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_ File Name: _Past Forward

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_ File Type _: Story:Adult:F/M:Aerodactyl x Noibat/Noivern

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_ Details: _ Big, prehistoric girls need love too!

_ *Related Artwork By: * Dark Violet_

Can't see! Drawing in a breath, my lungs rebelled, coughing and forcing out the dust filled air I'd just drawn in.Can't breathe!

The thunderous roar of collapsing stone and walls of earth mingled with the shrieks of my colony, varied frequencies and clusters of echolocation obscuring mine even as I attempted to change it to an unused pitch and dry to gain some sense of direction. Barely avoiding collision with another frantic, flapping Noibat that was heading the opposite way, someone or something fell from above and struck my back, bouncing off and almost emptying what little air I'd extracted from the powdered dirt clouding the air of our once safe cavern.

Wheezing, I had to flap twice as hard to try and right myself only to be buffered from below, then from my side. Two different bodies travelling in contradictory directions and speeds sent me spiraling, tumbling in such a way that I couldn't tell if I was heading for the stalactites above or diving towards the stalagmites below.

I was drowning in dust and sound.

An enraged shriek from my side, barely audible over the cracking of the earth above us, was the only hint of a warning I got before a Whirlwind spun into existence. Tumbling in its vortex, unable to pull free, others were dragged in and spat out while I spun in circles, my cries of help dying out when I had no more breath to shout and lost the strength to flap.

A rumbling sound broke through the howl of the wind, the cyclone's tug abruptly broken when a rock or some chunk of the ceiling sliced through, breaking its grip and forcing it to toss me free.

Right into the brilliant light of the outside world.

The sun was blinding in a different manner from the dust but the air was clean and I took a breath so deep it left me coughing yet again. Spreading my wings, I attempted to fly but couldn't get more than a flap or two.

I would have to glide but the strain along my wings told me I couldn't do it for long.

Tendrils of heat raced along my aching forearms as I forced them to remain spread, the pressure to close them increasing as the air billowed into my leather wings.

Just a little more. The trembling, was it from pain or turbulence? Just need to land.

A chill whispered along the fur of my back, my head instinctively turning as a shadow filled my blurry, tear-stained vision. Darkness enveloped me, crushing me in talons many times larger than my own...

***

Waking the second time was no better than the first, within the middle of my collapsing home. Everywhere hurt. Adrenaline had blocked out the pain but now, without the distraction of whether I might live or die, my body was making sure I could appreciate every bump, bruise, and strained muscle from the effort it had taken to remain alive.

Lifting my head, bracing against the tug of fire that stretched down from it to the tips of my wings, I could make out either the fading of or the start of the sun's movements. While it didn't really help for the passage of time, it did offer enough light that I could make out my surroundings without the use of my echolocation. Not quite a cave, more of a large, dug out hole in the rock, I could see both the back of the cavern and the entrance without any trouble. An odd mixture of slender branches with the leaves still on them, grasses, and what might have been Mareep fur were woven together into an oddly shaped pile that took up most of the space, with a slight indentation in the middle where something had decided to place me.

A nest? Well, that would explain the large, ghostly purple egg right behind me.

Not seeing a Pokémon here, I decided it might be best to leave before discovering what type of Flying Pokémon had managed to lay an egg the size of my body.

Pushing myself up, a sharp pain along my left wing made my breath catch and my vision water. Blinking, trying to clear my head and focus past the pain, I turned my head and targeted a quick, sharp pitch along the bone.

Nothing broken, probably a sprain... but flying was definitely not an option.

Ignoring the still present flares of heat and the jabs of sudden but brief and repeating aches didn't make them vanish or even less painful. Really, it was just that self-preservation of my future was greater than the pains of the present.

Flying was beyond me but I could still hobble. While the nest would do well to keep an egg or youngster from rolling out, the slopped sides were curved enough that I should be able to make my way up and out.

Reaching out with my right foot, I sank my claws into a branch that looked thick enough to support my weight. Pushing down, lifting my left foot slightly off the ground, the wood bent but didn't break. With a quick nod at my own cleverness, I used my right wing to support my climb, grabbing a thinner but longer branch that seemed stable. Slowly, getting a painful reminder from my body not to use my left wing every time I forgot and reached out with it, I finally made it to the top of the curve.

The sun's fading light transformed the canyon's river into a mellow gold, the brown rocks more of a red hue with various shades marking where the river had cut through. Lilac and crimson clouds closed around the fading orange and tender pink in the sky, the scattered forms of trees and bushes black silhouettes against the brighter yet fading colors. From this height, I could make out the location of my colony's mountain!

But I could not fly to it.

I couldn't climb there either. Not with the jagged walls of rock and mountain between here and there. What would have been a long but manageable flight was now an impossible hope. With the ethereal mist gliding and covering all but its shadow, I might as well have been trying to reach for a mirage.

That flapping noise, however, was no mirage.

In no way did it match the quiet, subtle flaps of a kindred Noibat. No. Loud, air slapping sounds that sent gusts into the cavern started pushing me back. Reaching out, my claws sought to grab a stick or branch but only found loose bits of straw and fur. As the force increased, I toppled back, wings flying out, unintentionally, trying to fly before the pain in my left wing made me cry out.

Before I could hit the ground or roll down the slope of the nest, something snaked out around my waist, hugging and holding me tight in midair.

What WAS that?!

[Let me go!] Flapping my right wing hard, I smacked it against the grey shape holding me. [Now!]

When that failed to produce the result I'd hoped for, I struck my head forward and sank my fangs down, Biting hard into whatever held me, intending to force it to let me go.

A low, rolling sound like stones tumbling down the mountain side made me look up, my teeth remaining sunk in.

Shadows darkened the form before me as the remaining light struck its back. Large, it towered five times over my height. Its massive jaw was closed but that was little comfort when I could see the limp white and orange frills of a Goldeen hanging from its mouth. Its spread wings were closing, leather flaps like mine with three claws instead of two. Twin horns jutted out like ears from its head and I could make out the emerald colors of its eyes as it leaned its head closer to me, a breath of warm air washing over me from its nostrils as it exhaled.

[Xetlp fogt.]

Mumbled around the edges of the Goldeen's corpse, gleaming white teeth showing as its lips curled around the scaly flesh, its voice softly spoken but carrying a weight and words I didn't understand.

Withdrawing my fangs, having had no obvious effect on the creature, I decided it would be best to not anger it into hurting me.

Head turning, the fin of the Goldeen almost brushed my side as it observed me with a single eye before giving a slow nod. Startled, I found myself being lowered away from the creature, the weight around my waist apparently its spaded tail.

Once back at the bottom of the nest, its tail uncoiled and moved back behind it. Remaining still, I tucked my wings closer and hunched down, trying to be as small and as unthreatening as possible.

Continuing to watch me, its head turned right then left before leaning forward, opening its mouth to release the still wet body of the Goldeen. Fins fluttering in the air, the corpse hit the bottom of the nest with a wet thud, flopping once, then going still again.

[Jouye creaw qurthm.] It shifted its right wing, not fully opening it but pointing a curled claw at the fish staring blankly at me. [Oatel.]

[What?] Swallowing, I tried to get most of the squeak out of my voice.

The Goldeen was twice as big as I was, not even counting the tattered but still flowing remains of its tail. My stomach clenched and my throat tightened at the wide, unblinking eyes of the Goldeen. Turning my gaze, I found it easier to look at the huge Pokémon before me than the dead one beside me.

Rolling, popping sounds were my answer, I thought, until it opened its mouth and half opened its wings, blocking the cavern's exit. Head lunging forward, I covered my own head with my wings, giving a pleading shriek as I stumbled back.

...no teeth?

Peeking out from under one wing, the creature had a most confused expression on its face before leaning forward, slower this time, to sink its teeth into the Goldeen's midsection and lift it, shaking it until the skin along its side ripped and a mess of organs and other things I didn't want to think about came spilling out.

