[Trade] Food on the table (Duel age-up)

Food on the Table - ( Duel Age-up for : Merlin & Fracture )- Agentshark 2/3

Writing by: Lil Monster

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

Word count: 1,500+

Dino’s Included: Merlin (4874) , Fracture (4778) , Shrimp (4742) , Pigeon (4502)

Movement from the undergrowth in the forest echoed as various leaves were moved out of the way with two steps of footsteps running at top speeds, pairs of eyes caught in between gaps but then quickly covered again. Black feathers left on the ground as a familiar face came into view as deep orange eyes scanned the area, followed by the sound of cracking sticks as a bundle of white and Black feathers crashed to the ground beside the utahraptor.

“I can never keep up Fracture your to fast and I am so slow” The large cryo said as she stood up ruffling her feathers out from the debris that clung to them, Merlin and Fracture were now a big older growing into their juvenile ages with the once small cryo now dwarfing Fracture who was growing into her feathers nicely. Fracture turned her head towards Merlin and chuckled before letting out a sigh “You don’t need to be super fast, you have size on me I can’t overpower prey as Pigeon and Shrimp said to us remember?” The two were out looking for food to work on their hunting skills while the adults were resting up at the den, and being much older they could somewhat take care of themselves away from the den.

Merlin let out a sigh as she nodded. Growing up a different species with another wasn’t an easy task as she had to learn things differently compared to her family but she didn’t let it bug her too much, as she looked around trying to pinpoint any sounds in the forest. They were told not to go too far from the den or try to hunt anything bigger than them as it was dangerous but the two sometimes would get into trouble , and they had other ideas.

The small family had been tracking the parasaur herd and styracosaurus herds that had been traveling through the forest and with it being the time of year most had young calves with them that were easy to prey on. Shrimp and Pigeon often went on long hunting trips trying to track them but had no luck bringing them down, Merlin and Fracture were not experienced enough to even come close to those large herbivores so they were told to practice on much smaller prey. 

“It seems like there is nothing in the area, we should move closer to the den and try there. Mom told us not to go too far from the den due to the massive leaf eater herds moving around” Merlin said as she began to turn around heading back towards the den but stopped as she noticed Fracture wasn’t following her.

“No Fracture don’t even think about it, we are going to be in so much trouble” Merlin said as she saw her sister with a sly look across her face starting to head away from the den. With an annoyed look she followed behind looking back towards the den, Fracture wasn’t going to listen and there was no point in arguing with her.

“We will be quick and what if we find something, they would be proud” Fracture said as she walked ahead sniffing the ground as she looked seeing trees that had been marked by herbivores as they moved through the forest foraging “Besides look there's footprints and it looks to be small calves” She said with a grin across her jaws.

After a while the two had tracked the marks stopping as the footprints in the dirt could be seen slightly but not as prominent anymore, with Merlin catching up as she caught her breath seeing nothing in sight. When the sound of a loud bellow could be heard up ahead followed by smaller honks the herd was close. The two crouched walking towards the noise as they saw a large herbivore forage not too far in front of them not noticing the two predators that were in close proximity to them.

Merlin stuttered as she backed up whispering “Fracture those are styracosaurus, we are going to get killed we should leave” the cryo said as she backed up, hearing the sounds of other herbivores getting closer to them. Fracture kept her gaze as she had already picked out a target which was a young juvenile styracosaurus, there was no stopping her and Merlin knew this as she growled coming back up to her sister before crouching “We could get hurt doing this but Don’t mess this up” She said before stepping forwards as they waited for the young herbivore to get closer as it wasn’t being guarded by adults.

The two had never hunted anything this size so it wasn’t going to be perfect and they could get hurt, but learning the hard way sometimes was the way for certain dinosaurs and these two were not one to shy away from danger well atleast Fracture.

Lying in wait was the game they needed to play as if they messed up once they could be gored by a much larger adult styracosaurus, and if that happened the outcome could be grim for the two young carnivores. With a quick dash Fracture took off forwards as she pounced on the side of the styracosaurus calf who was now panicked from the sudden attack, with Merlin not too far behind with her jaws wide open hoping to land it behind its frill onto its neck.

“Don’t let go Merlin use your weight to drag it down” Fracture hissed at her sibling as she clawed at its side with the little on bucking and trying to throw her off, merlin using her size as she clung onto the calf tightly their time was running out as the adults who were around could hear the young calf struggling against the two predators. 

With the thundering sound of footsteps, a large bull came forwards bellowing loudly as he ran towards the commotion with his head held high snorting out air, the two young carnivores pausing as they could hear the approaching danger they needed to end this now if they were to be successful. Fracture pulling back as she locked her claws into the hide of the calf before throwing herself on the ground causing it to knock it off its feet and onto its side.

“Merlin now! Go for the neck hurry!” Fracture hissed as she felt her wing get caught under the calf's weight, the thundering of feet getting closer as she looked to see the full sized bull getting closer to them, it was now in Merlins hand to end this. The young cryo felt her breath panic as she felt her jaws lock down onto the neck of the calf before using her weight like she had always been told by Shrimp. With a quick struggle and movement seizing the calf was dead, they had done it.

The large bull stopped in front of the dead calf as he bellowed loudly before snorting and walking off, there was nothing he could do for the calf anymore returning to his herd. Merlin and Fracture stayed silent as they watched the bull walk off , both letting out a sigh of relief. Merlin let go of the neck as she felt the taste of blood run down her throat , before seeing Fractures wing hurt.

“Your wing Fracture! It’s hurt” the black and white cryo nudging her sister before taking a step back looking down at the dead sty calf her eyes widening , they had done it. Fracture shook out her feathers and moved her arm before looking at Merlin with a grin across her face “That was a close one , Don't ya think?” Chuckling afterwards as she looked around. 

The two had done their first kill but getting the kill back to the den and faced the wrath of their mothers for doing what they were told not to do. Once they had figured themselves out they started to move and drag the dead sty body taking small breaks with Merlin doing most of the heavy lifting as Fractures wing was sore from getting landed on during the hunt.

Eventually after their long walk they could see the den in the distance with two very narrowed eyes hovering on them as Merlin dropped the sty calf before lowering her head. Shrimp and Pigeon stood with not so great looks across their faces as the two did what they were told not to do.

“I see we weren’t listening to what we were told Fracture” Shrimp said sternly looking at the two but mainly at Fracture who was trying to sly away into the den past them, although Shrimp and Pigeon were surprised what they had brought home to the den. Merlin joined behind Fracture as the two parents watched without saying a word, before Pigeon turned to Shrimp.

“At least they learnt something today” She said, chuckling slightly before lowering her head “We can talk about this more later, let's get it inside and eat”.