Justin awoke to a cloudy sky stretching up to Shadow Command, and white flowers brushing against him in a gentle breeze. He sat up, noticing he was on the hilltop, at the drop point. White flowers blanketed the entire ground until they met the forest. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Morcant and the others with their weapons drawn. Behind them, dozens of strangers, human and alien alike, were building a tower of bodies into the sky. They seemed to stretch far beyond their means, up into the clouds. Emma shined out of Shadow Command like a ray of light from the sun, her hand reached out for him, but Tute was holding her back.
"Get climbing, we'll hold them off.", said Morcant.
"No, I can't leave ya'll behind!", Justin yelled as the wind picked up.
"For someone so desperate to find meaning in life, you sure don't hesitate to deny others theirs.", laughed Morcant.
"We can't come with you, you already know that. We're just here to give you the strength to make it.", said Morcant.
He rested his hand on Justin's shoulder and said, "This makes my life, I want them and you to know that. When you get to the top, tell them I'm sorry, but that I'm proud of what I've done. Ok bud?"
Justin held back tears and said, "Ok buddy, it's a promise."
Justin walked past him and the others as they waved to him. Taysass stopped him to embrace him.
"Thank you.", she said.
Justin nodded and began to climb the tower of living bodies as they struggled to hold each other up. Nearing the top, the wind howled, and he lost his grip, but a hand caught him. Justin felt his wedding ring before seeing the face of a Japanese soldier smiling at him. His squad was one layer below the top. Justin thanked him and climbed up them to a group of Kettans. He passed by one white and two red before he found a pink female sitting at the top of the tower.
She smiled to him and shimmered like and angel, lighting a fire inside him. He crawled to her, trying not to be blown off. Right above them was Emma's hand, she made the same teary-eyed grin as before.
"I can't sit up, the winds to strong.", he said.
"Don't worry, I'll keep you stable.", the pink angel assured him.
Justin stood up as the angel wrapped on arm around his waist and held onto the tower with the other. Justin shook in the wind, but defiantly reached out his hand for Emma's. He was just inches away, but no matter how hard they stretched, they couldn't grasp each other. A loud, low rumble came from the forest.
Justin looked down and saw the bull and the butterflies rush into the valley, heading straight for the tower. Justin winced as the flowers burst into red while being trampled by them. Morcant and the others opened fire but couldn't slow the bull down as it charged them.
"Jump, you can make it!", exclaimed the angle.
"What if you lose your grip on me?", Justin argued.
"You can't possibly hope to save us all.", she said.
Justin grinded his teeth and yelled, "Watch me!"
He leapt into the air and caught Emma's hand whilst twisting his body to allow him to also grasp the hand of the angle. Justin smiled to himself before seeing the bull nearing the tower.
"Emma, pull us up!", he yelled through the wind.
"I can't, you have to let go.", her voice echoed throughout the world.
"No! I won't leave a single one of them behind!", he cried out.
"Just like I said, your pigeon will never learn to fly.", Tutelarius's voice echoed.
Justin desperately held on as he felt his body stretch. The bull and the butterflies ran through Morcant and his friends, crashing into the tower as they all burst into red pedals.
Justin screamed as the weight of the world tore him in half.
. . .
Yellow squinted in the morning twilight at the groups of raptors which had gathered at their nest. Some big, others small, they were all strong, and half starved. With some of the prey having already migrated for winter, there was a larger fight over The Feast, leaving many nests broken. While this happened every fall, Blue Stripes returning was unusual. The large, black and blue raptor had harassed Yellow throughout his life until one day, years ago, when Red intervened and Blue Stripes challenged his position as Alpha. Blue Stripes narrowly lost and received a wounded leg, before being banished. Yellow hadn't seen him since then and had assumed he was dead.
Unlike the other raptors clearly wanting to join Red's nest, including the pack Blue Stripes was heading, he was tensed up, possibly there for a rematch. His deadly gaze and jagged smile sent quivers down Yellow's feathers.
Red and Brown slowly walked past their nestmates and subordinates. Red held his head high as the clouds and carefully examined each of the prospective raptors surrounding their nest. Brown's astute gaze carefully screened their own nesters, looking for signs of disloyalty or grievance. Their nesters parted like a wave of grass in the wind and bowed to them as they walked. Yellow bowed to Red as he reached him and Red nodded to him, something he rarely did.
"Hello there.", Red said to the group.
He then let an eerie silence hang in the air, with only the breeze and leaves being heard, while he once again looked through the crowd.
"Red, we meet again.", said Blue Stripes.
Red snarled and said, "Ah, Blue Stripes, it's been some time, how's your leg?"
"Great, had to be up past the plains. You wouldn't believe what all's out there. Then again, from what I heard about a certain glistening prey yesterday, maybe you would.", said Blue Stripes.
"Ah, so I'm not the only one that witnessed that. Who told you about it?", asked Red.
"Oh, just a hiss in the wind.", laughed Blue Stripes.
"I see you're still dragging around this dead weight.", he said while nodding to Yellow.
"Oh, you mean my new Beta? You'd be surprised just how useful I find him.", said Red.
"Eh? New Beta? Surely, he's kidding. One of our own nest mates would challenge that in a heartbeat.", thought Yellow in bewilderment.
"You can't be serious, that's a new low, even for you Red.", said Blue Stripes.
"Well I've been pondering this for a long time, and with the encounter you mentioned yesterday as the catalyst, I've decided that it's time to put some of Yellows more… Unique ideas to the test.", explained Red.
"He must be joking. Why now is he finally ready to listen? Did that creature really scare him that badly?", thought Yellow.
