Hunter 2: Chapter 18

Hunter 2
Chapter 18
“Honored”

I don’t remember what happened after jumping on the Predalien’s head to decapitate it. All that I can remember is immense pain in my face and body and darkness; a horrible throbbing in my skull that pounded its way down my body like the beating of a torturous drum. There were incoherent moments of consciousness. I was alive. For an uncounted period of time I lay still unable to find the light. In the darkness of my mind I could hear and faintly feel all sorts of sensations; pain being the most prominent. I remember hearing a beeping noise; very slow at first. Somehow I felt something in my hand, though I don’t remember ever grabbing anything. It was hard and cold and I couldn’t see it.

Like a lowly worm I crawled on my belly, not knowing where I was moving or why, my fist tightly gripped onto something. I think I was halfway dead or so completely stunned that nothing registered. The beeping sounded again, but much quicker this time. Still consumed with darkness, I remember crawling; crawling forever. I could feel sharp rocks bite my knees. Pain was familiar now, so familiar the scrapes went unnoticed next to the earthquake in my head. I wasn’t moving fast. Something was slowing me down, but I didn’t know what. The beeping again. Faster still. How was I moving when I couldn’t see anything? Where was I going? I kept going for what seemed like an eternity in the darkness.

Finally, worn to near death exhaustion, I collapsed on my stomach trying to breathe steadily. The beeping was very fast now and I groaned, wishing it would stop and leave me alone. All at once my swimming senses detected tightness about my cheek. Not knowing why, I reached up to touch my mask, but much to my shock I touched my own flesh; hot and sticky. I wanted to open my eyes but every time I tried a horrible lance of pain accompanied the action. My hands groped my sticky face dumbly. There was something hot and slimy on my face. Then my fingers felt a harsh metal edge on the right side of my nose and then a metal arch. My mask, or rather, just the right half of my mask. A sickening feeling bubbled in my belly. Very slowly my left hand went back to the bare side of my face, almost dreading to move. Then, I found it: a deep wet crevice near the top of my cheekbone. It stung at my touch. I moved my tentative fingers upward and screamed!


Many hours later …
I think I went unconscious again because after I screamed I don’t remember anything else. When I finally regained consciousness I opened my eyes. Only my right eye revealed anything coherent. My left side was utter blackness. A horrid gasp escaped me when I heard a rattling on my blind side and panic seized me.

Reacting upon instinct I lashed out screaming, “NO! GET AWAY FROM ME YOU MONSTER! GET AWAY! GET AWAY!”

Suddenly, strong scaly hands clamped onto my flailing wrists and I heard Jet’rikna’s voice, “ENOUGH!”

My tired body went limp and at last my right eye focused properly to reveal Jet’rikna standing next to me as I lay on a medic panel. I felt my mouth open and a shudder went through my shoulders. She released my arms and I collapsed on the table covering my face and weeping from my right eye. A silence followed as I wept. I don’t suppose Jet’rikna understood my emotions but crying was the only thing I felt like doing.

I rolled my head backward, hitting it against the head rest, “I’m blind Jet’rikna! I can’t see! What has happened to me?”

With a gentle nudge, she raised me up and put a reflective circle in my hand. I became terrified. I didn’t want to see it…but I did. After a moment I put the glass up to my right eye. Other than a few scrapes and bruises it looked fine. Then…I moved it to the left so my right eye could see. My lip quivered as I viewed myself. A deep angry red gash raced from the bottom of my cheek bone to the side of my brow, and in the trench’s path was my left eye. Gone. My eye lid was even sunk into my empty eye socket since it had nothing to cover.

“Its tail.” Jet’rikna mentioned quietly.

“What?” I asked hoarsely, staring at my image.

Jet’rikna took the mirror from me, “Your prey’s tail took your eye and cut your mask in half.”

I thought a moment. Yes…that made sense. I was on top of the Predalien’s skull, forcing its head off against the wire when something hit my face. The beast must’ve lashed its tail up and…

“How do you know that?”

Slowly she held up a fragment of boney striped Predalien tail about a finger’s length long and put it in my hand. “I found it in the top part of your skull. You’re lucky it was just a glancing blow. If you bled more I wouldn’t have been able to preserve your life.”

