Sorry for the wait guys!

Chapter 4

Cassie's Enemy, A'karak's Victim

The canopy shaded the forest floor below, but that did not spare Cassie from suffering the heat. The trees closed around her suffocating her breath, which took in unseen moisture straight to her lungs, choking her with every step. It was in short; hot, sticky, and miserable. Sweat poured from her skin, fusing with the wetness of the rainforest, attracting bugs and dirt to settle uncomfortably upon her damp flesh.

600 miles, that is what these creatures wanted her to walk, damn near 600 miles! She'd never make it! Cassie was in shape from her years of working with animals and her short time in Africa, but this…this was crazy!…she had never trekked this far on foot before.

Her throat was not dry, but her body ached for some form of drink. The threat of dehydration loomed over her with every drop of sweat lost. She panted heavily her body tired and her legs on the brink of failing her. It had only been 1 day. 1 long and miserable day, but she hadn't had a drink since early the day before, and she had begun this journey late that night. Now midday of the next, she was desperate for a rest. Yet these...things, these…aliens…never seemed to let up, they kept walking strong, unfazed by the unbearable heat, even though they were armored. The wore pewter colored masks, and ridged breastplates or shoulder coverings, yet they strolled about as if it were Spring time in Italy…a place she'd never been to, which made her wonder why she used this as a mental reference. Was it even nice in Italy during the Spring? If she survived this she'd have to find out. Still regardless! It was ridiculous. Though she suspected their loin clothes and sporty metal bikini style coverings allowed at least a nice breeze from time to time, which was more than she could say for herself in her lab coat, and jeans.

Looking around, Cassie tried to find something to take her mind off the exhaustion she felt. It was hard to pay attention to anything else though, well…except for her captors. She had been observing these creatures a good while, seeing as it was the only thing she COULD do in this particular situation, and her worry grew with each hour. They were massive, quite capable of snapping her in two, they had weapons that she had seen first hand, and she watched the one behind her murder her friend, so to say she was scared would have been an understatement. Still they seemed to have no intent of killing her. HARMING her was another story though, and Cassie wanted to avoid that if she could.

She looked up ahead and spotted whom she assumed the leader of the group was. He had gray dread-lock looking tentacles that dangled from his large head, and underneath his mesh covering; his mottled red and brown reptilian-like skin set him apart from the others. His mask had many more marks on it as well, some of it being, what appeared to be at least, lettering or runes of some sort. He was an impressive figure no doubt, but he was not near as impressive as the one who walked just behind him.

This one had to be pushing 8 feet tall, and weighed God knows how much. His muscles bulged under his mesh and he wore very little armor. Cassie took it as a sign of confidence, or perhaps he was just too big for armor. Either way this big guy was not one to be toyed with. His body was so scarred it was hard to even tell what his skin pattering looked like. He, like the leader, ignored her for the most part though, and she was glad of that, but it did not keep her from sensing the dislike he felt at having her so close behind him.

Backing Cassie was the one who almost killed her, which did not help her nerves. This one was probably the smallest of the group, but that did not mean he was small by any means. He stood a good 7 feet tall, making her barely 5'6 height diminutive, and did not mind lording over her with his bulk, barking at her constantly to speed up. Despite her deep dislike for him though, she could not help but to notice that his skin pattern was much more distinct than the others. His skin was tawny; reddish in certain spots, and his skin was patterned with deep brown stripes that were surrounded by speckles of the same color.

When he caught her staring at him he barked his annoyance, as he tended to do, and she quickly turned around grumbling to herself.

The last alien was not around all the time. He came and went, and she figured he was scouting out the path they were on. He was similar to the smaller male, with tawny skin, but his body was dappled and without stripes. He seemed to regard her from time to time and would make guttural noises to the smaller male when he did so. She supposed they were talking about her. That was fine by Cassie, as long as they weren't discussing methods in which to kill her. It did however peak her curiosity and made her desperately want to know what they were saying.

Cassie inhaled heavily, trying to get more air to her lungs, but the air was just so damn stifling, it was hard to catch her breath. Her human body suffered without the needed oxygen and soon that human weakness broke the surface.

