It took them longer than expected to navigate back toward the Jewel Hive, the oppressive darkness of the savannah night pressing in from all sides. The faint buzz of distant insects and the occasional growl of something prowling in the shadows made the air feel heavier than it should. Seraphyra's tail swished irritably behind her, the tip twitching with latent energy.

A low, rumbling sound echoed through the savannah—a deep, guttural noise that made the ground tremble faintly. Sera bared her teeth, a flicker of flame dancing on her tongue. "I swear, if it's that dinosaur again, I'll pull out my scales one by one," she growled, her voice vibrating with a mix of exhaustion and rage.

Cricket, clutching her pouch as if it were her lifeline, darted a nervous glance at the dragon queen. "It's probably nothing," she offered, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty. "The savannah is home to lions and hyenas, you know. It could be one of them."

Sera shot her a sideways glance, arching a scaly brow. "Do lions make the ground shake, Cricket?"

"...Maybe a really big one?" Cricket suggested weakly.

Sighing deeply, Sera pushed ahead, her wings tucked tight against her sides as she began clicking softly—a trick she'd picked up from watching bats. The clicks echoed faintly through the hive, bouncing back and forming a rough mental image of the labyrinthine corridors ahead.

As they turned a corner, Sera's echolocation picked up something unusual—a large form, unmoving, pinned beneath a jagged spur of rock. She growled softly, a pang of unease tightening her chest. "There's something ahead. Big. And it's not moving."

Cricket hurried to catch up, peering into the shadows. When her eyes adjusted, she let out a sharp gasp. "I know those scales!" she cried, her voice trembling with a mix of relief and panic. "It's Blue—it's my friend!"

Before Sera could react, Cricket was already sprinting toward the downed dragon, her wings flaring slightly as she stumbled over loose debris.

"Cricket, wait!" Sera called after her, worry coiling tight in her throat. The savannah was dangerous enough without rushing headlong into the unknown. She quickened her pace, her claws scraping against the stone as she moved to catch up.

The dragon pinned beneath the rock was a pale, shimmering blue, their scales glinting faintly in the moonlight filtering through cracks in the hive's structure. Their chest rose and fell unevenly, and their eyes fluttered weakly as Cricket skidded to a stop beside them.

"Blue! Blue, can you hear me?" Cricket said, her voice thick with concern as she pressed a claw gently against the trapped dragon's shoulder.

Blue's eyes cracked open, a faint glimmer of recognition flickering across their face. "...Cricket?" they rasped, their voice barely audible. "What... what are you doing here?"

"Never mind that," Cricket said, already fumbling with her pouch for something—anything—that might help. "We need to get this rock off you."

Sera approached cautiously, her eyes scanning the scene with practiced precision. The rock was massive, wedged tightly against the dragon's body. It would take considerable effort—and perhaps a little ingenuity—to move it without causing further injury.

"You're lucky we came this way," Sera said, her tone gruff but not unkind. "If we hadn't, you'd still be stuck here when the hyenas came sniffing around."

"Hyenas?" Blue croaked, managing a weak smile. "Lucky me."

Cricket shot Sera a sharp look. "Not helping!"

Sera rolled her eyes but moved closer, examining the rock. "Alright, here's the plan," she said, her voice firm. "I'll lift this thing, but you—" she pointed at Cricket with a claw, "—are going to pull Blue out. And you'd better do it fast, because I'm not exactly built for finesse."

Cricket nodded quickly, her antennae twitching with nervous energy. "Got it. Ready when you are."

Sera braced herself, her muscles coiling like steel cables as she positioned her claws beneath the edge of the rock. Taking a deep breath, she let out a low growl and heaved upward, her wings flaring for balance as the massive stone began to shift.

"Go, go, go!" Sera barked through clenched teeth, her voice strained.

Cricket darted forward, grabbing Blue's forelegs and pulling with all her might. The trapped dragon let out a weak groan as they were dragged free, their body scraping against the uneven ground.

With a final, tremendous shove, Sera sent the rock toppling to the side, where it landed with a resounding crash. She staggered back, breathing heavily, and shot Cricket a look. "You're welcome," she said dryly.

