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                                                                           Chapter 2
                                                                   Vira and Green-Eye

               It was dark and suffocating. The walls were confining and hard. No matter what she did, she could not break through. She kicked and scratched and butted her head against the walls. But nothing would give. Finally, she stopped for a moment, breathing hard…then she realized she could breathe. She must have broken something! Sweet, sweet air was rushing in.
               This realization renewed her energy and she hit at the walls again. Something broke free and her foot was shoved into the gap. She kicked again and the bottom-half of the shell broke open. She crawled backward out of her partially open shell.
               There were ‘oohs’ and ‘awes’ sounding around her. She looked up into…a big huge face looming in front of her. She squealed and rolled backwards, head-over-tail. There was some snorting—laughter. She sat up on her haunches again and then chittered angrily at the friendly comforting face for having scared her.
               “Vira.” It spoke. Vira just ignored the voice and looked around at the strange creatures surrounding her. They all looked like who she had imprinted to as her mother (even though something about her ‘mother’ didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t figure out what it was), but they were different in color. Her ‘mother’ was all brown with one green eye and one black eye. Vira turned her attention back to her mother and chirruped happily. Next to her, another shell burst open and there was another chorus of oohs and awes. But Vira was frustrated. That shell that had just burst open, a piece had landed on her head. She shook her head until the piece fell off and she got a first glimpse of her brother.
               Something seemed wrong. He didn’t smell like her. Though he smelled like mother. Yet, she realized at the same time that she didn’t smell like mother and she was confused. If she didn’t smell like mother or brother…then who did she smell like? This frustrated the little hatchling to no end; there was something odd going on here. She wanted to smell familiars, but she did not. She only smelled strangers.
               Not to mention, these strangers seemed smaller than the mental image she’d had forming inside of her head since she’d first become ‘aware’ inside her egg. They should be bigger, noisier, happier and have more feathers on their head and neck.
               Finally, Vira just accepted the fact that perhaps she was different and perhaps everyone smelled different to themselves.
               Still, Vira did not have a very good first impression of her brother. Though, he was this pretty light-blue color with darker blue streaks running across him. She snorted and upturned her nose to her brother—she had her real mother’s personality. But, of course, Green-Eye did the same thing. Still, Green-Eye found herself wondering about Vira’s real mother. Vira had brown pebbly skin with tri-colored triangular markings. They were olive-green, brown and gold. What had her mother looked like?
               Black feather-like spines adorned the top of her neck as well as in two rows on both sides of her neck. There were also some feather-like spines sticking up from the last third of her tail. Her hands were long and delicately featured for a dinosaur. In fact, her entire body was delicately featured; she didn’t look like she’d grow up to be that strong. But looks could be deceiving.
               The last things Green-Eye noticed were Vira’s red claws and yellow eyes. Green-Eye had a flashback of Vira’s father and remembered the red claws he’d had. He must have been from the Redclaw Clan! Yet he had said that Vira was full Deinonychus and she knew there was a red-clawed Deinonychus clan as well…perhaps it was the real father of Vira who had red claws, or even the mother. The yellow eyes that Vira had, Green-Eye could not relate them to a clan-specific trait.
               “Vira Redclaw.” Green-Eye said. She could not think of any other last name for the hatchling. And besides, it fit her perfectly. Even if it wasn’t what her father had had in mind.

               “I do not agree with what Green-Eye has done. We want our revenge, but we don’t need an outcast Hybrid to help us get our revenge! What if the Deinonychus and Utahraptor clans find out we have the lost princess here? Hmm?” Twostars (her name was given to her because of two white spots on her left hip) said. Then added, “Even worse, what if the Tyrannosaurs find out she’s staying here? They’ll have no qualms about destroying our hatchlings again!”
               Green-Eye and those loyal to her had been sent out hunting. The ones who wanted a new leader had coyly arranged for the ‘loyals’ to all be gone while they held a secret meeting. And the hatchlings were too young to really understand anything any of what the adults were saying.
               “We can not have that happen again. My children, they could have been living this day if those Tyrannosaurs hadn’t squashed our nests!” One of the other mother raptors said sadly. She had never really stopped mourning her lost children. Twostars comforted her.
               “I know, I know.” She said, pretending to feel sorry for the mother. “It was Green-Eye’s fault! She should have protected our nests against those Tyrannosaurs! But she didn’t! Instead, she let the Tyrannosaurs come. She let them squash our nests. She let our children die!.” There were hisses and screams of anger as those present began to be pulled in by Twostars’ words. Twostars let her jaw drop very slightly in a pleased grin.
               “We should have a new leader! We want a new leader! We can not let Green-Eye’s real child be risen to take over leadership. There must be a dual.” The Velociraptors called. Twostars stepped in front of the clan, slightly surprised, yet pleased, that they forgot that she too was a child of Green-Eye.
               “No!” The Velociraptors looked at her in surprise. “We can not move yet. We must wait. Wait until her son is grown. It’ll be a year before he is old enough to understand certain things. Meanwhile, we must pretend to follow Green-Eye. And when they are out on hunts, we can work on her son.” The Velociraptors nodded agreement.