I held the piece still stained with some of my blood. “But how?”

An odd expression came over Jet’rikna’s face, “You found your way back to the ship. The navigator in your mask was beeping radically when Garv spotted you. I still don’t know how you found the ship …I just knew you were dead when he carried you the rest of the way. You were fortunate to be in sight of the ship. If you hadn’t, there would be nothing we would do for you. Our law would dictate we leave you,” she paused and lowered her eyes a bit; “I’m surprised to see you have all your limbs.”

I felt more tears spill from my right eye. “But LOOK at me! I’m blinded!”

Jet’rikna smirked, “I couldn’t save your eye. But since I am skilled in the healing arts, I gave you a new one while you were unconscious.”

“A new one?” I gasped. “But why can’t I see?”

“I haven’t had a chance to activate it. Now hold still,” she commanded.

A quiet beeping in my head startled me for an instant, and suddenly I felt my eye socket fill as something moved around inside.

“Jet’rikna…” I gasped.

“It’s alright. It’s just activating.”

“What is it?”

Jet’rikna handed me the mirror again and my right eye widened as it viewed my left. My left eye was green but not like my true eye. This one looked much more like a Predator’s eye; one solid emerald green color with a dark black pupil. Another mechanical whir buzzed in my head and suddenly my senses were bombarded my bright reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and blues.

I gasped falling back, “What…what’s going on? What’s wrong?”

My healer gave me a knowing nod, “I’m afraid we do not know how your sight works. We are unable to comprehend that which you call sight. We only know how we see things. This prosthetic shows you precisely how we see things.”

I stared at my mechanical eye again. With a whir my pupil went wider. “This is how you see things?”
She nodded slowly. “It will take you some time to get used to it and your other eye will have to grow accustomed to it as well. But now, you have the best of both.”

Squinting my new eye I tried to make sense of it all. A fiery looking form of reds, oranges, and yellows was jutting out of a blue and black background. My true eye told me it was Jet’rikna before me and my artificial left was trying to communicate the same. It was an unsettling sensation, as if my brain had somehow split itself. However, I felt a sense of belonging. Now I had the sight of my Predator kin…or at least a close facsimile. It seemed to bring me closer to that sense of equality I’d longed for.

“Thank you Honored Jet’rikna.”

Suddenly I gasped and dropped the mirror dumbly. I stared at the fragment of Predalien tail in my hand. My Predalien skull! I…I never made back with it! I started to feel panicked and sick all at once.

“Oh no…”

Jet’rikna tipped her spiked head, “What is it?”

I almost shouted at her, “My trophy skull! I killed it! I did! But…what have I done?!”

Rolling around in waves of panic, my stomach felt like spewing its contents all over the metal floor. I’d been beaten, burned, clawed, half blinded, and nearly killed by the kainde amedha and that Predalien and WHAT did I have to show for it? Nothing! I’d failed! I’d survived the First Hunt but without a trophy skull that fact made it meaningless! My hopes for equality and respect shattered inside me.

Jet’rikna rose, her eyes slit. I tried to look away from her. I was too unworthy to be seen now.

“Yes…WHAT have you done?” Her voice was harsh and low. All at once she made a sweeping gesture with her hand, “Turn and BEHOLD what you have done!”

Confused, I turned, following her gesture and my jaw fell open. There, mounted almost haphazardly on the back wall, was the head of my Predalien! Its flesh was now paler and the horrid severed meat of its throat hung like thin strips of cloth beneath it as its stiff mandibles curled inward on its inner jaws.

It felt like some surreal dream as I looked back at Jet’rikna who seemed to be admiring the head. “You…you went out and found my trophy?”

She hissed, “Don’t be ridiculous! I would never do such a dishonorable act. YOU brought it back yourself.”
“What? But I never…I mean, I don’t remember finding it.” I babbled, trying to sort it out.

“I do not know how you managed it either. You had its upper jaw in your hand when we spotted you crawling toward the ship. Somehow, you dragged yourself and your trophy back,” she said almost reverently.
Yes…I vaguely remember something cold and stiff in my hand as I was crawling.

