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THE SCRIPTURES OF ODDCLAW

Three-and-One: The Rogue and the Hunter

"Deep in the heart of Summer, sweet is life to me still,

But my heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill."

William Sharp

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 1

24-03-2032

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison

(1 video file attached, 3 image files attached)

Since the unexpected escape of our subject known as "Oddclaw", we have been focusing back on our efforts to return home through the Third Energy research. Three weeks after his escape however, we encountered the anthropomorph once again now back with his tribe during a rescue mission. After a small diplomatic incident was resolved, Oddclaw and I made an agreement for me to come study his tribe and their ways. Due to his being bilingual in English and velociraptor speech, it was the perfect opportunity for him to be an ambassador/translator and provide vital research into the nature of these ancient creatures.

Our first day amongst them was just me, at Oddclaw's insistence due to a larger group of humans being much too upsetting. As palaeontologists originally suspected, they hunt in packs but what is more surprising is that they establish large colonies together of up to 50. Community seems to be a strong precedent amongst them, having demonstrated cooperation in hunting as well as feeding each other not just within the family, but also outside of it. They have a leader, who in this case lives inside a large stone promontory and is guarded by the strongest of the pack.

[Opening file 24-3-32]

Jane stood before the Alpha in full view of the recorder on her shirt strap. The raptors around him were much more powerful than the regulars as Oddclaw stood between them to translate, whilst surrounded by families of curious hatchlings and nervous mothers.

"Hairless. You stand within the Hunter's Nest on behalf of Oddclaw, Son of Oddscar. You will leave when instructed, you will not approach our children, you will not take our meat without permission and you will never attack us. Obey these laws and you shall be tolerated in our home."

"Thank you, leader. May I ask you some questions about what life is like for your people?"

"You may."

"How is a leader chosen?"

"By one of two ways. Either the leader is defeated by a stronger hunter, or the leader chooses one to replace them."

"Hmm, simple enough. How did you come to be here? What made you settle in this forest?"

"We escaped from your shining caves, now long since buried beneath the earth out to the west. Oddclaw's father, Oddscar, was the one who freed us from your tribe's...cruel ways."

"I remember, Oddclaw's mother told me in our first meet."

She stifled her breath as a sense of guilt and empathy wavered from her scent, the raptors cocking their head curiously at this.

"I had no idea, my team is entirely separate, we have no intention of capturing anything. But I am still truly sorry for what my kind have done to you."

"So it was a different tribe then? I understand."

Alpha stepped forwards to his fullest height, intimidating her in a show of strength and two feet above her as he sniffed her hair. Her sympathy was genuine, but he remained wary.

"Now I shall ask you. Why are YOU here, hairless?"

"We are studying this world for research," said Addison. "Something happened in my world, something terrible, and the only solution we can find for undoing this great event, is in this world."

"So you are here to save your tribe, by learning of our home?"

"Yes, exactly. I will not involve your tribe in our matters, but we are trying to save my world, our world rather."

"I see. Then so long as you do not interfere with my tribe, I shall allow another visit, in time. I hope you manage to save your tribe, hairless."

"Thank you, leader. You are very kind to say so."

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 3

10-04-2032

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison

(1 video file attached, 4 image files attached)

My second visit went much more smoothly. I wanted to ask more about this other base that their tribe had escaped from, but Oddclaw advised me not to since it brought up rather traumatic memories. Even though it was not our team, I feel terribly guilty for them having suffered at our hands in a previous experiment. Curiously, Oddclaw's father was also an anthropomorph who spoke our language and also learned how to wield our weaponry.

One of the most startling things I discovered was that velociraptors have a counting system, but it operates as something of a base-3 system. Every third number they reach has its own name, but any number inbetween is simply an addition of one or two. For example, the number 3 is simply "three" but the number 4 is "three-and-one". Likewise 5 is "three-and-two" before reaching 6 which becomes "six".

[Opening file 10-4-32]

Oddclaw sat beside Jane, leaning against a tree whilst the squabbering screech of raptors from nearby filled the air amidst bugs flitting across the camera lens.

"You know," she started, "last time I came, your leader mentioned your father."

"Yes," replied Odd. "He left before I was born."

"Does your mother tell you about him?"

"He was like me. The same body, same odd-ness. He had scars on his face and...back, here, to the tail."

"Really? ...fascinating, so I remember we spoke about numbers and counting, how do your people count?"

"We...count in three."

He raised up his hand to indicate his three claws.

"One...two...three. Then we start again, count up to three...and-one...three, and-two, then to three again."

"Really? So it's something like a base-three system, do you have names for each number?"

"Only if they are one, two, three and any other three."

He counted again as she understood from her conscious hearing that he was repeating and combining guttural sounds between 3 and 6.

"One...two...three...three-and-one...three-and-two...six."

"That is fascinating. What is the highest number you have?"

"High-est?"

"The...the last number that you can reach in counting."

"OH! Um...I-i do not know the...word for you but it is the...oldest age we can reach."

