. He gave one last look at his family, shivering with hatred and shameful loneliness before he was threatened to go by the guards bristling their teeth at him. He hurried off towards the night, sobbing from his heart when they couldn't see him.

"NOW!" began the Alpha. "We must welcome proper our son for returning to us, but ALSO that of his new friend who has so aided him in his travels. Welcome, Oddclaw and Moonclaw, to our home once again."

The raptors cheered with glee as they began to separate back to their various families. Moonclaw found herself surrounded suddenly by the family of her friend all deeply thanking her.

"You are welcome anytime!" cried Eggfang.

"Are you hungry, we have meat!" shouted Sand.

"How far did you travel?!" asked Fishclaw.

"You helped my brother, thank you." mumbled Barkclaw.

"Are you planning on staying?!"

The last question from Leafrunner threw her off somewhat, not entirely certain on what to ask as she turned towards Oddclaw. He was busy consoling his mother so she decided not to intervene by replying:

"I would like to, if that is alright with you."

"Of course it is alright," shouted Fishclaw, "you helped our brother!"

"Any friend of Oddie's a friend of ours!" said Sand.

"You like stonefish?!" babbled Leaf.

"Oh I LOVE stonefish!" she cried back at the twins.

"Then have we got a game for YOU, you're gonna love it!"

"It is the BEST," squealed Sandrunner, "and if you're lucky, Oddie gets to shove his arm up your vent!"

"But don't tell him! Cuz that's the REAL prize you get and if he knows that then he won't do it anymore."

"HMHMHAHAHAHAHA," cackled Moon, "ohohoho you two are such insane hatchlings I have never met any like you two!"

"THANK YOU!" cried both twins.

The family reunion continued, despite Barren's reluctance to rejoice in having lost a son with another one returning. She walked back to her nest as her children rallied around Moonclaw to show her the sights as well as to induct her into the tribe proper.

"I am sorry," said Oddclaw.

"It...it is alright," she replied blankly.

"I know he was your son."

"You are my son too. I cannot let him be part of us."

"I will tell you now, I took no pleasure in making him suffer. I promise you."

"Thank you. I know you are not like that. ...did you truly want to kill him?"

Oddclaw looked away with a slight shame burning inside his heart before he nodded.

"Yes, but only if you allowed me."

"Are you upset that I did not?" she asked.

"No. You are our mother. You always knew what was best for me."

"Hm...hmhmhm...I only wish we could have lived together in peace."

"I know."

He kissed her with a soft lick, nuzzling against her body and relishing her scent. She smiled back and licked him in turn, moving to happier topics.

"So this Moonclaw, is she your mate?"

"Wha-no, she is just a friend!"

"That is quite a friend, she is older than you and dare I say not very fertile."

"Th-that does not matter, she is kind to me!"

"Yes I can see that...though I hope she knows what she is getting into."

"What?"

"A-AAAAAAGH!"

Moonclaw's screech alerted them as they heard the sounds of raptors urinating behind the trees.

"Wh-WHAT IS THIS?!"

"This is how we bring hunters into our tribe!" cried Sandrunner

"W-w-we never did this in MY tribe!"

"Too bad, now get on your back it's time to mark you!"

Oddclaw could not help but laugh at the sight of the grey raptor now forced to lay submissively whilst five raptors drenched her in voluminous thick squirts of piss from bristling cloacas. She gave a look to him, indicating that he owed her for this as he gave an awkward grin.

"Did I not...tell you my father was brought in this way?"

"No," she snarled through closed lips. "You did not."

"Well at least you are not male, if you were they would have to fill your vent with seed!"

"They do not do that with females?"

"Oh no! Only your mate gets to have that!"

"Well I feel so fortunate-A-AAARGH PLHUH, th-that went in my mouth you filthy hatchling!"

"OOPS SORRYYY HEEEHEEHAHAH!"

Despite the humiliating display, the family managed to revert back towards happier days as Oddclaw reintegrated himself into his tribe's ways again. Moonclaw became inducted as a part of them with Oddclaw's family as he told them about the great journey he had across the world. He also mentioned the hairless who lived far away and how they looked after him, teaching him their ways and manner of speech which at first frightened his mother, but then made her realise how much he had grown. Truly, he was his father's son.

"Oddclaw?"

He recognised Barkclaw's voice from behind who looked incredibly nervous.

"Th-thank you...for saving me."

"You do not have to thank me. You are my brother."

Oddclaw pulled him close with a careful nuzzling as he licked across the many scars of his face.

"I will always protect you when I am here."

"Okay," muttered he. "Is Moonclaw your mate?"

"What, no!"

"Oh. ...can we still mate?"

"Of course we can! There is no reason for us not to."

"Okay. What if she wants to mate with you?"

"Then that is our choice."

The female came walking up now drenched in the musk of Oddclaw's family, smiling with a few droplets down her cheek.

"I did not have the chance to speak with you properly Barkclaw. It is good to meet you, Oddclaw talks about you every day."

"Really?"

"Oh yes, he tells me how much he worried about you more than anything else. I do not want to take Oddclaw away from you, and as he said, we are not mates. Just friends."

"What if you want to mate with him?"

"Then I will talk to you about it, and we can share him. Would you like that?"

"......yes. I would, thank you."

He tried to smile but became incredibly bashful and walked away after giving a small lick to Oddclaw, who turned towards Moonclaw with a deep gratitude.

"Thank you for understanding. I know he can be blunt."