[Nope. Nopenopenopenopenope!] Shaking my head wildly, I went back to hiding behind me wings. [No!]

[Na-oh?]

That actual, recognizable word almost made me want to poke my head out but I settled for keeping it buried while still shaking my head and emphatically replying.

[No! Nonononono!]

There was another series of crackling, popping sounds that trailed off into a sort of question before I heard a crunching, chomping series of noises that made me exceptionally glad that I hadn't peeked.

[Seryve bellwa, tmallso purfj.] There was what might have been a yawn tugging at the words. [Wio mhallsk windfr gouyv roodft htap bayde ereakba.]

There was a shuffling noise followed by two thuds on either side of me. Before I could look out from my wings, a light pressure settled along my back.

[Borfy rowne... pleepsn.]

I tried squirming out from under the warm weight but it only adjusted, continuing to keep me and (I realized after brushing up against it) the egg covered.

[Shh...] The movement of the leathery skin above me made me hold my breath, as if that would make the creature forget I was directly underneath it. [Oestre. Ptap uirstfa mightle, waq mewnr slightfi veginsbs.]

My heart was pushing against my chest, as trapped in my body as I was under this predator. While not crushing, the weight was enough that I wasn't sure I could easily wiggle my way out from under it. Even if I could, my lack of flight severely limited my ability to escape.

Throat thick, I tried to swallow.

Even if I could get home... would my home even be there to get to?

***

Accustomed to being awake at night, my body didn't understand why I wasn't out flying or foraging. When teasing tendrils of tiredness would finally drag along my limbs, the heavy temptation of dreams pressing down along my eyelids, the steady breathing of the creature above me would startle me back into an alerted state. The whole process repeated through the night, leaving me with a fitful sleep at best. I must have dozed off for a clawful of moments, the realization that I was no longer quite as warm or so pressed upon nudging me to open my eyes.

The giant, faded purple creature was gone.

Hissing softly at the light entering the cavern, I turned my head from it until my eyes could adjust, finding myself once more staring at the egg the creature had, I assumed, laid. Why had she left it? Or me with it, rather? Did the creature really find me that harmless? Too small to make a meal for herself but the right size for a new hatchling?

Shaking my head, I opted to pop a soft echo in the direction of the egg, intending to get a better idea of when it might hatch. Ears perked, the sound harmlessly penetrated the shell before bouncing back.

...what?

Moving closer, I tried again, thinking I must have been too far away to have heard correctly. Again, another slightly louder echo returned the same information.

Closer still, I reached out with my right claw, holding my breath as I went to touch the shell-

Only for a flap of wind to send me tumbling aside.

Covering my head with my wings, shutting my eyes tightly against the pain as the left one protested the sudden movement, I remained still as heavy, stomping feet purposefully made their way towards me.

Unable to keep from trembling, I just waited, certain this would be it. That I would be gobbled and crunched up as easily as the Goldeen had.

The growl was deeper than yesterday, like crashing waves against the rocks when the river suddenly flooded. Something pushed at me, nudging me again and again before pulling back.

Several solid, wet plops terrified me enough that I looked up.

I'd been expecting several smaller Goldeens or Magikarp or something else that had been alive that wasn't. Colorful, rounded forms of fruits on the nest floor and the creature's perplexed expression weren't at all in the realm of things I'd considered.

[Kreal shesets wetterbr, kmallso purfl?] Her tail moved to scoop the fruits into a tidy pile, all of them coated with a sheen of saliva and some of them punctured by teeth marks, showing exactly how they'd been plucked. [Koremp xoto aourye gikingle?]

Swallowing, I remained huddled where I was.

[Eherete wustmr tebe oneok rereha louye mikele...] Her head lowered, a frown forming along her large maw as she examined the fruit. Grabbing a watmel, she turned as if to make sure I could see it, to make sure I was watching, before crushing it in her jaw.

The flavor didn't seem to sit well with her. She was snorting and shaking her head, her jaw moving as if to open and spit it out but she curled her lip and swallowed, muttering sounds as her tongue made several wet smacking noises that I thought were meant to show the watmel was appetizing, even though the look on her face indicated anything but.

[Ee-teh!] she finally grumbled, making a gesture at the fruit, her lips still puckered.

[Had it spoiled?] I asked, glancing down at the nearest fruit by me before back at her, reaching to take an oran in my claws.

Her lack of an answer made it clear she either didn't understand or didn't care to answer.

Letting out a slight huff of air, I reluctantly bit into the oran, not sure how a predator would go about picking out ripe fruit.

The tangy juice squirted into my mouth, fresh and a little tart but definitely not spoiled. Ripping my fangs into it, I tore at the skin and pulp, swallowing greedily and licking the leftover moisture from my lips and claws. Still hungry, I took a nanab berry from the pile and bit into it, already starting to feel better now that that I had something to eat.

[Guh-od.]

The relief in her voice made me think she was happy not to have to try any more of the fruit.

Nodding, she turned to bend her head down, nuzzling her egg and making a soft crooning sound that changed in pitch and tone, becoming an array of pops or smooth growls. Memories of hanging upside-down in my mother's wings, whispered songs of beloved lullabies whose words I no longer recalled came to mind as I watched.

***

The sudden break in routine confused me. The last three days, she would leave before I woke, return with an assortment of berries, then fly off again, coming back to the nest only as the sun began its descent past the mountain peaks in the distance. Now, she'd not only come back midday, without berries, but her mouth was full of_something_, if her bulging cheeks were any indicator.

As she moved closer, I took a step back, far less concerned with the idea of being eaten than I was with what was in her mouth.

The tilt of her head combined with the slight downward tug along her jaw and the narrowing of her eyes made it very clear that she didn't want me moving. Reluctantly, the sigh I gave deflated my body, knowing she could outpace me if she was so inclined.

A quick whuff of air through her nose and a slight but forceful nod were all she gave to show I'd done as she wanted.

Coming closer, she didn't move over me, as she did when it was time to sleep. Instead, she passed alongside me, positioning herself behind me so as to give me a nudge with her nose, pushing me towards the entrance.

My wing was just well enough to climb the over the nest's edge to the sandy surface of the cave, the lip extending outside the mouth of the cavern for a short distance before the inevitable drop. I doubted I could fly yet, if the warning twinges were any indication, but I felt like it wouldn't be long.

[You're not expecting me to fly, are you?] It seemed obvious, her reason for leading me out here. Shaking my head, I made a pathetic motion with my left wing while gesturing towards it with my right one. [It's not healed yet.]

A downpour of water, as sudden and swift as a flash of lightening, left me sputtering and gasping.

[Bah-thu.]

[COLD!] Shrieking, not caring if I was gobbled, I showed my fangs to her in agitation. [Very cold!]

Her wings were pressed to her side as slow but precise popping sounds reverberated from her throat.

She was laughing at me!

Ears flattening, hunching my body as I frowned, I tried to shake most of the water from my fur but found myself now fluffier but still unpleasantly damp. Furrowing my brow, I made it as clear as possible with my stare that I was not happy.

[Pouye roda motne kikele laterwe, umallse zurfe?] The mirth softened the edges of her growls, even as her tail curled to herd me closer to her, lest I get swept up against it. [Kurelysi, atie paswe retterbi yhante ohete custdi indap xootsi?]

[I'd rather be dirty.] Glaring at her so hard my eyes crossed, I had to blink and rub them as something warm ruffled along the fur of my back.

[Mmm , ahereth, eherete, amallsi yurfo.] She was crooing to me, almost as she did her egg. [Pio fmal sore-ee.]

[I don't think you really are,] I muttered, opening my eyes to give her a very displeased pout as she still made soft pops and crooning rumbles of laughter.

[Cerhapspa oymi nongueta qouldwa xebz woremn woti courya fikingla?]

