I know I know bad me! I'm so sorry for the long wait but I made it extra long for you and we even learn the name of our Predator!
Also I would like to thank all of those that constantly messaged me to get me off my lazy butt and type faster. You all are wonderful and I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far. I hope it continues to meet your expectations.
So I've prattled on enough so on to the story and please review if you can. ^.^
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Green eyes flashed in the excitement at the work at hand. The female hybrid flowed instead of walked. Be it over log, stone, or simply flat ground her gait never faltered. She was in her element and she was thriving with the thrill of the hunt, yet she knew better than to let it all go to her head. She had to not only protect herself but also the team of keepers that were fanned out behind her. A whistle brought her into check making her glance back at the commanding, major. She watched as Dutch made a circling motion with his finger before sprinting back around the team to check the rear for any problems. Luna passed Hawkins and Poncho quietly but before she could take another step forward her head jerked up at the mysterious clicking noise.
"Hunter…"
Freezing in place she looked around cautiously for any sign of the unknown male. Scenting the air she realized that he was practically on top of them in the jungle's canopy. Breaking from the unit Luna took to the trees in hope of spotting the allusive male. Once she was in the thick leaf cover she stretched herself out on a limb waiting for him to make a move. The hybrid bared her teeth in frustration when the minutes ticked past without any sightings. There was no way that the hunter could have gotten past her without her spotting him first. Luna stiffened when the smell of male musk and warm earth wafted strongly into her nose. Being careful not to move her head she used her human given peripheral vision to look at the limb next to her. She blinked in wonder at what she saw. The atmosphere seemed to shimmer like heated air over concrete, yet it was in the shape of a body… a very large body. Luna swallowed thickly everything animal in her screamed for her to run to preserve the life she had, but the logical part knew that running meant certain death. One did not run from a hunter greater than yourself unless you had a death wish.
'What a strange female ooman,' thought the one she was observing. The yautja tilted his head slightly in curiosity because something just didn't click together right. She wasn't like normal oomans that he was use to hunting. Everything she did was different, from the way she moved to the way she behaved. At first he had assumed that something was wrong with her, but a simple scan from his mask said otherwise. The ooman female was in perfect condition except for being slightly starved and dehydrated. This also confused him because most male oomans took amazing care of their females but the group she traveled with were ignoring her basic needs to live. The yautja snorted slightly, he didn't care how the males treated the little female. Yet, she had shown great respect for him when she had defended his trophies against the other oomans. He wouldn't kill her… yet. He would bide his time and strike when the time was right and so in a show of his strength and understanding as a fellow hunter he struck the tree trunk over her head with his claws before taking his leave of the strange female.
Luna stayed completely motionless even when the hunter had slashed the trunk over her head. She watched with fascination for the grace of another hunter while he departed, but even while she gazed after his shimmering form she still remained perfectly still so not to offend the alpha male. Once she was certain he was long gone the hybrid turned to glance up at the deep markings he had left in the wood. In a state of awe she touched her finger tips to the deep gashes he had left behind. Truly he was powerful if a single swipe of his hand could deal this kind of damage. Stepping away slightly from the tree trunk then with a quick flick of her hand she slashed across his mark.
'Good hunting to you.'
Without another thought she leapt from the tree and landed on her feet on the forest floor below. She easily made up for lost time as her long, ground eating lope brought her to the back of the team right behind her most hated keeper.
Dillon remained oblivious of her presence behind him while he continued along a ridge, but from his lack of training over the years he wasn't as agile as the rest of the team. To his horror he misjudged his footing causing him to slip on a loose log that tumbled noisily down the slope. Holding his breath he waited for the worse to happen, but when nothing except silence and a few bird calls followed he released a sigh of relief as he moved to continue his trek.
"You're ghostin' us motherfucker," snarled Mac stepping up into Dillon's face threateningly, "I don't care who you are back in the world. You give our position one more time, I'll bleed you real quiet and leave you here. Got that?"
Dillon leaned forward as if to give the leaving soldier a piece of his mind but he contained his fury when he heard an amused snort from behind him. Turning he saw Luna reclining on the root of a tree smirking at his expense.
"I would advise you to shut your trap, Project 246," he spat angrily while reaching towards the pocket that held the controller.
Seeing his point she lazily walked around him, but not for a second did she let her look of amusement leave her face. When she traveled up the line to where Mac walked behind Blain she bumped him good naturedly for telling Dillon off. He smirked at her in understanding while she went on take point with Billy.
