Author's Note: I noticed that since we got two groups going it could get confusing since I change perspectives, and as such, I've put a small row of dashes before and after a section that's seen from the perspective of the female.

Chapter 4:

Ng'clar 's suspicions were confirmed once he had reached the canopy, his mask picking up a slight movement. This time he knew that whatever it was it was not simply some "native". Unable to identify it by heat signature or species identification, he simply watched it close in on their position. However, when it got halfway it stopped. Though this puzzled him, it was an opportunity to let his mask throw a wider net of surveillance upon the creature and the forest. Trying to conceal his initial response of disbelief he watched as the kainde-amedha activity dropped to zero. Not only that but the hard meat were in fact, moving away from them. Whatever was going on was condoned by the hive itself. That movement must have been some new kind of drone.

His throat gave off a low rumble as he put two and two together. His warrior must have been singled out by this new drone and defeated. If anything the Honored warrior would have noticed the odd behavior of the kainde-amedha, but the anomaly tracking them? No, whatever it was, he would need to inform his two warriors—they would have no doubt overlooked this minute detail as well. If he had not survived the trials of over a thousand hunts he might have also fallen victim to this new hunter.

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She had read his body language, and saw the tiny fluctuations in his heat signature that he tried to hide. He knew somehow that she was watching them. She touched her tongue to the edge of her mouth, licking her lip, once again taking in the dia-shui of the Elder, a shiver passing down her spine. Maybe she would find out more about this old one who seemed to know this planet's hungry secret.

Perking up her ears she could hear that clicking language that previously were only memories being replayed by her DNA.

"My warriors I know you noticed the scattering of the hard meat. But there is something else"

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"--I believe it is a new kind of drone. It's tracking us, and I believe it is responsible for Rhe'tek's death." Ng'clar's whispered to them this new information unable to see the reactions that dotted their faces.

"Orumo, is it wise to stay here?" the Blooded warrior's back went rigid, "We have honor to stay and hunt with you, but it was you who taught us to pick our battles. Is it a wise choice to pick a battle with a creature that has defeated the best of us?" Ng'clar remained silent in thought as the other Blooded warrior continued.

"Forgive me Elder Ng'clar but if it were not for your presence even we would not have seen that creature, only the retreating hard meat. At the very least, maybe it would be best if we returned with a greater hunting party." Ng'clar's head snapped at that last remark.

"Do not think your ability to speak stretches so far, Mk'dei. I have already considered such an option." The Blooded warrior was put in his place but Ng'clar knew that the young one was right that such a plan would be prudent. However this creature had defeated a warrior of the Honored class, Paya only knew how many others. He would need to think of something, and soon, already the planet's first sun was setting. Soon it would be night and their very lives would be in the hands of this new enemy.