Chapter 1
A/N: Now before the chapter begins let me first give out a shout-out to the amazing Rhombus for granting me permission to turn this into an AU of their "Seven Hunters" series (seriously check 'em out). Mainly why updates to this was lagging (my part for trying to reach them on a hardly used account of theirs), but now with their approval I can continue with the original plan instead of diverting when the moment theirs begin (Jaeger is gonna have a heart attack, poor guy).
Now back to the story!
My journey wasn't going as quick as I had hoped. Despite being a fast sprinter, I often had to stop or change direction merely for the ridiculous amount of herds heading in the same direction. Like now, I was taking a small rest stop while observing the large herd of stegosauruses in the meadow not far from me. So far they didn't seem to be in such a hurry, leisurely munching on the golden grass. I shook my head and let out a sigh, my eyes looking each one over. I needed to hunt soon and while I was finally beginning to feel the pangs, I was really reluctant to face this herd. Thankfully my species has such an amazing camouflage capability from that infernal Indominus… long as I remained still at the least. The lowing and grunts coming off calm and I could hear the pleasure in it. Not that I could blame them, food for the leaf muncher had grown sparse ever since the tragedy three days ago.
The great divide, or at least what I called it, where a major shift in the tectonic plate caused massive chasm to split the outlands. Such a moment was both one of awe and terror as the earth seemed to rage. The loss of life was innumerable and with the large diverting of the already scarce sources of water made the already rare locations of green moreso. Either the distant herd of longnecks didn't recognize this field was food or thought it was beneath them to graze upon the ground, I would never know but this herd seemed happy the other passed it by. At least the tragedy had one positive, plenty of food for my kind laying around, if you can find some that wasn't buried or crushed that is.
After listening for a few more moments of their happy grunting and lamenting my lack of ability to understand, I stood and retreated a few paces before going the way they came to give them a wide berth, only going into a full sprint once I was out of their view. I had to be extra careful when doing so to keep my… luggage from rattling against each other. Seeing the herd did bring an idea or two to mind, so my unexpected rest was worth it, now I just had to keep an eye out for any stego corpses or skeletons. With the trouble avoided I threw the pedal down, so to speak, and pushed myself to gain ground for the time lost, my weaving path tearing through the dead forest, I found myself, using the corpses of the trees to bound off to quickly change direction. It felt like the perfect time for training, taking the weight I was carrying with me to add to the challenge, performing evasive turns and ambush tactics against invisible foes.
I may have pretended to be a prehistoric ninja… just a little bit I swear!
Sadly in this era, brief moments of fun were too few and mine was interrupted abruptly by the shriek and chitter of a pack of raptors. Coming to a sliding halt, throwing up dirt, I waited and the moment I heard them again I let out a sigh of relief. It was cries of a victorious kill rather than a hunting call, what's more is that they were upwind so I could smell them.. and their kill while I was unnoticed by them. Taking time to sort out the myriad of scent flowing back to me told me a few things. It was a pack of five, two females, three males. One of the males and females being an older age and the three remaining and the closeness of the scents told me it was a family pack and the elder male having a stronger scent told me he was the pack leader. Their kill was interesting, an adult Triceratops, male, mid-age but had a badly healed leg that was inflamed. A perfect target for a pack. With a bad leg he couldn't charge or turn to defend himself fast enough.
I wonder if they're willing to part with a partial leg?
My mind was made up when my stomach tinged with more hunger pains and with a quick plan created, I took off to overtake and come in upwind, letting my scent announce me and allow me to hide my possessions. It didn't take long for their cries to grow cautious the moment I came in range and I quickly adapted my hated persona.. Cannibal, and began my approach.
The pack POV
Whitetip gave a relieved sigh as the threehorn finally grew still in death. It was pure luck they happened up this one, threehorns were dangerous even for a pack like his, but with it's left rear leg obliviously broken and healed incorrectly, it had fallen far behind it's herd, making it a perfect target. He smiled as his mate, a brown fastbiter with black rings near the tip of her tail named Ashclaw came up to him and gave him a nuzzle, one he happily returned. He cared not of the blood she smeared on him from delivering the final strike, once he began eating it'll be covered up. As he looked upon his younglings he couldn't help but feel proud of their second successful hunt. He laugh as, in an eager dive for the food, his only daughter splashed her brothers in blood causing a playful scuffle to break out between the three. Shaking his head, He went to take his own first bite, only managing to pull a single piece off when a new scent reached him. White tip suddenly stiffened and with a sharp hiss, alerted his family to the possible trouble.