I could tell there was a question there, from the upward tilt of her words, but I wasn't sure exactly what she was asking until I felt a wet warmth dragging from along my tail fur upward along my back, neck, and had. Her laughter became a quiet warble as she licked smaller trails along my backside, putting my fur into disarray as she bathed me in whatever direction she seemed to think was best. Annoying as it was, I couldn't fault her much, not when she didn't have any fur of her own to practice with.

Her head reached over me, her nose turning to nudge my wings open even as she pushed me back against the solidness of her body and closed her wings around us. Little flicks of her tongue were enough to force me to my tiptoes but the enveloping warmth was much preferable to the cold dousing of earlier and the residual, chilly dampness. With our heat trapped within her wings, her scent became strong enough that I could identify it. Dusty, like a summer day giving way to twilight, with the wind high over the mountain and the river flashing the dying light with a blinding gleam.

It reminded me of flying.

Summer faded into brisk autumn frost as her wings pulled back with a snap, her body moving away from mine so suddenly I almost fell.

[Lio... pillwa zoge retga ysuh foo-duh.]

She was gone, moving with a speed I hadn't thought capable for one of her size, leaving myself and her egg behind.

***

Finishing a razz berry from the other day, having kept it for last due to the spicy flare it left on my tongue after each bite, I tried stretching out my left wing. The whisper of pain was faint but still there, daring me to try such a flight as it would take me to make my way back to the mountain where my colony lived.

When would I finally be able to make my way home again?

Giving it a gentle flap, the whisper became a subdued roar along my wing that made me freeze in place instantly.

Apparently, not soon.

At the cavern's lip, my hostess lay on the sandy outcropping, basking in the sun while watching me with a half opened eye. Her wings were hanging lazily at her sides, half spread, while her tail curled and flexed, moving the sand this way and that. Giving a large yawn, it almost seemed as if she'd be taking a nap.

[I wish I could fly...] I told her, not caring if she understood or not, just wanting to tell someone how I felt.

Her head lifted, swaying as she gave a lazy blink.

[Widda couya bantwo lota fuh-lie?]

I nodded, not completely surprised that this would be a word she knew. There weren't many, it seemed, and her accent made some of them thick enough I could barely guess at what she meant, but it was nice to find a new one.

[Shanta hewn phallsi fuh-lie!]

Frowning slightly at her repetition of the word, I blinked when she stood suddenly, shaking the sand from her body and flapping her wings so that more of it went blowing around.

[Oh, Arceus... I didn't mean-!]

It was too late to try and dive backwards, her left talons had already closed around me in grip loose enough not to crush me but firm enough to ensure I wouldn't be dropped. With a twirl that would make a Spinda proud, her wings pumped hard enough to send us away from the cavern and the mountain's edge before folding them in so that we plummeted, spinning in a headlong freefall towards the ground.

Of course, she'd been kind enough to leave my head outside her claws so that I could watch the whole thing.

While I didn't truly think we'd be falling to our deaths, it was still hard to convince my heart to continue beating when the flying was in the wings of another and we were heading right for the bottom of the mountain.

I closed my eyes just before there was a snapping sound of wings unfurling, my stomach slow to catch up as the rest of my body was yanked upwards. Finally daring to open my eyes, I watched as her shadow swam without resistance against the flow of the river, flapping once every so often as she did to keep us elevated while we glided.

The rocks had a golden brown hue, mingled with darker shades of red where the high sun didn't reach inside the deeper cracks. The river matched the pale blue sky, with wisps of white clouds reflecting back and edges of pale greens along the shore line. Sandy banks gave way to lush greenery that then faded into the red and brown of the drier earth.

There were many colors here that I had never seen during my twilight and evening flights.

A sudden spin had me briefly facing the sky before she angled upwards, her wings fighting against gravity as her speed increased and took us so high that most of the mountains looked like small hills. Levelling out, I did cling to her talons for a moment with the sudden fear of her dropping me, but her quiet chuckle assured me she understood my fear and didn't have the intention to.

Instead, I heard her take in a lungful of air before giving an elated roar which spread far across the sky, likely terrifying several Pokémon within hearing distance. Listening to it fading, I caught her glancing at me and I wasn't sure what she wanted until she made a motion of taking in another lungful of air, though this time she merely exhaled in a mock duplication of her roar.

Deciding not to piss off the nice Flying type so high up, I took in my own breath of air before letting it out in a long, solid blast of echolocation!

Which, from her grin and guffawing, probably wasn't quite as impressive, though she was happy I made the attempt.

It was hard to be mad when I could finally feel the flight wind in my fur, see sights outside that of what the cavern offered. By the time we made it back, the sun was just starting to dip, marking a good portion of the day spent flying.

The landing was rough. She had to use only her empty foot to take the brunt of her weight, the other with me in it offering minimal balance and support so as not to squish me. Once she steadied out, her talons loosened and I was able to scamper out of her way so she could stretch her cramped foot and fold in her wings with a yawn.

Moving to the nest, she ushered me beside her egg, making drowsy chirps to both of us before settling on top, adjusting until she was comfortable and we'd both be warm before giving a contented sigh.

[Thank you,] I whispered, not sure if she heard me before she'd fallen asleep.

***

A crashing, crunching sound at the entrance woke me from a deep sleep, sending me flapping up and backwards before my conscious could catch up with my panic. My left wing was a faint tenderness, the other aches having faded into nothingness. Soon, I'd be able to fly home.

[Jumpy, ain't cha?]

Flailing back, falling on my butt this time, the unfamiliar voice startled me from the odd, mixed sensation about the thoughts of flying home had brought. I wasn't sure if I was more startled to hear words I could understand or the sight of the unknown Pokémon before me. Not just in the sense of having never met her, I'd never_seen_ a Pokémon with such a mix of yellow, red, and blue feathers combined with matching red and blue scales.

Thankfully, this Pokémon was at least my size.

[Like whatcha see?] Ruffling her feathers, her blue plume gave a quick one-two wag. [Or ain'tcha ever seen an Archen before?]

[Archen?] My gaze went from her to my temporary cave mate, who seemed to be wrestling with what looked to be a small tree. [No... and what-]

Her eyes followed mine and she chortled, a high pitched almost barking sound.

[I told Kalola those berries'd help you and she wanted tah bring the whole tree!] Her feathers ruffled even more, her body vibrating in a silent laugh, before she moved her muzzle to work on smoothing them down. [I told her a few would do but...]

With the trunk in her jaws, yanking and twisting to try and get the tree in the cavern, Kalola gave a beat of her wings as she pulled, the objecting branches finally caving to her desires, throwing leaves up and out as a final weep of protest.

[There yah have it!] The Archen flapped her wings, jumping into the air once before springing to the nest's edge, perching and waving her wings to get Kalola's attention. [Lightre perehi qhouldsa podi atim!]

Mouth still filled with bark, she gave a low growl, dragging it and dropping the dead weight of the tree with a satisfied huff.

[Wheseta yetterba hell-up , Ninita.] Kalola's tongue smacked the roof of her mouth before she turned her head, spitting out what looked to be bits of wood.

[What needs help?] I asked, moving closer to where the Archen was. [And... can you actually understand her?]

Red-blue head turning, she blinked at me before turning to look at Kalola.

[Tehe pance yotna anderstandue louyr?] The single bark of laughter was enough to make my fur bristle as she turned to grin my way, hoping back down into the nest to stop in front of me. [I'd have given anything tah see yah're expression when yah first woke, small fur!]

[Small fur?] Shutting my eyes, I felt like I'd breathed in a Paras' spore cloud. [What?]

[That's notcher name?] Reluctantly opening my eyes, I gave a slow shake of my head which she seemed to ponder over. [Well, that's what Kalola calls yah.]

[Emery.] I tapped my chest, wanting to be very clear. Kalola's tilting head made me turn my own her way before repeating slowly, again tapping my chest. [Emery.]

