I was going to split this chapter between E and the Indoraptor, and Blue and the pack, but figured I'll just keep it to E and the Indoraptor.
I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors. I don't like to proof read :D
Stupidity Warning: Drunk raptors.
E's scaled nares flared, a surge of excess causing a fine spray of mucus to escape her nostrils as she breathed deep. The red raptor with cream white markings cocked her head to the right, a quiet squeak of confusion escaping her. She was unsure what she was looking at. Three tents were pitches erect, the zippers closed. Further into the camp site were chairs that surrounded a burning fire, a metal pot cooking and boiling water within. Coolers were strung around the campsite-generally positioned near the tents themselves. Smoke fluttered in small plumes from the fire, the wood cracking and popping, embers being flown askew into the winds.
The red raptor's blue eyes observed the area, and upon nearing the clearing, craned her neck downward and lowered her head to inspect the strange tracks within the dirt. There were footprints embedded within the earth. E cocked her head, attempting to better decode these strange patterns of footprints. It was odd. E could not see any toe or claw prints. It looked as if it was a singular foot with markings and grooves-as if it were the prints of the large, armored preys. But it was not. The strange imprints in the earth were not like a typical foot like Ank's, and they were small.
E decided she spent enough time studying the odd tracks, and pattered off to further investigate, curious, yet wary. The little predator certainly would not be this bold if Ank the Tank was not nearby. Her armored packmate was currently sniffing a small metal can that was thrown upon the ground, nudging it curiously with his snout. The beer can rolled away, and Ank trudged after it, confused yet curious of the odd smell that came from the little metal thing. Perhaps it was food?
Thus, Ank attempted to put that thought to the test. He crushed the can in his jaws with a loud crunch, and instantly spit the little metal thing back out, a noise escaping him, and head shaking. Ank learned his lessen. The little crunchy things that smelled odd were not food.
E's head snapped towards the noise of the crunch, head warbling and a rasp escaping her in curiosity. Her clawed fingers clenched and unclenched in thought, killing claws twitching. There was so many new things here! She wasn't sure what to investigate next!
But, like always, hunger won over, and it was that need to feed that drew E's attention to the cooking pot over the fire. The raptor neared, blue eyes flicking and narrowing upon the fire, the heat growing as she approached. E's head cocked to the right, then to the left. The metal pot fluttered with cooking food, and the sound of something boiling could be heard within. E wanted the food, but she was unsure as to how to get it.
She never saw what this thing was before.
All she knew, was that it had something that smelled like food.
A high pitched rumble escaped her throat, and E craned her neck forward, nares flaring. The scent was making her jaws salivate, and her belly rumbled in want to be filled. The smoke was a danger, she knew that, but the prize of a full belly would be worth the risk, she supposed.
E's killing claws flicked, and circled, and turned, walking around the cooking fire, thinking and observing. Her snout then moved forward in a forceful nudge, ignoring the heat of the flames and plumes of smoke. While the pot clanged, and was knocked off the pit, E was not expecting the metal to be so hot, and seer her sensitive scales. The pain paused E to squeak in start, a clawed hand moving to cover her pained snout, fingers raking, as if to rub and scrape the pain away.
The pot spilled, boiling water flooding the ground and steam rising. Cooked venison spilled out, seasoned and ready.
And now dirty.
A shame for the campers-perhaps out on a hike whilst their dinner was cooking.
A win for E-for the risk was surely worth it.
The red raptor shook her head, clawed hand lowering and eyes refocusing.
She would have moved to eat the cooked meat had she not seen another of her kind.
A red raptor with cream white and blue eyes, scabs and scares upon her.
A reflection of herself within the reflective metal of the heated pot.
A reflection that E thought was another of her kind.
E gave a rasping squeak in start, and on instinct, made herself small, and submissive. The new raptor was so close! She wouldn't be able to scamper off to her armored packmate in time.
However, the red raptor seemed to copy her submissive stance, and it made E release a noise in confusion.
