It was a full week before he ever stepped outside of his cave. He fed off the prey that he and his friends had caught together.

Back when they were still alive.

He was haunted by dreams of his friends on a daily basis. Most were memories, while others were as though they had come from an alternate reality where the virals never appeared, where they went out together to explore the world around them. There was even one where he left his cave and found them alive and well. But, he knew better than that. He knew better than to hope, or to look forward to anything. They were gone forever.

Leaving the safety of his shelter, he stepped outside. Last time he did so he was in the company of his friends, laughing and joking. But this time, he was completely alone. Nothing more, nothing less.

He walked, without paying attention to anything around him. He could smell the very faint, old scent of Thorn Tooth and Fleet Claw. At least they had each other. Maybe he would be better off if he joined them.

No! Don't you dare think that! He growled to himself, softly.

Strutting down the forest, he suddenly picked up a very strange scent. He sniffed deeply, sucking the stench into his wide nostrils.

A group of young animals, who in no way should get along, in near proximity of each other. One was a baby Triceratops, only three months old. The other was a young male Acheroraptor, probably at ten months of age. The last was a month old Pachycephalosaurus.

And, only a few meters to their left, a big, chubby rodent.

The perfect prey.

Mouth watering, Black Talon moved in its direction, detecting its delicious, strong scent. Its flesh would be juicy, its blood irresistible, a great way to quench his hunger.

He could see it now, yes- a fuzzy, blue-grey creature, hiding amongst the undergrowth, near twigs and flowers and—

'Hey! Leave him alone!'

A juvenile voice- the young Acheroraptor- sounded out, as it stepped in front of Black Talons view. Its silver feathers ruffled as it snorted in annoyance.

To Black Talon's shock, the rodent- a prey animal, hunted constantly by Acheroraptors- approached the young raptors foot, and with its paws, climbed up onto its back.

Black Talons eyes widened, as he was surprised by the strange behaviour of the prey creature.

'I know what you wanted to do, but I won't let you do it!' the youngster growled aggressively. Black Talon promptly narrowed his eyes, disapproving.

'Who are you?' He growled at the juvenile, coldly.

'Me? I'm Sharp Claw, and the little guy on my back? Well, I wasn't able to talk to him, but I named him Fuzzy. Who are you?' Sharp Claw sneered, jutting his chin.

'I am Black Talon. Do you have a pack?'

'Yes, but my pack isn't very conventional...'

So that explains why he was so close to the baby Triceratops and Pachycephalosaurus, Black Talon realised.

'What about your real pack?' Black Talon asked.

'They are all gone.'

Black Talon stopped suddenly, feeling what was almost comparable to a jolt in his heart.

'Was it the virals?' He asked, feeling a small dab of sympathy. Brilliant, just brilliant. You now feel bad for this annoying little juvenile. Wonderful.

'Is that what you called them? In my pack, we just called them the infected. Everyone's either missing, infected, or dead.'

There was an uncomfortable silence.

'Where's your pack?' Sharp Claw asked, inquisitively.

'It's just as dead as yours,' Black Talon grunted.

'Oh...' Sharp Claw said.

There was, yet another, uncomfortable silence. Sharp Claw scratched his head, and awkwardly, he slid away.

He managed to catch many animals- three birds, two rodents, and even a small pterosaur. He brought them back to his cave, where he proceeded to eat. They would last him for another week, he had calculated.

If I manage to stay alive that long, of course.

This is rather pathetic. Before, I used to wake up every day knowing it would be a good day, knowing I had something to look forward to. But now, all I ever do is wait. Wait for something, wait for nothing. Sleep is my only escape.

The days would sludge on meaninglessly. The isolation became so unbearable to Black Talon. He would shut his eyes and fall asleep during those moments, since at least in his dreams, both good and bad, he wasn't alone. That was his way of dealing.

And, on that day, like on all others, he did the same. Tormented by his yearning, he fell asleep early, and entered that kinder world that lay in his subconscious.