FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Are you absolutely certain?" asked Jane.

"Well what do YOU think it is?" said Andrea.

"I think it is just a collected group of meteorites that just HAPPEN to look like that."

"That's impossible," stated Thomas, "no comet or meteorite looks like that, the shape is far too smooth and they DON'T fall together that closely."

"You cannot be serious, you of all people cannot possibly think it's-"

"There is no other explanation. We have taken a long hard look at this, plus the impact and the speed it was falling rules out the chances of it being just space debris."

"...is this something you military people knew?"

Kevin's words came petering from the back with alacrity. The heads of the human base were standing around a glowing screen on a table with various images recorded from their tracking radar. A glimmering blur of sweet amber steel with unusually smooth textures as Kevin continued with:

"You seem reaaaaaal laid-back about this being the idea of aliens."

"You're asking if I doubt aliens exist," said Thomas turning his head, "when we are standing millions of years back in prehistoria and we just last year made an ambassador of a goddamn dinosaur who knows how to wield a shotgun?"

"OKAY sorry jeez, I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same boat."

"Was it related to the experiment doctor Dixon?"

"I'm not sure," said Andrea pressing her fist to her lips, "the portal opened by itself when we were doing some maintenance."

"What? By itself?!"

"It's happened before, we just don't bother you with every detail, usually it comes up as nothing like turning the key in a car ignition. It starts up, it works, but you're not driving it anyplace."

"But the portal opened around the time that this...thing appeared?"

"If it is what you think it is, we cannot rule out that there might be a connection, I just don't know what would cause these things to appear."

"Wait, things?" asked Jane. "This is just ONE thing isn't it?"

"No," said Dixon, "actually there are two things we found."

"What?!"

She tapped into the screen to reveal the second set of images. The design was far more inconceivable to write off as just a meteorite when it had a small set of sails and was coloured blue with a stern and bow.

"...that...th-that looks like...a, a ship?!"

"A very old style of ship," said Kevin agasp, "like something a fucking conquistador would ride."

"That, that is impossible, no, no I REFUSE to accept-it was one thing to have Oddclaw but this, THIS is the limit!"

"Maybe it is-OH! Wait, wait what if, maybe it is a ship from our time, like when we took Jeremy?!"

"What?!"

"What if the portal messed something up," continued Kevin rushing forwards to the table, "and now it's sucking up things from other time periods?! Maybe it's not even aliens or things like that but maybe it's just us fucking around with time again!"

"......okay, I know that sounds still weird, but I am much more willing to accept that somehow."

"Whatever the case," said Brightman emphatic, "we must find where those ships have landed."

"The orange craft landed on an island," said Andrea, "but I don't know where the blue one went, we were busy tracking one object and missed the other."

"Then we shall investigate the first one. Addison I'll need you with us as peacemaker, get Holt and I'll round up the men."

"What if it threatens us?" cried Oddclaw.

"Then we will fight in our home," snarled Alpha.

"But why fight it here when we can fight it away from us?!"

"If the hairless are so concerned, they can deal with it. My concern is with THIS tribe, and we do not roam beyond this land."

"Alpha please, let me go see-"

"ENOUGH!" he roared with burning testosterone. "I warned you what would happen if you dare defy me Oddclaw, and as much as I respect the bond you have made with the hairless, I will not send our hunters to fight that which does not intrude our home."

"At least let me scout!" pleaded Oddclaw cowering before him. "Let someone observe so we can be prepared!"

"The Hunter's Nest is guarded in every direction the wind blows, nothing will come here without our knowing. Stay, here, until I order you otherwise, or else I will punish you severely, is that understood?"

"......yes, alpha."

He knew not to push it, walking away as the rest of the raptors returned to their families after the meeting. No one had any clue what was happening, and the smoke that billowed from the north gave a constant unrest from the whisperings of fire on their nostrils. Fishclaw stood beside his younger brother, the anthro armed with shotgun and radio with Moonclaw alongside him.

"Did the hairless say anything?" she asked.

"Only to prepare myself. They seemed upset."

"They always seem upset," Fishclaw shrugged exasperated, "compared to them Barkclaw is calm like the lake."

"I want to know what this is. The hairless are not like this, something has frightened them and I do not want us to be vulnerable because our leader cares about territory more than lives!"

"Enough."

His older brother steped up towards him with a tired look in his eyes, the scent of irritation permeating his face.

"You know he cares for us, if we spread ourselves out and lose our strength, we cannot protect the children."

"Then why not send ME alone? The tribe can survive without me, it has done so for six cycles."

"Just do what he says damn you!"

"...are you alright?"

"......no." Fishclaw sighed with a muffled growl in his throat. "One of my daughters is sick, I have the herbs for her but she has kept me up all night so I am sorry if I am short of patience."

"It is fine," said Oddclaw politely licking his brother's cheek. "Do you need any help?"

"No, I...Eggfang has offered to look after her if I am hunting or sleeping."

"That is good. But I insist we must find something out about this."

"What are you planning to do?" asked Moonclaw.

"Unless you can fly," snorted the brother with a defeated snigger. [/i]"I do not think you will see anything from here."[/i]

"......fly. Fly, that's it!"