               Six months passed. The hatchlings had grown, but Vira had grown even more. She was not included in the games of the hatchlings anymore because she wound up accidentally hurting them. The hatchlings had actually insisted that she keep on playing, they didn’t mind. And besides, she needed to grow up to be a good and strong hunter. But Vira had minded hurting the smaller hatchlings. The adults, for once, had agreed with Vira and told her that she was not allowed to play with their children (except for a few adult raptors who thought it was fine that she played with their children, but when they were gone hunting, she wasn’t allowed to play at all).
               At first, Bluestreaks, who was Green-Eye’s son, had asked the adults why Vira wasn’t allowed to play. After all, she was his sister. They had hatched together. “You have to understand certain things about life.” Twostars, his much older sister from one of his mother’s clutches long ago, had said. “Vira is not your real sister. You see how fast she grows?” And Bluestreaks had nodded. “That is because…she is hybrid.” Ever since the hatchlings had been able to understand and talk with the adults—which had only been about two weeks after they had hatched—Twostars had started telling them all—with the help of her followers—that Hybrids were filthy scum. And she had told them bad stories about hybrids, creating fear within their hearts.
               They were even telling Vira the stories, in hopes that when she found out what she was, she’d have a very low self-esteem. Now was Twostars’ chance to see if she had told Bluestreaks too soon about his ‘sister’ or if she had correctly judged. But the hatchling’s expression was hard to read.
               “B-but she doesn’t act like a hybrid.” Bluestreaks said, though it sounded like a question.
               “My dear brother. You know I love you very much, don’t you?”
               “Yes,” Bluestreaks said in almost a whimper.
               “Walk with me, little brother.” Twostars said. Bluestreaks trotted to keep up with the bigger raptor. “There are certain things you have to learn about life. A hybrid is evil. They don’t always show it at first. But the moment you turn your back on them, or let them know you’ve found out they’re a hybrid…” Twostars ran a claw across the front of her neck. Bluestreaks’ eyes opened wide.
               “No…I know Vira…she’s my sister. She would never do that to me or mom.” Twostars shrugged at Bluestreaks.
               “I only hope you are right, my brother, I only hope you are right.” She said. Bluestreaks looked at her for a second longer and then took off. Twostars slowly let her jaw drop wide open in a large grin. She was near accomplishing her plan.
               Vira stared at her brother. He’d been acting weird lately. Ever since she’d seen him go off with that Twostars. She didn’t trust Twostars. She never had, though she didn’t know why, partly was the fact that her father had told her not too. Twostars had never acted mean towards her family that she had seen. And she had always been nice to Vira…while her mother was around.
               But just yesterday, when her brother had been playing with the others and Vira had come to join in the play, they had all stopped and looked at her. Someone had almost imperceptibly given her brother a little push and then Bluestreaks had turned his back to her. “Get away from us, hybrid!” Bluestreaks had said and then he and the hatchlings had run off.
               Vira had stood there in shock. Hybrid? She wasn’t a hybrid! Hybrids were supposed to be vicious. She wasn’t vicious, at least, she didn’t think she was. But she didn’t think she was a hybrid either. Her mother was her brother’s mother. Of course, she couldn’t ask her mother…what if she was a hybrid? Her mother would hate her!
               Then Vira stopped and wondered. How did one become a hybrid? Maybe because she grew too fast. Maybe that’s what made her a hybrid! After all Twostars had never said how you could become a hybrid.
               That’s it, she could talk with Twostars! Twostars would know.
               Vira approached the adult Velociraptor slowly. Then she paused. Even though she was only six months old, Vira was half as big as Twostars. She was sure Twostars could hurt her if she wanted to. I should ask mom. Vira thought after a moment. I should ask her if I am a hybrid. But those thoughts were soon dismissed. If mom finds out I might be a hybrid, she’ll hate me. Vira thought.
               “Uh…Twostars?” Vira asked shyly. The adult Velociraptor whirled around, seeming shocked. Apparently she hadn’t heard Vira come up behind her.
               “You know it’s not polite to sneak up behind others...unless you’re hunting them…or playing a game!” Twostars was clearly shaken and Vira couldn’t understand why.
               “I-I-I’m s-s-sorry.” Vira apologized. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I…I need to ask you something.” Vira said. Immediately Twostars’ demeanor changed. She appeared to become more gentle and caring than she had been a few moments before.
               “Yes, my dear?” She asked pleasantly.
               Vira stuttered a few times while Twostars waited patiently. How could she ask Twostars this? After all, Twostars had been the loudest voice in speaking up against hybrids. At least, while her mother had been gone hunting. “Am…I…” Vira paused. “Am I a hybrid?” Vira ducked herself behind a bush and looked around. She hadn’t meant to shout the question.
               Apparently her shouting had startled Twostars as well and again Vira wondered why. “My dear.” Twostars said after a moment. “Do keep your voice down.” Vira nodded and came out from behind the bush.
               “But…am I?” Vira asked. “Am I what my brother called me?”
               Twostars let out an exaggerated sigh. “I told them not to tell you.” Twostars said, appearing to be sad. “What I am about to tell you pains me greatly.” Twostars paused for effect, smiling to herself inside. This was perfect! The right time had come! “Green-Eye, the one who claims to be your mother, found you a while ago while you were still an egg. Your real mother and father had been banished from their clans because they had violated a code of the Rainy Basin: never crossbreed.