Billy nodded to the small female when she settled next to him in the brush. Raising her head slightly higher she slowly turned her head from side to side before growling lowly with her head cocked to the side as if listening. He did the same and soon heard what she did. Not too far were the sounds of a truck motor and of people talking. He slowly stood up to glance at Dutch, who nodded and signaled the others to take a half circling perimeter. He then handed his rifle to Poncho in exchange for a pair of army binoculars. With the greatest of care he slunk down the slope on his belly making sure to muffle the swishing sounds of the leaves on the forest floor while he crawled. Dutch paused briefly behind a fallen log before lifting himself only enough to look over it with the binoculars. Below them laid a guerilla camp with what appeared to be hundreds of people going about taking care of the camp.
"Aah!"
Dutch's concentration was broken with the cry. He quickly turned his gaze toward an open hut. To the wall closet to him he saw what appeared to be a guerilla interrogation of one of the hostages from the plane crash and it didn't appear to be going well. He frowned darkly when the hostage was kicked for insulting the guerilla who then promptly shot the man. Dutch ducked behind the log once more, his face set into a determined scowl. He then signaled the rest of the team to join him. Once they had all belly crawled to his position he quickly filled them in on the situation.
"He killed one of the hostages. We move," he ordered while handing over the binoculars for his rifle, "Mac, Blain... the nest. Billy, Poncho… the guard. Dillon, Hawkins… back up. As soon as they are set, I hit the fuel pump. Luna, you're with me I need your stealth encase silent killing is needed." He tapped the sais strapped to her chest making her growl in excitement. "Time to kill."
The team quickly separated to their given duties. Billy and Poncho moved silently up the bank to the heavy brush that hid the guard as Mac and Blain slithered down the hill right behind the lookout nest. Luna hissed quietly to herself as she dragged her shoulders up to lean against the log so she could observe the progress of the rest of the team. If things went bad she could quickly and efficiently come to their aid and be away the next minute back to her own task.
"Easy, girl, we'll have our turn soon enough," whispered Dutch calmly as he too watched the progress of the others.
Blain and Mac easily made it within a hundred yards of the nest before pausing waiting for Billy and Poncho who promptly took out the guard overlooking the nest. Blain nodded over at Mac as he moved to continue on towards the nest.
Drawing in a sharp intake of air Blain stared down at the trip wire leading to a flash bomb that his hand had almost triggered. Swallowing thickly he glanced at Mac in his peripheral vision who quickly slide towards the bomb and carefully inserted a stout branch to make sure the pressure remained on the bombs sensor. Mac nodded to Blain who nodded in return before cutting the wire in their path. Both men along with the rest of the team behind them sighed quietly in relief when the bomb remained undisturbed and silent.
Luna drew back her lips in a grim smile at the thrill of the entire plan to the point of insanity. She began to fidget while she watched Blain and Mac go to opposite sides of the nest so that both had a guard each to dispose of. Mac drew his knife slowly while whistling like a song bird to attract his target whom unwittingly leaned over to see the source of the noise, but instead found the military knife shoved into his heart. Blain also grabbed the other guerilla and did away with him in the same way.
Everyone stilled as they turned to look at Dutch for further orders on how to proceed. Luna trembled subtly while she too stared up at the commanding officer expectantly. He nodded to Dillon and Poncho up top before looking down at the form of the woman at his feet who gazed back at him with exotic, emerald eyes hoping that he would release her soon. He nodded to her once, "Stick to cover. When I give the signal don't hold back for any reason."
The hybrid inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement before diving silently into the thick coverage toward the edge of the camp. Dutch tried to watch her progress, yet he quickly lost sight of her because of her ability to maneuver amongst the undergrowth without disturbing it. Waiting another minute he too moved carefully towards the camp using every ounce of coverage to his advantage. Nearing the edge he felt a sharp nip on his ankle that almost blew his silent operation, but a quick glance down revealed a pair of flashing, indignant eyes hidden amongst the ferns. He quickly realized that he had nearly stepped on her and promptly changed his direction until he could crouch close enough to the encampment without being seen.
The Major scanned the camp with a critical eye looking for any defense holes and opportunities for his team to do the best of damage. Turning his head slowly he noticed a beat up, old truck with its frame propped up so that one of the back wheel axle could be used in what appeared to be a water purifier. Turning he looked at Dillon and raised a hand at him, which he repeated to the rest of the team to tell them to stay in their positions.