"That is, in your raptor years yes?"

"Yes," he said nodding.

"Now Kevin told me," she added, "that you measure your years according to the number of days between laying eggs."

"That is a year to us, yes."

"Which to a human is nine months. How old are you Oddclaw?"

"I am......hmm."

He turned round and made markings on the tree behind him, scratching a tally that added up to 28. Jane did a small sum for the benefit of the camera, engraving the number 28 itself, then multiplying by 9 to equal 252. She then divded it by 12 and reached her answer.

"There," she stated, "now according to human years, you are twenty-two."

"Oh! Good, you should meet Barkclaw, he loves to count!"

"I would love to, another time though! Actually next time can I meet your family properly when they are all together?"

"Yes, please!"

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 9

08-05-2032

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison

(1 video file attached, 6 image files attached)

The tribe on a whole are not entirely used to my presence, but Oddclaw's family are exceptionally friendly! I sat near his family nest as he translated for me who was who. I have also discovered through some rather difficult sums that the highest number the raptors have in their language is 99. Applying my arithmetic, that makes their oldest age to be approximately 74 human years.

Curiously, all the raptors have names but not in the way that we do. Their names are essentially portmanteaus combining two words from a longer sentence of a certain trait they possess, or an event that is significant to them. For example, Oddclaw's name is shorthand for The One With Odd Claws which is the formal manner. Names are also not permanent, for if a new significant event occurs in a raptor's life, the pack will rename that raptor. The only exception to this is if one becomes the leader, in which case they are known as simply Leader.

I have taken several images of his family, of which I shall explain individually according to filename.

[Opening file 08-5-32]

The family sat in a small semi-circle around Jane and the camera's viewer, chirring with curiosity apart from two of them with very excitable grins as Addison started with:

"I would like to ask each family member to introduce themselves, what they do, what they like and also how old you are, from left to right starting with the one next to Oddclaw."

"Okay."

Unfortunately the first one to start was a rather nervous dull-brown creature with mottled markings. Her presence unsettled him as Oddclaw decided to speak on his behalf.

"This is my brother Barkclaw. He is shy, but loves to count things and he is my age. He also loves um...in-sektz and watches them every day."

"Oh I see. Awww well he does not have to speak if he does not want to."

"Thank you."

"Alright next please?"

The male with maroon scales and grey eyes spoke up beside Barkclaw.

"I am The Claws That Hunt For Fish. I am thirty-two cycles (24 years) and one of only six hunters in the tribe who can hunt for fish."

"Really? Is it quite difficult to catch fish?"

"Yes, they can slip from your claws easily, it takes great patience and a sharp eye to know where they are in the water. You cannot catch them where they are, but where they will be."

"Ahhhh I see, that's pre-emptive! You are the oldest male in the family yes?"

"I am, I feel almost like an uncle to my siblings, hahaha!"

"Hmhmhm...now, you next."

The ashen-grey raptor with red glimmering eyes stood out most prominent of the group.

"I am The One Who Claws at the Moon. I am not of this family and was born forty-six cycles (34 years) ago."

"Oh, you are not related?"

"No, no I was the one to help Oddclaw return home on his journey. I came from the Death Nest originally."

"Death...nest? Where is that?"

"It is the mountain next to your Shining Mountain."

"OH! Ohhhhh that would explain the colouring, goodness...your family lived there?"

"Yes. Used to."

Her expression became strangely blank as if hiding something. Jane could feel it somehow but did not press on it as she spoke to the maroon-coloured raptor with the huge fang on her snout.

"I am The Fang Who Births From The Egg. I am the same age as Fishclaw and when mother is not around, I watch over the family."

"Ahhh you are the eldest daughter."

"Yes. I am also the one to plan hunts whenever I am part of a group. In every hunt I have taken part of, always I manage to kill our prey no matter how great and swift it may be."

"Oh...so, you are a strategist of sorts then, the brains of the operation."

"Yes! Oddclaw is my favourite hunting partner because of his great skill and agility, climbing trees to strike down when our prey would least expect it, he gives me a great freedom unlike other hunters."

Oddclaw blushed at this compliment with a gentle scratch of his cheek. Next was the female sitting directly opposite of Jane, a sand-coloured beast of hazel eyes which started to show grooves and creasing marks of age.

"I am The One from the Barren Plains. I was born sixty cycles (46 years) ago and I am the mother to all this family."

"Did you raise your children on your own?"

"Not always. Oddclaw's father, Oddscar, raised my first nest with me for four cycles (2 years) before breeding me. Both of my mates have left me, one died whilst hunting a great beast whereas the other...just disappeared in a flash of light."

"A flash...of light?"

"Oddscar simply...held me, the way Oddclaw does...and then he left. A strong blue light just opened up and swallowed him...and he was gone. He is a hero to our tribe and I will always be proud of my children carrying his blood."

"I...I am sorry to hear he left. Was it hard raising your children?"

"My older children helped, Alpha also was kind to let other families share their meat with me until my children could hunt for themselves."