               “Your mother and father went crazy from being banished and murdered each other. Green-Eye had watched from a safe distance and took pity on you. When she tried to return you to your clan, they refused to take you. They said you were an outcast. So, Green-Eye brought you back here, though many of us thought it was a mistake. But we couldn’t help but think that maybe…just maybe you would turn out all right when you had hatched. After all, you were the most darling little hatchling.”
               “M-my parents…murd.…” Vira couldn’t bring herself to say the word.
               “Yes, my dear, it’s true. They murdered each other. I’m sorry. Green-Eye told us everything when she returned.”
               Vira backed away, shocked to the tip of her tail about what she had heard from Twostars. Then she turned around and took off. How come her mother had never told her? How come she was never told of her past? No one would want her now! Not her mother’s or father’s clan, not Green-Eye’s clan.
               But the thing that most disturbed her was what Twostars had said about her real parents; they had gone crazy and then murdered each other. She had that same blood in her—she was a vicious Hybrid.
               Vira didn’t know how long she had run, but it had felt like hours. She must have stopped running and fallen asleep at one point…or fallen asleep while running, because she woke up, sprawled on her back across the Rainy Basin ground. She sat up; her legs hurt. She’d never ran that long or hard before.
               Her chest was hurting her, it was hard to breathe and her heart was beating faster than normal. She decided that she must have passed out from the exertion and shock and woken only a few moments later.
               Vira looked around herself. She was in strange territory. She had never come this far before, especially not without her mother and she was suddenly frightened. She may have been almost as big as an adult Velociraptor, but she was still small for her parents’ species and in her mind she still needed protection from a mother and father. (Green-Eye’s mate took care of her and Bluestreaks sometimes, but he was rarely with the clan because he was always trying to negotiate peace between all the clans around their territory).
               Vira got up, she didn’t know in which direction she should go, she was all turned around in this large rain forest. Vira backed up as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. It’s dark! Vira realized. But it’s not night! She also realized it been drizzling for a little while. But, as if on cue, as soon as the lightning struck, rain started pouring down harder.
               Vira shook her head.
               Why had she run away? Why hadn’t she stayed at home with her mother and brother? She wasn’t used to being out in the rain by herself. Especially when the dark clouds hid the sun from view.
               At first, Vira’s instinct was to stay where she was. Her mother would come looking for her. But then, Vira remembered the reason she had run away. She was a hybrid! Her mother would never want her! Her mother would not come looking for her.
               Vira decided then to leave her spot. She didn’t know what direction in which she was heading, but she knew she had to find shelter.
               Another flash of lightning split the sky and just as it struck, a loud boom shook the floor of the Rainy Basin. Vira took off, screaming in fright. She wanted her mother and she wanted her now! She’d never seen a thunderstorm before, only heavy rains. And the sound was scary to her. The sound was big, almost like a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s bellowing. Or any other big carnivore. So all she could think of was the lightning and thunder as big carnivores that were trying to eat her.
               Her direction brought her out onto a path just as another bolt of lightning struck and thunder bellowed. She smacked into a warm body and fell backward. As more lightning struck, Vira saw a horned face turn towards her and then she saw dozens of feet. Human, saurian, and all kinds of other feet that Vira didn’t recognize.
               It was a small caravan that had tried to make it through the Rainy Basin before the storm had struck but they hadn’t succeeded.
               The Triceratops and Vira stared at each other for a moment before it registered in the Triceratops’ mind: a carnivore, it smells like Velociraptor and a Rainy Basin native. We must protect the caravan! It lowered its horned head and swung it at her, bellowing a warning to the other dinosaurs and humans.
               Vira backed away, only to find herself cornered by another Triceratops from behind. Vira was forced farther onto the path. She whirled around and lowered her body to the ground; an action that would normally be taken as a gesture of submission, but it was dark and the flash of lightning that followed made Vira appear as if she were about to leap.
               The Trikes swung their heads at her, bellowing. Vira hissed back, not understanding why they hadn’t understood her gesture of submission. Realizing that these creatures were just going to attack her if she didn’t do something, Vira did leap to the top of the crest of the Triceratops that had cornered her and she held on with claws, teeth and sheer terror.
               The Triceratops swung its head, but Vira’s tail balanced her and she bit down harder on the crest, losing a couple of her teeth in the process. But as the rain continued to pour down and more creatures started to surround Vira and the Trike she was biting, Vira lost her grip and went flying, landing on the other Trike’s head. Which, in turn, swung its head before she could get a sense of her surroundings and then something hard smacked her body, sending her flying.
               Vira landed on the path with a thud. There was only one thing left for her to do: Vira filled her lungs with air and let out a piercing scream. It stopped the caravan creatures from advancing for a few moments. She had called for help, it had been instinctual. It was a message to all parents out there of her species to please help a lost and terrified hatchling.
               When the caravan dinosaurs started advancing again, Vira let out another scream followed by a staccato wail. Again the dinosaurs stopped, but they were close now. Especially the Triceratops. Vira lay where she was, too afraid to move anything except her head and eyes, which she used to look for any signs of help, but she didn’t see any.
               Vira hissed at the Triceratops again as they swung their massive heads. But they didn’t appear to be advancing any further, just warning her to stay away from their caravan.
