Loyalty
(A/N: And last chapter. I had fun writing this and I hope that my readers had a fun time reading it. Thank you again to all reviewers past, present, and future. I know this was short, but it was kind of a pet project of mine for a while, and rather than leaving it to sit on my computer, I wanted to post it here, so I hope you all enjoyed it.)
Panting, Ozzie ran through the green. He leapt out of a field of tall grass and looked around, listening. He heard nothing. Nothing meant trouble. At least where this pursuer was concerned. He started running again, panting. He dove into more tall grass and peeked warily out, eyes narrowed. Nothing. Maybe it was safe after all? He hesitated. This was the ultimate choice. If he chose wrong, there would be no going back. Finally he dared creep from the tall grass, looking warily around. Still nothing. He didn't dare smirk to himself lest he jinx his luck. He prepared to start running again when suddenly there was a screech from behind!
He cried out in terror and alarm as something pounced on his back, bringing him down to the ground! "Get off of me! Someone help!" he called frantically struggling. The thing that had pounced began to laugh, keeping him pinned.
"You aren't going anywhere," she hissed to him.
"Let me go, woman!" Ozzie demanded, trying to pull free.
"Uh uh, I don't think so," she replied.
"Sienna!" Ozzie furiously yelled.
"Mate with me," she breathed into his ear.
"Forget it!" Ozzie shot.
"Mate with me," she said again, rubbing closer to him.
"You have three seconds to get off of me before I throw you off!" Ozzie insisted. "Didn't I tell you I like doing the pursuing?"
"Then pursue me," she answered. "I'm ready for it."
Ozzie growled sinisterly, but it seemed Sienna wasn't about to be deterred. Finally, grumbling, he replied, "Very well."
Sienna smirked. "If you catch me, I'll leave you alone forever," she said to him. "But if you can't, you mate with me."
Ozzie smirked coldly. "You have no idea what you are messing with," he replied to her. Sienna chuckled then turned and fled top speed.
LBT
Immediately Ozzie went after her. It was apparent very quickly that he was faster, but she maneuvered easier, he was loathe to realize. Nonetheless, he was slowly but surely gaining on her. She suddenly darted around a rock. He cried out, slamming into it and yelping in pain. He shook it off and scowled. He wasn't about to lose this game. Instantly he raced after her again.
She looked back, smiling wickedly. "How cute! You're actually trying to keep up," she called back to him.
"I promise you this, you will be caught soon enough," Ozzie answered.
"I relish it," she replied.
"Not when it means you never bother me again," Ozzie retorted.
"Is that why you're taking so long to catch up? Because you don't want me to never bother you again?" she called back.
"You are imagining things," Ozzie replied, speeding up and quickly closing distance between them. She darted around another corner. He slid to a stop barely in time then raced around it as well, cursing himself under his breath. She was leaping nimbly up some rocks. She paused, looking back, and gave that blasted smile of hers that made him feel suddenly flustered and weak. He began leaping up after her. She reached the top and ran again. He leapt up as well and looked around for her. He saw her tail vanish around a corner and raced to catch her. He came around the corner and stopped, eyes lighting up in delight. She was trapped!
He smiled wickedly. "Now I have you," he said, approaching her almost predatorily. She gasped, turning, and frowned, eyes flashing in annoyance. She pondered jumping over him for a moment, wondering if she could get away with that. She prepared to try. He caught the look in her eyes and cried out as she raced at him and leapt over his head. "Huh?!" he exclaimed in shock, spinning. She was running again. Oh he didn't think so! He scowled and darted after her at top speed with an angered screech. She looked back and gasped as he seized her, knocking her down to the ground and holding her there, possessively standing over her.
She scowled at him in disgust. "Well played," she bit coldly. She cursed herself for getting trapped. The last thing she wanted to do was stop playing this little game, but a deal was a deal. Of course, she'd probably go back on her word eventually, but for now she would leave him be. "Let me up and I'll be on my way."
