Chapter 4: Extreme Dinosaurs, Africa, Meeting the Team and Asking the Big Question
It had been a few months since Bad Rap confessed his love for Shadow. The two had grown closer than ever. It took them both a long time to recover from their injuries from the Irritator that attacked three months prior.
It was morning and Shadow looked over at Bad Rap who was still asleep. She tried to get up but saw he had his hands around her waist hugging her in his sleep. Shadow chuckled softly to herself and kissed him, she felt his hand go around her gently as he opened his eyes and kissed back when they heard a whistle.
"Nice one sis. He's a keeper isn't he?" Drake said
Shadow blushed in embarrassment and growled "Get out of our room Drake!"
Drake ran off and Shadow was getting up to go after him when she felt something around her waist she looked and saw it was Bad Rap's tail.
She looked over at him and heard him say "He's your little brother it's his job to annoy you Shadow. Don't let him get to you."
She smiled and walked back over and kissed him just as he was going to kiss back, Shadow heard his stomach growl and she chuckled "Hungry babe?"
He nodded embarrassed and Shadow said "Good, now get your sexy tail up and we will head to the mess hall."
He chuckled at the playful order and replied "Yes Ma'am" and followed her out.
Bad Rap said "Let's wake up Haxx and Spittor so they can eat as well before we continue our trip."
Shadow nodded and saw Bad Rap smirk at her before he roared at the two sleeping forms of the raptors.
When they got their food Bad Rap sat down and began eating, when Shadow smirked and sat on his lap and ate her food as well.
Shadow's father cast a sideways glance at the pair and smiled to himself knowing his daughter had found her soul-mate.
Darksider asked "Are you going to continue your trip?"
Bad Rap nodded and said "We are, Darksider and we thank you for your hospitality."
He smiled at him and asked "Could I talk to you for a moment Bad Rap?"
He nodded and looked at Shadow and she smiled and let him up.
When Darksider saw he and Bad Rap were alone he said "Bad Rap you have my blessing to become my daughter's mate. And I hope you will treat her well."
Bad Rap nodded instantly and said "I will. I'm going treat her as the goddess she is to me and be there for her no matter what ."
Darksider smiled and said "Glad to hear it, take care of my little shadow dancer."
Bad Rap nodded and smiled then they headed back to the mess hall.
Shadow looked at them and asked Bad Rap "so what did dad have to say to you babe?"
Bad Rap nuzzled her neck and said "Just giving us tips for when we are in Africa Shadow."
She smiled and nuzzled his cheek lovingly.
After they ate the group headed back to the cruisers and loaded the provisions Darksider gave them. As soon as they were loaded on, Bad Rap helped shadow on to his cruiser and took off in the direction of Africa. Shadow looked at Bad rap and smiled.
They were near the coast of Africa when the Extreme Dinosaurs began shoot their ice blasters at the group.
Bad Rap looked worriedly at Shadow and said "Hold on, I'll try to lose them."
She nodded and held his waist until she was bumped off Bad Rap's vehicle and Spike caught her.
Shadow frightened screamed "BAD RAP!"
He looked at the triceratops and growled then said "Shadow jump I will catch you!"
She closed her eyes and jumped. Just as Bad Rap promised he caught her then out ran Spike to catch up with Spittor and Haxx.
Haxx began to panic and said "What to we do?"
Spittor looked down and said "We could hide in the jungle we are above Africa."
Bad Rap nodded "Let's go." and went down along with the other two.
They landed and quickly hid their vehicles with foliage lying around and ran into the jungle. They kept running for a while until they were certain the dinosaurs wouldn't catch up to them and took a break. Bad Rap decided to relax against a rock face and Shadow sat next to him and laid her head on his shoulder.
Slowly Shadow closed her eyes and rested, Bad Rap looked down at the tired form of his girlfriend and put an arm around her waist holding her close to him as he too fell asleep.
Later the pair was woken up rather abruptly by Haxx saying "get up" over and over again, they soon figured out he wouldn't stop until they did, so they relented and got up. Haxx got them to follow him to a ridge where Spittor was looking at something.
What they saw amazed them for in the valley below them were different kinds of dinosaurs.
Shadow hugged Bad Rap and said "I can't believe it."
Bad Rap smiled and nuzzled her cheek "Me either my beautiful Shadow-Dancer."
She looked up at him and kissed him. Bad Rap smirked into the kiss and ran a hand down her back gently.
The pair hear Haxx snicker and broke apart for air.
Shadow said "I need to get something out of my bag, it's a little gift for each of you."
She got out three crystals and handed one to each of them.
Bad Rap looked at his and asked "What is this for Shadow?"
Shadow replied "They are to help you shift like me they were a gift from my dad to you three. Well go ahead and try them out guys."
They did and they all looked at each other amazed that the crystals could do that.
Shadow had shifted to her original form and walked around Bad Rap then said "Lookin good babe."
Bad Rap blushed and looked at her and said "You look good too Shadow-Dancer."
Shadow sniffed the air a bit and said "how long has it been since you guys hunted?"
Bad Rap let out a chuckle and said "Too damn long Shadow." Shadow flashed him a fanged smile and said "Picked up a scent of a weak iguanadon, you boys want to help me catch dinner?"