               One of the Trikes snorted, causing the hatchling to jump. It couldn’t understand. This hatchling had smelled like a Velociraptor, it was certainly big enough to be a small adult Velociraptor, but it had sounded like a hatchling. Perhaps his partner would know what to make of this strange Velociraptor-smelling hatchling.
               The Triceratops had a soft spot for all hatchlings, so he started backing away until something else leapt from the bushes between the path of the hatchling and himself and the other Trike. It was a Velociraptor and he recognized it as the one that he had met on a caravan trip to Treetown only six months before.
               But this small brown Velociraptor was not in a negotiating mood now. She was a mad mamma raptor. They had threatened her hatchling and she was responding.
               Vira was startled to see her mother, Green-Eye, leap from behind the bushes. So her mother had come looking for her after all! Vira felt a sense of relief flood through her. She was safe now, she would be all right, her mother was here and she would protect her.
               Vira watched as Green-eye hissed at the Trikes, flexing her long hand claws. The Triceratops’ backed away, making strange grunting noises. Green-Eye leapt and swung her foot out, catching one of the Triceratops’ on the nose, but the Triceratops didn’t fight back, though his friend Triceratops looked like she was about to toss Green-Eye the way she had tossed Vira.
               After a few moments the threat was over and Green-Eye came over to Vira.
               Vira rolled onto her back, her legs and arms stuck into the air as a gesture of complete submission, but Green-Eye butted her with her head until she got up. “There’s no need to act that way around me.” Green-Eye said and nuzzled her hatchling. She had considered Vira her hatchling since the moment the little hybrid had hatched. “And don’t you act like that towards the others either.” Green-Eye added. “But tell me why you ran away.”
               Vira rubbed against her mother and sighed, she felt completely safe now.

               “Twostars!” Green-Eye hissed angrily, flexing her claws. “I should have known!” Vira cowered behind a bush. They had started walking back home slowly and the rain had lightened up a lot as the storm had moved away and the sun was beginning to show through so it wasn’t so dark anymore. “That’s not at all what happened, Vira!” Green-Eye said. “And you’re not a hybrid.”
               “It isn’t? I‘m not?” Vira asked, reappearing from behind the bush. She was cowering at everything right now because she had just suffered a traumatic event. Her mother’s anger alarmed her.
               “No.” Green-Eye replied and proceeded to tell Vira about her heroic mother and father.
               “But I don‘t want to be a Deinonychus. I want to be like you.” Vira insisted when Green-Eye had finished the story. “Can’t I be like you, can’t you make me like you?”
               “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. You are who you are because of your mother and father and you should be proud.” Green-Eye replied. Vira wasn’t sure that she was proud at all. After all, she was still a hatchling and she didn’t really understand anything that was going on.
               Green-Eye sighed. “From now on you’re coming on the hunts with us. I thought Twostars had finally come to accept that she was in my Clan and that she was supposed to do what I said. But I fear I can no longer trust her. Nor those that stay with her.”
               “What about Bluestreaks?” Vira asked. She wanted her brother to come on the hunts as well.
               “As for him, I will have a talk with him. He is to take over this clan once he’s grown up—if someone doesn’t challenge me first—and I won’t have him turning into a Twostars-clone. And I must speak with Blaze.” Blaze was Vira’s and Bluestreaks’ father. Everyone feared Blaze when he was around.

               Everything seemed hectic when they got back to the clan. It seemed that the clan had split and there was a lot of arguing and tail biting and back scratching going on. All of the hatchlings were cowering in a corner.
               “Mamma!” Bluestreaks yelled and ran over to Green-Eye and Vira when he saw them. Abruptly, the fighting ceased and Twostars stepped forward, pretty scratched-up and bloodied herself.
               “Twostars, you are forever banished from this clan. I am tired of you lying and—”
               “Oh no, my dear, dear Green-Eye.” Twostars chortled. She flexed her claws and the muscles beneath her skin were clearly visible as she moved. Green-Eye was an old raptor and Twostars was a young raptor. Green-Eye knew Twostars was challenging her and she knew she didn’t have the strength she used to, to battle Twostars. And often, as it was, a battle for leadership usually ended up with the old leader, or the challenger, dead. The battles for leadership were usually fought to the death. Unless one or the other submitted.
               Of course, Twostars was overconfident and could be caught off-guard. So, without waiting for Twostars to finish her challenging statement, Green-Eye leapt and knocked Twostars to the ground. But Twostars no longer held back from fighting Green-Eye. She was not scared of her leader anymore. To her, her leader had made one too many mistakes, starting with allowing the Tyrannosaurs to wreak havoc on their nests and then never setting a plan for revenge. And Vira, as far as she was concerned, should never have been allowed to be a part of any plan.
               Twostars used a powerful kick from her leg to send Green-Eye flying backward. She had hoped her killing claw would have struck Green-Eye in a vulnerable spot, but Green-Eye was experienced and had moved herself into a less vulnerable position. Twostars had only caught Green-Eye in the face and had left no resulting mark.
               Twostars hissed in irritation, but kept her eyes on Green-Eye. If she even looked away once, then that would be a deadly mistake. Both Velociraptors began flexing their claws.

