Chapter 2 And its coming closer

Looking up at a detailed screen, encumbered with ship co-ordinates and planets, the hunter searched the sea of information for what he needed. The faintly moving beacons, of other hunting vessels and clan ships, causing his plotting finger to swerve violently away from them as if he were playing a human arcade game.

It was still to soon to rejoin the active social life of a Yautja male, there was simply too much to explain to dangerous minds, the thought of the glassy predatory look of his peers almost caused him to despise the members of his species. However, collisions were always inevitable, especially as his solo-hunting vessel was running low on supplies, but they could be easily managed for a time so long as his visits were short and discreet.

Searching diligently for a specific target, and allowing his thoughts to wander through gory images he feared the future would hold, spun the warrior tightly in an exposed lapse of concentration. The hunter's sensitive hearing did not even register the clumsy pattering of sneaking toes on the cold flat tiled floor. It wasn't until the creature, which stalked the eight-foot god, made a squealing sound of delight that the great hunter realized he had become prey.

Tightening his muscle, to stifle the instinct to make a fool of himself and jump, he turned swiftly on the balls of his feet crouching leisurely as he glowered down at the fluffy topped human child chuckling loudly into cupped hands.

"I scared you!" The child chirruped in a language not of its original species.

"What do you want, child?" The bulging mass of humiliated muscle jittered in response, tilting his head from side to side, admiring his wards latest attempt at stalking.

"Food!" The little human, barely reaching the larger humanoids standing knees, squinted its eyes and flailed its arms wildly.

"You will wait." The predator responded dismissively, as he stood, turning back to his plotting.

The trivializing response of the large male was not received by the tiny ears in a pleasant manner the child, seemingly unaware it was toying with one of the most dangerous species in the galaxy, stamped its foot and squealed loudly looking for attention. Attention the hunter was unwilling to give at any length, happily ignoring the child's tantrum with ease; he drummed his fingers leisurely over a control pad and watched his screen with ignited fascination.

He'd almost managed to completely drown out the young's high-pitched noises and ignore its presence when it began to wind around his legs, like a feral cat, giggling manically and causing him to become dangerously unbalanced. Growling the proud warrior reached down, attempting to scoop up the illusive youngster, making a number of snatches before finally clasping a huge hand encompassing the entirety of the dainty child's waist, before idly tossing it upwards to eye level.

"I'm hungry!" It sobbed, rubbing at its bulbous blue eyes, before throwing its arms as far as it could around the hunter's visage.

"Awww." The predator cooed softly dimly aware, somewhere in the back of his mind, he was secretly being tamed.

Allowing the child to continue cuddling him a while longer, he purred in relaxed ease, before plying the constantly sticky hands from his face and lowering the miniature human to the ground.

"Continue to the pantry I will follow." The predator paused his child a moment, in order to run vast fingers through its hair, and growl quietly. "We must cut this once again."

That statement was all the child needed to hear in order to make it run screaming, clutching at its dishevelled red hair, from its parent into another room. The warrior, somewhat bemused, shook his head causing a jingle as the decoration on his braids collided.

Lifting his gigantic form effortlessly the Yautja male chattered his pearly mandibles in some form of annoyance before recognizing a series of symbols beside a flashing beacon on his display. Straightening his back and stretching with a lengthy yawn he began working his clawed fingers quickly over the panel punching in a message, addressed to the blinking dot, and co-ordinates for his ship to follow.

As soon as the reply message was received the hunter nodded his approval, before leaving his station, and followed after his screaming young. The door in front of him lifted upwards, allowing him entry, and he walked inside at first quickly before realizing something was amiss.

There was no sound, besides the reassuring hum of the ship, and no sign of the child. Growling quietly, the hunter crouched low twisting his head from side to side slowly taking in the entire room. Still the small human was not in sight, but he could feel the instinctive pressure of eyes watching him telling his sub-conscious to be wary of another hunter.

Where are you? The warrior's thoughts drifted, as the adrenaline began to pump into his veins, exciting his senses.

Moving forward slow and steady, the Yautja made almost no sound, bringing his breathing into a light rhythm he listened intently for signs of life. Nothingness reached his ears as he continued into the centre of the room, now surrounded by large containers on all sides.

Very good child, he mentally grinned his admiration.

There was a creaking to his right, grabbing his attention in an instant, but he realized quickly it was merely from the table that occupied a section of the room and not his young. Clicking in annoyance, the hunter moved forward taking in the scent on the air with little effect as both there odours were perfuse everywhere in the room.

Darting around a container he pulled a storage case open, in some form of hope, only to find it empty of child but full of chilled meats. It was at this point the great warrior was beginning to lose faith his ward was even in the same room and that the eyes he felt trained on him were mere imagination.

Standing slowly he gestured his head to encapsulate the span of the room once more before giving a look of dejection and stomping towards the door. As he reached the centre of the room, once again, about to turn around a preparation counter the hunter was taken unawares. Dropping from the ceiling mutely the child landed with a thud, directly on top of the hunter's head, and did its high-pitched version of a roar.

Momentarily the predator took leave of his senses and thrashed wildly to rid the nuisance attached to his head before realization steadied his nerves.

"CHILD!" The menacing bulge of rippling muscle snarled at the air. "I could have killed you!"

"I got you!" Apparently not listening to its parent, the child squealed with delight before sliding down the Yautja's back to the floor, receiving a long penetrating stare. "I got you! I got you! I got you!"

The warrior snorted a mixture of amusement, pride and embarrassment, stalking off towards the crate of meats he had opened earlier.

"Sit." The soft clicking, riddled with authority, caused the youngster to cease its victory dancing and watch the predator bring forth a carcass onto the counter and begin to prepare it. "We eat then rest."

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It was asked for and I gave it. I have plenty of plot ideas for it further and it doesn't involve it being really plain sickly cutesy like this one.