Her pace slowed to a near crawl, which earned her a bark from the smaller male as he nearly bumped into her, but she could go no further. She was too drained. Cassie leaned against a tree shutting her eyes sucking in the air she thirsted for, but this was not a good move on her part. The one behind her came and forcefully pushed her forward, but due to her weakened state this only succeeded in sending her sprawling to the earth. Mouth now full of dirt and decaying leaves she spat and coughed up the dirt she just inhaled.

"You know…pushing me down isn't going to make me go any faster!" She snapped, but it came so feebly that it almost sounded casual. Back talking was not a good move either though, she soon learned, for the creature lumbered over, growling viciously as he bent down, grabbed her by the shirt, and hoisted her to her feet with one quick movement. Cassie's eyes narrowed, staring into the glassy ones of his mask. She then proceeded to make her third and worst bad move. She growled back at him, mocking his, and this earned her a powerful almost jaw breaking smack across the face that sent her flying back to the earth once more. This time her mouth remained shut…because he had knocked her out.

Damn ooman! She was an unneeded nuisance! She was slowing them down, and her obstinate nature infuriated him. She was PREY! And she would pay for growling at him. He walked over to her, kicking her hard in the side flipping her weak human body onto the back, but when he did this he realized she was unconscious, and that he had made a terrible error.

A roar made him turn as the elder came towards him chattering angrily. "What in the name of the gods has halted us?"

A'karak backed up lowering his head. "The ooman, she fainted elder!" He knew it was a lie before it escaped him, but he said it without thinking. The elder roared and A'karak could hear his mandibles click the inside of the mask as they flared in fury.

"You damn jehdin! How dare you lie to me! You, a suckling fresh off your mother's tit!" He strode towards him grabbing him by the throat. "You slow us down again I'll adorn my armor with your worthless skull! Now!" He barked, "You are to be in charge of the ooman! If she slows us down it is your hide I'll be stripping from YOUR useless flesh!" He released him growling. "Oomans are weak, you will carry the female when it is unable to walk, and!" He began growling with amusement. "You will keep it alive, hunting for it as if it were your own pup…just like the lou-bte kalei you are…" The elder's growl returned to its original threatening volume when A'karak growled at his insult. "If it dies before we find the location of our stolen technology…I'll kill you." He turned his back on A'karak, ceremoniously showing him that he was not worth his time. This deeply affronted A'karak, but he could do nothing but hang his head or lose it.

The massive warrior wasted no time taking advantage of his cut-down state and walked towards him snorting in his face, daring A'karak to retort as he growled with amusement. A'karak desperately wanted to tackle this behemoth and rip his ugly face out from under his helmet.

The warrior circled him, goading him with a challenging tenseness before moving on, turning his back on him as well and laughing at him in their manner. A'karak was furious and snarled to himself, turning with intended aggression upon the comatose ooman. He could not even take out his frustrations out on it now though, so instead he calmed himself with great effort, and hefted her light body up throwing her roughly over his shoulder.

She was very light actually, it was like carrying a she-pup on his shoulder, but of course this ooman did not have the attractive muscularity of even a young female. Sure she did have firmness to the skin that suggested that muscles rested beneath the squishiness, but she was such a weak creature. One hit had defeated her…and he hadn't even hit her with his full strength!

A'karak chattered irritably as he shifted his load more comfortably on his shoulder. Oomans were such weak beings, why did his people covet to take their skulls as trophies so greatly? They were nothing but a soft meat, irrational, and uncoordinated bunch of zabins! He touched the bullet wounds he had received during their first attack on the ooman dwelling, which were now nothing more than scratches. Even their weaponry was weak and unworthy, especially in comparison to the yautja kind. Still his kv'var-demaster insisted that their worthiness was due to their cunning and intelligence. True A'karak had noticed how big the oomans' skulls were, but he had yet to see said intelligence in any form…other than the ones who tried to run away. But even they didn't prove to be worthy of pursuing and were merely cut down. Under normal circumstances killing such cowards would have been a deep abrasion to the honor code. But this wasn't a hunt. Different rules applied to this situation.