"Children, SHH! Someone is coming!"
The playfight quickly ended and all three scurried over their kill to be close to their parents. Gone was their happy expressions, replaced with fearful looks going from the dead forest to their father.
"Dear/father?"
His mate and his eldest son (by several minutes) asked but he was too focused on the scent or rather scents coming towards them. It didn't make any sense, there was the smell of several two-footers (T-rexes), Hornfaces (Carnos), other fastbiters, even a bellydragger (Sarco) but they are all faint and carried the scent of death but it was fading. The only strong scent that overpowered them all was even more confusing. It smelt like nothing he ever smelt before, it had a mix of a fastbiter and two-footer, but had something else. It was also a male and judging by the heavy footfalls, far bigger than him and judging by the way his mate drew his whimpering children closer, they noticed it all as well. Then, out of the dense treeline, the stranger appeared and it took all of White's willpower to keep control of his terror. Not daring to take his eyes off this unknown sharptooth, for it was one, to look in the direction of his crying little ones and his hissing mate, he took it.. him in detail. Thankfully their guest stopped the moment his mate made a threatening hiss and didn't look to be offended so White took the time to think. The guest was more than twice his own size and had all the bits of a fastbiter like them only far larger but his head was decidedly not, he could see faint similarities of a two-footer. The stranger was black with a bright stripe going down its side, it also had some sort of spines on his head and back that looked like they came from a longclaw (Therizinosaurus). The newcomer's arms were also longer and seemed to have more movement, almost like he could move on all four limbs which told White one thing.. There was no outrunning this newcomer. White's inspection came to a halt when his eyes took in what was around the stranger's neck and widened as he took in a sharp breath. His body trembled slightly the moment he realized who had found him.
Now, White kept his pack mostly to himself but during his travels a full summer ago, he heard many rumors growing from amongst the other sharptooth of a mythical shadowbiter, a sharptooth that hunted others and took pieces of them to show proof of the terror he spread. Many saying he was once a regular fastbiter but the night circle cursed him for his bloodlust and twisted his appearance to match the horrors he done and now served the night circle to kill others who strayed from the path. White never paid those rumors much thought but now… proof of some were right in front of him, he couldn't keep the fear contained anymore nor the nervous swallow or the words from leaving his muzzle.
"B-by the Night circle… it's Cannibal.." Beside him, his mate gasped and by the tremble of her muzzle and the terror in her eyes told him she knew who this was too. The only thing his mind could do at that moment was wonder why this monster was here. Apparently their guest had enough of the silence and looked directly at him when he spoke. White could feel his spirit try to join his ancestors when the visitor spoke his name.
"WhiteTip, I assume?"
Jaeger POV
I had kept my camouflage up as I grew closer to the group, only dropping it just before I exited the deadwood forest just in case they tried to charge in to confront me. Coming to a stop when the older female gave a warning hiss seemed to help a small bit and decided to take this lull to observe them, just as they were doing to me. The older, large male was a dark gray save for his snout which was a bleached white centered around a scar that narrowly missed his right nostril and came down past both lips to his chin. Telling me the injury destroyed that part of the hide from retaining color. I watched as his eyes inspected and sized me up, judging how much of a threat I was and what'd take to kill me.
Like a good pack leader should.
Small whimpers drew me to the other adult, the female and the three younger ones trying to hide under her.. With little success since each probably reached the female's chest if they were at their full height. It was then that I felt my benefactor chose to reach out to me, after almost a month since my last 'task'.
"My dear hunter, I must ask you to not attack this pack, should they charge then please retreat. They are one of the few most dedicated to follow the path and never attacked or steal from others unless in self defense."
I thought about her words for a moment and agreed to the request. I didn't want to kill younglings anyway.
"Agreed, Do you have the pack leader's name? If I'm to keep this silly legend alive, knowing names before introductions might lend the feeling of mysticism."
I felt the amusement drifting over the link along with her answer before she withdrew once more… typical.
"Of course, His name is Whitetip."
