Chapter 2: A Test and Punishment
Unfortunately Shou'nk lost track of time and was still talking and eating with the human. "What is this stuff?" the young predator asked while holding some kind of meat. "That is beef jerky. Its tough meat that tastes good." Jason answered while eating a sandwich. "Interesting." remarked Shou'nk. Suddenly three laser-tracking dots showed up on Jason's neck and rose to his head. Shou'nk sprang up from his sitting position and yelled, "No, don't shoot!" in his native tongue. Jason didn't know what was going on until Essra and Merc'rk decloaked on branches above them, Merc'rk with his favorite weapon the pistol locked on to his head.
Essra was confused about this, but being her cooperative self told Merc'rk to hold his fire and talk this over with Shou'nk. "Shou'nk what is it?" she asked. "This creature is my friend." He answered. "That's an ooman!" "He's an ooman?!" "You mean you didn't know what an ooman was?! Why didn't you asked Doun'ch?" "I didn't want to seem that inexperienced in front of you guys." Merc'rk couldn't believe this guy didn't know what a human was and hated having new hunters on his team. "No offense, but for freshmeat your too fresh." he said. Shou'nk frowned. Jason had no idea of what was going on since they were speaking in their native language. He was just staring at a predator with a curvaceous figure, which he guessed was a girl, and another with enormous muscles. Then they saw three sets of laser tracking dots land on Jason's head. 'This is not my day' he thought.
Then Reco'de, Netak, and Doun'ch all decloaked. He could just guess that Doun'ch was the leader by what formation they stood in. "What is going on here?" asked the leader. Merc'rk just answered the question as fast as he could. "Shou'nk made friends with this ooman and now were deciding weather to kill him or rip him skull off for another trophy." Now Netak was pissed. "I'll solve this problem." he said while his wrist blades came out of his right gauntlet. But Doun'ch held him back. "No we will give this ooman a test to decide if he is worth killing or not."
Doun'ch pulled out a short, metal rod. The ancient predator pushed a button on it and it unfolded into a spear. Jason mumbled a curse word as soon as he saw the sharp ends of it. The leader swung at him, but stopped an inch away from his face. Jason fainted out of shear terror. Doun'ch retracted his spear and turned to Shou'nk. "He is not worthy to hunt, but you are to be punished."
Shou'nk was now shaking with fear. The punishment at maximum was death and it would be most dishonorable to die on his first hunt without any trophies or honor. His name would be scared forever and his son would be laughed at and criticized by his peers. Worst of all his wife would be ashamed of him. To his relief Doun'ch said, "Starting tomorrow you skin all the trophies we acquire." Doun'ch knew what kind of harm he would inflict on his whole generation and decided to give him another chance. Besides that fact the human was clearly no threat to them (particularly because he had already scared it to death).
When Jason woke up he saw the whole clan discussing something. He got up and they all looked at him with glares that said 'don't tell anyone or else.' They all cloaked and were obviously gone except for Shou'nk who walked over to his human friend. "Sorry, I didn't know you were an ooman. We were told to hunt the oomans too." He said. "Not that I'm complaining, but why didn't they kill me?" "You are unworthy prey. If you stood up and fought him hand to hand then he would have killed you. I have to go now because they said I can't bond with you anymore." He then cloaked and left along with his clan leaving a very confused Jason.
Mac-11 CQB: I know this chapter was short. The next one will be longer. This is my first fic so no flames, BUT REVIEW IT OR I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN!!!