The Predators Hunt

Cave Pt.4

   There's a strange noise nearby. No, it's behind me. I open my eyes, then freeze when I feel something touch my shoulder.
   It's long, cold and sharp.
   My skin prickles. I stay still as a statue. Whatever it is begins creeping down to my chest.
   My fists clench. My legs lightly shake. Whatever is there, if it's gonna kill me, it won't do it without a scar or two.
   It then presses against me. My body is slowly flipped over. I feel it against my face.
   NOW!
   My foot crashes against something hard, making a mettalic sound. A sharp pain shoots through my leg. My toes ache from the hard, sudden collision but I stand up.
   I look to see a large, human figure kneeled next to me. I see glowing eyes as it rubs its metal helmet.
   "BEAR!"
   I lunge forward and grasp onto him. Tears soak my face and his warm chest as I hug tightly, even tighter. I laugh a little as I feel my fingers tangle into his fishnets.
   "Bear, I, oh God, I...I...you..."
   Wait. What's he doing here? Why is he here? He left me. Why is he back?
   "You...you.."
   My hands close into fists. My teeth clench.
   He just left me here, alone and terrified and now he has the nerve to come back?!
   "You asshole!" My fists slam into his chest.
   I punch at his stomach, his shoulder, his arm, anywhere while cursing loudly. Every punch feels like punching fleshy rock but I don't care.
   "YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU FUCKING - URGH! YOU ASSHOLE! MOTHERFUCKER!!"
   I hit and hit and hit till my arms are exhausted. My head crashes against his front. I pant against his hot, green skin. Then I begin to sob.
   Even though I'm pissed at him, I can't pretend I'm not also relieved. He's here, really here. Just like I had secretly wished. Yet he's still a huge dick who stranded me out here.
   I feel a heavy pair of arms wrap around me. They squeeze me gently. After some akward seconds, I slowly hug back, nuzzling against his neck. My face touches his tentacle, dread lock things and I smile.

   I sit, waiting patiently as I watch the stars. No shooting ones have shown up yet; apparently there's supposed to be a meteor shower soon. A long sigh leaves my mouth.
   There's a loud thud from the top of the hill, then Bear swiftly falls. I jump back as he nearly lands right on me.
   "Hey! Careful you dick!"
   He says nothing and strides into the cave. The sound of wood clunks against the floor.
   Finally.
   I go inside to inspect the small pile he's brought. It's mostly twigs, but it'll do for now. I get down on the ground and get to work.
   I pull out the wad of moss I had been drying out of my back pocket then place it next to the pile. I get two of the biggest pieces of wood and take out the sharp rock I had found in the cave. After preparing a groove in the center, I shave down one end of the other stick till it forms a 45° degrees angle. With that angle, I vigorously rub it into the groove, slowly building more and more friction.
   I look up and see Bear watching, head tilted to the side. I smirk, he must be amazed. Or impressed.
   Soon enough, the bottom stick begins to smoke. I quickly put it on top of the moss, tapping the tiny black embers onto it.
   I press the moss together, lightly blowing on it, waiting. I keep blowing till a small flame peeks out.
   I grin and keep blowing. The small lit ember quickly combusts. I exclaim triumphantly and put it on top of the pile, watching it catch fire, filling the cave with light.
   "Heh, nice! Now we won't die of hypothermia!"
   Bear says and does nothing, but I'm sure he agrees.
   After some akward silence, I speak up, "So...why'd you leave?"
   Bear's head looks up from the fire.
   "You heard me, why did you take off? Don't think I'm not still pissed about that." I cross my arms. "Especially when I said that I needed to be safe! Stranding me out here by myself isn't safe!" I huff.
   Bear is silent, as always. His claws click together.
   Is he nervous? Possibly feeling guilt?
   After several moments of nothing, I groan loudly, "Uugh! Why don't you speak to me? Or at least try to communicate? You've done it before, why not now?!"
   Bear's fist clenches. Shakes a little bit. I back up a little, watching for any sudden movements.
   He slowly lifts his hands, they fidget a little, then he points at me. I watch as he then gestures to himself. Finally, both his hands clasp together, holding eachother firmly.
   "Umm...me and you? Together? Oh, you mean like...friends?"
   His hands fidget again, then fall to his sides.
   "Yes? No? Ugh, tell me something! Anything!"
   He looks at the fire again, then at the wall. His chest quickly rises then falls, a deep gruff noise comes from his hemet.
   Did he just sigh?
   He slowly rises up from the ground. I stare as he makes his way to one of the walls, lifts a finger, then begins to scratch something into the rocky surface. The scratch marks slowly begin to form a clear, triangular picture.
   I gaze at the image, weirdly impressed by his simple act of drawing. Surely his species must be intelligent, so intelligent they know the concept of art!
   He turns to me, points at the image, then at the sky outside. I look out, glancing at the stars. I study the picture, noticing it was slightly curvey and had other triangular shapes on its sides. It kinda looked like...a ship!
   "Is that your space craft? The one you used to get here?"
   He turned to the wall, then began scratching once again. This time, he made for little figures near the ship.
   "Oh! That's you! And your family?"
   When I said family, Bear whipped his head toward me. His hand clenched again.
   Uh oh.
   "Uh, not family?"
   Bear growled.
   "O - ok, sorry! Sorry!"
   Bear stopped growling, then stood still. His head turned all the way down. His fist was now pressed against the wall. He looked conflicted.
   "Hey, you alright?" I stand up, then slowly make my way toward him. "I...I'm not so mad at you anymore. I mean, I am a little, but not as much...Bear?"
   I stand right next to him. His entire body still hasn't moved. I know it's stupid, and possibly dangerous, but I do it anyway.
   I reach out and touch his shoulder. It's firm, rough as shark skin, but warm. So warm, it relaxes my hand. His head turns to me.
   I stare into the red eyes of his helmet and, I swear, I see his eyes stare back from behind them.
   "Bear, it's OK. Really, I...heh, I never said thanks for gathering the kindling. Or saving me from that Bear!" I point to the bear skull dangling from his belt.
   He finally makes a sound, a grunt but a sound nonetheless. I smile up at him reassuringly then look at his drawings.
   "Which one is you?"
   One of his fingers slowly unfurls. He points to the one in the middle.
   "Oh, ok. Heh, yeah, I see the resemblance now." Don't know if he understands humor, but it's worth a try.
   He grunts again, then his claw slowly drags down from the little drawing of himself, creating a jagged line. At the end of this line, he scratches another figure into the wall.
   This one is bigger, with added accessories like a spear, gauntlets and a bunch of objects hanging from its belt.
   "Is that you?"
   Nothing.
   "Someone you knew?"
   Silence. Then a slow nod.
   His hand spreads out, covering the figure. He then leans his head against the back of his hand. Silence again.
   "Bear? Is that..."
   Suddenly, there's a loud noise, like steel scraping against stone. Bear then moves past me, bumping me out of his way.
   I watch as he walks briskly to a corner and sits in it, facing away from me.
   I turn to face the wall. The figure now has four long scratch marks across it.