I snorted inwardly and returned to reality when I heard Whitetip mutter something that told me he knew exactly who I was.
"B-by the Night circle… its Cannibal.."
Deciding the silence is over with, I locked eyes with him as I spoke up myself.
"WhiteTip, I assume?"
When he gave a single hesitant nod even with a shocked expression plain on his face, I took a single step closer then lowered myself into a sitting position, attempting to make myself seem less threatening than I looked.
"H-how do you know who I am, and why did you seek out my pack?"
I smirked inwardly as White regained control of himself after remaining where I was, his mate and younglings calming themselves as I kept my distance.
"The one who granted me this form knows all, it is by her will, I seek out those who stray from the great circle and no, I am not here for you or anyone from your pack. I was merely traveling and caught the scent of you and your kill…"
With a chuckle, I lowered my head to be eye level with the three peeking out under their mother from behind her, a small gentle smile forming on my muzzle.
".. An impressive kill might I add, to take on such a foe, you younglings must be fierce hunters!"
My smile grew as my gambit worked as all three came out of hiding with their chests puffed out from the praise. With a chuckle, I returned my attention to White tip and his mate who looked to have eased their defensive stances.
"Embarrassingly, my hunger drew me to you."
Both became stiff and I saw them shift into a stance I could tell was to fight or flee and after a silent conversation borne of their closeness.
"W-with all due respect mister Cannibal, We cannot give you our kill, my pack needs it."
I snorted and shook my head and got back on my feet, setting them on edge but I remained where I was.
"Hm well first let's correct a small issue, Cannibal is a name only for my enemies, something you are not at the present and so allow me to formally introduce myself."
Turning to face them directly, I gave them the formal fastbiter bow, tilting my head down with my arms spread wide.
"I am Jaeger, Shadowbiter and humble protector of the great circle of life. I seek a small portion of your Kill and in return, for having the favor of the night circle, I will share knowledge unknown to anyone else to aid you and your pack."
I righted myself and fought a laugh at their expressions. They no doubt thought I was going to take it by force. It took them a moment to realize I was waiting on a response and both quickly copied my bow followed by the younger ones with some coaching that did make me chuckle.
"W-Well met Jaeger and as pack leader I will happily accept the offer… If the wisdoms imparted will truly help my pack."
His mate followed after with her name, then the younglings with one of the males first then the daughter and the other male last, age or order they hatched perhaps? I mused.
"Ashclaw, Great hunter."
"Swift stride, sir."
"Flicker!"
"Snapper, sir"
I gave a nod to each with a tail smile. The naming conventions of this time never failed to amuse me. With the introductions out of the way and with it now being clear I wasn't a threat I found myself being swarmed by the young ones, Thankfully they withheld the questions I could see in their expressions as I approached and instead inspected me without worry. However I made my way around the corpse to my target, the poorly healed leg, gesturing to them to follow. After spotting White's questioning look, I gestured to the leg, putting all my focus on teaching them and not the overwhelming smell of the fresh meal.
"This leaf muncher seemed to have had a hard time, but I'm sure you know our kind isn't this lucky."
The emotions I smelt from the two adults were telling, Ashclaw in particular, and it was her that answered this time.
"Yes, if we break a leg, the best we can hope for is a quick, mercy kill."
I let out a sigh and shook my head slowly.
"And if I said that wasn't true? That with the right knowledge and care, plus time, a broken leg or arm can be healed with two cycles of the night circle?"
Turning my attention to the young ones who was watching the back-and-forth between their parents and me, lowing my head and lowering my head, drawing their attention from their surprised parents.
"Would you three mind finding me some vines and two sticks? Don't go too far, If you cannot find any, that is alright. You need the sticks about this long."
After gesturing to my left arm's length and thickness, the trio scampered off. I waited until they were out of earshot before asking the sensitive question.
"Who was it and how long ago was it, if I may ask?"
Ashclaw's quiet answer was all I needed to know.
"My Sister and during the great earthshake, a falling rock broke her leg.. Whitetip gave her peace."
I simply nodded, keeping my attention on the way their younglings went.
"What I intend to teach will give you an option. Mind you, if the bone is poking through… then that is beyond my current knowledge and this trick will not help with that. But a break inside, it will and will allow very slow, limited movement. Until the time I mentioned has passed, unless the being injured doesn't rest."
