When I heard how young he was I laughed a bit and everything made sense now. "I'm 7 years old soon to be 8 after this wet season ends. I've seen 8 wet seasons, this will be my ninth wet season," I said with a chuckle "I am twice your age, and I have twice as much experience then you," I teased him. "but that also means I saw the sickness that you are talking about come and go," I added giving him a serious look.

"The sickness hit when I was about 3, so it was before you were born but it disappeared about 2 wet seasons ago. that was when it was at its worst though. so your mother was probably only telling you what was happening as the populations of prey were at their worst. It was hard to find food and that was when all the other dinosaurs crossed the river to find more prey." I explained then paused and let out a huff. "Saying all this makes me feel like I'm old when I'm not even 10 yet." I complained "I still have around 21 wet seasons to go," I said with a pout. I still stood in the entrance to my cave so I wasn't getting wet, I watched his reaction to everything I said. I guess it was probably a lot to process.

Todd was shocked.

He hadnt really realized how much older te female was and it was a bit of a releife in a way knowing he was in safe and capable hands. He had listened and now he unstood why most carnivores now have this.. drive and pickiness he hadnt really understood.

They did not want to eat the sick.

-

"I had heard that the sickness was because of the shortage of food, they started eating certain mushrooms that grew far from here. Made them go.. blood thirsty. That place is now riddled with death."

His body shuddered at the thought of such horros but honestly he was glad he was young. He did not have witness such events.

-

"In 9 wet seasons and you have not mothered a clutch? How is that possible, I would have assumed males were eager for any type of lady.. I guess that can be the annoying part too."

He chuckled slightly. He had watched males of all ages and builds just tear eachother apart for a females attention and by the time she took interest the bleeding would have taken them out. Or they would be too crippled to father their young.

"But you have breifly said that you have protected younger juviniles in need, what have they been? Why did you protect them, I mean.. its either can be prey or a carnivore that is just gonna see you again and.. attack will it not?"

-

I laughed when he started spilling questions and I listened to all of them before I answered. It was entertaining.

"I have not found a mate nor mother a clutch for almost the exact reason. But over time as I gathered all these scars males didn't exactly see me as desirable anymore. Mainly because it looked like I could defeat them and could simply handle myself. Which I can understand, but it gets tiring after protecting yourself and a hatchling or two here and there that aren't even yours alone." I explained.

"That leads to another question, I normally only raise prey that is smaller and easier to catch in the future. if I'm lucky the remember me and the kill isn't a problem. Sure it's brutal but when you live alone as long as I have you learn some things. Now when it comes to the larger carnivores, that is a different story." I said as I recognized a brightly colored pack headed this way. Immediately I trotted out of the cave again and past Todd. "This is one of the main reasons," I said as I stood a good 40 feet away from Todd, a pack of velociraptors appeared from the trees. They ran at me but with welcoming calls, I sat down to where they all could show affection and I returned it. "Unfortunately they can't understand me and only the simple noises, but I raised the leader of this group and he taught all of them that I was a friend. around this time of year, they have yearlings who are just now learning how to hunt," I explained as a couple of yearlings appeared from behind the trees with a couple more raptors following behind them. "Every year they come and show their offspring to me," I said excitedly and the raptor I raised appeared out of the grass. He ran up to me and nuzzled my face, the size difference between us was immense. I carefully stood up and walked over to Todd and nuzzled his head a bit so they knew he wasn't a foe. I glanced to see his reaction to the small show of affection I did. I sat down again but next to where Todd stood.

Todd had listened carefully and when she had walked past him and the slim figures trotted out of the forest Todd felt his heart skip a beat or three. His initail reaction was to hide or something.. but once he saw the affectionate nature and her reasoning he felt maybe a little more at ease.

Todd realized it as a family and they were showing Night what they had created, like a adolencent showing its parent their first kill.

