Disclaimer: neither the Yautja(predators) nor the Aliens are copyright to me.
To the infrared vision of the hunters helmets, its body seemed to be made out of pure fire as it slowly straightened its huge body and limbs after its jump from the cavern ceiling. Nearly forty meters long, including its powerful tail, the creature seemed to fill up its half of the cavern-- though much of the effect was created by the pair of immense wings at its back. Then there was a rustling sound as it folded the wings tightly, as the same time as it turned its horned head towards the hunters with a chilling hiss. Nostrils flaring as it seemed to scent the air, the creature remained still, and several long moments passed as it and the hunters studied the other.
The creature arched its neck, displaying a row of spikes running all the way down to the end of its tail. What happened next, was something that made even Khte'katildei'h grown in surprise-- as the heat of its body suddenly increased to near blinding intensity. In the span of only a couple of seconds, the winged creature had shrunk to less than half of its original size. Smaller certainly, but still large enough to pose a serious threat to the hunters. Still, Khte'katildei'h noticed, while it had grown sleeker and less heavily muscled-- it had no doubt gained in the terms of speed and agility.
:I extend a challenge. Fight, or die in my hunt:
Its huge, wedge-shaped head tilting slightly downwards as it spoke-- its voice somehow making its way into Khte'katildei'h's mind, the beast turned towards her and the rest of the hunters as strange eddies of heat shifted around it. In the end, only the fact that she chose to change her vision-mode, to look inside the body of the creature-- allowed the female yautja to survive the initial attack. Seeing past its scales, skin and flesh, she noticed a pulsing source of heat within its belly, one that grew in strenght with frightening speed.
Khte'katildei'h hissed, throwing herself around and was already sprinting towards the cave exit when a torrent of fire roared from the beast's maw a moment later. The challenge of the beast was not something she could or would ignore, but she was no a such fool as to stand around and let herself get roasted. Even as she ran, fire flickered around her as it surged out to the sides, and the female yautja clenched her jaws shut as not to scream.
And the gods looked favorably on her, as she did not perish in the flames like so many others must have done. By what her keen ears told her and a few quick glances told her, there was dismayingly few who had escaped. Perhaps they still lived, having fled further into the cave system instead of out, but she would not count them for the hunt that was ahead.
Whatever the nature of the beast, it could be killed-- she had noticed organs and blood-filled veins while scanning it. Fleeing from such a challenge was not something her honor would allow, and she would end the hunt whether it ended in her death or not.
Finally, after what felt like all too long, the surviving hunters reached the mouth of the cave-- the roar of the fire still seeming to resound in their ears. But then, on a barked command from Khte'katildei'h, they moved quickly up the steep side of the ridge above the cave. They had to expect that the creature would be following, if they were lucky-- it would emerge from the same cave as the hunters had. But it could not be underestimated, the lair of the kainde amedha would have other exits, and the beast using one of those was more likely.
But higher ground would give them an advantage, Khte'katildei'h thought. As long as they used their cloaking-system and whatever cover there was to their advantage. How smart the beast was would become evident soon enough, and they would make their tactics based on that.
"What kind of devil was that, I have never seen anything like it. How do you intend to respond to its challenge?" Jan'dekhteh growled as he moved forwards to face her. The fire had scorched the male worse than most of the survivors, but he was still standing straight, his posture and expression making it quite clear that he was ready to fight despite of any pain.
Hissing in response, Khte'katildei'h flexed her claws as the remaining hunters turned towards her and Jan'dekhteh to watch and wait for her response.
"There is no time to deal with our injuries, those that feel unable to fight will remain at a distance-- using only their blasters from a distance. The rest of us will face the beast and take it out if we can, a challenge truly worthy of us!"
Claws clicked against the hard ground and the sound of her hunters exchanging comments and good-natured insults reached Khte'katildei'h as they prepared, those who would stay out of the immediate area of the fight handling their close-quarter weapons over to those who would engage the beast. Certainly the blasters would be the most effective, Khte'katildei'h thought, but she would be a fool to rely on one weapon only.
Then, as the female yautja activated her invisibility cloak, a curse escaped her jaws.
For rising from the furthest end of the ridge about a mile away, was a bright shape still clearly visible against the daytime sky-- wings beating as it soared higher.