Hey guys, sorry it took so goddamned long to update this fic. :) I've got three on the go now, and I've been working mostly on my hellboy fic. :) This one should get updated a hell of a lot more often, thanks for your patience! and remember, this was written in 2002... so it's a little amateur. Mid-chapter 6 is where I've picked up. :)
Chapter 5
The storm shed one final tear on the weary companions, who were completely spent from all the violence. The sun had set completely, plunging the world into blackness only rivaled by the funereal atmosphere hanging around them.
Though Jack tenderly cleaned Riddick's wounds, he noticed she was overly cautious with him, as if any small sting as a result of her ministrations would set him off again. She didn't even really look at him, at his face, as she dabbed ever so lightly at his split lip.
She's afraid of me.
So was Imam, apparently. He did a better job of covering it up though, just stood aside surveying the scene with his usual priestly scowl, only moved to help Jack drag the strange woman from the middle of the clearing and bind her tightly with belts and bits of cloth. He avoided looking or coming anywhere near Riddick.
Riddick remained seated on his log, watching the proceedings numbly. After the woman was properly immobilized, they disarmed her completely, Jack tucked the massive blade into her own pants before taking Imam's arm and leading him away, mumbling something about firewood. Riddick saw right through the lie. Too wet to find dry wood. They were going to talk about him. Before she was out of sight, Jack looked warily at Riddick, unsure whether to leave him alone with the prisoner for any length of time. Riddick glanced at her and shook his head, I won't touch her the gesture said, which seemed to reassure Jack enough. Riddick wondered where the hell she got her convictions. This woman beat the snot out of him, attacked him, put them all in danger, and Jack wanted Riddick to leave her alone? What the fuck?
Too damned nice for her own good.
When they were gone, Riddick finally stood. He'd been sitting there for an hour, and his body was getting stiff. He began to pace, just to shake off the soreness in his legs, and thought about the battle.
Why he'd never realized his opponent was a woman didn't bother him. He'd been blinded, and she showed herself so little, moved so fast. Even when he was on top of her with his elbow assumingly poking right into her breasts, he was too far-gone to notice. At the time he thought only of pain and death, and the sex of the adversary didn't matter one bit.
For a while afterwards he felt guilty about pounding on her so mercilessly, she was, after all, almost half his size. Not in height but in general thickness. She was only a couple inches shorter than him, maybe 5'9", and though she was well muscled, she was easily 60 pounds lighter than Riddick.
Not that it matters; she did a damned good job of messing me up. Not so much physically, but mentally. He'd never felt like a scared rabbit being hunted by a fox before, and it brought out animal instincts he'd almost forgotten about. He'd stalked his victims, sure, but never quite in that way or with those senses and primal reflexes. Only once before had he felt like that, but it was so long ago, the memories were faded.
As he struggled to remember that day he touched his face carefully, only lightly feeling his nose. That and his lip didn't hurt nearly as much as before, both stopped bleeding but they still throbbed, more an annoyance than anything.
The woman groaned, bringing Riddick's attention back to her. She was still unconscious, bleeding a little, but even then had strength enough to move. As Riddick kneeled next to her he thought how admirable this woman would have been if she hadn't attacked him. Her skill and talent was obvious, she'd lived a hard life judging by her scars, and had will power and speed. All were very good qualities in a warrior. In different circumstances, Riddick knew he'd have liked this woman… now all he wanted to do is choke the life out of her.
Add to those qualities, she was rather pretty and had a decent body under all the blood. Her face was puffed up from the bruises, and the slices in her neck and stomach masked her in red, but Riddick could still see her smooth henna colored skin, much like his own only a couple shades darker, like she spent all day outside tanning. On one side of her face he traced her strong jaw and prominent cheekbones, framed by thick, long jet-black hair, hanging in partial dreadlocks and soaked with gore. She almost had a cave-woman image, broken only by the clothes she wore, which were more modern. Riddick wondered if she grunted like a cave-woman and had to hold in his mirth at the mental images that brought.
