Search Party: Part 2
by Silverclaw

Silverclaw was at Backwards Falls way before dawn. HE had with him his full warriors garb. His unstrung bow sat beside him. He had spent most of the predawn hours firehardening and fletching new arrows. Sunwing was asleep in a near by tree. Currently Silverclaw was meditating beneath the falls. Backwards Falls was named that for obvious reasons. Set slightly off the main stream, the falls fell into clan lands and away from the Polongo River. No one knew why they fell that way, they just did.

Silverclaw heard the approach of three sets of footfalls way before the came onto view. Shaking himself dry, he proceeded to awake Sunwing and put on his garb.

Redback, Twilightrose, and Morningrose were fully packed and had their chosen weapon on them. Redback walked slightly behind twirling his spear. "Twi" as she was affectionately named, carried and oak staff made from a log found lodged downstream. And walked next to her sister, conversing in low tones. "Rose", Morningrose's nickname, had an archery set similar to Silverclaw's, only much smaller.

"Good morning. We have a few moments till our company arrives." Silverclaw said apon seeing the trio.

"Company?" the trio asked, raising their eye ridges.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, a few of my friends from outside clan lands are going to join us." Just then a deep roar and heavy footfalls reached the quintet's ears. "Ah here's on now."

A large green Baryonox stepped into the clearing.

"Barry!" Silverclaw exclaimed, arms outstretched, "Breathe Deep, Run Fast."

"Breathe Deep, Seek Peace," Barry responded. "Have you seen..." he trailed off. Silverclaw too had heard the flap of large wings. "Ah here she is!" Barry exclaimed as a large shadow covered the field.

A blue dragoness with yellow headcrest and wing landed in the clearing.

"Jersey!" Both raptor and Baryonox exclaimed. The dragoness just turned her head and smiled.

"Wonderful!" Silverclaw exclaimed "Now all were missing is A..." Just then four other Velociraptors walked into the clearing.

"Az, Rusty, Amber, Lori!" the raptor, Baryonox and dragoness exclaimed.

"Ok all are her." Silverclaw said turning in a small circle "Redback, Twilightrose, Morningrose, this is Barry Baryonox," he motioned to the large Baryonox. "Jersey Dagmar," he motioned to the dragoness. "Azonthus," he showed the red raptor. "Rusty," he motioned to the rust colored raptor. "Amber," he pointed to the blue eyed raptor. "And Lori," he motioned to the mint green raptor. After the final introductions were finished, they started out.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The first two days were uneventful. Half way through the third day Silverclaw called a halt.

"Ok, we’ll make camp here," he said with an edge.

"But we can still make good ground before nightfall." Redback suggested. Barry swooped his head down and whispered in Redback’s ear,

"Hush! If you listened well enough, you would have heard the rustling in the bushes. Pretend like nothings wrong, but stay alert till we know what we’re up against."

Silverclaw turned, as if nothing was wrong and said "Ok everyone lets make camp! Az, Amber may I see you for a moment."

"Sure," the two Velo’s said in unison.

As Twi, Rose, Redback and the others setup camp, Silverclaw conversed in low tones to Azonthus and Amber. Well before dark the group was sitting around a roaring campfire, and a large stream close by.

As soon as the sun set Silverclaw Az, and Amber left camp, saying they were going to get more firewood. About 50ft from camp they split up and circled the camp.

"Now remember, if you see anything suspicious give an Arceopterx call and the other two will join you shortly." Silverclaw said as they departed. All were expert trackers and could practically disappear in the blink of an eye.

20 minutes into the search Silver claw and Amber heard an Arceopterx call about 50yd ahead of camp .

<That must be Az,> Silverclaw thought as he headed in the direction of the call. Azonthus had found a large camp of assorted theropods. And in the middle of addressing the group was Traildust.

Just then Silverclaw and Amber joined her.

"Hunters," Az mouthed. Receiving a nod from both of them.

"Tonight , we will kill the leader of the Brightclaw and gain more hunting lands for all of you." Traildust bellowed. A load roar erupted from the Hunters. "Those lands have a caravan trail running through them. You will never go hungry again!" This brought forth an even louder roar from the Hunters.

With a single nod from Silverclaw the trio of raptors returned to camp.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


"So everyone knows what to do? We shall pretend to nothing of the Hunters, and when they try to ambush us in our sleep we will be ready!" Silverclaw had explained his plan three times. Apon returning from the scouting trip, Silverclaw, Azonthus, and Amber had relayed what they saw. Everyone was ready, Barry was asleep at the fire. In front of him Az, Amber, Rusty, and Lori all "slept" huddled together like newborn hatchlings. Jersey "slept" on the opposite side. Twi and Rose also "slept" on that side, they too were huddled like hatchlings. Sunwing really asleep in a nearby tree. Silverclaw and Redback "slept" across from each other. Silverclaw was in plain view of the hunters camp. Everything was ready.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Traildust and his band of Hunters snuck as quietly as an inexperienced tracker and assorted larger theropods could. When they reached Silverclaw’s camp Traildust checked and saw that everyone was asleep, he turned to face the Hunters.

"All of you may attack who ever you wish. But the Silver clawed one, is mine." He said in a low whisper. "Now, CHARGE!" Traildust bellowed, unbenounced to him it was a trap.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Traildust and his Hunters ran into the campsite. But something was different, everyone was awake! That didn’t stop the Hunters though, there was fresh meat ahead, they were in a frenzy.

"Now!" Silverclaw yelled momentarily stopping the Hunters. Jersey heard the signal. She dropped the largest net ever made in the Rainy Basin. The net was constructed of braided steel Silverclaw had ordered via Sunwing. It landed on Traildust and the Hunters.

This gave the group just enough time to escape down the stream.
 

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