A wind blew across the grass plains of the Hrellen valley as if paving the way for the warm rays of the sun. A large herd of scaley buffalo like creatures migrate across it, a massive population that can be seen far and wide. It was the springtime and they sought the waterlands of the Silvery marshes to the east to breed and raise their young. The ground trembled and shook and even the trees bordering the nearby forest seem to dance to the beat of advancing Tahrs. In the nearby brush a pair of neon green eyes peered out at a small family group, sharp as a hawk these eyes searched the group who unexpectedly lazed in the shadows of a great oak. Not ten feet away a second pair of eyes searched the same group, these eyes were a brilliant blue but lacked none of the other's keen sight. A young male Tahr freshly into his first season bravely made his way to a nearby bush to nibble on its leaves. Both pairs of eyes focused, this was gonna be the end of this one.
The trees shook as if trying to warn the young Tahr, who despite his youth was bigger then both of the hunters in the brush. It was no longer then a split second after a nod from the first hunter to the second that the second burst from the brush and cut down the Tahr at the knee, roaring and raking its claws as the hunter raced by, scattering the family group and putting the powerful Tahr into panic and confusion. The first hunter leaped out, its hind claws sinking into the of the bewildered creature, tearing deeply into it. The first hunter dug its killer claw into the Tahrs neck severing its spinal column causing it to fall torwards the first hunter's side. He flipped backwards with such grace and landed just as the Tahr hit the ground, still breathing in a panic the creatures eyes looking crazily about unable to move its body.
The second hunter walked torward the fallen creature to survey their trophy. "Why do you alwayss have to show off Tezztor?" he asked, his sharp teeth giving his speach a snake like tint.
The first hunter, known as Tezztor glared back with his peircing green eyes. "One of uss has to look good. Why do you always have to roar and send them into a panic? One of these dayss Sriliss your going to panic them and get yourself trampled." He scoffed knowing his partner was always one to mess around. He looked down at the still breathing Tahr and whispered a prayer. "Big for such a young age" he shrugged as he sunk his talons into the creature's neck, severing all air passages and blood flow killing it. The air around them seemed to still as if allowing easy passage for the creature's soul to the afterlife. He pulled out a long cutting knife preparing to process their kill and carry it back to their tribe. "Get over here and help will you" he yelled at the other.
Sriliss looked back at Tezztor with a certain expression of disapproval one might expect of a court jester. His claws spun his blade around haphazardly as he replied, "What do I have to do all the work? As much as you like to dance around when you kill your awefully boring when you cut them up." he smiled making a mock dance as he kneeled down besides Tezztor. "How did I get sstuck with a raptor dragon anyways?" he said once again mocking him.
"At leasst I'm mostly a raptor. Look at you in all your mutt-like glory. What are you supposed to be? A Fish? A Bird?" Tezztor said laughing. "Neither of your parents was even a raptor, only some of your ancestry."
Tezztor was a finely built raptor of breeding age. He was taller and more strongly built then Sriliss, his body almost fully of raptor decent. The only thing seperating him from his kin were the dragon-like scales in place of leathery skin and the horns on his head. He was a very vibrant aquamarine color with a teal underside, typical of raptors of the marsh. His hands beared two clawed digits and a thumb where his feet had two taloned toes and a masive killer claw. He was very agile and swift and walked with a heavily exaggerated stride almost making him seem prideful and arrogant. He was not to be mistaken however as he was very calculated and intelligent.
Sriliss was a lanky raptor of a half dozen different kinds of species. He was younger and more brash then Tezztor and barely of breeding age. His body seemed a twisted mix of Raptor, bird and fish. While his general shape, tail, claws and feet were typical of a raptor, all of his being were heavily accented by the genetic traits of birds and fish. Strewn across his head was a vibrant plume of purple feathers which also adorned his elbows and his tail heavily. His claws and feet were deeply webbed and the end of his tail bore a large fin. His body was scaled like a fish and was brightly colored in blues and yellows.
Tezztor laughed at Sriliss and made a mock fish motion with his claws at the sides of his muzzle which only caused his partner to growl. They were good friends and knew each other since they hatched. "Letss finish up here and get back before I'm forced to skin your scaley hide and present you in place of this beast to the elderss" Sriliss said to Tezztor.
Many hours had passed since the kill and the moon had begun to rise, its blue glow riddled the landscape. Most of the herd had already passed and the few that remained had settled for the night. The two raptors had finished packing their bags with all the meat they could carry and made their way into the forest. Before disappearing into the trees Tezztor looked back at the valley, not at its herds or its scenic landscape but at its most notable feature, a gigantic spaceship which had crashed there long ago sticking upwards into the sky as a monument to its owner's former glory. Perhaps it was a tomestone telling of the fall of a species from greatness but either way it was a undeniable reminder of the past, most which had been lost to time and superstition.