"Hmhmhmhm it is fine," she smirked knowingly, "he is very kind with you."

"I have always been close to him since we hatched. He left the nest before I could but still kept close."

"I can tell. But I am not interested in mating as of yet."

"Oh. That is fine, but if...i-i-if you ever want to-"

"I know who to ask."

She slurped him with her tongue, giving him the unfortunate scent of his family in turn as he chuckled happily. It was not until two weeks passed amidst a great discovery on the shores of the lake, that they would find their world changing itself once again.

"Have you ever eaten an egg thief?" asked Moonclaw.

"No," replied Eggfang, "what are they like?"

"Lean and soft! They have small bones though so be careful, it is like eating fish that walks."

"Oooooh...I am glad we have none here but that does sound delicious."

"Mmhmm!"

"What was your home like?" asked Eggfang.

"It had fire and was barren," said Moonclaw, "but it had some trees to the east so there was always a place to hunt. But nothing compared to your home, so rich with life!"

"Well I am glad you like being here. You are quite the skilled hunter too, I have not seen anyone kill a stonetail that swift!"

"I have had practice...MUCH practice."

She said this with a dark grin that Eggfang reflected, the racing along the sands of the shore to the estuary between the lake and the sea in their daily patrols around the territory. Out of all the family members she met since her arrival, Moonclaw took best to Eggfang as a mature level-headed female.

"So what was Oddclaw like as a hatchling?" she asked.

"Hah, he cried constantly," said Eggfang, "such a sweet child. Mother had to look after him always when we hunted, until he was old enough which even then took many cycles. We were all out of the nest by the time he was just learning how to speak."

"Ahawhawwwwww what a dear thing. He did tell me he did not grow up as swift as the others."

"But he learned to hunt and he has great skill and wit, he can run along the trees and surprise even the most aware of beasts. What he lacks in strength he makes up for with a powerful mind, he might not ever win against me in a fight but he can outwit me quite well."

"Well that is good!" said Moon. "Have to make sure the males stay in line."

"HAH!" cried Eggfang with shining bucktooth. "I always said this family needed two mothers."

"Then perhaps we shall make it three."

"Ohhh? Are you planning to breed?"

"Mmmm...I am not sure, but I will gladly play mother when you need to rest."

"Hah...hhhahahaha, where were you all my life?"

The younger female licked across Moonclaw's face with a chirrup giggling at their own teasing before she stopped and looked towards the shoreline. The smell of something burning came through the air as they saw a twisting coil of black smoke.

"What is that?" asked Eggfang. "Is...is that fire?"

"No," replied Moonclaw, "that is not...not fire like I know it."

"What?"

"Be careful. This is not normal."

It smelt like burning plastic, an acrid unnatural sharpness that Moonclaw knew was not natural. She was right as they came upon a wrecked machine, one she recognised all too clearly. The bodies of hulking black armoured creatures laid on the shore beside it as Eggfang gasped.

"What is THAT?!"

"It...is the hairless," muttered Moon.

"Wh-what?! I thought...THAT is the hairless mother spoke of?!"

"Yes. That is not their real face, they hide themselves in stone because they bleed easily."

"I thought they...they were as great as a tree."

"No. Not at all."

They approached cautiously, sniffing around the unconscious bodies as they scratched and nibbled curiously. The smouldering object sat upon the waves of the shoreline as the younger female prodded with her long tooth.

"Why is that stone burning?"

"It must have been struck by the skyfire at night," said Moonclaw factually.

"That makes no sense, how can a stone catch fire?"

"Their stones can. They also float on the water."

"Alright now you are pulling my teeth, how can stones even FLOAT?!"

"As I said, theirs can."

Keeping their minds calm they investigated the crash site, but it was not until Eggfang stepped on a small square device that they panicked hearing a screeching voice and something speak.

"Sigma-Four are you there?"

"WA-AAAGH WHAT?!"

"Sigma-Four, come in! Are you there, come in?!"

"Wh-what IS that, it speaks!" stammered Eggfang.

"A-a-a stone that SPEAKS?!" squawked Moonclaw. "No...surely it-these hairless have such odd things."

"Sigma-Four! ...sounds like raptors, Taufik we need to send a rescue unit, tell General we're moving out and track their signal!"

"Eggfang, can you find Oddclaw for me?"

"Why?"

"If they are here, then that means trouble. He will know what to do with them."

"Alright."

She headed off whilst Moonclaw kept watch on the humans. The radio squawked occasionally with sounds unfamiliar before it fell silent now and again. Not more than half an hour later came Oddclaw hoofing it across the sand.

"What happened?!" he asked.

"The hairless landed here," explained Moonclaw. "They are alive but not waking up."

"I see. This...this is not good."

"I know."

"If they come here, they might find our tribe and I do not know what will happen."

"What do we do?"

"...that stone." He pointed at the radio. "Did it speak?"

"Yes, quite often it shouted at us."

"Let me see."

Oddclaw picked up the radio and clicked it on as he tried to remember how the humans spoke. His mouth became floppy with nerves as his tongue rolled stiffly.

"H-h-heh...hhhhhellloooo? H-hehllo? Isss...anyone there?"

"Who is this?!"

The voice of Thomas Brightman came snarling through the radio amidst a loud buzzing noise from the boat they were now in. Oddclaw put on a false smile.

"Hello...kangaroo."

"What?! Who is-......oh, dear god it's you."

