This chapter was supposed to be longer, but I find it difficult to find time to write. Thus, only half of what I planned to write actually got written.
The next two to four chapters will strictly be with the raptor pack (probably). If only to get this little plot arc out of the way (which will end in massive character death).
Oh, and warning: Implied/Vague sex and shit. Because these raptors have high school level romance dramas. And apparently raging hormones.
Winter was staring at her again.
Indeed, the white scaled female often looked upon Blue, eyes jaded green in envy.
Or jealously.
It was quite difficult to tell.
But all Blue knew-was that she was beating Winter at her own game.
And she was enjoying the sweet taste of victory.
In her standing up to the former alpha-Blue remembered what life was like before, with a pack.
With her sisters.
Blue was a leader.
Blue was an alpha.
And females chose their mates.
Thus, Blue was more assertive in pursuing-and claiming-her potential mate.
Despite her feelings of wrath and betrayal at Bravo's dalliance, she was not settling as second best.
As such, Blue was purring deeply, grey scaled body sliding against Bravo akin to a cat in heat. She rubbed against him, nipped and nuzzled, golden eyes half lidded and glazed.
Sporting a knowing look as she showcased her swaying hips, and displayed her sex.
Shamelessly.
For while Bravo was her intended audience, the siblings were also there as well.
And Winter was far from pleased. Indeed, the white scaled female peeled back her scaled lips, and released a low, enraged hiss from her throat. Storm turned towards his sister, and produced a quiet chitter, neck extending to press his snout against her.
He was attempting to calm her.
But Storm only got snapped at by his sibling's jaws instead, teeth nipping at his scales, and drawing slight blood. The grey male released a displeased hoot, and shook his head ever so slightly.
Bitch.
The brother's gaze, however, soon fell upon the showcasing blue striped female.
Bravo was not the only one that was suddenly interested.
Storm did not think much of mating.
Other than E, there was never any other female that was not his kin.
Thus, the option to get a mate was simply never there.
A part of Storm was confused.
Blue seemed to primarily be focused upon the green male with golden accents.
But surely she would not mind if she had a second suitor?
After all, Storm concluded that Blue would not be presenting herself as such if her availability was strictly for Bravo.
After a brief debate, the grey scaled male rose to his feet. His head warbled, a quiet chitter in thought slipping passed his scaled lips, killing claws flexing. A nip from Winter signaled his sister's disapproval, the white female producing a low, riveting rumble in warning.
It was a warning that her brother ignored, for he stepped forward, and beckoned to Blue in a trilling call.
A haunting call.
A striking call.
A mating call.
The call was enough to make Blue cease her current actions, and twist her neck to look towards the other male. A chitter of confusion escaped her throat, soft and quiet. Her head cocked, and she could hear Bravo make a vexed noise from behind her.
Storm stood there, awaiting an answer to his call. His clawed hands flexed, debating, wondering if he made the right choice.
Winter barked in protest, scaled throat puffing in rage as she spat.
Bravo stared upon the other male, scaled lips peeling back to expose his teeth in a twisted snarl, a nasally hiss slipping passed.
Storm shifted from foot to foot, tail swaying to and fro in anxiousness, nervousness. He briefly swiveled his head to look back towards his sister, a quiet noise escaping him.
Perhaps this was not the best idea?
Because Bravo certainly did not look pleased, and Blue did not answer his call.
And if Bravo attacked him, Storm was unsure if his sister would help him in a fight.
Any confidence, any hope Storm may have had, was quickly crushed.
Crushed by the hard, challenging stare the green male was giving him.
Crushed by the lack of response from Blue.
Crushed by the lack of support from his sister.
Slowly, cautiously, hesitantly, Storm produced a quiet, almost apologetic noise, and lowered himself down to the ground.
Submitting.
Blue's golden eyes still looked upon the more timid male with wonder, curiosity, and interest.
Blue did not think of Storm as a potential suitor until now.
The thought did not cross her mind.
The grey male certainly could carry his weight, and aided her the most in caring for their injured packmates in the confrontation with Rust.
But-
-Blue was an alpha.
-She chose her mate.
-And she did not answer his call.
She did not chose Storm.
She did not want to be second place in Bravo's eyes.
She wanted to be first.
Thus, the last living sister turned away from the siblings, and refocused her attention upon Bravo.
For the first time, Blue understood the pleasures of mating.
The heat of their scales sliding against one another, bodies heaving in an arduous union.
Breath and bodies interjoined, his muscular chest heaving against her back, his pleasured trills echoing and carrying their cries of passion.
Blue was breathless, barking and baying in rapture, tongue lolling from her maw, and amber eyes glazed.
She could see why Winter was so interested in mating with Bravo.
He was far better at mating than Rust.
Rust showed her pain.
Bravo was showing her pleasure.
Blue found that she quite liked pleasure over pain.
It was a shame her sisters never got to experience this pleasure.
They only felt pain, before they died.
They never experienced the pleasure of a male.
It made Blue feel guilty for enjoying it so much.
Blue found herself feeling less guilty the more she mated.
She was unsure if that was a good thing.
What Blue did know, however, was that more often than not whenever she spent time with Bravo-they mated.
Bravo was quite vigorous as a lover.
And as much as Blue enjoyed the pleasures of mating-at times, it was simply too much.
She would not be in the mood.
She would be hungry.
She wound be sore.
At times, Blue simply did not feel like mating.
And when she didn't feel like mating-she would let Bravo know.
A growl.
A hiss.
A half hearted snap.
Bravo would breathe, and snort.
Then walk away.