-

Todd watched as Night appraoched him and when she nuzzled Todd's face he pinned his eyes shut, accepting her touch but the way he was scrunching his nose was an indication he was not at all expecting it, none the less from her But the way the velociraptors were staring him down made all the more sense on why she showed the affection.

-

"So.. they see you as an elder.. or like a wise protector?"

He muttered as he lowered his head to her height.

“Yeah, they see me as an elder. Sometimes when they hunt they will run over and bring me some of their kills. Sometimes I even hunt with them, it isn’t hard for me to keep up.” I explained as the alpha came up to me cautiously and purred. I hummed back, it’s was more of a deeper grumble though. I watched them run off, probably to go hunt or scavenge. I stayed sitting on the ground as they ran off. I was actually quite comfortable sitting next to Todd while he stood. I realized it would still be a learning process with him since he was so much younger than me.

I let out a content sigh, having a young mate was better than none. I was worried though, because I saw a couple older males stalking along the edge of the river as if they were going to try and cross. It was almost as if they knew there were more female than males on this side of the river. I did end up mothering a clutch this season an older male might challenge Todd. If they won then they would destroy the eggs or kill the hatchlings.

“Todd how good are you at fighting other Alios?” I asked him out of nowhere.

Todd knew exactly where this was going.

He huffed as they left but this left a path right where two other male Alios were watching carefully. Their eyes drifted from Night to Todd and then back again.

"Youll have to decide for yourself."

He said quietly.

He knew it wasnt the males decision but hed really hoped he could try and persuade these two to leave.

-

He had no idea the interest Night had on Todd, he was not aware of any kind of feelings and he supposed maybe Night just didnt want Todd to get threatened by other unknowing males.

The males started to make their way slowly to the two, interest and excitement in their step.

One made a cooing sound, like a call to Night to ask her to join them. The first one to step into the light had no scars. He was young, lile Todd and seemed just as inexperienced. Todd knew this Alio, he had fought over carcusses and hunts with him when they were just learning. Then the second emerged.

Older. 5-6 years and had scars along his face. He was larger and seemed more of a fit for Night then Todd. But no matter what Todd was gonna do as Night asked. But by the way she had asked she didnt seem all that interested in them. He stepped infront of her and stood tall, tail lashing from side to side.

Both of them stopped in their tracks, examining the white protestor.

-

"Move, Kid."

The other one barked, raising his lips to show teeth covered in blood. They must have just eaten, which means they had most likely less energy. Kills, even babys can be tiring to an extent.

Todd inhaled and exhaled all the fear he had and with more confidence then he probably should have stepped forward.

"This lady isnt interested in fools. Move along there are plenty more potential mates to sway.. even with an ugly mug like yours."

Todd snapped.

He was annoyed, he didnt want any other males making Night uncomfortable with their ego and most certainly dominating personality.

"You little fuck."

The other one lunged forwards, his talons spraying up dirt and he got about 9 metres forwards before Todd got low, lunging up and head butting the older male backwards by his throat. He fell onto his side and slid across the dirt, scrambling to get back up onto his feet.

Todd paced infront of the den and his new friend, loud, growling sounds purring from his throat. He snapped his jaws, teeth clacking together, his claws spreading apart and back together over and over as a threat display.

He might have been inexperienced but his scars were an illusion to others that maybe he was a threat. He was gonna try his best wether he was good at this or not.

When I saw the other 2 males approaching I quickly backed up towards my cave. I watched the three bicker a bit. I recognized one male as one I have seen try to cross the river for a few years now. He was around my age, I knew that much, scars littered his body quite similar to mine, but he was more of a bright green color. I looked at the younger male, he looked to be about Todd's age. The only difference was that he didn't have any scars so even if he won I wouldn't accept him as a mate.
The more scars the better in my opinion, it shows they aren't afraid to fight or they can fight. It shows experience, and shows they aren't af re I'd to hunt for their food. If a dinosaur doesn't have any scars there is no proof they can hunt and no proof they can defend themselves. So if they can't do either who says they would be able to provide for a family and protect that family.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when Todd made a comment to the bright green male around my age. When he made the comment 'even with an ugly mug like yours' the only reason I could think he said that was the scars. Immediately I became irritated with the comment considering my whole body was littered with scars and I saw them as something to be proud of. I started to question Todd, wondering if it would really work and I began to question how he got his scars.

