[Trade] Food on the Table (Age-up)

Food on the Table ( Age-up )

Writing by: Lil Monster

Da gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/xxinsanenightmarexx/gallery

Word count: 1,400+

Dino’s Included: Ghost Face (1727) , G.R.I.M (1712) , Marl (3937)

Heavy rain poured down making massive muddy puddles and pools which made it rough to move through along with the cold wet clinging to scales and pooling in areas that made it rather uncomfortable for long periods of time. Eyes peered out from bushes that lined the forest floor followed by two much smaller pairs that stood still before disappearing into the darkness, the crunch of wet leaves leaving small echos of movement before a larger figure stepped out making sure the coast was clear before calling back to two others who emerged shortly after.

“You two can come out there is nothing here, least that I can pick up with the rain” a soft voice said coming from a cyro named Marl, her scales helping her Blend into the surroundings. She was much older than Grim, but her and Ghostface were the same age, they quickly came out into the open to join her who went by the names of Grim and Ghostface, the two were a bit younger but Ghostface wasn’t to far behind Marl, leaving Grim who was the youngest of the group.   Marl had run into them on her travels in which the three decided to stick together from that point on.

“Are we going to hunt anything soon I’m starving , think I might eat Ghostface at this point Marl” Grim hissed before snapping at Ghostface playfully before Ghostfaced rolled his eyes and walked ahead with Marl letting out a sigh as her stomach rumbled, the trio hadn’t eaten in days and it was begging to show and especially with no help from the storm it was getting harder and harder to track something. The two hadn’t hunted much and Marl hadn’t  had a lot of hunting experience due to being left at a young age and the two boys only had Marl to teach them and she was young herself so she wasn’t the best teacher but she did try, even if she failed she had gotten them this far.

“I have a scent but it’s faint, follow me this way” Marl said moving slowly towards the faint scent she had picked up with her snout, Grim and GhostFace nodding as they laid low following Marl through the darkness as they shook the water that kept pooling on them off, it had been heavy rain for the last few days making prey hide away and be out of sight but that wasn’t gonna stop the trio from finding a meal, Marl wouldn’t allow it. Coming to an opening the three stopped as movement could be heard and Grim locked onto where it was coming from before whispering to the two.

“ I think I heard something that way, we should check those bushes” he hissed silently before breaking off from the group with Marl’s approval with a nod. The lush foliage of the jungle they called home provided great shelter from the harsh weather but it could also be used  as a hunting tool which the three had decided it was best to do. Ghostface branched off from Marl as well with each cryo keeping quiet as possible not making a single miss step because it could cost them the hunt, Ghostface and Grim had watched Marl’s many attempts at hunting and the fails she had done showing it wasn’t easy when you were this young, she would usually come back apologizing for messing it up so they knew how important it was to take your time.

Out from the brush a small group of hatchling theris emerged, they had been told by an adult to stay there while the adult moved away so predators wouldn’t be attracted to its clutch, but being so brand new to the harsh world the hatchlings were impatient and weren’t staying hidden which proved to be a great opportunity for Marl as she spotted the small group clumped together trying to stay out of the rain with one leading the others who seemed confused on where to go, they were a prime target while their huge hulking parent was away. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the movement seeing that Grim and Ghostface also had taken notice to the prey, but when there was theri hatchlings the adult wasn’t too far usually.

With a quick nod Marl dashed forwards screeching with her claws wide open as she pounced on a theri chick who let out an alert call with the others being cornered by Grim and Ghostface who made sure to grab hold of another one, as the storm struck harshly causing the rest of the group to panic and run. With the struggle happening and the alert call from the remaining chicks the sound of quick approaching footsteps, the adult theri was coming to aid her chicks which meant the trio’s time frame to make the kill was closing quickly.

“Quickly kill them!, she’s coming” Marl hissed as she dug her teeth into the theri chicks neck which it gave a couple kicks before it stopped moving, she had done it and now all they had to do was kill the other one which Grim was holding its back leg while Ghostface struggled to get ahead of its neck making it difficult for them to carry out the kill due to being so young, they would need Marl’s help and fast as the trees ahead of them started to crunch and break followed by the sound from the adult female theri who had broke through spotting her dead hatchlings which fueled her rage even more as she let out a loud hiss.

“Ghostface kill it now!” Grim Said looking back seeing the large adult theri here to protect her hatchlings, Marl had made her way over quickly biting the head as she ended its life before stepping backwards as the female theri slashed her claws towards them, which caused the trio to take cover into the bushes.  The three caught their breath as the female theri hissed before heading back to her freshly killed hatchling. With no movement the adult theri ushered her remaining hatchlings away while the rain continued.  Silence fell as Marl, Ghostface, and Grim waited to come out to make sure it’s safe, Grim was the first to poke his head out and overcome with hunger he came out seeing that the coast was clear.

“It’s clear guys, come out but be quiet. I’m starving” Grim said, approaching the hatchlings they had killed. Marl and Ghostface came out as well as they joined in on their meal they had finally hunted all by themselves. Marl smiled as she dug in ripping the down feathers from the dead theri hatchlings getting to the fresh meat which she ripped off gulping down the piece with Grim and Ghost face doing the same. 

“ that was close, I thought we were goners for sure” Ghostface said between chewing and taking another piece, his snout covered in blood. Their once hungry bellies now filled even if it was raining they didn’t care they were just happy to finally have gotten a meal. Marl gave a toothy grin and nodded before shaking some water off her before digging back in, the three also learning a new way to hunt which is what they needed.

“You guys did so good, I’m glad I could track them” Marl said now with a full belly before she began dragging the leftovers into a nearby bush for the trio to enjoy later if they needed too, that way it would be hidden and they would have easy access. Ghostface finished his fill and looked around before doing the same as Grim joined in and drug the other one as well into a different bush. After the three finished they decided it would be best to head into the underbrush until the storm came to an end. 

“Now we know what to do for next time” Marl said back to Ghostface as he gave a grin and nodded with Grim giving a nod, the three finally found a spot to hunker down far enough from their fresh kills with three full bellies, all letting out a yawn they laid down resting their eyes. For the first time in a long time the three were full and would take the hunting tactics for their next hunt but for now the young cryo’s needed to rest up after their food ordeal.

Ghostface watched as predators lurked in the jungle but they wouldn’t be trying anything soon since the trio hid their fresh kills away, and that’s the best way to provide food on the table for all of them but until the next hunt they would take what they could get. Marl and Grim had passed out long before due to being in a food coma and soon enough Ghostface joined them as the storm continued on.