Disclaimer: Yeah-no, I do not own AvP.

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Before: Scar sprang into the air, cutting off the very tip of the Queen's tail before Lex could be impaled. Flung against a stone pillar, Lex couldn't get her body to respond as Scar continued to kick some Alien Queen ass. The Queen tries to get her underlings to overpower Scar, but a newly charged Rave has other plans as he goes berserk in order to slaughter tide after surging tide of hard meats. The battle between Scar and the Queen result with one very dead Alien mother crushing the life and breath out of Scar. Though already weakened by her wounds and loss of blood, Lex realizes she's the only one who could help save Scar. Not wanting to lose him a second time, Lex defies all that would seek to weaken and kill her to get the Queen's dead husk off of Scar. All are surprised when the Ooman actually manages to fling the gigantic form off of the Yautja warrior. Lex lost consciousness after telling a very shocked Scar that she wouldn't let him die. After setting the bomb, Rave strongly recommends Scar haul ass and take his Queen trophy. But Scar won't leave the Ooman, nor will he let her go while she lives. Raking away any argument, Rave takes it upon himself to bring Scar's trophy with them. Scar barely manages to pry the red blooded talon off the Queen before he, too, joins Rave in their hasty departure.

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The hardened skull of the hard meats' Queen beat against his shoulder blades with each massive lunging step Rave made. But the big Yautja didn't even notice the huge weight over his shoulders.

His concentration was turned towards getting out of that pyramid before it exploded and crumbled.

With them still inside of it.

The bigger Yautja turned his gaze in a sidelong glance towards Scar and the Ooman he carried. He had never believed the stories when he had heard them.

Stories of brave warriors standing within death's clutches, only to fight their way back to the land of the living once more. He had heard of the tales told by the old ones and he had always been among the younglings who scoffed at such foolishness. Brave, a warrior may be, but to turn aside death itself? Rave never believed there had been anything worth staving off death for.

Until now.

His sage gaze was uncharacteristically piercing as he observed the two beings beside him. The grip Scar had on the female was protective, to say the least. Why couldn't Scar admit his feelings for their new clanmate?

'Stubborn fool,' Rave thought to himself, chuckling even as he snapped his focus back onto the task at hand.

Scar didn't notice the observing gaze the other Yautja had sent him. Hell, he barely noticed where his deadly, yet gracefully swift strides took him. His mind was half there. A dangerous prospect, considering how he had died last time by not paying enough attention to his surroundings.

But right now, the Yautja couldn't give a damn about where his mind was.

His thoughts were running around full circle.

The Ooman was dying. He could feel her warmth seeping from the very body in his arms. Her lips were pale and she trembled ever-so-slightly. Unconsciously, Scar tightened his grip and quickened his pace. A pace which Rave hastily fell into lest he suddenly found himself left behind.

'What can I DO?' Scar rambled angrily in his mind.

Their medicines couldn't help her. HE hadn't been paying attention well enough to the Ooman anatomy courses back at their home world. And he knew, with as much conviction that his own eyes were amber, that RAVE certainly hadn't been paying attention either. Well, except for the parts where the teachers revealed spots of the Ooman body that you could inflict the most damage or pain upon.

Scar sure as hell couldn't leave her here. And who KNOWS what repercussions would result from bringing her onto the Yautja Hunting ship.

Which led full circle back to Scar's original thought.

'WHAT CAN I DO?' Scar ground his mandibles so loudly even Rave started for a second, wondering where the ominous noise came from, 'HOW do I SAVE her?'

They didn't even see it coming.

Rave was actually half-turned towards Scar, about to comment asininely about something, when the surprise attack struck them.

Burdened already by the huge skull he carried, Rave was instantly knocked off-balance the moment the hard meat pounced on him. The big Yautja had tossed the skull off to the side and out of the way, but by then he had already fallen over the edge.