The trio nodded and followed her she chirped a little at the others and the group went separate ways to surround the weak animal. Bad Rap let out a bird-like sound signaling Shadow and the other two to move. They all moved in and they shot out at the iguanadon and the animal bolted away fast even if it was weak, shadow chirped to herself and launched on to it's back and bit on the neck turning towards the other three.
Bad Rap lunged at the tendon on the back of it's leg and ripped it making the animal limp.
Spittor and Haxx tackled it to the ground and held it with Bad Rap's help as Shadow delivered the final blow ripping the jugular vein killing the animal quickly the others backed off and left Shadow eat first since she brought it down.
Shadow looked at them and said "Get your tails over here and eat guys, or do you expect me to eat the creature on my own?"
the trio snickered and went over and dug into the carcass and ate their fill. Shadow took out a part from the animal gently and placed in front of Bad Rap.
He looked at her then at the heart she had in her jaws she set in front of him and said "It's a little thing my family does for the ones they care about. We split the heart with our significant other."
He smiled at her and split it with her while Haxx said "Aww isn't that precious."
Bad Rap let out an embarrassed growl and was about to go after Haxx until Shadow ran her head under his and nuzzled his cheek.
After a while they ate down a good portion of the carcass and left back to grab their backpacks. After they grabbed them they walked into the valley until they came across a place to rest for the night since the sun was sinking beneath the horizon.
Bad Rap smiled and fixed up his tent near the creek they were by with Shadow's help, the group got them fixed up as the sun was setting. They all went to the cliff side and sat near it and watched the sunset, he smiled at Shadow then fake yawned and put an arm over her shoulder pulling her close to him. They all saw the stars come out and listened to crickets chirp for a while. Soon after Haxx and Spittor went to their tents and curled up for the night. Shadow and Bad Rap soon turned in as well, the female raptor smiled as her boyfriend rested his head in her lap.
She chuckled and ran a hand over his neck as she hummed some notes to a song and sang:
''As the rivers sing the song of our hearts''
''The reeds dance softly in the wind''
''Leaves twirl and twirl to a beat so soft, that it makes them feel like their flying''
''A pale moon glows over a valley low''
''And a voice does sing of a love so bold''
''Though seasons change and friends will go, I know that you'll never leave me''
''As the stars blaze over the veil of night, just as the sun sinks neath the horizon''
''As time goes of for eternity, just as waves crash through the sea.''
''Though seasons change and friends will go, I know that you'll always love me''
''I know that you'll always love me"
Bad Rap looked up at her and asked " Where did you learn that Shadow?"
She looked at the relaxed form of her boyfriend and said "My mother sang it to me when I was a hatchling I always fell asleep when she sang it. It's called Love Eternal."
Bad Rap smiled and kissed her cheek then moved over to make room for shadow to lay down and sleep. Shadow smirked at him and curled up against his back, then fell asleep as he did. The next morning Bad Rap sniffed the air and picked up a delicious scent, he walked out of the tent and found Shadow cooking breakfast.
He looked in on Haxx and Spittor, he chuckled to himself as Haxx hand wrapped his arms around Spittor and wouldn't let go as Spittor was awake and trying to move him off and failing.
Spittor blushed embarrassed and mouthed "help me."
He shook his head no and swore he saw Spittor flip him off.
Bad Rap backed out of his pack mate's tent and walked over to Shadow. He wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed the back of her neck.
"Morning sweetheart, what are you making?"
Shadow chuckled and said "Making eggs and bacon babe." then put a piece of bacon in his mouth.
He ate it and said "Tastes amazing Shadow."
She smiled and kissed the underside of his jaw, soon the pair looked over and saw Spittor and Haxx finally got up. Bad Rap still snickered at the fuming pink raptor who growled at him with an embarrassed blush on his pink scales. Shadow told Bad Rap to go and sit down with the other two and she served them breakfast. They all ate and told her how good it was, the female smiled at the praise and thanked the boys for them.
After everyone ate they packed up and changed forms with their backpacks on. Shadow lead the way for a while and soon they came to an area with multiple warm rocks around a hot spring so they all hid their bags and relaxed in the sun in their primal raptor forms.
Further back...
The dinosaurs were confused since they lost the raptors the day before and they continued trekking through the jungle. Soon the came to an overlook and what they saw surprised them. The valley was full of dinosaurs, they all felt joy at knowing they weren't alone anymore. So they continued until they came to a spring with rocks around it, but they stopped when they saw a raptor pack that looked similar to their adversaries. They saw the larger male stir, his eyes opened and it immediately growled at the dinosaurs softly so as not to awaken the tiger striped female next to him. His growls were picked up by the other two males that were with him. The female soon awoke and curled up closer to the large male scared.
Stegz said "I think it would be wise not to antagonize the large male T-Bone, I believe he's the alpha in this little pack and the female next to him is his mate."
Spike swore he saw the orange male blush in embarrassment as did the female next to him. Soon the large male got up and growled at them threatening them to try to go closer to the female.
Stegz said "Try to get the female but do make any sudden movements."
