19 Tension

"Ebony's mate sadly didn't make it.", spoke Helm. "That guy was a tough one, he never backed away from a fight nor did he ever leave anyone behind."

Swiftscale looked at Ebony before looking down, "Oh, did he die by the blind or?"

"The raid consisted of a great number of blind, to many to count actually. I stayed back with Dingo to try and help out but we were quickly outnumbered.", Helm looked serious thinking back to the raid. "Jagged, which was Ebony's mate came and helped us out."

Helm looked at Ebony as he continued. "Jagged was unlike anyone I'd seen. The guy had a big heart but a even bigger ego. He sure had a way of taking down the blind, but even he was outnumbered and I think he knew it."

Helm shook his head, "I didn't want to leave him but Jagged told me and Dingo to leave. He stayed back to buy us some time."

Swiftscale frowned upon hearing what he said, "Did you see him die?"

Helm looked at him fighting back the urge to cry, "I did, Dingo didn't look back but I did. Jagged was grabbed and brutally killed by those heartless creatures. Jagged kept fighting though, he fought to the very end."

Swiftscale gave him a small smile, "He sounded like a great guy."

Helm nodded with a proud smile, "Damn right he was, he was a good friend as well. Ebony and Jagged had known each other ever since they were teens. We were all teens that grew up together so in a funny way we were a family."

Swiftscale smiled before carefully asking, "How long were Jagged and Ebony together?"

Helm laughed a bit, "We joined Bloodmaw when we were teens, Jagged proposed to Ebony when all of us became young adults. If Jagged were alive they would of had a three year anniversary."

Swiftscale fidgeted with his claws as he listened, "I see."

Helm tilted his head as he asked, "Do you fancy Ebony?"

Swiftscale turned red in the face and he looked away, "I guess..."

Helm blinked before laughing, his laughter caused the baryonyx to flush more and hiss out. "Keep it down!?!"

Helm smiled at Swiftscale, "Sorry, I just never imagined a fish eater to fancy a meat eater."

Swiftscale looked at him like he was about to explode, he was completely red from head to toe. "I like her but I don't want to do anything when she is feeling down!"

Helm smiled at him, "You're a good guy. I guess I can give you Jagged's blessing."

Swiftscale looked confused, "Wait how can you..."

Helm chuckled walking back to camp, "We were all a family so I am sure Jagged won't mind."

Swiftscale watched him walk off before covering his face, "This is so...!"

The baryonyx shook his head before walking to the stream, he looked at the water quite focused.

As another day gets ready to disappear, did the blind carnivores get ready to do their haunting midnight song. The hunt was no doubt on for the unlucky creatures that they were hunting.

Swiftscale captured a fish, his eyes clouded as he thought about his own feelings. He was certain that he did like Ebony but Helm's words hit home. Fish eater and a meat eater? Surely, Ebony wouldn't mind him being a fish eater?

But he knew that it was a little strange, and no doubt many would be against such a union. How troubling this was for him. Swiftscale tore the meat off of the fish with his claws as he placed it into his mouth.

The baryoynx jumped when a low stomp occurred behind him, he looked back and swallowed hard. Grim stood there watching him, his eyes were so harsh. No doubt that he was angry with him liking Ebony as well.

"You like Ebony?", asked Grim in a low voice.

"Uh, I...", before Swiftscale could finish did Grim speak. "I know you do, and I don't like that."

The baryoynx looked at Grim, his eyes were locked onto Grim's eyes which were unkind.

"I can't help the way I feel.", replied Swiftscale quite calmly and kind. He was trying to be respectful.

Grim glared as he bared his fangs, "Just that response pisses me off!"

Swiftscale looked at the fish he had caught, his heart pounded in his chest as he said. "Didn't Ebony turn you down?"

The tension was in the air, and right when Swiftscale looked at Grim did he get pushed down roughly. "!?!"

Grim had Swiftscale pinned on the floor with his massive foot, his face was extremely hard as he looked down at the baryoynx. "It doesn't matter! I will make her see me! You try anything I will make you regret the day you were hatched!"

Swiftscale looked at Grim, he didn't say anything. Both brutes stared at each other, and it seemed like a fight was about to happen.

Grim removed his foot from Swiftscale as he walked off, his harsh gaze remained on Swiftscale before he fully walked away.

Swiftscale stood up, his eyes never left the behemoth. That was to be expected, now that Ebony had lost her mate. Grim was no doubt going to try his hardest to get Ebony, of course it was a dominance thing. Most if not all male rexes used intimidation against other brutes.

Swiftscale walked back to camp, he had never been in a fight over a female before. This was definitely a first for him. But, he couldn't help his feelings.

Ebony was someone who was tough but had a outgoing personality, she was a chatterbox as well when it comes to the things she likes. Grim was probably drawn to that, much like Swiftscale.

The camp was lively with conversation, the small clan was some what bigger do to others joining. Swiftscale walked into the camp, he looked at the youngsters who were already asleep.

Bloodmaw was talking to Helm and Dingo, while Gambit was teasing Scarface as always. Swiftscale decided to lay next to Scarface feeling a little safer by being near him.

