18 Harsh Truth

Lies were common in a life such as this, it was not easy to rely on complete strangers. The truth was greatly liked more than a whole bunch of lies, but sometimes the truth hurts more than a deep wound. The thing about a spirit being hurt by the truth was that it would take a long time to recover.

Ebony looked outside, her eyes were slowly scanning the area for any sign of movement.

Swiftscale was busy teaching the youngsters about ambush, of course he was struggling with the youngsters.

"Why do we gotta be quiet!", squeaked Lesion.

"Because, it is important to get the upper hand. When the time comes and you have to hunt, ambushing is a great tactic.", replied Swiftscale.

Jr was close to the ground as he replied, "I feel dumb!"

Swiftscale sighed with a frustrated smile, "You don't have to be close to the ground. Just don't make noise and stand in the trees. Besides, you two are going to be a whole lot bigger so there is no need to be close to the ground!"

Lesion ran into the trees as he popped his head out, "Like this?"

Jr went to run but fell down due to him being close to the ground, but he quickly got back up and ran into the forest pouncing on Lesion. "AMBUSH!?!"

Swiftscale watched as the youngsters wrestled with each other. The baryonyx sighed, "You two are a handful."

Grim was out hunting, Scarface was out with him.

Gambit looked at Deviant as he slept, he however snickered looking at Swiftscale. "Don't give up nanny!"

Swiftscale lifted his head up in a "Hmph!", he clearly didn't listen to Gambit.

Bloodmaw was within the camp, he was looking out for everyone by being there if something were to happen. Though, he did find amusement in watching Swiftscale trying to teach his kids.

Ebony blinked taking notice of something, she tilted her head before looking back at Bloodmaw. "Boss?"

Bloodmaw looked at Ebony before walking over, he looked to where she was looking and he blinked. "Well I'll be."

In the distance two familiars were seen walking together, both of them were kin to the clan of Bloodmaw. Bloodmaw of course walked out, Ebony was right behind him clearly excited.

"Hey!?!", exclaimed Ebony running out to them.

Gambit smiled glad to see that they found others of their clan, Swiftscale looked over curiously before looking at the youngsters who were now chasing one another.

One of the two stopped and looked dumbfounded before quickly approaching Ebony. "Well I'll be damned!?!"

Both of them were the same species as Ebony, but they were both brutes. One of the ceratosaurus stood a head taller than Ebony, he had trike horns on his head.

Bloodmaw chuckled as he walked over, "I thought that everyone was gone."

Ebony stopped as she looked at the others with a big smile, "I was starting to think the worst!"

"Same, Dingo and I thought that you guys didn't pull through!", replied the brute who looked back at the one called Dingo.

Bloodmaw looked back to the camp as he spoke, "Like we would die so easily? Besides, we found three brutes who have been a literal god send."

Ebony laughed, "He finally found a worthy guy to tutor his sons!"

Dingo laughed his hide was a light brown, with light red. "I thought I was the tutor!"

Bloodmaw chuckled walking back to camp, "You can fight it out with Swiftscale."

Dingo smirked walking alongside Bloodmaw, "Hey, I'm kidding."

Both of them had heavy bones on their backs and heads, though Dingo had a large necklace that covered his chest that was made of teeth. Dingo seemed to be speaking in a different accent as well , it was quite interesting to hear him talk.

"Helm?", softly asked Ebony watching Bloodmaw and Dingo walk back to camp.

"Yeah, what's up?", asked Helm. His whole entire body was dark brown, though his face was black. The brute was named 'Helm' for the bones he wore on his head. He also had three sharpened trike horns over his eyebrows and horn on his nose.

"Where is...?", she blinked noticing that he looked down.

"He... he didn't make it.", continued Helm looking down. "Dingo and I really tried but..."

Ebony was silent she looked at him before smiling, "You are kidding right...? You must be...!"

Helm winced at her, "I'm sorry but..."