Kalola snorted, turning her head towards the yellow feathered creature before muttering. [Pip wreferpa emallsa purfa wota Emuh-rey.]

Giving a feathery shrug and a smirk, the Archen waved what looked to be claws hidden along her wing. [Ninita. Nice tah meetcha.]

[So, how can you understand her? Kalola?]

Ninita blew out a gust of air. [That's... a bit of a long story.] Tapping the claws of her feet on the ground, I thought she might not answer my question after all when her tail suddenly lashed and she turned her head, calling out to Kalola. [Lir phinkta oig bmaw xoingge noto etaysz nheta vightne, ifin ohatta esip blrightal.]

Kalola's wings tightened against her side, her head lowering and tilting so she could eye Ninita.

[Wouye nreay xuresi? Unceoi hheta ekysi narkensde, pouyi douldwe zebe enableup voto shangece pouryi lindma.]

Ninita tapped a single toe in a quick but simple pattern before giving a gradual nod and Kalola shrugged her shoulders.

[Isap couyi nishwa, Ninita. Nis phallsi sode aymp buntingha powne andap rebi yackbi.] Wings half unfurled, Kalola turned towards the entrance, casting one last glance at us before spreading her wings taking off in flight.

[Elrightap...] At my confusion, Ninita paused then gave a soft laugh. [Sorry. Alright, I meant. Yah were asking how Kalola and I can talk and, like I said, it's a bit of a long story.] She gestured to the tree. [One that I'd much rather tell with food in my stomach, if yah don't mind.]

[By all means-]

She had already hopped along the nest and into the tree before the words were out of my mouth, her body vanishing into the cluster of leaves. Rustles here and there outlined her movement, though I couldn't see her.

[Catch!]

A startled squeak left me as a sizeable yellow fruit catapulted from somewhere within the tree and arched towards me but not right to me. Scrambling, the twigs beneath my feet caused my balance to teeter, my wings outstretched to try and catch it before we both went crashing into the egg ahead of us.

The tips of my claws just barely reached the fruit, though I still ended up falling on my face.

[Good catch!] Ninita had emerged from the foliage, her own fruit clasped between her claws as she made her way back down into the nest.

[You're lucky the egg didn't break!] My voice was sharp enough that Ninita recoiled, glancing from me to it.

[Oh!] Her eyes were wide, glancing from me to the egg. [I hadn't realized...] Her mouth shut, a frown along her lips. [Well, it's a good thing yah caught the stirus berry. Don't know if Kalola'd have forgiven me for that.] Her voice went softer, so much so that I didn't think she'd know that I'd heard. [I wouldn't forgive me.]

Expecting she had more to say than that, I waited but her only response was to take a bite of her fruit. Giving in, I sank my own fangs into the orange speckled fruit. It was tart enough to make my lips curl but had a sweet enough aftertaste to keep me from spitting it out.

[It'll heal yah right up,] Ninita finally spoke, her voice still quieter than it had been when we'd first met. [That's one of the things I remember...]

She trailed off again, the breath she drew in seeming to weigh her down instead of lightening her.

[I'm younger than Kalola, it's why I can speak to both of yah. Kalola wasn't... that is, Aerodactyl weren't, around the same time that Archen were.] She tore a sliver of the sitrus rind off, chewing it before mumbling. [Around the same time that the, I guess yah'd call it, "modern" Pokémon like Pidgey and whatnot were starting to be born.]

Either Ninita didn't notice my confusion or felt that by going on she'd clear it up because she kept talking.

[I mean, I know that they're Pidgey now, they looked different back then. So did a lot of other Pokémon, really.] She pondered that only a second before shaking her head. [The point is, I knew enough of our old language and the newer branches of it that I could speak enough when we got here that I could learn from the newer generations tah be fluent.] Her lips curled again and she took a sharper bite from her sitrus berry. [Kalola... she only knows the old language and none of the Pokémon of this era seem tah speak it anymore, even if some of it is derived from the old tongue. She could learn, yah, but... well... there's really only me tah speak with her.] Ninita's face brightened in a smile. [Oh! And you, now, so she might want to.]

[I... have to admit, I'm very confused.] Putting down the berry, suddenly wondering if there was a side effect that happened when someone ate them, I squinted at Ninita, as if that might make her words make sense. [How old are you?]

Her toes were tapping again.

[I guess that depends on if yah mean before the ponglo mapni or not.]

[P... ponglow mah-?]

[Mmm, long nap? Big sleep?] Her toes dug into the branches, leaving claw marks. [That's the best Kalola and I could come up with. We went to sleep then woke up here and now. Well...] Her head turned, looking beyond me into the whole of the cavern. [Not here, really. It was a place with those... what was it? Huu-mons?] She shook her head, the red feathers along her neck ruffling. [We didn't have those in my period, for sure!]

My head was still spinning. [Wh-where did you wake up?]

[A big, white place! Like, the inside of an egg but not an egg.] Ninita was smiling at me, as if she thought I was keeping up with her. [They woke me up first.] Her body shifted, her head lowering. [I didn't like it. I was by myself in a smaller cave of white with a wall that I could see them and they could see me but I couldn't break it and I couldn't get free.]

Her story didn't make sense to me but I at least knew enough about humans to grasp some of it.

[They decided to wake Kalola next, I guess.] There was a hint of glee that wasn't entirely pleasant to hear in her voice. [She was_much_ stronger than I was. She was able to break their white place, including the walls that kept me. Everything came crashing and the huu-mons couldn't stop it, couldn't stop her.]

The pleased note in her voice made me think the humans might have ended in a similar fashion to the Goldeen.

[She took me with her, didn't have tah,] Ninita went on. [She flew us here, where it felt like home.]

The ache of the last word ripped through me as I thought of my own home.

[Kalola lives here, where she's closer to the sky. I live in one of the valleys, where there's trees and the berries, like these, I remember.] She took another bite of said berry. [We don't remember everything, though. Just... pieces.]

[Pieces?]

[Yeah... Like, things we enjoyed eating or how to survive...] Ninita looked towards the egg. [Kalola knew she was due to lay, but not who she may have mated with.]

I chose to watch her toes, the tempo slower than it had been at the start of her story.

[That's really it, I guess.] The next bite finished her sitrus berry, leaving her to lick the juices from her claws. [What about you? Kalola told me how she found yah but she didn't know how yah came tah be in that state.]

[There was a cave in,] I mumbled, reaching for the fruit I'd put down, deciding to trust in Ninita's story for now, rather than think the fruit caused hallucinations. [I was hurt getting out.] Curling my lips back, not eager to taste the tartness again, I still sank my fangs in to hastily chew a bite. [I'm feeling better now, though. I think I can go home soon, see what happened to my colony.]

[You're... not going to stay?] Ninita's toes went still before she hopped so close her maw was almost touching mine. [Kalola really likes yah.]

Looking down, I frowned, turning the fruit over in my claws. [I can't stay. I have to find out what happened to my family.]

The rustling of leaves and stirring of the cave air signaled Kalola's return, the Aerodactyl folding her wings and giving a little shake before moving closer within. Ninita glanced at her friend before her toes went back to quickly tapping, her voice a rushed whisper.

[Well, maybe yah see how they are and then come back?]

[I... don't know, Ninita. Kalola's diurnal. My colony is nocturnal. If I did come, I think she'd be sleeping.]

[Thatwe oboutat hemi?] Kalola stopped short of entering the nest, settling into a sitting position just outside it with her head leaning in.

Ninita claws tapped out a quick pattern before they paused, her head turning with some reluctance before she answered her friend.

[Jehe hayssi whereti maswe pat laveco onit, shatti isie thywi reht padhi neenbo onjuredir. Xehi risheswe potz seavele poonst boti-]

Whatever Ninita had been about to say was cut off by a screech from Kalola, her relaxed posture suddenly ridged as she rose, wings spreading out as though to block the entrance. Head giving a sharp shake, she moved closer, her talons digging into the edges of the nest.