Scar barely had time to watch in shock as Rave's dreadlocks whipped down over the ledge before Grid turned on him.

Sickly yellow criss-crosses gleaming in the low light, Grid bypassed the Yautja's protective embrace and aimed straight for the unconscious Ooman cradled in Scar's arms. Dodging a feint the hard meat had made, Scar wasn't prepared when he suddenly found his arms empty and Lex's body flying through the air.

She hit the wall. HARD.

Even Rave, who had managed to ensnare his wristblades into the cliff wall by this point, declared later that he had heard the sound of Lex's skull colliding with stone.

Scar was blind and overcome with a red wall of rage. He couldn't ever remember being so furious. Besides the time Rave had almost gotten them both kicked out of the training trials. But that didn't even compare to his anger right now. It was equal only to the rage he had felt back in the Queen's chamber.

Roaring for all to hear, Scar ignored all thoughts to be careful and charged as blindly as Rave would on a bad day. He couldn't even remember what happened. All he could recall was the sting of acid, the spilling of blood, and breaking at least two of Grid's limbs.

By the time Rave had pulled himself back onto the walkway, the hard meat had turned tail and run with Scar about to dart off after it in hot pursuit.

Growling, Rave grabbed Scar's muscled bicep before the latter could rush off, (We NEED to go!)

Scar's head whipped around to glare Rave square in the face, his breathing so harsh his chest armor rose and fell a great amount. Much to his surprise, Rave found the glare spoke volumes the other Yautja would never utter without a half-joking air.

He really saw his death in Scar's eyes. If Rave got in Scar's way, Scar would kill him.

Since this wouldn't be very fortunate for either Rave's or Scar's well-being, Rave decided to really work his brain and think of another way to get the Young Blood Yautja to forget about Grid and hightail it out of there.

Fortunately, he found the solution easier to find than he thought.

(Where is the Ooman?)

Scar's eyes widened, the blood lust clearing from them as he cursed in multiple languages. Previous hard meat quarry and death-threat to his friend forgotten, Scar rushed over to the Ooman's slumped form.

As the yellowish-brownish Yautja checked on her health, Rave bounded over with the Queen's skull slung over his shoulder once more.

But Scar didn't need to be told again. Picking the Ooman up as tenderly as possibly, Scar nodded once to Rave before they ran like they had never run before.

By the time they had reached the sled at the bottom of the tunnel, they heard the ominous rumblings of the bomb's detonation. At which point their eyes nearly bulged from under their masks.

(I thought you said you gave us enough time!) Scar hissed, even as he threw himself on the sled, the Ooman held carefully beside him.

Punching the console to start the contraption, Rave barely jumped on before it sped upwards, growling, (I DID. How was I supposed to know that I would end up being flung half-way down a ravine while you had all the fun trying to rip apart the-)

The rest of his words were blotted out as the massive shockwave moments ahead of the detonation finally whipped past. The Yautja's grips tightened even as they heard the motorized whirr of the sled getting out of control.

Dreadlocks whipping furiously behind them, Scar rumbled, (When I catch up to that hard meat-)

(Unless I get to it first.) The bigger Yautja interjected, his mandibles grinding together as he added, (It attempted to take my life blood before, remember?)

(We'll see.) Scar clicked in challenge, his mandibles twitching slightly into a tilting grin. He turned his amber gaze more seriously to the pale brown face beside him. Moments later they were flying through the air, the sled whining as it attempted to grip the steel chord that was no longer there to follow.

With a sudden jerk, the sled slammed back into cold surface of abandoned whaling station, the snow parting as the sled continued to plough on through.

Before they had even come to a complete stop, the Yautja's were up and on their feet, Queen skull and Ooman in tow as they outran the cracks racing along the icy surface.

(A little out of shape?) Scar commented challengingly, his tone light considering the dire situation.

(Do you WANT your Queen trophy?) Rave growled back in a clicked burst, his mandibles stretched widely into a grin. The kind of grin that only showed up with death nipping at your heels. In their case, it was literal.