This new raptor was acting just like her? Perhaps she was hurt before, too? She saw the scabs and scars...Perhaps this raptor was just as an outsider as E was, herself?
Maybe this raptor would be a new friend?
E produced a rasp-an attempt at a greeting. She saw the raptor produce the same noise she did, and her head cocked in confusion. The raptor mimicked her.
E was confused, but waited for a response.
Nothing.
Maybe the other raptor did not hear her?
E tried again-a rasp of a greeting.
Whatever E did, the red raptor did at exactly the same time.
E was beyond confused.
Why was this raptor not communicating with her?
Did she not want to?
Perhaps she was too scared?
A sudden chortled snort came from behind her, followed by the heavy pounding of feet upon the earth, and the breaking and cracking of a tent. E whirled her head around to see Ank fleeing in panic, trampling anything in his path. A trampled tent and a second cracked and ruined by the swipe of a frantic tail in his wake, a plastic cooler splintered and empty beer cans crushed and scattered.
As fast as E whirled her head to look in the direction of her fleeing packmate, did her head snap in the direction Ank fled from. In the direction the other red raptor was. But beyond that-near the edge of the wood and foliage-was the same onyx and gold raptor from before.
Skulking upon all fours, golden eyes piercing and sharp, jagged teeth agape, quills sharp and erect.
E was so focused upon the Indoraptor approaching, that she forgot she was still low slung to the ground, out in the open and vulnerable. Her packmate fled, and she was now alone.
The Indoraptor's golden eyes flicked in observation. To the ruined tents, to the spilled meat and reflective pot, to the coolers and beer cans. Then his sharp eyes flicked to the smaller raptor, pupils narrowing into thin knifes. His tail flicked, and his killing claws clicked and clacked upon the stones embedded within the ground.
It would be a lie to say that the Indoraptor was drawn to the campsite for food alone.
E drew attention to herself by attempting to call to the other raptor.
The Indoraptor answered.
He arrived to answer her call, but he was also here to hunt.
Hunting the two legged creatures that made this place their nest.
E's breath increased, causing her throat to tighten and produce small squeaks and trills.
She was alone.
She was vulnerable.
She was out in the open.
She was scared.
And her eyes showed that fear.
It would be a lie to say that E scampered off in just search of prey.
While she was mainly searching for prey, she was also searching for a companion.
Another companion.
Another creature that could accept her.
She was searching for this male, in desperation, loneliness, and hope.
After all, he could have killed her.
He could have, when she was hiding and vulnerable.
But he didn't.
Why?
That had to mean something?
That he accepted her?
Or was it tolerance, twisted into the perception of acceptance?
E was unsure.
All she knew was that their first encounter could have gone much worse.
Much. Worse.
He could have killed her.
He didn't.
And that positive encounter was the only thing that wasn't sending E into an overdrive of terror.
It was the only thing that made E rise from her submissive position, belly rising from the ground as her legs allowed her to rise. Though she did not rise to her full height.
She did not want to be seen as a challenger.
As a threat.
E crouched, a posture that displayed stronger self confidence than she previously had. The female's tail flicked, neck craning upward to look upon the larger raptor. A croaked rasp in greeting escaped her.
It was a noise that made the Indoraptor twist his head to the side in confusion, and curiosity. His taloned hands resumed to skulk and crawl himself forward a few more strides until they ceased, and stilled. A guttural rumble escaped the male, before a low call escaped his throat.
It was a call that made E cock her head to the left, a series of confused squeaks escaping her in confusion.
She didn't recognize the odd call?
What was it?
The Indoraptor's nares flared, his eyes refocusing to observe the smaller raptor. The male was perplexed at her silence, a clawed hand curling and grasping at the air, before settling his hand back down upon the ground.
A second, repeating call from the black raptor bellowed forth from his throat.
An attempt to communicate.
An attempt to socialize with another so like him, yet so different.
