Mutualism
"I wish you hadn't made such a mess" muttered Fake Skin as he examined the mutilated corpse upon the ground, Aledria snorted in reply obviously offended by the remark.
"Just remember you're only Alpha till we save pack" she hissed at him bitterly, Fake Skin grunted in reply as his claws grasped the deceased Ingen soldiers' weapon.
Fake Skin looked it over before identifying it as an HK417 heavy assault rifle, it used a military 7.62x51mm NATO round. Mildly powerful for medium game but still too small to hurt most big carnivores, however it was perfect for killing humans. The raptors stomach churned at the thought of killing someone, pushing the thought to the side the young Alpha then checked the weapon over and familiarised himself with the M4 style set up. Years of studying military weaponry and playing digital war games had educated him reasonable in operating the fire arm.
"What that?" spat Aledria in mild curiosity, a grin crossed the raptors lips as he aimed the rifle at a tree and gently tapped the trigger, causing the muzzle to explode with flames and bark splinter from the tree.
The female raptor jumped back with a shriek, eyeing the rifle like it was poisonous.
Fake Skin smirked at her trying to play off the pain from the weapons recoil, before using a claw to flick the safety switch on, due to his new body he couldn't aim the rifle accurately anymore but could shoot comfortably from a semi aiming position, he'd just have to point and shoot in a direction if he intended to kill someone.
"Human fake teeth" he growled remembered the conversation with Alpha, before putting the weapon down and rummaging around the corpse pulling out anything useful looking.
Ammo, weapons, knives, radio etc.
"So tell me, how do we approach the Eastern pack?" Fake Skin asked casually as he counted the 20 round detachable magazines he scavenged off the body.
"You call… then wait to be granted permission, you show respect like this" said Aledria as she lowered her head to the ground and spread her arms to the side, almost like a bow.
"Don't challenge the Alpha, he may be generous as we were once part of his larger pack, but we are still threat" warned Aledria, the black scaled male only glanced at her and huffed again.
"We need his pack to save ours, make Ingen suffer" Fake Skin growled coldly, Aledria barked in agreement.
"Make human pack suffer!" she agreed enthusiastically.
Fake Skin ignored her as he began searching through the soldiers carry bag, finding 2 hand grenades and a small block of C4 plastic explosive. His face noticeably flinched as he looked the explosive over unsure how to use I, sure he knew weapons but didn't mean he knew explosives.
Regardless he packed the item into the bag and all the ammo, first aid etc before putting the ammo carry rig on himself. Any onlooker would be highly amused by the sight of a raptor fiddling with the buckles and straps as he tried to tighten it to his frame.
"Stupid Alpha" muttered Aledria bluntly as she watched the sight, purring when the young male fell over in an attempt to attach the tactical back pack to the rig.
He snarled at her to shut up before trying again, this time succeeding in mounting the storage compartment and placing the helmet over his head. Aledria recoil in disgust as Fake Skin strapped the item to his head before picking up the rifle, he glared at her and gave a small hiss.
"Take me to Eastern Pack" he ordered sternly, before shivering a little. Aledria clicked her teeth in worry at Fake Skin's odd behaviour.
One moment he'd act like a submissive Omega, then he'd act like Lilith's deceased hatchling, like a future Alpha. She glanced at him with concern before racing into the forest with Fake skin tight on her tail.
As they darted through the forest, Fake Skin noticed they were being followed and barked at Aledria to stop. Confused the Beta skidded to a halt and looked back at her Alpha, but he wasn't paying attention to her and was instead aiming his weapon at some bushes.
Slowly a Troodon emerged from the bushes and Aledria went tense, hissing aggressively until her Alpha barked at her to be silent.
The Troodon stared at the duo with those moon like eyes, inching closer and closer before speaking in a soft, whispery voice.
"Heard Swift hunters have pack hooman place" It hissed at Fake Skin softly, the raptor narrowed his eyes and slowly lowered his rifle.
"Were going to wipe out the human pack, why the interest?" Fake Skin was still cautious of these creatures, they after all tried to hunt Murk just a few nights ago but he stopped them.
