(Hello everyone, here's chapter 8. Hope you all enjoy.)
Chapter 8: The Test
The breeze blows on the meadow in the Sirona lands, all is quiet with only the birds to sing to the blowing wind. Suddenly the thunderous sound of fleeing Parasaurolophus and Corythosaurs sound on the meadow, right behind them, a pack of velociraptors giving chase. The pack were being led by Adar and Katuri, who make their way up into the center of the herd, driving them into the open field.
"Let's move them out…" Adar barked out to the others as he goes right amid the herd with a few others following behind him. Outside the herd, Katuri looks up to see a particular parasaur that isn't keeping pace with the herd well, she looks over to Adar who also picks up on this as well.
"This is it, break the buck away from the rest." Adar barked out, he and the others behind him begin to harass the para barking and snapping at its heals causing the para to change its path.
"Clear a path… Her strategy is going well." Katuri barks out and thought as they create an opening as the para charges to the left, Adar and Katuri's group leave the herd and chase after the straggler into the forest.
The para charges through the vegetation, snapping twigs and vine with the raptors still in pursuit. Then in a small clearing, the para suddenly stops in its path, blocked by a raised rocky ridge. Confused, it tries to turn back, but the velociraptors have got the buck corned. They snarl and growl at it with their toe claws at the ready, they push the buck back leaving it unaware that Umara and Ingrid with their group are waiting above the ridge.
"Wait…Wait…" Umara said quietly holding the group back waiting for the right moment, Ingrid and the others had their toe claws raised and at the ready; itching to go for it.
Adar and Katuri's group pushed the para back with its tail nearly bending from the face of the ridge, it raised up trying its best to hold its own kicking its front legs at them.
At that moment with the para's full attention drawn, Umara pounced screeching from above landing on the para's back much to its surprise. All the raptors launched a full out assault after Umara inflicted the first strike, coming in from all sides jumping onto the para. Clawing and biting, drawing blood, the para was overwhelmed and soon fell to the ground; all that was heard through the forest was the sound of wails and barks.
In a secluded clearing right behind council rock, a few raptors remained standing guard looking after nests and the juveniles. All the while the youngsters played with each other fighting, chasing, and pouncing on rocks and twigs and each other. Amid them, Sora was also on guard duty and watching the juveniles sitting on a rock, but he was a bit despondent.
"Hey Sora, come play with us." "Yeah…" "Lets play…" A few youngsters said when they run up to him pleading.
"Thanks, but I'm not really up for it…" Sora says to them not exactly in the mood.
"Come on, lets play hunter…!" "Don't tell me, you guys are the hunters and I'm the prey right?" Sora sarcastically says a bit huffy to the one up front.
"Well we have to practice so we can be great hunters…" "And your perfect to be our prey, you're a lot easier than the grown-ups are." The two juveniles say but Sora just gets a little more depressed by that fact.
"Look, its not that this isn't fun with you guys but…I'm not a little hatchling anymore, I should be with my brother and sister hunting with them in the pack. Not still being left behind to do guard duty, I've grown enough to do more than just that…" Sora was saying standing up and walking a few steps ahead while the juveniles listened, then one of the guard raptors barked out which was soon followed by other barks coming in close.
"They're here…" "Their back…" The youngsters say as they rush excitedly to greet the returning pack members as they come through a path in the forest along with Sora. Some bring with them pieces of meat, placing them on the ground for the excited juveniles to feed on, others also give them to the raptors that were left behind to guard them. Sora looks and finds his brother and sister have returned as well.
"Adar, Katuri hey…" Sora runs up to them and greets them, "Hello, little brother…" Katuri greeted back. "How the hunt go?" Sora asked.
"A few bruises and scrapes, but we were successful in taking a parasaur… Here, we brought you your share." Katuri explains as Adar gives Sora hands out a large piece of meat, but Sora was glad but a bit glum as well.
"Is something wrong…?" "Maybe we should've brought the dark meat like I suggested." Katuri and Adar say taking notice of Sora's glum expression.