Description
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                                                                           Chapter 2
                                                                   Vira and Green-Eye

               It was dark and suffocating. The walls were confining and hard. No matter what she did, she could not break through. She kicked and scratched and butted her head against the walls. But nothing would give. Finally, she stopped for a moment, breathing hard…then she realized she could breathe. She must have broken something! Sweet, sweet air was rushing in.
               This realization renewed her energy and she hit at the walls again. Something broke free and her foot was shoved into the gap. She kicked again and the bottom-half of the shell broke open. She crawled backward out of her partially open shell.
               There were ‘oohs’ and ‘awes’ sounding around her. She looked up into…a big huge face looming in front of her. She squealed and rolled backwards, head-over-tail. There was some snorting—laughter. She sat up on her haunches again and then chittered angrily at the friendly comforting face for having scared her.
               “Vira.” It spoke. Vira just ignored the voice and looked around at the strange creatures surrounding her. They all looked like who she had imprinted to as her mother (even though something about her ‘mother’ didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t figure out what it was), but they were different in color. Her ‘mother’ was all brown with one green eye and one black eye. Vira turned her attention back to her mother and chirruped happily. Next to her, another shell burst open and there was another chorus of oohs and awes. But Vira was frustrated. That shell that had just burst open, a piece had landed on her head. She shook her head until the piece fell off and she got a first glimpse of her brother.
               Something seemed wrong. He didn’t smell like her. Though he smelled like mother. Yet, she realized at the same time that she didn’t smell like mother and she was confused. If she didn’t smell like mother or brother…then who did she smell like? This frustrated the little hatchling to no end; there was something odd going on here. She wanted to smell familiars, but she did not. She only smelled strangers.
               Not to mention, these strangers seemed smaller than the mental image she’d had forming inside of her head since she’d first become ‘aware’ inside her egg. They should be bigger, noisier, happier and have more feathers on their head and neck.
               Finally, Vira just accepted the fact that perhaps she was different and perhaps everyone smelled different to themselves.
               Still, Vira did not have a very good first impression of her brother. Though, he was this pretty light-blue color with darker blue streaks running across him. She snorted and upturned her nose to her brother—she had her real mother’s personality. But, of course, Green-Eye did the same thing. Still, Green-Eye found herself wondering about Vira’s real mother. Vira had brown pebbly skin with tri-colored triangular markings. They were olive-green, brown and gold. What had her mother looked like?
               Black feather-like spines adorned the top of her neck as well as in two rows on both sides of her neck. There were also some feather-like spines sticking up from the last third of her tail. Her hands were long and delicately featured for a dinosaur. In fact, her entire body was delicately featured; she didn’t look like she’d grow up to be that strong. But looks could be deceiving.
               The last things Green-Eye noticed were Vira’s red claws and yellow eyes. Green-Eye had a flashback of Vira’s father and remembered the red claws he’d had. He must have been from the Redclaw Clan! Yet he had said that Vira was full Deinonychus and she knew there was a red-clawed Deinonychus clan as well…perhaps it was the real father of Vira who had red claws, or even the mother. The yellow eyes that Vira had, Green-Eye could not relate them to a clan-specific trait.
               “Vira Redclaw.” Green-Eye said. She could not think of any other last name for the hatchling. And besides, it fit her perfectly. Even if it wasn’t what her father had had in mind.

               “I do not agree with what Green-Eye has done. We want our revenge, but we don’t need an outcast Hybrid to help us get our revenge! What if the Deinonychus and Utahraptor clans find out we have the lost princess here? Hmm?” Twostars (her name was given to her because of two white spots on her left hip) said. Then added, “Even worse, what if the Tyrannosaurs find out she’s staying here? They’ll have no qualms about destroying our hatchlings again!”
               Green-Eye and those loyal to her had been sent out hunting. The ones who wanted a new leader had coyly arranged for the ‘loyals’ to all be gone while they held a secret meeting. And the hatchlings were too young to really understand anything any of what the adults were saying.
               “We can not have that happen again. My children, they could have been living this day if those Tyrannosaurs hadn’t squashed our nests!” One of the other mother raptors said sadly. She had never really stopped mourning her lost children. Twostars comforted her.
               “I know, I know.” She said, pretending to feel sorry for the mother. “It was Green-Eye’s fault! She should have protected our nests against those Tyrannosaurs! But she didn’t! Instead, she let the Tyrannosaurs come. She let them squash our nests. She let our children die!.” There were hisses and screams of anger as those present began to be pulled in by Twostars’ words. Twostars let her jaw drop very slightly in a pleased grin.
               “We should have a new leader! We want a new leader! We can not let Green-Eye’s real child be risen to take over leadership. There must be a dual.” The Velociraptors called. Twostars stepped in front of the clan, slightly surprised, yet pleased, that they forgot that she too was a child of Green-Eye.
               “No!” The Velociraptors looked at her in surprise. “We can not move yet. We must wait. Wait until her son is grown. It’ll be a year before he is old enough to understand certain things. Meanwhile, we must pretend to follow Green-Eye. And when they are out on hunts, we can work on her son.” The Velociraptors nodded agreement.