He turned his great head to look at the little ooman draped over his shoulder. He growled deeply, his annoyance growing with every step. He did not care how worthy Daturi said they are; he'd rather be hunting kainde amedha than killing a bunch of oomans.

Darkness emulated the black shining domes of B and T as they paced in unison around their containment cell. A series of clicks and hisses erupted from B and echoed about the room. T halted. He stood stock still and at the same time as B lunged for his door. It jarred opening slightly but not enough for escape. Again. They leapt in harmony slamming into the door with loud thuds. This time…success. They stalked from their cages like wild cats, slinking through the blood stained halls, looking curiously at the dead bodies. Then, as if understanding this to be the reason they were able to escape, they began to play with the corpses, pushing them about with their heads. They were actually amused and were rejoicing, like a prisoner held unjustly would gloat upon the masters that held them in containment, when freed.

Then suddenly B stopped as if with epiphany. He hissed a long and eerie note that floated down the deathly quiet walls. T hisses back and chirps bouncing around as if in excitement. B hisses sharply and bites at him with his inner mouth though, causing him to step back.

B returns to his thoughts and begins trekking through the hallways, smelling and searching. T, ecstatic about his freedom bounds after him, chasing invisible creatures from time to time. No doubt an effect from his cerebral operations.

B arrests his steps very suddenly though and T runs into him; B slams him into a wall with his tail in response. This causes T to thrash about dramatically before running at B and hissing his annoyance with him. B ignores though. They are in the egg room, and within the glass containers their brothers and sisters rest, and just as peacefully within the eggs, the latchers float in suspended animation, waiting for the time that they may deliver their load into a host and die.

B steps forward T close behind, their heavy footsteps ricocheting around the small room. B stops before one of the glass containers holding an egg, his lip quivering in excitement. Then without warning his tail flies into the containers behind him, holding his undeveloped siblings, their limp tadpole like bodies instantly coming to life on the floor. Then with the thoughtful care of a human mother, he picks up the glass container holding an egg within. T follows suit in imitation. It was time for the hive to move.

The sun had nearly set when Daturi came through the tree tops and landed among his fellows.

"We may rest here without disturbance elder." He said, instantly striking his chest and kneeling.

"Very well, then here is where we shall rest." The elder stabbed his spear in the ground, which he always carried with him in full extension, and looked at how the heat from the sun hit it before lifting it from the earth and placing it on his belt. The elder wasn't exactly a pup anymore and A'karak wondered if this mission was beginning to wear on him, for he climbed into the tree with greater effort than the others (who only followed, after the elder was in the tree), and he seemed very relieved to have rest. A'karak himself was ashamed at how drained he felt though. He, the youngest member of the group! He looked at the ooman whom he promptly dropped to the ground. Surly carrying this little 130…140 ooman had not worn him down so much! It simply couldn't be possible; he trained for 2 months before coming to this planet (which was significantly more than the months on this planet).

He approached the female laying lifeless in the dirt thinking to himself; "if she doesn't get up soon I'm dragging her the rest of the way." Just as he thought that though Cassie began to stir, as if she had heard what his mind had said.

"Good" A'karak rattled inwardly. "Now I don't have to mess with it." He turned away from her barely conscious form and made his way towards the tree the others rested in. He was reprimanded with a bark from Daturi though and his mentor began climbing down towards him. Apparently the elder had informed him of A'karak's "misconduct"…and his punishment.

A'karak respectfully leapt back down from the tree, but that was not enough for Daturi. He slammed A'karak into the tree once he was on the ground, and growled at him, grabbing him by the face mask.

"You will rest on the ground with the ooman! I swear by the god Paya! Has your fertilizing sac even dropped yet!? You are slowing down our mission! You have disgraced your honor and the clan's with your rashness!" Daturi was not usually easily angered; capable of keeping his cool in the direst of circumstances, and A'karak was used to this sort of punishment from others, but when his kv'var-de master grew angry A'karak would have rather faced an entire horde of displeased females than him. His words cut and shamed him.

"How have I disgraced my honor?" A'karak growled, angry at his own shame. Daturi seemed to know this and did not put him in his place for growling at him.