"Did you teach them to hunt?"

"Yes. All mothers and fathers teach their children to hunt, long as they are not already pregnant or just recently birthed."

"I see. Out of all the families here, who usually teaches them to hunt, the father or mother?"

"Mother usually. Do you have children?"

"I...n-no, actually I don't."

"When you do, you will understand why."

She nodded this sagely as Jane felt honoured in a strange fashion at being given advice from a female of another species. Lastly came the ones that Oddclaw had been dreading to translate the most, the brown twins with a green eye and a hazel eye each.

"I'm the Runner of the Sand!"

"And I'm the Runner of the Leaves!"

"We're the same age!"

"Same as Oddie is!"

"We love to hunt, and KILL!"

"We're REALLY good at it, nothing stops us when we hunt together!"

"YEAH it's like we're the same hunter!"

"But we're smarter than our little brother."

"Yeah, he couldn't even find that friend of yours we almost killed heeheehahaha!"

Jane looked at Oddclaw with cringing fright but he simply raised his arms in a "what did you expect" kind of fashion. She turned back towards them only to find both of them had inched closer to her face to instil a quiet paranoia.

"W-w-well um, I am glad you didn't, I hope you have no plans for me."

"Naaah," said Leaf, "Oddie told us you're his friend."

"We don't kill his friends," added Sand, "we promised not to!"

"Well that's good, but, what do you like to do when not hunting?"

"We play games!" cried Sand.

"Lots of games," said Leaf, "with Oddie too!"

"You like your brother?"

"He's the best!" squealed Sand. "He can be too serious sometimes."

"So we like to keep him silly with us," replied Leaf, "if you hunt too much you forget how to play!"

Oddclaw smiled happily at this with a firm nod as Jane looked over towards him. Unfortunately that gave them enough time to inch even more closely to her face, their eyes glinting towards the camera on her chest of which they wholly consumed its vision with their long slobbering teeth.

"A-AAAAGH, ODDCLAW HELP!"

"OOOOH ISSAT A SHINY!?!"

"I WANNIT I WANNIT!

"SISTERS PLEASE," roared Oddclaw, "SHE IS OUR GUEST!"

"AWWWW COME ON ODDIE I JUST WANNA NIBBLE HER!"

" NO YOU ARE NOT NIBBLING ON MY FRIEND!"

"B-BLOODY HELL!" shrieked Jane. "D-D-DON'T, DON'T TOUCH THAT, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT DEVI-"

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 17

03-07-2032

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison and Dr. Kevin Izquierda

(2 video files attached, 4 image files attached)

Our growing familiarity with the tribe has allowed us to bring more people. In this case I brought Dr. Izquierda with us, after Oddclaw told us of certain plants with healing properties in his home. They are not like the ones near our base, decidedly much more deciduous in nature but could prove to be very useful in curing fevers. Oddclaw explains that while his tribe are primarily carnivorous, there are certain plants they eat in order to ease digestion or quicken their healing not unlike how certain mammals eat grass. His brother Fishclaw also showed Dr. Izquierda the best places to find and catch fish of differing species, some of which also have beneficial properties that we could possibly extract.

The raptors were most fascinated by Izquierda's prosthetics, or "shiny stone legs" as Oddclaw calls them due to the clicking sound they make when he walks. He barely had a moment away from them, but he did find an immense amount of research useful to him concerning medical properties, of which he himself has made a report in separate.

[Opening file 03-7-32]

Walking behind Kevin and Oddclaw as they traipsed through the forest, Jane watched the two speak amongst themselves with care not to obscure the camera's view as the scientist steadied his footing.

"Least we're not in a swamp!" said the scientist.

"Why?" asked Oddclaw.

"Well it's harder to get these legs out of the swamp than your own...I think. Is it just us here?"

"My sisters are hiding, they will try to steal your legs."

"Hahaha really?!"

"Yes, I can hear them to your left."

Indeed Jane could see between the ferns a glimmering set of four eyes that watched with gentle chirring that she could not translate. Had she known what they said it would be this:

"Is that a hairless with SHINY LEGS?!"

"YEAH it totally is, he's got shiny stone legs!"

"We HAVE to get them, we totally have to, there's like one for EACH of us!"

"Oooooh, yeah but, why's he got legs made out of 'em?!"

"HOLA CHICAS!"

"WA-AAAAAGH!"

Surprising them briefly as he walked up to a short distance beside them, Kevin waved with a smirk as Oddclaw made a firm look to remind them to mind their manners.

"O-oddiiiiie!"

"You know the rules," he said snarling, "no nomming, no biting, no clawing my friends."

"B-but, but, his legs are shiiinyyyyyy!" cried Leaf.

"How does he HAVE those?!" squealed Sand.

"They want to know why your legs are shiny," he translated.

"AH, well," explained Kevin, "I lost them in a fire, got trapped in a building and crushed my legs. The T.E.A.R people fixed it up for me, the people I work with now."

"Can your people replace any part of you that is lost?"