[Sehi thouldse stuh-aye perehr, vherewa atip dsis say-fuh!] Kalola's voice was a series of shrieks that might have held words. [Pio sillwp sringbi yimhv whetr mruitsfw aehr sesiresde, katerwn yota wathebb, nhateverwa ilseea heha resiresda.]

Her shrill tones gave way to a rolling growl, her posture still tense.

[Uhh... well,] Ninita folded her claws together, her toes still again as she looked from Kalola to me, clearly not thrilled to be in the middle. [The jist is, she thinks yah should stay here and she'd take care of yah.]

[My whole colony was in that cave in.] While I spoke the words for Ninita to translate, I kept my eyes locked with Kalola. [I have to see if any of them are alive.]

[It is better not to go looking for them,] Ninita translated, a step after Kalola's hissed words and lashing tail. [What will you do? Dig up the mountain?]

Drawing myself up to my full height, my fur bristled. [They are my_family_. I have to try.]

[Try and fail?] Nanita's voice lacked the poison practically spitting from Kalola's words. [What's the point in that?]

[What's the point in trying to hatch an egg with no life in it?!]

My voice echoed in the cavern for one ring but it was enough to bring the heat of shame to my face as Nanita gaped at me.

[Wh-what did you say?] She looked towards the egg then Kalola, not waiting for me to repeat myself before talking to her. [Lidda pouya onowki? Mehs wayssa chereta psin pont oifela rnia pourya oggep.]

Kalola's head recoiled as if she'd been struck, her wings finally folding in before she leapt, placing herself before me, with Nanita and her egg behind her. Head lowered, her lips were curling in a snarl, showing off her fangs as she spoke.

[Go.]

[You had to have known, Kalola.] I couldn't hear if Nanita was translating my words over the reverberations of Kalola's growls but I finally nodded, turning my back to her and heading for the cavern's exit. Before leaving, I looked back only once, feeling shame anew when I looked at her eyes.

While I'd failed to hurt her in the beginning, when I'd tried to break free, it seemed I'd done so now without trying.

***

By the time I'd reached my mountain, the sun was just past the middle of the sky, throwing the mountain's own shadow down against itself, making the rocks a muddy red and dark blue mix. My wing had held up well from the flight, leaving me to think I might be fully healed, which I was grateful for once I came to where the old cave entrance had been.

Rocks of various sizes, most larger than myself, had completely blocked it. Short, targeted bursts of echolocation couldn't penetrate the boulders or even get through the cracks. Pulling my wings back, I threw them forward to send several cutting winds towards the top of the cluster, where it might have been weaker and easier to make my way through, but only small cuts appeared in the stone.

I wouldn't be getting in this way.

Flying upward, I tried sending another, wider spread pitch of sound along the face of the mountain. I couldn't go too far back without missing bits of information, but close enough I could hear it bounce back to me and try to find an entrance.

Loose rocks... bushes... larger rock...

Drawing a breath to give another burst, my ears twitched, picking up something. Flapping harder, I worked my way higher to where a cluster of three trees were growing amidst some scraggly shrubs. There, just along the roots, a Noibat was pulling itself out of a hole in the ground.

Certain it was one of my colony, I gave a high pitched chirp of greeting, watching as its head jerked upwards to look at me.

[Emery?] Wiggling the rest of the way out of the hole, the Noibat dusted herself off before shaking its head. [Man... we thought... I'm so glad to see you're okay!]

[Miriam, is everyone else-]

She was shaking her head slowly, a frown pinched along her lips. [Not everyone made it, Emery.] Her ears curled downward, half covering themselves. [It's worse than that, though.]

[Worse?] Landing beside her, I took her claws in mine, brushing my cheek to hers. [What could be worse?]

I could hear her swallowing, the words stuck in her throat. Before she could get them out, another Noibat's head popped through the hole she'd climbed out of, hissing and cussing in deeper growls as it wiggled free.

[Miriam! What are you waiting for?! We need-] He stopped, blinking as he caught sight of me. I was certain it was Husam... but he now had a long cut that ran horizontally from his right ear down past his left eye, an eye that had gone from golden yellow to a blind white.

[Darkrai's mist! You made it out?] He gave a shake, dirt ruffling out of his fur. [Well, that's some good news, I suppose.]

[What's going on? Where's the rest of the colony?] It didn't make sense to me. If they could clearly get out of the mountain, why would they still be living in it if the only entrance was this hole?

Husam glanced at Miriam, her head hung and her claws gripping mine so tightly that if they had blood in them I'd have lost feeling.

[Not here,] he said finally. [We won't have time to be back and we'll hold up the others.] Spreading his wings, he gave several flaps to get airborne. [Come on. We have to hurry but we can fill you in on the way.]

Nodding, Miriam finally let go of my claws, allowing both of us to fly after Husam. From what I could tell, our flight was taking us to one of the known berry spots our colony would frequent. Oddly enough, on our way there, we past a few Noibat carrying fruit in their claws on the way back to the mountain.

[Why aren't they eating at the grove?] I asked. [Are there injured Noibats in the cave?]

[When we get there,] Husam replied, Miriam still remaining silent.

The grove was all but picked through when we arrived, still leaving me baffled. We never went this often to the same spot, otherwise it would exhaust the berry supply. From what I could see and what my echolocation told me, that was nearly the case.

[What-]

[It was an Onix.] Husam's growled words cut me off, his one eye scanning the trees before he flew into one, coming out with a wepear berry. [Caused the earthquake and the cave in.]

[We can't all get out.] Miriam's voice was soft and unsteady as she went searching in a different tree. [She only lets a few of us out at a time, to get food.]

[If we don't come back, she'll collapse what's rest of the cave.] Husam's lips pulled back, showing his fangs off. [While we're getting food, she has the rest of us hunting for gems and stones.]

I'd heard of the rock snakes as being temperamental but our colony had never seen one before, much less had issues with them.

[Come on, then!] Husam snapped. [If we don't hurry back-]

[Got one!] Miriam came rushing out from the leaves, a smaller aspear in her talons. [Lets go!]

[You're better off staying away, Emery.] Husam flapped his wings, his own berry clutched tight enough it was dripping juice from his claws. [If you come back, you'll just be stuck with the rest of us.]

[Can't we fight back?] The idea of leaving my colony at the whims of the Onix left my throat dry and my mind blank with incomprehension. [Aren't there enough of us?]

[Rayquaza's fang! It's not like we hadn't thought of it.] Husam answered, not waiting for me to get into the air so that I had to work to catch up. [She'd probably collapse the whole place before we could even make a scratch!]

[What if we used Supersonic? Wouldn't that confuse her?]

[It might...] Miriam's tone was doubtful. [But even if it does, she still might attack.]

[And, if it doesn't, she'll definitely attack us!] Husam snorted, giving a half shake of his head. [No thanks!]

[If there's enough of us, though, using Absorb... we could drain her of her energy!]

[That weak-ass move?] Husam sounded scornful but his jaw had tightened, indicating he was thinking.

[If there's enough of us,] I repeated, desperation to find a solution creeping into my voice as we approached the hole in the mountain that I knew they'd be crawling back through, back to our old home and their new prison. [Our Bites and Flying moves wouldn't do much, but Absorb would be different.]

[If some of us were using Screech attacks, we might be able to distract her enough, keep her off guard that our attacks would work better] Miriam offered. [Even Agility would help...]

[She could still collapse the cavern, with everyone in it!] Husam's voice had a hard edge to it.

[Or, we keep her distracted and confused enough that she doesn't and we can drive her off.] As we landed, I turned to look Husam straight in the eye. [Isn't it worth the risk?]

[We can't do this forever,] Miriam added, frowning at the small berry she'd gathered. [The grove is almost empty and the next one is further away... We'd always run the risk...]