"I wonder what it must of been like? Tezztor thought before turning around and heading back to his tribe's village. He knew the stories and the legends of what had happened, mostly every raptor did but none had lived for hundreds of years who actually was there when it happened. In truth the ship was actually a raptor flagship, a magnificent vessel of untold power. The Raptors had been a space faring species long ago with technology rumored to be beyond the mortal realm. It was said they found the technology to march upon the spiritual realms and even the doorstep of their own gods. They were a unified race once upon a time without the taint of crossbreeding, which was a ironic end to many of the raptor's pure blood lines. Like all power though the species became greedy and thousands of years of war struck the species that had conquered the entire galaxy. The ship was one of the last raptorian ships to survive and even it found its own end.
After the collapse of the raptor empire the species broke up into several tribes that faught for power even despite all that happened. Over the years the species dwindled to the brink, the once honorable raptors reduced to a shadow of themselves. Now only a few tribes exist as well as a few smaller bands of raptors who were usually outcasts. Of the three big tribes remaining only Vranu and Cruva were pureblood raptors while Taku had minor dragon taint. Most of the smaller bands had heavy crossbreed taint. Tezztor was of the Taku tribe formerly before his parents were exiled. While dragon taint was known it was never officially accepted when they found out his father was forced to leave, stripped of all his belonging to the wilderness with his dragon mate. Tezztor was born in the wild like the raptors of old. Unfortunately the heavily armed and warlike Cruva found the band that his parents had joined and killed them all, leaving all the unborn eggs figuring the young would die on their own anyways. Most of them were crushed or picked off by scavengers before another band of bandits took nthe remaining three eggs to their encampment. One was a very lucky Tezztor.
Tezztor and Sriliss made their way back into the encampment torwards the elder's hut and offering them the meat from their hunt. It was a good bounty that the small tribe would enjoy in the celebration ceremonies of the night. It was the beggining of spring which made way to several bounties and prosperity. A plentiful boon in hunting from the migrating herds, the herald of new life from breeding and the peace of settled tribes who stopped to take time to breed. Several other hunters returned with food from the herds whose meat was a tender delecacy. Tezztor sat down by himself by a campfire, his claws gripping a piece of meat he had saved for himself. Around him song and the lively chirping of other raptors could be heard. Sriliss was up to his usual antics displaying his plumes for the females who really had no interest in him but they teased anyways. Tezztor felt sorry for the young raptor it was hard for such mixbreeds to find mates. As his eyes surveyed the celebration another set of eyes met his.
They belonged the a young female raptor known as Reirna, the tribes only purebreed whose mother had been exiled and killed by the Cruva. She was fresh into breeding age this would be her first season. Despite her age she had a strong build typical to purebred raptors, strong legs and a thick tail which shown that she was healthy. Her skin was leathery as opposed to the scales Tezztor bore thanks to his heritage. She was a deep red with a tan underside as well as sporting black strips along the top of her her, down her back to the end of her tail. Despite being a fullbreed Raptor she seemed out of place amongst all the misfits that made up the tribe.
Tezztor smiled and made his way over to her and sat down. They had known each other for a while but she seemed particularly interested tonight. He opened his mouth to talk but was interupted by Sriliss who decided he wanted to flirt with her. Aggrivated Tezz made a birdcall with his hands. "Hey Sriliss I think somebody is calling you" he said sneering at the feathered raptor. Sriliss huffed and walked away to his next victim. He turned back torward Reirna who was laughing at his misfortune. "I'm sorry about that he getssa bit aggresive at times." he said pushing a smile
She snickered some more. "The look on your face was priceless though." she said rubbing it in.
Tezztor slumped, "I noticed you aren't dancing with the others, ssomething wrong?" he said trying to make conversation. His eyes betrayed his true intent though as they traced her figure.
She pretended not to notice. "I haven't found anybody to dance with yet" she said with a hint of flirt. Her tail was wagging so he knew she was happy about something but she wasn't gonna make it easy for him. Her eyes were fixed on him though and she only said enough to answer him and make him work for it.
"Would you like to dance with me?" he said as he stood up and offered his hand to her.
She looked him up and down, "Yess I would like that" she said happily taking his claw and following him to the cleared sandy area that the other raptors were dancing to the beat of drums and wooden wind instruments.
He pulled her close for this slow song, his claws resting on her lower back above her tail. She responded by leaning against him and laying her head on his shoulder. It was fairly obvious that they were both interested in each other. For the next hour or so they danced a few slow songs and a few quick ones along side many other raptors. The air was thick with love, many raptors starting the courting of prospective mates and Tezztor's intentions were no different. By the time they were done dancing the party had died down and it had gotten fairly quiet. She pulled him off to the side against a tree and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Do you like what you see?" she asked him, her voice taking a softer quality then usual. He put his claws on her rear and pulled her to him, a devilish grin written on his face...
(Sorry Adult Content removed.)
I may add more of the story later if I find people are interested or if I feel like it. Anyways this is the original story of Tezztor and Reirna written several years ago. I modified it and updated it a bit but its still very rough. The actual story which is asof yet still unfinished is about 50 pages long. This revised version has some bits and pieces for story sake. I Hope you like it.