"Who is it?!" cried a female voice.

"It's...it's that fucking raptor."

"Wha-O-ODDCLAW?!"

"Yep."

"Oddclaw?! Oddclaw it's Jane, doctor Jane Addison can you hear me?!"

"Yes," he replied calmly. "Hhhello Jane. I did not...thhhhink, I would hhhhear you again."

"How did you find this radio?!"

"On the shore. Next to the boat."

"What have you done to my team?!" shouted Thomas.

"Your teem are fine. They are asleep, but alive."

"We are coming to them now, you will leave them unharmed or so help me god I will-"

"You will what? Do you know...where I am? This not your mountain, this is MY home. Where I LIVE. Do not speak to me like that in my home, or you will reg-ret it."

"Are you holding them hostage?!"

"......yes."

He did not know what a hostage was, so he took a chance in saying yes. This was a mistake but he knew that all interactions with the humans involved posturing of some sort and as Jeremy would call it "walkin' like you had the biggest cock in the town to make people listen to whut you said".

"What do you want?" asked Brightman calmly.

"I want you to take your teem, and then leave. Do you un-derstand, Major?"

"It's General, MAJOR-General-"

"I do not care, kangaroo. You come here, take your teem, and never come back."

"Fine. Is that it?"

"Yes. I will keep my tribe away from yours, you take them back and go back to your mountain."

"Alright. We will do so, thank you for being civil, Oddclaw."

"Wait!" said Jane. "Wait wait before we go, how is the boat our men were in? Is it broken?"

"It is on fire," he replied. "It has smoke."

"Is it intact, any parts missing?"

"I do not see any-thing missing."

"Oh thank goodness, we might be able to fix it. Not gonna lie it's going to be hard to get four soldiers back."

"Four?"

"Yes, there should be four soldiers."

"......there are only three here."

"Wh-what?!"

"I see only three hu-men here. I do not see any in the water and...there are marks in the sand, he must have walked away."

"Really? Are you the only ones there?"

"Yes. My friend and my sister found them, but they did not hurt them."

"Alright. ...can you look for our fourth friend? I don't want him to be out there alone, something terrible might happen. Can you do that for me Oddclaw? Please, find my friend."

Her plaintive voice struck a softness in his heart, nodding as if she could see him.

"Okay Jane, I will. I will find him, and then you go back to the mountain."

"Thank you. I'm...I'm not angry for you running away. You wanted to go home, and now you are, it was not right of us to keep you with us."

"It was not. But I am home now, and I will stay home. Do not come near my home again, please."

"I won't. Will you take the radio with you? If you find our friend, you can tell us."

"Yes, I will take your...ray-dee-oh and tell you if I find your friend. Goodbye."

Clicking off the radio before pocketing it in his belt, he looked upon the footsteps that wandered haphazardly towards the forest.

"How many hairless did you find when you first arrived?" he asked.

"Just three," replied Moonclaw. "Why?"

"They said there were three-and-one here. One of them is missing."

"I do not know what to say, what you see here is exactly what I saw with Eggfang."

"Then we must find the missing hairless. If not...they will be angry. Their leader already thinks I have done something."

"I cannot believe you even speak their language. It sounds so..."

"Odd?"

"You said it, not me."

Had Moonclaw arrived twenty minutes earlier, she would have known who the culprits were, as they turned towards the forest thinking that the human had gone to find some shade. But the truth was much stranger and unfortunate.

"What IS this?!"

"That is one BIG stonefish!"

"That's not a stonefish it doesn't smell like one!"

"It's a DIFFERENT stonefish Leaf, ugh don't be stupid."

"Where did you find it?!"

"I caught it where the trees are, dragged it all the way here, knocked him out with a good POUNCE and covered him in smelly plants so no one would know except you...and me."

"That's not gonna fit up our vents, it's too big!"

"Mmmmm we can take it apart and it might."

"Awww why you wanna do that, it won't move anymore!"

"Maybe...hmmmm..."

Sand and Leaf had discovered something amazing. Sitting in the Roaring Caves not far from the crash site they discovered their new plaything, a large 5'9'' creature with arms and legs covered in black stone. They couldn't even break through it with their teeth, but the limbs were pliable enough that they could wrench them off if they so wanted. The bare edges showed skin that they nipped and licked to taste the blood that oozed from its body.

"Mmmmmm JUICY!" squeaked Sand smacking her lips. "It's a warmblood!"

"I TOLD you it wasn't a stonefish!" chanted Leaf.

"Oh whatever, it's a stone-SOMETHING now what are we gonna do with it?!"

"Well it won't get stuck in us so we won't need Oddie!"

"You're right! Okay, I think this part would be fun to start with."

"Okay you hold it up and push it in me!"

"What why me?!"

"You had your fun last time!"

"Ohhhh fine."

Leafrunner grabbed the arm with her teeth, gently lifting it up and aiming it towards Sandrunner's vent. She giggled fiendishly as she flexed her waiting cloaca with raised tail eagerly asking her sister:

"Remember those small fish we found? They were soooo good squirming in my belly, I could feel every twitch and gasp inside before they just died inside me! Hey are you putting it in or what?!"

"I can't get it in," whined Leaf, "the stupid claws won't go in!"

"Hold its claws then, come ON sis!"

"Fiiiiine, I just didn't wanna be that close to your smelly vent."

"HEY!" Sand smacked the tip of her tail on her sister's head. "My vent does not smell, I look after it every day!"

