Hunted Gatherers

Justin awoke to a cloudy sky stretching up to Shadow Command, and white flowers brushing against him in a gentle breeze. He sat up, noticing he was on the hilltop, at the drop point. White flowers blanketed the entire ground until they met the forest. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Morcant and the others with their weapons drawn. Behind them, dozens of strangers, human and alien alike, were building a tower of bodies into the sky. They seemed to stretch far beyond their means, up into the clouds. Emma shined out of Shadow Command like a ray of light from the sun, her hand reached out for him, but Tute was holding her back.

“Get climbing, we’ll hold them off.”, said Morcant.

“No, I can’t leave ya’ll behind!”, Justin yelled as the wind picked up.

“For someone so desperate to find meaning in life, you sure don’t hesitate to deny others theirs.”, laughed Morcant.

“We can’t come with you, you already know that. We’re just here to give you the strength to make it.”, said Morcant.

He rested his hand on Justin’s shoulder and said, “This makes my life, I want them and you to know that. When you get to the top, tell them I’m sorry, but that I’m proud of what I’ve done. Ok bud?”

Justin held back tears and said, “Ok buddy, it’s a promise.”

Justin walked past him and the others as they waved to him. Taysass stopped him to embrace him.

“Thank you.”, she said.

Justin nodded and began to climb the tower of living bodies as they struggled to hold each other up. Nearing the top, the wind howled, and he lost his grip, but a hand caught him. Justin felt his wedding ring before seeing the face of a Japanese soldier smiling at him. His squad was one layer below the top. Justin thanked him and climbed up them to a group of Kettans. He passed by one white and two red before he found a pink female sitting at the top of the tower.

She smiled to him and shimmered like and angel, lighting a fire inside him. He crawled to her, trying not to be blown off. Right above them was Emma’s hand, she made the same teary-eyed grin as before.

“I can’t sit up, the winds to strong.”, he said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep you stable.”, the pink angel assured him.

Justin stood up as the angel wrapped on arm around his waist and held onto the tower with the other. Justin shook in the wind, but defiantly reached out his hand for Emma’s. He was just inches away, but no matter how hard they stretched, they couldn’t grasp each other. A loud, low rumble came from the forest.

Justin looked down and saw the bull and the butterflies rush into the valley, heading straight for the tower. Justin winced as the flowers burst into red while being trampled by them. Morcant and the others opened fire but couldn’t slow the bull down as it charged them.

“Jump, you can make it!”, exclaimed the angle.

“What if you lose your grip on me?”, Justin argued.

“You can’t possibly hope to save us all.”, she said.

Justin grinded his teeth and yelled, “Watch me!”

He leapt into the air and caught Emma’s hand whilst twisting his body to allow him to also grasp the hand of the angle. Justin smiled to himself before seeing the bull nearing the tower.

“Emma, pull us up!”, he yelled through the wind.

“I can’t, you have to let go.”, her voice echoed throughout the world.

“No! I won’t leave a single one of them behind!”, he cried out.

“Just like I said, your pigeon will never learn to fly.”, Tutelarius’s voice echoed.

Justin desperately held on as he felt his body stretch. The bull and the butterflies ran through Morcant and his friends, crashing into the tower as they all burst into red pedals.

Justin screamed as the weight of the world tore him in half.

. . .

Yellow squinted in the morning twilight at the groups of raptors which had gathered at their nest. Some big, others small, they were all strong, and half starved. With some of the prey having already migrated for winter, there was a larger fight over The Feast, leaving many nests broken. While this happened every fall, Blue Stripes returning was unusual. The large, black and blue raptor had harassed Yellow throughout his life until one day, years ago, when Red intervened and Blue Stripes challenged his position as Alpha. Blue Stripes narrowly lost and received a wounded leg, before being banished. Yellow hadn’t seen him since then and had assumed he was dead.

Unlike the other raptors clearly wanting to join Red’s nest, including the pack Blue Stripes was heading, he was tensed up, possibly there for a rematch. His deadly gaze and jagged smile sent quivers down Yellow’s feathers.

Red and Brown slowly walked past their nestmates and subordinates. Red held his head high as the clouds and carefully examined each of the prospective raptors surrounding their nest. Brown’s astute gaze carefully screened their own nesters, looking for signs of disloyalty or grievance. Their nesters parted like a wave of grass in the wind and bowed to them as they walked. Yellow bowed to Red as he reached him and Red nodded to him, something he rarely did.