"Ugh, no its nothing like that, its just that…Maybe I can finally join in on the hunt next time you go." Sora suggested a bit apprehensively to his older siblings.
"Sora, its great that you want to be a part. But, still…" Katuri was trying to explain when.
"You're not ready to join the hunt with us…And besides, the last thing the pack needs is a hindrance when we do go; it's a serious role, not some amusing play of tag." Ingrid who was listening says scolding the idea to them.
"A hindrance, me?! And I've never said that I took like that." Sora replies huffed at Ingrid's words.
"Listen, Ingrid. Sora may not be ready now, but that doesn't mean he won't be. He will be on the hunt with us soon, much sooner than even you might believe." Katuri defends Sora and snarks right back at Ingrid.
"Hm, well then when he does, I just hope for our sakes that he'll be able to catch something a little bigger than himself. That is, if he can catch let alone bring down anything at all." Ingrid says as she looks back and walks off with a few others following her.
"She'll never change her opinion won't she." Adar states about her.
"Why does she has to be such a jerkasaurus when I'm around, just what exactly is her deal with me…?" Sora was also saying about Ingrid's attitude.
"Sora…" "Huh, what is it Katuri?" Sora asks noticing the tone in Katuri's voice as she called him.
"Get plenty of rest for today. Tomorrow we are going to practice your hunting skills with some real prey." Katuri says which gets Sora excited about it.
"Really, you mean it!" Sora says all excitedly which Katuri nods, adding to his excitement and smile on his face.
Later on, Sora sits on a branch by a stream with compy's hopping about and Jinbei the lemur right next to him.
"This is going to be great Jinbei, tomorrow when we practice I'll show them my skills as a hunter. This means that soon I'll be climbing up from just guard and babysitting duty, to finally be a worthy hunter." Sora says all excited as Jinbei lies down on his back facing the sun.
"That's great, Sora. I guess this also means that Ingrid is about to have her words and taunts come back and bite her, once she sees how great of a hunter you are." "Yeah…" Sora replies to Jinbei's statement.
"But, I wouldn't get ahead of yourself if I were you, you know." "Hm, what do you mean?" Sora asks to Jinbei's warning as he sits back up and yawns.
"Well, I'm not trying down-size you here. But I think you should keep in mind that you are lacking certain qualities that the raptors do have." Jinbei states to Sora.
"What? You mean their claws and fangs…?" Sora says.
"Yes, exactly. Those nasty businesses that can slash and slice at anything, I've seen what they can do." Jinbei says mimicking the raptors movements with his hands.
"Off-course I have too, I've seen it close up." Sora states back to him.
"Look bud, all I'm saying is that its one thing to speak words than it is to do them. So, without claws and fangs, how do you plan on catching your prey?" Jinbei asks him.
"Well, I've caught you didn't I…" "You did, but its one thing trying to catch a friend when they try to catch their next meal whose life hangs. Also, what are you gonna do once you've caught your prey exactly?" Jinbei asks back to Sora's statement, which Sora was about to reply but then hesitates looking back to his hands and mouth realizing what Jinbei meant.
"I-I'm not sure…" Sora says starting feel down again, Jinbei then climbs onto him.
"I'm sure you'll think of something, it wouldn't be the first time that you surprised me now would you… Just promise one thing. When you do get to be a hunter, don't go after my kin alright." Jinbei says which brightens Sora spirit after hearing it.
"Yeah, sure thing." Sora says to him, while both are unaware from the brush behind them, Shadow-fang was listening to them.
The next day, Sora is in the tall grass at the edge of the forest crouched, steadily stalking alongside Katuri and Adar. "Now do you remember what's most important about a hunt?" Katuri asked him softly.
"To always approach from downwind…" "Good, and?" Katuri asked Sora softly again.
"Have patience, watch where you step, and wait for the right moment." "What else?" Katuri asked once again.
"Um, that…" Sora was a bit stumped, he felt that he was missing something.