"You're used to your smell, that's why."

Leaf gnawed on the gloved hand, tasting the odd leathery fabric as she pushed the fingers into her sister. She quivered with a whimsical sound before Sand pushed herself back against it, as the arm became trapped in her moist cloaca to give the strangest sensations.

"MmmmmMMMMM! Ohhhh, ohhh that feels a lot better than a stonefish."

"Yeah?" mumbled Leaf.

"Mmmmmms-so thick...hhhhhh...ohhhh...now THIS is fun."

"It won't need to be alive just for us to use its arms."

"Or legs!" squeaked Sand. "They're big, we can twist them off and put them up our vents!"

"Oooooooh I LIKE that!" chirruped Leaf. "You always know what to say to me."

[i"One for you and one for ME-AAAH!"[/i]

"Wh-what?!"

"I-i-i felt it move!"

"What, no it's asleep!"

"N-n-no it totally moved, I can feel its cl-claws rubbing me!"

"Oh it's waking up! Quick we have to kill it!"

"NOOOOO! Let it...squirm a little in me."

"Sandrunner!"

"Noooooo it feels so gooooood-A-AAAAAH! OHHHHH! OHHH LEAF! IT FEELS SO G-GOOD!"

"We are going to be in BIG trouble if it wakes up and we do not kill it!"

"B-b-but it-H-HOHHH! OHHH! F-feels like when Oddie's pulling out a pinchy! A-AAAH! AAAAAH E-EEEEEEEEH!!"

Never had she felt an orgasm as good as this. Squirting a thick spray of juice onto the man's arm which gently roused itself from a troubled sleep, Sandrunner felt the twitching rubbing fingers flex at her walls with dexterity that only her brother was capable of. She staggered forwards with a sweet chirr of lust, smirking as she turned round to see the odd "stone-something" lift its head and stare straight at the 7-foot tall raptor.

"Hellooooo! We're gonna kill you!"

The human said nothing, tensing up with an immediate scent of fearful aggression.

"...did it know what I said?"

"I dunno," shrugged Leaf. "I'll grab this arm, you grab that and we twist as hard as we can."

"Okay-dokeyyyy."

Moving to either side, the human suddenly reacted by punching Leaf hard in the face and kicking Sand out beneath her legs.

"O-OWWW!"

"GUH, COME BACK HERE YOU STUPID SHIT!"

"YEAH WE WANNA KILL YA!"

They ran after him with much greater speed than the man could muster despite his pounding boots, realising he had no weapons on him other than a knife in his boot. He turned a corner sharp and pulled it free ready to gouge the first sister that came.

"YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME, YOU SLOW STUPID STONE SHI- A-AAAAAAAAGH!"

"LEAAAF!"

Stabbed in the leg, Leafrunner hobbled away with shock and burning fury at their defensive prey whilst bleeding out of her right leg. The human roared something in his language but Sand pounced him when his back was turned and raked her claws furiously on his back.

"YOU HURT MY SISTER!? I'M GONNA BREAK YOUR SKULL AND SHIT DOWN YOUR NECK YOU STUPID WARMBLOOD!"

The struggle ensued as she grabbed at his left arm and pulled it hard towards her, wrenching with her teeth that while were not able to pierce the rubbery armour could twist the muscle inside to render it useless. The human was undeterred and waited for her to tug less before rolling fast to his left, lying on top of her before slamming his elbow hard at her jaw. With knife still in hand he tried to stagger up for a slashing turn to cut her throat, but Leaf dove in and grabbed his arm in her teeth to stop him. She pulled hard as she could to snap the human's arm as he screamed with anguish, dropping the knife in spasm which clattered down the cave before headbutting Leaf in the face. Disarmed and unarmed he ran with pure adrenaline, faster than he had ever run in his life as he hoped he wounded the raptors enough to slow them down. He saw the smoke from the beach over the next hill, waving his one good arm on noticing his commander arrived with a small unit. Jane was there also as she hurried to the wounded soldier.

"HELP, HELP MAN DOWN, MAN DOWN I'M BEING CHASED!"

"WHAT?!" cried Thomas.

"T-TWO RAPTORS, FOLLOWING ME!"

"Did they do this to you?!"

"Y-YES!"

The Major-General gritted his teeth as he moved a hand towards his pistol, trying to control the insulted rage that curled in his lip.

"That bastard lied to us. Where were you, why were you not here?!"

"I-i woke up in a cave," said the soldier, "just over there, one of 'em musta knocked me out an' dragged me out to there, I was in the forest trying to get help an' somethin' tackled me!"

"Wait," started Jane with hand on Brightman's arm, "that's not...n-n-no that can't be, Oddclaw wouldn't lie, you heard him!"

"Well he did," said Brightman. "Must be punishment for keeping him all nice and safe in our base."

"No, he promised, he is not a liar, he told us there were only three here he couldn't have known about-"

"ADDISON! This is not a science operation now, this is a rescue mission and that means that I am the one running this. When you have your science I will listen but this is strictly a military matter."

"What if these raptors are not with him!? They can't all be part of one group!"

"This is his territory isn't it?!"

"...I-i suppose he did say-"

"Then they are his responsibility."

"SIR!"

A guard shouted at the sight of two brown shapes, pointing towards their direction.

"OPEN FIRE!"

"WHA-AAAAAGH!"

"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"

"LEAF, RUN! RUN HE'S GOT FRIENDS!"

