I lowered my body deep beneath the dead foliages of plants, sinking my brownish body into a camouflaged state. Blackclaw was on my right side, and even up close, his scales fooled me into believing that he was a rock. His eyes glowed as we watched the herd of Tenontosaurs that Whiteclaw discovered days before, move around the area, honking and bellowing strange toots from deep within their fatty throats. I felt the vibrations of the earth wobble my feet, and taking Whiteclaw's old advising moves, I leaned forwards a bit, sniffing out and picking out the prey that would fit us both, and perhaps be easier to take down.

Blackclaw was hissing something silently to himself, looking rather mad and miserable than joyous and energetic. Perhaps it was because of what happened the day before. Because of my well kept secret, spoiled from the arrogance of Blackclaw's memories. I still wasn't so sure that he, or his brother; Whiteclaw, could ever forgive me. I took their childhood lives from them the night their parents died from my hands. And ever since I told Whiteclaw what really happened to his family, I felt sick. Like a nauseous feeling of sorrow and grief, a deep grieving that I haven't felt for years. Whiteclaw didn't even join us on the hunt today. But I'm glad Blackclaw did. I needed to build up my trust once again.

If I ever can.

I took a deep breath and shook my head. The memories of my wrongdoings swarmed around me like flies, taunting my own lack of well judgement. I had to say something at least, to ease the pressure.

"Look Blackclaw," I clicked, suddenly gaining a dark emptiness inside, "I'm truly....really sorry for what happened. It took me too long to realize that I did something totally wrong that night. I didn't realize that I would take something important from a predator such as you."

Blackclaw turned his head to me in wonder, watching me speak. I looked at my clawed hands and sighed. The clawed hands that helped me hunt. But the clawed hands that were filled with the spilled blood of Deinonychus parents.

"Now I just don't feel like myself. Cause I made a terrible mistake. These claws, my parents told me, were to be used for the good of my own sake. But I misjudged them. And let them control me instead of my own self. It must've been hard, y'know?" I glanced at him from my claws, "To lose or take someone you love that easily, and live with this for the rest of your life. I'm actually impressed that you are able to cope with it." Blackclaw shrugged.

"I know what you mean," He eyes darkened with anger, "It happens all the time. But....you ruined our lives. And I don't know if that's something Whiteclaw would consider and accept."

"I know..." I grumbled, clutching my claws tightly to ease the pain that boggled my mind, "It's all my fault. For all of this...anger. I should've been more careful." I inhaled softly, watching the herbivores move steadily around each other, "I'm glad you understand however. It actually helps me, y'know?"

"Yeah," Blackclaw dipped his head, "I guess you're right. But what would also help is to take down one of those Tenontosaurs for our own favor, without the herd noticing. It's gonna be a difficult challenge."

"I could take it," I chirped with a grin, feeling relieved that Blackclaw was re-accepting me, "I'm a Utahraptor for goodness sake. This shouldn't be so difficult as you imagine."

A few more silent moments passed as me and the black deinonychus hid in the undergrowth of the dead plants, watching their every move. They seemed weak and sagging, as if they haven't eaten in days. The wind flew over the area, basking us in a warm dry heat that flooded into my scales with mixed scents. And eventually, one Tenontosaurus mistakenly turned its back towards us. And that's when Blackclaw signalled me.

"Now!" He screeched. My muscles sprang forwards with enough elasticity to throw me right onto the back of the yellow and green herbivore. It let out a shriek of pain as my toe claws sank into the deep soft flesh of the plant-eater, then dragged downwards to cut a perfect gash into its side ribs. It jerked hard, trying to detach me, then let out a bellow of pain and help. I'm sure that the entire herd heard him, and from his wobbling side, I could see them spin their head and eyes around to face me.

But where was Blackclaw?

This wasn't going exactly to plan!

He should be on the other side, going for the throat!

Ignoring his absence, I lunged towards the Tenontosaur's throat and bit down hard onto his esophagus. A shrill cry of pain thundered through its body as blood splattered out from the wound and onto my own skin. It moaned at first, struggling to throw me off, but the blood loss was enormous, and eventually was too much. I quickly detached myself and tumbled off its hide, whereas seconds thereafter, the body tumbled to the earth hard, shaking the ground beneath my claws, and went silent. Success! I thought miraculously, but where in the world is Blackclaw?!

"Blackclaw?!" I called out, yanking the dead body towards me. The other Tenontosaurs stared at me in anger and horror, and their small little yelps became war cries. Something wasn't right.

"Blackclaw? Where the hell are you?" I growled. We were supposed to get out of there easily together! Why wasn't he answering my calls? I turned my head to the sound of dead twigs snapping and saw his body pop out from the shroud of yellow and tan.

"C'mon, help me with this!" I called, snatching the dead body with my open jaws to haul the kill in. But he didn't move. He didn't even smile or growl, or do anything. He just stood there, knees bent, claws ready, and eyes peeled upon me. His heart was black and dark....and a sense of evil soon struck me. As if he was hunting, but at me. His eyes, I could see pain and anger raging inside like a fireball, and thunderous like the darkest storm over a sleepless sea.

