Kira

Chapter 3. Prophecy

Beneath a vast orange sky stood a stone temple. The megalithic structure towered above the verdant jungle dominating the lush land it had been constructed in. Under the twin suns, the valley grew wild and bountiful. Golden rays pierced the upper canopies of the lofty trees, scattering dappled light across the ancient path that wound its way toward the temple. Skv'yrks squawked from their perches on the wide branches while Nakjii screeched in their battle with one another, their leathery wings beating against the air as they clashed for dominance.

All of this surrounded the lone hunter as he made a pilgrimage to the sacred temple of the Old Ones. His steps were silent atop the blackened stone path he walked. The yautja strode with purpose, his eyes set on the temple that slowly grew in the distance. A stone bowl was tucked carefully in the crook of his arm, the thick creamy cloth flapping gently with the motion of his catlike gait.

Di'kaadh's gaze flickered to the flowering tatsya that lined the old path. The spiked yellow blooms spread wide, stretching their sturdy stamen to the sky. A light floral scent filled the air and urged him toward his destination.

Fresh memories of a glorious hunt replayed in his mind. Black blood arcing in the air as his blades cut through tender flesh, the metallic squeak of the beast's keening, and the sweet song of honed breeding thrumming in his veins keyed a satisfied purr to life. He inspected the new scars that smattered his body, the gray shiny skin turning dark to match his pitch-black coloring as it healed. Each one told the latest tale of his glory.

Glory that he wished to thank the gods for giving.

Di'kaadh's return to the home world of his people wasn't as eventful as he initially thought. He did, however, admire the sounds and smells, relishing in the heat of the twin suns. The thrum of his ancestors surrounded him in a manner the clanship could never compete with. It was steeped in the land itself. Visiting Yautja Prime was necessary due to the temple's home in the valley of his clan's ancestral lands.

While they still held a seat of power with a small number to maintain it, his clan had long lived among the stars. They traveled the known universe in a centuries-long search for new hunting grounds. For generations now, Di'kaadh's clan searched, with rare instances of members returning to the world their kind first rooted.

Every step he took, Di'kaadh imagined the thousands of yautja who had made this same walk over the years. He inhaled the smell of the damp earth, relishing in the memories of his ancestors.

Longer than before Kaail, the First Clan Leader, was even born, worshippers had brought sacrifices here. The stone felt warm, almost too warm, beneath his bare feet as he imagined specters of long-gone hunters making this same path to the massive pyramid that now loomed before him. Even as he ascended the few steps that led inside, thoughts of the gods were on his mind. Crossing the wide, intricately carved gray entrance, he swore he could feel their presence.

Inside, large candles with long rivers of dried wax that fell to the floor beneath their metal stands lit the dim interior. The air was a moist nutty cloud that hung heavily, misting the floor. Situated by the entryway into the inner temple were racks where hunters hung their weapons, a few blades and whips swaying gently from metal hooks. Di'kaadh removed a dagger inserted into his grieves, anticipating he would not need the rest of his usual weaponry.

A priestess exited as he entered the long corridor that opened to a large chamber. Her crimson robe streaked by as he paused to take in the massive statues that stood mightily above kneeling worshippers. They rose so high that the darkness swallowed their tops. Each one was carved so lifelike that Di'kaadh's first impulse was to fall to a knee and fist his chest with his free hand. Stone altars full of offerings sat before each one, a variety of food, carved idols, and trophies hunted for sacrifice. Water flowed somewhere in the darkness of the temple, relaxing his tense muscles.