He bounced with enthusiasm as he ran towards the edges of the lake, just stopping short of the territory border next to the sand dunes. Fishclaw hurried after with Moonclaw having an inkling on what he was up to with beaming smile. The shadows of long wings flapped across the sky faintly.

"What are you up to?!" asked Fishclaw. "Alpha will not be happy if you leave now."

"I am not leaving."

"Good."

"I am calling a friend. HEY! HELLO, YOU, FLYER!"

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"FLYER! FLYER I AM A FRIEND OF STONESEA! I MUST SPEAK WITH YOU!"

The blurry shape of a yellow-winged beast came swooping down with curious squeaks, keeping her distance at a height beyond their reach.

"How do you know Stonesea?!"

"My name is Oddclaw, son of Oddscar. I was the one who fought the Suneater."

"OHHHHHhhhh yeeeeees I remember you! Sorry, all earthwalkers look the same to me."

"Who is this?!" cried Fishclaw. "I know you told me you made friends with skyflesh but-"

"HEY!" she shouted. "If you squawk at me to come down you do not get to call me skyflesh, you call me FLYER, understand?!"

"Fine, fine sorry!"

"Now what do you want?!"

"Do you see that fire?" asked Oddclaw. "I cannot leave my territory, but I am afraid something dangerous may come of it. Can you go and see what is happening, then fly back to me and tell me what it is?"

"You want me to just tell you there is a fire?! Sheesh, you earthwalkers are odd."

"Just do this for me please."

"And what will you do for me in exchange?"

"My brother is skilled at hunting fish, he will catch one for you."

"Wh-what?!" stammered Fishclaw. "No, Oddclaw I only catch for my family!"

"Please Fishclaw, we have to know what is happening and a flyer can learn great things from the sky that we cannot!"

"Hmhmha, alright then," said the pterodactyl, "you flatter me with your words, I will fly to the fire and tell you...for TWO fish."

"Done!"

"W-wait, WAIT!"

She flapped off before Fishclaw could protest, leaving the raptors stunned at the anthro's negotation.

"I am not catching fish for someone not of our tribe!"

"Why not?!" cried Moonclaw. "You brought food for me."

"Th-that is different you are one of our-"

"One of your KIND? HMMMM, sounds awfully like another brother you had that is no longer with us-"

"Do NOT speak of him!" shouted Fishclaw baring teeth. "You are NOT from my mother's womb so you have NO RIGHT to speak ill of him yet!"

"OHOHO nnnnno no nonono," she rambled rolling her neck with derisive chuckle, "I am just simply the one who brought your younger brother back home!"

"That does not give you the right to criticise my family, even the ones who are banished!"

"Fishclaw."

The two turned towards Oddclaw who crossed his arms disapproving at him.

"Will you catch me two fish, please?" he asked politely.

"I said no," ranted Fishclaw, "I did not want a part of this!"

"Then why not teach ME to catch them and I will do it instead? Unless you would rather prove to the flyers that all 'earthwalkers' are liars and thieves."

"We are NOT that!"

"Then prove it! She cannot claim such if we do not give her the chance to think that, yes?!"

"...ugh, fiiiiiine!" he relented with long whining howl. "But next time warn me of such arrangements before you go off on your own!"

Trudging off in a huff towards the lake, Fishclaw made his scouring attempts of the water with practiced eye and a steady jaw as he waded through the shallows. Silver gleamed between the stones as he studied the lake with deep concentration, eyes barely moving as he stiffened the muscles of his neck. Two minutes passed in silence as Moonclaw wanted to speak, but Oddclaw put a hand to her to keep her quiet knowing that focus was important. Four minutes. Something creeped past and with a sudden snatch he lunged his face into the water to catch a perfect mouth-filling fish in his teeth, wriggling desperately as its blood draped across his chin.

"Huud nntuu rhis," he muttered as Oddclaw took its dying body before Fishclaw went back to the lake.

"That was...amazing," replied Moon, "I have never seen any hunter catch a FISH!"

"His patience is beyond us," said Oddclaw proudly, "When I was young, he once stood in the lake until it was night just to catch one fish."

"And did he catch it?"

"Yes! Once he has his eyes set on a fish, it will not escape. Even if he must wait a night and day."

"That does not sound healthy."

"He does sleep if he has to......I think."

Splashing from the water came another fish hooked in his teeth as Fishclaw offered the second for his brother to hold, dangling from his hands by their tails in bleeding spasms as they waited for the flyer to return. It was not until twelve minutes later that she came seeing with joy that they had honoured their deal.

"I return!"

The raptor handed her one fish for her to gulp, swallowing it down into her long throat with a thick slippery bulge that travelled to her stomach. Oddclaw waited until she was done swallowing to ask:

"I will give you the other fish when you tell me what you saw."

"Fair enou-URRP!" she belched shaking her head. "I saw a large stone made of fire on the island out on the sea."

"A stone made of fire?"

"It did not look like stone, but I cannot call it anything else. It shined like the sun had fallen to the earth, but I saw no fire around it."

"Was there any danger?"

"No, but I did see a stonebeast leave the great stone itself."

"A stonebeast?!"

"It wore the firestone upon itself," she continued, "shining as it walked into the trees. I kept my distance, but I saw there was an odd tree on the other side of the island hidden in the mountain's shadow."