Glancing around quickly he took into account the few men that were grouped outside but none of them appeared to be paying attention to their surroundings. Dutch, with great care, eased his way to the back of the truck that was closest to the jungle and slipped along its side. Taking one last look at the oblivious group he swiftly slung a small satchel off his shoulder and placed it in the bed of the truck. Flipping the top of the bag off the he revealed the switches of a bomb which he soon switched on to detonate. With very little time left after turning it on the Major ran to the back of the truck, cut the belt attaching the engine of the purifier to the truck, and with his amazing strength lifted the truck off its blocks and let it go.
The entire team watched in amazement and interest once the Major let go of the truck, but all of them grinned when they saw the panic that it caused in the guerillas who tried to stop it for going further. However, it was far too late when one guerilla finally was able to jump into the cab of the truck because the truck soon plowed into the front of one of the buildings followed by the blast of the bomb easily killing all the guerillas in the vicinity.
Luna panted slightly in excitement with her lips pulled back while she looked up at Dutch clearly fidgeting to go. Watching him throw a grenade at another building she nearly burst out of her skin when he nodded at her and the rest of the team opened fire on the camp. He watched transfixed as she practically shot out of the brush towards a guerrilla. Clearly locked on him she rushed him so fast that the man didn't have a chance to scream when she leapt snarling into the air grabbed him securely with her claws before swiftly ripping open his jugular.
Luna sprang clear of her first kill as a semi-automatic rifle rained bullets around her. Hissing at their audacity she sprang up on a pile of crates and took to the roof. Keeping her belly firmly pressed against the thatched roof she peered cautiously over the camp. Her attention was instantly drawn to a helicopter about to take off with what appeared to be leaders of the guerrilla organization. Licking her lips she gathering her limbs under her and sprang across the roof. At the last second just when she launched herself toward the aircraft she drew her sais from their holsters and flipped them blades up into her hands. Hitting the dirt on two legs she instantly sprinted forward and sprang into the cockpit amongst the screaming and gun shots. Roaring viciously in the faces of her victims she stabbed and sliced in turns before stabbing the pilot in the shoulder to give her the chance to dispatch him with her fangs. Turning she caught sight of one of the head guerrillas drawing a gun to which she swiftly swiped a booted foot at his hand easily snapping the bones in his wrist.
"Luna, get out of the chopper!"
The hybrid jerked her head up and grimaced at the end of her fun. Turning she went to step out of the helicopter but not before smiling seductively at the remaining men she hadn't got to. They trembled as she twirled her blades to where the blades were braced against her forearms then touched two of her fingers to her lips and blew them a taunting kiss before sauntering away from them. Once she was a good distance from the aircraft an explosion engulfed it causing her to turn and grin at the flames that danced their destructive ballet.
"Luna!"
Said woman glanced to her right to see Major Dutch fire a few rounds into a guerrilla, "Sir!"
He motioned for her to follow with his rifle to which she quickly responded to by trotting up behind him. They proceeded down a narrow aisle between two of the buildings where they quietly approached the end until Dutch pressed his back against the wall holding his hand up to keep her still. Luna, however, growled softly at his slow behavior and hindering actions when it came to letting her do her job. She was trained for stealth, close combat, and for flushing out prey. The hybrid already knew that two men were approaching the corner where Dutch stood. Shaking her head she made sure that her blades were braced firmly against her arms before leaping against the wall that Dutch was pressed against then kicked off to the wall opposite him. Finally, using the momentum of her jumps she sprang off the corner and onto the two men with her blades flipped out.
Dutch jerked when she flew past him and disappeared around the corner to a chorus of horrible screams then an abrupt silence. Stepping from the structure he looked to find Luna crouched innocently on a pile of sand bags as if she hadn't just killed two men. Looking down at her victims he nodded in approval at the efficient skills she had used. Neither of the men had suffered any unnecessary pain.
"Maybe there is more human in you than they think," his comment was met with a passive look while she wiped any stray blood from her knives on the canvas of the bags. Dutch grinned but in a fluent instinctive move he drew his machete and flung the blade over her head.
Luna blinked not phased at all from the abrupt movement instead she turned to look at the guerrilla pined to a wooden pole by Dutch's machete in his gut.
"And you can stick around," Dutch chuckled and continued to walk while Luna watched him go then smacked her palm against her forehead at the crummy joke before moving to follow her bad humored keeper.
'Maybe he thinks he is funny?' she thought to herself in worry at the possible occurrence of other bad puns but let it slide and focused back of their task.
