Horns ✖

Memories [Pt. 3]

"You've called for us, Greyfang. Now speak."

Axel, Tooth's Tyrannosaurus father (now a widow of his prior mate) stepped into the open plainlands of a golden field, gazing down at the tiny raptor before him: Greyfang. The massive behemoth was surrounded by rexes of all sizes, one of those being Drurk, all surrounding him with the intent of protection. It scared the little raptor for a moment, but he summoned up enough courage to speak over his growing worries.

"I need you to do something for me."

"For you?" Axel snorted in amusement. "What favor is more important than interrupting our hunt. Besides, we act on the orders of a leader, not assistants. Where's Jupitar?"

"Dead."

The carnivore's jaws gaped open in surprise. Greyfang bowed his head, miserably, and snarled.

"Killed... by, who I now declare, the very same monster that slayed your mate a couple seasons ago."

Axel looked around at his startled pack, then turned back to the raptor, flaring his nostrils out wide in annoyance.

"You seek us to kill the three-horn responsible. Is that it?"

"The 'bastard' took my hatchlings, my pack leader, and several other raptors -- friends of 'MY' PRIDE!" he snarled, then shook his head. "But no. I don't wish to kill him. I want you to 'break' him for what he's done."

"Break him?"

"Killing a murderer won't bring satisfaction to me, dear sharptooth," the raptor hissed again. "That'll only grant him the wish of being spared a delicious punishment."

"Then why summon us?" Drurk intervened with his leader, baring his teeth. "What is it you wish from a pack of rexes that you cannot do yourselves?"

"I hear you're on the search for the next best meal. With the cold times coming, food will become scarce. Now, our pack has been overturned by the greedy yellow trike, enough that we, too, are starving. So, I offer you his herd-" he licked his lips menacingly. "Ripe for the taking. And, after you rip away his precious heart... I offer you his head."

Axel lifted his head, thinking for a moment. His eyes sought the ground for a type of conjunction to this, and his earholes rippled, listening in to the mild whispers of other rexes, conversing on their own. Axel's eyes returned back to the creature ahead of him, and he lowered his eyes to him, ensuring his word was met.

"Is he truly the one who killed my Starlight?"

Greyfang nodded proudly. Axel's eyes twitched, and a dark, sinister growl rippled from his throat. He eyed his horde for a moment, then hissed with anger.

"You have a deal, Greyfang."

"Take them by the midnight hour," Greyfang snarled. "As for the trike... he's all yours..."

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Truth be told, I was too lost to be saved.

Too miserable to be happy.

Too angry to feel remorse.

And as the raptor blood trickled down my jugged chin, I was starting to feel less like myself, and more like my very fears and nightmares. For some strange reason, I seemed to care less about what I was doing, until it was too late. It was enough of a risk to make Livia turn twice in her grave. But I didn't care.