"ODDIE HEEEEEEEEELP!"

Leafrunner staggered as best she could, hobbling with a whimper whilst Sand tried to pull her along with gentle tugs of her teeth.

"IN THE TREES, WE CAN HIDE THERE-A-AAAAGH!"

Bullets zipped past them as they tried to run in a serpentine motion, panicking from the sudden shots and furious explosions with the clamouring humans behind them. Even when wounded they were still faster as they hurried into the forest and used the shade to disguise their tracks. But the military squadron was not so blind and cautiously began to follow with a steady pace, despite Jane's insistence.

"They were running AWAY!"

"When some damn beast attacks my men after being held hostage I do NOT take prisoners!"

"Oddclaw PROMISED he would not-"

"And look what happened to Jenson! This is a message, ONE of them will be dealt with before this day ends, now MOVE OUT!"

Thomas trampled his way in with handgun at the ready, his soldiers scoring six not including Jane and the wounded Jenson as they kept watch in every direction. Leafrunner was sharp in focus, the threat of the coming intruders making her much more cautious in not leaving behind any trace of blood if she could help it.

"I-i-i, I can't, I can't!"

"N-no come on Leaf we can make it back home!"

"M-my leg is...a-aaaagh it hurts!"

"Oddie will fix it, don't worry now come on it's not far! I can hear the warmbloods coming!"

They dragged themselves onwards with Sand trying to shoulder her sister and keep them moving, the sounds of humans stomping through the growth and slashing with long blades to clear the path now a constant threat ever encroaching upon them. Soon as they smelt their family they started to shriek for help as he rushed to them.

"ODDIE, ODDIIIIIIIIIE!"

"H-HELP, ODDIIIIIE!"

"Wh-what is going on?!" he shouted.

"TH-THE STONETHINGS, THEY, TH-THEY STABBED ME!"

"WHAT?!"

The bloody scar in her leg was proof enough, but soon he heard the humans approaching as other raptors started to signal from afar.

"INTRUDERS!"

"PROTECT THE NEST!"

"SIX-AND-TWO BEASTS, SMELL LIKE FIRE!"

The nest suddenly became a hive of activity as a clamouring horde readied themselves into battle stations. He grabbed for his radio trying to call his human friend.

"Jane! JANE, where are you?!"

"Oddclaw, I'm sorry but he-AH!"

"You listen to me you gutless lizard," snarled Brightman. "You broke your promise to my men, and I am NOT leaving until that debt has been paid."

The radio clicked silent as he looked confused but hearing Thomas was on the warpath he made a decision. Moonclaw was beside him as she asked:

"What is happening?"

"The hairless are coming."

"What?! But I thought you said-"

"Something has happened, I think they found their friend."

"What do we do?"

Tensing his claws into fists, an idea sparked in his mind realising what had happened. He started to walk forwards.

"They cannot reach the nest. I will stop them."

"B-but what if they kill you?!"

"I can speak to them. Tell my family to stay back."

She understood the severity in his voice as being one who would not be swayed by argument as he walked towards the sound of humans. Pulling his shotgun out with barrels loaded he stepped towards a clearing where they could fully see him exposed. The humans were much slower through the forest than any beast he knew, and it would only take them a few minutes to reach him. But the same could not be said for his family all running up behind him including his wounded sisters.

"Oddclaw!"

He did not turn towards them but swished his tail in brazen insult.

"What, are you DOING here?!"

"Moonclaw told us," said Fishclaw, "this is foolish!"

"THEY'LL KILL YOU!" shouted Sandrunner.

"I told you I met the hairless before," replied Odd, "I know how to speak to them."

"This c-cannot be happening!" whimpered Barren desperately trying to edge forwards. "F-first I lost a son, n-now the hairless, just as they tried to take your father they will take you away from me again!"

"I will not let them mother."

"NO, IT DOES NOT MATTER, THEY DID THINGS TO US ODDCLAW! THEY TOOK YOUR FATHER AND CHANGED HIM, AND ALPHA HE-"

"Will NOT make that mistake again."

Striding out alongside the family was Alpha himself. There was a gentle fear in him, but latent with fury as he brandished his claws along with his strongest guard around him.

"I remember these beasts. I will not let them twist my mind anymore."

"A-alpha please," said Oddclaw, "I can stop this!"

"Oddclaw, you will move back to your family now."

"But, I-"

"That is an ORDER, I am your alpha and you WILL obey me."

"I know them better than you."

"You DARE defy me?!"

The humans were coming closer. It was only then that Barren saw the gun from Oddclaw's hand for the first time since his return. None of them had even noticed the belt he wore nor realised its contents. The humans came closer, Alpha braced himself for an attack as he called to his stealth units hunting through the trees to pincer them despite Oddclaw's insistence.

"On my signal, hunters, you will kill the first hairless you see."

"Alpha please!" cried Oddclaw.

"Get BACK here NOW hatchling!"

"I can make them leave!"

"YOU are not the alpha, if you disobey me here-"

"SIR I hear them!"

"Keep your wits about you men. That bastard won't make a fool out of me this time."

"Clearing up ahead, I see just one of 'em."

"On my signal."

"Hunters, move in."

"Ready."

"Closer."

"Mark...two...one-"

BANG!

