I do not own Inheritance Cycle it belongs to Christopher Paolini. I do however own the fantasy culture and the race that practices it.

I decided to write this fic because I noticed there wasn't one like it already published. And I thought NUTS to that, so after a lot of thinking I thought up a savage culture that would make anyone in Algaesia cringe with horror. Also After reading Dragons a crossover of inheritance and elder scrolls, I realized how lame some things are in Algaesia. So here it is Savagery hope you like it!

Savagery

Prologue: The Hunt and the Discovery

Far from the land of Algaesia, across the great ocean, lies the continent of Lizar'ik. A tropical paradise, covered in lush jungle teeming with all manner of life. Coral of all colors and shapes form magnificent reefs in her crystal clear waters. Dozens of small islands dot her southern waters, and mighty mountains make up the Serpent's Back in the north. A great chain of mountains, they form a natural barrier of stone between the jungle and whatever lies in the north. Dozens of long, winding rivers flow through the jungles of Lizar'ik, connecting and intersecting with one another, bringing life to the many creatures that live here. An absolute paradise…

From a distance…

Monstrous reptilian beasts of all shapes and sizes prowl the jungles of Lizar'ik in search of prey. From beasts so large they can devour a whole horse in two bites, to creatures smaller than a hand that can kill with a single touch. Giant, armored beasts with club tails capable of crushing stone, and swift-footed pack hunters with claws sharp enough to slice off limbs. But Lizar'ik's killers are not limited to the ground.

Terrifying creatures soar above the tree canopies of the jungles, their sharp eyes ever vigilant for prey. Patient ambushers lie in wait in the rivers, waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander by. Massive sea monsters, capable of sinking a ship with a single blow, patrol her deeper waters.

Even the very jungle itself is a killer. Thick swamps dot the land, and dense foliage makes losing one's way near certain. Plants capable of shooting poison barbs, releasing toxic spores and eating beasts the size of cows, are everywhere. Most, if not all, fruit is either poisonous or covered in spikes. At night, the symphony of animal calls will cause the weak of heart to constantly look over his back, fearing the jungles many hungry residents.

But despite the unforgiving elements of Lizar'ik, there are those who call this beautiful and deadly land home.

The Liz'arin

A race of reptilian humanoid hunters as savage as the land they reside in. Split into three distinctive tribes made up of a number of clans. Each tribe has their own culture and every clan has their own traditions that follow the culture of their tribe. But despite the different cultures the Liz'arin people all follow the same code of honor and all worship the elemental spirits. They also all have a familiar, (a highly intelligent animal that is bonded to them for life) that's form depends on the tribe its Liz'arin is born into.

The three tribes of Liz'arin live in specific areas and their bodies have adapted to best suit their environment.

The Ga'goyle call the mountains of the Serpent's Back their home. Living high up, in the many caves and out-croppings that pocket the ridges of these northern mountains. The Ga'goyle Liz'arin are flyers; massive leathery wings sprouting from their backs allows them to ride the strong northern winds with ease. They have long zygodactyl talons for feet that allow them to swoop down and catch helpless prey, and are strong enough to crush bone and sharp enough to slice through iron. The Ga'goyle are renowned for their speed and are adept scouts, very few can escape their sharp eyes. Their familiar is the Drawk, a viscous flying reptile with a bone crushing beak and scale shredding talons.

The Naga reside in the warm southern waters and islands of Lizar'ik. Instead of legs, they possess a long, flexible serpentine tail strong enough to squeeze the life out of a shark and a venomous bite strong enough to paralyze a fully grown krogar in seconds. A pair of gills adorn their neck, allowing them to breathe in water as easily as on land. They live on the shores of the southern islands in half submerged huts carved out of large stems of coral. They are known for their silver tongues and unpredictable behavior. A Naga can be calm and disarming one moment and turn savage and blood thirsty the next; they are like the ocean itself in this way. They are the smallest of the tribes due to their very limited territory, and most of their clans are just small family groups as result. Their familiar is the Coral Serpent, a large snake with a venomous bite and bone crushing strength.

The final, and largest of the Liz'arin tribes are the Saurous. Strong, fast, determined and ferocious, the Saurous reside in the jungle itself. Unlike the Ga'goyle or the Naga, who have specialized themselves to fit a certain environment, the Saurous are capable of living in almost any environment. Be it in the trees, on the ground, by the rivers, mountainside or even the swamps, the Saurous can live in it. Due to the size of the tribe, a number of the clans that make up the tribe are large communities with their own set of traditions and rules. Fierce warriors and cunning hunters, the Saurous are known for their loyalty and unshakable honor. Their familiar is the mighty Dranther, one of the apex predators of Lizar'ik. They are a reflection of their Saurous counterparts in their ferocity and adaptability.

Due to their strength, numbers and territorial range, the Saurous have been the leading tribe of Lizar'ik for untold generations. The title of Rex (King of the tribes), has alternated from chief to chief within the Saurous clans countless times. Currently, the title falls to the chief of the largest Saurous clan.