She tried to get up, but he pinned her firmly. "Oh no you don't. You've made me work too hard and too long for you, now I have no intentions of letting you go!" he shot. Especially when he recalled all the male struthiomimus from another herd that had found its way here, nosing around. He had seen them watching as she darted passed, and they had wanted her alright.
"You have no use for me, so let me up," she bit.
"No use for you, hmm?" he asked, nuzzling her head. She started then smirked wickedly, tilting her head and letting him nuzzle her neck.
"You aren't looking for a mate, remember? But there were plenty of others searching," she said.
"Save your excuses for someone else," he bit. "Those males can find some other female to harass."
"What do you mean?" she asked, playing oblivious.
"Let's just say we both are coming out winners in this. You get what you want, I get what I want. Now… let us seal the deal," he said to her nuzzling her again.
"Don't you want a competition with others?" she purred.
"Forget it," he replied. "I am a jealous and possessive dinosaur."
"Those aren't ideal traits," she purred innocently.
"Don't think for a moment I haven't noticed you driving off every female that's come within a mile of me," Ozzie replied.
"Ozzie, that was innocent fun," she replied.
"Was it? Well now you and I are going to have some not so innocent fun," he replied, still nuzzling. He looked up and gave a loud screeching sound, warning off any other male struthiomimus that may have gotten curious and decided to follow this female. He roared again for good measure then turned to her. "You wanted a mate, you have one."
"Mmm," she replied. She laughed darkly. "Good." He smirked wickedly and crawled on top of her, then began to 'play' said not so innocent games more than a little roughly with her. She gave a screeching roar that was something between pain and pleasure. arching her neck back.
LBT
The two were returning to Thief's pack. Personally, Ozzie was hoping nothing had been conceived during their little play time. He was nowhere near ready for that, but what was done was done. Sienna probably didn't care either way. She was just pleased she had a mate, and she made that very clear to him. Lightly she licked his neck. He smirked at her wryly. "Have you decided to join Thief's herd?" she asked.
"Don't make me laugh," Ozzie replied.
"Then why are we returning there?" she questioned. "I'm your mate now. I'm no longer part of his pack."
"You need to at least inform the others of this sudden partnership between us," he answered.
"They'll figure it out themselves," she replied. "But very well." She looked uneasy a moment. Ozzie looked curiously at her, frowning. Uneasy did not bode well. "He won't be happy, you know. It may… escalate."
Ozzie cringed. She had a point. "Humph, if it escalates so be it. I will be ready for Thief," Ozzie replied. "You are my mate now, and if he doesn't like it too bad for him. He can find his own."
"He's been mated to Deborah for quite a while now," she replied, smirking. "He wouldn't be unimpressed because he wanted me as a mate. No. He'd be upset because he's come to see me as something of a sister or daughter figure."
"That would have been nice to know earlier!" Ozzie shot sharply. She chuckled coldly as they neared the herd.
LBT
Strut was first to notice their coming, while he was sharing a meal of greens and shellfish with Chris and casually flirting with her. Or the other way around. Or together. He lit up. "Ozzie, Sienna, there you two are!" he called out, rising along with Chris. "Come eat with us, Oz. There's plenty to go around."
"Very well," Ozzie agreed, going to his brother and Chris with Sienna trailing behind. "There's an announcement we have to make anyway."
"An announcement?" Janine asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Sounds interesting. What's the scoop?" Riley questioned.
"I have a mate now," Sienna sang out excitedly.
"A mate? Oh Sienna, that's wonderful! Who finally won?" Julie asked, smiling at her.
"It wasn't exactly a competition," Sienna replied, smirking.
"Oh yes it was, albeit it wasn't two male struthiomimus fighting over a female. It was more a catch me if you can scenario," Ozzie said. Thief sharply looked over, eyes narrowing. Strut suddenly noticed the tense pose his brother was in, as if expecting to end up having to fight something. "If I caught her, she stopped harassing me. If I couldn't, I had to be her mate, so I caught her and decided to be her mate anyway."
"What?!" Thief roared, leaping up furiously.
"Ozzie?!" Deborah asked, rising. "Sienna, that's wonderful!"