Moving swiftly the pair found themselves in one of the more well-built structures. At first it looked like a storage room for paper products, but Luna lowered herself to the paper strewn floor sniffing at different piles curiously.
'Looks like a keeper's office,' she thought not really knowing what was written on the papers. Maybe it was important information. Sweeping some of the papers off the floor into the air she watched in a pleased fashion while they drifted back to the floor like leaves from a tree. A creak of wood behind her, however, snatched her attention away to the source of the sound. Swinging her head around Luna instantly drew back her lips in a silent snarl as a figure approached Dutch from behind. Lowering herself close to the floor she quietly kneaded the wooden floor while her body rocked slightly from side to side. The other person's arm came up with a gun Luna sprang then broadsided them. With her prey on the ground Luna drew out her sai and smacked the hilt against their head to knock them out.
Dutch turned and watched this, yet the curious look in the hybrid's eyes made him wonder why she didn't kill his attacker like she slaughtered the others. He watched as she leant forward and sniffed around the face of the guerrilla before using a hand to cuff the hat off their head. The major blinked in surprise when a woman was revealed as his attacker, yet that shock didn't last long, "Mac, any sign of the other hostages?"
The soldier quickly called back to the Major before appearing in the doorway of the building, "Found the other guy, he's dead too and the gear from the chopper. If they're Central American, I'm a fuckin' Chinaman. By the looks of 'em, I'd say our cabinet minister and his aide are CIA."
Luna scowled when a sharp noise of wood being tossed aside had her spinning around to glare at the keeper Dillon who appeared to be searching the crates for something. She clicked her teeth in distemper before tossing her head to look over her shoulder at Dutch with a 'You're head honcho here keep your men in check' look. Major frowned too at Dillon's suspicious actions but looked at Mac again as the soldier continued his report, "Another thing, Major, we were lucky...couple of those guys we waxed are Russians, military advisors by the look of it. Something big was about to happen here."
If Dutch had been suspicious before he was now flushed with anger, but he quickly reigned it in for his teammates sake, "Good work, Mac. Clear the area, no traces. Get the men ready to move."
Mac nodded and replaced his hat smartly before leaving, "All right."
Project 246 observed this in a nonchalant manner as she claimed a perch on top of one of the tables with one leg draped over the other looking to the entire world a proper lady. That is if you didn't look at the wild flare in her eyes and the black rosettes that decorated her skin and hair. She didn't know what was really going on but from the deadly glare that the alpha keeper was giving her dark skinned keeper meant something happened that wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. She watched Dillon stride in quickly, who began to shuffle through the papers as though they told him all that he needed to know to feel pleased with the whole ordeal.
"God damn jackpot!" crowed Dillon shuffling through the papers on the floor under the watchful eyes of the two other presences in the room, "This is more than we ever thought we'd get. We got the bastards!"
Luna bristled at the hostile energy that was radiating off of Dutch as he slowly walked over to Dillon with a paper in his hand.
"I think this is the one you want," he said coolly letting the agent grab hold of the paper before Dutch violently latched onto the front of Dillon's shirt, slamming him against the tin wood enforced wall, "You set us up! It was all bullshit. All of it from the start... the Cabinet Minister the whole business. You got us in here to do your dirty work!"
To any other man who was being restrained by the fury of the Major would have simpered and apologized for their actions, yet Dillon did the exact opposite by getting further into his face, "We just stopped a major invasion, in three days they would have been across the border with this stuff!"
This didn't even divert the Major's anger it only feed the raging flames in his blue eyes, "Why us?"
Dillon stood his ground stubbornly, "Because no one else would have been able to pull it off. You're pissed about the cover story, but I know I couldn't have gotten you in here without it."
Dutch forced Dillon even further against the wall with a growl that made even Luna stiffen in her corner where she had taken shelter from the wrath of the two keepers, "So what story did you feed to Hooper?"
The CIA agent refused to give up as he maintained eye contact with the major as his words grew more passionate, "We've been lookin' for this place for months. My men were in that chopper when it got hit! Hooper's orders were to go in and get my men but he disappeared."
The Major growled at the use of the word 'disappeared' as an image of the skinned corpses flashed in his mind, "He didn't disappear he was skinned alive!"
"And my orders was to get someone who could crack these bastards!" yelled Dillon defensively not liking the thought of having the blood of the skinned soldiers on his hands.
