Hey guys! Another update! Hope you enjoy! By both Amouthea and me!
Predator: Ancient World
Chapter 4: Royalty
After the encounter with the weapon-maker, Neferti lead Du'gret through many deserted corridors; their destination, Du'gret did not yet know.Each hallway was decorated with colorful wall carvings and paintings, not to mention many stone statues of a variety of creatures.
Upon going around a corner, they encountered another creature, female, who was dressed in very elegant garments. The creature gave a small squeak and jumped backward. Neferti said something to the female, who calmed considerably. Du'gret eyed the new creature, intently; it seemed to hold itself higher than Neferti, as if it was a leader.
Perhaps it was, but Du'gret had not been with these creatures long enough to tell.
"It is alright Mistress. Anubis will not harm you," Neferti said to Queen Tuya. Tuya had seen how large the creature was before, but never fully understood its height.
"Anubis?"
"That is the name I gave him; his real one is difficult to pronounce."
"He is... peaceful?" Tuya asked. She had seen the weapons he had been found with.
"Yes, and I think he may be a warrior. I introduced him to Amun, and he seems to have much skill with a blade."
"I see. Well, I have informed Seti of his arrival, and he wishes to meet him as soon as possible. We should go to him now; he is with Ramses in the throne room."
Queen Tuya led the two through the hallways and into the throne room. The large room was empty save for two people: Pharaoh Seti I and Prince Ramses II. The two were dueling with small, hatchet-like battle axes.
"Keep your grip tight on the shafts. You don't want to lose them in combat," Seti admonished his son. Ramses grabbed one of the axes from the floor where Seti had batted it out of his hand.
Ramses was tall for his age of sixteen. He had burgundy hair, a mix of his father's red and mother's black, which hung in a lock on the right side of his head. It would be removed on his seventeenth birthday, when he was initiated into the right of adulthood. His grey eyes were intense with concentration as he leapt to begin a new fight.
Ramses swung low with one axe, feinting an upper cut, and swung the other high. Seti dodged the high swinging axe, blocked the low one, and countered with a jab to the stomach. Ramses leapt back and raised the axes to defend as his father came at him.
After a few swings and blocks from both sides, Ramses stumbled and was caught of guard by his father who batted Ramses axes aside and brought one of his own up to Ramses cheek.
"Good show son, but you need much more work before you can beat me," Seti said to his son with a smile. Ramses smirked and was about to answer when he looked past his father.
Ramses' eyes went wide, "Father..."
Du'gret watched the two males duel with interest; one seemed young and inexperienced, while the other was obviously an experience veteran. When the battle was over, the young one noticed him first. The older one spun to face him.
The older creature stepped back and addressed one of the females. The female answered and the two males bowed low to Du'gret, the older one saying something about Du'gret being the most revered god. Du'gret didn't understand the creature actions; why were they bowing to him? Was it some sort of greeting?
The older male stepped forward and spoke. Du'gret's mask translated, "I welcome you to my house, great god of the dead. What do you wish of me?"
"Great god of the dead? What does that mean?" Du'gret thought. Did they think he was a god? Du'gret decided to take advantage of the creature's offer and he asked a question that his mask translated.
"Where am I?"
"You are in the great land of Egypt, my lord," Seti answered the god.
Grentou'se stalked up the docking strip to the sleek liquid-night ship, two freshly skinned skulls dangling from his belt. It had been a pleasurable hunt of racing veins and fear-tinged screeches. Alien alloy clashing against this planet's own metals, advanced and primitive weapons colliding with fury. He paused to trace a talon along the blackened eye-socket of one of the ivory glimmer skulls. Its jaw hung open, revealing pearly incisors. Giving a silent battle cry even in death.
It seemed that these creatures had become a little more resourceful since his last visit. More articulate in battle stances, vision detecting that which it had never before. Interesting.
It failed to frighten him in the least, rather, it stirred positive thoughts of tomorrow and future hunts.
He stepped inside the large vessel, nodding to Ru'shan who sat in one corner, polishing a large skull of his own. Even without existing heat, the leader could tell it wasn't human.
"Good hunt?" Grentou'se inquired, stepping past the other blooded warrior, and friend.
"A little left to be desired. I aim for an Ooman tomorrow." He looked up from his trophy to admire those dangling from his comrade's waist. "I see you had no trouble locating one. Two." He grinned in recognition of pride over the skulls. "How do you think our students are faring?"
Grentou'se chortled deeply within his throat. "We will see shortly. This planet's sun sinks fast. It will not be long before they return with their findings." He took the skull with the agape jaw and placed it on his trophy rack, scratching at a fleck of dirt that had collected on the buffed surface. "Or shamefully devoid belts and embedded curses..."
The two Yautja laughed, remembering their own first hunts, and the troubles and triumphs that tagged along.
"Are there more of you, my lord?
Du'gret turned in the direction of the honeyed voice, mask optics peering down at the female beside him. Her golden arm-bands glittered as she walked, sending sparkling flecks bounding off the floor tiles with each movement. Queen Tuya looked up at the death-god expectantly, dark eyes flickering with curiosity.
The young Yautja paused for a moment, wondering at her words. His helmet had quickly translated the question, leaving him more than a little confused in the response department. Should he tell her? It wasn't like these creatures could do much harm. They seemed strangely peaceful, as a matter of fact. From what he had determined thus far, their lives were focused around these 'gods' they held in such high esteem. He mused at their reverence towards him, and found himself enjoying such awe-struck treatment vastly. Would the others appreciate it as well?
Wasn't it forbidden to provide prey with proof of their existence?
Yes. That was a certainty.
But, could these creatures be considered a species of prey?
Perhaps. Very unlikely.
He had taken note of the mock-battle between the two royal males. He had to admit he was somewhat impressed. Maybe a select few could be considered as such.
He returned his gaze to the females padding alongside him. The one who had addressed him moments ago was looking up at him with her long eyes, facial features in a snit of curiosity. How odd that the females were less formidable than the males in this particular species. He was sure a mere grasp would shatter the fragile frames of the ones at his arms. So delicate.
No, it would be a jest to call these creatures worthy prey.
"Yes."
Queen Tuya looked up at the god once more, a smile playing across her soft lips. She was afraid he might have deemed her unworthy to speak to. It had taken him a long while to respond. Did she sense a tint of hesitance behind his answer? Why would a god have reservations about his words?
"Will they grace us with their presence as well?" Neferti sputtered, spinning on her heel to walk backwards, so that she could face the god as he strode beside her.
Du'gret stared into the long-lashed, kohl-lined amber orbs alight with hope. He found himself wondering the same thing.
"I do not know yet, Neferti." He watched her eyes widen with pride at the use of her name. How easily pacified these beings are...
He would need more time to think upon the subject. To play out presumably anticipated reactions and outcomes in his mind. He ran the tips of his talons along the skin of his palms.
What would Grentou'se's reaction be?
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