Survival

Chapter 4

It felt like a month had passed by possibly two, maybe it wasn't but she couldn't be sure anymore. Time seemed to blur when one was alone in the wilderness. The hunter hadn't returned yet either. In that time Nina had made herself a beautiful bow, also a strong sturdy spear. Each day she had explored her surroundings, coming across several different species. Honing her hunting skills after many hours of practice with her bow. She had managed killing one of the large predatory species that lurked about. It's large salamander like head with a mouth full of unforgiving teeth, it had long arms with clawed fingers walking on its back legs like a bird. It reminded her of one of earth's dinosaurs, she had been very proud she managed to kill it. She hadn't run across any "bugs" yet, that's what she feared the most. The thought...the memories kept her up most nights. Some nights she had sat longing for company, even the hunters eerie silence would be welcomed. Many times she had been curious to go through the things he had left behind but she refrained incase he'd return.
Nina had discovered numerous fruits and nuts in the tropical forest, gathering them up in baskets she wove. Being smart though she became to fearful to try any of them. They were alien plants and she had no clue if they were poisonous, her diet had stayed strictly dried meats, water and the occasional fish she managed to spear. Over time she had lost any body fat, becoming leaner and stronger. The burns she had received had healed leaving some scarring on her arm but nothing to noticeable on her face, which she was thankful for.

Quietly sitting in front of her fire Nina decorated her hair with some of her collected feathers. Startled when a large hog like creatures head she had seen a few times was thrown down next to her. She turned quickly with her spear only to find the hunter looking down at her. He stared at her for several minutes before stalking past her and seating himself across the fire from her. So he was alive still, and he had left her for so long? She glared at his hulking form finally speaking.
"Where have you been?" She just went back to dressing her hair knowing she'd get no answer.
She could feel his eyes on her but she ignored him just as he had to her before. She didn't know why she felt upset, he had no obligation to stay with her but still it bothered her he had abandoned her. Her thoughts were interrupted when he had gotten up and began rummaging through his things, she was curious when he had pulled out two small circular objects in his hand. He stared at them for a long time before he took one and placed it to the back of his neck at the base of his skull letting out a growl as it lit up and attached to where his spine would be. Turning he came towards her. Old panic struck her, she bolted upright and was about to run when he grabbed her from behind. Forcing her head down easily though she struggled. Fear entered her as she felt him place the other object to her neck, it clamped down causing her to let out a shriek. Feeling an electrical shock through her body into her brain. The pain disappeared as quickly as it came, she fell to the floor as he dropped her. Turning quickly to stare at the beast as she clawed at the device.
"What did you do to me!" She yelled panicked.
"Allowing you to communicate." Was the loud and clear reply as he walked away from her.
Staring with her mouth open in disbelief, how was it possible? "How is this possible? Why'd you leave me? Where'd you come from? What are those things that attacked the colony? What..what is your name?" She couldn't help but spew forth questions.
He sat for several minutes processing her questions before answering. "I am Wahkan, an Elite hunter of the Yautja. I am here to clear the hive of the serpents and collect the head of the queen as my trophy. She will be my third. My comrades were slain on this mission. Your colony was not expected to be here, but nonetheless I must finish my mission. I left you to determine if you are strong enough to survive and care for yourself, you have proven that you can." He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I wish for you to aide me in my mission."
"Help you how?" She asked wary of where this was going.
"Let me train you. It won't be easy, your....well a weak species but I believe you can do it. I've trained many hunters, let me train you and you will gain honor and be rewarded. There's something different about this hive I've never experienced before. It's tough and thick...I need your help. If we die it will be an honorable death."
Sitting in disbelief Nina tried to process this all, one moment she was playing with her hair the next she's being asked to become a warrior exterminator, she wished she could see his expression through his mask he had to be joking.
"If two big guys such as yourself couldn't do it how can I?"
"I can not answer that." Was all he could say which wasn't comforting at all.
"I need time to think about it." He just nodded his head in response.

Nina began working on a decorative necklace as Wahkan cleaned and worked on his hogs head. It was very calming to know she had company to share the long lonely night with.
Maybe I should help him, she began thinking while deep into her work. Face it Nina everyone you know is dead, it took 75 years to reach this backwater planet what else do you have left in this world? Well there is the thought of rescue but what's the point...there's really nothing to go home to.
Breaking the comforting silence Nina looked up. "Ok I'll do it, train me."
"Good, we will begin in the morning." Was all he replied as he continued his work on the skull.
Nina set aside her own work and laid down, she watched Wahkan for some time cleaning and polishing the skull before drifting off into sleep.