The Predators Hunt

Progress

   His touch still tingles on my skin, right on my wrist. I lightly brush my fingers against that spot, imagining his scales. My face gets warmer.
   It's so weird. One second, he's brandishing huge blades, then the next he's healing me. And why me? I'm just a weak human who can barely fight. Surely his kind don't find that all too useful to have around.
   I sigh heavily, looking around in the trees. At least I have a gaurdian now.
   I find Jeremy still on the tree stump, playing with his yellow swiss army knife.
   "Winda!" He grins, "Anything?"
   "No." I sigh.
   He nods slowly, his eyes shift over to me. "H - holy shit! Win - your arm!"
   I hold it up, smiling, "A, uh, friend helped out."
   "What? Y - you - I saw it! It was all melted and - the bone was out!
How -?!"
   "Woah, ok, calm down. Don't fall on your ankle."
   I help him sit on the ground, then take a deep breath.
   "OK. So, you remember those big, scaly alien guys who trapped you in a snare?"
   He cocked his eyebrow.
   "Yeah, well, one of them is like...protecting me? He's the one who healed my arm."
   Jeremy stared at me like I had just spoken complete jibberish. "Why? Why would - that - huh?"
   "I don't really get it either. But, well," I brushed that spot again, "at least we're being protected."
   Jeremy stared at me again, "Why is your face turning pink?"
   "It - it is?!" I touched my face. It was warm. Jeremy snickered.
   "Uh...shock? Confusion?"
   Jeremy covered his mouth to control his laughter.
    "Look, it doesn't matter." I stand up. "We've still gotta get out of here."
   "Wait, what about camping here?"
   "That was before my arm was healed by an alien."
   Jeremy gets up and follows close behind me.
   "You think your alien protector can heal me too? Or do you think he'll get jealous and try to kill me?"
   "Jealous? What do you mean?"
   "Heh, nothin'"

   The sun is going down, washing the sky in pink and purple. Usually, I'd be sitting somewhere secluded and peaceful, staring up as the bright colors fade to black, then watch the stars pop into view.
   Right now, I'm carrying an exhausted Jeremy on my shoulder.
   "C'mon Jer, I've been supporting you for...t - thirty minutes! We have to settle somewhere."
   "No, we...we have to keep going. There has to be someone nearby. Anyone!"
   I huff and help Jeremy sit on the ground. While he protests, I gather some sticks and rocks.
   "Wait, what are you -"
    "Building a fire."
   A look of terror crossed Jeremy's face, "B - but, t - the -"
   "It's dead Jeremy. You rolled its body behind a bush, remember?"
   Jeremy swallowed, "No! I - I mean the - the -"
   "It's OK, I don't think they'll hurt us." My eyes scan every nearby tree branch. I smile.
   "I - if you say so." Jeremy sighed before plopping down.
   After a few minutes, a small flame started breathing. I sat back and watched it grow larger while listening out for the sound of snapping branches.
   After several minutes of silence, my eyes started drooping. Then I heard sniffling.
   "Jer?"
   Jeremy is huddled by the fire, facing away from me, his face in his knees.
   "Jer? What's wrong?"
   "I..I n - never," a hiccup, "ap - apologized...y'know...for leaving you."
   It took a second, then I realized what he meant.
   "Oh Jer." I put my hand on his shoulder. "You were just afraid, that's all. You probably would've died if you hadn't run, I understand and I forgive you." As I said that, I quickly found it disturbing that there had been a moment where Bear could've killed Jeremy.
   Jeremy looked up then wiped his eyes, "Really?"
   I nodded, hugging him tightly. As we both sat there, a small snap came from the distance.
   "What was that?"
    Snap.
   "Shhh." I slowly got to my feet.
   Snap! Crunch!
   My arms rose. I suck in a breath.
   The bushes part, someone walks through.
   "Hey!" It's one of the others. "Hey! I found them!!"