An attempt to connect with the only other that didn't display aggression towards him.
E did not understand the male's call. But it did not sound aggressive, nor hostile. E's killing claws tapped at the trodden ground in thought, and a series of clicking squeaks escaped her.
The noise only made the Indoraptor cock his head hard to the left in response, a noise of perplex slipping passed his jagged teeth.
He did not understand this female.
She made such strange noises-so unlike the blue one.
The Indoraptor appeared to give up any attempts of communication, and instead turned his attention towards an untouched tent. His neck craned forward, and his chest expanded as he inhaled deep.
The prey was here recently.
That meant they would not be far.
E seemed to calm, and while she didn't rise to her full height, she did skulk forward to snatch up a discarded sausage link in her jaws-which she devoured whole. Her greedy clawed fingers grasped a second link, and her neck craned downward. Her jaws clamped upon the sausage, and it was cut clean. Almost like that of a squirrel, she stuffed her scaled maw, and ate with greed.
This meat was different than what she normally ate from her prey.
Where was more?!
E's blue eyes, however, fell upon the skulking male. While he was ignoring her, she at least wanted to keep an eye upon him.
The Indoraptor was currently sniffing the unruined tent, golden eyes focusing upon the zipper. His jaws carefully clamped upon the little metal tag, and pulled. He pulled the wrong way, the fabric of the tent stretching towards him. The black male twisted his powerful neck, and the zipper began to split and unfurl the opening, exposing the inside of the tent.
Releasing the little metal tag, the Indoraptor then craned his neck, and pushed his head forwards to explore and investigate the inner sanctum of the tent.
E cocked her head, confused as to what the male was doing.
The thought then occurred to the red hued female. Her blue eyes flicked to the cooked meat upon the ground, circular pupils narrowing. Bending down, her jaws clamped up one of the few remaining morsels of food.
Breath squeaking slightly, E then pivoted herself to face the black and gold beast. Tentatively, the female raptor approached, serrated teeth gently piercing the skin of the sausage within her maw. The red and cream white raptor pattered towards the Indoraptor, ceasing her approach a safe distance away.
Her blue eyes blinked, briefly covered by scaled lids. E produced a huff of breath in exhale, husky and throated.
It was a noise that attracted the Indoraptor's attention, for the male withdrew his quilled head from the small confines of the tent and craned his neck to turn towards E. His golden eyes focused upon the small female, pupils narrowing. Briefly did his eyes flick to the meal held within her maw, his nares flaring.
A low, confused noise came from the larger predator, and his head cocked to the side, curious as to what E was doing.
The little red raptor produced a chuff as a second huff of breath rushed passed her scaled lips, neck bobbing upward and head tilting on an incline to try and bring attention the piece of meat within her maw. Her ankles extended and stretched, and she tried to make herself taller in order to try and better deliver her gift.
After all, what better gift and peace offering was there than food?
The Indoraptor looked upon the smaller raptor, before craning his neck downward, slowly, cautiously. A serpentine hiss escaped his throat, and his jaws opened agape ever so slightly. The Indoraptor's amber eyes briefly flicked to E's sapphire ones, seeking to find any trick within her quivering blue orbs. He found nothing other than hope, fear...flickering of light like the stars in the night sky.
As soon as his eyes left E's own, his gaze refocused upon the offered food.
He could feel her breath intermingle with his own, her breath once more escaping her throat in nervous squeaks.
The Indoraptor was unsure that another's breath upon his scales could feel so comforting, yet so foreign.
Pleasure, and comfort, after all, were not things the Indoraptor was used to, however so small.
Pleasure in feeding.
Pleasure in drinking.
Pleasure in sleeping.
But pleasure in another?
Unless it came with the sadistic pleasure of causing pain and killing, the male hybrid was not accustomed to such.
After all, nothing was better than something.
Still, the Indoraptor decided to focus upon the task at hand.
His jaws clamped upon the peace offering, E's own releasing and retracting, her saliva and tongue gliding off of the flesh.