“Hello there.”, Red said to the group.

He then let an eerie silence hang in the air, with only the breeze and leaves being heard, while he once again looked through the crowd.

“Red, we meet again.”, said Blue Stripes.

Red snarled and said, “Ah, Blue Stripes, it’s been some time, how’s your leg?”

“Great, had to be up past the plains. You wouldn’t believe what all’s out there. Then again, from what I heard about a certain glistening prey yesterday, maybe you would.”, said Blue Stripes.

“Ah, so I’m not the only one that witnessed that. Who told you about it?”, asked Red.

“Oh, just a hiss in the wind.”, laughed Blue Stripes.

“I see you’re still dragging around this dead weight.”, he said while nodding to Yellow.

“Oh, you mean my new Beta? You’d be surprised just how useful I find him.”, said Red.

“Eh? New Beta? Surely, he’s kidding. One of our own nest mates would challenge that in a heartbeat.”, thought Yellow in bewilderment.

“You can’t be serious, that’s a new low, even for you Red.”, said Blue Stripes.

“Well I’ve been pondering this for a long time, and with the encounter you mentioned yesterday as the catalyst, I’ve decided that it’s time to put some of Yellows more… Unique ideas to the test.”, explained Red.

“He must be joking. Why now is he finally ready to listen? Did that creature really scare him that badly?”, thought Yellow.

Blue Stripes snarled, “Red I’m going to make this simple so even someone as stupid as you can understand. First, I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to make that hatchling watch me impregnate all these females, including that one the two of you like so much, before I kill him to.”

“You should have stayed beyond the plains Blue Stripes, I won’t let you limp away this time.”, said Red.

He stepped forward and flared his talons and teeth to the crowd. Blue Stripes approached, and they began to circle each other, like a dance.

“Not this again, Blue Stripes won’t lose this time. Why won’t Red and Brown listen to me and both attack at once? I don’t care if it breaks the stupid rules, I don’t want to die over them.”, worried Yellow.

“Brown, Blue Stripes is younger and stronger than Red, this is a bad idea. If he’s truly ready to give my ideas some credence, now is the time.”, whispered Yellow.

Brown smiled at him and said, “Don’t worry little brother. Like Red said, we’re ready to listen to your wild ideas.”

Red stopped circling as Blue Stripes back faced Brown and Yellow, before he snarled and raised his arms. Blue Stripes stared at Red’s legs, waiting for a chance to strike them, completely oblivious to Brown as she leapt onto him from behind. She sunk her claws into his arms and he collapsed to the ground with a wail. She held his neck down with her teeth as Red methodically walked over to them.

Red knelt down saying, “This is my forest. The Feast, the prey, and the river will all belong to me and my nest.”

Brown released her teeth and Blue Stripes snarled and struggled as Red clamped his bite down on his neck. After twisting and sawing a snap was finally heard before Blue Stripes went still. Yellow wondered if he was dreaming, Red had never given his plans of changing the nest structure a chance, and now he seems to have completely succumb to them.

Red swallowed the blood in his mouth and climbed onto Blue Stripes body as he addressed the crowd.

“As you can see, we do things a little differently around here. This may worry some of you but hear this. Under Yellow’s plans, which I will now implement, everyone will receive a mate. We will conquer the other nests and rule over this forest as one united nest, with me as it’s ruler. With united swarm tactics, we will lower the casualties at The Feast, and manage the prey supply throughout the year. So, who wants to join me, and who wants to die?” he asked to the crowd.

The crowd leapt and rejoiced, stomping the ground in approval. Brown came back to Yellow and smiled while he joined in on the stomping.

“This can’t be happening. Finally, after all this time, I’m being vindicated.”, he thought.

“Alright then to start, all of you will obey Yellow in my absence. I know he isn’t the strongest among you, but his mind is far more valuable than your strength. If I catch any of you disrespecting him, you will be punished, or killed. Any questions?” asked Red.

A member of the crowd spoke up, “How will our mates be chosen, if you aren’t taking them all.”

