Rating: M for violence/gore, strong language, adult themes and more. Read at your own discretion.
Summary: Royce once promised Isabelle he'd find them a way home… but nine months later, he's holding his infant daughter, tears staining his cheeks. He's determined to protect her no matter what but things take an interesting turn when the Yautja learn there's an Ooman pup on the loose.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Predators/Aliens universe, all rights belong to Fox and all the respective parties. Also, keep in mind this story is unbetaed and while I preview and edit everything to the best of my abilities, I cannot possibly account for everything. This is also my first fanfic, so go easy on me! :)
Additional Notes: Apologies for the embarrassingly long wait. I got pissed off by 'The Predator' movie (2018) and couldn't manage to write the next chapter for a long time. Anyone else see the movie?
Anyway, thank you to mizukikage, FantasyReader2, Racheeele, hellion117 and floresm217 for reviewing! Love the support and I am very surprised I see that so many people had followed and favorited! You guys are so awesome! :D
Warning!: Graphic depictions of childbirth in this chapter!
Two Months Later...
Royce didn't panic.
He worried but he wasn't paranoid and panic was instigated by fear and paranoia.
So in all retrospect, this should have been a walk in the park for him. That is, if Isabelle was currently giving birth in a safe, clean and emergency ready hospital and not a dark and inhospitable hole in the ground while she and Royce hid under a rotten stump. Predators stalked the jungle shadows, blades ready and poised to maim anything that so much as breathed and Royce was terrified. Not just afraid but terrified and he was panicking.
Isabelle had her hands clasped tightly over her mouth as wave after wave of contractions hit her and she writhed in agony next to him. Royce may have been kneeling stalk still, knife poised in front of him, ready to attack anything that moved outside the crevice they hid in but on the inside, he was trembling in fear and panicking so badly he wondered how he hadn't stabbed himself for being so jumpy.
His nerves were shot and his face pale with grim apprehension and he sat still and ready. So ready.
Any moment now some snarling monster would come crashing into the hole and he had to be ready.
Isabelle let out a low whine and bit into her own hand to keep from screaming; satin-red blood running down her arms and dripping at the elbows. Royce couldn't turn to comfort her though. He had to be ready. Nothing could distract him from this; any moment they could die.
Twisting and arching her back, Isabelle's hands flew from her mouth to her crotch as they bunched up her hide dress and she arranged herself in a squatting position. Her eyes were screwed shut and her breathing became more and more labored as her body strained.
Royce refused to turn and support her. He had to be ready; those fuckers were out there waiting.
Another whimper from Isabelle and then she screamed abruptly and Royce jumped, knife flashing and cutting an inch into the thick root next to him, his heart hammering.
A barely audible thud sounded from above as the ground shook and the trunk creaked.
Royce hastily pried his knife loose and got ready again, eyes glued to the entrance. Any moment now...
Isabelle screamed again and this time it was long and drawn-out, her voice hoarse but deafening. Her knee's wobbled and she collapsed to her side, staining and crying, whimpers growing louder and louder. There was no telling how long her labor would last or even if she'd live to see the end of it, just as there was no telling if the child was even alive anymore. Accidents had happened...
Not-so-long-ago memories of gunfire, the screams of Royce's men and Isabelle's agonized cries, reverberated off the walls of his skull, the phantom noise making it hard to concentrate. Still, no towering alien loomed into view and no sound could be heard over Isabelle's moaning.
Royce wanted to tell her to be quiet; to put her hands back over her mouth but he kept his mouth shut and his back turned. He couldn't bear to look at her now. This was all his fault after all. If he hadn't been so arrogant and careless she would be giving birth in the safety of the Davenport, not in a wet and wormy hole. How he should face her after all this was over, he didn't know... that is, if they both made it. Nothing was for certain and all Royce knew is that he had to be ready.
Thrusting her head back, Isabelle screamed once more, hands fisting the ground and spreading her legs wider as she panted and gasped.
Royce wasn't a religious man. He never had been nor had he been raised with believing parents. Yet, in this moment he wondered if there was, somewhere out there watching, a god or some supernatural being. He wondered if they were sadistic, if they watched him and his mate struggle with pleasure. He wondered if he should pray to such an entity. What harm would it do?
Dear God, dear anything... he began in his head, I know I've done wrong and made bad choices... he wasn't sure if he was talking about his life decisions or just this situation... but if you could send a miracle, if you could save Isabelle and the baby, if we could live to see another day... that'd be great.
Royce shifted absently. Sincerely, Royce.
Isabelle screamed again and it started to rain. Thunder boomed overhead and rain began to patter across the ground, making it to where Royce could barely see. The dark clouds hid the moon but Royce's eyes had long since adjusted to the dark. He could see his hands in front of him, the silver gleam of his knife and the top of Isabelle's head out of the corner of his eye.
Movement flashed outside of the trunk and Royce locked up. Still, nothing happened. The rain never slowed and the claps of thunder grew softer, almost melodic as the downpour raged on. No enemies, however. Yet, Royce remained poised, never letting go the tension that coiled in his gut.