"Not exactly. Arms and legs yes, and maybe some internal organs. But you lose your head, then you're dead. Lose your penis well you'll wish you were."

"Kevin please," reminded Jane, "I'm recording this."

"You're also recording his tribe fucking and shitting around you, let's be real."

"Do you still bleed?" asked Odd.

"Wha?"

"My sisters are asking, if they cut your leg, do you bleed?"

"...uhhh, no. That...that's a really odd question."

"I did not ask it, I am sorry."

"Heh, it's fine, I know you guys are a little different."

"Shiiiinyyyy leeeegs."

The sound of another raptor behind him almost made him jump, until he realised where he was so he simply stiffened his pose with an air of panic briefly to turn and see a muted brown raptor stare intensely at his feet as the sisters chirruped at him.

"Barkclaw! Hey, Barkclaw!"

"Hiiii Barkiiiie!"

"How are you today?!" asked Oddclaw smiling.

"Good," said his brother quietly bowing his head. "Why does he have stone legs?"

"The hairless can make new arms and legs out of stone to replace the ones they lose?"

"...really? ...let me see."

He was clearly awed by the concept, gingerly tapping and sniffing along the limb to wonder where it came from as he muttered:

"That is not...any stone I know. Not even in caves."

"They turn the stone into a new stone," replied Odd. "Remember Moonclaw told you about the Death Nest, how the fire turned into stone?"

"Ohh. Yes, firestone. But it is shiny, not like the firestone at all."

"Jesus mierda," gasped Kevin, "what happened to his face?"

"What?!" asked Jane.

"That."

The scientist pointed to Barkclaw's disfigured side which Jane had already seen in their first family meet but forgot to point out.

"His...face is all scratched, like really badly on one side of it-"

"He was attacked."

Oddclaw's response with sudden swift tone made the humans realise it was a sensitive subject. The kind of tone they did not expect from him, but one that insisted to drop

"Oh-kay then?" said Jane blinking. "Wh-who or whaat could have done such a thi-"

"He was attacked , it will NEVER happen again so do NOT speak of it again."

"O-okay, um...is...is that-I am so sorry."

"D-do not tell them about him!" cried Barkclaw.

"I am not," insisted Odd, "I just told them never to ask me of him."

"O-okay, th-thank you..."

Seeing his fretful state, Oddclaw walked over to hug his brother tightly, pulling him in a hug with arms round his neck and a tender soft lick to each other. The humans took the hint as Kevin stuffed his hands into his pockets and decided to ask a more innocent line of inquiry.

"Soooo I see there are a plants around here, I don't suppose you guys would know any with medical properties?"

"Meh-dik-kal?" repeated Oddclaw cocking his head.

"You know, plants make you feel better when you are sick."

"Oh! Yes we have them, Barkclaw remembers them, he knows where to find them!"

"Oh really?!"

"Barkclaw," asked Oddie, "remember the leaves that heal us?"

"Yes," replied Barkclaw. "There are different ones, when your snout is stuffed, or when your head is warm-"

"Can you take me and my friends there? They would love to hear you speak about them there."

"AH, yes, yes, yes I will show them!"

They followed after the excitable brown raptor towards a grove full of unique plants that did not grow anywhere else that they knew of. Kevin took samples from each to discern their properties as Barkclaw made a note on each and every one of them for various cures concerning fever, flu, diarrhoea and other such maladies. It was a marvellous treasure to behold scientifically, and with immense gratitude he cried with Oddclaw translating:

"Thank you Barkclaw! This is wonderful, this is all good stuff we need to help us!"

"I am glad I helped," he replied.

"How do you know so much about these plants?"

"I sit in them, day and night. I smell them, I see other hunters take them and heal their families when they are sick. All of us know what they do."

"This is incredible...hm, let's see, you want to be my assistant?"

"A...helper?"

"Si, yes a helper, I want your help. Your brother also mentioned you like insects, maybe some of them have ways to heal too."

"They do. If you eat three sunwings, you will not have a sore belly."

"Really?! Oh I have to note all this down, please tell me more!"

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 31

13-10-2032

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison and Sgt. Jeremy Holt

(1 video file attached, 3 image files attached)

I decided to bring Oddclaw's closest human friend to finally reunite them again. Jeremy bonded with Oddclaw especially after our Christmas party last year, owing to the fact that both of them feel they never truly belonged amongst their respective communities. It was also Holt who helped Oddclaw escape which we reprimanded him of but in the end turned out much more fruitful than we could have expected.

Sgt. Holt was surprisingly calm, showing no fear which helped the raptors warm up to him quickly as Oddclaw explained who he was. He seems to have found another friend in Eggfang, along with a raptor that we had never spoken to before. It also illuminated the problem that Oddclaw can only be with one human at a time in order to translate, so perhaps we should find a means to develop a translating device so we can converse more freely with his tribe.

[Opening file 13-10-32]

"Bloody 'ell this place smells like a zoo," murmured Jeremy.

"It surprisingly does yes," replied Jane.