Tears slowly started to fall, the smile on her face struggled to remain. "I don't believe that this is...!"

Ebony closed her eyes as she began to cry, Helm watched her with a saddened gaze. "He fought for everyone, he really did. We owe him our lives..."

Ebony slowly walked toward camp as she spoke softly as she sobbed, "I know he was always saying that he was going to be a hero..."

Helm carefully walked beside her, "He was a hero..."

Swiftscale watched as everyone walked into camp, he also noticed Ebony was crying. Something clearly happened for her to cry as much as she did.

"That there is Swiftscale, and that raptor right there is Gambit.", spoke Bloodmaw. "Scarface is out with Grim."

Dingo laughed loudly looking at Swiftscale and Gambit, "Aye! It be a pleasure!"

Gambit looked at Dingo with a smile. "Likewise."

Swiftscale nodded at Dingo before hearing the youngsters fall in the bushes. "Uh be right back." The baryonyx looked in the bushes as he pulled the youngsters out who were laughing.

Ebony softly walked to her normal spot, she laid down still sobbing.

Bloodmaw looked over at her before looking at Helm, "Don't tell me..."

Helm frowned nodding, this made Bloodmaw look down with a pained expression. "..."

To lose someone was a horrible thing, especially if that person was someone who you loved with all your being.

Helm looked at Gambit as he nodded, the raptor saluted before looking at Deviant who clearly looked away with his eyes closed.

Swiftscale walked back into camp with the youngsters who were running around in laughter.

"We will do something tonight to honor those who have lost their lives.", spoke Bloodmaw.

Helm looked around the camp as he looked at Bloodmaw, "I like the sounds of that."

Dingo nodded before looking at the youngsters, he of course looked at Swiftscale and grinned. "Do they listen to ya?"

Swiftscale looked at the youngsters and he some what smiled. "Sometimes."

Dingo laughed, "Don't give up mate!"

Swiftscale laughed before looking at Ebony who lay alone, he looked down.

The youngsters ran up to Dingo, Lesion was the first to speak. "I thought you were dead!"

Dingo laughed as he walked a little ways before laying down, "Nothing ain't going to kill me! Besides, you kids need my stories!"

Jr laughed while Lesion grinned, "I like your stories!"

Bloodmaw looked at everyone glad that his clan was growing, it was also good to see familiar faces again.

Helm laid down, he was clearly happy to be able to rest and not have to worry about the blind beasts. Dingo of course talked to the youngsters like some kind of grandparent would do.

Grim and Scarface returned before the sky had gotten dark. Both of them had captured a decent amount of blind herbivores. For once they had a good amount of food that will last them.

Of course they would have to keep a eye on the food supply for blind beasts tend to enter the camp and try to steal it.

With food and water, the clan was slowly flourishing and in time they would be able to be a strong clan. With Dingo and Helm joining them, the future is looking up.

Bloodmaw blinked taking notice of another familiar face coming from the distance, that female rex was slowly approaching them with her blind mate right behind.

Bloodmaw of course walked out quite curious, something had to have happened for her to appear.

Grim watched Bloodmaw closely, Scarface looked out in surprise. "Are they blind?", he asked.

"The female isn't but her mate is.", replied Grim which shocked Scarface.

Everyone watched Bloodmaw from the camp, besides Ebony and the youngsters.

"Hello there.", spoke Bloodmaw in respect.

The female rex smiled lightly in response, her blind mate snarled briefly behind her. "I have thought about what you said about joining the clan."

Bloodmaw blinked in surprise, "You have?"

The female rex nodded softly as she looked back at her mate, "He doesn't like being near others but if he is near me all the time I think he would be alright?"

Grim looked back at Deviant, his eyes narrowed at him before looking back at Bloodmaw. Scarface looked flustered, "Wait, are they joining us?"

"Sounds like it.", replied Grim.

Hearing this Deviant looked over in a panic, "Wait what!?!"