He was still terrified and very close to physically trembling now. If he failed, there would be no second chance... no chance at all for the infant that struggled to come into this world.
The thought of never seeing his kid sickened him but not as much as the thought of Isabelle never getting to hold them. She had worked so hard for it after all. All Royce had done was argue with her and doubt himself. Isabelle had done all the work; she deserved to see the baby more than he did.
So it was for the sake of Isabelle he tightened his grip on his weapon and took a steady breath. Calm, no panic. Focus, no fear.
It seemed like forever before the rain let up and the first few rays of dawn filtered through the foliage. Isabelle had gone still beside him, barely breathing and the only thing that told him she was even alive was her shallow hiccups. Royce longed to turn and check on her but his eyes stayed glued to the outside, watching and waiting.
A sudden long-winded groan sounded from his wife and Royce will never forget the noise that followed.
The shrill cry of an infant.
Eyes widening, Royce stared unseeingly ahead. That was a baby, he thought blankly, my baby. Turning, his eyes desperately sought out the source of the acute wails and found a kicking and flailing, dripping red form between Isabelle's thighs. Slowly, his eyes drifted up to his mate's face as he took in her exhaustion and the sickly color to her skin. She was drenched in sweat and covered in mud, eyes rolling and lips parted to gulp air down. Alive, though just barely.
Royce then knew what he had to do. Stripping his shirt off, he gingerly scooped the infant up, cut the umbilical cord and cradled the squirming form to his chest. She was speckled with blood and a crusty phlegm looking mucus, screaming at the top of her tiny little lungs, face scrunched up and tiny fists swinging around angrily.
Sunlight shone through the entrance, lighting up the tiny little babe as she squalled heartily, tasting the air and demanding comfort. Royce just stared down at her in utter shock and awe. Here she was. The infant Isabelle had carried all those long months, crying about it, yelling about it and worrying about the tiny little human being inside her until she made herself sick. And here she was.
Their daughter. Dawn.
Isabelle whimpered and Royce quickly turned to meet her bleary gaze, her brown eyes unfocused but flicking towards him with vague recognition. A full body shudder passed through her and she groaned loudly, passing the rest with a short huff. Still, her eyes remained fixed on him and the infant nestled against his bare flesh.
'' I... want...'' she managed to croak, sliding one arm across the slick ground towards him, fingers grazing his boot. Royce wasted no time crawling to her side, careful not jostle Dawn who curled into his warm chest, seeking nourishment and warmth. Ever so gently, he lowered their daughter to Isabelle's level but didn't hand her over. Isabelle was weak and in no condition to hold Dawn and it physically pained him to keep their daughter just out of reach but he didn't want Isabelle dropping her; the woman looked ready to pass out any second.
'' Belle,'' he cooed soothingly down at his mate, sidling closer so she could get a better look at Dawn,'' Its a girl. Strong. Healthy. Just like she's supposed to be.''
A weak smile quirked the edges of Isabelle's lips as she managed to reach up and stroke the still wailing infant's soft head. '' So... beautiful.''
Royce gave her a tired but encouraging smile, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. '' I...'' he hesitated but the strong thumping of his heart spurred him on,'' I named her Dawn. I know I didn't ask you first but I just felt like-''
The tiny smile never left Isabelle's face and she murmured,'' Dawn... I like it. She'll be strong... like the sun. Bright and beautiful...''
'' Yes, strong and beautiful...'' just like you, Royce wanted to add but his heart lept in his throat before he could utter the words. Isabelle was closing her eyes.
'' No, no, no.'' Royce set Dawn aside, as he fearfully touched his wife, lightly shaking her. '' Belle, Belle! Stay with me!''
Isabelle refused to open her eyes again and her chest all but stopped rising. Royce felt panic tighten in his chest, his movements frantic as he hurried to perform mouth to mouth, something to wake Isabelle up. '' Please, Belle! No, open your eyes, dammit! Please!''
Beautiful chocolate brown eyes stayed shut, body unmoving and pulse fading rapidly. No, no, no, no, no, echoed throughout Royce's head, please don't go.
Hastily, he scooped up his daughter and moved Isabelle into his lap, settling the infant against his wife's chest. Next, he arranged her arms around the babe, tears streaming down his face as his breath hitched into messy sobs. '' Look, Belle... you're holding her. Holding our daughter... open your eyes and see... please.''
Dawn began to cry again, sensing her father's distress and still seeking the nourishment she would not receive. Stubby little arms flailed, fisting her mother's soggy dress and mouthing at her mother's collarbone. Royce's heart broke in half at the sight.
Shaking his head, he just held his wife and daughter as if he were afraid they'd both disappear. It was if they kept him upright and not the other way around.
He stayed like that he knew not how long, only that Isabelle's body was cold and Dawn's crying had faded to soft whimpers. Unfeeling, he unfurled himself from his wife's body and sat beside it, hugging Dawn close. Dawn whined loudly and started to cry again at the movement and Royce's thoughts turned towards his daughter; how he would provide for the newborn.