Silent for a moment, Jet’rikna approached the Predalien skull and ran a claw over its spiked head. “I cannot recall how many First Hunts have taken place during my lifetime, but I’ve NEVER seen any warrior, female or male, bring one of these back from a Hive. I do not think one of these creatures has been spawned for a great count of centuries on this planet.” She turned her eyes back to me; slitting them again, “I do not like to be proven wrong in my judgments.” Then they softened, “But…you didn’t die, Little Fighter.

My eyes widened. Jet’rikna had uttered my name for the first time. She hadn’t simply called me Ooman! I smiled at her obvious compliment, remembering all too well Jet’rikna’s cold prediction of my demise on the First Hunt.
“When you have rested thoroughly you will have to prepare this trophy before we return to the home world. You will present this to the High Eldress and she will determine your worthiness and honor.” Jet’rikna explained. She let a ghost of a smile play across her face, “And great honor you shall receive.”

I was so overwhelmed I wanted to cry but I held my head up proudly and nodded instead.  Then I asked the question I’d wanted to ask for the longest time, “Where is Garv? I want to see him.”

Jet’rikna pushed me firmly to the medical platform, “Rest Little Fighter. You will see your mate soon, but you must regain your strength and let yourself heal.”

“Where is he?” I asked almost desperately.

The green speckled female Predator clicked, “He is probably in your quarters. Ever since you were brought back aboard he’s been insufferable. Asking the same questions, pacing the corridors, and whatever else soothes his anxiety for you. I finally ordered him to quarters until you were better. Now rest. You have much healing to do.”

For some reason I wanted to protest but my fatigue finally pounced upon my senses and swept me into the silent darkness of sleep. I didn’t even have the energy to dream.


Later…
I’m not sure how long I’d slept but I awoke to the sound of the medical bay door opening. The medical bay’s lights were dimmed to an almost perfect blackness but much to my surprise my new prosthetic eye wasn’t deterred in the slightest by it. Clear as daylight, I saw the heat signature of a Predator slowly entering the room. Since it was too dark for my right eye, I didn’t know what to make of the blaze colored form drawing near. Was it Jet’rikna coming to check up on my healing process? The heat signature was indiscernible to me.

The Predator figure approached my ‘bed’ very slowly and I pretended to still be asleep. All went silent when the Predator stopped. Then, I heard the familiar purr near my ear and I smiled. It was Garv. Though I wanted to embrace him with all my heart, I decided to remain motionless and save myself the aching pain of my injuries. In the dark he purred gently as if trying to soothe me with its deep vibration. It worked. Gentle claws stroked the curve of my shoulder and back. His touch made me feel wonderful, even amid the pain.

He hissed quietly, “My mate…my Warrior Huntress.”

I took his hand and whispered, “My mate…my mighty Clan Leader.”

Garv made a gentle warble in his throat and held my hand tenderly in the dark.

“How long have I been resting?” I inquired.

“At least one day. Jet’rikna says your wounds are healing well despite your trauma. She told me to wait longer before visiting you, but I couldn’t. I had to see you,” he explained in a low register.

I smiled at the heat pattern my left eye viewed. “So you’re being bad and disobeying her?”

“Yes…you could call it that.” I almost cringed when he stroked a claw along the scar near my prosthetic. Self conscious I seized his hand, pushing it away.

A befuddled rattle and he asked, “What is wrong? Did I hurt you?”

I wasn’t sure why, but I felt the scar made me unappealing.  “No. You didn’t hurt me.”

“Then why do you shun my touch?” he asked in a hurt tone.

“It’s not you Garv. It’s me.” I responded, not sure how to explain my feelings.

We remained silent for a moment until Garv took my hand and pressed it flat to his chest. Slowly, he moved my hand along his muscled abdomen and my fingers felt the upraised scar wrapping around to his back. In turn he gently stoked the edge of my acid burn scar on my thigh, moving slowly to the flare of my hip.

“Wear your scars proudly my mate. They are a testament to every warrior’s life. The scars you have earned on this First Hunt are beautiful to me, so do not hide them.” He hissed, wrapping an arm around my back and lifting me off the bed a bit.

I reached up to the heat signature in the dark and stroked the spikes above his brow. Garv ran his hand down my scarred thigh again, rumbling deeply and moving closer to the inside of my thigh. Though I yearned for his touch, my body ached and my face scrunched as my wounds stretched.