"You never harm those who aid you, whether they be brethren or prey! It goes against the honor code! Not that you would know…you never show up for training sessions." He released him now sounding more annoyed than angry. A'karak was relieved by this.

"Forgive me for shaming the clan kv'var-de master…"A'karak fell to one knee to show his compliance and his respect for the code. Daturi chattered his regard and A'karak stood. He then walked over to the ooman and looked down at her. A'karak chittered, cocking his head with curiosity as Daturi grabbed her face, as if to examine her skull.

"You need to fetch water for the ooman she is dying of thirst…that is why she is so weak." He handed A'karak something of the canteen variety and walked off, but paused turning swiftly, throwing his spear into the earth in front of A'karak making him clacker in surprise. Daturi growled a laugh. "Practice your hunting techniques while you're caring for your ooman, by getting us some food as well."

A'karak growled wrenching the spear from the ground with unneeded force "his ooman!?" He turned snorting his disgust, then lumbered off into the jungle making a lot of racket with his ranting, apparently not acknowledging his orders to hunt for the group as he made all manner of beast scatter before him with his noise.

After climbing through the canopy awhile A'karak caught the scent of water and leapt down continuing on foot. He soon found a small waterfall and filled the canteen, but drank it himself greedily. It had a slight different texture to it, but it was defiantly water.

He rumbled with irritation as he filled it again. Why the hell did this ooman have to be HIS problem! It infuriated him to be treated with such inferiority. Besides that, he knew nothing about oomans! They were prey; he knew their weapons, and their fighting methods. He knew how to skin them and harvest their skulls. All that he had learned in training, but he had no idea how to keep one alive. Come to think of it he didn't even know what oomans ate. He placed the canteen on his belt and withdrew his dagger suddenly as he heard a rustling noise. He crouched low by the water, listening close for the sound again.

Looking down he noticed a fresh heat signal had yet to fade from the mud, and the tracks led towards the sound. He must've caused the creature to flee, but once he was silent, it had returned to take in water.

The creature came through the brush, snorting and nosing the ground. It was a thick-skinned animal, with short stubby legs, and eyes like black beads. It also had 4 legs and hard feet that sank into the mud as it moved across the water bank.

A'karak placed his self on top of a rock, cloaking his body, and got ready to strike as he scanned the animal for its death spot. When the creature got close enough, he tensed, and when its head went down to drink, he lunged, sticking him in the back of the neck. The creature released a horrendous squeal of pain, turning to gore his attacker, but dropped to the ground dead after a mere few seconds. A'karak roared, his hunter's blood stirring with his small triumph. He had fulfilled his orders and kept his honor, maybe with this gift the elder would forgive him and relinquish his duty to the ooman. He hefted the heavy beast upon his shoulder and made his way back to camp, moving as smoothly through the trees as a slinking shadow.

When he arrived back at where the others rested the ooman still lay on the ground though her eyes were now slightly open and she looked at him with reserve, and pain. He hoped he had not brain damaged her, for if she misled them due to a jumbled mind, it would be his fault.

He sat the creature down and moved towards her, fear and aggression was pounding in the little ooman's blood, he could smell it, but another feeling overpowered both in her and that was pain. A'karak wasted no time. He offered her the water with a growl.

Pain searing pain clouded Cassie's mind along with her desperate thirst. Her head and face throbbed and she just wanted to die right there to end the suffering she felt. Then the creature came back. That bastard! He had hit her! Cassie's heart seethed instead of beat for a while, but what had he brought her. Water! Yes! Oh thank you God.

Cassie reached weakly and tried to take the water, but as soon as he released it to her it slipped from her grip spilling to the ground. She actually licked the ground desperate to try and get some of the water. The creature roared, but Cassie was too tired and hurt to care about his anger.

Damn ooman! He wanted to rip her in half. He was NOT getting her any more water, she could forget it! Let her die of thirst! He was no longer concerned with her. He had done as he was told. Now with a meat offering he no doubt would win the elder's favor again, and the others would deal with her however they saw fit.