“Great question, I will take several for myself, and you all may fight over the rest; however, I will stipulate two exceptions. First, no killing over this, I want clean fights only. Second, Yellow will be paired with the strongest female amongst you. I don’t want to breed weaklings, but I want his intellect passed on to the next generation. Who here would be willing?” Red asked.

A green, strong, female raptor stepped forward and squinted at Yellow while flashing her teeth.

“I believe I am the strongest here, but can you really ask me to breed weak younglings? Don’t we all breed with the Alpha, the strongest, for a reason?” she asked.

“We need diversity, and an expanded nest that everyone feels benefits them personally. That is the plan of Yellow. Your children can be raised with priority by the nest to be strong, and Yellow will make them smart, truly a lethal combination. Let one batch of youth from him mature and if you aren’t satisfied, I will allow you to choose another mate.”, explained Red.

The female appeared to contemplate the offer for a moment before bowing her head in submission. Red signaled for her to go to Yellow with his head. She came up to him and bowed.

“Hello, I am Green Runner. Um, nice to meet you.”, she said.

“She’s terrifying. Red I know I suggested this, and it makes sense but I’m having doubts I can subdue this female.”, he thought.

“Ah, hello. I’m sorry that decision was made for you Green Runner, although I do suppose it’s something I mentioned once. Oh, why Runner?”, Yellow rambled.

Green Runner lifted her head and towered over Yellow like a tree.

“My twin was also green. She was named Green Walker, do to her shorter legs.”, she said.

“Oh, where is she?”, asked Yellow while looking through the crowd.

“That shiny prey’s pack killed her in a flash yesterday at The Feast, but I did manage to kill one of their pack as well.”, she said while clenching her teeth and smiling.

“Oh my, not that thing again.”, he thought.

“Hi there Green Runner, I’m Brown, the female Alpha here.”, Brown said while looking her eye to eye.

“Yellow here’s my little brother. I know he can be a handful, but he’s well hung and can make you laugh, so give him a chance ok?”, Brown said with a head tilt and smile.

“Dammit Brown I appreciate the help, but you’re always making me look foolish.”, thought Yellow.

Green Runner bowed to her as Yellow shook his head in embarrassment. Red walked over to them, as well as the group that had been with Blue Stripes.

“Sir, we’re sorry about our Alpha’s behavior, we humbly ask to join your grand nest.”, said the grey raptor now leading them.

“You’re welcome to join us, might I ask if there’s any news from beyond the plains?”, asked Red.

“Indeed sir, the prey has begun migrating early, with packs of predators not far behind them, indicating an early and possibly harsh winter. Blue Stripes wanted us to get ahead of them and told us there was a never-ending feast here. He said that’s how the nests here survived the winters, and why they never followed the prey along the river with us during the migration.”, explained the grey raptor.

“Ah, such a waste Blue Stripes was, killed by his own pride. Indeed, The Feast provides for us throughout the year. You will see it in a few days. For now, our priority is the shiny prey. My scouts should be returning soon to report whether it has died or not.”, said Red.

“And if it hasn’t sir?”, asked Green Runner.

“Then we will use Yellow’s swarm strategy to bring it down.”, said Red.

Green Runner smiled as though she were staring down wounded prey.

. . .

Justin woke up screaming with Morcant shaking him and franticly checked his chest while hyperventilating. His body was still intact, the sharp pain of his chest tearing open and hollowness of his insides sliding out of his body had vanished. He slowed his breathing and sighed with relief.

“So, I can still feel pain in my dreams? How ridiculous, and what a strange dream. Did Tute make me dream that? Thinks he can get in my head, does he? I’ll show him, that dream gives me an idea.”, he thought.

“Justin are you ok? You started screaming in your sleep.”, asked Morcant.

Justin took out his walkie-talkie and asked, “Mm, sorry to worry ya’ll. What time is it?”

“It’s ok, Churburret did the same thing. Tacktay has been watching outside for a while now and says that the morning twilight should end soon.”, said Morcant.

“She’s outside? Is she ok?”, asked Justin.

“She was just a minute ago.”, answered Morcant, perplexed.

“It’s dangerous outside, she should’ve woken me first.”, said Justin.

“Well I thought you should get a full night’s rest; besides, we need to learn how to survive here eventually.”, said Morcant.

“Not if I can help it. I’m going to try to find the Spaceport real fast, all of you stay in here, I’ll be right back.”, said Justin.