"So you cooked up a story and dropped the six of us in a meat grinder," Dutch released the other with a look of disgust while looking him up and down as though he didn't know him, "What happened to you, Dillon, you used to be someone I could trust."
Dillon went very still because he knew his reply was a cold truth even for him to the point that he felt angry tears build in his eyes, "I woke up. Why don't you? You're an asset… and expendable asset and I used you to get the job done. Got it?"
Dutch amazingly maintained a cold front while slamming the documents into his chest, "My men aren't expendable and I don't do this kind of work."
"Major, Major!" yelled Hawkin's voice from the palapa drawing his attention away from his anger with Dillon. Stepping away he moved to exit the structure but stopped briefly when the woman on the floor began to regain consciousness.
"Project 246, take care of…," started Dillon yet he was quickly cut off by a sharp word from Dutch.
"The girl isn't taking care of any of your shit," the Major glanced over at the female in question who looked up at him in awe, "Come on, Luna, let's see what's wrong now."
Luna blinked slowly as conflict raged in her mind. Did she obey the keeper that held the remote or the keeper that was head of the team? With careful deliberate movements she stood onto only two feet and sheathed her blades before walking in between the two men. Glancing from one to the other she cautiously approached Dutch thinking that any minute that the other keeper would activate her collar in retaliation for her disobedience, yet nothing happened even when she was standing right next to Dutch. Letting out a quiet breathe that she didn't know she had been holding she looked up at the Major who gave her a small smile while patting her shoulder while walking out the doorway and the small female didn't waste any time in following close at his heels.
Dutch and Luna entered into a small clearing in the camp where Hawkins had his transmission equipment out, "What's going on?" Luna could see the other man sweating in worry and knew that it wasn't good news.
"Major, we stepped into some real shit here. I got a hook-up with aerial surveillance. It says we have guerrillas all over the place. It can't be more than one or two miles away. This place is going down."
Dutch frowned in concentration at this worrying news, "How much time do we have?"
Hawkins shook his head while he began to pack up, "Half an hour…maybe less."
Major instantly jumped into action as he pointed to Blain, "Tell Mac we move in five."
The hybrid female instantly lowered to all fours getting ready to receive orders, but went still when Dillon appeared dragging the other female along, "She goes with us. She's too valuable. The girl has got to know their whole guerrilla network."
The Major shook his head at the incompetence of such a thought while he lit one of his cigars, "She'll give away our position, every chance she gets. No deal."
Dillon, however, was not going to take no for an answer as he tightened his hold on the woman's arm, "You're still under orders, Major. You want to make that call or should I?"
Luna twitched slightly at that punch below the belt. Even she knew when you didn't use the authority card unless it was a desperate time and this was most certainly not the time. She growled in disapproval at the remote keeper who frowned at her in return while threateningly touching the breast pocket that held the remote. That made her go quiet, but it most certainly didn't rid her of her look of disgust.
Dutch took a deep draw on his cigar agreeing with the actions of the girl. He blew a lazy smoke ring, "She's your baggage, you fall behind you are on your own and don't think of putting this on the girl I need her for scouting."
The other man kept his silence as he watched the others walk away along with the hybrid who trailed after them in high spirits at the thought of moving back into the jungle. Luna murred pleasantly to herself while she scaled the different debris that lay about with practiced ease. She was proud of the victory today and wanted to continue onward to complete the mission even though the others didn't share her carefree mood.
"This place is too hot for a pick up. They won't touch us until we are over the border," Dutch threw his outer shirt to the side in frustration, "Billy, find me a way out of this hole aerial says we are cut off."
The tracker looked at the map the major had pinned to the burnt nose of the helicopter while Luna darted in and out of the aircraft's skeleton until she settled to batting at the copter's propellers watching them turn gleefully.
Billy chuckled at her antics but went serious again, "The only way out of here is that valley that leads to the East, but I wouldn't waste that on a broke, dicked dog."
"Don't have much choice," rasped Dutch taking a heavy draw of thick smoke before turning turns to Ramirez who is kneeling near them, "Poncho, take lead. Double time it."
Everyone that was left behind turned to watch Dillon drag the now bandaged and bound female guerrilla who cursed at him in bursts of anger. Dutch scowled at the display while tossing away his cigar before stalking away to follow Poncho.
Luna on the other hand found it extremely amusing at the frustration that the other female was causing the remote keeper. Settling smugly on top of a pile of crate she watched the female smack at Dillon's chest while they exchanged ferocious words in a language she didn't know but she knew all she needed to know from the angry smells to the stiff postures from both sides. Taking a leisurely sip of her precious water the hybrid allowed herself a smile as her supposedly superior was verbally and physically abused by a woman that was almost her own size.