"You don' seem to mind it much."

"I worked in Birmingham Jer, I'm used to it."

"Hhhhahahahaha fuck do Brummies really smell that bad?"

"NO JEREMY, GOD I meant the ZOO, not the city!"

"Hahaha ah know pet ahm jus' teasin' ya. So none o' these raptors gonna 'urt me?"

"No, Oddclaw made certain to tell them all humans were welcome here, and we always tell them in advance how many of us are coming."

"That's good."

They entered the clearing as the guards chirred with warnings of them approaching, a sound Jane almost appreciated like a little fanfare for the human travellers. But instead of normal pleasantries like all of her other fellow visitors, Jeremy decided to do things his way as usual when seeing their raptor emissary approach.

"ODDIE!"

"...JEREMYYYY!"

He ran towards him shrieking with joy before Holt grabbed him round the waist and lifted him up hard into a bear hug much to the surprise of everyone around them. But the scent of happiness was clear from both of them without any harmful intent, they let the boisterous be as Jeremy smooched Oddie on the lips and put him down with a beaming grin beneath his stache.

"God when Jane telt me you were alive ah knew, ah just knew you made it back 'ome safe!"

"Thanks to you Jeremy," replied Odd. "My family are hunting but I think my sister is around."

"Which one?" asked Jane warily. "Not the bloody twins I hope!"

"No, they are also hunting."

"Oh thank god, sorry...I know they're your sisters but they keep looking at me like I'm a fat juicy steak."

"To you they are, it is best never to be alone with them."

"Why?"

"Killing those who are not raptors is not a crime in my tribe."

Jane giggled nervously and took a deep breath, remembering back to her days with hyenas at the zoo. It was about not showing fear and having confidence which Jeremy clearly shone through with complete trust and a mild recklessness. Taking them to the family nest, he introduced Holt to Eggfang.

"Sister, this is the hairless that helped me escape."

"Wha......THIS is him?" she replied squinting whilst leaning her head forwards. "...well, he has no fear, unlike his tribe, I am impressed."

"Charmed to meetcha pet, Sergeant Jeremy Holt."

"I am Eggfang. Thank you for helping my brother return home...you smell like a warrior, are you a guard of your tribe?"

"Well uh, sumthin' lahk that, I am a military bloke."

"A fighter. How did you help my brother escape without any of your tribe knowing?"

"OH easy! First ah distracted 'em with two loud noises an' lots of smoke, one in one room, then one a few minutes later. That sent the guards one way an' ah hid Oddie in this uh...it's like, coverin' him in leaves an' moving him past so nobody noticed he wuz under 'em. Once everyone wuz busy, ah slip him over the fence, or wall whut 'ave ya, an' he wuz free!"

"Incredible! Diversion is something the hairless do?"

"Ohhh quite a bit, lemme tell ya ah had a few tactics lahk that back in mah day."

"DO I HEAR YOU RIGHTLY?!"

A voice came shrieking from the rocks as a haggard old beast limped his way out with enthusiasm.

"Did I hear this hairless claim that he was the one who freed our hunter?!"

"Whozat," cried Holt, "fuck me he looks like a bloody fossil!"

"OH, that is Eyeclaw," said Oddie. "He is our oldest, he is very smart."

Jeremy could believe it, the sharp-eyed ancient creature with greying skin and drooping snout along with a hollowed right socket seemed surprisingly animated as he sniffed and chittered around the Welsh soldier whilst Oddclaw translated.

"You smell like a warrior, the stars have blessed you I see!"

"Uhhhh...thankie, name's Holt, Jeremy if ya like."

"You are truly a saviour to us for freeing our son!"

"Awww don' fret about that, just thought 'e weren't doin' any good all cooped up with us."

"Then I thank you hairless! Thank you, may the stars shine on you always!"

"Hahah, stars eh? Might wanna talk with Thomas fer that, stars aren't mah thing."

"Oh but the stars affect us all! They are but the hopes and dreams of all who have died and so they watch over us still."

"...really?"

"Wait, what?!" asked Jane. "Did he...does he think the stars are the embodiments of dreams?"

"We believe," explained Oddclaw, "that when someone dies, their thoughts, hopes and dreams become a star in the sky."

"...that...th-that's incredible, an actual mythos amongst them, is that something you all believe?!"

"Only my tribe. Moonclaw's tribe do not believe in that."

"A localised folklore. Jeremy do you know what this means?!"

"It...means-whut does that mean?" he asked.

"It is proof of complex sentience! They have a mythopoeia, they have a concept of an afterlife, they have spiritual beliefs! This is UNPRECEDENTED amongst creatures besides humans, I mean elephants and primates have funeral proceedings and burial rites but th-this is wonderful!"

"That's nuthin', me neighbour's cat knew when someone wuz about to die cuz she always went to their window an' stared at 'em all night."

"Wait, really?"

"True story, swear on me mum!"

Jane realised they had been babbling to each other in front of the raptors who stared at them confused, before Jeremy turned towards the aged one.