"An odd tree?" he asked. "Why was it odd?"

"It had leaves that look like clouds, and a shape like...I cannot describe it, but I saw small beasts moving around it that walked on two legs."

"Were they hairless?"

"Yes, they were! That is all I can tell you."

"Thank you flyer."

He handed her the other fish which she took gladly in one gulp.

"Tell Stonesea that I hope he and his family are well."

"GLUK...glllk-aaaaah, wonderful fish, I shall do so, thank you hunters! Be safe!"

She flapped back up to the sky as the raptors returned, but not before Oddclaw tuned in on his radio to give the heads-up.

"Jane, are you there?"

"Oddclaw!" she replied. "Are you alright? How's things over there?"

"I spoke with a...um, flying, wing beast, I asked her to look at the island. She said there was a big stone that landed there."

"We know, we're heading there now by boat."

"She also said there was someone there, someone made of stone that came out of the big stone."

"What?! Hold on wait, are you saying there's a PERSON there?!"

"Yes. There is also an odd tree on the island with leaves shaped like clouds on it. I do not know any tree that has that."

"Tree? Leaves like...clouds, I......oh my god. Oddclaw, are you still with your tribe?"

"Yes, my leader will not let us leave, he is keeping us all close."

"That is a good idea, stay with your group and keep them safe. I'll let you know if we find anyone."

"Okay. Be careful Jane."

He clicked the radio off and went to tell his family what was going on, the nests still in a mild panic over the situation as the guards doubled their patrols. No sign of any invaders came for the next few hours as Oddclaw waited for the humans to report back to him. Nothing from the radio as his family noted his nervous scent.

"Still nothing?" asked Barren.

"No," he muttered. "It has been too long."

"I am sure they are fine Oddclaw, they seem capable of handling any beasts."

"I do not like when this is silent," he gestured the radio in his claws, "they tell me it is when they are hunting in stealth, but I do not like not being able to speak with them."

"To be fair," replied Eggfang, "we never had these speaking stones and we have lived well without."

"Yes but the hairless do not have our strength of voice."

"They know their limits, they are not fools, your friend with the hairy mouth had QUITE the musk on him."

"...did you mean to say strength?"

"I-i meant what I said!"

"You want his cock dontcha?" teased Sandrunner giggling as she booped Eggfang's snout.

"What, no!" she cried back snarling. "Ugh, why would I want to breed with a hairless?"

"That leaves more for us then!" shouted Leaf cackling.

"Ohhhh spare me, is there nothing you two will not stuff up your vents?!"

"When we find something we won't you'll be first to know!"

"I thought I told you to stop those games!" shouted their mother standing over them.

"U-U-UM, YES, w-we were just joking mother!"

"I warned you two, if you do not get me grandchildren before I die I will curse you from the stars so HELP ME!"

"Oddclaw."

One of Alpha's guards approached them in full view, his dominant musk sweeping the nest with security and confidence from his brimming taut muscles.

"Eyeclaw is wanting you."

"Oh, r-really? I will come now. Sorry, I will return soon."

He left his family to head into the leader's stone forum and passed by Alpha who gave him a nod of mirthless gratitude. He found Eyeclaw looking older than usual and much more decrepit as the usual glint in his eye had now faded. He couldn't even raise his head to meet his gaze as he spoke.

"Ahhhhh...Oddclaw. How are you today?"

"I am...fine, are you alright, Eyeclaw? Do you need some help?"

"I heard about the star falling."

"The...the star-OH, no, no it was something else, just a great stone."

"No. No it is not."

"Hmm?"

"I...I feel that I...finally have seen a truth unfold."

"What do you mean?"

The ancient raptor stared towards the sky with a soft tremble in his throat. His eye seemed to trace something that Oddclaw could not see, a shimmering arc that passed as quickly as it came before he spoke again.

"That thing which had fallen onto the island. It is not a stone, but something from the stars."

"Wh-what n-no," stammered Oddclaw, "why would you think it is that?"

"Because I saw it. I watched it fall, and it burst free from the sky when no one else saw it fall. It came from the stars Oddclaw...they are coming."

"What, what is coming?"

"The ones who shall face you. And so you must fight to protect those that we love."

The old beast raised his head staring blankly at the young raptor.

"My visions have not left me...they are not as often, but when they come, they are strong indeed."

"What, what are you talking about, what do you mean 'the ones who shall face me'?"

"This world has been connected. Tied to the darkness. Soon to be completely eclipsed."

The strangest scent emanated from the elder that Oddclaw could not recognise. There was a tint of death, but also something else. Then he realised what it was. It was nothing. Emptiness. It was the most terrifying scent Oddclaw had ever encountered as he balked with weakened knees.

"I...I-i do not understand, what do you mean-"

"You will in time," replied Eyeclaw calmly. "One who knows nothing can understand nothing. I only wish I had your ignorance, son of Oddscar, so that I could protect you from this fate."

"What fate?!"

"The fate of our world. And perhaps something beyond this. You want to find out what this 'stone' is?"

"Yes, but Alpha will not let me."

"Did you know that there are three-and-one stones that fell?"