Blue Stripes snarled, "Red I'm going to make this simple so even someone as stupid as you can understand. First, I'm going to kill you, and then I'm going to make that hatchling watch me impregnate all these females, including that one the two of you like so much, before I kill him to."
"You should have stayed beyond the plains Blue Stripes, I won't let you limp away this time.", said Red.
He stepped forward and flared his talons and teeth to the crowd. Blue Stripes approached, and they began to circle each other, like a dance.
"Not this again, Blue Stripes won't lose this time. Why won't Red and Brown listen to me and both attack at once? I don't care if it breaks the stupid rules, I don't want to die over them.", worried Yellow.
"Brown, Blue Stripes is younger and stronger than Red, this is a bad idea. If he's truly ready to give my ideas some credence, now is the time.", whispered Yellow.
Brown smiled at him and said, "Don't worry little brother. Like Red said, we're ready to listen to your wild ideas."
Red stopped circling as Blue Stripes back faced Brown and Yellow, before he snarled and raised his arms. Blue Stripes stared at Red's legs, waiting for a chance to strike them, completely oblivious to Brown as she leapt onto him from behind. She sunk her claws into his arms and he collapsed to the ground with a wail. She held his neck down with her teeth as Red methodically walked over to them.
Red knelt down saying, "This is my forest. The Feast, the prey, and the river will all belong to me and my nest."
Brown released her teeth and Blue Stripes snarled and struggled as Red clamped his bite down on his neck. After twisting and sawing a snap was finally heard before Blue Stripes went still. Yellow wondered if he was dreaming, Red had never given his plans of changing the nest structure a chance, and now he seems to have completely succumb to them.
Red swallowed the blood in his mouth and climbed onto Blue Stripes body as he addressed the crowd.
"As you can see, we do things a little differently around here. This may worry some of you but hear this. Under Yellow's plans, which I will now implement, everyone will receive a mate. We will conquer the other nests and rule over this forest as one united nest, with me as it's ruler. With united swarm tactics, we will lower the casualties at The Feast, and manage the prey supply throughout the year. So, who wants to join me, and who wants to die?" he asked to the crowd.
The crowd leapt and rejoiced, stomping the ground in approval. Brown came back to Yellow and smiled while he joined in on the stomping.
"This can't be happening. Finally, after all this time, I'm being vindicated.", he thought.
"Alright then to start, all of you will obey Yellow in my absence. I know he isn't the strongest among you, but his mind is far more valuable than your strength. If I catch any of you disrespecting him, you will be punished, or killed. Any questions?" asked Red.
A member of the crowd spoke up, "How will our mates be chosen, if you aren't taking them all."
"Great question, I will take several for myself, and you all may fight over the rest; however, I will stipulate two exceptions. First, no killing over this, I want clean fights only. Second, Yellow will be paired with the strongest female amongst you. I don't want to breed weaklings, but I want his intellect passed on to the next generation. Who here would be willing?" Red asked.
A green, strong, female raptor stepped forward and squinted at Yellow while flashing her teeth.
"I believe I am the strongest here, but can you really ask me to breed weak younglings? Don't we all breed with the Alpha, the strongest, for a reason?" she asked.
"We need diversity, and an expanded nest that everyone feels benefits them personally. That is the plan of Yellow. Your children can be raised with priority by the nest to be strong, and Yellow will make them smart, truly a lethal combination. Let one batch of youth from him mature and if you aren't satisfied, I will allow you to choose another mate.", explained Red.
The female appeared to contemplate the offer for a moment before bowing her head in submission. Red signaled for her to go to Yellow with his head. She came up to him and bowed.
"Hello, I am Green Runner. Um, nice to meet you.", she said.
"She's terrifying. Red I know I suggested this, and it makes sense but I'm having doubts I can subdue this female.", he thought.
"Ah, hello. I'm sorry that decision was made for you Green Runner, although I do suppose it's something I mentioned once. Oh, why Runner?", Yellow rambled.
Green Runner lifted her head and towered over Yellow like a tree.
"My twin was also green. She was named Green Walker, do to her shorter legs.", she said.
"Oh, where is she?", asked Yellow while looking through the crowd.
"That shiny prey's pack killed her in a flash yesterday at The Feast, but I did manage to kill one of their pack as well.", she said while clenching her teeth and smiling.
"Oh my, not that thing again.", he thought.
"Hi there Green Runner, I'm Brown, the female Alpha here.", Brown said while looking her eye to eye.
"Yellow here's my little brother. I know he can be a handful, but he's well hung and can make you laugh, so give him a chance ok?", Brown said with a head tilt and smile.
"Dammit Brown I appreciate the help, but you're always making me look foolish.", thought Yellow.
Green Runner bowed to her as Yellow shook his head in embarrassment. Red walked over to them, as well as the group that had been with Blue Stripes.
"Sir, we're sorry about our Alpha's behavior, we humbly ask to join your grand nest.", said the grey raptor now leading them.
"You're welcome to join us, might I ask if there's any news from beyond the plains?", asked Red.
"Indeed sir, the prey has begun migrating early, with packs of predators not far behind them, indicating an early and possibly harsh winter. Blue Stripes wanted us to get ahead of them and told us there was a never-ending feast here. He said that's how the nests here survived the winters, and why they never followed the prey along the river with us during the migration.", explained the grey raptor.
"Ah, such a waste Blue Stripes was, killed by his own pride. Indeed, The Feast provides for us throughout the year. You will see it in a few days. For now, our priority is the shiny prey. My scouts should be returning soon to report whether it has died or not.", said Red.
"And if it hasn't sir?", asked Green Runner.
