The Predators Hunt

News

   It had been a while since the others had left. I was stuck with Ya'ste who was currently double checking his audio decoys.
   Whatever keeps him from talking.
   I keep watch, dangling my legs off the tree branch. My thermal vision picks up no serpants, oomans and especially none of my hunting partners.
   I'm a little glad they're not here. The second they arrive, Ya'ste will surely tell them about what I did. Pauk.
   Why should I stick my neck out for that little ooman? What did she ever do anyway?
   She's clearly a skilled survivalist, she's proven her intelligence, she's not scared of you and she gave you a trophy!
   My heart thumps at the memory. I still have that trophy on my belt. As I lightly touch it, I imagine her hands again. What I wouldn't give to see those strong hands assemble a trap. I bet they're even calloused -
   "Grrraah!"
   "Shut up!" Ya'ste spits.
   I growl and resume my watch. This is stupid. I'm supposed to be looking out for my partners, but instead I'm fantasizing about an ooman! I see why Ya'ste hates me.
   After several long minutes, I finally spot them. The two expertly leap through the trees toward us. I step back and watch them.
   Zadea arrives first. His dark skin and sparse armor shines in the moonlight. His long dreds hang down his back, reminding me of an elders cape. I notice that his chest is unusually puffed up.
   Next is Ha'theh, the shortest of the group. He may be smaller when compared to the rest of us, but his step always demanded respect. His tied up dreds declared no nonsense. Plus, he was probably the smartest yautja I knew.
   "Great news brothers," Zadea said cooly, "the serpent is dead."
  Ha'theh gave an audible gasp. Me and Ya'ste just stared.
   I inhale deeply, "Good."
   Zadea nods to me, then continues, "We'll continue tommorow. The queen is still out there."
   Then with that, he leapt onto the highest branch then laid down. Ha'the muttered something before climbing down to find a branch. Meanwhile, Ya'ste was fuming.
   "I was supposed to kill the serpant! YOU knew that!!"
   "Shut up and sleep!" Zadea shouted without moving an inch.
   "Well...well..." Ya'ste looked at me, "guess what A'sa - Te did!!"
   "SHUT UP."
   "He ruined my hunt!"
   "I didn't ruin anything!" I step toward him.
   "He saved a couple of oomans!"
   "That's not what -"
   "If I didn't know any better, I think he's in lo - "
   My fist collides with his face, nearly breaking a mandible. He stumbles, then looks at me again. This time, with pure rage.
   He roars and lunges at me. I dodge, hoping he falls off the branch. Instead he turns, socking me in the gut. I grab him and attempt to throw him out of the tree. Then I feel something pull me back.
   "BREAK IT UP!!"
   The both of us jump. We rarely hear Zadea yell.
   He sighs, rubbing his forehead, "What about an ooman?"
   Ya'ste doesn't dare speak again. I reply, "There were two oomans. A male and female. They escaped. That's all that happened."
   Ya'ste grumbles, rubbing the bruised side of his face.
   Zadea hums, looking around quizzicly. "What did these two oomans look like?"
   Puzzled, I continue, "The male is skinny and dark haired. The female, more broad, blonde, strong..muscles." I try to hide my swallow.
   Zadea hums again, then says, "Ah yes. I saw those two. They were there when I killed the serpant."
   "A - are they dead?!" I blurt. I quickly clear my throat then look down.
   "Um, no. Injured, but alive."
   Injured?!
   "Anyway, look, we aren't here to hunt oomans Ya'ste. True, we can enjoy ourselves, but it's not our mission. Understand?"
   Ya'ste nodded, studying me. I ignored him. I had to go find that ooman.