Food. She needs food, he told himself as he gazed down with dead eyes at the upset babe, how do I feed a newborn? Where would I find milk? Can I even find milk?
Dawn whacked him as if prompting her father to hurry up and decide and Royce did.
Creeping out from underneath the tree trunk, he swiftly glanced around before hurrying to the nearest tree to take cover. Dawn had stopped crying the minute he had stood and was now staring in rapt attention to her new surroundings. Royce would have felt proud of her but panic was gripping him once more as he frantically searched for something edible.
In the back of his mind, he knew he'd find no food. Newborn's needed milk; their mother's or formula and Dawn's mother lay dead in a hole in the ground and there was no way baby formula would magically appear. Royce's heart clenched and Dawn, sensing her father's fear, began to wail at the top of her lungs to announce her discomfort.
It was several more minutes before he came back to his senses. Leaning against his tree, panting and dripping with sweat, he tried to calm his distressed daughter before giving up when it became clear Dawn was having none of it. Only food would satisfy her now. Food that didn't exist and that Royce couldn't provide.
Once again, he was letting himself down. He'd failed Isabelle, he'd failed himself and now he was failing Dawn. He'd watched his daughter be born, coming into the world full of life and vigor only to watch her starve... no, he couldn't. Isabelle may be dead but he refused to let Dawn die too. He couldn't let her down... he couldn't.
Resolve strengthed, he forced himself to try and come up with something while he trekked back to the stump. He needed a plan; he was good at plans. Think, think, think, he demanded in his head, something! There must be something!
Suddenly, the air shifted and Royce's head snapped up, one arm cradling Dawn and the other fishing his knife out again.
A Predator stood before him. Blades sheathed and shoulder cannon offlined, simply staring at him through its expressionless mask. It was huge too, bigger than any of the Predators Royce had faced before and he got the sinking feeling that there was no way he'd win against this one... especially with Dawn in his arms.
That's when he noticed Isabelle behind the behemoth; lying stretched out on the forest floor, expression peaceful and arms at her sides. Her mouth was speckled with bright green blood and a steady stream dripped down a clawed hand.
Royce stared at the sight, uncomprehending and the Predator stared back, as if waiting for Royce's reaction.
The two could have stood there forever but then Isabelle coughed. Coughed.
The ex-sniper's whole body shook and she coughed violently, a hand flying to her mouth as she rolled over onto her side and vomited. Royce was so distracted by the sight, he didn't notice the pointed look the Predator gave his daughter or when it moved back into the shadows, taking its leave.
All Royce cared about at that moment was his wife.
So he ran to her and embraced her, calling out her name, again and again, thrusting Dawn into her open arms and kissing her mouth with a strangled sob. Isabelle kissed back fervently, clutching her daughter and whispering his name into their kiss.
Royce could have forgotten about the rest of the world at that moment. Nothing else mattered.
His family was alive and alive they would stay. He would make sure of it.
Sometime Later...
Isabelle's recovery was rapid and weeks later, she didn't look like she'd given birth in the slightest.
Royce was happy she was healthy and back to her old self but the Predator's actions lingered in his mind. The bastard had fed his wife its blood and somehow, revived her. Maybe Isabelle hadn't really died, maybe it had the technology to resurrect the dead or maybe there was something else entirely going on. Royce knew there was no way he could track that alien down and demand answers from it. He could, however, watch Isabelle closely.
His mate had recovered her full strength only several days after delivery and weeks later, her body molded itself back into what it had been before childbirth. Only the stretch marks on her belly remained as a proof of Dawn's birth. Isabelle was as fit and healthy as she'd ever been. She kept up with her husband without losing her breath, was rearing to go in the morning before even Royce and had no difficulty breastfeeding Dawn.
It pleased Royce that his wife was adapting to the role of a mother so well and he found himself ridiculously happy when he watched his wife and child together. Isabelle was beyond gentle with her daughter, methodical and patient but totally enraptured and in love with her. Who wouldn't be?
Dawn was a hand full, especially in a jungle while her parents traveled as far away as they could from the hunting zones. She often made enough noise to attract the attention of dangerous beasts and needed constant attention. If Isabelle ever looked away from her for a second, Dawn was shrieking for her attention again. If she caught sight of Royce, she would cry up a storm until placed in her father's arms, no amount of soothing or distracting from Isabelle could deviate her attention. Dawn was also unusually active for a newborn or at least her parents seemed to think so. She was either asleep as most newborns would be or wide awake causing havoc, which is what she was doing most of the time. She wanted to see everything, touch everything and often watched the world around her, be it the swaying trees or the play of shadows across the forest. She would also listen intently to the jungle noise, the exotic birds and the calls of alien animals. At times like this, she was quiet and docile. She reminded Royce of a lion cub; fierce and mouthy at times but quiet and observant the next, learning from her parents when to be still and quiet and what to listen for. Isabelle had commented on this one day.
