Following a Odd Scent! [Scene of the Crime]

Scene of the Crime ( Event Story Prompt )
Writing by: RadicalRyuu
Da gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/RadicalRyuu/gallery
Word count: 1,200+ (1300 words)
Dino’s Included: Vaar (3975), Fen'Harel (5799),Irwin (848) , mention of Khorne

“What is it?” 

“Mom?” A scoff into the air, as a blackened snout smells the unknown scent that has graced these catacombs of ash and hardened lava. Heavy steps tap against the stone as a smaller set shadow in the wake. The shifting of feathers barely heard as the smaller set brushed up against the larger body. 

“I dont know yet Fen, but you being under me isn't really helping~” the annoyed sing song voice sounds playful but Fen’Harel, son of Vaar knows his mother enough to find the annoyance behind the smile. And knows usually what follows after is a snap of teeth his way if he doesnt make himself scarce from under her.

But the unknown smell and reports of unknown visitors near their home bristles Fen feathers the wrong way. The recent wild growth the island has undergone is unnatural. A hatchling like Fen knows and they havent been around for a few seasons now! The few predators that inhabit around his mother territory raised concerned, the few times they put ego and pride aside to ask one another if they were behind the odd scent or strange planting that they happen to come across when walking their territories.

“Its not natural.” The large sucho had rumbled, presence looming and the smell of blood clung to him heavily that Fen couldn't understand how a creature that was clean could smell like that.

“Well don't look at me, long nose! I have a kid to feed and dont need your harassment!” his mother had growled when said snout was turned to look at them. 

“Iv noticed, odd creature run by… nothing like iv seen in the place below.” The biggest of the group rumbled, and although the creature carried itself proudly and raised its snout in the air as if Fen was beneath them it didnt have anything on the final that was there. 

Hornhead's mother called them. But everyone here knew of the Black shadow, a relentless hunter that had no right to be so silent. A black blurr that they all have seen once in their time here. It watched them all with red eyes that seemed like the color of blood. Stark blue on its face forever rests in a frown. 

“Enough.” They rumbled quietly and everyone stopped squabbling. It simply rose to its feet, shaking the great mane of ash and dirt before looking at them one at a time, Fen even jumped back when eyes settled on him too!

“We all will look for these interlopers. I tolerate your presence enough-” A chorus of scoffs, Fen only ducked down more behind his mother at their ballsy response. “I won't with these vagabonds. Especially when they disturb my home with this new…. Green.”

He started walking away when he called back to them. “Spread out and find them. See where they disturbed the earth, get lucky to catch one of the cowards in the act. And if you do…. Bring them back to ME.” 

No one questioned after that, and now here Fen’Harel was with his mother, in a cave of rock mother said used to house flowing lava in. They had caught a scent of the strange creature leading into here, and now as they passed the occasional opening that let light pour in this dusty rock cave the long-cooled tunnels of the ancient volcano sometimes had a change of color from the dark grey to rainbow color stone in some areas. They walked with a brisk pace, eyes peeled and head up as they hoped they would catch the intruder in the act finally! 

“Hold on.” Vaar called out, stopping short to a dead end and growling. No way could she be wrong. Her nose was the best there is! (it wasn't) She walked the circle the dead end made, clawing at the walls and squinting in the half illuminated cave. Fen rumbled from the entrance standing guard in case something was hidden and waiting for his mother back to be turned to make their escape. But it was hard to do so, as sometimes when Fen moved his head at certain angles the small amount of light would catch on the different studded rocks that lined the walls, making them cast and twinkle with a strange color!

“Fuck.” Vaar finally grumbled, and with a snap of his head, from where Fen stood, squinting into the slight darkness where he could see his mother stand. He watched as her feathered tail swayed in the air as she sniffed more before rising up straight again. She was looking down, her molten eyes tilted this way and that as if working out a puzzle before bending down once more and tracking back where she came from. 

He never really saw the shadow scooch pass behind him, didn't hear the patter of claw feet run, Fen was more interested in what had garnered his mother attention, leaving his post to climb the lava rock. He totally wasn't distracted! And it was obviously clear that nothing was hiding in here! Or he would have seen it! Walking around some of the stones, climbing over others. Fen hopped onto the final obstacle in his way to now stand beside his mother, looking down to see what had caught her attention so. 

Earth was disturbed, freshly dugged up and damped, as he lowered his head to sniff he could smell strongly the strange scent that they were tracking and Fen couldnt help but rumble before looking to his mother as she leaned down once more, slowly digging up the earth. It didnt take her long, as she dug her claws with two or three swipes before she pulled away with strange… Seeds? 

Seeds?

Fen looked up, hoping to see if his mother had the answers but Vaar too looked confused as well, letting them drop once more onto the earth she looked again with Fen taking cue to see more areas of disturbed dirt, with what he could only assumed more seeds awaited. 

He looked up to his mother head tilting. “I dont get it…..  What could be so bad about some seeds… wouldn't it just bloom and grow to making the land green again?” he asked, and with a snort Vaar kicked the dirt back over the seeds before shaking her head. 

“Oh my silly son, our land is dry and dead. New growth would simply lead to more fire, more smoke and false hope for the plant munchers that do come in for the rare treat that this land makes. And it doesn't help that long nose annoyance likes to make fire on a whim and burn what does not need to be burn.”

She nods her head to the dugged dirt. 

“More growth equals to more green catches, and the fire we have that we can contain and control will simply light aflame, and spread far and wide to the areas where the fire cant catch. You recall the great blacken field?” She asked and Fen could only nod with rapped attention. 

“Do you notice how after that there is forest and green, and how the earth only seems to spit and spew fire here? That happens for a reason boy, we keep the rest of this island from catching aflame, The Great Black field is watched over us because fire cannot eat what is not there, but if whoever is doing this continues, that defense will fall. And the lava and fire that is contain here will catch and spread.” 

With a rumble his mother nuzzled his side, having caught his confusion. “You’ll understand one day, but for now we have to go, whatever is doing this smell is still new, they must of hide in one the off tunnels while we were coming. We might still catch them.” And with that she turned to walk, Fen staring at the disturbed earth before turning around to follow.