"Blackclaw?" I was growing worried now. He didn't even seem like himself. The Tenontosaurus began to roar like Shadow in angry ways, and their war cries became screams. And that's when the ground began to shake hard.

They were coming.

"What are you doing?!" I snapped with fear suddenly igniting in my soul, "They're coming! Don't just stand there, we need to haul this kill in!" But Blackclaw just backed up, and shook his head.

No.

"I'm keeping a promise to my parents," He snarled, "that's what I'm doing." He pointed with his tail downwards towards my prey. My eyes widened when I turned back to the fallen Tenontosaurus. It was smaller than the others. Younger too. And full of forgotten hope. His skin was new and soft-like, scented like fragrant flowers. And even his eyes were young and silent.

It wasn't an adult.

"You sly double-crossing LIER!" I shrieked, pouncing at him. But he was too fast, and I should've known earlier about his features. I felt a claw sink down into my shoulder, then a tail smack me hard into the ground. I skidded into the dirt in pain, only to watch Blackclaw lunge again, right upon my underbelly.

"You taught us that we can control fear!" Blackclaw grinned darkly as he struggled to pierce my eye with his pointy toe claw, "But now I know....I can control you with it too..."

"You're doing this because you're afraid!" I snapped, "And I could see it in your eyes! This doesn't have to go this way!"

"Actually," He came closer to me, "I'm not afraid anymore. For the first time...I'm free." He began to nod then spoke through his teeth, spit flying out, "You took away my parents....and my childhood. And now you're going feel their pain!" He suddenly bounded away from my underbelly, right into the hidden dry bushes for cover. I felt the ground bounce below me, but before I could do anything, a foot collided right into my side. My body flopped violently into the ground, before sliding to a stop. Everything around me suddenly went blurry as I struggled to stand. I coughed hard, wheezing as I felt a strangely outwards bone poke at me from the inside. I broke my rib was the shorter version of the story. But nonetheless, the Tenontosaurs were after me. Because I took something from them too. I tried to look fierce and powerful to them, snarling and growling with outstretched claws, but their huge body tormented me. More like scared me. Blackclaw was telling a truth about something: Fear can control prey.

"C'MON! I can take you ALL ON!" I hissed dangerously, watching Blackclaw on the side slip away. That's when I realized that there were some herbivores behind me.

In front of me.

To the sides.

Everywhere.

No escape...

No escape...

None at all.

Blackclaw set me up.

And now I was trapped.

Circled like what Deinonychus do.

It was like seeing constant flashbacks all over again.

One Tenontosaurus swiped its clawed hand at me, which barely missed my eye. I stumbled back, unaware of another, which tried the same thing, yet succeeded in hitting my hip. A sharp pain squealed from my insides as blood dribbled out of the new gash. I stumbled a bit and tried to lunge out at a Tenontosaur, but it's aiding side buddy struck me down with a swipe of its tail. I struck the ground skull first, then landed on my underside with a thump. Bruises were being drawn all over my scaled body. I wasn't even inflicting a wound upon their skin. I felt a strong force strike me in the back, knocking me forwards. They were roaring triumphantly as they sliced and bodied me around. This was a fight to the death, I realized, and despite all my attacks, none got me close into successfully killing one.

"HELP!" I shrieked, now totally terrified, letting out a croakish roar that was my sign for aid, "HELP ME!! Someone!"

Before I could finish, a Tenontosaur lifted its paws up high, then came down with a loud long moan, towards my own self. I couldn't move. I could only watch. It barely hit me, but the force from the aftershock threw me to the ground. I skidded painfully, rolled around, then laid there on my side, dazed and stunned. The look on their faces terrified me.

Determination.

Agression.

Success.

Revenge.

Now I knew how it felt like to be the prey.

Get up, my mother's voice growled in my head, get up! I was trembling all over now, watching their huge monstrous bodies close in upon me.

I can't! I screamed back in my mind, I can't move! The herbivore raised its paws up with a killing crush, but with a spark of energy, I rolled my way to the side, avoiding the first attack. I felt the ground jolt as his paws came crashing down where I just was. I just had to do that a bunch more times to get away. But I couldn't do it forever.

I spun away from another one in horror, then tried for a third attempt. But this one stopped me.

Because something stopped me;

Blackclaw.

His claw was pinning me down tight, allowing the Tenontosaur to approach with ease. My heart thudded violently as the ground shook and tears were close to popping out.

"Stop!" I cried, "Stop it, Stop it! Please don't do this! Look I'm sorry about their deaths! I didn't want it to be this way! But it wasn't all my fault!"

"Then who's fault was it?" Blackclaw narrowed his eyes darkly.

"Please!" I was struggling to break free, but I was too exhausted, "There's gotta be another way! I'm so sorry okay?! Why won't you believe it?!"

"I never will. But I'll feel better once you get what you deserve." Then he let me go. But it was too late anyway.

The paws were up.

My belly was exposed.

I couldn't roll away this time.

"WAIT NO!" I screamed, twisting my body, "NO!!"

And the 4 ton paws came crashing down upon me with a bone breaking stomp into my underside.