ŚÚŔVĨVĂĹ ŐŦ ŤĤĔ ŦĨŤŤĔŚŤ

[Wolfstar]

(This is why I don't go back and fix my posts.)

His pace picked up as he went, making sure he didn't step on any stray twigs or dry leaves. The raptor crossed a stream and jumped over a bramble bush. For him, it's been awhile since he walked the forest floor. Thoughts about what resided on the path he took, the idea of carcasses, large or small, seemed to be what crossed his mind the most. With a shake of his head, he continued on before disappearing in, what seems to be, a ruined building.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

The two raptors, unfamiliar with this land as they were, kept close behind to avoid getting lost. Tarka wasn't a strong jumper and had to slow down a few times to avoid obstacles, but she never lagged far behind. The two of them hesitated when they approached the building, cautious about the odd structure in the middle of no where, but they entered nonetheless.

[Wolfstar]

"Starved won't come here. They used to, but when I dropped part of the structure onto a group of them, they scattered. Make yourself at home, as best as you two can anyway," he leaped onto a broken, metal lift. He hooked his claws so he wouldn't slip off, and climbed higher. "Ask away if you need anything, like food or answers."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

"Answers would be nice, they're the reason we came out here in the first place," Aekan responded, watching the furry raptor climb. Tarka sat down as far away from the entrance as she could get, meanwhile, and her eyes flitted around constantly. "We heard news that the Starved have been attacking raptors lately and are planning to murder the two pack leaders. Know anything about it?"

[Wolfstar]

The raptor made no noise on the upper level, a few moments later, a thump and a rapid pitter-patter footsteps. He leapt down with a couple of rats and mice. "The packs? I know about them. I was there when they were formed. The Starved here where the cause of the packs, when they didn't want raptors that could change their whole view. Knowing about the Starved attacking the packs? I've heard about it, heck, I've seen them drag raptors back here, alive."

He set the prey down on a patch of moss and leaves. "Eat what you like. There's herbs growing in the next room," he motioned to an opened doorway. "Use it to your fullest healer, I haven't used it since I received the scar on my shoulders."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Aekan looked at the raptor, seeming quite surprised. "Oh. You've seen a lot," he murmured, looking over his shoulder at Tarka as she went off to examine the herbs. Next, he said, "Could you tell me more? I feel like I don't understand everything quite right. And have they really dragged live raptors back? Are they taking them somewhere?" He looked down at the prey and took his pick, chewing on it while he talked.

[Wolfstar]

"They took them back to their camp, where they're located, no idea. They're camp is a cavern that's hidden among brambles and vines. They're alive, since I haven't heard any screams from there," he went over to a berry bush and looked it over. "The main reason, I believe anyway, that they're attacking the packs, is because they were pushed from it. Starved raptors created their own pack when they believed they had nothing left. Similar to how I lived at the beginning..."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Aekan listened closely, absorbing the information. "Okay, I see. So why were they pushed from the packs in the first place?" He sat in a more comfortable position, keeping his eye on the raptor. With each question answered it seemed two more were bound to surface, and as much as the situation was gnawing at his nerves, it piqued his interest.

[Wolfstar]

"They were different than what the raptors excepted. Two packs, one with feathers while the other didn't, there was suppose to be more packs. Many raptors had fins, some had a scale-less, yet smooth body, then there was the ones with fur, like me." He nodded once he finished checking the bush and walked over to Aekan, sitting in front of him about a tail-length away. "Us furred raptors were rejected the most, and were attacked. I made sure that the rest of the furred raptors were spared of their claws and we ran here. A couple of days later, the finned and sleek bodied ones came into this forest, the ones we took shelter in. I watched as my furred kind attacked them, no hesitation. A few of them survived the attacks, but were taken in only to be used as a tool. Your packs hated change, either in appearance or ideas.