The Indoraptor then craned his neck upwards, tilted his head skyward, and swallowed the morsel whole. His throat muscles bobbed whilst he swallowed, and after, his nigh serpentine neck lowered to refocus his gaze upon E.
E looked upon the taller raptor, blinking. A small, yet high pitched whistle of breath escaped her, which was followed by a short, hoarse bark.
The gold and onyx beast tilted his head, though produced a low rumble of acceptance.
E looked upon the larger male, her nares flaring, inhaling his scent.
Remembering his scent.
Slowly becoming intoxicated by his musk.
A brief thought then occurred within E.
A brief thought that the different male would be interested in breeding her.
It was a thought that was swiftly pushed out of her mind.
It was just a hopeful thought, of making her own pack that would accept her.
After all, while E did have sexual urges-they were generally not on her top priorities. She could do little to sate herself when she came into season, after all.
The urges were more or less an annoyance.
E decided to end these sudden surge of thoughts by pivoting upon her feet, and pattering off.
At least she felt confident enough around this new male to not cower. After all, having two pack mates were better than having none.
Perhaps he would stay with her, this time? Not leave? That would be comforting. To be in the presence of another like her, yet so different.
E trotted off, and decided to leave the few remaining sausages alone. After all, she did not want to make the larger male angry by eating what little food was left-as famished as she was.
Curiosity got to the female, however, as she noticed a beer can laying upon the ground. It was from the broken cooler Ank destroyed in his panic. E looked at the little shiny can, then to the Indoraptor-who returned to searching the innards of a tent.
E craned her neck, and lowered her scaled head to investigate the can, hips raised and tail flicking. Her head cocked to the right. Then to the left. She nudged the little object with her snout, causing it to roll.
A whistling chitter in confusion escaped her, clawed fingers curling and grasping at the air in thought. E then nudged the beer can harder, which caused it to roll farther, faster-and only gain momentum as it began to roll on a gentle downward slope.
E produced a squeak of excitement, predatory instinct triggered. In her eyes, the beer can may as well have been prey.
The raptor then trotted after the toy, eager in her fleet of foot movement. She then pounced, and clasped her clawed fingers around the can, trapping it within her scaled fingers. Akin to a feline, E began to bat at the can, manipulating the aluminum object as it rolled to and fro, at the mercy of her pawing hands. E couldn't help but produce a series of squeaks in her excitement, tail swaying and killing claws clacking into the earth.
The extent of noise being made attracted the Indoraptor's attention, who cocked his head in confusion at the female's antics.
What was she doing?
What did she have?
The hybrid approached slowly, cautiously in his skulking, golden eyes narrowing upon E.
E's head swiveled, and her blue eyes flicked towards the approaching male.
The female produced a hoarse noise, and she rose to her feet. She then nudged the can with her snout, letting it roll towards the larger raptor kin.
The Indoraptor watched as the rolly thing rolled, and bumped into his clawed hand. His hand rose off the ground, and his head lowered to inspect the foreign object, his nares flaring.
E produced another hoarse rasp, which caused the Indoraptor to turn his head towards her. E appeared to be expecting something, but what, he didn't know.
It was then that E neared once more, and nudged the can with her snout, causing the little object to roll and bounce into the hybrid's once again lowered hand.
The hybrid looked towards E, then to the beer can.
With a flick of his wrist, the Indoraptor back handed the toy, telling it roll towards the red and white female.
E produced a squeak of a chirp in excitement, and like before, nudged the can back.
The Indoraptor produced a trill in chortle, and pawed the can away in return.
For the first time, the Indoraptor was having fun.
Fun that didn't involve killing or hunting or harming, anyway.
E then decided to up the the game, by grasping the can within her jaws, shaking it as if it were prey.
The only problem was, her teeth pierced the can, and caused alcohol to pour out. The surge of the foul liquid caused E to drop the can, the female heaving and shaking her head as the alcohol burned her throat.