"Then we will use Yellow's swarm strategy to bring it down.", said Red.
Green Runner smiled as though she were staring down wounded prey.
. . .
Justin woke up screaming with Morcant shaking him and franticly checked his chest while hyperventilating. His body was still intact, the sharp pain of his chest tearing open and hollowness of his insides sliding out of his body had vanished. He slowed his breathing and sighed with relief.
"So, I can still feel pain in my dreams? How ridiculous, and what a strange dream. Did Tute make me dream that? Thinks he can get in my head, does he? I'll show him, that dream gives me an idea.", he thought.
"Justin are you ok? You started screaming in your sleep.", asked Morcant.
Justin took out his walkie-talkie and asked, "Mm, sorry to worry ya'll. What time is it?"
"It's ok, Churburret did the same thing. Tacktay has been watching outside for a while now and says that the morning twilight should end soon.", said Morcant.
"She's outside? Is she ok?", asked Justin.
"She was just a minute ago.", answered Morcant, perplexed.
"It's dangerous outside, she should've woken me first.", said Justin.
"Well I thought you should get a full night's rest; besides, we need to learn how to survive here eventually.", said Morcant.
"Not if I can help it. I'm going to try to find the Spaceport real fast, all of you stay in here, I'll be right back.", said Justin.
Justin stood up and walked to the door, he glanced back at the others chatting and caught Taysass'es eye before she looked back to the silver band on her wrist she was touching.
"And just how do you plan to do that? You said yesterday you didn't see it at the hilltop.", asked Morcant.
Justin half smiled and pointed up before rolling the wooden door and exiting the cave. He looked up to the mountain and found Tacktay resting above the door, clinging to the rockface. He realized he couldn't tell what she was looking at without her head tilting, due to her insect eyes.
"Tacktay why are you out here alone?", asked Justin.
"I'm a guard, this is what I do. I'm perfectly safe, if any predators were closing in, I could see them or feel them through the rock.", answered Tacktay.
"I guess she can feel vibrations through her legs. Probably useful for sending and receiving signals in a hive.", he thought.
Justin sighed and said, "I just don't want any of you to get hurt."
"Understood, thank you for your continued interest in my wellbeing. You helped me decide to live yesterday, remember? I don't plan on throwing my life away, but I want to be useful to the group, it's what I'm built for after all. I don't know what else you expect from me.", she said.
"I guess I don't know what I expected, I just want to get ya'll out of here. Which is why I'm about to climb this mountain.", said Justin.
"Oh, can I come?", she asked.
"Well, I don't know if that would be a safe idea.", he said.
"I've seen large flying creatures above the mountain, I can watch your back, so they don't snatch you up.", she offered.
"That's a good point, I forgot about flyers, they could drag me far away and I could get lost. Can you fly that high though?", he asked.
"No, but I can ride you and if I fall, I think I can safely descend.", she said.
Justin clenched his stomach as he fell over laughing.
"Are you ok? What's wrong? Should I get the others?", Tacktay asked as she took flight and hovered around him.
Justin continued laughing and said, "Yea I'm fine, my people just do this when we find something really funny."
"Understood, how strange, well I'm ready if you are.", she said.
Justin pointed to his back and winced through his giggling as he felt Tacktay wrap her legs around his back and chest.
"You sure you're up for this?", he asked while finding a flat part of the cliff face.
"I'll do my part for the group, it would appear as though flying is my main asset to everyone.", she said.
"Ok, well if you need me to stop just ask.", he said.
Justin placed his hands on the rock and tried to press his fingers into it. The rock cracked and splintered as his fingers sunk into it. He smiled and continued up by jumping and slamming his fingers into the rock. He hung for a second, contemplating how to climb, before shooting his feet into the rock below him. He started truly climbing and watched as the pebbles he made slowly cascaded down the cliff face. He looked down and felt the winds pick up, remembering his dream.
"I won't let that happen. I'm going to beat Tute at this stupid, cruel game, and bring this technology back to Earth and their worlds.", he thought.
Justin smiled as he climbed, finally feeling an uneasy sense of purpose in his life. Pterodactylids soared high in the sky past the mountain in large flocks. The crisp fall wind loosened his grip a few times, but he continued to press forward. After an hour had passed, he could see that the twilight was almost ending as the sun was peaking from behind Shadow Command. He didn't feel tired, but he worried Tacktay might be losing her grip as he finally reached the summit.
He climbed up and slid on his belly, letting Tacktay walk off him, before slowly standing up. The wind was strong, but he kept his balance as he looked around. The mountaintop was covered in short grasses and old nests that he assumed the pterodactyls used. Past the spawn point and the forest was a vast ocean of prairie plains continuing into a blurry distance. The river he saw before flowed from there and into the forest, continuing into another blur that was brown instead of green. All around him was forest for miles, with no structures visible.
"Dammit. Does Tute expect me to grid search the entire continent?", he wondered.
"Did you find anything?", Tacktay asked from the ground.
"No, I can't see it. We'll have to fortify here, and I'll go looking for it once all of you are safe.", he said.
"I'm sorry, but I'm glad to hear you're staying with us. Hopefully we can create a safe shelter and learn how to survive here. My world is much like this one in terms of life, apart from appearances. My worlds life is much like me, instead of this world's looking like Taysass.", she said.
"Ah, that makes sense considering how big you are. Your planet must have a higher oxygen content than mine, letting large creatures grow. Although if the brachiosaurs are also bugs that's pretty crazy.", he said.
"No, the larger creatures are like you and Taysass, but everything smaller than those horned things from yesterday is like me.", she explained.
"Alright, well let's get down from here.", he said.
