AN- Ok, kill me….I know this chappy is LOOOONG overdue, but life always seems to get in the way of things. And…since I am thinking correctly right now, I am going to let you all know who the other genius behind the story is! Tallacus (aka Lanex or Lan on the Raptorsong website). He and I have been working on this story together since (a. the first one finished, and (b. the site opened. huggles Tall Thanks to you, the story is so great!

And, I would like to dedicate this story to you because of your work on the site, and the story (and for showing me so many great free-download programs, and tutoring me in Maya, and ect…)

Chapter 5

3 days later

Lanex was the first one to awake. He peeked up from beneath his mother, seeing his uncle Cyrn and aunt Strena cuddled still asleep. The little raptor smiled at him. The overhanging redwood trees refracted the morning sun that it glittered through the trees. Like a divine force was welcoming them to a new day. Of course they are too young to understand God. Eventually they would learn about the almighty creator when they are the right age. Lanex felt at peace with his family. That's all they knew. We welcome them into the world with love; it would be awhile until they would need to know that this world was not what they really expect. A cool breeze blew through the trees, and it gave the little raptor a chill he laid his head down closer to his mother's body heat. He looked up again and smiled. He jibber to himself, with her maternal instincts to full, Moon mist awoke. Even though it was a happy jibber moon mist was still cautious. She looked over to Lanex who was still looking over her. "Lanex….what are you doing up so early"? She asked groggily. Lanex hopped down and ran up to his mother and nudged her purring, his mother returned the favor by purring as well. This commotion woke our other children. They got up and nudged and snuggled their mother. I was then awaked, my first sight of the day, seeing my family likes that, it brought joy to my heart.

"Trapper we have such wonderful children, thank the divine!" Cried moon mist as Akethron, Cyria, Lanex snuggled up to her. Acanya and Hekethra were nudging her.

"Indeed", I said agreeing with her as I got closer. Acanya and Hekethra and Akethron came to me nudging me as I returned them the affectionate gesture. I looked at my mate moon mist and smiled, "we have been blessed". I then joined them. The chick happily jittered. I looked down and saw one of the twins Acanya. She had beautiful blue eyes, just like her mother.

Acanya looked at me in a way that I knew she was hungry. "Hungry Acanya", I said smiling at her. Acanya gave a chirp for a yes; she then rubbed her snout at my neck, a way for young raptors to tell the adults that they are hungry. "You see uncle Cyrn and aunt Strena over there, go wake them and we'll go", I told my daughter indicating a sleeping Cryn with his mate Strena. Acanya chirped to her brother Lanex and the two moved stealthily over to there uncle and aunt. They kneeled and pounced on to their uncle, waking him with a growl he was ready to retaliate, but realizing that it was just them, he brushed them off with his tail.

"Can't wait until I have chicks", he said.

"Was that sarcasm", replied his mate Strena getting up with a smile.

Acanya and Lanex came up to her and nudged her.

"Morning ", she said. "Hungry you two" she asked. The twins chirped a yes. Cyrn and Strena got up and came over to us.

"So did the alphas ordered a hunt"? Cyrn had asked me.

"No, I thought we could catch a galli or two". I told him.

"Tapper isn't that a bit unorthodox, no raptor in a pack hunts alone." It then hit them. He looked at my mother and father, and his mate, we were a pack.

"Should we go then"?

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Father nudged mother and said "we'll be back."

I gibbered, to myself. I was happy today like most of us. I nuzzled my brother Lanex (who I prefer the nickname Lan) lovingly and he returned the favor by nipping me, how mean! I sidestepped his jaw. I grinned half sly and playful acting anger and growled at him menacingly like I hear the adults do. Teeth barred I approached my brother charged after him brother and he ran away from me. I caught up with him and pounced on him taking him down. My claws scratching against his hide. His laughter turning into wails of pain. He wailed so much that mother had to get up from her grooming of Cyria while Hekethra and Akethron are lying next to her resting

Mother had to separate us, and Lan got up and rushed behind her leg hissing at me. I bowed my head in shame tail dip to the ground to acknowledge I did wrong, and I'm sorry.

