Kidnapped (Predator Fanfiction) -Major Editing-

Chapter Fourty-Five

Kayla's POV

Kayla had been anticipating the arrival of her armor since she had been measured for it. Being in it now felt surreal, like a dream. Though it was neither a good nor bad one from what Kayla could tell. She stood in the mirror a long time, studying every detail finger running over every bit just to assure herself it was all real. The upcoming hunt was real.

Silver plates protected her shoulders, breasts, and her sides. She had pulled on a strip of leather from one of her last hunts to cover the parts her armor didn't reach, the bottom of her breasts and just above her belly button. Putting the thing on had been difficult, to say the least. H'chakde had helped her out with most of it, especially the skirt which bunched up at the front and was held together by a bone buckle she had whittled between training sessions.

Once she was content, she took to sitting on the bed to add the finishing touches to her boots. A strand of hair fell in front of her face and using her shoulder she tried to push it back. It stayed put for a moment before slipping in front of her eyes again. She let out a soft huff the strand lifting with her exhale.

"H'chakde, could you put my hair up?" She asked steadying the tooth against her boot with one hand while the other worked the needle through the leather strips at its sides.

H'chakde gave no response, but the bed dipped behind her, and she could feel his claws softly combing through her hair. She tilted her head back as he pulled her hair back and up. Her eyes closed a moment as she found herself enjoying the feel of his hands expertly working the knots from her hair bit by bit. It soothed her muddled mind that was still reeling with all that was to come, and all that already happened. Working through her conversation with Skylar had been a very slow process. Certain things just didn't seem to click, no matter how hard she tried to make them.

She soon opened her eyes and continued her work on her footwear. Allowing H'chakde to keep working his magic while she let her mind wander.

Kayla had always thought herself an extra, someone Skylar cared about but ultimately wouldn't mind when she had permanently left. Her parents hadn't been upset when she did, hell they didn't even fight to keep her at home. Others always referred to her as a separate unit from Skylar and Jason. However, Skylar's reaction betrayed that. The Elder's reaction only added to that.

She had already accepted a while ago that not all of this was her fault. Even if she hadn't gotten them lost in her moment of cockiness there was no guarantee they wouldn't have been taken.

Everything else was a new thing to process entirely. Slowly, however, she was getting there.

"Are you ready for your hunt?" H'chakde's gruff voice cut through Kayla's mental chatter bringing her back to the here and now.

"Yes," She responded, not because she was, but because she had to be. There was no other option before her other than the hunt.

Kayla took a deep breath and began running over what she needed to remember for the few hours ahead of her. She and Skylar were to part soon, whether by death or because her friend had gone home, they wouldn't be staying together. Though she hoped it wouldn't be the latter.

Never mind though, she could worry about it later. She had to make it out, and somehow ensure Skylar would too.

"Good, you'll do well. Just remember what we've taught you about the Kainde Amedha." He had finished raking his fingers through her hair and began to twist it above her head. Many strands still fell around her face, though H'chakde either didn't notice or didn't care. Using one of her makeshift hair ties, he tied the knot of hair into place.