Author's Note: I like this chapter; it was really fun to write. Anywho, you'll notice that this chapter I added the names for the predators—I have no idea what their real names would be, but I put some in anyway. A very special and BIG thank you to Solian Rhyo! She found the names in her AvP novels, and was nice enough to point them out. We both think the appointed names fit each predator ;)
Oh, and many of you want some dialogue—I don't think there will be any direct quotes, but they do talk to each other from time to time. That's just the way I see it happening -shrugs- Sorry if that disappoints you guys.
Finally, thanks to all that have reviewed! Lots of lovin' to you guys! 3
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2. Entrance
The three Yautjas were joined by one other crew member from the ship. The only reason being, though, was to launch them from the ship to the ground in the pods. They had ten minutes before reaching the icy island the pyramid was located on.
They knew what they had to do, but it would the first time any of them would experience the so-called intense ride in the bullet pods. Inu, the bravest, cracked his neck before stepping backwards into the cramped space of the pod. Although there was little room to move as it was, he still strapped himself in using thick, fabricated straps that pulled over his broad shoulders and crisscrossed over his chest. He had no desire to be jerked around if that was possible in such a confined space.
He couldn't see his comrades at this point—until they were on the ground, he wouldn't hear or see them. It wasn't a big deal though; neither of them were his first choices of hunting companions. Prient'De was much too thick headed, feeling that since he was the oldest he should lead the show. He had merit, though; he was probably the strongest, but only in the sense of brute strength. His main talent lied in hand-to-hand combat.
The other, Boccob, was all about trophies. Granted, Inu had his own collection of skulls and other bones from minor, learning hunts, but he had yet to see a Yautja like Boccob. This one liked to showcase anything he killed—anything—which was why he chose to stick two skulls on sticks and mount them on his back, making them visible from all angles. His endowment was stabbing things—if it wasn't kin, it'd get a blade shoved into its gut. His arrogance was amazing.
Inu, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than victory. He wanted to show that he was a superb hunter and that he could handle anything. With his perfect aim and keen hearing capabilities, he felt he deserved the mark of the hunter more than the others.
The pod's lights dimmed as the ramparts came together and closed him inside. Messages of time, speed, distances, and locations flashed along the trim and front screen of the pod. A sudden jerk and a message of a launch sequence and preparation status rolled by on the small screen directly in front his mask-covered face. He knew the pod was being loaded into the deployment shoot.
Another message appeared—the ship had entered the planet's atmosphere. A counter began descending down to the amount of time remaining until the pods were released. Inu wondered if he'd be the first to make a kill. If he was lucky, he'd return home with the most under his belt. Confidence ran through his veins. He knew he could out-do the others.
He quickly reminded himself that this wasn't a competition. Status could be built up later. Right now, he just needed admittance into the clan's warrior group. None of his family's line had failed during the first hunt. He refused to return with shame.
A triple beep brought his attention back to the screen. The pods had been launched. At first he wondered why the point of introduction to the pods was forced upon them before they had set out. He barely realized he was in fact moving.
The scale lessoned as the distance between his pod and the ground lessoned. Only seconds remained. He knew the impact would be tough; his long fingers gripped the handles on the wall behind him. Ten seconds….Seven….Five, four, three, two—SMASH!
Inu had felt like any functioning organ inside his body had attempted to scurry up his throat. Now he knew why they had stressed in the introduction not to bend limbs or resist holding on. The impact's effects were forgotten, however, as the ramparts spread apart, releasing the heat inside and allowing the outside forces in.
Freeing him of the harness, Inu ducked his head and put his hands on the now-icy walls of the pod and as he stepped out, he saw that his comrades had landed much further away than he.
Strange, flakey precipitation fell from the heavens, but he barely felt the effects of the climate. The mesh and armor kept him warm, and the mottled skin on his hands were rough enough to ward off any sensitivity.
Raising his left arm, he flipped open the wrist computer and set the infrared system built into the mask to "on." Looking up, he saw the reddish-orange figures of his two partners trudging towards him. Closing the computer, he waited as they came up the hill. Prient'De opened up his own computer and looked at the image of the pyramid that popped up. The humans were down the tunnel, two-thousand-plus feet below the surface.
Each hunter triggered the invisible camouflage to engulf their bodies. Radio signals would keep their weapons invisible as well, as long as they weren't touched by a foreign object. This gave them a huge advantage, perhaps even unfair. But it gave the stealth they loved to have when hunting. Their prey, in a sense, would never see it coming.