"Hunting is sacred, and we must never do it for pleasure." Adar explains as they continued to stalk, then peeking over the grass they eye a lone spring hare feeding in the open "Right there." he says softly. It looks over, but they duck back into the cover of the grass, not sensing danger it returns to feed on its patch.
"Not yet…" Katuri says as Sora holds back, tensed, and ready. The spring hare then turns its back to nibble on another patch.
"Go!" Katuri screeches out, Sora rushes out of cover and lunges at the spring hare, but the hare quickly evades him as he drops to the ground.
"He did everything correctly." "Yes, but he still has a bit to learn." Katuri and Adar say a bit concerned as they watch Sora chase the spring hare around.
"Stop…Wait…Get back here!" Sora chases the spring hare desperately trying to catch it, he makes one final lunge, but the spring hare dodges again. But just as it was about to escape, it gets pinned by the toe clawed foot of a raptor. Sora looks up from the ground to see that it was Ingrid who caught the hare.
"Oh great, you Ingrid." Sora says dismayed as he gets back up.
"I was right beside you, but off course you never noticed." Ingrid says smug only adding to Sora's frustration.
"Sora, what's going on?" Adar asks as he and Katuri rushed up to see Ingrid was with him, pinning the hare.
"Ingrid? Were you following us this whole time?" Katuri asked her a bit huffed.
"I thought I should be considerate enough to lend a claw, since clearly you were struggling so much to catch a simple hare. To think that this is the son of our great hero Faris, even Gundrin himself must be laughing…" Ingrid says a bit mockingly which gets on the sibling's skin particularly Sora and Katuri.
"Watch how you use that mouth of yours when it comes to our father, those words should have more respect for what he's done for us. And remember Sora was the one that helped the Sirona lands in a time of need from Dra-Khan." Katuri snarled a bit threateningly towards her mocking which made Sora brighten a bit.
"That's no excuse for getting special treatment. It doesn't matter that you're a primordian, everyone in the pack has to abide by the laws in the circle of life and pull their own weight into it, minding their place. You know this as well as I Katuri…" Ingrid says reminding her about the packs way as Sora listened. "Its only sad to think that others haven't exactly learned to know their place in the pack, it would be best for you to remain a babysitter instead of a hunter. I'm sure your father would mind an honor like that instead of embarrassment." Ingrid says sending one more mock towards Sora.
"Why…Take that back!" Sora snaps and tackles Ingrid pushing her back, the spring hare escapes into the scrub.
"Oh, now you're resorting to challenging me, go right ahead if you have the nerve…" Ingrid says provoking, facing Sora as they both snarl at each other baring their teeth.
"Sora no, your going to get into trouble if you do this." Adar tries to reason, but Sora and Ingrid were still poised at each other ready for a fight.
"Stop it, the both of you!" A familiar voice says getting their attention and stopping the increasing tension.
"Uh, grandmother." "Shadow-fang." Ingrid and Sora say in unison as Umara and Shadow-fang approach walking beside one another from the tall grass.
"You know that's its against the rules of the pack to fight among yourselves…" Umara lectures them.
"I'm sorry Umara, we were only trying to practice here with Sora. But someone rudely got in our way…" Katuri protested to her.
"What you mean "got in the way"?! If anything I was actually helping…" "You know what you did…" Ingrid and Katuri argued with each other with Sora in between them.
"Enough! You don't want to make me lose my patience." Umara threateningly scolds quieting them down.
"Umara I'm sorry to interfere, but I believe this would be a good time to put Sora to the test to see if he's worthy of becoming a member of the pack." Shadow-fang suggests to Umara, which she nods in agreement.
"Hm, the jaribio trial…" Umara replies.
"Huh, the jaribio trial?" Sora asks curious about what they meant.
"No, Sora's not ready for that yet, he needs more time." Katuri protested for Sora.
"Shadow-fang…" "Quite whimpering and be brave." Shadow-fang says encouraging him.
"But, well, will I be the only one?" Sora asked still confused.
"Off-course not, it'll be a contest between you and that little miss-know it all over there." "Hm, me and him?" Ingrid asked taken aback by what Shadow-fang said.