He soon learned he was very wrong though. The elder practically knocked him away from the meat, followed by the warrior, then Daturi. An animalistic pecking order was established and A'karak was still at the bottom. He growled to himself and left, picking up the canteen before he went. When A'karak returned this time he would make sure the ooman pauk-de would drink.

He traipsed all the way back to where the fresh water flowed and refilled the canteen. This time he found no more meat and would have to eat whatever the others left behind, which he knew wouldn't be much.

His punishment obviously would not be lifted either. His people did not tolerate foolish mistakes, so he would have to accept his duty to the ooman female whether he liked it or not. If he was to be her caregiver so be it, but he wasn't going to make it easy on her though!

When he returned to their place of rest for a second time he noticed the ooman had managed to roll over on her back and was staring at the night sky. He rattled in regard to how desolate she appeared. Such weakness…

He growled coming to kneel by her. She looked at him, trying pathetically to sit up when she saw the water. Unable she fell back cursing in frustration. A'karak rolled his eyes underneath his mask, chattering irritably. Reaching under her head, its small size barely as large as his palm, he lifted her up enough to drink. He poured the liquid down her throat, and the ooman began coughing and sputtering, spitting a large amount on his mask. He growled in frustration wiping it away, but the ooman quickly lunged at the canteen; pulling it to her mouth with fury, drinking so fast that she would pull back in a coughing fit before going in to devour the drink again. A'karak looked at her curiously as she drank. She was such an odd looking thing. He tried to recall his training to decide whether or not she was a good specimen or not. He believed that she was too weak to be a worthy trophy, but her face did have a fine bone structure to it and in the very least would make a fine cup. He would have to ask Daturi for confirmation on its level of worthiness though.

When the ooman had finished she leaned back against his hand tiredly and A'karak moved his hand so that her head dropped to the ground. She uttered something harsh in ooman.

"You hoe cookie!" He repeated back with his recording device. He wondered what it meant, and whether he should discipline her for it. Just looking at her though he knew she could never handle his retribution. A'karak growled at her though just for safe measure. But she just ignored him! Turning her head away as though he were nothing more than a buzzing zabin! He wanted to break her neck, but he could not without facing death himself. She unfortunately was still his responsibility, but the minute he was relinquished from his duty he vowed that he would unleash the wrath of Cetanu on her!

He walked away from her stopping at the nearly devoured wire-haired animal, to pick off what meat he could. He sat down and looked at the ooman. She had managed to crawl a great distance and was now leaning against a tree, staring at him curiously. He turned away from her with a snarl, but she did not react, or even stir, just stared at him. It unnerved him. He growled warningly at her and she did something peculiar. Her mouthpart curled and she looked up breathing out a noise repeatedly, her whole body shaking with it. He chattered and cocked his head. What the hell was she doing? Was this a distress call of some kind? It stopped as suddenly as it came though and she stared up into the trees. A'karak snorted, now perturbed by her antics. Maybe he did damage her brain.

He turned back to the animal and unlatched his mask, which emitted a hissing sound as it released. The air here was at least similar to his own mother air, but it was still too thin for him.

He ripped a hunk of muscle from the creature's flank absent-mindedly, tasting the meat before tearing into it, leaving trails of dripping blood down his tusks. It tasted very good, though it was very different from any meat he'd ever eaten. Of course he had been on other hunts before this mission, mostly on his own home planet, but he had traveled with Daturi and other young hunters to a few places, claiming quite a few trophies, and had tasted many foreign meats and fruits. Earth had the best meat he had to give it to the planet.

The ooman was staring at him again, he could feel it. This time he turned harshly hissing at her. She looked confused and slightly frightened, bringing her legs up to her face, resting her chin on her knees. Those big dekna of hers never left him. He bristled unable to even concentrate on eating. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw her heat moving towards him. His eyes narrowed and he tensed at her approach.

Cassie couldn't believe it; she was in the middle of a jungle, being held captive by a group of aliens. It was her worst nightmares come true, and the only thing she could do was laugh. Laugh and laugh and laugh, like a psycho while staring up at the sky. The irony just engulfed her, but it left her just as quickly and she abandoned her hysteria to stare at the stars, whose residents had for some reason decided to make Cassie's life hell of late.