Or go away, only to bring her some morsel of food he obtained from his hunting.
As an apology.
Or perhaps to build a stronger rapport between them.
And whenever Bravo would do this-bring her food, or a dazzling rock that shined just right in the sun-Winter would always be there.
Watching.
Indeed, the white scaled female would stare, pupils small and nares flaring, scaled lips peeling back in a snarl. Throat puffing. Talons jabbing and raking the earth.
The relationship between the two females was nigh amiable prior, after Blue saved the other from Rust's wrath. It was not uncommon for Winter to preen the grey female's scales in thanks, in appreciation, in fellowship.
It was a relationship Blue found herself quiet enjoying.
After all, Blue missed her sisters, and Winter was the closest thing to a sister she would have.
It was nice.
It was pleasant.
And during that time, it was not Blue that cared for Bravo after his wound, so much as it was Storm.
Perhaps the grey male pitied the humiliated packmate.
Perhaps Storm was just like Blue, in that regard-
-Caring.
-Empathetic.
Not that Blue cared much, for Bravo during that time, for the emotional wounds of his betrayal was still sharp in her mind.
Indeed, Blue did not perceive Winter as a romantic rival prior.
The thought of mating, in truth, never crossed her mind until she saw such a display.
Jealousy, envy, and greed began to set in.
Blue didn't want Bravo to need any other female but her.
She was not the Beta of her pack for nothing.
And she would not bow to the other female, despite being newly joined into the pack.
It was almost a relief that Bravo was unable to perform sexually after his confrontation with Rust, however briefly.
The tension between the two females all but vanished, for they had no reason to be competitive towards one another.
It was a type of interaction Blue missed.
Socializing, preening and caring for another female-as if she were one of her own sisters.
Blue would ensure Winter was fed, and would often return with small prey.
Storm would bring food for Bravo, and then ensure his sister was being cared for, inspecting and watching.
Blue noticed that whenever she would be near Winter-Storm would keep his distance.
Keep his distance, but remain there, watching and observing.
Perhaps it was out of jealously that he lingered, and watched. For Blue was now getting in between the siblings-Storm's constant companion, and support system. His rock. His blood.
Or, perhaps it was something else. Insecurity, that he did not have the confidence to approach? Anxiousness, nervousness?
Perhaps the grey male felt as if he was interrupting something, or being a hindrance if he neared too closely?
Perhaps he felt his sister favored-and preferred-the company of another over his own?
Company that did not rely upon Winter, skulking and creeping in her shadow?
Constantly seeking her approval to act, her support in the event of an altercation.
Blue thought perhaps that was the reason.
Storm was meek.
Storm was not a leader.
Storm was a follower.
And perhaps that was why Blue chose Bravo, and ignored Storm's mating trill?
The brother was not as assertive as the forest hued male.
Not as powerful.
Not as strong.
Not as dominant.
Not as male.
After all, Storm did not act to defend Winter from Rust by himself.
He called for help.
Beckoned to Blue.
Pleaded for Blue to help.
Perhaps Storm would not have even attacked the rustic hued male if Blue had joined-even if it meant watching his own sister suffer.
Even when both grey raptors served as caretakers, hunters and defenders for their packmates-Storm always followed Blue's lead.
Storm would follow Blue.
And with Bravo, Blue would either follow the larger male, or walk beside him.
Yes, Blue saw the potential in Bravo as a mate.
Winter saw it, too.
It was a shame that competition for a mate tore their blooming sisterhood apart.
But Blue did not want second best-to not be Bravo's mate-to be Storm's mate.
She wanted the best.
Bravo.
The male that proved he could fight-by wounding her in combat, when they first met.
The male that proved he could provide-by sharing food with her, and giving her offerings of tiny prey.
A shame that competition for a mate tore their blooming sisterhood apart.
A shame that Winter now saw Blue as an enemy, and not a friend.
A shame that Blue would never have a relationship like she had with her sisters again.
But Blue would not mourn gaining a mate.
A good mate.
A strong mate.
After losing her sisters, and her Human Alpha, she deserved at least some kind of happiness.
But the desire for companionship-a sisterly bond-was strong within Blue.
It was something she missed.
Something she yearned for.
Something she wanted, to try and fill the void of her own fallen kin.
Thus, Blue returned from a small hunt, a squirrel clamped between her teeth, fur clinging in clumps upon her maw. Her nares flared in a huff of breath, amber eyes flicking and looking for her packmates. Her pupils narrowed into small slits, adjusting to the rays of the sun that broke through the trees of the pack's lair.
Light pattering of clawed feet, and Storm emerged from the foliage behind Blue, maw caked with fresh blood and course fur. The male craned his neck downward, head low as he slowly swooped the area, circular pupils adjusting to the light. Storm cocked his head, and a quiet series of clicks escaped him in confusion.
His sister was not here, nor was Bravo.
A muffled call escaped Blue's throat in response, the cobalt striped female warbling her head, weight shifting from foot to foot, clawed fingers flexing.
Storm looked around, nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air, inspecting, checking.
He could smell the pair.
Either they were at the nest, or they left not too long ago.
Oh, well.
Storm figured they decided to go hunt on their own, or wandered off to patrol their borders.
They would just have to wait for the pair to return.
As stated before, the next few chapters will still be with the pack.
At least one raptor will die-at max, three. But three is worst case senario.
I plan for Rust to encounter E, eventually, as well as the Indoraptor. Because why not? Maybe he turns a new leaf? Who knows?
Thank you all for reading and supporting. I read each and every review, and usually reply to all unless I forget.
Stay safe!