Mother nudged me, and I perked up. Lan was confused for a moment but forget what happened and this time we continued to play this time joined with our brother Akethron. We chased each other and nipped at one another this time being careful with our claws. As our mother watched us, Hekethra and Cyria rested beside her.

A dragonfly whizzed past Hekethra. Curious of this new creature, Hekethra got up and followed as it flew low to the ground. The faster she went, the dragon fly flew faster, the dragon fly flew further up and Hekethra jump trying to reach it but it was to far for her and before she knew she was falling not the ground she was previous on but beyond it .

As mother watched us and now Cyria got up to play with us, mother turned to see how Hekethra was doing. She was not next to her. Thinking that she is off roaming somewhere she got up and barked for her. Mother barked for her again and again. She started to panic. Hearing the call, the alpha female Cleo arrived with others from the pack.

"Moonmist, what's wrong?" She asked my mother.

"Its Hekethra, she missing", cried my mother.

Cleo turned to the other two raptors beside her and ordered them to find my sister. There is something that I like about the alpha female that I couldn't figure out, perhaps it's her ability to lead, but I don't really know.

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With the prey in sight, I was the first to pounce, impaling the bird with my teeth. Strena then pounced and landed on the other one.

"Did you hear that"?

Cyrn was cocking his head to the right trying to listen to what he might have heard.

"Hear what"? I asked him.

"Someone was calling for Hekethra, it sounded like Moonmist".

I listened in, it was Moonmist and by the sounds of it. Hekethra was missing.

"Let's go back", I said to Cyrn and Strena.

Cyrn and Strena grabbed the two birds. When we arrive, I saw my mate in a state of fear and sadness.

"Moonmist – "

"Trapper, Hekethra is missing", she wailed. The chicks were huddled around her not knowing what to do. I turned to Cyrn and Strena. I ask them to find Hekethra. Strena volunteered to stay with Moonmist to comfort her. Thanking her, Cyrn and I left them to find my missing daughter.

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"We have to help", I said to Lan and he followed me to a tree. Before we were able to climb the tree, aunt strena stepped in between us.

"Your mother has enough to worry about Hekethra she doesn't need to worry about you too". She said and nudged us back to our other siblings who were with mother, we did not know how to treat the situation, and at least I did. I jibber a protest, but figuring it was best for the situation at hand I would have to wait until the adults drop their guard and I could go looking for my sister my self.

There an opening, with the window of opportunity opened I ran off to the nearest tree Lan right behind me. We climbed up the tree and hopped from branch to branch, I was going to fast for him to catch up. I jumped and I was falling. Quick thinking I brought my legs out to a tight stretch and bam. I hit the ground full force my legs taking most of the impact. I laid there for a while and got up legs sore. I proceeded to the edge of a clearing, I was on a short ridge I look down and saw Hekethra. Her head was sticking out of a muddy puddle. Lan was coming. "Lan!" I screamed. I rushed as quickly as my sore legs could carry me to a safer point where I could jump down easily without causing me not much extra pain.

I approach my sister. I nudged her calling her name, telling her to stop playing around like that. She didn't acknowledge me, nor was she breathing or anything. There was a weird bulge on her neck.

"She's not moving", I said to my brother who had just showed up. I was about to cry.

The adults arrived a while after, mother and father, Cleo and Killer and many others. Mom and dad just stared at Hekethra. Cleo and Killer took us back to our nest. I protested telling Cleo that I want to be with mom and dad.

"Sorry little one, your parents need to be alone", she told me.

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Night came. We now had four remaining offspring. All of our future was in between us asleep, not understanding what had happened today. Acanya was still awake.

"Where is my sister"? she asked.

I couldn't explain death to someone as young as her. I would not know where to begin. That we experience such things like this everyday, that now its time for her to face reality.

I sighed and smiled weakly at her.

Moonmist took the chicks closer to her and cradled them. "Just stay close to the nest okay and don't go anywhere with out an adult". She told them. The chicks understood. I lay down. Acting like I was asleep, I kept eye on Acanya who was still reflecting on today's events. Starring out into the darkness I could see her suddenly come to a conclusion, she had figured out that her sister was not coming home.