'' She seems naturally attuned to her surroundings,'' his wife commented quietly while they bedded down in a canopy tree for the night.
Royce who had been half paying attention and more focused on scanning the treetops for potential threats, absently nodded. '' She's learning already.''
'' But she's only a two-month-old baby. Are they really that aware when so young?'' Isabelle inquired, trying to settle Dawn down and feed her. Their daughter, however, had other plans; mainly involving gurgling loudly and swiping at the dangling leaves overhead.
Royce shrugged, drawing his attention back to his family. '' I don't know but Dawn's bound to be different than regular kids. She's the first kid born on this planet I bet. Not to mention, her mother is a walking miracle.'' The last bit earned him an endearing smile and Royce struggled to keep his own face from grinning goofily back.
A few days later, Royce and Isabelle found a river.
The river was a deep, dark sea green and at first, Royce kept Isabelle back from it before tasting and testing the waters to make sure it was safe to drink and bathe in. After an hour of anxious waiting for Royce to keel over and choke or something, Isabelle gave Dawn her first real bath.
When their daughter had been born and Isabelle resurrected, they could only wash her off with water collected from plants. She was long overdue a bath and when Isabelle found a warm puddle of water, Dawn became fascinated with it. While Isabelle washed her off, Royce took a dip in the river, rotating his attention from his family to the outlying jungle. He hadn't seen hide or scale of those monsters nor the behemoth that saved his wife's life. While he was content to never see another Predator again, he knew he hadn't seen the last of them. He'd gotten cocky with his men and as a result, his men had gotten sloppy with safety procedures and hunts. It had been Carter who doused his arrogance with cold reality. The Mexican had noticed a pattern in the Predator's sparse activity that Royce cursed himself for not noticing sooner. Their keepers had systematically started dropping humans in specific areas close to the Davenport and releasing the hounds, closer and closer to them. The hounds tracked the soldiers, both Royce's and new drops closer to home and when killed, their bodies were processed or left behind. Carter had noticed this and when he alerted his boss, Royce dismissed his concerns.
'' The closer they get the easier it will be to hunt them and bring the meat back. We won't have to venture into the hunting grounds anymore and it's not like the hounds can tell them where we are, dead hounds can't track after all,'' Royce had told his second months prior.
Carter had merely shaken his head at his boss's words and stomped off.
Days later, the Predators ambushed them in the middle of the night and slaughtered half of them. It began with the sentries and then all the sudden Predators were pouncing on them in the middle of their own home; it had been a bloodbath. Royce had only managed to get Isabelle and himself out because of Todd, the old Navy Seal. The elderly man had covered for them as they bolted down the slippery mountain slope, Royce having to carry Isabelle most of the way. A couple of hours later, Isabelle went into labor in a hole in the ground.
Turns out, Carter had been right. Their keepers had been using the new recruits and the hounds to track them closer and closer to their hideout. No, they didn't follow the hounds but they found their corpses and to Royce's horror, he'd realized too late that they'd left a breadcrumb trail of hound corpses for the Predators to follow, which of course, led them to the mountains. Then it became only a matter of time before they learned of the location of the base and ambushed them all.
Royce wasn't sure if anyone had survived. He supposed it was entirely possible but so far, he hadn't seen any sign of any survivors and at the moment he wasn't sure if he wanted to either. He was entirely to blame for everyone's reckless behavior and disregarding Carter's warning. He wouldn't be surprised if they tried to kill him out of revenge or just plain saltiness.
An excited squeal from his daughter interrupted his thoughts and he looked over to find the baby girl kicking her feet and splashing her mother who laughed in return. A genuine smile lit his face and he exited the water to saunter over to them.
'' How's the bath going?'' he asked, sitting beside Isabelle and accepting a chaste kiss from the brunette.
Dawn babbled cheerfully at him as if trying to answer his question in her own way. Royce smiled at his daughter, catching her tiny hand and watching with utter fascination as she latched on to his thumb and gnawed on the digit.
'' Well, at this rate, she'll splash all the warm water out but I guess for her first bath, she's enjoying it as you can see,'' Isabelle answered, watching her husband and child with a knowing smirk.
'' When do you think she'll be able to talk?'' he then asked as he listened to the babe gurgled nonsensically at him, her 'talking' smothered slightly by his thumb in her mouth.
'' I don't know, maybe when she's nine months old... I never thought I'd have any kids so I can't say I ever paid any attention to this stuff. Wish I had though, might have come in handy when I suddenly get kidnapped by aliens and have a baby on an alien planet.'' Isabelle's tone was joking but her eyes held a seriousness to them that Royce picked up on immediately.
'' You're doing fine, Belle,'' he assured her, taking her chin to make her look at him,'' I couldn't ask for a better wife and partner and I'm sure Dawn appreciates everything you do and loves you too. You're her mother after all.''
Isabelle smiled softly at that and looked back down at their daughter who gleefully splashed her with water. '' I guess so...''
Royce shook his head and drew his wife in for a brief but searing kiss. '' There is no guessing, I know so.''