Oddclaw felt an immense weight come upon him, forcing him onto his knees in front of his patriarch. The strength of Eyeclaw's voice seemed to creep inside his mind with a latent fear of the unknown as his claws shivered at the prospect.

"Wait......wh-wh-what? Th-three-and...ONE?!"

"Two fell onto the island," continued Eyeclaw, "but one landed beyond the skylands and the other managed to land close to us. South of the trees past the Dry Mountain."

"A-a-are you...wh-what?! How did we not notice?!"

"It did not burst with great fire but landed with grace, hiding itself from the world around us for other purposes. I want to see it."

"I-i will go," said Oddclaw standing up with heavy heart, "if it is in our territory, then-"

"No," insisted Eyeclaw. "I WANT to see it, with my own eye."

"But...but you cannot...E-eyeclaw you cannot-"

"Cannot what, live, breathe, explore?"

"No, but-"

"But what?! I was the leader before my son and if not for these damn visions I would STILL be your leader, hatchling! I am going."

Struggling to stand up he refused Oddclaw's help, snarling at him to keep back as he staggered on his clawed feet with a heavy breath.

"I am going with you to see this...star and know our destiny."

"Our...what?"

"You have a destiny Oddclaw, and I have one too. I must know what it is, I must know WHY these stars have plagued me with such agony for all these cycles, having visions that blind me to the point I had to sacrifice an EYE to make it hurt less! Besides, you have no authority to deny me, do you? Now either you join me...or let me wander until I die alone."

He was right. Oddclaw knew there was no means for him to stop the elder from walking where he wanted and so he nodded with grudging acceptance. The oldest raptor of the group made a steady hobble out of his home as the alpha stood up on his passing.

"Father, where are you going?"

"It is time."

"......what?"

"It is time, my son," said the elder softly. "My time to leave and roam with the hunters of before."

"...no. N-n-no, no it cannot be-"

"You knew this day would come now do not fear, please."

Alpha approached his father with a strange quietness Oddclaw had never seen from him. Plaintive, tender eyes and a subdued scent as their leader spoke timidly:

"I...c-can I come with you?"

"No, I am sorry but you must protect the tribe."

"But...b-b-but I promised you. I promised I would be there for you in your last-"

"I know, and if it were up to me I would wish that you would walk alongside me, but I cannot take from this tribe its leader when they need you. I will not be alone, Oddclaw has volunteered."

"What?!" cried Alpha close to tears. "But...b-but I AM YOUR SON!"

"And YOU are our leader, you must respect the tribe before the family, that is your role!"

"I DID NOT WANT THIS ROLE! I ONLY TOOK IT BECAUSE YOU WERE SICK, FATHER!"

"I AM NOT SICK!" shrieked Eyeclaw. "I WAS CHOSEN TO BE SOMETHING GREAT, SOMETHING BEYOND BEING A LEADER AND I KNOW THAT NEITHER OF US WANTED TO BE WHAT WE ARE BUT THAT! Is now our role and you...must a-accept......h-h-hhhhhhh..."

He felt his energy drain from his outburst, the wattled neck with loose skin shivering with veins almost bracing to pop as the Alpha turned submissive in his outrage. For the first time in his life Oddclaw could smell the brimming testosterone from the ancient raptor, a trembling ferocious scent that thickened harshly as the elder stood over his son mewling with despair.

"F-f-father...please...please do not leave me. I cannot...I have stood by you all of my life, I DEVOTED myself to you."

"Then I beg you let me pass," insisted Eyeclaw. "Let me walk this path as I wish."

"But why not with your son? Why not with the one who you birthed, who cared for you, who STOOD BY YOU WHEN THEY DOUBTED YOU?!"

"Because I know you will never doubt me, Bloodsnout."

Oddclaw gasped hearing his leader's name. No one had ever known what it was before he became Alpha as the sage licked his son slowly with tenderness.

"I will always love you. No matter what happens, I am proud of you for what you have become, for surviving the hairless in torturing you, for guiding our tribe to this place of peace, where our children and our children's children shall become true hunters of harmony. Keep our tribe safe. I would never trust anyone else with this task but you. I would never want any other son but you, Bloodsnout."

"Y-y-yes......yes, my leader. Alpha. Father."

He raised his head to lick his father across the cheek, shivering with tears of frustrated bitterness as Oddclaw gave a solem look wishing he had something to say. But Eyeclaw took him as he headed out of the rock formations with the tribe all watching in gasps of shock. The scent of severity could be felt from the two as Alpha said nothing, weeping inside his home whilst surrounded by his family. They could not say anything, the powerful sons keeping firm at guard, the daughters and mate trying to reassure their leader and patriarch with warm tongues and stroking snouts. Oddclaw's family looked at him with confusion but he said nothing in turn as the ancient raptor limped his way into the forest heading south. Silence.

"We should speak with my brother first," said Odd first.

"Which one, the scout?" asked Eyeclaw.

"Yes, he must have heard a star land nearby."

"Stars are different from us beasts of the earth, you cannot think they would even know of such things as sound or smell like we do."

"What makes you think that?"

"The visions I have made me think that they do not 'exist' like our kind, or any kind we know of."

"...I do not understand."