Rex Turok of the Screaming Skulls clan. He earned the title of Rex during his blood trial. (A rite of passage ceremony). During his trial, he performed a feat of mythical proportion. He tamed an adult Carnosaur, something that is only accomplished once every fifty generations. This marked him as a hero and prophesied mighty deeds. When the old Rex died, Turok inherited the position, and his clan moved into the capital city of Liz'ara. An ancient place, covered in large stone pyramids built by a long lost people ages ago. It is from this city that the Screaming Skulls rule Lizar'ik under the watch of Rex Turok.

But Rex Turok is a Saurous, and has a love for hunting. So, one day, he and his dranther, Swift-Bite, decide to go out into the jungle for a few days of hunting…

Little does he know he will find something more than just prey on this hunt…

'The jungle feels off today.' Swift-Bite told Turok, 'I do not like it.'

The, Saurous chief nods his head in agreement with his bond-partner. This was the second day of their respite from Turok's duties as Rex, and the two were on edge. They had found no worthy game since they left and the jungle was suspiciously quiet.

'It can't be a carnosaur,' Turok replied with his mind. 'I hear no thuds nor do I feel any vibrations.' He clenched his spear tightly and his tail swished back and forth behind him.

They continued their trek through the brush in silence for several hours until Swift-Bite stopped and began smelling the air. Turok stopped and copied his action, taking in a large sniff of air through his nostril holes.

'Blood…' Swift-Bite said, 'I smell blood.'

'I smell it too,' replied Turok. 'But is unlike any kind of blood I have smelled before.'

Their interest piqued, they followed the scent of the strange smelling blood, intend on discovering its source. The further into the jungle they went, the stronger the smell of blood became. After about a half-hour, they halted their pace when they heard something. A sound, unlike anything either had heard.

'What is that sound?' Turok asked Swift-Bite as he looked towards the source of the noise.

'I don't know,' he replied. 'I have never heard a sound like it. I doubt anyone has.'

'It almost sounds like a… distress call.' Turok thought. 'Perhaps a beast was injured and is calling for help?' He turned to look down at his life-friend.

Swift-Bite looked up at Turok before replying. 'Then it is a beast none have heard before, we should find it.' He stated before moving ahead of Turok and towards the smell of blood and the strange call.

'Why?' Turok asked, only to receive an incredulous look from Swift-Bite.

'Turok, this may be a new creature never before seen.' He told him, 'and it might be injured. You are the tamer of an adult carnosour, the Rex of all Lizar'ik, and chief of the Screaming Skulls. I would think you to jump at the opportunity to capture a never before seen beast.' He teased.

Swift-Bite was right, Turok did want to find and tame this beast, and perhaps it was another of the great achievements he would complete in his life.

'Don't be foolish Swift-Bite,' The Rex chided him. 'If I were to jump, I would scare the beast and make taming it all the more harder.' He finished with a determined smirk.

Swift-Bite smiled and made a hiss-hiss-hiss chuckle noise before resuming their search.

As they walked, the smell of blood grew stronger and the beasts call louder. They were much clearer and to Turok, sounded like a mix of a mewling dranther cub and a screeching drawk. Suddenly, the call ceased, but the smell of blood kept growing stronger.

Eventually, they came upon a strange sight. The bases of at least a dozen trees were somehow shaped into hut like structures neither had ever seen before. It appeared to a village of some kind, only the villagers were all dead.

'Now we know why the blood smelled odd.' Swift-Bite stated as they entered the abandoned enclave. The bloody half-eaten bodies of strange creatures littered the area. Swords, spears and bows laid strewn about the ground, obvious signs of a battle.

'I've never seen creatures like these before in my life.' Swift-Bite told Turok, as he stared one of the less damaged bodies near one of the tree-huts.

Indeed, the dead creatures were strange looking. Curious, Turok went up to the body Swift-Bite was looking at and turned it over. He was intrigued by what he saw to say the least.

It had no scales, or feathers on its pale, soft hide and the only sort of protection it had from the elements was a mane of black fur on its head. It had a small little snout above its mouth and pointed protrusions were its ear-holes would go. He knelt down and parted its lips with his claws and saw that it had square teeth, made for chewing not biting. Two mounds of flesh sat on its upper chest; curious to their function, Turok removed the strange green cloth covering its chest to get a better look.

He was shocked to see that they had nipples on them, like those of a rat or a lemur. And on the creature's stomach there was strange indent in the flesh, its purpose he could only wonder.

'Mammals!' Turok told Swift-Bite. 'They are mammals!'

'Impossible!' Swift-Bite responded, stunned by the statement. 'Mammals never grow this big.'

Before Turok could respond the shrill noise returned, louder than ever.

It was coming from hut they were standing outside of. Still more curious about the noise than the dead, Turok got up from examining the body and entered the hut. It was a mess, objects of all sorts were scattered about the floor, blood splatters were everywhere, but Turok paid little mind to that.