Justin grinded his teeth as he tried to grow used to Tacktay climbing on his back. He slowly approached the edge and began climbing down near where he came up.
"Did you see anything useful?", Tacktay asked.
"Well the river makes a decent sized opening in the forest, so visibility will be good when we get water tomorrow, but that also means large predators can move about quickly there.", Justin responded.
Justin continued down the mountain at the same slow pace, eventually seeing the rest of the gang waiting for him at the bottom, fumes coming out of the cave entrance, and Taysass'es hot rock pushed out.
"Dammit guys, wait until I get back. What if something attacks you.", he worried.
"You aren't going to be able to keep them safe at this rate. Any time ya'll separate, they'll make a stupid decision and die.", he told himself.
"Oh, shut up. I'm sure I can convince them to be more cautious.", he assured himself.
As he reached the bottom Tacktay released her grip and flew down to the others before he got impatient and dropped about twenty feet down. He landed with a thud and a cloud of dust that he waved away. He walked over to the group, who were working with wood and rock, put his hands on his hips and looked down to Morcant.
"Guys couldn't this have waited until I got back?", he asked.
"Eh, well we got bored, besides we can run inside. Did you find anything up there?", asked Morcant.
"Those fumes are toxic, this wasn't a good idea.", Justin argued.
"Look we can't just wait around like children, we talked about this already, but I don't want to argue Justin. We shouldn't be separating again until the tunnels are finished so everything will be alright. Now, did you find anything up there?", Morcant asked again.
Justin grinded his teeth as his eyebrow twitched and thought, "Do these idiots have a death wish? What's wrong with waiting on me so they can be safe?"
"No, I didn't, we'll have to focus on making this place livable before I can go looking for the spaceport.", said Justin.
"Damn, alright well we're ready to go back to the hilltop. Oh, could you get Churbet? Those fumes are toxic to us you know.", said Morcant.
Justin squinted and said, "Seriously? Do you have a problem with me Morcant? I'm just trying to keep ya'll safe."
Morcant stood up and said, "I appreciate that, I really do, but I'm not a kid. I've been waiting around since you slept last night, and I want to get to work and burry my friends."
"Children please, arguing will get us nowhere. We should focus on the task at hand, something I think we all want to get done.", said Yujark.
Morcant scoffed and Justin made a tsk sound as they dropped the argument. Justin proceeded to enter the fuming cave to get Churburret, who he found a dozen feet deep in a tunnel. There was a stone disk about six inches thick, covered in drilled holes, within a slit on the wall that could be rolled out as a door. Churburret was waving his stalk about more than usual, as if singing to himself.
"Hey Churbet!", Justin yelled.
Churburret jumped backwards spraying acid onto the wall whilst making an furreep sound.
"Churbet you've got to be carefull with that stuff.", Justin said.
"Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought. How was your trip?", Churburret asked.
"Not good, I didn't see the spaceport. Listen the twilight is ending, and the group is ready to go back for the burial and to gather supplies.", said Justin.
Churburret made a fluttery fur sound and said, "I see, so it's time then.", while lowering his stalk.
"Churbet if this is too much for you, you can stay behind.", offered Justin sympathetically.
"Churburret shook his stalk and said, "No, this must be done. I've got to say goodbye to them."
"Alright well stick close to me and I'll try my best to keep you safe.", said Justin.
Churburret nodded and thanked him before the two exited the cave with his spear and the weapons Justin had found yesterday, leaving the door open to allow it to vent. The others were waiting for them, Morcant with his blades extended and empty rifle in hand, Yujark with his bow ready, and Taysass riding him. Tacktay flew up to Justin, and he slung his rifle around to his chest to let her on his back while taking a deep sigh to stay calm. Morcant chuckled at him and Justin flipped him off but was left unsatisfied by a puzzled look on Morcant's face.
Justin tensed up, prepping for a fight, as he saw several colorful figures disappear into the forest, and remained twitchy as the group made their way back to the hilltop.
. . .
Animal noises permeated throughout the forest and swaying canopy as the group neared the spawn point. They were discussing their people's differences again and Justin was glad that Taysass was finally talking, if only a little. A passing group of young Brachiosaurs had calmed the group down, with Taysass laughing at them as they stumbled and ran.
"So Yujark, how old are you? You seem to be sure we're all quite younger than you.", asked Morcant.
"I'm about thirty years old. You, Churbet, and Justin give off a young man vibe, Taysass must be young enough to be fertile, and Tacktay mentioned she was protecting her new queen, meaning they were born recently.", explained Yujark.
"I see, well, I guess you're not wrong.", said Morcant while scratching behind his ear.
"Actually, our females can reproduce for the majority of our lives, but I'm only twenty-three years old. We had just gotten married.", said Taysass before shying away from the group and laying down on Yujark.
"I'm sorry about that Taysass. I'll do my best to protect you and the baby though, ok?", said Justin putting a hand to his chest.
"Mm, we'll all do our best to help each other.", said Yujark.
"Not gunna respond to me huh? That's ok I guess, she must be hurting a lot.", thought Justin.
"So Yujark, that makes me wonder, how long is a year on your world?", asked Justin.
"Hm, aren't they all the same?", Yujark asked.
"No, not even close. For example, my world has days of twenty-four hours, and three hundred and sixty-five days in a year. Also, you were right about me, I'm just over twenty-one years old.", explained Justin.
"Ah, really? Well my worlds days last about as long as this one's, maybe a little shorter, and our year is about six hundred days long.", said Yujark.
"Damn Yujark, how long do your people live? Also, might I ask what color your sun is?", asked Justin.
"I've probably got about ten years left before I'm relegated to a village elder, and blue.", said Yujark.