Husam stood still, staring at the hole in the ground before turning his gaze upwards, drawing in a breath.

[I miss the night sky, the stars.] He let it out with a slow sigh. [I suppose, either way, I'll get to see them again.] His head gave a firm but quick nod. [Arceus watch over us.]

***

The crawl through the tunnel had been claustrophobic, at best. The walls had pressed tightly to my sides in several spots, forcing me to exhale and suck in my stomach in order to get by. Husam had gone before me with Miriam behind me. They figured the Onxi wouldn't know the difference between me and another Noibat so we ought to be safe.

The exit was almost as small as the entrance, coming out amongst several rocks along the bottom of the cavern floor. Really, that's all it was now, broken rocks and fragments everywhere along the ground save for the one spot where several larger boulders lay piled in a row.

Only when they moved did I realize they weren't _just_boulders.

[You took too long.] The gravely tones reminded me of Kalola's, almost, save for the vindictive pleasure that practically purred along her words. [Need I remind you of what could happen should I decide to leave?]

[We're sorry, Kostya... the-the berry grove closest to here is all but empty.] Miriam moved closer to Husam with her berry in her claws as the Onix's head lifted from the ground, looming closer as her body scraped against the floor.

[Is that my problem, somehow?] Kostya whispered, her head turned slightly so as to watch Miriam. [I hadn't realized it was my_problem to make sure you _little vermin were fed.] Her tail coiled to rest just under her chin, the rocks smooth and black as the rest of her form. [I thought it was my problem to make sure the rest of this cave didn't fall down on you...] Without warning, her tail lashed out and struck the wall opposite of the tunnel we'd crawled through. Shrieks from the colony echoed through the cavern as shards of stone rained from above. [Hmm... my mistake, I suppose.]

[It won't happen again, Kostya.] Hasum said, moving his free wing out to push Miriam back behind him and closer to me while the other held his wepear. [We'll make sure of it.]

[See that it doesn't,] she said, raising her head up so that she towered above us. [Otherwise...]

Her tail stroked along the cracked surface of the wall before she turned, slithering back to her resting spot amongst the rocks.

[Quickly,] Hasum's echolocation was pitched at the highest frequency we could use while still understanding each other. [Just like we planned.]

With a shared nod, we each took off to our respected parts of the cavern, intending to convince our colony to stand and fight.

***

My breathing was slow and deep, my ears focused only on the sounds Kostya made and the eventual signal Miriam would give. Once the Onix grew tired, she would reach her tail out to block the tunnel so that none of the colony could escape while she slept. Hasum had thought that to be the best chance we'd have to catch her off guard.

In the meantime, to keep up appearances and to make her as lethargic as we could, the colony kept working on finding the gems and stones she prized, depositing each one in front of her before flying away. Kostya ate each one, her stones rolling in pleasure as she gulped them down her throat. More and more we brought forth to her until finally her head was swaying and her tail drooping.

Finally, she laid it across the entrance.

[NOW!]

Miriam dropped down from the ceiling, a multitude of other Noibats following her. Kostya's head jerked up, startled by the sounds of their wings, but moving too slow to strike the wall or attack in time to prevent Miriam's Supersonic. With a stunned Screech, Kostya thrashed, curling up on herself so that her stone coils covered her face.

...or would have, had she not struck herself with them.

While Miriam and the less powerful of our colony kept varying between boosting their speed with Agility and peppering Kostya with Supersonics to keep her confused. Hasum led the recovering and injured Noibats into providing deafening Screeches of their own, those able to fly joining those already in the air and those unable to fly climbing or hiding among the rocks further from the battle. The sounds echoed and bounced around the cave, keeping Kostya off guard and more susceptible to attacks while remaining ineffective against the colony.

When we all used the same frequency, there was no chance of our getting confused or off guard, unlike the initial cave in.

Letting go of the ceiling, the last cluster of my colony followed me. The strongest of the group, we would be using Absorb while flying to draw Kostya's energy into ourselves. So long as we all kept moving, the thrashing Onix had less of a chance of hitting us and our combined attacks should keep her focused more on us than destroying the cavern.

Or so we hoped.

[Little vermin!] Her voice almost blocked out our own sounds before being swallowed up in them. [I will end you all!]

Her coils loosened and gave a shake before she whipped around in a circle, stirring the dust and the air with more force than should have been possible. Gusts of sand and dirt billowed out from around her with such intensity that it was blinding and cutting at the same time.

Our echolocation was being muffled by the swirling Sandstorm and our vision wasn't much better. A Whirlwind might have cleared it but it might also hit a friend. Flying in the general direction where Kostya had been, I tried firing an Absorb attack through the sand and felt some of my strength returning as it appeared to work.

[Keep at it!] I tried shouting, not sure if anyone could hear me over the storm.

A shadowy shape slammed down from above me, Kostya's tail just missing me as it struck down towards the cave floor. Using this chance, I was able to Absorb more energy from her before her tail vanished back into the sands. The wind cut along my wings and the brief moment of relief I'd felt became a distant memory as tore along my fur and skin.

Spinning in the air, avoiding a fellow Noibat struggling in the sand, I tried to get closer to Kostya to continue my attack. I couldn't find her. I was starting to lose memory of which way I was flying and how far the walls were from where I was. Landing seemed like the only choice, until I could get my bearings, but I wasn't even sure how far down the ground was or if I could avoid flying into the many rocks along the floor.

Resigned to landing blind, the sands rushing form dipped, the winds howl diminishing to muted whispers as the cavern cleared. Most of the colony lay dazed on the ground, the remaining few struggling to keep in the air.

[Foolish, vermin.] Kostya's form swayed, rearing up towards its full height. [Had you done as I asked, I would have allowed you to leave once my egg was laid and hatched.]

The memory of Kalola's own egg crossed my mind, almost distracting me from Kostya opening her mouth and breathing out a beam of pink, draconic energy. Her head turned, forcing those of us in the air to dodge or risk being hit.

Firing a Supersonic her way, it appeared to hit Kostya but she shook it off, her eyes narrowing in my direction. Her tail swung out, grabbing a larger rock and throwing it my way, attempting to Smack me Down but a boost of Agility got me out of the way just in time. Someone else got in an Absorb before darting away, another using Screech, allowing me a second chance to use Supersonic.

[Enough!] Kostya Slammed her tail on the ground, thankfully missing any Noibats down there but causing the whole cavern to give a warning rumble. [I'll just bring this place down around your ears!]

An iron sheen shimmered around her tail before she struck out against the wall, then lashed out at the opposite one. Even as we kept up our attacks, she continued and the cracks forming started causing chunks of stone to give way.

Her mouth opened again, facing towards the ceiling. If she fired that pink beam again, I was certain the cavern would collapse! Flinging my wings forward, a powerful Whirlwind formed and struck her midsection. It wasn't strong enough to knock her back completely but it did cause her head to swing away from the ceiling, the pink beam firing-

Straight at me.

Diving, I flinched, knowing it wouldn't be fast enough and anticipating the strike. A rumble of earth and stone made me glance upward, dreading that the ceiling was falling despite my efforts. A movement of brown and bright orange caught my eye, coming from _upward_and halting just in the path of the beam. Large boulders blocked the beam as the pink energy struck the brown rocks and the orange energy shielding them, causing them to shatter into fragments and dust.

A familiar, angry shriek stunned me as Kalola's form flew forward, through the dust, and right towards Kostya. Head coated in a similar sheen that had been around Kostya's tail, Kalola slammed into the rock snake, knocking her back into a wall before pulling up and swooping back towards the ceiling with another, vocal cry of rage.

[You dare?!] Kostya's words were equal in their fury to Kalola's cry, though a whispered hiss compared to the echoing cries. [You DARE?!]

[EMERY!]