All at once, the medical bay door opened and the lights brightened a bit to reveal Jet’rikna.

Her voice came harsh and raspy, “WHAT did I tell you Garv? You are NOT to see her until she is done healing! Put her down and return to your quarters! You MAY be the clan leader, but I am the healer on this ship! OUT!”

Garv seemed startled at being caught, but very gingerly lowered me back down to the medical bed. Before he released me he stroked the sides of my neck with his mandibles, smiling with his eyes. He stood up to face Jet’rikna. She snarled at him, giving him a hard smack to the back of his head before shoving him out the door.

“But I wanted to see him Jet’rikna!” I protested trying to sit up. But very quickly I rediscovered my pain and fell back onto the bed.

Deliberate in her action she shut the medical bay door and looked me over. A frustrated hissing growl came from her, “Damn him. This wound on your back is reopening!”

Jet’rikna reached over to a panel and pulled out a medical laser. Gently, she rolled me onto my side to expose the reopened wound. She muttered under her breath, “Males! They never listen to reason; just to their genitals!”

I snickered at that, “I suppose you would know better than anyone, in Fire Blood’s case.”

She clicked, “You have no comprehension.”

All at once the high pitched whine of the laser sounded and for a brief instant I felt as if my back was set ablaze! I winced, drawing a hissing breath.

“That should hold the flesh better.”

My flesh returned to a normal feeling state, “It was worth it.”

Jet’rikna put away the tool and gave me a quick glance, “Heal quickly Little Fighter, we only have a day or so before we reach the home world. You have yet to prepare your trophy.”


On the Predator home world a day and a half later…

With much rest and a steady regiment of healing balms I did indeed heal. Under the careful instruction of both Garv and Jet’rikna I preserved the glorious Predalien skull in the time honored traditions of the soon to be Blooded warriors returning from the First Hunt. Though strenuous and time consuming, I displayed the skull mandibles flared and inner mouth extended in a silent roaring attack. Since Jet’rikna told me to, I also collected a bone cup’s worth of the acidic Predalien blood from the skull for the Blooding ceremony.

Hours before the ship landed I prepared myself both physically and mentally for the presentation of my trophy. I donned my ceremonial mask and armor but sadly had no spear to take with me. In fact, other than the melted wrist blades on my cuff, I’d lost every weapon I’d started out with on the First Hunt. Though, Garv assured me he’d get me many more new weapons it was still sad to loose my last remnant weapons Hunter had given to me; the spear in particular of which I was very fond. But my wrist blades remained. I vowed to hang them next to my trophy and half mask as a testament to their memory. In my left hand I held my half mask, sheared by my prey. In my right hand I carried the huge spiked head of my Predalien by a special brace inside the skull. At my belt hung the pale leg of one of the facehuggers that tried to impregnate me in the Pit as well as the Predalien’s tail shard which I intended to put inside an amber gem and form a belt decoration.

Mentally, I was nervous, excited, and unsure; for the first time in my life I would receive the status of equality and NOT just because I was the mate of the clan leader. I had earned the status and my Predalien skull and scars were proof of this.

At last the ship jerked slightly, signaling a landing on the platform. It was time to present to the Clan.
Garv, who was waiting outside my quarters, tapped the metal door, “It is time my mate.”

Silent I held my trophy and mask, lifted my chin, and began the long march down the corridor to the exit platform. I descended the ramp very slowly, Garv behind me and Jet’rikna in the lead with the other members of the ship compliment in front of all of us. The dozen or so ship crew members formed a structured pair of lines on either side of the ramp to hail our descent. I felt my heart beating nervously but also with pride as I viewed the all too familiar scene of lined, armed warriors covering the landing platform and allowing a clear path for us to where the High Eldress stood. Her ornate mask gleaming under the twin suns and her leather cape rustling about her ankles, she was a magnificent figure to behold. And still I feared her for she still held my fate in her hands.

