Note: I do not own or have anything to do with the Predator franchise. I have only wrote this story for entertainment purposes and no profit will be made from it in any way.

Chapter Twenty-One

"We should be able to get some good shots of the animals and the plantlife today with the weather being just right."

Marion moved along with the other members of her group down a path that went to the east of their camp site. She kept a steady pace along with them while she had a camera in her pocket. Her eyes glanced around at the area she was in, soaking in the atmosphere of where she was nestled with the others. Her ears listened to the soft sounds of some voicing their awe of the place while taking random shots of the surroundings to take everything in and have plenty of stuff to work on before they headed out of there. She was being a little more patient when it came to take pictures of things that her professor would really be impressed with.

While she moved with the others, her thoughts drifted to Cohra. She wondered what he was doing at that moment and when she would see him again. There was an understanding within herself that it would be fairly soon but she had no idea of knowing exactly as to when to expect him to be around. She also pondered on what he was doing at that moment. Was he out on a hunt for something to eat or had he thought about going out looking for a prize hunt? Marion knew that he was a hunter species that was more like a predator to those who it wished to take down and have something from the kill as a sign of what they had done. The question remind on her mind as she continued to move with the others.

Turning her gaze up to a tree near where she was nestled, she discovered a monkey to be hanging down as it was using one of his hands to pluck berries from a small area of vegetation on it. The sight brought a smile to her face and had her to get out her camera.

He will make a great shot for me to take back with me to the professor.

Marion took the time to aim the lens at the creature prior to taking the picture. She looked at the shot she managed to get and smiled at how good it looked. Feeling confident that it was just the right one, she tucked her camera back into her shorts and proceeded to walk with the others that were nestled there on the same path with one another. Her focus drifted towards the front where Michael had himself positioned with some of the guys, talking away with them and not really making the move to take any pictures of the surroundings for a very important assignment that would allow him to graduate.

Ever since he had tried to force himself onto her the previous day, she had become more wary of him and his actions. She wouldn't allow herself to have her guard down with him around if he chose to try and use it to his advantage of getting his way with her again. The next time he even attempted to put a finger on her in any way that would do anything to disrupt her would be his death sentence and the one to carry it out would be her mate, Cohra, someone who was wanting him dead in the worst possible way. He would be stupid to try and anger him again after he had sent his body flying through one of the trees without so much as breaking a sweat.

Her attention moved away from where he was when she picked up the light sound of what resembled to be that of an animal about to make their attack. She knew it from having done some intern work at a zoo in the city to help with her work when she graduated from the university, and the animal in question was one that she was familiar with: A Jaguar. Sensing that it was in the area, she let out a whistle that would have everyone to stop in their tracks. She watched everyone stop moving while the guides focused on where she was and Bridget spoke up to her.

"What is it, Marion?"

"We need to head back to camp and head back as slow and steady as we can." Marion responded. Her eyes continued to look around for where the Jaguar was nestled at. She knew it was close by and that it would leap out at any moment at them. Her attention moved up to where a tall tree stood near the path where Michael was nestled to see the Jaguar perched on one of the branches with its gaze fixated on where he was nestled with a look of blood lust in its eyes. Her lips became dry at the sight of it while her ears picked up on the group's asshole speaking to her with a cold tone in his voice.

"Yeah right, bookworm. Like we are going to head back to camp and miss out on getting our stuff together for when we return back to the states."

"We either head back now...or be prepared to be that Jaguar's lunch, asshole!"

As soon as she shouted out, she watched the Jaguar narrowed its gaze on her and hissed at her with its fangs being wide open. She watched it as the others took note of its appearance there and started to panic somewhat at seeing him. An idea came to mind that would help the others get to camp while at the same time having her to distract the Jaguar. She held eye contact with it as she spoke softly toward the group.

"Everyone...Slowly head back to camp. I will be along shortly."

"Are you crazy-"

"That is not a request." Marion snapped towards Bridget when she tried to talk some sense into her. She knew what she had to do and she was not going to change her mind from what she was doing. "Do as I say and you all will come out of this just fine."

"What about you?"

"I'll be all right. Now get out of here."

I sure hope I know what I am doing with this.

She kept eye contact with the Jaguar as each member of her group slowly started to make their way down the path to where the camp was located. Marion watched the beast from where she remained, not breaking the stare with it. She watched its movements until every one of her group was gone and out of the area. Slowly, she started to make backwards steps without breaking her stare with the beast. When she had been working at the zoo, she had encountered a Jaguar in one of the cages and had used a technique of keeping her eyes locked in on the animal in order to keep it from lashing out at her since she showed no fear towards it. While she was walking backwards, Marion found the beast leaping down onto the path in front of her and slowly walking towards her, growling at her with its fangs out in the open.

So much for thinking that the technique was going to work this time around-

Her train of her frantic thought ended abruptly when she picked up on the sound of clicking in the area that was that of what Cohra would make. She noticed the Jaguar taking note of the sound as it started to glance around for the source of the sound some. Marion found the big cat slowly backing away from her and taking off through the underbrush. The sight of the danger being gone from her allowed her to let out a breath of relief and for the tension to slip away from her.

"Thank god." She whispered aloud. "I thought I was dead woman."

"That won't happen."

The sound of Cohra's voice speaking up from behind her had her to turn around and found him to be there with his armor and mask on himself. The sight of him brought a massive relief to herself before she held onto him from him having come there at the right time. As she held onto him, she felt him holding onto her some. She didn't have long with him, but she would enjoy a little bit of time in the daylight hours with him away from the others before she would have to get back to the others at the camp.