In the moments that followed, the two nearly fell into each other but Royce had to remind them both that Dawn needed constant supervision and now was not the time nor place. Isabelle reluctantly agreed and the three pressed on, hoping they'd arrive at a place far from the hounds and the Predators.
What they found was almost as good.
A hidden valley nestled in between shallow peaks brimming with vibrant plant life and dense forests to shield them from an ariel view. It was also teeming with all manner of beasts. Strange plant-eating reptiles that had antlers as big as caribou but slender bodies like antelope and scales and a tail like a lizard. There were also large beasts similar to water buffalo with massive horns that curved around their heads, so big they could have easily knocked an elephant over and were also a dark shade of indigo with thick hairy hides. The were other animals with mind-blowing characteristics and both Royce and Isabelle were relieved to find only one species of carnivore present. A type of saber-toothed tiger the size of a mountain lion with bushy tails and scaled feet. Nothing Royce couldn't handle, besides their nest was on the opposite side of the valley, far enough from Royce's family to were he wouldn't have to constantly worry about them.
Although Royce had had enough of caves, Isabelle managed to find and convince him to settle down in a cave behind a waterfall. The view was gorgeous and the water hid them from thermal trackers. It was dry enough to be livable in and had a hidden exit in the back that could be easily walled up but taken down in an emergency. After pointing all this out to her reluctant husband, Royce couldn't find any reason to say no and the couple instantly got to work on making the cave their own.
Royce made walls, beds and furniture like tables and chairs. He hunted the buffalo and reptilian antelope, for meat and skins, fashioning weapons from their horns and clothes and blankets from their hides. Isabelle tried to help him hunt but after Dawn's excited shrieking when she saw anything move, it was decided that Isabelle would have to be a stay-at-cave mom. Of course, she went out looking for edible plants and made things from the resources Royce harvested like Dawn's first straw doll. It was stuffed with straw and covered in thin scraps of leather to keep the sharp straw ends from poking Dawn. Their daughter fell in love with her first toy and any attempts at taking it away from her were aborted immediately when she started bawling her eyes out. The doll went everywhere with Dawn; she had it during bathtime, she smeared food all over it during mealtimes and slept with it tucked under her arm.
When their daughter reached eight months, she said her first words that weren't ''Mam'' or ''Da''.
One night during dinner while Isabelle was trying and failing to feed her mashed greens, Isabelle whacked the spoon away with an angry squawk. '' Fuck off!''
Royce had almost dropped his whole plate in surprise and Isabelle's mouth fell open. Isabelle was the first to recover and she immediately scolded Dawn who pouted in return. Royce just passed a tired hand over his face and met Isabelle's disappointed stare. Of course, she'd blame him for this.
'' I didn't think-'' Royce began but then snapped his mouth shut when his wife's ''look'' morphed into a full-fledged glare complete with hands on her hips.
'' Exactly! You didn't think! Dawn's not just a baby anymore, she's learning and she's learning how to say what her dad says even if dad isn't watching what he says. Here I was looking forward to her first few words... and she tells me to fuck off! Just peachy, Royce!'' the ex-sniper berated him, looking both pissed and somewhat amused and Royce wasn't sure if the latter was a positive thing or not.
Yet, before he could formulate an apology, Isabelle sat back down, furiously scooping up more greens and muttering angrily. '' Next time, remember that our daughter has big ears and is paying attention to every word her daddy and mommy says...''
Royce nodded quickly and finished his food, deciding to check on the perimeter.
The Next Day...
While last nights perimeter check went fine, tomorrow mornings did not.
And it all started with the hellhound that got the jump on Royce.
He had been tracking one of those scaled antelope trying to multi-task when the beast had hurled itself out of the bushes, latching onto his arm. A half-strangled shout was barely out of his mouth before the beast began to shake him, whipping him side to side and nearly ripping his arm off in the process. The horns covering its leathery hide scraped and tore through his hide clothing like it was mere paper. Through the haze of pain, his instincts finally kicked into gear and he began stabbing the thing in the throat with his dagger.
Yipping, the hound relinquished his arm and bounded away, howling in pain. Royce staggered, clutching his arm and breathing harshly, trying to formulate some form of rational thought through the pain. Ignore the pain, he tried to convince his body, find the hound. Kill the hound. Get rid of the body.
Dragging himself forward, he focused on following the blood trail and found the beast hiding in a hollow, whimpering and trying to shield itself from view. Royce glared at the alien beast and unslung his bow, notching an arrow and aimed for the beast's skull. His arrows were made from the carved bone of the purple buffalo, sharp enough to slice through anything and his bow had a high draw rate, enabling enough power to penetrate through bone. One shot, one kill, his mind told him but the other part of him urged him to rethink; what the hell was this hound doing?
It was cowering, Royce realized, lowering his bow a notch. It had run away after getting stabbed and he'd never seen a hound retreat before; they always carried through their attacks even if it cost them their limbs and lives. Yet, here this one was... shivering and whimpering in a corner, trying to shield its injured side from him, still snarling but only in the 'I'm-hurt-please-don't-hurt-me-more' sort of way.
