AN- well, here is Chapter 3. Hope you enjoy. If updates aren't as often, it will be because I start school soon. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 3

Killer had barked something, declaring that all clan members were to report to the center nest. This could mean a hunt was on for today. I open my eyes to see Cyrn sleeping next to me. Nudging him, I said. "Come on, the alpha pair wants us in the center".

"Mmmm, sooo..." he replied groggily.

"Just get up!" I said, hitting him playfully. Moonmist gave a laugh from behind me, and I turned and grinned at her, before hitting Cyrn again.

With a moan and some grumbling, the sleepy raptor got up and stretched, unhinging all the joints and placeing them back. He didn't stretch like any raptor I knew, other than himself of course, and how Cyrn stretched it was a mystery, not to mention odd. We were some of the last ones to make it there.

When we were all present the alpha air spoke. First, it was Killer.

"Today, we are hunting, despite the annoyance of the Aka-Eream being to close to our territory. Second, our children are going to be involved in this hunt as well, everyone knows what that means".

It meant we would have to be careful, as normally young raptors are freaked out on their first hunt with all the chaos happening around them. I was, as most of us were. For the first time actually being involved in a hunt, with all the stampedes, the pursuit, the defenses of herbivores have, and the possibility another carnivore is going to be involved- you can't blame a young chick. With so many factors, it was too treacherous. Yet, there was always the excitement of hunting, which I don't know how to explain, but it was in us all. Hunting from what I knew in the children's perspective was the rite of passage, from chick to adulthood. To us when we were young actually partaking in a hunt was really exciting, and for parents it was a proud event. The litter of Killer and Cleo were delirious when they had heard the heard the news. It was a big surprise to them. They later found out while they were asleep, their parents had decided it was time for them. Next, it was Cleo's turn to speak as she walked over and stood beside her mate.

"Since it is our liters first hunt, we are going to go for easy prey.... a parasaur."

Parasaurs were easy to kill; they had no means of defense, but they relied on other heavier and far more dangerous herbivores like certipsians. When ever we had to hunt with younger raptors, we usually go for easier prey, as it would give them a better chance to be participant.

An old female, who I didn't even notice that I was next to smiled. It was Karana; to us she was the matriarch of the clan, a title that usually belonged to the alpha female, Karana was the alpha before Killer and Cleo had come along. Karana and her mate Sotoko were the most memorable alpha pair we ever had, at least I thought so. Karana was very faithful and for those of us whose parents were killed, and she took care of us until we could do it ourselves. Every hatchling loved her.

We were assembled, and as the alpha pair gave instructions to the betas that were going to be on watch while they were gone I could hear the commotion going over at their litter, where the chickes were chattering happily.

We moved out and found one of the largest herds of paras that just wondered into our territory. They were the biggest herd of parasauroluphoses that any of us have ever seen. There must've have been hundreds of them. It was logic that this herd would attract not only Aka-Eream's attention, but other larger carnivores as well. Killer and Cleo examined which Para to go after, as their and others children watched intensely. We were hidden from view and were downwind, which ment that we would have the essence of surprise with us, but the scents of several other carnivores were in the area. Cleo consulted her mate saying "We should delay the hunt; there are too many factors here."

"True", replied Killer. "We've been in situations like this before, but we always manage to get out of it with confidence, just keep a positive attitude, isn't that what old Karenna always tells us?" he asked his mate with a grim smile. He looked over to the paras again. "That one", he said, his eyes lit up. It was a full grown buck, and judging by his girth the pack would not have to feed for a few days after. We all saw the buck that killer was pointing at.

"Attack pattern sleuth", ordered Killer. Remembering the original plans for this pre-coordinated attack we moved into position. My mate and I moved to the rear of the herd, as the buck we were going for was at the last few paras in the herd.

Once the alphas saw we were in position, they initiated the chase, by being the first ones to go. Then another pair and another. Finally it was our turn. We zoomed through the herd scouting out the Para that the alpha pair had pick out. The Para herd was well aware of our presence and they proceeded to take care of us. They started to run and smash into us as we moved through them. Okay so maybe, they are can be dangerous.

Several raptors stood on a hillside watching the action below. They were not from my clan, the Cyteri, but from our rivals the Aka-Eream. They were almost the same size as we were, and they bore mostly the same markings, save the fact that they had more red in their coloration. They usually lived on the hillside opposite of us, but, they were now watching our hunt, amused at how we executed and seemed to adapt to the current situation.

