Endangered Quatzols Astorlandstories Volume 2

4. Raptahs! ("Raptoren!")

A loud call  echoed through the terrain. The raptors were approaching quickly. A quatzol had no chance against these killer lizards while on the ground. Maybe flying ... Ajuj really wished she could just take off the ground like her parents. All they ever did was gliding down a hill or sometimes they jumped down of her parents' back from a low height. But they have never been strong enough to fly really. She took a look around. What should they do? There was no use standing still. "Back in here", the young quatzol whispered quietly. Kyloths feathered face turned towards her, she could see the fear emerging in his greenish eyes. She gently bumped him and both of them landed in the bushes. Red long berries were proudly growing on it, she really liked the taste of rosehips, but the bushes never had enough for her. By now she should have realized that roses had thorns, and one of these repulsive creeps just had fun drilling into her wing. She really had to pull herself together not to shriek in pain. Despite all the pain they cowered on the ground beneath the bushes. 

The noise increased in volume, they were communicating and they were close. She was worried. Kyloth probably was perfectly hidden with his green feathers, but as a sky blue quatzol, even a blindworm would be able to see her. She really hoped the raptor walking by would spontaneously blind, but it seemed quite unlikely. The green patterned brown raptor, which resembled a Velociraptor she once saw from a distance, stopped, scenting the ground. Could he smell them? The lizard calmly walked to the spot where Ajuj was. Slightly confused but amused he watched the sparkling of the glass-covered ground. They seem not only to please her eyes, she thought. Hopefully they will keep him distracted enough... As if he heard it, the two-legged started scenting again, walking towards the rock. He quickly realized he was following the track  into the wrong direction. He puffed silently and turned around. He froze up.

 There really were two oversized birds stuck in the bushes! He was pretty saturated, but that view made him peckish. Who would say 'no' to a small dessert? He almost started laughing, watching the two bird creatures trying to get free. He slowly and proudly strutted forward without losing sight of the witty act. Carefully his sickle claw packed hind legs went into a trot. Two steps away he was from his prey, a prey just for him alone. His pack was still continuing its path. A last step, he could already taste the blood. He rose majestically into the air, bending one leg like a flamingo on its search for crayfish, his other leg still bound to the ground. Slowly the sickle claw of his airborne foot went up, ready to tear its prey with razor-sharp violence. His legs stopped midair, right before quickly moving towards the terrified quatzols. It was over for them. Only a few inches separated Kyloths body from the hunters sharp weapons. They were trapped. Trapped in a rosebush.

The blow sent him further flying through the bush. He grounded hard, the raptor kept stuck to his neck, screaming in murder. His maw was widely opened, presenting uncountable sharp-edged teeth. His enormous weight kept the creature pressed down, his teeth drilling into the neck of the Quatzol screaming in fear. Blood kept running down. The raptor let go and went a few steps. A shrill cry of pain echoed through the area. In panic he jumped across the meadow drawing a bloodstain behind him. A piece of glass went into his foot and started to crawl deeper into the reptiles flesh. Ajuj freed herself from the evil claws of the rosebush, looking at the motionless body of her friend. She was dazed. She recovered her dream. Was it true? Was her father in his place? She was confused, still staring at the feathered body.

Did he move? Did Kyloth move? The raptor laid down in pain. It was not easy to get rid of the fragment, as he was not able to reach his foot despite his mobility. Kyloth stretched his head. Everything around him seemed red, his head throbbed, he must have been unconscious. As if he had been eating to many fermented fruits everything was turning around him. His environment slowly faded away. He followed the orders in his brain telling him "Run!" and "Come along!". He was running. He forgot where to. Everything was turning around him. His head kept pulsating drowning all other sounds. He heard somebody heavily breathing. The raptor? Himself? He was running. A shrill scream passed his head. Ajuj? Where was she anyways? Was the raptor after  her? He was running. It was dark around him. He got used to it. Maybe the raptor. Or him. Knock. It got faster. Louder. He was running. He felt pain in his leg. Did he got him? Did he stumble? Knock. Still turning. A tear ran down his cheek. Warm. Knock. It annoyed him. Knock. It had to stop.

It stopped. Silence. The ground was abruptly torn apart below him. He was right in between the two halves. Ground to the left - to the right. In the middle... There was nothing in the middle. Was he flying? Falling? An eternal fall into the nothingness...

"Kyloth! Wake up"!

"Kyloth, please wake up!"

"Kyloth, don't leave me! Please don't!"