Human and raptor shrieked alike at the sudden burst of shotgun that cracked through the air with a deafening call, frightening both sides as his family balked in fear except for Moonclaw. The humans backed off inside the bushes with their barest outlines showing as Alpha struggled to regain his composure, before shouting at his insubordinate.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"ARE YOU THERE HUMEN!?" barked Oddclaw. "YOU ARE...SIR-ROUN-DED. DO NOT FIRE, OR ELSE YOU WILL DIE!"

"Wh-what is tha-what...he speaks like the hairless!?"

"WHAT?!" screeched Barren. "H-how is he-O-OH, WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

"I KNOW YOU ARE THERE! I KNOW JANE IS WITH YOU, AND YOUR GENERAL!"

"How the FUCK does he have a gun!?!?" roared Major-General Brightman. "WHO, THE FUCK, GAVE THE FUCKING DINOSAUR A GUN!?[b/]"

"I think it was the same person that helped him escape," replied Jane snarkily.

Thomas felt the urge to facepalm with a seething fury blistering from his neck as he turned towards Jane.

"......I, am going to murder that Welsh prick."

The Major-General turned back towards the lone raptor.

"LISTEN UP RAPTOR, YOU HAVE SIX GUNS ON YOU! IF YOU FIRE AT US NOW, THEN YOU AND EVERYONE BEHIND YOU WILL BE SHOT TO PIECES!"

"IF YOU FIRE NOW, YOU DIE FROM MY TRIBE THAT ARE AROUND YOU!"

"I DO NOT NEGOTIATE WITH ANIMALS!"

"NEITHER DO I!"

"Oddclaw what is this?!" snarled Alpha.

The raptor called back without turning his head.

"I am telling their leader to stay away."

"Are you?!"

"I told you I knew them, I can stop this!"

"YOU are violating my rule, I am the Alpha here and you will RESPECT ME-"

"I AM THE ONE WHO WIELDS FIRE IN MY HAND, JUST AS THE HAIRLESS DO! DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT DOES, ALPHA?!"

Brimming with testosterone came the scent of a dominant beast, a sweltering musk that burst free from Oddclaw's body with such furore that it made the Alpha gasp with slight. The raptor's family were also shocked by his sudden strength of voice and character as Brightman called out:

"You promised you would not hurt my soldiers!"

"I never hurt them!" shouted Odd.

"Then explain why ONE of my men was running out of a sea cave screaming with a broken arm!?"

"...what? He was in the cave?"

"Yes, and he said two raptors were there doing unsavoury things and trying to eat him!"

He did not even need to ask who those two were as it all came together in his head. He glanced back at Leafrunner with an accusing eye.

"Did you try to kill one of them in a cave?"

"W-we, thought it was a stonefish!" she squabbled.

"A really BIG stonefish!" cried Sandrunner. "B-but then it woke up and stabbed Leaf in the leg and ran away!"

"Did you drag him to the cave?!" he asked.

"Well, yeah, we didn't wanna wake up his friends, they looked big and just one of them was gonna feed us all day!"

"Good thing we did," said Leafrunner, "that thing really hurt me!"

Just as he thought, Oddclaw shook his head with grief as he replied back to the humans.

"My sisters tell me is true. They took one of your men to the cave."

"So you admit it!" said Thomas.

"I did not know! My sisters found them before I did!"

"They are your family, and therefore YOU are responsible."

"My family not soldiers! I do not tell them what they do!"

"I want them to be punished!" said Brightman slamming his fist on a tree.

"Your friend stab her in the leg, is that not punished enough?!"

"You broke a promise to me Oddclaw, I will NOT walk away without due payment."

"If you do not leave now, you will never walk again!"

"You have ONE gun."

"I get further with a kind word and a gun...then I would with a kind word."

The humans looked at each other quzzically as something triggered in the back of their heads.

"I have six guns and no kind words," insisted Brightman, "where does that leave you?"

"I have dozens of knives...because..I am a dago bastard!"

"SNRRRK!"

The way he said this proudly without understanding what it meant made some of the soldiers smirk with confused laughter at his stance. Jane could not help but snigger as Thomas drew a deep breath.

"Do you think that I am not experienced enough to take down you savages and bring my men back safely?"

"You are nothing but, a lot of talk, and a badge!"

"PFFFFT!"

Brightman glared at one of his soldiers trying to suppress a hiccuping laugh, but Jane decided to step in or else this macho showdown would never cease.

"Let me talk to him."

"What?!"

"He won't listen to you didn't you hear, he's insulting you now!"

"Then I'll make him pay for it," said the General adamant.

"No, please, let me just ONCE-"

"You had your chance with him, three years of research wasted."

"It was NOT wasted, we learnt a great many things!"

"About one freak!"

"And that freak is the one who has a gun pointed at us now!"

"Jane! JANE! God DAMMIT Jane!"

The soldiers relaxed their grip with an uncomfortable premise as the doctor took matters into her own hands, stepping out towards the clearing. She could see the teeming eyes of raptors behind him on the opposite side, staring with confusion whilst Oddclaw stood still holding his shotgun firmly towards her group, her hands up in the same position when he pointed a gun at them two years before. But this time there was no fear from her he sensed.

"Oddclaw...it's alright Oddie. It's me. Do you remember me?"

"...hello Jane," he said with the faintest smile. "Is kangaroo upset?"

"HMHM, y-yes...he is, very but I told you not to call him that."

"I am sorry. He should not be in my home, none of you."

"I know." She walked closer with growing confidence. "I did not want him to, I'm sorry I tried to stop him. He's just very angry and upset that you, well, your sisters hurt his friend. Now wouldn't you feel upset if they hurt your friend?"