As Dillon pushed the woman to walk in front of him a call stopped him for his attention.
"Hey, Dillon!"
Said man turned and looked back at Mac who stood with his leg propped on an overturned barrel with his rifle propped up on top of his thigh, "Over here."
The CIA agent hesitated briefly as he shot a warning look at the guerrilla before approaching the former Vietnam soldier, "What?"
"Turn around."
A distrustful look instantly sprung onto Dillon's face, "Why?"
Mac didn't say another word just looked up and inclined his head towards the trees behind Dillon who, in his curiosity, turned to see what Mac had indicated. He jumped, however, when a slight pressure was applied to a small place on his shoulder. Turning in a panic he saw Mac with his army knife pulling back from where he had touched it to Dillon's shoulder, but at the tip was skewered a squirming scorpion. Wincing slightly the agent nodded jerkily, "Thanks."
Mac watched the other man walk away with a stoic face while he scrapped the dead insect onto the top of an oil barrel, "Anytime."
Project 246 blinked in wonderment at the interactions that had passed between the two departing keepers. She had remembered when Mac had threatened Dillon for being sloppy with his foot work in the forest, but there was a tangible resentment between the two even though Mac had saved the other from a painful situation if not death from the tiny little insect. Luna snorted and shook her head slowly from side to side. She would never understand the complex ways of the keepers no matter how long she survived under them. Stretching briefly to loosen her muscles she made a pretty pearling sound in her throat as she caught a whiff of the breeze. Falling to all fours once more she observed her surroundings hoping to see the source of the now familiar musk, but once again she saw nothing out of the ordinary. The hybrid arched her back lazily in casual passiveness before turning to follow the keepers, but not before rubbing along several crates and piles sacks filled with grain to tell of her good hunting and unmatched strength against her foes.
Kav'ti watched carefully the gestures made between two of the males in the group he had been following. He made sure to record what they were saying encase it would be useful later. Clicking thoughtfully he noticed how there was tension in the leadership of the group of oomans which made it an interesting factor into which of them would be the best of trophies. However, this thought was distracted when another heat signature appeared on a top of old crates near the two males he had been looking over.
'Still alive, little ooman?' thought the hunter following her curious habits as she leapt gracefully from crate, to barrel, to the ground and quickly back to higher ground. Having observed her abilities in combat he was rather intrigued to find so much fighting capability in the physically weaker sex of the ooman race, yet she had shown up many if not all of the other males when it came down to the number of honored kills she took down. He could tell that she was pleased with herself and had enjoyed herself immensely from the way she flitted about in high spirits.
"Anytime."
The yautija turned his head to bring his attention back to the males from earlier and watched while one walked away and the other scrapped off something onto the top of a barrel from his knife. He wasn't the only one to see this behavior as he caught sight of female ooman approaching the barrel once the other two had left to stare down at the thing on top of it. She didn't seem much phased by what had occurred, just lightly puzzled by their actions. Moving to stand on his tree limb he froze when the wind blew away from him towards the stretching female.
'Pauk!' He remained as still as stone as the fair head of the ooman shot up once his scent struck her. Barely daring to breathe he found that he had been right to guess that this female's senses were far superior to those of other oomans of her kind. Yet, to his amazement he heard a very familiar sound coming from the female before she returned to her regular four legged posture. The lovely pearling sound that reached him reminded him of the pleased sounds of his own female kind as being a sound that signaled that they were pleased by a male's presence or were highly fascinated. His chest tightened at the urge to answer her little sound with a growling thrum of his own but he was able to fight it when he remembered what actually made that sound. The female didn't seem pleased at not finding the object that had eluded her sight, yet this didn't seem to bother her too much when she arched delicately before turning to follow the rest of her group as she sensually rubbed against different objects in her path.
Waiting until she had disappeared over the hill with the others Kav'ti cautiously descended from his tree to look about the camp. There were many bodies scattered on the ground much of their heat already beginning to disappear in the way that all death caused in its victims. Carefully picking his way around the debris he came to the barrel that the female had looked at. Glancing down at it himself he noticed the tiny figure of one of Earth's species of insects called the scorpion. Kav'ti clicked to himself in thought before gently picking up the little body to hold in his palm while he played back the recording from earlier:
"Anytime."