"Yes it'll be a contest between you and Sora Ingrid, you have nothing to fear if you're as good as you say you are." Shadow-fang explained.
"Grandmother…?" "Are you saying you're afraid Ingrid?" Umara asked seeing Ingrid hesitant about the idea knowing her.
"So, what do you say?" Shadow-fang asked.
"…Fine then, I'll do it!" Ingrid agrees a bit annoyed at the start.
"Sora…" "I, um…" Sora stutters to Shadow-fang still unsure.
"Wait! I'll compete against her in Sora's place." Katuri protested.
"Sora, its time to stand up for yourself in the pack. You can't hide behind your siblings forever." Shadow-fang stated by Sora remained silent still unsure.
"Sora... What happened to that bravery you showed against the atrociraptors and Dra-Khan? Keep in mind about the promise you made." Shadow-fang said to him, which made Sora realize that he was right and tired of Ingrid looking down at him.
"Alright… I accept as well. I'll do the jaribio trial." Sora says which surprises the raptors but makes Shadow-fang proud of courage.
"So you worked up a bit of confidence huh, hope you can maintain that nerve like earlier when we actually compete. Don't hold it against me when you lose and my point is made." Ingrid says to Sora mockingly.
"Oh, I will Ingrid. I just hope your ready to eat up all that mockery down when I win it." Sora says right back to Ingrid's annoyance as the two glare at each other.
Later on, Sora tries his luck again tucked in the bushes. As a lystrosaurus feeds on the grass, Sora lunges from the bushes. But the lystrosaurus evades and runs off into the forest, "Oh…" Sora groans disappointed that he missed again.
"That was your 3rd time now…" "Are you sure you going to be ready? The contest is tomorrow." Adar and Katuri say concerned.
"I honestly hope so." Sora says a bit doubtful after his attempts.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have interfered, you're not ready yet." Shadow-fang says starting to regret his proposition.
"Maybe…maybe if I were to use my powers I can…" "Now hold on Sora. Remember the primordian oath you took, you can't use your powers to cheat your way through this." Shadow-fang says against Sora's suggestion.
"We can't use our powers for things like this Sora." "This is something you've have to prove with your own skills and strengths." Adar and Katuri also explain against Sora's idea, which he agrees with.
"Your right, but don't worry Shadow-fang, I'll be ready in time for the contest tomorrow." Sora says reassuring him.
"Remember you'll have to catch two spring hares, a lystrosaurus, three birds, and a microceratus. All by yourself, its not going to be easy." Shadow-fang states concerned.
"I'll be ready…" Sora says once again to reassure him.
"You sure, there is still time for one of us to replace you." Adar says to him.
"It will be hard, but if he does manage to succeed. He won't have to take any more teasing from Ingrid." Katuri points out.
"That's right, and I won't let her keep calling me names or telling me to mind my own place." Sora says agreeing and get a bit excited by that.
"That's the spirit Sora, that's the stuff Faris son is made off." Shadow-fang says proudly by his confidence.
"I'll prove to Ingrid and the others that I'm truly Faris son." Sora replies confidently.
"I still wish that there was more that we can do for you." "But it wouldn't be fair, after all the whole point is to prove that you can hunt by yourself." Adar explains to Katuri.
"I'm aware of that, uh if there was some way, I could lend you my fangs and claws then you'll win for sure against her." Katuri says frustratedly pawning the ground that she can't do more.
"You saying that is already giving me strength for this, thank you Katuri, Adar." Sora says gladly while cusping then hugging his sibling snouts placing them against his own.
Night falls on the forest, with the moon shining in the sky. Inside a small cave, Sora sleeps beside Iris on the nest. He wakes up, and quietly walks out of the cave; however, Iris has already noticed. Outside the cave, Sora looks up at the moon and the many stars shining in the sky. Sighing deeply and looking at himself anxious, deep in thought.
"Sora…" "Mother." Sora replies, looking back to Iris who approaches him.
"You need to rest for tomorrow." Iris says to him.