               Six months passed. The hatchlings had grown, but Vira had grown even more. She was not included in the games of the hatchlings anymore because she wound up accidentally hurting them. The hatchlings had actually insisted that she keep on playing, they didn’t mind. And besides, she needed to grow up to be a good and strong hunter. But Vira had minded hurting the smaller hatchlings. The adults, for once, had agreed with Vira and told her that she was not allowed to play with their children (except for a few adult raptors who thought it was fine that she played with their children, but when they were gone hunting, she wasn’t allowed to play at all).
               At first, Bluestreaks, who was Green-Eye’s son, had asked the adults why Vira wasn’t allowed to play. After all, she was his sister. They had hatched together. “You have to understand certain things about life.” Twostars, his much older sister from one of his mother’s clutches long ago, had said. “Vira is not your real sister. You see how fast she grows?” And Bluestreaks had nodded. “That is because…she is hybrid.” Ever since the hatchlings had been able to understand and talk with the adults—which had only been about two weeks after they had hatched—Twostars had started telling them all—with the help of her followers—that Hybrids were filthy scum. And she had told them bad stories about hybrids, creating fear within their hearts.
               They were even telling Vira the stories, in hopes that when she found out what she was, she’d have a very low self-esteem. Now was Twostars’ chance to see if she had told Bluestreaks too soon about his ‘sister’ or if she had correctly judged. But the hatchling’s expression was hard to read.
               “B-but she doesn’t act like a hybrid.” Bluestreaks said, though it sounded like a question.
               “My dear brother. You know I love you very much, don’t you?”
               “Yes,” Bluestreaks said in almost a whimper.
               “Walk with me, little brother.” Twostars said. Bluestreaks trotted to keep up with the bigger raptor. “There are certain things you have to learn about life. A hybrid is evil. They don’t always show it at first. But the moment you turn your back on them, or let them know you’ve found out they’re a hybrid…” Twostars ran a claw across the front of her neck. Bluestreaks’ eyes opened wide.
               “No…I know Vira…she’s my sister. She would never do that to me or mom.” Twostars shrugged at Bluestreaks.
               “I only hope you are right, my brother, I only hope you are right.” She said. Bluestreaks looked at her for a second longer and then took off. Twostars slowly let her jaw drop wide open in a large grin. She was near accomplishing her plan.
               Vira stared at her brother. He’d been acting weird lately. Ever since she’d seen him go off with that Twostars. She didn’t trust Twostars. She never had, though she didn’t know why, partly was the fact that her father had told her not too. Twostars had never acted mean towards her family that she had seen. And she had always been nice to Vira…while her mother was around.
               But just yesterday, when her brother had been playing with the others and Vira had come to join in the play, they had all stopped and looked at her. Someone had almost imperceptibly given her brother a little push and then Bluestreaks had turned his back to her. “Get away from us, hybrid!” Bluestreaks had said and then he and the hatchlings had run off.
               Vira had stood there in shock. Hybrid? She wasn’t a hybrid! Hybrids were supposed to be vicious. She wasn’t vicious, at least, she didn’t think she was. But she didn’t think she was a hybrid either. Her mother was her brother’s mother. Of course, she couldn’t ask her mother…what if she was a hybrid? Her mother would hate her!
               Then Vira stopped and wondered. How did one become a hybrid? Maybe because she grew too fast. Maybe that’s what made her a hybrid! After all Twostars had never said how you could become a hybrid.
               That’s it, she could talk with Twostars! Twostars would know.
               Vira approached the adult Velociraptor slowly. Then she paused. Even though she was only six months old, Vira was half as big as Twostars. She was sure Twostars could hurt her if she wanted to. I should ask mom. Vira thought after a moment. I should ask her if I am a hybrid. But those thoughts were soon dismissed. If mom finds out I might be a hybrid, she’ll hate me. Vira thought.
               “Uh…Twostars?” Vira asked shyly. The adult Velociraptor whirled around, seeming shocked. Apparently she hadn’t heard Vira come up behind her.
               “You know it’s not polite to sneak up behind others...unless you’re hunting them…or playing a game!” Twostars was clearly shaken and Vira couldn’t understand why.
               “I-I-I’m s-s-sorry.” Vira apologized. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I…I need to ask you something.” Vira said. Immediately Twostars’ demeanor changed. She appeared to become more gentle and caring than she had been a few moments before.
               “Yes, my dear?” She asked pleasantly.
               Vira stuttered a few times while Twostars waited patiently. How could she ask Twostars this? After all, Twostars had been the loudest voice in speaking up against hybrids. At least, while her mother had been gone hunting. “Am…I…” Vira paused. “Am I a hybrid?” Vira ducked herself behind a bush and looked around. She hadn’t meant to shout the question.
               Apparently her shouting had startled Twostars as well and again Vira wondered why. “My dear.” Twostars said after a moment. “Do keep your voice down.” Vira nodded and came out from behind the bush.
               “But…am I?” Vira asked. “Am I what my brother called me?”
               Twostars let out an exaggerated sigh. “I told them not to tell you.” Twostars said, appearing to be sad. “What I am about to tell you pains me greatly.” Twostars paused for effect, smiling to herself inside. This was perfect! The right time had come! “Green-Eye, the one who claims to be your mother, found you a while ago while you were still an egg. Your real mother and father had been banished from their clans because they had violated a code of the Rainy Basin: never crossbreed.
