AvP:DOOMSDAY

The Hunt

The descent from the pyramid to the camp wasn't an easy one. Luna was sweating by the time she arrived at the improvised kitchen, searching for coffee. Immediately, a sense of déjà vu washed over her. People eyed her with suspicion, some even harboring palpable anger. Warning bells blared in the back of her mind, but she squared her shoulders and lifted her head high, pretending not to notice the tension.

As she walked toward the coffee station, she spotted some familiar faces from her group. They were glaring at the strangers with barely contained fury. Luna poured herself a steaming cup of coffee, using the moment to brace herself for the morning's conflict. She briefly considered ignoring the situation but quickly dismissed the thought. She had nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide.

Turning back to the improvised tables and benches, she surveyed the kitchen area, which spanned several yards in a square. Some people were eating, others idling, but all the strangers were undoubtedly watching her.

Searching the familiar faces, she found Tatiana in a staring contest with an older man in the table across. An idea popped up in her mind. "Tatiana." She called loud but politely. When the woman reluctantly looked at her she offered a smile "What's going on? We've just arrived and are already making friends..." She tsked her tongue, her tone sarcastic.

Tatiana was taken a back for a second, but recognition washed upon her face quickly. With a sly smile on her lips she answered "Oh, Luna, don't worry. You know how it is." She made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "People with nothing better to do are always fast to starting rumors."

Luna faking enthusiasm raised her brow "Oh, so we have hot tea already!" She took a sip from her coffee. "Spill it for me." She added smiling.

Tatiana made a show of pretend, exaggerating being unwilling to share. "Well..." she giggled. "You see, people are confused about your relationship with the..." She paused as if trying to remember something, turning her head toward the older man she was aggressive staring moments before she concluded. "The Space Barbarian."

The man face was immediately red like a tomato; anger and embarrassment written all over him. "How dare you?" He stood up pointing a finger at Tatiana.

Luna shakes her head, disappointment clear in her features. She made a show to take a deep breath. Inside she was seething with anger, how dare those ungrateful bitches talk bad about Thö'run? Yet, she would approach this situation with as much calm as she could pretend to have. "No need to be embarrassed Sir." Luna tone was stead as she directed her attention to the old man. "You will come to learn that I much prefer dealing with shit in a very transparent way." She took another sip of her coffee. "They are called Yautja. Not Space Barbarians." She clarified. "And yes, I do have a close, personal relationship with one of them." Gasps and murmurs erupted the moment the words came out of her mouth. Luna closed her eyes; calmly sipping on her coffee, thinking about how amazing it tasted and how fucked up it was that she couldn't enjoy it in peace.

"Have you no shame?" A woman with strong English accent questioned, her voice, laced with poison.

Luna closes her eyes to hide the eye roll she couldn't avoid. "No." She smiled staring at the woman. "No even a little bit." In her peripheral she could see Rafael entering the kitchen. "Why should I be ashamed of anything?" She questioned.

The woman opened and closed her mouth as if she was a fish that jumped to high and landed out of the water. "Well..." she stammered. "It's is wrong."

"Why?" Luna countered, downing the rest of her coffee.

"What do mean with why?" The woman was indignant, looking from side to side, in her face a violent blush. "It's simply wrong!"

"Am I hurting anyone by doing it?" Luna questioned her tone serious. The woman denied with her head. "Have I used your pussy to fuck him?" The room gasped in unison, but no one dared to speak. "Then fuck mind your own business. This is not a luxury resort for y'all to have to kill time by gossiping shit and creating unnecessary trouble." Luna raised her voice a little. "If you or anyone have a problem with me, come and talk to me directly, we will find a way to fix it. But I will not tolerate any disruption in this delicate time!" She schooled her tone. "We have been gifted a second chance. Don't fuck it up by allowing fear and prejudice cloud your mind. Grow the fuck up."