Woohoo! Four day weekend! I might be able to update the entire story this weekend because I only have 2 more chapters after this one.

Finally you get to see what happens after the cliffhanger! Enjoy and give lots of reviews! Also don't yell at me for what happens at the end.

Congratulations to Kitty Felone, who gave me a title for this story that works! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I also finally made over 100 reviews! More thanks to my readers! Ooh, many exclamation points…

Chiva-Trial.

Guan-Thwei-Nightblood.

Setg'in-kwei-Tricky and quick.

Ki'its-pa-Retractable spear.

Thwei-Tjau'ke-Bloodstone.

Ell-osde'pauk-Fuck you!

Kainde Amedha-Hard Meat, Xenomorph.

Nihkou'te-Tooth or tusk.

H'sai-de-Curved sword.

Chapter 16

A Yautja warrior clicked softly to himself as he whittled away at a stick. Guan-Thwei thought of Matt, deep inside the pyramid, battling Kainde Amedha. He thought back rather fondly to his own Chiva. True, he had been badly wounded and if not for Nihkou'te and Meh'ket, he would be dead, but the wonderful feeling when he had killed his first could not be compared! The glory of that first hunt… Matt was lucky that he was fighting the Kainde Amedha, the most difficult prey they ever hunted, their true equals in battle. Guan-Thwei hoped the ooman would survive, so that he could think back to his Trial and tell Youngbloods about it, as Guan-Thwei did.

…..

Matt's scream was cut off abruptly as he hit the ground hard on his back. A squeal cut sharply through the musty air. Matt felt his raised spear break through something and the Hard Meat started to slide towards him. Matt suddenly remembered that Thwei-Tjau'ke had been crippled in much the same manner, trapped under a bleeding Kainde Amedha. He grunted and flung the thrashing beast off himself, rolling to avoid its lashing tail and claws. Blood hissed on his ki'its-pa tip and Matt shook off most of the acid before it could destroy the blade. The metal was only so resistant. Then he turned to the mortally wounded Kainde Amedha. It raised itself with its arms and shrieked, struggling clumsily to get up, with none of the grace it had possessed before. Something seemed to be wrong with its hind legs. Then it leaped, awkwardly.

Matt was ready and yelled "Ell-osde'pauk!" as he hurled the spear at it. The spear sank deeply into its head. The beast landed beside him and stumbled, then collapsed into a twitching hulk, hissing softly. Matt darted forward and yanked his ki'its-pa from its head and began stabbing it over and over again! Acid blood spattered Matt and he threw the spear away with a howl, swiping at the drops. Finally, they stopped burning. He was lucky they were only very small drops. He sat down, rubbing at his countless bruises, acid scores and cuts. He stared at the Hard Meat until it stopped twitching. Matt sucked in a breath. It was dead! He had killed his first Kainde Amedha! He had done it! He got up slowly and advanced on the black bleeding carcass. He prodded it a few times with his spear, just to be safe, then knelt and after scanning the room, removed his mask. He squinted at the shadowy ground; the natural phosphorescence was barely enough to see by. He cut off one of the claws and shook off the excess blood, then raised it to his brow with a trembling hand. This was really going to hurt! Matt gritted his teeth and growled as the blood burned a brand on his forehead. Then he put the same mark on his mask. Matt replaced the mask and stood, planting a sandaled foot on the carcass. Then Matt thrust his ki'its-pa into the air and yelled his triumph, shaking his head and laughing at the same time, overcome by emotion!

…..

He trotted along the maze-like halls of the pyramid. The plasma caster was sitting safely on his shoulder. Matt had already killed or wounded several Kainde Amedha on his way through the pyramid. Matt searched for Setg'in-kwei and the entrance. He stopped as the pyramid began shifting again, waiting until it was finished. A new hall was revealed. It was badly damaged, with great chunks of rock littering the ground. Luckily it looked like old damage. Matt took a few steps forward, eyes trained on a long, ridged tail and h'sai-de in hand. He raised the weapon and prepared to run the owner of the tail through when it turned. The Hard Meat didn't budge. Matt walked cautiously around the pillar and saw a very dead Kainde Amedha. It was missing its head and looked mummified. He shook his head and slid his h'sai-de back into the scabbard. Matt walked a short distance more through the hall; all around him was evidence of an old battle, probably the last Kainde Amedha. Suddenly, something clicked and rasped against the stone. Matt froze briefly and switched on his laser tracker with a twist of his lips. Matt turned until they rested on something alive. It sat up and got clumsily to its feet, staggering towards him. Matt turned off the laser and stared in shock at Ni'il-este.

His mask had been ripped off with great force, leaving the wiring hanging around his face. Parts of his armor had been burned and ripped off. Green blood was streaming from cuts all over his body, but especially from a massive gash on his right thigh and a wound across his abdomen. The Yautja breathed raspily in the thin, dry air.

"M'aat-hew! You have to help me! Please!" whimpered Ni'il-este, drawing closer and dragging his wounded leg.

"You're alive! I thought you were dead!" Matt answered incredulously. Ni'il-este had a black eye and a cut above it, still bleeding sluggishly.

"Please get me back to the ship. I need to go now!"

"Why? We can't leave until the Elders call us back. I'm lost anyway. What happened to you?" Matt looked nervously at his friend; he looked like a dog that was afraid of being kicked.

"You have to help me, to save me! When they caught me…" He trailed off, clutching his chest.

"I don't know where the exit is, I'm lost. You'll never make it!" hissed Matt as he put a hand on his sword.

"You're my friend, M'aat-hew. You stuck up for me, you have to help me!"

"I can't. I don't want another Hard Meat to deal with." His cruel words seared his throat and mouth as he spoke them. Ni'il-este's leg folded up and he collapsed. Matt didn't want to kill Ni'il-este and he couldn't keep him alive! He drew his sword and held out the leather wrapped handle to his friend, who had lost most of his weapons.

"No! Help me!" pleaded the Yautja, extending a hand. Matt was forcibly reminded of Guan-Thwei.

"You're a danger, Ni'il-este, you won't survive! Even if you do get back to the ship, the Elders will not remove it! They will kill you too! Please, do it honorably. I don't want to!" Matt cried. Ni'il-este whimpered and clutched at Matt's leg, begging incoherently. Matt raised the h'sai-de above the Yautja's back, but couldn't make it descend. "I'm sorry, Ni'il-este." He thrust it down through the Youngblood's torso. Ni'il-este roared as it impaled him. Matt withdrew it, but he still lived, twitching and coughing. He dropped the sword and knelt, turning his dying friend over and supporting his head. "I had to do it. Please understand." The Yautja coughed, blood dribbling over his spread mandibles. They waved feebly as he tried to talk. Matt held the Yautja's hand. Ni'il-este exhaled harshly and did not inhale again. Matt closed his friend's eyes and fell back against the wall. He removed his mask and cried into his hands.