The ship landed back on Yautja Prime and slowly lowered itself; clans-brothers and clan-sisters who still resided in that area had gathered anxiously to the landing area. Headed by Black Dawn, the Ancient, and the Elders, who were all waiting to bestow judgment on the two Young Bloods who had put their enlightened guest in harm's way.
However, as the hatch lowered to the ground while the ship landed firmly and soundly on its devices, the first thing they were met with-
Were the rolling skulls of Xenomorphs as they rolled down the hatch ramp and down to the leaders' feet.
1 Hive Queen's skull, 1 Praetorian skull, and 6 drone skulls. 8 trophies in total.
Their kin stared and murmured at the sight of the skulls and Black Dawn looked up as Dagger and Slash walked down. The White Woman next to Dagger, her cloak in tatters and her thermosuit cut and ripped in places underneath, but her head was held high. "What is the meaning of these?" Black Dawn asked as the kin behind him silenced themselves to hear one of the Young Blood's explanations. And Slash, the more merciful of the two, spoke up.
"They are the skulls of the White Woman's kills." Slash said and a collective gasp arose, "These are the xenomorphs that our Daughter of the River killed. And we witnessed her ferocity with a blade when these unmarked xenomorphs snuck into the breeding facility and attacked those within; We witnessed her kill the praetorian and the Queen herself; with no help from us except the weapons she picked off the guards."
Inside the ship in the cage, the xenomorphs that had followed the White Woman hissed and snarled, fighting against the bars and making their kin tense.
"She jumped from our ship to the facility- and when we next saw her, xenomorphs followed her into battle." Dagger spoke up, "Xenomorphs from our breeders followed her into battle against the unknown xenomorphs with the same loyalty as our hunting dogs, and lashed out at their kin beside her. And when the battle was over, they surrounded her and followed her as if she had raised them by hand."
The Ancient put his hand on Black Dawn's shoulder and pulled him back to speak softly to him, before releasing the Leader, "Meeting. Now." Black Dawn said firmly and gestured to his tent, the three making their way to it as the on-looking clans-members murmured with distaste and begrudgingly parted to allow them to go through. They touched the White Woman as she passed by and she tried to return the favor to as many as she could before walking through the flap that the Ancient held up for her to pass through. Dagger and Slash knelt, ready for their scolding as the Ancient looked the White Woman over before slowly lowering her into a comfy chair. He nodded to the Leader who crossed his arms and looked at the two youngbloods. "Your orders were very clear and so ever simple, youngbloods." The Leader started slowly as the Ancient stood in the White Woman's flanks. "Go and get the 3 weakest xenomorphs to hunt for your Rite of Passage Hunt, and return the White Woman. I do not think it could get any easier."
He slowly came around his desk and circled them like a creature of prey,
"On your way back, I was briefed by the Head of Security at the facility. You engaged modified xenomorphs, and you put the White Woman in harm's way, once again."
"We did no such thing." Slash vocalized as the Leader stopped in front of them,
"How dare you-" Black Dawn started as his temper flickered higher than it normally would; a small flame flaring from the winds of the events that he had been told. But an unusual voice cut in, "It was me."
All of the Predators in the tent looked over at the White Woman, who uneasily stood up from her seat and wobbled a bit; but righted herself and stood firm like a tree as soon as she had done so. "I...I jumped from the ship." As the Ancient began to say something she put a hand on his arm to silence him. An action that instantly took its desired effect and she looked at Black Dawn, walking forward and standing in front of the two youngbloods protectively, "It was not them." The Ancient knelt next to her and she looked at him as he put a hand on the arm of the seat,
YOU ARE READING
Seeking Salvation
Science FictionNo one could remember how she had gotten there in the first place, but it was clear; she didn't belong somewhere like the Game Preserve, among their dangerous prey when she had risked herself countless times to save their wounded brothers and bring...