I kept my eyes directed into Jet’rikna’s speckled back, not wishing to look at anything else lest my thoughts be disrupted. But I could hear the hushed hisses of the warriors as I passed by. The tones were of shock and perplexity. No doubt because of my unlikely return and for my trophy. Suddenly, I heard Fire Blood’s distinct bellowing roar nearby and the lines of warriors synchronously stood at attention, rapped their spears on the platform, and went silent. I smiled behind my mask; a Second in Command to the last. Jet’rikna stopped in her path and I saw Fire Blood before her all adorned in his ceremonial armor. It made him look even bigger than usual. Rumbling deeply he swaggered over to his dominant female, swinging his shoulders almost in an intimidating show of body language. Jet’rikna simply held her chin up as if ignoring him. His head tipped as he whispered something to his mate, too quiet for me to hear properly. Jet’rikna’s mask pulled back a second which made me think she was going to hit him or something, but instead she clicked softly and brushed her hooked claws against his thigh as he passed by and assumed a position in the ranks. I wanted to say hi to my friend, but the line was moving on, drawing closer and closer to the magnificent High Eldress. Any greeting would have to wait until afterward.

Soon, Jet’rikna moved to the left and Garv to my right, placing me alone before the High Eldress. Arranging my heavy Predalien skull I held it up with both hands, kneeling slowly before her and bowing my head. Silence grew oppressive on the landing platform.

“So, you have returned,” The High Eldress said in a quiet tone.

I nodded my head.

Renata, the High Eldress, made a gesture to her left and Jet’rikna presented the bone cup of Predalien blood. A black-striped female Predator standing next to the High Eldress, who donned a hyek-va skull over her mask forehead and wore many chains of bone and teeth about her neck, took the cup. Making an elaborate gesture she knelt to Renata, holding the bowl up. The High Eldress rapped her ceremonial bone spear against the platform hard and then delicately doused the tip of the weapon into the blood.

“Stand and present your name.” she hissed.

Leaving my trophy on the ground, I stood and looked at her. “I am Little Fighter.”

The High Eldress pointed the tip of her spear at my chest, between my collarbone and left breast, “Little Fighter, you survived under the brutal tribulation of the First Hunt, brought back this magnificent trophy, and now…you receive the mark of the Warrior Huntress.”

Thrusting forward she touched the blood tipped spear to my flesh and the glowing acid began to burn its permanent mark. I grit my teeth, breathing strongly to dull the pain. Very slowly and with the grace of water, the High Eldress burned the mark of the Clan into my skin. When she finished, Renata cleansed her spear tip and struck it to the ground.

“By your blood and the blood of your prey, you bind yourself to this Clan. Every action, every hunt, and every battle you partake shall be done in accordance with our code of Honor. Break our laws of Honor and everything you have achieved this day will be stripped from your name. Do you understand?”

“Yes, High Eldress. I understand.” I responded.

Taking slow steps the High Eldress approached me until she was mere inches away. Her mask eyes met mine and then averted. Then she said in a low tone, most likely unheard by the others, “I did not believe you would return alive, much less bearing a trophy of such great merit. I now see what my Sire Hunter saw in you. You are no longer an Ooman in my eyes…you have proven your heart to be Predator.”

I bowed my head deeply, “You honor me greatly High Eldress.”

At once she stepped back from me and raised her hand high, “Behold the Warrior Huntress Little Fighter!”

In unison the Clan shrieked and bellowed a quick warrior cry and slammed their spears to the platform making it rattle. My heart beat so hard with pride I thought it would punch itself out of my chest. The mark on my chest burned, but not with pain, with honor and relief. All my life I’d wanted this moment and now the High Eldress even saw me as a Predator. My Ooman ‘skin’ was forcefully shed to reveal the Predator warrior beneath. I would never return to that ‘skin’ again. It was gone and burned in my mind.

Renata turned away from me and left the platform with her aides and guards surrounding her flanks. I watched her go, hoping she would rule our Clan forever. Such a generous, wise ruler deserved to reign for centuries.

Once she was gone Garv took my hand, let me pick up my trophy, and led me down the stairs of the landing platform in the general direction of our dwelling. I was smiling behind my mask despite my slight limp and quickly took the faceplate off to strap it to my shoulder armor and breathe the familiar humid air of my home. My new prosthetic eye took in everything, but showed it to me as I’d never seen it before. So much raw heat colors all blending together into indiscernible shapes. But as Jet’rikna had said, my brain would adjust.