"They did, my sister was stab, here."

He pointed at his leg and she could see the blood dripping off of Leafrunner in the back behind him.

"What is happening?!" asked Barren.

"That one looks different," murmured Moonclaw.

"I-it, no, Oddclaw, ODDCLAW DO NOT LET HER TOUCH YOU!"

"Mother it is alright!" he shouted back. "She is a friend!"

"What friend could you possibly have in a hairless warmblood?!"

"She kept me safe! When Sunscreech threw me into the sea, she found me...kept me warm and fed...helped me when I was sad and lonely, when I was missing you. She helped me mother. She was the first hairless friend I ever had."

"Wh-who is that?" asked Jane Addison. "I heard you talking to...is that, your family?

"That...that is my mother," he replied in English. "She...she is frightened you will hurt me."

"Wh-why would she think that?!"

"She does not trust you. She...the humen ka...kap-choored her before and, my father too."

"Really? ...you...really?!"

"Yes."

She did not lower her hands but there was empathy clear in her scent with pity.

"My god, tha-...that must have been past team, I wonder if...no, listen. Tell your mother I am sorry for what we did. I know it was not me and my friends but I am sorry. I don't want this fight to happen, I want to leave you in peace, you are back home and no one's been killed and that's what's important."

"Tell HIM that," he gestured his head to Brightman.

"I'm trying, but he needs to see you will not want to kill us."

"How can we make...him see?"

"Do you remember the first book I ever gave you? Remember what Horton said to the sour kangaroo?"

He nodded slowly, his finger still in the trigger but smiling gladly at Jane.

"A person, is a person. No matter how small."

"Yes. You remember."

"I do. Jane."

"Yes?"

"...can I hug you?"

She was surprised by this request, but knowing it was the perfect moment to help disarm the situation she nodded and walked forwards. She put her hand up forwards to make sure he stayed in front of her, indicating with her eyes the danger still behind her as she wrapped her arms around him. He wrapped his empty hand around her back, but soon his shotgun pressed against her back in a full embrace.

"They can't shoot you now," she whispered in his ear. "They won't shoot me."

"Good. Thank you."

"...I'm so glad you got back home."

"Are you angry at Jeremy?"

"No. None of us are, only Brightman. He doesn't like one of his people acting against him, shows disrespect."

"My leader does not like it too, when someone diss-respekt him."

"Hhhmhmhmhm...did you act against him?"

"Yes. I did, by doing this."

"...you and Jeremy are such awful troublemakers."

She gave him a good squeeze as they started giggling, feeling the warmth of his heart soar against her own as a healthy scent glowed over them to the raptors. Barren understood it as the smell of friendship, happy and trusting as well as one that no hairless could ever deceive them with. The humans in turn recognised the sound of Jane and Oddie laughing, her chortle combined with his strange trilling noise of mirth.

"You really do trust her," said Barren in awe.

"I do," he said back to her. "Mother...can you do something for me?"

"Yes?"

"...come here, to me. I want you to meet my friend."

"Wh-what?"

"It is alright. She cannot fight, and her tribe will not attack because she is standing in their way. You are safe."

Oddclaw pulled back keeping Jane in front of him, claws put on her sleeves.

"Do you want to meet my mother?"

"What?"

"She is frightened. But we can stop this fight."

"I...okay, yes, t-tell her it's fine."

"Come closer mother. It is fine, my friend wants to meet you."

Despite her large appearance and intimidating posture, Barren kept low to the ground with submissive fear whilst stepping towards the human. Jane steadied herself to hide the fear that came natural to her, knowing she could trust Oddclaw. But the sight of a 7-foot-tall velociraptor trudging with long clawed feet and a wicked pale snout was terrifying either way. The voice Oddclaw had when communing with his family was also strange and gave an instinctive sense of anxiety from the muted growls and trembling snarls that composed his language, despite Oddclaw managing to switch from English to raptor rather easily.

"Mother. This is my friend. Jaaaaane. Addison."

"That...is her name? What an odd name."

"Jane, this is my mother. The One From the Barren Plains."

"Oh...goodness that's qui-ite a name hah, hahaha...um, h-how...do you do miss?"

The soldiers watched in silence with baited breath and armed rifles pointing at velociraptors. Brightman found himself more reluctant to fire not only with Jane making matters more complicated by becoming a human shield, but the fact she was now actually conversing with a fully feral dinosaur as if petting a dog on the street. She raised her hand towards her snout, letting her sniff in trust as her fear began to recede with a warm kindness that Barren understood. She smiled through her eyes twinkling as she started to lick across the sweet bare flesh despite Jane's twitching nerves.

"It's alright," said Oddclaw reminding. "She likes you. This is how we say hello."

"H-heh-llo...um...Mrs. Raptor, h-how are you?"

"What did she say?" she asked.

"She says hello, how are you?"

"I...I am scared but I...I like her. Can you...did she really keep you safe, as a friend?"

"She did, mother."

"Tell her...tell her I said thank you, for keeping my son safe and warm and fed."

"She says thank you for keeping me safe," he translated.

"Y-you told her that?" asked Jane.

"I did."

"Well...I am glad we met. Can I hug her? Like I hugged you?"

Oddclaw turned back towards his mother smiling.

"She wants to put her arms around you, like she did with me."

"Why?" asked Barren.