Later, sitting in a circle around a fire made of rags and what few small logs the group could find, Riddick wondered why the woman attacked in the first place. He looked at Jack and Imam, trying to put himself in a stranger's perspective again, but still couldn't find anything remotely dangerous about them. Imam radiated purity and patience, a Holy Man through and through. Jack? The only scary thing about Jack was her resilience and bouncy teenage attitude. She was already more trusting of Riddick than two hours ago, maybe since he'd hardly moved or said anything to frighten her off.
So what was it? Me? Riddick knew he didn't exactly radiate 'cuddle me' vibes, and his face was known all over, had it maybe reached this planet as well? Maybe she was after the money for his head.
Riddick quickly discounted that theory, she didn't look like a mercenary, more like someone who'd stick my head on a spear and chant gibberish at the moons.
Then Riddick remembered the crucified hunter and his buddies, and what he'd thought when he saw them.
Keep Out.
Was that whole thing a battle for territory? Were they in her area, and did that provoke her attack? Was she trying to scare them off her land?
Riddick had been curious as to why she didn't kill him when she had the chance, now he knew. She didn't want him necessarily dead, she wanted him gone. And she knew that if she fucked him up enough for him to go away, the other two would also leave, and her territory would again be hers. Made almost perfect sense.
Hold on, Riddick thought. If this is her area, she's got to live around here, and whatever her home is, it's got to be better than here in the bush. Close to fresh water and a decent food source, maybe medical supplies.
"Pack up, we're leaving."
The Huntress swam in her dreams, through the icy waters of the river, to emerge at the shore. It was night and the moons shone brightly off the rapids, highlighting the trees around it. She basked in the glow for a moment before turning to head home, and stopped in her tracks.
There, in the shadows, was a pair of glowing silver eyes. She reached for her knife but found it no longer here.
A growl came and the Wolf stepped out, holding her blade and smiling hungrily. No waiting this time. She spun and ran, afraid, knowing from her other dreams what came next. Maybe this time she could out run him.
She heard the howl and knew the man was now a beast and was gaining on her. Everything slowed down then, she felt like she was running through molasses, and screamed as the heavy paws hit her back with incredible force that knocked her to the rocks. She rolled over, knowing she was more exposed but also it made it easier to fight back. She pushed against the Wolf's nose, trying to keep it from her jugular, trying to throw him off of her. His claws dug into her, leaving thick red gashes on her stomach.
She lost control and the teeth clamped on her throat like a vise, and the Huntress let out a final garbled scream before the Wolf tore her breath away.
She woke up with a jolt, still unable to breathe, gasping for air. It took her a moment for her body to sort itself out, and then she lay confused.
Where was she?
She was on her back, looking up through the trees at the stars. Her back was wet and she felt something jabbing uncomfortably against her back. From this angle nothing looked familiar, and it didn't help her vision was dampened by the blood that trickled in. She wanted to rub it away, but she was bound, her wrists stuck together above her head, and she didn't have the strength right now to lift them that far.
Someone leaned over her, a dark shadow. The Huntress couldn't quite make out a face but she saw a bald head.
Shit, that could be any of them.
When a slender arm came out and wiped the blood out of her eyes with a rag, the Huntress knew it was the girl. The fog cleared a bit as the blood was washed away, and she could swear the girl looked concerned.
"Let's go Jack. Gimme that." The rag was swiped away from the girl's small hand and she glared at the speaker. The Huntress blinked and looked also.
He held the rag in one fist and his silver eyes flashed with hatred. The Huntress didn't know whether to curl up and cry or start laughing. The girl, Jack, backed off a little, afraid of the large man.
He's got me; I'm his prisoner now.
The Huntress didn't know what to think of that. She'd never been beaten before, and caught only once, but escaped that easily enough. Now in the company of the Wolf she doubted herself and her abilities.
Wait. Take your time, be patient, be silent.
He seemed to reconsider something and looked down at her again. Riddick leaned annoyingly close to the Huntress, putting on a professional face. The Huntress wondered what his nose would feel like getting chewed up. She heard the girl protesting, "Careful, Riddick."
He smiled smugly at the Huntress and she wanted to slug him, cursing the cloth that bound her.
"So, are you going to explain yourself?" He asked like a father to a misbehaving child.
Fuck you, baldy. The Huntress remained silent.
