Hunter 2

Chapter 10

"Jet'rikna"

The day after…

I had no idea where Garv would take me to find a female to train me for the First Hunt. Never had I known any other females…just males. To be truthful, I was incredibly wary and nervous due to my latest attack by the three females. Would any female Predator be willing to train me? What if no female would train me? Would my hopes of equality and participating in the First Hunt wither away and die? I had serious doubts. However, Garv seemed to know exactly where to look and soon it hit me when we approached the Second in Command's dwelling. Of course! Fire Blood had thirteen mates…at least, last I knew. Perhaps one of them would train me.

Garv strode up to the door, which had been fixed since Fire Blood had thrown another male through it, and rapped it soundly with his spear shaft. For a moment, there was no answer. He tapped it louder against the metal door. Still nothing.

"He might not be in." I conjectured.

Garv shook his head hissing, "He's in there. I can hear him."

He hit the door much harder and this time Fire Blood's angered voice bellowed back. "WHOEVER is out there better get their ASS the HELL out of here before I KILL THEM!"

In reply, Garv barked, "FIRE BLOOD get your worthless hide out here!"

"GARV! I don't give a Cho't what you want! I'm busy!" He thundered.

"GET out here NOW!" Garv snarled impatiently.

At once Fire Blood roared inside the dwelling and I could hear him stomping toward the door. His pace sounded pissed. Once he drew near the door, he asked gruffly, "Is Little Fighter with you?"

"Yes…it's about her." Garv replied.

With a hiss, the door slid open and revealed the Second in Command, rather naked and leaning against the doorframe. I gasped and averted my eyes.

Garv flared his mandibles and snarled tersely, "Oh for the love of…Get some clothes on you BASTARD!"

"I would… but Amerra has my loincloth. Mind if I borrow yours Little Fighter?" he clicked.

Rolling my eyes while keeping them in the other direction, I stifled a laugh. Garv wasn't so amused. "Get some clothes on…or I'll make it so you won't NEED a loincloth anymore!"

The giant laughed, "You don't have a blade big enough to cut this!"

Garv's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Alright fine. I'll be back." Fire Blood grumbled retreating into his dwelling.

Shaking his head Garv growled something curse-like about Fire Blood.

"What?" I asked.

"I should have him castrated." My mate mumbled in an irritated tone.

I giggled softly. Honestly…in Fire Blood's case…I doubted even such an extreme measure would change his raging libido.

"Little Fighter I want you to let me talk to Fire Blood alone." He requested.

I tipped my head, "Why?"

Garv rattled softly, "Just please do as I ask."

Shrugging, a bit uncertain I agreed and moved off.

……………

Soon Fire Blood returned, cinching his belt, "Now just WHAT the Hell is so important that you had to…interrupt me."

"You know my mate has received the High Eldress's permission to partake in the First Hunt." Garv began.

Fire Blood slit his eyes, "If you're here to fight me because I helped her get a meeting with the High Eldress, you'd better get it over with Garv."

"No, nothing like that. Little Fighter needs to be trained for the First Hunt and you know what that means."

The Second in Command raised his spiked brow, "Ah…you need a female to help train her. Well…I have three who can't because they're pregnant, but that leaves ten others."

Garv moved closer to him and said in a low serious tone, "I want Jet'rikna to train her."

A shocked look entered the huge Predator's two-toned eyes and he hissed, "Are you serious? You want Jet'rikna to train her?"

The leader nodded.

Fire Blood shook his large head, "Are you completely insane in your skull? Jet'rikna is my dominant female AND she is a ruthless trainer!"

"So are you." Garv retorted.

"That's beside the point! Little Fighter wouldn't last through one session with her! Why Jet'rikna?"

Garv slit his eyes, "Because she's the best."

After a moment Fire Blood rattled, "Garv…I might seem to have my brains in my loincloth…but I'm not completely blind. I know WHY else you want Jet'rikna."

"Enlighten me oh wise Second in Command." Garv snorted, crossing his arms.

The bigger Predator circled slowly as he talked, "You want Jet'rikna to train Little Fighter because you KNOW how good she is…and how ruthless she is. You're hoping Jet'rikna can make your mate change her mind about the First Hunt."

Garv flicked his mandibles and Fire Blood flared his upper ones, "I KNEW it! But didn't you just accept this?"

"There's nothing I can say to change Little Fighter's mind…but I CAN'T just sit back and not TRY to protect her! I'm her mate! If I can't protect her then I am less than a male. Besides that…if my mate can endure Jet'rikna's training and yours then I'll know for SURE she stands a chance," Garv growled with conviction.