"Hooman take part of pack…. Wants pack back like Swift hunters" The dark raptor hissed at the words before aiming his weapon at the ground completely.
"Are you proposing an alliance Troodon?" growled Fake Skin in amusement, he needed all the help he could get and already knew the Troodon had military capability. With a swift gesture of the muzzle, Fake Skin indicated for the Troodon to approach
"You help us, we help you" The raptor stood there in silence for a moment, before letting out a booming bark like noise causing the Troodon to hiss and Aledria to tilt her head confused.
Slowly the raptor stopped laughing and held out his clawed hand towards the Troodon, the smaller predator inched closer and glanced down at its own limbs in contemplation, sensing the confusion and hesitation, Fake Skin spoke.
"It's a human gesture, it means agreement" he cooed softly, slowly the Troodon held out its own hand towards the raptor, Fake Skin firmly grasped the hand and gave it a stern shake.
"Then we have an agreement my little friend" he chuckled casually before letting go, the Troodon backed away a satisfied gleam in its moon like eyes.
"meet us near Ingen's facility, I'll be bringing other packs with us to help" with that said Fake skin shouldered his rifle and the two raptors raced off into the darkness, slowly dozens of Troodon emerged from the forest and looked to the Alpha for orders.
It hissed at them, telling them the Swift hunters would help and that they would have new hosts for their young. The Troodon all chittered in excitement, they needed smaller bodies to nest there young in, humans made near perfect hosts.
"stupid to trust night hunters!" hissed Aledria in anger as she jogged along beside me, I shot her a stern look before replying.
"I don't trust but we need!" I growled at her as I ducked under a tree branch, Aledria followed before nipping at my neck.
"Don't need night hunters!" she argued sternly, part of me was angry at her for questioning my actions, but another part of me wasn't surprised by her reaction.
I stopped for a moment and stared at her, adjusting my helmet slightly so the trap wasn't pulling against my throat. Aledria stood beside me, hissing softly in anger.
"Aledria what if the other pack refuses to help?" I asked her coldly, glaring at her for a plan.
She wavered, jaw flexing slightly as she looked around while pondering her answer. With a soft coo she lowered her head slightly in a submissive gesture, but still didn't look happy at me.
"Like I thought, how close is pack territory?" I questioned as I looked ahead of us, eyes scanning for signs of danger.
Aledria snorted before stepping in front of me, taking the lead with a great deal of pride in her strides.
"Close, must give Alpha call first to enter" she said in a serious tone, this was the part I didn't like. If I didn't give the right call than I won't be acknowledged as an alpha and killed on sight.
"Right traditions… anything else I should know about being Alpha?" I growled taking my helmet off and hiding my weapon, it be a poor idea to have a human weapon when meeting the other Alpha, didn't exactly scream good intention.
Aledria turned and sniffed at me, I could nearly smell the anxiety off her as she hesitated. Clicking her teeth and tapping her sickle claw.
"If ask… say hatchling of Alpha" she hissed nervously, I shot her an amused look and understood her words.
Taking a deep breath, that strange presence once more swelled inside me as I worked up the courage to roar.
With a toss of my head, I let out a shrill roar into the air that echoed through the forest. I roared until the air left my lungs and I stopped sharply, panting for breath as I looked to Aledria.
The female gave me an approving chirp before flinching as another raptor returned my roar, it sounded close, to close for comfort.
Trying to look confident, Aledria moved to stand beside me moments before there was a rustle of movement in the bushes.
A brown muzzle poked through the darkness with a snarl on its lips, deep down I wanted to run away in freight but I couldn't show such weakness to the other pack. 'Be strong Braden you can do this' I thought to myself before the muzzle began to speak.
"Leave or we kill you!" snarled the raptor savagely, a little drool flying from its jaws, I growled in reply and stepped forwards.
"I am the Alpha of the Western pack… I demand to speak with the Alpha of the Eastern pack!" I snarled confidently, sounding once more like a different person, someone with actual power and authority.