"You wanna sit down a bit," he asked, "you lookin' out of breath."

"Ohhh do not fear my hairless friend," said Eyeclaw smiling, "I can outrun you any day!"

"HAH! Hhhahaha, ohohhhh ah like this un, he's got a feisty attitude."

"Yes," said Oddclaw smiling, "he has always been like that. Oh, um, Jeremy, I still have your gun."

"Ohhh do ya?"

"It is somewhere safe, I do not need it now. Do you want it?"

"Naw."

"No?"

"Naw you keep it," he insisted waving a hand, "we'll call it a gift. Ah can always find me another weapon to use, wuz it 'elpful to ya?"

"Yes," said the raptor nodding. "It was very useful, thank you Jeremy."

"No problem...mochyn bach."

Oddclaw blushed hard hearing the words and fidgeted slightly, the slight trembling of his cock twitching visibly as Jane looked at them puzzled.

"That reminds me," asked Holt, "did you keep the empty shells like ah told you to?"

"Yes, I did!"

"Nice, could you 'and them over to me? Ah can bring 'em back to our base an' have 'em recycled. Can't afford to waste bullets, have to recycle everything!"

"Yes, I will, let me go get them!"

The raptor ran off to where he had stashed his stuff as Jane turned towards the soldier.

"What exactly does mochyn bach mean?"

"Awww just a wee nickname ah gave 'im."

"Weeeelll what does it mean?"

"Ahm not tellin' you THAT, we're entitled to sum secrets pet."

"Jeremyyyyy."

"Whuuuuuut?"

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 44

12-01-2033

Reported by Dr. Jane Addison and MG Thomas Brightman

(1 video file attached, 5 image files attached)

After much debate, I encouraged Major-General Brightman to come and converse with the raptors. It was understandably tense due to Oddclaw and Brightman having never got along truly well, but then there came something of a miracle. Acting as mediator between Moonclaw and Brightman, they found a surprising connection into an equal fascination, after he had met with the leader in a dutiful respect of diplomacy. Major-General has reason to be cautious, and I do not blame him for being such, but it is precisely why I insisted he come to meet this tribe face to face. Familiarity will reduce tensions I hope.

[Opening file 12-1-33]

Night had fallen once again to the nesting grounds as Thomas stepped reluctantly through the forest with heavy boots with Oddclaw beside him. A small guard of two soldiers were behind them with guns carefully at half-stance in preparation for any conflict.

"Thank you for coming Major-General," said Oddclaw."

"By the insistence of our doctor," corrected Brightman, "along with the reports she's made, I understand you are now at peace with my people."

"I am, yes. I know you do not trust me."

"I cannot be so trusting always. You must realise that since I am the one in charge of keeping my people safe."

"I understand, yes. This is my leader, Alpha. I will translate for you."

The elder sneered with a look of distrust that Thomas mirrored easily, the 8-foot beast staring down at him with an air of tolerance he had to muster.

"You are the leader of the hairless?" asked the leader.

"Major-General Thomas Brightman, Former U.S. Army, Third Energy Anomaly Research team. I thank you for not harming my people."

"And I thank you for not harming mine. So long as your tribe respect us and our home, you shall not be harmed. Normally those who wander into the Hunter's Nest become our prey, but you have Oddclaw to thank for this...agreement."

"Likewise you have Oddclaw to thank for us not to have started a war. I will respect you so long as you do not harm or impede my people."

"Then we are in agreement. I wish you well."

He walked away with firm stride, confident in showing his back to him as Oddclaw nodded in approval that things were going well. He brought Brightman over towards the lake, the moon shining across the waters in its waxing state as she took her gaze away from it.

"This is Moonclaw, my friend, I wanted you both to talk."

"I see," murmured Brightman, "she looks...different from the rest."

"She is not from my tribe, she came from far away. I will translate for you."

"Hello." Moonclaw turned her head smiling whilst remaining seated. "It is nice to meet you, hairless leader."

"Doesn't she know how to say my name?" asked Thomas.

"I am sorry," said Odd, "I do not know how to speak humen names in my language."

"Hmmmmm...well, hello, Moonclaw. How did you end up here?"

"I travelled with Oddclaw across the land," she replied.

"Where are your family?"

"They are gone." She turned her head back towards the moon. "That is all I will say."

"Hm, understandable. Why are you called Moonclaw?"

"Because I have watched the moon ever since I was a hatchling. It is a great and wonderful thing to see, is it not?"

"It certainly is."

Oddclaw sat down beside her, motioning Brightman to come closer by patting the sand. Jane crossed her arms and nudged him to do so before he sighed and sat himself down so Oddclaw was not between him and Moonclaw to watch the stars briefly.

"You watch the moon often?" asked the general.

"Every night," she replied.

"Tell him about your thoughts," encouraged Oddclaw.

"What thoughts?"

"The ones about the moon, the things you told me about in the Birthlands."

"What, no!"

"Please, trust me, he will want to hear."

"Why not tell him yourself, he cannot understand me!"