Then he noticed the size. It only reached his mid thigh and its jaws were clearly under-developed, teeth less jagged and mouth narrower. Its horns were smaller and less thick and its hide was a bright blue, speckled with grey flecks, yet to dull in color. '' Its a pup,'' he suddenly said aloud, lowing his weapon completely.
It was indeed a pup. Royce had had a puppy when he was a child, given to him by his eager parents. It had been a lab-mix and had been scared of the slightest bang or boom. The sounds his dog had once made out of fear, where the same ones this alien monster dog was making at him right now. And the nostalgia that crept up on him was so nauseating he growled at himself in disgust.
Now what? He couldn't kill the thing but he couldn't leave it either, there was no telling what it would do. Not to mention, when a hellhound was around, a Predator wasn't far behind. Not good.
That's when a crazy idea hit him that his wife was sure to yell at him for. Still, it brought a slapped-silly look to his face and he set to work.
First, he set a trap. A netted trap with a weight, that when triggered would scoop its victim up into the air. It wasn't very strong, so he'd have to be quick about it. Next, he shot and gutted an antelope, placing some of its meat in the trap as bait. Then he waited, hidden by the dense brush.
It only took a couple of minutes and soon the air lit with frightened yowls and pained whimpers. Royce sprung from his cover and rushed over just as the trap crashed to the ground. Throwing himself at the hound pup, he tacked it to the ground, avoiding its horns and bound its feet and muzzle. Satisfied with his work and assured the beast couldn't free itself, he began to drag it back home.
Well, not home but close enough. He had some work to do with it first before he let anywhere near his family.
Three Months Later...
As it turns out, Royce never got the chance to properly introduce the pup to his family. Dawn was too impatient for that.
His daughter had started walking at nine months and in the following two months, she became an absolute terror. Isabelle had to follow her everywhere or tie a make-shift toddler harness on Dawn to keep track of her. If she didn't, Dawn would explore and by explore, Royce meant she'd get lost in the woods or go swimming in the deeper pools found near the waterfall and she knew how to swim, almost too well for a child her age.
Naturally, he knew he should have been more careful concerning his mischevious toddler and taking care of the hound- whom he offhandedly named Cujo after he went home the first night and had Isabelle tend to his ravaged arm. Actually, Isabelle had more or less named the dog when he reffused to tell her what happened to him.
'' What happened to your arm?'' his mate had asked him for the fifteenth time that night.
Royce just shrugged, wincing at the pain that flared and grunted,'' Accident, was careless.''
'' You look like you got savaged by that Steven King dog... which is what I'm going to assume happened.'' Royce shrugged again before catching the reference and frowning.
'' Cujo?'' he muttered, thinking that the fictional Saint Bernard wasn't too far off from the hound that sat tied up to a tree not to far away.
'' That's the one. You ever see that movie?'' Isabelle asked as she applied a soothing balm to his inflamed wound.
Royce thought a moment and shook his head. '' Buddy of mine saw it. Said he never wanted to see it again though.''
'' He'd piss his pants out here then,'' Isabelle joked lightly, apparently deciding to leave the matter of his wound alone. Royce nodded in an agreement, thinking that most of his buddies would've crapped their pants at the sight of the pup; and it was just a pup, not even fully grown.
Speaking of which, Royce had practically crapped his pants when he'd discovered a very delighted 11-month-old Dawn sitting on the pup.
The toddler should have been with her mother who was probably panicking back home at the moment and he? Royce had been hunting, simply stopping by Cujo to feed him some scraps. And there was his daughter, blithely climbing on top of a very pacified Cujo and shrieking enthusiastically as she grappled with the blunt horns, boosting herself up onto his back.
Royce nearly panicked at the sight but then had to force himself to stop and breathe. The only reason Cujo wasn't attacking or brutalizing his daughter was probably because she smelled like him; also he'd been using Isabelle and Dawn's clothing to familiarize the pup with their scents. However, if Royce suddenly shouted or charged at them, clearly in distress, it would signal to Cujo that the little girl clambering around on his back was a threat. And Royce didn't even want to think of what would happen then.
So he approached calmly, dropping his weapons and slowly approaching the pup, who smelled him and barked irritably at him. Royce made a sound of disapproval and Cujo whined in response, averting his eyes and laying his head down.
'' Dawn,'' he called softly to his daughter who twisted around and gave him a gleeful grin in response.
'' Daddy!'' the toddler shrieked as she slid off the hound and bolted towards him, arms outstretched, ready to be picked up. Immediately, Royce scooped the squealing child into his arms and buried his face into her bony shoulder. Never do this to me again, he wanted to scold her but knew it would do no good. He didn't want her to be scared of Cujo but at the same time, he wanted her to understand the hound was dangerous and could hurt her at any time.
But how to explain that to a toddler?
'' Dawn,'' he began carefully, unsure on how to word this properly,'' This is Cujo.'' He gestured towards the pup who lifted his head in response.