The can rolled away, and it was enough to trigger her companion's own instincts as well.
The Indoraptor rushed forth, and clamped the beer within his jaws, crushing it.
He instantly regretted it.
The aluminum sliced his mouth, and the alcohol poured into his maw and rushed down his gullet. The Indoraptor heaved and instantly spat out the beer can, throat burning and spasming, saliva welling and snot running out of his nares.
Things were not okay!
Things were not okay!
Things were not okay!
Things were okay!
Things were very okay!
E wasn't sure why, but she felt funny!
Everything felt fuzzy, like the fur from the small mammals she would hunt.
Everything felt fuzzy and warm!
The only thing that made the fuzziness and warmness bad, was that the world wouldn't stop spinning.
Why were the trees spinning?
Why were there two of everything?
E wasn't sure what was going on.
When E tried to rise, she stumbled right back down, as if she had no strength in her legs and had no balance.
Everything was fine when she left the strange nest site. But then afterwards, she began to feel funny.
And now E didn't know what was up, down, left, or right.
Thus, the female raptor was currently sprawled out upon a bed of dead leaves from the redwoods, pupils dilated and shaking.
Drunk.
She lost her balance how long ago, and wasn't able to get up ever since.
Not that she minded.
She felt quite good!
And it wasn't like she was alone!
The Indoraptor was with her, having chosen to follow the red female, stumbling along all the while.
Perhaps the reason E felt warm was because she was pressed flush against the gold and onyx hued hybrid?
Her smaller form was pressed against his larger, more muscular form, nuzzling affectionately, lovingly, tenderly, drunkenly into the Indoraptor's shoulder.
Into his chest.
Into his neck.
Showing her affection whilst she was most bold, for she would never be this bold otherwise.
Desperate for affection she longed to have, and give.
E closed her eyes as she nuzzled her scaled head against the larger raptor, her nostrils flaring and deeply inhaling his masculine musk.
The Indoraptor lay upon the ground, his length easily circling around E's body, his pupils dilated and unfocused, black scaled eyelids half closed. His jaw was half slacked, saliva welling within his jaws and drooling out one side. A constant, low purr escaped his throat upon feeling the female's affections, his tail sluggishly thumping upon the ground.
An arm then rose, and wrapped around E's smaller form to further smoosh her against him, and to get the female underneath him-if ever so slightly. E was akin to a rag doll, her body half twisting in a lax fashion. It was an opportunity she used to snuggle further-deeper against the Indoraptor's broad chest.
It was then the male twisted them further, and E found herself sprawled out on top of the male, his larger snout pressed against hers, breaths intermingling.
E produced a confused noise, wondering who was moving-the earth, or her. But her confusion didn't stop her from rubbing her own snout against the hybrid's own.
His eyes met hers.
Her eyes met his.
For once, E felt no fear from this new male.
For once, the Indoraptor felt calm and lax in the presence of another.
Perhaps he was wrong?
Perhaps something was better than nothing?
Or, perhaps his mind would change when he was less drunk?
But for now, everything was okay.
Everything was very okay.
I plan to work on the next chapter with Blue and the pack tomorrow. It will more than likely be far more serious than this chapter, and the drama in the pack will be upped. Because drama is good.
Reviews:
Cat Lover: Thank you! I'm glad I can convey all the different personality types good enough! And yeah, Rust is basically a bully. You'll probably like him even less in the next chapter. At this point, Bravo seems to have a fair shot at being Blue's eventual mate. Though I do plan for most of the pack to get killed off, and Bravo may not entirely be safe. Though it won't be for a long while. I plan quite a bit of pack and character development next chapter :D
Huntincwackheads: Thanks! Who doesn't like dino drama? :D
I'm pleasantly surprized this work is getting such lovely feedback. Maybe that's why I update so much? Either way, please expect the next chapter to focus upon Blue and rather complex interrelations of the pack members.
Either way, thank you all for reading and supporting!