Todd looked back to Night who seemed to be in and out of thought, that was a mistake. The male took this opportunity to bite down on his shoulder. Todd has pain in his eyes but even though he has gotten close to his neck, todd had the ability to win this now. He opened his jaws, as wide as he possible could. The top of his head and neck was the option.

Todd took it.

-

With blood spurting onto Todd's face and floor and the snapping of fragile bones, the older male stopped struggling. The limp body was heavy in Todd's sunken in jaw.

He let go. Only his eyes moved, landing on the young male who was standing in shock, mouth open, head down to the now dead older males body. Todd took a step forward and the younger one took off running.

Hed killed the male, hed never had to do something like this and he stood in shock, staring at the body. The thick red liquid dripping down his face. He finally turned, wanting to return to the river, wash off what he could, wash the wound.

Another scar to add to his growing unwanted collection.

When Todd looked back at me, I knew he would get bit by the older male, but I could also tell that his kill strike was 50% luck. Because the older male messed up it ended up in him winning. I hoped he would learn from his mistake because it was one of the worst ones to make in battle. Looking away or in a certain direction could make an opponent curious if there isn't a set goal in the fight. I was the goal in this fight but if it was a simple territory battle he might have accidentally led them to me or a future chick that may be hiding.

When he trotted off I stared at the body and proceeded to drag it out to the open field and quickly a Tarbosaurus appeared. I backed away from the corpse, I recognized the markings of the Tarbosaurus, but I don't know if she recognized me. The large female Tarbosaurus's gaze was on the corpse but then it traveled to me. I continued to step back until she let out a couple of low rumbles, ones that I recognized. I stepped up to her and she let out was sounded like a deep purring noise that was mixed with clicks. I was amazed that she remembered me, she was the first abandoned hatchling I ever raised. I walked over to the corpse grabbed it a little and threw it closer to her, showing she could eat it, to which she gladly accepted. It would be a good idea to stay on her good side if she was going to hunt around here more often. She doubled my size, but I sat in the grass near her as she ate. Once she finished she nudged me around a little bit, to which I stood up. I cleaned the blood off of her mouth, a caring motherly trait I gained that was universal among most carnivores. To her, it meant I still cared and saw her as one of my own.

Once I parted ways with her I tracked Todd's scent and followed where he was to the river. I caught him still trying to clean his wounds so I trotted up to him with a couple clicks so he wouldn't be spooked. I didn't say anything, I was still upset about the comment he made to the male about his 'ugly profile'. I acted normal despite not speaking and cleaned up the part of his wound that he couldn't reach himself. I smelled of Tarbosaurus so I didn't know what Todd would think.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The Tarbosaurus will involve a plot point later on.

Todd heard her clicks, most of his body was in the small river, so he only glanced in her direction. He didnt really respond and the smell of tarbosaur was drifting in his direction, not strong.

His eyes drifted back down into the water as he thrashed his head back and forth, the water turning darker and darker, a muddy brown that washed away well. He submerged the rest of his body, this water way was blocked and was not a place crocks liked to go, because it was a Spino's nesting ground. None had arrived yet. They were coming though.

"I know your upset by what i said. I just want to assure you its not because of his scars."

Todd stood up from the water, looking over at Night's direction.

"His eyes were red. Nose bent and if you looked closely he had a breathing problem. Probably a.. aunty was his grandmother and sister situation."

Todd chuckled, shaking the water out of his feathers vicously. It was nice way to cool down and get rid of the sweat.

"Concidered.. ugly by mating standards."

Todd walked over towards her.

----

Okay that sounds good :)