Chapter 7: The Hunt

Ices thought perhaps she was experiencing Deja vu. Then she realized she had been in exactly this same position in the tree three feet to the right not two hours ago. The wish-granter gritted her teeth as the cold wind picked up. It was times like these she wished she had ice immunity as well as fire.

It was doubtful that this hunt would be as successful as the last had been, indeed she had been lucky that the last hunt ended so easily. The prey had not had time to fight back. Likely unaccustomed to attacks from above. Only the gentlest climber could navigate those animated trees without the foliage's ticklish wiggling giving away the hunter's position.

Her breath floated above her head like a disembodied spirit as she shivered on the slowly pulsating tree branch. Why had she agreed to this again? Oh yes, to stop that incessant gnawing of hunger through the connection she shared, as well as the grating on her ears. The way the blue beast whined you would think he was starving to death.

The prey beneath her lifted its heavily sculpted head. It's strange, almost pig-like snout scenting the air for danger as the beady black eyes twinkled in nervous anxiety. This beast should do, for it's bulk was almost equal to that whining twit's, there would be no way they could devour this swine as they had the deer. Her body tensed, this would be infinitely more complicated than the first hunt. The tusks of this boar looked extremely dangerous, which put in risk of injury to herself. Normally she would not be so cautious, but she still felt a strange weakness in her body and did not want to strain her regenerative capabilities.

If they only had a few more brain-cells they could catch their own damn food. With their power and speed they could have already killed this beast. Abruptly she recalled the bloodied fur Recoome had returned with when he had gone to 'hunt' and her minds eye had no problem envisioning the small clearing splattered with steaming gore. Honestly, have they no control?

Her mind ran circles around itself as her body prepared for the attack and the adrenaline began to rush into her body. The enormous eight-legged pig sniffed the air, its hackles rising on over sized shoulders as it picked up a scent upon the wind. It knew a predator was nearby.

In a silent flurry of obsidian leaves the female launched herself at the beast only to miss by inches and land in a freezing snow drift as it bolted. She was shocked by the cold snow suddenly covering her entire body and shivered pitifully as her soaked hair stuck to her neck and face. All in all she looked very similar to a drowned rat as she trembled in the freezing air, her prey now nowhere to be seen.

So preoccupied was the dragoness with her misery she did not immediately see the enormous saber-toothed cat whom had also been stalking the swine, and therefore she was taken by complete surprise as the cat, nearly twice the size of her former prey, rushed through the air at her. Ices ducked out of the way and allowed her instincts to take control. She was slowed considerably by the snow but that did not diminish her stubborn will.

The beast was magnificent to say the least. It's pristine white fur shone beautifully in the sun and sparkled like the snow itself. It's paws were large and flat and despite the feline's size they kept it easily atop the snow, where Ices was sunk in up to her waist. The enormous fangs were terrible but also beautiful, pristine and crystal clear, indeed the fangs seemed almost like icicles hanging down from it's jaw. The cat was well-suited for life on the snow.

It bunched up it's body once more and leaped at her, this time she did not attempt to doge but instead braced herself and caught the cat's four pairs of deadly claws in her wing-talons and her arms. The six-legged beast towered over her and its weight bore down upon her easily. They strained against one another as Ices' pupils began to contract into reptilian slits.

"Well done." Congratulated Cell from the shadows where he had been patiently waiting for her to finish. Unlike Frieza, who impatiently waited in the sky above, Cell had the patience to wait out a hunt. "I suppose you'll want my assistance?" He smirked at her suffering, she was always so easy to rile up when one knew which buttons to push, and the strain on the wish-granter's features was plainly evident as she growled an indecipherable reply.

Cell was arrogant, but he was far from stupid. In the not-eternity he had been imprisoned in Hell he was sure his adversaries had become infinitely more powerful, and he would need to build his own strength before he could embark on his mission to rule the universe. In the meantime he was going to do something he rarely got to do while alive, he was going to enjoy himself.

Normally he would indulge in different types of torture to pass the time, but if there was anything Cell enjoyed more than causing pain it was piecing together interesting mysteries. And Ices was, by far, one of the most entertaining mysteries he had ever been faced with. He may get some torture in as well, after all who knew what the future would bring?

The android knew Ices was not in immediate danger, and therefore took great joy at her pain. She was honestly such an intriguing creature. For all her appearance she was far from human, but she had not quite revealed to him or any of the others, for that matter, her breed. He was sure that she was some sort of dragon. The wings and tail were a dead giveaway there, but he was curious as to exactly what type she was and how she came to posses the power of wishes.

The tigress gnashed her jaws downward, and the wish-granter's head flinched back just enough so that the jaws snapped inches from her face. She chanced a glance at the android and felt her blood boil at his arrogant smirk.

"I am sure you are well aware that I know almost nothing about you." His mind twitched in worry, was the cat actually bearing down upon the female? Ah, there, she's corrected her balance and gained her ground back.

"Does this fact not please you?" The effort it took her to speak was almost too much and the powerful feline successfully pressed down upon Ices. She knew she would have to take a chance if she wanted this painful stalemate to end. The beasts jaws gnashed once more as it hissed it's frustration.

"What do you mean?" A frown was audible in the android's voice. The dragoness considered her words as she anchored her legs beneath the snow and pushed up with all her might. She spread her wings and flapped to gain lift and propel herself toward the cat. The creature was caught off-balance and it fell upon its back now she brought the talons atop her wings down and slashed the beast cleanly across the chest. The feline roared it's fury as it attempted to correct itself.

"From what I have witnessed of you, one called Cell, you enjoy remaining aloof of any situation. I assumed it was the same with any of your travel companions." Ices leaped away from the tiger as it launched itself at her, staining the snow crimson as the blood from its gushing chest flowed freely.

"It is rude to assume." The android pointed out, not sure weather to be offended, angry or amused. He opted for the last, since the creature before him surely had not meant offense.

"So it is, I pray forgiveness." Though her tone was not mocking, nor was it sincere. She was obviously distracted, merely saying the first words that came to mind. While this could prove entertaining it also annoyed the android and he wasn't quite sure why.

At any rate it was clear that the female was loosing her strength and so Cell took matters into his own hands and grabbed the cat easily by its thrashing tail. The beast did not have time to turn upon the android before it's brains were bashed out against a nearby tree, which promptly fell over. The tree's roots writhed like snakes as they seemed to seek the snow and attempt to right itself.

Still high on adrenaline and guided by instinct Ices snarled as she turned on the android who now stood between herself and her kill. The android was taken a bit by surprise when the female had suddenly landed what would have been a particularly nasty uppercut, had he not been the amazing Cell. Since it was he, Cell, and not Jaice or Burter she landed the attack on it did nothing more than cause his face to contort angrily as he dropped the kill and snatched her wrist.

She had absolutely no fear of retaliation on his part as she boldly bore her fangs at his face only inches from her own. That caused the android to become irritated, for he was used to having some semblance of control over any situation he in which he found himself. While this female seemed to enjoy being nothing less than a wild element. She refused to bend to even the hardest pushes. He wondered how he could mold her to his own will without breaking her beyond usefulness.

Suddenly he recalled how docile she had been at King Cold's hands and pondered the possibility that perhaps this creatures own lust was the key to manipulating her. He tightened his grip on her wrist mercilessly as he pulled her impossibly close to his body. The dragoness tensed and he spoke before she could pull away.

"You'd better do more than pray." Growled Cell as his lips mercilessly covered hers.