"Where do you live?" He asked after a minute. The tension between them was rising. If she could lift a leg in time she could probably knee him in the balls. She decided against it when he took his shiv out and held it under her chin. She kept her mouth shut, letting her eyes trail off to look at the trees above.
"Look, you have to live around here somewhere, just lead us in the right direction."
The Huntress laughed heartily inside, thinking of the wonderful tortuous things she'd do to him once she was free. As if she'd tell him where she lived, it was her most protected secret. Her eyes scanned the stars and she wished on the brightest.
Let me have the strength…
Riddick's large hands suddenly cupped her cheeks and squeezed, "Look at me." He said menacingly.
She did.
"Where do you live?"
She gathered some coppery tasting gob in her mouth and gave him a tightlipped smile in return.
"Tell me where you live." Riddick demanded. The strange woman just grinned at him. He was getting rather pissed off.
Jack was pacing behind him, he heard her, and he knew she was worried he'd flip out on the woman again. It took all his will not to when the strange woman spat blood onto his cheek in a fine spray and grinned wider.
He wiped the ooze off with his forearm, restraining himself from pounding the woman into soup, or using his shiv to play a while.
If it wasn't for Jack…
Damn right he would.
He sighed deeply and stood again, facing Jack and Imam. This was going to be harder without the stranger's help. He didn't really expect cooperation, but still, had to try. Jack looked relieved when he stepped away from the wounded woman.
"Now what do we do?" Imam asked, hefting his baggage and frowning as usual.
Riddick considered for a minute, decided they couldn't discuss this near her and took them aside for a group meeting, keeping one eye on his prisoner.
"I say we find the nearest river. She has to live somewhere near a food supply and water source, otherwise she wouldn't have made it as long as she probably has out here. We could probably live on what she's got until we find transportation off this rock."
"What if she gets free, Mr. Riddick?"
"Doubtful."
"But what if? She could have a way to signal the mercs or something, and you're in no condition to handle them and her." Jack insisted, looking him over.
"What's wrong with my condition?" Riddick asked, offended. He spotted the woman fighting her bonds and chucked a rock at her, saying "No!" like one would to a bad dog. She growled back at him, making him laugh.
Jack replied, "Let's see, how fucked up are you right now?" She lifted a hand to count off fingers and reasons, but Riddick interrupted her.
"Watch your mouth."
"Fuck that shit."
Imam put a hand on her shoulder to silence her. "Enough."
Riddick almost laughed at the scenario. Him of all people, chiding Jack for swearing. Imam giving them both hell in his own paternal way. And Jack standing there as stubborn as every other teenager, defying her 'parents'. That, and the bad dog over there.
Riddick planned everything out with the others. He'd take the strange woman, having the strength to drag her easily enough. Jack and Imam would take the luggage. They'd head in the direction of the sounds of the river. Now that the rain stopped he could hear it a little. Maybe he'd hear it better from the 'dead hunter' place, where they were going first.
He made sure the others were ready, and stalked over to the woman, who still struggled with the belts and cloth. She stopped when she saw him, but he didn't sense any fear from her. Just hatred.
"You keep wiggling like that, you'll reopen your belly wound. Wouldn't want you to bleed to death, now would we?"
She appeared to deliberate on that for a second, before resuming her struggle. Would rather die than be a prisoner, huh? Tough shit.
Riddick grabbed the rope around her ankles and pulled. She grunted as her head struck a tree root. Riddick glanced over his shoulder at her, grinning.
"Hey, if you just told us where you lived, I might have let you walk."
She gave him the finger instantly.
Definitely not inhuman. And she knows English.
"Okay then!"
The three agreed on how to transport the prisoner, though Imam thought it was a little cruel. But they all knew that this way she couldn't bite or reach one of her weapons.
Riddick dragged the woman behind him, like pulling a wagon that squirmed. Jack and Imam stayed ahead of them, not wanting to see the woman dragged through the forest. Jack felt sort of sorry for her, she told Riddick earlier. At the same time she didn't really give a shit how hurt she got either. The strange woman attacked them first and deserved the discomfort.
Riddick just considered it payback for breaking his nose.