A hissing noise brought her back to reality though, and Cassie was surprised and almost excited to see that the creature was removing his mask. Finally she would get to see his face! She half hoped that her precious Earth's air would suffocate him instantly, but another more merciful side of Cassie was over taken with curiosity.

When he put down what had once been his face, she drew back a bit. He was the ugliest thing Cassie had ever seen! Seriously! If a deep sea fish and a spider made sexy sin-against-nature love…his face would've been the fruit of their passions. It horrified her, yet she couldn't turn away. He had a large forehead, and small spines around the edges of it. His eyes were sharp and sunken in his face, and his mouth consisted of a small fanged slit surrounded by mandibles. Looking at him from an alien point of view though he was probably a real looker among his people, and she was probably uglier to him than he was to her.

The thought of this made Cassie chuckle softly. She tried not to laugh anymore, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She found it hard for some reason. It all just seemed so damn funny to her. She was being given an opportunity to observe an alien race once more, and here millions of people thought alien life forms didn't exist. And now she knew the truth! But she could never tell anyone! It had all just been a big cover up hadn't it! She had gotten involved with something she was never meant too, and now she knew things she was never meant to know.

She sighed leaning back against her tree. She was famished and even the smell of pig blood aroused in her the deepest primal need for food. Would the creature let her have any, was the question though. She watched him and waited for some time.

He turned very suddenly and hissed at her for no reason though. It made her jump and she huddled in to herself, wondering what she had done. Was he worried she would take some of his food? Thinking on her animal science she recalled wolves, and wondered if she should merely wait for him to finish and then pick off what she could, as the lower members of the pack do. It wouldn't be the first time she ate raw meat, and it seemed the best option. Just looking at his size though she knew there would be nothing left for her. Perhaps if she begged? She wanted the thing to like her, or in the very least tolerate her. Would begging please it or offend it though. She would have to find out soon, because she desperately wanted food now.

Creeping slowly over to him, she dared not get too close, which meant within smacking distance. She waited for a chance to ask for the food, and when he turned snarling at her she took it. With him growling in her face she pointed to the peccary boar and tried to smile.

"May I have some?" She asked sounding as calm as she could muster, trying to establish some form of communication. The creature actually drew back and cocked his head. She pointed again and sounding very nervous and quite pathetic looked at him "please?"

He looked to where she was pointing and made the connection, growling and pushing her back. Cassie pursed her lips in irritation. "I want some food dammit!"

He growled at her again, and Cassie to her own great surprise snarled! Baring her teeth as she lunged for the food. The creature was surprised by this too, but managed to knock her back forcefully, laying her out on the ground. Cassie was hungry though and wasn't going to back down so easy. She would not be kept from food right in front of her! She went for it again, and the creature held her off with one arm as he ate with the other. Cassie yelled in frustration not being able to get around his guard.

Finally she gave up with a curse and sat down; glaring at him…though she was amazed at how brave hunger had made her. The creature looked at her now making a chittery noise. Was…he laughing at her? Just thinking that he might was all the more infuriating.

A'karak stared at the human in great amusement as he gloated his superiority over her with every bite of food. He had to say he was a bit impressed with her fearlessness, but after that little show of disrespect she had to be punished.

He looked at her for a minute and ripped a small chunk free from the carcass and held it out to her. The ooman's body relaxed from its angry tension almost immediately and her mouth curled again as she reached for the food, looking up at him with her enormous ooman eyes. He growled in amusement at her eagerness, and then tossed the meat away from him, turning back to his own eating.

Cassie watched as the meat hit the dirt, flabbergasted at what he just did. Shock quickly turned to anger though as she reeled on him sucking in a deep breath with her eyes narrowed, then stood with a shout of rage as she marched over to "her meat". She grabbed it sitting down far away from the monster, and picked leaves and dirt from it the best she could before taking a tentative bite. The raw meat luckily didn't make her stomach turn, but she'd be even luckier if it didn't make her sick.

When she finished the small tidbit she sighed looking at the stupid smug alien lording over his pig. A gurgle of hunger from her stomach, and the burning hate she felt right at this moment told her…this was going to be a long trip.