Chapter 11

Miles away, small ginger ears sprung up like a pinging toaster as his human's message rang out from the answering machine. He padded forward, snaking through the bannisters of the library and noiselessly travelled out onto the open landing, peaking down into the living room. Sure enough, the repulsive cold blooded intruder that had been trying to usurp his rule for over 2 months was there, mandibles clicking together as he listened to his human's anxious voice.

After the message was over, the scaled giant took one slow, deep inhale that caused his torso muscles to roll and expand with his chest. The odour of animal hair and cat kibble was strong, its source near by. Dekna looked right up to the narrowed eyes of his opponent. A long moment of silence, before Tiny hissed his challenge and disappeared. Dekna's mandibles twisted into a truly haunting grin as his wrist blades extended, glinting in the dim light of the quivering fireplace.

The hunt had begun.

Meanwhile, below the concrete maze of New York and its underground systems, a scaldingly shaded Yautja was sorely reminiscing of his last hunt, in the human Rocky Mountain range. And it had been going so well under that Arbitrator turned up with the other 2 Yautja to hunt him!

At the thought of the elder Yautja, R'ka glared at him across their cage, but found himself fighting the urge to look away when the charcoal scaled Arbitrator met his gaze with his own coldly blank one.

After a while, he looked away, face burning in anger that he had no effect on him. It unnerved him how calm Bhu'ja was; in R'ka's own clan of bad bloods, most were very expressive and aggressive, as it was a much more cutthroat society. R'ka was one of the strongest young bloods in his clan, and yet he knew in a jehdin on jehdin [one on one] fight he would be the disgraced loser here.

And now here he was, trapped with his own person assassin, a female Yautja that was barely of age and a male who considered himself a comedian.

"So, do you think that ooman will visit us today?" said Da'jehdin

Speak of the devil. R'ka clicked his mandibles together in irritation. If he could, he would've torn through their concrete prison the second time this guy had opened his serrated mouth.

The Casanova continued. "What? She was a lot nicer than the ones that have caged us." He grinned cheekily, as his warm eyes danced between his companions.

Bhu'ja snorted, however it was Vayuh'ta that answered quietly "Didn't she call you a handbag?" She was unusually meek for a female of their race, but to Da'jehdin, she was adorable. Unfortunately, the embarrassment of being found in a superior's bed by said Elder Arbitrator with him seemed to have been too much for a repeat. All the same, while he couldn't bed her again, he could still have his fun teasing her.

Da'jehdin face splitting grin popped back up again. "Ah, but she doesn't want to dissect us and perform lots of bloodcurdling tests! I'd say that's an improvement!" For good measure, he threw in a wink that was answered with a furious blush.

"How do you know that?" R'ka snapped, very aware of his every move constantly being watched by Bhu'ja. Even though he had explained that he wasn't going to kill him anymore, it was hard to shake off paranoia.

The aquamarine male shrugged carelessly, not very bothered by the topic of being cut up by whichever human. "She seemed more terrified than scientifically curious or devious. Didn't you see how high she jumped when she found us?" He cackled at the memory.

"She was an odd ooman." Bhu'ja agreed.

"Yellow hair." Vayuh'ta hummed. "And so much metal on her face!"

"In my clan that is common." R'ka blurted out. Suddenly, the others gave him their full attention, making him regret saying anything at all. He swallowed uncomfortably, muttering "Though usually among the males."

Da'jehdin innocently said, "You don't have yellow hair."

Immediately, the temper R'ka had inherited from his father spewed up like erupting lava. He sprung to his feet and stalked over to Da'jehdin, who had bounced up with a manic grin. However before either could land a blow, Bhu'ja had clasped both their shoulders in bone crushing grips and snarled a low, guttural warning. The three stood for several seconds, stretching their mandibles while Vayuh'ta looked on nervously. In the confined space, she would surely be struck badly in a fight.

Finally, Da'jehdin relaxed and walked away backwards after Bhu'ja had let go, grinning like a mischievous child. R'ka growled low, but before he also could retreat, Bhu'ja pulled him closer and whispered to him. "The enemy is not in this cage. Do not test me, pup." And with that, the almost unbearable grip on R'ka's shoulder was gone, and Bhu'ja had taken his place next to the others again.

To Da'jehdin, he repeated his first words. Da'jehdin rolled his eyes and retorted, "Calm down, mei'hswei [brother]. Just fighting back boredom."

