A/N: Hum, readership is quite down from chapter one. Oh well, people are still reading. This chapter introduces the last two of the four characters the chapters will be based around. After this the story will continue to go in a pattern of focusing on one character per chapter unless they're together, at which point they're chapters will be combined.

Gir ate my tacos- Sorry for the confusion but I figured the two groups wouldn't know each other's names and I hadn't yet introduced the characters as have names.

SqueekyPhr33k- Thanks for the review!

Disclaimer: Jhonen Vasquez owns the Irkens. I guess I somewhat sorta kinda own these early Irkens, but they wouldn't exist without his version. Since this is set in the (very distant) past, I own all the characters and all other species mentioned.

P.S.: Would anyone be interested in a creature directory placed before the prologue (easier than putting it as the last chapter)? I have a couple species done already from when I was planning this story out on a web site, but not all species mentioned so far are written up yet. It shouldn't be a big delay to do because I only need to get done the ones already mentioned before posting the next chapter than work on the list as needed.

Chapter Two: The Hint

Shikimarru had never liked Mala. He was thoroughly convinced that she created rules specifically to interfere with his life. At the same time, rules managed to have to affect on her what so ever, a point which she blatantly flaunted. Case and point: she was off hunting and he wasn't.

He lay in the tree above a nest moodily. The tree was not comfortable in the least, but was a necessary symbolic gesture. Mind, there was no one of importance around to see him, but eventually there would be. 'And than there won't,' he though, an amused grin playing across his lips for a brief second before slipping away to make room for a moody scowl.

Snuffling, nervous squeaks drifted up from the nest below him. Ochuru crouched at the bottom of it, head up, antennae perked, and blue eyes wide with wonder. Between his arms scurried a new toy of sorts. The rodent was bush-leaf green with bright yellow flower-shaped spots adorning its fur. Two large, rounded ears lifted and fell as its brown nose sniffed the air. It scampered along on short branch-brown legs as its brown, furless tail twitched nervously. With each fear-induced movement, the leaf shaped and colored tail tip rustled, an inviting noise for nearby predators.

Either luckily or unluckily for the Uba'lii, the predators would not come. The creature that decided its fate was the top predator. On land, at least.

Ochuru panted happily as he looked down at the rodent. He was content to watch the small creature and the possibility of eating it had not yet occurred to him. Uba'lii were not that uncommon and not very hard to catch either. Since they did not have the best of tastes, they were often left for times when food was scarce or else as the practice prey of smeets.

Still, it was hard to catch an Uba'lii without killing it. Seeing as this one was still very much alive, he was quite proud of himself for catching it. He had had a love of rodents for as long as he could remember. Unfortunately, owning small rodents had not mixed well with his predatory instincts. The last rodent, a Pehareemu, had died when he ate it in a fit of just that.

Besides the nest, Myer sat watching Ochuru with his own sort of quiet intensity. Despite the concentration in his red eyes, he made no move to steal the creature from the other. Although he held a certain distain for Ochuru's ways, he had come, at the least, to stop suggesting that there was something wrong with him.

Shikimarru huffed, letting his chin hit the branch roughly. He was getting tired of analyzing the pack, of sorting and thinking and planning. He hated planning with a passion, despised waiting with venomous conviction.

Quick, light sounds started up nearby. The beats grew louder, soon accompanied by the rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs. A larger male artfully weaved between the towering trees, circling the trunk of the largest one. He stopped, bright-eyed and panting, besides the nest. His whole frame shivered with the excitement in his eyes.

"Da-gi!" Ochuru bounced upwards, grabbing the Uba'lii as he ran out of the nest. He pounced upon the other, giddily rubbing his head against the larger male's chest. His victim laughed warmly, bending over to nuzzle the top of his head.

Straightening up, the larger male patted Ochuru on the head. He smiled at Myer, who only gazed at him quietly. He then turned the grin to Shikimarru, who only returned a sulking glare.

Letting the smile fade to a thoughtful frown, he considered the three younger males. The Uba'lii snuffled pathetically, claws scratching against his side. He pulled away from Ochuru's embrace, to shift his weight backwards. He sat down on his haunches, antennae lowered slightly and twitching just as much.

"I think," he began cautiously, brows furrowed and with a thoughtful look scrawled across his facial features, "that you will be in for a pleasant surprise soon." The careful, considering look disappeared in a second as he gave Shikimarru a cheeky grin, tone light and playful. "Not that all of us will notice."

Shikimarru grunted, his upper lip lifting slightly to show sharp fangs. The other sighed, antennae lowering as he shook his head. He took another breath of air, straightening his posture. His antennae lifting briefly before dropping again.

"I'll… be back… later," he said, an unsure pause puncturing the statement. Before he received a response, he lifted himself up and trotted away to disappear behind the trees.

Ochuru sniffed, unconsciously squeezing the Uba'lii. Shikimarru snorted at him, a growl pressing upwards in his throat. Myer gazed calmly from Ochuru to Shikimarru before dropping his gaze to stare at where Dakkurru had been.