The Sun's rays pass through the canopy dispellingthe darkness from the night. Illuminated and basking in its warmth, Runt is the first to awaken, as he prepares to go about his daily routine. It's been three months since his birth, and as he stands and stretches, it's apparent that he has grown.
He stands twice as tall; now reaching up to his father's hip. His colors have become more vibrant, his crest more prominent. He stands with confidence and lets out a deep and loud drawn out bellow.
Grunting, Runt's older brother Bighead stands up as well albeit slowly... Grumpy from being awoken so early. He shakes his head in annoyance, and cuts his eyes toward his Lil brother; the source of his rude awakening.
Runt wasn't the only one who had grown in this past month Bighead now stands up to his father's shoulder, towering over his little brother his crest even more elaborate and prominent his scales gleam from the Sun's rays and his muscles strong and well defined.
Bighead proceeds to saunter forward arrogantly and angrily towards Runt. Seeing this and used to his older brothers antics Runt prepares for the inevitable clash lowering his body and aiming his crest in anticipation and defiance ready to meet his older brother's charge.
Bighead doesn't disappoint, seeing his brother's defiance. He becomes enraged and moves quickly, lowering his head rushing forward madly, yellowing loudly eager to teach his little brother a lesson for rudely awakening him.
They inevitably Clash, as Bighead charges into him their skulls colide against one another. Crest to crest, Runt determined not to be pushed back digs his claws into the ground as the two brothers push against one another they begin exchanging blows.
As the two brothers settle their differences the rest of the family, awoken by their fight begin to stir.
Their sisters have also came into their own these past few months with the oldest sister; who now stands shoulder to shoulder with their mother, has developed smooth and even scales that have taken on an appearance similar to jade.
Her Crest, though small is elegant and refined. She rises up from their nest with a calm and regal demeanor. Glancing at her two brutish brothers; who are already duking it out early in the morning Jade lets out a crystal clear, and soft chirp of amusement.
To Jades left, their middle sister, grumbly rises as well. Smaller then her Eldest sister coming up only to her hip. She has course and uneven scales. Patterned with a red-orange tone similar to flames.
Short-tempered and easily provoked. Upon realizing that her brothers; Runt and Bighead are the ones who have disturbed her beauty sleep. Ember immediately joins in on the squabble and starts going off at her idiot brothers chirping incessantly and nipping at their sides with her beak.
The two brothers already bruised and battered cease their fight. Not daring to face their sisters wrath, they exchange glances with one another. Both tacticly come to an agreement as they withdraw, lowering their heads not daring to meet her gaze. They each move in the opposite direction away from her.
The last sister oblivious and aloof; Breeze completely unaware of the current family squabble continues to sleep tucked in tightly with her tail wrapped around her.
Nearly the same size as Ember, her scales have taken on a simple but light green tone with soft patterns of swirls spread out along her body and across her small crest.
Ember, having chastised her brothers fiercely, turns her attention to Breeze. Seeing this lazy sister of her's lost in her dreams and enjoying her beauty sleep, Ember becomes even further annoyed. Enraged, shelunges towards her and pecks her beak into her sister's rear jolting Breeze awake.
Breeze startled, tumbles out of the nest before face planting into the ground. In a daze she rises to her feet and jerks her head rapidly back and forth In utter confusion. Unable to determine what happened she shakes off the dirt that coated her in her fall.
Finally noticing her sister standing behind her she chirps greeting Ember in excitment! Breeze oblivious to her sister's glare starts to preen her sisters side chatting incessantly.
Brook and Scar being used to their children's antics at this point after the past few months. Unfazed and unbothered they also rise out of their nest, stretch and reaffirm their bonds with one another.
Afterwards they gather their children together because today is a special day. Their children are finally ready to move and migrate out of their nesting site.
With the sun high in the sky and the sounds of insects buzz, as cries of beasts fill the air. Scar, leads his family as he guides them through the underbrush as they make their way east moving to the outer edges of the forest.
Runt and Breeze trail behind their siblings and parents. After having walked for several hours.Breeze being overly excited and unable to contain herself starts chatting away at her brother, about where they might be going. Scar hearing his daughter making so much noise. Stops the group, turns his head and lets out a deep low bellow and chastises his loud daughter.
They have to be quiet, lest they attract unwanted attention.... for they aren't alone in these woods...
Just outside the family's sight on a small incline. Looking down at them, trouble has found them.
Standing around 2 feet tall and with a length of nearly 6 feet from head to tail and weighing 50lbs. A small group of predators eye the family in front of them.
With their forward facing eyes and bodies coated in vibrant orange feathers, standing on two feet each wielding a scythe like claw.
These Reapers are ravenous; having not eaten in days. Drool dripping down from their maw and unto their razer sharp teeth.
They begin to slowly and methodically encircle Runt and his family...
Scar having silenced his daughter snorts and continues to lead his family through the forest.Breeze having been disciplined lowers her head and silently continues moving along trailing behind the rest of the group with Runt slightly ahead of her.
Seeing his sister crestfallen, Runt slowing down moves closer to her and nuzzles her neck offering some much needed reassurance and comfort.
Appreciating her little brothers gesture Breeze responds in turn nuzzling against his side.The pair set off walking together, having fallen slightly behind they race to catch up with the rest of the family. Unaware that they are being followed....