"No it isn't!" Thief shot sharply. He turned sharply to her. "What were you thinking? He's an outsider!"
"Yes, well the only other eligible male in this pack was Strut, and he's a little too young for my liking," she replied.
"You could have mated with someone from another pack! At least then you'd have the whole group's protection. Ozzie is alone!" Thief shot.
"Yes, Ozzie is alone. Well, was. Come on, Thief, think of this as his first steps towards ending up with a pack of his own," Sienna replied.
"What safety can you give her, loner? What can you offer her?!" Thief demanded of Ozzie, who was dangerously rising and growling in his throat.
"Ozzie, don't," Strut pled, seizing his brother's arm and trying to pull him down again.
Ozzie shook his sibling off, giving him a scathing glare, and faced Thief. "Absolutely nothing. But then I have kept a brother alive with absolutely nothing for a good long while now. It was her who chose me, not the other way around," he answered. "She is my mate now, Thief. Get over it."
Thief screeched at him angrily and lunged. Ozzie let the other tackle him, if only to knock them both away from a stunned Strut and Chris, then rolled and immediately began fighting back viciously, clawing and biting—they had no, or very small, teeth true enough, but their beaks were powerful—and tackling each other, tumbling around on the ground, kicking, whatever they could to best one another. It was apparent very quickly that Ozzie was the stronger and more agile of the two, his being a good deal younger than Thief. However, Thief had experience under his belt, and it was proving to be a match for Ozzie.
The two tousled on the ground until finally Ozzie rolled, throwing Thief and making him slide away. Ozzie leapt at him again. Thief seized the other and quickly pinned him, to the shock of Ozzie who gasped in pain. Thief immediately tried to claw the other's throat. "Thief, no!" Strut exclaimed, leaping forward and seizing his leader's arm, pulling it back in an effort to save his brother. He pulled Thief off of Ozzie and the two tumbled to the ground. Ozzie scrambled quickly up, scowling and protectively watching Thief and Strut lest Thief decide to turn his rage on Strut.
Thief shook his head, hissed wickedly at Strut, then stood up. Strut gulped nervously. Thief glared at him then turned to Ozzie. "Get out of here. Never come back! If I catch your scent within one-hundred feet of my pack, I will kill you," he threated.
"If you can," Ozzie bit back. Not that he was inclined to risk that. Thief had bested him this round, much to his disdain, so he wasn't exactly inclined to try again to beat the older struthiomimus anytime soon.
"I can," Thief assured. Ozzie was quiet. "Take your mate and get out. You're never coming near again." He turned to the others. "And any who seek him out are banished as well! If I catch his scent on any one of you, that's it. You are no part of this pack anymore."
Strut gasped, paling. "You can't include me in that!" he exclaimed fearfully. "Ozzie's my brother!"
"Then go follow your brother," Thief replied icily. "You follow him or you follow me."
Strut looked stunned. Chris looked terrified. Ozzie looked ready to murder, outraged at the choice Thief had given his sibling. "Strut has nothing to do with your issues against me!" Ozzie sharply shot. "Keep it between us, Thief! My brother does not have to suffer because of your stubborn pride!"
"I am the leader here and what I say will go! If he follows you, he's no part of us! That is it!" Thief shot back.
Strut looked devastated. Ozzie shifted uneasily, worry in his eyes. He looked at his brother. Strut should not have to make this choice… His eyes narrowed and he turned back to Thief loathingly. "If-if that-that's my choice then… then I choose…" Strut began.
"You choose the herd," Ozzie cut off, glaring at Strut.
"Excuse me?!" Strut exclaimed, shocked at the words.
"You choose Thief, Strut, are you deaf?!" Ozzie snapped sharply. "I will not have you choosing me! Not now, not ever! I am tired of you following me around like a lost hatchling getting on my every nerve. You were never any use to me anyway. You will stay put or the next fight I get in will be with you!"
"Then it'll be with me!" Strut defiantly yelled at his sibling. "I see what you're doing, Oz, don't think I don't! I choose you and you can't make me choose otherwise because it's my choice!"