Spike just walked over to the female and was tackled by the large male as he tried to bite his jugular. T-bone got the male off spike.
And heard the orange male say "Stay away from my shadow-dancer dinosaps if you know what's good for you." then he shifted into Bad Rap and the dinosaurs backed away slightly. Bad Rap walked over to shadow and petted her head in a caring gesture and she leaned her head into his touch and purred to her boyfriend.
Bad Rap looked at the dinosaurs and said "Look I don't want to fight right now alright so just let us go on our way."
then shifted to his raptor form and him along with the others grabbed their bags and continued on their way.
Shadow notice her boyfriend's attitude and nuzzled his neck ad he purred to her and nuzzled her cheek then licked her neck.
He said "Sorry you had to see my temper flare up like that shadow. It's just those dinosaurs won't leave us alone, I just want to find a warm place to live. Maybe have a family of my own, ya know."
Shadow smiled and said "I would like a family too."
She chuckled "My mother is always saying she wants grandhatchlings. She was always pushing me to find a mate."
Bad Rap looked at her and asked "Would you consider me as a candidate for a mate Shadow?"
She nodded "I would my dark prince."
He smiled and after a while they came back to their vehicles. They shifted back to their anthro forms and got on.
Shadow smiled and said "Next stop the grand canyon."
Bad Rap looked at her confused and said "Why there?"
the female smirked and said "You'll see oh impatient one."
Bad Rap snorted and they all took off and headed to Arizona.
They flew for a while and saw the sun descend into the horizon, they arrived at the grand canyon around 11pm at night.
They landed and shadow got off and smiled "It feels good to be home again."
Shadow looked at the trio and said "Well come on. We aren't that far."
The group nodded and followed shadow as she walked along the riverbank and came to a large area with desert plants all around. She walked towards a particularly large bush and moved it to the side reveling an entrance with faint sounds coming from within the cavern.
Shadow walked in with the trio behind her, soon the cavern opened up into a foyer and she said "Welcome to Phoenix Strike's base boys. Now to find the others."
She walked into the living room and saw three girls playing ''just dance 4'' two were doing a face off and both were being competitive as hell.
A black and red female asked "How in the bloody hell are you so good Akivasha?"
The ice colored female replied in a thick Russian accent "Easy comrade Nemesis, practice."
shadow smirked at Bad Rap and said "So this is what happens when I'm gone you girls slack off in practice."
The three females looked at Shadow and all tackled her in a hug.
Akivasha smiled "Commander jour alright."
Nemesis chuckled "For once the Ruskin and I agree Captain. We missed you."
a brown and tan female got in on the hug and smiled "I'm glad your back to captain."
Shadow smiled and said "i missed you girls too and I'm glad to be back too Terra. Now where is my second in command?"
Nemesis chuckled and said "She's with her mate Lucifer at the underworld defenders pack."
Shadow looked at Akivasha and asked "is that true?"
The Russian female nodded "It's true commander."
Shadow chuckled and noticed Nemesis staring at Haxx.
Smirking at Shadow she asked "So who are these three hotties behind ya Captain and is the sexy brown one single or does he already have a mate?"
Shadow chuckled at her friends bluntness and said "These three saved my life, and yes the brown one is single."
Nemesis hugs him "Then I claim him as mine."
She growls out "Anyone object?"
the others shook their heads no and Nemesis smiled
Akivasha looked at Spittor and kissed both his cheeks "Welcome to our home."
Spittor stuttered "W-What was that for Akivasha?"
She smiled sweetly and said "It is how we greet people in mother Russia."
Spittor was amazed and asked "So your from Russia?"
The ice blue female nodded happily then asked Shadow "How did they save you commander?"
So shadow got everyone to sit down and told them what happened up to the present.
"So basically if it wasn't for their bravery I would be dead right now."
the other females looked at her in awe. Soon shadow yawned and said "I'm going to turn in for the night. Sleep well everyone."
then Shadow looked at Bad Rap and asked "You going to come with me or what?"
Bad Rap smiled at her and followed his girlfriend to her quarters with a little gift behind his back. They arrived at the area a few minutes later and walked into her room.
Bad Rap shut the door behind him and looked at shadow who noticed he was nervous about something and asked "You alright Bad Rap?"
He nodded and said "I have a something I want to tell you shadow."
she gave him a look that said to continue and he said "I've known you for a while shadow and ever since I found you at area 51. I feel as if I've known you all my life, your my guardian angel, my light in the dark. If I hadn't met you I might not ever learned to love again. I love you shadow and I would put my life on the line for you."
He pulled out a little box from behind his back and knelt down on one knee "I want to spend the rest of my life with you shadow and I want to ask if you'll marry me?"
Shadow had tears in her eyes ad a smiled on her face, she looked at her boyfriend, no her mate and nodded "Yes, 65 million time yes Bad Rap I will marry you."
He smiled at his soon-to-be mate and slipping the ring on her finger hugged her saying "you've made me the happiest raptor alive my beautiful Shadow-Dancer, my darling mate. I love you Shadow, I love you so much."
Bad Rap kissed her and soon followed her to bed holding his mate in his arms never wanting to let go.