"Hhhhhhnnnnn...forgive me, it is hard to explain."

The forest thickened around them as Oddclaw led his elder towards his brother's place, the scouting station full of insects and scratching marks upon the trees as Barkclaw made a gentle acknowledgement of their presence. His tail stiffened at the scent of another raptor however.

"Brother! I have Eyeclaw with me, can we ask you something?"

"......yes?"

"We will not bother you long, have you seen or heard anything...odd today?"

"No leafcrawlers today. That is odd."

"Why is THAT odd?" asked Eyeclaw.

"They hide in the bark. Cannot find any. That is odd."

"Well I am not looking for those," continued the elder, "I ask if you have seen a star or heard one?"

"What does a star sound like?"

"I...do not know."

"Then I do not know."

The aged raptor turned towards the anthro with a sneer of disbelief.

"...is he always like this?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Oddclaw quietly, "let me ask, Barkclaw, you know the sound of every beast here, yes?"

"Yes," stated Barkclaw.

"Well...have you heard any sounds of beasts you did NOT know?"

"Yes."

"Really?!"

"Frightened the spotwings. They flew away. Something south, the other side of the mountain."

"Oh, good, thank you brother! We will go now, I will see you when I return."

"Okay, goodbye brother."

Leaving with their destination in check, the two wanderers made their way around the mountain from its western side, skirting to keep a wide berth for whatever troubles laid ahead for them. He wielded his shotgun and clicked the radio off to silent, a fresh set of shells courtesy of Jeremy now filling his belt with preparation. The pace was slow largely because of the elder trying to test his footing, but he still kept at the pace of a regular human's speed. The sky was darkening on to the late afternoon as the wind started to change direction coming towards them. It was the perfect chance to smell any danger ahead.

"Hhhhmmmmm...odd scent," said Eyeclaw.

"What do you smell?" asked Odd.

"Something...fire but not quite...like old fire."

"Old fire?"

"It is not there now. There is someone there...smells like a hairless."

"Here? That cannot be right, they are all at the island."

"Be wary Oddclaw. Follow my lead."

Keeping their heads low they went into a hunting stance, claws out and making their feet light with careful movements. Despite his age, something returned to Eyeclaw in that moment that he had never truly forgotten. The killer's instinct, the breath of life and death that had kept him alive for this long without dying in the midst of combat. He had never known any other raptor to survive as long as him and he had every intention of lasting as best he could.

"I will go on ahead," said the elder.

"No, let me, I-"

"No, you will not use my age as an excuse."

"What?"

"...let me show you."

His one single eye became a piercing slit, suddenly infusing himself with rampant testosterone as he flexed his claws and braced his feet. His nostrils flared as his senses became sharp for the briefest instant before the world gaped itself unto him. Creatures droned between the ferns with wings stuttering to a halt, burrowing insects and rodents slithered underneath his feet, the wind from the trees slowing their passage as he focused on his breathing. It was the purest focus a raptor could sense, every sound and smell transfixed in a second before he felt it. A tremor too close to his foot, before he scarred the earth deep, gouging a defenceless shrew from its burrow and dragged it free with a kicking slice upwards to the side of his body, before he turned and snapped his jaws with vicious speed upon its throat. Oddclaw did not even register what had happened until seeing the writhing ball of fur in his teeth before stammering out:

"Wh-wh-what...what was THAT?!"

"The Killing Eye."

Eyeclaw twisted the rodent's neck in his jaws before tossing it to the ground.

"A skill that all hunters wield, but few ever master. Imagine being able to see your prey no matter how far above the sky or how deep beneath the earth they are, by looking BEYOND your eyes and using your other senses."

"But, h-how is that different from my hunting skill?"

"Ask your brother Fishclaw. Why do you think he can catch fish but you cannot?"

The old raptor leaned forwards blinking his eye wide with sadistic glee, catching the light of the sun through the treetops.

"Killing, Eye."

"What?" gasped Oddclaw. "He has that?"

"He has a gift," said Eyeclaw nodding proudly. "Not all hunters master it, but some come close. Why do you think I was leader before my son?"

"Because you are clever!"

"Yes...because my prey never knew I existed. When you hunt, you hunt in groups, trapping your prey with fear and distraction, but I did not. I did not need fear when they never even smelt my presence. To this day, no creature I hunt ever knew where I was unless I made it so."

"H-h-hoh...I...I never knew. My brother truly has that gift?"

"He is the only one of your family who does," said Eyeclaw. "You have other skills that none of us have, so do not be jealous."

"I-i am not, I am proud of him!" cried Oddclaw. "We always were amazed by his skill and patience."

"Well, now you know. Now come, our star lies near."

He followed his elder with a new level of respect as they cleared their way through the passages of frond leaves and thick leaning bark of tropical texture. Oddclaw never realised that the trees south of the mountain were of a different kind to that near his home, making him think if Barkclaw had ever known about them at all. If perhaps they were new trees then perhaps there were new insects. Soon after twelve minutes of slow methodical pace, they reached what appeared to be the landing site of the star much to their astonishment. It looked nothing like a star to them, but rather a floating tree coloured blue like the sea with large white leaves and a solid platform that could fit three raptors onto.

"Is that it?" the elder asked.