All at once I heard Jet’rikna shriek angrily and quickly both Garv and I turned. I laughed aloud seeing Fire Blood holding his long legged mate in a cradle carry as they followed behind us and Jet’rikna was not happy about it.  Snarling she punched his mask and lashed out at him, trying to force her muscular mate to release her. He was rumbling at her beneath the mask but didn’t seem the least bit perturbed by her vicious struggles. Finally, she ripped the hoses on his mask out of the power pack and slugged him hard across the mandibles. Fire Blood winced, trying to take the punch in stride, but without warning Jet’rikna’s feet found the ground and she kicked his legs out from underneath him making him collapse on his back! I gasped, unable to believe she’d just floored Fire Blood! The big spotted male growled as his dominant female placed a firm foot to his throat.

Her voice was hard and commanding, “YOU will not get pleasures from ME until I SAY you get them!”

Fire Blood clicked in a snicker, “That won’t take long.”

Hissing, Jet’rikna turned away from him and kept walking. In no time the hulking giant was up, trotting after her. By the time he caught up with her we were all pretty much walking together. He purred at Jet’rikna a moment but then directed his attention at me.

“So Little Fighter, how does it feel?” he asked.

I looked back, “How does what feel?”

He flicked a spiked eye ridge at me, “How does it feel to be a ranking female at long last?”

“I don’t know…pretty wonderful thus far.”

“Ah. But are you aware of the privileges involved with such a rank?” he asked, an odd tone about his voice as if he knew something I didn’t.

I shrugged, “I think you’re going to tell me.”

An ornery grin crossed his face, “Yes. As a ranking female you now have the enviable privilege of selecting any males you wish for mating rites.”

Garv turned quickly giving him a dangerous look but then seemed to get worried.

I stopped a moment. “So you’re saying I can choose pleasures from ANY male in the clan?”

“Or males; whichever you prefer.”

My eyes went from Fire Blood to Garv and then to Jet’rikna. She had a look that said her mate was right but she hadn’t anticipated his mentioning of the fact.

Rattling softly Fire Blood said suavely, “I’d be MORE than honored for such rites Little Fighter.”

My head snapped back at his candor. Jealous snarling began emanating from my mate as he began to posture protectively. Not wishing a fight, I touched his arm gently and faced Fire Blood with a knowing smile.

“Well, IF I have the choice to choose, I ALSO have the right to reject.” I said confidently.

The Second in Command hissed between his teeth as if in pain, “Ooo. Such bite.”

“My loyalty is to one male and that is Garv.” I answered.

Fire Blood thought a moment then bent down, “I’ll take that as…a maybe. The offer is always open Little Fighter.”
I rolled my eyes at him but couldn’t help but smile at his tenacity. Without further delay the Second in Command sidled up next to his mate, stroking her back.

Coldly she slapped his hand away, “WHAT did I tell you before?!”

Fire Blood lowered his hand and head almost in disappointment. There was an awkward silence. Then, completely out of the blue Jet’rikna said, “Whoever gets home first gets to be on top.”

Without warning the green spotted female bolted into the jungle foliage.

Fire Blood shouted, “SHIT!”

Like an unstoppable meteor the huge Predator crashed through the vegetation in pursuit of his unpredictable mate!

I wanted to laugh so hard but I was distracted by Garv who’d taken my trophy and slung it over his shoulder and then picked me up with the other hand. Too tired and overwhelmed I didn’t fight him as Jet’rikna had fought Fire Blood. I relaxed, resting my head against his chest as he carried me.
He purred in my ear, “And I my body and soul only belong to you my mate. No other.”
I stroked his striped skin tenderly. That’s all I’d ever wanted. Now my life was truly full and happy. My dreams were all in the light, bathing in glory as I’d always wanted them to.
I am Little Fighter…and I am Predator.

THE END

Whew! At last it’s done! I hope all my readers enjoyed my story and can forgive me for my torturous cliff hangers! How else was I going to lure you back for more?
So what now? Well I’m seriously considering writing a story that focuses on Fire Blood’s life since he seems to be a rather popular Predator with my readers as well as myself! I’ve also batted the idea around about writing a story from a Xeno perspective, but I’m not sure yet. I’d like to finish Striker before all that. Again… thank you OH so much for your reviews and loyal reading!
Fire Redhead