"He has to know it came from you. Please, tell him, I will translate your exact words."

"What are you two talking about?" asked Thomas raising an eyebrow.

"She wants to talk about the moon," said Oddclaw. "She has...ideas about it."

"Hmm? Ideas?"

"Well," started Moon, "the moon rises from the east and sets into the west, yes? But I have noticed that every one-and-a-half cycles, it is a GREAT moon, the size of a mountain to us. Have you ever noticed the moon change its size?"

"......is she actually saying this?" asked Thomas.

"Yes," asserted Odd.

"......she...has noted the moon change its size?"

"Yes she has."

"...tell her yes, I have noticed that."

"You have?!" she gasped. "It is not just me!?"

"No, I have noticed that too. What about it?"

"I think it must have its own cycle, that perhaps because sometimes it is small and sometimes it is great, that it flies closer to our world from out of the sky, before it disappears."

"Yes, that would mean......wait, you..."

The general shuffled closer leaning towards both raptors.

"You actually noticed its perigee and apogee?"

"...I do not know what those mean," said Oddclaw bashfully.

"Perigee is when the moon is at its nearest to the earth. Apogee is when the moon is at its farthest just-tell her-......no, actually, ask her this. When is the moon at its largest?"

He repeated this back to her as she made a studious reply.

"One-and-a-half cycles."

"...what's a cycle to these creatures?" he asked turning to Jane.

"Nine months," replied Addison. "So one-and-a-half would be around fourteen months."

"Four...fourteen...but, then...thirteen and......my god. My GOD that's right."

"What?!"

"That, no that...she's talking about the lunar moon cycle, every four-hundred-and-eleven days the moon is at its closest to the earth, the perigee. I mean that's almost fourteen months!"

"Wait she's RIGHT?!"

"SHE IS! How..."

Blustering from his throat he turned straight back towards Moonclaw as he leaned across Oddclaw's face.

"How the hell do you know that?!"

"I have watched the moon all my life," she said smiling proudly, "you actually believe me?!"

"I don't have to believe you, I KNOW you're right!"

"OH! Thank you! My family always thought I was a fool to keep watching the stars and the moon thinking nothing would come of it!"

"Hahaha, yanno, my parents thought the exact same thing of me."

"Then I hope they regret it!"

"You know, I have a device that can help you see the moon a lot more clearly even from far away...if you want to see."

"But, I can see the moon from here."

"Yes but this device lets you actually see the craters and the rocks ON the moon, like the fine details."

"REALLY!? How can that be?!"

"I'll bring it round next time, if you want to see."

"I would love to, hairless leader, thank you!"

[End of file]

Integrative Cooperative Study of Velociraptors - Week 56

24-05-2033

Observed by Dr. Jane Addison

(1 video file attached, 4 image files attached)

I wanted to bring along our legal consultant Ms. Anna Kerkorian, but unfortunately her age gets the best of her. Instead I devoted my visit to studying Barkclaw, as well as learning what semblance of law that they have in their society. From a rudimentary period of observation, I have surmised that Barkclaw exhibits traits of an autistic spectrum disorder, but that would of course be impossible to fully confirm without proper testing. Oddclaw and his family however have asserted me that he has always been like this since birth, developing an aversion to physical contact, evading direct eye contact, hypersensitivity and an obsessive fascination with one particular subject.

If this is true, then it would be yet another unprecedented result in non-humans having such irregular developments akin to ones that we possess. It is extraordinarily rare to find such neurological developments like this in non-humans which would pertain then to having such intelligence comparable to a human mind, that it opens up an entire field that could cross species.

[Opening file 24-5-33]

Sitting on the shores of the lake around late afternoon, Jane watched the raptors bathe and drink from the waters almost like birds would do, lifting their heads back to swallow and shake their bodies with droplets scattering off them. Oddclaw cut quite a figure for the camera, striding out of the water with resplendent naked form and swinging flaccid cock between his thick thighs as streams thinly slipped between his abs.

"I am sorry to make you wait," he said as he sat down beside her. "The hunt this morning was...messy."

"It's fine, did it go well?"

"It did! But it fought very strong."

"I wanted to ask you about your laws this time."

"Lawwwzz?"

"Rules, things you are not allowed to do in your tribe, like remember back in our base, we told you not to hurt people, not to take food from the kitchen-"

"Oh! Yes, I remember, you said roolz."

"Yes, rules."

"We have five...roolz that all of us must follow. One, all hunts must end...in a swift death."

"Oh, goodness that's very forward," said Jane covering her mouth slightly.

"When we hunt," he explained with hands clasped, "we must kill our prey and not leave them in pain. If they are in pain, we kill them swift. If you do not kill your prey, and make them bleed, you hurt them too long. That is bad."

"So...you have to kill your prey as quickly as possible so they do not suffer for long?"

"Yes, they do not suff-fur."

"What if a raptor lets their prey bleed and...suffer?"

"We hurt them. They learn that if you make your prey suff-fur, you will suff-fur too, because those who...make something suff-fur, suf-fur...make-"

"Torture, you mean?"