Fire Blood rattled again and slid his lower mandibles to the side, "MY training?"

"Yeah. It's your JOB as Second in Command."

Flexing his fingers Fire Blood replied, "Alright…alright I'll go along. But you KNOW how I am when I train."

"Exactly. That's why I want you and Jet'rikna to train her as well as me." Garv explained.

"IF she accepts." Fire Blood mentioned.

Garv pointed, "Then go ask her right now."

Hissing Fire Blood disappeared back into his dwelling and after a few minutes returned, "She'll do it. Her training begins at first light. Let's hope Little Fighter can endure."

…………………

The next day at first light…

With Garv following close behind me, I walked nervously down the path that led to the training field. Jet'rikna, the tall, bright green spotted, muscular female I'd seen sparring Fire Blood, was to be my female trainer and Fire Blood was to be my third trainer along with Garv. I'd only seen Jet'rikna once, but never formally met her, which meant I knew nothing of her temperament, her personality, or her combat style. Thus far, I was flying blind, hoping I wouldn't crash and burn in an inferno of hurt and failure.

At last, we reached the training field and standing there were Fire Blood and Jet'rikna. Jet'rikna held a blackish colored combi-stick and wore a simple training outfit that clearly displayed her elaborate green speckles and finely muscled body. As tradition demanded, she wore a combat mask that shone brightly in the morning light and enhanced her magnificent aura. Her stance conveyed a sense of dominance and utter confidence. Who could blame her? She was the dominant female of Fire Blood's harem and even he answered to her. She was like the High Eldress except without the title.

I approached her slowly with unsure steps, until I came just close enough to kneel before her, head bowed in respect.

"Honorable Jet'rikna…I am greatly honored you have decided to train me for the First Hunt." I said in a low tone.

Very slowly, the tall female strode over to my knelt form, "Are you…?"

Suddenly her foot connected with my side and I rolled across the ground wincing. "You might think otherwise by the time we're done."

Lifting myself onto my knees again, I kept quiet. The kick hurt but I was beginning to grow accustomed to physical punishment of my body.

Jet'rikna turned from me and extended her combi-stick. "Spear." She commanded.

I jumped to my feet, extending my own spear.

"In a kainde amedha Hive, this will be one of your last minute means of protection. It will keep you from getting your skull caved in. You must NOT let me touch you. Begin." She barked.

Reacting instantly I braced my spear before me as Jet'rikna slammed her spear against mine. Shocks of pain shook my arm bones but I recovered quickly, ducking beneath a second swipe. Parrying two more strikes, I weaved my body wildly. Then, before I could react, Jet'rikna shrieked and in a blindening move she struck my calves, sending me in a hard spinning flip through the air! Hitting the ground on my side, I felt my legs sting horribly with pain as I lay in the dust.

"You…are dead Ooman. Get up." Jet'rikna's unemotional voice stated.

I stood, clutching my spear again. Jet'rikna hissed, making the air thrum with her spinning spear. She spun her body once and jabbed the point straight at my head! Sucking in a hushed breath, I bent backward to dodge it but Jet'rikna simply smacked the spear rod down on my chest bringing me to the ground again.

"Dead. Again." Jet'rikna stated.

My breath was gone as my stunned ribs tried to accommodate my lungs. She'd hit me hard but I rose stubbornly. This continued for well over an hour, but no matter how fast I thought I'd be or what maneuver I made, Jet'rikna always hit me. My body screamed for no more with every blow but I wouldn't submit. Finally, the tall female swung a long arm and swatted me backward about fifteen yards. I rolled over the ground but staggered to my feet, though I knew I could barely stand anymore.

Not even exerted in her efforts Jet'rikna periscoped her spear back into its handle. She stared at me from behind her combat mask.

"You will die Ooman." She stated bluntly, as she turned to leave.

I grit my teeth, seething. Feeling so frustrated and angry I just hated myself. I'd done nothing but fail all day. Any minor success was quickly squashed. There were no words of praise…no suggestions…just harsh blows. However, it was only the first day. I would do better…I swore it to myself.

…………

After a week of Jet'rikna's training…

That first week of training was the worst I'd ever endured to that point in my life. Jet'rikna was ruthless, hitting me in everyway imaginable and demeaning me on top of that. She held no mercy for me…but she knew what she was doing. Everything we did was designed to help me survive. Except every day, she'd tell me bluntly, "You will die Ooman." It made me so mad… but it also prompted me to do better.