               “Your mother and father went crazy from being banished and murdered each other. Green-Eye had watched from a safe distance and took pity on you. When she tried to return you to your clan, they refused to take you. They said you were an outcast. So, Green-Eye brought you back here, though many of us thought it was a mistake. But we couldn’t help but think that maybe…just maybe you would turn out all right when you had hatched. After all, you were the most darling little hatchling.”
               “M-my parents…murd.…” Vira couldn’t bring herself to say the word.
               “Yes, my dear, it’s true. They murdered each other. I’m sorry. Green-Eye told us everything when she returned.”
               Vira backed away, shocked to the tip of her tail about what she had heard from Twostars. Then she turned around and took off. How come her mother had never told her? How come she was never told of her past? No one would want her now! Not her mother’s or father’s clan, not Green-Eye’s clan.
               But the thing that most disturbed her was what Twostars had said about her real parents; they had gone crazy and then murdered each other. She had that same blood in her—she was a vicious Hybrid.
               Vira didn’t know how long she had run, but it had felt like hours. She must have stopped running and fallen asleep at one point…or fallen asleep while running, because she woke up, sprawled on her back across the Rainy Basin ground. She sat up; her legs hurt. She’d never ran that long or hard before.
               Her chest was hurting her, it was hard to breathe and her heart was beating faster than normal. She decided that she must have passed out from the exertion and shock and woken only a few moments later.
               Vira looked around herself. She was in strange territory. She had never come this far before, especially not without her mother and she was suddenly frightened. She may have been almost as big as an adult Velociraptor, but she was still small for her parents’ species and in her mind she still needed protection from a mother and father. (Green-Eye’s mate took care of her and Bluestreaks sometimes, but he was rarely with the clan because he was always trying to negotiate peace between all the clans around their territory).
               Vira got up, she didn’t know in which direction she should go, she was all turned around in this large rain forest. Vira backed up as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. It’s dark! Vira realized. But it’s not night! She also realized it been drizzling for a little while. But, as if on cue, as soon as the lightning struck, rain started pouring down harder.
               Vira shook her head.
               Why had she run away? Why hadn’t she stayed at home with her mother and brother? She wasn’t used to being out in the rain by herself. Especially when the dark clouds hid the sun from view.
               At first, Vira’s instinct was to stay where she was. Her mother would come looking for her. But then, Vira remembered the reason she had run away. She was a hybrid! Her mother would never want her! Her mother would not come looking for her.
               Vira decided then to leave her spot. She didn’t know what direction in which she was heading, but she knew she had to find shelter.
               Another flash of lightning split the sky and just as it struck, a loud boom shook the floor of the Rainy Basin. Vira took off, screaming in fright. She wanted her mother and she wanted her now! She’d never seen a thunderstorm before, only heavy rains. And the sound was scary to her. The sound was big, almost like a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s bellowing. Or any other big carnivore. So all she could think of was the lightning and thunder as big carnivores that were trying to eat her.
               Her direction brought her out onto a path just as another bolt of lightning struck and thunder bellowed. She smacked into a warm body and fell backward. As more lightning struck, Vira saw a horned face turn towards her and then she saw dozens of feet. Human, saurian, and all kinds of other feet that Vira didn’t recognize.
               It was a small caravan that had tried to make it through the Rainy Basin before the storm had struck but they hadn’t succeeded.
               The Triceratops and Vira stared at each other for a moment before it registered in the Triceratops’ mind: a carnivore, it smells like Velociraptor and a Rainy Basin native. We must protect the caravan! It lowered its horned head and swung it at her, bellowing a warning to the other dinosaurs and humans.
               Vira backed away, only to find herself cornered by another Triceratops from behind. Vira was forced farther onto the path. She whirled around and lowered her body to the ground; an action that would normally be taken as a gesture of submission, but it was dark and the flash of lightning that followed made Vira appear as if she were about to leap.
               The Trikes swung their heads at her, bellowing. Vira hissed back, not understanding why they hadn’t understood her gesture of submission. Realizing that these creatures were just going to attack her if she didn’t do something, Vira did leap to the top of the crest of the Triceratops that had cornered her and she held on with claws, teeth and sheer terror.
               The Triceratops swung its head, but Vira’s tail balanced her and she bit down harder on the crest, losing a couple of her teeth in the process. But as the rain continued to pour down and more creatures started to surround Vira and the Trike she was biting, Vira lost her grip and went flying, landing on the other Trike’s head. Which, in turn, swung its head before she could get a sense of her surroundings and then something hard smacked her body, sending her flying.
               Vira landed on the path with a thud. There was only one thing left for her to do: Vira filled her lungs with air and let out a piercing scream. It stopped the caravan creatures from advancing for a few moments. She had called for help, it had been instinctual. It was a message to all parents out there of her species to please help a lost and terrified hatchling.
               When the caravan dinosaurs started advancing again, Vira let out another scream followed by a staccato wail. Again the dinosaurs stopped, but they were close now. Especially the Triceratops. Vira lay where she was, too afraid to move anything except her head and eyes, which she used to look for any signs of help, but she didn’t see any.
               Vira hissed at the Triceratops again as they swung their massive heads. But they didn’t appear to be advancing any further, just warning her to stay away from their caravan.