The raptors lips closed in silence, before slowly the muzzle moved forwards revealing itself. Said raptor was tall, with 3 scars running across its face and small quills on its neck, the raptor confidently stepped into the clearing as several other raptors remained hidden in the shadows.
"I am Alpha Xerxes of the Eastern pack" snarled the raptor sternly, glaring at me with cold calculative eyes.
"I am Alpha Fake Skin of the Western pack" I growled in return before lowering my head to the ground, spreading my arms out to the side in an almost bowing like gesture.
Xerxes growled softly before doing the same gesture in return, both of us staring each other in the eye until we were both standing upright once more.
Aledria had moved back a little during my dialog with Xerxes, her eyes pinned upon the dark blue raptor with a brown stripe down its back standing near Xerxes.
"Why have you ventured here Fake Skin?" hissed Xerxes coldly, an air of impatience in his tone.
"For many reasons that endanger both packs!" I barked sharply, feeling anxiety and excitement within me as I spoke.
Alpha Xerxes became silent at the news and cast me with a calculating gaze, with a snap at his beta he moved towards me. I didn't move and held me ground, tapping my sickle claw with impatience. Every moment I wasted here was another moment my pack was in danger.
"So young to be an Alpha" hissed Xerxes almost menacingly as he circled me, Aledria was about to move forwards but I snarled at her to remain put.
"And such small pack!" he suddenly barked at me accusingly, his teeth snapping inches from my muzzle, I couldn't help it and flinched slightly at the gesture.
"If you are wiser than your historical name sake Xerxes… you be well to listen to my words" I hissed feeling the feathers on my head perk upwards as I bared my teeth at the larger raptor, Xerxes snarled at me dismissively.
"Is nothing more than hatchlings, knows nothing" spat Xerxes as he looked away from me, I felt anger boil inside and turned to look at Aledria.
With a hiss I ordered her to move, glancing in the direction I hid my weapon. If things turned bad I would need it to fight. Turning back to Xerxes I jumped at him slightly making the raptor hiss expecting an attack. Trying to keep calm, I stood tall and commanding before growling down at the alpha male.
"I know what we are and why Xerxes, I know why the humans kept your ancestors in metal cages, know why they now take my pack" I hissed at him menacingly, feeling that same unnatural feeling once more. Xerxes didn't flinch or move as I spoke, just continued to glare at me.
"I came here Xerxes for help, help to save my pack from human like any Alpha would!" I snapped my jaws at him accusingly before looking to his beta, she hissed at me coldly in return like I was vermin.
"If need help than your weak alpha!" snarled Xerxes in disgust at he slashed at my face with his claws, blood splattered the ground and Aledria roared in outrage but I barked at her to remain put.
Slowly my blood flowed back to me as black goo, the three gashes across my face slowly healing itself until all that remained were 3 faint lines on my face.
Xerxes took a hesitant step back in bewilderment, eyeing me like I was some poisonous plant he just ate.
Slowly Aledria moved forward, sniffing at my face for wounds before glaring at Xerxes coldly.
I nudged her with my snout to back down and reluctantly she moved behind me, glaring daggers at the raptors around her.
"Xerxes… if you care for your pack, you'd listen carefully to me" I hissed as I stood upright and fiddled around the pouches around my chest, Xerxes blinked a little in shock having not noticed the item I wore.
"It's in our best interest to work together, the stuff the humans can and will do means the whole island is in danger…. Unless we stop them" I said as I unclipped the bag and let it slide off my body, Xerxes tilted his head in confusion as I pulled something out of the back pack.
Looking to Xerxes with a foil wrapper in my claws, I sighed as I knew this was the last chance to get his help. Like Aledria said it was currently in his interest to just let me and the pack die as we were competition.
"So what it be Alpha Xerxes of the Eastern pack, will you hunt with me?" I asked, some strange reason I was really craving chocolate at that moment, part of me was just screaming to open the wrapper and just eat the sugary goodness.
"Is young and stupid" muttered Xerxes, "but is right!" he roared throwing his head back, his back roared as well scaring the creatures of the night away.