I strode out onto the training field feeling very sore from the previous week's combat training…or rather…combat beating. In the back of my mind I felt somewhat more relaxed because Fire Blood was going to train me this week…very quickly I regretted thinking that. I discovered the Second in Command was a completely different Predator when training…he was downright mean.

He slit his two-toned eyes at me, "Alright pipsqueak…come at me and hit me as hard as you can."

I hesitated…big mistake. Before I knew it Fire Blood reached over, clutched my neck in his massive hand, and lifted me off the ground.

"Do YOU have a problem with LISTENING?" he snarled.

I gripped his thick wrist, "No…leader."

Deftly he dropped me on the ground and I got up quickly. However, I made another mistake and waited for the order again. Bigger mistake. In one lightening quick move, Fire Blood reached down, grabbed my ankle, jerked me straight off my feet again, and into the air. I dangled helpless until he grabbed the back of my neck and stretched me out to the point I nearly panicked.

"Little Fighter…" he snarled very tersely, "…you hesitate my order ONE more time and I'll tear you in half! GOT IT?"

Narrowing my eyes and nodding, I felt my back pop slightly as he released my legs and held me up by the back of my neck. A fierce aggression sparked in me again and before the Second in Command could drop me, I curled my body in on itself and throwing my legs over my head I slam-kicked Fire Blood's head!

He snorted lightly, flexing his heavy mandibles, "Better."

Then, the moment he put me down I screamed and drove my fist into his stomach. It hurt me A LOT more than him. His abs felt like solid rock!

Shaking his head Fire Blood hissed, "That's what I thought."

I wanted to ask what he meant by that but he continued, "Your strength is severely limited. NOT a good thing when you're fighting kainde amedha. You're going to have to rely on agility, speed, and awareness. IF you have those then you MIGHT live longer than a few minutes. Since you don't have the strength to engage your enemy in close contact, you're going to have to use something more…advanced. On the First Hunt, you are only permitted ONE high tech weapon, one moderate, your wrist blades, your spear, and…a wrist bomb. You must choose your high tech weapon and your moderate weapon."

My breath paused. I…would get to use a wrist bomb AND a high tech weapon? Never had I been offered one of those before because I was Ooman. It seemed like a first step into equality.

Fire Blood noticed my look, "However…it's considered far more honorable to kill a kainde amedha hand to hand. When you're in that Nest…ANYTHING goes. You're only concern is staying alive enough to get out of there with a skull."

I nodded.

"Now…" Using his foot, he drew a line in the dirt and set himself before it. "…since you're as weak as a day old Hyek-va I want to see how fast and agile you are. This line is your means of escape. See if you can cross this line."

Without hesitation this time, I darted toward the line. Suddenly, Fire Blood's open hand contacted my chest and I flew backward on my back. I gasped. My ribs were still vibrating from the blow.

"Come on weakling! I'm not THAT fast!" he taunted.

I stood with great anger boiling in my eyes. This time I proceeded more cautiously as my towering instructor lowered himself in a wide fighting stance, which was intimidating to be sure. Hissing I came at him hard, dodging a powerful swipe from Fire Blood. I bobbed my head back, missing another hit. Seeing the line so close I leaped but felt my ankle grasped tightly by his hand. Effortlessly he pitched me back, like an unwanted fish, sending me rolling again.

"You're going to last less than one second if you can't do better than that!"

Focused but almost enraged, I got up running hard. This time I dodged a swipe and using my momentum I jumped onto his bent leg, flipping gracefully over his shoulder and landed on the other side of the line. My heart swelled with accomplished pride…that is until Fire Blood wheeled and swatted me through the air again. I groaned getting up with rage in my eyes.

"You think a kainde amedha will stop just because you escape out of the Hive? Think again! You MUST be ready for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING." Fire Blood rumbled striding over the line toward my fallen form. "If you don't…" My eyes widened when a blade embedded itself inches from my cheek, "…you're dead. And…you're not much good dead."

I nodded slowly as the Second in Command sheathed his blade again. In the back of my mind, I wondered…just WHAT I had gotten myself into. I was fighting for my equality and so I could be seen for more than I was. Would I survive this hunt? For that matter, would I survive a year of this training? I had to fight for it with every pained breath, every harsh hit, and nothing would come easy for me. But…I had grown used to it and NOTHING and no one would stand in my way.