Gambit looked at him before saying, "Calm down, they won't hurt you."

Deviant slowly got to his feet which made Gambit looked at him in surprise.

Grim glared at Deviant, "Calm down!"

Deviant froze at Grim's words.

Deviant clearly had the attention of everyone on him, including Bloodmaw. The female rex glared at Deviant, her mate growled in a ominous way. "Do you have a problem with them joining us?", spoke Bloodmaw turning around and looking at him.

Deviant looked at everyone before looking at the female rex and her mate. The same rex who viciously attacked him with no mercy. Pain from his wounds pounded into his mind, and this brought fear.

"N-No.", replied Deviant who laid back down. Chills ran down his entire being, his eyes locked onto the two rexes who about killed him.

Bloodmaw looked at the female rex as he spoke, "You both are more than welcome to join."

The female rex smiled and she looked at her mate with that same smile. The blind rex at her side looked at her, his eyes locked onto hers.

"This of course means that you both will need names.", smiled Bloodmaw.

The female rex looked at him and she some what smiled, "I don't have a name though."

Bloodmaw chuckled lightly, "I thought of a name for you, since you came to us and talked to us. Harmony."

"Harmony?", replied the female rex looking at her mate a little flustered.

Bloodmaw nodded, "Yes, since you wanted to talk first. You could of easily had your mate attack us."

"Harmony it is then.", she spoke softly as she laughed a bit.

Bloodmaw looked at her blind mate, the beast stood close to her like a giant. "Now a name for your mate, does he have a certain skill or?"

Harmony looked funny as she looked at Bloodmaw, "My mate gets one too?"

"Of course.", chuckled Bloodmaw.

Helm smiled, clearly he trusted Bloodmaw and his decision.

Grim looked back at Deviant who looked to be some what restless, he could clearly see that he may do something.

"He likes to grab hold of creatures and doesn't let go.", replied Harmony trying her best to think of a skill her mate had.

Bloodmaw smirked, "In that case Lockjaw fits."

Harmony blinked and she looked at her mate as she made a sound, her blind mate replied in the same way. The sounds that they shared were quite animalistic, but it was a different language. The language of the blind beasts, that was probably what they were going to call it.

"He accepts the name.", smiled Harmony.

Bloodmaw smiled, "We welcome you, Harmony and Lockjaw."

Bloodmaw turned toward the camp with Harmony and Lockjaw right behind.

Grim turned away as he approached Deviant, the wounded brute was terrified of Lockjaw.

"I suggest you don't do anything,", spoke Grim as he walked by Deviant.

Deviant looked after him with his eyes narrowed before looking at the two who had almost killed him. He looked away trying his hardest to calm himself.

"You can lay anywhere you like.", spoke Bloodmaw as he looked at the two.

Harmony nodded as she walked to the corner of the camp, she looked at her mate who laid down. Lockjaw was unlike any rex that they had seen, he was massive compared to Bloodmaw and Grim.

Swiftscale looked at Ebony before walking over to her, this of course made her look up.

The baryonyx smiled at her before saying, "I am in the mood for fish, would you like me to catch you one?"

Ebony blinked back her tears before slowly saying as she tried to smile, "Thank you but I'm not really hungry."

Swiftscale nodded softly, "Oh okay. Maybe next time?" He kindly smiled.

Ebony nodded as she sobbed out a laugh, "Sure..!"

Swiftscale walked toward the stream with his gaze down, but he stopped when Helm called out to him.

"Hey, just wanted to say that you should give her a bit of time."

Swiftscale looked at him and he nodded, "Oh okay I didn't mean to..."

Helm smiled a bit, "Hey it is alright."

Swiftscale looked down before asking, "What happened if you don't mind me asking?"

Helm looked back at Ebony before looking at Swiftscale, he smiled at him. "I can tell you a bit I guess? Seeing you look like a trustworthy guy."

Swiftscale looked at him ready to speak.