"Do it another way, or I'll use you to relieve my boredom." Yet again, the green-scaled Yautja threw his head back and laughed. Vayuh'ta warily contemplated moving towards R'ka, wondering at the banter of the other two.

I huffed and tapped my foot against the carpeted floor and dramatically sighed. "What am I, the grim reaper? It hasn't been that long!"

My partner in crime, sista from another mista, comrade in the struggles of life, sat before me, staring as if I had just popped out of an Easter egg.

Ohhhhh cosplay idea?

What? No, dowwwwn boy!

Tilly launched herself at me, her arms wrapping around my neck so tightly I could see her Nutella clad knife flail madly as I stubbled backwards. An ecstatic grin swamped my face and I nuzzled back, whispering "Hey there…".

After Tilly pulled back, still hanging onto me, we exchanged a look as we memorized each other's faces. Or at least, that was what I was doing.

Ha! Gaaaaaeeeeeey!

Shut up! I'm sentimental, ok?

However Tilly broke my bubble of nostalgic happiness when a very panicked expression sprouted in her face. "Shit!" She screeched, pushing my arms away. "You-how-y-you can't be here!"

I was extremely confused, to say the least.

"Um." I scratched my skull, as if it would prompt my memory to throw some logic into this situation. "You just texted me to come."

Tilly had started pacing, oblivious to the weird looks her co-workers were giving us.

You'd think they'd be used to our brand of crazy by now.

"Nonononononononononot good, not good at all!" She wailed, flouncing her knife hand at me. "I thought you were at the Manor, I thought I had time to-argggggh!" She threw her hands up into the air. Unfortunately, the knife followed, all eyes following it as it lodged itself firmly into the ceiling. A moment of silence passed, my eyes watching the movement of chocolate down the handle.

Tilly continued on. "Not here! We have to go now!" she turned in the direction of her boss's door, shouted that she was taking her lost lunch break now and ran back to her cubicle with the heavy clunk of her platforms, gathering up her coat and stuffing her bag. The blonde's ponytail waved manically as she looked back up at me. "Well?!"

I didn't take my eyes off the Nutella as it prepared to leave its metal anchor to the ceiling. "Well what? You haven't really explained anything to me yet, honey."

"You-arggggg!" She growled. I yelped as she pulled me along with her to the elevators. "Common, shoo! Move it! Go! Musck!"

"Yowww! Where are you taking me to you pervert?!"

I calmed down when she answered "Billy's."

"Ok!"

You're too easily pleased.

Shut up.

You first!

Gah!

As the two women rushed out of the office, workers hummed and broke into conversations or went back to work. Various snippets of "Well, I'm not cleaning it up", "Did you get that for Youtube?", "Someone call maintenance" and "No, the other maintenance" were heard.

Halellujah! There is a god! Three updates with a week? Truly a miracle.

Sooo…When am I getting my own temple? In marble, if you could. ;)

Mindcrafted Pocky – Ahhh I love your reaction! Be proud, you inspired me! I was hoping to fit 'Denny' in somewhere! And I'm pretty sure that if he eats too much, Denny's mandibles will tire! Poor chibi Dekna!

Phsycopredgirlouttahercage – I'm sorry! Couldn't help it, but this one isn't so bad ^_^

RoxyStarz – Do it! Gosh, when I look back on dear, innocent Renzin before my bro showed me the Alien and Pred films…*sigh*

Khalthar – You got it dude! Picture wise, there is a brief, very early sketch of Val and Dekna I did that's half finished but may one day find its way here…

Jrmf – Sorry for not answering before; nope (ish- gah, plot foreshadowing discretion and all) the caged Yautja aren't the ones who were hunting Dekna.

AAEdmonds – Dammit! Where's the fire extinguisher for those weasels! Pee on them! Go!

Sorry, couldn't help myself :3 Thank you very much, I do try :D

Lemon Leopard – Thank you! I'll get onto those mistakes as soon as I can…one day…heh. :P

Thank you my wonderful favoriters, followers, viewer and reviewers! I can't begin to describe how exhilarating your support makes me feel xooxoxo I lave ya awllllllll!

So it summarise: A bit of banter between the new Preds, Vallie and Tilly reunite, and Dekna gets some action (no, not that kind of action! Huh!).

Question: Out of the characters so far, which do you like the most (and why)?

Love,

Renzin xo