CHAPTER ONE: THE NEW HUNTER

PREDATOR SPACESHIP SHA'AR

20 YEARS LATER

Dei'r'dre ran, taking one quick turn after another, the dark grey walls of stone offering no comfort. Every shadow looked like a threat. She could hear it behind her, hissing and growling. She breathed heavily, pulling out her spear and extending it. Two other aliens came from the shadows. She jumped with the grace of a samurai and speared them, throwing them away from her with incredible strength. A few others came and she pulled out her shuriken. She threw it, slicing into the domed heads of her enemy. She let out a war cry and caught it, spinning around to slice another one in half with the same shuriken. The hard meat scampered away as a massive creature rose from the shadows. It was the Alien Queen, and it was clearly pissed off. Dei'r'dre gasped and fell backward as the Queen's tail lashed out, spearing her straight through her armor and raising her up, baring its teeth and hissing.

As one last attack, she roared and aimed her shoulder cannon at it's face. She fired and watched the alien's head splatter against the wall. She smiled in content as she slipped off the tail and hit the ground. She heard roars of approval. She looked up as the training configuration dissolved, revealing a massive stone arena like the Colossus in Greece. She looked around, thousands of students and warriors clapping and yelling her name. She felt herself blush.

"Good training session Dei'r'dre," she heard a voice say. "You are ready for the the hunt, i think." It ws her father, Ra'a'shi. She looked behind her, three dots appearing on his forehead. He laughed as she realized this and struggled to turn it off.

"Uhhh, sorry sir, I... huh, didn't realize-" She stammered. Ra'a'shi laughed and put a massive hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Dei," He whispered. She bowed her head in understanding.

"Father." She said, elegantly. She smiled as Hr'aen's head poked out from behind him and he waved at her. They laughed and ran to each other, falling into one another's friendly embrace. Hr'aen and her known each other since she was taken in by Ra'a'shi. Now, they were the best of friends, laughing together, sharing things with each other and even sparring together.

"You were great out there Dei!" He said excitedly as they broke apart. Laughing, she thanked him, taking off her mask and holding it under her arm. She saw Ku'r'ab, Ga'ma, Re'en, and Kab'al appear behind him also. She bowed to him and they bowed back.

"Fantastic work, Dei'r'dre." Ku'r'ab said, in his normal slow tones. Kab'al nodded in agreement. They were twins, and still, after twenty years, it was hard for her to figure out which was which. After all, they were identical.

"Yes," Kab'al said, also in slow tones. " It was right for Ra'a'shi to bring you here after all." Re'en smiled and brought his hand to her shoulder.

"Astounding... i never saw anyone fight like that, except for maybe Hr'aen. You are very skilled." He said. Die'r'dre smiled. It was rare for Re'en to say she did well in a training session ever. He usually only said her flaws and to eliminate them. She bowed her head, eyes never leaving him. He usually attacked her, just to see if she had her guard up. As he always said, "Even your allies can turn on you at any moment. Never let your guard down. It may be the last thing you ever do." To her surprise, he didn't do anything.

"Thank you Re'en. Your compliment is honored." She said. Suddenly, the titanium doors slid open and the Royal Yautja entered, flanked by his guards. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Dei'r'dre Yaujat'm!" He said magestically. Her five friends stepped back, including her father. Dei'r'dre stepped forward, nervous. What did he want with her? "Will you join me and my warriors in the Royal Hunt?" He asked in his masculine, growling voice. She blinked in surprise. She was the only female asked by him to be in this hunt. She liked the idea, but wow... she had a crush on him for a while, and now he was asking her to be in the most challenging hunt! She looked at her father and he bowed his head, smiling.

"I-I would be honored to." She replied, standing straight and bowing. He nodded and clicked his mandibles in content.

"Come. We will get you fitted in proper armor... Warrior Dei'r'dre." The Royal Yautja raised his arm to guide her. Swooning, she placed her hand on his forearm. She looked back at her friends, and her father gave her a nod of encouragement, but Hr'aen didn't look so happy. His head was bowed and his eyes were shadowed by his brow. A deep rumble came from his chest as he stared at his leader. Dei'r'dre looked at him in confusion.

She wondered why he was so angry...

-Well, Chapter One is done. Hope you liked it! Over and out! RR!