"I see, I'm sorry to hear that. Oh, and your planet must be further away from your star than mine, making the years last longer.", said Justin.
"Well shit I'm younger than you after all. I'm nineteen and my worlds years and days are a little less than Justin's, but I'm defiantly an adult. We're adults at age sixteen, and Justin, how in the hell do you know about Yujark's world?", asked Morcant.
"Blue stars are larger and brighter, so for the planet to be hospitable, naturally, it would have to be further away than ours. If ya'll would like I could explain solar dynamics, but it could take a while and I'm no expert.", answered Justin.
"Ah that's fine, we're coming up on the valley now. Also, I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier.", said Morcant while scratching his ears.
"It's alright, me too. I just want to keep ya'll safe, I guess I wasn't thinking about how that would make ya'll feel.", said Justin.
"We're here.", said Yujark.
At the edge of the forest the pit Bran was dragged into had been filled with leaves. Only a large red stain on the ground indicated anything had happened there. The skeletons of Taysass'es group were picked clean and littered about not far beyond that. The valley was quiet, full of running leaves and litter, decorated with rotting corpses protruding from the swaying grass. Justin signaled for the group to hold position with his hand and approached the pit.
He stood next to the red stained flowers as he squatted and began to remove leaves. The raptor attack he expected never came as he cleared the pit, finding Bran's corpse and belongings. Justin waved for the group to come over, but they already had without making a sound. Morcant crossed his arms around his belly and took a deep breath.
"Morcant I'm so sorry. I'm going to start clearing the young trees out of that sparse patch in the forest we just passed so we can make a graveyard. Would you like me to help you here first?", asked Justin.
Morcant shook his head, saying, "No, you go ahead."
"Alright guys stick close and yell for me if u see anything, okay?", said Justin.
"We shall.", said Yujark.
"I can fly around the valley and look for danger.", offered Tacktay from Justin's back.
Justin bit his lip and looked away before saying, "Alright, please be safe."
"Understood, but remember I'm a royal guard, you don't have to worry about me so much.", she said before flying off.
"Were it so easy.", said Yujark.
Justin half-grinned and went to the thin patch of forest, not fifty feet from the group. It had less than two dozen young trees growing inside a large radius with a large, flat, glassy rock in the center. Justin assumed a lightning strike had burned a hole in the forest, and it was trying to regrow.
"Fine spot for a cemetery I guess.", he thought.
He took a batting stance and flattened out his arm like a sword before hurling it into the tree. Like he hoped, his arm sliced through most of the young tree and it crashed into the ground, sending the fall leaves into the sky like an exploding firework. He decided on cutting all the trees down before rolling them all aside and chopping up the stumps. Morcant came over to the clearing a few times with Bran's bones and belongings without saying a word, and the rest of the group began bringing more skeletons and items as well. Justin was relieved to see Tacktay back with the group as he finished cutting down the last tree.
He drug and rolled them all into a pile on the side of the clearing facing the mountain before he began chopping away at the stumps and carrying their pieces to the pile. He made frequent stops to check on the group but was able to stop as they remained in the clearing after a load. Churburret quickly dug several graves while Yujark made wooden headstones with the wood Justin had cut. Morcant buried saplings he dug up in front of two graves and pushed large rocks he found to them to be used as headstones, before sitting down and carving into them with his arm blades.
Taysass cried on Yujark while they made the wooden headstones and Churburret had laid down on a pair of graves, hanging his stalk low. As Justin finished the final stump, Tacktay flew over to him and landed.
"I see you and Yujark had no one to bury, that's good news.", she said.
"Yea, did you already finish with yours Tacktay?", Justin asked.
"Mm, my people just use mass graves. I buried their shells near Churburret.", she said.
"I guess that's what they call their exoskeletons. She's pretty detached, but I'm lucky she has any emotion at all, considering she's a bug.", he thought.
"We might want to convince the others to do that with the other bodies we find. It would save a lot of time.", said Justin.
"Why move them at all? I thought we were going to collect resources here and return to the cave.", she said.
"Good point, I worry they'll want to bury the rest, but maybe I can convince them to wait until we're better established.", he said.
"Let's hope.", she said as they walked to the others.
They were all gathered around Taysass, who was still in tears. She had clearly lost more people than the rest of the group, based on the grave count. Justin gave her a few more moments before he spoke.
"Alright guys, we need to loot the valley and go back to the cave so Churbet has time to finish the tunnel.", he said.
"What about all the other bodies?", asked Morcant.
"Once we have ammo and our base is secure, we can worry about that.", said Justin.
"You're kidding, you'd just leave them all there?", asked Morcant.
"Morcant, what do you think that hill is made out of?", asked Justin.
Morcant's eyes widened as his mouth was left agape.
"I'll have to agree with Justin on this kids, we could spend a lifetime trying to sort through that hill. Who will bury us when we die there? We need to focus on surviving.", said Yujark.
Churburret nodded and Tacktay buzzed in approval.
"Morcant sighed and said, "Alright, well I would still like to say a few things before we leave. I just finished these graves."
Justin nodded through a full body shiver as Tacktay crawled up his legs and rested on his back. Morcant walked over to his two graves and began whispering to them. Churburret walked up to Justin and put his large eye right up to his face.
"Justin, um, our people usually incorporate our dead into the mind. Do you think maybe, somehow, they'll still make it to it?", Churburret asked.
"Shit they obviously don't, but should I really say that?", Justin thought.
"Do they need a physical connection to do so?", he asked.
"Well, yes.", answered Churburret, hanging his stalk low.