"Mother, why I am so different from Katuri and Adar? Why don't I have claws and fangs like they do?" Sora asks her much to her sighing compromise.
"Tell me do hares have fangs?" Iris asks, "Everyone knows hares don't have fangs." "And antelope…?" "…No they don't." Sora nods and replies to her questions.
"Would you say that these creatures are easier to catch because they don't have any fangs?" Iris asks him once more.
"…No, the antelope are hard to catch because they run fast, the hares have such good ears that they can hear you from far off, birds have wings so they can fly, and lemurs can jump and climb high into the trees." Sora nods and says to her.
"So you see not all creatures need claws or fangs, they all have something useful… Now Sora, don't you think you have something useful too, something that can help you besides claws and fangs." Iris explains to him.
"Besides claws and fangs…?" Sora asks himself as he ponders over the question.
"Don't worry son, you don't have to find it by tomorrow because even if you lose to Ingrid Sora nothing terrible will happen and don't forget that even if you are man-cub you are still Faris's son and you will never have to prove yourself to me." Iris reassures him.
"Oh mother…" Sora hugs Iris around her neck feeling happy to hear that from her, Katuri and Adar watch and look to each other glad from the bushes of the reassurance their mother gave.
The next day, the pack has gathered on council rock around the high rock ledge where Ingrid and Sora stand beside either side of Umara.
"Sora, Ingrid, you both understand the rules of the jaribio. Before sunset and without anyone's help, you each must bring back two spring hares, three birds, a lystrosaurus, and a microceratus. If Sora succeeds he will truly become one of us as a hunter." Umara explains to them and the pack, as Ingrid snorts hot air scoffing the idea. They get into position.
"On my mark…wait…wait…go!" Umara sets them off, they spring into a full sprint from the rock ledge.
"Good luck son." "You can do it Sora." Iris and Adar say praising him. Ingrid ahead of Sora goes into the forest running down the rock path. Sora does the same but then splits to go into a different direction into the forest running full sprint as the others watch.
Inside the primordian cave by Duma cliffs, another gathering was also in place. "So, have you all heard?" Blade asked the group.
"Heard about what, Blade?" Crystal asked him lying down next to a pool of water
"If this about how one tree's leaves taste better than another's, I'm not interested." Harmond says while lying down as well scratching his head.
"…No its not, besides I do believe that to be true. Sora is taking part in the velociraptor's jaribio trial." Blade snorts then tells them.
"The jaribio trial? Isn't that the competition where the hunt goes till sunset between two competitors to see who's best?" Crystal asks.
"Yes, and for Sora he is going up against Umara's granddaughter Ingrid." Blade explains.
"The little stuck-up one eh. So, he's finally starting to make a stand for himself in the pack. Explains why him and his siblings couldn't be here." Harmond says a bit impressed by Sora's courage.
"Be that as it may, he's still has a tough time ahead of him. The jaribio trial is no small game, only the best of hunters will be able to accomplish it. Sora's never been hunting with his pack before." Zeon explains while resting on a high ledge.
"Yeah, but he's always asked and tried to hunt with us before…" Crystal says.
"And every time he does, he ends up making a fool of himself by missing his prey or with some other mistake. Letting our meal slip by…" Harmond replies to her a bit annoyed.
"But even if he does he still keeps on trying in the face of doubt, it wouldn't be surprising to see him do something unexpectedly amazing again like before. Not to mention if I recall Harmond, you weren't exactly the best hunter around yourself at first either…" Blade says with Harmond a bit taken aback by his recollection.
"Hey, I did get better…eventually." Harmond protests irritated a bit for a while with the others laughing a bit from it
"May Gundrin give you luck Sora." Zeon wishing Sora in thought, then he hears a cry from the outside.
"Zeon." Chill the hasst eagle comes flying into the cave, perching on a boulder.
"What is it Chill?" Zeon asks.
"The Atrociraptors! They're in the Sirona lands." Chill says
"Those creeps again." Harmond said.
"Where?" Zeon asked standing back up.
