Predator: The Ultimate Hunt

Chapter Twelve - Parting Ways

As the Hound stayed behind, Pyrrha along with Dark Ace and Cad Bane continued making their way to the camp. Pyrrha felt immense remorse for leaving the Hound behind. Guilt weighed her mind as tears fell down her face. 

Pyrrha: (Sandor.....I'm sorry.....)

Soon enough, the trio made it to the camp, but found no ship. Cad Bane then turned to see the crucified Predator still strung up on the totem pole. 

Cad Bane: Looks like the others left this one here to die. 

The Predator then woke up and began snarling at the three. As they looked at the Predator, Pyrrha remembered Thailog mentioning a blood feud. 

Pyrrha: This must be from the rival clan. 

Dark Ace; They must've captured him and strung him up as some sort of act of tribal humiliation. 

Pyrrha: We should free him. He could help us. 

Cad Bane: Or try to kill us. 

Dark Ace looked to the Predator. He bore wounds from a fight long ago. He knew that this Predator was the key to finding the ship. Dark Ace approached the crucified Predator. 

Dark Ace: Do you understand me? 

The Predator lets out a low growl while keeping eye contact with Dark Ace. Pyrrha and Cad Bane were silent. 

Dark Ace: I want off this planet. Do you understand? 

Dark Ace slowly raises his Two Handed Crystal Sword and cuts the binds of the Predator, freeing it. The Predator then got up and glanced over to Pyrrha and Cad Bane. The Duros Bounty Hunter kept his hands on his blaster pistols while the Predator walked over to his equipment. As the Predator arms himself, he pulls up a holographic map of the camp. He then points to the coordinates to the ship. 

Pyrrha: T....thank you. 

The Predator nods in respect as he begins walking away. 

Dark Ace: Let's move. 

As the three were about to move, a loud roar was heard in the background. Dark Ace and Cad Bane kept moving while Pyrrha stopped. She watched as the Predator moved towards the roar. 

Dark Ace: Why are you stopping, girl? We have no use for him. 

Pyrrha: He's....he's going to fight them. 

Cad Bane: Makes sense. That blood feud must run deep. He should keep the others occupied. 

Dark Ace: We could use that to our advantage. They'll be too focused on fighting each other to notice us. 

Pyrrha: We...we can't leave him! He won't stand a chance with the injuries he's suffered! They're going to kill him!  We have to help him!

Dark Ace: Think about what you're saying girl. We don't have the time for petty heroics. We must focus on our own survival. 

Cad Bane: He's right. If we're gonna get off of this planet, then we're gonna have to let this fight play out. If that means he dies, he dies. If he survives, good for him. Either way, it's not our problem.

Pyrrha wasn't surprised by the indifferent and callous approach Dark Ace and Cad Bane had to this situation. They were willing to sacrifice someone just to escape. 

Pyrrha: So that's it? We just leave him to die after he helped us? 

Dark Ace: It's about survival girl. Everything we've done was for survival. It's time to grow up girl. The world isn't a fairy tale where heroes triumph over evil. It's about survival of the fittest. You live or you die. That's it. 

Cad Bane: Don't you get it? It's the way of the hunt. Do you think they would come back for it's own? They want your compassion. Your pity. To feel something. To be human. 

Pyrrha: Of course I'm human! What are you?

Dark Ace: Alive. We're alive because we've done what we need to do to survive. If you can't see that, then you'll die here. 

Hearing that made Pyrrha feel sick to her stomach. The way Dark Ace and Cad Bane talked made her skin crawl. She was faced with a difficult decision. She could go back for the Predator and help him or leave with Dark Ace and Cad Bane. 

Pyrrha: I can't. He needs my help. 

Dark Ace: Very well, girl. We're not dying for that thing. If you want to throw your life away like that, then that's on you. 

Dark Ace and Cad Bane then parted ways with Pyrrha and began walking to the location of the Predator Ship. For the first time in her life, Pyrrha felt anger and resentment. 

Pyrrha: Dark Ace! Cad Bane!

As she called them out, the two stopped. They didn't bother turning around as Pyrrha spoke. 

Pyrrha: You two don't belong on any civilized world. You're both no better than Thailog. You belong back there. On this world. With them.

Dark Ace and Cad Bane said nothing as they kept walking. Pyrrha turned her backs on the two men. She thought about all the sacrifices this group made. Shay Cormac. Hidan. The Hound. She thought about how they all gave their lives for the sake of the group. She then thought about how she was willing to take on the heavy responsibilities of becoming the Fall Maiden for the sake of Remnant's safety. Now here she was all alone. The last of the group had effectively abandoned her and would leave her to die. Despite this, Pyrrha felt it was better this way. For better or worse, Pyrrha had parted ways with what remained of the group and she would stand by her decision.