"I do not know," replied the younger, "but it looks odd, not something the hairless made or would grow in this world."

"It smells like fire has been here before, not too old."

"How is it...why is it not on the ground?"

"The same way a star does not fall to the earth, its power we do not understand."

"What do we do?"

"......I smell something here. Something alive. Go towards it. Should anything happen I will alert you."

"Why not you? Your Killing Eye seems to work well."

"That only works when I am not seen, it is a useless skill in battle."

"Ah. Alright, warn me if anything comes."

He walked forwards after skirting round the small clearing that the "star" had remained hovering upon with quiet dignity. It barely made a sound despite a strange smouldering scent that kept rumbling from inside it, as if breathing heavily in its sleep. His hand reached for his gun in anticipation, three-fingered claws tickling the hard grip whilst tapping the side of the floating beast. It had the texture and sound of wood knocking against his knuckle, checking underneath before trying to make his way on board by clambering onto the side with one hand. Claws sunk into the wooden slats, boosting himself up with a leap before landing on solid deck, gun out forwards as he spun slowly round in a circle to check all directions.

There was a door at the stern of the ship, which he approached and pushed open with his foot to keep his distance seeing a small cabin with a bed, a desk, and further stairs leading to the bowels of the ship. Oddclaw soon found it contained the heart of the ship, a gentle hum filling the compact engine room where a large pulsing machine concocted of pipes and a few crystals chimed in sleep. He smelt someone here recent but could not hear a single footstep, making his way back upstairs to the cabin door. That was when he heard a sword sing at his throat and a voice from just behind him.

"Now, I don't wanna be rude, but I don't remember putting a welcome mat out for you to come on my ship. Now why don't you just put your gun away, so I can welcome you properly?"

"......okay."

Oddclaw raised his weapon to his side to show it glinting. Instead of dropping it however, he threw it high into the air and the moment he felt the slightest drop of the sword-wielding arm in front of him, ducked and slammed one elbow hard into his assailant's stomach before rolling forwards to catch his shotgun. Turning fast he fired a single shot, but the ship's owner jumped in a blur of blue with a forward flip and slammed his leather-skin boot straight into the raptor's snout to send him falling off the ship. Landing with a heavy thud on the grass, he pushed himself up with a dizzy head and stared above to see a brown-haired human garbed in passionate azure and red scarf.

"You know what happens when you mess with a blue rogue, buddy?!"

The man leapt down with a spin in mid-air to land perfectly with two swords brimming in his hands, one that shimmered a crimson glint, the other a translucent green.

"You get shot DOWN straight outta the sky!"

Shaking his head clear Oddclaw readied himself to fire his other shell as the human dodged, cartwheeling to one side before lunging in close with furious sweep of his cutlass blades. The raptor backflipped out of their range as his foe rushed on to try and knock him down mid-dodge but Oddclaw made a forward flip following up to strike his claws down hard against the man's head. His claws scraped the hair but the soles of his feet slammed to his skull and knocked him face-first into the dirt as Oddclaw reloaded his gun before holstering it.

"NNNMMPH! Hhheh...hehehehe, alright, alright you wanna dance? Let's see how you dance!"

He shoved himself upwards into a charging headbutt, slamming into Oddclaw's stomach and winding him to follow up with a whirling dance of swords. Rolling to the side as the cutlasses swoop over his head and spine, he clawed with a punching thrust to the human's side before following up with a kick to the gut. The man bent over with a wince as Oddie grabbed him for another vicious kneestrike and slammed the back of his head with a hammerfist to send him to the dirt.

The invader rolled fast soon as he could, slicing his red sword upwards to scratch Oddclaw's snout as blood thinly dripped down his lips, the raptor recoiling back with eyes watering from the stinging blade. The swordsman charged with a spinning strike as the raptor leapt to kick him hard in the face, knocking him down into a roll that he bounced straight back out of and charged at Oddclaw from behind. He turned in time to avoid the red blade, but not the green one that slashed across his chest. Much to his shock however, it did not cut him nearly as deep as the crimson sword did as the swashbuckler clicked something in their hilts, changing the swords' colours from opaque emerald and ruby to marvellous gold and amethyst.

"Do not come out yet," warned Oddclaw to his ally. "Stay quiet, I will tell you when to strike."

"What's wrong," coaxed the swordsman, "you scared of a li'l lightning? In that case you best give up now or else you're gonna get it."

"I will not run away! Stop fighting or else!"

"No chance scaly boy, now let's see how you fight!"

Purple and yellow blades flew towards him with a flashing grin from the corsair as Oddclaw jumped above both of them, stomping them flat beneath his feet before wrapping his claws round the human's throat and throttling the life out of him. It was only then that the raptor noticed his right eye had a shining glass monocle covering it beneath his fletchling brown hair, and it was this same monocle that blinded him when the human angled it just enough to reflect the dazzling sun in his face.

He never saw the headbutt coming, cracking against the bridge of his snout as the fighter shoved him back and pulled his blades free from underneath him to double-strike at his chest. The yellow sword barely harmed him, but the purple one even by a passing glance cut a sudden ruthless ice burn that made the raptor shudder with fright and pain. Clutching at his body with a trembling roar, he pulled out his gun and fired fast as possible, catching the bare shoulder of his cut sleeve as he staggered back with a grunt of fierce pain. The tearing of black and red spots from the buckshot gave a hot bloodied wound that made the human's hand shake with agony, despite his constant smile braving it easily.