Cricket ignored her, focusing entirely on Blue. "Are you alright? Can you stand?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Blue managed a faint nod. "I think... I'll be okay. Thanks to you."

Sera huffed, folding her wings back neatly. "Good. Now let's get out of here before something decides we look like dinner."

As they helped Blue to their feet, the distant rumble echoed again, louder this time. Sera's eyes narrowed, her instincts prickling.

"Cricket," she said, her voice low and urgent. "Let's move. Now."

Cricket glanced at her, fear flickering in her eyes. "You think it's the monster?"

"I don't know," Sera admitted, her claws flexing as she prepared for the worst. "But I'm not sticking around to find out."

Together, they hurried into the shadows, the weight of the savannah's dangers pressing down on them with every step.

◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥◤◢◣◥

In the dim light of the Wasp Hive, a bloodied, lifeless Scorpiosaurus lay sprawled across the dirt, its belly ripped open by some savage force. Its once menacing frame was now a grotesque ruin, blood pooling in the cracks of the hive's floor. Its eyes were glazed, fixed forever in the empty stare of death. But the scent of carnage had attracted something else—a figure who crept silently through the shadows, his dark scales blending seamlessly with the night.

The black dinosaur moved with eerie grace, his red eyes flickering with a hint of recognition as he traced his claw along the torn spine of the downed creature. His nostrils flared, taking in the scent of blood mingled with something more—something familiar, yet utterly out of place in this forsaken hive.

"Oh, Blink, what happened to you?" the dark figure murmured softly, his voice a low, menacing growl. He ran his claw along the jagged bones, a flicker of something—regret, perhaps?—flashing through his eyes.

But then, as his snout hovered near the torn neck of the Scorpiosaurus, he stiffened. His eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a snarl.

"No," he whispered under his breath, backing away from the corpse. His eyes, glowing faintly in the moonlight, flashed with recognition and disbelief. He knew that scent. The unmistakable, acrid scent of dragons. "What are they doing here?" he spat, the words bitter on his tongue. "The hives were abandoned long ago! Why are they sniffing around now?"

The Indoraptor, a creature forged in darkness and secrecy, lashed his tail in irritation. His claws flexed, digging into the dirt as he paced. "Cursed dragons," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "What are they doing here? The curses I sent their way should have kept them out. They should have been driven far from my territory, but here they are. The fools."

With a swift motion, he clicked his tongue, a sharp, echoing sound in the still air. Almost immediately, from the depths of the shadows, a blue-gray raptor emerged, her sleek form gliding effortlessly across the ground. Her yellow eyes gleamed like two tiny suns as her bloody snout turned towards the moons, her fangs stained red with the remnants of a recent kill.

"Blue," the Indoraptor spoke, his voice like a hiss. "Make sure that the dead SilkWing in Jewel Hive stays dead, alright?" His gaze flicked toward the distant ruins of the other hive, his red eyes narrowing as he calculated his next move.

Blue, her yellow eyes gleaming with cold intensity, dipped her head in acknowledgment. "Understood, master," she replied, her voice sharp and precise, as if every word were carefully measured. Without another word, she turned and slunk back into the shadows, vanishing like a ghost into the night.

The Indoraptor stood motionless for a moment, his tail twitching with impatience. His thoughts raced, a complex web of plans and frustrations forming in his mind. The dragons were a nuisance—his curse should have been enough to keep them from venturing into the hives. Yet, there they were, unknowingly meddling in a domain they knew nothing about.

His red eyes flashed with resolve. The curse might not have worked as well as he'd hoped, but there were other ways to deal with these dragons. He would ensure they understood that the hives were not a place for their kind. Not now, not ever.

He turned his gaze back to the fallen Blink, the Scorpiosaurus who had once been his ally. "I'll deal with you later," he muttered to the corpse, his voice dripping with venom. "The dragons come first."

With that, the Indoraptor slunk into the shadows, his mind already turning over plans to ensure his domain stayed undisturbed—no matter the cost.