"Well, don't give up Churburret, Tute doesn't seem very wasteful to me, considering he can bring dead people here, he probably stores them after they die here or…", explained Justin before he was interrupted.
"Or their souls are tormented here forever, again and again.", said Yujark.
"So, they could be alive somewhere?", asked Taysass.
"It's possible, we won't know until we take over the sphere.", said Justin.
Morcant returned to them and asked, "Does anyone else have anything to say before we leave?"
The group shared some uneasy glances before Yujark spoke. The wind and animals stopped howling and screeching for a moment and the whole world grew quiet as if to hear his words. He held his head down in prayer.
"Oh, great spirits which watch over these peoples, Kettans, Sheeken-eure, Lacerti, your children are lost here, and we ask that you return them to where they belong, so that they may rest, or start anew. If they are truly bound to this grand world, Quidvis, then please grant us and them good fortune, as we journey to find this spaceport and return home with our people.", he said.
Morcant clenched his fists and grumbled, "Agreed.", before walking towards the valley.
Justin and the group followed him, but Taysass stopped him.
"Um, Justin.", she said.
He tilted his head.
"Um, I'm sorry about what I said yesterday, about you being… something you're clearly not.", she said.
"Mm, it's alright. I know this is a very tough time for ya'll, and I'll do my best to help.", he said.
"You said yesterday that you made a promise to Melus, so, could you please help me? I want to have his baby and live on somehow, but I'm so lost without him.", she said.
"Taysass, I can never replace him, but I promise I will do anything to keep all of you safe, okay?", said Justin with a half grin, trying to cheer her up.
"Thank you.", she mumbled while looking down and twiddling her thumbs.
"Kids let's get moving.", Yujark called out to them.
Justin and Taysass sprinted to catch up to the group, who were gathering equipment where Taysass'es family had died. They moved piles of armor and weapons to where Bran had died until the spot had been cleared.
"Eh, maybe we should split up, this could take days.", suggested Morcant.
"Well, that would increase the risk we're taking.", said Justin.
"I've got to agree with Morcant here Justin. Why don't you go alone so you can run at full speed, and we'll stick together to be safe. I don't mean to be rude, just seems like a fair compromise. Tacktay can fly to watch for danger, and we can yell for you if we see anything.", said Yujark.
Justin rubbed his forehead, knowing Yujark was right, before saying, "Alright, let's meet up here before the left side of the slit reaches the center of the sun, or the end of midday, and I plan on checking up on you guys frequently."
"Sounds good, we'll try our best to be safe and quick, so you do the same.", said Yujark.
"We'll be fine, try to relax.", said Morcant.
"I wish I could.", mumbled Justin.
"How about we make this more interesting. We'll make two piles, whichever group finds the best stuff wins.", said Morcant with a smile.
"Kids, we shouldn't lose sight of what's important here.", said Yujark before Justin interrupted him.
"You're on!", exclaimed Justin before turning and hightailing it around the valley.
Justin broke into a run and began thinking, "He must already know where something good is, but I've got my speed. I'll do a few circles and leave some markings where there's good loot, and I can stop if I find something really good like rifles."
"Does turning this into a game really make you feel better?", he asked himself.
"Mm, definitely.", he thought without hesitation.
He made a circle around the outside of the valley within just two minutes, waving to Morcant as he passed them. They were gathering rifles from a group of Kettans, and Taysass was riding Yujark again.
"Must be the spot he knew of, I'm sure I can find something better than that. Although I suppose I haven't found anything yet.", he thought.
Justin continued circling the valley for around half an hour before he found what he was looking for. He came across a group of three skeletons wearing tattered American army uniforms. He began to sort through it, realizing he had found the motherload. They all had weapons, gadgets, clothes and utilities, including three rifles and ammo. Their armored clothing was torn, but he figured Yujark could mend it later. He changed out his double magazine on the rifle he was carrying for one of the single mags he found, before wrapping up all the supplies in a blanket he had found during his circling.
"Alright I'll take all this to the drop off and then bring some to Morcant and the others, so they can have these rifles.", he thought as he ran around the valley.
He made it to the piles they had made, noticing Morcant's was quite larger than his, but it lacked any rifles or ammo. He smiled, knowing he had won their game. He set down the supplies and loaded the rifles before putting the three extra mags in his pants and carrying the rifles. Morcant and the others were to his right, just a few hundred feet away. He started walking to them, but noticed they weren't moving.
Morcant took out his lever action rifle and began shooting into the forest behind the hill. The group ran towards the hilltop and Tacktay flew to Justin.
"What the hell's going on? Why run for the hilltop instead of to me? Tacktay knows where I am, the others must as well.", he thought while running full speed towards them.
Tacktay reached him as they made halfway to the hilltop and kept up with him as he tore through the ground, approaching forty miles an hour.
"The hell is he doing? Every carnivore within ten miles could have heard that and been told it's dinner time.", yelled Justin.
"There are dozens of raptors coming from the trees, Morcant said it would be better to fight at the hilltop. Also, I think that red one from yesterday is leading them.", Tacktay said.
"You've got to be kidding me, is it their leader or something?", he thought.
. . .
"Sorry if that wasn't as good as you're used to, it was my first time.", said Yellow as he finished urinating behind a tree.
"Well actually that was my first time too, I wasn't the alpha female in our nest. Also, you shouldn't worry about that, Brown sure wasn't lying about you earlier.", said Green Runner.
"Ah, sorry about her, she's always been rather protective of me for some reason.", said Yellow while tidying up their sleeping area.
"That reminds me, I've never seen an Alpha treat an Omega like you the way he does. Why is that?", she asked.