"Haha-hhhhh...just, a flesh wound, th-that all you got?!"

"I have another shell if you want it."

"N-nah, no you can have it, that's fine, now how 'bout some fire and ice!?"

Clicking the yellow sword back to red, he crossed them together with scraping glee as he rushed with dodging cartwheel the second Oddclaw would fire, hearing the whoosh of buckshot scatter at least two feet past his leg. As soon as he landed on both feet the invader pummelled the dirt with his feet and leapt with mighty cry to swing both swords down as the raptor swerved fast to his right. Slamming the still-hot shotgun right across the man's cheek, he was met by a vicious knee to the gut, causing him to gasp thick with a dry heave of wind from his body.

The foe backed up to allow his opponent a chance to regain his breath, the raptor sucking it up before he leaped with shrieking force, claws out from beneath his feet as the human dodgerolled around to behind him, receiving a hefty slap to the face from Oddclaw's tail to prevent his blind attack. Turning round fast, the raptor made a spinning kick to scratch him across the face, the sole of his foot slamming dead into his cheek. Surprisingly the swordsman kept his stance, refusing to fall down as he gripped his blades tight with vengeful determination.

"HAAAAAAAAAA!"

The blinding rush came out of nowhere, swinging his swords with sudden frenzy that Oddclaw desperately managed to dodge. Left, right, left, right, twice to the head and twice to his belly as the third and fourth sliced across his cheek and waist before his opponent leapt above him.

"CUTLASS FURYYYY!"

With twin swords high he came down hard, streaking blows off of the raptor's shoulders as he screeched and fell back with bloodied gashes running down his arms. The smell of hot fluid drove him past the pain as he shrieked with barraging force, rushing towards the enemy with wicked claws that shredded at his collar and shirt, tearing a double-set of red along the pink-fleshed cheek. His eyes slitted with primal rage as he forced his entire weight on top of the human, but he kicked hard into the raptor's stomach sending him straight over his head.

"NOW, TRAP HIM!"

Before his opponent even knew, there came a second blur from the forest that struck him with a deadly force. There was a brutal clash, a striking shine of steel as his crimson blade became lodged between the teeth of a much bigger older velociraptor. His fangs shone with brilliant white as he used all his might to push the sword against the wielder's hand, snarling with bated breath against the human's face.

"T-two of you!?" he cried. "Now that's just not fair!"

"Surrender now," warned Oddclaw, "or else he will kill you."

"Wh-wh-what, WOAH, woah woah woah no need to get nasty, I wasn't gonna kill ya!"

"What?"

"I was just teaching you a lesson! You think I woulda grazed you that many times if I DID wanna kill you?"

"...who are you?"

"I-i-if you just t-tell yer friend to quit it then maybe I'll be so-NNNGH, polite to give you my name!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, really, sky captain's honour just-JEEZ, nnnnngh...hhhhoh your breath stinks."

"Tell me now you will stop fighting," demanded Oddclaw.

"Only if you're not gonna fight either!" cried the human. "You promise?!"

"...I promise."

Oddclaw spread his arms to show his willingness, aiming the gun away from his opponent. In turn the human released his grip on the purple sword that wasn't in the mouth of the dinosaur to show his own acceptance of ceasefire.

"Eyeclaw, he wants to stop, let him go."

"Are you sure?!"

"I am. Let him go."

The aged raptor pulled himself off and released the blade as the swordsman stayed true to his word and stood up without fighting as Oddclaw asked:

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

"I came down here chasing someone," said the human, "didn't expect any trouble on this island, thinking it wasn't inhabited."

"Who are you chasing?"

"A thief!"

"......why are you chasing a thief?"

"Because that guy's a jerk, what he stole from my home is WAY over the line and I won't stop until I get him back!"

"What is he saying?!" snarled Eyeclaw.

"He is hunting a thief. It stole something from him."

"A thief?! Well, those we do not tolerate around here, and at least this hairless could fight!"

"He is speaking the truth you think?"

"I do not smell any deceit or anxiety from his words. I believe so."

The smell of weakening testosterone confirmed this as the human picked up his blades and sheathed them.

"Hey, I'm sorry about the fight, I wasn't gonna kill ya or anything, I just didn't want nobody sneaking on my ship."

"Your ship?"

"Yeah, that thing you were on!"

The raptor looked up towards the floating craft of wood and steel with a confused squint before replying:

"That...is not a star?"

"What, no course it's not a star, sheesh! What sorta island did I land on that thinks my ship is a star?!"

"You came from the sky...do you not come from the stars?"

"No, I'm from the sky, you know the blue part? Nobody's gone up to the stars, that's just all the way up like into the black part!"

"Are you a human?"

"Y-...yeah?!"

"Ah. I see...I am not going to fight you now, I will put my gun down. Okay?"

"Sure, fine by me, I don't wanna fight no more."

He offered a handshake with a hearty smile to which the raptor accepted after holstering his gun.