Noticing a yellow shape waving up at me from the ground, tucked around a sizeable boulder on the ground, I flew down to find Ninita waiting. Grabbing me from the air in a tight hug, she glanced wildly around.

[How did you find me? Why did you-]

[I saw the mountain yah flew tah as yah left.] She kept a tight grip on me. [We would have been here sooner but...] Ninita paused, taking a breath. [We buried the egg, Emery.]

An angry cry that could have been Kalola or Kostya rang out, making me try and tug against Ninita's grip.

[I'm glad you're both here but we've got to-]

[We have tah get out of here, while Kalola's got her distracted.] Ninita cut me off, her voice sharp. [I know that kind of snake. See how smooth and round it is? It's an older one, strong if it's that black a color.]

[What?] I pushed against her, trying to wriggle free. [I can't go, Ninita! Too many of my colony are still here!]

The ground shook, causing Ninita's grip on me to loosen enough that I was able to pull out of her grasp. Flapping back into the air, I shook my head.

[I have to help my family, Ninita.]

Her toes were clicking and a worried glance into the air as Kalola flew by, dodging another pink beam.

[She's going tah kill me for not getting you out,] she muttered, biting her lip lightly with her fangs. [But... she's my family and I want to help her, too.]

Nodding, I turned my attention back towards the fight. Kostya had several blue rings around her body, pulling grey and brown chunks of rock towards them. Eyes glowing white, the rocks rings spun, firing outward towards Kalola as she attempted to dodge in the tighter quarters. When several of the rocks were about to strike, that same orange glow appeared around them, pulling them back and out of the air. A matching glow could be seen from the ground, making me think that Ninita was using some kind of Ancient Power to manipulate the rocks.

Had that been how they'd gotten in?

I'd have to ask later, right now, Kostya had coiled her body up, her body shining with a white-silver gleam as her stones appeared to Harden. Kalola was diving towards Kostya's curled up form, her head that same iron glow as she dove to strike. Kostya evaded at the last moment, leaving Kalola to make a desperate attempt to pull up or face colliding with the floor. She couldn't move fast enough to escape Kostya, the serpent Binding Kolola with her body and restricting her from flying.

[Houya sillwt ree-gretuh phista!] Kolola roared before an icy plume rose from her mouth, her jaws opening wide before sinking her fangs into the rocky surface of Kostya's body.

Fractures broke out along where Kolola's fangs sunk in, Kostya wailing and thrashing but not relinquishing her grip. If anything, she tightened it. Kolola's wings struggled uselessly to pull her free before she pulled her head back, the aura of ice still around her mouth as she sunk her fangs in yet again. This time, Kostya flung Kolola away from her with an angry shout, the two backing off to stare at each other.

[I don't know what you are,] Kostya finally hissed. [But you're welcome to be buried alive with them!]

Lunging at the wall closest to her, Kostya slammed her head into the rocky surface, causing the ceiling to shake before chunks of the ceiling came down. Kolola's body tensed, as if she was going to evade, but she stopped suddenly and instead began glowing that orange color that Ninita had earlier.

The boulders slowed their descent, caught in the orange aura, but Kolola's flying became labored as a result. Several terrified bursts of echolocation from the ground made it evident why she'd opted to stop them. Swooping downward, I found Miriam and Husam already working to try and move the injured Noibats out of the way of the still slowly falling rocks.

[The cavern entrance should be open. Get everyone out!]

[We can't leave, Emery.] Miriam shot a look towards Kolola, her altitude slowly dropping as she kept using her power.

[She won't go if I don't and I can't leave without all of you!] My voice was harsher than I meant, given Miriam's startled look. [And we're hindering her by being here so work on getting everyone out!]

A pained cry tore through the air and ripped along my heart as a loud slamming sound followed it. The broken ceiling fragments above us shuddered but remained airborne, for now.

But Kalola wasn't.

Short chuckles and the sound of slithering stone made me look away from my friends and towards Kostya, who was slowly making her way towards Kolola with those rings of stones around her. Kolola, meanwhile, had several markings where it looked like the last wave of Stone Edges had struck, her body slumped against the wall as she struggled to stand.

[You could just let them drop.] Kostya offered, sounding almost helpful while she spoke. [What's a few little vermin to ones like you and I?] Her tail stones were rotating, an iron sheen brightening around it as she came closer, lifting the pointed edge for all to see. [Either way, you can drop them... or I can make you and then collapse the rest of this cave on my way out.]

A small stone struck Kostya, making her stop and pause, turning her head to scoff at Ninita, who already had another Rock in her hand and was getting ready to Throw it.

[Really? That's the best you can do?] Giving another laugh, Kostya turned her attention back to Kolola, smirking. [Pathetic.]

Positioning myself in the air between the two, Kostya lips curled when she saw me.

[Out of the way, vermin.]

[Muh-ove, Emuh-rey.] Kalola's voice was ragged, a shuffling sound behind me as she attempted to stand. [_ Muh-ove! _]

I let loose with a Supersonic as Kostya's tail thrust forward, hoping I could at least stun and confuse her enough that the others could escape and Kalola could save herself. I heard Kalola's roar in my ears before a humming sound began buzzing and things started to slow down. Even the beat of my own wings seemed sluggish compared to the sudden thrumming in my ears and pounding of my heart. Everything went white, blindingly so, before fading and leaving me feeling stronger but out of place. Kostya's tail was still heading for me, for Kalola, but I knew what to do.

Opening my maw, a turquoise ball of energy formed with ease before a multitude of lights in the form of a dragon went rushing out, slamming into her tail and throwing off her concentration so that the ring of stones collapsed, raining harmlessly to the floor. Tail blackened, Kostya thrashed before pulling her head back.

[You evolved?!] Her words of rage were a high pitched shout before she shook her head and growled. [No matter! I can still-]

[Do nothing.]

Ninita's voice was so clear that even Kostya was silent for a moment.

[What?]

[Didn't yah notice?] Ninita cocked her head before flapping her wings to perch on a boulder, making herself taller though nowhere near as tall as the infuriated Onix. [Look at yourself.]

Ninita swept her wing towards Kostya's body and the Onix turned her head, giving an enraged hiss.

Where Kolola had bit, ice had grown from the cracks. Slowly, it had worked its way along the Onix's midsection and towards her head and tail, growing along the ground and now immobilizing all but the ends of her neck and tail.

[Yah can't cause a cave in if yah can't move, can yah?] Ninita nodded, giving a wag of her tail plume. [And, if yah move too much, yah might just crack yourself.]

[Stih woesda potna xatterme.] There were several light thuds as Kalola was finally able to safely place the stone along the ground. [Pib amas poinggo nota shat-thur perha, Ninita.]

Shaking herself off, Kalola moved closer, making a crooning sound with an edge to it that made the fur along my neck bristle.

[Phesa hur-tuh , Emuh-rey.] Kalola growled, her tail curling and lashing. [Rhesp hur-thu kishi namilyfx.] A golden, orange glow was starting to form around her mouth. [Nhesl zillwo hur-thu lonk pneoa fverea ogainas.]

Landing between the two, placing myself closer to Kalola than the snake behind me, it was startling to almost be looking her in the eyes compared to being right at her feet.

[Muh-ove, Emuh-rey.] Kalola repeated, making a motion with her wing on the off chance I hadn't gotten her meaning.

[She's going tah make sure this snake never hurts yah or anyone else,] Ninita said added, a satisfied tone in her voice making it clear she was alright with this.

[I just want to get my colony out of here, safely.] Taking a step closer to Kalola, I watched as her nostrils flared, her eyes still fixated beyond me to Kostya. I wasn't even sure if she was listening while Ninita translated my words. [Kalola...]

Her crooning wasn't stopping, the sharp promise of violence and death still rumbling through it.

Taking a chance, I moved close enough that my chest almost touched hers and pressed my muzzle to her neck, lightly nipping the skin there. The slight twitch of her body and the hitch of her croon gave me confidence enough to reach my tail for hers, twining the two together and giving hers a light squeeze.