"They grew with hatred for the packs, and they lost their minds in this forest. It's dark, and we can't see the light. I've isolated myself from them, knowing that I wouldn't live long if I lived among them. I know who leads these Starved, and she knows me. They leave me alone, I leave them alone. That's how its been for years, and I'm out of the way of your packs problem."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Aekan could hardly believe what he was hearing. "So, let me get this straight. The starved were formed because neither of the other packs would let them in? I don't get it. What's the big deal? To be honest, I'm not even sure why we rival the feather-heads sometimes..." He sighed. "Feathers and fur and fins are equally weird, I think," he muttered, finishing his meal. "Wait, you said you knew the leader of the Starved?" He sat up straight, surprised.

Tarka was startled by a bee and made a squeaky sound.

[Wolfstar]

"Of course I do!" He snapped, looking down to examine his webbed hands. "She's a mix between furred and finned, and knows how to control the Starved. She was also, one of the first few that hatched, meaning she knows Viridian, Quetzal, and me. We all know each other, Viri and Quet were the ones who told us to leave, though they had no choice. Everyone except those two wanted us gone, and the leader of the Starved knows that, but her...pack-mates want revenge." He turned to look at the entrance to where the herbs grew, hearing a faint squeak. "Are you alright in there?" he called.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Tarka skittered into the room, backing away slowly. "I don't like bugs," she murmured, looking around to see if the fuzzy insect had left yet.

Aekan snorted, annoyed that he'd been assigned such a pitiful partner on this dangerous job. Then he looked at the raptor again. "Oh, so you all know each other, huh? Right." He looked up. "What am i supposed to report to Viridian? I haven't learned anything regarding the assassination plot..."

[Wolfstar]

The raptor was amused by this, yet didn't show it. "I know what you meet, bugs are nasty little critters. There aren't any bug nests in there, checked myself, so the only bugs that go are flies and bees. You'll be safe Healer." He turned back to Aekan. "Talk to the leader of the Starved. I can go to her camp freely, and everyone in the caves knows that. Although, they do attack me outside of the cave, like in the forest. I am allowed to defend myself against her," he thought for a moment before nodding. "I can go straight there, ask for a meeting with her, and come back and take you straight there. She's smart, and she doesn't want this to happen either. She does what is best and what her pack-mates want."

He turned back to Tarka, "Are you alright with that? You don't like being here, I can see that, but can you be strong enough to go to their base and back here? No one will attack you, I promise you that."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Aekan nodded eagerly in response to the proposed plan. "Yes, that sounds perfect. Thank you." Then he looked sternly at Tarka, silently telling her to agree.
Tarka jumped a little, and hesitated for a long time. "I-It sounds like such a frightening place... But I'll try to be strong," she said in a small voice, trying her best to keep her head high.

[Wolfstar]

"How soon would you like to meet her?" He asked, switching his gaze between Aekan and Tarka.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

"As soon as possible," Aekan answered promptly, feeling like if they waited too long, something bad might occur. "However, I think we're both tired and shaken from earlier, so a full rest should be priority. Is that all right with you?"

[Wolfstar]

"It's fine by me. You're guests here, and prey out there. I wouldn't know how the two of you would actually sleep here," he stood and stretched his limbs. "While you rest, I'll arrange a meeting with her. She's called Avana, by the way. Take care, and I suggest to not leave here, not that you have much of a choice." Then he turned to Aekan once more. "What are you going to call me anyway? Even if I don't have a name, you deserve to call me something at the very least."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

"Right, it would be nice to be able to call you something," Aekan agreed, still finding it odd that the raptor had no name. He looked him up and down as he thought of a suitable nickname. "You have webbed paws, how about we call you 'Web'?"
Tarka looked up from where she was sorting her new herb collection and chuckled a little. "That's a little pitiful." Aekan hissed at her like a grumpy cat.

[Wolfstar]

"Then what do you suggest, healer?" The raptor asked, agreeing that 'Web' did sound pitiful. He remembered all the names he had been called, mostly curses, but names nonetheless.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Tarka thought for a few minutes. "Hmm. You remind me of a bush of cotton lavender. Your pelt is like the leaves, and your eyes are like the santolina blossoms that sprout from them in the summer. So, why don't we name you Santolin?" An unusual name, but coming from the plant-loving healer, it wasn't that odd. Aekan snorted, he disliked the feeling of being so effectively one-upped.