"Because my ideas are creative, intelligent, and have a record of success.", answered Yellow confidently.
"Alright hunters let's go, we've got target!", Brown's voice echoed throughout the nesting ground.
"I hope I can see firsthand soon.", said Green Runner as they ran to the gathering place.
Nearly all forty of the hunters had gathered, much more than usual. Yellow surveyed the crowd and noticed less than twelve were being left behind.
"Just what is Red thinking leaving the nest under guarded? That was never a part of my plan.", he thought.
"Ah Yellow, glad to see you. How are you two doing?", asked Red as he entered the center of the circle the crowd had made with Brown.
"Well.", answered Green Runner.
"Good to hear. How is everyone doing?", Red asked with a raised voice.
The crowd snarled and stomped their feet.
"Are we liking our new nest?", he asked the crowd again.
Again, they stomped their feet in approval.
"I see he's speaking in the manner I suggested. Ours not mine.", thought Yellow.
"Wonderful! With our improved birth rate, moral, and tactics we will conquer the entire forest!", he yelled to the crowd.
The crowd hissed and stomped their feet once more until Brown hushed them with a loud snarling chomp.
"While I would like to go about killing and subjugating the other nests, we already know we can do that with ease. Which is why we must first take down the shiny prey and his pack. They're a strong, mysterious force, and should be dealt with first. Our scouts have returned with news that it is returning to the feasting ground with its pack. This is the perfect opportunity for us to train there and take down the beast. Now I want you to all form groups of about five or six and follow me. Green Runner and Yellow will lead with me and Brown.", Red addressed the crowd.
"I see, he want's my incite if the shiny prey does something unusual, and Green Runner is my body guard, so he can focus.", thought Yellow.
"Now, who's hungry?", Red asked the crowd.
Again, they stomped their feet and hissed into the air before forming their hunting packs and following Red's lead towards the feasting grounds.
"Alright Yellow this is it. You've been waiting your whole life for this opportunity. It's time to shine.", he thought as he ran.
. . .
"Morcant, is everyone ok?", asked Justin as he and Tacktay made it to the hilltop.
"Yea, for now. I don't think I can fire this thing fast enough to kill them all.", said Morcant while firing his lever action rifle.
Six packs of raptors were fast approaching them from the valley side of the forest, darting about as Morcant fired on them.
"How in the hell did these things learn how to serpentine?", thought Justin.
Here, Morcant, Taysass take these.", Justin said while giving them two of the loaded rifles he found.
"Nice I love these things.", said Morcant.
"Time your shots, they've only got one clip.", said Justin.
"Oh, give me the extra one!", said Churburret.
"I don't know if you can use this, I already feel bad asking Taysass to.", said Justin as the three of them fired their rifles down the valley.
"My feet are strong, let me try.", Churburret insisted.
Justin tossed him the other rifle and said, "Careful with the recoil."
"Alright form a line, Yujark cover our rear, Tacktay dive bomb them from their backs but don't get to close, everyone, form a circle when they get close.", instructed Justin.
Tacktay began circling above them, reminding Justin of an AC130 as they fired at the raptors. Despite Justin's improved accuracy the raptors were darting about and closing fast, and they were only able to get a few hits in before the raptors encircled them. Justin and the others formed a tight circle as the raptors ran in a circle around them, waiting for an opening. This gave Justin and the others an easier shot however and they began to shoot them down, one at a time. The others seemed to be handling their rifles well and were placing shots of their own. He could hear the raptors making quiet sounds to each other as he found the Red one from the day prior.
. . .
"What now Yellow, they've got too big of a circle.", asked Red.
"Dirt time.", said Yellow with a smile.
"Alright everyone dirt time! Pass the word down, remember what we talked about on the way here.", yelled Red.
The entire circle of packs acted in unison as they tore up the dirt with their feet and hands, launching it into the air and creating a layer of dust between them and their prey.
"This is amazing. We can slowly get closer to them, and they aren't using their loud tools anymore.", said Green Runner from in front of Yellow.
"I've wanted to try this for years, I knew it would render their tools useless. See? That shiny prey is nothing without his tools.", said Yellow as they ran.
"It hits harder than the big horned ones, just remember what else we talked about, I want to kill it.", she said.
. . .
"Shit we can't shoot them if we can barely see them.", thought Justin
"Wait remember those night vision goggles on we found earlier?", he asked himself.
"That's crazy!", he yelled to himself.
"Just try it!", he insisted.
"Oh, Jesus I hope this works. Nanobots, activate heat vision!", he yelled in his head.
The world burst into a flow of blues, greens, reds, and yellows. Justin could clearly see the raptors through their dust now, inching towards them. He smiled and began slowly firing on them, one by one.
"I can see them, everyone, hold tight and save your ammo.", Justin yelled to his group.
"One, headshot, two, headshot, oh a triple baby!", he thought as he mowed them down.
. . .
"Yellow, this isn't working, one of them is still killing us, we've lost eight!", yelled Red.
"Damn that thing.", mumbled Green Runner.
"Alright then, let's dive in! Everyone grab some dirt and use it when you dodge!", Yellow yelled.
Word passed down the circle and they waited for Red to give the signal.
. . .
Justin aimed for another shot but suddenly the raptors all burst through their dust cloud and rushed towards them. There were still over two dozen left and Justin didn't think he'd have time to shoot them all. He aimed for one, but it threw dirt into the air and dodged as he shot.
"Dammit we're toast!", he thought.
"Everyone spray and prey, mow them down!", he yelled.