Gambit looked at Swiftscale, "How did fishing go?"

"O-Oh good.", replied the baryoynx.

Scarface looked at Swiftscale before glancing over at Ebony, Grim was talking to her which got his attention. Swiftscale looked at Scarface before looking in the direction that he was.

Gambit looked at the same direction before looking away and looking at Swiftscale. "Did Grim go fishing with you?", asked the raptor quietly.

Swiftscale looked at Gambit stunned, "..!"

There was nothing that got by Gambit, this raptor was to good.

Scarface blinked looking at Gambit, "Wait..?"

Scarface was smart at times, course he was excellent at hunting and tracking. When it came to certain things, then he was a little slow.

Swiftscale looked down before saying, "Yeah."

Gambit looked at Grim with his eyes some what narrowed. The raptor looked at Swiftscale as he said, "Did he do something to you?"

Of course Swiftscale seemed a little hesitant, so leave it to Gambit to notice right away.

Scarface frowned looking at Swiftscale, he didn't look to pleased.

Swiftscale shook his head, he tried his best to not start something. "We just talked."

The clan was a good place, but of course there was always something bound to happen. It could never stay peaceful for to long. If it wasn't a blind beast it was a behemoth showing off his dominance.

Gambit looked at him before looking at Grim in silence, Scarface looked at Swiftscale with a smile. "As long as you both talked we shouldn't worry."

Deviant had his eyes focused on Harmony and Lockjaw, he didn't feel at ease with them there. Why would they join all of a sudden, unless they were wanting to kill him when someone wasn't looking.

Paranoia was something that haunted many minds, everyone at some point has felt it before. In a harsh world like this one, paranoia was as common as simple annoying mosquitoes.

Harmony was asleep, while Lockjaw had his massive frame and tail curled around his mate. The brute had his eyes closed with his massive cranium next to Harmony's smaller head.

Deviant looked at everyone with restless eyes, he was debating on what he should do. He was not going to stay there with both rexes there.

Swiftscale blinked as he noticed Grim laying next to Ebony, he of course felt his chest squeeze. He looked away as he laid his head down. Scarface looked at Swiftscale a little worried, while Gambit looked at Grim and then Deviant.

Gambit was keeping a close eye on Deviant, restless brutes can never be trusted.

"Everyone I would like to give a speech.", spoke Bloodmaw.

Swiftscale looked at Bloodmaw curiously, he knew what the speech would be about.

Harmony opened her eyes as she looked at Bloodmaw, while Lockjaw continued to sleep.

"We lost some who were important to us, and it is not only me but everyone here. We have lost those who are irreplaceable to us family, mates, children as well as friends. I would like to remember them on this night, if we speak about them then they are truly never forgotten." , Bloodmaw spoke sincerely with respect.

Scarface nodded clearly touched by his words. Gambit smiled lightly, "Never forget."

Ebony smiled softly at Bloodmaw, "Never."

His words were hard to forget, only cause they wouldn't forget. With this speech they will talk about those who have lost their lives, and by doing so they can somewhat live on in memories.

Harmony smiled, she had lost the chance of being a parent but she wouldn't forget them as well as what Bloodmaw said. She hopes that by being in this clan her mate as well as herself can properly try again. By being in a clan, they could help each other and learn.

Helm laughed at Dingo, "I wish I could forget your stories!"

Dingo gave him a good sized grin, "You can't forget them! They are one of a kind!"

Bloodmaw chuckled feeling alive by hearing laughter.

Swiftscale looked at Ebony happy to see her smile, but his eyes quickly looked away when Grim looked.

The night didn't seem so bad, with laughter it was hard to believe that there were blind beasts and beyond greedy tyrants.

Devastate continued to walk into the night, Belle was asleep on his back. The low sound of crickets rang out under the blind carnivores song, the behemoth blinked picking up a familiar scent.

Looking in the direction of the scent did he blinked, it was faint but he knew it. Scarface but, wasn't he dead?

Devastate walked in that direction, his eyes were wide. Did that mean he wasn't dead? The behemoth quickly walked in the direction of the scent, what would happen if he encountered Scarface again.

The behemoth struggled to decide if he should continue to find Scarface or not. There was a high chance that he wouldn't forgive him. Devastate kept walking, just seeing that he was okay was enough for him.

The night gave the world a luminous glow, the sky was full with stars. Smaug looked at these stars with faint interest. He shouldn't of let that rex leave. He was a worthy opponent. The brute looked in the direction that the rex and raptor went. Why stand around and wait?

Smaug smirked as he began to walk in that direction, he looked back at the sound of footsteps behind him. Two baryoynx walked out of the water following their master, both were blind and wore skulls from allosaurus.

"Hunt that rex and raptor.", he ordered.

Both baryoynx darted in the direction of Devastate and Belle, Smaug smiled as he followed quickly behind. "Stop him from going to far and catch that rat! She will be used!", chuckled Smaug. The thrill of the next fight increased his excitement.

Devastate continued onward not aware of the approaching danger of Smaug and his two pets soon to catch up to him.