"I'm captain Vyse of the Blue Rogues, nice to meetcha."

"I am Oddclaw, Son of Oddscar. Nice to meet you too."

"And who's your friend?"

"This is Eyeclaw, my elder."

"Huh, really?!" Vyse bowed politely to the other raptor. "Pleased to meet you elder, honoured to make your acquaintance. I don't normally see elders out hunting, they usually like to stay in the big houses least the ones I met."

The elder simply chirred perplexed at the human who started to look up and scan the sky.

"Hey uh, you found any other ships round here that look like mine?"

"I do not know," said Oddie, "but I know of two ships that did come here."

"Yeah?! Wait, two? That's kinda weird."

"Weird?"

"Yeah cuz I was only chasing one, I dunno what the other ship is."

"The humen can tell you more, they went to find the other ship."

"OH, there are other people here, not just you guys?"

"Yes," said the raptor nodding, "their base is north across the sea, I can call them for you."

"Sure!" replied Vyse with a smile. "Ask them if they seen anyone else in a ship like mine."

Oddclaw brought out his radio and clicked it on, testing to see if they would respond.

"Jane? Hello, Jane, are you there?"

"YES, yes, hello I'm here, are you alright?!"

"I have found a ship, and a human who was in it."

"What?! Where are you?!"

"I am near my home, south of the Dry Mountain. Would you like to speak to him?"

"Um...a-alright, put him on."

He handed the radio over to Vyse who chirped out a greeting.

"Breaker breaker this is Vyse the Legend of the Blue Rogues, hope you all having a swell day!"

"Wha-who is this?!"

"I just met your buddy Oddclaw, we had a nice chat and, I'm looking for a ship that landed here in this place."

"Well we found two, one of them is made of wood and the other is made of steel."

"Ah, the wooden one's my kinda ship, dunno anything about a steel ship."

"Are you willing to come to us, mister...sorry I didn't quite catch your name."

"Vyse, and yeah sure I'd love to chat, I'm here to catch a thief and I think whoever was in that wooden ship is the guy I'm looking for."

"Would this thief happen to be wearing goggles and a red coat?"

"YES, you found them?!"

"We had a...confrontation of sorts but we did manage to capture three of them."

"Nice! I'll come over, you don't mind if I use my ship to fly over to you right?"

"No, not at all please, the sooner we meet the better, thank you mister Vyse."

"Oh please just call me Vyse, nobody calls me mister. See ya soon!"

He clicked off the radio and handed it over to Oddclaw, who smiled at their conversation.

"You are coming then?"

"Seems like it!" said the rogue rubbing his nose. "You wanna come with?"

"Y-yes......wait."

"What?"

"...I have not been back at their base in......in-"

The raptor turned on the radio again nervously.

"Jane?"

"Yes?"

"I am coming to the base with Vyse...and I am bringing my elder with me."

"What?! Wh-why?"

"Because he has to come. He must come with me, it is very important."

"A-al-alright but...well, come over, we're here when you're ready."

"You must promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise me, that you will not trap me or my elder, or anyone in my tribe in your base, ever."

"Wha-I-I would never do that Oddie!"

"Promise me. Or I will not come."

"Alright, alright I promise, no one is going to keep you here, not anyone from your tribe I swear."

"Good. Thank you, we will come soon."

With a final click he pocketed the device as the swordsman went climbing onto his ship.

"You gonna need a hand getting up here old guy?"

"What?"

"Your elder. I think he might need a hand, lemme help with that."

Winching down a small ramp that extended out of the deck, it landed with a solid thud as he invited the two raptors to head on board with Oddclaw assuring his aged mentor to join him. Eyeclaw was surprisingly eager as he almost rushed straight up and started to investigate every nook and cranny.

"Wow he's got some moves on him!"

"He is...ecks-cited, he thinks your ship is a star."

"Uh, didn't YOU say my ship was a star?"

"O-only because he said it!"

"Hhhahahaha, well I'll try to go slow and not give you guys a scare, you ready to fly?!"

"Um...n-n-no, but we have to go."

"Then you might wanna sit down inside the cabin if you're not up to watching this."

Despite the offer Oddclaw stood beside his elder, waiting for liftoff as Vyse stepped onto the top of the stern and stomped his foot in a careful rhythm. A part of the wood lifted to reveal a small shielded platform with a control panel and steering wheel, fully-kitted as he revved up the thrusters and slowly raised the ship. The raptors staggered with surprise as the momentum kept their footing uncertain, using their tails to try and balance as Vyse cleared the trees and made his way north to find the human base. The wind surged through their scales as Oddclaw grabbed onto the mast with sails billowing in the breeze, feeling rather sick as Eyeclaw cackled with monstrous glee.

"YES! YEHEHEHEEEEES THIS, THIS IS IT MY CHILD! THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOOOOOOOR!"

"I DO NOT LIKE THIS! I DO NOT LIKE THIIIIIS!"

Claws scraped into the wooden mast as his elder cried against the wind, shrieking with fiendish joy and embracing the speed at which they flew. Vyse however was starting to realise something about this large continent below him that made him slightly paranoid about where he could be.

"This is a lot...of water on this island, just how big IS this continent? Hope these people at the base know what's up more than these two."