(That's all right.) Scar tossed back conversationally, (I'll just take your skull instead.)

Rave barked out in laughter at that one, shaking his head even as he stepped up the pace. A split second behind them a large chunk of ice suddenly separated and plunged into the unforgiving depths beneath them.

Rave blinked, turning his head slowly to Scar in shock, (You know... you could have just told me to run faster.)

Scar grinned, (And miss your reaction right now? Nah.)

Rave gave him a look, (You're such a little fucker sometimes, you know that?)

(And your brain's as dense as a Grpka's saliva. What else is new?) Scar shrugged, his grin wild as he sped off even faster.

Rave glanced back once before speeding up as well, (You just wait until we get back to the ship. Let's see who's grinning then.)

Scar was ready to throw something insulting back, a wide grin still on his face, when a realization struck him.

Back to the ship?

Scar quieted after that, his thoughts turning to grimmer matters. Once the rumbling had stopped and they had gained a safe distance, Scar halted in place. He didn't take in the fact that they were standing inside the bones of a large and very dead whale. He just turned to look hard at Rave as he said, (We can't.)

(What?) Rave grunted, shifting the skull he carried over his shoulder, completely lost on what Scar was talking about.

(We CANNOT go back to the ship.) Rave nodded his head towards the Ooman in his arms, (What about her?)

Rave frowned, (She's part of the Clan. What's the pr-)

(SHE'S DYING.) Scar snapped, his dreadlocks snapping as he jerked his head to send a glare towards his younger yet bigger companion. He knew Rave could be a little slow sometimes. But on matters as important as THIS...?

(We have healers-) Rave started to argue.

But Scar knew time was short as he growled, (And if they can't heal her? WHAT then? Every moment we breathe, she's losing life blood. She's BEEN losing life blood ever since the battle in the throne room!)

The rest spoke for itself. They couldn't risk taking her to their ship. Hard-headed as some of their healers were, Scar and Rave both knew they just might be stubborn enough to accidentally kill her.

Thankfully, Rave didn't need further explanation.

But what the big Yautja said next surprised Scar so much that the yellowish-greenish Yautja wondered how he couldn't have thought of it himself.

(What about the Ooman's water vessel?)

(Hunter's Moon be praised.) Scar said softly in awe, his eyes widened slightly, (You're a genius, Rave.)

Before Rave could come back with a quip, the other took off, his course set.

But the air shimmered beside them as it revealed the presence of one of the smaller Yautja transports. Scar halted in his tracks out of pure relief. He may have been fast, but right now every second counted.

Before the door had fully opened, Scar was inside, his eyes inspecting the Ooman still nestled in his arms. Not giving the Yautja's inside the transporter time to talk, Scar quickly ordered, (To the Ooman's Piper Maru vessel!)

Stepping inside after Scar's hasty entrance, Rave only had to see the faintest hints of disagreement on the Yautja's faces before he growled, (Do it NOW or I will personally skin your hides and send them in DISGRACE to your fathers!)

Their horror, quickly overtaking their initial shock at seeing the huge trophy Rave carried for Scar and the sight of the Ooman, sped the Yautja's to their tasks. Out of the corner of his eye, Scar saw Rave drop the skull onto the floor before bounding back outside into the wind and snow.

As the door began to shut, Scar shot him a questioning look.

(To Hunt.) Rave purred dangerously.

Then the door was closed and they were speeding towards the Piper Maru faster than any air vessel the Ooman's ever created.

-o-o-o-

Rave stood and watched the transport re-cloak and speed off, his own sensors having trouble tracking it due to the shielding. But he knew there was nothing he could have done to help. Other than find and kill the hard meat that got away. Rave grimaced at the cold, thankful for his thermal netting. Without wasting another second, he hefted a wicked dagger and bound off to find fresh tracks.