Justin stood up and walked to the door, he glanced back at the others chatting and caught Taysass’es eye before she looked back to the silver band on her wrist she was touching.

“And just how do you plan to do that? You said yesterday you didn’t see it at the hilltop.”, asked Morcant.

Justin half smiled and pointed up before rolling the wooden door and exiting the cave. He looked up to the mountain and found Tacktay resting above the door, clinging to the rockface. He realized he couldn’t tell what she was looking at without her head tilting, due to her insect eyes.

“Tacktay why are you out here alone?”, asked Justin.

“I’m a guard, this is what I do. I’m perfectly safe, if any predators were closing in, I could see them or feel them through the rock.”, answered Tacktay.

“I guess she can feel vibrations through her legs. Probably useful for sending and receiving signals in a hive.”, he thought.

Justin sighed and said, “I just don’t want any of you to get hurt.”

“Understood, thank you for your continued interest in my wellbeing. You helped me decide to live yesterday, remember? I don’t plan on throwing my life away, but I want to be useful to the group, it’s what I’m built for after all. I don’t know what else you expect from me.”, she said.

“I guess I don’t know what I expected, I just want to get ya’ll out of here. Which is why I’m about to climb this mountain.”, said Justin.

“Oh, can I come?”, she asked.

“Well, I don’t know if that would be a safe idea.”, he said.

“I’ve seen large flying creatures above the mountain, I can watch your back, so they don’t snatch you up.”, she offered.

“That’s a good point, I forgot about flyers, they could drag me far away and I could get lost. Can you fly that high though?”, he asked.

“No, but I can ride you and if I fall, I think I can safely descend.”, she said.

Justin clenched his stomach as he fell over laughing.

“Are you ok? What’s wrong? Should I get the others?”, Tacktay asked as she took flight and hovered around him.

Justin continued laughing and said, “Yea I’m fine, my people just do this when we find something really funny.”

“Understood, how strange, well I’m ready if you are.”, she said.

Justin pointed to his back and winced through his giggling as he felt Tacktay wrap her legs around his back and chest.

“You sure you’re up for this?”, he asked while finding a flat part of the cliff face.

“I’ll do my part for the group, it would appear as though flying is my main asset to everyone.”, she said.

“Ok, well if you need me to stop just ask.”, he said.

Justin placed his hands on the rock and tried to press his fingers into it. The rock cracked and splintered as his fingers sunk into it. He smiled and continued up by jumping and slamming his fingers into the rock. He hung for a second, contemplating how to climb, before shooting his feet into the rock below him. He started truly climbing and watched as the pebbles he made slowly cascaded down the cliff face. He looked down and felt the winds pick up, remembering his dream.

“I won’t let that happen. I’m going to beat Tute at this stupid, cruel game, and bring this technology back to Earth and their worlds.”, he thought.

Justin smiled as he climbed, finally feeling an uneasy sense of purpose in his life. Pterodactylids soared high in the sky past the mountain in large flocks. The crisp fall wind loosened his grip a few times, but he continued to press forward. After an hour had passed, he could see that the twilight was almost ending as the sun was peaking from behind Shadow Command. He didn’t feel tired, but he worried Tacktay might be losing her grip as he finally reached the summit.

He climbed up and slid on his belly, letting Tacktay walk off him, before slowly standing up. The wind was strong, but he kept his balance as he looked around. The mountaintop was covered in short grasses and old nests that he assumed the pterodactyls used. Past the spawn point and the forest was a vast ocean of prairie plains continuing into a blurry distance. The river he saw before flowed from there and into the forest, continuing into another blur that was brown instead of green. All around him was forest for miles, with no structures visible.

“Dammit. Does Tute expect me to grid search the entire continent?”, he wondered.

“Did you find anything?”, Tacktay asked from the ground.

“No, I can’t see it. We’ll have to fortify here, and I’ll go looking for it once all of you are safe.”, he said.

“I’m sorry, but I’m glad to hear you’re staying with us. Hopefully we can create a safe shelter and learn how to survive here. My world is much like this one in terms of life, apart from appearances. My worlds life is much like me, instead of this world’s looking like Taysass.”, she said.

“Ah, that makes sense considering how big you are. Your planet must have a higher oxygen content than mine, letting large creatures grow. Although if the brachiosaurs are also bugs that’s pretty crazy.”, he said.