"Hah! Do you even know what you're saying?!" Ozzie demanded. "What part of you will lose everything do you not understand? Friends, a chance at a future, a mate, family…"
"You are my family!" Strut shouted.
"They are your family!" Ozzie shot. "It takes more than blood to make a family, and they give you everything a family is!" He forced himself to take a breath, closing his eyes as he willed himself to get a handle on his temper. He hated how shakily said breath came out. Tiredly he opened his eyes again. "Little brother, stay with the herd. Please… I know you love them dearly. Even their leader." Thief cringed, glancing away uneasily.
"I love you more," Strut firmly answered. "I'm staying with you… Even if it means I lose out on more…" He glanced at Christine ruefully. Longingly. She caught her breath at the gaze, looking shocked.
"Strut…" she began, moving towards him. She wanted to try and talk him into staying. She didn't want him to leave! Strut whimpered and shook his head, quickly hurrying away from her and going to Ozzie and Sienna. He looked sadly back at the others. Chris, feeling near tears, closed her eyes tightly, shook her head, then looked up determinedly once more. Immediately she raced towards Ozzie, Sienna, and Strut.
"Christine!" Marcus exclaimed in shock.
Chris looked back. "I-I'm sorry. But Sienna is my sister and Strut… He's the best friend I have ever had…" And maybe one day more. "I won't say goodbye to them. I'm so, so sorry…" Goodness knew how painful it was to leave. She had been with this pack since she was a hatchling, and now… But you know, though part of her regretted it, most of her didn't. She felt… she didn't know. Okay with this.
Ozzie cringed, feeling worse and worse by the second. He got the feeling Thief was feeling about the same, given the uneasy looks they'd just exchanged with each other. But if Thief wasn't backing down, neither was he. Thief nodded. "Very well," he finally said. "If that's your choice… Anyone else?"
None of the others moved to follow. "So be it," Ozzie said. With that he turned and wandered away. Sienna followed along with Strut and Christine.
Thief closed his eyes tightly. "Maybe banished was a bit harsh of a term to use," Don remarked.
"Maybe the whole thing was," Marcus bit more bluntly, glaring at Thief unimpressed. Thief was quiet. He knew they were right. Suddenly he darted off.
"Thief!" Deborah called.
"He'll be back," Rudy assured her as Hop and Skip looked near tears, frightened of what was happening.
LBT
Thief was quick to catch up to the other four. "Ozzie!" he sharply shot. Ozzie rolled his eyes, looking about ready to ignore, but Strut's pleading look made him stop.
With an exasperated sigh, Ozzie turned. "What do you want this time?" he demanded.
"You are free to return, any of you. Or stay near to our own pack, if nothing else," Thief reluctantly said.
"Why would I want to after the way we were treated?" Ozzie demanded sharply.
"This isn't for you or me! This if for them!" Thief barked sharply, gesturing at the others.
Ozzie cringed, looking back at the other three who looked so hopeful. Finally he sighed in annoyance. "Agreed," he said, nodding at Thief. Thief nodded back and went to the other three. Sienna hugged him tightly, smiling gratefully. She was glad. She didn't want to have to say goodbye to him, or them, forever. Chris was quick to hug him as well. Strut looked more uncertain. Thief nodded at him. Strut smiled and went to him, hugging as well. Ozzie rolled his eyes hopelessly, shaking his head. Thief nodded to them all then left the mini pack alone.
"He's not such a bad guy, Oz," Strut defended.
"Shut up," Ozzie replied with a scoff, turning and starting onward again. Strut grinned, coming up alongside him. Chris and Sienna followed excitedly. Their own pack! This was so exciting! They began chatting animatedly to one another. Ozzie and Strut exchanged looks. Strut smiled at his brother. "You know, you are an absolute imbecile to be so loyal to me," Ozzie said, shaking his head affectionately.
"Maybe so, but I don't regret any of it," Strut answered. Ozzie chuckled affectionately, nuzzling his brother. Strut grinned and the four broke into a run to find their own territory to occupy. Ozzie sensed it wasn't over quite yet, not everything, but for now at least, things were at peace and balanced again.