I immediately adapted dodging the paras that were going to smack me and the Para who were going to smash through me, I jolted up on them and hope off of the other side or either zoomed underneath there body maintaining my speed. I gave a quick glance to see if Moonmist was with me, but she wasn't. The paras were still coming after me, so I dodge back to where she was last seen, worried that she was in serious peril. When she wasn't there; I panicked, before thinking that she may be with the rest of the pack. I ran back to where the Para that the alphas had picked out should be. There she was, a breath a sign of relief, one less thing to worry about, luckily everyone was there. They were edging the Para away from the herd as far as they can. The attack plan called that we would have three separate groups- one would attack the front, one from the side, and the other from the rear. It was common to use this strategy for a large herd. The three groups would try to separate the animal from the herd the ones in front would get the animal away from the herd and the other raptors would be behind to keep away resistance.

Then we could pounce and make the kill. The Para had already been slain when I finally got there. Moonmist nudged me and smiled. "I was about to go looking for you", she said.

"I just came back looking for you", I said gasping.

"Who pounced first"?

"Killer, then Sheft followed by her mother and everyone else, but Sheft was the only one who partook in it", elaborated Moonmist.

Sheft was the oldest daughter of Killer and Cleo's litter. She was very courageous and like her father, was not afraid of anything. I had finally regained my strength when we heard a roar on the plain. Albertosaurs, four of them from what I could tell.

"This can't be good", I said.

Moonmist agreed.

Albertosaurs savored Para meat. There the ones who usually love to keep the hunting rights of parasaurs to themselves. The paras broke up into smaller groups from the main herd. While the Albertos pursued the smaller para groups, some of the Albertos approached us growling menacingly. We took our positions to defend our kill, but the Albertos approached still, unintimidated. Then it happened- instantly Sheft jumped the closest alberto, the alberto screamed in pain as Sheft went for his snout and dug her claws into his flesh, before another alberto ripped of Sheft from her pack mate's face and the young raptor went flying into a tree with a muffled shriek. Cleo watched, her face filled with horror and anger as she watched her daughter sailing through the air. She snarled at the Albertos, then ran to find Sheft.

Killer ordered a retreat and we returned to the clad of the trees. The Albertos roared in victory and rejoined the rest of their pack. When they were gone, Cleo rushed over to her daughter, she was relieved to see her still alive. Poor girl, she practically couldn't walk back to packs grounds after without the aid of her family. Her father had to carry her like a newly hatched chick back to the nest. Eventually the Albertos managed to leave after the paras did and we were able to eat the para that we had killed.

Surprisingly, Cleo was not at all upset at her mate for making the decisions to go after the paras. She did oppose the idea of going after such a large size herd though, especially with the Aka-Eream so close. What happen to us today had taught them both a lesson, especially Killer. He had apologized to all of us that night, realizing that one couldn't be invincible through determination.

As Moonmist and I rested for the night I realized that Cyrn was absent. I say him darting over to the other side where the younger females were, he was carrying a slab of para meat in his maw. I got up and followed him silently, seeing what he was up to. I watched as he preformed a courting dance for a female around his age by the name of Strena. Cyrn swung back and fourth with the meat in his mouth he then cautiously placed it in front of Strena, she sniffed it and threw it up into the air. I watched Cyrn's face, remembering that this was the most important part of the courting ritual. If she caught the meat and ate it, she was agreeing to be his mate, telling him that she wished to spend her life with him. If she let it fall, she was rejecting Cyrn. The younger raptor continued to watched as the chunk of meat slowly began to fall back to the earth. Right when it seemed that it would hit, Strena grabbed it between her jaws and swallowed it. Cyrn smiled, and seeing that she had accepted him so far, Cyrn then lay down beside her and began to groom her, as Sterna purred with delight. This reminded me of a year ago, when I was courting my mate. The exact same thing happened back then as it did today, and as it will forever more.

When the two were finished with the ritual, I returned to Moonmist. She was asleep when I approached her, but she shot up when she heard me approaching and looked relieved that it was me as I lay beside her.

"Where's Cyrn?" she asked.

"Remember the night I courted you".

Moonmist pondered for awhile, then nodded slowly. She then smiled and said, "Oh, who is he with"?

"Sterna." I said.

"Well she had her eye on him for a long time".

"Same with him." I said in reply.

I snuggled up to her my neck over hers. My eyes looked down to her eyes.
"Remember the night I courted you"? I repeated.

"Mmm, hmm", Moonmist said practically asleep.

"I was just thinking that the events that took place today, happened just like on the night we courted, but the major difference is that its Cyrn's turn. Talking about deja vu".

Moonmist smiled.

"Tomorrow is another day, lets get some sleep." she said.

Getting my self comfortable, and thinking about miscellaneous things sleep soon over come me.

AN- So, what did you think? Remember- Praise loved, Critisism welcome, and Flames used to keep raptors warm at night! And don't forget the Official Raptorsong Website! There is info on characters, an RP/discussion forum- for which we still need 3 alpha raptors (moderator rank for now), as well as a game section! If you want to visit, just find the link in my profile!