Predator: The Ultimate Hunt

Chapter Two - The First Test

After meeting up, Dark Ace leads the group out of the forest and onto a creek passage. Pyrrha was still curious about the people she was with and what they were. As they walked, Hidan began complaining. 

Hidan: How much longer?! My feet are fucking killing me!

The Hound: Can you shut the fuck up? I'm getting tired of your fucking whinging!

Hidan: The fuck you talking about?!

The Hound: Your lips are moving and you're complaining about something. That's whinging. You're a fucking immortal and yet your bitching about your feet. 

Pyrrha felt slight concern about Hidan. She felt more concern for the group overall. She felt Dark Ace was working them too hard. 

Pyrrha: We should rest! 

Dark Ace: Then rest. 

Pyrrha was annoyed at Dark Ace's cold response. 

Pyrrha: You're working this group too hard! 

Dark Ace: Listen girl. We don't have time to stop and rest. We're in unfamiliar territory. Anything and everything could be a danger that can threaten us all. 

As Dark Ace became confrontational with Pyrrha, she decided to show him something. She grabbed a leaf from a nearby tree and placed it in a puddle. The leaf began spinning unnaturally in the water.

Pyrrha: Something's not right with this place. 

Dark Ace: So you say. Between that and the sun, I'd say we have an even bigger problem.

Pyrrha: What about the sun?

Dark Ace: Hasn't moved since we got here. 

That statement left Pyrrha confused. She didn't even think about that as she looked to the sky. Soon, Cormac jumped in the conversation. 

Cormac: He's right. We had to have been here at least a few hours at the least. The sun hasn't even moved an inch. 

Pyrrha: How's that possible?

Dark Ace: That's why we're gonna keep moving. So we can get answers. 

After that, Pyrrha relents. She continues walking with Dark Ace and the rest of the group. She didn't care for Dark Ace's cold and antagonistic attitude. Soon, the group reached another forest.

Hidan: Great! More fucking trees! 

Cad Bane: Looks like we weren't here first.

Cad Bane then points to a skinned man hanging from a tree. Pyrrha was the only one in the group who was visibly horrified. 

Pyrrha: That poor man.....

Cormac: Look. 

The group then saw opened cages. Cad Bane inspected inside the cages and saw claw marks and saliva. 

The Hound: The fuck is that? 

Cad Bane: Looks like an animal cage. A big one. Must've been placed deliberately. 

As Cad Bane said that, growling was heard in the distance. Sensing danger, everyone prepared their weapons. 

Hidan: Finally! Sacrifices for Lord Jashin! 

The Hound: Hope you're good with that sword little bird. Cause you're gonna need it!

Pyrrha: I'll manage! 

Cormac: Stay together! We don't know what's coming for us!

Suddenly, a pack of ravenous quadruped alien beasts charged at the group. Cad Bane began shooting at them with his LL-30 Blasters and kills some of them. 

Pyrrha: Grimm?!

Dark Ace: Doesn't matter what they are! Kill them!

Dark Ace and Pyrrha got back to back as they fended off the beasts. Hidan began slashing at the beasts with his Triple Bladed Scythe while wearing a manic smile.

Hidan: THROW YOURSELVES AT ME YOU MANGY MUTTS! YOU SHALL ALL BE SACRIFICED IN THE NAME OF JASHIN!

As Hidan was caught in his manic rage, the Hound cuts down a beast about to charge Hidan. 

The Hound: Watch your fucking back!

Hidan: I don't need your fucking help!

Hidan then kills a beast charging behind the Hound with a retractable spear. Meanwhile, a beast tackled Cormac and began attempting to bite him. Cormac uses his Hidden Blade to stab at the beast while holding the beast back. As the beast kept on chomping at him, Cad Bane shoots the beast in the head with his blaster. 

Pyrrha: There's too many of them! We have to fall back!

As the beasts began to crowd around the group, a strange whistling was heard. The beasts stopped in their tracks and retreated, confusing the group. 

Cad Bane: They're retreating....

Hidan: Are you fucking serious?! I didn't get enough sacrifices for Lord Jashin!

The Hound: Oh for fuck's sake! Enough about your fucking god! And I thought Dondarrion was annoying about the Lord of Light....

Cormac: Everyone! Check your weapons!

The group then checked their weapons. After that, Pyrrha was confused at the whole situation. This was unfamiliar to the young Huntress. 

Pyrrha: What's going on here? Why did those creatures just leave like that?

Dark Ace: It's simple girl. We're being hunted. The cage. The skinned man. All of us. We were all brought here for the same reason. 

Cormac: To be hunted. 

Cad Bane: Like prey. 

Dark Ace: Exactly. This....place is a game preserve. And we're the game. In case the rest of you didn't notice, we were being scouted out. They sent those creatures to test us. To see what we would do and how we would react. Just like you would with any other animal. 

Pyrrha: How would you know?

Dark Ace: Because.....that's what I would do. 

Cad Bane and Cormac then agreed with Dark Ace's comment saying they've done the same. The group fell silent. 

The Hound: Seven fucking hells.....

Pyrrha: So what do we do now?

Dark Ace: We head for higher ground. To get a better idea of the terrain we're operating in. Hopefully we'll find a way out. 

Cormac: We'll need to stick together at all times. Under no circumstances are we to split up. 

Cad Bane: Any of you fall behind, we won't come back for you. Hope you die quickly and painlessly.

Dark Ace: Now let's move. 

Pyrrha was taken aback by the cold behavior of Dark Ace and some of the others in the group. Despite this, she still stuck with the group out of necessity. They had been tested by their captors. Now it was time for the hunt to truly begin.