“No, the larger creatures are like you and Taysass, but everything smaller than those horned things from yesterday is like me.”, she explained.

“Alright, well let’s get down from here.”, he said.

Justin grinded his teeth as he tried to grow used to Tacktay climbing on his back. He slowly approached the edge and began climbing down near where he came up.

“Did you see anything useful?”, Tacktay asked.

“Well the river makes a decent sized opening in the forest, so visibility will be good when we get water tomorrow, but that also means large predators can move about quickly there.”, Justin responded.

Justin continued down the mountain at the same slow pace, eventually seeing the rest of the gang waiting for him at the bottom, fumes coming out of the cave entrance, and Taysass’es hot rock pushed out.

“Dammit guys, wait until I get back. What if something attacks you.”, he worried.

“You aren’t going to be able to keep them safe at this rate. Any time ya’ll separate, they’ll make a stupid decision and die.”, he told himself.

“Oh, shut up. I’m sure I can convince them to be more cautious.”, he assured himself.

As he reached the bottom Tacktay released her grip and flew down to the others before he got impatient and dropped about twenty feet down. He landed with a thud and a cloud of dust that he waved away. He walked over to the group, who were working with wood and rock, put his hands on his hips and looked down to Morcant.

“Guys couldn’t this have waited until I got back?”, he asked.

“Eh, well we got bored, besides we can run inside. Did you find anything up there?”, asked Morcant.

“Those fumes are toxic, this wasn’t a good idea.”, Justin argued.

“Look we can’t just wait around like children, we talked about this already, but I don’t want to argue Justin. We shouldn’t be separating again until the tunnels are finished so everything will be alright. Now, did you find anything up there?”, Morcant asked again.

Justin grinded his teeth as his eyebrow twitched and thought, “Do these idiots have a death wish? What’s wrong with waiting on me so they can be safe?”

“No, I didn’t, we’ll have to focus on making this place livable before I can go looking for the spaceport.”, said Justin.

“Damn, alright well we’re ready to go back to the hilltop. Oh, could you get Churbet? Those fumes are toxic to us you know.”, said Morcant.

Justin squinted and said, “Seriously? Do you have a problem with me Morcant? I’m just trying to keep ya’ll safe.”

Morcant stood up and said, “I appreciate that, I really do, but I’m not a kid. I’ve been waiting around since you slept last night, and I want to get to work and burry my friends.”

“Children please, arguing will get us nowhere. We should focus on the task at hand, something I think we all want to get done.”, said Yujark.

Morcant scoffed and Justin made a tsk sound as they dropped the argument. Justin proceeded to enter the fuming cave to get Churburret, who he found a dozen feet deep in a tunnel. There was a stone disk about six inches thick, covered in drilled holes, within a slit on the wall that could be rolled out as a door. Churburret was waving his stalk about more than usual, as if singing to himself.

“Hey Churbet!”, Justin yelled.

Churburret jumped backwards spraying acid onto the wall whilst making an furreep sound.

“Churbet you’ve got to be carefull with that stuff.”, Justin said.

“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought. How was your trip?”, Churburret asked.

“Not good, I didn’t see the spaceport. Listen the twilight is ending, and the group is ready to go back for the burial and to gather supplies.”, said Justin.

Churburret made a fluttery fur sound and said, “I see, so it’s time then.”, while lowering his stalk.

“Churbet if this is too much for you, you can stay behind.”, offered Justin sympathetically.

“Churburret shook his stalk and said, “No, this must be done. I’ve got to say goodbye to them.”

“Alright well stick close to me and I’ll try my best to keep you safe.”, said Justin.

Churburret nodded and thanked him before the two exited the cave with his spear and the weapons Justin had found yesterday, leaving the door open to allow it to vent. The others were waiting for them, Morcant with his blades extended and empty rifle in hand, Yujark with his bow ready, and Taysass riding him. Tacktay flew up to Justin, and he slung his rifle around to his chest to let her on his back while taking a deep sigh to stay calm. Morcant chuckled at him and Justin flipped him off but was left unsatisfied by a puzzled look on Morcant’s face.

Justin tensed up, prepping for a fight, as he saw several colorful figures disappear into the forest, and remained twitchy as the group made their way back to the hilltop.

. . .