"That is how the hairless greet each other. It...it is a sign of trust."

"I...I am not sure-"

"Please, we have to. Her tribe must know we do not mean harm and they can leave."

Barren understood as she gave permission. She leaned her head forwards and placed it upon Jane's shoulders seeing what Oddclaw had done with her. She gave a cautious lick, scraping her smooth tongue along the cheek as Jane wrapped her arms slowly around her neck and pulled her in for a deep hug. This would be the moment that Brightman ordered his men to pull back.

"Stand down."

"S-sir?"

"Stand down. They don't wanna fight us."

"Wh-what, what are your orders?"

"We go back to our base. If she can hug a damn raptor without getting mauled like some liberal then frankly I'd rather not waste the bullets. Oddclaw! Can you hear me?!"

"Yes," he said.

"We're moving back," replied Brightman. "Tell your friends to leave us and we shall not harm you. You've proven yourself here."

"I am very grateful. Thank you, Major-General. I will tell you now, the forest and all of these trees are my home. If you ever come back here for any reason, please do not go into the trees."

"Alright, I understand. But you tell your raptors to stay away from us too, if any of us get attacked by you lot out there, we're gonna have some strong words between us."

"I hope that will not happen. Thank you."

"What is, happening?" asked Alpha.

"They are leaving," replied Oddclaw. "They do not want to fight."

"What, are you sure?!"

"Of course, I know they are telling the truth! Let them go, they want to leave back to their home, we must not be cowards from behind."

"...hmmm...this one does not want to fight certainly. ...alright. Hunters, pull back! Do not fight them, do NOT hunt after them, we must head back to the nest!"

The sound of a dozen raptors came slithering around the bushes, shivering leaves as their tails swished past heading away from the human pack. Brightman kept his word and departed with Jane making her way back after she offered her hand to Oddclaw. He understood the gesture and shook it firmly while holstering his gun at ease.

"Thank you Oddclaw," said Jane. "You...you really are a kind person."

"You are the kind person, not me." he replied. "You stopped him and me."

"Well...the chips are down, I have to try something. I almost feel responsible for you now."

"Hmm..."

"Is it...okay if I come back sometime?"

"What?"

"I would like to meet...your family, come say hello, be a friend to them, just like I was with you."

"R-really? You want to come back?"

"Not with Brightman, just with a small group."

"C-can you bring...Jeremy, sometime?"

"If we can get him to come yes!"

"Then I would like that, yes! If my family want it."

"Well, you still have that radio?"

"Yes?"

He pulled it from his belt as she smiled pushing it against his chest.

"Keep ahold of it, that way I can talk with you even when we are far away."

"Oh! Yes, that, that is good, I can talk with you on this!"

"We can make something work after you talk with your family. This...could be the start of something new. Make you an...ambassador."

"A what?"

"Ambassador. Someone who fixes problems between two tribes."

"Oh, is that......what you call...this?"

"Yes."

The word was new to him, wrestling inside his mouth but the way she said it gave him a sense of pride as he puffed out his chest reciting the syllables.

"Ambass...sidor. Am-bas-sid-dor."

"Yes," replied Jane, "you could be one for us, between the raptors and the humans."

"I...I could."

"DOCTOR, WE'RE LEAVING!"

"OH shit right, um, well th-thank you bye! Call me on the radio!"

"Yes, goodbye Jane! Thank you!"

She hurried back into the woods to reunite with her group as the other raptors gathered round the new ambassador all confused. Barren was flowing with peace and a strange sense of closure that seemed to complete her. Alpha however was less than pleased.

"I will congratulate you on your impressive skill in turning those hairless away from us without death. But, if you ever disobey me again I will wound you."

"Yes, Alpha," said Oddclaw humbly. "I am sorry for disobeying you, but I had to act."

"I am the leader of this pack and no other. There has been enough blood spilt, and we are short one hunter with one of our females that need rest. I will not punish you, instead when it is your turn to hunt, you must bring back TWICE as much food or else, is that understood?"

"Yes. Thank you Alpha."

He nodded as the leader left to reconvene with his guards and squadron leaving Oddclaw with his family.

"Are you alright?" asked Leafrunner.

"I am fine. Everything is alright."

"D-did that stone-thing, hairless, whatever, are they gone?"

"They are gone. BUT..."

His look became cold and piercing through his sisters' hearts, forcing them to cower with a forced humility.

"I hope this is a lesson for you to stop playing your stupid games."

"F-fine, whatever ugh you're not my dad Oddie!"

"No, but someone has to keep you two in line, your reckless actions almost killed this family and others of our tribe."

"B-b-but we were jus-"

"NO!"

The raptor rose a finger to them with renewed dominance as they squeaked.

"No more pinchy, no more putting beasts up your vents, you brought those hairless to our home with your foolishness and I will NOT tolerate it anymore, understand?!"

"......y-yes. We're sorry."

"Good. ...hmph...sometimes I do feel like I am your father."

"You are."

The mother Barren said this as she looked up with a brave smile on her face.

"You are your father truly. The way you spoke, how you held that fire against them with such strength and dominance......I felt like I was young again on the day that he left."

"Mother..."

She nuzzled across his face, leaving a long glancing lick past his snout.

"You are everything your father was Oddclaw. I...I am proud to have you as my son."

He hugged her tight as they licked each other, savouring the peace that would exist in their time now and perhaps forever or at least they hoped. A brave new world was waiting for their partnership, between the past and the future.