He zeroed in on the location of the noise, next to strange bed looking thing was an open top, wooden cage on stilts. And inside this cage was a white cloth and something flailing underneath it.

Turok slowly raised his spear in the air in case whatever was in the cage tried to strike and made carefully approached it. Swift-Bite was right next to him; his body lowered to the ground as he stalked forward, ready to pounce if the creature was a threat.

Turok reached the wooden cage and looked in, whatever was underneath the cloth continued to squirm, unaware of the hunter right above it. With his free claw, Turok slowly reached for a corner of the cloth. When he gripped it, he closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before opening his eyes and quickly tearing away the cloth to reveal…

A tiny, flailing… thing.

Its eyes were shut as it continued to squirm and cry before it suddenly noticed the lack of cloth and opened its eyes to look right at Turok.

"Huh?" Turok stated with a cock of his head.

"Huh? (Baby version)" The little creature mimicked him in sound and movement.

'An infant?' Swift-Bite questioned, 'that sound we heard was an infant?'

'It would seem so,' Turok said as he placed his spear on the ground and picked up the infant.

He lifted the baby out of its cage and began sniffing it. The infant just stared at him with its big, curious green eyes before suddenly sticking one of its tiny hands in his nose. He jerks his head back and his black feather mohawk raises in surprise, which makes the baby laugh.

'Hehe, curious little thing isn't it, Turok?' Swift-Bite said, amused by its actions.

Turok turned away from the infant to glare at his partner. The dranther just stares at him before raising his brown shoulder feathers up and down in a shrug. The feel of a small hand on his cheek made Turok turn his attention back to the infant in his claws. The baby slaps its tiny hand on his face again and starts rubbing it.

Despite himself, Turok can't help but smile, revealing his sharp teeth to the child. It suddenly forgets his face and stares dumbstruck at his teeth. Its trance only last a second however, and it quickly reaches out to touch his fangs.

Swift-Bite nudges Turok's leg to ask him to bring the infant down for Swift-Bite to inspect. Turok sits down on the ground, cross-legged and places the child in his lap. Swift-Bite immediately begins looking over the infant. He sniffs the little tuff of black fur on its head for a bit before sniffing the white cloth clothing on its pelvis. One sniff and he immediately backs away like he was stung as he swats his head side to side in an attempt to get rid of the smell.

Turok laughs at his partner's mistake, while the baby giggles along.

After recovering, Swift-Bite glares at the two of them before setting his eyes on the baby.

'She can't be more than a month old.' Swift-Bite says as he lowers his head down for the baby to inspect.

'She?' Turok questions as a frown found its way onto his face.

'Yes. She.' He deadpans. 'It has a female's scent.'

Turok looked down at the infant playing with Swift-Bite's face. It was most likely the only survivor of whatever attacked the creatures living here, so leaving it here would undoubtedly kill it. It was either luck or something else that saved this small creature's life.

And there was something about her that Turok couldn't place, a feeling. She seemed to have a strange aura about her. Perhaps it was this aura that saved her life.

Whatever the case, Turok liked children, no matter the tribe, and this little creature was only a month old. But maybe due to its age or some other factor, the baby was not scared of them. She did not cower in fear or wail when he revealed himself to her, in fact she smiled and giggled like he was funniest thing she saw.

No, this child is not prey. She is a hunter.

Turok picked up the child fondling Swift-Bite's face before standing up. He cradles the child in one arm and picks up his spear with the other.

'Come on, Swift-Bite.' Turoks says, 'We're heading back early.'

He gets no response as Swift-Bite quickly heels at his side before they make their back to Liz'ara. The child in his arms lets out a big yawn, revealing its toothless maw to the Rex before curling up in his arms and falling asleep.

'I can sense your feelings, Turok.' Swift-Bite states, 'What are you planning to do with her.'

Turok smiles down at the child in his arms before turning to address Swift-Bite.

'She survived whatever attacked her people for a reason, Swift-Bite.' Turok explained, 'and besides, you saw how she reacted to us. This little one showed no fear, even when she saw my teeth, she just giggled and tried to touch them. No weakling would try something so bold, she is strong, Swift-Bite. Very strong.'

'Besides,' Turok continues, 'Sa'gaza always wanted a girl.'

And with that thought, the Liz'arin Rex, his Dranther familiar and the tiny creature in his arms, continue their long track back home.

Author's Note: Okay! Prologue for Savagery done! This is my second fic and I really hope you like it I put a lot of thought into it. I am also still working on my other fic Papa's Snowflake. It's a BioShock Frozen crossover. So an update for this may take some time.

If your wondering what color the Liz'arin scales are and those of their familiars, shades of green that vary from individual. The same goes for the head feathers though they are not limited to specific colors.

P.S. THE LIZ'ARIN ARE NOT ANTHRO!

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DeadRich18 Out!