               One of the Trikes snorted, causing the hatchling to jump. It couldn’t understand. This hatchling had smelled like a Velociraptor, it was certainly big enough to be a small adult Velociraptor, but it had sounded like a hatchling. Perhaps his partner would know what to make of this strange Velociraptor-smelling hatchling.
               The Triceratops had a soft spot for all hatchlings, so he started backing away until something else leapt from the bushes between the path of the hatchling and himself and the other Trike. It was a Velociraptor and he recognized it as the one that he had met on a caravan trip to Treetown only six months before.
               But this small brown Velociraptor was not in a negotiating mood now. She was a mad mamma raptor. They had threatened her hatchling and she was responding.
               Vira was startled to see her mother, Green-Eye, leap from behind the bushes. So her mother had come looking for her after all! Vira felt a sense of relief flood through her. She was safe now, she would be all right, her mother was here and she would protect her.
               Vira watched as Green-eye hissed at the Trikes, flexing her long hand claws. The Triceratops’ backed away, making strange grunting noises. Green-Eye leapt and swung her foot out, catching one of the Triceratops’ on the nose, but the Triceratops didn’t fight back, though his friend Triceratops looked like she was about to toss Green-Eye the way she had tossed Vira.
               After a few moments the threat was over and Green-Eye came over to Vira.
               Vira rolled onto her back, her legs and arms stuck into the air as a gesture of complete submission, but Green-Eye butted her with her head until she got up. “There’s no need to act that way around me.” Green-Eye said and nuzzled her hatchling. She had considered Vira her hatchling since the moment the little hybrid had hatched. “And don’t you act like that towards the others either.” Green-Eye added. “But tell me why you ran away.”
               Vira rubbed against her mother and sighed, she felt completely safe now.

               “Twostars!” Green-Eye hissed angrily, flexing her claws. “I should have known!” Vira cowered behind a bush. They had started walking back home slowly and the rain had lightened up a lot as the storm had moved away and the sun was beginning to show through so it wasn’t so dark anymore. “That’s not at all what happened, Vira!” Green-Eye said. “And you’re not a hybrid.”
               “It isn’t? I‘m not?” Vira asked, reappearing from behind the bush. She was cowering at everything right now because she had just suffered a traumatic event. Her mother’s anger alarmed her.
               “No.” Green-Eye replied and proceeded to tell Vira about her heroic mother and father.
               “But I don‘t want to be a Deinonychus. I want to be like you.” Vira insisted when Green-Eye had finished the story. “Can’t I be like you, can’t you make me like you?”
               “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. You are who you are because of your mother and father and you should be proud.” Green-Eye replied. Vira wasn’t sure that she was proud at all. After all, she was still a hatchling and she didn’t really understand anything that was going on.
               Green-Eye sighed. “From now on you’re coming on the hunts with us. I thought Twostars had finally come to accept that she was in my Clan and that she was supposed to do what I said. But I fear I can no longer trust her. Nor those that stay with her.”
               “What about Bluestreaks?” Vira asked. She wanted her brother to come on the hunts as well.
               “As for him, I will have a talk with him. He is to take over this clan once he’s grown up—if someone doesn’t challenge me first—and I won’t have him turning into a Twostars-clone. And I must speak with Blaze.” Blaze was Vira’s and Bluestreaks’ father. Everyone feared Blaze when he was around.

               Everything seemed hectic when they got back to the clan. It seemed that the clan had split and there was a lot of arguing and tail biting and back scratching going on. All of the hatchlings were cowering in a corner.
               “Mamma!” Bluestreaks yelled and ran over to Green-Eye and Vira when he saw them. Abruptly, the fighting ceased and Twostars stepped forward, pretty scratched-up and bloodied herself.
               “Twostars, you are forever banished from this clan. I am tired of you lying and—”
               “Oh no, my dear, dear Green-Eye.” Twostars chortled. She flexed her claws and the muscles beneath her skin were clearly visible as she moved. Green-Eye was an old raptor and Twostars was a young raptor. Green-Eye knew Twostars was challenging her and she knew she didn’t have the strength she used to, to battle Twostars. And often, as it was, a battle for leadership usually ended up with the old leader, or the challenger, dead. The battles for leadership were usually fought to the death. Unless one or the other submitted.
               Of course, Twostars was overconfident and could be caught off-guard. So, without waiting for Twostars to finish her challenging statement, Green-Eye leapt and knocked Twostars to the ground. But Twostars no longer held back from fighting Green-Eye. She was not scared of her leader anymore. To her, her leader had made one too many mistakes, starting with allowing the Tyrannosaurs to wreak havoc on their nests and then never setting a plan for revenge. And Vira, as far as she was concerned, should never have been allowed to be a part of any plan.
               Twostars used a powerful kick from her leg to send Green-Eye flying backward. She had hoped her killing claw would have struck Green-Eye in a vulnerable spot, but Green-Eye was experienced and had moved herself into a less vulnerable position. Twostars had only caught Green-Eye in the face and had left no resulting mark.
               Twostars hissed in irritation, but kept her eyes on Green-Eye. If she even looked away once, then that would be a deadly mistake. Both Velociraptors began flexing their claws.