He gently brushed a few insects off of her shoulders as he replied:

"Is that to make something suf-fur?"

"If you do that on purpose yes, that is torture."

"Ah! Yes, those who kill do so to feed family. Those who tor-cherr do so to feed themself."

"Aaaaaah I see, it is an act of selfishness because you are depriving the family of food! So, what other rules are there"

Oddclaw took a small drink from the water to slake his parched throat before continuing.

"Two. Do not kill another raptor, or else we kill you."

"Very exact," replied Jane, "does that include ALL raptors, or only the raptors in your tribe?"

"Our tribe. To kill one of us, when you ARE one of us, we kill you."

"Fair enough. What's number three?"

"Do not steal food."

"Of course."

"Four, do not have sex with females in your family, if you are male."

"Wha-h-huh!?" Jane blinked with a start at this rather precise law. "Wow...that, that's rather unexpected. What about, because I remember you saying once you had relationships with your brother?"

"If you are male," elaborated Odd, "you can have sex with males in your family. If you are female, you can have sex with females in your family but do NOT have sex with males in your family."

"Ahhh...I see, this is about inbreeding, isn't it? Not the actual sex itself."

"In-bree-din?"

"It's what we call having children with someone in your family. The children will most likely end up with problems and defects because of inbreeding."

"They are born wrong."

Addison started to feel awkward, thinking how best to explain this in her own terms whilst rapping her fingers against each other.

"I would not call it THAT but it is possible that they have abnormalities."

"When children are born between family," said Oddclaw, "they smell wrong. They are more weak than children should be, and the mother and father are now...they are now...um, dirty?"

"Dirty?"

"Both mother and father cannot be trusted to birth strong children, so they are killed."

"What?!" she gasped. "You kill both parents?!"

"Yes, they are dirty."

"Wh-what about the children?!"

"They are killed too."

"Oh my......god that is horrible!"

"It is. We do not want to do it, but it was their choice to make their family weak. If you want to inbreeding with your family, you make a choice and you are killed."

"That's very...harsh, can you not just banish them?"

"No, they are dirty and their children will be weaker every birth. The children will become weaker until they die slowly, and suff-fur because their mother and father dirty themselves. It is the good of all mothers and fathers from different tribes to have children, to become strong by breeding outside the family."

"So how do you find a mate from another tribe if you are all here?"

"We can smell who is our family and who is not, so it does not happen. If we cannot find a mate here, one of us will travel to find another."

"Ahhhh...I...see, I had to wonder how you prevented inbreeding in such a close unit of what seem to be around eight different famili-"

_ KHHHRROOOOOOM _

The sky exploded. Raptors began screaming.

"WH-WHAT WAS THAT?!"

"EVERYONE OUT OF THE WATER, GET OUT GET OUT!"

"PROTECT THE NESTS, PROTECT THE NESTS!"

"ODDCLAW WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" cried Jane.

"I, I DO NOT KNOW!" shrieked Oddclaw.

"WH-WHAT WAS THAT SOUND, WAS THAT AN EXPLOSION?!"

"THERE!"

Beyond the lake just north of them was a trembling pillar of smoke, the raptors all running away from it back to their family nests as Jane stood up to try and look. Through the splashing panic they watched with confused fear as the scientist struggled to guess, before a voice came screeching from inside her shirt.

"JANE, JANE COME IN!"

"WHA-AGH!"

The radio shrieked with life as she clicked it on to hear the voice of Andrea Dixon.

"Y-YES, yes I'm here!"

" Where are you now?!"

"I-i-i'm at the lakeshore, beside the Hunter's Nest with Oddclaw."

" We just saw something crash, it looked it was coming to your location, do you see anything?!"

"I...I-i-i saw something, I cannot tell what it is but it looks like some sort of smoke just north of us."

" Can you tell what it is?"

"No, it's too far, heading out towards the ocean I think."

" We need you back here, security lockdown."

"Wh-what?! But Oddclaw an-"

" We have to look after our own first, you can give him a warning but we have to set up reconnaissance."

"Are you sure it's not just some volcanic...e-explosion or something, like a rock or maybe a comet even?!"

" No it's not."

"Well how do you know?!"

" Because rocks aren't made of steel."

"......what?"

" We caught an image of it...you'll want to see this, just get back to the pickup point we'll see you soon."

She turned the radio off and looked towards Oddclaw who seemed to barely understand the emergency. But the smell of fear and growing shock overwhelmed his nostrils as she turned very still with blanched face, struggling to blink as she grabbed his shoulders with a look of deep severity.

"I have to get back, something's happened."

"Wh-what, what is it Jane? Wh-why are you fry-tenned?"

"Do you still have your radio?"

"Yes."

"Then I want you to do something. I want you to go get your gun, and your radio, and keep an eye out for ANYTHING that is out of place. As soon as you see something or someone that does not belong here and is not one of us, you call me."

"Alright. I will."

"Thank you."

[End of file]