Justin and the others rapidly unloaded their clips into the enemy, killing over a dozen of them. Tacktay flew onto one from behind and pierced its neck, killing it, before leaping back into the air. Yujark began firing three arrows at a time to increase his spread. As the team ran out of ammo and the raptor pack was cut in half, they ducked and began to retreat, with the exception of one.
A large green raptor leapt towards Justin, claws open and ready to strike. He smiled and readied his fist to swing, knowing he would kill it with ease. Just before it latched onto him Morcant suddenly tackled it to the ground. His blades were extended from the front of his arm boxes and he tried to stab its head, but the raptor turned its head and bit his forearm box, with some of its teeth piercing his flesh.
"Fuck you!", Morcant screamed.
He held down the beast's legs with his own and caught its right arm with the back blade of his left arm while it was being bitten. With his free arm he stabbed down and cut off the other arm of the raptor. It released its bite on him as it riled in pain and Justin pulled Morcant off the beast by his shirt as blood sprayed onto them both from the flailing raptor.
"Morcant what's wrong with you? Their bite could be septic! Get back to the circle!", yelled Justin.
"That's the one! That's the one that killed Bran!", Morcant screamed while trying to push past Justin.
Justin looked around and saw the raptors retreating towards where they came from, he sighed and looked back to the green raptor on the ground. As he held back Morcant with one arm he readied to kill the beast with the other when a yellow raptor suddenly slammed into his chest with a headbutt.
"Huh?", he thought.
The yellow raptor tumbled to the ground and was promptly kicked by the green one before they both rolled a few feet and began to run away with the others. The green raptor took hold of one of its dead companions with its mouth and dragged it with them as they ran. Yujark and the others came over to Justin and Morcant, apparently, they were all out of ammo.
"Get back here and die!", screamed Morcant as Justin held him back.
"Morcant calm down! Were out of ammo and they're gone.", said Justin.
"Fuck you! Get out of my way! That thing killed Bran!", Morcant spat out as tears ran down his bright red face.
"Morcant it's just an animal.", said Justin in a calm voice.
"I hate you. Why didn't you save them, why couldn't you save them?", Morcant whimpered as he stopped struggling.
"Morcant I'm sorry. I'm trying my best here.", Justin said in a cracked voice.
"He's not talking about you Justin.", Yujark said.
Morcant knelt down, took off his arm box, and tightly wrapped his wounded arm in his shirt.
"They were my best friends, why couldn't I save them?", he cried while shaking.
"Oh Morcant.", said Justin as he forcefully hugged him.
"Get off me freak.", Morcant whined as he struggled.
"I'm so sorry Morcant. I promise, once we get established and safe, we can hunt those things down together okay?", Justin promised.
Morcant stopped struggling and looked up to Justin.
"Really? You guys would do that for me?", he asked while still shaking.
Morcant looked around at the group, who all nodded to him in support.
"We want those things dead to you know.", said Taysass.
"Come on buddy, let's get you on your feet and back to base.", said Justin as they stood up.
Morcant kept his head down as he punched Justin in the chest with his wounded arm. He cried out in pain and held his knuckles.
"Shit are you made of metal?", he cried out.
"Morcant what the hell?", Justin asked, having felt nothing from the blow.
Morcant placed his other fist back onto Justin's chest and said, "Thanks for the help."
"Mm are we cool?", asked Justin.
"Yea bud were cool.", said Morcant, looking up to Justin.
"Kids we need to get moving.", said Yujark.
"I'm okay. Let's finish scavenging.", said Morcant.
"Morcant your arm is cut up, we should clean it and head home.", said Justin.
"We found a box of ammo we think will fit your peoples, rifles, and some other things.", said Churburret.
"We should take what we have and come back another day.", said Yujark.
"Agreed.", said Justin.
The group shared nods as Morcant loudly sighed and winced in pain. They walked to where the group was scavenging last to collect what they found.
"Great job everyone, ya'll did really well, especially you Tacktay, you like, kamikazed that raptor.", said Justin as they walked.
"Understood, thank you.", she said.
The group laughed together as she asked them what was so funny.
. . .
"We're lucky we got the bleeding to stop.", said Yellow as he and Green Runner waited for Red to address their nest.
Green Runner snarled and pinned him to the ground with her good arm and mouth.
"Don't think this makes you stronger than me.", she said.
"Right, sorry.", he whimpered.
She got off him and mumbled, "But thanks for saving me."
Yellow smiled and thought, "It's nice to be appreciated for a change."
"Alright everyone.", said Red as he and Brown entered the center of the crowd.
"That was quite a loss we took, but Yellow's tactics were working great despite that thing's presence. Let's eat and rest, and before the twilight ends, we can subjugate another nest.", declared Red.
"Ah I'm so glad he feels that way. He wasn't lying about that shiny prey, it's not natural.", he thought.
"Half of us are dead and now you want to fight again?", asked a member of the crowd.
Brown snarled at him.
"Now, now everyone. I know we took a heavy hit, but that's only because of the shiny one. We can subjugate another nest with ease. We'll leave that thing alone for now and grow our numbers. If anyone is still having doubts, how's this? If there is an excess of females, all those who fight can take the extras as well as the one they already receive!", Red addressed the crowd.
The crowd chomped, snarled, and pounded their feet into the ground in approval.
"What about the shiny prey? I still want to kill it.", Green Runner spoke up.
"She's got a point. It's just as dangerous as a big horned one. Wait, that gives me an idea.", he thought.
"I've got an idea. It will just take a few skilled scouts and they won't even have to fight.", said Yellow.
"Alright then Yellow, you can lead this team.", Red said.
"Huh, lead it? Is he serios?", he thought.
"Now, what's this new plan of yours? We're all dying to hear it.", Red said with a crooked smile.