"Will never let human take pack, never let bad things happen once more" he barked looking around at his raptors, they gazed back at him with respect and gratitude at his words.
"So you'll hunt with me?" I questioned, feeling my heart rate rise in joy, Xerxes gave me an annoyed look but cooed in confirmation.
Slowly, the other raptors came forward with curious gazes, I was shocked to see 9 raptors crowd around us as they looked us over with genuine interest.
It struck me that these same raptors were probably related to everyone in my pack, which included me currently with my current form.
"I is grateful, warned pack of new danger" said Xerxes more formally as he stood beside me, I glanced at him and shrugged as I fiddled with the cholate wrapper.
"Pack looks out for pack… I'm sure you'd done the same thing" I accused bluntly as I struggled with the wrapper, it was easy to sense the discomfort of the other raptor as he clearly wouldn't have done the same thing in return.
At that moment, a powerful roar shook the earth and everyone became silent as the noise shook the forest to its very core. Strangle in my mind something spoke up, not fear or concern but excitement.
'Have light infantry, heavy infantry, need heavy armour support' I glanced at the concerned Xerxes who was looking past me into the distance.
"What is that?" I asked calmly, several of the pack moved in the opposite direction to the noise and the beta snapped at them to stay put.
"large hunter with sail… should leave" he said going to venture back the way he appeared from, I snapped my jaws on the chocolate bar still in the wrapping and began struggling to put my harness back on.
Aledria glanced at me before running over to grab my weapon, the Eastern pack chirped in confusion as I placed the helmet on my head and slung the rifle sling over my neck. Aledria sniffed at me as she helped with the harness before narrowing her eyes at the chocolate.
Before I could reach she nipped at the bar and managed to rip a chunk off with her teeth, in a fluid motion she tilted her head back and swallowed wrapper and all.
"is very good?" she said in confusion as she smacked her lips, I just stared at her before pulling the chocolate out of the wrapper and putting said wrapper in a pouch.
"Human make, called chocolate very good" I said before nibbling on the chocolate in return, my body relaxed slightly as the my taste buds recognised the familiar flavour of chocolate. It tasted very faintly but still it was chocolate.
"Time to get more pack, going to get the Spinosaurus" I announced confidently as I trotted towards the area we heard the roar, Aledria chirped in confusion and followed after me while Xerxes shook his head.
"Stupid hatchling" he muttered before barking at his pack to return to the nest.
Taking the helmet and vest off as I drew near my destination, I walked into a large clearing and let out a loud call into the air.
Aledria cooed in confusion before going silent as the ground tremored slightly, beside the female raptor a ripple ran through a small puddle and she looked around in panic.
Ahead of me, a massive crocodile like skull emerged through the tree line, its giant powerful body shaking the earth with each mighty step.
Those green eyes turned upon me and an angry snarl left those massive fang filled jaws, taking a small step back in fear, I called again.
"Do you command here?" I called out instinctively, Aledria looked at me in pure shock before snapping her gaze back to the Spinosaurus as it slowly lumbered closer with a twinkle of annoyance in its murderous green eyes.
It gave a raspy roar in return, but unlike the other I didn't hear words from the giant's jaws. I got like a vague feeling of what it was saying but nothing sound, from what I gathered the spino was answering my question with a clear yes he ruled the area.
"I'm Alpha Fake Skin of the Western raptor pack" I called out giving a small bow to show respect, an amused grumble left those jaws at the giant leaned closer. His jaws dangling a few meters above me, what I was doing was so suicidal but something was reassuring me I was doing this right.
"I came to ask your help, are you willing to listen?" I barked sternly, the spinosaurus gave a small grunt of amusement before hissing that I had his attention.
To be continued….. I was going to post this sooner but I had internet issues sorry everyone and thank you for the patience. Now I edited the chapter as best I could, hope you all enjoyed it and note to expect a long wait for the next chapter as my life is very... stressful atm and I finding it hard to focus on the chapter itself. Have a good weekend.
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