Thank you for all the wonderful comments, it's definitely stoking the creative fires
Reds and golds littered the sky as the sun began to set, barely hanging onto the horizon as it began its descent. Jack's eyes were on that horizon, half open as she watched with trepidation. While the heat of the planet was definitely getting to her, she would rather have its heat than the dark. Anything but the dark.
Even though it had been years since T2, she still hated watching the sun go down. It was ironic to her how everyone would get so romantic over the notion of watching a sunset, but to her it would always be a nightmare. Whenever she'd stop on planets to re-supply, she would always go to bed before the sun set and awake after it had risen. She had learned quickly after Riddick left her that it was the only way to get any sleep.
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, glinting at her one last time, she fought back the wave of panic and fear. She already had a light wand in her hand, clutching it and fiercely glad she had re-awakened an hour before the sun's descent. After taking a steadying breath she pulled herself up until she was leaning against the wall. The pack at her side, she began to rummage through it's contents until she found a meal bar. She ripped it open, tearing into it until nothing but the wrapper remained. Throwing that aside she began to assess what else she had.
While she hadn't had a lot of time to gather what she needed before the ship blew, she was grateful for what she did have. A half a dozen light wands, food bars, and containers with water. The med kit was helpful, but not nearly as much as the three remaining pain injections. And at the bottom, the most precious possession yet, a thermal blanket.
Quickly she unfolded it, rubbing it between her fingers as she began to shake with cold. Apparently it was going to be a planet with extremely hot days but even colder night. "Fucking great.." she mumbled to herself, throwing it around her shoulders. She took only a few sips from one of the water containers, not wanting to waste any until she could figure out what to do…whatever that would be.
If her crew mates had survived the crash, they'd have been pleased that she hadn't commed for help or pushed the recovery beacon. But Jack wasn't so happy, pissed that she hadn't done it when she'd had the chance. Sighing to herself she laid down again, still clutching the light beam and trying to make a bed out of her supply bags. She closed her eyes, trying to relax while secretly hoping she'd get some sleep.
I'll figure out what to do in the morning..she thought to herself.
But something suddenly caught her senses, making the hairs on her body tingle. A howling, scratching sound in the distance that became more loud, more distinct. More hissing and growling followed, the scratches becoming even painfully closer. Jack raised her eyes to the ceiling of the outcove, hand over her mouth as she tried not to scream.
Jack didn't know what was up there exactly, but whatever they were, it sounded as if they were either mating…or feeding.
It was then that Jack squeezed her eyes closed, hand tightening over her mouth as she sobbed in the corner of her newly-found hell.