'' Cue-go,'' Dawn mimed, trying her best to copy him. Close enough, he chuckled.
'' Cujo is a no-no,'' he continued,'' Cujo is daddy's dog and daddy doesn't want you near Cujo without him.''
'' No-no,'' Dawn repeated, looking as serious as a toddler could get,'' Cue-go no-no.''
'' Only when daddy's not here,'' Royce tried to explain,'' Or mommy. Cujo-okay when mommy or daddy are here, okay?''
'' Oh-kay,'' she repeated and laid her head on his shoulder like she was suddenly tired.
And we are going home now, he thought as he kicked some meat in Cujo's direction, retrieved his gear and left. Trekking back to the cave with Dawn in his arms was easy but he wondered how she had gotten over there in the first place. She wasn't even one years old and had somehow managed to hike over to Cujo- and find Cujo. Unless she had done this all before-
Royce shook his head. Impossible. Dawn may be energetic and extraordinarily perceptive for a toddler but there was no way she'd followed him without him knowing it. Absolutely no fucking way... but he couldn't think of any other way and he sure as hell wasn't voicing this suggestion to Isabelle. It would be a big enough shit-storm when he returned and told his wife anyway.
And it was a huge shit-storm.
'' You've been keeping a what- in the forest?!'' Isabelle screamed at him when he got back and explained what happened after she snatched Dawn from him, hugging the sleepy toddler close.
'' A hellhound pup and look, I know it doesn't sound like a good idea but I've been-''
'' What is wrong with you?! Our daughter followed you to it! She could have been killed, you stupid moron of a man! And here you're trying to make excuses-'' Royce sighed, rubbing his face with his hands and trying to come up with a plan to both apologize but make Isabelle realize he hadn't intentionally put Dawn in danger; there was no way he could have predicted what his daughter had done.
'' Isabelle!'' he snapped, effectively cutting his wife off in mid-tirade,'' I know its a shit-thing to do. I didn't know she'd follow me and I'm not making excuses! I nearly had a heart attack when I found her with the pup but what else I found was Dawn, not only with the hound, but on it. As in using him as a fucking jungle-gym and he did nothing, nothing to her! I've been using your clothing to familiarize him with your scents because eventually, I want him in the cave guarding you. If I can fucking train one of those bastards, then I'm going to fucking train them to protect you when I'm not here. I have to hunt, gather and patrol the perimeter and I can't always be here for you, should there be an emergency. This pup could not only protect you with its life but give you an extra couple of seconds, so you and Dawn can hide if a Predator finds us! Besides, this is basically just a big slobbery dog we are talking about. He can smell threats before us, signal danger and guard, just like Dobermans or German Shepherds. Those breeds of dogs could savage you too but they have training, which I'm doing. And judging by today, I've been successful if our daughter can fucking climb all over him without'em making a sound or moving a muscle.''
Isabelle was silent; sitting on a chair, chin resting on Dawn's shoulder. Royce began wondering if he'd just shot himself in the foot when his wife spoke up. '' I want to see this pup tomorrow.'' Her tone brooked no argument and Royce nodded; relieved. He could show her Cujo meant no harm and that his idea would work.
And it did.
Several weeks later, Cujo was let off the leash so-to-speak and lived in the cave with them. It was a big step for Isabelle to make but Royce was proud of her and vehemently promised that nothing would happen. Dawn would grow up with a loyal and protective companion and Royce could rest easy that his family was protected without him.
Cujo for his part, tried his very best to behave and was nothing like his rabid counterparts. He was eager to please, had a stub of a tail that he would wag occasionally and was as patient with a curious toddler as a giant alien hound could be. He looked like something straight out of a nightmare but Dawn didn't find his scary appearance frightening in the slightest. If anything she was enraptured by him and found Cujo the most interesting thing in the world. His daughter would climb all over him, ride him around like a pony and poke and prod every inch of the pup. Isabelle eventually came to trust the hound when she found Dawn sleeping at his side, his head tucked into her shoulder and curled around the toddler to give her warmth.
Satisfied with the way things had turned out, Royce found the confidence to venture further from the valley. He was able to leave for extended periods of time and when he returned, he found his family safe and sound; Dawn happy as can be and Isabelle, safe and content. Cujo was doing his job and Royce supposed, even better than a human could.
Which was probably why what happened, happened.
Dawn was a two-year-old and Cujo, a fully grown hellhound with a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and sculpted horns. He had already proven himself in several ways, protecting his family against the saber-tooth cats and following the adventurous toddler around dutifully whenever her mother lost track of her.
So when Royce left for a run to former Noland's hideout for some rare resources like guns and such, Isabelle was left with Dawn and Cujo.
'' Dawn, come on! It's getting dark and we need to head home to start dinner,'' Isabelle hollered after her wandering daughter, gathering up her herbs and greens. As it turns out, the valley was ripe with edible plants- provided the majority were cooked and softened.
Dawn, who was busy throwing rocks at a lizard looking specimen, merely shouted back,'' I wanna stay! I like night-time!''