"They were spotted near the edge by the Kohinoor river." Chill explained
"If there's one thing, I know about Atrociraptors; they're not here for simply mingling with the herbivores." Crystal stated.
"Chill, could show us the spot where they were seen?" Zeon asked.
"Off course Zeon." "Then let's go." Following Chill as he flies out, Zeon and the others make their way out of the cave.
In the forest, the competition was underway between Sora and Ingrid as they looked around the foliage. Ingrid comes upon a springhare, stalking it and then rushing forth grabbing the hare; Sora was stalking too on a group of birds wading in the pond.
"Sora, you have something useful too. Something that can help you besides claws and fangs." Iris's words ran through Sora's thoughts as he stalked, he makes a move but the birds quickly fly off. He could only sigh in discouragement.
"I guess I am really hopeless at this." Sora says.
Ingrid on a low tree, leaps from the crossed trunks snatching a bird killing it instantly. Sora attempted to stalk on a springhare, but as he lunged the hare jumped escaping into the brush as Sora gets back up groaning.
"Ughhh, dammit. I'm not going to be able to win like this…!" Sora throws a stone out of frustration, but then he sees the stone pierce the bark of a tree trunk; staying stuck to it. Captivated, he walks looking at the stones position. Pulling it out, he inspects the stone feeling its edges.
"Ow." Sora says as he accidentally cuts himself with the edge of the stone. He notices his small cut with a bit of blood, leaving him even more captivated by this. Near his feet, he sees a vine and a thick stick next to each other.
"Hey…" Looking at the stone and back to the vine and stick, Sora has a realization to an idea.
Near the Kohinoor River, Chill and the others arrive. "This is where they were seen." Chill explains to them.
"You sure?" Crystal asks, "Yes. A fellow hawk told me himself what he saw with his own eyes." Chill explained to her, while Zeon and the rest looked around. Zeon lowered his head and smelled the ground.
"Chill is right, they were here…and not too long ago either." Zeon said, Harmond then comes and smells the spot and a few steps up the trail.
"Yeah, and not just any atrociraptors. It's the same ones that are hanging around Dra-khan." Harmond states looking back to Zeon.
"Is he here again too?" Crystal asked walking up to Zeon.
"No…If he was here we would've smelled him alongside them." Zeon said to her.
"That big scale belly would've also made himself a lot more obvious." Harmond also said to them.
"Over here." Blade calls to them, Zeon and the others rush over to where he is. "Another thing about atrociraptors, they're not as skilled when it comes to stealth…" Blade states as he shows them a trail of tracks leading away from the river.
"Hold on, the direction those tracks are heading leads to…" "Right towards velociraptor territory." Crystal and Harmond said.
"The jaribio trial. Zeon…" "Yes, I know…" Zeon says to Blade understanding him as he turns around, "Chill." Zeon calls as he walks up to him.
"Yes, Zeon." "I need you to go to Umara, warn her that the atrociraptors are in her territory and they must be on alert. And to find Sora and Ingrid quickly." Zeon explains to him.
"Oh yes off course, I'll fly as fast as the wind can carry me." Chill says as he takes flight from the rock he was perched.
"Also find Katuri and Adar and explain to them what's happening." Zeon tells Chill as he fly's off.
"With those scoundrels out there, those two are in danger." Blade states.
"They could be anywhere, and it may take a while before the velociraptors find them." Crystal says concerned.
"Which is why we are going to find them." Zeon says walking back to them.
"Ugh Zeon, weren't you listening to what crystal said." Harmond said disgruntled.
"I don't mean Sora and Ingrid, I mean the atrociraptors. We have their trail, we might be able to find them and push them out of the Sirona lands, before they find either Sora or Ingrid." Zeon explains to them.
"Then what are we waiting for, lets follow the trail and kick some raptor tail." Harmond says as he leads ahead following the tracks.
"I just hope we find them in time before anything happens." Zeon says as he and the others follow behind Harmond along the trail.
(Will Zeon and the others find the atrociraptors before they find someone else? And what did Sora come up with, will he beat Ingrid? Find out next time, see ya.)