Clans

Story by Moonflight00

Based off of the game Ark survival

## Prologue

Thunder rumbled, A mass of storm clouds filling the sky and blocking out the moon. Rain pelted against the rocks and trees and grass, spilling the smell of wet dirt and scales through the air.

A tiny shape stepped from its shelter. Its fluffy body shivered tremendously from the cold.

“Rrrk?” The little noise could barely be heard in the damp, dark, cold forest.

The Therizinosaurs’ mother had been gone for far too long. It could barely feel its legs as it forced another step, letting out a small, desperate squeak. Its only answer was the echoing sound of rainfall all around.

It lifted its head to cry once more, but was cut off by a small yelp as it tripped over and fell snout-first into the ground. It struggled to lift itself, water dripping from its nose and feathers, now looking just the same as the soaked forest around it.

A strange sound came from close by. The hatchling took a shivering step around the corner, right towards the noise.

And stopped right in front of a giant corpse.

Its mother lay dead on the ground, her mouth open and her eyes blank. Water and blood seeped into the dark ground.

And a creature was there, its snout half-buried in the dead Therizinosaurs’ neck.

The hatchling stepped back, shocked and horrified as it stared at the creature eating from its parent.

The creatures' eyes suddenly flew her way. Frozen in fear, the hatchling didn’t move an inch. But neither did the creature. It just stood there, in the same position, its eyes staring into the hatchlings’.

But then, slowly, it gripped harder onto the corpse's neck, and quietly dragged it away into the darkness.

## Chapter 1

Have you ever had that thought, that maybe nothing in your life was real?

That you’re just some made up character in some crazy storyteller's mind? That your whole world was just some mixed-up fantasy written on paper for a bunch of random someone’s to love and admire and talk about all day?

I never had those thoughts. Click did. *All* the time. His crazy brain thought of things and ideas I’d never imagined before. And most of it was a bit insane.

To be honest, I could definitely see my life as a story.

*Sigh.* Never thought I’d actually do this.

But I made a promise. So here I am, I guess. Telling you my story.

\*\*\*

A Raptor stalked slowly through the bushes. She fixed her yellow eyes on the Dodo ahead of her, several feet away with its back turned.

   The Raptor could feel the eyes of her father somewhere in the forest behind her, watching her every move. *Not gonna fail this time,* she thought, setting her focus back on her prey as she slipped another step forward.

   She was hidden well in the shadows of the trees, separate from the sunny patch of forest onward, reflecting light off the prey’s feathers as it moved around. Orange and red leaves dropped from high branches of trees, hinting at the soon coming of cold season. A few leaves fell onto her neck and spine, but she didn’t let them distract her. She paused mid-step as the Dodo lifted its head to watch a nearby insect flutter down to the ground.

This was her chance. Lowering her body, she got ready to spring, but hesitated a moment too late as the Dodo swung its head her way.

Finch cursed under her breath as it ran and pulled herself out of the bushes and into the sun, attempting to chase after it, but it had already disappeared into the shadows of the trees. Her father, Zircon, emerged from the bushes behind her.

"I know, I know, I shouldn’t have hesitated,” she said, shaking her head with a sigh. She rubbed her neck and met his auburn eyes.

“You’ll catch it eventually,” Zircon encouraged her. He stepped into the daylight and went to stand at her side. “I remember when I was your age, and I didn’t get even nearly as close as you have.”

“I feel like that’s a lie,” she said.

“It’s not,” he said with a smile. “And I meant what I said. You’ll catch it, I know so.”

“I hope you're right,” Finch reflected. She looked up to the blue sky, half covered by fluffy white clouds and high up trees. “We should be getting back.”

“I agree.” Zircon said. He sighed. “Let's go see what chaos erupted this time.”

## Chapter 2

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Two juveniles fought violently in the clearing, surrounded by a cluster of Raptors, each eagerly stepping in front of the other to get a better view of the skirmish. One of the fighting Raptors, a gray and brown male with scuffed-up feathers, slashed ferociously at the other's face.

“Get him!” A Raptor was yelling as he attacked again. “Hit him, Sand! Get him in the face! Hit him in the— OOH!”

Sand collapsed on top of Hollow, a tan and yellow raptor with white specks. He dug his claws in and lowered his head to Hollow, making them almost nose to nose. “Had enough?” He asked.

Hollow huffed, writhing a bit. “Not even close,” he panted.

“Face it, Hollow,” Sand said. “You’re a terrible fighter. I could keep you pinned here all day.”

“Nah,” Hollow said in a strained voice. “I’m just recharging. Getting… ready for the… *shove*,” He struggled to lift Sand off of him for a moment, then gave up. “Oof, never mind. I think I’ll just lay here for a while. Maybe take a quick nap.”

“Weak,” Sand spat at him.

“Not weak.” Hollow argued. “I am purposely letting you sit here on top of me.” He laid his head on the ground, feeling the blood running down from the slash on his face. “It’s actually quite comfortable.”

Sand lifted his talon with a hiss, preparing a blow to Hollow’s muzzle. But several gasps came from somewhere around the crowd, and a Raptor emerged from the crowd to stand in front of the two opponents. Hollow sighed with relief as Sand looked up, befuddled.

“What is happening?” The Raptor asked in an exasperated, worn-out voice.

“Zircon,” Sand gasped, setting his talon down. “I didn’t—"

“One hour,” said their Alpha. “We were gone for *one hour*.”

Hollow struggled to inch his head around to see Zircon as he stepped forward, his dark feathers and scales the dapped colors of blackberries and dried grapes. Their Alpha looked incredibly tired.

"I am so sorry,” Sand said quietly. “Hollow was just saying some mighty stupid things again.”

“I don’t care what he said.” Zircon hissed. “Let him go.”

The pain in Hollows’ chest relaxed as Sand lifted himself up and away.

“Ah, that’s much better,” Hollow sighed, flopping onto his side. “Thank you very much, Alpha.”

“This can’t keep happening, Hollow.” said Zircon, turning his head to him. “These fights are getting out of talon. It needs to stop.”

Hollow paused to wipe the blood away from his mouth and examine his talon, adjusting his jaws slightly. “Of course,” He said.

“You said that last time. I want you to mean it.”

Hollow pulled himself into a lazy side-sit position and shrugged, a small sliver of pain running through one of his shoulders. “It's not my fault everyone keeps finding me so fightable.”

Zircon sighed, closing his eyes. “Do what you want. Just don’t be an idiot. And don’t let this happen again, or you’re gonna have to deal with me. Ok?”

“Yes Alpha,” Hollow said softly.

As Zircon dipped his head and turned away, Hollow looked to Sand, who was standing next to him. Sand growled lightly. “So we’re done, then?” Hollow asked him.

“Yes,” Sand snapped. He went to walk away.

“Ok.” Hollow said with another shrug. He turned around. “I would have won anyway,” he whispered.

As expected, the other Raptor snarled and swung around, swiping his talon in a massive arc towards Hollow. But Hollow was quicker, grabbing onto Sands arm with a grin.

But what he didn’t expect was the set of dark colored claws coming from behind him. With a woosh and thump, a talon slammed into the back of Hollow's head, and he was out cold.