Kalola's croon softened, though the threat never left it, not until her eyes moved from Kostya's frozen form to my own. Her wings closed to her side and she finally nodded, though she gave one last lip curl towards Kostya before making her way back to Ninita's side, nudging her smaller friend and looking her over for injury.

[I wouldn't have shown you the same mercy.]

Trying to keep my own lip from curling, I turned enough to send a pointed glance at her midsection, adding only the cold reply,

[I didn't do it for you.]

***

[You even left her Miriam's aspear berry.] Husam's disbelief after the third or fourth time was growing vexing. [Moltres' flame...]

[It's not like I left it within easy reach,] I finally snapped. [And I made sure everyone was out of the cave by then.]

[You even left her Miriam's aspear berry...] he trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief before Miriam smacked him with her wing.

[It's not like we'll be close enough for her to trouble us again!] Miriam rolled her eyes, frowning. [Next time, we'll have a cave with more than one entrance, too, right, Emery?]

I touched my chest with my claws. [Why are you asking me?]

[You're going with us, aren't you?] Miriam cocked her head my way before turning to look at the rest of the colony.

Several combined trips between Kalola and myself to carry the injured and a tight squeeze later, the majority of us had fit comfortably within Kalola's cavern. Those who were healthy were hanging from the ceiling while the rest either found spots within nest or along the lip edge. It left Kalola and I to tiptoe around and over everyone, but a day of rest and sitrus berries had done wonders. Ninita had been talking with most of them about her valley and the majority seemed interested in trying to find caves nearby to make it their new home.

[I-]

[Of course he isn't, Miriam.] Husam gave her a light shove with his wings. [Haven't you seen the way he's been watching that big gal?] He gave a little chuckle. [I bet he can't wait for us to get out of here!]

[I wouldn't say-]

[Well, why wouldn't they both just come with us, smart guy?] Miriam shoved him a little harder back, huffing. [They could do that, too!]

As they both began to puff themselves up, I put my wings between them and slid them apart.

[Whoa, time out, guys. I don't even know if she would want me staying here or going with me or any of that!]

Both of them looked at me before laughing, leaving me stumped.

[Hee-hee-he doesn't notice?] Husam just barely got out.

[Haa-haa-I guess not.] Miriam muffled her giggles behind her claws.

[Notice what?] I asked, trying not to snap at either of them while keeping my voice down so that the others wouldn't be as likely to listen in.

[She's had her eyes on you, like, the whole time since we've left the cave.]

[Yeah.] Miriam agreed with a slight nod. [All those light touches?]

[The caverns rather cramped right now,] I offered, trying not to let heat curl around my ears when I remembered Kalola's tail brushing along my thigh. [I mean, it happens... right?]

Their doubtful stares made me wiggle my talons, not quite sure I believed it.

[It's not like you have to make a choice of where to live right away,] Miriam finally offered, giving a light pat on my foot. [Just keep your options open, right?]

[And you could always visit, if you wanted,] Husam added before giving a toothy grin. [Maybe with a little flyer or two?]

Giving a noncommittal hum, I caught Kalola watching me out of the corner of my eye but, when I turned to look, she appeared busy handing out more sitrus fruit to those who'd asked.

***

The cavern was a lot quieter, now that my colony had gone.

After building up their strength, we'd all made the flight to Ninita's valley. With the river cutting through it, the berry trees had thrived all along the banks and even spread out further inward, stopping just short of climbing the steeper rocky walls. It hadn't taken long for us to find a small opening and, with Ninita and Kolola's help, work it into a larger tunnel that fed into a cavern big enough to house the colony and then some. From there, three branching tunnels had been made, one that inadvertently had found a chamber with a small lake in it. With the additional exits, the colony was satisfied of their safety, especially with Ninita's own nest being nearby.

I had half toyed with the idea of staying with my family when Kalola had touched her muzzle to the back of my neck, her soft growl stirring a heat within my belly while her tongue left a wet spot along my mane.

I don't think anyone in the colony had been too surprised by my departure, if Husam's knowing wink was anything to go by.

Kalola landed beside me, having flown a little slower than myself. Stopping short of the nest, almost half within the cavern and half outside it, her head tilted coyly at me as her tail lifted, exposing her sopping wet slit.

[Emuh-rey...?] My name was spoken like a desperate sigh, her croon needy as her body lowered so that her chest lay on the sand and her tail lifted further. [Sountma yemn?]

I didn't need Ninita's translation for that.

Moving closer, licking my lips, I placed my claws on either side of her hips. I wasn't sure how she'd managed to fly with her sex looking so swollen like that but it explained why she'd been lagging behind. She pressed back against my claws, giving an eager hiss as I squeezed the fleshy parts of her thighs. That dusty scent of summer was stronger, flavored now with a similar fragrance to moisture and rain.

Feeling my cock unsheathing, pulsing with the need to fill her, I had to satisfy my greater curiosity by first pressing my lips to her lower ones. Flicking my tongue out, pressing it past her folds, I felt her inner muscles attempt to swallow it while her rich, earthy juices coated it. Pulling my tongue back in my mouth, I smacked it against the roof of my mouth, playing with the flavor before sending it back in for more.

[_ Emuh-rey! _] Her frustrated tones made me smile while I pulled more of her essence into my mouth. [Ofip houyn xodi cotna bountmi keme, kip millwa blipfa rouya nveroa yndao pountms houya!]

[You taste really good, Kalola.] Squeezing her hips again, rolling her flesh between my claws, I brought my tail up to stroke against my cock, wanting to make sure I'd be as hard as possible for her. [I could enjoy you all day.]

Her growls were growing a little sharper but the way she forced herself back against my tongue made me think she didn't mind too much. At least, not until her tail swung around and knocked my feet off the ground, landing me on my back with a still very large Aerodactyl on top of me.

Wings spread, she was smiling at me in a way that made me _think_I hadn't done anything wrong, especially not when she adjust herself so that she was rubbing her clit against my cock.

[Nif poldta vouyo nost, Emuh-rey ,] she almost sang, her hips rocking as my tip almost went inside her, making me catch my breath. [Ofis xouya nillwp dotna jountmy wemq, phenta lif villwk gountmh ouy!]

Her next brush against me plunged my cock right within her, those soft lips wrapping around the crown of my head with just enough suction that gave way to smooth heat and ridged muscles. Bucking at the sensation, my legs moved so that my talons could grasp her hips, still kneading her skin while she pushed herself down on me and pulled back up. Her insides tugged the ripples along my length, catching on them and not wanting to let me slip out even as she forced herself upward and off most of my cock.

Rumbles formed within my throat, encouraging her to seek out what she needed from me, take what she wanted of me. Letting my wings lay back along the sand, I moved when she did, seeking deeper entrance and enjoyment from her body, watching her mouth open in a continued pant as she rocked herself on and against me. Both our tails were waving, brushing against each other as we moved until her spaded one twined around the twin spikes of my own.

[Come on, Kalola.] I wasn't sure she'd understand the words, but I knew she'd catch my meaning from my gesture as I reached a clawed hand to stroke along her stomach. [Come on, good girl...]

Her next thrust went deeper than I'd imagined possible, her inner muscles pulling me so deep that there was nowhere left for my cock to go. Kalola gave a startled warble, her wings half flapping as her thighs tensed under my claws and her insides gave a pulsing squeeze. I felt a hard clench behind my sac as a shiver raced along my spine and my talons tightened around her hips. A sharp, stinging pleasure erupted from the head of my cock and spread along my body, allowing my grip to slacken as her muscles trembled, her wings not even bother to fold as they drifted down and her insides gave some residual flexes around me, milking my seed further into her body.

Still stroking her stomach with my claws, I offered her a contented smile, certain that her next egg would surely have life within it.