It didn't take long after that for the younglings to return, their enthusiasm had me chuckling and a sense of melancholy briefly settled in my mind. Reality is cruel and this world will soon temper such eagerness. For now however, watching the two males carrying sticks in their jaws and bumping into everything, and the sole female trying her hardest to run while being covered from snout to tail tip in vines seemed to make my burdens lighter. I was careful to teach them the proper methods slowly and multiple times then had them all choose a leg on their kill until I was sure they had it down.
Seemed they were satisfied with their new knowledge and because they immediately invited me to eat, more than the mere leg I asked for. I suppose the simple healing trick seemed to be world breaking in their eyes. After everyone was full and the younglings fell into a nap, I wisely took my leave, our mutual agreement now over, however Whitetip surprised me by tearing off the only leg that remained untouched and presented it to me.
"Now our deal is concluded. It was an honor to meet you, Jaeger, and thank you for the wisdom shared and for keeping the real monsters at bay."
He chuckled with a tail smile, Ashclaw joining him at seeing me off.
"We wish you luck on your future hunts, Shadowbiter, and we will continue to follow the path set to us by the night circle."
With a smile of my own I nodded and after picking up the gift, gave a final formal bow, which they returned, and left them to continue my travels.
Having a full tank so to speak allowed me to cover much more ground than I previously could after reclaiming my carry-logs from where I had stashed them. The travel snack held firmly in my jaws made it even better which reminded me to make one for carrying food with me during long travels. It wouldn't be enough to fill me up but a small bite a day would stave off the hunger madness. Such thoughts moved on to a realization that had slowly been crawling in my head for some time and now I finally accepted it.
This prehistoric earth wasn't MY earth.
Really such an epiphany should've been clear my first year here, but I suppose while I saw the signs, my mind just never registered them. The most blatant of signs were my polite hosts and their kill. Triceratops and utahraptors were separated by millions of years, not to mention the other dinos as proven by fossils and facts found on my earth. Here they all live during the same time period.
As I came to accept it, I let out a sigh of relief I didn't think I needed. My worries of accidentally doing something to alter time has lessened. Heck humans might not even come to live here. That said, I'm not going to suddenly do all kinds of stuff to utterly destroy the budding civilizations I see and know will soon rise.
Hmm if those gallimimuses are truly aliens as fans thought then maybe an alliance could be possible?
"If they are invaders, then they must die. I will not tolerate any interference with my precious creation."
I just rolled my eyes, or did my best to, as my "boss" spoke up on my thoughts, no privacy whatsoever.
"They wouldn't be a threat. They're knowledge seekers, explorers, teachers whether they're aliens or not. Plus if they are, then they can help. Being in the form of herbivores, they can watch things in places I wouldn't be welcome to, like your prized valley. I'm only one dino, I can't be in many places at once, I'm still restricted to running to places."
"If you used one of the gifts I gave you, distance would cease being a hindrance, my hunter."
I stopped as my body shuddered violently at the thought of using…that. It was so wrong and far from natural. I only resumed at a slower pace once I recovered.
"Look, while I know such ability sounds useful, the feeling that-"
My reply and movement was interrupted once more as several small somethings suddenly slammed into my foot before falling with various grunts of confusion and pain. My body stiffened the moment I looked to see what and who just ran into me.
"Merde.."
There, laying in a tangled pile of limbs and bodies, sides heaving to take in air into their young lungs, was a brown Apatosaurus, dark green Stegosaurus, yellow Triceratops, brown Pterosaur, and a light green Saurolophus.
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Another A/N!:
So yeah.. So much for avoiding the gang like the plague haha. Not really much to add here. I know my activity (or lack of) had a few wondering where I've gone but really just been life issues. I'm still here, still Writing. Had to dismiss a beta for their attitude, health recovery, and trying to keep a roof over my head. With this being my second major story (Primal voyage on hiatus does not count) I hope to not overdo it too much. With it now given permission to be an AU of Rhombus's "The Seven Hunters" saga, By no means will her people being a common occurrence in this story, maybe a few cameos here and there. Perhaps in the future? Who knows.
Thank you, my betas for being patient with the snail's pace my writing had became.