Isabelle glared over her shoulder and Dawn shuffled guiltily at her mother's ''look''. '' It's not up for debate, Dawn. Get over here,'' Isabelle retorted with a snort. Already back-talking at age two, she thought in annoyance and began hiking back.
Dawn pouted and tried to copy her mother's glare and Cujo, who always remained with Dawn, nudged the reluctant toddler forward, ever mindful of his horns. The two-year-old just pouted some more but followed her mother anyway. She'd try to convince her mother to let her play some more while she made dinner.
However, when they got within a first couple yards of the waterfall, Cujo halted and sniffed the air, fangs bared and instinctively blocking Dawn. The toddler simply stared at the hound before trying to walk around him; in response, the hound moved with her, barring her way.
Frustrated, Dawn put her hands on her hips, attempting to mimic her mother and chastised,'' Bad doggie, move it!''
Cujo refused and began steadily maneuvering himself and Dawn away from the cave. Dawn, being only two years old and already irritated, got impatient with Cujo and tried to run around him, laughing as she did so, thinking that maybe the hellhound was only playing.
Cujo, who wasn't playing, grabbed her by the collar of her dress and growled, dragging her away as fast as he could. Still, Dawn thought the hound was only playing and shrieked happily, attempting to wrestle away from his jaws.
Suddenly she could hear a strange clicking sound and a weird and unpleasant smell wafted over to her. It smelled bad and for some reason, made her sick to her stomach. The clicking noise wasn't helping much; it sounded foreign and scary. Daddy had once told her something about clicking noises but she couldn't remember.
Luckily, Cujo remembered for her and growled low in his throat, getting her attention and making the clicking stop.
'' What is it, Cujo?'' the toddler asked quietly, starting to get afraid and wanting very much to find her mother. Mommy would make the smell and sounds go away but for now, Cujo was the next best thing.
Cujo growled again, lifting his black lips in response and dragging her further away, slow and cautious. Dawn didn't know what to do. Home and mommy were in the opposite direction that Cujo seemed to want to go and mommy hated it when she stayed outside at night. Dawn was scared and starting to get cold and hungry; two things mommy made go away.
She wanted her mommy.
'' Mommy!'' the frightened two-year-old screeched in the direction of home and Cujo growled loudly in response, as if admonishing her for being loud. Dawn didn't care; she wanted her mommy, now.
'' Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!'' she cried out, starting to panic because her mother wasn't responding and to Dawn's understanding, the word ''mommy'' always made her mother appear... so why wasn't she appearing now?
Cujo was still dragging her backwards and Dawn decided that the hellhound wasn't being good and promptly tore her dress from his jaws, bolting forward, the hound hot on her heels.
She didn't get far because she felt the hellhound's teeth catch her dress again and this time, he wasn't letting go. However, it didn't matter because Dawn had frozen on the spot. The toddler had caught sight of something horrific and smelled something even worse. Cujo had hauled her away from a torn and very red-stained slip of her mother's dress. Also the smell... she didn't recognize it and she instinctively gagged. It smelled like burnt meat... only worse, so much worse.
Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes and she was about to start calling for her mother again when Cujo yanked her backwards. She stumbled and tripped over her own feet, trying to keep up with the back peddling alien hound and couldn't formulate enough rational thought to try and escape or struggle.
So she reluctantly got on Cujo's back and let the hellhound do the thinking for her. Deciding that his charge was secured on his back, he raced away from their home with one thought on his mind; protect the pup.
Dawn didn't know what was going on but whatever it was, she didn't know how to handle it and had no idea where or what happened to her mother. So she did what any two-year-old would do and began crying.
Her whimpers formed,'' Mommy'' and ''Daddy'' but somehow she knew neither of her parents would appear right now. Daddy had gone on one his ''trips'' and mommy, well Dawn wasn't sure where mommy went. So she simply held fast to Cujo who was galloping through the forest a top speed, tearing through bushes that tore at her skin and leaping over rocks. But Dawn stubbornly held on... she was strong enough.
Eventually, she lost track of time and at some point fell off of Cujo and hit the ground, dead-asleep before impact. Cujo immediately made a 'U' and came back to sniff his unconscious pup, making sure she wasn't injured and merely asleep. Assured she was fine, he curled around her but didn't join her in her slumber, he had to make sure nothing threatened them.
Dawn slept for five hours before Cujo roused her by licking her face and rolling her over, whining urgently in her ear. '' Go-way, Cujo... sleepy,'' was the toddler's muddled response. Cujo didn't understand the command and didn't care, it was time to go.
Grabbing the girl's dress, he began dragging her which successfully roused the child and she blearily clambered onto his back again. He took off the minute she settled.
Unfortunately, Dawn fell asleep again and Cujo was forced to find a temporary shelter when it started to rain. He picked a well-dug out hole in the ground that he was positive hadn't had any residents in a while and laid next to the exhausted toddler, head laying beside her own.
He would protect his pup with his life. No threat would get passed him.