-o-o-o-

The mere seconds it took to get there, Scar watched the Ooman closely. Her blank face had taken a pained quality, her brows furrowed and her expression twisted even in her unconsciousness. Her breath was rasping and didn't agree with Scar at all.

The Yautja's there made sure not to provoke the bloody Yautja warrior in the midst of them. He looked imposing as he stood there silently, his shoulders and posture slightly hunched, as if daring anyone to try to kill the Ooman in his arms.

What kind of threw off the whole intimidating warrior picture was the low, concerned purring they could hear emanating from Scar's throat in a deep rumble. They didn't think Scar himself even realized he was making the noise. But no one was willing to risk blood or limb to tell him.

The moment the door opened, Scar was cloaked and stepping out towards the ramp of the ship. Figuring his steps would be mistaken as the Ooman female's own, Scar didn't take the time to choose less revealing footing.

He stood, looking around for another soft meat for ten seconds and found his impatience wearing thin. She was dying and she needed help NOW.

Scar was about ready to yell, run up that ramp, ANYTHING to find another Ooman to save her.

That's when he heard the voices.

"Hey. What's that over there?"

"Wha- ? Well, go check it out!"

Scar's mandibles clenched as his thoughts snapped out, 'About damn time.'

Kneeling, the Yautja carefully placed the Ooman on the ground. Reluctant, he retracted his arms from around her and attempted to step back.

That's when he discovered something that warmed his heart as well as broke it.

She was clinging to him. And from the change of her breathing, she was conscious.

(You have to let go.) Scar chirped softly, keeping an ear out for the sounds of approaching soft meats. But his eyes...

His eyes were all for her.

"No." She murmured.

Through all her pain, through all the bitter cold, right now he was the one warmth she could feel. He was the only GOOD thing she could feel. The rest... her body felt like it was being torn up from all the pain she felt. It hurt to talk. It hurt to move. It even hurt to breathe.

She didn't want to be alone. She didn't want...

"No... alone..." She muttered, her tone rising in urgency.

She could feel a darkness closing over her memory. She could feel it slipping.

(I cannot... You must let go.) Scar said, looking away for a moment as he looked up to see Oomans coming down the ramp. He expected them to shout at the sight of him at any moment. But that was before he realized he was still cloaked.

Carefully, he pried her arms from around him, wishing that she would just open her eyes. Just once.

He wanted to see her soft brown gaze once more. In case her eyes would never open again.

But he didn't have time.

Cupping the side of her face with his large, calloused palm, Scar murmured one word before he turned and walked quickly away. He had to walk quickly or else he knew he couldn't leave. Certain contact with Oomans required explicit permission. The ones that had been on the whaling station had been free game. THEY had been on the Hunting grounds. But the ship...

Scar didn't have permission and to break it would cost him dearly.

Though glancing back for a moment, he almost didn't care.

Lex felt a tear form at the side of her eye even as more warm bodies rushed towards her.

He had said her name.

Scar had said her name.

The black female didn't know how she knew it had been Scar. She hadn't even opened her eyes. But she knew it was him. She just KNEW.

She slipped quickly into the darkness of unconsciousness, Scar's name the last thing on her lips before she was gone.

-o-BACK TO THE PRESENT-o-

Lex cried as she woke, her white sheets strewn across the hard bed of the medical ward. The nurse had confined her to her quarters.

Despite the amazing speed of her recovery, the nurse decided she still needed rest. Physically as well as mentally.

But right now all that met Lex's eyes were shadows and darkness. It was night.

But the memories were streaming back as brightly and vividly as if she was living them in the moment.

No words could express her feelings. She could only cry.

Tears fought each other to race down her cheeks, ending in a spreading pool of wetness on the tangles sheets.

With a tortured, anguished sob, Lex threw herself back down onto the pillows, not caring as they too became drenched.

They had left her. She was alive.

But they had abandoned her.

She had never felt so... alone.