Cloaked

New Friends, Old Foes

Scai'k POV

A day had passed since Juno and I began our journey. We had since exited the desert, and despite the dangers of the forest, I knew we were both grateful for the newfound cover from the environment.

The longer we walked, the more confused I became. I had always been told of how X216 was crawling with xenomorphs, but I hadn't seen traces of a single one yet. My plan was to find a nest and follow a lone xeno until I reached the group, where the queen would undoubtably be waiting.

The only creatures we had encountered so far were some wild pack animals and insects. All of which I easily... removed.

Juno was doing fine, although her energy levels had severely decreased. The effects of the fruit were long worn off, but she was pushing to keep up with me. I was grateful because she had been extremely quiet the entire trip, and I was left alone to hunt and sit with my own thoughts. Still, part of me missed hearing her voice, and I was genuinely beginning to enjoy talking to her. For a human, she had surprisingly similar characteristics to a Yautja, and I was amazed at how witty she was. I had rarely interacted with humans, and never spoke with one, so it was eye opening to realize how much of intelligent beings they actually were.

We had settled in a clearing for the night, and it was well hidden and shaded enough to protect from the blazing suns once they rose in the morning.

Juno was somewhere nearby in the trees, emptying her bladder, when I heard a ear rattling scream. The human was yelling something inaudible and rustling loudly in the trees.

I jumped to my feet. How could I have been so stupid, leaving a helpless human alone in a forest filled with dangerous creatures?! I needed my bait alive.

I ran in the direction of the screaming and protracted my wristblades. Whatever was attacking her soon would meet a swift end at my paws.

I sucked in a deep breath when I realized what was happening. The little human was hovering, clutching her neck and gasping for air. Something - or rather, someone, - was strangling her.

I growled. A low, threatening growl that any creature of any species would understand my intention. The female dropped to the hard ground below and coughed as I lunged forward and swung my blades where she had just been.

As a had predicted, my blades collided with a hard surface, although invisible to the eye. Whoever had attacked her was cloaked.

"Uncloak yourself," I hissed, flaring my mandibles aggressively. "Now."

I was not angry because of what happened to Juno, but because whoever was cloaked was interfering with my mission. I had claimed this hunt territory and clearly marked the local vegetation with distinctive claw marks, yet the newcomer had the audacity to venture onto my territory, attack my human, and for all I know, he may have already taken the queen trophy.

After a few seconds, the air near me shimmered and the cloak was removed, revealing another Yautja. I twisted my face in surprise, and the other looked equally as in shock. He was male, standing a little taller than me, and judging by his old-fashioned armor and mature demeanor, I could tell he was older than me.

"Another one?" Juno groaned, picking herself up and scampering behind me. The male's gaze hovered over her for an uncomfortable amount of time, but his calculating eyes were quickly locked in on me.

"Why are you here?" He spoke finally. His voice how'd no hostile intent, but something seemed off about him.

"I am Scai'k, blooded warrior of the Iron Talon. Who are you?" I held my ground and puffed my chest as I spoke to the older male.