The three teen Yautjas marched invisibly through the snow. Though the wind was fierce and snow was distorting the infrared vision, Inu looked around at the barren wasteland. It was a wonder his ancestors had found a large population of humans that could build the spectacular pyramids and feed the hunts. He wondered how much of this planet looked like this.
They came to a halt at the top of a large, steep hill. Buildings were set up below, and to their delight, further insight using the computerized visor showed at least eight humans moving around. For whatever reason, these humans hadn't gone down into the tunnel. No matter, though. They gave all three of the on looking Yautjas a chance to flex their muscles before the real hunt began.
Prient'De led the way down the hill, making a short jump and skidding on both feet down and through the snow. Inu followed his lead, along with Boccob, holding out his right arm behind him in case he began to fall back. He doubted the humans would notice the tidal wave of snow flying up as the three hunters skied down the hill.
Once at the bottom, each signaled the visor they wore to give a more in-depth look into the village. Three humans stood outside the tunnel's entrance; three sat inside a structure; and one was in the middle scurrying around. Inu turned and headed towards the structure that protected the three humans from the elements. He paused for a moment to glance back when he heard Prient'De and Boccob taunting the human, who was turning around to search for the maker of the noises.
Inu heard the sharp cry of the creature; he figured Prient'De had finished it off since he had been the one stalking the closest. He didn't care though. Three humans were sitting around a heat source, practically handing themselves to the hunter as he closed in.
His visor returned to normal infrared view as he slid open the large, frost-covered door. The heart rates of the three human men jumped up immediately. The first to stand up was the first to taste the double-blades of Inu's gauntlet. He had grabbed the human's neck as it jumped up at his invisible form; a quick stab later, Inu tossed the carcass across the room, alarming the other two to the point of being scared to death.
Before the second could move away after seeing his companion take a flight into the frozen wood, Inu had shoved the twin blades into his abdomen shaking him roughly until he was satisfied the body was dead. With his free hand he easily pushed the dead body off and let it crumble to the floor.
The third human yelled when he saw a faded outline of the curved knives dripping with blood. He turned and scurried backwards, trying to find a way out as Inu reached for the spear on his back, the human still having no idea what was lurking about. With his grip tightening on the mid section, the ends extended forward. Aim wasn't even necessary at such close range. He had barely made an effort when throwing the metal spear, the tip smashing through the human's midriff and shoving him back, pinning him to the wall.
Inu watched with amusement as the human's last breaths were spent on fingering the hidden spear until it appeared with static before its eyes. He stepped over the corpse at his feet and yanked out the spear. Growling with satisfaction, he clipped off a long piece of wire from his belt.
Grabbing both feet of the human, he tied the wire around the lifeless ankles and proceeded to fling the other end of the wire over a beam. As he pulled at the body, hanging it upside-down in the center of the frozen room, a fourth human they hadn't accounted for appeared in the doorway.
Inu growled and picked up the spear for a second time, throwing it towards the victim-to-be as it tried to close the door with haste. He gave a hiss from deep in his throat when he saw the human running away.
Pulling the spear from the wall of the building next, he decided to leave the other two bodies on the ground instead of hanging them—he wanted the escapee. He could see him only a few yards ahead, turning and looking around in fear constantly.
Disappointment filled his gut when he saw Prient'De's invisible form emerging from around the corner, following after the human. Inu watched, standing in place while returning his spear to its compact version and remounting it on his back. This was Prient'De's kill now. Boccob stood a little further away, he too watching, having already making two of the four kills hanging at the tunnel's circular entrance.
The human stumbled and fell back, but was able to pull out an automatic shooting weapon. He popped several shots, hitting Prient'De's armor and causing the camouflage to give and how his true form.
Inu didn't know why Prient'De bothered to play with his prey before killing it. He was allowing the human to take scraps of building material and attempt to whack the Yautja. One flick of an arm from the hunter, though, and the human rolled backwards and fell down into the ice tunnel.
Inu joined Prient'De at the mouth of the tunnel, taking his camouflage off too, all the while listening at the human's cries as the tunnel swallowed it up. Boccob came up on the opposite side of the older one, showing himself to the weather as they stared down into the shaft.
Prient'De held up his left am and the lid of the computer flipped open; quickly the image of the pyramid shot up and they saw that a large group of humans had already made it inside the ancient building.
With a grunt, Prient'De told them to follow; Inu tightened his fingers into a fist as he watched the older Yautja extend his wrist blades, jump into the tunnel while digging the blades into the ice to slow the pace as he went down. He allowed Boccob to go next, and then he followed, leaving the outside world behind him as gravity pulled his body to the depths below.
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